January 15, 2020

15Jan

POLICY & POLITICS

 

Deadline:  February 28 for Two $56,000 Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowships

The Maddy Institute

Through the generosity of The Wonderful Company, San Joaquin Valley students will have the opportunity to become the next generation of Valley leaders through The Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship. This program helps students obtain an advanced degree from a top graduate program, return home, and apply what they have learned to help make the Valley a better place. 

 

North SJ Valley:

 

Stockton picks Harry E. Black as next city manager

Stockton Record

Stockton City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Harry E. Black, 56, who last served as city manager of Cincinnati, Ohio. Black, who succeeds Kurt Wilson, received a $270,000 contract, which includes a benefits package and allowances for transportation and technology.

 

EDITORIAL: Cheers and jeers: Puppuccinos promote shelter pups

Stockton Record

Cheers Puppuccinos put pups in spotlight Dogs and whipped cream seems like an unusual pairing. But not when it comes to drawing attention to the Stockton Animal Shelter.

 

Average rent hits a new high in Modesto. Study charts the changes over a decade

Modesto Bee

People who live in rental housing watched the average cost for apartments in Stanislaus County soar by more than 60 percent since 2012.

 

Candidates forum 2020 – California Senate District 5

Modesto Bee

Welcome to today’s political forum featuring the California Senate District 5 candidates vying for the seat vacated by Sen. Cathleen Galgiani, who is terming out.

 

Head Of San Joaquin County Republicans Unequivocally Supports President Trump

Capital Public Radio

While not all Republicans support President Trump, the majority supports him enthusiastically. What issues matter to them most, where do they see his successes, what threats does his presidency face and what are their hopes for a second term?

 

Should Trump declare California a national disaster to help homeless? One congressman’s idea

Modesto Bee

A California congressman wants to allow states to apply for emergency funding for homelessness crises in the same way they’re granted funding for natural disasters like wildfires or hurricanes.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

Fresno stop added to Gov. Newsom’s statewide homelessness tour

Fresno Bee

The tour comes as Newsom has announced a plan for statewide measure on the November ballot that would require localities and the state to meet aggressive goals to house the homeless.

 

Fresno trustee Slatic threatens lawsuit, demands school board lift parts of censure

Fresno Bee

Fresno Unified School District Trustee Terry Slatic on Wednesday will ask trustees to lift some of the provisions of the censure they imposed on him last year.

See also:

 

Board votes 6-1 to appoint Ravalin as next VUSD superintendent

Visalia Times Delta

Tamara Ravalín is officially the next superintendent of Visalia Unified School District, trustees announced Tuesday night. Ravalín graduated from holding the position on an interim basis after an eight-month trial run that saw many in the community calling for increased transparency from the district.

 

Former leader in Trump’s inner circle coming to Fresno to talk politics

Fresno Bee

More than a year after leaving the White House, where he served as President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly said he remains concerned over whether the president has people in his inner circle who are willing to stand up to some of his impulses and instincts.

 

Clovis City Council Proclaims January Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Clovis RoundUp

The Clovis City Council proclaimed January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month and recognized the 550th birthday of Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion, at its Jan. 13 meeting

 

South SJ Valley:

 

Interim City Manager to be chosen tonight: Camarena would replace Harmon

Porterville Recorder

The year’s first Lindsay City Council meeting is set to be a big one, as the appointment of a new interim City Manager is scheduled to occur at tonight’s meeting.

 

County supervisors take aim at state oil policies

Bakersfield Californian

Kern supervisors joined oil industry representatives, local politicians and residents Tuesday in warning state officials that Gov. Gavin Newsom's regulatory crackdown and moves to wind down in-state petroleum production gravely threaten the county's economy and tax base.

See also:

 

Questions arise over county supervisor candidate Emilio Huerta’s residency within the 4th District

KGET
Questions about 4th District supervisor candidate Emilio Huerta’s residency within the district.

Delano City Councilmember Joe Aguirre is asking those questions about whether Huerta lives where he says he lives according to papers Huerta filed for candidacy. County elections code requires a candidate for supervisor to live within the district they serve if elected.

 

State:

 

California’s Future

PPIC

California continues to play a major role in national political and policy debates, and state leaders are working to address a range of challenges—from the housing crisis to health care, from the environment to every level of the education system.

 

The Bill That Could Make California Livable Again

The Atlantic

You’ve probably never heard of the most economically transformative legislation of the Trump era. Granted, it has not yet passed and it might not pass. If it does, it would affect a large portion of Americans, but hardly all of them, unlike the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. And its potential effects are hotly contested by policy advocates, politicians, and economists.

 

California has so much money for these programs it can’t spend it fast enough

Sacramento Bee

Even as he announced plans to spend $222 billion in next year’s budget, Gov. Gavin Newsom noted billions of dollars for kindergarten, housing and mental health programs allocated in past years that still haven’t been spent.

 

President Gavin Newsom?

CalMatters

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s nearly three-hour-long presentation of his second budgetlast week was peppered with scornful references to President Donald Trump, some in response to reporters’ questions, others unprompted.

 

Opinion: Governor Newsom’s Bad First Year

Fox & Hounds

Nearly anyone who has watched Governor Gavin Newsom would agree he’s a good public speaker. He often talks about California’s great economy and diversity, and eloquently conveys the bold ideas he believes the state should embrace. He speaks of dreamers, doers and courageous risk-takers.

 

California may require beverage makers to handle recycling

Associated Press

California lawmakers are considering upending the state’s struggling bottle and can recycling program by requiring beverage distributors to create a new system to take back their own containers, similar to one that has been successful in neighboring Oregon.

 

Child support payback reform gets new life in proposed state budget

Mercury News

After vetoing a bill to reform the state’s child support payback system, Gov. Gavin Newsom has revived efforts to give families on public assistance a greater share of their support payments in his proposed 2020-21 budget.

 

Gov. Newsom aiming to prevent deaths of animals in CA shelters

abc30

Governor Gavin Newsom has a new plan to prevent the deaths of nearly every single animal in California shelters. As part of his budget proposal, the Governor wants to spend $50 million on saving adoptable cats and dogs across the state.

 

Federal:

 

Trump Administration sued over Valley fracking plan

Visalia Times Delta

A coalition of conservation organizations filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management on Tuesday, challenging a plan to open more than 1 million acres of public lands and mineral estates in California’s Central Valley and Central Coast for new oil drilling and fracking permits.

See also:

 

Grants fund grass roots Census outreach

The Sun Gazette

Three Tulare County nonprofits were awarded more than $25,000 each to ensure the underrepresented populations they serve will be counted in the 2020 Census.

 

Repeal of Obamacare taxes stirs questions on durability of offsets

Roll Call

The repeal last month of three taxes levied under the 2010 health care law represents one of several ways Congress has chipped away over the years at provisions paying for it, but a left-leaning budget think tank calculates the law will still save money overall.

 

U.S. Curbing Early Access to Sensitive Data Threatens Arms Race

Bloomberg

The Trump administration plans to restrict the news media’s ability to prepare advance stories on market-moving economic data, according to people familiar with the matter, in a move that could create a logjam in accessing figures such as the monthly jobs report.

 

Trump’s claim that he ‘saved’ pre-ex conditions ‘part fantasy, part delusion’

PolitiFact

President Donald Trump attempted to take credit for one of the most popular elements of the Affordable Care Act: Its protection for people who have preexisting medical conditions. "I was the person who saved Pre-Existing Conditions in your healthcare," Trump tweeted on Jan. 13.

 

Elections 2020:

 

Fact check: Trump hits and misses as he campaigns for re-election — and against California

CalMatters

The president clearly enjoys needling the nation’s most populous state. Since his inauguration, Donald Trump has taken aim at California for its policies on immigration and environmental protection, its left-leaning cultural institutions, its poverty rate (which, if you​​ factor in the cost of living, is the highest in the nation), its crime rate (which isn’t), its most recent choice of governor and its alleged tolerance of voter fraud (a charge that’s completely unfounded).

 

Will Trump’s impeachment trial disrupt 2020 campaign plans? Here’s what experts say

Sacramento Bee

President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial could begin next Tuesday, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, potentially scrambling the campaign schedules of several senators running for president.

 

Democrats offer substance but few fireworks for undecided voters at seventh debate

Fresno Bee

Instead of a Bernie Sanders-Elizabeth Warren showdown, the seventh and final Democratic presidential primary debate before voting begins delivered stacks of substance and few fireworks.

See also:

 

Q&A with Joe Biden: Why he thinks he’s the best candidate for California voters

Sacramento Bee

In an interview with The Sacramento Bee’s California Nation podcast, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden discussed his approach to the Golden State, ideas to improve California’s housing crisis and wildfire issues, as well as who could be his running mate.

 

Are Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders replaying Howard Dean’s and John Kerry’s 2004 race?

Los Angeles Times

As of this writing, the Democratic presidential contest looks very fluid with four candidates bunched up in Iowa and New Hampshire. But the sudden relevance of foreign policy, thanks to the confrontation with Iran, has made the race look more and more like a two-person race, between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders.

See​​ also:

 

McCarthy suggests Pelosi delayed impeachment trial to kneecap Sanders

The Hill

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday suggested that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has been withholding the articles of impeachment to prevent Sen. Bernie​​ Sanders (I-Vt.) and other White House hopefuls in the Senate from campaigning during the upcoming trial.

 

Can Steyer Be Stopped?

Fox & Hounds

The Californian in the race is gaining. Tom Steyer has surged in polls in early state polls. In South Carolina, he’s second, and he’s gaining fast in Nevada. Why? He’s spent more than $100 million on TV ads, raising his name recognition. And yet he’s not seen as a real contender, so there is relatively little critical coverage of him.

 

CA120: The math of the March primary

Capital Weekly

As we barrel toward the March 3 primary election, most eyes are on national and statewide polls showing a tight contest between four top contenders, with the latest Capitol Weekly polling showing Senator Bernie Sanders with a slight lead over Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vice President Joe Biden, followed by Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of Southbend, Ind.

 

Meet the fickle voters who could decide the 2020 Democratic nominee

Impact 2020

Monica Vernon has spent the Democratic presidential race assessing an assortment of candidates from Elizabeth Warren (“sweet and relatable”) to Amy Klobuchar (“down to earth”) to Cory Booker (“impressive”).

 

Michael Bloomberg To Headline Beverly Hills Fundraiser For The DNC

Deadline

Michael Bloomberg will be in Los Angeles on Friday with a schedule that includes a fundraising event for the Democratic National Committee. The event on Friday will be held at the Beverly Hills home of Lynda and Stewart Resnick, the billionaire owners of the Wonderful Co., which includes brands such as Fiji Water, POM Wonderful and Wonderful Pistachios. The Resnicks are longtime donors and fundraisers for Democrats, and last year hosted an event for Nancy Pelosi.

 

2020 Presidential Candidates’ Views On Social Security

Center for Retirement Research at Boston College

The 2020 presidential candidates have proposed various changes to Social Security.  The Center has collected a list comparing these changes.  The list will be updated on a regular basis throughout the campaign season.

 

What Cory Booker’s Exit Means For Charter Schooling

Forbes

On Monday, New Jersey senator Cory Booker announced that he’s ending his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. While the postmortem will focus on broader questions, it’s worth noting what his exit highlights about the complicated relationship Democrats have with charter schools.

See also:

 

Gender, War and Taking On Trump: Democrats Spar Just Weeks Before Voting

New York Times

The Democratic presidential candidates clashed in starkly personal terms Tuesday over who had the best chance to defeat President Trump, as Senator Elizabeth Warren sought to​​ jump-start her campaign in the last debate before the Iowa caucuses by highlighting her electoral success and that of other female candidates in the Trump era.

 

Commentary: Thoughts About the California Presidential Primary

Fox & Hounds

With the withdrawal of California’s junior Senator Kamala Harris from the presidential race, the state will not have a “favorite daughter” on the ballot in March. Hers was a strategic decision as much as a financial imperative after a steep decline in her ability to raise funds with the all-important Iowa Caucus looming in less than 4 weeks where most candidates are focusing their resources.

 

Other:

 

New art display at Fresno City Hall celebrates Women's Suffrage

abc30

Fresno City Hall has seen its share of firsts, but the sign outside points you down a path of history. Portraits of first ladies from Martha Washington to Melania Trump now line the walls.

 

US Drinking More Now Than Just Before Prohibition

Business Journal

Americans are drinking more now than when Prohibition was enacted. What’s more, it’s been rising for two decades, and it’s not clear when it will fall again. That’s the picture painted by federal health statistics, which show a rise in per-person consumption and increases in emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths tied to drinking.

See also:

 

State of contradiction: Progressive family culture, traditional family structure in California

AEI

California has been at the vanguard of family change in America. Culturally and legally—from the Human Potential Movement to the passage of no-fault divorce under then-Gov. Ronald Reagan, from Hollywood movies and shows like “The Graduate” and “Friends”—the Golden State has played a central role in pioneering and representing the cultural attitudes that have transformed marriage and family life across the nation.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, January 19, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: PPIC: K-12 Test Scores - What do they tell us? - Guest: Julien Lafortune, Public Policy Institute of California. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, January 19, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: Educational Performance from A to Z - Guests:

Julien Lafortune, Sarah Bohn, Radhika Mehlotra and Patrick Murphy from PPIC and Dorothy Leland, Chancellor, UC Merced. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, January 19, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: State Auditors Nurses: What would California do with a Nurse Shortage - Guest: Margarita Fernandez, PIO State Auditor's Office. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

California may require beverage makers to handle recycling

Porterville Recorder

California lawmakers are considering upending the state’s struggling bottle and can recycling program by requiring beverage distributors to create a new system to take back their own containers, similar to one that has been successful in neighboring Oregon.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Theft ring of Fresno County workers took cars, cash, jewels from the dead, prosecutors say

Fresno Bee

Three former county employees, who were once responsible for protecting the assets of the dead, were accused in court Tuesday of being part of a ring of thieves who stole cash, cars and jewelry from their client’s estates.

 

Should a teenage cheerleader pay for Fresno trustee Slatic’s court costs? He thinks so

Fresno Bee

The Bullard High School cheerleader who last year asked for a temporary restraining order against Fresno Unified School District Trustee Terry Slatic could end up paying for his attorney’s fees. The teen could be on the hook for more than $10,000, according to Fresno County Superior Court records.

See​​ also:

 

It's not just sex trafficking: Forced labor also big in Kern County

Bakersfield Californian

Human trafficking remains prevalent in Kern County but the fight against sex and labor traffickers has not wavered, advocates for awareness said at a public event Tuesday.

 

Don’t fall for schemes to revive California’s costly, failed juvenile justice system

CalMatters

For decades, California’s juvenile incarceration system has functioned as a costly, crime-generating calamity. The Division of Juvenile Justice and local counties now spend $300,000 to incarcerate one youth for one year, yet 76% of youths released from juvenile facilities are re-arrested within three years. Courts intervene constantly toredress abuses. Still, a recent report finds violence and non-rehabilitation remain rife at juvenile facilities.

 

Public Safety:

 

Citing safety, liability concerns, Fresno PD wants new guns for officers

abc30

The 40 caliber Beretta PX4 storm has been the pistol 900 officers at the Fresno Police Department carry on duty. In late 2018, a plan to refurbish them began. Since then 315 guns have been fixed up, but the reconditioning turned out to be the start of another problem.

 

Family fighting for Gavin's Law seeing progress with another hurdle cleared

abc30

Just about a week after Rogelio Alvarez Maravilla was released from prison early in the death of Gavin Gladding, the Gladding family and supporters of Gavin's Law cleared a major hurdle Tuesday in getting the necessary votes to move the bill onto the next round of legislation.

 

Bureau of Prisons director cutting internet access for staff to 'limit distractions'

abc30

In a message to Bureau of Prisons' staff, Director Kathy Hawk Sawyer stressed hiring will be a main priority of the bureau in the coming year.

 

Civil trial underway against Stockton officers accused of beating teen

Stockton Record

A chance encounter between a 16-year-old boy and two Stockton police officers in a convenience store nine years ago led to the boy losing two front teeth and getting arrested on suspicion of trespassing and resisting.

 

Improper condom disposal at California City prison criticized by grand jury

Bakersfield Californian

A Kern County grand jury is criticizing a prison in California City for improperly instructing inmates on condom disposal after prison sex.

 

Body Cameras May Not Be the Easy Answer Everyone Was Looking For

PEW
When a Maine state senator introduced a bill last year to require all police officers to wear body cameras, she expected some discussion. But the response that Democratic state Sen. Susan Deschambault got was stronger than she anticipated.

 

Fire:

 

An Australia in flames tries to cope with an ‘animal apocalypse.’ Could California be next?

Los Angeles Times

The impact on wildlife this year has been far more devastating, a preview of what California could experience in future fire seasons.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Stocks cling to tiny gains as investors parse trade signals

Porterville Recorder

Major U.S. stock indexes closed mixed Tuesday, shedding most of their gains from earlier in the day, after a published report revealed that an interim trade deal between the U.S. and China does not remove tariffs on Chinese goods.

See also:

 

Jobs:

 

New California law benefits mothers with private rooms at workplaces

abc30

Advocates say the law benefits to mother and child, allowing the child to receive milk longer. It helps women's wellbeing and empowers mothers in the workplace.

 

What do you do if your CalPERS pension is wrong? — State Worker Inbox

Sacramento Bee

They retire from public employment, start receiving a pension and then, sometimes years later, they get a letter in the mail saying CalPERS is reducing their monthly check based on someone else’s mistake. The retirement system also can collect up to three years’ worth of overpayments, which can amount to tens of thousands of dollars.

 

Trump makes wage-theft lawsuits harder — but not in California

Los Angeles Times

Say you’re a company that hires a janitorial staffing agency to clean your offices or a security firm to patrol your parking lot. Say you’re a retailer that relies on outside truckers to deliver your goods. Say you’re a general contractor who hires drywall and electrical subcontractors.

 

Low unemployment isn’t worth much if the jobs barely pay

Brookings

Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its Employment Situation report (better known as the “jobs report”) to outline the latest state of the nation’s economy. And with it, of late, have been plenty of positive headlines—with unemployment hovering around 3.5%, a decade of job growth, and recent upticks in wages, the report’s numbers have mostly been good news.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Fresno trustee Slatic threatens lawsuit, demands school board lift parts of censure

Fresno Bee

Fresno Unified School District Trustee Terry Slatic on Wednesday will ask trustees to lift some of the provisions of the censure they imposed on him last year.

See also:

 

Watch therapy dogs help kids conquer reading at Fresno-area libraries

Fresno Bee

Tail Waggin' Tutors therapy dog Tucker, a schnauzer mix, helps kids with reading at Fig Garden Regional Library on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 in Fresno.

 

YouthBuild Charter School offers high school diploma program

abc30

An innovative high school in Fresno is giving students a new way to obtain a diploma and learn a trade at the same time.

 

Hundreds take part in conference hosted by Madera Unified

abc30

Hundreds of school staff members expanded their horizons at a conference held by the Madera Unified School District.

 

Board votes 6-1 to appoint Ravalin as next VUSD superintendent

Visalia Times Delta

Tamara Ravalín is officially the next superintendent of Visalia Unified School District, trustees announced Tuesday night. Ravalín graduated from holding the position on an interim basis after an eight-month trial run that saw many in the community calling for increased transparency from the district.

 

Distinguished: Santa Fe honored as a Distinguished School

Porterville Recorder

A Porterville elementary school and a rural K-8 school were the only two Tulare County schools to make the list of California Distinguished Schools last month. Santa Fe Elementary School was the Porterville school honored.

 

Price: How do you like your sex, kids? And other fake news

Bakersfield Californian

Little Suzy won't be learning about kinky sex after all. Not in her sixth-grade class, anyway. On the playground, maybe, but not from Mrs. McGillicuddy. Relax, everybody: Your 12-year-old will not be subjected to white-board diagrams of gymnastic intimacy, but we can thank Shannon Grove for planting the visual.

 

Are You Kidding Me: Hey Democrats – How about some Power to the Parents?

AEI

In this episode of Are You Kidding Me, AEI’s Naomi Schaefer Rileyand Ian Rowe discuss recent attacks aimed at the Federal Charter Schools Program. They then take a closer look at the often-hostile relationships between Child Protective Services and the communities they work in.

 

New push in California to increase diversity among math and science teachers

EdSource

When State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond took office in 2019, he announced that recruiting more male teachers from diverse backgrounds would be one of his top priorities.

 

Information for State Policymakers Looking to Advance K-12 Financial Education

EdNote

According to a 2018-2019 report from Next Gen Personal Finance, 16 percent of high school students are required to take a personal finance class. While 45 states include personal finance in their state education standards, only 19 states require students to take a personal finance course.

 

Lindsay Unified School District Authorizes Second Wave of Energy Infrastructure Modernizations

PublicCEO

On Oct. 14, 2019, Lindsay Unified School District’s (LUSD) Board of Trustees authorized a second wave of energy infrastructure and sustainability modernizations.

 

Higher Ed:

 

Merced College's new bus system aims to make transportation easier for students

abc30

Students returned to Merced College on Monday for the start of the spring semester, and now they can get to and from the campus for free.

 

Canceling Student Debt Is Easier Than It Sounds

Capital Public Radio

A little-known provision allows the U.S. education secretary to erase student loan debt without going to Congress. Elizabeth Warren says, if elected president, she would put that provision to use.

 

Chief of CA’s new online community college resigns

San Francisco Chronicle

Heather Hiles, chief executive of California’s new online community college, is out after an 11-month tenure marked by controversy and complaints.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Landlocked Chinooks on bite at Oroville, Folsom lakes

Stockton Record

The salmon seasons are now closed on both the ocean and Central Valley rivers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t catch salmon in Northern California. You can hook landlocked king salmon this winter at Oroville and Folsom lakes and kokanee salmon at Bullards Bar Reservoir.

 

Emissions Report: Cars Are Still Our Biggest Problem

Street Blog USA
United States greenhouse gas emissions are down —but it’s not because anyone’s driving any less. Overall carbon emissions were down two percent in 2019, but pollution from the transportation sector — the leading contributor to climate change remained basically unchanged, though no longer increasing as it has every year since 2012.

 

2019 capped off the world’s hottest decade in recorded history

Washington Post

The past decade was the hottest ever recorded on the planet, driven by an acceleration of temperature increases in the past five years, according to new data released Wednesday by the U.S. government.

 

Op-Ed: Can conservatives go green?

AEI

Can conservatives capture the Green movement? Journalist Ed West hopes so. He points to the recent coalition government in Austria between the conservative immigration hawk Sebastian Kurz and the Green party as one hopeful example.

 

Energy:

 

Trump Administration sued over Valley fracking plan

Visalia Times Delta

A coalition of conservation organizations filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management on Tuesday, challenging a plan to open more than 1 million acres of public lands and mineral estates in California’s Central Valley and Central Coast for new oil drilling and fracking permits.

See also:

 

15 states oppose Trump plan to allow LNG shipments by rail

Porterville Recorder

The attorneys general of 15 states (including California) said this week that they oppose a Trump administration proposal to allow rail shipments of liquefied natural gas, arguing the trains will share tracks with passenger trains and travel through congested areas.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Health Watch: Knowing the difference between asthma and COPD

abc30

Nearly 24 million adults live with COPD, while 25 million people are affected by asthma. The symptoms might seem identical. How do you tell which one you have? One difference is that asthma can start at any age, but COPD doesn't usually occur before the age of 40. So even if you've never had asthma growing up, it's still a possibility later on.

 

Heart Disease Strikes Back Across the U.S., Even in Healthy Places

Wall Street Journal

Colorado is ranked as one of the nation’s healthiest states. It often doesn’t feel that way to David Rosenbaum. The Colorado Springs cardiologist regularly sees men and women in their 30s and 40s with heart problems, such as high blood pressure, an irregular heart rhythm, heart attacks. A visit from a young patient was rare when he started practicing there 17 years ago. Not anymore.

 

More than 100 billion pain pills saturated the nation over nine years

Washington Post

Newly disclosed federal drug data shows that more than 100 billion doses of oxycodone and hydrocodone were shipped nationwide from 2006 through 2014 — 24 billion more doses of the highly addictive pain pills than previously known to the public.

 

Human Services:

 

Gavin Newsom wants to expand health care for undocumented immigrants, again

Fresno Bee

Some 27,000 undocumented California senior citizens would receive Medi-Cal benefits under a funding proposal from Gov. Gavin Newsom.

 

New epilepsy monitoring unit giving patients at Madera hospital more freedom

abc30

Patients can still feel like kids while getting the only level 4 epilepsy center care available in Central California.

 

Blood Center Holds Emergency Drive at Rodeo Hall

Clovis RoundUp

The Central California Blood Center held an emergency blood drive at the Clovis Rodeo Hall Jan. 13, as blood inventory levels hit a critical low. The drive took place from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Blood Center marketing representative Tatiana Partain said the center is increasing its number of drives and outreach events in response to a local and national shortage in blood.

 

Health Care Roundup: Fresno Cancer Center Earns ‘astro’ Accreditation

Business Journal

The Fresno Cancer Center has received a prestigious accreditation given to less than 5% of such facilities in the U.S. The American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO) Accreditation Program for Excellence (APEx) can take up to a year to complete and focuses on five “pillars” of patient care. These include the process of care, the radiation oncology team, safety, quality management, and patient-centered care, according to a news release.

 

California health care premiums rose — are prescription drug costs the biggest culprit?

Sacramento Bee

The California Department of Managed Care put out its second report aimed at increasing transparency on prescription drug costs, but perhaps the most startling revelation from the document comes in a footnote showing that health plans greatly expanded their reporting the data.

 

Legislation to ban surgery on intersex children fails in California Senate committee

Los Angeles Times

A bill to ban medically unnecessary surgeries on young children born with atypical genitalia failed its first vote in the California Senate on Monday, despite supporters arguing that the legislation is key to protecting the rights of intersex people.

See also:

 

California bills would make insurers cover more mental health

San Francisco Chronicle

Two California lawmakers on Tuesday introduced bills aimed at improving access to mental health and addiction treatment by imposing new requirements on insurance companies.

 

Commentary: You Kidding Me: Why we offer less protection to minority kids

AEI

In the debut of Are You Kidding Me, AEI’s Naomi Schaefer Rileyand Ian Rowe discuss how current child welfare systems are causing foster children to be chronically absent from school. They also look at why “disparate impact theory” is endangering children at risk of abuse and neglect, and how the Indian Child Welfare Act contributed to Antonio Renova’s tragic death.

 

Column: Despite questionable evidence of abuse, Trump plans to overhaul Medicaid eligibility rules

Los Angeles Times

For all that President Trump loves to portray himself as a protector of Americans’ healthcare — witness his fatuous new claim to have “saved Pre-Existing Conditions in your Healthcare,” when he’s actually undermined those safeguards — perhaps the most consistent administration healthcare policy has been an attack on Medicaid.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

US sending Mexican migrants 1,000 miles from border

Porterville Recorder

The Trump administration said Tuesday it will start deporting about 250 Mexicans a week on flights from Tucson, Arizona, to Guadalajara, over 1,000 miles (1,640 kilometers) from the border.

 

Asylum-seekers forced to wait in Mexico get video access to attorneys in US

Stockton Record

Faced with a rising humanitarian crisis, immigrant rights organizations from both sides of the border on Tuesday launched a pilot program to create a virtual bridge aimed at providing legal aid to thousands of asylum-seekers forced to wait in Mexico.

See also:

 

Gavin Newsom wants to expand health care for undocumented immigrants, again

Sacramento Bee

Some 27,000 undocumented California senior citizens would receive Medi-Cal benefits under a funding proposal from Gov. Gavin Newsom.

See also:

 

Judge says Trump can separate families at border, refuses to second-guess government

Los Angeles Times

A U.S. judge ruled Monday that the Trump administration is operating within its authority when separating families stopped at the Mexico border, rejecting arguments that it was quietly returning to widespread practices that drew international condemnation.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

One Year In, Gov. Gavin Newsom Shows Bold Action, But California’s Homelessness Crisis Deepens

Capital Public Radio

Newsom’s budget and legislative steps represent continued progress on his campaign pledge to address homelessness statewide. PolitiFact California continues to rate his promise ‘In the Works’ on our Newsom-Meter.

 

Average rent hits a new high in Modesto. Study charts the changes over a decade

Modesto Bee

People who live in rental housing watched the average cost for apartments in Stanislaus County soar by more than 60 percent since 2012.

 

Should Trump declare California a national disaster to help homeless? One congressman’s idea

Modesto Bee

A California congressman wants to allow states to apply for emergency funding for homelessness crises in the same way they’re granted funding for natural disasters like wildfires or hurricanes.

 

Commentary: Abolishing Single-Family-Only Zoning Expands Freedom and Choice

Fox & Hounds

A bedrock principle of conservatism is that individuals should be allowed to live as they please free from the overly meddlesome dictates of regulators. Another conservative mainstay is a belief in property rights—the right to do largely what we choose in our homes​​ and on our land. When it comes to zoning issues, however, many conservatives have become “but” heads. They believe in freedom and markets, “but” not in their neighborhoods.

 

Opinion: Governor’s Homeless Proposal is All Wrong

Fox & Hounds

As sure as California has an exploding homeless problem, it’s almost a certainty that our state and local leaders – elected and otherwise – don’t have a clue as how to deal with it.  To wit, Joel Fox, in this space recently, conducted an excellent examination of Governor Newsom’s pre-budget plan to spend nearly $1.5 billion to build housing for homeless individuals.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Commentary: Tax Reform and the Strength of the Pragmatic Angel

Fox & Hounds

At his budget press conference, Gov. Gavin Newsom was asked what he plans to do about tax reform. According to one account, the governor said that the state desperately needs to change the tax structure and added, “I can be stubborn. I can be pragmatic. Here, I’m stubbornly pragmatic.”

 

Column: Banks should do more to protect seniors from ‘grandparent scam’

Los Angeles Times

It’s time for businesses to stop wringing their hands over the aggressiveness and cleverness of scammers, and to be much more assertive in protecting people from fraud — especially seniors. I say this after speaking with Montrose resident Sal Macaione, 79, who fell victim the other day to what’s known as the “grandparent scam.” If you’re unfamiliar with this particularly ugly racket, I’ll run down the details in a moment.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Low-income CA drivers could pay less for traffic citations

KSBY

Traffic fines are meant to be a deterrent, but now California Governor Gavin Newsom is saying the fines and other added fees are getting too high. "They should be held accountable... but if it is a speeding ticket going eight miles over the speed limit- I think you should get a break," said David Murcia, a Santa Maria resident.

 

How Cars Waste Space — In Six Simple Images

Street Blog USA
Wander into your average American coffee shop, and you won’t see a sedan ordering a latte. So why are the owners of diners often forced to devote the majority of the land upon which their business sits to the storage of privately owned vehicles, rather than cafe tables and kitchen space?

 

Cities Offer Free Buses in Bid to Boost Flagging Ridership

Wall Street Journal

The driver on a bus circling downtown here merely tapped a button to count riders on a recent weekday morning as people streamed by the farebox without paying. The riders weren’t doing anything wrong: the region’s transit authority in September stopped collecting money on three routes in this old industrial city north of Boston. Instead, Lawrence used $225,000 in reserves to waive fares for two years.

 

WATER

 

Fresno State Offers Boot Camp on Water Issues for Journalists

GV Wire

Fresno State has a boot camp Friday for journalists looking to jump into the deep end of California’s often complicated water issues. Organizers say the event will provide an “intense” look into the many facets of state water law and politics. The seminar also covers updates on major changes in water rules and laws.

 

Pair of storms bringing gusty winds, rain to Valley, white-outs in Sierra

Stockton Record

Daylong travel restrictions were lifted on Interstate 80 in the Sierra late Tuesday after a winter storm packing snow and winds in excess of 130 mph blew through the region, but more rough weather is on the way.

See also:

 

Court Rules That Modesto Irrigation District Customers Were Overcharged

VPR

A judge has ruled that some customers of the Modesto Irrigation District were overcharged, but how much ratepayers were overcharged and what the remedy will be is still to be determined.

 

“Xtra”

 

Yosemite’s ‘firefall’ glow lasts only two weeks. Here’s how to see it

Los Angeles Times

Each year, visitors to Yosemite National Park turn out to see a natural phenomenon that lasts just two weeks in February: the winter “firefall.” The waning light of winter days hits a waterfall on El Capitan’s granite walls at just the right angle to create a streak of orange resembling a lava flow.

 

What are your favorite restaurants, shops in Fresno? Vote in The Bee’s People’s Choice 2020 awards

Fresno Bee

It’s time to vote for your favorite businesses in The Fresno Bee’s 2020 People’s Choice competition. The timeline is a bit different this year. Voting will begin Dec. 21 and will close on Jan. 20. Winners will be announced in March.

 

‘I want the world to know!’ Fresno woman turns 105, celebrates at Hometown Buffet

Fresno Bee

Cleo Stocker can’t hear or see well. But she can sure talk. And she has plenty to say. “I want the world to know I’m 105,” Stocker announced inside a Hometown Buffet in Fresno. “I’m still walking and talking. And I can touch my toes.”

 

Chamber of Commerce Dinner Feb. 28

Porterville Recorder

The Porterville Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Awards and Installation Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Friday, February 28 at the Porterville Veterans Memorial Building. Tickets are $45.

 

Carleton Watkins and the photographs that saved Yosemite

The Guardian

During the summer of 1861, a 35-year-old photographer called Carleton Watkins strapped almost a tonne of camera equipment on to mules and rode the long, largely untravelled trail into California's Yosemite Valley.

 

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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.

 

The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.

                                                     

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