September 5, 2019

05Sep

POLICY & POLITICS


North SJ Valley:


San Joaquin County courts open after part-time sheriff’s employees call in sick

Modesto Bee

The courthouses in Stockton, Manteca and French Camp were up and running normally Wednesday after part-time San Joaquin County sheriff’s employees called in sick and forced the abrupt closure of those facilities Tuesday.


Central SJ Valley:


Devin Nunes’ campaign drops lawsuit against constituents who claimed he was a fake farmer

Fresno Bee

The campaign for Devin Nunes on Tuesday dropped its lawsuit against the people who accused the Republican congressman of being a “fake farmer” and tried to get his​​ ballot designation​​ removed.

See also:


South SJ Valley:


Lemoore City Council appoints members to local boards, committees

Hanford Sentinel

Lemoore City Council members were appointed to several local boards and committees during the council meeting Tuesday night.


Zigler retires, Harmon takes over

Porterville Recorder

Only the future will tell what Harmon will do as the new interim City Manager, but for right now only one thing is certain, Zigler is off to clock countless miles on his trusty bicycle.


Rep. Kevin McCarthy, state, city, and county leaders announce plan to tackle homelessness

KGET
City and county leaders said they agreed to meet during the next two weeks to iron out logistics for a temporary homeless shelter. They said they intend to have the shelter up and running somewhere in the county by the end of 2019. The shelter is expected to hold between 100 and 150 homeless people.


State:


CA advances bill aimed at cracking down on bogus vaccine exemptions

abc30

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said immediately after the vote to approve the legislation that he will seek additional amendments affecting one of this legislative session's most hotly debated issues.

See also:


Insurance commissioner halts fundraising to rein in contributions from firms he regulates

Los Angeles Times

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara apologized Tuesday for taking campaign contributions from — and scheduling meetings with — insurance industry-connected donors, and said he would halt all political fundraising until the end of the year while he works to put a stop to it.

See also:


California becomes first state to ban fur trapping after Gov. Newsom signs law

Los Angeles Times

California has enacted a new ban on fur trapping for animal pelts, making it the first state to outlaw a centuries-old livelihood that was intertwined with the rise of the Western frontier.

See also:

 

Newsom wheels and deals

CALmatters

Gavin Newsom wasn’t born when the TV game show “Let’s Make a Deal” began its run but he’s channeling its host, Monty Hall, during the final days of his first legislative session as governor.


Federal:


Trump’s schedule shows a president with plenty of downtime this summer

Los Angeles Times

President Trump’s daily Twitter feed in recent weeks has been a torrent of personal attacks, news commentary, weather reports, unfounded claims and congratulatory notes. But when it comes to his day job, the American people have seen little of him.


California escapes brunt of Pentagon funding deferrals to pay for Trump’s border wall

Los Angeles Times

The Pentagon will defer spending about $8 million that had been earmarked for a flight simulator facility in Ventura County, a casualty of President Trump’s effort to fund construction of 175 miles of new wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

See also:


Google, Industry Try to Water Down First U.S. Data-Privacy Law

Bloomberg

Google and its industry allies are making a late bid to water down the first major data-privacy law in the U.S., seeking to carve out exemptions for digital advertising, according to documents obtained by Bloomberg and people familiar with the negotiations.


Elections 2020:


Ending sales of new gas-powered cars is part of Kamala Harris’ climate change plan

Sacramento Bee

Kamala Harris became the latest presidential candidate to roll out an ambitious plan to combat climate change Wednesday, hours before she is set to appear at​​ a “climate crisis” town hall​​ hosted by CNN. 

See also:


Big Tech Companies Meeting With U.S. Officials on 2020 Election Security

New York Times

Facebook, Google, Twitter and Microsoft met with government officials in Silicon Valley on Wednesday to discuss and coordinate on how best to help secure the 2020 American​​ election, kicking off what is likely to be a marathon effort to prevent the kind of foreign interference that roiled the 2016 election.


CNN’s epic town hall on climate was a perfect time capsule for an unprecedented moment

Washington Post

What will a future historian in the 22nd century learn about our country, our age, by unearthing video of CNN’s town hall on the climate crisis?

See also:


OPINION: The National Battle for Redistricting

Wall Street Journal

To the degree Americans are following politics right now, the presidential contest draws their attention. But the Democratic primary isn’t the only race that matters. Many politicos in both parties are keenly focused on the bottom of the ballot.


Other:


YouTube to pay $170M fine after violating kids’ privacy law

Fresno Bee

Google will pay $170 million to settle allegations its YouTube video service collected personal data on children without their parents' consent.


Naturalization Ceremony held at Kings County Library

Hanford Sentinel

Nearly two dozen people gathered at the Kings County Library Hanford Branch on Sept. 3 to take part in a Naturalization Ceremony.


Demographic decline: National crisis or moral panic?

AEI
American birth rates are falling, and death rates are rising. Around the world, more large countries are competing to attract immigrants, even as many traditional sources of American immigrants, such as Mexico, are past their peak migrant-sending demographic and economic range. 


Understanding the ‘Pop’ in Populism

American Conservative

Central to this latest roiling is the desire to sideline Matteo Salvini, leader of right-wing populism, and to replace the latest government with a new coalition of anti-populists and left-wing populists led by Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte.


MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING


Sunday, September 8, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 –​​ Maddy Report:​​ Fed Courts with Judge O’Neill​​ – Guests: Lawrence O'Neil, Chief U.S. District Judge; McGregor Scott, U.S. Attorney General for the Eastern District;  Daniel Jamison, Dowling Aaron; and Richard Watters, Miles, Sears & Eanni. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.


Sunday, September 8, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) –​​ Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition:​​ “More Issues, Fewer Federal Judges: What Will it Mean for the Valley?”​​ – Guests: Lawrence O'Neil, Chief U.S. District Judge; McGregor Scott, U.S. Attorney General for the Eastern District;  Daniel Jamison, Dowling Aaron; Richard Watters, Miles, Sears & Eanni; and California's Former Legislative Analyst, Mac Taylor. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.


Sunday, September 8, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) –​​ El Informe Maddy:​​ “California Supreme Court: Special Taxes Are Special”​​ – Invitados: Liam Dillon with Los Angeles Times, Jesse Rojas with Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and Alexei Koseff with Sacramento Bee. Presentado Por: Coordinadora del Programa del Maddy Institute, Maria Jeans.


AGRICULTURE/FOOD


New Fresno Store Dedicated To Cbd Products

Business Journal

While a term like “miracle” may evoke skepticism in some, the owner of a new store in Fresno has no trouble at all saying it — in fact, he’s advertising it with a sign right outside his door.


Fresno in 12 foods: These are the ones you have to eat

Fresno Bee

A certain fruit that some people dislike made the list.


Fewer U.S. Households Are Going Hungry. But Cuts In Food Aid Loom

Capital Public Radio

Some 14 million U.S. households are struggling to get enough to eat — a return to pre-recession levels. The USDA data comes as the Trump administration proposes tightening eligibility for food aid.


In Los Banos, Meet The Man Who Guards America's Ketchup

VPR

Hector Osorno grew up in Mexico, became an engineer, and started working at the Heinz company, now Kraft Heinz, more than 20 years ago. It's been all ketchup, all the time, ever since.


CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY


Crime:


Fresno woman, others suing Lyft after assaults

abc30

A Fresno woman who said she was raped by a Lyft driver during a visit to southern California in 2018 is now part of a lawsuit against the rideshare company.

See also:


Smart Water catches two more thieves

Porterville Recorder

Tulare County Sheriff’s Office AG Crimes detectives and Tulare County District Attorney’s investigators were called to a grand theft from an agricultural business in Seville. The stolen property was marked with CSI Smart Water, which is invisible.


BPD assistant police chief Demestihas arrested on suspicion of domestic violence

Bakersfield Californian

The third most senior member of the Bakersfield Police Department was arrested Wednesday, and placed on paid administrative leave, after a woman was found with visible injuries in the parking lot of the VIP Lounge around midnight earlier that same day.

See also:


California’s progress when it comes to criminal justice reforms 

New York Times

Ms. Archie was among the thousands of Californians eligible to have cannabis-related convictions reduced or cleared from their records under provisions of the new law that not only made the possession of marijuana legal, it also mandated that penalties for minor offenses that were no longer crimes be​​ retroactively eliminated​​ and that some other convictions be reduced.


You Know Emily Doe’s Story. Now Learn Her Name.

New York Times

For four years, the woman whose Stanford University sexual assault case caused a public outcry, has been known only as “Emily Doe.” In her new memoir, “Know My Name,” which charts her life since then, she reveals her real name: Chanel Miller.


Public Safety:


Kern County Fair to install metal detectors at gates, beef up perimeter security

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County fairgoers can expect food, fun and heightened security at the county fair this year. The Kern County Fair board of directors has decided to install metal detection equipment at all three primary entrances to the 2019 Kern County Fair throughout its 12-day run.


San Francisco board brands NRA a domestic terrorist group

Los Angeles Times

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors approved a resolution on Tuesday naming the National Rifle Assn. a domestic terrorist organization and encouraged other cities to do the same.

See also:


We analyzed 53 years of mass shooting data. Attacks aren’t just increasing, they’re getting deadlier

Los Angeles Times

If you look at mass shootings over time, two things are alarmingly clear: The attacks are becoming far more frequent, and they are getting deadlier.

See Also:


Red Flag Laws Spur Debate Over Due Process

The Pew Charitable Trusts

In the year since Florida enacted its red flag law, Kendra Parris has defended nearly 20 clients against risk protection orders that could remove their firearms.


Fire: 


Cal Fire warns of high fire risk in Northern California as thunderstorms hit the region

Sacramento Bee

Cal Fire announced a red flag warning Wednesday afternoon, meaning hazardous weather conditions in Northern California could lead to wildfires through Thursday morning. 

See Also:


Former Fire Chief Gary Gillis remembered for lifetime of service

Stockton Record

Chief Gary Gillis lived a life of service, working 35 years for the Stockton Fire Department before retiring in 2006 following six years as chief.


Kaiser Modesto nurse, his family among dozens killed in diving boat fire

Modesto Bee

A nurse who worked at Kaiser hospitals in Modesto and Manteca and four of his family members are among the dozens of victims of a fire on a dive boat off the coast of Santa Barbara.


ECONOMY / JOBS


Economy:


Fresno Metro Black Chamber, Local Business Win Statewide Awards

Business Journal

The Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce and Fresno-based Imperial Electric Service were honored at the annual Ron Brown/Aubry Stone Memorial Business & Economic Conference held by the California Black Chamber of Commerce in Sacramento.


Stockton Tests Impact Of Buzzy Presidential Campaign Idea With Universal Basic Income

Capital Public Radio

Some lower income Stockton residents have been getting money monthly from a nonprofit as part of an experiment testing the impact of "universal basic income," an old idea getting new life in the 2020 presidential race.


China and U.S. to resume trade talks in Washington in October

Los Angeles Times

China announced that its trade negotiators will travel to Washington early next month for talks with U.S. counterparts, boosting the chances for a resolution to the tariff war after weeks of uncertainty and escalation.

See Also:


Stocks rise, erasing S&P 500’s Tuesday losses

Los Angeles Times

Technology companies led stocks on Wall Street broadly higher Wednesday, erasing the Standard & Poor’s 500’s losses from a day earlier.


A back to school primer on global trade issues

Brookings

At Brookings, we often benefit from the support of talented students that intern with our research and communications teams. Some of those interns return to campus this week for the start of a new school year, and before their classes begin, we took the opportunity to ask what questions they have about today’s volatile trade landscape.


Ethanol Industry Reels as Trade Dispute and Policy Changes Cut Demand

Wall Street Journal

The ethanol industry is suffering from weaker prices and oversupply as that pillar of the farm economy has been hurt by regulatory changes and the trade dispute with China.


2019 California Economic Summit Registration Open

CAFWD

Registration has opened for the​​ 2019 California Economic Summit, which will take place in Fresno on November 7-8. The Summit, produced by​​ California Forward, marks the eighth annual gathering of private, public and civic leaders from across California’s diverse regions committed to creating a shared economic agenda to expand prosperity for all.


Jobs:


Some sectors warn that AB5 could hurt workers, raise prices

San Francisco Chronicle

As California moves forward with legislation that could turn many independent contractors into employees, some industries are vociferously protesting, saying that the changes could hurt their workers and raise costs for consumers.


Implications of schedule irregularity as a minimum wage response margin

AEI

Empirical research on minimum wages has historically focused on employment effects, with the implicit assumption that workers who remain employed under a minimum wage regime are better off.


California Pushes Back Start Date for Small Business Anti-Harassment Training Requirement

Litter Publications

On August 30, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 778, delaying mandatory anti-harassment training deadlines, and resolving confusion about retraining requirements for certain employees who already received training in 2018 or 2019.


California Governor Expresses Support for Amended Misclassification Bill

Litter Publications

After months of not making his position on the bill clear, on September 2, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) publicly announced his support for the measure in an op ed in the Sacramento Bee.


EDUCATION


K-12:


Enrollment grows at KHSD

Bakersfield Californian

The numbers are in and Kern High School District is continuing to grow in terms of student population. 


KHSD students call for districtwide committee to address harassment following alleged incident at Frontier High School

Bakersfield Californian

Following an alleged incident of harassment that took place after Frontier High School's Gay Straight Alliance meeting last week, students are now calling for a districtwide student-led committee that will have direct and proactive action when it comes to discrimination, harassment and intolerance surrounding LGBTQ and other minority students.


Lamont High proponents have a new strategy

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern High School District isn't cooperating, so the Lamont High School booster club will just go it alone.


School Resources and the Local Control Funding Formula: Is Increased Spending Reaching High-Need Students?

PPIC
California enacted the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) in 2013–14 in an effort to simplify school finance, revamp accountability, and increase funding for high-need students—those who are low income, English Learners, homeless, and/or foster youth.


Higher Ed:


Do California colleges favor applicants with donor ties? Law would require disclosure

Fresno Bee

Months after the college scandal that exposed questionable admissions practices benefiting wealthy and well-connected families, a bill was sent Tuesday to Gov. Gavin Newsom to address concerns with the college admissions process.


‘a Model For Rural Communities’: Early College Program Could Transform Education In The Central Valley

Kern Sol News

The Early Start Program at McFarland High is a mandatory, first-of-its-kind initiative in California that, if successful, could accelerate college graduation rates and ensure opportunities for more students from areas with historically low educational attainment.  


To make ‘free college’ work, smooth out the path from community college to a bachelor’s degree

Los Angeles Times

Six years after entering community college, only 14% of students earn a bachelor’s degree. For ‘free college’ to transform lives, colleges need to make it easier for transfer students to succeed at four-year schools.


UC Merced Student Podcast Gets Picked Up By National Science Foundation

VPR

RadioBio is a podcast that educates and informs listeners about science. It's produced by a team of graduate students at UC Merced.


Families, Not Just Students, Feel The Weight Of The Student Loan Crisis

VPR

For many college students settling into their dorms this month, the path to campus — and paying for college — started long ago. And it likely involved their families.


Find Your Fit 

Wall Street Journal

Explore the 2020 WSJ/THE College Rankings


Apprenticeships:

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ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY


Environment:


Too many bears are being killed in Yosemite. Is it time to ban cars?

Fresno Bee

Too many bears are being hit by cars in Yosemite National Park – 11 this year alone, as of last week – prompting park officials​​ to step up enforcement of speed limits​​ in collision-prone areas.


Too many bears are being killed in Yosemite. Is it time to ban cars?

Modesto Bee

Too many bears are being hit by cars in Yosemite National Park – 11 this year alone, as of last week – prompting park officials​​ to step up enforcement of speed limits​​ in collision-prone areas.


California becomes first state to ban fur trapping after Gov. Newsom signs law

Los Angeles Times

California has enacted a new ban on fur trapping for animal pelts, making it the first state to outlaw a centuries-old livelihood that was intertwined with the rise of the Western frontier.

See also:


SNF seeking feedback on draft impact statement and land management plan

Porterville Recorder

The public comment period for the revised draft environmental impact statement and revised draft land management plan for the Sequoia National Forest ends September 26.


Trees Are Key To Fighting Urban Heat — But Cities Keep Losing Them

VPR

Trees can play a huge role in the health of people living in cities, but across the country, cities are losing millions of trees year after year.

See also:


Activists struggle to convince Dems that green isn’t just for whites

San Francisco Chronicle

Environmental activists haven’t always done a good job showing how climate change affects low-income communities of color that vote reliably Democratic and bear a disproportionate share of the impacts.


How Yosemite is solving gridlock at Glacier Point

San Francisco Chronicle

The pending one-year closure and renovation of Glacier Point Road gives Yosemite National Park a chance to implement “a grand vision” to solve the car crush at Glacier Point, says a park lover who will submit his proposals as part of the public comment process.


Energy:


Trump Administration Reverses Standards For Energy-Efficient Lightbulbs 

Capital Public Radio

The standards were set to go into effect in January and gradually phase out incandescent and halogen bulbs used for items such as bathroom vanities, recessed lighting and candle-shape lights.


Energy Department Moves to Roll Back Light-Bulb Restriction

Wall Street Journal

The Energy Department moved to roll back energy-efficiency standards that would have limited the sale of certain kinds of light bulbs as soon as next year.


“Harris would ban fracking, fossil fuel leases on day one'

Politico

“Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said she's favors a ban on fracking and offshore drilling, adding she would enact a ban on fossil fuel leases on public lands her first day in office. ... Harris also said she'd eliminate the filibuster, if necessary, to enact more aggressive portions of her climate agenda. 'I am prepared to get rid of the filibuster to pass a Green New Deal,' Harris said."


Ethanol Industry Reels as Trade Dispute and Policy Changes Cut Demand

Wall Street Journal

The ethanol industry is suffering from weaker prices and oversupply as that pillar of the farm economy has been hurt by regulatory changes and the trade dispute with China.


HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES


Health:


Vaping mice study reveals that e-cigarettes hurt lungs and raise infection risk

Fresno Bee

Scientists who used mice to investigate the health impacts of vaping have made some troubling discoveries, according to a study published on Wednesday.


CA advances bill aimed at cracking down on bogus vaccine exemptions

abc30

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said immediately after the vote to approve the legislation that he will seek additional amendments affecting one of this legislative session's most hotly debated issues.

See also:


How High Heat Can Impact Mental Health

Valley Public Radio

Jeanetta Churchill is blasting the air conditioning in her Baltimore row house. A massive heat wave just swept through the city, with temperatures topping 100 degrees. "I don't even want to see what my power bill is this coming month," she says.


Trump Administration Awards $1.8 Billion in Grants to Combat Opioid Epidemic

Wall Street Journal

The Trump administration on Wednesday announced it was awarding $1.8 billion in grants to help states and communities continue to battle the opioid epidemic, part of the administration’s broader effort to drive down overdose deaths and addiction.


Human Services:


Medical bankruptcy is an American scandal — and that’s not debatable

Los Angeles Times

Medical bankruptcy is an American scandal, and possibly even more common than Sen. Bernie Sanders or the study’s authors calculate.


Medicare reform can no longer be ignored: Warnings from the 2019 Medicare trustees report

AEI

The latest annual Medicare trustees report highlights the program’s growing fiscal challenge and reflects policymakers’ ongoing failure to prepare Medicare for the future. Program spending on a per-beneficiary basis rose sharply in 2018 and is anticipated to accelerate with the influx of baby boomers turning age 65 and rising health care costs. 


Opinion: Generic drugs save lives like mine. This bill will help make sure they’re available

Sacramento Bee

AB 824 would be an important step our state lawmakers and attorney general could take on behalf of hardworking Californians. 


IMMIGRATION


Refugee arrivals up as Trump administration considers cutbacks

Fresno Bee

New statistics show refugee arrivals up modestly from historic lows last year, though the Trump administration is considering stopping the flow completely.


Some migrant parents deported without kids can return to US

Fresno Bee

A federal judge ordered the U.S. government Wednesday to allow the return of 11 parents who were deported without their children during the Trump administration's wide-scale separation of immigrant families.


California Loses Key Military Project And Gains Funding For Wall 

KPBS

In California, the Air National Guard lost funding for an $8 million flight simulator scheduled to be built in the Channel Islands. Sen. Diane Feinstein said in a release that the simulator would have prepared C-130 pilots to respond to disasters.

See also:


EDITORIAL: Absurd extremes of Trump’s immigration crackdown

San Francisco Chronicle

This week brought a truly rare example of the Trump administration’s routine attacks on immigrants: one that the administration itself seemed to regret.


LAND USE/HOUSING


Land Use:


Too many bears are being killed in Yosemite. Is it time to ban cars?

Fresno Bee

Too many bears are being hit by cars in Yosemite National Park – 11 this year alone, as of last week – prompting park officials​​ to step up enforcement of speed limits​​ in collision-prone areas.


Landmark Kendall Building will be home to SJCOE tech hub

Stockton Record

The historical Kendall Building in downtown Stockton — though desolate and has seen better days — will soon be brought back to life and thrust into the 21st century.


Hanford's Carnegie Museum May Be On The Line After City Issues List Of Repairs

VPR

The City of Hanford issued the Carnegie Museum board president a letter. It listed 18 things that needed to be repaired or maintained; most of them within ten days. If not, the city has the right to evict the board and museum from the century-old building.


Trees Are Key To Fighting Urban Heat — But Cities Keep Losing Them

VPR

Trees can play a huge role in the health of people living in cities, but across the country, cities are losing millions of trees year after year.

See also:


Housing:


Trump’s China tariffs are driving up the cost of new homes in California by $20,000

Sacramento Bee

President Donald Trump’s tariffs have created the “perfect storm” at the wrong moment for the housing industry, California builders say.


Stocktonians encouraged to speak up on affordable housing

Stockton Record

Toni McNeil organized the Faith in the Valley meeting with the singular purpose of encouraging more residents to become engaged and outspoken on the city’s dearth of affordable housing, arguably​​ Stockton and San Joaquin County’s most pressing issue.


New business aims to help police root out squatters

Bakersfield Californian

Squatters Protection Act, launched recently by Bakersfield Realtor David Knoeb, allows property owners to register their homes with local law enforcement. That way, if a squatter is found on the premises, police can quickly access a property and quickly determine whether anyone inside is trespassing.


A Promise Stalled: Eight Months In, Gov. Gavin Newsom Has Yet To Hire A Homelessness Czar

Capital Public Radio

Eight months into his term as California governor, Gavin Newsom has yet to hire a cabinet-level homelessness secretary, something he vowed to do during his campaign. And it's not clear whether he'll ever follow through.


EDITORIAL: Gavin Newsom wants to stop rent gouging. Will lawmakers finally stand up for tenants?

Los Angeles Times

Thanks to a last-minute​​ intervention​​ by Gov. Gavin Newsom, California lawmakers have been given a second chance on one of the most important housing bills this session: a proposal to temporarily cap rent increases and require that landlords show “just cause” before they evict a renter.


PUBLIC FINANCES


The Federal-State Fiscal Relationship in Times of Recession: Planning Ahead by Looking Back 

PEW 

Live webcast: Policymakers reflect on how coordination across levels of government worked during recent downturns.


Fiscal 50: State Trends and Analysis

PEW

Pew’s​​ Fiscal 50: State Trends and Analysis​​ presents 50-state data on key fiscal, economic, and demographic indicators and analyzes their impact on states’ long-term fiscal health.


TRANSPORTATION


Volaris adds a third flight destination in Mexico to its Fresno schedule

Fresno Bee

Mexico-based Volaris, one of two international airlines providing service at​​ Fresno Yosemite International Airport, will add twice-weekly round trips between Fresno and León in late October.

See also:


Waiting list grows for electric cars in the Valley

abc30

Incentives are encouraging Californians to go green with rebate and tax credits. At Honda, a clarity lease is $199 a month with a down payment of about $1,500. People can also qualify for local and state rebates. Most major dealerships sell electric vehicles.


The California DMV rejected a law professor’s vanity license plate. Now it’s getting sued

Sacramento Bee

A federal judge has given the go-ahead to a lawsuit against the California Department of Motor Vehicles by a constitutional law professor whose vanity license plate request was spurned by the DMV. 

See also:


NTSB: Autopilot flaw, driver inattention caused Tesla crash

Associated Press

A design flaw in Tesla’s Autopilot semi-autonomous driving system and driver inattention combined to cause a Model S electric car to slam into a firetruck parked along a California freeway, a government investigation has found.


Bullet Train Between Las Vegas and California Closer to Becoming a Reality

NBC Southern California 

A trip between Sin City and Southern California is expected to take less than two hours one way.


EDITORIAL: TSA screeners shouldn’t be able to harass passengers and get away with it

Los Angeles Times

In the post-9/11 universe, airline passengers have no choice but to subject themselves and their belongings to screening by agents of the​​ Transportation Security Administration.


WATER


A collaborative discussion between the Sierra, Central Valley Agricultural and Disadvantaged communities

Self-Help Enterprises

The Clovis Veterans Memorial District, The Chronicles Group, Inc., and Self-Help Enterprises will host an expert panel discussion on possible collaborative efforts between Sierra watershed stakeholders, Valley farmers, government and disadvantaged communities.


“Xtra”


The Madera Fair is four days of free concerts — plus lumberjacks, hypnotists and racing pigs

Fresno Bee

In the central San Joaquin Valley, the​​ Madera District Fair​​ opens Thursday and features four days of live music, plus lumberjack competitions, hypnotist performances and racing pigs.


Ghost Of A Chance?: That tour at museum will reveal all

Porterville Recorder

Are you seeking a spook-tacular event to attend to kick off the Halloween season? Are you interested in glimpsing a past of history like you’ve never seen it before? Then head on down to the Porterville Historical Museum Saturday night.


Sidekicks, sweet rides and nature's splendor on display this First Friday

Bakersfield Californian

With a little artistic liberty to a popular saying, let's say that behind every great superhero, there is a sidekick. (Or a henchman behind a supervillain.) Some of the best pop culture second-in-commands will be on display in the show "Sidekicks & Henchmen" at Bubble Pop Gallery, part of First Friday events downtown this month.


New Panera, Farmer Boys and Huckleberry’s locations open in Stanislaus County cities

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County cities Turlock, Riverbank and Oakdale all saw the new eateries open their doors. Just off Turlock’s Monte Vista Crossings Shopping Center, a new Farmer Boys opened Monday. In Riverbank’s Crossroads Shopping Center, the new standalone Panera Bread opened Tuesday.


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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials​​ HERE.


The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute​​ at California State University, Fresno 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.

                                                      

This document is to be used for informational purposes only. Unless specifically noted, The Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno does not officially endorse or support views that may be expressed in the document. If you want to print a story, please do so now before the link expires.​​ 



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