POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Stanislaus County unemployment rate below state average. It’s unprecedented, and here’s why
Modesto Bee
Unemployment in Stanislaus County has remained stagnant in September, coming in at 10.3% for the second month in a row.
See also:
● Unemployment rate remains unchanged for Stanislaus Turlock Journal
Coronavirus update: Stanislaus deaths reach 391; another 38 positive tests Modesto Bee
Most recent numbers.
Why will this mayoral election have the chance to reflect all of Modesto?
Modesto Bee
In a city that then had about 91,300 registered voters, Ted Brandvold needed just 15,455 votes to become Modesto’s mayor in a February 2016 runoff election in which he defeated the incumbent.
Central SJ Valley:
Huge numbers return ballots in King County in first days
Fresno Bee
With King County election officials predicting voter turnout up to 90% early indications already show record-breaking numbers of ballots being returned as of Sunday.
Fresno County job gains stall. See which industries still lag pre-pandemic levels
Fresno Bee
Almost 46,000 people were out of work in September in the county, according to figures released Friday by the state’s Employment Development Department.
See also:
● Calif is slowly gaining jobs, but unemployment remains grim Los Angeles Times
COVID 19 update: Gatherings, low testing levels holding Tulare County back
Visalia Times Delta
A key metric holding back Tulare County's ability to move from the state's most restrictive COVID-19 tier remains stuck in double digits, further delaying hopes for local businesses to fully reopen.
See also:
● Coronavirus update: As infections climb nationally, is Fresno County improving? Fresno Bee
Is Clovis getting too big? Residents gear up to fight proposed housing development
Fresno Bee
Even amid a global pandemic and economic uncertainty, Clovis is poised to grow — and some residents are not happy about it.
Do you want to improve Fresno streets and transit system? This agency wants your ideas
Fresno Bee
Tired of dangerous intersections, missing sidewalks and potholes? Want faster bus service and safer bike routes? Then share your ideas in this survey by Thursday, Oct. 22. There are also Spanish and Punjabi versions of the form.
See also:
· 2020 Transportation Needs Survey Fresno Council of Governments
Devin Nunes mailed his book about socialism to Calif voters. Do they want it?
Fresno Bee
Voters in Rep. Devin Nunes’ congressional district are receiving copies of a 90-page book he wrote criticizing the Democratic Party, and some of his constituents are outraged by the unsolicited mail.
See also:
● Devin Nunes ends lawsuit against McClatchy as company emerges from bankruptcy Fresno Bee
Trucks for Trump vehicle parade in Fresno
Fresno Bee
A sea of trucks fill the parking lot outside the Save Mart Center in Fresno on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020 before the start of a Trucks for Trump vehicle parade and tailgate party. Thousands of President Donald Trump supporters showed up at the event.
See also:
● A Thousand Trump Trucks Parade in Fresno and Clovis GV Wire
● Hundreds gather for pro-Trump rolling rally through Turlock Modesto Bee
South SJ Valley:
Kern Public Health reports 2 new coronavirus deaths, 87 new cases Saturday
Bakersfield Califn
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported two new coronavirus deaths and 87 new cases Saturday morning. There are now a total of 410 deaths and 33,373 confirmed cases since reporting on the virus began in mid-March.
See also:
● New U.S. Coronavirus Cases Fall Below 50,000 for First Time in Six Days WSJ
Bakersfield Califn
Facing an uncertain future, the Kern County leadership team decided to send its workers home — all but the most essential — and those who couldn’t perform their duties from their living rooms would still get paid until the county could figure out how to make it all work.
One-time Taft man found to be third Medal of Honor recipient with a Kern County connection
Bakersfield Califn
Even more astonishing, Milo Lemert was a recipient of America's highest award for valor in combat, the Medal of Honor. This makes him the third soldier with a Kern County connection to have received that esteemed honor.
State:
Calif officials subpoena state Republicans for information on ballot drop boxes
Fresno Bee
In a call with reporters on Friday, Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Republicans have committed to a number of significant concessions in their ballot collection activities, and the state has asked for more information.
See also:
● Republicans plan to continue to use ballot drop boxes as state issues subpoenas Modesto Bee
● Calif Eases Off Legal Threats Over GOP Unauthorized Ballot Drop Boxes VPR
● Calif Republicans defend ballot boxes as subpoenas are issued Los Angeles Times
● Everybody claims victory in Calif GOP ballot box battle CalMatters
● Warszawski: Ballot box election scheme by Fresno CA GOP would backfire Fresno Bee
Federal:
Pro-choice NARAL breaks with Feinstein, calls for her to step down after Supreme Court hearings
Sacramento Bee
NARAL Pro-Choice America called for Calif Sen. Dianne Feinstein to step down as ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee following Feinstein’s comments at the conclusion of a hearing over Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
See also:
● Feinstein’s Senate role is at issue as Democrats fume over her committee performance Los Angeles Times
Pelosi shifts deadline if Trump wants pre-election stimulus
Los Angeles Times
Nancy Pelosi set a Tuesday deadline for more progress with the White House on a fiscal stimulus deal before the Nov. 3 election, while President Trump renewed his offer to go beyond the dollar amounts now on the table.
See also:
● Pelosi Tells White House It Has Until Tuesday to Reach Relief Deal Before Election WSJ
● Trump’s den of dissent: Inside the White House task force as coronavirus surge Washington Post
● EDITORIAL: Pelosi’s Latest Ultimatum WSJ
Trump Has At Least $1 Billion In Debt, More Than Twice The Amount He Suggested
Forbes
One reason for all the confusion: Trump’s loans are not fully transparent. It’s still unclear to whom he owes an estimated $162 million against his skyscraper in San Francisco, for example.
White House installs political operatives at CDC to try to control coronavirus information
Los Angeles Times
The White House has installed two political operatives with no public health experience at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to try to control the information the agency releases about the coronavirus, as the Trump administration seeks to paint a positive outlook on the pandemic, sometimes at odds with the scientific evidence.
See also:
● Inside the Fall of the CDC ProPublica
● More Than 1,000 Current and Former CDC Officers Criticize U.S. Covid-19 Response WSJ
● Trump’s den of dissent: Inside the White House task force as coronavirus surges Washington Post
● EDITORIAL: The CDC blows it again, this time on COVID-19 testing at school Los Angeles Times
Washington Post
The Supreme Court announced Friday that it will review President Trump’s attempt to exclude undocumented immigrants when calculating how congressional seats are apportioned among the states.
See also:
● Supreme Court to consider Trump effort to exclude from census any immigrants not legally in the U.S. Los Angeles Times
● Supreme Court to decide whether census can exclude undocumented immigrants NBC
● Commentary: Despite ending the Census count early, the 2020 effort brought together diverse organizations to build stronger communities CalMatters
Coronavirus Trackers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Calif
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.
See also:
● Calif Department of Public Health
● Coronavirus (COVID-19) CDC
● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic - WHO
● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
● Tracking coronavirus in Calif Los Angeles Times
● Coronavirus Tracker San Francisco Chronicle
● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count New York Times
● How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico
● Coronavirus Daily NPR
● Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Fin Times
● Coronavirus in Calif by the numbers CalMatters
Elections 2020:
● Register to vote
● Check voter registration status
● Online Voter Guide and Printable Voter Guide
● List of county elections offices
● “Where’s My Ballot?” tool
Your guide to spotting disinformation in U.S. and Calif elections
Fresno Bee
Voters, this year will see more misleading claims than ever before. We’ve pulled together tools to help you identify disinformation so you can focus on the facts.
See also:
● Experts: Disinformation poses greatest threat to the election Roll Call
● Inside the ‘Malarkey Factory,’ Biden’s online war room Washington Post
Monday is the last day to register to vote online in Calif. Here’s how to do it
Fresno Bee
Monday, Oct. 19 is the Calif deadline for registering to vote in the upcoming general election on Nov. 3. If you miss the deadline, most counties offer same-day registration through Election Day.
Podcast: This Election, Californians Will Reckon With Legacy GOP Policies
Capital Public Radio
More than three decades of conservative-friendly laws could be undone this November. Our co-host Elizabeth Aguilera chats with CalMatters politics reporter Ben Christopher about how California used to be at the vanguard of conservative thinking and policy, only to now be a punching bag for the right. Also: co-host Nicole Nixon talks GOP ballot boxes with CapRadio’s Scott Rodd and CalMatters’ Emily Hoeven.
How would Prop. 15 impact Calif’s housing crisis?
CalMatters
Some experts are concerned higher taxes on commercial properties will incentivize cash-strapped cities to favor retail over housing. One analysis suggests Prop. 15 could be a housing boon, though.
See also:
● Commentary: Myth of Prop. 13 busted CalMatters
● Opinion: Time to reinvest in our future: Prop 15 CalMatters
Prop 16 would bring affirmative action back to Calif. Here’s how it works
Fresno Bee
Calif voters next month will decide whether to bring back affirmative policies in hiring and university admissions through a proposition that would repeal the state’s ban on race and gender preferences.
See also:
● Can Prop. 16 boost Calif’s Latino-, Black-, Asian- and women-owned companies? Los Angeles Times
Prop. 20: Should Calif’s DNA bank expand to shoplifters, opioid offenders? CalMatters
Tens of thousands of people convicted of misdemeanors would have their DNA stored. District attorneys disagree about whether it would help solve violent crimes.
Trump, Biden go on offense in states they’re trying to flip
Fresno Bee
President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden went on offense Sunday, with each campaigning in states they are trying to flip during the Nov. 3 election that is just over two weeks away.
See also:
● In election’s homestretch, coronavirus surge underscores candidates’ contrasts Los Angeles Times
● Tracking The Issues In The 2020 Election NPR
● Election 2020: The Paths to Victory for Trump and Biden WSJ
● Election 2020: How Trump and Biden Compare on the Key Issues WSJ
● Where Trump and Biden Stand on Health Care WSJ
● Biden leads Trump. So did Hillary Clinton. For Democrats, it’s a worrisome campaign deja vu Washington Post
● Trump’s false claim that Biden is a socialist PolitiFact
● Presidential Race Framed by a Tale of Three Debates WSJ
● Opinion: Trump Polls: How the President Might Be Winning National Review
Democratic donors fuel record-breaking fundraising in Senate races
Los Angeles Times
Fundraising for the party’s Senate candidates — even some in GOP strongholds — has so exceeded expectations that party operatives are rushing to rewrite their budgets and expand their reach.
See also:
Fundraising surges for Democratic Senate challengers, reports show Roll Call
Trump And Republicans Raise $248 Million In September, Lagging Biden, Democrats VPR
Fear of election chaos and civil unrest stokes stockpiling of food, guns and ammunition
Sacramento Bee
According to USA Today, recent polls show about half of all Americans are stockpiling food, or planning to stockpile, because of the election and concerns about a new wave of coronavirus infections.
See also:
About 110,000 Californians have bought a gun since the coronavirus arrived, study says Los Angeles Times
How to stay safe when hitting the polls this election season ABC
Election 2020: Why voting in the coronavirus pandemic will be unlike any other year ABC
Rise in Use of Ballot Drop Boxes Sparks Partisan Battles Pew Trusts
Trump, Biden Supporters Divided in Views of 2020 Election Process – and Whether It Will Be Clear Who Won Pew Research
Podcast: The Electoral College: What is it and why hasn’t it changed? NPR
Fearing late votes might not count, millions cast ballots around America
Los Angeles Times
Haunted by the specter of a potentially fragile election system, Americans are voting early in unprecedented numbers — a possible harbinger of record turnout for a modern-day election in the U.S.
See also:
● More than 1 million Calif ballots already cast, shattering records Los Angeles Times
● Courts Curtail Extended Deadlines for Mail-In Ballots WSJ
● Long Lines, Early Ballots, New Polls All Point to Heavy Voter Turnout WSJ
Other:
Is Facebook really ready for the 2020 election?
Fresno Bee
CEO Mark Zuckerberg now casually references possible outcomes that were unimaginable in 2016 — among them, possible civil unrest and potentially a disputed election that Facebook could easily make even worse — as challenges the platform now faces.
See also:
● Don't Censor! Stop The Hoaxes! Facebook, Twitter Face A Catch-22 VPR
● How Mark Zuckerberg Learned Politics WSJ
● How Democrats and Republicans Use Twitter Pew Research
● Social media led 23% of U.S. users to change their view on an issue Pew Research
● Republicans who get most COVID-19 news from Trump differ from others in GOP Pew Research
● Twitter and Facebook Contend With Concerns Over Election Interference, Censorship WSJ
Partisan Sites Posing as Local News Expand Ahead of Election
WSJ
The Copper Courier in Arizona and the Decatur Times in Alabama both describe themselves as startup news sites helping to fill the void from the decline of local news outlets across the U.S. In fact, they are both the fruit of partisan efforts to shape the news narrative.
See also:
● As Local News Dies, a Pay-for-Play Network Rises in Its Place New York Times
DOJ likely to file Google antitrust suit with no Democratic support
Politico
The suit, the first major monopolization case in decades, comes as both Republican and Democratic politicians have been berating Google and other massive tech companies about their outsize influence over the U.S. economy and their treatment of competitors.
Opinion: Why Armenians everywhere stand with those in Nagorno-Karabakh
Los Angeles Times
Today, as we pen these words, the nation of Armenia and its neighboring enclave Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, face the gravest threat to their survival in a century.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, October 25, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “The November 2020 Propositions” - Guest: Ben Christopher, CalMatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, October 25, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “Nov. Election: How It Might Impact the Valley” - Guests: Jessica Trounstine, UC Merced; Greg Soydemir, Stanislaus State; Lisa Bryant, Fresno State; Ivy Cargile, CSU Bakersfield; Mary Roaf, Stanislaus State; Sebastian Sclofsky, Stanislaus State. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Fact check: Will Calif property tax initiative drive up food prices?
Fresno Bee
The measure exempts agricultural land from the reassessment, but in their ads farmers argue many of the fixtures and improvements on their farms, ranging from barns to grape vines, would be subject to reassessment.
Meals on Wheels seeing a significant surge in need during COVID-19 pandemic
Bakersfield Califn
"We are delivering more meals now than at any other time in the history of the Meals on Wheels program," said Lito Morillo, director of Kern County Aging and Adult Services, which oversees the county's program.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
In rapid succession on a brutal Saturday, Fresno surges to 50-homicide mark for 2020
Fresno Bee
Even by the standards set in recent weeks and months, when a surge in shootings and other violence fueled the launch of a new police task force, this night, in particular, stretched the department thin.
Fraud victim: ‘I thought, who in their right mind would fall for that? And here I am.’
Modesto Bee
A Modesto septuagenarian recalled the day a couple of months ago when he responded to an email he thought was from Microsoft and ended up being swindled out of thousands of dollars.
Public Safety:
‘Incredibly exclusive’: Turlock Police revises advisory board qualifications after input
Modesto Bee
The Turlock Police Department widened eligibility for its community advisory board after some residents called initially listed qualifications restrictive.
Independent sheriff's advisory council takes first steps toward reform
Bakersfield Califn
For what may be the first time in its history, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office is giving a panel of local citizens an inside look into its operations in an effort to strengthen the relationship between itself and the communities it serves.
Will Tulare County Board of Supervisors form a sheriff's oversight committee?
Visalia Times Delta
Counties are not mandated by AB 1185 to create a sheriff's oversight committee or an inspector general, said Tammie Wyker-Adkins, Tulare County chief of staff.
Fire:
Trump reverses Calif wildfire decision, will release assistance to Creek Fire victims
Fresno Bee
Two days ago, the Trump administration rejected pleas for assistance that could total $346 million, but Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif.,were told the White House had changed course.
See also:
● Trump administration rejects, then approves, emergency aid for Calif fires, including biggest blaze in state history Washington Post
● In reversal, Trump administration approves Calif wildfire relief funding Los Angeles Times
● Trump reverses FEMA denial of emergency aid for Calif fires Politico
● Trump Reverses Decision to Reject Calif’s Request for Wildfire Relief New York Times
● White House Reverses Decision And OKs Wildfire Aid For Calif VPR
● EDITORIAL: Trump needlessly whipsaws Fresno County’s Creek Fire victims over emergency aid Fresno Bee
Creek Fire update: Dry winds fueling fire as firefighters scout for flare-ups
Fresno Bee
Hot and dry conditions weather, coupled with light breezes, fueled the blaze and complicated firefighting efforts, fire officials said Sunday. A high pressure system is expected to keep conditions hot and dry through the end of the week.
See also:
● Creek Fire Update: Over 344K Acres, 60% Contained Clovis Roundup
Parts of Tuolumne River park are thickets of wildfire fuel. Chainsaws get to work
Modesto Bee
Modesto firefighters have taken up chainsaws and other tools to reduce wildfire fuel in Tuolumne River Regional Park.
PG&E lacked basic training before Calif blackouts
Fresno Bee
When Pacific Gas & Electric cut power to large swaths of wildfire-prone Northern Calif last fall, few of the emergency personnel managing the blackouts for the nation’s largest utility had learned the fundamentals of managing an emergency in their home state.
See also:
● Walters: Blackouts reveal lapses in power supply CalMatters
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Millions in grant funding approved for Fresno theatres, museums, non-profits
abc30
The Fresno City Council approved $1.5 million from the CARES Act to provide grants of up to $150,000 for museums, theaters, and other local arts programs.
See also:
● Central Valley non-profits think outside of the box to fundraise abc30
Banks warn bonuses will not keep pace with profits
Los Angeles Times
Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America have warned staff that their bonuses will not keep pace with blowout performances in areas such as fixed-income trading and debt and equity underwriting, setting the scene for a record gap between payouts and profits.
Coronavirus Tanked the Economy. Then Credit Scores Went Up
WSJ
The average credit score hit a record in July after millions of Americans had lost their jobs, scrambling lenders’ underwriting models.
Jobs:
Fresno County job gains stall. See which industries still lag pre-pandemic levels
Fresno Bee
Almost 46,000 people were out of work in September in the county, according to figures released Friday by the state’s Employment Development Department.
See also:
● Stanislaus County unemployment rate below state average. It’s unprecedented, and here’s why Modesto Bee
● Unemployment rate remains unchanged for Stanislaus Turlock Journal
● Calif is slowly gaining jobs, but unemployment remains grim Los Angeles Times
A lot of us are tired of working from home, survey finds. Some even consider quitting
Fresno Bee
Sixty-three percent of respondents said they felt like the cons of working from home outweigh the pros — so much so that 3 in 10 people said they have considered quitting their job, according to the survey.
See also:
● Time To Ditch Those Awful Zoom Calls, CEOs Say NPR
● As the Coronavirus Surges, a New Culprit Emerges: Pandemic Fatigue New York Times
Elderly day labor workers most affected by pandemic
CalMatters
A study by UCLA indicates that an older adult in Calif needs more than double the minimum wage to survive. Latinos lead this situation.
See also:
● For many Califns, the pandemic marks the end of ‘barely making it’ CalMatters
● Why has COVID-19 been especially harmful for working women? Brookings
EDUCATION
K-12:
This Tulare school district is spending $400K to reduce indoor transmission of COVID-19
Visalia Times Delta
Tulare City School District’s school board approved more than $400,000 to install a patented technology designed to reduce the air transmission of COVID-19.
Clovis Unified parents given 2 learning options for elementary students
abc30
A questionnaire was sent to parents on Friday, offering two options. The first is a hybrid model, where a student would spend part of their class time in person and the other half at home.
See also:
● Reopening schools must conduct surveillance testing to prevent outbreaks in Fresno County abc30
Higher Ed:
As revenue declines, Fresno State drops 3 sports including one it just brought back
Fresno Bee
Fresno State faced up to a harsh reality on Friday, eliminating its women’s lacrosse, men’s tennis and wrestling programs at the end of the academic year.
See also:
● The COVID-19 pandemic is revealing the regressive business model of college sports Brookings
US colleges see ‘staggering’ drop in freshman enrollment amid COVID-19, report says
Fresno Bee
Freshman enrollment is down at colleges nationwide, falling a staggering 16% compared to last year, according to a report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
See also:
● The pandemic effect: CSUB sees record enrollment while KCCD numbers decline Bakersfield Califn
● Applying to College During Covid: What Parents and Students Should Know WSJ
Students find new ways to “get out the vote” amid pandemic
CalMatters
Calif has seen an increase of 24% in youth voter registration compared to the last presidential election in November 2016.
Apprenticeships:
How Apprenticeship, Reimagined, Vaults Graduates Into Middle Class
WSJ
Apprenticeships have long offered a path to high-paying work for high-school graduates but have historically been reserved for skilled trades such as plumbers, carpenters and electricians. But research on apprenticeships based at community colleges is limited.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
October days that feel like October days are due by week’s end, weather service says
Modesto Bee
A gradual cooling trend in the Modesto area will bring by week’s end temperatures that actually are typical for the season, the National Weather Service says.
Court allows Exide to abandon a toxic site in Vernon. Taxpayers will fund the cleanup
LA Times
A bankruptcy court ruled Friday that Exide Technologies may abandon its shuttered battery recycling plant in Vernon, leaving a massive cleanup of lead and other toxic pollutants at the site and in surrounding neighborhoods to Calif taxpayers.
Groundbreaking study finds 13.3 quadrillion plastic fibers in Calif’s environment
The Guardian
A study in Calif has laid bare the staggering scale of pollution from plastic microfibers in synthetic clothing – one of the most widespread, yet largely invisible, forms of plastic waste.
Opinion: Bees are dying in droves. Here’s why that’s important to you and the food you eat
Fresno Bee
Crops pollinated by bees are valued at over $7 billion in the San Joaquin Valley. Add in all the jobs and ag-related businesses connected to those crops, and that’s a $25 billion economic impact that would affect every one of us.
Commentary: By Calling Climate Change ‘Controversial,’ Barrett Created Controversy
NY Times
Judge Barrett, the daughter of an oil executive, described the settled science of climate change as still in dispute, including whether smoking causes cancer and the coronavirus is infectious
Energy:
The pandemic is destroying energy efficiency
Axios
The coronavirus pandemic is systematically demolishing the entire concept of efficiency. The virus, almost by design, hates efficiency of all kinds, energy included. Overall electricity use in America was actually up slightly in July compared to the year before.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Kern Public Health reports 2 new coronavirus deaths, 87 new cases Saturday
Bakersfield Califn
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported two new coronavirus deaths and 87 new cases Saturday morning. There are now a total of 410 deaths and 33,373 confirmed cases since reporting on the virus began in mid-March.
See also:
● Coronavirus update: Stanislaus deaths reach 391; another 38 positive tests Modesto Bee
● Coronavirus update: As infections climb nationally, is Fresno County improving? Fresno Bee
● 40 Million Coronavirus Cases Are Now Reported Worldwide VPR
● New U.S. Coronavirus Cases Fall Below 50,000 for First Time in Six Days WSJ
‘Darkest’ months of the COVID-19 pandemic could come this winter, experts say
McClatchy DC
“We do have vaccines and therapeutics coming down the pike,” Osterholm said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “But when you actually look at the time period for that, the next six to 12 weeks are going to be the darkest of the entire pandemic.”
See also:
● Trump says coronavirus is ‘rounding the corner.’ Data and experts suggest otherwise Fresno Bee
● What's Coming This Winter? Here's How Many More Could Die In The Pandemic NPR
Millions more virus rapid tests, but are results reported?
Fresno Bee
After struggling to ramp up coronavirus testing, the U.S. can now screen several million people daily, thanks to a growing supply of rapid tests. But the boom comes with a new challenge: keeping track of the results.
See also:
● Coronavirus Test Results Get Faster, But Still Too Slow To Help Slow Disease Spread VPR
● Where Do I Go to Get My Covid Antibody Cocktail? WSJ
Nurses reflect on the height of COVID-19 locally
Bakersfield Califn
For the nurses, doctors and other health care workers in local hospitals, the summer of 2020 is likely one they will never forget.
Why the coronavirus is killing more men than women
Washington Post
Men have weaker immune systems that, in some cases, may actually sabotage the body’s response to an invader. But social and cultural factors may also play a role.
Human Services:
Coronavirus cancels Medicare forums in Stanislaus County. Where can seniors get help?
Modesto Bee
Coronavirus precautions have eliminated popular forums normally held in October to help seniors in Stanislaus County make changes to Medicare coverage for the coming year.
Pfizer says mid-November is earliest it can seek coronavirus vaccine approval
Los Angeles Times
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer says that the earliest it can request emergency authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine is the third week of November — and that’s if everything goes well.
Study says remdesivir not effective against COVID-19; Bay Area scientists disagree
SF Chronicle
Infectious disease specialists familiar with remdesivir criticized the WHO study, saying it was far less rigorous than previous studies that showed hospitalized coronavirus patients who received remdesivir recovered about a third faster than patients who didn’t get the drug.
See also:
● NIH to Study Three Drugs in Treatment of Covid-19 Patients WSJ
● Facing Many Unknowns, States Rush To Plan Distribution Of COVID-19 Vaccines VPR
Exclusive: Kaiser cited for failing to treat COVID-19 as airborne
CalMatters
Calif workplace safety officials cite Kaiser Permanente for failing to treat COVID-19 as an airborne disease. Kaiser says it will appeal the citation against its psychiatric facility in Santa Clara.
IMMIGRATION
Trump, COVID-19 tie up immigration courts for thousands in Calif, attorneys say
Fresno Bee
Many central San Joaquin Valley immigrants will live with uncertainty for months or even years after having their immigration cases pushed back to as far as 2024 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Los Angeles Times
A Times investigation found that since 2017, at least 265 calls made to police through 911 and nonemergency lines have reported violence and abuse inside Calif’s four privately run federal detention centers overseen by ICE.
Trump’s immigration changes will affect Calif long after he’s gone
Los Angeles Times
Trump’s more than 400 executive actions to restrict immigration have had an outsize impact on the Golden State.
Supreme Court to Review Two of Trump Administration’s Immigration Policies
WSJ
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to review two of the Trump administration’s most visible immigration actions: its construction of a southern U.S. border wall with military funds and its requirement that asylum seekers at the border wait in Mexico while their requests are considered.
See also:
● Supreme Court to review Trump’s border wall funding and ‘remain-in-Mexico’ program Washington Post
● Supreme Court to Hear Cases Tied To Trump's Polices On Mexico Border VPR
● Fact-checking Joe Biden’s claim on asylum seekers in Mexico PolitiFact
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Is Clovis getting too big? Residents gear up to fight proposed housing development
Fresno Bee
Even amid a global pandemic and economic uncertainty, Clovis is poised to grow — and some residents are not happy about it.
Housing:
New arrivals find housing bargains, kind neighbors in Bakersfield
Bakersfield Califn
Bakersfield's relatively low housing costs as compared with other parts of Calif have attracted growing numbers of people who could scarcely afford to buy a nice home where they had been living.
Undisclosed: Most Homebuyers And Renters Aren't Warned About Flood Or Wildfire Risk
VPR
What's more, a growing body of research suggests that the flood and fire disclosure laws that do exist provide information in confusing ways or give too little information too late in the homebuying process.
PUBLIC FINANCES
U.S. budget deficit breached $3.1 trillion in 2020 as pandemic slammed economy
Washington Post
The U.S. budget deficit eclipsed $3.1 trillion in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, according to government data released Friday, by far the biggest one-year gap in U.S. history.
See also:
● U.S. Budget Gap Tripled to Record $3.1 Trillion in Fiscal 2020, Treasury Says WSJ
● US deficit hit a record $3.1 trillion last year Roll Call
● Opinion: What could additional fiscal policy do for the economy in the next three years? Brookings
Tax Increase for Corporations Looks More Likely as Election Nears
WSJ
On paper, the 21% U.S. corporate tax rate was a permanent cornerstone of the 2017 tax law, a boon to business without the expiration date attached to other provisions. In reality, that low rate is only as solid as Republicans’ ability to wield power in Washington.
See also:
● Biden’s tax plan would not impose 40% capital gains tax on most home sales PolitiFact
This Calif agency reimburses employees’ work-from-home expenses. Will others follow?
Fresno Bee
Covered Calif will reimburse its employees’ work-from-home expenses, making it one of the first state offices to commit to doing so seven months into the coronavirus outbreak.
TRANSPORTATION
Do you want to improve Fresno streets and transit system? This agency wants your ideas
Fresno Bee
Tired of dangerous intersections, missing sidewalks and potholes? Want faster bus service and safer bike routes? Then share your ideas in this survey by Thursday, Oct. 22. There are also Spanish and Punjabi versions of the form.
See also:
● 2020 Transportation Needs Survey Fresno Council of Governments
GM to run robot cars in San Francisco without human backups
Los Angeles Times
General Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicle unit says it will pull the human backup drivers from its vehicles in San Francisco by the end of the year.
Spread of Electric Cars Sparks Fights for Control Over Charging
WSJ
Electric vehicles are widely seen as the automobile industry’s future, but a battle is unfolding in states across America over who should control the charging stations that could gradually replace fuel pumps.
Hit by pandemic, Amtrak is making cuts that may endure
Roll Call
With ridership still low and additional COVID-19 aid uncertain, the rail service has no clear path to restore reduced long-distance routes.
WATER
Just How Bad Is Calif’s Water Debt Problem? The State Isn’t Sure
Capital Public Radio
A statewide water shutoff moratorium has kept the tap on for Califns who haven’t been able to pay their water bill in the midst of the pandemic-driven economic crisis. But ratepayer debt has been accruing for months now, leading to revenue losses for water providers across the state.
“Xtra”
Miss going to the movies? AMC will rent you a theater for $99. Here’s what to know
Fresno Bee
AMC locations across the U.S. are renting out their theaters for private showings from a list of 17 movies, the company said on its website.
The do's and don'ts of celebrating a COVID-19 Halloween in Tulare County
Visalia Times Delta
The COVID-19 virus continues to spread throughout Tulare County. Many outbreaks have been traced back to large gatherings during holidays.
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute was established to honor the legacy of one of Calif’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
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