POLICY & POLITICS
Deadline EXTENDED: Friday, March 15th, 2019.
Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship
The Maddy Institute
Applications for two $56,000 Fellowships
Valley mayors hopeful after meeting with Newsom on high-speed rail, economic growth
Fresno Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom met privately with the mayors of Fresno, Merced and Bakersfield on Wednesday to clarify his vision of high-speed rail, which Newsom said in an interview after the meeting very much still included a Valley-to-Valley vision.
See also:
· Newsom to meet with Valley mayors after bombshell high-speed rail announcement Fresno Bee
● Bullet train carried promise of a more prosperous Fresno. Those hopes have been derailed Fresno Bee
● California Gov. makes visits the Central Valley. Here’s what he said Visalia Times-Delta
● Trump demands California return $3.5 billion from ‘disaster’ high-speed rail project Fresno Bee
● Newsom wants to see high-speed trains for Merced-Bakersfield, puts brakes on SF-LA vision Fresno Bee
● President Trump on California High-Speed Rail: ‘We want that money back now’ abc30
● Newsom isn’t backing away from high-speed rail, after all Merced Sun-Star
● Newsom calls Trump’s tweet ‘fake news’ Visalia Times Delta
● What to do about the high-speed rail? Visalia Times Delta
● Newsom scales down L.A.-to-Bay high speed train in State of the State address Porterville Recorder
● How the bullet train went from peak California innovation to project from hell Los Angeles Times
● Gavin Newsom just threw high-speed rail under the political bus Los Angeles Times
● In Merced, some bewildered by high-speed rail decision. Others are OK with it San Francisco Chronicle
● Fox: What to Do About the High Speed Rail “Hole in the Ground?” Fox & Hounds
● Newsom Says High-Speed Rail Serving the Central Valley Is Not a “Train to Nowhere” Streetsblog Cal
● California HSR: Seven Deadly Mistakes Railway Age
● Gov. Newsom’s got a train to build — but it’s not in S.F. San Francisco Chronicle
● Governor Newsom Proposes Scaling-Back Of California Bullet Train Project In First State Of The State Address Valley Public Radio
● Trump wants high-speed-rail money back as confusion spreads about Newsom’s plan San Francisco Chronicle
● California Trims Its High-Speed Rail Ambitions Wall Street Journal
● 3 things to know about Newsom’s plans for high-speed rail KCRA 3
● Governor’s Office Changes Tune On High-Speed Train Hours After State Of The State Address CBS Sacramento
● Newsom Derails Jerry Brown’s Pet High-Speed Rail Project Intelligencer
● Trump demands California return $3.5B in federal high-speed rail money Politico
● Gavin Newsom’s High-Speed Gift to Republicans Politico
● Skelton: Newsom is right to scale back the bullet train, and it’s good politics too Los Angeles Times
● Warszawski: Newsom’s pullback on high-speed rail predictable but painful Fresno Bee
● EDITORIAL: Abandoning high-speed rail would be a mistake for California, the country and the planet Los Angeles Times
● EDITORIAL: Death of a California Dream Wall Street Journal
North SJ Valley:
Stanislaus County names a new county counsel. John Doering will retire.
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County leaders are promoting an in-house attorney to succeed County Counsel John Doering, who is set to retire at the end of March. Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors chose Assistant County Counsel Thomas Boze to take over the county’s top legal position effective March 30.
Central SJ Valley:
Longtime mayor of Kerman, Trinidad Rodriguez, dies after long illness
Fresno Bee
Former Mayor of Kerman Trinidad Rodriguez has died. He was 72. Mr. Rodriguez was mayor of Kerman for 14 years and was also a longtime administrator for Kerman Unified where he started out as a mechanic.
South SJ Valley:
Rep. Kevin McCarthy blames Republican loss of House majority on GOP healthcare bill
Los Angeles Times
Speaking privately to his donors, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy squarely blamed Republican losses in last year’s midterm elections on the GOP push to roll back health insurance protections for people with preexisting conditions — and in turn blamed his party’s right flank.
State:
GOP isn’t giving up on California House seats, but even Republicans say wins are unlikely
Sacramento Bee
Republican groups are itching to take back the seven congressional seats they lost to Democrats in California in 2018 as Democrats gear up to play defense and try to extend their majority further.
See also:
● Fact Sheets California Civic Engagement Project
● Video: Californians and Their Government Public Policy Institute of California
Five Ways Gavin Newsom Made It Clear He’s Not Jerry Brown
Capital Public Radio
A month after being inaugurated, Gov. Gavin Newsom used his State of the State speech Tuesday to make his strongest showing yet that Jerry Brown is no longer in charge.
See also:
● What You May Have Missed In Gov. Newsom’s State Of The State Capital Public Radio
● Newsom wants California to be its own nation-state in Trump era San Francisco Chronicle
● EDITORIAL: Will Newsom’s plans for train and tunnels fix problems – or just create new ones? Sacramento Bee
Could you get a digital dividend? Gavin Newsom wants Californians to profit from tech data
Sacramento Bee
California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a “data dividend” in his first State of the State Address on Tuesday, calling on tech companies like Google and Facebook to let consumers profit from the details they share online.
See also:
● Should Facebook and Google pay you a ‘data dividend’? San Francisco Chronicle
● CA Gov. Gavin Newsom Proposes ‘Digital Dividend’ Bloomberg
● California governor wants users to profit from online data AP News
Federal:
Bargainers complete bipartisan border compromise
Fresno Bee
Congressional bargainers have completed a bipartisan border security compromise that gives President Donald Trump less than a quarter of the $5.7 billion he wanted to build a wall with Mexico.
See also:
● ‘We’re looking for landmines’ in border bill, Trump says, before he’ll sign it abc30
● Border security brawl seems near a serene resolution Merced Sun-Star
● Trump still coy on border deal – but claims victory anyway Merced Sun-Star
● Highlights of the $330 billion-plus bill to avoid shutdown Modesto Bee
● Congress Awaits Final Border Bill With Shutdown Deadline Looming Capital Public Radio
● Can Democrats prevent Trump from using his executive power to build a wall? Los Angeles Times
● EDITORIAL: Face it, President Trump: Congress isn’t going to give you money for your wall Los Angeles Times
Here’s why Congress deserves a pay raise — yes, a raise!
Los Angeles Times
Followers of the business and political career of Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) know that the multi-millionaire can be counted on constantly to plumb new depths of cynicism. That’s the context against which a proposal he introduced this week to cut congressional pay should be viewed.
Nearly half of Republicans think God wanted Trump to be president
Washington Post
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders kicked up a bit of dust recently when she told the Christian television network CBN that she believed that God wanted Donald Trump to be president.
Republicans Look to Speed Up Confirmation of Nominees
Wall Street Journal
Senate Republicans are moving to accelerate the process for confirming many judicial and executive nominees, setting up another showdown with Democrats over the influence of the minority party in the chamber’s procedures.
Other:
They tried to call FDR and the New Deal ‘socialist’ too. Here’s how he responded
Los Angeles Times
The term “socialism” has been enjoying something of a vogue lately, typically used to describe policies that were part of American mainstream politics as recently as the 1980s.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, February 17, at 10 a.m. on ABC 30 – Maddy Report: “Occupational Licensing: Worth the Cost?” – Guest: Carole D’Elia, Executive Director of Little Hoover Commission. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, February 17, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: Valley Views Edition: “Closing the Valley’s Income Inequality Gap” – Guests: Carole D’Elia, Executive Director of Little Hoover Commission; Tom Scott, National Federation of Independent Business, California; and Luke Reidenbach, California Budget and Policy Center. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, February 17, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “Fighting Fire with Fire: Rethinking Forest Management” – Guest: Little Hoover Commission Representative, Julissa Delgado. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.
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AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Foster Farms names new CEO. He has worked at the Livingston-based company since 1996
Fresno Bee
Foster Farms, a poultry company based in Livingston, California, announced that Dan Huber is its new chief executive officer on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. He succeeds Laura Flanagan. Huber has been there since 1996.
Hanford Sentinel
The air outside smelled of barbecue smoke and exhaust fumes Tuesday during the opening day of the World Ag Expo, but inside the Heritage Complex banquet hall, a look into the future of agriculture was taking place.
Pistachio group scores $2.8 million in federal funding
Bakersfield Californian
The trade group American Pistachio Growers recently received a series of three federal commitments totaling $2.8 million to expand trade overseas, soften the blow of international tariffs and conduct research on the nuts’ nutritional value.
Source Of Fall Romaine Outbreak A Mystery, US Regulators Say
Capital Public Radio
The Food and Drug Administration says it wasn’t able to determine how a water reservoir on a Santa Barbara County, California, farm became contaminated with E. coli.
California Treasurer Urges Congress to Fully Open Banks to Marijuana Industry
KQED
California State Treasurer Fiona Ma is asking Congress to pass legislation to make it easier for banks and credit unions to work with businesses that deal in cannabis.
Gavin Newsom plans to send National Guard troops north to tackle illegal pot grows
Times Standard
Following up on Monday’s plan to pull National Guard troops from the California-Mexico border, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced today as part of his State of the State address that he plans to send some of those troops north to tackle cannabis grows.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
False accusations hurt those accused and victims of actual crimes
Modesto Bee
Criminal justice agencies in Stanislaus County work together to ensure that crime is investigated and, where appropriate, individuals are prosecuted. We are committed to protect public safety and to honor the rights of both defendants and crime victims.
Public Safety:
All 62 Clovis Police Patrol Officers Outfitted With Body Cameras
GV Wire
Having access to more evidence and being more transparent are two of the reasons the department invested in the cameras, Munro said.
Walters: Long alliance of Democrats and police union erodes
CALmatters
Last year, over the strident objections of law enforcement officials and unions, the Legislature passed and Gov. Brown signed legislation that repeals one of the special protections that cops had enjoyed – sealed records on misconduct cases.
NRA Facing Most Formidable Opposition Yet, A Year After Parkland
Capital Public Radio
The gun rights group says it has more dues-paying members than any other grassroots organization, but shifting power in Congress and changing public opinions on gun laws may present challenges.
See also:
● On Parkland shooting anniversary, let’s continue push for change Sacramento Bee
● One year after Parkland, gun control advocates eye 2020 Roll Call
● House Judiciary panel advances background check bill Roll Call
● House Democrats make first major move to tighten gun laws Politico
California officials approve $131 million for emergency and disaster relief
Los Angeles Times
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a pair of bills into law Wednesday to immediately provide $131.3 million in funding to expand access to clean drinking water, improve emergency preparedness and support wildfire-ravaged communities.
Fire:
Can California and the federal government cooperate long enough to clean Paradise?
Merced Sun-Star
California emergency officials at OES are undertaking the biggest wildfire cleanup in history, including the Camp Fire in Paradise and Woolsey Fire in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
See also:
● Solar energy can be used to combat wildfires in California CALmatters
● Two more names attached to list of Camp Fire victims. 70 of 85 who died are now identified Sacramento Bee
PG&E says it’s still trying to limit power shutoffs under expanded program
San Francisco Chronicle
While millions more Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers could now have their power intentionally turned off as part of a wildfire-prevention effort, the utility is also taking steps to keep blackouts as limited as possible, one of its key executives said Wednesday.
See also:
● What could be worse than the next big fire? The next big fire caused by PG&E CALmatters
● The Struggle to Control PG&E New York Times
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Is Granite Park still cursed? Fresno DA reviewing audit tied to congressman, developer
Fresno Bee
Personal loans, missing documents, spending that appeared “not ethical” and a lot of unaccounted money were all issues raised by a recent Fresno audit into a nonprofit charged with rehabilitating Granite Park.
Modesto’s embattled insurance carrier considers bankruptcy
Modesto Bee
Riverstone Capital — the insurance carrier that has failed to pay Modesto employees’ medical claims and is the subject of a U.S. Department of Labor complaint filed in federal court — is considering bankruptcy.
See also:
● City of Modesto’s medical insurance carrier in trouble with Labor Department Modesto Bee
AEI
It’s pretty difficult to even comprehend how ridiculously large the US economy is, and this map helps put America’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $19.4 trillion ($19,400,000,000,000) in 2017 into perspective by comparing the economic size (GDP) of individual US states to other country’s entire national output.
Opinion: Online lenders provide service to people without regular bank accounts
CALmatters
Californians deserve access to safe, trustworthy credit when they need it. Having access to a range of well-regulated loan options helps soften financial shocks experienced by low- and moderate-income households.
Jobs:
‘I spent many years suffering.’ Women in Fresno allege sexual harassment at janitorial company
Fresno Bee
Two women in Fresno on Wednesday broke their silence about their alleged sexual harassment experiences at the hands of their supervisor at ABM Industries.
Google to invest $13 billion in new US offices, data centers
Associated Press
Google plans to invest more than $13 billion this year on new and expanded data centers and offices across the U.S. CEO Sundar Pichai announced the news in a blog post Wednesday , emphasizing the company’s growth outside its Mountain View, California, home and across the Midwest and South.
White House Names Top Executives to Workforce Advisory Board
Wall Street Journal
The Trump administration named prominent business executives to its newly formed workforce-policy advisory board Wednesday, including the leaders of Apple Inc., Home Depot Inc., International Business Machines Corp. and Visa Inc.
Janus Barely Dents Public-Sector Union Membership
Wall Street Journal
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unions in state and local government only lost 54,000 members, falling from 6.244 million to 6.19 million in 2018—a decline of less than 1%.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Fact check: Is California really ranked 41st in education spending nationwide?
Merced Sun-Star
Gov. Gavin Newsom cheered teachers and education advocates when he said California’s per pupil spending ranks 41st in the U.S. Other rankings from the Census show a different result.
Hanford Sentinel
Students, faculty and members of law enforcement met Tuesday on the campus of Lemoore Middle College High School to discuss a topic that causes anxiety for all involved — gun safety on campus.
64% of California LGBT students are bullied. A new bill would train teachers to help
Merced Sun-Star
Anti-LGBTQ bullying is an epidemic in California schools: 64 percent of such middle and high school students surveyed by the California Department of Education last year reported being bullied. Nearly half had seriously considered suicide.
EDITORIAL: Behind the Teachers Strikes
Wall Street Journal
Monday marked the first time in 25 years that the Denver Public Schools (DPS) faced a strike from its Denver Classroom Teachers Association, a union of 5,700 that teaches 92,000 students.
Higher Ed:
Deadline EXTENDED: Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship
The Maddy Institute
Applications for two $56,000 Fellowships Due Friday, March 15th, 2019. Through the generosity of The Wonderful Company, San Joaquin Valley students will have the opportunity to become the next generation of Valley leaders through The Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship. The Maddy Institute will award two $56,000 Fellowships to Valley students who are accepted into a nationally ranked, qualified graduate program in the fall of 2019.
Mother of Columbine shooter speaks at Fresno City College
abc30
17-year-old Dylan Klebold barged down the stairs on the morning of April 20th, 1999. “All he said was bye, and he slammed the door,” Sue Klebold recalled the chaos which followed. Her powerful words kept the crowd’s attention at Fresno City College.
New Clovis Medical School unveils technology-enhanced curriculum
Clovis Roundup
The new College of Osteopathic Medicine at California Health Sciences University (CHSU) has unveiled their innovative approach to medical education for the first, four-year medical school in the Valley.
Cal Poly SLO fraternity suspended for hazing, drinking
Sacramento Bee
A university investigation found that the chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity engaged in hazing activities in which pledges were quizzed on fraternity history and then were required to do push-ups as punishment for incorrect answers.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
EPA sets toxins response plan amid criticism from lawmakers
Fresno Bee
EPA expected to release a plan for dealing with a class of long-lasting chemical contaminants amid criticism from Congress.
See also:
● EPA chief calls toxic chemicals in drinking water ‘very important threat’ abc30
● EPA’s Top Leaders Stymied Research Unit, Report Finds Wall Street Journal
Top Leader at Interior Dept. Pushes a Policy Favoring His Former Client
New York Times
David Bernhardt, the agency’s acting chief, wants to roll back endangered-species protections on a tiny fish, a change that benefits few outside a California group he once represented as a lobbyist.
Green New Deal proposed for Los Angeles
Curbed LA
Some Los Angeles City Councilmembers are calling for a “Green New Deal” to energize the city’s fight against climate change and create new employment opportunities for residents.
See also:
● The Unrealistic Economics of the Green New Deal Wall Street Journal
New map reveals how global warming could transform your city’s climate in 60 years
Fresno Bee
US cities will have radically different climates in 60 years if emissions continue at today’s rate, says NC State and University of Maryland scientists’ new map published in the journal Nature Communications.
See also:
● Climate Change Still Seen as Top Global Threat, but Cyberattacks Rising Concern Pew Research
Can fish evolve to handle climate change? Scientists tested it on these oddball fish
Fresno Bee
Long Beach State researchers studied California grunion, which wash on beaches to spawn, to find out if fish larvae can adapt to climate change. They found some had genes to evolve and survive ocean acidification.
Energy:
Bakersfield oil producer invests in solar energy
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield-based oil producer E&B Natural Resources Management Corp. announced it is investing in photovoltaic solar energy to help power its operations in Kern and Santa Barbara counties.
World-renowned wind energy expert Paul Gipe talks about California’s energy future.
Bakersfield Californian
World-renowned wind energy expert Paul Gipe of Bakersfield joined The Californian’s Robert Price for his weekly “One on One” webcast to talk about California’s energy future. Gipe said PG&E’s bankruptcy presents Kern County with some energy independence opportunities.
California’s ‘smart’ energy future glows on the horizon—but how to get there?
CALmatters
California is in the midst of a similar, and hugely transformative, experiment: an effort to redesign the future of electricity generation, distribution and use to meet a surging demand.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Doctor shortage expected to worsen as baby boomers retire, report says
Bakersfield Californian
A longstanding healthcare professional shortage is only expected to get worse as baby boomers reach retirement age, which will likely lead to greater difficulty finding a doctor and longer wait times when a doctor is found.
New Clovis Medical School unveils technology-enhanced curriculum
Clovis Roundup
The new College of Osteopathic Medicine at California Health Sciences University (CHSU) has unveiled their innovative approach to medical education for the first, four-year medical school in the Valley.
What California’s Transparent Hospital Prices Can And Can’t Tell Us About Actual Charges
VPR
If you or a loved one needed to go to the emergency room, how would you pay the bill? Most of us are overwhelmed by the high cost of healthcare—and it doesn’t help that medical costs are often hidden.
IMMIGRATION
Lawmaker calls for investigation after deaths of migrants who fell ill in detention
abc30
A lawmaker is calling for an investigation in the wake of an ABC News report that highlighted the deaths of two migrants who fell ill in detention.
See also:
● Why Border Wall Talks Suddenly Became a Showdown Over ‘ICE Beds’ New York Times
Here’s how to handle Central American migrants — like the Cuban rafters and Soviet Jews before them
Los Angeles Times
The United States has a long history of responding to migration emergencies with legislative remedies crafted for specific situations. Sometimes, the intent has been to open doors, at other times to close them.
AP Fact Check: Newsom wrong on illegal border crossings
AP News
While arrests along the Mexican border fell to 303,916 in the 2017 budget year, the lowest since 1971, they jumped 31 percent last year to 396,579. This is still relatively low in historical terms.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Planning Commission Votes To Recommend RV Park On Sky Ranch Road
Sierra News
After a three-hour public meeting of the Madera County Planning Commission last night at the Oakhurst Community Center, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Madera County Board of Supervisors approve a nearly 40-acre RV and camping park.
Historic Hanford Building On A Path To Being Sold
Business Journal
Last week, the unique, red-brick building that looks like a castle, complete with a turret — hence, the nickname that has stuck for decades — was on the mind of the Hanford City Council, which voted to make the Court Street building in Civic Park surplus property.
The downtown ‘Old Spaghetti’ building has been empty for years. Now it’s getting new life
Fresno Bee
You’ve probably driven past this building countless times, even if you didn’t know it. It’s the one with windows that overlook an elevated portion of Highway 41 south – the one you can see right into when you’re driving past – that many people know as the “Old Spaghetti Factory” building.
Housing:
Fresno neighbors fed up with homeless camp at high-speed rail site
Fresno Bee
Debris, defecation and needles left by homeless campers are creating an eyesore and public health risk, say neighbors and businesses near the high-speed rail property on Golden State Boulevard.
See also:
● Sacramento mayor has a $40.5 million plan to shelter nearly 800 homeless. But where? Sacramento Bee
● Frustrated With The Slow Response Of Government, Californians Are Serving Their Homeless Neighbors Themselves Capital Public Radio
Bakersfield home prices climb 7.2%
Bakersfield Californian
The median sale price of an existing, single-family home in Bakersfield in January came to $245,000 — 7.2 percent more than a year earlier — as demand slid and supply remained tight.
Brookings
Political rhetoric, again from both parties, reinforces the idea that renting a home should be seen as a temporary state, a waystation on the journey to the final destination of homeownership.
PUBLIC FINANCES
U.S. budget deficit running over 40% higher than last year
PBS NewsHour
The federal budget deficit in December totaled $13.5 billion, helping to push the deficit for the first three months of this budget year up 41.8 percent from the same period the previous year.
See also:
● U.S. Tax Revenues Fall, Deficit Widens in Wake of New Tax Law Wall Street Journal
● U.S. Budget Deficit Widens to $319 Billion Amid Flat Revenue Bloomberg
How Politicians Hurt Your Public Pension Plan
Stanford Graduate School of Business
A Stanford study indicates they make poor investment decisions because they’re overly influenced by campaign contributions and political considerations.
See also:
● Borenstein: CalPERS’ flawed forecasting increases pension debt East Bay Times
The 2019-20 Budget: Analysis of the Medi-Cal Budget
Legislative Analyst’s Office
The Governor’s January budget estimates that $20.7 billion General Fund ($98.5 million total funds) will be required to fund Medi‑Cal in 2018‑19, reflecting a significant $2.3 billion General Fund downward adjustment relative to the 2018‑19 Budget Act.
The 8 Most Common 2019 Tax Return Questions, Answered by Experts
New York Times
The most important changes to the tax code in decades have taken effect — and filers are confused. We asked CPAs and other tax-prep pros to simplify things.
TRANSPORTATION
For “high speed rail,” see discussion at beginning of Daily
150K Californians affected by Real ID delay may see relief in 2-3 weeks
abc30
The DMV has alerted law enforcement to let them know not to issue a ticket to some drivers who may be driving on expired licenses.
Caltrans ordered to clean up the roadways or face up to $25,000-a-day fines
San Francisco Chronicle
California water regulators ordered state transportation officials Wednesday to drastically step up trash cleanup on Bay Area highways and halt what environmentalists say is a steady flow of rubbish and pollution pouring into San Francisco Bay, or face heavy fines.
Robot cars are getting better — but will true self-driving ever arrive?
San Francisco Chronicle
Waymo and Cruise, the leaders in the race to make robot cars a widespread reality, saw their vehicles improve at handling themselves on the road in 2018.
WATER
Newsom signs bill to provide $131.3 million in emergency relief, including safe water
Fresno Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed his first bill, which will provide $131.3 million in immediate relief from the state’s general fund for emergencies such as a lack of clean drinking water, while surrounded by children at a Parlier elementary school – all of whom must drink from water bottles due to unsafe drinking fountains.
See also:
● Gov. Newsom visits Central Valley, signs two new bills abc30
● Newsom makes surprise visit to Central Valley Visalia Times Delta
● Newsom signs first bills as California governor Sacramento Bee
● McEwen: Gavin, This Bargain Project Will Make You a Water & Parks Hero GV Wire
Officials urge caution as Bass Lake approaches spill levels. Mudslide fears shutter other roads
Fresno Bee
PG&E warned of a possible flood in Bass Lake on Wednesday due to the ongoing storm in the Central Valley.
See also:
● PG&E warns Bass Lake could soon reach spill levels abc30
● PG&E Warns Bass Lake Could Reach Spill Levels This Week Sierra News
‘It’s a mess.’ Atmospheric river brings record-setting rain to Sacramento, Northern California
Sacramento Bee
Wednesday’s atmospheric river storm brought painfully slow commutes across Northern California, some flooding in common trouble spots in Sacramento and a rare layer of thick snow in the northern Sacramento Valley.
See also:
● Powerful storm dumps more rain and snow across the West Sacramento Bee
● From cold snap to warm rain to blowing dust: Bakersfield is weather-crazy this week Bakersfield Californian
● Strong Winter Storm Prompts Flood Warning For Sacramento Region Capital Public Radio
● Atmospheric rivers pound California with season’s ‘biggest storm’ Los Angeles Times
Why L.A. is having such a wet winter after years of drought conditions
Los Angeles Times
This week is expected to bring the heaviest rainfall of the season to date, adding to an already wet winter that has replenished reservoirs and created a healthy snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, a major source of California’s water supply.
EDITORIAL: Governor Newsom’s vision has room for both fish and farming
Merced Sun-Star
Anyone inclined to high-five the dismissal of chairwoman Felicia Marcus from the State Water Resources Control Board should put their hands to better use. Like using them to roll up their sleeves so we can get to work fixing our rivers and making them more hospitable to salmon.
“Xtra”
Here’s some Valentine’s Day themed food you can get around Fresno
abc30
Some local eateries are getting into the lovey-dovey spirit – gearing up for a tasty Valentine’s Day. However, there is limited time to get your hands on some heart shaped foods.
See also:
● This Valentine’s Day, Make A Date With A Book Capital Public Radio
Dierks Bentley is on tour as his own opening act. You’ll want to show up early
Fresno Bee
Hot Country Knights, the opening act of Dierks Bentley’s “Burning Man” tour, is a not-so secret, secret surprise. After all, the band is officially listed in all the press for the tour, which stops Friday night at the Save Mart Center.
Tickets now available for Lightning in a Bottle music festival
Bakersfield Californian
Tickets for Lightning in a Bottle went on sale Wednesday even as the site’s proposed location had not been formally approved by the Kern County Board of Supervisors.
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
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