POLICY & POLITICS
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North SJ Valley:
‘Mayor Pete’ coming to Modesto area, in a rare visit among presidential hopefuls
Modesto Bee
Former Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg is coming here next month, in a rare Northern San Joaquin Valley stop along the campaign trail for presidential candidates.
Fact check: Did Josh Harder fail to help a World War II veteran?
Modesto Bee
An eye-raising claim by congressional candidate Ted Howze was made against U.S. Rep. Josh Harder at Wednesday's high-profile debate in Modesto.
Stanislaus County district sues e-cigarette company JUUL for harm to students, school
Modesto Bee
Claiming that vaping is a public nuisance and has caused harm to its students as well as its campuses, the Ceres Unified School District is suing JUUL Labs Inc. for its role in fostering the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use, including marketing practices allegedly targeting children and teens.
See also:
California tests find illegal vapes tainted with additives Bakersfield Californian
Black market marijuana vape pens were cut with deadly additives, California regulator says Sacramento Bee
Stockton, California, is the most racially and ethnically diverse city in America
The Guardian
As American cities become increasingly diverse, the future may look a bit like Stockton, California. The northern California city tops the list of America’s most diverse large cities, according to an analysis by US News and World Report.
Central SJ Valley:
Fresno-area schools are asking voters for more than $1 billion. What will they do with it?
Fresno Bee
In March, a dozen school districts in the region will ask voters to approve more bond money, including six in the Fresno-metro area.
Did Fresno County water officials splurge on slot machines, appliances?
Fresno Bee
The preliminary hearing involving three officials with the Panoche Water District, accused of embezzling more than $100,000, continued Monday with defense attorney’s trying to dismantle the state Attorney General’s case against their clients.
Wages rose for many Fresno County jobs last decade. But did they outrun inflation?
Fresno Bee
Wages in Fresno County rose during the 2010s for most – but not all – occupations. But overall, compensation for most workers failed to keep pace with the rising cost of living over the course of the decade.
South SJ Valley:
State of Downtown Breakfast to be held in February
Bakersfield Californian
The Downtown Business Association and the Downtown Bakersfield Development Corporation will host the State of the Downtown Breakfast on Feb. 13, according to a news release.
Study finds economic benefit in promoting electric-vehicle sales
Bakersfield Californian
A new think-tank study says government efforts to promote greater adoption of electric vehicles in California, especially among the poor, would boost the state's economy as consumers find other uses for the money they would otherwise spend on fuel.
See also:
Opinion: Why must California invest in electric vehicles? There are billions of reasons CalMatters
Supervisors to take up changes to Medi-Cal administration at Tuesday's board meeting
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Board of Supervisors will once again take up changing Kern Health Systems and the Kern County Hospital Authority to more closely align the two entities at a meeting Tuesday.
State:
Are teachers paid enough? See the average pay for every California school district
Sacramento Bee
Average teacher pay in California public schools rose to $82,746 last school year, an increase of 2.6 percent from the prior year, new state data show.
Disinfecting California Senate chamber cost $70,000 after anti-vaccine protester threw blood
Sacramento Bee
The California Senate paid at least $70,000 to clean and disinfect its chamber after an anti-vaccine activist threw a menstrual cup that splattered lawmakers with blood in September.
California could become ‘no-kill’ animal state
San Francisco Chronicle
California’s animal shelters could soon get help in moving closer toward the state’s longtime goal of becoming “no kill.”
California’s sleeper issue is school funding
Los Angeles Times
When divvying up state taxpayer dollars in Sacramento, lawmakers put the needs of some 9 million schoolchildren at the front of the line and give K-12 schools the biggest share. That’s exactly as Californians have said they want the system to work.
See also:
Walters: California’s big educational dilemma CalMatters
Governor’s Budget Addresses Growing Wildfire Risks
Public Policy Institute of California
Governor Newsom’s proposed budget supports an array of tools for reducing the threat of wildfire. Funding for these investments would come from the state General Fund, a proposed climate resilience bond, and the greenhouse gas reduction fund (GGRF).
Federal:
How the Census Bureau Protects Your Data
US Census Bureau
The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. In fact, every employee takes an oath to protect your personal information for life.
McCarthy pushes Dems to abandon procedural strategy sidelining GOP
Politico
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy implored his Democratic counterpart on Monday to reconsider maneuvers that restrict the GOP’s ability to use procedural tactics to shape a pair of war powers resolutions coming to the floor this week.
Opinion: In Impeachment Battle, California Stands on the Front Lines
New York Times
California leaders on both sides are playing an outsized role in Washington’s impeachment drama, reflecting the complex political landscape in the deep blue state.
Elections 2020:
Fresno County Clerk Brandi Orth talks about improvements for upcoming Presidential Primary Election
Fresno Bee
Brandi Orth, Fresno County Clerk & Registrar of Voters , talks about improvements for the March Presidential Primary Election under the Voter’s Choice Act, including more hours and days to vote, more flexibility in casting a ballot and where to vote.
See also:
Fresno Co. Elections Office adding drop boxes, encourage participation abc30
Fresno County’s rolling out new ways to vote. Here’s what you need to know Fresno Bee
‘No clear winner:’ Iowa Democrats fear caucuses won’t anoint a 2020 frontrunner
Fresno Bee
Iowa Democrats pride themselves on voting first — and picking winners. Since the Iowa caucuses began kicking of the presidential nominating process in 1972, the victor has marched on to become the Democratic nominee in seven of the last ten open primary contests, including in the last four: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Kerry and Al Gore.
See also:
Senators dash across Iowa to campaign for president during brief impeachment break Los Angeles Times
Democrats struggle with how directly to knock Sanders
Fresno Bee
As Bernie Sanders exudes confidence in his ability to win next week's Iowa caucuses, his moderate rivals are struggling with how — and whether — to directly take on the progressive Vermont senator who some Democrats worry won't be able to defeat President Donald Trump.
See also:
Bernie Sanders grabs lead in California presidential primary poll Los Angeles Times
Bernie Sanders is working the Latino vote in California, block by block San Francisco Chronicle
Election Officials To Convene Amid Historic Focus On Voting And Interference
Capital Public Radio
Secretaries of state and election officials are meeting in Washington on the brink of a significant test of the nation's elections expected in the coming presidential campaign.
California’s presidential primary has already started in this Bay Area county
Mercury News
California’s 2020 primary unofficially kicked off last week as Solano County became the first county in the state to send voters mail-in ballots — giving residents the chance to cast some of the earliest presidential ballots in the U.S.
Here’s how to vote in California’s Democratic presidential primary if you’re not a Democrat
San Francisco Chronicle
When ballots for the March 3 primary start arriving in the mail next week, more than a quarter of California’s registered voters may be shocked to find they’re cut out of the presidential race.
Opinion: Michael Bloomberg’s climate plan is not just campaign rhetoric
CalMatters
The climate crisis is no longer a threat to future generations. It is real and tangible. Every day brings a new reminder of the cost of failure to address the crisis.
Opinion: Where Are All The Governors On The Democratic Debate Stage?
American Conservative
The lack of an executive among the presidential frontrunners says something about how our politics have evolved since Trump.
Opinion: Shenanigans? Under California’s primary rules, some campaigns boggle the mind
CalMatters
A Central Valley state Senate race is the latest oddball illustration of how California's "top two" primary can distort the field, confuse voters and raise suspicions.
Other:
Hillary Clinton: Mark Zuckerberg Has ‘Authoritarian’ Views on Misinformation
The Atlantic
Facebook has traded moral accountability for commercial gain, the former secretary of state tells The Atlantic. Clinton says Zuckerberg’s reasoning is “Trumpian.”
MediaWise: Teaching teens to sort fact from fiction online
Poynter
Misinformation is everywhere. More than half of Americans admit to sharing made-up news online. Most of them didn’t know it was fake when they shared it.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, February 2, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: State Auditor: Medi-Cal in Rural Areas - Guest: Elaine Howle, California State Auditor. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, February 2, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: Problems Surrounding California’s Medi-Cal Program - Guests: Elaine Howle, California State Auditor; Monica Davalos, Aureo Mesquita and Adriana Ramos-Vamamoto from the California Budget and Policy Center, Matt Levin with CALmatters and Dan Dunmoyer with California Building Industry Association. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, February 2, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: Medi-Cal: miles de millones para pagos cuestionables - Guest: Margarita Fernandez, PIO State Auditor's Office. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
City of Corcoran sues well-known dairy company for $65 million
abc30
The city of Corcoran and Curtimade Dairy have been neighbors for more than 100 years. But about four years ago, their relationship turned contentious.
Clovis East High School helping Sanger restaurant with crops
abc30
At Schoolhouse, the produce is being used in a house-made gnocchi, soups, salads and side dishes. The plants are mostly donated to the school's ag program by generous farmers and nurseries. Students take it from there.
Regulators Probe Potential Dean Foods Merger
Wall Street Journal
Federal antitrust regulators are probing a possible deal between a major U.S. dairy cooperative and Dean Foods Co., the bankrupt milk-processing giant, as the dairy industry realigns after decades of declining milk consumption.
The Dish: Eating healthier easier, more delicious with these options
Bakersfield Californian
Whether you've already dropped your New Year's resolutions or you're a late starter, it's still a good time to consider eating healthier. That could mean cutting calories, opting for more plant-based meals or choosing foods with natural health benefits.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Fresno inmates miss court dates because of quarantine, tests for mumps
Fresno Bee
A quarantine at the Fresno County Jail caused some inmates’ court appearances to be canceled Monday, the Fresno County Sheriff reported.
See also:
Hundreds quarantined at Fresno Co. Jail after at least one suspected mumps case abc30
Valley jail investigates possible mumps outbreak Visalia Times Delta
Fresno PD Officer-Involved Shootings at Record Low, Dismissals Go Up
GV Wire
The Fresno Police Department had historic lows for officer-involved shootings and bias complaints in 2019 while experiencing a six-year high in employee dismissals.
New California law eases path for sexual abuse victims
Capitol Weekly
Sexual abuse victims with decades-old claims say they are grateful to finally get a shot at justice through a new California law that widens the period in which civil claims can be filed.
Public Safety:
As California’s homeless people camp out on railroad tracks, train-related deaths are rising
Los Angeles Times
California’s railroad tracks are now lined with men and women sleeping in tents or under cardboard boxes, from the underpasses of Oakland and L.A. to the farmlands of the Central Valley.
Cow Palace gun show ban passes California Senate
San Francisco Chronicle
State legislators have revived a bill to ban gun shows at the Cow Palace, even though the venue ended the events last year.
How a private prison giant has continued to thrive in a state that wants it out
Desert Sun
As California passes laws aimed at ridding the state of private immigration detention centers, GEO Group continues to expand.
Drunken School Bus Drivers Put Kids’ Lives at Risk
Pew Trusts
Nationwide, more than 1,620 schoolchildren in 38 states have been placed in harm’s way since 2015 by bus drivers arrested or cited for allegedly driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs — a situation that despite its dangers goes largely untracked by government officials.
Fire:
Plan could force California utilities to reimburse customers for power shut-offs
Los Angeles Times
California utilities could be banned from charging for electricity during power shut-offs and required to reimburse their customers for spoiled food or other financial losses under legislation that cleared the state Senate on Monday.
See also:
California Senate passes bill to make PG&E pay for blackouts San Francisco Chronicle
Governor’s Budget Addresses Growing Wildfire Risks
Public Policy Institute of California
Governor Newsom’s proposed budget supports an array of tools for reducing the threat of wildfire. Funding for these investments would come from the state General Fund, a proposed climate resilience bond, and the greenhouse gas reduction fund (GGRF).
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Column: That Wells Fargo accounts scandal was even worse than you can imagine
Los Angeles Times
To recap, sales employees at Wells Fargo’s community bank — that is, the retail arm responsible for consumer savings and checking accounts and credit and debit cards — were discovered to have opened millions of unauthorized accounts and issued millions of unauthorized cards to meet punishing sales goals, on pain of termination.
Opinion: Of Course Trump’s Tariffs Hurt U.S. Manufacturing
Bloomberg
In the U.S., the debate over President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports has largely been conducted on these terms — that his trade war would help manufacturing workers who had been neglected by trade-supporting “elites,” even if it increased consumer prices and slowed investment spending and overall economic growth.
Jobs:
Wages rose for many Fresno County jobs last decade. But did they outrun inflation?
Fresno Bee
Wages in Fresno County rose during the 2010s for most – but not all – occupations. But overall, compensation for most workers failed to keep pace with the rising cost of living over the course of the decade.
Are teachers paid enough? See the average pay for every California school district
Sacramento Bee
Average teacher pay in California public schools rose to $82,746 last school year, an increase of 2.6 percent from the prior year, new state data show.
Employees criticize Amazon’s climate policy despite job risks
Los Angeles Times
Hundreds of Amazon.com Inc. employees are openly criticizing the online retail giant’s record on climate change despite what they say is a company policy that puts their jobs at risk for speaking out.
To fight new employment law, Uber pits California drivers against each other
Washington Post
Uber’s decision to allow drivers to set their own rates in three California markets is triggering fears of a race to the bottom in pricing.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Fresno-area schools are asking voters for more than $1 billion. What will they do with it?
Fresno Bee
In March, a dozen school districts in the region will ask voters to approve more bond money, including six in the Fresno-metro area.
California’s sleeper issue is school funding
Los Angeles Times
When divvying up state taxpayer dollars in Sacramento, lawmakers put the needs of some 9 million schoolchildren at the front of the line and give K-12 schools the biggest share. That’s exactly as Californians have said they want the system to work.
See also:
Walters: California’s big educational dilemma CalMatters
The 6 Education Policy Topics You’ll See in 2020
EdNote
The education spectrum is vast, and the issues numerous. In many states, education makes up more than 50% of the state budget, with significant policy implications.
Higher Ed:
Fresno State criminology professor recognized as cyber hero
abc30
A Fresno State criminology professor is being recognized for his work in cybersecurity. Dr. Clement has developed a curriculum introducing students to cybersecurity. The plan is to prepare them early for a successful career in the field.
NYT best-selling author Michael Lewis to speak on current markets at UC Merced
Merced Sun-Star
New York Times best-selling author Michael Lewis will visit the UC Merced campus for a conversation with interim Chancellor Nathan Brostrom on the future of economic markets.
Stanislaus State opens doors to new University Student Center, still being finished
Modesto Bee
On Monday, the first day of spring semester classes, Warriors welcomed a new University Student Center that’s coming in on time and under budget at Stanislaus State
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
California recycling cops arrest group suspected of hauling tons of cans into the state
Fresno Bee
A group of suspected recycling fraudsters allegedly hauled tons of bottles and cans into California from neighboring states in a scheme that cost a California recycling fund $2 million, state officials announced on Monday.
What’s tangling up the humpback whales? A food chain snarled by climate change
Los Angeles Times
In a study published Monday, a team of scientists solved the mystery. They showed how one dramatic shift in the marine ecosystem, exacerbated by an ever-warming planet, could set off a domino effect across California.
Opinion: Cow burps aren’t the problem. Bad herd management is
Visalia Times Delta
Cows — and nearly all livestock for that matter — can play a crucial role in resurrecting waning grasslands, regenerating degraded landscapes, sequestering Co2 back into the soil, and yes, helping end climate change. They could even help save the planet.
EDITORIAL: China is putting the U.S. to shame in the fight against plastic trash
Los Angeles Times
In this country, the best hope for action on single-use plastic lies with the California Legislature, which is currently considering a comprehensive plastic packaging reduction proposal that would require by 2030 that most products sold in the state be contained in plastic packaging that manufacturers can show is being successfully recycled or composted.
Energy:
Opinion: A primer for President Trump on the future of energy
San Francisco Chronicle
The leader of the free world desperately needs a lesson on the future of energy. Here is a quick primer on what he, and every American, needs to know.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Online map lets public track spread of coronavirus. What’s with that California dot?
Fresno Bee
Computer engineers at Johns Hopkins University created a nifty online dashboard that allows the public to track the spread of new coronavirus worldwide, but the tool caused some consternation Monday among media and public health officials in California.
See also:
Coronavirus prompts CDC to expand travel warning to all of China; top U.S. health official urges Beijing to admit disease experts Washington Post
Facebook, Google and Twitter scramble to stop misinformation about coronavirus Washington Post
Stanislaus County district sues e-cigarette company JUUL for harm to students, school
Modesto Bee
Claiming that vaping is a public nuisance and has caused harm to its students as well as its campuses, the Ceres Unified School District is suing JUUL Labs Inc. for its role in fostering the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use, including marketing practices allegedly targeting children and teens.
See also:
California tests find illegal vapes tainted with additives Bakersfield Californian
Black market marijuana vape pens were cut with deadly additives, California regulator says Sacramento Bee
Fresno EOC Rural Tobacco Education Program Receives $1.1 million in Funding
Fresno EOC
The priority for this new grant term is building on the momentum of current tobacco control efforts to reach populations that are still underserved and disproportionately impacted by the harmful effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke.
Opinion: The dirt on what’s making Californians sick
San Francisco Chronicle
As a practicing physician married to a farmer, I believe one key to our health is held not by doctors who take care of us when we are sick but by farmers who can keep us healthier.
Human Services:
Gavin Newsom wants to lower prescription drug prices. Will his plan work?
Sacramento Bee
Lowering health costs emerged as a major part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2020 agenda earlier this month when he unveiled plans to get state government in the business of selling prescription drugs.
Supervisors to take up changes to Medi-Cal administration at Tuesday's board meeting
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Board of Supervisors will once again take up changing Kern Health Systems and the Kern County Hospital Authority to more closely align the two entities at a meeting Tuesday.
When Insurance Won't Cover Drugs, Americans Make 'Tough Choices' About Their Health
Capital Public Radio
With drug costs on the rise — and insurers refusing to cover some prescriptions — even patients with insurance can find themselves facing high out-of-pocket costs or going without.
Genetics Will Revolutionize Social Science
Wall Street Journal
Now, however, geneticists have identified at least a few hundred variants in the DNA code that are statistically associated with important traits such as intelligence, depression and risk tolerance.
EDITORIAL: Trump seeks a new fight with California on abortion
San Francisco Chronicle
In its latest salvo against California, the Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal funds unless the state rolls back a law requiring health care insurers to provide coverage for abortions.
IMMIGRATION
Appeals court to hear lawsuits over Trump travel ban
Merced Sun-Star
President Donald Trump's travel ban on travelers from predominantly Muslim countries is going back before a federal appeals court.
Justices let Trump's 'wealth test' for immigrants proceed
Stockton Record
The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to begin implementing new “wealth test” rules making it easier to deny immigrants residency or admission to the United States because they have used or might use public-assistance programs.
See also:
Supreme Court allows enforcement of new green card rule abc30
Supreme Court allows Trump’s immigration rule on public benefits to take effect Los Angeles Times
Supreme Court Allows Trump to Implement Income-Based Restrictions on Immigration Wall Street Journal
Supreme Court Allows Trump to Implement Income-Based Restrictions on Immigration Wall Street Journal
Rulings Block 'Public Charge' Rule in California and Nationwide KQED
EDITORIAL: Gorsuch Torches ‘Cosmic’ Injunctions Wall Street Journal
Immigration judges are quitting or retiring early because of Trump
Los Angeles Times
Dozens of other judges concerned about their independence have done the same, according to the union that represents them and interviews with several who left.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Edwards Air Force Base to host grand opening on Wednesday
Bakersfield Californian
Edwards Air Force Base will host the grand opening of their TechEd High School Makerspace on Wednesday, according to a press release. The grand opening will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Edwards AFB. This will be the first educational makerspace for high school students at the base, according to the release.
Agreement between tribe, city of Ridgecrest sets path for new casino, hotel
KGET
A casino and hotel could soon be coming to Ridgecrest as the city and the Timbisha Shoshone tribe announced a resolution of all disputes between the tribe and the city.
Madera shopping center top commercial real estate sale of 2019
Business Journal
For many shoppers who like to shop for a wide variety of Hispanic foods and ingredients in an upscale market akin to the Mexican-themed Vallarta Supermarkets to the south, it’s a big draw, bringing in not only neighborhood customers but others from miles away.
Housing:
First Affordable Housing Community In Clovis To Break Ground
Clovis Roundup
The Fresno Housing Authority will break ground on a new affordable housing community in Clovis on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 11 a.m. The development, known as Solivita Commons, will offer families one, two and three bedroom units. The entire community will be made up of 60 units total.
Rising Home Prices Help Homeowners Build Equity
Sierra News
Over the last couple of years, we’ve heard quite a bit about rising home prices. Today, expert projections still forecast continued growth, just at a slower pace. One of the often-overlooked benefits of rising home prices is the positive impact they have on home equity.
Here To Help: Volunteers assist homeless in survey
Porterville Recorder
Volunteers from the Family Crisis Center (FCC) and Kings/Tulare Homeless Alliance took to the riverbeds on Saturday morning to begin Point in Time surveys on the homeless population in Porterville.
Woman files claim against Kern County over increases in homelessness
Bakersfield Californian
A Bakersfield woman filed a claim against Kern County over increases in homelessness around her residence.
PUBLIC FINANCES
What to know for year two of the Trump tax plan
Merced Sun-Star
Last year’s filing season was an adjustment for taxpayers and industry professionals alike as it was the first under a massive overhaul of federal tax law. While this year’s season is expected to be more sedate, there are a few tweaks to be aware of.
Settlement talks over $1.2 billion CalPERS lawsuit are extended with retired judge at helm
Sacramento Bee
A retired judge is now managing settlement talks between CalPERS and a group of people suing the retirement system over its long-term care insurance policies, according to court filings.
These tax credits could put thousands of dollars in Californians’ pockets
Sacramento Bee
Like its federal counterpart, the California Earned Income Tax Credit is aimed at helping low- and middle-income people out by providing them with extra money on their tax return.
TRANSPORTATION
Major sewer line project impacting Oakhurst traffic and businesses
abc30
The flashing red lights and lane closures at the intersection of Highways 41 and 49 are causing some traffic backups for residents and tourists heading through Oakhurst, but Supervisor Tom Wheeler says it's is a vast improvement from when the project started just over a week earlier.
Amtrak given go-ahead to begin selling bus-only tickets between Bakersfield, LA area
KGET
Amtrak will now be able to offer bus-only travel from Bakersfield to the Los Angeles area for the first time. On Friday, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority in Stockton approved a resolution allowing Amtrak to offer bus service on its routes to Santa Barbara and Victorville.
Study finds economic benefit in promoting electric-vehicle sales
Bakersfield Californian
A new think-tank study says government efforts to promote greater adoption of electric vehicles in California, especially among the poor, would boost the state's economy as consumers find other uses for the money they would otherwise spend on fuel.
See also:
Opinion: Why must California invest in electric vehicles? There are billions of reasons CalMatters
GM to invest $2.2 billion in Detroit to build electric vehicles
Los Angeles Times
General Motors is spending $2.2 billion to refurbish an underused Detroit factory so it can build a series of electric and self-driving vehicles, eventually employing 2,200 people.
WATER
Melting Arctic ice drives weather shifts, study says — and maybe California downpours
Fresno Bee
Melting ice in the Arctic Ocean is driving weather changes as far afield as the equator, newly published research reveals — and those changes may fuel downpours that later drench California.
See also:
Atmospheric rivers that hit California getting a boost from melting Arctic ice San Francisco Chronicle
Predator fish that anglers love faces uncertain future in California water wars
Sacramento Bee
In California’s never-ending water and fish wars, the striped bass doesn’t get nearly the publicity as its celebrity counterparts, the endangered Chinook salmon and Delta smelt.
Opinion: Trump administration’s WOTUS definition ends decades of confusion, federal overreach
Fresno Bee
After 45 years of constant litigation and uncertainty over Waters of the United States (or WOTUS), the Trump administration’s new rule brings regulatory certainty to American farmers, landowners and businesses, and should significantly curtail the need to hire teams of attorneys to tell them how to use their own land.
“Xtra”
Luke Bryan returns to Fresno, Save Mart Center on Proud to Be Right Here tour
Fresno Bee
Luke Bryan isn’t waiting long to get back to Fresno. The party-centric country singer performed to a sold-out crowd at the Save Mart Center in August. He’ll be back in October on his Proud to Be Right Here tour.
See also:
Banda MS is so popular, it got booked at Coachella. They’ll be in Fresno this June
Fresno Bee
Banda MS, is slated to perform June 6 at the Save Mart Center. Tickets for the show are $39-$309 and available 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 3 at the box office or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket presales begin 10 a.m. Friday. See ticketmaster for a full listing.
Furry, four-legged therapists needed, wolves need not apply
Modesto Bee
Wanted: males and females with easy temperaments, exceptional patience and a love for the public, kids and reading. All colors and sizes welcome. An ad for a dating site? It’s Paws 4 Friends recruiting therapy dogs and their human handlers to join their volunteer brigade.
California Museum Highlights History And Contributions Of Chinese Americans
Capital Public Radio
A new exhibit at the California Museum shines a spotlight on the past hundred years of Chinese American history in the state. It’s permeated with discrimination and struggle, but also features perseverance, enormous achievement and success.
Forget your phone. This is how best to photograph Yosemite’s ‘firefall’
Los Angeles Times
Conditions have to be perfect to see the natural “firefall” in Yosemite National Park, a reflected-sunset effect that happens in mid- to late February. Late-afternoon clouds and haze can spoil your chances of seeing the glowing orange streak on the east side of El Capitan.
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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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