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Political Briefs
Top stories
CD21: A big test of Latino enthusiasm – Amanda Renteria, a Stanford and Harvard graduate who went on to work for a U.S. senator from Michigan, was heavily courted by the Democratic Party to come back home to the Central Valley and run for office. She’s a Latina Democrat running in a district where 55 percent of registered voters are Latino, and Democrats have an almost 18-point registration edge over Republicans. But there might not be enough voters who will actually turn up in this rural district on Election Day, which in recent elections has been the most lopsided in California when it comes to Latino voter registration versus turnout. KQED report
Dan Walters: Californians are blue but also centrist – While Republicans may make some legislative and congressional gains this year and have an outside chance at a statewide office, Democrats will continue their dominance of what has become a solidly blue state. Blue though they may be, however, California voters are not all that liberal on specific issues, especially in contrast to the Legislature. Walters column in Sacramento Bee
Gov. Brown
Brown delivers on most 2010 campaign pledges – Brown has received praise on more significant vows: to increase local control of government functions, reduce public pension costs, keep a lid on spiraling university tuition and — the central promise of his 2010 campaign — stabilize California’s finances. LA Times article
Valley politics
CD21: Renteria has beef with Valadao cattle – Amanda Renteria accused Congressman David Valadao, R-Hanford, Tuesday of violating food safety laws by sending cattle from his dairies to slaughter with illegal levels of antibiotics in their tissues. Bakersfield Californian article
SD14: Democrats say state Republican Party violated campaign-finance laws in Vidak-Chavez race – Democrats are asking the state’s political watchdog agency to investigate the California Republican Party for allegedly violating campaign finance laws in support of GOP candidate Andy Vidak, who is seeking reelection in the 14th state Senate District. Fresno Bee article
San Joaquin County candidates continue to raise, spend money as Nov. 4 nears – There aren’t any vote counts yet, but campaign-finance filings provide one way to keep score how well the candidates are doing as Election Day on Nov. 4 draws ever closer. Stockton Record article
Election Notebook: Governor coming to town; Ward 4 candidate challenges Smith on panhandling – Ward 4 Bakersfield City Council candidate Richard Schwartz said Tuesday he thinks incumbent Bob Smith has inflated his role in passing the city’s recent ordinance banning aggressive panhandling. Bakersfield Californian article
Statewide politics/Ballot Measures
State controller hopeful Ashley Swearengin on Valley Edition – In most years, the race for state controller is largely overshadowed by contests for other statewide offices. But this year, the contest between Betty Yee and Ashley Swearengin has attracted wide interest, especially in the San Joaquin Valley. KVPR report
State controller candidate Betty Yee on Valley Edition – In a year when the lack of women in California politics has become a major theme in the November election, the state controller’s race is an exception, with San Francisco Democrat Betty Yee facing Fresno’s Ashley Swearengin. KVPR report
Gov. Brown stumps in the Southland – It was the first of three events in one day in Southern California, a dramatic shift just before election day for a Democratic incumbent who has been mostly absent from the stump. Brown largely spent the day focused on his priorities for the November election — the water-bond measure and the rainy-day fund known as Propositions 1 and 2, respectively. LA Times article
Kashkari airs new 60-second ad during World Series – GOP gubernatorial Neel Kashkari probably just saw his largest audience of the campaign Tuesday night, when he aired a 60-second ad during the sixth game of the World Series. LA Times article
Kashkari works up a sweat, but is fighting long odds in governor’s race – He remains unknown to many voters, some of whom might be amenable to his efforts to rebrand the state GOP with a mix of fiscal conservatism and social liberalism. Candidates who know they are going to lose typically don’t acknowledge it, at least not publicly. But Kashkari comes close, presenting an optimistic face while nodding to the long odds for victory in this deep-blue state. LA Times article
Prop 1 aims to relieve drought – but not this one – California’s stubborn drought helped push a $7.5-billion water bond through the Legislature and onto the November ballot. But even if voters approve Proposition 1, it won’t provide relief any time soon. LA Times article
Gene Voiland: Prop 2 aims to secure California’s fiscal future – The Bakersfield business and civic leader writes, “Prop. 2 makes sense. It is a unique opportunity at an opportune time for our state government to make smart decisions about saving money. Proposition 2 is good policy and deserves voters’ support — both for today and for California’s future.” Voiland op-ed in Bakersfield Californian
Ballot measure preview on Valley Edition – With the November election next week, we invited two political experts onto Valley Edition to talk about the propositions on the ballot. KVPR report
Hoover poll shows support for health insurance rate regulation – Proposition 45, a ballot measure that would regulate health insurance rates, is ahead, according to a new Internet poll by the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. The survey of self-reported, registered voters who said they planned to vote in the Nov. 4 election, had Proposition 45 leading with 41.6% of those queried and opposed by 29.9%. Undecideds were 28.5%. LA Times article
‘First Look’: Secretary of State candidate Pete Peterson discusses plan if elected – Pete Peterson said he has worked with California municipal and county governments for the last decade, mentoring them on how to make their budgets more transparent and being more responsive to the public. Bakersfield Californian article;Visalia Times-Delta article; Bakersfield Californian editorial
Ad Watch: No on 48 ad misleads on California tribal gambling history – Opponents of Proposition 48, a referendum on a state-tribal compact that would allow a Madera tribal casino, have taken to the airwaves with TV ads contending that the measure would set a precedent for off-reservation gambling. A yes vote on the measure upholds the compact; a no vote rejects it. Sacramento Bee article
Charles Banks-Altekruse: Prop 48 maintains deal made by local, state and tribal leadership – The public affairs director for the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California writes, “Prop. 48 is not about “reservations” — it is about whether local, state and tribal governments will benefit from negotiated, contractual agreements that make up two compacts.” Banks-Altekruse op-ed in Bakersfield Californian
Peter Hilsenrath: Prop 45: A health economist’s perspective – The professor of economics at University of the Pacific writes, “Guarantees are hard to come by, especially as the political season kicks into full gear. Take Proposition 45, the Health Insurance Rate Change Initiative, on the November ballot. Proposition 45 would place regulatory authority over health insurance rates in the state of California.” Hilsenrath op-ed in Stockton Record
Jamie Court: Yes on Prop 45 to stop health insurance company ripoffs – The president of Consumer Watchdog writes, “Health insurance companies are spending $57 million to stop Prop. 45 because they want to keep consumers at their mercy. Don’t let them.” Court op-ed in Bakersfield Californian
Other areas
For pot, politics remains local in California – For now, the politics of pot remain local in California. At least 13 cities and counties stretching from Oroville to Encinitas have a combined 17 measures on general election ballots next week that seek to sort out where and how marijuana may be grown and sold. AP article
9-million-plus votes cast already; statistics create new field for spin – More than 9 million people nationwide already have voted in the midterm elections that will come to a close next Tuesday, and efforts to analyze the early vote trends have opened a whole new field for political spin. LA Times article
Leadership changing at California manufacturers’ lobbying group – Dorothy Rothrock, chief lobbyist for the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, is being promoted to president of the industry group, as its longtime head Jack Stewart announced Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the year. Capitol Alert
Bill Clinton to stump for some California House candidates Wednesday – Former President Bill Clinton will headline two get-out-the-vote rallies Wednesday for some Democratic House candidates in spirited California races. Clinton will appear first at a morning rally in the Oxnard College gymnasium. He’ll stump for Reps. Julia Brownley of Westlake Village and Raul Ruiz of Palm Desert, and for Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar, who is running for an Inland Empire seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Gary Miller (R-Rancho Cucamonga). LA Times article; Capitol Alert
Point/Counterpoint: The upcoming election– Tom Fife and Joe Altschule take a look at the upcoming election on the pages of the Visalia Times-Delta. Altschule in Point/Counterpoint; Fife in Point/Counterpoint
Residential crime could tip the vote in San Jose mayor’s race – San Jose residents are demanding that mayoral candidates Sam Liccardo and Dave Cortese answer one big question: How do they plan to reduce a relatively high rate of home burglaries and car thefts in the city? And voters are raising it at nearly every neighborhood meeting, debate and town hall. KQED report
News Briefs
Top Stories
Stockton bankruptcy cost: More than $41 million – For the previous three fiscal years and into the current one, with public services languishing and ready cash scarce, city officials have spent nearly $16.3 million and budgeted another $25 million for costs associated with Stockton’s Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Stockton Record article
Farmers sue state over drought water decisions – East San Joaquin Valley growers are suing state water authorities over drought decisions, claiming east-side communities and farms got no federal water after the state illegally denied deliveries to a separate group of landowners with senior water rights. Fresno Bee article
Jobs and the Economy
Stanislaus County job growth lags behind valley – The San Joaquin Valley’s economy has grown at a slower pace this year than last year, and employment gains in Stanislaus County lag those valley wide, a just released business forecast shows. But there’s good news in Merced County, according to California State University, Stanislaus business economics professor Gökçe Soydemir. Modesto Bee article
Fresno judge dismisses lawsuit to stop Fulton Mall project – It’s time for Plan B if a group of citizens is to succeed in its effort to keep Fulton Corridor as a pedestrian mall. Mayor Ashley Swearengin, on the other hand, adds another victory to her record as she tries to open Fresno’s pivotal downtown corridor to vehicular traffic. Superior Court Judge Dennis Peterson has said no to an advocacy group that sued to stop Swearengin. Fresno Bee article; The Business Journal article
Turlock council Oks plan for creating jobs – Half a mile from a hiring fair for a future dairy plant, the City Council adopted an updated plan for economic development Tuesday night. The council voted 5-0 for the plan, drafted over the past year by a task force of community members. Modesto Bee article
San Joaquin County home prices rise – San Joaquin County home prices are up from a year ago even though the share of distressed housing sales is among the highest in the country, RealtyTrac Inc. reported Tuesday. Stockton Record article
Modesto-area gas prices dip below $3 a gallon – Gas prices are dropping – a lot. A quick scan of modestogasprices.com Tuesday afternoon showed several stations in the Northern San Joaquin Valley offering regular unleaded for less than $3 per gallon, with the lowest price, $2.91, available at Costco in Turlock. Modesto Bee article
Gas savings not pushing savings – yet – Despite all the money drivers say they are saving, don’t expect to see a lot more people driving or taking longer road trips. And don’t expect them to be freer in their spending, even if they are saving a lot a the gas pump — at least not any time soon. Visalia Times-Delta article
LA lawmakers seek study on possible minimum wage hikes – A committee of Los Angeles lawmakers decided Tuesday to seek outside help in analyzing the possible effects of raising the minimum wage to $13.25 or $15.25. LA Times article
Amgen to cut up to 1,100 more jobs – Biotech giant Amgen Inc. said Tuesday it will eliminate up to 1,100 additional jobs next year as the Thousand Oaks firm faces pressure to split into two. Amgen previously revealed plans to cut about 2,900 jobs by the end of 2015. The new cuts—between 600 and 1,100—could mean the elimination of 4,000 positions, about 20% of its global workforce. LA Times article
CalPERS investment head, congressman headline Venture Forum – A handful of promising new businesses will have a chance to pitch their their ideas and compete in the Valley Entrepreneur Showcase, one of the highlights of the ninth annual Central Valley Venture Forum on Nov. 6. Fresno Bee article
Joel Fox: See tax increases, think pensions – Despite the ridicule heaped on bonuses offered public workers for simply doing their jobs – just one prime example: a librarian earning a bonus for helping members of the public find books – the California Retirement System (CalPERS) board last week made sure the bonuses added to salaries will be part of pension calculations. While the exact cost to taxpayers is uncertain, the price tag for pensions because of this move is certain to go up. Fox in Fox & Hounds
Property values in Sacramento region up 6 percent, BOE reports – Reflecting the real estate market’s recovery, assessed property values in the five-county capital region for 2014-15 grew by more than 6 percent year-over-year to nearly $250 billion, according to the California State Board of Equalization. Sacramento Bee article
Sacramento Republic execs, mayor make Major League Soccer commissioner – Sacramento Republic FC executives and Mayor Kevin Johnson brought their campaign for a Major League Soccer franchise directly to the league’s commissioner Tuesday. In a two-hour-plus meeting at MLS’ headquarters in New York, Johnson and three Republic FC owners gave Commissioner Don Garber the latest updates on the club’s growing roster of investors and plans for a new stadium. Sacramento Bee article
FTC suing AT&T over promises of unlimited data – The Federal Trade Commission is suing AT&T Wireless, saying it is seeking millions of dollars in restitution for customers who were promised unlimited data plans by the wireless carrier, only to have their mobile network speeds slowed in a practice known as data throttling. LA Times article
Michael Fitzgerald: McNerney fixes screwy ‘Promise City’ criteria – A couple years ago, President Obama declared that 20 of America’s hardest-hit cities would be given federal aid. But when the first five “Promise Cities” were announced, Stockton — Ground Zero of the international mortgage crisis, the hardest-hit city of all — was not one of them. Upon asking why, we learned the selection criteria was totally bogus. Fitzgerald blog in Stockton Record
Modesto pays $8,000 to settle eateries’ Grand Prix claims – The city has paid $8,000 to two restaurants to settle their claims that their sales sputtered during the Modesto Grand Prix, the Aug. 1-3 superkart race along downtown streets. Modesto Bee article
Costa announces $1 million grant for Chowchilla Community Development – Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, announced that the city of Chowchilla has been awarded $1 million by the Department of Housing and Community Development to further economic, community and housing advancements being made throughout the city. Merced Sun-Star article
LA pension agency decision deepens city’s budget hole – A Los Angeles city pension agency voted Tuesday to rein in its long-range earnings forecast, putting in place changes that could throw the city’s budget $50 million deeper into the hole next year. LA Times article
LA city workers rally over bank deals as bargaining continues – A large crowd of city workers, labor activists and their allies marched downtown and packed the stairs of City Hall on Tuesday, demanding that city leaders step up pressure on Wall Street banks to renegotiate deals they say are costing the city. LA Times article
Competitors weigh ethical dilemmas – How do you know you’ve made the right ethical call in the course of a controversial business decision? Eight three- and four-person teams weighed that and other questions at the second annual Ethics Team Competition, held Tuesday at Cafe Med. Bakersfield Californian article
Homeless travelers find they’re not welcome in tourist-dependent cities – Some call him an “urban traveler,” “a crust punk” or worse. He and others like him — mostly young, homeless people who often travel in groups — roam beach cities begging for money, sleeping under the stars and trying to survive. They’re vexing to tourist-dependent spots from San Francisco to San Diego, where officials complain their gritty edge and sometimes violent tendencies intimidate locals and turn visitors off. LA Times article
Joe Mathews: LA should offer NFL money to stay away – Mayor Eric Garcetti says Los Angeles shouldn’t give taxpayer dollars to the National Football League. I disagree. L.A. would be wise to pay the NFL — to stay away. Mathews in Bakersfield Californian
New DMV license plate program could spur arts funding – Pitching tax-deductible arts license plates to businesses and individuals for year-end giving, the California Arts Council is making it easier to buy them from the DMV. Sacramento Bee article
Agriculture/Water/Drought
Fresno council members Brand, Caprioglio will unveil bill to spur water conservation – Two council members are tackling the third and perhaps final part of City Hall’s effort to make Fresno drought resilient forever — consumption. Council Members Lee Brand and Paul Caprioglio have written what they’re calling the Water Conservation Act, a bill whose title explains all. Fresno Bee article
Questions arise on plan to keep groundwater data secret – To figure out how to protect Stanislaus County’s groundwater resources, county officials know they must calculate how much groundwater is being pumped. But most of the county’s water wells are privately owned, and those doing the pumping currently don’t have to tell anyone how much water they’re using. Modesto Bee article
Modesto Bee: Water committee should wrap it up – We’re not sure if we should use our hands to applaud the Water Advisory Committee’s work or stifle a yawn. Modesto Bee editorial
Quarantines called on citrus around Lodi, Manteca – Having found two Asian Citrus Psyllids, the California Department of Food and Agriculture on Monday called quarantines around Lodi and Manteca, banning the movement of citrus leaves or clippings. Stockton Record article
California drought takes bite out of rice harvest, reducing wildlife habitat and sushi grains – California’s deepening drought is shrinking its rice harvest, and that’s bad news for farmers, migratory birds and sushi lovers. AP article
Well in Crows Landing fails; 137 left without water – Crows Landing’s only serviceable well failed Monday evening, leaving residents and business owners without water last night and today. Modesto Bee article
Sacramento Valley farmers are asked: Help the ducks – Farmers in the Sacramento Valley are being asked to lend a hand to migrating waterfowl arriving this winter to a drought-parched landscape. Sacramento Bee article
Criminal Justice/Prisons
Madera County sheriff recommends charges against some involved in Chukchansi casino incident – Criminal complaints have been completed by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office regarding the Oct. 9 armed infiltration of Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, which prompted the facility’s closure the following day. Anderson said the complaints are against 11 people, and he recommends six or seven felony charges each. Anderson declined to share more information, stating the complaints are being reviewed by the district attorney. Fresno Bee article
Tulare County ordinance tightens HIV test time in some sex crimes – The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to require that those accused of sex crimes give a sample of blood or saliva within 48 hours of being charged to test for human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. Fresno Bee article
CHP sergeant returns $120,000 found on Concord street – An off-duty California Highway Patrol sergeant is being hailed for finding $120,000 in the middle of a Concord street and returning the money, which turned out to be a family’s life savings, authorities said. San Francisco Chronicle article
Gang expert says gang does not control east Modesto park – A gang expert on Tuesday testified that Modesto’s Creekwood Park is not controlled by a Norteño street gang, because alleged crimes there have not resulted in gang-enhancement convictions. Modesto Bee article
Four women sue Alameda County over jail stripping – Four women arrested in a police-brutality protest have filed a federal lawsuit against the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, saying they were forced to disrobe in front of men after being taken to jail. San Francisco Chronicle article
Shooting suspect, wife charged with murder in Sacramento, Placer rampage – As the suspect in Friday’s deputy slayings revealed yet another name for his long list of identities, prosecutors filed murder and other charges against both him and his wife, and laid the groundwork for a possible death penalty case against the 34-year-old Mexican national they’re still calling Marcelo Marquez. Sacramento Bee article
Education
Study: Kern County parents opt out of preschool for kids – A lower percentage of Kern County students attended preschool in a recent three-year period than any other county in California, according to a Children Now scorecard released Wednesday. Only 32 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds in Kern County attended preschool from 2010 to 2012, which is the lowest of California’s 58 counties. Bakersfield Californian article
Edison hopes to become showcase school for college-readiness system – Just a few short years after becoming the first high school in Stockton Unified to embrace a system that has equipped virtually every one of its traditionally underrepresented students to succeed in college, Edison is poised to mark another milestone. Stockton Record article
Dramatic testimony shakes up City College of San Francisco trial – The president of the commission trying to revoke accreditation from City College of San Francisco admitted in court Tuesday that she had edited out language in the report favorable to the college and that the college was denied a chance to defend itself as required. San Francisco Chronicle article
Many schools lack Internet capacity for tests – California officials have identified many schools that will have difficulty offering online statewide tests scheduled in the spring unless their Internet capacity is improved. EdSource article
Pacific’s oldest alumnus bestows final gift to scholarship fund – The oldest alumni of University of the Pacific remembered the school that meant so much to him, bequeathing the school more than $300,000 just days before he died. Stockton Record article
UC Merced Connect: Senior chosen to represent University of California students – Jefferson Kuoch-Seng is now the official voice for the University of California’s roughly 240,000 students – the first UC Merced student ever to serve in that role. UC Merced Connect in Merced Sun-Star
Energy/Environment
Arvin residents want more test results before moving home – Arvin residents displaced from their homes on Nelson Court in March because of gas and toxic chemicals leaking from a broken line underneath them don’t want to go home until they know it is safe. Bakersfield Californian article; KVPR report
‘Artist’ defaces national parks with graffiti paintings, including Yosemite – The photos on Instagram and Tumblr eventually drew the attention of Casey Schreiner, the editor of Modern Hiker. Valley Edition Host Joe Moore spoke with Schreiner recently to talk about the vandalism. KVPR report
Modesto Irrigation District to weigh power rate hikes – Whether Modesto Irrigation District electricity customers should pay higher fees – a contentious issue in recent times – will surface at a Nov. 25 board meeting. Modesto Bee article
Vessel stopped by tangled mass of hyacinths – Tangled mats of water hyacinth delayed the arrival of an oceangoing ship at the Port of Stockton on Tuesday, further evidence that the exotic weed has potential to threaten business and commerce. Stockton Record article
Manufacturer pays $57,100 fine for hazardous waste violations – A Bakersfield manufacturing company has been fined $57,100 for improper handling of hazardous waste and other problems. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in a news release Tuesday it issued the penalty against Kern Steel Fabrication Inc. for violations investigators found in 2012 at the company’s facility at 627 Williams St. Bakersfield Californian article
Health/Human Services
Valley children’s well-being: Report shows need for improvement in education, health and welfare – A report released today on the well-being of children in California counties shows a need for improvement in the education, health and economic welfare of youngsters in the central San Joaquin Valley. Fresno Bee article
Scorecard rates children’s well-being in Merced County – A new report that uses stars to rate a county’s ability to meet children’s needs gives Merced County two stars out of a possible five in the category of health and 21/2 stars in education. Merced Sun-Star article
Stanislaus County will pay penalties under Affordable Care Act – Stanislaus County government will pay the penalty rather than provide health coverage to certain part-time employees. And it will closely watch time sheets of workers to avoid additional penalties for employers under the Affordable Care Act next year. Modesto Bee article
Union: California hospitals not ready for Ebola – Five California hospitals that say they are ready to treat the Ebola virus lack proper training and equipment, a nurses union said Tuesday. AP article
Dr. Daniel Boken: Kaweah Delta establishes Ebole readiness plan – The medical director of infectious diseases at Kaweah Delta Medical Center writes, “Kaweah Delta Medical Center has been updating staff regularly on the outbreak and recently re-evaluated readiness for handling patients with Ebola. The CDC expects all hospitals to be able to handle these cases until outside assistance arrives. The KDMC Infection Prevention Team has been working with various hospital disciplines to assure a readiness plan is in place.” Boken op-ed in Visalia Times-Delta
Google working on pill that searches for illnesses – Google is working on a cancer-detecting pill in its latest effort to push the boundaries of technology. Still in the experimental stage, the pill is packed with tiny magnetic particles, which can travel through a patient’s bloodstream, search for malignant cells and report their findings to a sensor on a wearable device. AP article
Mosquito that can carry deadly disease found in San Diego – A kind of mosquito known to spread the deadly dengue hemorrhagic fever has been found in San Diego for the first time. LA Times article
Exercise facts inspire teens to cut back on soda, study says – Food calorie counts are easy to find on labels and menus, but their meaning is not always easy to understand. Now, a new study reveals, telling people how much exercise they need to burn a food’s calories may be a better approach for healthy eating. San Francisco Chronicle article
Fresno State grad to run from San Francisco to Fresno to support Autism Center – Fresno State alumnus Ryan Stiner of Fresno will run from San Francisco to Fresno over 10 days to raise awareness and gather support for the university’s Autism Center. Fresno Bee article
Land Use/Housing
Tulare’s new general plan reduces Urban Development Boundary, excludes Matheny Tract – The city of Tulare’s newly adopted general plan includes a six-mile decrease in the city’s Urban Development Boundary and an agricultural buffer around the city’s Waste Water Treatment Plant. The new plan also adopts a new Agriculture Mitigation Program with a 1-to-1 acre ratio and strengthens water resources policies. Visalia Times-Delta article
Transportation
Report: Valley roads get mixed grades – A growing number of city streets and county roads across California are deteriorating faster than local government budgets can maintain them, and roads in the central San Joaquin Valley tend to be in only fair to poor shape, according to a report released Tuesday by the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties. Fresno Bee article
Merced County agency sued over transportation plan – Two environmental organizations are suing the Merced County Association of Governments for adopting a regional transportation plan they claim fails to meet targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lacks a full review of environmental impacts and doesn’t encourage public transportation. Merced Sun-Star article
Other Areas
Hacks on Californians shot up last year, more are expected this year – Hackers breached data systems covering 18.5 million Californians last year — seven times the number in the previous year — and there’s a chance they’ll rip off more residents this year, said California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris. LA Times article; AP article
White House computer network is hacked, official says – A White House computer network was hit by hackers, resulting in a series of outages and connectivity issues, a White House official said Tuesday. LA Times article
Fresno County supervisors want zoo authority members to disclose more about holdings – The Fresno County Board of Supervisors wants the Fresno County Zoo Authority to change its conflict of interest code, in response to Measure Z opponents who raised the issue of potential conflicts of interest for authority members whose firms could bid on zoo projects. Fresno Bee article
Clovis is best place to raise family again – Clovis has done it again. The city is ranked No. 1 for the second consecutive year on Nerdwallet’s study of “Best Places for Young Families in Northern California.” Fresno Bee article
Hanford fire chief set to retire – After more than three decades of service, Fire Chief Tim Ieronimo has announced that he will be retiring as head of the Hanford Fire Department, effective Nov. 9. Hanford Sentinel article
Ashley Snee Giovannettone: Here’s a solution for homelessness that works – The board member of Angels in Action writes, “To truly help the homeless, consider housing first. It’s more than a slogan – it has a record of success.” Giovannettone op-ed in Sacramento Bee
Lois Henry: Theater may soon be able to flush again – Earlier this year, Lucy Spohn was going about life as best she could following the tragic suicide of her husband, Jim Spohn. The historic Granada Theater on Kentucky Street, which they owned, was going through probate. She was working full time, grieving and trying to figure out her next move. Henry column in Bakersfield Californian
Valley Editorial Roundup
Bakersfield Californian – After eight disappointing years of Debra Bowen’s leadership, the Secretary of State’s office is in need of updates and repairs. It needs a career professional who is focused on public engagement and leadership. That man, we believe, is Pete Peterson.
Fresno Bee – Law-enforcement officers and their families deserve our thanks and support.
Merced Sun-Star – Families of the fallen deserve our gratitude.
Modesto Bee – We’re not sure if we should use our hands to applaud the Water Advisory Committee’s work or stifle a yawn.
Sacramento Bee – The high cost of mud-slinging in Ose-Bera race;
Stockton Record – Canada stands strong after brazen shootings.