Valley Voice

10/03/2026

https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2026/10/02/candidates-for-cos-board-of-trustees-ward-5-talk-issues/

Two candidates have entered the race for the Ward 5 seat on the College of the Sequoias’ Board of Trustees: John Lehn, the incumbent seeking a third term, and Susie Nava, a first-time candidate and COS alumna. On Nov. 3, voters in Hanford will decide who represents them on the five-member College ...

10/03/2026

https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2026/10/02/donnas-calendar-of-events-32/

Live Theater College of the Sequoias presents “Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead,” a tragi-comedy about two minor characters in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” runs Oct. 8-17 in the COS Theatre, 915 S. Mooney, Visalia. Facebook: College of the Sequoias Performing Arts Art shows Arts Visalia exh...

10/02/2026

With a bigger population of Visalians and a well-maintained airport, the city is considering bringing commercial airlines back. If the city decides to bring air service back, and the candidates who respond to the RFP are worth working with, then the city will send its recommendation to the USDOT; the feds will ultimately pick Visalia’s newest airline.

All the candidate companies are small carriers hoping to expand: Surf Air, Advanced Air, Boutique Air, Contour Airlines and Flight Level Aviation, which is Fresno-based. Miller said the airlines all understand what the city and the feds expect.

Commercial air travel could return to the Visalia Municipal Airport after a long 10 years without passenger service. A final decision is still pending, however, and it lies in the hands of the US Department of Transportation (USDOT).   Passenger Flights or Cash? After the relationship with the last...

10/02/2026

The Valley Voice comes out tonight!!

Would you bring an iced coffee to a job interview? Welcome to Coffeegate. It’s the sequel to the debate over avocado toast and why Gen Z cannot afford a home.

Former CA Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton went head to head on the issues Wednesday in a debate on CNN.

Mr. Hilton said of Mr. Becerra, “All you ever say is ‘Trump, Trump, Trump. That’s nothing but an insult to every Californian who is desperate for something to change in this state.”

Mr. Becerra's quotable moment was on the issue of immigration.

Mr. Hilton said “I’m an immigrant. My parents were immigrants, from Hungary to England, so I want to make sure that we protect our legal immigrant communities and we enforce the law.”

In response, Mr. Becerra said, “Here’s the problem I have with your policies: You seem to welcome immigrants who look like you, but deport immigrants who look like me,” said Mr. Becerra, whose parents immigrated from Mexico.

On the local front, one of the most watched Congressional races in the nation will be getting some air time. Challenger Randy Villegas running for Congressional District 22 will be debating incumbent David Valadao next Tuesday, October 6.

But set your T.V. to record because the Congressional debate is at the same time as the League of Women Voter’s forum on the propositions! Do you know how you are going to vote on the 14 statewide propositions? No? Then you better show up at the TCOE building on Tuesday at 5:30! See details in this issue of the Valley Voice.

Also in this week’s issue are interviews with College of the Sequoia’s Trustee candidates for Ward 5 with Incumbent John Lehn and challenger Susie Nava. Read how they stand on the issues. Martin Velasco-Ramos will be interviewing the candidates for Ward 1 and 2 for our October 15 issue.

The Visalia Municipal Airport might be seeing commercial flights again in 2027. Dave Adalian writes who is submitting bids and how the Visalia City Council is going forward with the issue.

October is a busy news month. Don’t miss any of the entertainment, ag, health or education news in this week’s issue of the Valley Voice!!

09/30/2026

09/30/2026

The Mid-Kings River GSA announces Prop 218 Assessment Passes With 83% Support

"Today, Mid-Kings River GSA stakeholders made an important decision for the future of local groundwater management.

The proposed Prop 218 assessment passed with 83% yes votes.

Thank you to every stakeholder who participated in this public process. Whether you read the materials, attended a workshop, asked questions, submitted comments, returned a ballot, or helped a neighbor understand the information, your participation mattered.

This result gives Mid-Kings River GSA the foundation needed to begin building the capacity required for the work ahead.

That work includes staffing, administration, public communication, Watermark support, monitoring, reporting, program development, and the continued coordination needed to meet SGMA requirements and support a local path forward.

Passing the assessment does not immediately end probation, and it does not solve every groundwater challenge overnight. It does give the GSA the ability to begin functioning with the tools, structure, and support needed to better serve stakeholders and continue working toward compliance.

We are grateful for the trust placed in this process, and we understand the responsibility that comes with it.

As this next phase begins, Mid-Kings River GSA will continue sharing information, answering questions, and helping stakeholders prepare for groundwater allocations and Watermark tracking beginning October 1.

Thank you for showing up, staying engaged, and participating in this community decision.

The work continues. Now we begin building the capacity to do it."

09/29/2026

Prop 218 Public Hearing Tuesday

Tomorrow, Mid-Kings River GSA property owners will make an important local decision about how the GSA will be funded and whether it will have the capacity to carry out its groundwater management responsibilities.

The Proposition 218 Public Hearing Is Tomorrow
Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 1:00 p.m., Kings County Government Center, Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1400 West Lacey Boulevard, Hanford, California

The Proposition 218 ballot asks property owners whether they support authorizing a land-based assessment at a maximum rate of $26.84 per assessable acre.

A yes vote supports authorizing the assessment.

A no vote opposes authorizing the assessment.

Ballots are weighted according to the proposed assessment assigned to each property. The weighted value of the yes ballots returned will be compared with the weighted value of the no ballots returned.

Funding Creates Capacity

If approved, the assessment would fund the fixed costs of operating Mid-Kings River GSA, including staff, office operations, groundwater monitoring, Watermark, required reporting, technical support, stakeholder assistance, and other services identified in the Engineer’s Report.

The proposed maximum is not automatically charged every year. The Board would review the GSA’s budget and financial needs annually during a public meeting and could adopt a lower rate.

Return Your Ballot Before the Hearing Concludes

Ballots must be received before the public hearing concludes. A postmark does not meet the deadline.

At this point, please do not rely on the mail to deliver your ballot in time. You may:

Use the elections drive-up drop box at the Kings County Government Center near Building 7. Please use the elections drop box, not the payment drop box.
Hand-deliver your ballot at the public hearing before it concludes.

Please make sure you have clearly marked either yes or no and signed the ballot where indicated.

If you need a replacement ballot, call MK Election Services immediately at (209) 259-6740.