The San Joaquin Valley Connect is a daily publication of the Great Valley Center's Energy Program and is designed to keep you informed about what's happening in your region. You have been subscribed because of your interest in regional happenings and energy efficiency in the San Joaquin Valley. If you do not wish to receive this daily newsletter click here to manage your subscription.

Growth-restricting deal earns Stockton a rare spot among green cities
It was before the bar opened at the Local Government Commission's 18th annual conference for local elected officials, and Stockton City Manager Gordon Palmer and City Councilwoman Susan Eggman were addressing an audience interested in making cities more compact, walkable and green.
Stockton Record article

Bill would aid Hmong family farms in Valley
A state lawmaker is nearing a deal with labor unions on a bill that would allow Southeast Asian growers to forgo workers' compensation coverage of family members.
Fresno Bee article

Tomato growers see demand but water is a question
After an extraordinary jump in tomato exports in 2008, California canneries are paying record prices and asking farmers to deliver a record crop.
Merced Sun-Star article

Will people buy ‘green’?
Earth Day will be here in just a few weeks. Is it smart to stock up on green inventory to capitalize on the annual tribute to all things environmental?
Bakersfield Californian column

Banks exchange cash for keys to get people out of foreclosed property
Realtor Warren Ash spends most of his time these days doing the bank’s bidding. He’s among a group of real estate professionals who work on behalf of banks and interact with occupants — former owners or present renters — on foreclosed properties.
Bakersfield Californian article

Valley health foundation may close
Dwindling funding may force the 37-year-old San Joaquin Valley Health Consortium to close, a board member said last week.
Fresno Bee article

Frost devastates Central Valley almonds
As much as 50 million pounds of almonds may have been lost to frost in the San Joaquin Valley, the California Farm Bureau Federation says.
Central Valley Business Times article

Amid tight budgets, many are growing food
Industry surveys show double-digit growth in the number of home gardeners this year and mail-order companies report such a tremendous demand that some have run out of seeds for basic vegetables such as onions, tomatoes and peppers.
Merced Sun-Star article

Job, home losses are crippling schoolkids
In one day, Salida Middle School Principal Shannon Kettering encountered three students having difficulty coping with their family's financial struggles.
Modesto Bee article

Stem cell foundry site now UC Merced
UC Merced's 4-year-old Science and Engineering Building will be getting a face-lift as part of a plan to bring the university's stem cell research facilities to the core campus.
Modesto Bee article

F&M Bank moves into Merced, fills void
Banks may be closing their doors across the country from Merced to Maryland, but some are opening them.
Merced Sun-Star article

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