POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Modesto, Turlock schools report COVID-19 cases over weeks leading up to Thanksgiving break Modesto Bee
Modesto wants to change when voters pick mayor. But the issue itself has to go to voters
Modesto Bee
The Modesto City Council wants to change the dates for when the city’s voters pick a mayor. The aim is to ensure turnout remains high not just during the election but also during the runoff.
Opinion: Why dwindling snow in mountains east of Modesto should startle everyone
Modesto Bee
Climate change will affect more than just those looking for snow recreation. All of our lives will be touched, because all of us drink water and eat food requiring water to grow.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Kings County COVID numbers continue to stabilize Hanford Sentinel
More holiday cheer — and incentives — for being vaccinated Porterville Recorder
Fresno City Council adopts new voter district boundaries. Will political power shift?
Fresno Bee
The Fresno City Council on Thursday night advanced a new council district boundary map for adoption that councilmembers said they believe will recognize historic neighborhoods, unite Highway City, eliminate land-locked districts, and comply with federal, state, and city laws.
Evolutions rejects VA offer — again — as Tulare hospital board fills vacancy
Visalia Times-Delta
Evolutions Fitness and Wellness Center will remain a Tulare gym and community hub after the hospital board — which owns the building — rejected a proposal to transform part of the gym into a veteran’s clinic.
Senator Alex Padilla discusses infrastructure bill's impact on Central California
abc30
$30 billion is coming to California from a bipartisan bill that Democrats pushed through Congress last month. Most of the funding will go toward improving highways and roads, which engineers rank among the worst in the country.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Kern Public Health: 134 new coronavirus cases, 10 deaths reported Thursday Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield erroneously files taxes, impacting employees and retirees
Bakersfield Californian
The city mistakenly reported pension and retirement income to the IRS in April 2020, resulting in the federal agency seeking payments on supposedly unreported income to potentially more than 1,000 current and former employees.
Kern Community Foundation announces new president and CEO
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern Community Foundation Board of Directors announced Thursday that Aaron Falk has been named the organization’s president and CEO in a news release.
CSUB receives pledges of $1 million-plus to establish business accelerator
Bakersfield Californian
Cal State Bakersfield disclosed Thursday it has received a series of private pledges totaling more than $1 million for the launch of a new center to help prospective business owners create their own startups.
Opinion: Bakersfield can showcase strengths, challenges
Bakersfield Californian
In October of next year Bakersfield hosts the 11th annual two-day California Economic Summit — a statewide event that brings together policymakers, civic leaders, business representatives and just interested folks.
State:
COVID Update:
Los Angeles County reports its first case of omicron COVID variant abc30
California confirms 2nd case of COVID omicron variant Sacramento Bee
Group alleges California redistricting commission hired partisan attorneys, demands changes
Sacramento Bee
A prominent California Republican attorney and five voters allege in a new legal filing that the state’s political redistricting commission is working with partisan legal advisers and holding meetings behind closed doors.
See also:
Legal challenge to California redistricting seeks document disclosure, new advisors Los Angeles Times
Understanding the Geography of California’s Draft Redistricting Maps Public Policy Institute of California
From Earl Warren to Gavin Newsom, governors worked this building. Its demolition nears
Sacramento Bee
Closing time, one last call for the annex. California lawmakers this week packed up decades of political history as they moved their Capital annex offices to the chic new government building across the street where they’ll work for the next four years.
California official says women on boards law is toothless
Sacramento Bee
A California official defending the state’s landmark law that mandates women be placed on corporate boards testified Thursday that it was essentially toothless and there are no plans to penalize companies for not complying.
Dyslexia traumatized Gavin Newsom as a child. Here’s how aides say it affects him as governor
Sacramento Bee
When Gavin Newsom hired political consultant Garry South to work on his first campaign for governor, South tried to find an issue that would humanize the then-San Francisco mayor to voters who saw him as a privileged member of the Bay Area elite.
California In Good Position To Secure Federal Infrastructure Funds For Broadband
CaFwd
California is well positioned to benefit from broadband access funds included in the recently passed and signed Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (IIJA). That’s the message state leaders and experts conveyed in this week’s webinar.
See also:
California Moves Swiftly To Advance Broadband Solutions CaFwd
Senator Alex Padilla discusses infrastructure bill's impact on Central California abc30
Will California go all-in on sports betting? Here’s who wants a hold on the industry
Sacramento Bee
Online gaming giants, card rooms and California’s Native American tribes are all angling to legalize sports betting in California through ballot initiatives next year. At stake is the chance to control a fast-growing, lucrative industry and, possibly, the future of gambling.
See also:
Four sports betting initiatives are heading toward California voters. Here’s what they would do Sacramento Bee
Should California legalize sports betting? Vote now in The Bee’s poll Sacramento Bee
Opinion: California is awesome
Orange County Register
I went to all 58 counties because I love California. I want to know everything about it. But it’s hard to describe what I love about it so much, even after living here nine years and after enjoying the many works of art dedicated to the topic.
Federal:
COVID Update:
Biden launching winter COVID-19 booster, testing campaign abc30
Biden's new winter COVID plan will reimburse you for at-home tests VPR
5 states have now reported confirmed cases of the omicron variant VPR
Sending the right message about the omicron variant is tricky VPR
Omicron coronavirus variant found in multiple US states Sacramento Bee
‘The fire that’s here’: US is still battling delta variant Sacramento Bee
Biden takes the fight to Omicron. But the toolkit is growing bare. Politico
Biden calls for patriotic unity, pitches plan to fight omicron Roll Call
Biden to Toughen Testing for International Travelers to Slow Omicron Wall Street Journal
What to Know – and What Remains Unknown – About Omicron U.S. News
Markets, Fed Turn Skittish on Omicron U.S. News
Opinion: Omicron variant sows chaos but doesn’t move needle on patent waiver debate AEI
Supreme Court Justices signal they may toss Roe v. Wade, allow new abortion limits
abc30
The Supreme Court's six conservative justices, hearing the biggest challenge to abortion rights in decades, have indicated they will uphold a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
See also:
Democrats look to ‘go on offense’ on abortion as Supreme Court weighs Roe v. Wade Fresno Bee
21 states poised to ban or severely restrict abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned VPR
Abortion Could Become Illegal in Half the States if Roe is Overturned Pew Trusts
How the Politics of Abortion Are Poised to Intensify New York Times
Attitudes about abortion: A comprehensive review of polls from the 1970s to today AEI
Chemerinsky: Ruling in abortion cases will greatly affect women’s lives but won’t end controversy ABA Journal
Opinion: How SCOTUS Will Rule on Dobbs, in 3 Scenarios Politico
Opinion: The Dobbs Arguments Revealed Why the Supreme Court Should Stay Out of Abortion Politico
Opinion: Will Pelosi pay a price for trying to delegitimize the Supreme Court? AEI
Opinion: The Supreme Court Takes Up Religious Liberty—Again Wall Street Journal
Opinion: Good Reasons to Go Slow on Abortion Precedents Wall Street Journal
Congress approves a short-term funding bill to avoid a government shutdown
VPR
A day before the federal government is scheduled to run out of money, Congress on Thursday approved a short-term spending bill that will keep federal agencies running through Feb. 18, 2022.
See also:
Congress extends government funding until February, averting a shutdown Los Angeles Times
Congress thwarts shutdown after vaccine mandate clash Politico
Just one House Republican voted for a short-term government funding bill: Adam Kinzinger. Politico
Senate Approves Spending Bill Averting Government Shutdown Wall Street Journal
Senate clears Feb. 18 stopgap funding bill, averts shutdown Roll Call
House leaders reject tying debt limit to defense bill Roll Call
Analysis: SALT Cap Relief Is Costly and Regressive National Review
White House shakes up economic message as Biden battles inflation, low poll numbers
Fresno Bee
The White House is shifting its economic argument to focus on Republicans as evidence mounts that its messaging on the politically tricky issue of inflation has fallen flat with most Americans.
Roll Call
Under the calendar released by House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., the chamber would return to convene for the second session of the 117th Congress on Monday, Jan. 10, with the first votes of the year taking place that week.
See also:
Opinion: There’s a problem with politics, and it isn’t just partisanship
Roll Call
Our political system is broken. Partisanship, however, is not to blame. It’s the personalization. In the current political environment, it’s not enough to disagree with a political foe about policy. You have to discredit, demonize and destroy that person.
Opinion: On Health Policy, Donald Trump Beats Joe Biden Hands Down
Wall Street Journal
Those who want to know the difference between the Democratic and Republican philosophies of governing need only compare Joe Biden’s Build Back Better health agenda with Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed.
Rivals or not, Harris and Buttigieg take a road trip
New York Times
The pair of bold names in the Biden administration are vying to be next in line for the party’s nomination, either in 2024 should President Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history at 79, step aside, or in 2028 if he runs again.
ABA Journal
Voting rights lawyer Dale Ho said during his judicial confirmation hearing Wednesday he regretted his tone and “overheated rhetoric” on social media.
Other:
Conference addresses racial equity and social justice issues for second year
ABA Journal
As a leader with the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, Engy Abdelkader has worked for several years to design and implement programming that raises awareness of racial equity and social justice issues.
See also:
Uber agrees to pay $9-million California settlement on sexual assault reporting failure
Los Angeles Times
Uber Technologies Inc. has agreed to pay a $9-million settlement for its failure to comply with requests from California regulators for information about sexual assault claims made by its customers and drivers over nearly two years.
Astronomers find a new planet that's mostly made of iron
VPR
An iron-rich planet spotted in a nearby solar system could help scientists understand the mystery of how the planet Mercury formed in our own neighborhood. The newly-described planet is about 31 light years away, according to a report in the journal Science.
Bad Actors in News Reporting: Tracking News Manipulation by State Actors
RAND Corporation
COVID-19 offered authoritarian regimes, such as China and Russia, an opportunity to manipulate news media to serve state ends. Researchers conducted a scalable proof-of-concept study for detecting state-level news manipulation.
Opinion: The Right Choice for TIME’s Person of the Year Is Ruining America
Politico
When TIME Magazine announces its 2021 Person of the Year next week, it has the chance to do something it has not done in decades: choose someone who is both undeniably influential and undeniably malevolent.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, December 5, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "California’s Changing Electorate" - Guest: Mindy Romero, Director - Center for Inclusive Democracy, Price School of Public Policy at USC; Dean Bonner, Associate Survey Director and Research Fellow - PPIC. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, December 5, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "California Changing Electorate: Is the Valley’s Electorate More or Less So?"- Guests: Thomas Holyoke, Professor of Political Science - Fresno State; Jessica Trounstine, Professor of Political Science - UC Merced; Ivy Cargile, Asst. Professor of Political Science - CSU Bakersfield. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Guest farmworkers will receive a wage increase in 2022
VPR
Over 30,000 guest farmworkers across the state will receive a wage increase in 2022. Advocates say this is due in part to a lawsuit against a Trump-era attempt to freeze wages.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
How bad is hate crime in Fresno County? What the numbers say, and who has been targeted
Fresno Bee
Over the course of the past 20 years, more than 410 people in Fresno County reported to police that they were victims of hate crimes – people who were targets of almost 360 individual incidents of verbal or physical attacks.
Public Safety:
Federal civil rights lawsuit targets VPD's use of police dogs; officers counter claims
Visalia Times-Delta
Attorneys for a Visalia family have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit accusing police of unreasonable arrest and detention, excessive use of force, denial of adequate medical care, false arrest and imprisonment, assault and battery, and violation of Constitutional rights.
Walters: California gun law headed to Supreme Court?
CalMatters
California’s ban on firearms magazines holding more than 10 rounds has been upheld by a federal appeals court – but the U.S. Supreme Court may have the last word.
Asm. Vince Fong: California must change its laws and prioritize public safety
CalMatters
In the absence of meaningful changes in the law that prioritize public safety, more stores will face robberies and theft.
En banc 9th Circuit upholds California's ban on high-capacity gun magazines
ABA Journal
California’s ban on high-capacity gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition does not violate the Second Amendment, a federal appeals court has ruled.
Fire:
California fines PG&E millions over Kincade Fire – the state’s worst wildfire of 2019
Sacramento Bee
California regulators handed PG&E Corp. a $125 million penalty Thursday over the Kincade Fire, which sparked a massive evacuation in Sonoma County at the same time PG&E was blacking out hundreds of thousands of homes to reduce wildfire risks.
California Failed to Protect Outdoor Workers from Wildfire Smoke Under Biden's New OSHA Chief
KQED
President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the nation’s worker health and safety efforts largely failed in his previous job to enforce protections for California outdoor workers exposed to toxic wildfire smoke. That’s according to an investigation by KQED and The California Newsroom.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Fresno County Economic Forecast: Is a wet blanket on the horizon?
Business Journal
Experts largely see Fresno County reaping the benefits of what the deadly virus changed culturally. Remote work, a dire need for housing and the demand for warehouse space have sent millions of dollars to area.
California’s Mood Darkens on the Economy
Public Policy Institute of California
Even before widespread news of the omicron COVID variant and related economic fluctuations, Californians' views were divided on the state’s economic outlook.
Officials say the ports logjam is easing, but numbers don’t tell the whole story
Los Angeles Times
The fleet of massive container ships loitering just offshore from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles has thinned to 46 boats from its peak of more than 80 in late October.
Biden is looking at blowout growth even as Covid clouds the outlook again
Politico
Republicans are portraying President Joe Biden’s Democrats as the party of “stagflation,” in a bid to recall the grim era of slow economic growth and skyrocketing prices that doomed Jimmy Carter’s presidency in 1980.
Price Jumps Prompt Pocketbook Policies in States
Pew Trusts
The highest inflation spike in three decades has many state and local policymakers digging for ways to ease the strain on families’ pocketbooks, as they consider measures as varied as imposing rent controls and suspending taxes on gasoline.
See also:
Stocks Finish Higher After Omicron-Driven Selloff Wall Street Journal
Opinion: In 2022, inflation won’t be our main economic problem AEI
Jobs:
California failed to protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke under Biden's new OSHA chief
VPR
President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the nation’s worker health and safety efforts largely failed in his last job to enforce protections for California outdoor workers exposed to toxic wildfire smoke. That’s according to an investigation by KQED and The California Newsroom.
Kellogg and its cereal workers union reach a tentative deal to end 2-month strike
VPR
The food giant and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union announced the deal on Thursday, with workers set to vote on the proposal on Sunday.
The economy is booming. So why is California’s unemployment rate so high?
Sacramento Bee
Week after week, the numbers tell the same story. Last week, the state had about 22% of the nation’s new unemployment claims, even though it has 11.7% of the country’s workforce, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
See also:
CalPERS says these 5 retirees broke pension rules with part-time jobs. What did they do wrong?
Sacramento Bee
The California Employee’s Retirement System cites dozens of retirees each year for violating a law that limits employment after stopping work and collecting a pension. But the pension system has almost exclusively gone after individual employees who seek out post retirement jobs.
U.S. Added Just 210,000 Jobs in November
Wall Street Journal
The U.S. economy added 210,000 jobs in November, marking a slowdown in hiring amid new Covid-19 uncertainties, but a tight labor market showed an early sign of loosening as almost 600,000 people joined the workforce.
See also:
U.S. economy adds just 210,000 jobs in November Washington Post
Opinion: America’s Two-Track Jobs Recovery Wall Street Journal
Opinion: Why are people dropping out of the workforce? It’s not laziness.
Business Journal
This is exactly what has happened to the U.S. workforce. Long before the pandemic that began in 2020, the American worker was working frantically to find gainful employment and make ends meet.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Opinion: How to save California school boards from public abuse
Modesto Bee
If California’s local school board members won’t accept unfair criticism, questionable recall votes, or verbal abuse, then California should do away with school boards entirely.
The case for free tampons and pads in schools
VPR
This year, bills related to period equity have been introduced in 37 states, according to Women's Voices For The Earth, a nonprofit advocacy group. But as of this fall, only five states require schools to provide menstrual products.
Opinion: Staffing and compensation are at the heart of building a better early childhood system
Brookings
Recent U.S. jobs data show that the child-care sector is still about 10% smaller than prior to the pandemic.
Higher Ed:
PC providing 24/7 well-being care for students
Porterville Recorder
Porterville College recently became one of the first of 20 community colleges in the state to participate in a program that provides 24/7 virtual care to meet students medical, mental health and basic needs.
CSUB receives pledges of $1 million-plus to establish business accelerator
Bakersfield Californian
Cal State Bakersfield disclosed Thursday it has received a series of private pledges totaling more than $1 million for the launch of a new center to help prospective business owners create their own startups.
New program guarantees diverse students admission to law school
ABA Journal
A new program will guarantee minority and first-generation law students deferred admission and scholarships once they spend a year preparing for law school and working to improve their Law School Admission Test scores.
SCOTUS considers whether public tuition program for private schools can exclude religious ones
ABA Journal
The U.S. Supreme Court’s latest case about the Constitution’s religion clauses hails from Maine, where the state has paid tuition to send some students to private schools for more than a century but for the last 40 years has limited the choices to “nonsectarian” schools.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Central Valley Coalition Suing the EPA Over Clean Air Failures
Capital & Main
Environmental justice groups in the area are fighting back against the smog; in November, a coalition of advocacy organizations filed a lawsuit against the EPA in federal court for failing to intervene in the region’s air quality crisis.
EDITORIAL: When big-rig trucks are required to get smog checks, California’s air will get better
Fresno Bee
The biggest creators of PM2.5 pollution are semi trucks. While they represent just 3% of the vehicles on the road in California, diesel trucks generate 54% of all vehicular PM2.5 emissions in the state.
The 40 best California experiences: Winter edition
Los Angeles Times
The rest of the world might not understand our winters, but Southern Californians know.
Energy:
California’s last nuclear plant will close soon. Why the Biden administration wants it open
Sacramento Bee
It’s California’s last nuclear plant, destined to be mothballed in four years amid concerns that its closure could leave a gaping hole in the state’s power supply. Now the Biden administration is pushing the idea that PG&E Corp.’s Diablo Canyon power plant should stay open, after all.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Scientists race to answer the question: Will vaccines protect us against omicron?
VPR
Researchers in Botswana and South Africa just detected the omicron variant a few weeks ago, but already many scientists are predicting that the efficacy of the vaccines will likely take a hit, probably a big hit, when it comes to stopping infections of omicron.
See also:
Omicron Variant in South Africa Causes Rise in Covid-19 Reinfections, Researchers Find Wall Street Journal
Prior Infection Is Little Defense Against Virus Variant, Scientists Say New York Times
New data suggests 1 in 44 US children affected by autism
AP News
In an analysis of 2018 data from nearly a dozen states, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that among 8-year-olds, 1 in 44 had been diagnosed with autism. That rate compares with 1 in 54 identified with autism in 2016.
Opinion: Fauci can’t use science to excuse his missteps
AEI
Biden's chief medical adviser has undermined his credibility with misleading statements to the public that are as demagogic as those of any politician.
Human Services:
Tulare County medical facilities receive millions in federal funding
abc30
Money from Washington, DC is making its way to Tulare County. Millions of dollars in federal funding are now in the hands of South Valley hospitals.
Fresno County foster kids were supposed to move to Clovis Campus weeks ago. Why the delay?
Fresno Bee
Fresno County is behind schedule in moving foster children under the county’s care to a new facility, and that delay could linger for several weeks, according to officials.
Evolutions rejects VA offer — again — as Tulare hospital board fills vacancy
Visalia Times-Delta
Evolutions Fitness and Wellness Center will remain a Tulare gym and community hub after the hospital board — which owns the building — rejected a proposal to transform part of the gym into a veteran’s clinic.
Opinion: Staffing and compensation are at the heart of building a better early childhood system
Brookings
These staffing challenges have real implications for young children, who benefit from consistent relationships with the adults in their lives, and for the working families who rely on child care to do their jobs.
Opinion: Social-emotional learning and the perils of teaching as therapy
AEI
I’ve long been apprehensive about what gets promoted in the name of SEL. I’ve cautioned that SEL must not “become an excuse to displace content instruction, burden teachers, or justify dubious pedagogy.”
IMMIGRATION
U.S. will resume 'Remain in Mexico' policy for asylum-seekers
VPR
Migrants seeking to enter the US will again have to stay in Mexico as they await immigration hearings, as the Biden administration reluctantly announced plans Thursday to comply with a court order and accept conditions set out by Mexico for resuming the Trump-era policy.
See also:
U.S. Reaches Deal to Restart ‘Remain in Mexico’ Program for Asylum Seeker Wall Street Journal
US southern border 'completely open'? That’s False PolitiFact
AEI
The benefits of immigration to native Americans aren’t just about what highly educated newcomers can do for the broad economy. Immigrants also help keep older Americans at home rather than moving into an institution.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Fresno Bee
The revitalization of downtown Fresno was supposed to include bollards. Four years and more than $70,000 later, the bollards — short metal posts — have never been used. Even stranger, no one seems to know where they are.
Housing:
Hundreds of homes are coming to west Fresno. Here’s why it’s been a long time in the making
Fresno Bee
Approximately 600 market-rate, single-family homes are slated to be built in west Fresno in the next 10 years after a landmark decision Thursday. The Fresno City Council voted 6-0 to approve a development agreement between the city and developers Fagundes Bros. Dairy.
See also:
Fresno council approves map with 599 Southwest Fresno homes Business Journal
Will Fresno’s red-hot housing market continue into 2022? Business Journal
We Do Not Forget: Stolen Lives of LA’s Unhoused During the COVID-19 Pandemic
UCLA Institute on Inequality and Democracy
While the stark reality of unhoused deaths has long been a matter of concern, the COVID-19 pandemic brought surprising new challenges. As the report shows, in addition to deaths on the street, there were also deaths in hotels and motels.
See also:
L.A. voters back a right to shelter, but are wary of taxes to pay for it, new poll finds Los Angeles Times
PUBLIC FINANCES
Debt collectors can now text, email and DM you on social media
VPR
New rules approved by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that took effect on Tuesday dictate how collection agencies can email and text people as well as message them on social media to seek repayment for unpaid debts.
Opinion: Use the budget surplus to address the issue of water
CalMatters
My vote goes to determining the best, large-scale desalination technology and launching projects to help with water supplies.
TRANSPORTATION
More Fresno to Mexico flights? What a new airline alliance would mean for local travelers
Fresno Bee
A Mexico-based airline has entered a commercial alliance with Allegiant Air in hopes of opening up markets like Fresno for flights to Mexican cities and beach resorts.
California appeals court deals a blow to high-speed rail opponents. What the ruling means
Sacramento Bee
Judges on California’s 3rd District Court of Appeal dealt another blow to the hopes of high-speed rail opponents, issuing a ruling Tuesday that the current use of bond funds for construction in the central San Joaquin Valley does not violate the California Constitution.
The new COVID variant is stalling California gas prices. See how costs fare in your area
Sacramento Bee
Crude oil prices initially decreased more than $10 to $68 a barrel on Friday after international news broke of the newest COVID-19 variant, omicron, which was first detected in the U.S. Wednesday after a San Francisco resident returned from foreign travel.
See also:
Omicron Is Here. Should You Cancel Your Trip? New York Times
U.S. to extend transit mask mandate through mid-March - sources
Reuters
President Joe Biden's administration will extend requirements for travelers to wear masks on airplanes, trains and buses and at airports and train stations through mid-March, sources briefed on the matter told Reuters, amid concerns about a new COVID-19 variant.
Opinion: Reform Amtrak to get the biggest value
The Hill
No corporation will benefit more from the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in November than Amtrak. The bill’s pledge to spend $66 billion on the federal-supported firm represents a 480 percent year-over-year increase.
WATER
Opinion: Why dwindling snow in mountains east of Modesto should startle everyone
Modesto Bee
Climate change will affect more than just those looking for snow recreation. All of our lives will be touched, because all of us drink water and eat food requiring water to grow.
Disparities In California’s Water Management Add To Challenges Of Drought And Contamination
CA FWD
Here’s a staggering statistic that one would think couldn’t be true, but it is. Over one million Californians don’t have access to clean drinking and sanitation water. You need clean water to drink, cook and bathe—and yet some of us have to work around our local water supply.
“Xtra”
Modesto parade, Christmas Tree Lane opening, more. Holiday fun, other entertainment
Modesto Bee
The Celebration of Lights Holiday Parade in Modesto and the opening of Christmas Tree Lane are just two of the events planned for Dec. 4 to Dec. 10.
Want to see ‘Hamilton’ in Fresno? Here’s how to get tickets, and why buyers should beware
Fresno Bee
We’ve known for a year now that “Hamilton” was scheduled for an 11-day spring run at the Saroyan Theatre as part of Broadway in Fresno’s upcoming season. We now have ticket information on the 16 scheduled shows.
Bethany Clough: Buying local? Four new stores are open in River Park, elsewhere in the Fresno region
Fresno Bee
If you prefer to do your holiday shopping in person instead of online, we’ve got some good news. There’s a handful of new stores that just opened in Fresno, just in time for the holidays.
10 reasons to see Visalia Players' live production of 'A Christmas Story' on Ice House stage
Visalia Times-Delta
The Visalia Community Players are presenting a stage production of the beloved holiday classic "A Christmas Story." The beloved tale opens Friday, Dec. 3, and plays through Dec. 19 at the Ice House Theatre.
The Most Frequently Used Emoji of 2021
Unicode
92% of the world’s online population use emoji — but which emoji are we using? Well, it appears that reports of Tears of Joy’s death are greatly exaggerated.
Test yourself with our new free game: PolitiTruth
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
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