POLICY & POLITICS
Online Democracy: Is it a Good Connection?
The Maddy Institute
Join us on December 13 at 12 PM for a discussion about what makes a ‘public meeting,’ public. Little Hoover Commision Chairman Pedro Nava will discuss the impact digital platforms, such as Zoom, have on democracy. Use code MAOLD1213 to register HERE.
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Watchdog agency proposes penalizing Stanislaus County for former sheriff’s recruitment promos
Modesto Bee
A state watchdog agency has proposed that Stanislaus County pay a fine for featuring former sheriff Adam Christianson in recruitment advertising in magazines distributed to county residents.
EDITORIAL: Anyone spewing the n-word, like John Osgood, has no place on Ceres City Council
Modesto Bee
When the Ceres City Council convenes Monday evening, the council must reverse its hasty and unwise decision from two weeks before. This time, Ceres leaders must flatly refuse to allow John Osgood to join them on the council.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Fresno city employees nearly 70% vaccinated against COVID. Which departments are lagging? Fresno Bee
Fresno County vaccine progress is up, including kids. But winter surge worries loom Fresno Bee
Fresno County Health officials bracing for winter surge of COVID-19 cases abc30
Some Fresno County workers help low-income people get aid. Turns out they need it, too
Fresno Bee
That is the unfortunate reality she and other Fresno County eligibility workers find themselves in. It is a shameful situation when one considers how California officials just announced the state surplus for 2022 budget year is a whopping $31 billion.
See also:
Warszawski: Divide and dilute: Redistricting commission’s draft maps do no favors to Fresno
Fresno Bee
If the aim of commission members was to increasingly divide the Fresno metro area and further dilute our region’s political sway, let me be the first to offer a hearty congratulations. They succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
U.S. declares ‘squaw’ offensive. Will it spur change in Fresno County’s Squaw Valley?
Fresno Bee
U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Friday formally declared “squaw” a derogatory term and said she is taking steps to remove it from federal government use and to replace other derogatory place names.
See also:
Should the community of Squaw Valley change its name? CalMatters
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland moves to ban the word 'squaw' from federal lands VPR
Interior secretary seeks to rid US of derogatory place names Sacramento Bee
City Council Approves Ordinance to Raise Street Sweep Charges
Clovis Roundup
On November 15th, Assistant Public Utilities Director Glenn Eastes presented the new ordinance to the council about Clovis Street Sweeping. This included rate increases, reduction of refuse rates and an annual increase starting in 2023.
Redistricting map in final stretch of being approved
Porterville Recorder
The map that will determine Tulare County's five supervisorial districts that was approved by the county board of supervisors is in the final stretch of being adopted.
Judge says Devin Nunes’ family payment agreement in Iowa lawsuit is not ‘suspicious’
Fresno Bee
The way that Congressman Devin Nunes’ family is financing its defamation lawsuit against a journalist and magazine company over a story about their Iowa farm does not raise concerns, a federal judge wrote this week.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
COVID-19 rates in vaccinated individuals grow; doctors say vaccine still effective at preventing severe illness Bakersfield Californian
McCarthy filibuster elicits praise, ridicule
Bakersfield Californian
The Bakersfield Republican apparently set a new record — and annoyed Democrats — by speaking nonstop for more than 8½ hours Thursday night and Friday morning in opposition to the "Build Back Better" bill central to President Biden's legislative agenda.
See also:
Fresno Bee
In the week leading up to Veterans Day, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield highlighted a different member of the armed services each day in his social media posts.
State:
COVID Update:
Unvaccinated family? Here’s advice for Californians as tough holiday decisions approach Sacramento Bee
California won’t mandate COVID vaccines for private sector workers just yet. Here’s why Sacramento Bee
Even in liberal California, strict vaccine mandates face resistance Politico
Understanding the Geography of California’s Draft Redistricting Maps
Public Policy Institute of California
California is using a commission-led redistricting process for the second time in its history. The independent body recently released draft maps, and is currently collecting feedback on these plans over a legally mandated two-week period.
See also:
Latino, Asian American, LGBTQ activists: They want to shape California’s congressional maps Los Angeles Times
Upcoming Meetings We Draw The Lines CA
Opinion: California should return to good old-fashioned gerrymandering — for democracy’s sake Sacramento Bee
Equal opportunity extremism: How women seized the moment in California’s far-right radical politics
Sacramento Bee
The women in extremist coalitions call themselves “mama bears.” They organize homeschooling pods and plan public protests against mask requirements and COVID-19 shots for students.
See also:
California parents are frustrated with schools. Could it help Republicans in the midterms? Sacramento Bee
Opinion: How appeals to nostalgia and tradition help draw women into California hate groups Sacramento Bee
Infrastructure week is finally here. What California will get
Los Angeles Times
Democrats are heralding the bill as a way to create jobs across the nation, including in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom has said the package would accelerate projects that will spawn “thousands” of jobs, many of which will address climate change.
Will California be the next state to permit nonlawyer paraprofessionals?
ABAJournal
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.
See also:
How a law prof is training paraprofessionals to represent immigrants in legal proceedings ABAJournal
Americans can wait many weeks to see a therapist. California law aims to fix that
NPR
Senate Bill 221, which passed the state Legislature with a nearly unanimous vote, requires health insurers across the state to reduce wait times for mental health care to no more than 10 business days.
California’s $1.2 billion Capitol renovation is underway. Activists are still trying to halt it
Sacramento Bee
Dozens of environmental and preservation activists on Wednesday protested the demolition of the California Capitol annex, a 69-year-old structure attached to the historic statehouse that lawmakers consider outdated and dangerous.
See also:
SEIU Local 1000 president posts six years’ worth of union credit card spending info online
Sacramento Bee
The president of California’s largest state employee union has posted six years’ worth of union credit card statements online detailing his spending and the spending of his predecessor.
EDITORIAL: California lawmakers wine and dine with lobbyists in Maui. Why is this legal?
Los Angeles Times
A dozen state lawmakers are in Maui this week for one of the most unsavory traditions in California politics: a five-day stay at a luxury resort where legislators rub shoulders with lobbyists and corporate executives in a tropical playland.
Federal:
COVID Update:
All adults can now get a Pfizer or Moderna COVID booster shot. What to know Modesto Bee
Should you take an at-home COVID test before Thanksgiving gatherings? What experts say Modesto Bee
New hurdle for COVID-19 home testing -- the holiday season Fresno Bee
Disney's vaccine mandate, boosters, a startling death toll VPR
The FDA authorizes COVID booster shots for all U.S. adults NPR
With federal sign-offs, all American adults now eligible for coronavirus vaccine boosters Washington Post
CDC chief approves Covid-19 boosters for all adults Politico
Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna Covid-19 Boosters for All Adults Backed by FDA, CDC Wall Street Journal
Buttigieg: Federal vaccine mandates will not impact holiday travel Politico
Fauci said the federal definition of 'fully vaccinated' won't yet change to include booster shots Insider
Surprise, Surprise. The COVID Vaccine Mandates Are Working Capital & Main
Coronavirus Today: Where did the pandemic start? Los Angeles Times
U.S. Covid-19 Deaths in 2021 Surpass 2020’s Wall Street Journal
As Thanksgiving Approaches, U.S. Virus Cases Tick Upward Once More New York Times
Covid-19 Breakthrough Hospitalizations Concentrated Among Most Vulnerable Wall Street Journal
Kevin McCarthy Tries to Refocus Fractious GOP on Winning Back House
Wall Street Journal
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is trying to move Republicans beyond the intraparty fighting to taking control of Congress from the Democrats and potentially becoming the chamber’s next speaker.
The House passes a $2 trillion spending bill, but braces for changes in the Senate
NPR
The House voted on near-party lines Friday morning to approve a roughly $2 trillion social and climate spending package, ending months of squabbles among Democrats over the details of the far-reaching measure.
See also:
Dems’ $1.7T spending bill clears House, but Senate changes loom Politico
House passes budget package after cost concerns abate Roll Call
What’s in, and what’s out, as Democrats reshape Biden bill AP News
As Biden’s big bill advances, Pelosi’s legacy grows Los Angeles Times
Cross-Border Tax-Rate Gaps to Shrink as Democrats Advance Biden Agenda Wall Street Journal
Biden Administration Aims to Close Gaps Among Lawmakers for Reconciliation Bill Wall Street Journal
Tax Plan Inflames Democratic Debate in Senate Over Biden’s $2 Trillion Spending Bill Wall Street Journal
Biden signs historic $1-trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill Los Angeles Times
Democrats hope Biden's sales job can help their midterm chances VPR
Team Biden gets some pep in its step after months of taking it on the chin Politico
Companies Love to Buy Back Their Stock. A Tax Could Deter Them. New York Times
Opinion: Unpacking a major investment in broadband infrastructure AEI
Opinion: Will Joe Manchin Stand His Ground on Inflation? Wall Street Journal
Opinion: The Kamikaze Democrats Wall Street Journal
Opinion: Modernizing American infrastructure requires people and procurement, not just dollars Brookings
Biden Will Tap Jerome Powell for New Term as Fed Chairman
Wall Street Journal
President Biden is set to nominate Fed Reserve Chairman Powell to a second term leading the central bank, opting for continuity in U.S. economic policy despite pushback from some Democrats who wanted someone tougher on bank regulations and climate change.
See also:
Biden to nominate Jerome Powell for second term as Fed chair, signaling continuity amid heavy economic headwinds Washington Post
Biden has a major economic decision to make and he can’t seem to pull the trigger Politico
Biden Nears Endgame on Fed Chair Decision Wall Street Journal
Senate pushes action on defense bill to after Thanksgiving
Roll Call
It's not yet clear which controversial amendments will get votes. The Senate on Friday pushed off further action on its annual defense policy bill until after the Thanksgiving break, having failed to strike a deal on which amendments will get votes.
Biden Highlights Electric Vehicles While Asking for Inquiry Into High Gas Prices
New York Times
The president asked the Federal Trade Commission to look into whether big oil companies were fueling a spike in gas prices.
Biden nominates new chair for Postal Service Board, ousts DeJoy's allies
KVPR
President Biden announced Friday the nomination of two new members to the Postal Service Board of Governors, including a new chairman, which could spell the end of Louis DeJoy's controversial tenure as postmaster general.
As Kamala Harris takes criticism, Democrats in a bind as they look to 2024 and 2028
Los Angeles Times
Biden, who turns 79 on Saturday, and Harris are slipping in public opinion polls, and the vice president is facing a new wave of criticism about public gaffes and internal dysfunction in her office, pushing the question into sharper focus.
See also:
Business Group Challenges Lina Khan’s Agenda at Federal Trade Commission
Wall Street Journal
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is challenging Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan, contending in a series of letters that she is overstepping the agency’s legal authority.
Opinion: Politicians Have Earned Your Distrust
Wall Street Journal
Our leaders care more about putting ‘points on the board’ than doing what’s right.
Other:
Amazon wages secret war on Americans' privacy, documents show
Reuters
In recent years, Amazon.com Inc has killed or undermined privacy protections in more than three dozen bills across 25 states, as the e-commerce giant amassed a lucrative trove of personal data on millions of American consumers.
Growing share of childless adults in U.S. don’t expect to ever have children
Pew Research
A new Pew Research Center survey finds that a rising share of U.S. adults who are not already parents say they are unlikely to ever have children, and their reasons range from just not wanting to have kids to concerns about climate change and the environment.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, November 28, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "State Auditor Elaine Howle: A Retrospective" - Guest: Elaine Howle, CPA, California State Auditor. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, November 28, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "Two State Watchdogs Take A Bow"- Guests: Elaine Howle, CPA, California State Auditor; Mac Taylor, Former California's Legislative Analyst. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Meet the Tulare County mom leading the fight for pesticide regulation in her community
VPR
A recent study from UCLA looked at the California Cancer Registry from 1998 to 2011. It found certain pesticides were linked to childhood cancer and tumors in children whose mothers lived within 2.5 miles of agricultural fields while pregnant.
How supply chain breakdowns are impacting Valley ag operations
VPR
Rising inflation and the backlogs at U.S. ports are making it more difficult, and expensive, to buy some products. But this supply chain breakdown hurts more than just consumers.
See also:
Thanksgiving Is On, and So Is the Hunt for Ingredients Wall Street Journal
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
After looters ransack Bay Area stores, crime rises as 2022 state campaign issue
CalMatters
For evidence that crime will likely be a key issue for California voters in next year’s election, look no further than this weekend.
Public Safety:
Livingston police chief’s abrupt exit sparks outrage amid city’s tumultuous year
Merced Sun Star
Livingston residents took to City Hall on Thursday to protest what they see as ongoing corruption by elected officials and city staff. Thursday’s dissent was sparked by news earlier this week that Livingston Police Chief John Markle was retiring from his duties Dec. 30.
See also:
ACLU letter claims Tulare County jail lacks prenatal care for pregnant inmates
abc30
On Thursday, the ACLU Foundation of Northern California sent a letter to Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, claiming jail staff put the pregnancies of three women at risk by denying them medical care.
The Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict Exposes America's Divide Over Who Gets to Carry a Gun
Politico
The Kyle Rittenhouse case, while not overtly about race, lay bare the imbalances and imperfections of the judicial system. But it also did something else, legal scholars say: It fundamentally changed the culture of protest.
See also:
Reaction in the Central Valley following Kyle Rittenhouse trial verdict abc30
What we know about the 3 men who were shot by Kyle Rittenhouse VPR
Why the Kyle Rittenhouse 'not guilty' verdict is not a surprise to legal experts VPR
Fire:
Severe fire can be good for giant sequoias. The ‘hopeful’ new research – and a giant debate
Fresno Bee
What’s happening in Nelder Grove is taking that understanding to another level. Not only is some fire good for their reproduction, the hottest fires are best for that – and not just in small patches, Hanson said. It’s a controversial new assertion.
See also:
Wildfires torched up to a fifth of all giant sequoia trees Hanford Sentinel
Nearly 20 percent of the world's Giant Sequoias have been destroyed Porterville Recorder
Thousands of giant sequoias ravaged in recent Southern Sierra wildfires, study says Sacramento Bee
Wildfires killed thousands of sequoias in southern Sierra Nevada Los Angeles Times
Neighborhood that survived the Creek Fire shows potential for slowing wildfires near communities
KVPR
On the part of the community of Rock Haven that received forest thinning treatments, the Creek Fire lost enough intensity to spare mature trees and historic homes.
Opinion: Billions in funding for wildfire should be just a down payment
CalMatters
California’s future depends on sustained investment in forest health and community protection from wildfires.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Big things are Happening for the Business Organization of Old Town Clovis
Clovis Roundup
B.O.O.T. is a non profit organization that provides its members and the community proactive leadership to improve the regional quality of life. B.O.O.T. strives to promote and showcase activities in Old Town Clovis.
Wide Selection of Stocks Pushes Market Higher
Wall Street Journal
Investors see move as promising indication of rally’s durability, but signs of weakness lurk beneath surface of major indexes
Everything Shortage to last past Christmas
Axios
America's supply chain crisis, which has driven prices higher and made all sorts of goods harder to find, may last long after the holiday season.
See also:
Supply-Chain Problems Show Signs of Easing Wall Street Journal
Desperate Parents Turn to Shopping Bots to Hunt for Hottest Christmas Gifts Wall Street Journal
How Companies Raise Prices Without Raising Prices Wall Street Journal
Retail trade group expects holiday sales to rise by all-time record, despite congested ports CNBC
Opinion: There’s only one real solution for supply chain problems: Stop consuming so much Los Angeles Times
Axios
The COVID-19 pandemic drove a once-in-a-lifetime surge in the attention economy online, but the gradual return of normal life in many places — along with media overload and exhaustion — has down-shifted consumption patterns.
See also:
Jobs:
California jobless rate falls in October as hiring picks up
Sacramento Bee
Following a lull in September, California employers bounced back in a big way last month as they added 96,800 new jobs and lowered the state's unemployment rate to 7.3%
See also:
Stanislaus unemployment remains steady after another ‘quiet’ month of recovery Modesto Bee
Pandemic job recovery continued last month. How many people are out of work in Fresno? Fresno Bee
Kern's jobless rate improves with hiring at farms, schools, construction, restaurants Bakersfield Californian
October employment numbers show modest increases across Central Valley
California’s unemployment rate drops to 7.3 percent in October 2021 EDD
Are You Being Paid Enough to Live On? New Tool Aims to Answer That Question.
Capital & Main
The nonprofit has put together a program, dubbed For US, that is designed to help businesses across the country determine if they are providing a real living wage, figure out how to remedy the situation if they’re not and certify those who are.
With Vaccine Mandate Looming, Business Owners Face Wary Workers
Wall Street Journal
Small-business owners are confronting challenges preparing for the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate, with some saying efforts to comply are exacerbating hiring problems and stoking tensions with and among workers.
The Hardest Job to Recruit For: Other Recruiters
Wall Street Journal
Demand for recruiters is surging, putting pressure on staffing firms as the industry seeks ways to add to its ranks
Companies Face a Dilemma: Delay Office Reopenings Again, or Take a New Approach?
Wall Street Journal
Companies set return-to-office dates, only to later backtrack and delay them due to health concerns. With Covid-19 cases on the rise and U.S. authorities warning of a potential surge in infections this winter, employers find themselves questioning their approaches again.
EDUCATION
K-12:
TUSD trustee refuses to follow mask mandate
Turlock Journal
This week’s Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting got off to a rocky start when the two student representatives, Kate Ogden and Bella Kern, were forced to leave the meeting after board member Jeffery Cortinas and others refused to wear a mask.
This new school works with Fresno Chaffee Zoo to take students outside the classroom
Fresno Bee
Some Fresno kindergartners recently showed off their new school with a small, student-led presentation about the cycles of a flower and its importance to the monarch butterfly and our ecosystem.
New career technical education building ‘way beyond shop class’
Business Journal
Fresno High School hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday morning to celebrate the grand opening of its newly built career technical education (CTE) building.
Understanding the debate behind California’s new math framework
CalMatters
In the push to help more students thrive in science, tech, engineering and math, California is working to change the way its schools teach math. But the suggested new framework has sparked widespread criticism.
Walters: ‘Achievement gap’ still plagues California schools
CalMatters
In 2013, California’s system of financing public schools was overhauled in an effort to close the “achievement gap,” but we still don’t know whether it’s working.
Higher Ed:
Fresno State Ranks Fifth Nationally for Advancing Economic Opportunities for Students
Fresno State News
For the fifth consecutive year, Fresno State placed among the top five best universities for social mobility, ranking No. 5 out of 1,549 schools in the 2021 Social Mobility Index developed by CollegeNET. Last year, the University ranked No. 3.
Rising food prices thrust food banks, consumers into the holidays
Business Journal
The holiday season is typically a busy time for food banks, but with rising food costs and an unbalanced supply and demand, donation centers need to be creative. The Bulldog Pantry, a Fresno State student-run food pantry, has seen challenges throughout the pandemic.
UC officially ditches any tests for undergraduate admissions
CalMatters
After doing away with the SAT and ACT in 2020, the University of California said Thursday it would no longer consider using any tests as part of its undergraduate admissions process.
See also:
Fewer students taking SAT and ACT, Valley districts say future of these tests is unclear abc30
UC slams the door on standardized admissions tests, nixing any SAT alternative Los Angeles Times
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Coastal residents try to save monarchs: ‘Bringing them back is like bringing back our community’
Visalia Times-Delta
Volunteers arrived at the Laguna Seca recreation to create areas where plants like milkweed and nectar flowers would be available for butterflies on their migrating journey. The effort was led by 22 Monterey County Rotary clubs along with other organizations.
Air district credits 10-year drop in particulates to regulations, incentives
Bakersfield Californian
A new analysis suggests that during the last decade Kern has made some of the biggest strides by any U.S. county in reducing fine particulate emissions, even as the region's air remains unhealthy and out of compliance with federal standards.
California has a new battle plan against environmental injustice. The nation is watching
Los Angeles Times
The Biden White House is overseeing the creation of a nationwide replica of California’s screening tool as part of a presidential directive to federal agencies to make confronting environmental injustice central to their mission.
Tackling climate change by prioritizing impacted communities
CalMatters
A state program funds communities to help reduce pollution, fight climate change and address community economic needs.
U.S. climate pledge faces test in Senate with global effect
Los Angeles Times
After talking the climate talk at United Nations negotiations in Scotland, the Biden administration now tests whether a divided U.S. can walk the climate walk: push a massive investment for a new era of clean energy through the narrowest of margins in the Senate.
See also:
EDITORIAL: World leaders in Glasgow followed the California Democrat model: big talk, little action Sacramento Bee
Opinion: Climate change will pose a huge disruption. Are the world’s banks ready? Brookings
Energy:
With California’s OK, Chevron Is Selling Oil From an Illegal Spill
Capital & Main
Chevron is selling the oil that it collects from the spill, even though it’s coming from a seep prohibited by regulations. CalGEM says it has yet to “assess” the amount of money Chevron has made off selling oil from this surface expression since November 2019.
The U.S. emergency oil stash is in the spotlight as gas price surge. What to know
VPR
A recent surge in gasoline prices has left President Biden scrambling for options to do something about it. One that's getting a lot of attention is the possibility that the Biden administration will release crude oil from the country's emergency oil stockpile, or the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Trillions in Assets May Be Left Stranded as Companies Address Climate Change
Wall Street Journal
Write-downs of power plants, auto factories and fossil-fuel reserves could cause big losses in transition to renewable energy.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Fresno County sees drop in Fentanyl overdoses after ABC30 documentary
abc30
Fentanyl overdoses in Fresno County continue to happen but authorities say there is hope on the horizon, as media campaigns appear to be helping to educate about the dangerous opioid.
See also:
Welcoming family into your home for Thanksgiving? Here's how to keep COVID out
VPR
While many of us are ready to reboot our holiday traditions, COVID cases are once again rapidly climbing — with nearly 95,000 new cases a day. Experts warn we still need to keep COVID risk-reduction in mind.
Human Services:
'Act of protest' leaves Tulare hospital board in chaos after VA proposal shunned
Visalia Times Delta
The Tulare Local Healthcare District meeting on Wednesday ended in chaos after a disgruntled trustee walked out, leaving the diminished hospital board without a quorum.
Supply chain woes trigger shortages of critical medical devices
CalMatters
Eying the offshore traffic jams at ports and supply chain problems, California hospitals report delays and shortages in medical supplies. Some patients are forced to reuse medical tubes.
Americans can wait many weeks to see a therapist. California law aims to fix that
NPR
Senate Bill 221, which passed the state Legislature with a nearly unanimous vote, requires health insurers across the state to reduce wait times for mental health care to no more than 10 business days.
Telehealth Rollbacks Leave Patients Stranded, Some Doctors Say
Wall Street Journal
States are curbing access to telehealth services that were expanded during the pandemic, prompting some doctors and businesses to lobby for a permanent expansion of remote care that they say some patients need.
VA stats show devastating Covid toll at vets’ nursing homes
Politico
Almost a year after Congress passed a law requiring disclosure of Covid-19 deaths in veterans’ homes, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs finally began making public how many U.S. veterans got sick and died of the virus in nursing homes meant to ease their final days.
IMMIGRATION
UC Merced professor leads study on immigrant experience in California
Abc30
A three-year study by a group of researchers from UCLA and UC Merced analyzed what LatinX and Asian immigrants face in the state of California and the impact immigration laws have on their lives.
See also:
CA study of Latino, Asian immigrants looks at perceived discrimination, impact on health Modesto Bee
It’s the last California jail used by ICE. And he’s the only immigrant detainee inside it
Los Angeles Times
Clanging metal gates punctured the silence as a guard came to check on Ricardo Vasquez Cruz. Despite having an entire cellblock to himself, Cruz sat alone in his yellow-walled cell fretting that a fourth holiday season would pass behind bars.
A once-remote patch of rainforest is now packed with migrants trying to reach the U.S.
NPR
For centuries, jungle-covered mountains, swamps and poisonous snakes scared people away from the Darién Gap, the dense rainforest separating North and South America. But thanks to the large numbers of migrants trying to get to the U.S., it’s no longer a no man's land.
Temporary immigration protections for millions pass the House
Roll Call
House Democrats passed legislation Friday that, while falling short of advocates’ calls for a path to citizenship, would establish sweeping protections for millions of immigrants for the first time in decades.
Afghan Evacuees, Scattered Around the World, Could Wait Years for Chance to Reach U.S.
Wall Street Journal
Thousands of Afghans who were evacuated from Kabul after the Taliban seized power in August could be stranded in other countries for years because of backlogs in the U.S. refugee system, according to officials and the groups that helped them escape.
Opinion: Immigration as an engine for reviving the middle class in midsized cities
Brookings
Today, more than ever, immigration can be a solution to the biggest challenges facing the American economy.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Senate confirms first Native American to direct park service
Roll Call
The Senate late Thursday confirmed Charles Sams III to lead the National Park Service, making him the first Senate-approved director since the Obama administration and the first Native American to hold the post.
Housing:
Bubble watch: California housing ‘affordability gap’ near pre-crash levels
Mercury News
Realtor economists found that 42% of Californians could meet the somewhat generous homebuying qualification standards of this index. That’s up from 40% in the spring but down from 48% in the pre-pandemic fourth quarter of 2019.
Californians Flee the Coast to Inland Cities in a Mass Pandemic-Era Exodus
Wall Street Journal
Increasingly, the state’s middle class is moving to inland desert and mountain communities. Its coastal cities such as L.A. and San Francisco are housing more of its affluent residents and low-income people who can’t afford to move.
Home Prices Are Surging. The Manufactured-Housing Industry Sees an Opening.
Wall Street Journal
Some lenders and advocates think factory-built homes are a solution to the U.S. housing crunch.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Is a guaranteed basic income program coming soon to Fresno? Here’s what we know
Fresno Bee
Efforts to launch a guaranteed basic income pilot program are underway in Fresno. On Saturday morning, a group of 30 El Dorado community members came out to share their ideas about what a guaranteed basic income program should look like in Fresno.
More than 500,000 California workers will get $500 pandemic bonuses. Here are the details
Sacramento Bee
More than 500,000 caregivers in California will each receive a $500 bonus from the state as soon as January, as it tries to retain workers in a sector long hampered by low wages and high turnover rates.
Denied unemployment benefits in California during the pandemic? You may now qualify
Sacramento Bee
About 100,000 Californians who had been previously denied unemployment benefits from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program could be getting them after all.
TRANSPORTATION
Why Gas Prices Are So High in California
New York Times
The coronavirus deserves much of the blame. Gas production fell when demand plummeted last year amid stay-at-home orders, and it hasn’t caught up as commuters and tourists return.
See also:
Gas prices soar in Turlock, statewide Turlock Journal
Family Unvisited, Travel a No-Go: The Hard Costs of High Gas Prices New York Times
Pilot program testing 'universal basic mobility' coming to Bakersfield
Bakersfield Californian
The aim is to provide transportation options to disadvantaged Bakersfield residents and improve their access to jobs and education. A study at UC Davis will evaluate the results after tracking the outcomes of its participants.
California High Speed Rail Authority
The United States Department of Transportation today awarded a $24 million grant to the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority), advancing the nation’s first high-speed rail system while enhancing and better connecting the community of Wasco (Kern County).
Biden Highlights Electric Vehicles While Asking for Inquiry Into High Gas Prices
New York Times
The president asked the Federal Trade Commission to look into whether big oil companies were fueling a spike in gas prices.
See also:
Giving up gas-powered cars was a fringe idea. It's now on its way to reality VPR
Ford and Rivian no longer plan to work jointly on electric vehicles. New York Times
Apple (AAPL) Aims for Fully Self-Driving Car
Bloomberg
Apple Inc. is pushing to accelerate development of its electric car and is refocusing the project around full self-driving capabilities, according to people familiar with the matter, aiming to solve a technical challenge that has bedeviled the auto industry.
Thanksgiving travel is coming back. Are airlines ready?
Los Angeles Times
Air traffic for the Thanksgiving holiday is expected to approach pre-pandemic levels, and travelers may be considering their plans with some dread, given fresh memories about thousands of canceled flights.
See also:
Congress to airlines: Where did all that Covid money go? Politico
Storms Forecast for Thanksgiving Week Could Complicate Holiday Travel Plans Wall Street Journal
WATER
Four San Joaquin Valley groundwater plans deemed inadequate
Hanford Sentinel
The state’s water agency today lambasted groundwater plans drafted by some of California’s largest and most powerful agricultural water suppliers in the San Joaquin Valley, indicating that they fail to protect drinking water supplies from over-pumping.
Rooted in Exclusion, California Towns Fight for the Right to Water
Capital & Main
For many unincorporated towns funding for water service alone is not a complete solution. A history of exclusion has left them without other services, near the towns and cities that excluded them.
As drought persists, Californians are ‘backsliding’ in effort to conserve water
Los Angeles Times
State water regulators urged Californians to do more to save water after the latest monthly data showed conservation lagging in September, with statewide water use in cities and towns decreasing 3.9% compared with the same month a year ago.
Visalia Times Delta
While the U.S. Forest Service pours resources into a battle on fire, it is losing the war over water. About half of Western water supply originates on national forest land. But before that water reaches the West’s major cities or great rivers, much of it has already been claimed.
Water Education Foundation
Land and waterway managers labored hard over the course of a century to control California’s unruly rivers by building dams and levees to slow and contain their water. Now, farmers, environmentalists and agencies are undoing some of that work as part of an accelerating campaign to restore the state’s major floodplains.
“Xtra”
Ready for some holiday spirit? Where to find Modesto area parades, lightings, more
Modesto Bee
Many of last year’s public celebrations were canceled, held virtually or modified because of the pandemic. But several are ready for a comeback this Christmas season.
Who has the best donuts in Fresno and Clovis? Here’s how Bee readers voted
Fresno Bee
Who has the best donuts in Fresno or Clovis? We asked. You answered. The results of last week’s poll asking Fresno Bee readers that question are in.
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
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