POLICY & POLITICS
DEADLINE IS NEXT WEEK - 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:
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.
See also:
● Therapy dogs help Sacramento State students cope as finals cap a stressful semester Sacramento Bee
Central SJ Valley:
Judge denies Democrats’ attempt to get voter information in Valadao/Cox race
Fresno Bee
A Fresno County judge ruled against the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Wednesday in its attempt to get the names and addresses of provisional voters who had their ballots rejected in California’s 21st Congressional District.
See also:
● Judge denies suit against Fresno Co. clerk which would have forced release of rejected ballot names abc30
Local courts welcome four Latino judges
Vida en el Valle
Profiles of the new judges.
Washington Post reporter in Fresno: ‘Epic fight’ in 2020, and media crucial to democracy
Fresno Bee
The future of President Donald Trump’s White House, Congress, Republican and Democratic parties, and the media was discussed Tuesday night at Fresno State.
See also:
Political polarization increases after local newspapers close Journalist Resource
South SJ Valley:
Cox declares victory after adding to lead over Valadao in last contested Congressional race
Fresno Bee
Fresno Democrat TJ Cox increased his lead Wednesday over incumbent David Valadao in their race for California’s 21st Congressional District seat, and while the lead is a slim one at 529 votes it suggests Cox will win the contest when all votes are counted.
See also:
● TJ Cox widens lead over Rep. David Valadao in Dist. 21 race abc30
● Cox now leads Valadao in race for Congress Hanford Sentinel
● TJ Cox declares victory over Valadao Bakersfield Californian
● Democrat Cox Claims Victory Over California GOP Rep. Valadao Capital Public Radio
● TJ Cox beats Republican Rep. David Valadao to give Democrats gain of 40 House seats, seven in California Los Angeles Times
● Why AP had to retract its projection that GOP Rep. David Valadao had beaten Democrat TJ Cox Los Angeles Times
● Dem rout of CA GOP nearly complete: T.J. Cox claims victory over Valadao San Francisco Chronicle
● The Daily 202: Late gains in California vindicate DCCC’s intervention in House primaries Washington Post
● Judge denies Democrats’ attempt to get voter information in Valadao/Cox race Fresno Bee
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.
Los Angeles Times
When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment.
Tulare council approve legal actions against former city attorney
Visalia Times-Delta
Tulare officials are looking to pick a legal fight with the city's former city attorney. Tulare City Council approved hiring a Visalia-based law firm to go after a former city attorney for failing to collect roughly $300,000 in taxes from the previous owners of a hotel.
State:
Mercury News
When Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom takes over from Gov. Jerry Brown, he’ll bring a new set of priorities to California’s top job — as well as a very different personality and leadership style.
See also:
● My turn: What Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom can be CALmatters
● Newsom, California lawmakers head to Mexico to forge ties with new president Politico
Skelton: Democrats won big in California. Now they've got no excuse to blow it
Los Angeles Times
Even in this bluest of states, the one-party control of California just won by Democrats is phenomenal. The 2018 elections fulfilled a best-scenario dream for the party and became a worst nightmare for Republicans.
Whiter, poorer, Trumpier: the new Republican California
CALMatters
After the shellacking that California Republicans took in this year’s midterm elections, many figures within the more pragmatic wing of the party establishment had hoped that the party would turn away from the divisive politics of President Donald Trump and seek to become a more diverse coalition.
See also:
● Why bother? Many Republicans skipped voting when their option was Dem or Dem CALmatters
California is still counting ballots weeks after Election Day. Here's why.
CNN
The slow counting process has been underscored by a series of House races in California carrying on for days past November 6. Now, the only remaining uncalled US House race is in California's 21st Congressional District.
California Democratic leader seeks alcohol treatment amid sexual misconduct investigation
Fresno Bee
California Democratic Party Chair Eric Bauman announced on Nov. 28, 2018, that he would seek treatment for health problems and alcohol abuse. He is under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct.
See also:
● Top California Democrat Says He'll Seek Alcohol Treatment Capital Public Radio
● California Democratic chairman accused of sexual comments and unwanted touching Los Angeles Times
Eight More Notable Californians Selected For State's Hall Of Fame
Capital Public Radio
Gov. Jerry Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown have chosen eight Californians to induct into the California Hall of Fame, including actor Robert Redford and musician Joan Baez.
2020 Census: Counting the Sacramento Area
PPIC
PPIC’s interactive census maps are an important tool for Californians working to ensure an accurate census count. Using estimates from the Census Bureau and the Federal Communications Commission, they highlight hard-to-count communities across the state and pinpoint reasons why certain areas may be hard to reach.
Walters: Legislators spared from living in their districts
CALMatters
Equity and logic would seem to dictate that state legislators should live in the districts they represent and thereby share their constituents’ daily experiences.
Federal:
California’s new House members choose sides in Pelosi test
Fresno Bee
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi faces her first test in a bid to return as Speaker of the House, and most of California’s new Democratic House members are backing her.
See also:
● Pelosi wins nomination for House speaker in closed-door caucus meeting abc30
● Pelosi’s path back to speaker’s gavel is firmly in sight Sacramento Bee
● Democrats Pick Nancy Pelosi As House Speaker, Despite Earlier Internal Opposition Capital Public Radio
● Nancy Pelosi clears first hurdle to regaining House speakership Los Angeles Times
● Nancy Pelosi has work to do to wrap up House speaker’s job San Francisco Chronicle
● Democrats to Choose New Generation of House Leadership The Wall Street Journal
● Five People to Watch in the Democrats’ New Majority The Wall Street Journal
● The Daily 202 Live with House Speaker Paul Ryan Washington Post
● Pelosi Turns to Arm Twisting After Resounding Vote Leaves Her Just Short of Speakership New York Times
● Problem Solvers to Back Pelosi for Speaker After Reaching Agreement on Rules Changes Roll Call
Trump’s Census Citizenship Question Was Put On Trial And Now It Looks Even Shadier
Huffington Post
Even if the question ultimately winds up on the census, a federal lawsuit showed just how determined the administration was to get it on the survey.
Fact-checking President Trump’s interview with The Washington Post
Washington Post
Here's a guide to nine false or misleading statements made by the president in his interview with The Washington Post.
See also:
Trump slams Fed chair, questions climate change and threatens to cancel Putin meeting in wide-ranging interview with The Post Washington Post
President Trump’s full Washington Post interview transcript, annotated Washington Post.
Wasthington Post
According to new advice issued by Trump administration health officials, states would be free to redefine the use of ACA subsidies, which have provided the first help the government has ever offered consumers to afford monthly insurance premiums.
Wall Street Journal
The president could pay a price for kicking the defeated members of his own party.
House Democrats Release 2019 Legislative Schedule
Roll Call
The schedule includes 130 days in session over 33 weeks and was tailored to accommodate the influx of young families joining the House next year.
See also:
Opinion: Stopping the Socialist Resurgence Wall Street Journal
Inside the 2020 presidential race: What to expect from Trump and the Democrats
Modesto Bee
No one in their right — or left — mind would try to predict the 2020 presidential election 101 weeks out.
See also:
● 52% of Americans would feel "very comfortable" with a female president AXIOS
Other:
Be It Disparaging or Offensive, Speech is Speech and It’s Protected
Public CEO
A recent decision from the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals offers a key reminder for public agencies: Even within a nonpublic forum, an individual’s and/or community’s Constitutionally protected freedom of speech cannot be infringed solely based upon the disparaging or offensive nature of the speech.
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:
● CDC advises consumers to check harvesting labels on romaine lettuce Fresno Bee
● Some Romaine Is OK To Eat, But Beware California, CDC Says VPR
USDA threatens action on Cargill slaughter operation
The Business Journal
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is calling for criminal charges to be filed against the operators and some employees of a Fresno beef slaughterhouse for inhumane treatment of livestock.
Congress Close to Overcoming Split on Farm Bill
The Wall Street Journal
House and Senate reach tentative compromise on measure that could cost nearly $900 billion
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Bakersfield homicides at 28 so far this year, tracking below last year's high
Bakersfield Californian
In a category where less is better, it does not appear Bakersfield will top last year's 42 homicides, which marked the highest number of killings in the city in recent history.
A Facebook Messenger wiretap? Feds tried to force it in Fresno MS-13 investigation, ACLU says
Modesto Bee
The ACLU wants to know how the Justice Department reportedly tried and failed to force Facebook to wiretap MS-13 suspects messenger voice calls by rewiring its encryption before federal courts blocked it, then sealed the case.
EDITORIAL: Don’t let police arrest people for exercising their right to free speech
Los Angeles Times
The Supreme Court this week wrestled with a legal brain teaser that has real-world implications: If the police arrest a citizen as an act of retaliation because he exercised his right to free speech, can he sue them even if the arrest was justified on other grounds?
Public Safety:
Safe to travel to Mexico? Valley residents looking for answers that are hard to provide
Fresno Bee
Threats by President Donald Trump to close the border have sparked concerns among central San joaquin Valley families about traveling to Mexico for the holidays as they fear they could end up stranded on their way back, local community leaders say.
Fresno sheriff volunteers’ equipment stolen on way to Camp Fire. You can help replace
Fresno Bee
Fresno County Sheriff’s Office volunteers were on their way to Paradise when equipment was stolen that they planned to use to find remains of people killed in the Camp Fire.
New California tax on semi-automatic guns proposed by lawmaker
Fresno Bee
A California lawmaker is calling for a tax on semi-automatic firearm sales as a means of reducing gun violence and financially supporting community violence prevention programs.
See also:
● CA lawmaker calls for tax on gun sales to curb violence Sacramento Bee
● Trauma Surgeon Joseph Sakran Talks About Gun Violence : Shots NPR
Bitwise teams up with Fresno Police to host first Cybersecurity Summit
abc30
It's a digital threat that is all too real in the modern world and here in the Central Valley. Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer says cyber crimes are prevalent in Fresno. Each month the Departments Financial Crimes Unit gets more than 300 cases involving cybersecurity.
Fire:
No new dead found in Camp Fire; Paradise residents may be allowed to return in coming days
Sacramento Bee
For the third day in a row, Butte County searchers reported Wednesday they found no new human remains in areas burned by the Camp Fire, prompting the county’s sheriff to say he is hoping the death toll has reached its peak.
See also:
● Some residents can likely return to fire-ravaged Paradise next week Los Angeles Times
FEMA trailers have a bad name. But the Camp Fire could bring 2,000 to Paradise
Sacramento Bee
FEMA trailers got such a bad name after Hurricane Katrina that a top federal official swore the agency would never use them again to house disaster survivors. But the humble trailers never completely disappeared — and could play a meaningful role in Paradise’s long and painful recovery from the devastation of the Camp Fire.
PG&E: Weather Didn't Warrant Power Shut Off As Camp Fire Raged
Capital Public Radio
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said in a new filing with the state that it determined weather conditions were no longer dangerous enough to warrant a massive power shut off on Nov. 8 — a decision that came as the Camp Fire tore through Butte County.
See also:
● Rooftop solar must be part of California’s wildfire mitigation plans San Francisco Chronicle
Los Angeles Times
More than 30 homes in the gated Ventura County community were lost, but Hsieh’s survived. Bell Canyon was protected by both county firefighters and a private crew covered by her homeowner’s insurance policy.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
It may be time to put an end to Black Friday
Madera Tribune
The website “Business Insurance Quotes” offered a column in its Monday newsletter entitled “10 Reasons Black Friday is awful and needs to go away.” Here are six of the the reasons why Business Insurance believes there should be a Black Friday blackout.
Dow jumps 617 points: Stocks surge on hopes the Fed will slow its interest rate hikes
Los Angeles Times
U.S. stocks rocketed to their biggest gain in eight months Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome H. Powell hinted that the Fed might not raise interest rates much further. The Dow Jones industrial average surged 617 points.
See also:
● Stock market soars on speech by Fed chief, who says no 'preset policy path' for future rate hikes Los Angeles Times
● Trump administration to announce final bump stock ban CNNPolitics
● Dow surges 600 points, erasing November losses and returning to positive territory for 2018 Washington Post
Big businesses are adding women to their boards at a good pace; start-ups, not so much
Los Angeles Times
Here’s a surprising counterfactual to the oft-voiced concerns that American corporate boards are too heavily stocked with males: In recent years, major companies have actually been recruiting many more women than men as directors.
Fed Minutes to Reveal How Officials View Economy and Potential Risks
Wall Street Journal
Here’s what to watch when minutes from the Fed’s Nov. 7-8 meeting are revealed
See also:
EDITORIAL: The Fed’s Welcome Rethink Wall Street Journal
In Nafta Rewrite, Canada Took Cue From Mexico: Make a Big Concession
Wall Street Journal
As Trump’s deadline for the negotiation neared, Canadian negotiators struggled to make the U.S. give ground
California Could Be Left Behind
Little Hoover Commission
Today, the Little Hoover Commission issued Artificial Intelligence: A Roadmap for California. A competitive race is underway to develop and use AI technologies, which could increase the global economy by $13 trillion dollars.
Restoring middle-class incomes: redistribution won’t do
Brookings
It is hardly a secret that income inequality has risen in recent decades. But by how much? Who is most affected? Does it matter?
Jobs:
Not just jobs riding on fate of GM plant after Trump promise
Bakersfield Californian
General Motors is moving to shut down as many as five North American factories in a major restructuring, but there are more than jobs riding on the fate of at least one of them: Ohio's Lordstown assembly plant.
See also:
● Why Trump's threat to pull GM subsidies is empty fumes abc30
Marijuana delivery draws gig workers with steady pay, more zen customers
San Francisco Chronicle
The gig economy, hailed for freeing workers to set their own hours but assailed for stripping them of benefits and legal protections, doesn’t play much of a role in the state’s burgeoning cannabis sector.
Paid Family Leave Will Support Working Families
National Review
The common refrain since the midterms has been that a divided Congress won’t or can’t get anything done. I disagree. The election results provide a unique opportunity to put the focus squarely on working families, and one policy with a real chance is paid family leave.
When the next recession hits, will unemployment benefits be generous enough?
Brookings
Many U.S. states made major cuts to unemployment insurance benefits during the Great Recession, which have yet to be reversed. Gary Burtless explains why this is a potentially disastrous mistake for a system that was already one of the least generous in the advanced world.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Final tally flips MUSD race win
Madera Tribune
One race switched winners while others widened leads according to a final official count of Madera County’s midterm votes. Lucy Salazar will be the Madera Unified School District trustee for Area 5, with 945 of 1,820 votes (51.92 percent). Preliminary results had rival Steve T. Duncan ahead by 14 votes.
Newsom likely to concentrate on education
Madera Tribune
Looking for a big difference between incoming California Gov. Gavin Newsom and current incumbent Jerry Brown, who will be termed out with the advent of the New Year after 24 years in statewide offices? Look no farther than preschool.
Plans come into focus for California schools ravaged by wildfires
EdSource
With less than a week to go before their target date to resume classes, officials in the fire-ravaged Paradise Unified School District announced Tuesday they’ve secured three elementary schools that will house K-5 students through the end of the school year, while middle and high school students will be taught via a distance learning program until they return to school after the holiday break.
See also:
Paradise kids will head back to school, though attendance expected to drop drastically Sacramento Bee
● Sacramento Region Schools Offer Help To Butte County Students And Teachers Impacted By Camp Fire Capital Public Radio
School violence inspires Centennial High students' idea for virtual business
Bakersfield Californian
A company that a group of Centennial High students have formed allows students and others to purchase bulletproof backpacks, pepper spray, stun guns and other items to protect themselves in case of a shooting or similar incident on campus. There’s just one catch: The company isn’t real.
This Fresno family wants to give away 1 million books. Where should they send them?
Fresno Bee
Bushel & Peck Books, a family-owned business that’s believed to be the first children’s book publisher in Fresno, CA, wants to give away 1 million books in the next 10 years. The plan is modeled after TOMS.
Youngest Children In A Class Are Most Likely To Get ADHD Diagnosis
Capital Public Radio
Harvard University researchers probed the way ADHD is assessed by taking advantage of a quirk found in many U.S. school systems that means some kids are a year younger their classmates.
California school districts to get ‘wake-up call’ with new absenteeism measures
EdSource
At least 40 percent of California school districts and charter schools have rates of chronic absence in grades K-8 that are high or very high based on new performance measures that will be unveiled next month as part of the state’s updated school accountability system, known as the California School Dashboard.
Higher Ed:
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.
See also:
● Therapy dogs help Sacramento State students cope as finals cap a stressful semester Sacramento Bee
Spring 2019 registration at Bakersfield College begins
Bakersfield Californian
The registration period for the Spring 2019 semester at Bakersfield College has now begun.
An untapped opportunity to draw young people of color into teaching
Brookings
Black and Hispanic Americans have better prospects of advancing into leadership roles in education, such as principals or assistant principals, than they do in other industries. Michael Hansen and Diana Quintero highlight this as an opportunity to recruit more young people of color to the field of teaching.
Opinion: The dangerous silence in higher education
AEI
It’s well known that the question of who can speak and on what topics has become a flashpoint for controversy on our nation’s college and university campuses.
Apprenticeships:
Testimony: Career Education Is Key to Meeting California’s Workforce Needs
PPIC
Sarah Bohn, research director and senior fellow at PPIC, testified today, November 27, 2018, before the Assembly Select Committee on Career Technical Education and Building a 21st Century Workforce. Here are her prepared remarks.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
As Trump dismisses climate change report, California plans to use it against him
Fresno Bee
The climate change report the Trump administration released on Thanksgiving weekend could provide legal ammunition for states such as California, which are suing and threatening suits over regulatory rollbacks that could increase greenhouse gas emissions.
See also:
● Fact Check: Trump's Claims About 'Record Clean' U.S. Air Capital Public Radio
● Trump on climate change: ‘People like myself, we have very high levels of intelligence but we’re not necessarily such believers.’ Washington Post
● California’s attorney general clashes with Trump’s acting EPA chief over climate change Los Angeles Times
● California talks a good game on land-use and climate change, but it's still a land of SUVs and sprawl Los Angeles Times
● Climate Change Is Affordable Wall Street Journal
Central Valley Salmon Population Remains Strong After Record Numbers Last Year
Capital Public Radio
Last year almost 20,000 salmon made it upriver to the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery, the highest recorded since 1940. More than 14,000 have already been counted this year.
Oil and Water: Finding New Uses for Fracking Waste Water
Brookings
Even in dry states, it’s unclear whether the reused water would be safe.
Energy:
Crude Oil Recovers After Dipping Below $50
Wall Street Journal
Price fall follows data that showed U.S. crude-oil inventories rose for a 10th straight week
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Diabetes Risk: New Research on Obesity
abc30
Obesity and diabetes can sometimes go hand and hand. The higher amount of fat a person has, the higher the chance they can develop diabetes. But new research shows the measurement that doctors are using to calculate their risk may not be so accurate.
California Court Tosses Lawsuit Challenging Assisted Suicide
Capital Public Radio
A California appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling that found the state's assisted suicide law was unconstitutional.
E-Cigarette Health Risks: What We Know, What We Don't
KQED
Along with proposing a ban on menthol in cigarettes and flavors in cigars, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb today called for tightening rules governing the sale of most flavored versions of electronic cigarettes.
Human Services:
Turlock Gospel Mission opens doors wider as city clears park of homeless belongings
Modesto Bee
The Turlock Gospel Mission in Turlock, CA, is taking in more homeless people temporarily following enforcement of rules on keeping personal belonging in city parks, starting Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018.
Number of uninsured children climbs, reversing more than a decade of progress, report finds
Los Angeles Times
The number of children in the United States without health insurance increased last year for the first time in more than a decade, according to a new report that highlights potentially worrisome backsliding in pediatric care.
U.S. Life Expectancy Falls Further
Wall Street Journal
‘We are losing too many Americans, too early and too often, to conditions that are preventable,’ CDC head says.
See also:
● U.S. life expectancy declines again, a dismal trend not seen since World War I Washington Post
EDITORIAL: California will pay for Congress’ health care failures
San Francisco Chronicle
California has been a big beneficiary of the Affordable Care Act. The state Legislature didn’t hesitate to expand Medi-Cal for low-income Californians, and millions more were able to get coverage through Covered California, our well-run, state-based insurance exchange.
IMMIGRATION
The Number of Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S. Has Dropped, a Study Says. Here Are 5 Takeaways.
New York Times
Shortly after then-candidate Donald Trump announced his presidential campaign, he suggested that the number of undocumented immigrants living in the United States could exceed 30 million. But a new study puts the number far lower and shows a significant decline over more than a decade.
How residents of this US-Mexico border town reacted to US troops, migrants' influx
abc30
As a caravan of thousands of migrants arrived near the U.S.-Mexico border, the residents of Brownsville, Texas, have found themselves on the frontlines in the debate over border security.
See also:
● FACT CHECK: What's Happening on the U.S.-Mexico Border? KQED News
● Border Agents Fired Tear Gas Into Mexico. Was It Legal? New York Times
● EDITORIAL: What does it say about us when we slam shut our doors? Modesto Bee
In San Ysidro, Border Patrol provides tour of port of entry at heart of migrant caravan drama
Los Angeles Times
Homeland Security officials doubled down on their use of tear gas on migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border and painted the group as large and violent.
Los Angeles Times
The federal government owns a detention center for children in Tornillo, Texas, an El Paso-area border village of some 1,600 people. Coincidentally, the Tornillo Influx Care Facilityalso houses about 1,600 minors, though there are plans to increase the capacity to 3,800 beds.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Opinion | There Are Better Ways to Get Around Town
The New York Times
The debate continues over how to make New York City’s streets less crowded, safer and better for people as well as cars. Some, like Gov. Andrew Cuomo, call for congestion pricing in Manhattan, although so far the New York State Legislature has not allowed that. Mayor Bill de Blasio and groups such as Transportation Alternatives promote Vision Zero, aiming for zero traffic deaths in New York City by 2024.
Housing:
‘You don’t bulldoze people.’ California highway homeless camps grow dangerous
Modesto Bee
In tears, LaTonya West begged to dive into a trash compactor and search for the purse she believed a Caltrans employee had just tossed into the machine.
Turlock Gospel Mission opens doors wider as city clears park of homeless belongings
Modesto Bee
The Turlock Gospel Mission is adding shelter space for at least five days in response to the clearing of homeless people’s belongings.
Rent Control Is Making a Comeback. But Is That a Good Idea?
PEW Trusts
Many states outlawed rent limits decades ago but booming cities want to overturn that.
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.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Treasury Offers Halfway Solution to Companies Vexed by Foreign Tax Rules
Wall Street Journal
Proposed regulations will help U.S. companies operating in high-tax foreign countries.
Treasury Seeks to Protect Millionaires’ Wealth Transfers
Wall Street Journal
Proposal would smooth path for gifts now even if tax limits tighten as scheduled in 2026.
Charities Brace for Tax-Driven Dip in Year-End Giving
Wall Street Journal
Donations are increasingly concentrated among high-income givers, a new report suggests
Trump Tax Cut to Be Eroded Next Year by Inflation Switch
Wall Street Journal
IRS announces details of change in calculations required by tax law, meaning brackets and deductions now grow more slowly
Tax Cut Working Better Than Advertised
Wall Street Journal
The latest GDP estimate shows higher business investment.
Exclusive: The Pentagon’s Massive Accounting Fraud Exposed
The Nation
2 out of every 3 federal tax dollars collected go to the Pentagon—and its financial records are riddled with so many bookkeeping irregularities and errors that a reliable audit was literally impossible.
EDITORIAL: CalSavers will help keep retirees out of poverty. So why is a taxpayer group fighting it?
Los Angeles Times
By the rest of the world’s standards, Americans aren’t very good at saving money, and especially not at saving for their dotage. This week there were two important developments on that front.
TRANSPORTATION
He still believes in what high-speed rail can do for Fresno, but is starting to lose faith
Fresno Bee
November left me both optimistic and pessimistic about the future of high-speed rail in California. Which one? Guess that depends on which day.
Caltrans shuts down portion of Highway 140 due to potential for mudslides
abc30
Caltrans shuts down portion of Highway 140 due to potential for mudslides Caltrans is closing several miles of Highway 140 as winter storms bring the potential of mudslides along the Ferguson Fire burn scar.
See also:
● Highway 140 to Yosemite closed as experts predict rainfall to continue to weekend Sierra Star
● Roads closed, boulder falls, flood warning issued as latest storm advances Modesto Bee
Caltrans clears homeless camps every day. Here’s what they look like inside
Fresno Bee
California’s homeless crisis is playing out on the state’s highways, where Caltrans is clearing dozens of camps every day. Here's the scene inside a camp near a Berkeley freeway in November 2018.
Can California Hit Its Emission Reduction Goals? Only If Californians Drive A Lot Less, Study Says.
Capital Public Radio
Californians need to drive a lot less — that's the consensus from a new California Air Resources Board study.
How the Inaccessibility Index Can Improve Transport Planning and Investment
International Transport Forum
The paper provides an overview of the rationale for using the needs-based approach for transportation planning assessment relative to the equity in transport frameworks.
Opinion | There Are Better Ways to Get Around Town
The New York Times
The debate continues over how to make New York City’s streets less crowded, safer and better for people as well as cars. Some, like Gov. Andrew Cuomo, call for congestion pricing in Manhattan, although so far the New York State Legislature has not allowed that. Mayor Bill de Blasio and groups such as Transportation Alternatives promote Vision Zero, aiming for zero traffic deaths in New York City by 2024.
WATER
Steady downpour causes hubcap high flooding in parts of Fresno
abc30
The steady downpour caused sporadic hubcap high flooding for parts of Fresno while complicating the drive for a number of motorists Wednesday.
“Xtra”
New Fresno Baskin-Robbins is the first of its kind in the U.S. Here’s what’s different
Fresno Bee
Baskin-Robbins unveiled Wednesday the first of its new style of store – which happens to be in Fresno – that it plans to roll out nationwide.
Thousands line Visalia's Main Street for 73rd annual Candy Cane Lane Parade
abc30
Every year, hundreds of people claim their spot on Visalia's Main Street, hours before the scheduled start time of the longest-running nighttime parade in the Central Valley-Candy Cane Lane.
‘The Lion King’ brings unique experience to Fresno stage
Madera Tribune
After its run in Las Vegas finished this week, the cast and crew of “The Lion King” moved to Fresno to begin a run Wednesday at the Fresno Convention Center’s Saroyan Theater.
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” performance.
Local Toys for Tots campaign calls on community for help
Bakersfield Californian
In three years as an unpaid volunteer, Darlene Doughty has never seen the local organization's toy chest look so bare.
Take a seat in CSUB's 'Dining Room'
Bakersfield Californian
Conversations about the dining room table can be awkward in real life but they've got nothing on the kind that take the stage this week at Cal State Bakersfield. Actors will take on many roles as they sit down for meals in the varied scenes of "The Dining Room" at the Dore Theatre starting Thursday.
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.
Madera Tribune
A recent grant from Pet Smart Charities has made free spay or neutering possible for any pit bull or pit bull mix dog for Madera county or Madera city residents, according to Carrie Tuttle, a long time Friends of Madera Animal Shelter (FMAS) volunteer and board member of the group.