January 6, 2021

06Jan

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

First child death from COVID reported in Stanislaus County as crisis intensifies

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County’s top health official said Tuesday the county received the first report of a child who died from COVID-19. Dr. Julie Vaishampayan, county health officer, reported the death during an update to the county Board of Supervisors on the coronavirus crisis.

See Also:

     Stanislaus County child dies of COVID-19 Turlock Journal

     Mobile morgues and outside funerals: How Stanislaus County handles surge in COVID deaths Modesto Bee

·       Editorial: Concealing crucial COVID info a recipe for distrust in Stanislaus County government  Modesto Bee

 

COVID-19 relief for Merced County businesses kicks off 2021’s first supervisors meeting

Merced Sun-Star

New Merced County Board of Supervisors District 2 member Josh Pedrozo kicked off his first day on Tuesday with a board meeting underscoring challenges to come, with COVID-19’s unprecedented obstacles nearing the one-year mark.

 

Homicides in Modesto were down in 2020 before tripling. How it compared to previous years

Modesto Bee

The homicide rate in Modesto was low in the first half of 2020, with only six homicides in the first seven months and several stretches of more than a month without any killings.

 

Turlock Unified appoints new trustee

Turlock Journal

After being appointed to the Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees in December, Kenneth Howenstine participated in his first meeting as Area 3’s representative on Tuesday night.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

Fresno County on brink of 70,000 cases ahead of death toll update

Fresno Bee

Fresno County was rapidly nearing 70,000 confirmed coronavirus cases as of late Monday when 598 new cases were added after a long holiday weekend. A total of 711 people have died as of last week, local officials confirmed. The number of deaths is expected to be updated this week. Deaths are typically reported on Tuesdays and Fridays.

See Also:

     Fresno County COVID-19 hospitalizations hit all-time high, health officials report Fresno Bee

     Coronavirus update: Fresno hospitals break records as ICU availability remains at 0% Fresno Bee

     How Madera Community Hospital is coping with a 117% surge in ER admittance abc30

     COVID-19 update: Lutz — near crisis level, but not there yet Porterville Recorder

     Death care industry strained to its limited as pandemic heightens Business Journal

 

Only half of Fresno County health care workers want COVID vaccine. Why isn’t it more?

Fresno Bee

Only about half of Fresno County’s 58,000 health care workers have asked to be given a COVID-19 vaccine, according to health officials. The county has received 44,000 doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines through Tuesday. About 47% have been distributed to clinics and other health care facilities, according to Joe Prado, the county’s community health division manager.

 

Fresno’s new mayor officially takes office; formal ceremony set for Thursday

Fresno Bee

Fresno’s longtime Police Chief Jerry Dyer officially took over leadership of the mayor’s office Tuesday, as Fresno City Council newcomer Tyler Maxwell also becomes District 4’s representative.

See also:

     Fresno’s new mayor outlines priorities on first day. Here’s what his first act will be Fresno Bee

     Jerry Dyer sworn in as Fresno's new mayor abc30

     Warszawski: Right now, Fresno needs a firm hand at the wheel. Have at it, Mayor Jerry Dyer Fresno Bee

 

Fresno's iconic Tower Theatre to be sold to church

abc30

The City of Fresno has confirmed the pending sale of the iconic Tower Theatre, the namesake of Fresno's Tower District. Adventure Church has been hosting Sunday services at the theatre and has recently taken action to purchase the historic property on Wishon and Olive.

See also:

     Tower Theatre will still host events, per sale terms. Rezone needed, Fresno councilman says Fresno Bee

 

Editorial: Does Devin Nunes deserve the Medal of Freedom given by President Trump? Facts say No

Fresno Bee

To Devin Nunes’ GOP supporters, his being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Trump is a crowning achievement for the Tulare congressman who steadfastly defended Trump during impeachment hearings and the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

     Kern Public Health reports 608 new coronavirus cases Tuesday Bakersfield Californian

 

How vaccines have been distributed in Kern County so far

Bakersfield Californian

A spokesperson for the California Department of Public Health said there would be a public dashboard available with county data soon. For now, the state data groups Kern County with six other Central Valley counties.

See also:

     Health Department outlines a plan to vaccinate Kern County Bakersfield Californian

 

Firm linked to Amazon eyes properties near Crystal Palace

Bakersfield Californian

Recent real estate negotiations centered near Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace raise the intriguing possibility that Amazon may be planning to add not one but two Bakersfield distribution hubs.

 

McCarthy says he supports effort to challenge Electoral College results

The Hill

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Sunday expressed support for conservatives’ efforts to challenge the outcome of the Electoral College when Congress meets Jan. 6 to certify the results.

See also:

     At least 2 California congressmen are objecting to Biden’s victory. Will others join them? Sacramento Bee

 

State:

 

COVID Update:

     California surge already dire, critical post-Christmas period nears Modesto Bee

     California posts another single-day record for new coronavirus cases: 74,000 Los Angeles Times

 

Just 1% of Californians immunized amid slow vaccine rollout

Fresno Bee

Distribution hiccups and logistical challenges have slowed the initial coronavirus vaccine rollout in California, setting a pace that’s “not good enough,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

See Also:

     Your dentist may be able to give you a COVID-19 vaccine shot soon abc30

     Just 1% of Californians immunized amid slow vaccine rollout Business Journal

     County addressing slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccine Porterville Recorder

     How vaccines have been distributed in Kern County so far Bakersfield Californian

     COVID-19 Vaccine May Not Get To Long-Term Care Facilities Quickly Enough VPR

     Prioritizing Prisoners for Vaccines Stirs Controversy PEW

 

Gavin Newsom’s budget has $4 billion in help for small businesses, green technology

Modesto Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to spend an additional $4 billion in the next state budget to help struggling businesses survive the coronavirus pandemic and invest in green technology, he announced Tuesday.

See also:

     Newsom proposes $4.5 billion in state help for businesses and jobs affected by COVID-19 Los Angeles Times

 

Opponent of Newsom church restrictions identified as California recall donor

Politico

An Orange County donor named John Kruger has been identified as the source of a $500,000 contribution toward recalling Gov. Gavin Newsom, solving a mystery that transfixed California political watchers.

 

Editorial: California’s COVID Woes

Wall Street Journal

California has been celebrated as a Covid-19 model, but these days it’s the country’s biggest Covid hot spot. Politicians believed their strict lockdowns and mask mandates would defeat the virus, but they didn’t, and the latest infection surge has exposed deep problems.

 

Race, gender would factor in promotions for California state workers under proposed law

Sacramento Bee

A new proposal in the California State Legislature would force state departments to factor race and gender into decisions about who gets promoted.

 

Shirley Weber On Priorities As California Secretary Of State, Trump’s Georgia Call

Capital Public Radio

California’s incoming Secretary of State, Shirley Weber, said she is “shocked” and “appalled” by audio of a phone call in which President Donald Trump pressured Georgia’s Secretary of State.

 

Federal:

 

COVID Update

     Coronavirus Live Updates: U.S. Cases Surpass 21 Million Wall Street Journal

 

At least 2 California congressmen are objecting to Biden’s victory. Will others join them?

Sacramento Bee

Republicans in both the House and Senate say they will object to certifying election results in certain swing states on Wednesday, attempting to deny President-elect Joe Biden’s election win — but California GOP House members are so far reluctant to say they’ll go along.

See also:

     Objecting To Electoral Votes In Congress Recalls Bitter Moments In History VPR

     Republicans in Congress to challenge Biden’s win Wednesday: What to expect Los Angeles Times

     GOP Senators Hone State Targets in Electoral College Fight Wall Street Journal

     Biden’s Electoral College Win Challenged by Trump Allies in Congress Wall Street Journal

     Opinion: Trump’s devastation of the Republican Party is nearly complete Washington Post

 

Trump makes appearance at rally as thousands gather to protest election results

Washington Post

Thousands of President Trump’s supporters are in Washington for rallies Wednesday to falsely assert the presidential election was stolen from Trump.

 

Warnock Defeats Loeffler in Georgia Runoff, Bringing Democrats Closer to Senate Control

Wall Street Journal

Democrat Raphael Warnock, the pastor of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. ’s former church in Atlanta, defeated Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a hotly contested runoff election, making him the first Black American to represent Georgia in the Senate and the first Democrat to do so since 2005.

See Also:

     Democrats close in on Senate control with Warnock win and Ossoff lead Los Angeles Times

     Democrats move closer to Senate control as Warnock defeats Loeffler Roll Call

     What happens if the Senate is equally split after the Georgia runoffs? Washington Post

 

Opinion: If Biden is serious about broadband, he should oppose net neutrality

AEI

A new empirical study of net neutrality regulations in 32 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries found that the regulations suppress broadband subscriptions and investment in fiber optics.

 

Other:

 

McClatchy names Pulitzer-winning journalist as its new California regional editor

Fresno Bee

Colleen McCain Nelson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, will assume a new leadership role for McClatchy, becoming the regional editor for its California newsrooms and executive editor of The Sacramento Bee.

 

Looking Forward

PPIC

This is a time of global crisis. We are living through a fast-moving, large-scale disaster that is having extraordinary public health and economic consequences. As we begin a new year, and as vaccines become increasingly available across our state, glimmers of hope are emerging.

  

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Ag employers target state's new COVID-19 emergency rules

Bakersfield Californian

A coalition of farm and business groups has sued state workplace safety officials over month-old emergency safety rules it calls unnecessary in light of steps already taken to slow the spread of COVID-19.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Homicides in Modesto were down in 2020 before tripling. How it compared to previous years

Modesto Bee

The homicide rate in Modesto was low in the first half of 2020, with only six homicides in the first seven months and several stretches of more than a month without any killings.

 

Fresno sees violent first weekend of 2021

abc30

The first weekend of 2021 was a violent one for the city of Fresno. So far the city has experienced 14 shootings, five of which became homicides. That's a major increase from this time last year.

 

Public Safety:

 

New COVID tests for California state workers in prisons are easier than nasal swabs

Fresno Bee

California prisons are offering COVID-19 saliva tests as an alternative to nasal swabs starting this week, according to corrections department emails. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is allowing the less-invasive saliva tests for the first time since it started requiring periodic testing for all employees in July.

 

California board urges bias reviews of police social media

Associated Press

California police agencies should routinely review officers’ social media, cellphones and computers for racist, bigoted or other offensive content that contributes to disproportionate police stops of Black people, a state advisory board said Monday.

 

Training session will help people recognize signs of child abuse, neglect

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern County Network for Children and Kern County Department of Human Services is hosting a community training over Zoom this week to help people recognize signs pertaining to child abuse and neglect.

 

Fire:

 

Hundreds of Fresno firefighters get COVID-19 vaccine

abc30

COVID-19 case rates are climbing quickly, and now those usually running to help people in the community are getting another line of defense. Nearly 600 EMTs, paramedics, and now firefighters have been vaccinated in Fresno County.

 

Sequoia Complex 100% contained

Porterville Recorder

It was a long time in coming, but the Sequoia Complex is now considered to be 100 percent contained. Officials stated early Tuesday morning containment of the Sequoia Complex has reached 100 percent.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Stocks recoup some losses after sharp slide to start 2021

Business Journal

U.S. stocks are closing higher Tuesday, regaining their footing a day after suffering their worst loss in months amid the worsening pandemic and potentially market-moving Senate elections.

 

SBDC webinar will look at loan forgiveness guidelines

Bakersfield Californian

A free, locally produced business webinar starting at noon Wednesday will examine recent changes to federal loan forgiveness guidelines and related tax implications.

 

California added $500 million in small business grants. Here’s how you can apply.

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County small businesses can take advantage of a new statewide COVID-19 relief grant program that will pay out $500 million to businesses and nonprofits across California.

 

Covid-19 Aftermath Could Spell a ‘Lost Decade’ for Global Economy, World Bank Says

Wall Street Journal

Even before Covid-19, the World Bank had lowered its projections for global growth in the 10 years that began in 2020. The pandemic is exacerbating that trend, raising the prospect of a “lost decade” ahead, the World Bank said Tuesday, as it also cut its forecasts for the coming year.

 

Opinion: To expand the economy, invest in Black businesses

Brookings

The ability for Black people to participate in local, regional, and global markets represents a dream deferred by systemic racism and discrimination. Consequently, an analysis of Black business ownership can offer insight into the degree to which America is truly the land of opportunity.

 

Jobs:

 

Newsom proposes $4.5 billion in state help for businesses and jobs affected by COVID-19

Los Angeles Times

Promising to help small businesses and unemployed Californians hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday previewed a $4.5-billion stimulus program that includes a variety of grants and tax incentives, many of which would require swift legislative approval to take effect.

See also:

·       Will your California job come back when the pandemic ends? We want to hear from you Sacramento Bee

·       New woes for the unemployed in 2021 Axios

 

California Employment Development Dept. suspends payments for 'high-risk' claims

abc9

Many people are now scrambling to pay their bills after the state's Employment Development Department suspends many people's claims, citing a high risk for fraud. “Shouldn’t they have told us that we’re gonna run out of money like we are? Ugh," said Melinda McConnell, "I’m so mad, it sucks.”

See also:

     Walters: Employment Development Department another name for titanic disaster CalMatters

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Sanger Unified delays in-person learning start date for secondary schools

abc30

Some Sanger Unified students will be waiting several more weeks before they can head back to campus. The district's plan was to return secondary school students to in-person instruction next Monday, January 11.

 

CUSD Postpone Plans for the Return of Secondary Students

Clovis Roundup

Clovis Unified School District is pausing their plans for the return of in-person learning for secondary students until mid-January. This decision comes after California Governor Newsom’s announcement stating that TK-6 will only be allowed to return to school under the new guideline, the “Safe Schools for All Plans.”

 

Turlock Unified appoints new trustee

Turlock Journal

After being appointed to the Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees in December, Kenneth Howenstine participated in his first meeting as Area 3’s representative on Tuesday night.

 

Opinion: Put students first – return $12.5 billion in deferrals to schools

CalMatters

It is time for the governor and the Legislature to put money back where it belongs so schools can give students an equitable opportunity to learn.

 

Higher Ed:

 

A Fairy Godmother for Once-Overlooked Colleges

Inside Higher Ed

With donations ranging from $20 million to $50 million to colleges routinely overlooked by major philanthropists, MacKenzie Scott has set herself apart by focusing on institutions that serve students of color and those from low-income backgrounds.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Up Statewide Except For Transportation, Study Suggests

Capital Public Radio

California is known around the world as a leader in the fight against climate change, but new data reveals that greenhouse gas emissions have increased across the state and not because of transportation.

 

EPA ‘transparency’ rule provides basis to block new regulations

Roll Call

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler says his agency has provided more than 50 briefings and thousands of pages of material to President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team.

 

Energy:

 

California is scrambling to avoid blackouts. Your refrigerator could help

Los Angeles Times

Sometime next summer, there’s a decent chance a heat wave will bake the American West, and California’s power grid will again be stretched to its limits.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Fresno County on brink of 70,000 cases ahead of death toll update

Fresno Bee

Fresno County was rapidly nearing 70,000 confirmed coronavirus cases as of late Monday when 598 new cases were added after a long holiday weekend. A total of 711 people have died as of last week, local officials confirmed. The number of deaths is expected to be updated this week. Deaths are typically reported on Tuesdays and Fridays.

See also:

     Kern Public Health reports 608 new coronavirus cases Tuesday Bakersfield Californian

     California surge already dire, critical post-Christmas period nears Modesto Bee

     Stanislaus deaths reach 638. Hospital cases rise again Modesto Bee

     First child death from COVID reported in Stanislaus County as crisis intensifies Modesto Bee

     Stanislaus County child dies of COVID-19 Turlock Journal

     California posts another single-day record for new coronavirus cases: 74,000 Los Angeles Times

     COVID-19 deaths hit 11,000 in L.A. County, as surge creates ‘a human disaster’ Los Angeles Times

     Coronavirus Live Updates: U.S. Cases Surpass 21 Million Wall Street Journal

 

Only half of Fresno County health care workers want COVID vaccine. Why isn’t it more?

Fresno Bee

Only about half of Fresno County’s 58,000 health care workers have asked to be given a COVID-19 vaccine, according to health officials. The county has received 44,000 doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines through Tuesday. About 47% have been distributed to clinics and other health care facilities, according to Joe Prado, the county’s community health division manager.

 

How Madera Community Hospital is coping with a 117% surge in ER admittance

abc30

Madera Community Hospital is filling up fast. Health officials tell Action News the rate of patients being admitted into their facility from their emergency rooms is up more than 117% from last month.

 

Costume May Have Contributed To An Outbreak At California Hospital, Infecting 44

VPR

A hospital worker donned an inflatable, air-powered costume to spread cheer in a California emergency department on Christmas Day. But now, dozens of hospital staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus, and the hospital said the costume may be to blame.

 

What's happening to the flu? Doctors explain impact of COVID-19 precautions in California

abc30

Amid a deepening pandemic, doctors are crediting masking, hand-washing and distancing with stopping one virulent disease in its tracks--the flu. "The silver lining is we're not seeing the flu. The flu is almost absent," said Dr. Andra Blomkalns, Director of Emergency Medicine for Stanford Health.

 

Why are some people getting COVID even after their first vaccine dose? What to know

Sacramento Bee

What’s more, both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines require two doses, meaning people don’t have maximum immunity to COVID-19 following their first dose.

 

Even More Contagious? Here’s What You Need To Know About The Mutating Virus Now In California

Capital Public Radio

As California continues to ride its worst wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials have more unsettling news: Six cases of a worrisome, potentially more infectious new coronavirus variant have been detected in California.

See also:

     New, potentially more contagious variant of the coronavirus spreads in California Los Angeles Times

 

Editorial: California’s COVID Woes

Wall Street Journal

California has been celebrated as a Covid-19 model, but these days it’s the country’s biggest Covid hot spot. Politicians believed their strict lockdowns and mask mandates would defeat the virus, but they didn’t, and the latest infection surge has exposed deep problems.

 

Human Services:

 

Just 1% of Californians immunized amid slow vaccine rollout

Fresno Bee

Distribution hiccups and logistical challenges have slowed the initial coronavirus vaccine rollout in California, setting a pace that’s “not good enough,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

See Also:

     Your dentist may be able to give you a COVID-19 vaccine shot soon abc30

     Just 1% of Californians immunized amid slow vaccine rollout Business Journal

     County addressing slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccine Porterville Recorder

     How vaccines have been distributed in Kern County so far Bakersfield Californian

     COVID-19 Vaccine May Not Get To Long-Term Care Facilities Quickly Enough VPR

     Prioritizing Prisoners for Vaccines Stirs Controversy PEW

     Here’s why Sacramento’s COVID vaccine rollout has been so slow Sacramento Bee

 

Mobile morgues and outside funerals: How Stanislaus County handles surge in COVID deaths

Modesto Bee

Following the deadliest month of the coronavirus pandemic, Stanislaus County has the second highest COVID-19 mortality rate among counties in California. It’s a tragedy for affected families, and the toll is exerting pressure on local funeral homes that are trying to keep up with requests for funeral arrangements.

See Also:

     Fresno County COVID-19 hospitalizations hit all-time high, health officials report Fresno Bee

     Coronavirus update: Fresno hospitals break records as ICU availability remains at 0% Fresno Bee

     How Madera Community Hospital is coping with a 117% surge in ER admittance abc30

     Death care industry strained to its limited as pandemic heightens Business Journal

     LA County Paramedics Told Not To Transport Some Patients With Low Chance Of Survival VPR

     Thousands of L.A. health care workers sickened by coronavirus, worsening crisis in hospitals Los Angeles Times

 

Amazon now selling at-home COVID saliva test kits. Here’s what to know

Sacramento Bee

Do you think you might have coronavirus? Amazon is now selling at-home COVID-19 testing kits, making it that much easier to get tested without waiting in line, or putting others at risk of exposure.

 

Hospitals now must post prices publicly, but will new rule work?

Roll Call

Hospitals started the year with new requirements to post information they had long sought to obscure: the actual prices negotiated with insurers and the discounts they offer their cash-paying customers.

 

Moderna Raises Covid-19 Vaccine Production Estimate

Wall Street Journal

Moderna Inc. said it will be able to make at least 600 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine this year, 100 million more than it had been projecting.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Joe Biden’s New Policies For Asylum, DACA And Legal Immigration

Forbes

President-elect Joe Biden faces a series of decisions on how best to change immigration policies implemented during the Trump administration. Biden’s actions will affect millions of lives.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Fresno's iconic Tower Theatre to be sold to church

abc30

The City of Fresno has confirmed the pending sale of the iconic Tower Theatre, the namesake of Fresno's Tower District. Adventure Church has been hosting Sunday services at the theatre and has recently taken action to purchase the historic property on Wishon and Olive.

See also:

     Tower Theatre will still host events, per sale terms. Rezone needed, Fresno councilman says Fresno Bee

 

Firm linked to Amazon eyes properties near Crystal Palace

Bakersfield Californian

Recent real estate negotiations centered near Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace raise the intriguing possibility that Amazon may be planning to add not one but two Bakersfield distribution hubs.

 

Housing:

 

Sacramento region is California’s housing and growth hot spot, led by hill counties

Sacramento Bee

Led by El Dorado County, the Sacramento region became one of California’s notable housing and growth hot spots in the final months of 2020, new data show.

 

Amazon Pledging More Than $2 Billion for Affordable Housing in Three Hub Cities

Wall Street Journal

Amazon.com Inc. said it would commit more than $2 billion to create and preserve affordable housing in three of its employment hubs, the latest tech giant to make a large investment in easing the U.S. housing shortage.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Some taxpayers find relief payments sent to wrong account

Business Journal

A number of taxpayers who use tax preparation services, such as H&R Block and TurboTax, say their second relief payments were sent to the incorrect bank account, forcing them to wait longer for their money.

 

Most Second Stimulus Payments Reach Household Bank Accounts

Wall Street Journal

The U.S. Treasury Department has sent out more than $112 billion in stimulus payments electronically, meaning that about two-thirds of the second round of payments approved by Congress is already in households’ bank accounts, according to data released Tuesday.

 

The COVID relief bill will keep these tax breaks around even longer

CNBC
Taxpayers will have another shot at a package of tax breaks that would have otherwise expired at the end of 2020. That’s because when lawmakers hammered out the 5,593-page Covid relief act, they resurrected a basket of deductions and credits — known as tax extenders — that were about a week away from lapsing.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Opinion: Budget proposal can send a clear signal on clean transportation

CalMatters

Gov. Newsom should prioritize clean transportation and incentive funding for buyers of zero-emission vehicles to achieve his executive order.

 

Budget shortfalls mean rethinking mass transit funding and strategies

Marketplace

Collecting payment again is a sign of how transit systems are just trying to hang on until things go back to normal or, more accurately, the new normal. Things may be different even after the pandemic because people are moving out of cities and office culture is changing.

 

Airlines call on COVID testing for all international travelers to the U.S.

Los Angeles Times

With travel demand expected to slow in the next few months, the nation’s airlines have pressed the Trump administration to replace sweeping restrictions to inbound international travel with a COVID-19 testing requirement for all visitors arriving from foreign countries.

 

Four Lessons for Cities to Help Advance Equitable Transportation during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Urban Institute

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, access to dependable, affordable public transportation is more important than ever. Many essential workers rely on public transportation to commute to jobs providing critical services, like health care.

 

American Airlines is grounding emotional-support animals

Business Journal

American Airlines is banning emotional-support animals in a move that will force most owners to pay extra if they want their pets to travel with them. The airline said Tuesday that it will allow animals in the cabin free of charge only if they are trained service dogs.

 

WATER

 

Late December storms not enough to offset state's dry fall

Hanford Sentinel

The Department of Water Resources recently conducted the first snow survey of the season and water officials remain cautiously optimistic about the upcoming water year.

 

“Xtra”

 

Famed Climber Of Yosemite’s El Capitan And Conservationist George Whitmore Dies Of COVID-19

VPR

The last living climber on the first team to scale Yosemite’s El Capitan has died from complications of COVID-19. George Whitmore, 89, is best known for his historic climb in 1958 with his partners, Wayne Merry and Warren Harding. His pioneering techniques helped the group get safely to the top.

 

A ‘fierce advocate’ for Native American culture, Marshall McKay dies from COVID-19

Sacramento Bee

Marshall McKay spent most of his life dedicated to preserving Native American arts and culture in California, supporting education and sustainable land-use practices at University of California, Davis and protecting the rights of all indigenous people.

 

Bethany Clough: What’s a ‘ghost kitchen’? Fresno restaurants quietly launching new delivery-only brands

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, House of Wings and It’s Just Wings are all recent newcomers to the Fresno food scene.