POLICY & POLITICS
Unemployment rates in Fresno, Valley dip to historic lows for 2018
Fresno Bee
Fresno’s average yearly unemployment rate for 2018 reached its lowest point in at least 28 years, and rates across its neighboring central San Joaquin Valley counties dipped to new post-recession lows not seen for a decade or more.
See also:
· California Employment Report for December 2018 California Center for Jobs & the Economy
North SJ Valley:
Strange bedfellows: Harder praises Trump, Denham for work to keep water for farmers
Merced Sun-Star
When it comes to water, the lifeblood of the Central Valley, Democrats don’t have all the answers. So says freshman Representative Josh Harder, suddenly one of the most powerful Democrats in these parts.
Why new Congressman Harder was at school on a Sunday
Fresno Bee
Members of the Iron Patriots, Beyer High School’s robotics team, got a visit Sunday afternoon from Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, as they worked toward upcoming contests they hope will earn them a third trip to the FIRST Robotics Competition world championships.
See also:
● Harder hears from robotics students Modesto Bee
Central SJ Valley:
Fresno County court sues union in attempt to end court reporter strike
Fresno Bee
The Fresno County Superior Court filed a lawsuit against the union representing its court reporters in an ongoing labor strike, claiming the union violated a previous agreement and asking a judge to deem the strike illegal.
Government shutdown 2019: Veterans’ groups call for end to stalemate
Visalia Times-Delta
Several prominent veterans’ groups held a rare, joint press conference calling for an end to the government shutdown, saying tens of thousands of veterans in the federal workforce are facing increasingly difficult financial hardships as they go without pay.
20-year-old Latina on Kingsburg council inspired by Ocasio-Cortez, women leaders
Fresno Bee
After 20-year-old Jewel Hurtado got elected to Kingsburg’s City Council, some negative comments on social media – including accusations she had cheated – tried to discredit her victory.
Experts at Roger Tatarian Symposium will discuss ways to put ‘fake news in the rear view mirror’
Fresno State Institute for Media and Public Trust
The symposium will also include an expert panel of top journalists discussing fake news, misinformation and other media issues.
South SJ Valley:
Grove named Republican leader in Democrat-dominated State Senate
Bakersfield Californian
State Sen. Shannon Grove, less than a month into her new job, was elected minority leader of that chamber last week, making her the third consecutive woman to hold the post, and the second from Bakersfield.
DA dismisses allegations of retaliation against prosecutors who supported her opponent in election
Bakersfield Californian
In the months leading up to her election as district attorney, Cynthia Zimmer promised to initiate change with a renewed focus on aggressive prosecutions and a determination to tamp down gang violence that has beleaguered the community.
See also:
● Price: Jagels’ presence sure to embolden Zimmer’s legislative sword Bakersfield Californian
Supervisors unanimously vote to cancel plan that would have brought crude oil trains through Kern
KGET
More than four years after the board of supervisors unanimously approved the Alon Bakersfield Crude Flexibility Project, supervisors voted unanimously to cancel the project. The plan proposed to bring two trains filled with crude oil into Bakersfield on a daily basis.
State:
With a ballot fight looming, Gov. Gavin Newsom suggests dealmaking to revamp California’s tax system
Los Angeles Times
The deal he has in mind would result in a sweeping overhaul of the state’s tax system. The incentive, he told reporters earlier this month, is a looming ballot measure that would raise commercial property taxes by a total of up to $11 billion a year.
See also:
● Walters: State tax reforms or state tax increases? CALmatters
EDITORIAL: Politically savvy Newsom picks shutdown as first fight with Trump
San Francisco Chronicle
The longest ever partial government shutdown is taking a tremendous toll on 800,000 idled and unpaid federal workers. So Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed relief.
See also:
● Walters: Two crises point to a larger societal ill CALmatters
● Mathews: For California’s New Governor, Big Mistakes Will Lead to Greatness Fox&Hounds
California Legislature appoints lawyers to investigate sexual harassment claims
Los Angeles Times
More than a year after the #MeToo movement rocked the Capitol, the California Legislature on Friday announced several appointments to a new workplace conduct unit and panel of legal experts to review and investigate sexual harassment claims in the Senate and Assembly.
California’s Thriving LGBT Caucus: Because Sometimes, Lawmaking Is Personal
Capital Public Radio
The LGBT caucus closely mirrors the state: Nearly 5 percent of Californians are LGBT, according to UCLA Law’s Williams Institute, while just under 6 percent of California legislators are openly lesbian, gay or bisexual.
CA Motor Voter program could help boost Democrats in 2020
Sacramento Bee
California launched the Motor Voter program in April 2018 to boost participation in elections. Among the 800,000 newly registered voters are 186,000 people who cast a ballot.
California’s Doomsday Clock Getting Closer to Midnight
Fox&Hounds
Today’s official Doomsday Clock reads 11:58 pm, two minutes before disaster. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, which manages the clock, cited “the looming threats of nuclear war and climate change” as the reason for the shortness of time.
Federal:
President Trump offers immigration deal to end government shutdown
abc30
Seeking a shutdown solution, President Donald Trump on Saturday offered temporary protection for people brought to U.S. illegally as children in bid to secure border wall funding.
See also:
● Trump offers temporary ‘Dreamers’ deal for border wall Merced Sun-Star
● For the poor, the safety net in a shutdown doesn’t feel safe Fresno Bee
● Shutdown goes on as Trump offer doesn’t budge Democrats Sacramento Bee
● Trump says Pelosi is behaving ‘irrationally’ in shutdown impasse as Russia questions swirl around him Los Angeles Times
● Government shutdown: A timeline of how we got here Los Angeles Times
● Nancy Pelosi is winning her battle with Trump. Here’s why Los Angeles Times
● Why can’t Trump make deals? No one trusts him anymore Los Angeles Times
● Trump raises possibility of amnesty, a move that could further infuriate his base Roll Call
● Did Democrats reverse border wall position after Donald Trump was elected? PolitiFact
● Status Of President Trump’s Campaign Promises, 2 Years Later NPR
● No wonder there’s a shutdown: New poll shows how much Republicans and Democrats really disagree on immigration Washington Post
● Could Donald Trump declare a national emergency for a border wall? Here’s what we know PolitiFact
● I’ve mediated my share of disputes. Here’s how to end the shutdown Roll Call
● The Wall Marks a Deep Cultural Divide Wall Street Journal
● Government Shutdown, Trade Tensions Weigh on U.S. Households Wall Street Journal
● Senate to Weigh Trump’s Proposal to End Shutdown, With Passage Unlikely Wall Street Journal
● White House, Dems can’t even agree on status of potential shutdown talks Roll Call
● Trump voters now blame him for the government shutdown Washington Post
● EDITORIAL: Trump makes a DACA offer Democrats can and should refuse Los Angeles Times
● EDITORIAL: Congress must turn down Trump’s cynical immigration deal San Francisco Chronicle
Mueller’s office disputes BuzzFeed report that Trump directed Michael Cohen to lie
abc30
“BuzzFeed’s description of specific statements to the special counsel’s office…regarding Michael Cohen’s congressional testimony are not accurate,” Mueller’s office said in a statement.
See also:
● President Trump made 8,158 false or misleading claims in his first two years Washington Post
Kamala Harris aiming to pull off an Obama-sized feat in 2020
Fresno Bee
Kamala Harris was tapped as the “female Obama” before she’d even won statewide office. Now California’s junior senator is seeking to bring together a wide-ranging coalition of voters similar to the one President Barack Obama assembled in 2008 and 2012 to propel herself to the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.
See also:
● Kamala Harris: ‘I am running for president of the United States, and I’m very excited about it’ abc30
● ‘Women of color…deserve a seat at the table:’ Online reactions to Kamala Harris 2020 bid Merced Sun-Star
● Kamala Harris was shaped by the crucible of San Francisco politics Merced Sun-Star
● Sen. Kamala Harris announces she’s running in 2020 Visalia Times Delta
● Kamala Harris opens presidential bid Porterville Recorder
● Kamala Harris jumps into presidential race Stockton Record
● ‘Our strength is our unity:’ Kamala Harris discusses issues after announcing run for presidency Sacramento Bee
● Kamala Harris says she focused ‘almost every day’ on justice reform. That’s not the whole story. Sacramento Bee
● Sen. Kamala Harris must answer tough questions in presidential run Sacramento Bee
● 5 Things to Know About Kamala Harris KQED
● Sen. Kamala Harris Announces 2020 Presidential Candidacy Capital Public Radio
● For 2020 Democrats, The Race Is On To Win Over Black Voters Capital Public Radio
● Kamala Harris makes it official: She’s running for president Los Angeles Times
● Kamala Harris’ challenge in a 2020 presidential bid? Defining herself before her opponents do Los Angeles Times
● Kamala Harris was shaped by the crucible of San Francisco politics Los Angeles Times
● How can Kamala Harris stand out in crowded 2020 race? San Francisco Chronicle
● DACA recipients, TPS holders reject Trump plan San Francisco Chronicle
● California could have seismic impact on 2020 Democratic presidential race Reuters
● Kamala Harris enters 2020 presidential race Washington Post
● Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris Says She Is Running for President in 2020 Wall Street Journal
● Harvesting Democratic Votes Wall Street Journal
● Kamala Harris announces on MLK Day she’ll run for president Roll Call
● Kamala Harris Has Entered the 2020 Democratic Race. Here’s Who Else Is Running. New York Times
● EDITORIAL: Kamala Harris faces challenges left and right San Francisco Chronicle
Supreme Court will review gun restrictions for first time in nearly a decade
Washington Post
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it will examine New York City’s ban on carrying a licensed and unloaded handgun outside the city limits, the first Second Amendment challenge it has accepted in nearly a decade.
Los Angeles Times
In observing Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday we acknowledge him, like Lincoln, as a rescuer of the national creed and therefore one of the founders.
Other:
‘I say time’s up.’ Thousands take to Fresno’s streets for Women’s March
Fresno Bee
The third annual Fresno Women’s March on Saturday attracted hundreds of people to north Fresno’s streets in a display of gender solidarity — calling for women’s rights to be respected and protected.
See also:
● Thousands gather in Fresno for third annual Women’s March abc30
● Merced area residents march to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Merced Sun-Star
● Women’s March is peaceful tribute to MLK legacy Visalia Times Delta
● Women’s March Kern County returns to support women’s rights Bakersfield Californian
Technology near for real-time TV political fact checks
AP News
A Duke University team expects to have a product available for election year that will allow television networks to offer real-time fact checks onscreen when a politician makes a questionable claim during a speech or debate.
See also:
● ‘Conformation Bias’: Political Tribalism as a Driver of Disinformation Power 3.0
● Fact-Free Politics, by Dr. Thomas Sowell Creators Syndicate
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, January 27, at 5 p.m. on ABC 30 –Maddy Report:“Retrospective with LAO Mac Taylor” – Guests: Former California’s Legislative Analyst, Mac Taylor.Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, January 27, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: Valley Views Edition: “New State Budget: Will Past Be Prologue?” – Guests: Scott Graves, Director of Research for the Calif Budget & Policy Center and former California’s Legislative Analyst, Mac Taylor. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, January 27, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “Nuevas Leyes y Legislacion futura” – Guests: Alexei Koseff, Reportero de Sacramento Bee. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.
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AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Valley Packs a Punch on Powerful Congressional Ag Committee
GV Wire
The San Joaquin Valley will wield considerable clout on the influential House Committee on Agriculture in the 116th Congress.
Democrats propose legal status for undocumented immigrant farmworkers
Roll Call
Two California Democrats filed legislation Thursday that would give undocumented immigrant farmworkers and their families a path to legal resident status and possibly U.S. citizenship.
Fresno farmworker reaches $1 million settlement in precedent-setting retaliation case
Fresno Bee
A Fresno farmworker recently dismissed a retaliation case against a Fresno-based attorney for reporting him to federal immigration officials, following a $1 million settlement experts say sets a precedent for all workers in similar situations.
Group launches restaurant promotion
Madera Tribune
There is more to Yosemite than hiking, biking and all the adventurous activities in January. Local Madera businesses will celebrate California Restaurant Month the entire month of January, announced Therese Williams, Director of Public Relations and Sales for Visit Yosemite Madera County.
FoodLink director let go after long recruitment
Visalia Times Delta
Tulare County FoodLink Executive Director Susan Manuel got canned last week. She only held the position for roughly six months before board members informed her they were laying her off. Before FoodLink, Manuel headed Ruiz Foods for nine years.
In CA, marijuana delivery regulations are complicated
Modesto Bee
Cannabis may be legal in California, but the new rules of the road are so confusing that even former California Highway Patrol officers are struggling with them.
See also:
● Home Cannabis Delivery Now Legal Anywhere In California, Even Areas That Ban Sales Capital Public Radio
● Marijuana is legal in California. So why is the CHP arresting delivery drivers? Fresno Bee
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
California’s historic overhaul of cash bail is now on hold, pending a 2020 referendum
Los Angeles Times
A landmark law to abolish California’s money bail system has been put on hold until voters decide its fate in November 2020 after elections officials on Wednesday certified a statewide referendum backed by a coalition of bail industry associations.
See also:
● In California, Criminal Justice Reform Offers a Lesson for the Nation New York Times
● EDITORIAL: Don’t slow down plans to end money bail Los Angeles Times
Public Safety:
Madera Tribune
The Madera County Sheriff’s Office promoted three officers, effective Jan. 1. The promotions are Tyson Pogue to undersheriff, Patrick Majeski to commander and Jason Clark to lieutenant.
See also:
● Madera County Sheriff’s Sergeant Awarded Purple Heart Sierra News
DA Justice Run fights human trafficking
Visalia Times Delta
More than 200 runners hit the pavement for the 7th annual Justice Run: Run for Freedom 5k and one-mile walk at Mooney Grove Park on Saturday, January 19, 2019.
Bakersfield Californian
At Wednesday’s meeting, the Bakersfield City Council is scheduled to vote on approving three new full-time positions for parking enforcement technicians for the Bakersfield Police Department.
Kern County judge rules new law unconstitutional in case involving juvenile defendant
Bakersfield Californian
A Kern County Superior Court judge this week ruled a new law eliminating the ability of a juvenile court to transfer 14-to-15-year-old defendants accused of certain serious or violent crimes to adult court is unconstitutional.
Justice Department’s Reversal on Online Gambling Tracked Memo From Adelson Lobbyists
Wall Street Journal
The legal reasoning behind the Justice Department’s unusual reversal this week of an opinion that paved the way for online gambling hewed closely to arguments made by lobbyists for casino magnate and top Republican donor Sheldon Adelson.
Fire:
Deteriorating conditions in Modesto Fire Station 1 force firefighters to move out
Modesto Bee
At 80 years old, Modesto’s oldest and busiest fire station is showing its age. The roof leaks. Parts of the floor are buckling. Pails sit filled with standing rainwater. Now, in the midst of a wet winter, firefighters are being moved out of the historic Modesto Fire Station 1 for their own safety.
What PG&E bankruptcy could mean for fire prevention efforts
San Francisco Chronicle
The pending bankruptcy of PG&E amid a flurry of lawsuits over wildfires has sparked concern it will be forced to halt a fire management plan it established in response to the controversy.
Will PG&E Customers Pay More In Bankruptcy? Not If State Watchdog Can Stop It
Capital Public Radio
PG&E customers shouldn’t have to foot the bankruptcy bill if the utility is responsible for deadly California wildfires, says a state watchdog.
See also:
● PG&E bankruptcy: Effects on California counties, cities taxes Fresno Bee
● PG&E’s other big problem: Regulators detail gas record falsification claims San Francisco Chronicle
● Bankrupt PG&E faces another California wildfire season Sacramento Bee
● The Legislature must make hard choices to avert PG&E bankruptcy CALmatters
● PG&E Sparked at Least 1,500 California Fires. Now the Utility Faces Collapse. Wall Street Journal
● EDITORIAL: We can do better by owning our own power Modesto Bee
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Eastern Kern becomes county’s new economic focus
Bakersfield Californian
Personnel and other resources are headed for eastern Kern as part of a growing push to diversify the area’s economy and protect its employment base in the event either of its two military bases were to suddenly close.
World Economic Forum 2019: What to expect from this year’s summit
abc30
The world’s most rich and powerful business and political leaders will descend on Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, as the annual gathering of the World Economic Forum begins. President Donald Trump was the main attraction in 2018 but will not be attending this year.
Billionaire fortunes grew 12% in 2018 as world’s poorest got 11% poorer
abc30
In 2018, billionaire fortunes grew by 12 percent — about $2.5 billion every day — as the world’s 3.8 billion poorest people lost about 11 percent of their wealth.
A T-Mobile-Sprint merger would be onerous for California’s working families
Los Angeles Times
A proposed merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, the country’s third- and fourth-largest wireless operators, would have a profound impact on Californians.
EDITORIAL: The shutdown isn’t just hurting workers. The entire U.S. economy is faltering
Los Angeles Times
The longer the shutdown continues, the tougher it is for the roughly 800,000 unpaid federal workers and an estimated half a million unpaid federal contractors to make ends meet. Yet those of us who are still collecting wages in the private sector are being hurt too, and to a much greater extent than the Trump administration had previously acknowledged.
See also:
● The real threat the government shutdown poses for the American economy Brookings
Jobs:
California Employment Report for December 2018
California Center for Jobs & the Economy
EDD reports California’s unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) in December edged up to 4.2% primarily as a result of some growth finally taking hold in the labor force number.
Unemployment rates in Fresno, Valley dip to historic lows for 2018
Fresno Bee
Fresno’s average yearly unemployment rate for 2018 reached its lowest point in at least 28 years, and rates across its neighboring central San Joaquin Valley counties dipped to new post-recession lows not seen for a decade or more.
abc30
Hundreds of furloughed IRS workers in Fresno have been ordered back on the job, but without pay. Some of them met and told two Valley Democratic Congressmen on Friday this situation can’t continue.
See also:
● Furloughed workers concerned for finances with no end in sight for shutdown abc30
● Furloughed federal worker? Here’s what local businesses are doing to help Bakersfield Californian
That Newsom Proposal For Six-Month Paid Family Leave? It’s Bold—But Less So Than It Seems
Capital Public Radio
The proposal isn’t as generous as it initially seemed, but it’s still more than the six weeks of partially-paid family leave most workers get under current state law.
American Dream Eludes Many on West Coast, Even College Grads
Bloomberg
College graduates earn a lot of money in San Jose but are still $100,000 short to afford a roof over their heads, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Lawyer Says Bullard Student Didn’t Threaten District Trustee
GV Wire
The attorney representing a Bullard High School freshman involved in a physical altercation with a Fresno Unified school board member says his client didn’t trigger the incident.
SPHS breaks ground on new facilities
Hanford Sentinel
Students and staff of Sierra Pacific High School grinned widely Friday afternoon as they broke ground on what will eventually be the site of the largest pool in Kings County.
Huge dog visits Madera school, gives love to special needs children
Fresno Bee
A 185 pound mastiff named Haas visited special needs children at Gould Educational Center in Madera, California on Jan. 18, 2019.
Does racial bias influence disciplinary action at Modesto schools? An expert looks into it
Modesto Bee
A community forum Thursday will spotlight disciplinary practices in Modesto City Schools and how it affects educational opportunities for Latino and African American students.
The Los Angeles Teacher Strike’s Class Size Conundrum
NPR
Leaders of United Teachers Los Angeles have made class-size reduction a centerpiece of their negotiations with the district, a move that’s galvanized the union’s rank-and-file and won broad public support for the strike.
Special education enrollment in California is up. No one can say exactly why
Fresno Bee
Special education enrollment has surged in the last decade, with more than 96,000 students pouring into school districts across the state, according to data from the California Department of Education.
California schools were once the nation’s envy. What went wrong?
The Guardian
Ask any public policy expert what single factor contributed most to the decline of California’s schools, and the answer will invariably be the state’s retro version of Brexit: a referendum, passed in 1978 on a wave of populist anger, that was earth-shattering in its impact and has proven enduringly divisive.
With House, Dems eager to bring DeVos under closer oversight
Sacramento Bee
House Democrats are preparing to bring Education Secretary Betsy DeVos under the sharpest scrutiny she’s seen since taking office.
Restorative Practices Help Reduce Student Suspensions
RAND
In schools, restorative practices have been adopted to offer a means to respond to conflict and build relationships in an inclusive, nonpunitive way.
Higher Ed:
Deadline FAST APPROACHING: Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship
The Maddy Institute
Applications for two $56,000 Fellowships Due Friday, February 22nd, 2019. Through the generosity of The Wonderful Company, San Joaquin Valley students will have the opportunity to become the next generation of Valley leaders through The Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship. The Maddy Institute will award two $56,000 Fellowships to Valley students who are accepted into a nationally ranked, qualified graduate program in the fall of 2019.
Cal State, buoyed by Newsom’s generous budget proposal, to boost enrollment
Los Angeles Times
California State University is poised to enroll thousands more Californians and step up support to help them graduate sooner, thanks to a hefty increase in state funding proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
See also:
● Governor’s Higher Education Funding Proposal Off to a Good Start Fox&Hounds
CSUB’s School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering awarded $150,000
Bakersfield Californian
California State University Bakersfield’s School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering was awarded a $150,000 grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation.
Who Will Be Reedley College’s Next President?
GV Wire
The field of candidates to become the next Reedley College president is down to two, and the public can learn more about them through public forums next week.
See also:
● Forum Scheduled for Reedley College Presidential Candidate Business Journal
Area Colleges Promise Big Results from Half Billion in Spending
GV Wire
A large crowd gathered in October for the groundbreaking of a $5 million Agriculture and Technology building at Madera Community College Center.
California student debt doubled in last decade
Sacramento Bee
Californians owed $133 billion in student loan debt in late 2018, more than double the amount owed a decade earlier, according to a new analysis from credit tracking firm Experian.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
Donation allows Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to reopen visitor centers
Fresno Bee
Thanks to a donation, the visitor centers in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks that have been shuttered during the federal shutdown have reopened for weekends, park officials announced Saturday.
See also:
● Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks’ visitor centers reopen with donation Visalia Times Delta
Madera Tribune
While downtown merchants battle crows with falcons, Madera County may erect defenses against both pigeons and crows at the government center and parking garage.
USDA announces new district conservationist in Kings County
Hanford Sentinel
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced the appointment of Marcus Burks as the new district conservationist for the NRCS field office in Hanford.
Air Board’s plan to raise fees threatens our economy and climate goals
CALmatters
Govs. Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger staked their climate policies on the belief that a cost-effective and gradual approach will not upset consumers, destabilize markets or shock voters, but will reduce greenhouse gases released to the atmosphere consistent with projected recommendations for global carbon emission reductions.
See also:
· Greenland’s Melting Ice Nears a ‘Tipping Point,’ Scientists Say NY Times
· Pentagon warns of threat to bases from climate change The Hill
· Inslee: The next president must make climate change the top priority Washington Post
Energy:
CA’s power grid is aging, vulnerable to attack. Can it be fixed?
Sacramento Bee
California is casting off fossil fuels to become something that doesn’t yet exist: a fully electrified state of 40 million people.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Alzheimer’s Association bulks up presence in Kern County amid rise in cases
Bakersfield Californian
To help meet an expected future demand for support and services, the Alzheimer’s Association has bulked up its presence in Kern County. With the new space they’ve been able to bring on more volunteers to answer phones, assist families, set up appointments and more.
Newsom’s struggles with dyslexia prompt a ‘very personal’ quest to fund early screening
Los Angeles Times
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s lifelong struggle with dyslexia makes his proposal to screen little kids for developmental disorders a personal mission. California’s new governor wasn’t diagnosed with the reading disability until he was in the fifth grade.
Gov. Newsom’s healthcare initiatives will test what a single state can achieve on its own
Los Angeles Times
Gov. Gavin Newsom set down a marker for his administration’s approach to healthcare policy on its very first day, when he unveiled a strikingly comprehensive package of reform proposals aimed at improving access to care and lowering its costs.
Gov. Newsom Appoints Pediatrician as California’s First-Ever Surgeon General
KTLA
Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday announced the appointment of a pediatrician as California’s first-ever surgeon general.
U.S. insulin costs per patient nearly doubled from 2012 to 2016: study
Reuters
The cost of insulin for treating type 1 diabetes in the United States nearly doubled over a five-year period, underscoring a national outcry over rising drug prices, according to a new analysis shared with Reuters.
Human Services:
Negotiations for new labor contract underway; unresolved dispute could leave doctors out of job
abc30
A Fresno hospital is renowned across the state for its level of patient care, but behind office doors a physician’s dispute is developing.
Capital Public Radio
Physicians across the state are grappling with the new law, which requires hospitals to offer homeless patients a meal, clothing and other services before sending them to a residence or a social services provider that has agreed to take them.
California’s Future: Social Safety Net
Public Policy Institute of California
California’s social safety net is designed to help people in economic need. It also has several other short- and long-term goals, such as increasing employment, safeguarding adequate access to food, and improving children’s health.
IMMIGRATION
Gov. Newsom earmarks funds for a migrant shelter in his proposed budget
Los Angeles Times
Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to use state funds to help migrant families arriving at the California border. Much of the money will likely go to running a temporary shelter for families released by federal officials after asking for asylum at the southwestern border.
Democrats propose legal status for undocumented immigrant farmworkers
Roll Call
Two California Democrats filed legislation Thursday that would give undocumented immigrant farmworkers and their families a path to legal resident status and possibly U.S. citizenship.
As More Migrants Are Denied Asylum, An Abuse Survivor Is Turned Away
NPR
The number of asylum claims denied by immigration judges increased to nearly 70 percent last year, after the Justice Department made it harder for victims of domestic abuse and gang violence to get asylum.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Concerns raised over proposed bike path; some homeowners openly oppose city plans
Bakersfield Californian
Leaders of a golf course have voiced concerns over a proposed bike path that would cut through its property, and several neighborhood residents have vocally opposed the city of Bakersfield’s plan.
Housing:
Los Angeles Times
Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling on Silicon Valley companies to make an unprecedented contribution to help build new homes — but his idea is drawing concern from some about the political influence the tech industry could gain.
Newsom touches nerve by connecting gas tax funds to housing
San Francisco Chronicle
Newsom announced an ambitious and controversial plan: He would withdraw gas tax money from cities if they don’t meet regional housing targets that are set by the state but seldom enforced.
See also:
· EDITORIAL: California is about to embark on Newsom’s housing vision. It must be done smartly Fresno Bee
Walters: The high price we pay for low-rent housing
CALmatters
A few days ago, Sacramento city officials announced that they will float a $25 million bond and loan the proceeds to the 55-year-old complex’s owner, Bayside Communities of Walnut Creek, to finance a $28 million rehabilitation project.
PUBLIC FINANCES
After this year’s tax season, you may prefer death
San Francisco Chronicle
Even before the federal government partially shut down, tax season was shaping up to be the most challenging in decades.
Modern Monetary Theory Would Sink U.S. in Debt
Bloomberg
If you follow the debates over U.S. economic policy, you had probably heard of modern monetary theory well before freshman Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke favorably about it earlier this month.
TRANSPORTATION
Get Paid To Fix Or Replace Your Gas-Guzzling, Polluting Car
Sierra News
Residents of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District can get their old gas-hogging, high-polluting vehicles checked at the first “Tune In Tune Up” event of 2019 on Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Fresno Fairgrounds.
Will Sequoia Gateway be an environmental plus?
Visalia Times Delta
Sequoia Gateway, the project proposed for the southeast corner of Caldwell Avenue and Highway 99, has been blessed by the Tulare County Planning Commission and approved by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors.
In California, Gender Can No Longer Be Considered in Setting Car Insurance Rates
New York Times
California joined about a half-dozen states this month in banning the use of a person’s gender when assessing risk factors for car insurance, a change that could potentially alter rates for scores of drivers across the state.
10% of TSA airport screeners skipped work Sunday
Los Angeles Times
The percentage of TSA airport screeners missing work has hit 10% as the partial shutdown of the federal government stretches into its fifth week.
EDITORIAL: If you want to save mankind (or at least ease traffic) you’ve got to pay a toll
Los Angeles Times
It’s a widely held, even cherished, belief in California that freeways should be free. Free to drive on and free from traffic congestion. Obviously, that belief doesn’t match the reality.
WATER
EDITORIAL: Newsom must set new course on state water issues
Mercury News
Since taking office Jan. 7, Gov. Gavin Newsom has not indicated how he intends to approach one of the state’s most pressing issues: water.
See also:
● The Delta is California’s heart. Gavin Newsom must save it CALmatters
Strange bedfellows: Harder praises Trump, Denham for work to keep water for farmers
Merced Sun-Star
When it comes to water, the lifeblood of the Central Valley, Democrats don’t have all the answers. So says freshman Representative Josh Harder, suddenly one of the most powerful Democrats in these parts.
Storm fails to bring a punch to Valley
Visalia Times Delta
Nearly an inch of rain fell over some parts of the Central Valley in the last two days — far less than was expected. Still, the wet week lent itself to several issues across Tulare County. Some residents loaded up on sandbags to prevent flooding.
See also:
● Northern California braces for funnel clouds, avalanches, flash floods as storm picks up Sacramento Bee
“Xtra”
Clovis community remembers Martin Luther King’s Jr.’s legacy at memorial breakfast
abc30
The Annual Martin Luther King Jr. community breakfast was held at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building this morning.
See also:
● Community gathers to clean east Bakersfield neighborhood during annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project Bakersfield Californian
● Annual Martin Luther King Jr. march held in Fresno, CA Fresno Bee
● Martin Luther King, Jr’s dream alive in Tulare County youth Visalia Times-Delta
Downtown Visalia kicks off week long fundraiser to benefit businesses destroyed by fire
abc30
Walking down Main Street in Downtown Visalia you can still smell the burnt remains of three businesses destroyed by fire. What was once Cafe 225, Mama K’s, Acapulco Jewelers is now a row of boarded up store fronts.
See also:
● Want to help businesses affected by downtown fire? Visalia Times Delta
Clovis Rodeo sets lineup with Russell Dickerson, Aaron Watson
Fresno Bee
The Clovis Rodeo every year seems to scout country music’s up-and-comers artists — the chart-climbers, let’s say.
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