May 12, 2021

12May

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:​​ 

 

Newsom urges $5.1 billion for California water projects during visit to Merced County

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed $5.1 billion worth of water projects during a visit Monday​​ to Merced County. The money would go to efforts around the state such as fixing leaky canals, cleaning up polluted wells, and restoring natural floodplains to protect homes from high flows.

See also:

 

‘Overall, it’s not good.’ Merced County reports its highest homeless spike in years

Merced Sun-Star

Merced County homelessness not only grew between 2020 and 2021 — it also saw the sharpest increase in recent years, according to the latest count. The county’s number of unhoused residents grew by 31% since 2020 from 636 people to 835 in January.

 

Business forecast points to continued economic improvement in 2021

Turlock Journal

Dr. Gökçe Soydemir recently presented 2021-2023 San Joaquin Valley​​ Business Forecast’s mid-year update to the Turlock Chamber of Commerce, painting an optimistic picture of recovery for the region as COVID restrictions continue to lift.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:​​ 

 

Fresno City Council members propose new tenant protections to hold landlords ‘accountable’

Fresno Bee

Three Fresno City Council members on Tuesday proposed a set of changes to the city’s code enforcement policy as well as a new eviction protection for renters.

See also:​​ 

 

Are​​ migrant children coming to Fresno? Here’s the latest on the city’s offer to the feds

Fresno Bee

Fresno leaders haven’t heard back on an offer they made to the federal government to make the city’s Convention Center available to house unaccompanied migrant​​ children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border.

 

Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Ose visits the Central Valley

abc30

Republican challenger for governor and former Congressman Doug Ose stopped in the Central Valley to campaign for votes in the​​ anticipated recall election.​​ 

 

Trump wants revenge against Republicans who backed impeachment. Is this Californian in trouble?

Fresno Bee

Former President Donald Trump is out to settle scores with the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach him. And that could mean trouble for Rep. David Valadao.

 

Clovis Must Zone For Low-Income Housing According To Court Ruling​​ 

VPR

A recent ruling on a lawsuit filed in 2019 says the city of Clovis must begin the process of building more high-density, affordable housing and has been violating a state law by not doing so.

 

Masks optional for guests, staff at these Fresno restaurants. Owner says it’s common sense

Fresno Bee

Face masks will no longer be required when eating, or working, at Pismo’s Coastal Grill. The policy change affects all guests and employees​​ of Fansler Restaurant Group, which also includes Yosemite Ranch and Westwood BBQ and Spice Company.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:​​ 

 

BCSD announces plans to return to full-time, in-person schedule of all students in August

Bakersfield Californian

The Bakersfield City School District announced plans to return to a full-time, in-person schedule for the 2021-2022 school year — barring any unforeseen circumstances, of course.

 

BPD set to expand again as vacancies, calls to defund challenge the department

Bakersfield Californian

As calls to defund the Bakersfield Police Department continue for a second year, the city of Bakersfield is poised to increase its budget once again.

 

Opinion: The agony and ecstasy of Kevin McCarthy

Los Angeles Times

Being Kevin McCarthy can’t be easy or very much fun these​​ days. He’s in the throes of​​ a bruising congressional leadership fight. He’s being attacked — on Fox News! — for a cush Washington living arrangement.

 

State:

 

COVID Update:

 

California governor proposes $12B to house state’s homeless

Fresno Bee

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday proposed $12 billion in new funding to get more people experiencing homelessness in the state into housing and to “functionally end family homelessness” within five years.

See also:

 

California expands drought emergency to large swath of state

Fresno Bee

Newsom expanded a drought emergency to a large swath of the nation's most populous state while seeking more than $6 billion in multiyear water spending as one of the warmest, driest springs on record threatens another severe wildfire season across the American West.​​ 

See also:

 

Opposition to Newsom recall grows as Caitlyn Jenner, GOP generate little support, poll finds

Los Angeles Times

The campaign to​​ recall Newsom has failed to gain momentum in recent months as significantly more California voters favor keeping him in office, and only anemic support has surfaced for Caitlyn Jenner while other Republican candidates have little backing.

See also:

 

Redistricting commission accused of violating open-meetings law and other failures

Los Angeles Times

California voters created an independent redistricting commission to stop lawmakers and powerful interests from drawing gerrymandered congressional and legislative districts that consolidated their power at the expense of fair representation.

 

Californians see Kamala Harris as ready to step into the presidency, poll shows

Los Angeles Times

Almost four months into the new administration, Vice President Kamala Harris has held onto a strong base​​ of support in her home state, with voters by more than 2 to 1 saying she is “playing a significant role” in the administration.

 

Now Trending: Court Services on Mobile Apps

California Courts Newsroom

In a growing number of counties, court users have a new, convenient way to access court services – and the resource is in the palm of their hands through a free download on the Google Play or Apple App Store.

 

Federal:

 

COVID Update:

 

Judge dismisses NRA bankruptcy case in blow to gun group

abc30

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed the National Rifle Association's bankruptcy case, leaving the powerful gun-rights group to face a New York state lawsuit that accuses it of financial abuses and aims to put it out of business.

See also:

 

Biden Infrastructure Talks to Focus on $2.3 Trillion Plan’s Size and Taxes

Wall Street Journal

President Biden on Wednesday will hold his first meeting with the top four congressional leaders since taking office as he seeks to overcome deep disagreements with Republicans over the size of his infrastructure plan and the proposed tax increases to pay for it.

See also:​​ 

 

House Republicans oust Cheney from leadership as she vows to stop Trump

abcNews

House Republicans​​ voted to remove​​ Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney from her House GOP leadership position following her criticism of former President Donald Trump and his continued attacks on the 2020 election.

See also:

 

Younger voters propelled Biden to victory over Trump in 2020, new study finds

Fresno Bee

A sharp​​ increase in the number of voters from the youngest two generations helped President Joe Biden win the 2020 election boosting him over former President Donald Trump despite the incumbent’s high levels of support among seniors.

 

Biden to confront limits of bipartisanship in first meeting with Congress’ ‘Big Four’

Los Angeles Times

The White House has billed President Biden’s first formal meeting Wednesday with Congress’ “Big Four” leaders, two from each party, as an opportunity to talk about where Democrats and Republicans can find “common ground” on the country’s most pressing issues.

 

News Analysis: Biden struggles to respond to Israeli-Palestinian violence after Trump refused to criticize Israel

Los Angeles Times

After four years of President Trump’s refusal to condemn or even mildly critique any Israeli act, the Biden administration faces soaring Israeli-Palestinian violence equipped with fewer options to deescalate tensions than at any time​​ in recent history.

 

Orrin Hatch: Eliminating the Senate filibuster would sharpen polarization

Roll Call

Tired of the whipsaw nature of American politics? Eliminating the Senate filibuster would only make it worse. For generations, the filibuster has been a thorn in the side of the Senate majority.

 

Editorial: A Time Bomb for the 2022 Elections

Wall Street Journal

Senate Democrats made a push for their version of H.R.1, the House bill to seize control of election rules nationwide. How they imagine they have any mandate for this is a mystery. In a Senate divided 50-50, Democrats don’t have the committee votes to amend their own bill.

 

Other:

 

The REAL ID deadline extended again

AEI

Last week, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the deadline for state compliance with the REAL ID Act would be pushed back a year and a half to May 3, 2023.

 

Column: That ‘infrastructure’ fee on some internet bills is just a stealth rate hike

Los Angeles Times

Steve Kunzer recently received an email from his internet service provider, Frontier Communications, informing him that the company had made a mistake. It wasn’t charging him enough.

 

Opinion: The Facebook Oversight Board’s failed decision distracts from lasting social media regulation

Brookings

The initial flurry of commentary concerning the Facebook Oversight Board’s decision on deplatforming President Trump has subsided, providing some perspective to assess what we have learned.​​ 

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Biden tax plan threatens farmers' use of like-kind exchanges

Agri-Pulse

One of President Joe Biden’s tax proposals to address economic inequality while raising new revenue for domestic spending priorities would make it harder for farmers to use like-kind exchanges to defer taxes when they sell land to acquire other acreage.

 

Cannabis Industry Faces Obstacles to Banking, but That May Be Changing

Wall Street Journal

Cannabis​​ companies in the U.S. lack access to banking and other financial services because the drug is federally illegal. That could change through new legislation or thanks to broader legalization efforts backed by the Democratically-controlled Senate.​​ 

 

CRIMINAL​​ JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

California justice department to build racial justice bureau as reports of hate crimes climb

Fresno Bee

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the launch of a new racial justice bureau among other initiatives to tackle hate crimes statewide in a press conference Tuesday morning.

See also:

 

Beyond Colonial Pipeline, Ransomware Cyberattacks Are a Growing Threat

Wall Street Journal

The cyberattack that knocked offline an essential U.S. gasoline pipeline shows how the dangerous, professional-scale hack-for-ransom threat is spreading rapidly, targeting companies, schools, hospitals and other institutions.

 

A New Study Reveals that Not Prosecuting People for Nonviolent Misdemeanors May Actually Reduce Crime

Time

Misdemeanor offenses comprise approximately 80% of all charged offenses in the United States. Yet the public safety benefits from prosecuting misdemeanor offenses are far from clear.​​ 

 

Public Safety:

 

BPD set to expand again as vacancies, calls to defund challenge the department

Bakersfield Californian

As calls to defund the Bakersfield Police Department continue for a second year, the city of Bakersfield is poised to increase its budget once again.

 

What does U.S. fuel pipeline shutdown reveal about the dangers of cyber ransoms?

Los Angeles Times

A major fuel pipeline supplying the East Coast was shut down Friday after the Georgia-based company operating it became the victim of a ransomware attack.

 

Is California’s new police deadly force law making a difference?

CalMatters

On opposite ends of California, two women who have never met are united by grief and purpose. This month, Kathleen Bils laid a memorial stone in a flower bed on the San Diego street where a sheriff’s deputy shot her son one year earlier.

 

Fire:​​ 

 

California Wildfire Season Already Off to a Fast Start

The Weather Channel

California officials have warned that this year’s wildfire season could quickly become the worst on record. Already fires have​​ burned 18 square miles more​​ than had burned by this time last year, according to new figures from Cal Fire.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Online discussion will focus on $8 billion still available through PPP

Bakersfield Californian

The federal government's $284.5 billion PPP is no longer available through most lenders but a locally produced webinar Wednesday will explain how disadvantaged businesses can still apply until May 31 for the remaining $8 billion in the pandemic recovery effort.

 

Business forecast points to continued economic improvement in 2021

Turlock Journal

Dr. Gökçe Soydemir recently presented 2021-2023 San Joaquin Valley Business​​ Forecast’s mid-year update to the Turlock Chamber of Commerce, painting an optimistic picture of recovery for the region as COVID restrictions continue to lift.​​ 

 

Consumer Prices Jumped as Economic Recovery Picked Up

Wall Street Journal

U.S. consumer prices surged in April as the economic recovery​​ picked up, reflecting surging demand as the pandemic eased and higher prices due to supply bottlenecks.

 

U.S. Tariffs Drive Drop in Chinese Imports

Wall​​ Street Journal

U.S. tariffs have led to​​ a sharp decline in Chinese imports​​ and significant changes in the types of goods Americans buy from China, new data show, with purchases of telecommunications gear, furniture, apparel and other goods shifting to other countries.

 

Jobs:

 

How jobless benefits might have affected that weak April jobs report

AEI

It’s not surprising, really, that there’s widespread disbelief that one possible factor in last Friday’s disappointing April jobs report was workers staying on the sidelines due to the generous state of jobless benefits in place until September.​​ 

See also:​​ 

 

Sun-Maid holding job fair in Kingsburg on Tuesday

abc30

If you're looking for a job, Sun-Maid is looking to hire for more than 75 positions during a job fair on Tuesday. The opportunities range from machine operators to bin repair, and no experience is necessary for most seasonal and full-time positions.

 

Cal/OSHA Proposes Sweeping Changes to Its COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards

Ogletree Deakins

On November 30, 2020, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, more commonly known as Cal/OSHA, adopted​​ COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary​​ Standards(ETS) for California.​​ 

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

BCSD announces plans to return to full-time, in-person schedule of all students in August

Bakersfield Californian

The Bakersfield City School District announced plans to return to a full-time, in-person schedule for the 2021-2022 school year — barring any unforeseen circumstances, of course.

 

How many high school students will come back in the fall? Dismal return rate raises alarms

Los Angeles Times

Only 7% of high school students and 12% of middle school students have returned to reopened campuses in LASD, sounding alarms about what these figures portend for next fall and highlighting the need for intense intervention.​​ 

 

Newsom to propose transitional kindergarten for all California 4-year-olds in budget plan

Los Angeles Times

Transitional kindergarten, currently available only to about one-third of California’s 4-year-olds, would be expanded to all age-eligible students by the 2024 academic year under a proposal to be unveiled Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

 

Why math class needs to change​​ 

AEI

Math education in America has long been intertwined with perceived national security needs. Sputnik launched the 'calculus era.' Could the era of 'fake news' mean a new curriculum is needed to emphasize critical thinking?

 

Opinion: Classroom Chaos in the Name of Racial Equity Is a Bad Lesson Plan

Wall Street Journal

What should take priority in K-12 education, the physical safety of students or racial balance in school suspension rates? Barack Obama and Donald Trump had different answers to that question, and it probably won’t surprise you where President Biden comes down.

See also:

 

Higher Ed:

 

UC Merced student wins first place in competition among UC system’s top dissertations

Merced Sun-Star

UC Merced has achieved many notable firsts in 2021. Recently, that included a​​ student receiving a Rhodes Scholarship, plus a​​ professor receiving a presidential nomination for a top. leadership role.​​ 

 

UC’s record-smashing applications put long-held diversity goals within reach

Los Angeles Times

The University of California’s record-shattering applications for fall 2021 show remarkable surges in Black, Latino and other underrepresented students seeking admission, putting the system within reach of dismantling long-standing admission barriers.

 

Mapping Equitable Access to Math at California’s Community Colleges

Public Policy Institute of California

With course enrollment for fall 2021 in full swing, many students are facing the critical decision of which math course to take. Gateway (or transfer-level) math is one of the largest barriers for students seeking to transfer to a four-year college.

 

State auditor: Calbright has to get better or shut down

CalMatters

Calbright College was supposed to be California’s public option alternative to for-profits, but a new state audit slams the college for failing to live up to its ideals and​​ recommends school closure unless it commits to a slew of improvements.

See also:​​ 

 

First-generation college students​​ push for in-person commencements

CalMatters

As coronavirus vaccination ramps up across California, first-generation students have played central roles in pushing colleges to consider in-person options for graduation.

 

Police training at California public colleges gets a shakeup following George Floyd murder

EdSource

George Floyd’s​​ murder nearly a year ago is changing how California’s community colleges and state universities train and educate police officers with urgent emphasis on treating people humanely and using deadly force only as a last resort.

 

Editorial: How to fix the student debt fiasco (Hint: Not with a $50,000 bailout per student)

Los Angeles Times

Lawmakers should think far more strategically about student debt, rather than simply showering everyone with tax-free loan forgiveness in such high amounts. After all, forgiving up to $50,000 per borrower would cost the Treasury an estimated $1 trillion.​​ 

 

Apprenticeships:

 

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Forests the size of France regrown since 2000, study suggests

BBC

The restored forests have the potential to soak up the equivalent of 5.9 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide - more than the annual emissions of the US, according to conservation groups.

 

Editorial: Leaf blowers and lawn mowers are smog machines. It’s time for California regulators to act

Los Angeles Times

This year, for the first time, leaf blowers, weed whackers, lawn mowers and other devices with small off-road engines are expected to produce more smog-forming emissions than passenger cars.

 

Energy:

 

Wind, Solar​​ Power Made Strong Gains in 2020, IEA Says

Wall Street Journal

Renewable power capacity grew at its fastest pace this century in 2020, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday, raising its growth forecast for wind and solar power for this year and next.

See also:

 

Few Signs of Recovery for U.S. Oil Production, OPEC Says

Wall Street Journal

American oil production is set to drop again this year, with the shale industry’s output showing few signs of recovery despite a broader pickup in economic activity, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said Tuesday.

 

Biden Wants To Take On The Fossil-Fuel Industry. Dozens Of His Officials Are Invested In It

Forbes

On the campaign trail,​​ Joe Biden​​ tried to​​ distance​​ himself from oil, gas and coal companies,​​ pledging​​ not to accept money from fossil-fuel firms. Dozens of those now serving in his administration, however, were less​​ rigid about separating themselves from energy giants.

 

Opinion: Biden’s Not-So-Clean Energy Transition

Wall Street Journal

The International Energy Agency, the world’s pre-eminent source of energy information for governments, has entered the political debate over whether the U.S. should spend trillions of dollars to accelerate the energy transition favored by the Biden​​ administration.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Here’s when Californians ages 12 and up can make appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine

Sacramento Bee

The California Department of Public Health announced Tuesday that parents and guardians will be able to make appointments to get COVID-19 vaccinations for​​ children ages 12 to 15 as early as Thursday morning.

See also:​​ 

 

Most unvaccinated Americans say they’ll refuse to get a COVID shot, poll finds

Modesto Bee

A majority of Americans who haven’t gotten vaccinated said that they won’t get a COVID shot. In The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released Tuesday, 64% of respondents said they have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine and 35% said​​ they haven’t.

 

United Facts of America: Fauci reflects on the pandemic's misinformation

Politifact

Even after working as the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 37 years under seven presidents, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday he never could have anticipated the level of misinformation that has arisen from the pandemic.​​ 

See also:

 

Human Services:

 

Uber​​ and Lyft will provide free rides to vaccination sites until July 4, Biden says.

New York Times

President Biden said on Tuesday that Uber and Lyft, two of the country’s largest ride-sharing services, would provide free rides to vaccination sites beginning May 24, an agreement intended to help him reach his goal of getting 160 million adults fully vaccinated by July 4.

See also:​​ 

 

Valley hospitals receive an 'A' grade for safety

Business Journal

The biannual Hospital Safety Grades report evaluates 2,700 hospitals throughout the United States based on its measures to protect patients from preventable injuries, accidents, surgical problems, errors and infections.

 

There’s growing confidence that the worst of COVID-19 is behind California

Los Angeles Times

California’s battle against coronavirus has progressed so rapidly in the last few months that many experts are optimistic the state has experienced the worst of the pandemic and that another disastrous wave is unlikely as vaccinations increase and case rates keep plunging.

 

Biden boasts about equitable senior Covid-19 vaccination rate by race without data to back it up

Politifact

Biden has claimed multiple times that the Covid-19 vaccination rate for people 65 and older is equal between white people and people of color. But there is no available data that supports his claim.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Are migrant children coming to Fresno? Here’s the latest on the city’s offer to the feds

Fresno Bee

Fresno leaders haven’t heard back on an offer they made to the federal government to make the city’s Convention Center available to house unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border.

 

Border arrests rose slightly in April, but fewer minors crossing without parents eases pressure on Biden administration

Washington Post

Immigration arrests and detentions along the U.S.-Mexico border rose slightly in April to 178,622, the highest one-month total in​​ two decades, but a decline in the number of teens and children arriving without parents eased pressure on the Biden administration.

See also:

 

DACA recipients launch legal battle to clear hurdles from the ultimate prize: citizenship

Los Angeles Times

The first time Miriam Delgado looked into visiting her family in Mexico, her grandmother was in her late 80s and getting weaker by the day.​​ 

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

A new $350M casino is breaking ground off Highway 99. What will it mean for jobs, economy?

Fresno Bee

The Las Vegas company behind bringing a new Native American casino to Madera County is close to breaking ground, according to a high-ranking official close to the project.

 

Housing:

 

California governor proposes $12B to house state’s homeless

Fresno Bee

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday proposed $12 billion in new funding to get more people experiencing homelessness in the state into housing and to “functionally end family homelessness” within five years.

See also:

 

‘Overall, it’s not good.’ Merced County reports its highest homeless spike in years

Merced Sun-Star

Merced County homelessness not only grew between 2020 and 2021 — it also saw the sharpest increase in recent years, according to the latest count. The county’s number of unhoused residents grew by 31% since 2020 from 636 people to 835 in January.

 

Fresno City Council members propose new tenant protections to hold landlords ‘accountable’

Fresno Bee

Three Fresno City Council members on Tuesday proposed a set of changes to the city’s code enforcement policy as well as a new eviction protection for renters.

See also:​​ 

 

Clovis Must Zone For Low-Income Housing According To Court Ruling​​ 

VPR

A recent ruling on a lawsuit filed in 2019 says the city of Clovis must begin the process of building more high-density, affordable housing and has been violating a state law by not doing so.

 

Housing-Market Surge Is Making the Cheapest Homes the Hottest

Wall Street Journal

The red-hot U.S. housing market is giving an extra boost to the cheapest houses, including many in historically stagnant neighborhoods that have suffered from a lack of investment.

 

Opinion: Assembly Housing committee is not fair to tenants

CalMatters

As President Joe Biden and national Democrats consider overturning the undemocratic Senate filibuster, California’s Democratic-controlled Assembly relies on a similarly undemocratic process: a committee system that blocks floor votes.​​ 

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Who’s getting a California stimulus check? Here’s a look at who qualifies in Newsom plan

Fresno Bee

Californians could be poised to receive​​ the largest state tax rebate​​ in American history. ​​ Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced a $100 billion “California Comeback Plan” that includes stimulus checks for two-thirds of state residents.​​ 

See also:

 

More States to Reject Extra $300 Payment for Unemployed

Wall Street Journal

A growing number of Republican-led states are rejecting enhanced federal pandemic unemployment payments, saying the $300-a-week supplement is providing an incentive for some people to avoid work at a time when employers are struggling to​​ find labor.

 

U.S. to Help Needy Families Pay for High-Speed Internet

Wall Street Journal

The federal government is launching​​ a temporary $3.2 billion program to help needy American families pay for high-speed internet service, in what could also be a boon for telecommunications providers.​​ 

 

Biden Tax Proposal Would Squeeze Apartment-Building Owners

Wall Street Journal

The Biden administration’s plan to limit a longstanding property-tax break could disrupt the business of investing in apartment buildings, discouraging both amateur and professional investors who helped fuel record multifamily sales.

 

Opinion: Holding the line against new taxes will improve California’s economic future

CalMatters

Significant tax increases proposed in the Legislature would make California less competitive when seeking to attract jobs and investments.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Earmark tally for highway bill: $14.8 billion

Roll Call

In all, 318 members of Congress submitted 2,380 projects for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to consider in its upcoming surface transportation bill, said committee Chairman​​ Peter A. DeFazio, D-Ore., and ranking Republican​​ Sam Graves, R-Mo.

 

Southwest Airlines extends discounted flights from Fresno to Las Vegas

abc30

Travelers can fly out of the Central Valley without breaking the bank. Southwest Airlines is celebrating its extension into Fresno by extending its fare sale.

 

Most Toyotas Will Still Use Gasoline in 2030, Company Says​​ 

Wall Street Journal

Toyota Motor Corp.​​ said most of its U.S. vehicles would still run on gasoline a decade from now because it doesn’t think fully electric vehicles will have caught up in cost and convenience.

 

Opinion: Zero net carbon transportation will save money and create jobs

CalMatters

A cascade of countries are committing to net zero carbon emissions by mid-century, but there is one inconvenient fact: Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation are increasing.​​ 

 

WATER

 

California expands drought emergency​​ to large swath of state

Fresno Bee

Newsom expanded a drought emergency to a large swath of the nation's most populous state while seeking more than $6 billion in multiyear water spending as one of the warmest, driest springs on record threatens another severe wildfire season across the American West.​​ 

See also:

 

70% of California is officially in a drought. Here are household tips for saving water

Fresno Bee

In California, 41 out of 58 counties are now officially under drought conditions. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday declared 39 additional​​ counties to be in drought, covering the Central Valley and most of Northern California.

 

This is how California's water use has changed since the last drought

San Francisco Chronicle

California​​ is in a serious drought. The National Drought Mitigation Center’s drought monitor puts most of the state in extreme drought zones for the first time since 2015.

 

Sierra snowpack is already 'wiped out' this year, adding to California drought and fire worries

San Francisco Chronicle

The Sierra Nevada snowpack, a crucial water source for California’s cities and farms, has already dwindled to next to nothing this year, adding to the state’s worsening drought situation.

 

State Water Agencies, CA Water Data Consortium and EDF Partner on Groundwater Accounting Platform and Data Standards

California Department of Water Resources

State water agencies, the California​​ Water Data Consortium and Environmental Defense Fund announced a new partnership today to make an open-source groundwater accounting platform freely available to help groundwater sustainability agencies.

 

Editorial: Do your job, Gov. Newsom — end water wars for state and Stanislaus fish and farmers

Modesto Bee

Don’t be fooled. Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision Monday to declare drought in most of California, including here,​​ is no reason for most farmers in Stanislaus County to break out the party hats.

 

“Xtra”

 

Ready to travel again? You’re not the only one considering a national park road trip

Los Angeles Times

Temperatures are rising and you’re thinking about a summer road trip to somewhere with a lot of open space so you won’t be stuck in a stuffy airplane or​​ a crowded hotel lobby, trying to hold your breath.