January 26, 2021

26Jan

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

Stanislaus County is free from coronavirus stay-home order. What does it mean?

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County and the rest of a 12-county San Joaquin Valley region are no longer under a regional stay-home order, meaning that COVID-19 restrictions are lifted for some businesses and activities.

See also:

 

Stanislaus County to open a third COVID vaccination site Tuesday. Limit is 500 doses.

Modesto Bee

A third public clinic for coronavirus vaccinations in Stanislaus County will debut in Oakdale on Tuesday. The clinic at the Gladys Lemmons Senior Center will provide vaccinations for healthcare workers and other people in the Phase 1A category, as well as seniors age 65 and older. The Oakdale senior center is at 450 A St.

 

Editorial: Businesses ignoring no-dining rules should not get proposed SB 74 COVID relief money

Modesto Bee

Legislation aiming to provide a lot more COVID-19 relief money for small California businesses and nonprofits is impressive for drawing support from Republicans and Democrats alike. And, Stanislaus County people can brag because Senate Bill 74’s champions are our own Senate representatives.

 

Advocates for fish, and canoeing, win a round in debate over Tuolumne River flows

Modesto Bee

A federal agency has ruled that the state can continue to seek higher flows on the Tuolumne River than planned by the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts. The Jan. 19 ruling drew cheers from environmental and fishing groups that have long sought larger releases from Don Pedro Reservoir into the lower river.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

Positivity rate in Fresno County at 18%; how fast can we vaccinate?

Fresno Bee

The coronavirus pandemic is pushing 100 million cases, globally. Of those, more than a quarter have been reported in the United States, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. As of Monday morning, the United States had 25,128,825 positive COVID-19 cases and 419,263 related deaths.

See also:

 

Fresno may cite anti-mask protesters for trespassing after weekend confrontation

Fresno Bee

Anti-mask protesters who block doorways or impede shoppers from entering Fresno businesses can expect to receive citations, Mayor Jerry Dyer said Monday, two days after a demonstration shut down a store.

 

This Democrat is challenging Devin Nunes again in 2022. Why he says he can win next time

Fresno Bee

Fresno Democrat Phil Arballo announced Tuesday he plans to again challenge Rep. Devin Nunes, arguing that the Republican is ripe for an upset following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and potentially redrawn congressional districts that could dilute Nunes’ support.

 

Radio host returns to KMJ after weeks-long suspension. One of his first guests was Devin Nunes

Fresno Bee

Ray Appleton returned to work on Monday following a weeks-long suspension for remarks he made on his KMJ radio show earlier this month.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

Kern to return to purple tier, under which outdoor dining, hair, nail services can resume

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County returned to the purple tier of the state's reopening plan on Monday after state officials lifted a stay-at-home order, which means local barbershops and hair and nail salons can reopen, and restaurants can resume outdoor dining.

See also:

 

Wonderful Co. expands free vaccinations program

Bakersfield Californian

Wonderful Wellness Centers in Delano and Lost Hills have expanded their free COVID-19 vaccinations program to serve Kern County residents 65 or older. Initially, only frontline health-care workers were invited to receive free inoculations at the centers.

See also:

 

State takes credit for issuing 23% fewer oil drilling permits

Bakersfield Californian

California issued sharply fewer oil drilling permits last year while approving a lot more plugging and permanent sealing of wells, according to recent data the state said reflects increased enforcement and new policies in Sacramento.

 

Tejon Ranch Grapevine project prevails in court against lawsuit from Center for Biological Diversity

Bakersfield Californian

A planned 12,000-home community near the foot of the Grapevine can now proceed after a Kern County judge ruled against an environmental advocacy group in a legal battle that has spanned multiple lawsuits since 2017.

 

State:

 

California prioritizes age as it adjusts vaccine distribution, Gov. Newsom says

Fresno Bee

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced that the state plans to shift its COVID-19 vaccination strategy to an age-based approach, aiming to deliver shots quickly to seniors.

See also:

 

CA lifts regional stay at home order, will announce change in vaccine eligibility stages soon

abc30

California health officials have lifted the regional stay-at-home order for all areas statewide on Monday morning, including the San Joaquin Valley, Southern California and the Bay Area, where ICU capacities still remain under 15%.

See also:

 

‘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.

 

'A slow drip versus an explosion': inside California's divided Covid reality

The Guardian

California this week became the first US state to record 3m Covid-19 infections. But, within its borders, Californians have been living through two different pandemics. As the north begins to see encouraging signs that the latest, most severe period of the crisis is beginning to abate, southern California and the central valley have continued to face a deluge.

 

Gov. Gavin Newsom Navigates Compounding Crises — And A Potential Recall — Halfway Through His Term

Capital Public Radio

For a governor facing the very real threat of a recall election, Newsom has a high approval rating — 58% according to the most recent survey from the Public Policy Institute of California.

 

California’s huge unemployment claim backlog is back

Sacramento Bee

The big unemployment claims backlog has returned. The numbers reflecting long delays for people seeking unemployment benefits have exploded this month.

See also:

 

Sacramento GOP reverses course, demands resignation of Proud Boy member

Sacramento Bee

The member of the Proud Boys elected to Sacramento County’s Republican Party Central Committee has been told by GOP officials to resign his post or face expulsion.

 

Federal:

 

COVID Update:

 

Senate Power-Sharing Deal Moves Ahead

Wall Street Journal

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he is ready to move ahead with a power-sharing agreement after two Democratic senators said they won’t support ending the legislative filibuster, a central sticking point for the GOP in the talks.

 

Bipartisan group of U.S. Senators pushes back on $1,400 stimulus checks. What we know

Fresno Bee

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is pushing back on $1,400 stimulus payments and calling instead for more targeted relief, throwing a wrench in President Joe Biden’s promise to provide more direct payments during the pandemic.

See also:

 

Biden saw a quick fix to increase COVID vaccine supply. Will Pfizer go along with it?

Fresno Bee

President Joe Biden’s coronavirus response team thought it had found a quick fix to increase the nation’s supply of Pfizer vaccine doses. The question is whether the pharmaceutical company will go along with it.

 

Biden signs executive order for government to buy more US goods

abc30

Seeking to galvanize the economy and help factories, President Joe Biden signed an executive order Monday to boost government buying from U.S. manufacturers as he begins the negotiation process with Congress over a $1.9 trillion stimulus package.

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Joe Biden reverses Trump ban on transgender people serving in military

abc30

President Joe Biden signed an order Monday reversing a Trump-era Pentagon policy that largely barred transgender individuals from serving in the military.

See also:

 

House prepares to send Trump impeachment to Senate, GOP opposes trial

abc30

House Democrats will carry the sole impeachment charge of "incitement of insurrection" across the Capitol late Monday evening, a rare and ceremonial walk to the Senate by the prosecutors who will argue their case.

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Yellen confirmed as first female Treasury secretary

Roll Call

The Senate on Monday confirmed Janet Yellen as secretary of the Treasury, making her the first woman to hold the position. The 84-15 vote makes Yellen the third of President Joe Biden's nominees to be confirmed.

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Biden Plans to Nominate California’s Julie Su as DOL Deputy

Bloomberg Law

President Joe Biden plans to nominate California Labor Secretary Julie Su for the No. 2 position at the U.S. Labor Department, after a chorus of progressives had called for her to land the agency’s top job, according to three sources briefed on the process.

 

At the Biden White House, normal operations for abnormal times

Roll Call

On the first full night of Joe Biden’s presidency, his longtime adviser and White House chief of staff was outside the White House doing a live TV interview while wearing a light blue surgical mask.

 

Dominion Voting Systems Sues Rudy Giuliani Over Claims of Rigged Election

Wall Street Journal

Dominion Voting Systems sued Rudy Giuliani, saying former President Donald Trump’s personal attorney defamed the company by spreading accusations that it rigged the 2020 election for President Biden.

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Other:

 

Google Pursues Plan to Remove Third-Party Cookies

Wall Street Journal

Google is pushing forward with its plan to remove a widely used tracking technology from its Chrome web browser, despite complaints from rivals that rely on it to target ads at individuals.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, February 7, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: The Road Ahead for Zero-Emision Vehicles in CA - Guest: F. Noel Perry, Founder of Next 10. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, February 7, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) –Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "Climate Change and Electric Vehicles: Public Action and Private Markets" - Guests: F. Noel Perry, Founder of Next 10 & State Senator Fran Pavley. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Food and farm workers next in line for COVID vaccine

Mercury News

What jobs put workers at the greatest risk of death during California’s COVID-19 pandemic? Cooks, agricultural workers, bakers and those in other food-related fields – “essential workers” who are still waiting in line for their vaccines, behind healthcare workers and elders, according to a new UC San Francisco study.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Fresno may cite anti-mask protesters for trespassing after weekend confrontation

Fresno Bee

Anti-mask protesters who block doorways or impede shoppers from entering Fresno businesses can expect to receive citations, Mayor Jerry Dyer said Monday, two days after a demonstration shut down a store.

 

Fatal Police Shootings Of Unarmed Black People Reveal Troubling Patterns

VPR
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.

 

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.

 

New year rings in new traffic and public safety laws in California

Mercury News

An assortment of new traffic laws will take effect in 2021 that could change the way Californians travel local and state roadways. The laws include measures to curb distracted driving, ensure emergency vehicles in action have proper space on local streets and to eliminate liabilities for anyone rescuing a child from a locked car.

 

Fire:

 

Changes in ordinance for safe and sane fireworks

Porterville Recorder

Despite another summer — which seemed to be longer and more of a problem than every last year — the City of Porterville is continuing it safe and sane fireworks program.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

State lifts stay-home order for Fresno, Valley. Here’s what it means for local businesses

Fresno Bee

A decision Monday by state leaders to lift a regional stay-at-home order for the San Joaquin Valley, as well as two other major parts of the state, means that restaurants in Fresno County and its neighboring counties can immediately resume outdoor dining, while barbers and hairstylists can start cutting hair indoors once again.

See also:

 

‘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.

See also:

 

Jobs:

 

Tech company moving into downtown Modesto, to partner with SCOE to bolster workforce

Modesto Bee

Local coding academy Bay Valley Tech has reached a three-year agreement with the Stanislaus County Office of Education to expand its free classes. Additionally, the school will be moving its co-working space to downtown Modesto.

 

California’s huge unemployment claim backlog is back

Sacramento Bee

The big unemployment claims backlog has returned. The numbers reflecting long delays for people seeking unemployment benefits have exploded this month.

See also:

 

A ‘full reverse’: California joblessness spiked in December, thwarting recovery

Los Angeles Times

California’s unemployment rate surged in December as the COVID-19 pandemic spun out of control and more businesses were forced to shut down, reversing a months-long economic recovery.

See also:

 

Study shows CA jobs with highest death rates due to COVID-19

KCBS

A new study from UCSF has determined which jobs in California have the highest rates of death due to COVID-19. At the top of the list were mostly food and agriculture workers, including cooks, bakers, farmworkers and packagers.

 

CEOs Confront Employees’ Covid-19 Vaccine Doubts, Going Into Myth-Buster Mode

Wall Street Journal

Corporate executives are playing a new role in the pandemic: vaccine cheerleader. Across industries, business leaders are turning to all-hands staff meetings, video memos and other workplace forums to address skepticism about the Covid-19 vaccine and encourage employees to get it when they can.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

A California hospital that let teachers get COVID vaccine early may face penalties

Fresno Bee

A California school district contacted teachers with an exciting offer — a local hospital had COVID-19 vaccine appointments available for educators and school employees.

 

Kern County Superintendent of Schools announces upcoming Virtual Education Fair

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern County Superintendent of Schools announced that it will hold a Virtual Education Fair for those interested in entering teaching or other positions in schools.

 

Higher Ed:

 

Fresno-area college students are doing better in English, math. Here’s what changed

Fresno Bee

About five years ago, Reedley College math instructor Jim Gilmore left a work conference in near disbelief. He had just been shown data suggesting remedial education in community colleges was failing. Although he liked to think himself pragmatic and sensible — he is a mathematician after all — he didn’t want to believe the statistics were real.

 

Merced College looks to resume in-person classes by fall semester

Merced Sun-Star

Merced College on Monday said they are aiming to begin in-person classes by fall semester, after having largely moved to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Details for the fall classes are still being discussed, according to a news release from the college.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

What Biden’s presidency means for California’s environment

CalMatters

Like a defeated and retreating army, Trump administration officials left Washington, D.C., burning and shredding environmental laws and policies even as they walked out the door.

 

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.”

 

Climate policy is the purview of Congress, not the courts

The Hill

The Supreme Court on January 19 heard oral arguments in a case that addresses an exceedingly narrow topic: whether or not the “federal officer jurisdiction” doctrine should direct climate lawsuits by states and municipalities against energy producers into state or federal court.

 

Study: Earth losing ice at record rate, melt accelerating

Sacramento Bee

The world is losing ice at a record and increasing rate, according to a study published by the European Space Agency (ESA) on Monday. A total of 28 trillion tons of ice melted around the world between 1994 and 2017, the equivalent of a 100-yard-thick block the size of Britain, researchers said in a study published in the journal The Cryosphere.

See also:

 

Energy:

 

State takes credit for issuing 23% fewer oil drilling permits

Bakersfield Californian

California issued sharply fewer oil drilling permits last year while approving a lot more plugging and permanent sealing of wells, according to recent data the state said reflects increased enforcement and new policies in Sacramento.

 

Biden poised to halt new fossil fuel leasing on federal land and water Wednesday

Washington Post

President Biden is poised to impose a moratorium on new federal oil and gas leasing Wednesday. The move will deliver on one of Biden’s boldest climate campaign pledges but will encounter stiff resistance from the fossil fuel industry.

See also:

 

As Wall Street dollars flow into green energy, what's next for the oil industry?

NBCNews

One of Joe Biden's first acts as president was to sign a wave of executive orders on Inauguration Day to undo former President Donald Trump’s legacy ignoring climate change — a move that ushers in a new era for the booming renewable energy industry.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Positivity rate in Fresno County at 18%; how fast can we vaccinate?

Fresno Bee

The coronavirus pandemic is pushing 100 million cases, globally. Of those, more than a quarter have been reported in the United States, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. As of Monday morning, the United States had 25,128,825 positive COVID-19 cases and 419,263 related deaths.

See also:

 

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

Fresno Bee

It will take nearly the rest of the year to vaccinate half of California’s residents against COVID-19 at the current pace of inoculation.

 

“We’ve Let the Worst Happen”: Reflecting on 400,000 Dead

ProPublica

In May of last year, ProPublica health care reporter Caroline Chen reflected on the first 100,000 lives lost to COVID-19 and posed an important question: “How do we stop the next 100,000?” Eight months later, with 300,000 additional American lives lost and the chaotic distribution of the vaccine underway, Chen shares her thoughts on where we are and what happens next.

 

Human Services:

 

What happens if your second dose of COVID vaccine is delayed? Here’s what to know

Fresno Bee

Both coronavirus vaccines authorized for emergency use in the U.S. require two doses separated by about one month to offer maximum protection against COVID-19.

See also:

 

Wonderful Co. expands free vaccinations program

Bakersfield Californian

Wonderful Wellness Centers in Delano and Lost Hills have expanded their free COVID-19 vaccinations program to serve Kern County residents 65 or older. Initially, only frontline health-care workers were invited to receive free inoculations at the centers.

See also:

 

Stanislaus County to open a third COVID vaccination site Tuesday. Limit is 500 doses.

Modesto Bee

A third public clinic for coronavirus vaccinations in Stanislaus County will debut in Oakdale on Tuesday. The clinic at the Gladys Lemmons Senior Center will provide vaccinations for healthcare workers and other people in the Phase 1A category, as well as seniors age 65 and older. The Oakdale senior center is at 450 A St.

 

‘Tedious, stressful’: Why older Californians are still struggling to get vaccine

CalMatters

California’s vaccination rate lags behind almost every other state. Its balkanized system, spread across 58 counties and three cities, and lack of adequate supply from the federal government have caused widespread confusion for people 65 and over.

 

Biden to reopen ACA insurance marketplaces as pandemic has cost millions of Americans their coverage

Washington Post

President Biden is scheduled to take executive actions as early as Thursday to reopen federal marketplaces selling Affordable Care Act health plans and to lower recent barriers to joining Medicaid.

 

Commentary: COVID-19 vaccinations: Why are some states and localities so much more successful?

Brookings

As frustration spreads over the slow pace of vaccination for Covid-19, it is instructive to compare two states. One has the highest median household income of any state in the country—the other, the second lowest.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Trump agreements seek to tie Biden’s hands on immigration

AP News

During the Trump administration’s final weeks, the Department of Homeland Security quietly signed agreements with at least four states that threaten to temporarily derail President Joe Biden’s efforts to undo his predecessor’s immigration policies.

 

Walters: California’s big stake in immigration reform

CalMatters

The anthropological history of California is one of periodic waves of migration beginning at least 20,000 years ago when nomadic peoples crossed a land bridge from Asia into what is now Alaska and moved southward along the Pacific Coast.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Yosemite delays reopening date as staff clears damage and prepares for next winter storm

Fresno Bee

Yosemite National Park will remained closed through the week as staff works to clear damage from last week’s high winds and prepare for a new winter storm, the park announced Monday.

See also:

 

Tejon Ranch Grapevine project prevails in court against lawsuit from Center for Biological Diversity

Bakersfield Californian

A planned 12,000-home community near the foot of the Grapevine can now proceed after a Kern County judge ruled against an environmental advocacy group in a legal battle that has spanned multiple lawsuits since 2017.

 

Housing:

 

Help is on its way for Modesto-area renters struggling because of the pandemic

Modesto Bee

Modesto and Stanislaus County are getting $16.4 million from the most recent federal stimulus to help lower-income renters struggling to pay their rent and utilities because of the new coronavirus pandemic.

 

California measure aims to pay off 80% of most unpaid rent

Bakersfield Californian

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state's top two legislative leaders pledged Monday to pay off 80% of most people's unpaid rent that has piled up during the coronavirus pandemic — but only if landlords agree to forgive the other 20%.

 

California would extend eviction protections to June 30, subsidize rent for low-income tenants under proposal

Los Angeles Times

Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders have agreed to a proposal to extend through June protections against evictions for California tenants financially harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, an effort that would head off what some warn could be a housing crisis in the state, officials said Monday.

See also:

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

How collecting unemployment during COVID-19 could impact your tax refund

abc30

The unemployment insurance that kept many people afloat last year may cause problems at tax time this year. Unemployment benefits are taxable, but tax withholding is typically voluntary.

 

The Big Lebowski: Race is on to avoid property tax increase

Porterville Recorder

The race is on for people who inherit their parents' homes to avoid a hefty property tax bill. Proposition 19, which was narrowly passed by the state's voters in November, closes a tax loophole when it comes to the transfer of homes from parents to their children.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

California storms shut down mountain highway passes

Bakersfield Californian

The latest in a series of storms left California mountains frosted in snow Monday, shutting down highway passes due to dangerous conditions.

 

Biden To Implement Travel Restrictions To Combat New Coronavirus Variants

VPR
President Biden will reimpose a ban on many non-U.S. citizens attempting to enter the country. The move is an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19 and contain new variants of the disease that have cropped up in several countries around the globe, according to media reports Sunday.

 

WATER

 

Advocates for fish, and canoeing, win a round in debate over Tuolumne River flows

Modesto Bee

A federal agency has ruled that the state can continue to seek higher flows on the Tuolumne River than planned by the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts. The Jan. 19 ruling drew cheers from environmental and fishing groups that have long sought larger releases from Don Pedro Reservoir into the lower river.

 

‘The most basic form of PPE’: 1.6 million households face water shutoffs

CalMatters

In April, the governor issued an executive order that barred water shutoffs for customers who don’t pay their water bills. State leaders are looking for ways to bail out struggling residents and smaller water systems alike, both buckling under $1 billion in water debt statewide.

 

The Path to Healthy Headwater Forests

PPIC

California’s headwater forests are increasingly vulnerable to major wildfires and droughts that threaten the benefits they provide. Proactive forest management must be greatly increased to reduce these risks—but this will require a heavy lift from private and public entities.

 

An atmospheric river could dump 10 feet of snow in California’s Sierra Nevada

Washington Post

A pair of potent winter storms are set to unleash wild weather across California, with extreme precipitation totals expected along with strong winds and threat of flooding and mudslides.

 

“Xtra”

 

Radio host returns to KMJ after weeks-long suspension. One of his first guests was Devin Nunes

Fresno Bee

Ray Appleton returned to work on Monday following a weeks-long suspension for remarks he made on his KMJ radio show earlier this month.

 

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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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