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 now the only California county remaining in purple COVID reopening tier Fresno Bee
● County clinics pull Johnson & Johnson vaccine following FDA, CDC warning Turlock Journal
● Stanislaus adds 2 deaths, 74 cases, and stays in red Modesto Bee
● Clinic changes: Stanislaus County reacts to concerns about Johnson & Johnson COVID shots Modesto Bee
● Stanislaus maintains secure hold in coronavirus red tier. One county still in purple Modesto Bee
● Stanislaus adds vaccine sites. Modesto cases top 20,000 Modesto Bee
Gallo plans bottling plant in South Carolina. What it means for Modesto headquarters.
Modesto Bee
E.&J. Gallo Winery plans to build a South Carolina bottling plant, a major expansion for the Modesto-based company. The plant would employ about 500 people but not affect any jobs in Gallo’s hometown, the industry giant said.
Stanislaus State plans in-person graduations. What COVID rules will be enforced?
Modesto Bee
California State University, Stanislaus, will honor both its graduating seniors and those who earned diplomas in 2020 with nine in-person ceremonies at the Turlock campus next month.
Stanislaus County Fair to have carnivals, food, shows – with COVID precautions
Modesto Bee
The board of the Stanislaus County Fair voted Monday evening to go on with a pandemic version of the annual July event.
See also:
● Fair to return this July with changes Turlock Journal
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● What does the hold on Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccine mean for Fresno County, Valley? Fresno Bee
● COVID-19 reopening levels: When a move to orange could come for Fresno-area counties Fresno Bee
● Two more COVID ‘variants of concern’ detected in Fresno County. Here’s what we know Fresno Bee
● COVID-19 update: Pfizer vaccine to be used at Fairgrounds vaccination event Porterville Recorder
Fresno County repeals COVID-19 emergency declaration
The Sun
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors lifted the county’s proclamation of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday.
See also:
● Fresno County supervisors lift COVID emergency order. Here’s what that means Fresno Bee
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.
Kaweah Delta to unveil $32.8M emergency department expansion
Business Journal
Officials at Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia know firsthand that overcrowded emergency departments have caused extensive wait times and a disconnect in care. But a new emergency department expansion will help meet patient demand in Tulare County.
Need help navigating the COVID-19 Rent Relief program? This county partner can help
Visalia Times Delta
This week, CityServe launched its Eviction Prevention Starting Point, which is designed to help qualifying residents navigate the COVID-19 Rent Relief program.
415-acre development taking shape off I-5 in Kings County
Business Journal
A new truck stop, retail center and industrial hub off Interstate 5 aims to bring development to an oft-forgotten portion of Kings County.
Study: Fresno spent big during the pandemic. See how we ranked
Business Journal
A new study from online lending markeplace LendingTree found that consumer spending in Fresno was nearly 15% higher than prior to the pandemic — from the period of mid-January 2020 to the end of February 2021.
Fresno County Restaurants eligible for ‘resilience’ COVID grants
Business Journal
The California Restaurant Foundation is providing restaurants in the Central Valley with financial relief to navigate the rough waters of the pandemic. The nonprofit will funnel grants up to $3,500 from its new Resilience Fund to single-unit, hard-hit restaurants.
Fresno Bee
People like Martin and Williams are self-absorbed and lacking the ability to hear anyone else’s point of view. They run roughshod over those they consider opponents, and their tactics blunt whatever valid idea they may hold.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Kern Public Health: 2 new coronavirus deaths, 60 new cases reported Tuesday Bakersfield Californian
● Kern Public Health asks local vaccine providers to pause administering Johnson & Johnson Bakersfield Californian
● Kern County to enter orange tier on Wednesday Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield Californian
A project to aid homeless women and children that was nearly unanimously rejected by the Bakersfield City Council can now proceed after intervention by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
B3K spotlights Kern's economic challenges, potential opportunities ahead
Bakersfield Californian
Leaders of the "B3K" regional economic development project on Tuesday unveiled an extensive local-market assessment that points out steep challenges — and potential opportunities — for Kern's long-term prosperity and quality job creation.
State:
COVID Update:
● Newsom: J&J vaccine pause won’t affect California reopening Fresno Bee
● California pauses Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine following feds’ recommendation Fresno Bee
● California orders pause of Johnson & Johnson vaccine on US recommendation abc30
● Despite Johnson & Johnson Vaccination Halt, California Officials Expect No Significant Impact Capital Public Radio
● California remains optimistic on COVID-19 recovery despite pausing J&J vaccine use Los Angeles Times
● California on track to reopen June 15 despite J&J pause, Newsom says San Francisco Chronicle
● 4 California counties reopen further, rest of state holds steady amid low COVID-19 rates Fresno Bee
● Coronavirus California: Map shows which counties can, can't reopen under reopening tiers abc30
● Only one county left in purple tier as California’s COVID-19 reopenings continue Los Angeles Times
California targets urgent projects as wildfire season looms
Fresno Bee
California is in such an urgent race with another devastating wildfire season that officials began soliciting local project ideas even before they had money to pay for them.
See also:
● Gavin Newsom signs bill to rush spending on California wildfire prevention as drought sets in Fresno Bee
● Big money, big challenges CalMatters
Newsom Recall Organizers Oppose Bill To Let Future Recall Targets Access Signature Lists
Capital Public Radio
A legislative committee hearing became chaotic at times Monday morning, as backers of the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom stood outside the California Capitol demanding entry to oppose a bill dealing with recall petitioners.
See also:
● Will Newsom recall signers change their minds? This ally is working on it San Francisco Chronicle
● Proposal would let recall targets see who signed petition AP News
● Column: Newsom recall is a revolt of red-state California Los Angeles Times
● Opinion: Low-turnout recall elections are the Republican strategy for victory CalMatters
Ambitious plan to ban California fracking falls short in Legislature
Los Angeles Times
A far-reaching proposal to outlaw hydraulic fracturing and ban oil and gas wells from operating near homes, schools and healthcare facilities failed in the California Legislature on Tuesday, a major setback for progressive leaders.
See also:
● California ban on fracking, other oil extraction methods dies in state Senate San Francisco Chronicle
California raised fuel taxes 4 years ago, and it’s still short on money for road repairs
Fresno 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
California politicians owe $2 million in campaign fines, don’t get punished
CalMatters
California’s secretary of state’s office has failed to collect $2 million in fines owed by politicians, lobbyists and campaign donors who the office says filed disclosure reports late, a CalMatters analysis shows.
Walters: Drought hits California — and Newsom
CalMatters
As the very dry 2020-21 winter drove home the reality of another drought, a group of state legislators last week sent a letter to Brown’s successor, Gavin Newsom, urging him to also declare a drought emergency.
Federal:
COVID Update:
● White House confident COVID-19 vaccine supply enough for rescheduled J&J appointments Fresno Bee
● FDA, CDC call for 'pause' on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after blood clot reports abc30
● U.S. Recommends Pausing Use Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Over Blood Clot Concerns VPR
● U.S. urges pause of Johnson & Johnson vaccine over ‘extremely rare’ blood clotting Los Angeles Times
Biden administration moves to restore Obama-era housing rules rescinded by Trump
Los Angeles Times
Housing Secretary Marcia L. Fudge this week moved to restore two Obama-era fair housing rules that were rescinded under former President Trump.
Lifting kids out of poverty could be Biden’s legacy, but cost raises doubts
Los Angeles Times
As Vice President Kamala Harris toured a child-development center in West Haven, Conn., recently, she singled out a newly adopted program that has long been a goal of the area’s member of Congress, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
Supreme Court conservatives may reset balance between LGBTQ rights and religious liberty
Los Angeles Times
The Supreme Court is set to decide soon whether conservative Christians have a constitutional right to refuse to work with same-sex couples while participating in a city-funded foster care program that forbids such discrimination.
U.S. Chamber Urges Lawmakers to Oppose Democratic-Backed Voting Bill
Wall Street Journal
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged senators to oppose a sweeping Democratic-backed voting-overhaul bill, saying it would impose onerous restrictions on political advocacy by corporations and other associations.
Top Republicans Work To Rebrand GOP As Party Of Working Class
NPR
A growing number of working-class voters were drawn to Donald Trump's Republican Party, and now top Republicans are searching for ways to keep those voters in the fold without Trump on the ballot.
See also:
● Pollsters Say They Undercounted Republicans, Trump Supporters in 2020 Wall Street Journal
● Opinion: Yes, I still believe in bipartisanship. No, I don’t believe in unicorns Roll Call
● Democrats Start 2022 Cycle With an Edge in Voter Enthusiasm Morning Consult
Opinion: Since When Does Government Have a Money Tree?
Bloomberg
Just because some politicians and advocates assume there’s a money tree for this purpose doesn’t make it so. Nor is it helpful for either side in the debate to talk in generalities.
Opinion: A guide for conceptualizing the debate over Section 230
Brookings
Though they were once the darlings of society, major tech companies have decidedly fallen out of favor. A range of real and perceived abuses by the large tech companies have spurred widespread skepticism and distrust.
Other:
Vote-by-Mail and Voter Turnout in the Pandemic Election
Public Policy Institute of California
States across the country took extraordinary steps to increase voting by mail for the 2020 election in an effort to minimize in-person contact and virus transmission risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poll: 15% of Americans worse off a year into pandemic
AP News
While most Americans have weathered the pandemic financially, about 38 million say they are worse off now than before the outbreak began in the U.S.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Ag community welcomes more environmentally friendly farming but says it'll take money
Bakersfield Californian
California's agricultural community made clear in a series of public meetings last month that growers, dairies and ranchers stand ready to expand forward-thinking environmental practices — but that such activities don't necessarily make financial sense without some form of government support.
Gallo plans bottling plant in South Carolina. What it means for Modesto headquarters.
Modesto Bee
E&J. Gallo Winery plans to build a South Carolina bottling plant, a major expansion for the Modesto-based company. The plant would employ about 500 people but not affect any jobs in Gallo’s hometown, the industry giant said.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Amid rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, Democrats move to beef up prosecution
Los Angeles Times
Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill are negotiating a modest bill designed to help law enforcement combat the rise in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans, a rare moment of potential bipartisan compromise on legislation.
See also:
● Opinion: Why Democrats and Republicans would benefit from hate crime protections for Asian Americans Brookings
New Bail Ruling Could Affect Tens of Thousands of Californians
Public Policy Institute of California
The California Supreme Court recently issued a unanimous ruling that it is unconstitutional to require arrestees to pay bail to secure their release if they cannot afford it. Depending on how courts interpret the ruling, the use of bail could be substantially curtailed.
Public Safety:
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.
See also:
· How Could an Officer Mistake a Gun for a Taser? New York Times
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.
See also:
● Sacramento hires first inspector general to investigate police misconduct Sacramento Bee
Can California fix long waits in jail? These bills may help
CalMatters
A CalMatters investigation found that at least 1,300 people have been locked in county jails for longer than three years awaiting a trial or sentencing. The findings are “surprising and embarrassing,” said State Sen. Tom Umberg, chair of the Judiciary Committee.
Fire:
Gavin Newsom signs bill to rush spending on California wildfire prevention as drought sets in
Fresno Bee
California is adding more than half a billion dollars in wildfire prevention spending this year after Gov. Gavin Newsom formally approved the money Tuesday ahead of the state’s peak fire season.
California targets urgent projects as wildfire season looms
Fresno Bee
California is in such an urgent race with another devastating wildfire season that officials began soliciting local project ideas even before they had money to pay for them. It faces such a threat of drought that the governor said Tuesday that he has executive orders drafted and ready to sign as needed.
Warszawski: Creek Fire silence and recreation area closures. Do better, Sierra National Forest
Fresno Bee
The Sierra National Forest has a management problem. As in, its management of 1.3 million acres on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite and Kings Canyon national parks has become a problem for those who live, work and recreate there.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
B3K spotlights Kern's economic challenges, potential opportunities ahead
Bakersfield Californian
Leaders of the "B3K" regional economic development project on Tuesday unveiled an extensive local-market assessment that points out steep challenges — and potential opportunities — for Kern's long-term prosperity and quality job creation.
California consumer confidence back to pre-pandemic levels
OC Register
California shoppers are feeling the best they have since the coronavirus slammed the economy, two surveys show.
See also:
● Consumer Prices Jumped. Should You Worry? That's Sparking A Heated Debate VPR
● One Year After the Pandemic Struck, Global Economy About to Boom U.S. News
Economy & Business: COVID Impact
Axios
Why it matters: After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights.
Brookings
Rising profitability and market valuations of US businesses, sluggish wage growth and a declining labor share of income, and reduced unemployment and inflation have defined the macroeconomic environment of the last generation.
Jobs:
Can your employer make vaccinations mandatory? Here's what expert says
abc30
As more people get vaccinated and return to work, many are left wondering what exactly employers are allowed to do in reopening the office to workers. Can they actually mandate employees to get a vaccine or force you to go into the office, if you don't want to?
Northern California prison to close, cutting 1,000 jobs from rural community
Fresno Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration announced plans to close a state prison in rural Lassen County next year, shutting down a site that employed more than 1,000 people and served for decades as a home base for inmate firefighter training.
State workers passed over for promotions would get 1 year to file challenges under new rule
Sacramento Bee
California state employees who believe they were improperly passed over for a promotion would have a year to challenge their departments’ decisions under a proposed new rule.
California expanding nepotism rule to cover exes and domestic partners in hiring guidelines
Sacramento Bee
The board, which is crafting a rule that would require all state departments to adopt anti-nepotism policies, recently tweaked its proposed definition of nepotism to cover the new categories of relationships based on public feedback.
Opinion: Why workers need the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act
Economic Policy Institute
Nearly half (48%) of all nonunion workers surveyed say they would vote for a union if given the opportunity—a roughly 50% higher share than when a similar survey was taken 40 years earlier.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Are Fresno students falling behind due to the pandemic? Will Clovis teachers unionize?
Fresno Bee
Pro-union sentiments among Clovis teachers emerged publicly over the summer after district leaders and the school board worked aggressively to reopen classrooms despite surging coronavirus cases at the time.
Required COVID vaccinations for public schools someday? Fresno doctor answers questions
Fresno Bee
COVID-19 vaccines will soon be available for all Californians ages 16 and older. Will schools mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for college and K-12 students once it is available for children?’
’Heart-wrenching’: Rural Stanislaus district shares struggles of distance learning
Modesto Bee
“Enormous” and “heart-wrenching” learning loss. Continuing struggles with distance learning because of Internet connectivity, language barriers and other issues. The social development and mental health issues that come from isolation.
Parents struggle with a new dilemma: Is it safe to send kids back to school?
Los Angeles Times
It’s a question being faced by parents across the county as policymakers push for schools to begin reopening throughout California and have earmarked $2 billion in education funds for elementary schools that offer in-person learning next month.
32 California Schools Named Recipients of 2021 Civic Learning Award
California Courts Newsroom
A total of 32 California schools are named this year's recipients of the Civic Learning Awards, an honor which recognizes achievements in civic engagement in the classroom.
Higher Ed:
Fresno State expands attendance policy for outdoor sports
abc30
Fresno State sports fans will soon be able to watch more outdoor events in person. The athletic program announced that all outdoor sporting events will have 20 percent capacity starting on Saturday, April 17.
Stanislaus State plans in-person graduations. What COVID rules will be enforced?
Modesto Bee
California State University, Stanislaus, will honor both its graduating seniors and those who earned diplomas in 2020 with nine in-person ceremonies at the Turlock campus next month.
Can Biden really cancel student debt? Here’s where the debate stands
Los Angeles Times
President Biden has asked the Department of Education to study whether he can unilaterally forgive federally held student loan debt, raising hopes for roughly 45 million Americans who collectively owe $1.7 trillion.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Plantings arrive at local preserve, part of larger plan to save endangered monarch butterflies
Bakersfield Californian
After they are planted, and if they survive and grow and mature, there is great hope that they will become the raw materials of a welcoming habitat for the western monarch butterfly, a species that many fear is headed toward extinction.
Texas Froze and California Burned. To Insurers, They Look Similar.
New York Times
A deep freeze in February left Texas with billions of dollars in damage from cascading power failures that stranded residents in their dark and flooded homes. And insurance companies are hoping they can pass the bill on — just as they did when wildfires engulfed California.
EPA Chief Says Biden Infrastructure Bill Will Help The U.S. Face Climate Change
NPR
President Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure plan isn't just about roads, bridges and affordable housing but also about dealing with climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency's new leader says.
Energy:
Ambitious plan to ban California fracking falls short in Legislature
Los Angeles Times
A far-reaching proposal to outlaw hydraulic fracturing and ban oil and gas wells from operating near homes, schools and healthcare facilities failed in the California Legislature on Tuesday.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
J&J Vaccine and Blood-Clot Cases to be Reviewed by U.S. Health Panel
Wall Street Journal
A federal advisory panel will meet Wednesday to debate whether and how Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine should continue to be used in the U.S., following reports of rare but severe blood clots among a few recipients.
See also:
● Do J&J and AstraZeneca Vaccines Cause Blood Clots, and What Are the Symptoms? Wall Street Journal
● Here’s what we know about J&J’s vaccine and rare blood clots Los Angeles Times
● Got the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine? Here’s what to do — and what you should know Fresno Bee
● What you should do if you’ve received the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine Washington Post
Working-age Latino immigrants 11 times more likely to die from COVID, study shows
Fresno Bee
The COVID-19 pandemic was even deadlier for working-age Latino immigrants than previously known, according to a recent University of Southern California study.
CDC Studies 'Breakthrough' COVID Cases Among People Already Vaccinated
VPR
"Essentially, these are cases that you see amongst vaccinated individuals during a period in which you expect the vaccines to work," says Dr. Saad Omer, a vaccine researcher at Yale University.
See also:
● Why you should get tested for COVID-19 even if you've been vaccinated abc30
FDA says women can get abortion pill via telemedicine during pandemic
Los Angeles Times
Women seeking an abortion pill will not be required to visit a doctor’s office or clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. health officials said Tuesday in the latest reversal in an ongoing legal battle over the medication.
The Public Health Effects of Legalizing Marijuana
NBER
In this paper, we review the literature on the public health consequences of legalizing marijuana, focusing on studies that have appeared in economics journals as well as leading public policy, public health, and medical journals.
Human Services:
Kaweah Delta to unveil $32.8M emergency department expansion
Business Journal
Officials at Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia know firsthand that overcrowded emergency departments have caused extensive wait times and a disconnect in care. But a new emergency department expansion will help meet patient demand in Tulare County.
California reopens health insurance exchange; federal subsidies could slash premiums for many
Los Angeles Times
California has reopened 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.
See also:
● California re-opens enrollment for health insurance coverage Business Journal
● American Rescue Plan Improvements to Covered California Affordability: Who Gains? UC Berkeley Labor Center
FEMA overwhelmed by calls on 1st day to apply for COVID funeral assistance
abc30
Families who lost loved ones to COVID-19 can now get help with funeral expenses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, though the program got off to a bumpy start.
Undocumented Californians Projected to Remain the Largest Group of Uninsured in the State in 2022
UC Berkeley Labor Center
Even after the American Rescue Plan (ARP) substantially increases premium subsidies for health insurance coverage purchased through Covered California, large inequities remain in who has access to affordable coverage.
IMMIGRATION
Which state is doing more for undocumented residents in COVID era? California or New York?
Sacramento 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.
Opinion: California’s economy depends on undocumented immigrants. They have earned health care
Fresno Bee
California’s economy depends on the labor of undocumented immigrants. They do some of the hardest and most dangerous jobs for the lowest rates of pay.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
415-acre development taking shape off I-5 in Kings County
Business Journal
A new truck stop, retail center and industrial hub off Interstate 5 aims to bring development to an oft-forgotten portion of Kings County.
Tule River Tribe introduces design, construction firms for casino
Porterville Recorder
After breaking ground for its new casino located in Porterville last week, Eagle Mountain Casino is fast moving forward with the development of the casino.
Creating a Place for Nature in the San Joaquin Valley
Public Policy Institute of California
The San Joaquin Valley’s quest for groundwater sustainability will result in large amounts of irrigated agricultural lands being retired. A new book explores how some of these lands could be restored to natural areas that bring multiple benefits.
Housing:
Need help navigating the COVID-19 Rent Relief program? This county partner can help
Visalia Times Delta
This week, CityServe launched its Eviction Prevention Starting Point, which is designed to help qualifying residents navigate the COVID-19 Rent Relief program.
See also:
● Billions in Covid-19 Aid Is Slow to Reach Renters and Landlords Wall Street Journal
Bakersfield Californian
A project to aid homeless women and children that was nearly unanimously rejected by the Bakersfield City Council can now proceed after intervention by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Tule River indian Housing Authority receives $5 million grant
Porterville Recorder
The Tule River Indian Housing Authority has received a $5 million grant to develop affordable housing from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Biden administration moves to restore Obama-era housing rules rescinded by Trump
Los Angeles Times
Housing Secretary Marcia L. Fudge this week moved to restore two Obama-era fair housing rules that were rescinded under former President Trump.
Californians: Here’s why your housing costs are so high
CalMatters
Tenants and landlords are hurting, homelessness is skyrocketing and the housing market is out of control. The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t the only reason for that, but it’s making California’s longstanding housing crisis even worse.
Axios
It's a discouraging scene: Bidding wars, soaring prices, and fears that homeownership is becoming out of reach for millions of Americans. We're in a housing frenzy, driven by a massive shortage of inventory — and no one seems to be happy about it.
How the federal government’s policies have helped to make housing outcomes separate and unequal
AEI
Many of the housing problems we face today as a nation have occurred not despite federal policies but because of them. Two policies in particular have been major contributors to the separate and unequal housing legacy we find ourselves in today.
The High Cost of Clearing Tent Cities
Bloomberg
A first-ever study of homeless encampments finds that cities are paying millions in clearance costs — only to shuffle unhoused people from one camp to another.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Race, Taxes & Wealth — Reimagining California’s Prosperity
California Budget and Policy Center
Did you know California is expected to lose over $60 Billion in state revenues in 2021-22 to personal income tax breaks? Learn more this Thursday, April 15, at 11 a.m. during the Budget Center’s next #EmpowerCA event.
IRS chief expects new child payments to start this summer
Los Angeles Times
It will be a strain, but the head of the IRS said Tuesday he expects to meet the July 1 deadline in the new pandemic relief law for starting a groundbreaking tax program aimed at reducing child poverty.
Lifting kids out of poverty could be Biden’s legacy, but cost raises doubts
Los Angeles Times
As Vice President Kamala Harris toured a child-development center in West Haven, Conn., recently, she singled out a newly adopted program that has long been a goal of the area’s member of Congress, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
IRS Chief Says $1 Trillion in Taxes May Go Uncollected Each Year
Wall Street Journal
As much as $1 trillion a year in federal taxes may be going unpaid because of errors, fraud and lack of resources to enforce collections adequately, Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Rettig told lawmakers Tuesday.
States Were Told They Can’t Use U.S. Covid-19 Aid to Cut Taxes. They Sued.
Wall Street Journal
A last-minute provision added to the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package last month is leading to a showdown between states and the Treasury Department over the limits of the federal government’s fiscal authority.
Poll: 15% of Americans worse off a year into pandemic
AP News
While most Americans have weathered the pandemic financially, about 38 million say they are worse off now than before the outbreak began in the U.S.
Fact-checking Joe Biden on how little some corporations pay in taxes
Politifact
"A new, independent study put out last week found that at least 55 of our largest corporations use the various loopholes to pay zero federal income tax in 2020," Biden said in his April 7 remarks. "It's just not fair. It's not fair to the rest of the American taxpayers."
TRANSPORTATION
California’s embattled high-speed rail could get a lift from Biden plan, Buttigieg says
Sacramento Bee
The sweeping $2.3 trillion infrastructure-investment program put forth by President Joe Biden doesn’t have a lot in the way of specifics, but his transportation secretary said Friday that California’s ambitious – and embattled – high-speed rail project is something that may stand to benefit.
See also:
● CA bullet train hopeful over Biden’s infrastructure plan Capitol Weekly
● Editorial: Want to waste California taxpayer money? Quit on high-speed rail before it’s done Fresno Bee
California raised fuel taxes 4 years ago, and it’s still short on money for road repairs
Fresno 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
Fake Covid-19 Certificates Hit Airlines, Which Now Have to Police Them
Wall Street Journal
Airlines are battling a scourge of passengers traveling with falsified Covid-19 health certificates. The documents are often the Covid-19 test results required by many countries on arrival.
WATER
Southern California water giant wants Sacramento Valley water — and has $44 million to spend
Merced Sun-Star
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.
Farmers vs. fish: Tensions rise again in California-Oregon border area water battle
Los Angeles Times
One of the worst droughts in memory in a massive agricultural region straddling the California-Oregon border could mean steep cuts to irrigation water for hundreds of farmers this summer to sustain endangered fish species critical to local tribes.
Walters: Drought hits California — and Newsom
CalMatters
As the very dry 2020-21 winter drove home the reality of another drought, a group of state legislators last week sent a letter to Brown’s successor, Gavin Newsom, urging him to also declare a drought emergency.
Opinion: Innovation needed to solve state’s water challenges
CalMatters
California needs a coherent strategy for harnessing its innovative spirit toward solutions that solve its water security challenges.
“Xtra”
Stanislaus County Fair to have carnivals, food, shows – with COVID precautions
Modesto Bee
The board of the Stanislaus County Fair voted Monday evening to go on with a pandemic version of the annual July event.
Fresno Bee
Logan’s Roadhouse on North Blackstone Avenue in Fresno has closed. The restaurant in a prime spot at the corner of El Paso Avenue, across the street from River Park, has a note on the door saying, “Thank you for your patronage. This restaurant has permanently closed.”