POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Tired of seeing mattresses tossed into alleys or secluded roads? Merced has plans for that
Merced Sun-Star
In an attempt to get people to stop dumping old mattresses and broken couches in alleyways or secluded dead-end Merced streets, city leaders are working on a plan to transport that junk to the landfill for free.
Merced Doctors Issue Prescriptions For Food Under New Program Addressing Family Hunger, Health
Capital Public Radio
The prescription is a voucher that a family can use to receive a 30-pound box of groceries at the Merced County Food Bank.
Central SJ Valley:
Devin Nunes sued a parody account with about 1,000 followers. Here’s how many it has now
Fresno Bee
In suing two Twitter parody accounts for defamation, Rep. Devin Nunes amplified their audiences. One of the accounts, known as Devin Nunes’ Cow, saw its followers on Twitter swell from just over a thousand to more than 135,000 in less than a day after the Republican congressman from Tulare announced his lawsuit on Fox News.
See also:
● Nunes targets Twitter, ‘spoof’ accounts in $250 million lawsuit Visalia Times Delta
● Rep. Nunes sues Twitter for $250 million over parody account of his disgruntled ‘cow’ Los Angeles Times
● Devin Nunes faces long odds in lawsuit against Twitter San Francisco Chronicle
● Devin Nunes’ undercooked beef with Twitter San Francisco Chronicle
● Devin Nunes’ cow goes viral San Francisco Chronicle
● Devin Nunes sued a parody account with about 1,000 followers. Here’s how many it has now McClatchy
Effort to improve Fresno air quality underway. Will district blow off committee’s vote?
Fresno Bee
In 2017, when politicians extended the state’s cap-and-trade program, they passed AB 617 as a companion measure. The law requires the California Air Resources Board and local air districts take specific actions for reducing air pollution and toxic air contaminants in 10 heavily burdened communities.
New ordinance would ticket Fresno drivers passing food, money to panhandlers
Abc30
City Council member Steve Brandau is proposing an ordinance to stop anyone in a car from giving money or food to anyone standing within 200 yards of an intersection.
South SJ Valley:
Hanford Sentinel
Laton will hold two meetings on March 20th to discuss possibilities of applying for a Fresno County Department of Public Works grant and gain ideas for possible projects.
50% increase found in county’s homeless population over last year
Bakersfield Californian
Kern County’s most recent survey of its homeless population revealed a 50 percent increase over last year’s numbers, the Kern County Homeless Collaborative reported Tuesday.
In this year’s point-in-time count, volunteers found 1,330 people experiencing homelessness, a large jump from 2018’s result of 885.
State:
California Chief Justice Lays Out Goals For Equal Access To State’s Courts
Capital Public Radio
Tani Cantil-Sakauye says fines and fees should “no longer fall on those least able to afford them” and that minor traffic offenses shouldn’t “turn poor drivers into poor criminals.”
Walters: Democrats defying the will of voters
CALmatters
Having achieved total domination of the Capitol, Democratic politicians clearly resent sharing lawmaking authority with voters. We have seen numerous attempts to kneecap the initiative process. We’ve seen Democratic attorneys general twist the ballot wording of measures they oppose, such as last year’s effort to repeal new gas taxes, and we’ve seen those attorney generals and governor refuse to defend voter-approved initiatives in court.
Capital Public Radio
Known as “behested contributions,” the donations to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s inaugural committee and a wildfire relief charitable fund are entirely legal, but raise questions of conflicts of interest according to political ethics experts.
Republicans rally in Orange County after 2018 debacle
San Francisco Chronicle
Democrats might want to cut short the victory laps that started when Orange County flipped four Republican-held congressional seats in November.
PPIC
Nearly one in nine Californians is a member of a public pension program. California’s largest public pensions have significant unfunded liabilities.
Federal:
Trump To Nominate Former Delta Air Lines Executive To Lead FAA
Capital Public Radio
The nomination of Stephen Dickson comes as the agency faces criticism for its response to crashes involving the Boeing 737 Max.
See also:
● Trump announces pick for FAA, an ex-Delta executive, as agency faces new scrutiny Los Angeles Times
● Trump taps former Delta pilot to lead FAA amid turmoil Politico
Trump expected to nominate Washington attorney Christopher Landau as U.S. ambassador to Mexico
Los Angeles Times
President Trump is expected to nominate a Washington attorney, Christopher Landau, to be the next United States ambassador to Mexico, the White House said Monday night.
How Congress might rewrite Trump’s budget
Roll Call
The president has proposed deep cuts to planned spending in Medicare and Medicaid, while trying to uphold austere limits on nondefense discretionary spending. But Congress is already talking about a rewrite. CQ’s Kellie Mejdrich explains what lawmakers might have in mind.
Nancy Pelosi pushes back on Democratic critics of her impeachment stance
USA Today
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed fellow Democrats who say she has set the bar too high for impeachment of President Donald Trump.
In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY, Pelosi said some House progressives have “wanted to impeach the president since the day he got elected.”
See also:
· Democrats should really shut up about packing the Supreme Court LA Times
· How House Democrats pulled a bait and switch on impeaching Donald Trump Sacramento Bee
· The Enduring Timidity of the Democratic Party The New Republic
House GOP is down to 13 women. Will North Carolina special elections boost their ranks?
Roll Call
The number of Republican women in the chamber is at a new low with just 13 in the 116th Congress, down from 23 the previous session. About 100 GOP women ran for the House in the 2018 cycle, but many of them struggled to get through primaries.
Trump’s 9th Circuit court nominee doesn’t live in California. Some say that’s a problem
Sacramento Bee
9th Circuit Court of Appeals nominee Daniel Bress was born and raised in Gilroy, Calif., but has lived all but one year of his adult life on the East Coast. California’s Democratic senators, Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, argue that should disqualify Bress from filling a California-based vacancy on the court, the largest and busiest in the country.
OPINION: Another Ninth Circuit Reversal
Wall Street Journal
The Supreme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals again Tuesday in an immigration case that turned on a clear-cut question of statutory interpretation. While the 5-4 conservative majority read the law as it was written, the Court’s liberals would have overruled Congress.
Elections 2020:
Money, power and data: Inside Trump’s re-election machine
CNN
In almost every way, the effort to re-elect Trump is a stark contrast to the insurgent, chaotic bid that propelled him to the White House in 2016. Moving out of the bare-bones production offices of “The Apprentice” in Trump Tower and into shiny, modern offices in the Washington suburbs is just the beginning.
A political awakening: How Howard University shaped Kamala Harris’ identity
Los Angeles Times
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has been known to break the ice with voters by proclaiming the freshman-year campaign in which she won a seat on the Liberal Arts Student Council her toughest political race. Those who were at the university with her are not so sure she is kidding.
See also:
● Kamala Harris to visit a critical county in first Texas visit Sacramento Bee
Klobuchar taking a centrist path to the White House
San Francisco Chronicle
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is often painted at the centrist in the 2020 Democratic field. But she said she supports bold moves. “I’m also being honest about trying to find common ground where we can.”
Beto-mania is proof that cult-of-personality politics is our new normal
Los Angeles Times
Robert “Beto” O’Rourke’s biggest fans and supporters insist he is a forward-thinking, future-oriented visionary, but no contender for the Democratic nomination feels more familiar than the former three-term congressman from El Paso.
Democratic debate on LGBTQ issues will be held in California
San Francisco Chronicle
California will host at least one presidential debate. UCLA and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation will co-host a forum focusing on how to “move LGBTQ equality forward” in October in Los Angeles.
OPINION: The Illogic of Slavery Reparations at This Late Date
Wall Street Journal
Sen. Elizabeth Warren told a town-hall audience in Jackson, Miss., Monday that “it’s time to start the national, full-blown conversation” about slavery reparations for blacks. Come again? Compensating black Americans for past oppression has been a subject of discussion for decades. The senator’s problem is that large majorities of the public have consistently opposed reparations, not that we don’t talk about it.
The Esquire Interview: Mayor Peter Buttigieg
Esquire
Like seemingly every other Democrat in or out of office, Peter Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is running for president. A week ago Buttigieg—it’s pronounced like “Buddha-jidge,” but everyone calls him Mayor Pete—had a breakout moment during a CNN forum when he was asked about Mike Pence.
Campus collision course: 2020 Democrats battle for the youth vote
McClatchy
The 2020 campaign has arrived on college campuses—and at a few high schools—as Democratic presidential candidates scramble to establish relationships with young people, aiming to cultivate volunteers and stoke enthusiasm before school lets out for the summer.
Who’s Running in the 2020 Election?
Wall Street Journal
Democrats have one of the most crowded primaries in modern history, with a record number of women running in the diverse field. Here is a closer look at who’s running — and who may still join the race.
Joe Biden Tells Supporters He Plans 2020 Bid
Wall Street Journal
Former Vice President Joe Biden told at least a half-dozen supporters Tuesday he intends to run for president and asked for their help in lining up contributions from major donors so he can quickly raise several million dollars, a person familiar with the matter said.
OPINION: Targeting the Electoral College
Wall Street Journal
Last week we wrote about Democratic ambitions to pack the Supreme Court. This week the Electoral College is on the chopping block as Senator Elizabeth Warren comes out in favor of its abolition, Beto O’Rourke makes sympathetic noises and Colorado’s Democratic Governor signs a bill adding his state to the “National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.” Scrapping the system the U.S. has used to select Presidents since its founding will likely soon be the Democrats’ default position.
Other:
For Women’s History Month, Millennial Leaders Reflect On Their Work And Who Inspires Them
VPR
March is Women’s History Month, and here at Valley Public Radio, we wanted to spend a part of it talking to women who are young leaders here in the Central Valley.
Coping With The Persistent Trauma Of Anti-Muslim Rhetoric And Violence
Capital Public Radio
After the New Zealand terrorist attacks, mental health professionals are asking: What does persistent trauma do to a generation of young Muslims growing up in the midst of it all?
Facebook Halts Ad Targeting Cited in Bias Complaints
New York Times
After years of criticism, Facebook announced on Tuesday that it would stop allowing advertisers in key categories to show their messages only to people of a certain race, gender or age group.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Midwest floods disrupt livestock feed supplies for California farms
Fresno Bee
Some farms, dairies and feed companies in the San Joaquin Valley are facing shortages of livestock feed supplies after deadly river flooding in the Midwest closed major railroad shipping corridors in recent days.
See also:
● Midwest flooding could have impact on Valley livestock abc30
● Floodwaters threaten millions in US crop and livestock losses Stockton Record
California olive growers facing losses get offer of new buyer
Fresno Bee
California olive growers saw some contracts from Bell-Carter Foods canceled, while the Musco Family Olive Company says it has offered to buy olives, particularly ones that are mechanically harvested.
See also:
● Tariff loophole could harm South Valley olive growers abc30
● Olive farmers hit by $40M ‘tariff loophole’ Visalia Times Delta
● ‘Tariff loophole’ blamed in $40 million loss to olive farmers in Tulare County Visalia Times Delta
● Cannery Ends Long-Time Contracts With Tulare County Olive Growers: Cheaper To Import From Spain VPR
Recreational marijuana dispensary to open in Farmersville this year
abc30
The small Tulare County city of Farmersville will be home to one of the Central San Joaquin Valley’s next recreational marijuana dispensaries.
See also:
● California is growing so much marijuana it could crash the market Fresno Bee
No chickens at the Stanislaus County Fair: Disease discovery leads to canceled shows
Modesto Bee
In light of the so-called virulent Newcastle disease being discovered in Northern California, the board of the Stanislaus County Fair has decided to cancel all poultry shows for this summer’s livestock program.
Rogers selected for Almond Leadership Program
Porterville Recorder
The Almond Board of California (ABC) chose Porterville-area resident Dylan Rogers to participate in the 2019 Almond Leadership Program. Rogers joins a class of 19 promising leaders representing diverse backgrounds across multiple industries.
Delano-area grape grower plans downsizing, land sale to Wonderful
Bakersfield Californian
Well-known Kern County grape grower Vincent B. Zaninovich & Sons Inc. will close a substantial share of its business after negotiating to sell land in the Delano area to Los Angeles-based ag giant The Wonderful Co.
As Home-Cooked Cottage-Food Industry Grows, States Work to Keep Up
PEW
As more consumers shop at farmers markets and “eat local,” U.S. local food
sales, including cottage-food sales, have soared from $5 billion annually in
2008 to a projected $20 billion this year, according
to former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Emotional testimony from a Clovis widow changed ‘hearts and minds’ in her fight for justice
Fresno Bee
A bill seeking to strengthen penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an injury crash won support Tuesday from several key members of the Assembly following emotional testimony from the wife of the Clovis man whose death inspired the legislation.
See also:
● Words from the heart help sway lawmakers to take closer look at ‘Gavin’s Law’ abc30
Prop 57 casts cloud over family of murdered Madera teen, killer could be released
abc30
Prop 57 changed the rules when it comes to juvenile defendants. Prosecutors used to be able to file cases directly to adult criminal courts, but now they have to convince a judge the crime was serious enough and the teenager was sophisticated enough to face trial as an adult.
True: California has ‘largest death row in the Western Hemisphere’
PolitiFact
In 2016, we fact-checked a similar claim by the Yes on 62 campaign to abolish the death penalty in California. We rated it True. In this fact check, we’ll examine the current numbers and explain whether this statement, repeated by Newsom, remains accurate.
OPINION: Private prisons are archaic and cruel. California needs to stop using them
Los Angeles Times
Between 2000 and 2016, the number of people housed in private prisons in the United States increased by 47% compared with an overall rise in the prison population of 9%, according to an analysis from the Sentencing Project.
EDITORIAL: The insanity defense isn’t available in every state. It should be
Los Angeles Times
A longstanding principle of Anglo-American law is that a defendant shouldn’t be held criminally responsible for his behavior if mental illness made it impossible for him to tell right from wrong.
Public Safety:
Statewide News Collaboration Unseals Public Records On Police Misconduct, Use Of Force
VPR
A new police transparency law, SB1421, requires police departments to make public internal investigation records regarding officer misconduct and use of force. Now more than 30 news agencies statewide, including Valley Public Radio, are collaborating to request and report on these records.
See also:
● Even With New Disclosure Law, Fight Continues To Unseal California’s Secret Police Files Capital Public Radio
● LAist Joins Newsrooms Across California To Shine Light On Long-Secret Police Records LAist
Tulare County man shot by police, paralyzed, to get $2.5 million in lawsuit settlement
Fresno Bee
A $2.5 million settlement was reached in a federal civil rights lawsuit involving a 19-year-old who became paralyzed after being shot by police in Woodlake.
See also:
● Exeter man shot by police wins $2.25M lawsuit Visalia Times Delta
Chowchilla PD: Protective fence needed following attempted ambush
abc30
The incident was caught on camera. A man was arrested outside the Chowchilla Police Department after he tried to ambush an officer with a knife. Now, Commander Jeff Palmer says they’re working to get a fence around the department.
County settles lawsuit with estate of man who killed himself at Lerdo Jail for $2 million
Bakersfield Californian
Kern County has agreed to pay the estate of a man who died by suicide in Lerdo Jail $2 million as part of a lawsuit settlement.
Here are 263 reasons to support this gun safety bill. But one is enough
CALmatters
Between 2010 and 2017, 4,800 stolen firearms were recovered from crime scenes in California. In that same time period, more than 71,000 firearms were reported lost or stolen in our state. Not only are lost or stolen firearms a factor in homicides, assaults, and burglaries, they’re increasingly being used in suicides, particularly youth suicides.
EDITORIAL: A long-shot Connecticut lawsuit might finally hold the gun industry accountable
Los Angeles Times
It’s bad enough that Congress allows military assault-style weapons to be sold to the general public, making instruments of mass carnage available for the price of a laptop computer. Making matters worse, lawmakers have granted the gun industry near-blanket protection from liability for the damage inflicted with their weapons.
Fire:
A glance at the new Merced fire chief and the department
Merced Sun-Star
Born and raised in Merced, Billy Alcorn is the new Merced City Fire Department chief. Interim chief since November, Alcorn started as a firefighter in the Merced department in 2004. His first day as permanent chief is March 25.
How PG&E Ignored California Fire Risks in Favor of Profits
New York Times
Five of the 10 most destructive fires in California since 2015 have been linked to PG&E’s electrical network. Regulators have found that in many fires, PG&E violated state law or could have done more to make its equipment safer.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Stocks give up early rally, ending S&P 500’s win streak
Los Angeles Times
U.S. stock erased early gains Tuesday and closed nearly flat, ending the Standard & Poor’s 500 index’s weeklong rally.
Economic Report of the President
Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisors
The United States economy has created 5.3 million jobs since I was elected to office. Wage growth continued in 2018, with the lowest-earning workers experiencing the strongest gains. By the fourth quarter of 2018, real disposable personal income per household was up more than $2,200 from the end of 2017. The national unemployment rate reached a nearly 50-year low of 3.7 percent in September 2018, hovering at or below 4 percent for 11 consecutive months— the longest streak in nearly five decades.
Jobs:
Washington Post
Facebook on Tuesday agreed to overhaul its lucrative targeted advertising system to settle accusations that landlords, lenders and employers use the platform to discriminate, a significant shift for a company that built a business empire on selling personal data.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Sanger High School students learn what it takes to be a Navy SEAL
abc30
The Navy’s Virtual Reality Simulator visited Sanger High School, for the first time. For two days students of all grade levels get the chance to interactively learn about the military.
North Fork eighth graders repeat as Madera County Pentathlon champions
Sierra Star
The 2019 Madera County Academic Pentathlon crowned Sherman Thomas STEM Academy and North Fork School as this year’s seventh grade and eighth grade champions, respectively, at the competition’s award ceremony on March 16.
Porterville Recorder
Poetry on Parade is an annual event for Porterville Unified School District. Each of the PUSD elementary schools hosts the event for two years, and this year Belleview Elementary School was the host school, with Springville and Strathmore Elementary schools included as well.
County Superintendent of Schools holds Kern County History Day
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office held its annual Kern County History Day on March 9. Dozens of students from schools across the county participated in the competition, held at the Larry E. Reider Educational Center.
BCSD pays $30K settlement to local church in property dispute
Bakersfield Californian
A church that two of the five Bakersfield City School District board members have an affiliation with recently received $30,000 from the district as part of a legal settlement.
Legislators Need Courage to Avert School Funding Crisis
Fox & Hound
In 2012 the California Legislature and Governor Jerry Brown asked voters to approve a big sales and income tax increase to better fund schools. Voters approved the measure and per-pupil spending has risen 60 percent since then to $17,160 per student. One would expect schools to be faring well.
Darling-Hammond: Building a ‘world class and equitable education system in California’
EdSource
Every state or nation that I’ve ever studied that has really made a strong upward trajectory in education has had a 15 or 20 year window in which to do that work. We have that opportunity now to continue the work and then refine what’s been going on.
Higher Ed:
California lawmakers debate how to prevent another college admissions scandal
CALmatters
It’s a dilemma for lawmakers who feel pressure to respond to a nationwide cheating scheme that cuts at the heart of higher education’s legitimacy. Among the dozens of people charged by federal law enforcement with using fake test scores and athletic profiles to secure admission for wealthy students at elite colleges, one was a UCLA soccer coach and another the parent of a UC Berkeley alumnus.
See also:
● UC should expel students and revoke degrees after admissions scandal, lawmaker says Los Angeles Times
● Will the University of California expel students implicated in scandal? San Francisco Chronicle
● OPINION: College Scammers Hurt the Disabled Wall Street Journal
UC hospitals, campuses statewide brace for third strike in 11 months Wednesday
Fresno Bee
Thousands of University of California workers plan to strike Wednesday, saying their labor contract negotiations have stalled because UC leaders are not willing to address wage inequality and job security.
UC regents revolt against $762 tuition hike for non-Californians
EdSources
As a result of the surprisingly strong opposition to UC president Janet Napolitano’s plan, the regents decided not to even vote on the scheduled item but instead to consider possible revisions in coming months. The proposal had been billed as a way to raise nearly $30 million in revenues to help support programs and classes for California students.
State-level Strategies to Reduce Student Debt
PPIC
As college costs have increased, the total amount of loan debt in California
has risen. At four-year colleges and universities in California in 2016, 40% of
first-time, full-time students took out loans to help pay for their education,
according to federal data.
Residents pepper dorms developer with criticism, skeptical questions
Bakersfield Californian
Plans to build twin, five-story college dormitories at Coffee Road and Stockdale Highway were met with strong skepticism among residents who gathered Monday to hear project details and voice their concerns about how the development would affect surrounding neighborhoods.
San Joaquin Delta College Opens Food Pantry To Help Students Fulfill Basic Needs
Capital Public Radio
The pantry is being funded by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, which has distributed $2.5 million to its 60 campuses to host food pantries or distribution programs.
Schooling and skills reduce gender wage gaps-but not completely
Brookings
Increasingly globalized economies and profound technological shifts are placing enormous pressure on the skills that people must bring to the workplace. In the case of girls and women, these stresses are compounded by constraints that stem from social norms and labor market structures that shape labor force participation, livelihood, and earnings.
The Forgotten Minorities of Higher Education
Washington Post
The massive undertaking taught Spilman and Bell a lot about what was keeping students from making post-high school plans: Many Hmong students had no idea they were “college material.” Some said they had thought about college but no adult had ever spoken to them about it. Others fretted about the finances and negotiating with parents who expected them to remain home.
Left should support Trump in protecting free speech on colleges
San Francisco Chronicle
Conservative students are constantly having to defend their ideas but liberal students often go unchallenged and miss out on the whole point of going to college.
EDITORIAL: Trump has some suggestions to help student loan debt, for better and worse
Los Angeles Times
Crooked admissions schemes aren’t the only problem plaguing colleges and their students these days. The cost of a degree from a private college continues to rise, moving well beyond what most families can dream of paying, even with financial aid.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
Fresno Co. experiencing best streak of good air quality in nearly 20 years
abc30
Recent weather patterns have shifted allowing for more storms to move into the Central Valley. That’s been great for our rain and snowfall totals and for our air quality.
Following Scathing Report, Air District’s Emissions Banking Program Faces Scrutiny
VPR
Kevin Hamilton was surprised when he learned that, for decades, industries that pollute have been able to trade emissions reductions under a San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District program. It’s like a bank: If a company installs a new technology that reduces its pollution—and that’s the program’s goal—the company can earn what’s called emission reduction credits, or ERCs.
Californians can’t seem to stop loving nature without destroying it
Los Angeles Times
It’s pretty fantastic that a bumper crop of butterflies and fields of flowers have inspired so many people to turn off their screens and enjoy the show that Mother Nature puts on for free all the time. But, really, why must some people show their appreciation for nature by destroying it?
PG&E just escaped blame for one huge disaster—but it’s still the utility California loves to hate
CALmatters
Investigators have not yet determined exactly who or what is to blame for the massive Camp Fire that razed Porter’s community and killed 86 people in November in Butte County. But PG&E—whose workers spotted smoke near a shorted-out utility tower above Poe Dam on the windy morning the fire started—is a prime suspect.
Clean drinking water a bigger global threat than climate change, EPA’s Wheeler says
CBSNews
In his first network interview since his confirmation last month, Wheeler told CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett that while the administration is addressing climate change, thousands are dying everyday from unclean drinking water. Wheeler is announcing the EPA’s global clean water push in a speech at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., Wednesday morning.
Washington Post
A federal judge ruled late Tuesday that the Interior Department violated federal law by failing to take into account the climate impact of its oil and gas leasing in the West.
As Costs Skyrocket, More U.S. Cities Stop Recycling
New York Times
With China no longer accepting used plastic and paper, communities are facing steep collection bills, forcing them to end their programs or burn or bury more waste.
Energy:
What One Old Tower Says About PG&E’s Lax Safety Culture
New York Times
Pacific Gas & Electric has faced increased heat from regulators and outrage from consumers who have watched the state’s largest utility file for bankruptcy protection, then say thatits equipment probablystarted the deadly Camp Fire.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Jury: Roundup weed killer is major factor in man’s cancer
Sacramento Bee
Roundup weed killer was a substantial factor in a California man’s cancer, a jury determined Tuesday in the first phase of a trial that attorneys said could help determine the fate of hundreds of similar lawsuits.
See also:
● California Jury Finds Roundup Caused Man’s Cancer Capital Public Radio
● Roundup weedkiller was a major factor in man’s cancer, jury decides Los Angeles Times
● Roundup found by jury to be likely cause of cancer in second Bay Area man San Francisco Chronicle
$20,000 or more and a 60-hour injection: How a new postpartum depression drug works
Fresno Bee
The FDA approved postpartum depression drug, the Zulresso IV injection, to treat women suffering from life-threatening condition after childbirth. But it’s costly and requires a 60-hour clinic stay.
Daily Marijuana Use And Highly Potent Weed Linked To Psychosis
Capital Public Radio
As more places in the U.S. and Europe legalize marijuana, weed consumption is growing ever more popular. But researchers are studying a troubling health risk associated with the drug.
Jury Finds Bayer’s Roundup Weedkiller Caused Man’s Cancer
Wall Street Journal
A jury found that a man developed cancer from exposure to Roundup weedkiller he used in his yard, in the second case to go to trial over the alleged harms of the popular Bayer AG product.
Human Services:
Merced Doctors Issue Prescriptions For Food Under New Program Addressing Family Hunger, Health
Capital Public Radio
The prescription is a voucher that a family can use to receive a 30-pound box of groceries at the Merced County Food Bank.
FDA’s departing chief considers yanking nicotine vaping pods off the market
Los Angeles Times
With weeks to go in his tenure atop the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Scott Gottlieb squared off with two companies at the center of his efforts to halt a surge in teen vaping.
More than 500,000 Californians estimated to be eligible for Medi-Cal but uninsured in 2016-2017
UC Berkeley Labor Center
More than 90% of Californians eligible for Medi-Cal are now enrolled in the program. T
How Trump wants to whack Medicare and Medicaid spending
CNN
The Trump administration unveiled a budget Monday that would reduce spending in Medicare as well as Medicaid, which provides coverage for low-income Americans, by hundreds of billions of dollars compared to current law.
The OECD Risks That Matter Survey 2018
OECD
This survey examines people’s perceptions of the social and economic risks they face and assesses how well people feel government reacts to their concerns.
IMMIGRATION
Tulare Police Department says it didn’t know it was sharing data with ICE, apologizes
Fresno Bee
The Tulare Police Department says it was sharing data with ICE without knowing. It has taken measures to correct that, and apologizes to community.
See also:
● Tulare PD stops sharing data with ICE Visalia Times Delta
California military bases could lose up to $1.1 billion under Trump’s border wall plan
Fresno Bee
Several Northern California and Central Valley military bases could have construction funding pulled to build a wall on the Mexican border under President Trump’s national emergency, the Pentagon told Congress.
To save Dreamers, some Latino Democrats say they’ll have to defeat Trump in 2020
Sacramento Bee
Democrats in the Hispanic Caucus have competing ideas on how to tackle comprehensive immigration reform, and one of the biggest questions within their party is whether they’ll work with Republicans at all.
Supreme Court Broadens The Government’s Power To Detain Criminal Immigrants
Capital Public Radio
The ruling responds to two class-action lawsuits brought by legal immigrants who served criminal sentences and then were detained years later.
See also:
● Supreme Court upholds federal power to detain and deport immigrants for long-past crimes Los Angeles Times
● The Supreme Court just reinforced the government’s power to detain migrants indefinitely Los Angeles Times
Border Patrol says detention centers are full — and starts releasing migrants
Los Angeles Times
The Border Patrol released 50 recently apprehended migrants here Tuesday, the first of several hundred border-crossers who officials say will soon be freed because there is no room to hold them.
See also:
· Asylum seekers waiting in Mexico seek to stay in US Sacramento Bee
· U.S. to Stop Detaining Some Migrant Families at Border Under New Policy Wall Street Journal
Nearly 9 in 10 Undocumented Adults With Low Incomes Lack Health Coverage
California Budget & Policy Center
The California Budget & Policy Center was established in 1995 to provide Californians with a source of timely, objective, and accessible expertise on state fiscal and economic policy issues. The Budget Center engages in independent fiscal and policy analysis and public education with the goal of improving the economic and social well-being of low- and middle-income Californians.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Hart Park master plan meets with public excitement, consensus despite differences
Bakersfield Californian
An ambitious “master plan” for the future of Hart Park presented to the Kern County Board of Supervisors was met with a sense of hope, excitement and optimism at a meeting held Tuesday in downtown Bakersfield.
Housing:
50% increase found in county’s homeless population over last year
Bakersfield Californian
Kern County’s most recent survey of its homeless population revealed a 50 percent increase over last year’s numbers, the Kern County Homeless Collaborative reported Tuesday.
California Has the Jobs but Not Enough Homes
Wall Street Journal
California’s economy is adding jobs far faster than affordable places to live, forcing some employers to leave the state as they expand.
Companies that move from California have historically left behind its diverse industries, renowned public universities and balmy climate for states with lower taxes and lighter regulation.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Lawsuit probes legality of boom-times pension benefit increase
Fresno Bee
A Santa Rosa man claimed that Sonoma County illegally increased pension benefits for public workers in 2003. If he ultimately prevails in court, the case could open the door to retirement benefit reductions.
New CalPERS leader wants pension fund to put its money back into tobacco
Sacramento Bee
CalPERS’ newest elected board member floated a proposal Monday asking the pension fund to consider investing in tobacco, an industry that CalPERS abandoned 18 years ago.
Trump’s Tax Cut Won’t Power the Growth He Predicts, Officials Concede
New York Times
The Trump administration pushed a $1.5 trillion tax cut through Congress in 2017 on the promise that it would spark sustained economic growth. While the tax cuts have goosed the economy in the short term, officials now concede they will not be enough to deliver the 3 percent annual growth the president promised over the long term.
Gas-Tax Hike: A Rare Big Idea With Bipartisan Backing
Wall Street Journal
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce isn’t exactly a hotbed of pro-tax sentiment. So when the chamber advocates for a tax increase, it’s worth sitting up to take notice.
TRANSPORTATION
They moved to make way for California’s high-speed rail. Now they wonder if it was for nothing
Fresno Bee
For more than five years, California’s high-speed rail project has disrupted and dislocated residents and businesses up and down the central San Joaquin Valley through the acquisition of property for the bullet-train right of way.
Road repair projects are Council’s top priority for new fiscal year
Porterville Recorder
At a specially scheduled meeting last Tuesday, the Porterville City Council gathered inside the Council Chambers to discuss priority projects for the city during the Fiscal Year (FY) of 2019-2020.
WATER
OPINION: Finally, California takes new path toward managing water, rivers and the Delta
Visalia Times Delta
Our rules, cobbled over time from various state water right decisions or federal biological opinions, are too rigid. Pumping rules in the Delta on Nov. 30, for example, are very different than those 24 hours later, regardless of the weather.
Westlands water allocation upped to 55%
Hanford Sentinel
The Bureau of Reclamation issued updated water allocations Friday for Central Valley Project contractors, supplying western Kings County growers in Westlands Water District with just over half of their historic water allocation to work with.
West Side grower: Government meddling in groundwater creates more problems
Modesto Bee
Move over global warming or cooling, California has a new environmental disaster called groundwater. And where there’s an emergency, we have ambulance-chasing regulators and lawmakers with bureaucratic fixes. Why are we having groundwater problems?
US official declares drought plan done for Colorado River
Sacramento Bee
Seven states (including California) that rely on a major waterway in the U.S. West have finished a yearslong effort to create a plan to protect the Colorado River amid a prolonged drought.
See also:
· Amid 19-Year Drought, States Sign Deal to Conserve Colorado River Water New York Times.
Clean drinking water a bigger global threat than climate change, EPA’s Wheeler says
CBSNews
In his first network interview since his confirmation last month, Wheeler told CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett that while the administration is addressing climate change, thousands are dying everyday from unclean drinking water. Wheeler is announcing the EPA’s global clean water push in a speech at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., Wednesday morning.
It’s Spring And Here Comes The Rain Again
Sierra News
The National Weather Service in Hanford says a Pacific storm system will move into and across the region Tuesday night, Mar. 19 through Thursday, Mar. 21. Brief high pressure will build over the area Friday, Mar. 22 before another weaker storm system moves across the region Saturday, Mar. 23.
See also:
● Spring blooms in Modesto, though it seems like winter has returned Modesto Bee
“Xtra”
abc30
March 20 is a great day to spread joy: It’s International Day of Happiness! The holiday was started to promote happiness and well being for people around the world. It was first celebrated in 2013, after the United Nations had recognized happiness as a “fundamental goal” two years earlier.
‘Flowers all over!’ See gorgeous photos of California’s wildflower super bloom
Fresno Bee
Super blooms of California wildflowers are drawing social media attention to Walker Canyon and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Visitors have also posted photos of Carrizo Plain National Monument in SLO County.
Fresno State offering discounted pet vaccinations, microchips
abc30
If you’ve been putting off getting your dog vaccinated this could be the weekend to do it. Fresno State is holding its annual vaccine and microchip clinic on Saturday, March 23. The clinic is hosted by the university’s Pre-Vet Club and is for dogs only.
Countdown To Relay: Sierra Mountain Communities for a Cure
Sierra News
Just ten days until Relay for Life: Sierra Mountain Communities for a Cure begins! The entire community is invited to join in the celebrations as we memorialize those we have lost, honor those who are currently fighting and those who have won their battle with the terrible disease we all know — cancer.
Ever heard of a super worm moon? Here’s how you can see it on the West Coast this week
Modesto Bee
A super worm moon will occur during the spring equinox March 20, 2019. The supermoon can be see in the United States and is the last one of 2019. Here’s how, when to see the lunar event in the US, CA and WA.
Sheriff to host Community Carnival and Parade of Teams Saturday
Porterville Recorder
Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux invites the public to attend a Community Carnival Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Ivanhoe Elementary School, 16030 Ave. 332, as his new NFL Flag Football League takes the field.
Action! ‘Oildale’ isn’t the only new film with local flavor
Bakersfield Californian
Filmmakers have been turning their cameras on Kern County landscapes practically since moving pictures first existed. The latest is “Oildale,” the work of a Southern California-based producer-director-writing team, David Mueller and Lynn Salt.