POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Oct. 8: Stanislaus adds one death. ICU and overall caseloads drop Modesto Bee
● Stanislaus schools report lowest number of COVID cases, quarantines since school year began Modesto Bee
● Stanislaus County wants to boost access for COVID-19 treatment that could save lives Modesto Bee
● Hundreds of families crowd Stanislaus education office to protest student vaccine mandate Modesto Bee
Turlock Unified approves gender-neutral dress code policy crafted with student input
Modesto Bee
Trustees for Turlock Unified School District approved a new, gender-neutral dress code Tuesday evening designed to make school clothing rules more equitable. All trustees except Mary Jackson voted in support. Trustee Jeffrey Cortinas was absent.
Mental health grant to close equity gaps in Stanislaus communities, using schools as hubs
Modesto Bee
As the Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) agency experiences increased calls to its crisis line, more mental health services for underserved individuals in the region soon will be available.
Editorial: Shrug off naysayers, Modesto Council, and finally bring parking meters downtown
Modesto Bee
The pandemic won’t last forever. Now is the time for Modesto to replace free downtown curb parking with smart meters, and to make it easier and cheaper to use parking garages.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● How many vaccinated people have caught COVID-19 in Fresno, Valley? Here’s what the data shows Fresno Bee
● How many Fresno-area hospital workers met the deadline to get their COVID vaccines? Fresno Bee
● Fresno students getting COVID-19 vaccinations through effort by Cultiva La Salud Fresno Bee
● Clovis parents urge school board to fight California’s new student vaccination mandate Fresno Bee
● Editorial: Loud Clovis parents are wrong about COVID vaccines. School board must put students first Fresno Bee
● Fresno City College students rally against vaccine mandates. It got a little rowdy Fresno Bee
Clovis schools face ‘mountain of obstacles,’ including staff shortages, superintendent says
Fresno Bee
Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell spoke before a crowd about the ups and downs the Clovis Unified School District has faced during the past year and a half, including staff shortages, health mandates and the joy of seeing students back in school.
See also:
Fresno County is majority Latino. Advocates want new districts to improve voting power
Fresno Bee
Maps backed by volunteers from the Dolores Huerta Foundation and Communities for a New California had the clear support of several dozen people who spoke to the county’s Redistricting Advisory Commission this week.
Young Fresno Activist Seeks To Make Clear The Disparities In Local Air Quality
CA FWD
Kieshaun White began an effort to install monitors across the city to help inform residents and show the disparities in air quality.
Opinion: All Fresnans need a chance to speak out on Measure C tax for local road improvements
Fresno Bee
There’s a darkness that kills democracy, and too often it’s found behind the closed doors of local government. There the public trust is violated in private meetings held between politicians, bureaucrats, and private interests.
Fresno Pacific students claim discrimination, censorship as gay pride club question looms
abc30
Cries of discrimination and censorship are coming from the Fresno Pacific University campus. A group trying to form an LGBTQ+ Pride club on campus has hit a roadblock and the student newspaper says the university won't let them report on it.
‘Defining issues of our time.’ California housing crisis tour makes stop in Fresno
Fresno Bee
Members of the California Assembly Housing Working Group visited affordable housing sites and homeless shelters in Fresno on Thursday as part of a statewide tour to assess potential solutions for California’s housing crisis.
Five new Fresno cannabis licenses now under appeal. Which shops are in jeopardy?
Fresno Bee
The city anticipates store openings 75 business days or more from the time the businesses file a complete condition use permit application. A timeline has put that as soon as December, but it could be longer for 5 of those licenses, which are now under appeal.
See also:
● Paperwork is holding up California’s marijuana industry. Will $100 million fix it? Fresno Bee
Native elder saved her tribe’s language. Her Tulare County family vows to ‘keep it going’
Fresno Bee
Marie Wilcox was once the last fluent speaker of Wukchumni. She worked tirelessly to change that, what started with writing down words in her native language over 20 years ago. Today, there are at least three fluent Wukchumni speakers, all members of her family.
See also:
● Marie Wilcox, Who Saved Her Native Language From Extinction, Dies at 87 New York Times
South SJ Valley:
Judge orders Kern to halt oil permitting pending court review
Bakersfield Californian
Kern government has been ordered to stop issuing oilfield permits until late April at the earliest, when a judge will decide whether the latest version of the county's controversial oil-and-gas zoning ordinance complies with the terms of a court order last year that had halted such permitting.
Kern County seeks to tackle homeless encampments with comprehensive package
Bakersfield Californian
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors will consider a new anti-encampment ordinance the county plans to merge with millions of dollars worth of additional homeless services to reduce the number of people living on the street.
Lois Henry: Kern River lawsuit 'unleashed' public’s rights
Bakersfield Californian
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife argues in a legal brief filed recently that the state Water Resources Control Board is absolutely obligated to consider the public trust doctrine in all water decisions, including whether there’s “loose” water on the Kern River.
State:
COVID Update:
● One loophole remains in student COVID-19 vaccination mandate CalMatters
● Big question for Newsom, lawmakers: Who can can opt out of school COVID vaccine mandate? Los Angeles Times
● Who can can opt out of school COVID vaccine mandate? California lawmakers eye crackdown Los Angeles Times
● COVID-19 update: Tulare County sees more deaths, infections as new vaccinations stall Visalia Times Delta
● Opinion: Why California should be hopeful about its COVID future SF Gate
Newsom’s call now: California Legislature passes top 21 bills of ’21
CalMatters
With Newsom having defeated the Sept. 14 recall, the fate of these bills is in his hands. Here are 21 of the most interesting or consequential. We’ll keep updating his decisions as he makes them.
See also:
· New California laws aim to combat fraud in jobless benefits Sacramento Bee
Newsom approves laws to revamp California’s unemployment benefits system Los Angeles Times
California bans nondisclosure agreements in workplace harassment, discrimination cases Sacramento Bee
New California law limits some workplace secret settlements AP News
· New laws make it easier for community college students to transfer to 4-year universities Los Angeles Times
· California makes it illegal to remove condom without consent AP News
● California is the 1st state to ban 'stealthing,' nonconsensual condom removal Los Angeles Times
● DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub must disclose hidden fees, give delivery workers all tips under new California law Market Watch
● New California law enhances punishment for spousal rape, ends legal distinction Sacramento Bee
California encourages prescribed burns to counter wildfires
Sacramento Bee
California is encouraging use of fire to fight fire, such as deliberately set burns recently used to protect giant sequoias from a raging wildfire. But sometimes what are known as prescribed fires themselves spread out of control, causing their own extensive damage.
See also:
● Newsom signs ‘monumental’ law paving way for more prescribed burns Los Angeles Times
● Newsom signs bill aimed at encouraging more prescribed fires San Francisco Chronicle
California’s universal voting by mail becomes permanent
Los Angeles Times
California’s pandemic-inspired move toward mailing a ballot to every registered, active voter will become a permanent part of the state’s political landscape, an embrace of an extended and flexible voting process instead of the traditional focus on a single day of voting in person.
Lawmakers talked of overhauling the state’s embattled medical board. Did they?
Los Angeles Times
Amid increasing criticism that the state’s medical board is failing to discipline bad doctors, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday with a handful of long-sought reforms approved by lawmakers.
California will impose new vaping tax to curb teen use, fund public health programs
Los Angeles Times
Amid concern over widespread teen vaping, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday approved a new 12.5% excise tax on electronic cigarettes to be paid by California consumers to boost public health and education programs.
See also:
● Why the tobacco industry didn't fight California's new vaping tax Politico
California governor vetoes ballot bill after beating recall
AP News
Weeks after surviving a midterm recall election, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday vetoed for the second time a bill that might have made such attempts more difficult in the future.
See also:
● Opinion: Thankfully, governor vetoed bill to reform the recall process CalMatters
Newsom vetoes bill giving California prisoners a right to visitation
San Francisco Chronicle
Legislation to give prisoners in California a legal right to visits from family and friends, and limit state officials’ authority to restrict visitation, was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said the bill went too far.
Here’s something important most people in California are totally ignoring. (No, not Arnold)
Los Angeles Times
In a windowless room, in a boxy state office building a block from the Capitol, 14 individuals are busy mapping the political future of California.
Where Do Californians Stand on Abortion?
Public Policy Institute of California
An overwhelming majority of Californians do not want Roe v. Wade overturned, and a solid majority are concerned about some states making it too difficult to get an abortion.
Federal:
COVID Update:
● As Governments Stumble, Companies Find a Way to Boost Vaccine Acceptance U.S. News
● Biden pushes back on opposition to vaccine mandates Roll Call
● Red States Have Limited Options for Fighting Biden’s Vaccine Rules Pew Trusts
Senate passes bill to raise debt ceiling into early December
Washington Post
The Senate late Thursday adopted a short-term measure to raise the country’s debt ceiling into early December, a move that could pull the federal government back from the fiscal brink even though it risked reigniting the high-stakes battle at the end of the year.
See also:
● The Senate votes for a short-term increase in the federal debt ceiling VPR
● Default Crisis Dodged — For Now — With Dem-GOP Debt Accord Business Journal
● Senate dodges U.S. debt disaster, voting to extend borrowing Los Angeles Times
● Debt-Limit Bill Passes Senate, Heads to House Wall Street Journal
● Short-term debt limit increase passes Senate, heads to House Roll Call
Slow progress on budget package with deadline weeks away
Roll Call
As the Senate headed into a weeklong recess, Democrats showed little sign they were making progress on their economic agenda other than clearing the must-pass measures competing for their time.
See also:
● Democrats have a few reconciliation life hacks at their disposal Roll Call
● Climate hawks reject compromise in reconciliation Roll Call
● Inside the Manchin-Sanders feud that has Democrats nervous about Biden's agenda CNN
● Democrats are divided over how much Biden’s agenda should benefit the wealthy Los Angeles Times
● Opinion: Reconciliation Offers a Shot at Simpler Government Wall Street Journal
● Opinion: Can Manchin and Sinema Save All 50 U.S. States? Wall Street Journal
● Opinion: Progressives Hold the Capital Captive Wall Street Journal
Biden Admin is expected to enter a new security agreement with Mexico
Los Angeles Times
Top Biden administration and Mexican government officials are expected this week to discuss overhauling a security arrangement that Mexican officials say has exacerbated violence tied to the narcotics trades.
Congress Inches Toward Response to Ransomware Attacks
Wall Street Journal
The Senate Homeland Security Committee took a step forward on Wednesday, advancing a bill that would require hospitals and oil and natural-gas pipeline companies, among other infrastructure operators, to report cyberattacks and ransom payments within 72 hours.
Report details Trump’s all-out campaign to reverse election results
Los Angeles Times
Then-President Trump’s extraordinary effort to overturn his 2020 election defeat brought the Justice Department to the brink of chaos and prompted top officials there and at the White House to threaten to resign, a Senate Judiciary Committee report found.
See also:
● Arizona officials decry Republican efforts to undermine election results with audit Los Angeles Times
● Trump Iowa Visit Tests Appetite for Another Presidential Bid Wall Street Journal
● Former DOJ Officials Detail Trump Effort to Get Them to Discredit 2020 Vote Wall Street Journal
● How AT&T helped build far-right One America News Reuters
● Opinion: The once and future threat of Trump AEI
● Editorial: Polarizing the Jan. 6 Justice System Wall Street Journal
84% of Trump voters are worried about discrimination against whites: poll
The Hill
A large majority of people who voted for former President Trump say they are concerned about anti-white discrimination in the United States, according to a new poll from the University of Virginia and Project Home Fire released on Friday.
American Bar Association Journal
More than one-third of Americans say they would agree with the idea of abolishing the U.S. Supreme Court or stripping it of jurisdiction in some areas if its decisions are objectionable to most Americans or Congress.
See also:
● Opinion: America’s democracy seems to need radical changes. But what are the chances, really? Los Angeles Times
Qualified immunity doesn't protect officer who killed man threatening only himself, Sotomayor says
American Bar Journal Association
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented Monday, when the high court declined to consider whether qualified immunity should protect a police officer who fatally shot a man holding a gun to his own temple.
Other:
The long list of Facebook's insiders-turned-critics
Axios
While many tech firms have had their critics and whistleblowers, Facebook has a uniquely lengthy roster of ex-employees and former insiders who have sounded alarms over its practices.
See also:
● Opinion: Facebook: Being 21st-century national infrastructure demands responsibility AEI
● Opinion: Facebook falters — but is regulation the answer? AEI
The Postal Service is slowing the mail to save money. Critics say it's a death spiral
VPR
The U.S. Postal Service began slowing deliveries of first-class mail nationwide on Oct. 1. The Postal Service says the predicted slowdown is caused in part by the agency's decision to rely less on moving mail by air and more by ground transportation.
Maya Angelou, Sally Ride and other trailblazing women will be featured on U.S. coins
VPR
Some U.S. coins will soon feature female trailblazers from different eras of American history, representing their accomplishments in fields spanning civil rights, politics, humanities and science.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
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.
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.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Five new Fresno cannabis licenses now under appeal. Which shops are in jeopardy?
Fresno Bee
The city anticipates store openings 75 business days or more from the time the businesses file a complete condition use permit application. A timeline has put that as soon as December, but it could be longer for 5 of those licenses, which are now under appeal.
See also:
● Paperwork is holding up California’s marijuana industry. Will $100 million fix it? Fresno Bee
● Democrats are embracing legal marijuana. Why is Biden reluctant to fully join the party? Fresno Bee
Climate, exports and family food budgets: Ag secretary tackles topics with Valley leaders
Modesto Bee
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack talked Tuesday about Central Valley farmers’ role in a climate-safe future, and about families stressed by food costs. He took part in a Zoom call with Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, and leaders in California agriculture.
Latina Farmworkers Speak Out about the Hazards of Life in California’s Fields
Natural Resources Defense Council
From farms to public hearings, the women of Líderes Campesinas are standing up against the pesticide exposure, COVID-19 risk, and other threats disproportionately impacting their community.
Fruit quarantine imposed on much of Santa Clara Valley
Mercury News
Because of the discovery of six oriental fruit flies, a quarantine for homegrown fruits and vegetables has been imposed on about 100 square miles of Santa Clara Valley.
The Food System Resilience Poll (October 2021)
Valley Vision
Valley Vision, Capital Public Radio, and the Institute for Social Research announced the results of their newest scientific public opinion survey exploring the connections between food, farm, and community, as well as the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic affected access to food across the Sacramento region.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Changes to California's youth prison system prove difficult to implement
EdSource
These changes to the system are a result of Senate Bill 823. The bill requires the state’s youth prisons to shut down by 2023 and has stopped allowing counties to send youth to the state Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) as of July 1, 2021.
Qualified immunity doesn't protect officer who killed man threatening only himself, Sotomayor says
American Bar Journal Association
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented Monday, when the high court declined to consider whether qualified immunity should protect a police officer who fatally shot a man holding a gun to his own temple.
Fire:
Sequoia wildfires: KNP Complex crosses Generals Highway; Windy Fire containment holds
Modesto Bee
The KNP Complex Fire has been burning in California’s Sequoia National Park for nearly a month. So far, it has burned 85,952 acres, is just 11% contained and continues to prompt new evacuation orders.
See also:
● Emergency crew fighting KNP Complex Fire is seriously injured, transported by helicopter Fresno Bee
● 4 KNP Complex firefighters seriously injured after tree falls on them, expected to survive Visalia Times Delta
● Hundreds of giant sequoias may have burned to death in KNP Complex, Windy fires Los Angeles Times
● California fires may have killed hundreds of giant sequoias AP News
California encourages prescribed burns to counter wildfires
Sacramento Bee
California is encouraging use of fire to fight fire, such as deliberately set burns recently used to protect giant sequoias from a raging wildfire. But sometimes what are known as prescribed fires themselves spread out of control, causing their own extensive damage.
See also:
● Newsom signs ‘monumental’ law paving way for more prescribed burns Los Angeles Times
● Newsom signs bill aimed at encouraging more prescribed fires San Francisco Chronicle
Emergency response team helps California schools navigate wildfires
EdNote
During the height of the wildfire season, Joe Anderson and Jake Wolf met virtually every Thursday morning with exhausted and bewildered school superintendents whose campuses had either been evacuated or destroyed by the wildfires raging through California.
See also:
● After siege of blazes, experts say California must improve wildfire evacuation plans Washington Post
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Conagra, PepsiCo and Other Food Makers Grapple With Higher Costs
Wall Street Journal
Major food companies are boosting prices as they contend with escalating costs, and labor and transportation problems that are hampering the flow of staples to grocery-store shelves.
Opinion: Will the Federal Reserve contain inflation?
AEI
As inflation keeps surprising us on the upside, the optimists keep assuring us that there is no real reason to be concerned. Unfortunately, there are all too many reasons to question this sanguine view on the inflation outlook.
Jobs:
Biden wants new rules to keep workers safe in heat waves. California could be a model
Fresno Bee
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will draft a set of workplace standards this month on heat-illness prevention for indoor and outdoor workplaces, the Biden administration announced late last month.
California bans nondisclosure agreements in workplace harassment, discrimination cases
Sacramento Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed a law that aims to block California companies from using nondisclosure settlement agreements to silence workers on workplace harassment and discrimination cases.
See also:
● New California law limits some workplace secret settlements AP News
Market Watch
California will soon give tip protections to delivery workers and require more transparency from DoorDash Inc. and other food-delivery apps under a bill signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday night.
New California laws aim to combat fraud in jobless benefits
Sacramento Bee
Gov. Newsom signed new laws Tuesday to tighten security in the state's unemployment system after his administration OK’d billions of dollars in fraudulent payments during the pandemic while legitimate claimants languished in a backlog awaiting approval.
See also:
● Newsom approves laws to revamp California’s unemployment benefits system Los Angeles Times
Tesla to move headquarters from California to Texas
Axios
Tesla isn't the first tech company to leave California. Oracle and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise moved their headquarters from Silicon Valley to Texas in December 2020.
See also:
● Tesla Will Move Its Headquarters to Austin, Texas, in Blow to California New York Times
California unemployment claims drop, but are one-fourth of U.S. total
Mercury News
California unemployment claims dropped last week, but the filings represented an unhealthy share of the nationwide total and were far worse than the typical levels seen amid the state’s robust pre-coronavirus economy.
U.S. economy added 194,000 jobs in September, another weak month heading into final stretch of 2021
Washington Post
The U.S. economy added just 194,000 jobs in September, the Department of Labor reported Friday, a disappointing month that reflects how severely the delta variant is hampering the economic recovery.
See also:
● August's jobs numbers were bad. September was even worse, but there's room for hope VPR
● The Labor Market Is Undergoing a Seismic Shift as Markets Await September’s Jobs Report U.S. News
● Jobless Claims Drop for First Time in Four Weeks Wall Street Journal
● U.S. Job Growth Falls to Slowest Pace of Year Wall Street Journal
Fed up by pandemic, Kellogg workers join a wave of strikes in food industry
Los Angeles Times
About 1,400 workers at Kellogg Co.’s U.S. cereal plants walked off the job this week, saying negotiations with the company over pay and benefits are at an impasse. Meanwhile, in Kentucky, a strike by 420 workers against Heaven Hill Distillery is in its fourth week.
You don't need a bachelor's degree to land a high-paying job
VPR
A new study from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce finds a growing number of people without a bachelor's degree are now out-earning those with one.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Clovis schools face ‘mountain of obstacles,’ including staff shortages, superintendent says
Fresno Bee
Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell spoke before a crowd about the ups and downs the Clovis Unified School District has faced during the past year and a half, including staff shortages, health mandates and the joy of seeing students back in school.
See also:
● Clovis parents urge school board to fight California’s new student vaccination mandate Fresno Bee
● Editorial: Loud Clovis parents are wrong about COVID vaccines. School board must put students first Fresno Bee
Turlock Unified approves gender-neutral dress code policy crafted with student input
Modesto Bee
Trustees for Turlock Unified School District approved a new, gender-neutral dress code Tuesday evening designed to make school clothing rules more equitable. All trustees except Mary Jackson voted in support. Trustee Jeffrey Cortinas was absent.
Hundreds of families crowd Stanislaus education office to protest student vaccine mandate
Modesto Bee
Hundreds of families crowded sidewalks outside the Stanislaus County Office of Education on Wednesday morning to protest Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that eligible students must get vaccinated for COVID-19 pending full approval from the U.S. FDA.
Kids are losing school days to quarantines. Here's a way to keep them in classrooms
VPR
When a student tests positive, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends sending the infected student and all unvaccinated close contacts home from school for 14 days. In communities with lots of cases, that can quickly add up to thousands or even millions of lost in-person school days combined.
See also:
● One In Three Students At Local California Schools Failed Last Year – But Who’s Tracking? CBS Sacramento
One loophole remains in student COVID-19 vaccination mandate
CalMatters
California’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate allows students and staff to opt out for religious or ideological reasons. While a small minority are expected to leave their schools over this mandate, a lawmaker says he may push legislation to eliminate the belief exemption.
See also:
● Big question for Newsom, lawmakers: Who can can opt out of school COVID vaccine mandate? Los Angeles Times
● Who can can opt out of school COVID vaccine mandate? California lawmakers eye crackdown Los Angeles Times
● Few religions ban vaccination, but that counts little for religious exemptions Politifact
Parents sue state alleging Black and Latinx students are harmed by disciplinary practices
Los Angeles Times
Black and Latinx students are disproportionately harmed by the state’s failure to exert oversight and take action against some school district disciplinary practices, including transferring students to alternative and often inferior programs.
Proposed California Ballot Measure Could Spark Court Challenges to Teacher Protections
Wall Street Journal
Education reform advocates have proposed a ballot initiative in California that could allow them to use the courts to challenge teacher-tenure laws and other policies they believe are harming public school students.
Are government bans on the teaching of critical race theory unconstitutional?
American Bar Association Journal
According to recent reports, local legislators have enacted bills in eight states banning the teaching of critical race theory in public schools, colleges and universities. Similar measures have been or soon will be introduced in 20 more.
Higher Ed:
Fresno City College students rally against vaccine mandates. It got a little rowdy
Fresno Bee
A Fresno City College student organized a rally on campus Thursday to bring attention to vaccine mandates that she and several speakers said are un-American.
Curbing Enrollment Decline & Investing in California’s Community College Students
California Budget and Policy Center
While state and federal leaders have enacted policies to mitigate the pandemic’s effects on CCCs, the path forward for community college students requires more long-term investments that address their broader educational and economic needs.
New laws make it easier for community college students to transfer to 4-year universities
Los Angeles Times
A number of new laws will significantly help community college students transfer into both Cal State and UC campuses, and boost financial aid and housing assistance as part of a $47.1-billion higher education package signed by Gov. Newsom on Wednesday.
See also:
● Opinion: Students need a better pathway to transfer to four-year institutions CalMatters
UC workforce churn: Why a quarter of lecturers don’t return each year
CalMatters
About a quarter of the more than 6,000 lecturers at the University of California don’t return annually. Relatively low pay and little job stability are some of the reasons why, a CalMatters analysis shows. If lecturers strike, more than a third of classes will be canceled.
Fresno Pacific students claim discrimination, censorship as gay pride club question looms
abc30
Cries of discrimination and censorship are coming from the Fresno Pacific University campus. A group trying to form an LGBTQ+ Pride club on campus has hit a roadblock and the student newspaper says the university won't let them report on it.
A Year After a Jobs Bust, College Students Find a Boom
New York Times
Seniors and graduates are again in demand as companies revive recruiting, underscoring the economic premium that comes with a diploma.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
'It won't put the fires out, but it helps': Cleaner skies, rain headed for Tulare County, Sierra
Visalia Times Delta
A pair of storm systems headed for the San Joaquin Valley will wash away the harmful smoke and deliver some much-needed rain to the Visalia area and Sierra Nevada, which remains under siege by a pair of massive wildfires.
See also:
● ‘A change of seasons’ brings rain, chill and even snow to parts of California Los Angeles Times
Extreme heat is one of the deadliest consequences of climate change.
Los Angeles Times
Extreme heat is one of the deadliest consequences of global warming. But in a state that prides itself as a climate leader, California chronically undercounts the death toll and has failed to address the growing threat of heat-related illness and death.
See also:
● Climate change is supercharging California heat waves, and the state isn’t ready Los Angeles Times
● As heat waves intensify, access to air conditioning can mean life or death Los Angeles Times
● How to protect yourself and your loved ones from extreme heat Los Angeles Times
Energy:
Judge orders Kern to halt oil permitting pending court review
Bakersfield Californian
Kern government has been ordered to stop issuing oilfield permits until late April at the earliest, when a judge will decide whether the latest version of the county's controversial oil-and-gas zoning ordinance complies with the terms of a court order last year that had halted such permitting.
Changing weather raises fear that O.C. oil spill could reach more coastal areas
Los Angeles Times
Winds forecast to blow over the Orange County coast beginning late Thursday may push parts of the oil slick from a massive spill onto shore, threatening ecologically sensitive areas.
See also:
● Full coverage: What to know about the Huntington Beach oil spill Los Angeles Times
● Newsom ties Orange County oil spill to move away from fossil fuels Los Angeles Times
● Skelton: Enough is enough. It’s time to phase out offshore oil production in California Los Angeles Times
● No Firms Tally of How Much Oil Leaked Off Southern California Business Journal
● The latest on the oil spill: Three-hour delay in shutting down pipeline, and a ship may have caused the damage CalMatters
● A rare ecological gem is slicked with spilled oil — again CalMatters
● Newsom Administration issued 138 offshore well permits in California waters prior to new oil spill Sacramento News & Review
● A timeline of the California oil spill, from the first report to the clean-up CNN
● Senator Min vows to introduce legislation ending all offshore drilling in California state waters Senator Dave Min
● Rep. Mike Levin Introduces Bill to Ban New Offshore Drilling Leases Along Southern California Coast U.S. Representative Mike Levin
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Pfizer asks US to allow COVID shots for kids ages 5 to 11
Fresno Bee
Pfizer asked the U.S. government Thursday to allow use of its COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 in what would be a major expansion.
See also:
● What to expect as US weighs COVID shots for younger kids Fresno Bee
● Pfizer asks U.S. to allow COVID shots for children ages 5 to 11 Los Angeles Times
● Pfizer Asks F.D.A. to Authorize Its Covid-19 Vaccine for Children 5 to 11 New York Times
● Pfizer Asks FDA to Authorize Covid-19 Vaccine in Young Children Wall Street Journal
● Pfizer, BioNTech ask FDA to authorize Covid-19 vaccine for kids 5-11 Politico
Can I get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time?
Fresno Bee
When COVID-19 vaccines were first rolling out in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended waiting 14 days between the shots and other immunizations as a precaution. But the agency has since revised its guidelines and says the wait is unnecessary.
Revenge of the Silent (Vaccinated) Majority
U.S. News
More than a year and a half into the pandemic, and 10 months after vaccines first became available, the battle between the vaxxed and un-vaxxed is hitting a breaking point.
Opinion: Like many diabetics, I’ve had to ration my insulin. It doesn’t have to be this way
Los Angeles Times
Biden’s “Build Back Better” bill calls for reforms that could make the price of insulin fall by hundreds of dollars, on average. The bill provides Democrats with an opportunity to propose a cap on all out-of-pocket insulin costs and halt the terrifying trend of insulin rationing.
Opinion: The FDA Can Save Thousands of Lives Today
Wall Street Journal
Data released last week showed that the new antiviral pill molnupiravir, made by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, is safe and reduces the risk of the direst outcomes (hospitalization or death) by 50%.
Human Services:
Mental health grant to close equity gaps in Stanislaus communities, using schools as hubs
Modesto Bee
As the Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) agency experiences increased calls to its crisis line, more mental health services for underserved individuals in the region soon will be available.
Hospitals brace for an onslaught this winter, from flu as well as COVID
VPR
With a second pandemic winter approaching, there are promising signs that the worst of the delta surge has run its course, but in America's hospitals — already short-staffed and backlogged from the summer torrent of COVID-19 — the relief may only be short-lived.
How Other Nations Pay for Child Care. The U.S. Is an Outlier.
New York Times
Rich countries contribute an average of $14,000 per year for a toddler’s care, compared with $500 in the U.S. The Democrats’ spending bill tries to shrink the gap.
Opinion: Nurturing innovation in care for seniors
CalMatters
PACE’s low infection rates are the result of care innovations developed through operational flexibilities temporarily allowed by the state during COVID-19. Enrollment was simplified to help seniors avoid month-long delays to getting care.
Opinion: Using digital health to improve health outcomes and equity
Brookings
One avenue to better health results is expanding use of tools like telehealth and, more broadly, digital health, provided that their adoption focuses on improving health outcomes rather than simply enabling more appointments.
IMMIGRATION
California senator insists immigration reform still possible despite budget setback
Fresno Bee
One of Congress’ fiercest advocates for immigration reform says protections for undocumented people will be included in a sweeping year-end budget bill despite a decision from a Senate official who found the proposals don’t belong in the spending package.
American Bar Association Journal
A federal appeals court has ruled that a ban on private prisons in California unconstitutionally restricts the federal government’s authority to operate private detention facilities in the state.
Opinion: A future in limbo: Why Congress must act on DACA now
The Hill
The call for congressional action serves as a reminder that young immigrants still face similar experiences to those who traveled to this country more than 50 years ago. Congress now needs to provide permanent status to young people who live in the U.S. temporarily.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Renovation project at The Hotel Fresno nearly complete
abc30
Fresno City leaders shifted their focus to affordable housing and homelessness Thursday while providing journalists a first-hand look at the progress being made at The Hotel Fresno.
Why The City Will Survive The Age Of Pandemics And Remote Work
NPR
While it's undeniable that cities have been devastated by the pandemic, Glaeser continues to believe "the age of urban miracles is not over." Which is why he has co-authored Survival of the City.
Housing:
‘Defining issues of our time.’ California housing crisis tour makes stop in Fresno
Fresno Bee
Members of the California Assembly Housing Working Group visited affordable housing sites and homeless shelters in Fresno on Thursday as part of a statewide tour to assess potential solutions for California’s housing crisis.
Kern County seeks to tackle homeless encampments with comprehensive package
Bakersfield Californian
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors will consider a new anti-encampment ordinance the county plans to merge with millions of dollars worth of additional homeless services to reduce the number of people living on the street.
New York Times
Reforming it is key to any number of existential problems, including reducing segregation and wealth inequality or combating sprawl and climate change But the process will be long and difficult, as single-family neighborhoods are America’s predominant form of living.
The Housing Shortage Is Significant. It's Acute For Small, Entry-Level Homes
NPR
America's roaring real estate boom is leaving millions of would-be homebuyers out in the cold. The problem is most severe in that corner of the market that once propelled the American dream: the small entry-level home.
See also:
● Is Now the Right Time to Sell Your Home? A Seller’s Guide Wall Street Journal
'Echoes of the Past': Study Points to Redlining as a Factor in Premature Birth, Maternal Health
U.S. News
Research has confirmed two separate facts about inequality in America: Racism is a factor in poor health, and Black women are more likely than whites to experience complications tied to pregnancy, including death.
What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - and Tips for Building One
Zillow
Accessory dwelling units or ADUs — those separate living units tucked inside a single family home or sharing land with one — are having a rock star moment.
What’s Driving the Huge U.S. Rent Spike?
Bloomberg
Every one of the nation’s 100 largest metro areas has seen month-over-month rent growth over the last five months — a phenomenon he’s never seen before. Data from Zillow shows a similar national increase, up an average of 11.5%, or $200, compared to last August.
See also:
● Home Prices Are Now Higher Than The Peak Of The 2000s Housing Bubble. What Gives? NPR
Editorial: Let courts help tenants through the eviction process
Los Angeles Times
Even with the state moratorium on evictions being lifted Oct. 1, there are protections in place for tenants who lost income during the pandemic and fell behind on rent. There is also a $5.2-billion state rental assistance fund that is still available to tenants and landlords.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Opinion: All Fresnans need a chance to speak out on Measure C tax for local road improvements
Fresno Bee
There’s a darkness that kills democracy, and too often it’s found behind the closed doors of local government. There the public trust is violated in private meetings held between politicians, bureaucrats, and private interests.
Local Convenience Store Owners Rail Against Proposed Fed Tobacco Tax Hike
Business Journal
Congress is proposing the Tobacco Tax Equity Act of 2021, which increases the tax on cigarettes and equalizes the tax on all other tobacco products. Central Valley convenience store owners believe the law, if passed, will only exacerbate illegal sales.
California will impose new vaping tax to curb teen use, fund public health programs
Los Angeles Times
Amid concern over widespread teen vaping, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday approved a new 12.5% excise tax on electronic cigarettes to be paid by California consumers to boost public health and education programs.
See also:
● Why the tobacco industry didn't fight California's new vaping tax Politico
Some Californians are seeing large unemployment balances. Why they won’t get the money
Sacramento Bee
Thousands of people with unemployment claims are seeing they have a claim balance of thousands of dollars — but if it involves federal claims, forget it. You won’t see any of that money.
Opinion: California’s tax on inherited properties hurts minority communities
CalMatters
Proposition 19, which voters narrowly passed last year, is making the dream of homeownership and passing along small family-owned businesses even more difficult for our next generation – particularly in Black communities.
Opinion: A 20-year look at SNAP participation and costs
AEI
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, has grown steadily over the past two decades, culminating in an increase during the pandemic in line with the countercyclical nature of the program.
Opinion: The Pandora Papers’ Secret: Everyone Already Knows This Stuff
Wall Street Journal
The media uses these leaks to push for tax hikes, which are bad policy—as is the existing tax code.
Editorial: The Child Allowance Welfare Trap
Wall Street Journal
Democrats are deciding what to keep or cut in their $5 trillion spending bill, and here is one proposal that Sen. Manchin ought to excise: Converting the child tax credit into a universal basic income, which will discourage the work and advancement essential to escape poverty.
See also:
● Opinion: The antipoverty, targeting, and labor supply effects of the proposed child tax credit expansion AEI
● Opinion: New evidence on the benefits and costs of an expanded child tax credit AEI
Editorial: The IRS Gets Window Dressed
Wall Street Journal
Despite their growing aversion to private business, House Democrats grasp the concept of “sticker shock.” Many Americans reeled when they learned that the Internal Revenue Service plans to track bank accounts with yearly cash flow as small as $600.
TRANSPORTATION
Opinion: All Fresnans need a chance to speak out on Measure C tax for local road improvements
Fresno Bee
There’s a darkness that kills democracy, and too often it’s found behind the closed doors of local government. There the public trust is violated in private meetings held between politicians, bureaucrats, and private interests.
Editorial: Shrug off naysayers, Modesto Council, and finally bring parking meters downtown
Modesto Bee
The pandemic won’t last forever. Now is the time for Modesto to replace free downtown curb parking with smart meters, and to make it easier and cheaper to use parking garages.
Gas prices at highest point in 7 years. How Biden Admin plans to lower costs
Modesto Bee
President Biden’s Admin has said it is considering releasing oil from emergency reserves, among other things, to help bring down costs as gas prices surge in the United States.
Cost overruns hit California bullet train again amid a new financial crunch
Los Angeles Times
The California bullet train is facing at least another billion dollars of proposed cost increases from its contractors, following a history of sharp cost growth on construction work over the last eight years, The Times has learned.
Opinion: AI flaws could make your next car racist
Los Angeles Times
Using these algorithms to train AIs is extremely dangerous, because they were specifically designed to depict white humans. They were designed to realistically depict the diffuse glow of pale, white skin and the smooth glints in long, straight hair.
WATER
Lois Henry: Kern River lawsuit 'unleashed' public’s rights
Bakersfield Californian
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife argues in a legal brief filed recently that the state Water Resources Control Board is absolutely obligated to consider the public trust doctrine in all water decisions, including whether there’s “loose” water on the Kern River.
Water is scarce in California. But farmers have found ways to store it underground
Capital Public Radio
Water-capturing basinsoffer farmers a way to survive. That's because the new law treats the underground aquifer like a bank account. If farmers deposit water into that account when water is plentiful, they can draw more water out when they need it, in years of drought.
New protections for California's aquifers are reshaping the state's Central Valley
NPR
California's agricultural empire is facing a shakeup, as a state law comes into effect that will limit many farmers' access to water. The seven-year-old law is supposed to stop the over-pumping from depleted aquifers, and some farmers concede the limits are overdue.
In dry California, some buy units that make water from air
AP News
The system is one of several developed in recent years to extract water from humidity. Other inventions include mesh nets, solar panels and shipping containers that harvest the moisture from the air.
“Xtra”
Fresno Bee
A wave of new stores is opening in Fresno and Clovis, selling everything from clothing to books to Starbucks coffee – with or without CBD. Some are big-box discounters. Some are little thrift shops and independently owned stores.
One Month Until the 2021 California Economic Summit
CA FWD
Registration for the 2021 California Economic Summit — taking place on November 9-10 in Monterey — is now open!
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