News

‘Day Without Immigrants’ Demonstration Held in Downtown Modesto

Published

2 weeks ago

February 3, 2025

MODESTO – Along with communities across the country, several people held a ‘Day Without Immigrants’ rally in downtown Modesto.

What began as a group of a few dozen people quickly grew into a few hundred that gathered at Tenth Street Place. The event began with an Aztec dance ceremony, and ended with a march through J Street and finally a gathering at five points.

Many chanted and held signs expressing their viewpoints and waving Mexico and United States flags.

The event encouraged people to close their businesses, not shop, not attend work, or school to show solidarity.

Cars passing the crowd honked in support, while people in downtown businesses came outside to see what was going on. Others on social media criticized the movement.

“If it’s that much better in your home country, why not move back there?” one person commented.

“I’ve said for years, if you’re passionate enough to fly the flag of a country in which you don’t reside, be passionate enough to move there,” another said.

According to the California Budget and Policy Center, more than half of California workers are immigrants, or children of immigrants. That number equals to about 6.1 million workers, making the state the home of the largest amount of immigrant workers.

Statistics compiled in 2023 show the California has more than double the national average of a foreign-born population, and the number of immigrants in the state has been on the rise. The increase is due to many factors, including asylum seekers, people entering through humanitarian programs, and illegal entry into the country.

News

Truck Fire Stalls Highway 99 Traffic in Modesto

Published

14 hours ago

February 14, 2025

Carlos Rodriguez

MODESTO – A burning pickup truck with an attached trailer sent a large plume of black smoke into the air Friday evening, stalling traffic on Highway 99.

At about 6:30pm emergency crews were dispatched to the area of Southbound Highway 99 near the Kansas Avenue exit for a report of a vehicle on fire. Arriving firefighters found a pickup truck with a trailer that was engulfed in fire on the right shoulder.

Early reports indicate the driver was able to exit the vehicle. At time of publication traffic was backed up nearly to Salida.

News

Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle on the Carpenter Overpass

Published

17 hours ago

February 14, 2025

Carlos Rodriguez

MODESTO – Emergency crews responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle Friday afternoon.

The collision happened shortly after 3:45pm on the Carpenter overcrossing at Highway 99. Arriving police officers located a pedestrian with a significant head injury losing consciousness.

Southbound traffic on the bridge is expected to be closed. Motorists should seek an alternate route.

News

Suspect in Stockton Double Homicide Captured by US Marshals

Published

21 hours ago

February 14, 2025

Carlos Rodriguez

STOCKTON – A man wanted in connection for the deaths of a mother and her son just days before Christmas has been captured in Mexico, officials reported this week.

Julio Valdez was located and arrested on February 11th in Rosarito, Mexico by members of a US Marshals Task Force along with Mexico Regional Police. He was taken into custody without incident.

On December 23rd, 2024 officers with the Stockton Police Department were called to the 2500 block of Belleview Street for a report of two unresponsive persons. They located two victims who were pronounced deceased at the scene, later identified as Alicia Montejano and her son Reuel Huerta.

Valdez is expected to be extradited back to San Joaquin County. The investigation is ongoing.