POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Thanks to consumers, US economy is rising steadily if slowly
Merced Sun-Star
The economy slowed in the spring, and many analysts think the weakness will continue in the months ahead. Yet consumer spending, which drives about 70% of growth, accelerated in the April-June quarter at the fastest pace in nearly five years.
US pending home sales slid 2.5% in July in sign of slowdown
Merced Sun-Star
Fewer Americans signed contracts to buy homes in July, signaling that the housing market has yet to enjoy a strong bounce from lower mortgage rates.
Central SJ Valley:
It’s a rematch: Valley Republican edged out in blue wave wants a shot at Congress in 2020
Fresno Bee
A California Republican ousted in the 2018 blue wave election confirmed on Wednesday that he wants a rematch against the Democrat who unseated him. Former Rep. David Valadao’s announcement officially sets up a rematch against Rep. TJ Cox.
See Also:
Valadao will focus on water, immigration in congressional rematch with Cox Fresno Bee
David Valadao announces he will run against TJ Cox The Hill
Does this proposed Fresno County policy target Andrew Janz? Supervisors say ‘It’s all false’
Fresno Bee
Andrew Janz’s campaign for Fresno mayor threatened legal action if the Fresno County Board of Supervisors passes a change to a rule for leave time affecting employees running for office.
Judge wants real name of fake cow before acting on Devin Nunes’ Twitter lawsuit
Fresno Bee
A Virginia judge has asked Twitter to provide more information about the authors of two anonymous parody accounts.
Children’s advocate Dave Lawrence keynote speaker in Clovis
Fresno Bee
Dave Lawrence, founder of the Children’s Movement of Florida, says the burgeoning Children’s Movement of Fresno is making great progress in advocating for all children in the community.
Robert Costa Returns to Fresno to Talk Trump, Congress, and 2020
GV Wire
Robert Costa, a national political reporter with The Washington Post and moderator for PBS’s “Washington Week,” will return for the President’s Lecture Series at Fresno State, where he will offer insights on President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Congress, and the 2020 presidential election.
South SJ Valley:
Editorial: San Joaquin Valley CA farmers need canal fix bill to pass
Fresno Bee
A key reason the San Joaquin Valley is one of the world’s premier farming regions is a ribbon of water called the Friant-Kern Canal. Part of the federal Central Valley Project, the 152-mile-long canal carries water from Millerton Lake north of Fresno to the Kern River in Bakersfield.
State:
California lawmakers will soon decide who’s an employee. Late lobbying is fast and furious
Modesto Bee
Assembly Bill 5 would codify the 2018 California Supreme Court “Dynamex” decision that restricts when employers can classify workers as independent contractors and deny them benefits like overtime, sick leave and minimum wage.
Gavin Newsom made deals with four state unions. One is getting ready to hold out for more
Sacramento Bee
California state attorneys are prepared to keep working without a contract because they’re unimpressed with an offer from Gov. Gavin Newsom.
2019 California Economic Summit Registration Opens
CAFWD
Registration has opened for the 2019 California Economic Summit, which will take place in Fresno on November 7-8. The Summit, produced by California Forward, marks the eighth annual gathering of private, public and civic leaders from across California’s diverse regions committed to creating a shared economic agenda to expand prosperity for all.
Federal:
DOJ watchdog finds Comey violated policies with private memos about Trump
Politico
The Justice Department decided not to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey for retaining memos about interactions with the Trump White House and for disclosing one such memo to the media, the agency's internal watchdog said in a report released Thursday.
See also:
Ex-FBI Director Comey Violated Policies by Leaking Documents, Watchdog Says Wall Street Journal
Justice Dept. inspector general finds Comey violated FBI policies in handling memos about interactions with Trump Washington Post
Elections 2020:
PPIC
Voter registration is up: almost 8 in 10 eligible adults are registered. But Californians who are likely to vote still tend to be older, relatively well-educated and affluent, and US born. They are also disproportionately white.
Why Republicans Should Get Behind a National Popular Vote, Too
Politico
In the wake of the 2016 election, when Democrats lost the presidential election but won the popular vote for the second time in 20 years, it’s easy to understand why momentum to abolish the Electoral College once again gathered on the left. It’s not so easy to understand, though, why Republicans have become so committed against the idea of a national popular vote in response.
Tom Steyer’s mega-millions debate gambit flops
Politico
The wealthy Democratic presidential candidate wasn't able to spend his way into the DNC's September debate.
Personal experience with guns helps shape how 2020 Democrats talk about them
Roll Call
Presidential candidates are united on background checks, but split on buybacks and licensing.
Democrats use Trump’s tariffs against House Republicans in new ads
Roll Call
In a sign that Democrats are broadening their 2020 messaging, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Thursday is rolling out digital ads attacking House Republicans over President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
These 4 Democrats want a rematch in 2020 after narrow losses in 2018
Roll Call
Several Democrats have already announced they will run for the House again in 2020 after losing by 4 points or less in their first-ever campaigns last cycle.
Biden Takes His Turn in the Barrel
Wall Street Journal
He’s still on top, notwithstanding a media frenzy over an outlier poll.
Kirsten Gillibrand Drops Out of Presidential Contest
Wall Street Journal
New York senator failed to break through the crowded Democratic field.
See also:
Kirsten Gillibrand doesn’t know why she gets blamed for Al Franken quitting San Francisco Chronicle
Other:
The electoral college is in trouble
Washington Post
The assumptions underlying a controversy are often more important than the controversy itself.
See also:
Can states change the electoral college ahead of 2020? Supreme Court may have to decide Los Angeles Times
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, September 1, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Countdown to the 2020 Census” – Guests: Secretary of State, Alex Padilla; Sarah Bohn, PPIC; and John Myers, Los Angeles Times. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, September 1, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “Census & Immigration: Distinctly Different Issues Intersect” – Guests: Laura Hill with the Public Policy Institute of California; Taryn Luna with the Sacramento Bee; Dan Walters with CALmatters, Secretary of State, Alex Padilla; Sarah Bohn, PPIC; and John Myers, Los Angeles Times. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, September 1, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “Participación en 2018: lo que puede significar para 2020” – Invitados: Secretario de Estado Alex Padilla, Gisell Gasca - Mi Familia Vota y Alexei Koseff con San Francisco Chronicle. Presentado Por: Coordinadora del Programa del Maddy Institute, Maria Jeans.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Editorial: San Joaquin Valley CA farmers need canal fix bill to pass
Fresno Bee
A key reason the San Joaquin Valley is one of the world’s premier farming regions is a ribbon of water called the Friant-Kern Canal. Part of the federal Central Valley Project, the 152-mile-long canal carries water from Millerton Lake north of Fresno to the Kern River in Bakersfield.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Ready for intake: South County Detention Center finally opens its doors
Porterville Recorder
A large crowd of over 300 gathered for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the long anticipated South County Detention Facility (SCDF) on Wednesday, August 28, near Scranton Avenue and Newcomb Street, close to the Porterville Municipal Airport and Sports Complex.
Public Safety:
South County Detention Facility opens with goal to reduce recidivism
Visalia Times Delta
South County Detention Facility was 10 years in the making — three years of that was construction.
It’s 100 degrees in California, and the air conditioning finally works at this prison
Fresno Bee
The warden at a federal prison in California’s San Joaquin Valley with a notoriously faulty air conditioning system insists in a letter to Sen. Kamala Harris that he has fixed that problem, although he says he can’t do much about other challenges he faces in hiring more officers.
Personal experience with guns helps shape how 2020 Democrats talk about them
Roll Call
Presidential candidates are united on background checks, but split on buybacks and licensing.
Fire:
Fresno County fire crews halt progress of wildfire in residential foothill community
Fresno Bee
Firefighters responded to a wildfire Wednesday afternoon in the Meadow Lakes community of the Fresno County foothills. Reports of a grass fire were broadcast just before 4 p.m. along Auberry Road near Acorn Road — in an area with several homes.
PG&E website forecasts blackouts meant to help prevent California fires
San Jose Mercury
Plenty of Californians are keeping an eye on forecasts for heat, humidity and Red Flag Warnings as fire season ramps up. Now you can do the same for power outages.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
US pending home sales slid 2.5% in July in sign of slowdown
Merced Sun-Star
Fewer Americans signed contracts to buy homes in July, signaling that the housing market has yet to enjoy a strong bounce from lower mortgage rates.
Thanks to consumers, US economy is rising steadily if slowly
Merced Sun-Star
The economy slowed in the spring, and many analysts think the weakness will continue in the months ahead. Yet consumer spending, which drives about 70% of growth, accelerated in the April-June quarter at the fastest pace in nearly five years.
Successful business, computing competition moves from Fresno to Bakersfield
Bakersfield Californian
In another boost for Bakersfield's long-overlooked tech and startup communities, a Fresno-based nonprofit is coming to town next week to kick off a nearly two month-long "hackathon"-type competition that has been credited with helping launch dozens of small businesses.
Stocks move broadly higher on hopes for U.S.-China trade talks
Los Angeles Times
Stocks marched broadly higher in early trading on Wall Street on Thursday, adding to the market’s solid gains from a day earlier. The rally came as investors held out fresh hope that new talks between the U.S. and China set for September can lead to progress in the nations’ ongoing trade war.
Fox & Hounds
American popular culture is fond of labeling business executives and corporate greed as the source of what is wrong with this country. The idea is not confined to movies that frequently portray a big business exec as the villain but has taken over state and local lawmaking and some presidential campaigns, as well.
California and Texas have different visions for America’s future
The Economist
In texas an unexpected enemy gets a lot of attention. In a television ad for lieutenant-governor that aired last year, Dan Patrick, the winning Republican candidate, looked sternly at the camera and warned of a grave danger.
This is the factor that’s likely to determine whether there’s a U.S. recession
Washington Post
The U.S. economy is in a confusing place. The fundamentals look strong: Jobs are plentiful, inflation is tame, wages are rising and the economy continues to grow a tad above 2 percent, which most experts think is the Goldilocks pace.
Jobs:
Riverbank plant could create 2,000 jobs. Is a federal agency dropping the ball?
Modesto Bee
A federal agency is catching heat from a Central Valley congressman, who says red tape is stalling a Riverbank project .
Five Changes in the Job Market Locking California Workers Out of Prosperity
California Budget & Policy Center
Californians labor every day to provide for their families, build success in their workplaces, and keep the state’s economy strong. But changes in the job market and less responsibility assumed by businesses means California’s workers are increasingly locked out of the prosperity that they help create for their employers and the state.
Californians must shape the ‘future of work.’ Unions are essential to that future
CALmatters
Mentioning the “future of work” can conjure fears of robots stealing jobs, displacing millions of workers in a dystopian mess straight out of a science fiction movie.
See also:
Politicians mull the future of work CALmatters
Younger Workers Report Biggest Gains in Happiness With Pay
Wall Street Journal
Millennials, Gen Z employees say they’re more content with compensation than baby boomers.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Clovis school board losing 23 years of experience following this trustee’s resignation
Fresno Bee
Longtime Clovis Unified Trustee Brian Heryford announced his resignation at Wednesday night’s board meeting. His resignation from the school board after 23 years takes effect Sunday.
See also:
California Assembly approves medical cannabis on K-12 campuses
abc30
The California Assembly approved a bill Monday that lets school boards decide whether parents can administer medical marijuana on school campuses. It would allow the use of marijuana in non-smoking form.
Newsom, teachers union and charters strike deal to give districts more power over new schools
Modesto Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced a deal among education advocates at the Capitol on a bill to give school districts more power to reject charter school applications.
See also:
A battle over California charter schools ends — for now — with a deal in Sacramento Los Angeles Times
California lawmakers, Newsom agree to major changes for charter schools San Francisco Chronicle
Governor, legislators agree on new controls for charter schools EdSource
Charter schools, unions call a truce in an epic battle as Newsom brokers a deal CALmatters
Washington Post
The failure to educate the nation’s 50 million students about slavery prevents a full reckoning with its ongoing cost. Teaching the truth about slavery could help remedy that, say critics who want to change how schools address the subject.
Higher Ed:
For the Fourth Consecutive Year, Fresno State is a Top 25 school in the Nation
Clovis RoundUp
Washington Monthlymagazine announced on Monday that Fresno State placed No. 24 out of 395 public and private colleges.
Community support critical to growth of UC Merced, outgoing chancellor says
Merced Sun-Star
Having now ended my time as chancellor, I am reminded that many things do not change. Central Valley summer days can still be sweltering, I still see a lot of horses and cowboy hats, and the people remain hugely supportive of our work.
99% of public workers who week student debt relief don’t qualify. California wants to know why
Sacramento Bee
California is once again urging the United States Department of Education to explain why 99 percent of applicants for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program have been denied, according to a letter sent Wednesday by Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
Numerous complaints as CSU proposes tougher admission standards
San Francisco Chronicle
California State University officials want to require high school students to take an extra math, science or computer class to qualify for admission, a proposal that critics say will harm low-income students of color.
A path to college for kids in juvenile detention
CALmatters
A unique program that enrolls kids in juvenile detention in college classes could become a statewide model.
Cal State wants incoming freshmen to have more math. Opponents say it wil only widen equity divide
LAist
Earlier this year, the California State University system floated a controversial proposal to require high school students to take an extra year of math — or a related class, like personal finance or coding — to be considered for admission.
California joins a handful of other states that provide community college tuition-free
CNN
California will provide free tuition for two years of community college to first-time, full-time California students.
See also:
California Community College Students get a Financial Boost Clovis RoundUp
Apprenticeships:
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ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
City will activate cooling centers if temperatures get to be over 105 F
Madera Tribune
Cooling centers provided by the City of Madera are open to the public, and meant to provide relief for those who do not have access to an air-conditioned environment.
As California considers a fur ban, many in L.A. cling to their minks
Los Angeles Times
Decades before gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill, fortune-seekers flocked to California for its furs. Now the state is poised to become the first in the country to ban them — a legislative drama in which sunny Los Angeles, land of beach curls and flip-flops, is the unlikely star.
What’s Killing California’s Sea Otters? House Cats.
New York Times
The state’s beloved sea mammals have been plagued by the deadly Toxoplasma parasite. They’re catching it from feral and pet cats.
Energy:
EPA plans to abandon regulations on methane emissions, reports say
Los Angeles Times
The Trump Administration is expected to announce a proposal to ease methane emission regulations in the oil and gas sector on Thursday, according to reports by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.
See also:
EPA to loosen federal rules on methane, a powerful greenhouse gas linked to climate change, officials say Washington Post
Energy Companies Set to Get Reprieve on Methane Rules
Wall Street Journal
Plan to end Obama-era regulations is likely to draw protests from environmental groups.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
California vaccine activists rally at Capitol in last-ditch appeal
Sacramento Bee
Hundreds of vaccine-skeptical families made a last-ditch appeal on Wednesday to California lawmakers, asking them to kill a proposed law that would restrict vaccine medical exemptions for children attending schools. The odds are against them.
Mystery youth vaping disease reveals gaping holes in regulation
Politico
At least 193 potential cases, including one death, have been reported to the federal government this summer.
See also:
Human Services:
State finds Kaweah Delta had inadequate nursing staff levels — again
Visalia Times Delta
The California Department of Public Health has again found Kaweah Delta Medical Center had inadequate nursing levels in one of the hospital's medical units. The staffing levels so concerned Kaweah Delta nurses, they told state investigators the quality of care for patients was in jeopardy, according to the publicly available report.
California Health Workers Split On Whether To Be Independent Contractors or Employees
Capital Public Radio
California’s health care workforce is a scramble of independent contractors, part-time workers and full-time staff. Some people work directly for hospitals, while others work for medical groups that hospitals contract with. In clinical or group practice settings, anyone from a lab tech to a neurologist could be working independently.
New Trump Rule on Medical Interpreters Could Leave Immigrants Behind
PEW
Trump rule could relax notification requirements that health care providers offer language services.
IMMIGRATION
Latinos Increasingly 'Afraid' After El Paso, Immigration Raids — And Wary Of Seeking Help
Capital Public Radio
A bulletin board at the La Familia Counseling Center in South Sacramento is crowded with flyers advertising everything from homework clubs to help with preparing taxes. The nonprofit center has offered free programs to the neighborhood’s large Latino population for decades.
Trump administration appears to violate law in forcing asylum seekers back to Mexico, officials warn
Los Angeles Times
Under the Migrant Protection Protocols — better known as Remain in Mexico — Trump administration officials have pushed 37,578 asylum seekers back across the U.S. southern border in roughly seven months, according to Homeland Security Department reports reviewed by the Los Angeles Times. One-third of the migrants were returned to Mexico from California. The vast majority have been scattered throughout Mexico within the last 60 days.
New citizenship rules for children of U.S. military members cause confusion
Los Angeles Times
The Trump administration on Wednesday unveiled new rules that will make it harder for children of some immigrants serving in the military to obtain citizenship.
Editorial: Trump’s border wall crosses more lines
San Francisco Chronicle
Remember the wall? While the casual observer could almost forget President Trump’s old, unhealthy obsession amid the daily encroachment of chaos that is his administration, the president is rightly concerned that his core supporters haven’t.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Turlock project will add 60 low-income apartments. The waiting list is long
Modesto Bee
The City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to lend part of the funding for the $18 million expansion. The project, expected to open in fall 2020, comes amid a tight rental market in California.
Yosemite’s review of park concessionaire Aramark slams it for poor service
San Francisco Chronicle
The company that runs the hotels, restaurants, campgrounds and shuttle buses at Yosemite National Park is failing to meet the park’s customer service standards and faces possible financial sanctions, newly released park documents reveal.
To build safe streets, we need to address racism in urban design
Brookings
Earlier this summer, activists in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 8 held two vigils on the same day—one for a pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run and the other for a young man lost to gun violence.
Housing:
How hard is it to find Section 8 housing in Fresno?
Fresno Bee
Disabled woman describes her frustration in trying to find a place to live.
Gavin Newsom drops plan for California homelessness czar
Sacramento Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom has abandoned a campaign promise to appoint the state’s first homelessness czar and will instead rely on a task force and staff members to guide his response to the growing crisis in California.
Capital Public Radio
Cities near some of California’s biggest job centers are discouraging the construction of new apartments despite high rents and strong housing demand, according to a recent Brookings Institution report.
City officials suddenly support homeless tent cities, car camps in Sacramento neighborhoods
Sacramento Bee
As homeless men, women and children in Sacramento wait for three new large shelters to open, another model that local officials have repeatedly rejected over the years is now quickly gaining traction.
California looks to Santa Monica as it ramps up rent subsidies for seniors
CALmatters
Over the last year, the city has experimented with sending rental checks to nearly two dozen seniors and now wants to expand the program exponentially.
Lawmakers tackle a severe housing shortage for renters who have federal vouchers
CALmatters
The biggest federal housing program for low-income renters is failing to help many Californians because there aren’t enough landlords who accept Section 8 vouchers for rent. State lawmakers are considering two solutions, a carrot and a stick.
More U.S. Homebuyers Say They Expect a Recession by Next Year
Bloomberg
More than 36% of 755 active buyers surveyed this month said they expect the next recession to begin next year, according to a survey released Wednesday by Realtor.com. That’s up from less than 30% in March.
EDITORIAL: Sacramento needs courage to tackle homelessness. The City Council just showed some
Sacramento Bee
A majority of the Sacramento City Council showed real courage when they voted on Tuesday to approve Mayor Darrell Steinberg’s proposal for a 100-bed shelter for women in children in Meadowview.
PUBLIC FINANCES
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TRANSPORTATION
Trump says automakers are ‘crazy’ to side with California. They don’t need another fight
Los Angeles Times
The Trump administration has a plan to help the auto industry. It wants to obliterate a tough set of Obama-era greenhouse gas emissions requirements set to take effect in 2022, then shove California regulators aside and assert full federal control over how much pollution motor vehicles are allowed to spew.
California could shut down popular car subscription services
NBC News
California regulators have launched an investigation of a pioneering Volvo program that many industry observers have forecast could usher in major changes in the way Americans acquire new vehicles. The program enables motorists to “subscribe” to one of several models. The concept is like a lease, but it bundles in insurance, maintenance and other fees.
WATER
Like almonds, grapes and oranges? Then you will want a key Valley canal to be fixed
Fresno Bee
A key reason the San Joaquin Valley is one of the world’s premier farming regions is a ribbon of water called the Friant-Kern Canal. Part of the federal Central Valley Project, the 152-mile-long canal carries water from Millerton Lake north of Fresno to the Kern River in Bakersfield.
“Xtra”
What’s going on in the Modesto region? A lot, here’s a look
Modesto Bee
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
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