September 19, 2019

19Sep

POLICY & POLITICS


North SJ Valley:


Nurses to hold strike at Modesto, Turlock hospitals, citing patient safety issues

Modesto Bee

A one-day strike involving registered nurses at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto and Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock is scheduled for Friday. The walkout will affect hospitals in California, Arizona and Florida owned by Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp. About 5,400 registered nurses work at those facilities.


Modesto gathering against hate offers ‘candid and courageous conversations’

Modesto Bee

A town hall in west Modesto aired concerns about hate while celebrating the contributions of diverse people.


$1 billion and climbing: new milestone for California government’s delayed tech program

Merced Sun-Star

The budget for California state government’s long-developing accounting program has surpassed $1 billion, and more spending will be required before all state departments are using it, according to program updates.


Central SJ Valley:


Selma City Council Split Between Two District Maps: 'Are They Fair To The Community?'

KVPR
At Monday night’s regular meeting, the council cast votes on a map created by the company it hired, the National Demographics Corporation (or NDC), and a map drawn by a community member. The vote was split because Council Member Jim Avalos abstained.


South SJ Valley:


Lemoore City Council approves new purchase, announces upcoming open forums

Hanford Sentinel

The Lemoore City Council met Tuesday night and approved all consent calendar items, including a new city purchase and territory annexation. 


After termination, Justin Fleeman files second claim against county

Bakersfield Californian

Former Kern County Sheriff Chief Deputy Justin Fleeman has filed a second claim against the county, this time alleging wrongful termination following his unsuccessful run for sheriff. This claim, which is a required precursor to a lawsuit, expands on another claim filed in​​ March in which Fleeman alleged the Sheriff’s Office defamed him and invaded his privacy in retaliation for his campaign.


No truce: Trump keeps up feud with California during visit

Bakersfield Californian

President Donald Trump remains on a war footing. With California. Trump's primary mission during his two-day visit to the state was to raise millions from wealthy Republicans. But he also made a point of deriding the state's handling of its homeless crisis, and on Wednesday, he issued a long-expected challenge to California's authority to reduce car emissions.


Jeremy Staat says he's running for Congress — in an eastern California district

Bakersfield Californian

Jeremy Staat, a former Bakersfield High and Bakersfield College standout athlete who went on to play four seasons in the NFL, is running for Congress, his campaign representative confirmed Wednesday.


State:


New California law will redefine who is an employee. What does it mean for you?

Fresno Bee

California lawmakers this week approved the most high-profile labor bill this year: AB 5. It would force employers to treat more workers as employees. Here’s a look at what the bill will do.

See also:


Emails blurred the line between politics and policy in California insurance department

Sacramento Bee

When an industry executive reached out on May 1 to California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s department staff, he emailed with two meeting requests: a “formal policy discussion” and a “political meeting.”


Skelton: The jury’s still out on Newsom as governor — but he did OK his first year

Los Angeles Times

One question invariably asked over lunch around the state Capitol is: “How do you think Newsom is doing?” And the answer almost always is: “The jury’s still out.” When pressed, the consensus seems to be: “He’s doing OK, but not great.”


Three bills that flunk smell test

CALmatters

This is the story of three bills that, while superficially distinct, reflect the expansive tenor of the Legislature’s Democratic majority — a belief that making government larger and/or more intrusive is beneficial. However, all three flunk the smell test, and two of them fell by the wayside before the Legislature adjourned last week.


Federal:


Trump names hostage envoy O’Brien national security adviser

Fresno Bee

President Donald Trump on Wednesday named Robert O'Brien, his chief hostage negotiator and an established figure in Republican policy circles, as his new national security adviser.

See also:


Saudis say Iran 'sponsored' attack on oil facilities, Pompeo calls it an 'act of war'

abc30

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he was ordering his Treasury secretary to increase sanctions on Iran following the attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities.

See also:


Tech execs tell lawmakers they’re acting faster on extremist content

Los Angeles Times

Facebook, Google and Twitter executives told members of Congress on Wednesday that they’ve gotten better and faster at detecting and removing violent extremist content on their social media platforms in the face of hatred-fueled mass shootings.


The Trump DOJ has taken an unexpected and unworkable position on the ACA

Brookings

Since Bill Barr became Attorney General in February of this year, the Department of Justice’s behavior in Texas v. U.S. – the current lawsuit challenging the ACA – has been unpredictable and inconsistent. 


Trump’s war with California moves to new level

Politico

Donald Trump wants to put the most influential state in the nation in its place. By threatening to yank California’s prized authority to set auto-emissions standards and to​​ intervene so that homelessness does not “destroy” Los Angeles and San Francisco, Trump this week turned up the dial on an epic power struggle with an iconically blue state where he is wildly unpopular — and which represents the fifth-largest economy in the world.


OPINION: Packing the Court Is a Real Threat

Wall Street Journal

Democrats are threatening to pack the Supreme Court by enacting legislation to expand its size if they take the White House and Senate in 2020. That would instantly replace a 5-4 conservative majority with a left-leaning one that would be irreversible unless Republicans win control of the government and expand it even further.


OPINION: Powell Walks the Line

Wall Street Journal

This is a confusing moment for monetary policy, and apparently that extends to the voting members of the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee. On Wednesday they voted 7-3 to cut interest rates by another 25 basis points to a target fed-funds rate of between 1.75% and 2%.

See Also:


OPINION: U.S. Largess vs. Canadian Cruelty

Wall Street Journal

Canada doesn’t always live up to its reputation as kinder and gentler than the U.S. Consider the victims of Hurricane Dorian, which pulverized eastern North Carolina as well as the provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.


Elections 2020:


Bernie Sanders’ ‘housing for all’ plan aims to add millions of homes — and a rent cap 

Los Angeles Times

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders proposed a $2.5-trillion housing plan on Wednesday that aims to end homelessness in the U.S. and enact a national cap on rent hikes. 

See also:


KQED Poll: Harris Slips in California, as Warren, Sanders and Biden Lead the Pack

KQED

California Sen. Kamala Harris has slipped to fourth place among likely Democratic voters in her home state, according to a new poll commissioned by KQED — the first survey of likely California primary voters taken since last week's Democratic presidential debate.

See Also:


States try to combat election interference as Washington deadlocks

Los Angeles Times

With the White House and Congress paralyzed over how — or even whether — to act on intelligence agency​​ warnings​​ about foreign interference in U.S. elections, Maryland opted to take matters into its own hands.


Voters With Disabilities Feel Left Behind by Paper Ballot Push

PEW Trust

Here’s how voting should work for blind voters like Ruth Sager: She walks into her polling place in Pikesville, Maryland, tells poll workers she wants to vote on an electronic voting machine instead of a paper ballot, and is handed a card she can place in the machine to begin voting.


Bashful base: Pollsters say Trump closer to Dems than early 2020 surveys suggest

Roll Call

Professional pollsters say President Donald Trump and senior White House officials are rightly confident heading into his reelection bid because early 2020 surveys are likely flawed.


‘The lines keep getting longer’: Crowd size takes center stage in 2020 race as Warren event rivals Trump

Washington Post

The battle began on the first full day of Donald Trump’s presidency, when the newly elected president instructed his minions to publicly exaggerate the size of his inauguration crowds.


For mayors, politics isn't a blood sport: Why we need Pete Buttigieg in the White House

USA Today

South Bend is a quintessential American city, with big challenges and ever bigger opportunities. It remains close-knit — people stop Pete on the street, give him ideas and feedback, and hold him accountable for everything from potholes to racial justice.

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Other:


Controversial author slams coverage of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Clovis speech

Fresno Bee

Alison Weir, an author and vocal critic of Israel-United States relations, spoke without interruption for nearly two hours Wednesday night in an event that filled a forum hall at Clovis Community College. 


Central California SPCA to focus on vet services

abc30

The Central California SPCA is moving in a different direction. It won't be renewing its contract with the city of Fresno when it expires next year but the non-profit shared its expansion plans. Instead of picking up strays, the SPCA plans to increase vet services.


YNP Hosts Citizenship Ceremony to Mark Constitution Week

Sierra News

Forty-two people from 15 countries will take the Oath of Allegiance Thursday, becoming American citizens in one of America’s most spectacular settings.


FCC approves $6.4 billion acquisition of Tribune Media, including local Fox 40

Modesto Bee

The Federal Communications Commission has approved Nexstar Media Group Inc.’s $6.4 billion purchase of Tribune Media Company, which includes Sacramento-area station Fox 40.


Loathing Can’t Unite the Country

Wall Street Journal

There is a tension visible in virtually every Democratic presidential contender’s campaign. At last Thursday’s debate in Houston, candidates offered hopeful, optimistic appeals for national unity—along with ferocious attacks on President Trump. 


You watch TV. Your TV watches back.

Washington Post

Wrapped in a Snuggie, I like to binge on reruns of “The Golden Girls” all by myself. Except I’m not really alone. Once every few minutes, my TV beams out a report about what’s on my screen to Samsung, the company that made it. Chances are, your TV is watching you, too, through a few nosy pixels on the screen.


Don't be duped by bogus audit of charitable groups

PolitiFact

With the call out for donations to help Bahamians recover from Hurricane Dorian’s devastating hit, an old graphic​​ showed up on Facebook​​ again. It’s a table that purports to show the charities that are "the good guys," and those that play people for suckers, paying lavish salaries to their CEOs and spending a puny percentage to actually help people.


AGRICULTURE/FOOD


Fresno State recalls butter for potential bacteria contamination

Fresno Bee

Butter produced by the Fresno State Creamery and sold mostly through the university’s Gibson Farm Market is being voluntarily recalled because of possible contamination of a bacteria called listeria monocytogenes.


Fresno County's ag superiority over Kern might need an asterisk

Bakersfield Californian

As news settled in Wednesday that Kern had apparently lost its title as the nation's top-grossing agricultural producer, people whose jobs it is to track these things sifted through the official reports to figure out what had changed, and specifically, why Fresno County had suddenly broken Kern's two-year winning streak.


Marijuana banking bill might have easier time passing Senate with these new hemp rules

Sacramento Bee

Measures making it easier for hemp growers to sell their product may be tucked into legislation that would allow banks to conduct business with state-approved marijuana growers and retailers — giving the pot industry a potential boost with a skeptical Senate.


California Says Nearly All Cannabis Businesses Will Be In Statewide Tracking System By End Of October

Capital Public Radio

In May, less than 10 percent of licensed cannabis businesses were enrolled in the system known as track-and-trace.


CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY


Crime:


Using the Internet for grooming teens for sex trafficking

Sacramento Bee

Why is the Internet a favorite place for creeps to lure kids into their clutches? Because that’s where the kids are — often unsupervised.


Lawmakers Hear Emotional Stories From 'Forgotten Crisis' Of Military Domestic Violence

Capital Public Radio

Three women told a House Armed Services subcommittee that their complaints of physical abuse ultimately went ignored by commanding officers.


Executions are the public’s business, and they shouldn’t be done in the shadows

Los Angeles Times

As opposition to the death penalty has grown in recent years, some execution states (including California under​​ Proposition 66) have gone to great lengths to protect their sordid practice in part by trying to hide exactly what it is they are doing.


Public Safety:


After termination, Justin Fleeman files second claim against county

Bakersfield Californian

Former Kern County Sheriff Chief Deputy Justin Fleeman has filed a second claim against the county, this time alleging wrongful termination following his unsuccessful run for sheriff.


Gun laws may not be changing, but the gun debate certainly is

Roll Call

That almost nothing has changed in federal gun policy since Newtown or Parkland or any mass shooting before or after belies the enormous transformation underway in the lobbying and political landscapes of the issue.

See Also:


Fire: 


Hundreds Of Cameras Will Be Watching For Wildfires In California, Nevada This Fire Season

Capital Public Radio

The project, started by the University of Nevada, Reno, will have more than 300 cameras available for officials and the public to track possible wildfires.


The biggest wildfires currently burning in California 

Los Angeles Times

California has seen 157,160 acres burn in wildfires this year, according to Cal Fire data, which includes wildfires 10 acres or larger. That’s ​​ a fraction of how many acres​​ had burned by this time last year.


ECONOMY / JOBS


Economy:


Fed cuts interest rates, here's what that means for you

abc30

An economist breaks down what the Fed's rate cut today could mean for your mortgage, car payment, savings and more.


California Knifes The Gig Economy

Defining Ideas

California state legislators embarked last week on the single most important regulatory misadventure this country has seen in many decades, seeking to redefine the obscure but critical legal distinction between an employee and an independent contractor. 


VIDEO: California’s economic initiative Regions Rise Together lifts off in San Bernardino

CA FWD

More than a hundred people gathered in San Bernardino to highlight the assets and challenges of the Inland Empire region recently at the first​​ Regions Rise Together strategy session. We captured some of the voices there in our latest video, covering the first in a series of events held across the state, beginning this year in inland regions of California.

See Also:


2019 California Economic Summit Registration Opens

CAFWD

Registration has opened for the​​ 2019 California Economic Summit, which will take place in Fresno on November 7-8. The Summit, produced by​​ California Forward, marks the eighth annual gathering of private, public and civic leaders from across California’s diverse regions committed to creating a shared economic agenda to expand prosperity for all.


Jobs:


New California law will redefine who is an employee. What does it mean for you?

Fresno Bee

California lawmakers this week approved the most high-profile labor bill this year: AB 5. It would force employers to treat more workers as employees. Here’s a look at what the bill will do.

See also:


Nurses to hold strike at Modesto, Turlock hospitals, citing patient safety issues

Modesto Bee

A one-day strike involving registered nurses at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto and Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock is scheduled for Friday. The walkout will affect hospitals in California, Arizona and Florida owned by Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp. About 5,400 registered nurses work at those facilities.


What California’s Pay for Play Bill could look like if it becomes law

Los Angeles Daily News

The conversation about whether collegiate athletes should be compensated beyond just a base scholarship and room and board went from hypothetical to the verge of reality last week.


Highlighting UAW ties, Cory Booker unveils labor plan as GM workers strike

Roll Call

As a General Motors strike continues for a third day, presidential hopeful Sen.​​ Cory Booker​​ is rolling out his labor policy plan. As part of the unveiling, the Democrat from New Jersey is embracing his family’s history with organized labor, and in particular, the United Auto Workers.


California Arbitration Roundup: Employers Are 3-1 For Favorable Arbitration Rulings

National Law Review

California employers received mostly good news this past month on the arbitration front, with a trio of pro-employer arbitration-related rulings.  The California Supreme Court’s recent ruling invalidating an employer’s arbitration agreement (discussed below) is a notable exception.


Purdue Pharma, facing thousands of lawsuits and bankruptcy, wants to pay ‘certain employees’ $34 million in bonuses

Washington Post

Officials at troubled drugmaker Purdue Pharma say “certain employees” should be paid more than $34 million in bonuses for meeting and exceeding goals over the last three years, even though the company is facing thousands of lawsuits over its role in the nation’s opioid crisis and earlier this week filed for bankruptcy.


Supreme Court Denies Plaintiffs the Ability to Seek Recovery of Unpaid Wages Under PAGA

AALRR
On September 12, 2019, the California Supreme Court decided in a unanimous decision that in a Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) action seeking to recover penalties under California Labor Code Section 558, a plaintiff may recover civil penalties but may not recover actual unpaid wages.


EDUCATION


K-12:


Slatic doesn’t care about censure as Fresno school board looks to beef up bylaws

Fresno Bee

Fresno Unified trustees on Wednesday night discussed adopting two new bylaws that would set the way censures are handled.


Fresno Bee is expanding its news coverage with the Education Lab. What this means for you

Fresno Bee

Education unlocks doors to careers and livelihoods. And it’s the key pathway to economic mobility. We know this. Our community knows this.

See Also:


Oval Park could become Visalia’s newest preschool

Visalia Times Delta

Long considered a hot spot for drugs and crime, Lincoln Oval Park could soon become Visalia's newest pre-school site. That's the vision of Tulare County Superintendent Tim Hire, who has applied for a $4 million federal grant to transform the dilapidated park into a new Head Start center.

See Also:


Tachi Palace community breakfast raises money for Central Union School District

Hanford Sentinel

Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino recently hosted its monthly community breakfast and presented a check for $6,430 to the Central Union School District (CUSD), which includes four schools in and around Lemoore.


New safety protocol being implemented in Kern County school districts

Bakersfield Californian

A school shooting is a scenario no one wants to think of — let alone experience — but it's clear there is no hiding from the possibility anymore. 


Californians Favor Funds for School Construction

PPIC
With little time to spare, the legislature last week passed a $15 billion school construction bond. A signature from Governor Newsom will place the bond measure—called the Public Preschool, K–12, and College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2020—on the March 2020 primary ballot. Given Californians’ general support for funding education, how do they feel about bond measures for school construction projects?


‘Do something’: Active shooter classes teach how to face down a gunman 

Los Angeles Times

The gunman paced the hallways of the charter school, passing framed paintings of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson before stopping outside classroom 138. There, he took a deep breath, yanked open the door and began firing. “Shooter!” shouted someone inside the classroom. “He has a gun!”


Higher Ed:


‘The Valley has created a road map.’ Education summit offers views on access, affordability

Fresno Bee

Presented by The Fresno Bee as part of​​ the Influencer series, the two-hour event was a deep dive into issues critical to education in the region. Along with the chancellor, several community and educational leaders took part in a pair of panels discussions focusing on both higher learning and early childhood education.


CSUB ratifies 2019-2024 Strategic Plan focused on student success

Bakersfield Californian

Cal State Bakersfield President Lynnette Zelezny unveiled the university's​​ 2019-2024 Strategic Plan​​ Wednesday with five goals focused on strengthening student success, developing new programs and addressing regional needs. 


UC President Janet Napolitano To Step Down Next August

Capital Public Radio

The former US Secretary of Homeland Security and Democratic Governor of Arizona said her decision was not for medical reasons.

See also:


Connecting Education to the Workforce

EdNote

Researchers project​​ that 85% of the jobs that will comprise the workforce in 2030 don’t currently exist today. Developing a workforce that will not only thrive in this unknown, but also have access to the education and training that align with those needs, is top of mind for policymakers, economists and workers themselves.


The Fabulous Fable Of Fabiola’s Scholarship Fund

Zocalo Public Square

This spring—as federal prosecutors announced a major college admissions scandal that had ensnared wealthy movie stars and prominent Californians, who paid millions in bribes to get their kids into elite universities—a poor kid from a poor California town faced her own dilemma about money and universities: How could she use her own meager bank account to help others go to college?


Apprenticeships:

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ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY


Environment:


Newsom on emissions waiver: Gives history, calls out GOP, quotes Pericles

Fresno Bee

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Governor Gavin Newsom responds the Trump Administration move to rescind California’s waiver to set tailpipe emissions.

See also:


Federal Government Approves Release Of Non-Native Weevil In California To Combat Invasive Thistle

Capital Public Radio

Federal officials have approved turning loose a non-native insect to feed on an invasive thistle that sprouts in everything from rangelands to vineyards to wilderness areas, mainly in the U.S. West.


California trumpets its climate leadership. But wildfires and flying could stymie its goals

San Francisco Chronicle

California prides itself on having steadily lowered its greenhouse gas emissions over the past decade, surpassing a major goal for 2020 years early. But the reality behind that progress is more complicated.


Youth climate activists on climate change: Listen to the scientists

Roll Call

A panel of four youth climate activists appeared before a joint hearing on climate leadership Wednesday, urging members to take action on climate change.


California looks for ways to preserve environmental clout

Associated Press

In eliminating California’s authority to set its own emission standards for cars and trucks, the Trump administration would take away leverage the state needs to convince the world’s largest automakers to make more environmentally friendly vehicles.


EDITORIAL: Gavin Newsom just decided to carry Trump’s water by vetoing an endangered species bill

Los Angeles Times

On the eve of President Trump’s visit to California this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his intention to veto a bill that would have protected the state’s iconic migratory salmon and many other endangered species from the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks.


OPINION: By writing off climate change, are Republicans writing off young voters?

Roll Call

It makes sense that young people, who will have to live with the consequences of decisions made by their elders, are becoming increasingly passionate about climate change and global warming. 


Energy:

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HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES


Health:


List of places to get free flu shots in Central Valley

abc30

You can start preparing for this year's flu season by getting a free flu vaccination at walk-up clinics across the Valley. The Fresno County Department of Public Health will hold free flu shot clinics throughout the season at several locations across the county.


Tulare County Vaping Death Is Second In The State

VPR

A Tulare County resident is the second person to die in California from a vaping-related illness. Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County’s Public Health Official, says the man who died Saturday had been in the  hospital with respiratory problems. He had a history of vaping and smoking.

See also:


World unprepared for global pandemic that could kill millions, WHO report says

Stockton Record

The world is unprepared for a global pandemic that could wipe out 80 million people in less than 36 hours along with 5% of the global GDP, a new report from the World Health Organization says.


Anti-vaccine protesters are likening themselves to civil rights activists

Politico

A chorus of mostly white women sang the gospel song “We Shall Overcome” in the California State Capitol, an anthem of the civil rights movement. Mothers rallied outside the governor's office and marched through Capitol corridors chanting “No segregation, no discrimination, yes on education for all!" Some wore T-shirts that read “Freedom Keepers."


Study finds air pollution reaches placenta during pregnancy

Associated Press

A new study suggests when a pregnant woman breathes in air pollution, it can travel beyond her lungs to the placenta that guards her fetus. 


TV Networks Take Down Juul and Other E-Cigarette Ads

New York Times

As health concerns mount over the rise in teenage vaping, CNN, CBS and Viacom are ending advertisements by e-cigarette companies. 


Human Services:


Valley Children's announces new hospital in Madera

abc30

From healing the body to healing the mind, new resources are on the horizon for the Valley Children's Healthcare Network. A new behavioral health hospital is in the works. The more than 80,000 square foot facility will be built on the Valley Children's campus.

See also:


New family medical clinic opens in Porterville

Porterville Recorder

The newest medical clinic in Porterville, Family Medicine Clinic, cut the ribbon for their grand opening on Tuesday afternoon, in front of their location at 93 N. Villa Street.


Nurses to hold strike at Modesto, Turlock hospitals, citing patient safety issues

Modesto Bee

A one-day strike involving registered nurses at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto and Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock is scheduled for Friday.


Kaiser CEO on strike: ‘We will always make sure we’re taking care of our members’

Sacramento Bee

Just before more than 80,000 workers​​ announced Monday​​ they planned an October strike against Kaiser Permanente, Kaiser CEO​​ Bernard Tyson​​ talked with The Bee about the union’s concerns about pay inequity, labor strategy and concerns voiced by workers.

See also:


Rogue stem cell clinics come under microscope

San Francisco Chronicle

California’s medical board on Wednesday took up an issue that scientists and consumer watchdog groups say is critical to patient safety: state oversight of the for-profit stem cell industry, which has exploded over the past decade.

See also:


The U.S. abortion rate falls to lowest level since Roe v. Wade

Washington Post

A report by the Guttmacher Institute released Wednesday outlines dramatic changes in the abortion landscape between 2011 and 2017. The U.S. abortion rate has again hit an all-time low. States passed an unprecedented wave of 400 bills imposing restrictions on the procedure, and medical abortions, which involve taking pills rather than undergoing a surgical procedure, became widely available.


A Closer Look at Nancy Pelosi’s Plan for Lower Drug Prices

Prospect

All year, Congress-watchers have expected a bipartisan drug-pricing bill to reach the president’s desk. Democrats and Republicans both have an interest in passing something, given constituent anger over the cost of their prescriptions and an election-year need to tout meaningful accomplishments. But the usual Washington bloodsport always resisted an easy path to legislative success.


Elderly often face neglect in California care homes

Associated Press

In her final months, Elaine Geslicki, a bedridden dementia resident at a home for seniors in the Los Angeles area, had difficulty communicating. But by the time the owner of Court Yard Estates sent her to the hospital in an ambulance, the severe pressure sores and bite marks from rats gnawing on her flesh spoke for themselves.


IMMIGRATION


Trump calls new border wall a ‘world-class security system’

Fresno Bee

President Donald Trump signed his name Wednesday on a newly constructed section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, calling it a "world-class security system" that will be virtually impenetrable.

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Interior Department transferring federal land to Army for border wall construction

abc30

The Trump administration plans to transfer federal land into military control in order to continue construction of the wall along the southern border.


Border Patrol agents interviewing families for ‘credible fear,’ instead of asylum officers

Los Angeles Times

Border Patrol agents are beginning to screen migrant families for “credible fear” instead of highly trained asylum officers who are charged with determining whether applicants qualify for U.S. protection, the Los Angeles Times has learned.


U.S. Immigration Courts’ Backlog Exceeds One Million Cases

Wall Street Journal

The backlogged deportation docket pending in U.S. immigration courts surpassed one million cases in August, despite the Trump administration’s varied attempts to cut back on asylum claims.


LAND USE/HOUSING


Land Use:

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Housing:


US home building climbs 12.3% in August to 12-year high

Fresno Bee

The pace of U.S. home construction jumped 12.3% last month to a 12-year high on a surge in apartment building.


Trump administration denies CA request for homelessness funding

abc30

The Trump administration has rejected California's requests for more funding to address homelessness, saying the state's own policies have contributed to the problem.


Trump accuses SF of environmental violations

Bakersfield Californian

President Donald Trump says the Environmental Protection Agency will be "putting out a notice" of violations in San Francisco related to its homeless population.

See also:


Inside Kern County's plan to reduce homelessness by jailing misdemeanor drug offenses

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County law enforcement agencies are working to enact a new policy that would lead to stricter punishments for some convicted of low-level crimes. The policies are meant to address concerns raised by local residents overwhelmed by what they say is a criminal element among Bakersfield’s homeless population with little interest in seeking help.


‘There is strength in numbers’: Concord renters form Contra Costa’s first citywide tenants union

East Bay Times

Months after the Concord City Council​​ decided not to impose rent control and just-cause eviction policies, about a dozen city tenants have formed a citywide union to take up the fight against soaring rent hikes and predatory landlords.


Major California rent reprieve bill heads to Newsom

Politico

California renters are expected to see a state-imposed reprieve from rising rents and evictions after the Assembly gave final approval Wednesday to the year’s preeminent renters’ bill.


PUBLIC FINANCES


$1 billion and climbing: new milestone for California government’s delayed tech program

Merced Sun-Star

The budget for California state government’s long-developing accounting program has surpassed $1 billion, and more spending will be required before all state departments are using it, according to program updates.


What the Interest-Rate Cut Means for You

Wall Street Journal

The Federal Reserve cut its short-term benchmark rate, dropping a quarter-percentage point to a range between 1.75% and 2%. This follows a landmark rate cut in July, the first since 2008.

See Also:


Democrats’ Puzzle: What to Do With Trump’s Tax Cut?

Wall Street Journal

President Trump’s biggest legislative achievement—the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—will be on the ballot with him next year, and Democratic contenders for his job are trying to figure out how to approach it.

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TRANSPORTATION


Bullet train board votes on proposed Valley to San Jose route, amid backlash

Fresno Bee

The California High-Speed Rail Authority​​ board voted unanimously Tuesday on a route that may ultimately connect the San Joaquin Valley with San Jose – though it didn’t come without some backlash from community groups.


Californians are buying up electric cars. But where will they plug in?

San Francisco Chronicle

Californians are switching to electric cars in record numbers. But the plug-in infrastructure needed to support the switch is patchy.


WATER


Who Runs Your Water System? UC Davis Research Shows Why Water Governance Matters

VPR

Roughly a million Californians lack access to safe drinking water. And while a scarcity of money or local leadership can stand in the way of fixes, so too can California’s byzantine water management system.


The Battle Over Fish Farming In The Open Ocean Heats Up, As EPA Permit Looms

Capital Public Radio

Advocates say farmed seafood is more sustainable than wild-caught. Critics say these farms pollute surrounding waters. Federal waters have been off-limits to aquaculture, but that may soon change.


Demise of key environment bill could escalate California’s water wars

CALmatters

The smoke has (partly) cleared from the legislative battlefield, in the aftermath of a struggle pitting the leader of the California Senate against not only powerful water and agricultural interests but also Gov. Gavin Newsom. And California’s two largest water-delivery systems may soon be operating under rules that differ ever more significantly.


California High-Speed Rail Authority Board Adopts Preferred Alternatives in Northern California

California High-Speed Rail Authority

On Tuesday, September 17, 2019, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) Board of Directors concurred with staff recommendations for the Preferred Alternatives for the high-speed rail routes in Northern California. The Board’s concurrence comes after nearly a decade of analysis and active engagement with communities along the route.


“Xtra”


Smithsonian Day among Porterville Museum activities

Porterville Recorder

The Porterville Historical Museum will open its doors, free of charge, on Saturday, September 21, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the Smithsonian Institution’s annual Museum Day Live. 


All abuzz for fair's opening day

Bakersfield Californian

The hottest ticket in town this week and next is the Kern County Fair, but for once the weather doesn't match.  With temperatures in the 80s remaining the next two days, this is a prime time to get out to the fairgrounds.

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