August 8, 2018

08Aug

POLICY & POLITICS

 

Valley:

 

What cities have the most nice days in America?  Would you believe Fresno/Clovis (#7) & Stockton (#8)?

Washington Post

Valley cities score in the top 10!

 

Denham addresses immigration as detractors protest

Modesto Bee

Rep. Jeff Denham made a rare public appearance Tuesday, addressing the Latino Community Roundtable in Modesto while a sign-waving crowd of about 50 people protested outside.

 

Janz says ‘Nunes family member’ disrupted video shoot, was asked to leave by sheriff

Fresno Bee

The campaign of Democratic congressional challenger Andrew Janz released a video and a statement saying someone claiming to be a family member of Rep. Devin Nunes harassed them Thursday during a video shoot for a new campaign advertisement.

 

Navarrette: McCarthy’s bid to become speaker makes him stray from his rural roots

The Sacramento Bee

I’m all about regional pride. As a native of the farmland of Central California, it warms my heart to see one of my peeps break a barrier, achieve a victory or receive an honor.

 

Candidates in key California House race accuse each other of slogan theft

San Francisco Chronicle

It’s only the second week in August, but the candidates in a key California House race have reached a new low: They’re each accusing the other of stealing their slogans

 

Heng claims victory as Facebook allows ad depicting Cambodian genocide

Fresno Bee

Elizabeth Heng, a Fresno Republican running for Congress against Rep. Jim Costa, had a campaign advertisement featuring violent historical footage approved after five days of speaking out against Facebook.

See also:

     Facebook fumbles ad ban in CA House race San Francisco Chronicle

      The Facebook Distraction Washington Post

 

Brooke Ashjian should pay Fresno Unified damages, mystery group’s lawsuit claims

Fresno Bee

A new lawsuit claims that Fresno Unified trustee Brooke Ashjian should be required to pay the district damages for failing to disclose his interests in local construction companies, which forced the district to spend millions on rebidding contracts.

 

Nunley says 'BS' Tulare lawsuit against him will be 'taken care of ASAP'

Visalia Times Delta

Tulare will have an answer to the lawsuit filed last week alleging Councilman Greg Nunley skipped out on paying developmental impact fees on Tulare projects, officials said.

 

Mariposa Co. offices reopen after closing because of poor air quality

ABC30

Several Mariposa County offices either shutdown or had reduce services because of poor air quality on Monday.

 

State:

 

Walters:  Big issues mean big trouble at end of legislative session

CALmatters

Tanned, rested and presumably ready, the Legislature reconvened this week for the inevitably hectic final weeks of its annual session.

 

Capitol Weekly Podcast: Mindy Romero

Capitol Weekly

Elections expert Mindy Romero of the California Civic Engagement Project joins Capitol Weekly’s John Howard and Tim Foster to chat about California’s primary election turnout and what we might expect to see in November.

 

EDITORIAL: Save us from another kooky California breakup plan

Los Angeles Times

The two guys behind the secession effort that came to be known as “Calexit” just won’t give up. They are back pushing another ill-conceived ballot proposal. Incredibly, it’s even worse than their previous versions.

 

Federal:

 

Here’s how Trump could pull off another election surprise

Modesto Bee

In the last week, an energetic 72-year-old President Donald Trump, who isn’t on any ballot Nov. 6, has been out campaigning three times with many more to come, mainly in contested races that will decide control of the House.

See also:

     Poll: Majority says race relations have gotten worse under Trump Politico

     Donald Trump’s election helped inspire #MeToo movement, Jane Fonda says Sacramento Bee

      The Polls Are Alright FiveThirthyEight

 

Video: 2020 Census: Why Is the Citizenship Question Such a Big Deal?

PPIC

The decennial census plays an essential role in American democracy. The stakes are huge for California—and 2020 is fast approaching.

 

What the Recess Rollback Means for Capitol Hill (and Taxpayers)

Roll Call

The Senate’s truncated August recess is changing plans on Capitol Hill, but it’s not yet clear how much it will cost taxpayers.

 

New Details About Wilbur Ross’ Business Point To Pattern Of Grifting

Forbes

A multimillion-dollar lawsuit has been quietly making its way through the New York State court system over the last three years, pitting a private equity manager named David Storper against his former boss: Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

 

The Shadow Rulers of the VA

ProPublica

How Marvel Entertainment chairman Ike Perlmutter and two other Mar-a-Lago cronies are secretly shaping the Trump administration’s veterans policies.

 

Feinstein Fighting Back at National Archives Over Kavanaugh Document Trove

Roll Call

Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Dianne Feinstein isn’t happy with the National Archives.

 

Other:

 

Progressives to Democrats: Ignore Trump voters, focus on minorities

AXIOS

Democrats face a new internal fight just when they need it least: progressive activists are sick of the practically minded establishment trying to win back Obama voters who defected to Trump — and instead want the full focus on people of color and nonvoters who are ready for a hard-left turn.

 

The apology from Benjamin Franklin that predicted the fight over falsehood and hate on social media

Washington Post

People want an apology from Facebook for its role in the 2016 election — a real one this time, skeptics say. Just as they wanted one last year from Google for allowing ads to appear alongside offensive videos on YouTube.

See also:

      Fake news or the future? Steve Lopez imagines an escalating spat between Trump and California Los Angeles

      Interconnection: The next battle to regulate the internet? AEI

 

Poll: Nearly half of Republicans think Trump should have authority to shutter media outlets

TheHill

43% of Republicans think President Trump "should have the authority to close news outlets engaged in bad behavior," while only 36% disagreed with the statement, according to an Ipsos poll released Tuesday.

 

 

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING  

 

Sunday, August 12, at 10 a.m. on ABC 30 – Maddy Report“Out of District Charter Schools: Does Out of Sight, Mean Out of Mind?” –Guest: State Auditor Elaine Howle. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, August 12, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “Are Education Reforms & Charter Schools the Answer?” – Guests: California State Auditor Elaine Howle, Laura Hill with the Public Policy Institute of Calif. & Dan Walters with CALmatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, August 12, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: State Auditor Report on Charter Schools  Guest: Margarita Fernandez, PIO State Auditor's Office. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans


Support the Maddy Daily


HERE


Thank you!

 

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

In a U.S.-China trade war, what are the stakes for the Valley?

Fresno Bee

The prospects for a war of tariffs between U.S. and China continue to put American agriculture, including farmers and ranchers in California’s central San Joaquin Valley, on the front line. Here are the stakes.

 

Avenal Farmers Market goes 'back to school'

Hanford Sentinel

The Avenal Farmers market is currently in the middle of its seasonal run and the theme for its August event is “Back to School.”

 

Supes move forward on crafting cannabis policy

Stockton Record

Supervisors moved forward, barely, on Tuesday on the matter of how legal, commercial cannabis businesses will be sanctioned to operate in unincorporated San Joaquin County.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Family, friends protest outside jail after death of man being held on misdemeanor

Fresno Bee

On Monday, his family and friends of Lorin Kane Sr. protested outside the Fresno County Jail after learning he died unexpectedly Aug. 1 in a pre-booking cell there. They are blaming the Fresno Police Department and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office for his untimely death.

 

Another Sikh man attacked, this time in Manteca.

Modesto Bee

Less than a week after a 50-year-old Sikh man was attacked in Stanislaus County, an older man of the same faith was kicked to the ground repeatedly.

 

The power of data in deploying criminal justice resources

CAFWD

Data and statistics are helping the Riverside County District Attorney’s office run more efficiently, ensuring that the department is properly resourced and is using tax dollars wisely, which is important to a county facing budget issues.

 

Public Safety:

 

National Night Out at Inspiration Park postponed due to bad air quality

ABC30

When it comes to first responders, public safety is a top priority so when they saw how dangerous the air quality was they decided to change it up.

See also:

     National Night Out burn demonstration canceled in Sanger ABC30

 

Fire:

 

Ferguson Fire grows more than 1,600 acres within 12 hours

Fresno Bee

The Ferguson Fire grew 1,661 acres throughout Tuesday and the containment remained at 43 percent, according to a 7 p.m. fire update.

See also:

     ‘We feel good about this right now.’ Amid Ferguson Fire optimism, Yosemite worries remain Fresno Bee

     Deadly Ferguson Fire started 26 days ago, 94,000 acres, 43 percent contained ABC30

     Ferguson Fire winding down, some evacuation orders lifted ABC30

 

Mendocino Complex Fire approaches 300,000 acres as hot, dry winds continue

Sacramento Bee

The Mendocino Complex Fire, which has been designated the largest recorded wildfire in California history, continued to spread overnight, growing to a total of 290,692 acres as of 7 a.m. Tuesday, according a Cal Fire incident update.

See also:

     Firefighters gain ground on record-breaking Mendocino Complex fire as battles against statewide blazes continue Los Angeles Times

      Mendocino Complex Fire now largest in California history abc News

     Largest California Wildfire Won't Be Contained Until September, Officials Say NPR

      Why Today's Wildfires Are Hotter And More Destructive Capital Radio

      California Today: Your Questions About Fires and Climate The New York Times

      Fire and Water in California Washington Post

     These California counties have the highest concentration of homes vulnerable to wildfire Sacramento Bee

 

Trump wants to clear more trees to halt fires. The feds need to spend more, experts say.

Modesto Bee

There are things people can do to mitigate the risk of forest fires. After years of neglect, California’s government is now stepping up efforts to do just that. The federal government, however, is not moving with the same sense of urgency.

See also:

     Trump picks fight with California over wildfires and water Visalia Times-Delta

     Frazier Park Residents Raise Concerns About Forest Thinning And Fire Risks Valley Public Radio

     As Trump tweets about tree-clearing, his administration looks to allow logging in a forest north of L.A.  Los Angeles Times
     EDITORIAL: Trump tweets while California burns Los Angeles Times
     Trump, feds lag California in fire prevention efforts Sacramento Bee

     Legislature should put consumers first, not PG&E Sacramento Bee

 

$170 million in cap-and-trade revenue to help prevent wildfires

San Francisco Chronicle

California officials said Tuesday they will grant more than $170 million in cap-and-trade funds to local governments and organizations to prevent fires and improve the health of forests.

 

California Wildfires: Inmates Are Risking Their Lives Working Alongside Firefighters for $2 a Day

Newsweek

As California firefighters work to contain the largest wildfire in state history, they find themselves working their 24-hour shifts alongside a group of unlikely partners: 3,400 inmates from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

See also:

     EDITORIAL: The increasing toll on California firefighters on the front lines

Sacramento Bee

 

ECONOMY / JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Trade war: California waits for effects of Chinese tariffs

Fresno Bee

The prospects for a trade war of dueling tariffs between the United States and China continue to put American agriculture, including farmers and ranchers in California, on the front lines.

 

Tariffs likely to nix savings Trump touts from relaxed auto rules

McClatchy Washington Bureau

Driving down costs for car buyers was a stated rationale of the Trump administration’s decision last week to lower Obama-era fuel economy standards and challenge California’s ability to set its own vehicle emission limits.

See also:

      No, Tariffs Aren’t Going to Pay Down the National Debt The New York Times

      Trump fuel-economy standards roll back environmental reforms Brookings

     U.S. to impose new tariffs on $16B worth of Chinese goods UPI

 

The truth about income inequality, in six amazing charts

Los Angeles Times

It has become fashionable in recent years to downplay the growth of income and wealth inequality in the developed world, especially in the United States — and also its consequences.

 

California is tough on business

CALmatters

Business executives from Hollywood and Silicon Valley told a conference hosted by the Milken Institute in Sacramento Tuesday that high taxes, lousy transportation, and exorbitant housing costs make it tough to do business in California.

 

Hardly anyone wants to admit America is beating poverty

AEI

Poverty has declined over the past 50 years, but neither side has recognized the progress that has been made. It is heartening to see that the White House, through the Council of Economic Advisers, has recognized that progress — and recommends that the existing safety net be adapted in light of it.

 

Jobs:

 

Gig Companies, Fearing Litigation 'Onslaught,' Press Fight Over Labor Ruling

The Recorder

Gig companies and business groups are lobbying California Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers to quickly blunt the effects of an April ruling by the state Supreme Court that makes it tougher for employers to deny employee status to their workforce.

 

California Court of Appeal Upholds Company’s Rounding Practices

Ogletree, Deakins

Many California employers round employees’ clock-in and clock-out times to the closest quarter hour, tenth of an hour, or five-minute interval. This practice is commonly referred to as “rounding.”

 

How can workers fight wage stagnation? Be willing to switch jobs

Marketplace

There’s something of a paradox in the U.S. economy: How is it that unemployment can be so low, while wage increases are barely exceeding inflation?

See also:

     A Better Minimum Wage WSJ

 

Why the U.S. Needs More Worker-Owned Companies

HBR

The gap in wealth in the United States between the ultrawealthy and everyone else has reached its widest point in decades. One way to narrow the divide is through the use of worker buyouts, in which ownership of a company transfers from a single person or a small number of people to the workers of the company.

 

Missouri Voters Reject Anti-Union Law in a Victory for Labor

The New York Times

After a succession of political setbacks in onetime strongholds and a landmark defeat in the Supreme Court, organized labor has notched a hard-won victory as Missouri voters overrode a legislative move to curb union power.

See also:

      Missouri deciding on right-to-work law that curbs union power PBS

 

Teachers are getting targeted anti-union emails from conservative groups

PBS NewsHour

Conservative, free-market groups across the country have launched campaigns aimed at persuading teachers to drop out of their unions, in the aftermath of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that will put a dent in unions’ finances and membership numbers.

 

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

How California is transforming bus drivers, clerks and yard supervisors into teachers

Sacramento Bee

Hundreds of classified employees – generally bus drivers, clerks, yard supervisors and instructional assistants – across California are getting financial and instructional support to help them earn a teaching credential.

 

Hydash investigation done, VUSD will use it as a 'teachable' moment

Visalia Times Delta

An outside investigator has found no evidence the Redwood High School varsity baseball program violated laws or ran a pay-for-play operation, leading the school district to conclude the nearly 10-month investigation.

 

Lamont residents upset by school board's decision on new high school site

Bakersfield Californian

Despite opposition from Lamont residents, the Kern High School District is continuing to move toward purchasing land for a new school in southeast Bakersfield.

 

Teachers are getting targeted anti-union emails from conservative groups

PBS NewsHour

Conservative, free-market groups across the country have launched campaigns aimed at persuading teachers to drop out of their unions, in the aftermath of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that will put a dent in unions’ finances and membership numbers.

 

Higher Ed:

 

Early welcome for the new class at Clovis Community College

ABC30

With the fall semester just around the corner administrators at Clovis Community College are getting incoming students ready for the new school year with what they call "Crush Days".

 

CHSU begins construction on new campus

Clovis RoundUp

Construction is in the early stages for California Health Sciences University’s new Clovis campus near Temperance and Highway 168.

 

McGeorge Law gets million-dollar donation from Tsakopoulos family honoring Justice Kennedy

Sacramento Bee

Every now and then, students at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento have been treated to a special guest: Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.  On Tuesday, McGeorge received a $1 million gift in Kennedy’s honor from the Tsakopoulos Family Foundation.

 

The right way forward on college completion

AEI

This fall, 2.5 million students will enroll in college for the first time. But how many will actually complete their degrees? A lot fewer than you might expect. Less than half of students at four-year colleges graduate within six years, and not even 40 percent of students at two-year institutions finish within three.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Smoke from fires near Fresno expected to remain through week

Fresno Bee

The gagging smoke that has blanketed the central San Joaquin Valley for days is going nowhere soon and could be at choking levels into next week.

See also:

     Poor air quality impacting outdoor workers ABC30

     It’s probably a good time to buy a mask and change the filter on the air conditioner Sierra Star

     Wildfires continue to bring smoke into the Valley Hanford Sentinel

     Air quality changes by the minute: Here’s what you should know, what sites to check Sacramento Bee

      Extreme California Wildfires Emit More Greenhouse Gases — But Scientists Don’t Know Exactly How Much capradio.org

 

Record heat in California is no fluke, experts warn

Fresno Bee

At Scripps Pier in San Diego, the surface water reached the highest temperature in 102 years of records, 78.8 degrees.

See also:

      Extreme Weather, Extreme Fires Mark California's Summer 2018 KVPR

 

Worth Noting: Bureau of Land Management seeks input on fracking in Kern

Bakersfield Californian

The Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Field Office is seeking public input on potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing.

 

California air regulators fight Trump over auto pollution

Sacramento Bee

California struck back at the Trump administration over air pollution Tuesday, unveiling a proposal that would force automakers to comply with the state’s strict standards for tailpipe emissions even as the federal government moves to weaken the rules.

 

EDITORIAL: Put measure on November ballot to see how much Fresno voters value their parks

Fresno Bee

Fresno’s parks have been a sore point for a long time. The Trust for Public Land has routinely ranked the city among the worst in the nation for its lack of green space and its rundown parks.

 

Energy:

 

Bureau of Land Management seeks input on fracking in Kern

Bakersfield Californian

The Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Field Office is seeking public input on potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing — known as fracking — during oil and gas production on new leases of public lands.

 

Putting 5 Million Electric Cars on California Roads Wouldn't Overwhelm Power Grid: Report

KQED Science

One concern raised about the proliferation of plug-in electric vehicles in California is that they threaten to overwhelm an already stressed power grid.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Air District needs to be clearer about health threats in Valley’s polluted air

Fresno Bee

The sight of high school football players dashing across smoky fields on an August morning was shocking. Even more surprising were the words from coaches and athletic directors from local school districts who explained to one TV news reporter that all was fine.

See also:

     Unhealthy air levels send athletes indoors, others looking for the right kind of mask Fresno Bee

     Smoke from fires near Fresno expected to remain through week Fresno Bee

     Poor air quality impacting outdoor workers ABC30

     It’s probably a good time to buy a mask and change the filter on the air conditioner Sierra Star

     Wildfires continue to bring smoke into the Valley Hanford Sentinel

     Air quality changes by the minute: Here’s what you should know, what sites to check Sacramento Bee

 

Playskool crayons found to contain asbestos, advocacy group says

Modesto Bee

A popular brand of crayons contains toxic levels of asbestos, according to a consumer advocacy group that is calling on retailers such as Dollar Tree and Amazon.com to pull the items from their shelves.

 

Lidocaine shortage seems to be hitting family medicine hardest

San Diego Union-Tribune

Lidocaine is one of 106 current drug shortages listed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Drug shortages, especially those associated with injection opioid painkillers, have been a continuous problem for medical providers at all levels this year.

 

Here's a (partial) list of all the pre-existing conditions the GOP bill may not cover

CNN

The new health care bill, the American Health Care Act, could weaken protections for those with pre-existing conditions (aka a "health problem you had before the date that new health coverage starts") That's an estimated 52 million adults under 65.

 

Human Services:

 

Study says Hanford one of the best cities for psychologists

Business Journal

Hanford was named as one of the top three cities for clinical, counseling and school psychologists in the United States.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Denham addresses immigration as detractors protest

Modesto Bee

Rep. Jeff Denham made a rare public appearance Tuesday, addressing the Latino Community Roundtable in Modesto while a sign-waving crowd of about 50 people protested outside.

 

Immigrant rights advocates denounce ICE agents at Fresno supervisors

Fresno Bee

Recent arrests of undocumented immigrants sparked a rally Tuesday in frontof Fresno County Hall of Records, where the Board of Supervisors is tackling the sticky subject of federal immigration agents roaming the courthouse.

See also:

     Immigrant rights rally at Fresno County Hall of Records Fresno Bee

     Immigrant rights group slam Fresno County Sheriff as being too cozy with ICE ABC30

 

California challenges border wall at appeals court

Sacramento Bee

A legal challenge to the Trump administration's planned border wall Tuesday hinged on whether the state of California and environmental groups can even fight such a project in lower courts.

 

ACLU lawsuit accuses US of wrongfully denying asylum

Sacramento Bee

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the U.S. government Tuesday over its efforts to prevent immigrants from seeking asylum due to domestic and gang violence in their home countries.

See also:

     Lawsuit Challenges Administration's Crackdown On Asylum-Seekers NPR

 

Border arrest data suggest Trump’s push to split migrant families had little deterrent effect

The Washington Post

The number of migrant families taken into custody along the U.S. border with Mexico remained nearly unchanged from June to July, according to government data released Wednesday, an indication the Trump administration’s controversial move to separate thousands of parents and children did little to deter others from attempting the journey.

 

Now the Trump administration wants to limit citizenship for legal immigrants

NBC News

The most significant change to legal immigration in decades could affect millions of would-be citizens, say lawyers and advocates.

 

EDITORIAL: Immigration crackdown was never about the law

San Francisco Chronicle

The issue of illegal immigration, however legitimate, provides a convenient hiding place for bigotry. But the Trump administration is not hiding.

 

EDITORIAL: GAO report shows just how reckless Trump is with a border wall

San Diego Union-Tribune

A new U.S. Government Accountability Office report released Monday provided ample reasons to explain why even Republicans who support an immigration crackdown should have their doubts about building a border wall.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Bakersfield looking to become more accessible for all residents; it could take a while

bakersfield.com

The City of Bakersfield is taking out the proverbial microscope and examining how it could become more accessible for residents with disabilities.

 

Housing:

 

Both renters and homeowners could benefit from better housing policy

Brookings

As the income-to-rent gap persists for America’s poorest households, Jenny Schuetz offers recommendations for policymakers at all levels to correct disparate housing policies and improve affordability and well-being for renters and homeowners alike.  

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

CA unions win San Diego pension lawsuit, killing 401(k) plan

Sacramento Bee

The state Supreme Court last Thursday struck down one of the biggest efforts yet to force California public employees into 401(k) plans, giving unions another win in their effort to protect defined benefit retirement plans from elected leaders who want to rein in pension costs.

 

GOP tax bill would end deduction for wildfire and earthquake victims — but not recent hurricane victims

Los Angeles Times

The House Republican tax bill would eliminate the deduction for personal losses from wildfires, earthquakes and other natural disasters, but keep the break for victims of the recent severe hurricanes.

 

How to think about the Trump tax cuts: A long-read Q&A with Alan Viard

AEI

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has been credited for kick-starting economic growth and boosting workers’ wages. It’s also been blamed for enriching the already well-off at the expense of labor and for dooming us all to a life of perpetual deficits. James Pethokoukis and Alan Viard give a fair assessment of the law.

 

Federal deficit jumps 20% after tax cuts, spending bill

TheHill

The federal deficit jumped 20 percent in he first ten months of the 2018 fiscal year, the Congressional Budget Office reported Wednesday.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Which California highways are the most dangerous in the US?

Fresno Bee

If you’re a driver in California, here’s some essential information — six of the nation’s top 50 most dangerous highways are in the Golden State, according to a report.

 

The REAL ID issue at the DMV

Hanford Sentinel

It’s been over six months since California drivers have had the option to upgrade their driver’s licenses to a REAL ID driver’s license, but confusion still exists about if or when people should get the upgrade.

 

Audit would redirect resources dedicated to cutting DMV wait times, director says

The Sacramento Bee

In a budget hearing on Tuesday, August 7, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto expressed opposition to a potential audit of the department, calling the proposal a “strain” on resources that would detract focus from reducing wait times.

See also:

     Lawmakers to question DMV about long lines, meanwhile DMV announces new efforts to help ABC30

     Lawmakers blister DMV chief amid flood of complaints about hours-long waits San Francisco Chronicle

      California Lawmakers Slam DMV Over Soaring Wait Times capradio.org

 

California strikes back against Trump over vehicle air pollution rules

Sacramento Bee

California struck back at the Trump administration over air pollution Tuesday, unveiling a proposal that would force automakers to comply with the state’s strict standards for tailpipe emissions even as the federal government moves to weaken the rules.

See also:

     California moves to safeguard vehicle emissions rules from Trump rollback Los Angeles Times

 

Putting 5 Million Electric Cars on California Roads Wouldn't Overwhelm Power Grid: Report

KQED Science

One concern raised about the proliferation of plug-in electric vehicles in California is that they threaten to overwhelm an already stressed power grid.

 

BLOG: High-speed rail, the Lone Star way

The Business Journal

Imagine a high-speed rail system that is 100-percent privately funded, only a few years behind schedule and actually faces competition pressures. You don’t have to.

 

WATER

 

Algae bloom affecting some Stockton water

Stockton Record

A musty smell and unsavory taste pouring out of Stockton taps have prompted concerns from some households, but officials say the water is safe.

 

California Groundwater Law Means Big Changes Above Ground, Too

KQED Science

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), adopted in 2014, will change more than groundwater. The requirement to end overdraft will also transform land use, a massive side effect yet to be widely recognized.

See also:

      California Groundwater Law Means Big Changes Above Ground, Too — Water Deeply Newsdeeply

 

“Xtra”

 

Unicorn Camp Benefits M.A.R.E Therapeutic Riding Center

Bakersfield Californian

Unicorn Camp for children is being held as a fundraiser for M.A.R.E. this week. M.A.R.E. provides equine-assisted therapies and activities for people with special needs and disabilities.

 

Salas and community donate 500 backpacks

Hanford Sentinel

Assemblyman Rudy Salas (D–Bakersfield) hosted the “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive Saturday in Lemoore and Shafter.

 

Spotlight: San Luis Obispo County

Visit California

Cambria