POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Community member calls for censure of Councilman
Turlock Journal
As an effort to recall a Turlock City Council member continues, one member of the community has also called for an official censure of the elected official.
See also:
Coronavirus update: Stanislaus County remains in the red with state update.
Modesto Bee
In the first update since leaving the move restrictive purple tier a week ago, Stanislaus County was able to meet the criteria for staying in the red status of Calif’s “slow and stringent” coronavirus reopening program.
Schools gear up for return as Stanislaus County remains in red tier
Turlock Journal
Local public schools are preparing to welcome some students back to class following Stanislaus County’s transition into the red tier of Calif’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Central SJ Valley:
Fresno Co stays red in COVID-19 reopening. But case counts again threaten progress
Fresno Bee
Fresno County businesses, restaurants, churches and health clubs can stay open with limited indoor services for at least one more week after the Calif Department of Public Health kept the county in Tier 2 of the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy on Tuesday.
Fresno judge ‘forgives’ bulk of penalty against Immanuel School for in-person classes
Fresno Bee
A Fresno County judge has ordered Immanuel Schools and its superintendent Ryan Wood to pay $15,000 for violating a court order to stop in person teaching at the private school.
See also:
Madera County Close To Achieving Red Tier
Business Journal
Restaurants, churches and other businesses in Madera County will have to wait another week before reopening, though officials say if the trends keep this way, next week businesses can open their doors to customers.
Fresno Supervisors Move to Permit Themselves Guns in County Buildings
GVWire
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors has started the process that would allow them to carry concealed weapons in county buildings.
Here’s how Fresno’s new system for all-mail voting is going so far
Fresno Bee
The Fresno County Registrar of Voters Office has collected 108,343 ballot envelopes with two weeks left until Election Day. That is more than double the amount (46,279) collected 14 days before the 2016 election.
Elections department warns voters about unauthorized ballot drop boxes
Hanford Sentinel
After two reports of unauthorized ballot drop boxes being promoted in Kings County, the elections department wants to remind voters to be careful with their ballots.
Costa and Cookingham debate on KMPH postponed due to a possible COVID-19 exposure
Fresno Bee
A televised debate between the two District 16 congressional candidates was postponed due to a potential COVID-19 exposure. KMPH Fox 26 was scheduled to host the debate Tues. evening between Rep. Jim Costa, Fresno, and his Republican challenger, Kevin Cookingham.
TJ Cox and David Valadao went on the attack in debate for House seat: Here’s what happened
Fresno Bee
Rep. TJ Cox and his opponent, former Rep. David Valadao, called each other liars multiple times during a debate Tuesday night that mostly centered on their attack ads and the coronavirus pandemic.
EDITORIAL: It’s time to retire Devin Nunes from the 22nd District. Elect Phil Arballo for Congress
Fresno Bee
In advance of the March primary, The Bee recommended Phil Arballo for the 22nd Congressional District over incumbent Devin Nunes. There were excellent reasons to choose Arballo then, and those remain true today.
EDITORIAL: Election 2020: The Fresno Bee Editorial Board’s local and state recommendations
Fresno Bee
The Fresno Bee Editorial Board recommends the following candidates and choices for local measures and Calif state propositions. This list will be updated as editorials are published.
South SJ Valley:
COVID-19 update: county closer to red tier, work still needs to be done
Porterville Recorder
While Tulare County continues to head closer to moving into the red tier, the county's health department director said a great deal of work needs to be done before that happens.
Bakersfield Califn
Facebook posts calling for defunding local law enforcement agencies have prevented a local nonprofit organization from receiving more than a million dollars for a coronavirus outreach initiative.
State:
Californians Are Shattering Early Ballot Return Records. Will It Translate To Record-Breaking Turnout, Too?
Capital Public Radio
There are still two weeks until Election Day, and one in every six Calif voters has already returned their ballot, a number largely influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Becerra wants judge to make GOP give details on ballot boxes
Bakersfield Califn
Calif's Democratic attorney general sued the state Republican Party on Tuesday, asking a judge to make them hand over the names and contact information of every voter who used one of the GOP's unofficial ballot drop boxes.
See also:
Calif attorney general asks court to order GOP cooperation in ballot box investigation LA Times
AG Becerra takes ballot box fight to court CalMatters
Coronavirus updates: 5 Calif counties move tiers; update on sports, theme parks
Fresno Bee
With COVID-19 numbers plateauing in Calif, the state’s reopening progress shows some signs of slowing its pace.
See also:
Calif issues reopening guidelines for theme parks, outdoor stadiums after monthslong closures abc30
Large theme parks won't be opening for a while Porterville Recorder
New rules keep Disneyland and many other Calif theme parks closed for now LA Times
Federal:
Google Abuses Its Monopoly Power Over Search, Justice Department Says In Lawsuit
VPR
Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit Tues. against Google alleging the company of abusing its dominance over rivals by operating like a monopoly. This represents the gov's most significant legal action in more than 2 decades to confront a technology giant's power.
See also:
Justice Department files landmark antitrust case against Google LA Times
Google’s Exclusive Search Deals With Apple at Heart of U.S. Lawsuit WSJ
U.S. Accuses Google of Illegally Protecting Monopoly NY Times
Column: An antitrust case against Google is a good thing, but Trump’s involvement is not LA Times
Commentary: The Justice Department’s lawsuit against Google will not stop Big Tech’s abuses Brookings
EDITORIAL: The DOJ is taking the gloves off against Big Tech LA Times
PPP plan falls short in Senate as hope for COVID-19 aid wanes
Roll Call
Amid ongoing COVID-19 economic aid negotiations and the approaching election, the Senate effectively shot down on Tuesday a standalone proposal to authorize a second round of forgivable loans to small businesses.
See also:
White House, Democrats inch toward coronavirus stimulus package, including more checks LA Times
Coronavirus relief talks bleed past deadline amid lingering doubts Roll Call
Coronavirus Stimulus Talks Make Progress Despite Resistance WSJ
Fed’s Quarles Says Market Turmoil Triggered by Covid-19 Revealed Fragile Nonbank System WSJ
Tax records show Trump maintains a Chinese bank account: NYT
The Hill
President Trump's tax records show that China is one of three foreign countries where he maintains a bank account, The NY Times reported Tuesday.
See also:
Feinstein Faces Questions About Judiciary Committee Leadership
WSJ
Progressive groups’ calls for Sen. Dianne Feinstein to step down from her position as top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee have put a fresh spotlight on who will lead the powerful panel if the party wins back the Senate.
Justice Department Presses to Curtail Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Probe
WSJ
The Justice Department is urging a bankruptcy judge to limit a creditor probe of OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP into the billions of dollars in profits collected by the Sackler family members who own the company.
See also:
Purdue Pharma Reaches $8B Opioid Deal With Justice Department Over Oxycontin Sales VPR
Purdue Pharma agrees to plead guilty to federal criminal charges in settlement over opioid crisis Wash Post
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:
John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
Tracking coronavirus in Calif LA Times
Coronavirus Tracker SF Chronicle
How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico
Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Fin Times
Coronavirus in Calif by the numbers CalMatters
Elections 2020:
‘Holding our breath’: Will Latino turnout make a difference in these Calif House races?
Fresno Bee
Democrats’ get-out-the-vote campaign doesn’t look like the operation that turned out a surge of Latinos in 2018, when the party flipped seven Republican-held Calif congressional districts.
Here’s how Fresno’s new system for all-mail voting is going so far
Fresno Bee
The Fresno County Registrar of Voters Office has collected 108,343 ballot envelopes with two weeks left until Election Day. That is more than double the amount (46,279) collected 14 days before the 2016 election.
Elections department warns voters about unauthorized ballot drop boxes
Hanford Sentinel
After two reports of unauthorized ballot drop boxes being promoted in Kings County, the elections department wants to remind voters to be careful with their ballots.
If There's No Election Night Winner, Don't Panic
VPR
The pandemic has changed a lot about how we vote this year, including when we may find out who won. It's possible — because some rules have changed, and some haven't — that Nov. 3 could come and go without a clear answer as to who the next president will be.
See also:
When will my ballot be counted? The perks of voting early CalMatters
Election 2020 Voting Challenges: Early-Voting Waits, Mail Ballots and Court Battles WSJ
Californians Are Shattering Early Ballot Return Records. Will It Translate To Record-Breaking Turnout, Too?
Capital Public Radio
There are still two weeks until Election Day, and one in every six Calif voters has already returned their ballot, a number largely influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
See also
The USC Daybreak presidential poll
LA Times
The USC Dornsife Presidential Poll is back, offering insight into how voter’s attitudes change as election day approaches. Nicknamed the Daybreak poll, it updates each day just after midnight, this poll of more than 6,000 respondents predicts how the popular vote will be split.
See also:
Poll: Most Americans Don’t Think What Trump Says Is Based In Fact
Forbes
A slim majority, 51%, of Americans believe President Trump’s campaign messages are rarely or never based in fact, a new AP/NORC poll finds, reflecting a broader distrust among Americans in what politicians and government say and fears about misinformation in politics.
See also:
Column: Will Trumpism survive Trump? LA Times
Trump: Biden will 'listen to the scientists' if elected
The Hill
President Trump mockingly warned at his rally in Nevada late Sunday that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden would “listen to the scientists” if elected and there would be more lockdowns to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
See also:
After being her own boss, Kamala Harris embraces new role as Biden’s No. 2 LA Times
Financial Firms Gear Up for Biden and an Emboldened Consumer Watchdog WSJ
Fact Check: Will Joe Biden Raise Taxes if Elected President? Newsweek
Biden braces for Trump's attacks on Hunter at debate Politico
Commentary: Why do Biden supporters think they have a right to conservative and Republican votes? AEI
Healthcare for millions of Californians is on the line in the election
LA Times
Calif has done more over the last decade than almost any other state to expand health insurance, bolster services for its most vulnerable residents and improve the quality of its clinics and hospitals.
Q&A: What is the Commission on Presidential Debates, and where did it come from?
LA Times
The closing weeks of the 2020 presidential election have been shot through by controversy over when and how the main candidates will meet and debate.
See also:
A closer look at controversial propositions
CalMatters
You’ve probably heard that Prop. 15, one of the most controversial and high-profile measures on the November ballot, would heft taxes on some commercial properties to raise up to $11.5 billion annually for local governments and schools.
See also:
In Prop. 22, app-based companies ask voters to resolve what lawmakers would not LA Times
Good policy or ballot blackmail? Union keeps taking its fights with health industry to voters CalMatters
The Election Will Bring a Hurricane of Misinformation
Wired
In nature, hurricanes don’t suddenly appear; they draw energy from the speed of the wind, the temperature of the water, and the rotation of the earth. Hurricanes don’t suddenly disappear, either. Even after a storm recedes,
Activists brace for voter intimidation efforts on election day
LA Times
As a young lawyer for the New Jersey Democratic Party, Angelo Genova quickly realized something was amiss on election day in 1981. “Our team was getting calls left and right,” he said. “A lot of it was a blur.”
Other:
Study: Majority of millennials dissatisfied with democracy
The Hill
More millennials around the world are disillusioned with democracy than previous generations, according to a study released Monday by the University of Cambridge.
Opinion: What I Learned When QAnon Came for Me
NY Times
Before I became the center of a QAnon conspiracy theory, I followed the news about this internet cult with alarm, but also from afar. I saw it as a scary thing happening to people I didn’t know. Then QAnon followers sent me over a thousand death threats.
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: “Election Propositions: Valley Implications” - 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
Impossible Burger maker is hiring more than 100 scientists to develop meatless steak, fish and more
SF Chronicle
The creator of the wildly popular Impossible Burger is hoping to accelerate the invention of similarly convincing vegan meats by doubling its research team to create food like meat-free steak and lamb shank.
Mutual aid: When neighbors look to each other for pandemic relief
CalMatters
The mutual aid movement has sprung up across Calif as networks offer food and other forms of relief. But it’s too soon to tell if these groups will stick around beyond the pandemic.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Prop 20 would toughen Calif criminal penalties. Here’s how it works
Fresno Bee
Criminal justice is on the ballot this election. Calif voters are being called on to decide whether past ballot measures aimed at reducing incarceration statewide went too far.
Calif labor traffickers dodge convictions after state crackdown, report says
Fresno Bee
More than 3,000 Calif survivors of labor trafficking sought help from a state-funded program between 2016 and 2019, according to a new report from the Little Hoover Commission.
A Black woman will lead CHP for first time as Newsom appoints Amanda Ray to lead agency
Fresno Bee
A woman will lead the Calif Highway Patrol for the first time in the department’s history following the retirement of Commissioner Warren Stanley, according to a Tuesday news release.
Fake online review fraud: Calif agencies are not protecting consumers
CalMatters
Review websites are riddled with fake reviews foisted upon consumers by the tech companies who take advantage of federal legislation that holds them unaccountable for user generated content.
Carjackings, Delivery Vehicle Thefts Spike During Pandemic
PEW
Amid the pandemic, carjackings and thefts of unattended delivery vehicles have skyrocketed in some cities and counties.
Racial-Discrimination Settlements Usually Came With an NDA. That’s Changing.
WSJ
Building on the attitude shift spurred by #MeToo, employees demand exit agreements permit them to speak out about their alleged discrimination, and companies reconsider confidentiality restrictions.
Public Safety:
‘Victims of child abuse’: Calif survivors urge others to take action against Boy Scouts
Fresno Bee
For most of his life, Johnny O’Bannon buried the physical and sexual abuse he endured by his Boy Scout troop leader who was also a Fresno youth pastor.
San Quentin must release or transfer half its prisoners because of lack of COVID care, court rules
SF Chronicle
The failure to take proper safety measures at the 148-year-old prison is “morally indefensible and constitutionally untenable,” said the First District Court of Appeal in SF.
Fire:
Creek Fire update: Fresno County evacuations lifted; hot weather expected; 2,000+ acres added
Fresno Bee
The Creek Fire has grown to 352,339 acres and remained at 61% containment, according to an update Tuesday morning.
Court monitor slams PG&E for falling behind on wildfire tree trimming across Calif
Fresno Bee
PG&E Corp. is still missing dangerous trees in its quest to keep limbs from crashing into power lines and igniting major wildfires, a court-appointed investigator has found.
See also:
Sequoia Complex up to 73% contained
Porterville Recorder
Firefighters continued to make headway against the Sequoia Complex Fire as containment had reached 73 % as of Tuesday morning. As of Tuesday morning the fire had burned 168,595 acres.
See also:
SQF Complex updates: All evacuation orders lifted, Balch Park closes until 2022 Visalia Times Delta
Millions Of Homes Are At Risk Of Wildfires, But It's Rarely Disclosed
VPR
Jennifer Montano watches her two kids' faces as they quietly clamber out of the car in their driveway in Vacaville, Calif. It's been a week since the children were last home, but where their house once stood, there's ash and rubble now.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Local nonprofits struggling in wake of fundraiser cancellations
Turlock Journal
This year, there haven’t been many opportunities for Turlock’s most generous residents to contribute to worthy causes — and local organizations are hurting because of it.
Webinar will focus on how local businesses can reopen effectively
Bakersfield Califn
Resources for businesses looking to reopen during the pandemic will be the focus of a free webinar being hosted Wednesday by Cal State Bakersfield's Small Business Development Center.
Applying for PPP Forgiveness? Here Are Some Things to Know
WSJ
U.S. lenders issued more than five million forgivable loans through the federal government’s coronavirus aid initiative for small businesses, the Paycheck Protection Program.
U.S. Banking Regulator Backs New Liquidity Requirements
WSJ
The board of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. voted 3-1 to adopt the final rule to set a so-called net stable funding ratio, or NSFR. Other banking regulators, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve Board, were expected to follow suit.
Jobs:
Gap Inc. hiring about 400 Fresno workers for the holiday season. Here’s how to apply
Fresno Bee
The jobs include packing, assembling merchandise and preparing orders for shipment. The center is hiring to try and keep up with the expected surge in online demand this year, company officials said.
See also:
Gap Looking To Hire 400 In Fresno For E-commerce Business Journal
Many Workers Gave Up Looking for Jobs Across the U.S. in September
WSJ
Workers gave up looking for jobs across the U.S. in September, with the size of the labor force shrinking in more than half of the 30 states in which unemployment rates fell last month, Labor Department data released Tuesday showed.
How the Coronavirus Crisis Threatens to Set Back Women’s Careers
WSJ
A comprehensive new study by McKinsey and Lean In suggests that many women—especially mothers—may have to step back or away from jobs because of the pandemic’s impact on their lives.
Uber Weighs Calif Overhaul if Ballot Measure on Workers Fails
WSJ
Uber Technologies Inc. is considering an overhaul of its business in Calif if voters reject a ballot measure that would prevent the ride-hailing company’s drivers from being classified as employees.
See also:
Walters: A double whammy for jobless workers
CalMatters
The good news is that Calif’s economy seems to be inching its way out of the very severe recession triggered by business shutdowns Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Fresno judge ‘forgives’ bulk of penalty against Immanuel School for in-person classes
Fresno Bee
A Fresno County judge has ordered Immanuel Schools and its superintendent Ryan Wood to pay $15,000 for violating a court order to stop in person teaching at the private school.
See also:
Schools gear up for return as Stanislaus County remains in red tier
Turlock Journal
Local public schools are preparing to welcome some students back to class following Stanislaus County’s transition into the red tier of Calif’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Camp KEEP makes its virtual debut: it's not the same but educators call it the next best thing
Bakersfield Califn
Students won't be getting on a bus, bunking up in cabins on the Central Coast and hiking in the chaparral, but Roberts said that she and her naturalists tried to pack as much of the Camp KEEP experience into the remote learning experience as possible.
Modesto City Schools board OKs waiver application for TK-6. See what’s changed
Modesto Bee
With a few revisions, the Modesto City Schools Board of Education on Monday night approved submitting an updated waiver application to reopen elementary schools for in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who Is Losing Ground with Distance Learning in Calif?
PPIC
The resurgence of COVID-19 over the summer and the predicted fall increase in cases means that many districts will continue some form of distance learning for months to come.
Calif schools see big jump in number of homeless students
EdSource
Calif’s escalating cost of living has led to a 48% surge in the state’s homeless student population over the past decade, according to new research released today by researchers at UCLA.
Are The Risks Of Reopening Schools Exaggerated?
VPR
Despite widespread concerns, two new international studies show no consistent relationship between in-person K-12 schooling and the spread of the coronavirus. And a third study from the United States shows no elevated risk to childcare workers who stayed on the job.
See also:
Walters: When will Calif schools reopen? CalMatters
DeVos says it isn't Dept of Ed's job to track schools' coronavirus reopening plans The Hill
Higher Ed:
After serving prison time, these students excel in Fresno State program. How it works
Fresno Bee
After working for three months as a tutor at Fresno City College in 2016, Khoi Quach got a call that he needed to go to the campus police station.
CSUB Breaks Ground On Hall Family Plaza
CSUB
Calif State University, Bakersfield President Dr. Lynnette Zelezny joined Lavonne C. Hall on the concourse of the Icardo Center Tuesday afternoon for an intimate ceremony to break ground on the Harvey L. Hall Family Plaza project.
Fresno City College officials work on improving parking as campus remains closed
abc30
For decades, students and faculty alike have asked for more on-campus parking. Now, closure due to the pandemic has a silver lining.
Historic $100-million gift will help Calif community college students most in need
LA Times
The Calif Community Colleges system announced Tuesday that it has received the largest ever gift to such institutions in the nation — $100 million — to help more students complete degrees, transfer to universities and support their basic living expenses.
See also:
Fresno-area students can benefit from ‘historic’ donation, believed to be largest ever Fresno Bee
Calif Community Colleges Get $100 Million Gift for Financial Aid WSJ
Editorial: Bad policies are turning colleges into COVID-19 hotbeds
LA Times
Brigham Young University’s Idaho campus is investigating reports that its students have been intentionally exposing themselves to the new coronavirus in hopes that after the illness passes their blood will have money-making antibodies.
Feds say US colleges 'massively' underreport foreign funding
Bakersfield Califn
A scathing report from the Trump administration on Tuesday concluded that top U.S. universities have “massively underreported” funding they accept from China, Russia and other nations described as “foreign adversaries.”
Apprenticeships:
It Pays To Be An Apprentice: 63% More
VPR
An apprenticeship program that matches employers with community colleges has launched graduates into middle class careers and could be a way to address the flagging fortunes of Americans lacking four-year degrees, according to a study published Monday.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
In worrying sign, Calif’s greenhouse gas emissions rise in latest tally
SF Chronicle
Calif’s greenhouse gas emissions rose slightly in 2018, a worrying sign for a state committed to ambitiously slashing climate-warming emissions in the coming decades.
Commentary: Climate policy, environmental justice and local air pollution
Brookings
Thousands of communities across the U.S. are exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution. The regulatory framework designed to safeguard air quality is failing to adequately address local pollution problems, particularly in low income communities and communities of colors.
Energy:
Calif Energy Leaders Meet, Talk Details of Carbon Neutral Future
Capital Public Radio
With deadly and destructive wildfires coming year after year, and future climate scenarios looking dire, Calif government leaders and private sector innovators are meeting this week to figure out how the state can meet its long term climate change mitigation goals.
Gov. Newsom expected to be sued after issuing new fracking permits
CalMatters
The news comes a day after Newsom delivered the keynote speech at a major event devoted to Calif clean energy policy and less than a month after he tasked the state Legislature with halting new fracking permits by 2024.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Fresno, nearby counties push past 70K COVID-19 cases. What the region’s curve looks like
Fresno Bee
A day after Fresno County accumulated its 30,000th confirmed coronavirus infection, the central San Joaquin Valley on Tuesday passed 70,000 cases since the first local instances of COVID-19 were identified in early March.
See also:
Coronavirus update: death toll tops 1,000 in central San Joaquin Valley Fresno Bee
Coronavirus update: Stanislaus deaths at 393; positive rate at 2-week low Modesto Bee
U.S. deaths are about 300,000 higher than expected since the coronavirus arrived LA Times
Coronavirus spreading ‘uncontrollably’ in much of U.S. — but not Calif. Here’s why SF Chronicle
New U.S. Coronavirus Cases Increase for Third Straight Day WSJ
Studies Point To Big Drop In COVID-19 Death Rates
VPR
Two new peer-reviewed studies are showing a sharp drop in mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The drop is seen in all groups, including older patients and those with underlying conditions, suggesting physicians are getting better at helping patients survive.
U.K. Preparing COVID-19 Vaccine Trials That Deliberately Expose Study Subjects
VPR
Researchers in Britain are preparing to start a controversial COVID-19 "human challenge" study in which dozens of healthy volunteers will be exposed to live coronavirus in an effort to speed up vaccine development.
See also:
COVID-19 Patients Swamp Rural Hospitals
PEW
The nation’s pandemic hotspots have shifted to rural communities, overwhelming small hospitals that are running out of beds or lack the intensive care units for more than one or two seriously ill patients.
The overwhelming aftershocks of the pandemic
Axios
The coronavirus pandemic will wreak havoc on the U.S. health care system long after it ends — whenever that may be.
Human Services:
United Health Center Opens in Clovis
Clovis RoundUp
There is no better time than now to open a health care center in Clovis. The first United Health Center in Clovis opened its doors Monday, Oct. 19 at 2497 E. Herndon Ave, Suite #103 by Magnolia Pediatrics.
10,000 surgical masks donated to Stanislaus County
Modesto Bee
The Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of SF Bay Area donated masks to aid Stanislaus County's most vulnerable citizens. Officials held a small outdoor ceremony at 10th Street Place in Modesto to accept the donation.
Some Calif Hospitals Refused Covid-19 Transfers for Financial Reasons, State Emails Show
WSJ
Disaster-response experts said refusals and delays exposed some hospitals who put finances ahead of pandemic relief. Some instances may have violated federal law that protects access to emergency care, in other instances the actions ran counter to medical ethics.
New Law Creates 988 Hotline For Mental Health Emergencies
VPR
President Trump has signed into law a bipartisan bill to create a three-digit number for mental health emergencies. The FCC had already picked 988 as the number for this hotline and aims to have it up and running by July 2022. The new law paves the way to make that a reality.
A Big Alzheimer's Drug Study Is Proceeding Cautiously Despite The Pandemic
VPR
After cases began emerging worldwide, thousands of clinical trials unrelated to COVID-19 were paused or canceled amid fears that participants would be infected. But now some researchers are finding ways to carry on in spite of the coronavirus.
African American, Latinx Communities In “Survival Mode” As Pandemic Enters Seventh Month
Capital Public Radio
African Americans and Latinx people continue to bear the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, the 2 groups have been more likely to test positive for the virus, die from the virus, and become unemployed due to the economic shutdowns.
Covid-19 Vaccines to Be Stored Secretly Under Tight Security
WSJ
Health authorities, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies are storing Covid-19 vaccines in secure, undisclosed locations and taking other steps to protect the shots against a looming threat: theft.
See also:
Unprecedented vaccine trials on track to begin delivering results Wash Post
Pfizer Sets Up Its ‘Biggest Ever’ Vaccination Distribution Campaign WSJ
The Affordable Care Act's Fate Is In Flux But 2021 Health Plan Prices Are Stable
VPR
Facing a pandemic, record unemployment and unknown future costs for COVID-19 treatments, health insurers selling Affordable Care Act plans to individuals reacted by lowering rates in some areas and, overall, issuing only modest premium increases for 2021.
IMMIGRATION
Supreme Court agrees to rule on Trump’s immigration policies, but not until next year
LA Times
The Supreme Court agreed to render a verdict on the legality of Trump’s use of military funds to pay for an expanded border wall as well as his “Remain in Mexico” policy preventing migrants seeking asylum from waiting in the U.S. until their claims are heard.
Wash Post
Months before the Trump administration rolled out its “zero-tolerance” policy on the U.S.-Mexico border, hundreds of migrant children were already being separated from their families with little fanfare.
See also:
Commentary: The day that America lost $100 billion because of an immigration visa ban
Brookings
June 22, 2020, Trump issued an executive order restricting the entry of individuals seeking to enter the country on a nonimmigrant work visa.
Study finds no crime increase in cities that adopted ‘sanctuary’ policies, despite Trump claims
Wash Post
Cities that have adopted so-called “sanctuary” policies did not record an increase in crime as a result of their decision to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, according to a new Stanford University report.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
City Council Approves Development at Clovis and Dakota Intersection
Clovis RoundUp
The Clovis city council held their last meeting of the month on Monday, Oct. 19. One of the items discussed was the proposed rezoning of approximately 30 acres located near Clovis Avenue and Dakota Avenue.
With fire threatening, national parks turn to UC Merced for help preserving history
Turlock Journal
Ward Eldredge warily monitored the fire’s progress. As curator of the archives of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, he deliberated what would need to be done if the nearby Castle Fire continued its approach toward the parks’ headquarters.
Housing:
Councilmember wants Fresno to sue state over homeless encampments
abc30
The areas along many Fresno freeways and off-ramps are being littered with debris and large homeless encampments - and it appears the persistent problem has only gotten worse since the pandemic hit.
Fresno Real Estate Enters The Virtual Realm
Business Journal
Just as art imitates life, demand for virtual Bay Area real estate in an online game has spilled over and now developers of “Upland” have added Fresno properties to its “metaverse.”
Housing projects on Council agenda
Hanford Sentinel
At today's 6:30 p.m. regular meeting of the Porterville City Council discussions will be had regarding two different proposed housing developments, the Pacific Rim Commercial Mixed-Use project and the Citrus Blossom Subdivision project.
Brundage Lane Navigation Center prepares to open doors to local homeless population
Bakersfield Califn
The new adult-only homeless shelter will begin accepting clients Monday. The facility, located at 1900 E. Brundage Lane, occupies what was formerly a Calcot warehouse that was approved as the newest homeless shelter in Bakersfield in January.
County seeks input on how to spend homeless grant
Turlock Journal
Stanislaus County is looking for community input on how best to use more than $22 million allocated to the region to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Editorial: This is the wrong time to overhaul Calif’s property tax law. Vote no on Prop. 15
Modesto Bee
Calif’s method of property taxation is an unholy mess — so much so that at some point we need to throw it out and start over.
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
Calif High-Speed Rail Authority publishes 2020 Sustainability Report
RailPage
Calif High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has released its 2020 Sustainability Report: Building Resilience. The annual report details ongoing efforts to advance the nation’s largest and greenest infrastructure project and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in transportation.
WATER
Locals speak up for the Kern River at the State Water Board
SJV Water
Love was overflowing for the Kern River Tuesday at the State Water Resources Control Board’s monthly meeting. A slew of Bakersfield locals told board members how much an actual, wet river means for residents.
Eastern Coachella Valley residents urge the state for action on the Salton Sea
CalMatters
We represent a group of East Coachella Valley residents optimistic about the future of the Salton Sea and the surrounding communities. That is why we are working to ensure our communities see meaningful benefits from the sea’s restoration.
How Water Justice Groups View Groundwater Sustainability Planning
PPIC
Over-pumping of groundwater has caused domestic wells to go dry in the San Joaquin Valley. Yet many of the first round of plans prepared to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) do not yet propose ways to address this problem.
“Xtra”
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers Coming to Clovis
Clovis RoundUp
At a City Council Meeting, the council approved of a drive-thru restaurant to be located in the Sierra Pavilion Shopping Center on the corner of Shaw and Cole. This restaurant will be located in the building formerly occupied by the Pier 1 Imports store which recently closed.
How do you prepare for a Pandemic Halloween? Answers to your questions in Q&A Wednesday
Modesto Bee
Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos are fast approaching, and we know there are questions about what is safe for celebrating. Are there ways to do trick-or-treating safely?
Do we need a COVID-19 video game? How about 51 games? I think we might
LA Times
Surrounded, concerned and frustrated by our current pandemic, I certainly didn’t want COVID-19 to enter my game-playing time. The virus and its effects had consumed enough of my life.
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?
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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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