POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Merced City Council nixes proposed Black Lives Matter mural
San Joaquin Valley Sun
A proposed Black Lives Matter mural in downtown Merced was voted down by the city council. The proposition failed as the council voted 5-2 against the mural that would have been located on Canal Street south of Bob Hart Square.
Central SJ Valley:
City of Fresno uses millions in funds to help essential workers during pandemic
The City of Fresno has put millions more toward fighting the coronavirus.
Fresno City Council approves COVID-19 rent help, CARES money
Fresno Bee
The Fresno City Council on Thursday extended its rental assistance program and implemented contact tracing programs related to the coronavirus â but not before squabbling over one of the lead organizations.
California pizza chain closes; Hospital numbers dropping
Fresno Bee
The central San Joaquin Valley added another 764 positive cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, according to data from state and county health officials. More than half of that number was reported in Fresno County, which added 482 cases for the day.
Mendota mayor asking Gov. Newsom for additional COVID-19 resources
abc30
A few dozen cars showed up for Wednesday’s free COVID-19 testing in the City of Mendota, as the state tries to expand its reach into some of the more rural parts of California. Local health workers were on hand to screen residents right from their car as the city hosted its third drive-through event.
South SJ Valley:
Council discusses transit, outdoor dining
Porterville Recorder
âWe continue to look for strategies to improve mobility within out community, as well as keep financially sustainable for the future,â said Transit manager Richard Tree during the regular meeting of the Porterville City Council on Tuesday.
As counties prepare to leave state COVID-19 watchlist, Kern’s numbers remain stubbornly high
Bakersfield Californian
Despite the sudden decrease in daily reported coronavirus cases, the Kern County Public Health Services Department still sees warning signs that a surge in COVID-19 infections persists locally.
State:
Gavin Newsom said heâd take a pay cut 3 months ago. He didnât
Fresno Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom said he and the rest of the state governmentâs workforce would take 10% pay cuts when he announced broad cuts to state spending in May because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Gov. Gavin Newsom cancels planned convention appearance as fires rage in California
Fresno Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom has canceled a planned primetime appearance at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday as fires rage across the state, threatening thousands of buildings and forcing tens of thousands of Californians to evacuate.
See Also:
- âClimate change is real.â Gavin Newsom checks into Democratic convention from California wildfires Sac Bee
- Does California Gov. Gavin Newsomâs DNC speech mark the end of his presidential dreams Sac Bee
- Alex Padilla to Democratic convention: Donât let Trump intimidate mail voters Sac Bee
- California Democrats gather â mostly socially distanced â to celebrate Bidenâs nomination LA Times
- Newsom makes convention plea from fire-threatened forest â and slams Trump POLITICO
- OPINION: Gov. Gavin Newsomâs canceled DNC speech marks the end of his presidential dreams Modesto Bee
Latinos pressure California governor on US Senate appointee
Bakersfield Californian
A Latino group openly pressured Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday to select a Hispanic replacement if U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris’ seat becomes vacant, saying it was time for a historic pick that would reflect the growing influence of Latinos in the nation’s most populous state.
Two-house tensions fuel dizzying Appropriations hearings full of fits and starts
POLITICO
Today’s end-of-session fiscal hearings featured unusually dizzying gamesmanship between the Assembly and state Senate, full of âcoffee breaksâ and other surprises culminating in the biggest jolt of all: a take-back.
See also:
- No deal yet in Sacramento to help struggling California renters LA Times
- The tough questions pushing California to an eviction cliff CALmatters
- Taylor: Renters desperate for help from a Legislature adjourning in 8 days SF Chronicle
States Challenge FDIC Rule Change on Interest-Rate Caps
Courthouse News
Denouncing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for enabling unscrupulous creditors, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed a federal lawsuitThursday to challenge its rule allowing more lenders to skirt interest rate caps.
Center for American Progress Discussion with Gov. Newsom & Democratic Members of Congress
C-SPAN.org
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and other Democratic members of Congress talked about progressive policy in a virtual discussion with the Center for American Progress. Gov. Newsom discussed how California has implemented progressive policies for the criminal justice system, climate change and social program spending. Democratic representatives talked about numerous House bills passed addressing funding for COVID-19 relief, police reform and climate change.
Federal:
Federal judge refuses to dismiss subpoena for Trumpâs tax records
Los Angeles Times
President Trumpâs latest bid to block a subpoena for his tax filing from the Manhattan district attorney has been dismissed by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero on Thursday rejected Trumpâs claims that the subpoena, from a state grand jury looking into payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, was issued in bad faith and is overly broad.
Trump administration struggles to rally international support for new Iran sanctions
Los Angeles Times
The Trump administration notified the United Nations on Thursday that the U.S. will â on its own â reinstate numerous sanctions to punish Iran after failing to rally international support to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic Republic.
âLike Armageddonâ: Rotting food, dead animals and chaos at postal facilities amid cutbacks
Los Angeles Times
Six weeks ago, U.S. Postal Service workers in the high desert town of Tehachapi, Calif., began to notice crates of mail sitting in the post office in the early morning that should have been shipped out for delivery the night before.
See also:
- DeJoy says Postal Service will prioritize ballots over other mail, as it has in past elections Wash Post
US Census watchers are worried about earlier deadline and USPS delays
Business Insider
US census watchers are worried that some communities in rural and sparse areas could be under-counted because of a new cutoff date for counting paper forms and USPS delivery challenges, NPR reported. The Census Bureau says it will only process paper forms that are postmarked by September 30 and arrive at one of the two data processing centers by October 7. Twenty percent of respondents, especially those in rural areas use paper forms. Not counting reports could mean that communities could miss.
Coronavirus Trackers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.
See also:
- California Department of Public Health
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) CDC
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic – WHO
- John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
- Tracking coronavirus in California Los Angeles Times
- Coronavirus Tracker San Francisco Chronicle
- Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count New York Times
- How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico
- Coronavirus Daily NPR
- Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Financial Times
- Coronavirus in California by the numbers CalMatters
Elections 2020:
Pro-life student supporters rally against Kamala Harris in Fresno
Fresno Bee
Students For Life Action and Pro-Life Generation supporters rally against Kamala Harris outside Robert E. Coyle Federal Building Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020 in downtown Fresno.
Takeaways From Night Four of the Democratic National Convention
WSJ
Less policy, more personal. On the final night of the convention, Democrats framed the election as a vote for Joe Bidenâs character. Four takeaways.
See also:
- Fact Check: Fact Check: Biden’s Address To The DNC, Annotated NPR
- Fact-checking Joe Biden’s acceptance speech Politifact
- Fact-checking Joe Biden’s acceptance speechOpinion: What Does the Democratic Party Stand For ?Rolling Stone
- Four takeaways from the final night of the Democratic National Convention Wash Post
- A 13-year-old âregular kidâ with a stutter gave a must-watch Democratic convention speech Wash Post
- Biden Promises ‘Light’ After Trump’s ‘Darkness’: 7 Takeaways From The DNC VPR
- Joe Biden promises progress during final night of DNC. WSJ
- Joe Biden’s convention was about the content of our character Brookings
- Opinion: Hereâs who Biden should pick for a dream Cabinet Wash Post
- Opinion: The convention shows Democrats have ceded the working class to the GOP Wash Post
How Kamala Harris Forged Close Ties With Big Tech
NY Times
Silicon Valley has enthusiastically backed Ms. Harris since she first ran for state attorney general in California a decade ago.
See also:
- It’s Kamala’s party now,â POLITICO
- Kamala Harrisâ husband, Doug Emhoff, could also make history LA Times
Fact Check: Trump repeats false claim that Obama spied on his campaign
PolitiFact
On night three of the Democratic National Convention, former President Barack Obama charged that President Donald Trump has shown “no interest” in taking his job seriously.
See also:
Postmaster General Acknowledges Delays But Vows USPS Can Handle Ballots
VPR
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy defended his leadership of the Postal Service on Friday and sought to reassure senators his agency would be able to deliver the nation’s election mail “securely and on time” calling it a “sacred duty.” The hearing marked DeJoy’s first public remarks since walking back his plan for operational changes, which drew heavy criticism.
See also:
- USPS Headquarters Tells Managers Not to Reconnect Mail Sorting Machines, Emails Show Vice
- Opinion: Voting by mail should be made available for all Americans Fresno Bee
Facebook can’t appease either political party ahead of the election
Axios
Efforts by Facebook to appear politically neutral are growing complicated as critics on the left allege the company is over-pandering to conservatives and critics on the right allege the tech giant is biased against them.
See also:
Walters: Presidential race will put Californiaâs foibles on trial
Modesto Bee
Joe Bidenâs selection of Sen. Kamala Harris as his vice presidential running mate is a source of great pride for California Democrats, understandably so. Their reactions generally project that a Vice President Harris will be the odds-on favorite to succeed Biden in either 2024 or 2028, so California will have an advocate in high places for many years to come.
Los Angeles Times
President Trump probably would prefer that our mail ballots be delivered by ox cart. Or carrier pigeons flying through flocks of raptors. Unless we voted for him. Then heâd dispatch the military to âharvestâ the ballots. Hey, itâs not that far-fetched. After all, this is the president who tried to withhold disaster relief money from Northern California wildfire victims because the state opposed him politically, according to Miles Taylor, the former chief of staff at Trumpâs Department of Homeland Security.
Editorial: The Trump Campaign Accepted Russian Help to Win in 2016. Case Closed.
NY Times
âCooperationâ or âcollusionâ or whatever. It was a plot against American democracy.
Other:
Opinion: Legislature must address internet access inequities in state
Sac Bee
Even as millions of Californians use cutting-edge technology to manage the challenges brought on by COVID-19, more than 20% of us live in impoverished or remote areas that are unconnected or under-connected to the Internet.
Trump asks Supreme Court to let him block critics on Twitter
TheHill
The Trump administration on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reverse a lower court ruling that found President Trump violated the First Amendment by blocking his critics on Twitter.
See also:
Opinion: Newsomâs leadership needed for special legislative session to focus on recovery
CalMatters
Several revenue proposals are on the table for California to confront the crises created by systemic inequities compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
OPINION: Legislature has to close digital divide, address inequities due to lack of internet access
Modesto Bee
Even as millions of Californians use cutting-edge technology to manage the challenges brought on by COVID-19, more than 20% of us live in impoverished or remote areas that are unconnected or under-connected to the Internet.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Heatwave causing dead cow emergency in Fresno-area farms
Fresno Bee
Several central San Joaquin Valley counties have issued emergency proclamations to prevent a pile-up of cow carcasses killed from the recent stretch of scorching temperatures.
As smoke fills the air, California farmworkers still labor to put food on the table
San Francisco Chronicle
Yellow, ash-filled skies blanketed the Salinas Valley fields that supply much of the nationâs lettuce, strawberries and other fresh produce as wildfires from all sides blazed.
Curbside Pickup Is a Lifeline for Eateries. How Long Can It Last?
PEW
At least 100 cities have set up curbside pickup zones for restaurants.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Steve Bannon is arrested and charged with fraud by federal prosecutors
Los Angeles Times
Stephen K. Bannon, who guided President Trumpâs 2016 campaign in its final months and served as a senior White House advisor, was charged Thursday in New York with fraud for his role in an online fundraising scheme, We Build the Wall, which raised $25 million.
Public Safety:
COVID-19 outbreak at Folsom Prison spreads through 10% of inmates in two weeks
Los Angeles Times
Amid an overall statewide decline in the average number of coronavirus infections in recent weeks, several prisons have reported massive spikes in infections as testing has expanded. At Folsom State Prison, the number of COVID-19 cases has skyrocketed in the past 14 days after more than three-quarters of the inmate population was tested for the virus.
California police reform push could shift the national conversation
POLITICO
Supporters of the reforms say they are determined to convert a historic surge of advocacy into enduring change.
2 major police reform bills die, but other proposals move forward
POLITICO
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday dealt a major blow to a package of police reform bills, holding proposals that would have required officers to physically intercede when a fellow officer uses excessive force and allowed victims and families to receive compensation when death or injury is caused by law enforcement.
Fire:
Weather helping crews but LNU fire in Vacaville, Napa, Sonoma tops 131K acres
Fresno Bee
The LNU Lightning Complex Fire is continuing to surge through the North Bay area on Thursday after scorching more than 131,000 acres of Solano, Yolo, Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties. The fire jumped Interstate 80, burned through dozens of Vacaville and Fairfield homes and forced the partial evacuation of Travis Air Force Base on Wednesday.
See Also:
- Helicopter pilot killed in Fresno County fire identified Fresno Bee
- Why California wildfires are burning so fast, intensely Fresno Bee
- Fire near Patterson is spreading at 120 feet per minute, Cal Fire says Modesto Bee
- See where the wildfires are burning across California Sac Bee
- California wildfire victims donât need your old stuff. Hereâs the best way to help Sac Bee
- Trump hits California officials over wildfires: ‘You’ve got to clean your floors’ TheHill
- Trump blames California for wildfires, tells state ‘you gotta clean your floors’ POLITICO
- Trumpâs overly simplistic and false claim on Californiaâs wildfires Politifact
- Grappling with the Statewide âWildfire Siegeâ PPIC
How to keep smoke out of your house, car during wildfires
Sac Bee
Hundreds of wildfires across California are creating poor air quality conditions throughout most of the state. And wildfires are burning in Washington and Idaho.
See also:
- Smoke from California wildfires seen from space, images show Merced Sun-Star
- This face mask can also help you with wildfire smoke, experts say. If you can find one Sac Bee
- Wildfire smoke blankets Central Valley with no end in sight Bakersfield Calfn
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Some Fresno County businesses in open rebellion against coronavirus emergency order
abc30
Several Fresno County businesses are in open rebellion against the state’s coronavirus emergency order. Salon Posh is welcoming clients into its Tower District building even though owners know it’s not allowed because of Fresno County’s large coronavirus outbreak.
Fresno Bee
California Pizza Kitchen in Fresno has closed. The popular restaurant on north Blackstone emailed its customers Wednesday evening with the news.
Jobs:
Californiaâs weary firefighters are working double shifts. When will backup arrive?
Fresno Bee
Exhausted and working double shifts on nearly 400 wildfires, California firefighters were still waiting for many of the relief crews that were trickling into the state Thursday. On Wednesday, officials announced they had requested 375 fire engines from out of state to join the 6,900 firefighters battling lighting-sparked fires that have destroyed nearly 200 buildings and are threatening 50,000 more. Tens of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate.
See Also:
- California firefighters `taxed to the limit’ seeking help Bakersfield Californian
- California ‘stretched thin for crews’ as wildfires burn across the state Public CEO
Uber and Lyft wonât suspend California operations after court gives them time to fight law
Fresno Bee
Uber and Lyft pulled back from their warning that they would suspend their services in California by Friday morning after an appeals court gave the companies a legal reprieve allowing them more time to figure out how to comply with a new state labor law.
See Also:
- Lyft, Uber granted stay, will continue operating in California after threatening shut down abc30
- Appeals court gives reprieve to Uber, Lyft in California Bakersfield Californian
- Uber and Lyft just avoided a shutdown. How they got here and whatâs next Los Angeles Times
- Uber and Lyft Get Reprieve After Threatening to Shut Down NY Times
- Uber, Lyft Will Not Suspend Service In California After Court Gives Them More Time VPR
- Uber, Lyft and why Californiaâs war over gig work is just beginning CalMatters
US jobless claims jump back above 1 million as pandemic continues
abc30
The number of laid-off workers seeking U.S. unemployment benefits rose to 1.1 million last week after two weeks of declines, evidence that many employers are still slashing jobs as the coronavirus bedevils the U.S. economy.
See Also:
- U.S. jobless claims jump back above 1 million in face of coronavirus Los Angeles Times
- Another 1.1 million Americans file for unemployment as rate remains above 10% San Francisco Chronicle
Amazon unveils distribution center, begins mass hiring
Bakersfield Califn
Politicians gushed and a company official crowed but it was the little blue robots that stole the show Thursday as e-commerce giant Amazon pulled back the veil on the massive distribution center it has been working on in Oildale for close to two years. John Cox for The Bakersfield Californian
California is asking Trump administration for new $300-a-week jobless benefit
Los Angeles Times
California is asking the federal government for a $300 weekly supplemental unemployment benefit for jobless Californians, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. The move comes after the Trump administration said states would not have to put up billions of new matching dollars, which the governor said last week made the plan unworkable.
Paying the bill for the pandemic-related unemployment benefits
AEI / The Bulbark
Will federal unemployment taxes rise to pay for additional unemployment benefits? No. And here’s why.
U.S. Jobless Claims Rose to 1.1 Million in Latest Week
WSJ
Data indicate layoffs remain elevated as labor market slowly improves.
EDUCATION
K-12:
As teachers enter schools, Stanislaus Office of Education will test its online strength
Modesto Bee
With distance learning starting this week in at least four Stanislaus County school districts, and about 15 more joining next week, a stress test will be conducted Friday to ensure schoolsâ internet performance is up to snuff.
What Modesto parents want to know about getting kids off screens, in classrooms, more
Modesto Bee
In Modesto City Schoolsâ online community forum Wednesday evening to get feedback on distance learning, families shared a range of questions and concerns. They wanted to know, among other things, how long it will take to reopen schools once state and county officials deem it safe to do so.
Students in Stanislaus County could be headed back to class soon. Hereâs how.
Modesto Bee
The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency is inviting school districts apply for waivers
Visalia CA school will reopen despite coronavirus watch list
Fresno Bee
A private Christian school in Visalia will open its campus to students on Sept. 8, operating under the rules of a day camp, despite the state order requiring public and private schools on Californiaâs coronavirus watchlist to remain closed.
California could soon require ethnic studies class for high school graduation
San Francisco Chronicle
Aniyah Story, a junior at Oakland High School, says sheâs always felt like an outsider reading textbooks about American history in class. She rarely sees positive depictions of people who look like her, a person of Black and Filipina descent. Whatâs more, Story says, the unsavory facts of history are repeatedly glossed over to emphasize a âEurocentricâ viewpoint and minimize the enslavement of people of color.
Trump administration classifies teachers essential workers during pandemic
Reuteurs
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday classified teachers as essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic as the Trump administration presses schools nationwide to bring students back to class.
The hard truth about remote learning this fall
National Review
When the public health situation warrants it, remote learning is better than nothing. But itâs crucial to appreciate just what a dismal substitute todayâs remote learning really is.
EdSource
Some small schools in Northern California, which had already opened for in-person instruction, were plunged into confusion this week when their county was placed on the stateâs Covid-19 monitoring list.
Higher Ed:
Check out what’s happening at UC Merced: 2020 campus expansion completed
Fresno Bee
UC Mercedâs 2020 project has been completed. The campus expansion, which cost a billion dollars, allows the California university to add more students with space for housing, classrooms, recreation and more.
Fresno State anticipates largest-ever incoming class
Fresno State News
âFor generations, Fresno State has provided families throughout our region and beyond with a high-quality education at an affordable cost,â said President Joseph I. Castro. âI am gratified to see that our talented students are continuing to pursue their educational goals with boldness, optimism and determination, much-needed qualities needed in our leaders.â
CSUB sees record number of returning students; awards nearly $40 million in aid
Things To Know Today CSUB
When CSU Bakersfield begins its 2020-21 academic term on Monday, some 11,694 students will begin or continue a journey to their life-changing degrees during a revolutionary time for education in this country. History is being made as we transition to entirely new ways of delivering high-quality instruction remotely.
Perenchio Foundation gifts $5.5M to support student success for generations
Fresno State News
Fresno State students facing a financial hardship on the road to academic success will soon be able to apply for more grants and scholarships thanks to two gifts totaling $5.5 million from the Perenchio Foundation.
No tuition cuts and other takeaways from Cal State chancellor
CalMatters
In a virtual town hall event hosted by CalMatters, Cal State Chancellor Tim White answered questions about COVID-19 testing, tuition, faculty preparedness, and more.
A ballot prop that could boost racial equity among university faculty
CalMatters
Repealing the ban on affirmative action will make it easier for public colleges and universities to target underrepresented groups for faculty positions.
Commentary: California colleges need better online tools to steer students to optimal math courses
CalMatters
A new study found that California colleges are doing a middling job of directing students toward optimal and up-to-date options for math courses.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Excessive heat: No end in sight for triple-digit Valley temperatures, wildfire smoke
Fresno Bee
An excessive heat warning is in effect for the central San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills until at least Thursday night as California wildfires have worsened air quality across the state. There is no end in sight for daily triple-digit temperatures in Fresno, forecast to continue for at least another week.
Sac Bee
He spoke from outside an evacuation center.
See also:
The Atlantic Is Awash With Far More Plastic Than Previously Thought, Study Finds
VPR
Scientists are trying to understand how much plastic humans are pumping into the ocean and how long it sticks around. A study published this week says it may be much more than earlier estimates. By some measures, the plastic trash that’s floating on the surface of the water only accounts for about 1% of the plastic pollution that humans generate.
Commentary: Solving Californiaâs heat-induced rolling blackouts with clean energy innovation
CalMatters
The solution to rolling blackouts is to shift industrial demand to when our grid can handle it and rapidly expand our clean energy resources.
Commentary: Asm Adam Gray: Reclassify hydropower now â as renewable energy
CalMatters
If we are going to meet Californiaâs urgent power needs, we cannot relegate hydropower, our most affordable and reliable clean power, to second-class status.
Los Angeles Times
Scientists have repeatedly warned that climate change, development and other environmental stressors are so dangerous to the survival of Californiaâs Joshua trees that one of the main iterations of the plant could be nearly wiped out by the end of the century. Itâs possible that Joshua Tree National Park could eventually have no Joshua trees.
Energy:
As excessive heat tapers off, threat of rolling blackouts wanes
Los Angeles Times
With a near weeklong heat wave tapering off and successful energy conservation efforts, California managed to stave off rolling blackouts for the third consecutive night, and officials said power outages are not expected through the weekend.
Poor Planning Left California Short of Electricity in a Heat Wave
NY Times
Scores of power plants were down or operating below their capacity just as hot weather drove up demand.
Commentary: âMad Maxâ in California? Energy crisis is avoidable
CalMatters
If we are serious about avoiding blackouts and continuing our progress toward an emission-free grid, we must expand nuclear and hydroelectric power.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Fresno County adds 472 new coronavirus cases â but hospital numbers appear to be dropping
Fresno Bee
Fresno County added 482 new positive patients to what is now 21,798 cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began in March, state health officials reported Wednesday. Health officials did not add any deaths to the total of 205. Of its infected, Fresno County has seen 9,172 recoveries.
See Also:
- COVID-19 update: Another decline in active cases Porterville Recorder
- Kern County announces one new COVID-19 death, 194 new cases Thursday morning Bakersfield Californian
- Coronavirus update: Nine more Stanislaus deaths. Nursing home reports more. Modesto Bee
This face mask can also help you with wildfire smoke, experts say. If you can find one
Fresno Bee
People have been wearing masks to curb the spread of COVID-19, but as wildfires burn in California, resulting in elevated levels of pollution, you also may need a mask to protect yourself from smoke.
Multiple wildfires bring toxic smoke to Fresno area. Here is whoâs at risk
Fresno Bee
Multiple wildfires burning throughout California are sending billowing clouds of toxic smoke into the central San Joaquin Valley, prompting a warning to residents from the air pollution control district.
See Also:
Amid COVID-19, don’t ignore the links between poor air quality and public health
Brookings
There is growing evidence that poor air quality impacts health outcomes, especially for communities of color that are also exposed to a multitude of socio-economic factors affecting their health. Jennifer Perron and Samantha Gross argue that the Trump administration’s attempts to roll back regulation and enforcement of air quality protections risks making the problem even worse.
Want herd immunity? Pay people to take the vaccine
Brookings
With a recent poll showing that over 1/3 of Americans will not take a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available, Robert Litan says it’s not too early for policymakers to begin thinking about incentives. In an opinion piece, Litan proposes a plan that would pay individuals to get the vaccine.
Flavored tobacco ban heads to Assembly floor amid industry-backed opposition campaign
POLITICO
Legislation designed to reduce youth smoking by banning most flavored tobacco products cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday amid an opposition campaign that has targeted the bill as discriminating against Black smokers.
Trump administration bars FDA review of some coronavirus tests
TheHill
The Trump administration will allow coronavirus tests developed by individual laboratories to be used without Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review, the administration announced Wednesday.
New Coronavirus Cases Below 50,000 in the U.S. for Sixth Straight Day
WSJ
Covid-19 death toll tops 174,000 as total infections exceed 5.5 million in the U.S.
See also:
- Long-Haulers Are Redefining COVID-19 The Atlantic
- Recoveries outpacing new infections Visalia Times Delta
Evidence grows that children may play a larger role in transmission than previously believed
Wash Post
Latest study is small but shows high viral loads, high positivity rates among kids.
See also:
Covid cases are linked to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, but the full impact may never be known
Wash Post
As hundreds of thousands flocked to rural South Dakota for a motorcycle rally this month, sparking fears of a coronavirus superspreader event, photos captured people crowding the streets without masks and packing local businesses in the city of Sturgis â including a bar on Main Street, One-Eyed Jackâs Saloon.
Can you get coronavirus via secondhand smoke? The smell is a warning sign.
Wash Post
The primary way the novel coronavirus spreads, according to health experts, is through close contact with people who are infected. Being in proximity with someone who has the coronavirus exposes you to the respiratory droplets emitted when the person coughs, sneezes or even speaks.
Human Services:
California wildfire victims donât need your old stuff. Hereâs the best way to help
Fresno Bee
It might feel good to organize a donation drive or drop off clothes, cleaning supplies, food and pallets of bottled water to disaster relief organizations responding to the fires roaring across the state. But it really isnât helpful.
How do you keep wildfire smoke out of your house and car? Here are some tips
Fresno Bee
Hundreds of wildfires across California are creating poor air quality conditions throughout most of the state. And wildfires are burning in Washington and Idaho. If you can smell smoke or it makes your eyes sting, you should limit your outdoor time as much as possible because it can be harmful to your respiratory health.
Dentists reassure patients despite WHO warning
Bakersfield Californian
Worried their patients may be needlessly putting off important checkups and cleanings, local dentists are trying to clear up confusion about cautionary guidance issued earlier this month by the World Health Organization.
Stanislaus County turns to help, moves COVID-19 patients to downtown Modesto facility
Modesto Bee
Local leaders are looking for positive signs that the surge in coronavirus cases has flattened out. But Stanislaus County hospitals are still contending with a relentless outbreak, even after a special unit was created to take some of the patients.
How a rush to reopen drove Los Angeles County into a health crisis
LA Times
After flattening the curve in L.A. County, officials’ decisions to reopen led to record-breaking surges in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
Covid-19 Data Will Once Again Be Collected by CDC, in Policy Reversal
WSJ
Hospitals will return to reporting new cases to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Trump administration says, after shift to Health and Human Services led to delays and data problems.
Birx Stokes Hopes That Key Hospital Data Tracking Will Soon Return To CDC
VPR
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working “to build a revolutionary new data system” for COVID-19 hospital data collection that the CDC will run upon completion, according to Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
IMMIGRATION
Crowdsourced Border Wall Donors Disturbed By Fraud And Money Laundering Charges
VPR
On June 24, 2018, former Trump adviser Stephen Bannon stood on a ridge in Sunland, N.M., kicking off a 3-day telethon with a view of Cuidad Juarez, Mexico in the distance. “That is what separates it,” he says, pointing to a tall metal fence climbing the hillside, “the wall, built by private money.” That half-mile stretch of wall had been completed with money donated to “We Build the Wall,” an online crowdfunding campaign.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
California fires force closure of CDFW properties
Hanford Sentinel
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is temporarily closing some of its public lands in response to multiple active fires in Colusa, Lake, Lassen, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties. The closures will help ensure safety and accommodate the needs of fire crews.
Montana governor presses to remove Trump’s public lands boss
Bakersfield Californian
Montanaâs Democratic governor asked a federal judge Thursday to take swift action to remove the Trump administrationâs chief steward of public lands, as the former industry attorney hangs onto the post despite the White House saying Saturday that his nomination would be withdrawn.
Housing:
Fresno Bee
Fresno families are unable to get through the lines to apply for the Retention Grant, leaving them desperate for help. City Councilmember Esmeralda Soria says the next round could look different.
Two-house tensions fuel dizzying Appropriations hearings full of fits and starts
POLITICO
Today’s end-of-session fiscal hearings featured unusually dizzying gamesmanship between the Assembly and state Senate, full of âcoffee breaksâ and other surprises culminating in the biggest jolt of all: a take-back.
See also:
- No deal yet in Sacramento to help struggling California renters LA Times
- The tough questions pushing California to an eviction cliff CALmatters
- Taylor: Renters desperate for help from a Legislature adjourning in 8 days SF Chronicle
PUBLIC FINANCES
Biden’s Wealth vs. Work Tax Idea Animates His Policies
WSJ
Live updates from the fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention, as Joe Biden formally accepted his party’s presidential nomination to unseat President Trump.
Reading the inflation tea leaves
AEI
Depending on how you interpret recent data on inflation, it might be premature to dismiss the possibility that problematic inflation may soon return.
Why Californiaâs Latest âSoak the Richâ Tax Proposals Are Likely to Backfire
National Review
In a comical yet revealing turn of affairs, New York governor Andrew Cuomo is so desperate for wealthy New Yorkers to return to his state that he has resorted to personally calling them and offering to cook for them if they come back.
Opinion: California Wealth Tax Proposal Will Likely Backfire
National Review
In a comical yet revealing turn of affairs, New York governor Andrew Cuomo is so desperate for wealthy New Yorkers to return to his state that he has resorted to personally calling them and offering to cook for them if they come back. The governor finds himself in this situation because New Yorkâs sky-high taxes, restrictive business environment, and abysmal COVID-19 response have prompted many successful citizens to move elsewhere. No matter how many martinis Cuomo offers to buy them, many wonât be coming back.
TRANSPORTATION
Airline to start flying from Fresno to Mexico City. When will the service begin?
Fresno Bee
International nonstop service to and from Fresno Yosemite International Airport is expected to expand this fall with direct flights to Mexico City. Volaris, a low-cost airline based in Mexico, announced it will begin offering nonstop flights twice a week between Fresno and Mexicoâs capital starting Nov. 12. Tickets for the year-round route went on sale earlier this week.
Authorities charge former Uber CSO with hacking cover-up
POLITICO
The Justice Department said Thursday that it has charged former Uber chief security officer Joseph Sullivan with his role in the company’s cover-up of a hack that exposed information on 57 million users.
WATER
Coliform bacteria shuts down water in Tulare County’s main Visalia offices
Visalia Times Delta
The Tulare County Civic Center is on a boil-water notice after a bacteria that commonly lives in human feces was discovered in the county’s wells. Officials discovered coliform bacteria during a routine test of wells that serve the Tulare County Superior Court, the Main Jail, Human Resources & Development, General Services Agency (GSA), County Counsel, the Board of Supervisors and the County Administrative Office.
Some California cities think they’re safe from sea level rise. They’re not, new data show
LA Times
Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, yet a world away from San Francisco, in an unincorporated and oft-overlooked area known as Marin City, sea level rise is rarely the first worry that comes to mind.
âXtraâ
Hanford prepares for fun with National Night Out
Hanford Sentinel
Hanford Parks and Recreation, the Hanford Police Department and the Hanford Fire Department are teaming up to make sure that National Night Out still takes place. It was a topic of debate if they should even have the event, Hanford Cpl. Jason Gustin said. But after speaking with city leaders and their own chief, they decided it was important to have it, even amide current COVID-19 pandemic.
Kern County Fair going virtual for 2020
Bakersfield Californian
This yearâs Kern County Fair may have been physically canceled, but that doesnât mean the show canât go on in some form. While the Kern County Fair Board of Directors voted to cancel the two-week event last month, now organizers have planned to take a portion of the fair experience online.
After 5 months, AMC Theaters reopens its doors, cautiously
Modesto Bee
The doors to the AMC Waterfront 22 were locked. They had been for five months, along with most indoor theaters in the U.S. because of COVID-19. But in 20 minutes that was about to change and four people in masks were already gathered outside the theater 8 miles southeast of Pittsburgh in eager anticipation.