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:
Stanislaus County’s positivity rate continues to climb Modesto Bee
Stanislaus hospital cases rise again; still in red tier Modesto Bee
Capital Public Radio
San Joaquin County is taking action to diminish the alarming rate of Black mothers and infants dying from pregnancy complications. African American mothers are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than any other race.
One Modesto school district to hold drive-thru grad ceremonies. Parents, students fuming.
Modesto Bee
Modesto’s Sylvan Union appears to be one of very few school districts in Stanislaus County not planning traditional in-person eighth-grade promotion ceremonies for its three middle schools: Somerset, Savage and Ustach.
Biden nominates UC Merced professor to key leadership post in Department of Energy
Merced Sun-Star
President Joe Biden this month nominated UC Merced Professor Asmeret Asefaw Berhe to be the new director of the Office of Science in the federal Department of Energy.
87% of additional California deaths in 2020 pandemic were workers, UC Merced report shows
Fresno Bee
The state’s essential laborers continued showing up to work throughout the pandemic. But for many, those low-wage jobs on the frontlines came at a high cost.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Fresno may spend $22 million on more motels for homeless next year. But there’s a catch
Fresno Bee
Fresno leaders are proposing about $22 million in the next fiscal year to expand a program purchasing blighted motels and turning them into homeless housing.
Inequality’s deadly toll (Fresno highligted)
nature
On a hazy day in November, Hardeep Singh received a text message from the COVID-19 testing system at Foster Farms poultry company saying that his mother had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Report ranks best and worst cities for air quality. Any guess where Fresno landed on the list?
Fresno Bee
It’s not too difficult to guess where Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley sits on the American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report. The region has rather consistently ranked among the worst in the U.S. for ozone and particle pollution.
Warszawski: ‘Camp Fresno is a hidden gem.’ Dyer pledges to fix up Sierra site for families, youths
Fresno Bee
The sad, recent history of Camp Fresno has taken an encouraging turn. At the urging of Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, efforts are underway to reopen the city’s revered but neglected summer camp in the Sierra Nevada by June — with an expanded purpose.
Tulare County's largest healthcare system rebrands itself
Visalia Times Delta
On Tuesday, hospital officials announced Kaweah Delta will go by a new name — Kaweah Health. The rebrand is part of an effort to unify facilities, services and partners within the Kaweah healthcare system.
Nunes tops Ways and Means fundraising as GOP weathers PAC ‘pause’
Roll Call
California Rep. Devin Nunes and his fellow Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee outraised their Democratic counterparts in the first quarter of the year, despite many corporate donors hitting the pause button on giving campaign cash to GOP lawmakers after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Kern County reports 3 new deaths, 38 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday Bakersfield Californian
Kern County's homeless population exceeds 2,000, new report finds
Bakersfield Californian
The annual count of Kern County’s homeless shows a stark increase in the local population, but a change to the counting method could have influenced the results.
State study on phasing out oil production finds Kern will see greatest costs, benefits
Bakersfield Californian
Phasing out California oil and gas production in service of Sacramento's goal of statewide carbon neutrality by 2045 will require difficult health and economic tradeoffs impacting Kern more than anywhere else in the state.
State:
COVID Update:
Vaccines aplenty but some Californians struggle to get one Fresno Bee
Vaccine updates: Sacramento hits 1 million doses, J&J to resume shipments to California Sacramento Bee
California has lowest COVID-19 rate in America: Here’s why Mercury News
Inside California’s stunning COVID reversal CalMatters
87% of additional California deaths in 2020 pandemic were workers, UC Merced report shows
Fresno Bee
The state’s essential laborers continued showing up to work throughout the pandemic. But for many, those low-wage jobs on the frontlines came at a high cost.
How Gavin Newsom Landed in a California Jam
New York Times
For all the controversies and Covid-19 crises that now have Gov. Gavin Newsom of California facing a historic recall election, it was a pair of prosaic events on Nov. 6 — a court hearing and a dinner — that led to the current political instability that will grip the state for months to
come.
See also:
Who wants to recall Gov. Newsom? Signatures point to Trump’s California Los Angeles Times
Recalling a California governor, explained CalMatters
Newsom gets strong ratings on schools, economy despite recall attacks Politico
California gov hopeful Kevin Faulconer teases announcement about lowering tax burden FoxNews
California could be the 1st state to allow adults to add parents to health care plans
abc30
California could become the only state to let adult children add their parents as dependents to their health insurance plans, a policy proposal aimed at increasing insurance coverage among low-income people living in the country illegally who aren't eligible for government-funded coverage.
See also:
California Mulls Letting Adults Add Parents To Health Plans Business Journal
Is this the year California Legislature closes the digital divide?
CalMatters
It only took a global pandemic, a year spent working and studying at home and a once-in-a-generation spending blitz from the federal government, but 2021 might be the year that California finally goes big on broadband.
Commentary: Californians need state public banking options; here’s why
CalMatters
Low-income communities have borne the brunt of systemic racism in our financial institutions – a public bank can help change that.
California justice department to release gun violence data it withheld from UC researchers
Fresno Bee
The California Department of Justice announced this week that it will expand access to and begin releasing certain gun violence prevention data that it had withheld from a state-funded University of California research center.
Interview: Sacramento DA Anne Marie Schubert Discusses Her Candidacy For California Attorney General
Capital Public Radio
Just five days ago, now-former California Assemblyman Rob Bonta was sworn-in as the state’s Attorney General. And already he has a challenger for his spot as the state’s top law enforcement official: Sacramento County’s District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert.
Committee Issues Advice to Judges Using Social Media
California Courts Newsroom
A state Supreme Court committee issued advice for judges using social media to make statements about the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice.
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.
What everyone is getting wrong about California losing a congressional seat
SFGate
California said goodbye Monday to a U.S. House of Representatives seat for the first time ever due to newly released Census Bureau population data showing the Golden State is growing more slowly than other states.
See also:
California could have lost 2 congressional seats. Here’s how it found hard-to-reach residents Fresno Bee
Skelton: California’s sluggish population growth has lost us a congressional seat. That should concern us Los Angeles Times
There’s No Playbook for What Alex Padilla Is Trying to Do
The Atlantic
Alex Padilla was radicalized early. The young man was 21, freshly graduated from MIT with a mechanical-engineering degree, and he had returned to his childhood home in the San Fernando Valley to figure out his next step.
Federal:
COVID Update:
Pfizer, Moderna vaccines cut COVID hospitalizations by 94% in older adults, CDC finds Fresno Bee
CDC: If You're Vaccinated, You Don't Need To Mask Outdoors (Unless You're In A Crowd) VPR
Biden team advances COVID-19 workplace mask rules after Democrats demand explanation Modesto Bee
AP analysis: The expected COVID baby boom may be a baby bust Fresno Bee
Biden marks momentous 100 days by challenging Congress to take further bold actions
Los Angeles Times
President Biden, who has already signed one of the costliest measures in U.S. history to help the country rebound from the coronavirus crisis, will push for even more aggressive, long-term actions to reshape American life during his first address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
See also:
6 takeaways from President Biden’s address to Congress Los Angeles Times
Biden’s promises for his first 100 days: Kept, broken and incomplete Los Angeles Times
Biden and Harris hit the road after joint session address to sell agenda Roll Call
At 100 days, Biden seeks to leverage narrow majorities to reverse the Reagan era Washington Post
4 takeaways from Biden’s first address to Congress Washington Post
Biden’s Joint Address to Congress: Key Takeaways Wall Street Journal
Biden’s Challenge: Pushing His Agenda in Congress as Window Narrows Wall Street Journal
Fact-checking President Joe Biden's first speech to Congress PolitiFact
CNN Poll: 7 in 10 who watched say Biden’s speech left them feeling optimistic CNN
Biden’s 100-day strategy: Under-promise and over-deliver Brookings
At the 100-day mark, has Biden kept his campaign promises? Washington Post
Column: ‘Pleasantly boring,’ or how Joe Biden succeeds by not being Donald Trump Los Angeles Times
Opinion: Biden’s address to Congress proves we have an adult back in the presidency Washington Post
Opinion: History writ large and small Washington Post
Opinion: Biden Gambles on His Feel for the Voters Wall Street Journal
Washington Post
The White House on Wednesday unveiled a $1.8 trillion spending and tax plan aimed at dramatically expanding access to education and safety-net programs for families, the latest effort by President Biden to try to turn some of his campaign promises into new policy.
See also:
Biden Pushes Broad Economic Agenda in Speech to Congress Wall Street Journal
Climatec: American Rescue Plan – What does it mean for your City PublicCEO
Biden calls for sweeping actions as U.S. emerges from pandemic Los Angeles Times
Editorial: Biden’s Cradle-to-Grave Government Wall Street Journal
Editorial: Biden’s plan isn’t radical. He’s merely making up for decades of federal neglect Los Angeles Times
Nine ways Joe Biden and Kamala Harris aim to make the U.S. like California
CalMatters
With Democrats holding all the political power in California for nearly the last decade, the Golden State has evolved into a laboratory of big blue ideas. Put a price on carbon? We’ve done it. Ban assault weapons? We’ve done that too.
Harris, Pelosi to make history seated behind Biden at speech
Bakersfield Californian
Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are set to make history Wednesday as the first women — one of them Black and Indian American — to share the stage in Congress during a presidential address.
See also:
A president flanked by two California women of power speaks before a nearly empty House Los Angeles Times
Editorial: Some good from the pandemic era: Online access to government meetings
Los Angeles Times
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a mixed bag for the public’s oversight of government. The shutdowns prevented people from going to watch city councils, boards of supervisors and state lawmakers do their work and offering direct, face-to-face input.
Supreme Court weighs student’s right to free speech in the internet era
Los Angeles Times
The Supreme Court struggled Wednesday to decide when a student’s right to free speech should shield her from being disciplined by teachers for online postings that may include vulgar, demeaning or racist comments about her school.
Opinion: The 2020 Census story: What you need to know
AEI
On Monday, the US Census Bureau released the 2020 population estimates for the United States. These numbers and the final counts released later this year will guide the drawing of congressional districts across the US. Below, tapping into the work of our colleagues and friends who are Census experts, are some of the highlights.
See also:
Other:
Fresno Bee
Last month, former Fresno Police Officer Rick Fitzgerald was revealed as former leader in the Fresno Proud Boys as a “third degree” member responsible for, among other things, recruitment and the screening of new members.
Commentary: In California, voter suppression starts in high school
CalMatters
If we care about young people having a voice in elections, schools can start taking their students’ role in our democracy seriously.
Opinion: The trivialization of American politics
Roll Call
Depending on your age, you may not remember when most federal elections were about issues. Sometimes the issues involved foreign policy and national security, such as the Panama Canal treaties, missiles in Europe, Quemoy-Matsu, or how the United States should respond to Soviet initiatives in Africa or the Western Hemisphere.
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
New summer food program to feed more than 30 million kids, USDA says. What to know
Fresno Bee
President Joe Biden’s administration on Monday announced a new effort to feed millions of children over the summer in an effort to address hunger and food insecurity. Here’s what to know about the program, including who is is eligible, how it works and more.
California organic farmer nominated as USDA undersecretary
FarmProgress
President Joe Biden nominated Jenny Lester Moffitt to serve as undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs under Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Major California cities see sharp increase in homicides, car thefts during COVID pandemic
Merced Sun-Star
Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego and San Francisco have seen a significant rise in homicides and car thefts in 2020, according to California Department of Justice data reviewed by the Public Policy Institute of California.
‘Sitting ducks for organized crime’: How Biden border policy fuels migrant kidnapping, extortion
Los Angeles Times
With shaking hands, Karen Cruz Caceres manages to hit record on the call. “How many days have you gone without food?” she asks into the phone. Tani, her younger sister, is heard sobbing. “Help me,” she gets out.
Public Safety:
California justice department to release gun violence data it withheld from UC researchers
Fresno Bee
The California Department of Justice announced this week that it will expand access to and begin releasing certain gun violence prevention data that it had withheld from a state-funded University of California research center.
U.S. court says ‘ghost gun’ plans can be posted online
Modesto Bee
Plans for 3D-printed, self-assembled “ghost guns” can be posted online without U.S. State Department approval, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.
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.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Federal Reserve is keeping key rate near zero, sees inflation as ‘transitory’
Los Angeles Times
The U.S. economy is quickly strengthening, inflation is showing signs of picking up and the nation is making progress toward defeating the viral pandemic.
Economy grew by 1.6% in first quarter, showing signs of boom to come
Washington Post
The U.S. economic recovery picked up speed in early 2021, with the economy growing 1.6 percent in the first three months of the year amid a coronavirus vaccination campaign and massive stimulus spending from the federal government.
See also:
U.S. Economy Grew Robustly in First Quarter Wall Street Journal
California Is Awash in Cash, Thanks to a Booming Market New York Times
How the Federal Reserve Is Increasing Wealth Inequality
ProPublica
The Fed’s low-interest-rate policies have stabilized the economy and turbocharged the stock market. But those who don’t own lots of stocks haven’t benefited anywhere near as much as those who do.
Jobs:
McDonald’s workers want more say over California labor conditions. This plan would help them
Fresno Bee
Lizzet Aguilar knew to speak up when she couldn’t hug her son. As the pandemic raged, she said she had worked for weeks at McDonald’s in Los Angeles without getting masks. She saw her co-workers being sent to clean other stores where people were getting ill.
Federal court rules California’s gig economy law applies to another group of workers
Sacramento Bee
A new California law directing employers to provide benefits to more workers applies to truck drivers, a federal court ruled Wednesday as it overturned a previous decision that had allowed them to operate as independent contractors.
Jobless claims hit new pandemic low for third straight week, as labor market picks up
Washington Post
Weekly jobless claims fell to a pandemic low for the third consecutive week, the Labor Department reported Thursday, with 553,000 Americans filing for initial unemployment benefits in the week that ended April 24.
See also:
EDUCATION
K-12:
California is keeping an eye on this education program in Merced County. Here’s why
Merced Sun-Star
In 2019, Merced county was one of 10 chosen for a grant that allowed it to offer services to children with special healthcare needs. Now the program follows a model that meets families where they are to provide education and resources.
One Modesto school district to hold drive-thru grad ceremonies. Parents, students fuming.
Modesto Bee
Modesto’s Sylvan Union appears to be one of very few school districts in Stanislaus County not planning traditional in-person eighth-grade promotion ceremonies for its three middle schools: Somerset, Savage and Ustach.
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education
Public Policy Institute of California
More than eight in ten Californians think K–12 students are falling behind academically during the COVID-19 pandemic.
See also:
Getting Back to School and Work California Budget & Policy Center
Parents worry children are falling behind but approve of Newsom’s handling of education, poll finds Los Angeles Times
Californians say students are falling behind, but still approve of Newsom on schools Sacramento Bee
CalMatters
About twice a week, the $9.99 per month internet connection falters. It’s often as Mario Ramírez finally wrangles his kids into their seats — just in time for virtual class.
Higher Ed:
Biden nominates UC Merced professor to key leadership post in Department of Energy
Merced Sun-Star
President Joe Biden this month nominated UC Merced Professor Asmeret Asefaw Berhe to be the new director of the Office of Science in the federal Department of Energy.
EdSource
As one of the leaders in offering free community college tuition to qualified low-income students, California is looking to get more federal assistance from President Biden’s proposals to make community college free and increase the federal Pell Grant to students.
Apprenticeships:
First ValleyBuild Class Hits 94% Graduation Rate
Valley Build
Eighteen students signed up for a Multi-Craft Pre-Apprenticeship class introducing them to a variety of construction trades. The Fresno-based course, which ran from Sept. 14 to Oct. 23, included 15 men and 3 women and boasted a 94% graduation rate.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Report ranks best and worst cities for air quality. Any guess where Fresno landed on the list?
Fresno Bee
It’s not too difficult to guess where Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley sits on the American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report. The region has rather consistently ranked among the worst in the U.S. for ozone and particle pollution.
See also:
Almost all types of air pollution disproportionately affect people of color Sacramento Bee
Deadly air pollutant ‘disproportionately and systematically’ harms Americans of color, study finds Washington Post
Biden’s Climate Pledge For First Time Pushes U.S. Beyond California Goals
KQED
Banning fracking by 2024, phasing out all new sales of gas-powered cars by 2035, and achieving carbon neutrality 10 years later are just a few of California’s goals making it a leader among U.S. states in tackling climate change.
25,000 Barrels Possibly Laced With DDT Are Found Off California Coast
New York Times
In 2011, a curious marine scientist captured a series of photos of the ocean floor that left him disturbed. Using a sea drone, he documented dozens of corroding industrial barrels, scattered 12 miles off the coast of Los Angeles.
Energy:
State study on phasing out oil production finds Kern will see greatest costs, benefits
Bakersfield Californian
Phasing out California oil and gas production in service of Sacramento's goal of statewide carbon neutrality by 2045 will require difficult health and economic tradeoffs impacting Kern more than anywhere else in the state.
Senate Votes to Reverse Trump-Era Loosening of Methane Emission Rules
Wall Street Journal
The Senate voted to restore regulations on methane gas that leaks into the air from U.S. oil and gas production, reversing a Trump-era policy and giving a boost to the Biden administration’s goal of reducing emissions.
State-Supported “Clean Energy” Loans Are Putting Borrowers At Risk of Losing Their Homes
ProPublica
Dozens of Missouri homeowners who used PACE loans to fix up their houses ended up trapped in debt and could soon see their homes sold at auction.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
87% of additional California deaths in 2020 pandemic were workers, UC Merced report shows
Fresno Bee
The state’s essential laborers continued showing up to work throughout the pandemic. But for many, those low-wage jobs on the frontlines came at a high cost.
Biden Administration Seeks Ban on Menthol Cigarettes
Wall Street Journal
The Biden administration intends to pursue a ban on menthol cigarettes, a policy move that could sweep from the market more than a third of all cigarettes sold in the U.S.
See also:
CA woman gets injected with wrong vaccine for 2nd shot; Doctor explains impact
abc30
It was the second shot California resident Veena Thomas had been for waiting for. Instead of relief what she felt was panic after the needle was pulled out.
Capital Public Radio
San Joaquin County is taking action to diminish the alarming rate of Black mothers and infants dying from pregnancy complications. African American mothers are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than any other race.
nature
On a hazy day in November, Hardeep Singh received a text message from the COVID-19 testing system at Foster Farms poultry company saying that his mother had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Human Services:
Tulare County's largest healthcare system rebrands itself
Visalia Times Delta
On Tuesday, hospital officials announced Kaweah Delta will go by a new name — Kaweah Health. The rebrand is part of an effort to unify facilities, services and partners within the Kaweah healthcare system.
California could be the 1st state to allow adults to add parents to health care plans
abc30
California could become the only state to let adult children add their parents as dependents to their health insurance plans, a policy proposal aimed at increasing insurance coverage among low-income people living in the country illegally who aren't eligible for government-funded coverage.
IMMIGRATION
Biden's first 100 days: How U.S. immigration policy has — and hasn't — changed
CBSNews
President Biden came into office pledging to usher in a new era of U.S. immigration policy by rolling back his predecessor's hard-line agenda, proposing to legalize undocumented immigrants, expanding legal immigration and making America a safe haven for refugees.
Biden Administration Limits Power Of ICE To Arrest Immigrants In Courthouses
VPR
In another reversal of Trump administration immigration enforcement policy, the Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that federal agents would no longer be permitted to arrest people in or near courthouses for most immigration violations.
Chief Justice Comments on Revised Immigration Enforcement Policy
California Courts Newsroom
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakakuye issued this statement following the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) announcement it will curtail immigration enforcement at or near courthouses.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Study analyzes possible impact of the Project Labor Agreement in Fresno
Valley Build
A municipal Project Labor Agreement (PLA) in the City of Fresno could support and sustain good-paying jobs with no significant cost increases or delays in construction projects, according to a new study.
Warszawski: ‘Camp Fresno is a hidden gem.’ Dyer pledges to fix up Sierra site for families, youths
Fresno Bee
The sad, recent history of Camp Fresno has taken an encouraging turn. At the urging of Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, efforts are underway to reopen the city’s revered but neglected summer camp along Dinkey Creek in the Sierra Nevada by June — with an expanded purpose.
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 Fresno apartment complex investigated by The Fresno Bee.
Fresno may spend $22 million on more motels for homeless next year. But there’s a catch
Fresno Bee
Fresno leaders are proposing about $22 million in the next fiscal year to expand a program purchasing blighted motels and turning them into homeless housing.
Kern County's homeless population exceeds 2,000, new report finds
Bakersfield Californian
The annual count of Kern County’s homeless shows a stark increase in the local population, but a change to the counting method could have influenced the results.
Emily Hamilton: Fixing America’s housing problem
AEI
In the United States, restrictive land-use regulations prevent developers from building housing in cities throughout the country. This has led to a shortage in housing supply and exorbitantly high housing costs — particularly in high-productivity cities.
PUBLIC FINANCES
California Is Awash in Cash, Thanks to a Booming Market
New York Times
In a single year, the state’s financial outlook has gone from surplus to deficit to surplus as capital gains tax collections have risen amid a soaring stock market and I.P.O. boom.
‘Revolutionary’ federal stimulus bill could cut California child poverty by half
CalMatters
The $1.9 trillion federal stimulus package includes a temporary expansion of the child tax credit. Some California experts are likening it to a universal basic income and say it’s urgently needed, especially for California’s families with undocumented parents left out of previous stimulus relief.
Commentary: Californians need state public banking options; here’s why
CalMatters
Low-income communities have borne the brunt of systemic racism in our financial institutions – a public bank can help change that.
IRS audits of corporations, wealthy Americans would increase under Biden tax plan
Los Angeles Times
President Biden has a straightforward idea to help pay for his massive infrastructure and economic reform package: Give the Internal Revenue Service more money to collect the taxes the government is owed.
TRANSPORTATION
California's 'White Gold' Rush: Lithium In Demand Amid Surge In Electric Vehicles
VPR
As demand for electric vehicles heats up, there's concern about a shortage of the key minerals needed to make them. The Biden administration has called for boosting domestic production of such minerals, including lithium for the lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.
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.
Real ID deadline pushed back yet again, to May 2023, because of pandemic
Los Angeles Times
Americans will have more time to get the Real ID that will be required for boarding flights and entering federal facilities.
WATER
Stunning drone photos over Lake Oroville show drought emergency in Northern California
Los Angeles Times
Stunning drone photographs of Lake Oroville help illustrate the drought emergency declared by Gov. Gavin Newsom in two Northern California counties.
Delta Conveyance Project Community Benefits Program Workshop 2: Project Ideas
Department of Water Resources
If you live, work or recreate in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the Department of Water Resources wants to hear from you about developing a Community Benefits Program for the Delta Conveyance Project.
Hiltzik: Water created California and the West. Will drought finish them off?
Los Angeles Times
In what may become an iconic image for drought-stricken California, Gov. Gavin Newsom stood on the parched bed of Lake Mendocino on April 21 to announce an emergency declaration for Sonoma and Mendocino counties.
“Xtra”
Bethany Clough: Downtown Fresno restaurant and bar update: Who’s opening, closed and plans to reopen
Fresno Bee
A lot has been happening with downtown restaurants and bars lately – some of it good, some of it not so good. There have been openings and closings, and a few places that look closed say they plan to reopen eventually.
Test yourself with our new free game: PolitiTruth
Think you can tell the difference between True and False?
Do you really know what is fake news?
Support the Maddy Daily
Thank you!
Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
This document is to be used for informational purposes only. Unless specifically noted, The Maddy Institute does not officially endorse or support views that may be expressed in the document. If you want to print a story, please do so now before the link expires.
Subscribe to the Maddy Daily HERE
Or, to Subscribe or Unsubscribe: email amyboam@csufresno.edu