POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Modesto mayoral candidate, who is subject of city investigation, ends campaign
Modesto Bee
Bert Lippert, who also is the city’s building safety program coordinator, said Wednesday he was no longer a candidate because he is the subject of a city investigation.
Can south Merced get a grocery store? Mayoral candidates speak on that and other issues
Merced Sun-Star
With the official candidate filing deadline passed and the Nov. 3 general election ever-nearing, Merced mayoral candidates on Monday night laid out where they stand on some of the city’s most hot button issues.
Stanislaus deaths rise to 237. County won’t defy state
Modesto Bee
Deaths to COVID-19 in Stanislaus County rose by five to 237 on Tuesday, the Health Services Agency announced. Only 38 new positive tests were reported. Details on age, gender and underlying conditions were not available for the five people who died.
Wildfires, floods and more: Stanislaus County urges residents to register for emergency alerts
Modesto Bee
Last year it was power shutoffs by PG&E during high winds, in the two years prior it was Tuolumne River flooding, and this year it’s the second largest wildfire in state history. Every time there is an emergency, the Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services reminds residents to register to get alerts through the StanAware program.
EDITORIAL: Stanislaus leaders see through Withrow’s bad idea on reopening schools, and reject it
Modesto Bee
You know it’s a bad idea when your own lawyer tells you in front of everyone that what you want to do has absolutely no meaning. That’s the situation Terry Withrow found himself in Tuesday. He was pushing Stanislaus County leaders to embarrass themselves again with another show of defiance against a state COVID order keeping schools closed until it’s safe to open them.
Central SJ Valley:
Washington watchdog hits Cox with complaint over Yosemite trip
The Sun
Rep. TJ Cox’s (D–Fresno) circumventing of a public lottery for vehicle passes to Yosemite for the Fourth of July is, once again, the subject of inquiry in Washington.
Coronavirus updates: Tulare County’s numbers down; Parents rally as school wins in court
Fresno Bee
Nearly 30 more deaths in the central San Joaquin Valley related to the coronavirus were reported by health officials across the six counties on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thirteen deaths were reported in Fresno County on Tuesday; four deaths were counted in Merced County, three in Kings County and one in Madera County.
A flood of political ads is hitting the air in this California 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.
“Dream Camp” gives the homeless a safer alternative from the streets
Fresno Bee
Fresno homeless advocate Dez Martinez set up an encampment under Highway 41, named “Dream Camp” by residents, to give homeless a safer and cleaner alternative to living on the streets.
See Also:
More than 1,000 new people became homeless in the Fresno-area last year – before COVID-19
Fresno Bee
About 1,133 more people are homeless in Fresno and Madera this year, a 45% spike from 2019, according to new numbers announced on Wednesday. Total homelessness in Fresno and Madera grew from 2,508 people in 2019 to 3,641 people in 2020, according to results from January’s point-in-time count — three months before the coronavirus pandemic hit the central San Joaquin Valley and devastated the national economy.
Granite Park controversy: Developer complains to California officials about Fresno mayor
Fresno Bee
A prominent Fresno developer has filed a complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission, saying Mayor Lee Brand and some of his staffers are acting in a conflict of interest over closed-session meetings.
South SJ Valley:
Local Republican officials, encouraged by RNC, look forward to McCarthy’s speech
Bakersfield Californian
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.
Kern County will operate same number of polling sites in November as in past elections
KBAK
Ahead of November, the Kern County Elections Office says they’ll still be operating several polling sites for people to cast their ballots in person despite the fact that every registered voter in the state will be receiving a mail-in ballot.
State:
Coronavirus case cancels California Senate’s daily session
Fresno Bee
A person who works at the California Capitol has tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting the Senate to cancel Wednesday’s session during a critical final week when lawmakers must consider hundreds of measures that face a Monday deadline.
See Also:
- UPDATE: Positive COVID-19 test for senator scrambles plans for California Legislature’s final week Fresno Bee
- California Senate abruptly halts work due to a new COVID-19 case Los Angeles Times
- California GOP lawmakers to take COVID-19 tests, skip floor session after senator’s infection Sacramento Bee
- UPDATE: Positive COVID-19 test for senator scrambles plans for California Legislature’s final week Sacramento Bee
California signs deal to more than double testing capacity
Fresno Bee
California has signed a contract worth up to $1.4 billion with a company to provide a significantly cheaper coronavirus test that will allow the state to eventually more than double the number of people tested to 250,000 per day, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday.
See also:
- California moves to speed COVID-19 test results, cut costs with new lab contract Fresno Bee
- California moves to speed COVID-19 test results, cut costs with new lab contract Modesto Bee
- California could see a quarter-million COVID-19 tests a day under new state plan Los Angeles Times
- California unveils coronavirus testing plan that could speed school, business reopening San Francisco Chronicle
- California signs deal to more than double testing capacity AP News
- ‘Game changer’ in California coronavirus testing to double capacity and speed up results CalMatters
- CA preparing for ‘twindemic’ as flu season approaches, now guarantees COVID-19 results in 24-48 hours abc30
Coronavirus updates: Will improving numbers change California schools’ opening plans?
Sacramento Bee
California has been improving by the numbers in its battle with the coronavirus pandemic but is facing new, impending challenges as autumn arrives. The nation’s most populous state will grapple with more schools beginning their academic years, as well as the start of flu season, as the calendar flips to the fall months.
California Lawmakers Propose Last-Minute Bill Providing Funds For Fighting Wildfires
Capital Public Radio
Facing another catastrophic wildfire season, state lawmakers are proposing last-minute legislation to tap into a utility-bill fee to free up $500 million for training firefighters and other immediate steps.
California officials at odds with CDC over looser COVID-19 testing and travel protocols
Los Angeles Times
New guidance on COVID-19 testing and travel issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention drew strong pushback from California officials Wednesday. The CDC is no longer recommending a 14-day quarantine for travelers.
See also:
- CDC’s Changed Testing Guidelines Could Lead To Less Testing, Experts Fear Valley Public Radio
‘Race does matter’: Why Latino advocates are pushing for affirmative action in California
Sacramento Bee
For the first time, Latinos represent the largest ethnic group among freshmen admitted to the University of California system this year. The milestone comes 25 years after California passed Proposition 209, which among other provisions banned consideration of race or ethnicity in public education.
Viewpoints: California Legislature must act to decertify police officers who abuse power or kill
Sacramento Bee
Every time I hear of another police killing, I start bracing for the wave of emotions. I know the sense of loss these families feel because I feel it, too. I have felt it everyday since my brother, Michael Barrera, was killed by police officers in February 2017 in our hometown of Woodland.
Walters: Semi-secret ‘trailer bills’ pop up
CalMatters
The California Legislature’s budget “trailer bills” have morphed into vehicles to make major policy decrees outside of the usual legislative process.
See also:
LA Times
Gov. Gavin Newsom has been keeping barely one step ahead of being trampled by rampaging disasters. He has survived on energy and agility — and hasn’t frozen like the proverbial deer in headlights.
Opinion: California, We Can’t Go On Like This
New York Times
What is California’s fundamental trouble? Neither socialism nor Trumpian neglect and incompetence, but something more elemental to life in the Golden State: A refusal by many Californians to live sustainably and inclusively, to give up a little bit of their own convenience for the collective good.
EDITORIAL: California’s Democratic and Republican legislators dodge pay cuts, unite in hypocrisy
Sacramento Bee
In May, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California State Legislature forced the vast majority of the state’s 236,000 employees to take a 9.23% pay cut starting in July. It wasn’t voluntary. California has a $54 billion budget shortfall because of the devastating economic effects of COVID-19, making cuts necessary.
Federal:
Cities: Census ending early so counting is on Trump’s watch
Fresno Bee
The U.S. Census Bureau is ending the 2020 head count of every U.S. resident early by a month so that the process for calculating the number of people used for redrawing congressional districts takes place on President Donald Trump’s watch, according to court filings asking a judge to block the shortened schedule.
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
- Coronavirus tracker in Fresno Fresno Bee
- 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:
Trump’s convention gives platform to some with fringe views
Bakersfield Californian
An advocate of “household voting” in which husbands get the final say. A woman who has argued that school sex ed programs are “grooming” children to be sexualized by predators like Jeffrey Epstein. A candidate who has peddled in racist tropes and bizarre QAnon conspiracy theories.
See also:
- Donald Trump Presides Over GOP Remade in His Image Wall Street Journal
- It’s a different type of GOP convention, but California Republicans say it’s working San Francisco Chronicle
Pence Headlines as Republican Convention Focuses on Military, Law Enforcement
Wall Street Journal
Vice President Mike Pence hailed President Trump’s support for law enforcement during what he called a “time of testing” spurred by recent protests against police shootings and the coronavirus pandemic, as he accepted the Republican Party’s vice-presidential nomination Wednesday.
See also:
- Five takeaways from the third night of the RNC LA Times
- Fact-checking Mike Pence, night 3 of the 2020 RNC PolitiFact
- Fact Check: Pence presses a distorted case on economy AP News
- Here’s the speaker lineup for the fourth night of the Republican National Convention CNBC
- RNC Guide: Schedule, Speakers and How to Watch Wall Street Journal
- Fact-Checking Night 3 of the Republican National Convention New York Times
- Pence Warns Of An Unsafe America Under Biden: Takeaways From Day 3 Of The RNC VPR
Intel officials contradict Trump on voting by mail
Politico
The intelligence community has seen no evidence that foreign powers intend to manipulate mail-in voting in the 2020 election, senior Trump administration officials said Wednesday, undercutting a claim by President Donald Trump that such fraud “will be the scandal of our times.”
After Three Years of Attacking L.G.B.T.Q. Rights, Trump Suddenly Tries Outreach
New York Times
Last weekend, the campaign announced the L.G.B.T.Q. coalition that had been expected in June, blaming the delay on the coronavirus.
Gen Z California Voters: What Matters Most To You This Presidential Election?
VPR
As the presidential election draws closer, NPR wants to hear what kinds of issues matter most to California voters between the ages of 18 and 24. Are you concerned about climate change, racial justice, cost of housing, health care, the economy or student debt? Do you identify as a Democrat or Republican? Or do you think the two-party system doesn’t work altogether?
Joe Biden condemns police shooting of Jacob Blake, urges protesters to stay peaceful
Los Angeles Times
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Wednesday condemned the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha, Wis., and also denounced the arson and violence that followed. “What I saw on that video makes me sick,” Biden said, referring to a viral video showing a white Kenosha police officer shooting Jacob Blake seven times in the back at close range as Blake was getting into an SUV.
See Also:
‘Pick Padilla’: Why Latino Victory is behind California elections chief for Harris’ seat
Sacramento Bee
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have yet to win their campaign to unseat President Donald Trump. That isn’t stopping a progressive Latino advocacy group from making plans for Harris’ senate seat.
More companies pledge to give workers time to vote
AP News
A growing number of U.S. companies are pledging to give workers time off to vote in the presidential election this November, an effort that’s gaining steam despite the government’s reluctance to make Election Day a federal holiday.
Other:
‘Our Communities Are In Crisis’: Latinos And COVID-19
VPR
Marin County, just north of San Francisco, is best known nationally as a picturesque gateway to wine country and home to moneyed tech investors and a handful of aging rock stars. The reality, of course, is more complicated.
3 in 4 Republicans say US is in better shape than four years ago: poll
The Hill
Republican voters hold a rosier view of the country’s overall state compared to four years ago than do Democrats heading in to this week’s Republican National Convention (RNC), a new poll finds.
‘Racial Inequality May Be As Deadly As COVID-19,’ Analysis Finds
VPR
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, mortality rates and life expectancy are far better for white Americans than they are for Black people during normal, non-pandemic years, according to an analysis published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The analysis, which looked at U.S. mortality statistics back to 1900, finds an additional 1 million white Americans would have to die this year in order for their life expectancy to fall to the best-ever levels recorded for Black Americans — back in 2014.
Wash Post
The Secret Service had asked for a room close to the president. But Mar-a-Lago said it was too late. The room was booked. Would agents like a room across the street from the president, instead?
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
Fresno, Tulare Counties Declare Local Emergencies After Dead Livestock Accumulate Due To Heatwave
VPR
Fresno and Tulare Counties declared local emergencies Thursday 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.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Arrest made in $300,000 pistachio heist spanning Madera, Fresno and Tulare counties
Fresno Bee
A Fresno man is in custody, accused of taking part in an elaborate scheme that involved the theft of $300,000 in pistachios from a Terra Bella farm and trying to sell them in Madera, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office reported Wednesday.
Public Safety:
Fresno police reform commission floats 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:
- Many California police reform efforts have stalled despite push from George Floyd protests Los Angeles Times
- Fresno Police Reform Commission Creates Survey, Asks For Input From Underrepresented Communities VPR
- Hallmark police reform bill faces tough road in California AP
- How can we enhance police accountability in the United States? Brookings
Public Policy Institute of California
Proposition 25 is a 2020 ballot measure that asks voters whether or not to approve Senate Bill 10, a law passed in 2018. SB 10 abolishes money bail and replaces it with a new process of determining pretrial release.
See also:
- Report: Reforming Pretrial Justice in California Public Policy Institute of California
Money Bail, Risk-Based Tools, & Options for Californians
CA Budget and Policy Center
Every day, Californians are forced to pay courts or bail bond agents money if they, or a family member, are arrested and do not want to sit in jail awaiting trial – well before it’s determined if charges will be brought against them. This is known as money bail, andincreasing understanding and research reveal the economic and racial discrimination people of color and low-income households face under the money bail system. Along with the financial costs, when money bail keeps Californians in jail, it can carry life-changing consequences. Initiatives to end this monetary-based holding of people before trials and sentencing have gained momentum nationwide and in California.
Fire:
Castle Fire, Shotgun Fire continue to spread in Sequoia. Has Valley air gotten better?
Fresno Bee
Firefighters battling two blazes near Sequoia National Park in eastern Tulare County reported Wednesday that the blazes had consumed 15,400 acres. The Castle Fire and the Shotgun Fire, burning near the mountain community of Ponderosa, are now being fought as one major blaze, designated the SQF Complex fire by California Interagency Incident Management Team.
See Also:
- SQF Complex Fire continues to grow in Sequoia National Forest, voluntary evacuations still in effect abc30
- Moc Fire 50 percent contained, evacuations lifted; favorable weather slowing SCU Complex Modesto Bee
- ‘Over 1.25 million acres have burned:’ Cal Fire gives wildfire update Modesto Bee
- Here are California’s biggest fires burning right now, and where air quality is worst Sacramento Bee
- California firestorm could claim more than 3,000 homes and structures Los Angeles Times
- California reports 50 new wildfires overnight and 1.3 million acres burned so far, Gov. Newsom says CNBC
- Smoke From California Wildfires Is Contaminating Denver’s Air Bloomberg
Evacuations lifted near California fires, some go home
Bakersfield Californian
Thousands of people in California returned home Wednesday as cooler weather and an influx of aid helped firefighters gain ground and lift evacuation orders prompted by some of the largest wildfires in state history.
This firefighter has worked 11 days straight. With no water source. Here’s why.
SF Gate
The Cal Fire helitack unit consists of about 300 firefighters stationed across the state at 12 helibases, roughly 4 percent of Cal Fire’s 8,000 employees.
Why California spends billions but can’t control its wildfires. ‘No simple or cheap solution’
Sacramento Bee
Since Newsom took office in January 2019, the state has spent nearly $500 million expanding Cal Fire’s personnel and equipment. He signed a bill requiring PG&E Corp. and the other major utilities to spend a combined $5 billion on wildfire safety.
See also:
- California lawmakers seek $2.5 billion to protect homes from wildfires, thin forests Modesto Bee
- California lawmakers seek $2.5 billion to protect homes from wildfires, thin forests Sacramento Bee
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
California could get $71 billion in coronavirus help. Auditor warns it could be wasted
Fresno Bee
Many of the California state departments receiving federal coronavirus money have histories of mismanaging funds and struggling with clunky computer programs, California State Auditor Elaine Howle said in a Tuesday report.
See also:
- California Nation podcast: Is enough being done to prepare for a COVID-19 economic fallout? Sacramento Bee
These Riverbank businesses were fined for COVID-19 violations. What owners are saying
Modesto Bee
One Riverbank health club kept its indoor gym open on Tuesday, despite receiving a citation for violating state orders designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Turlock sees well-known restaurant chains come to town; coffee, fried chicken, more
Modesto Bee
Amid the ongoing pandemic and economic uncertainties, Turlock is still smoking when it comes to new restaurant and retail developments. Several new chains and well-known local eateries are expanding into the Central Valley city, including Stanislaus County’s second Dutch Bros Coffee location.
Nation’s largest solar farm gets green light in Tulare County
Business Journal
The nation’s largest solar farm got the green light from the Tulare County Planning Commission this week to be built in southern Tulare County near Ducor.
Jobs:
Homeless essential workers face greater risk of COVID-19
Bakersfield Californian
At the beginning of the pandemic, Tiffany Cordaway’s biggest struggle was finding a place to shower. She worked two jobs in northern California, disinfecting medical equipment during the day and caring for an elderly couple overnight. When she finally clocked out, she just wanted to clean off.
‘How dare they tell me I didn’t get this from work.’ Healthcare worker blasts PPE shortage
Sacramento Bee
Respiratory therapist Elizabeth Grigsby describes, at an Aug. 25, 2020, rally at the state Capitol, testing positive for COVID-19 and what she says is a lack of PPE at Kaiser Roseville. The rally was in support of a bill requiring a PPE stockpile.
Workers breathing smoke to harvest crops isn’t ‘resilience’ — it’s a broken system, farmer says
San Francisco Chronicle
An unprecedented August lightning storm and we are back: fire season 2020. Images of masked farmworkers harvesting berries in smoky fields and brave farmers discing firebreaks emerge again on social media, with the hashtags #countystrong, #farmersareresilient, #wefeedyou.
California COVID-19 workers’ comp claims soar
CalMatters
Health care workers make up nearly 40 percent of those seeking wage and medical benefits from the program. Workers’ compensation claims for COVID-19 have spiked dramatically in the past two months.
Fight Against Fraud Slows Payments to Unemployed
Pew Trusts
States that were generous and quick to help workers were also quick to be targeted by scammers. In response, states have had to slow down the processing of claims and even claw back some money, delaying payouts to people supposed to be getting them. Pew
U.S. Postal Service Spent $522 Million on Questionable Overtime Last Year, Watchdog Says
Wall Street Journal
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has highlighted runaway overtime expenses to show inefficiencies at the U.S. Postal Service, which is on track to lose more than $10 billion this year.
EDUCATION
K-12:
California relaxes rules for school openings to let some students return to campus
Fresno Bee
California rolled out new guidance in an effort to reopen classrooms for some but not all students, according to a press release from the Department of Health. The rules call for schools to prioritize opening for small groups of children with disabilities, those who have special needs, are English language learners, at-risk students or students who need access to the internet or other devices for distance learning.
See Also:
Judge says Fresno-area school can continue with in-person classes, despite COVID-19
Fresno Bee
Immanuel Schools in Reedley, the private Christian school that has defied Fresno County’s health officials’ orders not to reopen, can continue to operate classes, a judge ruled Tuesday. Judge D. Tyler Tharpe denied the Fresno County Environmental Health Department’s request for a temporary injunction.
See Also:
- Immanuel Schools can stay open for now, court rules abc30
- Fresno County has not given up trying to stop private school from teaching on campus Fresno Bee
More than 100 California schools, districts received waivers to reopen classrooms
San Jose Mercury
California health officials have granted more than 100 waivers to allow districts and schools — mostly in Southern California — to reopen for in-class instruction in counties where only remote online instruction is allowed due to coronavirus outbreaks.
See Also:
- Small private school in Ridgecrest gets waiver to reopen Bakersfield Californian
Internet service down for several Madera County school districts, officials say
abc30
An internet outage has disrupted distance learning for several school districts in Madera County, a spokesperson with the Office for Madera County Superintendent of Schools confirmed to Action News on Wednesday morning.
Coronavirus in the classroom? New UCSF study calculates the odds
San Francisco Chronicle
It is one of the most pressing questions of the pandemic: When will it be safe for schools to reopen? A new study from UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals could help school districts get closer to an answer.
Wildfires set school plans ablaze for more than 70,000 students
CalMatters
Already reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, schools in rural areas like Bonny Doon must now contend with wildfires and related problems like blackouts, poor air quality and damaged internet infrastructure.
Blackboard brawl: How California’s teachers hope to avoid 60,000 layoffs
CalMatters
After a spring of crisis education, teachers’ unions hope to parlay many successful reopening battles into bigger electoral victories. But they’re also bracing for layoffs of up to 60,000 educators, and some teachers are still scrambling for bare-minimum supplies.
Tighter federal rules end free meals for thousands of California students
EdSource
Many California students and families who have come to rely on free grab-and-go meals during the past five months of the pandemic may no longer qualify for the food service.
CalMatters
Fixing poor ventilation in classrooms may slow the spread of COVID-19 when children and
teachers return, and create new job opportunities.
Opinion: State Education Funding Driven by Politics Not Children’s Needs
Fox and Hounds
Nothing proves that more than the recent proposal by Governor Newsom’s Department of Finance (DOF) that would deny students who want to attend personalized learning public charter schools the same funding that students attending traditional and classroom-based charter schools receive.
Higher Ed:
CSUB has record fundraising year: Over $10 million raised in support of student success
CSU Bakersfield
It’s a record fundraising year for California State University, Bakersfield during the 2019-2020 fiscal year, thanks to the transformational support from donors and partnerships gained over the years.
COVID-19 Roundup: Cases Spike, and Students Punished
Inside Higher Ed
Another week in the strange world we’ve all become accustomed to got off to a rough start Monday with the crashing of Zoom, the videoconferencing platform on which many colleges have come to depend for instruction. The blackout came on what was the first day of classes at many institutions, as our Madeline St. Amour documents elsewhere on Inside Higher Ed today.
UC students could face discipline for gatherings that violate health regulations, officials warn
EdSource
Top leaders of the University of California system warned Wednesday that students could face various disciplines if they violate health regulations and social distancing rules with the type of crowded parties that have spread Covid-19 infections at university campuses across the state and country.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
California condor sanctuary near Big Sur ‘completely destroyed’ as Dolan Fire spreads
Fresno Bee
The Dolan Fire destroyed a wildlife sanctuary for endangered California condors on the Big Sur Coast, leaving managers to wonder and worry about the fate of several missing birds. As of Wednesday morning, the fire had scorched 21,844 acres and was 15% contained, spreading more than 1,400 acres further overnight, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
See Also:
- Fate of California condors unknown after sanctuary burns Los Angeles Times
Alaska salmon returning smaller amid climate change, competition with hatchery fish, study finds
Merced Sun-Star
Alaska salmon have gotten smaller in recent decades, a downsizing that appears to be largely driven by climate change and increased competition for food as hatcheries release some 5 billion young fish into the North Pacific each year, according to a study published this month by U.S. and Canadian researchers in the science journal Nature Communications.
Energy:
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.
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.
How to protect yourself from unhealthy air quality
Visalia Times Delta
Smoke from wildfires across California has caused poor air quality in the Central Valley. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution District issued another health caution this week, alerting residents of the increasing health impacts from exposure to unhealthy air quality.
Kern County announces 92 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 92 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. The total local coronavirus case count now stands at 28,622 with 251 confirmed deaths. County data shows that 11,850 of those cases have recovered or are presumed to have recovered, while 16,299 individuals are recuperating at home.
See also:
- COVID-19: Tulare County reports an increase of 314 cases, six more deaths Visalia Times Delta
- Merced County coronavirus deaths hit 110, with 81 deaths confirmed in past month Merced Sun-Star
- County officials will soon release info on COVID-19 deaths Bakersfield Californian
As California Wildfire Seasons Worsen, What’s The Impact On Children’s Health Long-Term?
Capital Public Radio
If California children growing up breathing in wildfire smoke end up showing the same patterns as kids raised inhaling bad air pollution, experts say they could wind up with reduced lung function and other health conditions several decades from now.
U.S. New Coronavirus Cases Rise for Third Day as Hurricane Laura Affects Testing
Wall Street Journal
The number of new coronavirus infections in the U.S. increased for a third straight day as Hurricane Laura pummeled the Gulf Coast, stirring fears about how the storm might make it harder to track the spread of the contagion, while regulators approved a cheap and fast new test for the virus.
COVID-19 Vaccine May Pit Science Against Politics
VPR
Under normal circumstances, it could take years — if not decades — to bring a new vaccine to market. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed all that. In May, the Trump administration launched Operation Warp Speed with the goal of delivering initial doses of a safe and effective vaccine by January 2021 — shortening the development time from years to months. Some worry that to meet that ambitious schedule, the administration might cut important scientific corners.
See also:
CalMatters
There’s no doubt we need to address the rise in youth vaping, but ban on flavored tobacco will impact small businesses.
Human Services:
Federal Effort to Expand Covid-19 Testing in Nursing Homes Hits Snags
Wall Street Journal
A major federal effort to supply rapid-result Covid-19 testing equipment to nursing homes is running into snarls, with some facilities not using the machines they have received.
IMMIGRATION
Advocates say Public Health oversight of Mesa Verde necessary to ensure safety of detainees
Bakersfield Californian
A coronavirus outbreak at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield has prompted local advocates to call on Kern County Public Health Services to assert greater control over the facility.
Trump administration appears to be ignoring court rulings on DACA
San Francisco Chronicle
In apparent defiance of court orders, the Trump administration has reaffirmed its cutbacks to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for young undocumented immigrants: No new DACA applicants will be accepted, and current participants can renew their legal status for only one year instead of two.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
California lawmakers seek $2.5 billion to protect homes from wildfires, thin forests
Fresno Bee
A group of legislators is pushing a bill to spend $2.5 billion on wildfire prevention in California, with the costs borne by ratepayers of PG&E Corp. and other major utilities. With the legislative session winding down and wildfires burning more than 1.3 million acres in California in the past week, AB 1659 would dedicate funding for battling climate change and accelerating the thinning of forests and other heavily-vegetated areas.
A ski area changed its ‘derogatory’ name. Now the public service district is, too
Sacramento Bee
The Squaw Valley Public Service District said Tuesday it was changing its name to Olympic Valley Public Service District, following the Squaw Valley ski resort’s announcement earlier the same day it would remove the word “squaw” from its name.
Facing ‘a wave of evictions’, Newsom, California Democrats debate rent, foreclosure relief
Sacramento Bee
Assembly Bill 1436 would prohibit evictions until 90 days after Newsom lifts the state’s coronavirus emergency or April 1, 2021, whichever comes first. It would give tenants a year to make up unpaid rent.
Housing:
Lamp Liter Inn joins Project Roomkey to protect Tulare County’s vulnerable from COVID-19
Another local hotel owner has stepped up to provide housing to Tulare County’s most vulnerable population during the pandemic. Through Project Roomkey, Tulare County secured four hotels to house people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic, one of which was Visalia’s Lamp Liter Inn.
Facing ‘a wave of evictions’, Newsom, California Democrats debate rent, foreclosure relief
Fresno 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.
How mayor addressed growing homeless population grows in Fresno, Madera
Fresno Bee
About 1,133 more people are homeless in Fresno and Madera this year compared to 2019, a 45% uptick, according to new numbers. Mayor Lee Brand said August 26, 2020. that homelessness continues to be the city and state’s most pressing issue.
See also:
- More than 1,000 new people became homeless in the Fresno-area last year – before COVID-19 Fresno Bee
- Fresno County Point-In-Time Count Finds 50 Percent More People Homeless In 2020 VPR
Low inventory helps drive up Bakersfield home prices
Bakersfield Californian
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.
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.
California renters likely to get only short-term eviction relief from state
San Francisco Chronicle
State lawmakers nearing a deadline for action to avert mass evictions of California tenants who can’t pay their rent because of the coronavirus pandemic are working on a measure that is likely to provide only a short-term solution, those involved in the negotiations say.
PUBLIC FINANCES
IRS sending money to millions of Americans — but it’s not stimulus funds
abc30
Millions of Americans will be getting money from the IRS, and it’s not related to the stimulus money. Instead, 13.9 million Americans are getting interest payments if they filed their tax returns on time but didn’t get their refund yet.
Trump’s payroll tax deferral is in limbo as employers await IRS guidance
Los Angeles Times
The U.S. Treasury Department still has yet to tell companies how to handle President Trump’s order delaying the due date for employee payroll taxes, leaving major employers such as Walmart Inc. in the lurch.
Fact Check: Donald Trump wrong again that recent tax bill is biggest ever
PolitiFact
Measuring the size of the tax cut is a straightforward task. And as we noted the last time we fact-checked a similar claim, the tax bill passed last December doesn’t stack up as the largest cut ever.
Fed to seek higher inflation in bid to boost employment
POLITICO
Essentially, the Fed is pledging not to raise interest rates until prices begin to rise more rapidly.
Did CARES Act benefits reach vulnerable Americans?
Brookings
Many Americans trying to access their benefits from the CARES Act have experienced long delays, confusion, and frustration. To help improve future COVID-19 relief legislation, Stephen Roll and Michal Grinstein-Weiss shed light on the exact groups of people who had issues receiving the program’s expanded unemployment benefits and Economic Impact Payments.
TRANSPORTATION
New California Transportation Commissioner Michele Martinez Wants “Everybody at the Table”
StreetsBlog Cal
In the midst of a very busy week, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of a new California Transportation Commissioner, Michele Martinez of Santa Ana. Martinez comes with a wide-ranging background, having served as an elected official, a nonprofit director, and a consultant.
A bill that could have ended California’s scooter and bike businesses has been amended
The Verge
A previous version of the bill, AB 1286, included language that would have prohibited companies like Bird, Lime, and Uber from using liability waivers — a provision these companies claimed would essentially force them to shut down if enacted.
California targets diesel trucks, ships with biggest pollution cuts in years
Los Angeles Times
California air quality officials are poised to adopt their biggest pollution-cutting regulations in more than a decade, targeting diesel trucks and cargo ships that spew much of the state’s cancer-causing and smog-forming emissions.
WATER
The Biblical Flood That Will Drown California
Mother Jones
The flood was once considered a thousand-year anomaly, a freak occurrence. But emerging science demonstrates that floods of even greater magnitude occurred every 100 to 200 years in California’s precolonial history. Climate change will make them more frequent still.
Lois Henry: Desert water basin hopes to dive into California water market
Bakersfield Californian
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.
“Xtra”
How did this Fresno native land in the latest Jay-Z and Pharrell video? His story is inspiring
Fresno Bee
A Fresno native and West Side product who dreamed big and chased after his grand goals was featured in the latest Pharrell and Jay-Z music video. And this worldwide recognition for TyAnthony Davis is just his latest shining moment.
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