June 13, 2019

13Jun

POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

Turlock balances $40M budget by partially closing a fire station, making other cuts

Modesto Bee

The Turlock City Council has approved a spending plan for the upcoming budget year that calls for big reductions in services, including closing one of the city’s four fire stations one third to one half of the time as the city digs itself out from the overspending of the previous council.

Central SJ Valley:

Hear Fresno mayor Lee Brand give State of the City address

Fresno Bee

Fresno mayor Lee Brand gave the annual State of the City address on June 12, 2019.

Mayor urges groups to ‘Keep Fresno Beautiful’ through new initiative tackling trash

Fresno Bee

Fresno Mayor Lee Brand is launching a new initiative called “Keep Fresno Beautiful” that will use public-private partnerships to create programs with the goal of cleaning up the city.

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South SJ Valley:

Hanford Council talks about interim, permanent city manager positions

Hanford Sentinel

The Hanford City Council held a special meeting Monday to discuss the city’s options now that City Manager Darrel Pyle has tendered his resignation.

California’s $213 billion budget focuses on health, homeless

Porterville Recorder

With 2020 looming in the not-too-distant future, Larry Micari has geared up for the next election and has set off on his campaign trial in hopes of being elected to represent Tulare County as the next Board of Supervisors District 1 representative.

State:

California lawmakers poised to approve $214.8 billion budget

Fresno Bee

California lawmakers are poised to approve a framework for a $214.8 billion operating budget on Thursday, the first step in a spending package that seeks to address the teacher shortage, expand health care to some adults living in the country illegally and bolster the state’s top firefighting agency following the most devastating wildfire season in state history.

See also:

California reveals it’s investigating gender-discrimination claims at Riot Games

Los Angeles Times

The scrutiny of Riot Games Inc. over allegations of gender discrimination and sexual harassment at the “League of Legends” video-game maker grew wider Wednesday: California regulators revealed they’re investigating the matter as well.

Not much left to flip: California Democratic House PAC playing defense in 2020

San Francisco Chronicle

A Democratic political action committee that helped party candidates snatch seven California House seats from Republicans in November is going on the defensive for 2020.

California 2020: Census and Elections Are Important to Californians

PPIC

The 2020 Census is fast approaching. With political representation and billions in federal funds on the line, the importance of an accurate count cannot be overstated. Californians recognize this, according to our latest survey—but many have concerns about the confidentiality of the information they provide. Even more Californians say that the 2020 elections are important. Both are critical to the future of the state.

2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Applications Open

CAFWD

The 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission—which will redraw California’s Congressional, Legislative and State Board of Equalization districts—is open for business.

Federal:

Democrats hold Barr, Ross in contempt after Trump asserts privilege over census docs

abc30

President Donald Trump has asserted privilege over census materials subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee, Democrats vote for contempt.

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House Judiciary Committee Approves Funds For Sept. 11 First Responders

Capital Public Radio

The measure is expected to pass the full House. The fund established to compensate sick and dying Sept. 11 first responders is nearing depletion with about 19,000 unpaid claims to address.

Giving Congress a pay raise is politically radioactive. It shouldn’t be

Los Angeles Times

A plan by House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) to engineer a pay raise for members of Congress — whose salaries have been frozen at $174,000 since 2009 — has run aground, at least for now. It’s a reminder that pay increases for elected officials, no matter how modest, are politically radioactive.

Friedman | Connect the Dots to See Where Trump’s Taking Us

The New York Times

Just when you think you’ve seen and heard it all from Donald Trump, he sinks to a new low that leaves you speechless and wondering: Is he crazy, is he evil, is he maniacally committed to unwinding every good thing Barack Obama did, or is he just plain stupid?

Elections 2020:

Defending democratic socialism, Bernie Sanders seeks to reclaim 2020 progressive mantle

Fresno Bee

Sanders’ emphasis on picket-line activism is a reminder, his campaign aides say, of the Vermont senator’s unique grassroots approach to politics — one they are betting will distinguish him in a crowded Democratic presidential field.

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Trump claims his polling is the ‘best’ despite internal polls showing otherwise

abc30

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said his campaign’s internal polling numbers are the “best” ever despite the Trump campaign’s internal polling showing the president behind former Vice President Joe Biden in key 2020 states.

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Kamala Harris says she would protect young immigrants through executive orders

Los Angeles Times

Kamala Harris said Wednesday she would create a path to citizenship for “Dreamers” — those who were brought to the country illegally as children — as well as protect 4 million other immigrants from deportation.

See also:

Kamala Harris: Justice Dept. has ‘no choice’ but to charge Trump if he loses in 2020

Politico

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said the Justice Department would have “no choice” but to charge President Donald Trump with obstruction of justice if he finished his term without being impeached.

Ex-Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz takes ‘detour’ from presidential bid

Los Angeles Times

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says he’s taking a “detour” from a possible independent presidential bid.

Biden Takes On ‘Trump’s Tariffs’

WSJ

The Democrat seems to think protectionism isn’t popular in Iowa.

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More men with babies are running for president, but few face questions about parenting

Roll Call

When a mother with babies or preschoolers runs for office, the question inevitably arises: Who will take care of her kids while she is on the campaign trail? But for many of the men with children under 5 running for president, it’s a question they hardly ever get asked.

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Other:

California blows Florida out of the water as most fun state in the US, ranking says

Fresno Bee

California is the most fun state to visit in the country, according to a new ranking — not that anyone who lives in California needed a ranking to confirm it.

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Friday is Flag Day and it may be a good time to review our flag etiquette

Bakersfield Californian

Friday is Flag Day. Celebrated each year on June 14, the day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress.

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Targeting consumers who skip commercials, brands turn to sponsored documentaries

Fresno Bee

Since the dawn of TV, entertainment and advertising have been closely intertwined. But as technology evolved, more consumers fast-forwarded through ads and cut the cord altogether.

Facebook Worries Emails Could Show Zuckerberg Knew of Questionable Privacy Practices

WSJ

Internal exchanges uncovered in response to FTC probe could cast doubt on founder’s commitment to user privacy, people familiar with the matter say.

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

Violations closed 32 Fresno County restaurants since mid-2018. See the list

Fresno Bee

Almost three dozen restaurants, cafes and eateries across Fresno County were closed for at least a few hours – and sometimes for more than a day – since mid-2018 after health inspectors discovered violations that warranted shutting the places down on the spot until the problems could be fixed.

Driverless tractor takes Valley farmers into the future of harvesting

abc30

This tractor is ready to take farmers and ranchers into the future without a driver. The idea of a driverless tractor came from Connor Kingman while he was working on an autonomous robots project at UC Irvine.

Nelsen reappointed to senior trade policy group

Porterville Recorder

California Citrus Mutual’s Joel Nelsen was reappointed to the Administration’s Fruit & Vegetable Trade Advisory Committee this week as announced by USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer.

Kroger issues recall of frozen fruit that may have been sold in Kern County stores

Bakersfield Californian

Kroger has issued a voluntary recall of some of its frozen berry products due to possible Hepatitis A contamination, according to Kern County Public Health.

Here’s how Santa Barbara County became the unlikely capital of California’s legal pot market

Los Angeles Times

In a sandy draw of the Santa Rita Hills, a cannabis company is planning to erect hoop greenhouses over 147 acres — the size of 130 football fields — to create the largest legal marijuana grow on earth.

OpInion: The best way to help dairy farmers is to get them out of dairy farming

Washington Post

For decades, the federal government has enabled our dairy industry by subsidizing the excess production of cow’s milk even as American consumers drink less of it and we face a glut of 1.4 billion pounds of cheese in storage.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Federal grants may fund researchers with histories of sexual harassment, report finds

Fresno Bee

There’s a real risk that universities and federal agencies “are unknowingly funding researchers with a history of past sexual harassment findings,” Congress’ watchdog reported Wednesday.

California court: Prison pot is OK, if inmates don’t inhale

abc30

A California appeals court says it’s legal to have small amounts of marijuana in prison – so long as inmates don’t inhale.

Watchdog: Thousands of cases of abuse and neglect in nursing facilities unreported despite federal rules

Hanford Sentinel

Nursing facilities have failed to report thousands of serious cases of potential neglect and abuse of seniors on Medicare even though it’s a federal requirement for them to do so, according to a watchdog report released Wednesday that calls for a new focus on protecting frail patients.

‘Hellbent’ on killing: Homicides surge in overwhelmed California jails

Sacramento Bee

This story is part of an ongoing investigation into the crisis in California’s jails.

California Appeals Court Rules Cannabis Possession in Prison Legal

Courthouse News

A California appellate court on Tuesday overturned five men’s convictions for possessing cannabis while in prison.

EDITORIAL: Guantanamo detainees are still trapped in a legal black hole

Los Angeles Times

Seventeen years after the George W. Bush administration began to imprison suspected terrorists at a U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and 10 years after then-President Obama announced his intention to close the facility, 40 men remain incarcerated at Guantanamo.

Public Safety:

Local authorities partner with Amazon Ring to solve crimes

abc30

Those Amazon Ring doorbell videos have helped authorities catch many suspects in the act of committing a crime.

‘For the right people there’s no better job.’ Atwater CHP officer retires after 30 years

Merced Sun-Star

California Highway Patrol officer retires after working 30 years. Officer worked in six different offices, including Modesto and Merced during his time in uniform.

Treating patients sooner: EMTs, often first at the scene, to provide more services

Modesto Bee

A new state mandate requires emergency medical technicians to receive advanced training that brings them closer to the skill level of paramedics.

Fire:

Trump’s wildfire plan eases environmental law to speed forest thinning in California

Fresno Bee

The Trump administration is proposing new regulations it argues could help prevent wildfires — but could also open up more federal land to logging and mineral exploration.

No growth for Sand Fire, now 80% contained, as fire crews work to extinguish hot spots

Sacramento Bee

Firefighters are working to extinguish hot spots in the Sand Fire in Yolo County, as calm winds have helped minimize fire behavior, Cal Fire said in an update Wednesday morning.

More Wildfires Bring Focus On How All That Smoke May Harm Firefighters

Valley Public Radio

As wildfires have grown more frequent and intense in recent years, communities have complained about the health impact of all that smoke, and the economic hit to recreation and tourism. But residents can seek relief by staying indoors and using air filters or masks.

EDITORIAL: PG&E’s hot weather power shutoffs signal the start of a new normal in California

San Francisco Chronicle

California’s blackouts are back. During the past, very hot weekend, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. preemptively shut off power to tens of thousands of customers in five Northern California counties.

ECONOMY / JOBS

Economy:

Banks and tech stocks drag market to a modest loss

Los Angeles Times

Stocks on Wall Street closed modestly lower Wednesday, handing the market its second straight loss.

AT&T got a tax windfall and gave me a lay-off notice

CALmatters

I was a premises technician at AT&T who installed cable and internet services in our customers’ homes. I’m proud that I helped make AT&T a leading, reliable telecommunications provider in the Sacramento area.

U.S. EPA announces $600,000 in Brownfields grant to promote economic redevelopment in Fresno

U.S. EPA News Releases

Approximately $64.6 million to be awarded nationwide.

U.S. Consumer Prices Edged Higher in May

WSJ

Gasoline prices posted a decline, after three months of strong increases.

The Fed Needs to Be the Adult in the Economy

WSJ

Amid unpredictable actors, Chairman Powell must project calm and stability as he weighs three distinct risks requiring different and highly nuanced judgments.

A Buyout Won’t Solve Saks Owner’s Real Issue: Department Stores Are Dying

WSJ

A retail empire builder bets one more deal can save Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor from themselves.

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Jobs:

Extreme heat creates dangerous conditions for outdoor workers

abc30

The Valley’s climate is great for all the different produce grown locally but the long hot summers can be dangerous for those who harvest the fields and pick our fruits and vegetables.

Who are the best employers in California? Some of them are in Sacramento, Forbes says

Sacramento Bee

Several local companies get high rankings in a new Forbes list of the best employers to work for in California. Top billing went to the Washington-based warehouse chain Costco.

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Uber, Lyft say making drivers employees would ‘pose a risk to our businesses’

Los Angeles Times

Uber and Lyft launched a public campaign Wednesday to pressure California lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom into exempting them from pending legislation that would force them to classify drivers as employees.

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Employers Help Workers Build Household-Emergency Funds

WSJ

Levi Strauss and SunTrust among companies encouraging setup of rainy-day accounts, reflecting 401(k) and productivity concerns.

EDUCATION

K-12:

Fresno Unified a ‘hostile environment for black students,’ ACLU says

Fresno Bee

The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California addressed Fresno Unified board members Wednesday, calling the district a “hostile environment for black students,” and demanding it take action.

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Poverty, isolation drive students away from school in California’s rural districts

Fresno Bee

Statewide, more than 700,000 students, or about 11 percent, were chronically absent. About 10 percent of the 1,000 districts statewide had rates near the level of Oroville Union High’s or significantly higher.

Gavin Newsom’s budget aims to spare California schools from some pension pain

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first state budget frees up hundreds of millions of dollars for financially strapped schools by easing pressure on their pension rates and steering some additional money to them for special education programs.

Fresno Unified, Teachers Agree on Historic 3-Year Contract

GV Wire

The Fresno Teachers Association and Fresno Unified School District have reached tentative agreement on a three-year contract that runs through June 2022.

BCSD board appoints new curriculum and instruction director, says goodbye to one of its own

Bakersfield Californian

It was the beginning for a curriculum and instruction director and the end of a board member’s term during Tuesday night’s Bakersfield City School District board meeting.

California’s budget deal takes a step toward universal preschool

EdSource

One of the most novel aspects of the budget agreement is that all 4-year-olds living in neighborhoods where most children attending the local school are low-income would be eligible for state-subsidized preschool, regardless of their own family’s incomes.

Do current Democratic politics spell doom for charter schools?

Brookings

Several 2020 Democratic candidates have abandoned their previous support for charter schools in favor of skepticism or outright opposition. Douglas Harris examines what has caused this leftward shift and what effect it may have on the expansion of charter schools in America.

Higher Ed:

Apprenticeships:

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

Environment:

Jerry Brown’s new gig: Launching a California-China climate change institute at UC Berkeley

Fresno Bee

Even in retirement, Jerry Brown is still trying to save the world. In his second stint as California governor, Brown warned repeatedly that climate change threatened human existence and stressed the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Cal OES Director Talks About Fire, Floods And Earthquakes

Capital Public Radio

California is at the epicenter of major natural and human created disasters. At the top of that list are fires, floods and earthquakes. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services — more commonly known as Cal OES — does a number of different things.

Here’s how city dwellers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming

Los Angeles Times

It’s no secret that city folk like to eat, shop and travel. But all that consumption adds up to a hefty climate bill. On the flip side, that means urbanites have a lot of power to rein in greenhouse gas emissions.

Forest Service seeks to exempt some logging and mining from environmental review rules

Los Angeles Times

The U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday announced plans to narrow the scope of a major environmental law, allowing the agency to fast-track activity throughout the national forest system without undergoing environmental review.

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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.

Six items that people try to recycle, but shouldn’t

San Francisco Chronicle

Bad recycling habits have consequences: Trash thrown into blue bins can soil and contaminate entire truckloads of otherwise reusable material.

White House blocks climate testimony by ex Cal Poly professor San Luis Obispo Tribune

A former Cal Poly professor recently testified before the House Intelligence Committee on the significant risk of climate change to national security — but his written testimony was blocked by the White House when it did not align with the Trump administration’s stance, according to news reports.

Global carbon emissions hit another record

Daily chart

To avert climate catastrophe, the power sector needs a more sustainable energy mix.

This is a $15 trillion opportunity for farmers to fight climate change

CNBC

Indigo Agriculture believes capturing carbon dioxide from agricultural soil is an effective way to reduce global warming on a massive scale. On Wednesday it launched the Terraton Initiative that includes a carbon market that gives farmers incentives to implement regenerative practices that remove carbon from the atmosphere.

The new plan to remove a trillion tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere: Bury it

Washington Post

Last month, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere surpassed 415 parts per million, the highest in human history. Environmental experts say the world is increasingly on a path toward a climate crisis. The most prominent efforts to prevent that crisis involve reducing carbon emissions. But another idea is also starting to gain traction — sucking all that carbon out of the atmosphere and storing it underground.

Could Trees Be the New Gravestones?

New York Times

A California start-up wants to “redesign the entire end-of-life experience.” The answer to “eternity management”? Forests.

Energy:

Fresno bank unveils electric-vehicle chargers

Business Journal

Beneficial State bank in Fresno, 170 W. Shaw Ave., has installed 10 new electric vehicle (EV) chargers available to the public.

Energy Commission Awards $31 Million to Support Clean Energy Entrepreneurs

California Energy Commission

$6 million also awarded for EV ridesharing and electric bus manufacturing.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Valley women bringing fitness to people across the globe

abc30

Two Valley women want to bring fitness to people across the globe. Hillery and Angie Gunner are two Buchanan high school grads who are running their own online fitness business. People can access the classes from their phone or computer with a monthly membership.

Extreme heat more dangerous for elderly

abc30

As the hot June sun continues to beat down on the valley a certain group of people find themselves more at risk than others.

The Swap: Less Processed Meat, More Plant-Based Foods May Boost Longevity

Capital Public Radio

A new study of 80,000 people finds that those who ate the most red meat — especially processed meats such as bacon and hot dogs — had a higher risk of premature death compared with those who ate less.

Human Services:

Treating patients sooner: EMTs, often first at the scene, to provide more services

Modesto Bee

“We have some very, very well-trained EMTs and I think this allows them to be more than just a driver.”

CASA of Kern County now able to serve over 3,000 children with new advocates

Bakersfield Californian

CASA of Kern County, a nonprofit organization that provides abused and neglected children with a highly-trained advocate to speak on their behalf throughout court proceedings, is that voice.

Budget Deal’s Big Health Care Changes: Middle Class Subsidies On Covered California, And A State Individual Mandate

capradio.org

California lawmakers are expected to approve a state budget Thursday that would make the state the first in the nation to help middle-class consumers purchase health insurance on Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange created under the Affordable Care Act.

Get rid of surprise medical bills

WSJ

An estimated 51 percent of ambulance rides, 22 percent of emergency-department trips, and 9 percent of elective cases, in which patients have time for due diligence, lead to surprise bills. These typically come from providers that refuse to join insurance networks so they can charge astronomical fees.

IMMIGRATION

Decade-long decline of unauthorized immigrants hits new low of 10.5M, report finds

abc30

The number of unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. hit a new low in 2017, according to estimates released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center.

As Migrants Stream In At The Border, Inland Checkpoints Feel The Strain

Capital Public Radio

“They’re making a run at us every day,” says one Border Patrol agent who runs a checkpoint an hour’s drive north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

See also:

Family files claim against ICE after transgender asylum seeker dies

San Francisco Chronicle

CE employees ignored a Salvadoran asylum seeker’s request for medical treatment while she was in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention, according to a claim filed on her family’s behalf. The transgender woman died of pneumonia June 1.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Mayor urges groups to ‘Keep Fresno Beautiful’ through new initiative tackling trash

Fresno Bee

Fresno Mayor Lee Brand is launching a new initiative called “Keep Fresno Beautiful” that will use public-private partnerships.

Yosemite bike paths: Bicycling among CA park’s best secrets

Fresno Bee

It’s not exactly a newsflash that Yosemite Valley is one of the best places on Earth to go hiking. But what people might not realize is that this incomparable landmark is also a great place to go biking. Yes, biking.

Public meeting held for Willow widening project

Clovis Round Up

On June 11, a public meeting was held at Clovis North’s multi-purpose room to discuss the Willow Avenue Widening Project.

A Little City Takes on the Big Job of Building Housing and Infrastructure

Zocalo Square

Officials in La Verne, a small city of 32,000 in east Los Angeles County, don’t like to be on the leading edge in establishing new policies.

Housing:

The interest rate on these loans can top 100% in California. Does a 36% cap solve the problem?

Sacramento Bee

For California borrowers trapped in loans with triple-digit interest rates, a proposed bill to impose a 36% cap might seem like a godsend.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislators are at odds over spending to address homelessness

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.

Housing Crunch Sends Bigger Populations to Small Towns

PEW

“Jobs need beds,” so tech workers moved to cheaper towns.

PUBLIC FINANCES

Clovis City Council approves 2019-2020 fiscal year budget

Clovis Round Up

Clovis City council members recently convened during their June 10 meeting. The meeting covered the 2019-2020 City of Clovis Annual Budget.

Sacramento County approves $4.4 billion budget – with deep cuts

Sacramento Bee

As part of the staff-recommended spending plan, about 189 vacant full-time positions will be eliminated, most affecting the departments of human assistance and child, family and adult services. That includes 27 full-time social workers, which may put more pressure on an agency that still struggles to address regular turnover, a high vacancy rate and large caseloads.

Social Security Is Staring at Its First Real Shortfall in Decades

The New York Times

A slow-moving crisis is approaching for Social Security, threatening to undermine a central pillar in the retirement of tens of millions of Americans.

Newsom engages in new soda talks, points to SF tax efforts

Politico

After resounding victories by the soda industry this legislative session, Gov. Gavin Newsom told POLITICO on Tuesday that he’s participating in new talks on a 2020 initiative that would target the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.

So Far, Real Estate Dominates a Tax Break Meant for Businesses

The Pew Charitable Trusts

Members of Congress who pushed for the “opportunity zone” provision in the 2017 federal tax law said it would help businesses and entrepreneurs in low-income communities. The tax break rewards investors for spending capital gains on businesses or real estate in more than 8,000 economically distressed neighborhoods selected by governors.

TRANSPORTATION

Ranchos residents upset with Avenue 12 crowding

Madera Tribune

Avenue 12 is presently heavily impacted by an upswing in traffic utilizing Avenue 12 East and West. Madera residents believe that this onslaught of increased traffic will become greater with the proposed establishment of a hospital on the Northeast corner of 41 and Avenue 12 along with another proposed 700-plus homes on 41 between Avenue 12 and Avenue 14.

Final phase of Centennial Corridor project officially gets underway

Bakersfield Californian

The end is in sight for a project that, when completed, will have been more than 15 years in the making. The city of Bakersfield held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday on the new Mohawk Street bridge to celebrate the start of the final phase of the Centennial Corridor project.

Fox: The CA Bullet Train is Not Dead, Just Ask Joe Biden

Fox & Hounds

In the pundit and prognostication business you sometimes have to own up when you get a prediction wrong and I find myself in that place in relation to California’s high-speed rail. Less than a month ago, I wrote a column under the headline: Don’t Look for the Next President to Rescue the Bullet Train.

WATER

Dangers lurk beneath Merced River’s fast-flowing waters

abc30

It’s getting hotter outside. The snow is melting, and the rivers are flowing. On Wednesday morning the dive team was patrolling the Merced River looking for any hazards that might affect rescue efforts during the summer months.

California Looks To Clean Air Funds To Pay For Clean Drinking Water

Capital Public Radio

Overall, more than a million Californians don’t have access to clean drinking water. But advocates are hoping that could change with a major increase in state funding coming in the next budget.

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“Xtra”

Fresno museum hosting annual jazz and blues exhibit as part of Juneteenth celebration

Fresno Bee

The African-American Historical and Cultural Museum is hosting their annual Jazz and Blues exhibit, which kicks off with a celebration party 6 p.m. Saturday.

Merced County agencies support Special Olympics during annual Law Enforcement Torch Run

Merced Sun-Star

Livingston police participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run to support Special Olympics in Livingston, Calif., on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. The torch set off from UC Merced Wednesday morning and multiple Merced County agencies participated.

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