August 26, 2020

26Aug

POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

Still too many COVID-19 cases in county for schools to reopen

Turlock Journal

Stanislaus County still has some progress to go before getting off the state’s county monitoring list and begin re-opening businesses and schools.

See also:

Should Stanislaus Co defy state’s school closure order? Board majority rejects idea

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County supervisors narrowly voted down a motion to defy a state order that keeps schools closed as the county remains a hot spot for COVID-19 illness. Supervisor Terry Withrow’s motion was mostly symbolic because it would be voided by state law if approved, according the county counsel’s opinion.

EDITORIAL: Stanislaus Co leaders must come clean on COVID-19 data before reopening schools

Modesto Bee

Proceed with extreme caution. That’s the only sane approach to the suddenly confusing question of whether elementary schools throughout Stanislaus County should open sooner rather than later.

Central SJ Valley:

Immanuel Schools can stay open for now, court rules

abc30

A Fresno County court has ruled that Immanuel Schools in Reedley can stay open for now, despite being in violation of state and county emergency orders. Judge Tharpe ruled the county hasn’t convinced him yet that Immanuel bringing kids on campus is an immediate threat to the health of people in the county.

See also:

Fresno Unified’s first week back; County Supervisor opposes county lawsuit

Fresno Bee

California  reached 12,000 deaths from the coronavirus this weekend as August becomes the deadliest month for COVID-19 in the central San Joaquin Valley. Health officials on Monday reported 14 more people died of causes related to the disease.

See also:

Fresno police reform commission has recommendations on mental health, use-of-force

Fresno Bee

Fresno’s commission on police reform has begun to float recommendations on use-of-force and other policies in its quest to rethink the Police Department. The commission has been given a 30-day extension on returning with recommendations that will be voted upon by the Fresno City Council. Councilmember Miguel Arias confirmed the extension on Monday.

See also:

She’s ‘breaking the law’ to help Fresno’s homeless. Will the government stop her?

Fresno Bee

When Alejandra Hernandez arrived at the Dream Camp on Aug. 9, she dropped to her knees and kissed the dirt. The single mother of three boys lost her job and her home in June over COVID-19. They tried sleeping in their truck on Santa Clara Street, the only place in Fresno untouched by the city’s homeless task force during the coronavirus pandemic.

Millionaire ‘fat cats’ focus of coalition’s downtown Fresno caravan

Fresno Bee

Commit To Equity/SEIU coalition held a caravan to urge Assemblyman Dr. Joaquin Arambula and Senator Melissa Hurtado to support tax legislation against millionaires Monday evening, Aug. 24, 2020 in Fresno.

COVID-19 update: Tiered system coming; report on school waivers, day camps given

Porterville Recorder

“Some positive news.” That’s what Tulare County Health and Human Services Director Tim Lutz said he was glad to report during his weekly report on the status of COVID-19 in the county at the Tulare County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Superintendent apologizes for Pledge of Allegiance incident at Tulare County school

Fresno Bee

A Tulare County school district has apologized for one of its teachers omitting words from the Pledge of Allegiance. A parent at Wilson Elementary School in Dinuba wrote about the omission in a now-deleted social media post. The teacher reportedly left out, “One nation, under God,” while leading the pledge for students on Monday.

Council adopts two resolutions supporting police department

Turlock Journal

The Turlock City Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday to adopt two separate resolutions in support of the Turlock Police Department. Mayor Amy Bublak, a retired law enforcement officer, was the lone dissenting vote.

A flood of political ads is hitting the air in California  21st Congressional District. Who’s paying for them?

Fresno Bee

If you’re living south of Fresno, in California ’s 21st congressional district, prepare for a flood of political advertisements. Political strategists have known for months that the race between Rep. TJ Cox, D-Fresno, and former Rep. David Valadao, a Republican from Hanford, would be one of the biggest battlegrounds in the country.

South SJ Valley:

Kern County public health reports 11 new COVID-19 deaths, 286 additional cases

Bakersfield California ornian

Kern County reported 11 new deaths and 286 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, according to the Kern County Public Health Services website. Total cases of COVID-19 now stand at 28,530 with 251 confirmed deaths. County data shows that 11,516 of those cases have recovered or are presumed to have recovered, while 16,532 individuals are recuperating at home.

Supervisors to consider final adjustments to $3.1 billion budget

Bakersfield California ornian

This fiscal year’s final recommended budget to be considered by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday starts off with a warning fit for the uncertainty of the time period.

Kern County Public Works Department announces drive-up hazardous waste events for September

Bakersfield California ornian

The Kern County Public Works Department has announced the dates and locations for their residential hazardous waste collection events for the month of September. Residents can drive up and drop off their hazardous waste at these events for no charge, according to a release from the department. No commercial or business waste will be accepted.

Local Republican officials, encouraged by RNC, look forward to McCarthy’s speech

Bakersfield California ornian

Local Republican officials say the party’s national convention has drawn fitting contrasts with last week’s Democratic conference and that they’re looking forward to a speech Thursday from the gathering’s chairman, Bakersfield native and Minority Leader of the House Kevin McCarthy.

State:

Gov. Newsom details how counties can get kids back into schools

Modesto Bee

At a news conference on Aug. 24, 2020, California  Governor Gavin Newsom described how counties across the state can get students back into schools for in-person learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.

See also:

California  counties stuck in limbo as they wait for Newsom’s reopening rules

Los Angeles Times

Gov. Gavin Newsom appeared to deliver welcome news on Monday to counties that have slowed the spread of coronavirus and been removed from the state’s watchlist only to find themselves in limbo as they await his long-promised reopening rules.

Auditor: California ’s coronavirus spending at ‘high risk’

Fresno Bee

California  is getting so much money from the federal government because of the coronavirus — more than $71 billion — that the state’s auditor on Tuesday warned Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration it is at high risk of waste, fraud and abuse.

See also:

California  unemployment: State gets federal funds to pay additional $300 per week in benefits

abc30

Millions of out-of-work California ns will soon be able to receive an additional $300 in unemployment benefits. The announcement comes after the federal government approved the state’s application for funding for the Lost Wages Assistance Program.

Walters: Politics, snafus stall jobless benefits

CalMatters

The good news for millions of out-of-work California  workers is that the federal government is offering them an additional $300 per week in unemployment insurance benefits.

California  state workers affected by fires may be eligible for paid time off

Sacramento Bee

California  state workers affected by the wildfires may be eligible to take paid time off, the state Human Resources Department announced this week. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s emergency order related to fires and extreme weather conditions qualifies some workers for administrative time off, CalHR Department Director Eraina Ortega said in a Tuesday email to department HR officers.

Newsom endorses affirmative action, stays silent on property tax, gig economy measures

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday officially endorsed several ballot measures related to race and criminal justice, but did not weigh in on other high-profile measures to increase business property taxes and allow gig-economy companies to treat drivers as independent contractors.

See also:

California  Lawmakers Are Gearing Up To Debate Police Reforms. Police Unions Want More Time For Vetting.

Capital Public Radio

George Floyd’s death by the knee of a Minnesota police officer on Memorial Day spurred momentum for a slew of police reform bills 2,000 miles away in the California  Legislature. Over the summer, lawmakers unveiled more than a dozen police reform proposals that range from banning various chokeholds to stripping “bad apple” cops of their badges for life.

See also

Latino Victory backs Alex Padilla for possible appointment to Harris’ Senate seat

Politico

Democratic outside group Latino Victory is launching a campaign urging the appointment of Alex Padilla to the Senate if Democrats were to win the White House in November, leaving vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ California  seat vacant.

Federal:

New US virus cases fall as masks gain favor but testing lags

Bakersfield California ornian

The number of Americans newly diagnosed with the coronavirus is falling — a development experts say most likely reflects more mask-wearing but also insufficient testing — even as the disease continues to claim nearly 1,000 lives in the U.S. each day.

Trump’s Fights Are Their Fights. They Have His Back Unapologetically.

MSN

DiAnna Schenkel is a law school graduate who once ran on the Democratic ticket for her city council. She voted twice for Barack Obama. A 59-year-old suburbanite in North Carolina, she worries about her Black son-in-law being racially profiled by the police, pulled over and beaten or worse.

See also:

Republicans Blast Democrats As Socialists. Here’s What Socialism Is

NPR

A viewer watching the Republican National Convention on Monday night could be forgiven for thinking that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were not the Democratic Party’s presidential and vice presidential nominees but were leading a different ticket altogether.

Commentary: Why Trump’s attack on USPS is an attack on the Constitution, democracy and racial equality

Brookings

President Donald Trump’s aim to dismantle the United States Postal Service (USPS) to prevent voting by mail is not only an attack on fair and equitable voting and the democratic process. It is also an attack on the Constitution, U.S. veterans, and racial equality.

How Congress Could Get Some of Its Power Back

Lawfare

One lesson from Congress’s experience with the Trump administration is that the informational imbalance between Congress and the executive branch means that a president who does not wish to comply with a congressional mandate can, often, try to run out the clock.

Cities risk losing out on trillions in federal aid as census deadline looms

Politico

America’s mayors are scrambling to get every dollar they can as coronavirus pummels local budgets, and they risk losing even more if they can’t get historically undercounted communities to participate in the census, whose deadline is fast approaching.

Coronavirus Trackers:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California 

Covid19.ca.gov

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 Fin Times

●     Coronavirus in California  by the numbers CalMatters

Elections 2020:

Voting Information Center

2020 US Election

Up-to-date info and official resources to help you prepare for the general election

’More conservative than you might think’: Nearly a third of California  Latinos support Trump

Modesto Bee

As President Donald Trump showcases Latino voices at the Republican National convention this week, nearly a third of California  Latinos say they support his re-election. An August UC Berkeley poll found about 63% of Latinos said they favored Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, while 30% said they backed Trump.

A Heavy Emphasis on Voices for Inclusion and Tolerance at the RNC

National Review

This convention has forefronted a lot of speakers and voices appealing to the American values of tolerance, inclusion, and welcoming, including a naturalization ceremony; Melania Trump, Nikki Haley, and Cuban immigrant Maximo Alvarez talking movingly about theirs and their families’ immigrant stories; and a host of African-American speakers, such as Tim Scott, Herschel Walker, and Daniel Cameron.

See also:

Trump & Biden agree on one thing: This election is about the person more than the policy

Los Angeles Times

For all their differences, Donald Trump and Joe Biden share a similar view of the 2020 election: It’s more a choice between two men than between competing agendas. “Character is on the ballot,” Biden says often. His acceptance speech last week focused far more on the kind of person he is than on what he would do as president.

Trump vs. Biden: Comparing their policies on immigration, climate, healthcare and more

Los Angeles Times

A look at where President Trump and Joe Biden stand on key issues in the 2020 election, including immigration, racial justice, climate and healthcare.

Kamala Harris Says She ‘Took On The Big Banks’ As California  Atty. General. Did She Go Far Enough?

PolitiFact

During her speech accepting the nomination to be Joe Biden’s running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris didn’t spend much time — at all — detailing her record as a California  prosecutor.

See also:

Biden is already forming a government. Here’s what his Cabinet could look like.

Politico

Sherrod Brown, the progressive senator from Ohio, says he’s talking with the Biden campaign about “where he needs to look and who he needs to look at” as he begins to form a potential administration. Other people in positions of power, both inside and outside government, are engaged in similar conversations.

Newsom endorses propositions for first time

CalMatters

Newsom took a position Tuesday on four propositions, sharing for the first time his stance on some of the measures on California ’s November ballot in a sign that campaign season is ramping up.

Opinion: Mail-In Voting Could Deliver Chaos

Wall Street Journal

If the 2000 election provoked a constitutional crisis, the 2020 one is flirting with disaster. Debate over voting by mail has focused mostly on the potential for fraud and logistical difficulties. But there are also legal problems with it, which carry the seeds of chaos before Inauguration Day and continuing instability after.

Other:

Valley Voices: Racism in America was aided by critical court rulings that still impact the nation

Fresno Bee

Between 1865 and 1875, the nation enacted constitutional amendments and far-reaching civil rights laws to protect the rights of Black slaves freed as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation issued during the Civil War. But those protections were then weakened by a series of Supreme Court rulings issued over 24 years.

Commentary: When it comes to COVID-19, don’t let the good news become the bad news

CalMatters

There is good COVID-19 news, and some potential bad news. In many counties, including LA, indicators of how we are handling the COVID-19 virus indicate that the state is doing better. Daily deaths, hospitalizations and infection rates are trending down.

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

Sunday, August 30, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Policing the Police” – Guests: Laurel Rosenhall with CALmatters, Ron Lawrence with California  Police Chiefs Association and Alice Hoffman with California  Chapter – NCAAP. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, August 30, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: “Police Use of Deadly Force: Valley Perspectives” – Guests: Clovis Police Chief Curt Fleming and Sandra Celedon is the Pres. & CEO of Fresno Building Health Communities. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Smoke from California  wildfires could sour grapes awaiting harvest, wineries say

Modesto Bee

While hundreds of lightning-sparked wildfires burning in California  seem to have spared wineries so far, vintners say smoke and evacuations still pose a risk the fall wine harvest. “I think there’s a better chance than not that we make almost no wine this year,” said Noah Dorrance of Reeve Wines in Healdsburg in Sonoma County, The San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Food Banks Face Even More Challenges As California  Wildfires Increase Demand, Hinder Delivery

Capital Public Radio

When the Loyalton fire forced Interstate 70 to close in Sierra County in mid-August, Tammy Muldoon started to plan. She runs the High Sierra Family Resource Center, which distributes food to the community twice a month. But the highway closure kept the regular delivery from the Food Bank of Northern Nevada from making it to town. Muldoon had to cancel the mid-month food distribution in August.

Fresno, Tulare Counties Declare Local Emergencies After Dead Livestock Accumulate Due To Heatwave

VPR

Fresno and Tulare Counties declared local emergencies after rendering plant Baker Commodities in Kerman stopped accepting livestock carcasses. Jimmy Andreoli, a spokesman with the company, says it has reached its limit in how many animals it can process according to its permit with the state Air Resources Board. If it surpasses that limit, it could be fined.

Heat, Smoke and Covid Are Battering the Workers Who Feed America

New York Times

Work began in the dark. At 4 a.m., Briseida Flores could make out a fire burning in the distance. Floodlights illuminated the fields. And shoulder to shoulder with dozens of others, Ms. Flores pushed into the rows of corn. Swiftly, they plucked. One after the other. First under the lights, then by the first rays of daylight.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Fresno bakery workers face federal charges for allegedly defrauding food program

Fresno Bee

Two Fresno bakery workers have been indicted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for allegedly allowing public assistance recipients to exchange their food benefits for cash. Evaristo Gomez and Maria Munoz, employees at El Ranchito Bakery in central Fresno, face charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, wire fraud and unauthorized use and possession of benefits.

Teva Pharmaceutical’s U.S. Unit Indicted on Price-Fixing Charges

Wall Street Journal

The U.S. business of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. was indicted Tuesday on charges the generic drugmaker fixed prices on cholesterol medication and other drugs. The Justice Department’s antitrust division brought the case in a Pennsylvania federal court, alleging Teva Pharmaceuticals USA engaged in anticompetitive conduct that resulted in at least $350 million in overcharges to consumers.

Public Safety:

Fresno police reform commission has recommendations on mental health, use-of-force

Fresno Bee

Fresno’s commission on police reform has begun to float recommendations on use-of-force and other policies in its quest to rethink the Police Department. The commission has been given a 30-day extension on returning with recommendations that will be voted upon by the Fresno City Council. Councilmember Miguel Arias confirmed the extension on Monday.

See also:

Fresno man serving 10-years for violent crime getting out of prison early, due to COVID-19

Fresno Bee

A Fresno man convicted of hurling a racial slur and using a sword, threatening to kill a Black man, is getting out of prison after serving less than half of his sentence. The development has angered Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp, who called it a “miscarriage of justice.”

Floyd’s death sparks new activism among communities of color

Bakersfield California ornian

When Washington, D.C.’s NFL team dropped the offensive reference to Native Americans from its name last month after decades of resistance, activist Frances Danger knew why: the Black Lives Matter movement. Danger said the change would never have happened without the massive marches to protest the death of an African American man under the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis.

Opinion: Especially for neglected children, school is essential in Stanislaus County

Modesto Bee

On a spring day in French Camp, Mary Ellen was called back when her third-grade peers exited for recess. Her teacher quietly retrieved a roll of paper towels from the cabinet. She tore off a few sheets and soaked them in the sink. Then she walked over to a timid, scrawny, dirty, child and gently wiped the dirt from the young girl’s face and arms.

Fire:

LNU Lightning Complex growing slowly as California  weather improves, Cal Fire says

Fresno Bee

Fire crews are achieving better containment and growth is slowing on the LNU Lightning Complex, one of the two largest among several hundred wildfires that have sparked across California  in the past week and a half amid widespread thunderstorms, state fire officials said Tuesday morning.

See also:

As fires raged, county officials struggled with ‘confusing’ emergency alert systems

Los Angeles Times

In Napa County, a wildfire alert meant for cellphones would not connect because of a coding error. In Sonoma County, similar alerts were sent to areas that required no evacuation and linked to an evacuation map that was a year old.

From brigades to Bud Light

CalMatters

As fires continue to rage across the state, stretching understaffed firefighting crews to the limit, some California ns are taking matters into their own hands and forming makeshift brigades to protect their communities.

California  Fires: Want to Control Blazes? Start More, Experts Say

New York Times

As California ornians brace for more bad news about what is already shaping up to be one of the state’s most intense fire seasons ever, and as we watch as firefighting capacity is stretched thin, I keep coming back to one question: What is California ornia supposed to do?

ECONOMY/JOBS

Economy:

$1 Million COVID-19 Relief Fund

Wonderful Community Grants

Now, more than ever, The Wonderful Company is focused on the health and well-being of Central Valley communities. That is why we have decided to deploy our annual Wonderful Community Grants program to support Central Valley organizations that have been impacted by the coronavirus.

Auditor: California ’s coronavirus spending at ‘high risk’

Fresno Bee

California  is getting so much money from the federal government because of the coronavirus — more than $71 billion — that the state’s auditor on Tuesday warned Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration it is at high risk of waste, fraud and abuse.

See also:

New bill would help supply California  cities with PPE after COVID-19 pandemic

abc30

Fresno was one of 11 California  cities where healthcare workers honked horns and rallied behind Senate Bill 275, which would require the state to build up a 90-day supply of PPE after we get through the current crisis. When the coronavirus began its spread, masks and other protective equipments were often difficult to find.

From Cars To Wood To Appliances, Consumer Goods In Short Supply

Business Journal

Even as consumer purchasing has reached levels never seen before, there lies a problem below the surface — having the inventory to meet demand. Being at home has redirected people’s budgeting priorities. And extra consumer cash — whether it is unemployment money or unspent money from not going out — has found its way to retailers.

SBA Accused of Skirting Financial Disclosure Rule

Wall Street Journal

A watchdog panel of government inspectors general is asking the Small Business Administration to provide the names of borrowers who received Paycheck Protection Program loans of $25,000 and up, citing a 2006 law that requires their disclosure.

Covid Crisis Drives Historic Drop in Global Trade

Wall Street Journal

Global trade flows collapsed in the spring, marking the largest fall in two decades, as coronavirus lockdowns disrupted air and sea transport and dealt a blow to the demand for many consumer and investment goods.

Jobs:

California  legislators cut state workers’ pay. Just 5 of 120 requested cuts for themselves

Fresno Bee

Five California  lawmakers requested pay cuts for themselves similar to those they imposed on state government workers, according to the State Controller’s Office. The 120-member Legislature approved a budget in June that reduced most state workers’ pay to help close the projected $54 billion budget deficit caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

California  unemployment: State gets federal funds to pay additional $300 per week in benefits

abc30

Millions of out-of-work California ns will soon be able to receive an additional $300 in unemployment benefits. The announcement comes after the federal government approved the state’s application for funding for the Lost Wages Assistance Program.

Walters: Politics, snafus stall jobless benefits

CalMatters

The good news for millions of out-of-work California  workers is that the federal government is offering them an additional $300 per week in unemployment insurance benefits.

California  unemployment call centers need 2 more months to finish COVID-19 expansion

Sacramento Bee

California ’s embattled unemployment agency will combine its call centers, which should make it much easier for claimants to get help with more personal, often vexing questions — but not until October.

California  coronavirus workers’ comp claims soar

CalMatters

More than 35,000 California ns have filed COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims since the pandemic began, translating to potentially more than $2 billion in costs for employers and their insurers, CalMatters’ Barbara Feder Ostrov reports.

EDUCATION

K-12:

Immanuel Schools can stay open for now, court rules

abc30

A Fresno County court has ruled that Immanuel Schools in Reedley can stay open for now, despite being in violation of state and county emergency orders. Judge Tharpe ruled the county hasn’t convinced him yet that Immanuel bringing kids on campus is an immediate threat to the health of people in the county.

See also:

Christian school in Merced holds in-person classes, despite Gov. Newsom’s COVID-19 order

Fresno Bee

A Merced private school on Monday resumed in-person classes, despite orders by Merced County health officials and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Stone Ridge Christian Schools opened its doors to students with a sign that read “Welcome Back Knights,” the school’s mascot, despite Merced County being on a watch list with more than 30 other counties where the coronavirus has continued to spread.

How’s online learning working in Fresno schools so far? Here are our first clues

Fresno Bee

Compared to the previous year, thousands of more Fresno Unified School District students missed class during the first week of distance learning. “It absolutely has not been perfect,” Superintendent Bob Nelson said in a video posted to the district’s Facebook page. “Some of you know there’s some crazy stories to tell about connectivity and other issues, but you are crushing it.”

Fresno’s Learning Curve: Navigating Education Access in a Pandemic

Fresno Bee

Education has changed for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19. When schools first shuttered in March, many people hoped the virus would be contained by summer. But that hasn’t happened, and distance learning is now continuing into the fall.

Madera County trying to stop private school bringing kids on campus

abc30

The Madera County Public Health Department is trying to stop a private school from bringing kids on campus for school because of the coronavirus emergency orders. Crossroads Christian School brought kids back on campus last week.

Superintendent apologizes for Pledge of Allegiance incident at Tulare County school

Fresno Bee

A Tulare County school district has apologized for one of its teachers omitting words from the Pledge of Allegiance. A parent at Wilson Elementary School in Dinuba wrote about the omission in a now-deleted social media post. The teacher reportedly left out, “One nation, under God,” while leading the pledge for students on Monday.

California  moves to stop excessive punishment of Black and disabled students at three districts

Los Angeles Times

Three school districts in Barstow and Oroville discriminated against Black students and students with disabilities by excessively disciplining them, prompting the state to impose five-year corrective plans, California  Atty. General Xavier Becerra said Tuesday.

See also:

Some students can return to school, state says

CalMatters

Students with disabilities, those who are homeless, English language learners and students at risk of abuse or neglect can return to school in small groups for in-person learning — even in counties on the state’s coronavirus watch listunder guidelines the state Department of Public Health released Tuesday.

On or off? California  schools weigh webcam concerns during distance learning

EdSource

As school districts across California  move forward with distance learning, many are navigating the complicated realities of this year’s essential back-to-school item: webcams.

Laptop Shortage Hits U.S. Schools as Thousands Face Online Learning Without Device

Wall Street Journal

Tens of thousands of students across the U.S. are facing the prospect of starting school over the coming weeks without the computers needed for remote classes. In districts across the country, including in Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Missouri, Nevada and Alabama, school leaders purchased scores of devices months ago to prepare for at-home schooling after struggling to manage through closures during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.

EDITORIAL: Visalia school labeled a ‘day camp’ to dodge COVID-19 rules. Why officials deserve an F

Fresno Bee

If it was an assignment for a problem-solving class, the administrators at Central Valley Christian Schools in Visalia might earn an A. Instead of calling themselves a school, they are now referring to their program as “day camp” so they can get around the state’s closure order affecting schools in Tulare County.

EDITORIAL: Another loss for Betsy DeVos, another win for students

Los Angeles Times

U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been a curiously enduring member of President Trump’s Cabinet. Maybe it’s because he’s not all that interested in education — he seldom mentions it beyond demanding that all students return to campus full time, no matter what experts on the coronavirus say.

Higher Ed:

See Where Money Magazine Ranks Fresno State Among Most Transformative Colleges In U.S.

Fresno State News

Ali Abdullah is a biology major at Fresno State with dreams of going to medical school to become a plastic surgeon in the Central Valley, helping those with deformities or emergency reconstruction needs.

43 COVID-19 cases reported at USC, 100 students quarantined

abc30

Just one week into the fall semester, and with most classes online, USC officials say the university is seeing an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases. At least 43 cases have been reported and more than 100 students have been placed in 14-day quarantine.

PC rides again: College begins year virtually

Porterville Recorder

Monday was the beginning of a new semester for Porterville College (PC), and while students aren’t allowed on campus for now, PC President Dr. Claudia Habib is optimistic about the fall semester. PC has changed the way it’s doing things this semester, allowing only essential workers on campus, and have implemented support systems to help students through their classes.

How California  universities welcome students back to campus: testing, contact tracing, few in-person classes

EdSource

Even with most classes being held online, thousands of students across California  will be back on campuses this week, putting months of planning to the test as universities try to reopen safely.

See also:

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

Environment:

Statement: Senate committee releases ambitious new climate report

Environment California 

“The Senate plan released today is a start. To solve the climate crisis, we’ll need bold solutions, including 100 percent renewable energy to power our society and an expedited transition to clean transportation. That’s why we’re calling for all new cars to be electric by 2035, all buses to be electric by 2030, and to double the number of people who travel on foot, bike or public transit by 2030.

Energy:

Lawmakers want to extend California  utility customer fee for wildfire and climate projects

Los Angeles Times

With more than 1 million acres burning in California , state lawmakers are pushing a last-minute proposal that would extend an existing fee on electricity bills to fund $500 million for immediate wildfire response and another $2.5 billion over time for climate resiliency and fire mitigation projects.

In wake of blackouts, advocacy groups call for independent investigation and release of confidential data

San Diego Union-Tribune

Advocacy groups on each side of the country are calling on regulators and prosecutors to intervene in response to rolling blackouts in California  earlier this month. In San Francisco, the Utility Reform Network issued a public plea to state Attorney General Xavier Becerra to launch an investigation into what prompted the California  Independent System Operator, or CAISO, to impose what’s called load-shedding.

Under blackout threat, California  may keep gas power plants state rushed to close

Fox Business

California  may allow four gas plants to continue operating after the state was poised to close them, citing future blackout threats, according to the Los Angeles Times. The four plants located along the California  coast, which use ocean water for cooling purposes, were scheduled to close sometime in the next few years and be replaced by green energy sources as the state approaches its 2030 deadline to use 60 percent green energy by 2030.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Think you had coronavirus early this year? Here’s what top doc says about that

Fresno Bee

Were you severely sick in late 2019 or in January and February with symptoms similar to coronavirus? While many people suspect they may have had COVID-19 before much of California  shuttered in March, Fresno County Interim Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra said it’s unlikely. And, there’s no way to prove it without a time machine.

California  trying to prevent COVID-19 spread among fire evacuees, health secretary says

abc30

The coronavirus pandemic continues to pose a threat to California ns’ health, even as the state becomes focused on another crisis: massive wildfires. Dr. Mark Ghaly, California  Health and Human Service Secretary, held a press conference Tuesday at noon with an update on the state’s COVID-19 response.

Kern County public health reports 11 new COVID-19 deaths, 286 additional cases

Bakersfield California ornian

Kern County reported 11 new deaths and 286 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, according to the Kern County Public Health Services website. Total cases of COVID-19 now stand at 28,530 with 251 confirmed deaths. County data shows that 11,516 of those cases have recovered or are presumed to have recovered, while 16,532 individuals are recuperating at home.

See also:

●     Daily new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations decline Hanford Sentinel

●     COVID-19: Tulare County reports an increase of 314 cases, six more deaths Visalia Times Delta

●     Coronavirus update: Stanislaus deaths reach 232. Positive rate drops again Modesto Bee

●     Coronavirus: California ’s case curve shrinks again. Is it for real this time? Mercury News

Nursing Homes Remain COVID-19 Hotbeds – Virus Update For Aug. 17-21

VPR

California ’s COVID-19 pandemic has evolved tremendously since it began in March, but one thing that hasn’t changed is that residents of skilled nursing facilities remain particularly at risk of severe infection and death. Although COVID-19 cases in skilled nursing facilities account for only 3 percent of the state’s overall caseload, almost 20 percent of the state’s deaths have occurred among these vulnerable residents.

FDA Chief Apologizes For Overstating Plasma Effect On Virus

Business Journal

Responding to an outcry from medical experts, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn on Tuesday apologized for overstating the life-saving benefits of treating COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma.

See also:

Why The Coronavirus Is So ‘Superspready’

VPR

A person with a high viral load walks into a bar. That, according to researchers who study the novel coronavirus, is a recipe for a superspreading event — where one person or gathering leads to an unusually high number of new infections. And that kind of occurrence is increasingly considered a hallmark of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Should you get a flu shot? Pharmacies are ready — here’s what you need to know

Modesto Bee

Public health officials are urging everyone over the age of 6 months to get a flu vaccination amid concerns about a possible second wave of the coronavirus in the fall. Such a surge in COVID-19 cases occurring during a busy flu season could place major strains on health care systems, experts have warned.

Human Services:

Red Cross in need of volunteers, funds to help wildfire evacuees

abc30

California  is experiencing one of the worst wildfire seasons ever. As crews work on the front lines to control the blazes, Red Cross volunteers are helping thousands of evacuees. “We are early in the fire season and we are already seeing a tremendous amount of activity, unheard of amounts of activity,” said Lori Wilson, Executive Director for the Central Valley Red Cross.

Opinion: Kern Project Roomkey will help our most vulnerable homeless population

Bakersfield California ornian

The Housing Authority of the County of Kern, California  Veterans Assistance Foundation and Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative are on the frontlines working to end homelessness in our communities and build a future where every person in Kern County has a permanent place to call home.

IMMIGRATION

ACLU Foundation Files Lawsuit Against City Of Mcfarland Over ‘unlawful’ Approval Of Ice Detention Center, Says City Violated Brown Act

Kern Sol News

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California , with attorney Paul Nicholas Boylan, filed a lawsuit Monday against the city of McFarland and its city council, according to a news release.

Border lines stretch for miles, waits grow to 10 hours in coronavirus crackdown

Los Angeles Times

The latest move by Customs and Border Protection to slow traffic from Mexico into the U.S. has caused border traffic jams stretching for miles and waits exceeding 10 hours for those crossing at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Old racist policies keep hurting these Fresno-area families. Will this make things safer?

Fresno Bee

When the cap of a propane tank blew off and sent fumes into the air four years ago, Melynda Metheney didn’t know what to do. She feared her mother in law’s home in West Goshen, east of Visalia, could blow up due to the gas spill.

‘Derogatory and offensive.’ Tahoe ski resort Squaw Valley to change its name. What we know

Fresno Bee

The Lake Tahoe-area ski resort Squaw Valley has decided to drop the word “squaw” from its name, ownership announced Tuesday, saying the term is “derogatory and offensive” toward Native Americans.

Redwoods survive wildfire at California ‘s oldest state park

Bakersfield California ornian

When a massive wildfire swept through California ’s oldest state park last week it was feared many trees in a grove of old-growth redwoods, some of them 2,000 years old and among the tallest living things on Earth, may finally have succumbed.

Court allows feds to thin forest near Frazier Park

Bakersfield California ornian

A federal judge ruled Thursday in favor of allowing the federal government to proceed with a forest-thinning project in the Frazier Park area that preservationists argued should be delayed until an adequate environmental review can be done.

Housing:

These California  cities are among the best places for US retirees to live, report says

Fresno Bee

California  is home to two of the best places in the country to retire, a new report finds. Walnut Creek and Newport Beach earned top 10 spots in a study of safety, health care access and costs for older adults, according to findings published last week from SmartAsset.

Supervisors approve $5 million for rental and mortgage assistance

Bakersfield California ornian

The Kern County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $5 million for rental and mortgage assistance during their Tuesday meeting, capping off a local effort to aid those who may be struggling with making payments during the coronavirus pandemic.

Low inventory helps drive up Bakersfield home prices

Bakersfield California ornian

In the list of numbers summing up Bakersfield’s single-family home market last month, one figure better than any other explains why buyers are bidding up prices lately. It’s a measure of supply and demand: how long, at the current rate of purchasing, it would take to go through the full inventory of existing homes listed for sale. This “unsold inventory” gauge held at 1½ months in July 2019.

Facing ‘a wave of evictions’, Newsom, California  Democrats debate rent, foreclosure relief

Sacramento Bee

Fabian Ramirez needs more time to catch up on the rent he couldn’t pay when the coronavirus outbreak put him out of work last spring. He’s in the hole by more than $5,000 — a burden for a laborer with a family to feed.

California  has a housing crisis. A bill would allow a duplex on most single-family parcels

Los Angeles Times

The California  Assembly is considering a bill that would require local governments to permit duplexes on parcels now largely restricted to one house, in effect eliminating single-family zoning that dominates in most suburban residential neighborhoods.

PUBLIC FINANCES

Trump wants to end the payroll tax. That could affect your retirement by 2023, feds say

Sacramento Bee

Eliminating the payroll tax — as President Donald Trump has said he wants to do — would have detrimental effects on Social Security, the agency’s chief actuary said this week. The president said during a news conference earlier this month that if he wins re-election he will “terminate” the payroll tax.

Sac may pay people $1,000 to stay home when infected by coronavirus

Sacramento Bee

Dealing with lower-income and hourly workers hit by the coronavirus, Sac County health officials say they are hoping to put together an experimental plan to pay some infected people $1,000 to get them to stay home from work for two weeks to avoid infecting others.

While pandemic has cost millions of jobs, some are actually paying down debt, poll says

Miami Herald

Millions of Americans have lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many of whom have admitted to missing rent payments and other household bills. But despite the financial ruin for some, others have improved their financial situations. One poll revealed that about half of Americans have either saved more money than usual or paid down debt since the pandemic began.

TRANSPORTATION

Everything you need to know about getting tested for the coronavirus to travel

Washington Post

In an email, a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told The Washington Post: “Travel-associated testing is a worthwhile concept under active discussion in the U.S. and internationally to reduce the risk of transportation-associated COVID-19 infection and the translocation of the virus from one location to another.”

California  DMV Is Selling Drivers’ Data to Private Investigators

Vice

The California  Department of Motor Vehicles is selling drivers’ data to private investigators and bail bondsmen, according to an internal DMV document obtained by Motherboard. The document in all lists nearly 98,000 entities that have had access to some form of DMV data, including trucking companies and insurance firms.

WATER

OCWD Receives Grant Funding for Groundwater Replenishment System Expansion Project

California  Water News Daily

The Orange County Water District (OCWD) announced last week they have been awarded $5 million in grants from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Division of Financial Assistance to use in the construction of the District’s Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) Final

Lois Henry: Desert water basin hopes to dive into California  water market

Bakersfield California ornian

If you’ve got water for sale, the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority has $50 million to spend. Or, it will once it starts collecting a controversial, five-year, $2,130-per-acre-foot pumping fee that was approved by the authority last week.

Commentary: Gov. Newsom must clarify his Delta tunnel plan

CalMatters

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently released his Water Resilience Plan, a platform of 142 proposals gathered from state agencies to manage and improve California ’s  water future. The big ticket items are two infrastructure projects: the Delta conveyance tunnel and Sites Reservoir, alongside the Sac River.

Erin Brockovich Says ‘Superman’s Not Coming’ To Save Our Water Supply

VPR

If terrorists poisoned most of the water U.S. citizens consume, the event would take over the news cycle and it would be the only thing we’d talk about until the situation was fixed. Well, the water is being poisoned — except it isn’t coming from terrorists; it’s being done by a variety of factories, companies, and processing plants. So why are they not constantly on the news? 

“Xtra”

Pioneer Days among city fall events canceled

Porterville Recorder

First events in the spring were canceled. Then the cancellations went into the summer. Now the COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on special events in the fall before the fall has even arrived.

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