POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Merced passes $265M budget, following emotional calls to defund police, enact changes
Merced Sun-Star
A Monday gathering of the Merced City Council that lasted into the late evening culminated in the passage of a projected $265 million 2020-21 budget that ensures funding for needs like parks and recreation, while also preserving city jobs.
Views vary on face coverings; big Modesto event lost
Merced Sun-Star
Stanislaus County deaths to the coronavirus remained at 35 on Tuesday. Positive tests are at 1,267, according to the county Health Services Agency. Another 19,149 residents have tested negative. The positivity rate was 6.2%, unchanged from the day before.
See also:
● Face masks required: Stanislaus County to issue mandatory order, state could be next Modesto Bee
Modesto Bee
Republican congressional candidate Ted Howze until Wednesday had posts on his personal Facebook page that likened welfare recipients to animals and insulted supporters of former President Barack Obama three weeks after he lost endorsements of key GOP leaders because of other problematic social media messages.
See also:
● Opinion: Denying ill-advised social media posts makes things worse. Just own it Modesto Bee
Central SJ Valley:
Central Valley “left behind” on federal COVID contracts
abc30
The federal government has spent more than $25 billion so far in a scramble to get everything this country needs during the coronavirus crisis. Uncle Sam ramped up the response to coronavirus with huge spending.
Tulare County tops 100 deaths; positive test closes TulareWORKs office
Fresno Bee
More than 100 people have now died in Tulare County as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. County health officials reported an additional eight deaths on Wednesday, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths to 106. That number is more than half of the total deaths in the central San Joaquin Valley and more than the other five counties in the region combined.
See also:
● Fresno Co has triple-digit spike in new COVID-19 cases Fresno Bee
● Interactive map: COVID-19 cases by city in region Fresno Bee
● Clovis COVID-19 Testing Data Limited, Positive Cases Remain Low Clovis RoundUp
● Sun-Maid worker in Kingsburg dies from coronavirus Fresno Bee
Systemic racism isn’t just about police brutality — and it has a long history in Fresno
Fresno Bee
Cracked roads and blocks of wilted grass and dirt envelop the Edison High School campus in the heart of west Fresno. Police cars, churches and liquor stores abound. But trees, grocery stores, hospitals, parks, restaurants, and banks remain out of sight.
See also:
● How Fresno is confronting its history of racism CalMatters
South SJ Valley:
Protests persist in Bakersfield but on smaller scale in various locations
Bakersfield Califn
Demonstrations that drew hundreds of people to downtown Bakersfield more than two weeks ago in the wake of George Floyd’s death have largely died down but a small crowd of devoted demonstrators continues to gather daily.
3 months in: 57 have died, more than 3,500 have contracted coronavirus in Kern
Bakersfield Califn
Three months since the first COVID-19 case was announced in Kern County, 57 people have died and 3,522 cases have been confirmed locally, according to the most recent figures released by the Kern County Public Health Services Department.
See Also:
● COVID-19: 8 more deaths, Tulare County infections near 3,000 cases Visalia Times Delta
● Kern likely to move in & out of compliance with State’s COVID-19 thresholds Bakersfield Califn
● Supervisor: COVID-19 outbreaks at skilled nursing facilities like a ‘hand grenade’ Bakersfield Califn
● Nursing home COVID-19 data is a ‘tangled mess’ CalMatters
State:
Newsom considering statewide mask order for Calif, county officials say
Sacramento Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is considering a statewide order to require the use of masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to officials in several counties in contact with the state.
See also:
● Face masks required: Stanislaus County to issue mandatory order, state could be next Modesto Bee
● Masks help slow the spread of coronavirus. So why aren’t more people wearing them? Modesto Bee
● Study: 100% face mask use could crush second, third COVID-19 wave SFGate
● Is the Secret to Japan’s Virus Success Right in Front of Its Face? NY Times
● Outrage In Orange County, Calif Over Masks: Unions, Faith Leaders Want Face Coverings, Opponents Shout Them Down Labor and Employment Relations Association
● Vaccine foes, anti-mask activists target public health officials — at their homes LA Times
● Editorial: CA needs mandatory mask rule to fight coronavirus’ spread Sacramento Bee
Calif sets new record for most new coronavirus cases in a day: exceeding 4,000
SF Chronicle
Calif reported a record number of new coronavirus cases Wednesday, eclipsing 4,000 new cases in a single day for the first time, according to county data compiled by The Chronicle.
See also:
● Which counties are seeing surges in Calif’s coronavirus reopening? Fresno Bee
● Tulare County tops 100 coronavirus deaths Fresno Bee
● Coronavirus hospitalizations rising in parts of Calif LA Times
● Newsom defends Calif reopening Sacramento Bee
Calif’s economic recovery is among the slowest in the nation. Here’s why
Sacramento Bee
Calif’s economic challenges are greater than every state in the nation except NY, a new study by the Community and Labor Center at UC Merced found.
Proposed law would make it a hate crime to call 911 because of a person’s race
Sacramento Bee
A Calif lawmaker wants to make it illegal to make discriminatory 911 phone calls.
Commentary: The power and importance of redistricting
Capitol Weekly
Last week, I started as the vice president of Redistricting Partners, a Sacramento-based firm known for its advocacy before the Calif Redistricting Commission and work doing voting rights analysis and redistricting for local governments.
Federal:
Supreme Court upholds Trump’s termination of DACA program
LA Times
In a striking rebuke to President Trump, the Supreme Court Thursday rejected his plan to repeal the popular Obama-era order that protected so-called Dreamers, the nearly 800,000 young immigrants who were brought to this country illegally as children.
See also:
● Poll: Trump voters want to protect Dreamers POLITICO
● Supreme Court rules for ‘Dreamers,’ rejects Trump’s repeal of immigration program Sacramento Bee
● Timeline: DACA, the Trump administration and a government shutdown Politifact
● Opinion: Supreme Court rules against Trump administration attempt to end DACA, a win for undocumented immigrants brought to U.S. as children Washington Post
GOP unveils police-reform bill as Democrats move to advance theirs
LA Times
Greater disclosure of police use of force and no-knock warrants, as well as financial incentives for local law enforcement departments to ban chokeholds, are the centerpieces of a Senate GOP policing reform bill announced Wednesday.
See also:
● Democrats’ police reform bill approved by House judiciary panel POLITICO
● Senate Republicans unveil policing overhaul alternative Roll Call
● Key differences exist among House, Senate and White House policing plans Roll Call
● Opinion: Don’t abolish the police. Reform them. American Enterprise Institute – AEI
Trump Talks Juneteenth, John Bolton, Economy
WSJ Interview
President Trump said there was some systemic racism in the U.S., said removing Confederate names from military bases would further divide the country and took credit for popularizing Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery.
See also:
● Trump Pushes Back Against Allegations in Bolton’s Book WSJ
● John Bolton: The Scandal of Trump’s China Policy WSJ
● Trump asked Chinese president for reelection help in 2020, Bolton writes in explosive new bookWashington Post
● Bolton claims Trump called for ‘scumbag’ journalists to be ‘executed’ TheHill
● Trump Put Re-Election Prospects Ahead of National Interest, Bolton Alleges WSJ
● Justice Department seeks emergency order to block publication of John Bolton’s book Washington Post
Lockdowns aren’t coming back as coronavirus cases rise, experts say. Here’s why
Fresno Bee
Will the United States see a second round of mass lockdowns as coronavirus cases continue to rise? Public health experts say it’s unlikely, but not for medical reasons. “I see no viable path to further lockdowns,” wrote Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, on Twitter.
See also:
· The Four Men Responsible for America’s COVID-19 Test Disaster Rolling Stones
· US coronavirus outbreaks spur debate over personal freedoms Modesto Bee
· These countries tamed COVID-19. They’re keeping social distancing in place LA Times
Coronavirus Trackers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Calif
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.
See also:
● Calif Department of Public Health
● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic – WHO
● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
● Tracking coronavirus in Calif LA Times
● Coronavirus Tracker SF Chronicle
● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count NY 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 Calif by the numbers CalMatters
Elections 2020:
Trump’s Handling of COVID-19 Is Creating Headwinds for November
PPIC
Widespread disapproval in Calif of the president’s handling of the pandemic could pose a challenge in this year’s election—for him as well as for some Republican House candidates.
Biden leads Trump in six 2020 swing states, CNBC/Change Research poll finds
CNBC
Former Vice President Joe Biden has expanded his edge over President Donald Trump in six 2020 election swing states, according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll. The survey found the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee leads the incumbent by a 48% to 45% margin across Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which will determine who wins the White House in November.
Sanders’ Calif forces want Ro Khanna — not Newsom — to lead state delegation
SF Chronicle
Sen. Bernie Sanders’ supporters haven’t gone away just because Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Some of their top Calif supporters want to send a national message by electing Fremont Rep. Ro Khanna to lead the Calif delegation at the Democratic National Convention — even though Khanna supported Sanders and not Biden.
NBC News
While Georgia state officials blamed local poll workers, voting rights advocates saw a continued pattern of voter suppression. It is a pattern Republicans seem determined to reproduce.
Other:
Opinion: George Floyd’s death shows Americans must return to founding values and civic discourse
Fresno Bee
“I can’t breathe.” The words startle my senses. I hold my breath waiting and hoping the horrible thing I see before my eyes will end. My lungs burn, the desperation in my mind forces me to breathe, but for George Floyd, there is no relief. Some eight-plus minutes later George Floyd dies, handcuffed with the knee of an unsympathetic policeman cutting off the vital flow of oxygen carrying blood to his brain.
See also:
· Robert Fuller’s half brother is fatally shot in Kern County LA Times
Joel Fox: On historical figures and statues, where do we draw the line?
CALmatters
Christopher Columbus’ statue is leaving the state capitol. John Sutter’s statue, on whose land the Gold Rush began, has disappeared from Sacramento hospital grounds. Fort Bragg might lose its name. All this is being done in the name of not glorifying undesirable aspects of American history. The appropriate question to ask is where do we draw the line?
See also:
● What to do with a 5-ton Christopher Columbus? Calif leaders make plans for Capitol statueSacramento Bee
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, June 21, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: The Senior Boom: Preparing for the Baby Boom Aftershock – Guests: PPIC Analyst Laurel Beck. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, June 21, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) –Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: Valley Seniors: Programs and Prospects – Guests: Jeremy Oliver, Program Director for Kern County Office of Aging and Adult Services, and Prof. Helen Miltiades from Fresno State. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, June 21, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: Indices de Reincidencia y Programas de Apoyo – Guest: Joe Hayes, Investigator del Instituto de Politicas Publicas de Calif, Esther Olmos and Anita Flores con Project Rebound de Fresno State. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Winery tasting rooms reopen to uncertainty
AgAlert
Califns hankering for a taste of normality during the pandemic can again venture out to wineries in many parts of the state, much to the relief of vintners and the farmers who grow grapes for them. But the tasting rooms won’t resemble the ones from pre-pandemic times.
Mediation can resolve farm conflicts
AgriNews
Farming is stressful enough but add financial conflicts to the mix and the job is even harder. Mediation is a conflict resolution process that can help solve problems on the farm. “It’s a communication process in which people with a disagreement work with a neutral third party to develop solutions,” said David Gruber, executive director of Roundtable Strategies, during a webinar hosted by AgriSafe.
United States Department of Agriculture
ERS provides information on a range of farm labor issues.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Public Safety:
GOP unveils police-reform bill as Democrats move to advance theirs
LA Times
Greater disclosure of police use of force and no-knock warrants, as well as financial incentives for local law enforcement departments to ban chokeholds, are the centerpieces of a Senate GOP policing reform bill announced Wednesday.
See also:
● Democrats’ police reform bill approved by House judiciary panel POLITICO
● Senate Republicans unveil policing overhaul alternative Roll Call
● Key differences exist among House, Senate and White House policing plans Roll Call
● Opinion: Don’t abolish the police. Reform them. American Enterprise Institute – AEI
Defund the marijuana police? Reports call for Calif to shift from law enforcement focus
Sacramento Bee
Calif wants to hire cannabis cops to crack down on black market.
Valley Voices: To reform policing in Fresno, a true involvement of the affected community must occur
Fresno Bee
Dear City Hall and Fresno Police Reform Commission: I am a resident of District 1. As a mental health therapist, small-business owner, and a member of the community, I demand defunding and divesting police funding into community-led, facing, and rooted processes.
Column: We need a lot more data on police abuse. Here’s why
LA Times
When the killing of Michael Brown by a white police officer sparked weeks of unrest in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014, many Americans were shocked to learn for the first time that there was no accurate, comprehensive data available on shootings by police officers around the country.
Opinion: Police Reform: Refocus Law Enforcement, Bolster Community Foundations
National Review
All too often, law-enforcement officers are tasked with handling responsibilities that society broadly has failed to address.
Fire:
Fresno Fire sees rise in calls this year
abc30
Summer hasn’t even started yet and already the Fresno Fire Department is feeling the heat from a significant increase in fire calls. The department has seen a nearly 80% increase in vegetation response from last year and structure fires are up by 30%.
Walker Fire in Calaveras County grows to 1,100 acres, destroys 2 structures
Modesto Bee
Firefighters have managed some containment on a rapidly spreading wildfire that started Tuesday evening in Calaveras County, Cal Fire said Wednesday morning, but the prospect of gusty winds remains a concern.
Can PG&E keep Calif from burning again? ‘Nervousness’ as the next fire season arrives
Fresno Bee
PG&E Corp. is nearing the exit doors on its bankruptcy — and now faces the enormous task of delivering on its promise to prevent major wildfires in Calif. The battered utility, driven into bankruptcy after its power equipment was blamed for a string of deadly mega-fires, is expected to receive the blessing for its Chapter 11 reorganization plan this week from U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali.
Families of Calif wildfire victims slam PG&E for crimes
Bakersfield Califn
The families of some of the 85 people killed by a horrific Northern Calif wildfire ignited by Pacific Gas & Electric’s long-neglected equipment vilified the company Wednesday as greedy, corrupt and reckless, telling heartbreaking stories of their loss in court.
See Also:
● PG&E Pleads Guilty On 2018 Calif Camp Fire: ‘Our Equipment Started That Fire’ VPR
● PG&E Guilty Plea In 2018 Camp Fire Capital Public Radio
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
More ‘Stage 3’ businesses can reopen
Hanford Sentinel
As the state and counties begin to move forward into “Stage 3,” more businesses and services are being allowed to reopen. On Friday, the state released additional guidance for expanded personal care services, including facials, waxing, skincare, cosmetology, nail salons, massage therapy, piercing shops and tattoo parlors.
Hard Rock casino proposed near Mettler reaches new milestone
Bakersfield Califn
Draft environmental statement a significant step forward for $600 million project.
Gyms, fitness clubs allowed to reopen in San Joaquin County
Stockton Record
San Joaquin County Public Health and the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services announced Tuesday that gyms and fitness studios can reopen effective Wednesday.
Coronavirus Economy Especially Harsh for Transgender People
NY Times
As the pandemic ravages the country, there are concerns that an already marginalized group will be further left behind.
Americans Skip Millions of Loan Payments as Coronavirus Takes Economic Toll
WSJ
In high-cost areas, jobless benefits aren’t enough to help debt-laden borrowers pay down their bills.
Taking stock of COVID-19 deregulation
Brookings
While deregulation has been at the top of President Trump’s agenda since his inauguration, some deregulatory changes in the past few months have been targeted at helping America fight the coronavirus or cope with the difficulties of living under lockdown. Philip Wallach and Shoshana Weissmann sort out what has merely happened during the pandemic, and what has happened because of the pandemic—and what temporary changes may end up permanent.
Commentary: Reopen the Economy, More Open Than Ever
WSJ
For Western democracies to flourish, they must first reject statism as the model for post-Covid governance.
Two GOP Senators Oppose Beck Nomination to Lead Consumer Agency
Bloomberg Law
Two Republican senators came out Wednesday against President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission, siding with Democrats who question Nancy Beck’s record as a chemical industry and EPA official.
Jobs:
The federal $600 unemployment benefit ends July 31. What’s next?
LA Times
For many out-of-work Americans, an extra $600 a week in federal unemployment insurance is providing some stability during an otherwise shaky economic period. But how long might that benefit last?
1.5M new unemployment claims filed last week
POLITICO
U.S. workers continued to seek unemployment assistance last week at historically elevated levels, with 1.5 million new applications filed, the Labor Department reported.
EEOC says employers cannot require antibody testing for returning workers
USA Today
New guidance from the EEOC says businesses trying to reopen safely cannot require coronavirus antibody testing for employees returning to work.
Ex-Cons Confront Labor Market That’s Likely to Leave Them Behind
Bloomberg
The number of people with a criminal record has soared since the 1980s. Millions of these Americans, a disproportionate number of whom are Black, are struggling to find work so they can rebuild their lives. Their diminished outlook comes as aggressive police tactics have prompted a national soul-searching about the long history of racism in the U.S.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Clovis Unified continues distance learning for summer sessions
abc30
Another Valley school district is kicking off their summer learning virtually. Clovis Unified staff say even amid COVID-19, there was never a question of if summer school would happen; the only concern was how.
VUSD parents feel unheard by district
Visalia Times Delta
Some parents feel the district is making decisions without listening to them, whether that’s through a committee, forum or public comment period.
San Joaquin Co Office of Ed releases new guidance for reopening schools
Stockton Record
The San Joaquin County Office of Education announced the release of new guidance for area schools as they prepare to enter the 2020-21 academic year. The guidance was developed in close collaboration with the county’s 14 school district superintendents and approved by the San Joaquin County Public Health Officer.
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond to give update on CA schools reopening
abc30
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is expected to provide an update on the reopening of Calif schools Wednesday morning. Thurmond will hold a virtual press conference at 9:30 a.m.
Higher Ed:
Fresno State wrestling under investigation after reports of stripper at team party
Fresno Bee
Fresno State is investigating potential athletics department and NCAA rules violations in its wrestling program after receiving internal reports that a stripper danced at a party last year that included recruits on official visits to the university.
BC, CSUB see increase in summer school enrollment; KHSD decreases due to fewer offerings
Bakersfield Califn
It may officially be summer break for schools in the area, but learning is far from over for students. After an unconventional spring semester where learning took place at home, online learning continues with summer school at Bakersfield College, Cal State Bakersfield and Kern High School District.
See also:
· CSUB sees 21% increase in summer school enrollment Bakersfield Califn
Calif community colleges win suit on behalf of undocumented students
CALmatters
A district judge today barred the U.S. Department of Education’s initial rules about which students could have federal relief money from being enforced. The decision means undocumented students, among others, may receive money from Calif community colleges as part of the CARES Act.
Officials seek path for future nurses to complete training post-Covid
Business Journal
With limits on procedures that can be done in medical facilities, hospital visitation and general disruption to educational institutions, there is concern about the future education and careers of medical students.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Commentary: How Calif legislation would be harmful for African wildlife conservation efforts
CALmatters
As director general at Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, known as ZimParks, I am keenly aware of the reliance we have on revenue provided by international hunting tourism
Energy:
U.S. Needs To Overhaul Grid To Boost Renewable Energy
Oil Price
The U.S. will need more long-haul interstate power lines to support the installation of large amounts of solar and wind energy in places where resources are abundant, industry experts tell Bloomberg, noting that additional power lines are critical to achieving any ambitions of zero-carbon energy sources in any U.S. state.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
UK study: First drug proves able to improve survival from COVID-19
abc30
Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve COVID-19 survival: A cheap, widely available steroid called dexamethasone reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalized patients.
See Also:
● For the first time, a drug is found to reduce coronavirus death rate SF Chronicle
CDC: How to use hand sanitizer to inactivate COVID-19
Fresno Bee
A new study published in the peer-reivewed journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that using hand sanitizer for at least 30 seconds inactivated the coronavirus.
3 months in: 57 have died, more than 3,500 have contracted coronavirus in Kern
Bakersfield Califn
Three months since the first COVID-19 case was announced in Kern County, 57 people have died and 3,522 cases have been confirmed locally, according to the most recent figures released by the Kern County Public Health Services Department.
See Also:
● COVID-19: 8 more deaths, Tulare County infections near 3,000 cases Visalia Times Delta
Supervisor: COVID-19 outbreaks at skilled nursing facilities like a ‘hand grenade’
Bakersfield Califn
A growing sense of dread that Kern County’s 19 skilled nursing facilities are not doing enough to stop the spread of coronavirus left local officials scrambling for answers during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
See also:
● Nursing home COVID-19 data is a ‘tangled mess’ CalMatters
Blood types may play role in which COVID patients get sickest
CBS News
A genetic analysis of COVID-19 patients suggests that blood type might influence whether someone develops severe disease.
Hypothesis testing sustained declines in COVID-19 intensity
AEI
Policymakers need a statistical framework to help answer the question: “Does your state have 14 days of declining COVID-19 cases?”
See also:
● Why some people get coronavirus symptoms, but still test negative SF Chronicle
● Gallup Poll: 2 in 3 Americans still worried about coronavirus exposure TheHill
There’s a key way to curb the spread of COVID-19. But no one is talking about it
Fast Company
With protests in full swing and many parts of the country open again, it’s easy to forget that COVID-19 is still lurking and anticipated to take an additional 100,000 American lives by October. Scientists now concur that COVID-19 spreads primarily in droplets through the air—be it from coughing or just talking—so public health officials recommend that people wear masks and face shields, and maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet. But many researchers believe that these guidelines don’t go far enough. To truly help protect people from transmitting COVID-19, we need to fix the air we breathe.
Editorial: What Covid Models Get Wrong
WSJ
Focus on the burden on hospitals, not on the oft-mistaken forecasts.
Human Services:
Fresno County wants recovered COVID-19 patients to donate blood, plasma
abc30
With Fresno County at just over 2,700 total COVID-19 cases, it’s now on the governor’s list to receive more targeted engagement from state officials. As of Monday afternoon, the fatalities in Fresno County rose by three to a total 55. Right now, 61 patients are battling COVID-19 from a hospital bed, 22 of them in the Intensive Care Unit.
Houchin’s expansion keeps Bakersfield at heart
Bakersfield Califn
First the bad news: Donors visiting Houchin Community Blood Bank won’t be offered doughnuts until the pandemic is over. Expect only pre-packaged goodies until then
Coronavirus could change how you go to the doctor
LA Times
Even as hospitals and physicians’ offices nationwide struggle to stay afloat amid the downturn caused by coronavirus, a small group of clinics is thriving, sustained by a model of care that many experts hope could reshape medicine once the current crisis passes.
Opinion: Coronavirus Contact Tracing: Civil Liberties Protection Requires New Laws
National Review
Our laws have not caught up with the scope and digital-age intrusiveness of COVID-19 contact tracing.
IMMIGRATION
Supreme Court upholds Trump’s termination of DACA program
LA Times
In a striking rebuke to President Trump, the Supreme Court Thursday rejected his plan to repeal the popular Obama-era order that protected so-called Dreamers, the nearly 800,000 young immigrants who were brought to this country illegally as children.
See also:
● Supreme Court blocks Trump from ending DACA ABC News
● Supreme Court Blocks Trump Cancellation of DACA Immigration Program WSJ
● How Each Supreme Court Justice Rules on DACA CNN
● Donald Trump says some DACA recipients are ‘very tough, hardened criminals.’ That’s FalsePolitifact
● Did Obama say he didn’t have the right to issue DACA? Politifact
● Fact-checking Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the DACA immigration program Politifact
● ‘I don’t have to keep worrying’: Calif DACA recipients celebrate Supreme Court ruling Sacramento Bee
● Opinion: Supreme Court rules against Trump administration attempt to end DACA, a win for undocumented immigrants brought to U.S. as children Washington Post
Calif is closer than ever to giving a tax break to undocumented immigrants. Here’s why
Fresno Bee
Will tax breaks for undocumented families and Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented seniors make it into the Calif’s final budget this year? Lawmakers and advocates are watching closely.
Trump Admin Faces Bipartisan Calls to End Citizenship Delays
NY Times
Lawmakers from both parties are urging the Trump administration to conduct the oath remotely to make up for a pause in naturalization ceremonies during the health crisis.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Fresno residents call for more funding for parks, community centers
abc30
The city of Fresno faces a $39 million budget shortfall due to the coronavirus pandemic. But during Tuesday’s virtual city budget hearing, dozens of people voiced their support for increased funding for the PARCS Department.
Hard Rock casino proposed near Mettler reaches new milestone
Bakersfield Califn
Draft environmental statement a significant step forward for $600 million project.
Housing:
Calif rent relief plan would give tenants until 2034 to make up late payments
Fresno Bee
A Democratic plan to give struggling Calif tenants 10 years to make up rent gone unpaid during the coronavirus is taking shape in the state Senate, right in time for a key vote Thursday.
The Economy Is in Disarray. But Borrowers Aren’t Getting Home-Equity Lines.
WSJ
New home-equity lines of credit declined after pandemic hit as lenders tightened standards.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Visalia approves $458M budget without VPD cuts
Visalia Times Delta
Visalia city leaders approved a nearly balanced budget on Monday despite the economic hardships facing municipalities across the state and country as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Will Calif raise taxes to fix its budget? Here are 5 ways you’ve been paying more
Fresno Bee
As Calif lawmakers come to grips with a projected deficit running into the tens of billions of dollars, calls for more taxes targeted at high-earners are beginning to emerge among certain unions and advocates for social services.
See also:
● Tax fatigue vs. looming budget cuts CALmatters
● Commentary: State Taxes Shouldn’t Be Another Pandemic Worry WSJ
● Walters: What’s the end game for state budget? CalMatters
What Are Calif’s State Budget Reserves and How Can They Be Used During the COVID-19 Crisis?
Calif Budget & Policy Center
Calif is facing significant costs related to the immediate public health response to the COVID-19 crisis.
CalPERS health insurance prices to notch upward next year for state workers
Fresno Bee
Calif state worker and retiree health insurance prices are going up 4.4% on average next year, according to preliminary rates CalPERS published Tuesday. A new approach to negotiations with insurers combined with medical spending trends helped keep the increases relatively low, Marta Green, the system’s chief of health plan research and administration, told CalPERS’ Pension and Health Benefits Committee.
CHP To Pay $38 Million In Overtime For George Floyd Protests
Capital Public Radio
The Calif Highway Patrol mobilized across the state during the demonstrations against the police killing of George Floyd and racial injustice — and now it is asking for millions of dollars to help pay for overtime costs.
TRANSPORTATION
Driver free but virus fee? Robo-car firms hit new speed bump
Bakersfield Califn
The latest challenge for the autonomous vehicle industry: How to assure passengers that the car they are getting in is virus free, even if it doesn’t have a driver. Widespread use of autonomous vehicles already had been delayed by a March 2018 fatal crash involving an Uber test vehicle in Tempe, Arizona, forcing the industry to pause to make sure its vehicles are safe.
Opinion: Should Government Invest in High-Speed Rail to Boost a Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery?
The Urbanist
As we live through the current moment, it is difficult to understate the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the world. While the current outlook on the progress of the virus in most countries is looking better than it was this time last month, there is still a long way to go. Large sections of the American and Canadian economies continue to be shutdown, and the Canada/United States border, the world’s longest non-militarized border, remains closed for at least a few more weeks
Editorial: It’s now or never to save Calif’s bullet train
LA Times
Infrastructure mega-projects that run wildly over budget and far past their deadline for completion all tend to suffer from the same fundamental problem: optimism bias. That’s the tendency to underestimate the challenges in building huge, complex public works and to overestimate the benefits those projects will deliver.
WATER
Under New Groundwater Plans, Report Estimates 12,000 Domestic Wells Could Run Dry
VPR
The goal of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, is to better regulate the state’s water reserves. But as the law rolls out, a new study predicts tens of thousands of people could lose their drinking water.
Commentary: The basic disruption of Central Valley hydrology
CALmatters
Most of the water has already been pulled out the inflow by leakage and diversions before reaching the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. “Feeding the world” is killing the SF Bay watershed and could eventually wipe out even the agricultural wealth of the great Central Valley.
How the Yurok Tribe is reclaiming the Klamath River
High Country News
For the first time, the largest tribe in Calif has one of its own to lead its legal battles.
As summer fires proliferate, a fifth of Calif is now gripped by severe or extreme drought. That’s much worse than this time last year.
“Xtra”
Register Today: Regions Recover Together
CA Economic Summit
As we work together to rebuild a more inclusive and sustainable Calif where all of our communities can prosper, it is more important than ever to reduce the significant racial and geographic inequalities that existed before the crisis. To do this, we must start by listening to and lifting up the voices in the communities and regions throughout the state.
Modesto’s downtown State Theatre plans weekend of films as it reopens
Modesto Bee
The State Theatre reopens this weekend with three films on its schedule, one each for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Gov. Gavin Newsom gave the green light recently for movie theaters to reopen after they were shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic. Most chains plan to wait until July to begin screening films.
POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Merced passes $265M budget, following emotional calls to defund police, enact changes
Merced Sun-Star
A Monday gathering of the Merced City Council that lasted into the late evening culminated in the passage of a projected $265 million 2020-21 budget that ensures funding for needs like parks and recreation, while also preserving city jobs.
Views vary on face coverings; big Modesto event lost
Merced Sun-Star
Stanislaus County deaths to the coronavirus remained at 35 on Tuesday. Positive tests are at 1,267, according to the county Health Services Agency. Another 19,149 residents have tested negative. The positivity rate was 6.2%, unchanged from the day before.
See also:
● Face masks required: Stanislaus County to issue mandatory order, state could be next Modesto Bee
Modesto Bee
Republican congressional candidate Ted Howze until Wednesday had posts on his personal Facebook page that likened welfare recipients to animals and insulted supporters of former President Barack Obama three weeks after he lost endorsements of key GOP leaders because of other problematic social media messages.
See also:
● Opinion: Denying ill-advised social media posts makes things worse. Just own it Modesto Bee
Central SJ Valley:
Central Valley “left behind” on federal COVID contracts
abc30
The federal government has spent more than $25 billion so far in a scramble to get everything this country needs during the coronavirus crisis. Uncle Sam ramped up the response to coronavirus with huge spending.
Tulare County tops 100 deaths; positive test closes TulareWORKs office
Fresno Bee
More than 100 people have now died in Tulare County as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. County health officials reported an additional eight deaths on Wednesday, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths to 106. That number is more than half of the total deaths in the central San Joaquin Valley and more than the other five counties in the region combined.
See also:
● Fresno Co has triple-digit spike in new COVID-19 cases Fresno Bee
● Interactive map: COVID-19 cases by city in region Fresno Bee
● Clovis COVID-19 Testing Data Limited, Positive Cases Remain Low Clovis RoundUp
● Sun-Maid worker in Kingsburg dies from coronavirus Fresno Bee
Systemic racism isn’t just about police brutality — and it has a long history in Fresno
Fresno Bee
Cracked roads and blocks of wilted grass and dirt envelop the Edison High School campus in the heart of west Fresno. Police cars, churches and liquor stores abound. But trees, grocery stores, hospitals, parks, restaurants, and banks remain out of sight.
See also:
● How Fresno is confronting its history of racism CalMatters
South SJ Valley:
Protests persist in Bakersfield but on smaller scale in various locations
Bakersfield Califn
Demonstrations that drew hundreds of people to downtown Bakersfield more than two weeks ago in the wake of George Floyd’s death have largely died down but a small crowd of devoted demonstrators continues to gather daily.
3 months in: 57 have died, more than 3,500 have contracted coronavirus in Kern
Bakersfield Califn
Three months since the first COVID-19 case was announced in Kern County, 57 people have died and 3,522 cases have been confirmed locally, according to the most recent figures released by the Kern County Public Health Services Department.
See Also:
● COVID-19: 8 more deaths, Tulare County infections near 3,000 cases Visalia Times Delta
● Kern likely to move in & out of compliance with State’s COVID-19 thresholds Bakersfield Califn
● Supervisor: COVID-19 outbreaks at skilled nursing facilities like a ‘hand grenade’ Bakersfield Califn
● Nursing home COVID-19 data is a ‘tangled mess’ CalMatters
State:
Newsom considering statewide mask order for Calif, county officials say
Sacramento Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is considering a statewide order to require the use of masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to officials in several counties in contact with the state.
See also:
● Face masks required: Stanislaus County to issue mandatory order, state could be next Modesto Bee
● Masks help slow the spread of coronavirus. So why aren’t more people wearing them? Modesto Bee
● Study: 100% face mask use could crush second, third COVID-19 wave SFGate
● Is the Secret to Japan’s Virus Success Right in Front of Its Face? NY Times
● Outrage In Orange County, Calif Over Masks: Unions, Faith Leaders Want Face Coverings, Opponents Shout Them Down Labor and Employment Relations Association
● Vaccine foes, anti-mask activists target public health officials — at their homes LA Times
● Editorial: CA needs mandatory mask rule to fight coronavirus’ spread Sacramento Bee
Calif sets new record for most new coronavirus cases in a day: exceeding 4,000
SF Chronicle
Calif reported a record number of new coronavirus cases Wednesday, eclipsing 4,000 new cases in a single day for the first time, according to county data compiled by The Chronicle.
See also:
● Which counties are seeing surges in Calif’s coronavirus reopening? Fresno Bee
● Tulare County tops 100 coronavirus deaths Fresno Bee
● Coronavirus hospitalizations rising in parts of Calif LA Times
● Newsom defends Calif reopening Sacramento Bee
Calif’s economic recovery is among the slowest in the nation. Here’s why
Sacramento Bee
Calif’s economic challenges are greater than every state in the nation except NY, a new study by the Community and Labor Center at UC Merced found.
Proposed law would make it a hate crime to call 911 because of a person’s race
Sacramento Bee
A Calif lawmaker wants to make it illegal to make discriminatory 911 phone calls.
Commentary: The power and importance of redistricting
Capitol Weekly
Last week, I started as the vice president of Redistricting Partners, a Sacramento-based firm known for its advocacy before the Calif Redistricting Commission and work doing voting rights analysis and redistricting for local governments.
Federal:
Supreme Court upholds Trump’s termination of DACA program
LA Times
In a striking rebuke to President Trump, the Supreme Court Thursday rejected his plan to repeal the popular Obama-era order that protected so-called Dreamers, the nearly 800,000 young immigrants who were brought to this country illegally as children.
See also:
● Poll: Trump voters want to protect Dreamers POLITICO
● Supreme Court rules for ‘Dreamers,’ rejects Trump’s repeal of immigration program Sacramento Bee
● Timeline: DACA, the Trump administration and a government shutdown Politifact
● Opinion: Supreme Court rules against Trump administration attempt to end DACA, a win for undocumented immigrants brought to U.S. as children Washington Post
GOP unveils police-reform bill as Democrats move to advance theirs
LA Times
Greater disclosure of police use of force and no-knock warrants, as well as financial incentives for local law enforcement departments to ban chokeholds, are the centerpieces of a Senate GOP policing reform bill announced Wednesday.
See also:
● Democrats’ police reform bill approved by House judiciary panel POLITICO
● Senate Republicans unveil policing overhaul alternative Roll Call
● Key differences exist among House, Senate and White House policing plans Roll Call
● Opinion: Don’t abolish the police. Reform them. American Enterprise Institute – AEI
Trump Talks Juneteenth, John Bolton, Economy
WSJ Interview
President Trump said there was some systemic racism in the U.S., said removing Confederate names from military bases would further divide the country and took credit for popularizing Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery.
See also:
● Trump Pushes Back Against Allegations in Bolton’s Book WSJ
● John Bolton: The Scandal of Trump’s China Policy WSJ
● Trump asked Chinese president for reelection help in 2020, Bolton writes in explosive new bookWashington Post
● Bolton claims Trump called for ‘scumbag’ journalists to be ‘executed’ TheHill
● Trump Put Re-Election Prospects Ahead of National Interest, Bolton Alleges WSJ
● Justice Department seeks emergency order to block publication of John Bolton’s book Washington Post
Lockdowns aren’t coming back as coronavirus cases rise, experts say. Here’s why
Fresno Bee
Will the United States see a second round of mass lockdowns as coronavirus cases continue to rise? Public health experts say it’s unlikely, but not for medical reasons. “I see no viable path to further lockdowns,” wrote Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, on Twitter.
See also:
· The Four Men Responsible for America’s COVID-19 Test Disaster Rolling Stones
· US coronavirus outbreaks spur debate over personal freedoms Modesto Bee
· These countries tamed COVID-19. They’re keeping social distancing in place LA Times
Coronavirus Trackers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Calif
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.
See also:
● Calif Department of Public Health
● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic – WHO
● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
● Tracking coronavirus in Calif LA Times
● Coronavirus Tracker SF Chronicle
● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count NY 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 Calif by the numbers CalMatters
Elections 2020:
Trump’s Handling of COVID-19 Is Creating Headwinds for November
PPIC
Widespread disapproval in Calif of the president’s handling of the pandemic could pose a challenge in this year’s election—for him as well as for some Republican House candidates.
Biden leads Trump in six 2020 swing states, CNBC/Change Research poll finds
CNBC
Former Vice President Joe Biden has expanded his edge over President Donald Trump in six 2020 election swing states, according to a new CNBC/Change Research poll. The survey found the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee leads the incumbent by a 48% to 45% margin across Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which will determine who wins the White House in November.
Sanders’ Calif forces want Ro Khanna — not Newsom — to lead state delegation
SF Chronicle
Sen. Bernie Sanders’ supporters haven’t gone away just because Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Some of their top Calif supporters want to send a national message by electing Fremont Rep. Ro Khanna to lead the Calif delegation at the Democratic National Convention — even though Khanna supported Sanders and not Biden.
NBC News
While Georgia state officials blamed local poll workers, voting rights advocates saw a continued pattern of voter suppression. It is a pattern Republicans seem determined to reproduce.
Other:
Opinion: George Floyd’s death shows Americans must return to founding values and civic discourse
Fresno Bee
“I can’t breathe.” The words startle my senses. I hold my breath waiting and hoping the horrible thing I see before my eyes will end. My lungs burn, the desperation in my mind forces me to breathe, but for George Floyd, there is no relief. Some eight-plus minutes later George Floyd dies, handcuffed with the knee of an unsympathetic policeman cutting off the vital flow of oxygen carrying blood to his brain.
See also:
· Robert Fuller’s half brother is fatally shot in Kern County LA Times
Joel Fox: On historical figures and statues, where do we draw the line?
CALmatters
Christopher Columbus’ statue is leaving the state capitol. John Sutter’s statue, on whose land the Gold Rush began, has disappeared from Sacramento hospital grounds. Fort Bragg might lose its name. All this is being done in the name of not glorifying undesirable aspects of American history. The appropriate question to ask is where do we draw the line?
See also:
● What to do with a 5-ton Christopher Columbus? Calif leaders make plans for Capitol statueSacramento Bee
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Winery tasting rooms reopen to uncertainty
AgAlert
Califns hankering for a taste of normality during the pandemic can again venture out to wineries in many parts of the state, much to the relief of vintners and the farmers who grow grapes for them. But the tasting rooms won’t resemble the ones from pre-pandemic times.
Mediation can resolve farm conflicts
AgriNews
Farming is stressful enough but add financial conflicts to the mix and the job is even harder. Mediation is a conflict resolution process that can help solve problems on the farm. “It’s a communication process in which people with a disagreement work with a neutral third party to develop solutions,” said David Gruber, executive director of Roundtable Strategies, during a webinar hosted by AgriSafe.
United States Department of Agriculture
ERS provides information on a range of farm labor issues.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Public Safety:
GOP unveils police-reform bill as Democrats move to advance theirs
LA Times
Greater disclosure of police use of force and no-knock warrants, as well as financial incentives for local law enforcement departments to ban chokeholds, are the centerpieces of a Senate GOP policing reform bill announced Wednesday.
See also:
● Democrats’ police reform bill approved by House judiciary panel POLITICO
● Senate Republicans unveil policing overhaul alternative Roll Call
● Key differences exist among House, Senate and White House policing plans Roll Call
● Opinion: Don’t abolish the police. Reform them. American Enterprise Institute – AEI
Defund the marijuana police? Reports call for Calif to shift from law enforcement focus
Sacramento Bee
Calif wants to hire cannabis cops to crack down on black market.
Valley Voices: To reform policing in Fresno, a true involvement of the affected community must occur
Fresno Bee
Dear City Hall and Fresno Police Reform Commission: I am a resident of District 1. As a mental health therapist, small-business owner, and a member of the community, I demand defunding and divesting police funding into community-led, facing, and rooted processes.
Column: We need a lot more data on police abuse. Here’s why
LA Times
When the killing of Michael Brown by a white police officer sparked weeks of unrest in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014, many Americans were shocked to learn for the first time that there was no accurate, comprehensive data available on shootings by police officers around the country.
Opinion: Police Reform: Refocus Law Enforcement, Bolster Community Foundations
National Review
All too often, law-enforcement officers are tasked with handling responsibilities that society broadly has failed to address.
Fire:
Fresno Fire sees rise in calls this year
abc30
Summer hasn’t even started yet and already the Fresno Fire Department is feeling the heat from a significant increase in fire calls. The department has seen a nearly 80% increase in vegetation response from last year and structure fires are up by 30%.
Walker Fire in Calaveras County grows to 1,100 acres, destroys 2 structures
Modesto Bee
Firefighters have managed some containment on a rapidly spreading wildfire that started Tuesday evening in Calaveras County, Cal Fire said Wednesday morning, but the prospect of gusty winds remains a concern.
Can PG&E keep Calif from burning again? ‘Nervousness’ as the next fire season arrives
Fresno Bee
PG&E Corp. is nearing the exit doors on its bankruptcy — and now faces the enormous task of delivering on its promise to prevent major wildfires in Calif. The battered utility, driven into bankruptcy after its power equipment was blamed for a string of deadly mega-fires, is expected to receive the blessing for its Chapter 11 reorganization plan this week from U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali.
Families of Calif wildfire victims slam PG&E for crimes
Bakersfield Califn
The families of some of the 85 people killed by a horrific Northern Calif wildfire ignited by Pacific Gas & Electric’s long-neglected equipment vilified the company Wednesday as greedy, corrupt and reckless, telling heartbreaking stories of their loss in court.
See Also:
● PG&E Pleads Guilty On 2018 Calif Camp Fire: ‘Our Equipment Started That Fire’ VPR
● PG&E Guilty Plea In 2018 Camp Fire Capital Public Radio
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
More ‘Stage 3’ businesses can reopen
Hanford Sentinel
As the state and counties begin to move forward into “Stage 3,” more businesses and services are being allowed to reopen. On Friday, the state released additional guidance for expanded personal care services, including facials, waxing, skincare, cosmetology, nail salons, massage therapy, piercing shops and tattoo parlors.
Hard Rock casino proposed near Mettler reaches new milestone
Bakersfield Califn
Draft environmental statement a significant step forward for $600 million project.
Gyms, fitness clubs allowed to reopen in San Joaquin County
Stockton Record
San Joaquin County Public Health and the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services announced Tuesday that gyms and fitness studios can reopen effective Wednesday.
Coronavirus Economy Especially Harsh for Transgender People
NY Times
As the pandemic ravages the country, there are concerns that an already marginalized group will be further left behind.
Americans Skip Millions of Loan Payments as Coronavirus Takes Economic Toll
WSJ
In high-cost areas, jobless benefits aren’t enough to help debt-laden borrowers pay down their bills.
Taking stock of COVID-19 deregulation
Brookings
While deregulation has been at the top of President Trump’s agenda since his inauguration, some deregulatory changes in the past few months have been targeted at helping America fight the coronavirus or cope with the difficulties of living under lockdown. Philip Wallach and Shoshana Weissmann sort out what has merely happened during the pandemic, and what has happened because of the pandemic—and what temporary changes may end up permanent.
Commentary: Reopen the Economy, More Open Than Ever
WSJ
For Western democracies to flourish, they must first reject statism as the model for post-Covid governance.
Two GOP Senators Oppose Beck Nomination to Lead Consumer Agency
Bloomberg Law
Two Republican senators came out Wednesday against President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission, siding with Democrats who question Nancy Beck’s record as a chemical industry and EPA official.
Jobs:
The federal $600 unemployment benefit ends July 31. What’s next?
LA Times
For many out-of-work Americans, an extra $600 a week in federal unemployment insurance is providing some stability during an otherwise shaky economic period. But how long might that benefit last?
1.5M new unemployment claims filed last week
POLITICO
U.S. workers continued to seek unemployment assistance last week at historically elevated levels, with 1.5 million new applications filed, the Labor Department reported.
EEOC says employers cannot require antibody testing for returning workers
USA Today
New guidance from the EEOC says businesses trying to reopen safely cannot require coronavirus antibody testing for employees returning to work.
Ex-Cons Confront Labor Market That’s Likely to Leave Them Behind
Bloomberg
The number of people with a criminal record has soared since the 1980s. Millions of these Americans, a disproportionate number of whom are Black, are struggling to find work so they can rebuild their lives. Their diminished outlook comes as aggressive police tactics have prompted a national soul-searching about the long history of racism in the U.S.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Clovis Unified continues distance learning for summer sessions
abc30
Another Valley school district is kicking off their summer learning virtually. Clovis Unified staff say even amid COVID-19, there was never a question of if summer school would happen; the only concern was how.
VUSD parents feel unheard by district
Visalia Times Delta
Some parents feel the district is making decisions without listening to them, whether that’s through a committee, forum or public comment period.
San Joaquin Co Office of Ed releases new guidance for reopening schools
Stockton Record
The San Joaquin County Office of Education announced the release of new guidance for area schools as they prepare to enter the 2020-21 academic year. The guidance was developed in close collaboration with the county’s 14 school district superintendents and approved by the San Joaquin County Public Health Officer.
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond to give update on CA schools reopening
abc30
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is expected to provide an update on the reopening of Calif schools Wednesday morning. Thurmond will hold a virtual press conference at 9:30 a.m.
Higher Ed:
Fresno State wrestling under investigation after reports of stripper at team party
Fresno Bee
Fresno State is investigating potential athletics department and NCAA rules violations in its wrestling program after receiving internal reports that a stripper danced at a party last year that included recruits on official visits to the university.
BC, CSUB see increase in summer school enrollment; KHSD decreases due to fewer offerings
Bakersfield Califn
It may officially be summer break for schools in the area, but learning is far from over for students. After an unconventional spring semester where learning took place at home, online learning continues with summer school at Bakersfield College, Cal State Bakersfield and Kern High School District.
See also:
· CSUB sees 21% increase in summer school enrollment Bakersfield Califn
Calif community colleges win suit on behalf of undocumented students
CALmatters
A district judge today barred the U.S. Department of Education’s initial rules about which students could have federal relief money from being enforced. The decision means undocumented students, among others, may receive money from Calif community colleges as part of the CARES Act.
Officials seek path for future nurses to complete training post-Covid
Business Journal
With limits on procedures that can be done in medical facilities, hospital visitation and general disruption to educational institutions, there is concern about the future education and careers of medical students.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Commentary: How Calif legislation would be harmful for African wildlife conservation efforts
CALmatters
As director general at Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, known as ZimParks, I am keenly aware of the reliance we have on revenue provided by international hunting tourism
Energy:
U.S. Needs To Overhaul Grid To Boost Renewable Energy
Oil Price
The U.S. will need more long-haul interstate power lines to support the installation of large amounts of solar and wind energy in places where resources are abundant, industry experts tell Bloomberg, noting that additional power lines are critical to achieving any ambitions of zero-carbon energy sources in any U.S. state.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
UK study: First drug proves able to improve survival from COVID-19
abc30
Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve COVID-19 survival: A cheap, widely available steroid called dexamethasone reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalized patients.
See Also:
● For the first time, a drug is found to reduce coronavirus death rate SF Chronicle
CDC: How to use hand sanitizer to inactivate COVID-19
Fresno Bee
A new study published in the peer-reivewed journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that using hand sanitizer for at least 30 seconds inactivated the coronavirus.
3 months in: 57 have died, more than 3,500 have contracted coronavirus in Kern
Bakersfield Califn
Three months since the first COVID-19 case was announced in Kern County, 57 people have died and 3,522 cases have been confirmed locally, according to the most recent figures released by the Kern County Public Health Services Department.
See Also:
● COVID-19: 8 more deaths, Tulare County infections near 3,000 cases Visalia Times Delta
Supervisor: COVID-19 outbreaks at skilled nursing facilities like a ‘hand grenade’
Bakersfield Califn
A growing sense of dread that Kern County’s 19 skilled nursing facilities are not doing enough to stop the spread of coronavirus left local officials scrambling for answers during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
See also:
● Nursing home COVID-19 data is a ‘tangled mess’ CalMatters
Blood types may play role in which COVID patients get sickest
CBS News
A genetic analysis of COVID-19 patients suggests that blood type might influence whether someone develops severe disease.
Hypothesis testing sustained declines in COVID-19 intensity
AEI
Policymakers need a statistical framework to help answer the question: “Does your state have 14 days of declining COVID-19 cases?”
See also:
● Why some people get coronavirus symptoms, but still test negative SF Chronicle
● Gallup Poll: 2 in 3 Americans still worried about coronavirus exposure TheHill
There’s a key way to curb the spread of COVID-19. But no one is talking about it
Fast Company
With protests in full swing and many parts of the country open again, it’s easy to forget that COVID-19 is still lurking and anticipated to take an additional 100,000 American lives by October. Scientists now concur that COVID-19 spreads primarily in droplets through the air—be it from coughing or just talking—so public health officials recommend that people wear masks and face shields, and maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet. But many researchers believe that these guidelines don’t go far enough. To truly help protect people from transmitting COVID-19, we need to fix the air we breathe.
Editorial: What Covid Models Get Wrong
WSJ
Focus on the burden on hospitals, not on the oft-mistaken forecasts.
Human Services:
Fresno County wants recovered COVID-19 patients to donate blood, plasma
abc30
With Fresno County at just over 2,700 total COVID-19 cases, it’s now on the governor’s list to receive more targeted engagement from state officials. As of Monday afternoon, the fatalities in Fresno County rose by three to a total 55. Right now, 61 patients are battling COVID-19 from a hospital bed, 22 of them in the Intensive Care Unit.
Houchin’s expansion keeps Bakersfield at heart
Bakersfield Califn
First the bad news: Donors visiting Houchin Community Blood Bank won’t be offered doughnuts until the pandemic is over. Expect only pre-packaged goodies until then
Coronavirus could change how you go to the doctor
LA Times
Even as hospitals and physicians’ offices nationwide struggle to stay afloat amid the downturn caused by coronavirus, a small group of clinics is thriving, sustained by a model of care that many experts hope could reshape medicine once the current crisis passes.
Opinion: Coronavirus Contact Tracing: Civil Liberties Protection Requires New Laws
National Review
Our laws have not caught up with the scope and digital-age intrusiveness of COVID-19 contact tracing.
IMMIGRATION
Supreme Court upholds Trump’s termination of DACA program
LA Times
In a striking rebuke to President Trump, the Supreme Court Thursday rejected his plan to repeal the popular Obama-era order that protected so-called Dreamers, the nearly 800,000 young immigrants who were brought to this country illegally as children.
See also:
● Supreme Court blocks Trump from ending DACA ABC News
● Supreme Court Blocks Trump Cancellation of DACA Immigration Program WSJ
● How Each Supreme Court Justice Rules on DACA CNN
● Donald Trump says some DACA recipients are ‘very tough, hardened criminals.’ That’s FalsePolitifact
● Did Obama say he didn’t have the right to issue DACA? Politifact
● Fact-checking Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the DACA immigration program Politifact
● ‘I don’t have to keep worrying’: Calif DACA recipients celebrate Supreme Court ruling Sacramento Bee
● Opinion: Supreme Court rules against Trump administration attempt to end DACA, a win for undocumented immigrants brought to U.S. as children Washington Post
Calif is closer than ever to giving a tax break to undocumented immigrants. Here’s why
Fresno Bee
Will tax breaks for undocumented families and Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented seniors make it into the Calif’s final budget this year? Lawmakers and advocates are watching closely.
Trump Admin Faces Bipartisan Calls to End Citizenship Delays
NY Times
Lawmakers from both parties are urging the Trump administration to conduct the oath remotely to make up for a pause in naturalization ceremonies during the health crisis.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Fresno residents call for more funding for parks, community centers
abc30
The city of Fresno faces a $39 million budget shortfall due to the coronavirus pandemic. But during Tuesday’s virtual city budget hearing, dozens of people voiced their support for increased funding for the PARCS Department.
Hard Rock casino proposed near Mettler reaches new milestone
Bakersfield Califn
Draft environmental statement a significant step forward for $600 million project.
Housing:
Calif rent relief plan would give tenants until 2034 to make up late payments
Fresno Bee
A Democratic plan to give struggling Calif tenants 10 years to make up rent gone unpaid during the coronavirus is taking shape in the state Senate, right in time for a key vote Thursday.
The Economy Is in Disarray. But Borrowers Aren’t Getting Home-Equity Lines.
WSJ
New home-equity lines of credit declined after pandemic hit as lenders tightened standards.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Visalia approves $458M budget without VPD cuts
Visalia Times Delta
Visalia city leaders approved a nearly balanced budget on Monday despite the economic hardships facing municipalities across the state and country as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Will Calif raise taxes to fix its budget? Here are 5 ways you’ve been paying more
Fresno Bee
As Calif lawmakers come to grips with a projected deficit running into the tens of billions of dollars, calls for more taxes targeted at high-earners are beginning to emerge among certain unions and advocates for social services.
See also:
● Tax fatigue vs. looming budget cuts CALmatters
● Commentary: State Taxes Shouldn’t Be Another Pandemic Worry WSJ
● Walters: What’s the end game for state budget? CalMatters
What Are Calif’s State Budget Reserves and How Can They Be Used During the COVID-19 Crisis?
Calif Budget & Policy Center
Calif is facing significant costs related to the immediate public health response to the COVID-19 crisis.
CalPERS health insurance prices to notch upward next year for state workers
Fresno Bee
Calif state worker and retiree health insurance prices are going up 4.4% on average next year, according to preliminary rates CalPERS published Tuesday. A new approach to negotiations with insurers combined with medical spending trends helped keep the increases relatively low, Marta Green, the system’s chief of health plan research and administration, told CalPERS’ Pension and Health Benefits Committee.
CHP To Pay $38 Million In Overtime For George Floyd Protests
Capital Public Radio
The Calif Highway Patrol mobilized across the state during the demonstrations against the police killing of George Floyd and racial injustice — and now it is asking for millions of dollars to help pay for overtime costs.
TRANSPORTATION
Driver free but virus fee? Robo-car firms hit new speed bump
Bakersfield Califn
The latest challenge for the autonomous vehicle industry: How to assure passengers that the car they are getting in is virus free, even if it doesn’t have a driver. Widespread use of autonomous vehicles already had been delayed by a March 2018 fatal crash involving an Uber test vehicle in Tempe, Arizona, forcing the industry to pause to make sure its vehicles are safe.
Opinion: Should Government Invest in High-Speed Rail to Boost a Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery?
The Urbanist
As we live through the current moment, it is difficult to understate the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the world. While the current outlook on the progress of the virus in most countries is looking better than it was this time last month, there is still a long way to go. Large sections of the American and Canadian economies continue to be shutdown, and the Canada/United States border, the world’s longest non-militarized border, remains closed for at least a few more weeks
Editorial: It’s now or never to save Calif’s bullet train
LA Times
Infrastructure mega-projects that run wildly over budget and far past their deadline for completion all tend to suffer from the same fundamental problem: optimism bias. That’s the tendency to underestimate the challenges in building huge, complex public works and to overestimate the benefits those projects will deliver.
WATER
Under New Groundwater Plans, Report Estimates 12,000 Domestic Wells Could Run Dry
VPR
The goal of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, is to better regulate the state’s water reserves. But as the law rolls out, a new study predicts tens of thousands of people could lose their drinking water.
Commentary: The basic disruption of Central Valley hydrology
CALmatters
Most of the water has already been pulled out the inflow by leakage and diversions before reaching the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. “Feeding the world” is killing the SF Bay watershed and could eventually wipe out even the agricultural wealth of the great Central Valley.
How the Yurok Tribe is reclaiming the Klamath River
High Country News
For the first time, the largest tribe in Calif has one of its own to lead its legal battles.
As summer fires proliferate, a fifth of Calif is now gripped by severe or extreme drought. That’s much worse than this time last year.
“Xtra”
Register Today: Regions Recover Together
CA Economic Summit
As we work together to rebuild a more inclusive and sustainable Calif where all of our communities can prosper, it is more important than ever to reduce the significant racial and geographic inequalities that existed before the crisis. To do this, we must start by listening to and lifting up the voices in the communities and regions throughout the state.
Modesto’s downtown State Theatre plans weekend of films as it reopens
Modesto Bee
The State Theatre reopens this weekend with three films on its schedule, one each for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Gov. Gavin Newsom gave the green light recently for movie theaters to reopen after they were shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic. Most chains plan to wait until July to begin screening films.