POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● COVID cases rise again in Stanislaus County. Officials hear more from vaccine skeptics Modesto Bee
California is building a new health program at UC Merced. Will it lead to more Latino doctors?
Merced Sun Star
Gov. Gavin Newsom and higher education leaders on Monday visited the future site of UC Merced’s medical education program, which would serve as a building block for the San Joaquin Valley’s first public medical school.
Unemployment continues to fall in Stanislaus
Turlock Journal
Stanislaus County recorded high job growth in the government sector in September and saw higher rates in the Professional and Business Services, according to the EDD data.
Turlock Fire receives funding boost. But council to consider study on future services
Modesto Bee
A week after approving about $725,000 in additional funding for the Turlock Fire Department, the City Council on Tuesday will consider a study proposal aiming to give recommendations on the department’s future.
State moves toward higher flows on Tuolumne and nearby rivers. Irrigators vow a fight
Modesto Bee
The state is moving ahead with its proposal to boost flows on the Tuolumne and nearby rivers, to the dismay of irrigation districts and San Francisco.
See also:
● EDITORIAL: State’s decision to end water talks a slap in the face to Modesto-area residents Modesto Bee
Central SJ Valley:
Fresno-area farm workers want daily pesticide warnings, to protect against cancer risks
Fresno Bee
Advocates for agricultural workers and families who live and work near farms gathered Tuesday in Clovis, pushing for warnings related to cancer-causing pesticides.
What’s Measure C? Why Fresno County could be voting on another sales tax measure
Fresno Bee
Measure C is a half-cent sales tax dedicated to funding new roads, freeways, sidewalks, trails, and public transportation in Fresno County. The current version of Measure C is expected to generate over $1.2 billion in sales tax revenue by the time it expires in 2027.
See also:
● Meeting to be held for Fresno County residents regarding Measure C abc30
● Measure C workshops continue for public input Hanford Sentinel
Fresno County renters, are you behind on rent? There’s still millions in assistance available
Fresno Bee
According to Fresno County program manager, Laura Moreno, the county still has $16.5 million from state funds to distribute — and more federal dollars from the American Rescue Act ERA 2 funds are on the way.
Valadao pens letter requesting State of Emergency declaration
Hanford Sentinel
Tuesday, Congressman Valadao and others sent a letter to President Biden and Governor Newsom requesting federal and state emergency declarations related to the drought and recent storms in California to maximize pumping of stormwater and unregulated flows in the Delta.
Assemblymember Rudy Salas brings $2M for Lemoore response center
Hanford Sentinel
The City of Lemoore got a major boost this week with the presentation of a check worth $2 million to aid in the completion of its new emergency response center.
Judge orders Devin Nunes’ family to disclose who’s paying for Iowa defamation lawsuit
Sacramento Bee
A federal judge this week ordered Rep. Devin Nunes’ family members to disclose how they are paying for their defamation lawsuit against a reporter and magazine publisher over a 2018 story about their Iowa farm.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Kern Public Health: 490 new coronavirus cases reported Tuesday Bakersfield Californian
● Schools lose few employees as they implement new weekly COVID-19 testing mandate; vaccine mandate on horizon Bakersfield Californian
Supervisors mull small, large changes to district boundaries at contentious hearing
Bakersfield Californian
A bevy of public speakers urged supervisors not to take race into consideration and others advocated for a map that creates three districts focused around the metro Bakersfield area, but turns all of eastern Kern into one large district as opposed to two.
Rural activists ask for county supervisors' support in push for pesticide notifications
Bakersfield Californian
Demonstrators equipped with recent studies showing harmful health impacts from ambient exposure to pesticides rallied outside Kern's County Administrative Building on Tuesday to prod the Board of Supervisors to help break an impasse that has blocked public notification of local farmers' plans to treat their crops with dangerous chemicals.
Business roundup: Local home prices soar, pistachio farmland prices rise
Bakersfield Californian
The median sale price of a single-family home in Bakersfield jumped in September by $17,250 — an unprecedented monthly increase that illustrates the local market's "atypical strength," in the words of the appraiser who reported the figure.
State:
COVID Update:
● Some unvaccinated California correctional officers could face discipline under new order Sacramento Bee
How local independent commissions are changing California redistricting
CalMatters
New independent commissions are drawing election districts in cities and counties that could change representation and priorities. Community groups are fighting for influence.
Key California EDD fixes are a long way off
CalMatters
California’s unemployment department is making progress on key reforms, but some of the most transformational changes are still years away
Walters: Newsom glosses over California’s sluggish recovery
CalMatters
California Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to paint a rosy picture of vigorous economic recovery, but employment data says otherwise.
Gavin Newsom moves to international stage to tout California’s climate efforts in Scotland
Sacramento Bee
California Gov. Gavin Newsom will travel to Glasgow, Scotland, next month for the United Nations climate conference, his first major conference abroad since becoming governor in 2019.
California will have another ‘historic budget surplus’ next year, Gov. Gavin Newsom says
Sacramento Bee
California will have another “historic budget surplus” next year, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. Newsom said he’ll propose using next year’s surplus to pay down $11.3 billion in pension obligations, but didn’t give further details.
California prison agency faces whistleblower retaliation lawsuit, filed by its own attorney
Sacramento Bee
The attorney for a California state agency that provides work opportunities for incarcerated people is suing his employer, as well as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, alleging that they retaliated against him when he came forward with complaints about the now-former general manager.
New california laws for business owners to watch out for
Business Journal
The new laws include legislation regarding claims of recyclability for packaging, dairy pricing, debt settlement practices and others that local business owners might want to familiarize themselves with.
Video: A Conversation with Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye
Public Policy Institute of California
Like virtually every other public institution, California’s judicial branch had to adapt quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic. For Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, there was no question but that the courts had to remain open.
For the first Latino senator from California, citizenship for undocumented immigrants is personal
Washington Post
In the neighborhood where Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) grew up, undocumented immigrants have long occupied the aging bungalows and faded campers that jam up against roaring freeways.
California tried to save the nation from the misery of tax filing — then Intuit stepped in
Los Angeles Times
An unexpected letter from the state tax board is the kind of thing known to spike blood pressure. But the note that arrived in tens of thousands of Californians’ mailboxes in 2005 promised to ease anxiety.
Federal:
COVID Update:
● FDA vaccine advisers vote to recommend Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 abc30
● FDA advisory panel recommends Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 VPR
● Kids ages 5-11 may soon get Pfizer COVID vaccine as FDA panel votes to support shots Modesto Bee
● Pfizer says lower-dose vaccine for small kids could also work for older children Fresno Bee
● FDA advisers back Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for children 5 to 11, saying benefits outweigh risks Washington Post
● CDC supports expansion of COVID-19 booster rollout and mixing shots Los Angeles Times
● Which COVID-19 vaccine booster shot should I get? Here’s how to choose Los Angeles Times
Biden makes 2 key, boundary-breaking FCC nominations
VPR
President Biden is moving to fill two openings at the Federal Communications Commission, nominating Jessica Rosenworcel as the commission's chair, and former FCC staffer Gigi Sohn to a second vacant seat.
See also:
● The Biden administration taps a top Republican official to lead election security VPR
● Biden nominates acting FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel for permanent post Washington Post
Billionaires’ tax could hit executives from Google, Facebook, other big California magnates
Sacramento Bee
Familiar companies such as Facebook and Google could feel a sharp sting from a new tax on billionaires. Washington Democrats are seriously considering such a tax to help fund a host of social programs and climate change initiatives.
See also:
● Sinema steers Dems into uncharted territory on taxes Politico
● Manchin: IRS reporting requirements likely 'going to be gone' from spending bill Politico
● Corporate Minimum Tax Resurfaces as Democrats Hunt for Money Wall Street Journal
● How the Billionaires Income Tax Would Work Wall Street Journal
● Democrats’ billionaire tax would heavily target 10 wealthiest Americans, but alternative plan is emerging Washington Post
● Analysis: Billionaires Income Tax Senator Ron Wyden
Federal Trade Commission Scrutinizing Facebook Disclosures
Wall Street Journal
Federal Trade Commission staffers have begun looking into disclosures that Facebook Inc.’s internal company research had identified ill effects from its products, according to people familiar with the matter.
See also:
● Five points for anger, one for a ‘like’: How Facebook’s formula fostered rage and misinformation Washington Post
● How Facebook shapes your feed Washington Post
● EDITORIAL: Facebook claims it wants to be a good corporate citizen. Its conduct says otherwise Sacramento Bee
Dems confront flagging momentum for $1T-plus deal
Politico
The White House is hosting a flurry of last-minute meetings with influential groups of House Democrats and key senators on Tuesday as party leaders in both chambers raced to resolve disagreements still snarling President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda.
See also:
● What does Kyrsten Sinema want out of spending negotiations? Here's what we know VPR
● White House enters ‘hand-to-hand’ combat stage of negotiations Politico
● Sanders takes a hard line against demands by Manchin, Sinema Politico
● Democrats pitch industry-friendly Medicaid workaround to win Manchin’s support Politico
● Sanders draws red lines on Medicare expansion, drug pricing plan in spending bill The Hill
● White House sets climate spending at up to $555 billion Politico
● Democrats say they have path to deal on climate provisions in spending bill The Hill
● Major issues unresolved as Democrats in U.S. Congress seek deal on spending bill Reuters
● What’s Left in the Democrats’ Shrunken Spending Bill? New Yorker
● Child care funds likely spared the budget ax other programs face Roll Call
● Democrats quietly scramble to include immigration provision in social spending bill Washington Post
● Opinion: Democrats’ risky strategies show they never learned their lessons from Obamacare Washington Post
Other:
Federal Trade Commission Scrutinizing Facebook Disclosures
Wall Street Journal
Lawmakers want agency to determine if Facebook engaged in deceptive conduct; company says internal research is mischaracterized
4 takeaways from the Senate child safety hearing with YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok
VPR
Lawmakers in the Senate hammered representatives from Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube on Tuesday, in a combative hearing about whether the tech giants do enough to keep children safe online.
See also:
● Senators Turn Child-Safety Spotlight on TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube Wall Street Journal
When this hedge fund buys local newspapers, democracy suffers
NPR
Alden Global Capital is stepping in to buy — and then gut — newsrooms across the country.
And that has consequences for democracy, as journalist McKay Coppins writes in The Atlantic.
Americans’ Approval Of Congress At Its Lowest All Year, Poll Finds
Forbes
A new Gallup poll released Tuesday found that Americans have a 21% approval rating of Congress, the lowest it’s been all year, while approval among Democrats in particular has “plunged” as the back and forth continues over President Joe Biden’s social spending bill.
See also:
● Opinion: How to Read Biden’s Plummeting Polls Wall Street Journal
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, October 31, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "On-Line Democray: A Good Connection?" - Guest: Pedro Nava, Chairman - California Little Hoover Commission. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, October 31, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "The Valley Experience with On-Line Government"- Guests: Danielle Bergstrom, Fresnoland: Fresnoland's Documenter's Program and Erica Manuel, CEO & President of the Institute for Local Government. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Fresno-area farm workers want daily pesticide warnings, to protect against cancer risks
Fresno Bee
Advocates for agricultural workers and families who live and work near farms gathered Tuesday in Clovis, pushing for warnings related to cancer-causing pesticides.
See also:
● Rural activists ask for county supervisors' support in push for pesticide notifications Bakersfield Californian
This is California’s new $5 billion powerhouse of an industry. Is the state holding it back?
Sacramento Bee
Business boomed during the pandemic — really, ever since California legalized recreational marijuana — but industry insiders warn a familiar cluster of obstacles is holding back entrepreneurs even amid the tremendous growth of the past two years.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Police Use of Force and Misconduct in California
Public Policy Institute of California
While most use-of-force incidents are not considered misconduct, civilian fatalities and injuries—particularly of unarmed individuals—can nevertheless harm the public’s trust in law enforcement.
California’s unemployment fraud reaches at least $20 billion
Los Angeles Times
California has given away at least $20 billion to criminals in the form of fraudulent unemployment benefits confirming a number smaller than originally feared but one that still accounts for more than 11% of all benefits paid since the start of the pandemic.
Washington Post
The trial over Ahmaud Arbery’s killing promises to be yet another high-stakes test of the proposition that such a thing as colorblind justice can exist in these United States. We must be shocked and appalled that “jogging while Black” is a capital crime in this country.
Public Safety:
Would California prison guards quit over vaccine mandates? Newsom administration says yes
Sacramento Bee
California state officials are worried prison guards’ resistance to vaccines runs so deep that a strict vaccination mandate could lead many to quit their jobs, with potentially “crippling” effects to the prison system, according to a Monday court filing.
During COVID, California’s Latinos Used 911 More Than Ever Before. Here’s Why That Matters
Capital and Main
The disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on their community in the early days of the pandemic forced many older California Latinos to do something they normally avoid: Call 911 and ask for help.
Police Use of Force and Misconduct in California
Public Policy Institute of California
Over the past decade, the high-profile deaths of civilians—especially Black civilians—at the hands of law enforcement have heightened public scrutiny over policing and created momentum for state reforms
Fire:
Turlock Fire receives funding boost. But council to consider study on future services
Modesto Bee
A week after approving about $725,000 in additional funding for the Turlock Fire Department, the City Council on Tuesday will consider a study proposal aiming to give recommendations on the department’s future.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
No shortage of toilet paper or chicken in California. But you may need to be patient, less picky
Fresno Bee
There is no toilet paper shortage. Or scarcity of chicken. But ... you may not be able to get the brand or specific item you want. Spot shortages could surface of various items, such as certain toys. Prices will probably be noticeably higher than last year.
See also:
● “Buy it when you see it.” Retailers dread holiday shortages Fresno Bee
● Opinion: America’s Supply Chain Collides With California’s Nimbyism Bloomberg
Consumers turn to ‘buy now, pay later,’ stoking worry about repayment ability
Fresno Bee
Well-established companies such as The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Mastercard Inc. are diving headlong into a financial technology product that some critics fear poses risks to consumers.
See where amazon plans to build a ‘last-mile’ facility in fresno
Business Journal
The proposed warehouse in Southeast Fresno would be 161,300 square feet with 17 dock doors and a 22,000 square-foot office, according to a permit filed in February with the City of Fresno.
Business roundup: Local home prices soar, pistachio farmland prices rise
Bakersfield Californian
The median sale price of a single-family home in Bakersfield jumped in September by $17,250 — an unprecedented monthly increase that illustrates the local market's "atypical strength," in the words of the appraiser who reported the figure.
‘Welcome to Texas!’: Musk’s California Departure Stokes the States’ Rivalry
New York Times
California, with its steep housing costs, raging wildfires and strict business regulations, has been losing residents to other states, with Texas as the most popular exodus destination. Of more than 653,000 people who left California last year, about 82,000 went to Texas.
Opinion: Where is the Fed Vice Chair for Supervision?
Brookings
President Biden has nominated no one. The Fed replaced him with no one. For now, the Fed’s vital supervisory and regulatory priorities will be managed by the Fed’s Board of Governors, through their committee structure.
Jobs:
Unemployment continues to fall in Stanislaus
Turlock Journal
Stanislaus County recorded high job growth in the government sector in September and saw higher rates in the Professional and Business Services, according to the EDD data.
How employers can win workers back (and keep them) after the 'Great Resignation'
VPR
Anthony Klotz, the Texas A&M University organizational psychologist who coined the term "Great Resignation," said this feeling that Waters describes of being pushed to the edge is widespread at the moment.
Looking for a California state job? Here are the highest paying openings posted this week
Sacramento Bee
Looking for a civil service job? These are some of the highest-paid openings available in California posted in the past seven days, according to CalCareers.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Bakersfield Californian
The majority of teachers and school staff members in Kern County have complied with a state mandate that took effect Oct. 15 that requires them to either prove they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or take weekly tests.
School Nurse Deficit Deepens as States Seek Relief
Pew Trusts
Severe nationwide shortage of registered nurses and the unrelenting need for nurses in hospitals overrun with COVID-19 cases mean that much of the new federal money likely will be spent on support for school nurses such as training, scholarships, administrative staff and other contract services—not on fresh troops
Opinion: The Bernie Sanders Experiment for America’s Children
Wall Street Journal
Mr. Sanders is on the brink of achieving his dream of a federal universal pre-kindergarten program. No doubt it will be costly for taxpayers, but parents should not assume it will benefit their kids.
Opinion: Republicans Could Take Democrats to School
Wall Street Journal
Critical race theory and Covid restrictions have turned education into a wedge issue for voters.
Higher Ed:
California is building a new health program at UC Merced. Will it lead to more Latino doctors?
Merced Sun Star
Gov. Gavin Newsom and higher education leaders on Monday visited the future site of UC Merced’s medical education program, which would serve as a building block for the San Joaquin Valley’s first public medical school.
A California Law School Reckons With the Shame of Native Massacres
New York Times
The founder of the Hastings College of the Law masterminded the killings of hundreds of Native Americans. The school, tribal members and alumni disagree about what should be done now.
Opinion: Has America Been Overtaken by Creeping Credentialism?
Wall Street Journal
Library-science degrees, hotel management degrees, journalism degrees: Is a college degree necessary for nearly every white-collar job these days?
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Can California Tourism Survive Climate Change?
New York Times
The most popular state for tourism in the U.S. endured record wildfires, drought and flooding just this year. “The rate of change has been so dramatic,” says one local scientist. “If I was in the California tourism industry, I’d be really worried.”
Climate change is a risk to national security, the Pentagon says
VPR
In a report last week, the Pentagon found that "increasing temperatures; changing precipitation patterns; and more frequent, intense, and unpredictable extreme weather conditions caused by climate change are exacerbating existing risks" for the U.S.
Washington Post
Intense rainfall, raging wildfires and deadly heat waves. The effects of climate change are no longer an abstraction. They are happening now, and with greater frequency. At least 85 percent of the world’s population has felt its effects.
See also:
● The world needs to cut its emissions seven times as fast to hit climate goals, U.N. report finds Washington Post
● U.N. Finds Nations’ Climate Plans Fall Short of Paris Accord Wall Street Journal
Energy:
Opinion: Why we must turn food waste into a renewable fuel
CalMatters
In a few weeks, cities must keep food scraps and yard waste out of landfills to reduce polluting methane emissions. We can use the stuff we throw away to make renewable natural gas.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
FDA vaccine advisers vote to recommend Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11
abc30
Vaccine advisers to the US Food and Drug Administration voted 17-0 with one abstention Tuesday to recommend Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine in children 5 to 11.
See also:
● FDA advisory panel recommends Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 VPR
● Kids ages 5-11 may soon get Pfizer COVID vaccine as FDA panel votes to support shots Modesto Bee
● Pfizer says lower-dose vaccine for small kids could also work for older children Fresno Bee
● FDA advisers back Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for children 5 to 11, saying benefits outweigh risks Washington Post
● Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine for Young Kids Backed by FDA Advisers Wall Street Journal
What you need to know about COVID boosters
VPR
The criteria for a booster shot can depend on your age, job, where you live and your underlying health. In most cases, you have to wait until six months after your first two shots. What's more, booster shots don't have to match the first vaccine you had.
See also:
● Booster shots are here. Take our quiz to see if you need one VPR
Enforcement of indoor vaccine mandates proves uneven in US
Fresno Bee
How rigorously vaccination requirements are being enforced varies from place to place, even within the same state or city.
It Turns Out Paying People to Take the Covid-19 Vaccine Doesn’t Really Work
Wall Street Journal
Financial incentives, public-health messages and other tactics used by state and local governments and employers to encourage people to get the vaccine didn’t have a noticeable impact on vaccination rates among those who already were hesitant about the shot.
Human Services:
State: Fresno County could face penalties for housing children in unlicensed facilities
Fresno Bee
California has warned Fresno County officials they can’t house children in unlicensed facilities under state law, and could be subject to civil penalties. The former University Medical Center was made available earlier this month.
IMMIGRATION
Immigration arrests fell to lowest level in more than a decade during fiscal 2021, ICE data shows
Washington Post
Immigration arrests in the interior of the United States fell in fiscal 2021 to the lowest level in more than a decade — roughly half the annual totals recorded during the Trump administration.
Democrats quietly scramble to include immigration provision in social spending bill
Washington Post
Democrats are scrambling intensely behind the scenes to address immigration in the framework they are crafting to expand the nation’s social safety net even as President Biden and other party leaders have said little publicly about their strategy in recent weeks.
California hired a border wall company for COVID-19 response, including vaccinating migrants
CapRadio
The Newsom administration hired contractor SLSCO to screen, test and vaccinate migrants crossing California’s southern border this year, not far from where the company built large sections of border wall to keep migrants out.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Gov Newsom Signs Three Important New Bills into Law Impacting Residential Zoning and Development
Gibson Dunn
On September 16, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed bipartisan legislation intended to expand housing production in California, streamline the process for cities to zone for multi-family housing, and increase residential density, all in an effort to help ease California’s housing shortage.
Housing:
How do you get into a homeless shelter in Fresno? In most cases, you can’t just walk in
Fresno Bee
“Pretty much, every emergency shelter bed in the city of Fresno is full almost every single night,” Zack Darrah, CEO of Poverello House, said during the California State Assemblymembers’ tour of the Village of Hope on Oct. 7.
Fresno County renters, are you behind on rent? There’s still millions in assistance available
Fresno Bee
According to Fresno County program manager, Laura Moreno, the county still has $16.5 million from state funds to distribute — and more federal dollars from the American Rescue Act ERA 2 funds are on the way.
California, New York fight over shrinking low-income housing aid in Democrats’ bill
Los Angeles Times
Because of the stark differences in the way low-income housing is addressed state by state, the proposed cuts have set off a West Coast-East Coast tug of war over what is expected to be a much smaller $150-billion pie.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Got your stimulus check yet? California to send out more state money this week
Sacramento Bee
California residents who haven’t received their Golden State Stimulus can expect to see checks for $600 to $1,100 arriving in the next several weeks.
TRANSPORTATION
What’s Measure C? Why Fresno County could be voting on another sales tax measure
Fresno Bee
Measure C is a half-cent sales tax dedicated to funding new roads, freeways, sidewalks, trails, and public transportation in Fresno County. The current version of Measure C is expected to generate over $1.2 billion in sales tax revenue by the time it expires in 2027.
See also:
● Meeting to be held for Fresno County residents regarding Measure C abc30
● Measure C workshops continue for public input Hanford Sentinel
Gasoline price expert sees a ray of hope in latest survey of Modesto-area prices
Modesto Bee
The average gasoline price rose once again in Stanislaus County, and the priciest pump hit $4.89 per gallon, an industry analyst said Monday.
See also:
● Gas prices near $5 at some stations in Fresno abc30
Did you renew your California driver’s license online during COVID? Here’s how to do it now
Modesto Bee
People 70 years old and up can renew licenses that have expired since March 2020 online or by mail. Drivers under the age of 70 can still renew online or via mail during the COVID-19 emergency, according to the DMV website.
Did changes to California high-speed rail spending break the law? Appeals court to decide
Sacramento Bee
Opponents of California’s controversial and embattled high-speed rail project hope a state appeals court will put the brakes on using billions in bond funds for construction that’s now underway in Fresno County and the central San Joaquin Valley.
WATER
Valadao pens letter requesting State of Emergency declaration
Hanford Sentinel
Tuesday, Congressman Valadao and others sent a letter to President Biden and Governor Newsom requesting federal and state emergency declarations related to the drought and recent storms in California to maximize pumping of stormwater and unregulated flows in the Delta.
California still deep in drought despite atmospheric river
Sacramento Bee
The deluge California received from a powerful atmospheric river made streams and waterfalls come alive while coating mountains with snow, but as the storm headed east to the Plains on Tuesday it left the Golden State still deep in drought.
See also:
● Record rains transform a parched California, but ending drought remains elusive Los Angeles Times
Study: Toxic fracking waste is leaking into California groundwater
Grist
Carcinogenic chemicals like benzene and toluene as well as other hydrocarbons have been detected within a half a km of the facility. About 1.7 km northwest of the facility, chloride and salt levels are more than six times and four times greater than background levels.
Los Angeles Times
State politicians have done something laudable, and it has gone unheralded. They haven’t even bragged about it themselves. So, here’s some heralding. They’ve authorized spending about $5 billion on drought-related water projects without charging it on the credit card.
“Xtra”
Another new restaurant/bar is headed for Fresno’s Brewery District. Here’s what we know
Fresno Bee
On the heels of news that Palo Verde Bakery is moving into a prime spot in downtown Fresno, another new business has gone public with plans to move into the same historic building in the Brewery District.
After ‘brutal’ pandemic years, Stanislaus County Fair readies full return next summer
Modesto Bee
After being disrupted the last two years by COVID-19, the Stanislaus County Fair plans to come roaring back next summer.
Famed medium to bring her show to Modesto; more regional entertainment
Modesto Bee
Medium Theresa Caputo will bring her show to the Gallo Center, just one of the entertainment options the week of Oct. 30-Nov. 5 in the Modesto and Mother Lode regions.
Top state officials attend Itliong Center official grand opening in Poplar
Porterville Recorder
The Larry Itliong Resource Center is now officially a living legacy. “We Are A Living Legacy” was the theme of a day-long event on Sunday, celebrating the official grand opening of the Larry Itliong Resource Center in Poplar.
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