POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Coronavirus update: Turlock mom shares story, some theaters, galleries reopening
Modesto Bee
The number of Stanislaus County residents who have died of the virus remained at 34 on Saturday, according to its Health Services Agency. Positive tests rose to 1,110. Another 17,764 residents have tested negative. The positivity rate was 5.9 %, down from 6.0%, on Friday.
Stanislaus Court apologizes for Tweet mocking Confederate protesters, endorsing Trump
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County Superior Court is apologizing for a post on its Twitter account mocking protesters tearing down a Confederate statue — including one who was critically injured — while endorsing President Donald Trump’s re-election.
EDITORIAL: Keep BLM momentum going in Stanislaus County by voting and staying involved
Modesto Bee
Note to Black Lives Matter and George Floyd protesters in Modesto, Stanislaus County and beyond: Well done. Your message of equity and respect has resonated. Your stories and example have stirred souls. Your poignant words have touched many hearts.
Central SJ Valley:
Black Lives Matter rally held downtown demands changes of Fresno police practices
Fresno Bee
A rally was held demanding changes and scrutiny of Fresno Police practices Friday afternoon in downtown Fresno.
George Floyd, Black Lives and other murals to be painted in Fresno
Fresno Bee
Muralists are painting a Black Lives Matter mural in downtown Fresno. Other murals, including George Floyd, will continue for the next two weeks.
See Also:
● Art project to honor George Floyd and raise awareness underway in Downtown Fresno abc30
Oliver Baines To Lead New Commission On Police Reform In Fresno
VPR
Oliver Baines was the only African American serving on the Fresno City Council during his two terms in office starting in 2010. Prior to that, he spent nearly 12 years as a Fresno police officer. Yesterday it was announced that he will lead a new commission for police reform in Fresno, tasked with making a recommendation to the council in 90 days.
Devin Nunes’ attorney says he’s at ‘dead end’ in quest to reveal identity of Twitter cow
Fresno Bee
The attorney for Rep. Devin Nunes said on Friday that he is at a “dead end” in attempting to identify anonymous people who criticize the California Republican on Twitter as he asked a Virginia judge to hold the company responsible for social media criticism.
South SJ Valley:
Increase in cases, recoveries; nail salons to open June 19
Porterville Recorder
While the number of overall COVID-19 cases in Tulare County increased significantly on Friday, the number of recoveries also increased considerably. The Tulare County Department of Health and Human Services reported a large increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the county on Friday. There have now been 2,564 COVID-19 cases in Tulare County, an increase of 89 over the number of 2,475 that was reported on Thursday.
Legal dispute arises over Ward 1 special election to replace Willie Rivera
Bakersfield Californian
The city of Bakersfield’s attempt to fill the seat of resigning City Councilman Willie Rivera has hit a snag. On Wednesday, a resolution calling for a special election in November for Rivera’s Ward 1 seat was quietly pulled. The special election would have been merged with the general election, putting voting for Ward 1, and wards 2, 5 and 6, as well as state and national candidates, at the same time.
Another way to be heard: Locals gather to seek unity, social justice at Bakersfield cookout
Bakersfield Californian
There was no marching, no chanting, no confrontation with police at the Black and Brown Unity Cookout, held Saturday afternoon at The Park at River Walk in southwest Bakersfield. But many goals of the attendees were similar to the goals of those who have been marching in the streets calling for police reform and social justice, especially for people of color.
Kern County libraries in crisis, but county leaders working toward solutions
Bakersfield Californian
It’s been a difficult year for Kern County’s library system, a sprawling collection of 24 branches and two bookmobiles that stretches from Taft in the west to Ridgecrest in the east, Delano in the north to Arvin in the south. The county’s worsening budget crunch has Director of Libraries Andie Sullivan uncertain about exactly how she will fully staff the libraries that have been closed since the coronavirus lockdown in March.
State:
California lawmakers take up budget in tense economic times
Fresno Bee
The California Legislature will meet Monday to pass a budget for these uncertain times, without knowing how much money they have to spend and without an agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose veto pen could force lawmakers to start over.
See also:
● On hold: Loan repayment for Medi-Cal doctors, dentists awaits final budget plans CalMatters
● Skelton: Already devastated by the coronavirus, seniors stand to lose again in Newsom’s budgetLA Times
What stage are we in? As California reopens, it might not be what you think
Sac Bee
With all the businesses that are opening back up in some California counties — bars, gyms and movie theaters, to name a few — it can be easy to lose track of just what stage of reopening California as a whole is in.
See also:
· Some tribes reopen their casinos despite state opposition Bakersfield Californian
· Bars, Gyms And Movie Theaters Can Reopen In California — Here’s What Else Can Start This Weekend Capital Public Radio
California lawmakers bristle at Newsom’s use of executive power during coronavirus crisis
LA Times
When the California Legislature voted to recess in mid-March during the height of concerns over the spread of the coronavirus, few lawmakers realized they were clearing the way for Gov. Gavin Newsom to assume unprecedented control of state government.
What it’s like to raise black children in the San Joaquin Valley
Valley Public Radio
For many African-American parents, part of the responsibility of raising a child includes preparing them for the racism and violence they may experience because of the color of their skin. To discuss what it is like to raise a black child in the Valley, FM89’s Kathleen Schock spoke with Isaac Sandifer Jr., a retired educator and brigadier general from Bakersfield, Dr. Edythe Stewart, a general surgeon who practices in Merced, Shantay Davies-Balch, CEO of the Black Wellness and Prosperity Center in Fresno, and Dympna Ugwu-Oju, editor of Fresnoland.
Calif prosecutors routinely strike Black and Latino people from juries, report says
LA Times
A UC Berkeley study released Monday found that prosecutors often routinely strike Black and Latino prospective jurors and that appellate courts have failed to rein in the practice.
Opinion: The Pandemic and Protests Have Exposed the Truth About California
New York Times
The Golden State is less exceptional and more like the rest of America than many would prefer to believe.
Federal:
Coronavirus 2nd Wave? Nope, The U.S. Is Still Stuck In The 1st One
Capital Public Radio
Just weeks after parts of the U.S. began reopening, coronavirus infections are on the upswing in several states, including Arizona, Utah, Texas and Florida. Dramatic increases in daily case counts have given rise to some unsettling questions: Is the U.S. at the start of a second wave? Have states reopened too soon?
See also:
● As coronavirus infections surge nationwide, 21 states see increase in average daily new casesWashington Post
● US may have to put coronavirus restrictions back in place if cases rise dramatically, CDC saysTheHill
● Covid-19’s Second Assault on America Is Already Underway Bloomberg
● Opinion: The pandemic proves it: Trump’s healthcare record is abject failure Business Insider
PBS NewsHour
Amid nationwide protests, the president’s executive order is expected to include the creation of national standards for police use-of-force as well as for tracking police misconduct, according to a civil rights lawyer who plans to be at the signing and testify before the Senate this week.
See also:
● What Federal Police Reform Could Include — And What The Sticking Points May Be NPR
● Trump’s baseless conspiracy about protester shoved by police in Buffalo Politifact
Supreme Court Will Not Reexamine Doctrine That Shields Police In Misconduct Suits
VPR
Amid the tumult over police brutality allegations across the country, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to reexamine the much-criticized, modern-day legal doctrine created by judges that has shielded police and other government officials from lawsuits over their conduct. In an unsigned order, the court declined to hear cases seeking reexamination of the doctrine of “qualified immunity.” Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, saying the “qualified immunity doctrine appears to stray from the statutory text.”
Washington Post
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that federal anti-discrimination laws protect gay and transgender employees, a major gay rights ruling written by one of the court’s most conservative justices.
See also:
● Supreme Court rules existing civil rights law protects gay and lesbian workers NBC
● Justices rule LGBT people protected from job discrimination Business Journal
● Supreme Court finds law bars LGBT discrimination in workplace POLITICO
Trump administration erases non-discrimination protections for transgender people in health care
Washington Post
HHS says protections on the basis of sex apply only to ‘male or female as determined by biology’.
See also:
● Transgender Health Protections Reversed By Trump Administration : Shots – Health News NPR
Coronavirus Trackers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.
See also:
● California Department of Public Health
● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic – WHO
● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
● Tracking coronavirus in California LA Times
● Coronavirus Tracker SF Chronicle
● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count New York Times
● How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico
● Coronavirus Daily NPR
● Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Financial Times
● Coronavirus in California by the numbers CalMatters
Elections 2020:
Citizen committee to create sales tax measure for November ballot
Turlock Journal
The Turlock City Council took another step towards putting a sales tax measure on the November ballot.
Should California end cash bail? Ads begin for November ballot fight
Modesto Bee
Over the past two weeks, thousands have donated to post bail for people arrested while protesting police brutality. Those types of funds could be unnecessary come November.
California progressive politicians reject donations from police
CalMatters
Two state senators and a group of district attorneys say thanks, but no thanks, to campaign contributions from unions representing law enforcement officers.
Judge To Newsom On Vote-By-Mail Strategy: Restrain Yourself
Capital Public Radio
If Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to make the November 2020 election a socially-distanced affair, he may need the Legislature’s help after all. This morning, a California district court judge in Sutter County put a hold on an executive order inked by the governor last week that specified how county registrars should conduct the coming presidential election.
See also:
● California judge blocks Newsom vote-by-mail strategy CalMatters
● Judge temporarily blocks Newsom order on election procedures, siding with GOP lawmakersPOLITICO
● Misleading: Claim that millions of absentee ballots end up ‘missing or in landfills’ Politifact
● Opinion: Major Calif Republicans vote by mail while opposing it Fresno Bee
Why is Trump lashing out at polls? Look at the numbers
LA Times
Polling has long been a favorite topic of President Trump’s hyperactive Twitter feed, but lately he has been more angry than boastful. “They are called SUPPRESSION POLLS, and are put out to dampen enthusiasm,” Trump recently wrote of surveys by CNN and other news outlets that show him significantly trailing rival Joe Biden.
‘We’re thinking landslide’: Beyond D.C., GOP officials see Trump on glide path to re-election
POLITICO
Conventional indicators suggest the president’s bid for a second term is in jeopardy. But state and local GOP officials see a different election unfolding.
Trump rally called ‘dangerous move’ in age of coronavirus
abc30
After months away from the campaign trail, President Donald Trump plans to rally his supporters this coming Saturday for the first time since most of the country was shuttered by the coronavirus. Trump will head to Tulsa, Oklahoma – a state that has seen relatively few COVID-19 cases.
Pressure Grows On Joe Biden To Pick A Black Woman As His Running Mate
NPR
In late April, more than 200 black women who are leaders and activists within the Democratic party signed an open letter to the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden calling on him to select a black woman as his running mate.
Washington Post
Separate research also found that white students at the U.S. Air Force Academy who had black students assigned to their 30-person squadron during freshman year became more likely to choose a black roommate.
Other:
Face masks divide public opinion during pandemic
Bakersfield Californian
The line outside the HomeGoods store on Stockdale Highway Friday afternoon presented a kind of cross-section of local attitudes toward what seemed an unsettled question of whether people should wear face masks in public to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
See also:
● People revolt against coronavirus masks as California reopens LA Times
● Scientists try to keep coronavirus masks from being swallowed by culture wars abc News
● Study: 100% face mask use could crush second, third COVID-19 wave SF Gate
● Masks now seen as vital tool in coronavirus fight TheHill
Ignited by public protests, American newsrooms are having their own racial reckoning
Washington Post
Like the nation itself, news organizations across the country are facing a racial reckoning, spurred by protests from their own journalists over portrayals of minority communities and the historically unequal treatment of nonwhite colleagues.
Opinion: Inequality, the SDGs, & human rights movement in the US & around the world
Brookings
For the U.S. to successfully advance human rights globally, the country must address its long-standing issues of structural racism and inequality. “If we do not have the will to meet this moment, we may well be witnessing the end times of human rights and the ultimate undermining of our democracy,” Sarah Mendelson writes.
Fox News removes manipulated images from coverage of Seattle protests
Washington Post
Fox News on Friday removed manipulated images that had appeared on its website as part of the outlet’s coverage of protests over the police killing of George Floyd, which has occasioned peaceful assemblies in cities across the country and, in Seattle, given rise to an unusual experiment in self-government.
See also:
● Fox News runs digitally altered images in coverage of Seattle’s protests, Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone The Seattle Times
Opinion: The Constitution doesn’t need to be rebuilt
AEI
The premise that “American democracy is broken” is unoriginal and incorrect.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Ground beef sold at Walmart, other stores recalled for possible E. coli contamination
Visalia Times Delta
Nearly 43,000 pounds of ground beef including packages sold at Walmart stores are being recalled because of possible E. coli contamination. The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced late Saturday that Lakeside Refrigerated Services, of Swedesboro, New Jersey, is recalling select packages of ground beef produced on June 1.
Yes, we’re corny; Sentimental favorite Gisler opens
Porterville Recorder
The opening of Gisler Farms, on the corner of Newcomb Street and Olive Avenue in Porterville, must have been highly anticipated, because even before the opening time of 9 a.m. on Friday morning, cars and people were lined up ready to collect their bags of corn.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Hundreds of child abuse reports were discarded. What’s the status of the investigation?
Fresno Bee
It’s been seven months since a Madera County social worker was accused of discarding hundreds of child abuse reports, and county authorities remain tight-lipped about their responses to the crisis.
California officials probe 2 separate hanging deaths of Black men
USA Today
As the LA County Sheriff’s Department launched an investigation into the hanging death of a Black man in Palmdale, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said on Saturday there were no indications of foul play in the hanging death of another Black man in Victorville last month.
Public Safety:
Should Calif prison guards wear body cameras? Lawyers demand them in disability case
Sac Bee
Advocates for disabled California prison inmates are asking the state to require guards to wear body cameras, citing dozens of new court declarations describing alleged abuses that they should compel the corrections department to carry out policy changes.
Local law enforcement agencies scale back ‘tools’ with suspensions of carotid hold
Bakersfield Californian
Both the Bakersfield Police Department and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office suspended the use of the controversial carotid restraint hold this week.
See also:
● 3 big California police unions release national reform plan to remove racist officers SF Chronicle
● California: Largest police unions unveil reform plan in joint statement POLITICO
● Opinion: Statistics on Officer-Involved Shootings Do Not End the Debate about Bias in PolicingNational Review
Fact Check: Post inflates number of police killed in connection to protests
PolitiFact
“More than 20 police officers are dead now because of the riots.”
Supreme Court passes up challenges from gun groups on laws they say violate Second Amendment
Washington Post
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up new cases for next term that gun rights groups claimed denied Second Amendment rights.
Opinion: The case for rethinking the politicization of the military
Brookings
“The military is not apolitical. It never has been, and it should not try to be.” Jim Golby and Mara Karlin say that it is time for the military to figure out how to appropriately engage in politics and outline three key steps military leaders can take to help educate their troops and alleviate concerns of partisanship across the ranks.
An open letter to Sheriff Boudreaux: Police accountability not just a ‘Latino issue’
Visalia Times Delta
Dear Sheriff Mike Boudreaux: During this time of tension and high emotions, our country is divided. Unfortunately, you are playing into this division with your attempt to create a wedge within our community.
Commentary: Judicial Council should make changes to ‘$0 Bail’ policy
CalMatters
Human trafficking, child and elder abuse, selling drugs while armed, parole and probation violations. These are just a few “low-level” crimes subject to California’s new “$0 Bail” policy, a policy that releases offenders immediately back into the community with no strings attached – no risk assessment, no services, no supervision and no guarantees.
Commentary: California must reshape and redefine its approach to youth justice
CalMatters
The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others to state violence has ignited a global uprising against racism in all its forms. It also has given new momentum to the fight for justice for black and brown communities across California, with a call to revolutionize our justice systems.
Fire:
Firefighters battling blaze that has burned 176 acres in Mariposa County, 70% contained
Fresno Bee
Firefighters are battling a fire that had burned 176 acres of vegetation in Mariposa County by Saturday afternoon, according to Cal Fire’s Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit. Crews were dispatched to the Cornetts Fire, which is the area of Cornetts Road and Old Highway South, at 10:55 a.m. Saturday.
After forcing evacuations, Grant Fire near Sloughhouse nearing containment, Cal Fire says
Sac Bee
The Grant Fire, fueled by fast-moving winds for days in rural east Sac County, was nearing containment Sunday morning as firefighters continue to work to put out hotspots in the burn zone.
PG&E braces for a hard fire season, and blackouts, amid coronavirus pandemic
SF Chronicle
Wildfire season has arrived in California, and the company behind some of the state’s worst blazes is again preparing to take drastic measures to prevent more catastrophes — all while the whole state is simultaneously grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Fresno Bee
Another stage of businesses – gyms, bars and wineries – started opening Friday in Fresno County as the state moves into stage 3 of reopening its economy. Like other businesses, they all must open with modifications like limiting capacity, social distancing, employees wearing masks and stepped-up cleaning.
Local churches begin to reopen doors to community with new guidelines
abc30
This is the moment Mary Wallace has been waiting for months to experience. It’s been nearly 80 days since she’s stepped foot inside The Shrine of St. Therese Catholic Church in central Fresno. “Glorious, glorious, absolutely glorious,” she said.
Reopening for Fresno Co nail salons, personal care businesses on hold for 2 weeks
Fresno Bee
Manicurists who have been idle since the coronavirus prompted sweeping stay-at-home orders almost three months ago will still have to wait a few more weeks before they’ll get to reopen in Fresno County.
See Also:
● CA nail salons, tattoo parlors will open next week, but Fresno Co. will delay opening abc30
● Calif to allow nail salons to reopen starting June 19 Bakersfield Californian
● Nail industry seeks answers as others reopen Turlock journal
Kern residents hit the gym in recent round of reopenings
Bakersfield Californian
If you missed the sounds of weights hitting the ground, the stinky smell of sweat and the feeling of pure adrenaline and strength, Kern County’s latest reopening stage has brought back a comfort for many: fitness facilities.
See Also:
● Many Merced County bars, gyms open, some still waiting. Here’s what to expect Merced Sun-Star
Five charts that track economic recovery in the U.S.
CNBC
As the U.S. economy makes further progress in recovering from the harsh blow of the coronavirus pandemic, certain industries are showing signs of recovery.
Poverty likely to increase as low-income households hit hardest by the COVID-19 economic crisis
American Enterprise Institute
Evidence is mounting that America’s lowest-income workers are enduring the worst of the economic fallout from COVID-19, and we can expect increased poverty in the months and years to come as a result.
Jobs:
1.5 million more laid-off workers seek unemployment benefits
LA Times
About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many Americans are still losing their jobs even as the economy appears to be slowly recovering with more businesses partially reopening.
Most Americans say immigrants mainly fill jobs US citizens don’t want
Pew Research Center
Americans generally agree that immigrants – whether undocumented or living legally in the country – mostly do not work in jobs that U.S. citizens want, with a majority saying so across racial and ethnic groups and among both political parties.
Washington Post
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that federal anti-discrimination laws protect gay and transgender employees, a major gay rights ruling written by one of the court’s most conservative justices.
See also:
● Supreme Court rules existing civil rights law protects gay and lesbian workers NBC
EDUCATION
K-12:
CIF officials say they’ll announce in July decision on restarting high school sports in fall
Fresno Bee
Normally, this is the time to unwind and vacation for those who work in education. But little seems right or balanced for so many schools in California and those connected to them, from Chula Vista in the south right on through the Sac Valley and up to the Oregon border.
See Also:
● Will high school sports start on time in the fall? Here is what the CIF is saying Fresno Bee
● California releases school reopening guidelines CalMatters
Fresno Unified continues distance learning through the summer
abc30
Fresno Unified is kicking off their summer learning virtually. When the school district decided to keep classes online for the summer, they knew it would mean added challenges for some students.
Local school districts preparing for significant deficits next fiscal year
Bakersfield Californian
As if preparing to reopen schools in a coronavirus world wasn’t difficult enough, local districts are facing proposed substantial deficits and cuts the next fiscal year.
Reinvesting in school improvement as a strategy for economic recovery
Brookings
A decade ago, schools nationwide were facing severe budget cuts led by declining property values during the Great Recession of 2008. This economic slowdown prompted major investments in infrastructure, including innovations in school improvement as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.
Higher Ed:
Make up for COVID-19 losses by investing in Calif Higher Ed; state’s economic recovery depends on it
CALmatters
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across California, the state’s public universities and colleges transitioned from bustling campuses to virtually empty ones – sending their costs soaring and revenues spiraling.
Fresno State athletics forced to second round of furloughs as budget tightens
Fresno Bee
Fresno State announced on Friday that it is furloughing about 55 Athletic Corporation employees for a period of two weeks due to a sharp decline in revenues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fresno State named winner of First 5’s child-friendly award
Fresno State News
Fresno State was named one of five winners of First 5 Fresno County’s2020 Child-Friendly Business Awards, along with ABC30, Ball Tire and Automotive, Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board and Quiring General, LLC.
COMMUNITY VOICES: CSUB Political Science Dept: We all have a role in healing, rebuilding our country
Bakersfield Californian
The Political Science Department at Cal State Bakersfield stands in solidarity with all of our sisters, brothers and nonbinary companions in the face of oppression, systemic racism, violence and brutality.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
The COVID-19 pandemic is unleashing a tidal wave of plastic waste
LA Times
When he stepped onto a beach on Hong Kong’s uninhabited Soko Islands, Gary Stokes was surprised to find — amid the discarded water bottles, shopping bags and usual piles of plastic waste — a new type of garbage washing ashore.
Proposed California law would fast-track environmentally sustainable transit
SF Chronicle
Transportation projects focused on public transit, bikes and pedestrians — but not cars — would get fast-tracked for construction under a bill Sen. Scott Wiener, D-SF, plans to announce on Monday.
Energy:
Solar experts: Proposal could ‘devastate’ industry
Desert Sun
While a regulatory battle over energy policy rages in Washington, D.C., the solar industry is raising alarms that the outcome has the potential to cripple rooftop solar in California and around the country.
Commentary: Calif’s effort to equip citizens with batteries during power outages
CalMatters
California’s efforts to provide vulnerable citizens with clean energy storage systems to help keep the lights on during wildfire-related power shut-offs is on track to provide more than 10,000 new storage systems for customers in 2020.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Total coronavirus cases surpass 400 in Merced Co, 18 new cases reported Friday
Fresno Bee
The number of Merced County’s confirmed coronavirus cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic surpassed 400 on Friday, with 18 new cases reported by the County Health Department of Public Health.
See Also:
● Rising COVID-19 deaths in Fresno prompt renewed call for public to ‘do the right thing’ Fresno Bee
● About 30,000 people have tested for coronavirus in Fresno County. Roughly 8.4% were infectedFresno Bee
● Tulare County COVID-19 update: No new deaths, 96 new recoveries, 89 new positive cases Visalia Times Delta
● Public Health reports 65 new coronavirus cases Saturday Bakersfield Californian
● Ten Thousand Cases And Counting: This Week’s Valley COVID-19 Roundup VPR
● Total coronavirus cases surpass 400 in Merced County, 18 new cases reported Friday Merced Sun-Star
● Return to work sees uptick in COVID-19 cases Turlock Journal
● Doctor urges caution as virus deaths accelerate in Fresno Fresno Bee
Liver Disease & COVID-19: Why Hispanics Might Be Particularly At Risk
VPR
As the COVID-19 caseload climbs, it’s becoming clear that some groups are more at risk than others. Early research out of the Fresno region shows one family of diseases may make Hispanics particularly vulnerable.
California immunization rates drop 40% during pandemic
EdSource
California’s vaccination rates for children took a nosedive just a few weeks after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide stay-at-home order in March to slow the spread of Covid-19, causing concerns among health professionals about the potential for outbreaks of other diseases during the pandemic.
White House pressure for a vaccine raises risk U.S. will approve one that doesn’t work
POLITICO
Drugmakers and health agencies have already begun rewriting the rules of vaccine research.
FDA ends emergency use of hydroxychloroquine
POLITICO
The Food and Drug Administration has withdrawn emergency use authorizations for two controversial coronavirus treatments promoted by President Donald Trump, amid concerns about their safety and effectiveness.
CDC urges organizers of large gatherings to “strongly encourage” use of face masks
Washington Post
The agency issued the guidance at its first full briefing for the public in more than 3 months.
See also:
● CDC issues new COVID-19 guidelines at a time of protests and rallies Washington Post
MIT researchers say these are the unsafe businesses to avoid during COVID-19, and these are okay
Fast Company
Want to know which businesses are safe to frequent during the coronavirus pandemic? Data crunchers at MIT analyzed 26 categories of businesses by a dozen metrics for necessity and crowdedness and determined which are most essential and safest, and vice versa. The insightful research aims to guide policymakers in choosing which commerce to reopen, and, as cases rise, which to close first or regulate.
Human Services:
First mass COVID-19 Testing held in SW Fresno during pandemic
Fresno Bee
The first mass testing event for COVID-19 was held in Southwest Fresno at the Westside Church of God, Saturday morning, June 13, 2020. The event was held in co-ordination with Fresno County Department of Public Health and UCSF Fresno.
See Also:
● Local agencies provide free COVID-19 testing for southwest Fresno residents abc30
● California coronavirus surge tied to more testing, official says LA Times
● California coronavirus surge tied to increase in testing, not reopening businesses, official says LA Times
● California reopening: Most counties seeing higher rate of COVID-19 cases Desert Sun
● Commentary: It’s time to end the state of emergency over COVID-19 CalMatters
Calif sets new rules for rationing medical equipment if hospitals run out during pandemic
Sac Bee
What happens if there isn’t enough medical equipment available to treat every person who gets sick with COVID-19? Who gets an ICU bed? Who gets a ventilator? The California Department of Public Health has a new plan for that worst-case scenario.
As special Covered Calif enrollment nears June 30 end, 155,000+ signed up
Sac Bee
As Covered California closes in on the last two weeks of its special enrollment period Friday, agency leaders announced that more than 155,000 people have signed up for health insurance.
Airline passengers brought COVID-19 into LAX in March — and no one warned the public
LA Times
When American Airlines flight 341 to LA lifted off the tarmac at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport on a cloudy Thursday in mid-March, much of the country was already on coronavirus lockdown. The flight was far from full, but the 49 passengers and eight crew shared restrooms, cabin air and a narrow aisle for the six-hour trip.
Opinion: Leg should keep reimbursing community health centers for telephonic health care visits
CalMatters
At community health centers throughout this nation, medical professionals come to work believing that health care is a right, not a privilege.
On hold: Loan repayment for Medi-Cal doctors, dentists awaits final budget plans
CalMatters
The student loan repayment program at risk of being cut from California’s budget is funded by Proposition 56, a tobacco tax approved by voters in 2016.
Who’s watching now? COVID-19 cases swell in nursing homes with poor track records
CalMatters
California nursing home residents, already vulnerable to abuse and neglect, now face the ravages of coronavirus with fewer eyes on their overall safety.
Opinion: Funding for community health navigators is needed now more than ever
Calmatters
It hardly counts as a silver lining, but policymakers and the press are finally calling out racial disparities in both income and health that have intensified with the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Calif Trains 20,000 Contact Tracers, Librarians and Tax Assessors Step Up
NPR
After more than two months at home, Lisa Fagundes really misses her work managing the science fiction book collection of the SF Public Library. She feels like she’s in withdrawal, longing to see new books, touch them, smell them. “It’s like a disease,” she says, laughing.
Missing data veils coronavirus damage to minority communities
POLITICO
The Trump administration is leaving big gaps in race and ethnicity information.
Racism Is a Public Health Crisis, Say Cities and Counties
PEW
COVID-19 is spotlighting health disparities; protests add urgency.
IMMIGRATION
Will California offer more help to undocumented workers? The clock is ticking
Fresno Bee
As the clock ticks down for California’s Legislature to offer more help to undocumented immigrants and other families in need, communities across the state rush to get money in the pockets of vulnerable people so they can make ends meet during the pandemic.
California sanctuary law: Supreme Court will not hear Trump’s challenge
LA Times
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear the Trump administration’s challenge to a California “sanctuary” law, leaving intact rules that prohibit law enforcement officials from aiding federal agents in taking custody of immigrants as they are released from jail.
LAND USE/HOUSING
A right to housing & $2 billion program: What’s in Calif Dems’ homeless plan
Sac Bee
Before the coronavirus sickened nearly 150,000 Californians and crashed the economy, Gov.
The pandemic changed what home buyers want. Get ready for “mother of all bidding-war seasons.”
Barron’s
The pandemic has changed what home buyers want. Look for his and her Zoom rooms for videoconference meetings.
Commentary: Here’s how Calif can ignite an engine of affordable homebuilding
CalMatters
No sooner had Joseph Strauss first imagined a bridge to cross the Golden Gate Strait, than the complaints came rolling in. Property prices would be lowered. Views would be ruined. The environment would be harmed. More than 2,000 lawsuits that sought to stymie the project were a testament to an opposition that was powerful, determined and well-funded.
Tackling California’s Homelessness Crisis
PPIC
Friday, June 19, 2020, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Please register in advance.
Pandemic survey results suggest risk of ‘huge eviction surge’
Roll Call
Food scarcity and concerns about making rent remain high, according to a Census Bureau survey that found those struggles sometimes hitting black and Hispanic communities twice as hard.
PUBLIC FINANCES
A ‘no-cuts budget’: How Calif Dems are trying to preserve programs despite deficit
Sac Bee
Last week, powerful Calif lawmakers in the Capitol wore masks with a message: “Invest.”
See also:
● California’s budget deadline? Hardly LA Times
● Newsom and legislators pursue California budget compromise CalMatters
● Walters: A rift over closing the budget deficit CalMatters
● Walters: Newsom, Legislature build new wall of debt CalMatters
California’s gas tax is going up again amid coronavirus
LA Times
California’s gas tax is set to increase July 1, but some lawmakers are calling for a freeze on the higher levy, citing the financial burden of the coronavirus-spawned recession on millions of the state’s residents.
National Debt Has Increased $5.2 Trillion During Trump’s 3 Years as President
Newsweek
The national debt has increased by $5.2 trillion since President Donald Trump took office.
TRANSPORTATION
Changes the Calif DMV is making in a pandemic
Sac Bee
From credit card support to an online field office, California’s Department of Motor Vehicles has made a swath of changes to its customer experience in the middle of an unprecedented global pandemic.
High-speed rail agency trumpets 4,000-job milestone during economic slowdown
Bakersfield Californian
Slumping employment levels during the coronavirus crisis has provided the California High-Speed Rail Authority an opportune moment to tout a new job-creation milestone in the Central Valley
See also:
● Calif High-Speed Rail Authority Reports High-Speed Rail Continues Building Calif and Celebrates Creating 4,000 Construction Jobs Sierra Sun-Times
● Walters: Bullet train could be derailed CalMatters
California’s gas tax is going up again amid coronavirus
LA Times
California’s gas tax is set to increase July 1, but some lawmakers are calling for a freeze on the higher levy, citing the financial burden of the coronavirus-spawned recession on millions of the state’s residents.
Airline passengers brought COVID-19 into LAX in March — and no one warned the public
LA Times
When American Airlines flight 341 to LA lifted off the tarmac at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport on a cloudy Thursday in mid-March, much of the country was already on coronavirus lockdown. The flight was far from full, but the 49 passengers and eight crew shared restrooms, cabin air and a narrow aisle for the six-hour trip.
Proposed California law would fast-track environmentally sustainable transit
SF Chronicle
Transportation projects focused on public transit, bikes and pedestrians — but not cars — would get fast-tracked for construction under a bill Sen. Scott Wiener, D-SF, plans to announce on Monday.
WATER
Steady Streams: Bringing Safe Water to California Communities
Fresno State News
With a mix of research and outreach, the CSU is addressing one of California’s greatest challenges by securing access to safe drinking water for some of the state’s most vulnerable populations.