POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Turlock city manager abruptly resigns after closed-session job review
Modesto Bee
Turlock is once again looking for a city manager after Robert Lawton abruptly resigned Monday. In a letter to the City Council, Lawton, who started with the city in July of last year, said his resignation is effective Tuesday.
Stanislaus County offers pay incentives to keep prosecutors
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County will try hiring and pay incentives to reduce turnover in the District Attorney’s office.
EDITORIAL: Modesto rises above straight pride’s publicity stunt
Modesto Bee
Saturday’s straight pride publicity stunt turned out to be mostly a dud.
Central SJ Valley:
Reed Resigns from Planning Commission, Wheeler to Appoint Burdette
Sierra News
John Reed has resigned from the Madera County Planning Commission. Reed submitted his resignation following the commission’s last meeting on Aug. 6.
South SJ Valley:
County superintendent: Creekside principal resignation an 'unusual occurrence'
Visalia Times Delta
The challenge of staffing a new school site from the ground up in just four months may have proved too great for Visalia Unified School District, according to administrators.
Gold Star Mothers' and Families' Day resolution authored by Rudy Salas passes Assembly
Bakersfield Californian
The Gold Star Mothers and Families joined Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, on the floor of the State Assembly on Monday to witness the passage of a resolution that designates Sept. 29 as Gold Star Mothers’ and Family Day in California.
Kern County to host hazardous waste collection events throughout September for rural residents
Bakersfield Californian
Kern County Public Works will hold a series of hazardous waste collection events throughout September for residents outside Bakersfield.
Neighbors united at annual conference
South Kern Sol
Nearly 350 people from Fresno, Tulare and Kern County attended the conference to hear from elected officials, such as Assemblyman Rudy Salas, Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez, State Senator Melissa Hurtado and Representative TJ Cox, and learn about civic engagement.
State:
Should 17-year-olds get to vote?
Visalia Times Delta
The Golden State may join many other states in allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections, if they will turn 18 before the following general election, under a proposed amendment to the California Constitution approved Thursday by the state Assembly.
See also:
Everyone deserves the right to vote — including parolees. California can lead the way Sacramento Bee
Newsom will weigh bills that could affect his businesses
Sacramento Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose investments in the hospitality industry made him a millionaire, put his holdings in a blind trust after winning last year’s governor’s race.
Commission created when Hiram Johnson was governor needs to be brought into the new century
CALmatters
What do Uber, mobile homes and sewers have in common?
See also:
2019 California Economic Summit Registration Opens
CAFWD
Registration has opened for the 2019 California Economic Summit, which will take place in Fresno on November 7-8. The Summit, produced by California Forward, marks the eighth annual gathering of private, public and civic leaders from across California’s diverse regions committed to creating a shared economic agenda to expand prosperity for all.
Opinion: California’s Mandatory Ethnic Indoctrination
Fox & Hounds
California’s state legislature is on the verge of mandating an “ethnic studies” course in order for a student to graduate from high school. Why not? Today in California, K-12 public school student enrollment is only 23 percent “White not Hispanic.” Based on current immigration and fertility statistics, California’s demographics will eventually become America’s demographics.
See also:
Shyong: Laotian Americans’ stories are obscured by history. That’s why we need ethnic studies Los Angeles Times
Opinion: The Other 49 States Should Learn From California's Mistakes
Fox & Hounds
In a recent Los Angeles Times op-ed, former New York Times labor reporter Steven Greenhouse said the other 49 states “have a lot to learn from California” when it comes to labor policy. He’s right, but not in the way he meant it. The rest of the country has a lot to learn from our mistakes.
Federal:
Administration ends protection for migrant medical care
Fresno Bee
The Trump administration has eliminated a protection that lets immigrants remain in the country and avoid deportation while they or their relatives receive life-saving medical treatments or endure other hardships, immigration officials said in letters issued to families this month.
See also:
Trump administration ends protection for migrant medical care Stockton Record
CA suing Trump administration over rollback of child immigrant protections
abc30
Nineteen states sued on Monday over the Trump administration's effort to alter a federal agreement that limits how long immigrant children can be kept in detention.
See also:
Lawsuit filed over rollback of child immigrant protections Bakersfield Californian
Should migrant kids be held longer than three weeks? California sues over family detention Sacramento Bee
California Sues Administration Over Rollback Of Child Immigrant Protections Capital Public Radio
19 States And DC Sue Administration Over Plan To Detain Migrant Children Indefinitely Capital Public Radio
California sues over Trump immigration policy on indefinite detention of migrant children Los Angeles Times
California sues over Trump plan to hold immigrant children indefinitely San Francisco Chronicle
The Washington Post
In a lengthy news conference at the conclusion of the Group of Seven summit of industrialized democracies, President Trump made numerous false, misleading or inaccurate statements on a variety of issues. Here’s a tour through some of the more noteworthy ones, in the order in which he made them.
Elections 2020:
Trump 2020 – and the Democratic Party – start massive early mobilization
Fresno Bee
It’s August 2019 and the presidential campaign is already taking on the frenetic pace of a contest in its final months.
See also:
Biden, Sanders and Warren tied for three-way lead in Democratic 2020 primary, poll shows
Los Angeles Times
Joe Biden may be losing his lone front-runner status and is effectively tied with Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren at the top of the Democratic 2020 primary field, according to a Monmouth University poll released Monday.
See also:
Bernie Sanders takes on Facebook and Google for destroying local media VOX
The promise and peril of Joe Biden’s front-runner campaign Los Angeles Times
Poll: Bernie, Warren surge to tie Biden atop Democratic field Politico
Where are the happy warriors? Democrats aren’t selling hope
San Francisco Chronicle
The candidates spend a lot of time bashing President Trump — but are they spending enough time creating a positive, aspirational message that voters can latch onto?
How Democrats get out the vote — from overseas
San Francisco Chronicle
Martha McDevitt-Pugh may vote in Oakland, but for the past 19 years she’s been filling out her ballot from her home in the Netherlands, one of a growing number of overseas Americans who are part of the Democratic Party.
Poll: More voters say gender equality worse under Trump
Politico
The exclusive POLITICO/Morning Consult poll found that young Democratic women are the most likely to say that gender equality has worsened.
Other:
Free-Speech Clichés the Media Should Stop Using
The Atlantic
Most speech, hateful or not, is protected by the Constitution. To pretend otherwise is foolhardy.
Human Side Of California’s Horse Racing Crisis: ‘No Es Solamente Un Deporte’
Paulick Report
I attended the California Horse Racing Board meeting in Del Mar this past Thursday. As is usual now, there were demonstrations pro and con before the meeting, and public comments on both sides during the meeting. As I walked to my car afterwards, with the TV trucks and crowds long gone, I saw a small group of backstretch workers who were still there to express their support for horse racing, with handmade signs in English and Spanish.
EDITORIAL: Keep California’s new privacy protections safe from tech company meddling
Los Angeles Times
California enacted the country’s most sweeping data privacy law a little more than a year ago, giving consumers in the state the power to find out which businesses are collecting personal information about them, to stop that information from being sold and to demand that it be deleted
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, September 1, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Countdown to the 2020 Census” – Guests: Secretary of State, Alex Padilla; Sarah Bohn, PPIC; and John Myers, Los Angeles Times. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, September 1, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “Census & Immigration: Distinctly Different Issues Intersect” – Guests: Laura Hill with the Public Policy Institute of California; Taryn Luna with the Sacramento Bee; Dan Walters with CALmatters, Secretary of State, Alex Padilla; Sarah Bohn, PPIC; and John Myers, Los Angeles Times. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, September 1, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “Participación en 2018: lo que puede significar para 2020” – Invitados: Secretario de Estado Alex Padilla, Gisell Gasca - Mi Familia Vota y Alexei Koseff con San Francisco Chronicle. Presentado Por: Coordinadora del Programa del Maddy Institute, Maria Jeans.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Water deliveries to Valley crops are plentiful thanks to a healthy snowmelt
abc30
Water deliveries in the Fresno Irrigation District typically end in September, but they could last until November this year. The extra deliveries will allow growers to not only irrigate but also to bank some water for future use.
Counterfeit cannabis products stoke black market for California weed
Los Angeles Times
Licensed cannabis cultivators and businesses can’t distribute their wares to unlicensed dispensaries and delivery services without risking punishment from regulatory agencies, meaning any brand-name item that customers find in an illegal shop is almost certainly counterfeit.
How much pot in that brownie? Chocolate can throw off tests
AP News
How much marijuana is really in that pot brownie? Chocolate can throw off potency tests so labels aren’t always accurate, and now scientists are trying to figure out why.
A taste of home in Bakersfield for California’s Punjabi truck drivers
New York Times
Punjabi Dhaba, reminiscent of no-frills roadside restaurants in India and Pakistan, is another example of how Bakersfield and its tastes have grown alongside its immigrant work force. Punjabi Dhaba, along with the city’s Sikh temples and Indian grocery stories, points to the influence of a more recent wave of immigration to Bakersfield.
Trump is lying in farmers’ faces, and they’re finally getting angry about it
Washington Post
One of the worst habits among the D.C. commentariat is the tendency to treat President Trump’s lies as if they possess magical qualities. We are constantly told that Trump’s lying “works,” a claim that rests on the idea that no matter what Trump says, his supporters will believe him.
Farmers Feel Squeeze as Trump Presses Trade War
PEW
China's 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans remains in place, impacting U.S. farmers who have already been enduring low commodity prices for several years.
How States Are Working to Improve Soil Health
PEW
This year, several states introduced policies that call for research, or offer tax exemptions, assistance, or aid to help plant cover crops, diversify crop rotations, and reduce tillage that can tear apart beneficial fungi.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Fresno jail annex reopens after flood incident, but months of repairs ahead
Fresno Bee
The Fresno County Jail’s North Annex jail was operating normally Monday after a flooding incident caused by inmates Friday, said sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti, but portions of the jail associated with the facility will undergo extensive repairs.
Overloading your shopping cart(s) will get you noticed in Manteca
Stockton Record
A homeless person pushing a shopping cart is not unusual, but towing seven loaded carts linked together like a train will attract attention. And getting noticed when you have an active arrest warrant, well, just ask the Manteca Police Department.
Public Safety:
California state workers are giving up a raise. New contract reflects pension debt concerns
Merced Sun-Star
Its impact might be minor, but a state union’s offer to give up part of a raise to reduce pension debt is notable for what it might signal.
How will Stanislaus County stop the revolving door at district attorney’s office?
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County will try hiring and pay incentives to reduce turnover in the District Attorney’s office. The office has struggled to recruit and keep prosecutors in the past seven years, and the high turnover rate surfaced as an issue in the November 2018 election.
Cities with more gun purchases also see more gun-related injuries, UC Davis study finds
Sacramento Bee
A new UC Davis study has found that cities that experience increases in gun purchases also experience more gun-related injuries.
California Supreme Court backs greater access to police misconduct cases
Los Angeles Times
The California Supreme Court decided unanimously Monday that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies may alert prosecutors that a deputy who might testify in a criminal case has a history of misconduct.
See also:
How did California become the most secretive state on police misconduct? Los Angeles Times
Calif. Supreme Court: Police can alert prosecutors about officer's backgrounds San Francisco Chronicle
‘In the moment, it felt real’: In wake of shootings, noises in malls spark fear
San Francisco Chronicle
The panic felt real to shoppers at three California malls who went through active-shooter scares on Sunday, panics that sent patrons scurrying for parking lots and hiding in food courts before they realized there was no real danger.
LDS Church Forbids Lethal Weapons At Church In New Policy Change
NPR
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has prohibited nearly all parishioners from carrying lethal weapons on church property.
See also:
Mormon leaders, in a policy shift, ban all guns in church Los Angeles Times
Mother Jones
San Jose’s mayor wants to require gun owners to have liability insurance.
Fire:
It’s dry and hot in California. Here’s how to prepare for the next wildfire
Fresno Bee
Yes, it’s been a “slow” fire season in California so far, but it almost certainly won’t stay that way for long. By the end of this heat wave, the grass, brush and trees will be thoroughly brittle and dry.
Narrow escape routes endanger dozens of California towns. Is yours on the list?
Merced Sun-Star
One of the many lessons learned in the wake of the Camp Fire last year was the vital role of evacuation routes. Traffic stalled on clogged roads as residents tried desperately to get out. It’s an example worth remembering.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
US orders for long-lasting goods rises 2.1% in July
Fresno Bee
Orders to U.S. factories for large manufactured goods rose for the second straight month, but the strength again came from a big increase in the volatile aircraft category. A category that tracks business investment also rose for the second straight month, though last month's reading was revised down significantly.
Morlasch: CA’s finances now $213 billion in the red
Fox & Hounds
Drum roll, please. It is time for my Second Annual Update on State Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs). The main data are in the first two charts below.
Middle-class families rely more than ever on women’s wages
Brookings
As the number of working mothers in the United States increases, the continued “wage penalty” faced by these women has become a family wage penalty. Richard Reeves outlines three reasons for this disparity and explains how paid leave policies, flexible working arrangements, affordable childcare, and fair work scheduling rules can go a long way in helping middle-class families.
Central Bankers Worry About Trump’s Tactics to Reorder Global Trade
Wall Street Journal
With borrowing costs already low, they have fewer options to spur economic growth.
Trump Says U.S. and Japan Have Reached Trade Deal in Principle
Wall Street Journal
Deal would pave the way for more farm exports to Japan, while dropping the threat of U.S. tariffs on Japanese cars.
See also:
Opinion | The American Economy Is Creating a National Identity Crisis
The New York Times
It has become painfully clear that we are more than just consumers and corporate shareholders.
EDITORIAL: Cap interest rates and lend Californians relief
San Francisco Chronicle
Millions of Californians are just one car breakdown or missed paycheck away from financial disaster. These are the Californians targeted by predatory lenders, including some payday loan companies, for loans with interest rates that can reach 200% or higher.
Jobs:
California state workers are giving up a raise. New contract reflects pension debt concerns
Sacramento Bee
Its impact might be minor, but a state union’s offer to give up part of a raise to reduce pension debt is notable for what it might signal.
See also:
California Assemblywoman Gonzalez Says A Deal Is Likely For Truckers in Dynamex Bill
Capital Public Radio
Truckers claim the proposal, as written, would eliminate the role of independent operators. They argue this could cause disruptions in the supply chain.
Boxer: AB5 is not the answer for all workers
San Francisco Chronicle
The California Legislature is weighing whether or not it should reclassify independent contractors as employees. I’ve talked to Lyft drivers, and AB5 wouldn’t make sense for them.
CALmatters
A California bill threatens the likes of Uber, Lyft, Postmates and DoorDash. But Assembly Bill 5 could also sweep up some 2 million workers from truck drivers and general contractors to strippers and nail salons.
Opinion: Allow Qualified Construction Workers Should Help Rebuild California
Fox & Hounds
California needs all hands on deck to help rebuild the state with an immediate need for affordable housing and recovery from the destruction of recent wildfires.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Former Hanford student returns to district as new superintendent
abc30
The school year is off to a strong start for the Hanford Joint Union High School District and they're welcoming a familiar face back to the classroom. You might recognize the new superintendent because he's a former Hanford student.
California Assembly approves medical cannabis on K-12 campuses
abc30
The California Assembly approved a bill Monday that lets school boards decide whether parents can administer medical marijuana on school campuses.
Foster youth dream center open house set
Porterville Recorder
An open house for The Tulare County Office of Education's new Dream Center for foster youth will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, August 29 at 1730 W. Walnut Ave., Suite B, Visalia.
Workshop introduces high school students to voting process
Stockton Record
Fifty high school students from across San Joaquin County in government or leadership classes participated in a workshop centered about the importance of registering to vote and how much of an impact it can have on their lives.
Op-Ed: My high school students don't read any more. I think I know why
Los Angeles Times
Most of us who grew up in the United States before the advent of smartphones and social media can remember adults using phrases like “serious reading” or can name people in our orbit who claimed certain books “changed their lives.” I can still vividly recall teachers, friends and family members insisting I read this book or that poem, usually for reasons I had yet to understand.
Charter Schools’ Success Is an Illusion
Wall Street Journal
True, their outcomes beat traditional schools. But it’s mostly because their students are self-selected.
Higher Ed:
Fresno State CA in Washington Monthly best universities list
Fresno Bee
Fresno State has once again been ranked in the top 25 universities in the country by Washington Monthly magazine.
CSUB unveils upgrades to Student Recreation Center
KBAK
With a new school year comes changes to CSUB. One of the biggest things that happened over the summer was upgrades to student rec center -- changes that the students themselves helped to bring about. "All that we do is in service for the students.
Apprenticeships:
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ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
The Amazon rainforest is on fire. Climate scientists fear a tipping point is near
Los Angeles Times
Scientists far more worried about what the fires represent: a dramatic increase in illegal deforestation that could deprive the world of a critical buffer against climate change.
Kern County to host hazardous waste collection events throughout September for rural residents
Bakersfield Californian
Kern County Public Works will hold a series of hazardous waste collection events throughout September for residents outside Bakersfield.
How should we talk about what’s happening to our planet?
Washington Post
In the middle of a winter’s night in 2017, Frank Luntz’s cellphone alerted him to a nearby wildfire. The longtime analyst of public opinion opened his bedroom curtains and saw, less than a mile away, flames chewing the dark sky over Los Angeles. Luntz — who specializes in how the public reacts to words — saw scary evidence of a threat that he once tried to neutralize with language.
Column: How MIT whitewashed the climate change denialism of a major donor, David Koch
Los Angeles Times
Obituary writers have been struggling for days with the task of balancing the philanthropic record of billionaire David H. Koch with his baleful influence on democratic electoral principles and the science of climate change.
Los Angeles Times
Environmentalists and consumer advocates have been sounding the alarm about the breakdown of the state’s bottle bill for the last two years, pleading with lawmakers to shore up the program before the public’s willingness to recycle drops even further.
EDITORIAL: Trump convenes a Group of One
San Francisco Chronicle
President Trump advances a new world disorder by dodging a climate change session at summit.
Energy:
Want to save money on your power bill? Fresno councilmember wants to go around PG&E
Fresno Bee
Fresno Councilmember Luis Chavez said he’s spearheading an effort to give residents a potentially cheaper energy provider than Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
State launches probe into oil field spills, including one that has been flowing since 2003
KQED
State oil and gas regulators say they're launching an investigation of operations in a Kern County oil field after a series of large, uncontrolled crude petroleum releases near Chevron wells — including one that has continued on and off for more than 16 years and may have spewed out more than 50 million gallons of crude oil.
Trump says windmill power isn’t working. His Energy secretary disagrees
Los Angeles Times
President Trump scoffed yet again at a source of electricity championed by his own energy secretary, saying wind power doesn’t work “all that well.”
PG&E wants to gradually add $30 per month to the average residential bill
San Francisco Chronicle
The 16 million people served by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will not pay more money as a direct result of the utility’s plan to resolve its bankruptcy case, company leaders say.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Modeling community efforts to reduce childhood obesity
Brookings
Childhood obesity in America has more than tripled since the 1970s. New research shows how inclusive, stakeholder-driven initiatives to create healthier environments in education and childcare settings can significantly reduce the number of overweight and obese children in a community.
Vaping Craze Prompts New State Taxes
PEW
Of the 17 states and the District of Columbia that have specific taxes on vaping products, half implemented them in 2019.
Human Services:
California Senate OKs bill targeting hospital giant Kaiser
Fresno Bee
Hospital giant Kaiser Permanente would have to disclose more financial information about its hospitals under a bill that has cleared the California Legislature.
Loss Of Control In Bad Weather, Lack Of Night Time Training Key Factors in 2015 Skylife Crash
VPR
Medevac helicopters transport patients to hospitals that can provide them with the best care. So when a helicopter meant to save lives crashes, it can feel doubly wrong.
Johnson & Johnson helped fuel opioid crisis in Oklahoma and must pay $572 million, judge rules
Los Angeles Times
An Oklahoma judge on Monday found Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries helped fuel the state’s opioid crisis and ordered the consumer products giant to pay $572 million, more than twice the amount another drug manufacturer agreed to pay in a settlement.
See also:
Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $572 million for its role in Oklahoma’s opioid crisis Washington Post
IMMIGRATION
Administration ends protection for migrant medical care
Fresno Bee
The Trump administration has eliminated a protection that lets immigrants remain in the country and avoid deportation while they or their relatives receive life-saving medical treatments or endure other hardships, immigration officials said in letters issued to families this month.
See also:
Trump administration ends protection for migrant medical care Stockton Record
CA suing Trump administration over rollback of child immigrant protections
abc30
Nineteen states sued on Monday over the Trump administration's effort to alter a federal agreement that limits how long immigrant children can be kept in detention.
See also:
Lawsuit filed over rollback of child immigrant protections Bakersfield Californian
Should migrant kids be held longer than three weeks? California sues over family detention Sacramento Bee
California Sues Administration Over Rollback Of Child Immigrant Protections Capital Public Radio
19 States And DC Sue Administration Over Plan To Detain Migrant Children Indefinitely Capital Public Radio
California sues over Trump immigration policy on indefinite detention of migrant children Los Angeles Times
California sues over Trump plan to hold immigrant children indefinitely San Francisco Chronicle
ICE lets cameras into facility where Trump admin plans long-term family detention
abc30
Last Friday, the administration issued a new policy to replace court-ordered standards that have regulated the detention of migrant children.
Trump asks high court for broad enforcement of asylum rules
Bakersfield Californian
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow it to prevent Central American immigrants from seeking asylum no matter where they cross the U.S. border.
E-Verify is intended to detect workers without legal status. How do immigrants get around it?
Los Angeles Times
Some workers without legal status borrow the identities of friends. Others pay for the stolen identification of unknowing or dead citizens. Meanwhile, some companies use E-Verify improperly, and unscrupulous ones can accept shady documents while maintaining that they use the system.
How And When Immigrants’ Use Of Government Benefits Might Affect Their Legal Status
California Health Line
A new rule to restrict legal immigration, published by the Trump administration this month, is sowing confusion and anxiety even among immigrants not directly affected by it, as fear spreads faster than facts, immigration and health policy experts say.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
This downtown Fresno restaurant is closing. Here’s how rent and homelessness play a role
Fresno Bee
Downtown restaurant Just the Tip is closing. Rising rent and frustration with panhandlers are part of the reason cited by the owners that the restaurant, which specializes in smoked meats like tri-tip, is closing.
How a facility purchase could bring elephants to Modesto’s Beard Industrial Park
Modesto Bee
The Racor fuel filter plant on Finch Road in Modesto has been purchased to be repurposed as an event-rentals business and a large-scale venue — large scale in this case meaning able to accommodate elephants.
City gives Carnegie 10 days to make repairs
Hanford Sentinel
The City of Hanford has informed the Carnegie Museum’s board president Silvia Gonzalez Scherer that if a list of repairs is not made within the week, then the City may revoke the lease it has with the nonprofit organization that currently runs the museum.
Housing:
Sacramento County spends millions to aid homeless. Why is mental illness still so pervasive?
Sacramento Bee
About 5,570 homeless people live in Sacramento County. Mental illness is a severe problem among Sacramento’s homeless, according to a federally mandated census conducted in January.
California housing crisis podcast: Will lawmakers ban discrimination against Section 8 tenants?
Los Angeles Times
California lawmakers are considering pending legislation that would ban landlords from rejecting prospective tenants from renting apartments simply because they hold Section 8 federal housing vouchers.
Proposition 13 is a political third rail in California. Changing it will be a hard sell
Los Angeles Times
There was a jarring reality check in the Legislature last week for interest groups plotting to change Proposition 13 and raise property taxes on major businesses.
New Zoning Laws Aim to Create Affordable Housing
PEW
Some cities and states are ending zoning that favors one home on one lot.
Opinion: Allow Qualified Construction Workers Should Help Rebuild California
Fox & Hounds
California needs all hands on deck to help rebuild the state with an immediate need for affordable housing and recovery from the destruction of recent wildfires.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Good news for Bakersfield sales tax continues as cash from Measure N hits city coffers
Bakersfield Californian
The city of Bakersfield received more financial good news last week when a report indicated sales tax revenue had exceeded last year’s figure by more than 10 percent once again.
TRANSPORTATION
Two downtown Hwy 99 ramps to close for next two months
Bakersfield Californian
Time to check your commute. Caltrans has announced the closure of two major northbound ramps in downtown Bakersfield. The closures are part of the ongoing Highway 99 rehab project.
SFO to close busiest runway for much of September
San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco International Airport will close its busiest runway section for 20 days starting Sept. 7 for construction, reducing the number of flights by 13%.
California High-Speed Rail Open House Meeting August 29, 2019
HSR
Open House
WATER
Water deliveries to Valley crops are plentiful thanks to a healthy snowmelt
abc30
Water deliveries in the Fresno Irrigation District typically end in September, but they could last until November this year. The extra deliveries will allow growers to not only irrigate but also to bank some water for future use.
“Xtra”
Where to find beer and food pairings for Central Valley Craft Beer Week
abc30
Craft Beer Week runs through Saturday with offerings from breweries and restaurants in Fresno, Madera, Visalia and Clovis.
Season ticket sales soar as Fresno State football kicks off this week
abc30
The momentum that comes with a 12 win season and bowl victory over a PAC-12 opponent has brought through the roof expectations for Jeff Tedford's Bulldogs in 2019
See also:
Is football participation down or up in Tulare and Visalia? Visalia Times Delta
Emergency Evacuation Plan For Pets
Sierra News
To help celebrate National Dog Day — Aug. 26 — Amanda Steen, co-owner of Graydon Kennels, shared some important tips she learned from her father Michael Steen to help keep your pets safe and secure.
The Plant Lady: Green-thumb challenged? Look for these hard-to-kill houseplants
Modesto Bee
For those just entering the houseplant world, creating an urban jungle can be frustrating when plants seemingly die out of nowhere. Luckily there are several plants that can survive even the most green-thumb challenged.
The Aerospace Museum of California at old McClellan Air Force Base, north of Sacramento
Stockton Record
Deep in the bowels of the old McClellan Air Force base in McClellan Park, just north of Sacramento, stands a gleaming, new, 30,000 square-foot hanger featuring historic civilian and military planes, engines, flight simulators and a nifty NASA exhibit.
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
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