June 5, 2020

05Jun

POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

Calif town (Atwater) declares self a ‘sanctuary city for business’ amid coronavirus

Los Angeles Times

The leaders of Atwater had just declared it a “sanctuary city” for businesses in defiance of California stay-at-home orders when they showed up at the future home of Jessie Chauhan’s Rapid XPress Car Wash. They came last month to the dirt lot by Highway 99 for a cheery civic ceremony that felt extra symbolic in the midst of a pandemic that has wrecked the economy: A groundbreaking ceremony.

Turlock center reports 19th death; update on prep sports

Modesto Bee

The Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center announced Wednesday that a 19th resident has died of the coronavirus. The East Tuolumne Road center had gone two weeks without a death.

Coronavirus infections still rising in Stanislaus County. Officials not alarmed

Modesto Bee

Nursing home outbreaks and testing help explain growing number of coronavirus cases.

Newsom visits Stockton to discuss racism, injustice

Stockton Record

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday he’s concerned about the spread of coronavirus as thousands of people gather for protests across the state, and he said the state should prepare for higher rates of positive tests because of both the protests and the reopening of businesses that’s underway.

Central SJ Valley:

Fresno City Council mandates masks for its members, despite objection from councilman

Fresno Bee

The Fresno City Council mandated council members Thursday to wear masks while entering and walking around inside City Hall — a policy the rest of the building’s occupants are already held to during the coronavirus pandemic.

●     See also:
Fresno city council votes to ban anyone without masks, even mayor and council members, from City Hall abc30

●      Fresno City Council Approves Mask Requirement In City Hall; One Member Said It Targets Him VPR

City Council Approves 2020-2021 Fiscal Year Budget, Police Department Hit Hardest

Clovis Roundup

The Clovis City Council on Monday, June 1 voted to approve the budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. As previously introduced, the budget includes changes to accommodate the estimated loss of $10 million to the city’s general fund as a result of COVID-19.

Backyard Chickens May Soon Be Allowed In Clovis, Council Approves Study of Proposal

Clovis Roundup

Chickens are now one step closer to being allowed in the backyard of homeowners within the city. In a 4-1 vote, the City Council gave staff the greenlight to explore an ordinance amendment. If approved, it would allow for residents to keep chickens in their backyards.

Coronavirus updates: A ‘miracle’ recovery; Counties push for reopening with Yosemite

Fresno Bee

Fresno County added 30 new coronavirus infections in its Wednesday update, bringing the total number of cases countywide to just shy of 2,000. While the number of new reported case across the central San Joaquin Valley remained in high double digits for the day, the region has averaged nearly 140 new cases, daily, for the past two weeks.

South SJ Valley:

Protests spread to Kern’s smaller communities

Bakersfield Californian

Protests have spread to Kern’s outlying communities in recent days, with demonstrations cropping up in Tehachapi, Arvin, Taft, Delano and Ridgecrest. In all cases, the events to decry racism and the death of Minnesota man George Floyd have been peaceful, according to police agencies and media reports. 

Bakersfield businesswoman Patty Gray to run for Ward 6 seat on City Council

Bakersfield Californian

Bakersfield businesswoman Patty Gray has announced she will run for the Ward 6 City Council seat, which has long been filled by Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan.

City of Bakersfield promises review in wake of protests

Bakersfield Californian

On the seventh night of demonstrations in downtown Bakersfield, Mayor Karen Goh said the city would attempt to address issues that have brought protesters to the streets. But whether the city’s promised action goes far enough remains to be seen.

Data shows Kern’s COVID-19 cases have slightly decreased; health officials say it’s too early to see trend  

Kern Sol News

Data released by the Kern County Public Health Department throughout the past two weeks shows Kern’s COVID-19 cases have slightly decreased since the County reopened in May. 

Kern County awaits green light for Stage 3 reopening

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County may not be far away from entering Stage 3 of California’s economic reopening plan, as the state continues navigating its way through the COVID-19 pandemic.

McCarthy offers Republican-backed policing overhauls in response to George Floyd’s killing

Roll Call

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said his Republican conference is open to policing overhauls urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring the House back so that members can convene in person and devise a plan of action.

See also:

●      Democrats to unveil plan Monday to end police racial profiling, use of force Roll Call

State:

Thousands want to help Calif fight coronavirus. Newsom wants money to manage them

Fresno Bee

Tens of thousands of people and some of California’s biggest companies have reached out to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office to volunteer their help for the state’s fight to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Reopen Golden State? Most Calif’s say they aren’t ready to lift COVID-19 restrictions

Fresno Bee

Most Californians remain worried about the coronavirus pandemic and say they are not ready to see the state fully reopened from the restrictions Gov. Gavin Newsom handed down to slow the outbreak, according to a new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California.

See also:

●     Californians are wary of reopening too quickly amid coronavirus crisis, new poll says Los Angeles Times

●      See where COVID-19 is spreading fastest in California — new cases, deaths, hospitalizations Fresno Bee

●     California needs to create a just and equitable recovery CalMatters

75% of state workers urged to telework as Calif offices open after coronavirus 

Sacramento Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration directed state leaders on Wednesday to start reopening state offices under new coronavirus protocols.

California Legislature, governor at odds over budget deficit

Bakersfield Californian

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s task of closing California’s estimated $54.3 billion budget deficit will come down to a battle with the Democratic-dominated Legislature over how much pain the state can endure now versus putting it off to next year and beyond.
See also:

●     Calif would delay deepest cuts under Leg’s alternative to Newsom’s budget San Francisco Chronicle

Racial Equity, Coronavirus, Homelessness Bills Advance To Assembly Floor

Capital Public Radio

California lawmakers are moving forward with bills to tackle coronavirus, homelessness and racial inequities in the state. Those three big topics make up just a portion of the roughly 150 bills approved by the powerful Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, including a $2 billion homelessness package, stricter rules for workplace safety in hospitals and agriculture, and a coronavirus relief bill for struggling homeowners. 

See also:

●     Racial Disparities Are Widespread in California Public Policy Institute of California

Affirmative action & reparations. Calif’s black lawmakers say it’s time to do more

Sacramento Bee

A year ago, California passed one of the strictest policies in the nation on the use of deadly force by police.

See also:

●     Inside the different messages and motivations of protests across CA CalMatters

Fox: Proposal to prohibit police unions from funding DA campaigns doesn’t go far enough

CalMatters

One response to the protests over police treatment of black communities is a proposal by some current and former California district attorneys to prohibit candidates running for prosecutor positions from receiving police unions’ donations and endorsements. 

Opinion: Calif lawmakers could undercut legislative transparency with this new amendment

Fresno Bee

Four years ago, despite fierce opposition from Democratic politicians, California voters passed Proposition 54, a constitutional amendment requiring the Legislature to be more transparent.

Opinion: Newsom Likes To ‘Go Big’ But Doesn’t Always Deliver

California Healthline

Gavin Newsom knew it was a political gamble when, as the newly elected mayor of San Francisco, he promised to eradicate chronic homelessness.

EDITORIAL: 7 things Californians can do right now to fight structural racism

Los Angeles Times

Fueled by anger, fear and dread, protesters continue to flood the streets to demand justice not only for the killing of George Floyd, but an end to the deep systemic racism that has allowed police brutality and day-in, day-out discrimination to endure.

Federal:

‘I Can’t Breathe’: Peaceful Demonstrators Continue To Rally Over George Floyd’s Death

VPR

In Minneapolis, prosecutors said the police officer who compressed George Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes prior to his death will face an increased charge of second-degree murder, and that the three other former officers who were present will face charges of aiding and abetting murder.

Trump ignores calls for police reforms

Los Angeles Times

When George Floyd died last week after a Minneapolis police officer pinned him down with a knee on his neck, President Trump reacted much as he had in the past when a black person’s fatal encounter with law enforcement was caught on video.

See also:

●      Trump says his plan to address racism is a strong economy, as he touted declining jobless rateWashington Post

●     Trump says a strong economy will address race relations Washington Post

Supreme Court is faulted for shielding police officers from excessive-force claims

Los Angeles Times

Amid nationwide protests over police killings, the Supreme Court is facing pressure to reconsider the legal immunity that often shields officers from being sued for using excessive force, including brutal arrests and the shooting of innocent people in their homes.

Kamala Harris calls Rand Paul’s objection to anti-lynching bill ‘cruel’

San Francisco Chronicle

In raw remarks on the Senate floor, Sen. Kamala Harris called an effort to amend her anti-lynching legislation “cruel and deliberate obstruction” on the day the country mourned George Floyd.

See also:

·       Fact-checking Kamala Harris’ claim about Donald Trump and investigations of police misconductPolitifact

Opinion: U.S. Can’t Beat Coronavirus, But Americans Can Cope With It

Bloomberg

There’s no refuge from Covid-19, but masks, testing improvements and other protections should temper its ravages.

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.

See also:

●     California Department of Public Health

●     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:

Do Californians support mail-in voting? Survey says: Yes

Modesto Bee

As California inches closer to the November election, new survey results suggest that nearly three-quarters of likely voters support a move to mail-in ballots opposed by President Donald Trump and Republican leaders.

See also:

●     Newsom orders new California in-person voting rules for November election Los Angeles Times

●     California Gov. Newsom orders counties to add in-person voting centers San Francisco Chronicle

●     Commentary: No Matter What Trump Says, the GOP Needs Vote-by-Mail  RealClearPolitics

Modesto-based Latino group calls for Ted Howze to end campaign over social media posts

Modesto Bee

The Latino Community Roundtable is calling for Ted Howze to end his campaign for California’s 10th Congressional District over inflammatory comments on his social media accounts, denigrating Latinos, Muslims, the Black Lives Matter movement and others.

Democrats Push for New Criminal Justice Measures in Party Platform

Wall Street Journal

Democrats charged with drawing up the party’s 2020 policy platform say they will push for it to include new criminal justice measures in response to nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd in police custody.

Opinion: The 11 most logical picks for Joe Biden’s vice president, ranked

Washington Post

We’re about two months from the date that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has targeted for selecting his vice-presidential running mate: Aug. 1.

Gerson: Trump wants to turn his opponents into infidels to be destroyed, not defeated

Washington Post

Trump is our cut-rate Constantine. He seeks to employ the sacred as a means of political influence. And more than that, he is now using the Bible to sanctify the physical abuse of peaceful protesters.

Other:

China, Iran targeting presidential campaigns with hacking attempts, Google announces

Washington Post

Chinese and Iranian government hackers have targeted the Gmail accounts of staffers working on the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and President Trump, respectively, Google announced Thursday.

Podcast: Disinformation spreading about COVID-19

Roll Call

Disinformation about COVID-19 is spreading across social media.  What are Congress and the tech companies that own these platforms doing to mitigate it? Then, we explore the uptick in coronavirus-related franked mail and the latest in health care policy news. 

Suddenly, Public Health Officials Say Social Justice Matters More Than Social Distance

Politico

Their claim: If we don’t address racial inequality, it’ll be that much harder to fight Covid-19. There’s also evidence that virus doesn’t spread easily outdoors, especially if people wear masks.

See also:

●      People try to do right by each other, no matter the motivation, study finds OSU

George Floyd protests: We need black journalists covering this moment

San Francisco Chronicle

Broken glass gets stuck in the grooves of tennis shoes, so when people were sprinting past me through the remnants of Jos. A Bank’s broken window in Emeryville’s Powell Street Plaza on Saturday night, the dry crunch made for an eerie soundtrack to a looting spree.

See also:

●      A portrait of California protests: same message, different motives CalMatters

●     Commentary: Don’t Call Rioters ‘Protesters’ Wall Street Journal

Editorial: Zuckerberg’s Credibility Test

Wall Street Journal

Facebook’s CEO faces renewed pressure to take down Trump’s posts.

See also:

●      Facebook says it found no foreign interference campaigns targeting U.S. protests Reuters

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Gov: Calif’s legal pot industry faces year of decline because of 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.

Farmers Find Ways To Save Millions Of Pigs From Being Euthanized

VPR

A month ago, America’s pork farmers were in crisis. About 40 percent of the country’s pork plants were shut down because they had become hot spots of coronavirus infection. Pork producers who had been shipping, collectively, almost half a million hogs each day to those plants suddenly had no place to send all of their animals, and little space to house the equal number of new piglets that are born every day.

Why we can’t count on carbon-sucking farms to slow climate change

MIT Technology

Corporations, politicians, and environmentalists have all embraced carbon farming as the feel-good climate solution of the moment.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Tulare County courthouses set to reopen with some restrictions

Visalia Times Delta

The Tulare County Superior Court will begin lifting some restrictions on access to its courthouses this week, court officials announced on Wednesday. Visalia and Porterville courthouses have been closed to the public since mid-March. All jury trials were suspended on March 25, due to the threat of COVID-19, a virus that attacks a person’s lungs.

See also:

●     Merced Superior Court restarting jury trials June 15. Here’s how trials will change Merced Sun-Star

Turlock widow sues Safeway for husband’s wrongful death after coronavirus outbreak

Modesto Bee

The widow of a Safeway employee from Turlock who died from COVID-19 is suing the supermarket company for wrongful death and negligence.

Person hurls Molotov cocktail at Clovis business

Business Journal

On June 2, the surveillance cameras of Snowflake Designs, a gymnastic leotard designer and manufacturer in Clovis, caught a man throwing a Molotov cocktail at the building.

Bakersfield police release driver whose vehicle hit, injured protester Wednesday

Bakersfield Californian

Bakersfield police on Thursday released the driver of a vehicle that hit and caused critical injuries to a protester walking in lanes of traffic Wednesday night along California Avenue near Oak Street as part of a demonstration against law-enforcement violence.

Police: ‘Strategic’ well-orchestrated heists seen amid protest chaos

AP News

By the time San Leandro officers arrived at the Dodge dealership, dozens of cars were gone and thieves were peeling out of the lot in $100,000 Challenger Hellcat muscle cars. Nearly 75 vehicles were stolen Sunday, including models driven through glass showroom doors.f

Public Safety:

Gov. Newsom says protests may lead to spike in virus cases

Bakersfield Californian

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday he’s concerned about the spread of coronavirus as thousands of people gather for protests across the state, and he said the state should prepare for higher rates of positive tests because of both the protests and the reopening of businesses that’s underway.

See also:

●     Public Health Guidelines For Minimizing COVID-19 Risk At Protests Capital Public Radio

●     George Floyd Updates: Public Health Experts Share Tips For Limiting COVID-19 Spread At Protests Capital Public Radio

●     Using tear gas to subdue protesters may further spread the coronavirus, experts warn Los Angeles Times

●     Newsom says protests may cause California’s coronavirus numbers to surge San Francisco Chronicle

Most California curfews lifted as peace replaces unrest

Bakersfield Californian

After days of raucous protests accompanied by sporadic violence and scattered looting that led to deployment of the National Guard, Los Angeles, San Francisco and most other cities in California anxiously lifted curfews Thursday amid more peaceful demonstrations.

See also:

●     Most California curfews lifted as peace replaces unrest Modesto Bee

●     The Role Of Calif’s National Guard In Protests Capital Public Radio

Progress under Prop 47 but Racial Disparities Persist in California Arrests

PPIC

A key voter-approved reform has decreased arrests disparities between African Americans and whites, but a significant and pervasive divide remains. 

Calif lawmakers promise to set rules for police use of rubber bullets amid George Floyd protests

Los Angeles Times

Alarmed at numerous reports that protesters in recent days have been seriously injured by rubber bullets fired by police officers, a group of California lawmakers said Thursday they will introduce legislation to set clear standards for when the projectiles can be used.

McCarthy offers Republican-backed policing overhauls in response to George Floyd’s killing

Roll Call

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said his Republican conference is open to policing overhauls urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring the House back so that members can convene in person and devise a plan of action.

See also:

●      Democrats to unveil plan Monday to end police racial profiling, use of force Roll Call

U.S. Gun Sales Spike Amid Pandemic and Protests

Newsweek

According to reports from local news outlets throughout this week, vendors in Florida, Alabama and North Carolina have noted substantial rises in demand from their communities.

Fire:

COVID-19 pandemic may be resulting in a busier season for firefighters

abc30

Fresno firefighters have lately been getting more calls for help than usual. “Our fire response is up over 60%. It feels like we’re constantly running, running, running,” says Shane Brown, Fresno Fire spokesperson.

ECONOMY/JOBS

Economy:

Manteca’s Great Wolf Lodge water park resort pushes back opening, starts hiring soon

Fresno Bee

Great Wolf Lodge, Manteca’s long-anticipated new water park resort, has pushed back its opening two months to the start of September due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Last month the company announced revised plans and new safety measures for its then-scheduled July 1 opening because of the COVID-19 outbreak and its ensuing shutdowns.

Merced approves expanded outdoor dining. Here’s what it will mean for local restaurants

Merced Sun-Star

Merced City Council continued to move forward this week with crafting its effort to support economic recovery due to havoc wreaked by the coronavirus pandemic. One tactic City Council unanimously supported is temporarily supplementing the city’s municipal code, so restaurants may expand their outdoor seating into public spaces.

Dow spikes more than 700 points after surprise drop in U.S. jobless rate puts V-shape recovery back in play

Washington Post

Investors rejoiced after the Labor Department reported May unemployment fell to 13.3 percent — a far cry from the 19.5 percent analysts had forecast and a sharp improvement from the 14.7 percent set in April — suggesting the economic downtown was bottoming out.

See also:

●      The Economy Is In Trouble. Try Telling The Stock Market VPR

Senate passes fix to COVID-19 payroll loan program after businesses complain about changing rules

Los Angeles Times

Following complaints from business groups about changing rules and confusing guidelines, the Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved a fix to the popular Paycheck Protection Program program, which was created to help small businesses survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jobs:

Coronavirus in US: 1.87M workers seek jobless aid in 9th straight weekly decline

abc30

Nearly 1.9 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, the ninth straight decline since applications spiked in mid-March, a sign that the gradual reopening of businesses has slowed the loss of jobs. The diminishing pace suggests that the job market meltdown that was triggered by the coronavirus may have bottomed out as more companies call at least some of their former employees back to work.

See also:

●      May Surprise: U.S. Adds 2.5 Million Jobs As Unemployment Dips To 13.3% VPR

●      Unemployment drops in May to 13.3 percent as states reopen Politico

●      Unemployment rate drops to 13 percent, as the economy picked up jobs as states reopenedWashington Post

●      Unemployment rate falls to 13.3 percent as economy gains surprise 2.5 million jobs despite coronavirus NBC

●      1.9 million seek jobless aid even as reopenings slow layoffs Merced Sun-Star

●     1.9 million seek jobless aid even as reopenings slow layoffs Los Angeles Times

●     U.S. jobless claims slow but underscore persistent weakness Los Angeles Times

●     New Unemployment Claims Dip Below 2 Million In Sign Pace Of Job Losses May Be Easing VPR

COVID claims: Over 5,000 Californians file for workers’ comp

CalMatters

The coronavirus pandemic sent overall workers’ compensation claims plummeting as California workplaces shut down and fewer employees were injured on the job.

Examining options to boost essential worker wages during the pandemic

Brookings

Despite their crucial role keeping the U.S. health system and economy functioning, many Americans in essential occupations earn low wages and have not received additional government support. Ryan Nunn, Jimmy O’Donnell, and Jay Shambaugh examine three policy options aimed at compensating these critical workers.

EDUCATION

K-12:

Bitter named State CIF President-elect

Madera Tribune

Madera Unified School Disctrict’s Director of Athletics Marty Bitter’s plate just got a little more full after an announcement made by the CIF State office. Bitter was named President-Elect of the CIF State, the governing body of California high school athletics, during a Friday meeting.

Teacher pension plans & the COVID-19 recession

AEI

The economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic bodes poorly for teacher pension plan finances, which were already in bad shape before this new, uncertain recession.

Higher Ed:

Fresno State coach in wake of George Floyd killing: Bulldogs must use their platform

Fresno Bee

The messages from college football coaches trickled out after the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota and the protests that have followed across the country and the world, most grasping for the right words after the death of another unarmed black man at the hands of police.

Community College Chief Wants Police Training Changes

Capital Public Radio

Elroy Ortiz Oakley wants to change how police officers in California are trained. Oakley is the chancellor of the state’s 115 community colleges and consequently oversees one of the largest training networks for California police. 

Porterville College to host ‘drive through celebration’ for graduates

Bakersfield Californian

Porterville College will host a “drive through celebration” for more than 650 graduates representing 876 degrees on June 10 and 11 at the college’s Jamison Stadium.

Calif, other states sue over new federal rules on campus sexual harassment

San Francisco Chronicle

The Trump administration is undermining laws against sex discrimination in education with new rules that narrow the definition of sexual harassment in public schools and colleges, California and other states charged in a lawsuit Thursday.

COVID-19 Could Be End of Line for Some Regional Colleges

Pew Trusts

The pandemic could have a devastating impact on colleges and universities already struggling to pay the bills — particularly regional institutions that aren’t nationally known or highly selective, focus on teaching rather than research and serve mostly local students. 

College presidents outline how campuses plan to reopen

Roll Call

A panel of college presidents described to a Senate committee Thursday the challenges of reopening campuses later this year and how they plan to adapt to changes such as social distancing in the COVID-19 era.

See also:

●     Stanford: Online classes, single dorms likely as officials announce early start to fall quarterMercury News

The Future of Work #1: The Education-to-Employment Pipeline

CALmatters

CalMatters higher-education reporter Mikhail Zinshteyn moderates our first “Future of Work” discussion, about how the Golden State can better connect students to employers, develop strong cross-sector skills and career pathways in its public colleges, and innovate workforce development programs for jobs of today and the future.

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

Environment:

Federal court rejects EPA approval of widely used herbicide

Modesto Bee

The federal government must revoke its approval of a widely used weed killer that has damaged other crops and turned neighbor against neighbor in some farm communities, a federal appeals court in California ruled.

Calif’s Green New Deal Is Dead. Authors Say Equity& Climate Change Must Be The Focus In Bills That Advance.

Capital Public Radio

The author of Calif’s “Green New Deal” legislation, which aimed to tackle climate change with a focus on environmental, health and economic justice for low-income, immigrant and communities of color, says the COVID-19 crisis was likely the final blow for the bill this year.

Why communities fighting for fair policing also demand environmental justice

Los Angeles Times

Welcome back to Boiling Point, a newsletter about climate change and the environment. I’m Sammy Roth. There were several topics I considered writing about this week, including the results of California’s latest cap-and-trade auction and a bill in Sacramento dealing with the proposed Eagle Mountain hydropower project.

Energy:

Commentary: Calif needs clean, healthy & safe local energy systems – microgrids

CalMatters

With climate change-amplified wildfires and power shut-offs becoming commonplace, all Californians are worried about how to stay safe and keep the lights on. Thousands have already purchased dirty, dangerous and noisy fossil fuel generators that exacerbate air pollution and climate change. 

Experts: Pandemic an opportunity for Calif to cut fossil fuels

Energy News Network

Some experts believe that the coronavirus crisis is an opportunity for California to phase out oil activity that has long enjoyed political support despite the state’s climate ambitions.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Where COVID-19 spreading fastest in Calif — new cases, deaths, hospitalizations

Fresno Bee

COVID-19 continues to spread throughout much of California, but the rate of new cases and deaths varies sharply between many counties. The worst outbreak during the past two weeks was in Imperial County, where cases more than doubled.

See also:

●     Five more deaths, dozens of new COVID-19 cases surface in Fresno, Tulare counties Fresno Bee

●     Coronavirus update: 1,226 in Tulare County have recovered Porterville Recorder

●     County announces five new COVID-19 deaths, bringing total to 45 Bakersfield Californian

●     Coronavirus cases jump by 33 percent in Placer County as it reopens business, governmentSacramento Bee

●     Sacramento County nearing 1,500 coronavirus cases; California still in Phase 2 reopeningSacramento Bee

●     California coronavirus cases surpass 120,000; protests, closed testing sites worry health officialsLos Angeles Times

Mosquitoes with West Nile virus in Fresno. ‘Everyone should take this disease seriously’

Fresno Bee

West Nile virus has again been detected in mosquitoes in Fresno, county health officials announced Thursday.

See also:

●     Mosquitoes with West Nile Virus found in Fresno, health officials say abc30

Therapists see burnout rising locally as people work from home

Bakersfield Californian

Local mental health therapists say the quarantine has taken a big toll on Bakersfield residents’ psychological well-being, increasing risks of depression and anxiety while threatening long-term damage that could take serious work to repair.

Authors retract study showing hydroxychloroquine was dangerous to hospitalized covid-19 patients

Washington Post

The medical journal Lancet published a statement from the authors of a study showing that hydroxychloroquine was dangerous for hospitalized covid-19 patients, saying they were unable to complete an independent audit of the hospital data underpinning their analysis.

See also:

●     Hydroxychloroquine Studies Tied to Data Firm Surgisphere Retracted Wall Street Journal

Human Services:

Calif hospitals suffer massive losses from fewer patients, major COVID-19 expenses

Fresno Bee

California hospitals lost at least $3.2 billion a month during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic as they made preparations for a potential flood of patients, bought new equipment and canceled non-emergency medical procedures, according to a report from the nonprofit California Health Care Foundation.

Madera increases COVID-19 testing

Madera Tribune

Madera County has launched a new testing site in the City of Madera at the Madera Fairgrounds as of May 27. This new site is one of the many across the state offered through a partnership with OptumServe.

IMMIGRATION

For One Immigrant Community, George Floyd’s Death Isn’t Just About Black & White

VPR
In America, there are only 18 clans of Hmong, an ethnic group from Laos, Vietnam and parts of China that sided with the United States during the Vietnam War.  

Immigrants anxious as they await Supreme Court DACA decision

Modesto Bee

Under intense pressure from activists, then-President Barack Obama announced DACA in 2012. Commonly known as “Dreamers” after the failed legislation that would have provided a path to citizenship, these immigrants have been in the U.S. since they were children.

ICE Is Fueling Coronavirus Outbreaks, Ignoring CDC Guidelines

Forbes

More than half of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s (ICE) detention facilities are in rural communities. Outbreaks of Covid-19 are increasing there, with deaths of both detainees and officers.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Yosemite awaits state decision before reopening. Sierra counties sent Gov a letter

Fresno Bee

Yosemite National Park is waiting for more state input before reopening to day-use visitors — what county leaders hope will happen in tandem with California allowing nearby communities to reopen lodging to tourists, along with relaxing non-essential travel restrictions.

Shaver Lake to reopen to visitors with limitations on Saturday

Abc30

The lake, shoreline, boat slips, marinas, day-use areas and nearby trails will open from 8 am to 8 pm.

Calif’s national parks are reopening, but expect big inconveniences this summer

San Francisco Chronicle

When Redwood National Park reopened its roads and trailheads in time for Memorial Day, after closing them for nearly two months because of the coronavirus outbreak, the site of the world’s tallest trees looked a bit different.

Housing:

Gospel Center Rescue Mission providing shelter for homeless men who test positive for COVID-19

Stockton Record

The Gospel Center Rescue Mission now is equipped to temporarily shelter homeless men who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. On Wednesday, a former private residence on the northwest corner of the mission campus on Sonora Street welcomed its first resident, a homeless man who displayed symptoms while sheltered at the Gospel Center Rescue Mission, where Community Medical Centers conducts COVID-19 screenings each night.

Construction union helps squash housing development bills

CalMatters

Several bills aimed at making it easier to build more market-rate housing in California died yesterday at the hands of a powerful Assembly committee

PUBLIC FINANCES

How filing taxes could generate your coronavirus stimulus check

Los Angeles Times

My adjusted gross income in 2019 was too high for me to get a stimulus relief payment. However, my income this year will be much lower and I would qualify. Will I automatically get the stimulus payment when I file my 2020 return or is there something I must do to get the money?

Calif Assembly, Senate leaders say no to mandatory pay cuts for state workers

Fresno Bee

Leaders from both houses of the Legislature have now rejected Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to force state workers to take a pay cut this summer. Assembly and Senate leaders announced a unified budget pact Wednesday that encourages the state’s unions to negotiate pay reductions to help address California’s projected $54 billion budget deficit, but does not require them to give concessions.

75% of state workers urged to telework as Calif offices open after coronavirus

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration directed state leaders on Wednesday to start reopening state offices under new coronavirus protocols. Many offices have been empty or nearly empty since mid-March, when the administration directed departments to use telework wherever possible

TRANSPORTATION

E-Bikes Are Having Their Moment. They Deserve It.

New York Times

The benefits of owning a battery-powered two-wheeler far outweigh the downsides, especially in a pandemic.

WATER

Central Valley town fought for clean water for years. Is the battle finally over?

Fresno Bee

During summertime, many households in Seville have seen their wells go completely dry. For years — too many, residents say — households teetered with unpredictable conditions. Using too much water in the day meant having none at night. One flush too many, and everyone relying on a single well in town was thrown into a dry spell.

“Xtra”

Trendy new ax-throwing bar coming to Modesto’s Village One Plaza

Modesto Bee

Let’s be honest, 2020 has been a lot. So amid the tension and the stress and the worry, why not blow off some steam throwing a big ax at an inanimate object? In Modesto, you’ll be able to do just that soon. Smart Axe, which opened in last year in Rancho Cordova just east of Sacramento, is coming to the city later this summer.