27Mar

POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

There are 1,200 hospital beds in Stanislaus County. Are they enough during pandemic?

Modesto Bee

Even as the Office of Emergency Services activates to the highest level, the inventory of medical resources in Stanislaus County remains unclear.

Coronavirus prompts MJC to extend campus closures. Online instruction carries on

Modesto Bee

Modesto Junior College announced Thursday that its online-only instruction will last through the spring semester and into at least part of the summer. The coronavirus emergency forced the decision to keep the east and west campuses closed, MJC President James Houpis said in a news release.

Modesto farmers market to open amid coronavirus crisis with these new safety measures

Modesto Bee

The Modesto Certified Farmers Market is set to start its season next week amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Central SJ Valley:

Fresno mayor extends shelter-in-place order for two more weeks

Fresno Bee

Fresno Mayor Lee Brand announced Thursday he has extended the city’s shelter-in-place order for another two weeks. Originally set to end on March 31, the extension asks Fresno’s roughly 500,000 residents to stay home and only leave for essential trips through April 12.

Warszawski: Coronavirus crisis separates real leaders among Fresno politicians from the phonies

Fresno Bee

The way elected officials conduct themselves during a crisis tells us a lot about them. While some Fresno-area politicians use the coronavirus pandemic to spread mistrust in government or push their own agenda, others rise above the nonsense.

Tulare County Fair names new CEO

Visalia Times Delta

Dena Rizzardo was named on Thursday the new Chief Executive Officer of the Tulare County Fair.

South SJ Valley:

Downtown hotel becomes literal sign of hope in troubled times

Bakersfield Californian

Staff at the Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center needed hope just like everyone else during the coronavirus pandemic.

Taft mayor: Closure of correctional institution shortsighted, will have detrimental impact on community

Bakersfield Californian

The closure of the Taft Correctional Institution could not have come at a worse time, according to Mayor David Noerr.

A CSUB economist predicts we are in for a long recession because of the coronavirus, the number of infected in Kern County reaches 30 and Deborah Leary is recognized for her work with the homeless

Bakersfield Observed

* ... HOLD ON FOR THE RECESSION: Will the coronavirus plunge our country into a recession? That's the word from Richard Gearhart, a professor of economics at CSUB.

State:

States shouldn’t fight over coronavirus equipment, Gavin Newsom says. Should Trump take charge?

Fresno Bee

On a Thursday call between all 50 governors and the White House, governors from across the country discussed how states needed to work together with President Donald Trump to acquire personal protective equipment for medical workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

● Trump, Newsom and the Ties That Bind RealClear Politics

● Gouged prices, middlemen and medical supply chaos: Why governors are so upset with TrumpWashington Post

● Trump has megaphone, but states control virus shutdowns Associated Press

● EDITORIAL: In coronavirus crisis, Gavin Newsom is California’s president. And he’s being tested The Sacramento Bee

● Column: Newsom is doing what he should with the coronavirus crisis. But he needs to explain it better Los Angeles Times

California DMV shuts all field offices to protect employees in coronavirus outbreak

Fresno Bee

California’s Department of Motor Vehicles is shutting down all of its field offices for the rest of the month because of the coronavirus outbreak and expanding the number of transactions that customers can complete online, according to records obtained by The Sacramento Bee.

● Have To Renew Your License? Need A Smog Check? We Answer Your Questions About Coronavirus, Vehicles And The DMV Capital Public Radio

● California DMV closing all field offices to public to stem spread of coronavirus, memo says Los Angeles Times

● California DMV is scaling back over coronavirus. Some employees say it’s not enough Los Angeles Times

● California DMV shuts all field offices to protect employees in coronavirus outbreak The Sacramento Bee

CDTFA temporarily closes public counters

Madera Tribune

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration’s Field Offices and Motor Carrier Office across the state will be closing their public counters temporarily to ensure the health and safety of CDTFA’s customers and team members.

California Pet Lovers license plate program is in danger of failing, state audit says

Sacramento Bee

A California license plate program that provides funding for free or low-cost spaying and neutering of pets is in danger of failing, according to a new state audit.

Unused vacation days give many California state workers a cushion amid coronavirus

Sacramento Bee

Workers with a decade of experience in California state government have been through tough times before.

Empty freeways, canceled flights: How life in California has changed

Los Angeles Times

In the last two weeks, California has all but shut down in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Advocates ask state to expand social safety net during pandemic

San Francisco Chronicle

A broad coalition of over 120 California labor, family advocacy, legal, civil rights and other groups wrote to Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers on Thursday asking for specific actions to support working people through the coronavirus pandemic.

California's homeless census was already troubled. Covid-19 is making it impossible

The Guardian

For the past year and a half, local county census committees and homeless service providers throughout California have been conducting their own outreach for the 2020 census, knowing that only an accurate count of the state’s growing homeless population will guarantee the federal funding needed to get people off the streets and into stability.

Legislature should reject any bill that would create a barrier to affordable dental care

CalMatters

Now, more than ever, the African American community needs as many options as possible to close the disparity gap for oral health care. African Americans and other people of color have the right to affordable, quality health care treatment.

Dan Walters sees California government headed to the ICU

California Sun Podcast

Dan Walters, a columnist for CalMatters, is the dean of journalists covering Sacramento and California government. We went to Dan to get his assessment of how Gov. Gavin Newsom was handling the coronavirus crisis and what the pandemic might mean for the state.

Public Health Officials To Newsom: Lockdown Won’t Work Without Enforcement

California Healthline

When Gov. Gavin Newsom last week ordered nearly all 40 million Californians to stay in their homes to combat the spread of COVID-19, he set the tone for the nation, becoming the first to issue a statewide lockdown. Governors who had previously resisted quickly followed suit, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

One Governor’s Actions Highlight the Strengths — and Shortcomings — of State-Led Interventions

PEW

Absent federal direction, states and cities have been left to go their own way.

COVID-19 Resources for Local Government

Institute for Local Government

ILG is committed to helping local government leaders navigate the complexity of their important roles. As such, we want to ensure that local leaders and our business and community partners are equipped with the latest information and resources related to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

● U.S. ICU Resource Availability for COVID-19 Society of Critical Care Medicine

Federal:

U.S. surpasses China, Italy in coronavirus cases; California sees spike as well

Los Angeles Times

The United States has surpassed Italy and China in having the most confirmed coronavirus cases, according to a global case tracker run by Johns Hopkins University. California now has 3,910 cases and 80 deaths, a major spike over the last few days. State officials say the COVID-19 growth rate is such that it could overwhelm hospitals in the coming days and weeks.

Trump says feds developing new guidelines for virus risk

Fresno Bee

President Donald Trump said Thursday that federal officials are developing guidelines to rate counties by risk of virus spread, as he aims to begin to ease nationwide guidelines meant to stem the coronavirus outbreak.

● White House Works On New Coronavirus Guidelines To Classify Counties By Risk Capital Public Radio

● Trump brags about his China travel ban. Health experts say it’s had little effect Los Angeles Times

● Trump Administration to Issue Guidelines for Classifying U.S. Counties by Coronavirus Risk Wall Street Journal

Trump’s push to open economy could come at cost of lives

Fresno Bee

Though it may seem crass, the federal government actually has long made a calculation when imposing regulations, called “the value of a statistical life,” that places a price tag on a human life.

● As Trump signals readiness to break with experts, his online base assails Fauci Washington Post

● Can Trump Legally Order the Country Back to Work From Coronavirus by Easter? New York Times

● EDITORIAL: The most important thing is to contain COVID-19. Then we can think about going back to work Los Angeles Times

Washington set to deliver $2.2 trillion virus rescue bill

Fresno Bee

With rare bipartisanship and speed, Washington is about to deliver massive, unprecedented legislation to speed help to individuals and businesses as the coronavirus pandemic takes a devastating toll on the U.S. economy and health care system.

● Staying afloat: $2.2 trillion bill offers economic lifeline Fresno Bee

● Congress locks Trump oversight into $2.2 trillion package Fresno Bee

● US House passes coronavirus stimulus bill with money for Americans. What happens next?Washington Post

● What's Inside The Senate's $2 Trillion Coronavirus Aid Package Capital Public Radio

● The coronavirus stimulus package versus the Recovery Act Los Angeles Times

● Stimulus plan includes long-sought boons for special interests Los Angeles Times

● Q&A: How big will your government check be from the coronavirus bailout? Los Angeles Times

● You might get $1,200 from the $2-trillion stimulus bill. What will special interests get? Los Angeles Times

● Coronavirus election-safety changes left out of $2 trillion stimulus bill San Francisco Chronicle

● House GOP leader pumps brakes on follow-up to coronavirus relief package The Hill

● House debates coronavirus bill under procedural threat Roll Call

● House Republicans flock to DC for stimulus vote, but will any object? Roll Call

● COVID-19 stimulus bill includes more than $1B for criminal justice needs ABAJournal

● Coronavirus Stimulus Payments: When Will They Be Sent and Who Is Eligible? Wall Street Journal

● House passes $2 trillion coronavirus bill as problems for households and businesses continue to mount Washington Post

● F.A.Q. on Stimulus Checks, Unemployment and the Coronavirus Bill New York Times

● Here’s what you need to know about Washington’s spending package. New York Times

● Bonanza for Rich Real Estate Investors, Tucked Into Stimulus Package New York Times

● Dems Shouldn’t Use Crisis as Justification for a Spending Spree National Review

● FALSE: “Donald Trump would receive $17 million for three hotels closed for four days under Republican bill! How in the hell is this right?!” PolitiFact

● EDITORIAL: Congress should spend as if our lives depend on it San Francisco Chronicle

● OPINION: To fight the coronavirus, Republicans must end their assault on the safety netWashington Post

● Commentary: The COVID-19 relief bill’s self-defeating complexity AEI

● Is $2 Trillion Too Little, Too Late? FP

● EDITORIAL: Why you may not get a check: This GOP coronavirus bill excludes lots of people for bad reasons Washington Examiner

● Coronavirus and the States: Congress to Send States Money PEW

Donald Trump's Approval Rating Hits Record High But Coronavirus Crisis Brings 'substantial Risks' To President: Poll

Newsweek

President Donald Trump's job approval rating has reached a record-high in one poll amid the coronavirus pandemic, but he faces "substantial risks" as the crisis deepens. The ABC News/Washington Post poll found that Trump had a 48 percent job approval among Americans, its highest to date during his presidency.

See Also:

● Trump’s Popularity Ticks Up During Coronavirus Crisis Wall Street Journal

● How unpopular is Donald Trump? FiveThirtyEight

● Commentary: Trump’s Handling of Coronavirus Approved by 60% in Gallup Poll Bloomberg

● FACT CHECK: Testing Not Meeting Demand Despite Trump's Boasts NPR

● FALSE: "We've done more tests in eight days than South Korea has done in eight weeks." PolitiFact

FALSE: Says N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo “rejected buying recommended 16,000 ventilators in 2015 for the pandemic, for a pandemic, established death panels and lotteries instead. So, he had a chance to buy, in 2015, 16,000 ventilators at a very low price, and he turned it down.”

PolitiFact

President Donald Trump didn’t like that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on TV that the federal government should provide the state stockpiled ventilators to help New Yorkers battling the coronavirus pandemic.

Opinion: The Defense Production Act Is No Cure for Coronavirus

RealClear Health

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been outspokenin demanding that the White House use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to help combat the coronavirus. That would allow the federal government to order private companies to produce the masks, gowns, and ventilators needed by hospitals and physicians.

EDITORIAL: We don’t have to destroy the Constitution to take on coronavirus

AEI

Even in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, Congress shouldn’t concede more power to Donald Trump (or any other president).

EDITORIAL: The Washington Post, The New Times, and others refuse to tell us which party blocked the coronavirus aid bill

Washington Examiner

The Democrats may have had good reasons to filibuster the coronavirus package in the Senate on Sunday night. That is a matter for debate, and a responsible news outlet would cover both sides of that debate.

OPINION: The U.S. is still exceptional — but now for its incompetence

Washington Post

When a crisis hits the United States, the country’s general instinct is to rally around the flag and wish the best for its leaders. That’s probably why President Trump has seen his approval ratings rise, even though he has had a delayed and fitful approach to this pandemic. But at some point, we Americans must look at the facts and recognize an uncomfortable reality.

Coronavirus Trackers:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California

Covid19.ca.gov

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.

● Coronavirus (COVID-19) CDC

● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic - WHO

● Tracking coronavirus in California Los Angeles Times

● Coronavirus Tracker San Francisco Chronicle

● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count New York Times

● How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico

● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University

● Coronavirus Daily NPR

● Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Financial Times

● Coronavirus in California by the numbers CalMatters

Elections 2020:

Joe Biden in a time of coronavirus

Fresno Bee

Join McClatchy’s Alex Roarty, David Catanese and Adam Wollner as they discuss the challenge Joe Biden faces as he tries to get his campaign message out to the public amid the coronavirus pandemic.

● Has Joe Biden wrapped up the Democratic presidential contest? Will the November election be canceled? Los Angeles Times

● Biden releases plan to boost economy amid coronavirus pandemic The Hill

Trump promises GOP Convention will be held this August

Fresno Bee

President Donald Trump said that the Republican National Convention would go forward as planned this August even as the coronavirus has caused the cancellation of large-scale events all across the U.S.

EDITORIAL: Congress has to immunize election day against fear of the coronavirus

Los Angeles Times

One disruption that Americans absolutely must begin thinking about and planning for right now is the threat the virus poses to our democratic process in a year in which voters will choose a president, a third of the U.S. Senate and the entire House of Representatives.

EDITORIAL: What does coronavirus mean for the 2020 election?

AEI

The US economy continued to plummet this week as the country remained on lockdown because of the coronavirus. With businesses closing and workers being laid off, what will the virus mean for 2020 and President Donald Trump’s reelection prospects?

Other:

Fact-checking COVID-19 prevention, treatment myths

PolitiFact

There is no known treatment or cure for COVID-19, but some people are hitting their pantry to create their own false remedies. Since January, we’ve fact-checked more than 100 claims about the coronavirus pandemic, the majority of which are inaccurate or misleading.

While coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic consumes the nation’s news, people whose most

· PEW

· Coronavirus: Here's how you can stop bad information from going viral BBC

· Coronavirus modelers factor in new public health risk: Accusations their work is a hoax Washington Post

· As Coronavirus Spreads, Racism And Xenophobia Are Too NPR

A Historian’s View of the Coronavirus Pandemic and the Influenza of 1918

The New Yorker

I cover Hurricane Katrina for this magazine. I flew into Houston—the airport in New Orleans was closed—and the book I read on the flight was John M. Barry’s “Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America.” It was already becoming clear that the terrible storm that had ravaged the South in 1927 resonated with what was happening again in the cities and towns along the Gulf of Mexico.

● We’re at war with COVID-19. What lessons can we learn from World War II? Los Angeles Times

Practical and Legal Issues with Video-Broadcasted Board and Council Meetings

AALRR
New Brown Act rules for electronic public meetings have been established in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Public agencies are adapting in real time, in order to ensure continued public access to elected decision-makers. This webinar will share tips based on practical experience, as well as practical and legal pitfalls to avoid.

How Gun Control Groups Are Closing the Spending Gap with the NRA

PBS

For years, the National Rifle Association has been the uncontested heavyweight champion when it comes to spending on the gun debate. During the 2016 election cycle, the gun rights group and its smaller affiliates spent $54 million supporting or opposing candidates. In contrast, gun control groups spent $3 million.

Quarantines Aren’t Socialism

National Review

Writing in the Washington Post, Gary Abernathy complains that overreaction to the coronavirus has made us all socialists. “When the smoke clears, what’s left will be a feeble relic of the United States we once knew.” We’re a socialist country, on his argument, because governments have imposed lockdowns and then partially compensated people and businesses for the costs.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

City of Clovis campaigning to get people to eat local

abc30

The city of Clovis is taking to social media to help encourage people to dine locally while staying at home. The Local restaurant in Old Town Clovis is preparing for another day of serving take-out food to its customers.

What You Can Do To Keep Your Groceries Clean & What Stores Are Doing To Stop Coronavirus Spread

Capital Public Radio

There are a lot of questions about how to safely shop for food and how to clean it before bringing it into your home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Here's what experts recommend and what some local stores are doing.

● Column: We cannot let giant chains take over the restaurant space Los Angeles Times

Modesto farmers market to open amid coronavirus crisis with these new safety measures

Modesto Bee

The Modesto Certified Farmers Market is set to start its season next week amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

No face masks so California’s farmworkers are left unprotected

CalMatters

Masks shield them from pesticides and field dust, which cause respiratory problems. And as California enters fungicide season, soon followed by fire season, growers and laborers worry there won't be enough masks due to the coronavirus.

● Migrant Farmworkers Feed America — And They’re At High Risk For A Coronavirus OutbreakHuffPost

● How Can We Make Farm Work Healthier? (Streaming Online on Tues. April 14) Zócalo Public Square

Cannabis finds its moment amid coronavirus outbreak

Politico

Cannabis is turning out to be the one thing the coronavirus can’t destroy. Marijuana sales are booming, with some states seeing 20 percent spikes in sales as anxious Americans prepare to be hunkered down in their homes potentially for months. Weed sellers are staffing up too, hiring laid-off workers from other industries to meet demand.

Opinion: Prop 13 changes could devastate family farms

Visalia Times Delta

Not only will the farming community directly suffer if the ballot initiative to raise property taxes by up to $12.5 billion annually passes, but the tax hike will also hurt all Californians by increasing the state’s already high cost of living.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Domestic violence rises in Fresno County as coronavirus spreads. Help is still available

Fresno Bee

Domestic violence calls have increased in Fresno County as coronavirus continues to spread and keep more people at home. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and Fresno Police Department have both filed more felony and misdemeanor domestic violence reports.

Forget illegal drugs. Smugglers turn to toilet paper, cleaning gear amid coronavirus

Fresno Bee

As demand for cleaning supplies, medications and toilet paper continues to rise in the United States, some items are becoming harder to find as people stockpile goods during the coronavirus pandemic.

Man admits to spreading sulfur at Merced agency, sparking hazmat fears

abc30

Merced Police have arrested a man after a powder he spread at the Merced County Human Services Agency sparked fears of a possible hazmat situation. After emergency crews rushed to the scene, the yellowish powder turned out to be sulfur, which is non-hazardous.

Public Safety:

A new beat for police across US: Enforcing social distance

Fresno Bee

Police departments are taking a lead role in enforcing social distancing guidelines that health officials say are critical to containing COVID-19. Along with park rangers, fire inspectors and other public servants, officers more accustomed to chasing suspects and solving crimes are spending these troubled days cajoling people to stay at least 6 feet apart.

● Social distancing report card: Which California counties are doing the best? Fresno Bee

At least 12 California state prison workers have tested positive for coronavirus, CDCR says

Fresno Bee

At least 12 California state prison employees have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

See also:

● Nine state prison employees positive for COVID-19 Visalia Times Delta

● Employee at Wasco State Prison tests positive for coronavirus Bakersfield Californian

● Judges asked for emergency order releasing California inmates as coronavirus spreads The Sacramento Bee

● Barr Tells Federal Prisons to Increase Use of Home Confinement, Fearing Spread of CoronavirusWall Street Journal

● Defense Attorney Wants To Get Vulnerable Inmate Out Of Fresno Jail Valley Public Radio

Taft mayor: Closure of correctional institution shortsighted, will have detrimental impact on community

Bakersfield Californian

The closure of the Taft Correctional Institution could not have come at a worse time, according to Mayor David Noerr.

Fire:

PG&E plans to pay its $4-million fine for involuntary manslaughter out of fire victims fund

Los Angeles Times

Pacific Gas & Electric, the utility that has pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter for the 2018 Camp fire, plans to pay its $4-million fine from a fund set aside for victims of the blaze.

ECONOMY / JOBS

Economy:

California could be the state hit hardest financially by coronavirus. Is it ready?

USAToday

California's streets are empty, schools across the state have shuttered and businesses have closed their doors. The drastic measures being taken to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in California are creating a new dimension to the disaster: The pandemic — which has already claimed 68 lives and infected a confirmed 3,243 people in the state as of Thursday morning — will exact a heavy economic toll.

Fresno Establishes $750k Micro Loan Program for Businesses

Business Journal

The Fresno City Council on Wednesday approved a $750,000 micro loan program for businesses that have been shut down or otherwise impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The no-interest loans could be forgiven after a year if the business continues to operate. Council members said the relief fund is meant to help companies remain open and rehire staff as well as shore up the city’s tax base.

● During pandemic, local businesses find new ways to work remotely Bakersfield Californian

● Fresno businesses are hurting over coronavirus. Here’s how some can get relief Fresno Bee

A CSUB economist predicts we are in for a long recession because of the coronavirus, the number of infected in Kern County reaches 30 and Deborah Leary is recognized for her work with the homeless

Bakersfield Observed

Will the coronavirus plunge our country into a recession? That's the word from Richard Gearhart, a professor of economics at CSUB.

These CEOs are giving up their salaries to help employees amid coronavirus pandemic

Miami Herald

Chief executives of some big companies are taking pay cuts to help workers struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Empty malls. Closed stores. Will coronavirus forever change how we shop?

Los Angeles Times

Although analysts predict a rebound by the end of the year, the new retail landscape may look different from the old one, as mandated closures knock out weak malls and merchants. Online shopping is likely to permanently grab an even bigger share of buyers’ money, particularly for groceries because house-bound consumers grew comfortable getting their food picked out by someone else and delivered.

U.S. markets sharply turn after three straight days of gains

Washington Post

The selloff offers a stinging reminder that the government’s $2.2 trillion rescue package won’t blunt investor anxiety just yet.

● The U.S. Shut Down Its Economy. Here’s What Needs to Happen in Order to Restart. New York Times

● Commentary:Stimulus package provides vital tax relief for business losses AEI

● EDITORIAL: The Coronavirus Debt Threat Wall Street Journal

U.S. to Take Stakes in Airlines in Exchange for Grants, Mnuchin Says

Wall Street Journal

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin indicated that the U.S. government would take stakes in airlines in exchange for billions of dollars in direct grants to the companies, according to people familiar with the matter, as part of a $2 trillion economic rescue package.

Jobs:

3.3 million seek US jobless aid, nearly 5 times earlier high

Fresno Bee

Nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — almost five times the previous record set in 1982 — amid a widespread economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus.

● US unemployment claims reach record 3.28M this week abc30

● California swamped by jobless claims as virus cases, deaths rise; 3,800 cases, 81 deaths Stockton Record

● Unemployment claims surge in California as coronavirus outbreak stalls US economy Sacramento Bee

● Coronavirus: Your California questions about cash payments, jobless benefits answered The Sacramento Bee

● Massive unemployment claims during coronavirus crisis have California officials scrambling Los Angeles Times

● ‘It’s brutal’: 3.3 million file for unemployment San Francisco Chronicle

● Coronavirus layoffs: California jobless claims soar to record high Orange County Register

● Watch: Dealing with (un)employment during the coronavirus pandemic CalMatters

● Poll finds recession fears high amid layoffs and pay cuts from coronavirus fallout Washington Post

● EDITORIAL: Working After the Coronavirus Wall Street Journal

Sporting goods stores are reopening around town. Here’s what city of Fresno is saying

Fresno Bee

The city administration deemed sporting goods stores as essential under the city of Fresno emergency order.

Lowe’s hiring 30,000 positions, giving bonuses

Visalia Times Delta

Lowe’s is hiring 30,000 workers and giving employees $80 million in bonuses as part of its response to the growing coronavirus pandemic.

See Also:

● Who’s Hiring Amid Coronavirus Layoffs Wall Street Journal

● Tough times call for tough decisions: Pietro’s falls victim to shutdown mandate, lays off all 72 employees Stockton Record

● Commentary: How long can we expect temporary layoffs to remain temporary? Brookings

Coronavirus is supercharging the fight over California’s new employment law

Los Angeles Times

Workers and companies have feverishly debated the merits of AB 5, as the law is known, since Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) introduced it in 2019.

Kamala Harris tries shaming big employers on coronavirus sick leave

San Francisco Chronicle

When it comes to large corporations that don’t provide paid sick leave for workers, Sen. Kamala Harris is ready to resort to public shaming.

America’s truckers face increasing challenges on front lines in war against coronavirus

Kansas City Star

Shantell Pablo heaved a big sigh and shrugged as she headed back to her 18-wheeler during a break at the service plaza along Interstate 70 Wednesday morning between Lawrence and Kansas City.

EDUCATION

K-12:

Some Fresno schools to stop food service during spring break. But other options remain

Fresno Bee

While Fresno County’s two largest school districts plan to shut down food service during spring break in April, other food options will be available and some other local school districts will continue grab-and-go lunches.

See also:

● Feeding Children When Schools Are Closed for COVID-19 Public Policy Institute of California

Coronavirus: Central Unified extending school closure to May

abc30

The Central Unified School District has decided to extend the closure of its schools to at least Friday, May 1, as concerns surrounding COVID-19 continue.

● Manteca Unified moves to distance learning model through at least May 15 Stockton Record

Valley substitute teachers forced to file for unemployment

abc30

Substitutes, like many American workers, have no choice but to file for unemployment insurance.

'First' day of school at Terra Bella

Porterville Recorder

It was the first day of school when it comes to the new normal at Terra Bella Elementary School. At least that's what it looked like at the school on Thursday as it looked similar to the first day of school in August with all the staff welcoming their students back.

Child-care providers need supplies, coronavirus guidance as day-care system suffers

Los Angeles Times

California’s early childhood care system has long been held together by women such as Tanya García, whose Hollywood duplex is home to two licensed day-care operations serving as many as 28 youngsters — among them the children of healthcare workers and public school teachers.

Adjusting to a New ‘Normal’ in Education

EdNote

Now that many school and district buildings are closed, state leaders, educators and in some cases, business leaders are looking at how best to provide continuity of education and support services to their students and communities.

The Learning Curve: The Looming School Budget Crisis

Voice of San Diego

School districts get the vast amount of their money from the state. And the outlook for the state budget right now is … very bad. There are two options California schools can look to for help.

EDITORIAL: COVID-19 closed schools. When should they reopen?

AEI

To slow the spread of Covid-19, governors in 46 states have closed more than 91,000 U.S. public and private schools, affecting more than 50 million school students. Most of the closures are currently scheduled to last for only two to three weeks (see figure). As those deadlines approach, governors now confront the difficult questions of whether to reopen schools, and if so, when?

Higher Ed:

Delta College extends off-campus instruction; in-person commencement unlikely

Stockton Record

San Joaquin Delta College hoped to return to on-campus instruction on April 6. On Thursday, the college announced it will continue to provide instruction and support services remotely until the public health threat posed by COVID-19 subsides.

Zoom to the rescue: Virtual training gives professors a class in online learning

Bakersfield Californian

It might be too early for the official announcement, but the app of the year might as well be Zoom for all the ways the video conference system is helping the education community amid coronavirus-related school closures.

Coronavirus prompts MJC to extend campus closures. Online instruction carries on

Modesto Bee

Exam used for college credit canceled due to coronavirus. How that affects California students

Sacramento Bee

As worldwide attempts to prevent the spread of coronavirus continue, the International Baccalaureate, a worldwide program offering rigorous coursework for college credit, announced Tuesday that all exams will be canceled.

Nursing students are eager to answer California's call to help stop coronavirus spread

EdSource

Thousands of California nursing students could be delayed from graduating just as the state needs them most to help slow the coronavirus pandemic.

$31 billion in federal coronavirus relief coming soon to schools, college students and universities

EdSource

The $2.2 trillion in coronavirus relief that the U.S. Senate unanimously approved late Wednesday will include $31 billion nationwide in assistance for K-12 and higher education and more than $4 billion for child care and Head Start. That should translate into at least several billion dollars for California schools and colleges.

What alternatives to the July bar exam are being considered in light of COVID-19?

ABAJournal

Given that COVID-19 restrictions prohibit large gatherings for the foreseeable future, administration of the July 2020 bar exam seems unlikely, according to a working paper released Sunday by a group of legal academics. It calls for states to consider diploma privilege for 2020 law school graduates, as well as supervised practice.

Coronavirus Creates College Uncertainty, Admissions Gets Easier

Wall Street Journal

As the coronavirus pandemic upends college life, it is causing a knock-on effect for admissions: High-school seniors may find it easier to get into some schools this year.

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

Environment:

California approves climate change target that critics say is far too weak

Los Angeles Times

State officials signed off Thursday on a climate change target that critics say will reduce planet-warming emissions far too slowly. The action comes as economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to slow the growth of renewable energy.

See also:

● California is a climate leader. But here’s why it needs to move even faster Los Angeles Times

Trump administration eases environmental enforcement during outbreak

Reuters

The Trump administration has decided to ease enforcement of environmental regulations covering polluting industries to help them cope with impacts from the coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday.

Recreational sites closed at national forests in California to slow coronavirus spread

Fresno Bee

The United States Forest Service has closed all its developed recreation sites throughout California to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

● Forest Service Closes Campgrounds, Rec Sites Statewide Sierra News

● California limits access to parks from Folsom Lake to Malibu. Here’s a list of restricted parks The Sacramento Bee

Sequoia workers evicted from national park by concessionaire amid coronavirus pandemic

Fresno Bee

Employees in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parkslearned Thursday that they have to be out of park housing by the end of the month as coronavirus continues to spread. Among those evicted is Leah Hennessy, who started working at Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia on March 17. Her new High Sierra job ended the next day when the park decided to close its concessions because of the growing threat of COVID-19.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Central San Joaquin Valley has its first coronavirus-related death

Fresno Bee

A Madera County man is the first person in the central San Joaquin Valley to die from the coronavirus. The Madera County Department of Public Health reported on Thursday the death of a man in his 60s had tested positive for COVID-19 three days ago.

● County confirms first COVID-19 death Madera Tribune

● Madera County Reports First COVID-19 Death Sierra News

● Coronavirus live updates: First COVID-19 death reported in central San Joaquin Valley Visalia Times Delta

● First death in the Valley: See where, how coronavirus is spreading in California, central San Joaquin Valley Merced Sun-Star

Coronavirus continues to spread in Fresno County – this time by a big increase Fresno Bee

Fresno County now has eight new cases of COVID-19, according to the latest figures provided Thursday afternoon. It’s the largest daily increase in positive tests for the coronavirus since the region received its first confirmed case of the potentially deadly virus on March 7.

● Coronavirus updates: Two more cases in Tulare County; Fairgrounds will serve as hospital Fresno Bee

● Coronavirus Update: Fresno Cases Up to 19 Clovis RoundUp

● Tulare County at an even 20 in COVID-19 cases Visalia Times Delta

● Sierra View confirms first inpatient COVID-19 case Porterville Recorder

● COVID-19 numbers continue to rise in county, state, nation Turlock Journal

● County announces 8 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, bringing total to 32 Bakersfield Californian

● Two Merced County residents test positive for coronavirus. Total local cases rises to fourSacramento Bee

● Valley Voices: Fresno County public health officer: In coronavirus pandemic, stay calm, stay apartFresno Bee

County announces 8 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, bringing total to 32

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County confirmed eight new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, raising the total number of cases to 32 cases locally, an increase of eight in about 24 hours, according to figures from the Kern County Public Health Services Department.

US now leads the world in confirmed coronavirus cases, surpassing China and Italy

The Sacramento Bee

The number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. surpassed 82,400 on Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Already, over 1,100 people have died from the virus, officials say.

● EXCLUSIVE: Top CDC official warns New York's coronavirus outbreak is just a preview The Hill

● Those covid-19 death figures are incomplete Washington Post

● What Will It Take to Flatten the Coronavirus Curve? Wall Street Journal

● Nearly Two Dozen U.S. Sailors on Aircraft Carrier Test Positive for Coronavirus Wall Street Journal

● Why Are We Responding Slower Today Than during the Last Pandemic? National Review

● America Is Approaching a Deadly Tipping Point in the Coronavirus Pandemic, U.S. News Analysis Shows U.S. News

Here’s how fast COVID-19 deaths are happening in California compared to other hotspots

Sacramento Bee

The number of Californians dying from COVID-19 is doubling every three to four days. That pace is a bit slower than the pace in other world hotspots. In parts of Europe, the number of deaths doubles every two to three days.

● NY’s coronavirus surge holds lessons for California, which is listening San Francisco Chronicle

Pregnant women with coronavirus infection can pass it to their babies, study finds

Los Angeles Times

A study of 33 pregnant women in China who were infected with the new coronavirus found that three of them gave birth to babies with COVID-19. All three infants survived after receiving treatment for their symptoms, doctors reported Thursday in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics.

Coronavirus hitting younger people more than originally thought. Here’s what to know

Miami Herald

At the start of the spread of coronavirus, many thought younger people would only have mild symptoms. Now, health officials are saying that may not be the case. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last week that nearly 40% of hospitalized coronavirus patients are ages 20 to 54.

Coronavirus Hits Nursing Homes Hard, as Staff Combat Infections, Shortages

Wall Street Journal

For nursing homes, the new coronavirus is a double-whammy, hitting not just vulnerable elderly residents, but already-stretched staffs, putting heavy pressure on their operations as workers are forced to stay home because of potential infection.

Getting deliveries while stuck at home? Here’s how to handle packages amid coronavirus

Fresno Bee

Can your Amazon box give you coronavirus? Experts say it’s not likely, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

A poll finds African Americans and Latinos are more worried about the coronavirus; a public health expert explains why

Washington Post

African Americans and Latinos are much more worried about the novel coronavirus than white people, which is a finding in a new Pew survey that doesn’t surprise Carlos E. Rodriguez-Diaz.

Coronavirus impacts: Disrupted lives, elevated stress, and soaring worry: Poll

abcNews

The coronavirus crisis weighs heavily on the American public: Seventy-seven percent in an ABC News/Washington Post poll say their lives have been disrupted, seven in 10 report personal stress and as many are worried that they or an immediate family member may become infected.

EDITORIAL: We Need to Know Who’s Developed Immunity to Coronavirus

Wall Street Journal

To restart the economy, the government needs to set up immunity registries similar to those for childhood diseases.

EDITORIAL: Amid coronavirus, what are the risks to vapers?

The Dispatch

The smartest answer is 'we don’t know enough yet.' But we shouldn’t be giving in to fearmongering.

He survived COVID-19. He’s broke. But he thinks America is overreacting

Los Angeles Times

For three days, he was hooked up to an oxygen tube. For six days after that, he was cooped up in a 26-foot RV in a special quarantine camp run by the state of Georgia.

Human Services:

Fresno Fairgrounds will be site of makeshift hospital with 250 beds to treat coronavirus

Fresno Bee

The Fresno Fairgrounds will soon double as a makeshift hospital to treat coronavirus patients in Fresno County.

CRMC, St. Agnes need donations of medical supplies to fight coronavirus

abc30

Valley medical centers are in need of medical supplies as they contend with the local COVID-19 outbreak.

● Fresno-based Company Donates Respirator Masks To Community Hospital Business Journal

● There are no masks left in L.A. County’s emergency stockpile Los Angeles Times

● James Dyson designed a new ventilator in 10 days. He’s making 15,000 for the coronavirus pandemic fight Mercury News

● Union Locates Massive Supply of N95 Masks SEIU-UHW

● U.S. cities have acute shortages of masks, test kits, ventilators as they face coronavirus threatWashington Post

● ICU Bed Capacity Varies Widely Nationwide NPR

There are 1,200 hospital beds in Stanislaus County. Are they enough during pandemic?

Modesto Bee

Even as the Office of Emergency Services activates to the highest level, the inventory of medical resources in Stanislaus County remains unclear.

Few sheltered as California aims to help homeless amid virus

Hanford Sentinel

Homeless outreach workers are passing out hand sanitizer, checking temperatures and pleading with people not to crowd together. But a week after California Gov. Gavin Newsom pledged thousands of hotel rooms to help the homeless survive the coronavirus pandemic, most of those rooms sit empty.

● Opinion: Coronavirus pandemic: What we must do for the homeless San Francisco Chronicle

Valley Strong Credit Union to award $100,000 in assistance to local nonprofits impacted by COVID-19

Bakersfield Californian

Valley Strong Credit Union announced Thursday it will award $100,000 in assistance to local nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release. Nonprofit entities wanting to apply for the Valley Strong COVID-19 Relief Fund must be located in Kern County, file under tax section 501(c)(3) and their mission must address the needs of the local community, according to the release.

Blood plasma from coronavirus survivors could help treat new patients, scientists say

Sacramento Bee

The Food and Drug Administration said this week that it’s “facilitating access” to use donated blood plasma from coronavirus survivors to treat patients, according to CNN.

California needs nurses. So why is the state about to give up 10,000 prospects?

Los Angeles Times

Amid a frantic scramble to open hospitals and increase the number of healthcare workers, California nursing schools are warning state officials that an estimated 10,000 nursing students are in jeopardy of not graduating, meaning they will be unable help evaluate and treat patients amid the coronavirus pandemic.

· Here’s what happens to science when California’s researchers shelter in place CalMatters

Who is coronavirus warrior Dr. Deborah Birx?

The Hill

Dr. Deborah Birx stands out on the podium of the White House press conference room. She's one of two women on the White House coronavirus task force. Next to the president and vice president as well as other top public health officials including Dr. Anthony Fauci in suits, her signature shirt dresses and scarves have been described as "classically feminine" and "modest but sophisticated" by Washington Post fashion critic Robin Givhan.

Making It Easier to See a Doctor in the Future

RealClear Policy

The COVID-19 pandemic has the medical community scrambling to address critical shortages in supplies and personnel. Among the problems is that some communities now battling the virus had too few physicians even before patients began suffering from a virulent and highly contagious pathogen.

Fact-checking COVID-19 prevention, treatment myths

PolitiFact

IMMIGRATION

ICE releases California woman amid coronavirus pandemic. Will other detainees be freed?

Fresno Bee

Immigration authorities this week released from custody a 64-year-old Kern County woman considered a high-risk for severe illness from the coronavirus, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

● OTHER VOICES: End immigration detention to save lives Bakersfield Californian

Lawyers, Judges Push To Close Immigration Courts Amid Virus

Business Journal

Immigration attorneys have sported swim goggles and masks borrowed from friends to meet with clients in detention centers. Masked judges are stocking their cramped courtrooms with hand sanitizer for hearings they want to do by phone.

Amid Coronavirus Concerns Pentagon To Send Troops To U.S. Borders With Mexico, Canada

Capital Public Radio

Troops will be sent to the northern and southern U.S. borders as the spread of the coronavirus grows. Last week, the Trump administration ordered partial closures of those borders.

Migrant Farmworkers Whose Harvests Feed Europe Are Blocked at Borders

New York Times

When Europe tightened its borders to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, France’s biggest farmers sounded an alarm: The workers they rely on from other countries to harvest much of the nation’s food could no longer make the trip.

Opinion: Don’t deport our Hmong and Laotian neighbors whose forebears saved U.S. soldiers

Modesto Bee

Instead of embracing and celebrating our unique stories, the Trump administration quite ironically is aggressively pursuing secret talks with the government of Laos to secure a repatriation agreement to deport 4,700 Hmong and Lao residents with final orders of removal from the United States.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Visalia says no to eviction, foreclosure relief

Visalia Times Delta

Visalians struggling to pay their rent or mortgages as a result of the coronavirus pandemic will not receive any immediate relief from the city, council members announced during a special Thursday morning meeting.

See also:

● Delano places moratorium on evictions related to coronavirus Bakersfield Californian

● Tenants, landlords voice coronavirus fears as rents come due Los Angeles Times

● Opinion: A rent and mortgage moratorium can stop the next Great Depression San Francisco Chronicle

California is scrambling to house the homeless. Here’s how it’s playing out.

CalMatters

With shelters reporting that some residents show symptoms of coronavirus infection, and with public health authorities worried about outbreaks in tent camps, state officials are confronting questions of how to speed up help as much as possible.

PUBLIC FINANCES

Show Me the Relief Money – No Promises on When Coronavirus Checks Are Coming

Fresno Bee

Under the plan, single people earning incomes below $75,000 will receive as much as $1,200. The White House says it will issue funds in three weeks but experts say it could take months for some.

EDITORIAL: Can Fresno County property tax deadline be pushed back during coronavirus pandemic?

Fresno Bee

Given how the coronavirus pandemic has shut down normal life for most people in Fresno County, the question posed by a Bee reader was logical: Can the county delay the April 10 property tax deadline?

Advocates Say CalEITC Should Be Expanded Through Emergency COVID-19 Funds

Valley Public Radio

Advocates are pushing to expand a cash back tax credit program that would provide more money to people who may be employed, undocumented, and still living in poverty.

TRANSPORTATION

California DMV closing all field offices to public to stem spread of coronavirus, memo says

Los Angeles Times

Faced with concerns among workers about the spread of COVID-19, the California Department of Motor Vehicles announced in a memo to employees Thursday that it is closing all of its more than 170 field offices to the public starting Friday.

California Transportation Commission Calls for Applications for Transportation Funding

StreetsBlogCal

At yesterday’s California Transportation Commission meeting, held via webinar, the commission ripped through a packed agenda to approve guidelines for several key funding programs, including the Active Transportation Program.

WATER

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“Xtra”

The Plant Lady: Garden projects can be great for young and old kids stuck at home

Modesto Bee

For those at home with children, if you choose to, every gardening project can be turned into a deeper scientific lesson; alternatively it can be a therapeutic retreat. Here are my favorite projects for kids.

50 life skills you can learn online — for free! — during self-quarantine

Los Angeles Times

Sure, you’re trapped inside for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean your only options are binge-watching television or FaceTiming relatives for the umpteenth time, only to discover they’re feeling just the same as they were yesterday.

The National Emergency Library Is a Gift to Readers Everywhere

The New Yorker

This week the Internet Archive, in San Francisco, announced—and, in the blink of an eye, opened—the National Emergency Library, a digital collection of 1.4 million books. Until June 30th, or the end of the national emergency in the United States (“whichever is later”), anyone, anywhere in the world, can check books out of this library—for free.