08Oct

POLICY & POLITICS

Valley:

Devin Nunes in safe lead over Andrew Janz as ‘Trump looms large,’ new poll shows

Fresno Bee

In California’s 22nd District, which includes parts of Fresno and Sanger and Visalia, incumbent Devin Nunes, a Tulare Republican, had the support of 53 percent of likely voters in a poll; Democrat Andrew Janz had 45 percent.

See Also:

● EDITORIAL: For the good of the 22nd District and the nation, the choice is clear: Andrew Janz Fresno Bee

● Is Rep. Devin Nunes at War With His Local Newspaper? KQED News

● SWALWELL : Nunes buried evidence on Russian meddling to protect Trump. I know because I’m on the committee Fresno Bee

● How Russian disinformation campaigns will affect the midterm elections Brookings

Local Democrats believe anger will push voters to the polls

ABC30

The midterm election is often viewed as a report card on the President. Democrats say candidates who have aligned themselves the closest with Trump will be the most vulnerable.

Election’s importance for Madera

Madera Tribune

This year’s General Election is important for more than the usual reasons. We are seeing a level of public interest on the part of the usually lethargic Madera County electorate that we haven’t seen for years.

See amount Merced County candidates have garnered from donations

Merced Sun-Star

Merced County candidates post campaign donations. Check out the amount some candidates have received.

How lightning rod incumbent Soiseth plays key role in race for Turlock mayor

Modesto Bee

As Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth runs for re-election he faces claims of being a bully who has driven off department heads and he has been reckless with the city’s finances. He says both are not true.

Election season is officially underway as ballots go out

Bakersfield Californian

Mail-in ballots start going out to voters this week as the run-up to the mid-term elections enters its final stretch.

Three seats up for grabs on Bakersfield City Council

Bakersfield Californian

Some would say the city of Bakersfield stands on the brink of change. Challengers to the City Council incumbents have also brought up many issues they believe are important.

See also:

● OUR VIEW: We recommend: Re-elect Rivera, Weir, Smith, Parlier Bakersfield Californian

Information on State Propositions in upcoming General Election

Fresno State Campus News

In advance of the upcoming General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 6, Executive Director of the Fresno State Office of Governmental Relations Larry Salinas provides faculty and staff a list of the state propositions that will appear on the ballot.

The Californian Recommends: Elect Vallejo in revamped 4th District

Bakersfield Californian

Vallejo has been deeply involved in the community of Delano, Kern’s second-largest city, her entire adult life — working in education and telecommunications and serving four terms as a Delano City Council member. This is her fourth go-around as mayor, and she previously served as a member of the Delano Planning Commission.

See also:

● 4th District race could change dynamic of Board of Supervisors Bakersfield Californian

The Californian Recommends: Return McCarthy, Valadao to Congress

Bakersfield Californian

The Californian recommends that voters return Kevin McCarthy to Congress. The bottom line here, though, is that Valadao has been competent, accessible, responsive and consistent, and 21st District voters like him. We do, too. The Californian recommends that voters return David Valadao to Congress.

State:

California, Rome and the end of an empire

Visalia Times-Delta

How will California survive the end of America’s empire?

John Cox, Gavin Newsom Poised For Only Debate Monday As California Governor’s Race Enters Home Stretch

Capital Public Radio

Newsom and Cox will meet for their only general election debate Monday morning as counties begin sending out vote-by-mail ballots. In a state of nearly 40 million people, were campaigns know they must reach voters on TV, the debate is radio-only.

● Here’s how the candidates see what’s next for California Los Angeles Times

● Cox, Newsom Face Off in Final California Gubernatorial Debate KQED News

Newsom eyes return to spotlight as California governor

AP News

Newsom relishes the idea of replacing Trump administration foil Jerry Brown as governor and being the point for California’s resistance to the president. Left unsaid is that perch leaves him perfectly situated to create a more appealing national profile for Democrats should he decide the White House no longer is anathema.

California’s John Cox: the politician who distrusts politicians

San Francisco Chronicle

The California governor’s race may look like a battle between two wealthy men, but Republican John Cox says there’s one big difference between him and Gavin Newsom.

Once again, the next governor will not resemble the average Californian

Los Angeles Times

No matter who wins in November, the next governor won’t resemble most Californians. In a state where Latinos outnumber whites, women outnumber men and the median family income is just under $64,000 a year, both gubernatorial candidates are white men who earn more than a $1 million a year.

The Next Step: Life with Jerry Brown

Alta Online

Anne Gust Brown talks about governing and life with Jerry.

California’s senior population is growing faster than any other age group. How the next governor responds is crucial

Los Angeles Times

California must adapt to its reality. The state’s long-held self-image — a blend of Tomorrowland and Fountain of Youth — is colliding with the inescapable fact that the Golden State is getting old.

Where Sen. Dianne Feinstein and state Sen. Kevin de Leon stand on the issues

Los Angeles Times

With Feinstein leading by a large margin in most polls and with millions of dollars in the bank, the race has garnered few fireworks and little attention over the last few months, but De León is hoping a grass-roots campaign and an anti-establishment fervor in the state might help him come election day.

● EDITORIAL: In the race for U.S. Senate, there’s a good reason Kevin de León is the underdog against FeinsteinSacramento Bee

● EDITORIAL: Feinstein’s Disgrace Weekly Standard

California's closely watched races for Congress could have a domino effect on elections for the Legislature

Los Angeles Times

If November’s election finally shatters the maxim that “all politics is local,” it will be because even the elected positions thought to be in safe political harbors were swept into a historic partisan storm. And in California, the collateral damage could be in a handful of races for the Legislature.

Lieutenant governor candidates have big plans

San Francisco Chronicle

The lackluster portfolio of California’s lieutenant governor job makes the position easy to overlook. Even some who have held the post have complained that with almost no duties, it’s a bore.

Prop. 2: Should California Sell Bonds Backed by County Mental Health Funds to Develop Supportive Housing for Homeless Residents With Mental Illness?

California Budget and Policy Center

Proposition 2 on the November 6 ballot would allow California to move forward with a program called No Place Like Home, which is designed to develop supportive housing — stable housing linked to key services — for people with mental illness who are facing homelessness.

Prop. 7: California considers full-time daylight savings, end of changing clocks

San Francisco Chronicle

Imagine never losing an hour of sleep in the spring or an hour of sunlight on cold winter evenings. Imagine — gasp! — never having to change the clocks. Life is full of tradeoffs, but forgoing the semi-annual time change has become a enticing idea for some.

EDITORIAL: Just because their races are lower on the ballot, it doesn’t mean they’re not important

Modesto Bee

Voters have good and clear choices on Nov. 6, 2018 for statewide officials who will work with the next California governor.

An Internet Bill of Rights? One California representative says the time has come

Los Angeles Times

By July of 2019, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) aims to see the House of Representatives pass landmark legislation shielding consumers from the onslaught of data breaches and the anxiety and confusion over the misuse of their personal information on the web.

● Christine Blasey Ford has no plans to further pursue allegations against Brett Kavanaugh: Attorney ABC30

● Brett Kavanaugh sworn in as Supreme Court justice, cementing conservative control Visalia Times-Delta

● Senate confirms Brett Kavanaugh as Supreme Court justice, ending contentious nomination fight Hanford Sentinel

● Kavanaugh sworn in as U.S. Supreme Court justice after Senate vote ends heated debate Modesto Bee

● Kavanaugh hearings reinforce need for parent-child dialogue on consent Modesto Bee

● One Kavanaugh battle ends, another is just beginning Los Angeles Times

● Brett Kavanaugh Sworn In As Newest Supreme Court Justice Capital Public Radio

● Justice Kavanaugh’s coming impact on California CALmatters

● With the midterm election looming, calls to impeach Kavanaugh pose an awkward challenge for DemocratsLos Angeles Times

● Senate confirms Brett Kavanaugh as the Supreme Court's 114th justice, cementing a conservative majority on nation’s highest court The Washington Post

● Senate Votes to Confirm Kavanaugh to Supreme Court The Wall Street Journal

● Kavanaugh Confirmation Solidifies Supreme Court Tilt Roll Call

● Midterm Elections Hold Ultimate Verdict on Kavanaugh Roll Call

● Brett Kavanaugh Confirmed, Sworn In. Now, Here's A Look At His Record NPR

● Parties Seize on Kavanaugh Supreme Court Clash The Wall Street Journal

● After polarizing Kavanaugh confirmation battle, few players emerged from the process unchanged or unblemished The Washington Post

● The Kavanaugh battle only magnified the nation’s divisions and may leave lasting scars The Washington Post

● McConnell says he never considered urging Trump to withdraw Kavanaugh nomination, calls opposition a 'great political gift' for GOP The Washington Post

● The Kavanaugh Effect: Political Debates Shake Up the Workplace The Wall Street Journal

● Supreme Court moves right, but how far, how fast? AP News

● Brett Kavanaugh Confirmation Battle Tests Supreme Court’s Chief Justice The Wall Street Journal

● EDITORIAL: Sen. Orrin Hatch offers a good piece of advice for Kavanaugh detractors: ‘Grow up!’ Sierra Star

● EDITORIAL: Brett Kavanaugh doesn't belong on the Supreme Court Los Angeles Times

● Kavanaugh’s confirmation was disgrace from start to finish San Francisco Chronicle

● EDITORIAL: Kavanaugh confirmation made just about everyone look bad San Diego Union-Tribune

● OPINION: Partisanship is poison. How will the Supreme Court survive? The Washington Post

● OPINION: How Kavanaugh Could Help the GOP The Wall Street Journal

The junk science Republicans used to undermine Ford and help save Kavanaugh

The Washington Post

The politically convenient, scientifically baseless theory that sexual assault so traumatized Christine Blasey Ford she mixed up her attacker is now something like common wisdom for many Republicans. President Trump explicitly endorsed the theory Saturday, shortly after Brett M. Kavanaugh was narrowly confirmed as a Supreme Court judge, telling reporters he was “100 percent” sure Ford accused Kavanaugh in error.

Election season is officially underway as ballots go out

Bakersfield Californian

Mail-in ballots start going out to voters this week as the run-up to the mid-term elections enters its final stretch.

● Survey of battleground House districts shows Democrats with narrow edge The Washington Post

● Senate races move right, House races move left in political fallout from Kavanaugh confirmation fight The Washington Post

● Survey of battleground House districts shows Democrats with narrow edge The Washington Post

● Democrats Fear They’re the Wet Rag Party POLITICO

● Did Trump avoid paying taxes? Voters won’t like it. Brookings

● What’s at stake for states following the 2018 election Brookings

Other:

How American Politics Became So Ineffective

The Atlantic

Assembling power to govern a sprawling, diverse, and increasingly divided democracy is inevitably hard. Chaos syndrome makes it all the harder. For Democrats, the disorder is merely chronic; for the Republican Party, it is acute.

PODCAST: 'Can Mark Zuckerberg Fix Facebook Before It Breaks Democracy?

NPR

Podcast.

See Also:

● OPINION: Did Facebook Learn Anything From the Cambridge Analytica Debacle? New York Times

How do hoaxes go viral on social media?

Fresno Bee

That’s right - while bots that auto-post fake news or other bogus stories on Twitter, in particular, contribute to the problem, it’schiefly our own fault, according to a study published in Science.

GOP Operative Secretly Raised at Least $100,000 in Search for Clinton Emails

The Wall Street Journal

A veteran Republican operative and opposition researcher solicited and raised at least $100,000 from donors as part of an effort to obtain what he believed to be emails stolen from Hillary Clinton, activities that remain of intense interest to federal investigators working for special counsel Robert Mueller’s office and on Capitol Hill.

What is artificial intelligence?

Brookings

Emerging technologies have the potential to fundamentally transform society, but few people possess a detailed understanding of what artificial intelligence actually is. In the first of a new series, Darrell West discusses the defining features of AI technology and how to avoid a technological dystopia.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

California Growers Adjust Safety Practices After Last Year's Deadly E. Coli Outbreak

Capital Public Radio

A group that oversees food safety programs for big California lettuce growers has changed its protocols in the wake of an E. coli outbreak last spring which caused five deaths and sickened more than 200 people across 36 states.

What makes a chicken cage-free? Ballot measure would spell it out

San Francisco Chronicle

A state ballot measure requiring more space for chickens would normally unite animal welfare groups. But Proposition 12, which would set minimum space standards for the birds, is not that simple. It has a decade of baggage over what constitutes legroom for a hen and what it means to be cage-free.

Wineries, vineyards clash over smoke-tainted grapes

San Francisco Chronicle

Along the West Coast, grape growers and wineries are locked in bitter disputes over what to do with wine grapes that may have been tainted by smoke from the summer’s wildfires.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Tulare County Sheriff's office continues fight against large illegal pot grows

ABC30

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux says his department continues to deal with black market operations and drug trafficking organizations that grow marijuana illegally, causing a danger to both the environment and the public.

Woodlake native named CDCR's Acting Secretary

Visalia Times-Delta

Ralph Diaz of Woodlake has been appointed as acting secretary for operations at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Kill like an adult, be tried like an adult. Why the decision to spare juveniles is wrong

Modesto Bee

The district attorneys in Sacramento and Yolo counties – at some point, maybe all state DAs – are going to fight Gov. Jerry Brown on his 11th-hour approval of a misguided bill that says no one under the age of 16 can be tried as an adult, no matter how horrific the crime.

Public Safety:

Every year, Fresno gives the SPCA more money. Every year, more dog attacks happen

Fresno Bee

Dog bites in the city of Fresno have doubled in five years, causing city officials to want oversight in taxpayer money going to the Central California SPCA.

Opinion: Fresno needs money for police, not parks

Fresno Bee

Consider what Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp says about Measure P: “Without proper law enforcement staffing in the city of Fresno, parks become a breeding ground for increased criminal activity. We need to focus on making the city and the parks we already have, safer before we fund additional parks.”

‘I expected more.’ Many California leaders want more #MeToo action

Fresno Bee

California Influencers acknowledged the state’s role in the #MeToo movement sweeping the country, but say Gov. Jerry Brown could have done more to combat sexual harassment and assault.

See Also:

● Did Jerry Brown make the right decisions on #metoo bills? California leaders are split Fresno Bee

● Governor Brown and #MeToo Laws Capital Public Radio

ShotSpotter technology: 'It's a community trust issue

Bakersfield Californian

Comprised of about 70 sensors scattered throughout the area, ShotSpotter is designed to respond to percussive sound, such as gunfire and explosive fireworks. A report and recording of the sound is immediately relayed to the company's central dispatch location where experts can usually differentiate between gunfire and other sounds.

Fire:

Investigators reveal cause of Ferguson Fire near Yosemite, seek public help

Fresno Bee

The U.S. Forest Service has identified the cause of the Ferguson Fire to have been sparks from a vehicle that ignited grass along Highway 140.

See Also:

● Overheated catalytic converter sparked deadly Ferguson Fire San Francisco Chronicle

Northern California red flag warning to last into Monday

Fresno Bee

Cal Fire issued a red flag warning for Sacramento and other Northern California counties on Saturday until Monday morning, citing high winds and low humidity as factors that could cause wildfires.

One year after the fires, Wine Country is still healing

San Francisco Chronicle

Last October’s horrific wildfires in Sonoma and Napa counties made one thing abundantly clear: The worst of times brings out the best in people.

Video: See 100 years of California wildfires in 1 minute

The Mercury News

Cal Fire, the state’s main firefighting agency, has built a database over the years showing the perimeters of major fires in California. Although the list is not complete, because early records are imperfect, the state and U.S. Forest Service have documented more than 25,000 large fires since 1900, which have burned 35 million acres — an area equal to about one-third of the land in the state.

California Enters Peak Fire Season With Delaware-Sized Burn Scar

Bloomberg

Blazes have already ripped through enough acres to blacken the entire state of Delaware, and what’s typically California’s worst month for fires is just beginning. At least 11 people have died this year from wildfires that shut down Yosemite National Park, drove thousands from their homes and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings. And forecasters say prospects for rain are slim.

ECONOMY / JOBS

Economy:

Rabobank Arena at 20: Entertainment hub as economic engine

Bakersfield Californian

Before the cranes and the concrete pourers arrived, there was nothing at the southeast corner of Truxtun Avenue and N Street but a parking lot, a chamber of commerce building and a bold idea.

Central Valley Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum

Fresno State Campus News

Following the success of last year’s event, the Central Valley Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum will take place on Thursday, November 1, 2018, at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District.

Dollar General throws a lifeline to hard-pressed communities. Not all welcome it

Los Angeles Times

The village of Nice, Calif., has a name pronounced “Neece,” like the city on the French Riviera, and it sits on a strip of land wedged dramatically between steep hills and the shores of Clear Lake. This was resort country a century ago, but tourists are scarce these days and the surrounding county is now among the poorest in the state, when measured by median income.

New Nafta Shows Trump’s Trade Strategy for Balancing Labor, Business Interests

The Wall Street Journal

In attempting to please both ends of the economic and political spectrum, the new Nafta illustrates President Trump’s evolving trade strategy, as he seeks to win over labor unions long opposed to free-trade pacts, while maintaining support from business groups that have generally supported them.

Midterms Are a Boon for Stocks—No Matter Who Wins

The Wall Street Journal

A scenario in which Republicans lose their majority could trigger short-term volatility for the stock market, introducing uncertainty over the future of policies ranging from tax cuts to immigration, analysts say. Yet many are expecting stocks to march onward, regardless of which party claims victory in November.

Why US household income is rising while wages stay flat

Brookings

Recent reports show that that the median annual income for American households increased by nearly 2 percent in 2017, while real wages have remained stagnant for decades. Ryan Nunn and Jay Shambaugh highlight the underlying factors that could be contributing to this perplexing phenomenon.

Jobs:

Abrupt warehouse shutdown strands 250,000 mattresses, leaves workers without jobs

Fresno Bee

A mattress recycler’s abrupt closure puts Fresno employees out of work without their final paychecks. It has about 250,000 mattresses sitting in storage in local warehouses.

As jobless rate drops to new low, workers’ earnings still lag

San Francisco Chronicle

The nation’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent in September, its lowest level since 1969, but wages are still rising more slowly than they normally would.

California Trade Report for August 2018

California Center for Jobs & The Economy

California’s balance of goods trade through state businesses improved to -$22.5 billion, compared to a level of -$23.2 billion in Aug 2017. California trade accounted for 27% of the US trade deficit in goods in Aug 2018.

U.S. Unemployment Rate Drops To 3.7%, Lowest In Nearly 50 Years

NPR

The U.S. jobless rate dropped to 3.7 percent in September — the lowest since 1969, though the economy added a lower-than-expected 134,000 jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. The jobless rate fell from August's 3.9 percent

California is forcing the issue of diversity in corporate America — finally

The Washington Post

Legislators and the public are fed up with corporate inaction and are finally taking a stand. This law rejects the myth of meritocracy that companies have used as a shield to preserve the bias that has effectively blocked qualified women from moving ahead in their careers. Now it’s time for start-ups to act and think bigger by embracing and extending the spirit of the law.

EDUCATION

K-12:

Underprivileged Fresno kids get school clothes shopping spree

ABC30

Dozens of Fresno Unified students got a wardrobe makeover this morning. The East Fresno Kiwanis picked 75 kids in need for their annual back-to-school shopping event that started at 6:30 a.m.

Scores reveal gains

Madera Tribune

For the third year in a row, more than half of Madera Unified students have failed to meet grade level expectations on the annual tests administered by the California Department of Education.

See Also:

● EDITORIAL: The real story behind California's latest school test scores Los Angeles Times

Forum planned for Districts 4 and 5 of school board trustees

Madera Tribune

A public candidate forum for those seeking positions in District 4 and District 5 on the Madera Unified School District Board of Trustees will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, at the Madera County Library.

Here's how Visalia Unified used your Measure E dollars

Visalia Times-Delta

Visalia voters will soon decide on spending more than $200 million on a new high school and school improvement projects with $105 million coming from their own checkbooks.

Despite some gains, many students still struggling with state test

Bakersfield Californian

Less than half of students in the Bakersfield City School District and Kern High School District met or exceeded standards in either the English or math portions of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress this year, according to new data from the state Department of Education.

EDITORIAL: Modesto City Schools asking for voter support, but doesn’t want to talk?

Modesto Bee

As we deliberated the merits of Measures E and D, the Modesto City Schools board of trustees did an odd thing. It voted to gag itself.

Higher Ed:

Ground broken for new building at college

Madera Tribune

Ground was broken Tuesday for a new facility for agriculture and technology at Madera Community College Center. The facility will expand the current agriculture and manufacturing programs that are offered at the college.

CSU, struggling to raise graduation rates, eliminates no-credit remedial classes

San Francisco Chronicle

CSU turned away more qualified applicants than ever last year — 1 in 10 students, or 31,000 people. One reason is that for years, CSU has forced tens of thousands of underprepared freshmen to take remedial, high-school level classes that provide not a single credit toward graduation.

Armenian Studies Program holds international conference

Fresno State Campus News

The Armenian Studies Program will hold an international conference on “The Committee of Union and Progress: Founders, Ideology, and Structure” on Friday, October 12, and Saturday, October 13, 2018. The conference will be held in the University Business Center, Alice Peters Auditorium, Room 191 .

College Rankings and Social Mobility

PPIC

California's public universities rank high in terms of social mobility—the ability to move students up the ladder of economic opportunity—a factor some are now using in evaluating a college's value.

America is losing international students to China

Brookings

As rising tuition costs and uncertain immigration policies in the United States begin to drive international students away, China is working energetically to attract thousands of students from Asia and Africa every year, especially in countries where it is developing economic ties.

OPINION: Fake News Comes to Academia

The Wall Street Journal

Beginning in August 2017, the trio wrote 20 hoax papers, submitting them to peer-reviewed journals under a variety of pseudonyms, as well as the name of their friend Richard Baldwin, a professor emeritus at Florida’s Gulf Coast State College. Mr. Baldwin confirms he gave them permission to use his name. Journals accepted seven hoax papers. Four have been published.

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

Environment:

Loggers, environmentalists find common ground near Pinecrest and elsewhere

Modesto Bee

Some environmentalists have been working with the logging industry in the Sierra Nevada to thin out over-grown timber stands that have fueled massive wildfires. They disagree with President Donald Trump’s assertion that litigation is holding back the work.

UN report on global warming carries life-or-death warning

Sacramento Bee

Preventing an extra single degree of heat could make a life-or-death difference in the next few decades for multitudes of people and ecosystems on this fast-warming planet, an international panel of scientists reported Sunday. But they provide little hope the world will rise to the challenge.

See Also:

● Global warming report carries life-or-death warning Los Angeles Times

● UN report on global warming carries life-or-death warning AP News

● U.N. Panel Warns Drastic Action Needed to Stave Off Climate Change The Wall Street Journal

● Major Climate Report Describes a Strong Risk of Crisis as Early as 2040 The New York Times

● The world has barely 10 years to get climate change under control, U.N. scientists say The Washington Post

Two Americans awarded the Nobel Prize in economics for their work on climate change and innovation

The Washington Post

William Nordhaus was awarded the prize for integrating climate change into long-run macroeconomic analysis. Paul Romer shared in the honor for integrating technological innovation into long-run macroeconomic analysis.

Energy:

Scientists Call for $2.4 Trillion Shift From Coal to Renewables

Bloomberg

The world must invest $2.4 trillion in clean energy every year through 2035 and cut the use of coal-fired power to almost nothing by 2050 to avoid catastrophic damage from climate change, according to scientists convened by the United Nations. Their reportpublished Monday adds pressure on policymakers and businesses to step up their response to global warming, which is boosting sea levels, making storms more violent and exacerbating poverty.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Extreme Heat Lines Up With Spikes In Stress, Birth Problems, California Experts Find

Capital Public Radio

A team of researchers are mapping California heat waves and self-reported symptoms such as stress, anxiety and depression. They found the correlation is strongest during strings of warm nights.

How to boost vaccine rates for low-income families

PEW
A new five-state project funded by the federal government aims to improve vaccination rates among low-income children and pregnant women, using statewide registries intended to track the immunization histories of all residents. The hope is that new ways of collecting and analyzing data identified during the project eventually will spread to all states.

Think You Don't Need A Flu Shot? Here Are 5 Reasons To Change Your Mind

NPR
For instance, among students who don't get the vaccine, 36 percent say that they are healthy and don't need it, and 30 percent say they don't think the vaccine is effective. Then, there's the fear: 31 percent say they don't like needles. So, let's do a reality check. If you're on the fence about a flu shot, here are five arguments to twist your arm.

What the tests don’t show

The Washington Post

Research has found that many physicians misunderstand test results or think tests are more accurate than they are. Doctors especially fail to grasp how false positives work, which means they make crucial medical decisions — sometimes life-or-death calls — based on incorrect assumptions that patients have ailments that they probably don’t.

Human Services:

Breast Care Center in Hanford Offers Help and Hope

ABC30

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

See Also:

● Adventist Health's breast cancer surgeon shares knowledge Hanford Sentinel

Golden 1 Credit Union steps up for homeless young adults in Modesto

Modesto Bee

Pathways, a Modesto shelter that helps homeless young adults build better lives, received a $50,000 donation from Golden 1 Credit Union.

Valley Children's opens new Bakersfield specialty center

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County parents now don’t have to drive to Valley Children’s in Madera if their child needs major care. The organization opened its new Eagle Oaks Specialty Care Center in Bakersfield on Monday and held a celebration of the opening on Friday. The $31 million, 52,000-square-foot outpatient center is located at 12500 Stockdale Highway near Allen Road.

Workers' health costs continue to rise, eroding wages, new survey finds

Los Angeles Times

The average cost of a family health plan is now $19,616 a year, with workers contributing $5,547, or about a quarter of the cost, the survey by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation found. Employers are picking up the balance of the cost of workers’ health benefits.

My turn: Federal proposal threatens CA’s progress reducing teen pregnancy

CALmatters

A federal proposal threatens California’s gains in reducing teen pregnancy. Our elected leaders must step up and keep pushing forward to ensure that all Californians, no matter their age, race, income, their immigration status or their insurance status, will have an equal opportunity to plan their families, achieve their dreams and build a better future for all.

A Tough Negotiator Proves Employers Can Bargain Down Health Care Prices

VPR

Podcast.

IMMIGRATION

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LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

County could sell former juvenile hall for $1.2 million

The Business Journal

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors could vote Tuesday on whether to sell the former Fresno County Juvenile Hall and, in a separate matter, buy a vacant lot for $2.5 million to house a new sheriff’s sub station.

Clovis pup parade at dog park grand opening

Clovis RoundUp

Dogs of all breeds and sizes gathered Saturday at Sierra Bicentennial Park for the grand opening of the first ever dog park in Clovis.

ANNA SMITH: The surprising ways Long Beach managed a turnaround

Bakersfield Californian

Not long ago, Long Beach was known widely as a gritty working-class city, a place under the shadow of Los Angeles that struggled with deeply embedded problems, worker strikes and closures, departing industry and economic heartache.

Housing:

New energy-efficient home tract in north Clovis is largest of its kind in California

Fresno Bee

When it comes to building energy efficient homes in California, De Young Properties is in a race with itself. The company has the largest zero net energy subdivision in California in north Clovis.

Both sides mislead on California rent control initiative

Fresno Bee

California Proposition 10 rent control campaign ads are live and sharing yes and no arguments with CA state voters. Which advertisement commercials are trustworthy and which are exaggerating on to sway votes in the election?

See Also:

● Will California’s Rent Control Measure Prop 10 Really Have ‘No Effect On Homeowners’? Capital Public Radio

● California's housing situation is a mess. Proposition 10 isn't going to help Los Angeles Times

Are Airbnb-type rentals a boon or a threat for tenants under rent control?

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles leaders are divided over whether renting out homes for short stays should be banned in apartments that fall under rent control.

The American Dream Is Harder To Find In Some Neighborhoods

NPR

Chetty found that if a person moves out of a neighborhood with worse prospects into to a neighborhood with better outlooks, that move increases lifetime earnings for low-income children by an average $200,000. Of course, moving a lot of people is impractical, so researchers are instead trying to help low-performing areas improve.

VIDEO: Prop 10: What to know about the rent control measure, in under a minute

CALmatters

What about the other 10 ballot measures (oh, and the many candidates running for statewide, legislative and congressional office)? Don’t sweat: We have you covered with our one-stop 2018 California elections voter guide.

EDITORIAL: Props 1 and 2 could help our housing crisis

Modesto Bee

When it comes to California’s acute housing shortage, we prefer market-based solutions to governmental band-aids. Such solutions have the advantage of working and more quickly. That’s the same conclusion the Legislative Analyst’s Office reached in 2016.

PUBLIC FINANCES

U.S. Budget Deficit Swells to $898 Billion, Topping Forecast

Bloomberg

The U.S. budget deficit widened to $898 billion in the 11 months through August, exceeding the Congressional Budget Office’s forecast for the first full fiscal year under the Trump presidency.

Council says ‘no’ to benefit extensions

Madera Tribune

A City Council resolution to extend the existing salaries and most benefits of city department heads for another three years failed to pass Wednesday night, after much heated debate and residents’ objections.

EDITORIAL: Will CalPERS finally focus on returns?

San Diego Union-Tribune

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System has unfunded liabilities of at least $168 billion, meaning it has just more than two-thirds of the funds needed to provide promised pensions — and that’s based on projections of future investment earnings that outside experts see as far too optimistic.

TRANSPORTATION

Free smog repairs offered

Hanford Sentinel

Locals are invited to “Tune in and Tune Up” with smog repairs. Valley CAN and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District are offering free emissions tests and should the car fail, drivers will receive a voucher for free smog repairs.

Local highways to be repaired with gas tax money

Hanford Sentinel

Caltrans will begin more than 120 new “Fix-it-First” projects this fiscal year (July 2018-June 2019), replacing, repairing and improving more than 6,700 lane miles of pavement, 250 culverts and 320 bridges across the state, due to funds from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017

‘We’ve got a mess on our hands’: Millions of Californians still need Real IDs from DMV

Modesto Bee

Amid withering criticism from the Legislature and the driving public, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has spent the last couple months aggressively working to reduce lengthy wait times at field offices.

South Stockton resident proposes ‘quiet zone’ status to silence wailing horns

Stockton Record

Local resident Matthew Rivinius said he is preparing to wage a fight to have the Federal Railroad Administration designate his neighborhood a “quiet zone.”

Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement: Fresno to Bakersfield

California High-Speed Rail Authority

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) prepared the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIR/EIS) for the Fresno to Bakersfield section of the high-speed rail project.

High-speed rail routes veer uncomfortably close to home for some San Fernando Valley residents

Daily News

High-speed rail authorities said in a statement that “these concerns demonstrate how complex it is to develop these routes as there is seldom consensus from the public on any single project feature.”

WATER

California water woes: Ballot measure aims at solutions

San Francisco Chronicle

The biggest ticket item on California’s November ballot, tucked between the governor’s race and local elections, is $8.9 billion in bonds to help modernize California’s sprawling waterworks.

Is Groundwater Recharge a ‘Beneficial Use’? California Law Says No.

News Deeply

Groundwater recharge is not considered a “beneficial use” under California water law if all you want to do is manage pollution in an aquifer or control subsidence. To obtain a water right, you must have a plan to apply that water for an accepted beneficial purpose, such as growing crops or delivering drinking water.

“Xtra”

Three new businesses let you float in a pod, do 105-degree yoga and drink blue juice

Fresno Bee

Healthy is in. Fresno’s latest crop of new businesses is jumping on the health trend. We already told you about Jugo Salad & Juice Bar, River Park’s MANTRA selling workout wear and the newest new Pilates, cycling and healthy meal places in Clovis. Now there’s more.

For every racer, a reason, at Peace Officer Memorial Run in Modesto

Fresno Bee

Participants in the seventh annual Peace Officer Memorial Run in Modesto carried with them lots of stories — from a student honoring his grandpa to a cop battling back from a shooting and car crash.

Former Valley Children’s patients celebrated at 39th annual picnic

Fresno Bee

Valley Children's Hospital held its 39th annual NICU Graduate Picnic, drawing around 800 people (including about 275 former patients) under sunny skies for food and fun.

See Also:

● Valley Children's Hospital residents celebrate life at NICU picnic ABC30

Percussionist Cameron Leach performs tonight

Fresno State Campus News

American percussionist Cameron Leach will perform at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8 in the Fresno State Concert Hall.

Black Migrants Exhibition at Fresno Museum of Art

Ernest Lowe

Black Migrants is an exhibition of African-American farm worker photos I took in the 1960s installed at the Fresno Art Museum from July 13, 2018 to January 6, 2019. The Museum is at 233 N. First St. Fresno, California

Thousands participate in Susan G. Komen Race

ABC30

As they raced away from Chukchansi Park, each of these runners carried a personal story down the street with them.

U.C. Merced police department takes on lip sync challenge

ABC30

This summer's lip sync challenge is still making its rounds. The U.C. Merced Police Department is showing off their video with some dance party favorites.