Events, education and opportunities: Bee coverage in Modesto, Stanislaus, beyond
Modesto Bee reporters covered a wide range of community stories this week, from a local student heading to CERN in Geneva to a city budget shaped by overseas conflict. Here’s a roundup of community journalism from across Stanislaus County and beyond.
Here are key takeaways:
- California payday lenders made more than 5.8 million loans worth over $1.65 billion in 2024, with nearly 60% of licensees serving customers receiving government assistance, trapping many Stanislaus County residents in debt cycles with average APRs around 372%.
- Modesto Junior College graduate Abdul Ahad of Riverbank is heading to Geneva on May 27 to conduct particle physics research at CERN, becoming the first MJC student in the ATLAS experiment program after receiving a $6,000 National Science Foundation grant and a $1,500 MJC scholarship.
- Members of Urban Forestry Modesto, the Sierra Club and the Stanislaus Audubon Society gathered at Tuolumne River Regional Park to create a native plant garden around a 250-year-old oak trunk, aiming to restore riparian plants and bring back insects to the ecosystem.
- Modesto’s total proposed budget is $674.9 million for the upcoming fiscal year, with a $15.1 million general fund deficit blamed partly on inflation and the war in Iran driving up costs for parts, fuel and professional services contracts.
- Camp Tuolumne Trails in Groveland is closing after 18 years of serving individuals with disabilities, and its 80-acre property is now listed for sale at $6.49 million after founder Jerry Baker was diagnosed with brain cancer and suffered a stroke in spring 2025.
- Modesto Porchfest returns Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. with 150 bands or artists performing on stages outside 93 homes in the La Loma, College and downtown neighborhoods, with the three founders handing leadership to a new team of five community members this year.
- The Modesto City Council unanimously approved converting El Capitan Motel into 48 low-cost studio apartments using an $18.7 million state grant, housing 24 military veterans and 24 clients of Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services with rent capped at $547 a month.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.