POLICY & POLITICS
What does leadership look like in your community?
James Irvine Foundation
The James Irvine Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Leadership Awards – a $250,000 grant for California leaders. Accepting nominations at IrvineAwards.org through May 7, 2021.
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Merced County promoted to red tier COVID status by state, says supervisors chairman Fresno Bee
Merced County now in red tier after 'data dump' skewed numbers, local officials say abc30
Stanislaus reaches 1,023 deaths, 53,692 positive tests Modesto Bee
How effective are Turlock homeless sweeps, outreach at getting people sheltered?
Modesto Bee
As the City of Turlock cleared the homeless encampment on West Glenwood Avenue Wednesday morning, six people said they do not want to stay in shelters or do not know where to go next.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Pause of Johnson & Johnson vaccines complicates Tulare County inoculation efforts Visalia Times Delta
Plan for a new town in hills above Fresno gets a reboot. What’s next for Friant Ranch?
Fresno Bee
Fresno County supervisors have voted unanimously to rescind their approval of the Friant Ranch development, concluding a decade of litigation against the controversial project.
Toxic tap water: California needs $4.6 billion to fix failing infrastructure
Fresno Bee
A new state analysis estimates a $4.6 billion funding gap for water system infrastructure needed to ensure Californians have access to safe and affordable drinking water.
Hurtado bill to recognize fallen firefighters passes Transportation Committee on consent
Hanford Sentinel
Today, Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) released the following statement after her bill, SCR 14, which will honor the lives of Captain Ramon “Ray” Figueroa and Firefighter Patrick Jones was approved by the Transportation Committee on consent.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Public Health: 157 new coronavirus cases reported Wednesday Bakersfield Californian
Leaders urge Kern residents to get vaccinated as demand peters
Bakersfield Californian
Just as the supply of COVID-19 vaccine has increased in Kern County, demand appears to be tapering off even though Kern has a relatively low local vaccination rate.
Arvin City Councilwoman, teacher, Jazmin Robles resigns to focus on in-person learning
Bakersfield Californian
Arvin City Councilwoman Jazmin Robles has resigned. The Arvin High School teacher said in a news release she wanted to focus 100 percent on her students with in-person learning returning.
Kern County to hold public hearing on redistricting this month
Bakersfield Californian
Kern County will redraw political district boundaries this year to account for 2020 U.S. Census data. To provide a forum for community feedback, the county has scheduled a series of virtual redistricting hearings.
McCarthy hosting virtual Service Academy Forum
Bakersfield Californian
Students in the 23rd Congressional District who are interested in attending one of the U.S. Service Academies can watch a set of videos on Rep. Kevin McCarthy's website for more information.
State:
COVID Update:
30% of California adults fully vaccinated, 20% partially vaccinated against COVID-19 Sacramento Bee
Gavin Newsom calls for full reopening of California schools by fall, urges extended class time
Fresno Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday urged schools to prepare for “full, in-person instruction” this fall as coronavirus rates drop and vaccinations ramp up across the state, but he stopped short of saying he’d hand down an executive order to force open classrooms.
Caitlyn Jenner, a porn star and more: The Gavin Newsom recall is getting crowded
Fresno Bee
What do a Redding businesswoman, a Roseville insurance broker, a tech entrepreneur-turned-pastor, and a porn star all have in common? They all want to be the governor of California.
See also:
California expanding nepotism rule to cover exes and domestic partners in hiring guidelines
Sacramento Bee
Domestic partners and ex-spouses would fall under California state government’s nepotism rule under a new State Personnel Board proposal.
With Barrett on Supreme Court, California’s church COVID limits are being overturned
CalMatters
After more than a year of legal tussling with state public health officials over restrictions on indoor gatherings, houses of worship — mostly evangelical or Catholic and politically conservative — have been on a winning streak at the nation’s highest court.
Video: A Conversation with Secretary of State Shirley Weber
PPIC
PPIC’s Speaker Series invites leaders from across the political spectrum to participate critically, constructively, and collaboratively in public conversations. The purpose is to give Californians a better understanding of how our leaders are addressing the challenges facing our state.
Federal:
COVID Update:
More COVID state shutdowns unlikely, despite CDC suggestion Bakersfield Californian
Americans will likely have to navigate a maze of vaccine "passports" Axios
US weighs next steps for Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine amid reports of rare blood clots abc30
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause Sparks Scrambles Across Country Wall Street Journal
U.S. Vaccine Panel Delays Vote on J&J Covid-19 Shot’s Blood-Clotting Risk Wall Street Journal
Nearly half of Republicans say they don’t want a Covid vaccine, a big public health challenge New York Times
'It's Time To End This Forever War.' Biden Says Forces To Leave Afghanistan By 9/11
VPR
The United States will withdraw all remaining troops from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, President Biden announced Wednesday, turning the page on a conflict that has cost trillions of dollars and the lives of more than 2,300 American troops.
See also:
‘Time to end the forever war.’ Biden says troops to leave Afghanistan by Sept. 11 Los Angeles Times
Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Afghanistan on Unannounced Visit Wall Street Journal
Biden Says It Is Time for U.S. Troops to Leave Afghanistan Wall Street Journal
China and Russia Are the X-Factors in Biden’s Afghanistan Withdrawal Wall Street Journal
Conservative groups target swing Democrats in fight against infrastructure plan and taxes
Roll Call
Tim Phillips, who runs the conservative group Americans for Prosperity, is going on the road to fight major elements of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan and the potential tax increases to help fund it.
See also:
House Panel Advances Bill to Study Slavery Reparations
Wall Street Journal
A House panel approved legislation that would create a commission to study the possibility of offering reparations to the descendants of enslaved people in the U.S.
See also:
In a year of reckoning, slavery reparations bill moves forward in the House Los Angeles Times
Kamala Harris faces diplomatic pitfalls in tackling migration from Central America
Los Angeles Times
Republicans have been pounding Vice President Kamala Harris for weeks, asking when she’ll travel to Central America and Mexico to begin face-to-face talks about curbing the flow of migrants seeking to enter the United States.
Democratic Lawmakers to Present Plan to Expand Supreme Court
Wall Street Journal
Democratic lawmakers plan to introduce legislation on Thursday that would add four seats to the Supreme Court, an initiative that has slim hopes of passage but reflects progressives’ impatience with President Biden’s cautious approach toward overhauling the court.
U.S. Budget Deficit Widened to a Record $1.7 Trillion for Six Months
Wall Street Journal
The budget gap, broadened by the Covid-19 pandemic and related shutdowns that sent the economy into a tailspin starting in March 2020, is now more than double what it was for the same period a year ago, the Treasury Department said Monday.
See also:
In the climate change fight, the Interior Department becomes a battlefield
Washington Post
In the weeks after President Biden’s inauguration, as the oil industry was facing a far less welcoming White House, a ConocoPhillips executive went pheasant hunting with the Democratic senator poised to wield tremendous power in an evenly divided Congress.
Why your state might lose or gain clout in Congress after the census is released
Washington Post
Rhode Island, now the most overrepresented state in the U.S. House, is likely about to become the most underrepresented.
U.S. expels Russian diplomats, imposes new round of sanctions
Los Angeles Times
The Biden administration on Thursday announced the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats and sanctions against nearly 3 dozen people and companies as it moved to hold the Kremlin accountable for interference in last year’s presidential election and hacking of federal agencies.
See also:
U.S. to Sanction Russia, Expel Diplomats Over Alleged Election Interference, Hacking Wall Street Journal
Biden quietly reversed Trump’s ban on worker visas. Will it help or hurt the U.S. economy?
Los Angeles Times
President Biden has quietly relaxed one of former President Trump’s signature immigration bans against foreign workers with skills that U.S. employers say they cannot find in the domestic labor market.
See also:
Opinion: Biden’s Strange New ‘Bipartisanship’ Wall Street Journal
Watchdog: Capitol Police Need To Pivot From Reactionary To Protection Posture
VPR
U.S. Capitol Police Inspector General Michael Bolton will tell a Congressional committee in prepared testimony tomorrow that the agency must shift away from its current approach to deal with rising threats to the Capitol.
Commentary: Diversity within the Federal Reserve System
Brookings
A growing chorus has called on the Fed to diversify its ranks at all levels to reflect better the heterogeneity of the United States.
Other:
Inside Nancy Pelosi’s War With AOC and the Squad
Politico
“Nancy doesn’t have much patience for people who don’t know what they don’t know.” That was what a senior congressional Democrat close to the speaker of the House told me when I asked what Nancy Pelosi really thought of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Pandemic Provokes City vs. State Conflicts
PEW
The pandemic provoked conflicts between state and local governments—particularly in cities run by Democrats and states controlled by Republicans—when it came to COVID-19 rules such as mask ordinances and regulations on when businesses could open and at what capacity.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, April 18, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "State Auditor's Report: Evaluating Affordable Housing Programs" - Guests: CA State Auditor Elaine Howle; John Myers - LA Times; Dan Walters - CalMatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, April 18, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “Building More Affordable Housing: What Works and What Doesn’t” - Guests: CA State Auditor Elaine Howle; John Myers - LA Times; Dan Walters - CalMatters; Matt Levine - CalMatters; Dan Dunmoyer - California Building Industry Association. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Farmworkers encouraged to get vaccine
Madera Tribune
Farmworkers, categorized as frontline essential workers in the Phase 1B vaccine priority group, are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Water Partnerships between Cities and Farms in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley
PPIC
The San Joaquin Valley and urban Southern California are worlds apart in many ways. Yet each face growing water challenges and a shared interest in ensuring reliable, affordable water supplies to safeguard their people and economies.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Fresno police cite ‘outside agitators,’ will increase presence at Tower Theatre protests
Fresno Bee
The Fresno Police Department will increase its presence at the Tower Theatre protest starting this weekend and will erect barricades to keep each side of the protest separate, city officials announced Wednesday.
Minnesota police killing of Daunte Wright with gun instead of Taser has parallel in Madera
Fresno Bee
The Sunday slaying of Daunte Wright, killed when a Minnesota police officer mistakenly fired her handgun instead of a Taser at him, has a parallel in a 2002 shooting in Madera.
Exclusive: Correctional officer’s death exposes hazing, toxic culture at California prison
Sacramento Bee
Valentino Rodriguez Jr. texted his wife, Irma, an hour and a half before she found him dead Oct. 21 at their home in West Sacramento.
California lawmakers push for police misconduct panel, expanded chokehold ban
Los Angeles Times
California law enforcement officers could lose their certification based on the decisions of a panel that includes victims of police misconduct under legislation that moved forward Tuesday in the Legislature.
Public Safety:
California is looking at closing more prisons. Here are some that might be on the list
Fresno Bee
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has plans to shut down two prisons, but more closures could soon be on the way because of the state’s rapidly shrinking inmate population.
Advocates for police-free schools share report on officer impacts at FUSD
abc30
Advocates of police-free schools shared research on the impact officers have on minority students in Fresno Unified and offered ideas on bridging the divide.
Inspector general cites glaring problems within Capitol Police
Roll Call
The Capitol Police department needs to restructure its civil disturbance unit and overhaul its intelligence operation, glaring problems that hampered the department’s ability to secure the Capitol during the attack on Jan. 6.
Fire:
'This will be an active fire season.' Gov. Newsom approves $536M to prevent wildfires
Fresno Bee
California Gov. Gavin Newsom approves $536 million in spending for wildfire prevention in preparation of fire season Tuesday, April 13, 2021, where he shows historically low water levels at Lake Oroville and warns of coming dry fire conditions.
Valley officials partner with business to protect homes in Creek Fire burn scar
abc30
Madera County residents impacted by the Creek Fire are getting extra protection in burn scar areas damaged by the devastating blaze.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Fed survey: Economy rebounding, helped by stimulus, vaccines
Bakersfield Californian
A Federal Reserve survey has found that the economy was rebounding in late February through early April, helped by billions of dollars in a new round of stimulus payments and the stepped-up rollout of coronavirus vaccines.
See also:
U.S. Retail Sales Surged in March on Stimulus, Vaccines Wall Street Journal
State Revenues Fared Better Than Expected in 2020 Despite Pandemic U.S. News
How Amazon Strong-Arms Partners Using Its Power Across Multiple Businesses
Wall Street Journal
Amazon.com Inc. last year told smart-thermostat maker Ecobee it had to give the tech giant data from its voice-enabled devices even when customers weren’t using them. The Canadian company said no.
Commentary: The GOP’s economic confusion
AEI
The Republican Party has become a workers party. I know this because many leading Republicans are saying this. The GOP is now “the party of hardworking, blue-collar men and women,” says Sen. Ted Cruz, for instance.
Jobs:
Weekly jobless claims fall to lowest level since lockdowns
The Hill
Weekly jobless claims plunged by 200,000 applications to the lowest level since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic more than a year ago, the Labor Department reported Thursday
See also:
Jobless Claims Fell to a New Pandemic Low Last Week Wall Street Journal
Lost your job in California? New bill might force these employers to hire back workers
Fresno Bee
California workers from an industry devastated by the coronavirus pandemic would have a chance to return to the jobs under a bill advanced by the state Assembly this week.
Visalia UPS hub hiring more than 60 tractor-trailer drivers. You can apply now
Visalia Times Delta
UPS will hire more than 60 tractor-trailer drivers out of its new, Visalia-based distribution hub. The hiring spree comes amid a pandemic-driven boost to e-commerce and online shopping and could be a boon for residents who have been financially hurt by the coronavirus crisis.
Living without a job and under the harassment of the landlord
CalMatters
For Alonso Ceceñas and his wife, Yadira Michel, March will mark a year without being able to pay the rent for a small one-bedroom apartment they share with their four children in South Los Angeles.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Most Fresno-area schools haven’t fully reopened. Some blame the Fresno teachers union
Fresno Bee
Students in Fresno County’s largest school district have been returning to campuses part-time, the FUSD school board held its first in-person meeting since March 2020, and the superintendent has announced plans to return to school five days a week in the fall.
Gavin Newsom calls for full reopening of California schools by fall, urges extended class time
Fresno Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday urged schools to prepare for “full, in-person instruction” this fall as coronavirus rates drop and vaccinations ramp up across the state, but he stopped short of saying he’d hand down an executive order to force open classrooms.
Arvin City Councilwoman, teacher, Jazmin Robles resigns to focus on in-person learning
Bakersfield Californian
Arvin City Councilwoman Jazmin Robles has resigned. The Arvin High School teacher said in a news release she wanted to focus 100 percent on her students with in-person learning returning.
Commentary: How can educators teach students to spot fake news?
AEI
One of the great educational conundrums of the moment is how to help Americans navigate a digital landscape filled with fake news, dubious claims, and rank disinformation. Educators, like the rest of us, are searching for practical strategies.
Higher Ed:
Merced College trustees approve list of new projects, thanks to $12M in federal COVID relief funds
Merced Sun-Star
New resources and campus upgrades for Merced College are being made possible thanks to more than $12 million in COVID-19 relief funding and general funds allocated by the Merced Community College District Board of Trustees.
Fostering Success for Formerly Incarcerated Students Virtual Symposium
Fresno City College: Rising Scholars
The symposium serves as a space of collaboration, listening, discussion, and debate. It exists as a center for the exchange of information, and for opportunities to network in support of deepening the important academic, advocacy, and activist work happening in our region.
Educational Programs Aim To Expand Manufacturing Workforce
Business Journal
In recent years higher-education institutions in Fresno have attempted to evolve and expand to meet the demands of the Central Valley manufacturing industry.
CSUB to host in-person commencement ceremonies with safety protocols in place
Bakersfield Californian
Cal State Bakersfield will hold a series of in-person commencement ceremonies this spring to honor the classes of 2020 and 2021. In an announcement from the university, CSUB said the ceremonies will observe rigorous safety protocols, including limitations on crowd size.
Column: The UC system is one of the best and worst parts of living in California
Los Angeles Times
It is often said that California has no seasons. As any actual California resident can tell you, that is simply not true. We have loads of seasons including but not limited to: Fire season, awards season, pilot season and how-did-my-kid-and-her-4.0-not-get-into-a-UC? season.
Opinion: Quality online education for higher ed requires public investment
CalMatters
Rather than retrench into the familiarity of in-person instruction in fall 2021, this is the moment to recognize and move forward the broader role online courses can play in higher education, and the public investment that it will require.
Opinion: Joe Biden shouldn’t buy into the college loan pity party
AEI
Focusing on the plight of student borrowers, a well-to-do demographic, has done a distinct and egregious disservice to those in this country who are truly struggling.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Carbon Emissions Could Plummet. The Atmosphere Will Lag Behind
VPR
In the next several days, the Biden administration is expected to announce plans across the economy to reduce America's greenhouse gas emissions dramatically by 2030.
At climate summit, Biden will try to reassure a skeptical world that the U.S. is back
Los Angeles Times
Mere hours after he was sworn in, President Biden signed an executive order committing the United States to rejoin the international accord designed to prevent the most catastrophic effects of climate change — the Paris climate agreement.
In the climate change fight, the Interior Department becomes a battlefield
Washington Post
In the weeks after President Biden’s inauguration, as the oil industry was facing a far less welcoming White House, a ConocoPhillips executive went pheasant hunting with the Democratic senator poised to wield tremendous power in an evenly divided Congress.
Opinion: Climate Media vs. Climate Science
Wall Street Journal
Joe Biden has put a presidential imprimatur on climate change being an existential threat, and he doesn’t mean in the Jean-Paul Sartre sense of man’s search for meaning in an uncomforting universe.
Energy:
Committee vote all but kills California anti-oil bill
Bakersfield Californian
A high-profile bill that would cripple Kern County oil production suffered a key defeat this week when it failed to win enough votes to advance in the state Legislature.
Delivering for California: Industry Group SEPA Recognizes PG&E for Clean Energy Progress
yahoo!finance
While fans of professional golf were riveted to the Masters leaderboard last weekend, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has earned a spot on a different kind of leaderboard – one recognizing utilities for their progress toward a modern, carbon-free electric system.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Deaths among Latino immigrants soared by 90% as COVID tore through this California county
Fresno Bee
Pedro Cruz Mendoza developed a cough and fever in March. Yet he continued to toil in the Central Valley’s fields for four days, even as his symptoms worsened.
See also:
Variants Fuel Covid-19 Surge, but Scientists Voice Optimism for Vaccines
Wall Street Journal
Covid-19 cases are surging across the world, fueled by highly contagious variants of the
coronavirus that are popping up far from where they were first detected.
See also:
If you’ve had COVID, your first vaccine dose may cause worse side effects. Here’s why Fresno Bee
COVID vaccines should last nine months, FDA says, amid debate over booster shots Fresno Bee
Syphilis Cases in California Drive a Record-Setting Year for STDs Nationwide
California Healthline
In certain circles of San Francisco, a case of syphilis can be as common and casual as the flu, to the point where Billy Lemon can’t even remember how many times he’s had it.
See also:
DDT’s toxic legacy can harm granddaughters of women exposed, study shows
Los Angeles Times
When Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” first sounded the alarm on DDT and its devastating effects on birds and fish, our understanding of how this pesticide affected humans was just beginning.
How one restaurant’s experiment may help diners breathe safely
Washington Post
When California’s Monterey County allowed restaurants to reopen in March, indoor dining returned to the cliff-perched Sierra Mar, known for its spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.
How sugary drinks during pregnancy affect childhood obesity (and what to do about it)
Brookings
The obesity epidemic continues to be a serious concern for the health and welfare of Americans, with over 40% of adults in the United States struggling with obesity. Childhood obesity is of particular concern.
What Will It Take to Pandemic-Proof America?
The New Yorker
On September 29, 1982, a 12-year-old girl named Mary Kellerman woke up with a cold. Her parents gave her some extra-strength Tylenol and, within a few hours, she had died.
Human Services:
Halt on Johnson & Johnson vaccine to remain while officials seek evidence
Los Angeles Times
Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine will remain in limbo a while longer after U.S. health advisors told the government Wednesday that they need more evidence to decide whether a handful of unusual blood clots were linked to the shot — and if so, how big the potential risk is.
See also:
J&J vaccine to remain in limbo while officials seek evidence Fresno Bee
Underserved communities bear brunt of paused Johnson & Johnson rollout Washington Post
Pause in Vaccinations Leads to Canceled Appointments Across States New York Times
California re-opens enrollment for health insurance coverage
AP News
California on Monday re-opened enrollment for its state health insurance exchange, hoping more people will buy coverage now that the federal government is offering new assistance that could lower monthly premiums by $1,000 or more in some cases.
Adults vaccinated for COVID can gather safely, but can kids join in? What experts say
Fresno Bee
Federal COVID-19 guidance released in March said it’s safe for fully vaccinated adults from different households to meet indoors without masks. It was the nation’s first step back to normal social gatherings since the coronavirus pandemic started.
Kaiser to offer COVID-19 vaccine in Delano on Saturday
Bakersfield Californian
A Kaiser Permanente mobile health vehicle will be in Delano on Saturday to give the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to those age 18 years or older.
COBRA is free for six months under the COVID relief bill. Do you qualify?
Los Angeles Times
Americans who lost a job in the last 18 months are able to stay on or join their former employer’s healthcare plan for free through Sept. 30. That provision of the American Rescue Plan Act went into effect April 1.
IMMIGRATION
Which state is doing more for undocumented residents in COVID era? California or New York?
Fresno Bee
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, some Democratic-led states have sought to provide state-funded COVID relief for undocumented immigrants who were left out of federal stimulus aid.
Kamala Harris faces diplomatic pitfalls in tackling migration from Central America
Los Angeles Times
Republicans have been pounding Vice President Kamala Harris for weeks, asking when she’ll travel to Central America and Mexico to begin face-to-face talks about curbing the flow of migrants seeking to enter the United States.
Biden quietly reversed Trump’s ban on worker visas. Will it help or hurt the U.S. economy?
Los Angeles Times
President Biden has quietly relaxed one of former President Trump’s signature immigration bans against foreign workers with skills that U.S. employers say they cannot find in the domestic labor market.
Lawmakers flock to border as more migrants arrive
Roll Call
It’s not an ordinary sight — a group of sitting Republican senators, including Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham, dressed in tactical gear, floating along the Rio Grande in a boat armed with machine guns.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Plan for a new town in hills above Fresno gets a reboot. What’s next for Friant Ranch?
Fresno Bee
Fresno County supervisors have voted unanimously to rescind their approval of the Friant Ranch development, concluding a decade of litigation against the controversial project.
Amid protests and litigation, Fresno’s Tower Theatre opening gift shop for one-day sale
Fresno Bee
The Tower Theatre will reopen on Friday, for a few hours at least. In an email sent this week, the historic venue in Fresno announced it’s hosting a one-day memorabilia sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Housing:
How effective are Turlock homeless sweeps, outreach at getting people sheltered?
Modesto Bee
As the City of Turlock cleared the homeless encampment on West Glenwood Avenue Wednesday morning, six people said they do not want to stay in shelters or do not know where to go next.
Report: California’s Housing Costs Widening The Wealth Gap For Communities Of Color
CAFwd
It’s no secret that housing affordability has been one of the biggest challenges facing California for decades. It has also contributed to a massive racial wealth gap, as home ownership is the main driver of multigenerational wealth creation for the middle class.
Housing advocates want equity provisions in infrastructure bill
Roll Call
Witnesses urged senators to bake provisions to ensure equity into President Joe Biden’s proposed infrastructure package or they would risk repeating a history of public investments that locked African Americans and minorities out of buying homes and building wealth.
Billions in Covid-19 Aid Is Slow to Reach Renters and Landlords
Wall Street Journal
Overwhelmed state and local authorities are grappling with how to allocate $25 billion in federal rental relief, leaving many tenants and landlords waiting weeks or months for their share.
PUBLIC FINANCES
CA man can't get unemployment benefits because EDD claims he's in prison
abc30
Countless people, walking freely on the streets of California, are being told they can no longer receive EDD benefits... because they're in prison.
TRANSPORTATION
New Fresno Yosemite airport garage construction ahead of schedule. When will it open?
Fresno Bee
A new parking garage under construction at Fresno Yosemite International Airportis expected to open in October, ahead of schedule and, remarkably, under budget, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said Wednesday during a tour of the rising structure.
Scaled-down project near Highway 99, including hydrogen fuel station, stirs up debate
Modesto Bee
A last-minute response from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will delay a Salida commercial project, near Hammett Road and Highway 99, for at least a few months.
California raised fuel taxes 4 years ago, and it’s still short on money for road repairs
Sacramento Bee
California’s ambitious road repair program faces financial trouble—a projected $6.1 billion annual shortfall— four years after the state adopted the highest fuel tax in the nation in a plan to fix its battered highways
Airline middle seats are a COVID risk, CDC research says, with caveats
Los Angeles Times
The risk of being exposed to the coronavirus on an airline flight drops by as much as half when airlines keep middle seats open, a new study published by the U.S. government concludes, but it’s a safety practice the carriers have abandoned.
The Case For a Transit-First Infrastructure Plan
Bloomberg
President Biden’s $2 trillion jobs plan would double the federal contribution to public transit. But to fight climate change and broaden access to opportunity, that won’t be enough.
WATER
Toxic tap water: California needs $4.6 billion to fix failing infrastructure
Fresno Bee
A new state analysis estimates a $4.6 billion funding gap for water system infrastructure needed to ensure Californians have access to safe and affordable drinking water.
Southern California water giant wants Sacramento Valley water — and has $44 million to spend
Fresno Bee
With California in the throes of a second year of drought conditions, the mega-water agency of Southern California served notice Tuesday that it’s prepared to spend up to $44 million to buy water from Northern California to shore up its supplies.
Epic drought means water crisis on Oregon-California border
Bakersfield Californian
Hundreds of farmers who rely on a massive irrigation project that spans the Oregon-California border learned Wednesday they will get a tiny fraction of the water they need amid the worst drought in decades.
5 things you need to know about federal drought aid in California
CalMatters
The USDA declared California a natural disaster due to its severe drought, triggering aid for growers and ranchers who supply much of the nation’s food. Why has the federal government stepped in to help with California’s water woes?
PPIC
California has the nation’s most variable climate, and droughts are a recurring feature. Very wet and very dry years are both common, while “normal” years—widely used to describe average precipitation—are rare. Yet one dry year does not constitute a drought.
Opinion: Raising Shasta Dam threatens McCloud River, sacred tribal lands and salmon
CalMatters
Earlier this week, American Rivers released a list of the nation’s most endangered rivers. California’s McCloud River is included because of the federal government’s proposal to raise the height of Shasta Dam.
Commentary: Water Markets Can Reduce the Costs of Drought
PPIC
California’s increasingly volatile warming climate is making droughts more intense, and complicating water management.
“Xtra”
Bethany Clough: This national burger franchise has opened its first restaurant in Fresno
Fresno Bee
Wayback Burgers has opened its first restaurant in Fresno. The national franchise has about 150 locations in more than 30 states, with most on the East Coast and a handful in California.
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
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