POLICY & POLITICS
Deadline FAST APPROACHING: Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship
The Maddy Institute
Applications for two $56,000 Fellowships Due Friday, March 15th, 2019. Through the generosity of The Wonderful Company, San Joaquin Valley students will have the opportunity to become the next generation of Valley leaders through The Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship. The Maddy Institute will award two $56,000 Fellowships to Valley students who are accepted into a nationally ranked, qualified graduate program in the fall of 2019.
Video: Water and the Future of the San Joaquin Valley
PPIC
The San Joaquin Valley is at a critical juncture in determining its water future. California’s largest agricultural region is ground zero for many of the state’s most difficult water management problems, including groundwater overdraft, drinking water contamination, and declines in habitat and native species.
North SJ Valley:
City board votes to condemn Budgetel motel in Modesto, where residents remain
Modesto Bee
Modesto’s Board of Building Appeals voted Thursday evening to condemn the Budgetel Inn property on McHenry Avenue and assess $100,000 in civil penalties against the owners.
Central SJ Valley:
San Joaquin River access plan flips. Board endorses route through Bluffs neighborhood
Fresno Bee
A compromise to provide three public access points to the Lewis Eaton Trail along the San Joaquin River west of Highway 41 in northwest Fresno fell apart Wednesday, as members of a joint state-local board failed to reach agreement on how to proceed.
Candidates for Fresno County supervisor in final flurry before Tuesday’s special election
Fresno Bee
On the eve of Tuesday’s special election, the three candidates for Fresno County’s Board of Supervisors are bracing for a final weekend push in a contest in which turnout will be key.
EMILY’s List names 2020 House and Senate targets (Cong. Nunes on List)
Roll Call
EMILY’s List is looking to expand the Democratic House majority and flip the Senate next year, naming 43 House Republicans and six GOP senators on its initial list of 2020 targets, shared first with Roll Call.
Fresno is one of America’s most diverse cities. Here’s where it ranks
Fresno Bee
Fresno and Bakersfield were among the most diverse cities in America, according to a new study. See how they compared to other US cities in California and nationwide.
First-of-its-kind mental health facility opens in Fresno
abc30
A first-of-its-kind facility aimed at helping people suffering from mental health issues opened in Southeast Fresno on Thursday. The new center will offer patients therapy while providing a secure residential environment.
The Crystal Meth Epidemic Plaguing Fresno
VICE
Today, methamphetamine is the number one threat for the Central Valley Drug Task Force, and, because latinos make up half of Fresno’s population, they are also being affecting by this epidemic.
Gallo to pay civil penalty, make safety improvements to winery
Modesto Bee
In a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, E.&.J. Gallo Winery will pay a $58,000 civil penalty and make improvements to address the risk of chemical accidents at its wine production facility in Fresno.
California State University Fresno
The political landscape affects our nation and world. That’s why the President’s Lecture Series brings national speakers to campus to inform the community on matters that impact the Valley. Join Dr. Castro in an insightful community discussion with Steve Forbes.
South SJ Valley:
Bakersfield Californian
A new location for training police officers, equipment for a planned “rapid response” team for homeless and park maintenance issues and a plan to reduce payments to the city’s pension system were the first proposals city officials brought before the new members of the sales tax oversight committee.
Zack Scrivner calls for county to abandon high-speed rail
Bakersfield Californian
Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner plans to introduce a resolution at the March 12 meeting that calls for the state to abandon the high-speed rail project.
Despite plea from preservationists, Hart Park adobe still on chopping block
Bakersfield Californian
When the Kern County Parks and Recreation Commission voted 4-0 in late January to approve the county’s master plan for Hart Park, it was made clear the vote came with a caveat — the understanding that preserving the park’s Depression-era adobe house was a significant concern for many.
Dolores Huerta: I’m in ‘awe’ of Aparicio, Ocasio-Cortez
Bakersfield Californian
Civil rights leader Dolores Huerta says she’s in “awe” of Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio and freshman Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez because of conversations they are sparking in the U.S.
State:
CA bill would ‘publicly shame’ parents who owe thousands in child support
abc30
A California state lawmaker is proposing a bill that would publicly shame parents who are more than $5,000 behind on child support payments.
Three things to know about California’s data privacy fight
CALmatters
Lawmakers and lobbyists are now making use of the time, submitting at least 20 bills in recent weeks that would adjust, tweak—or perhaps ultimately gut—California’s unique privacy protections. Privacy advocates are fighting to make the law even broader, while businesses and tech companies want to see it narrowed.
See also:
· Why Facebook Still Seems to Spy on You Wall Street Journal
Who wants to go to work in the dark? Californians need Permanent Standard Time
Modesto Bee
When Californians voted in November to end the increasingly pointless process of resetting our clocks twice a year, it also was a step toward improving our health.
California’s lieutenant governor to focus on foreign trade
Sacramento Bee
California’s lieutenant governor has a new role promoting the state as an international trading partner. Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis will head a committee tasked with reopening trade offices in foreign countries and promoting the state’s trade interests, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.
California Republicans hope their next leader can make them relevant again
San Francisco Chronicle
The California Republican Party has never been less relevant. It has no statewide elected officials. It’s a super-minority in the Legislature. Only 1 in 4 registered voters belongs to it. And the state’s entire GOP House delegation can fit in a minivan.
See also:
· California Republicans Rethink Approach In 2019 Capital Public Radio
Federal:
U.S. Leadership Falls Further Behind China In Global Regard, Gallup Poll Finds
Capital Public Radio
The U.S. maintained a strong lead in the annual poll for years until 2017, when its worldwide approval rating plummeted to 30 %. That number increased slightly in 2018.
Trump says he still trusts Kim, but needed to ‘walk away’ from a bad nuclear deal
Los Angeles Times
The collapse of President Trump’s summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un left confusion in its wake Thursday, with each side blaming the other and no clear path forward in the nuclear standoff.
See also:
● Trump’s foreign policy appears in disarray on major fronts Los Angeles Times
● U.S., North Korea Trade Blame for Failed Summit Wall Street Journal
● Forget Hanoi. Trump has already done irreparable damage to America’s reputation. Washington Post
● EDITORIAL: Trump wisely walks away from his North Korea summit without a (bad) deal Los Angeles Times
● EDITORIAL The Trump-Kim summit’s accidental success San Francisco Chronicle
Opponents of Trump border emergency close to votes needed
Sacramento Bee
Senate opponents of President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border are within a hair of having enough votes to prevail.
See also:
● Acting Pentagon chief to certify emergency to help build wall — and win Trump’s favor Los Angeles Times
● Senior Republican senator warns Trump to consider other border security options Los Angeles Times
Former coal lobbyist confirmed to lead EPA along mostly party-line vote
abc30
The Senate has confirmed Andrew Wheeler to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, seven months after his predecessor Scott Pruitt resigned.
See also:
· The Senate has confirmed a former coal lobbyist to lead the EPA Hanford
· Andrew Wheeler, former energy lobbyist, confirmed as nation’s top environmental official
· Meet The White House’s New Chief Climate Change Skeptic NPR
· Senate Confirms Former Energy Lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as EPA Head Wall Street Journal
The House passed 2 gun control bills, but Democrats aren’t in a rush to do more
Roll Call
House Democrats took a victory lap this week as their new majority passed two priority gun control measures that the previous Republican majority had blocked for years, but they appear to be in no rush to pass more.
Liberal outside groups lobby for campaign finance overhaul
Roll Call
A coalition of 71 mostly liberal organizations is mobilizing to persuade House members to approve a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s campaign finance, ethics, lobbying and election laws.
CPAC 2019 reveals a base in thrall to Trump
Vox
Some of the conservative movement’s biggest names are gathering this week in National Harbor, Maryland, for the Conservative Political Action Conference, known as CPAC. President Trump, fresh off his trip to Vietnam to meet with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, will speak. So will Sebastian Gorka, Fox News host Laura Ingraham, and the star of the History Channel show Pawn Stars.
See also:
● Pence continues White House, GOP push to paint Dems as socialists Roll Call
● The Trailer: At CPAC, it’s their way or the socialist way Washington Post
● ‘We are either a team or we’re not’ — Democrats struggle with Republican messaging votes Roll Call
● The latest right-wing attack on Democrats: ‘They want to take away your hamburgers’ Washington Post
The hollowing out of American political parties
AEI
As odd as it sounds, political parties in democracies have an important
anti-democratic function. Traditionally, the parties shaped the choices put to
voters. Long before voters decided anything in the primary or general
elections, party bosses worked to groom good candidates, weed out bad ones,
organize interests, and frame issues.
In Kamala Harris, a sequel to Ronald Reagan?
Los Angeles Times
Nearly four decades later, Harris is a leading candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, the front-runner in California’s March 3 primary and, as U.S. senator, the state’s most serious White House contender since Reagan entered the Oval Office.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, Enters 2020 Presidential Race
Wall Street Journal
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee said Friday he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination with a campaign focused on addressing climate change.
EDITORIAL Why should women — or men — have to register for the draft?
Los Angeles Times
A federal court judge recently declared what should already have been obvious: It’s unconstitutional to require only men — not women — to register for the military draft now that women can serve in combat.
Other:
EDITORIAL: How to defeat fake news? By media transparency and being more demanding consumers
Fresno Bee
Fake news may seem rampant. But top journalists at a discussion at Cal State University Fresno offer some valuable tips for consumers on how to weed out falsehood from truth.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Above average rainfall in February benefits strawberry crops in the Central Valley
abc30
With cloudy skies, you may not be thinking about a spring and summertime favorite. But some strawberry farmers in the Central Valley are only a few weeks away from harvest. Above average rainfall in February will help this year’s harvest last through October.
California farmers surviving Trump’s trade war with China, but how long will it last?
Merced Sun-Star
California farmers have escaped the worst impacts of President Donald Trump’s trade spats with China and other countries. But there is a growing sense of urgency to roll back tariffs this spring.
Making organic food in California grow
Visalia Times Delta
In the produce section of the supermarket, on the menu at the corner restaurant, and at the farmer’s market, the evidence is clear. Organic food, once a niche product, is becoming–literally in many cases–a bread-and-butter staple for consumers.
Market moves made at Lindsay City Council meeting Tuesday night
Porterville Recorder
Trying to enter the Council chambers for the Lindsay City Council meeting Tuesday evening proved to be a small challenge as the room was packed to the brim. The large crowd had gathered to discuss and hear what decisions the Council would make in regards to the Friday Night Market.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
New officers get experience handling volatile situations
Stockton Record
The training session, held by the Stockton Police Department for its greenest rookies, aimed to reduce the likelihood of actual gunfire when the new officers finally hit the streets in the next few weeks. The trainings are particularly important for the Stockton Police Department, where nearly half of the force’s 466 officers have less than five years’ experience.
To raise money for new K-9, sheriff’s office announces its first ‘quilt fundraiser’
abc30
You can never get enough of K-9 officers. They’re handsome, they’re loyal and they help keep us safe. And now the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office needs your help in raising money for a new police dog for its K-9 unit. It is holding its very first ‘quilt fundraiser’.
California could adopt strictest drunken driving limit in nation, taking a cue from Utah
Sacramento Bee
Assembly Bill 1713 is in line with a 2013 National Transportation Safety Board recommendation. That recommendation is no longer available online, but a Business Insider article on the report quoted the NTSB as saying “levels higher than .05 are viewed by respected traffic safety and public health organizations around the world as posing unacceptable risk for driving.”
Fire:
PG&E: Company’s equipment may have ignited Camp Fire
abc30
Pacific Gas & Electric says its equipment may have ignited the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 86 people and destroyed an entire town in Northern California.
See also:
● PG&E said it likely caused Camp Fire Visalia Times Delta
● PG&E: Company Equipment ‘Probable’ Cause Of Camp Fire Capital Public Radio
● PG&E disputes report of delayed maintenance in Camp Fire area San Francisco Chronicle
Newsom wants to spend $40 million to hire more firefighters. Why some want to double that
Sacramento Bee
California is facing the worst wildfire conditions in its history with fewer engines and firefighters than it had 40 years ago, says a group of lawmakers and fire unions asking Gov. Gavin Newsom for an extra $84 million to beef up the state’s fire response.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Stocks slip at the end of a strong February
Los Angeles Times
Stocks finished modestly lower Thursday, closing out another listless day of trading on Wall Street with a third straight loss for the benchmark Standard & Poor’s 500 index.
China trade: The US fails on enforcement, again
AEI
America and China have talked trade seemingly non-stop since November. The
first thing worth listening to from either side was United States Trade
Representative (USTR) Lighthizer’s testimony to House Ways and Means yesterday. Ambassador Lighthizer is widely seen as a China hawk, yet his
testimony indicated the US will give the People’s Republic another pass.
Capital Gains Jumped in Final Year Before Tax Cut Started
Wall Street Journal
U.S. taxpayers reported 33.5% more in net capital-gains income in 2017 than in 2016, according to new IRS data that provide the first look at the final year before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act took effect.
Report: Child Poverty Could Be Cut In Half Over 10 Years, At A Hefty Price
NPR
Child poverty in the U.S. could be cut in half over the next 10 years with a few simple steps, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
Jobs:
If you’re a ‘gig’ worker, are you treated fairly?
Modesto Bee
The term “gig economy” entered the lexicon a few years ago, referring to industries that rely on non-employee workers, such as the Uber and Lyft rides-on-call services.
See also:
● More Americans Are Back at Work Making Stuff Wall Street Journal
Female Factor: Women Drive the Labor-Force Comeback
Wall Street Journal
The gender gap that pervades so much of worklife also is shaping the U.S. labor pool’s recent rebound, only this time it is women who are driving most of the gains.
Inside the Hottest Job Market in Half a Century
Wall Street Journal
The job market doesn’t get much better than this. The U.S. economy has added jobs for 100 consecutive months. Unemployment recently touched its lowest level in 49 years.
Opinion: Burger-Flipper Arbitrators
Wall Street Journal
Now that the Fight for $15 movement has achieved a higher minimum wage in New York City, its backers at the Service Employees International Union want to make fast-food workers hard to fire. City Councilman Brad Lander introduced legislation in February that would effectively abolish at-will employment in chain restaurants—those with 30 or more locations nationwide, whether corporate-owned or franchised.
EDUCATION
Why California libraries are ditching fines on overdue materials
CALmatters
The commission voted that night to make San Francisco the latest library system to go fine-free. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors needs to vote on the library’s recommendations, but Mayor London Breed has already voiced her support.
K-12:
Charter School Transparency Bill Fast-Tracked To California Gov. Gavin Newsom
Capital Public Radio
Lawmakers have sent a bill that would subject charter schools to the same open government and transparency requirements as school districts.
See also:
● Charter schools are a flashpoint in California’s teacher strikes—here’s where and how they’ve grown CALmatters
● Disclosure requirements for charter schools await Gov. Newsom’s signature EdSource
Bullard High holds mock interviews for students
abc30
Graduation ceremonies will be here before you know it, so seniors at Bullard High in northwest Fresno are already preparing for the job market – in mock interviews.
79 Olive Street students English language graduation
Porterville Recorder
Seventy-nine students from Olive Street Elementary school and their families attended a graduation ceremony Tuesday evening honoring them for reaching fluency in speaking, reading, listening, and writing the English language.
China is building soft power in U.S. schools, Senate report warns
Roll Call
A new bipartisan report by a Senate investigative panel has found that the Chinese government has the potential to use a popular Mandarin language program it funds at hundreds of U.S. universities and K-12 schools to shape and even stifle the discussion of controversial Beijing policies.
Democrats, conservative group knock down Betsy DeVos ‘education freedom’ plan
abc30
A Trump administration proposal aimed at encouraging “school choice” seems dead on arrival in Congress after both House Democrats and a conservative think tank objected.
See also:
● Betsy DeVos Backs $5 Billion in Tax Credits for School Choice New York Times
● It’s worth walking a tightrope on federal school choice AEI
Dr. Seuss Books Can Be Racist, But Students Keep Reading Them
NPR
This week, millions of students and teachers are taking part in Read Across America, a national literacy program celebrated annually around the birthday of Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. For over 20 years, teachers and students have donned costumes — often the Cat in the Hat’s iconic red and white striped hat — and devoured books like Green Eggs and Ham.
EDITORIAL: Will all the teachers please stand up?
Bakersfield Californian
The Bakersfield City School District board meeting was the place to be Tuesday night, but it seemed as though not all were welcome.
Higher Ed:
Deadline FAST APPROACHING: Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship
The Maddy Institute
Applications for two $56,000 Fellowships Due Friday, March 15th, 2019. Through the generosity of The Wonderful Company, San Joaquin Valley students will have the opportunity to become the next generation of Valley leaders through The Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship. The Maddy Institute will award two $56,000 Fellowships to Valley students who are accepted into a nationally ranked, qualified graduate program in the fall of 2019.
MJC, Stanislaus State to sign ‘Warriors on the Way’ deal to ease students’ transfers
Modesto Bee
Modesto Junior College and California State University, Stanislaus, are improving the path for students to transfer and earn undergraduate degrees.
Fresno Pacific’s Bakersfield classes moving to Bakersfield Christian High School
Bakersfield Californian
The university is partnering with Bakersfield Christian High School to hold its classes there starting March 11. Classes will be held in six of the school’s classrooms in the evenings after BCHS students are finished for the day.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
Former coal lobbyist confirmed to lead EPA along mostly party-line vote
abc30
The Senate has confirmed Andrew Wheeler to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, seven months after his predecessor Scott Pruitt resigned.
See also:
· The Senate has confirmed a former coal lobbyist to lead the EPA Hanford
· Andrew Wheeler, former energy lobbyist, confirmed as nation’s top environmental official
· Meet The White House’s New Chief Climate Change Skeptic NPR
· Senate Confirms Former Energy Lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as EPA Head Wall Street Journal
California has 16% chance of volcanic eruption
abc30
We’ve all been told to prepare for “the big one,” but scientists say there is a different natural disaster we may not be ready for.
With heavy rain and snow, will California get a break from wildfires? The science is tricky
San Francisco Chronicle
As Bay Area residents ride canoes through neighborhoods to cope with flooded rivers, and as the Sierra sets records for snowfall, historical data show the wet winter could bode well for a state desperate for a mild fire season after two years of catastrophic damage.
California blooms again after last year’s fires—but it’s not all good
CALmatters
To most of us, the vigorous grass sprays and dazzling wildflower bloom are a welcome sight, coloring over the dark remnant of fire. But not to everyone.
Many of the fast-growing plants are non-native and fire-prone, making it likely that the hills will be charred black again sooner rather than later.
Promising To Tackle Climate Change, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Joins 2020 Race
NPR
Amid clips of him repeating warnings about global warming for years, Inslee argues that the crisis can’t be ignored any longer, saying that it “isn’t just a chart or graph anymore. The impacts are being felt everywhere.” He closes by saying he’s “the only candidate who will make defeating climate change our nation’s number one priority.”
No, the Green New Deal doesn’t aim to end air travel, as Florida Sen. Rick Scott says
PolitiFact
We found that Scott is ignoring the actual text of the resolution. The resolution does not ground airplanes, either now or in the future. And climate advocates told us the elimination of air travel isn’t a practical goal.
Energy:
Gas from Tulare County Dairy Farms being delivered to Calgren, SoCalGas
abc30
SoCalGas is making a push towards more renewable natural gas, and a company spokesperson says they look forward to this gas injection for a very long time.
California’s San Bernardino County slams the brakes on big solar projects
Los Angeles Times
California’s largest county has banned the construction of large solar and wind farms on more than 1 million acres of private land, bending to the will of residents who say they don’t want renewable energy projects industrializing their rural desert communities northeast of Los Angeles.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Moms can reduce rate of autism — even for kids at high risk, new UC Davis study shows
Fresno Bee
Families with a high risk for autism in children can benefit from the mother taking prenatal vitamin supplements in the first month of pregnancy, new research from the University of California, Davis, shows.
Four million Californians have rare diseases. Let’s make miracles possible
Sacramento Bee
Around 30 million Americans, including nearly four million Californians, are affected by rare diseases. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, there are more than 7,000 of these conditions. Around half of rare disease patients are children.
Human Services:
First-of-its-kind mental health facility opens in Fresno
abc30
A first-of-its-kind facility aimed at helping people suffering from mental health issues opened in Southeast Fresno on Thursday. The new center will offer patients therapy while providing a secure residential environment.
House unveils new ‘Medicare-for-all’ bill. But what does that mean?
abc30
Members of the House on Wednesday offered their version of a “Medicare-for-all” bill that is broader than what’s been put forth by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), whose 2016 presidential run pushed the issue into the political mainstream.
See also:
● ‘Medicare for all’ is popular, but it’s likely doomed Los Angeles Times
SUSD program helps students smile
Stockton Record
Mary Jo Cowan knew many students in the Stockton Unified School District were suffering from dental issues that limited their ability to focus. Cowan helped spearhead a districtwide oral care program that rapidly grew into a partnership with Big Smiles.
Medicare for All Loses Momentum Among Democrats
Wall Street Journal
Democratic support for Medicare for All is slipping from the high levels seen around the November midterm elections as voters worry about its price tag and the toll it would take on both private and employer health coverage.
IMMIGRATION
‘No More Deaths’ Volunteers Face Possible Jail Time For Aiding Migrants
Capital Public Radio
As security has tightened along the U.S.-Mexico border, migrants are forced into more hostile desert areas. Volunteers who put out water and food say they’re trying to prevent deaths.
Kamala Harris tries to ‘rewrite history’ with False claim on San Francisco ICE policy
PolitiFact
But on the campaign trail in Iowa this past weekend, Harris made some questionable statements about a 2008 San Francisco policy that reported undocumented youth to federal immigration officials upon their arrest by local police. Harris, San Francisco’s District Attorney at the time, supported the policy, which didn’t take into account whether the youth were actually found guilty of a crime.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
City board votes to condemn Budgetel motel in Modesto, where residents remain
Modesto Bee
Modesto’s Board of Building Appeals voted Thursday evening to condemn the Budgetel Inn property on McHenry Avenue and assess $100,000 in civil penalties against the owners.
Downtown Modesto site changes again; Latin restaurant to open with ‘heavenly’ fare
Modesto Bee
The fiesta may be over, but heaven awaits for this downtown Modesto location. After closing last year, the short-lived Mangos Fiesta Mexicana restaurant will now be replaced with the new Latin eatery Santo Cielo, which roughly translates to “good heavens” in Spanish.
Despite plea from preservationists, Hart Park adobe still on chopping block
Bakersfield Californian
When the Kern County Parks and Recreation Commission voted 4-0 in late January to approve the county’s master plan for Hart Park, it was made clear the vote came with a caveat — the understanding that preserving the park’s Depression-era adobe house was a significant concern for many.
Housing:
California’s homeownership rate hits 8-year high
Orange County Register
The latest news on homeownership can be seen through two prisms. If you’re a glass-is-half-full type, you’d note that California’s ownership rate ended 2018 at an eight-year high. The glass-is-half-empty personality, however, would focus on the fact that the share of California’s residents living in their own home is topped by 48 other states.
See also:
● U.S. Homeownership Rate Hits Highest Level Since 2014 Wall Street Journal
● California’s housing supply law fails to spur enough construction, study says Los Angeles Times
Why did Newsom bust tiny Wheatland on affordable housing? City says rules ‘don’t really fit’
Sacramento Bee
When California’s new governor name-checked the city of Wheatland in his recent State of the State address, word “got around town pretty quick,” one local business owner said.
Capital Public Radio
Most of California’s homeless residents suffer from chronic mental health conditions, physical disabilities or addiction. The state is looking to expand a program that deals with those issues while finding people housing — but it’s not always easy.
Does “Upzoning”—Allowing Taller, Denser Housing to Be Built—Actually Work?
PublicCEO
A new and highly publicized study from a doctoral student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology casts some doubt on whether “upzoning”—allowing taller, more dense building to built—actually results in more construction and lower housing prices. It’s been cited as a cautionary tale, but the study’s author now says proposed California legislation to allow upzoning avoids at least some of the policy pitfalls revealed in his research.
See also:
· California’s housing supply law fails to spur enough construction, study says LA Times
PUBLIC FINANCES
Bakersfield Californian
A new location for training police officers, equipment for a planned “rapid response” team for homeless and park maintenance issues and a plan to reduce payments to the city’s pension system were the first proposals city officials brought before the new members of the sales tax oversight committee.
Capital Public Radio
When Jerry Brown ran for California governor in 2010, he vowed in TV ads and on the campaign trail that he would not raise taxes without voter approval. Gavin Newsom’s position on tax increases is a lot murkier.
Tax Refunds Bounce Back After Slow Start
Wall Street Journal
Average tax refunds rebounded after a weak start to the tax-filing season, according to Internal Revenue Service data released Thursday that was highlighted by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
See also:
· Amount of Tax Refunds Up Slightly While Fewer Receive Checks Bloomberg
· OPINION: Thank You, Tax Reform Wall Street Journal
· OPINION: Get Rid of the State-Tax Deduction Altogether Bloomberg
IRS: Pay ‘seriously delinquent tax debts’ or risk access to passport
abc30
The IRS says some people may not be able to receive or renew passports if they have seriously delinquent tax debts and haven’t made payment arrangements.
Amazon made $11 billion and paid no taxes. Why aren’t Democrats angry?
Modesto Bee
The current crop of Democrats seeking their party’s presidential nomination have made it clear who they’ll be coming after once they’re in the White House: Big corporations and the wealthy 1 %.
An interactive exploration of the geography of prosperity
Brookings
The Hamilton Project’s Vitality Index is a measure of a place’s economic and social wellbeing. It combines a county’s median household income, poverty rate, unemployment rate, prime-age employment rate, life expectancy, and housing vacancy rate.
TRANSPORTATION
High-Speed Rail Can Solve Housing Shortages
Bloomberg
High-speed rail could help. That is, if America were more willing to embrace that form of transportation. Just this month, both the California governor and the U.S. president poured cold water on plans for a fast train from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
Work Continues On Highway 140 In Ferguson Fire Burn Area
Sierra News
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) continues its work on an emergency project rehabilitating and repairing both lanes of State Route 140 (SR-140) from Briceburg to Yosemite National Park.
Hyundai, Kia recall over 500K vehicles as fire risk spreads
abc30
Hyundai and Kia have added more than a half-million vehicles to 3 -year string of U.S. recalls for engine failures and fires.
WATER
‘An excellent water year’: Snow depth doubles in state’s latest Sierra survey
Fresno Bee
Department of Water Resources officials observed more than double what last month’s measurement at Phillips Station near Echo Summit, recording 113 inches of snow depth with a snow water equivalent of 43.5 inches Thursday.
See also:
● Tahoe Ski Season extended thanks to record snowfall abc30
● But Wait, There’s More: Hydrologic Outlook Sierra News
● February brought record rains to Sacramento. See how the month stacks up Sacramento Bee
● Winter Storms Wash Away California Drought, Burnish Snowpack Capital Public Radio
● Snowpack more than doubles in a month — and it’s still storming in the Sierra Los Angeles Times
● February storms doubled Sierra snowpack, state snow survey shows San Francisco Chronicle
● California’s largest reservoir shot up 39 feet in elevation in February San Francisco Chronicle
● Snowpack more than doubles in a month — and it’s still storming in the Sierra Los Angeles Times
CA Gov. Gavin Newsom declares state of emergency in 5 counties due to flooding abc30
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared an emergency for five northern counties after a heavy storm led to the worst flooding in 20 years in one county and the death of a man in another.
See also:
● California residents survey damage as historic floods recede Sacramento Bee
Video: Water and the Future of the San Joaquin Valley
PPIC
The San Joaquin Valley is at a critical juncture in determining its water future. California’s largest agricultural region is ground zero for many of the state’s most difficult water management problems, including groundwater overdraft, drinking water contamination, and declines in habitat and native species.
Trump’s interior secretary misusing post to aid California water district, complaint says
McClatchy DC
The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint accusing Bernhardt of ethics violations by partaking in decisions
directly related to his past lobbying work, resulting in rules that would free
up more river water to Fresno-based Westlands and weakening protections for
certain endangered fish populations.
“Xtra”
‘I am still an optimist’: Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss to speak at Fox
Bakersfield Californian
Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss tours the world telling her story of survival and sharing her message of tolerance. But it wasn’t until the 1980s that she started talking about her experience, after keeping it bottled up for decades.
Help homeless animals, or view beautiful blossoms this weekend
abc30
Try something new this weekend by taking a free fitness class or head to the fairgrounds for the home and garden show.
New Fresno service is the “Uber” of lawn care
abc30
It is kind of like Uber meets Lawn Care. You go online and order outdoor services. This can range from mowing a lawn to cleaning your gutters, to even installing Christmas lights on your house. You schedule a date and time and a professional comes over and takes care of the rest.
It’s one of Fresno’s biggest food trends. Here’s where to get it – with a new spot opening soon
Fresno Bee
Rolled ice cream shops are popular in Fresno, California, and Clovis as there will be five places to eat the dessert with creative ingredients & flavors, including a new business on Nees Avenue near First Street.
First ever comic-con arrives in Oakhurst this weekend
Sierra Star
Pop culture enthusiasts rejoice. Oakhurst is hosting its first ever comic-con on Sunday, March 3. The Oakhurst Toy-Anime-Comic Con will feature a cosplay competition, and vendors selling everything from comic books to sports memorabilia, all taking place at the Oakhurst Community Center.
Take me home! Animals available for adoption
Bakersfield Californian
These six animals at Kern County Animal Services are looking for their forever homes. Can you help?
41st annual Chinese New Year celebration is Sunday in downtown Stockton
Stockton Record
The 41st annual Chinese New Year Celebration will be from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday in downtown Stockton. A parade starting at Weber Point Events Center will kick off the celebration followed by a festival inside the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium, 525 N. Center St.
Northridge’s Tampa Ave. street medians had an ‘ugly’ problem. The answer? Horse topiary
Los Angeles Daily News
A local neighborhood council takes a whimsical approach to restoring nature to the Tampa Avenue medians.
Faith-Based Organizations Promote Well-Being in Underserved Communities
Rand Review
Friendly Friendship Baptist Church shares a busy block of South Los Angeles with a liquor store and a McDonald’s. So when parishioners decided to plant some fruit trees there, they meant it as a statement. They were taking back their health.