Top Policy/Political Stories
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TOP POLITICAL STORIES
Local/Regional Politics:
Coke Hallowell: All this hazy air is making us sick; why isn’t the air district protecting us? Modesto Bee For several weeks in late December and early January, the Central Valley experience done of its worst air pollution episodes in decades – shrouding the region in harmful haze and driving even the healthiest among us to stay indoors. Unfortunately, this is yet another wake-up call to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) regarding the ongoing public health crisis that has been unfolding within our region for decades. As a public health agency, the District is legally responsible for making certain the air all our communities and for all our residents – from newborns to the elderly, from the wealthiest to the most disadvantaged – is clean enough to breathe. Unseasonably warm and dry winter giving Bark Beetles in the Sierra a second lease on life ABC30 The lack of snow and cold temperatures in the Sierra this winter is allowing a creature of the summer to live during a time when it should be dying. The Bark Beetle has made a home in California the last several years due to the drought and a dry winter is only making the problem worse. “The environmental conditions the last few years have lent themselves to the population getting much larger than it typically would be,” said U.S. Forest Service Dean Gould Bakersfield City Council approves budget amendments Bakersfield Now The Bakersfield City Council was held Wednesday, city officials approved everything on schedule including three topics that handle big safety concerns in Kern County. The first was an agreement between the city manager and the Bakersfield Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety Plan was approved. The Bakersfield Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety Plan identifies areas of improvement for bicycle lanes throughout Bakersfield, the plan was approved. See Also: · City Council to decide on Bakersfield Bicyclist & Pedestrian Safety Plan KERO 23ABC News Local reaction to Tastries case reflects national divide Bakersfield Californian It’s a Bakersfield story going national, and just as national issues divide the nation along political fault lines, so the Tastries Bakery story is dividing Bakersfield residents along similar cracks and chasms in our community. When Kern County Superior Court Judge David Lampe ruled Monday that bakery owner Cathy Miller may continue to refuse to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples, his decision ignited discussion — and less savory exchanges — on Facebook and other social media platforms. See also: · Jenell Mahoney: That may be her Lord, but mine loves and welcomes allBakersfield Californian · Angelo Frazier: Freedom of speech includes freedom of conscienceBakersfield Californian Visalia Times-Delta Community advocates from across the San Joaquin Valley rose early Thursday, loading onto buses for an hours-long ride to the state capitol to make this plea to legislators: invest in the valley. Public records request lawsuit filed against Tulare Visalia Times-Delta A California Public Records Act request denial by Tulare city officials has sparked a lawsuit. Last month, Ben Brubaker requested contracts for investigators hired to complete an investigation into the suspensions of three high-ranking Tulare police department officers. See also: · Tulare’s public records responses earn city a lawsuit Valley Voice Valadao and Sinema vow to fight against international parental kidnappings KERO 23ABC News Each year, hundreds of children are taken to another country from the U.S. by a parent, leaving the other parent with limited options to be able to contact the child or facilitate visitations. Congressman David Valadao and Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema introduced legislation today that addresses this problem and tries to prevent future international parental kidnappings. Sharp sworn in at Council meeting Hanford Sentinel Diane Sharp stood inside council chambers with her right hand raised and took the oath of office, becoming the newest Hanford City Council member. “Thank you to everyone. I’m delighted,” Sharp said after she took her seat on the dais. “This is sort of a lifelong dream to be able to serve the city of Hanford this way.” Citizens ask Council to halt demolition of old fire station Hanford Sentinel Several people stood inside Hanford City Council chambers on Tuesday holding paintings of the old fire station, while others held signs that read “This place matters” over pictures of the station building. Judge denies injunction over miracle miles fees Stockton Record A judge has denied a Miracle Mile business owner’s effort to prevent the city from collecting fees for security and other services at the midtown shopping area. Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Humphreys issued a seven-page written ruling Wednesday denying property owner Pat Craig’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have prevented the city from collecting the fees, which pay for security and other special services along the Miracle Mile. State Politics:
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government Public Policy Institute of California In California’s gubernatorial race, Democrats Gavin Newsom and Antonio Villaraigosa are in a virtual tie—but a quarter of likely voters are undecided. In the US Senate race, Dianne Feinstein leads fellow Democrat Kevin de León by double digits. Likely voters are divided on repealing the recently passed gas tax and easing Proposition 13 tax limits on commercial properties. Californians see immigration as the top issue for state leaders to work on this year, and many are closely following news about sexual misconduct in the legislature. See also: · California voters divided over proposed measure to repeal increase in gas tax, survey finds Los Angeles Times · Poll: Feinstein holds massive lead in primary POLITICO · Poll: Newsom and Villaraigosa virtually tied in the governor’s race while California’s Senate race isn’t even close Los Angeles Times · California’s race for governor tightens in latest poll Sacramento Bee · Gavin Newsom, Antonio Villaraigosa top governor’s poll San Francisco Chronicle · Poll: Feinstein holds massive lead in primary Politico · Two new polls show tight race for second place… Mercury News · Poll: California governor’s race a toss-up POLITICO · Tony V Pulls Even with Prince Gavin for Governor Calbuzz
Jerry Brown officially downsizes Delta tunnel plan. But can he sell one tunnel? Sacramento Bee The troubled Delta tunnels project was officially downsized Wednesday, as Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration announced it would attempt to build a single tunnel in its effort to re-engineer California’s elaborate water-delivery system. See Also: It’s official: The $16 billion Delta tunnels will be scaled back to a single tunnel — for now Stockton Record California moves ahead with one delta tunnel, scaling back ambitious water delivery project Los Angeles Times
What difference? The Republicans for governor try to disagree CALmatters The top three Republicans running for governor convened in downtown San Francisco Tuesday night to lay out their respective visions for the state—and give a sizable boost to the liberal city’s scant GOP-affiliated population. The ideological mismatch was lost on no one, not least debate moderator and San Francisco Chronicle editorial page editor John Diaz. After listening to the candidates try to outdo one another in support of a Trump presidency, he said: “This is the first time in San Francisco I have heard an argument among people about who most supports Donald Trump.” See also: · Travis Allen gets it wrong, again, on support for California’s sanctuary state law PolitiFact California · Travis Allen says he won’t be stopped by harassment allegationsThe Sacramento Bee · Republican John Cox boosts personal investment in his campaign for California governor to $4 million Los Angeles Times
Woman in Newsom affair ‘doubtful’ it was sexual harassment Sacramento Bee Ruby Rippey Gibney, the former aide to Gavin Newsom whose more than decade-old affair is resurfacing as part of the gubernatorial race, wrote Wednesday that her former boss should be absolved from recurring accusations of workplace harassment. See also: · Former aide to Gavin Newsom speaks out about their affair while he was San Francisco mayor Los Angeles Times
Skelton: Latino voters could make all the difference in California’s narrowing race for governor Los Angeles Times Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom shouldn’t be called the front-runner anymore in the race for California governor. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has essentially caught up. “It’s a virtual toss,” says Mark Baldassare, president and pollster of the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.
California’s Legislature may put its new sexual harassment disclosure policy into state law Los Angeles Times The decision by leaders of the California Legislature to voluntarily disclose some records related to sexual misconduct investigations could, under a new proposal, become state law. See also: · With 14 harassment investigations underway, how do lawmakers handle the accused? CALmatters
CA voter information exposed in Sacramento Bee hack The Sacramento Bee Two Sacramento Bee databases on a third-party computer server were seized last month by an anonymous hacker who demanded The Bee pay a ransom in Bitcoin to get the data back. The intrusion, which was discovered by a Bee employee last week, exposed one database containing California voter registration data from the California Secretary of State and another that had contact information for 53,000 current and former Bee subscribers who activated their digital accounts prior to 2017.
A renewed push for single payer at Sacramento health care hearing 89.3 KPCC Advocates of moving California to a single-payer health care system renewed their push in front of a key legislative committee Wednesday. The State Assembly’s Select Committee on Health Care Delivery Systems and Universal Coverage heard testimony in favor of single payer from organizations representing health care professionals, small business and labor.
Walters: Recall drives could spark more political chaos Fresno Bee The recall – allowing voters to fire elected officials before their terms expire – was one aspect of the populist political reform movement that swept through California more than a century ago.The recall, the initiative (direct legislating by voters) and the referendum (empowering voters to overturn newly enacted laws) gave Californians the right to confront, and even bypass, governments deemed to be ineffective and/or corrupt. See also: · Fox: Judicial Independence on Trial with Judge’s Recall Fox and Hounds Daily
Department of Education wants to use cannabis tax for youth drug prevention programs KERO 23ABC News The California Department of Education is working to offer resources geared toward preventing those under 21 years old from using marijuana now that the recreational use of it is legal.
Federal Politics:
Nancy Pelosi told DREAMer stories for more than 8 hours on the House floor Visalia Times-Delta House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi began speaking on the House floor at 10:04 a.m. Wednesday. And she didn’t stop until after 6 p.m. The California Democrat followed her surprise announcement that she would oppose a budget deal to avert a government shutdown with a talk-a-thon to protest congressional inaction on legislation to protect DREAMers, undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States when they children. See also: · Talking about Dreamers, Nancy Pelosi gave the longest speech ever on the House floor Los Angeles Times · Pelosi Held House Floor in Advocacy of ‘Dreamers’ for More Than 8 Hours The New York Times · House Democrats Divided on Backing Budget Deal Without DACARoll Call
Immigration lawsuit pits California Department of Justice against federal counterpart Los Angeles Times The California Department of Justice on Wednesday took its federal counterpart to court, seeking an order to release documents that would explain the rationale of a threat to withhold law enforcement grants unless agencies in the state cooperate with immigration enforcement.
California says will block crude oil from Trump offshore drilling plan Reuters California will block the transportation through its state of petroleum from new offshore oil rigs, officials told Reuters on Wednesday, a move meant to hobble the Trump administration’s effort to vastly expand drilling in U.S. federal waters. See also: · California officials vow to block Trump plan for more coastal drilling San Francisco Chronicle · Drilling off coast would pose ‘catastrophic harm’ to state’s economy, California says Sacramento Bee · California officials, protesters fight offshore drill plansSacramento Bee
Congress expected to vote on budget to avert government shutdown Reuters The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives were expected to vote on a proposed budget deal on Thursday that would avert another government shutdown but that has angered fiscal conservatives who complain it would lead to a $1 trillion deficit.The plan to keep the government operating and to increase spending over the next two years faced resistance from conservatives in the Republican Party, who favor less spending on domestic government programs. At the same time, many liberal Democrats wanted to withhold their support as leverage to win concessions on immigration policy.
Supreme Court’s conservatives appear set to strike down union fees on free-speech grounds Los Angeles Times Paying union dues and baking a wedding cake may not seem like classic examples of free speech—except perhaps at the Supreme Court. This year, the high court is poised to announce its most significant expansion of the 1st Amendment since the Citizens United decision in 2010, which struck down laws that limited campaign spending by corporations, unions and the very wealthy.
Other:
Washington Post Patrick Soon-Shiong, a respected transplant surgeon from the University of California at Los Angeles turned entrepreneur and philanthropist, first became famous for inventing an important cancer drug. His idea involved packaging a tumor-poisoning substance inside the protein albumin, which is one of the main “foods” for cancer growth. The medication, Abraxane, is now used for a wide range of cancers and has been shown in clinical studies to extend patients’ lives. He sold the company that makes the drug in 2010 for $4.5 billion, after having sold a different company in 2008 for $4.6 billion. See also: · The doctor’s in, but jury is out on new LA Times owner Fresno Bee · In Los Angeles, a Billionaire Doctor Takes On an Ailing NewspaperNew York Times
Topics in More Detail…
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
New $323.5m energy project promises reliable, affordable electric service to Valley farms Fresno Bee The San Luis Transmission Project is a public-private partnership designed to provide reliable, affordable power to one of California’s most productive farm regions. The project, 85 miles of modern electrical transmission lines, will improve both the reliability and efficiency of power transmission and upgrades the power infrastructure needed to deliver water to San Benito and Santa Clara counties, as well as to the fertile fields of the Central Valley.
KC’s Farm plants the seed for the future generation of farmers Bakersfield Californian Kern County students will get a new hands-on, green-thumb experience this fall at the Kern County Fair. In the age of meal prep services like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh that deliver produce to our doorsteps, the Kern County Farm Bureau, Grimmway Farms and the Kern County Fair teamed up to create KC’s Farm, named for the fair’s mascot, KC the Bull. The farm is a space where Kern County’s youth can learn about what it takes to run a farm.
California Crops Rot During Farmworker Shortage Fortune Vegetable prices may be going up soon, as a shortage of migrant workers is resulting in lost crops in California. Farmers say they’re having trouble hiring enough people to work during harvest season, causing some crops to rot before they can be picked. Already, the situation has triggered losses of more than $13 million in two California counties alone, according to NBC News.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime: Porterville DUI deaths down, police try to keep it that way Visalia Times-Delta Porterville Police Department is looking to continue a positive trend in roadway safety this weekend. Over the last three years, no roadway deaths in the city have been caused by drunken driving, officers said.
Newest police recruits reigning in crime Stockton Record The normal bipedal foot traffic that usually occurs in front of the downtown Stockton courthouse was joined Wednesday by the sounds of hooves. As the clip-clop became louder, people were surprised to see six handsome thoroughbreds stroll down Weber Avenue as new recruits of the Stockton Police Department.
California weighs limits to pepper spray in juvenile jails San Francisco Chronicle A state lawmaker and reform groups are pushing to bar officers from carrying pepper spray in juvenile jails in California, one of six states that still allow employees to patrol with the caustic chemicals in youth detention facilities.
Public Safety:
Lemoore Police Citizens’ Academy Returns Hanford SentinelThe Lemoore Police Department is set to host another round of its Citizens’ Academy starting next month. Beginning March 7, the sessions will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays for eight weeks. The Citizens’ Academy is taught by police department members, each highlighting their individual area of expertise.
Fire: Unseasonably warm and dry winter giving Bark Beetles in the Sierra a second lease on life ABC30 The lack of snow and cold temperatures in the Sierra this winter is allowing a creature of the summer to live during a time when it should be dying. The Bark Beetle has made a home in California the last several years due to the drought and a dry winter is only making the problem worse. “The environmental conditions the last few years have lent themselves to the population getting much larger than it typically would be,” said U.S. Forest Service Dean Gould. California’s wildfire risk is rising. Congress missed a chance to help. Sacramento Bee Forestry experts have a dire warning for California: the conditions are ripe for more catastrophic fire seasons like the one last fall. And an arcane federal funding arrangement is making it a lot harder for forestry officials to do something about it. Instead of fixing the problem, however, Congress just punted – again.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Why you got paid more last week ABC30 The contentious tax overhaul is beginning to deliver a change that many will welcome – bigger paychecks. Workers are starting to see more take-home pay as employers implement the new withholding guidelines from the IRS, which dictate how much employers withhold from pay for federal taxes. Those whose checks have remained the same shouldn’t fret – employers have until Feb. 15 to make the changes.
Valley economic index begins year on healthy noteHanford SentinelThe latest San Joaquin Valley Business Conditions Index fell to a solid 55.7 from December’s 59.1., signaling continued healthy growth in the next three to six months. The index remained above growth neutral for the 17th straight month.
Strong finish in December lifts California’s export trade industry Sacramento Bee California merchandise export trade closed out 2017 with an exceptional December, pushing the value of all shipments last year to $171.93 billion, the second-best showing ever. Last year’s total was up 5 percent over $163.62 billion amassed in 2016 and fell just short of the all-time record of $173.87 billion set in 2014, according to Beacon Economics’ analysis of U.S. trade statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Jobs:
Solar jobs drop in California, after years of growth San Francisco Chronicle The number of solar jobs in the state fell more than 13 percent in 2017, an annual survey released Wednesday found, as issues ranging from regulatory changes to a long, wet winter stunted sales.
U.S. jobless claims drop to near 45-year low Reuters The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, dropping to its lowest level in nearly 45 years as the labor market tightened further, bolstering expectations of faster wage growth this year. The second straight weekly decline in claims reported by the Labor Department on Thursday also pointed to strong job growth momentum, which could further drive the unemployment rate lower.
Robots Help Reduce Port Pollution — But They Also Steal Jobs KQED A foul-mouthed longshoreman named Frank Gaskin pointed his phone at a chain link fence at the Port of Long Beach last summer and made a video of the robots that had taken his and his buddies’ jobs. In the video, flatbed carts glide by carrying cargo containers around the dock. They’re self-driving, guided by computers and magnets beneath the pavement. As one passes soundlessly near the fence, Gaskin yells, “f— you automation mother f—–!”
EDUCATION
K-12:
As Clovis Unified aims to combat racism, complaints about slurs continue Fresno Bee At a Clovis Unified school board meeting Wednesday, where plans were unveiled to combat race-related bullying, a parent reported that her son was recently called the “N-word” during a soccer game — the same slur that sparked the district’s current focus on racism.
Chawanakee Unified breaks groundMadera Tribune More than 100 educators, school leaders, students, business and community leaders celebrated the official Feb. 1 groundbreaking of Hillside School, Chawanakee Unified’s newest school planned to open in the 2018-19 school year to serve students in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade.
YUSD Superintendent Greenberg on leave Sierra Star On Wednesday, Feb. 6, Fred Cogan, an administrator for Madera County Superintendent of School’s Office moved into the office of Yosemite Unified School District’s Superintendent Cecelia Greenberg. YUSD Superintendent Greenberg requested a leave of absence. Cogan is on special assignment to assist and address ongoing district operations and needs.
Vowing to create more equity among students, BCSD ends bus service for GATE and Magnet programThe Bakersfield Californian Starting next year, students enrolled in the Bakersfield City School District’s Magnet and GATE education programs will have to hitch their own rides to school. The district will no longer offer bus service to the 324 kids enrolled in the enrichment programs for gifted and talented students.
Blaming home school for Perris child torture is like blaming trench coats for Columbine Sacramento Bee Last month, a malnourished 17-year-old girl escaped a house in the inland Southern California town of Perris and called the Riverside County sheriff using a purloined cellphone. She reported her brothers and sisters were being held captive by their parents in squalid conditions. The girl was so diminutive, authorities didn’t believe at first the teen was as old as she said.
California asks nearly 250 schools to check absentee records over fears of ‘bad data’ EdSource It’s often said that if something seems too good to be true then it probably is. That’s why the California Department of Education sent letters to nearly 250 schools last month — including more than half of the schools in San Francisco Unified — asking them to re-check their attendance records after they submitted data to the state showing every one of their students had perfect attendance during the 2016-17 school year.
California’s largest districts address chronic absenteeism with focus on why students miss school EdSource As the school day ends at Peyton Elementary School in Stockton, Christina Del Prato calls a mother whose daughter was absent 62 times last year. The girl has missed 21 days through the first half of this year, including the past two days.
Higher Ed:
Online community college crucial for skilled workforce Capitol Weekly A bad news/good news workforce situation exists in today’s economy, and it is giving employers heartburn. The challenge is how to create a more educated labor pool, especially in high growth industries. The bad news: there are simply not enough skilled workers to meet the needs of California’s businesses. The good news: there are 2.5 million Californians who can be part of the solution with some college-level training. They just need a more flexible educational opportunity.
Sealing the border redux: American universities are losing international students Brookings One year ago, I wrote on these pages: “If new border controls prevent the entry of foreign students, or simply makes them feel unwelcome so they go elsewhere, American jobs and American students pay the price.” I regret to report that we have now started down that path.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
Coke Hallowell: All this hazy air is making us sick; why isn’t the air district protecting us? Modesto Bee For several weeks in late December and early January, the Central Valley experience done of its worst air pollution episodes in decades – shrouding the region in harmful haze and driving even the healthiest among us to stay indoors. Unfortunately, this is yet another wake-up call to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) regarding the ongoing public health crisis that has been unfolding within our region for decades.
California cities suing Big Oil tell investors, courts different stories on climate change The Sacramento Bee If you live in Oakland, brace yourself. In the city’s lawsuit with six other California municipalities and counties against petroleum companies, Oakland states that man-made global warming is an ongoing threat that will culminate in 66 inches of sea level rise by century’s end, threatening the local economy with as much as $38 billion in property damage.
The Washington Post The road from Highway 1 rises along the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains, through vineyards and horse farms, to the steepening Empire Grade. A dirt-road turnoff dips into a dank twilight, sun filtering through stands of trees that John Steinbeck called “ambassadors from another time. ”The coast redwoods, ancient and threatened, mix with towering Douglas firs and opportunistic tanoaks throughout this restoration project on a mountaintop just miles from the sea. The redwoods here are youthful, none probably more than a century and a half old. The massive stumps of their old-growth ancestors are encircled by the young, clusters known as “fairy rings.”
AP FACT CHECK: EPA chief sees good in warming, experts don’t AP The head of the Environmental Protection Agency is again understating the threat posed by climate change, this time by suggesting that global warming may be a good thing for humanity. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has championed the continued burning of fossil fuels while expressing doubt about the consensus of climate scientists that man-made carbon emissions are overwhelmingly the cause of record temperature increases observed around the world.
Energy:
Why are big utilities so afraid? Sacramento Bee Last year, Ventura and Los Angeles counties took a huge step forward in creating energy choices when we joined with dozens of local cities to create the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California. Since, 28 jurisdictions have signed on to offer cleaner, greener and cheaper energy to communities throughout Southern California. We are not the first local California governments to embrace the promise of what is known as community choice aggregation.
California says will block crude oil from Trump offshore drilling plan Reuters California will block the transportation through its state of petroleum from new offshore oil rigs, officials told Reuters on Wednesday, a move meant to hobble the Trump administration’s effort to vastly expand drilling in U.S. federal waters.California’s plan to deny pipeline permits for transporting oil from new leases off the Pacific Coast is the most forceful step yet by coastal states trying to halt the biggest proposed expansion in decades of federal oil and gas leasing. See also: · Drilling off coast would pose ‘catastrophic harm’ to state’s economy, California says Sacramento Bee
Historic energy milestone: US oil output surges to new record highs AEI January’s crude oil production topped the previous record of 10.04 million bpd established back in November 1970, more than 47 years ago. Today’s weekly petroleum balance sheet from the EIA reports that daily crude oil production last week through February 2 surged by 330,000 barrels from the previous week to establish a new weekly record high of 10.25 million barrels.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Modesto hospital adds more heart services. Turlock hospital changes its approach Modesto Bee One thing is certain, after the 20,000th open heart surgery was performed at Doctors Medical Center in June, the Modesto hospital will keep rolling out services for treating heart disease. Doctors Medical Center has invested millions of dollars in state-of-the-art cardiac services facilities, including a new catheterization lab and a hybrid operating suite that should be completed in the summer.
Ready-to-drink coffee could cause cancer, stores to caution consumers Visalia Times-Delta A nonprofit that believes coffee could cause cancer has persuaded businesses, by way of a lawsuit, to issue warnings on all ready-to-drink brews sold in California. Ready-to-drink coffee typically comes in a glass bottle or can and are often found in the refrigeration section of a store, coffee house or restaurants. It does not include coffee beans or grounds, flaked or instant coffee or other packaged coffee not sold as ready-to-drink.
Coke Hallowell: All this hazy air is making us sick; why isn’t the air district protecting us? Modesto Bee For several weeks in late December and early January, the Central Valley experiencedone of its worst air pollution episodes indecades – shrouding the region in harmful haze and driving even the healthiest among us to stay indoors. Unfortunately, this is yet another wake-up call to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) regarding the ongoing public health crisis that has been unfolding within our region for decades. As a public health agency, the District is legally responsible for making certain the air all our communities and for all our residents – from newborns to the elderly, from the wealthiest to the most disadvantaged – is clean enough to breathe.
California enrollment under Obama health law dips slightly San Francisco Chronicle Enrollment in Covered California dropped slightly this year as about 35,000 fewer people signed up for coverage through the state’s insurance marketplace, officials reported Wednesday. California enrolled 1.52 million people for 2018 coverage through former President Barack Obama’s health care law, down about 2 percent from the prior year. Of those customers, 388,000 are new enrollees, a slight uptick from last year, but fewer people renewed their plans, causing the overall decline. See also: · ACA enrollment reaches 11.8 million for 2018 UPI.com
Los Angeles Times A months-long series of informational hearings on achieving universal health coverage in California culminated Wednesday with experts voicing widespread praise for creating a single-payer system, but starkly different opinions on the pace of such an overhaul.
IMMIGRATION Non-descript building in downtown Fresno said to have holding cells for the undocumented ABC30 There are no indications on the outside the downtown building in Fresno is a step closer to jail or deportation for the undocumented. The public is not invited in, but Immigration Attorney Camile Cooke has seen clients there.
Kings County Business: Immigration: Mayors hope to lobby Ag Secretary Hanford Sentinel Stung by an immigration enforcement battle that pits the state versus the Trump administration, Central Valley mayors hope to press the issue with U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue when he visits here. Perdue will be in Tulare next week for the World Ag Expo.
Doctors Prepare for Possible Immigration Enforcement Visits At Hospitals KQED Pediatricians across California are calling on Congress to pass legislation protecting immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, saying their patients are skipping appointments because they’re afraid a visit to the hospital will get them deported.
Immigration, MS-13 and crime: the facts behind Donald Trump’s exaggerations PolitiFact President Donald Trump linked illegal immigration to the violence of the MS-13 gang, claiming “open borders” have caused the death of many people in the United States. During his State of the Union speech, Trump highlighted the 2016 killings of teenagers Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens in New York and the related murder charges against MS-13 members.
California Crops Rot During Farmworker Shortage Fortune Vegetable prices may be going up soon, as a shortage of migrant workers is resulting in lost crops in California. Farmers say they’re having trouble hiring enough people to work during harvest season, causing some crops to rot before they can be picked. Already, the situation has triggered losses of more than $13 million in two California counties alone, according to NBC News.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Fresno RDA successor to weigh in on $4.22M Fulton Village sale The Business Journal The sale of Downtown Fresno’s Fulton Village mixed-use building for $4.22 million may hinge on an item on Thursday’s Fresno City Council agenda. The Successor to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fresno will weigh in on a subordination agreement that would pave the way for a sale by Granville Homes of its 61-unit Fulton Village building to an entity called Fulton Village LLC, according to a city staff report. Council moves forward on McHenry annexation plan Modesto Bee Modesto will move forward with trying to annex about 300 acres along north McHenry Avenue, which is home to auto dealerships and other businesses aswell as two mobile home parks. The City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday night to proceed, with council members Jenny Kenoyer, Doug Ridenour and Bill Zoslocki voting “no.” But the city could face difficulties over what is called the mill tax.
Trump administration opens millions of acres of California desert to mining The Desert Sun The California desert is the latest target of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s campaign to promote resource extraction on public lands across the West. Zinke’s Interior Department said this week it would allow mining on 1.3 million acres, or more than 2,000 square miles, across the California desert, reversing an Obama-era effort to protect those lands.
Housing:
Opinion: All Californians will benefit from housing legislation The Mercury News Is it correct to assert that developers will benefit with the passage of state Sen. Scott Wiener’s SB 827 and other housing bills? Sure. But so will everyone else. It’s possible for two things to be true at the same time. SB 827 allows for higher density surrounding major transit stops, which will create much needed housing (including affordable housing) to support the disproportionate growth of jobs in our communities. It will reduce traffic and congestion, as residents will be encouraged to utilize local transit instead of driving.
A Bid to Solve California’s Housing Crisis Could Redraw How Cities Grow Wired Scott Wiener, the California state senator representing San Francisco, has a pretty good idea for how to save the world. In fact, sitting in a coffee shop in his city’s Financial District, Wiener seems downright perplexed that anyone would be against it. Here’s the idea: Build more housing.
PUBLIC FINANCES Prop. 13 fight looming over how California taxes business properties Sacramento Bee It has been a liberal dream for decades to undo parts or all of Proposition 13, the seminal California initiative limiting the property tax rate.
Borenstein: Ain’t seen nothing yet; California pension cost rise just starting The Mercury News California cities reeling under the strain of rising pension costs haven’t seen anything yet.
Fox and Hounds Daily Everyone has heard about pension costs but few have heard about the other retirement cost that’s burdening California governments and schools. “OPEB” — “Other Post-Employment Benefits” — are a form of deferred compensation, just like pensions. The principal OPEB benefit is a promise to cover post-retirement health costs. Because government employees in California may retire before they are covered by Medicare and often receive benefits on top of Medicare, OPEB promises in California add up to hundreds of billions of dollars.
TRANSPORTATION
One survey called Californians the worst drivers. Why two other studies disagree Sacramento Bee A survey released in December called California home of the nation’s worst drivers. Not so fast, two other recent studies say. The Golden State ranks 47th of the 50 states, according to WalletHub’s research. With an overall score of 48.6, California – which tops Maryland, Washington state and Hawaii – is second to last in “cost of ownership & maintenance” but tops the list in “access to vehicles & maintenance.” Texas is No. 1 with a score of 63.68.
Consumers don’t need regulations to show they want more electric cars on the road Los Angeles Times The Feb. 2 article “California wants more electric cars. The Trump administration doesn’t. Automakers are in the hot seat” covered the tug-of-war between the oil and car-making industries, government and our choices at the auto dealer. How can we fault automakers for wanting to build highly profitable gas-guzzling SUV’s? It’s all about short-term profits at the expense of our long-term health and the environment.
Opinion: High-speed rail must have cutting edge technology The Mercury News Negative press about construction costs have people upset, but that’s not the real issue with high-speed rail. The real issue is fundamental physics. Steel-on-steel is 200-year-old technology that resists being pushed to 220 mph. Forces at that speed exceed those at 70 mph by a factor of 10, forces that manifest from curve radii to vibration chaos.
WATER
Gov. Jerry Brown downsizes troubled Delta tunnels planFresno BeeThe troubled Delta tunnels project was officially downsized Wednesday, as Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration announced it would attempt to build a single tunnel in its effort to re-engineer California’s elaborate water-delivery system. See also: · California moves ahead with one delta tunnel, scaling back ambitious water delivery project Los Angeles Times
Governor’s Budget Banks on Voters Passing Water Bond Public Policy Institute of California Governor Brown’s proposed budget―the last of his tenure―highlights his priorities for the state. For water, the proposal includes new funding to address some pressing public safety and environmental health issues, including improving drinking water quality in low-income communities, flood protection, groundwater management, and air and water quality at the Salton Sea. Carrying out this proposal will depend not only on passing the budget, but also on getting additional approvals from California voters and the legislature for some of the needed funds.
Is California Entering Another Drought? Experts Answer Your Questions. Capital Public Radio News The lack of rain and snow in California has people wondering if we’re headed into another drought. There’s less than 25 percent of the average amount of snow in the Sierra Nevada. That on its own could incite drought panic. Lauren Bisnett with the California Department of Water Resources says the saving grace is last year’s storms, which filled up state reservoirs. For example, Bisnett says, “Shasta Reservoir is at 74 percent of capacity.” See also: · Defining drought … it’s not just the rainfall SFGate · January had little rain or snow to boast of Madera Tribune
One year later: The crisis at Oroville Dam Sacramento Bee The water was a furious, foaming, boiling mess. Things would only get worse. One year ago, when the main flood-control spillway at Oroville Dam cracked in two on Feb. 7, 2017, the crater sent concrete chunks flying and water shooting off in all directions. The crisis at America’s tallest dam peaked five days later, with the frantic evacuation of 188,000 residents of Butte, Sutter and Yuba counties. See also: · Two Congressmen Say It’s Possible FEMA Won’t Pay Full Federal Share For Oroville Dam Repair capradio.org
“Xtra”
Here are the six bands playing this year’s FresYes FestFresno Bee Those bemoaning Grizzly Fest’s move from downtown Fresno, should be heartened by the announcement of this year’s FresYes Fest lineup. The annual beer, band and food-truck celebration happens March 24 at Tioga-Sequoia’s beer garden, and while there are still details to come on the (promised-to-be-expanded) festival, we now have the lineup of bands.
Fishing report for week of Feb. 7-13: Bass bite good at several Valley lakesSierra Star Eastman bass bite excellent, and Pine Flat bass and trout hitting, Steve Newman said. San Luis stripers bite good, Mickey Clements said. New Melones bass munching and lake-record rainbow trout caught, Gary Hildebrand said. Don Pedro bass action improved, Walt Lee said. Bass Lake bass action surprising, Dave Hurley reported. Delta sturgeon action steady, Andy Doudna said.
Parade, forums, movie screenings part of African-American History Month festivities Bakersfield Californian A visit by a well-known author and a parade are just a few of the events on tap this February in recognition of African-American History Month. On Wednesday, Bakersfield College will host author and professor Michael Eric Dyson, who will participate in two open forums about his bestselling book “Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America,” which is about the need to improve race relations and division in the country.
EDITORIALS
One-sided Nunes memo lacks context Visalia Times-Delta Americans might be forgiven their bafflement over all the Washington hubbub flowing from Friday’s release of a three-and-a-half page memo by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee. Getting serious about guns and the NRA Modesto Bee Gun ownership remains one of the most emotional topics in America, as many insist the “sacred Second” amendment entitles them to own any manner of firearm. But in deep-red South Carolina, one city has banned so-called “bumpstocks” that many say allowed a crazed shooter to fire hundreds of rounds in rapid succession in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Bloomberg View asks why the National Rifle Association won’t explain its connections to the Russian government.
Mentally ill Californians shouldn’t die on the street, untreated. The law must change Sacramento Bee Nick Petris had the best of intentions a half century ago when he lent his talent and clout to the law that bears his name, and that to this day governs how California cares for – and too often fails – its mentally ill. A legislator who represented Oakland and Berkeley for 40 years ending in 1996, Petris set out to end the “tyrannical and oppressive system of incarcerating people so easily” in the state hospital system, which at its height warehoused 36,853 people.
Cheers and Jeers: A double bogeyStockton Record It is not enough that the city of Stockton’s golf courses are not self-sustaining, and that the money woes of what to do with them have thrown the community into a contentious conversation with city officials. Vandals have made the situation at one of the courses even worse.
Sacramento must do more to end its culture of sexual harassmentMercury News What a difference a movement makes. For four years, state Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore (Riverside County), tried to pass a bill that would make it illegal to retaliate against state legislative employees alleging illegal or unethical behavior in Sacramento. For four years, Melendez’s bill died in the state Senate.
With the opioid epidemic raging, San Francisco takes a smart gamble on preventing overdosesLos Angeles Times With the opioid epidemic raging and thousands of people dying from overdoses annually, four Democrats in the California Legislature proposed a controversial but potentially effective response: letting a handful of counties experiment with safe injection sites. |