POLICY & POLITICS
NPR’S Tamara Keith keynotes second fall President's Lecture Series tonight
Fresno State Campus News
Tamara Keith, who grew up in Hanford and worked as a reporter covering the Central Valley for KQED, will be the featured guest for a second virtual version of the President’s Lecture Series this fall at Fresno State.
North SJ Valley:
City Council candidates turn to social media to reach voters
Turlock Journal
As the races for open Turlock City Council seats swing into the final weeks before election day, two candidates are far out-spending their opponents in order to reach potential voters.
Runoff for Stanislaus judge seat between court commissioner, prosecutor
Modesto Bee
Two of Stanislaus County’s newest judges were elected during the March primary election, but the third seat will be decided in a runoff Nov. 3.
Merced County at risk of moving back to more restrictive category
PublicCEO
Merced County is at risk of moving back to the more restrictive Purple (Widespread) Tier on the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. October 6 they progressed into the Red Tier which allowed several non-essential indoor businesses to resume operations with safety restrictions.
See also:
Coronavirus update: Stanislaus County cases, hospitalizations are on the rise Modesto Bee
Coronavirus update: Stanislaus County maintaining high levels of infection Modesto Bee
Stapley: What to look for in Modesto and Stanislaus County in Nov. 3 election
Modesto Bee
All three Modesto City Council races are intriguing as well. As is the thought of a newly constituted council with the will to break Modesto out of its doldrums. We’re looking for big things from this next group.
Central SJ Valley:
Coronavirus update: Fresno County adds 6 deaths; could slip back into purple tier
Fresno Bee
Fresno County added six new fatal cases to the running total that is now 436 deaths related to the coronavirus pandemic from Thursday to Saturday.
See also:
Coronavirus updates: Is purple tier on Fresno County’s horizon? Fresno Bee
Fresno County teeters as COVID-19 cases increase. Could businesses face renewed restrictions? Fresno Bee
Is your drinking water contaminated? Check this Fresno-area map to find out
Fresno Bee
If you live in the central San Joaquin Valley, there’s a chance your tap water is unsafe to drink. Nearly 180,000 people in the region get their water from systems that do not meet drinking water standards — and it’s hard, as a resident, to learn more and find out what to do to keep yourself and your family safe.
Fresno city council clashes over Chinatown cleanup contract
Fresno Bee
A heated exchange between Fresno, Calif, councilmembers on Thursday ended after one invited another to resign from the City Council.
See also:
Fresno Council Delays Purchase Agreement Of Former Bee Building
Business Journal
The Fresno City Council pushed back until November the $5.75 million purchase agreement of the former Fresno Bee building in Downtown Fresno on Thursday, according to a city spokesperson.
Survivor group slams Fresno Catholic churches for withholding names of accused priests
Fresno Bee
It remains unknown when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno may release its list of credibly accused priests of sexual misconduct two years after it began to ponder what to release to the public.
Lemoore looks to dissolve downtown committee
Hanford Sentinel
At its meeting Tuesday evening, the Lemoore City Council decided to move forward with dissolving the city’s Downtown Merchants Advisory Committee.
COVID-19 update: Tulare County still no closer to red tier
Porterville Recorder
Tulare County's stubborn COVID-19 case rate continued to keep the county from moving closer to the red tier on Friday.
Local or not local: Council considering cannabis dispensary permits
Porterville Recorder
On Thursday night, the Porterville City Council hosted a special meeting where they conducted interviews on the retail cannabis dispensary candidates whose Request for Proposal (RFP) scores qualified them for an interview.
Fresno Bee
No one really expected President Donald Trump, who benefited from Russia’s 2016 election interference, to counter that hostile regime’s active measures: Russia wanted him to win, and when they hacked, he invited them to hack more.
South SJ Valley:
Kern Public Health: 38 new coronavirus cases reported Saturday
Bakersfield Califn
Latest statistics
Behind the Battle for the Future of Calif’s Oil
KQED
Environmentalists, petroleum industry executives, union leaders and communities near oil drilling sites are all gearing up for what's expected to be a fierce political battle over efforts to reduce Calif's oil production.
See also:
Oilfield wastewater slowly gains value in agriculture
Bakersfield Califn
Conceptually it makes a lot of sense to farmers and oil producers alike: Use the latest filtration technology to turn one of Kern's most troublesome waste streams — oilfield produced water — into a safe irrigation source.
East Bakersfield's Amestoy's building suffering death by a thousand cuts
Bakersfield Califn
The east Bakersfield dive bar that stood for more than seven decades as a working-class counterpoint to the chrome, glass and potted-plant slickness of the suburban chains, closed for good more than a year ago.
Price: In the debate about police reform, some voices apparently matter more than others
Bakersfield Califn
I have tried to look at this from every angle, but there’s no way to view it as anything but what it is. Politics. Grandstanding. Because-we-can payback.
State:
Other states are watching COVID-19 rates rise. Calif’s coronavirus numbers are steady
Sac Bee
Coronavirus hospitalizations in Calif are plateauing. So are intensive care unit admissions. Texas, the second most populous state after Calif, has 10 million fewer people. Yet as of mid-October, it had recorded more COVID-19 deaths.
See also:
● Now for some good news: Calif praised for recent handling of pandemic CalMatters
Rural Calif is divided, armed for revolt. What’s the matter in the State of Jefferson?
Fresno Bee
But here, in what’s arguably the capital of the State of Jefferson — a decades-old movement to break off conservative northern counties from Democrat-controlled Calif — many have shrugged Zapata off as commonplace.
Walters: Calif’s vague new financial regulation law
CalMatters
Assembly Bill 1864 didn’t get much media or public attention as it zipped through both houses of the Legislature on the last day of the 2020 session.
Federal:
Mike Pence to keep up travel despite contact with aides infected with COVID-19
abc30
ABC News has confirmed at least five individuals in Vice President Mike Pence's orbit have tested positive as of Saturday night.
See also:
● Mike Pence's chief of staff, top adviser both test positive for coronavirus abc30
● Pence, a close contact to COVID-infected aides, will keep up his travel schedule LA Times
● Health experts question Pence campaigning as essential work LA Times
Senate votes to advance Barrett; confirmation expected Monday
LA Times
Senate Republicans voted overwhelmingly Sunday to advance Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett toward final confirmation despite Democratic objections, just over a week before the presidential election. The vote was 51-48.
See also:
● Senate Advances Supreme Court Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett WSJ
● Conservative-Dominated Supreme Court Fulfills Nixon-Era Dream WSJ
● Analysis: U.S. Supreme Court nominee Barrett often rules for police in excessive force cases Reuters
● Senate Set for Vote Today to Place Barrett on Supreme Court Bloomberg
Fact Check: Trump Says He Saved 2 Million Lives From COVID. Really?
KHN
President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed to have saved 2 million lives from COVID-19 through his actions to combat the disease. Recently, he made the assertion during the NBC News town hall on Oct. 15 that replaced the second presidential debate.
See also:
● Lesley Stahl: Giant health care book in Trump interview had 'no comprehensive health care plan' The Hill
● Opinion: There Is No COVID Plan National Review
Apple, Google and a Deal That Controls the Internet
NY Times
In a landmark antitrust complaint, the Justice Department is targeting a secretive partnership that is worth billions of dollars to both companies.
See also:
● Opinion: The Government’s Case Against Google Is Good Slate
Without Senate-confirmed leaders, Interior rules may be at risk
Roll Call
Three Interior Department divisions have gone without Senate-confirmed leaders during the entire Trump administration, endangering department policies and decisions over violations of laws that govern presidential appointments and nominations.
Walters: Left wing wants to cancel Dianne Feinstein
CalMatters
Dianne Feinstein has been a fixture of Calif politics for 60 years, beginning with an appointment to the state’s then-separate parole board for women. To put that in context, her political career began seven years before Gov. Gavin Newsom was born.
See also:
● A hug that divided the Democratic Party: Feinstein could pay a price for Supreme Court hearings Sac Bee
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 Los Angeles Times
● Coronavirus Tracker San Francisco Chronicle
● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count New York 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
Prop. 16: ‘It’s a one-time shot.’ Is it now or never for affirmative action in Calif?
Fresno Bee
When Calif Democrats first started working last year on a proposal to reinstate affirmative action — an effort that requires approval on Nov. 3 — it was months before a spring of coronavirus lockdowns and summer of racial reckoning in America.
Prop. 19: Making sense of the Prop 19 property tax measure
LA Times
Calif voters face a complicated ballot measure about property taxes in Proposition 19. The measure, backed by the Calif Assn. of Realtors, would expand a property tax break for homeowners 55 and older when they move.
Prop. 22: Uber, Lyft and allies break spending records on gig worker initiative. Here’s how much
Fresno Bee
A fight over the future of Calif gig drivers has drawn nearly $220 million in political spending, making it the most expensive initiative in the history of the state.
See also:
Poll: Measure Pushed by Uber, Lyft Falling Just Short of Passage; Many Voters Still Undecided KQED
Fact check: Uber and Lyft in Prop. 22 ads say they reduce DUIs, but what do studies show? Sac Bee
It’s a Ballot Fight for Survival for Gig Companies Like Uber NY Times
Uber and Lyft must pay drivers as employees under Calif labor law AB 5, court rules Fresno Bee
Calif Court Says Uber, Lyft Drivers Are Employees Business Journal
Money Bail, Risk-Based Tools & the Costs for Californians: Understanding Prop. 25
Calif Budget & Policy Center
Across Calif and the United States, the push for bail reform has gained momentum with increasing awareness and research showing the disproportionate impact the money bail system has on people of color and low-income households.
Meet the candidates: David Valadao
Hanford Sentinel
In preparation for the Nov. 3 general election, the Sentinel asked the two candidates running for the 21 Congressional District a few questions so voters can get to know them.
How Money, Message And Turnout Could Shape Local Congressional Races
VPR
Election season is in full swing and some of the nation's most contested congressional races are taking place in the Central Valley.
See also:
● In a toss-up Central Valley district, Republicans and Democrats wage a vicious campaign LA Times
● Slated for deception? Beware of all those glossy mailers telling you how to vote CalMatters
● Can the Electoral College be subverted by “faithless electors”? Brookings
Newsweek
The U.S. could see record voter turnout in this year's presidential election as President Donald Trump fights to secure a second term. Early voting indicates that turnout could be the highest it's been since 1908 and set a record for 21st century elections.
See also:
● Voting Problems in March May Have Discouraged Some LA Voters PPIC
● Calif Republicans face turnout burden after Trump mail ballot attacks Politico
● Calif Democrats swamp Republicans in early voter turnout CalMatters
● Trump Told Supporters to ‘Watch’ Voting. His Staff Is More Than Watching. NY Times
With Debates Behind Them, Biden And Trump Enter The Final Stretch Before Election Day
VPR
In front of television cameras on Friday, President Trump chatted with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over speaker phone, lauding a new agreement between Israel and Sudan to normalize relations.
See also:
● With nine days to go, Trump faces two adversaries: Joe Biden and the pandemic LA Times
● Trump and Biden barnstorm battleground states as race moves into overdrive LA Times
● Biden campaign aide: Trump trying to distort former vice president's position on oil The Hill
● Business on Biden: Not So Bad, Given the Alternatives WSJ
● The Two Americas Financing the Trump and Biden Campaigns NY Times
● 5 Things To Watch In The Final Week Of The 2020 Presidential Campaign VPR
● Commentary: What happens if Trump and Biden tie in the Electoral College? Brookings
‘There is a voter-suppression wing’: An ugly American tradition clouds the 2020 presidential race
LA Times
A Memphis, Tenn., poll worker turned away people wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts, saying they couldn’t vote. Robocalls warned thousands of Michigan residents that mail-in voting could put their personal information in the hands of debt collectors and police.
America wakes up to politics: 2020 brings a tsunami of voting and activism
LA Times
The American electorate, often apathetic and cynical about politics, is experiencing a great awakening, with the 2020 election inspiring extraordinary levels of engagement in both parties.
See also:
● Calif ‘shattering prior election returns’ with 6m ballots already cast The Guardian
● The Push to Vote Early Shows No Sign of Slowing WSJ
● Lines in New York and Calif illustrate strong turnout by early voters in large Democratic states Washington Post
● Early vote total exceeds 2016; GOP chips at Dems’ advantage AP News
How Police, National Guard And The Military Are Preparing For Election Day Tensions
VPR
Nov. 3 promises to be an Election Day unlike any other, and public safety entities say they're preparing for the tensions and the possibility of violence.
See also:
· Cars Have Hit Protesters More Than 100 Times This Year WSJ
Griswold: Here’s why election officials say no need to hand deliver mail ballot
CalMatters
Calif election officials assure voters their ballot is safe in drop boxes and the mail, yet some voters are hand delivering anyway.
See also:
● 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
● Ensuring the Safety and Integrity of the Vote Rand
● How Delayed Is Your Mail-In Ballot? WSJ
Other:
Pandemic Fatigue Is Real—And It’s Spreading
WSJ
From the corridors of Washington to the cobblestones of Paris, the coronavirus is roaring back and authorities are ramping up restrictions again. This time around, however, everyone is tired.
Facebook Prepares Measures for Possible Election Unrest
WSJ
Facebook Inc. teams have planned for the possibility of trying to calm election-related conflict in the U.S. by deploying internal tools designed for what it calls “at-risk” countries, according to people familiar with the matter.
The end of democracy? To many Americans, the future looks dark if the other side wins.
Washington Post
A psychiatrist examining what has happened to America’s soul chooses for his book cover an iconic image from “Planet of the Apes” — a charred, half-buried wreck of the Statue of Liberty.
See also:
● Commentary: America’s electoral future: The coming generational transformation Brookings
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, November 1, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "The November 2020 Propositions" - Guest: Ben Christopher, CalMatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, November 1, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “Election Props: Valley Implications” - Guests: Jessica Trounstine, UC Merced; Greg Soydemir, Stanislaus State; Lisa Bryant, Fresno State; Ivy Cargile, CSU Bakersfield; Mary Roaf, Stanislaus State; Sebastian Sclofsky, Stanislaus State. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Many Calif farmworkers fear a winter of hunger and homelessness amid the pandemic
LA Times
In a year without pandemic, fire and extreme heat, Jose Luis Hernandez by now would have saved enough money picking summer fruit from Calif fields to make it through the slow winter months ahead.
AMB Labor Force distributes 500 more boxes of food
Madera Tribune
Adam Beas and AMB Labor Force is at it again. Last week, AMB Labor Force, owned by Beas, with Cornerstone Community Care distributed 500 boxes of food.
Oilfield wastewater slowly gains value in agriculture
Bakersfield Califn
Conceptually it makes a lot of sense to farmers and oil producers alike: Use the latest filtration technology to turn one of Kern's most troublesome waste streams — oilfield produced water — into a safe irrigation source.
County agricultural value entered pandemic on strong note, report says
Turlock Journal
While the future data concerning Stanislaus County agriculture may be uncertain due to the coronavirus pandemic, the annual agricultural report for 2019 reflected the strong farming economy local residents and consumers have come to expect.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
City of Madera awarded $85,000
Madera Tribune
The safety of everyone traveling is the focus of a grant awarded to City of Madera Police Department. The $85,000 grant from the Calif Office of Traffic Safety will assist in the Police Department’s efforts to reduce deaths and injuries on Madera roads.
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.
Public Safety:
Fresno police say they haven’t abandoned communities of color during surge of violence
Fresno Bee
As shootings and homicides surge across the city, some south and central Fresno residents say they fear police officers are pulling back efforts to combat gang violence in communities of color.
National advocacy groups protest in front of courthouse over domestic violence
Bakersfield Califn
National and local advocates for domestic violence survivors gathered in front of Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield Friday morning to demand that the District Attorney’s Office drop charges against two Kern County women, Michaele Bowers and Wendy Howard.
‘That is unacceptable.’ Calif megachurch faces local backlash for dismissing COVID-19
Sacramento Bee
Shasta County Supervisor Les Baugh is a Christian pastor who has been the loudest voice among his colleagues pushing back against Calif’s COVID-19 restrictions on local businesses.
Money Bail, Risk-Based Tools & the Costs for Californians: Understanding Prop. 25
Calif Budget & Policy Center
Across Calif and the United States, the push for bail reform has gained momentum with increasing awareness and research showing the disproportionate impact the money bail system has on people of color and low-income households.
Price: In the debate about police reform, some voices apparently matter more than others
Bakersfield Califn
I have tried to look at this from every angle, but there’s no way to view it as anything but what it is. Politics. Grandstanding. Because-we-can payback.
Fire:
Creek Fire update: Full containment of the Calif wildfire expected next week
Fresno Bee
The Creek Fire remained at 61 % containment while growing slightly to 358,967 acres as of Friday evening. Fire crews are expected to fully contain the fire by next week.
See also:
● Creek Fire updates: ‘Extreme fire activity is possible,’ winds prompt warning Fresno Bee
● ‘It’s been a lot to navigate.’ Fresno County residents struggle to access Creek Fire relief Fresno Bee
● Creek Fire update: Now 61% contained; rental assistance available for displaced Fresno Bee
● Creek Fire: 358,967 acres burned, 61% contained, latest evacuation warnings abc30
● FEMA Offering Relief for Residents Impacted by Creek Fire Clovis RoundUp
SQF Complex Fire: 169,330 acres burned, 75% contained, latest evacuation warnings
abc30
Fire crews are continuing to make progress on the SQF Complex Fire, which is now the largest wildfire in Tulare County's modern history. Crews held the line on the blaze which has burned 169,330 acres and is 75% containment as of Friday.
See also:
● Sequoia Complex remains at 75 percent contained Porterville Recorder
Calif girds for most dangerous fire weather of year
Bakersfield Califn
Calif, which has endured its worst wildfire season in history, is bracing for the most dangerous winds of the year, a forecast that prompted the largest utility to announce it will cut power Sunday to nearly 1 million people to guard against its equipment sparking new blazes.
See also:
● PG&E: More than 600 customers could lose power due to winds, fire danger Bakersfield Califn
● 360,000 Customers Lose Power In Calif Amid Fire-Safety Shutoffs VPR
● Extreme wind bound for Calif similar to conditions that fanned state’s worst fires Sac Bee
● PG&E Cuts Power to Hundreds of Thousands WSJ
● Calif faces highest fire risk of 2020 with 70-plus mph winds, record dry conditions Washington Post
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Turlock Journal
Additional aid is on the way for some local businesses suffering during the pandemic after an increase to Stanislaus County’s Business Grant Program was approved by the Board of Supervisors this month.
Grocery stores prepare for shoppers to stockpile ahead of another coronavirus wave
Kansas City Star
Many of us won’t soon forget what we saw in grocery stores at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic — aisles and aisles of bare shelves, check-out lines stretching through stores and shopping carts filled to the brim.
See also:
● Why You Might Have Trouble Getting the Refrigerator, Can of Paint or Car You Want WSJ
● A Global Rebound Could Be Determined by How Freely Households Spend WSJ
China Trade War Didn’t Boost U.S. Manufacturing Might
WSJ
President Trump’s trade war against China didn’t achieve the central objective of reversing a U.S. decline in manufacturing, economic data show, despite tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese goods to discourage imports.
Stocks Drop on Coronavirus Uptick, Fading Stimulus Hopes
WSJ
U.S. stocks dropped sharply Monday as coronavirus cases surged in the U.S. and Europe, adding to worries about the economic outlook after Congress and the White House failed to agree on a much-anticipated fiscal stimulus deal.
COVID-19: Household Debt During the Pandemic
Congressional Research Service
COVID-19 pandemic has had an economic impact across the U.S. Fear of infection, social distancing, and stay-at-home orders prompted business closures and a severe decline in demand for travel, accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment, among other industries.
Jobs:
Uber and Lyft must pay drivers as employees under Calif labor law AB 5, court rules
Fresno Bee
Uber and Lyft must pay their Calif drivers as employees within weeks to comply with a new state labor law that directs companies to provide benefits to more workers, according to a state appeals court ruling filed Thursday.
See also:
● Calif Court Says Uber, Lyft Drivers Are Employees Business Journal
Opinion: A $15 Minimum Wage Would Wreck U.S. Economic Recovery
Bloomberg
In Thursday night’s debate, both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden expressed openness to a $15-per-hour national minimum wage. Biden seems all for it, and Trump indicated it may be a good idea for some states.
Calif Theme Park Closures Hit Jobs, Shops, Budget
Business Journal
Calif’s amusement parks have been pining to reopen for months, hoping to bring back thousands of workers sent home in March when the coronavirus pandemic forced them to close their gates.
Gender Gaps in the COVID-19 Labor Market
Public Policy Institute of Calif
Women are slightly more likely to work in the industries most affected by the recession (16% of women and 14% of men worked in these industries in February 2020).
EDUCATION
K-12:
District By District, Some Valley Students Return To School
VPR
Now that most counties in the San Joaquin Valley have graduated out of the most restrictive “purple” tier of the governor’s reopening blueprint, many schools are preparing to bring students back to campus, and some already have.
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.
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.
Selma Unified brings back small cohorts of students
abc30
Selma Unified is the latest Central Valley district to welcome back small groups of students to the classroom.
KHSD opens its brand-new Career Technical Education Center
Bakersfield Califn
It’s been years in the making and the crown jewel of the Kern High School District’s career education program, if not the district itself, has begun to open its doors.
Immanuel Schools, Fresno County Settle Legal Battle Over In-Person Instruction
VPR
The superintendent of Immanuel Schools said Wednesday he’s pleased to no longer be arguing the legality of keeping his K-12 private school in Reedley open. That’s due to a recent settlement among Immanuel, Fresno County, and the state attorney general’s office.
Higher Ed:
Stressed freshmen missing quintessential college experience
Bakersfield Califn
It’s a major life milestone, the first time many U.S. teens have ever been on their own. Even in normal times, freshman year in college can be a jumbled mix of anticipation, uncertainty and emotional highs and lows.
Calif State University graduation rates show steady improvement amid pandemic
EdSource
Graduation rates across the 23 Calif State University campuses continue to increase even in a year when students were forced to complete their degrees mostly online due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it’s too early to know how the crisis will impact students.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Threatened species Yosemite toad impacted by Creek Fire. Here's why their existence is important
Fresno Bee
USFS aquatic biologist Stephanie Barnes is helping educate Creek Fire firefighters about the threatened Yosemite toad along Kaiser Pass Road Thursday.
Contaminated plant turned over to state environmental trust
Bakersfield Califn
A state environmental trust will take over a battery recycling plant in Southern Calif to prevent its bankrupt owners from abandoning the heavily contaminated facility, a newspaper reported Saturday.
Minority communities question election-year push by EPA
Bakersfield Califn
Theresa Landrum lives in southwest Detroit, where residents complain frequently about dirty air. Tree-shaded neighborhoods with schools, churches and parks lie on either side of an interstate highway and in the shadow of a sprawling oil refinery that belches soot and fumes.
Protecting our public lands is a national health issue
Roll Call
In recent months we’ve seen an outpouring of interest in visiting parks and rivers nationwide. As someone who loves spending time outdoors, I can relate to anyone who seeks comfort and relaxation in nature — especially right now.
Energy:
Power shutoff scheduled in eastern Madera County. It may last days, PG&E says
Fresno Bee
A Public Safety Power Shutoff has been scheduled for eastern Madera County. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. sent a notification that the outage is expected to start Sunday afternoon and last through Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.
See also:
● PG&E lowers numbers in preparation for largest Calif wildfire blackout of 2020 Fresno Bee
Behind the Battle for the Future of Calif’s Oil
KQED
Environmentalists, petroleum industry executives, union leaders and communities near oil drilling sites are all gearing up for what's expected to be a fierce political battle over efforts to reduce Calif's oil production.
Gov. Newsom Pledges to Ban Fracking in Calif – Then Greenlights More of It
Capital & Main
On Sept. 23, Calif Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to ban hydrofracturing in the state by 2024. Just three weeks later, on Oct. 16, his administration approved permits to frack six new wells owned by a company with whom he has lobbying ties.
PublicCEO
A coalition of public electricity providers, leading clean energy technology companies and advocates submitted a letter to the Calif Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce in response to their October 12 hearing on the root causes of the August 2020 blackouts.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Coronavirus surge: US reports second-highest day of COVID cases. The highest day was Friday
abc30
As the fall surge continues, the United States has reported its second-highest day of new Covid-19 cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Saturday saw 83,718 new cases, just 39 cases shy of the all-time record that was reported Friday.
See also:
U.S. sees highest number of new COVID-19 cases in past two days Reuters
U.S. Tops 70,000 Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day — Heights Not Seen Since July VPR
Fear and anxiety spike in coronavirus hot spots across U.S. as Trump downplays pandemic LA Times
Coronavirus update: Stanislaus County cases, hospitalizations are on the rise Modesto Bee
Coronavirus update: Stanislaus County maintaining high levels of infection Modesto Bee
Kern Public Health: 38 new coronavirus cases reported Saturday Bakersfield Califn
Health officials warn against ‘twin-demic’
Turlock Journal
Stanislaus County health officials are making a concerted effort to get residents vaccinated against the flu to help ward off a "twin-demic" of influenza and COVID-19.
How You Will Know If a Coronavirus Vaccine Is Safe and Effective
Consumer Reports
For people around the world whose lives have been upended by the coronavirus pandemic, one major development could help make gathering in crowded locations okay again: a safe and effective vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Covid-19 Is Surging at Weddings, Dinner Parties and Group Events
WSJ
The coronavirus is spreading across the U.S. for a number of reasons, including family and social gatherings ranging from dinner parties to weddings, as well as eased shutdown restrictions nationwide.
The Price for Not Wearing Masks: Perhaps 130,000 Lives
NY Times
Universal mask use could prevent nearly 130,000 deaths from Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, in the United States through next spring, scientists reported on Friday.
See also:
Wearing masks could save more than 100,000 US lives through February from COVID, new study suggests abc30
Human Services:
States decide who gets first COVID-19 vaccines, feds tackle distribution
BakersfieldNow
At least 2 COVID vaccine candidates could receive emergency use authorization by late Nov, according to Operation Warp Speed, which means the race is on at the federal, state and local level to ensure the people who need the vaccine most will have it as soon as possible.
Health Agency Halts Coronavirus Ad Campaign, Leaving Santa Claus in the Cold
WSJ
A federal health agency halted a public-service coronavirus advertising campaign funded by $250 million in taxpayer money after it offered a special vaccine deal to an unusual set of essential workers: Santa Claus performers.
Reimagining America’s Infectious-Disease Defense
National Review
For several decades, health experts have warned about the potential for an infectious pandemic sweeping the globe.
IMMIGRATION
Migrant parents could face fateful choice: Be separated from their children or stay together in jail
Washington Post
The federal judge who oversees long-running litigation about the treatment of migrant children in U.S. custody ordered the government Friday to finalize its procedures for providing parents a fateful choice: allow their children to be released to a designated guardian, or remain together in immigration jail.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
East Bakersfield's Amestoy's building suffering death by a thousand cuts
Bakersfield Califn
The east Bakersfield dive bar that stood for more than seven decades as a working-class counterpoint to the chrome, glass and potted-plant slickness of the suburban chains, closed for good more than a year ago.
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.
Housing:
Threatened with eviction in Fresno, Visalia or Merced? Renters have the right to fight
Fresno Bee
Renters in Calif are protected from eviction if their inability to pay rent is because of COVID-19-related income loss. But, there’s been an apparent surge in landlord actions against tenants recently after a ban on all evictions expired.
Center for Human Services to reach, help more homeless youth in Stanislaus County
Turlock Journal
By the early months of 2021, the Center for Human Services will have a new facility to better serve homeless teens and young adults.
PUBLIC FINANCES
State sending $22.8 million from CARES Act to Stanislaus homeless service providers
Modesto Bee
Providers that run emergency shelters, conduct homeless outreach and house homeless people in Stanislaus County and its cities are in line to receive nearly $22.8 million from the CARES Act, the federal stimulus designed to respond to the new coronavirus pandemic.
Three CalPERS health plans are in a ‘death spiral.’ Saving them could involve price hikes
Sac Bee
Three of the best health plans Calif state workers and retirees can buy are speeding toward collapse, according to CalPERS insurance experts.
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
Average US gas price falls 3 cents to $2.22/gallon
Modesto Bee
The average U.S. price of regular-grade gasoline fell 3 cents over the past two weeks to $2.22 per gallon.
Public transit faces uncertain future after pandemic
The Hill
The nation’s major metropolitan areas have seen drastic declines in the use of public transit for much of this year. But while some of that drop may stem from people avoiding crowds and public spaces, experts say it can also be attributed to the shift to remote work.
Biden, an Amtrak Evangelist, Could Be a Lifeline for a Rail Agency in Crisis
New York Times
Amtrak has reduced service and is poised to cut thousands of jobs. Rail supporters argue that, win or lose, the Democratic presidential candidate could shift the debate over the agency’s future.
See also:
● What has Trump done for the US rail industry? Railway Technology
WATER
Is your drinking water contaminated? Check this Fresno-area map to find out
Fresno Bee
If you live in the central San Joaquin Valley, there’s a chance your tap water is unsafe to drink. Nearly 180,000 people in the region get their water from systems that do not meet drinking water standards — and it’s hard, as a resident, to learn more and find out what to do to keep yourself and your family safe.
Friant-Kern Canal fix approved over concerns the plan isn’t fully baked
SJV Water
The Friant Water Authority on Thursday approved the final environmental review for a massive project to fix a 33-mile segment of the Friant-Kern Canal despite continued questions about funding and other concerns expressed by some Friant contractors.
Is Ecosystem Change In The Sacramento-san Joaquin Delta Outpacing The Ability Of Science To Keep Up?
Water Education Foundation
Radically transformed from its ancient origin as a vast tidal-influenced freshwater marsh, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem is in constant flux, influenced by factors within the estuary itself and the massive watersheds that drain though it into the Pacific Ocean.
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.
Commentary: The hidden role of water infrastructure in driving a COVID-19 recovery
Brookings
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only disrupted the social and economic realities of our communities, but also undermined some of the basic infrastructure we depend on.
“Xtra”
CVMD Hosts Halloween Display Event
Clovis RoundUp
Beginning today through October 31, the Clovis Veterans Memorial District will be hosting their Halloween Spooktacular Display.
The Dish: Something New is headed downtown Bakersfield
Bakersfield Califn
As it stands, the new New Vintage Grill will open in either late December or early January. Although the space is two and half times bigger than the Hageman location, the Larsons are giving it a similar look and feel.
New questions surface about tradition of boat races at Lake Ming
Bakersfield Califn
Lake Ming was built in the late 1950s for boat racing and remains a destination for watercraft competitions, but a few Kern County residents wonder if it's time for the county to reconsider the long-running tradition.
Only 1 Modesto museum plans reopening; large art galleries already welcome patrons
Modesto Bee
While museums now are allowed to reopen in Modesto, only one has plans at this time to do so. Meanwhile, two of the region’s biggest art galleries have reopened.
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
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