POLICY & POLITICS
As the Vaccine Arrives, Death and Denial Rage in a California Coronavirus Epicenter
New Yorker
In the San Joaquin Valley, medical professionals fear that many in the public still fail to grasp the dangers of COVID-19.
North SJ Valley:
Merced County’s 2020 highs and lows: Keeping hope amid a pandemic’s extreme challenges
Merced Sun-Star
The year 2020 will undoubtedly go down in Merced County history as one everyone will certainly remember — but many would rather forget. It began with the first alarming news of the novel coronavirus in a country thousands of mile away, far from the daily reality of most Mercedians.
See also:
● Merced County reports 8 COVID deaths, rising hospitalizations Merced Sun-Star
● Coronavirus update, Jan. 4: Stanislaus County hospitals remain under pressure Modesto Bee
COVID-19 concerns spread into new year
Turlock Journal
Stanislaus County has ended the year with a coronavirus situation similar to how it started in March — rising cases and a stay-at-home-order.
Stay-at-home order extended for Stanislaus County
Turlock Journal
The stay-at-home-order for Stanislaus County residents will continue for the foreseeable future as hospitals continue to struggle with mounting COVID-19 cases.
Who will lead Modesto in pandemic and its aftermath? Voters have two choices
Modesto Bee
Modesto’s next mayor will lead the city during one of its biggest challenges in its history – getting through the new coronavirus pandemic and then rebuilding the community. Voters will choose between Doug Ridenour, a retired police sergeant who just finished his first term on the City Council, and Sue Zwahlen, a former Modesto City Schools board member and a retired emergency room registered nurse..
Concealing crucial COVID info a recipe for distrust in Stanislaus County government
Modesto Bee
There is no more important time for government transparency than in the middle of a deadly pandemic. Unfortunately, Stanislaus County’s commitment to transparency in one important aspect amounts to lip service.
San Joaquin County announces grant programs for businesses and families
Stockton Record
San Joaquin County has grant programs to help small businesses and families who have been financially harmed by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Small Business Assistance Grant Program intends to assist businesses with up to 100 employees with a maximum $25,000 grant.
California Democrat gets powerful committee spot. Why that matters to Central Valley
Fresno Bee
Now, the Central Valley’s Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, has been elected to sit on that House committee [Congress’ Appropriations Committees], one of the more powerful assignments in Congress as they draft all funding legislation.
Central SJ Valley:
Fresno County continues COVID shots for heath-care workers, with wider distribution months away
Fresno Bee
Even as more doctors, nurses and others in the medical profession receive the COVID-19 vaccination, it could be months into the new year before the general public receives their shots.
See also:
● Fresno adds more than 1,000 new cases with another surge expected Fresno Bee
● 65 new deaths in Fresno County; no fines issued by city for NYE parties Fresno Bee
● Fresno adds 875 new COVID-19 cases. Foster Farms Fresno worker dies, company confirms Fresno Bee
● Employee dies following major coronavirus outbreak at Foster Farms Fresno facility Fresno Bee
● Fresno County health officials preparing for wave of COVID cases after holiday gatherings abc30
● Record-breaking infections portend grim new year for Tulare County Visalia Times Delta
● COVID-19 update: Record-breaking infections portend grim new year for Tulare County Visalia Times Delta
● Mixed data on if a surge is happening Porterville Recorder
Hanford Meat Packer Fined For COVID Violations
Business Journal
Central Valley Meat Co. in Hanford was issued a $50,000 fine from Cal/Osha for failing to protect workers from Covid-19 after inspections at meat processing facilities took place across the state.
New year, new mayor. Two elected leaders to take office in Fresno
Fresno Bee
The new year in Fresno brings with it a couple of elected officials who will take office, including one very familiar face and one new one. Fresno’s longtime Police Chief Jerry Dyer officially takes over the mayor’s office on Jan. 5, as Fresno City Council newcomer Tyler Maxwell also becomes District 4’s representative.
See also:
● As Mayor, Dyer Wants to Float All Boats With Huge Economic Boom GVWire
● Big Ticket Construction Projects Roll Along in Downtown Fresno Business Journal
Hope ahead in 2021 as Turlock’s economy takes hit
Turlock Journal
Turlock’s economy experienced plenty of turbulence in 2020, with COVID-related local business shutdowns dealing a heavy blow to major sources of City revenue. Things aren’t as bleak as they seem, however, thanks to government aid and the promise of vaccinations in the new year.
Trump called Devin Nunes a ‘hero.’ Now he’s giving the congressman a medal
Fresno Bee
President Donald Trump on Monday plans to award Rep. Devin Nunes the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to McClatchy.
See also:
● Trump to give ally Nunes the Presidential Medal of Freedom Washington Post
Valley congressman-elect tests positive for coronavirus. How he plans to handle his workload
Fresno Bee
California congressman-elect David Valadao, headed back to the House of Representatives after a narrow victory in November, said Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus. Making his announcement via Twitter, Valadao said the result came via a rapid antigen test for COVID-19.
South SJ Valley:
Bakersfield Californian
As bad as December was for new COVID-19 infections, January is almost certain to be worse, and the vaccination program that kicked into action with its first U.S. inoculations Dec. 14 won’t turn the tide anytime soon.
See also:
● Kern Public Health reports 874 new coronavirus cases Saturday Bakersfield Californian
PRICE: ‘Return to Normalcy’ in 2021? Not a chance, especially in Kern County
Bakersfield Californian
What all of this means for Kern County is this: In 2021 and the years immediately ahead, we’ll have nothing remotely resembling normalcy.
Bakersfield Californian
A long-delayed outpatient clinic for veterans appears closer than ever to getting off the ground. The Bakersfield Planning Commission is set to approve the project more than 10 years after it was first proposed in Congress.
Kern election data shows greater political involvement but mixed party benefits
Bakersfield Californian
Political mobilization efforts in Kern County, combined with pressing national concerns that spurred people to vote, have increased engagement in local elections to the benefit of Democrats and Republicans alike, even as it may have brought them mixed results in individual races.
Large energy storage project would create new reservoir above Isabella Lake
Bakersfield Californian
A $3 billion pumped-water energy storage project has been proposed along Isabella Lake that would help even out power delivery from California solar and wind farms at a volume and longevity dwarfing the large battery installations envisioned for eastern Kern.
Tejon Ranch prevails in court case challenging approval of mountain residential project
Bakersfield Californian
A federal judge has rejected the latest lawsuit aimed at stopping Tejon Ranch Co. from building an upscale residential project near the company's Lebec headquarters.
Bank of America donates nearly $670K to local nonprofits in difficult year
Bakersfield Californian
Bank of America has announced it donated $668,400 to 19 Kern County nonprofits throughout 2020. The bank focused on alleviating the unprecedented impacts to health, food insecurity, jobs and virtual education through its donations, according to a press release.
State:
California reports a record 585 virus deaths in single day
Fresno Bee
California started the new year by reporting a record 585 coronavirus deaths in a single day after a health official said the pandemic was pushing state hospitals to the “brink of catastrophe” as some medical centers scramble to provide oxygen for the critically ill.
See also:
● Covid in California: Two Million Confirmed Cases and Counting Business Journal
Once a model, California now struggles to tame COVID-19
Fresno Bee
Ambulances waited hours for openings to offload coronavirus patients. Overflow patients were moved to hospital hallways and gift shops, even a cafeteria. Refrigerated trucks were on standby, ready to store the dead.
See Also:
● ‘We have to do better’: California Democrats say COVID pandemic highlighted their failures Fresno Bee
● California, once a COVID success story, buckles under case surge. How did it happen? Sacramento Bee
Stay-at-home order for much of California extended amid COVID-19 overload at hospitals
Los Angeles Times
Southern California will remain under a stay-at-home order for the foreseeable future, state officials said Tuesday, meaning the region will enter 2021 with significant restrictions on its struggling economy as hundreds of Californians die every day and hospitals face unprecedented pressures from a flood of COVID-19 patients.
See also:
● Oxygen supply shortages bedevil hospitals already overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients Los Angeles Times
● California Is Overriding Its Limits On Nurse Workloads As COVID-19 Surges VPR
California economy still staggering from COVID-19 shutdowns. And things could worsen
Sacramento Bee
California’s economy continues to struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic, enduring business shutdowns ordered by Gov. Gavin Newsom and embarrassing defections to Texas by some bright lights of Silicon Valley.
Newsom Announces $450-Per-Student Incentive To Reopen Schools
CalMatters
After painting a dark forecast for the pandemic earlier this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom today offered parents and students some hope: He has a $2-billion plan for schools to start in-person learning by spring.
See also:
● Newsom promises $2 billion in hopes of reopening elementary schools beginning in February Los Angeles Times
● Governor unveils plan to open schools, all details still not clear Porterville Recorder
● Opinion: California’s plan to bring many students back to school for in-person learning in careful stages CalMatters
California child care centers, workers to benefit from $1 billion in federal relief
Fresno Bee
A new round of federal coronavirus relief could help California’s essential workers pay for child care and could keep the lights on at child care centers struggling to stay open, according to advocates for the centers.
ADEMs are crucial — and a bit of a mystery
Capitol Weekly
Few Californians are familiar with the state Democratic Party’s Assembly District Election Meetings, known as ADEMs. Even fewer – under 40,000 – vote in them.
Alex Padilla On Becoming California's 1st Latino Senator
NPR
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Alex Padilla, California's former secretary of state who is set to take Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' Senate seat, about his background and his new position.
See also:
● Column: Alex Padilla’s Senate appointment marks a new chapter in California politics. It’s about time Los Angeles Times
● Riggs Report: Padilla’s path to Washington and the impact it will have in California KCRA
Newsom names Assemblywoman Shirley Weber to succeed Padilla as California Secretary of State
Los Angeles Times
Weber, a 72-year-old retired professor and San Diego legislator, has earned a reputation for taking on tough issues at the state Capitol. She would be only the fourth woman to ever hold the position and the first Black woman to do so in state history.
California dramatically cut provisional ballots. Here’s how
CalMatters
Election workers around California discovered good news in this year’s crush of ballots to be processed and counted: far fewer provisionals.
See also:
● State worked with social companies to remove election misinformation CalMatters
Walters: California’s population may be declining
CalMatters
California’s 170 years of strong population growth have ended and the state may be in decline, with powerful economic and political effects,
Hanford Sentinel
Hundreds of bills were passed in California’s legislature this past year and many involving minimum wage, COVID-19, sick leave and public safety took effect on Jan. 1 Here’s a look at some new laws that may affect you.
See also:
● ‘Surprise’ medical bills will end next year for people with CalPERS health insurance Sacramento Bee
● How will California’s new laws affect you? Los Angeles Times
Federal:
Here’s the full transcript and audio of the call between Trump and Raffensperger
Washington Post
The Washington Post obtained a copy of a recording of the call. This transcript has been edited to remove the name of an individual about whom Trump makes unsubstantiated claims.
See also:
● ‘I just want to find 11,780 votes’: In extraordinary hour-long call, Trump pressures Georgia secretary of state to recalculate the vote in his favor Washington Post
● An alarmingly large cadre of co-conspirators is helping Trump’s assault on democracy Washington Post
● AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s made-up claims of fake Georgia votes AP News
● Republicans condemn ‘scheme’ to undo election for Trump AP News
● Opinion: Trump’s Embarrassing Electoral College Hustle Wall Street Journal
Republicans Split on Challenging Biden’s Electoral College Win
Wall Street Journal
Senate Republican leaders tried to discourage a push by fellow party members to oppose ratification of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory, as prominent GOP lawmakers split into opposing camps before Wednesday’s joint session.
California Democrat gets powerful committee spot. Why that matters to Central Valley
Fresno Bee
Now, the Central Valley’s Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, has been elected to sit on that House committee [Congress’ Appropriations Committees], one of the more powerful assignments in Congress as they draft all funding legislation.
Pelosi Poised To Be Reelected Speaker, But Slimmer Majority Makes It Tight
Capital Public Radio
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to be reelected leader of the chamber on Sunday, continuing her control of the majority at a time of questions about the path ahead for Congress and who may take the gavel after her.
See Also:
● Pelosi Wins Fourth Term as House Speaker Wall Street Journal
● Opinion: Why did House Democrats underperform compared to Joe Biden? Brookings
● Congress opening new session as virus, Biden's win dominate abc30
Covid-19, Protests Prompt New Laws in 2021 Across U.S.
Wall Street Journal
The start of the new year brings more than just hope for the end of the pandemic. In states across the country, new laws and regulations will be going into effect, including some aimed at addressing worker safety, affordable health care and other issues that emerged this year from the coronavirus.
See also
● U.S. Surpasses 20 Million Confirmed Coronavirus Cases VPR
Trump Signs COVID-19 Relief Deal After His Criticism Threatened To Derail It
VPR
The legislation, which combines $900 billion in COVID-19 aid with government funding through September 2021, was passed by large majorities in both chambers of Congress on Dec. 21 — only to see Trump blindside legislators the next day and blast the bill.
See also:
● Senate GOP stalls Democrats’ push for $2,000 stimulus checks Los Angeles Times
● Opinion: Welcome to the Era of Nonstop Stimulus Wall Street Journal
Congress Overturns Trump Veto On Defense Bill After Political Detour
VPR
The Senate voted Friday to overturn President Trump's veto of the mammoth annual defense bill in an unprecedented act that assures the decades-long continuity for that legislation. It follows a House vote earlier this week.
See also:
● Trump lashes out at GOP after override vote on defense bill Los Angeles Times
● All 10 living former defense secretaries: Involving the military in election disputes would cross into dangerous territory Washington Post
Opinion: One Trump-Era Notion Biden May Want to Embrace
Wall Street Journal
There’s one they should embrace: A Justice Department memorandum to the White House counsel that clears a path for improved decision-making by independent regulatory commissions.
Reeling From Trump-Era Chaos, Watchdogs Seek Greater Protections
VPR
The federal government's 75 inspectors general, as they're known, are reeling from chaos in the Trump era, including firings and pressure campaigns from the White House and its allies.
Why Lawmakers Want to Rewrite Section 230
Wall Street Journal
Leaders in government and tech want to rewrite a law that governs the internet. WSJ explains Section 230, how it shaped the modern internet, and what lawmakers and tech executives want to change.
U.S. Announces New Rules For Drones And Their Operators
VPR
Federal regulators have issued new guidelines allowing drones to operate at night and over people — a change in the rules that could expand the use of the machines for commercial deliveries.
Religion, Abortion, Guns And Race. Just The Start Of A New Supreme Court Menu
VPR
In January, the U.S. Supreme Court embarks on the second half of a term with a fortified 6-to-3 conservative majority. But unlike the first half of the term, there will be no norm-busting President Trump often railing at the court's election decisions.
Other:
4 Ways 2020 Changed Media: The Consumer Has Never Had More Power
VPR
Something significant shifted in media this year — and it's not just about the pandemic keeping us inside, glued to screens. It's all due to a simple idea: cater to the will of the consumer.
QAnon Lands on LinkedIn, Prompting Networking Site to Limit Spread
Wall Street Journal
Supporters of QAnon are increasingly going public on LinkedIn, expanding their online presence and prompting the professional-networking site to take steps to limit the spread of the community that promotes politically themed conspiracy theories.
Low Turnout Doesn’t Always Mean Disengaged Voters. Here’s Why
Capital Public Radio
Low voter turnout in one of the state’s poorest counties hides hopeful signals that voters are more engaged in civic life than the raw numbers imply.
20 striking findings from 2020
PEW
The global coronavirus pandemic upended life in the United States and around the world in 2020, disrupting how people work, go to school, attend religious services, socialize with friends and family, and much more. But the pandemic wasn’t the only event that shaped the year.
Washington Post
What will be on our minds when we remember 2021 a year from now? Here is Outlook’s fifth annual Year in Preview.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Crop Reports Reveal New, Old Trends in Valley Agriculture
Business Journal
While farm receipts from 2018 to 2019 show an almost unchanging total, beneath the surface, shifts in dominant crops have begun to occur as growers face labor shortages and higher water demand.
The Future of Farming: Many options and paths available for Ag students
Hanford Sentinel
Hanford FFA has a few different pathways students can take being, plant, agriscience, animal science, and ag mech. These pathways are made to tors the students interest or interests. There are 3-4 classes in each pathway.
State issues $77,500 in fines in aftermath of outbreak at Primex nut plant in Wasco
Bakersfield Californian
California's workplace safety agency has issued fines totaling $77,500 against the owner of a Wasco nut processing plant and three local labor contractors after an investigation concluded they didn't do enough to protect employees last spring and summer in what became one of Kern County's highest-profile COVID-19 outbreaks.
Central Valley Farmworkers Distrustful Of COVID Vaccine, Survey Suggests
Capital Public Radio
Since the start of the pandemic, Hernan Herandez and his employees with the California Farmworker Foundation have been out in the fields of San Joaquin Valley, handing out tens of thousands of face masks and administering COVID-19 tests to agricultural workers.
Washington Post
The Trump administration allowed 15 poultry plants to increase slaughter line speeds during the pandemic, an action that boosts production and makes it more difficult for workers to maintain space between one another. It also appears to have hastened the spread of the coronavirus.
Farmers Got A Government Bailout In 2020, Even Those Who Didn't Need It
NPR
Back in the spring, farmers who raise pigs were in a panic. Many major customers, such as food service companies that supply restaurants, weren't buying pork. Prices had fallen sharply. Some hog farmers had no place to ship their animals because so many workers in pork processing plants got sick from COVID-19.
The impending cliff caused by food assistance expansions during the pandemic
AEI
However, such a massive increase in SNAP benefits introduces potential problems that could harm families in the long-term. How might SNAP benefits affect decisions around employment as the economy starts to get back on track?
Opinion: Preserving our farmland preserves our tax base
Turlock Journal
There is a direct correlation with the fiscal health of a city and land use decisions that are made.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Capital Public Radio
State prosecutors in California will investigate all police shootings that result in the death of an unarmed civilian, under a new law that takes effect in 2021.
California unemployment fraud amid COVID-19 pandemic may total $2 billion, Bank of America says
Los Angeles Times
Bank of America estimated Monday that fraud in California’s unemployment benefits system could total $2 billion, and said it has identified 640,000 accounts with suspicious activity that should be investigated to determine whether they are bogus and should be shut down.
Public Safety:
COVID-19 vaccinations begin at California prison medical site
abc30
Vaccinations against COVID-19 have begun at a California prison facility for inmates with special medical needs, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Residents At Coalinga State Hospital Blame Staff For Bringing COVID-19 Into The Facility
VPR
Residents at Coalinga State Hospital are blaming staff members for infecting patients as reports of COVID-19 related deaths are increasing at the facility. “It’s like they're putting us in a tunnel, pouring gasoline down the tunnel and lighting a match,” resident James Hydrick said.
Grant funds from cannabis tax available to fight impaired driving
Turlock Journal
The California Highway Patrol has nearly $27 million in grant funds available to help local communities combat impaired driving.
Fire:
Inundated with smoke: Central Valley air quality was uniquely bad this wildfire season
Fresno Bee
Wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington in September burned with such intensity that plumes of smoke billowed across the country, over the Atlantic Ocean and into the atmosphere above Europe, more than 5,000 miles away.
See also:
● Creek Fire is a $500 million-plus mystery. How investigators plan to solve the case Sierra Star
● Claims against PG&E for California wildfires are piling up again. Here’s the latest tally Sacramento Bee
● Changes caused by worsening wildfires in California forests will last centuries Los Angeles Times
● Wealthier, Whiter Areas Are More Likely to Get Help After Fires, Data Show New York Times
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
SBA Announces Extension of Economic Disaster Loans
Business Journal
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced on Dec. 30 that the deadline to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program has been extended to Dec. 31, 2021.
See Also:
● State Relief Available For Small Businesses Business Journal
● New COVID-19 Relief Grant to be Available for Small Businesses Clovis Roundup
Even with latest federal stimulus, experts say more is needed to keep local businesses afloat
Bakersfield Californian
A new fiscal stimulus bill signed into law Dec. 27 will provide much-needed relief to Kern County businesses, which have been struggling to survive over the last few months. Still, the economic toll caused by the coronavirus pandemic has left many employers in difficult positions, and economic experts say more funding will be needed before widespread vaccinations become available.
San Joaquin County announces grant programs for businesses and families
Stockton Record
San Joaquin County has grant programs to help small businesses and families who have been financially harmed by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Small Business Assistance Grant Program intends to assist businesses with up to 100 employees with a maximum $25,000 grant.
China expected to surpass US economy in 2028: analysis
The Hill
The Chinese economy is expected to surpass that of the U.S. in 2028 — five years earlier than previously forecast — following fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, according to an analysis released Saturday.
Checklist of Potential FCA Risks for Healthcare Providers Receiving CARES Act Funds
ABA
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created a number of stimulus programs that provided aid to healthcare providers, including a fund entitled the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, which was specifically designated for the healthcare industry, and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a program for which some healthcare providers have qualified as small businesses.
Walters: COVID-19 may have permanent economic impacts
CalMatters
When the state Employment Development Department released a new report on jobs this month, it had a tinge of optimism. California’s unemployment rate had dropped to 8.2% in November, exactly half of the record-high 16.4% recorded in the spring as the first wave of COVID-19 pummeled the state and Gov. Gavin Newsom shut down large segments of the economy.
Web Event: Is inflation about to return?
AEI
After four decades, is the world economy about to shift regimes? Economists Charles Goodhart and Manoj Pradhan argue yes in their new book, “The Great Demographic Reversal: Ageing Societies, Waning Inequality, and an Inflation Revival” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020).
Jobs:
New California workplace laws for 2021 tackle COVID outbreaks, family leave, gender pay gap
Fresno Bee
California workers and businesses have a new slate of laws to become familiar with the start of the new year. Cal/OSHA now has the ability to shut down a workplace if it exposes workers to an “imminent hazard” related to COVID-19. Workers in smaller companies have access to job-protected family leave.
Jobless Claims Down 19,000, Still 4 Times Pre-Pandemic Level
Business Journal
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits last week fell by 19,000 to 787,000, still a historically high level as a resurgent coronavirus maintains its grip on the U.S. economy.
See also:
● Jobless benefits won’t lapse after delay, Labor Department says Los Angeles Times
California leaders fear remote culture could fuel business departures
Politico
Fed-up Californians have been trading their cramped, pricey apartments for affordable living in cheaper states for decades. Now, California’s businesses are making similar calculations after a monthslong remote work experiment triggered by the pandemic.
Despair is hurting America’s labor markets
Brookings
While restoring hope is an unusual topic for economists, the geography of desperation in America suggests that we must take this issue on to address the gaps between those who get ahead and those who are left behind.
Commentary: Why is state and local employment falling faster than revenues?
Brookings
One of the points of controversy in Congress over the size and shape of the federal fiscal response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been whether to send aid state and local governments.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Clovis Unified changes plan for many students’ return to classroom due to COVID
Fresno Bee
Clovis Unified School District has delayed the return to in-person learning of many older students who were scheduled to come back to campuses next week, the district announced Thursday. In a message posted online, Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell said new guidance from the health department triggered the change.
See also:
● Clovis Unified delays in-person classes until at least January 19 abc30
With the VUSD board presidency comes power. Here’s how Juan Guerrero will use it.
Visalia Times Delta
It wasn't Juan Guerrero’s first go-around when he was named the new president of Visalia Unified School District’s Board of Trustees at a mid-December meeting.
A Quiet And 'Unsettling' Pandemic Toll: Students Who've Fallen Off The Grid
VPR
Many kids haven't set foot in their schools since March, when most in-person schooling shut down across the United States. Teachers are working tirelessly to educate their students online, but they are growing increasingly anxious about the kids who aren't showing up at all.
Newsom Announces $450-Per-Student Incentive To Reopen Schools
CalMatters
After painting a dark forecast for the pandemic earlier this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom today offered parents and students some hope: He has a $2-billion plan for schools to start in-person learning by spring.
See also:
● Newsom promises $2 billion in hopes of reopening elementary schools beginning in February Los Angeles Times
● Governor unveils plan to open schools, all details still not clear Porterville Recorder
● Opinion: California’s plan to bring many students back to school for in-person learning in careful stages CalMatters
California substitute shortage compounded by pandemic could keep some schools closed
EdSource
A critical shortage of substitute teachers during the pandemic may make it difficult for some California school districts to reopen campuses or to keep open schools already offering in-person instruction.
See Also:
● Quarantines Leave Schools Scrambling for Substitute Teachers Pew Charitable Trust
Washington Post
When panicked administrators shut down schools in the spring, little was known about how the coronavirus could spread among students and teachers. Could children fall critically ill and spread it to peers and teachers, like the flu? Would asymptomatic young people pass it on to their parents or educators?
Higher Ed:
As he leaves Fresno, the next CSU chancellor has big plans for California students
Fresno Bee
Joseph I. Castro has spent the last few weeks preparing to move from Fresno to Long Beach, where he will take the helm of the 23-campus California State University in early January.
See also:
● Warszawski: Joseph Castro’s CSU promotion leaves another hole in Fresno’s heart: Mary Castro’s legacy Fresno Bee
John Means earns top marks as longtime higher ed pioneer
Bakersfield Californian
John Means has always been ahead of the times. At Bakersfield College he opened the valley’s first center for mainstreaming developmentally disabled children, believing all kids can learn from one another.
A billion dollars in federal relief is coming to California’s community colleges and their students
CalMatters
Assuming the president approves Congress’ bipartisan relief package of $900 billion, California community colleges expect to receive $1 billion in sorely needed cash, money meant for direct student aid and to shore up colleges’ battered finances.
Race and Financial Security Play Central Roles in Student Loan Repayment
Pew Charitable Trust
With the significant financial challenges that millions of Americans are facing today—in particular, households of color—there is increasing awareness of the struggles that many borrowers have experienced repaying their student loans, even before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commentary: We can’t have equity in computer science education without connectivity
CalMatters
As 2020 comes to a close, the global pandemic has disrupted the ways students and families learn, work and communicate; computer connectivity has become a critical lifeline for everyone. As online life becomes our new normal, it is crucial that all Californians – especially our students – have access to both connectivity and computer science education.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Judge: Groups can’t challenge endangered species plans
Fresno Bee
An environmental group has no legal standing to challenge the specifics of recovery plans for endangered species, a judge in Montana has ruled.
Landmark Climate Policy Faces Growing Claims of Environmental Racism
Pew Charitable Trusts
Many environmental groups are increasingly saying the program has done little to curb climate change. Worse, they say, it is harming the lower-income areas and communities of color most affected by pollution.
Who is—and isn’t—represented in environmental oversight in Congress
Brookings
Congressional hearings serve as an important component of congressional oversight efforts, especially as a tool to draw attention to particular issues and to get individuals on the record committing to take specific actions.
Energy:
Large energy storage project would create new reservoir above Isabella Lake
Bakersfield Californian
A $3 billion pumped-water energy storage project has been proposed along Isabella Lake that would help even out power delivery from California solar and wind farms at a volume and longevity dwarfing the large battery installations envisioned for eastern Kern.
Op ed: Should California burn forest waste to make energy?
Los Angeles Times
Cutting down and incinerating trees for electricity has never been carbon neutral, no matter whether it’s science-denying congressional Republicans or California policymakers saying so.
See also:
● Op-Ed: Is burning wood for power carbon-neutral? Not a chance Los Angeles Times
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Maps, charts, and data provided by the CDC
California reports a record 585 virus deaths in single day
Fresno Bee
California started the new year by reporting a record 585 coronavirus deaths in a single day after a health official said the pandemic was pushing state hospitals to the “brink of catastrophe” as some medical centers scramble to provide oxygen for the critically ill.
See also:
● Fresno adds more than 1,000 new cases with another surge expected Fresno Bee
● 65 new deaths in Fresno County; no fines issued by city for NYE parties Fresno Bee
● Fresno adds 875 new COVID-19 cases. Foster Farms Fresno worker dies, company confirms Fresno Bee
● Employee dies following major coronavirus outbreak at Foster Farms Fresno facility Fresno Bee
● Fresno County health officials preparing for wave of COVID cases after holiday gatherings abc30
● Covid in California: Two Million Confirmed Cases and Counting Business Journal
● Record-breaking infections portend grim new year for Tulare County Visalia Times Delta
● COVID-19 update: Record-breaking infections portend grim new year for Tulare County Visalia Times Delta
● Mixed data on if a surge is happening Porterville Recorder
● Kern Public Health reports 874 new coronavirus cases Saturday Bakersfield Californian
● U.S. Surpasses 20 Million Confirmed Coronavirus Cases VPR
● Merced County reports 8 COVID deaths, rising hospitalizations Merced Sun-Star
● Coronavirus update, Jan. 4: Stanislaus County hospitals remain under pressure Modesto Bee
California Identifies A Case Of Coronavirus Variant First Seen In U.K.
VPR
The new highly contagious coronavirus strain from the U.K. has spread to Southern California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday.
See also:
● Study finds new COVID-19 strain is 56 percent more contagious The Hill
● California had Nation’s 2nd Confirmed Case of Virus Variant Business Journal
The CDC’s failed race against covid-19: A threat underestimated and a test overcomplicated
Washington Post
A new virus was exploding in Wuhan, a Chinese city with 11 million people connected by its airport to destinations around the world. In the United States, doctors and hospitals were waiting for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a test to detect the threat.
See also:
● How the Nation Is Coping With the Coronavirus Pandemic Pew Charitable Trusts
● How misinformation is distorting COVID policies and behaviors Brookings
● Opinion: Turning the corner on COVID-19 AEI
Isolation Helps Homeless Population Escape Worst of Virus
New York Times
Despite outbreaks in shelters and the prospect of more, the rates of infection among homeless populations are lower than feared.
Still Disinfecting Surfaces? It Might Not Be Worth It
VPR
Marr says focusing on cleaning surfaces is not the best way to slow infection. "Instead of paying so much attention to cleaning surfaces, we might be better off paying attention to cleaning the air, given the finite amount of time and resources," Marr says.
More allegations of botched procedures arise at Fresno plastic surgery center
Fresno Bee
A former plastic surgeon with Athenix Body Sculpting Institute in Fresno is facing possible suspension of his medical license over allegations he botched a liposuction surgery. Dr. Parviz Goshtasby, of Newport Beach, has been accused by William Prasifka, executive director of the Medical Board of California of several charges.
Human Services:
As the Vaccine Arrives, Death and Denial Rage in a California Coronavirus Epicenter
New Yorker
In the San Joaquin Valley, medical professionals fear that many in the public still fail to grasp the dangers of COVID-19.
See also:
● Fresno County continues COVID shots for heath-care workers, with wider distribution months away Fresno Bee
California spent millions on ventilators. Why they’re sitting unused during COVID surge
Sacramento Bee
In the spring, California set a bold goal: Have 10,000 ventilators ready to farm out to overwhelmed hospitals treating sick patients struggling to breathe. Officials put their faith in a small Bakersfield medical supply company once raided by the FBI during a Medicare fraud investigation. For a moment, the arrangement looked like it might go bust the way of other high-dollar deals forged during the pandemic’s “Wild West” days.
U.S. Likely Will Miss Goal Of Vaccinating 20 Million By The New Year
VPR
The federal government previously estimated that 20 million Americans would receive the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine by the end of the year. But as 2020, a year defined by the coronavirus pandemic, comes to a close on Thursday, the government appears set to fall well short of that goal.
See also:
● Fauci: Vaccinations are ramping up in a `glimmer of hope’ Fresno Bee
● Who will get the COVID-19 vaccine next in California? Here's who's included in phases 1A, 1B and 1C abc30
● Who’s next? Counties lobbied over vaccine priority list CalMatters
● How to overcome vaccine distrust among Black Americans The Hill
● What You Can Do Post-Vaccine, and When New York Times
Do-It-Yourself Contact Tracing Is A 'Last Resort' In Communities Besieged By COVID-19
VPR
COVID-19 cases are spreading so fast that they're outpacing the contact-tracing capacities of some local health departments. Faced with mounting case loads, those departments are asking people who test positive for the novel coronavirus to do their own contact tracing.
States Impose Strictest Covid-19 Lockdowns Since Spring
Wall Street Journal
States and major cities across the country have imposed the most extensive restrictions on business and social gatherings since widespread lockdowns during the spring, in hopes of preventing a further surge in Covid-19 cases over the winter holidays.
Profit and pain: How California’s largest nursing home chain amassed millions as scrutiny mounted
Washington Post
The chain known as Brius Healthcare received more than $800 million from Medicare and Medicaid in 2018 to care for thousands of elderly residents in about 80 nursing homes
IMMIGRATION
'The US isn't an option anymore': why California's immigrants are heading back to Mexico
The Guardian
California’s most vulnerable immigrants have faced unprecedented challenges this year, with some weighing whether it’s worth staying in the United States altogether.
President Trump extends immigrant and work visa limits into Biden presidency
CBSNews
President Trump on Thursday extended a pandemic-era suspension of certain immigrant and work visas, ensuring that his sweeping limits on legal immigration will remain in place when Joe Biden is sworn in.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Tejon Ranch prevails in court case challenging approval of mountain residential project
Bakersfield Californian
A federal judge has rejected the latest lawsuit aimed at stopping Tejon Ranch Co. from building an upscale residential project near the company's Lebec headquarters.
Housing:
How the pandemic led to a rare success in California’s effort to house the homeless
Los Angeles Times
Natosha Johnson sat in a chair in the apartment building lobby, looking exhausted and rubbing her legs as her four children shuttled trash bags full of the family’s possessions into an elevator and then into their new two-bedroom apartment.
How the remote work revolution could change California’s housing crisis
CalMatters
A huge number of people have been working from home for the better part of the year. The long-term implications for housing will likely benefit higher-earning workers and hurt lower income Californians.
With evictions ban expiring soon, new housing crisis could threaten minorities most
CNN
"Communities of color are the hardest hit by the eviction crisis, representing 80 percent of the vulnerable," according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
CalMatters
California allows the Ellis Act to undermine the state’s progressive ideals because legislators believe Big Real Estate will defeat any Ellis Act reforms. But sweeping reforms were enacted in the past, and a bill to stop speculator evictions under Ellis can pass in 2021. Here’s why.
PUBLIC FINANCES
California, New York, And Illinois Lawmakers Already Have New Tax Increases Planned For 2021
Forbes
New U.S. Census Bureau figures released in the final month of 2020 show the multi-year net outmigration of people from California, New York, and Illinois has not only continued, the trend has picked up steam. Anyone who thinks this continued loss of population and income will cause progressive politicians who run these blue state governments to refrain from enacting further tax hikes, however, is unfamiliar with the workings of those statehouses and their occupants.
Editorial: California is clobbering small businesses with a retroactive tax grab
Los Angeles Times
Isabel Rubinas of Glen Ellyn, Ill., operates Lollipop Seeds, a virtual boutique that sells clothing for young children online. And like many small specialty businesses, its sales have slumped badly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
TRANSPORTATION
California DMV extends behind-the-wheel driving test suspension through Jan. 11
abc30
The California Department of Motor Vehicles will continue its temporary suspension of behind-the-wheel testing until at least January 11. The department said it's taking this step for customers' and employees' health and safety during the current surge in COVID-19 cases.
Self-Driving Cars Can Also Self-Design A Whole New Traffic Code
Forbes
There has been much debate about how to regulate safety and the initial operation of self-driving cars, and how to even tell how safe they are. Our current “rules of the road” govern by safety and traffic flow.
WATER
Water content of California's early winter snowpack lagging
Turlock Journal
The amount of water in California's mountain snowpack is only about half of average for early winter, a state Department of Water Resources official said Wednesday.
Column: Wall Street can now bet on the price of California water. Watch out
Los Angeles Times
Wall Street’s reputation as one of America’s premier innovation machines can only be enhanced by a new futures contract that began trading publicly on Dec. 7. It allows investors to bet on the price of water in California.
“Xtra”
Fresno Bee
Hankering to have some takeout delivered? You might discover some new restaurant names in Fresno when scrolling through DoorDash or other delivery services. Cooped Up Wings, Jolene’s Wings, and House of Wings are all recent newcomers to the Fresno food scene.