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.
Wells dry up, crops imperiled, farm workers in limbo as California drought grips San Joaquin Valley
Los Angeles Times
As yet another season of drought returns to California, the mood has grown increasingly grim across the vast and fertile San Joaquin Valley.
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
A new COVID-19 surge? Stanislaus health officer doesn’t see how the state can avoid it Modesto Bee
Stanislaus hospital cases rise again; still in red tier Modesto Bee
Mosquito district advises residents to use precautions as temperatures rise
Turlock Journal
As pleasant spring temperatures transition into sweltering summer days and nights, mosquitoes will be more active and looking to make a meal of any arm, leg, neck, etc. they can find.
‘It’s hard when you have to give up.’ Two more Modesto eateries close amid pandemic
Modesto Bee
Two more Modesto originals have closed their doors during the pandemic, a reminder of the ongoing economic impact COVID-19 has had on valley restaurants and the rebuilding for many yet to come.
Garth Stapley: How to offend people of color by telling them how to behave with Modesto police
Modesto Bee
“Welcome to (our restaurant). I’ll be your server. Can I start you off with something to drink?” The question seemed odd. Not the words, which every diner hears every day in every restaurant like this one in downtown Modesto.
Atwater mayor accused of racist treatment of street vendor in Facebook video
Fresno Bee
Atwater Mayor Paul Creighton faced sharp criticism Monday for his treatment of a street vendor, whom some say was targeted in a racist manner.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
California releases new COVID county tiers. Where does Fresno rank on reopening scale? Fresno Bee
COVID-19 update: County stats continue to be encouraging Porterville Recorder
How much is voter confidence worth? Fresno County could spend $4 million or more
Fresno Bee
Fresno County is mulling hiring a credit check company and even spending up to $4 million to clean up voter rolls in the wake of a presidential election that had many claiming fraud.
Fresno EOC Foster Grandparent Program celebrates the completion of Technology Training for seniors
Fresno EOC
COVID-19 has resulted in school shutdowns nationwide. As a result, Foster Grandparents (seniors 55 and over) lost the ability to volunteer in the classrooms as they usually would.
Valley Voices: Program to keep Fresno’s most likely shooters from firing guns will save lives
Fresno Bee
In 2015, a baseball all-star and Fresno City College student was gunned down outside of a family member’s home. In April of 2020, a former wide receiver at Edison High School lost his life due to gun violence.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Kern Public Health reports 105 new coronavirus cases Tuesday Bakersfield Californian
Kern County sees declining COVID-19 numbers for another week, but must remain in orange tier Bakersfield Californian
Kern supervisors prepare to declare local drought emergency
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Board of Supervisors is preparing to declare a state of emergency due to drought, which could put pressure on Gov. Gavin Newsom to do the same statewide.
Kern supervisors approve two new psychiatric health facilities
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Board of Supervisors have approved construction of two psychiatric health facilities that officials hope will counter an increase in those seeking treatment.
Opinion: Will California’s Kevin McCarthy ever have the courage to break up with Donald Trump?
Fresno Bee
Someone, please give Kevin McCarthy a backbone. He’s either lost his — or he never had one in the first place. How else do you explain his recent effort to gaslight us into believing President Donald Trump made a reasonable and timely effort to quell the Jan. 6 resurrection
See also:
State:
COVID Update:
California COVID mask mandate could change following new CDC guidelines, Newsom says Sacramento Bee
In dramatic turnaround, California now has the lowest coronavirus case rate in the U.S. San Diego Union-Tribune
Governor Newsom Statement on CDC Outdoor Mask Guidance Office of Governor Gavin Newson
Central California plays role in Recall Newsom effort meeting signature requirements
abc30
The fate of Governor Gavin Newsom will soon go to California voters. The California secretary of state's office announced Monday that more than 1.6 million recall signatures have been verified -- about 100,000 more than needed to force a vote on Newsom.
See also:
California recall has enough signatures to make ballot Business Journal
Effort To Remove Calif. Gov. Newsom Collects Enough Signatures To Force Recall Vote VPR
Gavin Newsom faces a recall election. Here are the next steps Sacramento Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom to face recall election as Republican-led effort hits signature goal Los Angeles Times
Will the California recall of 2021 be wild or mild? Here’s your guide Los Angeles Times
California braces for another 'clown car' of recall candidates Politico
Editorial: California recall will waste taxpayer dollars. But it’s all Gavin Newsom’s fault Sacramento Bee
Editorial: Sigh. The bitter, costly — and probably very silly — recall nightmare begins Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
Facebook, Google and Blue Shield of California are among the companies that contributed $226 million to government causes on Newsom’s behalf last year, an unprecedented level of spending that is raising alarms about the influence large corporations are amassing.
Can serial killer’s prosecutor end losing streak for GOP, independents in California elections?
Fresno Bee
California is in chaos, Anne Marie Schubert says, and she wants to be the person to fix it. Sacramento County’s district attorney on Monday launched her candidacy for California attorney general while slamming Democratic leaders’ progressive policies on law and order.
Capitol employees asked to submit vaccine status as California Legislature moves to reopen
Sacramento Bee
Employees for the California state Assembly and Senate are being asked to submit their COVID-19 vaccination status as a way to assess whether the building is ready to safely reopen to more people.
California is set to lose a congressional seat. How will that affect upcoming elections?
Fresno Bee
California is set to lose a congressional seat next year due to slow population growth. That means the state’s share of political power in Congress will decrease for the first time in its history, fall from 53 seats in the House of Representatives to 52.
See also:
California to lose congressional seat as population in Golden State falls flat abc30
California loses congressional seat for first time CalMatters
Innovative Upgrades for California Government
Little Hoover Commission
The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a new age of digital connectivity. Millions of Americans now work remotely, attend school online, and shop for every need from the comfort of their homes.
Walters: A showdown over crime and punishment looms
CalMatters
California will see a high-octane showdown over crime and punishment next year as Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert challenges newly appointed Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Walters: Biden’s tax plan could hit California hard
CalMatters
President Joe Biden’s tax increases proposals will have a big effect on California, which is highly dependent on taxing the rich.
Opinion: Here are priorities to reform the Brown Act for government transparency
CalMatters
After nearly 70 years of implementation and 14 months of a pandemic, meaningful improvements to the open meetings guarantees in the Ralph M. Brown Act will take longer than one seven-month legislative session.
Federal:
COVID Update:
CDC issues new outdoor face mask guidance for fully vaccinated people abc30
CDC says many Americans can now go outside without a mask Bakersfield Californian
CDC: If You're Vaccinated, You Don't Need To Mask Outdoors (Unless You're In A Crowd) VPR
Vaccinated people can now do these things safely, CDC says in updated COVID guidance Modesto Bee
CDC relaxes its advice about wearing masks outdoors Los Angeles Times
CDC: Wearing masks outside not necessary for vaccinated people Roll Call
Do You Need to Wear a Mask Outside When Fully Vaccinated? Wall Street Journal
COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
White House seeks to make massive boost to IRS enforcement centerpiece of new spending plan
Washington Post
White House officials plan to make a massive increase in enforcement at the Internal Revenue Service a central component of the tax proposal they will unveil this week alongside a $1.8 trillion spending package, according to four people briefed on the matter.
See also:
IRS audits of corporations, wealthy Americans would increase under Biden tax plan Los Angeles Times
Biden to Seek $80 Billion to Bolster IRS, Tax Enforcement Wall Street Journal
The Trouble with the Tax Code Is the Tax Code National Review
Biden to Propose $1.8 Trillion Plan Aimed at Families, Tax Hikes for Wealthiest Americans
Wall Street Journal
President Biden plans to lay out a $1.8 trillion proposal that includes new spending on child care, education and paid leave and extensions of some tax breaks, using a prime-time address Wednesday to pitch a package he says will benefit the U.S. economy and workers.
See also:
Biden’s ‘Families Plan’ would tax rich to help schools, child care, community college and more Los Angeles Times
Democrats aim for paid family leave and aid well beyond Biden’s expected plan Los Angeles Times
Neal unveils paid leave, child care plan ahead of Biden speech Roll Call
White House proposes $1.8 trillion package that would dramatically expand education, safety net programs Washington Post
Child Tax Credit Expansion Gets Push From Democrats Ahead of Biden Speech Wall Street Journal
Biden to unveil $1.8 trillion plan to support children, families and education PBS
Biden’s spending plan backtracks bipartisan progress on childcare and paid leave AEI
Opinion: The White House is proposing at least two major expansions of the child-care system Washington Post
Here's What You Need To Know Ahead Of Biden's Address To A Joint Session Of Congress
NPR
President Biden is set to address a joint session of Congress for the first time. He'll be delivering the address later into his term than most presidents have traditionally done so, giving him a bigger window to draw from as he looks to highlight early accomplishments.
Opinion: Biden’s First 100 Days—and the Next 100
Wall Street Journal
As Biden heads toward the 100th day of his presidency and prepares to address the nation, he has reason to feel good about his time in office so far. His job approval is holding steady in the mid-50s, and he is getting high marks for his character, leadership and demeanor.
Biden’s coronavirus success threatened by political divisions he pledged to heal
Los Angeles Times
Since President Biden took office, he’s talked about two goals more than any others — ending the COVID-19 pandemic to ignite a jobs boom, and uniting a politically divided country.
Biden To Establish $15-An-Hour Minimum Wage For Federal Contractors
VPR
President Biden will require federal contractors to pay their employees a minimum wage of $15 an hour — a hike that will benefit a few hundred thousand people and underscore the broader Democratic push to raise the federal pay floor to the same level.
Biden nominates Bose for FRA administrator role
Progressive Railroading
Bose’s leadership in senior-level roles at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the FRA under two secretaries led to the passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).
Congress sees momentum on police reform, but officer immunity still an obstacle
Los Angeles Times
Lawmakers — working mostly behind closed doors — hope the conviction last week of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin could provide the tipping point after decades of failed attempts to overhaul policing tactics.
GOP Works to Override Voters on Medicaid, Higher Wages, Pot
PEW
Progressives cheered last year when voters in several red states approved left-leaning ballot initiatives...But this year, Republican lawmakers in all those states are trying to undermine such voter-approved measures and to make it harder for future ballot initiatives to pass.
Opinion: Four Principles for a Conservative Infrastructure Alternative
National Review
Rather than let the Left set the terms of the debate, conservatives should ask themselves how they would approach infrastructure if they were setting the agenda.
Which states gain and lose in the new census report? Here are 3 takeaways.
Washington Post
The U.S. Census Bureau announced its once-in-a-decade reapportionment totals Monday, bestowing new congressional districts and electoral votes upon certain states while taking them away from others.
See also:
US marks slowest population growth since the Depression Business Journal
8 takeaways from the 2020 census reapportionment of the House Roll Call
Census results start wave of litigation over new maps Roll Call
Opinion: Some bad news about our future gives Biden a big opening. Will he seize it? Washington Post
GOP Leaders Clash on Trump at Annual Retreat
Wall Street Journal
House GOP leaders presented clashing views at their annual gathering over the 2020 election, the best way to win back control of Congress and the role former President Donald Trump will play in the party’s future.
Supreme Court to decide if students have right to post vulgar comments about teachers
Los Angeles Times
The Supreme Court will hear its most important case in decades on the 1st Amendment rights of students, and ultimately is expected to decide whether young people are free to post vulgar, cruel or racist comments about their teachers, coaches, classmates or school.
Other:
How misinformation is used to amplify and solidify ideology
PBS
There are many myths and much disinformation circulating online, including those related to the pandemic. Fox News host Tucker Carlson made headlines on Monday for his anti-mask stance that included false claims.
Fresno Bee
My name is Diane Pearce. I am 41, own and operate a successful small business with my husband and live in Clovis. I was born and raised in this area and absolutely love the Central Valley and our people.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, May 2, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "Redistricting 2.0: New and Improved?" - Guests: Alvaro Hernandez, Executive Director - Citizens Redistricting Commission; Pedro Toledo, Commissioner - Citizens Redistricting Commission; Eric McGhee, Senior Fellow - PPIC; Dan Walters - CalMatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, May 2, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "Will Redistricting Change the Political Landscape?" - Guests: Tom Holyoke, Professor of Political Science - Fresno State; Jessica Trounstine, Professor of Political Science - UC Merced; Ivy Cargile, Asst. Professor of Political Science - CSU Bakersfield. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Wells dry up, crops imperiled, farm workers in limbo as California drought grips San Joaquin Valley
Los Angeles Times
As yet another season of drought returns to California, the mood has grown increasingly grim across the vast and fertile San Joaquin Valley.
USDA chief says climate plans won’t involve a leaner meat diet
Roll Call
The Biden administration will not use eminent domain to take farm or ranch property out of production to meet its climate goal of conserving 30 percent of U.S. land and water by 2030, nor will it try to restrict people's meat consumption.
See also:
Japanese ag company settling into new Valley home
Business Journal
Manda Fermentation USA Inc., the U.S. brand of Manda Fermentation Co., Ltd., a Japanese health food manufacturer founded in 1987, has increased its footprint in the San Joaquin Valley since it first made connections with Fresno State back in 2019.
USDA Moves To Feed Millions Of Children Over The Summer
VPR
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new effort Monday to feed millions of children this summer, when free school meals traditionally reach just a small minority of the kids who rely on them the rest of the year.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Congress sees momentum on police reform, officer immunity still an obstacle
Los Angeles Times
Although congressional negotiators remain optimistic about reaching agreement on a police-reform bill in the coming weeks, many of the same issues that divided Democrats and Republicans last summer when they first tried to pass policing reform after George Floyd’s murder remain as sticking points.
California’s Major Cities See Increases in Homicides and Car Thefts
Public Policy Institute of California
Four of California’s major cities—Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, and San Francisco—have seen a notable rise in homicides and car thefts, even while violent and property crimes overall remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Public Safety:
Half prioritize gun violence laws, down from its post-Parkland level: POLL
abcNews
The public's priority on enacting new laws to try to address gun violence has waned from its level three years ago, despite continued mass shooting incidents across the country.
See also:
Public CEO
This ruling acknowledges the growing pressure for more transparency in law enforcement and may also lead to a further increase in PRA requests.
When communities try to hold police accountable, law enforcement fights back
Washington Post
Police nationwide have frequently defied efforts to impose civilian oversight and, in turn, undermined the ability of communities to hold law enforcement accountable, according to a Washington Post review.
Valley Voices: Program to keep Fresno’s most likely shooters from firing guns will save lives
Fresno Bee
In 2015, a baseball all-star and Fresno City College student was gunned down outside of a family member’s home. In April of 2020, a former wide receiver at Edison High School lost his life due to gun violence.
Fire:
Series of fires in Bakersfield's Westchester neighborhood has residents on edge
Bakersfield Californian
It was about 1:30 a.m. Sunday when someone banged on Chris Lowe’s front door to alert him that something behind his Westchester home was on fire.
California is primed for a severe fire season, but just how bad is anybody’s guess
Los Angeles Times
At this point, it seems like almost a given that California will see another historic fire season. A meager rainy season is in the rearview mirror. Snowpack is depleted. Vegetation and soils are parched.
State contractors continue to remove debris caused by Castle Fire
Visalia Times Delta
One of the major concerns is debris and asbestos removal. Consolidated Debris Removal Program contractors have made progress in site assessments, asbestos assessments and asbestos abatements at homes in both Central Valley counties.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Brookings
Expanding unemployment insurance is important not just for individuals, but society at large. New research demonstrates how thoughtful implementation of unemployment benefits can help U.S. limit the spread of COVID-19 and bounce back from the pandemic.
Forbes
The world is at a tipping point when it comes to climate change, and over 80% of executives are concerned, according to Deloitte Global’s 2021 Climate Check report. Perhaps that’s because most global organizations are already starting to feel its negative impacts.
A quarter of women say they are financially worse off a year into pandemic, Post-ABC poll finds
Washington Post
A Washington Post-ABC News poll underscores the ongoing struggles that women and people of color face as they deal with job loss, caring for children, and rising food and rent costs.
See also:
Nearly 1.5 Million Mothers Are Still Missing From the Workforce Wall Street Journal
SBDC webinar will address changes to federal recovery programs
Bakersfield Californian
Changes to the federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan grant program, including the new Supplemental Targeted Advance offering $5 billion to small businesses clobbered by the pandemic, will be discussed during a free, locally produced webinar on Wednesday.
US lawmakers look to trade to counter China’s strength
Agri-Pulse
Lawmakers, lobbyists and farm groups are anxious for the Biden administration to take its first concrete steps to begin negotiating international trade agreements and reform at the World Trade Organization to improve international access for U.S. goods.
Fed Likely to Keep Rates Near Zero as Recovery Picks Up
Wall Street Journal
Federal Reserve officials are wrapping up a two-day policy meeting Wednesday at which they are likely to maintain ultralow interest rates to support the economy’s accelerating recovery.
See also:
Opinion: The Biden stock market
The Hill
Today, it would seem that Keynes’s remarks about market irrationality might be particularly applicable to President Biden’s stock market.
Jobs:
A new California law tells companies to diversify their boards. It isn’t working for Latinos
Fresno Bee
The number of Latinos serving on California corporate boards of directors trails far behind other groups despite a recent law mandating that publicly traded companies diversify their leadership, according to a new report.
Biden To Establish $15-An-Hour Minimum Wage For Federal Contractors
VPR
President Biden will require federal contractors to pay their employees a minimum wage of $15 an hour — a hike that will benefit a few hundred thousand people and underscore the broader Democratic push to raise the federal pay floor to the same level.
EDUCATION
K-12:
California is keeping an eye on this education program in Merced County. Here’s why
Fresno Bee
The program started growing after getting more funding from the public health department and the state, Adrian said. Then in 2019, the county was one of 10 chosen for a grant that allowed it to offer services to children with special healthcare needs.
Kern Literacy Council seeking tutors both online and in-person
Bakersfield Californian
Kern Literacy Council is seeking volunteers to tutor students both online and in-person. All it takes is two hours a week and training is provided by the organization.
California approves ethnic studies curriculum for K-12 schools after years of debate
Los Angeles Times
The new curriculum embraces an approach to ethnic studies that focuses on the four core groups but evolved to accommodate a breadth of experiences, including lessons on the Jewish, Armenian and Sikh communities in the U.S.
CalMatters
Which kids have access follows a stark pattern: Across urban and rural areas alike, public schools with more students in poverty were far more likely to serve households that lacked a basic broadband connection at home in the months before school went online.
Statewide Survey: Californians and Education
Public Policy Institute of California
PPIC’s annual statewide survey on Californians and education examines views on school reopenings and student learning during the pandemic, as well as overall perceptions of school quality and diversity.
See also:
Opinion: Where’s the logic in California state school testing this year? Modesto Bee
Podcast: Alternative Education: K-12 schools during and after the pandemic AEI
Higher Ed:
Dolores Huerta honored with dedications by all 23 CSU campuses, including CSUB
Bakersfield Californian
Dolores Huerta received a belated birthday gift on Tuesday afternoon, just a little late for her 91st birthday. “I’m sorry this is delayed, but this is going to be a little extra special,” Cal State Bakersfield President Lynnette Zelezny promised her.
MJC presidential finalists named and forums scheduled
Turlock Journal
The Modesto Junior College (MJC) Presidential Search Committee has selected three finalists in the process to become the next MJC President.
California's public universities to require COVID-19 vaccine
abcNews
Two of the nation’s largest university systems say they intend to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, faculty and staff on University of California and California State University campuses this fall.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
What are the most polluted cities in America?
Fresno Bee
Check out the 10 most polluted cities in the United States according to the American Lung Association's 2021 "State of the Air" report. Did your city make the list?
Battered, burned but alive: Time will heal park’s wounds, but it needs big money, too
CalMatters
Ravaged by wildfire last summer, a state park — and all its redwood forests, creatures and trails — will undergo a transformation. Big Basin Redwoods will be back after a massive rebuilding project. But what will it look like?
Institute for Local Government
All Californians deserve to live in communities where they can have access to clean air and water, clean transportation, affordable housing and economic opportunity. Yet many communities across the state lack the ability to make this a reality for their residents.
Swift action to cut methane emissions could slow Earth’s warming by 30% study finds
Washington Post
Moving quickly to cut emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas produced by everything from livestock farming to fossil fuel extraction, could slow the rate of the Earth’s warming as much as 30 percent, new research has found.
Energy:
Biden Administration to Finance $8 Billion in Power-Grid Improvements
Wall Street Journal
The Biden administration rolled out new programs Tuesday to bolster the U.S. power grid, framing them as part of its effort to fight climate change through infrastructure improvements needed to expand use of alternative energy.
Biden releases money in push to modernize U.S. electric grid
PBS
The federal government said Tuesday it is making more than $8 billion available to build and improve the nation’s transmission lines as part of its efforts to improve America’s aging electric grid and meet President Joe Biden’s ambitious clean-energy goals.
Natural Gas Is Getting Cheaper. Thousands Are Paying More To Heat Their Homes Anyway.
ProPublica
Charlotte Lane was a top lobbyist for utility companies. Now she regulates them. A little-known law she previously pushed has allowed them to charge West Virginians for expensive pipeline projects with little oversight and few consumer protections.
Editorial: Newsom’s Guide to Ban Fracking
Wall Street Journal
President Biden has been taking his climate cues from California, which is why Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order banning fracking late last week is sure to cause tremors beyond the state’s borders.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
CDC, FDA see no Pfizer vaccine link to heart problem, eyeing with ‘special interest’
Modesto Bee
The CDC and the FDA said on Monday they have not detected any indication so far that Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine causes inflammation of the heart, but are monitoring with “special interest” reports of cases.
See also:
Regarding vaccine reactions — and overreactions Turlock Journal
COVID-19 vaccine: Everything to know about your 2nd Pfizer or Moderna shot
abc30
Over the past few weeks, California has rapidly expanded its vaccine eligibility, meaning millions of people are getting a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for the first time.
Mosquito district advises residents to use precautions as temperatures rise
Turlock Journal
As pleasant spring temperatures transition into sweltering summer days and nights, mosquitoes will be more active and looking to make a meal of any arm, leg, neck, etc. they can find.
Social distancing indoors may provide ‘false sense of security,’ covid transmission study finds
Washington Post
The common six-foot social distancing guidance on its own may not be enough to protect people from contracting the coronavirus while spending time indoors, according to a report that examined the virus’s airborne transmission risk.
Biden administration expected to announce plan to ban menthol cigarettes
Washington Post
A prohibition on menthol cigarettes is a priority for Black health advocates and anti-tobacco groups, which note that African Americans have been disproportionately harmed by the product.
Ask PolitiFact: Can COVID-19 vaccine recipients donate blood?
Politifact
Recently the American Red Cross has fielded questions from concerned potential blood donors uncertain if they can give blood after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. But the answer is pretty straight-forward: Yes, with one small caveat.
Human Services:
Tulare County's largest healthcare system rebrands itself
Visalia Times Delta
Hospitals play a crucial role in a community. It's where life begins and sometimes ends. With 613 beds, Kaweah Delta Medical Center is the largest healthcare district in California and rests in the heart of Downtown Visalia.
Kern Public Health reaffirms amenities for public in fight against COVID-19
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Public Health Services Department is reminding residents that protection from COVID-19 is not far away.
Eliminating the Medi-Cal Asset Test: Making Access to Health Care More Equitable and Fair
California Budget and Policy Center
A new Fact Sheet by Policy Analyst Aureo Mesquita shows these Californians face further discrimination due to an asset test in Medi-Cal that unfairly applies only to people age 65 or older or who have a disability.
At-Home Covid-19 Tests Might Cost Too Much for Regular Use
Wall Street Journal
Covid-19 tests for people to use to get quick results at home are finally becoming available to buy at pharmacies and retailers. Yet an obstacle might stand in the way of regular use: cost.
IMMIGRATION
McConnell signals any immigration deal has to address border
The Hill
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) signaled on Tuesday that Republicans were unlikely to support a stand-alone bill for "Dreamers"— immigrants brought into the country as children — without addressing a surge along the border.
To lead ICE, Biden picks Texas sheriff who criticized Trump’s immigration policies
Washington Post
President Biden has nominated a critic of the Trump administration’s immigration policies to run U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, one of the federal government’s most polarizing agencies.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
The Pandemic Changed Where Americans Live
Wall Street Journal
Some young people are leaving cities earlier than is typical, while some older people are speeding up retirement moves. Fewer newcomers are giving cities a try, meaning the people moving out aren’t being replaced by fresh residents.
Housing:
Fresno slum apartment owner calls complaints ‘false accusations.’ Documents show otherwise
Fresno Bee
Fresno City Code Enforcement officers found dozens of health and safety violations — including fire risks from missing smoke detectors and hazardous electrical issues — while inspecting every unit at Manchester Arms.
A new Patterson development adds affordable rental housing units, single-family homes
Modesto Bee
A new affordable housing community opened in Patterson this month, adding 138 rental units in a community that’s seen rising housing prices as a Bay Area commuter town.
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.
PUBLIC FINANCES
California Is Awash in Cash, Thanks to a Booming Market
New York Times
As the pandemic raged last May, California was reeling. Spending on unemployment assistance and health care had jumped, while tax revenues were on the verge of cratering.
‘No-strike’ clause becomes election issue for SEIU Local 1000 amid pay cut frustration
Sacramento Bee
Two candidates running for president of SEIU Local 1000 are promoting a long-shot contract change that would give workers more flexibility to strike but would likely carry big implications for other employment protections.
Did Emergency PPP Loans Work? Nearly $800 Billion Later, We Still Don't Know
VPR
But despite plenty of success stories like Leckie's, there's little consensus on how many paychecks it actually protected, a question that lingers as the PPP is due to wind down in coming weeks after it depletes all of its available funds.
The Trouble with the Tax Code Is the Tax Code
National Review
If you are reading this, President Biden, I’d like to make a bet with you: If the IRS does get that $80 billion bump in its enforcement budget you’re asking for, I’ll wager that the agency still won’t manage to collect that $700 billion in illegally dodged taxes you promise it will.
TRANSPORTATION
REAL ID deadline extended because of COVID, giving Californians more time to get new license
Fresno Bee
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is extending the deadline to get a REAL ID, giving drivers and travelers until May 2023 to obtain the new identification card.
See also:
White House Is Preparing To Give Back California's Smog-Busting Powers
VPR
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Monday it is preparing to restore California's right to set its own vehicle emissions standards, in a widely anticipated reversal of Trump-era policies.
Biden nominates Bose for FRA administrator role
Progressive Railroading
Bose’s leadership in senior-level roles at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the FRA under two secretaries led to the passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).
Sacramento region planning a bike ‘freeway’ system linking cities and neighborhoods
Sacramento Bee
Fifty years ago, the state transformed Sacramento by creating an interconnected highway system through the capital region. Now it’s time to do the same for bicycles and pedestrians, a group of regional planners says.
WATER
Wells dry up, crops imperiled, farm workers in limbo as California drought grips San Joaquin Valley
Los Angeles Times
As yet another season of drought returns to California, the mood has grown increasingly grim across the vast and fertile San Joaquin Valley.
Hurtado's State Water Resiliency Act approved
Hanford Sentinel
Today, Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) released the following statement after her bill, SB 559—the State Water Resiliency Act of 2021—was approved by the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee by a 6-0 vote.
Kern supervisors prepare to declare local drought emergency
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Board of Supervisors is preparing to declare a state of emergency due to drought, which could put pressure on Gov. Gavin Newsom to do the same statewide.
Drought: Big Bay Area water agencies ask – but don’t yet require – public to conserve more water
Mercury News
After back-to-back dry winters, two of the Bay Area’s biggest water agencies on Tuesday moved forward with plans to urge the public to reduce water use to avoid shortages this year.
Drought-hit California moves to halt Nestlé from taking millions of gallons of water
The Guardian
California water officials have moved to stop Nestlé from siphoning millions of gallons of water out of California’s San Bernardino forest, which it bottles and sells as Arrowhead brand water, as drought conditions worsen across the state.
“Xtra”
Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park to reopen to guests. Here's when to get tickets
abc30
Anyone looking for an outdoor adventure can soon visit the enchanting Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park. The Sequoia Parks Conservancy announced Tuesday that it would reopen the cave to guests this season.
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