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TOP POLITICAL STORIES
Local/Regional Politics:
Deadline Fast Approaching – Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship – Applications for two $56,000 Fellowships Due Friday, March 16th, 2018 The Maddy Institute Through the generosity of The Wonderful Company, San Joaquin Valley students will have the opportunity to become the next generation of Valley leaders through The Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship. This program helps students obtain an advanced degree from a top graduate program, return home, and apply what they have learned to help make the Valley a better place.
Fresno community development leader TJ Cox to take on Rep. David ValadaoThe Bakersfield Californian Democrat T.J. Cox of Fresno will run for Congress this year against Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, filling the gap created over the weekend when Bakersfield attorney Emilio Huerta dropped out of the race. See also: · A new Democrat has stepped up to run against Rep. David Valadao Los Angeles Times · Huerta says he didn’t have the money to challenge David Valadao in Congressional campaign The Bakersfield Californian
Devin Nunes Q&A: How will tax reform help 22nd District residents? The Fresno Bee “If you make under $250,000, which is almost everybody in the San Joaquin Valley – the code’s going to be much more simplified, and you’re going to have a lot more money in your pocket,” says Rep. Devin Nunes.
Could Trump trade war hurt Kern County Ag? The Bakersfield Californian The California Farm Bureau Federation says it is “greatly concerned” that President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum could start a trade war — and the state’s $21 billion agriculture export market might pay the price.
Responding to a week of stepped-up immigration enforcement throughout the state, the United Farm Workers of America organized a series of regional rallies Monday demanding an end to detainments of non-criminal immigrants.
California To Designate ‘Opportunity Zones’ To Spur Investment In Low-Income Communities Communities in California with poverty rates of at least 20 percent could soon be designated “Opportunity Zones,” under a program created by the GOP-led federal tax plan. Irena Asmundson, chief economist at the California Department of Finance, said the Brown administration is studying which impoverished areas to include. The program allows investors who put money into the communities to receive federal tax breaks on capital gains.
A California city (Stockton) is planning on giving money to some residents, no strings attached Marketplace Wage stagnation. Rising housing prices. Loss of middle-class jobs. The looming threat of automation. These are some of the problems facing Stockton’s residents. Stockton’s mayor, Michael Tubbs, said the city’s problems are far from unique. “I think Stockton is absolutely ground zero for a lot of the issues we are facing as a nation,” Tubbs said.
Water bond provides solutions for forest fires, water supply in Valley Fresno Bee The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), of which Tulare, Merced, Mariposa, Madera and Tulare counties are members, recently endorsed a statewide water bond that appears headed to the November ballot (referred to as “the November water bond”).
Recent storm lessens the drought burden Visalia Times-Delta March could be the start of a come back for Tulare County’s dry winter. Last week’s three-day storm brought parts of California more rain in hours than the state received the previous month. February is typically one of the wettest months of the year, meteorologists said.
Will this bring more doctors to Merced County? Merced Sun-Star Assemblymember Adam Gray, D-Merced, recently introduced three pieces of legislation that could help bring more doctors to the Central Valley and make healthcare more accessible in Merced County.
‘Additional security’ at a Modesto junior high after threat called in to crisis line The Modesto Bee Officers with the Modesto Police Department are looking into a threat made on a nationwide crisis line involving Mark Twain Junior High School in Modesto.
Under threat of lawsuit, KHSD votes to redraw lines, give more representation to LatinosThe Bakersfield Californian Under threat of a pending lawsuit, the Kern High School District Board of Trustees announced Monday that it would begin the process of redrawing voting districts ahead of an upcoming election to provide more equity on the board to Latino communities.
Opinion: McClintock putting ‘wheels over wilderness’ Modesto Bee Hiking in the Sierra Nevada is a California birthright. It’s also the birthright of every American. When you walk along the crest of these majestic mountains, you likely are traveling on the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile path for hikers and horseback riders that provides access to acres of public land in California, Oregon and Washington.
Halderman declines meeting investigator in Hertzberg case Sacramento Bee A former assemblywoman who accused Sen. Bob Hertzberg of pinning her in his arms and thrusting his groin into her said she declined to meet with lawyers hired by the Senate to investigate her allegation.
Tiny home construction is underway in Old Town Clovis ABC30 The city of Clovis is flipping its new tiny house idea into big business for homeowners in Old Town by encouraging families to create more livable space on their property, it is called the Cottage Home Program.
Council planning for impact of new housing Stockton Record With the prospect of new housing developments sprouting up in the city, the City Council is set to discuss pre-emptive measures Stockton can take to ensure city services aren’t overburdened.
Turlock pays $39000 to end former city manager’s claim, must re-do meeting Modesto Bee City Hall will pay former City Manager Gary Hampton $39,000 to settle his claim that a nasty work environment — including alleged “unethical activities” by Mayor Gary Soiseth, Councilman Matthew Jacob and City Attorney Phaedra Norton — forced Hampton to retire early.
Tulare faces lawsuit over political sign ordinance Visalia Times-Delta Visalia residents are seeing political signs pop up on lawns and street corners across the city. State Politics:
California Budget & Policy Center Putting the Governor’s Proposed 2018-19 State Budget in Context.
Jerry Brown’s grand California water solution remains in jeopardy as he prepares to exit Los Angeles Times Two tunnels, one or none? The question continues to swirl around plans to perform major surgery on the sickly heart of California’s water system. Confronted with a shortage of funding, state officials announced last month that they would move ahead with the construction of one giant water tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta rather than two. See also; · Judge shoots down Delta tunnels foes’ request to halt key hearing Sacramento Bee
SF vs. LA: A Contest of Contempt The Bakersfield Californian Which city — San Francisco or Los Angeles — do you love to hate more? This is shaping up to be California’s question for 2018. Each of the top contenders for governor is a former mayor of one those cities, and each embodies certain grievances about his hometown. And backers of both are playing to those resentments.
Villaraigosa challenges Newsom to one-on-one debate over single-payer healthcare Los Angeles Times Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday challenged his top rival in the governor’s race, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, to a one-on-one debate over the viability of a state-sponsored single-payer healthcare system in California.
Only 7 Percent Of Californians Lack Health Insurance, National Study Says A new study indicates that almost 29 million Americans lack health insurance — a big improvement compared to nearly 49 million in 2010. Californians are better covered than most of the nation. Texas comes in last, with 20 percent having no health insurance, according to the latest findings by the National Center for Health Statistics.
Center for Labor Research and Education California has made historic progress under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by cutting the uninsurance rate by more than half, resulting in approximately 93% of Californians now having health insurance.
Los Angeles Times Two of California’s leading candidates for governor say they’re going to end the housing shortage, a driver of the state’s affordability crisis. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa both have said they want developers in California to build a half million homes in a year — something that’s never happened, at least in modern history. And they want builders to do it for seven straight years, resulting in 3.5 million new homes from the time the next governor takes office through 2025.
Walters: Handicapping California’s governorship game CALmatters So far, electing a new governor of California has resembled a game of musical chairs more than a horse race. Every fortnight, it seems, brings the announcement of a new candidate and/or a new opt-out, and every change in the lineup alters the odds of who will survive June’s top-two primary and win the right to duke it out in November.
Eleni Kounalakis Aims to Be State’s First Woman Elected Lt. Governor The California Report – KQED News Since California became a state in 1850, the state has had 39 governors and 49 lieutenant governors. Every single one of the people elected to those jobs was a man. (One woman, Mona Pasquil, briefly served as acting Lt. Governor when the incumbent, John Garamendi, was elected to Congress.) Businesswoman Eleni Kounalakis is trying to break that glass ceiling and become the first woman elected lieutenant governor of California.
Los Angeles Times California’s campaign watchdog agency last year approved a record 340 settlements of cases involving violations of ethics and political finance rules, according to its annual report issued Monday. The state Fair Political Practices Commission said it collected more than $1.1 million in fines from elected officials, lobbyists, political donors and others in 2017 for issues that included failing to properly report contributions.
Defeat of Pesticide Bill Highlights Ag Industry’s Campaign Donations KQED Agricultural industry groups opposed to legislation that would have increased fines for violating California’s pesticide regulations contributed more than $340,000 to members of the Assembly in the two years before the body rejected the measure in late January. The bill was championed by farmworker advocates after a series of chemical drift incidents sickened more than 150 agricultural employees on the Central Coast and Central Valley last year.
Fox and Hounds Daily A survey of business executives in highly sought after industries such as clean tech and research & development conclude that California has a number of problems that prevent businesses from locating or expanding in the state. The Pacific Research Institute survey discovered that housing and real estate costs, a poor quality education system, and taxes and regulations are stumbling blocks for the business execs.
Paid signature gatherers are gaming the ballot. California’s bounty system must change Sacramento Bee Walking into the local Target or Trader Joe’s can be a tricky business these days. The shopping center has become the public square. You try not to make eye contact as you run the gauntlet past the men and women sitting behind their tables or accosting you at the door with their clipboards. But the skilled ones are like the carnival barkers of old. They use fast talk to stop you and then deceptions to reel you in. If that doesn’t work, they browbeat you.
Bill would allow compensation for more who were wrongfully imprisoned San Francisco Chronicle California pays compensation to wrongfully imprisoned inmates, but the standards are so tight that few qualify. Newly proposed legislation would ease those rules a bit, and one possible beneficiary is a San Jose man who spent more than 30 years in prison based on scientific evidence that has now been recanted.
California to fight ruling on early parole for sex offenders AP California said Monday that it will fight a judge’s ruling ordering the state to consider earlier parole for potentially thousands of sex offenders, such as those convicted of raping an unconscious person. Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration will appeal the order by Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Allen Sumner, said Vicky Waters, spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Why a California lawmaker wants to ban Walmart gift cards at gun buyback events Sacramento Bee Participants in gun buyback events that aim to get weapons off the street often receive gift cards for turning in their firearms, but some of those gift cards come from businesses that sell guns themselves. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, D-San Diego, wants to stop that practice, calling it “counterproductive.”
Rural California wants a divorce from rich California Visalia Times-Delta We’re starting to hear more about secession. Not the perennial post-election calls of losing parties to secede from a nation controlled by the opposition, but a growing movement for secession from states, with the parts of states (sometimes geographically very large parts of states) wanting to separate from the population-dense urban areas that essentially control state decision-making. Feeling ignored, put-upon, and mistreated, state secessionists want to take their fate into their own hands Federal Politics:
GOP pushes back as Trump digs in heels on tariffs Modesto Bee Republicans are maneuvering to stop President Donald Trump from levying harsh tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, arguing that the move runs counter to the core of their economic agenda and could even cause political problems heading into the 2018 midterms. See also: ● House Republicans Want Trump to Curtail Tariff Plans, Avoid Legislation Roll Call ● Opinion: Donald Trump Has Already Won His Trade War Roll Call ● Paul Ryan ‘Worried About the Consequences of a Trade War’ Roll Call
I’m a Depression historian. The GOP tax bill is straight out of 1929. The Washington Post “There are two ideas of government,” William Jennings Bryan declared in his 1896 “Cross of Gold” speech. “There are those who believe that if you will only legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea, however, has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous their prosperity will find its way up through every class which rests upon them.”
Congress Kicks Off Discussions About Trump’s Infrastructure Plan Route Fifty President Trump’s infrastructure plan got its first public airing in Congress on Thursday, with some of the thornier issues that are likely to guide debate about any forthcoming public works package on display. These issues are mainly centered on funding and environmental permitting.
Judge won’t order grant award in California immigration suit Sacramento Bee The Trump administration will not immediately have to award California a grant being withheld over concerns the state is a sanctuary for people in the country illegally, a federal judge said Monday.
The Primaries Project: What to expect in the 2018 Midterms Brookings The 2018 congressional primary season has officially begun. Between now and the end of September, a few thousand candidates will compete to represent their party in November’s general election—and their success or failure will reveal how the country feels about President Trump as well as a host of other issues. These primaries will also tell us a great deal about the divisions within each political party, about which faction is dominant within each party, and about what we can expect from the Congress that will convene in 2019.
Other:
How much are Devin Nunes, David Valadao and California’s other members of Congress worth? The Fresno Bee California’s congressional delegation includes 20 millionaires, but where do the representatives in the central San Joaquin Valley fit in a delegation worth at least $439,000,000? The Los Angeles Times ranked each of California’s 55 members of Congress according to 2014-16 financial disclosure data collected by Roll Call. The Valley sends several millionaires to Washington, but it also includes the perennial “poorest member of Congress” in Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, who lists millions in liabilities due to credit lines used to purchase equipment for his family’s dairy operation. See also: ● Essential California: The richest and the poorest in Congress Los Angeles Times
Limits on Federal Gun Research Spur States to Step In Pew Charitable Trust | Stateline As deaths from mass shootings have mounted across the United States, some states are moving to collect hard data to guide their decisions about guns — even as the federal government has retreated from such research in the face of pressure from pro-gun groups. See also: ● Gun-Control Debate: Liberals Won’t Win. Here’s Why. National Review ● From ‘Fraud’ To Individual Right, Where Does The Supreme Court Stand On Guns? capradio.org ● Stalled Effort to Ban ‘Bump Stocks’ Illustrates Challenge of Changing State Gun Laws Pew Charitable Trust | Stateline ● Hundreds of New State Gun Laws: Most Expand Access Pew Charitable Trust | Stateline ● Nobody Knows How Many Kids Get Caught With Guns in School. Here’s Why. Pew Charitable Trusts | Stateline ● Even Popular Gun Law Proposals Have a Tough Road in Florida The New York Times ● Idaho Senate advances stand-your-ground legislation Idaho Statesman ● How teens want to solve America’s school shooting problem PBS NewsHour ● Oregon Governor Signs New Gun Control Law AP ● Victims of Las Vegas mass shooting start receiving payments of up to $275,000 each Los Angeles Times ● Thoughts and Prayers Will Stop Mass Shooting ‘Evil,’ Says Florida State Senator Newsweek ● After Parkland, A Look at Previous Gun Control Efforts in CongressRoll Call ● The Slow Breakup Between Democrats and the NRA Roll Call ● Analysis: Why the Gun Issue Has Shifted (It’s Not What You Think)Roll Call
Topics in More Detail…
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Could Trump trade war hurt Kern County Ag? The Bakersfield Californian The California Farm Bureau Federation says it is “greatly concerned” that President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum could start a trade war — and the state’s $21 billion agriculture export market might pay the price.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
For stories on ”gun control,” See: “Top Stories – Other Politics,” above
Crime: Man who inspired three strikes law sentenced to life in prison for most recent act of violence KFSN-TV The man who inspired the three strikes law was sentenced by a judge to life in prison. Monday morning, Judge Kent Hamlin sentenced Douglas Walker to 44 years to life, but he’ll be eligible for a parole hearing after 25 years. See also: ● California man who inspired 1994 3 strikes law gets life sentenceThe Mercury News ● California man who inspired 3 strikes law gets life sentenceSacramento Bee ● California Man Who Inspired 3 Strikes Law Gets Life Sentence The New York Times
Lawmakers fight to keep a Central Valley woman in prison for lifeKFSN-TV Susan Russo was recently granted parole back in January. We first spoke with Jaymee Guarino and Devin Russo nearly a year ago. At that time, the two sisters were fighting to keep their mother, Susan Russo, in prison.
California to appeal ruling on earlier sex offender parole Merced Sun-Star California said Monday that it will fight a judge’s ruling ordering the state to consider earlier parole for potentially thousands of sex offenders, such as those convicted of raping an unconscious person. See also: ● California to fight ruling on early parole for sex offenders San Francisco Chronicle
2 former state employees jailed for using California computers to mine digital cash The Mercury News Two former California state employees are going to jail for using state computers to mine digital currency. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said that a judge sentenced Jeffrey Rikala and Jonathan Turrentine to 30 days in jail Monday. They pleaded no contest to illegally accessing a computer network to wrongfully obtain money. See also: ● Digital coin scheme sends two state workers to jail Sacramento Bee
Public Safety:
Is it child abuse? California schools should report to cops, experts say, even if they’re not sure The Mercury News It might have seemed harmless enough. Some San Jose middle school parents didn’t like the way a physical education teacher and coach was photographing their girls at events. The principal had told the coach to stop after a similar complaint a year earlier. But after a second complaint, the principal seized the coach’s school-issued computer, confronted him and alerted police, who investigated and last month arrested the former coach on child molestation and pornography charges.
Fire:
The next wildfire season starts soon. The government wants to use drones to fight it. Washington Post Last summer, one of the many fires with which federal and local officials had to contend raged in the Umpqua National Forest in southwest Oregon, close to the California border. During one flight over the fire in August, a Bureau of Land Management pilot saw something he later said “wasn’t supposed to be there.” A “spot fire” had broken out beyond the edge of the main blaze, likely set off by a windblown ember.
ECONOMY / JOBS
For stories on “tariffs and possible trade wars” and See: “Top Stories – Federal Politics,” above
Two red flags on California’s ailing economy The Sacramento Bee Two recent financial tremors should caution California and its municipalities that they had better get their financial houses in order. The first came from Controller Betty Yee in her update on the state’s retiree health care liabilities. On January 31, she reported “the state’s cost for retiree health and dental benefits” has grown to $92 billion, up from last year’s $77 billion.
California To Designate ‘Opportunity Zones’ To Spur Investment In Low-Income Communities Communities in California with poverty rates of at least 20 percent could soon be designated “Opportunity Zones,” under a program created by the GOP-led federal tax plan. Irena Asmundson, chief economist at the California Department of Finance, said the Brown administration is studying which impoverished areas to include. The program allows investors who put money into the communities to receive federal tax breaks on capital gains.
U.S. Jobless Claims Hit Lowest Level Since 1969 WSJ The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level since December 1969, offering fresh evidence of health in the labor market. Initial jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs across the U.S., declined by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 210,000 in the week ended Feb. 24, the Labor Department said Thursday. That was the lowest reading for initial claims since the week ended Dec. 6, 1969.
U.S. After-Tax Incomes Rise Due to Tax-Code Changes, Spending Slows WSJ The incomes of U.S. households jumped in January, reflecting tax law changes that are reducing tax withholding and led to one-time bonuses for some households. After-tax income, including earnings from salaries, investments and other sources, rose 0.9% in January from December, the Commerce Department said Thursday. That matched the largest monthly gain since December 2012, a month when incomes were shifted by some individuals and their employees in anticipation of looming tax increases on high-income households.
Manufacturing in U.S. Expands at Fastest Pace Since May 2004 Bloomberg U.S. factories expanded in February at the fastest rate since May 2004, indicating sustained strength in manufacturing as demand remains solid, figures from the Institute for Supply Management showed Thursday.
Construction Contracts and Rules Hold Back U.S. Economy Bloomberg The question of whether to prioritize jobs or economic efficiency is always difficult. Nowhere is this more of a dilemma than in the construction industry. In a world of rapid technological disruption, construction is a rock of solidity to which many blue-collar workers can cling. The industry still employs about 7 million workers in the U.S.:
EDUCATION
K-12:
Under threat of lawsuit, KHSD votes to redraw lines, give more representation to LatinosThe Bakersfield Californian Under threat of a pending lawsuit, the Kern High School District Board of Trustees announced Monday that it would begin the process of redrawing voting districts ahead of an upcoming election to provide more equity on the board to Latino communities.
More California students graduate from high school, but far fewer graduate from college EdSource California’s high school graduation rates have increased significantly in recent years, but the percentage of those students who complete their college education continues to lag, with long-term implications for the state’s future. That is the stark conclusion of a new report by California Competes, a policy and advocacy organization focusing on the state’s system of higher education.
Higher Ed:
Two-thirds of California college students are minorities. Most of their professors are white. Sacramento Bee While the student bodies at California’s public colleges and universities are rapidly diversifying, the academic leadership has not kept up with the state’s changing demographics. A new report from The Campaign for College Opportunity found that more than two-thirds of faculty, senior administrators and board members in the University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges systems are white. See also: · Whites dominate California college faculties while students are more diverse, study shows EdSource · California college aid applications for undocumented students surge by deadline EdSource California braces for battle with Trump administration over student loans Los Angeles Times Ask Republican politicians how they feel about gun control, and they’ll say this is a matter for states to decide. “I think we need to respect federalism and respect local jurisdictions,” House Speaker Paul D. Ryan insisted just last week. But ask Republicans about protecting people from being ripped off by student-loan debt collectors, and they’ll sing a completely different tune.
The San Diego Union-Tribune Eloy Ortiz Oakley became the first Latino chancellor of the California Community Colleges system in December 2016. A first-generation college graduate and a product of California schools, Oakley has bold plans for the country’s largest college system. He met recently with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board and talked about his goals, especially for a new fully online college geared to working adults who want to earn meaningful credentials to help their careers. Here is an edited transcript of the interview. See also: · Video: Improving English Courses at California’s Community Colleges Public Policy Institute of California
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
California may tweak climate program that’s quietly pushing up gas prices San Francisco Chronicle Even as drivers debate repealing California’s recent gasoline tax hike, an often-overlooked state program has quietly helped push fuel prices higher. Dubbed the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, the program is designed to fight climate change by forcing oil companies to lower the “carbon intensity” of the fuels they sell in California.
When Will Renewables Become The Dominant Source Of Energy? It May Be Sooner Than You Think Forbes As the amount of renewable energy in global electricity networks continues to surge, a new question arises – when will renewables become the dominant source of energy? A new report, the Lloyd’s Register 2018 Technology Radar, examines this issue and also looks at which technologies are likely to have the biggest impact in different countries and what are the key drivers and barriers to success.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Will this bring more doctors to Merced County? Merced Sun-Star Assemblymember Adam Gray, D-Merced, recently introduced three pieces of legislation that could help bring more doctors to the Central Valley and make healthcare more accessible in Merced County.
Villaraigosa challenges Newsom to one-on-one debate over single-payer healthcare Los Angeles Times Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday challenged his top rival in the governor’s race, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, to a one-on-one debate over the viability of a state-sponsored single-payer healthcare system in California.
How California legislators can extend pathway to universal care Sacramento Bee While California has made tremendous gains in expanding the number of residents with health insurance, hundreds of thousands of people are taking a gamble that they won’t face catastrophic health-care costs.
Plenty of ways to make health care cheaper for Californians, report says San Francisco Chronicle Few states embraced the Affordable Care Act more enthusiastically than California, which shrank its uninsured rate to a record-low 7 percent after enrolling millions more residents onto Medi-Cal and creating a system to sell subsidized health plans to Californians. Now, in anticipation of the health law’s individual mandate ending in 2019, state lawmakers and health officials may have to go it alone to preserve those coverage gains.
Only 7 Percent Of Californians Lack Health Insurance, National Study Says A new study indicates that almost 29 million Americans lack health insurance — a big improvement compared to nearly 49 million in 2010. Californians are better covered than most of the nation. Texas comes in last, with 20 percent having no health insurance, according to the latest findings by the National Center for Health Statistics.
Ding dong! The Obamacare tax penalty is(n’t) dead Sacramento Bee Rick, Patrick and Michael recently commented on Covered California’s Facebook page, urging others to ditch health insurance because: “No more fines or penalties!!! Trump took care of that!! Saved me 700 bucks this year!!!” “Trump removed the penalty for not having insurance.” “I’m pretty sure Trump abolished the illegal penalty.” They’re right — and wrong.
Center for Labor Research and Education California has made historic progress under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by cutting the uninsurance rate by more than half, resulting in approximately 93% of Californians now having health insurance. Health coverage affordability has improved for many, especially for those who became newly eligible for Medi-Cal or subsidized coverage through Covered California. For those who purchase coverage individually, the ACA has not only provided financial assistance to help eligible low- and middle-income individuals afford premiums and out-of-pocket costs, but has also provided crucial protections to individual market enrollees of all income levels.
Major Medical Associations Feud Over Diabetes Guidelines NPR A major medical association today suggested that doctors who treat people with Type 2 diabetes can set less aggressive blood sugar targets. But medical groups that specialize in diabetes sharply disagree. Half a dozen medical groups have looked carefully at the best treatment guidelines for the 29 million Americans who have Type 2 diabetes and have come up with somewhat differing guidelines.
Human Services:
The supply of licensed home day cares is drying up 89.3 KPCC For more than 17 years, Jackie Jackson’s living room was a little world for children to get lost in. There was a corner for block play, a mobile science area and a space for creative writing and art. When she thinks about it now, her voice cracks and her eyes fill with tears.
Rewards Program Encourages SNAP Recipients to Make Healthy Choices Pew Charitable Trust | Stateline Cities and states are trying new ways to entice food stamp recipients to eat their fruits and vegetables. One approach that’s gaining popularity: offering rebates to low-income families when they buy fresh produce. A program in Massachusetts was so popular that it ran out of rebate money and had to be suspended. By rewarding food stamp recipients for making healthy choices, advocates hope to encourage low-income people to eat more fruits and vegetables. “How Medicaid Helps Older Americans” Center for Retirement Research of Boston College Medicaid provides low-income retirees with critical health benefits by offering insurance directly, covering Medicare costs, or paying for long-term care. Recently, the Medicaid expansion has also helped reduce the uninsured rate among workers nearing retirement. .
IMMIGRATION
Responding to a week of stepped-up immigration enforcement throughout the state, the United Farm Workers of America organized a series of regional rallies Monday demanding an end to detainments of non-criminal immigrants.
California college aid applications for undocumented students surge by deadline EdSource A last-minute push of publicity and counseling helped increase the number of undocumented students in California who applied for special state-financed college aid slightly above last year’s level despite fears of deportation, officials announced Monday.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
CDFA Brownfields Technical Assistance Program Webinars As part of CDFA’s Brownfields Technical Assistance Program, the Brownfield Financing Webinar Series offers webinars that focus on effective utilization of brownfields and redevelopment financing tools, while highlighting best practices, case studies, and CDFA’s technical assistance program participants. This series is designed for professionals who work directly with brownfield sites as well as economic development professionals and communities interested in shaping programs to enhance redevelopment financing opportunities.
Housing:
Tiny home construction is underway in Old Town Clovis ABC30 The city of Clovis is flipping its new tiny house idea into big business for homeowners in Old Town by encouraging families to create more livable space on their property, it is called the Cottage Home Program.
20000 new homes by BART stations? A new California zoning bill aims to speed building The Mercury News Cities reluctant to OK housing on BART’s expansive parking lots and other land owned by the rail system would be forced to allow it under a new bill unveiled this week.
Need rental housing? California has 6th-fewest vacancies in the US The Mercury News California renters can pick through slim rental listings with a tiny bit of solace knowing they’re no longer facing America’s tightest market. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the statewide rental vacancies equaled 4.3 percent of all units in 2017. That was the sixth-tightest among the states … a mild improvement from a 3.6 percent vacancy rate in 2016, when California ranked No. 1 among for rental tightness. See also: ● Hidden cost of housing: A shortage of Bay Area workers to build itMercury News
California’s Love of Cars Is Fueling Its Housing Crisis Bloomberg In Los Angeles, it’s perfectly legal to build a new apartment without a refrigerator, a balcony, or air conditioning. But you can’t build one without plenty of parking. In most cases, in fact, you have to build at least two spaces per unit — and no fudging with tandem or compact spaces. That makes housing much more expensive. Removing parking requirements would be one of the simplest ways to ease California’s housing crisis.
PUBLIC FINANCES
If my parents die broke, do I have to pay their debts? The Mercury News Blogger John Schmoll’s father left a financial mess when he died: a house that was worth far less than the mortgage, credit card bills in excess of $20,000 and debt collectors who insisted the son was legally obligated to pay what his father owed. Fortunately, Schmoll knew better.
California Budget & Policy Center Putting the Governor’s Proposed 2018-19 State Budget in Context.
TRANSPORTATION
Humans slapped and shouted at robot cars in two of six DMV crash reports this year Los Angeles Times The human response to possible takeover by robot overlords is off to a troubling start. Of six crash reports involving robot cars filed in California so far this year, two involved a human approaching the car and attacking it.
Car-crazy California switches its love to trucks Orange County Register Traditional cars are no longer California cool. The state’s auto dealers sold 2.05 million vehicles last year, and you should note the 2 percent drop from 2016 is the first dip since the Great Recession times of 2009. Let’s face it: You need some consumer confidence to buy a car, and less buying could be an early warning sign of stress in California’s business climate. But a more detailed look under the hood, economically speaking, shows that 2017’s buyer was more likely buying up
California’s Love of Cars Is Fueling Its Housing Crisis Bloomberg In Los Angeles, it’s perfectly legal to build a new apartment without a refrigerator, a balcony, or air conditioning. But you can’t build one without plenty of parking. In most cases, in fact, you have to build at least two spaces per unit — and no fudging with tandem or compact spaces. That makes housing much more expensive. Removing parking requirements would be one of the simplest ways to ease California’s housing crisis.
WATER
Water bond provides solutions for forest fires, water supply in Valley Fresno Bee The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), of which Tulare, Merced, Mariposa, Madera and Tulare counties are members, recently endorsed a statewide water bond that appears headed to the November ballot (referred to as “the November water bond”). See also: · Commentary: Since Drought is the New Normal, Why Aren’t We Maximizing Proposition 1 Funds? PublicCEO
California’s snowpack measurement results for 2018 ‘below average’ ABC30 A couple of big storms cannot offset several dry months but the state’s water outlook has improved. The measurement near Echo Summit revealed a 41-inch snowpack at Phillips Station, 39% of the average. Frank Gehrke of the California Department of Water Resources says 28 inches of snow has fallen in the past six days in El Dorado County. Storms have piled up the snow to slow what appeared to be a return to drought conditions. See also: · Recent storm lessens the drought burden Visalia Times-Delta · Storm leaves California with just 37 percent normal snow Modesto Bee · Sierra snow pack up 80 percent from last week, but still below normal San Jose Mercury News
Jerry Brown’s grand California water solution remains in jeopardy as he prepares to exit Los Angeles Times Two tunnels, one or none? The question continues to swirl around plans to perform major surgery on the sickly heart of California’s water system. Confronted with a shortage of funding, state officials announced last month that they would move ahead with the construction of one giant water tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta rather than two.
“Xtra”
Fundraiser to help Fresno State Student Cupboard in full swingKFSN-TV Fresno State’s March Match Up is in full swing. This initiative is to help fight student hunger. Each month the Student Cupboard gets more than 3,200 visits. Since it opened they’ve helped more than 10,000 students. This year accounting firm Moss Adams LLP stepped up to help. For every dollar given they will be matching up to $25,000.
Stampede to open with Cattle DriveMadera Tribune The city of Chowchilla will celebrate its western heritage next week as cowboys and cowgirls from throughout California and bordering states gather for three days of roping fever. The 61st Chowchilla Western Stampede will kick off Friday, March 9, at 10 a.m. with the historic Cattle Drive down Robertson Boulevard as it makes its way to the Chowchilla Fairgrounds.
EDITORIALS
Stop the California bullet train in its tracks Mercury News The latest $2.8 billion cost overrun is yet another reminder that the Legislature should apply the brakes to Gov. Jerry Brown’s legacy-seeking bullet train fiasco. If Trump starts a trade war, we’re the first target for retaliationModesto Bee Did you know there are roughly 730,000 almonds in a ton? If President Trump’s suggested tariffs on steel and aluminum become policy, you’re probably going to have eat, say, 2,000 almonds a day to help keep our local economy on track. California would be a casualty of Trump’s trade warSacramento Bee Chaos in the Trump White House doesn’t usually directly affect Californians’ daily lives. But if it leads to President Donald Trump starting a trade war, it will cost jobs, raise prices and set back California’s economy.
Trump drags NAFTA into his potential trade war San Francisco Chronicle President Trump isn’t backing off on his irrational proposal to impose tariffs on all imported steel and aluminum, potentially launching a global trade war. On Monday, he threatened Canada and Mexico, two of our closest trading partners, that he wouldn’t budge on tariffs for them unless a “new and fair NAFTA agreement is signed.” The United States, Mexico and Canada are currently in the seventh round of talks over modernizing the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement. End ban on federal research of gun violenceMercury News Bay Area Rep. Mark DeSaulnier should have been present for Wednesday’s televised meeting on gun violence at the White House. The Concord Democrat would have put ending Congress’ 22-year ban on gun violence research front and center in the discussion, where it belongs.
Don’t weaken the ban on politics in the pulpitLos Angeles Times One of President Trump’s favorite bad ideas — making it easier for churches to endorse political candidates — is back. Among several so-called policy riders that Republicans hope to smuggle into an omnibus spending bill is a measure that would weaken the Johnson Amendment, which has been part of the Internal Revenue Code for more than 60 years. |