June 12, 2019

12Jun


POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

EDITORIAL: The good, the bad, the young and the old — Thumbs up and down in Modesto

Modesto Bee

In this column, look for references to people on either end of life’s extremes — childhood, and golden years. Be sure to see the last item, an invitation to a special event coming Thursday morning that focuses on young people and the elderly.

Central SJ Valley:

Grizzlies’ Ocasio-Cortez video controversy won’t die. Councilman disagrees with apology

Fresno Bee

Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld this week sharply criticized two colleagues for spending taxpayer money for a trip to Washington, D.C., where they apologized to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the 75th anniversary of D-Day – and he doesn’t believe their explanation.

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County defends decision to move polling place over church’s Black Lives Matter banners

Fresno Bee

Fresno County officials on Tuesday released a lengthy response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union over the county’s decision to remove the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno as a polling site — saying they did so after the church wouldn’t budge on displaying “Black Lives Matter” banners.

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South SJ Valley:

City manager releases comment on Councilwoman Holly Blair’s arrest

Hanford Sentinel

City Manager Nathan Olson released a formal comment Monday on Councilwoman Holly Blair’s June 5 arrest. In the media release, Olson says that the City Council is aware of Blair’s arrest.

State:

This is your once-in-a-decade chance to change how California voting districts are drawn

Fresno Bee

A move that will directly impact California politics for the next decade began taking shape this week after the California State Auditor opened up the application process for the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission.

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Aide to Gov. Gavin Newsom, 32, dies of natural causes

Fresno Bee

Chona Sarte, a 32-year-old aide to Gov. Gavin Newsom, died Monday night of natural causes, the governor’s office announced Tuesday. Sarte, who had a heart condition, served as deputy director of external affairs in the Newsom administration.

Who takes home more cash under California’s budget deal — and who pays more?

Sacramento Bee

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first state budget steers billions of dollars to programs that help undocumented immigrants, new parents and low-income taxpayers.

California Democratic Party Considers Proposal To Allow Non-Citizen Delegates

Capital Public Radio

The proposed rule, which would allow undocumented immigrants the opportunity to cast votes in party elections, will come up for consideration when the party convenes in August.

Most ‘job killer’ bills already dead

CALmatters

Going into this year’s legislative session, it appeared that the California Chamber of Commerce’s long string of wins on bills it labels “job killers” might end.

Federal:

House authorizes going to court over Barr and McGahn subpoenas

Los Angeles Times

House Democrats on Tuesday voted to authorize going to court to enforce their subpoenas against Atty. Gen. William Barr and former White House Counsel Donald McGahn, the most dramatic move yet to prod the Trump administration to respond to Congress’ oversight inquiries.

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Donald Trump Jr. said to appear before Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday

Los Angeles Times

President Trump’s eldest son will meet with the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday behind closed doors, according to two people familiar with the meeting.

Trump asserts executive privilege over census citizenship question as House mulls contempt vote

Los Angeles Times

The citizenship question has strong implications for California, where officials fear it will lead to an undercount of the state’s immigrant population and result in fewer congressional seats.

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Elections 2020:

Trump and Biden trade barbs as they cross paths and split screens in Iowa

Los Angeles Times

With the presidential rivals crisscrossing the state that holds the first contest of 2020, the acid back-and-forth offered a preview of a possible general election matchup — and a cautionary tale of how much vitriol the race is likely to unleash.

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First presidential debate spots at stake: Eric Swalwell on the bubble?

San Francisco Chronicle

Wednesday is deadline day for Democratic presidential candidates hoping to make the first debate stage — and some are going to be disappointed.

See also:

Kamala Harris: ‘no choice’ but to prosecute Trump after his presidency

San Francisco Chronicle

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., said that if she wins the race for the White House, her Justice Department would have “no choice” but to prosecute President Donald Trump.

California Democratic Party Considers Proposal To Allow Non-Citizen Delegates

Capital Public Radio

The proposal, introduced by the San Francisco County Democratic Party, would allow undocumented immigrants the opportunity to cast votes in party elections as delegates or proxies. The party shelved it until August, however, to allow for further discussion.

Other:

Google Overhauls Lobbying and Public Affairs Operations

WSJ

Google has fired about a half-dozen of its largest lobbying firms as part of a major overhaul of its global government affairs and policy operations amid the prospect of greater government scrutiny of its businesses.

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Red, white, and gray: Population aging, deaths of despair, and the institutional stagnation of America

AEI

Americans are getting older, society is changing, and our institutions have become less dynamic. This will have significant economic and social consequences over the next several decades.

With great demographics comes great power

AEI

Although conventional measures of economic and military power often receive more attention than demographics, few factors influence the long-term competition between great powers as much as changes in the size, capabilities, and characteristics of national populations.

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

Sunday, June 16, at 9 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Assessing State Policies on Climate Change” – Guest: Ross Brown – LAO. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, June 16, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition:  “Climate Change Generally and Air Pollution Locally” – Guests: Will Barrett, Director of Advocacy, Clean Air for the American Lung Association in California and Samir Sheikh, Executive Director of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, June 16, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “Agua en el Valle de San Joaquin: Un reporte de PPIC” – Guest: Alvar Escriva-Bou, investigador del PPIC. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Parlier joins California marijuana industry with groundbreaking for pot manufacturing facility

Fresno Bee

Parlier is joining the ranks of California marijuana-producing cities with groundbreaking Tuesday for a manufacturing facility.

See also:

Supervisors delay action on proposal that could overturn medical marijuana dispensary ban

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern County Board of Supervisors delayed taking action on a proposal that could lead to the ban on medical marijuana dispensaries being overturned at Tuesday’s meeting.

Democrats join Trump in whining about tariffs on wine

Roll Call

Concerns about tariffs on wine are leaving a sour taste both on Capitol Hill and in the White House.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

California may automatically expunge 1 million convictions

Associated Press

California has already moved to automatically expunge the records of those convicted of qualifying marijuana crimes. Now, Democratic lawmakers and advocates want to erase the records of those who have served their time for other crimes.

Public Safety:

Sacramento pays $5.2 million in lawsuit claiming cops beat, tased man into coma

Sacramento Bee

The Sacramento City Council on Tuesday approved a $5.2 million payout for an excessive force lawsuit of a 2017 incident in which police tased a 34-year-old man so many times his family said he was left with the mental capability of a toddler.

Supes approve new medical examiner’s contract

Stockton Record

The Board of Supervisors made it official Tuesday afternoon, unanimously approving a contract with Dr. Michael Hunter to be the first leader of San Joaquin County’s newly created Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Democrats Introduce Bill Allowing Shooting Victims To Sue Gun Industry

Capital Public Radio

The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act aims to repeal federal a 2005 law known the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act but faces long odds of becoming law.

Democrats In Congress Introduce Gun Bill To Allow Victims To Sue Manufacturers

NPR

House and Senate Democrats introduced legislation Tuesday they say will allow victims of gun violence to have their day in court.

Fire:

More PG&E power blackouts are coming to California. Here’s what you should do to prepare

Sacramento Bee

The era of available electricity whenever and wherever needed is officially over in wildfire-plagued California.

With 19 days to spare, Oakdale area gets final OK for fire service from Modesto

Modesto Bee

The Modesto Fire Department will add the Oakdale area to its operations under an agreement that got final approval Tuesday evening.

CAL FIRE suspends burn permits in Tulare County effective today

Porterville Recorder

The increasing fire danger posed by the high volume of dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region is prompting CAL FIRE to suspend all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of Tulare County.

Kern County Fire Department appoints David Witt as fire chief

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern County Board of Supervisors have appointed Interim Fire Chief David Witt as the county’s next fire chief.

Defensible space ordinances, inspections makes Kern County communities safer, authorities say

Bakersfield Californian

When it comes to wildfires, keeping up-to-date with Kern County’s ordinance codes about defensible space gives firefighters a fighting chance at protecting affected communities.

‘Increasingly Unavailable and Unaffordable’: Home Insurance Threatened Amid Wildfire Crisis

KQED

David Bevacqua never had trouble insuring a home in California, but he was in for a rude surprise after recently buying a house in Bass Lake, in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

During Record-Breaking Heat Wave, California Sees Nearly 240 Wildfires Within a Week

TIME

Less than a year after the Camp Fire became the deadliest blaze in state history, California is once against facing a spate of wildfires that threaten its residents and land.

Rim Fire tour provides striking view of California’s wildfire challenges

PublicCEO

The challenges of managing California’s forests for public safety and ecosystem health were on full display during a tour of forested lands scarred by the 2013 Rim Fire. Hosted by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, the Rim Fire Forest Resilience Tour on May 30 took 80 participants through some of California’s most breathtaking but battered High Sierra landscapes within the Stanislaus National Forest in Tuolumne County.

He Tried to Plug a Wasp Nest. He Ended Up Sparking California’s Biggest Wildfire.

New York Times

It was a fire that crossed mountain ranges and valleys, that spanned multiple counties and shocked Californians by its sheer scale — by far the biggest wildfire in modern state history. And yet a newly disclosed investigation suggests it was probably started by a single man and a single spark.

ECONOMY / JOBS

Economy:

Kingsburg sees surge in new businesses from bakeries to coffee shops

abc30

Kingsburg is known for its Swedish roots, old town charm, and now a growing number of specialty shops. The city has offered incentives to owners to help with costs in setting up businesses. The surge in companies have help with increased sales tax, but also improved the quality of life.

Stocks fall for the first time in six days

Los Angeles Times

Stocks on Wall Street fell Tuesday for the first time in six days after the recent upward momentum gave way to lingering concerns about the U.S.-China trade war.

Towing a car can be financially ruinous. Should California cities do it anyway?

Los Angeles Times

Over the objections of anti-poverty advocates, Los Angeles lawmakers on Tuesday came out against legislation that would prevent California cities from towing vehicles left on the street for more than 72 hours.

California could finally regulate high-interest lenders. It’s up to the Senate

CALmatters

The California Assembly has passed legislation to end a 34-year era during which non-bank lenders have been free to charge consumers unlimited interest rates on loans from $2,500 to $10,000.

CA Fwd and California Stewardship Network integrating to power prosperity across state’s regions

CA Fwd

California Forward (CA Fwd) announced today its integration with the California Stewardship Network (CSN), forming a single organization with the power to advocate for shared prosperity across all regions and improve government performance and accountability. This integration will be supported by two philanthropic organizations – the Morgan Family Foundation and The James Irvine Foundation – which have been bastions of California’s civic life and were instrumental in the creation and flourishing of CA Fwd and CSN.

Proposed Tump administration change to federal poverty definition would cut aid to millions of Californians

UC Berkeley Labor Center

In May, the Trump administration announced it was considering changing the way the federal poverty line is adjusted annually for increases in cost of living, and is seeking public comment until June 21, 2019.

America’s oil boom will break more records this year. OPEC is in retreat

CNN

The epic American oil boom is just getting started. OPEC, on the other hand, is stuck on the sidelines.

White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney says deficits won’t go away anytime soon

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney professed to remain a deficit hawk, even as he told a group of policy wonks that he does not know if Washington can balance the federal budget – or even get the annual deficit below $1 trillion – while President Donald Trump is in office.

Startups Target Millennials With Social-Investing Apps

WSJ

The lure: investment products built around themes like clean energy and corporate ethics.

Chinese Cash That Powered Silicon Valley Is Suddenly Toxic

WSJ

As U.S. startups reject their money, Chinese venture-capital firms in U.S. are dialing back investments, structuring deals to avoid regulators or shutting down.

EDITORIAL: Trump’s idea of diplomacy is tariff threats and punishment

San Francisco Chronicle

After Mexican negotiators agreed to take drastic border measures to prevent the influx of Central American migrants into Mexico, President Trump was able to declare victory and back down from his tariff threats against our single-largest trading partner.

Jobs:

Transgender woman sued Fresno Starbucks for discrimination. A judge just issued a ruling

Fresno Bee

A Fresno County judge has ruled against a former Starbucks worker who claimed she was harassed and discriminated against because she is transgender.

See also:

California sues over T-Mobile/Sprint merger. What could it mean for jobs in Fresno County?

Fresno Bee

California joined eight other states Tuesday in filing a federal lawsuit to block a proposed merger between the third- and fourth-largest wireless phone companies, adding another hurdle to plans for a 1,000-job customer call center in Kingsburg.

See also:

Uber, Lyft team up to fight state bills that would benefit drivers

San Francisco Chronicle

Uber and Lyft are joining forces for a public battle to keep their workers as independent contractors while making wage and benefits concessions.

H-1B visa: Government unlawfully delaying H-4 applications, lawsuit claims

San Jose Mercury

An estimated 100,000 foreign citizens in the U.S. facing a Trump Administration plan to strip them of the ability to work are now confronted with an additional threat to their jobs, according to a new lawsuit.

EDUCATION

K-12:

Supporters of charter school for English learners make case to Stanislaus County board

Modesto Bee

Supporters of a charter school petition packed the board chambers Tuesday at the Stanislaus County Office of Education, urging members to approve a school choice for parents of English learner students who have bigger dreams.

247 Lindsay High grads take the next step

Porterville Recorder

A large crowd watched from the stands with pride as seniors in red and white caps and gowns walked with excitement and trepidation into the Lindsay High School stadium after their professors and staff in traditional robes.

Thousands of KHSD students hit the books this summer

Bakersfield Californian

Summer school is well underway across 18 comprehensive school sites along with five alternative education sites in the Kern High School District, said Erin Briscoe-Clarke, public information officer.

In a year of plenty, some go wanting

CALmatters

California enrolls 400,000 kids in after-school programs, thanks to a voter-approved initiative promoted by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2002. The state spends $600 million a year on those programs. Now, after-school programs face a shortfall, largely because of minimum wage increases approved during Jerry Brown’s tenure.

Imagining playful learning landscapes for every community

Brookings

With 80% of a child’s waking hours spent outside of school, what if they could spend that time learning through play in everyday places? Rebecca Winthrop and Jennifer Vey explain why they have teamed up to support the transformation of public spaces into fun, engaging learning opportunities.

Higher Ed:

Plans to create medical school in Valley takes shape

abc30

Creating a medical school in the Valley brought dozens of leaders to UCSF Fresno.

Stanford plans to redirect admissions scandal bribe money to ‘public good’

San Francisco Chronicle

Stanford University, struggling to recover from an admissions scandal, told a federal judge Monday it is working with the state attorney general’s office to find a worthy cause for $770,000 donated by families of would-be recruits to the school’s sailing team, including $610,000 in bribes to the coach.

What Do Students Want From Employers?

WSJ

Hint: Not avocado toast and on-site massages.

Apprenticeships:

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ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

Environment:

Valley temperatures expected near record highs. Cooling centers open, free swimming at pools

Fresno Bee

High pressure weather systems above the Valley are contributing to the spike in heat, while recent low pressure systems, unusual for spring in the region, brought previous spring storms, Andersen said.

See also:

California takes on an ocean of plastic waste, considers crackdown on industry

San Francisco Chronicle

California lawmakers say the state must act to stop plastics from crowding landfills or polluting the ocean. They’ve proposed sweeping legislation to require manufacturers to phase out single-use plastics.

Global warming may reduce fish and other sea life by 17% by the year 2100

Los Angeles Times

The world’s oceans will probably lose about one-sixth of their fish and other marine life by the end of the century if climate change continues on its current path, a new study says.

Some Republican Lawmakers Break With Party on Climate Change

WSJ

Officials favor market-based solutions over government regulations.

House intelligence chairman demands agencies provide documents on White House’s suppression of climate testimony

Washington Post

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) demanded Tuesday that the heads of two federal intelligence agencies provide documents detailing how White House officials sought to edit — and then suppress — written testimony saying that human activities are warming the planet and that the climate changes underway pose a grave national security threat.

Energy:

California electric grid operators issue ‘flex alert,’ ask for conservation

Fresno Bee

The managers of California’s electric grid issued the first “flex alert” of the year Tuesday, urging Californians to conserve energy starting at 4 p.m.

See also:

Tulareans blame utility for thousands in damages

Visalia Times Delta

Residents, insurance agents and the utility are now pointing fingers to determine who is liable for the surge-related damages.

California seeks 100% clean energy. Why PG&E’s bankruptcy could imperil that plan

Merced Sun-Star

California’s crusade to turn its electricity grid green is running into an increasingly serious obstacle: PG&E Corp.’s bankruptcy.

Despite Trump’s ‘burn, burn, burn’ policies, renewable energy capacity now exceeds coal’s

Los Angeles Times

You probably didn’t notice, but April marked a threshold for the nation. For the first time, our capacity for creating electricity from renewable sources crept past that for coal.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Blood donations drop in the summer, officials remind folks to donate

abc30

Each month, the Central California Blood Center tries to collect 5,000 or more units of blood, but during the summer months, the blood center sees a drop in donations.

See also:

Dietary supplements are a waste of money for most seeking to avoid dementia, experts say

Sacramento Bee

Sales of purported brain-health supplements such as fish oil and jellyfish are expected to reach $5.8 billion by 2023.

Daily HIV prevention pill urged for healthy people at risk

Business Journal

Doctors should offer a daily HIV prevention pill to healthy people who are at high risk of getting infected with the virus, an influential health care panel recommended Tuesday.

Vaccines Matter: State Laws That Make It Easier for Parents to Opt Out Can Cause Real Damage | Opinion

Newsweek

Measles cases have reached the highest levels we’ve seen nationwide since the disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. two decades ago. New York City has declared a public health emergency. Two California colleges are quarantining hundreds of students and staff members. And at least six states are proposing legislation to boost vaccination rates by limiting immunization exemptions for school-age children.

‘Patients Will Die’: One County’s Challenge To Trump’s ‘Conscience Rights’ Rule

NPR

Moral and religious objections to providing health care sometimes arise in medicine: A medical assistant might not agree with blood transfusions. A nurse might not want to assist in sex reassignment surgery.

Human Services:

Students from a Merced high school help create a mental health course

Business Journal

When it comes to access to mental health care at public schools, California ranks at or near the bottom according to a Columbia University report. But one Merced high school is going against that tide with an entire course dedicated to mental health. Kids are responding so positively, they’re becoming advocates themselves.

‘Patients Will Die’: One County’s Challenge To Trump’s ‘Conscience Rights’ Rule

Capital Public Radio

California’s Santa Clara County argues that if the rule goes into effect in July, the county will suffer irreparable harm in terms of patient care and staffing costs.

Suspected Cases Of Elder Abuse Still Underreported, Federal Auditors Say

NPR

It can be hard to quantify the problem of elder abuse. Experts believe that many cases go unreported. And Wednesday morning, their belief was confirmed by two new government studies.

Get Rid of Surprise Medical Bills

WSJ

Congress can fight the scourge of out-of-network doctors at in-network hospitals.

IMMIGRATION

A California desert town sees surge in migrants as border crisis worsens

Los Angeles Times

With a historic flow of Central American families fleeing poverty and violence, federal officials earlier this spring began releasing migrants on their own recognizance from inundated detention centers in growing numbers. About 175,000 have left custody since Dec. 21.

Why Trump’s migration deal with Mexico could fail

Politico

Neither the U.S. nor Mexico has offered a detailed plan for how the counter-migration strategy will be implemented.

See also:

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Looking for the best state to live in right now? Look away from California, study says

Sacramento Bee

California may be the most populous state in the United States, but a recent study suggests it may not be the best place to live.

Focusing on the big picture at East Hills Mall

bakersfield.com

After all the drama at East Hills Mall — the slow death, the purchase by local developers, foreclosure proceedings and then an auction that never happened — the question remains: What should be done with the property?

Housing:

Gov. Newsom and legislators at odds over homelessness spending

Los Angeles Times

Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders have agreed to roughly $1 billion in spending to fight California’s growing homelessness problem, but they haven’t yet decided how to divvy up much of that money.

Are McMansions Making People Any Happier?

The Atlantic

Homes have gotten bigger, but Americans aren’t any more pleased with the extra space.

Regulator to Press Congress to Act on Mortgage-Finance Revamp

WSJ

Mark Calabria says it is past time to end government conservatorship of mortgage-finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Seniors were sold a risk-free retirement with reverse mortgages. Now they face foreclosure

USA Today

Urban African American neighborhoods are hardest hit as nearly 100,000 loans have failed.

PUBLIC FINANCES

Treasury limits state and local tax cap workarounds

Bakersfield Californian

The Treasury Department issued final rules Tuesday that would clamp down on taxpayers trying to circumvent a new cap on state and local tax deductions.

See also:

Social Security expansion could shrink economy by $1.6 trillion

Forbes

Put simply, the Social Security 2100 Act means substantially less money for Americans to spend and less tax revenues available for government programs.

TRANSPORTATION

EV charging stations unveiled at Fresno bank to help clean air quality

Fresno Bee

Ten new electric vehicle charging stations for zero emissions vehicles were unveiled at Fresno’s Beneficial State Bank as part of a push by California to increase infrastructure for the state’s growing EV population.

Towing a car can be financially ruinous. Should California cities do it anyway?

Los Angeles Times

Over the objections of anti-poverty advocates, Los Angeles lawmakers on Tuesday came out against legislation that would prevent California cities from towing vehicles left on the street for more than 72 hours.

Proposed measure to defund high speed rail project fails

KUSI News

The proposed ballot measure to effectively defund the California high speed rail project has failed.

No longer the loneliest? Why Oregon’s all-in climate push matters to California

CALmatters

After efforts to unite the West under a carbon-trading program stalled for nearly a decade, Oregon will decide this month whether it wants to follow in California’s footsteps.

Caltrain approves FY2020 operating, capital budgets

Progressive Railroading

Caltrain’s board last week adopted a $155.7 million operating budget and a $47.4 million capital budget for fiscal-year 2020, which begins July 1.

Your airport security line could get longer next year — and TSA officers are not a happy crew

Washington Post

Just in time for the summer travel season comes word that the folks who help keep our skies safe are short-staffed, poorly paid and suffer meager morale. But wait, this situation could get worse.

WATER

High temperatures increase Sierra snowmelt, raises concerns near Kings River

abc30

The sudden heat spell means more snow is melting and running into Pine Flat Lake. The 22-mile long waterway is rising one foot a day, and as a result, more water is being released into the river.

With Updated Budget, Safe Drinking Water Fund Inches Closer To Reality

KVPR

For the first time in two years, legislators in Sacramento may have paved the way toward establishing a statewide safe drinking water fund.

Groundbreaking Dam Removal Moves Forward on the Klamath

PPIC

The Klamath River has seen its native fish populations plunge and its water quality decline, in part because of four hydropower dams built in its middle reach a century ago. In the coming years, these dams will be removed, creating the largest dam removal and river restoration project in the country. We talked to Lester Snow—board president of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation(KRCC) and a member of the PPIC Water Policy Center Advisory Council—about this effort.

“Xtra”

Steam locomotives near Yosemite offer train rides into past, including ‘moonlight special’

Fresno Bee

The railroad’s two steam locomotives, once used for logging, now transport tourists along four miles of railway surrounded by Sierra National Forest.

Join your dad for a 10K in Woodward Park, you both will get root beer floats

abc30

Competitors in the Fresno Father’s Day run will are awarded a medal, a t-shirt and a root beer float served in a custom mug after the race.

Tulare County Fair kicks off 100th anniversary celebration

Porterville Recorder

The Tulare County Fair will celebrate its 100th anniversary in September with online discounts starting this week. Each day starting at noon the Fair will offer special discounts at www.tcfair.org.

Mamma Mia! Opens to rave reviews at Barn Theater

Porterville Recorder

Mamma Mia!, The smash hit musical featuring songs from ABBA, opened at the Barn Theater to rave reviews last weekend. The musical plays for two more weekends, June 14, 15, 21, 22 at 7 p.m. and June 16 at 2 p.m. It is rated PG 13.

Summer zoo camp in session at Chaffee Zoo

Porterville Recorder

Kids are out on summer break, and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo is the place for young animal lovers looking for something exciting and educational to do while school is out.

Forget Corn Dogs – This Bakersfield Festival Serves Up Death Talk And A Crematorium Tour

Valley Public Radio

It turns out the more fat you’ve got, the longer you burn. La Mar, who led the crematorium tour, has an urnful of fun facts like this. “You know the number-one most popular place for scattering cremated remains in the U.S.? Disneyland,” he shouts to an incredulous crowd. “The happiest place on earth!”