March 18, 2020

18Mar

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

Modesto, other cities restrict City Hall access due to coronavirus. Not all is closed

Modesto Bee

Modesto and Turlock officials announced Monday they will restrict public access to their city halls due to the coronavirus. That was among several steps by local governments aimed at slowing the virus, which has​​ infected three​​ Stanislaus County residents at last report.

 

Stockton City Council puts moratorium on evictions, tightens restrictions on public events

Stockton Record

At a special emergency meeting Tuesday, the Stockton City Council unanimously passed a temporary moratorium on evictions and tightened restrictions for public events and dining out at restaurants in an effort to further minimize the spread of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus.

 

San Joaquin County declares emergency over coronavirus

Stockton Record

San Joaquin County declared a local emergency Tuesday morning related to COVID-19, the new coronavirus, which has infected 13 county residents to date.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

California Democratic congressman owes another $30,000 in back taxes, says state lien

Fresno Bee

Rep. TJ Cox owes about $30,000 in back taxes to the state of California, according to a lien filed against him this month.

 

How will Fresno, Merced, Madera and Tulare county courts handle coronavirus precautions?

Fresno Bee

Central San Joaquin Valley courts are altering their schedules, suspending programs, and reducing the number of people inside its buildings in an effort to reduce the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus (COVID-19). Federal, state and local health officials have urged the public to avoid large gatherings of 50 people as a way to limit the potential exposure to the virus. And often crowded Valley courtrooms are no exception, lawyers said.

 

Supervisors, Visalia declare emergency over COVID-19

Visalia Times Delta

Tulare County and​​ Visalia​​ both declared states of emergency late last week in response to the COVID-19 virus. Fresno County and Fresno also declared a state of emergency this week.

 

Council declares 'Existence of Local Emergency'

Porterville Recorder

The Porterville City Council unanimously approved the declaration of the existence of a local emergency at Tuesday night's Council meeting. This will allow the city to access state and federal resources during the coronavirus pandemic, if needed.

Devin Nunes' outrageous explanation for his coronavirus comments

CNN

The ongoing threat posed by the coronavirus crisis is shining a bright light on our politicians. Some, like Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, are showing their leadership mettle. Others are Devin Nunes.

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South SJ Valley:

 

Complete Count Committee: Fill out Census forms online, by phone or mail

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern Complete Count Committee is urging all residents to fill out their Census forms online, by phone or mail, according to a KCCC news release.

 

Bakersfield Mayor Goh urges calm during coronavirus pandemic​​ 

KGET
Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh is reminding residents that there is no need for panic over the coronavirus pandemic. The mayor is delivering that message as people clear shelves and panic buy items from local stores. The hoarding is unnecessary she says.

 

State:

 

California Forum: Sacrifices Californians make together to slow the spread of coronavirus are worth it

Sacramento Bee

We have entered an important new chapter in the​​ responseto the COVID-19​​ pandemic: After a week filled with school closures and the cancellation of major public events of all kinds, Congress and President Donald Trump are hopefully close to a​​ deal​​ to address the spread of the dangerous coronavirus.

 

California passes $1.1 billion coronavirus emergency response package

Sacramento Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom late Monday secured $1.1 billion in emergency funds for the state’s fight against the rapidly spreading coronavirus that has infected hundreds of Californians and killed at least six. The California Assembly approved the main funding bills freeing up money for the state’s coronavirus response on a 68-0 vote, and the Senate passed it on a 32-0 vote.

 

California readies for worst-case scenarios as virus spreads

Bakersfield Californian

While urging Californians to stay united and promising “we will get back to the life that we have lived,” Newsom also acknowledged much is unknown and so the state is preparing for frightening worst-case scenarios.

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Following Frustration From Staffers, California Lawmakers Allow Remote Work To Mitigate Coronavirus Spread

Capital Public Radio

In recent weeks, Capitol staffers have raised concerns about workplace safety during the coronavirus outbreak.

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Newsom did not issue a statewide eviction ban. Tenant groups say renters’ health could be threatened

CalMatters

Tenant advocates say renters can't quarantine, or take other measures to avoid spreading coronavirus, if they're forced from the homes officials want them to stay in.

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Federal:

 

US, Canada to close border to nonessential travel

Fresno Bee

The U.S. and Canada have agreed to temporarily close their shared border to nonessential travel, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday, and the Trump administration is considering a plan to turn back all people who cross the border illegally from Mexico, two administration officials said. 

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Trump's economic rescue package could approach $1 trillion

abc30

His proposed economic package alone could approach $1 trillion, a rescue initiative not seen since the Great Recession. Trump wants checks sent to the public within two weeks and is urging Congress to pass the eye-popping stimulus package in a matter of days.

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Amid virus, Congress' leaders resist call for remote voting

Bakersfield Californian

Congressional leaders are resisting calls to let lawmakers vote remotely, a dispute pitting​​ the scourge of the coronavirus​​ against two centuries of tradition that underscores Washington's struggle to adapt to recommendations that evolve daily about how to handle the pandemic.

 

Federal personnel chief quits abruptly amid coronavirus planning for the workforce of 2.1 million

Washington Post

The federal personnel director quit with no notice Tuesday after five months on the job, leaving the agency that oversees workplace policy for 2.1 million civil servants with no leader amid the government’s response to the​​ coronavirus​​ pandemic.

 

We answered your questions on government action on the coronavirus

PolitiFact

PolitiFact has an open callout for​​ your questions about the coronavirus outbreak. 

 

Opinion: Republicans like me built this moment. Then we looked the other way.

Washington Post

Don’t just blame President Trump. Blame me — and all the other Republicans who aided and abetted and, yes, benefited from protecting a political party that has become dangerous to America. Some of us knew better.

 

Elections 2020:

 

Joe Biden had another big primary night. Now coronavirus is freezing the 2020 race.

Fresno Bee

Joe Biden’s victories Tuesday in another round of presidential primaries caps a whirlwind three weeks in which the former vice president engineered a shock political turnaround and became the Democratic Party’s likely nominee.

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Sanders reassessing his campaign after 3 more big Biden wins

Fresno Bee

Bernie Sanders was trying to determine his next moves on Wednesday, after Joe Biden swept to victory in Florida, Illinois and Arizona and seized a commanding lead in a Democratic presidential race upended by the coronavirus.

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Trump clinches GOP nomination with Tuesday primary wins

Fresno Bee

President Donald Trump has clinched the Republican Party nomination, surpassing the necessary delegate threshold.

 

Could Trump delay the November election? Not without risking forfeit to a Democrat

Los Angeles Times

Voters are unnerved. Confusion is growing throughout the country as the coronavirus outbreak moves states to​​ postpone primaries and change voting procedures​​ in the midst of a presidential election year.

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Other:

 

Why an excess of democracy can lead to poor decisions

The Economist

Garett Jones, an economics professor at George Mason University in Virginia, knew he was on to a good thing when he got a call from the campus police. A student journalist had written a report on a lecture that he had given suggesting that rich countries would be better off if they were less, rather than more, democratic. 

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Now More than Ever, Free-Speech Dogma Is Worth Defending

National Review

Former Charlottesville, Va., mayor Michael Signer argues that we must restrict speech to maintain the rule of law. He couldn’t be more wrong. ‘Two things form the bedrock of any open society,” Salman Rushdie once noted, “freedom of expression and rule of law. If you don’t have those things, you don’t have a free country.”

 

Opinion: It’s time to say ‘sorry’ for excluding women from American politics

Modesto Bee

American politicians appear to have made apologizing into an art form. Has a government leader gotten around to apologizing for centuries of depriving women of equal rights?

 

Walters: Why journalism matters

CalMatters

This is Sunshine Week, which pays homage to the principle that the public’s business should be public even though officials often try to keep us in the dark about their unsavory activities. By happenstance, last week provided Californians with four cogent examples of why independent journalism is a vital bulwark against shenanigans and coverups.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Fresno, Clovis order city restaurants to close dining rooms due to coronavirus

Fresno Bee

Restaurants in Fresno and Clovis were ordered to close their dining rooms Tuesday, though they can sell food via takeout and delivery. Bars are also ordered closed and the cities plan to enforce the closures with police and code enforcement officers. 

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Grocery stores offer special hours, delivery for senior shoppers

abc30

Grocery stores in the Valley are now offering special hours to help seniors and other vulnerable customers shop safely during the coronavirus outbreak.

 

COVID-19 Affects Farmworkers’ Livelihood in the San Joaquin Valley

VPR

The spread of COVID-19 is forcing many people to work from home, but for farmworkers that’s not an option.  

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Instacart, Amazon Fresh, other delivery services overwhelmed during coronavirus outbreak

San Francisco Chronicle

Courtney Fox felt bad. She’d gone to Draeger’s Sunday night to buy groceries for an Instacart customer in East Palo Alto, but, as usual these days, many shelves were bare. At least she got the last two bags of french fries and found a substitute for the Marie Callendar frozen meals.

 

Legal pot sales spike over coronavirus fears

Visalia Times Delta

The sharp rise in sales is a pattern being repeated across the country in states where recreational marijuana is legal, from California to Oregon, Alaska to Nevada. Not only are there more customers, but they're buying more at one time.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

How will Fresno, Merced, Madera and Tulare county courts handle coronavirus precautions?

Fresno Bee

Federal, state and local health officials have urged the public to avoid large gatherings of 50 people as a way to limit the potential exposure to the virus. And often crowded Valley courtrooms are no exception, lawyers said. 

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Many Californians in Prisons and Jails Have Mental Health Needs

California Budget & Policy Center

In the 1950s and 1960s, policymakers in California and elsewhere began reducing the use of state hospitals to treat people with mental illness – a policy known as “deinstitutionalization.” However, the lack of robust treatment alternatives led to a growing number of people with mental health conditions becoming homeless and, in many cases, incarcerated.

 

Public Safety:

 

Marjaree Mason Center braces for coronavirus impacts

abc30

For the Marjaree Mason Center, staying open could be life-saving for many local domestic violence victims. Leaders with the organization now worry that domestic violence cases will rise as more people are asked to stay home.

 

Turlock police chief to retire in October

Modesto Bee

Turlock Police Chief Nino Amirfar​​ confirmed his plans to retire in October, ending about 30 years of service in the department and three years in the post. 

 

Gun sales surge amid coronavirus fears — and lockdown

San Francisco Chronicle

Gun stores across the Bay Area did brisk business Tuesday, selling firearms and ammunition to customers rattled by the coronavirus pandemic and staying open in apparent defiance of the “shelter-in-place” order intended to slow the spread of disease.

 

Uber, Lyft Suspend Pooled Rides in U.S., Canada to Limit Spread of Coronavirus

New York Times

Uber Technologies Inc and Lyft Inc Tuesday began suspending shared rides on their ride-hailing platforms in the United States and Canada to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Uber also said it has suspended its shared rides services in London and Paris.

 

Fire: 

 

Firefighters adapting new safety measures amid coronavirus outbreak

abc30

Just as firefighters spend their days protecting us, crews are now learning how to keep themselves safe during a 911 call amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

ECONOMY / JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Some Fresno area stores closing as coronavirus concerns spread

Fresno Bee

First,​​ bars were closing and restaurants were closing their dining rooms.​​ Now, some stores are closing as they try to protect their workers and shoppers from the possible spread of coronavirus. Both chain stores and to a lesser extent locally owned stores are announcing temporary closures.

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Stocks, oil sink again as recession fears batter markets

Fresno Bee

The vicious swings keep coming for the stock market, and the S&P 500 sank more than 3% in early trading Wednesday to erase much of the prior day's big gain.

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Mariposa Businesses React To Yosemite Hotel And Restaurant Closures

VPR

The National Park Service announced that while Yosemite remains open, its visitor centers, hotels and restaurants are now closed in response to COVID-19 concerns. 

 

Tesla factory could be shut under California health order

Associated Press

The Tesla factory that employs thousands of people could be forced to close after Alameda County on Tuesday night declared it a “nonessential business” under the county’s shelter-in-place order.

 

Jobs:

 

Who’s hiring in California amid the coronavirus pandemic? Here’s where the jobs are

Fresno Bee

As the coronavirus continues to spread,​​ the economic forecast for California​​ looks dismal as residents change their spending habits and brace for a recession. 

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Employees hoping for financial support with amid COVID-19 outbreak

abc30

Employees are now turning to the state for financial help as closures and restrictions require restaurants to cut back on help.

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California state workers waiting for new coronavirus guidance after shelter-in-place orders

Sacramento Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom did not provide new coronavirus guidance for state workers during a press conference Tuesday evening, saying his administration is still working out details. He plans to issue guidelines later Tuesday or Wednesday morning.

 

Lyft, Uber drivers seek sick leave during pandemic, or else

San Francisco Chronicle

Drivers for Uber and Lyft are asking a San Francisco judge to order the ride-hailing companies to pay them sick leave — as employees, not contractors — to protect both their customers and the public from possible exposure to the coronavirus.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Expect schools to stay closed through summer break because of coronavirus, Gavin Newsom says

Fresno Bee

California parents and students should expect schools to stay closed through summer break as efforts continue to contain the coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday afternoon.

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Local school districts to offer ‘grab-n-go’ meals

Visalia Times Delta

At 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, 25 food safety-certified staff started assembling 2,500 sack lunches to hand out to students at sites across Visalia Unified School District on Wednesday.

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Community lends helping hand to parents who will become 'teachers'

Bakersfield Californian

The upcoming temporary school closures are making some parents nervous, to say the least. Not only will their children be home for hours on end, but if parents are able to stay home with them, they'll have to take on the role of "teacher."

 

How will students take AP tests with schools closed? At home, College Board proposes

Los Angeles Times

Aiming to limit student exposure to the coronavirus, the College Board is proposing that rigorous Advanced Placement tests could become take-home exams and has canceled the SAT test scheduled for May 2. 

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Higher Ed:

 

Fresno State cancels commencement due to coronavirus, other major changes planned

Fresno Bee

Fresno State on Tuesday announced a series of sweeping changes at the university to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, including canceling commencement, moving all classes online for the rest of the semester and asking students housed in dormitories to go home.

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Confusion, fear at Fresno City College after student’s possible coronavirus exposure

Fresno Bee

As worried staff sheltered in the two buildings and administration got on the phone with the public health department for guidance, an​​ unrelated city-wide power outage​​ struck the campus, leaving already-panicked workers wondering what was going on.

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UC Merced goes online through spring semester

Sacramento Bee

Effective March 30, UC Merced students returning from spring break will receive all instruction remotely,​​ the university announced Monday.

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For some students, college is their only safe haven. Now they have just days to leave

Los Angeles Times

Marie Tano, 21, found a sanctuary when she arrived to study at Pomona College from a small town in Georgia. For the first time, she didn’t have to worry about money, her food was taken care of, and she had access to healthcare, therapy and the support she needed to do well in school.

 

Give us a tuition break, say California students forced into online university classes

EdSource

University of California Irvine freshman Rose Oganesian understands the public health reasons to switch from in-person to online courses at universities across California during the coronavirus crisis. But she doesn’t want to get charged the same price.

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Hispanic, black parents see college degree as key for children’s success

PEW
Hispanic and black parents are significantly more likely than white parents to say it’s essential that their children earn a college degree, according to a​​ recent Pew Research Center survey.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Tulare County health officials confirm fourth COVID-19 case in Tulare County

abc30

The fourth case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Tulare County. The county health department made the announcement during their town hall live-streamed on Facebook.

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Non-resident tests positive for coronavirus in Kern County

Bakersfield Californian

The first patient in Kern County has tested positive for the new coronavirus, Kern County health officials said Tuesday morning, signifying the first instance of the worldwide pandemic within county borders.

 

Coronavirus update, March 18: Fourth positive test in Stanislaus County; no shelter-in-place plans

Modesto Bee

A man who had traveled to an “area with widespread community transmission” became Stanislaus County’s fourth reported person to have tested positive for COVID-19, health officials said late Tuesday afternoon. Specifics on his age, city of residence and his condition were not released in accordance with concerns over medical privacy.

 

With the start of spring on Thursday, will the stronger sun chase away the coronavirus?

Los Angeles Times

Will more direct sunlight and the warmer temperatures of spring and summer help to clear up the new coronavirus that’s responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic? The truth is, because it is a completely new virus, no one really knows.

 

Californians and Mental Health: What We Know About Poverty and Race

California Budget & Policy Center

As California works to improve access to behavioral health services (mental health and substance use), policymakers should keep in mind the various socioeconomic factors that can contribute to the development of mental health conditions for children, youth, and adults. 

 

U.S. coronavirus death toll surpasses 100

Washington Post

Coronavirus​​ has killed from coast to coast. It devastated a nursing home in Washington state and crept into the heartland. Across the United States, more than 100 people infected with the highly contagious new virus have now died — a toll that experts expect to rise quickly.

 

How Long Will Coronavirus Live on Surfaces or in the Air Around You?

New York Times

The coronavirus can live for three days on some surfaces, like plastic and steel, new research suggests. Experts say the risk of consumers getting infected from touching those materials is still low, although they offered additional warnings about how long the virus survives in air, which may have important implications for medical workers.

 

EDITORIAL: Hey, anti-vaxxers, are you ready to get your shots yet? 

Los Angeles Times

Despite these extraordinary victories of science over disease, too many people have forgotten or are unaware of the havoc that certain diseases visited on the world before vaccines became available to fight them.

 

Human Services:

 

Coronavirus tests remain limited in Merced County, statewide. This is who can be tested

Fresno Bee

In Merced County, limited supplies of testing kits​​ coupled with the region’s preexisting medical provider shortage​​ has restricted the ability to conduct tests.

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Fresno to add hundreds of shelter beds to curb coronavirus spread among homeless

Fresno Bee

Fresno County is making available over 300 new shelter beds for homeless residents as early as Tuesday evening in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Coronavirus surge will strain California hospitals, Gov. Gavin Newsom warns

Fresno Bee

Californians’ behavior in the next eight weeks will determine how burdened hospitals will be as they treat a projected surge in patients infected with the coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday.

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Worried about California nursing homes? This database offers grades, list of violations

Fresno Bee

Approximately 82 percent of the nearly 1,200 nursing homes — 976 separate facilities — in California​​ have been cited with some sort of infection prevention and control violation​​ in the past two years, a Sacramento Bee review of survey reports found.

 

Houchin appeals for volunteers to give blood as donations drop 80 percent

Bakersfield Californian

There is a dire need locally for blood and platelet donations, local officials said Tuesday in an appeal for volunteers to give blood. "I am calling on the people of Kern County to do what​​ the people of Kern County do — respond," Mayor Karen Goh said at the Houchin Blood Bank on Truxtun Avenue.

 

Senior care facilities in Merced suspend visitation to prevent spread of coronavirus

Merced Sun-Star

Senior care facilities in Merced are suspending visitation to help diminish the spread of coronavirus. Park Merced Assisted Living and Mission Gardens Assisted Living sent memos to family members of residents at both facilities on Monday to inform them that visitation had been suspended, except for end-of-life visits.

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As officials grapple with coronavirus pandemic, more than 8 million Californians are living under shelter-in-place orders

Los Angeles Times

More than 8 million Californians are living under shelter-in-place orders — the nation’s most stringent public health measures yet — as state and local governments rush to address the coronavirus pandemic. 

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Parenting Time Considerations During the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic [VIDEO]

National Law Review

The coronavirus pandemic is creating special challenges all of us, but in particular for parents of children who are separated or divorced. In many districts, schools are closing for several weeks, but there are still many employers who have not. In the case of first responders, healthcare workers, or other essential employees, employers cannot allow their employees to work remotely from home.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

H-1B: Premium processing suspended for upcoming visa application season​​ 

Mercury News

Applicants for the H-1B visa hoping to accelerate their submissions by paying extra for “premium processing” won’t be able to obtain that service when this year’s application period opens April 1, federal authorities announced.

 

With masks at the ready, ICE agents make arrests on first day of California coronavirus lockdown

Los Angeles Times

In the darkness of the early hours Monday, about a dozen immigration agents gathered outside a Starbucks in Bell Gardens. For the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, who make daily arrests, it was supposed to be business as usual. 

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LAND USE/HOUSING

 

‘A stressful environment.’ Fresno-area shelters impacted by demand, canceled fundraisers

Fresno Bee

Fresno homeless shelters and organizations serving vulnerable populations — such as victims of domestic violence — brace for an increased need, along with “extra challenges,” amid fears over the spread of coronavirus.

 

Bakersfield homeless service providers face challenges amid coronavirus pandemic

Bakersfield Californian

Various area homelessness service providers have adjusted their protocols and are facing a number of resource challenges as the coronavirus pandemic progresses. The Bakersfield Homeless Center is having difficulty finding supplies like baby wipes, diapers and toilet paper, and is in higher need of donations than usual, according to the center’s CEO, Louis Gill.

 

House-hunting? In the age of coronavirus, you might have to do virtual tours

Los Angeles Times

On Monday, Compass sent out a nationwide memo to its staffers offering advice on setting up virtual house tours, adding that it’s currently working on additional online tools to aid the process. It noted that agents can still decide to give in-person tours of their properties.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Facing loss of income or food due to coronavirus? Here’s how to get help

Fresno Bee

For those facing the loss of income or other support due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are programs and agencies that can help. Below is a list of resources. This list will be updated as needed.

 

You just got a tax deadline extension

Visalia Times Delta

Most Americans can get a three-month reprieve to pay their income taxes for 2019, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday in a press conference.

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Trump wants to cut payroll taxes to cope with coronavirus fallout. Would that help the economy?

Sacramento Bee

Looking for big help thanks to a cut in the Social Security and Medicare tax? Don’t count on it right away. President Donald Trump has long sought a reduction or temporary halt to the​​ payroll tax.​​ Workers and employers each pay 6.2% for Social Security until their income reaches $137,700, and 1.45% in most cases for Medicare. The highest earners pay another 0.9% in Medicare tax.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Fresno FAX limits passenger load due to coronavirus concerns

abc30

Fresno FAX buses are limiting their passenger loads to ten people or less starting Wednesday, March 18, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

 

DMV allows some customers to avoid going to a DMV office for 60 days

Hanford Sentinel

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Department of Motor Vehicles today asked California law enforcement to exercise discretion for 60 days in their enforcement of driver license and vehicle registration expiration dates beginning March 16.

 

WATER

 

Fresno area dries up after a wet 24 hours. Another storm front may bring more rain

Fresno Bee

The Fresno area experienced a wet 24 hours , as a storm brought significant rain (and some snow) to the Valley. The main storm front came in Monday afternoon, according to​​ the National Weather Service, dumping close to an inch (.97 to be exact) of rain on the Fresno area.

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Delta Conveyance

California Department of Water Resources

There is clear evidence of the vulnerabilities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) posed by climate change and earthquake risk. As sea levels continue to rise, the Delta will be faced with increasing water levels and salinity, which will dramatically alter and harm water quality and supply locally and for 27 million Californians across the state. 

 

“Xtra”

 

Major movie theater chains shut down amid coronavirus. Here are some at-home options

Fresno Bee

As businesses shut down to slow the spread of coronavirus, several major movie theater chains are doing the same, but there are still options to watch the latest box office hits. 

 

Cooped up, bored and on a budget? Here’s how to stream TV without paying a dime

Los Angeles Times

The reality is starting to set in: Coronavirus has a lot of people stuck at home. Sports are shut down. Some people are temporarily out of work or might be soon. Budgets for luxuries — like premium TV —are tightening.