February 25, 2021

25Feb

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Sue Zwahlen takes office as Modesto mayor, pledging goodwill, cooperation, openness

Modesto Bee

The Modesto City Council said goodbye Tuesday to outgoing Mayor Ted Brandvold and welcomed Sue Zwahlen as the city’s next mayor. Brandvold thanked the city’s employees and officials as well as the community for the honor of serving as the city’s top elected official for the last five years.

 

Merced County Undersheriff to retire at end of March. Who is going to succeed him?

Merced Sun-Star

A veteran detective who most recently served as undersheriff to Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke is stepping down the end of March — saying a new leader has already been chosen to take the reins.

 

Turlock hires interim city attorney. Why did his politics come into question?

Modesto Bee

A divided Turlock City Council on Tuesday hired George Petrulakis as interim city attorney, despite concerns raised about his political involvement and experience in land use instead of municipal law.

 

Editorial: This is how last seat on divided Ceres City Council should be filled

Modesto Bee

Voters should decide who will represent them on the divided Ceres City Council, in a summertime special election if needed. It looks like it will be needed.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Fresno housing board fails to appoint interim CEO. Here’s what we know

Fresno Bee

Members of the board of commissioners of the Housing Authorities of the City and County of Fresno were supposed to name an interim CEO during its Tuesday evening meeting, but after nearly three hours in a closed session, they announced that no action had been taken.

 

Defund police in Fresno schools? This district kept cops and improved student outcomes

Fresno Bee

As debate grows over the use of armed police officers in Fresno Unified schools, a school district in Colorado with many similarities to Fresno appears to have found a middle ground between keeping police on campuses and improving outcomes for students.

 

Lee Brand, Fresno’s former mayor, donates campaign funds. ‘His heart is about this community’

Fresno Bee

Former Fresno Mayor Lee Brand is donating the remainder of his campaign account to local organizations to use for post-high school scholarships. Brand closed out his political career with $400,000 in the bank. He’s using that money for scholarships to help students pay for college and vocational training.

 

Fresno County judge halts sale of historic Tower Theatre to church — for now. Here’s why

Fresno Bee

A Tower District business looking for a restraining order to stop the sale of the Tower Theatre got its request granted Wednesday, halting the sale at least temporarily.

See also:

 

Warszawski: Fresno-area parks attract huge pandemic crowds. We need more room to walk, hike, ride

Fresno Bee

These last 12 months have revealed much about our region’s shortcomings. Among the most glaring: Central San Joaquin Valley residents need more room to recreate. Over being cooped up by COVID-19, we’re utilizing our parks, bike trails and open-space areas at levels heretofore unseen in my 23 years of living here.

 

Hurtado introduces bill to improve California’s water resilience

Hanford Sentinel

Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) has introduced the State Water Resiliency Act of 2021 – legislation that could provide up to $785 million to restore the capacity of California’s critical water delivery infrastructure and repair aging roads and bridges.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Bitwise plans to hire 60-70 local tech apprentices

Bakersfield Californian

Bitwise Industries plans to hire and train 60 to 70 people in Bakersfield with some of the $50 million it has received through a new investment that also allows it to expand for the first time outside California.

 

Yardi to implement Kern's rent relief program

Bakersfield Now

Kern County residents struggling to pay rent during the pandemic may be getting some help in the next few weeks. The county is launching a rent relief program with millions of dollars set aside.

 

Kern DA's Office resists state's request for criminal charges in restaurant cases

Bakersfield Californian

In a county like Kern where it's not hard to find a restaurant or bar operating in apparent violation of California's 11-month-old pandemic health order, the agency responsible for coming down on offenders hasn't been shy about pursuing criminal charges. But neither has it been successful.

 

Should Trump be part of the GOP's future? McCarthy says yes. Liz Cheney says no

Visalia Times Delta

Rep. Liz Cheney affirmed Wednesday that ex-President Donald Trump should not be a part of the future of the Republican Party, or of the country as a whole.

 

State:

 

COVID Update:

 

California ag counties to receive more COVID vaccines. Sacramento, Bay Area may see drop

Sacramento Bee

California is making a big push to substantially increase COVID-19 vaccine availability for essential farm and agriculture workers in the Central Valley, a move that has ripple effects across the state as it redistributes limited supply.

 

States pass their own virus aid, not waiting on Washington

Fresno Bee

Not waiting for more federal help, states have been approving their own coronavirus aid packages, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to help residents and business owners devastated by the the pandemic's economic fallout.

See also:

 

The ‘nightmare scenario’ for California’s coronavirus strain: Here is what we know

Los Angeles Times

Even as California continues to see big declines in COVID-19 after the recent holiday surge, there is growing concern about another potential problem waiting around the corner.

See also:

 

Newsom, lawmakers agree to pay pro-Biden firm for California voter education contract

Los Angeles Times

California officials have agreed to pay the balance on a $35-million contract for voter outreach due last fall, after months of wrangling over the payment details and Republican criticism of the company that did the work for its close ties to President Biden.

 

Farmworkers, climate and wildfires are the focus of new legislation in California

AgriPulse

The California Legislature is planning an active session this year to make up for lost time in 2020.

 

A Recall for Newsom in California? Talk Grows as Governors Come Under Attack

New York Times

Fellow Democrats have defended Gov. Gavin Newsom, lavishly praising his handling of the pandemic. But conservatives say his shutdowns have been destructive.

 

California GOP candidates say they would preserve teachers union rights on reopening

Politico

Two GOP gubernatorial hopefuls are ramping up their criticism of Gov. Gavin Newsom over school closures and accusing him of kowtowing to the California Teachers Association, though they said Wednesday they would not try to override union bargaining to force educators back.

 

He wants to kick Jim Crow out of the California Constitution

Los Angeles Times

Nunn is among the reasons Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager (D-Los Angeles) introduced legislation to remove what she views as the last vestiges of slavery from the state Constitution.

 

California Wins Court Victory for Its Net Neutrality Law

New York Times

A federal judge on Tuesday cleared the way for California to enforce its net neutrality law, denying a request by telecommunications providers to delay state rules meant to ensure equal access to internet content.

See also:

 

Federal:

 

GOP says California has too much money. Will it hurt Biden’s COVID stimulus plan?

Fresno Bee

California has collected about $10.5 billion more in tax revenue this fiscal year than expected, giving Washington Republicans fresh ammunition aimed at derailing a huge federal aid package for state and local governments.

See also:

 

The House is about to pass more COVID-19 relief. What’s in the bill?

Los Angeles Times

President Biden’s $1.9-trillion COVID-19 relief package is expected to pass in the Democratic-controlled House this week. This is unlikely to be the final version of the legislation; the evenly split Senate still has to act. But here’s a look at where things stand.

See also:

 

Biden To Sign Order Seeking Homegrown Fixes For Shortfalls Of Foreign-Made Items

VPR

Shortages of medical supplies and ingredients for pharmaceuticals came into stark focus during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, when hospital workers resorted to reusing masks and gloves to try to keep themselves safe from COVID-19.

See also:

 

Becerra confirmation as Health secretary looking likely after smooth hearings

Los Angeles Times

California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra appeared headed toward confirmation as the nation’s first Latino Health and Human Services secretary after a pivotal hearing passed Wednesday with few fireworks and no serious blows inflicted by Republicans hoping to derail him.

See also:

 

Lawmakers begin to develop legislative response to Capitol attack

Roll Call

A comprehensive response to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol could take months, if not years, to materialize after thorough investigations, but lawmakers have started offering legislative proposals that could be taken up relatively quickly.

See also:

 

Republicans divided on Democrats’ push to restore earmarks

Roll Call

Republicans’ family discussion on earmarks is starting to spill into public view, with top GOP lawmakers backing "congressionally directed spending" while staunchly conservative members stake out their opposition.

 

At conservative gathering, ideas fall to an airing of Trump grievances

Washington Post

One panel will discuss whether tech companies are “colluding to deprive us of our humanity.” One speech will explore what to do when a social media network “de-platforms” a conservative by deleting his account. And seven main-stage panels or speeches will litigate the 2020 election, with panelists who mostly — and incorrectly — argue that Donald Trump won.

See also:

 

Postmaster General DeJoy Faces Questioning About Mail Delays

VPR

If your mail has not been showing up some days, or you're getting second notices on the bills you thought you'd paid, you're not alone. The U.S. Postal Service has been beset by continuing delays in delivering the mail.

 

House To Vote On Equality Act: Here's What The Law Would Do

NPR

The House of Representatives is set to vote this week on the Equality Act, a bill that would ban discrimination against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It would also substantially expand the areas to which those discrimination protections apply.

 

Other:

 

How Americans Navigated the News in 2020: A Tumultuous Year in Review

Pew Research Center

Americans are divided – that much is obvious after a contentious presidential election and transition, and in the midst of a politicized pandemic that has prompted a wide range of reactions.

 

Evangelical leaders launch nationwide push against extremism

The Hill

More than 200 faith leaders in the evangelical Christian movement signed on to a letter this week decrying "Christian Nationalism" and its role in the Jan. 6 riot that overwhelmed the U.S. Capitol.

 

Exclusive: Google pledges changes to research oversight after internal revolt

Reuters

Alphabet Inc’s Google will change procedures before July for reviewing its scientists’ work, according to a town hall recording heard by Reuters, part of an effort to quell internal tumult over the integrity of its artificial intelligence (AI) research.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, February 28, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “State Legislative Response to the Pandemic” - Guest: State Sen. Andreas Borgeas; State Sen. Anna Caballero; Asm. Rudy Salas. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, February 28, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “State Legislative Agendas” - Guests: Asm. Heath Flora; Asm. Devon Mathis; State Sen. Anna Caballero; Asm. Rudy Salas. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Valley farmers disappointed at low reservoir water allocation this year

abc30

Valley farmers as well as communities that rely on surface water deliveries from reservoirs were disappointed to learn how low their allocations will be this year.

 

Extra CalFresh benefits available to help low-income families through June

abc30

Low-income families struggling to buy groceries can get more help from the CalFresh program this year. Since the start of the pandemic, officials say they've seen a significant increase in the number of applications from families in need of assistance.

 

Farmworkers, climate and wildfires are the focus of new legislation in California

AgriPulse

The California Legislature is planning an active session this year to make up for lost time in 2020.

 

New Evidence Shows Fertile Soil Gone From Midwestern Farms

VPR

Farming has destroyed a lot of the rich soil of America's Midwestern prairie. A team of scientists just came up with a staggering new estimate for just how much has disappeared.

 

Marijuana License Seekers Share Tips For Opening A New Market

Business Journal

It’s been more than two years since the Fresno City Council adopted the Cannabis Retail Business and Commercial Cannabis Business Ordinance, which allowed cannabis dispensaries to operate in Fresno.

 

Commentary: The work starts now to improve our approach to hunger, food assistance

CalMatters

In the wake of the pandemic and more Americans waking up to the systemic racism inherent in America, we have an unprecedented opportunity to change how we move forward.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Fresno police stop Black drivers more often. Chief says it’s not racist, others disagree

Fresno Bee

D’Aungillique Jackson was pulled over twice in two days the summer after her freshman year at Fresno State in 2017. First, a police officer told her she was speeding on her way to work. On her drive home the next day, she was grilled by two officers about whether she had been involved in a burglary.

 

California would create hate crime hotline under bill shaped by attacks on Asian Americans

Fresno Bee

California legislators introduced a bill Monday that would create a toll-free hotline and online reporting system for reporting hate crimes and hate incidents.

 

Supreme Court divided on case of California motorist pursued by CHP into his home

Los Angeles Times

The case of a Northern California motorist who drove home one night playing loud music on his radio and drawing the notice of a Highway Patrol officer could establish an important precedent on the powers of the police and the privacy rights of homeowners.

 

Public Safety:

 

Defund police in Fresno schools? This district kept cops and improved student outcomes

Fresno Bee

As debate grows over the use of armed police officers in Fresno Unified schools, a school district in Colorado with many similarities to Fresno appears to have found a middle ground between keeping police on campuses and improving outcomes for students.

 

Lessons From Kings County Prison Where COVID-19 ‘Spread Like Wildfire’

VPR

When news of the pandemic first reached the men incarcerated at Avenal State Prison in central California, inmate Ed Welker said the prevailing mood was panic. “We were like, ‘Yeah, it’s going to come in here and it’s going to spread like wildfire and we’re all going to get it,’” he said. “And that’s exactly what happened.”

 

40% of inmates in California’s corrections system have been vaccinated for COVID-19

Los Angeles Times

About 40% of people in the custody of California’s corrections system have received the COVID-19 vaccine, a figure praised by prison advocates who say that only a fraction of the state’s vaccine is needed to protect a population that’s one of the most vulnerable to the virus.

 

Editorial: We need to tighten up regulations on deadly ‘ghost guns’

Los Angeles Times

For several years now, some gun makers have been exploiting a loophole in federal regulations to evade a range of gun control measures by selling firearms in pieces to be assembled later by consumers, including people barred from owning a gun.

 

Fire:

 

Wildfire victims sue former PG&E executives alleging neglect

Fresno Bee

A trust representing more than 80,000 victims of deadly wildfires ignited by Pacific Gas and Electric’s rickety electrical grid is suing nearly two dozen of the utility’s former executives and board members, alleging they neglected their duty to ensure the equipment wouldn’t kill people.

See also:

 

Burning California to save it: Why one solution to raging wildfires can’t gain traction

Fresno Bee

On a crisp, breezy February morning near Lake Tahoe, a crew of five firefighters descended on a snow-covered, heavily-forested park straddling the California-Nevada border. They came to start fires, not put them out.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Bitwise Industries secures $50 million to expand, increase focus on tech job creation

abc30

Bitwise Industries has landed $50 million in series B funding, something its co-founders are calling a huge feat for a city fighting to keep opportunities in the Central Valley.

 

California’s Economic Recovery Starts with Child Care

California Budget & Policy Center

More than 6 in 10 California children under the age of 12 live in families where all parents are working. For this reason, child care providers are a critical component of the state and nation’s economic infrastructure.

 

Biden Economic Aide Sees Steady Recovery as Covid-19 Vaccinations Progress

Wall Street Journal

Economic activity will pick up as the pandemic recedes and Americans are vaccinated against Covid-19, but the recovery will be gradual rather than sudden, a top economic adviser to President Biden said Wednesday.

 

Markets Suggest the Economy Is Booming. The Recovery Has a Long Way to Go, Though.

Wall Street Journal

Markets are signaling that an economy that plunged into its deepest recession in decades just a year ago is ready to roar.

 

Never too late: Pandemic propels older shoppers online

AP News

In November, Paula Mont did something new: The 86-year-old, who hasn’t left her New Jersey senior living community in nearly a year, went shopping — online.

 

Commentary: Don’t assume the coming Biden Boom means a shift to rapid and sustainable growth

AEI

In a new analysis, the Tax Foundation points out that President Biden and congressional Democrats have proposed raising the federal corporate rate to 28 percent from 21 percent.

 

Jobs:

 

Bitwise plans to hire 60-70 local tech apprentices

Bakersfield Californian

Bitwise Industries plans to hire and train 60 to 70 people in Bakersfield with some of the $50 million it has received through a new investment that also allows it to expand for the first time outside California.

 

California’s unemployment crisis, explained

CalMatters

From days-long waits on hold to months of missing payments, California’s Employment Development Department and its private contractors have come under fire for a wide range of problems while paying out $122 billion in unemployment benefits since last March.

 

Black Californians Struggle within a Challenging Job Market

PPIC

As California’s economy continues to struggle—the unemployment rate in January was more than double what it was one year prior—disparities among communities of color underscore the need for a more equitable recovery from the current recession.

 

Jobless claims fall sharply to 730K as weather, fraud distort data

The Hill

Initial jobless claims for the week ending on Feb. 20 dropped dramatically to a seasonally adjusted 730,000, one of the lowest readings since the pandemic began and well below expectations.

See also:

 

Supreme Court weighs if federal job protections for military apply to states

McClatchy

The U.S. Supreme Court will hold a private conference Thursday to consider whether the case of a fired Texas state trooper merits adding to its docket due to the larger question it raises: Does a state’s sovereignty outweigh federal powers to build armies?

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

CUSD Hosts Middle School African American Leadership Conference

Clovis RoundUp

On February 22, the annual Middle School African American Leadership conference was presented by Clovis Unified School District. The event was live streamed on CUSD’s website.

 

Virtual field trips? 24/7 tutors? Here are cool tools districts use to enhance learning

Modesto Bee

Even as school districts in Stanislaus County work to increase in-person learning time for primary grade students and possibly return junior high and high school kids to campuses in mid-March, distance learning remains a mainstay of education during the pandemic.

 

Major push to get COVID vaccines for Fresno teachers begins Monday. 40,000 doses set aside

Fresno Bee

Teachers in Fresno County will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, according to an email the Fresno Unified School District sent to its staff.

 

New Safety Protocols In Place For 7500 Students Returning To Clovis Unified

VPR

At Clovis North High School, parents dropped off their kids on campus Tuesday for the first time in months. Students with pom poms cheered on as cars entered the parking lot.

 

Sylvan Union board votes to return fourth-to-eighth graders in March

Modesto Bee

The Sylvan Union School District Board of Education received an update Tuesday night on efforts to bring fourth- through eighth-grade students back to campuses for in-person learning.

 

KHSD clears way for athletes in certain outdoor sports to return to campus Monday, proposes games only against district schools

Bakersfield Californian

Although the specifics and details have not been finalized, the Kern High School District is taking steps toward returning student-athletes who participate in outdoor sports to campuses starting as early as Monday.

 

California students in richer areas far more likely to be back in classrooms

CalMatters

School districts in California’s richest neighborhoods are far more likely to offer in-person instruction than those serving its poorest, though the state as a whole remains behind the rest of the country in bringing students back inside physical classrooms.

 

California moves ahead to pursue flexibility waivers for standardized tests this year

EdSource

The State Board of Education in California voted unanimously to prepare to apply for more flexible standardized testing options this year as nearly 80% of students across the state continue with distance learning.

 

California GOP candidates say they would preserve teachers union rights on reopening

Politico

Two GOP gubernatorial hopefuls are ramping up their criticism of Gov. Gavin Newsom over school closures and accusing him of kowtowing to the California Teachers Association, though they said Wednesday they would not try to override union bargaining to force educators back.

 

Does Raising High School Graduation Requirements Improve Student Outcomes?

PPIC
The abrupt shift to distance learning at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis exacerbated​​ inequalities in California’s K–12 system and added urgency to an ongoing discussion about the role of high school graduation policy in promoting equitable student outcomes.

 

Covid-19 Upended Schools. How Much Has Education Suffered?

Wall Street Journal

Since schools across the U.S. first closed last spring, sending about 50 million children to learn remotely, one looming question for educators, parents and children has been: How much has learning suffered?

 

Opinion: Both sides of the school reopening debate have it wrong

Washington Post

If it is — as many Americans, including President Biden, insist — then we should treat schools as we do hospitals. That means doing everything possible to them make safer, starting with vaccinating teachers.

 

Commentary: How schools can stop buying stuff that sits on the shelf

AEI
As Congress seems poised to send K-12 schools another $130 billion in American Rescue Plan aid—in addition to the $60-odd billion in COVID relief it delivered in 2020—there’s a lot of talk about how much is being spent. Meanwhile, there’s been too little attention given to how effectively those funds are being used.

 

Higher Ed:

 

State awards BC, college district $2 million workforce grant to help address energy, economic issues

Bakersfield Californian

Nearly $2 million in state cap-and-trade money has been set aside to help Bakersfield College work with other local organizations on a workforce training program intended, in part, to lessen Kern's economic reliance on petroleum production.

 

Commentary: Public Universities and colleges can serve as economic engines to drive economy out of pandemic slump

CalMatters

California’s public colleges and universities will continue to struggle to fulfill their mission without stable state and federal funding.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

How far will Biden go to fix the climate crisis? Pay attention to this gas project

Los Angeles Times

A few days after Joe Biden claimed victory in the presidential election, a San Diego company quietly asked federal officials for permission to send 5 million tons of natural gas each year across the U.S.-Mexico border to an export terminal the company hopes to build along the Gulf of California.

 

California sued over its oil and gas permitting practices

Desert Sun

The Center for Biological Diversity on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against California that challenges the state's approval of thousands of permits to drill for oil and gas.

 

Audit slams state air board for ‘overstating’ greenhouse gas cuts

CalMatters

An audit of California’s climate change program released today criticizes state officials for overestimating the benefits of its efforts to encourage Californians to drive cleaner vehicles. 

 

Will California’s desert be transformed into Lithium Valley?

CalMatters

California’s desert is littered with remnants of broken dreams — hidden ghost towns, abandoned mines and rusty remains of someone’s Big Idea. But nothing looms larger on an abandoned landscape than the Salton Sea, which languishes in an overlooked corner of the state.

 

California’s D.A. Association Misspent $3 Million. Environmental Groups Want It Repaid

The Appeal

In order to fund prosecutions against major environmental polluters, California has for years sent public money to the California District Attorneys Association, a private lobbying group made up of many of the state’s major prosecutors. The CDAA was supposed to use that money—about $2.9 million—to support litigation against entities that pollute or otherwise damage the state’s natural environment.

 

Energy:

 

California's electricity prices are so high that researchers worry people won't ditch fossil fuel

San Francisco Chronicle

California’s electricity prices are growing so high that they threaten the state’s ability to convince enough people to ditch fossil fuel-powered cars and appliances, new research says.

 

The Activists Who Embrace Nuclear Power

The New Yorker

In 2004, Heather Hoff was working at a clothing store and living with her husband in San Luis Obispo, a small, laid-back city in the Central Coast region of California. A few years earlier, she had earned a B.S. in materials engineering from the nearby California Polytechnic State University.

 

Commentary: Designing Electricity Rates for An Equitable Energy Transition

Next10

California’s current strategy of recovering a myriad of fixed costs in electricity usage rates must change as the state uses more renewable electricity to power buildings and vehicles on the path to carbon neutrality.

See also:

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Valley nursing homes see huge drop in COVID cases

abc30

When the pandemic reached the Central Valley nearly a year ago, nursing homes were some of the hardest hit. Many facilities suffered outbreaks that ravaged older populations, creating a high death toll.

 

The ‘nightmare scenario’ for California’s coronavirus strain: Here is what we know

Los Angeles Times

Even as California continues to see big declines in COVID-19 after the recent holiday surge, there is growing concern about another potential problem waiting around the corner.

See also:

 

Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine protects against COVID-19: US regulators

abc30

Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine protects against COVID-19, according to an analysis by U.S. regulators Wednesday that sets the stage for a final decision on a new and easier-to-use shot to help tame the pandemic.

See also:

 

Human Services:

 

When will kids, teenagers get vaccinated for COVID-19? Here’s what experts say.

Modesto Bee

COVID-19 vaccines are in short supply and kids are last in line to get shots. With few exceptions, they’re not expected to get vaccines until next September. And that’s for high schoolers. Young children may not be eligible until next year.

 

Moderna Says Covid-19 Vaccine for South Africa Strain Is Ready for Human Testing

Wall Street Journal

Moderna Inc. said it has made the initial batch of doses of a new Covid-19 vaccine designed to better protect people against a new strain of the coronavirus that has shown some resistance to the company’s original vaccine.

 

Column: Of course, Californians misused vaccine codes. The system is designed for cheating

Los Angeles Times

The vaccine chasers — many of whom have the luxury of working from home — who aren’t yet eligible under the state’s rules, but still exploit every angle to get themselves shots, often hogging doses meant for vulnerable Angelenos.

See also:

 

IMMIGRATION

 

California bill would block inmate transfers to ICE custody

Fresno Bee

Among the inmate firefighters who battled massive California wildfires last year was Bounchan Keola, a Laotian immigrant who had been sentenced to 28 years in prison for a gang-related shooting when he was 16.

 

Judge indefinitely blocks Biden’s 100-day deportation pause

Los Angeles Times

A federal judge late Tuesday indefinitely banned the Biden administration from enforcing a 100-day moratorium on most deportations. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton issued a preliminary injunction sought by Texas, which argued that the moratorium violated federal law and risked imposing additional costs on the state.

 

Biden lifts Trump-era ban blocking most legal immigration to the U.S.

Los Angeles Times

President Biden on Wednesday lifted a freeze on green cards issued by his predecessor during the pandemic that lawyers said was blocking most legal immigration to the United States.

See also:

 

Editorial: We need a humane solution for migrant children arriving at the border — and we need one now

Los Angeles Times

The Biden administration’s decision this week to reopen a detention center in Texas for unaccompanied teenage minors drew outrage from immigrant rights advocates, including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who denounced the move as Trumpism revisited, or at the least extended. It’s not that simple.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Fresno County judge halts sale of historic Tower Theatre to church — for now. Here’s why

Fresno Bee

A Tower District business looking for a restraining order to stop the sale of the Tower Theatre got its request granted Wednesday, halting the sale at least temporarily.

See also:

 

Warszawski: Fresno-area parks attract huge pandemic crowds. We need more room to walk, hike, ride

Fresno Bee

These last 12 months have revealed much about our region’s shortcomings. Among the most glaring: Central San Joaquin Valley residents need more room to recreate. Over being​​ cooped up by COVID-19, we’re utilizing our parks, bike trails and open-space areas at levels heretofore unseen in my 23 years of living here.

 

Housing:

 

Fresno housing board fails to appoint interim CEO. Here’s what we know

Fresno Bee

Members of the board of commissioners of the Housing Authorities of the City and County of Fresno were supposed to name an interim CEO during its Tuesday evening meeting, but after nearly three hours in a closed session, they announced that no action had been taken.

 

Housing market booming in Fresno County

abc30

Homes in the Central Valley are selling fast. "This time around, the house we just bought was on the market for three days. It had eight offers all over listing price, so it's very competitive," said Kimberly Duke, a local buyer.

 

Yardi to implement Kern's rent relief program

Bakersfield Now

Kern County residents struggling to pay rent during the pandemic may be getting some help in the next few weeks. The county is launching a rent relief program with millions of dollars set aside.

 

What did the pandemic do to 2020 home sales in Merced County? Here are the local prices

Merced Sun-Star

The coronavirus pandemic rocked the local economy in Merced and neighboring Valley counties in 2020, but by the end of the year median home prices defied gravity and rose significantly in the region.

 

Walters: Another chance to act on housing

CalMatters

When he was running for governor three years ago, Gavin Newsom promised, rather absurdly, that he would spearhead a drive to build 3.5 million new housing units by 2025.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

California public employees disabled by COVID-19 could get tax-free pensions under proposal

Fresno Bee

Public employees who become disabled from COVID-19 could be eligible for tax-free pensions under a new proposal from a California lawmaker.

 

Third stimulus check: Why some people should file their taxes ASAP

CBSNews

With lawmakers negotiating another round of coronavirus relief aid, many Americans are eager to learn if and when they'll receive a third stimulus check. Aside from Congress' time frame for passing the legislation, there's another factor that could influence stimulus payments: your 2020 tax returns.

 

Powell Pledges to Maintain Fed’s Easy-Money Policies Until Economy Recovers

Wall Street Journal

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell underscored his determination to return the U.S. labor market to full strength, saying Wednesday the central bank won’t begin to tighten easy-money policies until it sees much more improvement.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

California Cargo Shippers Stuck With Worker Classification Test

Bloomberg Law

California trucking companies may be stuck using the state’s worker classification test to determine whether drivers are employees or independent contractors after the California Supreme Court declined to review their case Wednesday.

 

WATER

 

Hurtado introduces bill to improve California’s water resilience

Hanford Sentinel

Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) has introduced the State Water Resiliency Act of 2021 – legislation that could provide up to $785 million to restore the capacity of California’s critical water delivery infrastructure and repair aging roads and bridges.

 

“Xtra”

 

Will fans be allowed to see the Fresno Grizzlies in person? Team president provides a hint

Fresno Bee

Fresno Grizzlies president Derek Franks says it is possible fans will be allowed inside Chukchansi Park when the 2021 season begins in May.

 

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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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