Maddy Institute – April 23, 2020

23Apr

POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

Merced looking at vouchers, loans and other options to help city rebound from coronavirus

Merced Sun-Star

While the coronavirus pandemic has restricted business, raised unemployment and wreaked havoc on the economy, the City of Merced is looking toward revitalizing its future with a local COVID-19 recovery program.

Golfers get the OK from health officer in Stanislaus County. Guns and arrows, too.

Modesto Bee

An amended health order released Wednesday allows people to get out and enjoy a few outdoor sports facilities, including golf courses in Stanislaus County.

Stanislaus County eyeing drive-in church services

Modesto Bee

Several religious organizations contacted Tuesday didn’t see that as a viable option, however, most agreeing that online services are working well at this point.

Central SJ Valley:

Fresno will get state help to increase COVID-19 testing. County will host town hall

Fresno Bee

Fresno has been selected as one of the locations for new state COVID-19 test sites. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday new contracts with companies Verily and OptumServe to open 86 new testing sites in “testing deserts” in rural, African American and Latino communities.

Fresno’s State of the City event will go to television

Business Journal

In an ad seeking sponsorships by the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, it was announced that the event will be done by means of a special, pre-recorded television broadcast, which will air on the week of June 29.

Fresno city leaders form reopening task force

abc30

The City of Fresno formed a new task force to plan on how to restart the local economy safely. Mayor Lee Brand assembled an advisory committee made up of city council members, business leaders, school officials and the county’s director of public health.

Hanford already feels fiscal impact of COVID-19

Hanford Sentinel

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are being felt across all sectors and industries, including local cities and counties.

South SJ Valley:

Owners of largest testing site in Kern say stay-at-home orders are detrimental, county should open immediately

KGET 17

“Are you in asymptomatic viral shedder? Maybe. But we can’t test all of humanity,” Erickson said. “The major events like sporting events, these are nonessential. Let’s get back to those slowly. Let’s start with schools.”

● Local doctors recommend lifting shelter-in-place order 23ABC

Leticia Perez announces local COVID-19 testing center for underserved communities

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County Board of Supervisors chair Leticia Perez announced a free COVID-19 testing center at the Richard Prado Senior Center in east Bakersfield.

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.

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

● Oil Tankers Surround California With Nowhere to Unload Bloomberg

● Oil Rebounds After Trump Signals Fresh Iran Tensions Wall Street Journal

● Why The World Is Still Pumping So Much Oil Even As Demand Drops Away VPR

● Opinion: Oil Crash Comes Without Silver Lining Wall Street Journal

State:

California’s Quick Response to COVID-19 Likely Saved Lives

Public Policy Institute of California

Because the coronavirus spreads exponentially, days matter. And early actions before the statewide shelter-in-place order may have proved especially effective in reducing transmission.

Newsom: California Needs To Ramp Up Testing Before Relaxing Stay-At-Home Order

Capital Public Radio

California needs to increase daily coronavirus testing by at least four-fold in order to start lifting stay-at-home orders and re-opening the state’s economy, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.

● Newsom says California shutdown must continue, but surge in testing will help Los Angeles Times

● Too soon to start reopening California economy, Gavin Newsom says, but surgeries can resume Sacramento Bee

● Gov. Newsom says California hospitals can begin scheduling essential surgeries after halt due to coronavirus San Francisco Chronicle

● Skelton: Give Newsom credit. He’s trying it all to fight virus and state’s economic collapseLos Angeles Times

● ‘There’s no date.’ Here’s where California stands on reopening from the coronavirus emergency Sacramento Bee

● Some sections of California are pushing to lift stay-at-home rules before others Los Angeles Times

● Newsom Coronavirus Briefing Goes Deep On Testing; Calif. ‘Not Prepared’ to Open Up YetKQED

● State workers could be retrained to ‘test and trace’ coronavirus cases, Gavin Newsom saysFresno Bee

● Stay on Top of “Stay At Home” – A List of Statewide Orders, as of April 20, 2020 Littler

● States rushing to reopen are likely making a deadly error, coronavirus models and experts warn Washington Post

● EDITORIAL: Reopening California county by county will be a disaster San Francisco Chronicle

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

Politico

It was the appointment of Steyer that sparked concern among political insiders and corporate leaders, many of whom previously praised Newsom for his bipartisan approach in handling California’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

● California takes small step toward reopening amid outbreak Fresno Bee

● Where California expects to fight coronavirus this fall: High schools, fairgrounds and gymsFresno Bee

California is first state to recommend testing people with no coronavirus symptoms

Sacramento Bee

California is the first state to expand coronavirus testing to some people without symptoms, media outlets reported. The California Department of Public Health issued a guidance on testing on Sunday.

● CDC To Fund 650 Health Experts To Help States Trace, Stop COVID-19 VPR

● How coronavirus could test California’s commitment to privacy CalMatters

● Some States Want to Track Your Phone – If You’re OK With That Pew Trusts

● Singapore Built a Coronavirus App, but It Hasn’t Worked So Far Wall Street Journal

EDITORIAL: COVID-19 pandemic has exposed California’s secretive side. We now need more details

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly pledged during the COVID-19 pandemic to learn how to do things better as the state fights the disease. Keys on the checklist: sheltering, testing, treating, equipping. Here’s one Newsom should add to the tally: informing.

● Newsom executive orders test constitutional bounds — and legislative goodwill Politico

● Walters: COVID-19’s very unequal toll CalMatters

● Opinion: Coronavirus Mask Shortages: Government Purchase Guarantees Can Incentivize Production National Review

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

‘Second wave’ of virus could be far worse for California than the first, officials warn

Los Angeles Times

Even as California continues to bend the coronavirus curve, a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths as well as concerns about a second wave of the outbreak are reasons to stay vigilant, officials say.

● ‘There will be a coronavirus in the fall’: As mayors battle governors on reopening, experts warn of reviving outbreak Los Angeles Times

● With concern of a coronavirus second wave, testing and surveillance are “critical,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn says CBS

California Highway Patrol bans rallies due to coronavirus

Hanford Sentinel

The California Highway Patrol said Wednesday that it is temporarily banning rallies at the state Capitol and other state facilities because of the pandemic.

US judge denies bid to open California churches in pandemic

Hanford Sentinel

A federal judge on Wednesday said he will deny a bid by three Southern California churches to hold in-person church services during the pandemic, saying that government’s emergency powers trump what in normal times would be fundamental constitutional rights.

Federal:

Trump signs immigration order sharply different from what he said he planned

Los Angeles Times

President Trump on Wednesday signed a proclamation on immigration that will restrict some people from entering the country over the next 60 days, but does not shut off applications for permanent residence as he had publicly declared just one day earlier.

● Trump signs order pausing immigration for 60 days, with exceptions Washington Post

● Opinion: What Happened to Dealing with Illegal Immigration? National Review

Vaccine Chief Says He Was Removed After Questioning Drug Trump Promoted

New York Times

The doctor who led the federal agency involved in developing a coronavirus vaccine said on Wednesday that he was removed from his post after he pressed for rigorous vetting of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug embraced by President Trump as a coronavirus treatment, and that the administration has put “politics and cronyism ahead of science.”

● Federal Scientist Says He Was Removed For Resisting Unproven Coronavirus Treatments VPR

Trump cheers America’s production of ventilators, sending them to other countries hit hard by coronavirus

Fox News

President Trump on Wednesday cheered the United States for its production of ventilators during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and said the U.S. is now assisting other countries that have shortages.

House Set to Approve $484 Billion Bill to Aid Small Businesses, Hospitals

Wall Street Journal

House lawmakers, returning to the Capitol in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, were set to don masks and keep their distance from colleagues Thursday as they prepared to approve the next infusion of aid for small businesses and hospitals grappling with the outbreak’s toll.

● Time to hit ‘pause’ button on additional congressional, US spending: Sen. John Barrasso Fox News

● Battered states, cities struggling to pay bills as Congress puts off bailout Politico

● Congress isn’t going to overhaul the small business loan program to block publicly traded companies from getting loans CNN

● Lawmakers Agree to New Funding for Paycheck Protection Act Program Littler

● The Phase Three-and-a-Half Bill National Review

● Hiltzik: Despite rising pandemic costs, Republicans are already talking about cutting off aidLos Angeles Times

● Opinion: Mitch McConnell would rather let states declare bankruptcy than receive more federal aid CBS

● Opinion: Principles for the coming federal education bailout The Hill

80% of Americans say stay-at-home orders are worth it, polls show

abc30

A majority of Americans agree with stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic, even as small pockets of attention-grabbing protests demanding the lifting of such restrictions emerge nationwide.

● Most Americans support extending coronavirus stay-at-home orders, poll finds Fox News

Census Bureau to launch coronavirus survey

Roll Call

The Census Bureau will track changes among small businesses and the American public due to the coronavirus pandemic in a pair of surveys the agency announced late Tuesday.

Obama: Still no ‘coherent national’ coronavirus plan in US

The Hill

Former President Obama on Wednesday called out the Trump administration’s failure to form a “coherent national plan” as it navigates the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

● The Cold Calculations Governors Will Have to Make Before Reopening New York Times

● Opinion: We need to reopen society — but not all at once, and not in ALL CAPS Washington Examiner

EDITORIAL: It’s America’s coronavirus now

San Francisco Chronicle

With more than 800,000 confirmed cases and 40,000 deaths, far more than any other country, the United States has become the global ground zero of the pandemic.

See also:

● Q&A With a Trump Economic Adviser New York Times

● Frontline: Coronavirus Pandemic PBS

● The American dream is not dead, just under lockdown AEI

● Column: The coronavirus pandemic has made one thing perfectly clear: It’s time to split the country Los Angeles Times

Democrats scrap plans to vote on historic rule change to allow remote voting

Los Angeles Times

Amid deep opposition from Republicans, House Democratic leaders on Wednesday scrapped plans to vote this week on a historic change to congressional rules that would have allowed lawmakers to vote remotely during 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.

● Coronavirus (COVID-19) CDC

● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic – WHO

● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University

● Tracking coronavirus in California Los Angeles Times

● Coronavirus Tracker San Francisco Chronicle

● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count New York Times

● How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico

● Coronavirus Daily NPR

● Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Financial Times

● Coronavirus in California by the numbers CalMatters

Elections 2020:

On Earth Day, Al Gore endorses Joe Biden and calls Trump the ‘anti-climate president’

Los Angeles Times

Former Vice President Al Gore, now one of the world’s leading climate activists, endorsed Joe Biden’s White House bid on Wednesday, declaring that choosing the presumptive Democratic nominee over President Trump is “not rocket science” and “not a close call.”

● Sen. Kamala Harris: “I’d be honored to serve” if asked to be Vice President SiriusXM

● ‘A reckless choice’: Black, progressive activists warn Biden against picking Klobuchar as VPMcClatchy DC

How Will Chief Justice & Supreme Ct Conservative Majority Affect 2020 Election?

Capital Public Radio

In Wisconsin, the conservative justices forced thousands to choose between their health and the right to vote. Is this a harbinger of things to come?

Opposition To Trump Likely To Motivate Young Voters, Poll Shows

NPR

More than a quarter of the country’s 18- to 29-year-olds say that their lives are worse because of President Trump, according to a new poll, the latest to show the motivating impact the president could have on the youngest subset of voters this election year.

● Opinion: Trump’s Best Re-Election Bet: Run Against China Wall Street Journal

Other:

Fake News Can Be Deadly. Here’s How To Spot It

Capital Public Radio

You’ve probably come across a piece of bad information online, and you might not even know it.

● Opinion: Fox’s Fake News Contagion New York Times

● Opinion: From Fox News, a big dose of dumb on hydroxychloroquine Washington Post

Opinion: The Price of Political Panic

Wall Street Journal

This column has noted that while the response to the virus involves World War II levels of spending, the virus has fortunately come nowhere close to inflicting World War II levels of mortality.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Foster Farms employee in Fresno has coronavirus, company confirms

Fresno Bee

An employee at a Foster Farms plant in Fresno tested positive for the coronavirus, corporate representatives confirmed on Wednesday, after employees had voiced concerns over their safety.

● We’re inching closer to a meat shortage. Prices are getting weird Los Angeles Times

● Pork plant’s closure will cause ‘significant ramifications’ to supplies, Tyson says Sacramento Bee

Stanislaus nut producers donate to COVID-19 front lines. Distillery helps another way

Modesto Bee

Stewart & Jasper Orchards, based near Newman, is giving about 2,000 pounds of roasted snack almonds to police, fire, ambulance and hospital workers. The workers also can find them at company stores in Modesto, Patterson or Newman.

Hundreds of Food Boxes Distributed at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino

Sierra News

More than 440 boxes of food were distributed Wednesday afternoon to eastern Madera County residents.

Growers resist cuts to guest worker wages

Visalia Times Delta

Unions and other worker advocates also worry that reducing farmworkers’ wages would cause hardships for people already living on the edge of poverty, and may end up lowering the pay of domestic farmworkers, too.

Tulare City Council greenlights recreational weed sales

Visalia Times Delta

Tulareans soon won’t have to go far for recreational marijuana. Tulare City Council approved a finalized ordinance permitting recreational cannabis sales inside city limits.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Business booming for bail bondsmen after ‘zero dollar bail’ introduced

abc30

Many bail bondsmen thought the emergency order that allows some inmates to get out of jail free would cripple their business. But it’s had the opposite effect.

Downtown business owners: Vandalism, crime has increased during shutdown

Bakersfield Californian

A number of downtown Bakersfield business owners believe vandalism and burglaries have increased since many have shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Confusion Hampers Coronavirus-Driven Inmate Releases

Wall Street Journal

The Justice Department said Wednesday that federal prison officials could consider inmates for early release even if they haven’t yet served half of their sentences, clarifying a shifting policy that has sown confusion across the nation’s prisons and courts in recent days.

‘We do not want another Gabriel Fernandez’: Coronavirus leads to ‘alarming’ drop in child abuse reports

Los Angeles Times

On a typical day, up to 1,000 calls and reports of suspected child abuse and neglect flood into the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Department of Children and Family Services.

Public Safety:

Clovis Police Begin New Drone Program

Clovis Roundup

The department is about to begin a 90-day pilot program that will deploy a “first responder drone” to respond to emergency calls. Clovis will be only one of three cities in the nation to have implemented the program.

Greg Terry continues ‘life’s work’ as Bakersfield’s new police chief

Bakersfield Californian

The new chief’s vision for the department includes three components: identifying and solving problems that impact the community; utilizing partnerships within Bakersfield; and ensuring BPD hires the correct individuals to fit the department’s vision and direction.

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.

Opinion: New Insights on Gun Policy in America

RAND

New Research Provides Stronger Evidence for the Effects of Stand-Your-Ground Laws and Waiting Periods. Evidence Gaps Persist for Many Types of Gun Laws. Gun Ownership Rates Have Been Declining over the Last Three Decades

Fire:

PG&E chief to retire as California utility nears end of its bankruptcy case

Sacramento Bee

Bill Johnson, who became the face of PG&E Corp. as the troubled utility navigated through bankruptcy, will retire as chief executive June 30, the state’s deadline for the utility to secure approval of its Chapter 11 reorganization plan.

ECONOMY/JOBS

Economy:

Open or wait? Local businesses anxious for answers

Bakersfield Californian

As job losses mount along with fears that many businesses won’t survive the pandemic, some Bakersfield entrepreneurs say the time is coming to lift California’s stay-at-home order for the sake of business.

● California Announces $30 Million Grant Program To Promote Marijuana Industry Social Equity Marijuana Movement

● Small Business Rescue Earned Banks $10 Billion In Fees VPR

● Opinion: PPP Loan Forgiveness Needs Limits Wall Street Journal

California Restaurants Could Reopen for Dine-In Service in Weeks

Eater

There’s no firm timetable, but governor Gavin Newsom believes that the state’s increase in testing and tracing, plus other factors, could lead to an imminent reopening.

● Food critic Tom Sietsema on what we lose when restaurants close Washington Post

Opinion: Only You Can Reopen the Economy

New York Magazine

Governors can permit the economy to reopen, but only the people can reopen the economy. Commerce will only happen if people agree to engage in it, and they will continue to engage in much less of it as usual so long as they feel it is not safe to go out in public.

● Opinion: Here are the innovations we need to reopen the economy Washington Post

Legal battles loom as businesses hit by virus sue insurers

Bakersfield Californian

Insurers say policies for natural or man-made disasters don’t cover virus outbreaks that bring economies to a standstill, and high-stakes battles in courtrooms coast to coast are sure to follow.

Jobs:

26 million have sought US jobless aid since virus hit

Fresno Bee

More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week as job cuts escalated across an economy that remains all but shut down, the government said Thursday.

● 4.4M more Americans applied for unemployment last week abc30

● 4.4. million more people sought jobless aid last week; 26 million since coronavirus hit Los Angeles Times

● 4.4 million Americans sought jobless benefits last week, as economic pain continued across the United States Washington Post

● Deluge Continues: 26 Million Jobs Lost In Just 5 Weeks VPR

● The U.S. economy has wiped out all the job gains since the Great Recession NBC

● Paid Time Off, COVID-19, and Policy Gaps: Providing California Workers With Quality Paid Leave California Budget & Policy Center

● EDITORIAL: Paying Americans Not to Work Wall Street Journal

How can you safely go back to work during a pandemic? Here’s one proposal in Congress

Fresno Bee

Democrats in the United States House and Senate want new worker protections during the coronavirus pandemic.

● COVID-19 Safety Standards for Food Sector Workers: Cal/OSHA and Governor Newsom Weigh In Littler

Target, Amazon workers plan sickouts to push for safety

Visalia Times Delta

Amazon and Target workers, on the front lines of COVID-19, are leading nationwide efforts to draw attention to the health risks they face delivering groceries and other critical supplies to Americans. Their approach? Planned sickouts.

Fox Imposes Temporary Executive Pay Cuts Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Deadline

Fox Corp. is the latest major media company to implement cost-cutting measures to mitigate the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic by temporarily cutting pay cuts for executives at the VP and above.

Calif’s largest workers’ comp insurer just made it easier to file COVID-19 claims

Los Angeles Times

Late last week, California’s largest workers’ compensation insurer lifted a requirement that essential workers afflicted by COVID-19 prove they contracted the virus on the job.

● DOL Clarifies That Gig Workers Can Qualify for COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits When Their Work Dries Up Littler

Construction Workers Are Grateful for Jobs but Fearful for Their Health

Wall Street Journal

The construction industry is at the heart of the debate over how to safeguard public health while also preventing the economy from grinding to a halt. Builders contend with a patchwork of state and local rules for working during the pandemic, and governments are constantly re-evaluating their restrictions.

EDUCATION

K-12:

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education

Public Policy Institute of California

An overwhelming majority of parents approve of school districts’ handling of closures and Governor Newsom’s handling of K–12 education.

Clovis students may return to classrooms by mid-May; board won’t ‘throw in towel’

Fresno Bee

Clovis Unified’s 43,000 students may return to campus in May, the school board voted late Wednesday. Board President Chris Casado said trustees were not ready “to throw in the towel” or “write off the whole school year as some districts have done.”

● Clovis Unified produces new wellness videos for parents, students abc30

Fresno Unified distributing tablets, laptops to its students

abc30

Fresno Unified continues to help families amid COVID-19. The school district handed out electronic devices on Wednesday to help students while they continue their education from home.

Free child care at Modesto school comes to rescue of front-line health, safety workers

Modesto Bee

As one of the workers on the front lines during this novel coronavirus pandemic, Stephanie Bowers was in a jam when the Stanislaus Union School District closed its campuses March 19.

Community left with questions after Deasy’s abrupt resignation

Stockton Record

Many were scratching their heads Wednesday following the abrupt and shocking resignation of Stockton Unified School District’s superintendent.

In rural California, children face isolation and hunger from school closures

Los Angeles Times

With schools closed because of the coronavirus, educators in vast stretches of rural California are struggling not only to teach their students but to reach them.

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

RAND
Social distancing practices in schools will be more complex than just placing desks six feet apart. Currently, there is neither good guidance nor much evidence about the effectiveness of particular school practices.

EDITORIAL: Longtime Modesto schools chief remembered for intellect, unwavering dedication to kids

Modesto Bee

James Enochs was a man of conviction who had the smarts — and did the work — to back up what he believed. That’s one way those who knew him remembered the Stanislaus County educator whose career spanned 50 years, including 21 as superintendent of Modesto City Schools.

Higher Ed:

Some Fresno-area college students will get cash from their schools during pandemic

Fresno Bee

Some Fresno-area students may be getting some emergency cash relief from their colleges soon, as federal money from the CARES Act, signed into law in March, reaches local colleges.

Trump Admin Bars Most International Students From Receiving Coronavirus College Relief

Time

The Trump administration is barring most international students and all students who entered the U.S. illegally from receiving emergency college grants approved by Congress as part of a $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package.

UC experts offer new ammunition against the SAT and ACT as an admissions requirement

Los Angeles Times

Three University of California admissions experts slammed a faculty recommendation to keep the SAT and ACT for at least five years, giving ammunition to critics of the controversial exams who want to drop them as an admissions requirement.

Private colleges brace for downturn amid pandemic fallout

CalMatters

It costs a lot to keep a university running, and students aren’t sure if they want to pay full tuition for classes taught remotely. That combination could prove the undoing of some private colleges.

Students’ Summer-Internship Plans Evaporate Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Wall Street Journal

While college seniors from the class of 2020 now face graduating into a recession in May, students with more time left in school are adjusting their career plans as internships crucial to their future professional development disappear.

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

Environment:

California poppy bloom tempts visitors to break coronavirus stay-at-home order

Los Angeles Times

The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t thwarted Mother Nature’s springtime show in the Antelope Valley, where rolling hillsides are blanketed in a fiery orange hue from a recent poppy bloom.

Opinion: On Earth Day, California must remember how coronavirus and climate change are related

Sacramento Bee

In the darkness of this collective moment, there have been some unexpected silver linings. As we stay home, our environment is experiencing some rejuvenation.

● Coronavirus a chance to choose new path, says climate activist Greta Thunberg Reuters

● Making like a tree and leaving pollution behind Business Journal

● Opinion: Celebrating Earth Day and the power of conservation partnerships CalMatters

● EDITORIAL: Happy 50th birthday, Earth Day Los Angeles Times

Energy:

Kern oil producers dodge worst of US price collapse

Bakersfield Californian

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

● Oil Tankers Surround California With Nowhere to Unload Bloomberg

● Oil Rebounds After Trump Signals Fresh Iran Tensions Wall Street Journal

● Why The World Is Still Pumping So Much Oil Even As Demand Drops Away VPR

● Opinion: Oil Crash Comes Without Silver Lining Wall Street Journal

Clean energy can be a ‘huge job creator’ as economy recovers, Tom Steyer says

Los Angeles Times

The Times talked with Steyer on Tuesday about how ambitious clean energy programs might help California and the nation recover from the damage wrought by the coronavirus crisis. The following conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

A Fresno family got coronavirus. Advocates say language accessibility could’ve prevented it

Fresno Bee

Government agencies and interpreters have rushed to make sure information about COVID-19 is available in various languages — but some hospital patients are falling through the cracks, according to at least one Fresno-area advocacy group.

Stanislaus reports fifth death from coronavirus – and warns fight is far from done

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County on Wednesday reported its fifth death from the coronavirus, a woman with “underlying medical conditions.”

25 dead, 441 cases, more than half from nursing homes

Visalia Times Delta

Three more Tulare County seniors died overnight as a result of COVID-19, bringing the county’s virus death total to 25 people.

● Coronavirus cases slow but deaths continue to rise in Tulare County Fresno Bee

● Coronavirus updates: Tulare County now has 25 deaths; Fresno gets funding for tests, PPE

● Tulare County demands action after coronavirus outbreak kills 15 at one nursing home Los Angeles Times

● Nursing homes linked to up to half of coronavirus deaths in Europe, WHO says Washington Post

Two Bakersfield doctors cite their testing data to urge reopening

Bakersfield Californian

Their message: COVID-19 is more ubiquitous and less deadly than we think. It’s similar to influenza and we should therefore reopen society and stop treating the situation like the lethal menace it was initially thought to be.

New virus timeline: California had 2 deaths weeks earlier

Bakersfield Californian

Two people with the coronavirus died in California as much as three weeks before the U.S. reported its first death from the disease in late February — a gap that a top health official said Wednesday may have led to delays in issuing stay-at-home orders in the nation’s most populous state.

● Earliest U.S. Coronavirus Death Occurred In California In February Capital Public Radio

● Coronavirus killed in California earlier than known. Newsom wants to re-examine more deaths Sacramento Bee

● A healthy woman suddenly died. She was the first known coronavirus fatality in the U.S. Los Angeles Times

● Trump Didn’t See It Coming: Coronavirus Deaths Increased Tenfold This Month NPR

● Hidden Outbreaks Spread Through U.S. Cities Far Earlier Than Americans Knew, Estimates Say New York Times

● A Coronavirus Death in Early February Was ‘Probably the Tip of an Iceberg’ New York Times

● Coronavirus outbreak at California homeless shelter leads to 105 infections, CDC saysSacramento Bee

In sickest COVID-19 patients, underlying conditions are common, large study finds

NBC News

High blood pressure, obesity and diabetes are risk factors for severe cases.

● A mysterious blood-clotting complication is killing coronavirus patients Washington Post

Answering Your Coronavirus Questions: How The Virus Spreads, Disinfecting Your Home

NPR

On this broadcast of The National Conversation, a doctor on the front line addresses some of your common questions. We’ll also take a look at how to best disinfect your home and food.

● Swabs and reagents: The coronavirus test materials everyone is talking about PolitiFact

● COVID-19 vaccine development raises numerous questions Roll Call

● Opinion: A Coronavirus Vaccine: Faster, Please New York Times

● Opinion: How We’ll Live With Coronavirus Wall Street Journal

● Opinion: Beating Covid-19 Will Take Coordination, Experimentation, and Leadership The Nation

● Opinion: Science denial on the right hampers US response to COVID-19 PRI

Cloth Face Masks Could Get A Boost From A Nylon Stocking Layer, Study Finds : Goats and Soda

NPR

Researchers at Northeastern University have found that adding an outer layer made from nylon stockings to a homemade face covering can boost its ability to filter out small particles in the air by creating a tighter seal between the mask and the wearer’s face.

See also:

● Battles Over Masks Grow Desperate Capital & Main

● Opinion: The Real Reason to Wear a Mask The Atlantic

Vaccine rates drop as parents skip checkups

The Hill

Based on the data, the administration of measles, mumps and rubella shots dropped by 50 percent, diphtheria and whooping cough shots dropped by 42 percent and HPV vaccines dropped by 73 percent, the Times reports.

The pandemic may fuel the next wave of the opioid crisis

National Geographic

While COVID-19 has a disproportionate impact on various vulnerable populations, people with drug addictions are facing unique challenges in response to COVID-19.

Human Services:

Fresno VA center scaling up safety measures amid COVID-19 crisis

abc30

Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, veterans say the VA has implemented a series of new safety measures, starting with tents at the front door.

● ‘Game-changer’ rapid testing begins Visalia Times Delta

● Additional Cases, Clovis to Receive $440,000 in CARES Funding Clovis Roundup

Kaweah Delta launches COVID website

Business Journal

Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia has launched a new dashboard on its website to provide Tulare County with COVID-19 information, along with an up-to-date number of positive patients employees, specimen collections and more.

What Role Pharmacies Will Play in Coronavirus Testing

Wall Street Journal

As testing becomes one of the most hotly debated topics during the coronavirus crisis, here’s a look at what role pharmacists will play in diagnosing patients.

IMMIGRATION

Trump signs immigration order sharply different from what he said he planned

Los Angeles Times

● Trump signs order pausing immigration for 60 days, with exceptions Washington Post

● Opinion: What Happened to Dealing with Illegal Immigration? National Review

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.

US adds cameras at Mexico border despite drop in crossings

Hanford Sentinel

The Trump administration has been quietly adding military surveillance cameras at the U.S.-Mexico border in response to the coronavirus pandemic, though fewer people appear to be crossing illegally. It’s the latest move as operations at the U.S.-Mexico border have become increasingly militarized and secretive.

Fact check: House bill expands stimulus checks to some, not all, undocumented immigrants

USA Today

The Leave No Taxpayer Behind Act would amend the CARES Act by adding an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number as an acceptable credential to receive government benefits.

Coronavirus slashing money immigrants send home by 20%, creating second economic crisis

Los Angeles Times

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has wiped out service industry and construction jobs commonly held by immigrants, will sharply curtail immigrants ability to remit money, according to a report published Wednesday by the World Bank. Remittances will fall by 20%, from $554 billion in 2019 to an expected $445 billion this year, the report said.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Granite Park developer filed claim for damages in July. Fresno is offering him a new deal

Fresno Bee

The city of Fresno is weighing a new, more expensive deal related to Granite Park with a developer who has a shaky history with the city – and at least one councilmember is drawing attention to it.

California State Parks Foundation celebrates Earth Day introducing new grant funding for parks in need

Public CEO

In celebration of Earth Day, California State Parks Foundation teamed up with sponsors to introduce $75,000 in new grant funding for parks in need throughout the state.

Warszawski: Where does Fresno go to hike and party during coronavirus pandemic? This dead-end road

Fresno Bee

Picture living on a fairly remote dead-end street built alongside a sprawling reservoir with easy access to state park facilities and hiking trails. Sound peaceful and serene? Not to the residents of Sky Harbour Road near Millerton Lake, the unwitting hosts of Fresno’s biggest coronavirus party.

Commentary: Past pandemics changed the design of cities. Six ways COVID-19 could do the same

Los Angeles Times

Although pandemics have long been a tragic scourge on our cities, they’ve also forced architecture and city planning to evolve.

Housing:

California renters and landlords face a historic financial ‘reckoning’ from coronavirus

Fresno Bee

In just three months – April, May and June – California renters could be a whopping $2 billion in the hole on unpaid rent, dragging some landlords into greater debt as well as they risk losing their properties if they can’t make the mortgage.

‘Signs of Hope’: Local real estate agency looks to encourage community during pandemic

Visalia Times Delta

Hundreds of yard signs with messages such as “Visalia Strong,” “Better Together,” “Stronger Together” and “Hope” are starting to pop up across Visalia, as one local real estate agency looks to spread positive messages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The homeless may be a partial answer to hotel woes

Business Journal

As hotels in the Valley and across California continue to struggle to find revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic, the homeless population has been presented as one possible source of business courtesy of government funding.

Social Distancing Has Become Second Nature for Remote-Home Owners. “It’s The Biggest Luxury.”

Wall Street Journal

The coronavirus pandemic has spiked buyer interest in off-the-grid properties.

PUBLIC FINANCES

Social Security and Medicare funds at risk even before virus

Fresno Bee

The financial condition of the government’s two biggest benefit programs remains shaky, with Medicare expected to become insolvent in just six years, while Social Security will be unable to pay full benefits starting in 2035, the government said Wednesday.

Coronavirus Special Report: How counties around the nation are being decimated by COVID-19

Roll Call

Tonight, a look at the tug of war in Congress between lawmakers who want to vote remotely and those who insist the House reopen. Then, an examination of what is going on with oil and how the nation’s county coffers have been depleted by COVID-19.

Opinion: It’s time to take a hard look at tax reform for California’s future

CalMatters

The coronavirus pandemic is sending shockwaves through the global and national economy, and, without a doubt, reverberations from the pandemic will have a huge impact on state budgets across the country.

TRANSPORTATION

Tickets for speeding in excess of 100 mph surge 87%, CHP says

Los Angeles Times

With freeway traffic down significantly because of the statewide stay-at-home order, the California Highway Patrol said Wednesday there has been an alarming 87% increase in citations for speeding in excess of 100 mph.

● More drivers cited for speeding as traffic declines Hanford Sentinel

Amtrak relaxes its refund rules in the face of coronavirus

Los Angeles Times

Here’s good news if you have or make Amtrak reservations before May 31: If you decide to cancel your ticket and want a refund, you can get one. The only catch: You must call.

First draft environmental document to be released for Northern California high-speed project

Global Railway Review

CHSRA is to publish the first draft environmental document for the high-speed rail project in Northern California, set to connect San Jose to Merced County.

See also:

● High Speed Rail hearing planned today Antelope Valley Press

Opinion: Coronavirus shutdowns are making it undeniably clear how toxic our car culture is

Los Angeles Times

On the macro level, carbon emissions are likely dropping (we won’t know to what extent for months). But the localized effect on city air quality has been obvious, visible and profound.

WATER

Supreme Court hands environmentalists a win in water pollution case

The Hill

The Supreme Court on Thursday sided with environmentalists by giving a broad reading to the types of water-borne pollution covered by the Clean Water Act.

Opinion: California should not build Temperance Flat Reservoir. The federal government should

Fresno Bee

Temperance Flat is a $2.7 billion dollar project that would store 1.3 million acre-feet of new water, or enough to supply 13 million people for a year.

“Xtra”

Rotary Club of Fresno makes $10,000 donation for PPE

Business Journal

The organization donated $10,000 to the Community Medical Foundation for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPE will go directly to frontline hospital team members treating COVID-19 patients.