POLICY & POLITICS
DEADLINE DEC. 7TH - Qualify For A Scholarship Of Up To $6,000
The Maddy Institute
The Maddy Scholar Intern Program’s goal is to prepare the next generation of political, governmental, business, non-profit leaders for the San Joaquin Valley through internship opportunities in local, state and federal government offices in Washington, D.C., Sacramento and throughout the region.
North SJ Valley:
Stockton Record
About six weeks ago, Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs received a telephone call from governor-elect Gavin Newsom’s chief of staff, inviting him to be part of a team that will help shape the future of California.
Central SJ Valley:
Democrats sue Fresno County to see whose votes got rejected
abc30
The national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is suing Fresno County to find out which ballots the elections office rejected.
Madera County election results are in. And your winners are...
Sierra Star
The results for the Madera County general election were finalized Nov. 21, with no major lead changes in the noteworthy eastern Madera County races.
South SJ Valley:
Bomb threat forces evacuation at Tulare City Hall before all-clear given
Fresno Bee
The Tulare Police Department spent several hours investigating a bomb threat at City Hall on Tuesday but no bomb was found. All city employees were evacuated to a safe area, police said.
See Also:
● Tulare City Hall evacuated as police investigate bomb threat abc30
● Tulare City Hall reopened after bomb threat Visalia Times Delta
Cox now leading Valadao after Kern County update
Fresno Bee
Fresno Democrat TJ Cox has overtaken incumbent David Valadao in their race for California’s 21st Congressional District seat.
See Also:
● Democrat Edges Ahead In California US House Contest Capital Public Radio
Hurtado's victory tells a broader story
Bakersfield Californian
Hurtado didn't just squeeze out some narrow victory. She defeated Vidak by almost 11 percentage points, 55.4 percent to 44.6 percent, doubling her lead, in terms of percentage, in the two weeks since Election Day.
State:
Gov. Jerry Brown asks California Supreme Court to keep pardon records sealed
Los Angeles Times
Gov. Jerry Brown has asked the California Supreme Court to keep records sealed that involve his pardon of former state Sen. Roderick Wright, arguing confidentiality is consistent with historic practice and is supported by state law.
California’s right-to-die law upheld by state appeals court
San Francisco Chronicle
A state appeals court rejected a challenge Tuesday to California’s right-to-die law for terminally ill patients, overturning a judge’s ruling in May that had briefly blocked enforcement of the law.
‘The Candidate,’ a Napa Valley chef, ‘El Toro’ among Jerry Brown’s final California honorees
Fresno Bee
Gov. Jerry Brown will induct eight Californians into the state’s Hall of Fame. Among those included in his final class are his former chief of staff, Nancy McFadden, and former San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee
Say hello to Eleni Kounalakis, Lt. Gov-Elect
Capitol Weekly
Eleni Kounalakis bristles at the suggestion that she won the election for California lieutenant governor because of her wealthy father’s support.
Blue wave crashes down on California senator who threatened lobbyist
Fresno Bee
The California state senator who drunkenly threatened to “bitch slap” a female lobbyist at a Sacramento bar this summer will soon be out of office.
It’s been decades since California Democrats had this much power at the Capitol
Fresno Bee
California Democrats are on track to make historic gains in the state Legislature. They are on pace to control three-fourths of the Assembly — 60 out of 80 seats — a feat has not been accomplished in 135 years, in 1883.
Walters: Democrats control California, but are fragmenting
CALmatters
No matter how the harassment allegation against him plays out, it tells us that while Democrats may control California, who controls the Democrats is very uncertain with the state poised to become a major presidential nomination battleground, thanks to its March 2020 primary.
Whiter, poorer, Trumpier: the new Republican California
CALmatters
And so come January, when only half of the Republican delegation will return to Washington D.C., the average income of the new, diminished GOP-represented electorate will be nearly $5,000 lower. It will also be majority non-Latino white. Only 16 percent of the population will have a college degree.
Federal:
Costa, other Democrats might oppose Pelosi unless demands are met
Fresno Bee
Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, has joined eight of his fellow Problem Solvers Caucus members in issuing a set of demands to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi: Do your part to ease the partisanship rampant in Congress, or risk losing our votes in your bid for speaker of the House.
See Also:
● Pelosi courts rebellious Democrats ahead of preliminary House speaker vote Los Angeles Times
● 4 key questions about Nancy Pelosi’s bid to be the next speaker of the House Brookings
● Tightest House leadership race isn’t Nancy Pelosi’s. It’s Barbara Lee’s San Francisco Chronicle
McConnell Vows Congressional Response To 'Abhorrent' Khashoggi Slaying
Capital Public Radio
McConnell told reporters that the CIA "basically certified" Saudi involvement at high levels in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi — breaking with President Trump, who said it was unclear.
Ilhan Omar Accuses Trump of Emboldening Racists
National Review
Trump says a lot of obnoxious, incendiary things. But it’s fair to ask where Omar or anyone else would draw the line separating a “culture of intolerance that emboldens racist individuals to acts of violence” from acceptable and heated political rhetoric.
The Washington Post
During the interview, Trump’s sharpest criticism was reserved for his Fed chairman. Though Trump said several times in response to a question about emerging cracks in the economy that he wasn’t “blaming anybody,” he clearly assigned blame to Powell for leading the Fed through several interest rate increases this year.
OPINION: Inside the 2020 presidential race: What to expect from Trump and the Democrats
Modesto Bee
Rising interest rates, the impact of Trump’s trade tariffs, especially across the agricultural Heartland that fueled his 2016 electoral upset and a stumbling stock market, among other factors, could by 2020 instill bad economic news and fears, which Americans do vote against. Remember “It’s the economy, stupid” in 1992?
Other:
REPORT: Implications of artificial intelligence
CALmatters
Among its recommendations: the governor—presumably incoming Gov. Gavin Newsom—should appoint a cabinet-level adviser on AI.
EDITORIAL: Mars landing a giant leap for California
Modesto Bee
Monday’s Mars landing wasn’t just another scientific achievement for the American people. It was another technological win for the state of California.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Lettuce rejoice romaine is available once again, just pay attention to where it was grown
Fresno Bee
A week ago after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers to stay away from romaine lettuce after an outbreak of E. coli, the leafy vegetable is on its way back to grocery stories.
See Also:
● Some Romaine Is OK To Eat, But Beware California, CDC Says VPR
● Romaine lettuce update: It's good news except for California San Diego Union-Tribune
VIDEO: Health Minute: Peanut allergy treatment
The Sentinel
New Hope Could be on the Horizon for Peanut Allergy Sufferers
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
EDITORIAL: A fix in the law could curb car break-ins
San Francisco Chronicle
Broken glass along street curbs from auto break-ins that have exploded in number in recent years. Changing the law could help prosecutors nail car burglars behind the festering crime.
Public Safety:
Kings County Sheriff receives recognition
Hanford Sentinel
A Kings County sergeant has become the first law enforcement officer in the state of California, and in the nation, to become a certified Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) operator.
EDITORIAL: Countless Americans carry guns. Police are killing too many of them
Los Angeles Times
The legal standards for professional negligence in policing, and the training that goes with them, should be toughened up.
Fire:
Cal Fire lifts Mountain Area suspensions on outdoor residential burning
Sierra Star
The burn permit suspension in Madera, Mariposa and Merced counties is lifted, according to a news release. After the suspension is lifted, those with valid agricultural or residential burn permits may now burn on the permissible days. Residential burn permits are available at Cal Fire stations.
See Also:
● Open burning and hazard reduction restrictions continue in Kern County Bakersfield Californian
Fight over wildfire prevention threatens to upend federal farm aid
Fresno Bee
An increasingly fierce debate about how to prevent deadly wildfires in California is threatening to endanger crucial crop insurance for farmers in Kansas and Missouri.
Judge in San Bruno criminal case demands answers from PG&E on cause of Camp Fire
Fresno Bee
A federal judge in San Francisco, California, asked PG&E whether the Camp Fire violated probation terms from the deadly San Bruno natural gas explosion. The judge demands answers from the utility on potential role in major wildfires.
See Also:
● Judge Questions PG&E About Camp Wildfire Capital Public Radio
● PG&E offers state little explanation about why it didn't shut off power before Paradise wildfire Los Angeles Times
● Federal judge overseeing PG&E’s probation demands answers on Camp Fire San Francisco Chronicle
It’s time to rethink how we insure woodland homes
Modesto Bee
The human toll of this month’s California wildfires is staggering. The financial losses pale in significance, but they are also heavy – and it might take years to determine how they will be borne.
See Also:
● Costs from Paradise fire will likely be in the billions, Zinke says Los Angeles Times
'Like Being In A War Zone': California Fire Search And Rescue Could Take Months
VPR
More than two weeks after the nation's worst fire in a century erupted in Northern California, crews are still trying to find hundreds of people. The Camp Fire has claimed at least 85 lives and, as of Sunday, is 100 percent contained.
See Also:
● Navigating The Aftermath Of The Camp Fire In Butte County Capital Public Radio
California must fix fatal flaws in wildfire warning and evacuation plans, experts tell lawmakers
Los Angeles Times
The deadly Camp fire that destroyed the Northern California town of Paradise this month overwhelmed emergency alert and evacuation plans, leaving many residents in harm’s way without sufficient warning, state officials acknowledged Tuesday at a legislative hearing.
Some Californians are hiring private fire crews to save their homes. Regular firefighters aren't happy about it
Los Angeles Times
Private firefighting fleets dispatched by insurance companies are growing in popularity as wildfires continue to burn into densely populated regions with devastating effects.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
EDITORIAL: Who’s paying too much at the Apple App Store?
Los Angeles Times
Though Apple exerts an unwelcome amount of control over the apps market, the risk for consumers and businesses alike is that the court will muddy the liability waters in a way that deters innovation online.
Jobs:
Valley helps ship out Best Buy orders
abc30
The sounds of forklifts and conveyor belts are like a holiday tune inside Best Buy's regional distribution center in Dinuba.
Trump Administration Threatens To Withhold Subsidies From GM
Capital Public Radio
Angered by General Motors' decision to idle plants and lay off thousands of workers, the Trump administration threatened to retaliate by withholding federal subsidies for the company's cars.
See Also:
● Trump threatens to kill GM's electric-vehicle subsidies. But even presidents can't stop market forces Los Angeles Times
● If Trump wants to keep auto plants open, he should accelerate, not brake, the transition to electric vehicles Los Angeles Times
Work, skills, and community: Restoring opportunity for the working class
AEI
In a new bipartisan report, AEI scholars offer budget-neutral recommendations to restore opportunities for working-class communities amid changing demographics and rising polarization.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Wildfire smoke shut Sacramento-area schools. How will it affect budgets, calendars?
Sacramento Bee
School closures in the Sacramento region due to unhealthy air quality from the Camp Fire likely will not add days to this year’s school calendar, or take money out of budgets.
Higher Ed:
Cal Poly student’s parents lost their son to hazing. Now, saving others is their life’s work
Fresno Bee
The parents of Cal Poly SLO student Carson Starkey, who died of alcohol poisoning in a fraternity hazing in 2008, talk about the death of their son, medical amnesty laws and nonprofit group Awake Aware Alive.
Thousands of classes canceled as MJC, Columbia instructors walk off the job
Modesto Bee
Professors refused to teach classes Tuesday at Modesto Junior College and Columbia College, launching a two-day strike to protest what they called unfair labor practices by their employer.
Education chief: Student loan debt becoming a ‘crisis’
Stockton Record
The federal government’s top education official on Tuesday warned an audience of a “crisis” of rising college student loan debt and defaults on student loans.
Career Education Is Key to Meeting California’s Workforce Needs
PPIC
Ensuring we have the workforce to meet these demands—and ensuring future workers can access higher-paying jobs—requires a higher education system that is responsive to student and economic needs.
See Also:
Education research: The perils of narrow training AEI
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
Early morning earthquake jolts central San Joaquin Valley. Did you feel it?
Fresno Bee
A 4.1 magnitude earthquake shook near Avenal early Tuesday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The earthquake was recorded at 5:07 a.m.. and centered about six miles northwest of Avenal in the Coast Range.
See Also:
● USGS: Preliminary 4.1 magnitude earthquake strikes near Avenal abc30
Trump doesn't 'believe' report climate change hurts economy
abc30
President Donald Trump said he doesn't "believe" climate change could possibly have devastating effects on the economy, a major finding of a new federal report.
See Also:
● New U.S. Climate Assessment Forecasts Dire Effects On Economy, Health Capital Public Radio
● Trump's reckless climate denialism can't stop the new Congress from addressing global warming Los Angeles Times
Supreme Court limits habitats protected under the Endangered Species Act
Los Angeles Times
The Supreme Court on Tuesday limited the reach of the Endangered Species Act, setting aside a lower court ruling that afforded protection to an area where threatened animals do not live but might one day with significant changes.
California regions ‘moving in the wrong direction’ to meet climate goals, agency finds
Sacramento Bee
The state recently announced it met its goal to reduce emissions to 1990 levels four years early. But communities will need to significantly reduce transportation emissions to reach the state’s next goal of lowering emissions another 40 percent by 2030, according to the report.
Brookings
“The only way we can hope to overcome the momentous environmental challenge the world faces is to use every tool we can.” Kaushik Basu discusses how a new project from the Asian Development Bank promises to close gaps in data collection around major climate change indicators such as air pollution, especially in developing countries like India and China.
Energy:
Council begins to explore Community Choice Aggregation
Hanford Sentinel
The Hanford City Council met and held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to establish a Hanford Community Choice Aggregation implementation plan and statement of intent. The concept of Community Choice Aggregation grants California Cities the right to combine the electricity load of its residents and businesses into a community-wide electricity aggregation program.
The Risks Of Energy Efficient Loans
Capital Public Radio
Homeowners across the state have complained to prosecutors and groups like the San Diego Legal Aid Society about some Property Assessment Clean Energy lenders. Thousands of PACE borrowers have said they didn’t understand the terms and are now saddled with loans they can’t afford to pay back.
See Also:
● Another senior scam: energy efficiency loans CALmatters
EDITORIAL: It’s time to consider a federal carbon tax — and to confront NIMBYism
San Diego Union-Tribune
At a time when the president of the United States doesn’t believe his own administration’s dire warnings about how catastrophic climate change is for the economy and the planet, many leaders in California — the world’s fifth-largest economy — don’t turn a blind eye to science.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
This medical device has most reported problems in FDA database
Stockton Record
Insulin pumps are responsible for the highest overall number of malfunction, injury and death reports in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s medical device database.
Human Services:
Kaweah Delta's partnership with Sierra View could drive down drug prices
Visalia Times Delta
The main hospitals in Visalia and Porterville may join forces in an effort to reduce drug prices, navigate the public health system and bring doctors to a region that struggles to recruit. At the same time, the hospitals will remain independent public agencies.
Kaiser, Adventist Health Selma get 'A' safety rating
The Business Journal
Kaiser Permanente in Fresno and Adventist Health Medical Center Selma have received an “A” score from the Leapfrog Group’s fall 2018 Safety Grade.
Valley physician's group receives award for excellence
The Business Journal
Central Valley Medical Providers-MedPro (CVMP-MedPro), an association of independent physicians located in Fresno, has earned “Elite” status on the 2018 Standards of Excellence (SOE) Survey by America’s Physicians Groups (APG) for provision of care to patients in Fresno and Madera counties.
Family Healthcare Network welcomes new provider to Hanford
Hanford Sentinel
Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) is pleased to announce the addition of Michele Chai, PA-C to its provider team. Michele Chai, PA-C is now offering Family Medicine services in the community of Hanford.
IMMIGRATION
Caravan migrants explore options after Tijuana border clash
abc30
Many among the more than 5,000 Central American migrants in Tijuana were urgently exploring their options.
See Also:
● Trump backs use of ‘very safe’ tear gas on crowd of migrants Sacramento Bee
● Migrants plot next move as tensions in Tijuana heighten Los Angeles Times
● EDITORIAL: If you want to see what failed U.S. immigration policy looks like, visit Tijuana Los Angeles Times
● Money, resources running out for Tijuana migrant shelter San Diego Union-Tribune
Mexico accepts housing migrants, seeks US development aid
Sacramento Bee
Mexico accepts housing migrants, seeks U.S. contributions for development to keep people from migrating.
US waived FBI checks on staff at growing teen migrant camp
Sacramento Bee
A temporary, emergency detention camp that opened in the Texas desert in June for an overflow of migrant children shows no signs of closing.
See Also:
● The number of immigrants in the U.S. illegally is the lowest in more than a decade, a new study finds Los Angeles Times
U.S. Seeing Lowest Level Of Unauthorized Immigrants In A Decade, Pew Study Says
Capital Public Radio
A large decline in illegal immigration from Mexico means fewer unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S., and those already here are likely to be long-term residents, according to a new study.
See Also:
● Report: Number of immigrants in US without legal status at 12-year-low Stockton Record
● The number of immigrants in the U.S. illegally is the lowest in more than a decade, a new study finds Los Angeles Times
Trump administration gives ultimatum to SF judge on asylum order
San Francisco Chronicle
As turbulence continued at the Mexican border, the Trump administration on Tuesday challenged a San Francisco federal judge’s ruling thwarting the president’s effort to disqualify thousands of immigrants from seeking asylum in the United States.
Hillary Clinton Is Right — and Wrong — about Immigration and Populism
National Review
Clinton’s remarks were too transparently political and self-serving. (They also appeared with Clinton’s impeccably poor timing, right as the United States was dealing with a serious refugee challenge at the southern border.)
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Escape rooms, virtual arcade coming to Tulare
Visalia Times Delta
David McAllister had to clear one final hurdle before he could safely say his business was coming to downtown Tulare. The obstacle was the Tulare Planning Commission.
Housing:
Homes in black neighborhoods are undervalued by $48,000 on average
Brookings
In the average U.S. metropolitan area, homes within majority-black neighborhoods are valued at roughly half the price as homes in neighborhoods with no black residents. In a new interactive report, Andre Perry, Jonathan Rothwell, and David Harshbarger examine what’s driving the devaluation of homes in black communities and the negative impacts on the upward mobility of black children.
PUBLIC FINANCES
City's sales tax measure close to passing with about 3,000 votes remaining to be counted
Bakersfield Californian
The city of Bakersfield’s sales tax ballot initiative is in a race to the finish line as the last votes are counted by the Kern County Elections Office. With 2,919 votes left to be tallied, Measure N has pulled within 14 votes of passing.
TRANSPORTATION
High-speed rail gets a financial boost from California’s heaviest polluters
Fresno Bee
The California Air Resources Board will get more than $813 million from a Nov. 14 auction of pollution allowances for its cap-and-trade program. And some of that funding goes to the state’s High-Speed Rail Authority.
Tips to have merrier holiday travel
abc30
But no matter where you are headed for the holidays, "Twist Travel Magazine" editor Keryn Means says the first thing you'll need is a positive, up-beat outlook.
Can California Hit Its Emission Reduction Goals? Only If Californians Drive A Lot Less, Study Says.
Capital Public Radio
California has emerged as a leader in curbing climate change and has hit its 2020 climate target early. But a new report from the California Air Resources Board shows the state is not on track to meet its climate goals in the long-run.
Regions across California likely off the hook for 2020 caps on greenhouse-gas emissions from driving
San Diego Union-Tribune
Top air quality officials in California currently have no way to fully assess whether regions from San Diego to Sacramento are on track to meet 2020 targets for reining in greenhouse gases associated with daily driving.
WATER
Flash flood and winter storm warning issued for Mountain Area
Fresno Bee
The National Weather Service in Hanford issued a flash flood warning for foothill portions of Madera, Mariposa and Fresno counties and a winter storm warning for the Sierra from Yosemite south.
See Also:
● City of Fresno prepares for storm system approaching Central Valley abc30
● Rain returning to Bakersfield starting Wednesday Bakersfield Californian
● More rain and fog in store for Sacramento, and another snowstorm coming to the mountains Sacramento Bee
● Pacific Storm To Bring Rain, Mountain Snow To California Capital Public Radio
● Biggest storm this week will hit Wednesday night, forecasters say San Francisco Chronicle
“Xtra”
Fresno State at #25 in latest College Football Playoff rankings
abc30
The Bulldogs are back in the College Football Playoff rankings. Fresno State checks in at #25 ahead of Saturday's Mountain West Championship game at Boise State.
Local organizations kicking off charity season with Giving Tuesday
Bakersfield Californian
Buying gifts for family is the usual focus of the Christmas shopping season but some nonprofit organizations hope the giving spirit will extend to them, as well.
See Also:
● State Center community colleges participating in Giving Tuesday abc30
● Philanthropy program gives Wonderful workers a voice in donations Bakersfield Californian
● How To Make A Good Charitable Choice On Giving Tuesday — And Beyond Capital Public Radio
How A Fresno State Physicist Got More Instagram Followers Than Neil DeGrasse Tyson
VPR
When you think of Instagram celebrities, the Kardashians and performers like Beyonce probably come to mind. But with the Instagram handle @PhysicsFun, one of Fresno’s own scientists recently reached a million followers.
Seen “The Nutcracker”? Modesto’s ballet company has a few surprises for you this year
Modesto Bee
Expect something a little different when Mother Ginger makes her traditional appearance during this year’s “Nutcracker” performances in Modesto.