October 19, 2020

19Oct

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

​​ 

Millions in CARES Act funds went to nonworking employees in what Kern County says were necessary expenditures

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

​​ 

Supreme Court will review Trump plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from calculations for congressional seats

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

Covid19.ca.gov

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:

​​ 

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:

​​ 

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.

​​ 

Calif police got hundreds of calls about abuse in private ICE detention centers. Cases were rarely prosecuted

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.

​​ 

Test yourself with our new​​ free game: PolitiTruth

Think you can tell the difference between True and False?

Do you really know what is fake news?

​​ 

Support the​​ Maddy Daily

​​ 

HERE

​​ 

Thank you!

​​ 

​​ 

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.

 ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ 

This document is to be used for informational purposes​​ only. Unless specifically noted, The Maddy Institute does not officially endorse or support views that may be expressed in the document. If you want to print a story, please do so now before the link expires.

​​ 

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe: amyboam@csufresno.edu