September 20, 2021

20Sep

POLICY & POLITICS

 

Valley Recall Results:

 

North SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Modesto starts talking about its next city auditor, nearly 3 years after last one left

Modesto Bee

The Modesto City Council has started talking about filling the position of city auditor, nearly three years after the last one left under a cloud roughly eight months after the council had hired her.

 

Modesto could receive funding for 9 new firefighters, reopening of station. Here’s how.

Modesto Bee

The Modesto Fire Department has been awarded a $4.2 million federal grant to hire nine firefighters over three years, which the fire chief says will reduce overtime, including mandated OT, and save the department money.

 

Housing, transportation, mental help are barriers for resettlement centers, refugees

Modesto Bee

Over 1,000 refugees will arrive in Stanislaus County within a year as resettlement centers say it’s hard to find housing, transportation and mental health services for the Afghans already here.

 

At least 250 Denair Unified students quarantined, including football, volleyball teams

Modesto Bee

At least 250 students in Denair Unified School District were quarantined as of Friday morning, including the entire varsity and junior varsity football and volleyball teams.

See also:

 

UC Merced needs funding to open a medical school. Here’s how it could happen

Merced Sun Star

The dream of having medical school at UC Merced is coming closer to becoming a reality, according to politicians and school leaders who conducted a roundtable discussion with students at the university Friday afternoon.

 

Modesto Junior College invites students, alumni to celebrate 100th anniversary Sunday

Modesto Bee

Modesto Junior College will celebrate 100 years of educating the local community with a virtual and in-person event for students, alumni and community members on Sunday.

See also:

 

Los Banos Campus of Merced College invites community to free 50th anniversary celebration

Fresno Bee

Merced College is inviting all Los Banos and Dos Palos residents to the Los Banos Campus’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on November 5. The free Friday afternoon celebration, from 2 to 6 p.m., will take place in the outdoor quad of the Los Banos Campus of Merced College.

 

Not enough housing: What Stanislaus County, its cities are doing about it

Modesto Bee

In an effort to meet housing needs across Modesto and Stanislaus County, county leaders and stakeholders on Tuesday presented a new, large-scale plan to address the local inventory crisis.

 

Names of Note: Four earn Latino Leadership Award from Modesto area’s congressman

Modesto Bee

Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, presented his annual Latino Leadership Award to people working in health care, education and other causes.

 

After pandemic closure, Modesto historical site set to reopen. See when, guidelines

Modesto Bee

The historical McHenry Mansion will reopen after being shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic. Public tours return Friday, Sept. 17. Tours will be limited to six people, who must be from the same household, or family members or friends who go as a group.

 

Council pushes back roads decision as citizens criticize bond proposal

Turlock Journal

The Turlock City Council on Tuesday decided they need more time to commence the planned roads program initiative, forgoing a contract approval with consultants who had proposed exploring lease revenue bonds as a way to fund road repairs.

See also:

 

TID recognized for advancing sustainability practices

Turlock Journal

The Turlock Irrigation District was awarded a Beacon Leadership and Innovation Award at CSDA’s 2021 Annual Conference in Monterey. TID is the first-ever special district to receive a Beacon Award for excellence in advancing environmental sustainability.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Fresno City Council votes to sue water agency over costs to repair Friant-Kern Canal

Fresno Bee

The Fresno City Council voted Thursday to sue the Friant Water Authority for declaratory relief to protect city ratepayers for paying the price for damage to the Friant-Kern Canal allegedly caused by Tulare County farmers.

See also:

 

Judges reopen Devin Nunes’ defamation lawsuit against journalist over tweet

Fresno Bee

A federal appeals court is allowing Rep. Devin Nunes to sue a journalist over a tweet linking to a magazine story he wrote about the congressman, reversing part of a lower court ruling that had dismissed the case entirely.

 

Another school in Fresno considers name change? Family says district dragging its feet

Fresno Bee

Central Unified community members will have the chance to give input on school name and mascot changes. On Tuesday, the Central Unified board voted to create a committee to study mascot and name changes for Central Unified.

 

It took 40 seconds, but Fresno State’s last-minute win over UCLA will last forever

Fresno Bee

It was about 12:30 a.m. by the time Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener made it out of the locker room at the Rose Bowl, where he had just led the Bulldogs to a 40-37 victory over No. 13 UCLA.

 

Fresno health officer says climate change is ‘global poisoning,’ calls for federal action

Fresno Bee

Saying climate change is a “global poisoning event” that threatens the health of Central Valley residents, the head of Fresno County Public Health on Friday called for congressional support of climate investments through President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act.

 

Fresno County reports California’s first case in 2021 of this mosquito-borne illness

Fresno Bee

California’s first positive case of St. Louis encephalitis in 2021 has been reported and it’s in Fresno County. The mosquito-borne illness, in rare and extreme cases, can cause inflammation of the brain, according to the Fresno County Department of Public Health.

 

‘It’s been a mess.’ Hear from Fresno renters, landlords struggling to access help

Fresno Bee

A once homeless veteran borrowed $1,500 from his mother to pay rent while he waited to hear back from the Housing Retention Grant Program. That decision, he said, cost him approval for the program.

 

Warszawski: Fresno politician is tough on crime committed by poor people. By his own aide? Nope

Fresno Bee

Perhaps it’s time for the Fresno City Council to start meeting on Zoom again. If only so five of the seven council members — Garry Bredefeld and a group he termed the “gang of 4” — don’t shank each other in the throat. Especially at a time when we need every last ICU bed.

 

Internal Fresno police audit reveals continued outside work violations

abc30

A new internal audit has revealed that issues with Fresno police officers working second jobs on city time continued even after a previous review. But new safeguards could be eliminating the issue.

 

Fresno Unified and Clovis Unified desperately need substitute teachers

abc30

Educators are working non-stop to keep our schools staffed and they tell Action News, amid a pandemic, it's not easy. Both Fresno and Clovis Unified are desperately in need of substitute teachers.

 

Downtown Fresno is getting a parking meter makeover

abc30

When paired with the ParkMobile app, the new meters will allow people to avoid hustling back to the car to add coins or time with their credit or ATM card. After all, nobody likes a parking ticket.

FBI Probe of Possible Fresno City Hall Corruption Underway

GV Wire

The FBI is investigating possible corruption and influence-peddling at Fresno City Hall, and a federal grand jury is hearing testimony from witnesses, GV Wire has learned.

 

Trustee Crabtree confirms plans to resign from Visalia Unified school board

Visalia Times Delta

After living in Visalia for nearly 40 years, Visalia Unified trustee John Crabtree confirmed his plans to resign from his position serving on the school board.

 

Revised repurposing farmland bill on Governor's desk

Porterville Recorder

After much wrangling over how lost farmland could be used for other purposes — and what purposes they could be — growers who lose farmland should now have a chance to receive the help they need to use their land for other plans.

 

Around Kings County: No power from 'slave labor' after all

Hanford Sentinel

A critic of three Westlands Solar Park projects in Kings County ended up withdrawing an appeal from the Board of Supervisors recently that had claimed Westlands would not certify they would not use solar panels from China that used forced labor.

 

Clovis Fire Chief named Fire Chief of the Year

Clovis Roundup

On Sept. 16, Clovis Fire Chief John Binaski was awarded Fire Chief of the Year at the CalChiefs annual conference. Hosted by the California Fire Chiefs Association, the conference took place in San Diego.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Financial literacy workshops target low-income residents

Bakersfield Californian

Smith-Sweeney grew up in Bakersfield’s housing authority and was a single mother. The community bank manager witnessed firsthand the effects of limited budgets. She seeks to ensure children avoid her own financial mistakes.

 

Bakersfield employees push for COVID premium pay following $22M in bonuses for county workers

Bakersfield Californian

Weeks after the Kern County Board of Supervisors approved $3,000 payments for staff who worked during the coronavirus pandemic, employees of the city of Bakersfield are pushing for their own bonuses.

 

Kern leads in production of California's most lucrative crops

Bakersfield Californian

A new report shows Kern leading other counties in production of California's most lucrative crops, including three of the state's top seven agricultural exports.

 

Kern unemployment falls to 10 percent

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County's unemployment rate improved to an even 10 percent in August thanks to a surge in hiring at local schools, restaurants, farms and health-care facilities, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.

PG&E says 675 Kern County customers potentially affected by power shut-off Monday

Bakersfield Californian

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is warning Kern County residents in some of its service areas that power outages could happen beginning Monday because of dry, offshore high winds that could spark wildfires.

 

California Landlords’ Summit on Homelessness to cover housing shortage

Bakersfield Californian

The California Landlords’ Summit on Homelessness, which aims to address housing shortage solutions, is set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday online. Landlords, real estate and housing industry professionals can register online at clsh21.eventbrite.com.

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Water transfers helped farmers survive this year. Now, all eyes are on the coming water year

Bakersfield Californian

Water transfers, trades and sales doubled this year as drought left San Joaquin Valley farmers scrambling for supplies. “This has been kind of an exceptional year for transfers,” said Sam Boland-Brien, program manager at the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Water Rights.

 

LOIS HENRY: They came, they saw, they took out the trash

Bakersfield Californian

In Bakersfield, about 40 volunteers with Bring Back the Kern, a nonprofit group dedicated to getting water flowing on a more regular basis through town, cleared away trash under the bridge at Mohawk Street.

 

Bakersfield's vacant storefronts get a closer look

Bakersfield Californian

Forgotten retail spaces are about to get more attention under one of the city's new strategies. City staff plan to take an inventory of local store vacancies then choose one or more properties for a demonstration project, possibly downtown or at former East Hills Mall.

 

State:

 

COVID Update:

 

Recall vote highlights California’s geopolitical divisions

Sacramento Bee

The California recall election was a blowout win for Gov. Gavin Newsom that reinforced the state's political divisions: The Democratic governor won big support in coastal areas and urban centers, while the rural north and agricultural inland, with far fewer voters, largely wanted him gone.

See also:

 

With recall defeated, Newsom scores well in poll against 2022 rivals

Los Angeles Times

After overwhelmingly rejecting an effort to oust Gov. Gavin Newsom in Tuesday’s recall election, California voters appear ready to sign him up for a second term in 2022.

See also:

 

California has 2.9 million ballots left to count in Newsom recall election. What that means

Sacramento Bee

California county election officials have an estimated 2.9 million more ballots to count in the recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Secretary of State reported Thursday evening. The majority of the remaining ballots are mail ballots.

See also:

 

Editorial: California must reform its recall election process. Here’s how to make it fair, effective

Sacramento Bee

As the votes are officially tallied, an important question looms: How can California reform its recall laws so future recall elections are really about the will of voters and not a partisan tool?

See also:

 

California recall vote shows Trump’s big lie is now Republican playbook

The Guardian

Former president Donald Trump warned that the ballot would be “rigged”. The Republican candidate Larry Elder predicted “shenanigans”. The conservative media star Tomi Lahren suggested that “voter fraud” was inevitable.

 

Opinion: After the embarrassing recall results, maybe now California Republicans will wise up

Washington Post

The side-door approach is one way to view California Republicans’ failed attempt to unseat Gov. Newsom in Tuesday’s recall vote. The maneuver worked at first — Republicans managed to secure a special election — but then it blew up in their faces.

 

More duplexes. Gavin Newsom signs bills aimed at creating more affordable housing in California

Sacramento Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom moved Thursday to create more affordable housing in California, signing a list of bills that would allow more duplexes and small apartment buildings in certain neighborhoods.

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California’s 7 tightest House of Representatives elections to watch in 2022

Sacramento Bee

Four incumbent Republicans are running in districts that went to President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in 2020, meaning their reelections are vulnerable. Three Democrats could also be in jeopardy, according to the Crystal Ball’s managing editor.

 

California will try to fix its unemployment system. Here’s when it could happen

Sacramento Bee

Little by little, it should become easier to deal with the Employment Development Department, thanks to a series of measures the Legislature has passed. But don’t expect problems to suddenly evaporate.

 

Two of Gavin Newsom’s children test positive for COVID-19

Sacramento Bee

Two of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s children have tested positive for COVID-19, his office said Friday evening. The two children tested positive Thursday, spokeswoman Erin Mellon said. Newsom, his wife and his other two children have tested negative.

See also:

 

California could forfeit millions of dollars meant for struggling renters, auditor warns

Los Angeles Times

California must step up its effort to distribute federal funds to renters struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic or the state risks forfeiting millions of dollars in assistance, the state auditor warned Thursday.

 

California imposes more safeguards on youth organizations

Associated Press

California imposed more safeguards on youth service organizations Thursday to protect against future child abuse complaints like those that drove the Boys Scouts of America into bankruptcy last year.

 

Opinion: Apple, Epic, net neutrality, and privacy: California’s long shadow over tech policy

AEI

California’s tech-specific laws threaten similar extraterritorial effects. SB822 requires California broadband providers to abide by blocking, throttling, paid prioritization, and other prohibitions similar to those that the Federal Communications Commission repealed in 2018.

 

CalChamber appoints new CEO

The Business Journal

The California Chamber of Commerce has announced the appointment of Jennifer Barrera as the organization’s next President and CEO, effective October 1.

 

Study shows remote proceedings increase efficiency, access

California Courts Newsroom

New legislation would allow courts to continue to hold civil proceedings remotely, following unprecedented demand from the public to access the courts remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Newsom has until Oct. 10 to sign the bill, which would sunset in 2023.

 

Federal:

 

COVID Update:

Wall Street Journal

 

Senate parliamentarian deals blow to Dems’ immigration push

Sacramento Bee

Democrats can’t use their $3.5 trillion package bolstering social and climate programs to give millions of immigrants a chance to become citizens, a crushing blow to what was the party’s clearest pathway in years to attaining that long-sought goal.

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Democrats Hope To Undo Many Trump Tax Cuts To Fund Biden's $3.5 Trillion Budget Plan

NPR

Democrats hope to unwind many of the tax cuts Republicans enacted under former President Donald Trump as a way to pay for the majority of the $3.5 trillion spending bill currently under consideration in Congress.

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What the Infrastructure Bill Would Help Fix First

Wall Street Journal

Transportation officials across the U.S. are gearing up for a potential cash infusion from the infrastructure bill, planning to speed up repairs of century-old bridges, fix rural roads battered by heavy trucks and overhaul a key distribution route for hot dogs and rice cakes.

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Democrats Press Ahead With Debt-Limit Vote Amid Standoff With GOP

Wall Street Journal

A fight over raising the government’s borrowing limit is expected to ratchet up this week, with Democrats moving ahead with a vote in the face of GOP opposition, raising doubts about whether Congress will take action before the federal government runs out of cash.

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Bureau of Land Management headquarters to return to D.C., reversing Trump decision

Washington Post

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Friday announced the move and said current headquarters in Grand Junction, Colo., would become a “Western headquarters" for the agency.

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Battle over Biden’s massive child-care bill takes new turn with virus

Politico

Working women, whose child care duties vastly expanded during the pandemic, are bracing for a new hit to their incomes and careers as the resurgent coronavirus jeopardizes plans to keep kids in school full time.

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Dems vow to go the distance as September problems pile up

Politico

The House and Senate return to Washington together this week with Democrats facing four tasks that would be challenging on their own — but, taken together, are the legislative equivalent of Hercules’ labors.

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Confusion over Biden's booster plan riles governors

Politico

Federal public health officials are still wrestling with who should get Covid-19 booster shots and when, but that hasn't stopped some states from moving ahead on their own.

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The Supreme Court and the Future of Roe v. Wade

New Yorker

One of the more dubious assumptions undergirding the latest assault on reproductive rights in this country is the idea that abortion is a kind of niche procedure for which there isn’t much need, and for which there will be even less need in some unspecified future.

See also:

 

Trump Looks for Challenger to Depose Mitch McConnell as Split Widens

Wall Street Journal

Mr. Trump has spoken recently with senators and allies about trying to depose Mr. McConnell and whether any Republicans are interested in mounting a challenge, according to people familiar with the conversations.

 

Manchin and the Democrats’ last chance

Brookings

Senator Joe Manchin is the man to watch in Washington. It was obvious once the Democrats took control of the Senate that the centrist Democratic Senator from West Virginia.

 

Other:

 

More White Americans adopted than shed evangelical label during Trump presidency, especially his supporters

Pew Research Center

Since Donald Trump was elected president in 2016 due in part to strong support from White evangelical Protestants, many observers have wondered what impact this political alliance might have on the evangelical church in the United States.

 

Podcast: American Rage

New Yorker

During the past year, public meetings have become scenes of chaos. Debates about the results of the 2020 election, race, abortion, voting access, and the covid-19 vaccine have erupted in displays of frustration and rage, and sometimes in violence.

 

Opinion: The pursuit of happiness is happiness

Washington Post

Having now completed five decades as a columnist, I suspect a few readers might be interested in learning how someone could have the good fortune to tumble into such a career.

 

Opinion: Is the US headed for another Civil War?

Brookings

Is it really possible that America could face the possibility of civil war in the near future? It may seem unthinkable, and yet there’s much to worry about.

 

What does ‘off the record’ mean? The latest journalism controversy

Poynter

The common belief among many is that when a source tells a reporter something “off the record” that means the reporter cannot or should not publicly share that information.

 

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, September 26, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: ​​ "Air Quality: Has the Valley Hit the Invisible Wall?" - Guest: Rachel Becker, Environmental Reporter - CalMatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, September 26, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "Valley Air: Are We Breathing Any Easier?"- Guests: Tom Jordan, Senior Policy Advisor - San Joaquin Valley Air District; ​​ Dr. Tania Pacheco-Werner, Co-Director - Fresno State’s Central Valley Health Policy Institute. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Revised repurposing farmland bill on Governor's desk

Porterville Recorder

After much wrangling over how lost farmland could be used for other purposes — and what purposes they could be — growers who lose farmland should now have a chance to receive the help they need to use their land for other plans.

 

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 “Torture Orchard” experiments come through in time as droughts intensify?

 

Kern leads in production of California's most lucrative crops

Bakersfield Californian

A new report shows Kern leading other counties in production of California's most lucrative crops, including three of the state's top seven agricultural exports.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Judges reopen Devin Nunes’ defamation lawsuit against journalist over tweet

Fresno Bee

A federal appeals court is allowing Rep. Devin Nunes to sue a journalist over a tweet linking to a magazine story he wrote about the congressman, reversing part of a lower court ruling that had dismissed the case entirely.

 

California moves closer to decriminalizing psychedelic drugs

NBC

A voter initiative to decriminalize magic mushrooms was recently approved for signature-gathering, and a legislative proposal is set to be considered next year.

 

Public Safety:

 

Internal Fresno police audit reveals continued outside work violations

abc30

A new internal audit has revealed that issues with Fresno police officers working second jobs on city time continued even after a previous review. But new safeguards could be eliminating the issue.

 

What's toxic algae and could it really have killed an entire California family hiking near Yosemite?

SF Gate

For those of us who spend time outside, the sight of stagnant, murky, greenish water instantly raises concern. We recognize that it’s potentially harmful algae, so we steer clear, keep our pets away and we definitely don’t swim in it or drink it.

 

New data shows gun violence spiking in 2021

The Hill

Gun violence is spiking across the United States, and new data suggests the year is on pace to be one of the deadliest on record.

 

Pandemic Prompts Cycling Surge—and Calls for New Protections

Pew Trusts

COVID-19 has sparked a surge in cycling, as Americans have sought alternatives to crowded gyms, buses and trains. There also has been an uptick in distracted drivers and speeding over the past 18 months.

 

Fire:

Central California’s out-of-control KNP wildfire closing in on giant historic trees

Fresno Bee

Driven by dry fuels and critical fire weather, the two separate wildfires that made up the complex — known as the Paradise and Colony fires — merged sooner than anticipated and have reached at least one grove of historic giant sequoia trees.

See also:

 

Windy Fire doubles to 12,000 acres, no containment. Ponderosa, sequoia groves threatened

Visalia Times Delta

Ash rained down on the Ponderosa Lodge Friday afternoon as the Windy Fire exceeded 12,000 acres. The fire is threatening world-famous giant sequoia groves and retraumatizing a community that was sieged by fire just one year ago.

See also:

 

Crews continue to fight river bottom fire burning near Children’s Boulevard in Madera County

Fresno Bee

Firefighters continued Sunday afternoon to battle a blaze along the Madera side of the San Joaquin River bottom. The fire started about 11:40 a.m. near Rio Mesa and Children’s Boulevard in Madera County and had grown to 42 acres with 50% containment.

 

Modesto could receive funding for 9 new firefighters, reopening of station. Here’s how.

Modesto Bee

The Modesto Fire Department has been awarded a $4.2 million federal grant to hire nine firefighters over three years, which the fire chief says will reduce overtime, including mandated OT, and save the department money.

 

Clovis Fire Chief named Fire Chief of the Year

Clovis Roundup

On Sept. 16, Clovis Fire Chief John Binaski was awarded Fire Chief of the Year at the CalChiefs annual conference. Hosted by the California Fire Chiefs Association, the conference took place in San Diego.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

A Summer Of 'Yes' Is Ending In A Cloud Of Uncertainty For The Economy

VPR

It started out as the summer of possibility. Earlier this year, lines outside restaurants were long and bars filled up with noshing revelers. People started shopping for clothes to look presentable again after more than a year of pandemic isolation.

 

Opinion: How to help bridge our wealth and income gap

CalMatters

We can create opportunity and work collaboratively to shape a world that narrows wealth and income inequality.

 

Inflation Is All Over the Place

Wall Street Journal

It is always better to be lucky than right, and for the Fed and its view that high inflation is transitory, inflation figures have brought a big element of luck. Digging into the numbers shows how easily that luck could go away. If it does, the quiet in markets could be upended.

 

Covid-19 Vaccinations Boost the Global Economy, but May Not Cure It Alone

Wall Street Journal

The global recovery is slowing as Covid-19 resurges, spurring governments to try to raise vaccination rates in hopes of fueling stronger economic growth. However, it isn’t clear that higher vaccination rates alone will do the trick.

 

‘The pay is absolute crap’: Child-care workers are quitting rapidly, a red flag for the economy

Washington Post

Child care employment is still down more than 126,000 positions as workers leave for higher-paying positions as bank tellers, administrative assistants and retail clerks. Parents are struggling to return to work as daycare and after-school programs dwindle.

 

Jobs:

 

Bakersfield employees push for COVID premium pay following $22M in bonuses for county workers

Bakersfield Californian

Weeks after the Kern County Board of Supervisors approved $3,000 payments for staff who worked during the coronavirus pandemic, employees of the city of Bakersfield are pushing for their own bonuses.

 

Kern unemployment falls to 10 percent

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County's unemployment rate improved to an even 10 percent in August thanks to a surge in hiring at local schools, restaurants, farms and health-care facilities, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.

 

Start of school year fuels California job growth in August

Sacramento Bee

Public school teachers and staff returning to the classroom in August fueled another impressive month of job gains in California as officials said that the state added another 104,300 jobs on its march to erase an unprecedented pandemic employment deficit.

See also:

 

More than 2 million Californians set to lose unemployment benefits

CalMatters

2.2 million of the 3 million Californians currently receiving some form of unemployment insurance to completely lose their benefits

 

Working women face new setback as virus upends school plans

Politico

After 18 months of shutdowns, online learning and canceled summer camps, the return to classrooms was supposed to be a turning point for women. ​​ 

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

School vandalism spike linked to social media trend? It could cost Fresno parents money

Fresno Bee

Schools in Selma, Clovis, and Fresno have all seen a rise in vandalism, and a new viral trend on the social media site, TikTok, may be to blame. The “Devious Licks Challenge” has been trending across social media, inspiring students to destroy and steal public school property.

See also:

 

At least 250 Denair Unified students quarantined, including football, volleyball teams

Modesto Bee

At least 250 students in Denair Unified School District were quarantined as of Friday morning, including the entire varsity and junior varsity football and volleyball teams.

See also:

 

Another school in Fresno considers name change? Family says district dragging its feet

Fresno Bee

Central Unified community members will have the chance to give input on school name and mascot changes. On Tuesday, the Central Unified board voted to create a committee to study mascot and name changes for Central Unified.

 

Fresno Unified and Clovis Unified desperately need substitute teachers

abc30

Educators are working non-stop to keep our schools staffed and they tell Action News, amid a pandemic, it's not easy. Both Fresno and Clovis Unified are desperately in need of substitute teachers.

See also:

 

Trustee Crabtree confirms plans to resign from Visalia Unified school board

Visalia Times Delta

After living in Visalia for nearly 40 years, Visalia Unified trustee John Crabtree confirmed his plans to resign from his position serving on the school board.

 

Students with disabilities across California stuck in limbo

CalMatters

Some parents are being forced to decide between risking sending their kids with disabilities to school and getting all their needs met or keeping them at home and forfeiting their special education services.

 

Rural Perspectives: Enhancing Education and Training Support for Rural Residents

EdNote

Rural communities are not a monolith; their diversity creates unique assets and opportunities that require unique policy solutions. One of the best ways to understand the diversity of those challenges is to hear directly from rural residents.

 

How the pandemic has changed teachers’ commitment to remaining in the classroom

Brookings

About 30% of teachers in our sample reported teaching fully remote for the majority of the school year, 49% reported that they taught in a hybrid model, and 21% reported teaching fully in person.

 

What can social media listening tell us about the desire for education change?

Brookings

As four key insights in this analysis will later show, teacher, parent, and student conversations on social media have been largely siloed within their individual groups and focused on different aspects of the education system.

 

Higher Ed:

 

Modesto Junior College invites students, alumni to celebrate 100th anniversary Sunday

Modesto Bee

Modesto Junior College will celebrate 100 years of educating the local community with a virtual and in-person event for students, alumni and community members on Sunday.

See also:

 

Los Banos Campus of Merced College invites community to free 50th anniversary celebration

Fresno Bee

Merced College is inviting all Los Banos and Dos Palos residents to the Los Banos Campus’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on November 5. The free Friday afternoon celebration, from 2 to 6 p.m., will take place in the outdoor quad of the Los Banos Campus of Merced College.

 

UC Merced needs funding to open a medical school. Here’s how it could happen

Fresno Bee

The dream of having medical school at UC Merced is coming closer to becoming a reality, according to politicians and school leaders who conducted a roundtable discussion with students at the university Friday afternoon.

 

$1.25M grant to encourage women engineering professors at Fresno State, other CSUs

The Business Journal

The National Science Foundation has awarded Fresno State’s proposal for a $1.25 million grant to strengthen the representation of female engineering faculty in the California State University system.

 

After major win over UCLA, here’s what’s next for the Fresno State Bulldogs

Fresno Bee

The Fresno State Bulldogs’ defense had one job. It was that kind of deal. UCLA had, in winning its first two games, run the football on 70% of its plays and run right over Hawaii and a ranked team in No. 16 LSU.

 

Free community college: Progress is being made, but pitfalls remain

Brookings

America’s College Promise Act (ACPA) makes public community college tuition and fees free for low-income students by having the federal and state governments pick up the tab.

 

Apprenticeships:

 

Internship for Fresno Unified students helping give information on COVID vaccine

abc30

A group they're a part of, the "Immigrant Refugee Coalition" partnered with Fresno Unified School District to create paid internships for students. The mission of those interns is to provide information about COVID-19, vaccine events and much more to their families, communities, and most of all, peers.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Fresno health officer says climate change is ‘global poisoning,’ calls for federal action

Fresno Bee

Saying climate change is a “global poisoning event” that threatens the health of Central Valley residents, the head of Fresno County Public Health on Friday called for congressional support of climate investments through President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act.

 

Countries Promised To Cut Greenhouse Emissions, The UN Says They Are Failing

VPR

The United Nations is warning that most countries have failed to uphold promises to make deep cuts to greenhouse gas pollution, in order to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change.

 

Americans are less concerned – but more divided – on climate change than people elsewhere

Pew Research Center

As the next United Nations Climate Change Conference approaches (COP26), people in advanced economies are highly concerned about the personal impact of climate change and are willing to make changes to address the issue with personal and international action.

 

As they gather at U.N., world leaders face furious push to act quickly on climate change

Washington Post

With only six weeks left until a crucial global climate summit in Scotland, presidents and prime ministers face pressure to set aside diplomatic tensions and act quickly and collectively to slow the warming of the planet — something they have struggled to do in the past.

 

Energy:

Around Kings County: No power from 'slave labor' after all

Hanford Sentinel

A critic of three Westlands Solar Park projects in Kings County ended up withdrawing an appeal from the Board of Supervisors recently that had claimed Westlands would not certify they would not use solar panels from China that used forced labor.

 

PG&E says 675 Kern County customers potentially affected by power shut-off Monday

Bakersfield Californian

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is warning Kern County residents in some of its service areas that power outages could happen beginning Monday because of dry, offshore high winds that could spark wildfires.

See also:

 

PG&E seeks to recover array of costs, higher monthly bills loom

Mercury News

PG&E customers face the prospect of higher monthly bills due to the utility’s requests for more revenue to ensure it can cope with an array of events including wildfires, coronavirus challenges and other catastrophes.

 

Natural-Gas Prices Surge, and Winter Is Still Months Away

Wall Street Journal

Natural-gas prices have surged, prompting worries about winter shortages and forecasts for the most expensive fuel since frackers flooded the market more than a decade ago. U.S. natural-gas futures ended Friday at $5.105 per million British thermal units.

 

Opinion: To prevent electricity shortages, save nuclear and coal plants

AEI

Given the appeal of emission-free sources of energy, it’s popular these days to talk about producing much more of our nation’s electricity from solar power. But so far, solar is generating more enthusiasm than electricity.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Fresno County reports California’s first case in 2021 of this mosquito-borne illness

Fresno Bee

California’s first positive case of St. Louis encephalitis in 2021 has been reported and it’s in Fresno County. The mosquito-borne illness, in rare and extreme cases, can cause inflammation of the brain, according to the Fresno County Department of Public Health.

 

COVID Vaccine For Kids Ages 5 To 11 Is Safe And Effective, Pfizer Says

VPR

The first results from the highly anticipated trial studying the effectiveness and safety of the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 showed promising results.

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Valley Children’s Doctors Brace For a Rise In Rare Children’s Condition Following Delta Surge

VPR

There were nearly 5,000 reported cases of MIS-C and 41 related deaths in the nation, as of Aug. 27, the CDC said. That included nearly 600 cases in California. The Fresno County Department of Public Health did not have data on local cases and referred KVPR to Valley Children’s Hospital.

 

How Ivermectin Became The New Focus Of The Anti-Vaccine Movement

VPR

How did a science question about the efficacy of an inexpensive, everyday drug become an inflamed public morality debate — where people on both sides believe the wrong position could cost lives?

 

Booster Shots:

Former FDA Scientist Says More Data Is Needed On COVID-19 Booster Shots

VPR

Yesterday, a committee of experts appointed to advise the FDA voted overwhelmingly against recommending a third shot of the Pfizer vaccine for people aged 16 and up.

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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 by the CDC 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.

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Is a variant worse than Delta on the way? Viral evolution offers clues.

National Geographic

Experts are exploring trends in the ways viruses mutate to understand why highly contagious variants like Delta emerge—and what might come next.

 

Human Services:

 

Valley Hospitals Stretched Thin By Latest COVID-19 Surge

VPR

Yet again, Central Valley hospitals are overflowing with COVID-19 patients, which has stretched our medical systems thin and created disturbing consequences for anyone in need of critical care.

See also:

In The Fight Against COVID, Health Workers Aren't Immune To Vaccine Misinformation

VPR

As new data shows 1 in 500 Americans has died from COVID-19 and the delta variant continues to surge across the country, the next challenge many health care leaders face is within their own staffs.

See also:

 

California to receive $19.2-million federal boost for maternal, child health programs

Los Angeles Times

California’s home visiting programs for parents and children will receive a $19.2-million federal funding boost. The home visiting programs teach parenting skills, provide information on safe sleep positions, injury prevention and nutrition and screening young children for developmental delays.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Senate parliamentarian deals blow to Dems’ immigration push

Sacramento Bee

Democrats can’t use their $3.5 trillion package bolstering social and climate programs to give millions of immigrants a chance to become citizens, a crushing blow to what was the party’s clearest pathway in years to attaining that long-sought goal.

See also:

 

Thousands Of Migrants From Haiti Are Waiting At The U.S.-Mexico Border

VPR

A massive migrant encampment under the International Bridge connecting Del Rio, Texas, with Ciudad Acuna in Mexico has grown to more than 14,000 people. Most of the migrants are from Haiti.

See also:

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Bakersfield's vacant storefronts get a closer look

Bakersfield Californian

Forgotten retail spaces are about to get more attention under one of the city's new strategies. City staff plan to take an inventory of local store vacancies then choose one or more properties for a demonstration project, possibly downtown or at former East Hills Mall.

 

Housing:

 

Not enough housing: What Stanislaus County, its cities are doing about it

Modesto Bee

In an effort to meet housing needs across Modesto and Stanislaus County, county leaders and stakeholders on Tuesday presented a new, large-scale plan to address the local inventory crisis.

 

‘It’s been a mess.’ Hear from Fresno renters, landlords struggling to access help

Fresno Bee

A once homeless veteran borrowed $1,500 from his mother to pay rent while he waited to hear back from the Housing Retention Grant Program. That decision, he said, cost him approval for the program.

 

California Landlords’ Summit on Homelessness to cover housing shortage

Bakersfield Californian

The California Landlords’ Summit on Homelessness, which aims to address housing shortage solutions, is set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday online. Landlords, real estate and housing industry professionals can register online at clsh21.eventbrite.com.

 

California could forfeit millions of dollars meant for struggling renters, auditor warns

Los Angeles Times

California must step up its effort to distribute federal funds to renters struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic or the state risks forfeiting millions of dollars in assistance, the state auditor warned Thursday.

 

More duplexes. Gavin Newsom signs bills aimed at creating more affordable housing in California

Sacramento Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom moved Thursday to create more affordable housing in California, signing a list of bills that would allow more duplexes and small apartment buildings in certain neighborhoods.

See also:

 

Can You Still Afford a Mortgage?

New York Times

With the quick escalation of home prices during the pandemic, it’s become increasingly difficult to qualify for a typical mortgage.

 

Congress Might Allow Frustrated Landlords to Seek Rent Relief

Pew Trusts

A measure moving through the U.S. House of Representatives would allow landlords to apply without tenant approval for federal aid to cover back rent they are owed.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Opinion: The great retirement debate: Is America really headed for a retirement security cliff?

AEI

As a nation, we face consequential questions about the looming challenges facing Americans as they prepare for retirement.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Downtown Fresno is getting a parking meter makeover

abc30

When paired with the ParkMobile app, the new meters will allow people to avoid hustling back to the car to add coins or time with their credit or ATM card. After all, nobody likes a parking ticket.

 

Council pushes back roads decision as citizens criticize bond proposal

Turlock Journal

The Turlock City Council on Tuesday decided they need more time to commence the planned roads program initiative, forgoing a contract approval with consultants who had proposed exploring lease revenue bonds as a way to fund road repairs.

See also:

 

Editorial: Green Welfare for the Rich

Wall Street Journal

What Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget bill taketh from affluent Americans in higher taxes, it giveth some back in green welfare. Behold their gussied-up $12,500 electric-vehicle handout.

 

Five ways regional leaders can prepare future infrastructure workers now

Brookings

Policymakers are focused on creating more jobs and supporting more workers following the COVID-19 recession.

 

WATER

Fresno City Council votes to sue water agency over costs to repair Friant-Kern Canal

Fresno Bee

The Fresno City Council voted Thursday to sue the Friant Water Authority for declaratory relief to protect city ratepayers for paying the price for damage to the Friant-Kern Canal allegedly caused by Tulare County farmers.

See also:

 

Illegal marijuana farms take West's water in 'blatant theft'

Hanford Sentinel

Illegal marijuana growers are taking water in uncontrolled amounts when there often isn't enough to go around for even licensed users. Conflicts about water have long existed, but illegal marijuana farms — which proliferate despite legalization in many Western states — are adding strain during a severe drought.

 

TID recognized for advancing sustainability practices

Turlock Journal

The Turlock Irrigation District was awarded a Beacon Leadership and Innovation Award at CSDA’s 2021 Annual Conference in Monterey. TID is the first-ever special district to receive a Beacon Award for excellence in advancing environmental sustainability.

 

Water transfers helped farmers survive this year. Now, all eyes are on the coming water year

Bakersfield Californian

Water transfers, trades and sales doubled this year as drought left San Joaquin Valley farmers scrambling for supplies. “This has been kind of an exceptional year for transfers,” said Sam Boland-Brien, program manager at the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Water Rights.

 

Improving California’s Water Market

PPIC

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act mandates that local groundwater users bring their groundwater basins into balance by the 2040s, a process that will ultimately help individual users and their communities build resilience in an era of climate change.

See also:

 

Groundwater and Urban Growth in the San Joaquin Valley

PPIC

The San Joaquin Valley is ground zero for the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). It has the largest groundwater deficit in California and faces some of the worst impacts from overdraft, including land subsidence and drying wells.

See also:

 

“Xtra”

 

It took 40 seconds, but Fresno State’s last-minute win over UCLA will last forever

Fresno Bee

It was about 12:30 a.m. by the time Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener made it out of the locker room at the Rose Bowl, where he had just led the Bulldogs to a 40-37 victory over No. 13 UCLA.

 

Hanford to see a number of events through September and October

Hanford Sentinel

While many events were canceled last year, organizations around the area are moving forward with plans for in person events this fall. From live music to Halloween events and town awards, there are options for those who wish to participate.

 

Downtown Merced ‘Barcade,’ Yosemite Crossings project among new businesses coming soon

Merced Sun Star

Local officials say several new business offerings are on their way to the City of Merced, including a wine and tapas bar, a cookie and desert shop, burger restaurant — and a new “Barcade.”

 

Yes, We're Calling It Hispanic Heritage Month And We Know It Makes Some Of You Cringe

NPR

Not Latino Heritage Month. Not Latinx Heritage Month. Not even a compromise or a combination of the three: Hispanic/Latino/Latinx Heritage Month.

 

 

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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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