Latest news with #Fresno-based
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Avenue 12 in Madera is getting new businesses. Here's what they're building
Madera Ranchos is getting its first Starbucks. The Madera County community is also getting a new gas station with a convenience store and car wash, electric vehicle charging stations and an 11,160-square-foot Camarena Health medical facility. The new businesses are already under construction on a 5-acre space at the intersection of Avenue 12 and Jason Court across the street from the State Foods Supermarket. The developer, Fresno-based Legacy Realty and Development, said it does not yet have an expected completion date for construction. Madera County District 1 Supervisor Jordan Wamhoff said work is moving quickly. 'The structure for the Starbucks is now going vertical,' he said in an email to The Bee. 'The Starbucks will be the first building completed and Camarena will be the second. The developer is still looking for an operator for a gas station/convenience store/car wash.' The coffee shop could open by fall 2025, a Starbucks spokesperson told The Bee. The new development will provide Madera Ranchos residents with a second healthcare option in their immediate vicinity. It also signals the increased commercialization of Avenue 12, the community's main road and a major thoroughfare for those traveling between Highways 41 and 99. The construction is happening as the county is also moving forward with major improvements to Avenue 12 near the Riverstone community, and after Madera Ranchos residents raised concerns that the development would increase traffic in the surrounding area. 'To address this, myself and the county have conditioned this developer to realign Jason Court with Fernwood (Drive) and install a four-way signal light, at their cost, prior to the development receiving a certificate of occupancy for any of the buildings,' Wamhoff said. Devin Tienken, a development manager with Legacy, told The Bee that the traffic control conditions will improve the quality of life in Madera Ranchos. 'We are working to then improve the private road (Jason Court) — even beyond our development — that extends for those neighbors,' Tienken said. 'So, it's my hope that they will also receive some benefit there, in addition to all the services local to them.' The 2,364-square-foot Starbucks will have a drive-thru and 23 parking stalls, four of which will be electric vehicle charging stations, according to plans submitted to the county. The Starbucks is expected to generate about 15 jobs and serve about 500 customers daily. The gas station pumps, convenience store and car wash will cover a total of more than 8,000 square feet. There will be six gas pumps that each service two cars at a time. The gas station section of the development will offer a total of 23 parking stalls, with four being electric vehicle spaces. (In Madera County, a space at a fuel pump counts as 1/2 of a parking space.) The gas station is expected to serve more than 660 customers per day and will employ three people. Camarena Health said in a statement that its 11,160-square-foot facility in the development will generate about 50 full-time jobs. Camarena services it will offer include: medical, dental, mild-to-moderate behavioral health, health education and insurance enrollment services. 'This new health center will benefit the residents of the Madera Ranchos along with other residents of South East Madera County by providing accessible healthcare services in the community where they live,' Camarena Health said in its statement. Camarena Health expects the facility to open in spring 2026 and will offer 115 parking spaces, with 25 being designated for electric vehicles. Besides realigning Jason Court and adding a four-way light signal, the development is designed so that drivers can only exit the center onto Jason Court on a right turn. Drivers will also only be able to exit onto Avenue 12 or enter from Avenue 12 on a right turn. According to a traffic study, 'the dominant local-serving retail use of the project will improve retail destination proximity, shorten trips, and reduce vehicular miles traveled.' The study, submitted to the county, found that the Starbucks and gas station are designed to serve locals and people who are passing through the Madera Ranchos, and are not regional destinations. 'Furthermore, given the nature of the existing development in Madera Ranchos, it is likely that many medical office trips are long trips, and that the additional opportunity of a medical office nearby is expected to reduce (vehicular miles traveled) rather than increase (them).'
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
California and federal government set to increase water deliveries after storms
State and federal agencies plan to deliver more water to California farms and cities following recent storms that brought rain and snow and boosted reservoir levels. Cities in Southern California and other agencies that depend on water delivered from Northern California via the State Water Project are projected to receive 35% of requested water supplies, up from an estimated 20% last month, the state Department of Water Resources said Tuesday. In a similar announcement, the federal Bureau of Reclamation said agricultural irrigation districts south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta are expected to receive 35% of their full contract amounts from the federal Central Valley Project — more than double the 15% they were allocated at this time last year. The agency said in a written statement that officials are acting on a recent order by President Trump to 'maximize water supply, particularly for south-of-Delta contracts.' After two wet years and the latest series of storms this month, the state's biggest reservoirs, including Lake Oroville and Shasta Lake, stand at above-average levels. "California is experiencing a winter of extremes,' said Karla Nemeth, the department's director. 'We've seen predominately dry conditions broken up by very wet, short storm events. Those conditions mean we must move as much water when it's available." Read more: Trump reenters California's water wars. It's unclear who will win Agricultural water agencies welcomed the announcement, saying it marks a notable improvement in their supplies from last year, despite a similar water situation at that time. Allison Febbo, general manager of the Fresno-based Westlands Water District, said the allocation 'offers our farmers the opportunity to make critical planting decisions that optimize feeding the nation.' The state and federal water systems, including dams, aqueducts and pumping facilities, are among the world's largest. They pump water from the Delta and send supplies flowing to Central Valley farmlands and about 30 million people. In the San Joaquin Valley, farmers use the water to irrigate pistachios, almonds, grapes, tomatoes, hay and other crops. Federico Barajas, executive director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority in Los Banos, said this year's federal allocation is a significant improvement over last year's initial allocation. 'However, given the high storage conditions and current high Delta outflow from recent storms, I know that many of the Water Authority's members were hoping for a higher initial allocation,' Barajas said. Read more: Decision to reduce water flows in California's delta sparks debate over imperiled fish Officials typically set the water allocations based on reservoir conditions, precipitation and snowpack in the Sierra Nevada. The allocations are often updated as conditions change during the winter and spring. This year, storms have brought the most snow and rain to Northern California, while areas to the south have seen below-average precipitation. This has meant reduced flows in the San Joaquin River and its tributaries, which has led to limitations on the Central Valley Project's water deliveries in the San Joaquin Valley because of environmental regulations aimed at protecting threatened fish species in the Delta. 'Unfortunately, this year's rainfall has disproportionately fallen in the northern portion of the Central Valley Project,' Barajas said. He said federal officials had worked with his agency to 'implement improvements in the allocation process over the last year, which has in part led to this higher initial allocation.' Karl Stock, the Bureau of Reclamation's regional director, said the recent series of atmospheric river storms and the relatively high reservoir levels have benefited the water outlook. 'However, the San Joaquin Basin has experienced critically dry conditions' this winter, he said. The initial allocations 'reflect this significant variation across the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.' The agency said other water suppliers north of the Delta are allocated 100% of their contract amounts, as are suppliers along the American River and in the Delta region. Agricultural suppliers that receive water from the Friant-Kern and Madera canals, meanwhile, were allocated 45% of their basic allotments. Read more: Coastal salmon fishing banned for a second year amid steep population declines Stock noted that California still has a portion of the traditionally wet season left until April. He said the agency is 'committed to delivering as much water as possible to our contractors consistent with the goals of the Central Valley Project and [Trump's] Executive Order 14181." Jeffrey Mount, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California's Water Policy Center, said the announcement didn't seem out of the ordinary for the Bureau of Reclamation, which typically sets allocations based on the current conditions. 'They're saying that they are going to maximize this, but they're not really giving the specifics on how they're going to do that in direct operations,' Mount said. The federal agency had shifted to taking a more conservative approach in its projected allocations following the severe 2020-22 drought, Mount said. 'It looks like they're being a little more the way they used to be in their projections, rather than the conservative approach they were taking after the drought,' he said. The initial supply forecast is timed to inform farmers as they plan the crops they will be planting. When federal supplies are reduced, growers typically turn to pumping more groundwater. So if the federal government ends up delivering more water to farms this year, Mount said, that will help farmers by enabling them to pump less groundwater. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which delivers supplies from the State Water Project to cities and local agencies, said the increased water deliveries will help meet demands and may add to the record amount of water it currently has stored in reservoirs and underground storage areas. MWD General Manager Deven Upadhyay said the increased allocation 'helps to buttress our preparedness for the inevitable swing back to dry conditions.' Environmental advocates have criticized state and federal water management decisions in recent years, citing declining populations of threatened fish in the Delta and two consecutive years of canceled salmon fishing seasons because of low population numbers. Read more: Expansion of San Luis Reservoir set to boost California's water-storing capacity Ashley Overhouse, water policy adviser for the group Defenders of Wildlife, said the state and federal announcements to increase water deliveries are 'irresponsible and reckless' and will further harm the Delta's deteriorating ecosystem and native fish by extracting excessive amounts of water. 'Last year, we saw the highest mortality rate of winter-run Chinook salmon in a four-year period,' Overhouse said. 'We also saw an unusually high number of Central Valley steelhead impacted by Delta pumping last year, exceeding thresholds established under the Endangered Species Act.' She said as climate change continues to affect California's water resources, the state 'must prioritize the health of our waterways.' The Bureau of Reclamation said in its announcement that the Trump administration is also investing more than $315 million in new water storage projects, including plans to build Sites Reservoir and raise a dam to expand San Luis Reservoir. Those federal investments are not new, however. The projects were also supported by the Biden administration. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
25-02-2025
- Climate
- Los Angeles Times
California and federal government set to increase water deliveries after storms
State and federal agencies plan to deliver more water to California farms and cities following recent storms that brought rain and snow and boosted reservoir levels. Cities in Southern California and other agencies that depend on water delivered from Northern California via the State Water Project are projected to receive 35% of requested water supplies, up from an estimated 20% last month, the state Department of Water Resources said Tuesday. In a similar announcement, the federal Bureau of Reclamation said agricultural irrigation districts south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta are expected to receive 35% of their full contract amounts from the federal Central Valley Project — more than double the 15% they were allocated at this time last year. The agency said in a written statement that officials are acting on a recent order by President Trump to 'maximize water supply, particularly for south-of-Delta contracts.' After two wet years and the latest series of storms this month, the state's biggest reservoirs, including Lake Oroville and Shasta Lake, stand at above-average levels. 'California is experiencing a winter of extremes,' said Karla Nemeth, the department's director. 'We've seen predominately dry conditions broken up by very wet, short storm events. Those conditions mean we must move as much water when it's available.' Agricultural water agencies welcomed the announcement, saying it marks a notable improvement in their supplies from last year, despite a similar water situation at that time. Allison Febbo, general manager of the Fresno-based Westlands Water District, said the allocation 'offers our farmers the opportunity to make critical planting decisions that optimize feeding the nation.' The state and federal water systems, including dams, aqueducts and pumping facilities, are among the world's largest. They pump water from the Delta and send supplies flowing to Central Valley farmlands and about 30 million people. In the San Joaquin Valley, farmers use the water to irrigate pistachios, almonds, grapes, tomatoes, hay and other crops. Federico Barajas, executive director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority in Los Banos, said this year's federal allocation is a significant improvement over last year's initial allocation. 'However, given the high storage conditions and current high Delta outflow from recent storms, I know that many of the Water Authority's members were hoping for a higher initial allocation,' Barajas said. Officials typically set the water allocations based on reservoir conditions, precipitation and snowpack in the Sierra Nevada. The allocations are often updated as conditions change during the winter and spring. This year, storms have brought the most snow and rain to Northern California, while areas to the south have seen below-average precipitation. This has meant reduced flows in the San Joaquin River and its tributaries, which has led to limitations on the Central Valley Project's water deliveries in the San Joaquin Valley because of environmental regulations aimed at protecting threatened fish species in the Delta. 'Unfortunately, this year's rainfall has disproportionately fallen in the northern portion of the Central Valley Project,' Barajas said. He said federal officials had worked with his agency to 'implement improvements in the allocation process over the last year, which has in part led to this higher initial allocation.' Karl Stock, the Bureau of Reclamation's regional director, said the recent series of atmospheric river storms and the relatively high reservoir levels have benefited the water outlook. 'However, the San Joaquin Basin has experienced critically dry conditions' this winter, he said. The initial allocations 'reflect this significant variation across the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.' The agency said other water suppliers north of the Delta are allocated 100% of their contract amounts, as are suppliers along the American River and in the Delta region. Agricultural suppliers that receive water from the Friant-Kern and Madera canals, meanwhile, were allocated 45% of their basic allotments. Stock noted that California still has a portion of the traditionally wet season left until April. He said the agency is 'committed to delivering as much water as possible to our contractors consistent with the goals of the Central Valley Project and [Trump's] Executive Order 14181.' Jeffrey Mount, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California's Water Policy Center, said the announcement didn't seem out of the ordinary for the Bureau of Reclamation, which typically sets allocations based on the current conditions. 'They're saying that they are going to maximize this, but they're not really giving the specifics on how they're going to do that in direct operations,' Mount said. The federal agency had shifted to taking a more conservative approach in its projected allocations following the severe 2020-22 drought, Mount said. 'It looks like they're being a little more the way they used to be in their projections, rather than the conservative approach they were taking after the drought,' he said. The initial supply forecast is timed to inform farmers as they plan the crops they will be planting. When federal supplies are reduced, growers typically turn to pumping more groundwater. So if the federal government ends up delivering more water to farms this year, Mount said, that will help farmers by enabling them to pump less groundwater. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which delivers supplies from the State Water Project to cities and local agencies, said the increased water deliveries will help meet demands and may add to the record amount of water it currently has stored in reservoirs and underground storage areas. MWD General Manager Deven Upadhyay said the increased allocation 'helps to buttress our preparedness for the inevitable swing back to dry conditions.' Environmental advocates have criticized state and federal water management decisions in recent years, citing declining populations of threatened fish in the Delta and two consecutive years of canceled salmon fishing seasons because of low population numbers. Ashley Overhouse, water policy adviser for the group Defenders of Wildlife, said the state and federal announcements to increase water deliveries are 'irresponsible and reckless' and will further harm the Delta's deteriorating ecosystem and native fish by extracting excessive amounts of water. 'Last year, we saw the highest mortality rate of winter-run Chinook salmon in a four-year period,' Overhouse said. 'We also saw an unusually high number of Central Valley steelhead impacted by Delta pumping last year, exceeding thresholds established under the Endangered Species Act.' She said as climate change continues to affect California's water resources, the state 'must prioritize the health of our waterways.' The Bureau of Reclamation said in its announcement that the Trump administration is also investing more than $315 million in new water storage projects, including plans to build Sites Reservoir and raise a dam to expand San Luis Reservoir. Those federal investments are not new, however. The projects were also supported by the Biden administration.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trader Joe's organic acai bowl recalled over contamination fears
Trader Joe's has recalled a popular frozen dish over possible plastic contamination, the grocery chain said. The organic acai bowl, which sells for $3.99, may contain plastic material, the retailer announced last week. The company encouraged customers who had purchased the bowls, which include berries, bananas, granola and dried coconut, to throw them out or return them. The company did not specify how the possible contamination occurred. "At Trader Joe's, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our customers and Crew Members. With this in mind, we do the daily work to make certain our products meet our stringent food safety expectations," the grocer said in a statement. "We don't take any chances when it comes to product safety and quality." In December, a Trader Joe's fan page on Instagram announced the product had returned to shelves after a hiatus. The recall follows other recalls that affected Trader Joe's products: A widespread listeria recall affected some of the brand's cooked chicken products last year, and last week, an issue with easy-open pull tabs on tuna cans prompted recalls over fears of botulism. Between September and November last year, 26 food recalls hit California, including Fresno-based raw milk infected with the bird flu virus, city of Commerce organic carrots contaminated with E. coli, and cucumbers from Arizona contaminated with salmonella. Experts said testing systems for food have significantly changed over time, making it hard to say if the high number of recalls marks an unusual level of foodborne illnesses. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
20-02-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Trader Joe's organic acai bowl recalled over contamination fears
Trader Joe's has recalled a popular frozen dish over possible plastic contamination, the grocery chain said. The organic acai bowl, which sells for $3.99, may contain plastic material, the retailer announced last week. The company encouraged customers who had purchased the bowls, which include berries, bananas, granola and dried coconut, to throw them out or return them. The company did not specify how the possible contamination occurred. 'At Trader Joe's, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our customers and Crew Members. With this in mind, we do the daily work to make certain our products meet our stringent food safety expectations,' the grocer said in a statement. 'We don't take any chances when it comes to product safety and quality.' In December, a Trader Joe's fan page on Instagram announced the product had returned to shelves after a hiatus. The recall follows other recalls that affected Trader Joe's products: A widespread listeria recall affected some of the brand's cooked chicken products last year, and last week, an issue with easy-open pull tabs on tuna cans prompted recalls over fears of botulism. Between September and November last year, 26 food recalls hit California, including Fresno-based raw milk infected with the bird flu virus, city of Commerce organic carrots contaminated with E. coli, and cucumbers from Arizona contaminated with salmonella. Experts said testing systems for food have significantly changed over time, making it hard to say if the high number of recalls marks an unusual level of foodborne illnesses.
