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.
See also:
● Key Recall Dates in San Joaquin Valley Counties
● Recall Ballot Tracking
California Citizens Redistricting Commission
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission welcomes your input at any of our upcoming Communities of Interest (COI) meetings. You may register to secure a speaking time slot.
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Almost 50 children per day are testing positive for COVID-19 in Stanislaus County Modesto Bee
● Aug. 21: Stanislaus hospital cases spike again. Deaths at 1,117 Modesto Bee
● Merced County ICU beds at capacity, as nearly 800 COVID infections reported in five days Merced Sun Star
State Auditor lists Modesto among dozen high-risk cities for fiscal distress
Modesto Bee
Modesto is among the dozen California cities that potentially are at “significant risk of experiencing fiscal distress,” according to the latest rankings released this week from the California State Auditor.
Stanislaus court among the first in state to require vaccines for its employees
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County Superior Court is among the first in the state to require employees get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.
Wildfires bring poor air quality to Modesto. When will conditions improve?
Modesto Bee
Health cautions remain in effect for Stanislaus County and surrounding areas as a result of wildfires in the northern parts of the state.
Modesto City Schools summer credit recovery led to nearly 100 additional graduates
Modesto Bee
Nearly 100 additional students graduated from Modesto City Schools through summer credit recovery, the district reported.
Garth Stapley: Modestans’ heart-breaking stories of Afghanistan. The U.S. owes them better
Modesto Bee
Much of the recent reporting on Afghanistan — my own included — has rightly focused on chaos at the airport in Kabul, where thousands desperately try to flee the Taliban.
See also:
● Modesto’s Afghan community comes together seeking answers at emotional town hall event Modesto Bee
● Turlock IRC office welcoming Afghan refugees Turlock Journal
Turlock’s median home price at $450,000
Turlock Journal
As a housing market feeding frenzy caused by low supply, high demand and affordable interest rates continues throughout the state, a recent study shows that home values in Stanislaus County have increased at California’s seventh-highest rate.
Stanislaus State leaders share details on now-virtual start to fall semester
Modesto Bee
California State University, Stanislaus, postponed most in-person classes to provide more time for students, faculty and staff to receive their mandatory COVID-19 vaccine as the delta variant causes an increase in local cases.
Merced unemployment improved in July, but COVID and drought mean more uncertainty
Merced Sun Star
Despite the pandemic still impacting many facets of the economy, more Merced County residents had jobs this summer compared to last year, when the region was gearing up for one of its worst COVID-19 spikes to date.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Almost 2,700 new COVID cases in Fresno this week as delta spreads. Here’s the latest data Fresno Bee
● Local health officials urging community to be cautious during COVID surge abc30
● Fresno Councilmember Esmeralda Soria has COVID a second time despite being vaccinated Fresno Bee
● Over 260 Visalia Unified students and staff in quarantine after first week of school Visalia Times Delta
● Tulare mobile vaccination clinics target encampments, unhoused residents Visalia Times Delta
● Zoom problems postpone Fresno-area colleges vaccine mandate vote Fresno Bee
● Fresno State students excited, nervous during move-in day. Dorms at full capacity Fresno Bee
● Concerts, events to require proof of COVID vaccine or negative tests. Where in Fresno? Fresno Bee
● Editorial: If the choice is Fresno students wear masks, or stay home in quarantine, that’s easy Fresno Bee
Who will hold political power in Fresno County for the next decade? Here’s what to know
Fresno Bee
A process is underway to redraw Fresno County’s voter boundaries, significantly influencing who will run local government agencies for the next decade. And few Fresno-area residents seem to know about it.
Recall candidate Larry Elder wins over Fresno rally with call to end mask mandate and more
Fresno Bee
Larry Elder, the conservative talk radio host and leading challenger in the state’s race to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom, hit all of his talking points at a packed rally Sunday at the Paul Shaghoian Performing Arts Center in Fresno.
See also:
● CA recall election candidate Larry Elder holds rally in Fresno abc30
Wildfire smoke continues to affect Fresno air quality. How bad will it get?
Fresno Bee
The air quality in Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties was expected to be unhealthy on Saturday and Sunday, thanks to plumes of smoke being pumped into the region by wildfires across California.
See also:
● Tulare County under air quality alert due to wildfires Visalia Times Delta
● Warszawski: Return of smoky air season gives Fresno residents a hazy, coughing feeling of deja vu Fresno Bee
● San Joaquin Valley has one of the worst air qualities in the world right now Your Central Valley
California to build five natural gas plants to prevent blackouts. Will Fresno get one?
Fresno Bee
California plans to build five temporary natural gas plants to prevent blackouts and one of those plants will be in Fresno County, according to a local lawmaker. The Department of Water Resources will install five natural gas plant generators at three powerplants.
Kings County moves to final step of 2021-22 budget approval
Hanford Sentinel
The Kings County Board of Supervisors moved the 2021-22 budget to the final step for approval Tuesday during a special session.
San Joaquin Valley taxpayers have most to gain in President Biden’s tax plan, report shows
Fresno Bee
The California congressional district that would benefit most next year from President Biden’s tax plan is represented by David Valadao (R) of Hanford. The district in the state that would benefit least is represented by a Democrat, the Los Angeles area’s Ted Lieu.
See also:
· California Republican (Cong Valadao) is debt free for first time in office. What happened to his creditors? Fresno Bee
Nine Democrats (Cong Costa included) hold firm on opposing budget without infrastructure vote first
Roll Call
With just days to go until the House returns for a brief session, competing Democratic priorities are still threatening to derail the adoption of a budget resolution needed to begin the reconciliation process for enacting the party’s economic agenda.
See also:
● Pelosi, Centrist Democrats in Standoff With Key Vote Ahead Wall Street Journal
● ‘Curveballs and obstacles’ face Pelosi this week as Democrats spar over $3.5 trillion budget plan Washington Post
● Dem centrists (Costa included) say DCCC is threatening to withhold fundraising if they oppose Biden priority Politico
● Opinion: Let’s take the win. Let’s do infrastructure first. Washington Post
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● 'Some finality — some closure’: Local company adds names to COVID-19 memorial Bakersfield Californian
● When there's a COVID case at school, who is notified? Bakersfield Californian
High-speed rail board approves Bakersfield-Palmdale segment. When will it get built?
Fresno Bee
An 83-mile stretch of land between Bakersfield and Palmdale was given environmental approval Thursday and formally adopted as the route for one segment of a future high speed rail line linking the San Joaquin Valley with SoCal by way of the Mojave Desert.
More than $178 million in state grant funding could help end agricultural burning as we know it
Bakersfield Californian
On Friday, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District announced in a news release that it will accept $178.2 million in new state funding to launch an expanded grant program to assist farmers in phasing-out the open-field burning of woody waste through the use of new cleaner practices.
See also:
● Southeast Bakersfield residents hope to change the narrative by pursuing millions in state grants Bakersfield Californian
Worker shortage disrupts Kern businesses
Bakersfield Californian
A lack of available workers is crimping business in Kern County, forcing operational changes in the worst cases while increasing the workload for existing staffs and raising employers' costs.
See also:
· Kern's jobless rate dips to 10.7% Bakersfield Californian
'We're revving up': Students prepare for return to CSUB campus
Bakersfield Californian
Signs of life have been returning to Cal State Bakersfield campus ahead of its opening on Monday. That marks the first time the university will offer in-person classes since the pandemic closed down the campus.
California Supreme Court Names Chair, Vice-Chair of State Bar Board of Trustees
California Courts Newsroom
The court appointed Brandon Stallings, a Kern County Deputy District Attorney, as vice chair of the Board of Trustees for a one-year term
State:
COVID Update:
● COVID-19 hospitalizations break records in six California counties CalMatters
● The Lambda COVID variant is in California: 5 things to know CalMatters
● Top California law enforcement agencies report vaccination rates far lower than public The Guardian
● Another step toward COVID vaccine passport? California, San Francisco, San Jose gear up for new mandates Mercury News
Larry Elder is leader among California recall candidates. That might help Gavin Newsom
Fresno Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom talks about Larry Elder everywhere he goes. During a conversation with Planned Parenthood on Wednesday, Newsom blasted the conservative talk show host for opposing abortion.
See also:
● Claims against Elder: Will they harm him in Calif. Recall? Fresno Bee
● Larry Elder is leader among California recall candidates. That might help Gavin Newsom Sacramento Bee
● Recall candidate Larry Elder under fire for comments on women, allegations from former fiancée Sacramento Bee
● Editorial: GOP candidate Larry Elder must drop out of recall. California doesn’t want a sexist governor Sacramento Bee
● Larry Elder talks racism, school choice and repealing COVID mandates Mercury News
● Would Gov. Larry Elder turn out to be a gift to Democrats? Los Angeles Times
● State officials open investigation into whether Larry Elder failed to disclose income sources Los Angeles Times
● Larry Elder’s ex-fiancee emerges as leading critic, with gun allegation, other claims Los Angeles Times
● Column: Larry Elder is the Black face of white supremacy. You’ve been warned Los Angeles Times
● Who is Larry Elder and what would he do as governor? CalMatters
● Republicans avoid Elder allegations during recall debate Politico
● Elder shakes up recall campaign team Politico
● Jenner, Faulconer call on Elder to exit California recall Politico
● 'Women exaggerate the problem of sexism': Top California recall candidate Larry Elder has a long history of making disparaging remarks about women CNN
Could writing in Gavin Newsom’s name save his tenure as governor? Here’s what we know
Fresno Bee
By Sept. 14, California voters will decide not only whether Newsom should remain in office, but who should replace him for the short remainder of his term if he’s ousted.
See also:
● Why California labor is worried about the Gavin Newsom recall election Fresno Bee
● A QAnon governor? Three California recall candidates have supported the conspiracy movement Fresno Bee
● Kamala Harris will campaign against the California Gavin Newsom recall. Here’s when Sacramento Bee
● Volunteers campaign door-to-door to fight Newsom recall as polls show a tight race Sacramento Bee
● Democrats sped up Gavin Newsom’s recall to avoid California crises. They’re happening anyway Sacramento Bee
● California recall reality: Newsom could be replaced by candidate with far fewer votes Los Angeles Times
● Skelton: Newsom’s big problem in the recall election? Likability Los Angeles Times
● Newsom recall: Could 1-and-done strategy backfire? CalMatters
● Are small business owners angry enough at Gavin Newsom to throw him out of office? CalMatters
● Walters: Audit report provides ammo for Newsom recall CalMatters
● Editorial: Endorsement: There is absolutely no justification for removing Gavin Newsom. Vote NO on the recall San Francisco Chronicle
● Will voter turnout sink or save Gavin Newsom in recall election? Mercury News
● California recall: Environmentalists fear a one-time climate change denier could oust Newsom USA Today
● Democrats confront a nightmare scenario in California recall Washington Post
● Democrats spotlight abortion in bid to save Newsom Politico
● Kamala Harris to campaign in California for Newsom Politico
● Covid policies led to trouble for Newsom. Now they could secure his future. NBC News
● California recall: The danger of casual claims of unconstitutionality The Hill
Court rules California gig worker initiative is unconstitutional, a setback to Uber and Lyft
Fresno Bee
A California judge on Friday ruled that a 2020 ballot measure exempting rideshare and food delivery drivers from a state labor law is unconstitutional because it infringes on the Legislature’s power to set workplace standards.
See also:
● Judge: California ride-hailing law is unconstitutional Modesto Bee
● Uber And Lyft-backed Prop 22 Ruled Unconstitutional By Alameda County Judge, Setting Up Ongoing Legal Battle Capital Public Radio
● Prop. 22 is ruled unconstitutional, a blow to California gig economy law Los Angeles Times
● California Ballot Measure That Classifies Uber, Lyft Drivers as Independent Ruled Unconstitutional Wall Street Journal
● California judge rules unconstitutional the measure classifying Uber and Lyft drivers as contractors Washington Post
● California’s Gig Worker Law Is Unconstitutional, Judge Rules New York Times
Opinion: California’s top Democrats took money from big oil and gas. Then climate legislation died
Sacramento Bee
These disasters call for California leaders to show unparalleled courage in confronting the climate crisis — and the big oil and gas interests driving it. Instead, key leaders in the state Senate protected a status quo of fossil fuel reliance.
Lawmakers Question California Cap & Trade Policies, Citing ProPublica Report
ProPublica
California legislators asked the state Air Resources Board to review its forest offsets program after an investigation by ProPublica and MIT Technology Review found that up to 39 million carbon credits aren’t achieving real climate benefits.
Commission Votes to Not Count Federal Prison Populations in CA
We Draw the Lines CA
The 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) voted to not count federal prison populations in California for redistricting purposes to discourage unfair or padded representation in communities with a facility located in their jurisdiction.
Federal:
COVID Update:
● Nation hits 1M vaccinations benchmark for first time in seven weeks Politico
● GOP governors embrace Covid cocktails over masks as cases surge Politico
● Pfizer's COVID Vaccine Gets Full Approval From The FDA NPR
● As COVID cases surge again, here’s how vaccinations are rising PBS News Hour
● Biden administration's unshakable focus on vaccinations is working The Hill
● The CDC Only Tracks a Fraction of Breakthrough COVID-19 Infections, Even as Cases Surge ProPublica
● Delta variant likely to bring a fall and winter of masks, vaccine mandates, anxiety Los Angeles Times
● COVID vaccine mandates at work? Support grows as delta variant surges, poll finds Fresno Bee
● Skelton: Mandate vaccines for all. It’s the only way to end our COVID-19 nightmare Los Angeles Times
● No vaccination? Americans back tough rules and mask mandates to protect the common good USA Today
● Axios-Ipsos poll: Most Americans favor mandates Axios
McCarthy faces speakership test on infrastructure vote
Politico
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell blessed President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure deal, but with the House majority on the line, Kevin McCarthy is facing a different decision — how harshly to oppose it.
Polls show Biden's approval rating sliding to new lows
Politico
As many Americans disapprove of Biden’s job performance as approve, according to two new polls out Sunday — a precipitous decline for the new president after he spent his first half-year in the White House with high job ratings.
See also:
● Biden Job Approval Falls to Record Low amid COVID Resurgence National Review
● Biden job approval falls; handling of troop removal is negative but support for withdrawal remains CBS News
● Biden's approval rating drops to lowest point amid rise in COVID, Afghanistan fallout USA Today
House revises voting rights bill to boost Justice Dept powers to challenge states
Roll Call
House Democrats introduced the latest version of what’s been dubbed the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act on Tuesday, intent on beefing up a civil rights-era law cut back by a series of Supreme Court decisions.
See also:
● Editorial: Nancy Pelosi’s Next Bad Voting Bill Wall Street Journal
White House to House Dems: Drug price plan is a winning issue
Politico
The White House is aggressively touting the political benefits of President Joe Biden’s plan to lower the cost of prescription drug prices, setting up the issue as a likely focal point of Congress’ budget debate when the House returns this week.
Biden eviction ban heads to Supreme Court
Politico
Property owners and real estate groups on Friday asked the Supreme Court to halt the Biden administration's new eviction moratorium hours after a federal appeals court let it stay in effect.
See also:
● Will Supremes Give Biden the Rebuke He Deserves on Eviction Moratorium? National Review
● Real-Estate Interests Ask Supreme Court to Block Biden’s Eviction Moratorium Wall Street Journal
● Editorial: Next at Bat: Justice Kavanaugh Wall Street Journal
Four weeks in July: Inside the Biden administration’s struggle to contain the delta surge
Washington Post
Early last month, as the planned Fourth of July blowout at the White House approached, top health officials inside the Biden administration began calling each other with a flurry of anxious questions.
Opinion: Make a deal and get it done: The case for more bipartisanship
Roll Call
The Senate’s bipartisan vote in support of a new infrastructure bill has shown our country what our politics could be. Biden was right to focus on reaching a bipartisan deal on a major piece of legislation. We need more of this when it comes to tackling our biggest issues.
See also:
● A posthumous message on bipartisanship: ‘There’s value in people you don’t agree with’ MSN
Death Threats And Conspiracy Theories: Why 2020 Won't End For Election Officials
NPR
It's been more than nine months since Election Day 2020, but as the nation's top election officials met in Iowa over the weekend, it was clear the shadow of that race will stretch far into the future of American democracy.
Other:
Washington Post
Facebook said that an article raising concerns that the coronavirus vaccine could lead to death was the top performing link in the United States on its platform from January through March of this year, acknowledging the widespread reach of such material for the first time.
See also:
· Mask, vaccine conflicts descend into violence and harassment Fresno Bee
Some digital divides persist between rural, urban and suburban America
Pew Research Center
Rural Americans have made large gains in adopting digital technology over the past decade and have narrowed some digital gaps. However, rural adults remain less likely than suburban adults to have home broadband and less likely than urban adults to own a smartphone, tablet computer or traditional computer.
The Simple Steps You Can Take Right Now To Help Afghan Refugees
NPR
In the days after Taliban forces took control of Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul, thousands have attempted to flee the country. Here's how you can help them and organizations on the ground in Afghanistan.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, August 29, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “PPIC: K-12 Test Scores - What do they tell us?” - Guest: Julien Lafortune, Public Policy Institute of California. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, August 29, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "The Valley’s Public Universities: An Update"- Guests: Fresno State President Joseph Castro; Stanislaus State President Ellen Junn; CSU Bakersfield President Lynnette Zelezny. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Washington Post
Hunger around America is improving, compared with a month ago, according to the most recent U.S. census data. But food insecurity has a long way to go before returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Opinion: Farmworkers deserve democratic protections
CalMatters
Assembly Bill 616 could deprive California farmworkers of many of their rights in choosing whether to form or join a union. The Legislature should provide for genuine mail-in balloting in farmworker union elections.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
America’s incarceration rate falls to lowest level since 1995
PEW
The U.S. incarceration rate fell in 2019 to its lowest level since 1995, according to recently published data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the statistical arm of the Department of Justice.
Man in Dixie Fire evacuation zone arrested. He allegedly set piles on fire, refused to leave
Modesto Bee
A homeowner was arrested near Taylorsville on Sunday morning on suspicion of refusing to leave despite mandatory evacuation orders put in place due to the nearby Dixie Fire and for allegedly setting fires on his property.
Judge questions PG&E as it denies flying drones at time of Dixie Fire
Mercury News
Pacific Gas & Electric denied flying drones at the time of the start of the Dixie Fire on Monday following an order by Senior Judge William Alsup of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
See also:
● Federal judge investigating PG&E's role in Dixie Fire orders utility worker to appear in court San Francisco Chronicle
Opinion: A series of cybersecurity disasters has us finally paying proper attention
Washington Post
The bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission released its initial report in 2020 in an attempt to prevent the looming possibility of “cyber 9/11.” No catastrophe of that magnitude has occurred.
Public Safety:
Killer algae? California officials retesting river water after family found dead in Sierra
Fresno Bee
Toxic algae in Sierra National Forest, now being considered in the mysterious deaths of a family this week, was being retested on Thursday by the California State Water Resources Control Board and Mariposa County.
See also:
● What is a toxic algae bloom? Officials describe hazard considered in mysterious deaths Fresno Bee
Senators question DOJ funding for AI-powered policing tech
Fresno Bee
A Democratic senator said the U.S. Justice Department needs to look into whether the algorithm-powered police technologies it funds contribute to racial bias in law enforcement and lead to wrongful arrests.
Opinion: Police shootings are not letting up. Congress must act.
Washington Post
It has been six years since The Post began tracking fatal shootings by on-duty police and the story has remained unchanged. Police departments nationwide have shot and killed almost the same number of people annually, nearly 1,000 or almost three each day.
Apple’s proposed protections against child predators — a challenge to privacy?
AEI
Two weeks ago, Apple announced that in the fall it would create a system in its photo cloud to identify potential child predators using its platform for nefarious purposes.
Fire:
Explosive California wildfires could burn into December
Fresno Bee
Images of homes engulfed in flames and mountains glowing like lava would make it easy to conclude the Golden State is a charred black landscape. That’s hardly the case, but the frightening reality is that the worst may be yet to come.
See also:
● EXPLAINER: Why it takes months to subdue some wildfires Fresno Bee
● Winds threaten to fan destructive California wildfire Sacramento Bee
● California faces unprecedented dangers as record heat, dryness combine with fierce winds Los Angeles Times
French Fire burns more than 13,000 acres
Bakersfield Californian
The French Fire has burned more than 13,300 acres and was at 10 percent containment Sunday evening as it chews through grass, brush and timber west of Lake Isabella, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
See also:
● French Fire in Lake Isabella exhibiting 'extreme fire behavior' Visalia Times Delta
● French Fire destroys 13,000 acres: 'The worst of the fire season is still ahead of us.' Visalia Times Delta
Walkers Fire grows farther north in Golden Trout Wilderness
Hanford Sentinel
Work continued to fully suppress the Walkers Fire in the Golden Trout Wilderness in the Western Divide Ranger District in the Sequoia National Forest over the weekend.
Caldor Fire closes in on 100,000 acres after jumping Highway 50
Mercury News
Firefighters got good news from the weather on Sunday, as winds slowed down and humidity started to build, allowing crews a window to slow the dizzying-fast pace of the Caldor Fire as it closed in on 100,000 acres, officials said.
California fires: Nine national forests to close through Labor Day
San Francisco Chronicle
The Dixie Fire became the first in California history to burn from the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada across the mountains to the eastern valley floor. Data reveals the details of the Dixie Fire’s staggering growth, and how it differed from other wildfires.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Pop-up restaurants may stick around as COVID sees resurgence
Modesto Bee
Pop-up restaurants, many started as stopgap measures by struggling chefs and owners, may have staying power as consumers continue to embrace takeout and delivery and the delta variant threatens to make dining in less of an option.
Washington Post
Despite surging covid cases and climbing inflation, Americans’ retirement account balances continue to rise to record levels. Others, though, are fighting to pay rent — unable even to think about investing for the future.
See also:
· Opinion: It is time to update the adjustment factors for age in Social Security retirement benefits AEI
· The ‘Great Reshuffling’ Is Shifting Wealth to the Exurbs Wall Street Journal
Treasury yields, inflation, and real interest rates: Analyzing the historical record
AEI
On August 18, the 10-year Treasury note yield was 1.263 percent, far less than 12-month CPI inflation rate of 5.39 percent through June.
Is Joe Biden’s booming stock market in trouble?
AEI
Yesterday’s intimation by the Federal Reserve that it would soon start tapering its aggressive bond-buying program.
Jobs:
Local unemployment is declining, but consumer confidence may soon take a hit. Here’s why
Modesto Bee
A federal appellate court refused late Thursday to delay implementation of a judge’s order reinstating a Trump administration policy forcing thousands to wait in Mexico while seeking asylum in the U.S.
See also:
● Merced unemployment improved in July, but COVID and drought mean more uncertainty Merced Sun Star
● California adding jobs, but unemployment claims remain high Fresno Bee
● COVID economy: California unemployment claims jump — fourth straight week Mercury News
● U.S. Jobless Claims Fell to Pandemic Low of 348,000 Last Week Wall Street Journal
More than 20,000 Calif janitors vote to authorize strike that could start in Sept
Fresno Bee
A union representing more than 20,000 janitors across California voted Friday to authorize a strike in as soon as September, as its contracts with janitorial contracting companies are set to expire by the end of August.
Some California prison workers ordered to get vaccinated
Modesto Bee
Guards, janitors, administrators and other California corrections personnel who don't provide health care services directly but who may be exposed to the coronavirus will now be required to get vaccinated under a new state public health order released this week.
Immigrant domestic employees slip through relief cracks in US
Sacramento Bee
Based on recent surveys, more than a quarter of the 2.2 million cleaners, nannies and other caregivers who work in private homes may still be out of work. Most of those who have jobs say they aren’t working as many hours as they’d want.
Garment manufacturers worry Calif bill threatens ‘golden window’ to reshore jobs
CalMatters
The pandemic brought some garment manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., particularly Los Angeles. But the clothing industry says a bill meant to protect garment workers’ pay could move jobs offshore again.
Liz Shuler elected as AFL-CIO’s first woman president
Washington Post
The AFL-CIO, the largest federation of labor unions in the country, announced Friday it has elected Liz Shuler as the first woman to serve as its president. Shuler succeeds Richard Trumka, who served as president of the federation from 2009 until he died at age 72.
The days of subsidizing non-work are back
AEI
The federal government sends cash to non-working low-income households (especially those with children) so they can cover basic expenses, as well as in-kind assistance to cover food, housing, and health insurance.
Remote Work May Now Last for Two Years, Worrying Some Bosses
Wall Street Journal
With delays from Covid-19, some companies are considering a new possibility: Offices may be closed for nearly 2 years. That is raising concerns among executives that the longer people stay at home, the harder or more disruptive it could be to bring them back.
See also:
● Remote work wanted? Analyzing online job postings during COVID-19 Brookings
Heat Is Killing Workers In The U.S. — And There Are No Federal Rules To Protect Them
NPR
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.
AALR
Two recent California Supreme Court cases issued on August 16, 2021 reverses over forty years of the (DIR) and judicial precedent and applies a common sense approach to prevailing wage coverage of projects and workers.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Over 260 Visalia Unified students and staff in quarantine after first week of school
Visalia Times Delta
Over 260 Visalia Unified students and staff are in quarantine after potential exposure to COVID-19 following the first week of school. VUSD staff received around 20 emails informing them of each potential exposure throughout the last week.
Parents get coached on how to escape mask and vaccine rules
Fresno Bee
An Oregon school superintendent is telling parents they can get their children out of wearing masks by citing federal disability law. A pastor at a California megachurch is offering religious exemptions for anyone morally conflicted over vaccine requirements.
A Pandemic First Day of School in California
New York Times
The first day of school is stressful under the best of circumstances: picking the right outfit, navigating hallways and making new friends. And that’s when there isn’t a pandemic.
See also:
● Too much Covid caution will be bad for schoolchildren AEI
● Opinion: Make online teaching a catalyst for better classroom teaching and learning Mercury News
States can’t block federal funds for districts that mandate masks, Education secretary says
Politico
Public schools who want to institute mask mandate rules can't be denied federal funds, even if their state governments try to pressure them out of mask mandates, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said.
Opinion: State Bans on Critical Race Theory Won’t Work
Wall Street Journal
Even where allowed to stand by courts, these laws, like other efforts to rein in education bureaucrats, will be swallowed up in the spreadsheets and matrices into which state departments of public instruction lure and quietly strangle every curricular reform.
Improving Career Education Pathways into California’s Workforce
PPIC
COVID-19 hit workers with less education hardest, underscoring the need for public investments in workforce training.
Higher Ed:
Why Fresno State’s $10 million naming rights deal is worth a lot more than money
Fresno Bee
Fresno State and Valley Children’s Healthcare on Thursday announced a 10-year, $10 million partnership that includes naming rights to Bulldog Stadium, an important piece in stabilizing the finances of an athletics department that is recovering from lost revenues.
Cal State schools, including Sac State, confront courses with high failure, withdrawal rates
Fresno Bee
California State University students are failing or withdrawing at high rates from many courses — including chemistry, calculus, English and U.S. history — prompting renewed efforts for systemwide reform.
Applications for Dream Act Financial Aid Have Fallen
Public Policy Institute of California
A sharp decline in California Dream Act applications during the COVID-19 pandemic may mean that college is less affordable for some undocumented students—or even lead to a decline in enrollment.
The rush back to college campuses is leaving behind the most vulnerable
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.
Axios-Ipsos poll: Higher ed's coming clashes
Axios
Asian, Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely to say colleges and universities reflect white people's views, while white Americans are more likely to say these institutions favor liberal beliefs, according to a new Axios/Ipsos poll on inequity in higher education.
See also:
● All Americans see the value of higher education, but race continues to be a partisan flashpoint Axios
College students on high COVID alert ahead of return to campus
Axios
With the Delta variant surging, college students are not ready to resume campus life as normal. For four-year students who enrolled in 2019-20, there is just one year remaining to enjoy something resembling a regular college experience.
See also:
● How does virtual learning impact students in higher education? Brookings
Opinion: Who Wants Higher Tuition?
The American Spectator
President Biden and Democrats want to lower the cost of higher education by increasing Pell Grants and forgiving student debt. Here’s a novel idea: Maybe the better way to cut the cost of college is to cut the cost of college.
The societal benefits of postsecondary prison education
Brookings
It’s hard to overstate the benefits of providing postsecondary education to incarcerated students. The incarcerated population has lower average education levels than the general population which makes it difficult for returning citizens to find jobs.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
San Joaquin Valley has one of the worst air qualities in the world right now
Your Central Valley
Hazy skies drape over the Central Valley on Friday, continuing a week of unhealthy air quality. Over the last few days, the air quality index has oscillated between 159 to 176. That’s worse than the air quality predicted in both China and India.
Wildfires, drought and blackouts: California’s climate change nightmare is already here
Fresno Bee
After last year’s historic wildfire season, two nights of blackouts and a dry winter that raised alarm bells about another drought, California knew a difficult summer lay head.
See also:
● California builds a ‘Noah’s Ark’ to protect wildlife from extinction by fire and heat Los Angeles Times
● What you should know about glacial melting Mercury News
● Opinion: Climate change demands reorganizing California policies and institutions CalMatters
Climate change demands reorganizing California policies and institutions
MSN
Our state’s system of policies, laws and institutions is designed to keep bad things from happening and is much less adept at expediting programs and projects that must happen quickly and at a scale to address a warming climate.
See also:
● What you should know about glacial melting Mercury News
These methane hunters are racing to change the course of global warming
Businessweek
Frackers in America’s largest oil field are letting massive amounts of methane spill into the atmosphere. These scientists and activists are trying to find the leaks and get them plugged before they cook the planet further.
Time
The reality of climate change is unequivocal, its effects are already playing out in every region. In the U.S. the nascent climate crisis appears most dramatic in the West, where a combination of drought and extreme heat has created life-threatening conditions.
Energy:
To Avoid Rolling Blackouts, State Fast-Tracks Diesel-Fueled Power
KQED
In an effort to stave off rolling blackouts in California, the Newsom administration is moving forward with five new energy projects set to be fueled by both natural gas and diesel.
They fought for clean air. They didn’t know they were part of a gas industry campaign
Los Angeles Times
Officials hoped residents would help them decide whether to require electric trucks or instead promote vehicles powered by natural gas. They didn’t know that locals who urged support for natural gas trucks were being paid by a firm hired by the natural gas industry.
Wind-Turbine Makers Struggle to Profit From Renewable-Energy Boom
Wall Street Journal
The world’s appetite for green energy is greater than ever, but that isn’t translating into big profits for some of the companies behind the boom.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
How California’s toxic wildfire smoke affects your health. What the experts are saying
Fresno Bee
The West is burning and residents are already feeling the effects on their health. As plumes of smoke and poor air quality blanket California, residents may experience tightening in their chests, eye irritation, runny noses, sore throats, coughing attacks.
New disabilities, big bills follow COVID patients after short hospital stays, study says
Fresno Bee
A preliminary analysis of 253 patients of a cohort of 1,300 hospitalized with the disease between fall 2020 and early 2021 shows nearly 85% couldn’t get back to their pre-COVID lives one month after being discharged.
See also:
● How does COVID-19 affect the brain? A troubling picture emerges. National Geographic
● First U.S. COVID deaths came earlier — and in different places — than previously thought Mercury News
What does FDA approval of Pfizer COVID vaccine mean for you? Here’s what happens next
Modesto Bee
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Monday for people 16 and older, making it the first of three COVID-19 shots available in the U.S. to be upgraded from an emergency use authorization (EUA) to full approval.
See also:
● US regulators give full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Mercury News
● Pfizer's COVID Vaccine Gets Full Approval From The FDA NPR
● Pfizer’s Global Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout Depends on Two Expert Staffers Wall Street Journal
● Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine wins full FDA approval, potentially persuading the hesitant to get a shot Washington Post
● FDA Gives Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine Full Approval Wall Street Journal
● Here’s the latest on COVID-19 vaccines National Geographic
Why wait for the COVID-19 vaccine booster?
Mercury News
The Bay Area’s big rollout of COVID-19 booster shots can begin as soon as federal and state authorities give the go-ahead, but that won’t be until late September, according to county officials, hospitals and health care systems.
See also:
● COVID Booster Shots Are Coming. Here's What You Need To Know NPR
● Editorial: What’s better than a third vaccine dose? A first dose LA Times
● Opinion: Delta’s Gift Is Hybrid Immunity Wall Street Journal
Column: Coronavirus tests are supposed to be free. But there’s a nasty loophole in the law
Los Angeles Times
Free testing was supposed to be a fundamental aspect of America’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s a gaping legal hole that makes testing fees possible — even when federal laws declare that no such fees should be charged.
Evidence mounts that people with breakthrough infections can spread Delta easily
National Geographic
A preliminary study has shown that in the case of a breakthrough infection, the Delta variant is able to grow in the noses of vaccinated people to the same degree as if they were not vaccinated at all.
See also:
● Dr. Scott Gottlieb says vaccinated people cannot ‘throw caution to the wind’ due to delta variant CNBC
● What doctors wish patients knew about breakthrough COVID infections American Medical Association
● Have You Already Had A Breakthrough COVID Infection? New Yorker
The opioids crisis: Don’t punish pain patients to treat opioid addiction
AEI
The U.S. is suffering not one epidemic, but two: The opioid crisis continues to rage through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Human Services:
Need your COVID vaccine card handy? Here’s how to store it on iPhones and Androids
Fresno Bee
Make sure you can easily access your COVID-19 vaccine card ― you may need it to enter restaurants, bars, gyms, concerts and other places.
See also:
● You’ve Been Vaccinated. Now Prove It. Pew Trusts
COVID vaccines: What one family doctor tells his patients who are nervous about getting the shot
Mercury News
Vaccinations are increasing again, and 60% of Americans age 12 and older are now fully vaccinated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, with 64% of Californians 12 and older fully vaccinated.
See also:
● Opinion: A Better Way to Encourage Vaccination Wall Street Journal
COVID hot zones are clamoring for antibody drugs
Mercury News
People infected with COVID-19 were captured in a photo this week lying on the floor in pain while waiting for antibody infusions at a treatment site set up inside the library in Jacksonville, Florida.
See also:
● Monoclonal antibodies are free and effective against covid-19, but few people are getting them Washington Post
White House to House Dems: Drug price plan is a winning issue
Politico
The White House is aggressively touting the political benefits of President Joe Biden’s plan to lower the cost of prescription drug prices, setting up the issue as a likely focal point of Congress’ budget debate when the House returns this week.
IMMIGRATION
Why Illegal U.S. Border Crossings Likely Aren’t Fueling the Covid-19 Surge
Wall Street Journal
As the rate of Covid-19 infections rises across the U.S., some policy makers have said that the surge in illegal crossings at the southern border is contributing to the pandemic.
Opinion: Biden’s Cruel Immigration Policy
Wall Street Journal
A humane U.S. immigration policy would recognize the need for workers from outside the country and give migrants a legal path to those jobs by allowing them to apply for visas at local consulates.
Supreme Court halts order restoring Trump-era immigration policy
Politico
The Supreme Court issued a temporary stay blocking a court order requiring the Biden administration to reinstate a Trump-era policy requiring most asylum seekers arriving at the nation's southern border to return to Mexico while awaiting a hearing in the U.S.
See also:
● Supreme Court temporarily blocks reinstatement of Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy Washington Post
● Biden Administration Asks Supreme Court to Block Reinstatement of ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy Wall Street Journal
Everything you wanted to know about Title 42 but didn’t know to ask
Roll Call
A little known public health directive, Title 42, allows border agents to swiftly “expel” migrants who cross the border. It was implemented in March 2020 as COVID-19 cases spread across the U.S.
Opinion: Immigration reform is a perfect fit for budget reconciliation
Roll Call
Several months of bipartisan Senate negotiations has yielded a stalemate on broadly popular measures that would enable certain categories of qualified immigrants — such as “Dreamers” and farmworkers — to earn legal permanent residence.
Nativism in U.S. politics has thwarted refugee resettlement before
Washington Post
The stunning speed with which the Taliban moved into the city has led to massive displacement, with hundreds of thousands of people seeking safe haven. In preparation, the U.S. has opened a Special Immigrant Visa process that is moving slowly to admit Afghans who worked with the U.S. military.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Brookings
Public spaces have long been shown to enhance community well-being—producing positive health, environmental, economic, and social outcomes for residents who can access them. The COVID-19 pandemic made these benefits increasingly obviou.
Housing:
California’s housing crisis: How much difference will a zoning bill make?
CalMatters
Senate Bill 9, one of several measures alluded to by the signs, would technically allow as many as two duplexes, two houses with attached units, or a combination — capped at four units — on single-family lots across California, without local approval.
See also:
● Editorial: To save California, sacrifice single-family zoning Los Angeles Times
● Walters: Will Legislature confront California housing crisis? CalMatters
● Opinion: Housing bills would help address California’s wealth inequality CalMatters
U.S. Home Sales Rose 2% in July Amid Higher Inventory
Wall Street Journal
Sales of previously owned homes rose in July for the second straight month as high prices prompted more homeowners to put their houses on the market.
Homelessness fell across most metro areas after the Great Recession. Will COVID-19 change that?
Brookings
Over the past year, job losses from the pandemic have exacerbated housing insecurity among low-income renters. As of January 2021, nearly one in four of the nation’s 43 million renter households reported having missed at least one rent payment during the pandemic.
PUBLIC FINANCES
California cities will get more stimulus money than they lost during pandemic, state auditor says
Mercury News
The city of Los Angeles faced a $750 million deficit, elimination of nearly 2,000 jobs, or some combination of the two. Anaheim prepared to borrow $210 million — using city libraries, fire stations and City Hall itself as collateral.
Corporate America’s $50 billion promise
Washington Post
After the murder of George Floyd ignited nationwide protests, corporate America acknowledged it could no longer stay silent and promised to take an active role in confronting systemic racism.
Editorial: Unemployment Benefits Forever?
Wall Street Journal
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh on Thursday broke the news to Democrats in Congress that the Administration doesn’t intend to extend the $300 federal unemployment bonus past the Sept. 6 expiration date. Hold the confetti.
A healthy reform to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Updating the Thrifty Food Plan
Brookings
For the first time, purchasing power will increase as a result of implementation of a new Thrifty Food Plan (Thrifty), a model food plan calculated by the USDA that is supposed to be based on the cost of purchasing a modest but healthy diet for a family of four.
Why Legacy Wealth Is an Easy Target to Fund Infrastructure
MSN
The United States is a nation of deep inequalities. Race, gender and sexuality are the obvious spaces that reveal those unlevel playing fields.
TRANSPORTATION
TVEyes
Today’s action also paves the way for full California environmental quality act clearance of nearly 300 miles.
See also:
● Kevin Faulconer wants to scale back California High-Speed Rail TVEyes
Transit Got Billions in Covid-19 Relief From Congress, but Deficits Still Loom
Wall Street Journal
The bipartisan infrastructure bill approved by the Senate this month is the latest effort to inject federal money into public transit agencies. But all that money likely won’t buy what transit really needs: more riders.
Washington Post
Years of neglect and underfunding. Lots of future needs. Ten projects show what’s at stake for the nation’s roads, bridges, ports and rails.
WATER
Thousands of farmers face $10,000-a-day fines if they pull water from California rivers
Fresno Bee
The State Water Resources Control Board began sending formal “curtailment notices” to the holders of 4,500 water rights permits that allow them to pull water from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries.
See also:
● Farmers face fines if they pull water from California rivers Mercury News
● State orders 4,500 cities, farms to stop drawing river water, including San Francisco San Francisco Chronicle
Drought outpaces plans to fix failing drinking water systems
SJV Water
Wells went dry enmasse 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.
Tracking water storage shows options for improving water management during floods and droughts
PHYS.org
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have created a balance sheet for water across the United States—tracking total water storage in 14 of the country's major aquifers over 15 years.
Gov. Newsom says mandatory statewide water restrictions for California may be on the way
Mercury News
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that he may put mandatory water restrictions in place in as soon as six weeks from now as the state’s historic drought continues to worsen.
Scorching Heat Is Killing Workers. Some States Are Stepping In.
PEW
When American farmworkers, construction laborers and trash collectors die in extreme heat, it’s rarely because their employers have broken any rules. It’s because there are none.
“Xtra”
Graffiti Parade returns to Modesto. See the sights, sounds, stories and photos
Modesto Bee
Vintage cars cruised downtown Modesto once again Friday night in the annual parade
celebrating the city’s history and, this year, the return of Graffiti Summer.
Northeast Modesto shopping center lands two new restaurants, one familiar coffee shop
Modesto Bee
Three new eateries are opening in northeast Modesto’s The Marketplace complex, adding new neighbors for the city’s flagship Save Mart store.
Here’s what patrons will have to do to attend Modesto’s Gallo Center due to COVID surge
Modesto Bee
The Gallo Center for the Arts will require patrons provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test beginning Monday, Sept. 20. Beginning Friday, Aug. 20, people will be required to wear masks inside the building.
Fresno writer remembers watery joys of the past, even as the drought wears her down
Fresno Bee
As if I’m a thirsty person craving my next drink, I keep thinking about water. I hear the stories. A 20-acre family farm sits fallow. Down the road, another piece of land has the same barren look. Is the problem reasonable crop values or access to water?
Tulare welcomes home Team USA's silver medalist boxer Kiki Torrez
Visalia Times
Olympic super heavyweight boxing silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. who was honored with a parade and celebration at Bob Mathias Stadium on Saturday, August 21, 2021, in Tulare,
Calif.
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