Maddy Institute – January 30, 2019

30Jan

POLICY & POLITICS

Deadline FAST APPROACHING:

Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship

The Maddy Institute

Applications for two $56,000 Fellowships

Due Friday, February 22^nd, 2019.

North SJ Valley:

Almond milk is booming. Blue Diamond will expand its Turlock plant to meet the demand

Modesto Bee

Blue Diamond Growers broke ground Tuesday on an expansion of its west Turlock plant to meet the demand for almond milk. The addition will add 25 to 28 jobs to the 150 already at the Washington Road plant, said Travis Hill, start-up manager for the Sacramento-based cooperative.

Central SJ Valley:

Nunes makes Democrats’ initial target list for 2020. Will Janz be there to meet him?

Fresno Bee

Rep. Devin Nunes will be a prime target for Democrats in 2020. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released on Monday its initial target list of 33 Republican and open congressional seats for the upcoming presidential election.

See also:

● Devin Nunes is back on Democrats’ target list for 2020 San Francisco Chronicle

South SJ Valley:

Assemblymember Mathis announces bipartisan bill to restore social recreation and camp services

Porterville Recorder

Assemblymember Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) Monday announced a bill to restore social recreation and camp services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This bill is a bipartisan measure authored by ASM Mathis (R-Visalia) and ASM Frazier (D-Discovery Bay).

Man who accused Planning Director Lorelei Oviatt of years of abusive behavior criticizes county’s investigation

Bakersfield Californian

The man who accused a Kern County department head of years of bullying has criticized the county’s investigation into the matter.

One on One with Robert Price launches with Jean Fuller

Bakersfield Californian

Watch TBC Media’s new video-streamed show, “One on One with Robert Price”.

State:

California’s State Budget: The Governor’s Proposal

PPIC

Governor Newsom’s first budget proposal would build up budget reserves and pay down debt—while increasing funding for housing, education, and health and human services.

· Our “First Look” Analysis of the Governor’s Proposed State Budget California Budget & Policy Center

At Gov. Newsom’s urging, California will sue Huntington Beach over blocked homebuilding

Los Angeles Times

In the first move of a promised battle between Gov. Gavin Newsom and local governments over California’s housing affordability crisis, the state sued the city of Huntington Beach on Friday and accused it of failing to allow enough new homebuilding to accommodate a growing population.

· California lawmakers have tried for 50 years to fix the state’s housing crisis. Here’s why they’ve failed Los Angeles Times

‘Trump effect:’ California Latino voters showed up in force in 2018. Will they do it again?

Fresno Bee

California Latinos helped Democrats flip seven congressional districts in the 2018 midterm elections. The party wants to build on the “Trump effect” for 2020.

AG Becerra to Give Spanish-Language Response to Trump’s State of the Union

KQED

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra — who has sued the Trump administration 45 times over a wide range of issues — will deliver the Spanish-language response to President Trump’s State of the Union (SOTU) address next week.

NRA seeks to topple 2 strict California gun laws

San Francisco Chronicle

That law, which took effect in 2000, has made it illegal to buy or sell magazines that can hold more than 10 cartridges. Proposition 63, sponsored by then-Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and approved by the voters in 2016, would require anyone who owns the magazines to turn them in, send them out of state or remake them to comply with the law.

EDITORIAL: Secret investigation weakens trust in state auditor

Sacramento Bee

A former state worker alleges she was fired in retaliation for her cooperation in an investigation by the state auditor. The auditor’s refusal to confirm the investigation’s existence raises troubling questions.

Federal:

GOP heads to wall talks with a message: It doesn’t have to be a wall

Fresno Bee

Republicans sent a message on Tuesday to the lawmakers getting ready to start border security negotiations: “It doesn’t have to be a wall,” as House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy put it.

● Trump warns border security conference committee before talks begin Roll Call

● EDITORIAL: As Trump demands the wall, he loses sight of what really works: more border agents Fresno Bee

McConnell says Democrats’ bid to boost voting rights law is a ‘power grab’

Fresno Bee

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell voiced concerns Tuesday about Democratic-led efforts to bolster the nation’s voting rights laws.

Democrats are calling on the same donors, but few are ready to spend

Fresno Bee

Democratic presidential contenders have relied on many of the same donors throughout their careers. But in the early stages of the 2020 race, few of those big spenders are prepared to pick sides.

See Also:

● It’s not even 2020, and one Dem has dropped out of the race San Francisco Chronicle

● The marathon 2020 presidential campaign is on. Here’s the real race to watch Merced Sun-Star

● Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti skips presidential race to ‘finish the job’ at home Los Angeles Times

● EDITORIAL: We’ll have a Venti and budget bagel Modesto Bee

● EDITORIAL: Eric Garcetti is done flirting with 2020? Good. L.A. needs him to get to work at home Los Angeles Times

Calbuzz: FBI vs. Apple: A Case Study of Kamala Equivocation

CalBuzz

With uncharacteristic hesitation, Calbuzz balks when people around the country ask us whether Kamala Harris is for real, or just the flavor of the week.

● Kamala Harris, other 2020 Democrats move to the Bernie Sanders left San Francisco Chronicle

● Kamala Harris catches a break: LA Mayor Garcetti won’t run for president San Francisco Chronicle

● Kamala Harris’s History of Jailing Parents of Truants National Review

● 5 Things to Know About Kamala Harris KQED

● Harris town hall sets CNN viewing record Politico

● Politifact CA: Kamala Harris: Criminal justice reformer, or defender of the status quo? The record is mixed Politifact CA

● EDITORIAL: A Bad Judges Deal Wall Street Journal

Intel chiefs challenge Trump’s national security claims

abc30

Top intelligence officials testified Monday about the gravest threats facing the U.S., especially from China and Russia.

A second government shutdown would be a political disaster for Trump

Los Angeles Times

There are those who believe that the president came out the winner in the standoff over the government shutdown. They are what political scientists call very wrong.

Trump lawyers ask Supreme Court to add citizenship question to 2020 census

Los Angeles Times

With time running short, Trump administration lawyers urged the Supreme Court on Friday to intervene in a dispute over the 2020 census and uphold their plans to ask everyone about their citizenship.

U.S. Government Seen as Most Corrupt in Seven Years

Bloomberg

The U.S. under President Donald Trump dropped six places to 22nd globally in the 2018 corruption-perception index published by the Berlin-based Transparency International. Denmark came in first, trading places with New Zealand, which was deemed least corrupt in 2017.

See also:

· U.S. Slips In Annual Global Corruption Rankings Capital Public Radio

House Republicans praise Democrats’ subpoena restraint (so far)

Roll Call

On Monday night Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, newly installed ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter praising Democratic Chairman Jerrold Nadler for his leadership of the panel.

Stacey Abrams to Give Democratic Response to Trump’s State of the Union Speech

Wall Street Journal

Stacey Abrams will give the Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union address on Feb. 5, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

Other:

Fresno Bee recognized with award for ‘speaking truth to power’ in Devin Nunes coverage

Fresno Bee

The Fresno Bee receives award for its coverage of Rep. Devin Nunes’ campaign. The Society of Professional Journalists-Northern California gave the honor. The SPJ said The Bee spoke “truth to power.”

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Longtime ag leader, advocate for Fresno region leaving role. Who will fill his shoes?

Fresno Bee

Joel Nelsen, president of California Citrus Mutual, is stepping down as the organization’s leader after a 37-year run. Nelsen, who has earned the reputation as one agriculture’s staunchest advocates, is being replaced by Casey Creamer, the organization’s current executive vice president.

Fresno, Tulare county ag officials enjoy rivalry – and love. Now they’re both retiring

Fresno Bee

As Les Wright, Fresno County agricultural commissioner, tells it, he and Marilyn Kinoshita, the agricultural commissioner from Tulare County, were sharing a ride from Visalia to Fresno after a pest control meeting when they discovered a mutual interest in each other.

Almond milk is booming. Blue Diamond will expand its Turlock plant to meet the demand

Fresno Bee

Ghirardelli, Russell Stover to pay $750,000 over air-filled chocolate packages

Fresno Bee

Chocolate-makers Ghirardelli and Russell Stover, owned by Lindt & Sprüngli, were fined $750,000 and forced to improve packaging after California district attorneys complained misleading candy boxes were full of air.

Here are eight vegetables to grow during winter

Fresno Bee

Want to garden during the winter, but unsure of what will grow? Here are eight cold-weather safe vegetables you can harvest during the winter.

Central California Food Bank hosts food giveaway for federal workers

abc30

A long line greeted volunteers at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in central Fresno. Several federal employees were among those who came to pick up food. They may have returned to work, but they’re still waiting for a paycheck so every bit helps.

Nectarines recalled from Costcos over listeria concerns

The Business Journal

According to a notice posted by the FDA, 1,727 cartons of peaches, 1,207 cartons of nectarines and 365 cartons of plums have been recalled by Jac. Vandenberg, Inc., a New York-based company selling the fruits in different stores across the country.

Pot shop alliance sues county, claims uneven enforcement of ban

Bakersfield Californian

A confederation of local cannabis dispensaries has sued Kern County in federal court, alleging its ban on medical marijuana shops violates the group’s constitutional rights.

Lawmakers want to cut California’s pot taxes to help lagging legal market

Los Angeles Times

Frustrated that California’s licensed marijuana industry is struggling to compete against the black market, a group of state officials is pressing to slash taxes on legal pot shops and growers.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

‘Not here to criminalize them.’ Many of 33 caught in prostitution sting offered help.

Fresno Bee

A three-day, three-site operation to combat human trafficking resulted in the arrest of 33 people last week, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department announced Tuesday. It was part of the fifth annual Operation Rebuild and Reclaim.

Dozens of victims rescued and hundreds arrested in human-trafficking sting in California

Los Angeles Times

Nearly 50 victims of human trafficking, including 14 minors, were rescued during a three-day sting operation across California last week, law enforcement officials announced Tuesday.

Meth and murder: A new kind of drug war has made Tijuana one of the deadliest cities on Earth

Los Angeles Times

Tijuana, a city of 1.8 million that not long ago was celebrating a major reduction in violence, is in the grip of an unprecedented homicide crisis. A record 2,518 people were killed here in 2018 — nearly seven times the total in 2012. With 140 killings per 100,000 people, Tijuana is now one of the deadliest cities in the world.

Public Safety:

2018 homicides: What Stanislaus County city broke a record? Was Modesto up, down?

Modesto Bee

There were 42 homicides in Stanislaus County in 2018, which is about average for the last decade, but among those were some marked increases. Meanwhile, the numbers were down for both Modesto and in the jurisdiction of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department.

Clovis Police Department warns of location sharing services on apps

abc30

The Clovis Police Department says it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re keeping tabs on location services on your phone, and on the phones of your kids.

California voters to weigh crime measures

Visalia Times Delta

Over the last few decades, Californians have seen crime spike upwards to crisis levels and then decline just as sharply. Their attitudes about crime have been just as volatile, translating into ever-changing waves of policy.

Two 2020 ballot measures will test the crime attitudes of Californians

Visalia Times Delta

Over the last few decades, Californians have seen crime spike upwards to crisis levels and then decline just as sharply.

Bail companies in California have conspired to keep premiums high, lawsuit alleges

Los Angeles Times

With a historic law overhauling California’s cash bail system on hold, bail customers on Tuesday filed a class-action lawsuit against more than 20 surety companies and agents in the state, alleging they have conspired to keep premiums high for criminal defendants.

Reporting From California’s New Police Transparency Law

Capital Public Radio

A new state law dramatically increased access to police records in California last year. Reporters from CapRadio, KQED and the Bay Area News Group explain a collaborative effort to collect and analyze these records for the first time.

A bill would end a $5 co-pay that has some California inmates choosing between buying soap or seeing a doctor

Los Angeles Times

The department first began requiring inmates to share in the cost of their healthcare in 1994 with the intention of reducing unnecessary medical visits, a model similar to that of health insurers outside of prison. But researchers say inmates don’t have the earning power to make the system work.

Apple is hurrying to fix FaceTime bug that allowed eavesdropping

Los Angeles Times

An apparent bug in FaceTime’s new group chat function allowed callers to remotely activate the microphone on another person’s iPhone, iPad or Mac without that person’s knowledge and hear whatever sounds the microphone picked up.

Fire:

Is an arsonist running loose in Visalia? Firefighters keep busy with string of blazes

Visalia Times Delta

No one has been arrested in a string of fires stretching more than a week in Visalia.

Deputy Fire Chief David Witt appointed to interim fire chief for Kern County Fire Department

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern County Board of Supervisors appointed David Witt to interim fire chief at a board meeting Tuesday. Former chief Brian Marshall announced his resignation last December. He stepped down to become chief of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

Insured losses from November 2018 wildfires up to $11.4 billion

Porterville Recorder

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced Monday that to date more than $11.4 billion in insured losses have been reported from the November 2018 fires. That number is up more than $2.3 billion from losses the Department reported in December—a 25 percent increase.

Why dozens of people are likely to sue Caltrans and Redding over the deadly Carr Fire

Sacramento Bee

Setting the stage for lawsuits, more than 250 people who lost homes and property to last summer’s deadly Carr Fire in Redding have filed damage claims with the city and with the state’s highway department alleging the fire grew out of control because neither agency did enough to trim vegetation.

Why the cleanup from California’s Camp Fire could hit a major roadblock

Sacramento Bee

California will launch the biggest wildfire debris removal effort in state history in Butte County, scene of November’s Camp Fire. But nearly half of property owners haven’t given the government permission to enter properties.

We have been shorted.’ Why wildfire survivors are furious about PG&E’s bankruptcy filing

Sacramento Bee

Citing $30 billion in potential liabilities from the 2017 and 2018 wildfires, utility officials contended the filing is the only way to keep the company going — and insisted that their decision will actually benefit fire survivors.

California seeks faster forestry approvals in wildfire fight

Associated Press

California wildland managers said Tuesday that they want to speed up logging and prescribed burns designed to slow wildfires that have devastated communities in recent years.

ECONOMY / JOBS

Economy:

As China Trade Talks Begin, Trump Faces Pressure to Make a Deal

Wall Street Journal

Though president feels an advantage as China’s economy slows, new tariffs could be unpopular.

From Beer to Casinos, Businesses Turn to Solar, Wind Power

Wall Street Journal

Corporations are fueling record investment in U.S. wind and solar power, seizing an opportunity to show consumers their environmental stripes while also taking advantage of plunging costs and favorable tax breaks.

Jobs:

See how far union membership has declined in California

Merced Sun-Star

Fewer than 15% of California workers were members of a union in 2018, the lowest union membership rate in at least 35 years, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

U.S. Companies Added 213,000 Workers in January, ADP Data Show

Bloomberg

Private payrolls increased by 213,000 after a downwardly revised 263,000 gain in December, according to data released Wednesday from the ADP Research Institute in Roseland, New Jersey. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 181,000.

EDUCATION

K-12:

Attorney for student in Bullard incident alleges district failed to disclose information

Fresno Bee

The attorney for the student seen in a physical confrontation with Trustee Terry Slatic at Bullard High School on Jan. 11 has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Superintendent Bob Nelson, accusing the district of failing to properly disclose information about the incident.

Salas presents check to John Muir Middle School

Hanford Sentinel

On Friday, Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) and Joe Ashley from the California Resources Corporation presented a $2,500 check to John Muir Middle School.

Big plans for PUSD in 2019

Porterville Recorder

We are nearly a month into 2019, and big things are still to come for Porterville Unified School District (PUSD). With plans to expand programs with new buildings and integrate new technologies into learning pathways, the district has much in store for its students.

Wary of Teacher Walkouts, States Aim to Boost School Spending

PEW

Spurred by teacher strikes and a sense of crisis, Colorado’s new governor is one of 33 newly elected leaders of states and territories who campaigned on improving education funding. In many states, both Republicans and Democrats agree that schools need more money and teachers need better pay.

Higher Ed:

Deadline FAST APPROACHING: Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship

The Maddy Institute

Applications for two $56,000 Fellowships Due Friday, February 22^nd, 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.

Why does Fresno State keep getting top marks? Its president credits community support

Vida en el Valle

Washington Monthly has ranked Fresno State for three straight years in the top 30 based on social mobility, research and service.

Fresno State now home to Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute

abc30

Fresno State is now home to the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute. The institute is designed to be a center of interaction for the benefit of students and for the Portuguese-American community.

Neighbors call for solutions to parking issues near FCC

abc30

Skirmishes over parking near Fresno City College have been a long time problem between neighbors and students. All the pent up frustration came out during a community meeting Monday night.

As Students Head to Campus, Colleges Fear International Student Decline

PEW

Visa numbers and college officials suggest that fewer international students have enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities over the past few years. And with the pool of college-age students shrinking due to demographic trends and state support for higher education sputtering, public colleges and universities that lose overseas students can find themselves in financial trouble.

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

Environment:

California’s National Parks Returning To Normal Operations

Capital Public Radio

California’s signature national parks are getting back to normal operations following the 35-day partial federal government shutdown.

How Climate Change Drives Disaster Cascades

PPIC

California has had a devastating series of natural disasters recent years, prompting questions about the role of climate change in worsening fires, droughts, and floods. We talked to Amir AghaKouchak—an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Irvine―about how a warming climate is affecting natural hazards.

Republican states are disproportionately exposed to climate damage

Bloomberg

Research shows that the states that are most exposed to the economic impacts of climate change voted heavily for Donald Trump in 2016 and Republican congressional candidates in 2018. Mark Muro, David Victor, and Jacob Whiton suggest this reality may begin to erode certain ideological barriers that have thus far prevented bipartisan climate action.

Gone In A Generation

Washington Post

Montana has warmed 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit since 1950, considerably more than the United States as a whole. That added heat is contributing to raging forest fires and bark beetle outbreaks, a combination that has devastated the state’s forests.

Energy:

PG&E files for bankruptcy over wildfire claims, ‘extraordinary financial challenges’

Fresno Bee

Unable to cope with wildfire claims, PG&E made good on its vow to file for bankruptcy Tuesday, launching a perilous journey with major implications for ratepayers, investors, state officials and the thousands of California wildfire victims who are suing the utility.

● Ripple effects of PG&E bankruptcy filing could stretch far abc30

● PG&E files for bankruptcy citing fire claims Visalia Times Delta

● California Lawmakers Vow To Keep Electricity Affordable As PG&E Declares Bankruptcy Capital Public Radio

● Nation’s largest utility files for bankruptcy amid California wildfire lawsuits Hanford Sentinel

● PG&E bankruptcy could affect 850,000 Kern Division customers Bakersfield Californian

● PG&E Files For Bankruptcy In Wake Of Fire Lawsuits Capital Public Radio

● The Big Problem This Bankruptcy Won’t Solve For PG&E Capital Public Radio

● PG&E files for bankruptcy. Electricity prices likely to rise for millions of Californians Los Angeles Times

● PG&E’s bankruptcy could create pain beyond California Los Angeles Times

● PG&E Bankruptcy’s Ripple Effects Will be Felt Beyond California Bloomberg

● Bankrupt PG&E Seeks to Pay Out $130 Million in 2018 Bonuses Bloomberg

● Federal judge should appoint a receiver to take over PG&E San Francisco Chronicle

● What bankruptcy could mean for 24,000 employees San Francisco Chronicle

● California politicians frustrated by PG&E bankruptcy San Francisco Chronicle

● Once Powerful PG&E Has Few Friends Left in California Capital Wall Street Journal

● EDITORIAL: PG&E enters bankruptcy and uncertainty about its future San Francisco Chronicle

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Walgreens to pay millions to settle two cases of overcharging for prescription drugs

Fresno Bee

Walgreens agreed to pay $269.2 million in two whistleblower suits that accuse the pharmacy chain of overcharging federal healthcare programs such as Medicaid and Medicare for the cost of prescription drugs.

Assemblymember Mathis announces bipartisan bill to restore social recreation and camp services

Porterville Recorder

Former Tulare hospital manager accused of stealing $3 million

abc30

A hearing this week will determine whether nearly $1 million legally belongs to the former manager of Tulare Regional Medical Center. In 2017, the hospital closed, filed for bankruptcy, and parted ways with Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA) and its CEO Dr. Benny Benzeevi.

Would loans have helped keep TRMC open?

Visalia Times Delta

Monday kicked off a hearing to determine whether Dr. Benny Benzeevi should be given access to his $1 million bank account seized during an investigation headed by the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office.

Visalia Medical Clinic CEO retires

The Business Journal

After a quarter of a century of service as the CEO of Visalia Medical Clinic (VMC), Richard Strid has announced he is retiring.

West Side Family Health announces new clinical operations director

Bakersfield Californian

West Side Family Health announced a change in leadership this week. Ryan Shultz, a Bakersfield native, has been named the new director of clinical operations for the organization.

Mental Health Treatment Tops Californians’ Concerns Around Health Care, Poll Finds

Capital Public Radio

A new poll found Californians are more worried about paying for health care than housing, but still want the Legislature to prioritize access to treatment for people with mental health problems.

Patients Suffer As Insurers And Big Health Systems Spar For Market Share

NPR
Anthem Blue Cross of California, one of the state’s largest health insurers, is battling with Sutter Health over how much it should pay to care for tens of thousands of people it insures in Northern California. Sutter operates 24 hospitals in the region and lists about 5,000 doctors in its network.

IMMIGRATION

In break with past policy, US tells first asylum seeker to wait in Mexico

abc30

The U.S. has begun turning back asylum seekers at the border, with the first person Tuesday being told to wait in Mexico.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Clovis Costco construction begins near hot Shaw corridor

The Business Journal

Construction of the new Costco Wholesale location in Clovis is set to begin next month.

California Scores in Milken Institute Best Performing Cities Study

PublicCEO

The Milken Institute issued its annual best performing cities rankings and a number of California cities got high marks. But not all concerns often raised about the state of California cities were weighed in the report. Number one among those is pension liabilities. See where Valley cities rank…

Housing:

Visalia has the most affordable homes in the state: Study

abc30

Visalia has the most affordable homes in the state, according to a new study. HomeArea.com looked at 142 California cities with a population of 60,000 or more, calculating what’s called the “median multiple” for each one.

Fresno’s homeless population grows over 30-percent in 2 years

abc30

For the last several years, homeless populations have been on the rise in Fresno — growing more than 30-percent in the last two years. In 2018, there were nearly 1,700.

At Gov. Newsom’s urging, California will sue Huntington Beach over blocked homebuilding

Los Angeles Times

· California lawmakers have tried for 50 years to fix the state’s housing crisis. Here’s why they’ve failed Los Angeles Times

California has mismanaged its veterans home properties, audit finds

Los Angeles Times

California has “mismanaged” properties where its state-run veterans homes are located, failing to charge market rents to private users and shortchanging programs that should benefit from the leases, a state audit concluded Tuesday.

Could High-Speed Rail Ease California’s Housing Crisis? See Japan.

City Lab

When approved by California voters in 2008, the project was projected to cost $40 billion. Since then, however, the price tag has swelled to $77 billion, with some estimates going up to $100 billion. Construction is now in progress in the state’s less-populated Central Valley, and the first phase of the line, between San Jose and Bakersfield, could open by 2025, with San-Francisco-to-L.A. service beginning in 2029.

Why Technology Hasn’t Fixed the Housing Crisis

New York Times

A lot of start-ups have promising ideas, but the fundamental problem of affordability seems beyond their reach.

Trump Won’t Act Alone to Get Fannie, Freddie Out of Government Control

Wall Street Journal

The Trump administration plans to work with Congress to overhaul mortgage-finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a White House spokeswoman said Tuesday—playing down the idea the administration will seek to unilaterally release the firms from government control.

PUBLIC FINANCES

California’s State Budget: The Governor’s Proposal

PPIC

Governor Newsom’s first budget proposal would build up budget reserves and pay down debt—while increasing funding for housing, education, and health and human services.

How much revenue would the 70% tax rate on millionaires raise? It depends.

AEI

A 70 percent tax on income over $10 million generates less revenue when accounting for a behavioral response greater than zero. Much less revenue, in fact.

TRANSPORTATION

Californian lawmakers request investigation into gas surcharge

abc30

More than a dozen California state lawmakers have called on the attorney general to investigate our gas prices after the discovery that we may be paying more than we should – a lot more.

Opinion; Congestion pricing is the only way to fix our broken transportation system

Curbed

Streets will only work for everyone when drivers pay their fair share to use them

California driver cell phone use up in 2018, but down from 2016

Porterville Recorder

More California drivers are using their cell phone behind the wheel, but less than previous years, a 2018 observational study by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and California State University, Fresno found.

California, Texas high-speed rail: Better late than not at all

Scienceblog

It has been reported that if high-speed rail were placed on the California ballot today the electorate would vote it down. While that may be true, it would not be a landslide defeat. There are still a considerable number of Californians that continue to support the project, myself included.

EDITORIAL: Solving the rail puzzle

Palo Alto Online

In a race against time, solving the grade-separation problem remains elusive.

WATER

Scenes from California’s Dust Bowl

Los Angeles Times

Diana Marcum, who covers the Central Valley, spent time in six communities struggling under conditions that have left 80% of the state experiencing extreme to exceptional drought. Marcum won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing for this series.

Delayed Renewal of Water Law Complicates Valley Water Politics

VPR

The partial government shutdown caused all sorts of headaches for Congress, and it may have tipped the scales when it comes to support for one law that deals with water diversions to the San Joaquin Valley from the San Francisco Bay Delta.

“Xtra”

Grizzly Fest sets lineup for 2019 return to Fresno’s Woodward Park. Here’s who’s coming

Fresno Bee

It’s festival announcement time; that point in the year when the spring and summer musical festivals begin unveiling their lineups. Here’s the low-down on who’s playing this year’s Grizzly Fest, which is once again taking Woodward Park for a two-day run, May 4 and 5.

Baby rhino born at Fresno Chaffee Zoo. And this newborn already knows how to stand

Fresno Bee

A baby southern white rhinoceros was born Tuesday as rhino parents Tim and Kayla welcomed their second calf into the world. The gender of the newborn wasn’t immediately known.

Local invention helps get every drop of your favorite product out of bottle

abc30

It’s called the Bottle Stand and the way it works is pretty simple. “It holds all your bottles upside down so that you never have to shake them,” said creator Diane Fischer, creator of The Bottle Stand. From honey to lotion, the uses are endless.

California Pizza Kitchen fundraiser to support family of slain officer

Bakersfield Californian

All California Pizza Kitchen locations will be participating in an all-day fundraiser on Wednesday to support the family of slain Newman Police Department Officer Ronil Singh.

Free Museum Day comes to Sacramento on Saturday

Los Angeles Times

Free Museum Day in Sacramento on Saturday offers a chance for visitors to sample new places to experience history, art, wildlife and culture.

Top 14 Unsung Beach Towns

Sunset

Here is a little cave that someone has turned into a lean-to, lining thin driftwood logs across the front. Here is a curlicue tree limb, twisted in the surf like a giant elk antler. And here is a 40-foot-long tree trunk, bark and all, that will be swallowed up by the waves. Looming above everything are massive rocks that wade, humanlike, in the water.