POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Stanislaus officials divided over state’s stand on masks; COVID infections ‘still high’ Modesto Bee
● Stanislaus reports zero deaths for fourth straight day Modesto Bee
Modestans can tell city Saturday what they think of police, how they can improve
Modesto Bee
On Saturday, residents can tell the City Council about their experiences with Modesto’s police officers and the changes they want to see at the Police Department as the city starts an effort to improve police-community relations.
Modesto heard concerns about outdoor roller skating rink. How did city respond?
Modesto Bee
Modesto may have an answer to the complaints that a proposed outdoor roller skating rink in East La Loma Park would disturb the peace and quiet of residents of the nearby Oakridge townhouses: Place the rink farther from the homes.
Editorial: Modesto Bee endorses this traffic-smoothing option to extend Highway 132 bypass
Modesto Bee
The best option for a second phase of the Highway 132 bypass now under construction west of Modesto is Alternative 2, which would extend the expressway another five miles west by 2026.
Turlock mayor describes plan to fix roads. What needs repairing? Take our survey.
Modesto Bee
The first step in fixing hundreds of miles of Turlock roads, Mayor Amy Bublak said Friday, is hiring a project manager to work with engineers, the public and the city.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● How is Fresno’s vaccination progress, as California prepares to lift mask rules in June? Fresno Bee
A new housing project for some of Fresno County’s most vulnerable citizens will be in Clovis
Fresno Bee
The city of Clovis saw construction start Friday on its first-ever permanent housing project for some of the area’s most vulnerable residents. Dubbed Butterfly Gardens, the $18 million project will be a 75-unit complex in the city’s southwest.
Fresno’s newest school gets its name this week. Here’s who received the most nominations
Fresno Bee
The naming of Fresno Unified’s newest campus on 10th Street and Ventura Avenue is expected to be decided Wednesday at the next board meeting.
Scammers gouge these Californians. 2 proposals aim to protect Fresno immigrants
Fresno Bee
As hopes for a national immigration overhaul grow, California legislators are bracing themselves for an uptick in scams and fraudulent activity perpetrated by self-proclaimed immigration consultants against undocumented residents seeking a pathway to citizenship.
Former Fresno-area official pleads to embezzlement. Why he doesn’t have to pay it all back
Fresno Bee
Fowler’s former city manager David Elias was sentenced Monday to two years probation for illegally using more than $55,000 in city funds to pay for personal expenses including Blake Shelton concert tickets, San Francisco Giants baseball games and new tires for his wife’s car.
Trump Justice Dept. Tried to Use Grand Jury to Identify Devin Nunes Critic on Twitter
New York Times
The Justice Department under President Trump secretly obtained a grand-jury subpoena last year in an attempt to identify the person behind a Twitter account dedicated to mocking Representative Devin Nunes of California, according to a newly unsealed court document.
See also:
● Trump DOJ subpoenaed Twitter for identity behind Nunes parody account The Hill
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Kern Public Health reports 22 new COVID-19 cases Bakersfield Californian
Kern's B3K economic collaboration gets a nod — and maybe more — from Newsom's budget revision
Bakersfield Californian
Kern got a special mention in Gov. Gavin Newsom's May budget update last week, and if things go well, it might get substantially more than that.
Newsom allocates $200 million for oil and gas well remediation
Bakersfield Californian
Environmental activists applauded Gov. Gavin Newsom's move Friday to earmark $200 million for remediating idle oil and gas wells across California.
Budget additions could fund statewide pesticide notification system, leaving local effort in limbo
Bakersfield Californian
A push to require farmers to give public notice of certain pesticide applications in the Shafter area has stalled but a statewide effort is gaining traction with $10 million in funding designated for it in the governor's recent budget revision.
Washington Post
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has spent months accusing President Biden of pushing excessive government spending, denouncing it as “socialism.”
House consumed by tension over Capitol riot as vote on investigation nears
Los Angeles Times
The House is expected to vote this week on whether to establish a commission to investigate what led to the violence and whether to spend nearly $2 billion on police backpay and the security reinforcement needed to respond to the incident.
See also:
● McCarthy says that he will not support bipartisan deal for Jan. 6 commission The Hill
● McCarthy rejects proposed commission to investigate Jan. 6 Capitol assault abc News
State:
COVID Update:
● California won’t lift its mask requirement for another month Fresno Bee
● California waiting to drop mask requirements for fully vaccinated people until next month Fresno Bee
● California to begin following the new CDC indoor mask guidelines starting June 15 abc30
● California Will Keep Mask Rules In Place Until June 15 Capital Public Radio
● California will wait until June 15 to adopt new CDC mask guidelines Los Angeles Times
● California could lift most COVID-19 mask requirements by June 15, Newsom says Los Angeles Times
● COVID Q&A: When and where do Californians still need to wear a mask and what will change on June 15? Mercury News
● Newsom won’t require COVID vaccines for prison staff CalMatters
● Editorial: Sorry, CDC. We’re keeping our masks on until more Californians get the COVID-19 vaccine Sacramento Bee
Here's How Newsom Wants To Spend California's Historic Budget Surplus
Capital Public Radio
After spending the week touring the state and promoting a $100 billion pandemic recovery package — bolstered by a stunning $75.7 billion surplus and additional federal dollars — California Gov. Gavin Newsom presented the rest of his revised budget in Sacramento.
See also:
● Even with huge California surplus, Newsom’s budget relies on reserves, analyst says Los Angeles Times
● Newsom, with huge $38 billion budget surplus, proposes new stimulus checks, more rent relief for Californians San Francisco Chronicle
● Three things to know about Gavin Newsom’s spending spree CalMatters
● First Look: Revised Budget Proposal Lays Foundation for a More Equitable California, Further Action Needed to Create Sustainable Investments California Budget and Policy Center
● May Revision to the Governor's Budget California State Department of Finance
● Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision Legislative Analyst’s Office
● Fact check: Does California have a $76 billion budget surplus? Sacramento Bee
● Even with huge California surplus, Newsom’s budget relies on reserves, analyst says Los Angeles Times
● Walters: Newsom budget surplus gets reality check CalMatters
● Skelton: Newsom’s love of making firsts is on full display in his go-big-or-go-home California budget Los Angeles Times
● Skelton: California is rolling in surplus cash. But legislators want to raise taxes anyway Los Angeles Times
Newsom proposes $7 billion expansion in broadband internet
CalMatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom is pitching a three-year, $7 billion broadband expansion to get California households connected to high-speed internet.
Cash windfall helps Newsom shake California recall election
Business Journal
A fading coronavirus crisis and an astounding windfall of tax dollars have reshuffled California’s emerging recall election, allowing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newscom to talk about an end to most COVID-19 restrictions and propose billions in new spending.
See also:
● One Person Shaping the Recall Election? Lt. Gov. Kounalakis KQED
● Newsom releases tax return, but will recall candidates? CalMatters
Newsom wants to test guaranteed income programs, give grants to laid-off workers
Fresno Bee
California workers laid off during the coronavirus pandemic could be eligible for grants to help them train for new jobs or to start a new business, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday as he rolled out his revised budget proposal.
California’s first Filipino American attorney general weighs in on anti-Asian racism
Los Angeles Times
As the first Filipino American to hold the office, Bonta has another top priority — fighting anti-Asian racism at a time when hate attacks are rising up and down the state and across the nation.
California regulator hires ex-Consumer Reports atty to lead new innovation office
Reuters
California’s financial regulator has tapped an attorney with a background in consumer protection to lead a new office aimed at fostering responsible innovation in fintech.
Federal:
COVID Update:
● CDC director says mask turnaround based solely on science Fresno Bee
● Biden boosting world vaccine sharing commitment to 80M doses Fresno Bee
● Fauci says pandemic exposed ‘undeniable effects of racism’ Merced Sun-Star
● U.S. to Increase Covid-19 Vaccine Exports Amid Global Pressure Wall Street Journal
House consumed by tension over Capitol riot as vote on investigation nears
Los Angeles Times
The House is expected to vote this week on whether to establish a commission to investigate what led to the violence and whether to spend nearly $2 billion on police backpay and the security reinforcement needed to respond to the incident.
See also:
● McCarthy says that he will not support bipartisan deal for Jan. 6 commission The Hill
● McCarthy rejects proposed commission to investigate Jan. 6 Capitol assault abc News
● Opinion: There are no Marjorie Taylor Greenes in the Democratic Party Washington Post
Democrats push tax hikes on wealthy over infrastructure ‘user fees’
Roll Call
Top Democrats argue voters would prefer tax increases on a small group of wealthy individuals and corporations to pay for infrastructure spending over broad-based “user fees” that would take a bigger chunk out of lower-income voters’ wallets.
See also:
· Bidens paid 25.9% rate and earned $607,336, tax returns show Bakersfield Californian
● Bidens paid 26% tax on $607K income, 2020 return shows Roll Call
‘Dreamers’ advocates turn up heat on Senate after Biden meeting
Roll Call
House Democrats and immigrant advocates are ramping up calls for the Senate to pass legislation that would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
Chamber of Commerce draws fire after a risky bet on Democrats
Washington Post
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s biggest business lobby, is encountering challenges on multiple fronts as it seeks warmer relations with Democrats after years of lockstep loyalty to Republicans.
Supreme Court to weigh rollback of abortion rights
abc30
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to consider a major rollback of abortion rights, saying it will decide whether states can ban abortions before a fetus can survive outside the womb.
See also:
The Supreme Court just showed why abortion bills have surged in statehouses this year Los Angeles Times
Supreme Court agrees to hear major abortion case challenging Roe vs. Wade Los Angeles Times
Supreme Court to Review Mississippi Law Limiting Abortion Rights Wall Street Journal
In Challenge To Roe, Supreme Court To Review Mississippi Abortion Law NPR
Editorial: Is this the beginning of the end for Roe vs. Wade — or a chance to uphold it? Los Angeles Times
Opinion: A challenge before the Supreme Court should scare believers in reproductive freedom Los Angeles Times
Supreme Court Rules for Oil-and-Gas Companies Fighting Climate Lawsuit
Wall Street Journal
The Supreme Court handed the city of Baltimore a preliminary setback in its bid to sue more than 20 multinational oil-and-gas companies on allegations they contributed to climate change and misled the public.
See also:
● Supreme Court Limits Impact of New Criminal Procedures Wall Street Journal
● U.S. Supreme Court rejects Uber bid to avoid driver pay lawsuit Reuters
● Supreme Court could cut into Biden agenda: The Note abc News
● Supreme Court upholds privacy rights when police believe someone is in danger at home Los Angeles Times
Editorial: A Judicial Blow to Biden’s Tax-Cut Ban
Wall Street Journal
Pieces of the Biden Administration’s aggressive agenda are starting to make their way before judges, and an early ruling points to trouble for the Democratic takeover of state fiscal policy.
Other:
Washington Post
A sprawling online network tied to Chinese businessman Guo Wengui has become a potent platform for disinformation in the United States, attacking the safety of coronavirus vaccines, promoting false election-fraud claims and spreading baseless QAnon conspiracies.
Opinion: Voter suppression is bad. But this tactic is even worse.
Washington Post
President Donald Trump’s effort to steal the 2020 presidential election fell short. Now Republicans across the country are promoting changes to laws and personnel that could allow him — or someone like him — to succeed in 2024.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Budget additions could fund statewide pesticide notification system, leaving local effort in limbo
Bakersfield Californian
A push to require farmers to give public notice of certain pesticide applications in the Shafter area has stalled but a statewide effort is gaining traction with $10 million in funding designated for it in the governor's recent budget revision.
California’s relentless droughts strain farming towns
Environmental Health News
Gov. Newsom has placed most of California under a drought emergency, which could leave communities struggling with agricultural pollution without drinking water.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Former Fresno-area official pleads to embezzlement. Why he doesn’t have to pay it all back
Fresno Bee
Fowler’s former city manager David Elias was sentenced Monday to two years probation for illegally using more than $55,000 in city funds to pay for personal expenses including Blake Shelton concert tickets, San Francisco Giants baseball games and new tires for his wife’s car.
Scammers gouge these Californians. 2 proposals aim to protect Fresno immigrants
Fresno Bee
As hopes for a national immigration overhaul grow, California legislators are bracing themselves for an uptick in scams and fraudulent activity perpetrated by self-proclaimed immigration consultants against undocumented residents seeking a pathway to citizenship.
Male hospitalized after officer-involved shooting following chase in Modesto
Modesto Bee
A chase in Modesto early Tuesday ended with an officer-involved shooting that left a male injured, authorities said. According to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, detectives are investigating an officer-involved shooting at Finch and South McClure roads.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta sees state moving away from death penalty
San Francisco Chronicle
As a legislator, Rob Bonta co-sponsored a proposed ballot measure that would have given Californians another chance to discard the death penalty, a repeal they narrowly rejected in 2012 and 2016.
Supreme Court upholds privacy rights when police believe someone is in danger at home
Los Angeles Times
The Supreme Court said Monday that police do not have a broad authority to enter a home to check on someone who may be suicidal and then search and seize evidence that may be used against the person.
See also:
· Supreme Court restricts use of warrantless searches in homes UPI
Supreme Court Limits Impact of New Criminal Procedures
Wall Street Journal
The Supreme Court scaled back protections for criminal defendants, holding that decisions establishing new procedural rules, no matter how significant, may never provide relief for inmates whose direct appeals have concluded.
Public Safety:
Modestans can tell city Saturday what they think of police, how they can improve
Modesto Bee
On Saturday, residents can tell the City Council about their experiences with Modesto’s police officers and the changes they want to see at the Police Department as the city starts an effort to improve police-community relations.
Is California’s New Police Deadly Force Law Making A Difference?
Capital Public Radio
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.
See also:
· Where Views On Race and Police Stand A Year After George Floyd's Murder VPR
Newsom won’t require COVID vaccines for prison staff
CalMatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom and his administration have no plans to make COVID-19 vaccinations an employment requirement for California prison guards, the governor said during a press conference today.
Fire:
Fires jumped in Bakersfield in 2020 as vacant buildings become sources of worry
Bakersfield Californian
The house on 24th Street is a shell of what it once was. The double wide has been ravaged by two fires over the last two weeks, leaving nothing but charred remains and the smell of smoke that stubbornly persists.
Council to consider adding firefighting staff
Porterville Recorder
A consideration to add a new Deputy Fire Chief and six new firefighters to the Porterville Fire Department will be before the Porterville City Council when they meet Tuesday during their regular scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m.
A Cascade of Outrage Follows Investigation Into PG&E Fire Victim Trust Expenses
Capital Public Radio
Fire victims and public officials are calling for increased oversight of the Fire Victim Trust set up to distribute billions of dollars in compensation to families displaced by fires sparked by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. equipment.
It’s mid-May: Welcome to wildfire season
CalMatters
It’s only May, and I’m already having to write about wildfires forcing Californians to evacuate their homes.
State Makes Progress on Wildfire and Forest Health Policy
Public Policy Institute of California
Is the state prepared for another bad wildfire season? And how much progress has been made to improve the resilience of vulnerable communities and headwater forests?
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Investors Bet on Commercial Real Estate, Undeterred by Empty Offices and Hotel Rooms
Wall Street Journal
More than a year into the pandemic, high-rise office buildings are largely empty. About one of every two hotel rooms is unoccupied. Malls are struggling to attract shoppers. And yet by most measures, the U.S. commercial real-estate market is in remarkably solid shape.
As Lumber Prices Climb, DIYers Cut Out The Middle Man And Mill Their Own
VPR
The price of lumber has more than doubled over the past year, and economists warn that things might stay this way for a while. That's why people like Hans Dow are getting crafty.
America is at risk of losing its global edge in innovation and R&D
Roll Call
President Joe Biden addressed the importance of R&D in an executive order earlier this year by recognizing “the need for research and development capacity to sustain leadership in the development of critical goods.”
Jobs:
Rural California could lose thousands of jobs as prisons close. What can the state do?
Fresno Bee
Just days after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration announced a plan to close a prison in Susanville last month, dozens of “for sale” signs for homes began popping up in a rural Lassen County town.
No, it isn’t clear that unemployment checks are the main reason jobs go unfilled
Politifact
The question is, with vaccinations just beginning to reach a sizable chunk of the population and more communities emerging from pandemic restrictions, are unemployment checks the main reason people are not taking jobs?
See also:
● Why are there millions more ‘unemployment benefit recipients’ than ‘unemployed’ people? AEI
● Opinion: Our current labor shortage is just a sneak peek into the future AEI
How does raising the minimum wage affect the labor market? My long-read Q&A with Jeffrey Clemens
AEI
Progressives continue to advocate for raising the minimum wage to $15 dollars, and even Republican senators Mitt Romney and Tom Cotton have proposed a federal increase to $10. So, should we raise the minimum wage?
Biden plan would pick winners, losers in move to green jobs
Business Journal
In Georgia, school bus-maker Blue Bird has visions of going from selling a few hundred electric buses annually to 15,000. In Michigan, Ford plans to produce an all-electric version of its F-150 pickup truck.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Fresno’s newest school gets its name this week. Here’s who received the most nominations
Fresno Bee
The naming of Fresno Unified’s newest campus on 10th Street and Ventura Avenue is expected to be decided Wednesday at the next board meeting.
Equity issue or just different needs among students? Modesto trustees debate math course
Modesto Bee
After initially voting against recommended adoption of a ninth-grade math course, citing issues including equity, the Modesto City Schools board revisited the item and reversed its decision.
Private School Choice Policies in the Era of COVID-19
EdNote
A supreme court ruling, the expenditure of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds and a significant increase in school choice legislation have amplified the private school choice debate in some states.
May Revision: California For All Kids
EdSource
California provides instruction and support services to roughly 5.9 million students in grades kindergarten through twelve in more than 10,000 schools throughout the state.
The Hill
School reopenings hit two remarkable milestones in the first week of May. First, the percentage of fully remote school districts dwindled to a mere 2 percent. Equally noteworthy, districts offering full-time in-person instruction topped 50 percent.
Summer school plans hinge on teacher energy
EdSource
There are millions of dollars in federal and state money to spend on robust summer programs that meet students’ academic and social and emotional needs, but district officials are scrambling to find enough teachers to fill classrooms.
See also:
● S.F.'s ambitious plans for free summer programs for 20,000 kids are taking shape. But will they help enough? San Francisco Chronicle
Higher Ed:
California State Universities ‘won’t return’ to normal next year, chancellor says
Fresno Bee
California State Universities will offer more in-person classes in the fall but it still won’t be like a traditional college before the pandemic.
Craig School of Business hires its first woman dean
Business Journal
Dr. Julie Olson-Buchanan, a veteran Fresno State faculty member and administrator, has been named dean of the Craig School of Business and Sid Craig Dean’s Chair following a nationwide search.
Big changes, in-person graduations and some ‘Wonderful’ news for Fresno-area students
Fresno Bee
This past week, Fresno High changed their original Native American-themed “warrior” logo after 130 years. Native groups applauded the change from the parents, students, and Fresno high alumni who argued the harmful effects of the former mascot.
Orange County Register
The University of California system will no longer require SAT and ACT scores for admission after reaching a settlement agreement, a statement from the UC system said.
See also:
· UC Merced holds virtual graduation ceremonies abc30
‘Covid Poops?’ How a silly social media handle fuels serious research at UC Merced
Modesto Bee
And much of this cutting-edge scientific research at UC Merced has been fueled by a humorous social media hashtag that’s likely to please most elementary school students. It’s kind of a good old-fashioned poop joke.
Graduating class at new local law school aces first attempt at bar exam
Bakersfield Californian
It was zero-hour 6 p.m. on Friday, May 7 as five local law students in five locations were simultaneously trying to log into the website for the State Bar of California.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
An early morning 4.0 earthquake hits Fresno County. Here’s where it was centered
Fresno Bee
An earthquake shook parts of Central California, including Fresno, on Tuesday morning. The 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck just before 7:45 a.m. at a depth of 9 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was centered 5 miles west of Huron.
What are the 7 most important native plants in L.A.? We asked an expert
Los Angeles Times
California has more types of native plants than any other state in the U.S., a third of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Why should we care about native plants?
A Nonprofit Promised to Preserve Wildlife. Then It Made Millions Claiming It Could Cut Down Trees.
ProPublica
The Massachusetts Audubon Society has managed its land as wildlife habitat for years. Here’s how the carbon credits it sold may have fueled climate change.
Energy:
Newsom allocates $200 million for oil and gas well remediation
Bakersfield Californian
Environmental activists applauded Gov. Gavin Newsom's move Friday to earmark $200 million for remediating idle oil and gas wells across California.
California coalition aims to make hydrogen power cost-competitive by 2030
Utility Dive
A new initiative launched today by the Green Hydrogen Coalition aims to resolve what Lin describes as the chicken-and-egg problem of green hydrogen. Without needed infrastructure, green hydrogen remains too expensive for wide-scale adoption.
Stop New Oil Investments to Hit Net-Zero Emissions, IEA Says
Wall Street Journal
Investment in new fossil-fuel supply projects must immediately cease if the world is going to slash net carbon emissions to zero by 2050, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday.
See also:
● Oil supermajors’ mega-bet on natural gas The Economist
● Supreme Court Rules for Oil-and-Gas Companies Fighting Climate Lawsuit Wall Street Journal
Opinion: Will California keep the lights on when Diablo Canyon shuts down?
CalMatters
California has no time to spare in developing new, clean energy resources before its last nuclear power plant closes in 2024-25.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Long working hours are killing hundreds of thousands of people a year, WHO study finds
abc30
Working long hours is killing hundreds of thousands of people a year through stroke and heart disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)
Covid-19 Hospital Patients Tend to Be Younger Now
Wall Street Journal
Hospitals are seeing fewer Covid-19 patients but increasingly the ones who do land in the hospital are 50 or younger. With older Americans vaccinated at higher rates, health officials and epidemiologists said they aren’t surprised.
See also:
· COVID-19 Vaccine Trials Underway For Kids 5 And Younger VPR.
What The New Mask Guidance Means For Unvaccinated Kids — And Their Parents
Capital Public Radio
When the CDC announced on Thursday that fully vaccinated people can safely take off their masks in most settings, one group that did not necessarily breathe a sigh of relief was the parents of young children.
See also:
· Target joins growing list of stores not requiring vaccinated customers to wear masks Modesto Bee
Herd immunity? Only two counties are even close
CalMatters
Less than half of eligible people in 45 of the state’s 58 counties have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Marin and Alpine rank at the top with 69%, while Lassen, Mariposa and Kings are at the bottom with 25% or less.
See also:
● Most unvaccinated Americans say they’ll refuse to get a COVID shot, poll finds Miami Herald
● Opinion: Moderation on Masks Might Make More Get a Shot Wall Street Journal
As Feds Push Menthol Cigarette Ban, States Weigh Broader Measures
PEW
At least eight states are considering legislation this year that would ban sales of all flavored tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, vaping products, and smokeless tobacco such as snuff or chew.
Human Services:
Is it a HIPAA violation if businesses request proof of COVID vaccine? What experts say
Fresno Bee
Some businesses are lifting face mask requirements for customers who are vaccinated against COVID-19, raising questions about medical privacy.
BC nursing students, Hindu Temple of Kern County to hold vaccine clinics
Bakersfield Californian
In collaboration with the Hindu Temple of Kern County, Bakersfield College’s nursing students will hold two pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the coming months.
IMMIGRATION
Scammers gouge these Californians. 2 proposals aim to protect Fresno immigrants
Fresno Bee
As hopes for a national immigration overhaul grow, California legislators are bracing themselves for an uptick in scams and fraudulent activity perpetrated by self-proclaimed immigration consultants against undocumented residents seeking a pathway to citizenship.
Biden’s border closure cracks under pressure from lawsuits, advocates and the easing pandemic
Los Angeles Times
When Maria stepped off the bus in late March, her 3-year-old daughter in her arms, her stomach dropped: The men waiting wore Mexican uniforms. U.S. officials had sent the Honduran mother to Tijuana.
‘Dreamers’ advocates turn up heat on Senate after Biden meeting
Roll Call
House Democrats and immigrant advocates are ramping up calls for the Senate to pass legislation that would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
Border Policy Is Getting More and More Convoluted. That’s Creating False Hope for Migrants.
ProPublica
The Biden administration and the Mexican government have made the situation at the border so confusing that even seasoned experts can’t always determine who is allowed in and who isn’t. That may be contributing to the high number of border crossings.
Documents Show Trump Officials Used Secret Terrorism Unit to Question Lawyers at the Border
ProPublica
In newly disclosed records, Trump officials cited conspiracies about Antifa to justify interrogating immigration lawyers with a special terrorism unit. The documents also show that more lawyers were targeted than previously known.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Local farmer buys what was once largest property on offer in California
Business Journal
A 58,000-acre cattle ranch with a history tied to a California pioneer was purchased by a local farmer. Primarily located in Benito County but extending into Fresno County, Ashurst Ranch also included 5,000 head of cattle, an extensive water system and nine oil wells.
Big new Costco store proposed for northwest Fresno already drawing some concerns
Fresno Bee
Costco wants to open a big new store in northwest Fresno, at Herndon Avenue and Riverside Drive, but the plan is already drawing concerns from one City Council member.
We can’t beat the climate crisis without rethinking land use
Brookings
President Joe Biden recently set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets, but the administration's strategy missed a central driver of our climate crisis: unsustainable land use practices.
Housing:
California Home Prices Shoot Past $800,000 for the First Time
Bloomberg
The pandemic is burnishing California’s reputation for costly housing. In the latest sign, home prices in the state shot past $800,000 for the first time in April, according to data released Monday by the California Association of Realtors.
See also:
● Bubble Watch: ‘Question the sustainability’ of California home prices Orange County Register
A new housing project for some of Fresno County’s most vulnerable citizens will be in Clovis
Fresno Bee
The city of Clovis saw construction start Friday on its first-ever permanent housing project for some of the area’s most vulnerable residents. Dubbed Butterfly Gardens, the $18 million project will be a 75-unit complex in the city’s southwest.
Landlords work with commercial tenants to help them survive the pandemic
Bakersfield Californian
The phone calls fielded by Kern County commercial real estate owners during the coronavirus crisis have ranged from the merely painful to the genuinely tragic.
What California lawmakers could do to boost homeownership for Black families
CalMatters
Legislators are talking a lot about equity in housing, and could help more Black families buy their own homes. But advocates say lawmakers are failing to confront racial equity in many other ways.
Biden Wants to Offer More Housing Vouchers. Many Landlords Won’t Accept Them.
PEW
President Biden wants to expand Section 8 housing assistance to more than 200,000 additional families. The administration proposed an additional $5.4 billion in hopes that vouchers will help low-income people at risk of homelessness because of the pandemic.
Brookings
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated housing insecurity for millions of low- and moderate-income renters. The most recent Census Bureau survey estimates that roughly 7 million renters have fallen behind on rent, with debts averaging $5,400 per household.
PUBLIC FINANCES
California Is Awash in Cash, Thanks to a Booming Market
New York Times
In a single year, the state’s financial outlook has gone from surplus to deficit to surplus as capital gains tax collections have risen amid a soaring stock market and I.P.O. boom.
Here's How Newsom Wants To Spend California's Historic Budget Surplus
Capital Public Radio
After spending the week touring the state and promoting a $100 billion pandemic recovery package — bolstered by a stunning $75.7 billion surplus and additional federal dollars — California Gov. Gavin Newsom presented the rest of his revised budget in Sacramento.
See also:
● Even with huge California surplus, Newsom’s budget relies on reserves, analyst says Los Angeles Times
● Newsom, with huge $38 billion budget surplus, proposes new stimulus checks, more rent relief for Californians San Francisco Chronicle
● Three things to know about Gavin Newsom’s spending spree CalMatters
● First Look: Revised Budget Proposal Lays Foundation for a More Equitable California, Further Action Needed to Create Sustainable Investments California Budget and Policy Center
● May Revision to the Governor's Budget California State Department of Finance
● Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision Legislative Analyst’s Office
● Walters: Newsom budget surplus gets reality check CalMatters
Gavin Newsom wants to test guaranteed income programs, give grants to laid-off workers
Fresno Bee
California workers laid off during the coronavirus pandemic could be eligible for grants to help them train for new jobs or to start a new business, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday as he rolled out his revised budget proposal.
COVID relief continues: Here’s how parents can get a monthly tax payment this summer
Fresno Bee
Eligible parents can get up to $300 per child from Washington as a monthly tax payment starting July 15, the Treasury Department said Monday.
See also:
● 88% of children covered by monthly payments starting in July abc30
● $250-$300 monthly childcare payments start for millions of families in July Orange County Register
● 39 million families to receive monthly child payments starting in July, Treasury says Los Angeles Times
● Who gets a Golden State stimulus check? When? CalMatters
Hundreds of PPP Loans Went to Fake Farms in Absurd Places
ProPublica
An online lending platform called Kabbage sent 378 pandemic loans worth $7 million to fake companies (mostly farms) with names like “Deely Nuts” and “Beefy King.”
Democrats push tax hikes on wealthy over infrastructure ‘user fees’
Roll Call
Top Democrats argue voters would prefer tax increases on a small group of wealthy individuals and corporations to pay for infrastructure spending over broad-based “user fees” that would take a bigger chunk out of lower-income voters’ wallets.
Editorial: A Judicial Blow to Biden’s Tax-Cut Ban
Wall Street Journal
Pieces of the Biden Administration’s aggressive agenda are starting to make their way before judges, and an early ruling points to trouble for the Democratic takeover of state fiscal policy.
Opinion: The Fed misses the biggest threat to financial stability: The Federal Reserve
AEI
On May 6, the Federal Reserve Board issued its latest semi-annual “Financial Stability Report” cataloging the most important financial “vulnerabilities” that could trigger “widespread problems in times of stress.”
TRANSPORTATION
Turlock mayor describes plan to fix roads. What needs repairing? Take our survey.
Modesto Bee
The first step in fixing hundreds of miles of Turlock roads, Mayor Amy Bublak said Friday, is hiring a project manager to work with engineers, the public and the city.
Editorial: Modesto Bee endorses this traffic-smoothing option to extend Highway 132 bypass
Modesto Bee
The best option for a second phase of the Highway 132 bypass now under construction west of Modesto is Alternative 2, which would extend the expressway another five miles west by 2026.
Fox News
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed spending an additional $11 billion on transportation improvements in the state, including $4.2 billion to complete construction on the first portion of a high-speed rail system in the Central Valley.
See also:
● High-speed rail misses out on California’s massive budget surplus Mercury News
California’s crumbling roads and bridges targeted for a facelift in Gavin Newsom’s new budget
Sacramento Bee
Thousands of California state bridges, as well as crumbling roads, that badly need repair would get a $2 billion shot of new money under the budget revision proposed Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
DMV probing whether Tesla violates state regulations with self-driving claims
Los Angeles Times
Tesla is “under review” by the California Department of Motor Vehicles to determine whether the electric car maker misleads customers by advertising its “full self-driving capability” option, the agency told The Times.
WATER
New report: Drought to hit rural Latino communities hardest
Hanford Sentinel
Rural, low-income Latino communities across California were hardest hit by the last drought and could see drinking water shortages again this year as extreme drought spreads across the state, according to a report released today by non-partisan advisors to California’s lawmakers.
Journalist Steven Greenhut On California's Drought Emergency Declaration
VPR
Earlier this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom extended the drought emergency declaration to much of California, including the San Joaquin Valley. To better understand the significance of that decision, Valley Edition Host Kathleen Schock spoke to journalist Steven Greenhut.
Floodplain restoration helps both fish and people where Tuolumne and San Joaquin meet
Modesto Bee
Out where the Tuolumne River joins the San Joaquin, an intriguing way of managing water is taking hold. Dos Rios Ranch is nine years into its restoration, a $45 million-plus effort across nearly 2,400 acres.
Running out of water and time: How unprepared is California for 2021’s drought?
CalMatters
With most of the state gripped by extreme dryness, some conditions are better, some worse, than the last record-breaking drought. Over-pumping of wells hasn’t stopped. But urban residents haven’t lapsed back into water-wasting lifestyles.
What would it cost to replace all the nation’s lead water pipes?
Brookings
Removing lead from America’s drinking water is gathering political support. President Biden’s American Jobs Plan proposes $45 billion to replace lead pipes and service lines across the United States.
“Xtra”
Fresno the No. 1 romantic city in America for singles, study says. What were they thinking?
Fresno Bee
Paris it’s not. Or even New York City, for that matter. But Fresno does have a certain amount of romantic charm, especially if you are single. That’s according to the website MyDatingAdvisor.com, which released a study on the best and worst cities for singles.
Big Fresno Fair returning to in-person experience in October
abc30
The Big Fresno Fair is set to be held in person this year after a drive-through fair in 2020. Fair officials say the in-person fair will be held within the period of October 6 and October 17.
Coronavirus pandemic claims Kern County Fair for second year
Bakersfield Californian
The 2021 Kern County Fair will not take place after a vote by the 15th District Agriculture Association Board of Directors during a meeting on Monday.