IN THIS ISSUE:
Top Policy/Political Stories
- Local/Regional
- State
- Federal
- Agriculture/Food
- Criminal Justice/Public Safety
- Economy/ Jobs
- Education
- Environment/Energy
- Health/Human Services
- Immigration
- Land Use/Housing
- Public Finances
- Transportation
- Water
- “Xtra“
- Editorials
TOP POLITICAL STORIES
Valley Politics:
Lynnette Zelezny, CSU Fresno provost, to succeed Horace Mitchell as CSUB presidentBakersfield Californian Seeking a Central Valley local with a track-record of bolstering philanthropy, California State University trustees selected Lynnette Zelezny, a Fresno State University administrator, to succeed retiring Cal State Bakersfield President Horace Mitchell, ending a months-long national search. See also: ● Lynnette Zelezny Appointed President of CSU Bakersfield California State University of Bakersfield ● CSU Trustees Appoint Zelezny President of CSU Bakersfield The California State University ● Q&A: Incoming CSUB President Lynnette Zelezny talks collaboration, philanthropy and her vision for the future Bakersfield Californian
FEC probing Nunes for possible campaign violations TheHill The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is investigating possible campaign finance violations by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.). In a letter sent to Toni Nunes, the congressman’s campaign treasurer and mother, the FEC requested information about contributions from three donors that appear to violate campaign finance rules. One donor, Harris Lee Cohen, appears to have given Nunes’s campaign a total of $3,000, through two payments of $1,500.
TJ Cox named to Democratic program, gains national support against Valadao Bakersfield Californian Democrat TJ Cox, who jumped in at the last minute to challenge Congressman David Valadao, R-Hanford, for his 21st Congressional District seat, has been named to Democrat’s Red to Blue program. The announcement came Thursday morning from Ben Ray Luján, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Tulare City manager and police chief fired on the same day Visalia Times-Delta Tulare lost two leaders hours apart — a city manager and a chief of police. During a closed session meeting on Tuesday, city council members fired Joe Carlini, who has served as city manager for less than a year. Carlini was slated to receive an employee review, according to the agenda. See also: · Tulare city manager fires police chief on same day he’s terminated as wellFresno Bee
Survey: Majority of voters support sales tax increase Bakersfield Californian Around 65 percent voters support a one-cent sales tax measure to bring more revenue to the City of Bakersfield, according to a new survey. The survey — conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz and Associates — asked nearly 1,000 voters earlier this year whether they would support a tax measure aimed for the November ballot that would largely focus on increasing public safety services. The results were presented to the City Council during its March 21 meeting.
Morris: March for our Lives Fresno will join national protest against gun violence Fresno Bee In the wake of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s mass shooting in the recently stated safest city in Florida, students around the country have been teaming up to fight for gun-regulation laws through social media and local politicians. See also: ● The School Shooting Generation Has Had Enough Time ● The Gun Owners of the Parkland Generation The New Yorker ● Congress keeps the gun industry happy The Nation ● Proposal to put armed peace officers on all California school campuses advances in Assembly Los Angeles Times ● Pitts: May the Parkland kids forgive us for failing them so miserably The Modesto Bee ● How Americans love their guns – in graphics Financial Times ● Poll: Californians’ support for stricter gun laws soars San Jose Mercury
Clovis Unified rejects proposed charter school that would teach in English and Punjabi The Fresno Bee The Clovis Unified School District Board unanimously rejected a proposal Wednesday to establish an English-Punjabi charter school in the district. Supporters of the school, including members of the Punjabi community, made up most of the audience at the March 21 meeting.
Chavez’s message of peace shared Fresno Bee Julie Chavez Rodriguez still remembers the pain she felt as a child when a woman told her, “I hope he dies this time,” about her grandfather, farm worker advocate and labor leader Cesar Chavez.
Here’s why Merced’s mayor spoke with high-speed rail authority this week Merced Sun-Star With the shifting plans around the state’s high-speed rail and its rising costs, Merced’s mayor headed to Sacramento this week to speak with officials in an attempt reaffirm the bullet train’s importance to the region. See also: ● Jerry Brown’s Rail Fantasy Keeps Getting Pricier The American Spectator ● Fox: Brown Curses Those Who Curse the High Speed Rail Fox&Hounds Council to create rules for council, meetingsHanford Sentinel In further efforts to bring clarity to the city of Lemoore’s procedures, City Council took its first steps Tuesday in formalizing procedural rules for Council and Council meetings. The Council listened to suggestions city staff had put together regarding council member conduct and how meetings are run. Second wave of the seasonal flu crashes into Stanislaus County The Modesto Bee Residents in Stanislaus County should not assume the flu season has passed. In general, the county Health Services Agency has noticed a decrease in flu activity, but another strain of virus is causing outbreaks and it’s more dangerous for young children. The county’s contagious disease unit is primarily seeing cases of influenza B, Anuj Bhatia, a county health services spokesman, said Tuesday. Bakersfield Californian Two Bakersfield residents — one a trucking school owner, the other a DMV employee — have been indicted in a conspiracy to sell California driver’s licenses to unqualified drivers.
Cannabis decision in limboHanford Sentinel Is cannabis the same no matter the reason for its use, or does it matter if it’s medical or recreational? That is one of the main questions the Hanford City Council faced Tuesday during its regular council meeting, and the answer is still up in the air. Professional soccer comes to Fresno — finally this city will be on the map! Los Angeles Times
State Politics:
Atkins sworn in as 1st woman, 1st openly LGBT person to head state Senate San Francisco Chronicle Sen. Toni Atkins was sworn in Wednesday as head of the California Senate, making the San Diego Democrat the first woman and first openly LGBT person to lead the upper house of the state Legislature. Immediately after assuming her post, Atkins noted the ceiling-breaking achievements she had just ushered in, saying, “It’s about time.” See also: ● Toni Atkins To Be Sworn In As First Female California Senate Leader Capital Public Radio ● Toni Atkins prepares to be first woman to have held the top job in both the California state Senate and Assembly Los Angeles Times ● First woman, LGBT leader of California Senate sworn in 89.3 KPCC ● How Toni Atkins, California’s new Senate leader, rose so high so quickly The San Diego Union-Tribune ● First woman, LGBT lawmaker to lead California Senate Washington Post ● Skelton: In her historic rise to California Senate leader, Toni Atkins brings hope for a calmer era in the Capitol Los Angeles Times
Jerry Brown wants to keep youth offenders out of prison The Sacramento Bee
Republican rising against Gavin Newsom in California governor’s race, poll finds Sacramento Bee Gavin Newsom has secured a commanding lead over his rivals in the race for California governor, but Republican businessman John Cox has moved into second place in recent months, according new statewide Public Policy Institute of California poll. See also: ● California Republican Party is dying, Schwarzenegger says The Fresno Bee ● Newsom leads and Cox in second in new poll of governor’s race The Mercury News ● Gavin Newsom holds double-digit lead in CA governor race; Republican Cox is second The Sacramento Bee ● Republican John Cox inches ahead of Antonio Villaraigosa for second place in California governor’s race, new poll finds Los Angeles Times ● Poll: Newsom Maintains Lead in Governor’s Race, GOP’s John Cox in SecondThe California Report – KQED News ● Antonio Villaraigosa says he’s not a “partisan warrior,” but he’s ready to fightCALmatters ● Prince Gavin Surges Past Tony V; DiFi Steady Calbuzz His opponent was missing. So a candidate for attorney general addressed an empty chair. Sacramento Bee California Attorney General Xavier Becerra came under intense fire for missing the first debate Wednesday in the state attorney general’s race, with his Democratic opponent repeatedly attacking him as “MIA” and Republicans denouncing his pro-immigrant stance. See also: ● Candidates for California attorney general criticize incumbent Xavier Becerra for missing debate Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times Civil rights lawyer Valerie McGinty founded a political action committee late last year to help boost the low numbers of women serving in the California Legislature. As it launches in Los Angeles, it will have an additional objective: backing women pursuing the seats left empty by men whose careers were ended by sexual harassment accusations.
Walters: Democrats hypocritical on abortion free speech case The Mercury News California’s Democratic politicians frequently proclaim their fervent support for tolerance and acceptance of those outside the cultural mainstream. Increasingly, however, they exhibit intolerance of those who disagree with their party’s orthodoxy, even to the point of infringing on their constitutional rights.
California bill aims to spur affordable housing for college students The Mercury News Amid a torrent of state bills attempting to ease California’s housing crisis, a new proposal aims to help one group that is struggling mightily: college students. Senate Bill 1227 hopes to spur the construction of affordable housing designed especially for students.
No on Prop 68: Parks and water bond would leave California in a mountain of debt The San Diego Union-Tribune All Californians desire clean air, clean water, coastal protection, environmental protection, flood prevention and safe, well-maintained recreation areas. That’s why our state already spends about $5 billion annually to support these types of programs, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.
Video: Assessing California’s Redistricting Commission Public Policy Institute of California The creation of the Citizen Redistricting Commission (CRC) in 2008 marked a radical departure for California. This shift of responsibility for drawing state assembly, state senate, and US congressional districts from the state legislature to an independent commission also put California ahead of the national curve.
California Today: Schwarzenegger’s Republican Manifesto The New York Times More than 10 years ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger, then the Republican governor of California, told an audience of conservative leaders that the California Republican Party had moved too far to the right and was “dying at the box office.” “How right I was,” Mr. Schwarzenegger said in a rare return public appearance on Wednesday. See also: ● The Latest: Schwarzenegger: California GOP is like Titanic Washington Post ● Schwarzenegger, Kasich urge GOP to move center in Trump era Washington Post ● Arnold Schwarzenegger says Republican donors should ‘starve’ the party until it shapes up Sacramento Bee
Federal Politics:
Fueled by fury against Trump, Democrats dream of turning California bluer Washington Post On a recent Sunday evening, Katie Hill , 30, whose father is a police lieutenant in Beverly Hills, boarded a red-eye flight to Washington for frenetic fundraising and networking. She must really want to get into the House of Representatives. If she does, she will have defeated a two-term incumbent, Rep. Steve Knight , 51, who was a Los Angeles police officer for 18 years and is the last Republican serving any district containing a significant portion of Los Angeles County. See also: · California House Races: The Action For 2018 Fox & Hounds · Crowded Fields Remain in California Ahead of June Primary Roll Call
President Trump’s claim that California has the ‘highest taxes in the United States’ Washington Post A number of readers from California wrote to express outrage at the president’s remarks about the state’s taxes when he visited the state. In particular, they noted that he mentioned property that he owns in the state and yet complained “the taxes are way, way out of whack … double and triple what they should be.”
What’s in the massive omnibus spending deal PBS NewsHour After days of snags and delays, congressional leaders staggered toward completing a massive $1.3 trillion “omnibus” spending deal Wednesday, according to multiple Republican and Democratic sources familiar with the negotiations. The monster-sized bill contains one of the largest spending increases in recent history, and is critical to avoid a government shutdown Friday night, when Congress’ self-imposed funding deadline hits. See also: · Congress Unveils $1.3 Trillion Spending Bill As Friday Deadline Looms NPR · Biggest losers in federal budget? People who need health care Modesto Bee · National background check system gets help in Congress’s budget planMerced Sun-Star
Fed hikes interest rate to highest level in a decade The Mercury News The Federal Reserve on Wednesday lifted its key interest rate from 1.5 percent to 1.75 percent, the highest level since 2008. The move, the central bank’s first major decision under new Chairman Jerome Powell, was widely expected as the U.S. economy continues to strengthen and stock markets remain near record highs. The Fed also significantly boosted its forecast for U.S. growth this year and next. See also: ● White House moving forward on tariffs of Chinese goods, raising specter of trade war Los Angeles Times ● Democratic candidates try something new to cope with anti-Pelosi campaign attacks: Disavowing her Los Angeles Times
The Former College Dropout Who Would Be Dianne Feinstein POLITICO Magazine Fourteen people and three rescue cats were awaiting Kevin de León when he pulled up to a PetSmart and stepped inside through drizzling rain.
Last-gasp try for immigration deal fell to partisan disputes AP An effort to protect young Dreamer immigrants from deportation never really had much chance of squeezing into the last bill Congress must pass this election year. That’s why bargainers from both parties were surprised when the White House tried anyway. The catch: It was bait to win more money for President Donald Trump’s precious border wall with Mexico.
Other:
FTC investigating Facebook over use of personal data Fresno Bee The Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into whether Facebook violated an agreement with the agency on data privacy, after reports that information on 50 million users was improperly obtained by the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, according to a person with knowledge of the inquiry. See also: ● California elected officials dismayed at use of Facebook data San Francisco Chronicle ● Trump campaign used Cambridge Analytica in final months of campaign PunditFact ● Fresno lawyer: Today the Fridge Cam, tomorrow our liberty? Resist lure of tech wizards Fresno Bee ● I worked at Facebook. I know how Cambridge Analytica could have happened.The Washington Post ● The Latest Cambridge Analytica Exposé Raises More Questions About the Firm’s Role in the Trump Campaign New Yorker ● Mark Zuckerberg tells CNN he is ‘happy to’ testify before Congress CNN Money ● ‘We Have a Basic Responsibility to Protect Peoples’ Data.’ Mark Zuckerberg Addresses Data Crisis Time ● ‘Utterly horrifying’: ex-Facebook insider says covert data harvesting was routine The Guardian ● Opinion: Mark Zuckerberg Is No James Madison WSJ ● The left is doing #deletefacebook over the exact same practices the Obama campaign used. The Weekly Standard ● Zuckerberg apologizes for Facebook mistakes with user data, vows curbsReuters ● Mark Zuckerberg’s Reckoning: ‘This Is a Major Trust Issue’ The New York Times ● Want to #DeleteFacebook? You Can Try The New York Times The Case for Regulating the Internet The Atlantic It will be fantastically satisfying to see the boy genius flayed. All the politicians—ironically, in search of a viral moment—will lash Mark Zuckerberg from across the hearing room. They will corner Facebook’s founding bro, seeking to pin all manner of sin on him. This will make for scrumptious spectacle, but spectacle is a vacuous substitute for policy.
Can our schools teach kids to spot fake news? Fresno Bee If you believe President Donald Trump, fake news is everywhere. It is a scourge, just not in the way he says it is – any story that makes him look bad. So I’m all for teaching California school kids to spot fake news. I’m just not totally convinced the state’s education bureaucracy can pull it off.
‘Alexa’ and ‘Siri’ aren’t women tech leaders. But some Americans think they are, survey finds Sacramento Bee About half of Americans can name a man who is a leader in technology — whether it’s Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk. But when a new survey asked respondents if they could name women tech leaders, the results weren’t exactly encouraging. Only 8.3 percent of the 1,000 American consumers surveyed said they could name a woman tech leader — and only 4 percent of respondents could actually come up with a name.
Cesar Chavez’s granddaughter: Courage is critical in this era of political division Fresno Bee Julie Chavez Rodriguez still remembers the pain she felt as a child when a woman told her, “I hope he dies this time,” about her grandfather, farm worker advocate and labor leader Cesar Chavez. She was just 10 years old and passing out fliers outside a Fresno grocery store about the need to ban certain pesticides on grapes to protect farm workers. She later lamented to her grandfather that she didn’t have a comeback.
Topics in More Detail…
AGRICULTURE/FOOD ‘Big Ag’ critic: Michael Pollan in Fresno The Fresno BeeMichael Pollan, a UC Berkeley professor, author and sometime critic of “Big Ag,” spoke in the heart of California’s ag country Wednesday. It was what he did not say that was surprising. The author of “The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals” and other best-selling books, Pollan has often criticized the industrialization of agriculture for the increased amount of greenhouse gases it emits.Judge blocks pesticide spraying to control ag pestsPorterville Recorder A Sacramento County judge has thrown a huge roadblock on efforts to control invasive pests which threaten scores of California crops. The California Department of Food and Ag (CDFA) filed an appeal of the judge’s ruling which halted the program that allows the state to spray pesticides on public and private property without and invalidated portions of CDFA’s Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Pest Prevention and Management.
Farm Bill forum to be held in Tulare Thursday The Business Journal Members of Tulare’s agriculture, health, and anti-hunger groups are celebrating their partnership during AgWeek at a Farm Bill Forum in the Tulare County Agriculture Building on March 22. The Farm Bill is a law that governs federal farm, food, and conservation policy.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
For stories on ”gun control & mass shootings,” See: “Top Stories – Valley Politics,” above
Crime:
Rural Crimes Task Force sees a rash of theft reports in FebruaryHanford Sentinel The Rural Crime Task Force of the Kings County Sheriff’s Department had a busy month in February. There had been six instances of theft, the task force said in a Facebook post on the Kings County Farm Bureau page.
She embezzled from Stanislaus Union School District, including its Christmas party fundModesto BeeA Modesto woman has been convicted of embezzling nearly $10,000 from the Stanislaus Union School District when she worked there as an administrative assistant. Evonne Michelle Tagre, 39, on March 9 pleaded guilty to felony embezzlement, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday in a news release.
The Bakersfield Californian Two Bakersfield residents — one a trucking school owner, the other a DMV employee — have been indicted in a conspiracy to sell California driver’s licenses to unqualified drivers.
Brown wants to keep more youth in juvenile detention, not prison Sacramento Bee Criminal and juvenile justice reform has been a key part of Gov. Jerry Brown’s time in office, and his final proposed budget calls for keeping more youth offenders in juvenile detention facilities instead of prison. Brown’s 2018-19 proposed budget calls for $3.8 million to allow youth offenders longer stays in juvenile justice facilities, a step the governor and some advocates say would lead to lower recidivism rates and better outcomes. For police, catching stoned drivers isn’t so easyLos Angeles Times The man San Diego Police Officer John Perdue pulled over in the Hillcrest neighborhood late last year did not hesitate to admit the smell wafting from his car was marijuana. After the driver said he not only smoked pot recently but did it on a regular basis, Perdue ran him through several field sobriety tests. The man passed them all without a stumble.
Public Safety:
Lawsuit: Modesto woman’s shooting death by deputy in ‘complete defiance’ of proceduresModesto BeeAn amended lawsuit against Stanislaus County in the shooting of a Modesto woman last year by a sheriff’s deputy says her death was the result of “complete defiance and contradiction of vitally important policies, procedures and accepted training protocol.”
Fire:
California utilities want customers to help pay wildfire damages. Will politicians oblige? CALmatters Minutes before President Donald Trump landed in California last week, the most powerful politicians in the state sent out a public statement that had nothing to do with him and would garner little attention. The announcement from Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders said that due to recent devastating fires and mudslides, they would work together this year to “make California more resilient against the impacts of natural disasters and climate change.” Among the issues they promised to address: updating liability laws for utility companies.
PG&E’s wildfire plan: round-the-clock prediction and response center in SF San Francisco Chronicle Pacific Gas and Electric Co. plans to unveil a sweeping set of steps to prevent wildfires or contain them when they erupt. The utility, whose equipment is being investigated as a potential cause of the Wine Country fires last fall, will create a wildfire prediction and response center in San Francisco that will operate around the clock during fire season. The company will greatly expand its own network of weather stations to monitor conditions, adding hundreds more this year.
ECONOMY / JOBS Valley economic index falls, but remains in positive rangeHanford Sentinel February’s San Joaquin Valley Business Conditions Index fell to 50.5 from January’s 55.7, remaining above growth neutral for the 18th straight month but dropping to its lowest reading since August 2016. The index points to weaker, but positive growth in the next three to six months.
Designed in California, made in China: how the iPhone skews US trade deficit Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump often tweets from his iPhone about pressuring China to address its $375 billion trade surplus with the United States. But a closer look at the Apple smartphone reveals how the headline figure is distorted. The big trade imbalance – at the heart of a potential trade war, with Trump expected to impose tariffs on Chinese imports this week – exists in large part because of electrical goods and tech, the biggest U.S. import item from China. See also: ● White House moving forward on tariffs of Chinese goods, raising specter of trade war Los Angeles Times ● Trump’s Steel Tariff Promise to Workers Sends Companies Scrambling Bloomberg · Trump’s Tariffs Won’t Protect U.S. Jobs, But They May Start A Trade War The Conversation
Fed raises interest rate a quarter point – more hikes likelyFresno BeeThe Washington news conference of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell appears on a television on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday. The Fed raised its benchmark interest rate to reflect a solid U.S. economy and signaling that it’s sticking with a gradual approach to rate hikes for 2018 under its new chairman.
Is the American middle class really no better off today than in 1979? Not according to the CBO. AEI Are most Americans really no better off now than they were decades ago? Have living standards gone nowhere? It is a claim some policy activists and policymakers make. But it is hard to square such claims with a new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Lots of cool data in there, but let’s focus on the broad middle class, the 21st to 80th income percentiles. How has it been doing since 1980?
EDUCATION
For stories on ”mass school shootings,” See: “Top Stories – Valley Politics,” above
K-12:
Clovis Unified rejects proposed charter school that would teach in English and PunjabiFresno Bee The Clovis Unified School District Board unanimously rejected a proposal Wednesday to establish an English-Punjabi charter school in the district. Supporters of the school, including members of the Punjabi community, made up most of the audience at the March 21 meeting. Many wore stickers with the name of the school, “One and Only Academy,” and over a dozen speakers voiced their support for the petition.
Can our schools teach kids to spot fake news? Fresno Bee If you believe President Donald Trump, fake news is everywhere. It is a scourge, just not in the way he says it is – any story that makes him look bad. So I’m all for teaching California school kids to spot fake news. I’m just not totally convinced the state’s education bureaucracy can pull it off.
Student access to arts education growing in California, Visalia Visalia Times-Delta Student access to arts education in California is growing, but the state isn’t where it needs to be, according to a recently completed project by California’s Statewide Arts Education Coalition. Across the state, more than 97 percent of students have access to some level of arts education. Still, only 25 percent of students have access to all four arts disciplines of dance, music, theater and visual art.
This Merced County school district is offering free health care services for studentsMerced Sun-StarOne local school district in Merced County has started offering in-school healthcare services free of charge to students and parents who opt-in, according to school officials. The new service is costing the Delhi Unified School District nothing for its 2,600 students this year, Superintendent Adolfo Melara said. California school fires teacher under fire for in-class anti-military rant The Mercury News The El Rancho Unified school board voted Tuesday to fire El Rancho High School teacher Gregory Salcido, who was heard in viral videos making comments critical of military members. Salcido will remain on unpaid leave, pending any appeals to the State Office of Administrative Hearings. See also: ● California teacher fired after calling US troops ‘the lowest of our low’Washington Post
Money matters in education, as long as you spend it at the right time and on the right students Los Angeles Times Half a century ago, when sociologist James Coleman was tasked by the U.S. Department of Education with studying educational inequality, a good school was regarded as one that featured teachers with advanced degrees, a well-stocked library, state-of-the-art science labs and the like. The assumption was that these “inputs” were key to students’ success. But the bottom line of the 737-page “Equal Educational Opportunity Survey,” known as the Coleman Report, was dynamite. Families mattered most, schools mattered less — and extra resources didn’t seem to matter much at all.
‘Deeper learning’ aimed to expand as Stanford researchers join California charter group EdSource Though Yvonne Armenta graduated from UC Berkeley last May, “I think I remember more actual content from high school than from college,” she said. “In college it was write it down, study the night before … take the test and just forget about it,” Armenta said. “Whereas in high school I was a lot more immersed … my teachers actually expected me to know and be able to talk about” what they taught.
California tops in suspension reform, but still not properly targeting disparities, report says EdSource California in recent years has arguably become the best state in the nation at holding school districts accountable for their suspension rates — but a number of districts are still lagging considerably when it comes to addressing suspension disparities among specific groups of students and supporting alternatives to traditional discipline, according to a new statewide report.
Tribute: Ron Bennett remembered as skilled negotiator and mentor EdSource Ron Bennett, the chief executive officer of Sacramento-based School Services of California, Inc., and mentor for many school executives during two decades that he ran the state’s largest school district consulting firm, died Saturday.
The case against education: A long-read Q&A with Bryan Caplan AEI The American education system is a waste of both time and money — at least according to Bryan Caplan, author of the new book, The Case Against Education. Rather than actually impart useful skills, education’s benefits stem mainly from “signaling,” implying that as a nation we could drastically reduce years of schooling and be no worse off.
Higher Ed:
For stories on ”new CSU Bakersfield President Zelezny,” See: “Top Stories – Valley Politics,” above Broad coalition of support grows for California’s online community college idea California Economy Reporting A diverse coalition is building for Governor Jerry Brown’s plan to create a statewide online community college designed to serve workers who need more skills and credentials to move ahead but cannot access traditional college courses. C
Giving low-income students enough support to graduate, colleges face financial catch-22 PBS NewsHour The monotony of working retail had finally gotten to Amalia Lewis-Miller by 2015, when she decided to go to college. After five years of clocking in at Home Depot, she was 27 and earning $12 an hour. She had worked at Target before that and at one store or another since high school.
Apprenticeships:
Bakersfield Californian Two Bakersfield residents — one a trucking school owner, the other a DMV employee — have been indicted in a conspiracy to sell California driver’s licenses to unqualified drivers.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
Shaking down manufacturers doesn’t help climate change fight Sacramento Bee California manufacturers are big players in the state’s efforts to address climate change. The largest companies are regulated through a program that will greatly reduce emissions and grow the economy at the same time. The result will be a win-win for jobs and the environment.
People cause climate change, but don’t blame big oil, industry tells judge San Francisco Chronicle In a court hearing billed as one of the most far-reaching legal debates on climate change, attorneys for petroleum giants told a San Francisco federal judge Wednesday that human activities are clearly responsible for global warming, but that the science isn’t sophisticated enough to point fingers at big oil. See also: ● Lawsuits vs. big oil lead to court lessons on climate change The Business Journal Oil industry lawyer emphasizes climate change ‘uncertainties’ in tutorial The Sacramento Bee
Energy:
Tsunamis of innovation are shaking the energy industry Brookings Tsunamis of innovation, anxiety, and opportunity are now washing over the world’s energy system. New technologies have transformed the global markets for oil and gas. The United States is on track to become the world’s largest oil producer within a decade, as my Brookings colleague Samantha Gross has analyzed.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Flu and other contagious bugs pose threats to kids over spring break Fresno Bee Flu season is not over and children are the primary target of a strain that has been on an upswing in Fresno just in time for it to spread over spring break. A host of other viruses that cause fever, sneezing and coughing also are widespread and are causing potentially serious illness in young children and adults with chronic health conditions, such as asthma. See also: · Want to avoid the flu while flying? Try a window seat Madera Tribune· Second wave of the seasonal flu crashes into Stanislaus County The Modesto Bee
This Merced County school district is offering free health care services for studentsMerced Sun-StarOne local school district in Merced County has started offering in-school healthcare services free of charge to students and parents who opt-in, according to school officials. The new service is costing the Delhi Unified School District nothing for its 2,600 students this year, Superintendent Adolfo Melara said. Biggest losers in federal budget? People who need health care Modesto Bee If anything can be said about the last year, it is that people will fight when they believe their healthcare has been endangered. They must continue the fight. One of President Donald Trump’s primary goals – fully supported by House Speaker Paul Ryan and many Republicans like Rep. Jeff Denham – was to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, the law designed to provide healthcare coverage for all Americans. See also: · Study: Medical bankruptcies may not be as common as thought Fresno Bee
Mazzini: We need lawmakers backing health care Modesto Bee If anything can be said about the last year, it is that people will fight when they believe their health care has been endangered. They must continue the fight. One of President Donald Trump’s primary goals – supported by House Speaker Paul Ryan and Republicans like Rep. Jeff Denham – was to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, the law designed to provide health care insurance.
Bipartisan Health Care Compromise Falls Apart, Obamacare Battle Continues Roll Call The politics of health care reared its ugly head yet again. A grand, bipartisan bargain to stabilize the U.S. individual insurance market fell apart this week. And members on both sides of the aisle turned to what they know best: blaming the other party. Republicans say Democrats threw a last-minute wrench in the negotiations by insisting that aspects of the package be exempt from commonly used appropriations language that prevents federal funding from being used for abortions.
Longtime AIDS researcher tapped to lead CDC The Mercury News A leading AIDS researcher, who is well respected for his clinical work but has no experience running a governmental public-health agency was named Wednesday to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Human Services:
The truth about Medicaid work requirements AEI Following up on an important policy change to reorient safety net programs toward work, the Trump administration has just approved the third state request to implement work requirements in Medicaid. At least seven other state applications to do the same are still pending. Critics have warned of catastrophe, and threatened litigation, to stop them. Some argue that work requirements will cause millions to lose health insurance coverage and will threaten the well-being of low-income Americans.
IMMIGRATION ICE director set to testify in California immigration suit Washington Post The nation’s top immigration enforcer is likely to testify in a lawsuit brought by the Trump administration over California’s so-called sanctuary laws seeking to protect people in the country illegally, a federal judge said Wednesday.
Last-gasp try for immigration deal fell to partisan disputes AP An effort to protect young Dreamer immigrants from deportation never really had much chance of squeezing into the last bill Congress must pass this election year. That’s why bargainers from both parties were surprised when the White House tried anyway. The catch: It was bait to win more money for President Donald Trump’s precious border wall with Mexico.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
New Starbucks, shopping coming to Tulare Visalia Times-Delta A new Starbucks near downtown Tulare is scheduled to be built seemingly in the same manner a double-shot of espresso goes through a customer’s body. Chris Orosco, a developer based in Monterey County, said construction will start this week on the 1,800 square-foot store, to be located at the southwest corner of J Street and Cross Avenue.
Housing:
TRUE: California ranks 49th in per capita housing supply PolitiFact Runaway rents and out-of-reach home prices typify California’s housing landscape. To ease extreme costs, there are politicians who say they’re increasingly focused on boosting supply. Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is one.At a forum on March 8, 2018 in Sacramento, Newsom said California must break down barriers to building because it ranks “49th out of 50 in the United States in per capita housing units.
Here’s how many homes in Merced County are bought by investors from out of townMerced Sun-StarAll-cash buyers have grabbed up a higher percentage of homes in the past 12 years in Merced County than in much of the rest of the state, which means wealthy out-of-the-area investors are having an effect on the local housing market, according to numbers from a real estate tracker.
Adding one short sentence to the state law can save 50000 from homelessness – really Sacramento Bee In 2017, with virtually no fanfare, the appellate division of the Los Angeles County Superior Court wiped out a critical piece of West Hollywood’s rent stabilization ordinance. The provision allowed tenants to get reimbursed for attorney fees when victorious in standing up for their rights during eviction proceedings. Because of this provision, tenants in West Hollywood were more likely to have a lawyer with them and, consequently, were some of the least likely tenants in California to be evicted and become homeless.
California bill aims to spur affordable housing for college students The Mercury News Amid a torrent of state bills attempting to ease California’s housing crisis, a new proposal aims to help one group that is struggling mightily: college students. Senate Bill 1227 hopes to spur the construction of affordable housing designed especially for students.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Survey: Majority of voters support sales tax increase Bakersfield Californian Around 65 percent voters support a one-cent sales tax measure to bring more revenue to the City of Bakersfield, according to a new survey. The survey — conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz and Associates — asked nearly 1,000 voters earlier this year whether they would support a tax measure aimed for the November ballot that would largely focus on increasing public safety services. The results were presented to the City Council during its March 21 meeting.
TRANSPORTATION
Can self-driving cars withstand first fatality?Madera Tribune The deadly collision between an Uber autonomous vehicle and a pedestrian near Phoenix is bringing calls for tougher self-driving regulations, but advocates for a hands-off approach say big changes aren’t needed.
Merced mayor wants city on the mind of HSR officials Merced Sun-Star With the shifting plans around the state’s high-speed rail and its rising costs, Merced’s mayor headed to Sacramento this week to speak with officials in an attempt reaffirm the bullet train’s importance to the region. Mayor Mike Murphy spoke to the California High-Speed Rail Authority on Tuesday, he said, advocating for Merced to remain in the initial plans for the train of about 520 miles, which is now estimated to cost $77.3 billion.
Fox: Brown Curses Those Who Curse the High Speed Rail Fox&Hounds Gov. Jerry Brown ripped critics of the high-speed rail offering profanity and calling critics small-minded. Yet, it is an American tradition that goes back to the beginning of the Republic to point out when government goes off the rails, a turn of phrase that is certainly apropos in this instance. See also: ● Jerry Brown’s Rail Fantasy Keeps Getting Pricier The American Spectator
WATER
Atmospheric river bringing more rainFresno BeeThe atmospheric river that drenched the central San Joaquin Valley Wednesday won’t let up until Thursday afternoon — and rains could be heavy at times until then, warns the National Weather Service. By midafternoon Wednesday, rain totals were between a quarter of an inch to 0.75 in the Valley. Up to 2 inches had fallen in the mountains, the NWS said.See also: · Pineapple Express storms into Valley, multiple accidents reported Fresno Bee· Storm moving through California bringing heavy rain and fears of flooding to the Valley ABC30● Flash flood watch goes into effect March 21, for the Sierra foothills Sierra Star● Storm has caused some road closures, car accidents Bakersfield Californian ● ‘Atmospheric river’ delivers rain to Bay Area, downpours across California The Mercury News ● Southern California storm: What you need to know Los Angeles Times ● Storm brings record rainfall, little damage to Southern California. But the worst may be yet to come Los Angeles Times ● Rain hits Santa Barbara and Ventura counties as residents prepare for potential flooding and mudslides Los Angeles Times ● Yep, it’s nice rain — but it’s no ‘Miracle March,’ experts say San Francisco Chronicle
Tanks a lot! Water providers move to ease effects of droughtMadera Tribune Madera Acres, Chowchilla and City of Madera all have improvement projects in the works. A new water tower and at least two new surface water tanks will be built this year in Madera County to improve domestic water services.
Treatment plan in the works for Hanford waterHanford Sentinel In light of current issues with Hanford’s water, the city is moving forward with a plan to treat water from three wells. At the March 6 Hanford City Council study session, John Doyel, utilities and engineering director for the city, informed Council about a few water issues that have popped up over the last few months.
“Xtra”
Celebrate national park week April 21 – 29 Sierra Star While you’re beginning to daydream about warmer, longer days, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation are preparing to help you #FindYourPark during National Park Week, April 21 through April 29. Carrying the theme “Park Stars” – which celebrates everything from starry skies to superstar volunteers – parks, programs and partners nationwide invite people everywhere to explore stories, experiences, and sites that brighten the National Park System.
The Record a finalist in several journalism award categories Stockton Record The Record has been named a finalist in 16 categories in the 2017 California Journalism Awards competition. Among the categories The Record is a finalist in its division is General Excellence, which recognizes the best overall print newspaper, considering all aspects of the print edition — news, features, sports, the opinion page and design.
Women recognized for serviceHanford Sentinel Women with Visions Unlimited held its 8th Annual Women’s History Month Celebration Thursday at Kings Behavioral Health Building. The dinner was a time to celebrate women in general and several in particular.
Dogs can join the fight against cancer at Bark for LifeBakersfield Californian Like any good friend, dogs are with us through thick and thin. In times of poor health, there’s nothing like man’s best friend to cheer you up. At Bark For Life, an American Cancer Society event to be held on Saturday morning at Liberty Park, dogs are the star of the show. They will be honored whether they’re canine caregivers, cancer survivors themselves or just very good dogs.
Road trippers: Here are the top 10 loneliest roads in California The Mercury News Traffic got you down? Are you longing for the open road? A new study by the fleet management company Geotab might offer some guidance. The company culled the least-traveled roads across the country, ranking them on both their scenic appeal — as judged by nature photographer James “Q” Martin — and the number of cars that travel them annually.
EDITORIALS Sinclair Broadcast Group’s ‘fake news’ campaign attacks real journalismOCRegister In these ginned-up, rashly opinionated times in the United States of America, with the press under fire, no citizen we know of is crying out for some new national voice criticizing those who bring us our news. If anything, with so much news coming out of Washington, D.C., and with the internet’s constant feed and big-screen TVs everywhere bringing us the national 24-hour news cycle, what we are lacking is local news, followed by local commentary — a new localism as a blessed respite from the blare from the other side of the continent. A single-sized voice giving its opinions on what ails our country does not fit all.
California Republicans can stand on the political sidelines for only so longOCRegister There are some reasons why the California GOP might want to sit out big races for statewide seats. But having failed to file a serious challenge to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Golden State Republicans should understand they can’t stay on the sidelines forever. With each passing election season, the risks grow sharper. And the possible wisdom of letting Democrats duke it out in the primaries and the general elections as well grows sourer.
Uber self-driving car fatality calls for caution, not hysteria The Mercury News It was inevitable: A self-driving car killed a pedestrian. The first such fatality, involving an Uber vehicle in Tempe, Ariz., has predictably prompted calls to suspend all testing of autonomous vehicles across the nation, including California’s program slated to start next month. Whoa, let’s not overreact. Yes, the death is a tragedy. But the response should be reasoned, not hysterical.
Prop. 68 will upgrade parks and water puritySan Francisco Chronicle California’s landscape is an enduring treasure, but its rivers, beaches and parks require public stewardship, especially as harsh weather and population growth take a toll. That’s why voters should support Proposition 68, a $4 billion bond measure on the June 5 ballot. |