POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Stanislaus County to get $96 million in coronavirus relief. Now, how to spend it?
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County leaders are not sure yet how $96 million in federal coronavirus assistance can be spent. But they are certain to find a way as the county incurs expenses from its response to the health crisis.
See also:
● Coronavirus update: Stanislaus gets $96 million; park options increase Modesto Bee
● Modesto, Stanislaus County are reopening parks and playgrounds Modesto Bee
Stockton small businesses can now apply for grants from city
Stockton Record
Small businesses in Stockton impacted by the novel coronavirus can now apply to receive a $3,000 relief grant from the city.
Central SJ Valley:
Fresno City Council extends COVID-19 protections for renters, but will they cut checks?
Fresno Bee
The Fresno City Council voted 4-3 Thursday to secure $3 million to help families and small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic. They also voted unanimously to extend an eviction protection ordinance.
See also:
● Coronavirus updates: Fresno extends renters’ shield; workers’ comp changes worry ag industry Fresno Bee
Fresno expects $39M revenue dip through next fiscal year. Will there be layoffs?
Fresno Bee
The Fresno City Council on Thursday got what one member called a “doom and gloom” presentation of just how bad the city’s budget is likely to be hit by the coronavirus.
Southwest Fresno-specific health effort won’t get $1M support from city. Here’s why
Fresno Bee
Southwest Fresno advocates were dealt a blow Thursday just days after celebrating a victory over an embattled meat-rendering plant.
Poor air quality and job loss. Coronavirus a double-threat to Fresno area, groups say
Fresno Bee
Fresno-area environmental advocates say they fear efforts to lower pollution standards could harm Valley communities that already struggle with respiratory issues, and now, coronavirus-related financial trouble.
“Ovation for Frontline Workers” in Fresno set for May 1
abc30
Members of the Fresno City Council are inviting residents to applaud healthcare workers in unison to thank them for their work during the COVID-19 crisis.
This Committee Will Advise Fresno’s Mayor On Reopening The Economy
Business Journal
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand announced the formation of a Fresno Recovery Advisory Committee (FRC) to discuss practices to kick-start Fresno’s economy and to get people back to work while still remaining in parameters of public health and safety.
South SJ Valley:
County public health pressed on recommendation to reopen made by 2 local doctors
Bakersfield Californian
A Kern County Public Health Services official was peppered with questions Thursday about assertions made by two local doctors the day before that COVID-19 was no worse than influenza and stay-at-home orders should be lifted immediately.
See also:
● Kern Public Health responds to doctors who say county should reopen immediately KGET
Compared to other counties, Kern limits COVID-19 information
KGET
Kern County has more confirmed cases of COVID-19 than most counties in the state. KGET continues to search for more information about these cases but instead has found the Kern County Department of Public Health is releasing limited details about cases compared to other counties.
State:
California endures ‘deadliest day’ yet due to coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom says
CNBC
California reported 115 deaths due to Covid-19 over the past 24 hours, marking the “deadliest day” so far in the state’s fight to contain the coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday.“Yesterday was the deadliest day for this virus in this state. 115 human beings lost their lives, families torn apart,” he said. “It’s also a reminder we’re not out of the woods yet.”
See also:
● Watch: Gov. Gavin Newsom holds his daily coronavirus press conference Sacramento Bee
● Newsom urges caution in California this warm weekend, citing new coronavirus death record Los Angeles Times
California Gov. Newsom finds new friend in Washington: Trump
Fresno Bee
These times were strange enough. And then California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump started getting along.
See also:
● Trump campaign immediately uses Newsom ‘promise kept’ remark in surrogate video Politico
California cities: Virus could mean $6.7 billion in losses
Fresno Bee
California’s 482 cities say they will collectively lose $6.7 billion over the next two years because of the coronavirurs pandemic, prompting layoffs and furloughs for public workers and potential cuts to basic services like sanitation, public safety and housing.
See also:
● California cities expect to lose at least $7B due to coronavirus Politico
● California Mayors Coalition gathers momentum, launches website PublicCEO
● Will feds bail out CA? CalMatters
● Opinion: Bail Out the States? Wall Street Journal
Newsom throws financial lifelines to Californians during pandemic stay-at-home
CalMatters
Californians struggling with the dramatic financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic heard a little good news from their governor today: stimulus payments are safe from debt collectors, and payments on most private student loans can be postponed, without penalty, for the next 90 days.
See also:
● Debt Collectors Barred From Garnishing Californians’ Stimulus Payments Capital Public Radio
EDITORIAL: California nonprofits need their state money, not an ‘army of volunteers’
San Luis Obispo Tribune
Gov. Gavin Newsom has sounded the call for an “army of volunteers.” At a news briefing this week, he introduced a new website — californiansforall.ca.gov — that matches volunteers with community organizations in need of help during the coronavirus crisis.
How coronavirus could test California’s commitment to privacy
CalMatters
You’re racking your brain. It’s a few months from now and though the state has eased up on its shelter-in-place order, social distancing is still the norm. And you’ve been so careful. No parties, no travel, constant hand-washing.
Newsom executive orders test constitutional bounds — and legislative goodwill
Politico
As the California Legislature remains sidelined during the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom has been governing the nation’s most populous state essentially on his own, issuing an unprecedented number of executive orders.
CalMatters
COVID-19 has resulted in a near cessation of signature gathering for citizen initiatives this election cycle. Stay-at-home and social-distancing policies make the requirement for face-to-face signature gathering next to impossible. And while no sane person ever wished for the suffering wrought by COVID-19, the derailing of the initiative process is being celebrated as a small beneficial outcome of the crisis.
What would California reopen first from coronavirus lockdown? Here’s what we know
Sacramento Bee
Some California cities are calling on the state to reopen certain businesses from COVID-19 lockdown, media outlets reported. Mayors of nine cities in Stanislaus County sent Gov. Gavin Newsom a letter urging him to “pursue an aggressive strategy for reopening our county for business.
See also:
● California’s reopening is slowed by rising coronavirus cases and deaths Los Angeles Times
● Even harder than shutting down: How does Newsom reopen California? CalMatters
● Pastors say liquor stores are deemed ‘essential’ amid pandemic, but their work isn’t Fresno Bee
● Modesto church will hold drive-in services this weekend Modesto Bee
● Lodi church files suit over California’s ban on large gatherings due to coronavirus Sacramento Bee
● US judge denies bid to open California churches in pandemic Associated Press
‘We the people’ say ‘Open California’ and ‘Stay home’
Stockton Record
Protesters of all ages, many wearing masks, waving American flags and carrying signs demanding that government officials reopen California for business despite the COVID-19 pandemic during a “Reopen California Freedom Rally” on Thursday.
See also:
● California is beating coronavirus odds. Newsom must ignore protests, follow science Sacramento Bee
● Organizer of California stay-at-home protest could face criminal charges Los Angeles Times
● COVID-19 Tracking Poll: 75% of Californians Support Shelter in Place ‘As Long as Needed’ California Health Care Foundation
Suppliers cash in as California taxpayers hit with wildly inflated prices for masks
Bakersfield Californian
State agencies — and ultimately California taxpayers — are paying steep prices for coveted masks that protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus as suppliers and middlemen cash in on the global shortage of medical equipment.
Toilet paper runs and blood drives. Lawmakers on district duty while Newsom steals the show
Sacramento Bee
The Big Bear Lake Republican accused Gov. Gavin Newsom of violating emergency legislation rules by using some of the $1 billion the Legislature approved in mid-March not on coronavirus needs, but on “shoring up” social safety net programs.
COVID-19 Resources for California
CAFWD
As we face the impact of COVID-19 together, California Forward and our network of collective action remains committed to supporting our communities and an economic recovery that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient.
Federal:
Somber Congress delivers nearly $500B more in virus aid
Fresno Bee
President Donald Trump will be holding a signing ceremony Friday for a bill providing a nearly $500 billion infusion of coronavirus spending, rushing new relief to employers and hospitals buckling under the strain of a pandemic that has claimed almost 50,000 American lives and one in six U.S. jobs.
See also:
● House OKs $484B package for small businesses, sends bill to Trump Visalia Times Delta
● Congress Passes Latest Economic Relief Package to Confront Coronavirus Capital Public Radio
● Congress passes expanded small-business loan funding to address coronavirus shutdowns Los Angeles Times
● House passes $484 billion bill with money for small businesses, hospitals and testing to battle coronavirus Washington Post
● House Approves $484 Billion Bill to Aid Small Businesses, Hospitals Wall Street Journal
● Coronavirus aid bill OK’d for Trump’s signature Roll Call
● Trump signs coronavirus aid bill for small business, hospitals Roll Call
McConnell suggests states declare bankruptcy during pandemic. Is that even possible?
Fresno Bee
Forget federal aid, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has suggested states file for bankruptcy to combat an economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
See also:
● Opinion: States Are Being Crushed by the Coronavirus. Only This Can Help. New York Times
● Pelosi slams McConnell call for states to declare bankruptcy San Francisco Chronicle
● Newsom urges McConnell to retract ‘offensive’ comments telling governments to declare bankruptcy Politico
As lockdown protests erupt in US, uprisings in other countries have come to a halt
Fresno Bee
As people continue to protest coronavirus lockdown measures in the United States, civil uprisings have quieted in other countries. Governments around the world have restricted mass gatherings, and movements in Hong Kong, Delhi and Beirut have halted, according to The New York Times.
President Trump Says Distancing Guidelines May Need To Be Extended
Capital Public Radio
The White House’s pandemic task force spoke Thursday following more reports about record unemployment connected with the disaster.
See also:
● As some coronavirus closures lift in the U.S., studies suggest more and earlier infections Los Angeles Times
● 8 In 10 Americans Support COVID-19 Shutdown, Kaiser Health Poll Finds Capital Public Radio
● When Is It Safe to Go Back to Normal? States Weigh Benchmarks Wall Street Journal
● The Coronavirus Choice U.S. News
● False: “It is the decision of the President,” not governors, to “open up the states.” PolitiFact
● Sun Rays, Disinfectants And False Hopes: Misinformation Litters The Road To Reopening NPR
Trump says he disagrees with Fauci on testing capabilities
The Hill
President Trump said Thursday he disagreed with Anthony Fauci’s statement that the U.S. does not yet have the testing capacity that it needs to effectively contain the spread of the novel coronavirus as stay-at-home restrictions are relaxed.
See also:
● Trump’s Two Horrifying Plans for Dealing With the Coronavirus The Atlantic
Trump uses coronavirus crisis to push other policy priorities
Los Angeles Times
Even as the coronavirus crisis has brought most of the country to a screeching halt, President Trump has begun to turbocharge his administration’s efforts to slash business and other regulations, and to pursue other long-held policy goals, with consequences that are likely to outlive the pandemic.
See also:
● Trump administration considers leveraging emergency coronavirus loan to force Postal Service changes Washington Post
House creates coronavirus oversight panel while Capitol implements new precautions
Roll Call
Masked lawmakers descended on Washington on Thursday to deliberate and vote for the first time in nearly four weeks. When House members voted to create a new oversight body to monitor federal coronavirus expenditures, they did so in a Capitol transformed by public health measures in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Leading Republicans want to send China the bill for coronavirus pandemic’s costs
Washington Post
Leading Republicans are demanding that China be made to pay financially for what they allege was a coverup of the lethal coronavirus outbreak that ultimately brought the U.S. economy to a near halt, erasing more than 26 million American jobs and costing the federal government trillions of dollars in emergency spending.
See also:
● U.S. lags behind in global race for coronavirus supplies from China Los Angeles Times
● Chinese Agents Helped Spread Messages That Sowed Virus Panic in U.S., Officials Say New York Times
Coronavirus shakes the conceit of ‘American exceptionalism’
Fresno Bee
When the coronavirus pandemic came from distant lands to the United States, it was met with cascading failures and incompetencies by a system that exists to prepare, protect, prevent and cut citizens a check in a national crisis.
Too Many People Are Going Hungry Right Now. Harris, Gillibrand, and Sanders Are Offering a Lifeline.
Mother Jones
In response to this unprecedented food crisis, senators Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have just introduced a bill that would expand access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps.
Coronavirus Trackers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.
See also:
● California Department of Public Health
● 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:
‘A reckless choice’: Black, progressive activists warn Biden against picking Klobuchar as VP
Fresno Bee
Amy Klobuchar’s vice presidential prospects are facing stiff headwinds from progressives and African American activists who are increasingly vocalizing their opposition to the Minnesota senator joining the Democratic ticket.
See also:
● Black Leaders Want a Black Woman as Biden’s Running Mate. But Who? New York Times
Poll of Latinos finds that right now, only about half would vote for Biden
CBSNews
A new poll of Latinos nationwide finds lower-than-usual support for former Vice President Joe Biden’s White House bid when compared to past Democratic nominees, amid signs that President Trump’s ability to dominate news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic is playing to his advantage with the largest bloc of minority voters.
As Coronavirus Spread, Online Donations to Biden, Democrats Lagged
Wall Street Journal
Online political donations to Democratic candidates and causes dropped off in the latter part of March, as the coronavirus pandemic upended daily life, tanked the global economy and pushed millions of Americans into unemployment.
Biden predicts Trump will try to postpone the election
CBSNews
Joe Biden predicted President Trump will try to push back November’s general election in an effort to help the president win. “Mark my words, I think he is gonna try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can’t be held,” Biden said during a Thursday evening virtual fundraiser.
Los Angeles Times
Six months before the November election, President Trump has fallen behind among a group central to his victory in 2016 — voters 65 and older. Trump’s significant deficit among seniors shows up in poll after poll, nationwide and in key states, including surveys done by nonpartisan groups and by pollsters in both parties.
Trump’s ‘secret stash’ of voters
Roll Call
Trump’s approval rating in the RCP average was 46.0 percent on Wednesday morning. If Trump’s true vote share approximates that, he only trails Biden by about 2 points. If that happens on Election Day, Trump could once again win the Electoral College while losing the popular vote.”
At County Level, Many in GOP Favor Mail-in Voting
Pew Trusts
Despite opposition from President Donald Trump, many local Republican election officials across the country are continuing to push for expanding mail-in voting ahead of November’s election.
Prop. 13 on the November ballot, two ways
CalMatters
A proposal to amend Prop. 13, the iconic 1978 measure that capped property taxes, has qualified for the November ballot. The measure, backed by the state’s Realtors, would let people over the age of 55 and disabled homeowners transfer their capped tax if they move, even to a bigger place.
Other:
Opinion: Activists sue Fox News over coronavirus falsehoods. Here’s what the Constitution says
Sacramento Bee
In mid-March, as sheltering in place orders were being imposed, Rep. Devin Nunes appeared on Fox News and urged Americans to “stop panicking” and for those who are healthy to “just go out.” Such speech was demonstrably false and dangerous.
See also:
● Opinion: The danger of disinformation in a time of crisis The Hill
● As The US Battled The Coronavirus Pandemic, Twitter Accounts Linked To Iran Tried To Boost The Idea Of An Independent CaliforniaBuzzfeed.News
China’s Medical-Goods Market Is ‘Wild West’ Amid Surging Coronavirus Demand
Wall Street Journal
Urgent late night inspections at Chinese mask factories. Hurried million-dollar wire transfers to secure ventilator deals. Middlemen lurking outside a Shanghai factory offering masks of unknown provenance.
Fresno Bee
April 24 always marks one of the saddest days of the year for Fresno’s Armenian American community. This year, April 24 is the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide — the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks starting in 1915 and continuing into 1918.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Could we have a meat shortage? Yes, grocers say, as processors close for coronavirus
Fresno Bee
Grocery stores in the U.S. are concerned about their meat supply after more processing plants closed down because of the coronavirus pandemic, multiple media outlets report.
See also:
● Full fields, empty fridges Washington Post
● Stopping virus a huge challenge at crowded US meat plants AP News
Valley dairy hosting no-limit “dairy drive-thru” in Hanford
abc30
A South Valley dairy is offering no limits on milk purchases at a “dairy drive-thru” in Hanford on Thursday.
Plan to change workers’ comp rules for employees with COVID-19 angers business, ag groups
Fresno Bee
A proposed executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom to substantially expand protections for coronavirus-infected employees who qualify for workers’ compensation insurance is raising concerns among leaders in the agriculture and business communities, who say it could cost billions of dollars.
Texas Attorney General Accuses Largest U.S. Egg Producer of Price-Gouging
Wall Street Journal
The Texas Attorney General filed a lawsuit Thursday accusing Cal-Maine Foods Inc., the nation’s largest egg producer, of price-gouging and profiting illegally off the coronavirus pandemic by selling eggs at more than 300% of their normal cost.
California farmworkers need protection during coronavirus crisis; here’s a relief package to help
CalMatters
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House is reportedly working behind the scenes to reduce wages for farmworkers. According to a recent National Public Radio report, the Trump administration claims that cutting wages for farmworkers will help agricultural businesses struggling during the current crisis.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
As Fraudsters Exploit Pandemic Fears, Justice Department Looks To Crack Down
NPR
The coronavirus pandemic has brought out the good side of many Americans, but certainly not all Americans. Officials say that fraud related to COVID-19 — like hoarding equipment, price gouging and hawking fake treatments — are spreading as the country wrestles with the outbreak.
Public Safety:
8 Fresno County inmates, 7 jail employees quarantined for coronavirus or possible exposure
abc30
Eight Fresno County jail inmates are now separated into quarantined areas and seven employees are quarantined at home because of coronavirus or the possibility of coronavirus.
See also:
● Stuck inside: Inmates and their families worry about coronavirus in the county’s jails Desert Sun
U.S. judge blocks background checks that denied ammo to law-abiding gun owners in California
Fresno Bee
A federal judge has blocked California’s ammunition background check program, which had prevented nearly one in five law-abiding gun owners from purchasing ammunition because of database glitches and other record-keeping problems.
See also:
● Judge tosses California ammunition purchase law Hanford Sentinel
● Federal judge blocks California’s ammunition purchase law Los Angeles Times
● Federal judge blocks California ammunition purchase background checks CBSNews
New Insights on Gun Policy in America
Rand Corporation
RAND’s Gun Policy in America initiative aims to establish a shared set of facts about gun policies. Recently, it completed an update and expansion of its synthesis of all available scientific evidence on the effects of 18 classes of gun laws.
California’s April heat wave is a time to be extra cautious about children and pets in parked cars
Los Angeles Times
With the coronavirus outbreak, it might be tempting to leave a child in the car — for just a few minutes, to avoid exposing her to the virus — while you run into the grocery store or pharmacy. Don’t do it.
Fire:
After 14-Month Stint, PG&E CEO Johnson to Step Down in June
Sierra News
Bill Johnson, the chief executive of PG&E, will step down after just 14 months on the job, the company announced Wednesday.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Republicans leap to reopen economy; Democrats more cautious
Fresno Bee
It is a scenario playing out across the country as governors wrestle with weeks of quarantine-fueled job losses and soaring unemployment claims and the simultaneous warnings of public health officials who say lifting stay-at-home orders now could spark a resurgence of COVID-19.
See also:
● ‘Complete disbelief’: Governors blindside front-line staff with abrupt reopening plans Washington Post
● Reopening the economy vs. keeping it shut longer. What’s more costly? Los Angeles Times
Early Insights on California’s Economic Downturn
Public Policy Institute of California
California’s unemployment rate jumped from a historically low 3.9% to 5.3% in March. For comparison, it took a full year from the official start of the Great Recession for unemployment to increase by 1.4 percentage points (although the levels were higher: 5.9% in December 2007 to 7.3% in December 2008).
See also:
● Coronavirus pushes US unemployment to highest since Depression abc30
● Opinion: Get Ready for the Return of Inflation Wall Street Journal
● Opinion: Capitalism is the solution, not the problem, for the pandemic world Washington Examiner
Drive-in Movie Theater Owner Reflects On A Lost Season
Business Journal
Even with customers separated by car doors and glass, Bob Gran Jr., operator of the Madera Drive-in, says he wouldn’t open even if he could. “It comes down to this — it still puts your customers and employees at risk,” Gran says.
California Pizza Kitchen Seeks Restructuring Deal
Wall Street Journal
California Pizza Kitchen Inc. is seeking to restructure its debt to avoid a possible bankruptcy filing, according to people familiar with the discussions, as the coronavirus pandemic decimates sales at casual-dining chains.
Gov’t puts pressure on public companies to return loans
Hanford Sentinel
Big public companies that received loans under a government program intended to help small businesses devastated by the coronavirus outbreak could be forced to return it.
See also:
● Ruth’s Chris to Repay Loan Amid Outcry Over Rescue Program Wall Street Journal
● Phunware, a data firm for Trump campaign, got millions in coronavirus small business help CBSNews
Frustrations Build for Those Still Awaiting IRS Stimulus Checks
Wall Street Journal
Most Americans have received their stimulus money but millions are still waiting as an understaffed IRS contends with electronic payments bouncing back and taxpayers griping about difficulties using the agency’s website.
More Cooking, Less Shampooing: The Coronavirus Consumer Starts to Emerge
Wall Street Journal
Consumers are cooking and cleaning more while spending less time and money on grooming and makeup, consumer-products companies say, as a picture emerges of how the coronavirus is reshaping lifestyles.
Coronavirus Erodes Confidence About Retirement Finances
Wall Street Journal
With unemployment rising, stocks slumping and the coronavirus pandemic weighing heavily on the economy, retirees’ and workers’ confidence in having enough money for retirement has declined from near-record highs last year, according to a long-running survey released Thursday.
Commentary: The American dream in 2020: How to strengthen it
AEI
Intergenerational mobility has stalled for the past four decades and is below that of several other developed nations. Stagnant mobility has persisted despite periods of economic growth.
Jobs:
Overwhelmed by jobless claims, California waives rule requiring unemployed to update status
Fresno Bee
People who are receiving unemployment insurance payments in California no longer have to recertify their claims every two weeks to keep receiving the money, California Labor Secretary Julie Su announced Thursday.
See also:
● Valley workers face stress, technological hurdles in trying to get unemployment benefits abc30
● In a month, coronavirus wipes out the 22 million jobs gained since the Great Recession Sacramento Bee
● As California Unemployment Claims Mount, Policy Group Warns We’ve Only Seen ‘Tip Of The Iceberg’ On Reported Job Losses Capital Public Radio
● Millions of U.S. Workers Filed for Unemployment Benefits Last Week Wall Street Journal
● Commentary: The pandemic might cause more automation, but we shouldn’t overstate job loss AEI
Gig workers and self-employed keep waiting for jobless aid
Fresno Bee
There are many more filings for jobless aid to come, including millions of independent contractors, gig workers and the self-employed. Most states have not begun approving applications from these pools of newly eligible people.
See also:
● Job losses stack up, and CA gig workers’ claims may come next San Francisco Chronicle
The Office As We Knew It Isn’t Coming Back Anytime Soon. Maybe It’s Changed Forever
VPR
Cubicle culture has gone dark. Open floor plans stand empty. Offices around the world are shut during the pandemic, making work from home the new normal for millions of white-collar employees. In the United States, remote work is still being encouraged under guidelines outlined by the federal government.
Kern employers announce 356 more layoffs related to COVID-19
Bakersfield Californian
Kern County’s COVID-19 layoff toll approached 5,000 Thursday after local authorities reported another 356 job cuts related to the coronavirus crisis.
See also:
● Companies confirm new layoffs in Kern County due to COVID-19 KGET
● ‘There Are Going to Be Layoffs.’ State and Local Governments Brace for Cuts As Budget Crisis Loom Time
Opinion: Stopping a Lawsuit Epidemic
Wall Street Journal
Millions of Americans will lose their jobs and tens of thousands will die from Covid-19. Leave it to the plaintiff bar to make money off the misery. “The WHO is telling health care facilities to take all necessary steps in dealing with patients to detect, isolate and limit the spread of Coronavirus,” says the law firm Cogan & Power, P.C. Advises personal injury attorney Steven Heisler.
Opinion: ‘Paycheck Protection’ Is Killing Restaurants
Wall Street Journal
The relief package moving through Congress this week might end up better remembered for how many restaurants it puts out of business than for the money it added to save them.
EDUCATION
K-12:
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education
PPIC
Key findings from the current survey: Many California parents see school closures for COVID-19 as somewhat of a problem and are concerned with providing productive learning at home. An overwhelming majority of parents approve of school districts’ handling of closures and Governor Newsom’s handling of K–12 education. As optimism wanes about the economy, views on school bonds are mixed.
See also:
● Commentary: What parents are saying about California’s coronavirus-related school closures CalMatters
As teachers navigate distance learning, relationships with students remain a priority
Bakersfield Californian
Some teachers, however, find it difficult to reach each of their students. Access to electronic devices and internet has proven to be a challenge with distance learning. Schools have passed out devices, but many are still left out.
‘This one takes the cake for crazy.’ How Modesto area yearbooks will reflect coronavirus
Modesto Bee
We asked advisers if and how their yearbooks would reflect the pandemic and its effects on the school year, including the canceling of spring sports seasons, arts performances and academic competitions.
Online School Demands More of Teachers. Unions Are Pushing Back.
New York Times
Educators say they want to teach from home during the pandemic, but are fighting to limit work hours and counter demands that they consider unreasonable.
See also:
● Commentary: Superintendent worries about distance learning AEI
9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen
VPR
Three-quarters of U.S. states have now officially closed their schools for the rest of the academic year. While remote learning continues, summer is a question mark, and attention is already starting to turn to next fall.
Commentary: Principles for the coming federal education bailout
AEI
Earlier this week, Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) released a proposal for another $500 billion stimulus for state governments, echoing calls last week from more than 180 unions, advocacy groups, and think tanks for more coronavirus-related aid. Of course, all this would be on top of the $2.3 trillion CARES Act that Congress passed in late March.
Commentary: Harvard Magazine’s authoritarian slander against homeschooling
AEI
Harvard Magazine thinks conservative Christians homeschool to “promote white supremacy.” If they said such about any other group, the campus Bias Response Team would be leaping into action.
Higher Ed:
Governor halts student loan payments for many for 90 days
abc30
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced 21 out of the 24 major student loan providers in California have placed a moratorium on payments for the next 90 days to help those with debt during the coronavirus pandemic.
See also:
● Student loan debt collection on pause in California due to coronavirus, Gavin Newsom says Sacramento Bee
Zoombomber crashes Fresno State session with child porn, professor confirms
Fresno Bee
Fresno State students and faculty were exposed to child pornography earlier this week when someone Zoombombed an online meeting, a university official confirmed.
See also:
● ‘Disturbing Zoom-bombing’ incident hits Fresno State students, officials say Los Angeles Times
Fresno State offers online tutoring for students
abc30
Fresno State is finding new ways to support students who may be struggling in a particular subject. Now they’re offering tutoring and supplemental instruction strictly online.
Will coronavirus disrupt Fresno State’s plans to renovate Bulldog Stadium?
Fresno Bee
Terry Tumey, the Bulldogs’ athletics director, looks for a bright side. Fresno State, he said, has made incremental improvements on the stadium and will try to move forward with a project that was started, stalled, stopped and refocused all in the past five years.
On Leading a University with CSUB President Dr. Lynnette Zelezny
Kegley Institute of Ethics
In this episode of The Ethicist’s Corner, we talk with California State University, Bakersfield President, Dr. Lynnette Zelezny. Dr. Zelezny speaks on leading a university in the COVID-19 era and the leaders who inspire her.
Clovis Community College Adapting to Coronavirus Pandemic
Clovis RoundUp
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, colleges and universities around the country have had to adapt on the fly to a situation that can change at a moment’s notice. Clovis Community College has been no different. Now in its fifth week since the school transitioned to online learning on March 20, faculty have been using video chat software Zoom to conduct classes and host open office hours, according to a release from the college.
California students expect stimulus money will help pay living expenses
EdSource
Thousands of California college students who may have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and are struggling to afford food, broadband service and other living expenses will share in half of the more than $1.7 billion in federal funds going to California public and private colleges.
See also:
● Here’s how much money some Fresno City College students will get from coronavirus funds Fresno Bee
Commentary: Coronavirus poses serious financial risks to US universities
Brookings
Universities around the country are dealing with health concerns as their first priority, and keeping instruction going—even if imperfectly—as the second priority. After dealing with these immediate issues, the next concern is fear of collapsing revenue. Health and instruction deserve every bit of effort going into them.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
California crab fishery to close in May to protect whales
Bakersfield Californian
Commercial fishermen are protesting an order by California wildlife authorities to close the Dungeness crab fishery in mid-May to protect whales and sea turtles from becoming entangled in fishing gear.
Coronavirus prompts Gov. Gavin Newsom to suspend California’s plastic bag ban
Los Angeles Times
Gov. Gavin Newsom has suspended California’s ban on grocery stores providing single-use plastic bags amid concerns that clerks may be at risk for exposure to the coronavirus if shoppers are required to supply their own reusable bags to carry their purchases home.
Supreme Court rules beaches can be protected from sewage that flows underground
Los Angeles Times
The Supreme Court bolstered the nation’s clean-water protections for oceans and beaches on Thursday, ruling that environmentalists can sue to block discharges of sewage into the ground if those pollutants flow in significant amounts from there into the ocean.
Column: Coronavirus disposable gloves are trashing us. Don’t make us all pick up after you
Los Angeles Times
Gloves. We need to talk about those blue, black and white disposable gloves now littering our streets, our sidewalks, our green spaces and our supermarket parking lots. Used gloves. Soiled gloves. Potentially infected gloves.
Energy:
PG&E Chief Executive to Retire in June
New York Times
Bill Johnson joined the troubled utility last year and will leave when the company resolves its bankruptcy case.
Opinion: Big Oil to the Coronavirus Rescue
Wall Street Journal
Anti-carbon activists don’t sleep even during a pandemic, and earlier this week New York City Council members introduced a resolution to divest from banks invested in fossil fuels. Perhaps they don’t know that hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment come from hydrocarbons synthesized by their arch-villain Exxon Mobil.
Coal Suffers as Coronavirus Saps Power Demand
Wall Street Journal
As Americans consume less electricity during the coronavirus pandemic, many utilities are cutting back on coal power first. That bodes poorly for the future of coal power in the U.S., which has already been in a steep decline.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Coronavirus cases reach 1,000 in the central San Joaquin Valley. Fresno County adds 35
Fresno Bee
The total number of coronavirus cases in the central San Joaquin Valley has topped 1,000. The count comes as health officials in Fresno County confirmed 35 new cases Thursday in the county health department’s regular late-afternoon update.
See also:
● Coronavirus updates: Regional cases top 1,000; Yosemite hotel to stay closed into 2021 Fresno Bee
● Wednesday marks deadliest day for CA with 115 COVID-19 deaths abc30
● 3 New Cases Confirmed Thursday; Countywide Total Now 39 Sierra News
● Merced County coronavirus cases hit 100. More COVID-19 testing on the way, officials say Merced Sun-Star
● 25 dead, 441 cases, more than half from nursing homes Visalia Times Delta
● 453 coronavirus cases reported in Tulare County Porterville Recorder
● Coronavirus update, April 23: Stanislaus has fifth death; outdoor rules ease a bit Modesto Bee
● Coronavirus updates: ‘Deadliest day’ as 115 die in California; unemployment still soaring Sacramento Bee
● Coronavirus live updates: U.S. hits 50,000 COVID-19 deaths, FDA warns against Trump-touted drugs Los Angeles Times
● Coronavirus detectives: Here’s how counties try to track everyone exposed CalMatters
● Coronavirus deaths top 50,000 in US, and ‘worst is yet ahead,’ WHO chief says Miami Herald
● U.S. coronavirus death toll surpasses 50,000 Washington Post
● U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Tops 50,000 Wall Street Journal
2,300 sign up to be infected with coronavirus. Are human-challenge trials a good idea?
Fresno Bee
Thousands of volunteers have signed up to be infected with coronavirus in hopes of creating a vaccine faster, an advocacy group says. So far, nearly 2,400 people say they’ll participate in human-challenge trials for a COVID-19 vaccine, according to 1 Day Sooner, an effort by researchers and experts.
The Mission at Kern County reports first positive COVID-19 case of resident
Bakersfield Californian
The Mission at Kern County has announced one of its emergency shelter guests has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The homeless shelter said it received the news Monday and immediately took the individual to a hospital for medical attention.
CSUB counselor shares tips to boost your mental health while staying at home
KGET
Janet Millar, LMFT at the CSUB Counseling Center, joined 17 News at Sunrise to share tips to keep up with your mental health while staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Why The Warning That Coronavirus Was On The Move In U.S. Cities Came So Late
VPR
In early February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was looking for ways to stop the novel coronavirus before it got out of control in the United States. The agency selected six cities for sentinel surveillance — a sort of early warning system to detect if the coronavirus was spreading freely.
Sacramento Bee
As the coronavirus spread across the world in early 2020, millions of people found themselves in what is now understood to be one of the most dangerous places during a pandemic: a cruise ship.
Coronavirus and smoking: How do cigarettes, pot and vaping affect infections and outcomes?
Los Angeles Times
The science is in its early stages, but studies are finding that cigarette smokers are more likely to have severe infections — a fact many lung doctors say doesn’t surprise them.
How will we know whether the coronavirus will come back stronger in the winter?
Los Angeles Times
Even as policymakers discuss potentially reopening state and local economies, state and federal officials are warning of the need to be prepared for a potential “second wave” of the coronavirus outbreak once the initial one dies down.
Six new coronavirus symptoms just officially added to CDC list. What are they?
Miami Herald
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tripled the number of coronavirus symptoms it lists on its website. The federal organization previously listed fever, cough and shortness of breath as symptoms of COVID-19. The CDC has added six additional symptoms as people “have had a wide range of symptoms reported,” it says on its website.
See also:
● Are coronavirus mutations a bad sign? Here’s what scientists say Miami Herald
Washington Post
President Trump is facing widespread backlash after musing during a White House briefing that disinfectants could be injected into coronavirus patients’ bodies to kill the virus. Medical professionals and the maker of Lysol responded by urging people not to inject or ingest household cleaning products, which can be highly toxic.
See also:
● FDA warns against using hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus outside of hospitals NBCNews
● Don’t inject disinfectant: Blunt pushback on Trump musing KGET
● Makers of Lysol Warn Against Ingesting Disinfectants New York Times
● Trump comments prompt doctors, and Lysol, to warn against injecting disinfectants Washington Post
● Doctors struggle to stay true to science but not cross Trump Fresno Bee
● Editorial: Despite Trump’s chloroquine hype, we’re still waiting for a ‘game changer’ cure for COVID-19 Los Angeles Times
● Commentary: Trump’s Idea to Disinfect Lungs Leaves Medical Experts Aghast Bloomberg
● Opinion: America, please don’t put bleach inside yourself like the president says Washington Post
Human Services:
More COVID-19 testing resources heading to Valley
abc30
As concern surrounding a lack of COVID-19 testing spreads faster than the virus itself, more resources are heading to the Valley, according to Fresno County Public Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra.
See also:
● COVID-19 Update: Fresno County to Receive New Testing Facility Clovis RoundUp
● Under an Hour: Madera Community Speeds COVID Test Result Time Sierra News
● Abbott’s fast coronavirus test could pose safety issue for those processing results Sacramento Bee
● It’s becoming easier to get a coronavirus test in California Los Angeles Times
● State clears coronavirus testing backlog, tops 480,000 completed tests San Francisco Chronicle
● States take new steps to track contacts of people with COVID-19 Roll Call
● When the coronavirus hit, California turned to artificial intelligence to help map the spread CBS News
● Coronavirus Update: Reported Tests Spike as California Clears Backlog National Review
● California’s ambitious virus test goals face short supplies Hanford Sentinel
Most CA nursing homes with COVID-19 cases have deficiencies
abc30
According to an analysis of data by Action News, 95% of California nursing homes with confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been cited by federal health inspectors at least once in recent years for not doing enough to control the spread of infections.
See also:
● 11,000 deaths: Ravaged nursing homes plead for more testing Fresno Bee
● Coronavirus: 25 dead, 441 cases, more than half from Tulare County nursing homes Visalia Times Delta
● Nearly Half Of Tulare County COVID-19 Cases Due To Nursing Home Outbreaks VPR
● Nursing Homes Ask States For Immunity From Civil Suits Amid COVID-19 Capital Public Radio
● Nursing Homes Ask States For Immunity From Civil Suits Amid COVID-19 NPR
U.S. Hospitals Hit By Financial ‘Triple Whammy’ During Coronavirus Pandemic
VPR
The coronavirus outbreak has thrown hospital systems throughout the U.S. into crisis — both medical and financial. The cost of treating coronavirus patients, combined with the loss of revenue from canceling elective procedures, has left many hospitals in desperate financial straits.
See also:
● As California Hospitals Return To Normal, Patients Wonder When They Can Seek Care Capital Public Radio
● Commentary: Will COVID-19 bankrupt Medicare? AEI
UCSF doctor does math on how many lives San Francisco may have saved with shutdown
SFGate
A UCSF doctor did some math to estimate the number of lives the San Francisco Bay Area may have saved by jurisdictions acting quickly and residents following strict shelter-in-place orders.
Still need a face mask for coronavirus prevention? This company is giving them away
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The clothing company Dhvani is usually known for its eco-friendly workout gear, but now they’re going to be known as something else: a possible life saver. In a donation-based effort, Dhvani is aiming to give health care workers medical-grade masks and every regular person in America reusable masks made of cotton — for free.
Public Discourse
Many policies provide public-health benefits in pandemics, such as making facemasks mandatory, cancelling school, and banning large assemblies and long-distance travel. But ordering people to cower in their homes, harassing people for having playdates in the park, and ordering small businesses to close regardless of their hygienic procedures has no demonstrated effectiveness.
IMMIGRATION
Gavin Newsom sued over financial support for unemployed undocumented immigrants
Fresno Bee
A conservative group has filed an emergency petition with the California Supreme Court, seeking to block the implementation of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s program to provide $500 checks to unemployed undocumented immigrants.
See also:
● Conservative group sues to stop California aid to immigrants Hanford Sentinel
● Newsom sued over coronavirus aid plan for California immigrants who lack legal status Los Angeles Times
Immigrants, hard hit by economic fallout, adapt to new jobs
Fresno Bee
The coronavirus pandemic has devastated sectors of the economy dominated by immigrant labor: Restaurants, hotels, office cleaning services, in-home childcare and hair and nail salons, among others, have seen businesses shuttered as nonessential.
See also:
● Sizing up Trump’s green-card halt: Is it just temporary? Fresno Bee.
McFarland City Council grants appeal, allows immigrant detention centers in city
Bakersfield Californian
Facing an economic crisis, the McFarland City Council voted to allow a private prison company to convert two state prisons into detention centers for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a virtual meeting Thursday.
See also:
● Mcfarland City Council Votes To Approve Geo’s Request For Permits To Operate Two Immigration Detention Facilities Kern Sol News
● McFarland Will Hold City Council Meeting Despite ACLU’s Call To Postpone It VPR
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Trump to Reopen National Parks Soon?
Sierra News
Unlike state parks and other local recreational areas, national parks are under federal jurisdiction, so the president ultimately has the final say about when they will reopen.
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.
Modesto, Stanislaus County are reopening parks and playgrounds
Modesto Bee
While Stanislaus County’s stay-at-home order remains in place and nonessential businesses are closed because of the new coronavirus pandemic, the county and city of Modesto are reopening their parks, playgrounds and tennis and basketball courts Friday.
Housing:
U.S. new-home sales fall sharply 15.4% in March due to coronavirus
Los Angeles Times
U.S. sales of new homes plunged 15.4% in March as coronavirus-triggered shutdowns that began in the middle of the month started to rattle the housing market.
We aren’t the dumping ground’: Homeless people fleeing coronavirus meet NIMBY resistance
Los Angeles Times
When officials in the South Bay city of Lawndale learned that a hotel on its main drag had been leased to Los Angeles County to house homeless people at high risk for the coronavirus, their reaction wasn’t to put out a welcome mat.
‘It’s horrible for everyone’: How the coronavirus changed these landlords’ and tenants’ lives
Los Angeles Times
Both tenants and landlords have faced sudden losses in income and new fears about what will happen to their homes and properties. Federal, state and local governments have passed measures to prevent evictions and provide mortgage assistance with the expectation that many tenants won’t be able to pay their rent.
PUBLIC FINANCES
California cities: Virus could mean $6.7 billion in losses
Fresno Bee
California’s 482 cities say they will collectively lose $6.7 billion over the next two years because of the coronavirurs pandemic, prompting layoffs and furloughs for public workers and potential cuts to basic services like sanitation, public safety and housing.
See also:
● California cities expect to lose at least $7B due to coronavirus Politico
● California Mayors Coalition gathers momentum, launches website PublicCEO
● Will feds bail out CA? CalMatters
● Opinion: Bail Out the States? Wall Street Journal
Public Sector Pensions and the COVID-19 Shock
Mercatus Center
The COVID-19 pandemic was largely unforeseen, but one effect was predictable: that an economic shock would push a number of state and local pension plans to dangerously low funding levels, requiring more government resources at a time when states and localities can ill afford it.
TRANSPORTATION
Bicycle Shops Face ‘Tidal Wave’ of Customers in COVID-19 Era
GVWire
Bicycle shop owners in Fresno and Clovis say they’ve been scrambling to keep up with the demand that began in mid-March when Californians were urged to stay at home to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, which is highly contagious and sometimes fatal.
Local gas prices, already down 62 cents in the past month, may have further to fall
Bakersfield Californian
Tumbling oil prices may have cost Kern oilfields hundreds of jobs in recent months, but if there’s a bright side, it’s the continuing decline in gasoline prices.
California High-Speed Rail officials reveal ethics probe by consultant and fed investigation
Fresno Bee
The California high-speed rail consultant facing allegations that its executives retaliated against employees for bringing forth negative information about the project has hired a law firm to independently investigate the matter.
Federal money to Merced airport slashed from $16.9M to $3.4M. What happened?
Merced Sun-Star
Following the news last week that the Federal Aviation Administration was set to grant a whopping $16.9 million to the Merced Regional Airport/Macready Field — the FAA later revised the grant to a more conservative number of just under $3.4 million.
See also:
● Where did the airlines park their airplanes? Wolficorn
DMV waives late fees, extends deadlines for expired vehicle registrations, licenses amid pandemic
KGET
Need to renew your car registration or identification card? You’ve got a little bit more time and will be exempt from late fees and penalties for some DMV services amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Transport workers give low marks to federal virus protection
Roll Call
As the economic standstill triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic drags into its second month, transportation workers say they are desperate for more personal protection equipment and other safety measures and that the federal government should help.
WATER
Just as Newsom and Trump were getting along, California escalates the Delta water wars
Fresno Bee
The Newsom administration has filed a motion seeking a preliminary injunction against increased water exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, arguing that current water diversions “will cause imminent and irreparable harm to species protected under the California Endangered Species Act and the federal Endangered Species Act.”
Northwestern California slips deeper into drought
Hanford Sentinel
Northwestern California has slipped deeper into drought while Southern California continued to show benefits from an exceptionally wet spring, according to U.S. Drought Monitor data released Thursday.
Moving to Phase III: Council approves transition to Phase III of water conservation plan
Porterville Recorder
During the lengthy meeting on Tuesday night, the Porterville City Council approved the transition to Phase III of the city’s water conservation plan.
As a dying Salton Sea spews harmful dust, Imperial Valley water wars heat up again
Los Angeles Times
The people of California’s Imperial Valley can be as unforgiving as the region’s harsh desert climate. It’s been 16 years since Bruce Kuhn cast the fateful vote to transfer tens of billions of gallons of Colorado River water from the valley’s sprawling farms to thirsty coastal cities, reshaping water politics in California and across the West.
CalMatters
There is no evidence supporting the author’s claim that the San Joaquin Valley’s water supply challenges are linked to California’s food security or the rise in foreign produce imports.
“Xtra”
Virtual wine trail in Madera County brings community together
abc30
With tasting rooms closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Madera County wineries are pouring virtually. Madera County is home to a variety of wineries like Toca Madera Winery, which are now coming to you with virtual tastings.
Mariposa Arts Council Launches ‘This Must be the Place’ Snapshot Project
Sierra News
The Mariposa County Arts Council is launching a “This Must Be the Place” snapshot project for the Creative Placemaking Master Plan, a partnership project with the Mariposa County Planning Department that captures Mariposa’s community members in their favorite local places or at their most-loved events.
‘It’s OK to be kids’: Activist assembles scores of fun packs for youth amid pandemic
Stockton Record
Through his network of friends and associates under the banner of “Balloons Over Bullets,” DeMar Johnson has amassed jump ropes, water guns, pencils, color markers, chalk and crayons, stickers, kites, bubbles, silly string, clay and other items. Oh, and 20,000 water balloons.
Muslim worshipers prepare for virtual Ramadan after coronavirus moves services online
Sacramento Bee
Ramadan will be different this year for Muslims throughout the Sacramento region and around the world. The holiest month in the Islamic calendar, which began Thursday, is celebrated by Muslims worldwide as a time of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. But public health orders regarding the coronavirus pandemic will prevent communal gatherings.
Bored At Home? Join A Global Science Experiment This Weekend. All You Need Is Your Phone.
Capital Public Radio
A number of California regions are unofficially competing this weekend to gather the most data about the wildlife in their cities. You can join them while taking a walk in your neighborhood or even from inside your home.
When will Disneyland and other parks reopen? How will they keep visitors safe?
Los Angeles Times
A Disneyland fan since he was 5 years old, Ryan Temple visited the park up to twice a month before it closed because of the coronavirus outbreak, often wearing his favorite Mickey Mouse letterman jacket.
A tweet asked museums to show off their #CreepiestObjects and dear God, did they deliver
Washington Post
People look to museums to learn more about our intricate, incredible planet. But it’s not all Mona Lisas and dinosaur fossils on display. Museums are also full of supremely bizarre, wholly disturbing pieces that have the potential to shake visitors to the core.