POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
CALmatters
Is the cleanest, greenest electricity in the world green enough for California?
The Ahwahnee is back: Yosemite reclaims historic names in trademark settlement
Fresno Bee
Yosemite National Park will get the historic names of its properties back in a civil lawsuit settlement reached between the National Park Service and Yosemite’s former concessionaire, DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite.
See also:
● Warszawski: What a ripoff: For $12 million, those ‘fake’ Yosemite names that no one used could’ve stayed Fresno Bee
● Dispute over Yosemite trademarks resolved abc30
● Settlement Reached In Yosemite Historic Name Change Lawsuit Sierra News
● Yosemite to restore names to historic attractions under $12 million settlement Bakersfield Californian
● Yosemite to restore names to historic attractions Stockton Record
● Do You Miss The Ahwahnee And Camp Curry? A Settled Lawsuit Means Those Names Are Back VPR
● Iconic Yosemite Place Names Are Coming Back After Settlement Over Trademark Dispute Capital Public Radio
● Yosemite to restore names to historic attractions under $12-million settlement Los Angeles Times
● Yosemite settles trademark dispute — historic names to return San Francisco Chronicle
Central SJ Valley:
Is Devin Nunes worried about 2020? He’s spending more than ever to run for office
Fresno Bee
Rep. Devin Nunes’ alliance with President Donald Trump is getting expensive for the longtime California congressman.
Race between Democrats Costa, Soria will reveal much about Fresno politics
Fresno Bee
A question for voters in California’s 16th Congressional District: How blue is your purple? The answer couldn’t be more relevant now that Fresno City Councilmember Esmeralda Soria finally let the cat out of the bag that she’ll challenge longtime incumbent Rep. Jim Costa for his House seat in the 2020 election.
McEwen: FUSD Trustee Slatic Must Shape Up or Face Getting Shipped Out
GV Wire
It’s obvious seven months into his service on the Fresno Unified school board that Terry Slatic misunderstands his trustee duties.
46 mosquitoes with serious viruses found in Fresno County
abc30
Collection of infected mosquitoes has spread across Fresno, Clovis, and Sanger putting people in danger of getting an infection causing problems ranging from flu-like symptoms to paralysis and tremors.
See also:
● Measles outbreak is over in Butte County, health officials announce Fresno Bee
South SJ Valley:
Lemoore Council to meet Tuesday
Hanford Sentinel
The Lemoore City Council will meet Tuesday to discuss eight items on the consent calendar, including civil claims and a proposal for council vacancies.
Valadao Thinking About 2020 Rematch Vs. TJ Cox
GV Wire
What has David Valadao been doing since leaving office in January? “Milking cows,” said the dairy farm owner and former Hanford congressman.
McCarthy pitches monthlong debt ceiling stopgap, if deal can‘t be reached
Roll Call
He suggested a 30-day extension to avoid default in early September, if a compromise on discretionary spending caps can’t be reached.
Asm. Salas awards Bakersfield College a $1 million check
Bakersfield Californian
The Renegades received a hefty sum of money from one of their advocates in the state Assembly: Rudy Salas.
State:
Lawmakers OK giving Trump a choice: Release taxes, or skip California primary
San Francisco Chronicle
California lawmakers are seeking once again to force President Trump to release his tax returns by blocking access to the state primary election ballot if he does not.
California Republicans face backlash for silence over Trump tweets
Politico
California Republicans are accustomed to a cautious dance with Donald Trump’s divisive presidency, but the president’s racist tweets this weekend are testing that balancing act in the nation’s most diverse state, with conservative calls to denounce Trump’s statements competing with the need to placate the party base.
See also:
● In Congress, Republicans are silent about Trump’s racist tweet. In California, some aren’t Sacramento Bee
● Schwarzenegger to Trump: ‘You have to dial it down Donald’ Politico
● Opinion: White identity politics drives Trump, and the Republican Party under him The Washington Post
● California’s top Republicans mostly silent on Trump’s tweets San Francisco Chronicle
● McConnell silent on Trump tweets — even as some congressional Republicans decry them Fresno Bee
● Trump ambushes Republicans with attacks on minority congresswomen
● Politico
● Pelosi is forcing House Republicans to go on the record on Trump’s ‘go back’ tweets Washington Post
● Why it’s unsurprising that most Republicans are staying quiet after Trump’s ‘go back’ tweet Washington Post
● Trump tweets send stinging message to countless Americans Fresno Bee
● As Trump doubles down on racist comments, House to vote on condemning them Fresno Bee
● AOC, congresswomen urge people to ignore Trump’s bait abc30
● A look at the ‘squad’ that Trump targeted in racist tweets Stockton Record
● Trump digs in on racist tweets: ‘Many people agree with me’ Sacramento Bee
● ‘Go Back Where You Came From’: The Long Rhetorical Roots Of Trump’s Racist Tweets Capital Public Radio
● Four congresswomen targeted in Trump’s tweets vow they won’t be silenced Los Angeles Times
● For children of immigrants like me, ‘go back’ is a familiar racist taunt Los Angeles Times
● Trump’s racist outbursts and autocratic ploys endanger American democracy Los Angeles Times
● How Trump aides rushed to repackage the ‘go back’ tweets Politico
● EDITORIAL: Rebuking Trump for his naked bigotry is the least Washington can do Los Angeles Times
● EDITORIAL: Trump’s tweet on congresswomen of color was racism at its ugliest San Francisco Chronicle
● Fact check: Trump falsely accuses Ilhan Omar of praising al Qaeda CNNPolitics
● Nearly one-fifth of adult Twitter users follow Trump CNNPolitics
Needles’ gun ‘sanctuary’ reflects an often forgotten California
CALmatters
Needles has declared itself a ‘sanctuary’ for gun rights, saying liberal state lawmakers hold it hostage. In rural California, that feeling’s not unusual.
The Existential Dichotomy of Living in California
The Atlantic
For residents, the recent earthquakes are a reminder that the state is always poised on the brink of disaster.
Opinion | The Sad Lesson From California
New York Times
New York State, take note: Even the most pro-worker law in the country is ineffective if no one uses it.
Federal:
Trump administration to move over 80% of key Interior Dept. agency employees out of Washington
Washington Post
The Interior Department intends to relocate roughly 300 Bureau of Land Management employees to Utah, Colorado, Nevada and other states. The administration argues the move will bring federal staffers closer to places they oversee, while critics contend it will dismantle the BLM.
Elections 2020:
‘She’s upending expectations’: Warren fans say her appeal is about more than liberal policies
Fresno Bee
Warren’s summer-long rise in polls and fundraising success in the Democratic presidential primary is usually attributed to her detailed policy agenda or longstanding appeal to liberal diehards.
O’Rourke raises just $3.6M, a big drop from last quarter
Fresno Bee
Beto O’Rourke raised just $3.6 million in the second quarter, a dramatic drop that places him among a growing group of Democratic presidential hopefuls who are struggling to raise the cash needed for a credible White House run.
See also:
● Beto O’Rourke says ancestor owned slaves abc30
Pete Buttigieg outraises Kamala Harris in California as new presidential numbers released
Sacramento Bee
California Sen. Kamala Harris’ breakout debate performance last month brought in a surge of donations, but it wasn’t enough to put her ahead of South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg in her home state.
Kamala Harris wants to cut drug prices and tax ‘price-gouging’ companies
Los Angeles Times
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris rolled out a policy blueprint to slash prices for prescription drugs when they cost less in other developed countries or when their price climbs faster than inflation.
See also:
● Harris blasts, and takes money from, Epstein’s law firm AP News
● Kamala Harris Makes Her Case The New Yorker
Joe Biden draws line against progressives on health care
Bakersfield Californian
Joe Biden is taking an aggressive approach to defending the Affordable Care Act, challenging not just President Donald Trump but also some of his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination who want to replace the current insurance system with a fully government-run model.
Our political polling shifts into high gear for 2020
Capitol Weekly
In the 2016 and 2018 election cycles, Capitol Weekly conducted several surveys for the primary and general elections. We examined voters’ opinions on the contests for president, U.S. Senate, governor, Legislature and Congress, as well as on ballot measures before California voters. In total, we heard from over 100,000 voters, providing us with a significant dataset of voters and their preferences.
Fact Check: CNN panelist misses the mark on GOP support of Medicare for All
Politifact
Discussion of the proposal did not stop at the debate stage. As the candidates took the topic to the cable networks over the weekend, so too did the pundits.
Quinn: Harris and Warren – Laying the Groundwork for a 40-State Trump Landslide
Fox & Hounds
With the likely fading of “Apologizin’ Joe” Biden, the Democratic race seems to be coming down to two women, California Sen. Kamala Harris and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. But the Democrats should be forewarned; both these women are extremely flawed candidates whose nomination could well lead to a 40-state Trump landslide.
Other:
Capitalism and the future of democracy
Brookings
America is a mess. So are many other Western nations. Populism is on the rise because our existing system of a market-based liberal democracy is falling short of producing what citizens need and want.
EDITORIAL: Defining Politics Down
Wall Street Journal
Trump’s tweets give Democrats a break from attacking each other.
‘He was a leader that led with heart.’ Gaylen Lee remembered for sharing Native American culture
Fresno Bee
Gaylen Lee made sharing his Native American culture and helping indigenous people the focus of his life.
Univision owners want to sell. After 12 years and $13 billion, what went wrong?
Los Angeles Times
When Haim Saban and billionaire-led private equity firms acquired Univision Communications for $13.7 billion in early 2007, they figured the nation’s largest Spanish-language media company would be a sure bet.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, July 21, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Reducing Recidivism: Do Prisoner Rehabilitation Programs Actually Work?” – Guest: Jonathan Peterson, California Legislative Office. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, July 21, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) –Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: “Project Rebound: Breaking the Cycle of Crime” – Guests: CSU Fresno Prof. Emma Hughes, Project Rebound Director Jennifer Leahy, and Project Rebound Rebound Arnold Trevino. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, July 21, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “State Auditors Nurses: What Would California Do With A Nurse Ratched” – Guests: Margarita Fernandez, PIO State Auditor’s Office. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Farmer’s markets are a win-win for local consumers
Fresno Bee
Listen as the Vineyard Farmer’s Market owner Felix Muzquiz explains how farmer’s markets are a treasure trove for consumers for local produce and more.
Valley kids get first-hand look at what it takes to be a farmer
abc30
More than two dozen kids from around the Valley are getting a first-hand look at where their food comes from. On Monday morning, the week-long camp started off with the cattle.
Nearly one million pounds of food saved through UC Merced program
abc30
A program at UC Merced is looking to solve two issues at once: food waste and food insecurity. The team of three spends days of their week going to those 20 donor sites and picking up excess food.
Fresno’s hidden restaurants: 6 unexpected places to dine at churches, airports, more
Fresno Bee
Some of these restaurants take some hunting to find. We’ll tell you how to get there.
Delano almond grower carves out organic yogurt niche
Bakersfield Californian
After more than 100 years in farming, and 50 in the almond business, the Billings family had done a lot to bring laser focus to its business. But still it lacked a direct connection to its end customers, the people eating its products.
New strawberry varieties on the way – tastier, cheaper, better for the planet, UC Davis says
Sacramento Bee
They’ll use less water, less fertilizer and fewer pesticides – and they will probably be cheaper. The Public Strawberry Breeding Program at UC Davis just announced five new strawberry varieties that will be on the market in the fall and are expected to benefit farmers, sellers and consumers alike.
As Temperatures Climb, A New Push To Keep Workers Safe
California Healthline
Last month, on a day that was sweltering even by Phoenix standards, Filiberto Lares knew he wasn’t well. An airline caterer, he said he had spent hours moving between the scalding tarmac and a truck with no air conditioning. Lares, 51, was dehydrated and fell ill with a fever that would keep him out of work for four unpaid days. It wasn’t the first time this had happened.
How the U.S. tax code keeps the illegal market for marijuana alive and well
Los Angeles Times
Everyone needs to pay their fair share of taxes, including the cannabis industry. But there is nothing fair about how the federal government treats cannabis under an outdated provision put into the Internal Revenue Service tax code decades ago.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
40 people arrested during latest gang crackdown in Fresno
abc30
A summer crackdown on gangs has ended in Fresno and police hope it keeps the streets safer. The special operation was in response to a surge in shootings over the past few months. The goal was to stop the shootings since flying bullets were hitting several innocent victims.
As Salinas grapples with ‘murder capital’ legacy, homicides drop 89% in a year
The Californian
Salinas is experiencing a very different trend than in the first half of the decade, when murders climbed every year to a record high of 40 in 2015.
EDITORIAL: California continues to show the nation the absurdity and unfairness of money bail
Los Angeles Times
In about 15 months, California voters are to decide whether to finally scrap money bail in this state altogether.
Public Safety:
Gun control tied to fewer child deaths: Study
abc30
Gun deaths in the U.S. are at an all-time high, but a new study said that in states with stricter laws, fewer American children die by firearms. The study looked at deaths between 2011 and 2015, comparing gun laws state-by-state.
Concealed-gun licenses offer owners a sense of safety. How many Californians pack (legal) heat?
Fresno Bee
More people are licensed to carry concealed weapons in Fresno County than any other county in California.
California Stopped Tracking Sexual Harassment Complaints Years Ago. That Left Leaders Without Answers In The Me Too Era
Capital Public Radio
At the height of the Me Too movement, California leaders couldn’t answer basic questions about the prevalence of sexual harassment complaints across state agencies. That’s because the state eliminated its system for tracking harassment and discrimination complaints in 2012, amid budget cuts and government consolidation.
Fire:
Smoke from wildfire burning in Sierra National Forest seen from the Valley
abc30
Fire crews are working to put out a wildfire burning near Mammoth Pool Reservoir. According to the Sierra National Forest Fire Chief John Goss, the fire was first reported around 4:20 p.m. on Monday.
See also:
● Fire Burning Near Fish Creek Campground On Sierra NF Sierra News
In New Climate, California’s Wildfires Are 500% Larger
The Atlantic
“Each degree of warming causes way more fire than the previous degree of warming did. And that’s a really big deal.”
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Trump signs order to make American-made goods more American
Fresno Bee
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday that will require federal agencies to purchase products using more American components.
See also:
● President invites Valley company to White House for ‘Made in America’ event abc30
China’s economic growth slides — and that could be bad news for U.S.
Los Angeles Times
China’s economic growth sank to its lowest level in at least 26 years in the quarter that ended in June, adding to pressure on Chinese leaders as they fight a tariff war with Washington.
S&P 500 crawls to another record as corporate earnings season opens
Los Angeles Times
A wobbly day of trading ended with meager gains for U.S. stock indexes on Monday, enough to nudge them further into record territory, as the curtain rose on what’s expected to be the weakest earnings reporting season in years.
PPIC
Report—current statistics.
Jobs:
Walmart to hire 40 new Porterville-based truck drivers
abc30
Walmart is growing in the West, and as such, aims to hire a few hundred new truck drivers, including 40 based out of the company’s distribution center in Porterville. Lou LaCroix is the general transportation manager there.
Uber and Lyft drivers were paid up to $100 to protest a bill that could make them employees
Los Angeles Times
Fighting to stave off a bill that could force them to treat their workers as employees, Uber and Lyft last week deployed an unusual weapon: a promise of extra pay to drivers willing to lobby on their behalf.
Miscarriage leave, a benefit no one wants to use, on the rise
San Francisco Chronicle
California law entitles expecting employees to time off for disabilities related to a pregnancy, which can include miscarriage. The health care provider can recommend up to four months of leave, though the employer may require that sick days be used to cover part of the time.
As Temperatures Climb, A New Push To Keep Workers Safe
California Healthline
Last month, on a day that was sweltering even by Phoenix standards, Filiberto Lares knew he wasn’t well. An airline caterer, he said he had spent hours moving between the scalding tarmac and a truck with no air conditioning. Lares, 51, was dehydrated and fell ill with a fever that would keep him out of work for four unpaid days. It wasn’t the first time this had happened.
Top women to CalPERS candidate: Drop out, we don’t want an accused harasser
Sacramento Bee
The state treasurer of California, a state senator and another woman serving on the CalPERS board have called on J.J. Jelincic Jr., a former board member who is running again, to drop out of the race because of his history of harassing women who work at the Sacramento-based pension fund.
Nepotism at California state agency leads to discipline for public employee
Fresno Bee
The Department of Industrial Relations has begun dispensing discipline over findings that its former director and her subordinates violated nepotism rules to promote the director’s daughter and a friend, according to a letter the department sent to the State Personnel Board.
EDUCATION
K-12:
McEwen: FUSD Trustee Slatic Must Shape Up or Face Getting Shipped Out
GV Wire
It’s obvious seven months into his service on the Fresno Unified school board that Terry Slatic misunderstands his trustee duties.
Stockton Kings launch annual school supply drive
Stockton Record
The Stockton Kings want to be sure that their youngest fans are prepared for a new school year. Now through Saturday, the G-League club is hosting its second annual “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive to benefit Stockton-area children.
K–12 Education and the New State Budget
PPIC
Spending on K-12 education in California reaches a new high, though some key long-term funding issues remain.
See also:
● Opinion: On child care, Newsom and his budget could be bolder SF Chronicle
Home charter schools rein in spending of taxpayer money on ‘enrichment’ amid scrutiny
San Diego Union-Tribune
As public scrutiny of home school charters grows, one of California’s largest home school charter networks is putting more restrictions on what families can buy with the enrichment funds that it gives them.
Does California need a math tutor? Report finds students aren’t so great with numbers
Fresno Bee
California students might know their A-B-Cs, but they’re struggling with their 1-2-3s. A July report from the Public Policy Institute of California found students throughout the state are making “significant progress” on English assessments, but experiencing “stalled gains” in mathematics.
Higher Ed:
Asm. Salas awards Bakersfield College a $1 million check
Bakersfield Californian
The Renegades received a hefty sum of money from one of their advocates in the state Assembly: Rudy Salas.
Mapping out common ground on accountability in higher education
AEI
Both the left and the right generally regard the current higher education accountability regime as unsatisfactory in addressing concerns about student debt and the quality of higher education.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
46 mosquitoes with serious viruses found in Fresno County
abc30
Collection of infected mosquitoes has spread across Fresno, Clovis, and Sanger putting people in danger of getting an infection causing problems ranging from flu-like symptoms to paralysis and tremors.
Desert Sun
Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed an aerospace engineer who formerly worked for Exxon Mobil to a key seat on the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which regulates oil refineries and other potential polluters.
Aftershocks by the thousands jar Southern CA, with 70 topping 4.0 magnitude
Fresno Bee
A 4.2-magnitude aftershock rattled Southern California near Ridgecrest early Monday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The quake struck 5.6 miles east of Coso Junction in Searles Valley at 1:38 a.m., according to the USGS.
See also:
● Magnitude 4.9 aftershock of California quakes felt widely Bakersfield Californian
● L.A.’s ShakeAlert earthquake warning app worked exactly as planned. That’s the problem Los Angeles Times
Energy:
State orders Chevron to ‘take all measures’ to prevent further leaks of oil, water near McKittrick
Bakersfield Californian
California’s top oil regulator, losing patience with Chevron’s response to the uncontrolled release of thousands of barrels of oil near McKittrick, has ordered the company to “take all measures” to make sure petroleum, water and steam do not resume rising to the surface after previous efforts to stop the flow there proved temporary.
PG&E says power line inspections revealed 10,000 problems — some needed immediate fixing
San Francisco Chronicle
Thousands of PG&E electrical parts were broken, damaged, burned or corroded, according to documents the embattled company posted on its website.
How electrical workers view hedge fund fight for PG&E control
CALmatters
As the elected leader of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245, which represents approximately 12,000 frontline utility workers at Pacific Gas & Electric Co., I have paid careful attention both to legislative activity in Sacramento and to PG&E’s bankruptcy proceeding.
PG&E Braces for Power Cuts; Tesla, Others See an Opening
Wall Street Journal
Rivals are touting alternatives as California faces planned blackouts due to wildfire risk.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
46 mosquitoes with serious viruses found in Fresno County
abc30
Collection of infected mosquitoes has spread across Fresno, Clovis, and Sanger putting people in danger of getting an infection causing problems ranging from flu-like symptoms to paralysis and tremors.
See also:
● Measles outbreak is over in Butte County, health officials announce Fresno Bee
Healthy living can counteract a high genetic risk of Alzheimer’s, study suggests
Los Angeles Times
A healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia even for those with a higher genetic risk of developing these mind-destroying diseases, according to new research.
Human Services:
California End Of Life Option Act
CDPH
2018 Data Report
State leaders meet in Fresno to talk about healthcare workforce shortage
abc30
On Monday, Fresno hosted a state hearing to talk about a healthcare workforce shortage as well as social issues which impact children’s lives.
Controlling costs is health care’s defining issue
AEI
Many voters want a solution to rising costs that does not hand all control to federal bureaucracy. They could be persuaded to try a uniquely American solution, one that regulates the market in a way that allows it to function and deliver better results.
Health care is an opportunity and a liability for both parties in 2020
Brookings
With health care shaping up to be one of the central policy debates of the 2020 presidential contest, John Hudak examines how the positions of each party on various health care issues compare to the preferences of American voters.
See also:
● Being Uninsured Poses Unique Health Care Challenges For The Transgender Community Capital Public Radio
● ACA Excise Tax Likely To Further Shift Health Costs To Workers UC Berkeley Labor Center.
Precision oncology targeting patient’s specific type of cancer
abc30
According to the American Cancer Society, one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during his lifetime. The standard of care is usually surgery, radiation, or/and chemotherapy. But one researcher believes there should be a new treatment strategy that can improve a patient’s quality of life.
Clovis proves a hotbed for opioid abuse
The Business Journal
Buchanan High School graduate Cameron Hicks was able to shake a drug habit that led him from pills to heroin, but he doesn’t have enough fingers to count on his hands the number of friends, classmates and acquaintances he’s lost who couldn’t.
Trump abortion restrictions effective immediately
Stockton Record
Taxpayer-funded family planning clinics must stop referring women for abortions immediately, the Trump administration said Monday, declaring it will begin enforcing a new regulation hailed by religious conservatives and denounced by medical organizations and women’s rights groups.
The Latest Study on Trigger Warnings Finally Convinced Me They’re Not Worth It
Slate
All the evidence suggests they don’t help and might actually hurt, which means we need to devote more attention to better forms of mental health care.
IMMIGRATION
Trump moves to end asylum protections for Central Americans
abc30
The move by the Trump administration is a major escalation of the president’s battle to tamp down the number of people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
See also:
● Asylum officers receive last-minute guidance on implementing sweeping border policy change Los Angeles Times
● Trump moves to eliminate nearly all asylum claims at U.S. southern border Los Angeles Times
● Fast-track regulation bars third-country asylum seekers POLITICO
● Most Migrants at Border With Mexico Would Be Denied Asylum Protections Under New Trump Rule New York Times
“I don’t think we’re in the clear”: Immigrant community on edge despite ICE inaction
Sacramento Bee
Though ICE raids were anticipated nationwide Sunday, immigrants’ rights organizations in Northern California saw no crackdown.
See also:
● Hiding from ICE raids: ‘People are terrified to go out on the streets’ Los Angeles Times
● Making an immigration arrest requires hours of surveillance Fresno Bee
Border personnel are investigated for role in Facebook group with violent and sexist posts
Fresno Bee
Seventy current and former Customs and Border Protection personnel are under investigation as part of an administrative probe into a secret Facebook group in which members used dehumanizing and derogatory language toward Latina members of Congress and deceased migrants.
See also:
● 62 employees, 8 former under investigation for crude online posts: Border officials abc30
● Border officials are investigated for role in Facebook group with violent and sexist posts Los Angeles Times
Kern households with undocumented immigrants could be denied housing aid under proposed federal rule
Bakersfield Californian
Hundreds of Bakersfield residents could be impacted by a proposed rule change that would deny housing assistance for families living with undocumented immigrants.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
The Ahwahnee is back: Yosemite reclaims historic names in trademark settlement
Fresno Bee
Yosemite National Park will get the historic names of its properties back in a civil lawsuit settlement reached between the National Park Service and Yosemite’s former concessionaire, DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite.
See also:
● Warszawski: What a ripoff: For $12 million, those ‘fake’ Yosemite names that no one used could’ve stayed Fresno Bee
● Dispute over Yosemite trademarks resolved abc30
● Settlement Reached In Yosemite Historic Name Change Lawsuit Sierra News
● Yosemite to restore names to historic attractions under $12 million settlement Bakersfield Californian
● Yosemite to restore names to historic attractions Stockton Record
● Do You Miss The Ahwahnee And Camp Curry? A Settled Lawsuit Means Those Names Are Back VPR
● Iconic Yosemite Place Names Are Coming Back After Settlement Over Trademark Dispute Capital Public Radio
● Yosemite to restore names to historic attractions under $12-million settlement Los Angeles Times
● Yosemite settles trademark dispute — historic names to return San Francisco Chronicle
Housing:
Corporate tax cuts blocked at least 15,000 affordable homes in California. Here’s how
Sacramento Bee
Affordable housing advocates warned that the corporate tax cuts passed by Republicans in 2017 could have disastrous effects on the development of more affordable housing. More than two years later, independent data shows it has meant at least 15,000 delayed or killed affordable housing units in California alone.
Rural California now battles housing affordability issues, too
Riverside Press Enterprise
Much has been written about the California housing crisis, but the fight to stay in the state isn’t just faced by those in major cities in Los Angeles County or the Bay Area. As more and more residents have moved inland to escape costs, the problem of availability has followed them.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Build the California Budget 2019
CALmatters
California lawmakers have passed a $215 billion budget filled with progressive eye-catchers such as health coverage for low-income young adults regardless of legal status, and expanded tax credits for the working poor. Tucked into the pages were a couple of new taxes, including a state penalty for people who go without health insurance and a phone bill fee to upgrade the 911 emergency system.
Property taxes to increase 2% for most homeowners this year
Orange County Register
Most real estate owners in Orange County will see a 2% increase in their property tax bills due next December and April, the third straight year that assessments will increase by the maximum amount allowed under Prop. 13, the Orange County Assessor’s Office has announced.
Pelosi torpedoes White House debt limit plan, throwing budget talks into chaos
Washington Post
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi late Monday said the House of Representatives would not raise the debt ceiling unless it is part of a broader budget deal, putting extreme pressure on the White House and congressional leaders to cut a deal within days. Pelosi’s comments appeared to directly shoot down a demand from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin just hours earlier, when he said that Congress would have to raise the debt ceiling before the August recess if members can’t reach a budget deal because he could run out of money to pay the government’s bills if no action was taken.
Opinion: Tax study? I’ve got a commission for that!
Fox&Hounds
Too often the California Legislature behaves like Alexander the Great on the march. It passes bills and never looks back.
TRANSPORTATION
Airlines Cancel Boeing Max Flights Into November; Holiday Flights Could Be Next
Capital Public Radio
The Federal Aviation Administration found a new problem in Boeing’s max plane last month, so it will be several more months before the troubled plane is certified to fly passengers again.
Toyota is ordered to pay auto dealer $15.8 million in trial over Prius defects
Los Angeles Times
An Orange County jury Monday morning ordered Toyota to pay $15.8 million to one of its largest dealers in Southern California, who alleged that the company’s recalls to fix the electric power system of its popular Prius models did not remedy safety defects.
WATER
Lake Tahoe fills to the top as massive winter snows melt
Mercury News
Beaches smaller, boat docks higher, and billions of gallons more water in the lake.
“Xtra”
Fresno’s hidden restaurants: 6 unexpected places to dine at churches, airports, more
Fresno Bee
Did you ever discover a new restaurant and think, “Why didn’t I know about this place before?” There are at least six restaurants in Fresno that fit that category; ones you might describe as hidden gems – or at least hidden.
North American Pole Vault Championships coming back to Old Town Clovis
Clovis RoundUp
On Friday, July 19, Old Town Clovis will once again be home to some of the elite pole vaulters in the state and beyond as they compete.
Turlock’s Dust Bowl opens Monterey taproom; coastal town enjoys its big little brews
Modesto Bee
Turlock CA’s Dust Bowl Brewing Company has opened its new taproom in Monterey. The seaside location is the craft beer company’s first location outside of its hometown. The site is steps from Fisherman’s Wharf.
What’s happening Tuesday at the Stanislaus County Fair
Modesto Bee
Tuesday, July 16, is the fifth day of the 2019 Stanislaus County Fair in Turlock.
From the Archives: The 1976 Chowchilla bus kidnapping
Los Angeles Times
On July 15, 1976, three gunmen kidnapped 26 children and their driver off a Chowchilla, Calif., school bus. The kidnappers buried the victims inside a truck trailer at a Livermore, Calif., quarry. Then ransom was demanded.