Good morning, Stockton.
A new Stockton City Council race is already drawing comparisons to one of the city’s more unusual campaign tactics from recent years.
Michael Fitzgerald takes a closer look at the campaign surrounding City Council candidate Jessica Toccoli, drawing comparisons to controversial races and “ghost candidate” accusations from past election cycles. His latest column examines how the race is unfolding and why it’s already generating attention well before Election Day.
Elsewhere, San Joaquin County is preparing to open satellite government offices in Lodi aimed at serving north county residents with services like passports, marriage licenses and vital records. We also have a Memorial Day weekend Things to Do guide packed with events across the region. And the Stockton Animal Shelter has paused intakes and adoptions after a contagious illness prompted a quarantine and deep-cleaning efforts.
Thanks for starting your morning with us. We’re grateful to keep telling Stockton’s stories.
Daniel Garza
Stocktonia content coordinator
Today’s top story
Mike Fitzgerald: The strangely familiar ‘ghost’ campaign of Jessica Toccoli
By Michael Fitzgerald • Stocktonia
If Stockton’s political campaigns of 2024 were a bad movie, this year’s City Council race is a sequel: “Ghost Candidate II: Jessica Toccoli.”
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Satellite government offices opening in Lodi to serve north San Joaquin County. Here’s what to expect
San Joaquin County plans to open a Lodi service center in 2027, offering vital records, passports and wedding services to north county residents.
Things to Do: Memorial Day edition | May 22–25, 2026
It’s Memorial Day weekend, so we’ve got an extra day of fun for your calendar of events.
Lodi Blooms brings ‘the first taste of summer’ to your door
In 1912, the Chinchiolo family immigrated from Sicily Italy to Boston. A year later, the Chinchiolo Fruit Company was born, producing grapes, figs, celery, pears and cherries.
Stockton Animal Shelter halts intakes, adoptions after strep zoo case
The Stockton Animal Shelter has temporarily stopped taking in stray animals and processing adoptions after a case of Streptococcus zooepidemicus was detected in the shelter population, prompting a two-week quarantine and full disinfection of the facility.
Top California news
A ‘super El Niño’? Why it’s too early to forecast one with certainty, but not too soon to prepare
Here’s what we know, what we don’t and why regions should begin preparing now, even if a strong El Niño never fully materializes.
Nancy Pelosi finally endorses a potential successor
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has endorsed Connie Chan to replace her in Congress, reversing her earlier decision to stay out of the contentious race.