Maddy Institute – June 3, 2020

03Jun

POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

Merced mayor, city manager at odds over costs incurred during coronavirus pandemic

Merced Sun-Star

The Merced City Council on Monday unanimously terminated its coronavirus emergency declaration. But despite the united vote, discussion over the handling of the local emergency revealed a less than unified City Council and staff.

Protesters and police clash after march ends in downtown Modesto

Modesto Bee

Protesters and local police department members clashed in downtown Modesto on Sunday, May 31, 2020 after a rally in honor of George Floyd, who was killed in Minnesota last week.

● EDITORIAL: The bad must not overshadow the good at Modesto protest Modesto Bee

Peaceful protest held in Stockton

Stockton Record

Demonstrators take a knee and chant “I can’t breathe” during a rally at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza downtown Stockton to protest the death of George Floyd who died while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police.

Central SJ Valley:

Fresno police, community leaders gather at River Park in response to civil unrest rumor

Fresno Bee

A social media post threatening violence and rioting at local businesses went out on Monday and though it was debunked by Fresno police and the Fresno State NAACP, some store owners at the River Park Mall had their storefronts boarded up, just in case.

● Warszawski: Protest shows huge divide Mayor-elect Jerry Dyer must bridge to make One FresnoFresno Bee

● “I cannot breathe.” A Fresno journalist and black mother feels rage at death of George Floyd Fresno Bee

● EDITORIAL: Fresno leaders must use this moment of protest to make real change with city’s police Fresno Bee

Tulare County sheriff under fire for now-deleted protest tweets

Visalia Times Delta

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux came under fire for a series of now-deleted tweets in which he expressed frustration over nationwide protests and riots. “I recently removed one of my Tweets from Twitter because it was turning into a platform for hateful and hurtful speech,” the sheriff said. “People were selecting only a portion of the tweet, and then sharing only that part, completely manipulating my words.”

Longtime Fresno CA ABC30 anchor Liz Harrison has coronavirus

Fresno Bee

Longtime ABC30 news anchor Liz Harrison posted on social media Tuesday that she has the coronavirus.

South SJ Valley:

McCarthy addresses local, national protests

abc23

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said in an interview that he supports the right to protest, but see’s a difference in protesting and violence. McCarthy calls on protesters to organize and keep the peace.

Citing a multitude of issues, Kern supervisors move to closely monitor skilled nursing facilities

Bakersfield Californian

After pointing out a long list of issues identified in Kern County’s skilled nursing facilities, the Board of Supervisors moved forward Tuesday with a plan to designate an accountability officer who would oversee issues at the state-regulated sites that take care of some of county’s most vulnerable residents.

Sheriff Youngblood issues message about death of George Floyd, protests

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood issued a video response to the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.

See also:

● Demonstrators march in solidarity through downtown Tuesday Bakersfield Californian

● BPD acknowledges need for reform during community Zoom meeting Bakersfield Californian

State:

Promised N95 masks for California still aren’t here. Gavin Newsom weighs his options

Sacramento Bee

California still has not received millions of N95 masks it purchased from China-based BYD and is weighing how to proceed after the company missed an extended deadline to secure federal certification for the products, the Newsom administration says.

Calif braces for second wave of coronavirus even as first wave is far from over

Los Angeles Times

Health experts have long warned of a potential second wave of the coronavirus as the economy reopens. But while other states have seen the first wave fade, the Golden State continues to see cases rise at a rapid clip. California is one of about 20 states where new cases are increasing over the past five days, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Gov. Newsom speaks about demonstrations following death of George Floyd

abc30

Following days of protests throughout California over the death of George Floyd, Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the state from a church in Sacramento on Monday.

● Protests show no signs of slowing Los Angeles Times

● Calm, but no plans yet from Calif governor amid unrest AP

● Walters: Gavin Newsom channels Pete Wilson CalMatters

The role of Calif’s National Guard in protests

Fox&Hounds

As Californians continue to protest the death of George Floyd and what it signifies about broader racism, thus far the mayors of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Sacramento have requested — and received from Gov. Gavin Newsom — a contingent of National Guard troops. But that seemed insufficient to satisfy President Donald Trump, who denounced the sometimes violent protests and threatened to send military troops if states fail to make full use of their National Guards. Here’s what to know about the Guard and its role in California.

DAs push for rules to block Calif DAs from taking police union campaign cash

Sacramento Bee

As police brutality protests grip the nation, a clutch of progressive present and former prosecutors are demanding new conflict-of-interest rules barring California district attorneys and DA candidates from taking campaign cash from police unions.

Calif’s black lawmakers urge support for bills to address systemic inequality

Los Angeles Times

As protests over the death of George Floyd continued across the state, black lawmakers gathered Tuesday at the state Capitol to urge the passage of legislation that would address affirmative action, voting rights and begin a process to consider reparations in California for the institution of slavery.

Calif state offices reopening Wednesday in Sacramento, not other cities

Sacramento Bee

State offices in Sacramento will reopen Wednesday after being closed for two days amid protests, the California Department of Human Resources announced Tuesday. Downtown offices in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Los Angeles will remain closed, according to an emailed news release. All other state offices will reopen, the email says.

Federal:

What is the Insurrection Act and how much leeway do presidents have?

abc30

President Donald Trump’s warning that he would deploy the United States military to any state that refuses to take aggressive action against rioting rests on a longstanding presidential power that gives wide latitude to the White House, legal experts said.

● The Insurrection Act. What Is The Law Trump Is Threatening To Invoke? NPR

● Can Trump use 1807 law to send federal troops into states? It’s been done before San Francisco Chronicle

● Don’t Send U.S. Military To Protests, Hill Democrats Warn Trump VPR

● Defense secretary doesn’t support deploying active troops following Trump threat Politico

● Defense Secretary Esper at Odds With Trump Over How to Deal With Riots TownHall

● Pentagon chief says he does not support the use of active-duty military forces to quell unrest, breaking with Trump Washington Post

● Editorial: Trump moves to militarize a crisis, after pouring oil on the flames Los Angeles Times

Despite Curfews And Heavy Police Presence, Protests Persist Across The Country

VPR
One week after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis Police custody, demonstrations against police brutality and systemic racism continued across the United States. Many cities imposed curfews, and President Trump again warned he would order active duty military forces to restore order if state and local governments, in his judgement, failed to do so.

● Trump pushes back against GOP senators’ criticism of dispersal of protesters in Lafayette Square: ‘You got it wrong’ TheHill

● Exclusive: Most Americans sympathize with protests, disapprove of Trump’s response Reuters

● Opinion: The evils of injustice and the danger of mobocracy American Enterprise Institute – AEI

● OPINION: D.C. media is now focused on confrontational coverage and approved narratives Fresno Bee

● Editorial: There is no excuse for government-sanctioned violence against the free press Los Angeles Times

● Editorial: Protesting injustice is your sacred right as an American LA Times

Protesting Racism Versus Risking COVID-19: ‘I Wouldn’t Weigh These Crises Separately’

Capital Public Radio

Mass protests that have erupted over police brutality toward black people in America are raising concerns about the risk of spreading the coronavirus. But some health experts, even as they urge caution, said they support the demonstrations — because racism also poses a dire health threat.

● Mayors and governors: This is how you tackle racism Brookings

US continues to battle COVID-19 as other countries return to normalcy. But why?

Merced Sun-Star

There’s no hiding the fact that the U.S. is more devastated by the novel coronavirus than any other country in the world. As of June 2, the nation has more than 1.8 million confirmed cases and over 105,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University, and these numbers continue to grow by the thousands every day.

The C.D.C. Waited ‘Its Entire Existence for This Moment.’ What Went Wrong?

New York Times

The technology was old, the data poor, the bureaucracy slow, the guidance confusing, the administration not in agreement. The coronavirus shook the world’s premier health agency, creating a loss of confidence and hampering the U.S. response to the crisis.

Public Health Workers Report Hostile Threats And Fears About Contact Tracing

VPR

During her 17 years running Okanogan County’s small public health department in eastern Washington, Lauri Jones rarely encountered any controversy. “Usually, we kind of sit here under the radar,” says Jones, whose department before the pandemic was mostly known for mundane duties such as recording births, issuing permits for septic tanks, and investigating reports of food poisoning. But that all changed when the coronavirus pandemic began in March.

Tech-rights group sues Trump to stop social-media order

Los Angeles Times

A tech-focused civil liberties group on Tuesday sued to block President Trump’s executive order that seeks to regulate social media, saying it violates the 1st Amendment and chills speech.

Senate may act on PPP bill Wednesday, but risks GOP objections

Roll Call

Leaders of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee say they expect the chamber to try to pass small modifications Wednesday to the forgivable loan program for small businesses affected by COVID-19, although how this may happen isn’t exactly clear.

Democrats offer $494 billion transport bill targeting economy, climate

Roll Call

Bill includes provisions to support states struggling in the pandemic-driven downturn and to reduce carbon emissions.

Bridging the gaps: A path forward to federal privacy legislation

Brookings

Despite a promising start in the 116thCongress, comprehensive information-privacy legislation appears stalled on Capitol Hill. Response to the COVID-19 pandemic has necessarily consumed most of the current bandwidth in Congress. Yet the pandemic has raised issuessurrounding access to mobility and proximity data, health information, and other forms of personal information that may—and in some cases may not—be useful for public health. These are a reminder of the gaps in the U.S. system of privacy protection.

Coronavirus Trackers:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California

Covid19.ca.gov

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.

● Coronavirus (COVID-19) CDC

● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic – WHO

● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University

● Tracking coronavirus in California Los Angeles Times

● Coronavirus Tracker San Francisco 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:

Joe Biden in Philly calls George Floyd’s death a ‘wake-up call for our nation’

abc30

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden addressed the civil unrest occurring across the nation as well as President Donald Trump’s response during a speech in Philadelphia on Tuesday morning. Biden, speaking from Philadelphia City Hall, called the killing of George Floyd “a wake-up call for our nation.”

● Kamala Harris for vice president? Here are the pros and cons for Joe Biden Sacramento Bee

● How the George Floyd case has affected Kamala Harris’ chances for Biden VP SF Gate

● Biden’s vice presidential choice just got simpler. He needs Kamala Harris or Val Demings. USA Today

● Biden begins to map out ‘revolutionary’ agenda, reimagining his presidency amid national upheaval Washington Post

● Editorial: Mush From Joe Biden WSJ

● Editorial: In big shift, Kamala Harris seeks to lead on police reform. Why did she wait so long?Sacramento Bee

What are the odds for the 2020 presidential election?

Fresno Bee

For the first time, President Donald Trump is not favored to win the 2020 presidential election, according to Bookies.com.

Can Trump campaign on a vow to end the disorder and unrest that he’s fueling?

Los Angeles Times

With protests erupting across the country, President Trump is ripping a page from Richard Nixon’s playbook, claiming to stand for “law and order” and calling out to the “silent majority” that he hopes will grant him a second term.

See also:

● How Popular Is Donald Trump? FiveThirtyEight

Newsom orders new Calif in-person voting rules for November election

Los Angeles Times

Gov. Gavin Newsom gave California counties permission on Wednesday to limit their in-person voting operations for the Nov. 3 election as protection against the spread of the coronavirus — but only if they also offer three days of early voting, a tradeoff some local officials said could be expensive and challenging.

Calif lawmakers advance mail-ballot legislation to bolster Newsom election change

Politico

California’s push to mail ballots to every registered voter this year could get some legal cover under legislation that advanced out of a Senate committee on Tuesday.

Opinion: Did Ballot Harvesting Impact March 3 Bond and Tax Proposals?

Fox & Hounds

According to the current elections code, mailed in ballots are counted as long as they are postmarked by election day, and arrive up to three days later. In practice, this translates into final results in close elections being delayed for several weeks.

Other:

Nearly Half of Republicans Now Think U.S. Is on the Wrong Track: Poll

Newsweek

Nearly three-quarters of Americans believe that the U.S. is on the wrong track, according to a new poll. The survey also shows a significant drop in confidence in the country’s leadership over the past month among Republicans.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Another Look at Availability and Prices of Food Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

USDA
Last month I discussed the impact of COVID-19 on availability and prices of food based on data and information we had available at the time. Since then, USDA released its first assessment of U.S. and world crop supply and demand prospects and U.S. prices for 2020/21, and more data on market prices, production, and trade flows during the crisis became available.

California pot industry faces year of decline due to coronavirus

Los Angeles Times

California’s legal marijuana industry faces a year of declining sales as a result of the pandemic-induced recession despite an initial spike in consumer demand after dispensaries were deemed essential businesses, according to details outlined in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Minnesota files civil rights charge against Minneapolis police in George Floyd death

abc30

The state of Minnesota filed a human rights complaint Tuesday against the Minneapolis Police Department in the death of George Floyd by an officer who pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for minutes, even after he stopped moving.

Public Safety:

CA prison complaints go to new corrections investigators

Modesto Bee

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation created a new statewide internal affairs division to investigate complaints against staff, aiming to standardize a process that various prisons had handled inconsistently.

Fresno police, community leaders gather at River Park in response to civil unrest rumor

Fresno Bee

● Black Organizations Denounce Social Media Post Promoting Looting In North Fresno VPR

● Warszawski: Protest shows huge divide Mayor-elect Jerry Dyer must bridge to make One FresnoFresno Bee

● EDITORIAL: Fresno leaders must use this moment of protest to make real change with city’s police Fresno Bee

Protesters and police clash after march ends in downtown Modesto

Modesto Bee

Protesters and local police department members clashed in downtown Modesto on Sunday, May 31, 2020 after a rally in honor of George Floyd, who was killed in Minnesota last week.

● EDITORIAL: The bad must not overshadow the good at Modesto protest Modesto Bee

Peaceful protest held in Stockton

Stockton Record

Sheriff Youngblood issues message about death of George Floyd, protests

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood issued a video response to the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.

See also:

● Demonstrators march in solidarity through downtown Tuesday Bakersfield Californian

Facial recognition regulation: AB 2261 is a long overdue solution

CALmatters

Last year, a California law enforcement officer was browsing through a social media platform and came across a missing child’s photo, posted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. After taking a screenshot, the officer fed the image into facial recognition system that returned a list of online sex ads featuring the missing girl.

Is now the time to bring back affirmative action in California?

CalMatters

Amid the nationwide debate about race and justice comes the latest attempt to repeal California’s ban on affirmative action programs.

How Much Do We Need The Police?

VPR

One effect of the widespread protests across U.S. cities this week has been to renew discussions of what role the police should play in society. For many Americans, it goes without saying that the police are critical in maintaining public safety. But many — especially black people and poor people — have long countered police pose more of a threat to their safety than a boon.

Antifa rumors spread on local social media with no evidence

NBC News

Some of the posts feature a screenshot of a tweet by a fake antifa Twitter account that Twitter said was created by the white nationalist group Identity Evropa.

● Conspiracy theories run rampant online amid Floyd protests TheHill

● ‘Riot manual’ is misinformation from 2015 PolitiFact

U.S. assessment finds opportunists drive protest violence, not extremists

Reuters

President Donald Trump has blamed leftwing extremist groups for instigating nights of looting and violence in cities across the United States, but an intelligence assessment offers limited evidence that organized extremists are behind the turmoil.

U.S. legislatures slow to pass laws limiting use of force

PBS NewsHour

A wave of police killings of young black men in 2014 prompted 24 states to quickly pass some type of law enforcement reform, but many declined to address the most glaring issue: police use of force. Six years later, only about a third of states have passed laws on the question.

Zuckerberg Defends Approach to Trump’s Facebook Posts

New York Times

In a call with Facebook employees, who have protested the inaction on Mr. Trump’s messages, Mr. Zuckerberg said his decision was “pretty thorough.”

African American attitudes about the police over time

American Enterprise Institute – AEI

In 1973, the Gallup Organization began asking Americans about their confidence in a group of key central institutions. Starting in 1983, with one exception (1992), the question has been asked every year. In their latest survey from 2019, 53 percent said they had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the police.

Fire:

Mandatory evacuation order near Hensley Lake in Madera County lifted after fire

abc30

Mandatory evacuations have been lifted for residents as crews got the upper hand on a brush fire in Madera County. The evacuation impacted residents living along Road 600 and Road 603 near Hensley Lake but has since been lifted.

Where the Worst Wildfire Activity Is Expected This Summer

Weather Channel

Hot, dry weather and increasing drought conditions across the western United States this summer may result in above-average wildfire potential into September, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) outlookreleased Monday.

ECONOMY/JOBS

Economy:

Newsom hints at business relief while cleaning up vandalism in Sacramento

Sacramento Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom donned a mask, gloves and a scrub brush in downtown Sacramento on Tuesday, joining volunteers who cleaned up destruction caused by vandals over the weekend — and hinted at more small business relief in the upcoming state budget.

SBCD webinar will focus on local, federal loan programs

Bakersfield Californian

The Small Business Development Center at Cal State Bakersfield has scheduled a free noon webinar Wednesday to share information about the $25 million Kern Recovers forgivable loan program and the PPP Loan Forgiveness rules changes.

Devastated Bars, Restaurants Could Renegotiate Leases Under Coronavirus Bill

Capital Public Radio

Bars, restaurants and nonprofits suffering financial losses over the coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home orders could see some rent relief under a California Senate proposal. But property owners oppose the measure, insisting it would force them to shoulder the burden of the crisis.

Stocks extend gains on Wall Street for third straight day

Los Angeles Times

Stocks closed broadly higher on Wall Street Tuesday, extending the market’s winning streak to a third day. The latest gains, which followed a rally in global stocks, were driven by optimism that the global economy will begin to recover as governments gradually allow businesses that were closed due to the coronavirus outbreak to reopen.

Senate may act on PPP bill Wednesday, but risks GOP objections

Roll Call

Republicans turning against new round of $1,200 rebate checks

TheHill

Republican lawmakers are voicing deep skepticism about passing another round of $1,200 rebate checks as they contemplate the next and possibly final stage of coronavirus relief legislation.

Jobs:

No help? Dozens hit brick walls on path to California unemployment assistance

abc30

Millions of people in California have lost their jobs in the 11 weeks since the coronavirus pandemic prompted “stay at home” orders, but a lot of them still haven’t gotten access to the money designed to help them.

CSUB’s Dr. Quarles shares career advice for recent grads

23abc

You have now graduated and are looking for a job. What are some tips while looking for a job during the pandemic?

Does attending a more selective college equal a bigger paycheck?

AEI

There is a popular conception that graduation from a more prestigious college equates to higher earnings. The data suggest that narrative deserves a closer look.

Now more than ever, employees need a tax deduction for job expenses

AEI

Thanks to COVID-19, many employees are incurring job-related expenses. Unfortunately, the 2017 tax bill denies employees a tax deduction for those costs.

Opinion: We can return to the status quo after COVID-19 — or we can demand politicians represent workers

madison.com

Henry’s main message was to ask whether we will learn from the pandemic or return to a status quo that was not good for the overwhelming majority of American families — 64% of workers make less than $15 an hour, forcing them to live paycheck by paycheck, she noted.

EDUCATION

K-12:

Sports canceled? Students in masks? Sacramento health officials urge big changes for schools

Sacramento Bee

Schools in Sacramento County will likely stagger class schedules in the fall – perhaps allowing students on campus for only a few hours at a time – and many sports, large gatherings and music activities could be canceled for the 2020-21 academic year as districts respond to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to reopening guidelines developed by the county’s top education officials released Tuesday.

SAT test woes: Plans for at-home tests suspended; some students may not have access to exams

Los Angeles Times

SAT tests may not be available this fall to all students who want to take the college admissions exam as the coronavirus crisis has limited the availability of testing sites and efforts to develop an at-home exam have run into roadblocks, the College Board announced Tuesday.

KHSD could face significant financial cuts with proposed revised state budget

Bakersfield Californian

As California legislators and state officials try to mitigate a projected $54 billion shortfall due to the coronavirus pandemic, local school districts are looking at significant budget cuts of their own.

Federal Initiatives to Support Intensive Special Education Services

EdNote

The most significant piece of federal legislation supporting special education students is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The case for more international cooperation in education

Brookings

“International cooperation helped many countries universalize basic education during the 1990s and 2000s. More cooperation today could boost secondary and higher education and help build a world that is more sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous,” writes Christopher Thomas.

Higher Ed:

USC will reopen for fall semester with online and in-person classes, more distancing in dorms

Los Angeles Times

USC will bring students back to campus for the fall semester amid the coronavirus crisis with several safety measures that include both online and in-person classes, more spacing in dorms and testing for COVID-19, President Carol L. Folt announced Tuesday night

Legislature must prioritize funding for highest-need students

CALmatters

An Assembly bill that would close a loophole and ensure funds intended for disadvantaged students unanimously passed the Education Committee last month, but it drew significant opposition.

Does attending a more selective college equal a bigger paycheck?

AEI

There is a popular conception that graduation from a more prestigious college equates to higher earnings. The data suggest that narrative deserves a closer look.

Opinion: Time to Take a Semester Off?

Wall Street Journal

The disruptions wrought by coronavirus cause students to consider delaying a return to college.

OPINION: More Colleges Should Divest From the Institution of Policing

Inside Higher Ed

Last Wednesday, University of Minnesota president Joan Gable announced in a statement that the university will no longer enlist the Minneapolis Police Department’s services for “additional law enforcement support.”

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

Environment:

Report: Deforestation, linked to pandemics, increased in 2019

Merced Sun-Star

Deforestation of tropical old-growth forests increased last year, according to new satellite data unveiled Tuesday, wiping out acreage roughly the size of Switzerland in a period when experts are raising alarms about the transmission of a variety of diseases, including the novel coronavirus, that jump between animals and humans.

Are you a ‘weather geek’? PG&E tracks rain, wind and wildfires online

Modesto Bee

My father and our agrarian neighbors often spoke in “weather almanac” language. They talked about average rainfall or high and low daily temperatures that were expected. If it was early in the year, they attempted to predict the last morning freeze before planting their gardens with the hope of ripened tomatoes by the Fourth of July.

Cooling centers likely won’t open in Sacramento amid heat wave. The reason is not coronavirus

Sacramento Bee

The heat is on, but there are even fewer places to cool off than before. This summer, however, the problem is further exacerbated because the coronavirus has closed public pools, community centers and libraries. That leaves families without air conditioning and thousands of homeless people with few places to go to escape the heat.

Oil and babies don’t mix: Wells linked to low birthweight

CALmatters

The study is the first to investigate what California’s constellation of oil and gas development means for babies born nearby.

New Book Argues Migration Isn’t A Crisis — It’s The Solution

VPR

Climate change has put organisms on the move. In her new book, The Next Great Migration, Science writer Sonia Shah writes about migration — and the ways in which outmoded notions of “belonging” have been used throughout history to curb what she sees as a biological imperative.

Democrats offer $494 billion transport bill targeting economy, climate

Roll Call

Bill includes provisions to support states struggling in the pandemic-driven downturn and to reduce carbon emissions.

Energy:

Colorado utilities to exchange power with California under new agreement

Colorado Springs INDY

It’s official: A coalition of Colorado utilities (including Colorado Springs Utilities) will get access to renewable energy from California and other Western states starting in 2022, under a recently finalized agreement.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Coronavirus updates: Fresno County just behind Tulare in total cases; Protesters at risk

Fresno Bee

The number of coronavirus cases reported in the central San Joaquin Valley increased by triple-digits again on Tuesday, even before several counties updated their stats. Tulare County added 107 new cases in its Tuesday update. The county has now seen 2,004 positive cases and 89 deaths, with a recovery rate that now stands at just over 50 percent.

● CA doctor warns of surge in COVID-19 cases if protesters don’t wear masks abc30

● COVID-19 update: Tulare County hits 2,000 infections, half have recovered Visalia Times Delta

● Coronavirus update: More than 1,000 recoveries in Tulare County Porterville Recorder

● Kern County officials worried about surge in COVID-19 cases Bakersfield Californian

● Merced County hits 301 total confirmed coronavirus cases, 10 weeks after first infection Merced Sun-Star

● Positive cases, deaths increase in Stanislaus County Modesto Bee

● Modesto nursing home reports death; county cases at 750 Modesto Bee

Health agencies put to the test to expand Covid monitoring

Business Journal

Lockdown restrictions are being lifted across the state and businesses are starting to re-open — but during all of this, there is fear of a second wave of the coronavirus surging in the near future, especially with ongoing street protests of the death of George Floyd.

● Virus-Test Stampede Bypasses 10,000 U.S. Urgent-Care Facilities Bloomberg

● Adm. Brett Giroir Will Leave Role Overseeing Coronavirus Testing This Month NPR

West Nile virus makes early appearance in Stanislaus County. What you need to know.

Modesto Bee

Two mosquito samples revealed that West Nile virus is already active this year in Stanislaus County. In a news release Tuesday, the county Health Services Agency said it’s the earliest appearance of West Nile in mosquito samples since the virus arrived in the county in 2006.

Can Operation Warp Speed deliver a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year?

Los Angeles Times

To capture the speed and audacity of its plan to field a coronavirus vaccine, the Trump administration reached into science fiction’s vault for an inspiring moniker: Operation Warp Speed.

Valley Voices: Mask wearing found to be better than sheltering, social distancing for limiting COVID

Fresno Bee

Businesses in Fresno are reopening as California enters Stage 2 of its Resilience Roadmap. However, new cases of COVID-19 in Fresno County continue to accelerate, and so the risks of infection by visiting public spaces are ironically much greater now than when California instituted its shelter-in-place order. Business closures, though, are not the only tool that government officials can employ.

Heart Drugs Show Promise With Covid-19 Complications

Wall Street Journal

Widely prescribed cardiovascular drugs, some recently suspected in high death rates of infected patients, now are being studied for potential protection.

Swedish Coronavirus Response Architect Says Policies Were Too Lax, Resulted in Too Many Deaths

National Review

Sweden’s response to the coronavirus resulted in too many deaths and could have been improved, the country’s chief epidemiologist Anders Tegnell told Swedish radio on Wednesday.

Human Services:

Promised N95 masks for California still aren’t here. Gavin Newsom weighs his options

Modesto Bee

California should terminate unnecessary insurance subsidies for retired state workers

CALmatters

The California Legislature is considering $2.5 billion of cuts to child care, adult dental care, hospitals, parks, courts, social services and preschools. Instead, lawmakers should cut $2.5 billion of unnecessary insurance subsidies for retired state employees.

Is It Safe Yet To Get Your Physical Or A Dental Checkup?

VPR

Many hospitals, clinics and dental offices in some places around the U.S. are beginning to open now for routine, preventative care that was postponed in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. But still, patients wonder: Is it safe to go?

Hype and science collide as FDA tries to rein in ‘wild West’ of COVID-19 blood tests

Los Angeles Times

“Save your business while saving lives,” reads the website of Because Health, a Seattle tech start-up selling two types of tests to employers willing to pay $350 a pop to learn whether their workers have been infected with COVID-19.

Some impurities now allowed in hand sanitizer: FDA

Fresno Bee

Some impurities will be allowed in hand sanitizer to combat product shortages during the coronavirus pandemic.

IMMIGRATION

Policing a Global City: Multiculturalism, Immigration and the 1992 Uprising

KCET
“April 29, 1992” from Sublime’s 1996 debut album opens with a radio transmission from a panicked LAPD officer. “I don’t know if you can, but can you get an order for Ons, that’s O-N-S, Junior Market, the address is 1934 East Anaheim, all the windows are busted out,” he reports.

Could Covid-19 Mean the End of Asylum Law in the United States?

The Nation

“Public health” fears are being used to keep out asylum seekers and immigrants—will they ever be let back in?

New Book Argues Migration Isn’t A Crisis — It’s The Solution

VPR

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Yosemite National Park will open for those with wilderness and Half Dome permits

Sacramento Bee

Tourism leaders also shared concerns about Yosemite’s reopening plan, which includes day-use reservations.

Housing:

Millions of Californians could lose affordable housing in recession, advocates warn

Sacramento Bee

With rent due for another new month in the coronavirus outbreak, affordable housing advocates warn that the new recession could trigger a domino effect wiping out protections for millions of lower-income California tenants.

Millions Of Americans Skipping Payments As Tidal Wave Of Defaults And Evictions Looms

VPR

Americans are skipping payments on mortgages, auto loans and other bills. Normally, that could mean massive foreclosures, evictions, cars repossessions and people’s credit getting destroyed. But much of that’s been put on pause. Help from Congress and leniency from lenders have kept impending financial disaster at bay for millions of people. But that may not last for long.

Housing hardships reach unprecedented heights during the COVID-19 pandemic

Brookings

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 10-15% of U.S. households reported being housing insecure. Now, with unemployment at historic highs, America’s housing crisis is only getting worse. A new report from Washington University in St. Louis and the Brookings Global Economy and Development program sheds light on the groups that have been hit hardest.

PUBLIC FINANCES

Prosecutors push for rules to block California DAs from taking police union campaign cash

Merced Sun-Star

Legalized sports betting would net Calif hundreds of millions in revenue, study says

Sacramento Bee

Proponents of a constitutional amendment to legalize sports wagering in California say that doing so could net the state hundreds of millions of dollars in state revenue within months.

Opinion: Beware the Temporary Tax Fix

Fox & Hounds

During these difficult times, with politicians scrambling for answers to the economic woes brought on the pandemic, expect to hear about temporary solutions to address problems often in the form of a tax increase. If history teaches anything, temporary government solutions often become permanent.

TRANSPORTATION

United CEO says the airline won’t file for bankruptcy

L.A. Biz

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says the airline doesn’t plan to file for bankruptcy despite currently burning through at least $40 million in cash per day.

Democrats unveil nearly $500B transportation bill

Politico

House Democrats are set to unveil a $494 billion surface transportation bill, with a hefty focus on climate mitigation. Our Tanya Snyder got the details ahead of a rollout planned for this week. In some ways, the bill would maintain the transportation status quo, with twice as much money dedicated for highways as for public transit and rail combined.

Trump administration bans flights by Chinese airlines, a move likely to inflame tensions between the U.S. and China

Washington Post

In a move likely to inflame tensions between the United States and China, the Trump administration said Wednesday it will ban all commercial passenger flights by Chinese carriers.

WATER

Central Calif fishing report week of June 3-9: McClure, Melones, Pine Flat best bets

Fresno Bee

McClure bass and trout bites very good, Steve Marquette said. New Melones topwater bass action takes off, John Liechty reported. Pine Flat bass and trout hitting, Jake Figgs said.

Blue-green algae blooming in San Luis Reservoir, officials say stay out of water

abc30

Officials are warning all people to stay out of the San Luis Reservoir in Merced County until further notice due to blue-green algae blooming, posing potential health risks. Boating is still allowed, but swimming and other recreational activities involving getting into the water are not considered safe.

Commentary: Competing Narratives on Delta Outflow Fuel Water Conflict

PPIC

In a February CalMatters commentary Dan Walters noted that California’s water wars had reignited. The latest dustup revolves principally around the federal government’s efforts to increase the amount of water supplied to farms and cities by the Central Valley Project, and a breakdown in cooperation between the state and federal government. It seems like everyone is suing each other. But what are they really fighting over?

“Xtra”

A pandemic and breakup help inspire Clovis singer BEL’s debut single

Fresno Bee

There was a sudden breakup just out of the blue and then the coronavirus quarantine, which can be tough when taken together, and one night toward the end of March when Isabel Whelan was getting past one and into the other she talked to a friend who hit on the flip side, the bright side.

State Theatre set to hold its second drive-in movie night at Shelter Cove

Modesto Bee

The State Theatre will hold its second drive-in movie night, this time featuring “The Wizard of Oz.” The film will be screened on a video wall at Shelter Cove Community Church on Friday, June 5. Downtown Modesto’s State Theatre has been closed for weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Reopening the MAC

The Merced County Arts Council and MAC staff miss you and want to see you back at the MAC again! But before we welcome you back, we want to make sure we welcome you in the safest way possible by setting the highest standards and protocols to protect you and us from the spread of the coronavirus.