October 4, 2021

04Oct

 

POLICY & POLITICS

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North SJ Valley:

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COVID Update:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ COVID-19 claimed 49 Merced County lives in September. Here are the latest numbers Merced Sun Star

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ State should ‘pump the brakes’ on COVID vaccine mandate, Stanislaus schools chief says Modesto Bee

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Rally for women’s rights held in Modesto as abortion law faces legal threats

Modesto Bee

Men and women from across the county gathered behind Graceada Park’s Mancini Bowl to march after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Texas to ban abortions at six weeks.

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City to continue renting fairgrounds space for emergency shelter

Turlock Journal

The Stanislaus County Fairgrounds will continue to be available as an emergency homeless shelter after the City Council on Tuesday approved an agreement with the Turlock Gospel Mission which will pay to rent the space until September of next year.

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Names of Note: Turlock couple honored for saving farmland. Students learn leadership

Modesto Bee

The California Farmland Trust honored Jeani and John Ferrari of Turlock for their efforts at agricultural preservation. They received the Vance Kennedy Award, named for a Modesto resident who remains active in the cause.

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Central SJ Valley:

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COVID Update:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ One town in Fresno County excels in COVID vaccinations. How the others stack up Fresno Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ September’s grim legacy: Fresno, Valley reach deadly COVID milestone in latest data Fresno Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ ‘Freaked out’: Fresno-area parents respond to Newsom’s student COVID vaccination rule Fresno Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Vaccine mandates are working in California. Here’s what the numbers show Fresno Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ These Fresno students are combating misinformation about the COVID vaccine in their communities VPR

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Fresno drops suit over Friant-Kern Canal repairs. Why the city doesn’t want a legal battle

Fresno Bee

The council voted 5-1 to drop the suit, filed earlier this month in Fresno County Superior Court. Councilmember Garry Bredefeld cast the lone “no” vote, and Councilmember Mike Karbassi was absent.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Editorial: Fresno’s water case was fraught with risk and possibly little of the expected reward Sacramento Bee

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Fresno County GOP activist says CA Republican comeback starts with conservative Latinos

Fresno Bee

A comeback for the GOP in California will come through minority voters, specifically Hispanics. This is not a new thought, and past efforts to recruit Hispanic voters into the state Republican party had limited success.

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Warszawski: Fresno received millions for past planning sins. So, why does it keep repeating them?

Fresno Bee

Even though Orange Center technically lies within Fresno County — the city limits are a stone’s throw or two away and the school district’s boundaries overlap county and city — city planners still include that segment of Cherry Avenue in the South Central Specific Plan.

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‘We are left out.’ Are social services moving away from west Fresno? Some residents say yes

Fresno Bee

Residents in lower income west Fresno are finding the Fresno County Department of Social Services center move to Clovis is hurting them with expensive or inconvenient transportation issues as well as complicated processes.

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Eviction moratorium stays in place in Fresno, while the city speeds up assistance applications

VPR

Fresno has invested $750,000 into its Eviction Protection Program. The program provides free mediation services for tenants and landlords. Tenants who qualify can also receive free legal representation if they feel they are being wrongfully evicted.

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City passes resolution to support local control

Hanford Sentinel

The City of Hanford is moving forward with a resolution to support and empower the decision-making of local government entities in lieu of state legislation on zoning and housing issues, as well as personal rights.

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2021 Women's March scheduled days before Supreme Court reconvenes

Visalia Times Delta

Protesters gathered in support of reproductive rights Saturday at hundreds of Women's March protests planned across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The marches come a month since a Texas law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy took effect.

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Editorial: Citizens, not Fresno County politicians, need the final say on political redistricting

Fresno Bee

The term “gerrymandering” refers to the ill practice of drawing political boundary lines to benefit a candidate or political party. It is a devious way of helping those who are already in office or strengthening one party at the detriment of another.

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South SJ Valley:

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Uncertain future ahead as pandemic eviction moratorium lifts after more than a year

Bakersfield Californian

The eviction moratorium, in place since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, expired Friday, leaving some in Kern County concerned about what the future might hold.

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Edwards to get new flight test engineering laboratory, for a cool $36 million

Bakersfield Californian

Edwards Air Force Base in eastern Kern County, the second-largest base in the U.S. Air Force, will be the site of a $36.4 million project awarded last week by the U.S. Department of Defense, through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

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Fact Check: Kevin McCarthy’s claim that Biden’s plan will raise taxes on families making over $50,000

Washington Post

We were struck by McCarthy’s comment that “an average family who earns over $50,000 will see a tax increase” — and his use of the word “lie” to describe Biden’s promise. This is a claim that is being echoed by many House Republicans.

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State:

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COVID Update:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ How many of your neighbors are vaccinated? Find out by using our new online tool Fresno Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Newsom administration gives ground on COVID vaccine order to state worker union Sacramento Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Vaccine mandates are working in California. Here’s what the numbers show Sacramento Bee

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Gavin Newsom orders COVID-19 vaccines for eligible students in California schools

Sacramento Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Friday that California students will have to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to attend in-person classes once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorizes full approval of the shots for their age groups.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Here’s what we know about the COVID vaccine for children ages 12 and up Fresno Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Student COVID vaccinations: California becomes first state to require them for kids 12 and up CalMatters

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ California parents cheer and jeer vaccine mandate for kids Sacramento Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ COVID vaccine mandate coming for California students. When will kids under 12 be eligible? Sacramento Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Local parents split on governor's mandate requiring all students receive COVID-19 vaccine abc30

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Newsom orders COVID vaccines for eligible students, the first state mandate for K-12 schools Los Angeles Times

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ California will be first state to require COVID-19 vaccine for students San Francisco Chronicle

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ California to Require Covid-19 Vaccines for All Eligible Students Wall Street Journal

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ California to Mandate Covid-19 Vaccines for All Students as Soon as Next Fall New York Times

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ California will require all students to get coronavirus vaccine when it gets full FDA approval Washington Post

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Gavin Newsom signs law to raise minimum age for California cops to 21

The Sacramento Bee

Police officers will have to be at least 21 years old in California starting next year under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed on Thursday.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Gov. Newsom approves sweeping reforms to law enforcement in California Los Angeles Times

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ How a Black lawmaker from L.A. won a ‘mammoth fight’ to oust bad cops Los Angeles Times

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Fired: New law lets California decertify police for serious misconduct CalMatters

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Criminal justice reform panel scores legislative wins

CalMatters

An obscure committee examining California’s penal code saw more than half its recommendations go to the governor.

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California May Be First State to Try Treatment That Pays People Not to Use Meth

KQED

As overdoses and public health costs related to meth and cocaine use continue to spiral in California, state officials are desperate for effective treatment and pursuing legislation and appealing to federal regulators to make contingency management more widely available.

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CalPERS ‘watchdog’ loses reelection bid as union-backed candidates claim pension board seats

Sacramento Bee

Two union-backed candidates won election to the CalPERS Board of Administration, the retirement system announced. Incumbent David Miller, an environmental scientist and former president of the state scientists’ union, won re-election, defeating retired police officer Tiffany Emon-Moran.

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California Republicans see bright spots in Newsom recall for 2 midterm races. Here’s where

Modesto Bee

California Republicans saw few silver linings after Gov. Gavin Newsom soundly defeated the campaign to recall him this month. He raised tens of millions of dollars and motivated Democratic turnout to squash the recall by some 20 percentage points.

Venture capitalist wanted to split California into six. Now, he wants to gut public unions

Sacramento Bee

A proposed California ballot measure — filed by a Silicon Valley billionaire venture capitalist who had once proposed splitting the state into six — aims to end collective bargaining for public sector workers.

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Opinion: Young voters are California’s future. So why aren’t the state’s leaders listening to us?

Sacramento Bee

People under 40 make up about a third of the voting-age population, and our key issues, including climate, inequality and social justice, are only becoming more urgent. And yet in election after election, we remain an afterthought.

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Council Supports Efforts to Continue Modernizing Courts

California Courts Newsroom

The Judicial Council at its business meeting today approved a report summarizing innovative projects and a proposal for continued investment in technology solutions to improve court services and access for the public.

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Federal:

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COVID Update:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ How a small government agency will enforce the vaccine mandate for 80 million workers VPR

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Fauci addresses vaccine hesitancy Mercury News

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ COVID vaccine mandates are working — for now Axios

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Getting a religious exemption to a vaccine mandate may not be easy. Here's why NPR

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ For COVID-19 vaccinations, party affiliation matters more than race and ethnicity Brookings

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ COVID-19 deaths eclipse 700,000 in US as delta variant rages Mercury News

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ COVID-19 deaths eclipse 700,000 in U.S. as Delta variant rages Los Angeles Times

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ 700,000 Americans now dead from COVID-19—but deaths reveal deep disparities National Geographic

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ U.S. hits 700,000 COVID deaths Axios

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ White House says 2 million people got COVID-19 boosters this week Roll Call

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Biden team’s booster divide deepens as risk of winter virus surge looms Politico

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ FDA announces key meetings on kid Covid-19 vaccines, Moderna and J&J boosters Politico

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Top House progressive says $1.5 trillion is not enough to pass social spending plan

VPR

As Democrats in Congress look to break the stalemate in negotiations over sweeping changes to the social safety net and investments in climate, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus said Sunday her members would not accept a $1.5 trillion price tag.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ ‘Everybody is frustrated,’ Biden says as his agenda stalls Sacramento Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Ascendant left freezes Biden agenda: The Note ABC News

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ The chaos surrounding President Biden’s agenda and Congress is threatening to spill into the Virginia governor’s race as Democrats look to defend the governor’s mansion in Richmond. The Hill

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ ‘That’s not going to happen’: Jayapal rejects Manchin’s $1.5T price tag for Biden’s spending plan Politico

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ No time frame for votes on Biden’s agenda, senior adviser says Politico

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Progressives rallied behind Biden's agenda. Now he’s gotta sell them on a compromise. Politico

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Sanders sees battle for America’s soul playing out in Congress Politico

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Democrats Weigh Cutting Programs or Reducing Scope to Trim $3.5 Trillion Bill Wall Street Journal

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Opinion: Humiliation of the House Moderates Wall Street Journal

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Sinema slams Democratic leadership on infrastructure vote delay

Politico

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema skewered Democratic leadership on Saturday for delaying a vote on the bipartisan infrastructure package, calling the decision “inexcusable” and “deeply disappointing.”

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ 'It’s not a success': Dems head home after infrastructure stalemate Politico

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Pelosi delays infrastructure vote as Democrats struggle to reach deal Politico

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Infrastructure Delay Shows Clout of Progressive Leader Pramila Jayapal Wall Street Journal

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Biden plays for time on infrastructure, larger budget package Roll Call

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Democrats’ Tax Plans Worry High-Income Business Owners

Wall Street Journal

The largest closely held businesses would face a series of overlapping tax increases under Democratic proposals, leading to heavier burdens on high-income owners of partnerships and S corporations.

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Biden opposes changing Senate rules to raise debt limit

Politico

The White House said Tuesday that President Joe Biden opposes changing the filibuster to suspend or raise the debt ceiling, closing off a break-the-glass option to avoid financial calamity.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ What Is the Debt Ceiling and Why Does Congress Need to Raise It? Wall Street Journal

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House passes bill to halt Transportation Department furloughs

Politico

The House Friday evening voted to extend surface transportation programs for one month, less than 24 hours after they shut down due to congressional inaction on a broader infrastructure package that has become mired in Democratic infighting.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Senate OKs Short-Term Extension of Transportation Programs Wall Street Journal

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Biden signs measure to extend federal highway fund amid debate over infrastructure package Washington Post

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Why Democrats’ climate goals may test their Latino appeal

Sacramento Bee

At a recent house party near the U.S.-Mexico border, the conversation with Democratic congressional candidate Rochelle Garza flowed from schools and taxes to immigration and efforts to convert an old railway line into a hiking trail.

See also:

·  ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Trauma and Trump make Asian American voters a more cohesive bloc, new poll reveals Politico

·  ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ 1 out of 7 People Are 'Some Other Race' On The U.S. Census. That's A Big Data Problem NPR

 

Inside Manchin’s search for GOP votes on elections reform

Politico

Some Senate Republicans are engaging in preliminary discussions with the West Virginia senator in his longshot effort for a bipartisan compromise on voting.

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Five issues to watch as new Supreme Court term unfolds

The Hill

The upcoming term could see abortion access dramatically narrowed and the right to carry a gun outside the home enshrined as the law of the land. The justices in coming months will also address clashes with major implications for U.S. security and free exercise of religion.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Supreme Court’s New Term Tackles Guns, Abortion, Religious Expression Wall Street Journal

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ The Supreme Court is in the building—contentious rulings behind, more major cases ahead ABA Journal

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Supporters of Abortion Rights, at Nationwide Marches, Try to Regain Momentum

New York Times

The march on Saturday offered an early test of Democratic enthusiasm in the post-Trump era, particularly for the legions of newly politically engaged women who helped the party win control of Congress and the White House.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Federal Judge Hears Arguments Over Texas Abortion Law New York Times

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Justice Department presses case to stop Texas abortion law Roll Call

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ 5th Women's March focuses on reproductive rights after new Texas abortion law VPR

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ These Texas women got abortions from a California doctor after the state's ban. Here are their stories San Francisco Chronicle

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Women's March targets Supreme Court, with abortion on line Politico

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Texas Aims to Crack Down on Abortion Pills Sent by Mail Wall Street Journal

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ What happened to Texas’ tilt from red to blue? That’s a gray area Los Angeles Times

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Other:

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Ex-Facebook manager alleges social network fed Capitol riot

Mercury News

Former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen said during an exclusive interview that aired Sunday on CBS’ “60 Minutes” that a 2018 change to the content flow in Facebook’s news feeds contributed to more divisiveness and ill will in a network ostensibly created to bring people closer together

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Facebook whistleblower reveals herself, condemns company as dangerous Politico

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Facebook whistleblower says company engaged in 'betrayal of democracy' The Hill

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ The Facebook Whistleblower, Frances Haugen, Says She Wants to Fix the Company, Not Harm It Wall Street Journal

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Congress isn’t as clueless about Facebook as it seems Washington Post

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Whistleblower: Facebook is misleading the public on progress against hate speech, violence, misinformation CBS News

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Charting Congress on Social Media in the 2016 and 2020 Elections

PEW

The 2020 election featured dramatic increases in lawmaker posts and audience engagement, but less overlap in the sources shared by members of each party.

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The Push For Internet Voting Continues, Mostly Thanks To One Guy

NPR

It's a lofty goal, and one that most cybersecurity experts scoff at. But it's a quest that the venture capitalist and former political insider continues to chip away at.

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MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

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Sunday, October 10, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: ​​ "Getting a Bigger Bang for the Buck: How Regional Public Universities Can Help Distressed Communities" - Guest: Robert Maxim, Senior Research Associate - The Brookings Institution. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

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Sunday, October 10, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "The Current and Future Economic Impact of the Valley’s CSU’s"- Guests: Lynette Zelezny, President - CSU Bakersfield; Ellen Junn, President - CSU Stanislaus; Saul Jimenez-Sandoval, President - Fresno State. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

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AGRICULTURE/FOOD

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Oat milk is booming. Modesto plant will add workers to help meet demand

Modesto Bee

SunOpta is expanding the oat milk portion of its Modesto plant to meet growing demand for this dairy alternative. The company is hiring 10 people to go with the 157 already at the plant, executive Michael Buick said in a phone interview Friday.

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Drought ratchets up feed prices for dairy farmers

Hanford Sentinel

Driven in large part by higher prices during the COVID-19 pandemic, dairy products were among the most valuable commodities produced in the San Joaquin Valley last year, and the single most valuable in Kings County.

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The Wild West of CBD products could end soon in California

Politico

California is poised to clamp down on the fast-growing hemp market in a push to make sure CBD-infused products are accurately labeled and safe — a shift that could be felt nationwide, given the state’s formidable purchasing power.

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Opinion: Is the past the prologue for the future of agricultural policy in the United States?

AEI

Agricultural policy initiatives in the United States could soon involve more changes as Congress and the Joe Biden administration move to develop a new 2023 Farm Bill. The administration wants to refocus some agricultural expenditure toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Opinion: Do we need more drought relief programs for farmers because of climate change? Probably not. AEI

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CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

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Crime:

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Fresno, like many cities, has seen rising violent crime. Yet violence solves nothing

Fresno Bee

Violence is increasing. Domestic terrorism is rising, including threats against members of Congress. The FBI just published its annual report on crime. The bad news is that violent crime is on the rise.

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Public Safety:

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More than 17,000 deaths caused by police have been misclassified since 1980

VPR

Deaths involving police have been greatly undercounted in the United States, and African American people die in such encounters at 3.5 times the rate of whites, according to a new analysis by public health researchers.

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After 25 Years In The Dark, the CDC Wants To Study The True Toll Of Guns In America

NPR

The uniquely American epidemic of mass killings by firearms grabs most of the attention from the media, politicians and the public. And the big increase in homicides in 2020 and overall violent crime also get their share of coverage.

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Fire:

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Sequoia fires update: Evacuation orders downgraded in some areas even as fires grow

Fresno Bee

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday night that evacuation orders for some areas impacted by the Windy Fire will be downgraded.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Windy Fire 94,032 acres, 65 percent contained: California Hot Springs evacuation order downgraded Porterville Recorder

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ KNP Complex update: Weather helps firefighters, but hot, smoky conditions remain Visalia Times Delta

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Hot, dry weather challenges crews fighting California wildfires Los Angeles Times

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Containment improves for Tulare County wildfires, but Fresno’s air still smells of smoke

VPR

Fire crews are starting to gain ground on wildfires burning in Sequoia National Park and Sequoia National Forest. But the effects are still being felt as far as Fresno County.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Poor air quality prompts youth sports cancellations; California Classic goes on Fresno Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Sequoia wildfire smoke sticking around in Fresno area. Could relief be coming Tuesday? Fresno Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Is it snow? Is it rain? No, that's dangerous ash falling from the skies in Visalia abc30

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How Dixie Fire got so big — and what that means for future blazes

San Francisco Chronicle

The Dixie Fire is only the second wildfire in California history to approach 1 million acres. Its monumental sweep across the northern Sierra ravaged Gold Rush towns, sacred Native American sites and thick conifer forests.

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'Game-changing' software lets firefighters pinpoint equipment locations in dire situations

San Francisco Chronicle

Andy Bozzo, a fire captain with Contra Costa Fire Protection District, was surrounded by flames as he and his unit battled the Caldor Fire from the small El Dorado County town of Meyers.

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ECONOMY/JOBS

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Economy:

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Record Junk-Loan Sales Fuel Dividend Payouts

Wall Street Journal

U.S. companies have sold a record amount of junk-rated loans to raise money for dividends this year, powered by a recovering economy and investors’ demand for higher-yielding assets.

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Fed Prepares to Launch Review of Possible Central Bank Digital Currency

Wall Street Journal

The Federal Reserve plans as early as this week to launch a review of the potential benefits and risks of issuing a U.S. digital currency, as central banks around the world experiment with the potential new form of money.

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Broader Inflation Pressures Begin to Show

Wall Street Journal

While many pandemic-driven price pressures are easing, broader sources of higher inflation are replacing them. That is the message from a slew of alternative inflation measures that strip away price changes due to idiosyncratic swings in supply and demand.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ How Delta upended California’s economic outlook — from ‘sizzling to ho-hum’ Los Angeles Times

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Opinion: Does the Fed Have the Will to Fight Inflation? Wall Street Journal

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Opinion: Tax Policy in the Build Back Better Act

AEI

Alex Brill of the American Enterprise Institute, Chye-Ching Huang, Executive Director of the Tax Law Center at New York University, and Marc Goldwein, Senior Vice President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, join The Wall Street Journal’s Richard Rubin to discuss what’s in and what’s out of the legislation.

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USPS is trying out a new business, which could transform how millions access cash and pay bills

Washington Post

The Postal Service program presents an option to payday lenders and other institutions that target vulnerable populations with outsized fees and interest rates.

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Jobs:

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Amazon launches Visalia fulfillment center, hiring 200 more full-time positions

Visalia Times Delta

Amazon has launched its 1.3 million-square-foot fulfillment center in Visalia's Industrial Park and is on a hiring spree. Employees start at $15.50 an hour and receive benefits including paid time off and dental insurance.

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Falling Unemployment Could Add to Worries About the U.S. Labor Market

Wall Street Journal

Many economists would welcome a small rise in the unemployment rate. They are troubled by the rate’s swift decline from its pandemic peak because it partly reflects a lack of job seekers—effectively limiting the amount of fuel in the economy’s engine.

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EDUCATION

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K-12:

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Clovis parents won’t be able to watch school board meetings live online. Here’s why

Fresno Bee

While many California school districts are debating whether to continue streaming their meetings, Clovis Unified announced a full return to in-person school board meetings. Residents will no longer be able to speak during public comment periods over the phone.

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School districts raise pay for substitute teachers amid dire shortage

Bakersfield Californian

School districts in Kern County are working to lure substitute teachers with higher pay and bonuses during a year with a shallow pool of teachers and historic demand. Over the course of the pandemic, Kern County's already small pool of K-12 subs was just about halved.

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Valley school districts, police monitoring latest TikTok trends for students

abc30

Posts made by other students on the widely used platform are encouraging kids this month to smack a teacher's backside, which involves students sneaking up to a staff member and slapping them while recording the incident for social media fame.

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These Fresno students are combating misinformation about the COVID vaccine in their communities

VPR

Youth Squad, a new program that encourages young community members to get the vaccine. The squad was created by The Immigrant Refugee Coalition in Fresno and trains high schoolers to be junior community workers, also known as promoteritos in Spanish.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Student athletes become the latest target for school vaccine mandates Politico

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Koch-backed group fuels opposition to school mask mandates, leaked letter shows Washington Post

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Event: Targeted K–12 Funding and Student Outcomes

Public Policy Institute of California

PPIC researcher Julien Lafortune will present findings from a new report that examines school and district spending against trends in student outcomes, offering insight into whether the LCFF is meeting its goal of improving equity in education.

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What we know about online learning and the homework gap amid the pandemic

PEW

America’s K-12 students are returning to classrooms this fall after 18 months of virtual learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Opinion: Slavery, sex education, and evolution: Political divides over “controversial” classroom topics are modest

AEI

A new survey suggests that Americans are less divided on the importance of teaching classically controversial issues (e.g. sex education and evolution) than one might imagine given the nation’s extreme political polarization.

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Higher Ed:

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Students still keeping their distance as Stan State resumes in-person instruction

Turlock Journal

Friday was the first-time students have been on campus at Stanislaus State for instruction since the pandemic began.

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New program allows incarcerated students to get bachelor’s degrees alongside peers on the outside

Bakersfield Californian

Research shows that prison bachelor’s degree programs reduce recidivism rates and help incarcerated people find better-paying jobs after being released. The Pitzer program comes at a time when California is ramping up its prison education efforts.

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These California colleges open doors for Latino students. They have a new ally in Congress

Fresno Bee

The talks are still early, but Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Bob Menendez, D-N.J., want to use their offices to highlight these colleges and steer more resources to them through a new higher education caucus.

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BC program will allow McFarland students to get a bachelor's degree one year after graduation

Bakersfield Californian

McFarland High School freshmen who begin taking classes in the industrial automation pathway will be able to graduate with a full bachelor's degree in five years — that's just one year after they graduate from high school.

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Troubled Public Service Loan Forgiveness program will get overhaul

NPR

A troubled student debt relief program for teachers, police officers and other public service workers will soon get the makeover that borrowers have been demanding.

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ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

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Environment:

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Massive oil spill batters California coast

Los Angeles Times

Crews raced Sunday to contain the damage from a major oil spill off the Orange County coast that left crude spoiling beaches, killing fish and birds and threatening local wetlands.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ A massive oil spill in the Pacific Ocean has reached the Southern California coast VPR

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Huge ecological losses feared as Orange County oil spill hits wetlands, marshes Los Angeles Times

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ What caused the massive oil spill off Huntington Beach? Here is what we know Los Angeles Times

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Editorial: Huntington Beach shore is covered in oil. This is why the U.S. needs to end coastal drilling Los Angeles Times

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Oil Spill Off California Coast Prompts Health Warnings, Spurs Cleanup Efforts Wall Street Journal

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California Commits $15 Billion to Fighting Climate Change

JD Supra

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a $15 billion legislative package on September 23, 2021, funding efforts to combat climate change in California over the next three years. It is the largest climate investment package in the state’s history.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Children Born In 2020 Will Experience Up To 7 Times More Extreme Climate Events NPR

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Energy:

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Exxon Sees Green Gold in Algae-Based Fuels. Skeptics See Greenwashing.

Wall Street Journal

Using genetic engineering, says it is closer to its goal of fueling jet planes and heavy trucks with oil distilled from the tiny organisms. With government subsidies and incentives, it says it is on pace to make algae biofuel commercially viable by the end of the decade.

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Editorial: Is there anyone who can crack down on PG&E?

Mercury News

Marybel Batjer’s announcement Tuesday that she will step down at the end of the year as president of the California Public Utilities Commission raises a major issue for Gov. Gavin Newsom: Is there anyone capable of cracking down on Pacific Gas & Electric?

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HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

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Health:

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Persistent unhealthy air could impact more than your lungs

abc30

Skies in the Central Valley are still hazy, filled with smoke from surrounding wildfires. It continues to make the air unhealthy to breathe.

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National Guard activated to assist beleaguered hospitals in rural California

Los Angeles Times

The California National Guard has dispatched medical teams to three beleaguered hospitals in Northern California and the Central Valley, where exhausted healthcare workers are weathering another surge of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ National Guard helps rural California hospitals as locals resist ‘death dart’ vaccine Fresno Bee

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Opinion: For COVID-19 vaccinations, party affiliation matters more than race and ethnicity

Brookings

As of mid-September, 75% of adult Americans have been vaccinated, including 73% of non-Hispanic white adults and 78% of non-whites. Along party lines, however, the breakdown was 92% of Democrats, 68% of Independents, and 56% of Republicans.

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Big gap between Pfizer, Moderna vaccines seen for preventing COVID hospitalizations

Los Angeles Times

Amid persistent concerns that the protection offered by COVID-19 vaccines may be waning, a report finds that America’s workhorse shot is significantly less effective at preventing severe cases of disease over the long term than many experts had realized.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ To Prevent the Next Pandemic, Scientists Seek One Vaccine for Many Coronaviruses Wall Street Journal

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Pregnant during pandemic: Expectant mothers remain at high risk of COVID-19

Mercury News

In the early days of the pandemic, expectant mothers grappled with uncertainty about the longstanding impact of the coronavirus. Many wondered how the virus would affect their pregnant bodies and worried whether they would pass it to their babies.

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Merck's anti-COVID pill cuts hospitalizations 50% in trials

San Francisco Chronicle

Proffering what could become the first pill to treat the COVID-19 coronavirus, drug maker Merck announced Friday that its experimental oral antiviral drug halved the risk of COVID hospitalizations and deaths in a new study.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Fauci sees hope in new Merck drug Politico

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ How Merck's antiviral pill could change the game for COVID-19 National Geographic

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Merck says its COVID-19 pill cuts hospitalization, death by 50%. Here’s what we know Fresno Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Merck says its experimental pill cuts COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths by half Los Angeles Times

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From COVID to cancer, gene-mapping tool could 'revolutionize' treatment, UCSF studies say

San Francisco Chronicle

New research by UCSF and UC San Diego scientists involving techniques also deployed to fight COVID-19 has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment by creating opportunities for more precision treatments, they say — which can be far less harmful than chemotherapy.

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Is It Flu or Covid-19? It’s Harder to Tell the Symptoms Apart This Year

Wall Street Journal

Many symptoms of flu and Covid-19 are similar. Fever, fatigue and achiness can occur with both. The often-milder symptoms of a Covid-19 breakthrough infection in vaccinated people can make it even harder to distinguish between the two illnesses, or from a cold or allergies.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Coronavirus weekly need-to-know: Hydrogen peroxide, allergies, flu season & more Fresno Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Opinion: Debunking myths about flu vaccines — which matter more than ever during COVID Modesto Bee

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COVID Antibody Tests Won’t Tell You What You Want to Know

Pew Research Center

Both the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration advise against using antibody tests to determine one’s level of immunity against COVID-19. So does the Infectious Disease Society of America, which represents infectious disease specialists.

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Human Services:

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Health workers know what good care is. Pandemic burnout is getting in the way

VPR

The desperate and frantic pace of hospital work in 2020 in New York, the epicenter of the U.S. pandemic at the time, was more chaotic than anything intensive care nurse Matthew Crecelius had ever seen. "It was like watching a bomb go off in slow motion," he says.

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California May Be First State to Try Treatment That Pays People Not to Use Meth

KQED

As overdoses and public health costs related to meth and cocaine use continue to spiral in California, state officials are desperate for effective treatment and pursuing legislation and appealing to federal regulators to make contingency management more widely available.

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Covid-19 Charges at Hospitals Can Vary by Tens of Thousands of Dollars, a WSJ Analysis Finds

Wall Street Journal

The cost of similar Covid-19 treatments can vary by tens of thousands of dollars a patient, even within the same hospital, according to a WSJ analysis of pricing data that indicates pandemic care hasn’t escaped the complex economics of the U.S. health system.

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IMMIGRATION

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Opinion: How to Stem Illegal Migration Flows

Wall Street Journal

One thing made clear by the onslaught of Haitian migrants hitting the U.S. southern border in recent months is that the American dream is alive and well—around the world.

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LAND USE/HOUSING

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Land Use:

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‘It’s time.’ Chinese American immigrant contributions to Yosemite get recognition

Fresno Bee

Lifelong Yosemite visitor and a former California State Park superintendent, Jack Shu, learned about them just over a decade ago through a video by the National Park Service and Yosemite Conservancy, featuring Yosemite Park Ranger Yenyen Chan.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ New landmark recognizes Chinese contributions to Yosemite AP News

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Warszawski: Fresno received millions for past planning sins. So, why does it keep repeating them?

Fresno Bee

Even though Orange Center technically lies within Fresno County — the city limits are a stone’s throw or two away and the school district’s boundaries overlap county and city — city planners still include that segment of Cherry Avenue in the South Central Specific Plan.

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Housing:

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Less than 30% of Black Fresno County residents own homes. A nonprofit hopes to change that

Fresno Bee

The local chapter was formed in 2019 after Akpovi and other local real estate professionals saw a need to increase home ownership among Black people in the area, as a means to increase generational wealth.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ New book links the history of realtors, housing discrimination and modern political rhetoric VPR

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Eviction moratorium stays in place in Fresno, while the city speeds up assistance applications

VPR

Sharrah Thompson lives on the second floor of an older apartment complex in central Fresno. Downstairs, dogs in a neighbor’s yard that is separated by a chain link fence won’t stop barking.

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Uncertain future ahead as pandemic eviction moratorium lifts after more than a year

Bakersfield Californian

The eviction moratorium, in place since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, expired Friday, leaving some in Kern County concerned about what the future might hold.

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Investors across the country just bought a Modesto apartment complex. How? Crowdfunding

Modesto Bee

The investors went through RealtyMogul, an online crowdfunding realty investment site. The site has a network of over 200,000 investors across a $3.7 billion portfolio of properties that includes over 18,000 multifamily units.

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Mortgage Payments Are Getting More and More Unaffordable

Wall Street Journal

The median American household would need 32.1% of its income to cover mortgage payments on a median-priced home, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. That is the most since November 2008, when the same outlays would eat up 34.2% of income.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Opinion: The affordable housing formula we’ve forgotten AEI

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PUBLIC FINANCES

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Not getting a child tax credit in California? Maybe you should be

Sacramento Bee

A major aim of the more generous child tax credit was to lift thousands of children out of poverty. But new data say that the families of hundreds of thousands of California children are not getting the tax break they badly need.

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U.S. states and cities slow to spend federal pandemic money

Los Angeles Times

As Congress considered a massive COVID-19 relief package earlier this year, hundreds of mayors from across the U.S. pleaded for “immediate action” on billions of dollars targeted to shore up their finances and revive their communities.

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Making ‘SALT’ relief pay for itself among Democrats’ options

Roll Call

The $10,000 cap on state and local tax imposed under the 2017 GOP-written tax overhaul, is set to expire after 2025. Democrats from high-tax states like want to repeal the cap, though some say they’ll settle for at least a two-year repeal through the midterm elections.

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Opinion: An update on the effect of Pandemic EBT on measures of food hardship

Brookings

Families responded to these challenges by relying on community resources and safety net programs, including for resources to purchase and acquire food. SNAP caseloads increased about 19 percent between February 2019 and June 2021.

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TRANSPORTATION

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CA to Vastly Increase Investments in Zero Emission Vehicles and Infrastructure

StreetsBlog Cal

The final budget bill of the 2021 California legislative session, S.B. 170, includes some hefty investments in areas that need them, particularly in housing and zero emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure and incentives, among other programs.

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How Can Transit Deliver Urban Equity and Sustainability?

Government Technology

The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the essential yet complex role public transit plays in the lives of citizens. Experts say this is the moment to make it physically and financially more accessible to everyone.

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WATER

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Fresno drops suit over Friant-Kern Canal repairs. Why the city doesn’t want a legal battle

Fresno Bee

The council voted 5-1 to drop the suit, filed earlier this month in Fresno County Superior Court. Councilmember Garry Bredefeld cast the lone “no” vote, and Councilmember Mike Karbassi was absent.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Editorial: Fresno’s water case was fraught with risk and possibly little of the expected reward Sacramento Bee

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Dry wells, drastic cutbacks. For many Californians, drought hardships have already arrived

Sacramento Bee

As California officials brace for a possible third year of drought — Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources, recently warned of “a worst-case scenario” for 2022 — the drought disaster is already in full force for many Californians.

See also:

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Her wells ran out of water. How drought has changed this Central Valley ranch Sacramento Bee

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Water From Kings River Critically Low, But Not Record Low

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Business Journal

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ California Regulators Warn Of Dry Reservoirs, Restrictions Business Journal

 ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Commentary: Ensuring Water Supplies for the San Joaquin Valley’s Cities Requires Cooperation PPIC

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“Xtra”

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Event: Connecting Communities with Conservation

Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Fresno Chaffee Zoo Chief Executive Officer Jon Forrest Dohlin has extensive experience in project and animal management as well as a strong commitment to conservation and education.

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This October, make a Fresno shelter dog your 'boo' for life

ABC30

The Central California SPCA is hosting an adoption 'Spooktacular' for its long-term dogs that have been in the shelter for over 30 days.

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Rededication festival scheduled for Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park

Visalia Times Delta

Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park and the Friends of Allensworth will celebrate a Rededication Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. Many of the 20 historic buildings in the park will be open to the public.

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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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