December 5, 2019

05Dec

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

Tom McClintock asks impeachment witnesses whether they voted for Trump

Fresno Bee

Rep. Tom McClintock triggered a quick, tense firestorm Wednesday when he asked witnesses at the House Judiciary Committee’s impeachment hearing if they had voted for President Donald Trump in 2016. They wouldn’t say.

 

Which issues matter the most in Merced County? Local political races taking shape

Merced Sun-Star

This week marks the next step toward bringing the 2020 campaign season from distant headlines right to Merced residents’ front doors.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

Thousands in Fresno could lose food stamps under new Trump administration rule

Fresno Bee

The Trump administration finalized a rule Wednesday cutting off food stamps to roughly 688,000 American adults. The U.S. Agriculture Department said the move will save about $5.5 billion over five years. The rule takes effect in April 2020.

See also:

     18,000 Fresno Co. residents to lose access to food stamps abc30

     Thousands in Tulare County could lose SNAP under Trump rule change Visalia Times Delta

     Nearly 700,000 SNAP Recipients Could Lose Benefits Under New Trump Rule Capital Public Radio

     Trump finalizes a new attack on food stamp recipients Los Angeles Times

     New Trump rule could eliminate food stamps for almost 200,000 Californians CalMatters

     New SNAP rule change just made it harder to combat future recessions Brookings

     Trump administration tightens work requirements for SNAP, which could cut hundreds of thousands from food stamps Washington Post

     Opinion: Food Stamps in Good Times Wall Street Journal

 

Devin Nunes’ calls to Giuliani, Lev Parnas have Democrats exploring discipline

Fresno Bee

A top House Democrat told reporters Wednesday that his party could explore disciplining Rep. Devin Nunes over the California Republican’s involvement with officials who now are at the center of President Donald Trump’s impeachment.

See also:

     Giuliani, Nunes and '-1': A Look At What The Impeachment Report Phone Records Mean VPR

     Rep. Devin Nunes files $435 million defamation lawsuit against CNN USA Today

     Devin Nunes Says He Doesn't 'Recall' Talking With Giuliani Associate Lev Parnas After Impeachment Report Shows Multiple Call Logs Newsweek

 

McEwen: Revisiting Fresno's Sputtering Growth Plan Is a Must

GV Wire

Thus Fresno City Councilmembers Luis Chavez, Miguel Arias, and Mike Karbassi are to be commended for sticking their necks out and asking to revisit the 2035 General Plan passed in late 2014.

 

EDITORIAL: How to best help run-down Fresno neighborhoods? By not growing outward

Fresno Bee

One of the basic functions of a city is to plan for orderly growth. Fresno went through that process not long ago, adopting in 2014 an update to the general plan, the overall guide for how development was to occur.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

Feds begin working on fix for Friant-Kern Canal

Bakersfield Californian

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced on Tuesday that it had begun the process of repairing the sinking Friant-Kern Canal.

 

Police shootings of unarmed black people linked to health problems for black infants

Bakersfield Californian

A study of nearly 1,900 fatal police encounters and millions of birth records in California suggests that police killings of unarmed black people may affect the health of black infants before they are even born.

 

Bakersfield City Council prepares to choose next city manager for first time in decades

Bakersfield Californian

Wanted: a man or woman who can envision a future for Bakersfield and then make that vision a reality. Reward: based on prior experience. It is approaching decision time for the Bakersfield City Council. Over the next two months, the council will go about the work of selecting the next city manager, a role no council has had to undertake in more than a quarter of a century.

 

Hanford City Council reorganizes, talks cannabis dispensaries

Hanford Sentinel

The Hanford City Council met Tuesday evening to hold its annual reorganization and discuss some business, including a decision about cannabis dispensaries in Hanford.

 

State:

 

Newsom releases millions for homelessness crisis

abc30

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday $650 million in emergency aid will be allocated to cities and counties to combat California's homelessness crisis.

See also:

     Kern County eligible to receive millions from state to aid homeless epidemic Bakersfield Californian

     Tired of waiting for federal go-ahead, California Gov. Newsom releases homeless funding to counties, cities Desert Sun

     California to send millions of dollars to cities to combat homelessness Mercury News

     California governor blames Trump for delayed homeless aid Associated Press

     Gavin Newsom hires adviser forced out by Donald Trump in latest dustup over homelessness Sacramento Bee

     Trump Fired Him. Now California Has Made Him a Homelessness Adviser. New York Times

     Trump administration holding up California homeless efforts, Newsom charges  San Francisco Chronicle

     Trump administration ousts top homelessness official as White House prepares broad crackdown Washington Post

     He wanted to ban feeding homeless people. Now he’s about to lead a federal homeless agency Los Angeles Times

 

California lawmakers fear wildfires will be left out of FCC emergency guidelines

Fresno Bee

Without proper guidance, lawmakers fear victims of wildfires could be left further disadvantaged and without necessary tools of communication during disasters.

 

State Refuses To Release Sexual Harassment Complaint Data Since January

Capital Public Radio

Public records requests are tricky and can often take weeks, or longer, before a reporter hears back. And sometimes, the request is denied and the reporter is left without vital data.

 

Podcast: California’s Continued Reaction to #MeToo Two Years Later – the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Littler

Discussing training, arbitration agreements, and the extended statute of limitations for FEHA claims, Helene provides insights and guidance for California employers as we move into the third year of the cemented #MeToo movement.

 

California cuts electric-car rebates, drops luxury models

San Francisco Chronicle

California’s rebate program to coax more drivers to buy electric vehicles just got less generous, especially for those looking to spend on a luxury model. Effective Tuesday, state regulators have stopped offering rebates for buyers of electric cars or plug-in hybrid vehicles that cost more than $60,000 — a move that will make buyers of high-end Tesla models dig deeper into their pockets.

 

California recovers $23M from auto parts makers’ bid rigging

Associated Press

California has recovered more than $23 million from settlements with 52 automobile parts manufacturers for illegal bid rigging that jacked up consumer costs, state Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Wednesday. The parts makers suppressed competition by conspiring to fix prices in automobile manufacturers’ requests for bids, Becerra said.

 

EDITORIAL: Duncan Hunter is guilty — of cynically exploiting the country’s partisan divide

Los Angeles Times

When Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) revealed during a TV interview Monday that after months of proclaiming his innocence, he was now planning to plead guilty Tuesday in federal court to misusing campaign funds for pay for personal expenses, he said he was sorry.

 

Federal:

 

House will draft Trump impeachment articles, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says

Fresno Bee

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday that the House is moving forward to draft articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

See also:

     Pelosi announces House drafting articles of impeachment abc30

     Biden says he will not appear at Senate impeachment trial despite demands from Trump abc30

     Pelosi asks chairmen to pursue articles of impeachment against Trump Visalia Times Delta

     Pelosi Says House Democrats Will Draft Articles Of Impeachment Against Trump Capital Public Radio

     Tom McClintock asks impeachment witnesses whether they voted for Trump Sacramento Bee

     House has ‘no choice’ but to move to impeach Trump, Pelosi says Los Angeles Times

     What’s Next on Impeachment Lawfare

     Impeachment hearings live updates: Pelosi asks committee chairs to proceed with articles of impeachment Washington Post

     ‘Are you ready?’: Pelosi preps Democrats for next steps on impeachment Politico

     Impeachment investigators will present evidence at Judiciary hearing next week Politico

     Opinion: Notable & Quotable: Impeachment Experts Wall Street Journal

     EDITORIAL: Impeachment hearing just gave us a Constitution lesson. Will the GOP bother to learn it? Los Angeles Times

     EDITORIAL: The House report makes a compelling case for impeaching Trump Los Angeles Times

     EDITORIAL: Pelosi should make a deal with Trump San Francisco Chronicle

 

This effort to decriminalize marijuana nationally is even getting Republican support

Sacramento Bee

An historic House bill to decriminalize marijuana is moving in Congress with support from both Democrats and Republicans —legislation that would have a dramatic impact on people convicted of using or possessing the drug.

 

Anti-robocall bill passes House of Representatives

abc30

Those annoying robocalls are one step closer to being a thing of the past. The House of Representatives passed a bill that increases fines and requires phone companies to take a bigger role in stopping robocalls.

 

Nancy Pelosi Pushes to Remove Legal Protections for Online Content in Trade Pact

Wall Street Journal

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing to strip out sweeping legal protections for online content in the new trade pact with Mexico and Canada, in what would be a blow for big technology companies.

 

Senators sound alarm on dangers of ransomware attacks after briefing

The Hill

Ransomware attacks have become an increasing threat nationwide over the past year, according to experts. The attacks involve an individual or group gaining access to a system, encrypting it and then demanding money before unlocking it for the owner.

 

Opinion: Polarized America Still Has a Big Middle

Wall Street Journal

In this era of partisan polarization, it might seem odd to speak of a “center” of American politics. But a soon-to-be-released survey suggests this term applies, albeit incompletely, to today’s American public. Both political parties ignore this center at their peril.

 

Elections 2020:

 

Warren and Biden lose ground, Sanders moves ahead in fluid California race

Los Angeles Times

Pete Buttigieg is also rising among California Democratic primary voters, a poll for The Times finds. Michael Bloomberg is the most unpopular candidate.

 

California campaign watchdog suspends donation rules after a member gives to Sanders

Los Angeles Times

California’s campaign watchdog agency has suspended a longstanding policy banning its members from contributing to federal candidates after one commissioner donated to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential bid.

 

Mayor Pete is Hollywood’s top pick now that Kamala Harris is out of the presidential race

CNBC
Among presidential candidates, only Kamala Harris has raised more money than Pete Buttigieg from the entertainment industry. Sharon Stone, Alyssa Milano and Michael J. Fox have all contributed to Buttigieg’s campaign. Buttigieg could be poised to benefit now that Harris has dropped out of the race.

 

Joe Biden Proposes $1 Trillion in New Corporate Taxes

Wall Street Journal

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden proposed nearly $1 trillion in new corporate taxes on Wednesday as he sought to generate more revenue to pay for his policy plans on health care, climate, infrastructure and education.

See also:

     Biden says he’ll consider Harris as his running mate Politico

     Blog Post: Joe Biden wants to reintroduce a corporate minimum tax AEI

 

Bloomberg’s Views on Marijuana Out of Step With Democratic Field

Wall Street Journal

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s presidential campaign is in the midst of a week focused on criminal justice and gun safety that could also spotlight an area in which his views are more conservative than the rest of the Democratic field: marijuana policy.

 

Harris exit points to hurdles facing minority candidates

Bakersfield Californian

Kamala Harris cloaked her presidential campaign in the promise of becoming the first black woman in the White House. That wasn't enough for donors and supporters, including black voters.

See also:

     Kamala Harris drops out and her rivals rush to capitalize in California  Los Angeles Times

     What the Kamala Harris campaign meant to women of color San Francisco Chronicle

     Kamala Harris' Presidential Bid Is Over, But California Political Observers Still See National Potential Capital Public Radio

     Capitol Weekly Podcast: Kamala, what happened?.. and what now? Capitol Weekly

     2020 Democrats are already fighting over Kamala Harris’ biggest fundraisers CNBC

     Kamala Harris’ backers are up for grabs. They could swing California San Francisco Chronicle

     California up for grabs as Harris exits race Politico

     Kamala Harris Dropped Out, But The #KHive And Stan Culture Aren’t Leaving Politics BuzzFeed.News

     Three Reasons Kamala Harris Crashed The Federalist

     Why black voters never flocked to Kamala Harris Politico

     Home-state skepticism of Kamala Harris foretold trouble Associated Press

     Campaigns swarm Harris donors after she exits the 2020 race Associated Press

     Column: Kamala Harris should never have run for president Los Angeles Times

 

'More billionaires than black people'

Politico

Kamala Harris’ decision to drop out of the presidential race has other non-white Democratic candidates lamenting the makeup of the next debate stage and the field overall.

 

Opinion: Gaffes, lies and missteps — how much will voters forgive in presidential politics?

Sacramento Bee

Quietly, with little public notice, Americans seem to be changing their standards for judging presidential candidates as people and as potential chief executives, at least the older ones. Gaffes, health issues, behavioral traits do not have the same significance they once did.

 

Federal court says California OK in forcing shifts to district elections

San Francisco Chronicle

A federal appeals court rejected a conservative organization’s challenge Wednesday to the California Voting Rights Act, a law that seeks to further minority representation by requiring a substantial number of local governments and public agencies to switch from at-large to district elections.

 

Other:

 

A small group of prolific users account for a majority of political tweets sent by U.S. adults

PEW Research Center

For years now, Twitter has been an important platform for disseminating news and sharing opinions about U.S. politics, and 22% of U.S. adults say they use the platform. But the Twitter conversation about national politics among U.S. adult users is driven by a small number of prolific political tweeters. These users make up just 6% of all U.S. adults with public accounts on the site, but they account for 73% of tweets from American adults that mention national politics.

 

Progressives Have Short Memories

The Atlantic

The Democrats’ leftward lurch doomed Kamala Harris, an ex-prosecutor—and ignores the political pressures that black and female candidates faced not long ago.

 

Blog Post: Justice Thomas, preemption, and state net neutrality

AEI

In late October, the Supreme Court quietly declined to review Lipschultz v. Charter Advanced Services, an Eighth Circuit decision that preempted state regulation of fixed Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) service. While concurring in the denial of certiorari, Justice Thomas wroteseparately to challenge the underlying theory of federal preemption, noting that “it is doubtful whether a federal policy — let alone a policy of nonregulation — is” sufficient to establish conflict preemption.

 

Opinion: A Modest Proposal for America’s Teens

Wall Street Journal

After the 2016 election, students from two high schools—one in Chicago and the other in rural Wisconsin—took turns visiting each other. The field trips were designed to help students understand each other’s politics and ways of life. “I thought they would be like hillbillies who would be really rude and closed-minded,” a Chicago girl told WBEZ-FM. “I thought we’d be more accepting, but they’re just as accepting . . . as we are.”

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, December 8, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: California Migration: The Story of Us - Guest: Judy Lin, CALmatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, December 8, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: California Migration & Immigration: Who Is Coming and Who is Going?  - Guests: California Secretary of State, Alex Padilla; Sarah Bohn, PPIC; John Myers, Los Angeles Times; and Judy Lin with CALmatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, December 8, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: Fresno Bridge Academy: A Model to Replicate Statewide. - Guests: Pete Weber, Fundador y Dir. Junta Directiva de Fresno Bridge Academy & Arasely Linares, Directora de Programas de Reading and Beyond. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

A pistachio giant is suing Fresno County over a rival’s nut processing plant. Here’s why

Fresno Bee

Wonderful Nut Orchards LLC, a giant in the pistachio industry, is suing Fresno County to try and halt the construction of a potential rival’s nut processing plant.

 

Thousands in Fresno could lose food stamps under new Trump administration rule

Fresno Bee

The Trump administration finalized a rule Wednesday cutting off food stamps to roughly 688,000 American adults. The U.S. Agriculture Department said the move will save about $5.5 billion over five years. The rule takes effect in April 2020.

See also:

     18,000 Fresno Co. residents to lose access to food stamps abc30

     Thousands in Tulare County could lose SNAP under Trump rule change Visalia Times Delta

     Nearly 700,000 SNAP Recipients Could Lose Benefits Under New Trump Rule Capital Public Radio

     Trump finalizes a new attack on food stamp recipients Los Angeles Times

     New Trump rule could eliminate food stamps for almost 200,000 Californians CalMatters

     New SNAP rule change just made it harder to combat future recessions Brookings

     Trump administration tightens work requirements for SNAP, which could cut hundreds of thousands from food stamps Washington Post

     Opinion: Food Stamps in Good Times Wall Street Journal

 

More than 100 people sick from E.coli outbreak in romaine lettuce

abc30

More than 100 people across the U.S. have been infected with E.coli linked to romaine lettuce, according to federal officials.

See also:

     Romaine lettuce tainted by fecal bacteria sickens more than 100 people Los Angeles Times

 

Making farms more climate resilient might protect California from wildfire damage

Sacramento Bee

When you think about farms at the front lines of climate-related challenges, you may think of extreme weather, floods or drought. But did you know we’re also at the front lines of wildfire?

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Bodycam footage shows Ceres officer firing repeatedly as 15-year-old runs into orchard

Modesto Bee

The high-speed chase that reached 105 mph was over in a flash of gunfire. Ceres police officer Ross Bays was out of his patrol vehicle in less than three seconds after pulling up to the black Lexus he had been chasing. He issued no commands and immediately fired more than a dozen shots as 15-year-old Carmen Spencer Mendezran into an orchard of young almond trees.

 

This effort to decriminalize marijuana nationally is even getting Republican support

Sacramento Bee

An historic House bill to decriminalize marijuana is moving in Congress with support from both Democrats and Republicans —legislation that would have a dramatic impact on people convicted of using or possessing the drug.

 

Vehicle Theft Cases on the Rise According to Clovis PD

Clovis Roundup

With the holiday shopping season here, theft cases are on the rise. In the last two weeks alone, 40 cases of theft from vehicles and vehicle burglaries have been reported. Comparing to the month of October’s 47 cases according to the Clovis Police Dept.

 

Another showdown over crime looms

CalMatters

No California ballot would be complete without at least one measure about crime and punishment and 2020 will be no exception. A referendum seeking to overturn California’s landmark ban on cash bail in criminal cases will once again test voters’ sentiments about the treatment of accused lawbreakers.

 

Public Safety:

 

Sheriff Youngblood addresses concerns about realistic BB guns for kids

Bakersfield Californian

The BB gun in the local sporting goods ad looked just like a 9mm Glock semi-automatic handgun — which has the potential to be quite lethal.

 

Police shootings of unarmed black people linked to health problems for black infants

Bakersfield Californian

A study of nearly 1,900 fatal police encounters and millions of birth records in California suggests that police killings of unarmed black people may affect the health of black infants before they are even born.

 

Stockton man claims he was brutally beaten in racist attack by County Jail guards; sheriff investigating

Stockton Record

A Stockton man claims he was brutally beaten by San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office correctional officers on the basis of his race while being booked into the County Jail early Monday morning.

 

Sacramento Moves Closer To Making Panic Buttons Required At City Hotels

Capital Public Radio

An ordinance to require panic buttons for hotel staff has passed through a Sacramento City Council committee and will likely go to the full council after the new year. The Sacramento City Council Law and Legislation Committee unanimously approved the ordinance Tuesday.

 

Fire:

 

California lawmakers fear wildfires will be left out of FCC emergency guidelines

Fresno Bee

Without proper guidance, lawmakers fear victims of wildfires could be left further disadvantaged and without necessary tools of communication during disasters.

 

Fires in vacant buildings are rising in Fresno

abc30

Vacant structure fires continue to be a problem for Fresno firefighters. Officials say they're seeing more and more of these types of fires set by transients this time of year. The added calls for service are putting stress on resources while fires, in general, are up in Fresno.

 

Fire restrictions on 640,000 acres will be lifted Dec. 4

Visalia Times Delta

Billy Joel didn't start the fire, but beginning Wednesday, you can light one — responsibly and with a permit — on about 640,000 acres of public land.

 

PG&E is near $13.5-billion deal with wildfire victims, sources say

Los Angeles Times

Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. is close to finalizing terms for a $13.5-billion payout to victims of wildfires ignited by its power lines, a key step toward resolving the biggest utility bankruptcy in U.S. history, according to people familiar with the matter.

See also:

       Attorneys say this photo shows the PG&E hook that started the Camp Fire San Francisco Chronicle

 

ECONOMY / JOBS

 

Economy:

 

US trade gap narrows 7.6% to $47.2 billion in October

Fresno Bee

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in October as imports fell faster than exports. The politically sensitive trade gap with China dropped.

 

California’s economy will grow faster than the nation’s, UCLA forecast predicts

Los Angeles Times

California’s economic growth will slow next year, but it is likely to outshine that of the nation overall, as Golden State employers boost payrolls, according to a new UCLA Anderson School forecast.

 

These places in California and the U.S. donated big to charities. Here’s why

Sacramento Bee

Americans who itemized their tax returns gave about $250 billion, or 3.4 percent of their income, to charity in the 2017 tax year, but charitable giving varied significantly between states, according to new IRS statistics.

 

Elizabeth Warren drafting legislation to reverse ‘mega-mergers’

Los Angeles Times

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is drafting a bill that would call on regulators to retroactively review about two decades of “mega mergers” and ban such deals going forward.

 

Column: We should be ashamed, but when it comes to Amazon, we just can’t help ourselves

Los Angeles Times

Amazon hasn’t divulged exactly how much it hauled in on Cyber Monday, but the company did say it had its biggest sales day ever. And CNN Business reported that the day’s sales from all sources topped $9 billion, a 17% increase over last year’s haul. One-third of the purchases were made on smartphones.

 

Jobs:

 

Natural hair bill helps boost business

abc30

In July, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill, which bans employers or school officials from discriminating against people because of their natural hair.

 

The numbers: Target and T.J. Maxx might be killing Macy's

Visalia Times Delta

With retail earnings season winding down, a few lessons are clear from the latest round of reports. The biggest trend, continuing a pattern from recent years, is that brick-and-mortar sales are shifting away from department stores and toward more nimble competitors.

 

Modesto’s post of job opening day after employee died regrettable but not intentional

Modesto Bee

At 2 p.m. Monday, a Modesto city worker driving a three-axle garbage packer truck was killed in a tragic accident after veering off the road. Less than 24 hours later, here’s what the city posted on social media and in internal and external newsletters: “WE’RE HIRING!”

 

Behavioral health workers announce new strike dates at Kaiser facilities in California

Sacramento Bee

The union representing roughly 4,000 Kaiser Permanente mental health clinicians announced Wednesday that they have rescheduled their five-day strike for the week of December 16, after postponing it in November after the death of the company’s chief executive officer, Bernard Tyson.

 

Despite Job Boom, More Men Are Giving Up On Work

Capital Public Radio

The long economic recovery has brought unemployment to historic lows. But the number of men in the labor force during their prime working age has dropped significantly over the past 50 years.

 

Community Voices: Reflections from the Priority Regions

James Irvine Foundation

Recently, we convened community leaders from our Priority Regions pilot communities of Fresno and Salinas to inform, deepen, and scale the impact of our work as we consider expanding to new communities.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

TUHSD Board to vote on buying out of JPA

Bakersfield Californian

The Taft Union High School District may finally be getting out of a complicated, decades-old joint powers agreement that is costing millions of dollars a year.

 

Fed Ed Funds Can't Help If Rules or Reticence Get in the Way

Real Clear Policy

The 2020 presidential contest has featured a bevy of ambitious proposals to boost federal school spending. Elizabeth Warren has called for quadrupling Title I funding to $450 billion, raising the ante on Joe Biden (who’d previously called for tripling Title I funding). Kamala Harris has called for spending $300 billion to raise teacher pay.

 

Higher Ed:

 

Nurses urge UC Davis Health to comply with law, develop plan to avert violence at work

Sacramento Bee

Registered nurses rallied Tuesday evening outside at UC Davis Medical Center, calling upon the University of California’s health system to comply with state regulations and develop a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan.

 

Three CSUB educators get $22,000 grant to address equity in the classroom

KGET
Three faculty members with the Cal State Bakersfield Teacher Education department have received $22,000 from the TeachingWorks-CSU Methods Course Fellowship. The university said Brittney Beck, Jesus Esquibel and Alice Hays are the recipient of the grant, which aims to help them advance their coursework and field experiences for teacher candidates.

 

Social Mobility Index Highlights Transformative Power of the CSU

CSU

CollegeNET recently released its 2019 Social Mobility Index—a listing of the nation’s top universities propelling students and their families into higher economic strata. And nowhere in the country is this happening on a bigger scale than at the California State University.

 

Problems Paying For College Are Making It Hard To Graduate On Time

Capital Public Radio

More and more students are finding it hard to graduate in four years because of the high cost of a college education. Other contributing factors are having to repeat high school courses and the need to work part time, cutting into study time.

 

The surprising role of high-income families in student debt trends: Examining undergraduate borrowing by income, 1995–96 to 2015–16

AEI

In the 2015–16 academic year, students from higher-income families were just as likely to take on debt for an initial year of an undergraduate education as were students from low-income families.

 

College Football Is a Money Pit, and One School Has Had Enough

Bloomberg

Jacksonville University surprised athletes, alumni and fans this week when it announced it was discontinuing its Division I football team, which had been competing for more than two decades. Administrators at the Florida school say the decision was financial. Operating a football team is expensive, and only getting pricier. More importantly, the investment wasn’t worth the benefits that are typically held up to justify the money-losing endeavor.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

California must act now to prepare for sea level rise, state lawmakers say

Los Angeles Times

At a packed meeting catering to state lawmakers and top planning officials, Mark Merrifield played a video that he and his research team at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have seen many times before.

See also:

       Offshore drilling creates these new dangers onshore, environmental report says Fresno Bee

 

How Voters Can Assess New Climate Plans

RAND

While the U.S. government has announced its intention to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, most presidential candidates and many states have proposed climate plans of their own.

 

Former VP Al Gore Warns Salk Audience Of Rapidly Warming Climate

KPBS
Former Vice President Al Gore told a San Diego audience Tuesday that the planet is increasingly showing signs of climate change. Gore did not mince words as he addressed the audience at the Salk Institute. He pointed out that wildfires around California and the rest of the world are increasing in frequency and intensity.

 

Energy:

 

California utility regulator led firm building power plant — and says bosses OK’d it

Fresno Bee

For much of the past three years, a lawyer for the California Public Utilities Commission has led a company that’s trying to build a hydroelectric plant that would piggyback on facilities owned and operated by PG&E Corp. — a development that some government ethics experts believe could constitute a conflict of interest.

 

Analysis: Trump Solar Tariffs cost 62K US jobs

The Hill

More than 62,000 jobs and nearly $19 billion in new private sector investment has been lost due to the 2018 tariffs Trump placed on solar imports, according to the study by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Flu activity is picking up in California

Bakersfield Californian

Flu activity is picking up in California with elevated reports in a number of counties, including Kern, according to state and federal government health websites.

 

Hospital Groups Sue to Block Price-Transparency Rule

Wall Street Journal

Hospital groups sued to block a Trump administration rule forcing them to disclose secret rates, for the first time laying out the industry’s legal strategy for defeating the president’s central health-policy initiative.

 

Human Services:

 

Behavioral health workers announce new strike dates at Kaiser facilities in California

Fresno Bee

The National Union of Healthcare Workers said the strike would affect patients at more than 100 Kaiser facilities in California from Sacramento to San Diego. The clinicians say they​​ want Kaiser to shorten wait times for patients trying to schedule return visits for behavioral health treatment and reduce caseloads for therapists.

 

The Price Ain’t Right: A Health Care Inequality Quiz

Capital & Main

Test your knowledge about inequities in America's health care system. How many people in the U.S. lacked health insurance in 2018? How many fewer people had health insurance in 2018 than in 2017?

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Board finds border agents broke rules in shooting at cars

Fresno Bee

Four Border Patrol agents didn't follow department rules when they opened fire in two separate incidents along the U.S.-Mexico Border, both involving agents shooting at drivers who were trying to speed away, a review board has found.

 

Three California governors revive cooperation agreement

San Diego Union-Tribune

As the federal government continues building a wall with Mexico, the governors of Baja California, Baja California Sur and California revive state commission aimed at cooperation

 

Trump is now forcing children to go it alone in immigration court

Los Angeles Times

The Justice Department recently issued a policy memo that would limit the access of noncitizens to legal assistance in immigration courts, the latest in a series of attacks on immigrants.

 

ICE Prison’s Dollar-a-Day Wages Face Class-Action Suit

Capital & Main

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees who allege they were required to work for $1 a day and, in many cases, for no pay at all, are one step closer to their day in court.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Main Road in Sequoia National Park reopens to Giant Sequoias

Porterville Recorder

Following a major snow storm that blanketed the parks’ giant sequoia groves in feet of snow, the main road, Generals Highway, to the giant sequoias in Sequoia National Park has been reopened. Tire chains / cables are still required to see the giant sequoias.

 

Housing:

 

Newsom releases millions for homelessness crisis

abc30

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday $650 million in emergency aid will be allocated to cities and counties to combat California's homelessness crisis.

See also:

     Kern County eligible to receive millions from state to aid homeless epidemic Bakersfield Californian

     Tired of waiting for federal go-ahead, California Gov. Newsom releases homeless funding to counties, cities Desert Sun

     California to send millions of dollars to cities to combat homelessness Mercury News

     California governor blames Trump for delayed homeless aid Associated Press

     Gavin Newsom hires adviser forced out by Donald Trump in latest dustup over homelessness Sacramento Bee

     Trump Fired Him. Now California Has Made Him a Homelessness Adviser. New York Times

 

Trump administration holding up California homeless efforts, Newsom charges

San Francisco Chronicle

Gov. Gavin Newsom accused the Trump administration of intentionally withholding key data on California’s homeless population, preventing the state from addressing a surging crisis.

See also:

     Trump administration ousts top homelessness official as White House prepares broad crackdown Washington Post

     He wanted to ban feeding homeless people. Now he’s about to lead a federal homeless agency Los Angeles Times

 

EDITORIAL: Sacramento needs affordable housing, and fast. It’s time for city leaders to get innovative

Sacramento Bee

Could smaller, more innovative and efficient types of housing be an answer to Sacramento’s housing crisis? Mayor Darrell Steinberg thinks so. Steinberg wants to fund what he calls “efficiency housing,” meaning non-traditional housing that is quicker and cheaper to construct.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Trump’s Tax Cuts Push U.S. Tax Burden Lower in World

Wall Street Journal

President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts reduced the U.S. tax burden to one of the lowest among major world economies, according to a Thursday report by an intergovernmental organization.

 

‘This was not a close election’: Losing CalPERS candidate drops challenge

Sacramento Bee

A former state government union leader who lost an election for a seat on the CalPERS Board of Administration in October has withdrawn a challenge he filed alleging state officials and pension board members helped his opponent win.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Main Road in Sequoia National Park reopens to Giant Sequoias

Porterville Recorder

Following a major snow storm that blanketed the parks’ giant sequoia groves in feet of snow, the main road, Generals Highway, to the giant sequoias in Sequoia National Park has been reopened. Tire chains / cables are still required to see the giant sequoias.

 

If you drive in California, you may have been ripped off. Here’s how to find out.

Sacramento Bee

Manufacturers of car parts settled a class action lawsuit with California and are paying millions of dollars in penalties. Drivers who bought over-priced vehicle equipment can get money.

 

California cuts electric-car rebates, drops luxury models

San Francisco Chronicle

California’s rebate program to coax more drivers to buy electric vehicles just got less generous, especially for those looking to spend on a luxury model. Effective Tuesday, state regulators have stopped offering rebates for buyers of electric cars or plug-in hybrid vehicles that cost more than $60,000 — a move that will make buyers of high-end Tesla models dig deeper into their pockets.

 

California recovers $23M from auto parts makers’ bid rigging

Associated Press

California has recovered more than $23 million from settlements with 52 automobile parts manufacturers for illegal bid rigging that jacked up consumer costs, state Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Wednesday. The parts makers suppressed competition by conspiring to fix prices in automobile manufacturers’ requests for bids, Becerra said.

 

WATER

 

Trump jump-starts repairs for sinking California canal. But who will pay?

Sacramento Bee

The Trump administration is jump-starting a plan to repair abadly sinking canal in the San Joaquin Valley, a year after California voters rejected a bond measure that would have had them pay for the project.

See also:

       Feds begin working on fix for Friant-Kern Canal Bakersfield Californian

 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom downsizes Delta water project: one tunnel, not two

Sacramento Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom, diving into one of California’s most contentious water issues, said Tuesday he wants to downsize the Delta tunnels project. The Democratic governor also set out to overhaul state water policy by naming a new chair of the state’s water board.

See also:

       Fishing groups sue federal agencies over latest water plan for California San Francisco Chronicle

       On water, California and feds need to work together for the benefit of fish, farmers and 27 million people CALMatters

     Opinion: On water, California, feds need to work together for the benefit of fish, farmers Visalia Times Delta

 

It’s not over yet -more rain on the way to the Central Valley. Here’s what to expect

Fresno Bee

The Central Valley residents can expect a brief reprieve from the week-long downpour on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. But the recent spate of storms in the Valley is expected to continue with a new storm system this weekend, and another one next week.

See also:

     Valley's rain total now almost at normal after storm abc30

 

‘Atmospheric rivers’ wreak huge economic damage in California and West, study finds

Sacramento Bee

Atmospheric rivers, the extreme weather events that dump inches of rain on Western states, cause more than $1 billion in flood damage every year. A large share of the damage measured over four decades occurred in 20 counties, including Sonoma, Marin and Sacramento, where the weather system lead to thousands of insurance claims.

See also:

     Atmospheric rivers cause $1 billion in damage a year, study shows, and are getting worse Los Angeles Times

     Atmospheric river storms getting worse, cause billions in damage across California Los Angeles Times

     Big atmospheric rivers do a lot of damage — especially in Northern California San Francisco Chronicle

 

Notorious storms getting worse, cause billions in damage across California

Los Angeles Times

Atmospheric river storms like the one pounding California this week are becoming more intense and cost Western states roughly $1 billion in damage annually, according to a report on the weather phenomenon.

See also:

     Big atmospheric rivers do a lot of damage — especially in NorCal San Francisco Chronicle

 

 “Xtra”

 

Christmas parade is Thursday

Bakersfield Californian

The Bakersfield Christmas Parade gets underway at 6 p.m. Thursday. The parade begins by moving south on 22nd and L streets, moves west on 21st Street, south on G Street and to the east on 20th before ending near 20th and N and O streets.

 

Pearl Harbor Day ceremonies planned for Saturday

Bakersfield Californian

Rain or shine, a commemoration of the 78th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor is expected to begin at 9:55 a.m. Saturday at historic Union Cemetery in east Bakersfield. Marc Sandall, who has organized the annual ceremonies for years, said Saturday's event will include music by the Veterans Family Band, and a special guest, in military uniform, will sing the national anthem.

 

What happens with city holiday parades if it rains this weekend in Modesto, valley?

Modesto Bee

It’ll be a holly, rainy Christmas for many cities as they kick off the holidays this weekend. Cities across the Northern San Joaquin Valley will celebrate the start of the Christmas season with parades and other festivities despite weather reports warning of wet days ahead. The “rain or shine” clause on various holiday celebrations will be put to the test as the National Weather Service forecasts rain, with some wind gusts, both Friday and Saturday.

 

What’s going on in the Modesto region? A lot, here’s a look

Modesto Bee

GALLO CENTER FOR THE ARTS HOLIDAY POPS ▪  Dec. 6-7: Modesto Symphony Orchestra annual holiday program. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 2 p.m. Dec. 7. $39-$94.

 

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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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