November 12, 2021

16Nov

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:​​ 

 

Modesto considers trying safe parking program for people who live in their cars

Modesto Bee

Modesto may establish a safe parking program in which people who live in their cars, motor homes and other vehicles could sleep at night. The site would have security,​​ portable toilets, drinking water and other basics.

 

Former Los Banos Enterprise publisher wins school board seat. He talks about challenges

Merced Sun Star

Former​​ Los Banos Enterprise publisher and advertising director Gene Lieb won the District 1 seat on the Los Banos Unified School Board during a special election for that seat Nov. 5.

 

Ceres City Council appoints new member. Why past ‘belittling’ behavior was discussed

Modesto Bee

After Mayor Javier Lopez compromised on his first choice, the Ceres City Council on Tuesday voted 3-1 to appoint John Osgood to​​ fill the vacancy left by Couper Condit’s resignation.

See also:

 

Turlockers past and present announce Congressional candidacy

Turlock Journal

Two more Republican candidates have joined the race to challenge Rep. Josh Harder next fall in the race to represent California’s 10th Congressional District — one with Turlock roots, and another with a Turlock address.​​ 

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:​​ 

 

Weeks after being booed by adults, Clovis student returns to school board to speak out again

Fresno Bee

Speaking before the Clovis Unified School Board on Wednesday, student Rami Zwebti was shaking and nervous. Last month, the Buchanan High School senior was booed and heckled by adults for advocating for mask mandates and other coronavirus safety precautions.

 

‘It’s too big.’ Old Town Clovis multifamily housing denied amid height, parking concerns

Fresno Bee

The Clovis City Council voted on Monday to shut down a proposed 40-unit development near Old Town Clovis because neighbors expressed concerns about traffic congestion, overflow parking and the “monolithic” height of the planned apartment building.

 

EPA must deal with air ‘crisis’ in San Joaquin Valley, lawsuit says. It’s not the first

Fresno Bee

Several groups filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claiming the agency has chosen not to intervene in California’s repeated failures to meet decades-old air pollution targets for fine particulate matter in the San Joaquin Valley.

 

Seven of eight county islands approved for annexation

Hanford Sentinel

Seven of eight county islands have been incorporated into the City of Hanford following a vote, but one is still pending due to zoning issues. At their most recent meeting, the Hanford City Council voted 3-1 to approve of the annexation.

 

Visalia Unified trustee resigns after making homophobic comments to teacher

Visalia Times Delta

Visalia Unified Trustee Christopher Pope resigned during Tuesday's school board meeting after he made "negative sexual orientation-based comments" this summer​​ toward a Golden West High School teacher.​​ 

 

Visit Visalia classified as California's first Certified Autism Center

Visalia Times Delta

Visit Visalia became California's first destination marketing organization classified as a Certified Autism Center, a designation given by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.​​ 

 

Should one state senator represent Fresno and Bakersfield? Chamber criticizes draft plan

Fresno Bee

The Fresno Chamber of Commerce requested in a letter sent Tuesday that the California Citizens Redistricting Commission make changes to a draft map for a state senate seat in the San Joaquin Valley.

 

Devin Nunes, Josh Harder could lose their seats in latest California redistricting maps

Fresno Bee

Reps. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, and Josh Harder, D-Turlock, could lose their seats in the United States House of Representatives, unless they decide to run​​ in different districts than the ones they hold today.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:​​ 

 

Bakersfield hires new public works director

Bakersfield Californian

Gregg Strakaluse,​​ who has spent the last 15 years as the city of Naples, Florida’s director of Streets and Stormwater Department, started his professional career in Kern County as an engineer in Kern County’s Public Works and Waste Management Department.

 

State:

 

COVID Update:

 

Fresno attorney appointed by Gov. Newsom to be Superior Court judge: ‘This is a huge honor’

Fresno Bee

Irene Luna of Fresno was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to serve as a Superior Court judge in Fresno County. The 41-year-old Luna will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge W. Kent Hamlin.

 

California voters say it’s time to reform recall elections, poll shows

Sacramento Bee

Nearly four in five likely California voters are in favor of changing the state’s process for recalling elected officials according to a new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California.

 

California governor puzzled by reaction to his absence

Sacramento Bee

California Gov. Newsom, absent from public life for nearly two weeks with little word from his office on his whereabouts, defended his handling of the situation and said Wednesday he was puzzled by those who took to social media to criticize and spread falsehoods about him.

See also:​​ 

 

California midterm battles await — if only candidates knew where

Politico

California’s hectic redistricting process has already been described as turning one proposed district into a “hot mess” and taking a “chainsaw to our congressional maps.” And that was from one of the commissioners overseeing the map-drawing.

See also:

 

Biden infrastructure funds will help state bullet train, but not as much as boosters hoped

Los Angeles Times

Exactly how much money will reach various rail projects — including the financially challenged California bullet train — is still unknown and will depend on how the complex law is administered and developed into grant programs.

See also:

 

Committing To An Equitable, Sustainable Future Takes Center Stage At California Economic Summit​​ Day Two

CA FWD
The California Economic Summit wrapped up in Monterey today with commitments to assist regional economies across the state, a focus on crucial issues such as broadband and housing and a recognition for two California leaders.

 

California’s state auditor: ‘Speak the truth to power’

CalMatters

Elaine Howle is stepping down at the end of 2021. Her office has issued audits of a wide range of state agencies, including a series of highly critical reviews of California’s pandemic response.​​ She talks about her biggest accomplishments and stiffest challenges.

 

Will California be the next state to permit nonlawyer paraprofessionals?

ABA Journal

The State Bar of California is considering a proposal to have the Golden State join a small number of other jurisdictions in permitting nonlawyer paraprofessionals to provide legal advice and undertake other tasks typically handled by attorneys.

 

California high court to consider law on misgendering nursing home patients

San Francisco Chronicle

The California Supreme Court agreed to decide whether nursing home workers can be criminally prosecuted under state law​​ for deliberately and repeatedly using the wrong terms when referring to transgender patients, terms like “him” or “Mr.” for a transgender woman.

 

Federal:

 

COVID Update:

 

McCarthy's vexing speaker math problem

Politico

The toughest trial Kevin McCarthy faces on his way to becoming House speaker isn’t reclaiming the majority. It’s what comes afterward.

 

Biden’s next inflation threat: The rent is too damn high

Politico

Surging gas and grocery prices are constant reminders of inflation, but another creeping trend spells more trouble for people’s wallets and Democrats’ political fate: rising rents.

See also:​​ 

 

Democrats’ bill plans the biggest expansion of public education in a century

Los Angeles Times

Largely overlooked amid the fights on Capitol Hill over immigration, drug pricing and paid family leave, Democrats’ plan to transform how the nation provides early child care stands out as one of the most expensive and sweeping provisions of their $1.85-trillion social safety net bill.

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Budget scorekeeper starts releasing estimates for Democrats' massive spending plan

The Hill

The CBO has begun releasing new estimates of portions of Democrats’ sweeping trillion-dollar social spending package after House leadership recently held off on voting on the plan amid pushback from moderates who called for the information.

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Robert Califf, Ex-FDA Commissioner, Is Biden’s Pick to Run the Agency

Wall Street Journal

Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf is expected to be the Biden administration’s choice to once again head the agency as the FDA plays a critical role in government efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

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How the 2021 Infrastructure Bill Would Boost Broadband Access, Improve Conservation, and Mitigate Flooding Harm

Pew Trusts

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law on DATETK, 2021, makes historic investments in evidence-based policy solutions to some​​ of the nation’s most pressing policy challenges.

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Capitol rioter who punched police officer gets more than three years in prison

Los Angeles Times

A New Jersey gym owner who punched a police officer during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was sentenced Wednesday to more than three years in prison, a likely benchmark for dozens of other rioters who engaged in violence that day.

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Shareholders seen broadening ESG proposals as SEC changes course

Roll Call

Activist investors are expected to feel more empowered to bring forward measures on climate change and human capital management in the next corporate proxy season after the SEC reversed Trump administration policies that had blocked shareholder proposals.

 

As Biden Nears Chance to Remake the Fed, the Guessing Game Over Chairman Powell’s Renomination Intensifies

US News

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's term is ending in February, while resignations of other central bank officials have created additional openings.

 

Ron Klain exaggerates improvements in employment, coronavirus death rate

Politifact

Just days after Democrats suffered a setback by losing the Virginia gubernatorial race, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain appeared on NBC’s "Meet the Press" to paint a more optimistic picture for President Joe Biden and his party.

 

Election Officials Have Another Year to Fight Disinformation

Pew Trusts

After a year of election-related lies and disinformation, voters in 32 states went to the polls this month with few major technical errors, lines or delays in results.

See also:

 

Column: Kamala Harris, the incredible disappearing vice president

Los Angeles Times

Even as she shoulders an array of policy portfolios, even as she visits Paris this week seeking to address the administration’s ruptured relations with France, it remains a fact that the No. 2 job in the White House is inherently a diminishing one.

See also:

 

Biden and China’s Xi to Hold Virtual Summit on Monday

Wall Street Journal

President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping plan to hold a virtual summit on Monday, people familiar with the matter said, as the two leading world economies pledge to work together on climate change but differences remain over Taiwan and other fronts.

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Other:

 

Veterans Need Help Becoming Civilians Again

Wall Street Journal

Our treatment of troops returning from combat has led to a culture of permanent disability. They deserve better.

See also:

 

​​Opinion: How the U.S. can fight the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls

Los Angeles Times

The United States has yet to deal adequately with the crisis of the vast numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in our country. The Tribal Nations Summit will be held, providing tribal leaders an opportunity to address how to fight the epidemic of abuse.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, November 14, at 10 a.m on ABC30 –​​ Maddy Report:​​ ​​ "Veterans Programs and Services"​​ - Guest:Carole D'Elia, Executive Director of Little Hoover Commission and Jacqueline Barocio, Principal Fiscal & Policy Analyst - LAO. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, November 14, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) –​​ Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition:​​ ​​ "Valley Vets: Challenges and Opportunities"-​​ Guests: Carole D'Elia,​​ Executive Director of Little Hoover Commission, Lourdes Morales and Jacqueline Barocio from LAO; Julie Cusator with Fresno Veterans Home; and Lorenzo Rios with Clovis Veterans Memorial District. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

As Fresno waits on pot shops, Parlier opens dispensary. What to expect from Cannable

Fresno Bee

Cannable has spent almost two years delivering cannabis products from its headquarters in Parlier. In that time, the company has learned a thing or two.

 

Wine industry impacted by glass shortage

abc30​​ 

A nationwide glass shortage is impacting the wine industry. Engelmann Cellars owner Brett Engelman says this year's bottling was delayed nearly two months because of the glass shortage and was about 200 cases short of what he needed.

 

To fight off a California dust bowl, the state will pay farmers to reimagine idle land

San Francisco Chronicle

Droughts are becoming longer and more severe due to climate change; and the state has begun to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, new restrictions designed to stop growers and other users from depleting aquifers.

 

US food banks struggle to feed hungry amid surging prices

Sacramento Bee

U.S. food banks already dealing with increased demand from families sidelined by the pandemic now face a new challenge — surging food prices and supply chain issues walloping the nation.

 

FDA Must Strengthen Guidance for Antibiotic Use in Food Animals

Pew Trusts

As the Food and Drug Administration reviews proposed guidance on the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture, thousands have pointed out that the draft does not go far enough to establish​​ clear, science-based limits on how long the drugs can be used.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE​/​FIRE​/​​PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Opinion: Fast, furious street racers a danger in Fresno. City should create new place for thrills

Fresno Bee

Fresno is not alone in having street racing and “sideshows,” those seemingly spontaneous events where souped-up cars of mostly young people take over an intersection so drivers can do doughnut circles on the pavement with tires screeching and smoke belching.

 

Prosecutors want to charge fentanyl drug dealers with murder, sparking legal battle

Los Angeles Times

Some Southern California district attorneys are joining a growing national push to file murder charges against drug dealers who manufacture or sell fentanyl that ends up leading to deaths.

 

​​Heightened Fear of Rising Crime Plays Into GOP’s Suburbs Strategy

US News

Americans' worry about crime has mostly rebounded after a downturn during 2020, according to a new survey that suggests Republican efforts to emphasize crime as they seek to win back suburban voters may​​ be working.

 

‘He could lose it’: Legal experts see prosecutorial missteps in Rittenhouse trial

Washington Post

The dramatic rebuke in front of a national audience that is watching the streaming trial encapsulates what some experts saw as a rocky prosecution for Binger, who was undercut by his own witnesses, made strategic missteps and has struggled with inconvenient facts and a high legal bar to prove Rittenhouse’s guilt.

 

Public Safety:

 

ACLU, NAACP urge federal probe into police use of force

Sacramento​​ Bee

Community groups are calling for the U.S. Department of Justice to open a civil rights investigation into the largest law enforcement agencies in southwest Washington over alleged excessive force and discriminatory policing.

 

Video: Policing in California

Public Policy Institute of California

PPIC’s Deepak Premkumar and Magnus Lofstrom discuss new reports that examine racial disparities in law enforcement stops and analyze police use of force and misconduct.

 

The Core Legal Strategy Against Opioid Companies May Be Faltering

New York Times

Two recent rulings rejected the “public nuisance” argument being​​ used in thousands of cases against the industry, with more trials and settlement talks underway.

 

Fire:​​ 

 

California bans insurance companies from dropping homeowners in​​ 2021 wildfire zones

Sacramento Bee

California’s insurance commissioner on Wednesday prohibited insurance companies from dropping nearly 210,000 homeowners in areas affected by this year’s wildfires, another in a series of orders aimed at easing a shortage of affordable coverage in fire-prone areas.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Most Californians say economic inequality is getting worse, new survey shows

Fresno Bee

The survey, conducted last month by the nonpartisan think tank, Public Policy Institute of California, polled 2,292 adult Californians about their opinions on the​​ state’s economic outlook, financial security, job security, among other topics.

See also:​​ 

 

Shipping containers can't be emptied and refilled fast enough to keep up with demand

VPR
At any time, there are some 30 million shipping containers moving around the globe on ships, trucks and trains. And these days, they are full - a symptom and a contributor to the supply chain problems slowing down how we get our stuff.

See also:​​ 

 

Inflation surges to its highest since 1990​​ 

NPR

Surging prices are steadily chipping away at Americans' buying power – as well as President Biden's approval rating. The Labor Department reported that consumer prices were 6.2% higher in October than a year ago. That's the sharpest increase since November of 1990.

See also:​​ 

 

Federal Deficit Narrowed in October, Ahead of Debt-Ceiling Debate

Wall Street Journal

The federal government ran a $165 billion deficit during October, a smaller gap when compared with a year earlier, as the government took in higher revenue from taxes and other receipts and pulled back on spending.

 

Johnson & Johnson to Split Consumer and Pharmaceutical-Medical Device Divisions Into Separate Companies

Wall Street Journal

Johnson & Johnson plans to break into two companies, splitting off the $15-billion-a-year division that sells Band-Aid bandages, Tylenol medicines and Johnson’s Baby Powder in a shift indicating just how much healthcare has changed since the company helped pioneer the industry.

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Toshiba, Like GE, Plans to Split Into Three Units

Wall Street Journal

Toshiba Corp. said it planned to split into three by March 2024 in response to shareholder pressure for a more-focused structure, following a similar path taken by fellow industrial conglomerate General Electric Co.

 

The Supreme Court and the Pro-Business Paradox

Harvard Law Review

Corporations have long posed conceptual difficulties in a variety of doctrinal contexts. The Supreme Court has an extensive history of inquiring into the nature of corporations and what that answer might tell us about their rights and responsibilities.

 

Opinion: ‘Net​​ Zero’ Will Make Wall Street Richer at Main Street’s Expense

Wall Street Journal

Follow the money and note who benefits from creating an artificial demand for renewable energy.

 

Jobs:

 

Record-High Job Openings Persist in Tight Labor Market

Wall Street Journal

There were more than 11 million job openings in early November, according to jobs site Indeed, well above the number of unemployed workers

See Also:

 

California workers threaten strikes from health care to Hollywood. Will their power last?

Sacramento Bee

Thousands of lecturers at the University of California. Tens of thousands of nurses and health care workers at Kaiser Permanente. Tens of thousands of workers in Hollywood. They are a few of the groups who are threatening to go on strike in California.

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More than 400,000 California workers quit their jobs in August. Should you be next?

Sacramento Bee

You’re not alone if you’re thinking of quitting your job. In August, more than​​ 400,000 California workers quit their job, the highest at any point in the last two decades, according to the PPIC. The number represents 2.5% of the state’s workforce.

See also:

 

What Bosses Really Think About the Future of the Office

New York Times

C.E.O.s are eager for employees to return — and afraid of alienating those who have grown accustomed to working from home.

 

Extension request avoidance predicts greater time stress among women

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Time stress is a societal epidemic that compromises productivity, physical health, and emotional well-being. Past research shows that women experience disproportionately greater time stress than men and has illuminated a variety​​ of contributing factors.​​ 

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Former Los Banos Enterprise publisher wins school board seat. He talks about challenges

Merced Sun Star

Former Los Banos Enterprise publisher and advertising director Gene Lieb won the District 1 seat on the Los Banos Unified School Board during a special election for that seat Nov. 5.

 

Opinion: Ponchos, hangman’s noose at private Modesto school indicate culture that needs change

Modesto Bee

Examining the process that allowed offensive social media with racist undertones at a private Modesto school is a natural first reaction, but misses the larger picture. This means exploring why students would ever feel comfortable denigrating any ethnicity.​​ 

 

Rural Central Valley school tops list of best for reading in California. Here’s how

Fresno Bee

The Reading Coalition released its annual Reading Report Card earlier this year, ranking the top schools in the state for student achievement in English Language Arts. Three Fresno County Schools cracked the top 10 in the state.

 

Weeks after being booed by adults, Clovis student returns to school board to speak out again

Fresno Bee

Speaking before the Clovis Unified School Board on​​ Wednesday, student Rami Zwebti was shaking and nervous. Last month, the Buchanan High School senior was booed and heckled by adults for advocating for mask mandates and other coronavirus safety precautions.

 

COVID Harmed Kids’ Mental Health—And Schools Are Feeling It

Pew Trusts

After more than 18 months of school closures and social isolation, the nation’s more than 50 million public school children are mostly back at their desks. But two months into the fall semester, teachers and students already are saying they​​ need a break.

 

Colonialism, power and race. Inside California ethnic studies classes

Los Angeles Times

At a time when​​ schools throughout the country are under siege for how race and history are taught — with at least 12 states passing legislation to limit it — California is barreling in the opposite direction, the first state to mandate a high school ethnic studies course.

 

Heeding Tribal​​ Leaders, States Ban Native Mascots

Pew Trusts

Studies have shown that Native mascots cause psychological harm to both Indigenous students and their non-Native counterparts. In 2005, the American Psychological Association called for an end to the use of such mascots.​​ 

 

How Biden’s Plan Would Expand Pre-K to Millions of Children

Wall Street Journal

States are poised to get billions of dollars to provide prekindergarten classes for all 3- and 4-year-old children under a massive spending bill that would result in the largest one-time expansion of American public education in decades.

 

‘I think we should throw those books in a fire’: Movement builds on right to target books

Washington Post

Not only are conservatives increasingly targeting school curriculums surrounding race, but there’s also a building and often-related effort to rid school libraries of certain books.

 

An End to Masks in Schools? More Districts Ease Covid-19 Rules as Kids Get Shots

Wall Street Journal

More school districts are loosening mask and quarantine requirements as Covid-19 vaccines roll out for younger children and cases have dropped from​​ the summer’s Delta surge.

 

Higher Ed:

 

Faculty members take issue with test-only COVID policy at Modesto Junior College

Modesto Bee

​​​​Faculty members at Modesto Junior College are​​ worried about the risks of teaching classes with a mixture of students who are vaccinated and not vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

‘Time to expand what we teach.’ Modesto gives tech school $100k to offer free skills course

Modesto Bee

Bay Valley Tech, a Modesto-based coding academy, has received a $100,000 city grant to launch a digital design course for local residents.

 

BC digs deeper on carbon capture and sequestration

Bakersfield Californian

Bakersfield College delved deeper into the challenges and opportunities of carbon capture and sequestration during a webinar Tuesday focusing on what is shaping up to be an indispensable technology for achieving carbon neutrality statewide by 2045.

 

USC Pushed a $115,000 Online Degree. Graduates Got Low Salaries, Huge Debts.

Wall Street Journal

Over the past decade, the University of Southern California has used a for-profit company to help enroll thousands of students in its online social-work master’s program. The nonprofit school used its status-symbol image to attract students across the country.​​ 

 

Fafsa May Be Tricky This Year for College Students and Parents

Wall Street Journal

It is Fafsa time again, when parents and students fill out the required financial disclosure for college financial aid. For some parents, the economic environment—as well as various changes in the rules—makes it especially important that they understand the process this year.

 

Harvard Is the Top Ivy in the WSJ/THE College Rankings

Wall Street Journal

Harvard University is the highest-ranked Ivy League school in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings for 2022, followed in order by Yale University, Brown University and Princeton University.

 

McGovern nudges medical schools to invest in nutrition education

Roll Call

Medical schools should beef up curriculums to include robust nutrition education to give physicians the tools to combat diet-related conditions that cost the federal government billions of dollars each year to treat, according to House Rules Chairman Jim McGovern.

 

Why having​​ more women/diverse economists benefits us all

Vox EU

Over the past two decades, the proportion of women graduating in economics in a variety of countries has either decreased or remained stagnant. In our recent paper, we show that in European countries 38%​​ of economics undergraduate students were women.

 

EDITORIAL: One question about renaming Hastings law school: What took so long?

Los Angeles Times

There is no excuse for the likes of Serranus Clinton Hastings, the first chief justice of the California Supreme Court, who should have, but never did, face a judge himself over the deaths of Native Americans for which he’s responsible.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

EPA must deal with air ‘crisis’ in San Joaquin Valley, lawsuit says. It’s not the first

Fresno Bee

Several groups filed a federal lawsuit against the​​ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claiming the agency has chosen not to intervene in California’s repeated failures to meet decades-old air pollution targets for fine particulate matter in the San Joaquin Valley.

 

Family’s Disappearance Reflects Toll of California’s Deadly Heat

New York Times

An unusual spate of heat-related deaths makes tangible the fatal consequences of a changing climate.

 

Draft agreement at the COP26 climate​​ summit looks to rapidly speed up emissions cuts

VPR
The text of the proposed agreement, released Wednesday by the COP26 president, Alok Sharma, calls on countries to submit by next year targets for net-zero emissions and plans for achieving them, as well as to boost shorter-term targets by 2023.

See also:​​ 

 

The strong winds of climate change have failed to move the opinions of many Americans

Washington Post

Even as windstorms became more powerful, wildfires grew more deadly and rising seas made damaging floods more frequent, American​​ views about the threat of global warming over the past few years remain largely unchanged, a Washington Post-ABC News poll finds.

See also:

 

Ships bound for L.A. and Long​​ Beach ports will wait farther offshore to ease air quality

Los Angeles Times

Vessels bound for the Southern California port complex, the largest in the U.S., will now have to wait for an available berth almost seven times as far away as currently allowed in a bid to improve air quality and safety in the area.

 

​​​​SEC Publishes Sample Letter to Companies on Environmental Disclosures

National Law Review

Environmental, social, and governance factors (“ESG”) have pushed to the forefront of the SEC’s attention. The SEC’s Division of Corporate Finance released a sample comment letter that requests additional information from companies related to climate change. ​​ 

 

Opinion: A mandate from California to achieve full decarbonization

CalMatters

We have a moral and practical responsibility to reach net zero carbon emissions by or before 2050.

 

Energy:

 

Statewide Gas Prices Now Just Two Cents Below Record

AAA
The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.65, which is three cents higher than last week and just two cents under the all-time record​​ price of $4.67 reached on Oct. 9. 2012. ​​ The average national price is $3.42, which is unchanged from a week ago.

 

Opinion: Keep Diablo Canyon open to help meet emission reduction goals

CalMatters

An MIT-Stanford study found that extending the operation of Diablo Canyon would cut energy sector carbon emissions.

See also:

 

High Energy Prices Likely to Mean Less Oil Demand This Year, OPEC Says

Wall Street Journal

Soaring energy prices are likely to crimp demand for​​ oil in some of the world’s fastest-growing economies this year, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said Thursday.

See also:

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Can at-home COVID-19 tests make holiday gatherings safer?

Fresno Bee

Can at-home COVID-19 tests make holiday gatherings safer? Yes, combined with vaccination, home test kits for COVID-19 can add a layer of safety and reassurance by providing on-the-spot results during this second year of pandemic holidays.

 

No lie: COVID-19 is largely spread by unvaccinated people.

Politifact

Scientific evidence and studies show that unvaccinated people are more than five times more likely than vaccinated people to catch COVID-19, and over 10 times more likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19.

See also:

 

Outside auditor takes critical look at stem cell agency

Capitol Weekly

California’s $12 billion stem cell agency needs to do better in several critical areas, ranging from planning for the replacement of its current chair to handling information that​​ is key to its operations as well as the tracking of potential sources of royalties.

 

Veterans Have Become Unlikely Lobbyists in Push to Legalize Psychedelic Drugs

New York Times

Lawmakers find it hard to “just say no” to combat veterans seeking support for drug decriminalization efforts gaining traction around the country.

 

Should an 11-Year-Old Wait to Get the Bigger Covid-19 Vaccine Dose?

Wall Street Journal

Pediatricians across the country said they have received similar inquiries from parents. If their child is approaching the age of 12, should they wait to get them the bigger dose? The answer from most pediatric and infectious-disease experts is no.

 

Biden’s Vaping Tax Sparks Concerns People Will Go Back to Cigarettes

Wall Street Journal

Public-health experts say adopting a vaping tax without raising one on cigarettes could drive people back to traditional smoking.

 

A Family’s Health Insurance Cost More Than $22,000 in 2021, Survey Finds

Wall Street Journal

The average cost of employer health coverage for a family plan passed $22,000 this year, according to a new survey, rising at a rate that indicates the Covid-19 pandemic had little impact on the total expense.

 

Human Services:

 

New Fresno center named for a grandma offers free mental health services

Business Journal

The Birdie Lou Counseling Center is hosting its grand opening and open house Thursday at 5 p.m. at 7065 N. Maple Ave. Ste. 101 in Fresno. The counseling center, which is funded by Sierra Meadows Behavioral Foundation, will provide free counseling services to the local community.

 

CA deploys nurses to Kaweah Health as Visalia hospital sits at 106% capacity, driven by unvaccinated COVID patients

Visalia Times Delta

Kaweah Health called off its Code Triage after reinforcements from the California Department of Public Health arrived to bolster the struggling hospital's staffing woes in the wake of a surge of COVID-19 patients.

 

Real change proves elusive in mental health care system

Capitol Weekly

Important legislation to improve California’s broken mental health system was passed this year, plus billions in new funding in the state budget — all aimed at stemming the tide of a growing crisis on California streets, in hospital ER’s, jails and prisons.

 

Most States Have Not Yet Acted to Support New 988 Behavioral Health Lifeline

Pew Trusts

To make it easier for people to get help from trained health professionals safely and quickly, Congress recently enacted laws to create 988, the first nationwide telephone number to help people with any behavioral health crisis 24 hours a day, seven days a week.​​ 

See also:

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Border crossings by Haitian migrants plunged in October, CBP data show

Washington Post

The number of Haitian migrants attempting to cross into the United States fell by more than 90 percent in October after the Biden administration aggressively ramped up its use of deportation flights.

 

New fast-track docket for migrants faces familiar challenges

AP News

The average time for U.S. immigration cases to be resolved is​​ nearly four years. But that’s not the mandate in Francisco Prieto’s courtroom. The judge must attempt to rule within 300 days on dozens of cases he hears daily from families that just entered the country.

 

Thousands of Spouses of H-1B and L-1 Visa Holders Cleared to Work After Immigration Settlement

Wall Street Journal

The Biden administration will make it easier for some immigrant spouses to continue working legally with a visa but without renewing their employment authorization as part of a settlement reached Wednesday resolving a class-action suit.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Sequoia National Park to partially reopen Veterans Day, welcoming first visitors since KNP Complex Fire

Visalia Times Delta

Sequoia National Park will partially reopen to the public on Veterans Day, welcoming guests back for the first time since the KNP Complex Fire forced evacuations and torched hundreds of its namesake trees.​​ 

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Opinion: Protecting public lands and rivers will help combat climate change

CalMatters

Being able to access parks and other open space is good for our mental and physical health – and it helps address the climate crisis.

 

Housing:

 

Modesto considers trying safe parking program for people who live in their cars

Modesto Bee

Modesto may establish a safe parking program in which people who live in their cars, motor homes and other vehicles could sleep at night. The site would have security, portable toilets, drinking water​​ and other basics.

 

Trails End takeover: City of Fresno now controls conditions at mobile home park

abc30

A new legal development is bringing hope to the people who live in a neglected northeast Fresno trailer home park. Action News has followed the problems at Trails End for​​ months, but as of Thursday, the city has more control over conditions.

 

Home Prices Rose Across U.S. in Third Quarter

Wall Street Journal

Home prices climbed across the U.S. in the third quarter, but price growth slowed from earlier in the year as record prices and stiff competition pushed some buyers out of the market.

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Demand for a single-family rental is 'through the roof': And Wall Street is on alert

Visalia Times Delta

U.S. single-family rent growth increased 8.5% in July 2021, the fastest year-over-year increase in 16 years, according to the CoreLogic Single-Family Rent Index.

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PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Newly Flush With Cash, Retirement Funds Struggle to Find Appealing Investments

Wall Street Journal

State and local pension funds are reaping a historic windfall thanks to billions of dollars in record market gains and surplus tax revenues. Now they need to decide what to do with the money.

 

Medicare Advantage's cost to taxpayers has soared in recent years, research finds

VPR
Switching seniors to Medicare Advantage plans has cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars​​ more than keeping them in original Medicare, a cost that has exploded since 2018 and is likely to rise even higher, new research has found.

 

Opinion: Despite a strong October jobs report, Black unemployment remains too high to justify the Fed’s recent decision to decrease bond purchases

Brookings

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ October jobs report, released November 5, provides generally positive news with total nonfarm payroll employment increasing by 531,000 compared to an increase of only 194,000 in September, since revised upward.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Council approves contract for roads program to begin

Turlock Journal

The Roads Initiative Program is officially underway in Turlock after the City Council on Tuesday approved nearly $1 million in Measure A funding to be used for its​​ professional planning and preliminary design.​​ 

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New airline in Fresno marks inaugural flight with special deals, low fares as demand grows

Fresno Bee

The inaugural flight of ExpressJet Airlines’ new aha! brand Fresno to Reno left Fresno Yosemite International Airport less than half full, but representatives of the upstart brand expect that the three-times-a-week flights will soon attract more passengers.

 

An Uber fee unfairly impacts riders with disabilities, a DOJ lawsuit says

VPR
According to federal prosecutors, Uber charges an extra fee starting two minutes after a car arrives until the trip starts and that discriminates against people with disabilities who may need more time to get in a vehicle.

 

NEWS RELEASE: Veteran-Owned Small Business Flying High with High-Speed Rail

California High-Speed Rail Authority

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) today released a video profiling the 111th Aerial Photography, a California-certified Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise helping map the high-speed rail corridor from Madera to Fresno.

 

Biden administration blocks billions in California transit money, citing pension law

Modesto Bee

The U.S. Labor Department determined California is ineligible for federal money for public transit, putting in jeopardy about $12 billion in grants including a portion of the infrastructure spending Congress approved last week.

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Can you still cancel a flight at the last minute? Your holiday travel questions, answered.

Washington Post

This year, travelers can expect full flights, busy airports and packed roads. And with that comes the risk of delays and the need for extra coronavirus precautions, such as booster shots and pre-travel testing.

See also:

 

WATER

 

As cities grow, wastewater recycling gets another look

Sacramento Bee

Around the U.S., cities are increasingly warming to an idea that once induced gags: Sterilize wastewater from toilets, sinks and factories, and eventually pipe it back into homes and businesses as tap water.

 

La Niña Is Coming to Shape Winter. What to Know.

Wall Street Journal

The latest fluctuations in climate conditions across the Pacific Ocean are increasing the likelihood​​ of a La Niña winter in the U.S., the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday. Threatens to prolong West’s drought and keep northern areas colder than usual.

 

“Xtra”

 

Tips for paying less for goods when everything costs more

Washington Post

Online tools from gas comparisons to digital coupons can make inflation less stressful.

 

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