POLICY & POLITICS
Valley:
San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti speaks about DUI arrest
Stockton Record
Supervisor Tom Patti has acknowledged his arrest for driving under the influence Wednesday afternoon following a three-car crash on northbound Interstate 5 south of Lathrop Road.
Jim Jordan to run for House speaker, challenging California Rep. Kevin McCarthy
Los Angeles Times
Rep. Jim Jordan, a founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said Thursday he will run for House speaker this fall. He is the first Republican to officially say he will seek the leadership position, which will open after Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) retires in January.
See also:
● Rep. Jim Jordan Declares Candidacy for House Speaker Wall Street Journal
● Jim Jordan Announces Bid for Speaker Roll Call
House Intel Chair Nunes: 'Highly probable' that 'many countries' accessed Clinton's server
The Hill
"It's highly probable if you set up a server on the outside and you are a high-ranking government official, especially the secretary of State, that many countries got into that server," Nunes said in an interview on Hill.TV's "Rising" that aired Thursday.
Warszawski: Devin Nunes living the high life on donors’ dime
Fresno Bee
Sixteen years later, our man Devin is chest-deep in muck. The supposed man of the people turned out to be just another pompous, entitled politician who barks at anyone who questions him.
The National Partisan Nastiness Is Now Poisoning Local Politics
Zócalo Public Square
Just like our national conversation, our local debates have gotten harsher and uglier. Increasingly, we have seen deep divisions not only over local issues but also over national issues that manifest themselves locally.
See also:
EDITORIAL: How about some civility at the Sacramento City Council? Sacramento Bee
State:
Gavin Newsom, Dianne Feinstein hold big leads in California poll
San Francisco Chronicle
Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has a commanding lead in his bid to become California’s next governor, and Republican John Cox is going to be hard-pressed to round up additional supporters, according to a poll released Wednesday.
Federal:
Trump’s winning streak with 2018 endorsements could have major impact in November
Sacramento Bee
From Staten Island to South Carolina, Alabama to Athens, Ga., Republicans blessed with the president’s endorsement in primary contests this summer have notched victory after victory—proof that even when he’s not on the ballot, Trump can persuade and turn out his base, a reality with significant implications for this fall’s midterm campaigns.
See also:
● If Republicans lose big, this will be why Washington Post
● Turnout is up in 2018 House primaries, especially on Democratic side Pew Research Center
● An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2016 Election New York Time
● Sykes: Republicans Are Now Conceding Their Core Values TIME
● Why Party Brand Matters Roll Call
Kavanaugh on administrative law and separation of powers
SCOTUS Blog
A Justice Kavanaugh would not bring to the Supreme Court a commitment, in Steve Bannon’s words, to the “deconstruction of the administrative state.” He cares deeply about administrative law and regulatory practice.
See also:
● With Kavanaugh, Court Could Take Aim at Gun Control Laws Roll Call
● Brett Kavanaugh and public opinion on Supreme Court confirmations AEI
Campaign Committee Chairmen Collaborating on Election Security
Roll Call
The chairmen of the Senate Republican and Democratic campaign committees have spoken at length about election security and the potential for Russian active measures against the 2018 midterms.
Other:
The Bee wins right to cover PG&E explosion trial Fresno County wanted closed
Fresno Bee
A workers compensation trial probing a 2015 PG&E pipeline explosion at the Fresno County Sheriff’s Foundation shooting range that left one jail inmate dead and 12 others injured will be open to the public when it resumes on Aug. 16, a judge ruled this week in rejecting Fresno County’s motion to keep the proceedings confidential.
'I’m Not the Only Young Conservative’
New York Times
About 700 teenage conservatives visited the nation’s capital this week for a four-day leadership conference to promote activism skills among high school and college students and help young conservatives network with leaders in the movement.
Your Tweets Are Somehow Worthy Of Scientific Study
FiveThirtyEight
“If you’re on Twitter and tweeting publicly, you’re part of a data set somewhere,” said Nick Proferes, a professor of information studies at the University of Kentucky. Twitter is a popular research tool, but it’s also a very new one.
The 5 M’s for Describing Why Congress Is Broken
Roll Call
I have reduced what’s a pretty complex diagnosis to five elements. And they can be readily remembered, using this alliterative mnemonic: Money, maps, media, mingling and masochism.
Don’t overstate the ‘urban-rural’ divide
AEI
At first glance, the “urban-rural” divide seems reasonable. But the data don’t support this geographic line of thinking; opinion polls regarding President Trump and his values reveal widespread dislike for his worldview.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, July 29, at 10 a.m. on ABC 30 – Maddy Report: “I Didn't Vote!: Civic (Dis)Engagement and the (Dis)Interested Voter” – Guests: Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court Tani Cantil-Sakauye and Mindy Romero, Director of the California Civic Engagement Project at UC Davis. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, July 29, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “Addressing Civil Illiteracy in the Valley” – Guests: UC Merced Prof. Nate Monroe, John Minkler with the California Council for Social Studies, Fresno Superior Court Judge Don Fransen, and Fresno Attorney Michael Wilhelm. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, July 29, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “Californians & Civic Engagement” – Guest: Mony Flores-Bauer, League of Women Voters in California. Host: Ana Melendes.
Topics in more detail….
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Fresno Food Expo opens with plenty of fancy food, drink and new name
Fresno Bee
The Fresno Food Expo, the state’s largest regional food show, got underway Thursday with more than 140 of the state’s premier food makers showcasing everything from spicy barbecue flavored tortilla chips to horchata flavored milk.
See also:
● Ten of our favorite foods from the Fresno Food Expo and where to get them Fresno Bee
● Get ready foodies Fresno Food Expo is about to bring what California has to offer to your taste buds ABC30
Nichols Farms hires first marketing officer
Hanford Sentinel
Nichols Farms brought on its first Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Tristan Simpson who gave her first presentation to the entire company at Nichols series of town hall meetings Wednesday.
Washington Post
The Trump administration on Tuesday announced up to $12 billion in emergency aid to farmers caught in an escalating trade war, seeking to temper growing Republican dissent over President Trump’s trade policies.
See also:
● EDITORIAL: Trump bails out some, but not all, the victims of his trade war Los Angeles Times
Why all sides in Congress can get behind Rep. Gabbard’s new cannabis legislation
Brookings
The legislation itself takes no position on cannabis reform and instead, seeks to encourage research on existing and future state legalization programs so that policymakers can better understand the impact of those state laws.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
California Prepares to Say Goodbye to Out-of-State Prisons
California Budget and Policy Center
Thanks to a series of criminal justice reforms that have significantly reduced incarceration, California has been able to comply with the court-ordered prison population cap while simultaneously scaling back its reliance on out-of-state facilities.
Let defendants work. It keeps people safe and saves money
Los Angeles Times
The bail system needs reform, but until that happens, pretrial work release programs would respect the due process rights of the accused, keep communities safe and save taxpayer money.
Public Safety:
This Merced County deputy DA was just named the top prosecutor in California
Merced Sun-Star
Supervising deputy district attorney Matthew Serratto of Merced County has been named the top prosecutor of the year for small and mid-size cities in California.
Turlock reduces park hours, citing public safety
Modesto Bee
Turlock has reduced the hours its parks will be open in an experiment to see whether that reduces crime and other bad behavior. The City Council approved this on a 3-2 vote Tuesday after rejecting an earlier proposal that would have limited hours at three downtown parks and opponents said was an effort to target the homeless.
Cell phones, landlines would be taxed more to pay for 911 upgrade under Jerry Brown’s plan for 911 System
Sacramento Bee
After raising prices at the gas pump last year, Gov. Jerry Brown wants to increase taxes on Californians again to overhaul the 911 emergency services system.
Democratic Ads Show Gun Violence Remains Salient Primary Issue
Roll Call
A gun control activist won her Democratic primary in Georgia on Tuesday, and she’s not the only Democrat talking about gun violence on the campaign trail even though the issue has largely faded from the headlines.
EDITORIAL: How not to deal with the open carry of guns
Los Angeles Times
A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in a case from Hawaii that the logic of the Heller decision also should apply to people who want to carry a firearm openly in public for self-protection. The panel’s decision is just as wrong as the Heller case it is built upon
Fire:
Gov. Brown declares state of emergency for Mariposa County due to Ferguson Fire
Fresno Bee
Governor Jerry Brown on Thursday declared a state of emergency for Mariposa County because of the Ferguson Fire. The fire “has threatened homes and critical infrastructure and caused power outages and the evacuation of residents,” the governor’s office said.
See also:
● Ferguson Fire swells to 43,299 acres after burning 1,723 acres overnight Fresno Bee
● What happens when a fire scares tourists? Oakhurst copes, takes care of firefighters Fresno Bee
● Ferguson Fire changes direction, puts homes and Yosemite in danger ABC30
● Mariposa facing fourth major disaster in less than two years ABC30
● Governor declares State of Emergency in Mariposa County due to Ferguson Fire ABC30
● Yosemite-area blaze grows as crews work to protect landmarks Visalia Times-Delta
● Brown declares state of emergency for Mariposa County due to Ferguson fire Mercury News
● Ferguson Fire: Tree mortality epidemic adds to crews’ headaches San Francisco Chronicle
● Ferguson Fire causing congestion at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks ABC30
● Are national parks being affected by Yosemite closures? Visalia Times-Delta
● Ferguson Fire Prompts Evacuations In Ponderosa Basin Valley Public Radio
Carr Fire grows to more than 28,000 acres
Fresno Bee
The Carr Fire in Shasta County grew nearly 9,000 acres throughout the day Thursday after tripling in size overnight, and is threatening areas west of Redding, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported.
See also:
● One dead in explosive Redding fire. Blaze is moving ‘with no regard to what’s in its path’ Sacramento Bee
● Bulldozer operator killed, 15 structures destroyed in Carr Fire Mercury News
● Devastating fire sweeps into Redding; numerous homes lost, 1 dead Los Angeles Times
● Firefighter killed as Carr Fire rips into Redding, sending residents fleeing San Francisco Chronicle
● One Dead And Several Homes Burned As Carr Fire Roars Toward Redding Capital Public Radio
County officials warn residents to take precautions due to smoky air
Stockton Record
Smoke from wildfires to the west — the Marsh Fire in eastern Contra Costa County — and the east — the massive and still largely uncontained Ferguson Fire west of Yosemite — combined with changing wind patterns have conspired to cause high levels of air pollution descending on San Joaquin County.
See also:
● Doctors seeing patients with respiratory problems from Ferguson Fire ABC30
● ‘Apocalyptic’ fires rage across state Stockton Record
PG&E posts $1 billion loss as debate rages over wildfire claims
Fresno Bee
PG&E Corp. announced a loss of nearly $1 billion due to wildfire claims Thursday — and repeated its demands that the Legislature take steps to reduce the utility’s liability for future fires.
State to pay $4.1 million in back wages for overtime at Cal Fire academy
Sacramento Bee
More than 2,000 state firefighters who attended the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection academy over the past five years will benefit from a $4.1 million agreement awarding them back wages for extra hours they put in during their training at the Amador County site.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
City Council says “yes” to program to spur downtown
Madera Tribune
Hoping to spur redevelopment and revitalization of parts of downtown Madera, the Madera City Council has voted to waive 75 to 100 percent of city plan review and building permit fees for a period of at least the next one to possibly two years.
G.D.P. Grew at 4.1% Rate in U.S. in Latest Quarter. Here’s What That Means.
New York Times
United States gross domestic product rose at an annual rate of 4.1 percent in the second quarter, up from 2.2 percent in the first three months of the year. It was the strongest quarter of growth since 2014.
See also:
● U.S. Economy Was Weaker Last Quarter Than We Thought Wall Street Journal
● Trump, Breaking With Tradition, Talks Up GDP Report Before Release Wall Street Journal
● U.S. GDP Predictions Scaled Back on Eve of Report Wall Street Journal
● US economy grows at fastest pace since 2014 CNN
● Trump cheers ‘amazing’ economic growth as economists caution it could be a blip Washington Post
● Trump touts economy: 'These numbers are very, very sustainable' CNN
● Save Low Interest for a Rainy Day Wall Street Journal
● Measuring inflation: What’s changed over the past 20 years? What hasn’t? Brookings
● Trump has you to thank for those good GDP numbers Marketplace
● U.S. Economy Surges to 4.1% Growth Rate – the Fastest Since 2014 TIME
● Trump is pressuring the Fed to keep interest rates low. Nixon actually did it — and damaged the economy Los Angeles Times
● Outflows From U.S. Stocks Swell as Investors Seek Refuge in Bonds Wall Street Journal
Facebook stock dived 20% in a single day. Here's why
Los Angeles Times
Facebook was a golden goose. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, the social networking giant introduced a shocking idea: It probably can’t sustain its enormous rate of growth. The news helped send Facebook shares into a tailspin, dropping more than 20% on Thursday.
See also:
● EDITORIAL: Investors Unlike Facebook Wall Street Journal
GOP fears over Trump’s trade war were reaching a fever pitch. Then he took a step back.
Washington Post
Republican anxiety about whether Trump’s trade war will undo the GOP’s message on the strong economy reached a fever pitch this week, with numerous Republican lawmakers coming out with sharply worded attacks on the president’s trade strategy.
See also:
● Trade “Deal”: A Show About Nothing Weekly Standard
● Trump celebrates his tariff policies with Illinois steelworkers amid complaints from Midwest farmers Los Angeles Times
● EDITORIAL: Trump’s love for tariffs is no plan for a global economy San Francisco Chronicle
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
At the 2018 National Interagency Community Reinvestment Conference, we focused on the theme of alignment recognizing that people need solutions that address the interrelated challenges in life.
Jobs:
Court: Starbucks, Others Must Pay Workers For Off Clock Work
Capital Public Radio
Starbucks and other employers in California must pay workers for minutes they routinely spend off the clock on tasks such as locking up or setting the store alarm, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
See also:
● In suit against Starbucks, Calif. court says workers owed pay for all off-the-clock time San Francisco Chronicle
● Employers must pay workers for brief time they spend opening and closing workplaces, California's top court says Los Angeles Times
● Calif. Supreme Court Finds Federal 'De Minimis' Rule Doesn't Apply to California Wage Laws The Recorder
EDUCATION
K-12:
Why do some schools’ graduation rates look a little lower this year?
Fresno Bee
Some central San Joaquin Valley school districts are posting graduation rates that look a little lower than they’ve been in recent years. But a new state methodology for counting grads may be to blame.
Arvin Union School District superintendent to retire in September
Bakersfield Californian
Arvin Union School District Superintendent Michelle McLean is retiring effective Sept. 14. During a meeting earlier this week, the district Board of Education voted to accept McLean’s retirement notification.
Decision Medicine training youth to fill Stockton, SJ physician shortage
Stockton Record
The San Joaquin Medical Society’s Decision Medicine, which was started in 2001, is a two-week program for high school juniors and seniors who are interested in becoming physicians. The purpose is to introduce students to the field of medicine.
Higher Ed:
Infamous Fresno State professor back at it on Twitter. She wants white editors to resign
Fresno Bee
Just when it seemed like infamous Fresno State professor Randa Jarrar might’ve learned her lesson and stopped making controversial posts on social media, she did it again.
DeVos to cut estimated $13 billion in federal loan relief for defrauded students
ABC30
The planned rewrite of "borrower defense to repayment" rules, proposed on Wednesday by DeVos, would cut an estimated $13 billion in department spending -- primarily awarded directly to defrauded students as debt relief -- compared with Obama-era aid.
West Hills College's staff earns new training level
Hanford Sentinel
The Certified Advisors Training Program honored one of West Hills College Lemoore's staff members. Monica Reynoso, West Hills College Lemoore’s coordinator of special grants, achieved her Advisor 1 Certification in June.
Taft College fires contractor for new student center
Bakersfield Californian
Taft College students will have to wait a bit longer to enjoy the college’s new $12.9 million Student Center. Construction of the center has been put on hold after the college fired the contractor on the project, California Averland Construction, earlier this month.
Guaranteed admission for California community college students at private universities
Mercury News
Three dozen private California colleges and universities are offering a path to guaranteed admissions for community college students, adding a new option for those who want to earn their bachelor’s degrees in four years.
Higher Education Finance: How Does California Stack Up?
Public Policy Institute of California
California’s public higher education spending per student has increased significantly since the end of the Great Recession—it is now higher than at any time since 2002.
With Spanish Classes, Vet Schools Aim To Break Down Barriers With Farmworkers
NPR
While learning to communicate with animals takes years of patience, Yanez says the true language barrier exists between the dairy workers and the veterinarians who rarely speak Spanish.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
Fresno prepares to beat record of consecutive triple-digit days
ABC30
As the sun beat down on the Central Valley Wednesday, people were doing what they can to stay cool. Most areas in the Valley have seen several consecutive days of temperatures at 100 or above.
See also:
Homeless people search for shade during heat wave. City says not hot enough for cooling centers Sacramento Bee
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment
Public Policy Institute of California
A majority of likely voters (56%) say the candidates’ environmental positions are very important in determining their vote in the governor’s race (67% of Democrats, 54% of independents, and 33% of Republicans hold this view).
See also:
● Californians and the Coast Public Policy Institute of California
California's climate change regulator will keep its leadership through 2020
Los Angeles Times
Gov. Jerry Brown will keep his imprint on the state’s powerful climate change agency beyond his time in office following an agency vote Thursday.
What Would Changes To The Endangered Species Act Mean For The Valley?
Valley Public Radio
Last week the Trump Administration proposed a set of major changes to the Endangered Species Act. It’s a big issue here in California, where protected species in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta have set off new efforts to protect critical habitat.
See also:
● EDITORIAL: Endangered Species Scare Wall Street Journal
‘Tahoe will not be blue.’ Why the lake’s warming trends are worrisome
Sacramento Bee
Climate change is gradually warming Lake Tahoe, clouding its clarity and threatening its fabled “blueness,” scientists at UC Davis warned Thursday.
See also:
● 'Enter water at your own risk.' Algae at California lakes poses risk Fresno Bee
● Diamond Valley Lake near Hemet to reopen after month-long closure for blue-green algae Press-Enterprise
● Don’t go into Discovery Bay’s toxic waters, officials warn East Bay Times
● Toxic algae bloom at 'dangerous' level in Lake County SFGate
● Harmful blue-green algae found at Riverfront Park near Windsor Press Democrat
Energy:
Community Choice Aggregation: Is it Right for Your City?
Public CEO
Pursuing lower costs, local control and renewable sources, communities are embracing government-run energy programs, or Community Choice Aggregation models, to address local energy needs that traditional, investor-owned utilities may not be as adept at meeting.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Hanford Sentinel
The Collaborative Alliance for Nursing Outcomes is recognizing teams at Adventist Health in both Hanford and Selma for their commitment to patient safety and quality.
Rise in mosquito population means higher threat of West Nile
Stockton Record
The San Joaquin County Mosquito & Vector Control District said there has been a significant rise in the mosquito population in the region, and with that comes an increased threat of West Nile virus.
Board gives voters control over Tulare hospital contract
Visalia Times-Delta
Tulare residents will get a say in whether they want Adventist Health to take over their now shuttered hospital. They will cast their ballots during the November general election.
California sues Trump administration over small-business health policy
San Francisco Chronicle
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Thursday joined 11 other state attorneys general in suing the Trump administration over new regulations they say would mean employees of small businesses could get fewer health insurance benefits than required by law.
See also:
● California, 11 other states suing Trump Administration over ACA restrictions Mercury News
Essure: Bayer paid doctors millions for questionable birth control device
CNN
A CNN analysis of federal data, shows that from August 2013 through December 2017, Bayer paid 11,850 doctors $2.5 million related to Essure for consulting fees and similar services.
Human Services:
‘My Soul and My Role Aligned’ — How Hospice Workers Deal With Death
Pew Charitable Trusts
As intense and exhausting as hospice care is, you seldom hear any of the doctors, nurses, aides, social workers and bereavement counselors at the Hospice of the Western Reserve describe the job as grim, sad or dispiriting.
‘Undeterred’ Trump Administration to Push Ahead With Medicaid Work Rules
Roll Call
The Trump administration will continue to approve state Medicaid work requirement proposals, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Thursday, despite a federal court recently blocking Kentucky from implementing such rules.
See also:
● Trump says new health plans, not available until September, already doing 'record business' The Hill
Unlike medical spending, medical bills in collections decrease with patients’ age
AEI
Health policy is often designed to help protect patients’ financial security. However, there is limited understanding of the role medical debt plays in household finances.
IMMIGRATION
Judge allows lawsuit against citizenship question on the 2020 census to proceed
ABC30
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross had the authority to reintroduce the citizenship question on the 2020 census but, in exercising that authority, may have violated the rights of plaintiffs who are now suing, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
See also:
● Judge allows census lawsuit, citing evidence of Trump’s ‘animus toward immigrants of color’ Washington Post
H-1B visa denials rise after Trump ‘hire American’ order
Mercury News
President Donald Trump’s “Buy American and Hire American” executive order last year appears to have led federal immigration officials to deny more requests for the controversial H-1B visa, according to a new report.
As reunification deadline arrives, fear and uncertainty persist for many migrant families
Los Angeles Times
A court-imposed deadline that had government officials scrambling to complete the reunification of more than a thousand migrant families by Thursday led to emotional scenes across the country. But much remains unresolved after months of chaos and confusion resulting from the Trump administration’s family separation policies.
See also:
● US government: Over 1,800 migrant kids reunited by deadline Sacramento Bee
● Hundreds of children remain separated from migrant parents as deadline looms Los Angeles Times
● Hundreds of migrant children remain in custody, though most separated families are reunited at court deadline Washington Post
● Government Says It Has Reunited All Eligible Migrant Parents With Children Wall Street Journal
● Federal Authorities Say They Have Met Deadline to Reunite Migrant Families New York Times
● Trump’s Immigration Enforcement Agenda Gets Boost from Partisan Vote Roll Call
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
State regulators approve San Onofre nuclear settlement, trimming $750 million from original deal
Los Angeles Times
Four years after approving a plan that charged ratepayers billions of dollars for the premature closing of the San Onofre nuclear plant, state utility regulators adopted a new deal Thursday that trims about $750 million from consumers’ electricity bills.
Housing:
‘Buyer fatigue’ hits California home sale market as sales drop
Sacramento Bee
Sacramento home sales have hit a summer slump as potential buyers back away from escalating prices and rising mortgage interest rates.
Bay Area home prices flat since May, but up a staggering 12.9% year over year
San Francisco Chronicle
The median price of a Bay Area home was $875,000 in June, matching the all-time high set in May, while sales dropped precipitously to the lowest level for the month of June in four years, according to a CoreLogic report released Wednesday.
EDITORIAL: Good on San Diego County for approving 4,000 houses, but it can't stop there
San Diego Union-Tribune
With San Diego County’s median housing price reaching a record high of $575,000 in June, and with average county rent also showing a huge, long-term increase, the severity of the local housing crisis is only getting worse.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Community Voices: Nothing makes sense about these 1-cent sales taxes
Bakersfield Californian
Not unexpectedly, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 (David Couch voted no) to place a 1 cent sales tax increase on the November ballot for voters living in unincorporated Kern County.
Certificates of Participation are nothing more than a way around Proposition 13
Los Angeles Times
This year we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Proposition 13, the landmark taxpayer revolt that allowed millions of Californians to save their home from excessive property taxes.
EDITORIAL: Will California schools pass their tough test on pensions?
Sacramento Bee
It’s not just many California cities and counties that face crushing pension obligations. It’s also a lot of public school districts. Some districts are already cutting programs, reducing staff and dipping into reserves to make sure they can pay all their teacher pensions.
EDITORIAL: Tougher rent control could mean millions in tax losses
San Francisco Chronicle
A November ballot measure to allow more rent control of California’s housing market could cost local and state tax coffers hundreds of millions of dollars. That’s the sobering bill for Proposition 10, billed as a tenant-pleasing antidote to the state’s critical housing ills.
TRANSPORTATION
$30 million roadway project aims to connect Highway 99 with UC Merced
Merced Sun-Star
A roadway expansion project that aims to improve traffic and generate economic activity between the UC Merced and Highway 99 is entering its next phase, according to city, county and state officials.
Top Trump Officials Clash Over Plan to Let Cars Pollute More
New York Times
Senior administration officials are clashing over President Trump’s plan to roll back a major environmental rule and let cars emit more tailpipe pollution, in a dispute over whether the proposal can withstand legal challenge.
Toyota plans to expand production, shrink cost of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
Reuters
Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) is doubling down on its investment in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, designing lower-cost, mass-market passenger cars and SUVs and pushing the technology into buses and trucks to build economies of scale
WATER
Temperance Flat project wins some funding
Hanford Sentinel
The California Water Commission has granted $171 million in state water bond funding to the central San Joaquin Valley’s proposed Temperance Flat Dam and Reservoir project.
High-ranking officials claim immunity over poisonous water
Economist
Many legal actions have been launched, some of which raise a hard question: to what extent can government officials be held accountable for their actions on the job?
“Xtra”
Art, ale and air conditioning? Can't beat this Art After Dark
Bakersfield Californian
Many of us have got the crew together for a paint night but if you'd like to try your hand at a new artistic skill, head over to the Bakersfield Museum of Art Thursday night.
Twitter post makes shop owners forgotten anniversary into a day he will never forget
ABC30
Dave High marked 35 years in business at his Northwest Fresno store Wednesday. Thirty-five years is a pretty significant anniversary, so Dave had cupcakes and drinks for folks who came by.
Madera County Sheriff’s Office takes on lip-sync challenge
Fresno Bee
The Madera County Sheriff's Office gets in on the so-called lip-sync challenge, with a video set to Justin Timberlake's song "Can't Stop the Feeling.
Valley Cultural Calendar Thursday, July 26, 2018 2018
Valley Cultural Coalition
Great things are happening in the Valley. Here's a list of VCC member offerings to keep you busy and entertained!
See also:
Be Public Live Event: The Future Of The Arts In The Valley - July 18 Valley Public Radio
Take me home! Dogs available for adoption
Bakersfield Californian
These four dogs at Kern County Animal Services are looking for their forever homes. Can you help?
Bethany Hamilton Will Return To Competitive Surfing Via Perfect Waves In Lemoore
Valley Public Radio
We reported back in May about the Central Valley’s state-of-the-art Surf Ranch in Lemoore, which has brought world-class surfers to the area. One such athlete came to the wave pool last week to announce her return to competition.
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
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