April 22, 2020

22Apr

POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

You can be fined for violating coronavirus orders in these Stanislaus County cities

Modesto Bee

Five Stanislaus County cities can fine residents for violating coronavirus stay-at-home orders, but none have issued citations so far, according to the law firm that advises them.

When should the local economy reopen? Stanislaus mayors say sooner rather than later

Modesto Bee

As Stanislaus County officials are working within Gov. Gavin Newsom’s framework to slowly reopen the economy from the new coronavirus pandemic restrictions, several of the region’s mayors are asking to accelerate the process.

See also:

What Stanislaus County churches have to say about prospects of drive-in services

Modesto Bee

There’s discussion at the county level to open drive-in religious services during the current coronavirus stay-at-home order.

Los Banos City Council, Planning Commission meetings to be held via teleconference

Merced Sun-Star

Los Banos Director of Emergency Services Alex Terrazaz has issued an executive order directing City Council and Planning Commission meetings to be held via teleconference, according to a Los Banos Police Department Facebook post.

San Joaqiun County extends park closures

Stockton Record

The San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation Division has extended its temporary closure of parks and facilities through May 31. The closure had been scheduled to expire April 30.

Central SJ Valley:

Nearly $200 million in coronavirus funding on its way to Fresno area as local cases rise

Fresno Bee

More than $170 million is headed to the Fresno area for coronavirus testing and protective equipment as part of the third round of federal stimulus funding, a county official announced Tuesday.

See also:

Fresno Grizzlies make their rent payment for Chukchansi Park

Business Journal

April’s rent is in for Chukchansi Park and the Fresno Grizzlies are crediting strong ownership and loyal fans for maintaining cash flow.

Fresno could see ‘drive-in’ churches amid coronavirus pandemic, following decision

Fresno Bee

A lawsuit filed by a nonprofit civil liberties group challenging the state’s shelter-in-place order may give Fresno churches some wiggle room about how they can hold services. As of this week, drive-in church is an option for church leaders in Fresno, according to court records recently filed by the Attorney General of California.

See also:

Controversial West Fresno Rendering Plant Heads to Closure

Business Journal

A plan to relocate a controversial rendering plant has fallen through and has lead to a delayed closure of the West Fresno plant. The decision to close the Darling rendering plant came down March 18 after provisions to facilitate their move could not be agreed upon between the Texas-based company and the City of Fresno, according to a press release from the company.

Clovis Reopens Council Meetings

Clovis RoundUp

A few weeks after closing its meetings to the physical public, the Clovis City Council voted April 20 to re-open its weekly meetings.

COVID-19 business recovery task force for Tulare County launched

Visalia Times Delta

While the White House and congressional leaders near a deal this week to replenish a program geared to keep small businesses from shuttering during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation announced Tuesday the appointment of a task force to develop plans for economic recovery.

South SJ Valley:

Kern County debates moving election to the mailbox

Bakersfield Now

Kern County wants to protect your right to vote while also protecting you from the virus. “With so many of our poll workers being retirees, it will be difficult to recruit the number of poll workers we will need for the hundreds of poll sites we normally have,” Mary Badard, Kern County registrar of voters said.

See also:

Kern Supervisors approve spending on field hospital but question how bad COVID-19 really is locally

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern County Board of Supervisors approved more than $2 million in spending for a field hospital at the Kern County Fairgrounds on Tuesday to treat overflow patients should local hospitals become overwhelmed by COVID-19.

Once financially stable, coronavirus rocks Bakersfield and Kern County budgets

Bakersfield Californian

Slightly more than a month after Bakersfield’s coffers appeared to be swelling, the new coronavirus has plunged the city into dire financial straits. The Kern County government, too, is facing difficult times. Having just emerged from a four-year fiscal crisis, the County Administrative Office must now deal with a pandemic that could lead it back into the red.

City of Bakersfield names Greg Terry as chief of police

Bakersfield Californian

Assistant Chief Greg Terry has been selected as Bakersfield’s new chief of police. Terry, who is a 23-year veteran of the department, has been serving as interim chief since Lyle Martin’s retirement in December.

Kern oil producers dodge worst of US price collapse

Bakersfield Californian

The unprecedented collapse in the nation’s benchmark oil price this week is not expected to hurt Kern petroleum producers, local observers say, though it does reflect difficult market conditions weighing heavily on the county’s economy and employment.

See also:

State:

Newsom: Local Gov’ts Should ‘Collaborate’ with State on Relaxing Stay-At-Home Orders

Capital Public Radio

As Gov. Gavin Newsom lays out a roadmap for reopening California’s economy, he’s encouraging a “collaborative” approach with cities and counties.

See also:

California needs ‘an army of volunteers’ for its coronavirus response, Newsom says

Los Angeles Times

Urging Californians to answer the immediate needs of the coronavirus pandemic and create a lasting commitment to community volunteerism, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday unveiled a new statewide program designed to enlist more of the state’s residents to offer both in-person and remote help for those in need.

See also:

Gavin Newsom’s Nation-State

The Atlantic

California is ascendant and its governor, Gavin Newsom, knows it. His state is having dramatic success in containing the coronavirus pandemic, and Newsom is so bullish about its status that he talks about California as if it were one of the world’s most powerful nations, not merely the largest state.

See also:

Commentary: Bold investments in clean energy and transportation infrastructure will help lead us out of a recession

CalMatters

As our leaders in Washington look to create a jobs program focused on national infrastructure to sustain the U.S. economy, their decisions will significantly impact our economic future, including the industries that will receive federal stimulus dollars.

Autopsies reveal first confirmed U.S. coronavirus deaths occurred in California in February

Los Angeles Times

Two coronavirus-infected people died in Santa Clara County on Feb. 6 and Feb. 17, the medical examiner revealed Tuesday, making them first documented COVID-19 fatalities in the United States.

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Walters: Newsom’s unwieldy economic task force

CalMatters

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared the obvious fact that “we are now in a pandemic-induced recession,” and appointed an 80-member “Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery” to guide our way back to prosperity.

See also

Public finding it difficult to participate in online government meetings

San Diego Union-Tribune

Residents throughout San Diego County are finding it more difficult to participate in their local governments, and some find their voices have been silenced by the social-distancing precautions required to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Delayed census could greatly affect CA redistricting

Capitol Weekly

Pushing back the census deadlines could have a profound political impact on California, ultimately forcing the state to draw scores of political districts for the 2022 elections within a tiny, two-week window.

See also:

Steyer emerges as Newsom economic point person — and business groups are concerned

Politico

He’s signed up millions of voters in an effort to impeach President Donald Trump and run for the White House as a crusader against fossil fuels, all in the last year. But can billionaire Tom Steyer now put California businesses back on track during the coronavirus crisis?

Becerra, 19 other AGs ask 3M to help prevent price gouging

Politico

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and 19 other AGs are asking 3M to help prevent price hikes for respirator masks and other personal protective equipment that governments and health care providers are scrambling to acquire during the coronavirus pandemic.

California delays trout season in 3 counties amid pandemic

Associated Press

California has delayed the start of spring trout season in three rural counties where local officials are concerned out-of-towners could spread the coronavirus to residents.

California Gets Largest Share of Disaster Loans That Ran Dry

Bloomberg

A program operated by the U.S. Small Business Administration has sent the largest share of its disaster loans and grants to California, according to a partial accounting that the agency released Tuesday.

EDITORIAL: Newsom hiding coronavirus mask deal, but California Legislature has subpoena power

Sacramento Bee

California law gives the State Legislature the authority to issue subpoenas. If Gov. Gavin Newsom won’t embrace transparency in his billion-dollar mask deal, perhaps it’s time for legislative leaders to dust off their rarely-used subpoena power.

EDITORIAL: California Democratic leaders blast party over sexual misconduct report. See the letter

Sacramento Bee

If California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks thought he could get away with burying the party’s official investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by his predecessor, Eric Bauman, he is in for a rude awakening.

Federal:

U.S. coronavirus deaths top 45,000, doubling in little over a week

Trust

U.S. coronavirus deaths topped 45,000 on Tuesday doubling in a little over a week and rising by a near-record amount in a single day, according to a Reuters tally.

2 months in the dark: the increasingly damning timeline of Trump’s coronavirus response

Washington Post

The spread of the coronavirus in the United States continues, now with more confirmed deaths than in any other country (with the caveat that data from China aren’t reliable). And as it has spread, we keep learning about new warning signs that apparently weren’t heeded.

See also:

AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s misdirection on virus testing, deaths

Associated Press

President Donald Trump is falsely assigning blame to governors and the Obama administration for shortages in coronavirus testing. For much of the week, he was pretender to a throne that didn’t exist as he claimed king-like powers over the pandemic response and Congress.

See also:

72% of Americans Want Coronavirus Stay-at-home Orders To Remain In Place Until Health Officials Say It’s Safe: Poll

Newsweek

An overwhelming majority of Americans have indicated that they want stay-at-home orders to remain in place until health officials and experts say it’s safe to reopen the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new study.

See also:

Pandemic fallout tracks nation’s political divide

Bakersfield Californian

America’s entrenched political divide is now playing out over matters of life and death. The fault lines are familiar, exposing many of the same regional and demographic divisions that have increasingly come to define U.S. politics, as well as the stark differences in the ways the parties view the role of government in American life.

See also:

Congress set to pass $483B virus aid as Trump eyes next deal

Fresno Bee

Congress is sprinting to approve the next coronavirus aid package, a $483 billion deal backed by the White House to replenish a small-business payroll fund and pump more money into hospitals and testing programs.

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House unveils proposal for remote committee work and proxy votes

Roll Call

Under a proposed rules change unveiled overnight, House committees could meet remotely and even mark up legislation related to any topic during a 60-day emergency period, but proxy voting on the House floor could only happen on bills related to the coronavirus pandemic.

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McConnell says GOP will confirm Trump court picks through pandemic

TheHill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Tuesday that Republicans will keep trying to confirm President Trump‘s judicial nominees once the chamber returns to Washington, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus Trackers:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California

Covid19.ca.gov

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.

See also:

Elections 2020:

Presidential debate planning proceeds despite virus worries

Fresno Bee

Preparations for the 2020 general election debates are proceeding “according to schedule” despite the coronavirus outbreak.

Michelle Obama for vice president? Joe Biden and Democratic voters love the idea

Fresno Bee

Many Democratic voters say they would love to see Michelle Obama run for office — including the party’s likely presidential nominee.

See also:

United Auto Workers union backs Joe Biden for president

Los Angeles Times

The roughly 400,000-member union says in a statement Tuesday that the nation needs stable leadership with less acrimony “and more balance to the rights and protections of working Americans.”

See also

RNC maintains massive fundraising edge over DNC

OpenSecrets

The Democratic National Committee might have outraised the Republican National Committee in March, but it still has significantly lower cash reserves compared to its rival’s war chest. Aided by billionaire Mike Bloomberg’s controversial $18 million, the DNC raised nearly $33 million last month, significantly more than the RNC’s $24 million. 

‘The map is bigger now’: Coronavirus rewires 2020 election

Politico

The economic and political impact of the coronavirus crisis is beginning to reverberate across the presidential battleground states, creating unforeseen red-state opportunities for Joe Biden but also offering promise for Donald Trump in several Democratic-leaning states where his prospects once seemed limited.

Other:

U.S. newspapers have shed half of their newsroom employees since 2008

Pew Research

Newsroom employment at U.S. newspapers continues to plummet, falling by around half since 2008, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Coronavirus is tough on foster families, experts say. These groups offer their help

Fresno Bee

While the emotional toll of stay-at-home social distancing orders has been heavy on many families, it may be even harder on children and parents in foster families.

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

Sunday, April 26, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – pre-empted

Sunday, April 26, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: How Will AB5 Impact the Valley? – Guests: Dillon Savory, Executive Director of the Fresno-Madera-Tulare-Kings Central Labor Council; Nathan Ahle, Executive Director of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce; and Jamie Bossuat, member of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce and an attorney with the law firm Kroloff, Belcher, Smart, Perry, & Christopherson. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, April 26, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: Una introducción al proceso presupuestario de California – Guest: Edgar Cabral, Analista Oficina de Analisis Legislativo. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Fear factor high for farm community as Pres Trump announces immigration ban

abc30

Hours after President Trump announced a temporary ban on immigration into the U.S., the details are still unclear, and an uncomfortable and uncertain crisis has added a new concern for Valley farmers.

See also:

FoodLink Tulare County serves 465 families in two hours

abc30

One of the South Valley’s largest food banks says their staff and resources are getting strained. FoodLink of Tulare Co. is asking for cash donations to their COVID-19 relief fund, as they continue to host large drive-through food distributions around the South Valley.

See also:

Help Coming: USDA announces aid for agriculture

Porterville Recorder

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $19 billion Coronavirus Food Assistance program to assist farmers and ranchers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virus impacts food processing procedures

Turlock Journal

As the spread of the coronavirus forces closures of major meat processing facilities around the country, concerns about worker safety and the nation’s meat supply have the industry doubling down on precautions.

‘Essential’ cannabis businesses: Strategies for regulation in a time of widespread crisis

Brookings

Most state governors were underprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic, a crisis is affecting every economic sector. But because the legal cannabis industry is relatively new in most places and still evolving everywhere, the challenges are even greater.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

District Attorney Moreno Opposes Planned Inmate Release

Sierra News

No legislature, nor citizen voted for this radical departure from the safe, just, and effective local control we have always exercised here in Madera.

See also:

Fresno County Jail Has One Confirmed Coronavirus Case – And Officials Hope That Number Stays Low

VPR

So far, only one inmate at the Fresno County jail has a confirmed case of the coronavirus. And as the pandemic continues, law enforcement are taking precautions to try and keep the case numbers low.

See also:

Video depicting child pornography posted during BC Zoom meeting by anonymous user

Bakersfield Californian

At about 3 p.m. Monday, college officials held a virtual forum to discuss the institution’s response to COVID-19. During the meeting, the video was posted and the anonymous user was removed from the meeting by an administrator.

Public Safety:

Merced County Sheriff and pastor find common ground after citation

abc30

A Merced County pastor who was cited for holding an Easter Sunday service with dozens of people has now reached an agreement with authorities — and even formed a friendship with the sheriff.

City of Bakersfield names Greg Terry as chief of police

Bakersfield Californian

Assistant Chief Greg Terry has been selected as Bakersfield’s new chief of police. Terry, who is a 23-year veteran of the department, has been serving as interim chief since Lyle Martin’s retirement in December.

Valley Voices: Fresno County Sheriff’s Office must do more to stop the potential spread of COVID-19

Fresno Bee

In light of the highly contagious COVID-19 respiratory illness, the Judicial Council of California adopted a $0 statewide bail for misdemeanors and low-level felonies, which went into effect on April 13.

Recently Released State Prisoners Are Testing Positive for COVID-19

KQED

At least three former prison inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 soon after they were released from the California Institution for Men (CIM) in San Bernardino County, raising concerns that the largest outbreak in a state prison could spread to communities.

ECONOMY/JOBS

Economy:

Americans Sour on Economic Outlook in Lockdown, Embrace Stimulus

Bloomberg

Americans’ views on the economy have soured dramatically since the beginning of the year as coronavirus-caused shutdowns have tanked their ability to pay bills, a pair of reports from the Pew Research Center found Tuesday.

Publicly traded firms get $365M in small-business loans

abc30

Companies with thousands of employees, past penalties from government investigations and risks of financial failure even before the coronavirus walloped the economy were among those receiving millions of dollars from a relief fund that Congress created to help small businesses through the crisis, an Associated Press investigation found.

See also:

Chamber Of Commerce Head Welcomes New Coronavirus Bill, Gradual Reopening Of Economy

Capital Public Radio

Suzanne Clark, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, tells All Things Considered that reopening the economy “will be phased in.” She also says businesses will need more help to survive.

Senate votes to increase funding for small businesses dealing with coronavirus shutdowns

Los Angeles Times

The Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a deal to increase funding for a popular small business loan program that ran out of money last week as businesses scrambled for a lifeline during the coronavirus pandemic.

See also:

The economic costs of reopening too soon

The Hill

As President Trump and the nation’s governors wrestle with how soon to begin reopening the U.S. economy from its virus-induced shutdown, many analysts argue that a tradeoff exists between our severe economic and public health concerns.

See also:

Will COVID-19 rebalance America’s uneven economic geography? Don’t bet on it.

Brookings

The terrible logic and geography of the coronavirus implicates the global network of urban hubs, spokes, and hinterlands that has led to striking economic imbalance in advanced countries.

Many Health Providers on Brink of Insolvency

PEW

Elective surgeries and routine medical care are on hold. As a result, medical providers of all kinds are seeing drastic reductions in patient visits and crushing losses of revenue. At the same time, some continue to pay wages along with rent and other overhead costs. Many worry they’ll lose their skilled workers to hospitals.

Oil markets’ crash raises tough questions for the industry’s future

Roll Call

A push in March from a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, followed by the near shutdown of the economy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, forced oil prices into the red Monday night.

Jobs:

‘I’m scared to come to work.’ Amazon workers call out sick to protest COVID-19 safety

Fresno Bee

Hundreds of Amazon workers are planning to call out sick starting Tuesday to protest the company’s treatment of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, media outlets reported.

See also:

Jostens to permanently close Visalia plant, lay off 110 employees

Visalia Times Delta

As the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic continues to ripple, one of Visalia’s largest employers and a big philanthropic force in the city announced it is closing permanently and laying off all its staff.

Answering Questions About California’s Unemployment Benefits During The COVID-19 Crisis

Capital Public Radio

Financial help is available for those who have lost income due to the pandemic, though business owners, self-employed workers and independent contractors must wait until April 28 to apply.

See also:

California Employers’ Duties to Reimburse Employees Working From Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ogletree Deakins

In response to “stay-at-home” orders issued by Governor Gavin Newsom and various California municipalities to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) employers have been asking or requiring employees to work from home.

Poll: 43% of Americans have lost jobs or wages due to coronavirus outbreak

Hill

More than 4 in 10 polled Americans say they have had their wages cut or lost their jobs altogether because of the coronavirus pandemic, a new poll finds, as Americans at all levels increasingly struggle to pay their bills.

Businesses owned by women and minorities have grown. Will COVID-19 undo that?

Brookings

Structural exclusion that limits entrepreneurship is no less insidious than COVID-19’s impact on small businesses, but because it is already a status quo that’s been built up over decades, there is not the same urgency to address it.

Management-side lawyers want NLRB to suspend union elections during coronavirus crisis

Reuters

A group of management-side labor lawyers have urged the National Labor Relations Board to suspend union elections involving businesses deemed “essential” during the coronavirus pandemic, saying that mail-in ballots and other alternatives to in-person elections are inadequate.

EDUCATION

K-12:

Statewide Survey: Californians and Education

PPIC

PPIC’s annual statewide survey on Californians and education tracks opinions on educational quality, public school funding, early childhood education, and preparation for college and careers. It also examines views on English language learners, charter schools, and the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. PPIC researchers will discuss these and other key findings.

Stanislaus County Head Start centers for farm families to open for spring season

Modesto Bee

SCOE’s Migrant and seasonal Head Start centers closed in mid-March due to the pandemic, but now those centers are making arrangements to reopen just in time for the spring season.

Deasy out at SUSD

Stockton Record

The Stockton Unified School District Board of Education voted 4-3 in favor of accepting the resignation of superintendent John Deasy after a special meeting Tuesday.

VUSD schools, playgrounds closed until further notice

Visalia Times Delta

Visalia Unified School District schools and playgrounds are closed until further notice, Superintendent Tamara Ravalín stated in a community alert Tuesday afternoon.

Coronavirus Will Require Changes in Schools When They Reopen to Protect Students

Rand Blog

Regardless of the precise date school buildings reopen, when they do there will be a “new normal” for at least some time to come. Schools will likely need to modify their practices so that teachers, staff, and students maintain social distancing standards when they return.

See also:

California school districts to get 5-month reprieve to adopt next year’s accountability plan

EdSource

With so much on their plates already and revenue projections so much in flux, California school districts had assumed they’d get a reprieve from filing their next Local Control and Accountability Plan, the document that would spell out their spending priorities for 2020-21. The only question was whether Gov. Gavin Newsom would delay or suspend the LCAP for next year

What’s Required to Become a CTE Teacher?

EdNote

Career and technical education teachers play an essential role in assisting secondary students in exploring possible career interests and developing skills that will enhance their future education and career.

Higher Ed:

Fresno State president leaves open possibility of eliminating sports programs

Fresno Bee

Fresno State President Joseph Castro has been opposed to cutting Bulldogs sports programs, but with the university and its athletics department struggling due to declining revenues related to the coronavirus he left open the possibility of eliminating sports in the future.

See also:

Adventist Health Bakersfield creates new affiliation with San Jose State for lab scientists

Bakersfield Californian

Adventist Health Bakersfield has announced a new affiliation with San Jose State University to host a post-graduation program training future clinical lab scientists. Students in the program receive online training via SJSU for eight hours a week and will work alongside the lab team at Adventist Health Bakersfield for 32 hours.

DeVos blocks undocumented college students from receiving emergency aid amid pandemic

The Hill

The Trump administration issued new guidance Tuesday barring undocumented college students from receiving federal aid to pay off certain expenses. The money is intended to help students pay for expenses such as food, childcare and housing.

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

Environment:

Fires and climate change polluted California’s air. Has coronavirus shutdown helped?

Fresno Bee

California and Sacramento again had some of the poorest air quality in the nation, its skies made worse by the effects of climate change and years of catastrophic wildfires, with worrying implications for those most at risk of developing COVID-19, officials say.

See also:

As Earth Day turns 50, green movement faces fresh challenges

Hanford Sentinel

A fundamental, global change in thinking and action is needed that goes well beyond any one day, said former California Gov. Jerry Brown, who called Earth Day an opportunity for “a wake-up call.”

See also:

Recycling takes a hit in California as plastic waste piles up

San Francisco Chronicle

The coronavirus pandemic has set back efforts to combat plastic pollution, as environmentally conscious Bay Area residents are forced to abandon their good habits while efforts on the state level to reduce waste face an uncertain future.

Opinion: No, Coronavirus Is Not a Climate-Change Preview

National Review

The coronavirus pandemic has seduced policy analysts into drawing parallels between the current state of the world and a crisis they envision unfolding due to global warming. For Yale’s climate-change center, the Society of Environmental Journalists, and Vox, among others, this analogy has proven tempting.

How new technologies can combat climate change

Brookings Brief

“Change will be slower than advocates and scientists would like. But it will accelerate if the leaders most willing to act on climate change stop moralizing and start seeing deep decarbonization as a matter of industrial engineering.” David Victor and other researchers explain how a global push to adopt low-emission energy technologies could help save the planet.

How to reduce emissions as much as possible at the lowest cost

Brookings Brief

The 50th anniversary of Earth Day presents a unique opportunity to envision a future where dramatic reductions in pollution across the globe are the status quo. Melanie Gilarsky, Kriston McIntosh, and Jay Shambaugh highlight a new video explaining how existing emissions policies could be updated once a sufficiently high carbon price is in place.

Energy:

PG&E’s Bankruptcy plan strides toward approval in California

Business Journal

California regulators are being advised to approve Pacific Gas & Electric’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy with new controls designed to prevent a recurrence of the utility’s past bad behavior that has resulted in deadly wildfires, infuriating blackouts and high electricity rates.

Will investments in greener energy be yet another victim of the coronavirus?

Brookings Brief

Climate change is a long-term problem that requires long-term thinking. However, when facing an existential threat like a pandemic, governments and individuals are necessarily thinking about the short term.

Kern oil producers dodge worst of US price collapse

Bakersfield Californian

The unprecedented collapse in the nation’s benchmark oil price this week is not expected to hurt Kern petroleum producers, local observers say, though it does reflect difficult market conditions weighing heavily on the county’s economy and employment.

See also:

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Four more people have died of coronavirus as Tulare County tops region in cases, deaths

Fresno Bee

Twenty-two people have died of coronavirus-related illness in Tulare County, according to updated statistics released by the county Health and Human Services Agency on Tuesday.  Four new deaths were reported since Monday’s update.

See also:

Visalia nursing home reports 5 additional deaths; 164 test positive for virus

abc30

Five more people at the Redwood Springs Health Center in Visalia have died from COVID-19 complications, officials reported Tuesday. In total, 15 people at the center have died from the virus.

See also:

COVID-19 deaths in NorCal were earliest in U.S., new test shows

abc30

The first coronavirus deaths in the United States happened at least three weeks earlier than first reported, according to new information from a Northern California coroner.

See also:

Officials urge mental health awareness during pandemic

Turlock Journal

While everyone works to maintain good physical health during the pandemic, experts say it’s also important to pay attention to mental health.

Here’s what scientists still wish they knew about the coronavirus

Los Angeles Times

With some states getting ready to lift their stay-at-home orders and relax their social distancing measures, it may seem that health officials have the coronavirus outbreak under control.

To slow spread of coronavirus, counties to start enforcing face mask requirements

San Francisco Chronicle

Counties across the Bay Area will begin enforcing mandates to wear face coverings in some public settings Wednesday, following health orders handed down last week intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Where are the strokes and the heart attacks?’ Doctors worry as patients avoid ERs

Los Angeles Times

Before the coronavirus hit, tens of thousands of people across the state sought emergency help each day. But in the weeks since the virus began its spread throughout the U.S., those numbers have plummeted by a third to a half.

See also

CDC director warns second wave of coronavirus is likely to be even more devastating

Washington Post

Even as states move ahead with plans to reopen their economies, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Tuesday that a second wave of the novel coronavirus will be far more dire because it is likely to coincide with the start of flu season.

See also:

California sets guidelines on which patients are prioritized if hospitals overwhelmed by coronavirus

New York Times

A 38-page document by the California Department of Public Health prescribes a method to prioritize patients in the event that an outbreak overwhelms hospitals, preserving intensive care beds and ventilators for people with the greatest likelihood of surviving.

After The ICU, Many COVID-19 Survivors Face A Long Recovery

NPR

On April 8, David Williams got a standing ovation as he was wheeled out of the John L. McClellan Memorial Veteran’s Hospital in Little Rock, Ark. Williams, 54, a Marine Corps veteran, had survived eight perilous days on a ventilator with COVID-19, and the hospital staff had lined up to give him a joyous, fist-bumping send-off.

Human Services:

California recommends virus tests for some with no symptoms

Fresno Bee

California public health officials say local authorities should test people for the coronavirus in “high risk settings” even if they don’t have symptoms, a change aimed at health care workers, prisoners and the homeless.

See also:

Kaweah Delta responds to mask reuse claims made by certified nursing assistant

abc30

Over the weekend, a certified nursing assistant at Kaweah Delta Medical Center told Action News they were being forced to wear the same surgical mask for several weeks.

See also:

Half of pending tests in California are in Kern County, according to official health data

KGET

The number of pending tests continues to rise in Kern County at an alarming rate. Half of all the pending tests in California are from Kern County, according to data from local and state health departments.

See also:

Steps taken at state, local levels to protect foster youth

Turlock Journal

The coronavirus pandemic has affected families of all kinds, but some of the state’s most vulnerable children have been impacted in unique ways.

Here’s what scientists still wish they knew about the coronavirus

Los Angeles Times

With some states getting ready to lift their stay-at-home orders and relax their social distancing measures, it may seem that health officials have the coronavirus outbreak under control.

What my coronavirus drive-through test looked like

Los Angeles Times

Last week, staff photographer Jay L. Clendenin was not feeling well. He had headaches that wouldn’t go away and a cough. So he booked an appointment at a drive-through facility to get tested for the coronavirus infection. Here is what that process looked like.

See also:

California sets guidelines on which patients are prioritized if hospitals overwhelmed by coronavirus

Los Angeles Times

California has made progress in protecting the healthcare system from a dramatic spike of sick patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Predicting a pandemic’s path: What models can and can’t do

CalMatters

Every day, while we’re all stuck at home, politicians and health officials and news anchors point to graphics showing the latest statistics on the coronavirus pandemic to indicate what might happen next, in your region and around the world.

NIH Panel Recommends Against Drug Combination Promoted By Trump For COVID-19

NPR

A panel of experts convened by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases recommends against doctors using a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for the treatment of COVID-19 patients because of potential toxicities.

See also:

IMMIGRATION

Trump to limit immigration for 60 days due to coronavirus, may extend

Fresno Bee

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Wednesday temporarily halting immigration to the United States, with the exception of farm workers and the immediate family members of American citizens.

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More than a million Americans won’t get stimulus money because they married immigrants

Sacramento Bee

More than one million Americans won’t get a coronavirus stimulus check because they’re married to immigrants who don’t have Social Security numbers, media outlets reported.

Fresno BHC DACA Scholarship Fund / Fondo de Becas para DACA

Fresno BHC

Thanks to the generosity of private donors, Fresno Building Healthy Communities (Fresno BHC) is offering scholarships to pay for your DACA renewal application fee if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Class-action lawsuit filed by Mesa Verde detainees for release

Bakersfield Californian

Immigrants detained at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield and the Yuba County Jail have filed a class action lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and GEO Group Inc., demanding the release of the more than 400 individuals held in the two facilities.

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ACLU sues for ‘drastic reduction’ of immigrant detainees along California border due to coronavirus

Los Angeles Times

The American Civil Liberties Union is asking a federal judge to order the release of immigrant detainees from two California border facilities amid the coronavirus crisis.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Some Valley renters face financial collapse. Can emergency rent assistance prevent it?

Fresno Bee

Anxiety is growing for many tenants who may lose their homes after unpaid rent bills accumulate and the eviction protections lift in a few months.

Commentary: An adequate supply of affordable housing is necessary in California

CalMatters

For NIMBY groups wanting to stop legislation that would address California’s housing supply and affordability crisis, COVID-19 is sadly being used as a justification to preserve the status quo.

PUBLIC FINANCES

Can’t get through to IRS to ask about coronavirus stimulus? Here’s what to do

Fresno Bee

The simple answer to getting answers: Contact a tax professional. Contact your local congressman or senator. Access the Internal Revenue Service website. And most important, “you just have to be patient.”

California could protect stimulus checks from debt collectors. Will Newsom act?

CalMatters

Californians with consumer debt could see their stimulus checks garnished by collectors. Advocates want the state to act but they’re still waiting for a response.

Governors halt raises, freeze state workers’ pay outside California as recession takes hold

Sacramento Bee

Elected leaders in states outside California are starting to halt raises, reduce salaries and furlough state workers to cut spending as the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak eats into their budgets.

Cal City lays off staff to reduce costs

AVPress

Already faced with a fiscal crisis prior to the COVID-19, California City is taking drastic measures to get its financial house in order, including laying off 24 employees. The layoffs, announced during the April 14 City Council meeting, will save the city nearly $1.5 million, City Manager Anna Linn said.

TRANSPORTATION

Feds sending $32M to help Fresno, Merced area airports affected by coronavirus pandemic

Fresno Bee

Airports in Merced, Fresno and other San Joaquin Valley communities are getting a small $32 million slice of the $2.2 trillion pie that Congress passed in March as part of its coronavirus relief legislation

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Report details plan to greatly increase passenger trains from Modesto to Sacramento

Modesto Bee

Modesto-area residents yearning for better passenger rail to Sacramento might want to look at a just-released document.

California bullet train officials reveal ethics probe and OK plan for L.A. Union Station

Los Angeles Times

A California bullet train consultant facing allegations that it retaliated against employees for bringing forth negative information has hired a law firm to investigate the matter.

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Coronavirus shutdown means fewer crashes, UC Davis study finds. But super-speeders on uptick

Sacramento Bee

The state’s stay-at-home order is having some “unintended impacts” on the state’s roads and highways, an updated study from UC Davis Road Ecology Center found

WATER

State of California COVID-19 Water Shutoff Report

California Water Boards

Please use this form to report any water shutoff or reconnect issue. If you are an individual looking for an avenue to donate a smaller amount of resources, please consider donating to your local community COVID-19 response efforts.

Water Availability for San Joaquin Valley Farms: A Balancing Act

PPIC

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, work continues on managing groundwater for long-term sustainability, as required by California’s landmark Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). In January, water users in 21 critically overdrafted basins delivered their groundwater sustainability plans to the state Department of Water Resources.

Allocating Floodwaters to Replenish Groundwater Basins

PPIC

Water users have two options for bringing overdrafted groundwater basins into balance: reduce pumping or increase groundwater supplies. In many places, recharging basins with floodwaters from winter and spring storms is one of the most promising supply-side approaches.

“Xtra”

Want to volunteer? Here’s a new California website that can show you how

Fresno Bee

Healthy Californians looking to make a difference have a new platform with which to do so, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced at his Tuesday coronavirus press conference.

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Playing through the pandemic, Fresno musician connecting with Zoom, sidewalk serenades

Fresno Bee

Patrick Contreras has always been about the hustle. It’s a side effect of being from Fresno and performing as a pop-rock violinist well before YouTube made pop-rock violinists a thing.

Take a virtual walk through the SCICON Wildflower Festival

abc30

South Valley families usually looking forward to the annual SCICON Barbecue and Wildflower Festival missed out this year due to COVID-19, but a virtual walk through the flowers is available instead.

Play On: A Conversation With Rei Hotoda & The Fresno Philharmonic

VPR

Join Valley Public Radio for a special broadcast Thursday April 23 at 8:00 p.m. featuring words and music with Fresno Philharmonic Music Director Rei Hotoda and Valley Public Radio’s David Aus.

Coronavirus and concerts: Suit claims Ticketmaster reneged on promised refunds when shows were postponed

San Francisco Chronicle

A Bay Area rock fan who plunked down nearly $600 in February for tickets to see Rage Against the Machine in Oakland this week is suing Ticketmaster for a policy shift that withholds refunds

to him and others whose entertainment plans have been put on hold by the coronavirus.

A coronavirus side effect: lots of lawsuits

Los Angeles Times

Carnival Corp. is facing lawsuits from several passengers who claim they weren’t warned of the high risk of being infected with the novel coronavirus on the company’s cruise ships.

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Commentary: We must stand together to stop hateful acts against Asian Americans during COVID-19 pandemic

CalMatters

For many Asian Americans, the COVID-19 pandemic has become very personal, due to feelings of anger and fear. They have experienced verbal and physical attacks, and harassment because the coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China.

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The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.

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