POLICY & POLITICS
Valley:
TODAY is the deadline to register to vote!
How to vote in California? CALmatters answers your questions
CALmatters
See Also:
● Monday is last day to register to vote Bakersfield Californian
● League of women looks to recruit a league of voters in Tulare County Visalia Times-Delta
● Want to vote in the Nov. 6 elections? Tomorrow is the deadline to register Los Angeles Times
California hopefuls blame incumbents as farm towns struggle
AP News
The Central Valley has long been short on resources no matter which political party is in power. Democratic and Republican candidates for Congress have blamed incumbents for doing little to create higher-paying jobs, curb homelessness, clean up blight or solve disparities in health care and access to good schools.
What have national outlets been saying about Denham-Harder battle? Here’s a look.
Modesto Bee
Political junkies from sea to shining sea are watching the 10th Congressional District race between Republican incumbent Jeff Denham and Democratic challenger Josh Harder, for the right to represent Stanislaus County and part of San Joaquin County.
Nunes to speak at luxury Republican summit
The Fresno Bee
Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, will join a star-studded and fiercely conservative guest speaker lineup at the Sea Island Political Summit, a three-day event at a five-star Georgia resort beginning just two days after the general election.
Los Angeles Times
McCarthy is no ordinary member of Congress, but one of the most powerful elected officials in California and on the national stage. The contracts obtained by Wages’ company have prompted questions about whether he improperly benefited from being McCarthy’s brother-in-law.
Los Angeles Times
In the state Senate, Democrats are one seat short of a two-thirds supermajority, a level of legislative dominance that would allow them to increase taxes or push proposals onto the ballot without Republican support. To achieve that goal, Democrats are eyeing the open seat in the 12th Senate District, stretching from Fresno to Monterey counties.
See also:
● EDITORIAL: Little separates candidates in key Cannella replacement race; Caballero has edge Modesto Bee
Vidak endorsed by law enforcement, public safety leaders
Hanford Sentinel
Farmer, small businessman and state Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford) announced the endorsement of several public safety leaders and law enforcement groups during this election season.
Meet the candidates: Hanford City Council District E
Hanford Sentinel
The midterm election is Nov. 6. In preparation for the election, the Sentinel asked candidates in local races to answer questions so voters can get to know them.
Fresno will vote on Measure P on Nov. 6. It’s been years in the making
Fresno Bee
Proponents have advanced Measure P onto the Nov. 6 ballot. It’s a 3/8 percent sales tax that would raise about $38 million annually over 30 years.
See Also:
● Pro Measure P: Fresno can have parks and public safety Fresno Bee
● Con Measure P: Too costly, too long and too much impact on public safety Fresno Bee
● To be a great city, Fresno needs great parks. Voting for Measure P makes that happen Fresno Bee
County DA opposes closure of local court
Madera Tribune
Madera County District Attorney David A. Linn says he fully supports the Eastern Madera County Bar Association’s efforts to retain full-time court services at the Bass Lake Courthouse.
In small-town Arvin, big money from oil interests flows into City Council races
Bakersfield Californian
In July the Arvin City Council voted to establish restrictions on new oil and gas operations within its borders.
Noxious Mix of Smoke & Pollution Stresses Health In California's Heartland
NPR
The smell of petroleum and cattle saturates the neighborhood, says Gustavo Aguirre, Viviana's father; existing pollution creates a noxious brew with the wildfire smoke.
U.S. Ambassador to west Africa has Bakersfield background
Bakersfield Californian
Although he grew up in Anaheim, he spent his summers as a boy at his grandmother's residence in Bakersfield. Now he speaks four languages, has four bodyguards, an armored car and a contingent of U.S. Marines to protect his house located in the fourth poorest country on Earth.
State:
VIDEO: Newsom and Cox reveal how they would run California differently than Gov. Brown
CALmatters
Gavin Newsom and John Cox explain how their decisions on climate change policies, housing, schools and crime would compare to the current administration’s. Plus: book recommendations and hardest thing they’ve done.
See also:
● John Cox and the Sad State of California’s GOP Politico
● Influencers list Jerry Brown’s greatest successes, failures Fresno Bee
California Ballot Measure "Voter Cram Session"
VPR
In collaboration with the California Dream project, KPCC’s Larry Mantle and election experts run through the 11 propositions on November’s ballot. Join us for an hour-long election cram session.
Walters: Pay-to-play ballot measures are flourishing
CALmatters
The practice of financing initiatives with contributions from their beneficiaries has flourished ever since, even though it would be illegal bribery if it occurred in the Legislature.
See also:
● How Tom Steyer Built the Biggest Political Machine You’ve Never Heard Of The Atlantic
California Democrats Test the Limits of Anti-Trumpism
The Wall Street Journal
But revulsion toward liberal governance in California is growing as its failures compound. This may counteract animus toward Mr. Trump. California Democrats might have an easier time defeating Republicans if all politics were national. Instead, they have to contend with the litany of local problems that their progressive policies have wrought.
See also:
● Democrats get big bucks from small-dollar donors CALmatters
● As Democrats Court Latinos, Indifference Is a Powerful Foe New York Times
Withered California GOP has little hope in many races
San Francisco Chronicle
Little known and underfinanced, down-ballot Republicans are struggling for visibility in a state where Democrats hold all the political clout.
See also:
● #MeToo scandal becomes election strategy for California Republicans Fresno Bee
Poizner seeks to push independence
Madera Tribune
If there’s a theme to Steve Poizner’s independent campaign for state insurance commissioner, it might be “back to the future.”
See Also:
● Poizner’s independent run has a red tint CALmatters
Motor Voter lives on at DMV, but California adds extra review to prevent registration errors
Fresno Bee
With the midterm elections quickly approaching, California officials are taking extra steps to prevent people from being improperly registered to vote.
See Also:
● What’s behind all those DMV voter-registration snafus? ‘Motor voter’ may have launched with makeshift computer system CALmatters
Schnur & Westly: California desperately needs a tax system for the new economy
The Sacramento Bee
Because high-income taxpayers tend to make much more of their money from investments rather than salaries, the natural volatility of the stock market results in much more uneven tax revenues for the state.
Federal:
Interest in Midterms Surges, Boosting Trump Approval Rating
The Wall Street Journal
Voter interest in the midterm elections has surged to records within both parties, helping to drive up President Trump’s approval rating while maintaining the Democrats’ lead as the party most preferred to lead Congress, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll has found.
See also:
● Midterms 2018: Where the money is going in the final push before Election Day Washington Post
● Will billionaire Tom Steyer's big bet on young voters pay off in midterm election? Los Angeles Times
● With the midterm campaign in its final weeks, poll signals a Democratic edge for the House and widespread doubts about Kavanaugh Los Angeles Times
● Editorial: Don’t Punish Republicans Weekly Standard
The real security threat to the 2018 midterm elections is low voter confidence
Brookings
In a new video for our 2018 Midterms series, Susan Hennessey argues that while the threat to America’s electoral infrastructure is real and ongoing, the more serious risk is that Americans will start to believe that their elections and the democratic process lack integrity—the ultimate goal of U.S. foreign adversaries.
See also:
● Voter fraud isn’t a problem in America. Low turnout is. Washington Post
Trump Pushes New Tax Cuts Before Election Day
Roll Call
Trump emphasized that this round of tax cuts would be for middle-income individuals, not for businesses. The GOP-led House has already passed additional tax legislation, but none of those measures were considered by the Senate.
Women, Minorities Overwhelmingly Want a Democratic Congress, Poll Finds
Roll Call
By huge double-digit margins, African-Americans, Latinos, white women with college degrees, and young voters all prefer Democrats to win on Nov. 6, according to a new poll from NBC News and the Wall Street Journal.
Kamala Harris’s Trump-Size Tax Plan
The Atlantic
The California senator is the latest Democrat to propose giving billions of dollars in cash to lower-income families.
See also:
● In 2020, Democrats Expect a Female Front-Runner. Or Three. New York Times
‘Transgender’ Could Be Defined Out of Existence Under Trump Administration
The New York Times
The Trump administration is considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the most drastic move yet in a governmentwide effort to roll back recognition and protections of transgender people under federal civil rights law.
See also:
● Trump’s Health Department Takes Aim at Transgender-Rights Rules Wall Street Journal
Trump and McConnell are a political odd couple who share one important goal
Fresno Bee
The ultimately successful, if extremely messy, Senate confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court is the unlikely and intriguing outcome of two disparate men invisibly working together, though they could hardly be more different — President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Health care in five charts: A midterm guide
PolitiFact
In state after state, Democrats are using health care like a cudgel against Republicans.
See also:
● Poll: Health Care a Top Issue For Midterm Voters Roll Call
● November Elections Bring High Stakes for Medicaid Roll Call
● Republicans in flood of ads are health-care defenders despite work to end Obamacare abc30
● OPINION: What do Republicans need to win? Selective memory loss. The Washington Post
● Republicans at last embrace covering preexisting conditions The Washington Post
● Republicans in flood of ads are health-care defenders despite work to end Obamacare abc30
Despite the Rhetoric, Congress Is Unlikely to Tackle Deficit, Entitlements
Roll Call
The rising deficit, the president’s request for 5 percent in budget cuts and discussions of needing to trim Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security set off a storm of debate just three weeks before the midterms. Congress is unlikely to deal with any of it.
Other:
Justice Dept. charges Russian woman with interference in midterm elections
The Washington Post
The charges against Khusyaynova came just as the Office of the Director of National Intelligence warned that it was concerned about “ongoing campaigns” by Russia, China and Iran to interfere with the upcoming midterm elections and the 2020 race — an ominous message just weeks before voters head to the polls.
See Also:
● U.S. Charges Russian With Attempt to Interfere in Midterms The Wall Street Journal
Did Facebook’s faulty data push news publishers to make terrible decisions on video?
NiemanLab
But even as Facebook executives were insisting publicly that video consumption was skyrocketing, it was becoming clear that some of the metrics the company had used to calculate time spent on videos were wrong.
OPINION: This new technology could send American politics into a tailspin
The Washington Post
Deepfakes — seemingly authentic video or audio recordings that can spread like wildfire online — are likely to send American politics into a tailspin, and Washington isn’t paying nearly enough attention to the very real danger that’s right around the corner.
OPINION: The Political Class Got 2016 Wrong. Could We See a Repeat?
Roll Call
Complicating this decision-making, as the midterm campaign season has droned on, the two parties’ unfavorable ratings have gotten worse. In a recent Winning the Issues survey, 55 percent of independents who are undecided on the generic ballot have an unfavorable view of both parties.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, October 28, at 10 a.m. on ABC 30 – Maddy Report: “November Election: The Propositions” – Guests: Laurel Rosenhall, CALmatters and John Myers, Los Angeles Times Sacramento Bureau. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, October 28, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “November Election: Races & Props” – Guests: Laurel Rosenhall, CALmatters and John Myers, Los Angeles Times Sacramento Bureau LAO; Jon Coupal, Howard Jarvis Tax Payers Association; and Allan Zaremberg, California Chamber of Commerce. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, October 28, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “Elecciones en Noviembre: Gobernador, Superintendente de Educacion y mas...” – Guests: Alexei Koseff, Reportero de Sacramento Bee. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Industry-guided restaurant ratings system balances tough with responsive
Bakersfield Californian
The easy thing would have been to go with a conventional letter-grade system, where the lowest "C" is a score of 70 percent and it's considered satisfactory.
California Rolling Forward With Pot Delivery Regulations
Capital Public Radio
The proposal is a major issue that could ultimately end up in court as the state continues to set myriad rules for how pot is grown, tested, packaged and delivered since recreational sales became legal Jan. 1.
Bakersfield pot dispensary raided for second time in one month
Bakersfield Californian
Two marijuana dispensaries were raided by Kern County Sheriff's deputies Friday resulting in the seizure of nearly 80 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of about $80,000. The raid was the second in a month at BMC Dispensary at 400 Covey Avenue. The other dispensary was PWC on 115 Price Street in Bakersfield.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
In Prison, Discipline Comes Down Hardest On Women
NPR
Across the country, women in prison are disciplined at higher rates than men — often two to three times more often, and sometimes more — for smaller infractions of prison rules.
Public Safety:
Young people interested in a career with the CHP can first try the Explorer program
Fresno Bee
The California Highway Patrol explorer program is designed for young men and women who are looking to gain the skills and knowledge needed to serve the people of California.
Fire:
Trump inflated cost of California fires to U.S. taxpayers
Sacramento Bee
“I think California ought to get their act together and clean up their forests and manage their forests,” said Trump, according to a report in The Hill. “It’s costing our country hundreds of billions of dollars because of incompetence in California.”
Santa Rosa mayor, one year after the fires: ‘Building denser downtown is the future of this city’
CALmatters
One year after a disastrous wildfire ravaged his city and exacerbated its shortage of affordable housing, Santa Rosa Mayor Chris Coursey says the city can’t do much about property owners who insist on rebuilding in fire-prone areas, but that its next incarnation will involve more housing in less risky areas near the civic core.
EDITORIAL: Was PG&E right to leave thousands in the dark to prevent wildfires? The jury is still out
Sacramento Bee
As a last resort during extreme fire danger, Pacific Gas & Electric is temporarily cutting off power to prevent its lines from sparking fires that turn into deadly infernos. The first test showed there’s clearly room for improvement, as well as some big questions.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
California ranks 3rd on list of least affordable states, analysis finds
abc30
California ranks third on the list. The average cost of living is more than $84,000 in the state. The state's median income is $63,000, leaving a gap of about $21,000. The top five least affordable states in the country in order are: Hawaii, Oregon, California, New York and Maine.
Strong Economy Draws Women into U.S. Labor Force
Wall Street Journal
Rising participation rate counters long-run decline at odds with rest of world
Jobs:
Fresno County is bustling. Employment hits level not seen since Great Recession
Fresno Bee
It’s been 10 years since Fresno County slid into the Great Recession. After a slow recovery, more Fresno County residents than ever are working, and the unemployment rate is at its lowest since 1990.
See also:
● Kern's unemployment rate falls to pre-recession level Bakersfield Californian
● Merced County on the rebound. Employment hits level not seen since Great Recession Merced Sun-Star
● California Employment Report for September 2018 California Center for Jobs & The Economy
Kmart in Lemoore to close
Hanford Sentinel
The Lemoore City Council met briefly Tuesday to discuss a few items of business, including the closure of the Kmart store.
Los Angeles Times
The colored dots signified how susceptible an area would be to job losses caused by automation. And the alarm-bell red that covered Riverside, San Bernardino and Ontario signaled high risk — roughly 63% of tasks performed by workers in the area could be automated in the future.
Miscarrying at Work: The Physical Toll of Pregnancy Discrimination
The New York Times
But refusing to accommodate pregnant women is often completely legal. Under federal law, companies don’t necessarily have to adjust pregnant women’s jobs, even when lighter work is available and their doctors send letters urging a reprieve.
My turn: #BlueCollarRevolution’s basic question
CALmatters
Busting one’s butt to go to Yale when you graduate as a jock from Georgetown Prep is no substitute for understanding what it feels like to be physically spent from a hard day’s work or what it means to risk life and limb in order to earn a paycheck to feed your family.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Valley school receives special award for its counseling program
abc30
A North Valley school was the only school in the state of California to receive a special award for its counseling program.
Guest columnist: Visalia school bond measure supporters not sharing the facts
Visalia Times-Delta
In a classic scene from the movie "A Few Good Men," actor Jack Nicholson, as an enraged U.S. Marine, growls "You can't handle the truth" at a Navy prosecutor.
Los Angeles Times
History has found few statewide races more sleepy than the campaigns for superintendent of public instruction, perhaps because the job is thin on duties that aren’t tangled in the web of control over K-12 schools.
See also:
VIDEO: Tony Thurmond, Marshall Tuck on California’s public school system CALmatters
Higher Ed:
Fresno State receives $3.75 million grant to increase Hispanic teacher pipeline
abc30
According to the California Department of Education Hispanic teachers represent 25% of public schools in Fresno County, meanwhile, students make up 65% of the population.
See Also:
● Fresno State awarded $3.75M to increase Hispanic teacher pipeline Fresno State
CSU System Just Set A Record For Graduation. And More Students 'Finish In Four'
Sacramento Bee
The university announced Wednesday that its students earned 105,431 bachelor’s degrees between summer 2017 and spring 2018, an increase of 7 percent from the year before.
WHCCD Deputy Chancellor Ken Stoppenbrink to be honored with Walter Star Robie Award
Hanford Sentinel
Ken Stoppenbrink, West Hills Community College District Deputy Chancellor, has been selected as this year’s Walter Star Robie Award winner.
Bakersfield College group provides support to previously incarcerated students
Bakersfield Californian
Free of the Outside holds frequent workshops on issues that are of importance to previously incarcerated students, such as how to live on your own, cleaning up your record, job opportunities and keeping track of finances.
College students: Beware your college administrators
AEI
Higher education is a competitive market. When choosing your school, select carefully. College is a significant investment, and you need to be challenged and pushed by professors to grow and reach your full potential — not coddled by administrators.
U.S. Colleges Clash on New Playing Field: Voter Turnout
The Wall Street Journal
College organizers are playing on academic and football rivalries to launch voter-turnout competitions. Before the Nov. 6 midterm elections, schools in the Big Ten have challenged each other to overcome traditionally low turnout among college students.
Headwinds for graduate student borrowers: Rising balances and slowing repayment rates
Brookings
New research from Adam Looney and Vivien Lee points to concerning new trends in borrowing among graduate students, who appear to be taking on more debt from the federal government, attending more lower-quality institutions, and repaying their loans at a slower rate.
The role of AI in education and the changing US workforce
Brookings
Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies promise to greatly enhance teaching and learning, but they also threaten to dramatically change the landscape for young job seekers. Writing for our new series on AI, Elizabeth Mann Levesque shares recommendations for adapting education in anticipation of these challenges and opportunities.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
Is global warming too hard to solve? Only if Nero was right to fiddle when Rome burned
Fresno Bee
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released an alarming report recently. The globe is warming. Things will get worse. Drastic solutions are needed. But we mostly shrug our shoulders.
Forecasters unveil weather outlook for upcoming winter across US
abc30
Temperatures are not expected to dip below average anywhere in the country from December to February, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced Thursday in its "Winter Outlook."
Thanks to volunteers, dozens of downtown tree wells no longer empty
Modesto Bee
Downtown Modesto just got a lot greener thanks to a joint effort by two Rotary Clubs, the city and the Downtown Modesto Partnership.
Even Climate Do-Gooders End Up Hurting The Environment
The Outline
“It is commonly assumed that high rates of adoption of win-win ‘green’ consumption choices will significantly reduce GHG emissions, However, this assumption is typically made using incomplete engineering-type analysis, where many little actions are expected to add up to significant economy wide changes.”
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Pox Party? Here’s why you shouldn’t get chickenpox this way
Modesto Bee
Parents might want their child to get the disease because “for most people, getting chickenpox once provides immunity for life,” according to the CDC.
City sewage plant poses danger, needs refurbishing, says report by consultant
Madera Tribune
The Madera Waste Water Treatment facility — aka sewage plant — is again approaching disaster with the potential failure of another key component, the concrete “wetwell,” the massive tank that collects and holds city sewage just prior to processing.
Noxious Mix of Smoke And Pollution Stresses Health In California's Heartland
NPR
The smell of petroleum and cattle saturates the neighborhood, says Gustavo Aguirre, Viviana's father; existing pollution creates a noxious brew with the wildfire smoke.
Human Services:
Fresno State nursing students provide free healthcare services for underserved communities
abc30
Nursing students at Fresno State provided access to free health care for under-served Central Valley communities. Students gave residents free immunizations, diabetes and blood pressure screenings and health assessments.
First 5 Madera County celebrates 20 years of service
Madera Tribune
Since its founding in 1998, First 5 Madera County has been at the forefront of providing early childhood services, advocating for policy change and supporting the capacity building of providers.
Judges appear skeptical of a nationwide injunction that bars exemptions to birth control mandate
Los Angeles Times
A federal appeals court appeared skeptical Friday about a nationwide injunction that has prevented the Trump administration from broadly exempting nonprofit groups and others from the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate.
Health care in five charts: A midterm guide
PolitiFact
In state after state, Democrats are using health care like a cudgel against Republicans.
See also:
● Poll: Health Care a Top Issue For Midterm Voters Roll Call
● November Elections Bring High Stakes for Medicaid Roll Call
● Republicans in flood of ads are health-care defenders despite work to end Obamacare abc30
Covered CA enrollment expected to drop as penalty ends
Modesto Bee
Covered California’s fall enrollment period will show whether peace of mind is a motivation for people to keep their health insurance next year.
Prop 11 would affect paramedic services
CALmatters
When patients call 911, they are depending on first responders to arrive quickly and provide lifesaving medical care. Their quick response can be the difference between life and death.
See also
EDITORIAL: Put patients ahead of union priorities Modesto Bee
● Healthcare union counts victory in dollars spent against it CALmatters
Health care in five charts: A midterm guide
PolitiFact
In state after state, Democrats are using health care like a cudgel against Republicans.
See also:
● Poll: Health Care a Top Issue For Midterm Voters Roll Call
● November Elections Bring High Stakes for Medicaid Roll Call
Medicaid-Expansion Fights Pit Hospitals, Labor Against Conservative Groups, Tobacco Companies
Wall Street Journal
Residents of Idaho, Nebraska, Montana and Utah are voting on the proposed expansions under Affordable Care Act
Four communities in California turn to voters to help fund children's programs
EdSource
The measures that seek new funding streams for early childhood are in Oakland, nearby Richmond, tiny Capitola, on the Santa Cruz coast, and San Joaquin County in California’s Central Valley. Some of the funds from the measures would also be used for programs serving older children.
A Billionaire Pledges to Fight High Drug Prices, and the Industry Is Rattled
The Wall Street Journal
For drugmakers, Mr. Arnold is a new and powerful opponent—and somewhat of a mystery. His profile as a critic has sharpened in the past year through his funding of a political action group active in the midterm elections, on behalf of candidates from both parties. Few pharmaceutical executives have ever had personal contact with him.
Child Care’s Impact on Women’s Opportunities
The Wall Street Journal
When asked to cite their reasons for working part time, women were much more likely than men to identify child-care problems and family issues, according to government data.
IMMIGRATION
Ragged, growing caravan of migrants resumes march toward US
Sacramento Bee
A growing caravan of Honduran migrants streamed through southern Mexico on Sunday heading toward the United States, after making an end-run around Mexican agents who briefly blocked them at the Guatemalan border.
See Also:
● Police in Mexico try to stop caravan of migrants determined to reach the US abc30
● DHS secretary praises Mexican police for handling of migrant caravan abc30
● Stretching for miles, 7,000-strong migrant caravan treks through stifling heat in southern Mexico Los Angeles Times
● A migrant caravan heads for the border just in time for Trump to exploit it for the midterms Los Angeles Times
● With Migrant Caravan, Trump Stokes a Familiar Fire: Immigration The New York Times
EDITORIAL: Trump’s cruel rule to strip H-1B spouses of the right to work
San Francisco Chronicle
The Trump administration is moving forward with its much-criticized plan to strip working rights from about 100,000 foreign citizens in the U.S., many of whom live in the Bay Area.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Once a dumping ground, recreation event shows off new vision for Modesto park
Modesto Bee
Those who love the Tuolumne River Regional Park got to show off the part of the park just south of downtown Modesto to a few hundred outdoor enthusiasts Saturday during RecFest.
Bakersfield Californian
The Dome is no more. The building's destruction ends what had been a growing movement to spare the architecturally novel events venue built in 1940.
Katerra To Open New Advanced Home Manufacturing Facility In California
Woodworking Network
Katerra, a technology-based home construction company, plans to open a new advanced manufacturing factory in Tracy, California.
Housing:
Experts say California needs to build a lot more housing. But the public disagrees
Los Angeles Times
Academic researchers, state analysts and California’s gubernatorial candidates agree that the fundamental issue underlying the state’s housing crisis is that there are not enough homes for everyone who wants to live here.
Many Support Rent Control, but Prop 10 Lags
PPIC
While most of California’s likely voters are satisfied with the way the initiative process is working in California, an overwhelming majority also think that the wording for citizens’ initiatives is often too complicated and confusing for voters to understand what happens if the initiative passes. This may be the case with Proposition 10, as our September survey findings suggest.
See Also:
● Proposition 10, which would expand rent control, is 'in deep trouble,' poll shows Los Angeles Times
● Walters: Four measures would do little about housing crisis CALmatters
Sex offender sues county, saying 2008 housing restriction law violates civil rights
Bakersfield Californian
Kern County has been sued by an anonymous registered sex offender, who says the county’s restrictive housing laws for sex offenders have violated his civil rights. The plaintiff, says in the lawsuit that he is not able to find reasonable housing due to an ordinance passed in 2008 that prevents registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a daycare center.
Los Angeles Times
Now, the legacy of Proposition 13 stands on the verge of one of its stiffest tests. On Monday, an initiative qualified for the November 2020 ballot that could lead to a $145-million campaign and dismantle Proposition 13’s protections for businesses.
See also:
$10.5B Calif. Property Tax Question Heading To 2020 Ballot Law360
PUBLIC FINANCES
‘Brilliant idea’ or ‘Socialism in California?’ Kamala Harris’ tax plan draws praise, scorn
Fresno Bee
Sen. Kamala Harris’ $500-a-month tax credit plan aimed at helping middle- and working-class Americans who struggle to make ends meet was praised by some, criticized by others.
TRANSPORTATION
How will Prop 6 impact the Central San Joaquin Valley?
The Fresno Bee
Prop 6 has perhaps the clearest and most immediate impact on the highest number of people of the 12 California ballot initiatives. A “yes” vote means nearly $800 in average annual savings at the pump through a rollback of the state’s gas tax in exchange for millions lost at the city level for road maintenance and billions cut for highway and bridge projects.
See also:
● The campaign to repeal California's gas tax increase is sputtering. That's because voters don't know about it Los Angeles Times
● Initiative to repeal gas tax increase is falling short, according to poll of California voters Los Angeles Times
Tired of being stuck in traffic on Highway 41 in Madera County? Relief is on the way
Fresno Bee
Highway 41 will undergo a major expansion through southeastern Madera County as traffic from new home developments, commuters and visitors to Yosemite National Park continue to clog the highway.
Could Self-Driving Cars Leave High-Speed Rail In The Rearview Mirror?
Sacramento Bee
Nearly 10 million cars with self-driving features will be on the road in the U.S. by 2020, according to BI Intelligence, a leading market research firm.
Madera Tribune
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has approved State Route 99 (SR99) Bond Program funding for widening SR99 in Madera from Avenue 12 to Avenue 17.
Continued road work worsens traffic delays inside Sequoia National Park
Visalia Times-Delta
Planning a trip to Sequoia National Park anytime soon? Make sure to schedule at least two more hours to your travel time for traffic delays. Construction along a main strip of the park’s road is coming to an end.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority demonstrated progress this week
Bakersfield Californian
Pending final approval by federal authorities, high-speed trains would lead southeast from Shafter parallel to Union Pacific railroad tracks before stopping at a station planned for F Street and Golden State Avenue on the city's north side.
Essay: I Bike In LA And Fear For My Safety All The Time
Laist
Last week, Bicycling Magazine declared L.A. the worst city for bikes.
Now — this is strictly my opinion — but, yes, biking in Los Angeles IS the worst. I say that as someone who has used my bike as my main mode of transportation since I moved to L.A. six years ago.
My turn: California must fight Trump on auto emission
CALmatters
California plays a central role setting auto rules and has a responsibility to lead the world’s fight against auto pollution. President Trump wants to revoke that unique authority. California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols must defend it.
WATER
‘So much water.’ Trump moves to slash environmental rules on Delta, putting farms before fish
Fresno Bee
The Trump administration Friday pledged to slash the thicket of federal environmental regulations that govern the Delta and much of California’s water supply, aiming to increase water deliveries to his political allies in the San Joaquin Valley.
See Also:
● Trump stumps for California GOP—in Arizona CALmatters
● Trump Wants To Cut Red Tape, Hasten Water Projects In California, Pacific Northwest Capital Public Radio
● Trump challenges environmental rules governing California water in a bid to push more to farmers The Fresno Bee
● Trump Orders Expedited Delivery of Western Water The Wall Street Journal
● Trump wants to cut red tape, hasten water projects in Central Valley Visalia Times Delta
● Trump orders quicker environmental review of California water projects Los Angeles Times
● OPINION: Trump’s California Water Relief The Wall Street Journal
State Water Board's Proposed Cutbacks Will Affect All Californians
San Francisco Chronicle
Less water equals less fresh California produce in stores. California farms are some of the most water-efficient in the world. For example, strawberries grown here use as much as 84 percent less water than imports. But there is a limit to how far even a California farmer can stretch a water supply.
My turn: How the next governor can address our water crises
CALmatters
California’s two recent governors, Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger, have been unusually skilled at water policy. Both responded effectively to urgent floods and droughts in ways that also brought long-term improvements. The next governor will face similar water problems. And he will see opportunities, expectations, and pitfalls along the way.
“Xtra”
A year out, Fresno’s Fulton Street is slowly showing signs of progress
Fresno Bee
Plenty of work remains before downtown Fresno, CA can truly be considered revitalized. But as the past year has shown, people here do want to eat, live and party downtown. We just have to keep giving them reasons.
See Also:
● Celebration draws thousands to downtown Fresno, grand opening anniversary abc30
Bakersfield's certainly not No. 1, but we should rank higher on this vegetarian/vegan city list
Bakersfield Californian
This just scratches the surface of what's out there in Bakersfield. Whether for ethical reasons or just wanting a healthier lifestyle, more people are embracing plant-based dining. In such an ag-rich community, it seems like this couldn't be a better place to start.
An Evening of Classical Hindustani Music
Fresno State
Join the College of Arts and Humanities for 'An Evening of Classical Hindustani Music' at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23 at the Wahlberg Recital Hall, in the Music Building.
Armenian Studies Fall Lecture Series features Ara Sarafian
Fresno State
Ara Sarafian, London-based director of the Gomidas Institute, will speak on the newly published "Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, 1914: A Geographic and Demographic Gazetteer" at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, in the Alice Peters Auditorium (Room 191) at the University Business Center.
What would President Lincoln say about today’s political divide?
Fresno Bee
Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman presenters offer thoughts on history and the current state of the nation during the 29th Civil War Revisited at Fresno County's Kearney Park.
Saint Agnes fashion show raises money for women's day shelter
cbc30
There was a live auction and money raised will help the Holy Cross Center for Women.
South Gate Brewing Company owners trade hops for coffee beans in new Tesoro Viejo business
Sierra Star
Tesoro Viejo, Madera County’s newest housing development, and its first business, Axis Coffee Bar and Eatery, celebrated their grand openings Saturday morning.
Wawona Meadow Loop Trail offers rarity – a wilderness hike that’s not too strenous
Sierra Star
Not all hikes within Yosemite have to be strenuous or require a two-hour drive to enjoy its remarkable scenery. Only 20 miles from Oakhurst and just across the road from Wawona (Big Trees Hotel) is the trailhead for Wawona Meadow Loop.
Comedian Tim Allen coming to the Valley
Hanford Sentinel
The Central Valley is all set to get “more power.” Power-tool obsessed funnyman Tim Allen of “Home Improvement” fame will perform at the Saroyan Theatre in Fresno on Saturday, Jan. 12.
Dead get their day in downtown Modesto as community celebrates Mexican holiday
Modesto Bee
The dead were living it up in downtown Modesto on Saturday. The annual Dia de los Muertos celebration — Day of the Dead — returned as the traditional Mexican holiday, officially celebrated on Oct. 31-Nov. 2, was marked with music, dance, colorful dress and more.
BMOA kicks off two-day Via Arte festival
Bakersfield Californian
Parking lots at The Marketplace on Ming Avenue were filled with various colors and shapes on Saturday for the annual Via Arte Italian Street Painting Festival.
7th Annual Affordable Housing Summit: The Future Valley
San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative
The 7th Annual San Joaquin Valley Affordable Housing Summit, The Future Valley was an incredible success! Over 200 of us came together in Stockton to discuss affordable housing solutions for Valley communities.
See Also:
● Fresno Bee hosts community conversation about city’s north-south divide The Fresno Bee
RIP Todd Bol, Inventor of 'Little Free Libraries
Weekly Standard
In 2009, Todd Bol put a small wooden box in front of his Hudson, Wisconsin, home and unwittingly started a movement. Bol, who died Thursday at age 62, filled the box—shaped like a one-room schoolhouse in honor of his late teacher mother, who had loved reading—with books.