POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Merced County Superior Court names new executive officer, previously served in interim role
Merced Sun-Star
The Merced County Superior Court announced this week Amanda Toste will serve as the new court executive officer, effective immediately.
Merced City Council approves ‘painful’ refuse rates increase, will last five years
Merced Sun-Star
Merced residents and businesses can soon expect a significant jump in their solid, organic and recycled waste collection bill. The Merced City Council this week voted 5-1 to approve an ordinance that will raise trash collection costs over the next five years.
Supervisor Wheeler to Host Town Hall Next Week in Raymond
Sierra News
District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler would like to invite the mountain community to join him at Raymond-Knowles Elementary this coming Thursday (March 12) from 6 to 8 p.m. for a Town Hall Meeting.
Modesto Councilwoman Kenoyer says lung cancer may have returned but expects to beat it
Modesto Bee
Modesto Councilwoman Jenny Kenoyer said at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that her cancer may have returned and she will start a new round of chemotherapy beginning Friday.
Stanislaus elections says half of Tuesday’s ballots remain to be counted
Modesto Bee
The Stanislaus County elections office has about half the ballots from Tuesday’s presidential primary left to count and expects to release updated results Monday evening.
See Also:
● The conservative vote dominated Primary races in Stanislaus County Modesto Bee
Central SJ Valley:
Annual Kids Day event canceled over rapidly spreading coronavirus concerns
Fresno Bee
The decision to cancel this year’s fundraising effort — which was scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, and puts hundreds of volunteers at Valley intersections to sell copies of The Fresno Bee in an effort to raise money for kids — was announced by Zara Arboleda, spokeswoman for Valley Children’s Healthcare.
See Also:
● Valley Children’s Cancels Kids Day Amid Coronavirus Concerns Clovis RoundUp
● Valley Children’s Cancelling Kids Day Over Health Worries Business Journal
County still processing thousands of mail-in ballots
Visalia Times Delta
Election Day has come and gone, but the Tulare County Registrar of Voters office is still processing thousands of vote-by-mail and provisional ballots as they continue to roll in throughout the week.
Opinion: Feeling cheated, Fresno? Truncated mayoral race serves no one except the winning side
Fresno Bee
While watching the results of Fresno’s mayoral primary trickle inTuesday night, I couldn’t help but think of Johnny Rotten’s famous last words following the Sex Pistols’ final concert in 1978. Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?
South SJ Valley:
Tulareans concerned about gang violence after mass shooting
Visalia Times Delta
Police are investigating the crime and have not said whether the shooting is gang-related. However, residents in the neighborhood on Tulare's west side say that gunshots and gang activity are the norm and have only escalated in recent years.
Supervisorial candidates sitting pretty, but also sitting tight as waiting game continues
Bakersfield Californian
The hours and days following Tuesday's primary election have surely been enough to test the patience of anyone looking for quick answers. Including the top vote-getters in the three races for Kern County supervisor.
Bakersfield's new boss, Christian Clegg, introduces himself in first week on the job
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield has a new boss, and he says he wants to be here for a while. On his fourth day on the job, Christian Clegg, 41, made his debut to local media during a short news conference Thursday.
County still must process more than 67,000 ballots
KGET
More than 67,000 ballots have yet to be counted, according to Mary Bedard, Kern County registrar of voters. In an email to 17 News, Bedard said the estimated number of unprocessed ballots stands at 67,456.
State:
More states to use redistricting reforms after 2020 census
Hanford Sentinel
A growing number of states (including California) have shifted the job of redrawing voting districts to special commissions or made other changes that are intended to reduce the potential for partisan gerrymandering.
See Also:
● 10 Census Facts That Bust Common Myths About The 2020 U.S. Head Count Capital Public Radio
● Counting California in the 2020 Census CalMatters
As Daylight Saving Time approaches, one California lawmaker wants to make it permanent
Sacramento Bee
When Californians set their clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time this Sunday, one California lawmaker argues the change should be permanent.
See Also:
● Let the sun shine later as daylight saving time back Sunday Fresno Bee
California’s Democratic primary: How did your neighborhood vote?
Los Angeles Times
Though it will take weeks to finish the final tally, the votes counted so far show Bernie Sanders won the California primary. As results trickle in, The Times is assembling the most complete map possible of block-by-block results from the state's 58 counties. Only election-day tallies for 16 counties are out so far. This page will update until the count ends in April.
California GOP makes strong bid to flip back House seats it lost in 2018
San Francisco Chronicle
Republicans took a strong first step in the primary election toward grabbing back at least some of the seven California congressional districts that Democrats flipped in 2018.
See also:
● Republicans are ahead in two of the California House seats lost in 2018. Will it last? Los Angeles Times
Far from over: California still has more than 3.5 million ballots to count
CalMatters
Taken at face value, the unprocessed ballots combined with those that have already been counted add up to 8.8 million votes, or a turnout rate of 43% of all registered voters. Of course this should not be taken at face value.
Prop. 13 school bond measure appears headed for defeat. How did that happen?
Los Angeles Times
A combination of confusing messages and an unfortunate name contributed to what appears to be the first failure of a state school bond measure in a quarter of a century, education and public policy experts said Wednesday.
See Also:
● School bonds usually are a cinch in California — what happened this time? CalMatters
● Post-Prop. 13: Why a likely winner may end up California election’s big loser EdSource
● California school construction bond is losing EdSource
● EDITORIAL: Proposition 13 had a terrible name. That’s not a reason to stiff kids and schools Los Angeles Times
CalMatters
We recognize education as a great equalizer. It provides opportunity for all children of any economic class to have a chance at success. That is one of the main reasons voters created a California State Lottery in 1984 — to provide an ongoing means of additional money to benefit schools. Ballot language stated the Lottery would send “at least 34%” of every dollar to public schools.
Commentary: Gavin Gives Sacramento What It Wants
Fox & Hounds
In his state of the state speech, Gov. Newsom gave Sacramento exactly what it wants: focus. And still, the capital elites criticize him. Newsom, after being widely criticized for a lack of focus, focused his speech on homelessness. Of course, homelessness connects to other problems, like housing and jobs and healthcare, so he got into those topics a little.
Federal:
Trump signs $8.3B bill to combat coronavirus outbreak in US
Fresno Bee
President Donald Trump on Friday signed an $8.3 billion measure to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than a dozen people in the U.S. and infected more than 200.
See Also:
● VP Mike Pence: Washington setting ‘great example’ for how to respond to coronavirus Fresno Bee
● Trump CDC visit called off after virus infection concern Fresno Bee
● President Trump signs $8.3B bill to fight coronavirus in US abc30
● Senate sends $8.3B coronavirus aid bill to Trump Roll Call
● Trump signs $8.3B coronavirus aid package Roll Call
● Senate approves $8.3 billion emergency coronavirus package Politico
EDITORIAL: The GOP’s Senate investigation into Hunter Biden is a charade — and they know it
Los Angeles Times
Now that former Vice President Joe Biden is the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, is anyone surprised to learn that Senate Republicans are ramping up an official investigation into Biden and his son Hunter?
Commentary: Trump’s character problem
Brookings
The night before Super Tuesday, Joe Biden spoke fervently about the need to restore decency and dignity to the White House. To some, these words might have sounded like standard politician-speak. But a just-released Pew Research Center survey suggests that they could play an important role in the fall, perhaps even determining the outcome of the general election.
Elections 2020:
A diverse 2020 field is down to two white men. They both face challenges with Warren’s base.
Fresno Bee
A Democratic presidential race that began with the largest and most diverse field of candidates in history has abruptly narrowed to a choice between two old white men, who now find themselves courting the most successful woman to run this cycle — and her supporters.
See Also:
● Warren's Exit and a California Primary Recap KQED
● She Was Focused And Full Of Plans But Unable To Break Through Capital Public Radio
● Another campaign, another disappointment for women as Elizabeth Warren bows out Los Angeles Times
● Elizabeth Warren drops out of presidential race Los Angeles Times
● Elizabeth Warren couldn’t get there. Is it because she’s a woman? San Francisco Chronicle
● Harris highlights 'challenges' for women after Warren drops out The Hill
● Everything we learned, and refused to learn, from Elizabeth Warren’s run Washington Post
Can Biden cut into Sanders’ California lead? At least 3.3 million ballots remain uncounted
Fresno Bee
California may not have been the resounding victory Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders had hoped for heading into Super Tuesday.
See Also:
● Top 1 percent to pay 74 percent of cost in Biden’s $4 trillion tax plan Roll Call
● The day everything went Joe Biden’s way Washington Post
● OPINION: Voting for Biden isn't a conservative thing to do Washington Examiner
● OPINION: Budowsky: Biden should pull together a 'dream team of rivals' The Hill
● Commentary: The great Biden consolidation AEI
● Commentary: Biden Plan Would Raise Taxes on Top 1% by $299,000, Study Says Bloomberg
Who could Sanders pick as running mate? Here are options — and most are women of color
Fresno Bee
With the Democratic primary field narrowing to two front-runners, many are wondering who Sen. Bernie Sanders could pick as his running mate if he beats former Vice President Joe Biden to take the nomination.
See Also:
● Sanders carries California, but is U.S. really ready for a socialist? San Francisco Chronicle
● Bernie Sanders' Call For Young Voters Isn't Working Out The Way He Planned NPR
● Bernie’s Revolution Came — and Went National Review
● Commentary: Bernie Sanders: Why Wall Street isn’t worried | IN 60 SECONDS AEI
Republicans want to diversify their party. One option? Pick sides in primaries
Fresno Bee
Many Republicans warn that if these candidates don’t have party establishment backing, through money and endorsements, they won’t have the resources they need to win their primaries, where white men still have the advantage.
Who Black, Latino And Asian American Voters Supported On Super Tuesday
VPR
Former Vice President Joe Biden went on a romp across the South on Tuesday, winning over several states with large majorities of African Americans. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won the largest state on the Super Tuesday map, California, where Latinos make up about a third of the Democratic electorate.
Yes, Tulsi Gabbard is still running for president
Los Angeles Times
Tulsi Gabbard is still running for president. The congresswoman from Hawaii hasn’t garnered much support in primary elections and she’s falling short of winning enough delegates to secure the Democratic nomination. She has two so far.
Sanders and Biden spar over Social Security as primary becomes two-man race
Washington Post
As the Democratic primary entered its final phase this week, leaving Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders vying for the nomination, the two sparred Thursday night over Social Security, trading barbs on Twitter and setting up the contours of the remaining months of the campaign.
Facebook removes fake census ads created by Trump’s campaign
Roll Call
Facebook will remove President Donald Trump's reelection ads that claim to be part of the census from the social media platform, a representative said Thursday amid criticism the company has failed to do enough to prevent misinformation about the upcoming count.
See Also:
● Facebook removes Trump campaign ads over census confusion Politico
EDITORIAL: A vote for better-run elections
San Francisco Chronicle
Here’s a project for the next president: Fix the goofy system that will elevate him or her to the nation’s highest office. Like most of our elections, Super Tuesday offered too many examples of dysfunction in the basic machinery of our democracy.
OPINION: The race seems clear now. But the Death Star is bearing down.
Washington Post
Is Joe Biden ready for President Trump’s billion-dollar disinformation war? Now that Biden has become the new Democratic front-runner — boy, that flipped quickly, didn’t it? — here’s what we need to see sooner rather than later: clear indications that the Biden campaign is prepared for the Death Star from Trumpworld that’s about to hit him.
AEI
Just weeks after political pundits left Joe Biden’s campaign for dead, he stormed back on Super Tuesday and reclaimed his status as the Democratic primary’s frontrunner. What caused this resurgence? And what does it mean for the Democratic Party?
Commentary: Kamala Harris for VP?
Fox & Hounds
As I watched results from Super Tuesday’s elections come in, I remembered that California’s junior Senator Kamala Harris had not endorsed in the presidential race after dropping out like some of her competitors did. Good move for her, I thought, because it puts her in a place that she could be called on as the vice-presidential candidate by either of the Democratic frontrunners, Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders.
Other:
Sacramento Mayor Steinberg recruiting ownership group in effort to buy Sacramento Bee
Sacramento Bee
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg is working to form a local ownership group that could purchase The Sacramento Bee, separating the 163-year-old publication from its parent company and more than two-dozen sister newspapers across the U.S.
Activating Democracy: Are Public Meetings Broken?
KQED
Many of the biggest decisions shaping our communities, from new housing developments to how school districts spend money, are made during public meetings. Laws like California's Brown Act set guidelines to ensure that the public has a say in and has access to those meetings.
How States Are Expanding Broadband Access
PEW
Broadband is increasingly intertwined with the daily functions of modern life. It is transforming agriculture, supporting economic development initiatives, and is a critical piece of efforts to improve health care and modernize transportation.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
These Fresno area restaurants won ‘Best of the Valley’ awards. See who took home top honors
Fresno Bee
All kinds of local restaurants were honored this week when the California Restaurant Association held its 29th annual Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards. More than 30 restaurants won awards, and one longtime restaurateur won a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Farms don’t need dangerous chemicals to grow food. Let’s cut our dependence on them
Sacramento Bee
Forty years ago, farm neighbors told my surprised family that our wildlife friendly farming practices were organic - which doubled the value of our rice crop. Our farming methods evolved after my father-in-law’s return from World War II.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
DA Decries New Sentencing Laws for Serious Drug Offenders
Sierra News
Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno took to social media this week to shine a spotlight on new, more lenient California sentencing laws, especially as they apply to major drug offenses. The new laws, the DA warned, are allowing serious offenders with multiple convictions to spend much less time behind bars.
Tulareans concerned about gang violence after mass shooting
Visalia Times Delta
Police are investigating the crime and have not said whether the shooting is gang-related. However, residents in the neighborhood on Tulare's west side say that gunshots and gang activity are the norm and have only escalated in recent years.
Opinion: Gov. Newsom’s probation plan can reduce crime, make California communities safer
Fresno Bee
Popular perceptions of American criminal justice would have us believe that most people convicted of crimes go to jail. In fact, the vast majority actually receive a sentence of probation. In California, more than seven out of every 10 convictions results in a term of probation.
Public Safety:
Stephanie Huddleston pinned as Hanford Police lieutenant
Hanford Sentinel
At the Hanford City Council meeting Tuesday night, the Hanford Police Department presented its newest lieutenant, Stephanie Huddleston.
Oakhurst Senior Named CHP ‘Volunteer of Year’
Sierra News
On Thursday (March 5), the offices — and officers — of CHP Central Division came together to celebrate its annual Employee Appreciation Day.
Gov. Newsom’s probation plan can reduce crime, make California communities safer
Sacramento Bee
Popular perceptions of American criminal justice would have us believe that most people convicted of crimes go to jail. In fact, the vast majority actually receive a sentence of probation – monitored supervision in the community with requirements to complete programs such as substance abuse treatment, job training, victim restitution, stay away orders or others. In California, more than seven out of every 10 convictions results in a term of probation.
Fire:
With honor: Dozens recognized for actions during Porterville Library fire
Porterville Recorder
It was a night for heroic recognition at the Porterville City Council meeting on Tuesday, where the Council honored dozens of people for their efforts during and after the Porterville City Library fire.
PG&E’s bankruptcy exit plan gets a price tag: $57.65 billion
San Francisco Chronicle
Concluding PG&E Corp.’s bankruptcy was always going to be an extremely expensive undertaking, but the company has recently provided a clearer sense of just how costly the process will likely become.
See Also:
● Bankrupt PG&E wants to pay bonuses to California executives and staff. Here’s how muchSacramento Bee
To help Californians endure fire-related power cutoffs, state ponders new rules for utilities
CalMatters
Authorities may ask utility companies to provide real-time outage updates, help create community centers where vulnerable people can seek refuge and practice better notification procedures.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Stocks fall, bond yields take another breathtaking drop
Fresno Bee
Stocks are falling sharply lower on Wall Street, and bond yields are sinking to more record lows as investors fear that economic damage from the spreading coronavirus outbreak will be longer than previously thought.
See Also:
● Virus ripples through travel, energy, financial markets Hanford Sentinel
● Wall Street tumbles, global stocks slide as coronavirus drives week’s frenzy Washington Post
● Coronavirus Will Cost Businesses Billions. Insurance May Not Help. New York Times
● Commentary: How Congress Could Fire Up a Coronavirus Economy Bloomberg
Prepping for coronavirus: California survivalist and camping companies swamped with orders
Fresno Bee
Stocking up on foods with long shelf lives isn’t just for campers — or survivalists — anymore. The outbreak of coronavirus and COVID-19 has spiked demand for a wide range of food items.
See Also:
● $80 for hand sanitizer? California warns businesses against coronavirus price gouging Sacramento Bee
New California Bills Empower Regional Economic Sustainability
CA Fwd
In a state as large and diverse as California, a one-size-fits-all economic strategy is a tough sell. The state's distinct regions better understand the strategies that best fit their local needs, assets and opportunities.
Jobs:
US added robust 273K jobs in February before virus escalated
Fresno Bee
Hiring in the United States jumped in February as employers added 273,000 jobs, evidence that the economy was in strong shape before the coronavirus began to sweep through the nation.
See Also:
● U.S. Added 273,000 Jobs Last Month, But Economists Brace For Coronavirus Impact Capital Public Radio
● U.S. added a healthy 273,000 jobs in February before coronavirus cases escalated Los Angeles Times
● The U.S. labor market showed strength in February, adding 273,000 jobs, despite concerns of the coronavirus outbreak Washington Post
● US economy added 273,000 jobs in February CNN
Bakersfield's new boss, Christian Clegg, introduces himself in first week on the job
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield has a new boss, and he says he wants to be here for a while. On his fourth day on the job, Christian Clegg, 41, made his debut to local media during a short news conference Thursday. The former Stockton deputy city manager said he hoped to begin his tenure in Bakersfield by listening to the community, but added he would expedite one of the biggest decisions on his plate, the hiring of a police chief.
Quarantined workers would be protected from retaliation under proposed California law
Sacramento Bee
A proposed California law would protect workers from retaliation if they are required to stay home during public health emergencies such as the coronavirus. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, announced the proposal Thursday, a day after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over coronavirus.
See Also:
● Trader Joe's is giving employees additional paid sick time to ensure they stay home when ill during coronavirus outbreak, and it's a brilliant business strategy Business Insider
● Commentary: Just 29% of Americans Can Work Remotely, Leaving 100 Million in Virus LimboBloomberg
Graduate Student Workers Strike for Higher Pay Across UC System
KQED
UC students and faculty are expected to strike on Thursday in solidarity with graduate student workers who are asking for higher wages. The workers argue they’re not being compensated in line with the cost of living at UC campuses, while the UC system says there isn't room in the budget.
Commentary: Workforce of tomorrow: How early child care shapes adult employment
AEI
Babies begin learning from the moment they are born, absorbing and processing the world around them. However, their ability to process and understand large quantities of information diminishes over time. Research shows that if a child enters kindergarten behind, they are unlikely to catch up to their peers.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Prop. 13 school bond measure appears headed for defeat. How did that happen?
Los Angeles Times
A combination of confusing messages and an unfortunate name contributed to what appears to be the first failure of a state school bond measure in a quarter of a century, education and public policy experts said Wednesday.
See Also:
● School bonds usually are a cinch in California — what happened this time? CalMatters
● Post-Prop. 13: Why a likely winner may end up California election’s big loser EdSource
● California school construction bond is losing EdSource
● EDITORIAL: Proposition 13 had a terrible name. That’s not a reason to stiff kids and schools Los Angeles Times
Video: Fiscal Challenges of Declining Enrollment in California Schools
PPIC
Enrollment declines in California’s public K–12 school system are expected to intensify in the coming decade. Districts with falling enrollment face financial pressures, as state funding falls along with the number of students they serve.
Local child care and preschool measures in California in limbo until more votes counted
EdSource
Children’s advocates in Alameda County and the city of Sacramento are waiting on hundreds of thousands of votes from Tuesday’s election still left uncounted, which could determine the fate of measures to provide more child care to low-income children.
Civic Learning Awards Honor 75 California Schools
California Courts Newsroom
Seventy-five schools will receive the 2020 Civic Learning Award, co-sponsored by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. In its eighth year, the awards program recognizes K-12 public schools, celebrating their strong civics curriculum in school and service-learning projects in their communities.
WALTERS: Finally, a school data system emerging
CalMatters
California has a very fragmented approach to education — a collection of institutional silos that only occasionally communicate with each other and often are more competitive than cooperative.
Commentary: Back to basics for conservative education reform
AEI
Public policy debates about primary and secondary education are oddly disoriented in our time. At almost any point in the 1990s or 2000s, it would not have been hard to say what these debates were about and what reformers were eager to achieve.
Higher Ed:
Fresno State suspends fraternity amid sexual assault allegations by student
Fresno Bee
Fresno State suspended Kappa Sigma after a student in a social media video said she was sexually assaulted at a party hosted by the fraternity.
See Also:
● Fresno St. fraternity suspended over assault allegations abc30
Fresno City College may cut student bus program. Here’s why Fresno City Council stepped in
Fresno Bee
The Fresno City Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday to put pressure on officials at Fresno City College’s parent district to fund a bus pass program used by thousands of students.
Fresno State cancels multiple study abroad programs as Coronavirus concerns grow
abc30
"We've canceled all the trips to China, South Korea and now to Italy." That is the latest action taken by Fresno State as the university works to protect its students studying in various countries.
See Also:
● 6 Ways Universities Are Responding To Coronavirus Capital Public Radio
Opinion: UC’s harsh response to a student strike shows it’s a business more than a university
Los Angeles Times
At the heart of the dispute is the soaring cost of living for graduate students throughout the 10-campus system.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
10 steps to take to start becoming plastic-free
Los Angeles Times
Given how many plastic products we buy every day, it’s hard to think about cutting plastic out of your life. A few years ago, the Guardian reported that people around the world buy 1 million plastic bottles per minute — or 20,000 bottles every second.
Environmental disaster or key to a clean energy future? A new twist on hydropower
Los Angeles Times
Steve Lowe gazed into a gaping pit in the heart of the California desert, careful not to let the blistering wind send him toppling over the edge. The pit was a bustling iron mine once, churning out ore that was shipped by rail to a nearby Kaiser Steel plant.
Energy:
Opinion: How natural gas endangers working families and the environment
San Francisco Chronicle
California needs to prioritize protecting working families from the dangers and risks that gas-fired power plants represent, if our state is to honor its commitment to build a healthy and sustainable economy that works for all.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Annual Kids Day event canceled over rapidly spreading coronavirus concerns
Fresno Bee
Kids Day, a 33-year tradition started to help sick children in Central California, was called off Thursday morning due to concerns over the rapidly spreading coronavirus.
See Also:
● Kids Day 2020 canceled due to concerns over coronavirus, organizers say abc30
Nurses, other health care workers say U.S. hospitals aren’t protecting them from COVID-19
Fresno Bee
Three California health care workers have been confirmed to have the new coronavirus. They treated a Solano County patient before she had been diagnosed with the respiratory illness.
See Also:
● How Are Hospitals Protecting Workers From Coronavirus? Not Well Enough, Some Nurses Say Capital Public Radio
Passengers off California await virus test results
Porterville Recorder
Passengers on a cruise ship off the California coast were instructed to stay in their cabins as they awaited test results Friday that could show whether the coronavirus is circulating among the more than 3,500 people aboard.
See Also:
● Man tests negative for coronavirus; hospital to limit visitors Porterville Recorder
● Coronavirus Deaths In Washington State And California, Where Gov. Declares Emergency VPR
● Modesto woman, still confined to cruise ship by coronavirus scare, shares couple’s story Modesto Bee
● Though no reported coronavirus cases in Stanislaus County, health officials at the ready Modesto Bee
● Coronavirus updates: Person who died may have been exposed; people on cruise ship testedSacramento Bee
● California directs some health insurers to waive co-pays, deductibles for coronavirus testsSacramento Bee
● ‘I’m trying to stay clean’: Local residents prep for potential of coronavirus in Kern County Bakersfield Californian
● Concerns of under testing for coronavirus pushes CDC to change requirements KGET
● Californians Can Get Coronavirus Testing For Free, Gov. Gavin Newsom Announces Capital Public Radio
● Chaos at hospitals due to shortage of virus tests Los Angeles Times
● Coronavirus cases in California top 60; officials warn of greater spread Los Angeles Times
● California demands insurers cover cost of coronavirus testing and screenings Los Angeles Times
● Stanford Live cancels events due to coronavirus concerns; other producers take precautions San Francisco Chronicle
● California orders insurers to waive out-of-pocket coronavirus test costs San Francisco Chronicle
● Coronavirus live updates: Global case total hits 100,000; many Bay Area workers told to stay homeSan Francisco Chronicle
● COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Alert AALRR
● Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) California Department of Public Health
● Live updates: Coronavirus fears reverberate as cases pass 100,000; U.S. officials widen states of emergency Washington Post
● Stop sharing myths about preventing the coronavirus. Here are 4 real ways to protect yourselfPolitiFact
● OPINION: Covid-19 May Have You Working At Home Wall Street Journal
The flu has killed far more people than coronavirus. So why all the frenzy about COVID-19?
Los Angeles Times
You’ve seen it on social media, heard it at a dinner party, and maybe you’ve even said it yourself. “The flu has killed tens of thousands more people,” the line goes. “So why is everyone freaking out about the coronavirus?” It’s a reasonable question.
Human Services:
San Joaquin nurses, county workers hit the picket lines
Stockton Record
More than 1,000 members of Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and the California Nurses Association went on strike Thursday over stalled contract negotiations with San Joaquin County.
Sutter Health reports 2019 income of $114 million despite legal settlement, building costs
Sacramento Bee
Sutter Health posted operating losses of $548 million in 2019, after investing hundreds of millions of dollars in new facilities and a $575 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit over anti-competitive practices filed by the California Department of Justice.
California shows how to build on the ACA
San Francisco Chronicle
Covered California announced more than 418,000 people newly signed up for coverage during the most recent open enrollment period — the highest level of new sign-ups since 2016.
WALTERS: Newsom’s high-stakes Medi-Cal overhaul
CalMatters
The old adage about tiny acorns growing into mighty oak trees is not confined to dendrology. It applies as well to governmental programs and there’s no better example than Medi-Cal, California’s program of health care for the poor.
Commentary: Donor compensation: Ethical, necessary, humane
AEI
Ever since the miracle of organ transplantation became feasible, about half a century ago, there have never been enough kidneys, livers, hearts, and other organs. Kidneys, the organ most in need and most easily donated by the living, can be given by living friends and relatives and even the occasional “good Samaritan donor.”
IMMIGRATION
Appeals court sides with asylum-seekers on Trump policy
Porterville Recorder
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Thursday that a partial ban on asylum doesn’t apply to anyone who appeared at an official border crossing before the policy was announced last summer.
See Also:
● 9th Circuit says third-country transit ban will not apply to certain ‘metered’ asylum seekers, for nowLos Angeles Times
● Court allows immigrants who had reached border to apply for asylum San Francisco Chronicle
Trump Administration to Collect DNA From Immigrants Taken Into Custody
Wall Street Journal
The Trump administration plans to begin taking DNA samples from migrants crossing the border or held in detention for use in a federal criminal database, a significant expansion of immigration laws that is certain to raise privacy concerns.
‘Flood the Streets’: ICE Targets Sanctuary Cities With Increased Surveillance
New York Times
ICE is boosting its operations in sanctuary cities to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants, conducting round-the-clock surveillance in addition to deploying elite tactical agents.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Clovis to Expand Sphere of Influence North of Shepherd
Clovis RoundUp
The Clovis City Council approved a request from Leo Wilson Homes to begin the process of expanding the city’s sphere of influence to 75 acres northeast of Shepherd and Sunnyside Avenues. The sphere of influence refers to a planning boundary outside of an agency’s legal boundaries, such as a city limit, that designates the agency’s probable future boundary and service.
North Valley park to receive $2.4 million upgrade
abc30
Merced County has been awarded a multimillion-dollar grant to make major improvements to one local park. The transformation of Houlihan Park is already getting underway. Crews spent hours taking down trees to make room for a new ADA compliant restroom facility.
Housing:
California Municipalities Want Clarity On Plan To Address Homeless Crisis
VPR
Homelessness is a vexing national problem, but nearly half of the country's unsheltered homeless live in one state: California. Gov. Gavin Newsom has vowed to make to make solutions his top priority, calling homelessness in the Golden State "a disgrace." He's proposed significantly boosting funds for shelters, housing and support services and building 3.5 million new affordable homes by 2025, among other measures.
Bills would let churches build affordable housing on their land, regardless of zoning
San Francisco Chronicle
Can church parking lots provide a solution to California’s housing shortage? A pair of bills would make it easier to build affordable housing projects on property owned by religious institutions.
Brookings
Even amid a coronavirus outbreak that is prompting fear of a worldwide economic downturn, it’s worth reflecting that the United States has achieved a record-long economic expansion over the past decade-plus. The nation’s GDP has grown in every quarter since the middle of 2009, and the labor market has added jobs in every month since September 2010.
See Also:
● Commentary: Metro Monitor 2020 Brookings
TRANSPORTATION
Coronavirus could inflict biggest blow to travel industry since Great Recession
Los Angeles Times
For the last decade, the U.S. travel industry has been enjoying an unusually long stretch of growing demand, pushed by a strong economy and relatively cheap jet fuel.
See Also:
● Questions you should ask before canceling a trip because of coronavirus fears Los Angeles Times
Opinion: Jim Costa’s high-speed rail bill will never pass. Behind the rhetoric is pure politics
Fresno Bee
Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, recently proposed legislation to direct $32 billion in federal money to assist in the completion of the California high-speed-rail project.
Fresno Bee
Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, recently proposed legislation to direct $32 billion in federal money to assist in the completion of the California high-speed-rail project. This legislation is a bald attempt to give the congressman some good PR in an election year, to fund a failing public work project that, if ever completed, would chiefly benefit Bay Area elites rather than Costa’s own constituents.
WATER
The portion of California considered to be in moderate drought continues to expand
Los Angeles Times
Drought conditions in California continued to expand, according to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor data released Thursday.
Opinion: Many would be left behind in Governor Newsom’s voluntary water agreements
Modesto Bee
Everyone working on California water wants meaningful solutions. Unfortunately, too many are left behind in these deals and we have seen no evidence of “solutions that can benefit everyone.
“Xtra”
Fresno State welcomes Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan
Fresno State
Ms. Brennan will draw on her extensive experience as a journalist and moderator to provide an overview of the most important stories that drive the 24-hour news cycle. During her talk, she will also draw parallels between domestic and foreign stories to bridge the gap between the local and the global. The event with Ms. Brennan is scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 17 at the Save Mart Center and will be followed by a question-and-answer session from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
How Can We Make Farm Work Healthier?
Zócalo Public Square
On Tuesday, April 14th, Organic farmer and artist Nikiko Masumoto, Huron Mayor Rey León, health researcher Chia Thao, and Tania Pacheco-Werner, co-assistant director of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute, visit Zócalo to consider how to make farm work healthier.
abc30
Get ready for an action-packed motorsports experience in Fresno. Monster Jam is once again returning to the Save Mart Center this Friday, Saturday and Sunday with their Triple Threat Series.
Young Artists Spotlight 2020: Bakersfield String Quartet
VPR
This week on Young Artists Spotlight we feature four talented musicians from Bakersfield performing in a string quartet. All of the students in this ensemble attend Stockdale High School in Bakersfield and are members of the Bakersfield Youth Symphony.
Stanislaus County opens ‘books for keeps’ library in lobby of Hackett Road facility
Modesto Bee
The goal of the library is to put a book in the hands of every child who visits county facilities. Parents and caregivers can read the books to their children while waiting for an appointment, and then they may take the books home.