September 15, 2020

15Sep


Quest for Digital Equity in Closing the Digital Divide — 2020 Progress Report

Calif Emerging Technology Fund

The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated the Digital Divide and laid bare the widespread inequities that demand immediate action to accelerate the deployment and adoption of broadband.

See also:

·       Commentary: Here’s a bold plan for Calif to provide internet access to everyone CalMatters

POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

Modesto approves spending up to $700K for worker investigations over two years

Modesto Bee

Modesto has allocated as much as $700,000 over the next two years for law firms and private investigators to look into suspected employee wrongdoing, such as supervisors harassing or discriminating against subordinates, workers sleeping on the job or engaging in time theft.

Modesto mayoral, supervisor candidates square off in South Modesto Partnerships forums

Modesto Bee

The 2020 election focus will turn to south Modesto and its surrounding neighborhoods on Thursday as candidates vying to become the city’s next mayor and the supervisor to rePres.ent the area square off in back-to-back debates.

Stanislaus Co budget impact from coronavirus outbreak. Shortfall is $25 million.

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County’s final budget is marked by significant financial impacts from the coronavirus pandemic, forcing the county to use additional savings to balance the 2020-21 spending plan.

See also

·       Coronavirus update: Stanislaus County sees glimmer of light in latest data Modesto Bee

Op-Ed: Merced councilman Martinez criticizes Foster Farms’ handling of COVID-19 outbreak

Fresno Bee

It is wrong that it took Foster Farms so long to close its facility. It is wrong that they failed to complete widespread testing in the timely manner requested by the county.

Central SJ Valley:

Creek Fire: 212,744 acres burned with 10% containment, latest evacuations issued for Fresno, Madera, Mariposa counties

abc30

The Creek Fire was first sparked on Friday, September 4, and was 212,744 acres as of Monday morning with 10% containment. At least 431 structures have been damaged or destroyed, and more than 14,000 are threatened. Officials say 30,000 residents of Fresno County and 15,000 residents of Madera County have been evacuated.

See Also:

●     After 10 days, the Creek Fire ranks among the biggest in Calif wildfire history Fresno Bee

●     Creek Fire live updates: Some evacuations downgraded, allowing for returns; poor air quality Sierra Star

●     Creek Fire already 13th largest in Calif history. Concerns remain for wind forecast Fresno Bee

●     In meeting with Pres. Trump, Fresno Co Sheriff Margaret Mims asks for federal assistance to help fight wildfires Fresno Bee

SQF Complex Fire: 90,845 acres burned, evacuation orders issued for Three Rivers area

abc30

The SQF Complex Fire is now threatening more structures and forcing more people from their homes. The Castle and Shotgun fires combined have now burned more than 90,000 acres and containment is at 12%.

See Also:

●     Three Rivers under mandatory evacuation due to the weeks-old Sequoia Complex Fire Fresno Bee

●     90,000-acre Sequoia Fire continues to move west. Three Rivers under mandatory evacuations Visalia Times Delta

●     Sequoia Complex Fire grows to 90,845 acres Porterville Recorder

●     Sequoia National Park in Calif closing due to spread of Castle Fire Fresno Bee

Sen. Kamala Harris to visit Fresno, tour fire station Tuesday

Fresno Bee

Calif Sen. Kamala Harris will be in Fresno on Tuesday as she campaigns on Joe Biden’s Pres.ial ticket. Harris, a historic choice as the Democratic vice Pres.ial running mate, will visit a local fire station during her trip to town, according to Fresno City Council Pres. Miguel Arias.

Devin Nunes’ legal setbacks pile up, but his lawsuits go on with appeals and new filings

Fresno Bee

Calif Rep. Devin Nunes has had little success in the battery of lawsuits he filed against media organizations and critics, but his efforts are running up legal bills for the groups he considers his adversaries. Take, for instance, the Republican political consultant Liz Mair.

U.S. News ranks Fresno State in top 3 for graduation-rate performance 5 years in a row

Fresno State News

For the fifth consecutive year, Fresno State is ranked among the top three of the nation’s best public universities for graduation-rate performance in U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 Best College rankings issued today.

South SJ Valley:

BFD opposes merger prospects with KCFD; county continues to seek solutions

Bakersfield Califn

While the Kern County Fire Department wants to explore the possibility of a potential merger with the Bakersfield Fire Department, BFD’s Chief Anthony Galagaza said late last week that his department is “not entertaining” any merger or consolidation of the two departments.

In Bakersfield, U.S. Surgeon General says country has made it ‘over the hump’ of COVID-19 pandemic

Bakersfield Califn

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams visited Bakersfield on Monday, urging residents to keep hope alive during what he portrayed as the final stretches of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kern County confirms 115 new COVID-19 cases Monday morning

Bakersfield Califn

The Kern County Public Health Services Department announced 115 new COVID-19 cases Monday morning. Kern’s total virus case count is now at 30,860 since the first was announced locally six months ago. There have been 332 virus-related deaths during that time in Kern.

Price: As US public transit agencies innovate, motivated by pandemic, GET remains ‘in limbo’

Bakersfield Califn

On the other, bus system management must figure out how to maintain that fleet without yet knowing precisely where, when or how it may start dispensing the juice to make those GET buses go.

McCarthy unveils GOP roadmap in effort to win back the House

Politico

With just 50 days left until the November election, Kevin McCarthy is unveiling a blueprint that he hopes will bolster the GOP’s long-shot bid to take back the House — or at least help the party chip away at the Democratic majority.

State:

Pres. Trump visits Calif for briefing on wildfires

abc30

With crews battling wildfires that have killed at least 35 people, destroyed neighborhoods and enveloped the West Coast in smoke, another fight has emerged: leaders in the Democratic-led states and Pres. Donald Trump have clashed over the role of climate change ahead of his visit Monday to Calif.

See Also:

●     What happened outside Pres. Trump’s events in Sacramento Sacramento Bee

●     Donald Trump lands in Sacramento for wildfire briefing with Gov. Newsom Modesto Bee

●     Fact check: Trump downplays climate change, says Calif must thin forests. What he got wrong Fresno Bee

●     Climate Scientists Reject Trump’s Prediction “It’ll Start Getting Cooler” In Calif PolitiFact

●     ‘They knew people were in danger’: Trump honors Army crews for Calif wildfire rescues Fresno Bee

●     Donald Trump blames ‘matchstick’ trees and dead leaves for Calif wildfires Fresno Bee

●     Walters: Newsom war on climate change vs. reality CalMatters

●     EDITORIAL: Welcome to Calif, Pres. Trump. Now face reality on climate change and COVID-19 Fresno Bee

Trump visit punctuates growing divide over main cause of historic wildfires in Western states

Politico

Calif seems helpless to break a cycle of catastrophic wildfires as it suffers another year of massive destruction, and the fault lines over climate change and forest management are growing as the fall campaign season gets underway.

●     Trump’s antagonistic relationship with Calif overshadows his visit to check on wildfires LA Times

●     In Calif, Trump continues to deny climate change is real: ‘It will start getting cooler’ LA Times

●     ‘Out of Control’: Candidate Trump casts Calif as cautionary tale CalMatters

●     Calif Gov. Gavin Newsom Confronts Donald Trump On Climate Change, Wildfires: “57% Of The Land In This State Is Federal” Deadline

●     Trump and Newsom: Political frenemies make nice amid Calif’s mounting disasters CalMatters

●     Opinion: Warmer. Burning. Epidemic-challenged. Expensive. The Calif Dream has become the Calif Compromise. Wash Post

Jerry Brown on a Calif Exodus: ‘Where Are You Going to Go?’

New York Times

From his ranch, the former Calif Gov. is experiencing the same smoky air wafting through much of the state. “We are causing this,” he declared in an interview.

Califns are testing positive for COVID-19 at the lowest rate on record

LA Times

As the Golden State faces a triple threat of respiratory risks — destructive wildfires, toxic air quality and a deadly pandemic — there is a faint glimmer of hope.  Over the last seven days, just 3.5% of COVID-19 tests in California came back positive, the lowest rate since the state began reporting the data in late March. A month ago, the positive test rate was nearly twice as high.

U.S. Postal Service postcard causes confusion about mail-in voting in Calif

PolitiFact

The U.S. Postal Service mailed out a postcard nationwide advising Americans to “plan ahead” if they want to vote by mail. This caused confusion among some voters in Calif where a new state law requires counties automatically send all active, registered voters a mail-in ballot, with prepaid postage.

See also:

●     A million mail-in ballots could go uncounted this fall. The USPS may not be to blame LA Times

Federal:

Trump spurns science on climate: ‘Don’t think science knows’

Bakersfield Califn

With the smell of Calif wildfires in the air, Pres. Donald Trump on Monday ignored the scientific consensus that climate change is playing a central role in historic West Coast infernos and renewed his unfounded claim that failure to rake forest floors and clear dead timber is mostly to blame.

See also:

●     ‘I Don’t Think Science Knows, Actually’: Trump Dismisses Climate Science In Calif Wildfire Discussion Forbes

‘Beyond negligent’: Census workers describe logistical nightmare as deadline approaches

NBC

The agency announced last month that it would end all of its counting efforts on Sept. 30, a month earlier than previously expected.

Trump Health Aide Pushes Bizarre Conspiracies and Warns of Armed Revolt

New York Times

Michael R. Caputo told a Facebook audience without evidence that left-wing hit squads were being trained for insurrection and accused C.D.C. scientists of “sedition.”

See also:

●     Top Trump health appointee Michael Caputo warns of armed insurrection after election Wash Post

Road ahead: CR decisions, judicial nominations and anti-discrimination legislation

Roll Call

The House returns to Wash this week, joining the Senate for a September legislative sprint in which the only law enacted before the election might be a stopgap bill to fund the government.

See also:

●     House Democrats worry last legislative message before election lacks COVID relief Roll Call

●     Pelosi Says House Should Remain in Session Until Coronavirus Stimulus Deal Reached WSJ

Opinion: The judges Trump won’t get to appoint this year

National Journal

While senators will in all likelihood confirm more than two dozen more federal judges before the end of the year, Pres. Trump will more likely than not end this term without filling every vacancy in the nation’s courts.

See also:

●     Progressives fret Feinstein won’t be tough enough in handling Biden judicial nominees LA Times

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

Elections 2020:

Fact check: On a viral list of 10 Trump accomplishments, 3 are true

USA Today

As Pres. Donald Trump is in the final stretch of his bid for reelection, some of his supporters are pointing to accomplishments the Pres. supposedly has achieved since he took office in 2017.

Millennials and seniors are spurning Trump. Here’s why middle-aged voters are sticking with him.

Fresno Bee

In poll after poll of the 2020 race, Trump receives his highest share of support from middle-aged men and women, an often overlooked demographic that is now playing a critical role in keeping the Pres.’s electoral hopes alive against Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

See also:

●     Trump Goes Unmentioned in Most TV Ads for House, Senate Campaigns WSJ

●     Opinion: I never considered voting for Trump in 2016. I may be forced to vote for him this year. Wash Post

Biden blasts Trump over climate, West Coast fires: ‘Another crisis he won’t take responsibility for’

abc30

Joe Biden said wildfires and hurricanes will become “more devastating” if Pres. Donald Trump wins a second term because he isn’t acting to address the climate crisis.

See Also:

●     Joe Biden delivers remarks on climate change and the Calif wildfires Fresno Bee

●     As Calif burns, Biden missing chance to focus on climate change SF Chronicle

●     As wildfires rage, Trump and Biden diverge on climate The Hill

●     Climate clash hits 2020 race as Calif burns Politico

●     Trump dismisses Newsom’s climate warning, Biden goes on attack over Calif fires SF Chronicle

●     Devastating wildfires out West inject climate change into the Pres.ial campaign Wash Post

●     EDITORIAL: Biden of the Climate Apocalypse WSJ

Biden Creates Legal War Room, Preparing for a Big Fight Over Voting

New York Times

With two former solicitors general and hundreds of lawyers, the Biden campaign is bracing for an extended legal battle and hoping to maintain trust in the electoral process.

●     Biden budget policies would grow deficits by $2 trillion, study says Roll Call

Vision 2020: Electoral College vs popular vote in America

Bakersfield Califn

This unique system of electing Pres.s is a big reason why Donald Trump won the Pres.idency in 2016. Four candidates in history have won a majority of the popular vote only to be denied the Pres.idency by the Electoral College.

Who respects military more — Trump or Biden? Here’s what Americans think, poll finds

Sacramento Bee

A majority of people think Democratic Pres.ial nominee Joe Biden has more respect for the military than Pres. Donald Trump, according to a new poll. Respondents to an ABC News/Ipsos poll were asked who has more respect for the military, with 61% saying Biden compared to 37% who said Trump. The poll was conducted between Sept. 11-12 with 533 adults with a margin of error of 4.7 percentage points.

See Also:

●     Pres. Trump and Joe Biden offer opposing visions of policing LA Times

Suburban blues: Where Democrats have gained most in Calif

CalMatters

Republicans are in rough shape in Calif, still trailing in third place behind not just Democrats but also those with no party. The GOP gained a bit on independents this summer, but primarily because more independents were re-registering as Dems.

See also:

●     Calif reaches historic voter registration milestone ahead of 2020 General Election abc10

Running an Election in a Pandemic, in 10 Steps

Pew Trusts

As election officials face unprecedented challenges and the Pres.ial election looms, many are turning to one another for solutions.

See also:

●     COVID-19’s summer surge into red America sets the stage for November’s election Brookings

●     Opinion: Is Your State at Risk of an Election Meltdown? New York Times

Brownstien: 2020 election: Why the stability of the race promises more volatility ahead

CNN
In a Pres.idency of unprecedented disruption and turmoil, Donald Trump’s support has remained remarkably stable. That stability, paradoxically, points toward years of rising turbulence in American politics and life.

Other:

Polls show trust in scientific, political institutions eroding

The Hill

Two new surveys show most Americans still trust leading scientists and institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but that those levels of trust are beginning to erode.

Violent memes and messages surging on far-left social media, a new report finds

Wash Post

Such images have increased, raising once again whether social media companies can keep up with threats on their platforms.

COVID-19 Is Crushing Newspapers, Worsening Hunger for Accurate Information

Pew Trusts

Newspapers have been closing at a rapid clip, buckling under the Pres.sure from changing news consumption habits, advertising shifts and many other factors, including consolidated corporate ownership.

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

Sunday, September 20, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: Countdown to the 2020 Census – Guests: Laura Hill with the Public Policy Institute of Calif., Taryn Luna with the Sacramento Bee, Dan Walters with CALmatters, SOS Padilla, Sarah Bohn- PPIC and John Myers, LA Times. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, September 20, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) –Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: “Census & Immigration: Distinctly Different Issues Intersect.” – Guests: SOS Padilla, Sarah Bohn- PPIC and John Myers, LA Times. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

World Ag Expo canceled, latest Valley event put off because of coronavirus pandemic

Merced Sun-Star

Organizers of the World Ag Expo, the largest farm technology and equipment show of its kind in the world, announced Monday that the 2021 event has been canceled because of the prospect of the novel coronavirus.

See Also:

●     2021 World Ag Expo cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns abc30

●     World Ag Expo canceled for first time in history Hanford Sentinel

●     World Ag Expo canceled Porterville Recorder

●     World Ag Expo for 2021 canceled due to COVID-19 Bakersfield Califn

Some Calif farmworkers haven’t had masks during wildfires. State investigating

Fresno Bee

The respirator masks are the most effective shield against toxic air for workers who have to remain outside as wildfires rip through the Golden State. But farmworker groups reported workers have virtually no masks, while the state and ag groups say they have distributed millions.

Women farmers from Stanislaus to Madera can join Zoom forums on water, other topics

Modesto Bee

A pair of online forums will give women farmers a chance to discuss water and other issues in the San Joaquin Valley. The American Farmland Trust is hosting the events on two Thursdays, Sept. 17 and 24, from 3 to 5 p.m.

Charities prepare for Covid-fueled food insecurity

Business Journal

The winter is usually the busiest time of year for charities. This year, however, has seen a major influx of new clients and people in need as Covid-19 devastated small businesses and led to furloughs and layoffs.

See also:

·       Thousands of meals prepared at CBCC distributed to homeless in Bakersfield Bakersfield Califn

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Skelton: How politics and police unions stopped bills to hold bad cops accountable

LA Times

It wasn’t good government. But it was probably good politics. A major police reform bill was quietly killed by the Assembly speaker without a house vote on the last night of the legislative session. He used an ages-old tactic aimed at sparing politically vulnerable lawmakers from casting a perilous vote.

Public Safety:

Local assemblyman plays key role in reclassifying public safety dispatchers as first responders

Bakersfield Califn

With the help of Assemblyman Rudy Salas, public safety dispatchers will be reclassified as first responders after Assembly Bill 1945 was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Violence-prevention program Advance Peace is coming to Fresno. Here’s how it got funded

Fresno Bee

The Calif Board of State and Community Corrections approved grant funding for the program through the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission. The Calif Violence Intervention and Prevention grant will be $900,000 in total over three years, or about $300,000 each year.

‘Insane’: At up to $2 million per youth, skyrocketing costs at juvenile halls renew push for closures

SF Chronicle

The coronavirus pandemic has emptied juvenile halls across the Bay Area, but spending on the facilities remains stubbornly high, spurring renewed debate over whether it’s time to shutter the jail-like facilities once and for all.

Opinion: Rethink crisis response

AEI

People who call 911 shouldn’t get an ill-trained police officer, especially when they’re dealing with a mental health emergency.

Fire:

BFD opposes merger prospects with KCFD; county continues to seek solutions

Bakersfield Califn

While the Kern County Fire Department wants to explore the possibility of a potential merger with the Bakersfield Fire Department, BFD’s Chief Anthony Galagaza said late last week that his department is “not entertaining” any merger or consolidation of the two departments.

Creek Fire: 212,744 acres burned with 10% containment, latest evacuations issued for Fresno, Madera, Mariposa counties

abc30

The Creek Fire was first sparked on Friday, September 4, and was 212,744 acres as of Monday morning with 10% containment. At least 431 structures have been damaged or destroyed, and more than 14,000 are threatened. Officials say 30,000 residents of Fresno County and 15,000 residents of Madera County have been evacuated.

See Also:

●     After 10 days, the Creek Fire ranks among the biggest in Calif wildfire history Fresno Bee

●     Creek Fire live updates: Some evacuations downgraded, allowing for returns; poor air quality Sierra Star

●     Creek Fire already 13th largest in Calif history. Concerns remain for wind forecast Fresno Bee

SQF Complex Fire: 90,845 acres burned, evacuation orders issued for Three Rivers area

abc30

The SQF Complex Fire is now threatening more structures and forcing more people from their homes. The Castle and Shotgun fires combined have now burned more than 90,000 acres and containment is at 12%.

See Also:

●     Three Rivers under mandatory evacuation due to the weeks-old Sequoia Complex Fire Fresno Bee

●     90,000-acre Sequoia Fire continues to move west. Three Rivers under mandatory evacuations Visalia Times Delta

●     Sequoia Complex Fire grows to 90,845 acres Porterville Recorder

●     Sequoia National Park in Calif closing due to spread of Castle Fire Fresno Bee

Latest: Over 4,200 structures destroyed by Calif fires

Bakersfield Califn

Thousands of firefighters are on the lines of more than two dozen major Calif wildfires that have scorched 5,000 square miles (12,950 square kilometers). The known death toll Monday stands at 24 and more than 4,200 structures have been destroyed.

Easing fires not as simple as climate change vs. forest work

Bakersfield Califn

Deadly West Coast wildfires are dividing Pres. Donald Trump and the states’ Democratic leaders over how to prevent blazes from becoming more frequent and destructive, but scientists and others on the front lines say it’s not as simple as blaming either climate change or the way land is managed.

See also:

●     Is climate change worsening Calif fires, or is it poor forest management? Both, experts say SF Chronicle

●     EDITORIAL: Calif’s Disastrous Forest Mismanagement National Review

More than 3.2 million acres have burned across Calif this year; death toll reaches at least 24

LA Times

As the death toll in Calif’s wildfires swelled to 24, authorities continued to search for a number of people still missing and firefighters toiled to keep multiple blazes from reaching populated communities ahead of an expected uptick in winds.

See also:

●     As Wildfires Grow More Intense, Iconic Western Forests May Not Come Back VPR

For Prisoners in the West, the Virus and the Wildfires Are Colliding Threats

New York Times

Prisoners are more vulnerable than ever to the twin crises of the pandemic and a historic wildfire season.

New Calif law to make it easier for former inmate firefighters to turn pro

NBC

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new bill Friday that will accelerate the process for expunging the felony records of formerly incarcerated volunteer firefighters.

ECONOMY/JOBS

Economy:

Local chambers, nonprofits to collaborate

Hanford Sentinel

The creation of a Kings County Task Force for Economic Recovery was announced Friday, which will bring together resources from various local chambers of commerce and nonprofit organizations to help local businesses.

Wildfires during pandemic intensify economic pain in West

Bakersfield Califn

The fires consuming the forests of Calif and Oregon and darkening the skies over SF and Portland are also damaging a regional economy already singed by the coronavirus outbreak. Wildfires are destroying property, running up huge losses for property insurers and putting a strain on economic activity along the West Coast that could linger for a year or more.

By temporarily closing gates to Wall Street Alley, restaurants aim to open up outdoor dining

Bakersfield Califn

As fall fast approaches and temperatures begin to moderate, restaurants in downtown Bakersfield are exploring new ideas and opportunities for outdoor dining. And things are moving fast. “COVID is forcing us to be more creative,” said Shawna Haddad, owner of Two Goats & the Goose, a restaurant in Wall Street Alley.

Seeking help for downtown restaurants, Modesto business leaders want some streets closed

Modesto Bee

Business leaders are calling on the mayor and city to provide updated guidance to help expand outdoor dining in downtown Modesto, citing crowded downtown streets and the ongoing economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

See Also:

●     EDITORIAL: Stop stalling, Modesto — help downtown restaurants survive COVID-19 Modesto Bee

Wall Street posts solid gains after surge in corporate deals

LA Times

Wall Street kicked off the week with a broad rally Monday, clawing back much of the stock market’s losses from last week. The Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 1.3%, led by gains in technology, healthcare and financial stocks. Small company stocks were among the biggest gainers. The rally reversed a big slice of the index’s 2.5% slide last week, when the S&P 500 posted its biggest weekly decline since June. Treasury yields were mostly higher.

The coronavirus will impact city government long after the pandemic is over

Public CEO

John A. Russo, founder of Synchronicity Associates, analyzes how the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed how public agencies should operate.

Jobs:

Calif’s extra $300 unemployment payments are ending. Will they ever return?

Fresno Bee

That $300 a week extra unemployment money jobless Califns are getting? The five weeks you’re being paid for are now over. And while you may get another week sometime soon, there’s little hope for any more $300 weekly benefits beyond that.

See also:

·       Commentary: Congress’ Failure to Extend UI is an Economic Attack on Workers & Families, Particularly Black & Brown Californians. Here’s How We Know Medium

A $1.1 billion project will mean thousands of jobs in Sacramento. Will renters be displaced?

Sacramento Bee

In the two and a half years since UC Davis announced the Aggie Square “technology and innovation campus,” anxiety has been growing that it will displace longtime low- and middle-income families in the surrounding neighborhoods of Oak Park and Tahoe Park.

Bill’s defeat keeps undocumented garment workers in meager wages

CalMatters

SB 1399 sought to change how workers are paid in the underground LA garment industry. But this legislative cycle it failed in the face of strong business opposition.

CalMatters investigation, COVID cases spur bill requiring employers disclose workplace outbreaks

CalMatters

A bill on the Gov.’s desk would require employers to notify workers and county public health officials about coronavirus outbreaks. A joint investigation by CalMatters and The Salinas Califn uncovered reports of guest worker outbreaks where neither workers nor counties were notified.

Opinion: The labor market doesn’t have a ‘skills gap’—it has an opportunity gap

Brookings

The country had 11.5 million fewer jobs this August than in February, but, paradoxically, many business leaders continue to center the problem with labor markets on “unqualified” individuals without the right skills.

EDUCATION

K-12:

COVID-19 update: Zion Lutheran can open for grades K-2

Porterville Recorder

Tulare County Health officials had said it could be November before Tulare County could move into the next least restrictive category as far as the state’s COVID-19 standards are concerned. But based on the continued data, there’s hope Tulare County can move into the next least restrictive category sooner than that.

Some Stanislaus Co students will be returning to campus after waiver approvals

Modesto Bee

Eight private schools received approval Monday from Stanislaus County Public Health Services Agency to reopen in-person education for children in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade. Two other private schools and two public districts — the nearly 2,600-student (in TK-6) Oakdale Joint Unified and the 140-student Knights Ferry Elementary — have submitted waiver applications still under consideration.

See Also:

●     More private schools in Stanislaus County welcome children back to in-person learning Modesto Bee

●     Temperature checks. Spread out desks. How the first day went in a reopened Sacramento school Sacramento Bee

●     More Sacramento County schools receive waivers to return to campus instruction Sacramento Bee

●     State says schools can offer small learning pods. What Stanislaus districts are doing Modesto Bee

What’s it like to teach students during distance learning? Fresno teachers share stories

Fresno Bee

Being an educator during the coronavirus pandemic has drastically changed the day-to-day work, flexibility, and the required skills for teachers.

Opinion: Bad teaching is tearing America apart

AEI
Education’s dumbing down frays the bonds of citizenship and is hardest on the poor, says E.D. Hirsch, the man who wrote the book on cultural literacy.

Higher Ed:

U.S. News ranks Fresno State in top 3 for graduation-rate performance 5 years in a row

Fresno State News

For the fifth consecutive year, Fresno State is ranked among the top three of the nation’s best public universities for graduation-rate performance in U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 Best College rankings issued today.

There’s a $2.4M catch for Fresno community colleges if employees get new health insurance

Fresno Bee

State Center Community College District employees say they want out of their health insurance cooperative, which they say saddles them with expensive premiums and spotty coverage. But the college district can’t walk away from the cooperative without risking losing repayment on a nearly-$3 million loan they gave the EdCare cooperative last year.

BC receives $3M to enhance health education, provide relief to Kern

Bakersfield Califn

Bakersfield College was awarded $3 million in Title V funding designed to address disparities in quality health care access throughout Kern County, according to a news release from the school on Monday.

Stanislaus State plans for virtual classes in spring 2021 because of coronavirus

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus State students will continue learning primarily online for the spring semester, officials announced Thursday, keeping in line with the Calif State University system’s safety plans during the coronavirus pandemic.

Increasing Community College Transfers: Progress and Barriers

Public Policy Institute of Calif

Community college transfers are an essential route for underrePres.ented groups to achieve a bachelor’s degree. This study shows that students who reach key early milestones are much more likely to succeed.

Opinion: The realistic ‘free college’ plan Biden should be proposing

AEI

Why not expand the American Opportunity Tax Credit to what Obama and Biden originally proposed instead of pursuing a new free college program?

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

Environment:

Air quality unhealthy for all today as Valley wakes up to more smoky skies

abc30

The Central Valley woke up to thick, smoky skies on Monday morning as wildfires continue to rage in Calif. Smoke from the Creek Fire in Fresno and Madera counties and the SQF Complex Fire in Tulare County pushed in on Sunday and settled into the Valley floor overnight.

See Also:

●     Fresno area ‘surrounded by fires.’ Residents warned to stay inside from record-bad air Fresno Bee

●     Calif wildfires are causing unhealthy air. Here’s what you can do to stay well Modesto Bee

●     Haze for days. Temperatures in Modesto are improving, but the air quality isn’t Modesto Bee

●     Will smoke clear from the Sacramento area soon? Wind complicates air quality outlook Sacramento Bee

●     Stay home!’ air officials warn in response to ‘unprecedented’ fire season, dangerous smoke Bakersfield Califn

●     Your questions about air quality answered LA Times

●     How to read and understand air quality numbers and maps LA Times

●     Your questions about air quality answered LA Times

If Calif won’t enact a plastic waste overhaul, will anyone?

Politico

The plastic waste revolution died in the Calif Legislature this year. Most plastics, including cups, clamshell containers and coffee pods, aren’t accepted by most recycling facilities due to the high cost of processing. As a result, the vast majority of Calif’s — and the nation’s — plastic waste is put into landfills or burned.

Two major Antarctic glaciers are tearing loose from their restraints, scientists say

Wash Post

Two Antarctic glaciers that have long kept scientists awake at night are breaking free from the restraints that have hemmed them in, increasing the threat of large-scale sea-level rise.

Energy:

PG&E error at power plant may help explain Calif’s rolling blackouts

SF Chronicle

A mistake by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. may have played a role on one of the two days that Calif experienced rolling blackouts during an extreme heat wave last month. On Aug. 15, one day after an energy supply shortage caused Calif’s first rolling blackouts in 19 years, PG&E erroneously directed a 400-megawatt power plant in Fresno County to scale back.

Trump Administration Denies Refiners’ Retroactive Biofuel Exemptions in Boost for Iowa

WSJ

The Trump administration will deny oil refiners’ retroactive requests for exemptions from U.S. biofuel laws, a major boon for Iowa, the leading producer of biofuels and a crucial state that could help determine which party wins the Pres.idency and control of the Senate.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Locals sought for COVID-19 drug trial

Bakersfield Califn

People in Kern County diagnosed with COVID-19 who are managing the illness at home can participate in a clinical trial to test the efficacy of a common anti-inflammatory drug in reducing hospitalizations and death from the coronavirus.

In Bakersfield, U.S. Surgeon General says country has made it ‘over the hump’ of COVID-19 pandemic

Bakersfield Califn

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams visited Bakersfield on Monday, urging residents to keep hope alive during what he portrayed as the final stretches of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kern County confirms 115 new COVID-19 cases Monday morning

Bakersfield Califn

The Kern County Public Health Services Department announced 115 new COVID-19 cases Monday morning. Kern’s total virus case count is now at 30,860 since the first was announced locally six months ago. There have been 332 virus-related deaths during that time in Kern.

●     Coronavirus update: Stanislaus County sees glimmer of light in latest data Modesto Bee

●     City of Sacramento records 200th death from coronavirus, as hospital numbers improve Sacramento Bee

●     Califns are testing positive for COVID-19 at the lowest rate on record LA Times

Smell wildfire smoke in your home? Here’s a cheap and simple hack to clean indoor air

Fresno Bee

Air quality in Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley is particularly awful right now. As of Monday morning, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is recording particulate levels are higher than Level 5, which means all outdoor activity should be avoided.

Health officials say it’s especially important to get a flu shot this year. Here’s why

Modesto Bee

Health officials do not know what to expect with the upcoming flu season and the continued circulation of the novel coronavirus, but they’re on edge. A huge influx of patients with seasonal influenza could further burden an already strained health care system due to COVID-19.

See Also:

●     Do your part to stop the spread of flu at home Modesto Bee

●     Preparing for the Worst, Health Agencies Mount Unprecedented Flu Shot Drives Pew Trusts

Human Services:

Volunteers push to make 40,000 COVID-19 kits for Modesto area Latino community

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County is hoping to make 40,000 COVID-19 kits for Modesto area Latino community by the end of the weekend.

See Also:

●     Want to help stop COVID-19 in Stanislaus County? Start by signing up to make these kits Modesto Bee

Vaccine maker got $1 billion from taxpayers. Now it’s boosting drug prices

LA Times

One of the world’s largest drug companies has been aggressively raising prices even as it received hundreds of millions of dollars of U.S. government aid to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.

See also:

●     Army Marshals Resources To Aid In Race For Coronavirus Vaccine VPR

●     Opinion: Americans’ poor health paved the way for COVID-19 deaths AEI

●     Coronavirus Deals Setback to Global Vaccination Programs, Gates Report Finds WSJ

IMMIGRATION

Appeals court says Trump can deport hundreds of thousands of immigrants; challenge certain

LA Times

A federal appeals court decided 2-1 Monday that the Trump administration may deport hundreds of thousands of immigrants who previously received temporary protected status for humanitarian reasons.

See Also:

●     Federal court says Trump may deport 300,000 immigrants with Temporary Protected Status SF Chronicle

●     Trump Administration Can End Humanitarian Protection for Some Immigrants, Appeals Court Rules WSJ

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

SQF Complex Fire to partially close Sequoia National Park. Here’s more of what we know now.

Visalia Times Delta

As the Sequoia (SQF) Complex Fire grows and threatens Three Rivers, the Sequoia National Park will partially close, officials announced Sunday night. Generals Highway from Highway 198 in Three Rivers to the Giant Forest Museum will close starting at 6 a.m. Monday, park officials said.

Housing:

Hundreds more residents displaced by Creek Fire could need emergency shelter soon

Fresno Bee

Disaster relief workers are preparing for a new wave of people needing emergency shelter as a result of the Creek Fire and the Sequoia Complex Fire, as thousands of displaced people may be running out of resources.

Despite A New Federal Ban, Many Renters Are Still Getting Evicted

VPR
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a new eviction moratorium. The ban is nationwide — but it’s not automatic. And many renters facing eviction still don’t know about the ban or understand the rules or their rights.

See also:

●     Last chance to avoid evicting renters CalMatters

EDITORIAL: Vote no on Prop. 21, a rent control retread unimproved by age

SF Chronicle

The case for rent control, overwhelmingly rejected by experts and refuted by research, might have seemed unlikely to grow weaker. And yet it has.

PUBLIC FINANCES

Analysis: Top Income Brackets to Shoulder Bulk of Tax Hikes Under Biden Economic Plan

U.S. News

Joe Biden’s Economic Plan Would Impose Higher Taxes On Top Earners And Corporations To Pay For Investments In Education, Infrastructure And Other Domestic Programs, According To A New Analysis.

COVID-19 Ends Decade of State Tax Revenue Growth

PEW

Our new analysis of pre-pandemic finances shows that tax revenue in all but six states had fully recovered from the Great Recession by the end of 2019 (adjusted for inflation).

TRANSPORTATION

Price: As US public transit agencies innovate, motivated by pandemic, GET remains ‘in limbo’

Bakersfield Califn

On the other, bus system management must figure out how to maintain that fleet without yet knowing precisely where, when or how it may start dispensing the juice to make those GET buses go.

Your diesel Mercedes-Benz might be illegally polluting. How carmaker is paying for cheating

Fresno Bee

In another major scandal involving Calif and nationwide air-pollution standards, Mercedes-Benz and its German parent have been fined $1.5 billion for equipping their diesel cars with illegal software.

WATER

Zone 7 Rolls Out Ozonation Water Treatment Process

Calif Water News Daily

Zone 7 Water Agency announced that it has substantially completed the Ozonation Project at the Del Valle Water Treatment Plant and the system is now online. This is the latest investment by Zone 7 to make the treatment process more efficient and improve water quality to better serve the community.

Commentary: New Approach Needed to Protect Health of Calif’s Rivers

Public Policy Institute of Calif

Dams, diversions, and land conversion have substantially altered Calif’s rivers and disrupted the processes that sustain ecosystem health. The result is a crisis for native fish and wildlife and the loss of many benefits we derive from river ecosystems.

Strained Rural Water Utilities Buckle Under Pandemic Pres.sure

Pew Trusts

Rural water and wastewater systems have largely been left out of federal and state pandemic relief, and yet they play critical roles in local economies. As the virus stretches further into smaller communities, these systems are fighting for their survival under long-standing economic and structural weights.

“Xtra”

Wings ‘N’ Wheels event at Minter Field Air Museum canceled in midst of pandemic

Bakersfield Califn

Minter Field Air Museum announced Monday that this year’s Wings ‘N’ Wheels exhibit, scheduled for Nov. 14, has been canceled because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. In a post on its Facebook page, the Shafter museum said the event is its biggest fundraiser of the year. With that in mind, the museum asked the “public, friends and neighbors” to help with a donation, if possible.

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The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute was established to honor the legacy of one of Calif’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.

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