POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Record pace: Coronavirus leads to a wave of early voting in Stanislaus County
Modesto Bee
Four years ago, early voting in the presidential election that put Donald Trump in the White House was record-setting.
See also:
● Coronavirus update: Stanislaus reports most new cases in nearly 2 weeks Modesto Bee
The Modesto Bee recommends these CA Propositions & local candidates
Modesto Bee
These recommendations on Calif state propositions are intended to inform readers as they arrive at their own voting decisions.
Central SJ Valley:
Federal Agents In Fresno To Address Rise In Violent Crimes
VPR
Federal agents announced Wednesday that they are now working with local officials in Fresno to mitigate the recent rise in crime. There have been 50 homicides and more than 560 shootings this year.
See also:
· Can limiting liquor store hours help fight Fresno's rising crime? abc30
· Once controversial, Advance Peace gets city funding to tackle Fresno violence abc30
Fresno council approves purchase of former Bee building
Business Journal
The Fresno City Council approved the $5.75 million purchase of the former Fresno Bee building in Downtown Fresno on Thursday.
‘You can resign.’ Tempers flare as Fresno council members clash over Chinatown cleanup
Fresno Bee
A heated exchange between Fresno councilmembers on Thursday ended after one invited another to resign from the City Council.
See Also:
● Fresno council member Garry Bredefeld accuses rest of council of corruption abc30
Fresno Co supervisors vote to allow themselves concealed carry in county buildings
Fresno Bee
Fresno County supervisors have voted to allow themselves and their assistants to use their concealed weapons permits while in county buildings and offices.
Coronavirus update: Hospitalizations climb in Fresno County
Fresno Bee
Hospitalizations of confirmed and suspected COVID-infected patients in Fresno County were higher this week than at any time in over a month. Earlier this week, 114 confirmed patients were being treated in Fresno County. Of those, 24 were in the intensive-care unit.
See Also:
● Coronavirus update: More than 100 new infections reported in Fresno County Fresno Bee
● Fresno County adds more than 100 COVID-19 infections. How are other counties faring? Fresno Bee
● COVID-19 update: Number of active cases goes up Porterville Recorder
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.
Warszawski: Fresno’s congressional races have gone stale. Redistricting will help freshen them up
Fresno Bee
No matter how many TV spots, digital ads or mailers they’re subjected to, the vast majority of Fresno-area voters have long decided who they want representing them in Congress.
City of Hanford honors Joseph Castro
Hanford Sentinel
In recognition of his appointment as the next chancellor of the Calif State University system, the city of Hanford honored Dr. Joseph I. Castro with a proclamation Wednesday evening.
See Also:
· City Of Hanford Honors Its Bold Native Son Fresno State News
South SJ Valley:
Kern Co to use 'reverse 911' to notify residents of nearby COVID-19 testing sites
Bakersfield Califn
Some Kern County residents can now expect to hear from a “reverse 911” system to inform them of nearby coronavirus testing sites.
Dignity Health to host free drive-thru flu vaccine clinic Friday in Shafter
Bakersfield Califn
Dignity Health will host a free drive-thru flu vaccine clinic on Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the parking lot at the Shafter Aquatic Center located at 269 Poso Avenue.
In Kern Co, Prop. 15 gets scarce support from its biggest beneficiaries: local school districts
Bakersfield Califn
This week the board of the Greenfield Union School District voted to endorse Proposition 15, a ballot initiative that seeks to amend 1978’s Proposition 13.
McCarthy, Mangone find room to disagree during televised debate
Bakersfield Califn
The Republican and Democratic candidates for Calif's 23rd Congressional District found a lot to disagree on during a televised debate on a wide range of national topics Wednesday night.
State:
Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government
Public Policy Institute of Calif
The PPIC Statewide Survey delivers nonpartisan, objective, advocacy-free information on the perceptions, opinions, and public policy preferences of Calif residents.
Judge denies AG's request to expedite lawsuit against GOP over unofficial ballot boxes
abc30
A Calif judge has denied Attorney General Xavier Becerra's request to expedite his lawsuit against the state Republican Party. Calif Republicans have been collecting ballots from voters in unofficial ballot drop boxes.
See Also:
● Judge rejects Calif attorney general’s effort to investigate GOP ballot boxes LA Times
Auto Dealers Skeptical About Newsom’s Gas Car Sales Ban
Business Journal
What appears to be the death knell for gasoline-powered cars in Calif has many new car dealers worried the infrastructure, logistics and product availability needed to support the change to zero-emissions vehicles may not be achievable in a 15-year timeline.
Will Calif theme parks sue state to reopen? They say ‘all options are open’
Fresno Bee
The heads of Calif’s largest theme parks are considering a lawsuit against the state over coronavirus reopening guidelines they consider to be too stringent, their representatives said at a press conference held one day after public health officials released the rules.
Federal:
Timeline for coronavirus relief package vote slips despite progress in talks
Roll Call
Speaker Nancy Pelosi raised doubts Thursday about getting a coronavirus aid bill passed before the Nov. 3 elections, even if a bipartisan deal is reached in the coming days.
See Also:
● Another round of $1,200 stimulus checks? Pelosi says Dems, White House closer on deal Modesto Bee
● U.S. Tops 70,000 Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day — Heights Not Seen Since July VPR
● Coronavirus updates: Calif reports highest daily death toll since late summer Sac Bee
● US reaches second-highest daily total of over 75,000 coronavirus cases The Hill
● U.S. New Coronavirus Case Count Breaks 70,000, Highest Since July WSJ
2nd group of judges blocks Trump order on House seats count
Bakersfield Califn
For the second time in two months, a panel of federal judges on Thursday blocked President Donald Trump's effort to exclude people in the U.S. illegally from being counted during the process of divvying up congressional seats by state.
Amy Coney Barrett Moves A Step Closer To Confirmation After Judiciary Committee Vote
Capital Public Radio
Republicans on Senate Judiciary Committee moved Thursday to advance the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court, bringing President Trump's nominee within striking distance of confirmation and the court a step closer to a 6-3 conservative majority.
See Also:
● Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court Nomination Advanced by Senate Committee WSJ
● Senate Judiciary Committee approves Amy Coney Barrett's nomination CBSNews
● Senate Judiciary Committee advances Barrett nomination over Democratic boycott LA Times
Opinion: The Rhetoric of Court Packing Is Here
WSJ
But the blue-ribbon scheme also signals he doesn’t want to alienate the left by rejecting the idea out of hand. Hardly forthright leadership. It raises the realistic fear that eventually Mr. Biden would roll over for the court-packing left.
Coronavirus Trackers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Calif
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.
See also:
● Calif Department of Public Health
● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic - WHO
● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
● Tracking coronavirus in Calif LA Times
● Coronavirus Tracker SF Chronicle
● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count NY Times
● How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico
● Coronavirus Daily NPR
● Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Fin Times
● Coronavirus in Calif by the numbers CalMatters
Elections 2020:
● Check voter registration status
● Online Voter Guide and Printable Voter Guide
● List of county elections offices
Can You Handle The Truth? PolitiFact Calif Fact Checks Mail-In Ballots
Capital Public Radio
Californians are returning mail-in ballots at a record pace, with more than 5 million already returned as of Thursday. To make sure each ballot counts, officials are urging voters to take some key steps.
See Also:
● When Will Mail-In Ballots Be Counted? See States' Processing Timelines VPR
● The deadline to return Calif ballots is Nov. 3. But waiting until then is risky Sac Bee
● Advice For Making Sure Your Mail-In Ballot Gets Counted In Calif Capital Public Radio
● Poll Watchers Are Allowed In Calif. Here Are The Do's And Don'ts LAist
● America in Line Wash Post
● The U.S. has hit 100% of total 2016 early voting Wash Post
Debate fact check: Claims from President Trump, Joe Biden's final debate
abc30
President Donald Trump and Joe Biden met in person in Nashville for the final debate of the 2020 election. NBC's Kristen Welker was moderator for the 90-minute event and planned to focus on six main topics.
See Also:
● Presidential debate takeaways: Trump gets personal, Biden hits on COVID abc30
● Trump And Biden Had A Real Debate, And 4 Other Takeaways VPR
● Fact-checking the final Trump-Biden presidential debate LA Times
● The Final Presidential Debate: The Moments That Mattered WSJ
● Fact-checking the final 2020 presidential debate PolitiFact
● The debate mute button was a gift to President Trump and all Americans Brookings
● Trump and Biden spar in quieter but still volatile final debate LA Times
● News Analysis: Trump cools his bluster in debate but doesn’t transform a race he’s losing LA Times
● Key takeaways from the second and final Trump-Biden debate LA Times
● Donald Trump, Joe Biden Clash Over Covid, Ethics in Calmer Presidential Debate WSJ
● AP FACT CHECK: Falsehoods and fumbles in Trump-Biden debate AP News
● Fact Check: Majority of undocumented immigrants show up for court, data shows PolitiFact
● OPINION: A Good Debate, and It’s Not Quite Over WSJ
Meet the Mexican Americans in Calif who are voting for Donald Trump
Fresno Bee
Linda Martinez-Hanna gets called a traitor. When she walked into a room at family gatherings last year, her presence prompted relatives to say, “Alli viene la Republicana” – “There comes the Republican” – as they trickled out of the room.
See Also:
● Trump’s Claim He ‘Saved’ Preexisting Conditions ‘Part Fantasy, Part Delusion’ KHN
● Commentary: Prop. 15 backers try to mislead homeowners Fox & Hounds
Wash Post
Trump and former vice president Joe Biden laid out starkly different visions Thursday night on whether the United States needs to transition away from fossil fuels to address climate change, in the lengthiest exchange two presidential candidates have ever had on the topic.
See Also:
● Biden’s court commission draws ire of court-packing critics and supporters Roll Call
● Amid economic downturn, Biden sticks by proposed tax hikes on businesses and wealthy Americans Wash Post
● How politically damaging were Biden’s comments about closing down the oil industry? Wash Post
● Biden Team Prepares for Potentially Bumpy Transition WSJ
● Biden Misleads on Preexisting Conditions FactCheck.org
● Biden on the Stump FactCheck.org
● Joe Biden off-base on debate attack over US-China trade deficit PolitiFact
Fact Check: Is Kamala Harris ‘more liberal than Bernie Sanders’?
Sac Bee
Harris has been one of the Senate’s most consistent liberal votes, though whether she is the most liberal is open to interpretation.
Lesley Stahl says Trump and Pence insulted her and ‘60 Minutes’
Politico
Trump on Thurs released video footage of the tense interviews he and Pence had separately with “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl, including a particularly combative exchange in which Stahl accuses both men of having "insulted" her and the news program.
Podcast: A Peculiar Way to Pick a President
NY Times
The winner-take-all system used by the Electoral College appears nowhere in the Constitution. It awards all of a state’s electors to the candidate with the most votes, no matter how small the margin of victory. Critics say that means millions of votes are largely ignored.
In Kern Co, Prop. 15 gets scarce support from its biggest beneficiaries: local school districts
Bakersfield Califn
This week the board of the Greenfield Union School District voted to endorse Proposition 15, a ballot initiative that seeks to amend 1978’s Proposition 13.
See Also:
● Calif voters divided over business property tax measure Proposition 15, poll finds Sac Bee
● Proposition 15: Schools & Local Communities Lose Revenue Due to Calif’s Inequitable Taxing of Commercial Properties Calif Budget and Policy Center
Prop 19: Creates a Complicated Property Tax Scheme and Reinforces Racial Inequities in Calif
Calif Budget and Policy Center
As one of the most complicated measures on the November 2020 state ballot, Proposition 19 would make significant changes to Calif’s residential property tax system.
See Also:
● Who wins and who loses with Calif property tax measure Proposition 19 LA Times
Clash between former Gov. Jerry Brown and Calif sheriffs continues with Prop. 20
LA Times
Longtime adversaries are clashing once again over changes to Calif’s criminal justice system, with a group representing the state’s sheriffs endorsing Proposition 20 on Thursday, while former Gov. Jerry Brown is attacking the initiative in television ads.
Calif NAACP president aids corporate prop campaigns — collects $1.2 million and counting
CalMatters
Alice Huffman, who is both a professional campaign consultant and long-time NAACP leader, was especially sought after this year as political campaigns respond to the national reckoning over race.
Editorial: Congress District 4 race pits obstructionist incumbent vs. business-savvy newcomer
Fresno Bee
In Calif’s sprawling 4th Congressional District, which covers foothill and mountain communities from Roseville south to Madera and Fresno counties, voters have an easy choice: Brynne Kennedy.
Other:
Column: I wish we had a national mute button
LA Times
I wish we had a national mute button to help us better listen to one another. Not just for Thurs night’s televised presidential debate, but also for the other crucial debates we need to have as a country but can’t until we stop shouting over and drowning out and dismissing one another.
Commentary: Despite Concerns, Initiative Process is Here to Stay
Fox & Hounds
In a series of four questions the pollsters asked voters if they were satisfied with the initiative process, if it was controlled by special interests, if there are too many propositions on the ballot, and if initiative wording is too complicated and confusing for voters to understand.
Russian Hacks of U.S. Government Networks Prompt Election Warning
WSJ
Russian government hackers have targeted dozens of state and local government and aviation computer networks since last month and stolen data from at least two servers, actions that could presage efforts to undermine the election.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
$30 million in EPA grants to help valley growers replace polluting tractors and almond harvesters
Bakersfield Califn
One tool officials have used for years to help clear the air is harnessing millions in federal dollars to assist valley growers in replacing old, polluting tractors and other farm equipment with new, cleaner equipment.
See also:
· Air District receives more than $30 Million in grants Hanford Sentinel
● Valley air district lands $30M boost to tractor replacement program Bus. Journal
Food, Family And Farm Month Showcases Campus Expertise And Community Ties
Fresno State News
The Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State is launching its second annual Food, Family and Farm Month with a host of virtual events to connect Fresno State students, staff and faculty to the agricultural industry and the community.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Can limiting liquor store hours help fight Fresno's rising crime?
abc30
Skyrocketing shootings throughout Fresno have prompted one city councilman to request a 10 pm curfew for minors along with limiting alcohol sales at convenience stores on the weekends.
Once controversial, Advance Peace gets city funding to tackle Fresno violence
abc30
Just as violent crimes spike in Fresno, the city is ready to take a new approach to stopping the violence at the root of the problem. City council officially approved $125,000 for Advance Peace on Thursday.
Federal Agents In Fresno To Address Rise In Violent Crimes
VPR
Federal agents announced Wednesday that they are now working with local officials in Fresno to mitigate the recent rise in crime. There have been 50 homicides and more than 560 shootings this year.
Replacing Cash Bail: Fairer Justice Or Robopocalypse?
Capital Public Radio
Calif is either about to right decades of inequality between rich and poor defendants by eliminating cash bail, or it’s about to turn over its justice system to robots.
See Also:
● Money Bail, Risk-Based Tools & the Costs for Califns – Understanding Proposition 25 Calif Budget and Policy Center
Analysis: Criminal Justice Reform Is Working in Calif
Calif Budget and Policy Center
With these reforms, both the prison population and crime rates are down substantially, showing that Calif’s efforts to reduce mass incarceration, while far from complete, are working.
Police Rethink Policies as Cities Pay Millions to Settle Misconduct Claims
WSJ
The 20 U.S. cities and counties with the biggest police departments have paid over $2 billion since 2015 for alleged misconduct and civil rights violations, according to a WSJ analysis.
Public Safety:
Fresno County D.A. slams Gov. Newsom for closing prisons during pandemic
Fresno Bee
During a press conference to discuss the recent rise in violent crime in the Fresno area, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp called on Calif Gov. Gavin Newsom to open prisons and manage the pandemic rather than releasing inmates.
Bill would remove D.A.s from police misconduct probes if they accept police union money
SF Chronicle
Calif Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda, plans to introduce legislation that would prevent elected prosecutors from investigating police misconduct if they’ve accepted campaign funds from law-enforcement unions, Bonta announced Thursday.
Juvenile justice overhaul: How the governor’s plan shifts care of serious offenders to counties
CalMatters
The state’s Division of Juvenile Justice will no longer accept newly convicted young people after July 2021 in a shutdown quickly signed off on by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Fire:
Creek Fire update: Why residents cleaning up damaged property should stop
Fresno Bee
Residents who have started cleaning up property damaged in the Creek Fire should stop immediately, Calif state Assemblyman Jim Patterson says.
See Also:
● Containment gains in Creek Fire abc30
● Creek Fire: 357,656 acres burned, 61% contained, latest evacuations orders abc30
PG&E says outages possible Sunday to Tuesday as winds of up to 100 m.p.h. bring extreme fire danger
SF Chronicle
Even as PG&E. canceled fire-prevention power outages for the Bay Area this week, the utility warned that more shut-offs are possible Sunday, Monday and Tuesday — across a wider swathe of its service territory — as highly dangerous fire weather appears to be looming.
Tough Fire Season Takes Toll on Firefighters’ Mental Health
Pew Trusts
It’s not uncommon for wildland firefighters, even in a less-intense year, to develop depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, unhealthy substance use or suicidal thoughts.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
U.S. Stocks Close Higher as Investors Eye Stimulus Talks
WSJ
U.S. stocks rose Thursday after economic data showed an improving economy and investors monitored negotiations in Wash over a fresh stimulus bill that could further support the recovery.
See Also:
● Stocks shake off a wobbly start to end higher on Wall Street Business Journal
Jobs:
Big Fresno Fair lays off its 26 full-time employees
abc30
The Big Fresno Fair has laid off its 26 full-time employees after being hit by financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A major decline in revenue forced the fair's board and state officials to make difficult decisions, including the layoffs.
Gap Inc. exiting malls, to shutter 350 stores by 2024
Bakersfield Califn
Gap Inc. is moving away from the nation’s malls. The SF-based retailer, which was for decades a fixture at shopping malls around the country, said Thursday that it will be closing 220 of its namesake Gap stores — or one-third of its store base — by early 2024.
Calif court says Uber, Lyft drivers are employees
Bakersfield Califn
A Calif appeals court on Thursday upheld an order requiring Uber and Lyft to treat their Calif drivers as employees instead of independent contractors, less than two weeks before voters will be asked to exempt the ride-hailing giants from the state's gig economy law.
See Also:
● Uber and Lyft must pay drivers as employees under Calif labor law AB 5, court rules Sac Bee
● Prop. 22 battle reaches fever pitch CalMatters
● Appeals Court Says Uber and Lyft Must Treat Calif Drivers as Employees NY Times
● Uber and Lyft Must Classify Drivers as Employees, Appeals Court Says WSJ
Gov. Newsom said Calif would fix its unemployment backlog by now. Where does it stand?
Sac Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom said in July he “anticipates eliminating the backlog of actionable (unemployment) claims by the end of September. “
See also:
· As Calif shelter-in-place rules ease, unemployment claims dip SF Chronicle
· Unemployment Data: March - Oct 22 Calif Center for Jobs and the Economy.
· Gender Gaps in the COVID-19 Labor Market Public Policy Institute of Calif
US jobless claims drop to 787,000, but layoffs remain high
Fresno Bee
The number of laid-off Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 787,000, a sign that job losses may have eased slightly but are still running at historically high levels.
See Also:
● U.S. Jobless Claims Fell to 787,000 Last Week WSJ
● Opinion: The Trump ‘Jobs Boom’ Is a Convenient Myth WSJ
Commentary: 2021 and Another Minimum Wage Hike Coming
Fox & Hounds
Just like earlier this year, because of the enactment of SB 3 in 2016, Calif’s minimum wage is going up again. On January 1, 2021, the state’s minimum wage will be increased for all businesses, including “small employers,” who will see a fourth wage hike in recent years.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Thousands of Fresno students chronically absent as schools weigh return to classrooms
Fresno Bee
Thousands of Fresno students are chronically absent from school this year compared to last year, and the overwhelming majority of those students are Hispanic, poor, and in the sixth-grade and below.
Clovis Unified aims to open campuses to all students for in-person learning by January
abc30
Clovis Unified now has 'target dates' to return students to in-person learning. The district's school board met Wednesday night as district administrators presented their plans based on parent and staff surveys.
See Also:
● Clovis Unified plans to bring students who want in-person instruction back to campus by January abc30
● CUSD Sets Official Date for In-Class Learning Clovis Roundup
Merced County schools finalize reopening plans
abc30
North Valley school districts are slowly opening their classrooms to students, but rising COVID-19 numbers could bring their plans to a halt. It was just Monday that students finally stepped through the doors of Shaffer Elementary.
America's School Funding Crisis: Budget Cuts, Rising Costs And No Help In Sight
VPR
In May, school funding experts predicted a looming financial disaster for the nation's K-12 schools. "I think we're about to see a school funding crisis unlike anything we have ever seen in modern history," warned Rebecca Sibilia, the founder of EdBuild.
Can new forms of parent engagement be an education game changer post-COVID-19?
Brookings
School closures and remote learning have propelled children’s ability to learn independently to the forefront of every busy and stressed out parent’s wish list.
Higher Ed:
City of Hanford honors Joseph Castro
Hanford Sentinel
In recognition of his appointment as the next chancellor of the Calif State University system, the city of Hanford honored Dr. Joseph I. Castro with a proclamation Wednesday evening.
See Also:
● City Of Hanford Honors Its Bold Native Son Fresno State News
Fresno State Lays Off Staff Following Cuts In State Funding Due To COVID-19
Valley Public Radio
David Celaya is one of about 30 staff members who learned last Thursday that his position was being eliminated due to budget cuts brought on by COVID-19. He’s worked for the university as a graphic designer for almost 5 years and he said he’s still in disbelief.
Should Calif allow affirmative action? Here’s why some say the UC isn’t diverse enough
LA Times
With Proposition 16 on the ballot this year, Calif voters will decide once again whether to permit the state to use affirmative action based on race and sex.
Higher Education and Economic Opportunity in Calif
PPIC
Boosting college enrollment and graduation among Latinos, African Americans, and low-income Californians can narrow the state’s economic divide and help meet workforce needs.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Air District receives more than $30 Million in grants
Hanford Sentinel
The Valley Air District will augment its highly successful grant program with over $30 million in additional U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) funding to replace old agricultural tractors and low-dust harvesters.
See Also:
● Valley air district lands $30M boost to tractor replacement program Business Journal
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: How to Save Calif’s Forests
Fox & Hounds
For about twenty million years, Calif’s forests endured countless droughts, some lasting over a century. Natural fires, started by lightening and very frequent in the Sierras, were essential to keep forest ecosystems healthy.
Climate Impacts Highlighting Need For Summit's Public-Private Solution Space
CAFwd
With Calif’s wildfire season getting worse each year, it has become more important than ever to address the issue of climate change fueling these disasters.
Cities Need More Ambitious Plans to Curb Emissions, Report Finds
U.S. News
More than 450 U.S. mayors have pledged to continue honoring the Paris Agreement. And more than 1,500 local governments have moved to develop climate action plans and global greenhouse gas reduction targets.
See Also:
● Cities are pledging to confront climate change, but are their actions working? Brookings
Energy:
Calif paid millions for costly backup batteries in vacation homes. Why that’s ending
Fresno Bee
After hundreds of thousands of Northern Califns endured a string of deliberate wildfire-safety blackouts last fall, state regulators created millions of dollars in rebates so the neediest of households could buy high-tech batteries to store up electricity.
See Also:
● Calif puts limits on program that paid wealthy homeowners to install backup batteries Sac Bee
Wash Post
Trump and former vice president Joe Biden laid out starkly different visions Thursday night on whether the United States needs to transition away from fossil fuels to address climate change, in the lengthiest exchange two presidential candidates have ever had on the topic.
See Also:
● How politically damaging were Biden’s comments about closing down the oil industry? Wash Post
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Coronavirus update: Hospitalizations climb in Fresno County
Fresno Bee
Hospitalizations of confirmed and suspected COVID-infected patients in Fresno County were higher this week than at any time in over a month. Earlier this week, 114 confirmed patients were being treated in Fresno County. Of those, 24 were in the intensive-care unit.
See Also:
● Coronavirus update: More than 100 new infections reported in Fresno County Fresno Bee
● Fresno County adds more than 100 COVID-19 infections. How are other counties faring? Fresno Bee
● COVID-19 update: Number of active cases goes up Porterville Recorder
● U.S. Tops 70,000 Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day — Heights Not Seen Since July VPR
● Coronavirus update: Stanislaus reports most new cases in nearly 2 weeks Modesto Bee
● Coronavirus updates: Calif reports highest daily death toll since late summer Sac Bee
● US reaches second-highest daily total of over 75,000 coronavirus cases The Hill
● U.S. New Coronavirus Case Count Breaks 70,000, Highest Since July WSJ
FDA approves first COVID-19 drug: the antiviral remdesivir
Business Journal
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug to treat COVID-19: remdesivir, an antiviral medicine given through an IV for patients needing hospitalization.
See Also:
● Covid-19 Drug Remdesivir Fully Approved by FDA WSJ
● FDA approves first COVID-19 drug: antiviral remdesivir LA Times
Public Health Professors Study COVID-19 Impact on Rural, Latinx Health
UC Merced
The coronavirus has impacted everyone in different ways and three public health professors are examining specifically how rural, Latinx communities in Calif have been affected in a new study funded by the University of Calif Office of the President.
Trump says COVID-19 vaccine is coming ‘within weeks.’ Experts say that’s not possible
Miami Herald
But according to scientific experts, there’s no way that’s happening, at least not with a vaccine that has proven safe and effective through appropriately timed clinical trials.
See also:
Calif has escaped the national surge in coronavirus cases. But new dangers lie ahead
LA Times
Calif has largely avoided a new wave of coronavirus cases that has sparked alarm elsewhere in the country, but the state faces new dangers in the coming weeks as key businesses reopen and the holidays arrive.
As the Coronavirus Surges, a New Culprit Emerges: Pandemic Fatigue
NY Times
Exhaustion and impatience are creating new risks as cases soar in parts of the world. “They have had enough,” one U.S. mayor said of her residents.
How Covid-19 Death-Rate Predictions Have Changed Since March
WSJ
In the next four weeks, it predicts the total number of deaths attributed to the new coronavirus will surpass 240,000—adding roughly 17,000 deaths to the current tally.
Opinion: Young People Care More About Covid Than You Think
Bloomberg
It turns out that lots of young adults are doing their part to follow social distancing rules and that they’re closer in alignment with their elders than is commonly assumed.
Opinion: Domestic abuse is rising globally. We should not ignore it.
AEI
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on across the US and the world. Yet significant questions remain, not only about finding a cure, but about finding relief from the problems exacerbated by the reaction to COVID.
Human Services:
Hospital Bills For Uninsured COVID-19 Patients Are Covered, But No One Tells Them
VPR
But TriStar doesn't tell its patients that upfront. Neither do other hospitals or national health systems contacted by WPLN News. There's no requirement to, which is one of the program's shortcomings.
Kern Co to use 'reverse 911' to notify residents of nearby COVID-19 testing sites
Bakersfield Califn
Some Kern County residents can now expect to hear from a “reverse 911” system to inform them of nearby coronavirus testing sites.
Dignity Health to host free drive-thru flu vaccine clinic Friday in Shafter
Bakersfield Califn
Dignity Health will host a free drive-thru flu vaccine clinic on Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the parking lot at the Shafter Aquatic Center located at 269 Poso Avenue.
Reducing Health Disparities Through Collective Action
CAFwd
“At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all knew at CA Pan-Ethnic Health Network that racial disparities were going to be an issue. We knew that COVID would just show the health disparities that were already there,” said Mihae Jung, community advocacy director, CPEHN.
IMMIGRATION
New Calif law aims to help immigrants find work. Here’s how
Merced Sun-Star
Before he came to the U.S. as an asylum seeker, Mohamed worked as a licensed pharmacist in his home country in the Middle East for two years. But upon his arrival, he had to start the entire licensure process over again, a process which took him about four years.
Judge urges US to help find parents deported without kids
Bakersfield Califn
A federal judge on Thursday urged the Trump administration to do more to help court-appointed researchers find hundreds of parents who were separated from their children after they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border beginning in 2017.
See also:
Majority of undocumented immigrants show up for court, data shows
PolitiFact
Defenders of President Donald Trump’s aggressive approach to illegal U.S.-Mexico border crossings say the country faces a binary choice: hold offenders in detention centers while their cases are adjudicated, or allow them to fall off immigration authorities’ radar.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Oceano Dunes reopening to street-legal vehicles on October 30
abc30
Oceano Dunes in San Luis Obispo County will reopen next week as part of a phased plan, officials announced on Tuesday. Calif State Parks said they plan to allow vehicles back at the recreation area and Pismo State Beach in three steps.
Feds near decision on Hard Rock casino after finishing environmental report
Bakersfield Califn
The federal government is nearing a decision on the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino planned for south of Bakersfield.
Housing:
Time to test the market? Calif home sellers walking away with record amounts of cash
Modesto Bee
Despite the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Californians who sold their homes this summer pocketed record levels of cash – on average a half-million dollars in Silicon Valley – far more than people in the rest of the country.
See also:
U.S. Home Sales Rise to New 14-Year High, Offering a Boost to Economy WSJ
U.S. long-term mortgage rates hit new low; 30-year at 2.80% Bus. Journal.
How liberal politics, COVID-19 and a high cost of living are fueling a new Calif exodus
Modesto Bee
The Navy veteran is a gun fan, but he felt he couldn’t talk about his hobby or express other conservative opinions without running the risk of making someone angry.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Stapley: Avoiding hard decisions by asking Turlock voters for more taxes is a recipe for failure
Modesto Bee
Turlock, Calif: Rich in charm, poor in government. Do I mean City Hall is lacking in dollars or leadership? The answer is “yes.”
Calif tax revenue billions higher than expected, thanks in part to federal help
Sac Bee
From July through September, Calif collected $8.7 billion more in tax revenue than anticipated, according to the state’s Department of Finance, a bright sign amid a year of devastating economic news.
See Also:
Commentary: Calif’s Tax Revenue Fox & Hounds
Calif state workers can bank more time off for later under new pay cut policy
Sac Bee
The Calif Human Resources Department removed caps on state employees’ leave balances Tuesday, a change that ensures workers can store up the days off they’re accruing under state pay cut agreements.
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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
Modesto’s plan for ACE train depot passes muster with guardians of historic treasures
Modesto Bee
Plans for a restored train depot in downtown Modesto have won approval from agencies charged with preserving history.
WATER
LOIS HENRY: Locals speak up for the Kern River at the State Water Board
Bakersfield Califn
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.
Guide to drinking water: How to stay safe from common contaminants in Central Calif
Fresno Bee
Do you know whether your drinking water is polluted with a contaminant? If so, this guide provides a summary of known health risks of contaminants, and how you can protect you and your family if your water is known to be polluted.
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Calif’s Landmark Groundwater Law Falls Short, Advocates Say
Capital Public Radio
In the midst of the last drought, Calif took its first step to regulate how the state uses groundwater. But advocates worry the new rules have favored big agricultural users over small communities, particularly in areas like the San Joaquin Valley.
“Xtra”
Clovis PD Provides Tips For Safe Halloween Outings
Clovis Roundup
With Halloween and other festivities around the corner, the Clovis Police Department is encouraging residents to celebrate safely with low-risk activities.
Food and Fall fun at Madera Fair
Madera Tribune
Madera District Fair will open its gates for a socially safe fair food and trick or treating event Oct. 30 and 31 called Madera Fair Drive Thru Treats at the fairgrounds.
Stanislaus County ice skating rinks consider new state coronavirus safety guidelines
Modesto Bee
The state released new coronavirus safety guidelines for outdoor ice skating on Tuesday, prompting owners of local rinks to weigh their options.