POLICY & POLITICS
Valley:
How to vote in California? CALmatters answers your questions
CALmatters
Oct. 22 is the deadline to register to vote in California.
Devin Nunes-backed Farm Bill could strain Tulare County food banks
Visalia Times-Delta
The U.S. House of Representative's proposed version of the Farm Bill could put "additional strain" on Tulare County food banks if passed into law, according to FoodLink, the county's largest food pantry.
See also:
The spotlight may be on the O.C, but Democrats are building for the long haul in the Central Valley Los Angeles Times
McCarthy applauds appointments of Kern County farmers to USDA advisory committee
Bakersfield Californian
Two Kern County farmers have been appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.
Endorsement of Moreno for district attorney
Madera Tribune
The top reason to elect Sally O. Moreno as district attorney is that she is endorsed, not only by the current Sheriff Jay Varney, but also by three of his predecessors. Sally is also endorsed by three current DAs of neighboring Counties, including Lisa Smittcamp of Fresno
Ex-supervisor throws support to Will Oliver
Madera Tribune
This November, a number of elected offices will be on the ballot. One vitally important to our community is the office of Madera City Council District 3. We need a representative who is independent, hardworking and honest.
115,000 mail ballots to be issued in Tulare County this election. Have you received yours?
Visalia Times-Delta
As Election Day looms, many Tulare County voters are asking: Where's my ballot? For most of the year, the Tulare County Elections Office appears relatively sleepy, tucked away inside the nondescript Government Plaza building along Mooney Boulevard in Visalia. But with less than a month away from the Nov. 6 midterm election, it's bustling.
Sheriffs' association endorses Salas for re-election
Hanford Sentinel
The California State Sheriffs’ Association recently announced its endorsement of Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) for re-election to the 32nd Assembly District.
Fladager, Mayne square off on murder case backlogs, gangs and more in DA forum
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager and her challenger, Deputy District Attorney John R. Mayne, faced off Tuesday evening in a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Stanislaus County.
EDITORIAL: Jim Patterson likes the good fight. The Bee believes he deserves another Assembly term
Fresno Bee
Jim Patterson relishes a good political fight. He better — he’s part of a group of lawmakers that has been in decline for years.
State:
Senate Candidates Dianne Feinstein And Kevin De Leon Share The Stage In San Francisco
Capital Public Radio
California's candidates for U.S. Senate spoke on Wednesday, Oct. 17 in a conversation organized by the Public Policy Institute of California in San Francisco.
See Also:
● ‘Always backpedaling.’ De León tells Feinstein that Democrats need a ‘new way of thinking’ Sacramento Bee
● De León has run against Feinstein from the left, but much of his support comes from Republicans, new poll finds Los Angeles Times
● In their only face-to-face forum, Feinstein and De León clash on ... very little, actually Los Angeles Times
● Feinstein vs. De Leon was like watching a high school civics teacher debate an earnest infomercial salesmanLos Angeles Times
● De León goes easy on Feinstein in lone Senate debate San Francisco Chronicle
● Dianne Feinstein's seniority and experience are too valuable to give up. California should reelect her Los Angeles Times
● Feinstein and de León debate in lopsided forum CALmatters
● EDITORIAL: Feinstein holds court in U.S. Senate debate San Francisco Chronicle
Why do California voters prefer Gavin Newsom? It has to do with Donald Trump, new poll finds
Sacramento Bee
Opposition to President Donald Trump is giving Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom a boost in the race for governor, while Trump’s support is a liability for Republican businessman John Cox’s campaign, according to a new poll released Wednesday.
Fair Political Practices Commission Chair Alice Germond On Enforcing Election In Campaign Season
Capital Public Radio
FPPC Chair Alice Germond discusses how the agency enforces election rules during the 2018 campaign season leading up to the November 2018 election. This week the FPPC launched AdWATCH to invite the public to help monitor political ads for compliance.
Poizner’s independent run has a Red Tint
CALmatters
Insurance commissioner candidate Steve Poizner, a former Republican candidate, is shunning partisanship in his bid to become the first no party preference candidate to win statewide office in California.
The 2020 Census and Political Representation in California
PPIC
California’s political representation will be affected by the 2020 Census—but an accurate count is far from guaranteed. Inadequate funding and fear in the state’s large immigrant population are heightening concern about an undercount.
EDITORIAL: Rep. Duncan Hunter is running a despicable campaign
San Diego Union-Tribune
It’s beyond contemptible that Hunter, a Republican, is clinging to bigotry to retain his congressional seat while facing a strong challenge from Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar. Hunter has lost his way.
Federal:
Trump’s fanciful, falsehood-filled AP interview, annotated
Washington Post
It turns out Trump was also interviewing with the Associated Press. And arguably more than in his “60 Minutes” interview this weekend, the falsehoods and fanciful claims were flying.
See also:
Trump’s latest absurdity about the elections hints at much worse to come Washington Post
We’ve Grown Accustomed to Trump Wall Street Journal
Democrats’ treatment of Kavanaugh was depraved. America won’t reward them at the polls.
Washington Post
Just a few weeks ago, analysts thought that control of the U.S. Senate was in play this November and that momentum was shifting to the Democrats. Thanks to their brutal campaign of character assassination against now-Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, those chances appear to be slipping away.
See also:
● The GOP’s October Comeback Wall Street Journal
● Will the Blue Wave collapse before it reaches the shore? Washington Post
● Democratic candidates for Congress have raised a record-shattering $1 billion this election Washington Post
● Democrats get big bucks from small-dollar donors CALmatters
● Democratic House Candidates Dominate in Fundraising Wall Street Journal
Why taking back the Senate won’t get much easier for Dems after 2018
Sacramento Bee
Democrats are the underdogs in the battle to control the Senate this year, and if they are unable to limit their losses in the upper chamber, they could be stuck in the minority for many years to come.
Wall Street Journal
Nearly 21 months into the Trump Presidency, the recession that the chief economist for the Democratic Party predicted would start three months ago still hasn’t arrived.
Enthusiasm and polarization may determine November’s midterms
AEI
Red-state Democrats are falling in the polls, and Republicans have a natural advantage in congressional districts due to redistricting. The House may stay under Republican control after all.
How Kamala Harris’ team thinks she can win the 2020 nomination
Politico
Sen. Kamala Harris’ advisers are privately discussing a rough Democratic primary strategy that would focus heavily on Iowa, but with an eye toward high-value nominating contests coming later in Nevada, South Carolina and California — more diverse states where her candidacy might resonate with larger minority communities.
Other:
How Involved Can an Agency, Officials and Employees Be in Local Elections?
PublicCeo
There’s a fine line public agencies, officials and employees walk between legally disseminating information and illegally advocating for or against a ballot measure or candidate.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Devin Nunes-backed Farm Bill could strain Tulare County food banks
Visalia Times-Delta
The U.S. House of Representative's proposed version of the Farm Bill could put "additional strain" on Tulare County food banks if passed into law, according to FoodLink, the county's largest food pantry.
McCarthy applauds appointments of Kern County farmers to USDA advisory committee
Bakersfield Californian
Two Kern County farmers have been appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
Study: 23% of Visalia-area is on food stamps
Visalia Times-Delta
Nationwide, 12.4 percent of Americans rely on SNAP benefits. Several cities in the top 25 nationwide have SNAP recipiency rates nearly double the national average rate, including Visalia, Fresno and Merced.
A Record Five Weeks For California Table Grapes
Business Journal
California’s table grape growers and packers have set a new five-week record for worldwide shipping.
Insider
In the center of California lies one of the most important agricultural areas in the US — an 18,000-square-mile stretch of heartland known as the Central Valley.
What stinks in northeast Clovis? Exactly what you think it is
Fresno Bee
Clovis residents rose a stink when they got more than a farm fresh whiff coming from an almond orchard where farmers were spreading biosolids compost.
Avenal goes nuts
Hanford Sentinel
The city of Avenal is going nuts this week. The fifth annual Pistachio Days kicks off tonight and continues through the weekend.
When Does Smoke Actually Result In Tainted Wine Grapes? It’s Complicated.
Capital Public Radio
In the wake of 2017’s devastating wildfires, California’s growers and winemakers are worried about grapes exposed to smoke. The industry is funding a UC Davis researcher to study “smoke taint” to find out what can be done.
Could California’s Pot Industry Hit The Same Wall As Oregon?
Business Journal
As in many states that that have legalized marijuana, Oregon voters passed their recreational marijuana law in 2014 amid hopes it would be an economic boon and create new industry for Oregonians.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
How brutal murders and fear kept a town silent. MS-13 is like no other gang
Fresno Bee
MS-13 began to carve its mark in Mendota, CA, with violence and at least 14 brutal murders in and around the west San Joaquin Valley town between 2015 and 2017 that has kept nearly everyone quiet due to fear.
Public Safety:
Madera Police Department to put on annual event for public
Madera Tribune
The Madera Police Department will play host Thursday evening at this year’s version of National Night Out Connect, starting at 5 p.m., at the Madera District Fairgrounds.
The death penalty is now unconstitutional in Washington state. California should be next
Modesto Bee
The California Supreme Court should follow the lead of the Washington state Supreme Court, which on Oct. 11 declared that state’s death penalty to violate the state constitution “because it is imposed in an arbitrary and racially biased manner.”
West Coast quake warning system now operational, with limits
Sacramento Bee
Automated alerts from the fledgling West Coast earthquake early warning system are ready to be used broadly by businesses, utilities, schools and other entities but not for mass public notification, officials said Wednesday.
See also:
● Get ready for a major quake. What to do before — and during — a big one Los Angeles Times
● A simple earthquake flaw can invite financial catastrophe. Most California homeowners ignore it Los Angeles Times
Fire:
Vacant house fires becoming an increasing problem in Fresno
abc30
Fresno firefighters are facing a bigger challenge now when responding to abandoned house fires. They recently rescued a homeless man from a fire, and Deputy Chief Richard Cabral says they now must assume every burning structure could have someone inside.
Trump blames wildfires on California’s bad management. He’s missing the ‘big picture,’ say state firefighters
Sacramento Bee
President Donald Trump blamed California again for its horrific wildfire season Wednesday and threatened to withhold federal fire assistance from the state.
See Also:
● Trump blames wildfires on California forest policy, threatens to withhold funds from state Los Angeles Times
● Trump Threatens to Cut California Firefighting Aid Over ‘Old Trees’ Bloomberg
‘Blackout blackmail’ or last resort? PG&E defends Northern California power cut
Sacramento Bee
All across Northern California, residents and some officials were grumbling Wednesday about PG&E’s decision to shut off power to reduce wildfire risks as high winds buffeted much of the region earlier in the week.
Tracking California’s deadly wildfires
CALmatters
Because there’s no longer a real wildfire season in California, the statistics never stop in their awful aggregation. Virtually everything related to fires is on the rise: acres burned, lives lost, cost to fight the blazes. The state has 78 more annual “fire days” now than it had 50 years ago.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
A simple earthquake flaw can invite financial catastrophe. Most California homeowners ignore it
Los Angeles Times
When the region's most powerful earthquake in years struck Northern California on an early Sunday morning in 2014, it jolted two homes standing side by side on a residential block in Napa.
Mr. President, It’s Time for Zero Tariffs
Wall Street Journal
Congratulations on the new U.S., Mexico, Canada Trade Deal. By keeping trade barriers as low as possible across North America, this USMCA will benefit businesses, workers and consumers in all three countries.
U.S. Government Deficit Grew 17% in Fiscal 2018
Wall Street Journal
The U.S. government ran its largest budget deficit in six years during the fiscal year that ended last month, an unusual development in a fast-growing economy and a sign that—so far at least—tax cuts have restrained government revenue gains.
Jobs:
Kern County Judge Says California Corrections Policy On Pregnant Employee Unlawful
VPR
A Kern County Superior Court Judge issued a temporary injunction Tuesday against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation -- or CDCR-- after a pregnant correctional officer fell on the job and lost her baby. The injunction says the CDCR must offer light duty to pregnant employees.
Work Equity President Surveys Changes A Year Into #MeToo Movement
Capital Public Radio
After a year of public discussion and legislative reforms in the wake of the #MeToo movement, Work Equity President Pamela Lopez reflects on how much has and has not changed for women in the workforce.
See also:
● We Said Enough, One Year Later: A Timeline Of Key Events In The Campaign Against Sexual Harassment At California’s Capitol Capital Public Radio
Labor shortage could cripple rebuilding after next big quake
San Francisco Chronicle
The Bay Area’s hot economy could hurt rebuilding efforts after another major quake. Already, North Bay residents trying to restore thousands of single-family homes after last October’s wildfires have encountered delays and high costs due to a shortage of construction workers.
EDUCATION
K-12:
This old juvenile hall was once called the Hall of Shame. Fresno Unified may now buy it
Fresno Bee
The old juvenile hall on Ventura Street is an eyesore in its southeast Fresno neighborhood. But if the Fresno Unified Board of Trustees votes to approve the purchase of the building from the county for around $1.2 million, the district has grand plans for the jailhouse’s future.
Thousands of Fresno County students learn about the technical field through Career Expo
abc30
From construction to Culinary, Wednesday Fresno County High School students learned what it's like to be in the technical field.
Duncan, Salazar vie for MUSD Area 5 seat
Madera Tribune
Steve T. Duncan and Lucy Salazar are the candidates for Madera Unified School District Governing Board from Area 5. Following are their answers to a series of questions posed by The Madera Tribune.
School district employees honored
Madera Tribune
A formal reception preceded the 12th Excellence in Education award ceremony. The event, held at the Madera County Superintendent of Schools Conference Center, honored school employees, administrators, and teachers from Madera County school districts.
What does community think of Modesto schools? Superintendent hears at public meetings
Modesto Bee
Participants in a focus group meeting with the Modesto City Schools superintendent share thoughts on topics from campus safety to communication to support staff for teachers and students.
KCSOS orders audit of bank account opened by former Taft official
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Superintendent of Schools has contracted with a third-party agency to conduct an audit of an out-of state-bank account opened by the former business manager of the Taft Union High School District.
Betsy DeVos puts protecting for-profit schools ahead of students
Brookings
Betsy DeVos’s recent decision to end gainful employment regulation for for-profit colleges is at odds with traditional conservative principles of holding institutions accountable for their performance with federal dollars. In a new report, Arne Duncan and David Whitman explain how this loss of accountability victimizes both students and taxpayers.
Higher Ed:
Fresno City College student body president arrested for alleged sex with teen
Fresno Bee
Fresno City College student body president Christopher Washington was arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018 for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old.
See Also:
● Fresno City College student body president arrested, charged with rape abc30
Clovis Community College honored as 'Champion of Higher Education' for transfer degree program
Clovis Roundup
Clovis Community College was recognized this week for providing transfer opportunities to students through its Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT).
CSUB ranked among top master's programs in curriculum and instruction
Bakersfield Californian
Cal State Bakersfield has been ranked among the top 50 best online master's degree programs in curriculum and instruction by the site Top Education Degrees.
CSU system just set a record for graduations. And more students ‘Finish in Four’
Sacramento Bee
California State University awarded a record number of bachelor’s degrees last year, amid an ongoing push to double its four-year graduation rate.
See Also:
● Cal State graduation rates reach record highs and equity gaps narrow Los Angeles Times
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
EPA fight against 'secret science' slowed amid pushback from researchers
abc30
A furious public response has slowed down the Trump administration's plan to stop using so-called "secret science," a move that scientists complained could have restricted the types of research used to regulate toxins, pesticides and pollution.
The US is seeing a deadly shift in tornado activity — and scientists aren't sure why
Hanford Sentinel
Over the past few decades tornadoes have been shifting — decreasing in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas but spinning up more in states along the Mississippi River and farther east, a new study shows. Scientists aren't quite certain why.
Los Angeles Times
Two recent high-level personnel moves in the Trump administration’s Interior Department could well spell trouble for fish, wildlife and national parks, and raise serious questions about the credibility of the department’s multiple investigations into Secretary Ryan Zinke’s conduct and possible conflicts of interest.
The Cost Of Your Favorite Beer Could Double Due To Climate Change, Study Suggests
Capital Public Radio
The Winters-based brewmaster’s problem is exemplified by a new UC Irvine study, which says more frequent droughts and heat waves will decrease the amount of global barley production.
Energy:
California hits PG&E with $5 million in citations for gas leaks
San Francisco Chronicle
State officials issued $5 million in citations against Pacific Gas & Electric Co. on Monday for violations resulting in two natural gas leaks in Northern California in 2016 and 2017.
Renewable energy is common ground for Democrats and Republicans
ScienceDaily
While conservatives and liberals tend to disagree on many environmental issues, they both view the development of solar power and other forms of renewable energy as financially savvy and a step towards self-sufficiency.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
abc30
In our new weekly feature, Doc Talk, we sit down with pediatric emergency doctor, Clint Pollack from Valley Children's Hospital to discuss one of the most common conditions in Valley kids -- asthma.
CDC: 127 cases of child paralysis in 22 states under investigation
abc30
Federal health officials say they are investigating 127 possible cases of acute flaccid myelitis, 62 of them confirmed. They are in 22 states.
See Also:
● What is AFM? Everything you need to know about the polio-like virus suddenly affecting children across the U.S. Los Angeles Times
Why do California babies have syphilis in numbers rivaling those of poor nations?
CALmatters
Jeffrey Klausner has seen the damage congenital syphilis can do to newborns, and it makes him a little sick.
A Blue Pill Is Stopping HIV, World-First Study Shows
Bloomberg
An antiviral pill taken daily by thousands of men across Sydney and other parts of Australia led to a globally unprecedented reduction in new HIV cases, showing that a targeted, preventative approach may accelerate progress on ending the AIDS epidemic.
How profiteering by the same dialysis firms trying to kill Prop 8 almost destroyed Obamacare
Los Angeles Times
Things were looking bad for the Affordable Care Act in 2016 and 2017.
Human Services:
Need a dentist but can’t afford it? How you can get free care in Modesto this month
Modesto Bee
Free dental care is coming back to Modesto Centre Plaza this month for people who can’t afford to see a dentist.
Broken water main causes flooding at Department of Health
abc30
The Fresno County Department of Health has been shut down after a water main leak. Fresno Fire Department says a water main in the alleyway behind the department building burst causing a major flood in the building.
Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley secures license for public occupancy, sets date for guided tours of new hospital
Bakersfield Californian
With its license for public occupancy from the state newly in hand, Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley is moving closer to opening its new hospital — so much so that it's ready to allow the community in for much-anticipated guided tours.
Republican Candidates Play Defense Over Health Care
Wall Street Journal
Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California backed the unsuccessful GOP effort last year to begin repealing the Affordable Care Act, which guarantees coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions.
EDITORIAL: Trump's plan to reduce drug prices might be unconstitutional. It also won't help much
Los Angeles Times
The Trump administration on Monday unveiled its latest proposal for reining in the cost of pharmaceuticals: requiring television advertisements for prescription drugs to display the price tag of the medication being promoted
IMMIGRATION
Los Angeles Times
The number of migrant parents entering the United States with children has surged to record levels in the three months since President Trump ended family separations at the border, dealing the administration a deepening crisis three weeks before the midterm elections.
See also:
● Trump threatens to summon military to close U.S.-Mexico border, upend trade deal in response to migrant caravan Washington Post
● Record number of families crossing U.S. border as Trump threatens new crackdown Washington Post
● Trump Threatens to ‘Call Up the U.S. Military’ If Mexico Doesn’t Stop Migrants Wall Street Journal
California Sanctuary Law Divides State In Fierce Immigration Debate
NPR
In California, a new state law that took effect earlier this year is pitting cities against each other in a fierce debate over immigration.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Large tax incentive seals the deal for new hotel, conference center in Oakhurst
Sierra Star
The Madera County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with Yosemite Resort, LLC, that will allow the group to move forward with a project that will bring a $25-$30 million hotel, conference center and ten-building facility.
County investigating claim that planning director bullied employees for years
Bakersfield Californian
An employee of the Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department has accused Planning Director Lorelei Oviatt of years of bullying and abusive behavior toward himself and other staff at the department.
Demolition begins on The Dome property
Bakersfield Californian
Demolition work began next to The Dome Wednesday, one day after the city of Bakersfield issued a demo permit to the historically notable property's new owner.
East Bakersfield pocket park, funded in part by Harrell Foundation, opens Oct. 26
Bakersfield Californian
A new community pocket park opens Oct. 26 in an underserved area of east Bakersfield. Children First, the Bakersfield-based nonprofit that built the park, will own and maintain it.
Boom California
“Greeting from Bakersfield California” reads an early twentieth century postcard touting the various tourist attractions in the city and greater region.
Housing:
Self-Help Enterprises receives $5.2 million
Hanford Sentinel
Self-Help Enterprises has been awarded $5.25 million in technical assistance funds from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development for the purpose of providing a program of technical assistance to carry out mutual self-help housing efforts that aid low-income families in achieving the dream of homeownership.
A simple earthquake flaw can invite financial catastrophe. Most California homeowners ignore it
Los Angeles Times
When the region's most powerful earthquake in years struck Northern California on an early Sunday morning in 2014, it jolted two homes standing side by side on a residential block in Napa.
PolitiFact CA: Prop 10 (Rent Control)
Capital Public Radio
Proposition 10 would repeal Costa Hawkins, the law in California that puts limits on rent control ordinances in cities. The high profile — and possibly confusing — proposition was recently analyzed by by the PolitiFact California fact-checking team.
PUBLIC FINANCES
U.S. Government Deficit Grew 17% in Fiscal 2018
Wall Street Journal
The U.S. government ran its largest budget deficit in six years during the fiscal year that ended last month, an unusual development in a fast-growing economy and a sign that—so far at least—tax cuts have restrained government revenue gains.
California's tax revenues beat expectations by $1 billion over the summer months
Los Angeles Times
Californians paid some $1 billion in taxes above official projections during the first three months of the state’s fiscal year, in what could be a major boost to the government’s bottom line once Gov. Jerry Brown leaves office in January.
California desperately needs a tax system for the new economy
Sacramento Bee
When the economy is booming, most politicians like to pretend that the good times will continue forever – until they don’t. Theinevitable recession has always led to equally inevitable spending cuts and tax increases.
Property tax surge reveals the truth: Local tax hikes are all about pensions
Sacramento Bee
Local government officials throughout the state got some very good financial news when county tax assessors toted up taxable property values for their 2018-19 budgets.
Prop 5: What the Measure Would Mean for California
California Budget and Policy Center
Proposition 5 would make significant changes to California's local property tax system by expanding tax breaks for certain homeowner households.
Prop 13 has strictly limited property tax increases since 1978. Voters could get a chance to change that
Los Angeles Times
For decades, the most potent brand in California politics has been Proposition 13, the ballot measure that limited property tax increases and prompted a nationwide revolt against taxation.
TRANSPORTATION
California Agency, Gas Tax Backers Worked Closely Together
Capital Public Radio
As the battle to overturn California's gas tax increase intensified, the state transportation agency coordinated frequently with the public affairs firm working to block the repeal on behalf of unions, construction companies and local governments.
See also:
● Initiative to repeal gas tax hike sparks debate over how transportation funds are spent in California Los Angeles Times
Repairs begin this weekend for damaged Highway 99 in Atwater
Fresno Bee
Emergency repair efforts begin Saturday to fix the damaged overpass at Applegate Road and Highway 99 in Atwater and motorists should expect some periodic highway closures over the next several weeks.
See also:
● San Francisco area has the worst roads in the nation, per new report San Francisco Chronicle
● Sacramento Roadways Ranked Among Worst In Nation In TRIP Report Capital Public Radio
Clovis business becomes part of solution to DMV long wait lines and computer problems
abc30
Long wait lines and computer problems in recent months have increased wait times at the Department of Motor Vehicles but a Clovis business is becoming part of a solution.
See Also:
● What’s Behind All Those DMV Voter-Registration Snafus? ‘Motor Voter’ May Have Launched With Makeshift Computer System Capital Public Radio
● Clovis Business Unveils Dmv Services As An Agency Partner Business Journal
High-Speed Rail Authority approves local plan for connecting Bakersfield and Fresno
Bakersfield Californian
A locally supported alternative for routing bullet trains into Bakersfield won approval Tuesday from California's high-speed rail agency, capping what had been a contentious planning process that pitted city interests against officials in Sacramento.
See Also:
● Should California’s next governor scrap high-speed rail? Modesto Bee
● New high-speed rail Bakersfield route costs $200M less, impacts fewer homes, board said Fresno Bee
● High-Speed Rail Authority approves local plan for connecting Bakersfield and Fresno Bakersfield Californian
Driving to the airport over the holidays? Here’s advice to avoid a parking surprise
Sacramento Bee
Sacramento International Airport officials are warning that crowding could start this holiday season long before travelers hit the ticket counter.
WATER
MID says it’s close to having more water storage in Merced County dam
Fresno Bee
Merced County area officials cleared a hurdle on Wednesday when the US Senate approved a plan for more water storage at Lake McClure, according to officials.
State high court rejects Berkeley group’s suit to drain Hetch Hetchy Reservoir
San Francisco Chronicle
The California Supreme Court rejected a conservation group’s lawsuit Wednesday seeking to drain Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, a source of water for San Francisco and surrounding Bay Area communities.
“Xtra”
Fresno Chaffee Zoo doubles its African elephant herd with new additions
Fresno Bee
Two African Elephants were moved to Fresno Chaffee Zoo from the Dallas Zoo on Oct. 16. 2018. The elephants, Nolwazi and Amahle, are expected to be visible to the public soon.
See Also:
● Two female African elephants arrive to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo abc30
● Fresno Chaffee Zoo gets two new African elephants Bakersfield Californian
Did Miles Davis plays Warnors? Here are 5 times the theater was Fresno’s coolest venue
Fresno Bee
If the history of entertainment in downtown Fresno could be exemplified in a single building, it would be the Warnors Theatre.
2018 marks record breaking attendance at the Big Fresno Fair
abc30
It was another record breaker at the Big Fresno Fair. More than 632,000 visitors stopped by the fair this year over its 12-day run. The Fair's Board of Directors released those numbers yesterday touting the fair broke an attendance record.
California cities top list of towns with worst roads in US
abc30
Congratulations, California. The top three cities with the worst roads are all from the Golden State.