March 26, 2019

26Mar

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 it’s ‘highly unlikely’ 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 “highly unlikely” 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 “will promote competitive, equitable and sustainable Opportunity Zone investments in California,” according to a release from the organization.

South SJ Valley:

City committee to hear more ideas for spending new tax money tonight

Bakersfield Californian

Bakersfield’s 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. Here’s where it’s 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:

State:

There’s another push to keep bars open until 4 a.m. Here’s why this one could work.

Fresno Bee

State Sen. Scott Wiener’s 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:

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:

Fact check: No, Steve Baird is not running for CA state Senate District 1

Sacramento Bee

Despite mailers recently sent to voters, Steve Baird — listed as a Democrat on the special primary ballot but a longtime Republican — 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:

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 Governor’s Office complaining about rowdy behavior among a group of the lottery’s top brass.

Federal:

Democrats ask for Mueller files; GOP exclaims ‘Move on’

Fresno Bee

Democrats grapple with special counsel Robert Mueller’s findings as Republicans gleefully exclaim, ‘Move on.’.

See also:

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 O’Rourke’s 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 Democrats’ focus

San Francisco Chronicle

The attorney general’s summary of the special counsel’s report that cleared President Trump of collusion will lift “a big rock around his neck” and help him toward re-election.

See also:

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:

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 don’t want to upend the staid institution.

When it comes to younger voters, watch the margin of victory

Roll Call

There’s 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 Don’t Always Tell the Truth (And You Can’t 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 – including a visit to business incubator AgStart in Woodland – 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 “Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Day” on Friday.

Why does community matter?

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 Don’t 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 – Maddy Report: “Water in the San Joaquin Valley: A PPIC Report” – 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) – Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: “A Comprehensive Look at the Valley’s Water Challenges” – 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) – El Informe Maddy: “Resultados de las elecciones de California en 2018: ¿un tsunami político?” – 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 state’s avocados are being recalled. All the avocados in question have a yellow and green oval-shaped sticker with a black barcode.

See also:

New proposal would provide banking access for cannabis industry

Public CEO

Four months after a high-profile effort to find a way to provide California’s 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 marijuana’s 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 Newsom’s 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:

Senate Panel Considers ‘Red Flag’ 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 states’ decisions to allow such curbs.

A California mosque was set ablaze in ‘clear homage’ to the New Zealand terrorist attack

Washington Post

The Muslim community in Escondido, Calif., gathered a week ago for an interfaith prayer vigil, insisting ßthat 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 “Shane” 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 — a Mexican music and cultural festival — 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.

Time, money and a ‘culture shift:’ How three California police departments overhauled their policies

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 cities’ updated rules.

See also:

Fire:

California Wildfire Survivors Say They’re Living In Dire Conditions And There’s 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: It’s 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 — but don’t expect the Apple Card for iPhones to necessarily disrupt the market.

Jobs:

Fresno’s racial wage gap has shrunk, but that hasn’t 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 — a 10-year period that includes the Great Recession and its aftermath.

Visalia UPS office closure causes workers’ 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 don’t want to join them.

Lyft drivers’ protest exposes ride-hailing Achilles’ 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 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:

The #RealCollege guru offers three ways to fix California’s student financial aid

CALmatters

If the plight of hungry and homeless college students has lately caught the national media’s attention, it’s in no small part due to the efforts of Temple University professor Sara Goldrick-Rab.

EDITORIAL: Trump’s disingenuous crusade for free speech at Cal

San Francisco Chronicle

The president’s 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:

Apprenticeships:

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

Environment:

Reviled predator, often a target of ‘coyote whacking,’ is gaining a flicker of respect

Los Angeles Times

The coyote has been hunted in every way — 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.

California’s 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 Trump’s environmental rollbacks

Los Angeles Times

California is building walls at its borders — they’re 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 California’s push for more electric vehicles, pollution from cars is still climbing. The solution? “Significant changes to how communities and transportation systems are planned, funded and built,” 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. Here’s where it’s 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:

PG&E resists judge’s proposal to restrict shareholder dividends

San Francisco Chronicle

PG&E hasn’t issued any dividends since 2017 and doesn’t 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 world’s 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:

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 they’re 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 drugmaker’s 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 can’t wait for Washington’s approval to control health care spending

CALmatters

The governor has filed a request with the federal government for approval to completely redesign California’s 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. ‘There’s No Precedent in American History.’

New York Times

Unlike Obamacare, emerging plans would sweep away the private health insurance system. What would that mean for the companies’ workers, the stock market and the cost of care?

See also:

Stem cell agency down to last $67 million

Capitol Weekly

California’s 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 women’s access to safe and legal abortion.

IMMIGRATION

Steinle parents can’t sue SF for refusal to tell immigrant officials of shooter’s 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 shooter’s 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 Fresno’s 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 “will promote competitive, equitable and sustainable Opportunity Zone investments in California,” according to a release from the organization.

Housing:

As shelter closes, families face homelessness. County trying to find them help

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County’s 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 California’s past. Apartment buildings are its future

Los Angeles Times

You don’t need to be a Nobel physicist to figure the direction California must go to solve its acute housing shortage — up. Stop expanding sideways and become more like New York City — and less like us.

PUBLIC FINANCES

City committee to hear more ideas for spending new tax money tonight

Bakersfield Californian

Bakersfield’s 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 don’t 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 — and prominent fan of expensive stogies — 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 change—and efforts to limit that change and adapt to it—will 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 Reserve’s board of governors, a positive sign for the White House as aides gauge support for the controversial pick.

See also:

TRANSPORTATION

City pitches more spending priorities to oversight committee

Bakersfield Californian

Bakersfield’s 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.’s 737 Max.

See also:

WATER

Another Central Valley storm is coming. Here’s 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:

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 – but what business does a foreign food production company have drawing resources from a US desert?

“Xtra”

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 child’s bug (or bird) of choice, spring break is a great time to get buzzing on a costume for the parade that’s sure to be a highlight of the upcoming Pollinator Festival in Modesto.

Miller’s Landing And The Forks Opening Friday

Sierra News

It’s a sure sign that summer is just around the corner – the season opening on Friday, Mar 29, of two popular local lakeside businesses, The Forks Resort and Miller’s 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 gold’s 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 California’s 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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