POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Steep surge in cases, hospitalizations have heavy impact
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County’s daily infection rate dropped Monday from the record set Sunday, the county Health Services Agency reported. Deaths to the virus remained at 51. Total positive tests soared past 5,000 to 5,178 as of Monday. Another 38,963 people have tested negative.
Some want Stanislaus Co supervisors to step up enforcement to slow the outbreak
Modesto Bee
Supervisor Terry Withrow says his brother’s coronavirus symptoms included a runny nose and headache.
Stanislaus Co builds coronavirus medical volunteer list to prepare surge facility
Modesto Bee
While Modesto-area hospitals grapple with the explosion of coronavirus cases, Stanislaus County is creating a roster of medical volunteers to staff a potential alternative care site. Opening a local surge facility is not currently necessary, officials said Monday, but the county may move patients to its former hospital facilities on Scenic Road if certain conditions are met.
Stanislaus Co builds coronavirus medical volunteer list to prepare surge facility
Modesto Bee
While Modesto-area hospitals grapple with the explosion of coronavirus cases, Stanislaus County is creating a roster of medical volunteers to staff a potential alternative care site. Opening a local surge facility is not currently necessary, officials said Monday, but the county may move patients to its former hospital facilities on Scenic Road if certain conditions are met.
Where to worship in Modesto region now that Governor has closed indoor services
Modesto Bee
“We are all about the safety of people and we’re honoring our authorities, so this is about being a good testament to our community.”
Councilwoman Ah You joins those challenging Mayor Brandvold in Nov election
Modesto Bee
She said she still supports mayor but said the city needs new leadership during pandemic and social upheaval.
Central SJ Valley:
Fresno adds 3 deaths & 474 cases of COVID-19, as schools weigh return to classes
Fresno Bee
Fresno schools are considering keeping all classes online for the fall, but no decisions have been made.
See also:
· EDITORIAL: ‘We are in this together.’ With new COVID-19 closures, how will Fresno County respond? Fresno Bee
State cites Pismo’s, 6 Valley restaurants and bars for COVID-19 violations July 4 weekend
Fresno Bee
Seven bars and restaurants in Fresno and Tulare counties were cited by a state agency over the Fourth of July weekend for allowing indoor dining. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control released the names of businesses Monday that it said violated the governor’s COVID-19 health order, which allowed only patio dining and takeout and delivery sales.
abc30
Like many fitness centers across the Central Valley, Rhonda’s Personal Training in northeast Fresno is sitting empty and quiet again. It wasn’t too long ago that owner Rhonda Murphy started letting people back in, but after Governor Newsom’s order to reclose gyms, she’s not sure when she’ll be able to serve them here.
Clovis Enacts Emergency Order Allowing More Businesses To Operate Outdoors
Clovis RoundUp
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims spoke about COVID-19, police brutality and Concealed Carry Weapon licenses during a virtual.
Warszawski: See how proposed bike lanes will connect north and south Fresno
Fresno Bee
Fresno City Councilmember Esmeralda Soria explains how a grant proposal for protected bike lanes will encourage Fresnans to get on their bikes, improve the air and stay healthy.
See Also:
● Protected bike lanes from downtown Fresno to river parkway? Vision begins to take shapeFresno Bee
Tulare County gets a new fire station after more than two decades
Visalia Times Delta
It’s been more than 20 years since Tulare County opened a new fire station. On Wednesday, that changes. Tulare County Fire Department (TCFD) is celebrating the opening of the new Station 1, located at 25456 Road 140, just south of Visalia.
Tulare man marketed fake cure; Fresno restaurant Pismo’s, others cited
Fresno Bee
Fresno County is changing the way it reports on the coronavirus and no longer will update its case count daily — a move health officials said Monday is to help them better stay on top of the growing numbers.
Porterville man said he had a ‘cure’ for coronavirus. He was lying, Justice Dept says
Fresno Bee
A Porterville man who allegedly marketed a fake cure for COVID-19 was arrested Tuesday and charged with mail fraud and selling a misbranded drug, according to the Department of Justice.
South SJ Valley:
Health Department Lindsay office closed again due to COVID-19
Porterville Recorder
The Human Services Branch of the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency confirmed on Tuesday one public employee at the Lindsay District Office, located at 900 Sequoia Avenue in Lindsay, has tested positive for the coronavirus. The employee began to show symptoms and notified a supervisor.
Kern County developing convalescent plasma donation program
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Department of Public Health Services will begin developing a convalescent plasma donation program after a unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The liquid part of blood that’s collected from individuals who have recovered from coronavirus, convalescent plasma is believed to show promise in aiding the fight against COVID-19.
As hospitals fill up, Kern Medical plans to increase capacity and staffing
VPR
As COVID-19 case counts rise across California, prompting a new wave of business closures from Governor Gavin Newsom, hospitals are slowly approaching their capacities. Although Bakersfield’s Kern Medical is currently nearing as many patients as it can handle, it has plans to expand.
Bakersfield City Council to address homelessness, park upkeep during Wednesday workshops
Bakersfield Californian
The Bakersfield City Council will hold two workshops before its Wednesday meeting to focus on homelessness and questions that have arisen over the upkeep of neighborhood parks. Both councilmembers and community advocates have spoken out recently over the upkeep of local parks.
County announces further shutdowns no longer expected on Saturday
Bakersfield Californian
On Tuesday, the latest twist in a roller-coaster ride for Kern businesses took place. Kern County’s official Twitter account said late in the day the county was no longer on the state’s coronavirus watchlist, and would thus not be subject to more restrictions this weekend. For the moment, at least, it seems businesses that have just reopened with coronavirus modifications in place can breathe a sigh of relief.
State:
Here’s what businesses are closed in each Calif county under new Newsom COVID-19 order
Fresno Bee
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday ordered counties to close down most “indoor activities” in the public realm. The governor cited the state’s continually growing infection rate, as well as spiking numbers of hospitalizations and serious cases requiring intensive care wards.
See Also:
● Newsom announces new wave of Calif closures as COVID-19 positive rate spikesFresno Bee
● Calif Closes Indoor Businesses Statewide As COVID-19 Cases Surge VPR
● Where to worship in Modesto region now that Governor has closed indoor services Modesto Bee
● Editorial: Let’s do this second shutdown right, California LA Times
How California went from a rapid reopening to a second closing in one month
LA Times
Two months ago, California looked like a coronavirus success story. The first-in-the-nation stay-at-home order helped the state avoid the explosion of cases and deaths that NY and New Jersey had experienced, and officials said it was safe to begin reopening the economy.
Fact check: Are California hospitals over-counting coronavirus patients?
Fresno Bee
“I can now say with 100% certainty that everything you think you know about COVID hospitalizations and deaths IS A LIE!” The bold claim comes from Kirk Uhler, the firebrand Placer County supervisor and vocal skeptic of the state’s COVID-19 response and mask orders.
See also:
· Fact Check: Don’t trust this comparison of daily coronavirus deaths with other diseases Politifact
Classrooms without masks or online learning: Calif school reopening plans vary greatly
Fresno Bee
Students in LA Unified School District will learn entirely online this fall. In neighboring Orange County, the Board of Education has pushed for a full return to the classroom, sans masks or social distancing.
See Also:
● A look at the range of fall school plans for reopening during coronavirus surgeFresno Bee
Walters: State budget ‘balanced’ with massive new debt
CALmatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom says the new California state budget is balanced, but in reality it has a huge deficit that will be covered by indirect borrowing.
10% of Landowners Will Pay 92% of New Property Tax Revenue, Prop. 15 Supporters Say
KQED
A new report from supporters of a November ballot measure aimed at increasing property taxes on commercial and industrial property in California finds that more than 90% of the additional property tax revenue Proposition 15 would generate will come from just 10% of the highest value properties.
Federal:
Justice Ginsburg treated in hospital for possible infection
Modesto Bee
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was being treated for a possible infection and was expected to stay in the hospital for a few days following a medical procedure, the Supreme Court said in a statement Tuesday.
See Also:
● Justice Ginsburg treated in hospital for possible infectionLA Times
ICE rescinds rule that would send international students home for online classes
Fresno Bee
Amid mounting lawsuits from universities and colleges in California and beyond, the Trump Admin on Tuesday rescinded a rule that would force international students to return to their country if they could not attend school in-person in the fall or risk deportation, the Associated Press reported.
See Also:
● Trump Admin rescinds rule about foreign students taking classes onlineabc30
● Trump Admin does about-face, drops rule that threatened foreign studentsLA Times
● Facing mounting backlash, Trump Admin rescinds policy targeting foreign studentsSF Chronicle
● White House Rescinds Rules on Foreign Students Studying OnlineWSJ
● Trump Admin drops plan to deport international students in online-only classes Politico
● Editorial: Trump’s plan to expel foreign students was an attack on U.S. science leadershipLA Times
CDC’s politicization ‘extremely dangerous’ for Americans, says its former head
PBS NewsHour
The CDC is traditionally seen as the leading government agency to monitor public health and communicate key information to the public. But according to four former heads of the agency, the Trump Admin has been interfering in the CDC’s central role during this pandemic. Dr. Richard Besser, a former acting director, joins William Brangham to discuss what he argues is a dangerous shift.
See also:
● Trump Admin Strips C.D.C. of Control of Coronavirus Data NY Times
How is COVID-19 affecting House oversight efforts?
Brookings
Because of the complicated and far-reaching nature of the COVID-19 crisis, Congress—and particularly House Democrats—have an increased appetite for exercising oversight authority on the billions of dollars being allocated to address the pandemic and the government’s response as a whole. Molly Reynolds, Jackson Gode, and Christian Potter outline how the House is handling its oversight role amid the pandemic.
Republicans, Democrats differ sharply on severity of nation’s problems
Pew Research Center
Republicans and Democrats largely disagree over the seriousness of several major problems currently facing the country, even as the United States grapples with issues including a surge in new coronavirus cases and an economic recession.
Coronavirus Trackers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.
See also:
● California Department of Public Health
● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic – WHO
● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
● Tracking coronavirus in California LA Times
● Coronavirus Tracker SF Chronicle
● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case CountNY Times
● How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico
● Coronavirus Daily NPR
● Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Financial Times
● Coronavirus in California by the numbers CalMatters
Think you have Covid-19? Remember to ‘COVID’
Business Journal
A group of public health agencies is calling on individuals experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 to COVID.
Elections 2020:
Councilwoman Ah You joins those challenging Mayor Brandvold in Nov election
Modesto Bee
She said she still supports mayor but said the city needs new leadership during pandemic and social upheaval.
Biden sets out aggressive plan to tackle climate change
LA Times
Joe Biden unveiled a proposal for rebuilding the economy Tuesday that focuses heavily on restoring American leadership in the fight against global warming, directing government recovery efforts toward expanding clean energy and rapidly reversing the Trump Admin’s abandonment of climate efforts.
See also:
● Fact Check: Trump ad falsely suggests Biden supports defunding police Wash Post
Which Senate seats can Democrats win in 2020 to win the majority?
Wash Post
To win the Senate majority, Democrats need to net four seats total in November’s election, or they need to net three and for Democrats to win back the White House, which would allow the vice president to cast tie-breaking votes.
Voting by mail in a pandemic: A state-by-state scorecard
Brookings
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many have wondered if the U.S. can conduct a safe election in November. What we know is this: The safest and most secure way to vote in a pandemic is vote-by-mail.
Commentary: Voter suppression is a California problem, too
CALmatters
California may claim to have all the correct policies and politicians may say all the right things about voting, but in practice we fail.
Other:
Wash Post
America’s newest newspaper baron is a hedge fund whose co-founder and chief executive has ties to President Trump’s most tabloid-worthy stories and whose publishing assets include the National Enquirer.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
State cites Pismo’s, 6 Valley restaurants and bars for COVID-19 violations July 4 weekend
Fresno Bee
Seven bars and restaurants in Fresno and Tulare counties were cited by a state agency over the Fourth of July weekend for allowing indoor dining. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control released the names of businesses Monday that it said violated the governor’s COVID-19 health order, which allowed only patio dining and takeout and delivery sales.
From Food Banks To Honor Fridges, Rural Sierra Communities Get Creative To Feed Themselves
Capital Public Radio
Rugged Roots Farm sits just off Route 70 in Plumas County a few minutes past downtown Quincy. The first thing you see when you drive up is an old, buzzing refrigerator. “We wanted it right up at the front so when people drive up it’s the first thing they see,” said Leslie Pace, co-director of the farm.
You Know What Else Has Sold Well During the Pandemic? Weed Edibles
NY Times
Pandemic anxiety and mounting concerns about vaping have helped shift sales of cannabis products.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Porterville man said he had a ‘cure’ for coronavirus. He was lying, Justice Department says
Fresno Bee
A Porterville man who allegedly marketed a fake cure for COVID-19 was arrested Tuesday and charged with mail fraud and selling a misbranded drug, according to the Department of Justice.
See Also:
● Golden Sunrise CEO charged with falsely claiming COVID-19 treatmentPorterville Recorder
Public Safety:
200 San Quentin workers infected, 10 inmates dead as coronavirus devastates California prison
Fresno Bee
More than 2,000 inmates at San Quentin have tested positive for the coronavirus and 10 have died, with at least three deaths reported since Saturday. Two inmates who had been hospitalized outside the prison died Saturday, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement Monday, bringing San Quentin’s COVID-19 death toll to nine at that point.
Fire:
Crews work to contain wildfire near Kerckhoff Lake in Madera County
Fresno Bee
A wildfire near Kerckhoff Lake in eastern Madera County that has burned about 100 acres and destroyed one home was 30 percent contained Sunday afternoon, according to Cal Fire officials.
Tulare County gets a new fire station after more than two decades
Visalia Times Delta
It’s been more than 20 years since Tulare County opened a new fire station. On Wednesday, that changes. Tulare County Fire Department (TCFD) is celebrating the opening of the new Station 1, located at 25456 Road 140, just south of Visalia.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Salon owners in South Valley forced to close doors again after Newsom order
abc30
Customers calling to get a hair appointment will have to wait. Chairs at Rococo’s Salon and Boutique in Visalia will be empty once again as Governor Gavin Newsom announces more businesses to close.
Mall store in Fresno, Merced may be closing many – or all – locations, due to COVID-19
Fresno Bee
It joins several home decor stores closing all or some their locations in the Fresno area.
Already-struggling SJ businesses face more uncertainty amid new restrictions
Stockton Record
Bobby Paige complied with state orders and closed his barber shop for more than two months due to the coronavirus pandemic. In May, the state started to relax restrictions on non-essential businesses deemed low-risk, as numbers of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19 appeared under control.
CSUB’s Small Business Development Center hosts webinar on Kern Recovers today
CSUB News
Small businesses can learn the latest on Kern Recovers and the SBA’s Paycheck Protection and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs, plus what’s on the horizon for stimulus funds, at noon today during a free webinar hosted by the Small Business Development Center at CSU Bakersfield.
Fox: New Shutdown Points to a Dimming CA Economy
Fox & Hounds
If there were a stock exchange dedicated exclusively to California’s fiscal health it would take a drubbing with the double announcement from Gov. Gavin Newsom closing down many work establishments that were opened just a month ago and large school districts in the state announcing they would remain closed and go to online learning instead of opening the schools as hoped next month.
‘We Still Face Much Uncertainty’: Pandemic Hammers Big Banks
VPR
The dramatic collapse of the U.S. economy from the coronavirus is pummeling America’s largest banks. Wells Fargo lost $2.4 billion in the second quarter — its first quarterly loss since 2008 during the financial crisis — and said it expects to cut its dividend. Citigroup saw its profit drop 73% in the quarter.
See also:
· Wall Street remains unsettled as bank profit reports roll in LA Times
U.S. consumer prices post biggest monthly gain since 2012 on higher gasoline costs
LA Times
U.S. consumer prices posted the biggest monthly gain since 2012 on a rebound in gasoline costs, though inflation remained subdued more broadly amid the pandemic. The consumer price index jumped 0.6% from the prior month, the first increase since February, after a 0.1% drop in May, Labor Department figures showed Tuesday.
Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, will require face masks at all U.S. stores starting Monday
Wash Post
The company announced the policy, which will apply to all of its 5,000-plus retail outlets, including its Sam’s Club locations. About 35 percent of the company’s stores nationwide did not fall under local mandates requiring face masks. Only a handful of other national retailers, including Costco and Apple, have issued blanket policies requiring masks at all of their stores.
Jobs:
‘Women of color are left out’: California corporations lack diversity, study finds
Fresno Bee
Latinas are underrepresented on California corporate boards of directors despite recent efforts to compel businesses to bring more women into leadership positions, according to a new analysis conducted by a Latino advocacy group.
Event: What happens to California cities when jobs go remote?
CalMatters
CalMatters and the Milken Institute co-host a second “Future of Work” discussion on how the pandemic has changed the way we work.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Classrooms without masks or online learning: Calif school reopening plans vary greatly
Fresno Bee
Students in LA Unified School District will learn entirely online this fall. In neighboring Orange County, the Board of Education has pushed for a full return to the classroom, sans masks or social distancing.
See Also:
● A look at the range of fall school plans for reopening during coronavirus surgeFresno Bee
Fresno schools ‘discussing’ online-only classes for fall semester
Fresno Bee
Fresno schools are considering keeping all classes online for the fall, but no decisions have been made. Parents who spoke with The Bee have mixed feelings about how schools should operate this fall.
See also:
● Fresno’s Central schools will keep classes completely online to start the school year Fresno Bee
● School opening delayed: Stanislaus districts change plans as COVID-19 cases keep rising Modesto Bee
● Back to distance learning for Stanislaus County schoolsTurlock Journal
● PUSD offers on-campus and distance learning options Porterville Recorder
● SJ school districts update fall plans as virus cases surge Stockton Record
● What happens if districts defy state?CALmatters
Enrollment Changes May Create Winners and Losers in K–12 Budget Deal
PPIC
Because the new state budget funds school districts based on enrollment from the prior year, growing districts could receive less funding per student this year.
Politifact
The middle of July typically signals the start of back-to-school shopping. But this year, I can’t help but wonder, how is anyone supposed to shop for back-to-school supplies when we’re still not sure what back-to-school will look like?
See also:
· Opinion: CA schools should stay closed until science says it’s safe Sac Bee.
Financial aid application rates soar among California foster youth
EdSource
California’s foster students, for the first time ever, have surpassed high school peers in applying for federal student aid.
Higher Ed:
ICE rescinds rule that would send international students home for online classes
Fresno Bee
Amid mounting lawsuits from universities and colleges in California and beyond, the Trump Admin on Tuesday rescinded a rule that would force international students to return to their country if they could not attend school in-person in the fall or risk deportation, the Associated Press reported.
See Also:
● Trump Admin rescinds rule about foreign students taking classes onlineabc30
● Trump Admin does about-face, drops rule that threatened foreign studentsLA Times
● Facing mounting backlash, Trump Admin rescinds policy targeting foreign studentsSF Chronicle
● White House Rescinds Rules on Foreign Students Studying OnlineWSJ
● Editorial: Trump’s plan to expel foreign students was an attack on U.S. science leadershipLA Times
As coronavirus spikes, what does future hold for Modesto’s college-bound students?
Modesto Bee
In a typical summer, high school graduates heading to college in the fall would be visiting their campuses, registering for classes and preparing to move into dorms.
LA Times
The state Supreme Court, the State Bar of California and about 9,000 recent law school graduates find themselves in a jam. It is almost the traditional time for the July bar exam, the annual hazing ritual that determines whether students have wasted three years of their lives or, instead, will be licensed and begin their legal careers.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Valley Air District issues ‘health caution’ for Fresno County due to wildfire smoke
abc30
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has issued a “health caution” for Fresno County due to smoke from the Mineral Fire burning in western Fresno County on Tuesday. Residents in Fresno County are urged to stay indoors, especially those with asthma or other respiratory health issues.
As political stars align, billions more set to fund national parks
LA Times
Driving down Interstate 15, with miles of windswept Mojave Desert flashing by, a traveler could be forgiven for not paying the Southern California expanse much attention. But with its diverse wildlife, scenic vistas and cultural significance — be it Native American petroglyphs or abandoned gold mines — the region has been “increasingly recognized as a very important resource,” conservationist Geary Hund says.
Trump’s smog decision fails to protect Californians from unhealthy air, experts say
CALmatters
Rejecting a tougher smog standard is not based on the latest science, California officials say.
Wash Post
President Trump’s plan to streamline the National Environmental Policy Act, a bedrock environmental law signed with much fanfare by President Richard M. Nixon in 1970, would make it easier to build highways, pipelines, chemical plants and other projects that pose environmental risks. If the final version mirrors a proposal from January, it would force agencies to complete even the most exhaustive environmental reviews within two years and restrict the extent to which they could consider a project’s full climate impact. Trump is scheduled to announce the changes Wednesday in Atlanta as part of his effort to revive the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden sets out aggressive plan to tackle climate change
LA Times
Joe Biden unveiled a proposal for rebuilding the economy Tuesday that focuses heavily on restoring American leadership in the fight against global warming, directing government recovery efforts toward expanding clean energy and rapidly reversing the Trump administration’s abandonment of climate efforts.
Energy:
Blackouts Have Triggered an Energy Storage Boom in California
Scientific American
The threat of chronic blackouts is sparking a rush to install battery backup systems as California homeowners try to avoid disruptive power cuts related to wildfires. Blackouts are increasingly a part of life as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. strives to avoid igniting deadly blazes with aging equipment.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
‘It’s like the garden hose turned into a fire hose.’ COVID-19 continues to spread in Fresno
Fresno Bee
In just over four months, a previously little-known organism has managed to change the everyday lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Fresno County and millions across California and the United States.
See Also:
● COVID-19: Tulare County exceeds 6,200 cases, reports one new deathVisalia Times Delta
● COVID-19 update: Cases in county continue to steadily risePorterville Recorder
● 158 new COVID-19 cases reported Tuesday in Kern CountyBakersfield Californian
Fact check: Are California hospitals over-counting coronavirus patients?
Fresno Bee
“I can now say with 100% certainty that everything you think you know about COVID hospitalizations and deaths IS A LIE!” The bold claim comes from Kirk Uhler, the firebrand Placer County supervisor and vocal skeptic of the state’s COVID-19 response and mask orders.
Masks offer much more protection against coronavirus than many think
LA Times
There’s a common refrain that masks don’t protect you; they protect other people from your own germs, which is especially important to keep unknowingly infected people from spreading the coronavirus. But now, there’s mounting evidence that masks also protect you.
Why are 1 in 3 young adults at risk of severe COVID-19? Smoking might be to blame
Fresno Bee
New research says that one in three young adults aged 18 to 25 are “medically vulnerable to severe COVID-19” largely because of their smoking habits rather than underlying health conditions. The research also has surprising results on the coronavirus and race.
California now allows nursing home visits, but rules leave families frustrated
Business Journal
For months, families have pined to see their loved ones who live in California’s skilled nursing facilities, which have been shut down to outside visitors to keep the coronavirus from spreading.
Delirium, Brain Inflammation, Nerve Damage and Stroke Linked to COVID-19
SciTech Daily
Neurological complications of Covid-19 can include delirium, brain inflammation, stroke, and nerve damage, finds a new UCL and UCLH-led study.
Fact Check: Don’t trust this comparison of daily coronavirus deaths with other diseases
Politifact
A social media post says the novel coronavirus causes a small number of deaths compared with other diseases, essentially arguing that the coronavirus shouldn’t have forced such widespread economic shutdowns.
Lifting the veil on an e-cigarette company — sort of
Capitol Weekly
In recent months, mystery has surrounded the ownership of a controversial e-cigarette company that has reaped millions of dollars in sales of flavored, kid-friendly nicotine products by exploiting a loophole in federal regulations.
Human Services:
Stanislaus Co builds coronavirus medical volunteer list to prepare surge facility
Modesto Bee
While Modesto-area hospitals grapple with the explosion of coronavirus cases, Stanislaus County is creating a roster of medical volunteers to staff a potential alternative care site. Opening a local surge facility is not currently necessary, officials said Monday, but the county may move patients to its former hospital facilities on Scenic Road if certain conditions are met.
Health Department Lindsay office closed again due to COVID-19
Porterville Recorder
The Human Services Branch of the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency confirmed on Tuesday one public employee at the Lindsay District Office, located at 900 Sequoia Avenue in Lindsay, has tested positive for the coronavirus. The employee began to show symptoms and notified a supervisor.
Kern County developing convalescent plasma donation program
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Department of Public Health Services will begin developing a convalescent plasma donation program after a unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The liquid part of blood that’s collected from individuals who have recovered from coronavirus, convalescent plasma is believed to show promise in aiding the fight against COVID-19.
As hospitals fill up, Kern Medical plans to increase capacity and staffing
VPR
As COVID-19 case counts rise across California, prompting a new wave of business closures from Governor Gavin Newsom, hospitals are slowly approaching their capacities. Although Bakersfield’s Kern Medical is currently nearing as many patients as it can handle, it has plans to expand.
Calif working to diminish backlog of COVID-19 test results, health officials say
abc30
As California’s coronavirus cases continue to surge, state health officials said that they’re ramping up their testing efforts to reach more Californians in need and to reduce the backlog of COVID-19 test results.
See Also:
● California revamps virus test guidelines as demand surgesStockton Record
● California sets new priorities for who is tested for coronavirus as demand surgesLA Times
● California triages coronavirus test access due to limited supplies, processing delays Politico
● Calif to health insurance companies: Pay for coronavirus testing SF Chronicle
Calif aims to cut cost of average COVID-19 test, shift more charges to insurers
Modesto Bee
California plans to shift more COVID-19 testing costs onto private insurers as part of a strategy overhaul aimed at reducing costs and expanding testing to more vulnerable people, the leader of the state’s health care agency said Tuesday.
Hospital patients prioritized for COVID testing over essential workers in new California guidelines
Sac Bee
Some waited more than a week for coronavirus test results
See also:
● California narrows testing priority as virus cases surgeAP
● California sets new coronavirus testing guidelines CALmatters
California aims to cut cost of average COVID-19 test, shift more charges to insurers
Sac Bee
California spends about $100 per COVID-19 test at state-funded sites
U.S. Military Is Sending Medical Staff To COVID-19 Hotspots
VPR
With coronavirus cases on the rise in southern and western states, U.S. military medical personnel are once again being called upon to help. Army officials have announced that some 740 military health professionals are being sent to Texas and California. The new deployments come several months after thousands of military medical personnel, including two hospital ships, one on each coast, were sent to help governors and mayors in NY, SF and LA.
As millions lose health insurance, Trump Admin offers little help
LA Times
As millions of people lose jobs in the coronavirus outbreak, jeopardizing their health benefits, the Trump Admin and many states are doing little if anything to connect Americans with other insurance coverage.
First COVID-19 vaccine tested in US poised for final testing
abc30
Early-stage testing showed the first COVID-19 vaccine tested in the U.S. revved up people’s immune systems the way scientists had hoped. Researchers released the early findings Tuesday, just weeks before the shots are set to begin much larger testing to prove if they’re really strong enough to protect against the coronavirus.
See also:
· Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine Moves to Bigger StudyWSJ
IMMIGRATION
Bakersfield Californian
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order against the city of McFarland and the private prison company GEO Group Inc.
Many undocumented youth remain in limbo after Supreme Court’s DACA decision
EdSource
Undocumented youth across the country rejoiced when the Supreme Court ruledlast month that the Trump Admin’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program nearly three years ago, was “arbitrary and capricious.”
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Church of Satan and US Forest Service agree: No satanic rituals being held in CA forest
Fresno Bee
Official-looking signs, stamped with the U.S. Forest Service logo, warn visitors of a variety of depraved activities in a California national forest: Satanic rituals, animal sacrifices and people gone mysteriously missing.
Housing:
Apple taps first $400 million of $2.5 billion California housing pledge
Mercury News
Making a downpayment on its housing pledge, Apple announced Monday it has committed $400 million to affordable housing projects this year across California, including immediate assistance for struggling Bay Area tenants and four, new low-income projects across the region.
PUBLIC FINANCES
US budget deficit hits all-time high of $864 billion in June
Modesto Bee
The federal government incurred the biggest monthly budget deficit in history in June as spending on programs to combat the coronavirus recession exploded while millions of job losses cut into tax revenues.
IRS closes out its most challenging tax season ever
SF Chronicle
Wednesday marks the end of the most challenging tax season, for both the Internal Revenue Service and taxpayers. It may be a cliche, but 2020 really was a “perfect storm,” said Cindy Hockenberry, director of tax research with the National Association of Tax Professionals.
TRANSPORTATION
Warszawski: See how proposed bike lanes will connect north and south Fresno
Fresno Bee
Fresno City Councilmember Esmeralda Soria explains how a grant proposal for protected bike lanes will encourage Fresnans to get on their bikes, improve the air and stay healthy.
See Also:
● Protected bike lanes from downtown Fresno to river parkway? Vision begins to take shapeFresno Bee
How do you prevent a wrong-way collision? Calif officials could have a solution
Merced Sun-Star
How can drivers stop wrong-way collisions? The California Department of Transportation and University of California Davis may have found a solution. Caltrans and UC Davis Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT) Research Center released reports Monday about methods that could prevent drivers from driving the wrong way.
Video Release: High Speed Rail – 4,000 Workers and Counting
HSR
Work is booming on more than 32 active construction sites across the Central Valley. As we move forward building the nation’s first high-speed rail system, we are proud to announce that more than 4,000 construction jobs have been created, with more than 73% of the workers dispatched to our various construction sites reported living in the Central Valley. We expect to keep the momentum this summer by completing and opening several overcrossings along Construction Package 1 and 2-3.
Commentary: Recognize the progress of high speed rail project and drop the term ‘boondoggle’
CALmatters
Someday California’s high-speed rail system will be regarded like the Golden Gate Bridge, as an icon, and BART, which has helped reduce Bay Area traffic.
WATER
Leak at pumping station threatens water supply for thousands in Redlands
LA Times
Thousands of Redlands residents are being urged to cut their water consumption and fill tubs and other containers for emergency use as crews work to repair a major leak in the city’s system, officials said Tuesday.
“Xtra”
Big Fresno Fair could be canceled. Here’s what health officials say needs to happen
Fresno Bee
The Big Fresno Fair is scheduled to happen later this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, but that’s dependent on if residents can get their act together and slow the spread of the deadly virus, according to health officials.
Modesto Symphony Orchestra to present virtual concert for the community
Modesto Bee
The Modesto Symphony Orchestra will present its first virtual recital in what’s planned as a monthly event. The Wednesday, July 22, program will feature MSO pianist John Hillebrandt, hosted by Associate Conductor Ryan Murray, according to a press release from the symphony.