POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Coronavirus update, Sept. 2: Stanislaus deaths reach 262 after announcement of 4 more Modesto Bee
San Joaquin Co selected for pilot program to help house Ag workers with COVID
Stockton Record
San Joaquin County has been selected to take part in a program to help house agricultural employees with COVID-19. The Housing for the Harvest program provides temporary hotel housing options for farm and food processing employees to self-isolate if they are COVID-19 positive and do not require hospitalization or have been exposed and cannot properly isolate at home.
Candidate Forum/Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors District 1
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors District 1 candidates Bill Zoslocki and Buck Condit, vying to represent east Stanislaus County, met with The Bee’s Editorial Board in a Zoom call to discuss the issues on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020.
See Also:
● Candidate Forum/Senate District 5 Modesto Bee
Central SJ Valley:
August was Fresno Co’s deadliest month amid coronavirus. Officials add 27 new deaths
Fresno Bee
August was the deadliest month of the coronavirus pandemic for Fresno County and the central San Joaquin Valley. There were 152 deaths in August in Fresno County and 315 in the six-county region. The second most was in July, which saw 65 and 206, respectively.
See Also:
● Fresno County adds 357 new COVID-19 cases. How full are Fresno hospital beds? Fresno Bee
Visalia Times Delta
A longtime Visalia Unified School District trustee “owes women an apology” after making a comment on the dais that drew swift criticism from parents, the community, and at least one other trustee during a recent public meeting.
LA man accused of harassing Devin Nunes’ wife in Tulare
Visalia Times Delta
However, prosecutors didn’t file charges regarding any threats made or implied. Prosecutors, in the complaint obtained by the Times-Delta, described the allegations as “annoying phone calls.”
Calif’s expensive COVID-19 predictions were useless for rural areas. Here’s why
Fresno Bee
Though the forecasts were much more accurate at projecting statewide totals and forecasts for more populated counties, like Sac, the inaccurate predictions cast doubt about whether the state can accurately estimate the course of a pandemic in rural counties.
See also:
● COVID-19 hits Kern’s rural, Latino communities the hardest, dat shows Kern Sol News
No parties this Labor Day; COVID vaccine in the works for Nov. 1?
Fresno Bee
Calif added 3,712 new positive coronavirus cases to statewide total on Tuesday — the smallest single-day increase since June 16. While the story isn’t quite the same in the six counties that makes up the central San Joaquin Valley, it’s similar.
A Calif Republican (David Valadao) said he worked with Obama. Here’s what Obama says about that
Fresno Bee
Former President Barack Obama doesn’t want a Calif Republican running for Congress to use his name in campaign ads suggesting they worked together on policy during the Democrat’s administration.
South SJ Valley:
Board approves plans for COVID-19 funds, mobile testing
Hanford Sentinel
The Kings County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday and discussed several COVID-19 related issues, including the county’s plan for coronavirus relief funds and plans for a mobile testing site.
See also:
● Kern County Creates Task Force To Combat High COVID-19 Case Numbers In Latinx Community VPR
● 143 new COVID-19 cases announced in Kern County on Wednesday Bakersfield Califn
State Senator Questions Medical Board About Its Handling Of Bakersfield Doctor After Patient Deaths
VPR
Last Friday, State Senator Melissa Hurtado penned a letter to medical board President Denise Pines and Governor Gavin Newsom asking for justification for the decision to allow Park to remain in practice.
State:
What Calif lawmakers sent to Newsom for COVID-19: PPE, unemployment and tax breaks
Fresno Bee
The Calif Legislature at the end of its 2020 session this week sent more than a dozen bills aimed at addressing the coronavirus pandemic to Gov. Gavin Newsom, including protections for renters that are intended to minimize evictions.
See also:
● On the verge: These 2020 bills are up to the governor CalMatters
● Why Calif’s big housing bills, police reforms failed CalMatters
● Skelton: Chaos and incivility ruled the last day of Calif’s legislative session. Blame Zoom LA Times
Could Calif’s Leg return for special session on coronavirus, housing or police?
Mercury News
After the state Legislature’s coronavirus-shortened session came to a chaotic end this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday left the door open to calling lawmakers back for a special session. But while they have plenty of unfinished business, the likelihood of legislators returning to Sac this fall is unclear.
See also:
● Fox: Legislature is Done for the Year. But Numerous Calls for a Special Session Fox & Hounds
Nail-biter for family leave bill reveals tough realities for working moms
CalMatters
Why did a lawmaker need to bring her newborn to the COVID-exposed state Capitol to do her job? To help pass a new family leave law.
Despite Calif budget deficit, lawmakers send Newsom new spending proposals
Fresno Bee
Despite a looming budget deficit, lawmakers on the final day of their legislative session sent Gov. Gavin Newsom proposals to add more than $600 million in spending and reduce some revenue with tax breaks.
Calif inks deal for new system after COVID data backlog
AP News
About a month after Calif disclosed its COVID-19 tracking system had produced inaccurate case numbers, state officials awarded a $15 million contract Tuesday to a software company to design a successor capable of collecting greater amounts of more detailed data on the spread of the virus.
Viewpoints: Will Gov. Newsom succeed in latest plan to reopen Calif amid COVID-19 pandemic?
Sac Bee
Will the third time be the charm for Gov. Gavin Newsom and his somewhat erratic efforts to battle the COVID-19 pandemic while preventing irreparable damage to the state’s once-vibrant economy?
Federal:
Calif beauty group ‘appalled at the hypocrisy’ of Pelosi’s hair salon visit
Fresno Bee
A group that has lobbied Gov. Gavin Newsom to relax statewide COVID-19 restrictions on the personal service sector is blasting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after she was captured on video at an indoor hair salon without a mask.
See Also:
● Fresno native behind video of Nancy Pelosi in Calif salon without mask Fresno Bee
● ‘I take responsibility’: Nancy Pelosi addresses backlash for salon visit she believes was a ‘setup’ abc30
● Nancy Pelosi calls salon visit a ‘setup,’ refuses to apologize SF Chronicle
● Nancy Pelosi says her visit to a hair salon was a ‘setup.’ Stylist backs her up LA Times
● Pelosi claims hair salon scandal was a ‘set-up’ Politico
● Opinion: What to make of Nancy Pelosi’s ‘setup’ defense for going to an indoor salon Wash Post
● EDITORIAL: Nancy Pelosi’s dumb salon visit during coronavirus pandemic deals blow to credibility Sac Bee
Fauci breaks with Trump on COVID-19 herd immunity: ‘That’s certainly not my approach’
Fresno Bee
Dr. Anthony Fauci said the U.S. shouldn’t pursue herd immunity to handle the COVID-19 pandemic, breaking with President Donald Trump, who invoked the strategy earlier this week.
Trump Moves to Cut Federal Funding From Democratic Cities
NY Times
The president directed officials to identify “anarchist jurisdictions” and move to withhold funds as he tries to build his campaign around the unrest that has accompanied racial justice protests.
U.S. Debt Set to Exceed Size of the Economy Next Year, a First Since World War II
WSJ
U.S. debt has reached its highest level compared to the size of the economy since World War II and is projected to exceed it next year, the result of a giant fiscal response to the coronavirus pandemic.
See also:
Census document says cutting steps will be necessary to meet deadline, could result in errors
LA Times
To meet an end-of-the-year deadline, some steps in the numbers-crunching phase of the 2020 census will need to be cut, and that could increase the risk for errors, according to an internal U.S. Census Bureau document made public Wednesday by House Democrats.
See also:
● Leaked Census Document Warns of ‘Serious Errors’ Due to Shortened Timeline NY Magazine
● Census Door Knocking In Some Areas To End Even Earlier Than Expected VPR
● Worker Turnover, Shortened Schedule Hamper 2020 Census WSJ
Coronavirus Trackers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Calif
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.
See also:
● Calif Department of Public Health
● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic – WHO
● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
● Tracking coronavirus in Calif LA Times
● Coronavirus Tracker SF Chronicle
● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count NY Times
● How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico
● Coronavirus Daily NPR
● Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Fin Times
● Coronavirus in Calif by the numbers CalMatters
Elections 2020:
Voter Registration Is Up Sharply, as Is Partisanship
Public Policy Institute of Calif
More Californians have registered to vote this year than in any other presidential election year for the last 20 years. In 2016, about 73% of eligible adults were registered to vote. This year, more than 83% were registered as of July.
GOP looks to score points in Calif House races on ‘defund the police’ issue
SF Chronicle
Republicans are accusing three Calif Democratic congressional candidates of backing the “defund the police” effort, arguing that their support from a national progressive organization is proof enough of that link.
Trump suggests voters cast ballots twice, which if done intentionally is illegal
Wash Post
President Trump on Thursday sought to clarify remarks in which he suggested voting twice, saying in tweets that he was instead urging those who vote by mail to follow up at their polling place to make sure their mail-in ballots have been counted.
Biden slams Trump’s handling of school reopenings amid coronavirus crisis
LA Times
Joe Biden, aiming to refocus the presidential race back to the coronavirus outbreak, denounced President Trump’s approach to reopening schools in the midst of the pandemic and accused the president of being absent in the face of a “national emergency.”
Biden Campaign Raised More Than $300 Million in August
WSJ
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden raised $364.5 million in August, shattering previous records for a Democratic campaign as donors rallied behind his selection of Kamala Harris as his running mate and an unprecedented virtual convention.
See also:
● Biden raises over $360 million in August, shattering record LA Times
Fox News, NBC and C-Span Journalists to Moderate Trump vs. Biden Debates
WSJ
The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates announced moderators for its four debates this fall between the Democratic and Republican presidential tickets.
How turnout and swing voters could get Trump or Biden to 270
Wash Post
The 2020 election will come down to two important questions: Who actually votes, and who do they vote for? Starting with the 2016 electorate, explore how shifts in turnout and voting patterns for key demographic groups could affect the race.
Commentary: What’s the worst that could happen? Trump could refuse to concede
Wash Post
President Trump has broken countless norms and ignored countless laws during his time in office, and while my colleagues and I at the Transition Integrity Project didn’t want to lie awake at night contemplating the ways the American experiment could fail, we realized that identifying the most serious risks to our democracy might be the best way to avert a November disaster.
Facebook to Limit Political Ads Week Before Election, Label Premature Calls
WSJ
Facebook Inc. will prohibit new political advertisements in the week before the U.S. presidential election in November and seek to flag premature claims of victory by candidates, Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said Thursday.
See also:
● Facebook will ban new political ads in the week before election day LA Times
● Facebook will block new political advertising the week before Election Day Wash Post
Other:
Fresno native, Mets Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver dies
Fresno Bee
Tom Seaver, the greatest baseball player ever to come out of Fresno, died. Seaver, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, captured three Cy Young Awards and 311 wins while registering 3,640 strikeouts with a 2.86 ERA during a career that spanned from 1967-1986.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, September 6, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Calif Migration: The Story of Us” – Guests: Judy Lin, CALmatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, September 6, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: “Calif Migration & Immigration: Who Is Coming and Who is Going?” – Guests: SOS Padilla, Sarah Bohn- PPIC, John Myers, LA Times and Judy Lin with CALmatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Foster Farms shut down Calif facility over COVID-19. So why doesn’t it look closed?
Fresno Bee
Foster Farms shut down its main chicken processing facility in Livingston on Tuesday evening amid a coronavirus outbreak that health officials say has claimed the lives of at least eight workers.
See Also:
● Foster Farms Livingston plant shuts down for deep-cleaning abc30
● United Farm Workers threatens to boycott Foster Farms in Calif due to COVID-19 outbreak Fresno Bee
Kings County crop values decrease slightly
Hanford Sentinel
After a large spike in 2018, Kings County had a slight decrease in crop values in 2019, according to the county’s annual crop report. Jimmy Hook, Kings County agricultural commissioner/sealer of weights and measures, presented the 2019 Kings County Crop Report to the Kings County Board of Supervisors Tuesday during its meeting.
See also:
● Milk woes meant lower farm receipts in Kings County last year Business Journal
An extraordinary summer of overlapping crises for Calif’s farmworkers
National Geographic
The “essential workers” picking American’s food are facing fires, heat waves, and the pandemic, all at once.
The CalFresh Food Assistance Program
Public Policy Institute of Calif
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—called CalFresh in Calif and sometimes known as food stamps—is the largest food assistance program in the nation.
Warszawski: Producers Dairy wants to close a Fresno street for parking
Fresno Bee
In March 2018, Fresno Mayor Lee Brand pledged to help a prominent local dairy company find a site to park its trucks and refrigerated trailers without further impacting nearby residents or demolishing two historic buildings.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Former Gov. Jerry Brown Donates $1M to Defeat Police-Backed Ballot Measure
KQED
Former Calif Gov. Jerry Brown is donating $1 million to defeat Proposition 20, a November ballot measure backed by police and prosecutors that aims to roll back some of the criminal justice reforms he championed over the past decade.
Public Safety:
Calif lawmakers failed to enact sweeping police reforms. Here’s why.
CalMatters
Activists filled the streets but couldn’t fill the Capitol. And lawmakers ran out of time to hash out complex laws. A few bills passed, but the most controversial ones stalled.
See Also:
● Stall tactics. Distractions. Lobbying. How police reform was derailed in Calif LA Times
● Will Gavin Newsom sign new police laws after George Floyd protests? Here are his options Modesto Bee
Death rate from COVID-19 in prisons twice rate of general population
SF Chronicle
The death rate nationwide from COVID-19 is higher inside prison walls than outside and more than twice as high in Calif prisons, according to a study released Wednesday.
Federal judge to Tulare County Sheriff: Give inmates masks
Fresno Bee
A federal judge is forcing Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux to begin providing protective masks at the jail, test for COVID-19 and reduce contact between inmates.
Calif’s federal prisons to lift COVID-19 visitor restriction — and workers are worried
Fresno Bee
The Bureau of Prisons directed all federal prisons to reopen visitation for inmates by Oct. 3 in a memo sent to wardens on Monday, a move a representatives for correctional officers called “dangerous” and compared it to “opening Pandora’s box.”
Fire:
Sequoia fires consume 42,000 acres, pour more smoke into Valley
Fresno Bee
As the complex of fires in the Tulare County mountains continue to move east, consuming more than 42,000 acres by Wednesday, two hotshot crews were deployed in its southeast path to slow the blaze, officials said.
See Also:
● SQF Complex Fire grows to 42,574 acres, 1% contained abc30
For Calif wildfires, the worst is yet to come
CalMatters
Two of the three largest fires in Calif history are raging across the state alongside about 600 others, burning more than 1.3 million acres — an area about the size of Delaware — and forcing more than 100,000 people to evacuate.
See also:
● Calif fires live updates: More than 900 fires now scorching their way across Calif SF Chronicle
● Wildfires Are 1st Big Test To COVID-19 Firefighter Safety Plans VPR
Capital Public Radio
As Calif entered this fire season, people began trying to sell used firetrucks on the Bay Area’s Craigslist. One Craiglister posted a 1975 GMC firetruck for $7,000 or best offer. “Save yourself from a disaster,” they wrote.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Fed survey finds widespread pessimism about economic future
Bakersfield Califn
The latest Federal Reserve survey of U.S. economic activity found generally modest gains in August but also pessimism about the future given the threats posed by the coronavirus.
Fresno Co Offers Small Business Grants For Minority & Women-Owned Businesses
VPR
As of Sept. 1, some small businesses hit hard by the pandemic can receive financial relief through new grants from Fresno County. Fresno County approved $250,000 in grants for minority and women-owned businesses. The money comes from the CARES Act.
‘It’s been pretty hard.’ Merced Co hair salons, barbershops reopen for indoor business
Merced Sun-Star
The day after the new statewide plan to reopen Calif’s economy under strict, measured stages, some businesses around Merced County are stretching their legs. Under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recently announced reopening system, counties are divided into four risk tiers based on their local COVID-19 data.
Valley Republic takes on $20M loan as ‘cushion’ against uncertain times ahead
Bakersfield Califn
In a preemptive move against uncertain conditions ahead, the parent company of Bakersfield’s Valley Republic Bank recently borrowed $20 million as a way of making sure it has enough capital to weather what it worries could be a developing economic downturn.
In Calif’s new reopening plan, when can bars, theaters open?
Sac Bee
State health officials still consider coronavirus activity “widespread” across much of Calif, but as COVID-19 numbers have trended downward, a new system of guidelines is ushering in more business reopenings for industries, some of which have been yo-yoed for months by changing restrictions.
See also:
● ‘That Kept Us Going’: Small Businesses Stay Alive With Local Help NY Times
Fed survey finds widespread pessimism about economy’s future
LA Times
The latest Federal Reserve survey of U.S. economic activity found generally modest gains in August but also pessimism about the future given the threats posed by the coronavirus.
Wall Street has biggest gain since July, sets more records
LA Times
The Dow Jones industrial average surged more than 450 points Wednesday as the stock market notched its best day in nearly two months. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 1.5%, it’s best day since July 6.
What do the data reveal about (the absence of Black) financial regulators?
Brookings
Perhaps one of the biggest open secrets in Wash, D.C. is the virtual absence of African American financial regulators in the United States government. Across the federal government, they are missing, with at best short appearances by single political appointees.
Jobs:
As remote work becomes the norm, Calif state employees wonder: What about promotions?
Fresno Bee
Even in the highly regimented world of state government, a handshake and a smile can help smooth the way to a promotion, some Calif state workers say. With the coronavirus limiting in-person interactions, some workers are wondering how to show their bosses they’ve got the right stuff to move up.
See also:
● The New Rules for Landing a Job in the Covid Era WSJ
Workers feel ‘desperate,’ say Fresno Co is ignoring COVID-19 health, safety risks
Fresno Bee
Frustrated Fresno County employees say the local government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic has been inconsistent, bureaucratic, and jeopardizing to their health and safety. Employees and union leaders say county officials have not been transparent about infections and exposures.
See also:
● Why won’t counties report workplace COVID outbreaks to the public? Visalia Times Delta
Unemployment money is going to the wrong people in Calif. Is it fraud?
Sac Bee
Hundreds of mailings purportedly from the state’s unemployment agency — some with valuable debit cards — are flooding the wrong homes and are addressed to the wrong people, and Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state officials are eyeing the possibility of a massive fraud scheme.
Littler
Calif’s landmark independent contractor law, AB 5, has only been in effect for eight months. But in that time frame, the law remains controversial and makes headlines every week. The law presents compliance challenges for businesses in the Golden State, and things aren’t getting any easier.
U.S. Unemployment Claims Fell in Latest Week
WSJ
New applications for unemployment benefits fell last week, a possible sign of a slowly improving labor market and the impact of a new measurement method.
See also:
EDUCATION
K-12:
Fresno Voices live forum: How the city failed its Black residents — and the path forward
Fresno Bee
In Fresno, Black residents lag behind other races in all spheres of life — education, employment, economic participation, wealth, housing, health and even life expectancy. This is despite powerful efforts by individuals and community leaders.
See also:
● RSVP for Learning Curve: Navigating Education Access in a Pandemic Fresno Bee
Groups of staff at 2 Modesto schools, 2 district facilities put on COVID quarantine
Modesto Bee
Since Modesto City Schools started its academic year Aug. 10, groups of staff at four facilities have been quarantined because of exposure to COVID-19, the district reported Tuesday.
With COVID-19 infections falling, Stanislaus moves ahead with school waiver applications
Modesto Bee
Some younger students could be returning to campuses in Stanislaus County as early as this month after the area’s COVID-19 infection rate continued to drop, officials said on Wednesday. Public health staff has begun reviewing waivers submitted by schools seeking to reopen.
See also:
● Stanislaus schools fight back after porn, inappropriate content appear on students’ screens Modesto Bee
In Tulare County, Some Schools Are Holding In-Person Classes As Day Camps
VPR
For counties where the virus is deemed “Widespread,” schools are not allowed to reopen for in-person lessons, but some schools in Tulare County are partially reopening under the jurisdiction of day camps.
Clovis teachers accused of racism, discrimination against Black student, ACLU says
Fresno Bee
A complaint lodged this week accuses Clovis High School teachers and staff of creating “racially hostile environments” by repeatedly traumatizing a Black student over several years, including suspending him — while not suspending a white student involved in the same incident.
How Reopening Plans Changed the Vaccination Conversation
Ed Note
In recent years, policy activity and public discourse has focused on religious and philosophical exemptions for mandatory vaccine requirements for school-age children.
Commentary: Taco Bell is not the solution for student broadband access
CalMatters
In a state that is home to the epicenter of the global technology industry, our students huddle outside a Taco Bell for broadband access to study.
See also:
● Viral photo of girls using Taco Bell WiFi to do homework highlights ‘digital divide’ The Hill
Hot Back-to-School Items During Coronavirus Are Tents, Webcams
WSJ
The most popular back-to-school gear this year besides pencils and notebooks are keyboard covers, webcams and plexiglass.
How Prevalent Is Policing in Calif Schools?
Public Policy Institute of Calif
As communities across Calif and the nation evaluate their policing institutions, many school districts are examining their use of “school resource officers” (SROs)—sworn police officers, typically armed, with the legal authority to make arrests.
Editorial: Calif schools are off to a better start. But problems persist
LA Times
It’s not last spring’s remote education, thank goodness. For the new school year in Calif, nearly every student has a computer of some kind and broadband access to online classes and instructional resources. There are actual grades for academic performance.
Higher Ed:
Uncertainty for top community college contract and west Fresno campus moves forward
Fresno Bee
Trustees were split on approving employment contracts for State Center Community College presidents and vice-chancellors on Tuesday night. Notably, the district leader’s contract was not put up for a vote.
BC begins to offer courses for students aiming to get a white-collar warehouse job
Bakersfield Califn
Kern County’s third largest industry, behind agriculture and oil, is distribution, and Bakersfield College has just begun offering courses to prepare students for management positions in the field.
UC system can no longer consider SAT, ACT results in admissions, judge rules
Visalia Times Delta
University of Calif schools can no longer use SAT and ACT test results in deciding undergraduate admissions as the school system’s “test optional” policy at some of its campuses may unfairly benefit those who can access a test amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a judge ruled.
Cal State Bakersfield student appointed to powerful CSU board for the first time
Bakersfield Califn
Over 490,000 students are enrolled in the CSU system, and for the first time in the history of the board that governs it, one of the students chosen to represent all those voices will be from Cal State Bakersfield.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Lawmakers fail to pass state plastic-waste reduction bill
LA Daily News
For the second straight year, the state Legislature fell short of passing a pioneering bill to reduce the use of single-use plastic waste by 75%, as Monday’s midnight deadline for legislation this year expired without a final vote.
Trump Will Roll Back More Regulations if Re-Elected, EPA Chief Says
WSJ
President Trump would press forward with efforts to ease regulatory burdens on business if re-elected for a second term, while working to ease bottlenecks that have delayed Superfund cleanup projects, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Andrew Wheeler said.
Summertime Visitors Swarm State Parks and Budgets
Pew Trusts
State parks all over the country have seen record numbers of visitors this summer, as people look for ways to safely get out of their homes for some fun.
Energy:
Calif power grid on alert against blackouts as heat wave looms for holiday weekend
Fresno Bee
The manager of Calif’s electricity grid issued an alert Wednesday for Labor Day weekend as it tries to avoid more rolling blackouts during an expected major heat wave. With temperatures in the Sac Valley predicted to peak this weekend at 107 degrees, the Calif Independent System Operator issued a “restricted maintenance operations” notice.
See also:
● Fresno had its second hottest August on record. Here’s what we know about September Fresno Bee
● Enjoying holiday weekend amid pandemic, heat wave may be a ‘Labor’ of its own Bakersfield Califn
● Its Electric Grid Under Strain, Calif Turns to Batteries NY Times
Calif lets gas plants stay open despite climate crisis
LA Times
State officials threw a lifeline to four fossil fueled power plants along the Southern Calif coast, deciding the facilities are still needed to provide reliable electricity even as they contribute to the climate crisis.
Clean energy jobs are coming. Here’s how to make sure they’re good jobs
LA Times
That’s the subject of a report released today by UC Berkeley’s Center for Labor Research and Education. It was commissioned by the Calif Legislature, and at 636 pages it’s an extremely thorough guidebook for policies the state might employ.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
August was Fresno Co’s deadliest month amid coronavirus. Officials add 27 new deaths
Fresno Bee
August was the deadliest month of the coronavirus pandemic for Fresno County and the central San Joaquin Valley. There were 152 deaths in August in Fresno County and 315 in the six-county region. The second most was in July, which saw 65 and 206, respectively.
See Also:
● Fresno County adds 357 new COVID-19 cases. How full are Fresno hospital beds? Fresno Bee
● 143 new COVID-19 cases announced in Kern County on Wednesday Bakersfield Califn
● Coronavirus update, Sept. 2: Stanislaus deaths reach 262 after announcement of 4 more Modesto Bee
● Now what? Calif braces for a coronavirus second wave CalMatters
Even inside, you may not be safe from bad air. Here’s a simple hack to clean your air
Bakersfield Califn
Marissa Huerta is a mother of two and is seven months along in her surrogacy journey. She has been experiencing side effects from Fresno’s bad air quality due to wildfire smoke. “My headaches would come instantly when I would go outside,” said Huerta. “On fire days, my kids tell me that it’s hard for them to breathe.”
CDC tells states: Be ready to distribute coronavirus vaccines on Nov. 1
abc30
The federal government has told states to prepare for a coronavirus vaccine to be ready to distribute by Nov. 1. The timeline raised concern among public health experts about an “October surprise” – a vaccine approval driven by political considerations ahead of a presidential election, rather than science.
See Also:
● Health officials worry nation not ready for COVID-19 vaccine LA Times
● CDC tells officials to be ready for vaccine by November; steroids can help severely ill patients USA Today
● ‘Urgent’ request sent to states in push for coronavirus vaccine delivery by Nov. 1 McClatchy DC
● Debate rages over whether FDA should use emergency powers to clear a coronavirus vaccine early Wash Post
● U.S. Won’t Join WHO-Led Coronavirus Vaccine Effort, White House Says VPR
● Trump Administration Asks States to Be Ready for Vaccine by November WSJ
Officials tout convalescent plasma’s effectiveness during Wednesday drive at Kern County Fairgrounds
Bakersfield Califn
Kern County supervisors Leticia Perez and Mike Maggard teamed up with Houchin Community Blood Bank on Wednesday at the Kern County fairgrounds to promote the need for and importance of local convalescent plasma donations.
Depression, anxiety spike amid outbreak and turbulent times
Bakersfield Califn
Mental health therapists’ caseloads are bulging. Waiting lists for appointments are growing. And anxiety and depression are rising among Americans amid the coronavirus crisis, research suggests.
Steroids cut death rates among critically ill COVID-19 patients, major study finds
Reuters
Treating critically ill COVID-19 patients with corticosteroid drugs reduces the risk of death by 20%, an analysis of seven international trials found on Wednesday, prompting the World Health Organisation to update its advice on treatment.
See also:
● Covid-19 Deaths Significantly Reduced by Use of Steroids, Analysis Says WSJ
Chief nurse at Visalia’s Kaweah Delta hospital on how to be COVID safe this Labor Day
Fresno Bee
You know the rules for protecting yourself and others from COVID-19. You probably even dream about them, they’ve been said so many times. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. A lot.
Human Services:
Fresno hospital is at risk of losing doctors, top trauma status amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Fresno Bee
An expired contract — and stalled negotiations — could cost Fresno’s Community Regional Medical Center its Level I trauma center status and more than two dozen doctors. That would be bad news for a region already short on doctors amid the coronavirus pandemic.
See also:
● Expired contract finds 28 physicians out at Community Medical Centers Business Journal
‘It’s heartbreaking dying alone’: Doctors, nurses take the place of families at COVID-19 deathbeds
abc30
The coronavirus has impacted every aspect of life for healthcare workers. Duties have increased, hours have become longer and the emotional toll is heavier. “There have been, there have been a few tears,” said nurse Diane Ray.
Sac Bee
As a veteran who served back-to-back tours in Iraq, I initially cringed when commentators compared the COVID-19 crisis to wartime — no bullets, no blood and no one volunteered for this.
COVID-19 Ventilator Orders Canceled by Trump Administration
WSJ
Health and Human Services said it is ending the contracts early because it has enough ventilators for the crisis, with about 120,000 of them now in the Strategic National Stockpile.
IMMIGRATION
Trump Admin Seeking To Expand Collection Of Biometric Data From Immigrants
NPR
The Trump administration is considering drastically expanding the government’s collection of biometric information from immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Tuesday.
See also:
● U.S. Seeks to Expand Biometric Data It Collects From Immigrants WSJ
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
‘We have a passion to help.’ Building of Merced Co’s $6.4M homeless center underway
Merced Sun-Star
Construction is underway on Merced County’s “Navigation Center,” which will help address homelessness in the area. Construction crews have begun placing modified shipping containers at the 1411 B Street site. The 15,000 square-foot facility will serve as a low barrier emergency shelter option for individuals currently residing in public spaces.
Housing:
Calif eviction protections extended, but the message is clear: The rent is still due
Fresno Bee
For many central San Joaquin Valley renters facing significant loss of income and not receiving extra unemployment or housing benefits, the state’s eviction moratorium — put in place on April 6 by the Calif Judicial Council — was one of the only things keeping them from losing their homes.
See Also:
● Gov. outlines new eviction, foreclosure protections for Califns Sac Bee
● CDC Issues Sweeping Temporary Halt On Evictions Nationwide Amid Pandemic VPR
● Commentary: Here’s an important part of the solution for the state’s housing crisis CalMatters
Gov. Newsom announces $600 million to be spent on supportive homeless housing by end of the year
abc30
Gov. Gavin Newsom‘s press conference on the coronavirus pandemic Wednesday focused on the major financial impacts the virus has had. The governor announced the state would be using $600 million to purchase hotels, motels and apartment buildings by the end of the year for supportive homeless housing.
New proposition threatens Calif’s real property tax haven
Accounting Today
The reason is Proposition 13, which was approved by Calif voters in 1978, igniting a nationwide debate over property tax overreach. Under the proposition, property taxes were limited to 1 % of assessed value, and increases were limited to no greater than 2 % each year.
PUBLIC FINANCES
What to do if you don’t want to participate in the payroll tax deferral
abc30
A payroll tax deferral is in effect until the end of the year, but if you want to avoid a potential tax bill, there are steps you can take now. Starting Sept. 1, you may have received a raise, and didn’t realize it. Through the end of the year, the federal government isn’t collecting 6.2 % of your salary.
U.S. Debt Is Set to Exceed Size of the Economy Next Year, a First Since World War II
WSJ
U.S. debt has reached its highest level compared to the size of the economy since World War II and is projected to exceed it next year, the result of a giant fiscal response to the coronavirus pandemic.
See also:
TRANSPORTATION
Virtual Student Classes Put School Bus Driver Employment at Risk
School Transportation News
Seemingly like most everything else when it comes to addressing the new novel coronavirus, the fate of whether school bus drivers stay on district or company payrolls remains a local decision based on economics as much or more so than safety.
WATER
San Luis Reservoir Reopens, but with Algal Advisory
Calif Water News Daily
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) reopened State Water Project facilities at San Luis Reservoir after the recent closures due to nearby fires. However, a algal bloom warning advisory has been issued at O’Neill Forebay and a caution advisory is in effect for the San Luis Reservoir in Merced County.
“Xtra”
Madera Wine Trail has fresh stories to celebrate Wine Month
Madera Tribune
Central Calif’s Madera County is the largest rural county in the state and home to the Madera Wine Trail. The landscape stretches from productive farmlands to rolling foothills and upward into the High Sierra. It’s no mystery why this countryside has been winemaking since the 1800s, the weather is warm, the skies are clear and the snowcapped mountain tops nourish the foothills and central valley.
COVID-19 concerns force cancellation of Calif Hot Rod Reunion
Bakersfield Califn
COVID-19 and cancellations continue to go hand-and-hand. The latest is the Calif Hot Rod Reunion, which was originally scheduled to run Oct. 23-25 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
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