POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Proposed CA state bill aims to protect special needs students after El Dorado Hills death
Merced Sun-Star
A state bill aimed at protecting special needs students at nonpublic schools was introduced Monday in response to the November 2018 death of a student who was restrained at his El Dorado Hills school.
Patti: County is violating his freedom of speech
Stockton Record
Supervisor Tom Patti has filed a claim against San Joaquin County arguing that County Counsel Mark Myles has violated his freedom of speech.
Central SJ Valley:
Janz says itâs âhighly unlikelyâ he will challenge Nunes in 2020, eyes Fresno mayor run
Fresno Bee
Andrew Janz, the Fresno Democrat who spent 19 months and raised $9 million to grind his way within six percentage points of powerful Republican Rep. Devin Nunes in the 2018 election, says it is âhighly unlikelyâ he will seek a rematch in 2020.
New State Group To Promote Opportunity Zones
Business Journal
A new California organization has been formed to help investors and developers take advantage of federal Opportunity Zones. CalOZ âwill promote competitive, equitable and sustainable Opportunity Zone investments in California,â according to a release from the organization.
South SJ Valley:
City committee to hear more ideas for spending new tax money tonight
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfieldâs sales tax oversight committee will continue to review plans to spend tens of millions in new revenue at a meeting tonight.
Farming company wants to go all-solar. Hereâs where itâs planning to build
Fresno Bee
The Wonderful Company, a farming conglomerate with a significant presence in farming and food packing in the central San Joaquin Valley, announced that it plans to convert all of its U.S. operations to fully renewable electricity sources within the next six years.
See also:
- Wonderful sets goal of 100% use of renewable energy by 2025 Bakersfield Californian
State:
Thereâs another push to keep bars open until 4 a.m. Hereâs why this one could work.
Fresno Bee
State Sen. Scott Wienerâs bill to push bar closing times until 4 a.m. passed out of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee by a 10-4 vote last week and could soon be up for a Senate vote.
See also:
- California Pores Over Late-Night Drinking Bill Business Journal
New NAFTA could force California lawmakers to choose between helping farmers or labor
Sacramento Bee
Battered by foreign tariffs for the past year, California farmers now see a ray of hope for their operations in the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement. Stuck in the middle: California Democrats in Congress, particularly those from the Central Valley, where the agriculture industry looms large.
See also:
- Republicans plot assault on Trumpâs tariff agenda Sacramento Bee
- Trump Says Tariffs on Chinese Goods Will Stay for âSubstantial Period of Time Wall Street Journal
Fact check: No, Steve Baird is not running for CA state Senate District 1
Sacramento Bee
Despite mailers recently sent to voters, Steve Baird â listed as a Democrat on the special primary ballot but a longtime Republican â is not running for the State Senate District 1 seat. Baird dropped out of the race in February, after ballots were already certified.
See also:
- A procrastinatorâs guide to the California Senate District 1 special election primary: Whoâs running? Sacramento Bee
California Lottery official dismissed amid investigations
Sacramento Bee
A senior California Lottery executive has been dismissed from his position six months after anonymous state employees sent a letter to the Governorâs Office complaining about rowdy behavior among a group of the lotteryâs top brass.
Federal:
Democrats ask for Mueller files; GOP exclaims âMove onâ
Fresno Bee
Democrats grapple with special counsel Robert Mueller’s findings as Republicans gleefully exclaim, ‘Move on.’.
See also:
- GOP turns fury on Schiff over Russian collusion claims Fresno Bee
- Victory lap and accolades: Trump has, perhaps, best day ever Fresno Bee
- Mueller report reprieve becomes Trumpâs re-election weapon Merced Sun-Star
- Muellerâs obstruction punt left question in Barrâs hands Modesto Bee
- Mueller report is out. Now the landscape for Trump is different Visalia Times Delta
- Whatâs next for California Democrats after Muellerâs no-collusion conclusion? San Jose Mercury
- Republicans and Democrats angle to take the offensive after Mueller report Los Angeles Times
- Schiff, blasted by GOP after Mueller report, says oversight of Trump wonât stop Orange County Register
- Controversy surrounds Barrâs decision on obstruction issue Los Angeles Times
- So Trump didnât collude â heâs still the most dangerous president in U.S. history Los Angeles Times
- We donât need Robert Mueller to tell us Trump is a threat Los Angeles Times
- Kellyanne Conway: What Trump called a âwitch huntâ is now a âfull and fair investigationâ PBS
- Mueller and Barr just did Democrats a gigantic favor Roll Call
- A Catastrophic Media Failure Wall Street Journal
- The best way to get rid of Trump? Beat him at the ballot box. Washington Post
- EDITORIAL: Why the Mueller report mystifies Visalia Times Delta
- EDITORIAL: William Barrâs summary of the Mueller report is suspect San Francisco Chronicle
By 2-1 ratio, Californians believe probes of Trump should continue, new poll shows
San Diego Union-Tribune
The Mueller report is finished, but Californians overwhelmingly believe that investigations of President Trump should continue, according to a new poll taken Monday.
Elections 2020:
Even in crowded Democratic field, early-state voters flock to see long shots
Los Angeles Times
Beto OâRourkeâs road trip had come and gone after three whirlwind days of events across New Hampshire. But the candidates who campaigned in his wake this past weekend also received enthusiastic welcomes, even without standing on countertops.
Mueller findings help Trump toward re-election, could change Democratsâ focus
San Francisco Chronicle
The attorney generalâs summary of the special counselâs report that cleared President Trump of collusion will lift âa big rock around his neckâ and help him toward re-election.
See also:
- Donât doom your next president, Democrats. Accept the Mueller report Los Angeles Times
Kamala Harris Seeks $315 Billion to Raise Public-School Teacher Salaries
Wall Street Journal
California Sen. Kamala Harris is proposing a $315 billion plan to increase pay for public-school teachers, an effort to address the gap in pay between educators and other professionals that would financially reward a loyal Democratic Party constituency.
See also:
- Kamala Harris details plan to boost teacher pay by an average of $13,500 Roll Call
- Kamala Harris: Our teacher pay gap is a national failure. Hereâs how we can fix it. Washington Post
Democratic Candidates Urged to Back Supreme Court Overhaul
Wall Street Journal
Progressive activist groups are pressing Democratic presidential candidates to back proposals for changing the Supreme Court, a move that could draw protests from voters who donât want to upend the staid institution.
When it comes to younger voters, watch the margin of victory
Roll Call
Thereâs really no question Democrats are going to win younger voters in 2020. But what matters for them is the size of their margin of victory. When the margin creeps higher, Democrats win big.
Political Candidates Donât Always Tell the Truth (And You Canât Make Them)
Pew Research
Under legislation that has been filed repeatedly in recent years, ads would have to include the title and number of a bill or resolution referred to and the year when the vote was taken.
Other:
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai tours region to promote broadband access to farms and rural homes
Merced Sun-Star
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai tours the Sacramento region â including a visit to business incubator AgStart in Woodland â on Monday, March 25, 2019, to help promote broadband access for rural and agricultural communities.
See also:
Stockton to honor veterans of Vietnam War on Friday
Stockton Record
Stockton will join more than 400 other communities in celebrating âVietnam War Veterans Recognition Dayâ on Friday.
AEI
In a climate of increasing social isolation and limited civic engagement, how is it possible that most people can still believe in the goodness of their communities and neighbors, and continue to have faith in the American dream?
Gerrymandering Disputes Donât Belong in Court
Wall Street Journal
Not every day does the Supreme Court have a chance to advance democracy and reverse a major mistake while also lightening its future workload. But it can do all those things in two cases it hears Tuesday dealing with gerrymandering of congressional districts.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, March 31, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 â Maddy Report: âWater in the San Joaquin Valley: A PPIC Reportâ â Guest: Ellen Hanak, Director – Water Policy Center – PPIC. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, March 31, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) â Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: âA Comprehensive Look at the Valley’s Water Challengesâ â Guest: Ellen Hanak, Director – Water Policy Center – PPIC. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, March 31, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) â El Informe Maddy: âResultados de las elecciones de California en 2018: Âżun tsunami polĂtico?â â Guests: Liam Dillon, Reportero de Los Angeles Times y Gisell Gasca de Mi Familia Vota. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Latest health trend: Where to find pressed juices in Fresno
abc30
If you’re starting to notice more places offering pressed juices, you’re not alone. The latest health trend to sweep the Valley is touted as a quick and efficient way of getting your nutrients in at one time.
Not My Avocado Toast: Company Recalls California-Grown Avocados
Capital Public Radio
You might double check the brand before you slice into one. Some of the stateâs avocados are being recalled. All the avocados in question have a yellow and green oval-shaped sticker with a black barcode.
See also:
- Organic and regular avocados recalled in six states after listeria found in facility Modesto Bee
- Avocado recall: Is the fruit you bought safe? Visalia Times Delta
New proposal would provide banking access for cannabis industry
Public CEO
Four months after a high-profile effort to find a way to provide Californiaâs legal marijuana industry with access to financial services ended in failure, state Sen. Robert Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, and state Treasurer Fiona Ma are back with a new proposal.
Now that marijuanaâs legal, state must relax rules for CBD and hemp products
Sacramento Bee
CBD is the non-psychoactive component of marijuana. Yet, in California, only CBD derived from cannabis can be sold in cannabis dispensaries because Prop. 64 specifically defined cannabis to exclude hemp and hemp-derived products.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Scam uses name of deputy to threaten residents
Visalia Times Delta
A new scam is targeted at Tulare County residents. Tulare County Sheriff’s Department is warning people to ignore the threats and call 911.
Victims’ Families Speak Out On Gov. Gavin Newsomâs Decision To Halt California’s Death Penalty
Capital Public Radio
Some families of those killed by inmates now on death row have harshly criticized his freeze on executions. Others say they support the move.
See also:
- Newsom seeks to halt parole for some murderers and serious offenders. What does that signal? Los Angeles Times
- Fox: Death Penalty Politics Fox & Hounds
Senate Panel Considers âRed Flagâ Gun Laws in Aftermath of Mass Shootings
Wall Street Journal
A GOP-led Senate committee will hold a rare gun-control hearing Tuesday on measures aimed at temporarily blocking dangerous people from accessing firearms, following a wave of statesâ decisions to allow such curbs.
A California mosque was set ablaze in âclear homageâ to the New Zealand terrorist attack
Washington Post
The Muslim community in Escondido, Calif., gathered a week ago for an interfaith prayer vigil, insisting Ăthat a distance of nearly 7,000 miles did not ease the pain they felt for the 50 victims of a pair of mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand.
EDITORIAL: Empty cells, rising costs
San Francisco Chronicle
Violent crime by youths in California plummeted over the past two decades, causing juvenile halls that were expanded across the state to stand mostly empty, while the costs per youth have skyrocketed.
Public Safety:
Fresno was ordered to pay out millions in fatal police shooting. The city wants a new trial
Fresno Bee
The city of Fresno wants a second trial in the excessive force case of Casimero âShaneâ Casillas, who was shot to death by a Fresno police officer in 2015.
Tulare and police chief sued by PuebloFest organizers, citing civil rights violations
Fresno Bee
The city of Tulare and its police chief are being sued in federal court over alleged civil rights violations for characterizing the PuebloFest 2017 â a Mexican music and cultural festival â as a Mexican cartel and gang gathering, as well as discriminating against the organizers based on their race.
How bad are porch pirates in California? You might want to rethink those online purchases
San Jose Mercury
New report says Golden State rates No. 3 for most packages stolen from homes.
Sacramento Bee
San Francisco, Los Angeles and Stockton police departments have changed their police use-of-force policies in recent years. The California Legislature is considering two bills that contain similar language to the citiesâ updated rules.
See also:
- âWe are in the middle of a storm on the perception of police.â How this force is building trust Sacramento Bee
Fire:
California Wildfire Survivors Say Theyâre Living In Dire Conditions And Thereâs Little Help
BuzzFeed News
Residents living in the aftermath of the Camp fire, the deadliest blaze in state history, say it feels like they’ve been forgotten.
New film documenting California wildfires calls for solutions in face of climate change
Desert Sun
His video and sound installation, “California on Fire,” showcases 350,000 photographs from more than 70 major wildfires, taken over the period of five years.
EDITORIAL: Itâs OK to bend the rules to make Californians safer from wildfire
Los Angeles Times
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared Friday what had already become apparent last year: California needs an emergency response to reduce the risk of more deadly, devastating wildfires.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Apple joins forces with Wall Street investment bank to launch credit card
Los Angeles Times
Apple Inc. is joining forces with a Wall Street investment bank in a play to get a piece of the consumer credit-card market â but donât expect the Apple Card for iPhones to necessarily disrupt the market.
Jobs:
Fresnoâs racial wage gap has shrunk, but that hasnât kept poverty at bay
Fresno Bee
Fresno County made significant strides, compared to other major U.S. metropolitan areas, in reducing income inequality across ethnic lines from 2007 to 2017 â a 10-year period that includes the Great Recession and its aftermath.
Visalia UPS office closure causes workersâ woes
Visalia Times Delta
In October, the office terminated 14 employees who had less than two years of service. Employees say they were told those layoffs represented “phase one” in a series of UPS cutbacks.
How to Meet Workforce Demands? Duncan Poly Leads the Way.
GV Wire
Fresno Unified is working to change the narrative of career tech and the looming worker shortage. The district showcased its efforts last Thursday with an open house displaying $12 million worth of improvements to CTE facilities at Duncan Polytechnical High School.
How do post-Janus lawsuits in California affect state workers?
Fresno Bee
Anti-union organizations have filed more than a dozen lawsuits in California since the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling last year that banned public employee unions from collecting fees from workers who donât want to join them.
Lyft driversâ protest exposes ride-hailing Achillesâ heel
San Francisco Chronicle
As Lyft and Uber prepare for multibillion-dollar Wall Street debuts, the ride-hailing companies face rising tensions with their drivers, the independent contractors who are the backbone of both services.
See also:
- California bill curbing use of contractors would not exempt Uber, Lyft, other tech firms Los Angeles Times
California Employment Report for February 2019
California Center for Jobs & the Economy
EDD reports California’s unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) in February was unchanged at 4.2%. Total employment was up 18,000 from the revised January numbers, while total unemployment rose by 6,500. Total labor force was up 24,500.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Proposed CA state bill aims to protect special needs students after El Dorado Hills death
Merced Sun-Star
A state bill aimed at protecting special needs students at nonpublic schools was introduced Monday in response to the November 2018 death of a student who was restrained at his El Dorado Hills school.
More details on BCSD union agreement released
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield City School District teachers will get a bump in pay for the current school year plus a one-time bonus, gain a third personal day and see pay for work outside regular duties double under a tentative three-year collective bargaining agreement.
US wasted up to $1 billion on charter schools and still lacks oversight, report finds
Stockton Record
The U.S. government has wasted up to $1 billion on charter schools that never opened, or opened and then closed because of mismanagement and other reasons, according to a report from an education advocacy group.
California school district latest to change board elections to better reflect diversity of community
EdSource
Across California, more than 190 school districts are electing board members to represent specific geographic areas in hopes of improving the representation of diverse communities.
Higher Ed:
A week after worker strike, UC Davis hospital residents and interns seek to join labor union
Sacramento Bee
Less than a week after some unionized employees of the hospital took to the picket lines over stalled contract negotiations, a majority of roughly 800 medical residents, interns and fellows at UC Davis Medical Center have signed up to join a labor union.
More wealthy parents under scrutiny by prosecutors in college admissions scandal
Los Angeles Times
As the college admissions scandal investigation widens, more parents are coming under scrutiny. Sources familiar with the investigation but not authorized to discuss it say several parents and their attorneys have been informed they are the subject of the federal inquiry.
See also:
- DeVos launches investigation into college admissions scandal Politico
- Yale rescinds admission as first student faces consequences in college scandal Los Angeles Times
The #RealCollege guru offers three ways to fix Californiaâs student financial aid
CALmatters
If the plight of hungry and homeless college students has lately caught the national mediaâs attention, itâs in no small part due to the efforts of Temple University professor Sara Goldrick-Rab.
EDITORIAL: Trumpâs disingenuous crusade for free speech at Cal
San Francisco Chronicle
The presidentâs threat to withhold funding from universities is more likely to run afoul of the First Amendment than the random assault that supposedly motivated it.
See also:
- Trumpâs executive order on college free speech is unconstitutional Los Angeles Times
- Opinion: Why Colleges Like Trumpâs Campus Speech Order New York Times
Apprenticeships:
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
Reviled predator, often a target of âcoyote whacking,â is gaining a flicker of respect
Los Angeles Times
The coyote has been hunted in every way â burned, gassed, poisoned, run over by snowmobiles and shot. Now, coyotes are getting a bit of respect and a push for basic protections.
Whales in the bay: Great for sightseers, biologists are concerned
San Francisco Chronicle
The unusually large number of gray whales visiting San Francisco Bay this year may be thrilling sightseers, but marine biologists are worried.
Californiaâs accessible campsites put the outdoors within reach
Los Angeles Times
California State Parks operates more than 80 campgrounds with at least one site that can accommodate persons with disabilities.
How California is defying Trumpâs environmental rollbacks
Los Angeles Times
California is building walls at its borders â theyâre just not the kind President Trump has in mind. As the Trump administration continues its assault on environmental regulation, state officials are throwing up legal barriers to some high-stakes attacks.
Global Emissions Hit Record as Energy Demand Boosts Fuel Use
Bloomberg
Carbon emissions from fossil-fuel use hit a record last year after energy demand grew at its fastest pace in a decade, reflecting higher oil consumption in the U.S. and more coal burning in China and India.
Scott Wiener: Why Housing Policy Is Climate Policy
New York Times
Despite headlines about Californiaâs push for more electric vehicles, pollution from cars is still climbing. The solution? âSignificant changes to how communities and transportation systems are planned, funded and built,â the board said.
What Are Green Bonds and How `Green’ Is Green?
Bloomberg
Trillions of dollars of investment are needed to combat global warming. Enter green bonds, a way for issuers to raise money specifically for environmentally friendly projects — such as renewable energy or clean transport — and to be able to boast about it publicly.
Energy:
Farming company wants to go all-solar. Hereâs where itâs planning to build
Fresno Bee
The Wonderful Company, a farming conglomerate with a significant presence in farming and food packing in the central San Joaquin Valley, announced that it plans to convert all of its U.S. operations to fully renewable electricity sources within the next six years.
See also:
- Wonderful sets goal of 100% use of renewable energy by 2025 Bakersfield Californian
PG&E resists judgeâs proposal to restrict shareholder dividends
San Francisco Chronicle
PG&E hasnât issued any dividends since 2017 and doesnât plan to until it exits bankruptcy. But the utility told a judge that dividends are important for securing investment
In blow to climate, coal plants emitted more than ever in 2018
Washington Post
Global energy experts released grim findings Monday, saying that not only are planet-warming carbon-dioxide emissions still increasing, but the worldâs growing thirst for energy has led to higher emissions from coal-fired power plants than ever before.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
More aging Americans are using pot to soothe what ails them
Bakersfield Californian
Many industry officials say the fastest-growing segment of their customer base are aging baby boomers or even those a little older who are seeking to treat the aches and sleeplessness and other maladies of old age with the same herb that many of them once passed around at parties.
See also:
- Rolled joints for aching joints: More seniors are using cannabis Los Angeles Times
Human Services:
To Curb Kids’ Sugary Drink Habits, Pediatricians Now Call For Soda Taxes
Capital Public Radio
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association, in a joint statement, endorsed taxes on sugary drinks, restrictions on marketing to kids and incentives for healthier purchases.
California lawmakers will consider banning cosmetic genital surgery on intersex children
Los Angeles Times
A group is supporting a bill in the California Legislature that would ban cosmetic surgeries on children born with atypical genitals until theyâre old enough to consent. California would be the first state to enact such a ban.
Judges in California are cracking down on cozy class-action settlements
Los Angeles Times
Federal judges in California are cracking down on warped incentives in class-action lawsuits, exerting tighter oversight of settlements that provide hefty fees for plaintiff lawyers but no meaningful benefit for those harmed by corporate misdeeds.
State Policies Might Keep Stroke Patients From the Care They Need
Pew Research
Unlike state rules for accident victims, which uniformly require first responders to take severely injured patients to the most advanced trauma unit available, state policies for stroke patients vary widely.
Purdue Pharma, state of Oklahoma reach settlement in landmark opioid lawsuit
Washington Post
Purdue Pharma and the state of Oklahoma have agreed to settle a lawsuit over the drugmakerâs role in the deadly opioid crisis, a milestone in the legal effort to force pharmaceutical companies to pay some of the costs of the epidemic.
Sunday’s large phone outage in eastern Kern County blamed on cut fiber cable
Bakersfield Californian
The AT&T and Frontier phone outage Sunday that covered much of eastern Kern County was due to a “fiber cut,” according to AT&T officials.
California canât wait for Washingtonâs approval to control health care spending
CALmatters
The governor has filed a request with the federal government for approval to completely redesign Californiaâs health system. Even if approved, which is highly unlikely, this would take many years. We cannot wait. The governor can take the lead on two issues right now.
Trump administration backs full repeal of Affordable Care Act in legal reversal
Washington Post
In a significant shift, the Justice Department now says that it backs a full invalidation of the Affordable Care Act, the signature Obama-era health law.
See also:
Medicare for All Would Abolish Private Insurance. âThereâs No Precedent in American History.â
New York Times
Unlike Obamacare, emerging plans would sweep away the private health insurance system. What would that mean for the companiesâ workers, the stock market and the cost of care?
See also:
Stem cell agency down to last $67 million
Capitol Weekly
Californiaâs state stem cell agency is down to its last $67.3 million following a decision today to back research to enhance bone healing in elderly patients who undergo spinal surgery.
EDITORIAL: Trump’s Title X rule will restrict abortion access and obstruct women’s healthcare
Los Angeles Times
The Trump administration and the officials at the Department of Health and Human Services are taking aim at the much-respected Title X Family Planning Program in an effort to further limit womenâs access to safe and legal abortion.
IMMIGRATION
Steinle parents canât sue SF for refusal to tell immigrant officials of shooterâs release
San Francisco Chronicle
The parents of a woman shot to death by an undocumented immigrant on a SF pier cannot sue the city for failing to notify federal agents of the shooterâs release from local custody 11 weeks earlier.
See also:
Judge challenges Trump policy on asylum seekers
San Francisco Chronicle
A San Francisco judge on Friday questioned the Trump administration over its motive for a new policy requiring asylum seekers to return to Mexico while their cases in the U.S. are pending.
The US needs workers, not a wall
AEI
H-2A and H-2B visa programs to hire temporary foreign workers are unlikely to fully meet employer demand for less-skilled workers. Instead of building a wall, the US needs to build programs that ensure enough workers are available.
See also:
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
20,000 People Can’t Be Wrong. Downtown Fresno Is the Place to Be.
GV Wire
Who knew so many people would bombard downtown Fresno on a Saturday night? Apparently, the organizers of the FresYes Fest and Alley Wave did.
Chicken Pie shop closing March 31, 2019, after 62 years
Fresno Bee
The Chicken Pie Shop, perhaps the most iconic restaurant in Fresnoâs Tower District, appears to be closing its doors. Craig Scharton posted the news on his Facebook page Monday night.
New State Group To Promote Opportunity Zones
Business Journal
A new California organization has been formed to help investors and developers take advantage of federal Opportunity Zones. CalOZ âwill promote competitive, equitable and sustainable Opportunity Zone investments in California,â according to a release from the organization.
Housing:
As shelter closes, families face homelessness. County trying to find them help
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus Countyâs community services agency has put out a request for landlords who might have available housing for 10 homeless families staying in a winter shelter that is closing.
Big backyards and pools are Californiaâs past. Apartment buildings are its future
Los Angeles Times
You donât need to be a Nobel physicist to figure the direction California must go to solve its acute housing shortage â up. Stop expanding sideways and become more like New York City â and less like us.
PUBLIC FINANCES
City committee to hear more ideas for spending new tax money tonight
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfieldâs sales tax oversight committee will continue to review plans to spend tens of millions in new revenue at a meeting tonight.
Appeals Court tells San Diego to pay workers who donât have pensions
San Diego Union-Tribune
A state appeals court ordered San Diego to financially compensate about 4,000 city employees who were hired without traditional pensions. The employees have a 401K-like retirement plans.
The Earned-Income Disregard Falls Short of Supporting Working Families in CalWORKs
California Budget & Policy Center
Although Governor Newsom proposed new funding for CalWORKs grants in his 2019-20 budget proposal, the declining value of the earned-income disregard (EID) would reduce the economic impact of these investments, especially in the face of a rising state minimum wage.
Schwarzenegger plea to Beverly Hills: Spare exclusive cigar club from tobacco rules
Politico
Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a famed physical fitness buff â and prominent fan of expensive stogies â is appealing to the Beverly Hills City Council to exempt the tony Grand Havana Room from its proposed city-wide ban on tobacco sales.
FRBSF Economic Letter: Climate Change and the Federal Reserve
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
In coming decades, climate changeâand efforts to limit that change and adapt to itâwill have increasingly important effects on the U.S. economy. These effects and their associated risks are relevant considerations for the Federal Reserve in fulfilling its mandate for macroeconomic and financial stability.
Why the inverted yield curve makes investors worry about a recession
PBS NewsHour
The yield curve, a key economic indicator that has been used to predict recessions, turned negative Friday, sending stocks plummeting.
Stephen Moore edges closer to Fed seat as key GOP lawmakers express support
Washington Post
A number of key Senate Republicans are expressing openness to confirming conservative economist Stephen Moore to the Federal Reserveâs board of governors, a positive sign for the White House as aides gauge support for the controversial pick.
See also:
- Stephen Moore Says Fedâs Pivot Validates Criticism of Interest-Rate Increases Wall Street Journal
- Stephen Moore could inflict more long-term damage than any of Trumpâs other nominations Washington Post
TRANSPORTATION
City pitches more spending priorities to oversight committee
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfieldâs sales tax oversight committee continued to review plans to spend tens of millions in new revenue at a meeting Monday.
Is it already time to expand Sacramento International Airport?
Sacramento Bee
Faced with record-setting passenger growth, Sacramento International Airport is running out of room to handle new flights and fliers, just eight years after completing a $1 billion-plus expansion.
Boeing 737 Max crisis sparks U.S. review of how FAA approves jets
Los Angeles Times
The U.S. Transportation Department is creating a special commission to review how newly designed aircraft are certified, spurred by criticism after two deadly crashes of Boeing Co.âs 737 Max.
See also:
- Air travelers â demand changes of how planes are certified San Francisco Chronicle
WATER
Another Central Valley storm is coming. Hereâs what you need to know.
Fresno Bee
Another storm system is approaching the Central Valley this week, adding to an already wet season across the region. Weather officials expect the storm to move in Tuesday night, but most of the precipitation will fall Wednesday.
See also:
- Sierra Storm Watch For Snow Above 5,000 Feet Sierra News
- Sierra storm warning, heavy snow, 100 mph winds forecast Sacramento Bee
- Large Storms Expected To Add Up To Four Feet In Californiaâs Sierra Nevada This Week Capital Public Radio
- States Could See ‘Unprecedented’ Flooding Route Fifty
Tulare schools among many with lead-tainted water
Visalia Times Delta
Thousands of students across California drink water contaminated with lead, according to a new statewide report.
New path on California water must include Delta communities
CALmatters
Delta advocates agree about the need to break out of our silos. And we all agree, the Delta is an amazing estuary, and a vital water supply source for the state. But any new path on California water must bring Delta community and fishing interests to the table.
As Trump tries to roll back clean water rules, California seeks stronger protections
San Francisco Chronicle
While the U.S. EPA is working to rein in the Clean Water Act and halt what it sees as excessive oversight of marshes and ponds, state regulators are seeking to expand watershed protections.
Who keeps buying California’s scarce water? Saudi Arabia
The Guardian
Saudi-based Almarai owns 15,000 acres of an irrigated valley â but what business does a foreign food production company have drawing resources from a US desert?
âXtraâ
Belated birthday event for MLK will honor Modesto couple who has worked for peace
Modesto Bee
A nationally known author will speak about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at a Modesto event that also honors a local couple involved in peace work.
Modesto Pollinator Festival is for the birds. And the bees. And other helpful bugs
Modesto Bee
A bee. Or a butterfly. A lady beetle. A hummingbird even. Whatever a childâs bug (or bird) of choice, spring break is a great time to get buzzing on a costume for the parade thatâs sure to be a highlight of the upcoming Pollinator Festival in Modesto.
Millerâs Landing And The Forks Opening Friday
Sierra News
Itâs a sure sign that summer is just around the corner â the season opening on Friday, Mar 29, of two popular local lakeside businesses, The Forks Resort and Millerâs Landing Resort.
Adventure Park waterslide set to splash soon
Visalia Times Delta
With the days getting longer and temperatures warming up, it’s safe to say summer is right around the corner. Lucky for local residents, so is the grand opening of a fun way for families to cool off without having to drive hours away.
On The Road: Gold Rush and wildflower exploration; start with goldâs discovery in Coloma
Stockton Record
With recent rains and warmer weather, the Sierra foothills are a verdant green and soon to burst forth with blankets of wildflowers. Plan a tour in the next few weeks, and also touch on the heart of Gold Rush history.
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established to honor the legacy of one of Californiaâs most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
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