Top Policy/Political Stories
- Local/Regional
- State
- Federal
- Agriculture/Food
- Criminal Justice/Public Safety
- Economy/ Jobs
- Education
- Environment/Energy
- Health/Human Services
- Immigration
- Land Use/Housing
- Public Finances
- Transportation
- Water
- “Xtra“
- Editorials
TOP POLITICAL STORIES
Local/Regional Politics:
The Maddy Institute Through the generosity of The Wonderful Company, San Joaquin Valley students will have the opportunity to become the next generation of Valley leaders through The Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship. This program helps students obtain an advanced degree from a top graduate program, return home, and apply what they have learned to help make the Valley a better place. Irvine is ranked the Number 1 city in the nation for good fiscal health, report says OCRegister Of the nation’s 75 most populous cities, two of the top three – in terms of fiscal health – are Irvine and Stockton, suggesting the power of both beige and bankruptcy, according to data from the nonprofit Truth in Accounting. Fresno is the third city showing decent fiscal health.
More Jobs Or More Pollution? Plan For New Industrial Park In Fresno Draws Opposition Valley Public Radio This Thursday the Fresno City Council will vote on a proposal for a major new industrial development in south Fresno. Covering 110 acres at Central and Cedar Avenues, the development would allow up to 2,000,000 square feet of new construction for heavy industry.
Valley businesses paid $26 million in civil fines, fees to government Visalia Times-Dleta Billions of dollars were collected by government agencies through civil and criminal lawsuits settled in 2017.
DA Linn alleges all supervisors received illegal campaign donations The Fresno Bee Madera County District Attorney David Linn is ramping up his battle with the Board of Supervisors, accusing all five of wrongdoing. But one supervisor calls Linn’s charges a “smokescreen” to take the attention off the board censuring him for workplace harassment, discrimination and abuse. See also: · Madera County DA fears for his life after allegations against him Yourcentralvalley.com
Survey: Majority of parents support VUSD bond, not stadium Visalia Times-Delta Visalia Unified School District student enrollment increases by more than 300 students each year, meaning 10 new classrooms would have to be built every year to prevent overcrowding, according to a recent community survey conducted by the district.
County supervisor lays out challenges for 2018 Visalia Times-Delta Tulare County Supervisor Steve Worthley said Tuesday that the key to facing challenges in 2018 is cooperation.
Supervisors review pedestrian accident map, discuss a course forward The Bakersfield Californian Kern County supervisors plan to take some time to process the mounds of data in a new map that charts the deaths and injuries on Kern County streets.
County officials offer more to explain $578000 cost of ‘minor’ remodel for hiring center Modesto Bee Stanislaus County leaders approved a $578,500 project Tuesday to remodel offices for human resources and a revamped program for hiring the next generation of county employees.
Rural, conservative California will have more power under Trump San Francisco Chronicle Two politically powerful Californians who have gotten to know Donald Trump say liberals shouldn’t fear him. They promise that Trump behaves a lot differently than the bullying, blustery presence he cuts when he’s before the public.
Stockton Gets Ready to Experiment With Universal Basic Income The California Report – KQED News Wage stagnation. Rising housing prices. Loss of middle-class jobs. The looming threat of automation. These are some of the problems facing Stockton and its residents, but the city’s mayor, Michael Tubbs, says his city is far from unique. “I think Stockton is absolutely ground zero for a lot of the issues we are facing as a nation,” Tubbs said.
State Politics:
Gov. Brown’s State of the State Address The California Channel Governor Jerry Brown’s State of the State will be LIVE Thursday, January 25th @ 10am
From Moonbeam to mainstream: Jerry Brown in winterThe Hill At a morning meeting early in 1975, about three months after Jerry Brown became the youngest governor in California’s history, Brown’s chief of staff, Gray Davis, told the governor he had asked the capital’s general services staff to mend a hole in the carpet.
Audit request for bullet train now includes key Democrat committee chair Los Angeles Times Pressure for an audit of the California bullet train program increased Tuesday when Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose), chairman of the state Senate transportation committee, joined Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) in a letter asking for a comprehensive review. See also: · It’s official, California’s bullet train is off the rails OCRegister · Startups, high-speed rail and California’s infrastructure future TechCrunch
UC and CSU prepare for another year of tuition hikes Sacramento Bee Facing smaller increases in state budget support than they anticipated, both of California’s public university systems are preparing to raise tuition again next year. See also: · Defying Governor Brown, University of California Set To Raise Tuition Again Capital Public Radio News · UC regents to vote on increasing tuition and student fees by $342 Los Angeles Times
Skelton: Democrats running for governor need to talk more about pensions, less about Trump The Mercury News One thorny topic you won’t be hearing Democratic candidates for governor talking much about is California’s essential need for public pension reform.
California state payroll increased by $1 billion in 2017, twice as fast as previous year The Sacramento Bee California’s state payroll – excluding its universities – grew by more than $1 billion last year, twice the rate of growth as the previous year, according to new figures from the State Controller’s Office.
Los Angeles Times GOP gubernatorial candidate Travis Allen called on the Trump administration to prosecute California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra for warning businesses that he would seek fines if they violate a new state law that prohibits them from voluntarily giving employee information to federal immigration authorities.
Resistance State: California in the Age of Trump CALmatters Between Sacramento and Washington D.C. sits the rest of the country, and a chasm. On immigration and taxes, guns and healthcare, cannabis and climate change, California is the federal government’s equal and opposite reaction. One year into President Trump’s first term, the push and pull continues—playing out under the Capitol dome, in the courts and on Twitter.
How California lawmakers are preparing for more natural disasters Los Angeles Times Dozens of Californians lost their lives in wildfires and other natural disasters in recent months. In response to the widespread emergencies, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislators want to change insurance rules, emergency alert systems and debris removal policies and spend more money on fire protection. If passed, these new laws would add to the many protections already enshrined in state law for those who have experienced natural disasters, including substantial relief from property taxes.
California rolls out new driver’s licenses; and those who fly will want them San Francisco Chronicle As if the specter of standing in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles for that driver’s license renewal didn’t produce enough angst for Californians, there is now another need to queue up — especially for those who travel by air.
Congress misses deadline to approve west-side water fix, but deal not unraveling yet Fresno Bee A key deadline has passed to solve the irrigation drainage problem that caused massive bird deaths and deformities at Kesterson wildlife refuge.
Trump tariffs anger California solar industry The Sacramento Bee Solar energy shines brighter in California than practically anywhere else, with solar panels perched on more than 450,000 rooftops. Now the state’s solar industry has been sent reeling by President Donald Trump’s decision Monday to impose a 30 percent tariff on solar panels imported from overseas.
Why Dianne Feinstein’s shutdown vote helps her re-election Sacramento Bee Beginning last fall, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein was the target of repeated protests urging her to defend the young undocumented immigrants known as “Dreamers.” On Tuesday, she got a reprieve.
California Senators Vote-Policy and Politics Fox and Hounds Daily Reasons for California senators Dianne Feinstein’s and Kamala Harris’ votes with the small minority to oppose ending the government shutdown were overshadowed by politics about their political futures.
America’s Most and Least Popular Senators — January 2018 Morning Consult Eleven of the the 12 most vulnerable senators up for re-election in 2018 ended last year less popular among their constituents than at the start of the 115th Congress. That’s according to the new Morning Consult Senator Approval Rankings for the fourth quarter of 2017, based on more than 250,000 surveys with registered voters from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31. (See full methodology here.)
Vulnerable California Republicans fight back against Democrats’ message war on GOP tax bill Los Angeles Times California Republicans are trying to turn the tide of opinion over the unpopular GOP tax bill ahead of the midterm elections. Over the weekend, U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Irvine) joined four other Republican House members from California to publish an op-ed in the Orange County Register defending the bill.
We updated our California congressional race rankings. A lot has changed Los Angeles Times With retirement announcements, a slew of new candidates and yet another vulnerable Republican on the list, the ground has shifted since we first published our rankings of the toughest congressional contests in California.
In Trump’s first year, anti-abortion forces make strides despite setbacks The Bakersfield Californian As a candidate, President Donald Trump promised abortion opponents four specific actions to “advance the rights of unborn children and their mothers.” One year into his presidency, three of those items remain undone. Nevertheless, abortion opponents have made significant progress changing the direction of federal and state policies on the issue.
Will Trump’s offshore oil plans prove toxic for GOP incumbents in California? The Sacramento Bee California Republicans are in a difficult place over President Donald Trump’s plans to ramp up offshore drilling.
Congress will try again on immigration reform — but will this time be different? Los Angeles Times As Congress searches for a deal to protect so-called Dreamers from deportation, there are parallels to 2013, when immigration legislation won widespread support in the Senate only to be roundly ignored in the more conservative, Republican-led House.
US Democrats urge social media firms to investigate Russia-linked accounts Reuters Senior congressional Democrats urged social media companies to investigate accounts reportedly linked to a Russian influence operation on Tuesday, after claims they may have been used to help promote criticism of the U.S. Justice Department and the probe of President Donald Trump’s ties with Moscow.
Top Democrat rescinds offer of $25 billion for Trump’s wall The Fresno Bee Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer has pulled back an offer of $25 billion for President Donald Trump’s long-promised southern border wall, as lawmakers scrambled to figure out how to push a deal to protect 700,000 or more so-called Dreamer immigrants from deportation.
Politifact CA: Provocative Trump Campaign Ad Gives Wrong Impression On Immigrant Crime – Politifact CA President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign released a provocative video featuring an undocumented immigrant accused of killing two Northern California sheriff’s deputies during a crime spree in October 2014. The advertisement accurately captures the outbursts of the accused killer, but it also fuels the stereotype that undocumented immigrants are largely violent.
DACA May Be the Most Talked About Policy in Washington. Here’s a Breakdown. New York Times The whiplash in Washington over the past week, when government operations stopped and started again, was caused largely by negotiations over a single policy — Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA — which will determine the fate of a small, yet politically powerful group of young immigrants.
Four takeaways from the short-lived shutdown Washington Post On Monday, Congress ended a short-lived government shutdown, voting to fund both a popular children’s health-care program and government operations for another few weeks. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) got 33 Democratic votes by promising that the Senate would look at how to protect the “dreamers” from deportation, discussing legal status for undocumented immigrants brought here as children. Walters: Supreme Court case threatens union political power Calmatters Attorney General Xavier Becerra is imploring the U.S. Supreme Court to validate laws in California and other states requiring public employees who are not union members to nevertheless pay “agency fees” to unions.
Other:
A wild-eyed revolutionary, atheist, foreign, socialist traitor replies The Sacramento Bee To those of you who have, in recent correspondence, taken me to task for my opinions, my appearance, my ancestry, for the length of my hair and the cadence of my sentences, I apologize for not replying individually. As 2018 gets underway, let me make amends.
Once Cozy With Silicon Valley, Democrats Grow Wary of Tech Giants The New York Times In November 2016, Dipayan Ghosh was still reeling from Hillary Clinton’s defeat as he left what was supposed to be a celebration party at the Javits Convention Center in New York to attend morning meetings for his job at the Washington offices of Facebook.
Pope: ‘Fake News’ Is Evil, Journalists Must Search for TruthBloomberg Pope Francis is denouncing “fake news” as evil and is urging journalists to make it their mission to search for the truth.
Topics in More Detail…
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Court challenge seeks to block vast California pot farms Sacramento Bee An alliance of California marijuana growers filed a lawsuit Tuesday to block state rules that they fear could open the way for vast farms that would drive smaller cultivators out of business or send them into the black market. See also: · Marijuana growers sue to block vast California pot farms AP
In California’s Sierra Nevada, putting the trees to work CALmatters This is going to be a big year for one of the state’s smallest agencies. As California redoubles its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, officials are rooting around for new ways to meet the state’s goals. Included in their plan: recruiting billions of redwood, oak and pine trees to help diminish planet-warming gases by pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Combatting the sex-slave trade one press conference at a timeThe Bakersfield CalifornianDiana Cisneros says it comes down to simple mathematics: When the anti-human trafficking network becomes stronger, wider and deeper than the traffickers’ network, the tide will turn.
LGBTQ Homicide Rate Nearly Doubles For 2017 Visalia Times-Delta In 2016, there were 28 homicides of LGBTQ individuals in the United States (excluding the mass shooting event where 49 died at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub). In 2017, that number nearly doubled, to 52. Since 1996, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has produced annual reports on the violence experienced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities.
To prevent wrongful convictions, California considering new eyewitness lineup standards Los Angeles Times Ricardo Aguilera identified a teenager with a bald fade haircut and a mustache as the drive-by shooter who fired a bullet into the back of his head. He picked the potential suspect out of a photo lineup of 10 people. But the picture was at least eight years old. And several of the other images did not match his description of the assailant.
California Sen. Wiener tries to shut odd loophole in car break-in law San Francisco Chronicle Sometimes, laws seem to be written in the most confusing, ineffective way possible. Take the state law on car break-ins, for example. Currently, smashing the window of a car and taking valuables inside it can be charged as a felony burglary only if it can be proved in court that the car doors were locked. Otherwise, it’s a misdemeanor theft.
Public Safety:
Why California’s tsunami watch didn’t trigger sirens or phone alerts San Francisco Chronicle Aside from the night owls, most Californians awoke Tuesday morning to the surprising discovery that the state’s coastline had been under a tsunami watch after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit the Gulf of Alaska around 1:32 a.m.
How California lawmakers are preparing for more natural disasters Los Angeles Times In response to the widespread emergencies, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislators want to change insurance rules, emergency alert systems and debris removal policies and spend more money on fire protection.
Report: Conflicting California mudslide warnings issued Washington Post In the days before mudslides devastated Southern California neighborhoods, officials released conflicting evacuation orders that left some hard-hit neighborhoods out of the warning zone, according to a newspaper report published Tuesday.
Fire:
Community college officials point to local schools’ fire response as a national model 89.3 KPCC National community college leaders are telling campuses nationwide that California community colleges’ response to the recent wildfires is an example of best practices.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Can the Trump Economy Trump Trump? National Review The president’s economic policies are showing marked success, but he may not benefit politically unless he learns how to get out of his own way.
Jobs:
Freelanced: The Rise Of The Contract Workforce NPR A new NPR/Marist poll finds that 1 in 5 jobs in America is held by a worker under contract. Within a decade, contractors and freelancers could make up half of the American workforce.
Drop in tourism has caused US 40,000 jobs The Hill Tourism to the United States has dropped 4% during President Trump‘s time in the White House, NBC News reported.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Survey: Majority of parents support VUSD bond, not stadiums Visalia Times-Delta Visalia Unified School District student enrollment increases by more than 300 students each year, meaning 10 new classrooms would have to be built every year to prevent overcrowding, according to a recent community survey conducted by the district.
Despite promises, Trump administration has had little impact on public education in California EdSource A year into the his presidency, neither Donald Trump nor his secretary of education Betsy DeVos has inflicted anything like the damage on K-12 education that many public school advocates feared based on his campaign pledges and public pronouncements.
Government-school absolutists shamefully exploit a horrific case of child abuse in California. National Review It’s elementary. Education control freaks will use any excuse to crack down on competition. With 2 million K–12 students now educated at home (including our ninth-grade son), the temptation to exploit the most marginal cases of alleged child abuse by home-schoolers has proven irresistible to statist politicians and government apologists.
Higher Ed:
Bakersfield College lowers parking rates to lure students from neighborhoods, but it does little goodThe Bakersfield Californian Everyday when Brian Dancel comes home from work for lunch, he’s forced into the same tired routine of scanning the street for a bare curb. Eventually, he settles and parks in front of his driveway, blocking the rest of his family’s cars.
UC and CSU prepare for another year of tuition hikes Sacramento Bee Facing smaller increases in state budget support than they anticipated, both of California’s public university systems are preparing to raise tuition again next year. See also: · Defying Governor Brown, University of California Set To Raise Tuition Again Capital Public Radio News · UC regents to vote on increasing tuition and student fees by $342 Los Angeles Times
Bed, books, meals & cell phone: New study to tally real costs of college in California EdSource What does it really cost California students to attend college? An ambitious new survey of about 100,000 students is about to attempt to answer that question, with a special emphasis on housing, food and transportation costs.
California Bill Would Mandate On-Campus Access To Abortion Pills NPR In California, the state Senate is considering legislation that would ensure that students at four-year public universities in California have access on campus to medication for abortions.
In overhauling the federal higher-education law, Congress must make sure all students count Washington Post Recently, my colleague Anthony P. Carnevale made a compelling case about the need to empower students and families with the information they need to make good decisions about where to go to college and what to study. As he said: When people choose to go to college, they don’t take a test drive. They are making one of the biggest investments of their lives. They deserve to know what they are paying for. I couldn’t agree more.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
What’s In Your Air? New Low-Cost Devices Monitor Valley Air Pollution Valley Public Radio In this age of smart homes and electronic assistants, your appliances can now order refills automatically and you can manage your home security system using an app. But can the so-called “internet of things” be used to solve community problems? Some San Joaquin Valley residents think so: They’re trying to address one of the region’s perennial public health problems with a new low-cost device.
Trump tariffs anger California solar industry The Sacramento Bee Solar energy shines brighter in California than practically anywhere else, with solar panels perched on more than 450,000 rooftops. Now the state’s solar industry has been sent reeling by President Donald Trump’s decision Monday to impose a 30 percent tariff on solar panels imported from overseas.
Will Trump’s offshore oil plans prove toxic for GOP incumbents in California SFGate As coastal Republicans in Florida and the Carolinas lobby the Trump administration to exempt their states from new offshore oil drilling plans, their GOP counterparts in California have largely been silent, apparently torn between angering voters at home and upsetting their pro-drilling colleagues in Congress.
Los Angeles Times New data from state geologists show that an earthquake fault runs below Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills’ shopping district, heightening the known seismic risk in an area famous for Cartier, Gucci, Prada and other luxury brands.
California faces a cascade of catastrophes as sea level rises Los Angeles Times The first thing to go will be California’s calling card: its beaches. Between a third and two-thirds of Southern California beaches will succumb to sea-level rise by the end of this century unless global fossil fuel emissions are dramatically reined in, according to a 2017 U.S. Geological Survey report. They will be “completely eroded (up to existing coastal infrastructure or sea-cliffs).” Zuma, Redondo and Del Mar, among many others, could all but disappear.
California’s climate fight gets harder soon, and the big culprit is cars CALmatters By most measures, California has earned the right to brag about how much it has cleaned up its environmental act. The air in much of smog-shrouded Southern California has been scrubbed. A passenger car for sale here today is 99 percent cleaner than one on offer in the early 1970s. The fossil fuels required to power the state’s economic engine have decreased by a third since their peak in 2001, while economic activity has expanded in that time by an equal measure.
Beaches open after sewage spill on California Central Coast Washington Post Eight beaches on California’s Central Coast reopened after nearly 5 million gallons of sewage spilled into the ocean over the weekend, official said Tuesday.
Climate advocacy group sues US EPA for ‘purge’ of scientists Reuters A climate change advocacy group on Tuesday sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for banning certain scientists from serving on its advisory committees, a move the group said will give business an unfair influence on policy.
Energy:
Fitzgerald: Assessing one agency’s ‘power trip’ Stockton Record Goliath beat David last week. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. won a big round in court against a plucky south-county agency that says it can run a power company better — and share its wealth with customers through discounted rates.
Los Angeles Times Fees on solar panel imports imposed this week by the Trump administration threaten to increase customer costs and cut solar energy growth by as much as 11% over the next five years, but the industry remains optimistic that the roadblock will be temporary. It is a good time to get solar done now because it looks like prices for solar panels are going up by 30 percent.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
This year’s severe flu exposes a serious problem with our medical system Washington Post Flu season in the United States typically peaks in February, but this year’s outbreak is already one of the worst on record. As of Jan. 6, 20 children had died of the flu, and overall mortality caused by the flu is already double that of last year. Visalia Times-Delta If you’ve been sneezy, congested, feverish, exhausted and have a case of the sniffles, your furry best friend might be suffering with you. Dogs get the flu, too.
Republicans fund children’s health insurance program, but leave their local health centers in the lurchLos Angeles Times Congressional Democrats and Republicans alike are congratulating themselves for finally passing new funding for the Childrens Health Insurance Program — and for another six years yet!
E-Cigarettes Likely Encourage Kids To Try Tobacco But May Help Adults Quit NPR Kids who vape and use other forms of e-cigarettes are likely to try more harmful tobacco products like regular cigarettes, but e-cigarettes do hold some promise for helping adults quit.
IMMIGRATION
Congress will try again on immigration reform — but will this time be different? Los Angeles Times As Congress searches for a deal to protect so-called Dreamers from deportation, there are parallels to 2013, when immigration legislation won widespread support in the Senate only to be roundly ignored in the more conservative, Republican-led House. But for all the similarities to that undertaking, there are also stark differences this time around in the politics, players and public opinion, which bring a new dynamic as lawmakers once again try to tackle immigration.
Trump Should Trade the Wall for Better Immigration PolicyNational Review The Democrats’ crusade to force a government shutdown in order to win permanent protections for “Dreamers” went down in flames Monday.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Modesto takes another swing at its golf courses The Modesto Bee Modesto will hold workshops Wednesday and Thursday for the public to learn about the financial and other challenges the city faces with its three golf courses. Members of the public also can weigh in with their suggestions on what the city should do. The workshops will be held at Modesto Centre Plaza. Wednesday’s is in the Arbor Theatre and is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday’s will be held in Centre Plaza’s lower level and is from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Signs will be posted giving directions to the workshops.
PUBLIC FINANCES
California state payroll increased by $1 billion in 2017, twice as fast as previous year The Sacramento Bee California’s state payroll – excluding its universities – grew by more than $1 billion last year, twice the rate of growth as the previous year, according to new figures from the State Controller’s Office.
California city to give some families $500 a month Washington Post A California city plans to give several dozen families $500 a month for a year as part of a program to study the economic and social impacts of giving people a basic income.
TRANSPORTATION
Supervisors review pedestrian accident map, discuss a course forward The Bakersfield Californian Kern County supervisors plan to take some time to process the mounds of data in a new map that charts the deaths and injuries on Kern County streets.
Audit request for bullet train now includes key Democrat committee chair Los Angeles Times Pressure for an audit of the California bullet train program increased Tuesday when Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose), chairman of the state Senate transportation committee, joined Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) in a letter asking for a comprehensive review. See also: · It’s official, California’s bullet train is off the rails OCRegister · Startups, high-speed rail and California’s infrastructure future TechCrunch
We rule in car washes, but how does the Golden State rate overall for driving? Modesto Bee First, the good news. A new study on the best and worst states to drive in says California has the most auto-repair shops per capita. Woohoo! We also have the most car washes per capita. And in a category good for driving but generally regarded as pretty bad otherwise, the Golden State has the fewest days of precipitation. Now, on to some clearly bad news: California ranks 49th for its high car-theft rate (only New Mexico is worse) and high gas prices (beaten only by Hawaii).
WATER
Snow expected as low as 2000 feet in coming storm Sacramento Bee Rain is expected to douse Northern California again Wednesday and Thursday as a cold system from the Gulf of Alaska moves southeast.
Missing California man thought to be in pipe; water emergency declared The Mercury News A missing Northern California man is believed to have fallen into a water pipe at a lake along Highway 50 in the Sierra. Tory Robert Mayes of Pollock Pines has been missing since around 4 p.m. Monday, Reno TV station KTVN reported. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said he fell through a vent into a 4-foot-diameter pipe that carries raw water 1½ miles from Jenkinson Lake to a water treatment plant in Pollock Pines.
Could a major California city run dry like drought-stricken Cape Town? The Mercury News A dystopian drama is unfolding in Cape Town, a popular tourist destination of nearly 4 million on the coast of South Africa that in April is expected to become the modern world’s first major city to run out of water after three years of drought. For Californians, who panted through five years of record drought before last winter and have seen a fairly dry winter so far this year, it raises the worrisome question: Could it happen here?
DWR could have lost control of Oroville spillway gates during crisis Chico Enterprise-Record The state Department of Water Resources could have lost control of the spillway radial gates for days during the Oroville Dam crisis if crucial power lines had gone down, according to department officials.
“Xtra”
Flu season hits dogs, too in the Central ValleyVisalia Times-DeltaIf you’ve been sneezy, congested, feverish, exhausted and have a case of the sniffles, your furry best friend might be suffering with you. Dogs get the flu, too. Dog flu or canine influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that packs many of the same nasty symptoms as human flu: fever, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and exhaustion.
Sign up early for third annual Bakersfield MarathonThe Bakersfield Californian The second Bakersfield Marathon just ended, and you can already sign up for the third annual Bakersfield Marathon.
Worth Noting: Stockdale High holding grand opening for Parent and Family Center Bakersfield Californian Stockdale High School will hold a grand opening for its new Parent and Family Center on Thursday. The opening will be held at 5 p.m. on the campus, 2800 Buena Vista Road. The center will serve as a one-stop shop for parents and families to obtain resources, participate in workshops, sign up for volunteer opportunities and more.
Free help with preparation of income tax returns Sacramento Bee Free help with preparing 2017 income tax returns is available from various sources throughout the Sacramento area. TULARE CO FAIRGROUNDS HOSTS MARIJUANA “BURNOUT FESTIVAL”abc30Organizers say they have met with local police to make sure the event is a fun and safe one for every adult who shows up.Clovis Chamber to honor local business leaders at annual awards dinnerClovis Roundup Clovis Chamber of Commerce is holding its 2018 Annual Membership and Salute to Business Dinner on Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Classic Catering in Old Town Clovis.
EDITORIALS
Think you’re healthy? You’re risking death by not doing thisFresno Bee Every year, public health officials urge Americans to get a flu shot. And every year, millions of Americans come up with excuses not to do it.
Un-AmericanSierra Star After kicking the budget can down the road on a number of occasions the Congress finally decided what to do. The House passed their bill and sent it to the senate. Having discussions, press conferences, more meetings, more discussions, the Democrats, led by minority leader, Charles Schumer, and decided that the Democrats in the Senate would put the welfare of 700,000 DACA kids ahead of every other single American in this country.
Mayor Steinberg has a plan to build tiny houses, and lots of themSacramento BeeSacramento took a huge step last year by agreeing on a strategy to get homeless people off the street and give them services. Now, it’s time for specific proposals to get the homeless into real housing.
California must not miss rare chance to increase water storageMercury News When Californians overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1 in 2014, voters made clear their desire for additional water storage in anticipation of future droughts. Opportunities to build significant storage occur only once or twice in a century. The state must not let this one slip away.
Hate speech isn’t a crime — on Facebook or anywhere elseLos Angeles Times In 2016 Mark Feigin posted five anti-Muslim statements on the Facebook page of the Islamic Center of Southern California. They included the Trumpian sentiment, “The more Muslims we allow into America, the more terror we will see,” and the claim that “practicing Islam can slow or even reverse the process of human evolution.”
Unfortunately, the proposed UC tuition hike is justifiedLos Angeles Times Another year, another tuition increase? For the second year in a row after a six-year tuition freeze, the University of California Board of Regents is scheduled Wednesday to discuss a proposed $324 jump in tuition and student fees. That’s on top of last year’s $336 hike. Taking room and board into account, and additional campus fees (not including books), a year at UCLA already costs more than $28,000.
The Oscars are decidedly less white and male this year. Is Hollywood actually changing its ways?Los Angeles Times Last year, we applauded when the annual Oscar nominations went, at long last, to a dramatically more diverse slate of candidates than in previous years. But once was not enough. “This should be a trend, not an aberration,” we wrote.
Protectionist president invites a trade warSan Francisco ChronicleBy slapping heavy tariffs on imported solar panels and washing machines, President Trump is firing the first shots in a trade war. Get ready to pay more and export less, America. |