December 20, 2019

20Dec

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

Did Canadian cannabis firm bypass vetting in Stanislaus County? Project is under review

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County leaders will decide if a company is approved for a large cannabis operation in an industrial area in south Modesto.

 

EDITORIAL: Dave Lopez’s role in exposing housing scandal secured his place in Modesto history

Modesto Bee

Eight years ago, then-City Councilman Dave Lopez knew that going public about something he had stumbled on — misuse of city-funneled housing money — would bring pain and embarrassment to Modesto City Hall, and others.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

State watchdog agency confirms fine for former school board trustee Brooke Ashjian

Fresno Bee

The California Fair Political Practices Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to fine former Fresno Unified trustee Brooke Ashjian more than $20,000 for conflicts of interest.

 

Tulare City Council declares housing, shelter crisis

Visalia Times Delta

Tulare is the first city in the county to declare the lack of shelter and housing a "crisis," as the San Joaquin Valley and the rest of California grapple with homelessness.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

Relations between Kern fire union and supervisors fray as negotiations over contract continue

Bakersfield Californian

As negotiations between the Kern County Board of Supervisors and the firefighters union over a new contract continue, the two sides have entered into somewhat of a war of words.

 

Gov. Gavin Newsom visits Bakersfield in search of answers to homeless crisis

Bakersfield Californian

In this polarized climate, there may be only one issue in the state that can bring together Republicans and Democrats. That issue? Homelessness.

 

Local water district hopes to win interim contracts to serve the Cross-Valley Canal

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern-Tulare Water District stands to win a pair of interim contract renewals from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to continue serving the Cross-Valley Canal.

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State:

 

Eight new California laws that could affect your life in 2020

Sacramento Bee

From a minimum wage increase to crackdown on vaccine exemptions, a major shake-up of California’s employment laws to a cap on rent hikes, here’s a rundown of some of the laws which could affect your life in the coming year.

 

California’s campaign watchdog reverses course, won’t allow its leaders to donate to politicians

Los Angeles Times

California’s campaign watchdog panel reversed itself Thursday and restored a rule prohibiting its members from giving to federal political candidates, citing concerns that its suspension of the restriction in September undermines an appearance of nonpartisanship crucial to its mission.

 

A year into Trump’s trade turmoil, an iconic California industry struggles to resist

CalMatters

The old joke about the California lieutenant governor’s office has been that its occupant’s main duty is to wake up in the morning, see whether the governor is still alive and, if so, go back to bed. But that was before Gov. Gavin Newsom made Eleni Kounalakis his point woman on President Donald Trump’s trade wars.

 

Video: A Conversation with Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye

Bakersfield Californian

Cantil-Sakauye is known for her efforts to make the courts accessible and understandable to all Californians. She became convinced of the need to educate the public about the judicial branch after the state judiciary was hit hard by budget cuts during the Great Recession.

 

New California Law Giving Consumers Control Over Their Data Sets Off a Scramble

Fortune

In 2020, many Americans will get a powerful tool to protect their online privacy. A sweeping new law will require millions of businesses to tell consumers what data they have collected about them and, if asked, to delete it.

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Federal:

 

Even in blue California, impeachment of Trump inspires more exhaustion than elation

Los Angeles Times

Even here in one of the bluest states in the country — a place that has defied the president on everything from immigration to climate change — voters say they are getting tired.

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Senate Approves $1.4 Trillion Spending Agreement Ahead of Shutdown Deadline

Capital Public Radio

Congress has approved two major spending bills to fund the federal government through September 2020. The package heads to the president's desk for his signature.

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Census effort gets $7.6 billion funding, ‘friended’ by Facebook

Roll Call

The Census Bureau got a slew of new tools Thursday in preparation for next year’s census count, making congressional allies and advocates cautiously optimistic about the effort.

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Elections 2020:

 

Klobuchar stands out, Buttigieg takes fire: Takeaways from the sixth Democratic debate

Fresno Bee

The fireworks at the sixth Democratic debate in Los Angeles on Thursday demonstrated a new urgency in a 2020 presidential primary race that’s just a few short weeks away from producing the first votes that will determine the party’s nominee to face President Donald Trump.

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The DNC has come a long way since 2016. But is it up to the task in 2020?

Fresno Bee

The DNC, an entity that exists to work hand-in-hand with the party’s presidential nominee, has been maligned by Democrats for a decade as both useless and contemptuous — criticism that reached an ugly crescendo during the last presidential campaign when the organization was accused by Bernie Sanders supporters of rigging the primary.

 

‘Find your voice.’ Republicans train Trump campaign volunteers to swarm Twitter

Fresno Bee

The Republican Party is training Trump supporters in the art of spreading the president’s message on social media. The party has trained more than 30,000 volunteers, neighborhood team leaders and paid field organizers to use Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

 

More election security funds headed to states as 2020 looms

Fresno Bee

Congress is giving states a last-minute infusion of federal funds to help boost election security with voting in early caucus and primary states slated to begin in February.

 

Michael Bloomberg swarms March and April primary states with 200 staffers

Sacramento Bee

Michael Bloomberg’s presidential campaign has hired more than 200 staffers to work in 21 states, aides told McClatchy, providing the New York billionaire with the largest organization after the early voting states of any 2020 Democratic candidate.

 

Five things Californians need to know about Joe Biden

Sacramento Bee

Former Vice President Joe Biden is running on a more pragmatic set of policy views. He wants to preserve the Affordable Care Act and is leaning in heavily on voters’ desire to elect someone they believe can beat President Donald Trump in the 2020 general election.

See also:

 

Five things Californians need to know about Bernie Sanders

Sacramento Bee

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has the largest ground game in California and is working to win over voters across the Golden State. He’s also appealing to his base of supporters who backed him 2016.

 

Goats, popcorn, politics: Youth vote mobilizes for 2020 election

CalMatters

Helped by new laws and creative tactics, campus organizers across California are aiming to boost civic participation even beyond 2018, when student voter turnout more than doubled nationwide.

 

Julián Castro tours L.A.'s skid row to talk about his housing plan

Los Angeles Times

A day before seven Democrats were preparing to debate in L.A., one presidential candidate who won’t be on stage spent time touring skid row to witness firsthand the housing crisis battering the city.

 

Booker will be on TV during Democratic debate, even though he’s not on stage

NJ

Booker will air his first campaign ad during the debate on cable television in the four early voting states — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina — as well as New York City, Washington, and Los Angeles, where the event is taking place.

 

EDITORIAL: More California voters claim ‘no party preference.’ Why they should vote in the primary

Sacramento Bee

No Party Preference voters, also known as NPP, outnumber Republicans in California. In primary elections, affiliation matters. And NPP voters must take an extra step to ensure their ballots for the March 3 primary include presidential candidates.

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Other:

 

20 words that changed how we communicate now

San Francisco Chronicle

This year, Merriam-Webster added nearly 1,200 words to its dictionary, letting us express ourselves in new ways (genderqueer) or call out old ways (mansplaining). LOL!

 

AEI Political Report: The state of the nation, the public’s crystal ball, and New Year’s resolutions

AEI

While Americans continue to believe the country is on the wrong track and not heading in the right direction, they are much more optimistic about their own communities and personal lives.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, December 22, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: PPIC: Reducing Recidivism Among Felons - Guest: Justin Gross, Public Policy Institute of California. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, December 22, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: Recidivism: Statewide Data and a Local Program That Works - Guests: CSU Fresno Professor Emma Hughes, Project Rebound Director Jennifer Leahy, and Project Rebound Rebound Arnold Trevino. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, December 22, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: Indices de Reincidencia y Programas de Apoyo - Guest: Joe Hayes, Investigator del Instituto de Politicas Publicas de California, Esther Olmos y Anita Flores con Project Rebound de Fresno State. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Did Canadian cannabis firm bypass vetting in Stanislaus County? Project is under review

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County leaders will decide if a company is approved for a large cannabis operation in an industrial area in south Modesto.

 

The stronger the joint, the higher the tax? Report weighs California marijuana tax change

Sacramento Bee

Should that marijuana joint cost more because it is higher in THC content? That’s the argument put forth in a new report by the California Legislative Analyst’s Office.

 

Californians can now verify legal cannabis shops using QR codes

Los Angeles Times

California marijuana users can now turn to their smartphones to find out whether a dispensary is legit.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

You Could Get Fined $25 If You Smoke At A California State Beach Or Park Starting In 2020

Capital Public Radio

If you break the new law — Senate Bill 8 — the fine is $25, but court fees will bring it to more than $100 or $200 depending on the county, says California Department of Parks and Recreation spokesperson Adeline Yee.

 

Teen Arrested after Stealing a Plane and Crashing into Building at Fresno Yosemite Airport

CalMatters

A 17-year-old girl was arrested after officers received a call that someone had stolen a plane Wednesday, Dec. 18 around 7:30 a.m. The girl managed to break through the airport fences on the West side of the property, away from the airport’s main terminal.

 

Public Safety:

 

Battle over police records reaches California appeals court

Bakersfield Californian

The California attorney general's office urged a state appeals court Thursday to refrain from ordering it to review and publicly release a massive trove of records documenting investigations into police shootings, use-of-force incidents and officer misconduct.

 

California Voters Support Ending Cash Bail, New Poll Shows

KQED

Fifty percent of likely California voters say they will support a proposal to end cash bail in the state and replace it with a risk-based system, according to a new poll conducted for KQED by Change Research.

 

Federal study confirms racial bias of many facial-recognition systems, casts doubt on their expanding use

Washington Post

Facial-recognition systems misidentified people of color more often than white people, a landmark federal study released Thursday shows, casting new doubts on a rapidly expanding investigative technique widely used by law enforcement across the United States.

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Visalia Police Department to host Cocoa with the K9’s

Visalia Times Delta

If you're looking for something festive to do this weekend, Visalia Police Department might have what you're looking for. The department is inviting the public to sip hot chocolate with officers during its Cocoa with the K9's event.

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43 officers honored for going above and beyond the call of duty

abc30

Special honors Thursday for dozens of members of the Fresno Police Department. The department took time to honor 43 officers who went above and beyond the call of duty. The awards ranged from recovering firearms to saving lives.

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MCSO Detective Recognized for ‘Excellence’ by Supervisors

Sierra News

At this week’s Madera County Board of Supervisors meeting — the final board meeting of 2019 — Madera County Sheriff’s Detective Manuel Chavez was recognized with the 2019 Chairman’s Culture of Excellence Award.

 

Hanford Police take part in national enforcement campaign

Hanford Sentinel

Hanford Police Department encourages everyone attending holiday parties and gatherings where alcohol may be involved to use a designated sober driver.

 

Fire:

 

PG&E profit increase blocked; CEO projects five more years of blackouts

San Francisco Chronicle

California regulators turned down PG&E’s request to increase its profit margin. Meanwhile, its CEO told Congress that large-scale outages could continue for five years.

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California releases more ZIP codes where insurers can’t drop homeowners for fire risk

San Francisco Chronicle

California’s insurance department has released a second list of ZIP codes near 2019 wildfires where insurers can’t refuse to renew homeowners policies because of fire risk for one year.

 

ECONOMY / JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Naysayers are wrong: California’s economy just keeps humming

San Francisco Chronicle

A new report from the UCLA Anderson School shows that even as national economic growth is set to slow in 2020, California is still set to continue to outpace the country as a whole.

See also:

 

Stocks move higher as markets yawn at Trump’s impeachment

Los Angeles Times

Technology companies led stocks higher on Wall Street on Thursday, extending the market’s gains for the week and pushing the major indexes to more record highs.

 

U.S. companies have repatriated $1 trillion since tax overhaul

Los Angeles Times

Corporations have brought back more than $1 trillion of overseas profits to the U.S. since Congress overhauled the international tax system and prodded companies to repatriate offshore funds, a Thursday report showed.

 

Poverty Grew in One-Third of Counties Despite Strong National Economy

Pew Trusts

Despite an economic recovery that lifted people out of poverty in most areas of the country, poverty increased in at least one county in every state between 2016 and 2018.

 

House passes reworked North American trade deal in victory for Trump, Democrats

Washington Post

The House of Representatives voted Thursday in favor of a new trade deal for North America, delivering a hard-fought victory to President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) a day after Democrats impeached the president.

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Universal Basic Income: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

American Conservative

Universal Basic Income (UBI) probably won’t happen in the next administration, but it’s no longer enough to get you laughed off the stage. Yang’s campaign, despite his inevitable withdrawal, may be the necessary push that brings UBI within the Overton window.

 

The Declining Economic Impact of Manufacturing

U.S. News

Manufacturing's smaller role is apparent in all but a few states and subsectors of the industry. Yet, it still remains a popular issue on the presidential campaign trail with candidates pledging to bring jobs back to the United States.

 

Where Are the Tech Zillionaires? San Francisco Faces the I.P.O. Fizzle

New York Times

San Francisco has been left as a slightly more normal town of tech workers who got rich-ish, maybe making a few hundred thousand dollars. But that doesn’t go far in a city where the median cost of a single family home is about $1.6 million.

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Jobs:

 

Drivers sue Uber for back pay, accelerating fight over California gig economy law

Sacramento Bee

The drivers are suing for the pay and benefits back to April 2018, when the California Supreme Court issued its Dynamex ruling setting new rules for when companies must provide employment benefits to workers.

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Hiltzik: California freelancers are losing work, but they’re wrong to blame the gig economy law

Los Angeles Times

Freelance writers in California who have been seeing their publishing opportunities sharply cut back or even eliminated by publishers are blaming the state’s new gig economy law, which goes into effect on New Year’s Day.

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Nepotism, pension lawsuits and prisons: Our top 2019 California State Worker stories

Sacramento Bee

In March, the state Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that ended a controversial retirement perk for public workers. The benefit had let public workers pay to retire early and receive the same pension as if they had worked up to five more years.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Kids walking to school in the dark? Year-round daylight saving time in California makes no sense

Los Angeles Times

You still want daylight saving time year-round? California voters answered an emphatic “yes” last year. Well, look outside these chilly mornings about 7 o’clock.

 

Opinion: Big teacher pay proposals are missing the mark

The Hill

Not only are teacher unions a significant force in the Democratic nominating process, but 72 percent of Americans say that teachers should be paid more. And this is all in the public eye due to a wave of teacher strikes in recent years.

 

Reinventing a California school one teacher at a time

EdSource

At a school that has seen many of its teachers leave every year, there’s one who for nearly two decades has been committed to staying and helping her students. 

 

2019 Education Year in Review: with Erica Green, Alyson Klein, and Josh Mitchell

AEI

From Varsity Blues to debates over charter schools, 2019 was an eventful year in education news. In the last episode of the year, Erica Green, Alyson Klein, and Josh Mitchell reflect with host Nat Malkus on the top education stories of 2019 and look ahead to stories we should pay attention to in 2020.

 

Higher Ed:

 

Seniors Want to Go Back to Class. Universities Want to Sell Them Real Estate.

Wall Street Journal

More schools are building or planning senior-living facilities on or near campus to cater to baby boomers who view college as a stimulating alternative to bingo at an archetypal retirement home.

 

VIDEO: California’s community colleges invest in e-commerce skills and work-based programs

California Economic Summit

The 2016-17 budget provided $200 million in ongoing funding to the California Community Colleges (CCC) Chancellor’s Office to create a new career technical education (CTE) program.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Largest private giant sequoia grove for sale. Deadline near to protect ‘absolute jewel’

Fresno Bee

A Tulare County family decided to sell it to Save the Redwoods League following years of discussions with the San Francisco-based conservation group, which has been eager to protect the property and add it to adjacent Giant Sequoia National Monument.

 

Some local residents took air pollution concerns to valley air board meeting

abc30

Despite a year of major improvement in reducing central valley ozone levels, on Thursday, board members with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District were told they still have room for improvement.

 

Step Aside Fires, Drought And Crazy Weather. Sea Level Rise Is Slowly Getting Its Day In California.

Capital Public Radio

The sea could rise by half a foot by 2030 and as much as seven feet by the end of the century, according to a high-level report from the state's Legislative Analyst’s Office. That could have a huge impact on the millions of Californians who live along the coast.

 

Plastic-munching mealworms may be key to helping clean environment

San Francisco Chronicle

Ravenous mealworms so robust that they can digest plastic may be the solution to a worldwide pollution problem that is threatening wildlife on land and sea, Stanford University researchers revealed Thursday.

 

The Pineapple Express storm will bring flooding and snow to the West

CNN

An atmospheric river is moving to the West Coast, likely to bring menacing flooding, heavy mountain snow, and damaging winds. Atmospheric rivers are narrow corridors of the upper atmosphere that transport intense moisture from a large body of water onto land.

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Energy:

 

Solar and electric vehicles shut out of federal tax credit extensions

San Diego Union-Tribune

Since 2005, the federal government has offered a 30 percent tax credit on solar installations, including residential rooftop and commercial systems. But starting in 2020, the credit drops to 26 percent and then falls to 22 percent in 2021.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Vaping Related Lung Injuries Climb Past 2,500 And 54 Deaths

Capital Public Radio

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said most people who have had lung injuries after vaping had consumed THC-containing products.

 

After String of Rare Cancer Cases, Pennsylvania Investigates Potential Link to Fracking

Wall Street Journal

An increase in the number of teens and young adults diagnosed with a rare cancer in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania has caused the state to look for a link between fracking and the disease.

 

Human Services:

 

Holidays Heroes Blood Drive begins at Sierra Vista Mall

abc30

You can help give the gift of life this holiday season. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office is teaming up with Central California Blood Center for its annual Holiday Heroes Blood Drive.

 

What Matters To Health Care Voters: 5 Voices From New Hampshire

Capital Public Radio

Health care is shaping up to be a major issue in the 2020 elections and is dividing the field of Democratic presidential candidates. But what drives voters? Here are a few of their stories.

 

Federal Disability Payments Encourage More Caregiving Assistance from Family Members

RAND

Federal disability benefits can lead to increases in other support for beneficiaries, such as in-kind assistance from adult children, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Few Asylum-Seekers Winning Cases Under 'Remain In Mexico' Program

Capital Public Radio

A little more than 100 migrants out the of tens of thousands who've arrived at the southern border in recent months have been granted protection.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

‘It’s home.’ Man lives on tiny homemade houseboat on the San Joaquin River in Fresno

Fresno Bee

Though as far as I can tell, only one person in town actually lives on the river. Sleeping every night inside a tiny homemade houseboat (little more than a wooden frame covered with plastic sheeting placed upon an inflatable dinghy) with his loyal dog Sailor Girl.

 

Housing:

 

Gov. Gavin Newsom visits Bakersfield in search of answers to homeless crisis

Bakersfield Californian

In this polarized climate, there may be only one issue in the state that can bring together Republicans and Democrats. That issue? Homelessness.

 

Tulare City Council declares housing, shelter crisis

Visalia Times Delta

Tulare is the first city in the county to declare the lack of shelter and housing a "crisis," as the San Joaquin Valley and the rest of California grapple with homelessness.

 

St. Paul’s Warming Center OK’d for 3rd year

Visalia Times Delta

Visalia planning commissioners unanimously approved an emergency warming center at St. Paul's Episcopal Church for a third year after a packed and emotional public hearing.

 

California Landlords Can't Reject Tenants Solely For Using Vouchers Starting In 2020

Capital Public Radio

Senate Bill 329, authored by Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, prohibits landlords in the state from rejecting tenants based solely on their use of the vouchers.

 

HUD reporting 2.7% percent uptick in homeless population

Porterville Recorder

The federal government is reporting a 2.7% increase in the nation’s homeless population driven by a spike in California, according to an annual count that took place in January 2019.

See also:

 

First phase of makeover unveiled at Sierra Vista Homes

Stockton Record

The first phase of the redevelopment at south Stockton’s Sierra Vista Homes was completed Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting by city and housing officials and community members.

 

As reverse mortgages end, heirs are left with heartache

USA Today

Reverse mortgages allow homeowners to borrow against the equity in their homes and stay in place mortgage-free until they pass away, while giving their heirs the option of paying off the loan to keep the properties or sell them.

 

Caltrain board to consider affordability requirement for housing near transit

Mercury News

Housing advocates on Thursday pushed the board that oversees Caltrain to prioritize affordable housing projects on land along the Peninsula’s train corridor.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Senate OKs big changes to how Americans save for retirement

Los Angeles Times

A major change to how Americans save for retirement is close to becoming law. The Senate on Thursday passed the SECURE Act as part of its massive spending package. The House also passed it this week, and it now heads to President Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.

See also:

 

Climate change threatens billions in CalPERS pension fund

Los Angeles Times

California’s massive Public Employees’ Retirement System has released the first climate risk assessment of its $394-billion pension fund.

 

House Votes to Repeal $10,000 Cap on State Tax Deduction

Wall Street Journal

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to repeal the cap on state and local tax deductions that was included in the 2017 tax overhaul, a symbolic step that Senate Republicans have already declared dead on arrival.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Caltrans plan flip flops and directs gas tax money back to Highway 99 projects

Fresno Bee

Caltrans says California will use $9 million of gas tax funding to widen portions of Highway 99 in Madera and $8 million in Tulare.

 

How to get where you’re going — and steer clear of road rage — this holiday season

Sacramento Bee

More people will crowd onto highways and into airport terminals than ever this holiday season. It will lead to frayed nerves. Here are some tips and a few warnings to help get you through.

 

WATER

 

Gov. Newsom’s threat to sue Trump upends peace talks on California water wars

Fresno Bee

Even before he was sworn into office, Gov. Gavin Newsom threw his weight behind a series of tentative deals, brokered by his predecessor, that were intended to bring lasting peace to California’s never-ending battles over water and endangered fish.

 

Local water district hopes to win interim contracts to serve the Cross-Valley Canal

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern-Tulare Water District stands to win a pair of interim contract renewals from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to continue serving the Cross-Valley Canal.

See also:

 

Strong storms boost California snowpack to highest December level since 2015

Los Angeles Times

In a boost for California’s water supply, a series of recent storms that blanketed the Sierra Nevada in snow has built the state’s snowpack to its highest December level since 2015.

See also:

 

House sinks Hetch Hetchy boating proposal

San Francisco Chronicle

The House has torpedoed a proposal to allow limited boating on Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park. Critics feared the plan could introduce contaminants to the reservoir that supplies famously pure drinking water for 2.7 million people in the Bay Area.

 

Opinion: California must stop agriculture from fouling our drinking water

CalMatters

Since 1990, the people of San Jerardo have drilled one well after another, only to see each closed as a result of agricultural contamination including nitrates and pesticides.

 

“Xtra”

 

New, larger library opens in Madera Ranchos

Fresno Bee

With help from development funds, the Madera Ranchos Library was able to double its size by moving to a remodeled building to offer free services to local residents in the growing southern Madera County community.

 

Toys for Tots brings joy for children: Helps families in need

Porterville Recorder

A line of close to 100 people stood at the Comision Honorifica building at the corner of Date and Plano waiting for bags of gifts to be delivered to them from Toys for Tots volunteers.

 

Take me home! Dogs available for adoption

Bakersfield Californian

These five dogs at Kern County Animal Services are looking for their forever homes. Can you help?

 

Can You Recycle Your Wrapping Paper? Here's How to Tell

KQED

If your wrap of choice is designed with glossy, reflective material, chances are it will end up in a landfill. That’s because shiny wrapping paper is often made with Mylar, a plastic film coated with aluminum.

 

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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.

                                                     

This document is to be used for informational purposes only. Unless specifically noted, The Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno does not officially endorse or support views that may be expressed in the document. If you want to print a story, please do so now before the link expires.

 

 

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