POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Oct. 15: Stanislaus reports eight deaths, the most this month Modesto Bee
● Board to vote on COVID vaccine or weekly testing mandate at Modesto JC, Columbia College Modesto Bee
● San Joaquin Co. supervisors OK ban on vaccine passports San Joaquin Valley Sun
Couper Condit abruptly resigns from Ceres City Council 10 months into his first term
Modesto Bee
During a council meeting Monday, Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez announced Condit’s departure, following the councilman’s emailed resignation earlier that day. The resignation took effect immediately.
Leaders in Stanislaus say Biden’s $4 trillion agenda could bring jobs and cleaner air
Modesto Bee
Five leaders in Stanislaus County said residents could get cleaner air and greener jobs via President Joe Biden’s agenda. They focused on the environmental aspects of the plan, which also would fund education, health care and other efforts.
Stanislaus State awarded grant to prepare Latinos for science-savvy roles in agriculture
Sacramento Bee
Latino students will get more opportunities to pursue tech-enriched, scientific careers in agriculture through the creation of a new concentration at Stanislaus State University.
Director of Public Works – City of Manteca
Public CEO
The City of Manteca is searching for an experienced and knowledgeable leader to serve as their next Director of Public Works. The ideal candidate is a professional with the highest level of integrity, outstanding judgment, and leadership skills.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Case numbers stabilize, but ICU admissions up Hanford Sentinel
● Visalia Unified offers free COVID-19 testing to students, staff starting next week Visalia Times Delta
Social workers demand solutions for horrific conditions for kids in Fresno County CPS care
Fresno Bee
Several dozen social workers and other county employees on Thursday publicly blamed deficiencies in management in Fresno County for the conditions that foster children have faced for years.
See also:
● Fresno County boss didn’t know about CPS kids in deplorable conditions until this week Fresno Bee
● Jim Patterson talks Fresno County foster kids living in office Fresno Bee
● ‘Inhumane’ conditions: Children under Fresno County custody living in office space Fresno Bee
● Assemblyman urges state to work with Fresno County to address children’s living conditions Fresno Bee
● Social Workers Expose Horrible Conditions for Youth Held by Fresno County GV Wire
● Fresno social workers call for change as children sleep on floors, desks while waiting for a home abc30
● Editorial: Fresno County has some foster kids sleeping on office floors, tables. That’s unacceptable Fresno Bee
Fresno bans indoor smoking in apartments. What about medical marijuana?
Fresno Bee
The Fresno City Council on Thursday voted to ban smoking indoors at multi-unit housing complexes. The ordinance requires housing complexes to ban smoking from inside individual units and only allow it in designated smoking areas.
Fresno Unified school board censures Slatic - again - after another tense debate
Fresno Bee
Following another tense argument, the Fresno Unified School board formally censured one of its trustees over an outburst during a meeting in August. The board voted 5-1 Wednesday night to censure Trustee Terry Slatic. He cast the only “no” vote.
Mayor: Fresno's freeways free of homeless
abc30
Jerry Dyer, mayor of Fresno, told Action News the city has cleared the encampments of homeless people living along the area freeways. It was part of the city's "Project Off-Ramp" initiative.
Progress at Fresno mobile homes, rental properties watched by code enforcement
abc30
As of July, the city also took control of oversight at all 27 Fresno mobile home parks and sent code enforcement in large numbers to the Trails End park in north Fresno, which was plagued by problems including a deadly fire earlier this year.
Editorial: Fresno board stands against racism and upholds an Armenian star by renaming school
Fresno Bee
After a torturous process that dragged out over several months, the Fresno Unified School District trustees did the right thing Wednesday night in renaming Forkner Elementary for one of the city’s star residents.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Antibody therapy site for treatment of COVID-19 opens on Columbus Street Bakersfield Californian
Arvin finally achieves federal standard for arsenic in drinking water
Bakersfield Californian
Federal and state officials announced Tuesday that Arvin has finally met the federal Safe Drinking Water Act's arsenic health standard after a frustrating, 13-year process that resulted in five new groundwater wells serving about 20,000 people.
New lease signed for charter school aiming to open in downtown Bakersfield
Bakersfield Californian
Up until now, charter schools in Kern County have been limited to the outskirts of the county or schools aimed at homeschooling, such as Valley Oaks Charter School. That could be changing soon with a new venture planning to open right in the heart of downtown.
State begins effort to clean up toxic 'Delano Plume'
Bakersfield Californian
More than a decade after elevated levels of a cancer-causing chemical were found in downtown Delano, residents now believe a solution has been reached.
McCarthy reintroduces valley fever bill
Bakersfield Californian
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, as well as a group of other House representatives from California and Arizona, reintroduced a valley fever bill aimed at incentivizing research for valley fever and other fungal diseases this week.
State:
COVID Update:
● California judge blocks COVID-19 vaccine order for correctional officers Fresno Bee
● Kern judge blocks vaccination mandate for California prisons Bakersfield Californian
● See how many people in California are vaccinated, and find a COVID vaccine appointment Fresno Bee
● 70,000 Californians have died from COVID-19 Fresno Bee
● Nearly 40% of California state workers are unvaccinated against COVID despite Newsom order Sacramento Bee
● Editorial: In California’s battle against COVID, Gov. Gavin Newsom is still leading from behind Sacramento Bee
From condiments to condoms: new California laws bring change
Business Journal
California Gov. Gavin Newsom spent the summer campaigning to keep his job and, with a landslide victory in hand, he’s continued pushing progressive California further left.
See also:
California Politics: The governor’s all-powerful veto
Los Angeles Times
The checks and balances between California’s legislative and executive branches of government are designed to allow the Legislature to write laws, the governor to block those laws if desired and legislators — if they feel strongly enough — to supersede the governor and put them into practice.
See also:
● Skelton: Newsom made the right decisions on fishing, ‘ghost guns’ and 3 other simple bills Los Angeles Times
● Cal Grant expansion: Newsom vetoes game-changer for 150,000 college students CalMatters
California becomes first state to allow children to put parents on their health insurance plans
VPR
Tonya Mosley hears from Asm. Miguel Santiago about his recently-passed bill to allow some parents to be covered under their adult childrens’ health insurance plans, many of whom are people living in the U.S. illegally and are shut out of most health care coverage.
Mercury News
Buying a new gasoline-powered leaf blower, lawn mower, string trimmer, chain saw or other outdoor gardening tool in California that runs on fossil fuels may soon be a thing of the past.
See also:
● California Is Banning Small Engines. Here's What It Means The Drive
● Lithium Stocks Are Jumping as California Says RIP to Gas Lawn Mowers The Motley Fool
New California task force grapples with a big question: Who would qualify for reparations?
San Francisco Chronicle
One year after California approved the first statewide task force in the nation to study reparations for Black residents, the panel is grappling with a fundamental question: Who should potentially qualify for restitution?
California board diversity requirements face legal challenge
Roll Call
California, one of the first states to require companies to include women on their boards of directors, may see its ability to enforce director diversity laws upended depending on the outcome of multiple lawsuits.
How will diverse voters be represented in California’s new election districts?
CalMatters
Across the state, organizers are banding together to make sure new congressional, legislative and local districts lead to diverse representation. The track record of the Citizens Redistricting Commission is mixed, according to two recent studies.
See also:
● Editorial: After losing a congressional seat, participation in California redistricting is critical Sacramento Bee
Top California labor official and husband accused of grand theft, embezzlement and tax evasion
Los Angeles Times
The California attorney general’s office has filed felony charges against the executive director of the state’s largest labor union, alleging that Alma Hernández and her husband underreported their income by more than $1.4 million to evade taxes.
Little Hoover Commission
The Little Hoover Commission has launched a study to examine whether California's system for recalling state office holders should be changed, and if so, how. We would like to hear your thoughts on the state's recall system below. All questions are optional.
See also:
● Testimony: Californians and the Recall Process Public Policy Institute of California
Community Input Needed For California’s Historic Broadband Investments
CA FWD
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) now needs your input on the Open Access Middle-Mile Network implementation plan and GO-Biz needs information to help inform the state’s broadband action plan.
Opinion: Is direct democracy under attack in California?
CalMatters
A proposed constitutional amendment is awaiting action in the state Senate to change the historic burden of proof for passing a referendum, thereby constraining the ability of voters to reconsider a bill passed by the Legislature.
Federal:
COVID Update:
● Biden stresses need to vaccinate rest of America as he touts progress against COVID abc30
● 5 things to know about the Biden administration’s vaccine mandates Fresno Bee
● Biden calls on businesses to ‘step up’ as he expresses optimism about the fight against the virus. New York Times
● FDA advisory panel discusses J&J booster; U.S. to lift travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers Washington Post
● Covid-19 Vaccine-Mandate Bans Tread on Uncertain Legal Ground Wall Street Journal
● Does The Public Want To Get A COVID-19 Vaccine? When? Kaiser Family Foundation
Coming soon, a surprise billing law may have unintended effects on health care
VPR
Patients are months away from not having to worry about most surprise medical bills — those extra costs that can amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars when people are unknowingly treated by an out-of-network doctor or hospital.
Biden signs debt limit bill, but December standoff is coming
Mercury News
President Joe Biden on Thursday signed into law a bill raising the nation’s debt limit until early December, delaying the prospect of an unprecedented federal default that would cause economic disaster.
See also:
● Debt déjà vu deepens Democratic divisions Politico
● White House banking on another McConnell retreat over the debt ceiling Politico
● Is Joe Biden right that debt limit increase ‘has nothing to do with new spending’? Politifact
Democrats haggle over how to scale back their spending plan to win over centrists
NPR
Democrats in Congress are trying to thread a seemingly impossible needle. They say they want to address things like child care, climate change and poverty. But they also need to keep the price down.
See also:
● Dems torn between wooing and badgering the Biden agenda holdouts Politico
● What Faces Cuts in Democrats’ Social Spending Plan? U.S. News
● In Budget Bill, Democrats Bet the Temporary Will Become Permanent New York Times
● Two million poor people were left behind by the ACA. Democrats might finally fix it Los Angeles Times
● Lower prices on prescription medications? Biden, Congress consider plan to cap costs Sacramento Bee
● Opinion: Why extending the current child tax credit would do more harm than good Washington Post
● Opinion: CBO Blows Up Democrats’ Spin on Taxes National Review
● Opinion: Local and national leaders must organize themselves better to build back better Brookings
Biden SCOTUS reform panel also mulls ‘dysfunctional’ confirmation process
Politico
Overhauling the Supreme Court may turn out to be too heavy a lift for the high-powered legal panel that President Joe Biden tapped to consider reforms to the structure of the nation’s highest court, but the commission might have a bit more traction tinkering with the court’s beleaguered feeder system: the U.S. Senate.
See also:
● Biden Panel Wary of Expanding Supreme Court, but Open to Term Limits New York Times
● Commission on Supreme Court warns of political dangers in reform proposals Washington Post
● Biden’s Supreme Court commission successfully removes pie from sky Washington Post
● Commission on Changing Supreme Court Skeptical About Adding Justices Wall Street Journal
Justice Department will ask Supreme Court to block Texas abortion law while legal fights play out
Washington Post
The Department of Justice said Friday that it will go back to the Supreme Court to request that it put on hold Texas’s restrictive abortion law while legal battles continue.
Senate Democrats Plan Vote Next Week on Voting Measure
Wall Street Journal
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y) set up a vote for next week on revised elections legislation, starting off a busy session with a measure that has unified the Democratic caucus but drawn Republican opposition in the 50-50 chamber.
See also:
● Democrats Plan Another Bid to Break G.O.P. Voting Rights Filibuster New York Times
● Opinion: A third party could cure what ails the GOP AEI
Biden Weighs Nominating Former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf to Lead Agency Again
Wall Street Journal
President Biden is considering nominating former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf to lead the agency again, a person familiar with the process said.
See also:
● Biden Considering Robert Califf, a Former F.D.A. Commissioner, to Lead Agency Again New York Times
● Biden zeroes in on Califf to head FDA as deadline nears Washington Post
Biden to Meet With Pope Francis Ahead of G-20 Summit
Wall Street Journal
Pope Francis and President Biden will meet at the Vatican on Oct. 29 amid controversy among U.S. bishops over the second Catholic president’s support for abortion rights. The White House announced the meeting, which was widely expected, on Thursday.
Effort to Bar Tech Companies From ‘Self-Preferencing’ Gains Traction
Wall Street Journal
Legislation to bar internet companies from favoring their own products on their platforms is gaining more support, in what could be a potential threat to the business models of tech giants like Amazon.com Inc. and Apple Inc.
Jan. 6 House Panel to Hold Steve Bannon in Criminal Contempt of Congress
Wall Street Journal
The chairman of the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol said Thursday that the panel would move to hold former Trump adviser Steve Bannon in criminal contempt of Congress, after he declined to comply with a subpoena.
See also:
● Jan. 6 Panel Moves to Recommend Criminal Charges Against Bannon New York Times
● The Jan. 6 committee does not have time to waste Washington Post
● Trump asserts his dominance inside GOP, pushing Republicans to embrace his false claims of fraud Washington Post
● Does executive privilege still protect Trump after his term ends? Fight brews over congressional subpoenas American Bar Association Journal
White House vows to treat climate change as "systemic" financial risk
Axios
A new White House report released Friday morning says climate change poses "systemic risks" to the U.S. financial system, and presents a "roadmap" to building a "climate-resilient" economy.
See also:
● Biden to Press Climate Agenda on Wall Street Wall Street Journal
Washington Post
Climate activists are concluding their five days of action in Washington with a march to the U.S. Capitol to demand that President Biden take more extreme measures to address climate change.
Beyond blunt truths about Columbus Day, Biden presses for real progress for Indigenous people
Washington Post
President Biden made history this month as the first president to commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, but it was his observance about Christopher Columbus that was notable for its blunt truths.
Pew Research
As a contentious political year unfolds, the share of adults who see strong partisan conflicts – particularly the share who perceive very strong conflicts between Democrats and Republicans – is much higher today than in 2016 or 2012.
Opinion: A new problem for Democrats: Americans suddenly want smaller government after all
Washington Post
Fast-forward to today. Gallup conducted this poll again a month ago — and found that the share saying the government should do more to solve problems has fallen back down to earth. Only 43 percent of Americans support more active government.
Opinion: ‘Restoration’ of 2011 patent reform bill faces headwinds
AEI
Two key lawmakers are seeking to restore the 2011 America Invents Act (AIA), the most significant reform of the patent statute in decades, but they appear to be meeting more resistance than the Stuarts did.
Other:
2 years and counting until 'ring of fire' eclipse occurs over US
abc30
A pair of solar eclipses in North America will happen just 177 days apart, the first of which is an annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023.
Facebook will adopt new policies to address harassment targeting public figures
VPR
On Wednesday, the company announced it would ban content that degrades or sexualizes public figures, such as elected officials, celebrities, activists, and journalists. This builds on the company's current policies that exist to protect ordinary users in the same way.
See also:
● Facebook expands harassment policy to protect public figures Sacramento Bee
Top 5 most important judicial analytics metrics
American Bar Association Journal
The judge in your case has immense discretion to decide the pace and outcome of your case. Given this truism, what judicial qualities can you measure in advance to best set you and your client up for success?
The Heritage Foundation Names Dr. Kevin Roberts Next President
The Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation today announced Dr. Kevin Roberts will become the seventh president in the think tank’s 48-year history. Roberts will succeed President Kay C. James later this year when he takes the helm of America’s premier conservative think tank.
Diversity and Division in Advanced Economies
Pew Research
Alongside this growing openness to diversity is a recognition that societies may not be living up to these ideals: In fact, most people say racial or ethnic discrimination is a problem in their society.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, October 10, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "The Road Ahead for Zero-Emision Vehicles in CA" - Guest: F. Noel Perry, Founder of Next 10. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, October 10, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "Climate Change and Electric Vehicles:
Public Action and Private Markets"- Guests: F. Noel Perry, Founder of Next 10 & State Senator Fran Pavley. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Report: Growth in organic produce to wane in wake of pandemic
Business Journal
The pandemic of 2020 ushered in a booming demand for organic produce at retail stores. A new report shows the bump was dependent on the product, and while researchers anticipate a 2021 slowdown, they conclude demand should outpace 2019 growth.
The City of Lancaster approves 2.8 million square foot high-tech sustainable glass farm
Public CEO
The City of Lancaster is excited to announce that Bluehouse Greenhouse, Inc. (BHGH) is coming to the City to build a 62-acre greenhouse production facility that uses leading-edge technology to sustainably grow fruits and vegetables.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Street racing victims, law enforcement see potential in Fong's crackdown law
Bakersfield Californian
Under the current law, those convicted of street racing can be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for up to 90 days and up to a $500 fine. Fong’s bill allows courts to revoke a street racer’s license for up to six months, only allowing driving to work during that period.
California Attorney General Bonta talks hate crime in California
Sacramento Bee
As part of a statewide effort to address hate, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, and local leaders held a press conference following an anti-hate roundtable discussion on October 14, 2021.
Public Safety:
Current system is ‘broken at times’: Modesto starts looking for new 911 dispatch options
Modesto Bee
City Council members voted 6-1 to serve the Stanislaus Regional 911 center Joint Powers Authority “with a written notice of an intent to terminate” its relationship, effective Jan. 1, 2024, and explore alternative options for the city.
Policy Brief: Racial Disparities in Law Enforcement Stops
Public Policy Institute of California
Today, a majority of Californians, or 62 percent, view the criminal justice system as biased against African Americans, according to the PPIC Statewide Survey—although a majority also say police treat all racial and ethnic groups fairly “almost always” or “most of the time.”
See also:
● Racial Disparities in Law Enforcement Stops Public Policy Institute of California
● Event: Policing in California Public Policy Institute of California
Fire:
Windy Fire damage assessment could take months to complete as containment nears
Visalia Times Delta
The Windy Fire, now 97,554 acres, left a trail of destruction in the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument. It may take months to complete a full evaluation of the impacts on the giant sequoia groves.
See also:
● How this year's historic fire season compares to others in destructiveness so far San Francisco Chronicle
How much do wildfires really cost California’s economy?
CalMatters
A preliminary estimate shows that the Caldor Fire cost millions in lost economic activity. Wildfires, and the economic disruption they cause, have a large economic impact. But right now, California has a mostly incomplete picture of how much fires cost the state each year.
Shifting winds challenge crews fighting California fire
Sacramento Bee
Shifting winds posed new challenges for firefighters battling a blaze in Southern California coastal mountains that threatened ranches and rural homes and kept a major highway shut down for days.
‘Self-serving garbage.’ Wildfire experts escalate fight over saving California forests
Sacramento Bee
As the Caldor Fire roared into the Lake Tahoe basin more than a month ago, Brian Newman took some comfort in the surroundings. An operations section chief with Cal Fire, Newman knew that thousands of acres of trees and brush had been deliberately removed from around the basin in recent years.
‘You can’t just hold your breath.’ Toxic smoke, fueled by wildfires, chokes California
PBS News Hour
A new analysis of air quality in the United States clears up just how far smoke from wildfires burning in the western part of the nation can travel, as the fires continue to pose significant health risks to nearby communities.
See also:
● Heavy smoke from Alisal fire hurts air quality in L.A., Orange counties as red flag warning issued Los Angeles Times
Late October rains could dampen wildfires and help with drought, forecasters say
Los Angeles Times
A wetter-than-average forecast for late October could dampen wildfires burning in Northern California and help ease drought conditions. The latest weather outlook for the latter part of this month calls for above-normal precipitation in California.
Battle over California fire insurance policies intensifies
AP News
Massive wildfires are making it harder for some California homeowners to get property insurance, pitting the state’s insurance commissioner against the industry in an escalating conflict that will likely stretch into 2022′s statewide elections.
New, unplanned blackouts aim to prevent California wildfires. But has PG&E ‘gone too far’?
Sacramento Bee
Under investigation for the second-largest wildfire in California history, PG&E Corp. has dialed up the circuit breakers on vast stretches of its grid, enabling automatic shutoffs the instant something goes awry.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Redressing Racial Inequity Through Access To Capital
CA FWD
“The recovery, just like the pandemic, hit businesses of color harder,” said Villarreal, chief external affairs officer of CDC Small Business Finance + Capital Impact Partners and member of CA FWD Investing in Small Businesses Owned by People of Color work group.
Why you should care about the supply chain logjam?
Mercury News
In simple terms, the supply chain is the route goods take from where they’re made to store shelves or, increasingly, your doorstep.
See also:
● Port backlogs sum up California’s COVID crisis CalMatters
● Retail Sales Rise, Showing Resilient U.S. Consumers Wall Street Journal
● Image of map doesn’t show hundreds of ‘sitting’ ships waiting to dock at US ports Politifact
● When will supply chains be back to normal? And how did things get so bad? Los Angeles Times
● Biden will announce expanded operations at Port of Los Angeles as supply chain crunch continues Los Angeles Times
● News Analysis: Ahead of holidays, Biden tries to untangle supply chain mess Los Angeles Times
● Opinion: What the Supply Chain Crisis Reveals About American Infrastructure Politico
Almost 20% of U.S. households lost entire savings during pandemic
Mercury News
For many Americans, coronavirus lockdowns — with nowhere to go and nothing to do — were a time to save. But for almost 20% of U.S. households, the pandemic wiped out their entire financial cushion, a poll released Tuesday finds.
See also:
● Close to 40% of U.S. Households Say They Face Financial Difficulties as Covid-19 Pandemic Continues Wall Street Journal
Inflation in the economy today is different. Here are four charts that can explain why.
Washington Post
The bumpy economic recovery has policymakers, economists and Americans at large grappling with higher price hikes for groceries, gas, cars, rent and just about everything else.
Coinbase Pitches Blueprint for Special Crypto Regulator
Wall Street Journal
The largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange wants Congress to block the SEC from overseeing the nascent industry and instead create a special regulator for digital assets, according to a policy blueprint reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
Johnson & Johnson Places Talc Injury Claims in Bankruptcy
Wall Street Journal
Johnson & Johnson placed into bankruptcy its liabilities for tens of thousands of lawsuits linking talc-based products to cancer, betting the move will help drive a settlement of personal-injury claims that are expected to grow for decades to come.
What Bank Earnings From JPMorgan, Bank of America Tell Us About the U.S. Economy
Wall Street Journal
Wall Street is booming, or at least parts of it are. Merger mania and stock trading lifted the big U.S. banks’ third-quarter results. On Main Street, banks are still hunting for bigger loan growth, but many customers are spending more after holding out last year.
Event: California Economic Summit
CA FWD
Produced by California Forward in partnership with the California Stewardship Network, the Summit influences CA FWD’s ongoing movement to make the government and economy work for everyone.
Opinion: California’s legal climate hurting small business owners
CalMatters
California small businesses are still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, but we shouldn’t be. Every day, more Americans are vaccinated and more businesses are opening up, yet small business owners continue to suffer unnecessary hardship.
Jobs:
Is remote work here to stay? Here’s what Americans think in a new poll
Fresno Bee
Forty-five percent of full-time workers in the September survey said they were working from home — including 25% who said they are exclusively working from home and 20% who said they are doing so some of the time.
Deere & Co. workers go on strike after rejecting contract
Business Journal
More than 10,000 Deere & Co. workers went on strike Thursday, the first major walkout at the agricultural machinery giant in more than three decades. The union had said its members would walk off the job if no deal has been reached Wednesday.
See also:
● More than 10,000 John Deere workers go on strike as labor actions heat up in the U.S. VPR
● Deere Workers Go On Strike for First Time in 35 Years Wall Street Journal
● Krugman: The Revolt of the American Worker New York Times
COVID malaise: California unemployment claims jump, stay greatly elevated
Mercury News
California’s battered job market has yet to fully heal from its coronavirus-induced afflictions, as sketched out by a federal report released Thursday that shows unemployment claims remain abnormally high.
See also:
● 4.3 Million Workers Are Missing. Where Did They Go? Wall Street Journal
Hotel Housekeepers Lost Jobs During the Pandemic. They May Not Be Coming Back.
Capital & Main
It’s no secret. Top executives at Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt and other chains have openly signaled their intention to permanently hike profits by making daily room cleaning an exception rather than the norm at all but their highest-end properties.
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Rudd, and Romo
Federal OSHA will release proposed regulations regarding the mandate for employers with 100 or more employees in the near future. California employers will have to wait for further guidance from Cal/OSHA, which has jurisdiction over most California workplaces.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Fresno Unified school board censures Slatic - again - after another tense debate
Fresno Bee
Following another tense argument, the Fresno Unified School board formally censured one of its trustees over an outburst during a meeting in August. The board voted 5-1 Wednesday night to censure Trustee Terry Slatic. He cast the only “no” vote.
New lease signed for charter school aiming to open in downtown Bakersfield
Bakersfield Californian
Up until now, charter schools in Kern County have been limited to the outskirts of the county or schools aimed at homeschooling, such as Valley Oaks Charter School. That could be changing soon with a new venture planning to open right in the heart of downtown.
Valley high schoolers given first-generation wisdom at Hispanic Education Conference
Modesto Bee
At Modesto Junior College’s 38th annual Hispanic Education Conference last week, one-time first-generation students spoke of learning to overcome obstacles in pursuit of higher education.
State education leaders launch task force to improve academic performance for Black students
abc30
The task force will create legislation recommendations to address the impacts of institutional racism in U.S. public schools and the widening achievement gap between students of color and white students.
Nearly half of money for high-needs students not getting to their schools, analysis finds
EdSource
Diverting funds intended for California’s high-needs students for other spending “dampens” the potential to significantly close the achievement gap between high-poverty and low-poverty students, new research from the Public Policy Institute of California has found.
Event: Achieving Digital Equity for California’s Students
Public Policy Institute of California
The importance of digital connectivity in K–12 education has never been more apparent. Did student access to devices and the internet improve during the pandemic?
Editorial: Fresno board stands against racism and upholds an Armenian star by renaming school
Fresno Bee
After a torturous process that dragged out over several months, the Fresno Unified School District trustees did the right thing Wednesday night in renaming Forkner Elementary for one of the city’s star residents.
Higher Ed:
Stanislaus State awarded grant to prepare Latinos for science-savvy roles in agriculture
Sacramento Bee
Latino students will get more opportunities to pursue tech-enriched, scientific careers in agriculture through the creation of a new concentration at Stanislaus State University.
Cal Grant expansion: Newsom vetoes game-changer for 150,000 college students
CalMatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a huge expansion of the Cal Grant, the state’s main financial aid tool. It would have topped off a banner year for legislators who for years sought to reduce the cost of college.
Another blow to UC admissions tests: Nix SAT alternative exam, faculty recommend
Los Angeles Times
In another blow to the future of standardized testing for University of California admissions, a faculty group has recommended nixing the use of an alternative assessment to replace the SAT in a new report to UC leaders.
See also:
● More California colleges remove SAT, ACT requirements during application process Los Angeles Times
USC to apologize for WWII actions that derailed education of Japanese American students
Los Angeles Times
In the throes of World War II, weeks after a 1942 presidential executive order forced the removal of all persons of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast, then-UC Berkeley President Robert G. Sproul sprung into action.
L.A. Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas and ex-USC dean indicted on bribery charges
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas was indicted Wednesday on federal charges that he took bribes from a USC dean in exchange for directing millions of dollars in public funding to the university when he was on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.
AEI
The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) released its annual report today on US graduate school enrollment and degrees for 2020 and this is an update of my annual post are the striking gender differences in graduate school enrollment and degrees.
Opinion: Jewish college students are more likely to oppose free speech — and that should scare us
The Forward
One of the hallmarks of Jewish tradition is its intense focus on debate and disagreement. Unfortunately, it appears that this value is being lost on many of the nation’s younger Jews — namely those currently enrolled in colleges and universities.
Opinion: Has COVID disrupted the postsecondary pipeline?
Brookings
Since February 2020, young adults have spent less time on education, spent more time in the work force, and experienced better wage outcomes than over the same period following the onset of the 2001 and 2008 recessions.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
State begins effort to clean up toxic 'Delano Plume'
Bakersfield Californian
More than a decade after elevated levels of a cancer-causing chemical were found in downtown Delano, residents now believe a solution has been reached.
Coast Guard: California oil spill likely 25,000 gallons
Business Journal
The amount of crude oil spilled in an offshore pipeline leak in Southern California is believed to be close to 25,000 gallons, or only about one-fifth of what officials initially feared, a Coast Guard official said Thursday.
See also:
● Experts ask Congress for more offshore oil oversight as California cleanup continues Merced Sun Star
● California oil spill was likely about 25,000 gallons, Coast Guard officials said Thursday Mercury News
● Unanswered questions about California oil spill suggest oversight isn’t working Mercury News
● OC oil spill likely 106,000 gallons smaller than early estimate Orange County Register
● Cleansed of oil, birds harmed by O.C. spill take flight in Huntington Beach Los Angeles Times
● Opinion: Oil spill shows need to transition to clean energy CalMatters
Drought conditions in California this summer were the worst on record
Mercury News
The West’s historic, multi-year drought is threatening water supply, food production and electricity generation. It has drained reservoirs at incredible rates and fueled one of the most extreme wildfire seasons the region has ever experienced.
See also:
● This summer was California's driest on record in more than 100 years - here's what that means San Francisco Chronicle
Mercury News
Buying a new gasoline-powered leaf blower, lawn mower, string trimmer, chain saw or other outdoor gardening tool in California that runs on fossil fuels may soon be a thing of the past.
See also:
● California Is Banning Small Engines. Here's What It Means The Drive
● Lithium Stocks Are Jumping as California Says RIP to Gas Lawn Mowers The Motley Fool
The race to save California's rarest butterflies
BBC
From a breeding laboratory putting species on "life support" to the world's first fully electric smart tractor, California's scientists and farmers are working to halt the rapid decline of the state's butterflies.
Opinion: Presentation: On climate science and policy
AEI
Some basics of climatology, the IPCC (“CMIP-5” and “CMIP-6”) climate models and the IPCC GHG scenarios, the issue of equilibrium climate sensitivity, natural vs anthropogenic climate change, is there evidence of a climate “crisis?” benefit/cost analysis of GHG emissions policies.
Energy:
New wind farms would dot US coastlines under Biden plan
Sacramento Bee
Seven major offshore wind farms would be developed on the East and West coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico under a plan announced Wednesday by the Biden administration.
U.S. households will pay more to heat their homes this winter, officials say
VPR
A report released Wednesday by the Energy Information Administration predicts that home heating costs will go up because fuel prices are rising and fuel demand has increased over the previous winter.
California’s Dirty Little Secret: Oil Wells in the Backyard
Capital & Main
Hernandez is one of millions of Californians affected by neighborhood drilling — the practice of exploring for oil right in the middle of communities, next to the places where people live, study, and seek medical care.
Biden team asks oil industry for help to tame gas prices
Politico
The White House has been consulting with the oil industry to seek a remedy for rising gasoline prices as surging inflation threatens to tarnish the economic recovery, according to three people familiar with the discussions.
Opinion: Diesel generators provide valuable back up to the grid
CalMatters
The diesel Industry is proud of the role it plays in securitizing the engine of society, safeguarding critical systems and mitigating the loss of life that can happen when these systems fail.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
FDA panel votes in favor of Moderna COVID booster shots for some adults. What to know
Fresno Bee
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted in favor of authorizing a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for certain adults at least six months after receiving their first two doses of the same shot.
See also:
● Lower-dose Moderna COVID shot for booster endorsed by FDA panel abc30
● FDA panel recommends authorization of Moderna booster shots Los Angeles Times
● Moderna Booster Shot Backed by FDA Advisory Panel Wall Street Journal
● FDA panel recommends Moderna booster for people 65 and older and adults at high risk of exposure or severe illness Washington Post
● F.D.A. Panel Recommends Booster for Many Moderna Vaccine Recipients New York Times
● FDA advisers endorse Moderna booster shot: Three takeaways Politico
● FDA advisers recommend Moderna COVID-19 booster shots Roll Call
What’s the latest advice on the type of mask I should wear?
Fresno Bee
What’s the latest advice on the type of mask I should wear? It depends on your situation, but health officials say it should cover your nose and mouth, and fit snugly so there aren't any gaps on the sides of your face.
McCarthy reintroduces valley fever bill
Bakersfield Californian
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, as well as a group of other House representatives from California and Arizona, reintroduced a valley fever bill aimed at incentivizing research for valley fever and other fungal diseases this week.
COVID lungs: Transplants are last resort for many California patients
CalMatters
Ten percent of people who have undergone transplants this year in California had their lungs wrecked by COVID-19. Doctors worry there are more transplants to come, and that non-COVID patients will be waiting longer for new lungs.
Data From Federal Scientists Raise Questions About J.&J. Booster Shots
New York Times
People who received a Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine may be better off with a booster shot from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, according to preliminary data from a federal clinical trial published on Wednesday.
See also:
● An F.D.A. panel is scrutinizing shortcomings in J.&J. booster data. New York Times
‘Lurching Between Crisis and Complacency’: Was This Our Last Covid Surge?
New York Times
After a brutal summer surge, driven by the highly contagious Delta variant, the coronavirus is again in retreat. The United States is recording roughly 90,000 new infections a day, down more than 40 percent since August. Hospitalizations and deaths are falling, too.
Is it the ‘worst cold ever,’ the flu or covid? What to know before winter
Washington Post
Doctors in the United States are bracing for a “twindemic” of flu and coronavirus spikes. Germany bought extra flu vaccine doses. Tens of thousands of people in Britain are looking up “worst cold ever” on search engines.
Wall Street Journal
Estimated deaths from tuberculosis—the deadliest infectious disease until the emergence of Covid-19—increased for the first time in more than a decade last year, the WHO said, blaming severe disruptions in treatment and diagnosis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Why So Many Products on Grocery Store Shelves Claim They Help Your Immune System
Wall Street Journal
In the Covid-19 era, consumers are eager to bolster their immune systems and companies are filling grocery shelves with products claiming to help.
Opinion: How COVID-19 doubles down on poor kids
AEI
The consequences ripple outward for years and decades as the full cost of a disease makes itself known in health and social outcomes. This may turn out to be especially true when it comes to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on kids.
Human Services:
California becomes first state to allow children to put parents on their health insurance plans
VPR
Tonya Mosley hears from Asm. Miguel Santiago about his recently-passed bill to allow some parents to be covered under their adult childrens’ health insurance plans, many of whom are people living in the U.S. illegally and are shut out of most health care coverage.
Hospitals brace for strikes as California workers protest staff shortages
CalMatters
Long-simmering disputes with unions over staffing are reaching crisis points. Almost a third of California hospitals report insufficient numbers of critical workers, including nurses, technicians and janitors.
See also:
● The federal government pledges $100 million to address health care worker shortages VPR
● 'Emotionally, physically, mentally tired’: Nurses say morale has hit a pandemic low Washington Post
● Nursing schools see applications rise, despite COVID burnout AP News
New Latino health center to focus on chronic illnesses that made people vulnerable to COVID-19
Los Angeles Times
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and USC announced they’re launching a new center focused on researching chronic health disparities in Latino families using a $24.5-million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Lower prices on prescription medications? Biden, Congress consider plan to cap costs
Sacramento Bee
About 1.2 million Americans would save money if the new limit was $2,000, which House Democrats have pushed. If it was $3,100, as has been discussed by Senate lawmakers, about 300,000 would benefit.
Coming soon, a surprise billing law may have unintended effects on health care
VPR
Patients are months away from not having to worry about most surprise medical bills — those extra costs that can amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars when people are unknowingly treated by an out-of-network doctor or hospital.
See also:
● Two million poor people were left behind by the ACA. Democrats might finally fix it Los Angeles Times
● With hospitals crowded from COVID, 1 in 5 American families delays health care VPR
Opinion: The challenge of addressing the health care needs of Afghan evacuees
Brookings
A particularly pressing concern is that many of these arrivals have immediate or long-term physical and mental health conditions caused or exacerbated by their traumatic experiences. How can we best address these health needs?
IMMIGRATION
ICE held a man in solitary confinement for more than a year. He’s suing under a new California law
Los Angeles Times
The lawsuit was filed Thursday by the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice and other groups in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California against the Management and Training Corp., a Utah-based private prison company.
Biden Administration Prepares to Resume Remain-in-Mexico Immigration Policy
Wall Street Journal
The Biden administration is preparing by mid-November to resume a Trump-era immigration policy of returning migrants to Mexico while their requests for asylum in the U.S. are considered in a last-minute step to comply with a federal court order.
See also:
● Biden administration says it’s ready to restore ‘Remain in Mexico’ along border next month Washington Post
Afghans Steered to States with ‘Help Wanted’ Signs, Pro-Immigrant Bent
Pew
California, New York, Oregon and Utah, along with some local governments, have used their own money to help refugees, viewing them as a boon to businesses struggling to find entry-level employees.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Will Yosemite entrance reservations return? Here’s what we know, plus other park changes
Fresno Bee
Yosemite National Park officials talked about day-use reservations – how they went, and whether they will be returning next year – on Thursday, two weeks after they stopped being required for day visitors to enter the popular park in California.
How a California state forest became a battleground for logging redwoods on public land
SF Gate
Although it’s little-known outside the coastal Northern California county of Mendocino, Jackson has become ground zero in an escalating war over the management of redwoods on public land, with catastrophic wildfires and global climate change necessitating urgency and raising the stakes.
Housing:
Mayor: Fresno's freeways free of homeless
abc30
Jerry Dyer, mayor of Fresno, told Action News the city has cleared the encampments of homeless people living along the area freeways. It was part of the city's "Project Off-Ramp" initiative.
Are immigrants getting left out of California’s rent relief?
CalMatters
Non-English speaking immigrants face some of the biggest hurdles to receiving California rent relief. Advocates say informal leases, lack of technology access and language barriers are getting in the way.
Mass Evictions Didn’t Result After U.S. Ban Ended, Despite Fears
Wall Street Journal
When the federal moratorium on evictions ended in August, many feared that hundreds of thousands of tenants would soon be out on the streets. More than six weeks later, that hasn’t happened.
AEI
The call reports on the Housing Center’s analysis of and critiques of a widely-circulated report by The Markup/Associated Press: “How We Investigated Racial Disparities in Federal Mortgage Data“ (2018).
Opinion: Housing finance: Insights on the new normal (week 40, 2021)
AEI
Although rates have increased from 2.75% at the beginning of this year to 3.25%, purchase volume continues to be strong through week 40, up 18% over the same week in 2019. At the same time home price appreciation year-over-year also continues to run at 14-15%.
PUBLIC FINANCES
White House vows to treat climate change as "systemic" financial risk
Axios
A new White House report released Friday morning says climate change poses "systemic risks" to the U.S. financial system, and presents a "roadmap" to building a "climate-resilient" economy.
Trading Furor Complicates White House Decisions on Fed Leadership
Wall Street Journal
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s chances for a second term leading the central bank so far have been dented but not derailed by a reputational crisis over stock-trading disclosures by senior officials.
TRANSPORTATION
Possible breakthrough emerges in talks on continuing transportation for elderly, disabled
Bakersfield Californian
A potential solution surfaced Thursday in a long-running quandary over how to sustain a door-to-door transportation service for local elderly residents and people with disabilities.
Insider
Southwest Airlines' cancellations have affected travelers across the US, not just in Florida. The reason goes back to Southwest's "point-to-point" route network that differs from other airlines.
Washington Post
The White House said the United States will lift travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international travelers on Nov. 8. The policy requires full vaccination for foreign national travelers coming to the United States.
See also:
● Vaccinated foreign travelers will be allowed into the U.S. starting Nov. 8 VPR
Walters: California bullet train funds stalemated
CalMatters
Costs are rising for California’s much-troubled bullet train project and Gov. Gavin Newsom is having trouble getting more construction money from the Legislature.
WATER
Arvin finally achieves federal standard for arsenic in drinking water
Bakersfield Californian
Federal and state officials announced Tuesday that Arvin has finally met the federal Safe Drinking Water Act's arsenic health standard after a frustrating, 13-year process that resulted in five new groundwater wells serving about 20,000 people.
Drought conditions in California this summer were the worst on record
Mercury News
The West’s historic, multi-year drought is threatening water supply, food production and electricity generation. It has drained reservoirs at incredible rates and fueled one of the most extreme wildfire seasons the region has ever experienced.
See also:
● This summer was California's driest on record in more than 100 years - here's what that means San Francisco Chronicle
“Xtra”
Traditional Modesto holiday parade to return, for now, with these COVID precautions
Modesto Bee
Modesto plans to bring back its traditional Celebration of Lights parade Dec. 4, the city announced Thursday, after the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a modified drive-through version last year.
Restaurant drive-thru wait times on the rise this year, study finds
USA Today
Does it feel like you've spent more time in line at restaurant drive-thrus this year? You are not alone. A study released recently by SeeLevel HX found wait times for receiving a drive-thru order increased by more than 25 seconds in 2021.
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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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