POLICY & POLITICS
The Maddy Institute
Maddy Associates Luncheon Speaker Series: September 13, Robert Maxim, Senior Research Associate in the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, will discuss how regional public universities can have a large role in economic growth in economically distressed areas.
Newsom recall basics: How to vote in California’s election
CalMatters
A FAQ on the California election on whether to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom.
See also:
● Key Recall Dates in San Joaquin Valley Counties
● Recall Ballot Tracking
COVID Update:
● ICU bed shortage in California's Central Valley region reaches critical surge level San Francisco Chronicle
● California’s Central Valley overwhelmed by COVID-19 Delta surge Los Angeles Times
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Sept. 9: Stanislaus reports 12 more deaths, 288 hospital cases Modesto Bee
● How will local authorities enforce universal COVID mask order in Stanislaus County? Modesto Bee
What caused the 911 system outage in Stanislaus County? Officials want to know more
Modesto Bee
The director of the Stanislaus Regional 911 center said interruptions in the emergency call system Sunday and early Monday were caused by an AT&T phone company outage.
A tale of two cities: Modesto and Manteca’s contrasting approaches to housing development
Modesto Bee
Homeownership is a goal for many couples and families across the Central Valley, but sky-high prices and low inventory levels are pushing the dream further and further away from reality.
With eviction ban ending, Stanislaus trying to get rental assistance to more people
Modesto Bee
A housing program by Stanislaus County and Modesto has spent about 11% of its $16.4 million to help low-income tenants catch up on their past-due rent and utilities.
Modesto councilwoman announces cancer may have returned. She plans to keep working
Modesto Bee
Modesto Councilwoman Jenny Kenoyer said she is undergoing a new course of chemotherapy because her doctors are concerned about a spot on her right lung.
Opinion: Merced County rural areas must get high-speed internet just like anywhere else in CA
Modesto Bee
Broadband is as essential to farming as it is to any other industry. Internet connectivity is key for farmers looking to ship their goods, communicate with far-away markets, or find innovative farming techniques and technologies.
Merced Irrigation District sues state regulators over stiff water cutbacks amid drought
Merced Sun Star
The Merced Irrigation District’s attorney on Tuesday announced he has filed a lawsuit to fight the drastic curtailments set out earlier this year by state water regulators.
See also:
● State’s curtailment orders draw lawsuits from Modesto-area water users
● and San Francisco Modesto Bee
● Editorial: Hands off our river water in Modesto and Turlock, California bureaucrats Modesto Bee
Merced County is seeking community input on public transit needs
Fox 26 News
Merced County Association of Government (MCAG) and the Social Services Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC) are seeking community input about the future of public transportation in Merced County.
Majority of Council voices clear frontrunner for roads plan
Turlock Journal
Consultants vying for a shot at fixing Turlock’s deteriorating roads presented their plans during a special City Council meeting last Wednesday, though one presentation stood out from the rest to some Council members.
Stanislaus, Merced counties seeking public input for redistricting
Turlock Journal
Stanislaus and Merced counties are working with the community to make sure the current redistricting process is guided by transparency, bipartisanship, and public input to ensure the new map reflects the will of voters, allows for competitive county elections, and fairly represents all communities.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Fresno hospitals remain in COVID crisis mode, as ICU beds dwindle over Labor Day weekend Fresno Bee
● Fresno-area anti-mask activist arrested in Jan. 6 riot faces new federal charge. Here’s why Fresno Bee
● Fresno State community joins together for a ‘joyful’ event following COVID-19 restrictions Fresno Bee
Recall campaigns making final election pitches in Fresno. Plus, the latest on ballots
Fresno Bee
The California recall election is in its final week and the Fresno-area continues to be a destination for candidates.
See also:
● California recall candidate Larry Elder draws hundreds to Clovis campaign stop Fresno Bee
● Warszawski: Governor of Clovis? If it were only that simple for GOP recall hopeful Larry Elder Fresno Bee
How would Biden’s ‘Build’ agenda help Fresno? Local leaders talk with White House staff
Fresno Bee
Central California Food Bank and Faith in the Valley leaders and Fresno-area residents met Friday via Zoom with White House staff to discuss President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda and how it will help Valley families.
Fresno school board moves forward with Slatic’s second censure. Here’s what’s next
Fresno Bee
Three Fresno Unified trustees have formally requested Terry Slatic be censured a second time. Trustee Veva Islas formalized the request for censure in an email to the FUSD administration dated Sept. 3.
See also:
● Fresno Unified board votes to move forward with process to censure Terry Slatic abc30
● Editorial: Angry words, recall threat, hurt Armenian pride: Fresno Unified board is in turmoil Fresno Bee
PG&E wants a 22% energy fee hike. Here’s how Fresno County leaders responded
Fresno Bee
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors formally voted to oppose PG&E’s proposal to the California Public Utilities Commission. The request is to push up residential rates in the central San Joaquin Valley and around the state by 22% from 2023 to 2026.
Who has received emergency rent assistance in Fresno 6 months into program?
Fresno Bee
Roughly six months into the city of Fresno’s emergency rental assistance program, only about 13% of qualified applicants have received rental assistance that amounts to about $7.8 million.
See also:
● 6 months in, Fresno has millions in emergency rent money to distribute. What’s the holdup? Fresno Bee
Visalia Unified superintendent search underway, community input wanted
Visalia Times Delta
The search for Visalia Unified’s next superintendent is officially underway, and the district wants input from community members. VUSD wants to know: What are the top qualities you want to see in the next Visalia Unified superintendent?
Agri-Center facelift includes cloverleaf interchange off Highway 99
Visalia Times Delta
The International Agri-Center facelift includes a cloverleaf interchange and smooth streets to greet visitors coming off Highway 99.
Council again to consider rejoining TCEDC
Porterville Recorder
Maybe there has been enough time to heal all wounds when it comes to the city of Porterville's relationship with the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation.
Sierra Club sues Visalia over change in ag mitigation policy
The Business Journal
Less than a month after the Visalia City Council threw out their adopted Ag Mitigation Program (AMP) the Sierra Club has sued Visalia over the change.
Visalia area has 5th lowest percentage of households with internet
Visalia Times Delta
The Visalia-Porterville metro area has the fifth-lowest percentage of households with internet access, a recent report by filterbuy.com found.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
● Kern Public Health: 555 new COVID-19 cases, 1 new death reported Wednesday Bakersfield Californian
● Kern County Hispanic Chamber named 'Chamber of the Year' for pandemic efforts Bakersfield Californian
Asm Fong's bill to crack down on illegal vehicle 'sideshows' heads to governor
Bakersfield Californian
Legislation authored by Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, to crack down on illegal street racing by allowing courts to suspend for up to six months the driver's license of anyone participating in "sideshows" is heading to the governor's desk.
Gubernatorial candidate Elder plans Bakersfield stop Thursday
Bakersfield Californian
Gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder is bringing his campaign to Bakersfield on Thursday with a "Recall Express" bus tour. The Republican is stopping for a rally from noon to 12:45 p.m. in Jastro Park, 2900 Truxtun Ave., according to his campaign.
Amid a substitute shortage and absences, Kern schools struggle to fill key roles
Bakersfield Californian
School campuses have roared back to life with students in Kern County, but making sure that crucial roles are fully staffed in the first weeks has been a major challenge.
See also:
● KHSD experiences an employee shortage and urges people to apply for the different open positions abc23
CSUB Alumni Association accepting nominations for Alumni Hall of Face
Bakersfield Californian
The honor recognizes alumni who have "distinguished themselves in their career, volunteered their time, talent and/or money to benefit their community and brought honor to their alma mater," according to the association.
KHSD board: Extensive new boundaries are key for a growing district
Bakersfield Californian
The opening of Del Oro High School in fall 2022 prompted the board of the Kern High School District to approve some of the biggest changes to individual school boundaries in its history.
See also:
● Kern High School District approves redistricting for new high school Bakersfield Californian
Even as triple-digit temps linger like a bad fever, September is light at the end of summer's tunnel
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield has been keeping track of its daily weather since the 1890s, and on Wednesday, the city tied its third-place score for the number of days it has reached 100 degrees or hotter in a single year.
Checking up on the Bakersfield housing market
KGET
Studio 17’s Ilyana Capellan talks to Bryan Colebrook NMLS #2604 about the Bakersfield housing market.
Politifact
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., warned telecommunication and internet companies not to hand over certain information sought by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol.
State:
COVID Update:
● COVID-19 vaccinations lagging despite FDA’s full approval of Pfizer shots Los Angeles Times
● Urban California taming virus surge, but areas with low vaccination rates still in danger Los Angeles Times
● Editorial: Firefighters, police should support vaccine mandates if they truly care about communities Los Angeles Times
● Covid testing was supposed to keep schools safe. What happened? EdSource
● New vaccine mandates falter in California Legislature as protesters gather in Sacramento Los Angeles Times
● California lawmakers shelve vaccine bills -- for now AP
Voting behaviors in California are changing and why that matters
CalMatters
More voter education is needed to inform Californians of available voting options and to reduce the number of rejected ballots.
See also:
● California Voter and Party Profiles PPIC
● Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government Public Policy Institute of California
● The Homeless Gen Z AEI
Who’s on the recall ballot and what do they stand for? Find out in our voter guide
Sacramento Bee
The recall campaign against Newsom was first fueled by criticism of his policies on issues ranging from criminal justice and immigration. Later, those same critics added Newsom’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as yet another reason to recall him from office.
See also:
● California voters worry about wildfires. Here’s what recall election candidates say they’ll do Sacramento Bee
● California voters say housing is important. Here’s where Newsom recall candidates stand Sacramento Bee
● A shaman, a rapper and a surgeon: Meet the lesser-known names on your recall ballot Los Angeles Times
● Vaccines, unemployment, housing, drought: Where top recall candidates stand on the issues Los Angeles Times
● What one thing do Republican recall candidates blame for California’s housing crisis? CalMatters
● California recall candidates stretch the truth on COVID, climate change and more CalMatters
● Faulconer finances: He pays one company with campaign funds, receives income from another The San Diego Union-Tribune
Early ballot returns suggest strong local interest in recall election
Bakersfield Californian
Early ballot returns indicate strong local interest in the gubernatorial recall election. Statewide data shows more Democrats than Republicans have voted so far, but political insiders say it’s still too early to tell which way the electorate might lean.
See also:
● Your guide to the 2021 recall election in California Los Angeles Times
● Everything you need to know about the California recall Politico
● Hoover Institution and Stanford University’s Lane Center Release New Poll on California Gubernatorial Recall Election Hoover Institution
● Democrats optimistic ahead of California recall election; GOP divided over its front-runner Los Angeles Times
● Prayer and politicking: Churches become a center of the California recall campaign Los Angeles Times
● Recall Special: Countdown California Valley Public Radio
● Editorial: The recall election is one week away. How are you feeling, California? San Francisco Chronicle
● Editorial: How not to vote on Question 2 on your California recall ballot San Francisco Chronicle
● A Q&A about the California recall with the man who helped Arnold Schwarzenegger win the last one Mercury News
● Opinion: Recall election is another assault on Black voters CalMatters
● The Trailer: Democrats are feeling better about California's recall. Republicans are feeling cheated. Washington Post
● Are there enough ‘mad moms’ in California to recall Gov. Newsom from office? CalMatters
● California recall: About a quarter of voters have returned their Ballots Visalia Times Delta
● California recall: New polls favor Newsom by comfortable margin Visalia Times Delta
● What to watch for on California governor recall election night Visalia Times Delta
● The man who started the movement to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom has COVID-19 Sacramento Bee
● Kamala Harris links Gavin Newsom recall to new Republican abortion, voting laws Sacramento Bee
● Kamala Harris comes to Newsom’s rescue, whether he needs it or not CalMatters
● Frenemies no more. Harris stumps for Newsom as the Californians’ political interests align Los Angeles Times
● Vice President Harris, former President Obama join Newsom’s fight against recall effort Los Angeles Times
● Recall election: Kamala Harris holds up Texas as a warning to fire up Dems to vote ‘No’ on Newsom recall Mercury News
● The vice president pushed back against the effort to recall Newsom in the Bay Area New York Times
● President Joe Biden to visit Sacramento amid California wildfires, Gavin Newsom recall Sacramento Bee
● Biden to campaign for Newsom in California 'early next week' Politic
● California recall vote offers test of Biden political clout The Business Journal
● Column: The national cavalry has come to help Newsom. But anti-recall effort is still mostly a California fight Los Angeles Times
● Walters: Newsom put himself in recall danger CalMatters
● Many tech leaders are financially supporting Newsom, wary of what a replacement would bring New York Times
● Gavin Newsom and the Golden State’s Recall Fever New Yorker
● Not so close? Politico
● Gavin Newsom targets Latino voters in final week of California recall campaign Sacramento Bee
Why is Larry Elder focusing so much on reaching out to Latino and Asian voters?
CalMatters
Throughout his short campaign, Elder has made explicit efforts to reach out to communities who have not traditionally found a home in the GOP.
See also:
● Gavin Newsom vs. Larry Elder: A California recall guide Los Angeles Times
● Column: Larry Elder is the most Latino candidate in California’s recall. It won’t help him Los Angeles Times
● Latinos Shape California. Why Are So Many Sitting Out the Recall? New York Times
● Larry Elder once called Donald Trump ‘almost God-sent.’ But does he want his endorsement? Los Angeles Times
● Recall candidate Larry Elder says sex ed ‘has no role in school’ in message to Rocklin church Sacramento Bee
● How Did Larry Elder Become a Front-Runner in California’s Governor Race? New York Times
● Review: Larry Elder complained we’d never reviewed his books. So we did, like it or not Los Angeles Times
● Larry Elder cuts short Venice homeless encampment tour after hostile confrontation Los Angeles Times
● Larry Elder attacked by egg-throwing agitators in Los Angeles Fox News
● Is Elder torching the recall? Politico
Fact check: Donald Trump falsely claims recall election is ‘rigged’ for Newsom
Sacramento Bee
Claim: Former President Donald Trump, speaking on Newsmax Tuesday night, claimed that the California recall against Gov. Gavin Newsom is likely ‘rigged’, suggesting that the widespread use of mail ballots will ensure a victory for the Democrat.
See also:
● In red California, Trump’s lies about a rigged election echo among recall supporters Los Angeles Times
● Republicans stir up voting fraud fears Politico
● Why no one wants to talk about this hot-button election tool in the California recall Los Angeles Times
● Voter fraud claims create 'circus-like atmosphere' for recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom Visalia Times Delta
Newsom’s call now: California Legislature passes these top 2021 bills
CalMatters
The second year of the coronavirus pandemic in California was shaped by two political undercurrents at the state Capitol: a budget awash with cash, thanks to a booming stock market and federal aid, and a looming recall election.
See also:
● Quarantining students could get more instruction with proposed independent study changes CalMatters
● Bill to decertify police for serious misconduct clears Legislature CalMatters
● California cops with troubled records could lose their badges under bill sent to Newsom Sacramento Bee
● California Aims to Ban Recycling Symbols on Things That Aren’t Recyclable New York Times
● Editorial: Pass AB 1506, preserve future of California newspapers Mercury News
Election boosts female California lawmakers to all-time high
Hanford Sentinel
Women now make up nearly a third of the California Legislature — an all-time record, according to an advocacy group that recruits female candidates.
Who represents you in the California State Legislature?
CalMatters
Here you can find your California state Senators and Assembly members, how to contact them, committees they serve on and how they shape our lives in the Golden State.
California takes on Amazon, advancing a bill that regulates tough warehouse work metrics
Los Angeles Times
The California Senate voted to regulate warehouse performance metrics, approving the first legislation in the nation that will require companies such as Amazon to disclose productivity quotas at their logistics facilities, among other standards meant to make warehouse work safer.
See also:
● California Senate Passes Bill Reining In Amazon Labor Model New York Times
● California Bill Passes, Giving Amazon Warehouse Workers Power To Fight Speed Quotas VPR
Call 988: California finds $20 million to help pay for new crisis hotline
CalMatters
After weeks in which funding to make the hotline work in California seemed uncertain, the state Department of Health Care Services announced late today that it would spend $20 million to help support the 9-8-8 network.
Opinion: Abortion access in California is under greater threat than we think
CalMatters
If Roe v. Wade is overturned and laws like Senate Bill 8 in Texas are enacted elsewhere, California’s health care system, already strained by COVID-19, will be overwhelmed by patients from other states traveling here for abortions.
See also:
● State Facts About Abortion: California Guttmacher Institute
Walters: California’s ‘corridor of corruption’ yields new case
CalMatters
Southern California’s “corridor of corruption” has yielded a new case of insider dealing – not the first and not the last.
Unions are shelling out money for their candidates in a CalPERS election. Who’s running?
Sacramento Bee
Organized labor is pouring money into an upcoming election for two seats on the 13-member board that oversees California’s public pension system, recently valued at $492 billion.
See also:
● SEIU Local 1000 board members move to strip union president of power, pick new leader Sacramento Bee
● How much do California state workers get paid? Search public salaries in our database Sacramento Bee
California flex alert extended for second day amid hot weather
Los Angeles Times
California electrical system regulators are extending a statewide flex alert into Thursday as soaring temperatures across the region are expected to create high power demand.
Federal:
COVID Update:
● Daily US COVID cases up more than 300% from Labor Day last year Sacramento Bee
● US reaches 75% of adults with at least 1 vaccine dose Sacramento Bee
● First responders nationwide resist COVID vaccine mandates Sacramento Bee
● COVID-19 surge in the US: The summer of hope ends in gloom Fresno Bee
● COVID cases for children soar to highest number since pandemic began, officials say Fresno Bee
● Children make up more than a quarter of the weekly US Covid-19 cases, pediatricians’ group says Mercury News
● COVID-19 vaccinations lagging despite FDA’s full approval of Pfizer shots Los Angeles Times
● Editorial: Firefighters, police should support vaccine mandates if they truly care about communities Los Angeles Times
● 95 percent of US counties now seeing 'high' COVID-19 transmission rate: CDC data The Hill
● As a Delta Wave Peaks in Some States, Others Brace for What’s Next Wall Street Journal
● 10 types of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation swirling online, fact-checked Politifact
● Safer to be unvaccinated against COVID-19? In several ways, that’s False Politifact
● How the pandemic has changed teachers’ commitment to remaining in the classroom Brookings
Biden to Require All Federal Workers, Government Contractors Be Vaccinated Against Covid-19
Wall Street Journal
President Biden is requiring that all federal workers and millions of government contractors be vaccinated against Covid-19, a person familiar with the plans said.
See also:
● Biden expected to order all federal workers to be vaccinated, with no testing option Washington Post
● Biden Will Require Vaccines For Federal Workers As Part Of A New COVID Strategy VPR
Infrastructure Bill Could Influence How States Select Transportation Projects
Wall Street Journal
Included in the bipartisan infrastructure bill now before the U.S. House of Representatives are a pair of provisions that could spur states to rethink how they allocate scarce transportation dollars.
See also:
● Opinion: Biden Needs a Win on Infrastructure Wall Street Journal
● Agree to disagree: Should Congress spend trillions to ‘build back better’? AEI
Democrats Jockey Over Healthcare, Taxes in $3.5 Trillion Package
Wall Street Journal
Democrats faced fresh intraparty disagreements over the details of their $3.5 trillion healthcare, education and climate bill, as House Democrats began releasing drafts of segments of the legislation in a race to attempt to complete it in the coming weeks.
See also:
● Manchin calls for ‘pause’ on $3.5 trillion budget bill NPR
● Opinion: Can Sanders Roll Over Manchin? Wall Street Journal
● Intraparty squabble casts shadow over Democrats’ fiscal agenda Roll Call
● With bulk of their agenda on the line, Democrats gird for battle over $3.5 trillion budget package Washington Post
Democrats’ Split Deepens Over Powell Fed Reappointment
Wall Street Journal
A centrist Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee said President Biden should nominate Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to a second term, the latest volley in an intraparty rift over the future leadership of the Fed.
ProPublica
One of the loudest voices urging Donald Trump’s supporters to push for overturning the presidential election results was Steve Bannon. “We’re on the point of attack,” Bannon, a former Trump adviser and far-right nationalist, pledged on his popular podcast on Jan. 5.
See also:
● How Republicans are set to boost Democratic turnout in 2022 Roll Call
Justice Department to protect women seeking an abortion in Texas
Washington Post
The Justice Department is exploring “all options” to challenge Texas’s abortion law, Attorney General said Monday, as he vowed to provide support to abortion clinics that are “under attack” in the state and to protect those seeking and providing reproductive health services.
See also:
● Biden Administration Prepares to Sue Texas Over Abortion Law Wall Street Journal
● Abortion Arrives at the Center of the American Political Maelstrom New York
Times
● Opinion: If the GOP succeeds in destroying Roe v. Wade, how will it handle the fallout? Washington Post
● Where Abortion Access Would Decline if Roe v. Wade Were Overturned New York Times
● Mexico decriminalizes abortion, a dramatic step in world’s second-biggest Catholic country Washington Post
● Op-Ed: How the Texas abortion law could spawn threats to other constitutional rights Los Angeles Times
● Op-Ed: Principled consistency: The first casualty of Roe American Enterprise Institute
● The Roe Baby The Atlantic
White House pulling nomination of ATF chief amid pushback over gun-control advocacy
Washington Post
The White House is planning to withdraw David Chipman’s nomination to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives this week amid bipartisan pushback over his gun control advocacy, according to two people with knowledge of the decision.
Democrats, GOP Push Back Against Partisan Election Audits
Pew
Ten months after the 2020 presidential election, Republican state lawmakers in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are following Arizona in pushing investigations rooted in the false claim that the election was stolen.
Are women disproportionately impacted by voter ID laws?
Politifact
President Joe Biden has pointed a finger at states that have enacted new restrictions on voting, saying that some laws disproportionately hurt different groups of Americans, including women.
Other:
It’s been 20 years since the 9/11 attacks but we’re still haunted by that day — every day
Fresno Bee
Sept. 11 has become more than a national trauma long past. America has lived Sept. 11 every day for 20 years since 2001, even as we watched the last American soldier and their fallen comrades depart Afghanistan last week.
See also:
● More Americans say 9/11 changed U.S. for the worse, Post-ABC poll finds Washington Post
● Young Sikhs still struggle with post-Sept. 11 discrimination Modesto Bee
● Garth Stapley on 9/11: Through a Modesto lens, remembering that fateful day 20 years ago Modesto Bee
Americans warier of US government surveillance: AP-Norc poll
Business Journal
As the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks approaches, Americans increasingly balk at intrusive government surveillance in the name of national security, and only about a third believe that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were worth fighting.
How Facebook Undermines Privacy Protections for Its 2 Billion WhatsApp Users
ProPublica
Seated at computers, these hourly workers use special Facebook software to sift through streams of private messages, images and videos that have been reported by WhatsApp users as improper and then screened by the company’s artificial intelligence systems.
Opinion: How the rise of Politico shifted political journalism off course
Washington Post
Politico’s sale last month to the German media company Axel Springer for a reported $1 billion was the culmination of a stunning rise of a publication founded in 2007 in what most people assumed was an overly-crowded market: coverage of Washington and U.S. politics.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, September 12, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "LAO Report on Safe Drinking Water" - Guest: Rachel Ehlers, Principal Fiscal and Policy Analyst - Legislative Analyst's Office. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, September 12, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “"Valley Water: Where & Why is it Unsafe to Drink?"- Guests: Ellen Hanak, Director - PPIC Water Center; Sarge Green, Research Scientist - Fresno State's CA Water Institute. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Sierra Club sues Visalia over change in ag mitigation policy
The Business Journal
Less than a month after the Visalia City Council threw out their adopted Ag Mitigation Program (AMP) the Sierra Club has sued Visalia over the change.
California’s lucrative almond orchards face a reckoning with drought, climate change
Sacramento Bee
First came the asparagus field. Then came the melons. And now Joe Del Bosque is considering the unthinkable: tearing out a sprawling almond orchard bursting with healthy, nut-producing trees.
See also:
● Opinion: Central Valley farmers need to know plan for future water usage Sacramento Bee
● Drought has farmworkers dreaming of escape from California’s breadbasket Los Angeles Times
● California can keep thirstiest crops, State Ag chief tells ‘State of Mind’ podcast CalMatters
No, the U.S. government isn’t telling farmers to destroy their crops
Politifact
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture said farmers are not being asked to destroy their crops.
Commentary: State’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions harmful to farmers
CalMatters
Unfortunately, California’s administration and legislative leadership’s approach to setting mandates to cut greenhouse gas emissions has left agriculture to become collateral damage rather than a meaningful partner in meeting them.
Opinion: Biden’s Tax Changes Won’t Hurt Family Farmers
Wall Street Journal
Changes to the step-up in basis are needed to ensure that wealthy investors pay their fair share.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Fresno Diocese: Abuse accusations against Craig Harrison credible. What happens now?
Fresno Bee
An advocacy group on Tuesday applauded the Diocese of Fresno bishop for offering more details about embattled former Monsignor Craig Harrison, including that it found allegations of abuse are credible.
Teen driver’s death follows pattern of excessive force by Stanislaus deputies, lawsuit claims
Modesto Bee
The law firm suing Stanislaus County and its Sheriff’s Department in the May fatal shooting of a 16-year-old driver claims the incident is part of a pattern of excessive force by deputies and cited 11 other incidents since February 2017 as evidence.
California voters rejected ‘zero bail.’ Now lawmakers weigh new overhaul of system
Los Angeles Times
Ten months after California voters rejected a state law to eliminate cash bail for many offenses, a new fight is brewing in the Legislature over an alternative plan by lawmakers that would slash the amount arrestees must pay to get out of jail.
Stimulus check scams soared this summer, IRS warns. Here’s what to watch out for
Fresno Bee
The IRS said it received a record number of reports about COVID-19 stimulus check-related scams in June and July.
Public Safety:
Fresno chief says he’s adopted some police reform recommendations. Here they are
Fresno Bee
Fresno police have implemented nine new policies recommended by the Commission on Police Reform, including some related to use-of-force, according to an update Friday from Chief Paco Balderrama.
See also:
● Fresno police reform: We explain the new policies being adopted by the department abc30
● Fresno police chief says gang suppression is reducing violence. Here’s the latest Fresno Bee
● California lawmakers advance plan to decertify police officers for serious misconduct Los Angeles Times
● Op-Ed: Police don’t deserve an impenetrable legal shield American Enterprise Institute
Toxic algae test results are in after mysterious deaths of California family while hiking
Fresno Bee
Few clues have been shared by investigators working to determine how a family and their dog died a little over three weeks ago while hiking in Sierra National Forest, in a remote section of Mariposa County southwest of Yosemite National Park.
See also:
· State issues danger advisory due to algal bloom at San Luis Reservoir in Merced County Fresno Bee
What caused the 911 system outage in Stanislaus County? Officials want to know more
Modesto Bee
The director of the Stanislaus Regional 911 center said interruptions in the emergency call system Sunday and early Monday were caused by an AT&T phone company outage.
See also:
· Call 988: California finds $20 million to help pay for new crisis hotline CalMatters
Commentary: Two cannabis bills detrimental to public health and food safety
CalMatters
As this legislative session winds down, at least two dangerous cannabis and hemp-related bills are moving forward.
Fire:
As summer wanes, California could enter another active fire period in the fall
Washington Post
The winds around the Dixie and Caldor fires have calmed in recent days, and a major disaster has been averted for South Lake Tahoe. A mandatory evacuation order for the city was lifted at the weekend.
See also:
● In California, a heat advisory and a wildfire season that is ‘far from over.’ New York Times
● Strike team fighting Caldor Fire pulled because of COVID outbreak, prompting warning Sacramento Bee
● South Lake Tahoe residents begin cautious return as nearly half-contained Caldor Fire burns nearby Washington Post
● Dixie Fire is blazing its way to becoming Calif’s biggest ever Mercury News
● Residents express relief, gratitude as French Fire evacuation orders vanish Bakersfield Californian
● Warszawski: ‘Not as simple as nails and screws.’ Creek Fire survivors struggle to rebuild homes, lives Fresno Bee
Sheltering Inside May Not Protect You From The Dangers Of Wildfire Smoke
VPR
When wildfire smoke descends over a city or town, as it does increasingly often for tens of millions of people in the American West, public health officials have a simple message: Go inside, shut doors and windows. Limit outdoor activities.
See also:
● About 7,000 California preterm births linked to wildfire smoke risks, study says Washington Post
Managing Family Forests Is Key to Managing Wildfire
Public Policy Institute of California
In the Sierra-Cascade region, many mixed-conifer forests belong to small family operations, which typically struggle to carry out robust forest management. This gap in management is putting communities at risk; a few policy changes could help.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
The U.S. Expected an Economic Takeoff. It Got a September Slowdown.
Wall Street Journal
Businesses and consumers are reworking plans to adjust to renewed mask mandates, travel restrictions, event cancellations and delayed office reopenings. Consumers are pulling back on purchases and employers have slowed hiring.
See also:
● U.S. Economic Growth Slowed Over the Summer Due to Delta Variant, Fed’s Beige Book Says Wall Street Journal
● Fed survey finds growth ‘downshifted’ in summer due to COVID The Business
Journal
● How cities can thrive in a post-COVID age AEI
The economic gains from equity
Brookings
Longstanding racial and ethnic disparities in the United States have hurt not only the people who experience the disparities but have hurt all Americans by depressing U.S. economic output by trillions of dollars over the past 30 years.
Jobs:
Unemployment benefits end for millions. California leaders say state can’t extend them
Sacramento Bee
The unemployment benefits that ended Saturday won’t be revived anytime soon in California. In Sacramento, as in Washington, the message is the same: The economy is recovering, jobs are plentiful and lots of other help is available if needed.
See also:
● Pandemic’s $794 billion unemployment benefits were historic. Here’s a look back at their scope CNBC
● The End Of Federal Unemployment Benefits, And The Return To Work Forbes
● Column: The end of the unemployment benefit boost shows how lousy work is in America Los Angeles Times
California is trying a $15 minimum wage. Is it time for $20 – or $0?
Sacramento Bee
Conservatives call it a job killer. Liberals call it an anti-poverty measure. However you describe it, a $15-an-hour minimum wage is coming to California. It will become a reality for the state’s bigger employers by next year.
See also:
● Some Californians make less than minimum wage. Here’s why Sacramento Bee
● California is trying a $15 minimum wage. Is it time for $20 – or $0? Fresno Bee
● Here are 36 California cities and counties where the minimum wage is higher than $14 an hour Fresno Bee
● Opinion: Uber, Lyft drivers have no right to minimum wage; that must change Sacramento Bee
Job Openings Remain Robust, Though In-Person Postings Slipped in August
Wall Street Journal
Demand for workers in the U.S. remained strong—but leveled off—in the late summer due to an easing of job openings for in-person services positions as the economic recovery showed signs of slowing due to the Delta variant of Covid-19.
See also:
● U.S. Jobless Claims Hit New Pandemic Low as Employers Retain Workers Wall Street Journal
● Workers fear robots and automation from Covid are here to stay. But they create jobs. AEI
● Walters:California’s Labor Day lament: A shortage of workers CalMatters
State and Local Policies and Sectoral Labor Standards: from Individual Rights to Collective Power
Institute for Research on Labor and Employment
The United States enterprise-based collective bargaining regime creates substantial
limitations for organizing workers where supply chains are increasingly disaggregated in
ways that reduce worker power.
See also:
● California’s Labor Market in the Time of COVID-19: 2021 Chartbook UC Berkeley Labor Center
The employment impact of a green fiscal push
Brookings
The $62 billion in green investments in the Obama administration’s 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created 640,000 jobs per year by 2017 according to this paper.
In-Person Workers Are Slow to Return to Jobs, Data Shows
PEW
Donald Trinks is seeing both sides of the labor problem in his restaurant: less business from travelers and not enough workers to capitalize on the business he has left.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Visalia Unified superintendent search underway, community input wanted
Visalia Times Delta
The search for Visalia Unified’s next superintendent is officially underway, and the district wants input from community members. VUSD wants to know: What are the top qualities you want to see in the next Visalia Unified superintendent?
Fresno school board moves forward with Slatic’s second censure. Here’s what’s next
Fresno Bee
Three Fresno Unified trustees have formally requested Terry Slatic be censured a second time. Trustee Veva Islas formalized the request for censure in an email to the FUSD administration dated Sept. 3.
See also:
● Fresno Unified board votes to move forward with process to censure Terry Slatic abc30
● Editorial: Angry words, recall threat, hurt Armenian pride: Fresno Unified board is in turmoil Fresno Bee
Amid a substitute shortage and absences, Kern schools struggle to fill key roles
Bakersfield Californian
School campuses have roared back to life with students in Kern County, but making sure that crucial roles are fully staffed in the first weeks has been a major challenge.
See also:
● KHSD experiences an employee shortage and urges people to apply for the different open positions abc23
Kern High School District approves redistricting for new high school
Bakersfield Now
Kern High School District is building a new school, Del Oro High School. As Kern County continues to grow the new high school is being added to help with the student population.
Parents Of Children With Disabilities Join The Legal Battle Over Masks In Schools
VPR
In a wave of lawsuits in nearly half a dozen states, families of students with disabilities are joining the legal battle over masks in schools. Complaints argue that restrictions on mask mandates infringe on disability rights and that children with disabilities are being forced to choose between their health and their education.
Quarantining students could get more instruction with proposed independent study changes
CalMatters
The state legislature proposed changes to the independent study laws that had been disrupting school reopenings across California. Educators say the revisions will help but don’t go far enough.
Higher Ed:
The Maddy Institute
Maddy Associates Luncheon Speaker Series: September 13, Robert Maxim, Senior Research Associate in the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, will discuss how regional public universities can have a large role in economic growth in economically distressed areas.
CSUB Alumni Association accepting nominations for Alumni Hall of Fame
Bakersfield Californian
The honor recognizes alumni who have "distinguished themselves in their career, volunteered their time, talent and/or money to benefit their community and brought honor to their alma mater," according to the association.
Video: Improving Career Education Pathways into California’s Workforce
Public Policy Institute of California
At a recent event, PPIC research fellow Shannon McConville presented findings from a new report that examines the trajectories of over 1 million career education students and shares insights from stakeholder interviews on creating effective training programs.
How college students can minimize covid risk on campus
Washington Post
As their universities grapple with mask recommendations, vaccine mandates and distancing rules, students are charged with making serious health-related decisions.
How Much College Debt Should Students and Parents Take On? Here’s How to Figure It Out.
Wall Street Journal
Fifty-five percent of families said they plan to take out student loans this year. Of those families, slightly more than half say they expect to borrow $10,000 to $40,000 in loans, while 23% say they plan to borrow $75,000 or more.
See also:
● The Education Department Will Forgive $5.8 Billion in Student Loans for Disabled Borrowers ProPublica
● Loan Forgiveness for Disabled Borrowers Was 10 Years in the Making ProPublica
● How student loans became a national catastrophe American Enterprise Institute
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Climate Change Is The Greatest Threat To Public Health, Top Medical Journals Warn
VPR
The rapidly warming climate is the "greatest threat" to global public health, more than 200 medical journals are warning in a joint statement that urges world leaders to cut heat-trapping emissions to avoid "catastrophic harm to health that is impossible to reverse."
See also:
● The U.S. Is Not Ready for Climate Reality New York Times
● Enough With The Climate Jargon: Scientists Aim For Clearer Messages On Global Warming VPR
● California Recall Vote Could Weaken the State’s Aggressive Climate Policies New York Times
Majestic sequoia trees can live for thousands of years. Climate change could wipe them out
Mercury News
Almost everything about a sequoia tree is giant: It can grow to more than 200 feet tall and live longer than 3,000 years. Yet the sequoia’s footprint is shrinking, as human-induced climate change threatens this ancient tree’s survival.
Burned trees and billions in cash: How a California climate program lets companies keep polluting
Los Angeles Times
Polluters use the program to outsource their obligations to fight global warming: The credits purchased from faraway forests allow them to claim greenhouse gases they release at their facilities are not hurting the planet.
Opinion: The World Is Getting Safer From Floods
Wall Street Journal
Climate change may raise waters and more Americans than ever live in floodplains, but technology and infrastructure protect them.
Energy:
PG&E wants a 22% energy fee hike. Here’s how Fresno County leaders responded
Fresno Bee
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors formally voted to oppose PG&E’s proposal to the California Public Utilities Commission. The request is to push up residential rates in the central San Joaquin Valley and around the state by 22% from 2023 to 2026.
Opinion: To solve California’s power demands, regulators need to add more clean energy, faster
Fresno Bee
The consequences of climate change have stacked the deck against California’s electricity grid this summer. Crippling drought has decimated hydroelectric power supplies our state has historically relied on just as blistering heat has sent demand for electricity skyrocketing.
See also:
● Opinion: Get Ready for the Blackouts Wall Street Journal
● Editorial: Goodbye fossil fuels. California should commit to going carbon neutral by 2045 Los Angeles Times
Biden wants the sun to provide nearly half the nation’s electricity by 2050
Washington Post
The Biden administration announced a plan Wednesday to use solar energy to produce nearly half the nation’s electricity by mid-century, part of its ambitious bid to address climate change.
See also:
● Biden administration says solar could power 40% of U.S. electricity by 2035 Los Angeles Times
● Report: US could get 40% of electricity from solar by 2035 Mercury News
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
What is the mu variant of the coronavirus?
Fresno Bee
What is the mu variant? It’s a version of the coronavirus that was first identified in Colombia in January and has since caused isolated outbreaks in South America, Europe and the United States.
Risk of getting long COVID cut in half with 2nd dose of vaccine, study shows
Fresno Bee
Research shows fully vaccinated people are less likely to get infected with the coronavirus or come down with serious illness compared to those who receive only one dose. Now, a new study found complete vaccination cuts the risk of developing long COVID by nearly half.
See also:
● Risk of severe breakthrough cases higher for seniors and people with underlying conditions Mercury News
● Moderna COVID vaccine may give you more antibodies. What this does and doesn’t mean Merced Sun Star
● COVID-19 boosters are coming but who will get them and when? Modesto Bee
● What side effects to expect from your COVID-19 vaccine booster shot San Francisco Chronicle
● Should you get a booster given global vaccine shortages? Here's what ethicists say San Francisco Chronicle
● WHO chief urges halt to booster shots for rest of the year The Business Journal
● People who got Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus shot feel left behind in push for boosters Washington Post
● As experts debate boosters, vaccinated people are calling their own shots Washington Post
● Judge can’t force hospital to treat COVID patient with ivermectin, Ohio court rules Sacramento Bee
● Efforts grow to stamp out use of parasite drug for COVID-19 Sacramento Bee
● A Nobel Prize and a horse dewormer: Explaining the controversy over ivermectin and COVID-19 Politifact
● New Studies Find Evidence Of 'Superhuman' Immunity To COVID-19 In Some Individuals Valley Public Radio
● Opinion: Vaccines Versus Covid-19: The Great Immunity Debate Bloomberg
Wildfire smoke is everywhere now. Here are the best apps to check air quality in your area.
Washington Post
Even if you’re nowhere near a wildfire, you may still be feeling their effects. The good news is there are a few simple ways to get a pretty good picture of the air quality in a given area.
The Flu Is Expected to Make a Comeback This Year, Threatening Hospitals Strained by Delta
Wall Street Journal
The coming flu season is on track to be much worse than the last cycle, according to health experts, who fear an influx of cases could further strain hospitals already overwhelmed by the Delta surge.
Human Services:
Valley Children's reports uptick in pediatric COVID-19
Visalia Times Delta
Valley Children’s Hospital is seeing an uptick in pediatric hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 cases, health officials announced over the weekend.
Fact Check: What’s the average cost of a COVID-19 hospital stay?
Politifact
Health policy and industry experts said the $17,064 figure sounds about right, based on available data. But they also noted that figuring out an "average" cost for a hospital stay is tricky due to varying factors among patients.
Calif prepares to spend billions on Medi-Cal services for homeless people and others
Los Angeles Times
Over the next five years, California is plowing nearly $6 billion in state and federal money into the plan, which will target just a sliver of the 14 million low-income Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal.
See also:
● Billions in Public Money Aimed at Curing Homelessness and Caring for ‘Whole Body’ Politic California Healthline
Column: Adding dental coverage to Medicare makes a lot of sense — except to dentists
Los Angeles Times
The $4-trillion U.S. healthcare system is so vast and so complex, any discussion of changing things can (and will) get quickly bogged down in hard-to-address policy details.
Biden Administration Unveils Plan to Cut Prescription-Drug Prices
Wall Street Journal
A Biden administration plan to lower prescription-drug prices offers the first detailed road map of administrative actions the White House would support in addition to legislation aimed at driving down costs.
IMMIGRATION
Federal judge won’t dismiss lawsuit against ICE in California. What happens next?
Fresno Bee
A U.S. District judge last week denied a government’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the agency’s use of private security guards to make arrests in California’s prisons.
Biden vowed to close a border migrant camp, then a worse one emerged under his watch
Los Angeles Times
When Joe Biden was running for president, he promised to close a squalid border tent camp in Mexico where thousands of migrants had been left to await the outcome of their immigration cases by the Trump administration.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Yosemite plans to end reservation system soon, despite region’s climbing COVID cases
Fresno Bee
Yosemite said the temporary system would only be in place through Sept. 30, “or until local public health conditions improve” due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Housing:
A tale of two cities: Modesto and Manteca’s contrasting approaches to housing development
Modesto Bee
Homeownership is a goal for many couples and families across the Central Valley, but sky-high prices and low inventory levels are pushing the dream further and further away from reality.
With eviction ban ending, Stanislaus trying to get rental assistance to more people
Modesto Bee
A housing program by Stanislaus County and Modesto has spent about 11% of its $16.4 million to help low-income tenants catch up on their past-due rent and utilities.
Checking up on the Bakersfield housing market
KGET
Studio 17’s Ilyana Capellan talks to Bryan Colebrook NMLS #2604 about the Bakersfield housing market.
The Gatekeepers: How SoCal Cities Could Thwart California’s New Affordable Housing Mandate
Capital and Main
Police in riot gear clearing hundreds of homeless campers. Women and children without housing “reclaiming” vacant residences while trying to evade state troopers. Looming evictions threatening millions of renters.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Janet Yellen Says Treasury Could Exhaust Cash-Conservation Measures in October
Wall Street Journal
The Treasury Department could run out of room next month to keep paying the government’s bills on time unless Congress steps in to suspend or raise the federal borrowing limit, Secretary Janet Yellen said in a letter to congressional leaders Wednesday.
Cities are taking it slow with American Rescue Plan funds
Brookings
These cities are slated to receive anywhere from $142 million (Charlotte, N.C.) to $827 million (Detroit) in flexible funds from ARP, for a combined total of $7.4 billion—only 18% of which, we’ve found, has been committed so far.
See also:
● Provider groups lobby HHS as COVID-19 fund deadlines near Roll Call
Singletary: Four steps to rebuild your financial life after the pandemic
Washington Post
The end to the national eviction moratorium for renters will no doubt leave many people without a secure place to live. Others are still out of work or have had their hours cut as the United States continues to battle an increase in coronavirus cases.
Government and private household debt relief during COVID-19
Brookings
Authors of a new BPEA study find that debt relief during the pandemic was well-targeted and protected millions of Americans. About 60% of borrowers who entered debt forbearance have exited it as of May.
TRANSPORTATION
Merced County is seeking community input on public transit needs
Fox 26 News
Merced County Association of Government (MCAG) and the Social Services Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC) are seeking community input about the future of public transportation in Merced County.
Newsom, Calif. Lawmakers Hit Roadblock on Bullet Train
KMJ Now
At issue is an additional $4.2 billion to build the bullet train. The major hurdle comes from lawmakers in the Bay Area and Southern California who are demanding funds be sent their way for the project which is currently under construction only in the Central Valley.
See also:
● Layoffs and delays threaten California’s high-speed rail as project faces funding hang up Fresno Bee
● High-Speed Rail Impasse Means No Active Transportation Boost, Other Projects Also Denied Funding Streets Blog Cal
WATER
Merced Irrigation District sues state regulators over stiff water cutbacks amid drought
Merced Sun Star
The Merced Irrigation District’s attorney on Tuesday announced he has filed a lawsuit to fight the drastic curtailments set out earlier this year by state water regulators.
See also:
● State’s curtailment orders draw lawsuits from Modesto-area water users and San Francisco Modesto Bee
● Editorial: Hands off our river water in Modesto and Turlock, California bureaucrats Modesto Bee
Improving California’s Water Market
PPIC
As California works to bring its groundwater basins into balance under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, water banking and trading are important tools to help manage the transition.
As California restricts water use for farmers, low supply levels add to drought’s harsh reality
PBS NewsHour
California’s re-emerging drought is placing unprecedented strain on the state’s intricate water system, threatening mass agricultural production and basic drinking water in a way experts say is more severe than in years past.
See also:
● Drought threatens access to clean water in California farming communities, study finds Sacramento Bee
● After this desert city faced dry taps, California rushed through emergency water funding Los Angeles Times
“Xtra”
Broadway in Fresno returns for 2021-22 season
Visalia Times Delta
Broadway in Fresno announced its 2021-22 season, which includes the blockbuster musical "Hamilton."
Visalia Fox Theatre hires new executive director as it plans to reopen doors
Visalia Times Delta
Visalia Fox Theatre hires Wilhelmina Santana to run the historic downtown venue.
The Kern County Fair is right around the corner with new fun and attractions this year
KGET
Studio 17’s Ilyana Capellan talks to Chelsey Roberts about all the 2021 Kern County Fair has to offer. With the fair just 15 days away, Roberts says planning ahead by purchasing pre-sale tickets can help save families a lot of money.
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
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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