“It’s a continued direction towards no accountability…These are steps towards having a secret police.”

Jim Reeves, a former dispatcher for the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and longtime Visalia watchdog, spoke to the Valley Voice about the quiet expansion of surveillance and privacy-eroding technology inside our local police departments.

Twice in three years, the Visalia City Council has quietly agreed to reduce what residents can see or hear from their own police force.  In December 2022, the city spent $1.8 million on radios that encrypted police radios and scrambled transmissions, cutting off public scanners.

In October 2024, the Visalia City Council voted on $300,000 for a four-year contract with a company called Flock to install automated cameras that would read license plates across the city. Both times, the decisions arrived without a single question asked by the public.

Today, residents can no longer monitor city police traffic, and at least 22 Flock cameras are active or pending in Visalia, part of a larger patchwork of at least three separate Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) networks.

Like the encrypted police radios, Flock cameras have flown under the public’s radar, silently expanding across Tulare and Kings County.

Forty percent reduction in stolen vehicles

The Voice spoke with Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar and Operations Support Division Captain Andrew Swarthout specifically about Flock cameras and the growing concerns from the public.

One of the concerns making headlines recently involves ALPR technology being prone to error and misreading license plates, leading to innocent civilians being jailed or detained at gunpoint. When asked if Visalia’s Flock cameras might make similar errors, Salazar said there have been no wrongful-stop incidents in Visalia tied to Flock. He said the more likely culprit for wrongful detainments elsewhere is human error.

“Probably what’s more likely to happen is somewhere along the way, there was a human error. Someone that put the data into the system, maybe put a number or a letter wrong in the plate so the wrong plate was entered.”

Salazar explained that alerts from Flock cameras are only one part of the investigative process. Officers aren’t authorized to move on a stop or arrest the moment an alert comes in. Human confirmation is required first.

“The Flock alert is really nothing more than an investigative lead. It says, ‘Hey, the camera detected a license plate that is wanted for whatever reason…’ They then run the license plate themselves, do their own investigation to make sure that the vehicle that they found is actually the vehicle that is wanted.”

Salazar and Swarthout described the system’s effectiveness by citing VPD’s own statistics. According to their data, 2025 saw a 39% reduction in stolen vehicles, which VPD attributes to the Flock cameras it began using in 2024.

“The number of stolen vehicles went way down, and we’re on pace to meet that so far in 2026, where we’ve made arrests in 40% of the stolen vehicle cases,” Salazar said

Wrongful stops aren’t the only concern on residents’ minds. There are also worries about Flock data being misused by law enforcement to stalk people, or accessed by federal agencies to aid in the deportation of undocumented immigrants.

On the question of misuse, Salazar and Swarthout said they run their own internal audit every week to catch it, and that Flock includes a feature that automatically flags suspicious search behavior for Salazar’s review. Officers, dispatchers, and staff must complete training before they’re granted access to Flock data, and every use is logged.

“Date, time, what it was that they were doing, what they searched, everything is tracked,” Salazar said.

When asked whether any agency outside California law enforcement such as ICE or Border Patrol has access to VPD’s Flock data, Salazar was direct:

“We do not share with any federal agencies,” he said. “And in fact, if you’re a law enforcement agency in California, you’re not even allowed to turn on the federal sharing tab in Flock.”

That inability to enable federal sharing is a feature built to prevent the kind of scandals and lawsuits that have already hit other California police departments, several of which have faced legal action or cut ties with Flock entirely after their data was found flowing to agencies outside the state.

California restricts use and sharing of data

Two distinct California laws govern how police departments can use automated license plate readers like Flock’s. The first, Senate Bill 34, codified at California Civil Code sections 1798.90.51 through .90.55, requires any agency operating an ALPR system to provide an opportunity for public comment before implementing the program, publicly post a written usage and privacy policy, and restrict data sharing to “public agencies” within California. It also gives Californians the right to sue if their license plate data is shared improperly.

The second, Senate Bill 54, California’s broader “sanctuary state” statute, codified in Government Code section 7284, restricts the use of state and local law enforcement resources for federal immigration enforcement.

How these two laws apply specifically to ALPR data was left to interpretation for years after they took effect between 2016 and 2018. That changed in October 2023, when the California Department of Justice, under Attorney General Rob Bonta, stated directly in a bulletin that California law enforcement cannot share ALPR data with federal or out-of-state agencies, and that every agency’s usage and privacy policy must be public and transparent.

Visalia Police Department appears compliant on multiple fronts. Salazar says VPD is technically incapable of sharing data outside California even if it wanted to; its usage and privacy policy is posted on the department’s website; and the agency provided an opportunity for public comment at the October 21, 2024 City Council meeting where the Flock contract was approved.

That last point deserves scrutiny. The Flock contract, listed as Item 24-0415 on the Consent Calendar, was one of eleven unrelated items bundled together and approved in a single motion. No presentation was given. No council discussion occurred. And not a single member of the public raised a question about it, perhaps because it was buried among everything else on the Consent Calendar that night.

A similar tactic was used when the Visalia City Council approved encrypting police radios. The encryption item was listed in the consent calendar and approved along with many other unrelated items in one motion.

Is the CHP’s accessing of Visalia’s data monitored?

If Visalia’s Flock camera system has a shadow auditor, it’s Jim Reeves.

Before he was writing about Flock cameras on his website, jimmiejoe.com, Reeves spent 25 years as a dispatcher for the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Over the past several months, he’s used that experience to investigate VPD’s use of Flock data through public records requests.

He spoke to the Voice about the cameras’ rollout and was critical of how little transparency accompanied it.

“Flock makes a big thing in their press releases that these cameras were democratically approved, and that’s technically true. But most of it was consent calendar agendas that only the policy nerds really dig into,” he said.

Reeves’ skepticism isn’t limited to how Visalia approved buying Flock cameras in the first place, it extends to what’s happened with the cameras since. Through his own records requests, he obtained audit logs, and what he found puzzled him. The California Highway Patrol, he said, accessed Visalia’s camera data 42,000 times in a single 30-day period, compared to roughly 1,600 inquiries by VPD’s own officers in that same window.

“A CHP officer from Eureka [could be] checking Visalia with no expectation that the car he’s checking has ever been in Visalia. Why does he need to check Visalia’s data?”

The reports he received were also, in his view, disappointingly vague. VPD’s data listed the requesting agency and a reason for each inquiry — the same reason field Salazar referenced — but Reeves said most entries simply read “investigation.”

“It doesn’t say investigation of what,” he said. “Most of the inquiries are just fishing. It’s not investigation.”

He added that the audit itself isn’t public in real time. Records only surface after a public records request, and by then, the data is well out of date. “It’s very delayed,” he said. “So it’s not current data.”

According to Reeves, VPD has since removed the reason field from the public records it releases on Flock inquiries.

Reeves’ own records request, filed in April of this year, also requested any log of inquiries involving  his own license plate. State law generally gives departments 10 days to respond to a records request; it took VPD nearly three months to fulfill his. When the records finally came, his request for information tied to his own plate was denied, citing the department’s own privacy policy.

That experience points to a broader question about the department’s transparency. If records related to Flock cameras are opaque enough that a resident can’t see the reason behind an inquiry, or obtain information about searches involving his own license plate, how transparent is the department?

When asked about Salazar’s assurance that California agencies are structurally unable to enable Flock’s federal-data-sharing setting, Reeves was skeptical that a togglable software setting could reliably hold up against unlawful remote access.

“That can be changed remotely by Flock, whether intentionally or unintentionally,” he said, pointing to an incident at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in early 2025, when a “vendor error” reportedly re-enabled data sharing to agencies outside the state, leading to more than 364,000 outside queries before it was caught.

Reeves said he isn’t opposed to ALPR technology itself. What troubles him is who owns and controls the data it generates, which isn’t the VPD or any other local agency.

“It would be different if they were controlled by the local agency, where the data is stored locally, where only the agency has direct access to it,” he said. Leaving that data in the hands of a private company, he said, leaves it vulnerable to breaches and to side-door loopholes federal agencies can use to gain access.

He was also blunt about the broader pattern he sees playing out: “There have been many instances where police have abused the system,” he said. “There are insufficient checks.”

Asked how he felt about radio encryption in tandem with the Flock rollout, Reeves said neither, on its own, alarms him as much as the two together.

“Each one of these things by itself doesn’t seem like much,” he said. “But it’s just a creeping, step by step, into more intrusive monitoring of the public.” It’s a continued pattern, he said, of no accountability and the public kept in the dark about what’s happening in its own city. “These are steps towards having a secret police.”

Not Just Visalia

Visalia PD isn’t the only department in the region using Flock cameras. College of the Sequoias PD, Hanford PD, Dinuba PD, Woodlake PD, and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office all use the technology as well, though the Voice was not able to secure interviews with those agencies by publication.

Hanford Police Department is scheduled to present its own use of Flock technology at the city’s September 15 City Council meeting. Hanford’s Community Relations Manager Brian Johnson said the meeting is open to everyone and there will be opportunity for public comment.

The flock discussion will be during the study session portion of the meeting, which starts at 4 p.m.

The post Residents take notice of local Flock cameras as company attracts national attention appeared first on Valley Voice.

Michael Mota, a local patrolman for the CHP, claims he was wrongly evicted from the home he shared with TPD officer Lupita Hernandez based on false information she provided to her fellow officers. Mota also said officers sought retaliation after he made claims of misconduct within the department. Mota’s allegations are detailed in a civil rights lawsuit filed August 25 in Tulare County Superior Court.

Named as defendants in the action are Officer Hernandez, the City of Tulare, TPD Chief Fred Ynclan and retired TPD Chief Jerod Boatman.

The city has yet to file a formal response. A preliminary hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. on January 6, 2027 before Judge Nathan Ide.

CHP Officer Accused of Stalking, Harassment

According to the case filed by Visalia attorney Derek Wisehart on Mota’s behalf, a letter written by the Tulare city attorney’s office – Griswold, Lasalle, Cobb, Down and Gin – ordered Mota to avoid all contact with Hernandez. However, the notice was not personally delivered to Mota, but rather “published” by the defendants. Copies of the letter were sent to Mota’s employer at the CHP and his father.

The letter – dated May 25, 2025 – informed Mota he would face further legal action, including filing for a workplace violence restraining order against him, if he failed to comply with its requirements. Such an order would cause Mota to lose the right to carry a firearm, thus threatening his employment, the suit said.

The suit further claims the letter falsely accused Mota of stalking and harassing Hernandez, and its demands included staying away from the residence Mota and Hernandez shared. Mota’s suit claims the locks on the home were changed illegally by Hernandez in an illegal eviction without due process. The lockout occurred on May 6, 2025.

These alleged violations of Mota’s rights were performed “under the color of authority, without warrant, without a judicial court order, without any eviction notice or order, and did so under the threat to ruin (Mota’s) job and career.”

Suit Alleges Inappropriate Workplace Relationship

Melissa Wilcox, Tulare’s chief deputy city clerk, acknowledged the suit in a statement and said City Hall is preparing a response:

“In regard to the complaint, the city is aware of the lawsuit filed by Michael Mota. The complaint contains allegations that have not been proven, and the city is reviewing the matter with legal counsel. Because this involves pending litigation and confidential personnel matters, the city cannot comment on the specific allegations at this time.”

According to Mota’s suit, the accusations against him were untrue, and the information Hernandez supplied to her fellow officers was incomplete. She failed to disclose that she and Mota shared a residence and that the pair were “in a close, personal and sexual relationship.”

The suit also claims Hernandez was maintaining an improper relationship with her direct supervisor TPD Capt. Ray Guerrero. Mota said the pair also engaged in other on-duty misconduct, including coordinating their response to an internal affairs investigation. The suit claims Mota was acting as a whistleblower when he made the allegations against the pair, which was the main motivation for their alleged retaliation.

The suit seeks monetary damages of greater than $35,000 for the violation of Mota’s constitutional rights, retaliation, fraud and infliction of emotional distress.

Wisehart, Mota’s attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.

The post CHP officer sues, alleging Tulare PD misconduct appeared first on Valley Voice.

Aguirre’s family recently received their full briefing on his identification, therefore, additional details on his identification can be shared.

In the summer of 1943, Aguirre was assigned to the 67th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy), in Libya. On Aug. 16, he was the assistant radio operator aboard a B-24D Liberator bomber on a mission to San Nicola, Italy, near the city of Foggia. That morning, Aguirre’s bomber was one of 25 making an attack on the airfield there. After a successful run, the bombers were targeted by intense, accurate anti-aircraft fire. Aguirre’s bomber was one of nine to go down. With the area around San Nicola under enemy control, it was impossible for Allied forces to search for possible survivors. With no news of Aguirre’s survival and no record of him being captured, the War Department issued a presumptive finding of death on Aug. 17, 1944.

Beginning in 1946, the American Graves Registration Service, the organization tasked with recovering missing American service members in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, searched for Aguirre, his crewmates, and signs of their plane, but were unsuccessful in finding anything that could be identified as belonging to Aguirre or the plane. Aguirre was declared non-recoverable on Nov. 15, 1950.

In 2019, DPAA historians began researching five sets of unknown remains that had been recovered from the town of Lacedonia, Italy, about 30 miles south-southwest of San Nicola. They had been reported to British Graves Registration personnel in February 1945 and investigated by the AGRS in April 1945. During the investigation, no evidence could be found identifying the remains or the plane that had crashed. AGRS disinterred the remains in Lacedonia and reburied them at the U.S. Military Cemetery Naples. After much research, DPAA historians recommended the five Unknowns be disinterred for scientific comparison to Aguirre and his crew. In June 2022, the Department of Defense and the American Battle Monuments Commission disinterred the five Unknowns and transferred them to the DPAA laboratory for scientific analysis.

To identify Aguirre’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological and dental analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used nuclear single nucleotide polymorphism DNA analysis.

Aguirre’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at Carthage American Cemetery, an ABMC site in Carthage, Tunisia, along with the others missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Aguirre will be buried on Sept. 18, 2026, in his hometown.

For family and funeral information, call the Army Casualty Office at (800) 892-2490.

For additional information on the War Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving their country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil or on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa, https://www.linkedin.com/company/dodpaa, https://www.instagram.com/dodpaa/, or https://x.com/dodpaa.

Aguirre’s personnel profile can be viewed at: https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000001EhN2dEAF.

The post Exeter airman accounted for from World War II appeared first on Valley Voice.

“Chief Salazar has led the Visalia Police Department with honor and integrity. We have been blessed by his leadership and his service to this community for over 30 years,” said Mayor Brett Taylor. “He is a great man who loves his family and the City of Visalia. We wish him well and thank him for his three decades of service.”

Born and raised in Porterville, California, Salazar is a graduate of Monache High School and attended the College of Sequoias before receiving his Bachelor of Arts from Mountain State University and his Master of Arts from Fresno Pacific University.

He began his career with the Visalia Police Department in October 1993 as a Community Services Officer, then promoted to the position of Police Officer in June 1996. Throughout his extended career, Salazar served in nearly every division and capacity of the Visalia Police Department before rising to the rank of Police Captain in January 2011. He was named Chief of Police for the Visalia Police Department in June 2015.

Committed to community, building connections and advancing policing in Visalia, and across the state, throughout the 30 plus years of his career, Salazar has served on several boards and committees. He served as the President of the California Police Chiefs Association from 2025 to 2026.

“It has been a true honor to have served this community as part of the Visalia Police Department for the past 33 years and the last 12 as the Chief,” shared Salazar. “I have had the privilege of working alongside some of the finest people I ever have known – both within this department and the Visalia community – doing work that has always had meaning and purpose, for a community that I love. I am incredibly proud of the men and women of the Visalia Police Department and the work they do every day and know that they stand poised and ready for the future.”

With the announcement of Chief Salazar’s retirement at the end of 2026, the City will begin a comprehensive process to select the department’s next leader.

The post Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar announces his retirement appeared first on Valley Voice.

The hospital expansion at Adventist Health Tulare – after more than a dozen years of delay and setbacks – will be ready to accept patients by 2028, says CEO of Tulare Local Health Care District Randy Dodd.

“We just signed a contract for $3.5 million, a preconstruction contract,” Dodd said. “In January we’ll be able to go out for bids.”

The district’s immediate goal is to complete construction of the first two floors of the stalled four-story tower, giving Adventist Health Tulare a new state-of-the-art emergency department and imaging center. Construction is expected to take 18-24 months to complete.

“It’s what we need at this time and what we can afford,” Dodd said.

Record Donation for Anniversary Celebration

The news of pending construction comes as Tulare Local Health Care District and the hospital celebrate a pair of major milestones – 2026 marks 80 years since the formation of the district and is the 75th anniversary of the hospital’s opening.

An open-house celebration of the historic occasions hosted by Adventist Health Tulare and the district is planned for 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, at the hospital, 869 N. Cherry St. The event is the opening of a months-long “season of celebrations,” Adventist announced.

“The hospital has been a vital part of the community for 75 years,” said Tim Haydock, operations executive with Adventist Health Central California Network.

Adventist Health Tulare received an A grade from the hospital ratings organization The Leapfrog Group. The hospital is accredited as a primary stroke center by the Joint Commission and as a Geriatric Emergency Department by the American College of Emergency Physicians.

“We are grateful for our community’s support over the years and are committed to further expanding and advancing care for years to come,” said Haydock.

Adventist also announced a “beloved member of the community” intends to make the largest donation in the hospital’s history. The identity of the donor will be revealed at the September 22 event.

Confusion Remains Following Mismanagement

Just after World War II – in 1946 when the nation’s military members were returning from posts around the world – Tulare residents formed the Tulare Local Health Care District with the ultimate aim of building a local hospital. Construction of the Tulare District Hospital began in 1949, and the $1.1 million, 86-bed facility opened in 1951.

The hospital changed names over the years, becoming the Tulare Medical Center and then the Tulare Regional Medical Center. Services expanded through the 1980s before a major renovation in 1993 that added a pediatric treatment center. In 2005, voters approved an $85 million bond to expand the hospital, with construction beginning on the tower in 2010.

Then construction stalled in 2014-15. The district had turned over management to the private management group Health Care Conglomerate Associates in 2013. The company’s executives were later convicted of fraud in their management of the district, and during their tenure the state of the expansion project became increasingly uncertain until it stopped entirely.

District CEO Dodd said more than 400 change orders have been issued over the stop-and-start construction of the tower. Most of the documentation from that period is now missing. Today, the building’s exterior is complete, but the interior remains unfinished. Unfortunately, no one can say exactly what has to be done to finish it.

“We’re now on architect number three and contractor number four,” Dodd said. “So it’s hard for us to go out and say, ‘This is what we need to do to finish this project.’”

New Tower Construction Starts New Era

The recently-commissioned study of the tower’s current state of readiness that’s now underway should yield a project list and cost estimate for finishing the first two floors of the tower. It will be complete by January.

“It will provide for us a document we can use to go straight out to construction,” Dodd said. “It could easily be 18 months from there and we’re good to go.”

The first floor will house a new, expanded emergency department, and an imaging center. The second floor will be home to state-of-the-art surgical operating rooms. Adventist Health will provide a $15 million loan to finance construction. The company will also spend $40 to purchase imaging and surgical equipment, Dodd said.

“We couldn’t afford both by ourselves,” he said.

But it is vital to have them. The imaging and surgical centers will vastly expand Adventist Health Tulare’s ability to treat patients locally. The signal a new era for the medical center.

“Those two things in combination will give us a new hospital,” Dodd said.

And then there’s the record donation to consider. To maintain suspense until the September 22 announcement, the donor’s name and the amount of the donation are being kept secret.

“I can’t tell you, I can’t tell you,” Dodd said. “It’s part of the surprise of the event. It’s big news to have someone in our community care so much that they’re making a huge donation.”

The generous contribution alone, however, isn’t enough to finish all four stories of the tower expansion and its basement loading docks, workrooms and storage areas. Work toward that ultimate goal continues.

“That’d be a huge donation,” Dodd said. “It’ll help in that direction.”

The post Tulare hospital tower open by ‘28, says CEO appeared first on Valley Voice.

Though the Porterville City Manager sent out a lengthy press release announcing Rivas’ resignation highlighting his accomplishments, no reason was given for his abrupt departure.

“The City of Porterville announces the resignation of District 3 Councilman AJ Rivas from the Porterville City Council, effective August 21, 2026. Councilman Rivas was elected to represent District 3 on November 5, 2024, to a four year term scheduled to conclude on November 7, 2028. During his time on the City Council, Rivas supported investments in public safety, infrastructure, transportation, economic development, and quality of life throughout Porterville,” the release reads.

His resignation came shortly after Desiree Lynch, a candidate for the Stockton City Council, was arrested on allegations that she did not live in the city council district she was seeking to represent.

Rivas has faced similar allegations, and both share the same campaign treasurer – Springville resident Korey Wells, through his company FSLCOM.

FSLCOM’s 2025 website states that it helps “independent and Republican candidates square away their compliance,” and its current website states that it provides campaign compliance services, bookkeeping for organizations subject to “IRS 527” rules, and payroll/1099 accounting services, without any specific restriction on political affiliation.

According to KRCA–TV, Lynch was arrested on multiple felony charges brought by the San Joaquin County District Attorney for, “False filing declaration of candidacy, voter registration violation, and three counts of perjury.”

Lynch was campaigning to represent Stockton City Council District 5; the district attorney’s office claims that Lynch resided in another district entirely.

“The San Joaquin County DA’s Office is accusing Lynch of perjuring herself by registering to vote and filing as a candidate using residential addresses where she did not live,” KCRA’s report stated.

“The DA’s office said investigators determined Lynch was running for Stocking City Council District 5 while residing in Lodi and North Stockton, which are part of Stockton City Council District 1,” it continued.

Lynch has a court date set for September 2 and faces a maximum of six years and eight months in state prison if convicted. Her bail was set at $100,000.

Tulare County Registrar of Voters Michelle Baldwin previously confirmed to the Valley Voice that Rivas changed his voter registration in May 2024.

She did not reveal the address, but it is known that Rivas changed his registration from his home in District 2 on San Lucia, where he lives with his wife, to his daughter’s home on W. Date Ave located in District 3.

In December 2025, a statement credited to Rivas’ campaign stated that he would not resign, and that the law allowed him to “maintain two locations in Porterville” — his daughter’s address and his own — because he is a “former gang-unit corrections officer who has received death threats.” Maintaining the two addresses was for safety, the release stated.

He beat challenger Timothy Vanni in the November 2024 election for District 3 by five votes.

Porterville community members have complained to the Tulare County District Attorney that they believe Rivas is breaking the law.

The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office has not revealed if, or when, it will investigate the allegations against Rivas.

Stuart Anderson, the office’s communications director, declined to comment beyond stating that the district attorney’s office has a standing policy of “not discussing whether an investigation is proceeding.”

Earlier this year, Porterville Resident Brock Neeley filed a California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) complaint against Rivas for not disclosing on California Form 700 that he owned a home on San Lucia – only the address on W. Date.

Candidates must fill out a Form 700 that reveals what their economic interests are in and around the district they represent.

The FPPC said that the San Lucia home did not qualify as an economic interest because it was his private residence.

In an April 2, 2026 response the FPPC wrote,

“After review of the complaint and evidence provided, the Enforcement Division will not pursue an enforcement action in this matter. Your complaint appears to allege violations related to the non-disclosure of real property interests held by the respondent. However, property interests are not required to be disclosed if they are a personal residence of the respondent.”

Greg Shelton, a close associate of Rivas, called the Voice in December 2025 and stated that Rivas lived with his wife on San Lucia Ave.

Shelton said that some people have multiple homes and that what defines residency is where a person is registered to vote.

Not quite, according to Baldwin – to qualify to run in a city council district, the candidate has to live in the district for which they are running.

John Duran, another associate of Rivas’, called the Voice and wanted to know why Rivas’ residence was a focus. The Voice asked if Rivas lived with his daughter in District 3.

“Well, he spends a lot of time there babysitting,” Duran said.

According to the city’s press release, the City Council will “consider the process for filling the District 3 vacancy at the September 1, 2026, City Council meeting. Additional information will be provided as that process moves forward.”

The post Porterville City Council Member AJ Rivas abruptly resigns appeared first on Valley Voice.

A pair of local agencies – the Tulare County Board of Supervisors and the Hanford City Council – hit the brakes on data center construction in their jurisdictions this week. Their actions come on the heels of widespread opposition to a plan to place the centers on county fairgrounds around the state, including in Kings and Tulare counties.

Temporary Data Center Moratorium in Tulare County

In Tulare County, the supervisors voted 4-1 to place a 45-day moratorium on data center construction. The ban could be extended up to two years while planners evaluate the environmental and social impacts. Michael Washam, associate director of the county’s Resource Management Agency, said the county’s current zoning ordinances predate data centers and are likely inadequate to oversee their safe construction and operation.

“Existing zoning ordinances, including Tulare County’s, were developed before these facilities became commonplace and therefore do not specifically address the unique operational characteristics of these types of facilities,” he said. “So without updating regulations, applications could be processed using standards that were never intended for this type of development.”

During Tuesday’s meeting of supervisors, Washam described how data centers differ from other industries and why the county needs time to evaluate their impacts, especially the consumption of resources.

“These differ significantly from traditional commercial industrial development,” Washam said. “Large-scale data centers require significant electrical capacity, significant water resources for cooling systems, extensive backup power generation, large building footprints, specialized utility infrastructure and around-the-clock operations.”

The county has not received formal applications to build data centers or similar facilities, but there is interest in them, Washam said. The county, he added, had to act before an application was filed to prevent it being evaluated using outdated regulations. The temporary moratorium will allow the county to adequately evaluate technical aspects of data center construction.

He also stressed that the moratorium does not mean the county is for or against construction of data centers.

“Rather, it’s about ensuring that the county has adequate time to evaluate and thoughtfully consider this emerging form of development and establish appropriate regulations before projects are submitted under our existing ordinance code,” Washam said. “The proposed interim ordinance is intended to preserve the status quo.”

Residents Fear Noise, Pollution, Higher Utility Bills

The supervisors’ decision was not unanimous. Vice chair Dennis Townsend voted against the temporary moratorium. Townsend wanted a “softer” approach to data centers while staff takes stock of their possible impacts. Further, the county hasn’t defined what a data center is, he said.

Instead of a blanket temporary ban, Townsend urged the board to consider any proposal on a case-by-case basis. That, he said, would allow debate among supervisors and give members of the public an opportunity to comment.

“So maybe if we just say, ‘Hey, if it comes up during the moratorium period, we will immediately put that on the agenda, agendize it and take a position,’” he said. “Not that it’ll be an opposed position, but we will debate that position, take public comment, the whole thing on each one.”

Mariela Loera, a policy advocate for the Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability, took strong opposition to the construction of data centers anywhere in the San Joaquin Valley. Data centers use of resources, she said, will impact low-income communities that are already under pressure.

“These communities already experience significant environmental and social inequities, including limited access to clean drinking water, unreliable electricity service, and poor air quality, all of which will further be strained with the development of data centers,” Loera said. “We also urge the board to go beyond simply regulating these facilities and instead do an analysis of whether data centers make sense at all in the region.”

Porterville resident Faith Ortiz urged the board to consider the actual impacts of data centers on the communities where they have already been built.

“If data centers are permitted in Tulare County, there will be price hikes on utilities, poor water pressure, contaminated, discolored water that will lead to no water, and constant noise pollution radiating from data centers,” she said. “This is not a small possibility. This is not a what-if. It is what’s happening in areas where data centers have been permitted despite public outcry and lawsuits.”

No Data Centers for Hanford

Meanwhile in Hanford, as the city’s zoning ordinances stand today, data centers and edge computing centers are not permitted inside the city limits. At its Tuesday night meeting, the city council declined to consider changing the local zoning regulations. By opting not to include data centers as permissible land use in Hanford, the council effectively banned construction of the centers there.

So for now, data centers cannot be approved in Hanford no matter the circumstances, said assistant city manager Jason Waters. City zoning regulations don’t allow them.

“What that means is that the code doesn’t have any specific language about allowing these types of uses. In those cases, it defaults to them not being allowed. They’re not specific uses that are called out that are allowed in the city limits,” Waters said. “If we were to receive a proposal for a data center that came directly to the city, our comment back would be these are currently not allowed under Hanford Municipal Code.”

However, federal and state agencies that own land inside Hanford’s city limits might not be bound by local zoning laws. Agencies carrying out government functions have been granted blanket land-use jurisdiction that can override local control in certain cases. Should that occur, Hanford City Hall would at least have input as a project is subjected to the state’s rigorous laws on environmental protection. Waters said the city would remain in the loop, though it would have little input.

“Even though it may not require city approval, we would expect them to coordinate with us, because there may be utilities coordination, environmental coordination, that type of thing,” he said.

If Hanford does change its zoning ordinances to allow data centers, it would give city hall much greater influence, according to Waters.

“If this were a private development within the city limits, zoning regulation and development standards would apply,” he said. “We would act as the lead responsible agency, so we would be in charge of the environmental documents in that case, and the city would directly review and act on required applications.”

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“Events like Midnight in Manhattan allow the Sierra View Foundation to turn community support into meaningful investments in local healthcare,” said Debbie Landers, Chairman of the Sierra View Foundation Board of Directors. “When people attend, sponsor, or donate, they are helping us bring new equipment and resources to Sierra View Medical Center that can directly benefit patients throughout Tulare County.”

A Night that Gives Back

Proceeds from Midnight in Manhattan will support the purchase of a new echocardiography (echo) and ultrasound imaging system for Sierra View Medical Center.

The technology provides real-time imaging that can help physicians diagnose and monitor heart conditions. It can also support cancer care by monitoring heart health during chemotherapy, viewing soft tissues, and helping guide biopsies and other procedures.

Big Apple, Big Prizes

Guests can take part in casino-style games throughout the evening to earn tickets for the Skyline Sweepstakes. Those who prefer not to play can also purchase sweepstakes tickets directly during the event.

The Skyline Sweepstakes will feature several high-value prizes, each valued at $500 or more. A sneak peek at this year’s prizes includes a Blackstone Flattop Grill with an ice chest filled with goodies, $500 in J&R Meat Company gift cards, and Ninja appliances, including the Ninja SLUSHi and Ninja DoubleStack Air Fryer.

Save Room for Dessert

The Dessert Auction will also return, featuring a variety of desserts donated by local bakeries, restaurants, and home bakers.

Guests at each table will combine their individual contributions into one table bid. After dinner, the table with the highest total bid will get first choice from the dessert lineup. The remaining tables will select in order based on their total bids, adding a little friendly competition to one of the evening’s favorite traditions.

Your Ticket to Manhattan

Individual tickets are $150 per person and are available through September 3, 2026. Sponsorship opportunities range from $1,000 to $6,000, with benefits that include event tickets and recognition based on sponsorship level.

Those looking for another way to support Midnight in Manhattan can donate a dessert for the Dessert Auction or contribute a large prize for the Skyline Sweepstakes.

Tickets and sponsorships are available at sierra-view.com/midnightinmanhattan. To learn more about donations or other ways to support the event, contact the Sierra View Foundation at (559) 791-3922 or foundation@sierra-view.com.

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In the century since 1926, College of the Sequoias has become the center of higher learning in Visalia. The city itself grew around the Mooney COS location, so it is no longer on the outskirts but in the center, and vital to Visalia’s growth and development.

This year COS will celebrate 100 Years of contributions to the community. As much as any Institution, COS deserves an answer to the question: Where would Visalia be without it?

“Tulare County Voices at 210” intends to explore that question in its latest forum, “COS: A Century of Excellence.”

That is also the title of a new book by COS retired professor of history, Newell Bringhurst who will be among those on hand at the forum at 7 p.m., Tuesday

Sept. 8 at 210 W. Center Ave.

“Tulare County Voices @210” is a monthly public forum in Visalia that has been a space for community discussion for more than 15 years. It is co-sponsored by the Visalia Times-Delta, the Valley Voice and First Presbyterian Church (which provides the venue and live stream.)

Leading the review of the 100 years of College of the Sequoias in Visalia will be college President and Superintendent Brent Calvin.

The discussion will include:

• How has the College changed in the last several decades
• What has stayed consistent throughout the last several decades with an overview of core academic programs
• What are the College’s future developments over the next two decades, including its partnership with Fresno State to bring four-year education to Tulare County

Bringhurst will provide insights from his book that show how COS has made contributions to our community.

There will be ample time for audience members to share their own COS experiences.

Be sure to join us on Sept. 8 as we look back on 100 years of excellence at COS and become part of the community conversation.

The post Tulare County Voices at 210 explores COS: A Century of Excellence appeared first on Valley Voice.

Stump will officially begin his role on Monday, August 24, 2026. Quenzer will remain with the organization through September 4, 2026, supporting a thoughtful transition period to ensure continuity for Club members, families, staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners.

Honoring a Legacy of Leadership

For more than 35 years, Galen Quenzer has dedicated his career to serving children and families throughout the Central Valley. Since becoming Chief Executive Officer in 1999, Quenzer has guided Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias through significant growth, strengthening programs, expanding services, and building partnerships that have helped thousands of young people access safe, supportive places to learn, grow, and succeed.

Following the merger of local Clubs, Quenzer also served for three years as Chief Operations Officer, helping bring teams together and strengthen the organization’s foundation.

Throughout his leadership, Quenzer has been recognized for his compassion, collaborative leadership style, and unwavering belief in the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs. His impact extends beyond the organization, leaving a lasting legacy across the communities served by Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias.

Board President Bill Hoover shared, “BGCS’s success is a testament to Galen Quenzer’s dedicated leadership over the past three decades, during which thousands of young people benefited from his service. Following a comprehensive search in partnership with our national organization, Keith emerged as the unanimous choice to guide us into our next chapter. His proven track record in nonprofit leadership makes him the ideal person to advance our mission of enabling all young people—especially those who need us most—to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.”

Outgoing CEO Galen Quenzer expressed, “My time at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias has been extremely rewarding, and I have benefited as much as the kids we serve. There is nothing more gratifying than watching a kid get involved in a Club, develop caring, positive relationships with staff and fellow members, and develop into a responsible, caring, productive member of the community. It is my hope that, through Keith’s leadership, more and more young people, especially those who need us the most, will experience the supportive, nurturing environment of a Boys & Girls Club. Many people come together to create these experiences and opportunities for kids: caring staff members, board members, donors, and community leaders. I am very thankful for each of these people and for Keith’s willingness to serve his community by leading this organization.”

Welcoming a New Chapter

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias is pleased to welcome Keith R. Stump as its next Chief Executive Officer. Stump joins the organization from Able Inc., where he served as Executive Director.

Keith R. Stump brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience focused on strengthening organizations, building community partnerships, and creating opportunities for children, families, and individuals facing barriers to success. His career has included leadership roles with Fresno Mission, Bethany Global, and Samaritas, where he supported individuals and families experiencing homelessness, vulnerable children and families, foster care and adoption programs, and international humanitarian efforts.

Keith is actively involved in the Central Valley community as Chair of the Visalia Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors and a member of the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County’s Youth Committee. He earned a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Columbia International University. Keith and his wife, Thida, are raising their two sons in Tulare County, where they have built their family and community.

Incoming CEO Keith R. Stump shared, “As I prepare to lead Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias, I look forward to listening, learning, and working alongside staff, volunteers, donors, families, and community partners to build upon the organization’s strong foundation while expanding opportunities for young people across the region.”

Connecting with Our Community

As part of the leadership transition, Stump will spend his first several months connecting with Club members, families, staff, volunteers, donors, community leaders, and partners through conversations across the communities Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias serves.

These conversations will provide an opportunity to listen, learn, celebrate the organization’s history, and strengthen the relationships that have helped make Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias a trusted resource for local youth and families.

While leadership is changing, the mission remains the same. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias will continue building on its strong foundation by expanding opportunities for youth, strengthening community partnerships, and creating positive environments where young people can discover their potential and achieve great futures.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias is dedicated to helping all young people, especially those who need us most, reach their full potential as responsible, caring, and productive citizens. Established in Tulare County in the 1990s, the organization now serves more than 1,900 youth annually through eight Club locations across Tulare and Kings Counties. Club members participate in programs focused on academic success, character and leadership, healthy well-being, workforce readiness, STEM education, athletics, and enrichment in safe, supportive environments.

For more information, visit www.bgcsequoias.org.

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