October 28, 2020

28Oct

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

Stanislaus is still in the red tier, but needs to work hard to stay there, officials say

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County barely made the cut Tuesday for staying in the coronavirus program’s red tier but residents will have to work hard to avoid a backslide to tighter state restrictions on local businesses.

See Also:

     Coronavirus update: Stanislaus positive rate turns back in right direction Modesto Bee

     Coronavirus update: Stanislaus adds 1 death; positive rate still troubling Modesto Bee

     No new Merced County COVID-19 deaths reported Tuesday, 41 new infections confirmed Merced Sun-Star

     Editorial: C’mon people: Don’t let Stanislaus County regress in fight against coronavirus spread Modesto Bee

 

Modesto police union backing candidate for mayor, criticizes 2 others. Here’s why

Modesto Bee

Councilman Ridenour is getting financial support from local cops in his campaign to be Modesto’s next mayor, with contributions of $2,500 from the Modesto Police Officers Association and $200 from Police Chief Carroll, according to recent campaign finance forms.

 

Firefighter groups, land investors are big donors to Stanislaus County candidates

Modesto Bee

In an election year overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic, campaign disclosures show a moderate amount of spending by candidates for Stanislaus County offices.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

Fresno County ballot returns continue to break records. Here’s where they stand

Fresno Bee

Registered voters in Fresno County have returned 166,478 ballots through Tuesday morning and the number of registered voters jumped in the past month in what has been a record-breaking year.

See Also:

     Early-voting surge scrambles Election Day expectations as some states gallop toward 2016 turnout levels Wash Post

 

Breathing smoke and dust in the Fresno-area? Here’s the updated air quality forecast

Fresno Bee

An air quality alert is in place for windblown wildfire smoke in Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kern and Kings counties, just as the region was seeing relief from dust carried by wind.

 

Fresno County keeps current reopening status. But as COVID-19 cases rise, for how long?

Fresno Bee

Restaurants, churches and other businesses in Fresno County will continue to be able to offer indoor services under the latest assessment of risk for spreading the novel coronavirus.

See Also:

     Coronavirus updates: Fresno County adds more cases. Are more restrictions ahead? Fresno Bee

     Fresno County stays in 'red tier' of reopening Calif, for now abc30

 

Madera County public health director: Population a factor in county remaining in 'purple tier'

abc30

After a week of hitting the state's COVID-19 metrics, Madera County seemed poised to move into the less restrictive 'red tier.' But Tuesday, health officials shattered those hopes, announcing the county's stay in the widespread 'purple tier.'

 

Tulare County hopes upcoming holidays don't hinder COVID-19 progress

abc30

Public Health officials with the state of Calif hope people will choose to celebrate Halloween safely this year, by keeping gatherings small and outside. Tulare County Public Health also advises against gathering with people who don't live in your home on Halloween.

See Also:

     County close to further COVID restrictions Turlock Journal

     'COVID fatigue:' County struggles to get to red tier Porterville Recorder

 

Kings County holds steady in red tier

Hanford Sentinel

It’s been two weeks since Kings County moved into the red “Substantial” tier 2 in the state’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy,” and it looks like the county will stay there for the time being.

 

Valley Voices: Rep. TJ Cox secures funds for water projects and provides key help to Valley towns

Fresno Bee

Kerman is an hour drive from David Valadao’s home, but it might as well have been on another planet. For six years Valadao supposedly represented Congressional District 21, and for all six he was mostly missing in action.

 

EDITORIAL: Keep a doctor in the Assembly during a pandemic? Voters in District 31 should do that

Fresno Bee

The first Latino physician elected to the Calif Assembly, Joaquin Arambula of Fresno has made improving the health of Califns a priority.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

Kern's COVID-19 metrics remain stable for third week

Bakersfield Califn

Kern’s COVID metrics remained stable during the weekly update of statewide COVID-19 data. Third consecutive week, Kern’s positivity rate, case rate and health equity metric were good enough for the county to remain in the second most restrictive of the state’s 4-tiered system.

See Also:

     Kern Public Health: 4 new coronavirus deaths, 99 new cases reported Tuesday Bakersfield Califn

 

School, health leaders call for continued vigilance against COVID-19 as schools begin to reopen

Bakersfield Califn

Wednesday marks an achievement for Kern County: It's the first day that all schools will be able to fully open their campuses to students since they were shuttered by the state in March.

 

Business webinar will focus on financial resources, relief programs

Bakersfield Califn

Local businesses looking to emerge successfully from the pandemic and forge a new path for growth will learn about a wealth of available financial resources at a free webinar starting at noon Wednesday.

 

 

State:

 

Newsom argues systemic racism in death penalty brief + Insurance execs sue Lara + New polls

Fresno Bee

Kamala Harris is heading to court Nevada voters in the final week of campaign season. The latest polls show Joe Biden leading the state in the presidential race by an average of about five points, according to RealClearPolitics, but many still consider Nevada to be a swing state.

See Also:

     Gov. Gavin Newsom alleges racial bias in opposing a death penalty case LA Times

 

Calif to partner with other West Coast states on coronavirus vaccine planning

abc30

While we may not see a coronavirus vaccine in Calif in 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that the state is moving forward with planning how vaccines will be prioritized among Califns when they arrive.

 

Calif warns of virus uptick, names vaccine ethics panel

Bakersfield Califn

There’s an uptick in COVID-related hospitalizations and ICU admissions in the last 2 weeks, prompting renewed warnings Tuesday from Newsom and the state's top health official even as newly confirmed cases remain well below the recent surge across much of the nation.

 

Calif's most intense campaign: The private pursuit of Harris' Senate seat

Politico

The colorful former Democratic congressman and state legislative leader nodded toward what looms as the biggest appointment of Newsom's career — replacing Harris for possibly decades in the Senate.

 

Federal:

 

Barrett’s presence on Supreme Court could change course of several decisions

SF Chronicle

Newly confirmed Barrett can weigh in on the law providing health insurance for millions of Americans. Also on religion vs. gay rights, access to abortion, states’ coronavirus restrictions on churches and public gatherings, and congressional access to Mueller’s report on Trump.

See Also:

     Barrett is the first Supreme Court justice confirmed without opposition support since 1869 Wash Post

 

Ballrooms, candles and luxury cottages: During Trump’s term, millions of government and GOP dollars have flowed to his properties

Wash Post

President Trump welcomed the Japanese prime minister at Mar-a-Lago, in front of a towering arrangement of roses. The two could have met in Was, but Trump said his private club was a more comfortable alternative.

 

Judge Bars DOJ From Representing Trump in Defamation Suit

WSJ

The Justice Department can’t represent President Trump in a defamation lawsuit because he wasn’t acting in his official capacity as president when he denied allegations that he raped an advice columnist, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

 

Trump Weighs Executive Order to Show Support for Fracking

WSJ

President Trump is considering issuing an executive order mandating an economic analysis of fracking, according to senior administration officials, who say the initiative is aimed at highlighting his support for the energy industry in election battleground states such as Penn.

 

Lawmakers Want to Protect Local Newspapers From Google, Facebook

WSJ

Some Senate Democrats are seeking to enable regulators to protect local news outlets, accusing tech giants like Google and Facebook of “unfair business practices,” according to a report by members of a committee that will hear from the top industry executives this week.

See Also:

     Tech Hearing: Social Media CEOs Come Under Senate Scrutiny WSJ

     Commentary: In Oracle-Google war, a battle of analogies will shape the future of software copyrights AEI

 

Coronavirus Trackers:

 

U.S. Coronavirus Cases Surpass Summer Peak And Are Climbing Higher Fast VPR

 

Hospitals in nearly every region report a flood of covid-19 patients Wash Post

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Calif

Covid19.ca.gov

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 (COVID-19) CDC

     Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic - WHO

     John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University

     Tracking coronavirus in Calif LA Times

     Coronavirus Tracker San Francisco 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:

 

     Register to vote

     Check voter registration status

     Online Voter Guide and Printable Voter Guide

     List of county elections offices

     “Where’s My Ballot?” tool

 

Fresno County ballot returns continue to break records. Here’s where they stand

Fresno Bee

Registered voters in Fresno County have returned 166,478 ballots through Tuesday morning and the number of registered voters jumped in the past month in what has been a record-breaking year.

See Also:

     Early-voting surge scrambles Election Day expectations as some states gallop toward 2016 turnout levels Wash Post

 

Calif unions spend millions on property tax measure, while real estate firms counter punch

Fresno Bee

Unions and big real estate companies are locked in an expensive fight over proposed changes to Calif property tax rules, each dropping tens of millions of dollars on ads to persuade voters in the final stretch before Election Day.

 

A procrastinator’s guide to the 2020 Calif general election

Fresno Bee

Millions of Califns have already turned in their ballots, so it appears there are fewer procrastinators this election year. But if you’re still on the fence about a ballot initiative or a candidate, we’re here to help you do your civic duty.

See Also:

     Election Day less than a week away. Here's what you should know… Visalia Times Delta

     Voters' Guide To Election Security In The 2020 Presidential Campaign VPR

     ‘Ripe for error’: Ballot signature verification is flawed — and a big factor in the election LA Times

     Is It Too Late To Mail In Your Ballot? Here’s Why You Don’t Need To Panic Capital Public Radio

     Five ballot propositions that would affect students CalMatters

     Here’s how Calif keeps early votes secret until election day CalMatters

     Early Voting Shines Spotlight on Consolidated Voting-Equipment Market WSJ

     Amid USPS delays, election experts and campaigns weigh in: Don’t mail your ballot Wash Post

     How Long Will Vote Counting Take? Estimates and Deadlines in All 50 States NY Times

 

Lawsuits and labor backlash: Prop. 22’s cutthroat final days

CalMatters

Gig companies embark on a last-minute spending blitz after a court rules that drivers should be paid as employees and labor groups question campaign tactics.

See also:

     Environmentalists oppose Uber, Lyft on Calif’s gig worker initiative. Here’s why Sac Bee

     Uber, Lyft, DoorDash workers on Prop. 22: ‘I don’t want to end up on the wrong side’ LA Times

 

Walters: It’s déjà vu for affirmative action proponents

CalMatters

It is, as the inimitable Yogi Berra once observed, “déjà vu all over again” for the proponents of affirmative action in college admissions, contracts and other governmental decisions.

See also:

·       Opinion: Californians, Vote Yes on Prop 16 NY Times

 

Cash blitz: Who’s spending the most to influence your vote for Calif’s Legislature?

CalMatters

State law caps the amount donors can give to a legislator’s campaign — but these special interests can spend as much as they like mounting their own campaigns to praise or trash candidates.

 

Biden on track to win Calif by largest margin for Democrat in history: poll

The Hill

Joe Biden is on track to win Calif by the largest margin for a Democratic presidential candidate in the state’s history, according to a new poll released Tuesday.

See Also:

     Biden headed for historic margin in Calif, poll shows LA Times

     In campaign’s final week, Biden goes on offense while Trump plays defense LA Times

     Americans’ debts are mounting, putting new focus on Biden’s role opposing bankruptcy protections Wash Post

 

Will Kamala Harris increase turnout among Black voters? Some Democrats see encouraging signs

Fresno Bee

Last Friday, vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris hosted a drive-in rally at Morehouse College, an historic Black school. On Saturday, she visited Cleveland, where she gave a rousing shout-out to Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, a former Congressional Black Caucus chair.

 

In Trump Country, Supporters Are Steadfast, but His Personality, Pandemic Wear

WSJ

In early 2017, a few mine operators met in this coal town’s lone Chinese restaurant to boast of their expansion plans. With Donald Trump in the White House, they said, they wouldn’t be hobbled by environmentalists and would invest in new mines.

See also:

     Post-ABC polls: Biden leads Trump narrowly in Michigan, significantly in Wisconsin Wash Post

     Trump vs. Biden: A breakdown of their stances on major issues CBS

 

‘It’s daunting’: Democrats crushing House Republicans on the airwaves

Politico

Democratic congressional candidates are swamping Republicans on the airwaves in another sign they’re poised to pad their House majority in November.

 

Election experts doubt Supreme Court decides White House race

Roll Call

The 2020 presidential election probably won’t end in the sort of nightmare scenario where a legal challenge or recount winds up at the Supreme Court and the justices decide who wins the White House.

 

Facebook Warns of Foreign Operators Exaggerating Their Election-Interference Abilities

WSJ

Facebook Inc. said it took down a small network of fake accounts and pages tied to the Iranian government, while also warning that foreign actors are attempting to exaggerate their ability to influence the U.S. election in a way that itself could affect the vote.

See Also:

     Who Is Policing Political Texts Final Days of Election? Wireless Companies Are Trying WSJ

 

What issues will win the Latino vote on election day?

abcNews

Renato Ramirez is living the American dream along the United States-Mexico border, running the ranch his parents bought the year he was born eight decades ago.

 

Other:

 

Women’s Well-Being Index

Calif Budget & Policy Center

The economic, health, safety, and leadership disparities are particularly acute for women of color who face the compounding effects of racism and sexism.

See Also:

     Calif women face persistent gender and racial barriers; it’s time to work for more equity CalMatters

  

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Merced area food distributors worry about program’s future, impact on families in need

Merced Sun-Star

Following weeks of uncertainty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Friday that its Farmers to Families Food Box Program will continue through December for a fourth round of crucial deliveries.

 

Modesto’s Gallo looks to wine country to launch its new premium brandy tasting room

Modesto Bee

You already know this Modesto-based company as the largest wine seller in the world, but now Gallo has its sights on conquering luxury brandy.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Calif Republican paying campaign manager illegally, new complaint charges

Fresno Bee

Former Rep. David Valadao paid his campaign manager’s salary with money from two separate political fundraising accounts in a possible violation of federal election law, according to a new complaint based on campaign finance records.

 

Public Safety:

 

Bearded workers at Calif prisons fight orders to shave for N95 fittings

Sac Bee

A Calif state worker union is fighting for groundskeepers and maintenance men who want to keep their facial hair and also be protected from the coronavirus at their prison jobs.

 

Experts Warn The Threat of Violence From Far-Right Groups Can Impact Racial Progress

Capital Public Radio

Cain Lazarus prepares for many what-if scenarios while organizing protests against police brutality. In August, Lazarus’ group, the Coalition for Racial Justice, hosted a march in Nevada City calling for justice for Breonna Taylor.

 

Fire:

 

Creek Fire update: Firefighters aim to prevent fire spread due to high winds

Fresno Bee

Smoke from the Creek Fire is expected to be pushed Tuesday afternoon over Fresno, due to winds blowing across the mountains from the northeast, where the fire is burning, according to the National Weather Service.

 

PG&E says 189,000 customers have no power as wildfire safety blackout enters 3rd day

Fresno Bee

PG&E Corp. said Tuesday morning it had restored power to 156,000 customers, leaving 189,000 homes and businesses without electricity overnight as its largest wildfire-safety blackout of the year entered its third day.

See Also:

     Schools and businesses impacted by public safety power shutoffs in Central Calif abc30

     Utility: Winds too weak to cut power before Calif fire Bakersfield Califn

 

Sequoia Complex: No huge impact from winds

Porterville Recorder

When it came to the Sequoia Complex, wind conditions weren't as bad as what was experienced in Northern and Southern Calif.

 

Experts To Western States: Time To Finally Fight Wildfires With More Fire

VPR

Earlier this month Calif Gov. Gavin Newsom, looking uncharacteristically wan and frustrated, stood in the burnt ruins of an elementary school in Napa County obliterated by yet another catastrophic blaze.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Business webinar will focus on financial resources, relief programs

Bakersfield Califn

Local businesses looking to emerge successfully from the pandemic and forge a new path for growth will learn about a wealth of available financial resources at a free webinar starting at noon Wednesday.

 

Dow slides more than 800 points as rising coronavirus counts threaten fragile recovery

Wash Post

Wall Street shuddered Wednesday, with stocks falling sharply amid fears an alarming rise in coronavirus counts would upend a fledgling economic recovery.

See Also:

     Dow, S&P 500 Slide After Big Selloff WSJ

     Now more than ever, the stock market is not the economy Wash Post

 

Tariffs Didn’t Fuel Revival for American Steel

WSJ

President Trump made good on his 2016 campaign pledge to the steel industry, slapping 25% tariffs on foreign-made steel in an effort to revive an industry that once symbolized American manufacturing might.

 

Commentary: Thinking about economic growth and the Biden tax plan

AEI

President Trump likes to say that Bidenomics, particularly its big proposed tax increases, will sink the economy and crash the stock market. A recent Trump tweet summed his forecast in one word: “Depression!”

 

Jobs:

 

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. “

 

'My Family Needs Me': Latinas Drop Out Of Workforce At Alarming Rates

VPR

Throughout her years as a working mother climbing the corporate ladder, Farida Mercedes tried to be home for dinner with her kids. But until recently, she never imagined staying home full time.

 

Black employees at Calif environmental agency allege systemic racism at workplace

Sac Bee

Calif’s air-pollution agency, stung by allegations of racism within its ranks, pledged Thursday to establish a “zero-tolerance racism policy” and increase diversity in its staff and leadership.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Education Lab: Project Rebound, chronic absenteeism + Clovis kids will soon return to school

Fresno Bee

Fresno Unified has a chronic problem of absenteeism, and it has gotten worse during the pandemic. One of the problems: Many students — especially low-income students — have connectivity issues such as low to no internet access.

 

Fresno-area teachers say school district is ‘rushing’ to reopen. ‘Do I have a choice? No.’

Fresno Bee

Elementary students in Fresno County’s fourth-largest school district are going back to campus next week — but some teachers and parents say they have been shut out of the conversations leading up to the decision to reopen.

 

What does a school nurse do amid COVID-19? How they’re helping your kids as schools prepare to reopen.

Visalia Times Delta

When nurses with the Tulare City School District get word that a student or their family member tested positive for COVID-19 or another illness, they jump into action.

 

School, health leaders call for continued vigilance against COVID-19 as schools begin to reopen

Bakersfield Califn

Wednesday marks an achievement for Kern County: It's the first day that all schools will be able to fully open their campuses to students since they were shuttered by the state in March.

 

Academic testing looks very different in Calif during distance learning

Ed Source

Even simple quizzes aren’t immune to the challenges brought on by the pandemic. Some teachers are finding it difficult to replicate in-person assessments in an online classroom during distance learning.

 

More Students Have Digital Devices, but Internet Gaps Persist

PPIC

CA’s digital divide created problems for many students during remote instruction last spring and it continues to impede student learning this fall. Since the onset of the pandemic, the state has invested in a patchwork of efforts to address disparities and mitigate learning loss.

 

Higher Ed:

 

After serving prison time, these students excel in Fresno State program. How it works

Fresno Bee

After working for three months as a tutor at Fresno City College in 2016, Khoi Quach got a call that he needed to go to the campus police station. “As soon as I heard that, I knew there wasn’t going to be any good news,” the now 28-year-old said.

 

Many college students hoped to vote in swing states. Then the COVID-19 pandemic sent them home

LA Times

Bryce Neels grew up in San Diego, but when it came time for college, he chose the University of Wisconsin for its strong sense of community, its well-regarded professors and its fanaticism for sports.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Breathing smoke and dust in the Fresno-area? Here’s the updated air quality forecast

Fresno Bee

An air quality alert is in place for windblown wildfire smoke in Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kern and Kings counties, just as the region was seeing relief from dust carried by wind.

 

Opinion: Calif needs a comprehensive plan for air quality

Capitol Weekly

We all have witnessed the devastation of climate change. As I write this, our Calif neighbors in Napa, Sonoma and up north are losing homes and businesses to wildfire. Every year, wildfire season is more severe than the year before.

 

Energy:

 

Calif Leading Push For Renewable Power

KPBS

The use of renewable energy is surging in Calif. A new analysis shows there’s been a huge jump in the use of solar, wind and other renewable technologies in the last decade.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Fresno doctor fears ‘pandemic fatigue’ may lead some to ignore virus safety for Halloween

Fresno Bee

Fresno County reported its sixth consecutive day with more than 100 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, in addition to three more deaths since Friday.

 

Kern Public Health: 4 new coronavirus deaths, 99 new cases reported Tuesday

Bakersfield Califn

Kern County Public Health Services announced four new coronavirus deaths and 99 new confirmed cases Tuesday morning. That brings Kern's total deaths to 420 since the pandemic began, and the total cases to 34,027.

See Also:

     No new Merced County COVID-19 deaths reported Tuesday, 41 new infections confirmed Merced Sun-Star

     U.S. Coronavirus Cases Surpass Summer Peak And Are Climbing Higher Fast VPR

     Coronavirus update: Stanislaus adds 1 death; positive rate still troubling Modesto Bee

     Hospitals in nearly every region report a flood of covid-19 patients Wash Post

 

Infected health care workers make up 6% of COVID-19 hospitalizations, CDC says

Fresno Bee

Health care personnel made up around 6% of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 at 13 sites, according to a new analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

A Flu Shot Might Reduce Coronavirus Infections, Early Research Suggests

Scientific American

U.S. health officials are urging Americans to get their flu shots this year in the hopes of thwarting a winter “twindemic”—a situation in which both influenza and COVID-19 spread and sicken the public.

 

COVID's cognitive costs? Some patients' brains may age 10 years

Reuters

People recovering from COVID-19 may suffer significant brain function impacts, with the worst cases of the infection linked to mental decline equivalent to the brain ageing by 10 years, researchers warned on Tuesday.

 

Fact Check:  No, suicides have not outpaced COVID-19 deaths

PolitiFact

Super Bowl champion Tom Brady told his Instagram followers that suicide accounts for more death than COVID-19.

 

Opinion: Coping With the Covid Winter

WSJ

Perhaps you’ve heard winter is coming. Or as Joe Biden warned last week about a third virus wave, “We’re about to go into a dark winter, a dark winter.” He’s playing up the worst case as the election nears, so some context is in order.

 

Human Services:

 

Calif is building its COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. When could you get your shots?

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered a disappointing message last week for anyone hoping to get a COVID-19 vaccine in 2020: the majority of Califns will likely have to wait to get vaccinated until the second half of 2021.

 

Turlock continues to suffer public safety staffing shortages

Turlock Journal

As voters in Turlock consider whether or not to pass a sales tax measure to bolster dwindling City revenue sources, the City’s public safety departments are reaching critical staff shortage levels.

 

Kern Medical takes simulated procedures 'to the next level' with new facility

Bakersfield Califn

In a hospital, one mistake can be the difference between life and death. Anyone who has ever seen an emergency room on television knows there are all kinds of fast-paced decisions doctors and nurses routinely must make to keep their patient alive.

 

Among healthcare workers, the toll of COVID-19 falls hardest on nurses

LA Times

The sudden appearance of a deadly new pathogen is always bad for the men and women who care for the afflicted, and a new report shows that the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is no exception.

 

Will you get a coronavirus vaccine? Many don’t trust it, and low vaccination levels could hinder pandemic recovery

SF Chronicle

Nuria Martinez is about 80% certain that she, her husband and their three children will not get coronavirus vaccines if and when they become widely available, which health officials say likely will be sometime next year.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

A renewed surge of migration from Central America could pose early test for a President Biden

LA Times

Vice President Joe Biden was spending much of his time on Iraq a year into President Obama’s second term when he got a phone call from the president asking him to turn to a situation a little closer to home.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Yosemite gets new superintendent in bid for stability at the national park

SF Chronicle

Yosemite National Park’s acting chief and Bay Area native Cicely Muldoon will take the top job at the park, becoming just the second woman to hold the post, federal officials announced Tuesday.

 

Housing:

 

Decatur Hotel will be turned into apartments for low-income seniors

Bakersfield Califn

A two-story hotel serving low-income tenants in downtown Bakersfield is planned to be redeveloped next year into apartments for poor senior citizens with the help of a $1.5 million loan the City Council approved last week.

 

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.

 

Caltrans homeless settlement money could be stretched thin by hundreds of claims

Sac Bee

A court has given attorneys two more months to keep cataloging all the items homeless people say Caltrans trashed while clearing camps in Alameda County.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Calif Tax Revolt Faces a Retreat, 40 Years Later

NY Times

Proposition 13 in 1978 curbed property tax increases. Now voters may strip protection for commercial buildings, helping hard-hit local budgets.

 

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.

See Also:

     Calif treasurer asks staff to show 'courage and resolve' by working in the office Politico

 

Top House tax writers unveil retirement savings proposal

Roll Call

House Ways and Means Committee leaders introduced a long-awaited bipartisan collection of retirement savings incentives on Tuesday, building off another sweeping package enacted late last year.

 

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

 

Commentary: Expanding Calif’s EV infrastructure with a program for more charging stations

CalMatters

Calif Gov. Gavin Newsom declared his intent on Sept. 23 to eliminate the sales of new internal combustion engines in the state by 2035, building on ambitious climate and emissions goals dating back to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and strengthened under Gov. Jerry Brown.

 

WATER

 

Setting Aside Environmental Water for the San Joaquin River

Public Policy Institute of Calif

Protecting the health of Calif’s rivers, estuaries, and wetlands has been the grandest—and perhaps thorniest—of the many challenges facing the state’s water managers.

 

“Xtra”

 

Is your kid’s Halloween candy safe? Here’s what to look out for, experts say

Fresno Bee

Bubble gum, candy bars and those chewy treats you can’t seem to scrape from your teeth. Sugary sweets are a huge part of Halloween, and kids look forward to hauling their bag full of treats back home for eating.

 

Andre's: Artifact from the birth of American car culture donated to Kern County Museum

Bakersfield Califn

"Home of the giant burger" was its slogan for decades, beginning back when hamburgers were 19 cents, shakes were a quarter and Andre's Drive-In was at the center of car and cruise culture in the mid-1950s.