POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Stanislaus adjusts death total. Private school plans vary
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County reported Monday that 126 residents have died from the virus, an increase mainly attributed to a revision from previous months. The county reported 14 additional fatalities in an update. Four of those occurred recently, while 10 were never documented until an audit was conducted with the coroner’s office, county spokesman Royjindar Singh said.
See Also:
● Stanislaus County coronavirus deaths just took a huge one-day spike. Here’s why. Modesto Bee
● COVID-19 deaths, outbreaks reported at care centers in Modesto Modesto Bee
● ‘A little piece of normal.’ What you can still do through the Stanislaus County library Modesto Bee
On-site child care for teachers’ kids? Can’t happen right now, says Stanislaus ed chief
Modesto Bee
A couple of developments late Monday could mean big changes in Stanislaus County school districts’ plans for distance vs. in-person learning and for providing on-campus care for employees’ children.
Merced County reports five deaths and 161 new COVID-19 cases
Merced Sun-Star
The Merced County Dept of Public Health confirmed five new COVID-19 related deaths on Tuesday, bringing the total in the county to 51.
See also:
● County COVID-19 cases could be higher than reported Turlock Journal
Central SJ Valley:
Fresno County, Valley a COVID-19 hot spot; state plans strike teams
Fresno Bee
The coronavirus numbers in Fresno County continue an upward trend as officials have repeatedly urged the public to take better precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19. The figures reported by the Calif Dept of Public Health on Monday saw nearly 700 new cases since Saturday to bring the county to a total number of 15,759 infections.
See Also:
● Urgent help arrives in Central Valley with state strike force, $52 million abc30
● July deaths from COVID-19 in Fresno rival leading causes Merced Sun-Star
● July fatalities from COVID-19 among top causes of death in Fresno, nearby counties Fresno Bee
Fresno Co supervisors float new COVID-19 spending plans for vulnerable residents
Fresno Bee
As activists lined up to speak outside Tuesday, supervisors inside discussed spending.
Clovis City Councilmembers Vote No on Salary Increases
Clovis RoundUp
An ordinance to increase the city council’s salary was discussed at the Aug. 3 City Council meeting.
Best Place to Work if You’re A Woman? Check Out Clovis Unified
GV Wire
Clovis Unified School District has made another top 10 list — this time for being one of the nation’s best employers for women in 2020.Clovis Unified School District has made another top 10 list — this time for being one of the nation’s best employers for women in 2020.
Fresno Co sheriff ‘lied’ about ICE cooperation, attorneys say. Here’s her response
Fresno Bee
Attorneys say Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims has deceived the public about her office’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Two civil rights attorneys — one with the Asian Americans Advancing Justice and another with the American Civil Liberties Union — told The Bee that Mims has under-reported the number of immigrants transferred from Fresno County to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a potential violation of Calif’s so-called “sanctuary state” laws.
Tulare County health officials tie large number of COVID-19 cases to gatherings
abc30
Tulare County has been averaging about 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 each week. Of those 1,000 new cases from last week, county contact tracers were able to talk to 650 people.
2 patients at Calif state hospital in Coalinga die after positive COVID-19 tests
Fresno Bee
Two patients at a state hospital in Coalinga have died after testing positive for COVID-19, according to a Dept of State Hospitals email. One patient died Sunday while waiting for community placement following commitment, according to the email sent to all staff on Monday. The patient contracted the virus while receiving treatment outside the hospital.
See Also:
● 2 Calif prisoners die of suspected coronavirus complications LA Times
Fresno Congressman TJ Cox used his office to skirt Yosemite’s lottery for car passes, emails show
Fresno Bee
Rep. TJ Cox tried to bypass Yosemite National Park’s lottery for vehicle permits over a holiday weekend, and when he wasn’t selected, he used his office to push the National Park Service to grant him tickets, according to internal National Park Service emails.
Council salaries, parks projects on council agenda
Hanford Sentinel
The Hanford City Council will meet Tuesday night to discuss several items of new business, including council salaries, parks projects and staffing modifications at the Hanford Fire Dept.
Numbers could be even higher; waiver process for schools announced
Porterville Recorder
The number of COVID-19 case in Tulare County continue to be high. And they could be even higher than what’s being reported. That was the message presented by Tulare County Health and Human Services director Tim Lutz during his weekly presentation at the Tulare County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. It was his first report in two weeks as the board didn’t meet last week.
Eagle Mountain heading to state for approval
Porterville Recorder
The State of Calif is expected to move forward with the process to approve the relocation of Eagle Mountain Casino to Porterville as soon as next week. In preparation of that expected process, the Porterville City Council will consider a letter of support for state approval of the relocation at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. today.
South SJ Valley:
Bakersfield hospitals still strained with influx of patients
Bakersfield Califn
In his 30 years of hospital administration, Bruce Peters has seen nothing like it. The president and CEO of Mercy Downtown and Mercy Southwest hospitals said an increase in regular hospital admissions and a growing number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has resulted in the two hospitals being jampacked — beyond capacity in some cases.
See Also:
● County announces seven new COVID-19 deaths, 577 cases on Tuesday Bakersfield Califn
Kern County budget updates could soften impact on Depts hit hard by COVID-19
Bakersfield Califn
The Kern County Administrative Office hopes to use unspent money from the previous fiscal year to help soften the financial blow that Depts hit hard by coronavirus can expect going into FY 2020-21.
The Wonderful Company Offers $1 Million In Grants For COVID-19 Relief
VPR
The largest agricultural employer in the San Joaquin Valley announced it’s providing $1 million in grants to support COVID-19 relief in rural communities. Fruit and nut powerhouse The Wonderful Company says the form of that relief will be decided by community non-profits applying for grants.
Bethany Bachman announces candidacy for BCSD board Area 5 seat
Bakersfield Califn
Bethany Bachman, long-time parent volunteer, has announced her candidacy for the Bakersfield City School board Area 5 seat, according to a news release. “I am choosing to run because I know that I can bring a unique perspective to our district through equity, communication, clarity, and a willingness to stand up for every child,” Bachman said.
Live Q&A: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Takes Questions
WSJ
Join us as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy talks to The Wall Street Journal’s congressional reporter Kristina Peterson to discuss key issues that Congress will address in the next Covid-19 stimulus package, including federal unemployment benefits.
State:
Coronavirus surge slowing in Calif, but don’t expect a repeat of reopening fever
LA Times
There are growing glimmers of hope that Calif’s surge in coronavirus cases could be peaking — but don’t expect the pandemic-shattered economy to share much of this progress in the short term.
See also:
● State, counties underreporting cases CALmatters
● At last: Calif has some good coronavirus news CalMatters
● Calif has coronavirus data reporting problems POLITICO
Calif undercounting COVID-19 cases due to ‘serious’ technical issue, counties say
Fresno Bee
Health officials in multiple Calif counties say the electronic system used by most local health Depts statewide to report data on infectious diseases is currently experiencing “serious” technical issues, resulting in coronavirus cases being significantly undercounted.
See alo:
● Calif’s coronavirus test result data may be flawed, says top health official. LA Times
● Thousands of Texans are getting rapid-result COVID tests. State is Not counting them. Houston Chronicle
Too many bills, too little time: Why COVID-19 has Calif Democrats feuding
Fresno Bee
A common maxim in the Calif Legislature holds that lawmakers shouldn’t fall in love with their bills. This year, there are a lot of broken hearts in the Capitol.
Federal:
US nears 5 million coronavirus cases as deaths surpass 156k
abc30
Fourth of July gatherings, graduation parties, no-mask weddings, crowded bars – there are reasons the U.S. has racked up more than 155,000 coronavirus deaths, by far the most of any country, and is fast approaching an off-the-charts 5 million confirmed infections, easily the highest in the world.
See also:
● Trump says coronavirus is ‘under control as much as you can control it.’ His experts disagree.Wash Post
● Why the U.S. Ranks So Poorly in Coronavirus Deaths Per Million National Review
● Opinion: Trump Argues That Number of COVID Deaths Per Capita is an Irrelevant Stat National Review
● Trump Cherry-Picks Coronavirus Data in Briefing Appearance NY Times
Despite Mask Wars, Americans Support Aggressive Measures To Stop COVID-19, Poll Finds
VPR
With the national death toll from COVID-19 passing the grim 150,000 mark, an NPR/Ipsos poll finds broad support for a single, national strategy to address the pandemic and more aggressive measures to contain it.
See also:
● Disinformation expert on ‘informational distancing CBS News
White House eyes Executive Orders to upend virus negotiations
POLITICO
The three actions under consideration would delay the collection of federal payroll taxes, reinstitute an expired eviction moratorium, and in the riskiest gambit of them all, extend enhanced federal unemployment benefits using unspent money already appropriated by Congress.
With Census count ending early, fears of a skewed tally rise
NY Times
With the Trump administration’s decision to end the 2020 census count four weeks early, the Census Bureau now has to accomplish what officials have said it cannot do: accurately count the nation’s hardest-to-reach residents — nearly four of every 10 households — in just six weeks.
See also:
● With Census Deadline Moved Up, Local Organizations Race Against An Undercount KPBS
● Census facing uncertainty, hostile president Capitol Weekly
Coronavirus Trackers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Calif
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.
See also:
● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic – WHO
● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
● Tracking coronavirus in Calif LA Times
● Coronavirus Tracker San Francisco Chronicle
● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count New York Times
● How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico
● Coronavirus Daily NPR
● Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Fin Times
● Coronavirus in Calif by the numbers CalMatters
Elections 2020:
A bumper crop of Calif ballot measure lawsuits
LA Times
Ten separate lawsuits seek changes to official voter guide descriptions of a half-dozen of this November’s Calif ballot measures.
See also:
· Commentary: Taking a closer look at rejected mail ballots in Calif’s March primary CALmatters
· Editorial: Calif voters need unbiased ballot information. Instead, Becerra is playing favorites LA Times
USPS says it can handle election after Trump criticizes
Fresno Bee
After President Trump cast doubt on the U.S. Postal Service’s ability to handle mail-in ballots during the election in November, the agency said it had “ample capacity” to do so.
See also:
● Trump backtracks on mail-in voting, says it’s OK to do in Florida POLITICO
● Opinion: Quit Interfering and Save the Postal Service Barron’s
● Editorial: Attacking the U.S. Postal Service before an election is something a terrorist would doLA Times
Trump’s base starting to erode, new poll shows
LA Times
President Trump’s support among Republicans and other conservative voters has begun to erode amid the continued coronavirus pandemic and its associated economic havoc, a new poll from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies shows.
See also:
● Newsletter: What is Trumpism’s future? LA Times
● OPINION: Is Trump doomed in November? What the president can do to turn the campaign tideFresno Bee
Fact-checking Donald Trump’s Axios interview
Politifact
In a rare sit-down interview at the White House, President Donald Trump repeated a slew of misleading claims aimed at painting a rosy picture of the United States’ coronavirus response. Axios political reporter Jonathan Swan quizzed the president about several of the issues that have defined the past six months: COVID-19 death rates, Black Lives Matter protests, whether Trump knew about reports of Russian bounties on American soldiers.
See also:
Wash Post
In a statement, Democratic officials confirmed that “other speakers who had been planning to come to Milwaukee will not travel to the city.”
From Outsider to Insider: Karen Bass’s Unexpected Journey to Power
NY Times
Of all the contenders under consideration, none offer quite the contrast with Mr. Biden — in the story of her life and the story of her politics — as the Democratic congresswoman from Calif.
See also:
● L.A. Rep. Karen Bass surged up Biden’s VP list. Is she ready for the national stage? LA Times
● Election Countdown: Who Should Joe Biden Pick for Veep? Newsmaker with Jr
● The final 2? Biden confidants see VP choices narrowing to Kamala Harris and Susan Rice Axios
● Inside Joe Biden’s painstaking path to picking a VP candidate Axios
● Touting Her Experience, Susan Rice Makes Her Case For Biden’s VP Slot NPR
● ‘She is absolutely our No. 1 draft pick’: GOP pines for Rice as Biden VP POLITICO
● Editorial: It’s taken Biden a while to pick a running mate. So what? LA Times
Contingency planning for presidential interference with the election
Brookings
President Trump has not definitively stated that he will accept the results of this year’s presidential elections and has repeatedly called into question practices like mail-in voting. Robert Taylor writes that the military must plan on how to respond if the president attempts to wield the power of his office to thwart the electoral process, whether through the Insurrection Act or through other means.
Wanted: Young People To Work The Polls This November
VPR
Susan Weiss has been a poll worker in Bethesda, Md., for 16 years. “It’s really quite an experience doing it,” she says. “Setting up all the equipment, putting signs up, putting arrows on the floor, etc. The camaraderie of the group that volunteers is marvelous.” But this year, with the coronavirus pandemic raging, Weiss, who’s 74, decided it’s just too risky to work the election in November.
Other:
McClatchy reaches tentative deal with creditors that clears opposition to proposed sale
Modesto Bee
McClatchy Co. and Chatham Asset Management told a federal judge Monday that they have reached a tentative agreement with less-protected creditors on a deal that removes opposition to the sale of the company and clears the way for an exit from bankruptcy.
See Also:
● Bankruptcy judge approves the sale of McClatchy to hedge fund Chatham Asset Management Sac Bee
Editorial: No more excuses. Ban flavored tobacco products
LA Times
Flavoring is used to hook kids on tobacco products by masking the harsh taste. The solution is simple: Ban flavors.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Calif almonds harvest begins as record crop looms
Fresno Bee
The almond harvest in Northern Calif is under way, with an initial forecast showing the 2020 Calif almond production will be 3 billion pounds, according to the United States Dept of Agriculture.
Seeds of tree from Hiroshima bombing to plant roots in Central Valley
Business Insider
A seed of history was planted recently in the Central Valley.
Dallas Morning News
Arlington’s GNS Foods isn’t sure if airlines will ever want the salty snacks back.
The Wonderful Company Offers $1 Million In Grants For COVID-19 Relief
VPR
The largest agricultural employer in the San Joaquin Valley announced it’s providing $1 million in grants to support COVID-19 relief in rural communities. Fruit and nut powerhouse The Wonderful Company says the form of that relief will be decided by community non-profits applying for grants.
Planning Commission to consider industrial hemp zoning
Turlock Journal
As the City of Turlock works behind the scenes to get its four retail cannabis dispensaries opened and operating, it’s also looking to cash in on another form of the crop — hemp.
Marijuana is not good for your heart, studies say
San Jose Mercury News
You may love smoking weed, but it does not love your heart, according to the American Heart Association’s new scientific statement on marijuana.
Marijuana Revenue: Why States Shouldn’t Rely on It
PEW
Taxes from legalized recreational cannabis products might seem promising for states trying to plug budget holes during the recession. But our 2019 research shows that officials should stem their expectations.
Marijuana Business Daily
Baby boomers and millennials not only prefer the same forms of consumption, but on average, they also both spend roughly the same amount each month on cannabis and have increased their consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
An ‘unprecedented proliferation’ of coronavirus scams is sweeping the nation
LA Times
There you are, sitting at home near the phone or in front of your computer, working remotely or just trying to stave off boredom amid the pandemic. That makes you typical of many if not most Americans. It also makes you a sitting duck.
Public Safety:
2 patients at Calif state hospital in Coalinga die after positive COVID-19 tests
Fresno Bee
Two patients at a state hospital in Coalinga have died after testing positive for COVID-19, according to a Dept of State Hospitals email. One patient died Sunday while waiting for community placement following commitment, according to the email sent to all staff on Monday. The patient contracted the virus while receiving treatment outside the hospital.
See Also:
● 2 Calif prisoners die of suspected coronavirus complications LA Times
Calif Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitation Rejects Petition for Release
KQED
In July, 42 incarcerated men filed individual petitions for release alleging that the agency violated the Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. In a rare move last week, a Marin County Superior Court judge grouped these petitions into one case and ordered CDCR to issue a response.
Tear Gas Bans: A Policing Change Not Gaining Traction
PEW
At least 100 agencies used forms of tear gas on people in the past two months.
White House Plan Breaks Taboo: A Focus On Guns & Veteran Suicide
VPR
This summer the Trump administration rolled out the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) – a long awaited strategy to bring down the rate of suicide in the military and among civilians. It focuses on enlisting community partners and a public awareness campaign to fight the stigma around seeking help during a mental health crisis.
Fire:
Stagecoach Fire at 3,500 acres, full containment expected by Aug. 17
KGET
The wildfire that erupted Monday afternoon has burned 3,500 acres and is not expected to be fully contained for two weeks, firefighters said Tuesday.
See also:
● Bakersfield Fire Dept puts new rescue units into service KGET 17
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
How States Can Mitigate the Recession’s Fallout
PEW
Uncertainty is clouding the recession’s fiscal impact. But that doesn’t mean states can’t plan for the difficult years ahead. Enter: budget stress tests.
CSUB’s Small Business Development Center free webinar today
CSUB
“Managing Your Small Business Through the Pandemic,” the latest in an ongoing series designed to help small businesses navigate restrictions and opportunities during the pandemic, is today from noon to 1 p.m. Learn about Paycheck Protection 2, all the latest news on PPP forgiveness and potential availability of larger Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program awards and amounts in late 2020. The webinar is free and open to the public.
SBA offers civil unrest offers disaster assistance to Stanislaus County
Turlock Journal
Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Stanislaus County businesses and residents affected by the civil unrest that began May 26, 2020.
Once the Innovators, Dept Stores Fight to Stay Alive
WSJ
Decades of complacency led to stores that are stale and slow to adapt; a lack of ‘pizazz’.
Jobs:
Reaching an unemployment expert will take Californians 4-6 weeks
Fresno Bee
If you need a state unemployment expert to return your call, it’s going to take four to six weeks, the director of Calif’s Employment Development Dept told an Assembly subcommittee July 30, 2020.
See Also:
● ‘I’m out of work…and I’m trying to heal cancer.’ But she can’t get the EDD on the phone Fresno Bee
● Calif unemployment Dept under fire CalMatters
● Calif unemployment agency workers say internal problems are stalling claims process LA Times
Best Place to Work if You’re A Woman? Check Out Clovis Unified
GV Wire
Clovis Unified School District has made another top 10 list — this time for being one of the nation’s best employers for women in 2020.Clovis Unified School District has made another top 10 list — this time for being one of the nation’s best employers for women in 2020.
Mandate diversity? Calif bill would ban all-white corporate boards
CALmatters
A bill in the Legislature aims to require people of color in the boardroom. Some say it’s unconstitutional, others say it is necessary to ensure diversity.
‘Nothing Feels Tangible’: Virtual Is New Reality For Grads Starting New Jobs
VPR
It was supposed to be a great year for Golden Daka. He would be the first member of his family to graduate from college. He had a big commencement speech planned for his graduation from Morehouse College, where he was a valedictorian. But in March campus emptied and classes went online. And then the moment he’d been waiting for — commencement — it was postponed.
Calif Lockdown’s Job Losses Spell Trouble for the Nation
Bloomberg
Calif’s second round of coronavirus-related shutdowns, among the nation’s strictest measures, are already causing pain for the most populous state’s labor market and portend a deterioration in the overall U.S. employment picture for July.
The coronavirus is driving Americans into retirement
CBS News
Teaching is “who I am,” one Florida high school educator says. But she’s “not willing to die” for it.
EDUCATION
K-12:
City to provide weekday distance learning camp
Turlock Journal
The City of Turlock is presenting an option for parents who may have trouble juggling distance learning and their jobs this fall with a weekday camp that will mimic a school day.
Calif details waiver process for in-person elementary classes
Sac Bee
With a summer surge pushing Calif’s confirmed COVID-19 infection total beyond half a million, Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state is still in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, and adds his administration is preparing for a second wave in the fall.
See also:
● Calif School Waivers Will Require Detailed Planning AP
● Some Calif elementary schools can apply for waiver to return to in-person instruction abc30
HJUHSD reverts to distance learning model in new plan
Hanford Sentinel
After releasing their initial plan on June 19 to return back to school, the Hanford Joint Union High School District released a second one on Friday. Instead of reopening schools for in-person instruction on Aug. 13, the plan is now to open on Aug. 17 in their Distance Learning Model — HJUHSD’s Plan C — due to rising COVID-19 cases.
KHSD votes to push back school year start date to Aug. 24
Bakersfield Califn
The Kern High School District board of trustees heard a number of reports during its Monday night meeting, including pushing the 2020-21 school year start date to Aug. 24. The school year was set to begin Aug. 12. With the new approved calendar, the school year will end June 9, 2021.
BCSD pushes first day to Aug. 17, outlines next steps for opening schools
Bakersfield Califn
Bakersfield City School District students and teachers will be logging onto the first day of school a bit later than anticipated. The board of trustees during its Tuesday meeting approved pushing the 2020-21 school year start date to Aug. 17.
On-site child care for teachers’ kids? Can’t happen right now, says Stanislaus ed chief
Modesto Bee
A couple of developments late Monday could mean big changes in Stanislaus County school districts’ plans for distance vs. in-person learning and for providing on-campus care for employees’ children.
Local organizations to host laptop giveaway for students
Bakersfield Califn
Americana Tax and Financial, Ricardo Aguilar TCO and The Ruth Escobar Foundation Inc. are teaming up to give away 100 laptops to students in need in order to assist with online learning. According to a news release from Americana Tax and Financial, computers and internet access has become essential in every family’s home because of increased emphasis on online learning.
In Rural Calif, Some Students Resort To Distance Learning In Parking Lots Near WiFi Connections
Capital Public Radio
The day Greenville Junior/Senior High School switched to distance learning, no students were in the classroom. They’d been off for three snow days, which meant the school didn’t have time to prepare and most students had left their school-issued tablets behind.
Some Calif teachers asked to return to empty classrooms during distance learning
EdSource
When Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered school districts to remain closed for in-person instruction in counties where coronavirus cases are spiking, some Calif teachers felt relieved. But now, several school districts are requiring teachers to conduct distance learning from their physical classrooms, sparking new fears as Covid-19 cases continue to climb across the state.
What do we know about the expansion of K-12 computer science education?
Brookings
Around the world, many education systems are recognizing the importance of computer science (CS). But schools are running into challenges, including a lack of qualified instructors and low student interest in the field. Emiliana Vegas and Brian Fowler offer strategies to address these issues and discuss the growing demand for CS skills in today’s labor market.
Calif’s elementary-school reopening rules may favor private schools, charters
SF Chronicle
Teachers unions said the path could be much easier for private and charter schools, which often operate small campuses, with fewer students and more financial resources, than traditional public schools.
Teacher License Reciprocity for Military Spouses
Ed Note
According to written testimony from the U.S. Dept of Defense, “Barriers to the transfer and acceptance of certifications and licenses that occur when state rules differ can have a dramatic and negative effect on the financial well-being of military families
Lowery: Teachers’ Unions Fight to Keep Kids out of Classrooms & Limit Remote Instruction
National Review
No other group has shown as much contempt for its own work during the coronavirus crisis as teachers.
OPINION: Remember teachers when debating schools reopening
Modesto Bee
Uncertainty has become the new normal in our daily lives, but one constant must remain: an unwavering commitment to the safety of Calif’s students, educators and communities.
Commentary: Calif’s change in school funding will harm students and schools
CALmatters
Calif has based public school funding on a per pupil policy but a new law changes that and it will harm schools in growing communities.
Higher Ed:
Demonstrators march against rape culture within Fresno State’s Greek community
Fresno Bee
About 200 protesters marched to Fresno State’s Frat Row, demonstrating against “rape culture” in the Greek community Monday, Aug. 3, 2020 in Fresno.
See Also:
● ‘Rapists have gotten away with it.’ Protest calls attention to sexual assault at Fresno StateFresno Bee
● Dozens rally together at Fresno State in support of sexual assault victims abc30
SCCCD board delays vote for CA college district contracts
Fresno Bee
Without public explanation, State Center Community College trustees postponed voting for the contract extensions of Chancellor Paul Parnell and other top district leaders on Tuesday night.
New UC Merced Engineering Research Center to Focus on Agriculture Technology
UC Merced Newsroom
By 2050, the U.S. population is estimated to grow to 400 million, and the world population to 9.1 billion, requiring a 70 percent increase in global food production.
Making good on the promise of Calif higher education by expanding access
Calif Forward
As a representative for the Calif State University student body throughout the state and the nation, Wiafe outlined in a recent CNN interview many of the distinct challenges students are facing in response to COVID-19. These challenges include general uncertainty about housing, lack of employment opportunities, loss of community, and uncertainty about the future of higher education. In response to these issues Wiafe supports empathetic policies that provide a holistic approach.
Personal stories from the pandemic
Insider Higher Ed
Millions of college students had their campus experiences cut short this year, and are facing uncertainty about how and if they can return to college. Preliminary data suggest students from low-income, first-generation-college and minority backgrounds may leave higher education. And surveys, including polling data from the Strada Education Network, show high anxiety among Americans about college and the job market, particularly among first-generation students without the safety nets enjoyed by their wealthy peers.
University of Arizona to expand, buy online college
Fresno Bee
The University of Arizona has announced that it is acquiring a San Diego-based online college and creating an online university to play into the digital college market. The Tucson-based university said Monday that it will buy the assets of Ashford University, which has 35,000 students, and create a new private online university called University of Arizona Global Campus, which will focus on nontraditional students such as older adults, parents and veterans.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Calif sued over climate change policy — by the nation’s biggest gas utility
LA Times
Southern Calif Gas Co. is taking its battle with state officials over climate change policy to court, arguing in a new lawsuit that the Calif Energy Commission has failed to promote natural gas as required by state law.
Shutdown of Marathon’s Martinez Refinery Prompts Calls for ‘Just Transition’ for Oil Workers
KQED
Elected officials, union leaders, industry representatives and environmentalists are expressing concern about the hundreds of workers set to lose their jobs at Calif’s fourth-largest refinery in the coming months.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
July fatalities from COVID-19 among top causes of death in Fresno, nearby counties
Fresno Bee
In Fresno County and across the central San Joaquin Valley, more deaths in July were attributed to COVID-19 than the average toll taken by almost all other leading causes of death for the month, outside of heart disease and cancer.
See Also:
● County announces seven new COVID-19 deaths, 577 cases on Tuesday Bakersfield Califn
● Stanislaus County coronavirus deaths just took a huge one-day spike. Here’s why. Modesto Bee
● COVID-19 deaths, outbreaks reported at care centers in Modesto Modesto Bee
Tulare County health officials tie large number of COVID-19 cases to gatherings
abc30
Tulare County has been averaging about 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 each week. Of those 1,000 new cases from last week, county contact tracers were able to talk to 650 people.
Junior high school student tests positive for COVID-19 on first day of school
abc30
A junior high school in Indiana put its COVID-19 plan to work after a student tested positive on the first day of school. Officials said the student attended part of the school day on Thursday.
2020 Flu Shot Strategy: Get Yours Early In The Season
NPR
With the flu season looming, public health officials urge nearly all Americans over 6 months old to get immunized starting next month. Strategize now to avoid getting the flu while COVID-19 is raging.
Covid-19 Researchers Hope Monoclonal Antibody Treatments Are a Bridge to Vaccine
WSJ
Researchers screen blood of recovered Covid-19 patients to isolate the most potent antibodies for use in preventive therapies and treatments.
Editorial: No more excuses. Ban flavored tobacco products
LA Times
Few bills that pass through Sac have as much potential to save lives as SB 793, which would ban flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes and vaping liquid, from being sold in stores in Calif.
Human Services:
Bakersfield hospitals still strained with influx of patients
Bakersfield Califn
In his 30 years of hospital administration, Bruce Peters has seen nothing like it. The president and CEO of Mercy Downtown and Mercy Southwest hospitals said an increase in regular hospital admissions and a growing number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has resulted in the two hospitals being jampacked — beyond capacity in some cases.
Calif undercounting COVID-19 cases due to ‘serious’ technical issue, counties say
Fresno Bee
Health officials in multiple Calif counties say the electronic system used by most local health Depts statewide to report data on infectious diseases is currently experiencing “serious” technical issues, resulting in coronavirus cases being significantly undercounted.
See alo:
● Calif’s coronavirus test result data may be flawed, says top health official. LA Times
● Thousands of Texans are getting rapid-result COVID tests. State is Not counting them. Houston Chronicle
Calif GOP Consultant Rues ‘Big Mistake’ That Led to Family’s COVID Infections
Calif Healthline
The family’s journey since then has been one of sleeplessness, pain and worry about the future. And it’s one that Costigan, who worked as deputy chief of staff for Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is taking to social media and his 4,400 Twitter followers.
Covered Calif reports record-low premium increases for 2021
POLITICO
The possibility of health insurance rate hikes have loomed large in the wake of the outbreak, with Covered Calif in March releasing estimates projecting 2021 premium increases of up to 40 percent. But hospitals and doctors, in general, didn’t get overwhelmed as the state flattened the curve. They delayed or canceled nonurgent appointments and procedures, which decreased claims and increased the bottom line for insurers.
See also:
· Column: Calif is still showing how to make Obamacare work, even with COVID-19 LA Times
· Calif health insurance rates increase slightly for 2021 Fresno Bee
Capital Public Radio
There’s an open secret among those who care for people with serious mental illnesses. Judy Bracken first heard it a few years ago from a hospital social worker: If Bracken wanted her adult son, who has schizoaffective disorder, to receive long-term mental health treatment, she should get him off her private insurance, UnitedHealthcare, and onto the public system for low-income people in Contra Costa County.
See also:
· Reforming Mental Health Care Little Hoover Commission
CDC says you need these 7 things to protect yourself from the coronavirus
BGR
Newly updated CDC guidelines include important coronavirus tips that we all should follow in order to protect ourselves and our families from catching COVID-19. New coronavirus cases continue to skyrocket all across the country right now, so you would be wise to stock up on products recommended by the CDC before grocery hoarding picks up.
Nursing Home Residents Moved Out To Make Way For COVID-19 Patients
VPR
In some nursing homes, 100% of the residents are positive for the coronavirus. That’s by design. These facilities have volunteered to devote part or all of their buildings exclusively to treating COVID-19 patients, who bring in more government money. But to make room for them, the original residents can be forced out of the places they’ve called home.
‘They Know What A Pandemic Is’: HIV Survivors See Similarities To AIDS Epidemic
VPR
In January, two weeks after Rick Solomon joined the YMCA near his home, he fell ill. The 65-year-old Bay Area resident hoped to spend the month working out, instead he lay in bed wheezing, with crippling muscle aches. He missed several days of work at a small publishing house. He was never tested for the coronavirus because he hadn’t traveled overseas recently, which was one of the official requirements for testing at the time. And although he has since tested negative for the virus’ antibodies, Solomon said he still believes he may have caught the bug.
Poll: Majority support new two-week national stay-at-home order
TheHill
A majority of U.S. adults supports a mandatory two-week shelter-at-home order nationwide to slow the spread of coronavirus, a new poll finds.
2020 Flu Shot Strategy: Get Yours Early In The Season
VPR
Get set for 2020’s mega-campaign against the flu amid the COVID-19 pandemic: immunization drives in the parking lots of churches and supermarkets, curbside inoculations outside doctors’ offices, socially distanced vaccine appointments held indoors, with breaks in between for disinfecting. These are just some of the ways heath providers say they will give tens of millions of flu shots this fall — arguably the most important U.S. effort to prevent influenza’s spread among Americans in a century.
IMMIGRATION
Fresno Co sheriff ‘lied’ about ICE cooperation, attorneys say. Here’s her response
Fresno Bee
Attorneys say Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims has deceived the public about her office’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Two civil rights attorneys — one with the Asian Americans Advancing Justice and another with the American Civil Liberties Union — told The Bee that Mims has under-reported the number of immigrants transferred from Fresno County to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a potential violation of Calif’s so-called “sanctuary state” laws.
Americans Back Trump On Immigration — But Only To Stop COVID-19, Poll Finds
NPR
An NPR/Ipsos poll found broad support for sweeping government action to combat the coronavirus — including temporary limits on immigration. But support for other White House policies has not changed.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Trump signs $3-billion-a-year plan to boost conservation, parks
LA Times
President Trump on Tuesday signed into law legislation that will devote nearly $3 billion annually to conservation projects, outdoor recreation and maintenance of national parks and other public lands. The measure was overwhelmingly approved by Congress.
See also:
● Billions for national parks as historic bill becomes law San Jose Mercury
● 4 bears hit by cars in Yosemite; Rangers urge motorists to slow down Sac Bee
First Calif theme park cancels 2020 season due to pandemic
Orange County Register
The first Calif amusement park has been forced to close for the year as summer drains away with no indication when state officials will issue COVID-19 protocols for safely reopening theme parks.
See also:
● Calif water parks cancel summer season due to pandemic Orange County Register
● Knott’s Scary Farm 2020 canceled due to coronavirus Orange County Register
Housing:
Local home market continues to tighten
Bakersfield Califn
Bakersfield’s single-family home market is experiencing a “feeding frenzy” with demand sharply up and supply way down, according to a recent update from local appraiser Gary Crabtree. His June home-market report noted that current home listings, a measure of supply, came in at 512 for the month. That was a more than 21 percent decrease from May and a 48.3 percent drop from a year earlier.
These are some of the issues behind Calif’s housing crisis
Modesto Bee
Calif’s housing crisis is due in large part to a lack of supply, particularly when it comes to affordable housing, and it is hitting low-income individuals the hardest.
Wave of evictions expected as moratoriums end in many states
LA Times
Kelyn Yanez used to clean homes during the day and wait tables at night in the Houston area before the coronavirus. But the mother of three lost both jobs in March because of the pandemic and now is facing eviction.
Why the Fresno Housing Authority is deleting ‘unflattering’ comments from its minutes
Fresno Bee
“The truth does not change simply because it isn’t what we want to hear or local officials are being criticized.”
PUBLIC FINANCES
Kern County budget updates could soften impact on Depts hit hard by COVID-19
Bakersfield Califn
The Kern County Administrative Office hopes to use unspent money from the previous fiscal year to help soften the financial blow that Depts hit hard by coronavirus can expect going into FY 2020-21.
What the pension ruling at the Calif Supreme Court means for retirees, public employees
Sac Bee
The Calif Rule is mostly intact, but pension spike is forbidden
Calif 13.3% Tax Rate May Be Raised To 16.8%…Retroactively
Forbes
Most Califn’s think they already pay high taxes, and they are not wrong. But a tax bill, AB 1253 (Santiago), would impose even highertaxes, and retroactively to January 1, 2020. If passed, high income Califns would pay another 1% on income over $1,181,484, 3% on income over $2,362,968, and 3.5% on income over $5,907,420.
COVID-19 Spurs Fresh Challenges for City Budgeting
PEW
“This has been a very challenging time,” Philadelphia Budget Director Marisa Waxman said during Pew’s recent virtual panel discussion. See what she and other local officials predict for their cities’ fiscal future.
Should Calif borrow more or tax more?
CALmatters
The Calif Capitol’s dominant Democrats are facing a prolonged fiscal crisis and are debating whether to borrow heavily or tax the rich to generate more spendable dollars.
Foreign Workers Living Overseas Mistakenly Received $1,200 U.S. Stimulus Checks
VPR
Thousands of foreign workers who entered the U.S. on temporary work visas received $1,200 checks in error during the first round of stimulus payments, and many of them are spending the money in their home nations. One tax preparation firm told NPR that it has clients from 129 countries who mistakenly received stimulus checks, including Brazil, Canada, China, India, Nigeria and South Korea.
TRANSPORTATION
DMV expands online services to commercial driver’s license renewals
Bakersfield Califn
The Calif Dept of Motor Vehicles is now offering commercial driver’s license renewals online with the launch of the newest service on the DMV website. Eligible commercial drivers can now renew their license at dmv.ca.gov/online.
Calif High Speed Rail (CHSR) project timeline and all you need to know
Construction Review
Calif High-Speed Rail (CHSR) is a publicly funded high-speed rail system under construction in the U.S. state of Calif.
WATER
One step closer for $71 million for Friant-Kern Canal
Porterville Recorder
Funding for much needed repairs at least in the short-term for the Friant-Kern Canal continues to move closer to becoming reality. The House of Representatives last week passed H.R. 7617, the 2020-2021 appropriations bill needed to fund the federal government during the next fiscal year. The bill is a six-bill appropriations minibus, including the energy and water development minibus.
Delta Conveyance Project Update
The Dept of Water Resources
This message provides an update on our work and opportunities for the public to participate in the coming months.
“Xtra”
All downtown Visalia events canceled through remainder of year due to COVID-19
abc30
To help prevent large gatherings of people, downtown Visalia leaders have canceled the remaining events scheduled for the rest of the year. The Board of Downtown Visalians announced on Monday the cancellations of the Wine Walk, the Taste of Downtown, Hometown Heroes, the Candy Cane Lane Parade and the Holiday Open House.