May 2, 2019

02May

POLICY & POLITICS

Celebrating ‘reach Across The Aisle‘ Politics

Politico

The annual Ken Maddy Institute fundraiser has been a longstanding tradition in the State Capitol.

North SJ Valley:

UC Merced is ‘University of the Year’

UC News

The university’s efforts have led Education Dive to name UC Merced “University of the Year” in their 2018 Dive Awards. The awards are designed to honor the industry’s top disruptors and innovators.

California tech entrepreneur joins race to unseat Republican Rep. Tom McClintock

Sierra Star

The race to take on Republican Rep. Tom McClintock got a bit more crowded on Tuesday. Entrepreneur Brynne Kennedy, who recently relocated from San Francisco to Roseville, formally filed paperwork to challenge the conservative six-term congressman from Elk Grove.

Fugazi announces run for Eggman’s Assembly seat

Stockton Record

Christina Fugazi, a member of the Stockton City Council the past four years, has a different political office in mind.

Annual Stanislaus count turns up record number of homeless people

Modesto Bee

This year’s count of the homeless in Stanislaus County tallied a record 1,923 people — including 250 children — staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing as well as sleeping in cars, parks and elsewhere outdoors.

Demotion follows drunken bar brawl for Merced sheriff’s sergeant who serves on city council

Fresno Bee

Two Merced County Sheriff’s sergeants recently convicted of a misdemeanor in connection with a drunken brawl were demoted this week, according to a public records request.

$225,000 in hush money bought outgoing Modesto auditor’s silence

Modesto Bee

We paid $225,000 in hush money to an employee who had been with us eight months, and Councilman Zoslocki says nothing happened. He wants to ask the public, Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?

Central SJ Valley:

Post Realignment: Fresno County Jail Has Deadliest Year In Decades

VPR

In 2011,  the U.S. Supreme Court ordered California to reduce its overcrowded prisons. Sweeping reforms called “realignment” shifted the responsibility for thousands of inmates to county jails. Since then, there’s been a sharp rise in jail inmate deaths, most notably in Fresno County.

‘Drunkest city in America’ no more. Fresno passes liquor license reforms

Fresno Bee

Student advocates and convenience store owners united this week in their support at a special Fresno City Council meeting on Wednesday to reform the city’s policies on liquor licenses and store operations.

See also:

●     City council will move forward on plan to reduce liquor in Fresno abc30

●     Fresno Has Twice The State Average Of Liquor Stores: Some Council Members Hope To Change That. VPR

●     Fresno City Council votes to curb liquor licenses Business Journal

Clovis housing boom – and more prison inmates – drove Fresno County growth, study says

Fresno Bee

Fresno County’s population steadily ticked upward in 2018, with that growth attributed in part to expanded housing and a rising prison population.

Now that Fresno mayor’s race is on, one challenger wants police chief search suspended

Fresno Bee

In announcing his run for mayor of Fresno, prosecutor Andrew Janz said he hopes to cut the homeless population in half in one term and called on his incumbent opponent, Mayor Lee Brand, to pause the search for a new police chief.

See also:

●     EDITORIAL: Key differences between candidates make Fresno’s race for mayor a must-watch Fresno Bee

‘Bird is the word’ at council meeting

Madera Tribune

Integrated Avian Solutions (IAS), a falconry-based bird abatement company, will issue its first report to the Madera City Council Wednesday evening. The council retained IAS late last year after complaints that thousands of crows had moved into the downtown Madera area.

South SJ Valley:

New study cites Bakersfield’s affordability as a main draw for millennial homebuyers

Sacramento Bee

Try to name the California city that recently settled into the Top 10 list of what the National Association of Realtors is calling the “Most Popular Areas for Millennials: Where They Move And Stay.” It’s Bakersfield!

To Bakersfield Cops, Concern For Opioids Grows – But Meth Is Still King

VPR

Central California is a conduit for meth, a waypoint between producers in Mexico and their customers throughout the U.S. The drug is cheaper than it used to be, especially in California, and seizures at the border have been creeping up for years.

Community groups, Kern County Office of Education reach settlement in lawsuit

Bakersfield Californian

A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit involving a dispute over the enrollment of students in Kern County Office of Education-operated schools, according to a press release.

State:

California governor creates panel to study future of work

Bakersfield Californian

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says California must prioritize workers as its economy grows. He’s also signed an executive order creating a new commission to study “the future of work.” The commission will explore how technology and economic advances will impact California’s workforce.

See also:

●     Gov. Newsom Creates Commission To Study Future Of Work (And Struggles To Change A Light Bulb) Capital Public Radio

●     Newsom says new California commission will address jobs threatened by automation Los Angeles Times

State officials keep hiring their relatives. Will Newsom crack down on nepotism?

Los Angeles Times

California agencies have a long history of nepotism, along with pledges to end such favoritism, but the practice continues. Workers in at least seven state agencies have alleged favoritism shown to family members and friends of administrators in the last decade.

Gavin Newsom appoints transgender city councilwoman to CalPERS

Sacramento Bee

A transgender California city councilwoman is joining the CalPERS Board of Administration, becoming the fifth new member leading the nation’s largest pension fund this year.

See also:

·       California memorial is first in U.S. to officially honor LGBTQ veterans Fresno Bee

Where are the babies? California sees slowest population growth since it started counting

Fresno Bee

California last year saw its slowest population growth in recorded history, according to a Department of Finance report published Wednesday.

See also:

●     Here are the top 10 fastest growing California cities Merced Sun-Star

●     California inches toward 40M people, but growth rate slows Bakersfield Californian

●     California Records Slowest Growth Rate In State History, While Wildfire Remakes City Populations Capital Public Radio

●     California’s population growth is the slowest in recorded history Los Angeles Times

Chevron, PG&E and the ACLU are spending big to influence California politicians. Here’s why

Sacramento Bee

Companies and interest groups spent $86 million to influence lawmakers and other state officials in the first quarter of 2019, with oil companies and utilities among the top spenders, according to forms filed with the state ahead of a Tuesday midnight deadline.

Here’s How Privacy Law Will Hurt

Fox & Hounds

You’ve heard me say it so many times: economic vitality requires jobs. When the jobs dry up, middle class residents go with them. Unfortunately, last year California rushed through a new privacy law which imposes unreasonable new burdens on businesses.

Federal:

What The Fallout From William Barr’s Testimony Means For The Russia Investigation

Capital Public Radio

Robert Mueller’s report landed, but the aftershocks continue to shake Washington. The latest tremors took place in a Senate hearing on Wednesday with Attorney General William Barr.

See also:

●     Attorney General Barr refuses to testify to House panel after contentious Senate hearing Los Angeles Times

●     We heard from William Barr. Now it’s Mueller’s turn Los Angeles Times

●     House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Says Attorney General William Barr Lied to Congress Wall Street Journal

●     EDITORIAL: Attorney General William Barr should resign San Francisco Chronicle

Trump Administration Now Urges Court to Strike Down Entire Health Law

Wall Street Journal

The Trump administration urged a federal appeals court Wednesday to strike down the entire Affordable Care Act, presenting for the first time its new position opposing the entirety of the Obama-era health law.

See also:

●     Health insurance deductibles soar, leaving Americans with unaffordable bills Los Angeles Times

GOP conservatives sharpen knives for spending fight

Roll Call

The House Republican Study Committee released a budget proposal Wednesday that assumes cutting $12.6 trillion in spending over a decade and eliminating the deficit within six years.

Lobbyists to Congress: Pay staffers better

Roll Call

Six ex-lawmakers — including Virginia Republican Tom Davis — suggested that Congress pay its staffers more money to better hold their own with experts from K Street and the executive branch.

Elections 2020:

Sen. Michael F. Bennet of Colorado becomes the latest Democratic presidential candidate

Washington Post

Sen. Michael F. Bennet of Colorado, a champion of political moderation, announced Thursday that he would join the crowded Democratic presidential race. He is the 21st major candidate to enter the primary.

See also:

●     Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet announces presidential run Roll Call

●     Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet Enters 2020 Democratic Presidential Race Wall Street Journal

Kamala Harris just got a campaign assist from Donald Trump’s attorney general

Sacramento Bee

Kamala Harris’ most memorable moments during her short Senate career have come during nationally televised committee hearings with leading Trump administration officials.

Who Is Eric Swalwell? Meet The Latest California Democrat Running For President

Capital Public Radio

California Rep. Eric Swalwell has entered the 2020 presidential race. PolitiFact will fact check him throughout the campaign, but first, here’s an examination of his biography and where he stands on key issues.

Iowa voters flock to Joe Biden, but out of practicality, not passion

Los Angeles Times

A consistent theme animated Iowa voters as former Vice President Joe Biden brought his newly announced presidential campaign to the state — practicality, not passion.

Beto O’Rourke travels California seeking direction and his old spark

Los Angeles Times

Supporters are not the only ones trying to figure out where O’Rourke goes from here. As he spent four days meandering through California, the White House hopeful seemed just as much in flux, searching for direction even more than votes in the state’s March 3 primary.

Other:

Service Corps Bolsters Local Journalism And Maybe Democracy

VPR

You’ve heard of service organizations like the Peace Corps or Teach for America that try to address critical needs in underserved areas. Well now there’s a public service program that tackles the dearth of local news reporting across the country called Report for America.

Brooks: An Era Defined by Fear

New York Times

It’s been an era when politicians rise by stoking fear. Donald Trump declared an “American carnage” and made it to the White House by warning of an immigrant crime wave that doesn’t exist.

What is jawboning, explained

Roll Call

The act of regulation through informal methods such as speeches and letters — also known as jawboning — is used often in creating policy. Chris Brummer explains why it’s of particular importance to financial technology regulation.

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

Sunday, May 5, at 9 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Higher Ed: A Good Investment for Students and Taxpayers?” – Guests: Sarah Bohn, Radhika Mehlotra, and Patrick Murphy from PPIC; and Dorothy Leland – Chancellor – UC Merced. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, May 5, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) –Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition:  “The Valley’s Public Universities: An Update” – Guests: President Joseph I. Castro from California State University, Fresno; President Ellen Jun from California State University, Stanislaus; and President Lynette Zelezny from California State University, Bakersfield.  Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, May 5, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy“CalFacts: Todo lo que necesita saber sobre California” – Guests:Lourdes Morales, Jacqueline Barocio y Edgar Cabral, analistas de la Oficina de Analisis Legislativo (LAO). Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Canned rosé wine? A Fresno brewer is making it, with help from 7-Eleven and millennials

Fresno Bee

A sister company of Tioga-Sequoia Brewing in Fresno, California, is making a rosé wine in a can called Buenas Uvas, made at Papagni Winery in Madera. The alcoholic drink is sold in 7-Eleven and soon at Save Mart.

CalFresh expansion could boost healthy food options for thousands

San Francisco Chronicle

For the last 4 ½ decades, as California’s cost of living has soared, some of the state’s neediest — and hungriest — residents have been unable to use the CalFresh program or its predecessor, food stamps, to put healthy meals on the table.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Post Realignment: Fresno County Jail Has Deadliest Year In Decades

VPR

In 2011,  the U.S. Supreme Court ordered California to reduce its overcrowded prisons. Sweeping reforms called “realignment” shifted the responsibility for thousands of inmates to county jails. Since then, there’s been a sharp rise in jail inmate deaths, most notably in Fresno County.

Long parole terms waste taxpayer money. Here’s one way to fix a broken system

Modesto Bee

For the majority of my four decades in law enforcement, I focused squarely on identifying criminals, capturing them and bringing them into custody.

A poignant look at abuse through a child’s eyes

Porterville Recorder

The interactive walkthrough exhibit called The Lisa Project has made its way to Porterville College (PC), and the experience is eye-opening. Itt is a unique multi-sensory exhibit experience allowing the visitor to hear, see, and experience the reality of the world of child abuse.

Public Safety:

Deputy Jack Williamson Retires After 21 Years Of Service

Sierra News

Sheriff’s Deputy Jack Williamson is retiring after 21 years of outstanding service to the citizens of Madera County.

Two new names etched onto Stanislaus County peace officers memorial

Modesto Bee

Nineteen names — two more than last year — nearly fill the first granite monolith of the Stanislaus County Peace Officers Memorial at Lakewood Memorial Park, where hundreds gathered Wednesday to honor those who died in the line of duty.

Cal City Police Department turns to retirees to fill hiring void

Bakersfield Californian

Two months ago, the California City Police Department faced a challenge that could have crippled many other law enforcement agencies. But the situation has since turned around, thanks in part to a group of recent retirees, who have decided to step back into the uniform.

To Bakersfield Cops, Concern For Opioids Grows – But Meth Is Still King

VPR

Central California is a conduit for meth, a waypoint between producers in Mexico and their customers throughout the U.S. The drug is cheaper than it used to be, especially in California, and seizures at the border have been creeping up for years.

Fire:

Sheltering in place during a wildfire a dicey strategy

Sierra Star

For Californians who might have to escape wildfire again this year, the options are perilous. Many live in communities that don’t have well-thought-out public evacuation plans and lack the road capacity that’s needed to get everyone out fast.

PG&E offers $105 million in ‘wildfire assistance.’ Here’s what it would be spent on

Sacramento Bee

Facing intense criticism over the 2017 and 2018 wildfires, PG&E on Wednesday offered to create a $105 million fund to help fire survivors with living expenses.

Deadly wildfires drove an exodus from California cities last year, new report shows

Sacramento Bee

Wildfires drove an exodus from hard-hit California cities last year, shifting tens of thousands of residents from Paradise, Redding and Malibu to other communities, according to state population estimates released on Wednesday.

‘Lot of history.’ Fire destroys Sierra Nevada cabin where California measures snowpack

Sacramento Bee

The fire has become something of a tragedy for the Department of Water Resources, which has been measuring the snowpack at Phillips Station since 1941.

Forecast Calls For Busy Wildfire Season Along West Coast

Capital Public Radio

Most of the country can expect a normal wildfire season but residents along the West Coast of the United States should be ready for another busy season, the National Interagency Fire Center said Wednesday.

Six months after toxic smoke, health of immigrant workers still at risk

CALmatters

We are about to mark six months since last November’s wildfires left painful scars across California. As we look back on those awful days, we might prefer to forget the putrid smoke that briefly made our air the worst in the world.

ECONOMY / JOBS

Economy:

Faraday Future gets lifeline: $225 million in new financing

Hanford Sentinel

Electric car startup Faraday Future announced Monday that it has received $225 million in bridge financing to support the completion and launch of its flagship luxury electric vehicle, the FF 91.

Stocks sink after Fed appears to dash hopes of an interest rate cut

Los Angeles Times

Stocks on Wall Street gave up some early gains and ended broadly lower Wednesday after the head of the Federal Reserve appeared to play down the possibility of an interest rate cut this year, disappointing some investors.

See also:

●     Federal Reserve chief says he doesn’t favor raising or cutting interest rates Los Angeles Times

How to talk to millennials about capitalism

Los Angeles Times

However imperfect the free market is, the moral and economic track record of state-dominated economies is far worse.

See also:

●     Polling the Economy in a Populist Moment National Review

Can California find a “third way” set of successful economic policies?

Fox & Hounds

One of the greatest current impediments to the State of California’s long-term success, both economically and socially, is its lack of a coherent, consistent, and viable set of economic policies.

Jobs:

US businesses are hiring; 275K jobs in April

Fresno Bee

U.S. companies in April added the most jobs in 9 months, a sign that hiring remains strong amid solid economic growth.

See also:

●     Report reveals best entry-level jobs of 2019 abc30

California governor creates panel to study future of work

Bakersfield Californian

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says California must prioritize workers as its economy grows. He’s also signed an executive order creating a new commission to study “the future of work.” The commission will explore how technology and economic advances will impact California’s workforce.

See also:

●     Gov. Newsom Creates Commission To Study Future Of Work (And Struggles To Change A Light Bulb) Capital Public Radio

●     Newsom says new California commission will address jobs threatened by automation Los Angeles Times

Technologically obsolete adults increasingly face digital barriers to jobs

California Economic Summit

Many students fresh out of four-year college with a liberal arts degree lack basic Microsoft Office skills like Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as relevant business software like QuickBooks or Salesforce.

EDUCATION

K-12:

Fresno schools honor seniors for heading to college, joining the military

abc30

The district sees Signing Day as a perfect way to honor students for their academic drive. Staffers also stressed funding for their college journey is available through scholarships and grants.

McLane High School stadium to get $2.7 million in upgrades

abc30

The football stadium at McLane High School is in for a makeover. Fresno Unified has approved a proposal to replace the natural grass field with synthetic turf. It will be the first stadium in the district to install the turf used by many fields across the country, including Bulldog Stadium.

Visalia PBIS problem might have simple fix, communication

Visalia Times Delta

Visalia Unified School District administrators say they’ve heard their teachers loud and clear. When it comes to the district’s Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) framework, there is much room for improvement.

Community groups, Kern County Office of Education reach settlement in lawsuit

Bakersfield Californian

A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit involving a dispute over the enrollment of students in Kern County Office of Education-operated schools, according to a press release.

Kern High School District Knew Staff Member Was Sex Abuser, Lawsuits Allege

VPR

Two recent lawsuits allege the Kern High School District (KHSD) knew one of its employees had a history of inappropriate sexual behavior with students but continued to employ him anyway.

Spanos Elementary dedicates SUSD’s first peace pole

Stockton Record

It’s just over six feet tall, contains seven languages and has one clear message: peace. Stockton Unified administrators, students and staff at Spanos Elementary School celebrated the installment of a peace pole in front of the south Stockton school’s playground.

Higher Ed:

UC Merced is ‘University of the Year’

UC News

The university’s efforts have led Education Dive to name UC Merced “University of the Year” in their 2018 Dive Awards. The awards are designed to honor the industry’s top disruptors and innovators.

UC Merced students hope for funding to save online newspaper

abc30

“The Prodigy” has been keeping students informed about campus life for the last 14 years, but that could soon change over what amounts to be about $2300 bucks after the student government decided to cut funding.

It costs 1,360% more to go to a CSU than 40 years ago – and that’s adjusted for inflation

Fresno Bee

California students pay six times more in tuition and $4,000 more in housing than they did in 1979, making it hard to avoid debt at California State University and University of California schools.

See also:

●     America’s Best Value Colleges 2019 Forbes

Trump Administration Hires McKinsey to Evaluate Student-Loan Portfolio

Wall Street Journal

The Trump administration has retained private consultants to estimate potential losses in the U.S. government’s $1.45 trillion student-loan portfolio, and is weighing selling all or portions of the debt to private investors.

See also:

●     A better way to provide relief to student loan borrowers Brookings

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

Environment:

Trump administration pushed to strip mention of climate change from Arctic policy statement

Washington Post

The Trump administration sought to remove references to climate change from an international statement on Arctic policy that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to endorse next week.

In tree rings, signs that climate change started boosting drought risk long ago

Los Angeles Times

By comparing projections from climate models to records of drought patterns inscribed in tree rings, scientists have detected what may be the fingerprint of greenhouse gases as far back as the early 1900s.

Congress needs to permanently fund land and water program to conserve public places

Fresno Bee

Whether in Fresno or in the giant sequoias, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has played an important role in protecting our parks. And, these places improve the air we breathe and the water we drink.

Do We Still Need To Protect Gray Wolves? Trump Administration Says No, Advocates Disagree.

Capital Public Radio

The Trump administration wants to strip federal protection of gray wolves in almost all of the lower 48 states. Wolves were listed under federal endangered species laws in 1978.

Richard Preston: The mysterious lives of giant trees

TED Talk

Science writer Richard Preston talks about some of the most enormous living beings on the planet, the giant trees of the US Pacific Northwest. Growing from a tiny seed, they support vast ecosystems — and are still, largely, a mystery.

Four trees added to Veterans Park during annual Arbor Day celebration

Porterville Recorder

Warm weather and clear skies provided an ideal backdrop to celebrate things green and growing as Porterville Parks and Leisure held their annual Arbor Day celebration Friday, April 26 at Veterans Park.

Energy:

The quest to make gasoline out of thin air

Los Angeles Times

He’s one of a growing number of entrepreneurs pursuing direct carbon capture technology, which extracts carbon from the air and water and transforms it into usable substances such as gasoline, construction materials and industrial chemicals.

EDITORIAL: Power companies want to dodge clean energy goals

San Francisco Chronicle

Power dams are part of California’s energy mix. But energy firms want to use the output to dodge clean energy goals.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Much-Anticipated Valley Fever Clinical Trial Fails Due To Lack Of Enrollment

VPR

In 2018, Kern County’s caseload of the fungal disease valley fever rose for the fourth year in a row, health officials recently announced. Simultaneously, a much-anticipated clinical trial related to the disease failed.

Trump Administration Now Urges Court to Strike Down Entire Health Law

Wall Street Journal

The Trump administration urged a federal appeals court Wednesday to strike down the entire Affordable Care Act, presenting for the first time its new position opposing the entirety of the Obama-era health law.

See also:

●     Health insurance deductibles soar, leaving Americans with unaffordable bills Los Angeles Times

The Complicated Truth About Vaccines

Wall Street Journal

Why are people afraid of vaccines? The already strong evidence of their safety got stronger in March with the release of a large Danish study that addressed several objections to previous studies and found that vaccines poses no additional risk of developing autism.

Strategies to Improve Maternal Mental Health in California

California Budget & Policy Center

When mothers feel emotionally healthy and well supported, they are better able to develop strong bonds with their children, which promote children’s physical, mental, and emotional development.

Human Services:

‘Medicare for All’ Isn’t Medicare

Wall Street Journal

The title is deeply misleading. In fact, Medicare for All differs from Medicare in fundamental ways—with much broader coverage, no cost sharing, and fewer choices of health-care plans.

See also:

●     Medicare for All Could Trim Costs, Impede Care, Report Says Wall Street Journal

Diabetic Amputations A ‘Shameful Metric’ Of Inadequate Care

California Healthline

Across the country, surgeons still perform tens of thousands of diabetic amputations each year. It’s a drastic procedure that stands as a powerful example of the consequences of being poor, uninsured and cut off from a routine system of quality health care.

California’s vast health care industry requires growing workforce pipeline

California Economic Summit

When one thinks of the health sector, you often think of predominately hands-on patient care professionals, such as doctors and nurses. But the health care sector is much more.

IMMIGRATION

Trump administration requests $4.5 billion in new border funding

abc30

The Trump administration is requesting an additional $4.5 billion in emergency spending to address the “humanitarian and security crisis” at the southern border.

See also:

●     Trump wants $4.5 billion more in emergency funds for border assistance Los Angeles Times

●     Trump Administration Calls for $4.5 Billion to Address Crisis at Southern Border Wall Street Journal

Burgeoning court backlog of more than 850,000 cases undercuts Trump immigration agenda

Washington Post

The U.S. immigration court system is facing a backlog of 850,000 cases, and it has fewer than 450 judges nationwide to handle them. New asylum applications and other claims are piling up, creating long delays.

Trump threatened sanctuary cities, and they shrugged—here’s why

Brookings

A few weeks ago, President Trump tweeted that he was “giving strong considerations” to placing “illegal immigrants in Sanctuary Cities only.”

EDITORIAL: Trump’s newest asylum policy has the seed of a good idea buried amid bad ones

Los Angeles Times

President Trump’s new executive order for managing the tens of thousands of asylum seekers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border each month contains a germ of sense, but for the most part, like his earlier efforts, it is too harsh and fails to address the underlying problems that propel migration.

NY AG emphasizes key fact in citizenship question case

PolitiFact

The Trump administration’s plan to ask about citizenship on the 2020 Census survey form has New York and other states with high immigrant populations worried the question will result in a significant undercount, something the Census Bureau has said would happen.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Councilman Esparza explains his opposition to gas station-convenience store project

Fresno Bee

There has been a lot of talk about Councilman Esparza’s decision to appeal a recent proposed convenience store, gas station, off-premises alcohol permit in his district. He wants to set the record straight.

See also:

●     Debate continues over proposal to build 7-Eleven store in Southeast Fresno abc30

Saving The Local Little League Field Is A Community Effort

Sierra News

Supporters and organizers gathered at Sierra Mountain Little League (SMLL) fields last week as Rotary Club of Oakhurst Sierra presented a $5,000 check to the SMLL Board of Directors.

Housing:

Annual Stanislaus count turns up record number of homeless people

Modesto Bee

This year’s count of the homeless in Stanislaus County tallied a record 1,923 people — including 250 children — staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing as well as sleeping in cars, parks and elsewhere outdoors.

Homeless encampment downtown draws disdain in social media posts in Bakersfield

Bakersfield Californian

A homeless encampment near an abandoned business on the edge of downtown was getting a lot of negative attention Wednesday. On social media and beyond.

New study cites Bakersfield’s affordability as a main draw for millennial homebuyers

Sacramento Bee

Try to name the California city that recently settled into the Top 10 list of what the National Association of Realtors is calling the “Most Popular Areas for Millennials: Where They Move And Stay.” It’s Bakersfield!

Amid the housing NIMBYs and YIMBYs, meet PIMBYs—“Parents in my Backyard”

CALmatters

After state laws passed in 2016 and 2017 made it easier and less expensive to build them, Accessory Dwelling Units—colloquially known as an in-law unit, granny flat or “ADU”—have exploded in popularity in many cities.

The Power of Single Family Homeowners and SB 50

Fox & Hounds

If single family homeowners’ power can be harnessed it could mean the end of SB 50, the controversial bill designed to grant state authority to override local zoning laws in order to build high-density housing near transit lines.

PUBLIC FINANCES

Holding Rates Steady, Fed Plays Down Worries on Low Inflation

Wall Street Journal

Federal Reserve officials agreed to keep their benchmark interest rate unchanged and signaled comfort that their wait-and-see posture had steadied the economy after fears of a slowdown had sent markets reeling at the end of last year.

EDITORIAL: Small retailers who sold through Amazon are facing a tax time bomb

Los Angeles Times

Online sales have taken over a growing percentage of the U.S. retail market, accounting for about $1 out of every $7 spent by consumers. But through much of that rise, online sellers had an unfair advantage over brick-and-mortar retailers.

TRANSPORTATION

High-speed rail now has a scaled-down vision for operations in the San Joaquin Valley

Fresno Bee

The California High-Speed Rail Authority on Wednesday issued its first update to state legislators since Gov. Gavin Newsom turned the project on its head. The bottom line: the authority says it’ll meet a critical federal deadline, and the new cost will be $20.4 billion.

See also:

●     High-Speed Rail project costs could increase by $1.8 billion abc30

●     New California rail plan pegs Central Valley line at $18.3B Bakersfield Californian

●     On California high-speed rail project, Newsom to scale back consultants but push ahead Los Angeles Times

●     California’s high-speed rail might start with old-school diesel trains San Francisco Chronicle

‘Mall to Hall’ ride creates awareness for cyclists on local roads

abc30

Cyclist from all over the Fresno area gathered at Manchester Center for the annual “Mall to Hall Ride” Wednesday Morning. All agree this event brings awareness for drivers to share the road with cyclists and vice versa.

WATER

Tap water tied to thousands of cancer cases

Visalia Times Delta

Drinking California tap water could increase the number of cancer cases statewide by more than 15,000 over the course of a lifetime, a new study says.

See also:

●     Cancer water? Unsafe drinking water puts 15,000 Californians at risk, study says Sacramento Bee

EDITORIAL: It’s OK to stop, take a deep breath with state water policy

Modesto Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call on Monday for a new comprehensive water plan for California looks like a smart timeout on one of the state’s trickiest and most intractable battlefronts.

“Xtra”

Downtown Modesto food truck court opens; what kind of food to expect at Grub Hubs

Modesto Bee

While it’s not the proverbial dinner bell, trucks rolling into the new Modesto Grub Hubs are having the same effect — bringing in hungry diners.

Yosemite waterfalls are gushing this year — and some won’t last long. Here’s how to see them

Fresno Bee

An extra wet winter and spring this year means waterfall season in Yosemite National Park is off to a thunderous, gushing start. This is also a great time to see many of the park’s lesser-known falls that only last for a short time.

The Tower District launches two new events Thursday: One has art, one has kale

Fresno Bee

Thursdays are about to get a lot more interesting in Fresno’s Tower District. Two new events are coming to Olive Avenue: A daytime farmers market and a nighttime art walk. They both start Thursday, May 2.

Fresno Zoo launches new program to improve visits for kids with autism

abc30

Together with Valley Children’s hospital, the zoo is launching ‘George’s Pass’, a program that will make it more accessible to kids with autism.

Crystal Cave now provides tours for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing

abc30

Sequoia Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service have announced the completion of tours for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing at Crystal Cave.

Arts Council planning Gala and exhibition

Madera Tribune

The Madera County Arts Council will play host at its annual Gala for the Arts on Thursday, June 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the San Joaquin Wine Company, 21821 Avenue 16.

Comic book fans assemble

Hanford Sentinel

Between the opening of “Avengers: Endgame” and the return of “Game of Thrones,” it’s been a big week for nerd culture, and the Free Comic Book Day block party in downtown Hanford will keep the celebration snapping along.

Relay for Life returns to fairgrounds this weekend

Bakersfield Californian

This weekend the weather is looking comfortably warm and sunny, great for an outdoor event. But rain or shine or triple-digit heat, no force of nature will stop dedicated cancer survivors and supporters from showing up for the Relay for Life of Bakersfield.

Read firefighter’s moving poetry, see art, and ride in antique engine at Fresno ArtHop

Fresno Bee

Poems will be on display Thursday at Fresno Fire Station 3, located at 1406 Fresno St. in downtown Fresno, for the Fresno Fire Department’s first ArtHop exhibit, featuring art made by firefighters, including photography and woodworking.

Fourth annual Clovis Trail Fest gearing up for health-promoting event

Clovis Roundup

The Clovis Trail Fest will once again take place on the Old Town and Dry Creek Trails from 5th Street to Dry Creek Park and Railroad Park. Friends and families can enjoy a free community event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 4th.

Clovis Rec Center to host fifth Annual Cops & Kids Sports Camp

Clovis Roundup

The annual Cops and Kids Sports Camp is returning to the Clovis Rec Center from June 18-21. Hosted by Clovis Police Department, the summer youth camp is intended to teach kids (first through sixth grade) basic sports skills in a fun and safe environment.

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