POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Stan State falling short on vaccination mandate Turlock Journal
● Evidence of COVID-19 omicron variant found in Merced, scientists say abc30
Stanislaus County leaders choose a map that sets the new boundaries for elections
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County leaders chose a new map Monday for electing county supervisors that creates one district packed with a strong Latino voting majority while keeping historic political boundaries intact.
See also:
● Supervisors choose new electoral map Turlock Journal
Patterson teacher, also the city’s mayor, accused of misconduct with student
Modesto Bee
Community members are calling for the mayor of Patterson, who is also a high school math teacher, to resign or be removed from his positions after police and the Patterson Joint Unified School District opened investigations into alleged inappropriate conduct with a student.
Oakdale sets special election for council vacancy, and grudgingly hikes garbage bills
Modesto Bee
Oakdale residents will pay sharply higher garbage bills as of Jan. 1 and vote on June 7 to fill a City Council vacancy.
What should housing look like in Modesto? The city wants community input, feedback
Modesto Bee
The Dec. 15 meeting, which will be held in council chambers as well as live-streamed, is the second in a series of workshops where the public can provide feedback on the city’s housing plan.
‘I think we’re getting the right person.’ New Merced County executive officer chosen
Merced Sun Star
Raul Lomeli Mendez made his first public appearance as Merced County’s next County Executive Officer following a unanimous vote of approval by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
ACE train could be running in Turlock by 2025
Turlock Journal
The latest expansion of the Altamont Corridor Express, which includes a new train station in Turlock, could be running in the next few years after the project received an important approval last week
Opinion: Harder rakes in money warning against Nunes threat that didn’t materialize
Modesto Bee
Modesto can breathe a huge sigh of relief that Devin Nunes won’t represent our area in Congress after all. My question: Will Democratic Rep. Josh Harder of Turlock give back the money he’s raised from people he freaked out with scare-tactic requests for donations?
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● When the surges keep coming: A view from a COVID hot spot in California Fresno Bee
'Political free-for-all' as Rep. Nunes retiring for CEO role at Trump social media company
abc30
Valley Congressman Devin Nunes is leaving the House of Representatives in favor of the top job at Donald Trump's social media company.
See also:
● What happens to Devin Nunes’ empty Fresno-area seat when he retires from Congress? Fresno Bee
● California Rep. Devin Nunes leaving Congress to head Trump social media group Los Angeles Times
● CA senator Andreas Borgeas will run to replace Devin Nunes in Congress abc30
● Devin Nunes' shock move to leave Congress at the end of this month will have widespread ripple effects. Here's 3 ways it'll shake things up Politico
● Taking it with them: Members leaving with money in the bank Roll Call
● Nunes Resignation Doesn't Change 2022 House Math Cook Political Report
● EDITORIAL: A surprising start, a surprising end: The polarizing political career of Devin Nunes Fresno Bee
● Warszawski: Devin Nunes chose Donald Trump over voters. It’s an early Christmas gift for Fresno, Valley Fresno Bee
Fresno picks familiar faces to lead effort to improve services in diverse communities
Fresno Bee
Fresno city elected officials on Tuesday announced the hiring of three community liaisons to serve underrepresented residents, help connect them to resources, and make city government more accessible.
Fresno residents able to help decide where to invest federal relief funds
abc30
Fresno residents have to chance to help the city decide where to invest millions of dollars of federal relief. The city of Fresno is asking people to complete a quick survey to find out where they would like to see the $170 million from the American Rescue Plan go towards.
Fresno wants its own veterans district. Will hiring this GOP strategist get it done?
Fresno Bee
The Fresno City Council will decide Thursday whether to contract with a political consulting duo for help creating a special veterans district and for communications work for COVID-19 services.
New director to oversee Fresno Yosemite International Airport, following nationwide search
Fresno Bee
A new director of aviation for the city of Fresno has been named to oversee operations at Fresno Yosemite International Airport and Chandler Executive Airport following the recent retirement of Kevin Meikle.
Tulare County Economic Forecast: The valley’s rising industrial center
Business Journal
The economic whiplash of the nearly two years of a global health crisis has exposed a well-reported labor shortage, supply chain issues and inflation. In Tulare County, industrial growth is keeping things steady.
Jeff Tedford agrees to return as Fresno State coach after sides close big gap in negotiations
Fresno Bee
Fresno State closed what a university source said was a substantial financial gap in contract negotiations with Jeff Tedford on Tuesday and has a deal to bring the former Bulldogs football coach back to his alma mater.
Kings County cities eye Prop 68 funds
Hanford Sentinel
The fruits of a ballot measure passed three years ago are starting to manifest in Kings County, with money coming in to help provide funding for local parks.
Visalia Unified releases Area 6 trustee candidate list
Visalia Times-Delta
Four people applied for Visalia Unified School District’s Area 6 trustee vacancy and will interview for the position later this week. The candidate list includes an attorney, a College of the Sequoias professor, a youth pastor as well as a former Area 6 trustee.
Central Valley coalition suing the EPA over clean air failures
Visalia Times-Delta
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.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Kern Public Health: 189 new coronavirus cases, 3 deaths reported Tuesday Bakersfield Californian
Supervisors approve amendment change for new district boundaries
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Board of Supervisors has approved an ordinance amendment that changes its district boundaries for the next 10 years. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the new boundaries will be legalized when the supervisors formally adopt the amendment change.
Supervisors appoint Peter Kang as Kern County public defender
Bakersfield Californian
Kang has 19 years of experience with the Public Defender’s Office, serving as chief deputy public defender from 2013-18 and as the assistant public defender since 2018, according to a Kern County news release.
SEIU votes to approve new contract, avoiding strike
Bakersfield Californian
Members of Kern County government’s largest union have voted to approve a tentative agreement for a new three-year contract. The vote, which was announced Tues., allows the county to avoid an unfair labor practice strike, which the union had authorized in October.
Kern Council of Governments seeks input on housing needs
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern Council of Governments is working on the state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Allocation plan for the Kern County region.
Hundreds of low-income homes proposed in southwest McFarland
Bakersfield Californian
A local builder of single-family homes for Kern's poorest rural residents has proposed hundreds of new units covering 76 acres along McFarland's southwestern edge.
Local program gets recognition for decades-worth of achievements giving veterans a second chance
KGET
The Kern County Board of Supervisors is recognizing the accomplishments of a program that has been giving veterans a second chance for 10 years. It provides legal assistance to veterans who need help transitioning back into society.
State:
COVID Update:
● When the surges keep coming: A view from a COVID hot spot in California Fresno Bee
● Omicron COVID variant detected in Sacramento County wastewater last month, officials say Sacramento Bee
● ‘Greatest anxiety’ realized? Possible COVID surge could slow California’s economic recovery Sacramento Bee
Gavin Newsom’s California budget will propose more help for kids who – like him – have dyslexia
Modesto Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom intends to steer more money through the state budget toward screenings for the condition, as well as additional funding for early education.
See also:
● California’s governor writes children’s book about dyslexia AP News
● Q&A: Gov. Newsom talks about his children’s book to help those, like himself, with dyslexia Los Angeles Times
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:
● Redistricting Makes California a Top House Battlefield for 2022 New York Times
● Why is California’s redistricting commission under increasing scrutiny? CalMatters
● Opinion: Redistricting will help determine how California deals with climate crisis CalMatters
Can the Legislature solve California’s housing crisis? This lawmaker hopes to shape new policies
Sacramento Bee
Another Bay Area Democrat will fill the coveted chair of a powerful Assembly committee tasked with passing legislation to solve California’s affordability and homelessness crises.
Walters: California’s ‘tort wars’ heating up again
CalMatters
California’s “tort wars” over the rules governing personal injury lawsuits are heating up again and dueling ballot measures may land on the 2022 ballot.
Discussions with California's reparations task force continue
abc30
The Reparations Task Force has been studying the lingering effects of the institution of slavery and how California could issue a formal apology.
Skelton: Big changes are coming to the California Capitol. And they won’t come cheap
Los Angeles Times
They’re planning to demolish most of the state Capitol and replace it with a larger, more luxurious structure for about $1.3 billion. During construction, the governor and legislators will be quartered at a new 10-story building one block away that is costing another roughly $450 million.
Federal:
COVID Update:
● Omicron could be more contagious, less dangerous. That would be 'good news for the human race.' Visalia Times-Delta
● 19 U.S. states now have detected the omicron COVID-19 variant VPR
● Omicron boosters are in the works, but will they be needed? VPR
● A COVID vaccine grown in plants measures up VPR
● Judge blocks Biden’s vaccine mandate for federal contractors Los Angeles Times
● Judge Blocks Biden Administration Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors Wall Street Journal
● Half of Americans Back Biden’s Vaccine-or-Test Mandate for Private Sector, WSJ Poll Finds Wall Street Journal
● Omicron and Holiday Travel: 12 of the Most Pressing Questions New York Times
● Covid-Era Travel Risks Are Changing: What to Consider So You Don’t Get Stranded Wall Street Journal
● Pro-Trump counties now have far higher COVID death rates. Misinformation is to blame NPR
● Booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be critical against omicron, companies’ study suggests Washington Post
● Pfizer Says Booster Neutralized Omicron but Variant May Elude Two Doses Wall Street Journal
● Early Lab Test Shows Omicron Weakening Vaccine Effectiveness Wall Street Journal
● How Blood Samples Are Helping Scientists Test Covid-19 Vaccines Against Omicron Wall Street Journal
● Pfizer Could Have Done More to Help Low-Income Countries Handle Vaccines, CEO Says Wall Street Journal
● Marin study links COVID decline to school reopenings Mercury News
Biden touts drug pricing plan in push for social spending bill
Politico
President Joe Biden on Monday showcased his proposal to combat painfully high prescription drug costs in an effort to drum up support for his signature social spending blueprint in Congress.
See also:
● Harris pushes for expansion of maternal healthcare, Medicaid postpartum coverage Los Angeles Times
Dems weigh forcing Manchin's hand on their $1.7T megabill
Politico
After following the West Virginia Democrat’s every utterance on President Joe Biden’s sweeping climate and social spending plan, some Senate Democrats say their party should put the bill on the floor as soon as possible, regardless of whether Manchin gives a public commitment to support it beforehand.
See also:
● Sen. Joe Manchin Holds Back Support for Social-Spending Bill Wall Street Journal
Voters Pessimistic About Economy, Biden’s Leadership, WSJ Poll Finds
Wall Street Journal
First survey in The Wall Street Journal’s new polling effort shows Republicans in strong position, though Democrats have advantages in some policy areas
See also:
● Biden’s plan for a ‘no drama’ December Politico
● Gloomy landscape for Democrats in midterms as Biden's approval drops to 38% USA Today
● Inflation Emerges as a Key Concern for Voters, WSJ Poll Finds Wall Street Journal
● Biden Economist: White House Didn’t Expect Elevated Inflation Tied to Supply Chain Disruptions Wall Street Journal
Washington Post
A bipartisan panel of legal scholars examining possible changes to the Supreme Court voted unanimously Tuesday to submit to President Biden its final report, which describes public support for imposing term limits but “profound disagreement” about adding justices.
See also:
● Commission sends Biden report on Supreme Court overhauls Roll Call
Supreme Court poised to further open the door for taxpayer funding of religious schools
Los Angeles Times
After imposing a strict church-state separation for decades, the Supreme Court appears poised to allow — and in some cases even require — more government funding of church-run schools.
See also:
● Opinion: Religious Schools and the Constitution Wall Street Journal
Opinion: Dobbs and the fate of the conservative legal movement
AEI
The Supreme Court’s ruling in the abortion case, expected next June, will be a defining moment in the Right’s battle for the Constitution.
See also:
● Opinion: After ‘Annie’ and Amy Coney Barrett, here’s where our adoption conversation went wrong AEI
Vice President Kamala Harris’ spokesperson Symone Sanders is leaving
Los Angeles Times
Vice President Kamala Harris’ chief spokesperson and senior advisor, Symone Sanders, is leaving at the end of the year as Harris continues to struggle with her image in public opinion polls.
See also:
● ‘Her failing is not an option’ — Harris convenes Black women and charts the path ahead Politico
Saule Omarova, Biden’s Nominee to Oversee National Banks, Withdraws
Wall Street Journal
Saule Omarova, President Biden’s nominee to oversee large national banks, withdrew from consideration on Tuesday, amid opposition from Republicans and moderate Democrats who had sought to block her nomination, the White House said.
Opinion: How are elections fueling partisan polarization in the House? A Q&A with Andrew B. Hall
AEI
To many observers, this ugly incident was one more sign of the growing partisan polarization of the People’s House, which has been well documented by political scientists. Many suspect that there is an electoral connection to polarization.
Other:
Instagram unveils new teen safety tools ahead of Senate hearing
VPR
Instagram is rolling out a new set of safety features aimed at its youngest users and their parents, a day before the photo-sharing app's head testifies to Congress about the platform's potential risks to kids and teens.
See also:
● Instagram says parental controls will arrive in March. New York Times
● Instagram is touting safety features for teens. Mental health advocates aren’t buying it. Washington Post
● Instagram Head Faces Senate Hearing on Potential Dangers for Young People Wall Street Journal
● Crypto CEOs Testify Before Lawmakers Mulling Greater Regulation of Market Wall Street Journal
New York Times
Remembering Hank Aaron, Colin Powell, Stephen Sondheim, Beverly Cleary, DMX, Cicely Tyson, Larry King, Olympia Dukakis, Chuck Close, Michael K. Williams, Janet Malcolm and many others who died this year.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, December 12, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "California’s Top Ten Most Influential Unelected Leaders" - Guest: John Howard, Editor - Capitol Weekly. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, December 12, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "The Power Players in State & Valley Politics"- Guests: TPaul Hurley (Visalia Times Delta); Danielle Bergstrom (Fresno Bee/Fresnoland); Mike Dunbar (Modesto Bee), Robert Price (KGET). Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Opinion: Lessons from recent ad hoc agricultural disaster programs
AEI
The degree of payment concentration limits the ability to prevent financial bankruptcies, ensure food security, or stabilize the food system since small and midsize farms are more likely to rely on a safety net because of catastrophic events.
See also:
● Opinion: Payments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Don’t expect much climate benefit AEI
AEI
Using publicly available data, we find that, adjusting for industry size, the farm sector typically spends twice as much on federal campaign contributions and lobbying as the average industry does.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
‘Clean slate’ laws would erase criminal records. Do they make America more equitable?
Sacramento Bee
How effective are new laws that erase criminal records? Take a look at the racial justice movement taking hold across California and the U.S. that aims to allow former felons to find a better life.
See also:
● Can ‘clean slate’ laws really erase criminal records from public view? It’s complicated Sacramento Bee
Public Safety:
State beefs up Highway Patrol around stores and malls after brazen thefts
CalMatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that Californians could expect to see “substantially more” law enforcement officers near “highly trafficked” retail stores starting immediately, as businesses prepare after a weekend wave of Bay Area robberies.
See also:
● Opinion: California Shoplifting ‘With Relative Ease’ Wall Street Journal
Opinion: From California to D.C., judges are pointing knives at the Constitution and guns at us
Sacramento Bee
Among the goods the California Department of General Services offered to the highest bidder last week was a box of pocketknives weighing “approximately 27 pounds” — one of 30 similar collections being sold by just one of scores of governments across the country.
Biden’s cyber leaders go to Silicon Valley for more help fighting hackers
Politico
Senior Biden administration officials met in Silicon Valley Monday with key technology and cybersecurity companies as part of a push for more help from the private sector in fending off increasingly aggressive hackers working for adversarial regimes and criminal gangs.
Fire:
Hundreds of holiday fires catch yearly in the US. How to keep your California home safe
Modesto Bee
Between 2015 and 2019, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 790 home fires per year that started with holiday decorations, according to a report from the National Fire Protection Association, a leading fire resource.
See also:
● Winter holiday fire facts National Fire Prevention Association
Democrats eye massive shift in war on wildfires: Prevention
Los Angeles Times
Democrats are proposing a potentially seismic shift in how the nation battles wildfires by dramatically increasing funding for efforts that aim to prevent blazes, rather than focusing on the tools to put them out.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Tulare County Economic Forecast: The valley’s rising industrial center
Business Journal
The economic whiplash of the nearly two years of a global health crisis has exposed a well-reported labor shortage, supply chain issues and inflation. In Tulare County, industrial growth is keeping things steady.
California Democrats say they want to help lower prices for the holidays. Can they?
Sacramento Bee
Four California Democrats and 18 other House members are calling on their colleagues to get prices down and ease the supply chain crunch before Christmas.
See also:
● Stuck at Port for 54 Days: How One Ship’s Delays Hurt Small Businesses Wall Street Journal
U.S. Boosted Oil and Food Exports in October, as the Trade Deficit Narrowed
Wall Street Journal
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in October as an increase in exports of U.S. energy and agricultural commodities outpaced growth in imports, which were restrained by a backlog at U.S. ports that month.
See also:
● U.S. Stocks Close Higher, Oil Gains on Omicron Optimism Wall Street Journal
Axios
The super-rich are getting stupid rich: New data out today shows the share of global wealth held by the richest slice of humanity swelled by almost a full percentage point during the pandemic.
Jobs:
SEIU votes to approve new contract, avoiding strike
Bakersfield Californian
Members of Kern County government’s largest union have voted to approve a tentative agreement for a new three-year contract. The vote, which was announced Tues., allows the county to avoid an unfair labor practice strike, which the union had authorized in October.
California state jobs: Check this new Sacramento list of high paying, interesting posts
Sacramento Bee
Whether you’re looking for a job with the State Water Resource Control Board, California State Prison or the Department of Transportation — there’s a job for you.
California fast-food workers say they face a ‘crisis of violence’ at their job. Here’s why
Sacramento Bee
The advocacy group Fight for $15 and a Union documented some 77,000 911 calls for alleged violent or threatening incidents 2017 and 2020 at major chain fast-food restaurants in nine big California cities.
An $18 minimum wage? California entrepreneur kicks off initiative to raise workers’ pay
Sacramento Bee
California’s minimum wage could rise to $18 an hour by as soon as 2025 under a ballot measure proposed by Los Angeles anti-poverty activist and entrepreneur Joe Sanberg.
See also:
● Companies Plan Big Raises for Workers in 2022 Wall Street Journal
Facing record labor shortages, trucking firms battle fiercely for drivers
Los Angeles Times
Nationwide, the competition for drivers has led industry giants to resort to extreme measures: unprecedented pay increases and benefits, signing bonuses as high as $20,000, and posh new truck terminals that include masseurs, basketball gyms and rec rooms.
Amazon Emerges as the Wage-and-Benefits Setter for Low-Skilled Workers Across Industries
Wall Street Journal
As companies across the U.S. fight to find workers, Amazon is emerging as a de facto wage-and-benefit setter for a large pool of low-skilled workers. Business experts have long researched what is known as the Amazon effect in disrupting traditional retailers.
Washington Post
Some 4.2 million Americans quit their jobs in October as churn in the labor market continued to mark the economic recovery nearly two years into the pandemic, according to a report released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
See also:
● Giant Gap Persists Between Job Openings and Available Workers Wall Street Journal
EDUCATION
Top 2021 Education Legislative Trends
EdNote
As we approach the end of a wild 2021, we’d like to take a moment to look back on the legislative education policy trends we saw this year and look forward to what we might see in 2022.
K-12:
Supply chain crisis impacts school lunches
Turlock Journal
Shortages due to supply chain disruption has hit a lot of industries and businesses and is also affecting what children are served for lunch at local schools.
Selma teachers drop unfair labor claim, saying district won’t change foggy day schedule
Fresno Bee
The Selma teachers union withdrew its unfair labor practice complaint after the district reversed course on planned changes to the district’s foggy day schedules.
22% of Fresno County high school students say they've tried vaping, survey says
abc30
The California Student Tobacco Survey reveals almost a quarter of Fresno County 10th and 12th graders have tried vaping. The data was tracked from September 2019 to March 2020.
Supreme Court poised to further open the door for taxpayer funding of religious schools
Los Angeles Times
After imposing a strict church-state separation for decades, the Supreme Court appears poised to allow — and in some cases even require — more government funding of church-run schools.
See also:
● Opinion: Religious Schools and the Constitution Wall Street Journal
Higher Ed:
Jeff Tedford agrees to return as Fresno State coach after sides close big gap in negotiations
Fresno Bee
Fresno State closed what a university source said was a substantial financial gap in contract negotiations with Jeff Tedford on Tuesday and has a deal to bring the former Bulldogs football coach back to his alma mater.
Bakersfield College to use $5M grant to expand access for Hispanic students in STEM programs
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield College officials Wednesday expressed optimism for how a $5 million grant intended to support Hispanic students in STEM programs would help the college continue to grow opportunities for those students in several areas.
California Latinos have lowest rate of college attendance. How these students succeeded
Sacramento Bee
Latinos in California now represent 43% of all undergraduate students in the state’s public institutions. Latinos’ graduation rates in the CSU system have doubled in the past five years from 9% to 18% for men and from 15% to 29% for women.
UC avoided one big strike, but more are in the works at California colleges. Here’s why
Sacramento Bee
Workers at California’s universities are frustrated. Days after the University of California reached a contract with its lecturers in mid-November, two more of its unions authorized a strike.
Community College Math in California's New Era of Student Access
Public Policy Institute of California
In this report, we examine the progress colleges and students have made around transfer-level math courses through fall 2020.
Biden pledged to forgive $10,000 in student loan debt. Here's what he's done so far
VPR
"[Student debt is] holding people up," Biden said on Nov. 16, 2020. "They're in real trouble. They're having to make choices between paying their student loan and paying the rent." On the campaign trail, Biden had pledged to cancel at least $10,000 of student debt per person.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
San Francisco Chronicle
An ambitious project to restore tidal wetlands on almost 1,200 acres of delta farmland has just completed its first phase, and the hoped-for transformation already is flourishing: River otters, rare seabirds and a single black bear have all returned.
Opinion: Take these steps for cleaner air in California
CalMatters
Implement smog check for heavy-duty diesel trucks, and enact zero-emission standards on leaf blowers and off-road small engines.
Drivers Responsible For Way More Ammonia Pollution Than Previously Thought
StreetsBlogUSA
Federal and state agencies may be underestimating the amount of dangerous ammonia emissions that cars pump into the atmosphere by as much as a factor of five, a new study finds — and urban areas are getting hit the worst.
Energy:
Opinion: Central Valley has huge potential to store carbon underground & help slow climate change
Fresno Bee
The holidays are in full swing, and as we reflect on 2021, we must acknowledge overwhelming climate impacts experienced by California communities. This year was an inflection point, with many Californians concerned about climate change.
EPA Trims Ethanol Mandate for Gasoline as Biofuel Pressures Pump Prices
Wall Street Journal
The EPA on Tuesday proposed reducing the amount of ethanol and other biofuels that must be blended into gasoline this year and retroactively lowered last year’s mandate, in a win for refiners who warned that raising the requirement would lift prices at the pump.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
The holidays can be difficult for those dealing with mental illness
Turlock Journal
The holidays are meant to be filled with joy, but they can also be stressful and challenging for those battling mental illness.
See also:
● Surgeon general warns of emerging youth mental health crisis in rare public advisory Modesto Bee
Experts fear a bad flu season on top of COVID
Axios
Public health officials are warning that the U.S. may be on the verge of a dangerous double whammy: COVID and flu, spreading simultaneously.
The NIH director on why Americans aren't getting healthier, despite medical advances
VPR
In a wide-ranging conversation, Collins answers NPR's questions as to why — for all the taxpayer dollars going to NIH research — there haven't been more gains when it comes to Americans' overall health.
Heart attacks more likely during Christmas time, experts say. What are warning signs?
Modesto Bee
Past research shows fatal heart attacks occur most often between Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 compared to any other time of the year. And experts say being aware of the signs and taking appropriate action could save lives this holiday season.
Human Services:
Harris pushes for expansion of maternal healthcare, Medicaid postpartum coverage
Los Angeles Times
Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday urged Congress to allocate an additional $3 billion for maternal healthcare and expand postpartum Medicaid coverage to one year as part of the proposed social safety net and climate package now before the Senate.
IMMIGRATION
Senate Confirms Chris Magnus to Head U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Wall Street Journal
Chris Magnus, the police chief in Tucson, Ariz., who became a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, was confirmed as the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Tuesday.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
With buildings rising all over Sacramento region, the construction industry sets a record
Sacramento Bee
Driven by an increase in housing starts and a slew of home improvement projects, the number of construction workers in the four-county Sacramento region has reached its highest level in at least 30 years, the latest state data show.
Housing:
Modesto, nonprofit look to convert office building into housing for homeless youth
Modesto Bee
Modesto is working with the Center for Human Services on purchasing a downtown office building and converting it into a 14-unit apartment for young people as part of Project Homekey, the state initiative to house people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
What should housing look like in Modesto? The city wants community input, feedback
Modesto Bee
Modesto residents will be able to provide feedback on potential development sites at the city’s next housing plan workshop. The Dec. 15 meeting is the second in a series of workshops where the public can provide feedback on the city’s housing plan.
Kern Council of Governments seeks input on housing needs
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern Council of Governments is working on the state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Allocation plan for the Kern County region.
Hundreds of low-income homes proposed in southwest McFarland
Bakersfield Californian
A local builder of single-family homes for Kern's poorest rural residents has proposed hundreds of new units covering 76 acres along McFarland's southwestern edge.
Walters: California housing crisis both wide and deep
CalMatters
California’s housing crisis is a hot current topic but it has been developing for decades and there are no magic solutions for it.
PUBLIC FINANCES
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.
Opinion: Social Security: The fierce urgency of not yet
AEI
Social Security is the largest spending program of the federal government. Social Security is the largest tax most American workers pay. And Social Security makes up the largest component of income for most retirees.
TRANSPORTATION
ACE train could be running in Turlock by 2025
Turlock Journal
The latest expansion of the Altamont Corridor Express, which includes a new train station in Turlock, could be running in the next few years after the project received an important approval last week
New director to oversee Fresno Yosemite International Airport, following nationwide search
Fresno Bee
A new director of aviation for the city of Fresno has been named to oversee operations at Fresno Yosemite International Airport and Chandler Executive Airport following the recent retirement of Kevin Meikle.
California-Nevada high-speed rail project making 'progress'
abc13
Brightline has been in talks when it comes to bringing a high-speed rail to the desert and in November it signed paperwork with California to expand a rail line from Rancho Cucamonga to Victorville with plans on eventually expanding it to Las Vegas.
National gas prices lowest since October. Check your California county’s average
Sacramento Bee
The national pump price for a gallon of regular gas dipped another 4 cents in one week to $3.35 — and currently sits at $3.34, the lowest price consumers have seen at the pump since Oct. 20.
No More Stairs: Cash Influx to Make Transit More Accessible
Pew Trusts
The new federal All Stations Accessibility Program will provide $1.75 billion in competitive grants over five years to state and local governments to upgrade older rail transit stations that remain inaccessible to people with disabilities.
Buttigieg Defends U.S. Funding for EV Charging Network
Wall Street Journal
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg defended the Biden administration's plans to invest billions of dollars in electric vehicle-charging networks, saying it would help speed a transition away from fossil fuels.
WATER
VPR
Farmers in the heart of California’s agricultural belt – Kings County – sense something is awry with their water supplies. In this intensively farmed, perennially dry county, water is leaving at a concerning rate.
California considers $500 fines for water wasters as drought worsens, conservation lags
Los Angeles Times
As California descends deeper into drought, officials are growing troubled by dwindling water supplies and the public’s lackluster response to calls for conservation, with residents in recent months falling short of Newsom’s request for a voluntary 15% reduction in usage.
Sacramento Bee
The latest sign of the severity of California’s drought is an indicator that literally can’t get worse: The State Water Project expects to provide urban and agricultural water users with approximately 0% of what they requested from the network of reservoirs and other water infrastructure.
“Xtra”
Entertainment calendar: A look at what’s happening in the Modesto region
Modesto Bee
Holiday celebrations, music and more to enjoy in the Modesto region
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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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