June 30, 2021

30Jun

POLICY & POLITICS

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North SJ Valley:

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COVID Update:

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Merced College lost up to $5M revenue due to enrollment decline from COVID-19

Merced Sun-Star

Merced College officials estimate the campus lost anywhere from $4 to $5 million in revenue this year, primarily due to declining enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Stanislaus State programs ranked as best bachelor’s degrees

Turlock Journal

Stanislaus State is no stranger to accolades, and this week three of the university’s undergraduate majors were named among the best in the nation.

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Ceres passes curbside recycling changes. How do rates compare with Turlock and Modesto?

Modesto Bee

Ceres residents can expect to receive a curbside bin for organic waste because the Ceres City Council on Monday approved changes to garbage collection rules.

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In Stanislaus County, patients are waiting 45 minutes for an ambulance. Why so long?

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County leaders are directing attention to a faltering ambulance system in which responses longer than 35 minutes, or even 45 minutes, are happening too often, top officials said.

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Independence Day celebrations are back in Modesto area. Here is where, when to find them

Modesto Bee

American independence will get its day in 2021. That’s unlike 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic shut down community celebrations in the Modesto region.

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Central SJ Valley:

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COVID Update:

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Fresno Yosemite airport unveils new TSA tool for carry-ons. It’ll help ease growing crowds

Fresno Bee

It’s just after 10 a.m. at Fresno Yosemite International Airport and the line for the security check runs several dozens of people deep. It stretches back toward the ticket counters, where there are more lines of people waiting during an increasingly busy summer travel season.

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Fresno City Council Passes ‘Unprecedented’ Budget; Emphasis on Improvement Projects, Public Safety

VPR

Fresno City leaders voted to adopt a $1.4 billion budget Thursday, which some called ‘historic’ for its focus on community improvements in underserved areas of Fresno. ​​ 

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Free Rides Ending Soon; FAX Bus Moving To Hybrid Fare Model In September

VPR

As City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell and I get on the FAX bus at Shaw and Cedar, a cool blast of air greets us. Our fare is free but that ends in September. Maxwell says the zero fare experiment was helpful during COVID, especially for low-income residents without cars.

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Home prices in Fresno, Valley push to new all-time records. See what buyers are paying

Fresno Bee

The median price of a single-family home continues to increase in Fresno, as well as across the Valley and California, reaching new all-time records in much of the central San Joaquin Valley.

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Fresno businesses offering support after fire destroyed warehouse. How you can help

Fresno Bee

Fresno businesses are offering their support for Neighborhood Industries after a fire destroyed the nonprofit’s 30,000-square foot warehouse last weekend.

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Clovis Gets New Affordable Housing Complex

Business Journal

Fresno Housing cut the ribbon on the newest and first-of-its kind property in Clovis – Solivita Commons.

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Planning Commission Approves Permit for Project Near Highway 168

Clovis RoundUp

The plans for a large-scale gas station and drive-thru eateries near the Shaw Avenue exit of Highway 168 are in motion following the latest Clovis Planning Commission meeting.

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Nearly 16,000 illegal fireworks confiscated in Porterville

Porterville Recorder

Over the last month, the Porterville Police Department has collaborated with the Porterville Fire Department and Porterville Code Enforcement in the effort that has led to the confiscation of the fireworks.

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South SJ Valley:

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COVID Update:

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Supervisors approve $3 billion preliminary budget

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern County Board of Supervisors approved a $3 billion preliminary budget on Tuesday that keeps many departments at “status quo” for the next fiscal year.

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CSUB economists will offer local outlook during noon webinar

Bakersfield Californian

Two local economists will offer an analysis of local economic conditions at a noon Wednesday webinar hosted by Cal State Bakersfield's Small Business Development Center.

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BC to offer public health certificate for non-health workers

Bakersfield Californian

Bakersfield College is offering two free one-week online courses this summer that give participants the opportunity to earn a Certificate of Achievement in Public Health.

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KHSD responds to community concerns about transparency at final school boundary forum

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern High School District held its third and final public forum Tuesday night at Golden Valley High School to address its proposed boundary changes prompted by the opening of Del Oro High School in fall 2022.

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Tehachapi welcomes latest changes to high-speed rail plans

Bakersfield Californian

Tehachapi City Hall, once a leading local critic of California's bullet train project, has tentatively given its blessing to plans released Friday for high-speed rail tracks proposed to connect Bakersfield and Palmdale.

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‘Greetings from Bakersfield’: Pose in front of the city’s newest ‘selfie spot’

KGET

The classic “Greetings from Bakersfield” postcard was put on display in two locations at the Bakersfield Visitor Center, located at 515 Truxtun Avenue. One card is on the north side of the building, visible to those driving on Truxtun Avenue.

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Adventist Health to hold hiring event on Tuesday

Bakersfield Now

Adventist Health Bakersfield invites job seekers to an on-site Hiring Event. The event will take place on June 15, 2021 at 8 a.m. to noon at the Adventist Health Bakersfield Medical Office Building (MOB), 2nd floor - 1524 27th St.

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State:

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COVID Update:

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Gov. Gavin Newsom to weigh California's 2022 budget that nixes pandemic cuts

abc30

In some ways, the new spending plan approved by the California Legislature on Monday is about going backward: Back to a time before the pandemic, when California's roaring economy fueled budget surpluses.

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Walters: Data undercut Newsom’s ‘roaring back’ claim

CalMatters

Virtually any utterance from Gavin Newsom’s mouth these days, as well as those from his press office and other outposts of his administration, contains the phrase “roaring back.”

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California Governor sues to get party ID on recall ballot

Bakersfield Californian

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is suing the state elections chief he appointed in an effort to get his party affiliation to appear next to his name on the ballot for a recall election that will determine if the first-term Democrat is forced out of office.

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Gavin Newsom extends California’s eviction ban despite opposition from Realtors and Landlords

Sacramento Bee

Three days before it was set to expire, Newsom extended an eviction moratorium until the end of September and boosted funding for a rent relief program, despite opposition from landlords and realtors who argued the protections have created more problems than they’ve solved.

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More California public employees would get workers’ compensation for skin cancer under bill

Sacramento Bee

California game wardens and park rangers are at elevated risk for skin cancer by the nature of their work outdoors. Now, lawmakers are advancing a bill that would remove barriers to workers’ compensation benefits associated with that diagnosis for them.

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California bans government travel to states with laws deemed discriminatory to LGBTQ people

Los Angeles Times

California is expanding to 17 the number of states to which it is restricting government-financed travel because of laws deemed to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the state attorney general said Monday.

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Rep. Paul Gosar to speak at California College Republicans event despite supremacist ties

Los Angeles Times

Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, whose association with a Holocaust denier and white supremacist generated a new round of controversy on Tuesday, will be the featured speaker at a conference for an offshoot of the California GOP aimed at galvanizing young Republicans.

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A serious man: Can Kevin Faulconer run for governor without the gimmicks?

CalMatters

The former San Diego mayor is trying to use policy proposals to set himself apart from John Cox, Caitlyn Jenner and other recall candidates trying to unseat Gov. Gavin Newsom.

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Federal:

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COVID Update:

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As the West begins to burn, Biden to talk wildfires with Newsom and other governors

Los Angeles Times

President Biden will meet Wednesday with Cabinet officials and leaders from Western states, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, as he faces what could be another devastating year of wildfires with drought conditions worsening and searing temperatures spreading.

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Biden, Senators Agree to Roughly $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan

Wall Street Journal

Biden and a group of 10 centrist senators agreed to a roughly $1 trillion infrastructure plan, securing a long-sought bipartisan deal that lawmakers and the White House will now attempt to shepherd through Congress alongside a broader package sought by Democrats.

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Biden Weighs New Executive Order Restraining Big Business

Wall Street Journal

The Biden administration is developing an executive order directing agencies to strengthen oversight of industries that they perceive to be dominated by a small number of companies, a wide-ranging attempt to rein in big business power across the economy.

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Lawmakers weigh in on proposals to change the Supreme Court

Roll Call

Several members of Congress wanted to make sure the White House commission on the Supreme Court heard their views ahead of the first public hearing Wednesday on the debate over expanding the court beyond its current nine members and other potential overhauls.

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Editorial: The New Racial Discrimination

Wall Street Journal

President Biden’s emphasis on “equity” as a dominant policy goal is already creating new challenges in the federal courts. By equity, Mr. Biden means preferences for some racial groups over others to achieve equal outcomes.

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Poll: 56% of GOP voters say Biden won the 2020 election by voter fraud

The Hill

Fifty-six percent of registered Republican voters in the June 24-25 survey said Biden won the White House because of voter fraud while 25 percent he won fairly and 19 percent remain unsure.

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Other:

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Threats Against Election Officials Are a Threat to Democracy

The New Yorker

For Tina Barton, the death threats began a few days after the general election. At the time, Barton was in her eighth year as the clerk of Rochester Hills, a city of seventy-five thousand in southeastern Michigan, where her many responsibilities included administering elections.

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The critical role of social insurance in the US and policies for reform

Brookings

In 2021, The Hamilton Project began a deep dive into social insurance in the U.S. Our capstone analysis shows that social insurance plays a critical role for workers and families – both in times of crisis and in normal economic times.

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MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

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Sunday, July 4, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "High Speed Rail: Back on Track?" - Guest: Brian Kelly, CEO - CA High Speed Rail Authority; Dan Walters - CalMatters; Tom Richards, Chairman - CA High Speed Rail Authority. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

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Sunday, July 4, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "Reporter's Notebook: High Speed Rail Update"- Guests: Tim Sheehan - Fresno Bee; David Lightman - McClatchy Newspapers. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

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AGRICULTURE/FOOD

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It’s (Central Valley) Some of America’s Richest Farmland. But What Is It Without Water?

New York Times

A California farmer decides it makes better business sense to sell his water than to grow rice. An almond farmer considers uprooting his trees to put up solar panels. Drought is transforming the state, with broad consequences for the food supply.

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Almond Conference will return to in-person format

Turlock Journal

After being forced into a virtual format last year by the coronavirus pandemic, the 49th annual Almond Conference is back in person this December.

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Opinion: Nearly 40% of food produced in the US is wasted. Here’s how we can get it to hungry families

Sacramento Bee

One in four Californians lack sufficient nutrition. Nearly half of all families In Yolo County and more than one-third of all families in the Sacramento region don’t earn enough to meet their basic needs.

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CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

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Crime:

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Nearly 16,000 illegal fireworks confiscated in Porterville

Porterville Recorder

Over the last month, the Porterville Police Department has collaborated with the Porterville Fire Department and Porterville Code Enforcement in the effort that has led to the confiscation of the fireworks.

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Police take ‘wanted’ posters onto social media, nabbing suspects and ruining lives

Los Angeles Times

The wanted poster on the Manhattan Beach Police Department’s Facebook and Instagram pages featuring Matthew Jacques was bad enough.

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California moves to phase out state-run youth prisons, giving counties responsibility

Los Angeles Times

California is phasing out its state-run youth prisons and shifting the responsibility to counties. But supporters and skeptics say there is plenty of uncertainty ahead as the three remaining state-run lockups stop admissions Thursday with plans to close in 2023.

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Public Safety:

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Valley Air District asks residents to just say no to fireworks use

Bakersfield Californian

It may be an uphill battle, but the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is asking nicely anyway.

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●  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ County urges summer, fireworks safety Porterville Recorder

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Opinion: After Derek Chauvin, the culture of law enforcement needs to go on trial

Los Angeles Times

After Friday’s sentencing of Derek Chauvin, I saw a sign that hit me pretty hard: “One down three to go.”

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Fire:

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Do you live in Central CA's most dangerous zones for wildfires?

abc30

The Central Valley's foothill regions are some of the most fire-prone areas in all of California, a new map shows.

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Fresno businesses offering support after fire destroyed warehouse. How you can help

Fresno Bee

Fresno businesses are offering their support for Neighborhood Industries after a fire destroyed the nonprofit’s 30,000-square foot warehouse last weekend.

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As the West begins to burn, Biden to talk wildfires with Newsom and other governors

Los Angeles Times

President Biden will meet Wednesday with Cabinet officials and leaders from Western states, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, as he faces what could be another devastating year of wildfires with drought conditions worsening and searing temperatures spreading.

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Walters: Newsom wildfire prevention claims undercut his credibility again

Modesto Bee

Gavin Newsom’s penchant for extravagant — and ultimately false — promises, predictions and claims of achievement makes him his own worst enemy.

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ECONOMY/JOBS

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Economy:

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CSUB economists will offer local outlook during noon webinar

Bakersfield Californian

Two local economists will offer an analysis of local economic conditions at a noon Wednesday webinar hosted by Cal State Bakersfield's Small Business Development Center.

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States Are Fighting Over How To Use The $195 Billion From The Federal Government

NPR

The Biden administration is doling out an unprecedented amount of money to states across the country. A big fight is already brewing between states and the federal government over how to use that money. NPR's Asma Khalid reports.

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Jobs:

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Adventist Health to hold hiring event on Tuesday

Bakersfield Now

Adventist Health Bakersfield invites job seekers to an on-site Hiring Event. The event will take place on June 15, 2021 at 8 a.m. to noon at the Adventist Health Bakersfield Medical Office Building (MOB), 2nd floor - 1524 27th St.

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Why almost no one is looking hard for a job

Axios

There are around 10 million unemployed Americans and over 9 million open positions. But most people aren't urgently seeking out those jobs.

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Fast-food hiring frenzy

Axios

Frantically trying to hire workers, fast-food franchises are offering aggressive incentives to get candidates in the door.

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This Company Got a $10 Million PPP Loan, Then Closed Its Plant and Moved Manufacturing Jobs to Mexico

ProPublica

Many American businesses received millions in federal pandemic aid intended to protect workers, but exploited loopholes and rule changes to lay off those employees anyway.

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Opinion: Using CARES Act funds for worker reemployment

AEI

Recent reporting out of Indiana provides an interesting example of how states can creatively use CARES Act funding to help residents find training and jobs.

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EDUCATION

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K-12:

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Learning setbacks coming into focus with new testing results

Fresno Bee

The scores from the first U.S. standardized tests taken during the pandemic are offering an early glimpse of just how far students have fallen behind, with some states reporting that the turbulent year has reversed years of academic progress.

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KHSD responds to community concerns about transparency at final school boundary forum

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern High School District held its third and final public forum Tuesday night at Golden Valley High School to address its proposed boundary changes prompted by the opening of Del Oro High School in fall 2022.

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Special ed and high-needs students get windfall in budget deal

CalMatters

California schools are poised to get a record-breaking amount of money in the state budget to help students recover from the 15 months of chaos, virtual classrooms, hybrid schedules and ever-shifting guidance.

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School districts: Academic standards dipped with distance learning

Bakersfield Californian

Talk to any teacher, student or parent, and they will tell you distance learning and other chaos wrought by the pandemic took the focus away from academics. But data is beginning to trickle in for the last school year that demonstrates just that.

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In win for transgender student, Supreme Court refuses to hear case on bathroom ban

Los Angeles Times

The Supreme Court on Monday took another step toward ending discrimination against transgender students by turning down an appeal from a conservative Virginia school board.

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Schools Weigh Discipline After Supreme Court Ruling on Student Speech

Wall Street Journal

Mondays are usually when Bill Ziegler hears about the latest drama unfolding at the suburban Philadelphia high school where he is a principal.

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Higher Ed:

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BC to offer public health certificate for non-health workers

Bakersfield Californian

Bakersfield College is offering two free one-week online courses this summer that give participants the opportunity to earn a Certificate of Achievement in Public Health.

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Merced College lost up to $5M revenue due to enrollment decline from COVID-19

Merced Sun-Star

Merced College officials estimate the campus lost anywhere from $4 to $5 million in revenue this year, primarily due to declining enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Stanislaus State programs ranked as best bachelor’s degrees

Turlock Journal

Stanislaus State is no stranger to accolades, and this week three of the university’s undergraduate majors were named among the best in the nation.

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California lawmakers tout big college spending, but key items get zero dollars this year

CalMatters

Lawmakers say their budget deal with Gov. Gavin Newson will expand enrollment at public universities and create a debt-free grant. But those items aren’t getting a dollar this coming year.

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How Will Student Loan Borrowers Fare After the Pandemic?

PEW

Policymakers acted swiftly last year to help student loan borrowers after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn by pausing most required payments through at least September 2021.

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Geography of College Readiness in California

PPIC

Only about a third of California’s 9th graders make it to and through college—and students from middle- and higher-income families are about twice as likely as their lower-income peers to do so.

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ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

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Environment:

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How polluted is your favorite California beach? Read this report card

Los Angeles Times

Here’s some good news (and then some not-so-good news) for those seeking a summer respite by the sea: Beaches across California are much cleaner than in years past.

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The heat wave shattered records in California, too: 121 in Coachella, 90 in Tahoe

San Francisco Chronicle

The heat wave baking the Pacific Northwest — pushing Portland and Seattle into record-setting triple digit weather on consecutive days last week, also made its way into the northernmost parts of California — according to the National Weather Service.

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Should homeowners pay for climate change?

CalMatters

Insurance companies want to factor climate change in calculating wildfire coverage, but consumer watchdogs worry California homeowners will end up with higher premiums.

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The challenge of decarbonizing heavy industry

Brookings

Heavy industry makes products that are central to our modern way of life but is also responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

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Trees give us life. These fake ones give us TikTok on our cellphones

Los Angeles Times

The demand for calls that never drop and videos that always stream is fueling the growth of these structures, whose fake foliage is meant to obscure the rectangular antennas clustered near their tops.

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Energy:

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Valley residents can cash rebates by trading gas-powered lawn mowers for electric

abc30

You can earn some cashback and help improve the Central Valley's air quality all by simply exchanging your old gas-powered lawn mowers to electrical.

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'Bottom of the Barrel' California Oil Can Be Far More Carbon Intensive Than What State Imports

KQED

A new analysis from an environmental advocacy group highlights a dirty secret about California-produced oil: It is responsible for higher carbon emissions than the oil the state imports.

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Supreme Court won’t sidetrack plans for natural gas pipeline

Los Angeles Times

The Supreme Court sided Tuesday with a pipeline company in a dispute with New Jersey over land the company needs for a natural gas pipeline.

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HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

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Health:

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Do the vaccinated need masks as Delta variant spreads? What experts say of WHO advice

Fresno Bee

The COVID-19 vaccines will never be perfect; fully vaccinated people can still get infected, though they’re much less likely to be hospitalized or die from the disease. Yet, the Delta coronavirus variant first discovered in India has some experts concerned.

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Peer Pressure, Not Politics, May Matter Most When It Comes To Getting The COVID-19 Vaccine

FiveThirtyEight

As the COVID-19 vaccination rate slows down in the U.S. — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about 54 percent of the eligible population was fully vaccinated as of Monday morning — red states are falling behind.

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Human Services:

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In Stanislaus County, patients are waiting 45 minutes for an ambulance. Why so long?

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County leaders are directing attention to a faltering ambulance system in which responses longer than 35 minutes, or even 45 minutes, are happening too often, top officials said.

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California delays funding to handle public health emergencies in new state budget

Sacramento Bee

As lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom approve a new state budget this week that spends a multibillion dollar budget surplus, public health officials who wanted immediate cash to help rebuild their infrastructure were left disappointed.

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More California public employees would get workers’ compensation for skin cancer under bill

Sacramento Bee

California game wardens and park rangers are at elevated risk for skin cancer by the nature of their work outdoors. Now, lawmakers are advancing a bill that would remove barriers to workers’ compensation benefits associated with that diagnosis for them.

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With Workers In Short Supply, Seniors Often Wait Months For Home Health Care

VPR

For years, Louise Shackett has had trouble walking or standing for long periods, making it difficult for her to clean her house in southeastern Maine or do laundry. Shackett, 80, no longer drives, which makes it hard to get to the grocery store or doctor.

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IMMIGRATION

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Supreme Court rules some immigrants facing deportation can be held without bail

Los Angeles Times

The Supreme Court strengthened the government’s power to hold in jail immigrants who face deportation, ruling Tuesday that those who illegally reenter the country have no right to a bond hearing.

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California and Mexico sign agreement to open new border crossing by late 2024

Los Angeles Times

The governments of California and Mexico signed an agreement Monday stating their commitment to work together to open new border crossing at Otay Mesa by late 2024.

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Biden reverses course on Trump’s immigration policies—but will high-skilled workers return?

American Bar Association

One of President Joe Biden’s signature campaign promises was to undo former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Since taking office, Biden has wasted no time, getting rid of several of his predecessor’s proclamations and orders with a similar stroke of the pen.

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LAND USE/HOUSING

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Land Use:

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Planning Commission Approves Permit for Project Near Highway 168

Clovis RoundUp

The plans for a large-scale gas station and drive-thru eateries near the Shaw Avenue exit of Highway 168 are in motion following the latest Clovis Planning Commission meeting.

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Housing:

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Home prices in Fresno, Valley push to new all-time records. See what buyers are paying

Fresno Bee

The median price of a single-family home continues to increase in Fresno, as well as across the Valley & Calif, reaching new all-time records in much of the central San Joaquin Valley.

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Clovis Gets New Affordable Housing Complex

Business Journal

Fresno Housing cut the ribbon on the newest and first-of-its kind property in Clovis – Solivita Commons.

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Gavin Newsom extends California’s eviction ban despite opposition from Realtors and landlords

Sacramento Bee

Three days before it was set to expire, Gov. Newsom extended an eviction moratorium until the end of September and boosted funding for a rent relief program, despite opposition from landlords and realtors who argued the protections have created more problems than they’ve solved.

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PUBLIC FINANCES

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Could $3K child tax credit cause parents to owe IRS more money?

abc30

Families are just two weeks away from getting the first installment of the new child tax credit, but could this lead to families owing more money to the IRS?

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The Ultrawealthy Have Hijacked Roth IRAs. The Senate Finance Chair Is Eyeing a Crackdown.

ProPublica

Sen. Ron Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said he planned to rein in tax breaks for gargantuan Roth retirement accounts after ProPublica exposed how the superrich used them to shield their fortunes from taxes

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Beware the Trojan Horse: Best practices to protect your municipality against ransomware

PublicCEO

Recent ransomware attacks on utilities and municipalities have heightened awareness of the all-too-common threat. Hackers are stealing and disrupting data, shutting down operations — with a shifting focus on critical infrastructure that can impact everyday services and utilities.

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TRANSPORTATION

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Fresno Yosemite airport unveils new TSA tool for carry-ons. It’ll help ease growing crowds

Fresno Bee

It’s just after 10 a.m. at Fresno Yosemite International Airport and the line for the security check runs several dozens of people deep. It stretches back toward the ticket counters, where there are more lines of people waiting during an increasingly busy summer travel season.

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Why do gas prices keep going up? Here’s what to know before Fourth of July weekend

Fresno Bee

After a small dip in gas prices in June, the average cost at the pump is on the rise again just before the Fourth of July.

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Free Rides Ending Soon; FAX Bus Moving To Hybrid Fare Model In September

VPR

As City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell and I get on the FAX bus at Shaw and Cedar, a cool blast of air greets us. Our fare is free but that ends in September. Maxwell says the zero fare experiment was helpful during COVID, especially for low-income residents without cars.

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Amtrak restores pre-pandemic service from Valley to Bay Area. What about Sacramento?

Modesto Bee

Amtrak has restored a fifth daily round trip between Oakland and Bakersfield by way of Modesto. Monday’s restart came about 15 months after COVID-19 forced the cutback on theAmtrak San Joaquin trains.

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California Democrats send Newsom a budget without money for high-speed rail

Fresno Bee

The conspicuous absence of money for high-speed rail in the $262.6 billion budget bill approved Monday by state legislators in Sacramento could have major consequences for construction work of the bullet-train line in Fresno County and the San Joaquin Valley.

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United Airlines Is Buying 270 New Planes In A Massive Bet On The Future Of Travel

VPR

United Airlines is placing a jumbo-sized order of narrow-body aircraft. The company is purchasing 270 new planes from Boeing and Airbus.

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WATER

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As drought ravages California, Biden’s infrastructure bill could help store more water

Fresno Bee

As California and the West suffer through an epic drought, President Joe Biden and Senate Republicans and Democrats have included $5 billion for Western water projects in their infrastructure deal.

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Report: Groundwater Overhaul Could Threaten Drinking Water Of More Than A Million Valley Residents

VPR

As drought settles over the San Joaquin Valley, a new report warns of other circumstances that could result in entire communities losing drinking water.

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California’s Drought Leads to Cutbacks in Marin County but Not in San Diego

Wall Street Journal

At the southern end of California, residents have been assured their water supplies are secure and plentiful despite the state’s severe drought.

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“Xtra”

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Bethany Clough: Two new diverse restaurants and a coffee shop coming to downtown Fresno. Here’s where

Fresno Bee

Another wave of eateries is coming to downtown Fresno, this time with a couple of diverse options. A Vietnamese restaurant, an Ethiopian restaurant and a coffee shop that may be familiar are slated to open before the end of the year.

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‘Definitely we’ll be back.’ Guests applaud Manteca Great Wolf’s delayed grand opening

Modesto Bee

The waterslides are running in Manteca again, as Great Wolf Lodge finally opened its doors to the general public Tuesday.

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Modesto mall loses major retailers, gains new restaurant as it awaits Dave & Buster’s

Modesto Bee

The northwest Modesto shopping center has seen a handful of its major brands leave in what we all hope are the waning days of the pandemic, after surviving the open-closed-open again-closed again roller coaster of the last 15 months.

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Independence Day celebrations are back in Modesto area. Here is where, when to find them

Modesto Bee

American independence will get its day in 2021. That’s unlike 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic shut down community celebrations in the Modesto region.

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Support the Maddy Daily

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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.

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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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This document is to be used for informational purposes only. Unless specifically noted, The Maddy Institute does not officially endorse or support views that may be expressed in the document. If you want to print a story, please do so now before the link expires.

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