Education · Modesto, CA
The third and final mediation session between the Modesto Teachers Association and Modesto City Schools ended Friday without an agreement, moving the dispute to a three-person fact-finding panel under California law. MTA President Jennifer McGrath confirmed the union will hold its official strike vote on Nov. 5, following a September preauthorization vote she described as being in the 90th percentile. Modesto City Schools presented a proposal including a 3% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2025, an additional 3% for the 2026–27 school year, and annual district health contributions exceeding $27,000 by 2027. The union's key concerns include out-of-pocket healthcare costs of $1,211 to $3,454 per month for family coverage, teacher recruitment challenges, special education staffing, and class sizes. Both sides stated they remain willing to negotiate during the fact-finding period.
Local Politics · San Joaquin County
Incumbent Rep. Josh Harder and challenger John McBride are competing for California's 9th Congressional District seat in the Nov. 3 general election. The district includes parts of San Joaquin County (Tracy, Stockton), Contra Costa County (Antioch, Pittsburg), and Valley Home in Stanislaus County. Harder cites healthcare cuts, tariffs, housing costs, water storage, and PG&E rates as top issues; McBride emphasizes agriculture protection, desalinization plants, fuel price investigations, and nuclear energy investment. McBride criticized Harder's vote against H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025, though the article notes the bill did not include provisions governing locker room or restroom access.
Crime · Stanislaus County
The Stanislaus County Coroner's Office confirmed Tuesday that human remains found Saturday in the Lower Lateral 3 Canal near Central Avenue and Keyes Road, south of Ceres, are those of Ajit Kaur, a 72-year-old woman reported missing Aug. 23 from the Casa Grande Apartment complex at 3100 Whitmore Ave. The discovery was made by a Turlock Irrigation District employee during a routine canal patrol. Prior to the find, Ceres police, Merced County Sheriff's K9 units, and Stanislaus County Sheriff's dive teams had searched canals throughout Ceres and the TID regulating reservoir. The investigation remains ongoing; tips may be directed to Detective Sgt. Berber at 209-538-5672.
Public Safety · Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County sheriff's deputies conducted a two-day pedestrian safety enforcement operation in Riverbank and Patterson, dressing one deputy as a giant orange traffic cone who entered crosswalks while motorcycle deputies pulled over drivers who failed to yield. The operation resulted in 67 citations for pedestrian violations and two DUI arrests. The enforcement was funded by a California Office of Traffic Safety grant through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The article references several recent pedestrian deaths and injuries in the Modesto area, including two students struck Oct. 9 near Coffee Road and a 63-year-old man struck Oct. 1 near Claus Road and East Orangeburg Avenue.
