Maddy Institute – January 25, 2021

25Jan

POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

COVID-19’s seismic impact on Merced County jobs, economy detailed in latest state data

Merced Sun-Star

For many Merced County residents, stable employment was one of myriad losses sustained in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The California Employment Development Department’s latest numbers for December employment underscore how tumultuous the job market was over the last 12 months.

Stanislaus County unemployment rises again. Economist shares what’s ahead in 2021

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County’s unemployment rate increased in December, marking a halt in its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The jobless rate increased to an unadjusted 9.9%, up from a revised November rate of 8.2%, according to data from the state’s Economic Development Department.

Getting shots in arms, and fast: Stanislaus vaccine rollout deserves some praise

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County did us proud by immediately offering COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone 65 and older, along with health care workers, at county-run clinics.

● Infection rates continue to fall; hospitalization steady Modesto Bee

● Stanislaus County reopens COVID vaccine clinics. When, where shots will be available Modesto Bee

Central SJ Valley:

Fresno County adds more than 600 COVID cases, prepares to vaccinate farmworkers

Fresno Bee

Fresno County added 607 cases of coronavirus Saturday as it continues to grapple with vaccine supply and gears up to vaccinate farmworkers. The new cases of COVID-19 bring the county’s total to 84,744 infections since the pandemic started, according to the state Department of Public Health.

● Fresno pauses some COVID vaccine clinics amid dose shortage. When will they restart? Fresno Bee

● No New Appointments Next Week At Fresno’s Two Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics VPR

● Lack Of Stockpile Disrupts Valley's COVID-19 Vaccine Supply VPR

● Vaccine clinics open for one day before supply runs out Turlock Journal

● Public Health Dept. cancels vaccine clinics, temporarily Madera Tribune

● Coronavirus update: Positivity rate in Fresno County at 18%; how fast can we vaccinate? Fresno Bee

● Metrics improve, but large increase in deaths Porterville Recorder

● U.S. tops 25 million cases, Fresno County also closing on milestone Fresno Bee

Gavin Newsom to lift Fresno-area COVID stay-at-home order, restaurant association says

Fresno Bee

The California Restaurant Association on Sunday informed its members that Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to make an announcement Monday that COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders are expected to be lifted from Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley.

In Fresno County, some industries have yet to regain jobs lost to the pandemic in 2020 Fresno Bee
Valley’s 2020 Covid unemployment rate hits six-year high Business Journal

Fresno store closes due to anti-mask demonstration. This time, shoppers call out protesters

Fresno Bee

Another Fresno grocery store had to close temporarily after a group of anti-mask protesters demanded they be allowed to shop inside without wearing masks. It was a similar move by the same group of anti-masks protesters who got Trader Joe’s to close early for the night a few weeks ago.

Fresno mayor begins program for homeless on freeway embankments. Here’s how it works

Fresno Bee

Homeless outreach workers have begun speaking with people living on Fresno freeways in an attempt to get them housed and off embankments in the start of Project Off-ramp, Mayor Jerry Dyer said.

Council President Chavez says Fresno rent relief to go to landlords

Business Journal

There is some relief on the way to Fresno landlords coming from the most recent federal stimulus package. The City of Fresno received $15.8 million this week from the federal government to assist residents with housing and utility costs...

Editorial: Should Fresno council members take guns into City Hall for security? Careful review needed

Fresno Bee

The shocking images of rioters who busted into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 have caused elected officials across America to consider the safety in their city halls, county buildings and statehouses.

Kings County to combat homelessness with manufactured homes south of Hanford

abc30

Kings County is a small county in California, so naturally it has fewer homeless people than neighboring counties such as Fresno or Kern (It has just over 300, according to the most recent Point in Time report).

Jiménez -Sandoval Lists Goals For His Interim Presidency At Fresno State

Fresno State News

Fresno State Interim President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval delivered his first address to faculty and staff on Jan. 19, inviting them to join him in showcasing “the greatest story in the Valley” by sharing with others the University’s impact on students.

Warszawski: Government transparency? Accountability? Insult by Valley politician ‘erodes’ both

Fresno Bee

Unless you’re on Twitter, you likely missed the latest installment of Valley Public Official Shows Their Disdain Toward the Media. So allow me to fill you in.

South SJ Valley:

Patchwork system for vaccine sows confusion, frustration locally

Bakersfield Californian

A scramble is underway locally among people 65 and over to get a COVID-19 vaccination, and the confusing system in place to get the injection is leading to frustration for many.

See also:

County mobilizing 'all hands on deck effort' to vaccinate the masses Bakersfield Californian

· 'We feel that it is our duty': CSUB nursing students lend big assist to county's COVID-19 contact tracing efforts Bakersfield Californian

· SOUND OFF: Spreading the word — and visuals — about wearing masks Bakersfield Californian

Kern Public Health reports 1,118 new coronavirus cases Sunday Bakersfield Californian

Local union pushes back against potential furloughs of non-safety Kern County workers

Bakersfield Californian

A local union is pushing back against potential furloughs the county of Kern may implement to offset a financial shortfall brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Job losses from virus 4 times as bad as '09 financial crisis BakersfieldNow

BCSD opens applications for upcoming virtual teacher job fair next month

Bakersfield Californian

Bakersfield City School District has opened applications for its upcoming teacher job fair on Feb. 20. The online fair is open to anyone who wants to become a teacher.

Bakersfield provides blueprint for ending chronic homelessness

abc7

But in spite of everything in 2020, Bakersfield in Kern County managed to achieve "functional zero" for chronic homelessness, defined as homeless for more than a year or repeatedly over three years.

State:

COVID Update:

● California reports record daily COVID-19 death toll of 764 Business Journal

● California hits 3 million coronavirus cases; roughly 1 out of 13 in state have been infected Los Angeles Times

Newsom promised 1 million COVID-19 vaccinations. California can’t tell if he hit his goal

Los Angeles Times

Gov. Gavin Newsom urged Californians to “hold me accountable” to a goal of administering 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in 10 days, but nearly two weeks later a series of data collection problems have left state officials unable to offer clear evidence of success or failure.

● California is running critically low on COVID-19 vaccines as people vie for shots Los Angeles Times

● California Debates Speed vs. Equity in Vaccine Distribution Plan KQED

● To simplify vaccine rollout, California considers an age-based system San Francisco Chronicle

· ‘Need a lot of both.’ Will California’s vaccine ramp-up squeeze out COVID-19 testing? Los Angeles Times

· A botched rollout and baseless fears complicate California’s COVID-19 vaccine effort Sacramento Bee

· Behind chaos on vaccines and jobless checks: persistent tech problems CalMatters

California’s ban on indoor worship upheld, but future caps on church services in limbo

Sacramento Bee

A federal appeals panel has denied a Southern California church’s request to overturn the state’s coronavirus restrictions barring worship services indoors. But the three-judge decision left the door open for addressing Gov. Gavin Newsom administration’s cap on attendance if a county is in a less-restrictive COVID-19 tier.

Newsom administration gave far less COVID-19 relief cash to smaller communities, audit finds

Los Angeles Times

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s finance department may have shortchanged some California communities in distributing federal COVID-19 relief funds, according to a state audit released Tuesday that criticized both the implementation and outcome of a process that was supposed to fairly divvy up the money on a per-person basis.

California keeps key virus data out of public sight

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has from the start said his coronavirus policy decisions would be driven by data shared with the public to provide maximum transparency. But with the state starting to emerge from its worst surge, his administration won’t disclose key information that will help determine when his latest stay-at-home order is lifted.

Far-right movements including QAnon, virus skeptics linked to Newsom recall

Los Angeles Times

As the pandemic continues to shutter businesses, close schools and upend lives in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has become a target of angry frustration for some, driving a grassroots effort to recall him from office. What once started as a pipe dream is beginning to look like a political threat for the Democratic governor.

● Opinion: The GOP Bid to Boot Gavin Newsom Could Backfire Wall Street Journal

Should California ban flavored tobacco products? Voters will get to decide in 2022

Modesto Bee

Californians will decide whether the state should ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, such as menthol cigarettes, in the 2022 midterm election. The Secretary of State’s Office announced Friday afternoon that an effort to put the question to the voters successfully obtained enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Contractor found ‘scary’ bacteria levels at CalPERS headquarters — but agency wasn’t notified

Sacramento Bee

The amount of bacteria discovered in a shower head at a CalPERS’ headquarters building should have alarmed the contractor that found it in 2019, according to an expert on the kind of bacteria that was found.

Californians would get more time off work to mourn dead loved ones under this bill

Sacramento Bee

Large California employers would be required to provide up to 10 days of unpaid bereavement leave under a bill currently being considered by the Legislature.

Still serving at 87, Dianne Feinstein brushes off calls to resign over memory issues

Sacramento Bee

The left wing of the California Democratic Party might want Sen. Dianne Feinstein to step down and make way for a younger leader, but for the time being President Joe Biden’s agenda depends on the 87-year-old lawmaker keeping her seat.

Alex Padilla sworn in as California’s first Latino U.S. senator

Los Angeles Times

With his mother’s Bible in hand and his political mentor at his side, Alex Padilla on Wednesday became the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate.

California’s bill for fighting Trump in court? $41 million so far

CalMatters

The state filed 110 lawsuits against the Trump administration over its environmental laws, immigration policies and other rules and rollbacks. So far, it’s won 23 cases, but most are still pending.

Federal:

COVID Update:

● Hospitalizations, Newly Reported Cases Decline Wall Street Journal

Senate To Begin Trump's Impeachment Trial Week Of Feb. 8

VPR
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the sole article of impeachment for incitement to insurrection against former President Donald Trump will be delivered to the Senate on Monday and a trial against the Republican will begin the week of Feb. 8.

● GOP senators appear to be divided as House readies impeachment delivery Los Angeles Times

● Senators will judge Trump as victims of mob’s attack Roll Call

● Democrats press ahead with second impeachment trial, as GOP is divided on how to defend Trump Washington Post

● AP source: Lawmakers threatened ahead of impeachment trial AP

● Fiala: Would pardoning Donald Trump be an act of forgiveness, or miscarriage of justice? Fresno Bee

● On his way out the door, Donald Trump pardoned a bunch of his buddies. Trump

In his first days in office, Biden highlights action as deep problems loom

Los Angeles Times

Inside the White House, President Biden presided over a focused launch of his administration, using his first days in office to break sharply with his predecessor while signing executive orders in a showy display of action to address the historic challenges he inherited.

● Tracking President Joe Biden’s Cabinet and appointees Brookings

● Biden to reinstate COVID-19 travel restrictions on non-U.S. travelers from several countries Los Angeles Times

● Biden Administration Tables Trump's Citizenship Data Request For Redistricting VPR

● Another urgent item for Biden’s to-do list: The looming Social Security funding crisis Washington Post

● Biden to Sign Buy American Order for Government Procurement Wall Street Journal

● Biden calls for LGBTQ protections in Day 1 executive order, angering conservatives Washington Post

Covid-19 Bill Negotiations Offer First Test of Biden’s Bipartisanship Effort

Wall Street Journal

President Biden’s push for a sweeping coronavirus-relief bill is emerging as the first test of his pledge to return bipartisanship to Washington, a task made more difficult as partisan lines are hardening in the Senate over the impeachment fate of his predecessor.

● Destructive protests by anarchists and extremists signal divided left as Biden administration begins Washington Post

● Move on or fight on: Americans remain sorely divided as Biden’s quest for unity begins Washington Post

● What Jerry Brown Could Teach Joe Biden New York Times

● The Political Divide in America Goes Beyond Polarization and Tribalism Kellogg Insight

● One county, worlds apart: Bridging the political divide AP News

Turned off by Biden’s approach, GOP opposition to stimulus relief intensifies

Washington Post

President Biden’s pitch for bipartisan unity to defeat the coronavirus and resurrect the economy is crashing into a partisan buzz saw on Capitol Hill, where Republicans and Democrats can’t agree on ground rules for running the Senate — let alone pass a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill.

● Opinion: Right on schedule, Republicans pretend to care about deficits again Washington Post

Trump jumps into a divisive battle over the Republican Party — with a threat to start a ‘MAGA Party’

Washington Post

Former president Donald Trump threw himself back into politics this weekend by publicly endorsing a devoted and divisive acolyte in Arizona who has embraced his false election conspiracy theories and entertained the creation of a new "MAGA Party."

● Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims as president. Nearly half came in his final year. Washington Post

Biden-won counties are home to 67 million more Americans than Trump-won counties

Brookings

Another way of looking at Biden’s victory is to focus on the total populations residing in the counties that Biden and Trump won. From that perspective, 67 million more people lived in counties won by Biden (197.9 million) than in those won by Trump (130.3 million).

Nothing lame about this lame duck: 116th Congress had busiest post-election session in recent history

Pew Research Center

Post-general election meetings of Congress, which have become routine in recent decades, are commonly known as “lame-duck” sessions. The unflattering descriptor alludes to the senators and representatives who have lost reelection or whose terms are almost up but can still help make laws for a few more weeks.

Other:

Media trust hits new low

Axios

Trust in traditional media has declined to an all-time low, and many news professionals are determined to do something about it.

See also:

● Ending The Disinformation Era Zocalo Public Square

● Media Literacy Standards to Counter Truth Decay Rand Corporation

● Opinion: Fox News is a hazard to our democracy. It’s time to take the fight to the Murdochs. Here’s how. Washington Post

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Fresno County's educators, farmworkers must wait longer for the COVID-19 vaccine

abc30

Getting an appointment to get vaccinated in Fresno County was hard enough with spots filling up in minutes. But now, health officials say they need to pump the brakes on taking more people in to get their shots because of a lack of supply to go around.

Federal government wants Americans to buy groceries online. Most people on SNAP can’t, despite benefits increase.

Visalia Times Delta

When the coronavirus first hit, Miranda Wilt knew a grocery store run could be fatal to her children. Both 10-year-old Aiden and eight-year-old Rosie are on the autism spectrum and legally disabled. Wilt, a 35-year-old single mom, said she's too scared to leave the house herself, let alone go outside with her kids, who can't wear face masks.

Biden To Bump Up Food Assistance For People 'Hanging By A Thread'

VPR

President Biden plans to sign an executive order on Friday that would increase food stamp benefits to help people going hungry amid the financial downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, his top economic adviser, Brian Deese, told reporters.

Planting crops — and carbon, too

Washington Post

If farmers throughout the world adopted similar “regenerative” methods, experts estimate they could sequester a sizable chunk of the world’s carbon emissions. The idea has been endorsed by soil scientists, a slew of food industry giants and, recently, President Biden.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Modesto police make 5 arrests as an estimated 300-plus bicyclists take over streets

Modesto Bee

Officers arrested five people and issued 14 citations when an estimated 300-plus bicyclists violated traffic laws and rode often dangerously through east and north Modesto over about three hours Saturday afternoon, the Police Department reported on Facebook.

Judicial Council Allocates $25 Million to Address Case Delays Due to COVID-19

California Courts Newsroom

The Judicial Council on Friday approved a plan to distribute $25 million to help trial courts address case delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the remainder of $50 million included in the 2020 Budget Act. The council will allocate the $25 million based on each court’s workload not disposed of during the pandemic period compared to the same period in 2019.

California church known for its anti-LGBTQ beliefs is bombed

Washington Post

A California church that espouses anti-LGBTQ beliefs and has been the recent target of protests was bombed with an improvised explosive device early Saturday morning, authorities said.

Overall bitcoin-related crime fell last year, but one type of crypto hack is booming

CNBC
Cryptocurrency-related crime fell last year to a small fraction of overall trading volume. But some targeted hacks boomed as criminals exploited people working from home during the pandemic.

Fatal Police Shootings Of Unarmed Black People Reveal Troubling Patterns

NPR

Ronell Foster was riding his bicycle through the hushed streets of Vallejo, Calif., one evening when a police officer noticed that the bike had no lights and that he was weaving in and out of traffic.

Walters: Will reducing criminal penalties reduce crime?

CalMatters

California is conducting an immense sociological experiment, testing whether reducing prison time for criminal acts will, in the long run, mean less crime.

Nearly 1 In 5 Defendants In Capitol Riot Cases Served In The Military

NPR

As a violent mob descended on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, lawmakers and aides hid wherever they could, waiting for the military and police to arrive. But many of those who stormed the Capitol were military veterans themselves, who had once sworn to protect the Constitution. In fact, an NPR analysis has found that nearly 1 in 5 people charged over their alleged involvement in the attack on the U.S. Capitol appear to have a military history.

Public Safety:

Tulare County sheriff criticized — and sued by ACLU — for COVID-19 outbreak at jails

Fresno Bee

A COVID-19 outbreak sweeping through Tulare County’s correctional facilities is worrying criminal justice advocates who say the crisis is being exacerbated by a sheriff they say is not taking the right measures to protect inmates.

Not clear when stay-at-home order could be lifted

Porterville Recorder

When it comes to the stay-at-home order, the San Joaquin Valley may be closer to it being lifted than one thinks. But it's actually hard to know since the state doesn't release all the information that determines when the stay-at-home order will be lifted.

Editorial: Should Fresno council members take guns into City Hall for security? Careful review needed

Fresno Bee

The shocking images of rioters who busted into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 have caused elected officials across America to consider the safety in their city halls, county buildings and statehouses.

Fire:

Residents urged to stay home as winter storms head for Creek Fire burn scar area

abc30

Snow is filling the foothills. Aidan Wolf says it caught him by surprise as he was hitting the slopes in China Peak. "I knew it was going to snow, but I didn't think it'd get that much. It snowed a lot, made for great snowboarding," says Wolf.

ECONOMY/JOBS

Economy:

City of Bakersfield issues more B-CARES grants

Bakersfield Californian

The city of Bakersfield has awarded more than $5.6 million in B-CARES small business assistance grants, according to a city memo issued Friday.

More than 30 new restaurants, stores plan to open in Fresno in 2021. Here’s where

Fresno Bee

Want something to look forward to after a dismal year? More than 30 new stores and restaurants are planning to open in the Fresno area in 2021.

‘Too little, too late’: California small businesses chase COVID-19 relief

CalMatters

As new state grants, tax credits and federal loans roll out, small business owners say their survival will depend more on reopening rules, red tape and resolving unemployment chaos. What happens next will shape the state’s job market for years to come.

Opinion: An equitable recovery for California requires two key strategies

CalMatters

Inequity has proven to be the primary challenge of this recession. Low-wage workers bear a bigger burden – from greater health risks to higher unemployment. And labor market declines have been concentrated among communities of color and women. Without deliberate policy action, this crisis portends a future of even higher income inequality and lower upward mobility.

Biden to sign order aimed at pushing federal government to buy American-made products

Washington Post

President Biden on Monday will sign an executive order aimed at pushing the federal government to buy more goods produced in the United States, a key part of his campaign pledge to revive domestic manufacturing.

WSJ Survey: U.S. Economic Growth Will Exceed 4% in 2021

Wall Street Journal

The U.S. economy will grow 4.3% this year, as the country exits the grip of the coronavirus pandemic, economists forecast in a Wall Street Journal survey.

The economics of inequality in high-wage economies

AEI

Proponents of income redistribution have concluded that high returns to success and slowing productivity growth, despite low interest rates, are evidence of rising cronyism, notwithstanding extensive evidence to the contrary.

The disparate impact of a national $15 minimum wage

AEI

...It is hard to imagine that raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour would not significantly impact business costs and employment in at least some parts of the country. But which parts, and by how much?

How a new National Recovery Investment Corps can drive a bottom-up, inclusive economic recovery

Brookings

To ensure an inclusive and sustainable recovery, the next administration and Congress should establish a new, time-limited federal interagency process to invest, partner, and coordinate federal action as requested by local cross-sector, interjurisdictional coordinating councils.

Jobs:

Stanislaus County unemployment rises again. Economist shares what’s ahead in 2021

Modesto Bee

● Valley’s 2020 Covid unemployment rate hits six-year high Business Journal

● Job losses from virus 4 times as bad as '09 financial crisis BakersfieldNow

● COVID-19’s seismic impact on Merced County jobs, economy detailed in latest state data Merced Sun-Star

BCSD opens applications for upcoming virtual teacher job fair next month

Bakersfield Californian

Bakersfield City School District has opened applications for its upcoming teacher job fair on Feb. 20. The online fair is open to anyone who wants to become a teacher.

Looking Ahead to California’s 2021 Labor Market

Public Policy Institute of California

With COVID-19 surging this winter, job growth is once again on the skids. Until we emerge from the public health crisis, economic activity will continue to fluctuate, due to mandated stay-at-home orders, business closures, and individual fears about the virus. Given the uncertainty, what can we expect from the California labor market in 2021?

See also:

● California Employment Report for December 2020 California Center for Jobs & the Economy

● Governors’ shutdowns did not cause the pandemic jobs crisis Washington Post

● California EDD's delays threaten unemployment pay for thousands statewide abc7

Biden orders OSHA to release new COVID-19 guidance to employers on protecting workers

The Hill

President Biden signed an executive order on Thursday directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue guidance to employers on protecting workers from COVID-19.

EDUCATION

K-12:

Fresno County's educators, farmworkers must wait longer for the COVID-19 vaccine

abc30

Clovis schools won’t bring back more students on Feb. 1 as planned. Here’s what we know

Fresno Bee

The return date for Clovis Unified middle and high school to start part-time in-person learning has been pushed back again, according to emails obtained by The Fresno Bee’s Education Lab.

Mariposa County Unified School District First In Region To Vaccinate Educators

VPR
On a Thursday afternoon in mid-January, Woodland Elementary School’s cafeteria is transformed into a vaccine center. The room is sectioned off into check-in points with nursing staff and a waiting area for newly-vaccinated staff members.

Newsom promises $2 billion in hopes of reopening elementary schools beginning in February

Los Angeles Times

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced a $2-billion package of incentives to encourage a return to in-person classes for California elementary school students as early as mid-February, an effort that could require frequent coronavirus testing for students, teachers and staff.

● California educators give Newsom’s COVID-19 school plan a failing grade Los Angeles Times

● Opinion: Newsom, Legislature must urgently prioritize kids and reopen schools CalMatters

Biden Is Vowing to Reopen Schools Quickly. It Won’t Be Easy.

New York Times

In his first 48 hours in office, President Biden sought to project an optimistic message about returning the nation’s many homebound students to classrooms. “We can teach our children in safe schools,” he vowed in his inaugural address.

Lack of teacher vaccines could threaten school reopening

Politico

California legislators on Thursday questioned whether Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to get schools open as soon as next month will actually make a difference, as access to vaccines for teachers becomes the new reopening goal post for most districts.

Event: How should schools spend federal COVID-19 aid?

AEI

With federal coronavirus relief, schools are wrestling with a host of thorny questions. Especially under the new Joe Biden administration, how much federal aid is coming? What rules will govern its use?

Higher Ed:

Jiménez -Sandoval Lists Goals For His Interim Presidency At Fresno State

Fresno State News

'We feel that it is our duty': CSUB nursing students lend big assist to county's COVID-19 contact tracing efforts

Bakersfield Californian

As COVID-19 cases ticked up perilously over the holidays, the Kern County Public Health Services Department had a secret weapon at its disposal: senior nursing students at Cal State Bakersfield on winter break.

Higher education’s reopening decisions affected the most vulnerable students

Brookings

As schools began making decisions about the spring 2021 semester, it was especially important to reflect on what decisions were made in the fall, why they were made, and what effects these reopening plans could have on students.

Opinion: Students need Pell Grants to double

CalMatters

The Pell Grant program can make college a reality for more students like me, a third year student at UC Berkeley.

Opinion: Students need ethnic studies that is true to the legacy of the discipline

CalMatters

If ethnic studies is done right, it has the potential to teach us to love deeply, to fight hard and to stand in solidarity with communities of color.

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

Environment:

Local tribe receives grant to fight climate change

Business Journal

The Tule River Tribe of Tulare County is receiving $250,000 through the Tribal Government Challenge Planning Grant Program to develop a comprehensive energy and climate plan that will include climate adaptation and sovereign resiliency and mitigation goals.

Americans Are Moving To Escape Climate Impacts. Towns Expect More To Come

VPR
The impacts of climate change could prompt millions of Americans to relocate in coming decades, moving inland away from rising seas, or north to escape rising temperatures.

Biden’s Climate Orders Help California, But Will Also Challenge The State To Do Better, Experts Say

Capital Public Radio

President Joe Biden signed 17 executive orders just hours after being sworn into office and reversed several Trump administration policies — including rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and asking every federal department “to immediately commence work to confront the climate crisis.”

Energy:

With leadership from Biden, California can lead in rewiring a clean energy economy

Sacramento Bee

With a new year and new leadership in the White House, the crises that plagued 2020 — the pandemic, wildfires fueled by climate change and high unemployment — can be turned into opportunities. We now have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to solve our current economic crisis, address climate change and help unify the country: by electrifying everything.

Commentary: To ride COVID-19’s green wave, governments must slash fossil fuel subsidies

Brookings

The deep COVID-19 crisis has resulted in the largest decline in global energy demand over the past 70 years. In the first quarter of 2020, it decreased by 3.8 percent relative to the first quarter of 2019. As a result, global CO2 emissions in 2020 are expected to fall to an unprecedented level of 8 percent (around 2.6 gigatons)relative to 2019.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Fresno County adds more than 600 COVID cases, prepares to vaccinate farmworkers

Fresno Bee

● U.S. tops 25 million cases, Fresno County also closing on milestone Fresno Bee

● California reports record daily COVID-19 death toll of 764 Business Journal

● Metrics improve, but large increase in deaths Porterville Recorder

● Kern Public Health reports 1,118 new coronavirus cases Sunday Bakersfield Californian

● Stanislaus County infection rate, hospitalizations decline Modesto Bee

● Infection rates continue to fall; hospitalization steady Modesto Bee

● California hits 3 million coronavirus cases; roughly 1 out of 13 in state have been infected Los Angeles Times

● Coronavirus Live Updates: Hospitalizations, Newly Reported Cases Decline Wall Street Journal

After A Year Battling COVID-19, Drug Treatments Get A Mixed Report Card

VPR
Drugs to treat COVID-19 are being fast-tracked for development, but the pace can't match the astonishing speed that gave birth to the vaccines. But one year into the pandemic, there has been strong progress toward effective drug treatments, and the groundwork has been laid for drugs to kill the virus and arrest disease.

COVID-19 cases, new syndrome on the rise among children, especially Latino children

CalMatters

As COVID-19 cases increase among adults, they have also increased in children, along with cases of a new inflammatory syndrome. Also like the adult population, Latino kids have borne a disproportionate brunt of the cases.

New Coronavirus Variants Complicate the Battle Against the Pandemic

Wall Street Journal

The emergence of new variants of the virus that causes Covid-19—including one in the U.K. that British officials say could be more deadly than earlier versions—signals a future in which health authorities are locked in a cat-and-mouse battle with a shape-shifting pathogen.

● Opinion: Send Out the Search Party for New Covid Strains Wall Street Journal

Cold, Flu, Allergies, or COVID-19?

Consumer Report

W ith COVID-19 still among us, even a slight cough or sore throat can be concerning, especially because older adults are at higher risk of complications from the coronavirus and infections such as the flu. But you might not always know whether you’re experiencing a garden-variety cold or something that requires more care.

Human Services:

Fresno pauses some COVID vaccine clinics amid dose shortage. When will they restart?

Fresno Bee

Fresno County’s mass vaccination site at the Fresno Fairgrounds is being put on hold as health officials cope with a shortage of doses of coronavirus vaccine being allocated by the state of California.

● County mobilizing 'all hands on deck effort' to vaccinate the masses Bakersfield Californian

● No New Appointments Next Week At Fresno’s Two Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics VPR

● Lack Of Stockpile Disrupts Valley's COVID-19 Vaccine Supply VPR

● Vaccine clinics open for one day before supply runs out Turlock Journal

● Stanislaus County reopens COVID vaccine clinics. When, where shots will be available Modesto Bee

● Here’s how long it will take to vaccinate everyone in California against COVID-19 Sacramento Bee

● California is running critically low on COVID-19 vaccines as people vie for shots Los Angeles Times

Fresno County's educators, farmworkers must wait longer for the COVID-19 vaccine

abc30

● To simplify vaccine rollout, California considers an age-based system San Francisco Chronicle

Group urges public safety, awareness amid COVID-19 scams

Madera Tribune

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed all aspects of life. Seeing family has become non-existent for many. Enjoying the simple things, like eating indoors or going to the movies, is now forbidden. But one thing that seemingly hasn’t changed is the constant threat of scams aimed at elder citizens.

'The Separate and Unequal Health System' Highlighted By COVID-19

Capital Public Radio

On a recent Friday afternoon, the critical care charge nurse at a South Los Angeles hospital tries to send another nurse off to grab lunch. Maria Arechiga is interrupted by the beeping of an alarm, the vitals of a patient declining, organs failing.

Newsom promised 1 million COVID-19 vaccinations. California can’t tell if he hit his goal

Los Angeles Times

· State activates MyTurn vaccine clearinghouse website CalMatters

‘How am I going to keep this up?’ COVID intensifies plight of family caregivers

CalMatters

The plight of family caregivers often goes unseen and unheard. Decisions around caring for an aging relative unfold in personal spaces — living rooms, hospital bedsides, anguished phone calls.

Moderna vaccine protects against British and South African variants, company says

Washington Post

The coronavirus vaccine developed by Moderna triggers an immune response that protected in laboratory tests against two variants of the virus first detected in Britain and South Africa, the company said Monday.

FEMA would operate up to 100 federally run mass vaccination sites under Biden plan

Washington Post

Up to 100 sites run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency could begin offering coronavirus vaccine within the next month, part of a strategy that would dramatically expand the federal government’s role in the effort to corral the pandemic.

Covid-19 Tests Are Still Hard to Get in Many Communities

Wall Street Journal

Access to Covid-19 testing remains limited in many lower-income areas of the U.S. nearly a year into the pandemic, complicating efforts to contain the spreading virus.

You Could Be Required to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Consumer Report

As the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out to more people across the U.S., the most pressing question about it may eventually be not when you can get it but whether you can be required to take it. For the most part, the answer is yes, legal experts say.

IMMIGRATION

Biden’s sweeping immigration bill, explained

Vox

On his first day as president on Wednesday, Joe Biden will send an ambitious immigration reform bill to Congress that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, bolster border security with new screening technologies, and deliver aid to Central America.

See also:

● Why Biden's immigration plan may be risky for Democrats Bakersfield Californian

● Democrats start reining in expectations for immigration bill Bakersfield Californian

Joe Biden’s halt on deportations doesn’t include all immigrants. Here’s what to know

Sacramento Bee

The Department of Homeland Security issued a memorandum late-Wednesday temporarily halting deportations for certain immigrants. The deportation moratorium will last for 100 days, according to the memo ordered by Acting Secretary David Pekoske, hours after President Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Biden Signs Executive Actions Reversing Trump-Era Immigration Orders

Wall Street Journal

Among the executive actions President Biden signed is an order to reverse the Trump administration's ban on citizens entering the U.S. from several predominantly Muslim countries.

Biden Administration Tables Trump's Citizenship Data Request For Redistricting

VPR

The U.S. Census Bureau has stopped working on a Trump administration-initiated project to produce citizenship data that could have politically benefited Republicans when voting districts are redrawn.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

‘Total war zone.’ Yosemite area hit hard by wind that toppled trees. What happens now?

Fresno Bee

Lindsay Stevenson was in a camper van in the Yosemite National Park community of Wawona earlier this week when strong winds toppled hundreds of trees, snapping trunks in half and ripping roots out of the ground.

● Yosemite National Park remains closed after wind storm knocked down trees, caused millions of dollars in damage Visalia Times Delta

Project to elevate Hanford’s parks begins

Hanford Sentinel

The first project in what’s intended to be many efforts to beautify and elevate Hanford’s parks took place Friday at Centennial Park. “Some of our parks are a little bit older and we thought this would be a great project to start with,” said Brad Albert, Parks and Community Services director.

Council to consider Columbia Pool final project

Turlock Journal

A revamped Columbia Pool may be one step closer to reality following Tuesday’s Turlock City Council meeting, as the Council is expected to make a decision on how to move forward with the project.

Housing:

Council President Chavez says Fresno rent relief to go to landlords

Business Journal

Kings County to combat homelessness with manufactured homes south of Hanford

abc30

Bakersfield provides blueprint for ending chronic homelessness

abc7

But in spite of everything in 2020, Bakersfield in Kern County managed to achieve "functional zero" for chronic homelessness, defined as homeless for more than a year or repeatedly over three years.

How many Californians are at risk of eviction? Depends who you ask

CalMatters

California legislators negotiating an extension of the state’s eviction moratorium have suddenly found themselves facing two very different estimates of the number of renters at risk of losing their homes, and those estimates carry very different consequences.

· California renters to receive COVID-19 eviction protections under bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom Los Angeles Times

· Affordable Rent in California State CAFwd

PUBLIC FINANCES

Mathews: California’s fixation on balanced budgets has compounded the state’s big problems

KCRW
Zocalo commentator Joe Mathews has come with a word that describes what he calls the state’s obsessive and unhealthy aversion to red ink: budgetism. Balanced budgets are generally a good thing.

Tax season kicks off Feb. 12. Here’s what to expect.

Washington Post

Because of the pandemic, many people will be forced to meet virtually with tax experts to calculate their numbers. Meanwhile, IRS backlogs mean millions of filers could start work on their 2020 federal return before the agency has processed their return from 2019.

Here's What $4 Trillion In Infrastructure Spending Could Fix

Vice

The day before President Joe Biden's inauguration, Senator Joe Manchin, a democrat from West Virginia, said on a local news program that while he's not opposed to $2,000 stimulus checks, he'd prefer to support a massive infrastructure program. And by massive, I mean almost incomprehensibly massive. Say, $4 trillion massive.

TRANSPORTATION

Huron mayor teams up with Hollywood actors to promote message of using zero-emission cars

abc30

The mayor of Huron has teamed up with Hollywood actors Mark Ruffalo and "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." star, Chloe Bennet, to promote California's zero-emission car campaign.

High-Speed Rail In California Moves Along, But Slowly

Capital Public Radio

While California voters approved a proposition in 2008 to fund a high-speed rail line that would connect major cities like San Francisco to Los Angeles, progress has been slow in the years since.

Biden to reinstate COVID-19 travel restrictions on non-U.S. travelers from several countries

Los Angeles Times

President Biden on Monday will formally reinstate COVID-19 travel restrictions on non-U.S. travelers from Brazil, Ireland, the United Kingdom and 26 other European countries that allow travel across open borders, according to two White House officials.

WATER

After warm, dry start to winter, it's going to get wetter and colder — and that's good!

Bakersfield Californian

Admit it. You've been enjoying the sunny afternoons, the springlike weather that lets you leave your winter coat in the closet, and your umbrella ... well, it's Bakersfield, right? Who needs an umbrella?

As Californians Rack Up $1 Billion in Water Debt, Advocates Fear Relief Could Come Too Late

Capital Public Radio

Californians have accumulated $1 billion in unpaid water bills since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and about 1.6 million California households are behind on their water bills, according to a new survey from the State Water Resources Control Board.

Water partnerships between cities and farms would help prepare for a changing climate

Public CEO

Valley farmers and Southern California cities could improve water security if they jointly developed and managed some water supplies. San Joaquin Valley farms and Southern California cities are facing different but equally daunting water challenges.

Walters: After COVID-19, drought threat still looms

CalMatters

Looking past COVID-19 and recession, California still faces the threat of prolonged drought.

“Xtra”

Tower Theatre bidders got hate mail. Fresno’s Adventure Church says it didn’t come from us

Fresno Bee

Adventure Church responded on Friday to a hateful email sent to The Painted Table, the competing bidder in the sale of Fresno’s Tower Theatre. Earlier this month, Adventure Church sent a letter to Fresno city officials outlining its intended purchase and use of the historic theater, which was listed for sale for $6.5 million in October.

More than 30 new restaurants, stores plan to open in Fresno in 2021. Here’s where

Fresno Bee

Want something to look forward to after a dismal year? More than 30 new stores and restaurants are planning to open in the Fresno area in 2021.