Modesto tops today’s chatter as California’s Stanislaus County seat; big city, small‑town vibe, ~201k (2010). Local news in focus, not a scandal.
A series of severe weather events has impacted the US, with tornadoes damaging homes in Oklahoma and rare tornadoes occurring in California. Midwest states face ongoing thunderstorms, flooding, and lightning, with authorities warning that these conditions will persist into the weekend and more storms will develop.
National data through 2025 show reading declines in most districts since 2015, while math has improved in many districts; Modesto stands out for sustained local gains amid broader national declines in reading.