POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Stanislaus County sees a sharp increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations Modesto Bee
Two candidates begin campaigns for Stanislaus County Sheriff’s office June election
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse announced Wednesday he is running for a second term. Dirkse is heading for a rematch with Sgt. Juan Alanis, who is campaigning for the 2022 election. He captured 52 percent of the vote in defeating Alanis in 2018.
Lawsuit seeks millions in Stanislaus deputy’s shooting death of 16-year-old driver
Modesto Bee
Lawyers representing the parents of a 16-year-old Riverbank boy who was fatally shot by a deputy after fleeing from a traffic stop have filed a lawsuit against Stanislaus County, the Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff Dirkse and are seeking more than $30 million in damages.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● COVID hospitalizations are rising in the Fresno area, as doctors warn of Delta variant Fresno Bee
● How many Delta cases are there in Fresno, Valley? Testing paints an incomplete picture Fresno Bee
● See the latest COVID hospitalization rates in Fresno-area counties Fresno Bee
Unhoused Fresnans showed up at City Hall asking for shelter. ‘There has to be a better way’
Fresno Bee
Shelley Forest was among a group of unhoused Fresnans who spoke during public comment at the Fresno City Council meeting last week seeking shelter, telling city officials, “It’s really hard out there.”
Clovis candidate claims false arrest, discrimination over political signs. Will he sue?
Fresno Bee
A Clovis City Council candidate whose home was raided by officers in SWAT gear over political signs he had taken recently filed a claim against the city asserting false arrest and discrimination.
‘My child, my choice.’ Clovis parents, school leaders protest classroom mask requirement
Fresno Bee
Board members didn’t say whether they believe students should be required to wear masks, describing it, instead, as an issue of local control.
Valley Voices: To get good political representation in Fresno County, redistricting must be fair
Fresno Bee
Every 10 years, federal law requires the realignment of legislative and congressional districts to reflect population shifts indicated by the decennial U.S. Census.
Coalinga residents could face fines if they don't conserve water
abc30
Residents in Coalinga could see fines added to their water bills if they fail to conserve. On July 1, the Coalinga City Council adopted a new resolution proclaiming a water conservation emergency.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Kern County Public Health reports 169 new coronavirus cases Wednesday Bakersfield Californian
Wasco City Council sets vote on removing Mayor Alex Garcia from office
Bakersfield Californian
The Wasco City Council agreed to schedule a vote to consider removing Mayor Alex Garcia from office following an alleged drunken driving incident in May.
Tulare County passes 'parental choice' resolution
Visalia Times Delta
The Tulare County board of supervisors unanimously approved recommending a resolution giving authority to local school boards on COVID-19 safety protocols. If approved, districts can advocate for "parental choice" so students can return to a semi "normal classroom setting."
Tate takes her city council seat
Porterville Recorder
Tate became Porterville's newest city council member at the beginning of Tuesday's council meeting. She represents District 1 as she replaces Daniel Penaloza, who turned in his resignation on June 8.
State:
COVID Update:
● Get a vaccine at McDonald’s? How California is shifting outreach as Delta variant spreads Fresno Bee
Big year for CalPERS means higher pension costs for some public employees
Fresno Bee
Some local government employees in California likely will have to pay more toward their pensions as an indirect result of CalPERS’ good year on investment returns.
California Recall: Registered voters to start receiving ballots in August
abc30
Registered voters can expect to start receiving recall ballots in their mailboxes by mid-August -- ahead of the September 14 election. The ballot will ask voters if Democrat Gavin Newsom should be removed as governor and if so, who should replace him.
See also:
● Who’s running in Newsom recall? Politicians, activists, Californians of all stripes CalMatters
● Judge: Radio host Larry Elder will appear on California recall ballot abc30
● Elder will appear on recall ballot; Faulconer can’t use ‘retired San Diego mayor’ title Los Angeles Times
● Attacked by recall backers, Newsom defends record on crime and takes action on retail theft Los Angeles Times
● Gavin Newsom report card: What he has done, and what he hasn’t abc10
Gov. Newsom signs $6 billion bill in Traver to expand broadband across California
Visalia Times Delta
Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Traver Joint Elementary School to sign SB 156, which includes a $6 billion, multi-year investment into broadband expansion.
‘I am frustrated and angry’: Why a federal judge’s DACA ruling matters for California
Los Angeles Times
Last week, a federal judge suspended a program that prevents the deportation of thousands of young immigrants brought into the U.S. as children.
Capital Public Radio
Kelli Dillon still remembers all of the emotions she felt when she realized she had been forcibly sterilized by the state of California.
Federal:
COVID Update:
● US Life Expectancy Saw Biggest Drop Since World War II Capital Public Radio
● White House considering push for masks: report The Hill
Biden takes his pitch for infrastructure spending on the road and into prime time
Los Angeles Times
President Biden went to Ohio for a nationally televised town hall with voters Wednesday evening as maneuvering over his infrastructure plans intensifies on Capitol Hill and the Delta variant spreads among unvaccinated populations.
See also:
● Senate Republicans Block Infrastructure Bill but Talks to Continue Wall Street Journal
● Opinion: Tough Biden Talk, Little Action Wall Street Journal
McCarthy threatens to boycott House Jan. 6 committee after Pelosi rejects two of his GOP picks
Los Angeles Times
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) on Wednesday rejected two Republicans picked by GOP leadership to serve on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
See also:
● Pelosi blocks Banks and Jordan from panel reviewing Jan. 6 riot Roll Call
● Approval of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot is more deeply embedded than you might think Washington Post
● Audio: Trump says he spoke to a ‘loving crowd’ at Jan. 6 rally Washington Post
● Opinion: Pelosi Blows Up Her Jan. 6 Committee Wall Street Journal
States Braced for a Wave of COVID Lawsuits. It Never Arrived.
PEW
30 states instituted liability protections in late 2020 and early 2021 designed to protect businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits.
Harris under water with 47 percent unfavorable rating in new poll
The Hill
More registered voters view Vice President Harris unfavorably than like her, according to a Morning Consult-Politico poll released Wednesday.
Senate candidates walk Trump tightrope as he returns to Arizona
Roll Call
Former President Donald Trump will return Saturday to Arizona, where Republicans are looking to rebound after losing both of the state’s Senate seats in the past two elections.
Opinion: Does Section 230 Have Limits?
Wall Street Journal
Big Tech platforms claim that U.S. law gives them almost unlimited power to ban content and users they deem objectionable. But a case pending before the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals calls that assumption into question.
Opinion: Should We Reform the Supreme Court?
Newsweek
On Tuesday, I testified before the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court, the body appointed in April to analyze the nascent public debate over whether and how the high court should be reformed.
Tucker Carlson spins web of misleading claims as he alleges ‘meaningful voter fraud’ in Georgia
PolitiFact
Tucker Carlson suggested that an alarm that sounded at a Fulton County elections warehouse in May 2021 could be proof of fraud in the 2020 election.
Deception is the biggest threat to American security
AEI
Deception in defense has the potential to undermine all the technological improvements that are planned or have been already put into practice.
Other:
Takeaways from the Pegasus Project
Washington Post
Military-grade spyware leased by the Israeli firm NSO Group to governments for tracking terrorists and criminals was used in attempted and successful hacks of 37 smartphones belonging to journalists, human rights activists, and business executives,
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, July 25, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “A Conversation with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla” - Guest: U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, (D-CA). Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, July 25, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "U.S. Senator Alex Padilla: Valley Impressions"- Guests: Brian Clark, Editor - Modesto Bee and Merced Sun Star; Joe Kieta, Editor - Fresno Bee; Paul Hurley, formerly with Visalia Times Delta. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Madera Tribune
Judging by the last time the Madera FFA at Madera South High School held a corn sale, it’s going to be a busy time at the school in the next couple of weeks.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Louisiana residents took $1M in COVID funds from California EDD
abc30
Ten Louisiana residents are accused in scams that defrauded pandemic unemployment programs in California and Louisiana out of more than $1 million, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said.
See also:
● Kern prison inmates indicted in $1.4 million unemployment claim scheme Bakersfield Californian
Lawsuit seeks millions in Stanislaus deputy’s shooting death of 16-year-old driver
Modesto Bee
Lawyers representing the parents of a 16-year-old Riverbank boy who was fatally shot by a deputy after fleeing from a traffic stop have filed a lawsuit against Stanislaus County, the Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff Dirkse and are seeking more than $30 million in damages.
Perpetrators of domestic abuse committed 2 of 3 mass shootings from 2014-19, study finds
Sacramento Bee
Perpetrators of domestic abuse represent a tiny subset of U.S. gun owners but pose the greatest threat when it comes to mass shootings, according to gun violence researchers who studied cases over a six-year period from 2014 to 2019.
Public Safety:
‘We’re up against a gun epidemic.’ Gavin Newsom links rise in homicides to firearm sales
Fresno Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced a crackdown on retail theft rings a day after high-profile California crime victims slammed his criminal justice policies.
Two candidates begin campaigns for Stanislaus County Sheriff’s office June election
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse announced Wednesday he is running for a second term. Dirkse is heading for a rematch with Sgt. Juan Alanis, who is campaigning for the 2022 election. He captured 52 percent of the vote in defeating Alanis in 2018.
Fire:
PG&E vows to bury 10,000 miles of California power lines, as the Dixie Fire explodes
Fresno Bee
PG&E executives committed to move 10,000 miles of the utility’s power lines underground, a daunting and expensive task for the embattled utility that’s just emerging from bankruptcy after it was held responsible for some of California’s most destructive wildfires in recent years.
See also:
● PG&E Says It Will Bury 10,000 Miles Of Power Lines Capital Public Radio
● PG&E, in Reversal, to Bury Power Lines in Fire-Prone Areas Wall Street Journal
Peak Fire in Lake Isabella grows
Bakersfield Californian
The Peak Fire, a conflagration on Piute Peak, grew to 1,752 acres and is 5 percent contained as of 11:31 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
Bootleg Fire in Oregon Nears 400,000 Acres; Smoke From Fires Affects East Coast
Wall Street Journal
More than 20,000 firefighters and other personnel battled dozens of wildfires across the western U.S. as dry, windy weather and potential thunderstorms threatened to hinder containment efforts, and smoke from fires affected air quality as far away as the East Coast.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Delta Variant Can Still Clip U.S. Economy’s Wings
Wall Street Journal
The Delta variant of the coronavirus probably won’t derail the U.S. economy. That doesn’t mean it can’t damage parts of it.
Is the U.S. Economy Too Hot or Too Cold? Yes.
New York Times
Here’s a riddle: What is both too hot and too cold? The answer: the United States economy in the summer of 2021.
Jobs:
Opinion: California’s Private Labor Enforcers
Wall Street Journal
An epidemic of frivolous and costly lawsuits is holding back California’s economic recovery. More than 3,000 legal notices have been filed since January under the state’s Private Attorneys General Act, or PAGA, a rate of more than 17 a day.
Opinion: To make workplaces safe post-pandemic, California must make Cal-OSHA stronger. Here’s how
Sacramento Bee
For millions of Californians, the pandemic has forever changed the way we work. Daily commutes and late nights at the office are out. Zoom is in. But for millions of wage earners, predominantly Black and brown workers, the “new normal” is more dangerous workplaces.
Uber and Lyft drivers strike over pay, gig-work conditions
Los Angeles Times
Uber and Lyft drivers who joined a strike across California on Wednesday are aiming their message at Washington, in the first such strike by ride-hailing drivers intended to rally support for national legislative changes to improve their working conditions.
U.S. newsroom employment has fallen 26% since 2008
PEW
While newspapers have seen steep job losses during that span, digital-native news organizations have seen considerable gains.
Washington Post
Unemployment claims jumped last week, as the delta variant of the coronavirus sparked rising caseloads around the country and renewed fears about the potential for more restrictions and business closures.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Some Clovis Unified parents pushing for face masks to be optional
abc30
Regardless of vaccination status, California kids and school staff will be asked to mask up indoors when school's back in session. A rule that was heavily protested by parents at Clovis Unified Wednesday night.
See also:
● ‘My child, my choice.’ Clovis parents, school leaders protest classroom mask requirement Fresno Bee
Fresno Unified board trustee Carol Mills dies from Lou Gehrig's disease
abc30
Fresno Unified School District school board trustee Carol Mills died following a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, the school district said Wednesday.
See also:
● Longtime Fresno schools trustee Carol Mills dies after months-long battle with ALS Fresno Bee
Tulare County passes 'parental choice' resolution
Visalia Times Delta
The Tulare County board of supervisors unanimously approved recommending a resolution giving authority to local school boards on COVID-19 safety protocols. If approved, districts can advocate for "parental choice" so students can return to a semi "normal classroom setting."
BCSD to host virtual town hall for parents about upcoming school year
Bakersfield Californian
The Bakersfield City School District announced it will host a virtual town hall on July 29 for parents interested in learning more about the upcoming school year.
Reopening K–12 Schools: A Conversation with Linda Darling-Hammond
PPIC
As fall approaches, California’s public schools continue to grapple with a myriad of challenges.
Higher Ed:
California housing crisis extends to Central Valley college students. What can be done?
Fresno Bee
California’s universities are not immune to the state’s housing crisis, according to a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California. As many four-year colleges face record enrollment surges, the question is — where will those students live?
What COVID-19 safety measures will Stanislaus State, Modesto JC require this fall?
Modesto Bee
California State University, Stanislaus, and Modesto Junior College will welcome more students back to campuses in August, but most courses will continue online.
New Model Of Industry-Education Partnership Paying Dividends In Los Angeles
CAFwd
Industries in California move fast. New skills are needed, occupations change with new trends and technologies, and training programs are commonly a little behind the times when it comes to curricula or even total number of trainees, given the demand for workers.
A New UC Tuition Policy Could Provide Predictability, but at a Cost
PPIC
University of California (UC) Regents are considering a new plan to combat sharp spikes in tuition and improve the predictability of tuition costs.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Summer of disaster: Extreme weather wreaks havoc worldwide as climate change bears down
Los Angeles Times
Torrents of murky brown water gushed past the train window, flowing fast through the subway tunnel. Inside, passengers stood on top of seats, clutching their phones overhead as the muddy tide rose past their chests. Some gasped for air.
Energy:
Unpaid Utility Bills? California Will Pay Off $2 Billion To Avoid Shutoffs
Capital Public Radio
Two years ago the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power shut off electricity at Will Hollman’s home in the San Fernando Valley, forcing the family to rely on a gasoline generator.
Startup Claims Breakthrough in Long-Duration Batteries
Wall Street Journal
A four-year-old startup says it has built an inexpensive battery that can discharge power for days using one of the most common elements on Earth: iron.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Fresno ranked among top ‘urban heat islands’ in the US. Why that’s bad for public health
Fresno Bee
Fresno has one of the most intense urban heat islands in the country, according to Climate Central. Fresno stands with other California cities such as San Francisco, Sacramento, and Salinas on a list of the top 20 urban heat islands in the United States.
Merced County’s first West Nile Virus case of 2021 found in bird in Turlock area
Modesto Bee
A dead bird located near Merced County’s border with Stanislaus County has tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to the Merced County Mosquito Abatement District.
Opinion: The Delta Variant Is a Reality Test
Wall Street Journal
The difficulty of the news business is that you’re constantly trying to tell people their information is outmoded, which they resist since assimilating new information entails a cost. And yet here goes:
Human Services:
Walmart schedules free health screenings for Saturday
Bakersfield Californian
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, local Walmart stores will host a free, one-day health event 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Opinion: ‘Unintentional Injuries’ and the Lockdown
Wall Street Journal
How devastating was the 2020 pandemic and how devastating was government’s reaction to the pandemic? It will likely take years to reach definitive conclusions, but the latest annual federal report on U.S. mortality is a start in discovering the answers.
IMMIGRATION
U.S.-Mexico land border restrictions to stay in place through Aug. 21
Los Angeles Times
Restrictions on nonessential travel across the U.S.-Mexico land border will stay in place through at least Aug. 21, the Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday.
Video: Immigrants in California
PPIC
Immigration has long had a significant economic and social impact in California. The state is home to nearly 11 million immigrants—about a quarter of the immigrant population nationwide.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Unhoused Fresnans showed up at City Hall asking for shelter. ‘There has to be a better way’
Fresno Bee
Shelley Forest was among a group of unhoused Fresnans who spoke during public comment at the Fresno City Council meeting last week seeking shelter, telling city officials, “It’s really hard out there.”
An unwinnable bidding war: How Modesto’s housing crisis prices out would-be homebuyers
Modesto Bee
But months of house-hunting have proved frustrating: With high prices and even higher demand, finding a home in or around Modesto feels like an impossible task.
‘Upzoning’ in my backyard? California bill won’t turbocharge home building, study says
Los Angeles Times
A bill advancing through the legislature to allow for denser home building in single-family zones would be likely to produce an uptick in the state’s housing supply, but the upzoning probably won’t cause mass redevelopment, according to a report published Wednesday.
PUBLIC FINANCES
California filmmakers to get more tax breaks in new law. Do incentives keep shows here?
Fresno Bee
California is upping the amount of money it offers to the entertainment industry in annual tax credits designed to encourage producers to film TV shows in the Golden State.
Opinion: Opioid Income Redistribution
Wall Street Journal
This being America, the lawsuit capital of the world, it was probably inevitable that businesses would eventually settle the crush of opioid suits as a ransom to put the issue behind them.
TRANSPORTATION
California’s electric car revolution, designed to save the planet, also unleashes a toll on it
Los Angeles Times
The precious cargo on the ship docked in San Diego Bay was strikingly small for a vessel built to drag oil rigs out to sea. Machines tethered to this hulking ship had plucked rocks the size of a child’s fist from the ocean floor thousands of miles into the Pacific.
U.S. Senators tell Cal Lawmakers to Stop Effing with Bullet Train
StreetsBlogCal
Assemblymembers Rendon, Friedman get a good talking to from Senators Feinstein, Padilla over budget delays to high-speed rail.
WATER
California voters OK’d billions for water projects. Where are the new dams, reservoirs?
Fresno Bee
It doesn’t look like much now, a dry and dusty valley surrounded by the modest mountains of California’s Coast Range.
See also:
● Opinion: California taxpayers OK’d reservoir funds. Why is Newsom avoiding water storage projects? Sacramento Bee
Coalinga residents could face fines if they don't conserve water
abc30
Residents in Coalinga could see fines added to their water bills if they fail to conserve. On July 1, the Coalinga City Council adopted a new resolution proclaiming a water conservation emergency.
“Xtra”
Fresno Bee
We’re deep into the hottest part of the year in Fresno, and that means, some days it’s just too hot too cook. And even if you dine out, a heavy steak or pasta sometimes isn’t that appetizing when we’re in a heatwave.
What Does Driving Have to Do With Debt Collection?
PEW
Starting with having their driver’s license suspended, drivers are then faced with a tough choice to stop driving.
Bitcoin Is Failing Its First Inflation Test
Wall Street Journal
The original cryptocurrency has lost about half of its value since mid-April, undercutting its proponents' argument that the currency, like gold, is an inflation hedge.
China Has Rejected A WHO Plan For Further Investigation Into The Origins Of COVID-19
NPR
China cannot accept the World Health Organization's plan for the second phase of a study into the origins of COVID-19, a senior Chinese health official said Thursday.
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
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