POLICY & POLITICS
Valley:
Does challenger Elizabeth Heng ‘have Trump’s back,’ as Jim Costa ad claims?
Fresno Bee
A TV advertisement circulated by Rep. Jim Costa uses Fresno Bee clip to attack Republican Elizabeth Heng on immigration, but the entire clip shows Heng saying she would not be “rubber stamp” for President Trump.
See Also:
Newcomer Heng and veteran lawmaker Costa trade barbs in first televised debate Fresno Bee
It is not too much to ask that candidates for Congress live where they seek office Fresno Bee
Denham failed to change the law for Dreamers. Will his effort change Hispanic votes?
Fresno Bee
Hispanic voters in the district of Republican California Rep. Jeff Denham say his effort to force a vote on a path to citizenship for Dreamers isn’t good enough to persuade them to vote for him.
In Fresno District 7 council race, both candidates use MAGA hat in smear ads
Fresno Bee
Both Nelson Esparza and Brian Whelan sent out mailers depicting their opponent wearing President Donald Trump’s signature red Make America Great Again baseball cap in their race for the District 7 seat on the Fresno City Council.
Campaign flyers flooding mailboxes as election looms
abc30
With two weeks to go until the election, the campaign mailers just keep on coming. Whether we want them or not. Whether it gets read or not, printers are doing a booming business. Trade Lithography is one of the states biggest.
Election official says early voting will help
Madera Tribune
County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Rebecca Martinez says voters who vote by mail should return their ballots early. They also need to remember to sign the blue return identification envelope that comes with the ballot.
All candidates are equal on the ballot but not at the bank
Bakersfield Californian
Our system of government and the way we select our leaders is built on the assumption that any one vote is as valuable as any other and every serious, competent candidate will have an opportunity to be heard.
Hear what Fresno residents have to say about the north-south divide
Fresno Bee
Fresno residents shared their thoughts on the north-south divide at a forum on Oct. 20, 2018.
See Also:
Tension rises as residents voice frustrations over Bass Lake courthouse closure
Sierra Star
Madera Superior Court judges went on the defensive immediately Tuesday night during a community forum in Oakhurst as residents angrily challenged on the decision to close the Bass Lake Superior Court.
Council candidates answer community questions
Hanford Sentinel
The Hanford Chamber of Commerce held a Hanford City Council candidates forum Monday night in an effort to give the community a chance to hear from the candidates hoping to represent them on the dais.
Accusations erupt at MID meeting over employment of Turlock mayor
Modesto Bee
Whether Modesto Irrigation District officers broke the law while considering new work for former employee Gary Soiseth is the subject of an independent investigation launched by Board Chairman Nick Blom and Vice Chairman Larry Byrd.
State:
Success of recalls has politicians sweating
Madera Tribune
Something has changed in California politics as the political class gets serious about this fall’s statewide election: Despite what has lately amounted to single-party rule in America’s most populous state, there’s a new insecurity in the air.
Five things you need to know about John Cox
Fresno Bee
John Cox has run for office many times. Once, he briefly ran for president of the United States. This year, the Republican businessman wants to be governor of California.
See Also:
Five things you need to know about Gavin Newsom Fresno Bee
Gavin Newsom, Dianne Feinstein lead for top California offices, poll says
Sacramento Bee
In the final sprint to Election Day, Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has a commanding advantage in his quest for the governor’s office, while U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein appears headed for a fifth full term, according to a new poll.
Blue wave in Orange County relies on two ex-Republicans turned Democrats
Los Angeles Times
Harley Rouda is one of two Republicans-turned-Democrat fighting to flip the once famously right-wing county that voted for every Republican candidate for president since Franklin D. Roosevelt — until Donald Trump came along.
Los Angeles Times
The first four measures Californians will see on their statewide ballot this year ask for permission to borrow lots of money.
Your mail ballot will get there without a stamp
San Francisco Chronicle
Up to two-thirds of Californians casting ballots in the midterm elections are expected to do so by mail. How many will attach enough postage is an open question.
Could Trump campaign in California? Don’t rule it out
San Francisco Chronicle
President Trump is not popular in California, but a top national Republican said there’s still a chance he’ll make a last-minute campaign swing through the state before the Nov. 6 midterm elections.
Trumped-up coverage and lackluster state races leave Californians disengaged from state issues
CALmatters
A lot of Californians pay little attention to their state’s politics and policy debates, and making it easier to vote is unlikely to change that, say state political insiders.
New poll erases most uncertainty about Nov. 6 election
CALmatters
There was never much uncertainty about how Californians would vote this year, and with less than a fortnight remaining before election day, only a few congressional seats are still too close to call.
California politics are hella NorCal. Will voters shake that up this year?
CALmatters
California is politically lopsided: Most of the people live in the south, but most of the political power is based in the north.
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government
PPIC
The PPIC Statewide Survey delivers objective, advocacy-free information on the perceptions, opinions, and public policy preferences of California residents.
Los Angeles Times
The first four measures Californians will see on their statewide ballot this year ask for permission to borrow lots of money.
Video: 2020 Census: ¿Por qué es tan importante el censo?
PPIC
El censo decenal juega un papel muy clave en la democracia estadounidense. Es bastante lo que está en juego para California—y el año 2020 se acerca rápidamente.
Federal:
‘We’re extremely angry,’ Trump says of suspected explosives sent to Democrats and CNN
Fresno Bee
Suspicious packages addressed to former President Barack Obama, former presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters were intercepted on Wednesday, while another forced CNN to evacuate one of its bureaus.
See Also:
Clinton reacts to explosive devices sent to her home, Obamas abc30
Suspicious devices sent to Clintons, Obamas, CNN in New York City abc30
Explosive devices sent to Obama, Clintons; CNN evacuated because of suspicious package Hanford Sentinel
Trump condemns series of attempted attacks on Democrats, CNN Stockton Record
Crude pipe bombs sent to Obama, Clintons, CNN; no injuries Stockton Record
California lawmakers condemn bomb scares, Trump Modesto Bee
McCarthy, Trump, others tweet a united front against those who targeted Obama, Clinton, CNN Bakersfield Californian
Explosive devices sent to Obama, Clinton and other political targets Los Angeles Times
Secret Service says it did not intercept a suspicious package addressed to White House Los Angeles Times
EDITORIAL: If Trump is worried about political violence, he should watch his words Los Angeles Times
Pipe bombs target Democrats, CNN as political tensions mount San Francisco Chronicle
Trump doubles down on blaming media as suspicious packages continue to surface Washington Post
Explosive Devices Sent to Clinton, Obama, CNN, Former Head of Democratic National Committee Wall Street Journal
Suspected explosives sent to Biden, De Niro as investigation into pipe bombs expands to 10 packages Washington Post
Trump calls Khashoggi killing 'one of worst cover-ups,' Pompeo penalizes Saudis
abc30
President Donald Trump on Tuesday bashed the Saudi operation that ended with Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi killed "one of the worst cover-ups" in some of his strongest condemnation yet of what took place in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.
See Also:
Saudi crown prince addresses journalist's murder as Trump reviews US intelligence abc30
Saudi crown prince calls Khashoggi killing a ‘heinous’ crime Sacramento Bee
Surveillance image purports to show Saudi vehicle scouting wooded area before Khashoggi killing Los Angeles Times
The Republican Strategy? Fear and Lies
New York Times
If I listened only to Donald Trump and those Republican candidates who follow his example, I would be petrified. I would be living in a bunker. I would have cyanide capsules at hand.
Wall Street Journal
Donald J. Trump is a real estate man, so naturally he prefers low interest rates. But he’s also President, and publicly mau-mauing the Federal Reserve to keep rates low as he has been doing will lead to the opposite of what he wants. This is Fed Politics 101.
Wall Street Journal
‘I am on the ticket because this is also a referendum about me,” President Trump said at a Mississippi rally on Oct. 2. He is correct: Every midterm election is to some degree about the Oval Office’s occupant.
Initial Early Voting Data Appears to Favor GOP in Several Key States
Roll Call
The 2018 midterms are just under two weeks away and some early voter data shows that GOP turnout might be outpacing Democrats in several states — a phenomenon not common for early voting trends in previous years.
What the latest campaign finance filings tell us about the coming election
Brookings
In an analysis of the last quarterly campaign finance reports before the midterm elections, Michael Malbin argues that while Democrats appear to have the competitive edge on fundraising, having more money never guarantees victory—especially in the unpredictable Trump era.
U.S. Won’t Resume Trade Talks Without Firm Proposal From a Wary China
Wall Street Journal
The U.S. is refusing to resume trade negotiations with China until Beijing comes up with a concrete proposal to address Washington’s complaints about forced technology transfers and other economic issues, said officials on both sides of the Pacific.
If Trump is worried about political violence, he should watch his words
Los Angeles Times
It seems far more likely, however, that an unstable mind marinated in the often vicious rhetoric of the current political moment decided to act on his beliefs.
For Senate Success, Democrats Must Regain Obama-Era Black Support
Wall Street Journal
African-American voters are emerging as a crucial factor in the Democratic Party’s fight for key Senate seats and governors’ mansions.
‘Where Do We Have Tariffs?’ Trump Asks. Here’s a List
Wall Street Journal
“We don’t have tariffs anywhere,” President Trump said in a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal. In fact, his administration this year has placed levies on more than $300 billion in imports.
Send Word: Trump Is Right to Fight Some Global Rules
Wall Street Journal
Last week, the Trump administration announced it was quitting the global treaty that governs mail delivery, calling it unfair to the U.S. Another episode of Trump vs. the World? Yes, but in this case probably justified—and therein lies a lesson.
Democrats Want to Flip Six Seats in California
The Atlantic
If any proof were needed that interest in the hotly contested Southern California midterm races extends far beyond the turf in play, it could be found on a recent Sunday afternoon near the UCLA campus here in Westwood.
Other:
Controversial radio host brings his conspiracy theorist brand of talk to Fresno
Fresno Bee
The conspiracy theorist behind the website Infowars who was banned from Twitter in September, radio host Alex Jones and his syndicated show can now be heard on Fresno, CA airwaves daily on TalkRadio 1680 KGED.
This isn’t fake news. It’s local news, and it still matters
Modesto Bee
The search for truth, the encouragement to ask questions and the freedom to debate the answers are things that our communities hold dear. These things matter. And in many ways, they bind us.
2018 Is The Year Democrats Got Comfortable Talking Health Care Again
NPR
Delgado is in a tight race in New York's 19th Congressional District. And his strategy is one Democrats nationwide have embraced. The party has been hammering on health care relentlessly.
Explosive Rhetoric Ramping Up, But Do Voters Care?
Roll Call
Praising violence against reporters. Sending pipe bombs to public figures. Threatening political opponents. The fiery rhetoric is in full swing as the nation enters the homestretch of the 2018 midterm election.
Facebook, Twitter Can’t Find China Election Meddling Trump Claims
Bloomberg
Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. haven’t detected Chinese meddling in the 2018 elections, company officials said, casting doubt on claims by President Donald Trump that the Asian nation is trying to interfere.
Just How Average Are the Average Voters in Campaign Ads?
Roll Call
Turn on any TV across America over the next two weeks, and there’s likely to be people talking into the camera about how wonderful or how awful a particular candidate is.
Who Are We Talking About When We Talk About Latino Voters?
New York Times
Even with millions of Latinos becoming newly eligible to vote every election cycle, many fail to cast ballots. Whether Latinos will turn out in large numbers this midterm election — this time with party control in Washington at stake — remains a big question.
Apple’s Tim Cook makes blistering attack on the ‘data industrial complex’
TechCrunch
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has joined the chorus of voices warning that data itself is being weaponized against people and societies — arguing that the trade in digital data has exploded into a “data industrial complex”.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Chowchilla Farm Fest draws 200-plus
Madera Tribune
More than 200 people who included farmers and those who do business with them, attended the annual Farm Fest celebration of the Chowchilla Chamber of Commerce, held at the Chowchilla Fairgrounds.
Animal activists attending ‘vigil’ at Oakdale ranch arrested after taking a calf
Modesto Bee
Three woman were arrested at a ranch north of Oakdale Sunday as they attempted to carry an apparently dying calf from the property.
Cattlemen to honor members at dinner
Madera Tribune
The Madera County Cattlemen’s Association has announced its 2018 appreciation awards. Nominated and elected by past honorees, these award winners are recognized for their contributions to the cattle industry in Madera County.
Why 7,000 pounds of salads and 3 million pounds of beef and chicken products got recalled
Merced Sun-Star
Salmonella causes about 1.2 million illnesses and 450 deaths in the U.S. every year, according to the CDC. The bacteria is typically transmitted through contaminated food, but some simple preventative measures can keep you from getting sick.
Cannabis dispensaries await amended operator’s permits
Stockton Record
Although dispensaries now are allowed to sell recreational cannabis, it is unknown when the businesses might open their doors to the general public. The city of Stockton’s amended ordinance permitting existing dispensaries to sell adult-use cannabis went into effect Oct. 18.
San Joaquin County Measure B Would Tax Cannabis To Support Childhood Programs
Capital Public Radio
Measure B would impose a 3.5 to 8 percent tax on all commercial cannabis businesses. San Joaquin County Supervisors split 3 to 2 in support of the measure.
You’ll get a deal on walnuts this year. Farmers won’t.
Sacramento Bee
That means you’ll save money at the grocery store. California walnut farmers, however, won’t be as fortunate.
Animal-welfare groups clash over Proposition 12, which promises cage-free hens by 2022
Los Angeles Times
Animal-welfare activists have split over an initiative on the Nov. 6 statewide ballot that would phase in requirements to provide more space for egg-laying hens, breeding pigs and calves raised for veal in California.
Croptober 2018: Northern California’s cannabis harvest in photos
Emerald Report
Chilly nights, towering plants and pungent smells. The signs are all around: it’s cannabis harvest season in Northern California.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Black students in Visalia faced ‘racial hostility,’ says ACLU complaint
Fresno Bee
A federal discrimination complaint filed Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union alleges black students at Visalia Unified School District endured a “racially hostile environment”
Law enforcement sees spike in auto-pedestrian accidents, issues stern warning
abc30
A spike in crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists over the weekend has law enforcement issuing a stern warning about the dangers of distracted driving and walking.
Public Safety:
California is complicit in the buildup of nuclear weapons
Los Angeles Times
A new nuclear arms race is underway, with California at the center, though it’s not clear its citizens realize it.
Fire:
Second community meeting to held tonight to discuss post-Ferguson Fire updates
abc30
A second community meeting tonight for those living in Mariposa County affected by the Ferguson Fire. The discussion is hosted by agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, Yosemite National Park, and Caltrans.
National Park Service cancels controlled burn near Earth's largest tree
Los Angeles Times
A National Park Service plan to set fire to an ancient sequoia grove in western Sierra Nevada has been canceled for the second time this year, further delaying a delicate forestry operation aimed at triggering new growth near the world’s largest tree.
California faces ‘extra risk’ of flooding after series of massive wildfires, officials warn
Los Angeles Times
Less than a year after a roaring mudslide left 23 people dead or missing in Montecito, state and federal officials gathered in Santa Barbara County on Wednesday to issue a warning to all Californians: Massive summer wildfires have left many communities facing an increased risk of flooding.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
abc30
Several national and international leaders, from 24 nations, spent Wednesday in the valley touring Fresno State University, Bitwise Industries and learning more about the High Speed Rail.
Stocks plunge again, wiping out gains for the year
Hanford Sentinel
Another torrent of selling gripped Wall Street Wednesday, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeting more than 600 points and erasing its gains for the year.
See Also:
Dow and S&P 500 erase their gains for the year as stocks slide Los Angeles Time
Commentary: Addressing Digital Deserts of Rural California Can Help Lift Entire Economy
Public CEO
In many rural areas, a basic technological lifeline that most Californians take for granted is missing: Accessible broadband service.
Are Trump's attacks setting up the Fed to take the fall for a slowdown ahead of reelection bid?
Los Angeles Times
President Trump's relentless public criticism of Federal Reserve officials for their recent interest rate hikes — he ripped them again this week — could set up the central bank for blame if the economy is weaker in 2020 when he is running for reelection, analysts said.
A Big Reason U.S. Economy Is Accelerating: Government Spending
Wall Street Journal
A stark pickup in government spending, particularly in defense, has helped fuel a broad acceleration in U.S. economic growth in the past year and a half, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of Commerce Department data.
Jobs:
Communities Want Trees Thinned. Timber Companies Want Contracts. So What’s The Problem?
Pew Center
At the local level, however, timber companies and environmentalists have often found that they can work with the Forest Service to pick projects everyone can agree on. Land managers might choose to carefully remove skinny trees from one overgrown area, clear a small meadow in another and move forward with a timber sale to harvest dead trees elsewhere, for instance.
Gender Equality Stalls in Corporate America Despite #MeToo
Wall Street Journal
Progress has “dragged to a halt,” said Ms. Sandberg, founder of LeanIn.Org, who spoke at a San Francisco event hosted by The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. “We’re at a really critical moment—a really critical moment where we need to invest in leadership.”
HHS At Odds With Its Workers, Including Doctors
Roll Call
The Health and Human Services Department is in a dispute with a union representing 14,000 employees, which risks exacerbating staff shortages among doctors and scientists involved in prescription drug reviews, food safety and other public health responses.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Disturbing statistics for children living in the Central Valley
abc30
Disturbing statistics for children living in the Central Valley. Researchers with "Children Now" published their findings this week.
See Also:
Cutler business owner writes another $10,000 check to Orosi High
abc30
For the second time in the past year, Cutler business owner Jack Mohamed donated a whopping $10,000 to Orosi High School for student scholarships.
ACLU files discrimination lawsuit against Visalia Unified
abc30
In the 23 page document, the ACLU describes several accounts from African American students saying they faced discrimination, racial bias and hostile environments on and off campus.
South Valley students learn life-saving techniques through 'Stop the Bleed Program'
abc30
In the South Valley, some students at Visalia's Mount Whitney High became certified in life-saving. They were taught simple, but effective techniques through Kaweah-Delta's "Stop the Bleed Program."
Push for young minority voters reaches into high school
Los Angeles Times
At one of more than two dozen stations in a dimly lit Boyle Heights call center, Wendy Morales clicked her mouse to place a call to an L.A. County resident named Dulce.
California Schools Race Sets Record For Most Expensive
Capital Public Radio
California is again recording the most expensive state superintendent election in history, with a cast of billionaires who are outspending the teacher unions in support of a former charter schools executive.
In More High School Classes, the Teacher Is on a Screen
Wall Street Journal
From her living-room-turned-office in Woodstock, Ga., Ms. Jacobsen walked students through finding the functions of an angle with a virtual pen, in close-up. An aide in the classroom helped students and made sure they stayed on task.
Higher Ed:
New food pantries at Clovis Community College feed into student success
Clovis Roundup
Being a college student can be tough. Between part-time jobs, a loaded academic schedule and maintaining a social life, it can be hard to even find the time – or money – to eat.
Institute of Technology welcomes new cosmetology and barbering program
Clovis Roundup
Looking for the right beauty school can be a hairy situation, but not for the students at the Institute of Technology.
CSUB reveals four new inductees into Alumni Hall of Fame
Bakersfield Californian
Cal State Bakersfield has revealed the four alumni who will be inducted into the 2019 Hall of Fame. The college held a press conference on Wednesday, with President Lynnette Zelezny announcing the recipients.
An ‘F’ in oversight: California fails to police for-profit colleges as feds back down on regulations
Sacramento Bee
An investigation found the California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education has repeatedly failed or been slow to enforce laws meant to prevent fraud and abuse at the more than 1,000 schools it is charged with overseeing, leaving a serious gap in accountability as federal regulators back away from the job.
CSUB sets stage for American 'Dreamers'
Bakersfield Californian
With the midterm elections less than two weeks away, a number of issues vie to dominate the headlines, not the least of which is immigration.
Apprenticeships:
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ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
Mokelumne salmon counts may be more than 2017
Stockton Record
Could this be another record year for salmon on the Mokelumne River? A record number of fall-run Chinook salmon, 19,904, went over Woodbridge Dam on the Mokelumne in the fall of 2017 – and this fall’s fish counts over the dam to date have been even better.
Should we hide the locations of Earth’s greatest trees?
San Francisco Chronicle
With the world's largest organism, Pando, dying, the question of protecting other natural wonders is no longer a hypothetical. Should we hide the locations of earth's greatest trees?
Energy:
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
abc30
In our weekly feature, Doc Talk, we're talking one-on-one with the Director of Emergency Medicine at Valley Children's Hospital, Geetanjali Srivastava about the flu.
JCPenney donates portion of sales to cancer research
Hanford Sentinel
Proceeds from some sales at JCPenney will go toward raising money for cancer research this month. Throughout October, retailer JCPenney is donating $2 from every sale of their women’s City Streets breast cancer awareness T-shirts to the American Cancer Society.
Los Angeles Times
A year after President Trump called for a public health emergency to control the opioid crisis, the administration is working to roll back health insurance coverage that public health experts say is critical to reining in an epidemic that killed nearly 50,000 Americans in 2017.
See also:
Analysis: Low number of lung cancer deaths saved California more than half a billion
CALmatters
California’s low rate of lung cancer deaths saved nearly 5,000 lives in 2014—and saved Californians at least $500 million just in that year, according to a CALmatters analysis in consultation with public health researchers. Those savings will likely grow into the billions of dollars in the decades ahead, experts say.
Human Services:
Trump makes false claim on GOP health insurance policies: Analysis
abc30
Trump falsely claimed Tuesday that the GOP would "totally protect" people with pre-existing conditions, and "Democrats will not!" But his comments aren't factual.
EDITORIAL: California's cruel rule barring 2,400 vets from accessing aid in dying
Los Angeles Times
Not long after California enacted a law allowing terminally ill people to obtain life-ending prescriptions, the state Department of Veterans Affairs (known as CalVet) adopted an emergency regulation making it clear that residents of its eight veterans homes would not be allowed to take advantage of the new law’s provisions.
IMMIGRATION
Hopeful immigrants march to U.S. through Mexico. How many are already in the Valley?
Fresno Bee
More than one-third of residents living in the central San Joaquin Valley were born outside the U.S. but now make their homes in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare counties.
'The only one using this caravan in a political way is Donald Trump,' organizer says
Los Angeles Times
As the caravan makes its way through southern Mexico, it numbers around 7,000 people and stretches for miles.
See Also:
Trump's grotesque distortions of the migrant caravan and the reality at the border Los Angeles Times
Pentagon plans to dispatch 800 more troops to U.S.-Mexico border in response to migrant caravan Washington Post
EDITORIAL: Trump’s cynical use of a ragtag migrant caravan San Francisco Chronicle
Immigrant detention is a profitable business
San Francisco Chronicle
Much of America was gripped by the horrific images of children being ripped from the arms of family members as a result of the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy.
Pew survey: It’s getting harder to be Latino in America
Washington Post
It is harder to be Latino in America than it was before Donald Trump was elected, according to a new survey from the nonpartisan Pew Research Center.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Religious Groups, Atheists Clash Over Tax-Free Housing for Clergy
Wall Street Journal
A lawyer for religious groups on Wednesday defended in federal court a 64-year-old tax break that grants priests, rabbis and imams tax-free housing allowances—costing the Treasury of hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
Housing:
Plan approved for new development in Northwest Clovis
abc30
Northwest Clovis is soon becoming the land of opportunity. At least that's the message dozens of commercial brokers, property owners and local business owners learned about the city's newest project Heritage Grove.
California rent control initiative appears headed for defeat
Sacramento Bee
The fight for stronger rent control in California appears headed for a fiery demise, according to the latest poll by the Public Policy Institute of California.
City Council Advances Tenant Mediation Proposal
Capital Public Radio
The Sacramento City Council will vote on a proposal to create mediation between tenants and landlords, but it’s just one of many proposals to address the region’s housing crisis.
Los Angeles Times
In a state with a persistent housing shortage, some believe older homeowners could provide some relief.
Housing Market is Faltering and Strong Economy Offers No Cure
Wall Street Journal
The housing market is stumbling through its longest slump in four years, as the divergence between a booming U.S. economy and weakening home sales that many had dismissed as temporary now looks poised to continue.
EDITORIAL: Welcome advances on the San Diego housing front
San Diego Union-Tribune
With the cost of building each unit in a 100-unit “affordable housing” project averaging $425,000 in California, local governments should be desperate for a new approach. San Diego is going to get a look at one of the most promising.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Key GOP senators contradict Trump on middle-class tax cut claims
abc30
Two key senators on tax policy gave responses about a possible forthcoming tax cut that contradict President Donald Trump's own statements this week.
See Also:
White House officials and GOP leaders scramble to make Trump's false assertions real Los Angeles Times
Trump Is Not Going to Cut Middle-Class Taxes This Year, Despite What He Says New York Times
Follow the Bouncing Ball for Elusive Details on Trump Tax Plan Wall Street Journal
Miller enlightens supervisors of SJ County’s spiraling pension obligations
Stockton Record
More than six years after voting as vice mayor in favor of Stockton’s Chapter 9 bankruptcy filing, now-Supervisor Kathy Miller says she is proactively working to steer San Joaquin County as far away as possible from similarly treacherous financial waters.
What if your property and giant buildings didn’t have same tax rules?
Modesto Bee
The stage is seemingly set for a very expensive political battle in 2020 over changing Proposition 13, the iconic property tax limit that California voters enacted 40 years ago.
The Kamala Harris tax credit isn’t ‘socialism.’ It’s barely enough to prevent poverty
Sacramento Bee
Under the proposal that Harris outlined last week, earning national attention, families could get a tax credit of as much as $500 a month or one lump sum of $6,000.
New ‘Opportunity Zone’ Tax-Break Rules Offer Flexibility to Developers
Wall Street Journal
The Trump administration, trying to accelerate tax-advantaged investment in low-income areas, offered generous definitions and rules Friday in a long-awaited package of regulations.
TRANSPORTATION
Experts predict hike in airfare costs over next several weeks
abc30
Travel experts are predicting a big jump in airfare over the next several weeks. Ticket prices tend to increase during the holiday season to match consumer demand. But supply and demand isn't the only reason prices are increasing. The price of crude oil also reflects the price you see on your ticket.
‘Fraud, waste and abuse.’ Modesto auditor’s review of road project sparks controversy
Modesto Bee
The Modesto City Council cut ties with its first auditor on grounds he didn’t uncover wasteful spending. The current auditor is in hot water with top city officials perhaps because she’s doing too much.
Bakersfield may get temporary high-speed rail station, full buildout might never happen
Bakersfield Californian
High-speed rail passengers in and out of Bakersfield might one day be greeted by a sleek, ultra-modern train station with ample parking, grand amenities and easy access to F Street and Golden State Avenue.
Shafter settles high-speed rail lawsuit
Bakersfield Californian
The city of Shafter has settled a lawsuit it filed against the California High-Speed Rail Authority over a proposed train route that would have negatively impacted transportation infrastructure and certain properties within city limits.
When electric isn’t good enough
Curbed
Sacramento might be ground zero for policy-making bigwigs and high-rolling lobbyists, but as a city it has more in common with farming communities 200 miles to the south.
EDITORIAL: A report on jammed freeways should lead drivers to
San Francisco Chronicle
The Bay Area has miserable commute conditions, but at least they’re not getting worse. That’s the consolation offered by traffic experts studying the region’s potholed, congested roads.
WATER
Proposition 3 will pay for a multitude of water needs
Sacramento Bee
California needs clean, safe and reliable water supplies. We also would greatly benefit from the improved flood management Proposition 3 would provide.
See Also:
Trump signs law giving Merced County more water storage
Merced Sun-Star
New legislation pushed by Central San Joaquin Valley lawmakers was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, increasing the storage capacity at Lake McClure, according to leaders.
See Also:
Q&A: Here's what we know about Trump's water memo and California Visalia Times-Delta
Trump: California has lots of water; why are lawns so brown?
San Francisco Chronicle
President Trump doubled down on his criticism of California policies that he says are responsible for wildfires and misdirecting water.
“Xtra”
Two new restaurants opening up in North Fresno
abc30
Two new dining options in North Fresno figure to draw lots of families looking for something different to try.
See Also:
New brewery adds Asian flavor to Northern California’s beer scene
Modesto Bee
Sacramento’s Asian Brothers Brewing makes beers to sell in Fresno, Modesto, San Francisco and Oakland. Their Hmong beer is available in bottles at Anh Hong restaurant, off Florin Road in south Sacramento.
Fall festival returns to Kernville this weekend
Bakersfield Californian
If the mountains have been calling since fall began, this weekend is the time to head out for some perfect weather and seasonal fun.
Pocket park's mural bursting with love for eastside
Bakersfield Californian
Love for the east side of town knows no artistic bounds. As the David Nelson Pocket Park nears its grand opening Friday, it will also officially unveil a love letter to east Bakersfield, a mural featuring the work of 15 artists who dig their community.
ClovisFest set to return with more attractions
Clovis Roundup
ClovisFest, the much anticipated annual street festival, is returning to the heart of Old Town Clovis this weekend.
Harvesting The Leaders Of Tomorrow Internship And Career Fair Feb. 2
Fresno State
The Harvesting the Leaders of Tomorrow Internship and Career Fair will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at the Satellite Student Union at Fresno State and will feature representatives from over 40 agricultural-related companies and government agencies.