Newsom’s final year in office begins with $18B deficit
In 2019, first-year Gov. Gavin Newsom inherited a state flush with cash. With a $21.4 billion budget surplus to play with, an ambitious Newsom invested billions in affordable housing, child care and health care expansion while paying down the state’s...
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Water rescue at Dry Creek
Five people were treated for dehydration and hypothermia Monday after being rescued from flood waters in the northern part of the county. San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the report of a group of homeless individuals trapped...
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Lodi City Council will discuss selling park, which has been considered before
Once a location of concern due to homelessness, a city park may find itself in the hands of a local contractor. The Lodi City Council will discuss selling Lawrence Park to Diede Construction during closed session before it meeting Wednesday. Because...
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Lodi’s Second Act of 2025
The News-Sentinel is looking back at the top local stories of 2025. Part 2 covers July through December. The dates listed are when the stories appeared in the NewsSentinel, followed by the headline that accompanied the respective stories and a brief...
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A look back at Lodi’s headline grabbers
The News-Sentinel is looking back at the top local stories of 2025. Part 1 covers January through June. The dates listed are when the stories appeared in the NewsSentinel, followed by the headline that accompanied the respective stories and a brief...
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Police investigating Lodi’s first homicide of 2025
Lodi Police Department detectives are investigating the motives behind two shootings over the weekend that injured one person and left another dead. Officers responded to the report of of two explosions — possibly gunshots — on the 800 block of West...
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Storms compromised Lodi Access Center structure
The Lodi Access Center’s 46 clients weathered this week’s storms by spending two nights at the Salvation Army as a safety precaution, officials said. Access center director Johnny Coughran said while the structure at 710 N. Sacramento Street suffered...
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How about s’more kindness?
It’s been 10 years since Pastor Robert T. Schlipp launched the A Community Transformed — or ACT — Project, aimed at encouraging Lodi youngsters to identify real needs in the lives of others and finding solutions to them through an essay...
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Tamal in the family
Stacks of corn husks and big bowls of masa and meat fill the tables. Family fills the house and steam fills the air. That’s how you know it’s a tamalada, a Christmastime gathering to make tamales for Christmas Eve. Every family’s style of tamales is...
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Database reveals violations at Lodi Memorial
A Bay Area newspaper has created an online tool for the public to see if their local health care facilities have state regulatory violations in the last three years, and a local hospital has been cited for more than a dozen. Using AI to gather...
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A Dip in the Numbers
Though the Mokelumne River Hatchery is teeming with eggs right now, its salmon spawning season ended this week with a lower number of returning Chinook than the past two years. “We came off of two years of record-setting runs, and we were expecting to...
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A vision of hope
He’s been screamed at, cursed at, and his life has been threatened. Yet, he accepts the verbal abuse and ungracious attitudes as a part of the job of director at the Lodi Access Center. It comes with the line of work he’s in. He says it’s a...
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Intersection of concern
Another intersection with a history of safety concerns may soon receive traffic calming measures. The Lodi City Council during a special meeting Monday directed staff to return with safety recommendations for the Crescent Avenue and Oak Street...
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Exposing the mealybug
Vineyard researchers group up during a site visit to a Lodi vineyard in September. Out in Lodi’s vineyards, investigators searched for evidence with a UV light. It revealed thousands of bubblegum pink dots. From afar, they might seem like specks of...
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Pedaling the Christmas spirit
Christmas came early for nearly 1,000 children over the weekend after Lodi Adopt-AChild bestowed them with bicycles, scooters, LEGOs and other toys. Saturday was the nonprofit’s 35th annual Christmas Wish Program, where underprivileged families gather...
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A light in the dark
Even in the dark, a light shines at the corner of the driveway at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home. There, a small wooden box labeled “Little Free Grief Library” beckons to those driving into the cemetery. It was funeral director Tori Monforte’s idea to...
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Bigger piece of the pie: Guantonio’s expanding
Since it opened its doors at 600 W. Lockeford St. five years ago, Guantonio’s Wood Fired Pizza has become one of the most popular eateries in Lodi. On some nights during the week, passersby can spot long lines of customers outside the entryway,...
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A work in progress
Costs for the City of Lodi’s new animal shelter have not significantly increased since plans were approved two years ago, officials said this week. The Lodi City Council last week approved on its consent calendar an amendment to a services agreement...
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Next stop, Lodi: Midday Amtrak service reinstated
Every weekday at about 11:42 a.m., a familiar face has begun rolling into Lodi’s station. Tall and silver with blue and yellow stripes, the Amtrak Gold Runner trains started seeing daylight in Lodi on Monday. In the wake of pandemic Amtrak service...
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Old plans get new life
A once-controversial housing project in the Heritage District is breathing new life this week as the applicant has decided to remove its “affordable” status. The Site Plan and Architectural Review Committee will once again consider approving a...
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Lodi’s Tree of Lights ceremony a celebration of life
For more than three decades, dozens of Lodians have gathered on Pine Street, anxiously waiting to see hundreds of blue, red, yellow and green lights illuminate the 80-foot tall tree outside City Hall. Some even search a “memory board,” looking for the...
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‘Excited to get down to work’
With Ramón Yepez’s appointment as mayor, a city that is 40% Hispanic will have its first Hispanic and Latino mayor. The Lodi City Council unanimously voted to appoint Yepez as mayor and Mikey Hothi as vice mayor at their meeting Wednesday night, as...
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Clean-flowing funds
The county’s top law enforcement official rewarded some of Lodi’s best environmental investigators this week with a donation to help with equipment and excursions. On a cold Tuesday afternoon, San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas presented...
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A grand addition
The oldest elementary school in Galt unveiled the newest addition to campus this week that will provide more space and a more inviting learning environment to its third-grade students. The Galt Joint Union Elementary School District and staff at...
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‘I can’t believe this happened’
Lodi Unified School District Superintended Neil Young announced Sunday that counseling and mental health professionals will be on all 53 campuses this week in the wake of a mass shooting at a Stockton banquet hall Saturday that left three children and...
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Minding their business
The Lodi Chamber of Commerce is promising an evening of modern elegance and high-energy celebration next month as it honors local businesses, ambassadors and individuals at its annual dinner and awards night. The chamber’s annual gala will be held at...
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‘Overload with fun, joy and smiles’
The Salvation Army, the Lodi Access Center and LOEL Senior Center will all offer free or low-cost Thanksgiving meals this week. It’s a busier year in the wake of cuts to federal food benefits, according to Maj. Richard Pease of the Salvation Army in...
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New court of the block
The courts at Hale Park will get a makeover this spring, giving Lodi its first soccer court. Lodi City Council approved up to $180,000 for the project at a meeting last Wednesday, most of which will go towards resurfacing all of the courts at the...
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‘Overwhelmed and humbled’
A Lodi family at the forefront of community service had their life turned upside down Friday morning when a fire destroyed their home and took the lives of three pets. Vintage Church pastor Timothy Stewart said he and and his family of seven were fast...
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‘Thank you for standing watch’
Lodi resident Mike Thomas held back tears Tuesday as he described the end of a colleague’s life during his last mission as a sniper in the Vietnam War. Thomas, who served with the U.S. Marines from 19681970, was the keynote speaker at the American...
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Holiday transformation
As the holiday season approaches, the Downtown Lodi Business Alliance is planning a month-long celebration that brings a winter wonderland to the heart of the city. The alliance has a number of events and features scheduled for School Street and the...
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Lodi City Council backs local wine tax
Lodi city leaders this week said an assessment fee to be levied on local wineries was a much-needed boost to promote the region’s struggling tourist industry. The Lodi City Council unanimously approved a resolution consenting to the establishment of...
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Passage of Prop 50 splits Lodi into three congressional districts
STOCKTON — California voters have overwhelmingly supported Prop 50, but the race is much closer in San Joaquin County, which will be split into five congressional districts — three in Lodi — for the 2026 midterms and subsequent elections through...
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With little help on the way, an invasive species poses a major economic threat to the Delta region
Spurts of goo oozed between Jeff Wingfield’s fingers as he methodically crushed a handful of golden mussels, popping the shells of the tiny invaders like bubblewrap. “You can just push your way right through them,” said Wingfield from the dock where...
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Sherman convicted of murder in Downtown Lodi shooting
A Stockton man accused of murdering a homeless man in Downtown Lodi was found guilty on Monday. Scott Sherman was convicted of first-degree murder in the drug- and alcohol-fueled shooting death of Felix Makinano on Oct, 3, 2023. The jury also found...
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Order up: New Pietro’s to open on Saturday, Nov. 8
Days after announcing its Kettleman Lane location would be closing its doors, Pietro’s Trattoria has revealed the grand opening of its new digs across town. The restaurant will officially open its 282 Rocky Lane location on Saturday, Nov. 8 at...
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A weighty proposition
The San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters expects another smooth election next week as voters decide whether or not to draw new congressional district boundaries. Registrar Olivia Hale said her staff is currently reviewing all final details for...
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Framing the future through the past
Mayor Cameron Bregman brought Lodi back to its past at his State of the City event Wednesday morning. His remarks and speaker selections focused on how past leaders’ decisions have shaped both prosperity and hardships in Lodi. In particular, Bregman...
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California wants to overhaul high school learning
At CART High near Fresno, there is no gum stuck to the floor. The saffron-yellow walls are unmarred by graffiti. Toting laptops, students file calmly down spacious, lightfilled hallways to classes like biotechnology and digital marketing. There’s no...
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A salute to veterans
The keynote speaker at the American Legion Post 22’s annual Veterans Day ceremony this year is a Lodi resident whose service in the Marines is detailed in a recent book and who is currently looking for others to share their experiences in the Armed...
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Catch them if you can
On a crisp Lodi Lake afternoon in 2003, the Flames had just lit a spark. One-by-one, girls in bright red jerseys came rushing across the finish line. It was the first time in nearly a decade that the Lodi High School girls varsity team had won a league...
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Hungry for a deal
More than 130,000 San Joaquin County residents who need food assistance could be affected by the government shutdown if lawmakers do not return to work in Washington D.C. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday that he was going to set aside $80...
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Digging into the future
The Lodi Unified School District will be developing a five-year strategic plan in the near future, and will begin the planning process next spring. The district’s board of education voted 5-0 to approve the process Tuesday, which will include...
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Livable, Lovable, Drinkable: Lodi unveils ‘No Reservations’
Lodi’s top wine authority is hoping its latest effort to promote the industry will attract a new generation of Anthony Bourdains to the region. The Lodi Winegrape Commission announced this week that it has launched “No Reservations,” a marketing...
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‘Finding your inner light’
Starting at noon this Saturday, the halls of Cesar Chavez High School in Stockton will be aglow with the spirit of Diwali, a fiveday festival of lights celebrated by many South Asian religions. The free event will feature dance performances, vendors...
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A case of fool’s gold
Lodi Pawn and Jewelry was open for business Friday, just one day after a crew of suspected international jewel thieves were arrested on the premises. Owner Manpreet Ghuane said the thieves were able to jam the internet to the building and cut a hole...
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A heist halted in Lodi
A suspected international jewelry theft ring was thwarted in Lodi on Thursday morning as four people were arrested during an attempted burglary at Lodi Pawn, located at Lodi and Lee avenues. Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Amar Gandhi...
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Hitching up to history
More than 600 people turned out at Micke Grove Regional Park last weekend for Tractor Fest to celebrate the Central Valley’s agricultural history. The San Joaquin County Historical Society said the crowd was the largest attendance in the event’s...
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Bonded by service
A Lodi veteran is hosting a community gathering next month to hear the experiences of others who have served in the military, and he’s looking for more men and women to share their stories. Michael Thomas has nearly 10 veterans confirmed for his event...
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Serving up Lodi’s restaurant scene
Visit Lodi will be shining a spotlight on the city’s culinary talent early next year, and is inviting all local restaurants to show the region what they are cooking. The organization on Monday announced the launch of the first Lodi Restaurant Week, a...
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The wind to blow in Lodi
Two former area residents will have their dreams come full circle later this month when an independent film screens for a week at Lodi Stadium 12. John Schimke has always been interested in movies, making his own short films with friends around Lodi...
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Galt tackles bike safety with ordinance
GALT — Youngsters on bicycles or motorized scooters could face fines if not riding them safely or properly on the streets of Galt. The Galt City Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted an urgency ordinance to regulate the use of bicycles, electric...
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A return to tradition Parade’s return to C Street sparks debate in Galt
Galt’s city parades will be returning to C Street after a two-year hiatus. After testimony from half a dozen resident and business owners, the Galt City Council unanimously approved a new parade route on Tuesday. The new route will be similar to the...
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The road to recovery
Outreach Ministries International has helped dozens of homeless individuals transition into temporary housing from the Lodi access center over the last year. One of those is a native Lodian who had been living at a local encampment and recovering from...
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California braces for ‘devastating’ expected cuts to federal homeless housing funds
The latest blow in a seemingly endless barrage of bad news for the California agencies tasked with fighting homelessness looms: President Donald Trump’s administration is expected to deeply cut federal funding for permanent housing. The news has sent...
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Locally sourced funding
Wineries in Galt, Thornton, Elk Grove and Herald have signed on to a proposed improvement district designed to promote the region’s industry. The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors will conduct another public hearing on Tuesday to consider...
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Lion’s share of the work
The Lodi Lions Club has raised funds to make a variety of improvements at Emerson Park over the years, and it will be celebrating the latest round of upgrades this weekend The club is inviting the community to an Emerson Park grand opening on Sunday,...
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The no-deal fallout
John Lauretig remembers the filthy bathrooms, the overflowing trash cans and the community of people who rallied to clean up Joshua Tree National Park the last time the U.S. Government shut down. For more than a month from December 2018 through...
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The historic mark
Earlier this month, Lodi City Councilwoman Lisa Craig-Hensley told the NewsSentinel she intends to introduce a historical preservation ordinance that would delay demolition of the Sunset Theater. The 75-year-old building was purchased over the summer...
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Was shooting at bowling alley part of crime surge in area?
The Lodi Police Department on Monday night said a shooting that took place the night prior on Sacramento Street appears to be gang-related. Officers responded to the Lodi Bowling Bar and Lounge on North Sacramento Street at 8:17 p.m. Sunday and and...
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