October 30, 2020

30Oct

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

Coronavirus: Stanislaus hits grim milestone, warns of tougher rules

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County on Thursday announced its 400th death to COVID-19. And it warned that a surge in positive tests could bring new limits on the local economy.

 

Once on the verge of bankruptcy, City of Atwater celebrates debt retirement

Merced Sun-Star

The Atwater City Council chambers resounded with applause Monday night after the council unanimously passed a resolution to effectively retire the city’s debt — nine years earlier than planned.

 

Modesto council candidates not hauling in huge amounts of cash as election nears

Modesto Bee

The 11 candidates running for three seats on the Modesto City Council in the Nov. 3 election have not raised huge sums in their campaigns for elected office.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

Fresno County dips under 100 new COVID-19 cases. Here’s where daily average stands

Fresno Bee

For the first day in over a week, Fresno County reported less than 100 cases of COVID-19 to the state. Fresno County had 99 new infections on Thursday, according to the Calif Department of Public Health, which brings the 14-day average to 110 cases.

See Also:

     Coronavirus: Fresno to update death toll as Calif nears 1 million cases Fresno Bee

     Fresno County Launches Million Mask Giveaway Clovis Roundup

     More mobile COVID testing sites in county in November Hanford Sentinel

     COVID-19 update County still trying to reach magical case rate number for red tier Porterville Recorder

 

Fresno Police reform commission recommends taking officers off some mental health calls

abc30

Police reform is now in the hands of Fresno's city council and mayor. The Fresno Commission on Police Reform came up with 73 recommendations about civilian oversight, use of force, and several other issues.

 

‘Long-term problems.’ Fresno youth give city leaders an earful at summit to reduce violence

Fresno Bee

Fresno needs to address systemic socioeconomic inequities and give young people of color a voice in how the city is governed if there’s any hope of abating an uptick in gun violence and gang activity, young Fresnans told city leaders during a summit meeting Wednesday evening.

See Also:

·       Fresno leaders gather to discuss ways to reduce violence in city abc30

 

These Fresno motels will be converted to homeless housing with millions from the state

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday the Fresno Housing Authority, in partnership with the city of Fresno, will receive nearly $16.5 million to purchase and rehabilitate three more motels to house people experiencing homelessness.

 

Fresno repeals fee refund program, as council clashes again over corruption allegations

Fresno Bee

The Fresno City Council repealed its money back guarantee program — an effort that at least one council member called a failure — despite the protests and accusations of corruption from its sponsor, Councilmember Garry Bredefeld.

 

Calif Democrat was anonymous officer at center of Fresno City audit, emails show

Fresno Bee

A cache of Fresno City records obtained by the Republican Party resolves a question left unanswered by an audit published last year scrutinizing the finances of a nonprofit organization formerly led by a Democratic congressman.

 

Calif Democrat touts a Republican’s support in ad. The man is a registered Democrat

Fresno Bee

A recent advertisement by Democratic Rep. TJ Cox includes a man who says he’s a Republican supporting Cox in next week’s election. But the man is a registered Democrat, according to public records.

 

Census efforts finish strong in Kings County

Hanford Sentinel

The 2020 census was given two extra weeks to complete one last push for responses, and Kings County took advantage of that extra time.

 

South SJ Valley:

Latino COVID-19 Task Force hosting 3 free testing sites this weekend

Bakersfield Califn

Kern County Latino COVID-19 Task Force, Public Health and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce announced additional free COVID-19 testing sites to  work toward increasing Kern’s testing numbers and access for residents in outlining communities and neighborhoods.

See also:

·       Calif’s Latinos Grapple With COVID, And Extraordinary Grief Capital Public Radio

     87 new COVID-19 cases reported in Kern Wednesday Bakersfield Califn

     Kern Public Health: 2 new coronavirus deaths, 40 new cases reported Thursday Bakersfield Califn

     COVID-19 Outreach Efforts Delayed After Kern Co. Supervisors Call Out Nonprofit's Facebook Posts VPR

 

Kern's ballot sorting machine broke on Monday, causing delay in the count

Bakersfield Califn

Kern County’s ballot sorting machine went down for several hours on Monday, delaying the Election Division’s counting of ballots that came in over the weekend.

 

Housing Authority pursues 'dual objectives' by turning hotels into subsidized apartments

Bakersfield Califn

The pending conversion of the Decatur Hotel into subsidized apartments for impoverished seniors is part of a broader redevelopment strategy that combines making neighborhoods more attractive while expanding Bakersfield's inventory of permanent, affordable housing.

 

Change could be around the corner for BPD after committee holds first 'listening session'

Bakersfield Califn

The first “listening session” to hear community concerns regarding the BPD took place. For more than an hour, an independent committee heard statements that ranged from broad support of law enforcement to calls for the complete abolishment of the department.

 

State:

 

Calif governor preparing state for civil unrest following election

The Hill

Calif Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is preparing his state for civil unrest following the general election next Tuesday, Politico reports.

See also:

·       ‘A mistake not to prepare’: Law enforcement readies for potential election protests Modesto Bee

·       ‘What will happen?’ Among an anxious electorate, some plan to move, others buy guns  LA Times

·       States Prepare for Possible Voter Intimidation and Violence Around Election Day WSJ

     Latino immigrants who’ve survived electoral violence are anxious about Nov. 3 LA Times

     LAPD tells officers to be available in case of election-related unrest LA Times

 

Gavin Newsom jokes about picking Kamala Harris’ successor as he votes in Sac

Sac Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom says Sac Kings player Harrison Barnes is just about the only person he’s talked with recently who hasn’t tried to influence his pick to replace Kamala Harris in the Senate if she’s elected vice president.

 

Spending More on Ballot Measure Increases Odds of Winning, By Historical Data

Calif Target Book

The Calif Target Book looked at the 112 ballot measures that

have faced the voters since 2006 through the Primary earlier this year. Data shows the

campaign that spent more money won 67% of the time on election day.

 

24 Hour Fitness COO touts COVID-19 protocols; asks Calif leaders to ease restrictions

Sac Bee

24 Hour Fitness Chief Operating Officer Karl Sanft gave state and local officials a guided tour of the chain’s downtown Sac location Wednesday, highlighting the facility’s COVID-19 provisions while asking policymakers to consider easing capacity restrictions.

 

Calif auditors criticize $800,000 in state spending on contracts, millions for retirement bonuses

LA Times

Calif auditors investigating dozens of whistleblower complaints against state agencies have found more than $800,000 in inappropriate expenditures and millions of dollars more that the state will wastefully spend unless it takes corrective action.

 

Cal Fire chief gave $100,000 contract to wife’s family’s business, audit says

Sac Bee

A Cal Fire battalion chief gave a $100,000 construction contract to his wife’s family, violating state rules, according to an audit report.

 

Federal:

 

Barrett will join Supreme Court to hear blockbuster religious freedom case

ABAJournal

With new Justice Amy Coney Barrett duly sworn in, the U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear arguments in one of the biggest cases of its term, which involves a clash between religious liberty claims and laws barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

See Also:

     Chemerinsky: SCOTUS considers whether religious freedom also means freedom to discriminate ABAJournal

     Opinion: The Barrett Battle That Wasn’t WSJ

 

Republicans Blast Social Media C.E.O.s While Democrats Deride Hearing

New York Times

Republican senators accused the leaders of Twitter, Facebook and Google of censorship. Democrats denounced that as posturing.

 

EDITORIAL: Memo to the Supreme Court: Let the people vote

LA Times

At a time when its legitimacy as an apolitical institution is being questioned, the Supreme Court has been dragged into partisan disputes about when and how ballots should be counted in an election upended by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Commentary: Does the executive branch control the power of the purse?

AEI

Although the US Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse, today a number of laws and arrangements have empowered the executive branch to make independent spending choices.

 

Coronavirus Trackers:

 

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 SF 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

 

Commentary: Beat the virus, heal the nation

AEI

Twenty years on from the 20th century, the state of the union resembles nothing so much as a less fully conceived, less ambitious version of The Walking Dead. A virus menaces the populace, exposing the fragility of our institutions and exacerbating societal divisions.

See also:

     Coronavirus Live Updates: Daily New Cases Hit a Record WSJ

     Coronavirus cases are on the rise in every swing state Wash Post

 

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

 

Races to Watch in Calif

New York Times

Ultimately, the presidential election is likely to serve more as a lure to the polls for many Californians, who have voted early in record-breaking numbers; they’ll have much more say in a dozen statewide ballot measures and local contests — including congressional races.

See Also:

     So far, no surprises with early voting in Calif Visalia Times Delta

 

Calif may “shatter the total vote record”

CalMatters

As more in-person polling places open, experts say the state is on track to have more votes cast than ever before.

See also:

·       Need a translator to vote? Amid pandemic, Calif is trying to help CalMatters

·       VoteMobile Helps Calif Wildfire Victims And Seniors Cast Their Ballots VPR

 

Young voters hold the future in their hands. Will they shape it?

abc30

Young voters could fundamentally change the electoral map in 2020 and beyond, but only if a very consistent trend comes to an end. This summer's social justice campaigns helped a lot of the country's young people find their political voices.

See Also:

     Within The Early Voting Boom, Youth Turnout Seems To Be Surging VPR

 

The 13 Races That Will Determine The Senate Majority

VPR

To flip the Senate, Democrats would need to net-gain four seats outright or three seats and control of the White House, because in a 50-50 Senate — which is possible this year — the vice president breaks the tie.

See also:

·       Polling Places Are Closing Due To COVID-19. It Could Tip Races In 1 Swing State VPR

 

 

Millions of mail-in ballots not yet returned in battleground states

LA Times

Just days before the presidential election, millions of mail-in ballots have yet to

be returned in key battleground states, sparking warnings from election officials that time is running out for voters who want to avoid going to in-person polling places on election day.

See Also:

     Millions of mail ballots have not been returned as window closes for Postal Service delivery Wash Post

 

Experts And Advocates Are Calling 2020 The 'Climate Election'

Capital Public Radio

When picking a president, climate change is the main issue Lori McMahan is considering. The 26-year-old from Cottonwood, near Redding, says the issue became real for her during the Carr Fire.

 

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

LA Times

In an election marked by uncertainty amid the pandemic, the signature verification process represents one of the biggest unknowns: whether a system riddled with vulnerabilities will work on such a massive scale.

 

When Will We Know the 2020 Presidential Election Results? A Guide to Possible Delays

WSJ

Election officials say the country should be prepared not to know who won the White House on Election Day, citing a surge of mail ballots that some states will need extra time to count.

See Also:

     Deep Divisions in Views of the Election Process – and Whether It Will Be Clear Who Won PEW

     Opinion:  As Election Day nears, Trump ponders becoming one thing he so despises: A loser Wash Post

     With all the chaos, the shape of the Trump-Biden race is unchanged Roll Call

     Biden campaign slams Facebook after thousands of ads blocked by platform's preelection blackout The Hill

 

Kamala Harris knows things no vice president has ever known

Wash Post

In the week before the country potentially elects its first female vice president, I’ve been trying to write a sweeping essay about progress and trailblazers and glass-breakers and what it all means.

 

Harris target of more misinformation than Pence, data shows

Bakersfield Califn

Long before Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced her as his running mate, Kamala Harris was the target of widespread online misinformation.

 

Other:

 

They look like ordinary Calif news websites. Their backers: Conservative operatives

Fresno Bee

Far from being a traditional information source, the Sac Standard is part of a nationwide network of nearly 1,300 sites backed by a collection of conservative think tanks, political strategists and public-relations executives.

 

What happens to Fox News if Trump loses? Rupert Murdoch is prepared.

Wash Post

Spend a couple hours with Fox News on a typical weeknight, and you may come to see the potential election of Joe Biden as a cataclysm in the making.

 

'We've Built the Most Toxic Marriage Ever': Why Political Opposites in the U.S. Despise Each Other

Time

Americans clearly do not agree about the best solutions to the country’s biggest problems. But while those disagreements are fierce, they are not as strong as their feelings of distrust, dislike and disdain for people who belong to the opposing political party.

 

Navigating race and injustice in America’s middle class

Brookings

We present what members of the American middle class had to say about racial injustice, both in the months leading up to the first identified case and in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Opinion: We are the Leaders We are Looking For

Calif Forward

There is no doubt that these are incredibly turbulent times politically, and we believe all would agree there is too much on the line this November to stay home. Voting, however, is only a single part of our civic duty.

  

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Assemi Brothers score wins against Wonderful Pistachio & Nuts. But lawsuit’s not over

Fresno Bee

The Assemi Brothers, one of the region’s leading nut growers, scored a legal victory this week in their lawsuit against the biggest player in the industry, Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds.

 

Ag at Large: State’s farms are on solid ground

Hanford Sentinel

It’s probably true that on a normal day few of Calif’s 39 million residents give much thought to the state’s agricultural economy, the largest of any state by far. But it is possibly the soundest, surest and most consistent aspect of the state’s continuing economic health.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

‘Long-term problems.’ Fresno youth give city leaders an earful at summit to reduce violence

Fresno Bee

Fresno needs to address systemic socioeconomic inequities and give young people of color a voice in how the city is governed if there’s any hope of abating an uptick in gun violence and gang activity, young Fresnans told city leaders during a summit meeting Wednesday evening.

See Also:

     Fresno leaders gather to discuss ways to reduce violence in city abc30

 

BPD closes case on 'Lords of Bakersfield' claim without charges, citing statute of limitations

Bakersfield Califn

Claims by a man who has said he was sexually trafficked by a shadowy Kern County group known as the "Lords of Bakersfield" more than 40 years ago were investigated by the Bakersfield Police Department earlier this month.

 

Public Safety:

 

Fresno Police reform commission recommends taking officers off some mental health calls

abc30

Police reform is now in the hands of Fresno's city council and mayor. The Fresno Commission on Police Reform came up with 73 recommendations about civilian oversight, use of force, and several other issues.

 

We won’t go: Calif inmates refuse move to safer cells

Fresno Bee

More than 200 Calif inmates at the highest risk from coronavirus won’t move to safer cells, confounding officials who want to transfer thousands of prisoners to locations where they are less vulnerable to infection.

 

U.S. to Lift Ban on Police Use of Body Cameras Alongside Federal Agents

WSJ

The Justice Department will allow state and local police officers across the country to wear body cameras during some joint operations with federal law enforcement, ending a ban that had frustrated police chiefs who require them for public accountability.

 

Opinion: New law sets gun control to autopilot in Calif

CalMatters

Microstamping might be helpful to law enforcement except the technology does not consistently imprint identifying information on ammunition.

 

Fire:

 

Creek Fire update: Despite winds and smoke, containment lines hold; high temps coming

Fresno Bee

The Creek Fire has surpassed the both the North and LNU Lightning Complex fires to become the fourth-largest wildfire in Calif history.

See Also:

     Creek Fire: 379,571 acres burned, 70% contained, latest evacuation warnings abc30

     Creek Fire Oct. 30 update: Full containment weeks away; increased smoke expected Fresno Bee

 

Firefighters came from Mexico to battle Calif wildfire. Now two have COVID-19

Fresno Bee

Three firefighters have tested positive for the coronavirus while battling the SQF Complex Fire — including two from Mexico’s Comisión Nacional Forestal.

See Also:

     Sequoia Complex: Containment of perimeter of fire remains strong Porterville Recorder

     Three firefighters on Sequoia Complex test positive for COVID Porterville Recorder

 

PG&E facing ‘significant’ new losses from Calif wildfires, utility tells investors

Fresno Bee

Calif’s largest utility warned shareholders Thursday that it could face a “significant liability” in connection with the Zogg Fire, one of a series of wildfires that blew through Northern Calif this year.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Bethany Clough: New Fresno area restaurants: At least 30 have opened since COVID-19 pandemic started

Fresno Bee

It may seem counter-intuitive to talk about restaurants opening in the middle of a coronavirus pandemic. Some have shut their doors for good.

 

Second stockpile surge? Grocery stores, manufacturers prepare as COVID-19 cases spike

abc30

Americans are stockpiling again, experts say, but the days of toilet paper troubles shouldn't come back to haunt us. As the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in the United States, many companies are making sure grocery store shelves stay stocked.

 

US economy grows at record 33% in rebound from COVID-related plunge; Recovery still incomplete

abc30

The U.S. economy grew at a sizzling 33.1% annual rate in the July-September quarter - by far the largest quarterly gain on record - rebounding from an epic plunge in the spring, when the eruption of the coronavirus closed businesses and threw tens of millions out of work.

See Also:

     U.S. Economy Recovered Significant Ground in Record Third-Quarter GDP Rebound WSJ

     Dow Industrials Snap Four-Session Losing Streak WSJ

      The Economy’s Post-Lockdown Comeback WSJ

     U.S. Economy Grows At Record Pace But Still Has A Long Way To Go NPR

     Trump Embraces GDP Growth, as Biden Warns That U.S. Is Still in a ‘Deep Hole’ WSJ

     As virus resurges, so does fear of more economic pain PBS

     Opinion: The Economy’s Post-Lockdown Comeback WSJ

 

Wall Street Ends Higher After Shaking Off A Wobbly Start

Business Journal

Stocks are closing broadly higher on Wall Street after shaking off a wobbly start. The S&P 500 rose 1.2% Thursday following encouraging data on the pace of layoffs and on how powerfully the economy rebounded during the summer from its coronavirus-induced coma.

See also:

·       Surge in Virus Threatens to Reverse Global Economic Rebounds  Business Journal

 

Jobs:

 

Pension perk for Calif telemedicine doctors is improper and costly, audit says

Fresno Bee

Calif gives its best pension benefits to cops, firefighters and prison guards who sometimes are asked to risk their own safety to protect others.

 

COVID-19 forced women to leave their jobs. Can Calif help them get back to work?

Fresno Bee

The pandemic and stay-at-home orders decimated industries such as hospitality that had employed a large number of women. Thousands more working mothers quit their job or reduced their working hours to care for their children as schools went online.

 

Kern County Fair lays off 19 employees

Bakersfield Califn

The Kern County Fair has issued layoff notices to 19 full-time employees, saying in a news release that revenues during the coronavirus pandemic were not enough to sustain its staffing level.

 

Unemployment Data Update: March through October 29, 2020

Calif Center for Jobs and the Economy

Initial claims showed only minor easing for the week of October 24, with unemployment still well above prior levels as pandemic-related closures remain throughout most of the state.

 

U.S. Jobless Claims Fall to Lowest Level Since Start of Coronavirus Pandemic

WSJ

The number of Americans filing initial claims for unemployment insurance fell last week to the lowest level since the pandemic began, suggesting layoffs are easing despite a rise in coronavirus infections.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Fresno-area district changes graduation requirements. Teachers didn’t have much say

Fresno Bee

Students attending Central Unified will need fewer credits to graduate high school beginning next school year. The controversial decision to lower graduation requirement credits to 230 vs. the previous 280 credits was approved during Tuesday night’s school board meeting.

 

Students return to Sierra Unified schools after Creek Fire, COVID closures, and power shutoffs

abc30

Just one month ago, Foothill Elementary in Prather served as a check-in site for families waiting to see the remnants of their burned homes after the Creek Fire tore through nearby communities.

 

Visalia teachers protested the school district. Here's what led up to the confrontation.

Visalia Times Delta

Jeff Eastman used to run around his workshop at Redwood High School overseeing his students as they built wood structures. 

 

Can public education return to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic?

Brookings

For now, public education is in chaos, with different schooling combinations of in-person hybrid, fully remote, and plain homeschooling evident—sometimes all in one locality.

 

Commentary: Reopening in the shadow of COVID-19: Beginning the first full coronavirus school year

AEI

This is the seventh report in the “School District Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic” series, covering how schools reopened for the 2020–21 school year.

 

Higher Ed:

 

Summit Charter Collegiate Academy begins open enrollment for 2021-2022

Porterville Recorder

Summit Charter Collegiate Academy has begun its open enrollment period for the 2021-2022 school year. Registration for open enrollment can be done now through December 17.

 

Opinion: Quit accepting SAT and ACT test scores, court tells University of Calif

SF Chronicle

The University of Calif, which has stopped requiring applicants to take the SAT or the ACT, cannot allow prospective students to submit their scores on the standardized tests, a state appeals court said Thursday in a victory for students with disabilities.

 

Challenging the model minority myth: Asian-American students divided over affirmative action

CalMatters

But some Asian American students and academics say they have been unfairly lumped together in discussions around affirmative action. The model minority myth obscures different Asian American ethnic communities’ varied access to resources and education.

See also:

·       Californians Should Vote Against Legalizing Race Discrimination National Review

·       Commentary: Navigating race and injustice in America’s middle class Brookings

 

Supporting Financially Stressed College Students during COVID-19

PPIC

Affordability is a longstanding problem for Calif’s college students—and assisting students who have financial challenges has become even harder amid the pandemic and resulting recession.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Trump removes gray wolf from endangered species list. What that means for Calif

Fresno Bee

The Trump administration’s announcement Thurs that it was removing gray wolves from U.S. Endangered Species Act protections will have significant impacts in Calif, including its ability to track them as its population grows and criminally charge people who kill them.

See Also:

      Trump administration drops gray wolf from endangered species list LA Times

 

Trump rolled back more than 125 environmental safeguards. Here’s how.

Wash Post

President Trump has spent the run-up to next week’s election touting himself as the finest steward of the nation’s air and water in generations. “Who would have thought,” he boasted during one stop in Florida, “Trump is the great environmentalist?”

 

Energy:

 

Calif not alone in clean energy push; red states help

Daily Democrat

The dramatic growth of clean energy over the past decade has brought surprises, including data showing Republican states outperforming Calif in some areas.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Fresno County dips under 100 new COVID-19 cases. Here’s where daily average stands

Fresno Bee

For the first day in over a week, Fresno County reported less than 100 cases of COVID-19 to the state. Fresno County had 99 new infections on Thursday, according to the Calif Department of Public Health, which brings the 14-day average to 110 cases.

See Also:

     Coronavirus updates: Fresno to update death toll as Calif nears 1 million cases Fresno Bee

     87 new COVID-19 cases reported in Kern Wednesday Bakersfield Califn

     Kern Public Health: 2 new coronavirus deaths, 40 new cases reported Thursday Bakersfield Califn

     Coronavirus Live Updates: Daily New Cases Hit a Record WSJ

     Coronavirus cases are on the rise in every swing state Wash Post

 

Myths about COVID-19 busted: Masks, indoor transmission, cold weather, and more

abc30

University of Chicago Medicine Executive Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Control Dr. Emily Landon took time to bust some of the most prevalent myths about COVID-19 and the pandemic, as coronavirus cases continue to rise across the nation.

See also

·       Some long-haulers face strange lingering symptoms months after COVID infection clears Fresno Bee

·       Fauci says COVID-19 mask mandate is needed. ‘We are on a very difficult trajectory’ Fresno Bee

 

Opioid Crisis: Critics Say Trump Fumbled Response To Another Deadly Epidemic

VPR

But while some progress was made, critics point to serious missteps behind the scenes that hampered federal efforts, including the decision to sideline and defund the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

 

Human Services:

 

Fresno County Launches Million Mask Giveaway

Clovis Roundup

Fresno County in partnership with the City of Clovis, Clovis Chamber of Commerce, Fresno County EDC, and the Fresno Chamber of Commerce launched their Million Mask Giveaway program.

 

Some states want to check safety of COVID-19 vaccine before giving it. Here’s why

Fresno Bee

Several states have announced that they want to independently review a coronavirus vaccine when one becomes available before distributing it to the public.

See also:

·       CDC pushes back deadline for states on vaccine delivery until after Election Day Sac Bee

·       Commentary: We could know soon how effective the potential COVID vaccines are AEI

·       Opinion: Side effects: A counterintuitive reason to feel confident about a COVID-19 vaccine CalMatters

 

As pandemic raged and thousands died, government regulators cleared most nursing homes of infection-control violations

Business Journal

But the government inspectors deployed by CMS during the first six months of the crisis cleared nearly 8 in 10 nursing homes of any infection-control violations even as the deadliest pandemic to strike the United States in a century sickened and killed thousands.

 

More mobile COVID testing sites in county in November

Hanford Sentinel

Tulare County health officials announced the availability of COVID-19 mobile testing sites to provide community-based testing in rural and underserved communities of Tulare County.

 

Latino COVID-19 Task Force hosting 3 free testing sites this weekend

Bakersfield Califn

Kern County Latino COVID-19 Task Force, Public Health and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce announced additional free COVID-19 testing sites to  work toward increasing​​ Kern’s testing numbers and access for residents in outlining communities and neighborhoods.

See also:

·       Calif’s Latinos Grapple With COVID, And Extraordinary Grief Capital Public Radio

 

White House to Require Insurers to Post Negotiated Prices for Medical Care

WSJ

Private insurers must publish the prices they have negotiated with providers under a Trump administration rule aimed at lowering health-care spending by giving consumers more information about their out-of-pocket charges.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Report: US knew of problems family separation would cause

Bakersfield Califn

Months before the Trump administration separated thousands of families at the U.S.-Mexico border, a “pilot program” in Texas left child-welfare officials scrambling to find empty beds for babies taken from their parents in a preview of bigger problems to come.

 

Immigrant Rights Groups Are Concerned Uptick In ICE Arrests Will Add To Public Health Crisis

VPR

Immigrant rights groups are concerned about a recent uptick in arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They said they want transparency in terms of COVID-19 safety procedures.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Will Oceano Dunes open to vehicles? Snowy plover lawsuit seeks to block park from reopening

Fresno Bee

The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit Thursday morning against the Calif Department of Parks and Recreation to protect threatened shorebirds at the Oceano Dunes — one day before vehicles were set to return to the popular state park.

 

Housing:

 

These Fresno motels will be converted to homeless housing with millions from the state

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday the Fresno Housing Authority, in partnership with the city of Fresno, will receive nearly $16.5 million to purchase and rehabilitate three more motels to house people experiencing homelessness.

 

Rent is up and jobs are scarce in Fresno, as people struggle to make ends meet in COVID-19

Fresno Bee

The average cost to rent an apartment in Fresno went up since March, putting even more financial pressure on cash-strapped residents during a pandemic.

 

Housing Authority pursues 'dual objectives' by turning hotels into subsidized apartments

Bakersfield Califn

The pending conversion of the Decatur Hotel into subsidized apartments for impoverished seniors is part of a broader redevelopment strategy that combines making neighborhoods more attractive while expanding Bakersfield's inventory of permanent, affordable housing.

 

Housing Affordability Crisis Deepens in Fire-Prone Parts of Calif

WSJ

Insurance companies retreated from selling home insurance in wildfire-prone parts of Calif in 2019, new state data shows, making it more difficult and expensive for homeowners in those areas to protect their houses.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

The next blow for businesses: Tax hikes that threaten more layoffs

Politico

Businesses across the nation could soon face state tax increases to pay for the surge in Americans filing for unemployment benefits this year, further straining employers at a time when many are fighting for survival.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Senior citizens can skip DMV, renew drivers licenses by mail according to new executive order

abc30

Senior citizens age 70 and older can avoid a trip to Department of Motor Vehicles offices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order, which allows seniors to renew their drivers licenses by mail.

See Also:

     DMV: Seniors eligible to renew driver’s licenses online Bakersfield Califn

 

Covid-19 Testing vs. Quarantines for International Flights: Airlines and U.S. Transportation Officials Spar With CDC

WSJ
U.S. transportation officials and airlines are at odds with public-health officials over whether people who test negative for 
coronavirus before they travel should still have to quarantine when they arrive in the U.S., according to people familiar with the matter.

See also:

 

·       United to test all passengers on some flights for COVID-19 in new transatlantic trial Fresno Bee

 

WATER

 

Water Partnerships between Cities and Farms in Southern Calif & San Joaquin Valley

PPIC

The San Joaquin Valley and urban Southern Calif are worlds apart in many ways. Yet each face growing water challenges and a shared interest in ensuring reliable, affordable water supplies to safeguard their people and economies.

 

“Xtra”

 

Lemoore Parks and Rec to hold drive-thru trunk or treat

Hanford Sentinel

While in-person trick-or-treating may be discouraged this year, kids still have a chance to get their candy fix this Halloween.

See Also:

     Local events hope to help community celebrate Halloween Turlock Journal

     Halloween is still happening. These Fresno-area events may get you through the spooky season Fresno Bee

      How to have a safe Halloween in Fresno. Is trick-or-treating OK? Here’s what experts say Fresno Bee