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:
● Stanislaus reaches 1,023 deaths, 53,692 positive tests Modesto Bee
Stanislaus districts respond to Newsom’s ‘disingenuous’ comments about school reopenings
Modesto Bee
The greatest obstacle to fully reopening classrooms isn’t staff and facilities being ready but “the mental conditioning that has occurred over the past year,” Patterson Joint Unified School District Superintendent Philip Alfano said.
Never mind: OID and SSJID cancel large water sale to West Side because of drought
Modesto Bee
The worsening drought has canceled a large water sale to West Side farmers by the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts.
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.
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.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● ‘Demand isn’t there.’ As Fresno residents refuse vaccine, doses shipped to other counties Fresno Bee
● Fresno County giving up 28,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses due to low demand in county abc30
● COVID-19: A Clovis Year in Review Clovis Roundup
Costa, Feinstein Introduce Bill to Restore San Joaquin Valley Canals
San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority
Congressman Jim Costa and Senator Dianne Fienstein, along with Representatives John Garmendi and Josh Harder introduced the Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Act, a bill to authorize more than $653 million to restore the capacity of three San Joaquin Valley canals
See also:
● $800M in proposed upgrades to Fresno, Valley canals could mean cleaner drinking water Fresno Bee
● Members of Congress call Gov. to declare state of emergency over drought Porterville Recorder
Warszawski: It’s 2021. When will Fresno County supervisors kick their addiction to urban sprawl?
Fresno Bee
Municipalities are supposed to be smarter about how they grow, not stuck in the free-for-all mindset that pervaded the late 20th century. Yet our county supes can’t help themselves. When it comes to sprawl, they’re like a bunch of addicts who can’t kick the habit.
Fresno Police Presence To Increase At Tower Theater Protests In Response To Proud Boys
VPR
In a news conference Wednesday, Fresno city leaders denounced the violence that erupted last Sunday at a Tower Theater protest. The protests organized by the Save the Tower Theater Demonstration Committee have largely been peaceful, but this past Sunday, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said as many as 60 Proud Boys attended.
See also:
● Fresno police cite ‘outside agitators,’ will increase presence at Tower Theatre protests Fresno Bee
Fresno Yosemite airport parking construction ahead of schedule. When will it open?
Fresno Bee
A new parking garage under construction at Fresno Yosemite International Airport is 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.
Fresno nonprofit receives $1M grant for Bitwise Toledo project
Business Journal
Bitwise’s upcoming location in Toledo, Ohio, which will include an innovation center and workforce development efforts, just got a $1 million boost from the Owens Corning Foundation.
Visalian creates a virtual COVID-19 community
Visalia Times Delta
Ramie Becker, aka Dance Commander, hosts virtual dance parties and spa days in Visalia for hundreds of people from across the globe.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Kern Public Health: 5 new coronavirus deaths, 57 new cases reported Thursday Bakersfield Californian
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.
After a year of home entertainment, local institutions begin to stir with activity
Bakersfield Californian
On Wednesday, the county entered the orange tier of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, a classification that allows businesses to open more fully.
LOIS HENRY: Kern River Watermaster retires
Bakersfield Californian
Dana Munn, a fixture in the Kern County water world, has taken an early retirement from Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District due to medical issues, he announced Tuesday.
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.
See also:
● Editorial: Newsom’s pledge to ban fracking was all talk, no action LA Times
State:
COVID Update:
● California works to track cases of COVID among the vaccinated Fresno Bee
● Gov. Newsom visits vaccine site as California expands eligibility to people 16 and over abc30
● Newsom visits Union City COVID vaccine clinic, touts state’s progress Mercury News
Members of Congress call Gov. to declare state of emergency over drought
Porterville Recorder
Republican Congressmen Kevin McCarthy, who represents Porterville, and David Valadao are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency over the drought.
See also:
● Why won’t Gavin Newsom declare a drought? California recall puts him in tough spot Fresno Bee
● Editorial: Another drought, another threat to California farming. Gov. Newsom, are you listening? Fresno Bee
California Legislature OKs bill to help displaced workers
Bakersfield Californian
Now that Gov. Gavin Newsom is letting more businesses reopen as coronavirus cases decline, the California Legislature on Thursday passed a bill requiring some hotels and other hospitality companies to offer laid-off workers their jobs back.
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.
Federal:
COVID Update:
● US opens more distance in worldwide race against coronavirus Fresno Bee
● U.S. Health Officials Continue Pause Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine VPR
Lawmakers Look Into Bipartisan Compromise on Infrastructure
Wall Street Journal
Lawmakers began feeling out the possibility of reaching a compromise on an infrastructure package, as a bipartisan group held a call Thursday to discuss the issue and some Republicans began working on an alternative to President Biden’s $2.3 trillion plan.
Census Data to Reveal Which States Lose, Gain U.S. House Seats
Wall Street Journal
After months of delays, the once-in-a-decade fight over the contours of congressional seats will officially begin later this month, when the Census Bureau releases the first round of data determining which states will gain or lose House seats.
See also:
● Census Delay Spells Election Chaos for States PEW
House Passes Paycheck Fairness Act Aimed at Closing Gender Pay Gap
Wall Street Journal
House lawmakers approved legislation that would seek to narrow the gender-wage gap, a disparity that received increased attention a year after the coronavirus pandemic caused women to disproportionately lose their jobs.
abc30
A House panel advanced a decades-long effort to pay reparations to the descendants of slaves by approving legislation Wednesday that would create a commission to study the issue.
Biden meets with Congress’ Asian American leaders as Senate takes up a hate-crimes bill
Los Angeles Times
President Biden met with leaders of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which has pushed for more Asian Americans in his administration and for a law to combat the sort of hate crimes against the group that have risen since the pandemic began in China.
Becerra questioned about abortion, immigration at HHS budget hearing
Roll Call
Immigration policy and abortion restrictions were among the issues discussed with the newly confirmed Health and Human Services secretary during a House appropriations hearing Thursday on the administration’s fiscal 2022 health care budget.
Democrats begin long-shot push to expand the Supreme Court
Los Angeles Times
A group of congressional Democrats introduced legislation Thursday to add four seats to the Supreme Court, a long-shot bid designed to counter the court’s rightward tilt during the Trump administration and criticized by Republicans as a potential power grab.
See also:
● Democratic Lawmakers Air Differences on Overhauling Supreme Court Wall Street Journal
● Supreme Court expansion bill faces serious blocks across political spectrum Roll Call
● Opinion: Court Packing Is a Dangerous Game Wall Street Journal
Opinion: Republicans will keep up the craziness until they pay a real price
Washington Post
John Boehner first realized “the crazies” were taking over the Republican Party during the 2008 financial crisis, two years before the tea party wave made him speaker of the House and seven years before Donald Trump descended a golden escalator to run for president.
Opinion: What Americans still want from reform: An April 2021 update
Brookings
Even as recent polling shows strong public support for President Biden’s $5 trillion “spend-whatever-it-takes-without-delay” agenda, Americans remain divided on the future of government. 51% of Americans said they favored a bigger government that provides more services, 43% favored a smaller government that provides fewer services.
Other:
GOP used YouTube to win Latino voters who Democrats ignored
Axios
Republicans and conservative groups made inroads via YouTube in 2020 with low-information Latino voters often ignored by Democrats, a deep new analysis of U.S. voters shows.
Opinion: Republicans and Immigrants Need Each Other
Wall Street Journal
We have been thinking about the Republican Party and how it can come back—worthily, constructively—after the splits and shatterings of recent years.
Opinion: CEOs Lead America’s New Great Awakening
Wall Street Journal
As they did recently over gun safety, immigration, climate change, social justice and the infamous bathroom bills, major business leaders have protested new voter-restriction efforts in state legislatures.
Roll Call
The fact is every time we log on to the internet or use an app, our data is at the whim of the company, and there is largely no accountability for how a platform might use, store or sell information about us.
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
Never mind: OID & SSJID cancel large water sale to West Side because of drought
Modesto Bee
The worsening drought has canceled a large water sale to West Side farmers by the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts.
Editorial: Another drought, another threat to California farming. Gov. Newsom, are you listening?
Fresno Bee
That is exactly why Newsom should issue an emergency declaration. The crisis Valley farmers face is real, as is the threat to the farm-based economy of California’s heartland.
Most food waste in the U.S. occurs at the consumer level. You can do something about it
Los Angeles Times
Anne-Marie Bonneau has lived plastic-free since 2011. The tips below on freezing, storing and shopping come from her new cookbook, “The Zero-Waste Chef: Plant-Forward Recipes and Tips for a Sustainable Kitchen and Planet,” published by Avery.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Exclusive: Correctional officer’s death exposes hazing, toxic culture at California prison
Fresno 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.
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.
Public Safety:
Fresno Police Presence To Increase At Tower Theater Protests In Response To Proud Boys
VPR
In a news conference Wednesday, Fresno city leaders denounced the violence that erupted last Sunday at a Tower Theater protest. The protests organized by the Save the Tower Theater Demonstration Committee have largely been peaceful, but this past Sunday, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said as many as 60 Proud Boys attended.
See also:
● Fresno police cite ‘outside agitators,’ will increase presence at Tower Theatre protests Fresno Bee
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.
Fire:
Payments to PG&E wildfire victims now up to $141 million — but process is moving slowly
Fresno Bee
Thousands of California victims of wildfires linked to PG&E Corp. have received payments totaling $141.3 million from the utility’s bankruptcy — but are being warned that the payout process is proceeding slowly.
See also:
● California steps up PG&E oversight after new failures in wildfire-safety program Sacramento Bee
● California power regulators cast doubt on Pacific Gas & Electric’s grid plans Los Angeles Times
With Wildfire Season Looming, Early Budget Action Is A Welcome Start
CA FWD
State legislators took swift action on Monday to pass a $536 million early budget action plan for wildfire prevention, aimed at getting ahead of the next wildfire season. Both the Senate and Assembly approved the funding package on unanimous votes.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
With layoffs down and spending up, US rebound gains momentum
Fresno Bee
A much-awaited economic boom coming off the pandemic recession appeared to edge closer to reality Thursday with fresh data showing the pace of layoffs dwindling, consumers spending freely and manufacturing rebounding.
See also:
● Signs Of Economic Boom Emerge As Retail Sales Surge, Jobless Claims Hit Pandemic Low VPR
● U.S. Economy Ramps Up on Spending Surge, Hiring Gains Wall Street Journal
$10,000 price-gouging fine thrown out, but Fresno store says reputation remains damaged
Fresno Bee
When the city of Fresno last March issued its first price-gouging fine amid the coronavirus pandemic, it was an opportunity to put area businesses on notice.
Jobs:
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.
California Legislature OKs bill to help displaced workers
Bakersfield Californian
Now that Gov. Gavin Newsom is letting more businesses reopen as coronavirus cases decline, the California Legislature on Thursday passed a bill requiring some hotels and other hospitality companies to offer laid-off workers their jobs back.
Lawmakers push reforms at state unemployment agency as the jobless face new delays
Los Angeles Times
California legislators on Thursday pushed ahead with reforms targeting the state’s troubled unemployment agency as lawmakers condemned it for yet another significant error that has interrupted benefit payments to thousands of jobless residents.
U.S. jobless claims plunge to 576,000, lowest level of the pandemic
Los Angeles Times
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits tumbled last week to 576,000, the lowest of the COVID-19 pandemic and a hopeful sign that layoffs are easing as the economy recovers from the coronavirus-induced recession.
Less than 1 in 4 workers has gone back to the office as businesses plot a wider reopening
Los Angeles Times
People had started showing up to the office again in greater numbers, but fled for home as the recent coronavirus surge shook the region, fresh data show.
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.
GO Public Schools Fresno is hiring: Director of Policy and Advocacy, and Executive Director
Go Public Schools
GO Public Schools Fresno is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building and supporting a citywide coalition whose members — parents, students, educators, and community allies — work together to expand access to quality education in Fresno’s most historically underserved neighborhoods.
Stanislaus districts respond to Newsom’s ‘disingenuous’ comments about school reopenings
Modesto Bee
The greatest obstacle to fully reopening classrooms isn’t staff and facilities being ready but “the mental conditioning that has occurred over the past year,” Patterson Joint Unified School District Superintendent Philip Alfano said.
Distance Learning Strategies in California Schools
Public Policy Institute of California
Learning gaps are a growing concern after a year of online instruction. During the pandemic, uneven distribution of resources may have widened gaps and led to learning loss for some students.
Higher Ed:
Merced College Board approves list of new projects funded by federal COVID relief
abc30
Students who return to Merced College in the fall will see some new resources and campus upgrades.
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.
California Sees More College Graduates, but Progress Is Uneven
Public Policy Institute of California
The pandemic and recession have highlighted inequities in our state and the importance of a college degree. College graduates have fared much better than other workers, as they are more likely to be employed and able to work remotely.
Opinion: California’s public higher ed system shaping nation’s leaders
CalMatters
Appointments to the Biden administration underscore how California’s public higher education system creates strong and diverse leaders.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Environmental group sues over protections for 20 species
Bakersfield Californian
An environmental group filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging the federal government has failed to act on petitions to protect nine species under the Endangered Species Act and hasn't designated critical habitat for 11 other species that are already protected.
California enlists surveillance satellites to sniff out greenhouse gas ‘super-emitters’
Los Angeles Times
Years after former Gov. Jerry Brown pledged California would launch its “own damn satellite” to track planet-warming pollutants, the state plans to put not one, but two satellites in orbit to help it hunt for hard-to-find “super-emitters” of methane and carbon dioxide.
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.
Editorial: Newsom’s pledge to ban fracking was all talk, no action
Los Angeles Times
A bill that would have outlawed fracking and dramatically curtailed oil and gas drilling in California died Tuesday, during its very first committee hearing. This wasn’t a surprise.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Central CA health officials warn of increase in kids impacted by serious illness linked to COVID-19
abc30
Local health officials are warning about a concerning increase in a serious illness affecting children in Central California.
Deaths Among ‘Financially Vulnerable’ Latino Immigrants In Kings County Shot Up By 90% in 2020
VPR
Pedro Cruz Mendoza was born in Oaxaca and came to the Central Valley in 1988. His wife and their son joined him 8 years later. He spent 21 years working in the fields.
See also:
● COVID Racial Disparities Loom Large in Rural Counties PEW
Will Pfizer COVID vaccine need a third dose? Company CEO explains why that’s ‘likely’
Fresno Bee
As more contagious coronavirus variants continue to spread in the U.S., vaccine developers are racing to test and determine if their shots will eventually require an extra dose or booster shot to maintain protection against COVID-19.
See also:
● Annual Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Shots Likely Needed, Pfizer CEO Says Wall Street Journal
● COVID: When you might need a vaccine booster shot Mercury News
Don’t worry if you catch coronavirus when fully vaccinated — it can happen. How often?
Fresno Bee
When the first COVID-19 vaccine became available in the U.S., the nation unclenched its jaw and exhaled a sigh of relief. But to many’s surprise, the shot was not a guarantee for life-long immunity against the disease.
See also:
● CDC Identifies Small Group of Covid-19 Infections Among Fully Vaccinated Patients Wall Street Journal
Opinion: Make multi-cancer early detection screens widely available
CalMatters
These new technologies will enable primary care providers to screen for dozens of cancers through a simple blood draw.
Human Services:
Top health officials urge Americans to get vaccinated, but barely address the J.&J. pause.
New York Times
Three top federal health officials implored Americans to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, but said little about the investigation into whether the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may be linked to a small number of cases of rare blood clots.
See also:
● Health officials push vaccinations as Fauci and Jordan spar Roll Call
● Blood Clots More Likely After Covid-19 Than After Vaccination, Study Finds Wall Street Journal
● Find a COVID vaccine appointment — and see how many people in California are vaccinated Fresno Bee
● Homeless Americans finally getting a chance at COVID-19 shot Fresno Bee
What you can do with proof of COVID vaccination in California, and how can you show it
Sacramento Bee
California is not making COVID vaccinations mandatory. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration’s has said the state isn’t yet considering a government-issued vaccine passport, and the Biden administration has said the same at the federal level.
‘People are dying as we wait’: Bid to tighten California nursing home oversight sputters
CalMatters
Lawmakers say they’ll take no action this year on a bill requiring nursing home owners and operators to get state approval before they acquire, operate or manage a nursing home.
Paying too much for health insurance? New subsidies announced
CalMatters
Covered California has $3 billion in federal aid for people who enroll this year or already are signed up. The savings could be hundreds of dollars per month.
IMMIGRATION
Biden resists raising refugee cap over political optics, sources say
CNN
President Joe Biden has resisted signing off on raising the Trump-era refugee cap because of political optics. The President's hesitation comes as the administration faces heat from Republicans and Democrats for its handling of an influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border.
Fact-Checking Claims About COVID-19 Testing For Migrants At The Southern Border
Capital Public Radio
Republican lawmakers are claiming a large percentage of migrants at crowded southern border facilities are testing positive for COVID-19.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Warszawski: It’s 2021. When will Fresno County supervisors kick their addiction to urban sprawl?
Fresno Bee
Municipalities are supposed to be smarter about how they grow, not stuck in the free-for-all mindset that pervaded the late 20th century. Yet our county supes can’t help themselves. When it comes to sprawl, they’re like a bunch of addicts who can’t kick the habit.
Housing:
Californians: Here’s why your housing costs are so high
CBS8
Nine out of ten Californians consider housing affordability a problem, and nearly one in three Californians are considering leaving the state because of it.
See also:
● Californians: Here’s why your housing costs are so high CalMatters
Report: California’s Housing Costs Widening The Wealth Gap For Communities Of Color
CA FWD
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.
Landlords Say Tenants Are Not Tapping Rent Relief
PEW
Even as states and the federal government have allocated billions of dollars in assistance, a year into the coronavirus pandemic, more than 14.5 million Americans don’t know whether they can pay their rent, according to a recent U.S. Census Bureau survey.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Tax Day is not April 15 this year, you have another month to file
abc30
April 15 falls on Thursday this week. Normally, of course, that would be the day your taxes are due. But there's been nothing normal about the past year.
See also:
● Tax day 2021: Everything you need to know Los Angeles Times
PEW
Taxes and federal funds together account for 80.5% of revenue for the 50 states. Taxes are the largest revenue source in 46 states, while federal funds are greatest in four: Alaska, Louisiana, Montana, and Wyoming.
TRANSPORTATION
Fresno Yosemite airport parking 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.
All new US vehicles could be required to be electric by 2035, new study says
The Hill
A new study found that technological advancements and the cost of batteries could support all vehicles being sold in the United States to be electric-powered by 2035.
See also:
● As Auto Industry Goes Electric, Can It Avoid A Battery Bottleneck? VPR
● California Energy Commission announces first incentive project for zero-emission truck and bus infrastructure Green Car Congress
WATER
Members of Congress call Gov. to declare state of emergency over drought
Porterville Recorder
Republican Congressmen Kevin McCarthy, who represents Porterville, and David Valadao are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency over the drought.
See also:
● Why won’t Gavin Newsom declare a drought? California recall puts him in tough spot Fresno Bee
● 5 things you need to know about federal drought aid in California Hanford Sentinel
● Droughts in California Public Policy Institute of California
● Editorial: Another drought, another threat to California farming. Gov. Newsom, are you listening? Fresno Bee
● Commentary: Water Markets Can Reduce the Costs of Drought Public Policy Institute of California
$800M in proposed upgrades to Fresno, Valley canals could mean cleaner drinking water
Fresno Bee
Fresno-area representatives say a newly proposed bill to restore major San Joaquin Valley canals could help bring clean drinking water to underserved communities and restore water capacity in the bread basket of California.
See also:
● Costa, Feinstein Introduce Bill to Restore San Joaquin Valley Canals San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority
Water Partnerships between Cities and Farms in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley
Public Policy Institute of California
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.
Event: Is California Ready for Drought?
Public Policy Institute of California
Drought isn’t an equal opportunity crisis—some sectors and communities are more affected than others. Join the PPIC Water Policy Center and state and local experts for a panel discussion about how to reduce its impacts to the most vulnerable sectors.
Making the Most of Water for the Environment: A Functional Flows Approach for California’s Rivers
Public Policy Institute of California
California, water and land management activities have substantially altered river flows and degraded river channels and their floodplains. The result has been a precipitous decline in native fish populations.
LOIS HENRY: Kern River Watermaster retires
Bakersfield Californian
Dana Munn, a fixture in the Kern County water world, has taken an early retirement from Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District due to medical issues, he announced Tuesday.
“Xtra”
5 things to do in the only part of Yosemite where reservations won’t be needed to enter
Fresno Bee
Hetch Hetchy is the only part of Yosemite National Park where day-use visitors can enter later this spring and summer without a day-use reservation. Day-use visitors to all other parts of the park starting May 21 will need an online reservation to get into Yosemite.
See also:
● Yosemite reservations are coming back to enter national park. Here’s what to know Sierra Star
Rooftop drinking is about to go down in Fresno as much anticipated bar nears full debut
Fresno Bee
Ready to really experience Fresno’s first rooftop bar? It’s finally about to happen. Quail State — the popular downtown Fresno cocktail bar and the city’s first rooftop bar — will no longer be limited to outdoor dining or drinks to go.
Hopeful Disneyland fans wait for hours to get a ticket. ‘Anxiety is through the roof’
Fresno Bee
Disneyland fans hoping to visit the park after over a year of it being closed are already waiting in long lines — to get an admission ticket.
Indoor concerts, other private gatherings allowed in CA starting Thursday
abc30
After more than a year, Californians can attend indoor concerts, performances and other private gatherings starting Thursday, April 15, but of course, there some guidelines in place.
Visalian creates a virtual COVID-19 community
Visalia Times Delta
Ramie Becker, aka Dance Commander, hosts virtual dance parties and spa days in Visalia for hundreds of people from across the globe.
Fresno Bee
You can get a lot of things at drive-thrus in Fresno, but fresh-baked, still warm from the oven cookies? Yup.
Test yourself with our new free game: PolitiTruth
Think you can tell the difference between True and False?
Do you really know what is fake news?
Support the Maddy Daily
Thank you!
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.
This document is to be used for informational purposes only. Unless specifically noted, The Maddy Institute does not officially endorse or support views that may be expressed in the document. If you want to print a story, please do so now before the link expires.
Subscribe to the Maddy Daily HERE
Or, to Subscribe or Unsubscribe: email amyboam@csufresno.edu
POLICY & POLITICS
The Maddy Associates Seminar Series
TODAY at NOON (until 1 pm): A conversation with McClatchy News National Political Correspondent David Lightman. Learn the most up-to-date happenings in Washington and their impact on the San Joaquin Valley
ONLINE ONLY
To join, use this Zoom link with:
Meeting ID: 844 5585 7323
Passcode: 966388
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:
● Stanislaus reaches 1,023 deaths, 53,692 positive tests Modesto Bee
Stanislaus districts respond to Newsom’s ‘disingenuous’ comments about school reopenings
Modesto Bee
The greatest obstacle to fully reopening classrooms isn’t staff and facilities being ready but “the mental conditioning that has occurred over the past year,” Patterson Joint Unified School District Superintendent Philip Alfano said.
Never mind: OID and SSJID cancel large water sale to West Side because of drought
Modesto Bee
The worsening drought has canceled a large water sale to West Side farmers by the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts.
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.
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.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● ‘Demand isn’t there.’ As Fresno residents refuse vaccine, doses shipped to other counties Fresno Bee
● Fresno County giving up 28,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses due to low demand in county abc30
● COVID-19: A Clovis Year in Review Clovis Roundup
Costa, Feinstein Introduce Bill to Restore San Joaquin Valley Canals
San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority
Congressman Jim Costa and Senator Dianne Fienstein, along with Representatives John Garmendi and Josh Harder introduced the Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Act, a bill to authorize more than $653 million to restore the capacity of three San Joaquin Valley canals
See also:
● $800M in proposed upgrades to Fresno, Valley canals could mean cleaner drinking water Fresno Bee
● Members of Congress call Gov. to declare state of emergency over drought Porterville Recorder
Warszawski: It’s 2021. When will Fresno County supervisors kick their addiction to urban sprawl?
Fresno Bee
Municipalities are supposed to be smarter about how they grow, not stuck in the free-for-all mindset that pervaded the late 20th century. Yet our county supes can’t help themselves. When it comes to sprawl, they’re like a bunch of addicts who can’t kick the habit.
Fresno Police Presence To Increase At Tower Theater Protests In Response To Proud Boys
VPR
In a news conference Wednesday, Fresno city leaders denounced the violence that erupted last Sunday at a Tower Theater protest. The protests organized by the Save the Tower Theater Demonstration Committee have largely been peaceful, but this past Sunday, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said as many as 60 Proud Boys attended.
See also:
● Fresno police cite ‘outside agitators,’ will increase presence at Tower Theatre protests Fresno Bee
Fresno Yosemite airport parking construction ahead of schedule. When will it open?
Fresno Bee
A new parking garage under construction at Fresno Yosemite International Airport is 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.
Fresno nonprofit receives $1M grant for Bitwise Toledo project
Business Journal
Bitwise’s upcoming location in Toledo, Ohio, which will include an innovation center and workforce development efforts, just got a $1 million boost from the Owens Corning Foundation.
Visalian creates a virtual COVID-19 community
Visalia Times Delta
Ramie Becker, aka Dance Commander, hosts virtual dance parties and spa days in Visalia for hundreds of people from across the globe.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Kern Public Health: 5 new coronavirus deaths, 57 new cases reported Thursday Bakersfield Californian
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.
After a year of home entertainment, local institutions begin to stir with activity
Bakersfield Californian
On Wednesday, the county entered the orange tier of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, a classification that allows businesses to open more fully.
LOIS HENRY: Kern River Watermaster retires
Bakersfield Californian
Dana Munn, a fixture in the Kern County water world, has taken an early retirement from Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District due to medical issues, he announced Tuesday.
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.
See also:
● Editorial: Newsom’s pledge to ban fracking was all talk, no action LA Times
State:
COVID Update:
● California works to track cases of COVID among the vaccinated Fresno Bee
● Gov. Newsom visits vaccine site as California expands eligibility to people 16 and over abc30
● Newsom visits Union City COVID vaccine clinic, touts state’s progress Mercury News
Members of Congress call Gov. to declare state of emergency over drought
Porterville Recorder
Republican Congressmen Kevin McCarthy, who represents Porterville, and David Valadao are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency over the drought.
See also:
● Why won’t Gavin Newsom declare a drought? California recall puts him in tough spot Fresno Bee
● Editorial: Another drought, another threat to California farming. Gov. Newsom, are you listening? Fresno Bee
California Legislature OKs bill to help displaced workers
Bakersfield Californian
Now that Gov. Gavin Newsom is letting more businesses reopen as coronavirus cases decline, the California Legislature on Thursday passed a bill requiring some hotels and other hospitality companies to offer laid-off workers their jobs back.
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.
Federal:
COVID Update:
● US opens more distance in worldwide race against coronavirus Fresno Bee
● U.S. Health Officials Continue Pause Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine VPR
Lawmakers Look Into Bipartisan Compromise on Infrastructure
Wall Street Journal
Lawmakers began feeling out the possibility of reaching a compromise on an infrastructure package, as a bipartisan group held a call Thursday to discuss the issue and some Republicans began working on an alternative to President Biden’s $2.3 trillion plan.
Census Data to Reveal Which States Lose, Gain U.S. House Seats
Wall Street Journal
After months of delays, the once-in-a-decade fight over the contours of congressional seats will officially begin later this month, when the Census Bureau releases the first round of data determining which states will gain or lose House seats.
See also:
● Census Delay Spells Election Chaos for States PEW
House Passes Paycheck Fairness Act Aimed at Closing Gender Pay Gap
Wall Street Journal
House lawmakers approved legislation that would seek to narrow the gender-wage gap, a disparity that received increased attention a year after the coronavirus pandemic caused women to disproportionately lose their jobs.
abc30
A House panel advanced a decades-long effort to pay reparations to the descendants of slaves by approving legislation Wednesday that would create a commission to study the issue.
Biden meets with Congress’ Asian American leaders as Senate takes up a hate-crimes bill
Los Angeles Times
President Biden met with leaders of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which has pushed for more Asian Americans in his administration and for a law to combat the sort of hate crimes against the group that have risen since the pandemic began in China.
Becerra questioned about abortion, immigration at HHS budget hearing
Roll Call
Immigration policy and abortion restrictions were among the issues discussed with the newly confirmed Health and Human Services secretary during a House appropriations hearing Thursday on the administration’s fiscal 2022 health care budget.
Democrats begin long-shot push to expand the Supreme Court
Los Angeles Times
A group of congressional Democrats introduced legislation Thursday to add four seats to the Supreme Court, a long-shot bid designed to counter the court’s rightward tilt during the Trump administration and criticized by Republicans as a potential power grab.
See also:
● Democratic Lawmakers Air Differences on Overhauling Supreme Court Wall Street Journal
● Supreme Court expansion bill faces serious blocks across political spectrum Roll Call
● Opinion: Court Packing Is a Dangerous Game Wall Street Journal
Opinion: Republicans will keep up the craziness until they pay a real price
Washington Post
John Boehner first realized “the crazies” were taking over the Republican Party during the 2008 financial crisis, two years before the tea party wave made him speaker of the House and seven years before Donald Trump descended a golden escalator to run for president.
Opinion: What Americans still want from reform: An April 2021 update
Brookings
Even as recent polling shows strong public support for President Biden’s $5 trillion “spend-whatever-it-takes-without-delay” agenda, Americans remain divided on the future of government. 51% of Americans said they favored a bigger government that provides more services, 43% favored a smaller government that provides fewer services.
Other:
GOP used YouTube to win Latino voters who Democrats ignored
Axios
Republicans and conservative groups made inroads via YouTube in 2020 with low-information Latino voters often ignored by Democrats, a deep new analysis of U.S. voters shows.
Opinion: Republicans and Immigrants Need Each Other
Wall Street Journal
We have been thinking about the Republican Party and how it can come back—worthily, constructively—after the splits and shatterings of recent years.
Opinion: CEOs Lead America’s New Great Awakening
Wall Street Journal
As they did recently over gun safety, immigration, climate change, social justice and the infamous bathroom bills, major business leaders have protested new voter-restriction efforts in state legislatures.
Roll Call
The fact is every time we log on to the internet or use an app, our data is at the whim of the company, and there is largely no accountability for how a platform might use, store or sell information about us.
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
Never mind: OID & SSJID cancel large water sale to West Side because of drought
Modesto Bee
The worsening drought has canceled a large water sale to West Side farmers by the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts.
Editorial: Another drought, another threat to California farming. Gov. Newsom, are you listening?
Fresno Bee
That is exactly why Newsom should issue an emergency declaration. The crisis Valley farmers face is real, as is the threat to the farm-based economy of California’s heartland.
Most food waste in the U.S. occurs at the consumer level. You can do something about it
Los Angeles Times
Anne-Marie Bonneau has lived plastic-free since 2011. The tips below on freezing, storing and shopping come from her new cookbook, “The Zero-Waste Chef: Plant-Forward Recipes and Tips for a Sustainable Kitchen and Planet,” published by Avery.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Exclusive: Correctional officer’s death exposes hazing, toxic culture at California prison
Fresno 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.
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.
Public Safety:
Fresno Police Presence To Increase At Tower Theater Protests In Response To Proud Boys
VPR
In a news conference Wednesday, Fresno city leaders denounced the violence that erupted last Sunday at a Tower Theater protest. The protests organized by the Save the Tower Theater Demonstration Committee have largely been peaceful, but this past Sunday, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said as many as 60 Proud Boys attended.
See also:
● Fresno police cite ‘outside agitators,’ will increase presence at Tower Theatre protests Fresno Bee
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.
Fire:
Payments to PG&E wildfire victims now up to $141 million — but process is moving slowly
Fresno Bee
Thousands of California victims of wildfires linked to PG&E Corp. have received payments totaling $141.3 million from the utility’s bankruptcy — but are being warned that the payout process is proceeding slowly.
See also:
● California steps up PG&E oversight after new failures in wildfire-safety program Sacramento Bee
● California power regulators cast doubt on Pacific Gas & Electric’s grid plans Los Angeles Times
With Wildfire Season Looming, Early Budget Action Is A Welcome Start
CA FWD
State legislators took swift action on Monday to pass a $536 million early budget action plan for wildfire prevention, aimed at getting ahead of the next wildfire season. Both the Senate and Assembly approved the funding package on unanimous votes.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
With layoffs down and spending up, US rebound gains momentum
Fresno Bee
A much-awaited economic boom coming off the pandemic recession appeared to edge closer to reality Thursday with fresh data showing the pace of layoffs dwindling, consumers spending freely and manufacturing rebounding.
See also:
● Signs Of Economic Boom Emerge As Retail Sales Surge, Jobless Claims Hit Pandemic Low VPR
● U.S. Economy Ramps Up on Spending Surge, Hiring Gains Wall Street Journal
$10,000 price-gouging fine thrown out, but Fresno store says reputation remains damaged
Fresno Bee
When the city of Fresno last March issued its first price-gouging fine amid the coronavirus pandemic, it was an opportunity to put area businesses on notice.
Jobs:
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.
California Legislature OKs bill to help displaced workers
Bakersfield Californian
Now that Gov. Gavin Newsom is letting more businesses reopen as coronavirus cases decline, the California Legislature on Thursday passed a bill requiring some hotels and other hospitality companies to offer laid-off workers their jobs back.
Lawmakers push reforms at state unemployment agency as the jobless face new delays
Los Angeles Times
California legislators on Thursday pushed ahead with reforms targeting the state’s troubled unemployment agency as lawmakers condemned it for yet another significant error that has interrupted benefit payments to thousands of jobless residents.
U.S. jobless claims plunge to 576,000, lowest level of the pandemic
Los Angeles Times
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits tumbled last week to 576,000, the lowest of the COVID-19 pandemic and a hopeful sign that layoffs are easing as the economy recovers from the coronavirus-induced recession.
Less than 1 in 4 workers has gone back to the office as businesses plot a wider reopening
Los Angeles Times
People had started showing up to the office again in greater numbers, but fled for home as the recent coronavirus surge shook the region, fresh data show.
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.
GO Public Schools Fresno is hiring: Director of Policy and Advocacy, and Executive Director
Go Public Schools
GO Public Schools Fresno is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building and supporting a citywide coalition whose members — parents, students, educators, and community allies — work together to expand access to quality education in Fresno’s most historically underserved neighborhoods.
Stanislaus districts respond to Newsom’s ‘disingenuous’ comments about school reopenings
Modesto Bee
The greatest obstacle to fully reopening classrooms isn’t staff and facilities being ready but “the mental conditioning that has occurred over the past year,” Patterson Joint Unified School District Superintendent Philip Alfano said.
Distance Learning Strategies in California Schools
Public Policy Institute of California
Learning gaps are a growing concern after a year of online instruction. During the pandemic, uneven distribution of resources may have widened gaps and led to learning loss for some students.
Higher Ed:
Merced College Board approves list of new projects funded by federal COVID relief
abc30
Students who return to Merced College in the fall will see some new resources and campus upgrades.
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.
California Sees More College Graduates, but Progress Is Uneven
Public Policy Institute of California
The pandemic and recession have highlighted inequities in our state and the importance of a college degree. College graduates have fared much better than other workers, as they are more likely to be employed and able to work remotely.
Opinion: California’s public higher ed system shaping nation’s leaders
CalMatters
Appointments to the Biden administration underscore how California’s public higher education system creates strong and diverse leaders.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Environmental group sues over protections for 20 species
Bakersfield Californian
An environmental group filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging the federal government has failed to act on petitions to protect nine species under the Endangered Species Act and hasn't designated critical habitat for 11 other species that are already protected.
California enlists surveillance satellites to sniff out greenhouse gas ‘super-emitters’
Los Angeles Times
Years after former Gov. Jerry Brown pledged California would launch its “own damn satellite” to track planet-warming pollutants, the state plans to put not one, but two satellites in orbit to help it hunt for hard-to-find “super-emitters” of methane and carbon dioxide.
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.
Editorial: Newsom’s pledge to ban fracking was all talk, no action
Los Angeles Times
A bill that would have outlawed fracking and dramatically curtailed oil and gas drilling in California died Tuesday, during its very first committee hearing. This wasn’t a surprise.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Central CA health officials warn of increase in kids impacted by serious illness linked to COVID-19
abc30
Local health officials are warning about a concerning increase in a serious illness affecting children in Central California.
Deaths Among ‘Financially Vulnerable’ Latino Immigrants In Kings County Shot Up By 90% in 2020
VPR
Pedro Cruz Mendoza was born in Oaxaca and came to the Central Valley in 1988. His wife and their son joined him 8 years later. He spent 21 years working in the fields.
See also:
● COVID Racial Disparities Loom Large in Rural Counties PEW
Will Pfizer COVID vaccine need a third dose? Company CEO explains why that’s ‘likely’
Fresno Bee
As more contagious coronavirus variants continue to spread in the U.S., vaccine developers are racing to test and determine if their shots will eventually require an extra dose or booster shot to maintain protection against COVID-19.
See also:
● Annual Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Shots Likely Needed, Pfizer CEO Says Wall Street Journal
● COVID: When you might need a vaccine booster shot Mercury News
Don’t worry if you catch coronavirus when fully vaccinated — it can happen. How often?
Fresno Bee
When the first COVID-19 vaccine became available in the U.S., the nation unclenched its jaw and exhaled a sigh of relief. But to many’s surprise, the shot was not a guarantee for life-long immunity against the disease.
See also:
● CDC Identifies Small Group of Covid-19 Infections Among Fully Vaccinated Patients Wall Street Journal
Opinion: Make multi-cancer early detection screens widely available
CalMatters
These new technologies will enable primary care providers to screen for dozens of cancers through a simple blood draw.
Human Services:
Top health officials urge Americans to get vaccinated, but barely address the J.&J. pause.
New York Times
Three top federal health officials implored Americans to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, but said little about the investigation into whether the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may be linked to a small number of cases of rare blood clots.
See also:
● Health officials push vaccinations as Fauci and Jordan spar Roll Call
● Blood Clots More Likely After Covid-19 Than After Vaccination, Study Finds Wall Street Journal
● Find a COVID vaccine appointment — and see how many people in California are vaccinated Fresno Bee
● Homeless Americans finally getting a chance at COVID-19 shot Fresno Bee
What you can do with proof of COVID vaccination in California, and how can you show it
Sacramento Bee
California is not making COVID vaccinations mandatory. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration’s has said the state isn’t yet considering a government-issued vaccine passport, and the Biden administration has said the same at the federal level.
‘People are dying as we wait’: Bid to tighten California nursing home oversight sputters
CalMatters
Lawmakers say they’ll take no action this year on a bill requiring nursing home owners and operators to get state approval before they acquire, operate or manage a nursing home.
Paying too much for health insurance? New subsidies announced
CalMatters
Covered California has $3 billion in federal aid for people who enroll this year or already are signed up. The savings could be hundreds of dollars per month.
IMMIGRATION
Biden resists raising refugee cap over political optics, sources say
CNN
President Joe Biden has resisted signing off on raising the Trump-era refugee cap because of political optics. The President's hesitation comes as the administration faces heat from Republicans and Democrats for its handling of an influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border.
Fact-Checking Claims About COVID-19 Testing For Migrants At The Southern Border
Capital Public Radio
Republican lawmakers are claiming a large percentage of migrants at crowded southern border facilities are testing positive for COVID-19.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Warszawski: It’s 2021. When will Fresno County supervisors kick their addiction to urban sprawl?
Fresno Bee
Municipalities are supposed to be smarter about how they grow, not stuck in the free-for-all mindset that pervaded the late 20th century. Yet our county supes can’t help themselves. When it comes to sprawl, they’re like a bunch of addicts who can’t kick the habit.
Housing:
Californians: Here’s why your housing costs are so high
CBS8
Nine out of ten Californians consider housing affordability a problem, and nearly one in three Californians are considering leaving the state because of it.
See also:
● Californians: Here’s why your housing costs are so high CalMatters
Report: California’s Housing Costs Widening The Wealth Gap For Communities Of Color
CA FWD
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.
Landlords Say Tenants Are Not Tapping Rent Relief
PEW
Even as states and the federal government have allocated billions of dollars in assistance, a year into the coronavirus pandemic, more than 14.5 million Americans don’t know whether they can pay their rent, according to a recent U.S. Census Bureau survey.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Tax Day is not April 15 this year, you have another month to file
abc30
April 15 falls on Thursday this week. Normally, of course, that would be the day your taxes are due. But there's been nothing normal about the past year.
See also:
● Tax day 2021: Everything you need to know Los Angeles Times
PEW
Taxes and federal funds together account for 80.5% of revenue for the 50 states. Taxes are the largest revenue source in 46 states, while federal funds are greatest in four: Alaska, Louisiana, Montana, and Wyoming.
TRANSPORTATION
Fresno Yosemite airport parking 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.
All new US vehicles could be required to be electric by 2035, new study says
The Hill
A new study found that technological advancements and the cost of batteries could support all vehicles being sold in the United States to be electric-powered by 2035.
See also:
● As Auto Industry Goes Electric, Can It Avoid A Battery Bottleneck? VPR
● California Energy Commission announces first incentive project for zero-emission truck and bus infrastructure Green Car Congress
WATER
Members of Congress call Gov. to declare state of emergency over drought
Porterville Recorder
Republican Congressmen Kevin McCarthy, who represents Porterville, and David Valadao are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency over the drought.
See also:
● Why won’t Gavin Newsom declare a drought? California recall puts him in tough spot Fresno Bee
● 5 things you need to know about federal drought aid in California Hanford Sentinel
● Droughts in California Public Policy Institute of California
● Editorial: Another drought, another threat to California farming. Gov. Newsom, are you listening? Fresno Bee
● Commentary: Water Markets Can Reduce the Costs of Drought Public Policy Institute of California
$800M in proposed upgrades to Fresno, Valley canals could mean cleaner drinking water
Fresno Bee
Fresno-area representatives say a newly proposed bill to restore major San Joaquin Valley canals could help bring clean drinking water to underserved communities and restore water capacity in the bread basket of California.
See also:
● Costa, Feinstein Introduce Bill to Restore San Joaquin Valley Canals San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority
Water Partnerships between Cities and Farms in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley
Public Policy Institute of California
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.
Event: Is California Ready for Drought?
Public Policy Institute of California
Drought isn’t an equal opportunity crisis—some sectors and communities are more affected than others. Join the PPIC Water Policy Center and state and local experts for a panel discussion about how to reduce its impacts to the most vulnerable sectors.
Making the Most of Water for the Environment: A Functional Flows Approach for California’s Rivers
Public Policy Institute of California
California, water and land management activities have substantially altered river flows and degraded river channels and their floodplains. The result has been a precipitous decline in native fish populations.
LOIS HENRY: Kern River Watermaster retires
Bakersfield Californian
Dana Munn, a fixture in the Kern County water world, has taken an early retirement from Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District due to medical issues, he announced Tuesday.
“Xtra”
5 things to do in the only part of Yosemite where reservations won’t be needed to enter
Fresno Bee
Hetch Hetchy is the only part of Yosemite National Park where day-use visitors can enter later this spring and summer without a day-use reservation. Day-use visitors to all other parts of the park starting May 21 will need an online reservation to get into Yosemite.
See also:
● Yosemite reservations are coming back to enter national park. Here’s what to know Sierra Star
Rooftop drinking is about to go down in Fresno as much anticipated bar nears full debut
Fresno Bee
Ready to really experience Fresno’s first rooftop bar? It’s finally about to happen. Quail State — the popular downtown Fresno cocktail bar and the city’s first rooftop bar — will no longer be limited to outdoor dining or drinks to go.
Hopeful Disneyland fans wait for hours to get a ticket. ‘Anxiety is through the roof’
Fresno Bee
Disneyland fans hoping to visit the park after over a year of it being closed are already waiting in long lines — to get an admission ticket.
Indoor concerts, other private gatherings allowed in CA starting Thursday
abc30
After more than a year, Californians can attend indoor concerts, performances and other private gatherings starting Thursday, April 15, but of course, there some guidelines in place.
Visalian creates a virtual COVID-19 community
Visalia Times Delta
Ramie Becker, aka Dance Commander, hosts virtual dance parties and spa days in Visalia for hundreds of people from across the globe.
Fresno Bee
You can get a lot of things at drive-thrus in Fresno, but fresh-baked, still warm from the oven cookies? Yup.