Maddy Institute – September 14, 2021

14Sep

POLICY & POLITICS

Newsom recall basics: How to vote in California’s election

CalMatters

A FAQ on the California election on whether to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom.

● Recall Ballot Tracking

● Live 2021 Recall Election Results CalMatters

● California Recall Election: Live Updates FiveThirtyEight

North SJ Valley:

COVID Update:

● Sept. 14: Stanislaus has just 2 deaths over 3 days, 842 new cases Modesto Bee

● Hospitals in Stanislaus County are overrun with COVID-19 patients. Most are unvaccinated Modesto Bee

● Ivermectin is unproven for COVID-19. At Stanislaus feed stores, demand stays high Modesto Bee

● Merced County’s active COVID cases are falling, but local deaths, hospitalizations aren’t Merced Sun Star

Turlock to again hire an acting city manager. Leadership turnover continues

Modesto Bee

The Turlock City Council on Tuesday is scheduled to appoint an acting city manager because Interim City Manager Sarah Eddy took a medical leave of absence, per a staff report.

See also:

● City manager carousel continues Turlock Journal

Modesto Councilman Ricci, Sheriff Dirkse advocating for campgrounds for homeless

Modesto Bee

Councilman Chris Ricci is proposing Modesto use park rangers to patrol city parks to curb illegal activity, such as drug use, and designate areas in the city where homeless people can camp or sleep in their cars.

Merced has a plan to address its affordable housing crisis. But does it fall short?

Merced Sun Star

Merced’s gridlock over how to improve an affordable housing shortage made some headway Tuesday night, but only after a lengthy — and at times emotionally charged — discussion that kept City Council members, staff and residents up past midnight.

Why families in Stanislaus County are receiving Pandemic EBT cards to buy groceries

Modesto Bee

Extra food benefits are being sent to many Modesto-area families starting this month, including all families with children in Modesto City Schools. There was no application for the program, called Pandemic EBT 2.0.

Biden’s interior secretary backs West Side reservoir, more California water storage

Modesto Bee

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland talked about dealing with drought, including a reservoir planned near Patterson, in a Zoom call with reporters Wednesday. She was joined by Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, who has urged increased federal spending on such efforts.

TUSD looks to fill new position to address diversity issues

Turlock Journal

The Turlock Unified School District is still searching for the perfect person to fill the new position of Coordinator of Equity Initiatives. This position will lead the equity task force and has a starting salary of $119,215, according to the TUSD.

Central SJ Valley:

COVID Update:

● Fresno Democrats call on Mayor Dyer to enact vaccine mandate for city employees Fresno Bee

● New COVID protocols at Fresno City Hall start Monday. Will mandatory vaccines be next? Fresno Bee

● Fresno businessman was anti-vaccine and anti-mask. Here’s what it took to change his mind Fresno Bee

● Could Fresno schools close again due to Delta surge? Doctor, school leaders weigh in Fresno Bee

● California 'strike team' deployed to Porterville hospital after emergency room overflows Visalia Times Delta

● Travel nurses arrive at Community to help with deluge Business Journal

Why are Fresno County staffers under scrutiny ahead of California governor recall election?

Fresno Bee

Fresno County elections workers, who are collecting and processing recall ballots, have drawn the attention of daily observers who question the process, according to Registrar of Voters James Kus.

Editorial: ‘Election integrity’ ballot watchers in Fresno are the real threat to democracy

Fresno Bee

Talk about the fox wanting to guard the hen house. Members of a group known as the Election Integrity Project have been monitoring Fresno County election workers during this recall season, ostensibly to ensure that all the ballot processing is on the up and up.

Fresno Mayor Dyer vetoes union construction jobs deal. He says it’s ‘discriminatory’

Fresno Bee

Mayor Jerry Dyer on Monday vetoed an agreement recently passed by the Fresno City Council that gave city construction projects to union workers and apprentices, saying the agreement as written does not prioritize local hiring as intended.

See also:

● Mayor Dyer Vetoes Fresno Project Labor Agreement Business Journal

Will Forkner elementary become Tatarian elementary? Fresno community seeks to rename school

Fresno Bee

Fresno’s Forkner Elementary School could soon be known as H. Roger Tatarian Elementary School. Fresno Unified trustees could vote on the name change as soon as Oct. 13.

Fresno State considers ending all in-person classes. Some students want it to happen now

Fresno Bee

Just weeks into the fall semester, Fresno State students are voicing their frustrations with what they’re calling lax health guidelines, stringent attendance policies, and sudden class changes.

Fresno State, UC Merced ranked high on lists of the nation's best colleges. What to know

Fresno Bee

Fresno State, Fresno Pacific, and UC Merced are among the nation’s best universities in social mobility, according to U.S. News and World Report’s new 2022 college rankings.

Fresno County towns with no drinking water drown in debt while hope fades for new well

Fresno Bee

The longer it takes for two new wells to be dug in Cantua Creek and El Porvenir in western Fresno County, the deeper in debt the towns are mired. Now, with the drought, those well projects are in a race against dropping groundwater levels.

Warszawski: A drama on four corners: No end in sight to Fresno protests over Tower Theatre sale

Fresno Bee

In the Tower District, Fresno’s most compelling drama occurs outside the namesake theater. The performance takes place every Sunday morning — 36 weeks running — at the intersection of Wishon and Olive avenues.

Editorial: Ready to hand over more cash to PG&E for power? Fresno leaders right to oppose proposal

Fresno Bee

First, PG&E is asking state regulators to hike electrical rates by 18% for residential customers in 2023. Rates would go up by smaller amounts to 2026, but overall, rates would jump by 22.5%.

South SJ Valley:

COVID Update:

● Hospital emergency rooms are not COVID-19 testing sites, say local hospital officials Bakersfield Californian

● High demand for COVID tests coupled with short supply creates challenges across Kern County Bakersfield Californian

ICE transferred 17 immigrants between Kern County detention centers. Was it retaliation?

Fresno Bee

More than a dozen people were transferred from one federal immigration detention center in Kern County to another last week — a move that two detained immigrants and their attorneys are labeling as an act of retaliation by U.S. ICE.

Study finds local oil field wastewater safe for use in irrigation

Bakersfield Californian

Central Valley water-quality regulators released a final report Friday concluding oil field wastewater from central Kern County, when blended with other water sources, can safely be used to irrigate a variety of locally grown crops.

Kern County sues Newsom claiming he 'violated the California Constitution' regarding oil

Bakersfield Now

Today, the County of Kern announced the county has "sued Governor Gavin Newsom for violating the California Constitution and disregarding multiple State laws."

State:

COVID Update:

● Tracking coronavirus hospitalizations in California by county CalMatters

● See how many people in California are vaccinated, and find a COVID vaccine appointment Sacramento Bee

● Unvaccinated California state workers to take COVID tests under eye of their managers Sacramento Bee

● Five children are now orphans after both father and mother die of COVID in California Sacramento Bee

● California Democrats considering more COVID vaccine rules on top of Biden order Sacramento Bee

● Can California avoid another COVID-19 surge? Britain offers a sober warning Los Angeles Times

● Opinion: Follow science to ensure parity in COVID-19 passport criteria CalMatters

● Are COVID Policies Affecting Approval Ratings? Public Policy Institute of California

A procrastinator’s guide to the 2021 California recall election of Gavin Newsom

Sacramento Bee

So you still haven’t voted yet in the election to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom. Here’s everything you need to know about how to vote and what is on the ballot.

California election’s chief says recall election is secure

Sacramento Bee

California's Secretary of State said Friday she won't require a more rigorous audit of next week's recall election results that could remove Gov. Gavin Newsom from office, saying concerns about the security of the state's election management system are “inaccurate.”

● 5 things to do to make sure your California recall election ballot gets counted Fresno Bee

● Allegations fly as recall vote looms for California’s Newsom The Business Journal

● Gavin Newsom blasts Donald Trump, Larry Elder over recall election fraud claims Sacramento Bee

● Larry Elder prepares for California recall loss with lawyers, voter fraud website Sacramento Bee

● False Election Claims in California Reveal a New Normal for G.O.P. New York Times

● Larry Elder campaign spreads baseless claim that recall election ended in fraud before results are declared The Hill

● "Big Lie" hits California recall election Axios

● Why no one wants to talk about this hot-button election tool in the California recall Los Angeles Times

● What the recall means for the future of mail-in voting. New York Times

● What Voters Should Know About the Newsom Recall New York Times

New California poll shows Gavin Newsom likely to defeat recall by a substantial margin

Sacramento Bee

A new poll from UC Berkeley finds Gov. Gavin Newsom is likely to retain his office and defeat the recall election next week by more than 20 points, according to the latest survey from the school’s Institute for Governmental Studies.

● Latest line: A good week for Newsom, bad one for Faulconer Mercury News

● Polling error: How one survey changed the Newsom recall campaign CalMatters

● Latest Polls Of The California Recall Election FiveThirtyEight

When will we know who won the California recall election? What to expect on election night

Modesto Bee

After more than a year of debate, protests and lawsuits, the election to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom is here. Despite the anticipation, it’s possible Californians will not know the outcome of the race before the day is through.

● California recall election: Everything you need to know about the race against Gov. Gavin Newsom abc30

● Preparations made for recall election Madera Tribune

● Special Recall Election Coverage Tonight VPR

● The California Recall And Its Very Real Political Consequences, Explained VPR

● The Most Important Things To Know About California's Recall Election Today VPR

● When will we know who won the California recall election? What to expect on election night Sacramento Bee

● 5 things every voter should know about the California recall election Los Angeles Times

● California Recall: Your last-minute guide to election day Mercury News

● How Quickly Will Results Come In For California Recall Election? Capital Public Radio

● Decision time: Three ways the California recall election could go CalMatters

● The Most Important Things To Know About California's Recall Election Today NPR

● Remember Schwarzenegger’s Sacramento shakeup? If a Republican wins Tuesday, it could happen again Los Angeles Times

● Recall election nears, but California’s widening, ugly political divide here to stay Los Angeles Times

● News Analysis: As recall campaign closes, Californians might be ready to change the system Los Angeles Times

● Higher Approval, a New Electorate and No Arnold. This Isn’t 2003 New York Times

● In California, there are recall attempts for everything under the sun . New York Times

● In California, Republicans Struggle to Expand the Recall’s Appeal New York Times

● Newsom's rebound papers over broader trouble for Democrats Politico

● How California’s Lack Of Transparency Could Flip The U.S. Senate Forbes

Newsom slams GOP, while Elder targets governor’s wife as recall campaign closes Los Angeles Times

With two days to go before California’s recall election closes, Gov. Gavin Newsom and lead Republican candidate Larry Elder spent Sunday making their final push to voters in Los Angeles.

● Larry Elder is the Trumpist who may save Gavin Newsom's job San Francisco Chronicle

● Stumping for Larry Elder, Rose McGowan drums up recall drama by bashing Newsom family Los Angeles Times

● Column: Larry Elder and the danger of the ‘model minority’ candidate Los Angeles Times

● Skelton: Larry Elder joining the recall race was the best thing that could’ve happened to Newsom Los Angeles Times

● Caitlyn Jenner isn’t going to win today’s California recall. But she’s not done with politics. Washington Post

● Gavin Newsom Showed Up At An Encampment Sweep. Were The People Living There Moved Into Safe Housing? Politifact

● California Recall Puts Governor’s Pandemic Leadership to the Test Wall Street Journal

● Opinion: Gavin Newsom’s White Privilege Wall Street Journal

● Newsom’s Strategy for California Recall: It’s Me or the Abyss New York Times

● California Democrats’ recall strategy gives rise to 29-year-old YouTube star Politico

Newsom, GOP rivals seek votes in recall’s final weekend

Fresno Bee

Democratic allies of Gov. Gavin Newsom continued to express confidence Saturday in his chances of beating back a recall but warned his supporters not to let up on urging people to vote as they seek a decisive win, while Republicans said the contest is far from settled.

● Editorial: Newsom recall election comes down to today. Here are 5 reasons why you should vote Sacramento Bee

● ‘Eyes of the nation are on California’: Biden urges voters to reject ‘Trump clone’ in recall Sacramento Bee

● Biden Campaigns for Newsom at California Rally New York Times

● Gavin Newsom and Larry Elder want votes from Asian Americans. Are they a recall swing vote? Sacramento Bee

● Most Asian Americans are against the recall, but some haven’t forgiven Newsom for his nail salon remark Los Angeles Times

● Why is Larry Elder focusing so much on reaching out to Latino and Asian voters? CalMatters

● Newsom urges supporters, ‘Polls don’t vote. People vote’ Mercury News

● California recall voters: Less Republican and white than in 2003 Mercury News

● Democrats fight California recall but say party must do better: ‘Don’t just sit there’ Los Angeles Times

California recall candidates stretch the truth on COVID, climate change and more CalMatters

That holds true for politicians, including the candidates in California’s Sept. 14 recall election and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Campaigning during a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic and deadly, unprecedented wildfires, their approaches to the state’s problems can vary.

● Science Does Recommend COVID-19 Vaccine For Young People, Contrary To Larry Elder’s Claim Politifact

● What one thing do Republican recall candidates blame for California’s housing crisis? CalMatters

● Could the Republican recall candidates create a housing boom through environmental reform? CalMatters

● A GOP governor would radically upend California. Here are 12 key issues at stake Los Angeles Times

● Column: The recall circus has managed to ignore staggering crisis ripping apart California Los Angeles Times

● Why the recall election is unlikely to lead to California’s first female governor Times Standard

Here’s what the California Legislature did this year

Sacramento Bee

California lawmakers finished their work for the 2021 legislative session Friday night, just four days before voting concluded in a statewide recall election targeting Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

● California bill aims to protect farmworkers from smoke. Some say it ‘isn’t going to help’ Fresno Bee

● California farmworkers to get new masks under bill on Newsom’s desk. Do they want them? Fresno Bee

● California lawmakers vote to decriminalize loitering for the purpose of prostitution Modesto Bee

● California may end arrests for loitering for prostitution Sacramento Bee

● California moves to repeal loitering law that trans activists say leads to bias San Francisco Chronicle

● California moves to extend, streamline assisted death law Sacramento Bee

● California may shorten assisted death process for terminally ill patients San Francisco ChronicleCalifornia may impose toughest rules on recycling labels Sacramento Bee

● Bail reform bill pulled as lawmakers weigh crime fears among public San Francisco Chronicle

● California lawmakers send governor sweeping legislation to change unemployment system Los Angeles Times

● California Senate passes bill allowing state to keep details of COVID outbreaks secret Mercury News

● Bill extending to-go cocktails through 2026 sits on Newsom’s desk The Business Journal

● California Legislature advances bill to help restaurants Mercury News

● Five Bills to Make California Streets Healthier and Safer NRDC

● Bill to protect newspaper industry headed to Gov. Newsom Mercury News

● Editorial: Pass AB 1506, preserve future of California newspapers Mercury News

● Bill to decertify police for serious misconduct clears Legislature CalMatters

● Walters: California finally cracks down on bad cops CalMatters

● Opinion: Esprit co-founder: Approve garment worker bill so California fashion can succeed CalMatters

● How Amazon Would Be Affected by California’s Warehouse Quotas Bill Wall Street Journal

● California Moves to Outlaw ‘Stealthing,’ or Removing Condom Without Consent New York Times

US, California exploring vehicle-miles-traveled 'user fee’ to replace gas tax

North Bay Business Journal

Federal and state governments are taking a serious look at moving away from a tax per gallon method of paying for road repairs in favor of motorists paying by the mile.

‘Code red:’ Biden urges Congress to address climate change after touring California wildfires

Sacramento Bee

Mixing policy with politics on his first California visit since taking office, President Joe Biden flew to Sacramento on Monday for a tour of wildfire-ravaged El Dorado County before heading south to campaign with Gov. Gavin Newsom against the gubernatorial recall election.

● Charred trees, destroyed homes — Biden tours wildfire danger during California trip Los Angeles Times

● In California, Worsening Fires Show Limits of Biden’s Power New York Times

● Biden Campaigns for Newsom, Views Wildfire Damage in Western Swing Wall Street Journal

● Walters: Wildfires ignite California insurance crisis CalMatters

● Opinion: Wildfire insurance isn’t working for California anymore. It’s time for this new approach Sacramento Bee

● Climate change, inequality and a recall vote: How the French Laundry embodies California Washington Post

Opinion: Why California’s slavery reparations task force has the power to transform us all

Los Angeles Times

Unless your school experience was atypical, you probably weren’t taught about the history of slavery in California. That could change for future generations, thanks in part to a new state task force in California.

Federal:

COVID Update:

● Covid-19 Deaths in Delta Surge Trend Younger in U.S. Wall Street Journal

● At-home COVID test costs are eligible for reimbursement, IRS says. Here’s what to know Sacramento Bee

● FDA experts among group opposing US booster shot plan Sacramento Bee

● These doctors and nurses share COVID-19 falsehoods. They can become misinformation superspreaders Bakersfield Californian

● Most Americans Now Want Vaccine Mandates For Planes, Hotels And Restaurants, Per Gallup Forbes

● Do Americans support Biden’s COVID vaccine mandate? Here’s what a new poll found Fresno Bee

● The world needs a pandemic plan B Brookings

● Vaccine Mandates Are Coming to Offices, but the Honor System Now Rules Wall Street Journal

● 60 percent support Biden vaccine mandates: poll The Hill

● Axios-Ipsos poll: 60% of voters back Biden vaccine mandates Axios

● Lawmakers Rethink Mask Policies as More Kids Quarantine PEW

● Editorial:Where the Covid Origin Inquiry Goes Now Wall Street Journal

● Opinion: Covid Confusion at the CDC Wall Street Journal

● Opinion: Covid Isn’t Finished Messing With Politics New York Times

● Opinion: Risk and duty: A conservative argument for getting vaccinated AEI

● Opinion: A second major seasonal virus won’t leave us any choice AEI

What’s in the Democratic Tax Proposal?

Wall Street Journal

House Democrats on Monday released the full details of their plan to pay for a bevy of new social programs aimed at expanding access to paid family leave, education and healthcare, and combating climate change.

See also:

● Democrats Release Details of Proposed Tax Increase Wall Street Journal

● House Democrats Consider 26.5% Corporate Tax Rate Wall Street Journal

● Editorital: Here Comes the Biden Tax Bill Wall Street Journal

● Editorial: Democrats Blink on Carried Interest Wall Street Journal

● Democrats seek corporate, wealthy tax hikes for $3.5T plan The Business Journal

Democrats Hear Conflicting Messages From Voters on $3.5 Trillion Plan

Wall Street Journal

The competing interests within this one district in central Virginia highlight the challenges Democrats face as they try to squeeze through climate provisions and a vast expansion of the country’s safety net through a legislative gantlet.

See also:

● Opinion: When Politicians Talk About Infrastructure Wall Street Journal

● Republicans warn reconciliation may stall bipartisan R&D proposals Roll Call

U.S. Budget Deficit Narrowed to $2.7 Trillion in First 11 Months of Fiscal Year

Wall Street Journal

The U.S. budget deficit narrowed to $2.7 trillion during the first 11 months of the fiscal year from $3 trillion in the same period a year earlier, with the gap between spending and revenue declining as the recovery from a pandemic-induced slump boosted taxes.

An Independent Review Of The 1st 2020 Census Results Found No Major Irregularities

VPR

An independent panel of researchers said it has found no major irregularities in the 2020 census results that were used to reallocate congressional seats and Electoral College votes for the next decade.

Biden nominates critic of surveillance software to FTC, further bolstering agency as check on Big Tech

Washington Post

President Biden on Monday nominated the law professor Alvaro Bedoya to the Federal Trade Commission, further cementing the consumer-protection agency’s next phase as a check against Big Tech’s power.

As the largest-ever U.S. climate bill inches forward, a lobbying frenzy ensues

Washington Post

The prospect of a $3.5 trillion tax-and-spending bill has sparked a lobbying frenzy in Congress, as lawmakers zero in this week on a measure that could reshape the nation’s energy system.

Covid-19 Likely to Overshadow Afghanistan, Abortion Rights and Spending Plans in Midterm Elections

Wall Street Journal

Even with Afghanistan, abortion rights and multitrillion-dollar domestic-spending proposals competing for attention, the trajectory of the pandemic and which party’s approach would be more effective at taming it remain the top concerns for voters.

Opinion: Biden joins the all-stars of constitutional contempt

AEI

The road to authoritarianism is paved with popular executive overreaches.

Other:

More Americans know basic civics, due to hyper-political media diets

Axios

New data finds that Americans have a much better understanding of the three branches of government than ever before, likely due to the massive increase of politics in our media diets.

Opinion: Why can’t our political system address our biggest problems? Blame the Founders.

Washington Post

Americans liked to think we live in an “exceptional” nation, but in recent years we have been exceptional primarily in the scale of our public-policy failures.

E.J. Dionne: A make-or-break moment for our democracy

Washington Post

It’s a habit of journalism to declare nearly every impending period as a turning point, a “defining moment” that will set a nation or even the world on a course for years or decades to come.

What if Republicans had a party and Trump wasn’t there?

Washington Post

People such as occasional Trump critic Shapiro, former Fox News personality Megyn Kelly, the psychologist and self-help author Jordan B. Peterson (via video), and a slate of speakers that did not include Trump or anyone in his family.

Facebook Reportedly Allowed Powerful Users To Break Platform Rules

Forbes

Facebook has exempted nearly 6 million of its most high-profile users from facing consequences for breaking platform rules through a systematic and secret tiering system that an internal review described as “a breach of trust.”

The Man Behind Critical Race Theory

New Yorker

As an attorney, Derrick Bell worked on many civil-rights cases, but his doubts about their impact launched a groundbreaking school of thought.

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

Sunday, September 19, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "Little Hoover Commission Report: California's Digital Divide" - Guest: Pedro Nava, Chairman - California Little Hoover Commission. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, September 19, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “Closing the Valley's Digital Divide and the Promise of Telemedicine"- Guests: Dr. Casey Gray, Kaiser; Laurence Du Sault, Mercury News/CalMatters; Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula; Barb Yellowlees, CETF. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

California bill aims to protect farmworkers from smoke. Some say it ‘isn’t going to help’

Fresno Bee

Some are now pushing for a bill moving through the California legislature that would give farmworkers reliable access to a steady stockpile of N95 masks, which protect against exposure to smoke.

Torture orchard: Can science transform California crops to cope with drought?

CalMatters

The search is on to help California farmers find less-thirsty tree crops. But will the experiments come through in time as droughts intensify?

High Meat Prices Are Helping Fuel Inflation, And A Few Big Companies Are Being Blamed

VPR

Prices for beef, pork and chicken have surged during the pandemic, and the Biden administration believes it knows who's partly behind it: a handful of big meatpacking companies that control most of the country's supply.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

Public Safety:

Toxic algae reported in Yosemite Valley creek. What park service says about it

Fresno Bee

In an Instagram post, the park service said recent tests at the park in central California yielded positive results for small amounts of the algae, which can have concentrated levels of toxins that are released into the water when the algae dies or is disturbed.

Walters: California finally cracks down on bad cops

CalMatters

Last week, after years of unsuccessful efforts to punish errant officers, the Legislature approved a bill creating a process for lifting the certifications — in essence, their licenses — that allowed them to continue wearing badges.

Justice Dept. unveils new rules on federal monitors overseeing local police reforms Washington Post

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday unveiled new rules governing federal monitors responsible for overseeing police reforms in local jurisdictions, including setting limits on the watchdogs’ tenure and budgets and requiring them to undergo more training.

See also:

● Police Monitors to Come Under New Limits in U.S. Wall Street Journal

Five Bills to Make California Streets Healthier and Safer

NRDC

The California Legislature passed five key bills that collectively represent a sea change for our roads and highways that will make them safer, more fair and more conducive to getting around in climate-friendly ways.

Fire:

Nearby fires prompt officials to issue air quality warning Monday

Bakersfield Californian

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District issued an air quality warning Monday. Air District officials say dangerous particulate matter from the KNP Complex Fire and Windy Fire could affect the entire San Joaquin Valley over the next few days.

French Fire 98% contained

Bakersfield Californian

The French Fire is 98 percent contained and has burned 26,535 acres. Most fire activity was isolated to fire pockets and interior hotspots that flared up for a short amount of time, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

Evacuation warnings issued for parts of Three Rivers as KNP Complex Fire grows

Visalia Times Delta

The evacuation warning covers all points on both sides of Highway 198, east of the intersection of North Fork Drive, and includes all side roads that connect to Highway 198 east of North Fork Drive.

● Update: New evacuation warnings in place for wildfire burning in Sequoia National Park Fresno Bee

● Wildfires rage in Sequoia National park and forest, sending flames into grove of giant trees Los Angeles Times

● Fires burning in Sequoia National Park threaten world's largest trees San Francisco Chronicle

Judge digs deeper into PG&E’s suspected role in Dixie Fire

A Pacific Gas & Electric troubleshooter spent nearly two hours in federal court Monday fielding questions about whether the beleaguered utility could have turned off the electricity sooner to a power line now suspected of sparking the monstrous Dixie Fire two months ago.

ECONOMY/JOBS

Economy:

CA FWD Applauds Passage of Community Economic Resilience Fund

CA FWD

An equitable California works for everyone. Investing in our regional economies and communities is a proven way to lift more Californians toward their dreams of a better tomorrow.

California Economic Summit

CA FWD

The Summit’s bipartisan network of business, equity, environmental and civic organizations is unique in championing solutions that meet the triple bottom line — balancing equity, environmental sustainability and economic growth.

See also:

● Join The Summit As a Sponsor CA FWD

The political economy of health reform: Price regulation vs. regulated competition

AEI

The realistic path forward is incrementalism toward either tighter government regulation of prices paid for insurance and services or a structured market that leads the sector’s suppliers of medical services to set competitive prices on their own.

U.S. poverty fell overall in 2020 due to stimulus payments

Washington Post

U.S. poverty fell overall in 2020, a surprising decline that is largely a result of the swift and large federal aid that Congress enacted at the start of the pandemic to try to prevent widespread financial hardship as the nation experienced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Inflation Eased in August, Though Prices Stayed High

Wall Street Journal

Inflation cooled slightly in August but remained strong, as a surge in Covid-19 infections slowed economic growth and pandemic-related shortages of labor and supplies continued to drive up prices.

Jobs:

Fresno Mayor Dyer vetoes union construction jobs deal. He says it’s ‘discriminatory’

Fresno Bee

See also:

● Mayor Dyer Vetoes Fresno Project Labor Agreement Business Journal

36 Calif cities and counties where minimum wage is higher than $14 an hour

Sacramento Bee

California’s current minimum wage is $14 an hour for those working for employers with 26 or more employees and $13 an hour for the rest. Next year, the state’s minimum wage will again increase by $1 an hour.

COVID jobs recovery: California rebound is among nation’s worst

Mercury News

California is mired near the bottom of the nation in recovering from mammoth lob losses unleashed by coronavirus-linked business shutdowns, underscoring the feeble economic rebound for the state.

The Biden Admin suggested blue states extend unemployment benefits, but they all rejected the offer

AEI

The Joe Biden administration quietly offered an opportunity to continue benefit payments after Labor Day using previously provided federal funds — but no states have accepted this offer. Here are three reasons why.

Opinion: A Four-Day Workweek Is No Holiday

Wall Street Journal

For most parents with young children, shorter—not fewer—workdays is a better deal.

EDUCATION

K-12:

School vaccine campaigns targeting students face blowback

Fresno Bee

Across the U.S., vaccine-hesitant parents are struggling with vaccine-seeking teenagers set on getting their shots.

Delta variant stress tests back-to-school plans

Washington Post

A Washington Post survey of the 20 largest school districts found that few are offering robust coronavirus screening amid vague guidelines and a surge of cases that few anticipated.

Will Forkner elementary become Tatarian elementary? Fresno community seeks to rename school

Fresno Bee

Fresno’s Forkner Elementary School could soon be known as H. Roger Tatarian Elementary School. Fresno Unified trustees could vote on the name change as soon as Oct. 13.

TUSD looks to fill new position to address diversity issues

Turlock Journal

Many California schools get a failing grade on teaching reading, report finds

EdSource

Many California school districts get a failing grade on how well they teach reading, according to a new report from the California Reading Coalition, a literacy advocacy group.

Transgender students’ rights shouldn’t be subject to partisan feuds

Brookings

When culture wars descend upon schools, vulnerable children are often caught in the crossfire. That is certainly the case with transgender students’ rights. The data available, limited as they are, reveal clear vulnerabilities among many students who identify as transgender.

Higher Ed:

Fresno State considers ending all in-person classes. Some students want it to happen now

Fresno Bee

Just weeks into the fall semester, Fresno State students are voicing their frustrations with what they’re calling lax health guidelines, stringent attendance policies, and sudden class changes.

Fresno State, UC Merced ranked high on lists of the nation's best colleges. What to know

Fresno Bee

Fresno State, Fresno Pacific, and UC Merced are among the nation’s best universities in social mobility, according to U.S. News and World Report’s new 2022 college rankings.

Thousands of UC students struggle to find housing

EdSource

While the housing shortage may not be universal throughout the UC system, it has affected thousands of students at UC Merced, UC San Diego and UC Santa Cruz, in addition to Santa Barbara.

Transgender students’ rights shouldn’t be subject to partisan feuds

Brookings

A coalition of 20 states recently filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that the Biden administration had overstepped in extending anti-discrimination protections on the basis of gender identity, including in schools.

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

Environment:

Torture orchard: Can science transform California crops to cope with drought?

CalMatters

The search is on to help California farmers find less-thirsty tree crops. But will the experiments come through in time as droughts intensify?

As the largest-ever U.S. climate bill inches forward, a lobbying frenzy ensues

Washington Post

The prospect of a $3.5 trillion tax-and-spending bill has sparked a lobbying frenzy in Congress, as lawmakers zero in this week on a measure that could reshape the nation’s energy system.

People around the world increasingly see climate change as a personal threat, new poll finds

Washington Post

Nearly three-quarters of residents of countries with some of the world’s most advanced economies worry that climate change will one day create suffering in their own lives, according to a far-reaching survey published Tuesday by the Pew Research Center.

Climate change could displace 200 million people within their own countries by 2050

Los Angeles Times

Climate change could push more than 200 million people to leave their homes in the next three decades and create migration hotspots unless urgent action is taken to reduce global emissions and bridge the development gap, a World Bank report has found.

Energy:

Editorial: Ready to hand over more cash to PG&E for power? Fresno leaders right to oppose proposal

Fresno Bee

First, PG&E is asking state regulators to hike electrical rates by 18% for residential customers in 2023. Rates would go up by smaller amounts to 2026, but overall, rates would jump by 22.5%.

California gets OK to boost gas power to keep lights on

Mercury News

The Biden administration on Friday issued an emergency order allowing some California natural gas power plants to operate without pollution restrictions to shore up the state’s tight electricity supplies, the U.S. Department of Energy said.

Chevron to Triple Low-Carbon Investment

Wall Street Journal

The San Ramon, Calif., oil giant is pledging to spend $10 billion through 2028 on biofuels, hydrogen production, carbon capture and other technologies, up from a prior commitment of around $3 billion.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Ivermectin is unproven for COVID-19. At Stanislaus feed stores, demand stays high

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County feed stores have seen a spike in demand for horse dewormer in recent months as some people have latched onto unproven claims that the drug can prevent or cure COVID-19.

These doctors and nurses share COVID-19 falsehoods. They can become misinformation superspreaders

Sacramento Bee

Misinformation has fed wishful thinking (COVID-19 is no worse than the flu) or hopes for a quick cure (hydroxychloroquine) since the first months of the pandemic in the United States.

Vaccine for both COVID and flu? Moderna making all-encompassing booster. What to know

Fresno Bee

It’s difficult to predict what this year’s flu season will look like, but Moderna, the company behind one of the nation’s three COVID-19 vaccines, is attempting to make the what-ifs a bit more predictable.

● Yes, you can get a covid booster and a flu shot together. Here’s what you need to know. Washington Post

FDA could authorize Pfizer vaccine for 5-to-11-year-old children, report says

San Francisco Chronicle

Many more people need to be vaccinated to reach a level of community immunity to not only end the delta surge but thwart future waves. Local pediatric infectious disease experts have weighed in on what types of masks are best for kids.

● Should the FDA move faster on COVID-19 vaccines for young children? Los Angeles Times

FDA experts among group opposing US booster shot plan

Fresno Bee

An international group of scientists is arguing the average person doesn’t need a COVID-19 booster yet — an opinion that highlights the intense scientific divide over the question.

● Does Everyone Need a Covid-19 Booster Shot? Here’s What Scientists Say Wall Street Journal

● COVID-19 booster shots: What we know so far Politifact

● Tensions mount between CDC and Biden health team over boosters Politico

Human Services:

Biden Admin Releasing Billions in Covid-19 Relief for Hospitals, Health Groups

Wall Street Journal

The Biden administration is releasing more than $25 billion in relief funds to health organizations from money Congress granted last year to cover financial losses from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health Care Unions Defending Newsom From Recall Will Want Single-Payer Payback

California Healthline

Should Gavin Newsom survive the Republican-driven attempt to oust him from office, the Democratic governor will face the prospect of paying back supporters who coalesced behind him.

IMMIGRATION

ICE transferred 17 immigrants between Kern County detention centers. Was it retaliation?

Fresno Bee

Biden administration steps up effort to unite migrant families separated under Trump

Los Angeles Times

The Biden administration is expanding its effort to find and reunite migrant families who were separated at the U.S.-Mexico border under former President Trump as part of a zero-tolerance policy on illegal crossings.

‘Dreamers’ Await Senate Parliamentarian’s Ruling on Reconciliation Package

Wall Street Journal

The fate of young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children has become wedded to Democrats’ sprawling $3.5 trillion social-welfare package, with a key decision on its Senate path expected within days.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Modesto Councilman Ricci, Sheriff Dirkse advocating for campgrounds for homeless

Modesto Bee

Housing:

Merced has a plan to address its affordable housing crisis. But does it fall short?

Merced Sun Star

California cities' ability to stop new housing projects limited by state appeals court

San Francisco Chronicle

Under the Housing Authority and Accountability Act, if a proposed development is consistent with a city’s general plan and zoning standards, a city can reject it only if it would have “a specific, adverse and unavoidable impact on public health or safety” under objective criteria.

Gavin Newsom Showed Up At An Encampment Sweep. Were The People Living There Moved Into Safe Housing?

Politifact

Caltrans officials clearing a Berkeley homeless encampment last month were joined by a surprise guest: Gov. Gavin Newsom, who personally spoke with the workers about their efforts to move unhoused people into shelters and was photographed at the site moving items.

PUBLIC FINANCES

Why families in Stanislaus County are receiving Pandemic EBT cards to buy groceries

Modesto Bee

At-home COVID test costs are eligible for reimbursement, IRS says. Here’s what to know

Sacramento Bee

The Internal Revenue Service last week reminded taxpayers that the cost of at-home coronavirus testing is an “eligible medical expense” and therefore can be paid for or reimbursed.

How you can help America deal with its COVID-related coin circulation problem

Sacramento Bee

Is there really a coin shortage? No. There isn’t a coin shortage in the United States, reports WFAA-ABC8. There’s a coin circulation problem, according to the U.S. Coin Task Force.

Gary Gensler Outlines SEC Agenda in Senate Hearing

Wall Street Journal

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler on Tuesday testified to lawmakers about a far-reaching policy agenda that could shake up Wall Street firms’ business models and require heftier disclosures from public companies.

What’s in the Democratic Tax Proposal?

Wall Street Journal

See also:

● Democrats Release Details of Proposed Tax Increase Wall Street Journal

● House Democrats Consider 26.5% Corporate Tax Rate Wall Street Journal

● Editorital: Here Comes the Biden Tax Bill Wall Street Journal

● Editorial: Democrats Blink on Carried Interest Wall Street Journal

● Democrats seek corporate, wealthy tax hikes for $3.5T plan The Business Journal

Democrats Hear Conflicting Messages From Voters on $3.5 Trillion Plan

Wall Street Journal

U.S. Budget Deficit Narrowed to $2.7 Trillion in First 11 Months of Fiscal Year

Wall Street Journal

Poverty fell overall in 2020 due to massive stimulus checks and unemployment aid, U.S. Census says

Washington Post

Municipal Pension Funding Increased in Recent Years, but Challenges Remain

Pew Trusts

The Pew Charitable Trusts has examined funding data for 100 pension plans in 33 cities from 2015 to 2017. The analysis found a $145 billion shortfall in 2017 between assets on hand and the liabilities for promised benefits.

● Stress Testing of Public Pensions Can Help States Navigate the COVID-19 Economy Pew Trusts

TRANSPORTATION

U.S. lawmakers to vote on $10 billion for high-speed-rail grants

Reuters

A U.S. House of Representatives panel plans to vote next week on legislation that includes $10 billion in government assistance for high-speed-rail corridors.

● Progressive Dems Demand $30B for Transit, Deemphasize EVs StreetsBlog USA

● Feds Prep $10 Billion More for High-Speed Rail StreetsBlog Cal

US, California exploring vehicle-miles-traveled 'user fee’ to replace gas tax

North Bay Business Journal

Federal and state governments are taking a serious look at moving away from a tax per gallon method of paying for road repairs in favor of motorists paying by the mile.

WATER

Biden’s interior secretary backs West Side reservoir, more California water storage

Modesto Bee

Fresno County towns with no drinking water drown in debt while hope fades for new well

Fresno Bee

Study finds local oil field wastewater safe for use in irrigation

Bakersfield Californian

“Xtra”

To-go cocktails will become a regular feature until Dec. 31, 2026 if Newsom signs SB 389. The allowance was granted when bars and restaurants were hit especially hard by government shutdowns.

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