April 26, 2021

26Apr

POLICY & POLITICS

 

What does leadership look like in your community?

James Irvine Foundation

The James Irvine Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Leadership Awards – a $250,000 grant for California leaders.​​ Accepting nominations at​​ IrvineAwards.org​​ through May 7, 2021.

 

North SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:​​ 

 

New Highway 132 segment in Modesto could open sooner than expected. Here’s why

Modesto Bee

Construction has gone faster than expected on the new Highway 132 segment in Modesto, which could open by year’s end.

 

Editorial: More public in public safety | Part 2: Civilian oversight lessons from Valley cities

Modesto Bee

More than 140 cities throughout the United States had civilian oversight of police when Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd in Minneapolis nearly a year ago.​​ 

See also:

 

Stanislaus County sees sharp increase in opioid deaths​​ 

Turlock Journal

The opioid epidemic, already a problem in the region, was made worse over the previous year, with Stanislaus County recording an increase of overdose deaths from opioids.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:​​ 

 

President Biden recognizes Armenian Genocide, which Fresno’s community has long awaited

Fresno Bee

President Joe Biden on Saturday became the first president since President Ronald​​ Reagan to recognize the Armenian Genocide, a declaration Fresno’s Armenian community has long-awaited.

See also:

 

Fresno settles lawsuit in police killing of unarmed teen. Second settlement this month

Fresno Bee

The city of Fresno has reached a $4.9 million tentative settlement with the family of an unarmed teenager killed when an officer shot him in the back of the head, Councilmember Miguel Arias said Saturday.​​ 

See also:

 

Report: Fighter jet in Fresno on alert to intimidate protesters. Who sent the orders?

Fresno Bee

A​​ California National Guard​​ fighter jet in Fresno was on standby to help restore order had civil unrest broke out last year, according to​​ a Los Angeles Times story that cites multiple unnamed sources.

 

Opponents of Tower Theatre sale win a court victory, attorney says. Here’s what it means

Fresno Bee

The opponents of the sale of Fresno’s Tower Theatre got a significant court ruling on Friday, according to the attorney of the Tower District business blocking the sale to a church.​​ 

 

Fresno city councilmember pushing for new park near Tower District

abc30

A new neighborhood park is expected to be developed near the Tower District. Fresno City Councilmember Arias is calling for the use of new funds provided by Measure P to create a new park where an old police substation once stood on Broadway and Elizabeth Streets.

 

California Drought: NASA Says Land Sinking Faster In San Joaquin Valley

Capital Public Radio

A new report from NASA's​​ Jet Propulsion Laboratory​​ shows the San Joaquin Valley is sinking much faster than ever before. Blame it on the drought. And groundwater pumping.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:​​ 

 

License plate readers, seen as a tool for police, draw concerns from others

Bakersfield Californian

Cameras that scan the license plates of passing vehicles seemed like an inexpensive way to fight crime in Wasco to Mayor Alex Garcia.

 

Supervisors to consider approving two new psychiatric health facilities that have drawn criticism from private health providers

Bakersfield Californian

On Tuesday, Kern County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will ask the Board of Supervisors to approve​​ construction of two new facilities that will treat adults and children facing mental health crises.

 

State:

 

COVID Update:

 

Gavin Newsom tells state agencies to ban fracking, phase out oil extraction

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday directed state agencies to ban fracking by 2024 and plan to phase out all oil extraction in California by 2045.

See also:

 

Caitlyn Jenner announces official run for California governor

abc30

Former Olympian, reality TV personality and transgender rights activist Caitlyn Jenner has officially announced her run for California governor. The 71-year-old longtime Republican made the announcement on Twitter Friday morning.

See also:

 

Rusty Hicks re-elected to lead California Democratic Party

San Francisco Chronicle

Former union leader Rusty Hicks was re-elected Saturday to lead the California Democratic Party, defeating former state schools Superintendent Delaine Eastin.

 

Fastest-growing counties in California

Stacker

Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing counties in California using data from the​​ U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2019, based on 5-year estimates.

 

Awaiting census count, California ponders slow growth future

AP News

In 1962, when California’s population of more than 17 million surpassed New York’s, Gov. Pat Brown celebrated by declaring a state holiday.

 

California official who trafficked in 9/11, anti-Semitic conspiracies returns to state job

Sacramento Bee

California schools chief Tony Thurmond on Friday said he has reinstated a state​​ education official linked to​​ anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and claims​​ that the 9/11​​ terrorist attack was an inside job.

 

Opinion: Exclusive: Sacramento DA Anne Marie Schubert says she’s running for state attorney general

Sacramento Bee

Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert will announce Monday that she is running for attorney general of California.​​ 

 

Walters: As drought hits California, long-term issues loom

CalMatters

Californians face another of its periodic droughts and also long-term questions about the supply and uses of water.

 

Opinion: Winners and Losers After Gov. Newsom Signs California’s Worker-Rights Bill

Capital & Main

Last fall, Gov. Gavin Newsom​​ vetoed​​ a bill designed to protect workers in certain industries who’d been laid off during the COVID-19 crisis. In doing so, Newsom practically invited state legislators to make another run at a worker-rights law.

 

Federal:

 

COVID Update:

 

In his first 100 days, ‘Uncle Joe’ Biden combines progressive goals and a reassuring manner

Los Angeles Times

Throughout the 2020 campaign, pollsters in both parties said Joe Biden was well known, but not known well: Voters knew him as a former​​ vice president and longtime senator but had only a rough sense of what he stood for.

See also:

 

Supreme Court lines up rare gun arguments for next term

Roll Call

The Supreme Court will decide a major gun rights case next term about whether a New York law is unconstitutional because it requires a reason other than self-defense to get a license to carry a concealed weapon outside the home.

See also:

 

Here’s how the GOP infrastructure plan stacks up against Biden’s transportation plans

Washington Post

A group of Senate Republicans this week outlined a counterproposal to President Biden’s $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan, saying​​ their $568 billion pitch​​ focuses on what they deem “core infrastructure” — transportation networks, water systems and broadband Internet.

See also:​​ 

 

Pelosi Invites Biden to Address Joint Session of Congress on April 28

Wall Street Journal

In a letter to Mr. Biden, Mrs. Pelosi said she was asking the president “to share your vision for addressing the challenges and opportunities of this historic moment.” The date falls just before Mr. Biden’s 100th day in office.

See also:

 

Some Democrats Push for Permanent Expansion of Unemployment Benefits

Wall Street Journal

Democrats on Capitol Hill are pushing for the White House to propose more generous and long-lasting jobless benefits on a permanent basis as part of the antipoverty package President Biden is expected to roll out next week.

See also:​​ 

 

State lawmakers continue crusade against Roe vs. Wade with flood of new abortion bills

Los Angeles Times

Energized by the conservative tilt of the U.S. Supreme Court, legislators in Republican-led states have put forward hundreds of abortion restrictions, including near-total bans, eager to offer the vehicle to achieve a long-standing goal: the unwinding of Roe vs. Wade.

 

Almost half of Republicans say Chauvin jury reached wrong verdict: poll

The​​ Hill

Nearly half of all Republicans questioned in a new poll said that they believe former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was wrongly convicted of murdering George Floyd.

 

GOP worries fiscal conservatism losing its rallying cry

The Hill

Republicans say fiscal conservatism simply isn’t the GOP rallying cry it used to be, and that’s making it much harder to counter President Biden’s push for trillions of dollars in new government spending.

See also:

 

Though never adopted, the ‘Green New Deal’ left its mark

Roll Call

Biden and his administration have not embraced​​ the Green New Deal label for their $2 trillion infrastructure and jobs plan, but his campaign called the resolution a “crucial framework for meeting the climate challenges we face,”

 

House Democrats pass D.C. statehood, launching bill into uncharted territory

Washington Post

For the second time in history, the House passed legislation Thursday to make the District of Columbia the nation’s 51st state, bolstering momentum for a once-illusory goal that has become a pivotal tenet of the​​ Democratic Party’s voting rights platform.

 

In Rare Moment Of Bipartisan Unity, Senate Approves Asian American Hate Crimes Bill

NPR

Capping nearly two weeks of talks between Democrats and Republicans, the Senate approved legislation​​ on Thursday to ramp up law enforcement efforts to better protect the Asian American and Pacific Islander community from hate crimes.

 

Opinion: Biden has an opportunity to ensure an FDR-like legacy, and he might blow it

Washington Post

But in truth, Biden risks falling short of such history-defining legacies. That’s because he’s getting cold feet about making the most consequential part of his own agenda thus far permanent.

 

Editorial: Donor Disclosure Arrives at the Supreme Court

Wall Street Journal

That politics makes strange bedfellows is an old observation, yet Monday’s lineup at the Supreme Court remains a sight to behold. On one side is California, which is demanding that nonprofit groups hand over lists of their major donors.

 

Other:

 

Republicans and Democrats Move Further Apart in Views of Voting Access

Pew Research Center

In the months since the 2020​​ election, partisan conflicts over election rules and procedures – both at the state and federal levels – have become​​ increasingly contentious.

 

Stories Falsely Cite ‘Stanford Study’ to Misinform on Face Masks

FactCheck.org

Stanford Medicine says it “strongly supports the use​​ of face masks to control the spread of COVID-19.” Yet viral stories falsely claim a “Stanford study” showed that face masks are unsafe and ineffective against COVID-19.​​ 

 

Blue cities and red states need to work together to rebuild after COVID-19

Brookings

A successful recovery and renewal will require a new era of city-state relations, marked by cooperation, not conflict. This piece offers ideas for how ARP funds could be used as a creative starting point to increase city-state collaboration.

 

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

California lawmakers want to protect agriculture by holding out-of-state farmers to the Golden State’s standards

Agri-Pulse

Two bills have ignited a debate over holding California's competitors to the same labor and environmental standards.

 

Farmers have more mouths to feed. Bring in the robots.

Washington Post

Robots are shouldering more responsibility at Church Brothers Farms in Gonzalez, Calif. From sunrise through sundown, rows of lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower are planted, tended​​ to and harvested— partially by humans, increasingly by machines.

 

Republicans Blast​​ Biden For Wanting To Restrict Americans’ Meat Consumption

Forbes

A slew of Republicans took to social media over the weekend to mock and deride President Joe Biden for wanting to restrict Americans’ meat consumption—even though there’s no such plan to do​​ so.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Fresno settles lawsuit in police killing of unarmed teen. Second settlement this month

Fresno Bee

The city of Fresno has reached a $4.9 million tentative settlement with the family of an unarmed teenager killed when an officer shot him in the back of the head, Councilmember Miguel Arias said Saturday.​​ 

See also:

 

U.S. court upholds COVID-19 delays in criminal trials, citing half a million lives lost

Los Angeles Times

In a partial rebuke of a lower court jurist, a federal appeals court decided that criminal defendants were not robbed of their right to speedy trials or forced unconstitutionally to remain behind bars because the COVID-19 pandemic delayed their trials.

 

Public Safety:

 

Verdict In Chauvin Case Sparks Conversations About Fresno Police Reform, Black Lives Matter March​​ 

VPR

Community members gathered outside Fresno City Hall Tuesday night, just hours after the verdict was read in the Derek Chauvin trial. Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts: second degree murder, third degree murder and second degree manslaughter. ​​ 

See​​ also:

 

Why gun control efforts should go beyond mass shootings, advocates say

abcNews

A spate of​​ mass shootings​​ in recent months has once again trained the spotlight on​​ how to prevent those tragedies, which garner national headlines and the attention of lawmakers and activists alike.​​ 

See also:

 

License plate readers, seen as a tool for police, draw concerns from others

Bakersfield Californian

Cameras that scan the license plates of passing vehicles seemed like an inexpensive way to fight crime in Wasco to Mayor Alex Garcia.

 

One-third of Asian Americans fear threats, physical attacks and most say violence against them is rising

Pew Research Center

Amid widespread reports of​​ discrimination​​ and​​ violenceagainst Asian Americans during the​​ coronavirus outbreak, 32% of Asian adults say they have feared someone might threaten or physically attack them – a greater share than other racial or ethnic groups.

 

Editorial: More public in public safety | Part 2: Civilian oversight lessons from Valley cities

Modesto Bee

More than 140 cities throughout the United States had civilian oversight of police when Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd in Minneapolis nearly a year ago.​​ 

See also:

 

Fire:​​ 

 

What will California’s dry spring do to wildfire​​ season? Here’s what researchers say

Fresno Bee

California is bracing for what’s likely to be another destructive wildfire season in light of record-dry conditions. A number of hot spots are in the Sierra Nevada, where rural communities are​​ still reeling from unprecedented wildfires​​ last year in both size and severity.

 

Viewpoints: Cattle grazing and prescribed burns can help California beat devastating wildfires

Sacramento Bee

For all the misery that 2020​​ wrought in California, it also presented the state with a precious opportunity — a chance to seriously invest in wildfire prevention.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Fresno’s Latino businesses learned ‘how to survive’ as COVID canceled quinceañeras

Fresno Bee

The aroma of sweet burnt sugar and baking bread emanates from Callejas Cakes, a family-owned bakery in a quiet neighborhood in central Fresno.

 

What Wall Street Is Telling Us About the U.S. Economic Outlook

Wall Street Journal

What do investors expect from a post-pandemic economy? They generally seem quite optimistic. Stocks stand near records.​​ 

See also:

 

Attacking corporations for their political views is bad for American business and the economy

AEI

Donald Trump has created a permission structure for Republicans to abandon a free-market approach to capitalism for something reminiscent of state-directed capitalism. But we should want businesses making decisions for business reasons, not at the whim of government.

 

Walters: Is corporate tax hike too hot to handle?

CalMatters

Assembly Bill 71​​ is one of the year’s most contentious pieces of legislation — a hefty increase in corporate and personal income taxes to finance new efforts to end homelessness.

 

Opinion: California lawmakers must commit to small, minority-owned businesses

CalMatters

California has been reeling with multiple crises that have wreaked havoc on our health and economy.​​ 

 

Jobs:

 

Some Democrats Push for Permanent Expansion of Unemployment Benefits

Wall Street Journal

Democrats on Capitol Hill are pushing for the White House to propose more generous and long-lasting jobless benefits on a permanent basis as part of the antipoverty package President Biden is expected to roll out next week.

See also:​​ 

 

Many local businesses hiring for multiple positions

abc30

With Fresno County in the orange tier, people are ready to dine in at Casa Corona. However, the Fresno business has run into a problem.

See also:

 

McDonald’s workers want more say over California labor conditions. This plan would help them

Sacramento Bee

The bill, which would also hold companies like McDonald’s​​ liable for the acts of their franchisees, cleared a hearing in the Assembly Labor Committee last week.

 

C.E.O. Pay Remains Stratospheric, Even at Companies Battered by Pandemic

New York Times

Boeing had a historically​​ bad 2020. Its 737 Max was grounded for most of the year after two deadly crashes, the pandemic​​ decimatedits business, and the company announced plans to lay off 30,000 workers and reported a $12 billion loss.

 

Adapting workers to the modern economy: Alternative training and certification

Brookings

The specter of labor market disruption driven by advanced automation technologies raises concern that the US workforce will be both underprepared and inflexible in the face of these changes.

 

Opinion: America deserves a pro-jobs climate plan

Roll Call

Or we could pursue a worker-oriented energy and climate strategy that would empower American ingenuity, expand good-paying jobs, including union jobs, in all of the critical energy sectors of the U.S. economy.​​ 

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

High school seniors missed out on graduation last year. How Fresno Unified is fixing that

Fresno Bee

Fresno Unified schools released its first detailed schedule of upcoming graduation plans not only for students finishing school this year but also for students from the Class of 2020 who missed out on commencement ceremonies last year.

 

Yosemite Unified avoids lawsuit, strikes deal to reopen schools full-time for students

Fresno Bee

A small school district in the eastern foothills of Madera County avoided a lawsuit this week after announcing it would reopen its classrooms five days a week for in-person learning.

 

CA public school enrollment declined during 2020-2021 school year, data shows

abc30

The California Department of Education has released new public school enrollment data, showing a sharp decline as the state deals with the pandemic. Overall enrollment was down across the state by more​​ than 160,000 students during the 2020-2021 academic year.

 

As Merced County schools prepare for full fall reopening, what changes can parents expect?

Merced Sun-Star

As Merced County schools make steps toward getting kids back in classrooms, local educators predict all 22 local districts will return fully to in-person learning by the fall school season.​​ 

 

Denair Unified turns farm to fork grant into garden for district food program

Turlock Journal

The news that the Denair Unified School District has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the state to begin a Farm to Fork program at​​ the high school opens up numerous exciting possibilities.

 

Opinion: Have school reopening decisions been driven by union influence?

AEI

Frederick M. Hess speaks with Corey DeAngelis about DeAngelis' findings that districts in areas with stronger unions were less likely to reopen in person.

 

Higher Ed:

 

UC And Cal State Systems To Require COVID-19 Vaccinations For In-Person Fall Classes​​ 

VPR

The California State University and University of California systems announced on Thursday that all 33 campuses will require students and staff returning for in-person instruction this fall to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

See also:​​ 

 

Stanislaus State among California colleges to require COVID-19 vaccinations this fall

Modesto Bee

California State University and the University of California announced Thursday that the COVID-19 vaccine will be required of anyone on campus as soon as the shots are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

 

Who will be next president of Modesto Junior College? Three finalists are revealed.

Modesto Bee

A search committee has chosen three finalists who are applying to be the next president of Modesto Junior College. The trio will participate in forums set for April 29 that are open to the public via Zoom.

 

Expanding Cal Grant would help a quarter million older students — and cost hundreds of millions more dollars

CalMatters

Though California’s financial aid grant is among the most generous in the country, the Cal Grant leaves out hundreds of thousands of students each year who are older and took more than a year to get to college after​​ finishing high school.​​ 

 

Why not replace students from China with those from America?

The Hill

Students from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) who attend American universities, particularly at the graduate level, long have been recognized as a potential threat to the integrity of American intellectual property.​​ 

 

3 ways the Biden administration can help​​ families and student loan borrowers affected by the pandemic

Brookings

As of September 2020, approximately 43 million Americans held federal student debt. Even before the pandemic, struggling borrowers reported that financial insecurity was a major barrier​​ to repayment.​​ 

 

Apprenticeships:

 

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

How Biden’s new U.S. climate target compares with those of California and world

Los Angeles Times

For years, California has been more ambitious than the United States in fighting climate change. But now that President Biden has proposed slashing the nation’s planet-warming emissions in half by 2030, the roles seem to have flipped.

See also:​​ 

 

California Drought: NASA Says Land Sinking Faster In San Joaquin Valley

Capital Public Radio

A new report from NASA's​​ Jet Propulsion Laboratory​​ shows the San Joaquin Valley is sinking much faster than ever before. Blame it on the drought. And groundwater pumping.

 

The U.S. is the biggest carbon emitter in history. Where do other nations stand?

Los Angeles Times

It’s not just the United States — other major polluters around the world have also been falling behind the climate goals they set for themselves under the Paris agreement.

 

McEwen: A Cleaner, Greener Fresno Is Sign of Good Things Ahead

GVWire

If you’ve driven Freeway 41 recently, you might have noticed that the homeless encampments are gone. All around town, streets and alleys are starting to sparkle after the removal of​​ litter, trash, and dumped couches.

 

Energy:

 

Gavin Newsom tells state agencies to ban fracking, phase out oil extraction

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday directed state agencies to ban fracking by 2024 and plan to phase out all oil extraction in California by 2045.

See also:

 

PG&E: Residential customer bills will be lower this month because of California Credit Climate

Bakersfield Californian

Pacific Gas and Electric Company said its residential customers will receive lower bills this month in large part because of California Climate Credit.

 

Methane Emissions Loophole Threatens New Mexico’s Green Goals

Capital & Main

Of those 30 wells within a mile of his house, 22 are stripper wells, a category of old wells that produce comparatively small amounts of oil and gas but can still pollute​​ and leak as much as more productive wells.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Lull In COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Leads To Thousands Of Returned Doses – Virus Update For April 23

VPR

Soon after COVID-19 vaccines were first developed, health authorities estimated that as much as 40 to 50 percent of the population would be reluctant to get it. However, vaccination clinics in the San Joaquin Valley are already reporting a lull in demand.

See also:

 

Adults vaccinated for COVID can gather safely, but can kids join in? What experts say

Miami Herald

Federal COVID-19​​ guidance​​ released in March said it’s safe for fully vaccinated adults from different households to meet indoors without masks. It was the nation’s first step back to normal social gatherings since the coronavirus pandemic started.​​ 

See also:​​ 

 

COVID magnified Fresno County’s racial health disparities. What lessons will be learned?

Fresno Bee

Health professionals have long recognized a correlation between poverty and health, particularly in rural communities where many residents confront language barriers and a lack of access to medical care, transportation or healthy food.

 

Coronavirus weekly need-to-know: Vaccine failure, outdoor masks, flushing toilets & more

Fresno Bee

More than 32 million people in the United States have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Saturday afternoon, April 24, according to Johns Hopkins University. That includes more than 571,000 people who have died nationwide.

 

As At-Home Coronavirus Tests Hit Pharmacies, What Role Can They Play In The Pandemic?

VPR

As of this week, you can buy relatively low-priced COVID-19 rapid tests to take at home. The tests are available through pharmacies and do not require a prescription to buy one.

 

CDC Director​​ Recommends Pregnant People Receive COVID-19 Vaccines

VPR

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "recommends that pregnant people receive the COVID-19 vaccine," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said Friday, citing a new study on the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

 

L.A. County prepping to resume administering Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles County is ready to once again administer the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after federal health agencies on Friday officially lifted the pause that’s kept those doses in limbo for more than a week.

 

Will lessons learned from COVID soften the blow during the next pandemic?

Mercury News

When the next pandemic hits — and sorry, yes, there will be a next pandemic — what wisdom will we have gleaned from the drama and trauma of COVID-19?

 

Human Services:

 

From scarcity to abundance: US faces calls to share vaccines

Fresno Bee

In the United States, more than one-fourth of the population — nearly 90 million people — has been fully vaccinated and supplies are so robust that some states are turning down planned shipments from the federal government.

 

Supervisors to consider approving two new psychiatric health facilities that have drawn criticism from private health providers

Bakersfield Californian

On Tuesday, Kern County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will ask the Board of Supervisors to approve construction of two new facilities that​​ will treat adults and children facing mental health crises.

 

Biden Administration Looks For Help With Next Phase Of Pitching COVID​​ Vaccines

VPR

The Biden administration is moving into a new phase of its campaign to vaccinate as many Americans as possible for the coronavirus, one where the government may not always be the best messenger to persuade people to get their shot.

 

State’s ‘MyTurn’ Website Bypassed For Most Vaccine Appointments

Capital Public Radio

For months, Alyssa Jenkins logged countless hours on​​ MyTurn, California’s COVID vaccine registration site as she searched for precious appointment slots for her fellow teachers.​​ 

 

Trust in J&J's vaccine is low, yet overall intent to get inoculated rises: POLL

abcNews

Fewer than half of Americans see the J&J​​ coronavirus​​ vaccine as safe and barely more than a fifth of those not yet vaccinated would be willing to take it -- yet overall intentions to get vaccinated have risen since January in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.​​ 

 

Opinion: The covid-19 vaccines are an extraordinary success story. The media should tell it that way.

Washington Post

Recent news coverage is fueling a pernicious narrative: What’s the point of getting a covid-19 vaccine if the vaccinated might still get infected, if protection doesn’t last that long and if the vaccine itself could lead to dangerous outcomes such as blood clots?

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Key facts about U.S. immigration policies and Biden’s proposed changes

Pew Research Center

The Biden administration is acting on a number of fronts to reverse Trump-era restrictions on immigration to the United States.​​ 

 

Border Lawmakers See Different Answers to Immigration Quandary

Wall Street Journal

Two lawmakers recently visited the U.S.-Mexico border in their respective districts, calling for immediate government help. But they differed on what they wanted.

 

Most Latinos say U.S. immigration system needs big changes

Pew Research Center

Latinos broadly agree that the U.S. immigration system needs an overhaul, with large shares saying it requires major changes (53%) or needs to be completely rebuilt (29%).​​ 

 

Majority disapproves of Biden's handling of immigration at border: poll

The Hill

More than half of U.S. adults questioned said they disapprove of​​ President Biden's handling of the surge in Central American migrants, particularly young unaccompanied children, at the border with Mexico, according to a survey published early Sunday.

See also:

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Opponents of Tower Theatre sale win a court victory, attorney says. Here’s what it means

Fresno Bee

The opponents of the sale of Fresno’s Tower Theatre got a significant court ruling on Friday, according to the attorney of the Tower District business blocking the sale to a church.​​ 

 

Fresno city councilmember pushing for new park near Tower District

abc30

A new neighborhood park is expected to be developed near the Tower District in central Fresno. Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias is calling for the use of new funds provided by Measure P to create a new park where an old police substation once stood on Broadway and Elizabeth Streets.

 

'This​​ is about personal responsibility': Community members band together during Kern River bed cleanup

Bakersfield Californian

The amount of trash collected along the Kern River bed Saturday morning was startling. The community output that accompanied the effort to clean it up was just as inspirational.

 

Housing:

 

California’s housing market smashed another record. Here’s how much it costs to buy a home

Fresno Bee

The California housing market keeps smashing its own records. The median price for a single-family home in the Golden State reached a new high of $758,990​​ in March, according to state figures announced Friday by the Department of Finance.​​ 

See also:

Californians: Here’s why your housing costs are so high​​ CalMatters

 

New home sales surged 20.7% in March to 1.02 million

Business Journal

Sales of new homes surged 20.7% in March to the highest​​ level since 2006, rebounding from a sharp decline the previous month when severe winter storms wreaked havoc in many parts of the country.​​ 

See also:

 

Why seniors and disabled people are being forced to move from Stanislaus campground

Modesto Bee

When she received the notice in early April, telling her to leave within 30 days, Jackie Gregory thought she and her husband would pack their stuff in the motorhome and relocate to Oregon.

 

How much is rent relief helping Californians?

CalMatters

Complex rules and landlord resistance are limiting the success of an unprecedented effort to help tenants. Advocacy groups are concerned what will happen after a statewide eviction moratorium ends June 30.

 

Weatherizing homes could be one of the most vital legacies of Biden’s infrastructure plan

Brookings

Getting less attention, though, is one of the most environmentally and economically significant proposals: $213 billion to “produce, preserve, and retrofit more than two million affordable and sustainable places to live.”

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Restaurants still waiting on relief money from Feds. Will it be enough?

Business Journal

The Small Business Administration announced it will soon be getting relief funds out to the industry many considered the most impacted by Covid — restaurants.​​ 

 

More Than 2 Million Missing Stimulus Checks

CalMatters

A study finds people who didn’t file tax returns in the last three years could be missing out on federal and state stimulus dollars. But they​​ still have a chance to claim some assistance ahead of the May 17 tax deadline.

 

Editorial: The Dumbest Tax Increase

Wall Street Journal

If you need more evidence that ideology more than common sense is driving the Biden Presidency, look no further than its trial balloon to raise the top tax rate on capital gains to 43.4%.​​ 

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Southwest Airlines launches its Fresno service this weekend. Here’s what you need to know

Fresno Bee

Southwest Airlines, the low-cost carrier long coveted by Fresno city leaders and local travelers, will finally spread its wings at​​ Fresno Yosemite International Airport​​ on​​ Sunday. That’s when the city will celebrate its first arrival and departures to two cities in the western U.S.

See also:

 

Highway 1 reopens near Big Sur ‘ahead of schedule and on budget’

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom applauded the​​ reopening of Highway 1 near Big Sur​​ on Friday, nearly three months after debris flows sent part of the scenic roadway plunging into the ocean.

See also:

 

New Highway 132 segment in Modesto could open sooner than expected. Here’s why

Modesto Bee

Construction has gone faster than expected on the new Highway 132 segment in Modesto, which​​ could open by year’s end.

 

ACE will revive third train as pandemic eases. What’s up with Amtrak in Modesto area?

Modesto Bee

The Altamont Corridor Express soon will restore one of the trains suspended by COVID-19 a year ago. The commuter service between Stockton and San Jose will have three weekday round trips starting May 3.​​ 

 

Biden administration proposes restoring California’s right to set car pollution rules

Los Angeles Times

The Transportation Department announced Thursday it was withdrawing part of a Trump-era rule that blocked states from setting their own tough car pollution standards, setting the stage for a return of broader power to California to fight climate change.

 

California High-Speed Rail Authority to require all contractors to use zero-emission vehicles

Global Railway Review

In celebration of Earth Day 2021 on 22 April 2021, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has announced that it will require contractors use only zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) for their project fleets in all future construction contracts.

 

New report finds California’s electric transportation workforce will nearly double by 2024

Green Car Congress

A new report commissioned by Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) projects that California’s electric transportation (ET)-related workforce will nearly double by 2024.

 

Opinion: President Biden must move fast to save California’s high-speed​​ rail project

Merced Sun-Star

Sorry, Mr. President, but there’s no time for formalities. You better move fast if you’re going to save California’s high-speed rail project.

 

Opinion: It’s time to act on new electric vehicle incentives

CalMatters

Green jobs should be good jobs. We need to make this more than just a catchy phrase in California. We can take action on climate change by incentivizing the purchase of clean vehicles and at the same time raise up the workers who make those vehicles.

 

WATER

 

Two charts that show California’s severe drought conditions so far. Check your region

Sacramento Bee

More than 85% of California — and all of the Sacramento region — is in a “severe” drought, or worse, according to the​​ National Drought Mitigation Center.

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Proposed agreement could boost funds to fix Friant-Kern Canal

SJV Water

In what was hailed as a “landmark agreement,” farmers in an area of southern Tulare County blamed for sinking the Friant-Kern Canal from excessive groundwater pumping will chip in a hefty amount to help pay for a fix.

 

Federal, state money aims to mitigate drought harms

Business Journal

As drought realities set in, money is flowing to water authorities to fix wells and watersheds.

Fresno and Madera water sources will get their piece of $26 million in grants from the State of California’s Department of Water Resources.

 

Local legislators call for statewide drought emergency

Turlock Journal

As dry conditions persist locally and throughout California for a second straight year, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a drought emergency — but only in two of the state’s counties.

 

Dams built in Oregon and California may be​​ taken down due to impact on wildlife

CBSNews

For over a century, one of the most important salmon runs in the U.S. has had to contend with historic dams in Oregon and California. These dams have been responsible for the death of dozens of the thousands of​​ salmon due to poorer water quality. Anna Werner takes a look for the CBS News series Eye on Earth: Our Planet in Peril.

 

Walters: As drought hits California, long-term issues loom

CalMatters

Californians face another of its periodic droughts and also long-term questions about the supply and uses of water.

 

“Xtra”

 

Fresno reopening mega list: From movie theaters to dinner theater, here’s what we know

Fresno Bee

Earlier this week, Fresno County moved closer​​ to a return to normal — or a new normal — following more than a year of coronavirus restrictions that halted the majority of entertainment options in the region.

 

Three geniuses: Was Bakersfield a common denominator in the success of this talented trinity?

Bakersfield Californian

The death of Oildale native Gerald Haslam earlier this month got me thinking about a beautiful coincidence. It involves the great mystery of creativity, of time and place, and the origins of the spark that ignites the creation of art, music and poetry.