POLICY & POLITICS
Editor’s Note: The Maddy Daily will not be delivered Monday to commemorate Memorial Day.
Event: Cannabis Education Seminars presents: “The Future of Cannabis in the Central Valley”
Cannabis Education Seminars
“The Future of Cannabis in the Central Valley” live webinar provides a forum for local and state regulators and business leaders to discuss the cannabis industry in the Central Valley. This virtual panel will be held on Wednesday, May 27, at 1:30 PM, moderated by Mark Keppler from The Maddy Report, a weekly public affairs TV program covering how State and Federal policy and politics impact California and the San Joaquin Valley.
North SJ Valley:
Merced County’s COVID-19 rules have loosened. What’s OK during Memorial Day weekend?
Fresno Bee
Despite the loosened rules, community life will not be returning to its pre-coronavirus days. Businesses, parks and lakes will all have guidelines for people to follow to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
San Joaquin County gets OK to move ahead on reopening
Bakersfield Californian
Gov. Gavin Newsom has approved San Joaquin County’s variance to Stage 2 of California’s roadmap to modify the state’s stay-at-home order.
Stanislaus deaths hit 28; info on eateries, recreation
Modesto Bee
Deaths in Stanislaus County rose from 26 to 28 as of Thursday. A total of 611 people in the county have tested positive for the virus. Another 9,727 tested negative. The number of people hospitalized at some point is at 109, and 480 are presumed to be recovered.
Business owners rejoice as county begins to re-open
Turlock Journal
The streets of Turlock were a bit busier on Thursday as retailers and restaurants welcomed customers inside of their stores for the first time in two months. Since shelter-in-place orders meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 were implemented throughout California in mid-March, eateries were previously confined to offering only takeout or delivery while retail stores did their best to provide curbside pickup options.
EDITORIAL: Howze, left adrift by national GOP, must explain hateful social media
Modesto Bee
Ted Howze must come forward and explain himself. The congressional candidate is no doubt embarrassed that the Republican establishment withdrew its support on Wednesday.
See also:
● Republicans move to disown Central Valley candidate over social media posts San Francisco Chronicle
● GOP pulls support from California House candidate over ‘unacceptable’ social media posts The Hill
Central SJ Valley:
‘Giant step forward:’ Fresno lifts shelter-in-place next week, sets business reopen plan
Fresno Bee
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand announced Thursday that he will lift the city’s shelter-in-place order after the Memorial Day holiday weekend and allow businesses to open back up.
See also:
● Fresno-area restaurants are reopening very soon. Here’s what dining out will be like Fresno Bee
● State approves Fresno County to reopen dine-in restaurants, under certain conditions Fresno Bee
● Businesses Hoping to Reopen Join Run on PPE PEW
Fresno churches have been closed for two months. This councilman hopes to soon change that
Fresno Bee
Following the reopening of several new types of businesses closed during the coronavirus pandemic, Fresno Councilmember Mike Karbassi announced on Thursday he’ll move to have churches open as soon as possible.
See also:
● Letter: 1,200 Calif Religious Leaders Say They Will Reopen May 31 Capital Public Radio
● Defying state coronavirus order, a thousand pastors plan to hold in-person services for PentecostLos Angeles Times
● Trump calls on governors to allow places of worship to open this weekend Post
Unemployment tops 76,000 in Fresno Co as coronavirus takes toll on jobs
Fresno Bee
More than 76,000 people were out of work in April in Fresno County – a level of joblessness not seen in nearly a decade as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the central San Joaquin Valley
Fresno activist who confronted councilmember says his foundation, political group don’t mix
Fresno Bee
A man who confronted Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias at his home last week spearheads a group that’s formed as a religious nonprofit, though he insists that entity is separate from his political life.
South SJ Valley:
On first day of reopening, some businesses scramble while others hang back
Bakersfield Californian
The day after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office granted Kern County a regional variance, many businesses scrambled to reopen while others were relatively unaffected by the new state of affairs.
State:
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to restart filming next week meets resistance
Los Angeles Times
When California Gov. Gavin Newsom revealed Wednesday that the state will deliver guidelines that will allow many counties to resume filming as early as next week, the reaction in Hollywood was muted.
Will CA enforce stay-at-home order?
CalMatters
As California heads into Memorial Day weekend, tensions are rising along with the temperature. Although this week Gov. Gavin Newsom significantly relaxed reopening requirements, clearing 42 of 58 counties to reopen dine-in restaurants and malls, for many it wasn’t enough.
See Also:
● Most California counties get state OK for faster reopening AP News
Facebook, Google donated millions to Newsom’s coronavirus fight. Which other companies gave?
Fresno Bee
Google provided free ad credits for COVID-19 public service announcements. Zoom gave money to connect students with technology needed for remote schooling. Pharmaceutical company Pfizer donated to provide trailers for homeless people.
See Also:
● Private companies donated $26M to California’s relief effortSacramento Bee
● Newsom raises record $26M in donations for Covid-19, some from companies lobbying statePolitico
● California to spend $1.8 billion more on virus response AP News
EDITORIAL: Time to cut off Gov. Newsom’s blank check
Los Angeles Times
There was some grumbling later about the governor’s lackadaisical efforts to keep legislative leaders informed of what he was up to, but his results made those quibbles seem inconsequential. Coronavirus cases didn’t overwhelm the healthcare system as many had feared, in large part due to the governor’s quick action.
CalMatters
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a sudden financial crisis for millions of Californians. Work hours have been drastically reduced for many. Many more have lost their jobs completely. Local businesses have shut their doors.
CalMatters
The COVID-19 pandemic invites us to grapple with our interconnectedness as we rely on each other to keep ourselves safe and supported. Yet amid efforts to collaborate and creatively solve problems, Southern California Gas Co. is capitalizing on this crisis to bully and to sow division.
Federal:
Trump calls on governors to allow places of worship to open this weekend
Washington Post
President Trump said that if governors do not follow his recommendations to allow in-person religious services to resume, he will “override” them. Trump did not specify what that means and he did not take any questions. “In America we need more prayer, not less,” Trump said.
Study: Hydroxychloroquine drug touted by Trump linked to increased risk of death Washington Post
A study of 96,000 hospitalized coronavirus patients on 6 continents found that those who received an antimalarial drug promoted by Pres. Trump as a “game changer” in the fight against the virus had a significantly higher risk of death compared with those who did not.
See also:
· Trump lashes out at scientists whose findings contradict him AP News
Poll: Most Americans say they have worn mask in public
The Hill
A large majority of Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, say they have worn a mask in public throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project.
See also:
● That mask box label is legitimate, but misinterpreted PolitiFact
● Trump briefly wears a face mask — but not in public Los Angeles Times
CDC issues reopening guidelines for schools, transit and businesses after weeks of delay
Los Angeles Times
The federal government’s top infectious-disease experts quietly released their most detailed guidelines to date for reopening schools, restaurants, transit systems and other businesses disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak.
See also:
● Doctors push Trump to quickly reopen country in letter organized by conservatives The Hill
● Trump says US won’t close over second COVID-19 wave The Hill
● States Don’t Agree on How to Determine When It Is Safe to Reopen Wall Street Journal
● Opinion: The Crucial Reopening Question Wall Street Journal
Coronavirus Special Report: What’s next for the Paycheck Protection Program?
Roll Call
In tonight’s episode, we examine the latest on the Paycheck Protection Program. Then, we look at how some lawmakers are trying to prevent companies from being held liable if their employees contract the coronavirus on the job.
See Also:
● Senate deal on small-business loan fixes on hold, for now Roll Call
● Commentary: Congress must fund another major economic relief package CalMatters
Republicans are realizing the crisis is pulling them toward disaster
Washington Post
“The worst is behind us,” declared Herbert Hoover in 1930. Two years later, Franklin Roosevelt won the presidency by an 18-point margin, capturing 42 states. Now, nearly 90 years later, at least some Republicans are starting to worry that President Trump could meet a fate similar to Hoover’s, and drag them down with him.
Commentary: Federal Money for State & Local Governments Could Stop Tax Increases
Fox & Hounds
Governor Gavin Newsom is hoping for federal funds to avoid about $14 billion in budget cuts. Political tensions over a federal subsidy to state and local governments—some Republicans label it a bailout—have held up Washington assistance to the states, but the odds are some form of federal help eventually will come.
Coronavirus Trackers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.
See also:
● California Department of Public Health
● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic – WHO
● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
● Tracking coronavirus in California Los Angeles Times
● Coronavirus Tracker San Francisco Chronicle
● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count New York Times
● How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico
● Coronavirus Daily NPR
● Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Financial Times
● Coronavirus in California by the numbers CalMatters
Study: U.S. Could Have Saved 36,000 Lives If Social Distancing Started 1 Week Earlier
NPR
The U.S. could have prevented roughly 36,000 deaths from COVID-19 if broad social distancing measures had been put in place just one week earlier in March, according to an analysis from Columbia University.
See Also:
● Lockdown Delays Cost at Least 36,000 Lives, Data Show New York Times
Poll: Black Americans & Latinos nearly 3x as likely to know someone who died of COVID-19
abc
The devastating toll of coronavirus is far-reaching, but the impact of the pandemic is particularly acute among black Americans and Latinos, who are nearly three times as likely to personally know someone who has died from the virus than white Americans, according to a new ABC News/Ipsos poll released Friday.
See also:
● The Striking Racial Divide in How Covid-19 Has Hit Nursing Homes New York Times
● EDITORIAL: America’s poor health has put it in unique danger from coronavirus Los Angeles Times
● Little sense of shared grief as virus deaths near 100,000 Los Angeles Times
Elections 2020:
Biden limits media access to virtual Wall Street fundraiser
Fresno Bee
Joe Biden’s campaign limited media access to a fundraiser with Wall Street donors on Thursday night, the first time reporters were unable to join the video portion of a virtual fundraiser or hear the presumptive Democratic nominee answer questions.
See Also:
● Fox News poll: Biden opens up 8-point lead over Trump The Hill
● Who Will Joe Biden Choose for Vice President? The Short List U.S. News
● Not Quite There: Joe Biden’s Struggling Virtual Campaign U.S. News
● OPINION: Biden Will Answer for FBI Abuse Wall Street Journal
GOP candidate Darrell Issa sues Gov. over vote-by-mail order sparked by virus
Fresno Bee
The lawsuit alleges that Newsom overstepped his authority with the order and that the governor’s move could lead to questions about the legitimacy of election outcomes and subsequent federal court challenges.
See also:
● Issa sues California over November mail-ballot election Politico
● Pushing back against Trump, Romney says 90% of ‘very Republican’ Utah votes by mail Fresno Bee
● Special Elections Preview Fall Voting during COVID-19 Public Policy Institute of California
● Trump’s 2020 Strategy: Attack, Rinse and Repeat U.S. News
Other:
How the coronavirus will change book publishing, now and forever
Los Angeles Times
On Monday night, the literary agent, editor and publisher Andrew Blauner sent his contacts a PDF of “The Patient’s Checklist” by Elizabeth Bailey. The book is currently out of print, and with no digital copies available, Blauner wanted people to have access to the text should they fall ill and have to go to the hospital.
Partnerships Can Close the Digital Divide (Contributed)
government technology
In California, COVID-19 and school closures have exposed the depth of the digital divide. But in San Jose, the state and private partners have a strategy that boosts digital inclusion and could be a model nationwide.
OPINION: Who is Jerry Brown? New book views Calif governor’s life through spiritual lens
Sacramento Bee
“Who is Jerry Brown?” asked Jacques Barzaghi, the Sphinx-like Frenchman who spent three decades as Brown’s closest friend and most trusted advisor. I called him to verify a detail in “Man of Tomorrow: The Relentless Life of Jerry Brown,” Jim Newton’s new biography of California’s elder statesman.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
US farmers leaning more heavily on government loan programs
Fresno Bee
Farmers across the nation leaned more heavily upon the federal government last year to finance their agricultural operations amid low commodity prices and trade disputes, and more of the money they borrowed is now delinquent.
See also:
● Federal checks await some but not all local farmers Bakersfield Californian
Churches with CityServe will give food thanks to USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program
Bakersfield Californian
Outside of CityServe on Tuesday, a line of trucks and cars stretched as far as the eye could see. Every car there represented a different church in Kern County with the mission to pick up food for its respective community.
These Stanislaus County restaurants reopen dine-in service after coronavirus shutdown
Modesto Bee
With restaurants in Stanislaus County now allowed to reopen their dining rooms, the only question left is what’s for dinner? On Wednesday the state granted the county’s variance, allowing dine-in restaurants and other retailer to reopen just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
CA’s Booze Bosses Won’t Block Plans to Allow Drinking in Parking Lots and Streets
SF Eater
One of the questions posed by Berkeley’s plan to close city streets to create open-air cafes, or similar proposals in a multitude of Bay Area cities, including Mountain View, Menlo Park, and San Jose (the latter of which is holding a vote on the notion today), is how that would work with the current regulations imposed by the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Online child sex abuse reports surge as kids spend more time on computers amid coronavirus
Los Angeles Times
Law enforcement officials in Los Angeles and across the country have been overwhelmed in recent months by a surge in tips about online child sex abuse, with social media platforms and other service providers flagging explicit content and suspicious interactions at an alarming rate.
Public Safety:
Army Corps of Engineers to open boat launch facilities at all of its local lakes
Fresno Bee
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento Division will open all boat launch and most day-use facilities at its lakes on Friday ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.
26 inmates, 4 employees at Avenal State Prison test positive for COVID-19
Visalia Times Delta
Another COVID-19 outbreak at a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation was reported this week, adding to the growing list of California prisons with cases.
Pandemic Benefit? Fewer Strays at Local Animal Shelters
GV Wire
The Clovis Animal Shelter found a silver lining in the pandemic crisis — a 40% drop in strays. It’s even better at the Central California SPCA, which contracts services with the city of Fresno. They say they are down 44% in strays.
Some California courts start to reopen as coronavirus restrictions ease
Los Angeles Times
Everyone in court will be required to wear face coverings and remain six feet from others. No more than 50 potential jurors will be allowed in an assembly room at any one time, and litigants may not have family members or friends attend their hearings.
The Rise of the Anti-Lockdown Sheriffs
Marshall Project
After weeks of closures due to the coronavirus pandemic, New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said Wednesday that retailers and churches in the state may open at partial capacity, but that gyms and salons must stay closed, and that residents must wear face masks in public.
Hand sanitizer left in hot vehicles can explode, experts warn
CBS
There’s a hidden risk with keeping hand sanitizer in your car to help protect against COVID-19 and other illnesses, especially during the hot summer months. Flammable liquids and direct sunlight can make it explode, CBS Dallas warns.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Fresno’s Chinatown will survive COVID-19, business owners say. But more challenges lie ahead
Fresno Bee
COVID-19 is not the first global pandemic that Kogetsu-Do, a 105-year-old Japanese confectionary in the heart of Fresno’s Chinatown, has faced.
Phase 2 Reopenings And What It Means For Dine-In Restaurants
Capital Public Radio
California’s stay-at-home order is still in place, but more counties across the state are reopening and moving into Phase 2 plans.
The Economic Toll of COVID-19 on Small Business
PPIC
Fifty-six percent of California small businesses experienced “large negative” effects from the pandemic, according to a recent Census survey—a survey that includes businesses with up to 500 employees.
Commentary: Protecting our economy and our health in a pandemic
Brookings
COVID-19 has caused a perfect storm for the global economy, for our societies, and for our health. At the time of this writing, its true impact is still unknown; yet if current trends hold, its effects will be felt for generations. COVID-19 is holding up a magnifying glass to deep- and hard-set structural problems in our nation—problems that negatively impact our health and well-being.
Stocks drop amid rising China tension and job losses
Los Angeles Times
U.S. stocks fell as rising trade tension between America and China added to concern about the pace of recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Crude oil rebounded from an earlier swoon and gold declined.
Jobs:
‘You can hear the desperation:’ Calif unemployment backlog boils over in Capitol
Fresno Bee
The state’s embattled unemployment department will hire 1,800 people — including 600 phone agents — as the state frantically scrambles to help respond to frustrated out-of-work California residents who continue to get jammed phone lines and lengthy waits for answers.
See also:
● ‘Hundreds of millions’ in bogus jobless benefits paid out Fresno Bee
● California unemployment rate now worse than Great Recession, as 2.3 million lose their jobsSacramento Bee
● California lawmakers say state unemployment help still isn’t coming fast enough amid coronavirus Los Angeles Times
● California lawmakers blast ‘atrocious’ UI system overloaded with 4.9M claims Politico
● OPINION: How to Keep Workers Off the Job Wall Street Journal
Zuckerberg: 50% of Facebook employees may soon permanently work remotely
Mercury News
Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said Thursday that it may not be long before remote work becomes standard for at least half of the social networker’s employees. Speaking during what is normally a weekly livestream solely for Facebook staff, Zuckerberg said in the next five to 10 years, 50% of company employees could be working remotely on a permanent basis.
Commentary: Pandemic steals most from immigrant working women
CalMatters
Researchers at the UC Merced Community and Labor Center find non-citizen women have experienced the deepest job losses. The study is an early signal of how the coronavirus recession is widening California’s economic inequities.
Commentary: To reopen the economy safely, we need both liability protection and hazard pay
Brookings
Now that businesses are reopening, the most urgent issue is how to do it safely. Congress is now being asked to safeguard both businesses that want to reopen and the workers who are necessary for them to do so. Businesses, knowing that their employees or customers could get COVID-19, are asking for protection against lawsuits saying they’re responsible when that happens.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Fresno, Clovis schools to lose millions due to COVID-19. How will that affect students?
Fresno Bee
Fresno Unified School District is projected to lose nearly $80 million in revenue in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that shuttered schools and businesses and triggered a national unemployment explosion.
See Also:
● Proposed budget cuts threaten safe opening of California schools, leaders say Los Angeles Times
● Clovis Unified officially extends closures until end of school year Clovis RoundUp
● COVID-19 and School Funding: What to Expect and What States Can Do EdNote
Some Private Schools Are Struggling, Too. Let’s Not Forget Them.
The Dispatch
Private elementary and secondary schools are taking it on the chin. Since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools across the land, more than two dozen schools have closed for good. While thousands of other scrappy, beloved community institutions are scrambling to hold on, private schools are also under the microscope.
Reopening America’s Schools and the Privilege of Opting Out
U.S. News
If Philadelphia Public Schools Physically Open In The Fall, There Is A Good Chance Maritza Guridy Won’t Send Her Children. “This Side Of Pennsylvania Is Still In The Red,”‘ Says The Mother Of Two 4-year-olds, A 6-year-old And A 15-year-old.
Commentary: We must invest in teachers now as students transition to distance learning
CalMatters
Now, more than ever, teachers need to see what great remote instruction looks like. More and better professional development can show them powerful ways to be successful academically as they make the difficult transition to distance learning.
Higher Ed:
Students no longer need the SAT to get into the Univ of California. Here’s why
Fresno Bee
The University of California on Thursday voted to phase out SAT/ACT exams for admissions requirements starting in 2021 and examine the possibility of creating its own test to close an inequity gap and recruit a more diverse college population.
See also:
● UC makes landmark decision to drop ACT and SAT requirement for admission Los Angeles Times
● UCs ditch the SAT and ACT — set out to make a “fairer” standardized test CalMatters
● In historic action, UC moves to drop SAT/ACT and develop a replacement exam for admissionsEdSource
● University of California Will End Use of SAT and ACT in Admissions New York Times
● University of California eliminates SAT/ACT requirement Politico
● University of California Will Stop Using SAT, ACT Wall Street Journal
New UC Merced chancellor is a farmworker’s son and UC alum
Los Angeles Times
Juan Sánchez Muñoz, president of the University of Houston Downtown, grew up hearing stories about the San Joaquin Valley from his father, who landed there from Mexico to pick grapes in the 1950s.
CSUB president makes personal delivery to 2 outstanding grads
Bakersfield Californian
Not being able to celebrate with their peers at a commencement is not how many class of 2020 seniors expected their college years to end, but Glendy Ardon is just happy to be here.
CSUB remains in wait-and-see mode despite NCAA ruling
Bakersfield Californian
The NCAA ruled that a nationwide ban for on-campus activities, put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus, would be lifted from June 1-30, and that football and men’s and women’s basketball teams would be allowed to return to campus for voluntary workouts.
College Students’ Siloed Safety Net
Urban Institute
Students eligible for federal, state, and campus benefits, particularly community college students, often encounter a tangled net of disconnected programs, Urban Institute researchers found.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Why pandemics could become more likely if we continue to destroy the environment
Los Angeles Times
Environmental factors including deforestation, air pollution and urbanization contribute to the severity of pandemics like COVID-19. Experts warn that if we continue to destroy the environment, future pandemics could become more common.
Cleanup to resume at troubled Santa Susana Field Laboratory site
Los Angeles Times
After more than a decade of delays, the U.S. Department of Energy said it will soon resume environmental cleanup at a former nuclear and rocket engine test site in the hills of Ventura County.
Is risk of coronavirus transmission lower outside? What to know before going outdoors
San Francisco Chronicle
The weather is getting warmer. The days are getting longer. Some stores are reopening. And California is slowly easing up on the sheltering restrictions placed on us during this pandemic. In other words, we’re getting out of our homes a little more after weeks of a statewide shutdown.
Commentary: Making grocery stores a recycling center seems unthinkable in this time of COVID-19
CalMatters
The coronavirus crisis is teaching us much about our social infrastructure that we either didn’t know or took for granted. We are learning, for instance, that our healthcare system is exactly that – a system that we all rely on, and one that can be overwhelmed by sudden stress.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Coronavirus deaths reach 28 in Stanislaus County as part of local economy returns
Fresno Bee
Stanislaus County announced its 27th and 28th deaths to the coronavirus Thursday. The number at Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center remained at 18.
See also:
● Two more dead, two-dozen newly infected with coronavirus as Fresno County set to reopenFresno Bee
● L.A. County surpasses 2,000 coronavirus deaths: ‘A very sad milestone’ Los Angeles Times
20 deaths reported in Kern during 2019-20 flu season
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Department of Public Health Services Department reported 20 flu-related deaths in Kern County during the 2019-20 flu season, according to the California Department of Public Health.
As drug overdose deaths decrease, other ‘deaths of despair’ are on rise, report says
Fresno Bee
Drug overdose deaths from prescription opioids decreased for the first time in a decade, but other “deaths of despair” are on the rise, according to a new report.
See also:
● Hospitals Brace for Mental-Health Crisis Among Doctors and Nurses Wall Street Journal
Capital Public Radio
Vitalant, which runs blood centers across California, is asking anyone who’s gotten a positive diagnosis for the disease and has been symptom free for at least two weeks to donate plasma. Find more information on donation criteria here.
See also:
● Coronavirus ‘immunity passports’ are a terrible idea that could backfire, experts warn CNN
Where does the six-foot rule for social distancing come from?
Fortune
One of the core disruptions of life during the coronavirus pandemic is the new necessity for social distancing—also and more accurately called “physical distancing.” Because the coronavirus can travel on liquid droplets breathed or coughed out by infected people, an array of health authorities recommend staying away from crowds and maintaining physical separation from others.
Human Services:
U.S. Could Have Saved 36,000 Lives If Social Distancing Started 1 Week Earlier: Study
NPR
The U.S. could have prevented roughly 36,000 deaths from COVID-19 if broad social distancing measures had been put in place just one week earlier in March, according to an analysis from Columbia University.
See Also:
● Lockdown Delays Cost at Least 36,000 Lives, Data Show New York Times
Black Americans and Latinos nearly 3 times as likely to know someone who died of COVID-19: POLL
abc
The devastating toll of coronavirus is far-reaching, but the impact of the pandemic is particularly acute among black Americans and Latinos, who are nearly three times as likely to personally know someone who has died from the virus than white Americans, according to a new ABC News/Ipsos poll released Friday.
See also:
● The Striking Racial Divide in How Covid-19 Has Hit Nursing Homes New York Times
● EDITORIAL: America’s poor health has put it in unique danger from coronavirus Los Angeles Times
● Little sense of shared grief as virus deaths near 100,000 Los Angeles Times
Most Americans say they have worn mask in public: poll
The Hill
A large majority of Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, say they have worn a mask in public throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project.
See also:
● That mask box label is legitimate, but misinterpreted PolitiFact
Virus ‘does not spread easily’ from contaminated surfaces or animals, revised CDC website states
Washington Post
The coronavirus primarily spreads from person to person and not easily from a contaminated surface. That is the takeaway from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which this month updated its “How COVID-19 Spreads” website.
See also:
● Coronavirus: Here’s how germs are spread and where you’re most likely to catch them World Economic Forum
Uninsured Due To COVID-19? You Might Still Have To Pay A Penalty To California
Capital Public Radio
Millions of Californians are losing their jobs — and their job-based health insurance — due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and some of them could face a state-imposed fine for not being covered.
Nearly 124,000 sign up through Covered Calif; plans include free coronavirus testing
San Francisco Chronicle
Nearly 124,000 people have signed up for medical insurance through Covered California since March 20 as the state grapples with the coronavirus pandemic and startling unemployment numbers. According to the state health care marketplace, 123,810 people have sought insurance during Covered California’s special open-enrollment period.
“Might as well have them walk the plank” — Cuts may force many seniors into nursing homes
CalMatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed cuts to meet the new coronavirus economy include two California day programs aimed at keeping poor and medically fragile seniors in their homes, and out of institutions.
Two Coasts. One Virus. How NY Suffered Nearly 10x Number of Deaths as Calif
ProPublica
By March 14, London Breed, the mayor of San Francisco, had seen enough. For weeks, she and her health officials had looked at data showing the evolving threat of COVID-19. In response, she’d issued a series of orders limiting the size of public gatherings, each one feeling more arbitrary than the last.
Next COVID-19 challenge? Reopening America’s dentist offices
CBS
As dental offices reopen for routine care across the country — services like teeth cleanings are now allowed in 42 states — it’s not exactly business as usual for dentists and dental hygienists who mostly shut down in March as the pandemic hit.
What privacy rights do Americans have during contact tracing?
CBS
The pandemic has caused many countries to turn to contact tracing to help stop the spread of coronavirus, and the U.S. is now looking to do the same. But the practice is raising concerns about how much personal information the government and private companies will be able to collect.
Valley Voices: COVID-19 reveals how low-income, underserved Valley residents need internet access
Fresno Bee
It’s 7 a.m., and I turn on the computer to begin my daily shelter-in-place, work-from-home routine. I give little thought to the fact that I’m privileged to have high-speed Internet access at home and the technology to go online.
IMMIGRATION
Pandemic Steals Most From Immigrant Working Women
Capital Public Radio
Early estimates indicate that the coronavirus pandemic has stolen jobs from non-citizen workers — including immigrants who have green cards, work visas or are undocumented — in California at higher rates than citizens.
Despair among immigrants: With phone lines swamped, state pandemic aid is out of reach
CalMatters
Monday was the first official day for undocumented immigrants to call the 12 nonprofits that the state chose to distribute $75 million in aid. But many couldn’t get through to apply.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Yosemite may reopen in June, with half the number of visitors, ticketed entry
Los Angeles Times
Yosemite National Park hopes to reopen in early June and limit the number of visitors by half to allow for social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Lodgings and some campgrounds would reopen, and day visitors would be required to buy entry tickets in advance of their trips, according to a draft reopening plan presented Tuesday.
New California bill could expand land available for more homes
CAFwd
Housing affordability in California continues to be crippled by challenges in producing the 200,000 housing units per year necessary to meet the needs of families, like the lack of available land where more homes can be built.
Housing:
Trump yanks approval for homeless shelters in Sacramento, across Calif
Sacramento Bee
The Trump administration has yanked approval for major homeless shelter projects it previously approved in Sacramento and San Francisco. The move undermines a critical component of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to shelter the homeless on state land and throws nearly two dozen potential shelter projects across the state into question, according to letters the Federal Highway Administration sent the California Department of Transportation earlier this month.
Capital Public Radio
The new plan faces critics, who say it’s a far cry from Newsom’s earlier vision for addressing the homelessness crisis. And a roadmap for accomplishing the ambitious, fast-tracked strategy remains elusive.
The pandemic hasn’t killed California’s big housing plans — but they have mutated
CalMatters
Lawmakers are pushing a revised housing plan that would end single-family-only zoning, instead encouraging duplexes, four-plexes, and converting retail spaces to residential ones.
California Business Roundtable
“Today, legislative leaders, led by Senator Scott Wiener, announced amendments to SB 939, which would prohibit commercial landlords from terminating a tenancy during the COVID-19 state of emergency.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Balancing The State Budget, Deficit Challenges
Capital Public Radio
Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers have less than a month to resolve the $54 billion deficit and pass a balanced budget.
See also:
● What Lawmakers Learned From the Last Budget Crisis KQED
When should Americans expect a second coronavirus stimulus check?
Fresno Bee
Many Americans received a $1,200 stimulus check to help during the economic downturn caused by the novel coronavirus, but will Congress issue a second one?
See also:
● Mnuchin says ‘strong likelihood’ US will need more stimulus Fresno Bee
TRANSPORTATION
CHP announce increase in presence and roadway patrols ahead of Memorial Day weekend
Fresno Bee
The House of Representatives passed the Heroes Act last week, a $3 trillion bill that would provide another $1,200 for individuals making less than $75,000, or $2,400 for couples making less than $150,000.
‘Crazy bike boom’: Coronavirus pandemic creates sharp rise in bicycle demand across US
Sacramento Bee
The bicycle business is booming across the country as Americans look for new ways to exercise and get out of the house while adhering to stay-at-home orders. Jesse Scatton owns five bike stores recently rebranded as the Neighborhood Bike Shop of East Sac, Elk Grove, Greenhaven, Carmichael and Antelope.
WATER
Tulare County waterways open for recreation, with some limitations
Fresno Bee
Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that starting Wednesday, the boat ramps, parking lots and restrooms at Lake Success and Lake Kaweah are open to the public.
Tiny Bugs Can Be Valley Drinking Water Heroes, but at What Price?
GV Wire
Bio denitrification runs water through media embedded with microbes that “eat” nitrates and convert the chemical to nitrogen gas. Clean water, no waste stream. What’s the catch? The cost.
For Many Americans, Poor Water Access Heightens the COVID Threat
U.S. News
The Edict Is Unmistakably Clear: To Stop The Spread Of The Highly Contagious, Potentially Deadly Coronavirus – An Infection That Is Killing Hundreds Of Americans Each Day – Frequent Handwashing Is Critical.
“Xtra”
Fresno State’s sweet corn will be available Memorial Day, but with coronavirus rules
Fresno Bee
Last year, Dutch Bros sold coffee at the first day of sales and a radio station did a live broadcast from the event. People started lining up at 4:30 a.m. and by 28,000 ears had been sold by 2:30 p.m.
Another Modesto tradition hit hard by coronavirus. July concerts up in the air
Modesto Bee
One year after celebrating its 100th anniversary, MoBand will go silent this June. The coronavirus pandemic has forced the band, which draws huge crowds on Thursday nights each summer at Graceada Park’s Mancini Bowl, to cancel at least the bulk of its six-week season, according to Conductor George Gardner.
A Tahoe trip for holiday weekend could get you a $1,000 fine
Enterprise-Record
Ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, Lake Tahoe communities are telling non-residents to stay away — and one is warning of a $1,000 fine. Truckee and South Lake Tahoe are in California counties that have entered a Phase 2 reopening, but the restrictions allow hotels and short-term rentals to accommodate only those traveling for business or essential purposes.