June 6, 2018

06Jun

POLICY & POLITICS

 

Valley:

 

Latest results in Valley races for California Senate, Assembly

Fresno Bee

Under California's primary system, the top two vote-getters in state Senate and Assembly races advance to the November general election. That made Tuesday's election inconsequential in two San Joaquin Valley Assembly districts.

See also:

     Semi-Official Election Results California Secretary of state

     Here's what happened in the California primary election while you were sleeping Fresno Bee

     Fresno County “Has Secure Elections” On Primary Day 2018 KMJ Now

     2018 California June Primary Election Results ABC30

     Results of Tuesday's local primary races ABC30

     Results of Tuesday's biggest primary races ABC30

     California Primary Election Results 2018 KMPH

     State primary races give good picture of general election to come Hanford Sentinel

     Election 2018: Unofficial voting results from Tuesday's California primary Bakersfield Californian

     Live updates: Here are latest California election results for state and local​​  ​​​​ races Sacramento Bee

     California primary election 2018 morning after results Sacramento Bee

     California primary live updates Los Angeles Times

     Top takeaways from 2018’s biggest primary night Politico

     California Today: Primary Election Results, and What They Mean New York Times

 

Vidak, Grove coasting to leads in 14th and 16th state Senate races, but who will oppose them?

Bakersfield Californian

Andy Vidak, the 14th California Senate District's Republican incumbent, may be feeling pretty comfortable on this primary Election Night. Former state Assemblywoman Shannon Grove was enjoying Election Night at Centro 18 in downtown Bakersfield, watching the results and chatting with Superior Court candidate Chad Louie and lots of friends and supporters.

 

Assembly, congressional incumbents hold comfortable leads

Stockton Record

The incumbent candidates for both State Assembly and House held comfortable leads throughout Tuesday evening’s primaries

 

Andrew Janz looks to land a blow against Devin Nunes in nationally hyped primary race

Fresno Bee

Of the five challengers vying to oust Tulare Republican Devin NunesAndrew Janz considerable fundraising advantage and extremely high profile would seem enough to set him on a collision path with the House Intelligence Committee chairman in November.

See also:

     Janz on pace to face Nunes in high-profile Congressional race, early results show Fresno Bee

     Andrew Janz challenging Congressman Devin Nunes in District 22 ABC30

     California 2018 primary election: Devin Nunes defends U.S. House seat against Andrew Janz Visalia Times Delta

     Rep. Devin Nunes will face Andrew Janz in the Central Valley's 22nd District Los Angeles Times

     Dem Andrew Janz advances in bid to unseat Nunes The Hill

     Trump urges Calif. voters to back Rep. Nunes, a ‘true American Patriot’ Washington Post

 

Election roundup: Mendes holds slim lead on Salas; Fong, Valadao cruising
Bakersfield Californian

Tuesday night's numbers looked hopeful for local incumbents defending their seats against single opponents.

See also:

     Zimmer takes early lead in race to become district attorney Bakersfield Californian

     Youngblood poised to retain Kern County sheriff seat Bakersfield Californian

     Matta or Reed could go head-to-head with McCarthy in November Bakersfield Californian

 

Harder appears headed toward showdown with Denham for Congress

Modesto Bee

In a local congressional race watched across the United States, Josh Harder appeared to emerge from a pack of Democratic candidates as the one who may challenge incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Denham in November, although Republican Ted Howze was within striking distance late Tuesday.

 

GOP Rep. Tom McClintock and Democrat Jessica Morse advance in race for Sierra Nevada district

Los Angeles Times

GOP Rep. Tom McClintock and Democrat Jessica Morse advanced to the general election after a tight California primary race that left Democrats brimming with hope.

 

Tulare County election results at a glance

Visalia Times Delta

Voting Results.

See also:

     Devon Mathis battles to hold state assembly seat  Visalia Times Delta

     Upset for supervisors race? Visalia Times Delta

     Tim Ward takes huge lead in DA race Visalia Times Delta

 

Helms Lewis ousts longtime Merced DA Morse in landslide victory

Merced Sun Star

In a stunning landslide, a political newcomer cruised to an easy win Tuesday night over longtime Merced County District Attorney Larry Morse II, an incumbent whose political strength had never before been challenged.

 

Races for 2 seats on county Board of Supervisors heading to November runoff

Modesto Bee

Supervisor Terry Withrow was leading in early returns in Tuesday’s primary election as he seeks another term on the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors but faced a challenge from Modesto Councilman Tony Madrigal.

 

Madera County District Attorney David Linn trails in bid for re-election

Sierra Star

Madera County District Attorney David Linn's bid for re-election was looking doubtful Tuesday, as he trailed his two competitors by a large margin.

 

Madera County supervisor David Rogers appears on his way to winning re-election

Sierra Star

Madera County supervisors David Rogers appeared to be on his way to winning his bid re-election Tuesday night, while supervisor Tom Wheeler remained in a tight race.

 

Change or consistency: District 1 supervisor

Hanford Sentinel

District 1 voters of Kings County were given the option to change things up or to continue supporting the incumbent supervisor on Election Day.

 

Kings County District 3 supervisor

Hanford Sentinel

Heading into the last few hours of the election, the District 3 candidates for the County Board of Supervisors were like other candidates just waiting on the numbers.

 

Returns show City Council seats are destined for November runoffs

Fresno Bee

There will be at least two new faces on the Fresno City Council next year after voters winnowed the fields of candidates in Tuesday's primary election.

 

State:

 

California's major political parties feared the top-two primary but emerged as powerful as before

Los Angeles Times

In the end, the playing field looked very much like a traditional primary. Unofficial returns on Tuesday showed that only two statewide races, at most, will end up as a same-party showdown in November. Otherwise, and in the overwhelming majority of California’s races, the two-party system seems to have survived intact.

See also:

     Democrats beat vote quirk to challenge Republicans in California Reuters

     Can California Lurch Leftward? The Weekly Standard

     EDITORIAL: Upshot in California primary —it’s still a two-party state San Francisco Chronicle

     EDITORIAL: What the June primary tells us about the state's top-two system Los Angeles Times

 

Come campaign in California, Donald Trump, Democratic leader says

Sacramento Bee

"I want him to come here," said Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman. "I want to give him welcoming committees wherever he goes."

See also:

     How to Resurrect California’s Republican Party Fox & Hounds

 

In the heart of the Trump resistance, so much apathy in California

Los Angeles Times

Sure, it’s just a primary. And the general election is five months away. But is that reason enough, in a state that has screamed its political resistance loud and clear, to sleep through an election? The answer, my fellow Californians, is yes.

 

Gavin Newsom, John Cox advance to general election in California governor's race

Fresno Bee

Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Republican John Cox are headed for a face-off in California's general election to replace Gov. Jerry Brown as governor.

See also:

     Politics separates votes for governor at the polls in Fresno, the Valley Fresno Bee

     Four takeaways from the California governor's race Fresno Bee

     Trump congratulates John Cox for second place in California governor primary Fresno Bee

     Gavin Newsom secures California primary win, moves closer to becoming governor ABC30

     Rep. Cox promises lively debate with Dem. Newsom over issues affecting California ABC30

     California governor: Gavin Newsom advances in race, with John Cox as strong second Visalia Times-Delta

     Who is John Cox? Trump-backed Republican faces Newsom in California's governor race Sacramento Bee

     Gavin Newsom takes first place in California primary for governor Los Angeles Times

      It's Newsom vs. Cox in November as Villaraigosa tumbles in governor's race Los Angeles Times

     The Next Governor Of California Will Either Be Gavin Newsom Or John Cox capradio.org

     A big surprise in the governor's race Los Angeles Times

     Gavin Newsom’s top issues for California: affordability and homelessness San Francisco Chronicle

     Rancho Santa Fe's John Cox makes it into gubernatorial runoff with Newsom San Diego Union-Tribune

     Video: Newsom celebrates his big win in the governor’s race CALmatters

     Newsom’s victory speech has plenty of old favorites—and hints at campaign ahead CALmatters

     Cox claims victory and tells Gavin Newsom “be careful what you wish for” CALmatters

     Republican John Cox Secures Spot in California Governor’s Race The Wall Street Journal

     Gavin Newsom and John Cox to Compete in California Election for Governor New York Times

     GOP avoids shutout in race for California governor AP

     Villaraigosa calls for extending election day through Friday after more than 118,000 L.A. County voters' names left off rolls Los Angeles Times

     Thousands of Voters Were Left Off Primary Day Rolls in Los Angeles  New York Times

     Antonio Villaraigosa concedes, throws support behind Newsom CALmatters

 

Democrat Feinstein wins California US Senate primary

ABC30

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein cruised to first place in California's primary on Tuesday in her bid for a fifth full term in Washington.

See also:

     Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein wins California primary Visalia Times-Delta

     Sen. Dianne Feinstein advances to November election, but her opponent is still to be decided Los Angeles Times

     California's Feinstein trounces rivals in US Senate primary Sacramento Bee

     Sen. Dianne Feinstein advances to general election, and Kevin de León appears poised to join her San Diego Union-Tribune

     Democratic Incumbent Dianne Feinstein Easily Wins California Senate Primary Wall Street Journal

 

California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra leading three challengers in early election returns

Los Angeles Times

Tuesday’s election featured seven statewide contests besides the governor’s race, including a barnburner for state attorney general in which incumbent Xavier Becerra took a big lead in early vote returns against three challengers to see who will face off in November for California’s top cop job.

See also:

     Becerra to face a Republican in California attorney general race CALmatters

 

In California, Democrats Go After G.O.P.-Held Seats

New York Times

The votes in a big election day in California have been cast, and the country is eagerly awaiting the results. Key battles include seven Republican-held congressional seats Democrats hope to flip in the fall and a race to succeed Jerry Brown as governor.

See also:

     Nightmare election scenarios loom for California Democrats Mercury News

     Democratic establishment dominance has failed California OCRegister

     Democrats hope California races will propel House takeover KCRA Sacramento

     Democrats seem poised to avoid getting shut out of key California House races Los Angeles Times

     Democrats poised to claim ballot slots in nearly all House districts in California Washington Post

     California Democrats on Track to Advance in Key Races for House Control Wall Street Journal

     Key House races in California still undecided CNN

 

California measure roundup: Props. 69, 71, 72 pass; 70 fails; 68 for outdoor funds ahead

San Francisco Chronicle

California voters decided five propositions on the statewide ballot Tuesday.

Election commission says 26 states have received cybersecurity funding ahead of midterms

The Hill

The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) on Tuesday released a list of 26 states that have requested and received cybersecurity funding, money that aims to ensure state's voting systems are properly secured ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

 

Walters: Local officials avoid ‘p-word’ as they push new taxes

CALmatters

The California Taxpayers Association counted 98 proposals to raise local taxes directly, or indirectly through issuance of bonds that would require higher property taxes to repay.

 

Federal:

 

Pardon Me, Said the President to Himself

Wall Street Journal

Any decision by Mr. Trump to pardon himself would spur a political disaster of, well, Trumpian proportions. The powerful check public opinion places on the president reduces the need to conjure a prohibition of self-pardons from the text of the Constitution.

 

Trump Uses Flags, Military Troops to Make a Political Point

Roll Call

President Donald Trump on Tuesday brought his feud with the NFL and some of its players over national anthem protests to his backdoor — literally.

 

Senate obstructionism handed a raft of judicial vacancies to Trump—what has he done with them?

Brookings

Donald Trump inherited 88 district and 17 court of appeals vacancies. The reasons for the vacancies—old news to most—was the flimsy confirmation record in the 2015-16 Senate (the 114th), with its new Republican majority

 

The Supreme Court Affirms: Tolerance Is a Two-Way Street

National Review

The U.S. Supreme Court has now clarified for the country what Colorado cake artist Jack Phillips has publicly stated for years: His case is, and has always been, about the First Amendment.

 

Other:

 

Facebook reveals data-sharing deals with Huawei, other Chinese tech makers

Politico

Facebook has data-sharing partnerships with Chinese electronics companies including Huawei, a telecommunications giant that's been flagged to the U.S. as a national security threat, the social media giant said Tuesday.

See also:

     Facebook Gave Data Access to Chinese Firm Flagged by U.S. Intelligence New York Times

 

EDITORIAL: The sweeping surveillance of American lives

OCRegister

Civil liberties groups are correctly demanding the release of more information on a reported surge in U.S. call records collected by the National Security Agency. Last month it was reported by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that the NSA collected over 530 million American call records in 2017. That’s three times the number of call records reportedly collected by the agency in 2016, which was about 151 million.

 

Hanson: Dueling Populisms

Hoover Institution

Populism is seen as both bad and good because people disagree about what it represents and intends. In the present age, there are two different sorts of populism.

 

The Changing Conservative Disposition

National Review

To many, the word conservative is starting to describe an attitude of suspicious revolt against everything.

 

Who Represents All of Us?

National Review

Neither Democrats nor Republicans even try anymore to unify the nation.

 

A Midterm Environment Is Beginning to Take Shape, but Beware the Late Decider

Roll Call

It’s June, five months out from the fall elections, and the midterm speculation has gone from a simmer to a slow boil.

 

EDITORIAL: Quotas for Male Democrats

Wall Street Journal

Pennsylvania Democrats have long complained that women are under-represented in state politics. But last month they turned away two women who won election to the Democratic State Committee, giving the positions to men who garnered fewer votes.

 

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING  

 

Sunday, June 10, at 10 a.m. on ABC 30 – Maddy Report“Saving for a Rainy Day: Preparing for the Next Recession” – Guests: Ann Hollingshead from LAO, Dan Walters from CALmatters and John Myers from Los Angeles Times. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, June 10, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report  - Valley Views Edition"State Budget & Rainy Day Fund: Too Much, Too Little, or Just Right?" – Guests: Scott Graves from California Budget & Policy Center, Ann Hollingshead from LAO, Dan Walters from CALmatters, and John Myers from Los Angeles Times. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, June 10, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “Workers Comp Fraud”  Guest: Margarita Fernandez, PIO State Auditor's Office. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.

 

Support the Maddy Daily HERE.


Thank you!

 

Additional Information by Topic:

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Fresno State sweet corn is nearly ready for harvest. What's your favorite, white or yellow?

Fresno Bee

Better late than never, Fresno State sweet corn is due to arrive at the Gibson Farm market on June 8.  The much beloved corn crop is running about a week later than last year, thanks to a cold snap in late February that caused the Fresno State farm to replant.

 

Agricultural Contracts and Competition Policies

AEI

Alternative marketing arrangements (AMAs) benefit not only farmers and packers by eliminating marketing timing and capacity underutilization risks but also consumers because they provide consumers with better-quality meat products.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

California judge faces recall over Brock Turner's sentence

Sacramento Bee

Northern California voters on Tuesday recalled a judge from office after he sentenced a former Stanford University swimmer convicted of sexual assault to a short jail sentence instead of prison.

See also:

     Recall of Brock Turner judge succeeds: Voters oust Aaron Persky for sentence in sexual assault case Mercury News

 

Soros' bid to overhaul criminal justice system hits a wall in Calif.

San Diego Union-Tribune

George Soros has spent millions of dollars trying elect district attorneys who agree with his brand of criminal justice reform. The billionaire has had tremendous success over several years.

 

Public Safety:

 

Advertising and Teens in the Era of the 'Blackout Brownie'

RAND

The ads for recreational marijuana have gotten out ahead of regulations that could restrict where and how teens are exposed to advertising of the drug.

 

Congress’ Focus on Opioids Misses Larger Crisis

Roll Call

Congress faced a startling public health and political problem throughout 2016 as the number of people dying from opioid addiction climbed.

 

Fire:

 

Vegetation fire continues to burn near Madera County community of O'Neals

ABC30

A vegetation fire burning near the Madera County community of O'Neals had charred over 300 acres and was only 20 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon. Despite that, Cal fire says it now has the upper-hand on fire and hand crews are now focused on mop up duties.

 

If you see smoke near foothills, this may be why

Visalia Times-Delta

Eight acres of Sequoia National Park’s Ash Mountain were set on fire to help prevent wildland blazes growing out of control this summer. Upward of 10 more acres will be treated manually, including weeding and grazing packs. It's just the start of helping prevent a devastating wildfire season.

 

ECONOMY / JOBS

 

Economy:

 

New company launches to incubate Central Valley businesses

ABC30

The Central Valley is home to thousands of businesses and now one organization wants to showcase entrepreneurs on a bigger platform. Jennifer Lopez and others funded Valley Innovators-- a company that helps business learn, network and market themselves and eventually attract big investors.

 

McCarthy worries trade war could hurt GOP

The Hill

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is banking on a strong economy helping his party in November's midterm elections — unless a burgeoning trade war sparked by tariffs implemented by the Trump administration puts the brakes on growth.

See also:

     Republican Resistance in Congress to Tariffs Grows Wall Street Journal

     Trump’s tariff follies: Making sense out of nonsense  AEI

 

Seven reasons to worry about the American middle class

Brookings

On May 8th, Brookings officially launched a new initiative on the Future of the Middle Class. Why all of this attention? Here are seven of the reasons we are worried about the American middle class.

 

EDITORIAL: High-flying California economy faces a hard fall

OCRegister

California is now the fifth-biggest economy — not in the United States, but in the whole world. But the sources of our state’s standout growth are narrowly concentrated and volatile. And they mask significant struggles outside the coastal urban cores.

 

Jobs:

 

Watch: How nontraditional pathways can lead workers to good jobs

PBS NewsHour

Not everyone takes a traditional route to a college degree that will prepare them for the workforce. Hear about alternatives to help young adults and returning students find their ways to the middle class and help close the skilled worker gap.

 

Now Hiring—Everywhere

Wall Street Journal

The tight labor market may soon become an obstacle to growth.

 

The GOP’s Welfare to Work Pitch

Wall Street Journal

The low U.S. labor force participation rate has several causes, but a major one is the disincentive to work created by government programs.

 

Unions Brace for Pivotal Court Decision Amid Politicking

Roll Call

In preparation for a Supreme Court decision that may deal a significant setback to public-sector unions, organized labor groups are launching new recruiting efforts as they mobilize for the midterm elections.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Trump’s School Safety Commission Won’t Look at Guns, Betsy DeVos Says

New York Times

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told a Senate committee on Tuesday that the federal commission on school safety set up this year after the Parkland, Fla., school massacre will not focus on the role guns play in school violence.

See also:

     DeVos: Safety commission won’t focus on role of guns in school violence The Hill

 

Marshall Tuck, Tony Thurmond advance, setting up referendum on charter schools

CALmatters

The candidates are backed by two of Sacramento’s most powerful special interest groups —Thurmond by the California Teachers Association and Tuck by the California Charter Schools Association. They’ve already dumped a combined $10 million into the race and are expected to spend even more in the months ahead.

 

From cradle to career: Newsom's vision for education reform in California

EdSource

“We invest in children, Jeff Sessions, we don’t tear them from their arms of their mothers and fathers,” Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom told supporters in San Francisco on Tuesday night after winning 33.3 percent of the vote in the primary race for governor

 

Wheaton leads in educators race to the finish in Tulare County

Visalia Times-Delta

After 28 years, Tulare County schools will soon have a new superintendent. While a clear front-runner has emerged, slow election results mean there's no clear winner, yet. As of late Tuesday night, Craig Wheaton was leading the race with 46 percent of the vote.

 

Video: Improving Outcomes for English Learners

Public Policy Institute of California

An important aim of California’s recent K–12 reforms is to change how the state funds, assesses, and holds districts accountable for the education of English Learners (ELs).

 

No, educators and policymakers shouldn’t just ‘do what the research shows’

AEI

I find myself routinely offering a version of the same meditation on how and when research influences real-world decisions—and why that influence should be much more halting and hesitant than researchers would generally prefer.

 

Teacher Pay: Inefficient, Not Too Low

National Review

Teachers across the country are protesting for higher pay, and polls show the public is behind them. But Americans significantly underestimate teachers’ salaries and benefits, and those misconceptions are encouraging the wrong kind of reform.

 

Higher Ed:

 

Completion Reforms That Work: How Leading Colleges Are Improving the Attainment of High-Value Degrees

AEI

Short-term budget concerns have caused many colleges to stint on providing important services such as financial aid, tutoring, and advising. But when the horizon is lengthened from the cost per year to cost of each degree awarded, many of these programs result in lower costs for students, colleges, and taxpayers.

 

Yes, there really is a tax break for upper-income graduate students and Congress won’t let it expire

Brookings

These tax breaks enjoy such strong support from lawmakers that even the oddest one, which quietly expires each year, is always revived in a last-minute bill just in time for the tax filing season.

 

Invest in a community college degree, not just access

San Francisco Chronicle

Gov. Jerry Brown and Community College Chancellor Eloy Oakley have committed to prioritize students by proposing a much-needed student-centered funding formula for the community college system. Their plan provides an urgently needed update to a funding model that simply no longer works, especially for our most marginalized students.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Hot weather marks start of Valley's ozone pollution season

Your Central Valley

Hot weather increases harmful ozone pollution in the Valley. Ozone is good when high in the atmosphere, but at ground-level is harmful to breathe. Health experts liken the harm of breathing ozone to a sunburn on your lungs.

 

Environmentalists sue to stop expansion near Highway 99

Sacramento Bee

The Environmental Council of Sacramento and the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit with others in Sacramento Superior Court last week challenging a county decision to allow the city of Elk Grove to expand onto 1,156 acres of farmland west of Highway 99 and south of Kammerer Road.

 

Californians approve measure to fund parks, conservation

Mercury News

California voters have approved a ballot measure allowing the state borrow $4 billion for parks and conservation projects that proponents say will help ensure access to clean drinking water.

 

Californians appear poised to reject measure controlling how climate change funds are spent

Los Angeles Times

Four statewide ballot propositions were passing in California on Tuesday, while an effort to control spending of funds collected through the state’s climate change program appeared headed toward a defeat.

 

Energy:

 

California and Carmakers ‘in Agreement’ on Emissions Standards

Bloomberg

California and the auto industry mostly agree that the state should maintain a role in setting vehicle emissions standards despite Trump administration efforts to curb its authority, according to the head of the California Air Resources Board.

 

Upgrade America’s 19th-Century Electric Grid

Wall Street Journal

The U.S. electrical system is inefficient and vulnerable to natural and man-made threats—from severe weather and solar storms to cyber and electromagnetic attacks. To stay competitive in the 21st century, the U.S. should upgrade its system before it’s too late.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Tulare County proclaims local emergency, hoping state can help reopen hospital

ABC30

On Election Day, Tulare County Supervisors cast their vote on the subject of Tulare Regional Medical Center. Seven long months have passed since the hospital closed. Attempts to reopen it, including Assemblymember Devon Mathis' recent $22 million requests to the state, have failed.

 

Mental health services expanding for all students in Fresno County

ABC30

Mental health services will be expanding for more than 200,000 kids at over 300 schools in Fresno County. "Today is one of those moments in Fresno County history that we can all be very proud of," says Fresno County Superintendent Jim Yovino.

 

Hospitals, Counties Seek Alternatives To ‘Patient Dumping’

capradio.org

There’s a high demand to combat a practice called “patient dumping,” whereby hospitals send homeless patients to places that are not equipped to handle their ongoing medical needs.

 

Childhood Cancer Measure Nears Bipartisan Win

Roll Call

Groups who push for progress against childhood cancer see President Donald Trump’s imminent signing of a bill to enhance research in the field as a significant win after they grew frustrated with Congress and the administration’s pursuit of higher-profile legislation to expand access to experimental treatments.

 

Trump Misleads on Opioid Epidemic Fight

FactCheck.org

President Donald Trump implied that his administration’s funding to fight the opioid epidemic had caused the “numbers” to come “way down.” But the most recent data we have predates the funding the president touted.

 

Human Services:

 

Will the New Foster Care Law Give Grandparents a Hand?

Pew Charitable Trusts

The aim of a new federal law is to reduce the number of children who end up in the troubled foster care system — the biggest reboot of the child welfare system since 1980.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Undocumented immigrants shouldn't replace legal ones

The Hill

We have a screening process for aliens seeking admission as lawful permanent residents. Aliens who enter the country illegally are not screened, and usually there is no reliable way to determine who they really are or where they are from when they are apprehended.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Overhaul in store for former Kmart shopping center

Bakersfield Californian

The former Kmart shopping center sitting mostly vacant along Wilson Road may soon teem with life. Local and out-of-state investors closed escrow on the property last week, and on Tuesday, one of the investors said the plan is to renovate and fill the center with tenants including an independent supermarket, a banquet hall, a gym and a Dairy Queen.

 

Housing:

 

Nearly half of Bay Area residents want out, poll shows. The reason why is no surprise

Sacramento Bee

poll released Sunday by a local advocacy group showed that 46 percent of Bay Area residents surveyed said they want to move out of the area within the next few years.  The reason for the urge to leave might be pretty obvious, at least to anyone knowledgeable on California: It's just too expensive.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Federal budget would eliminate tribal programs that made this cake business happen

Sierra Star

The Trump administration's proposed fiscal year budget for 2019 eliminates funding for all Indian and Native American workforce programs. And that has a whole lot to do with North Fork, Jordan Clark and cake.

 

After 40 years, Proposition 13 still protects California taxpayers

Sacramento Bee

The Proposition 13 tax revolt was more than an uprising against out-of-control property taxes. Passed by voters 40 years ago Wednesday, Proposition 13 survives in deep-blue California because it stands as a strong symbol not only about controlling taxation but also about voters’ power to command the government.

 

EDITORIAL: The California Legislature has loads of good ideas that the state probably can't afford

Los Angeles Times

California is heading into the new fiscal year in unexpectedly good shape, with roughly $8 billion extra in its coffers. Yet state lawmakers are actually showing a degree of fiscal restraint.

 

EDITORIAL: California’s pension problems are far from over

OCRegister

While the California State Teachers’ Retirement System has been in the news lately for taking up the issue of gun control, CalSTRS’ poorly funded status and the threat rising CalSTRS pension costs poses to school district budgets and taxpayer wallets is a much bigger story.

 

Social Security Expected to Dip Into Its Reserves This Year
Wall Street Journal

The Social Security program’s costs will exceed its income this year for the first time since 1982, forcing the program to dip into its nearly $3 trillion trust fund to cover benefits.

 

Why We Need To Keep Politics Out Of Public Pensions

Forbes

Public pensions are a vital part of American workers’ long-term financial health. Whether they are police officers, firefighters, teachers, or the public servants of our states, counties, and cities, they depend on the 6,276 public pensions across the U.S. to safeguard their hard-earned money. Together, these funds are tasked with managing trillions of public workers’ retirement savings.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Plans for California’s BART-ACE rail connection progress

Global Rail News

Funding has been secured to further plans for a new connection between the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) rail systems in California.

 

This Alta Motorcycle Hints at Harley-Davidson’s Electric Future

Bloomberg

The $13,495 Alta Motors Redshift SM uses technology that the big brand will use to create its own electric bikes. So how is it?

 

WATER

 

Over-pumping of Central Valley groundwater has side-effect: too much arsenic

San Francisco Chronicle

The many wells that nourish the farms of the Central Valley are not only pumping so much water from the ground that the land is sinking, they’re creating a dangerous vacuum where arsenic can slip in, new research shows.

See also:

     Another Danger from Overpumping Groundwater: Arsenic KQED

 

Emergency Drought Assistance Will Be Needed in California for Years

KQED

Just how long interim funding will play a central role in responding to water issues depends on implementing long-term solutions to contamination and groundwater depletion.

 

CBO: Harbor Tax Provision in House Water Bill Widens Deficit

Roll Call

A contested provision that could be in the water infrastructure bill scheduled for House floor debate this week would increase on-budget deficits by more than $5 billion over a 10-year period, the Congressional Budget Office estimated Monday.

 

“Xtra”

 

Asada fries and ice cream on Fulton. Two restaurants open since mall became a street

Fresno Bee

Two new restaurants are open on Fulton Street, among the first businesses to open since the former pedestrian mall in downtown Fresno was opened to cars.  A taqueria serving Mexican favorites – including asada fries drenched in toppings – and an ice cream shop with Mexican snacks and drinks have opened recently at opposite ends of the street.

 

Steinway Piano Gallery opens in Fresno

ABC30

The name Steinway & Sons is known around the world for amplifying beautiful music. Now Fresno has its own Steinway Piano Gallery. The pianos are known as the Rolls Royce of instruments.

 

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