Political Stories
Top stories
California revenue dips, possible sign of ‘revenue deterioration’ to come — It’s been a heady ride for California finances in recent years, with budget revenue outpacing estimates by billions of dollars, buoyed along by the state’s healthy economic growth in 2015. Could that trend be coming to an end? Preliminary tax revenue for January stands at a net $167 million less than estimates in Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed budget, according to a report Wednesday by the Legislature’s non-partisan fiscal analyst. Sacramento Bee article
Jerry Brown signs bill removing pot cultivation deadline – California cities and counties can exhale after Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill freeing them from a March 1 deadline to implement cannabis cultivation rules. Sacramento Bee article; LA Times article
California voters favor taxes, labels for sugary drinks — A new Field Poll, sponsored by The California Endowment, found that overwhelming majorities of voters favor taxing and putting safety warnings on soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages, proposals that advocates argue would help reduce health conditions such as diabetes. Sacramento Bee article
Gov. Brown
Jerry Brown one of many politicos taking a pass on Super Bowl 50 — We know Warriors star Stephen Curry will be there cheering on his buddy, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. And I assumed it would also attract a big list of local politicians. So I checked around, starting at the top. “The governor is not planning to attend the Super Bowl,” wrote Jerry Brown’s press secretary, Evan Westrup, in an email. KQED report
Joe Mathews: A French philosopher who helped shape Gov. Brown’s mind — Brown is a longtime friend of the French techno-philosopher Jean-Pierre Dupuy, who practices what is called “enlightened doomsaying.” Recently, their connection has become higher-profile, with Dupuy joining the governor at Paris events in December. I am neither French nor a philosopher. But I’ve been reading everything Dupuy has published in English. I’m glad I did. Mathews in Sacramento Bee
Valley politics
AD 31: Arambula raises – and spends – lots of cash in Assembly bid — How large is the disparity in the 31st Assembly District battle between Democrat Joaquin Arambula and Republican Clint Olivier? How about this factoid: Arambula burned through more cash in the last six months of 2015 than Olivier raised in total for all of last year. Yes, Olivier raised $129,010 in 2015, and Arambula spent $132,000 between July 1 and Dec. 31, according to newly released campaign finance reports. Fresno Bee article
School trustee to challenge Maxwell in downtown Bakersfield ward — And we have a race. Downtown Councilman Terry Maxwell, the restaurateur known for his very public criticism of major transportation projects, will face school board Trustee Andrae Gonzales in the Nov. 8 general election. Bakersfield Californian article
Jeff Jardine: Modesto’s mayoral voters issue wake-up call — Modesto’s voters – or at least the roughly 25 percent of you who checked one of two boxes, stuffed the ballot into the envelope and stuck it back into the U.S. Mail – have spoken. Out with the mayor, Garrad Marsh. In with the new guy, Ted Brandvold, and by a margin that could be better described as a chasm. Jardine column in Modesto Bee
Modesto Bee: Brandvold brings many good qualities to mayor’s job — There were many things we liked about Ted Brandvold when he came to our editorial board meetings during his campaign to become Modesto’s mayor. He was calm, polite and congenial. What we liked the most, though, was that he was open about what he didn’t know. Modesto Bee editorial
Statewide politics/Ballot Measures
Harris pads fundraising edge in California Senate race – California Attorney General Kamala Harris is gradually padding her fundraising edge in the state’s U.S. Senate race. According to federal records and her campaign Wednesday, the Democrat collected about $1.9 million in two fundraising committees. AP article
Public Policy of California blog: Governor’s sentencing proposal in context — Governor Brown has proposed a ballot measure—the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act—that could significantly alter sentencing in California. If it qualifies for the ballot—which seems likely—and is approved by voters in November, the measure would allow non-violent felons who have earned enough credits for good behavior to spend less time in state prison. PPIC blog
Small change now a big deal in candidates’ online fundraisers — Five bucks isn’t much, but for Newsom and the growing number of politicians tapping into the world of online fundraising, that first small contribution — and e-mail address — can be the start of a long and lucrative political friendship. San Francisco Chronicle article
Treasurer Chiang eyes California governor’s race — He’s not the best-known of California’s eight statewide elected officials, but Treasurer John Chiang says he’s looking at a run for governor in 2018. Capital Public Radio report
Other areas
Legislators look to lock up bills to limit solitary confinement of juveniles – In California’s Democratic-controlled Legislature, bills to restrict the use of solitary confinement on youth have stalled for the last four years amid objections from labor and law enforcement groups that run juvenile halls. Now, citing the “enormous mental health impacts” the practice has on youth, Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) is hoping that Obama’s action will bring momentum to the issue in California. CALmatters article
George Skelton: California’s primary might matter, but the odds are against it – It’s conceivable that California’s votes will be worth counting when the presidential primaries finally reach the state in June. Conceivable, but still unlikely. Skelton column in LA Times
Joel Fox: Will legislators have to wear donor patches? – John Cox is behind a unique initiative to require legislators to wear patches on their clothes that identify their biggest donors when they vote or give testimony in a committee or vote on the floor. No, he says this is not another wacky idea that comes out of California but a serious proposal to open up citizens’ eyes to money influencing politicians. Fox in Fox & Hounds
State Senate leader DeLeón picks Clinton – less sure on marijuana — The question to California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin DeLeón, one of the most powerful Democrats in the state, was simple: Hillary or Bernie? He plans to campaign for Clinton in Nevada this weekend. Talking Wednesday — yes, it is Wednesday — after addressing a meeting of California Newspaper Publishers Association in Sacramento, DeLeón wasn’t so enthusiastic about legalizing marijuana. San Francisco Chronicle article
Sacramento Bee: Helping drug addicts finally is politically feasible — When there’s the political will, there tends to be a political way to accomplish the impossible. It appears this finally may be the case with the nation’s long-ignored epidemic of heroin and prescription opioid addiction. Sacramento Bee editorial
California Government Today:
News Stories
Top Stories
Kern sheriff warns substations, jail may close due to budget cuts – The Buttonwillow and Boron sheriff’s substations as well as the Ridgecrest jail could be closed as a result of the 1 percent budget cuts approved by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Sheriff Donny Youngblood said Wednesday. He may also have to reduce staffing in a number of outlying and other areas. Bakersfield Californian article
After court battle, Fresno County makes public report about Seth Ireland’s death – Social workers had several opportunities to prevent the beating death of 10-year-old Seth Ireland by his mother’s boyfriend, but they failed to follow up on complaints of abuse or interview key witnesses, according to a Fresno County investigative report that was released Wednesday after a lengthy legal battle. Fresno Bee article; Fresno Bee editorial: ‘Fresno County report documents CPS mistakes before Seth Ireland’s murder’; KVPR report
Jobs and the Economy
First Look: Bakersfield City Manager Tandy talks city budget amidst falling oil prices, drought — During a 30-minute interview on “First Look with Scott Cox,” Tandy talked about the decision making process behind budget cuts and the city’s efforts to continue thriving amidst waning oil prices and an unprecedented drought. He explained that although making financial choices are hard, he aims to give well thought out answers to the city council to support the decisions. Bakersfield Californian article
Amgen Tour cyclists will spend the night in Modesto – Modesto officials may want to add this to their marketing efforts to promote the city: The 2016 Amgen Tour of California slept here. The City Council approved Tuesday, on a 4-3 vote, entering into an agreement with the Tour and spending $75,000 to provide hotel rooms and meals for the annual road race featuring some of the world’s best cyclists. Modesto Bee article
Bakersfield Californian: Let voters decide if they want to fund public libraries – The Kern County Library needs a lifeline. Supervisors should at least allow voters to decide if they want to throw one. Bakersfield Californian editorial
Modesto employer lays off 40 of 600 workers – Parker Hannifin Corp.’s Racor Division has laid off 40 employees at its global headquarters in Modesto, the company confirmed Wednesday. It was a difficult decision to cut the full-time workers, a mix of hourly and salaried employees, said Judd Hubbard, division human resources manager. About 560 employees remain. Modesto Bee article
Bankrupt San Bernardino reaches deal on pension obligation debt – The bankrupt city of San Bernardino, California, said in a court filing on Wednesday it had reached a tentative agreement with the creditor holding its pension obligation bonds on how the debt would be treated in the city’s plan to exit bankruptcy but did not provide details. Reuters article
Why California gasoline is so expensive — Although oil markets are bankrupting producers and draining government coffers from Moscow to Riyadh, plummeting costs are filling the pockets of ordinary consumers this year, right? Um, wrong, at least in California, where state government helps the refining industry keep gasoline prices aloft for months at a time. San Diego Union-Tribune article
First Look: Bakersfield councilman Ken Weir shares plans for Ward 3 development projects — Bakersfield City Councilman Ken Weir said Wednesday Ward 3 is open and ready for business regarding future development projects, a triumph in which he partially credits traffic brought in from the Morning Drive Interchange. Bakersfield Californian article
Modesto poised to increase sewer rates – Modesto’s property owners should soon have a say in whether they want to pay more for sewer service. The city is close to mailing out ballots for the rate increases, which could be as much as 32.4 percent over five years for a single-family home. Modesto Bee article
Home Depot to hire 1,500 in Sacramento region – The Home Depot said Wednesday that it plans to hire 1,500 in the Sacramento region as it gears up for its busy spring shopping season. Spokeswoman Anna Whaley said the regional hiring effort includes 33 stores within about a 50-mile radius of downtown Sacramento. Sacramento Bee article
Homeless advocates face off with cops at Super Bowl City – Hundreds of homeless advocates seeking to set up a protest tent city alongside Super Bowl City on Wednesday afternoon in downtown San Francisco quickly found themselves surrounded by several hundred police officers in riot gear. San Francisco Chronicle article
Developer unveils vision for ‘hole in the ground’ in downtown Sacramento — The owners of downtown Sacramento’s infamous “hole in the ground” said Wednesday they plan to build a 30-story tower on the long-vacant site with a mix of offices, retail and 100 apartments. Sacramento Bee article
State Sen. Steve Glazer ties BART bond support to labor issues — State Sen. Steve Glazer, elected on a relentless campaign to prevent strikes by BART workers, threatened Wednesday to oppose an expected November bond measure to fund improvements to the transit system. San Francisco Chronicle article
CalSTRS agrees to unload coal stocks — CalSTRS’ governing board voted Wednesday to sell its stocks in U.S. coal companies, in line with a state law directing California’s pension funds to divest themselves from coal investments. Sacramento Bee article
Agriculture/Water/Drought
Fresno, Clovis get relief on water-saving requirements as state lowers targets – In addition to continuing the regulations through October, the board also approved adjustments that will lower the savings threshold for most communities throughout the state – including the central San Joaquin Valley. It’s good news for cities like Fresno and Clovis, which have so far struggled to meet the benchmarks set last spring as the state came out of its fourth straight winter of sub-par rain- and snowfall and faced a summer of extreme drought conditions. Fresno Bee article
Merced County cities miss water-saving goal for December – Despite above-normal rainfall so far this winter, communities across California still face mandatory water-savings standards – and three cities in Merced County used too much water in December. Merced Sun-Star article
Johnny Amaral: Let’s work together to protect California agriculture – The deputy general manager of Westlands Water District writes, “Farming is a way of life for many in our community. We need to continue to work with our elected officials and responsible groups seeking solutions. And, we need to step up our efforts to expose misinformation campaigns designed to eliminate farming.” Amaral op-ed in Fresno Bee
Waterwise: Vidak, Salas call for more water storage projects – California State Senator Andy Vidak, R-Hanford, andCalifornia Assembly member Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, announced last month they are co-authors of an assembly bill seeking to expedite construction of water storage projects, consistent with the goals of Proposition 1. Visalia Times-Delta article
California ag secretary coming to World Ag Expo — California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden will join Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner Marilyn Kinoshita on a panel during next week’s 2016 World Ag Expo in Tulare. Visalia Times-Delta article
State asks for local cooperation on citrus pest — Attention anyone with an orange, grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, pomelo or lime tree growing in the backyard: California’s citrus growers need your help. Bakersfield Californian article
HLB found among Southern California trees, insects – Some of those worst fears are being realized as word is spreading that a group of psyllids found to be infected with the bacteria — also known as “HLB” — have been found since the middle of last year in the Southern California community of San Gabriel and La Puente, the latest earlier this month. Visalia Times-Delta article
Beekeepers fall victim to theft as hive rental prices rise — The bee rustlers are at it again. Beekeepers are reporting an escalation in bee hive thefts just weeks before the Central Valley almond bloom, considered the world’s largest and most lucrative pollination event. Bakersfield Californian article
Criminal Justice/Prisons
Stockton police chaplain suspended over Easter Sunrise Service exchange with LGBT congregation – Senior Stockton Police Chaplain Jim Reid is on indefinite paid leave because of an email he sent to the pastor of a primarily LGBT congregation limiting the Stockton church’s participation in next month’s Easter Sunrise Service because “we are diametrically different in our view of scripture when it comes to homosexuality.” Stockton Record article
Police say she helped her husband, who is accused is a grisly torture plot. How did she become a lawyer? — Courtney Shegerian was a law student when, police say, she helped her husband conduct surveillance on a man who was later abducted and mutilated. Two years later, she was licensed as a California lawyer. LA Times article
Homeless tipster could receive reward for finding Orange County jail escapees — A homeless man is being credited with helping San Francisco police capture two Orange County jail fugitives last week, and he could now possibly collect $140,000 in reward money. San Francisco Chronicle article
Feds raised repeated concerns about Orange County jail security – Federal officials warned for years of “poor supervision” at a Southern California jail where three inmates — all charged with violent felonies — recently escaped, documents obtained by The Marshall Projectshow. Capitol Weekly article
Fresno sheriff’s pilot reports near miss with drone — The crew of a Fresno County Sheriff’s helicopter reported a near-miss collision with a drone Wednesday afternoon in the Clovis area and landed to identify the drone operator. Fresno Bee article
Stockton police officer fired on during possible carjacking attempt – A Stockton police officer was fired upon during a possible carjacking attempt Wednesday night in north Stockton. Stockton Record article
Hanford Police Department aims to keep youth on track — The Hanford Police Department is about to try a new way to keep young people out of the criminal justice system. The department is seeking volunteers for the Hanford Area Reconciliation Project (H.A.R.P.), a restorative justice program that uses trained mediators to resolve disputes between victims and offenders. Each mediator will attend at least 16 hours of training and a minimum of nine hours of field work. Hanford Sentinel article
Foon Rhee: Innocent and behind bars — Way too many crimes are going unsolved. Dozens of the guilty are literally getting away with murder each year. When, for example, will someone have the courage to come forward and help police make an arrest in the shooting death last November of Grant High football playerJaulon “JJ” Clavo? Yet on the other side of the ledger, it’s also increasingly clear that many innocent people are in prison. Rhee in Sacramento Bee
Orange County escape puts spotlight on California’s use of dealer plates — Three fugitives who escaped from an Orange County jail and abducted a cabdriver before they were captured more than a week later — two of them in San Francisco — might have been hauled in earlier had police been able to identify the untrackable plastic plates from a dealership on their stolen getaway van. San Francisco Chronicle article
Oakland pays $75,000 to settle 2011 fatal shooting by police — The Oakland City Council voted Tuesday to pay $75,000 to settle a wrongful death claim from the families of Fletcher Jackson and John Sloan, two men who were shot dead by Oakland police in 2011 after officers got a tip that a violent gang crime was about to happen in a quiet Fruitvale neighborhood. San Francisco Chronicle article
San Francisco police chief to renew push to equip officers with stun guns — San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr plans to reintroduce the contentious issue of equipping officers with stun guns at next week’s Police Commissionmeeting. San Francisco Chronicle article
Education
Joseph I. Castro: Fresno State is stronger than ever and aiming higher – Fresno State’s president writes, “Professor Mark Somma’s insights about Fresno State in his Jan. 27 Valley Voices essaydemonstrate his passion and love for Fresno State. I share those feelings but not his conclusion about the quality of education on campus. Fresno State is stronger than ever, and our positive trajectory is unprecedented.” Castro op-ed in Fresno Bee
Bakersfield City School District eliminates salary cap for new hires — In a move that could attract scores of talented teachers to the Bakersfield City School District, trustees eliminated a salary cap Tuesday that once discouraged experienced educators from coming to their district. Bakersfield Californian article
Riverbank Unified teachers, parents stage a sit-in, refuse to leave abruptly closed board meeting – Riverbank Unified trustees, facing an overflow crowd of protesting teachers and upset parents, declared a closed session and beat a quick retreat Tuesday night. Modesto Bee article
State sends mixed messages on Smarter Balanced test participation – As California schools prepare to administer Smarter Balanced tests aligned to theCommon Core State Standards this spring, they face a quandary when notifying parents about the assessments. EdSource article
Victor Davis Hanson: The regrettable decline of higher learning – What do campus microaggressions, safe spaces, trigger warnings, speech codes and censorship have to do with higher learning? American universities want it both ways. They expect unquestioned, subsidized support from the public, but also to operate in a way impossible for anyone else. Hanson column in Fresno Bee
College of the Sequoias looks to tie educators and businesses – A partnership with College of the Sequoias and local manufacturing businesses has helped educators improve advanced manufacturing education in the Valley. Visalia Times-Delta article
West Hills College Lemoore sees 10 percent increase in nursing exam pass rates — Nursing students at West Hills College Lemoore took the National Council Licensure Exam and pass rates increased by 10 percent. WHCL had a 95.12 percent pass rate from 2014-15 compared to 85.19 percent for 2013-14. Hanford Sentinel article
Sacramento Bee: Bring understanding, not blame, to UC cybersecurity – At UC Berkeley, where suspicion of authority is hardwired into the faculty culture, a dozen or so tenured memberswent public last week with concerns that Napolitano had opened the door to gratuitous snooping. That’s highly unlikely, but to the extent that attorney-client privilege will permit a conversation, bringing more wise minds to this thorny issue can only be to the common good. Sacramento Bee editorial
Not from The Onion: Kern grand jury investigates school lunches – A watchdog panel charged with rooting out government waste and corruption and carrying the power to indict criminals recently turned its attention to a whole other topic: the quality of school food. Bakersfield Californian article
In Oakland, building boys into men – The full-credit elective, “Mastering Our Cultural Identity: African American Male Image” (commonly referred to as the Manhood Development Program), is now in the daily curriculum at 20 schools throughout the district, tailored to age appropriateness for third to 12th graders. New York Times article
Search begins for new Sacramento City College president — Kathryn E. Jeffery, president of Sacramento City College for the last eight years, has vacated the post to become superintendent and president of Santa Monica College. Sacramento Bee article
Steve Lopez: How a Lincoln High teacher gets all his students to pass AP Calculus exam — Yom, as the students call their Lincoln High calculus teacher, is at the blackboard with marker in hand. He can’t be stopped. Lopez column in LA Times
Energy/Environment
Tear down the PUC: Legislators want to overhaul California regulator — Saying California’s utilities regulator has failed, lawmakers are seeking a constitutional amendment that would allow them to dismantle and rebuild the embattled California Public Utilities Commission. Sacramento Bee article; KQED report; AP article; LA Times article
Aliso Canyon gas leak prompts new proposed state regulations – The natural gas leak in Aliso Canyon continues to reverberate in Sacramento, where air pollution officials are proposing new rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas facilities. LA Times article
Quake early warning system gets $3.6 million, but it’s still a long way from goal — With officials still struggling to find money to create an earthquake early warning system for the West Coast, a private foundation, Intel Corp. and an arm of Amazon.com Inc. said they will pitch in money or other support, officials said at a White House summit Tuesday. LA Times article
Quake early warning system in California is delayed by fight over who will pay — Behind the cheerleading, state and federal officials are battling over who should pay for the system, which uses hundreds of sensor stations embedded in the ground to monitor earth movement. Congress and President Obama have kicked in about half the annual $16-million cost to operate the system. But federal elected officials say state governments in California, Oregon and Washington should also cover some of the operating costs. LA Times article
Report finds flaws at state toxic waste agency — A new report finds the agency that oversees hazardous waste in California can’t keep up with its responsibilities.The state’s review of the Department of Toxic Substances Control estimates more than half of hazardous waste facilities could be operating on expired permits within the next five years. Capital Public Radio report
Officials seek action to correct emissions breaches at Port of Los Angeles – Elected officials are demanding swift action and increased oversight at the Port of Los Angeles following disclosure that a second major shipping company has been allowed to skirt requirements to reduce harmful diesel emissions. LA Times article
Hunters fear fading voice at Fish and Game Commission — Kellogg’s sudden departure has created angst among a camouflage crowd still smarting from recent political losses including a ban on lead hunting ammunition and the listing of wolves under the state Endangered Species Act. Sacramento Bee article
Health/Human Services
Merced continues to fail in tobacco control, report shows – Once again, Merced County received an F in the latest American Lung Association’s report for tobacco control. The report evaluates the county’s availability of smoke-free housing, its access to smoke-free outdoor air and its progress in reducing sales of tobacco products, among other factors. Merced Sun-Star article
Cities in Stanislaus County given poor marks for tobacco control, secondhand smoke – The American Lung Association suggested that cities in Stanislaus County, and county government, should make more of an effort to reduce tobacco-product use and provide smoke-free air for residents. Modesto Bee article
Several more possible Zika cases in LA County — Though there’s only one confirmed case of Zika virus in Los Angeles County, several more people who might be infected are being tested for the illness, public health officials said Wednesday. LA Times article
CDC advises women of child-bearing age not to drink at all — Women of childbearing age, 15 to 44, are advised not to drink if there’s any possibility of pregnancy, federal officials said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report said that women who aren’t on birth control shouldn’t take a drink. More than 3 million women are in danger of having their babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder. San Francisco Chronicle article
Tiny heart pump saves Fresno Bee columnist’s life — Fresno Bee columnist Traci Arbios owes a lot to the “world’s smallest heart pump” – and the doctors who placed it in her body. The motor, smaller than a Tylenol capsule, kept Arbios, 46, alive for almost two days in November. Fresno Bee article
Land Use/Housing
Blighted apartments near Bulldog Stadium get $2.5 million upgrade — One of El Dorado Park’s most blighted properties has undergone a $2.5 million transformation. The apartment complex formerly known as The Estates, 5358 N. 6th St., west of Bulldog Stadium, was demolished down to the studs in May and renovated into 46 furnished two-bedroom apartments for students at Fresno State. Fresno Bee article
Jury finds for Bakersfield in long-running land swap case — A court case over a land trade in the southeast, one of the oldest ongoing lawsuits against Bakersfield, has been resolved in the city’s favor with a 10-2 civil verdict. The “Land Lot” case got its name from Land Lot 1 LLC, the Paso Robles-based company that sued the city in March 2008 seeking millions in damages over a property swap that collapsed near the end of the housing boom. Bakersfield Californian article
Fresno starts vacant and blighted property registry — The city of Fresno has placed a vacant and blighted property registry on its website so city staff can keep track of empty properties that may affect surrounding neighborhoods. Fresno Bee article
Other areas
New family of ‘surrendered’ baby share their story – Mark and Charity Brock have a message for expectant mothers who just can’t take care of their babies and don’t know what to do: “She can do something good, she has the option to make a good choice for her child,” Charity said. “My son’s birth mother did that for him. I will never, ever forget that.” Bakersfield Californian article
Mike Dunbar: Snooping around in Dogg’s background — Women sold for sexual services are seldom entrepreneurs; more frequently they’re teens and young women who have been seduced into virtual slavery then forced to continue out of fear for their lives. It’s why organizations like Without Permission fight it; why Kristin Olsen conducted a town hall meeting last week; why cops are conducting stings in Santa Clara; why the Family Justice Center is involved. Dogg is about porn, weed and misogyny. You can’t say you don’t know. (Snoop Dogg performs in Modesto tonight.) Dunbar column in Modesto Bee
Valley Editorial Roundup
Bakersfield Californian – The Kern County Library needs a lifeline. Supervisors should at least allow voters to decide if they want to throw one.
Fresno Bee – Fresno County report documents CPS mistakes before Seth Ireland’s murder.
Modesto Bee – There were many things we liked about Ted Brandvold when he came to our editorial board meetings during his campaign to become Modesto’s mayor. He was calm, polite and congenial. What we liked the most, though, was that he was open about what he didn’t know.
Sacramento Bee – Bring understanding, not blame, to University of California cybersecurity; When there’s the political will, there tends to be a political way to accomplish the impossible. It appears this finally may be the case with the nation’s long-ignored epidemic of heroin and prescription opioid addiction.
Maddy Events
Sunday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m. on ABC 30 – Maddy Report: “California’s End of Life Law: New Law, Old Question” – Guests: UC Davis Professor Ben Rich, The Arc of California Executive Director Tony Anderson, Disability Rights California Legislative Advocate Deborah Doctor. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director Mark Keppler.
Sunday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580 (KMJ) – Maddy Report-Valley Views Edition: “Hinds Hospice: A Model End of Life Care” – Guests: Hinds Hospice Executive Director Jill McCarthy. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director Mark Keppler.
Sunday, Feb. 7, at 7 a.m. on Fresno Univision 21 (KFTV)– El Informe Maddy Report: “Improper Activities” – Guest: Margarita Fernandez, public information officer with the State Auditor’s Office. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Deputy Director Ana Melendez.
The Maddy Report airs throughout California on The Cal Channel. Check http://www.calchannel.com to find the Cal Channel and schedule in your area. You also can view previous Maddy Report programs in their entirety at http://www.maddyinstitute.org/policy-analysis/the-maddy-report-tv.
Community Events
- The International Green Industry Hall of Fame will hold its sixth annual conference and induction ceremony at Buchanan High School in Clovis on March 9. Registration information is available here.
Interactive
Next 10: UPDATED California budget challenge – For the first time in a decade, California’s budget is largely in balance. However, the state has outstanding debts of $28 million, not counting long-term pension and retiree health care costs. Budget choices affect us all. Take the Challenge and decide how much should be spent on programs and where the money should come from. Next 10 California Budget Challenge
Next 10: Federal budget challenge — The Federal Budget Challenge is based on The Concord Coalition’s Principles and Priorities budget exercise, which has been used in numerous town hall meetings across the country by members of Congress from both parties, as well as in hundreds of high school and college classrooms. Next 10 Federal Budget challenge at www.federalbudgetchallenge.org.
Next 10: California Water Challenge – As our state faces some of the most severe drought conditions in its history, Next 10 wants to issue a new challenge to Californians: can you create a plan to make sure there’s enough water for everyone? Next 10 California Water Challenge
LEGISLATORS’ VOTING RECORDS: How often has a California legislator broken party ranks, abstained or switched sides? The Sacramento Bee has a database of the voting records of every member of the state Senate and Assembly. Enter a lawmaker’s last and first names to see how he or she voted, or enter a bill number to see how every legislator voted on it. Check it out at this link. http://www.sacbee.com/votingrecord/
More Information
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Maddy Institute Updates List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials – The Maddy Institute has updated its list of San Joaquin Valley elected officials. The list is available here.
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