October 22, 2014

22Oct

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Political Briefs

Top stories

Online fundraising is boosting candidate war chests in California – An online fundraising revolution has helped propel California congressional candidates to new heights. Take two Democratic challengers for House seats in the state’s San Joaquin Valley, Michael Eggman and Amanda Renteria. In their uphill bids to unseat GOP incumbents, both have relied on ActBlue, a Cambridge, Mass.-based outfit that describes itself as an “online toolset” connecting donors to candidates and causes.  McClatchy Newspapers article

AD21: Dirty tricks alleged in Merced-area campaign – Republicans are illegally funneling big money to Jack Mobley’s campaign in a late push to unseat Adam Gray in the California Assembly, says a complaint to state ethics enforcers filed by a Democratic activist from Ceres. Mobley’s camp denied the charge and called the complaint “fabricated.”  Modesto Bee article

Gov. Brown

Joel Fox: The enigmatic Jerry Brown and a fourth term – Enigmatic and full of surprises is a good depiction of Jerry Brown. Focusing on the issues reported in the Times article, an agenda of reducing regulations, fewer laws and tax reform would boost the economy. The big question, if Brown gets elected and holds tight to such a program, can he accomplish those goals with the majority in the legislature? For the time being, it seems that on a number of issues, at least, I’m traveling on the same train as Gov. Brown–well not THAT train!  Fox in Fox & Hounds

Jerry Brown makes key state personnel appointments – Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday appointed Richard Gillihan to head the California Department of Human Resources, where he has served in an acting role since February.  Sacramento Bee article

Jerry Brown bets pizza on World Series – In the tradition of friendly bets made by politicians on their sports teams in big games, the World Series offers this: California Gov. Jerry Brown put pizza on the San Francisco Giants and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is offering ribs.  Sacramento Bee article; LA Times article
Valley politics

CD21: Amanda Renteria’s team cheers early ballot returns in race against David Valadao – No independent money is pouring in. The Washington Beltway crowd has largely stopped paying attention. But 21st Congressional District Democratic challenger Amanda Renteria says early mail ballot returns show she’s in a competitive race against incumbent Hanford Republican David Valadao.  Fresno Bee article

Election Preview on Valley Edition – With the November election just two weeks away, we invited two political experts to bring us the latest buzz around the candidates, from Andy Vidak and Luis Chavez to Ashley Swearengin and Betty Yee. Fresno State Political Science professor Jeff Cummins and Capital Public Radio’s Capitol Bureau Chief Ben Adler joined the discussion on Valley Edition in a special election preview.  KVPR report

AD26: Two Republicans are in race to succeed Connie Conway – It’s a sure bet that termed-out Republican Assembly leader Connie Conway of Tulare will be replaced by another Republican in the November election for 26th Assembly District. The choice is between Rudy Mendoza, a Woodlake council member and mayor who is backed by the Republican establishment, and Devon Mathis, a military veteran and veterans advocate from Visalia who has vowed to fight politics as usual. They are seeking to represent a geographically large district that includes much of Tulare County, a chunk of northern Kern County and all of Inyo County.  Fresno Bee article

Analysis:  Nothing much has changed in Kings Pedersen-Bond matchup – The arguments made by District 4 county supervisor candidates Craig Pedersen and Justin Bond have been repeated for months, and they aren’t really changing with 15 days to Election Day. The only thing left to accomplish? Knock on doors, make the phone calls and hammer it home for anybody who’s still undecided.  Hanford Sentinel article

Farm Bureau past presidents make endorsement in San Joaquin County supervisor race – Six former presidents of the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation endorsed Russ Munson in the race for a seat on the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, according to a release from his campaign.  Stockton Record article

Lois Henry: A comparison to Bakersfield? Ah, a kiss of death – Yeah, that’s right, a candidate running for San Luis Obispo County supervisor has put out mailers urging voters to keep her in office so her opponent doesn’t “turn South County into Bakersfield.”  Henry column in Bakersfield Californian

Statewide politics/Ballot Measures

Swearengin attacked by labor group in California controller’s race – A labor-backed independent expenditure committee has started sending out mailers criticizing Ashley Swearengin, the Republican candidate for California controller in a sign that the contest has tightened leading up to the Nov. 4 election.  Sacramento Bee article

Madera community split on Prop 48, casino plan – In just a few weeks Proposition 48 will ask California voters to approve or reject a plan to build a new Indian casino on Highway 99 north of Madera. Members of the North Fork Rancheria say it’s a vital importance to the future of their tribe while critics, largely backed by other casinos, say it would set a dangerous precedent for what they call “reservation shopping.” KVPR report

Dan Walters: Prop 48 is new episode in California’s long-running Indian saga – The multibillion-dollar casino gambling monopoly that Indian tribes enjoy is one of California’s most remarkable cultural and political sagas – and it’s not over yet.  Walters column in Sacramento Bee

Bakersfield Californian: Re-elect Brown: The right man at the right time – Moving forward will require the steady hand of a proven leader. Jerry Brown again is the right man at the right time.  Bakersfield Californian editorial

Kashkari pounds Brown on teacher tenure in new ad – Republican gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari, who stirred controversy with an ad depicting a drowning boy, returned to the teacher-tenure issue to pound Gov. Jerry Brown in a new TV ad that debuted Tuesday.  San Francisco Chronicle articleCapitol Alert

State Sen. Anthony Cannella and Assemblymember Adam Gray: Water bond really is in the Valley’s best interest – Cannella (R-Ceres) and Gray (D-Merced) write, “It is time to move forward. We have spent much of this year working to craft a good bond measure and are now jointly campaigning, a Democrat and a Republican, for its passage. Proposition 1 is good and, more importantly, essential, to our quality of life in the Valley. Join us in voting Yes on Proposition 1.”  Cannella/Gray op-ed in Modesto Bee

Curtis Knight/Steve Rothert: Water bond is good for the environment – Knight executive director of California Trout, and Rothert, California regional director for American Rivers, write, “Like most of California’s leading conservation organizations, we believe that Proposition 1 puts the state’s environment and economy on the right path toward a sustainable future.” Knight/Rothert op-ed in Sacramento Bee

Ballot measure would overhaul rainy day fund – California would revamp its little-used rainy day fund to pay down billions in pension obligations and other debt and to provide a larger cushion against future economic downturns under a measure voters will decide in November.  AP article

Tony Quinn: Something new: cross party appeal – Have we ever had a more dismal election?  For the first time in 60 years there is no serious race for governor, nor any other partisan statewide office.  Voters in competitive districts are exposed to the usual swarm of campaign mailers.  But one thing is new this year; candidates in same party runoffs are making serious appeals across party lines, further evidence that our new “top two” primary is working as it should.  Quinn in Fox & Hounds

Beyond the airwaves, Prop 46 backers and opponents use grassroots tactics – The battle over Proposition 46, the medical malpractice and drug testing initiative, has led to a deluge of TV and radio ads, mostly from the opposition. But although the fight on the airwaves may be the most visible element of the campaign, both sides are also using grassroots tactics to get their message out.  LA Times article

Ralph Nader urges Jerry Brown to support Prop 46 – Ralph Nader, the consumer activist who ran repeatedly for president as a third-party candidate, urged Gov. Jerry Brown Tuesday to publicly support Proposition 46, the ballot initiative that would more than quadruple the limit on medical malpractice awards.  Capitol Alert

Latino vote remains sleeping giant of California electorate – If you’re not registered to vote yet, you won’t be able to vote in the November 4 election. The deadline to sign up was Monday. A non-partisan group called Voto Latino might be able to claim credit for a few last-minute filers – but the Latino vote remains the sleeping giant of California politics. The California Report (audio)

Other areas

Big donors dominated California congressional primaries, report says – A small group of deep-pocketed contributors to California’s congressional primary campaigns this election season outpaced a larger group of modest donors, an analysis by a watchdog group has found.  LA Times article

City Beat:  Would strong mayor be good for Sacramento?  Experts say it depends – Political analysts, academics and elected officials who study city government said Johnson’s strong-mayor plan would likely make the city move. But the direction of that movement – and whether it would be a good thing for Sacramento – could depend upon who is occupying the mayor’s seat.  Sacramento Bee article

Foon Rhee: Will big-money strong-mayor campaign scare voters? – Depending which side you’re on, it would be agonizingly ironic – or deliciously fitting – if the immense piles of cash being poured into Sacramento’s strong-mayor campaign backfired in defeat on Nov. 4.  Rhee column in Sacramento Bee

Rhee spars with Hansen over money in strong mayor race – Opponents of the strong mayor measure on the November ballot have consistently criticized the amount of money proponents have raised from special interests. On Tuesday, Mayor Kevin Johnson’s wife tried to turn the tables on City Councilman Steve Hansen, lead spokesman for the opposition campaign.  Sacramento Bee article

Sacramento Bee: How campaign donations are like jumbo shrimp – Like jumbo shrimp, campaign contribution limit is an oxymoron.  Sacramento Bee editorial

Feinstein’s fundraising plea for Democratic majority – Dianne Feinstein sent out a fundraising letter Tuesday on behalf of Democratic Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado, who is trailing Republican challenger Cory Gardener. “I’ve never been more worried about the fate of the Senate than I am today,” Feinstein writes in her opening line.  San Francisco Chronicle article

LA County Oks contract to design new touch-screen voting system – Los Angeles County is moving to overhaul the way millions of residents vote by replacing the antiquated, ink-based balloting system with modern touch-screen machines.  LA Times article

Minimum-wage votes may maximize Democrats’ voter turnout – Looking to motivate younger people, minorities and others in their base to go to the polls on Nov. 4, the party has put questions on the ballot in five states asking voters whether the minimum wage should be increased. The issue is also a near-constant topic on the campaign trail, as Democrats work to identify themselves as stalwarts for the middle class and to paint Republicans — who typically oppose raising the wage because they say it will lead to job cuts — as uncaring.  AP article

News Briefs

Top Stories

More than 5 million in state live near oil or gas well, report says – More than 5 million Californians — most of them in Los Angeles and Kern counties — live near an oil or gas well, and expanding drilling in the state could increase their exposure to health risks, according to a report released Wednesday by a national environmental group.  LA Times article

Property values rising: Stanislaus leads the state – Stanislaus County property values had the highest year-over-year increase in California, rising 11.4 percent to $39.7 billion for the 2014-15 tax year. Merced County’s 9.3 percent increase to $19.4 billion ranked second, and San Joaquin County’s 8.8 percent increase to $61 billion was the fourth highest percentage gain among California’s 58 counties.  Modesto Bee articleMerced Sun-Star article

 

In Times of Drought: Nine economic facts about water in the U.S. – This Hamilton Project memo presents nine economic facts that provide relevant background context to the water crisis in the United States.  Brookings website

Jobs and the Economy

South Valley property values jump 5.5 percent – A recovering real estate market is causing property values to climb in the southern San Joaquin Valley, State Board of Equalization Member George Runner said Tuesday.  Hanford Sentinel article

Oil industry huddles on ways to sway public opinion – Still stinging from last year’s passage of California’s first fracking law, petroleum industry representatives in Bakersfield Tuesday shared ideas for swaying public opinion to head off regulatory activity they warned could kill jobs, raise gas prices and increase reliance on foreign oil. Bakersfield Californian article

Stockton Record: Jobless rate down, hope for economy up – It’s important to seize momentum, move forward and hopefully draw some new employers to the area. Stockton Record editorial

Chukchansi sets times for laid-off workers to pick up belongings – Workers laid off from the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in the wake of its recent closure can clean out their lockers in the coming week, spokesman Roger Salazar said. Fresno Bee article

‘First Look’:  CraSh Lounge brings upscale vibe downtown – CraSh Lounge is a new upscale cosmopolitan bar/restaurant that Shawna Haddad-Byers had envisioned for a while, and on Wednesday her vision is becoming a reality.  Bakersfield Californian article

Some councilmembers want to slow down LA’s minimum wage proposal – Five members of the Los Angeles city council put forward a proposal Tuesday that would slow down the city’s push toward increasing the minimum wage by calling for a full economic study on how businesses and non-profits could be affected by higher wages. KPCC report

TV production in LA jumps 31 percent in third quarter – Even as local feature film shoots continued to fall, location shoots for television programs generated 5,362 production days in the third quarter, up 31% from the same period a year ago, according to newly released figures from FilmL.A. Inc.  LA Times article

Golden Gate Bridge considers charging bicyclists, pedestrians – Expect to see a sea of spandex filling the usually staid chambers of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District on Friday when directors consider charging a toll for bicyclists and pedestrians to cross the landmark bridge.  San Francisco Chronicle article

Agriculture/Water/Drought

Merced County leaders talk about groundwater ordinance – Exactly how Merced County would implement a proposed groundwater ordinance drew concern from agriculture advocates Monday, when the Board of Supervisors got its first look at a mandate that would regulate well-drilling and out-of-county water sales.  Merced Sun-Star article

Turlock Irrigation District will rehab small reservoir – A small, abandoned reservoir near Hilmar will go back to work in a project that conserves water for the Turlock Irrigation District. Its board voted 4-0 Tuesday for the $2.16 million project, which will capture water that now spills into the Merced River when the Highline Canal has unexpectedly high flows.  Modesto Bee article

New quarantine area in Kern for citrus pest – A new extended quarantine zone south of Bakersfield was mandated Tuesday by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 12 days after an adult Asian citrus psyllid was found in a trap.  Bakersfield Californian article

Kaiser Permanente awards $500,000 in grants for Fresno County drought impacts – Kaiser Permanente will provide $500,000 in grants to help assist Fresno County residents affected by the state’s most severe drought on record, a company spokeswoman said Spokeswoman Kerri Leedy said the drought-relief grants will assist those with limited access to food, drinking water, healthcare and other services.  Fresno Bee article

California tomato growers expect record year despite drought – The drought has California farmers leaving thousands of acres fallow this year. But growers still chose to plant processing tomatoes.  Capital Public Radio report

Drought, drawdowns and the death of the Salton Sea – The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake at 370 square miles, once supported resorts that drew celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Jerry Lewis. It is now in danger of shrinking by half. LA Times article

Criminal Justice/Prisons

Alleged Taft school shooter to remain in custody on $1.5 million bail – Alleged school shooter Bryan Oliver will remain in custody on $1.5 million bail, a judge ruled Tuesday. Deputy Public Defender Paul Cadman, Oliver’s attorney, had asked the bail be lowered to $100,000 following the dismissal of charges of assault with a gun on a person. Oliver remains charged with two counts of attempted murder and prosecutors say he faces a life sentence if convicted.  Bakersfield Californian article

Atwater police hiring triggers controversy – A former Merced Police Department sergeant who was fired in 2010 after allegations of time-card fraud and was subsequently placed on a list of officers whose credibility could be questioned in court is poised to be hired by the Atwater Police Department as a reserve officer.  Merced Sun-Star article

Selma police cameras installed in downtown, park – Video policing cameras have been installed in Selma, the police department announced Tuesday. The cameras are now policing the downtown area and W.H. Schafer Park, the largest and most heavily used recreational facility in the city, Selma police said.  Fresno Bee article

LAPD often deploys fewer patrol officers than needed, review finds – The number of police officers patrolling some of Los Angeles’ most crime-ridden areas routinely falls short of the Police Department’s staffing needs, according to an internal report reviewed by The Times.  LA Times article

Cop killer’s speech spurs new Pennsylvania victim rights law – People in Pennsylvania can now take civil action against offenders for conduct that causes a “continuing effect of the crime,” drawing the ire of civil rights advocates who say the law violates the 1st Amendment.  LA Times article

Education

UC leaders consider limiting out-of-state enrollment – The University of California is beginning to have second thoughts about its highly successful effort to bring more out-of-state students onto its campuses.  LA Times article

Taft Union High civil trial set for next year – A trial date has been set for next year in a civil suit tied to the Taft Union High School shooting that left a student critically injured last year. On Tuesday, Kern County Superior Court Judge David Lampe set the trial for next Aug. 3. The family of Bowe Cleveland, the injured student, sued the district for damages April 30, 2013.  Bakersfield Californian article

Report urges revamping student testing – With a nod to California, a new report suggests overhauling how school and student success is measured in the United States. The report, by the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education and the National Center for Innovation in Education at the University of Kentucky, recommends alternatives to annual standardized tests. It says there should be far more emphasis on ongoing assessments of students as part of regular classroom instruction.  EdSource article

Education Secretary says time to debate preschool is over – U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan told a conference of preschool advocates in Los Angeles Tuesday that the value of early education to young children is undisputed and the effort should shift to expanding it to more kids.  KPCC report

Linda Darling-Hammond: Teacher training is getting better – The chairwoman of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing writes, “Education is on the move in California, and ensuring the highest quality standards, preparation and mentoring for our new teachers and principals is a critical linchpin of our state’s renaissance.” Darling-Hammond op-ed in Sacramento Bee

Career Industry Day exposes students to many choices – More than 1,000 high school sophomores from throughout Merced County and Chowchilla got a better understanding of their future career options and the education necessary to get them there at a Career Industry Day on Tuesday at the county fairgrounds.  Merced Sun-Star article

San Joaquin Head Start: Stability is the new name of the game – The recent history of Head Start programs in San Joaquin County has been marred by investigation into management problems, financial shortfalls and a poor grade from the federal officials overseeing the programs designed to give thousands of children a better chance to escape poverty through preschool education and preparation. But those rough spots are done, and they are just a blip in the decades the nonprofit Head Start Child Development Council has been operating the programs in the county, said Linda Butterfield, the organization’s new executive director.  Stockton Record article

UC Merced Connect:  Researcher looks at psychology of healing – How patients perceive and talk about their illnesses can have an impact on how they recover and heal, according to a growing area of health research being furthered by UC Merced health psychology professor Jitske Tiemensma.  Merced Sun-Star article

Education Secretary Duncan talks tech with LA Unified’s Cortines –  U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, in a brief visit to Los Angeles on Tuesday, met with newly installed L.A. Unified Supt. Ramon C. Cortines to talk about local technology problems and the state of local schools.  LA Times article

Energy/Environment

Photographing Bakersfield: ‘A thick brown film hanging over the town’ – Last month, the editors of Time Magazine featured an online piece about the community which they say has the worst air in the nation – Bakersfield. It showed pictures of residents struggling to breathe air filled with dust, pollution from refineries, and smog trapped by the Tehachapi Mountains. But unlike many national publications that document the ills facing the valley, this particular feature had a local connection – for the photojournalist who took the shots is herself a Bakersfield native.  KVPR report

Loan program helps Stanislaus area homes and businesses conserve energy – A new loan program helps with energy and water conservation projects at homes and businesses in seven cities in and near Stanislaus County. The program, detailed Tuesday at a news conference in Modesto, allows borrowers to repay the money through their property tax bills over as many as 20 years.  Modesto Bee article

State sues Army over Riverbank ammo waste – The Army has done a lousy job of dealing with hazardous waste since closing its Riverbank ammunition plant five years ago, California health enforcers say in a lawsuit against the Army.  Modesto Bee article

Southland bad air days jump in 2014: Hot, stagnant weather blamed – Hot, stagnant weather in Southern California pushed smog levels above federal health standards on 94 days in 2014, up from 88 last year, regional pollution regulators say.  LA Times article

Health/Human Services

Portrait of health, well being in California’s Latino children – Just over half of all children in California are Latino — that’s more than 4.7 million kids under age 18. In a major new analysis, researchers found a diverse picture of their health and well-being, not just when compared against white children, but also within the Latino population itself.  KQED report

Nurses to Jerry Brown:  California isn’t ready for Ebola – The state’s largest nurses union said Tuesday that no California hospital is prepared to treat an Ebola patient, as it pressed Gov. Jerry Brown to require increased training and protective equipment for nurses.  Capitol AlertLA Times article

No Ebola in Kern, but local health officials preach preparedness – Officials at the Kern County Department of Public Health sought Tuesday to ease the public’s fears regarding ebola, while at the same time assure area residents they are actively reviewing care and containment procedures should an active case be diagnosed here. Bakersfield Californian article

Passengers from Ebola-stricken counties to use five U.S. airports – Passengers flying to the U.S. from three Ebola-stricken countries will have to fly into one of five designated American airports for additional screening, including having their temperature taken, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced Tuesday. LA Times article

California coughs up $18 billion in smoking-related costs – A new study from UC San Francisco offers some stark details on the impact of tobacco use in California. The study reveals more than 34,000 Californians died from smoking-related causes in 2009, the latest figures available for the research. That includes deaths from cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses.  KPBS reportSan Francisco Chronicle article

In a first, Healdsburg bans under-21 tobacco sales – The Wine Country city of Healdsburg, known for enticing tourists with a hedonistic blend of fresh food and drink, now has another distinction: It’s the first place in California to ban tobacco sales to anyone under 21.  San Francisco Chronicle article

Children’s Hospital, Adventist join forces on rural care – Children’s Hospital Central California and Adventist Health/Central Valley Network have formed a partnership that aims to improve rural health care services for Valley children.  The Business Journal articleFresno Bee article

Medical costs up to 20 percent higher at hospital-owned physician groups, study finds – Raising fresh questions about healthcare consolidation, a new study shows hospital ownership of physician groups in California led to 10% to 20% higher costs overall for patient care.  LA Times article

Land Use/Housing

New Lodi home project first in years – Construction on Lodi’s first new home development in years — a decade according to the developer — is well under way on the 230-home Rose Gate project at Lodi Avenue and Lower Sacramento Road.  Stockton Record article

Sacramento County drops proposed limits on temporary homeless shelters – Sacramento County officials satisfied local homeless advocates Tuesday by removing limits on temporary shelters from a zoning code proposal.  Sacramento Bee article

Judge tosses San Francisco law meant to shield evicted tenants – San Francisco apartment owners scored a major victory Tuesday when a federal judge declared unconstitutional the city’s attempt to shield evicted tenants from soaring rents by substantially increasing the relocation fees the tenants must be paid by landlords who decide to get out of the rental business.  San Francisco Chronicle article

Transportation

Bakersfield council to consider mammoth Beltway project – Nine years after former Congressman Bill Thomas secured $630 million in federal earmarks for area roads, the Bakersfield City Council will consider spending more than $91.5 million at once Wednesday, on the largest single project in its roads program’s history.  Bakersfield Californian article

Motorcycle lane-splitting study finds:  the more speed, the more danger – A year-long California study of motorcycle lane-splitting has concluded the practice is no more dangerous than motorcycling in general, if the rider is traveling at speeds similar to or only slightly faster than the surrounding traffic. The maneuver becomes more dangerous, however, when a motorcyclist is speeding or riding more than 10 miles per hour faster than the traffic the cyclist is passing.  Sacramento Bee article

Stanislaus supervisors get update on North County Corridor – Stanislaus County supervisors received an update on the North County Corridor expressway and related environmental work that should be completed next year.  Modesto Bee article

Other Areas

More supporters than detractors for Tubbs – Michael Tubbs’ weekend DUI arrest took center stage at Tuesday night’s Stockton City Council meeting, with critics and supporters alike packing City Hall and lining up to offer the councilman their support, to scold him, to ask for his admonishment or, in a few cases, to call for his resignation. Stockton Record article

Student: Congress can learn from supervisors – In front of an audience of dozens of high school students on Tuesday, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors signed off on a multimillion-dollar grant application for early childhood education, extended the declaration of a drought emergency and set a date to consider changing the rules how wineries operate in unincorporated parts of the county. They disagreed, but things still got done, said Christian Martinez, 17. It looks like state and federal officials could learn something from local government, he said.  Stockton Record article

Fresno Bee: Judge Petrucelli’s conduct is major ethics breach – In dealing with Judge James Petrucelli’s gross ethical misconduct, the California Commission on Judicial Performance should consider all discipline options — including removal from the bench.  Fresno Bee editorial

Modesto’s courthouse land deal still awaiting state approval – More than six months have passed since the Modesto City Council voted to buy an entire block downtown for the new county courthouse. That land deal, however, has yet to go through, and a deadline looms. Modesto Bee article

Library for London Project seeks to secure site – The effort to bring a library to the impoverished Tulare County community of London may get a boost if a real estate agreement is agreed upon this week.  Visalia Times-Delta article

Fresno State training table gets go-ahead, set for Nov. 3 launch – Fresno State has finalized plans to add a training table for football and all other student-athletes who wish to participate and has targeted Nov. 3 as the start for the long-awaited program, which will cost the athletic department $300,000 to $350,000 through the end of the academic year.  Fresno Bee article

Valley Editorial Roundup

Bakersfield Californian  Moving forward will require the steady hand of a proven leader. Jerry Brown again is the right man at the right time.

Fresno Bee – In dealing with Judge James Petrucelli’s gross ethical misconduct, the California Commission on Judicial Performance should consider all discipline options — including removal from the bench.

Merced Sun-Star – Ebola’s lesson? Get real on public health.

Modesto Bee – Ebola’s lesson? Get real on public health.

Sacramento Bee – Like jumbo shrimp, campaign contribution limit is an oxymoron.

Stockton Record – It’s important to seize momentum, move forward and hopefully draw some new employers to the area; Third Appellate District judges merit retention.