Kevin Valine
The Modesto Bee
Modesto, CA, United States
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Past articles by Kevin:
Grand jury says Modesto fixing problems that lead to $16M in overspending
Modesto, California has taken major steps in fixing the breakdown in its purchasing practices that resulted in about $16 million in unauthorized spending for goods and services. → Read More
Big Valley pastor announces his run for Modesto mayor
The senior pastor of Big Valley Grace Community Church — which is one of Modesto’s biggest churches — confirmed Monday that he is running for mayor in the November 2020 election. → Read More
Council members question Modesto’s spending on food for employee meals, events
Two Modesto, California, council members ask whether the city can reduce the $80,000 it spends annually on food and beverages on employees to spend money on essentials for residents. → Read More
Modesto nonprofit and its disabled workers get second chance to vie for city work
United Cerebral Palsy of Stanislaus County, California, will get another chance to complete for an agreement with Modesto that brings in money for one of its job programs. → Read More
Modesto trash pickup delayed one day for Fourth of July
Modesto says businesses and residents who have their garbage picked up Thursdays and Fridays can expect a one-day delay because of Thursday’s Fourth of July holiday. → Read More
Why Modesto’s effort to plant 5,000 trees ended with rising costs and dead trees
Modesto was proud when it received a $326,940 grant in 2015 to plant 5,000 trees. But with the city’s costs higher than expected and the deaths of many of the trees, the city ended the grant early. → Read More
Want to rent an average apartment in Modesto? Here’s how much it’ll cost you
Housing costs in Modesto, California continue to climb, with the average apartment rent reaching $1,215 in May, according to RentCafe, a nationwide apartment search website. That is up 5.5 percent since May 2018. → Read More
Fatal airplane crashes strike Modesto-area family twice in 13 years
The family of Modesto, California, pilot who crashed into Lake Tulloch on Sunday thanks friends for prayers and support but asks for privacy until funeral arrangements have been made. → Read More
Missing pilot who crashed in Lake Tulloch is Modesto-area man
The pilot of the yellow single-engine airplane that hit power lines before crashing into Lake Tulloch late Sunday morning is a Modesto-area resident. → Read More
Fire station could close a third of the time as Turlock looks to balance its budget
Turlock could start feeling the pain of its deficit spending from recent years as it considers closing one of its fire stations about a third of the time to help balance its budget. → Read More
Preliminary hearing set for defendant in Newman officer slaying
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for the defendant in the slaying of Newman police Cpl. Ronil Singh, in which a judge will determine if there is enough evidence for a trial. → Read More
West Modesto residents raise question of fairness with city over kids’ recreation
The city turned its splash fountains on this weekend at eight parks so kids can keep cool on hot days. But west Modesto residents say they are waiting for splash fountains at Mellis Park. → Read More
Republicans line up to challenge Democrat Harder for Congress next year
Freshman Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, is facing four Republican challengers as well as a Democratic one in his campaign for re-election in 2020. → Read More
Where will Modesto’s homeless go when shelter opens and there’s not enough room?
Stanislaus County and Modesto have a math problem. They are building a 180-bed shelter to replace a homeless camp with 400 people and need to figure out where those without a bed will go. → Read More
Modesto officials intrigued with downtown hotel plan, but lots of questions remain
Modesto officials are interested in learning more about a proposal for a downtown hotel envisioned as drawing more conventions and visitors here. But lots of questions remain to be answered. → Read More
After three years, Modesto mayor gives State of City address. Here’s what he had to say
Mayor Ted Brandvold’s first state of the city address since taking office three years ago was the equivalent of comfort food as he talked about what makes Modesto special. → Read More
Annual Stanislaus count turns up record number of homeless people
This year’s count of homeless people in Stanislaus County tallied a record 1,923 people — including 250 children — staying in shelters and transitional housing as well as sleeping outside. → Read More
More help for low-income residents: Modesto doesn’t have to repay HUD $1.2M, after all
Modesto won’t have to repay HUD $1.2 million and is working to resolve how much of an additional $700,000 it may owe. The potential repayment is from an audit that faulted the city. → Read More
Modesto mayor uses Facebook to throw shade at colleagues after contentious meeting
Modesto Mayor Ted Brandvold used Facebook to throw some shade at some of his City Council members two days after a nasty, contentious council discussion about the city auditor. → Read More
How simple tasks reveal a big rift among Modesto council members
Modesto City council members squabbled Tuesday night over what should have been a relatively simple task — appointing themselves to various committees and boards → Read More