POLICY & POLITICS
Valley:
Accepting Fall Applications for Valley Legislative Intern Scholar Program - Deadline Sept. 7th
The Maddy Institute
The Maddy Scholar Intern Program’s goal is to prepare the next generation of political, governmental, business, non-profit leaders for the San Joaquin Valley through internship opportunities in local, state and federal government offices in Washington, D.C., Sacramento and throughout the region. Students from ALL majors encouraged to apply.
Funding approved for hundreds of transportation infrastructure, rail and local projects
Hanford Sentinel
Caltrans announced that the California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved funding for more than 100 transportation projects funded entirely or at least partly by $690 million from SB 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Air District to provide rebates for old vehicle replacement to qualifying individuals
Bakersfield Californian
The San Joaquin Valley Air District is providing money for replacements of 1999 or older high-polluting vehicles. The rebates are limited to those who meet the income and vehicle requirements
Water hearings, sometimes contentious, end with hope for agreement between farms, fish
Modesto Bee
Two days of hearings before the State Water Resources Control Board created some hope of voluntary agreements with local irrigation districts, which are under pressure to release more water in rivers to help salmon.
See also:
● EDITORIAL: Letting California's rivers run isn't a 'water grab' Los Angeles Times
Campaign consultant sues Costa challenger Heng, who says she’s being extorted
Fresno Bee
Elizabeth Heng, the Fresno Republican challenging longtime Democratic congressional incumbent Jim Costa, has been sued by her former campaign consultant for allegedly breaching their contract.
Janz reports monster fundraising month, doubles next closest state congressional Democrat
Fresno Bee
Andrew Janz, the Fresno Democrat running against longtime incumbent Rep. Devin Nunes, raised nearly $1 million in July – more than any other Democratic congressional challenger or incumbent in California.
See Also:
● Janz Is One of Many Dems Who Want to Ditch Pelosi GV Wire
TJ Cox campaign calls for debates in Congressional District 21
Hanford Sentinel
On Tuesday, the TJ Cox for Congress campaign called for three televised, public, town-hall style debates in the 21st Congressional District between Democratic nominee Cox and Republican Congressman David Valadao.
Madera Tribune
Although they failed to meet the deadline for signatures in their effort to recall Mayor Andrew J. Medellin, backers of the recall say they will file again and continue to push for the recall.
‘We didn’t do the things he did in his office.’ Legal battle between DA David Linn and supervisors rages on
Sierra Star
In light of the lawsuit filed on Monday by Madera County District Attorney David Linn against the county’s Board of Supervisors, District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler believes it’s just the DA’s attempt at “saving face.”
See Also:
● Madera County DA sues Board of Supervisors, blames them for losing election Sierra Star
Measure N, Visalia's public safety tax used for youth programs
Visalia Times Delta
The center, managed by Visalia Parks and Recreation, was one of several youth programs chosen to receive Measure N money to improve programs.
Bakersfield Californian
Former Kern County Superior Court Commissioner Joseph J. Gianquinto has been publicly censured for Facebook posts.
Housing crisis defined: Stanislaus lacks 20,000 rentals for the poor, report says
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County needs nearly 20,000 more apartments and other affordable housing to meet the needs of its low-income renters, according to a California Housing Partnership Corp. report issued Wednesday.
State:
Los Angeles Times
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) and his wife, Margaret, were indicted Tuesday on campaign corruption charges, accused of spending $250,000 on personal expenses, then filing false campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission.
See Also:
● Doubt enters California race as Rep. Duncan Hunter charged Business Journal
● Uncertainty Looms Over House Race After Hunter Indictment GV Wire
● Read the indictment against San Diego Rep. Duncan Hunter and his wife for campaign finance violations Los Angeles Times
● Duncan Hunter should do the right thing and step down. He probably won't Los Angeles Times
● Hunter indictment spells trouble for California GOP San Francisco Chronicle
● Rep. Duncan Hunter says Democrats, 'deep state' behind indictment, says he's not resigning San Diego Union-Tribune
● Criminal charges against Hunters stun, flummox 50th District San Diego Union-Tribune
● Rep. Duncan Hunter, do the honorable thing. Resign. San Diego Union-Tribune
Pelosi says she deserves to be House Speaker: "Nobody wants to sit across the table from me"
CALmatters
In downtown San Francisco today, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi reconfirmed—as she’s been saying for months—that she wants her old job back. Her bid seems to guarantee that regardless of which party wins emerges victorious in the November midterm elections, the favored contender to become Speaker of the House will be a Californian.
California net neutrality bill passes out of committee that initially tried to water it down
Los Angeles Times
A California Assembly panel on Wednesday advanced major legislation to prevent companies from hindering access to the internet, setting up a battle on the floor next week over whether California will enact the strongest net neutrality protections in the country.
See Also:
● California net neutrality bill advances to Assembly The Mercury News
California lawmakers limit nondisclosure agreements
AP News
California would bar forced arbitration and nondisclosure agreements under a bill sent to Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday that enjoys celebrity backing from some in the #MeToo movement.
Misleading claim by ‘Fox & Friends’ on California kids meal bill
Politifact
Would a California bill really limit restaurant drink options for children to "only milk and water"?
See also:
● Milk and water would be default drink options in California kids' meals under bill passed by lawmakers Los Angeles Times
State Supreme Court Ruling Could Make Local Ballot Initiatives More Difficult
PublicCeo
A recent unanimous ruling by the California Supreme Court (pictured) that may force the city of San Diego to retroactively create pensions for non-police employees hired since the start of 2013 isn’t just bad news for pension reformers.
Federal:
Trump gives himself a grade of 'A+'
The Hill
President Trump said in an interview broadcast early Thursday that he gives himself an "A+" for his time in office thus far.
See also:
Trump and Quarterly Capitalism Wall Street Journal
Republicans won’t have anything left to salvage The Washington Post
In Trump’s right-wing media universe, it was a day like any other The Washington Post
● Conservative media, even on a dismal news day for Trump, stand by their man Los Angeles Times
Fact Check: Not just misleading. Not merely false. A lie.
The Washington Post
The first denial that Donald Trump knew about hush-money payments to silence women came four days before he was elected president, when his spokeswoman Hope Hicks said, without hedging, “We have no knowledge of any of this.”
What Trump Knew and Voters Didn't
The Atlantic
The 2016 election was won amid a cover-up of illegal conduct designed to keep the truth from the electorate.
Michael Cohen subpoenaed in probe of Trump foundation
ABC30
State investigators in New York issued a subpoena to Michael Cohen on Wednesday as part of an ongoing multi-agency investigation into the Donald J. Trump Foundation, a spokesperson with the state's department of taxation and finance told ABC News.
See Also:
● After fast turn against Trump, Michael Cohen threatens to leverage secrets against the president Stockton Record
● Cohen’s plea done, where will federal prosecutors turn next? Sacramento Bee
● Trump faces legal assault on two fronts as prosecutors in New York and Washington take aim Los Angeles Times
● Q&A: What happens now that President Trump has been accused in court of helping commit a crime? Los Angeles Times
● Trump faces legal assault on two fronts as prosecutors in New York and Washington take aim Los Angeles Times
● Michael Cohen was present when President Trump and his son discussed Russia-provided Clinton 'dirt,' lawyer saysSan Diego Union-Tribune
● Can Democrats leverage Trump's legal problems in the midterm election or will they overreach? Los Angeles Times
● Trump's 'everybody does it' view of politics comes to color his conduct, and that of his aides Los Angeles Times
● How the Manafort and Cohen news could impact the midterm elections Brookings
● EDITORIAL: Silence is complicity on Trump. California Republicans are guilty Sacramento Bee
● EDITORIAL: Things changed for Trump this week. Do Republicans have the spine to do something about it? Los Angeles Times
● Cohen’s plea could hurt Trump the most San Francisco Chronicle
● EDITORIAL: Misusing pardon power would further imperil Trump San Francisco Chronicle
Democrats not using word ‘impeachment’ in midterm campaign — at least not yet
San Francisco Chronicle
Now that President Trump has been implicated by his former attorney in a federal crime, talk of impeaching him would seem to be a godsend to Democrats in the run-up to the midterm elections. But the party is divided about whether to go there yet.
See also:
● Republicans Are Talking About Impeachment Way More Than Democrats FiveThirtyEight
● Presidential obstruction of justice: The case of Donald J. Trump Brookings
DNC Says Reported Hack Attempt Was a False Alarm
WSJ
Committee was hacked by Russian intelligence in 2016 campaign
See also:
● Democratic National Committee says hackers unsuccessfully targeted voter database Washington Post
We now know Russia isn't the only foe that's learned to exploit U.S. social media
Los Angeles Times
It’s not the endorsement Facebook, Twitter or Google wants. But the U.S.’s geopolitical adversaries appear to be in agreement: Silicon Valley’s biggest social media companies provide some of the best tools for spreading propaganda.
Expect An Autumn Of Outrage: Both Parties On Offense In Bruising Midterm Campaigns
NPR
The Trump era has already produced many moments of unprecedented strangeness, but perhaps none to match his triumphal visit to West Virginia just hours after two of his key associates were found guilty or pleaded guilty on a total 16 federal counts in two separate proceedings in two courts.
Kavanaugh’s confirmation must wait
The Washington Post
There is no way Republicans will halt their march toward Brett M. Kavanaugh’s confirmation as an associate justice of the Supreme Court. But if the party still cared about limited government and the rule of law, it would wait until after November to proceed.
See also:
● Democrats Aim Fire at Kavanaugh Nomination After Cohen Plea Wall Street Journal
● Is Kavanaugh Legitimate? The Wall Street Journal
● Cohen, Manafort and Midterms Wall Street Journal
Other:
Happy birthday, Pete Wilson. And thanks: You made California what it is
Los Angeles Times
Former California Gov. Pete Wilson turns 85 tomorrow, so on behalf of all Californians, I say: gracias. Gracias for your 30-plus years of service as a public official — first, as an assemblyman for San Diego, then as the mayor of that city, followed by two terms apiece as our U.S. senator and governor. Your career helped shaped the modern-day Golden State.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Almond harvest will be kicking up dust — but it shouldn’t affect air quality
Stockton Record
Welcome to the 2018 almond harvest, which began two weeks ago in Bakersfield and is working its way up California’s Central Valley.
California Could Make It Legal To Sell Home-Cooked Meals
Capital Public Radio
Home cooks rallied on the steps of the state Capitol Wednesday in support of a bill that would make California the first state to permit and regulate the small-scale sale of meals from home kitchens.
What Will the World Eat in the Next Decade?
Bloomberg
these trends will reshape global trade flows in agriculture, creating new winners—and forcing companies to adjust their food chains to serve shifting tastes.
The Wall Street Journal
The House and Senate are negotiating a farm bill, and for once the stakes are more important than subsidies for wealthy sugar farmers. Republicans are debating reforms to a food stamp program that is divorced from work and economic advancement.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Big changes for Fresno’s cash bail system sit on governor’s desk
Fresno Bee
A bill to end California’s cash bail system sits on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk, and both opponents and supporters in the central San Joaquin Valley agree on one thing: His signature will send massive changes through the state’s criminal justice system — a legal big rig hurtling down the criminal justice Grapevine.
See Also:
● Bill to End Bail in California Heads to Gov. Brown GV Wire
California Lawmakers Pass Bill To Erase Old Pot Convictions
Capital Public Radio
A bill requiring California prosecutors to erase or reduce thousands of marijuana criminal convictions was approved by the state Legislature on Wednesday and now awaits Gov. Jerry Brown's signature.
See also:
● California lawmakers move to help expunge pot-related convictions Los Angeles Times
Walters: Softer crime laws will loom large in Brown’s legacy
CalMatters
Jerry Brown spent much of his first governorship four decades ago dodging the political fallout of California’s rising crime rates.
‘Dozens’ of cases being reviewed after sheriff’s recording
San Francisco Chronicle
The Alameda County district attorney’s office is reviewing “dozens” of juvenile cases dating back to January following revelations that the county Sheriff’s Office recorded at least one confidential conversation with a youth suspect and his attorney.
Public Safety:
Gun control bills to watch in California
The Sacramento Bee
California is on the verge of making some of the most restrictive firearms laws in the country even tougher six months after a shooting at a Florida high school left 17 dead and ignited a national debate about the influence of the gun lobby over politicians.
States aim to stop internet release of 3D-printed gun plans
Business Journal
A federal judge in Seattle hearing arguments over a settlement that allows a Texas company to post online plans for printing 3D guns said Tuesday the overall issue of such untraceable plastic weapons should be decided by the president or Congress.
Los Angeles sues U.S. over law enforcement grants
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles is seeking an injunction prohibiting the U.S. Justice Department from imposing immigration enforcement conditions on the city in order to receive federal funding for anti-gang programs.
The problem with prisons in America
Economist
Why the criminal-justice system is so very fond of incarceration
Fire:
College of the Sequoias arson suspect identified by students, busted
Visalia Times Delta
After nearly two days of putting out restroom fires at College of the Sequoias, police believe Captain America and college students helped save the day.
Massive early fires show merit in State's Trump response
Hanford Sentinel
No state has been more visible than California in resisting the environmental policies of President Trump, filing 38 lawsuits by the beginning of this month. Now the state’s massive early fire season is demonstrating the merit of those legal actions.
California wildfires: How many fires are burning and where are they?
Sacramento Bee
Firefighters are making progress on the wildfires that continue to suffocate California. On Sunday, the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite reached 100 percent containment and officials said they expect to reach full containment on the Holy Fire in Southern California by Sunday. The devastating Carr Fire’s containment has also bumped up.
Highway 41, the road to Yosemite's popular Tunnel View, to reopen. Just don't hike in burn areas
Los Angeles Times
Yosemite is getting back on track after the deadly Ferguson fire shut portions of the national park during its busiest season. Wawona Road, a.k.a. Highway 41, which leads to the popular Tunnel View and Yosemite Valley, will reopen 8 a.m. Friday. It had been closed since July 25 to support firefighting efforts.
Chief: Verizon's data throttling endangered fire crews
San Francisco Chronicle
Santa Clara County firefighters were hobbled by poor internet service while they battled the Mendocino Complex fires in July because Verizon its data, the fire chief says in a court filing.
See Also:
● Verizon Throttled Firefighters' Data As Mendocino Wildfire Raged, Fire Chief Says Capital Public Radio
● Firefighters battling California's largest fire hit by crippling data slowdown, slam Verizon's tactics Los Angeles Times
● The California wildfire and net neutrality: The conversation we should really have AEIdeas
To prevent wildfires, require utilities to underground lines
San Francisco Chronicle
Instead of changing the law to protect PG&E from liability, as PG&E has asked the Legislature to do, we must make wildfire prevention our highest priority. A great place to start is requiring utilities to underground electrical lines in high risk locations.
California Today: The Human Element in California’s Wildfires
New York Times
Up against the ferocity of fire, it is easy to feel that forces beyond our control are at work. In the middle of the worst wildfire season in memory in California, there is a great sense of powerlessness in the face of nature.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Berry Petroleum brings focus, investment back to Kern
Bakersfield Californian
The new logo atop Berry Petroleum Co. LLC's Truxtun Avenue headquarters is apt as symbols go — an oil droplet surrounded by a water-evoking blue curve with a lowercase "B" nestled in between. But it hardly begins to tell the story of the company's dramatic homecoming.
On a listless trading day, the stock market sets record with the longest bull run ever
Los Angeles Times
The bull market in U.S. stocks is now the longest on record. It became the longest in Wall Street history on Wednesday at 3,453 days, beating the bull market of the 1990s that ended in the dot-com collapse in 2000.
See Also:
● Bull market became longest in history Wednesday. Maybe San Francisco Chronicle
Target records best sales gain in more than a decade as new brands draw shoppers
Los Angeles Times
Target Corp. kept pace with rival Walmart Inc. by posting its best sales in 13 years, sending its shares to a historic high.
Will the Market Crash If Trump Is Impeached? Here's What Analysts Say
Bloomberg
How seriously should people take Donald Trump’s claim that stocks would crash if he were kicked out of office? As you mull over an answer, consider what someone in the other party would say.
See also:
● Trump says 'market would crash' if he were impeached Politico
Jobs:
This new-to-Fresno chain restaurant plans to hire 200 workers. Here’s the latest
Fresno Bee
An October opening is planned for the Fresno Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, which is midway through renovating the former Elephant Bar on Blackstone Avenue. Lazy Dog is looking to hire 200 workers.
See Also:
● Fresno’s Lazy Dog Restaurant to host fair to fill 200 jobs Business Journal
An ‘unprofitable’ Valley Kmart is closing — and local Sears stores may be shrinking
Fresno Bee
The Clovis Kmart is closing — and Sears stores in the Valley may be shrinking. No other Kmarts or Sears in the central San Joaquin Valley were on the latest list of closures.
See Also:
● Clovis Kmart next on chopping block Business Journal
● Visalia Sears to be cut in half, empty Sport Chalet will be filled soon Visalia Times Delta
Orchard Supply Hardware stores everywhere are closing for good by February, CEO says
Fresno Bee
All Orchard Supply Hardware stores in California and elsewhere will close by February, the company’s parent — home-improvement retail giant Lowe’s — announced Wednesday.
See Also:
● Seven Orchard Supply stores to close in Central Valley Business Journal
● Lowe's closing Orchard Supply Hardware chain it acquired out of bankruptcy Los Angeles Times
● ‘Just not running well’: Why OSH is closing San Francisco Chronicle
Ready to Work, ready to succeed
Stockton Record
An inaugural cohort of ten homeless men are enrolled in a residential job-training program run by Ready To Work, a Stockton-based nonprofit that was awarded $1.4 million in grant funding three months ago by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.
Sacramento City Council passes contentious local-hire ordinance
Sacramento Bee
In a City Hall meeting packed with men and women wearing hardhats and reflective yellow vests, the Sacramento City Council approved a new ordinance Tuesday night that gives Sacramento building contractors an incentive to hire local workers. The vote was 7-2 in favor of the ordinance.
California July 2018 State Jobs Report
LAO
California's Employment Development Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released California's July 2018 state jobs report on August 17, 2018.
See also:
● Jobless Claims Fall for Third Week in Tight U.S. Labor Market Bloomberg
● BLS: Geographic Profile of Employment and Unemployment, 2016 BLS
The Promotion That Comes Without the Pay Raise
Wall Street Journal
More workers are facing the same dilemma: How do you respond when your boss offers you a nice new title, without a nice new raise to match?
What’s Holding Back Wages in America?
Bloomberg
America’s labor market is a jigsaw puzzle whose pieces don’t quite fit together.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Fresno middle school inspiring young girls with inspirational sayings
ABC30
Inspirational messages are popping up in a unique spot on a Fresno middle school. Powerful messages with sayings like "you are a strong girl never ever forget that" are the newest decorations that can be found in the girl's locker room at Computech Middle School.
Drink up: Central Unified schools add filtered water filling stations
ABC30
Kids on the playground need to rehydrate after working up a good sweat. At Northwest Fresno's Saroyan Elementary, students have a new filtered water filling station to help with rehydration.
New elementary school in Madera County
ABC30
You can't miss the construction of new roads and homes along Highway 41 in Madera County north of Avenue 14. Right in the middle of what will be the new community of "Tesoro Viejo" sits the new Hillside Elementary School.
Lemoore MIQ school gets new principal, sports area
Hanford Sentinel
When students stepped on campus this new school year at Mary Immaculate Queen School in Lemoore, they were greeted by new Principal Rachael Manzo.
Increased enrollment at Hanford high schools
Hanford Sentinel
This year Sierra Pacific High School had an increase in students enrolled so far this year as did Hanford High and Hanford West High schools. In total, the three high schools have an increased enrollment of 3,807 students.
CUSD introduces new administrators
Clovis Roundup
Clovis Unified introduced four new administrators at its board meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 15.
Education Secretary Considers Using Federal Funds to Arm Schools
New York Times
The Education Department is considering whether to allow states to use federal funding to purchase guns for educators, according to multiple people with knowledge of the plan.
A Conversation with Candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Public Policy Institute of California
California educates more than 6 million children in its K–12 public schools, and education is by far the largest area of state spending.
Higher Ed:
Accepting Fall Applications for Valley Legislative Intern Scholar Program - Deadline Sept. 7th
The Maddy Institute
The Maddy Scholar Intern Program’s goal is to prepare the next generation of political, governmental, business, non-profit leaders for the San Joaquin Valley through internship opportunities in local, state and federal government offices in Washington, D.C., Sacramento and throughout the region.
UC Merced students have a lot to look forward at the start of fall semester
ABC30
Thanks to a new expansion more than 700 other students can now live at the university, but that's not the only new addition to campus. A new dining hall can now accommodate 600 people and a new cafeteria can feed them. An additional 20 classrooms were also added.
How Fresno State Helped Students Save $1 Million on Books
GV Wire
As part of the California State University system’s AL$ effort, campus programs are funded by grants from the Chancellor’s Office and Assembly Bill 7989. The goal of AL$ at Fresno State is to have faculty reduce costs for course materials by at least 30 percent.
California to community colleges: graduate more students or lose your funding
Los Angeles Times
California’s politicians and educators are getting serious about how to solve an immense and vexing problem — the graduation rate at the community colleges.
Feds Say Marketplace Will Expose Bad Colleges, But States Find It’s Not So Easy
PEW Trusts
Post-college salary data isn’t reaching students who could benefit most.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
State tries to fix ‘glitches’ in camp reservation system
San Francisco Chronicle
Latching onto a good campsite in California is going to get a little easier, now that the state believes it has fixed an online reservation system that allowed campers to game the system.
Some counties reject U.S. policy of killing predators
San Francisco Chronicle
A growing number of Northern California counties where hunting and ranching predominate are cutting ties with the federal agency that traps and kills predatory animals
The Green Economy: Is California’s bid to lead the world on climate solutions paying off at home?
CALmatters
It was Arnold Schwarzenegger at his most persuasive: The then-California governor laid out an audacious vision, borrowed from legislators, of the Golden State leading the world in fighting the damaging effects of climate change.
Public Health vs. Private Property in War on Lead
PEW Trusts
Utilities want lead pipes gone, but many times their power stops at the curb.
Energy:
Wonderful suing now-defunct Kern County company for overcharging jet fuel
Bakersfield Californian
Wonderful Citrus Holdings is suing a now-defunct Kern County company that overcharged it for nearly $200,000 in jet fuel.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Health officials warning residents of possible measles exposure in Fresno County
ABC30
The Fresno County Department of Public Health is warning residents that a person with measles may have exposed others while visiting Fresno County.
See Also:
● Fresno County warned of possible measles exposure Business Journal
● Measles Exposure At Harris Ranch Prompts Public Health Warning KMJ
How UCD research of rare genetic mutation could unlock clues to Alzheimer’s, cancer
Sacramento Bee
Medical researchers know the enemy that 12-year-old Jordan Lang and at least 66 other children are confronting. It’s a gene mutation that also has been linked to autism, Alzheimer’s disease and even cancer.
Why Prop 11 protects public safety
San Diego Union-Tribune
Prop 11, which will be on California’s November general election ballot, will allow private EMTs and paramedics to continue providing patients with quick life-saving medical care when it is needed most.
See Also:
● Why passing Prop 11 puts ambulance workers at risk San Diego Union-Tribune
Returns on Recovery: Expanding county substance abuse services benefits community over long term
CAFWD
San Bernardino County residents have access to wider array of services to treat substance use disorders thanks to the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS), which began implementation in March. Known as the Medi-Cal 1115 waiver, the system is part of the California Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.
Keeping score at home? Soda loses, tobacco wins
CalMatters
Lawmakers voted Wednesday to require fast food joints to offer milk or water as the primary drink in kids’ meals, rather than default to soda or other sugary drinks.
Human Services:
70% of Americans support Medicare for all in new poll
The Hill
A vast majority -- 70 percent -- of Americans in a new poll supports Medicare for all, also known as a single-payer health-care system.
IMMIGRATION
People begin the path to citizenship at FIRM
Fresno Bee
People begin the path to citizenship in classes at Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries, which works with ethnic communities from Laos, Cambodia and Syria. Fears regarding immigration policies puts some on the fast track to citizenship.
Immigration Attorneys Raise Concerns About U Visa Policy Changes
Valley Public Radio
A U visa is an option offered to undocumented immigrants who have been victims of violent crimes. The program was designed to help law enforcement catch criminals and can be a pathway to citizenship for immigrants. Although, federal changes and Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence at local courthouses could threaten the program.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Report: Bakersfield could use more parks
Bakersfield Californian
What do Memphis, Oklahoma City and Phoenix all have in common with Bakersfield?
Housing:
Housing crisis defined: Stanislaus lacks 20,000 rentals for the poor, report says
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County needs nearly 20,000 more apartments and other affordable housing to meet the needs of its low-income renters, according to a California Housing Partnership Corp. report issued Wednesday.
U.S. New-Home Sales Dropped in June
Wall Street Journal
U.S. new-home sales fell in June to the weakest pace in eight months, the latest evidence that the housing market is cooling.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Soaring overtime fattens paychecks of Valley cops and firefighters. But at a cost
Fresno Bee
California cities and counties have too few cops and too many wildfires to get a handle on their soaring overtime budgets. That’s how they explain the $3.7 billion they spent collectively on overtime last year, a 60 percent increase from the $2.3 billion they shelled out for overtime in 2012.
See also
● Soaring overtime fattens paychecks of California cops and firefighters. But at a cost The Sacramento Bee
California tax agency gives businesses access to the wrong accounts
Fresno Bee
The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration on Aug. 21, 2018, accidentally exposed confidential account information for dozens of companies in email messages to accountants and other business owners.
Lawmakers kill a proposed tax deduction for California union members
Sacramento Bee
A bill that would have given California union members a break on their state income taxes isn’t going to make it this year.
See also:
● Treasury Readies Its Punch Back at Blue States’ Workarounds on Tax Deduction Cap Wall Street Journal
When to Ignore the Crowd and Shun a Roth IRA
Wall Street Journal
Switching your traditional individual retirement account to a Roth IRA is often a terrific tax strategy—except when it’s a terrible one.
TRANSPORTATION
Funding approved for hundreds of transportation infrastructure, rail and local projects
Hanford Sentinel
Caltrans announced that the California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved funding for more than 100 transportation projects funded entirely or at least partly by $690 million from SB 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Air District to provide rebates for old vehicle replacement to qualifying individuals
Bakersfield Californian
The San Joaquin Valley Air District is providing money for replacements of 1999 or older high-polluting vehicles. The rebates are limited to those who meet the income and vehicle requirements
Former Greyhound site focusing on people 'on the go'
Recordnet
The Greyhound depot that once was located on Center Street finally was demolished in early August, and motorists will see a new development being built in the coming weeks.
California lawmakers consider proposal to bring thousands of homes to BART stations
San Jose Mercury News
In another attempt to ease the housing crisis gripping the Bay Area, a state proposal to turn some of BART’s vast parking lots into bustling developments with thousands of new homes has pitted housing and business interests against cities and others worried about giving the transit agency new land-use powers.
Plan for High Speed Rail to be selected as early as 2019
Morgan Hill Times
A plan to run the High Speed Rail parallel to U.S. 101 is one of three alternatives proposed for the “San Jose to Merced project section.”
See also:
● EDITORIAL: Time for Gavin Newsom to get real on bullet train San Diego Union-Tribune
The Scooting Life: Are Electric Scooters Worth the Trouble?
The New Yorker
Let’s get one thing out of the way: battery-powered scooters, which, in recent months, have littered the sidewalks of American cities, are fantastically ugly
Driverless-Car Legislation Is Unsafe at This Speed
The Wall Street Journal
In my 1965 book, “Unsafe at Any Speed,” I strongly urged auto companies to accelerate their adoption of proven lifesaving technologies.
WATER
Clean water is near for Hillview Water Company customers in Oakhurst
Sierra Star
Hillview Water Company customers in Oakhurst can finally expect clean tap water this fall, 20 years after the water’s contamination was discovered by the company.
Historic, tragic Dennett Dam removed as part of plan to restore river in Modesto
Modesto Bee
Crews removed the Dennett Dam from the Tuolumne River, where it had become a dangerous hazard and an eyesore near Modesto’s Ninth Street Bridge.
Water hearings, sometimes contentious, end with hope for agreement between farms, fish
Modesto Bee
Two days of hearings before the State Water Resources Control Board created some hope of voluntary agreements with local irrigation districts, which are under pressure to release more water in rivers to help salmon.
See also:
● EDITORIAL: Letting California's rivers run isn't a 'water grab' Los Angeles Times
California’s rivers are under assault by feds, and the state isn’t helping much
The Sacramento Bee
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump continued gas-lighting the public in a Twitter rant about “bad environmental laws” that supposedly limit water available to fight California’s wildfires. Fire officials immediately rejected the claim.
North America hasn’t had a megadrought in recorded history. It could be overdue
Quartz
Water in the North American Southwest is governed by chaos. A bad drought happens roughly twice a century, but there seems to be no discernable pattern beyond that.
“Xtra”
‘Greek for the weekend.’ Orthodox church marks 58th year of its annual food festival
Fresno Bee
For those new to Fresno, or just not paying attention, Greek Fest has earned a spot as one of Fresno’s longest-running — if not most popular — cultural events.
Madera Fair gearing up for 4-day menu of entertainment
Madera Tribune
Madera Fair is preparing for another entertainment weekend, beginning Sept. 6 and ending Sept. 9. The free festival concerts, introduced in 2017, are back with a lively entertainment line-up for 2018.
Never mind Shoreline. Modesto has a new amphitheater with big plans for big acts
Modesto Bee
The Hollywood Bowl, Shoreline Amphitheatre and now The Fruit Yard. After more than 40 years in business, the Modesto restaurant and market way out on Yosemite Avenue is stepping into the outdoor concert business in a big way.
See 'Coco' at free movie night at Artisan Square on Saturday
Bakersfield Californian
Summer is nearly over but Artisan Square Shopping Center had time to squeeze in another outdoor movie night. On Saturday night, the northwest complex will host a free screening of "Coco."
So, friends and @latimes readers: I'm moving to California next month. What books should I read to prepare?