POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Who’s raised more than AOC? This Central Valley Democrat (Answer: Josh Harder)
San Francisco Chronicle
Five of California’s seven Democratic congressional freshmen are among the nation’s top rookie fundraisers, according to Federal Election Commission campaign finance reports. They are led by Rep. Josh Harder of Turlock (Stanislaus County).
See also:
· EDITORIAL: 100 days in, Harder finds ways to stand out Modesto Bee
What would a universal basic income mean for America? Stockton thinks it has the answer
Los Angeles Times
For the next year and a half, 130 residents of this struggling Central Valley city will get $500 every month, with no strings — such as employment or sobriety requirements — attached, in a social experiment that is as much public relations as rigorous research.
Central SJ Valley:
Madera Unified robotics team wins World Championship in Houston!
Fresno Bee
Madera High School’s robotics team became world champions on Saturday, winning the annual FIRST Robotics Championship in Houston.
See Also:
● Madera High School’s robotics team wins world championship abc30
Clovis mayor responds to Fresno housing commissioner’s controversial comment on diversity
Fresno Bee
Mayor Drew Bessinger’s response was in reference to remarks Commissioner Terra Brusseau made last month about a proposed affordable housing project in Clovis, saying there were “more, better areas” for diversity.
See Also:
● Housing commissioner asked to resign after Clovis diversity comments seen as ‘racist’ Fresno Bee
What Do Top Fresno Attorneys Say About Arambula Trial?
GV Wire
Defense attorneys Michael Aed and Margarita Martinez-Baly have accused District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp, a Republican, of playing politics by prosecuting Arambula, a Democrat.
Will Devin Nunes Stop Talking to the Visalia Times-Delta, Too?
GV Wire
Many outlets have characterized The Bee as Nunes’ “hometown newspaper.” But the Times-Delta publishes in Tulare County, where the congressman resides. It is truly Nunes’ hometown paper.
See Also:
● Nunes’ protest draws poor turnout in Clovis amid controversial lawsuits against Fresno Bee, Twitter Visalia Times Delta
● Six Essential Things to Know About Devin Nunes’ Lawsuits GV Wire
● McClatchy CEO responds to ‘baseless’ Nunes lawsuit CNN
● EDITORIAL: Devin Nunes’ lawsuit a threat Visalia Times Delta
In Fresno’s Chinatown, Business Owners Conflicted About Promise of High Speed Rail
VPR
This neighborhood, settled in the late 1800s by workers building the railroad, is now being chewed up to make way for high-speed rail. Right now, three streets that connected the neighborhood to downtown are completely blocked, overgrown and fenced off.
See Also:
● Can Cap-And-Trade Really Transform Chinatown? VPR
South SJ Valley:
California’s most vulnerable Democrat (TJ Cox) is still untangling his tax liens heading into 2020
Sacramento Bee
A freshman San Joaquin Valley congressman who narrowly unseated an incumbent in November has a complicated financial history that includes multiple tax liens and a delinquent debt that caused the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office to warn him that it could seize his property.
See also:
· Targeted Democrat TJ Cox raises $300,000 in first quarter, outpacing Valadao’s early totals Fresno Bee
· California Democrats are awash in cash as the next fight over control of Congress begins Sacramento Bee
What happens in Vegas…Tensions erupt in Tulare
Visalia Times Delta
What should have been a simple discussion about an economic development conference turned into a battle between three Tulare City Council members. The winner: the jury is still out. Mayor Jose Sigala and Councilman Carlton Jones were at the center of the ring.
Tulare councilman’s $16.5M lawsuit against city is ‘a game changer’
Visalia Times Delta
Tulare City Council members are in a quandary over how to handle a $16.5 million lawsuit by one of its own members but were unanimous in a vote to deny paying damages.
Hanford Planning Commission meets Tuesday
Hanford Sentinel
Hanford’s Planning Commission, the entity that advises on the city’s physical development and zoning, is scheduled to meet Tuesday to hold public hearings on issues that could have an effect on downtown Hanford’s business district.
State:
Update: 100 days in, here’s how Gavin Newsom is doing on 10 campaign promises
Sacramento Bee
One hundred days into his tenure, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has taken initial steps toward many of promises he made on the campaign trail, from proposing increased funding for homeless services to speeding up firefighting efforts.
See also:
· How Gov. Gavin Newsom is progressing on his key policy promises for California Los Angeles Times
Walters: Can Newsom finally fix state’s tech woes?
CALmatters
California is the global capital of technological innovation, but state officials are much more adept at devising catchy names for their big “information technology” projects than actually implementing them.
California top cop Becerra won’t quit ‘essential’ war on Trump
Fresno Bee
California, with its track record as the most litigious state against President Donald Trump’s agenda, still has plenty of momentum, according to its attorney general, who is digging in on everything from climate change to immigration.
Lawmakers And Landlords: More Than A Quarter Of California Legislators Are Both
Capital Public Radio
A CALmatters analysis reveals that at least 30 lawmakers—more than a quarter of the California Legislature— own at least one property that generates rental income.
California Democratic Party leader Eric Bauman to resign after accusations of sexual misconduct
Los Angeles Times
California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman, leader of one of the most influential political forces in the nation, said Thursday he intended to resign after allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior toward party staff members and activists.
See California areas with the largest boom in ‘no party preference’ voters
Sacramento Bee
About 5.5 million Californians registered as no party preference as of February 2019, up by about 930,000, or 20 percent, from October 2016, according to new figures from the California Secretary of State. That’s much higher than the rate of growth in no party preference voters seen during similar periods after the previous four presidential elections.
Is California’s new voting system a success? We may not know until 2020
Los Angeles Times
California lawmakers had high hopes when they enacted a sweeping new election system in 2016. They pledged it would result in higher turnout, lower costs and a better overall experience for voters.
Federal:
Mueller Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election
U.S. Department of Justice
See Also:
● Read and search the 400-page Mueller report here Merced Sun-Star
● The Mueller report, annotated Washington Post
● Key Excerpts From the Mueller Report Wall Street Journal
● ‘Barr must resign.’ California politicians weigh in after Mueller report on Trump released Sacramento Bee
● What the Mueller report tells us about Russian influence operations Brookings
● The Hidden Parts of the Mueller Report Wall Street Journal
● Mueller Report Kicks Ball Into Voters’ Hands Wall Street Journal
● The Mueller report: What you need to know PolitiFact
● Highlights From The Mueller Report, Annotated NPR
● The Mueller Report Should Shock Our Conscience National Review
● OPINION: Mueller’s Damning Report New York Times
● AP FACT CHECK: Trump team’s distortions on Mueller report PBS
What Attorney General Barr said vs. what the Mueller report said Washington Post
● Mueller report findings: Mueller rejects argument that Trump is shielded from obstruction laws Washington Post
● Mueller’s report paints a damning portrait of Trump’s presidency Washington Post
● The Mueller Report Is Clear: Donald Trump Repeatedly Tried to Obstruct Justice The New Yorker
● AP fact check: Trump, AG Barr spread untruths about Mueller report PBS
● Dems rip Nunes’ plan for private huddle with Barr to discuss criminal allegations Politico
● EDITORIAL: Mueller’s report makes a mockery of Trump’s claim to ‘total exoneration’ Los Angeles Times
● The Mueller report identified one guilty party: The gullible American public Los Angeles Times
● Pelosi pressured as progressives demand impeachment post-Mueller Fresno Bee
● Trump initially called Mueller election probe ‘the end of my presidency,’ report says Merced Sun-Star
● Trump called on spy chiefs for help as Mueller probe began Sacramento Bee
● Democrats see grounds for impeachment in Mueller report as Trump allies claim exoneration Los Angeles Times
● EDITORIAL: Robert Mueller needs to testify before Congress Los Angeles Times
The coming showdown over government reform
Brookings
This realignment of public views toward government reform sets the stage for a showdown between two very different destinations for reform in the 2020 presidential campaign. There will be other issues on the campaign agenda in two years, including Trump’s conduct, but this report will argue that government reform could well decide the winner.
Interior’s Bernhardt worked closely on matters he promised to avoid
Politico
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt began working on policies that would aid one of his former lobbying clients within weeks of joining the Trump administration, according to a POLITICO analysis of agency documents — a revelation that adds to the ethics questions dogging his leadership of the agency.
Accuracy at core of Supreme Court case over census question
Fresno Bee
Vast changes in America and technology have dramatically altered the way the census is conducted. But the accuracy of the once-a-decade population count is at the heart of the Supreme Court case over the Trump administration’s effort to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.
See Also:
● In high-stakes census case, Supreme Court will dissect Trump’s effort to catalogue noncitizens Washington Post
● House gets its say as Supreme Court takes up census citizenship question Roll Call
Elections 2020:
Harris’ campaign focuses on black colleges for support
Fresno Bee
California Sen. Kamala Harris has described her experience as a student at a historically black college as “one of the most important aspects” of her life. Now, her Democratic presidential campaign is using that experience to connect with voters.
See also:
● An Unexpected $400 Expense Would Be Damaging For Many, But Kamala Harris Overstates Report’s Finding Capital Public Radio
● Kamala Harris expresses ‘regret’ over California truancy law Politico
Elizabeth Warren seeks to roll back Trump’s signature energy policies
abc30
Sen. Elizabeth Warren thrust herself into the climate change debate this week, promising that if elected president, she’d sign an executive order on her first day in office to end drilling offshore and on public lands, a move that would reverse President Donald Trump’s most notable energy policies.
Presidential candidate’s lawyers reviewing allegations campaign team didn’t get paid
abc30
Presidential candidate Wayne Messam said lawyers were reviewing claims that his staff wasn’t paid this week and said that any legitimate claims would be resolved.
When Your Living Room Becomes A 2020 Campaign Stage, ‘It’s Pretty Surreal’
Capital Public Radio
With Iowa caucuses still nine months away, candidates in the huge field of Democrats are looking to stand out. One way: show up in voters’ homes.
The fight over releasing politicians’ tax returns began in — where else? — California
Los Angeles Times
The roughneck politics over release of tax returns has century-old roots in two California oil fields. It grew from the corrupt administration of President Harding and its Teapot Dome scandal, which partly involved the Elk Hills and Buena Vista oil fields in Kern County.
Freshman Democrats rake in cash to protect the House
Politico
Nearly three-dozen Democratic freshmen in battleground districts raised more than $300,000 for their campaigns in the first three months of 2019 — a barometer of early momentum in the seats that could determine control of the chamber in the 2020 election.
Other:
Free Speech Puts U.S. on ‘a Collision Course’ With Global Limits on Big Tech
New York Times
When Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook called for regulating harmful internet content in an opinion column last month, Republicans in Washington expressed outrage that he was calling on the government to regulate speech.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, April 28, at 9 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “The 2018 Turnout: What it Means for 2020?” – Guests: Mindy Romero, USC Price School of Public Policy; John Myers, Los Angeles Times; and Secretary of State, Alex Padilla. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, April 28, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) –Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: “Voters and Legislators: The Midterm’s New Faces” – Guests: State Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), State Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), State Sen. Andreas Borgeas (R- Fresno), Mindy Romero, USC Price School of Public Policy; John Myers, Los Angeles Times; and Secretary of State, Alex Padilla. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, April 28, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “Cuenta atrás para el Censo del 2020” – Guests: Secretario de Estado Alex Padilla, Gisell Gasca – Mi Familia Vota y Alexei Koseff con San Francisco Chronicle. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Harris Ranch, buyer quiet on details but stress family-owned roots in wake of sale
Fresno Bee
The sale of Harris Ranch Beef Co., a well-known brand in San Joaquin Valley agriculture, came as a surprise to many. But some key questions about the deal with a Hanford, California meat company remain unanswered.
Valley residents rejoice, strawberry season is here
Visalia Times Delta
Each year, dozens of stands like Chao’s open up shop throughout Tulare County. Here are some of the best places to stop to get your hands on the delectable fruit, according to locals.
Nearly one million pounds of food saved through UC Merced program
abc30
A program at UC Merced is looking to solve two issues at once: food waste and food insecurity. The Bobcat Eats Food Waste Awareness and Prevention Program is a food rescue program run by Erin Meyer and two students.
Cannabis businesses across the Valley celebrate 420
abc30
Change is a frequent factor in the cannabis business, but April 20 is consistent year after year. Four cities in the county are now in the recreational marijuana game, with Woodlake leading the way. The city collected more than $200,000 from the business last year.
See Also:
● Dispensary celebrates with 4/20 and 10-year milestone Visalia Times Delta
City Council approves cannabis ordinance
Porterville Recorder
After an extensive discussion that carried over from a previous meeting, the Porterville City Council approved and received the first reading of an ordinance allowing retail cannabis businesses to be established within certain zones in the city.
California licensing snafu could cost cannabis growers thousands in lost revenue, possible shutdowns
Marijuana Business Daily
California’s marijuana growers are at risk of losing thousands of dollars in revenue as scores of temporary business licenses expire each day before the state can replace them with annual permits.
Washington Post
The competition for lucrative retail licenses has been fierce since California voters decided in 2016 to make marijuana legal for recreational use. But Fresno is behind the curve when it comes to cannabis, making it a contested front in the push to ensure the benefits of legal marijuana accrue to those who suffered most in the war on drugs.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
California probation chiefs brace for changes to the juvenile justice system
Los Angeles Times
As Gov. Gavin Newsom prepares to make a wave of changes to the juvenile detention system in California, probation officials say they were kept out of discussions, even though their departments oversee most children and teens in the system.
Crackdown on illegal parking
Madera Tribune
In an effort Wednesday to crack down on able-bodied scofflaws using and abusing parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities, the patrol unit of the Madera Police Department blanketed and moved between city parking lots looking for violations.
EDITORIAL: Better access to legal representation is crucial — even in civil cases
Los Angeles Times
No person in the United States can be put on trial for their life or liberty, or indeed any criminal penalty down to the smallest traffic fine, without access to a lawyer to provide expert assistance.
Public Safety:
Recent shooting deaths of two men in Modesto result in tensions aired at NAACP forum
Modesto Bee
A forum at the King-Kennedy Memorial Center in Modesto, California, aired concerns about the March 2019 deaths of two African-American men in separate shootings. One was an officer-involved shooting. The other involved a business owner.
Community Emergency Response Team finishes second training
Hanford Sentinel
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program just finished its second round of training and preparing citizens for any emergency that may happen.
Hard truths about school shootings 20 years after Columbine. Here’s legislation that can help
CALmatters
The comprehensive school shooting database created by the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, finds in the 20 years following Columbine, 349 persons have been killed and 674 have been injured on our nation’s campuses.
Fire:
Wet winter could mean blazing summer for fire season
Visalia Times Delta
While many are thankful for the abundance of rain California has seen in the last few months, the increase in rainfall can pose a threat to areas more prone to wildfire.
See also:
● ‘There’s a lot of Paradises out there:’ Over 75 California towns are at-risk of burning Visalia Times Delta
● Rare ‘toxic cocktail’ from Camp Fire is poisoning Paradise water. It could cost $300 million to fix. Sacramento Bee
Wildfires make it harder for California homeowners to get insurance
San Francisco Chronicle
As the cost and risk of California wildfires grow, it’s getting harder for homeowners to get and keep insurance in fire-prone regions including the Sierra foothills, Tahoe and some parts of the Bay Area.
EDITORIAL: Build to Survive: Homes in California’s burn zones must adopt fire-safe code
Sacramento Bee
After the apocalyptic Camp Fire reduced most of Paradise to ashes last November, a clear pattern emerged. Fifty-one percent of the 350 houses built after 2008 escaped damage, according to an analysis by McClatchy. Yet only 18 percent of the 12,100 houses built before 2008 did.
EDITORIAL: California can’t wait another year to fix its flawed wildfire payout system
Los Angeles Times
Gov. Gavin Newsom is right that California needs a new way to pay for the damage caused when power lines spark massive wildfires that destroy property and kill people and animals.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Newly Relocated Fresno Firm Wins State Tax Credit
Business Journal
Universal Meditech will receive a $360,000 tax credit through the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development California Competes program.
Jobs:
California Unemployment Rate Slightly Increases In March
Capital Public Radio
California’s unemployment rate edged up slightly in March even as the state continued adding jobs, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday.
Paying women less than men for substantially similar work is wage theft
Sacramento Bee
Gender pay equity is about eliminating disparities between women and men. It is about fairness. And it is also about fighting poverty. In California, paying women less is a form of wage theft.
Opinion: Dynamex ruling sparks confusion
Capitol Weekly
An online petition gathered an impressive number of signatures and together with emails, phone calls, and packing legislative hearing rooms, the state senator who wanted these freelance workers to obtain unemployment and workers’ compensation insurance from the state eventually backed down.
Supreme Court to take up cases on gay and transgender rights in the workplace
Politico
The justices announced Monday that they will consider whether existing federal law banning employment-related sex discrimination also prohibits discriminating against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation or because they are transgender.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Madera Unified robotics team wins world championship in Houston
Fresno Bee
Madera High School’s robotics team became world champions on Saturday, winning the annual FIRST Robotics Championship in Houston.
See Also:
● Madera High School’s robotics team wins world championship abc30
Gyms vs. a new school: Fresno Unified trustees debate how to spend $250 million bond
Fresno Bee
Fresno Unified trustees met Friday to discuss how to spend a $250 million facilities bond passed by voters in 2016, a meeting that turned tense at times over a discussion of auxiliary gyms versus special education improvements and a new elementary school for the Sunnyside area.
Mariposa Unified superintendent placed on administrative leave
abc30
A room full of pleading parents could not save Mariposa Unified’s superintendent from disciplinary action on Thursday night. Trustees voted unanimously to put Robin Hopper on paid administrative leave after she was arrested for driving under the influence.
See Also:
● Parents slam school leader accused of biting officer during DUI arrest, others call for leniency Sierra Star
Parents slam school leader accused of biting officer during DUI arrest, others call for leniency
Merced Sun-Star
Multiple employees called for leniency this week from the Mariposa County Unified School District board of trustees, which put its recently arrested superintendent on leave, but district parents weren’t so forgiving on Thursday.
Visalia schools’ reputations suffer at hands of clerical error
Visalia Times Delta
A clerical error in reporting the number of high school graduates meeting CSU/UC requirements has left Visalia Unified School District administrators looking to correct procedures on how to report to the state.
Why is our ‘achievement gap’ so stubborn?
CALmatters
Former Gov. Jerry Brown championed the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) that gives school districts with large numbers of poor and/or “English-learner” students extra funds to improve their educational outcomes.
California’s education challenge: Preparing students for jobs in a rapidly-changing world
Modesto Bee
The good news is that California public schools are preparing our children for well-paying and meaningful careers. The bad news is that students are too frequently being taught the necessary skills for 20th century jobs rather than those they’ll need to succeed in the information age.
Later School Bells, Alternative Testing: California Lawmakers Try Again On Quashed K-12 Bills
Capital Public Radio
From later school start times to lower thresholds for parcel taxes, California lawmakers see a second chance with Gov. Gavin Newsom to pass education bills quashed by former Gov. Jerry Brown.
See Also:
● California lawmakers try again on quashed K-12 bills Stockton Record
Teacher housing crunch: Rising rents in coastal areas outpace pay
San Francisco Chronicle
Teachers at the bottom of the salary scale working in coastal or metro areas of California are being shut out of affordable housing. Many are spending more than 30% of their salary on rent, the federal cutoff for affordable housing, an EdSource analysis shows.
How Effective Are School Lockdown Drills?
NPR
In the 20 years since the Columbine High School shooting in April 1999, a generation of American children have learned not just how to prepare for a fire or tornado or earthquake — but also how to hide from a potential shooter.
Hard truths about school shootings 20 years after Columbine. Here’s legislation that can help
CALmatters
The comprehensive school shooting database created by the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, finds in the 20 years following Columbine, 349 persons have been killed and 674 have been injured on our nation’s campuses.
Higher Ed:
Telling parents to ‘just relax’ on college admissions perpetuates a broken system
Los Angeles Times
In the wake of the recent arrests and plea deals, it may be easier to discern how parents do their children a disservice in “helping” them get into college.
A Student Loan Help Center, Created by Critics of Trump’s Enforcement Efforts
New York Times
Three months ago, one of the government’s top student loan watchdogs, Seth Frotman, stepped down from his job at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with a scathing resignation letter that criticized the Trump administration for undermining the agency’s enforcement efforts.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
KQED
California’s newly confirmed top environmental regulator says ensuring safe, affordable drinking water for all Californians is one of his top priorities.
Drop in air pollution led to decline in California’s tule fog
SF Gate
The thick, dense “tule fog” that descends on the Central Valley – and sometimes drifts over to the San Francisco Bay Area – has been decreasing over the last few decades. And this decline in this type of fog matches the long-term downward trend in air pollution, according to a new study from scientists at UC Berkeley.
How to help Bakersfield’s environment beyond Earth Day
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield residents can make a big difference when it comes to helping the planet today and every day of the year.
As California’s delta smelt spirals toward extinction, a future in captivity awaits
Los Angeles Times
Mocked by President Trump as “a certain kind of three-inch fish” and targeted by endless litigation, Hypomesus transpacificus has struggled to survive within the heart of a delicate and overtaxed water distribution network.
Court: EPA Has 90 Days To Justify Use Of Dangerous Pesticide
Capital Public Radio
A federal appeals court has given the Environmental Protection Agency 90 days to justify why a widely used but dangerous pesticide should stay on the market.
Energy:
EDITORIAL: Stapley: MID plays favorites with its electricity rates. So who’s paying the price?
Modesto Bee
A Cost of Service study dials into nitty gritty details of each customer category to find exactly what it costs for the utility to provide electricity to that category. The utility follows that logic to decide what customers should pay.
New PG&E chief to receive millions in pay, stock to take over bankrupt company
Sacramento Bee
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, PG&E Corp. said Tuesday that new CEO Bill Johnson receive $6 million a year in base pay and stock awards. The stock awards will be based on a performance scale heavily weighted toward the utility’s safety record — an apparent nod to critics who have ripped PG&E over the deadly wildfires of 2017 and 2018.
See also:
● EDITORIAL: PG&E ratepayers must have a voice in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings San Francisco Chronicle
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Promoting Mental Health Month with a focus on stigma reduction
Porterville Recorder
May is Mental Health Month, and the Tulare County Health & Human Services Mental Health Branch and partners are raising awareness about the connection between physical and mental health by holding events throughout the county.
Reformed Metabolics and the wellness movement in Bakersfield
Bakersfield Californian
The wellness movement, seeking to bridge the gaps left by western medicine, seems to be here to stay. A quick scan of the most popular shows on the subscription service Netflix reveals that we’re hungry for answers to health problems.
Spring break travel means higher risk of measles exposure for Kern County residents
Bakersfield Californian
As spring break winds to a close, Kern County public health officials are hoping that a recent measles outbreak doesn’t find its way back the county along with families returning from travels to other parts of the state or country, or even abroad.
See also:
● NorCal measles outbreak tests health workers already stretched thin by wildfire Stockton Record
As the weather heats up, it’s time to fend off mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus
Sacramento Bee
Significant rainfall last winter ended drought conditions in all of California for the first time since 2011, but mosquito experts fear those same downpours have left a breeding ground for the blood-sucking flies that spread West Nile virus.
California faces a sexually transmitted disease crisis. Why aren’t we confronting it?
CALmatters
California has the highest number of babies born with syphilis each year. You read that right: babies born with syphilis, a majority of whom will either die before their first birthday or be left with severe, life-long disabilities.
See Also:
● As Syphilis Invades Rural America, A Fraying Health Safety Net Is Failing To Stop It California Healthline
Human Services:
$1 million donation to Clovis hospital helps fund care for cancer patients
abc30
The hospital’s oncology unit provides the medical treatment, but the support services team includes a nurse navigator, a social worker, a dietitian and others for every patient.
Therapy dog cheers up patients at Modesto hospital
Modesto Bee
Doctors Medical Center says it is scientifically proven that interaction with a friendly pet has significant benefits. Azevedo has volunteered more than 20,000 hours at Doctors.
3 Stockton nursing facilities placed in receivership
Stockton Record
A court-appointed receiver has been named to oversee the operation of three Stockton nursing facilities.
Why former Clinica board member is accusing CEO of taking company down wrong path
Bakersfield Californian
A former board member at Clinica Sierra Vista has sent a letter of resignation highly critical of the community health center network’s leadership, raising some questions about its ability to serve those in need.
Kaiser patients demand CEO meeting over mental health
San Francisco Chronicle
Kaiser patients are seeking shorter wait times for appointments and a meeting with the CEO.
Newsom plans to take on Big Pharma over prescription drugs. L.A. County wants in
Los Angeles Times
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ambitious plan to rein in prescription drug costs through a statewide purchasing system — pooling the power of California’s largest public and private buyers — has a new ally: Los Angeles County.
National Health Spending Estimates Under Medicare for All
Rand
In this research report, we extrapolate from our previous single-payer research, including the work mentioned above, to estimate the effects of a national single-payer health plan (often referred to as Medicare for All) that would provide comprehensive health care coverage to the population nationwide, including long-term care benefits and no cost sharing.
IMMIGRATION
Valley leaders gather to oppose Social Security letters targeting undocumented workers
Fresno Bee
Several central San Joaquin Valley leaders gathered Tuesday to proclaim their opposition to the reinstatement of the United States Social Security Administration’s “no-match” letters program, which the elected officials say targets the area’s many undocumented workers and will have a devastating effect on the local agricultural economy.
A year ago, residents feared an ‘illegal alien invasion.’ Now Paso Robles is changing its elections
San Luis Obispo Tribune
The City Council on Tuesday approved a map that completes Paso Robles’ transition to by-district elections, a process that began after the city was accused of violating the California Voting Rights Act.
Appeals court upholds California sanctuary laws
Visalia Times Delta
A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld most of California’s sanctuary laws, ruling a contested measure does not interfere with the enforcement of federal immigration policies in the state.
See Also:
● Appeals Court Backs California Laws To Protect Immigrants Capital Public Radio
● Court upholds California sanctuary law challenged by Trump San Francisco Chronicle
Will Undocumented Immigrants Avoid New State Health Benefits?
Capital Public Radio
Across the country, worries over the proposed rule have already prompted some undocumented immigrants to drop out of public programs or to stop going to the local clinic when they are sick, say doctors, immigration attorneys and advocates.
House gets its say as Supreme Court takes up census citizenship question
Roll Call
The House gets a relatively rare chance to directly address the Supreme Court on Tuesday in a legal showdown about whether the Trump administration can add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.
See Also:
● In high-stakes census case, Supreme Court will dissect Trump’s effort to catalogue noncitizens Washington Post
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Madera County library undergoes needed renovations
abc30
The Mayor of Madera described the former library as very Mayberry. Officials from both the city and county knew to attract a younger crowd it has to be appealing to children and teenagers.
See also:
● County library ‘reimagines’ itself with update Madera Tribune
City Council to assess future of city golf course
Madera Tribune
The Madera City Council has opted to begin a review of the contract, expenses and the operation of the Madera Municipal Golf Course, located just north of the city adjacent to Avenue 17.
A Landmark Temple In Chinatown Finally Gets New Owners
VPR
There are signs the historic, three-story Buddhist temple in Fresno’s Chinatown is coming to life again.
Lawmakers and landlords: More than a quarter of California legislators are both
CALmatters
State law doesn’t do much to protect against such a scenario. Because they rent a single-family home, they wouldn’t benefit from rent control even if Sacramento votes to adopt it next year. They could be evicted without being given a specific reason why.
Housing:
Residents to move into long-awaited Madera County housing development
abc30
Every day is a busy one at Madera County community Tesoro Viejo. It’s constantly changing as crews continue to bring the 1,600 acre property to realization.
Here’s how Tulare is dealing with its homeless crisis
Visalia Times Delta
While homelessness can mean moving from couch to couch, nearly all homeless people in Tulare are living on the streets, according to the 2018 Kings/Tulare Homeless Alliance‘s Point in Time report.
See Also:
● Tulare takes homeless crisis into its own hands with a community approach Visalia Times Delta
Grove: Increasing homelessness is a consequence of government thinking it knows better
Bakersfield Californian
From urban cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles to the beautiful, agriculturally rich Central Valley, California is a diverse state with a climate and geography as diverse as its residents. Regardless of where we live in California, we have at least one thing in common: California is expensive.
Will rent control and other tenant bills get through the Capitol this time?
CALmatters
Six months after a statewide initiative that could have expanded rent control across California was rejected overwhelmingly at the polls, a group of progressive state lawmakers are back with a suite of pro-tenant legislation that faces its first major legislative hurdle this month.
If California pursues a cap on rent increases, how many tenants will it actually help?
CALmatters
Legislators who have backed rent control expansions in the past say they’re working on proposals to help tenants stay in their homes. Newsom, in his State of the State address earlier this month, called on the Legislature to send him tenant protections he could sign into law, although he didn’t offer any specifics.
EDITORIAL: Housing goals in the Valley fall far short of what gets built. That needs to change
Fresno Bee
After 50 years, California’s overarching housing law needs a major overhaul. Better yet, scrap it altogether and start new.
PUBLIC FINANCES
April 2019: Personal Income Tax Tracker
LAO
This post includes two figures that track the state’s progress in meeting the administration’s January 2019 projection for April personal income tax receipts. We also discuss the extent to which April collections could make up for the shortfall in January. At the end of the post, we provide an update on corporation tax collections to date.
See also:
● Democrats have a lot riding on California’s tax day revenues Los Angeles Times
He added up the tax increases California Democrats are proposing. The total? $15 billion
Sacramento Bee
The Golden State could collect more than $15 billion in new revenue, a combination of new taxes and old exemptions being eliminated, according to an analysis by Loren Kaye, president of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education.
Skelton: California gives out too many tax breaks. And it’s losing billions on them each year
Los Angeles Times
They’ve long yammered about conducting more oversight of just about everything the state does, but they invariably lose interest. There’s no political reward in wonky studies. But there’s lots of political risk in closing loopholes and requiring certain interests to pay higher taxes.
Battles over local tax measures heat up
CALmatters
The California Tax Foundation calculates that bills already introduced this year would raise Californians’ taxes by $6.2 billion a year with others to come.
See Also:
● How budget ‘trailer bills’ are misused CALmatters
Social Security Costs to Exceed Income in 2020, Trustees Say
Wall Street Journal
The Social Security program’s costs will exceed its income in 2020 for the first time since 1982—two years later than officials projected last year—forcing the program to dip into its nearly $3 trillion trust fund to cover benefits.
TRANSPORTATION
Average US price of gas spikes 13 cents per gallon, to $2.91
Fresno Bee
The average U.S. price of regular-grade gasoline surged 13 cents a gallon (3.8 liters) over the past two weeks, to $2.91.
See Also:
● Gas hits $4 per gallon and it might stay high for a while San Francisco Chronicle
Will High-Speed Rail Ever Make It to the Bay Area?
KQED
For now, the California High-Speed Rail Authority is focused on building the route from Merced to Bakersfield. Frustrated residents and landowners in the Central Valley fear the state is tearing up land for a rail line that may never be fully finished.
As Bullet Train Project Moves Ahead in Valley, Many Residents Still Reluctant to Get on Board
KQED
When Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in February that, as currently planned, the state’s full high-speed rail project would take too long to build and cost too much, farm bookkeeper Joanna Spence was relieved. For her, that acknowledgement was long overdue.
California Bullet-Train Agency Eyes Central Valley-Only Service, for Now
Courthouse News Service
The California High-Speed Rail Authority indicated Tuesday it is likely to recommend approval of interim rail service connecting Central Valley cities before expanding the service to Los Angeles and San Francisco as funding becomes available.
This is how public transportation is transforming California’s housing market
Housing Wire
Although many factors will influence their purchasing decisions, new data from Trulia indicates that the percentage of Los Angeles homebuyers searching for homes near public transportation is on the rise.
Capital Public Radio
The plan is to complete a study by the end of this year, with the first installation of chargers by early 2020.
Lodi Plans a Road Diet for Safety and Economic Development
Public CEO
In an effort to promote downtown bicycle tourism and improve safety, the city of Lodi is planning a road diet on one of its main streets.
Walters: DMV crisis could make or break Newsom
CALmatters
Gavin Newsom is certainly an ambitious politician and is extraordinarily oriented toward high-concept gestures. His latest emerged during a quick trip to El Salvador last week, ostensibly to learn why so many Salvadorans are making arduous treks to the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping to gain asylum.
WATER
Oil producers plan costly groundwater-protection measures in western Kern
Bakersfield Californian
Regulatory efforts to protect groundwater quality in western Kern are forcing two of the county’s largest oil producers to spend many millions of dollars over the next several years moving or reworking dozens of disposal wells and other critical oil-field infrastructure.
The Central Valley is sinking as farmers drill for water. But it can be saved, study says
Sacramento Bee
The groundwater beneath the Central Valley has been steadily depleting, particularly as the state’s $50 billion agricultural industry relied on it during a series of droughts. Each year, more water exits the aquifer than goes into it.
Water Needs May Shut Down 500,000 Acres of California Farms
Bloomberg
Farmers in California’s bountiful San Joaquin Valley may have to abandon an estimated 535,000 acres of land used for growing almonds, tomatoes, garlic, and other crops so that valley residents can meet groundwater sustainability goals.
EDITORIAL: MID plays favorites with its electricity rates. So who’s paying the price?
Modesto Bee
Public utilities have a decent way of proving that the price they charge for electricity is fair. It’s called a Cost of Service study.
“Xtra”
Families enjoy Easter Sunday at Fresno’s Woodward Park
Fresno Bee
The holiday and great weather drew thousands of people to Fresno’s Woodward Park for Easter Sunday.
See also:
● Families pack inside Woodward Park for Easter celebrations abc30
Hiking up the Burma Road with Wildflowery Views
Sierra News
A great workout with beautiful flowers and a ton of history!
What’s going on in the Modesto region? A lot, here’s a look
Modesto Bee
Upcoming concerts and events in the area.
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The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
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