Maddy Institute – August 19, 2021

19Aug

POLICY & POLITICS

Newsom recall basics: How to vote in California’s election

CalMatters

A FAQ on the California election on whether to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom. CalMatters plans to launch its Voter Guide on Aug. 16.

● Recall Ballot Tracking

Communities of Interest Public Input Meeting

California Citizens Redistricting Commission

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission welcomes your input at any of our upcoming Communities of Interest (COI) meetings. While there are no clear rules on how to define a community of interest, we’ve identified ways for you to describe your community.

North SJ Valley:

COVID Update:

● Aug. 19: Stanislaus County adds three deaths, 231 positive tests Modesto Bee

● Modesto City Schools reports 27 student Covid cases from first week of school Modesto Bee

● No end in sight for delta COVID surge. Will Stanislaus County leaders take action? Modesto Bee

What will $55 million from California budget fund at Stanislaus State’s Stockton campus?

Modesto Bee

The Stanislaus State University campus in Stockton will receive $55 million through the 2021-22 state budget to upgrade buildings, expand academic programs and increase enrollment by 115 students.

Garth Stapley: Local couple stranded in Afghanistan flee to safety; Modesto town hall set for Thursday

Modesto Bee

A couple with ties to Modesto who had been hiding from Taliban fighters fled Afghanistan Tuesday, while dozens of other locals stranded in Kabul apparently haven’t been as lucky.

Opinion: Stanislaus County sheriff’s 2020 annual report is about transparency

Modesto Bee

COVID-19 affected everyone, including law enforcement. While some serious crimes went up, others fell. Speeding and acting-out were visible to everyone, but crimes like domestic violence and child abuse became more deeply hidden.

Central SJ Valley:

COVID Update:

● Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties reach peak COVID-19 milestones not seen since January Fresno Bee

● 94 COVID cases have been linked to Fresno County Christian camp. Here’s how many kids Fresno Bee

● Demand for COVID testing soars in Fresno County as more vaccine mandates take hold Fresno Bee

● COVID surge continues to get worse Porterville Recorder

● Public Health has no plan to present mask mandate to Kings supervisors Hanford Sentinel

● Public health hopes COVID cases level off, prepares hospitals for surges Hanford Sentinel

Republican Larry Elder coming to Fresno for Newsom recall campaign. Here’s the latest

Fresno Bee

Republican candidate Larry Elder will be in Fresno on Sunday to pitch his campaign to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom. The conservative talk radio host is one of the leading candidates in a crowded field to try to unseat Newsom, a Democrat.

Fresno closes council chambers in ‘abundance of caution’ over spread of the Delta variant

Fresno Bee

Fresno’s City Council chambers are once again closed to the public until further notice. The city announced the closure in a statement Monday afternoon, saying the decision “was made out of abundance of caution due to the current local spread of the Delta variant.”

Fresno police vowed an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to curb violent crimes. Is it working?

Fresno Bee

While announcing the arrest of a known gang member in an armed robbery and carjacking in Northeast Fresno, Police chief Paco Balderrama on Tuesday updated the department’s efforts in curbing a summer-long surge in violent crimes in the city.

Fresno schools quarantine 10 classrooms due to COVID exposure just days into new year

Fresno Bee

Students in 10 Fresno Unified elementary school classrooms have been quarantined just days into the new school year due to close contact with others who tested positive for the coronavirus.

UC Merced moves start date for in-person classes amid drastic shortage of student housing

Fresno Bee

UC Merced officials say they are delaying in-person classes for five days in order to help give students more time to find lodging due to a significant local housing shortage.

Visalia City Manager Randy Groom retires as Councilwoman Liz Wynn sworn in

Visalia Times Delta

Visalia's top-ranking city official retired on Monday as the city council welcomed its newest member during a brief but eventful meeting.

Report: Visalia area has 5th lowest percentage of households with internet

Visalia Times Delta

Out of all midsize U.S. metro areas, the Visalia-Porterville region has the fifth-lowest percentage of households with internet access. The study found the Bakersfield and Fresno metro areas were also in the top 15 midsize metros between 350,000–999,999 people.

All Visalia Unified students and staff required to wear masks indoors and outdoors

abc30

All students and staff of the Visalia Unified School District will now be required to wear masks indoors and outdoors at all schools and facilities, the district announced on Tuesday.

PC to require vaccines, offer students cash incentives

Porterville Recorder

All employees and students returning to Porterville College will have to eventually require proof they're vaccinated. PC is also offering cash incentives to students to be vaccinated.

Major development proposed for Porterville

Porterville Recorder

The first step for the next major commercial development that could come to Porterville will begin on Wednesday. A 65,000 square-foot development has been proposed to be located at the northwest corner of Highway 65 and North Grand Avenue.

Council meeting covers Hidden Valley, park safety and improvements for dispensary

Hanford Sentinel

Parks were top of mind at Hanford City Council's Tuesday meeting, with many residents commenting on the future of one park, while the City aimed to reduce crime in another.

County approves response to report on dangerous pedestrian conditions in Kettleman

Hanford Sentinel

The Board of Supervisors approved an edited response to a grand jury report that found not enough was being done to improve pedestrian safety in Kettleman City, during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

South SJ Valley:

COVID Update:

● COVID cases continue to increase in Kern County Bakersfield Californian

● Kaweah Health reaches capacity as Visalia hospital begins COVID-19 triage Visalia Times Delta

ACLU slams BPD for excessive force and racial profiling; BPD calls report 'attack'

Bakersfield Californian

A new report by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California says the Bakersfield Police Department has failed to address longstanding practices of excessive force and racial discrimination.

Students: It feels 'strange' and 'exciting' returning to high school after so long

Bakersfield Californian

Familiar scenes reappeared in Kern County on Wednesday morning: students up early waiting for the bus, playgrounds full of children at recess and a surprising volume of traffic. It was the first day of school for students in 18 districts in Bakersfield.

LOIS HENRY: Public is in the ring in fight over Kern River

Bakersfield Californian

It was clear during the first hearing on the Kern River Tuesday that the public has a seat at the table as never before.

Kern County Elections Office seeks poll workers for recall election

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern County Elections Office is looking for workers to mind the polls for the gubernatorial recall election Tuesday, Sept. 14. People are needed throughout the county, said the news release by the Kern County Elections office. The workers are paid a stipend.

State:

COVID Update:

● California to tighten rules for indoor events as cases rise Fresno Bee

● California: prove shots or tests for events Bakersfield Californian

● California expands vaccine proof order to indoor events of 1,000 or more Mercury News

● Attending a big indoor sports event or concert in California? You'll now need to be vaccinated or tested San Francisco Chronicle

● California sees signs Delta surge is slowing. New challenge looms Los Angeles Times

● Why a fast-spreading coronavirus and a half-vaccinated public can be a recipe for disaster Los Angeles Times

Is the California recall election unconstitutional? A new lawsuit makes the case

Sacramento Bee

With the recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom less than 30 days away, two California voters are taking the state to federal court in an attempt to block the election from happening.

● GOP recall candidate Elder releases details on finances Fresno Bee

● Before the California recall election, let’s reality-check Republican candidate John Cox Fresno Bee

● Opinion: The celebrity factor in recall elections Madera Tribune

● Your Gavin Newsom recall ballot might be in your mailbox. What to know as you vote Sacramento Bee

● Kevin Faulconer blasts California recall rival Larry Elder over past comments on women Sacramento Bee

● Recall candidate John Cox interrupted at debate with court order to pay ad agency $100,000 Sacramento Bee

● Republicans in Gavin Newsom recall say they would end California COVID vaccine requirements Sacramento Bee

● Has Gavin Newsom followed through on his campaign promises? We take a look Sacramento Bee

● Editorial: Larry Elder thinks he can govern California from Twitter. Trump tried that and failed Sacramento Bee

● Trio Of Recall Candidates Attack Newsom In Sacramento Debate Capital Public Radio

● California GOP recall candidate John Cox served with subpoena during debate Mercury News

● Faulconer calls out Elder to grab moderate GOP middle in recall San Francisco Chronicle

● Guide to recall election, ballot and the voting process San Francisco Chronicle

● What's behind Gavin Newsom's advice to not vote for a recall replacement candidate San Francisco Chronicle

● Larry Elder’s recall campaign targets a new opponent: the press Los Angeles Times

● Cox served with subpoena, Elder blasted for remarks on women at California recall debate Los Angeles Times

● Column: Sorry, Democrats — Latino anger toward Republicans isn’t enough to save Newsom’s political hide Los Angeles Times

● GOP recall candidates vow to roll back Newsom mask, vaccine rules. But can they? Los Angeles Times

● Newsom’s other COVID-19 recall vulnerability: California’s broken unemployment system Los Angeles Times

● Editorial: For the love of California, don’t sit out this recall election Los Angeles Times

● Are small business owners angry enough at Gavin Newsom to throw him out of office? CalMatters

● Meet the Democrat trying to take Newsom down CalMatters

● Newsom recall election: Watch how to cast your vote CalMatters

● Who is John Cox and what would he do as governor? CalMatters

● Walters: Wildfires could affect Newsom recall CalMatters

● Republican rivals attack recall frontrunner Larry Elder in California debate Politico

● Latest Polls Of The California Recall Election FiveThirtyEight

● Opinion: Why Deep Blue California Could Elect a Bright Red Governor New York Times

● Virtual Event: California’s 2021 Recall Election Public Policy Institute of California

Column: California, a champion of voting access, steps into national fight over ballot-box restrictions

San Diego Union Tribune

Several states expanded the use of mail ballots last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, including some that sent a ballot to every registered voter whether they requested it or not, as California did.

Newsom: Statewide water restrictions possible

CalMatters

With the California drought, residents could face mandatory water restrictions — but not until the end of September, Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

● Editorial: Newsom says mandatory California water restrictions can wait six weeks. Gee, wonder why? San Francisco Chronicle

Walters: California’s top business leader retires on high note

CalMatters

Allan Zaremberg, the Capitol’s top business leader as CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce, is retiring with an enviable track record. Allan Zaremberg has not only seen it all, but has hugely influenced what did or didn’t happen.

Federal:

COVID Update:

● US health officials call for booster shots against COVID-19 Fresno Bee

● US records more than 1,000 COVID deaths in a day for first time since March Bakersfield Californian

● Biden outlines plan for COVID-19 booster shots, more vaccine mandates Los Angeles Times

● Covid-19 Booster Shot to Be Offered to Americans Fully Vaccinated With Pfizer, Moderna Wall Street Journal

● U.S. to Advise Boosters for Most Americans 8 Months After Vaccination New York Times

● Biden Administration Plans To Begin Providing Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Shots September 20 Forbes

● 'Better to Stay Ahead of It.' Why the White House COVID-19 Strategy Now Involves Vaccine Booster Shots Time Magazine

● Biden plots vaccine booster shots Roll Call

● Florida, Texas Turn to Antibody Treatments as Covid-19 Surges Wall Street Journal

● Three States See Record Covid-19 Hospitalizations Wall Street Journal

Biden approval rating falls below 50% for first time in his presidency, polling shows

Modesto Bee

Biden’s approval rating is still higher than his average disapproval rating and remains higher than — or around the same as — recent former presidents during the same point in their terms, according to data from poll analysis site FiveThirtyEight.

Biden hits governors who 'intimidate educators' on mask mandates

Politico

President Joe Biden escalated a confrontation with Republican governors over school mask mandates Wednesday, directing the Education Department to “use all available tools” to aid local governments trying to institute the measures.

Senior House Dems launch pressure campaign ahead of key budget vote

Politico

Senior House Democrats on Tuesday aggressively pushed their caucus to fall in line behind next week’s key budget vote, hoping to quell a rank-and-file rebellion that threatens to at least temporarily derail President Joe Biden’s economic agenda.

Lawmakers scrap qualified immunity deal in police reform talks

Politico

Police reform negotiators are no longer considering changes to a controversial legal doctrine known as “qualified immunity," according to three sources familiar with the matter.

Biden picks first Native American for parks post

Roll Call

The White House said President Joe Biden would nominate Charles F. Sams III to be director of the National Park Service, moving to fill a post that has gone without a Senate-confirmed leader since 2017.

As population grows, so does debate on how to reach Latino voters in ’22 midterms

Roll Call

Democrats know that, overall, the party does better with Latino voters than Republicans, but there is more recognition that the Hispanic electorate is far from monolithic, even within Texas, and that outreach needs to start much earlier.

Senators urge FTC to investigate Tesla ‘Autopilot’ marketing

Roll Call

The letter, sent to FTC Chair Lina Khan, comes in the wake of an announcement Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the agency would investigate the company following 11 crashes where Tesla’s so-called “Autopilot” system was engaged.

Opinion: Candidate Biden vs. President Biden

Wall Street Journal

One wonders what Joe Biden as a candidate might have said about the U.S.’s reckless withdrawal from Afghanistan and abandonment of our Afghan allies had Donald Trump been the commander in chief making the calls.

Opinion: U.S. Keeps My Family in Covid Lockdown

Wall Street Journal

Draconian restrictions were understandable at the start of a deadly pandemic. But what sense does it make to have different rules for permanent residents and other foreign nationals who live here legally?

Other:

Facebook says it has removed misinformation ‘superspreaders’

Mercury News

Facebook Inc said it removed over three dozen pages spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, after the White House called on social media firms to tighten controls on pandemic-related facts shared on their platforms.

Deep Divisions in Americans’ Views of Nation’s Racial History – and How To Address It

Pew Research

Opinions on the history of slavery and racism in the U.S. casts divisions into stark relief: Among U.S. adults overall, 53% say increased attention to that history is a good thing for society, while 26% say it is a bad thing and another 21% say it is neither good nor bad.

Opinion: Meritocracy’s cost

American Enterprise Institute

Young foresaw what I believe to be a central problem of our age, amended to fit America’s situation: the development of cultural and economic elites, overwhelmingly white, isolated from, and openly contemptuous of, the lives of ordinary Americans.

See also:

● Opinion: Meritocracy Is Worth Defending Wall Street Journal

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

Sunday, August 22, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “A Comprehensive Look at the Valley's Water Issues” - Guest: Ellen Hanak, Director of the Water Policy Center - Public Policy Institute of California. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, August 22, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "A Comprehensive Look at the Valley's Water Challenges"- Guests: Ellen Hanak, Director of the Water Policy Center - Public Policy Institute of California. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Water curtailments brought on by drought in effect for California farmers

abc30

Earlier this month, the Water Resources Control Board approved an emergency resolution stopping water from being diverted from California's two largest river systems in the California Delta.

● As Their Wells Dry Up, California’s Small Farms Seek Emergency Relief Civil Eats

California farmworkers face risks from heat, smoke. Regulations offer little protection

Fresno Bee

Another surge of hot weather is hitting Fresno and the surrounding area this week. These extreme conditions are leaving hundreds of thousands of farmworkers at especially high risk for heat-related illness and death, according to a recent study from UC Davis.

Power in seeds: Urban gardening gains momentum in pandemic

Fresno Bee

On an assemblage of vacant lots and other pockets of unused land in the Bronx, gardeners from low-income neighborhoods have banded together to create over a dozen “farm hubs,” coordinating their community gardens and their harvest.

Is it time to break up Big Ag?

New Yorker

Renewed attention to antitrust has been focussed on Big Tech, but concentration in

agriculture may be an underlying source of rural America’s pro-Trump political backlash.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Fresno police vowed an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to curb violent crimes. Is it working?

Fresno Bee

San Francisco DA sues 3 California-based ‘ghost gun’ makers

Fresno Bee

San Francisco's district attorney said Wednesday he is suing three California companies that make and distribute “ghost guns,” the untraceable, build-it-yourself weaponry that accounted for nearly half the firearms recovered in gun killings in the city last year.

Federal judge investigating PG&E's role in Dixie Fire orders utility worker to appear in court

San Francisco Chronicle

The Pacific Gas and Electric Co. worker who found damaged power equipment near the origin point of the monstrous Dixie Fire has been ordered to appear in federal court next month for questioning.

Public Safety:

ACLU slams BPD for excessive force and racial profiling; BPD calls report 'attack'

Bakersfield Californian

California imposes campfire, charcoal ban in Lake Tahoe state parks until December

Fresno Bee

Multiple state parks in the Lake Tahoe region have outlawed campfires until December, the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Sierra District said Wednesday.

County approves response to report on dangerous pedestrian conditions in Kettleman

Hanford Sentinel

The Board of Supervisors approved an edited response to a grand jury report that found not enough was being done to improve pedestrian safety in Kettleman City, during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

Opinion: Stanislaus County sheriff’s 2020 annual report is about transparency

Modesto Bee

UC pledges ‘transformational change’ to bring more equity, transparency to campus policing

Los Angeles Times

The University of California is vowing to make “transformational change” in campus safety practices with new independent accountability boards, public disclosure of more law enforcement data and a larger role for mental health and social service professionals.

Fire:

Dixie Fire crews rerouted to Caldor. Winds abate in California wildfire

Fresno Bee

Conditions have gotten so bad on the Caldor Fire burning in El Dorado County that Cal Fire transferred 30 engines early Wednesday from the Dixie Fire — the largest fire in the state this year and second-biggest in state history.

As thousands of residents flee California wildfire, official warns of price gouging

Fresno Bee

Price gouging on food, gas, housing and other essential items is illegal during a state of emergency, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. Eleven California counties are under state of emergency orders.

Walkers Fire up to nearly 2,000 acres

Porterville Recorder

As of Wednesday afternoon the Walkers Fire in the Golden Trout Wilderness had increased to 1,969 acres. The fire is located 18 miles northeast of Springville in the Western Divide Ranger District of the Sequoia National Forest.

● 500-acre wildfire burning in Sequoia National Forest abc30

More than 31,000 Californians have been evacuated due to wildfires. Are you prepared?

Modesto Bee

With wildfires like the Caldor blaze displaying what officials have called “extreme” and “unprecedented” growth, Californians need to be prepared for evacuations.

Fires harming California's efforts to curb climate change

Bakersfield Californian

Record-setting blazes raging across Northern California are wiping out forests central to plans to reduce carbon emissions and testing projects designed to protect communities, the state’s top fire official said Wednesday, hours before a fast-moving new blaze erupted.

Giant Dixie Fire first ever to burn its way clear across Sierra Nevada

San Francisco Chronicle

As firefighters battled to keep the month-old Dixie Fire from burning into Susanville, California’s top fire official said it had become the first in state history to burn from the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada across the mountains to the eastern valley floor.

ECONOMY/JOBS

Economy:

US stocks take a late turn lower, marking 2nd straight loss

Business Journal

Stocks took a late turn lower on Wall Street, ending with their second straight loss. The S&P 500 gave up 1.1% Wednesday, a day after breaking a five-day winning streak. Technology and health care companies had some of the biggest losses.

Women put careers on hold during COVID to care for kids. They may never recover.

Los Angeles Times

Mothers with outside employment, among the hardest-hit by the COVID-19 recession, are returning to the workforce in impressive numbers, aided by the reopening of schools and daycare programs.

Soaring Cost of Food Is Forcing Families to Scrimp at the Dinner Table

Bloomberg

Food prices in July were up 31% from the same month last year, according to an index compiled by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. A portion of the rise is transitory, fueled by supply chain disruption and extreme weather.

Jobs:

Local Business Owners are Experiencing Employee Shortage

Clovis Roundup

From a country that used to believe in the “American dream,” where people work for what they want, the pandemic proved that this belief is no longer held true for a large number of people that occupy the states.

Contract extension for Cal Fire firefighters includes raise, temporary pay bump

Sacramento Bee

The union representing Cal Fire firefighters struck a one-year deal to extend their contract and raise pay by as much as 7.74% for experienced firefighters, according to a tentative agreement released by the state Human Resources Department.

California state workers are being told to return to offices. Will telework be an option?

Sacramento Bee

Some California state employees love working from home. Others don’t. Regardless of their feelings, increasing numbers of state workers are being given firm dates by which they must show their faces in the office after a year and a half of remote work.

Lost your job during pandemic? Calif will give you $2,500 to train for new work

Sacramento Bee

Using money from the federal COVID-19 relief package, Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers set aside $500 million in this year’s state budget to make it easier for hundreds of thousands of workers to get the education necessary for a career transition.

Heat Is Killing Workers In U.S. — And There Are No Federal Rules To Protect Them

VPR

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), whose primary responsibility is to protect workers from hazards, has failed to adopt a national heat standard to safeguard workers against rapidly rising temperatures, resulting in an enforcement system rife with problems.

U.S. Jobless Claims Fell to Pandemic Low of 348,000 Last Week

Wall Street Journal

Jobless claims fell to a new pandemic low last week, suggesting the labor market continues to heal even as the Delta variant causes uncertainty.

How Hard Should Employers Push Vaccines? Inside One Company’s Dilemma

Wall Street Journal

An impasse over vaccinations is bedeviling the corporate world. On one side are employers and employees eager to see their co-workers be vaccinated, both out of health concerns and to head off the risk of an outbreak that slows production or shutters a workplace.

Millions of workers will lose their safety net this Labor Day if Congress doesn’t act

Brookings

Labor Day is a federal holiday honoring the nation’s workers. This year, however, it will coincide with a damaging moment for those workers: the expiration of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for Americans who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EDUCATION

K-12:

With school year beginning, health officials note more children being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals

Bakersfield Californian

A slight uptick in children hospitalized with COVID-19 has caused concern that further increases may follow, especially since most students are returning to campuses for the first time since the pandemic began.

Students: It feels 'strange' and 'exciting' returning to high school after so long

Bakersfield Californian

Back to basics: The unusual challenges facing California students as schools reopen

Sacramento Bee

Summer school teachers noticed their students turned in daily journals filled with errors and asked how to spell even basic words. High school teachers noticed their students’ Advanced Placement test results came back lower than in previous years.

Why some experts say TK might deepen existing inequities if not careful

EdSource

The proposed expansion of TK (transitional kindergarten), might deepen existing inequities, a new Center for the Study of Child Care Employment data brief warns, unless steps are taken to build new pathways from the child care workforce into the public school system.

Opinion: California’s proposed new math curriculum defies logic

CalMatters

While many people complain about the ideological biases in the California Department of Education’s proposal to revolutionize the state mathematics curriculum, that’s not the main problem. This plan has fundamental issues of concern and will do no child any good.

Opinion: High school students need a lesson on free speech

American Enterprise Institute

As high schools prepare to reopen and in-person teaching resumes, students will face many unknowns. One question that must be answered this fall is whether the cancel culture that has plagued the nation will continue in our education institutions.

Higher Ed:

What will $55 million from California budget fund at Stanislaus State’s Stockton campus?

Modesto Bee

The Stanislaus State University campus in Stockton will receive $55 million through the 2021-22 state budget to upgrade buildings, expand academic programs and increase enrollment by 115 students.

UC Merced moves start date for in-person classes amid drastic shortage of student housing

Fresno Bee

UC Merced officials say they are delaying in-person classes for five days in order to help give students more time to find lodging due to a significant local housing shortage.

PC to require vaccines, offer students cash incentives

Porterville Recorder

All employees and students returning to Porterville College will have to eventually require proof they're vaccinated. PC is also offering cash incentives to students to be vaccinated.

UC pledges ‘transformational change’ to bring more equity, transparency to campus policing

Los Angeles Times

Colleges rush to sign students up for food stamps, as pandemic rules make more eligible

CalMatters

During the Covid emergency, the federal government has expanded food stamp eligibility for college students, who have typically had trouble accessing the aid even though many suffer from food insecurity. California colleges are stepping up their efforts to get students enrolled.

College advisers scramble to catch the most vulnerable students

Politico

The number of federal student aid applications completed, a key metric used to track college ambitions among low-income students, is down for a second year in a row.

Colleges Grapple With Costs for Covid-19 Tests, Unvaccinated Students

Wall Street Journal

Colleges and universities are wrestling with how to treat, and budget for, unvaccinated students. If fewer students return to campus vaccinated, the school will spend more on tests, contact tracing, quarantine housing and online classes.

Apprenticeships:

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

Environment:

Air District issues health caution due to wildfires

Turlock Journal

Smoke from ongoing wildfires is making outdoor activity dangerous for Turlock residents and all those in northern California and Tuolumne and Mariposa counties, prompting the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to issue a health caution.

California’s dry season is turning into a permanent state of being

Stockton Recorder

Drought across the Western U.S. has forced California to ration water to farms. Hydroelectric dams barely work. The smallest spark — from a lawnmower or even a flat tire — can explode into a wildfire.

California builds a ‘Noah’s Ark’ to protect wildlife from extinction by fire and heat

Los Angeles Times

The botanists aimed to collect seeds until the temperature hit triple digits. Later, their bounty would be sealed inside aluminum foil packets for storage in California Seed Bank freezers at the nonprofit California Botanic Garden in Claremont.

Editorial: The unjust toll of extreme heat

Los Angeles Times

Extreme heat kills more people in an average year than any other weather-related hazard, including hurricanes and tornadoes. As climate change fuels more frequent and severe heat waves, the death toll is only going to grow.

Commentary: To Restore California’s Ecosystems, We Must Adopt Smarter Permitting

Public Policy Institute of California

California’s ecosystems underpin the state’s economy: they nurture and protect the state’s water supply, shorelines, agriculture, fisheries and wildlife. But many of these ecosystems are in dire health.

5 possible climate futures—from the optimistic to the strange

National Geographic

The UN’s latest report on the state of the climate offers a stark warning that humanity’s future could be filled with apocalyptic natural disasters. But that future isn’t set in stone.

Energy:

What to do before, during and after a power outage

Los Angeles Times

We are well into fire season here in California. Along with poor air quality and potential evacuations, for many residents, this time of year means contending with power outages.

California fires: PG&E reduces scope of shut-offs

San Francisco Chronicle

Firefighters battling blazes across Northern California are bracing for gusty winds and dry conditions today. As the Dixie Fire continues to rage, a new fire is rapidly growing in El Dorado County.

Opinion: Air board should expand use of biofuels

CalMatters

We should not overlook the changes we can make to improve air quality immediately while working toward using alternative fuels to displace diesel and gasoline.

Opinion: California Can No Longer Wing It With Power Grid

Bloomberg

The world’s fifth-largest economy is winging it through the summer with the help of backyard generators, sweaty citizens and the kindness of neighbors.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

What to know about COVID booster shots coming soon

abc30

COVID vaccination booster shots are coming, most likely by next month, as the delta variant has brought a new sense of urgency to the fight. The line for COVID testing stretched across the parking lot of the UC Merced Fresno Center across from Fashion Fair Mall.

● Why are COVID-19 booster shots needed anyway? Los Angeles Times

● Covid-19 Boosters Are Coming: Here’s What to Know Wall Street Journal

● Pfizer’s Covid-19 Booster Shot Improves Immunity, Israeli Study Suggest Wall Street Journal

If you can smell it, get inside: Here’s how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke

Fresno Bee

California wildfires including the Dixie, Caldor, Monument and McFarland blazes all grew overnight, and more fires means more smoke.

EPA bans pesticide linked to health problems in children

Fresno Bee

The Biden administration said Wednesday it was banning use of chlorpyrifos, a widely used pesticide long targeted by environmentalists, on food crops because it poses risks to children and farm workers.

● Trump let this pesticide stay on the market. Under Biden, EPA is banning its use on food. Washington Post

● EPA Will Ban A Farming Pesticide Linked To Health Problems In Children NPR

● EPA bans use of pesticide linked to developmental problems in children The Hill

● EPA bans all food uses for the pesticide chlorpyrifos Roll Call

Why A Push For Boosters Could Make The Pandemic Even Worse

VPR

Officials at the World Health Organization said Wednesday that it strongly opposes booster shots for all adults in rich countries because the boosters will not help slow down the pandemic.

● Stockpiling Vaccines Risks New Variants Emerging And Rising Covid Cases, Study Finds As U.S. Readies Booster Campaign Forbes

● Editorial: Three Cheers for Vaccine Boosters Wall Street Journal

● Opinion: The WHO’s Vaccine Misinformation Wall Street Journal

How does COVID-19 affect the brain? A troubling picture emerges.

National Geographic

Researchers find that people who only suffered mild infections can be plagued with life-altering and sometimes debilitating cognitive deficits.

Human Services:

California requires hospitals to accept patients from areas with low ICU capacity

abc30

A new public health order in California requires hospitals to accept transfer patients from facilities with limited ICU capacity. The California Department of Public Health issued the order on Monday in response to increasing COVID-19 cases.

● With no beds, hospitals ship patients to far-off cities Fresno Bee

● The delta variant is putting America’s hospitals back in crisis mode Washington Post

Biden to require vaccines for nursing home staff

Modesto Bee

The Biden administration will require that nursing home staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition for those facilities to continue receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding.

See also:

● Biden ties federal funds to nursing home vaccine mandates Bakersfield Californian

● Biden Tells Nursing Homes to Vaccinate Staffs to Keep Medicare, Medicaid Funds Wall Street Journal

● Biden administration to offer vaccine booster shots beginning Sept. 20, require vaccinations for nursing home staff Washington Post

● Biden will require vaccines for staff at federally funded nursing homes Politico

UCSF Fresno residents, hospital physicians officially form union. What happens next?

Fresno Bee

The California Public Employment Relations Board on Friday recognized the union and certified the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU (CIR/SEIU) to represent the 327 resident and fellow physicians at UCSF Fresno, according to a Tuesday news release.

California’s young adults are the biggest barrier to COVID immunity. They must get vaccinated

Sacramento Bee

As the country’s vaccination campaign slows and doses go unused, it has become clear that one of the biggest barriers to mass immunity is persuading our generation — those age 18 to 25 — to get vaccinated.

● Opinion: Why So Many Holdouts Still Won’t Get Vaxxed — And Why We Should Learn to Live With It Politico

As Blue Shield steps back from controversial vaccine role, critics question results

Los Angeles Times

As public health officials continue their push to vaccinate millions of hard-to-reach Californians against COVID-19, they are doing so largely without the help of Blue Shield of California.

Licensing by clerical error: How the state’s mistake decided the course of two nursing homes

CalMatters

California Department of Public Health officials say they cannot fix their mistake, amid cries the licensing system for nursing homes is “broken and ineffective.”

As Covid-19 Boosters Loom, Pfizer and Moderna Expected to See Billions More in Sales

Wall Street Journal

Vaccine makers Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. are on track to notch billions more in sales than previously expected, as new booster-shot strategies and concerns about the Delta variant push demand, and the companies raise prices in the U.S. and elsewhere.

IMMIGRATION

Head Of Immigration And Refugee Service Talks About Resettling Afghan Refugees

VPR

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service about the daunting task of finding new homes for thousands of Afghan refugees.

Silicon Valley Lawmaker Seeks to Shorten Path to Citizenship for Immigrant Tech Workers

KQED

Many skilled foreign workers wait years for a green card to allow them to stay and work in the U.S. permanently. Federal legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Lofgren would phase out some of the rules that have created that backlog. But the bill’s survival is far from certain.

Biden proposes long-awaited overhaul to U.S. asylum system

Politico

The proposed changes aim to end a years-long backlog in immigration court cases and cut the time migrants seeking asylum wait to hear if their request has been granted.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Major development proposed for Porterville

Porterville Recorder

Bethany Clough: Why does Fresno tear things down? Behind the demolition of River Park-area restaurants

Fresno Bee

Two big Fresno restaurants were demolished recently, leaving eye-catching blank spaces on the same busy intersection in the River Park area. On one side of Blackstone and El Paso avenues is empty land where Romano’s Macaroni Grill stood before it was torn down.

Major LA developer wants to turn Fresno into an ‘entertainment destination.’ Here’s his plan

Fresno Bee

A noted Los Angeles developer has expressed interest in purchasing and improving multiple properties in southern areas of the city to turn Fresno into “a family-friendly entertainment destination.”

Biden picks first Native American for parks post

Roll Call

Housing:

Housing Watch: Fresno's median house prices outperforming last year's numbers

abc30

ABC30 is taking action to help you navigate the Central Valley's red-hot housing market. While the latest numbers show buyers are beginning to gain the upper hand, the competition for homes remains fierce, even when facing record-high prices.

PUBLIC FINANCES

SNAP benefits to go up an average of $36 per month in October. Here’s what to know

Fresno Bee

The U.S Department of Agriculture said Monday that the increase follows a reevaluation of the model it uses to calculate the benefits, called the Thrifty Food Plan. The increase, which excludes the additional funds added as part of COVID-19 relief, starts Oct. 1.

See also:

● Opinion: President Biden’s overreach on SNAP American Enterprise Institute

● Editorial: The Democratic Food-Stamp Boom Wall Street Journal

The Covid-19 Pandemic Drove A Huge, But Temporary, Increase in Households That Did Not Pay Federal Income Tax

Forbes

The COVID-19 pandemic and the policy response to it led to an extraordinary increase in the number of American households that owed no federal individual income tax in 2020.

Fed Signals Asset Purchases Likely to Slow This Year

Wall Street Journal

Federal Reserve officials last month indicated they were on track to begin reversing their easy-money policies later this year, despite lingering differences over when exactly to pull back support for an economy growing faster than they expected earlier in the year.

Opinion: Partisan Debt, Bipartisan Debt Limit?

Wall Street Journal

Senate Democrats have passed a $3.5 trillion budget resolution, unlocking their ability to pass a tax-and-spend boondoggle later this fall. This comes on the heels of the $1.9 trillion package enacted along partisan lines and dubiously marketed as Covid-19 relief.

TRANSPORTATION

New interactive map shows how high gas prices have gotten in every California county

Fresno Bee

Gas prices have ballooned across California – and in one county, those prices have already crossed the $5 per gallon mark. Check out this interactive map for county-by-county gas prices. And check back for updates as prices continue to rise.

US utility plans to switch 1200 vehicles to electric by 2030

Business Journal

The nation’s largest public utility plans to switch out 1,200 of its vehicles for electric ones by 2030, furthering its role in that market for a power supplier that also plans to help add charging stations across the region, the utility’s top official said Wednesday.

Biden Pressed to Slash Big-Rig Pollution as Next Climate Target

Bloomberg

Now that he’s outlined tough new emissions requirements for carmakers, President Joe Biden is facing pressure to enact similarly stringent rules for big trucks still operating under standards that environmentalists say are too lax.

Democrats look to crush states’ highway habit

Politico

House Democrats are trying to use a massive climate and infrastructure bill to change how Americans get around — by breaking states’ decades-old fondness for building highways.

Transit agencies are struggling to make ends meet. They’re also preparing for record federal investment.

Washington Post

While transit agencies, including Metro in the Washington region, worry about the slow pace of riders returning amid the coronavirus pandemic and the effect telecommuting could have on revenue, they simultaneously are looking to make expensive service upgrades.

For Robot Trucks, Navigating Highways Is Just One Bump in the Road

Wall Street Journal

They show how far it has to go before it can operate safely without a human at the wheel, allowing semi trucks to haul themselves over busy interstate highways, through gnarly weather and routes lined with construction.

Senators urge FTC to investigate Tesla ‘Autopilot’ marketing

Roll Call

WATER

State agency identifies racial inequalities to help Valley towns lacking clean water

Fresno Bee

It’s very important to lead with your values. That’s exactly what is happening at the California Water Quality Control Board regarding racial equity and environmental justice.

California has been unable to address water problems in a number of towns. Here’s why

Fresno Bee

A lot has happened over the past five years, but not much has changed in the tiny farmworker town of Okieville. Wells went dry en masse in Tulare County, including in Okieville, during the last drought in 2012-2016. Since then, the state has funded a new well for the town.

LOIS HENRY: Public is in the ring in fight over Kern River

Bakersfield Californian

It was clear during the first hearing on the Kern River Tuesday that the public has a seat at the table as never before.

Women Blaze Path to Top of California’s Water World

GV Wire

In California’s water world, long dominated almost exclusively by men, women are blazing a path — sometimes straight to the top. “I think water is changing,” said Karla Nemeth, director of California’s Department of Water Resources.

Newsom: Statewide water restrictions possible

CalMatters

With the California drought, residents could face mandatory water restrictions — but not until the end of September, Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

● Editorial: Newsom says mandatory California water restrictions can wait six weeks. Gee, wonder why? San Francisco Chronicle

California enacted a groundwater law 7 years ago. But wells are still drying up — and the threat is spreading

CalMatters

As drought worsens, there are few, if any, protections in place for California’s depleted groundwater. The new law gave local agencies at least 26 years — until 2040 — to stop the impacts of over-pumping.

See also:

● The Well Fixer’s Warning The Atlantic

5 Ways the Infrastructure Bill Would Improve America's Flood Resilience

Pew Trusts

The investment would include resilience measures that would help protect communities from flooding and other disasters at a time when people across the country, and around the world, are struggling to combat the increasing severity of deadly storms and rising seas.

“Xtra”

New brewery makes progress to opening in downtown Fresno

abc30

Beer-making equipment is now filling the inside of South of Shaw Beer Company in downtown Fresno. The new space, along Broadway and Amador Streets, is coming together, and construction is moving ahead after delays.

Downtown Fresno cocktail bar recognized in Sacramento

Business Journal

Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) has chosen the Modernist as the Small Business of the Year for the 31st Assembly District. Today, the Modernist is among those being honored in Sacramento for 2021 California Small Business Day.

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