Maddy Institute – September 2, 2020

02Sep

TOP STORIES

North SJ Valley:

What happens to vacant Stanislaus Co Supervisor seat after Tom Berryhill’s death?

Modesto Bee

The late Tom Berryhill’s Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors seat may remain vacant until November, County Counsel Thomas Boze said, leaving the governing body without a measure to break tie votes during the coronavirus pandemic.

San Joaquin officials address the Blueprint for a Safer Economy statewide

Stockton Record

San Joaquin County has been placed in the “widespread” risk level category in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new plan for reopening the state and counties in the COVID-19 pandemic. The new plan went into effect on Monday and replaces the county data monitoring list for determining what businesses can and cannot open.

Coronavirus update: Stanislaus has 3 more deaths. August infections up from July. Modesto Bee

New Grant More than Doubles Campus Supercomputing Power

UC Merced Newsroom

UC Merced is rapidly gaining a strong reputation for research and scientific computing across many disciplines and a major expansion of its computing infrastructure is about to cement the campus’ status as a research computing hub.

Central SJ Valley:

August was Fresno County’s deadliest month amid coronavirus. Officials add 27 new deaths Fresno Bee

COVID-19 update: County health director gives encouraging report Porterville Recorder

Fresno Co school sues Newsom, claiming it has ‘herd immunity.’ Here’s what experts say

Fresno Bee

Immanuel Schools has made a claim of “herd immunity” from COVID-19 part of its lawsuit against Calif Gov. Gavin Newsom, arguing it’s safe to continue in-classroom instruction at its Reedley campus. The claim is based on 198 blood samples of students, teachers and parents at the private Christian K-12 school that local pathologist Dr. Paul Atmajian – also an Immanuel Schools’ parent – said he tested this summer.

· County looking at limited in-person learning for schools Porterville Recorder

· In Tulare County, Some Schools Are Holding In-Person Classes As Day Camps VPR

Schools hit with ransomware attacks; Housing, rental relief in Fresno

Fresno Bee

August ended as the deadliest month for the coronavirus pandemic in the central San Joaquin Valley. All counted, 286 people died of the coronavirus in August, according to health officials across Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare counties. That includes two deaths reported in Merced County on the last day of the month.

Fresno’s top health official says no Labor Day parties. ‘I know that’s hard to hear’

Fresno Bee

As Fresno County heads into another three-day weekend, its top health official says residents need to be mindful about family gatherings amid the coronavirus. It was following Memorial Day in May that Fresno County saw its last surge in COVID-19 cases, according to Rais Vohra, the county interim health officer.

Calif Supreme Court rules in lengthy legal battle over casino resort near Madera

Fresno Bee

The Calif State Supreme Court ruled Monday in favor of North Fork Rancheria’s plans to build a casino and hotel off Highway 99 near Madera. The court issued a 73-page decision settling the question of whether Gov. Gavin Newsom has the authority to concur with a decision by the Secretary of the Interior to take off-reservation land in trust and build tribal gaming without legislative approval.

South SJ Valley:

Kern County reports 6 new COVID-19 deaths, 135 additional cases

Bakersfield Califn

Another six COVID-19-related deaths and 135 new cases were reported Tuesday morning by the Kern County Public Health Services Department. That brings total deaths in Kern to 291 and total cases to 29,469.

Cal State Bakersfield student appointed to powerful CSU board for the first time

Bakersfield Califn

Over 490,000 students are enrolled in the CSU system, and for the first time in the history of the board that governs it, one of the students chosen to represent all those voices will be from Cal State Bakersfield

Council to continue to discuss transit

Porterville Recorder

The Porterville City Council will continue to consider what direction it should take when it comes to the city’s transit system at its meeting tonight. A public hearing will be held during the City Council meeting in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. tonight.

County officials: Public must do its part in new reopening process

Bakersfield Califn

After digesting the state’s new reopening plan for counties over the weekend, county leaders had a message Monday morning: The path to reopening Kern County is less about businesses taking certain actions and more about what individuals need to do.

Video: A Conversation with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy

PPIC

As part of our Speaker Series on Calif’s Future, PPIC invites elected leaders from across the political spectrum to participate in public conversations. The purpose is to give Califns a better understanding of how our leaders are addressing the challenges facing our state.

State:

Here’s What Calif Lawmakers Did On Their Last Day Of Session

Capital Public Radio

The end of Calif’s legislative session was beleaguered by COVID-19, wildfires, a tanked economy and a looming eviction crisis. Tempers also flared Monday night, forcing multiple breaks from debate as Senate Republicans — already quarantined and forced to vote remotely over Zoom — complained they were being silenced by the Democratic supermajority.

● Despite Calif budget deficit, lawmakers send Gavin Newsom new spending proposals Sac Bee

● Calif lawmakers approve bills to address racism in criminal charges and jury selection LA Times

● News Analysis: Amid coronavirus crisis, an unsatisfying end for Calif’s Legislature LA Times

● Housing, police, economic bills CalMatters

● Calif Poised to Enact Law Requiring Compensation Data Collection Littler

● Long-fought Nurse Practitioner Independence Bill Heads To Newsom Business Journal

Republicans in COVID-19 quarantine throw Calif Senate in disarray as deadline nears

Fresno Bee

Tensions in the Calif Senate boiled over Monday evening as Democrats limited debate on bills and Republicans complained of technical glitches interfering with their ability to vote as the clock ticked toward a midnight deadline for lawmakers to act on policy for the year.

● Bay Area Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks goes viral after bringing newborn to vote on housing bill abc30

● What went wrong in the Capitol when Calif Republicans stalled votes from quarantine Modesto Bee

● Covid-19 Transforms Lawmaking, Lobbying in Calif’s Capital WSJ

● A newborn baby and cursing lawmakers: Calif’s legislative session ends in chaos Politico

Viewpoints: Will Gov. Newsom succeed in latest plan to reopen Calif amid COVID-19 pandemic?

Sac Bee

Will the third time be the charm for Gov. Gavin Newsom and his somewhat erratic efforts to battle the COVID-19 pandemic while preventing irreparable damage to the state’s once-vibrant economy?

● ‘Disastrous’: 16 dead of COVID-19 at Calif nursing home with history of health lapses Modesto Bee

Cities ending census door-knocking early

Bakersfield Califn

Already under criticism for plans to end the 2020 census at the end of September, a month earlier than previously scheduled, the U.S. Census Bureau expects to finish up its most labor-intensive operation for getting an accurate head count even earlier in one of the largest U.S. cities.

Federal:

U.S. Postal Service: Services will be closed Labor Day

Bakersfield Califn

Postal services will be closed for retail transaction on Monday in observance of the Labor Day holiday. In a news release, the United States Postal Service also said there will be no residential or business deliveries on the holiday.

GOP slams Nancy Pelosi for her indoor haircut in SF, where that’s still banned

Washington Post

For almost six months, hairdressers in SF have been prohibited from cutting and styling their clients’ hair inside a salon. But on Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), one of the most outspoken Democratic lawmakers on following coronavirus restrictions, became an exception to the rule in her home district.

See Also:

● The blowout that blew up CalMatters

● Pelosi used shuttered SF hair salon for blow-out, owner calls it ‘slap in the face’ Fox News

● EDITORIAL: Nancy Pelosi’s dumb salon visit during coronavirus pandemic deals blow to credibility Sac Bee

Court blocks release of Trump tax returns amid latest appeal

LA Times

A federal appeals court on Tuesday blocked a New York prosecutor from obtaining Donald Trump’s tax returns while the president’s lawyers continue to fight a subpoena seeking the records. The three-judge panel ruled after hearing brief arguments from both sides.

House panel finds fraud and abuse in PPP business aid program

LA Times

Congressional investigators say they have identified lapses pointing to possible fraud and abuse in the Trump administration’s coronavirus relief program, including more than $1 billion awarded to small businesses that received multiple loans.

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

After Calif COVID data errors, state hires company to build new coronavirus database

Modesto Bee

Calif has hired a Minnesota-based health consulting firm to develop a new database for COVID-19 test results after the state’s old system was plagued by glitches, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration announced Tuesday.

● Following test results dust-up, Calif to unveil a new COVID-19 reporting system in October LA Times

● Tracking COVID-19: State signs multimillion-dollar contract for new reporting system CalMatters

Fact Check: CDC Did Not ‘Admit Only 6%’ of Recorded Deaths from COVID-19

FactCheck.org

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasn’t drastically reduced the number of deaths attributable to COVID-19, but posts making that bogus claim have been circulating widely — with the help of Pres Donald Trump, who retweeted one such claim on Aug. 30.

Elections 2020:

Props to you, Californians: A preview of what’s on your November ballot

CalMatters

After a bit of last-minute legislative maneuvering, the list of propositions that Calif voters will be asked to weigh in on has been — more or less — finalized. This past week marked the deadline for citizens and special interests to snag their spot on the November ballot.

When should you mail your ballot? Answers to your Calif election questions

Fresno Bee

The vast majority of Calif voters are expected to cast ballots by mail in the November general election, a prospect that has inspired questions from voters on how to be sure that their ballots will count.

Instagram Posts Make False Claim Calif Voters Will Be ‘Turned Away’ From Polls Due To Mail-In Voting

Capital Public Radio

Widely-shared posts on Instagram on Monday claimed Calif voters would be “turned away” from in-person polling places on Election Day unless they change their voting preference to “No mail-in voting.”

Trump has slipped among key groups that backed him in 2016

LA Times

President Trump’s support has eroded among key groups of voters who backed him in 2016 — a major reason why he continues to trail former Vice President Joe Biden and a prime motivator for the president’s reelection strategy of emphasizing violent disorder in the nation’s cities.

● New poll shows Trump’s tough path to reelection The Hill

Kenosha business owner declines President Trump photo-op, former owner replaces him

TMJ4

A Kenosha business owner is accusing President Donald Trump of using his destroyed store for political gain. Tom Gram’s century-old camera shop burned to the ground a week ago during the unrest in Uptown Kenosha. Gram said he declined President Trump’s request to be a part of his tour of damage Tuesday in Kenosha. Instead, a former owner of the shop was invited and he praised the president’s efforts.

Black-clad thugs on a plane? What was Donald Trump talking about?

PolitiFact

Mysterious black-clad thugs on flights to Washington to disrupt the president’s political convention — shh, say no more! That was the message President Donald Trump delivered when he offered an anecdote during an Aug. 31 interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingaham.

DHS withheld intelligence bulletin warning about Russian misinformation attack on Biden’s mental health

CNN

The Department of Homeland Security in July withheld an intelligence bulletin warning of a Russian plot to spread misinformation regarding Joe Biden‘s mental health, according to a report from ABC News on Wednesday.

● DHS withheld July intelligence bulletin calling out Russian attack on Biden’s mental health abcNews

● Facebook takes down Russian operation that recruited U.S. journalists, amid rising concerns about election misinformation Washington Post

● Russian internet trolls hired U.S. journalists to push their news website, Facebook says NBCNews

Kamala Harris’ Tricky Balancing Act Between Top Cop and Criminal Justice Reformer

KQED

Three months after becoming SF’s district attorney in 2004, Kamala Harris faced a trial by fire. In her first run for office in 2003, Harris knocked off Terence Hallinan, SF’s progressive district attorney, by running slightly to his right, promising to manage a more professional office that would be tougher on violent crime, domestic violence and sex trafficking, and stand up for those who had felt ignored.

2020 Election Live Updates: Joe and Jill Biden Will Visit Kenosha Thursday

New York Times

The Biden campaign announced a record-breaking fund-raising haul. A new poll shows a narrowing race in Pennsylvania. The moderators for the presidential debates have been chosen.

Prepare for the weirdest election ‘night’ ever

PolitiFact

Remember Florida’s presidential election recount in 2000, with the hanging chads, the magnifying glasses, and the weeks of courtroom battles about how to count the votes? There could be post-election vote-counting chaos again in the 2020 election — maybe in Florida, maybe some other state, or even in several states at the same time.

Other:

U.S. Perceptions of White-Black Relations Sink to New Low

Gallup

Americans’ already tepid review of relations between White and Black Americans has soured since 2018 and is now the most negative of any year in Gallup’s trend since 2001. The majority of U.S. adults say relations between White and Black Americans are very (24%) or somewhat bad (31%), while less than half call them very (7%) or somewhat (37%) good.

Editorial: Religious freedom is not a license to ignore civil-rights laws

LA Times

During the term it completed in July, the Supreme Court decided several important cases involving religious liberty and one that expanded legal protection for gay Americans. In the term that begins next month, the justices will hear a case that purportedly pits those two interests against each other.

Commentary: American individualism is an obstacle to wider mask wearing in the US

Brookings

As Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris call for a national mask mandate, it provides the first glimpse of how efforts to combat the virus may change radically under Democratic leadership. As we have documented previously, a large segment of the American public has been resistant to wearing a mask to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

Sunday, September 6, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Calif Migration: The Story of Us” – Guests: Judy Lin, CALmatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, September 6, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: “Calif Migration & Immigration: Who Is Coming and Who is Going?” – Guests: SOS Padilla, Sarah Bohn- PPIC, John Myers, LA Times and Judy Lin with CALmatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Foster Farms shut down Calif facility over COVID-19. So why doesn’t it look closed?

Fresno Bee

Foster Farms shut down its main chicken processing facility in Livingston on Tuesday evening amid a coronavirus outbreak that health officials say has claimed the lives of at least eight workers.

Fresno agriculture company completes major expansion during pandemic

abc30

Despite a drop in demand in some markets due to the pandemic, a Fresno ag company has just completed a major expansion. Expansion at Baloian Farms in Fresno came at a good time with so many vegetables now in season – like mini bell peppers.

Food distribution efforts continue at The Mission at Kern

Bakersfield Califn

The Mission at Kern County will continue its food distribution efforts with three upcoming giveaways in September. In a news release, The Mission said food distributions will take place Wednesday as well as Sept. 9 and Sept. 16. Pickup times are from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at The Mission’s headquarters, 821 E. 21st Street.

The CalFresh Food Assistance Program

PPIC

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—called CalFresh in Calif and sometimes known as food stamps—is the largest food assistance program in the nation. Together with school meals and WIC, CalFresh provides a nutrition safety net for low-income Califns.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Suspect charged in Tulare County for allegedly threatening Devin Nunes’ wife

Fresno Bee

A Calif man has been ordered to appear in criminal court in Tulare County to face charges that he harassed the wife of a U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes. In a criminal complaint filed in Tulare County Superior Court on Aug. 13, William Joseph Burden is charged with sending threatening messages (via the telephone or other electronic device) to Elizabeth Nunes in January.

‘Drop the gun brother!’ Clovis police pleaded with suspect before fatal shooting

Fresno Bee

Clovis police pleaded with Nikolas Frazier for several tense minutes to drop his weapon before six officers fatally shot him early Sunday in a Walmart parking lot. Frazier, 26, turned out to be armed with an Daisy BB gun, Chief Curt Fleming disclosed Tuesday as he released body camera video of the standoff. Fleming said he believed Frazier, who called 911 to report an armed man in the lot, apparently committed suicide by cop.

Calif prison boss retiring as state battles COVID-19 behind bars

Sac Bee

The top official overseeing Calif’s prisons will retire in October after a year and a half on the job, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Ralph Diaz oversaw the department’s response to the coronavirus, which has spread to nearly all of the state’s 34 prisons and infected more than 10,000 inmates, killing 57, according to the department’s data.

Public Safety:

Bill to strip problem cops’ badges in Calif dies in Legislature

SF Chronicle

A bill to strip the badges from police officers who break the law and eliminate their legal immunity for killing a suspect — the most far-reaching changes to policing proposed in the Calif Legislature this year — died Monday night without ever coming up for a vote.

● Stall tactics. Distractions. Lobbying. How police reform was derailed in Calif LA Times

● Former Gov. Jerry Brown Donates $1M to Defeat Police-Backed Ballot Measure KQED

Commentary: COVID-19 hotspots revealed the need for prison reform and better rehabilitation

CalMatters

As the incidence of infection from COVID-19 ebbs and flows across the country, the role of the nation’s prisons in exacerbating the pandemic has been given short shrift. Before the most recent spike in cases, the top five hotspots in the country were all prisons.

Fire:

Lawmakers fail to approve wildfire protection money, help for Calif insurance crisis

Fresno Bee

When David Montagne and his wife, Michele, retired to rural Penn Valley in 2008, they paid $1,200 a year for homeowners insurance. About six years ago, they got their first letter telling them they’d been dropped from their insurance plan because they were in a part of Nevada County that had substantial fire risks. Multiple letters followed.

Sequoia Complex Fire now 35,000 acres, 0% contained; smoke trapped on Valley floor

Visalia Times Delta

The Sequoia Complex Fire continues to grow in the Tulare County wilderness, scorching an additional 10,000 acres over the weekend and prompting a mandatory evacuation of some mountain communities.

Wildfires Are First Big Test To COVID-19 Firefighter Safety Plans

VPR

When firefighter Ahri Cornelius got the call that his Missoula, Mont., based crew was deploying to central Calif, he had some reservations. They’d be traveling from a rural state with a relatively low infection rate to Calif, a coronavirus hot spot. Cornelius also has a three-year-old toddler back home with a preexisting lung condition.

Coastal Fog — Or The Lack Of It — Could Be A Wildfire Risk

Capital Public Radio

Just before lightning caused two huge wildfires to burn more than a million acres in Northern Calif, Rachel Lazzeri-Aerts noticed conditions were ripe for a blaze. The San Jose State environmental studies professor says vegetation was dry and temperatures were hot.

ECONOMY/JOBS

Economy:

Fresno-area barbers, salons reopen after new COVID-19 orders

Fresno Bee

Local salons and barbershops were among the latest businesses allowed to reopen under new safety guidelines in so-called “purple counties” — the strictest tier in a new color-coded system amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Grocery stores across Calif now required to limit indoor capacity

abc30

From cleaning carts and cutting capacity, grocery stores across the state are now required to limit the number of shoppers allowed inside at a time. Fresno County, as well as many other surrounding counties, is in the purple tier of the Governor’s new reopening blueprint.

Covid-19 Restrictions Claim Another Fresno Restaurant

Business Journal

The owner of High Sierra Grill House in Northwest Fresno said he has closed the restaurant. In a video shared with The Business Journal via Facebook, owner Manny Perales said that after five months of no revenue, he was forced to close the eatery at Bullard and West avenues in Fresno. High Sierra opened five years ago.

Local companies achieve national sales-growth ranking

Bakersfield Califn

KS Industries LP was having trouble getting its logo stitched neatly onto its uniforms and promotional apparel. Marketing companies said the image required too many threads over too small an area. Then the local energy services provider came across a company in its own back yard: Bakersfield-based Proforma Progressive Marketing.

Business webinar will address state’s new four-tier reopening system

Bakersfield Califn

Local businesses can learn all about Calif’s new four-tier economic reopening process at a free, one-hour webinar starting at noon Wednesday. Host Kelly Bearden, director of Cal State Bakersfield’s Small Business Development Center, will be joined by Brynn Carrigan, assistant director of Kern County Public Health, and Jay Tamsi, president and CEO of the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Modesto’s Vintage Faire Mall reopens again; construction on new additions nearly done

Modesto Bee

Open. Closed. Open. Closed. And now open once more. Modesto’s Vintage Faire Mall has opened for interior shopping again after being closed a second time due to rollbacks of coronavirus reopenings in mid-July.

Column: A new Calif law is kicking in that will help keep debt collectors at bay

LA Times

If you owe money, and especially if you’ve got debt collectors breathing down your neck, here’s some good news. A new Calif law takes effect Tuesday that prevents debt collectors from emptying your bank account.

Coronavirus changes spending plans for many, survey says. How will Americans cut back?

The News & Observer

Half of Americans plan to change their spending habits due to the coronavirus — and that means cutbacks for some, new findings show. In an online survey, 49% of people say the pandemic is causing them to “overhaul their finances,” according to results released in August from CouponCabin.

How’s the Coronavirus Economy? Great or Awful, Depending on Whom You Ask

WSJ

The coronavirus recession has been financially devastating for many Americans. It has been a boon for others. Many are going hungry or worried about eviction. Others are paying down debt or even buying second homes. What’s left is a confounding picture of U.S. household finances.

· Commentary: Alternative Indicators Show Recovery Stalling, U.S. Still Laggard Bloomberg

Valley Voices: Break Fresno’s poverty by allowing Black and brown residents to sell legal cannabis

Fresno Bee

Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.” James Baldwin’s cutting insight is as true today in Fresno as it was in Harlem nearly a century ago.

Jobs:

Why thousands of unemployed Calif workers are unlikely to get extra $300 benefit

Fresno Bee

About 192,000 Calif residents now receiving unemployment benefits are unlikely to qualify for the extra $300 a week payment that begins next week, according to a study released Tuesday by the independent Calif Policy Lab.

More Calif jobs to be exempted from landmark labor law under bills heading to Newsom

Fresno Bee

The Calif Legislature on Monday sent two bills to Gov. Gavin Newsom that would allow flexibility in a state labor law for certain industries to hire independent contractors instead of employees while Democrats shot down late appeals from Republicans to exempt even more careers.

● Millions of Californians would be eligible for job-protected leave under plan approved by lawmakers LA Times

4 tips to help you manage working from home as kids learn from home

abc30

During this COVID-19 pandemic, more parents are working from home, and now some kids are learning from home too. It’s a situation that may be creating stress for families as they try to deal with the shift.

Why won’t counties report workplace COVID outbreaks to the public?

Visalia Times Delta

Napa County doesn’t collect data about coronavirus outbreaks in workplaces. Sonoma County does, but won’t identify them because it would compromise the county’s working relationship with employers. Alameda County won’t share outbreak locations to protect privacy and to guard against what one health official called undue stigma.

The New Rules for Landing a Job in the Covid Era

WSJ

It takes luck, creativity and a fresh look at your network of contacts to find a job in the worst labor market in more than a decade. Since the pandemic hit the U.S. hard in March, the economy has lost 13 million jobs, job seekers have seen offers yanked away, and many recent college graduates remain sidelined.

EDUCATION

K-12:

Class of 2020 to get a pass on Calif grad requirements in COVID-19 bill headed to Newsom

Fresno Bee

Certain members of Calif’s class of 2020 may get a second chance at a high school diploma, thanks to a bill sent to the governor’s desk this week. AB 1350, authored by Asm. Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, would authorize a school district, county office of education, or the governing body of a charter school to retroactively grant a high school diploma to a student who was in their senior year of high school during the 2019–2020 school year, but did not graduate because of the pandemic.

Fresno Co school sues Newsom, claiming it has ‘herd immunity.’ Here’s what experts say

Fresno Bee

· County looking at limited in-person learning for schools Porterville Recorder

· In Tulare County, Some Schools Are Holding In-Person Classes As Day Camps VPR

RSVP for Learning Curve: Navigating Education Access in a Pandemic

Fresno Bee

Parents, students and teachers are looking for guidance on whether it’s safe to reopen schools this fall. With the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changing the way that many institutions are operating, school districts have been forced to quickly develop creative alternatives to traditional approaches to educating our children.

Merced County school teacher subjected to racial slurs during Zoom call, police say

abc30

A Black teacher from Buhach Colony High School in Merced County was subjected to racial slurs, Atwater Police say. The incident reportedly happened on Thursday, August 27, during a Zoom classroom event held by the school.

Groups of staff at 2 Modesto schools, 2 district facilities put on COVID quarantine

Modesto Bee

Since Modesto City Schools started its academic year Aug. 10, groups of staff at four facilities have been quarantined because of exposure to COVID-19, the district reported Tuesday. In none of the cases does the district know of an employee returning to work after learning he or she tested positive for the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, officials said. And in no cases was there known exposure to students or their families.

School districts worry that legislators failed to protect them from Covid-19 lawsuits

EdSource

The Legislature adjourned Monday without having resolved what school districts say is a huge barrier to returning to in-school instruction: legal protection from Covid-19-related lawsuits.

Higher Ed:

Cal State Bakersfield student appointed to powerful CSU board for the first time

Bakersfield Califn

New Grant More than Doubles Campus Supercomputing Power

UC Merced Newsroom

UC must immediately drop use of the SAT and ACT for admissions and scholarships, judge rules

LA Times

The University of Calif must immediately suspend all use of SAT and ACT test scores for admission and scholarship decisions under a preliminary injunction issued by an Alameda County Superior Court judge.

Commentary: Instead of laying off employees, UC should use assets to give them security

CalMatters

For hundreds of low-wage workers who were recently laid off at the University of Calif, the expired federal enhancement to unemployment gave them a larger paycheck than they would have received at UC.

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

Environment:

Calif lawmakers approve ban on popular rat poison that can kill mountain lions

Fresno Bee

A bill that seeks to protect mountain lions and other wildlife from being poisoned by a popular form of pesticide awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. On Monday, the Calif Legislature approved Assembly Bill 1788, which bans, with few exceptions, the use of what are known as “second generation anticoagulant rodenticides” until state pesticide regulators develop plans to ensure they’re not harmful to wildlife.

Calif faces another potentially record-breaking heat wave

NBC News

Another record-breaking heat wave is expected for Calif, Arizona and Nevada over Labor Day weekend, forecasters said Tuesday. Even southwest Oregon was under a heat advisory.

Energy:

Environmentalists pledge to fight first local auction of federal oil leases since 2012

Bakersfield Califn

An environmental group known for its frequent use of lawsuits has vowed to challenge the first federal oil and gas lease auction in Kern in eight years. The Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity last week said it’s targeting a federal plan to auction in December seven parcels totaling about 4,330 acres in or near existing oilfields in the county.

Alleged hiring favoritism at Calif PUC leads to firing of executive director

Modesto Bee

The agency that regulates Calif’s privately owned utilities fired its executive director on Monday, finding that she inappropriately used her influence to hire or promote under-qualified job candidates and then showed insubordination when the state investigated her decisions.

Calif allows polluting power plants to keep running. Recent blackouts helped save them

Sac Bee

Two weeks after Calif was hit with rolling blackouts, state regulators extended the lifespan of a fleet of gas-fired power plants Tuesday, saying the facilities are needed to maintain reliability of the electricity grid.

Even inside, you may not be safe from bad air. Here’s a simple way to clean your air

Fresno Bee

Marissa Huerta is a mother of two and is seven months along in her surrogacy journey. She has been experiencing side effects from Fresno’s bad air quality due to wildfire smoke. “My headaches would come instantly when I would go outside,” said Huerta. “On fire days, my kids tell me that it’s hard for them to breathe.”

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

2 women infected with West Nile Virus in Merced County, officials say

abc30

Two women in Merced County have contracted West Nile Virus, the Merced County Mosquito Abatement District confirmed on Friday. Health officials say both women are between the ages of 60 and 80, and caught the virus in Merced in mid-August.

Kern County reports 6 new COVID-19 deaths, 135 additional cases

Bakersfield Califn

● COVID-19 update: County health director gives encouraging report Porterville Recorder

● Kern County: Skilled nursing facilities show improvement in containing COVID-19 Bakersfield Califn

● ‘Disastrous’: 16 dead of COVID-19 at Calif nursing home with history of health lapses Modesto Bee

● Coronavirus update: Stanislaus has 3 more deaths. August infections up from July. Modesto Bee

● Coronavirus updates: Nearly 3,800 Califns died of COVID-19 in August, state says Sac Bee

● Calif coronavirus update CalMatters

● New Virus Cases Are Below Summer Peaks as Concerns Rise About Testing Decline WSJ

When should you get a flu shot? Here’s what to know about flu season during COVID-19

San Luis Obispo Tribune

With the coronavirus still running rampant in the U.S., health experts say it’s important to get the flu vaccine this season in order to prevent overwhelming hospitals.

Covid-19 Deaths Significantly Reduced by Use of Steroids, Analysis Says

WSJ

A new analysis of several studies in which steroid drugs were used to treat severely ill Covid-19 patients found the drugs significantly helped reduce patient deaths, bolstering earlier, preliminary evidence for the benefit of these medications.

Overwhelmingly strong results could end COVID-19 vaccine trials early, Fauci says

yahoo!news

A COVID-19 vaccine could be available earlier than expected if ongoing clinical trials produce overwhelmingly positive results, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease official, said this week.

Editorial: Coronavirus ‘herd immunity’ is just another way to say ‘let people die’

LA Times

Is President Trump embracing a “herd immunity” strategy for the COVID-19 pandemic? Last week, the White House directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to revise guidelines to discourage people who have been exposed to COVID-19 from getting tested.

Fact Check: CDC Did Not ‘Admit Only 6%’ of Recorded Deaths from COVID-19

FactCheck.org

Human Services:

Mercy Hospitals of Bakersfield awarded grant for Asthma Mitigation Project

Bakersfield Califn

Mercy Hospitals of Bakersfield and the Friends of Mercy Foundation, in collaboration with the Dignity Health Community Wellness Center, was awarded a $250,000 grant from The Asthma Mitigation Project. The grant is funded by the Calif Department of Health Care Services and is managed by The Center at Sierra Health Foundation.

Calif Poised To Strengthen Mental Health Insurance Laws

VPR

There are already federal and state laws on the books requiring insurance companies to cover mental health treatments, just as it does medical treatments and procedures such as chemotherapy or a cesarean section.

Calif may be the first state to develop its own generic drugs

LA Times

Calif is poised to become the first state to develop its own line of generic drugs, targeting soaring drug prices and stepping into a fiercely competitive drug market dominated by deep-pocketed pharmaceutical companies.

U.S. says it won’t join WHO-linked effort to develop, distribute coronavirus vaccine

Washington Post

The Trump administration said it will not join a global effort to develop, manufacture and equitably distribute a coronavirus vaccine, in part because the World Health Organization is involved, a decision that could shape the course of the pandemic and the country’s role in health diplomacy.

White House to Target Hospitals for Uneven Covid-19 Data Reporting

WSJ

The Trump administration is taking aim at hospitals, charging that many have been contributing uneven data about Covid-19 cases in the federal effort to gauge the pandemic. In a move expected as early as next week, the administration is planning to publicize the names of hospitals with data missing from the federal pandemic reporting system, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Commentary: Parent and spouse caregivers for In-Home Supportive Services program deserve job rights

CalMatters

In spite of decades of struggle to achieve equality at work and at home, women continue to perform more than their share of caregiving, both paid and unpaid – and when that woman is a spouse or mother of the person she’s caring for, it’s as if her labor doesn’t even exist.

IMMIGRATION

Trump Wants To Force Immigrants To Submit Eye Scans, Voice Prints, And DNA

BuzzFeed News

The Trump administration has drafted a proposal that would dramatically expand the number of people required to provide biometrics for their immigration applications, while also increasing the personal information the government can demand, such as eye scans, voice prints, DNA, and photographs for facial recognition.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Calif Supreme Court rules in lengthy legal battle over casino resort near Madera

Fresno Bee

Councilmembers seek to revitalize the westside

Turlock Journal

Two City Council members have a plan to revitalize Turlock’s westside and are seeking the public’s support in making it reality. City Council member Gil Esquer and Vice Mayor Andrew Nosrati have created a long-term plan to address homelessness in Turlock and beautify parts of the westside.

Housing:

Fresno makes more rent and mortgage assistance available. Here’s how to apply

Fresno Bee

There is more rental and housing relief available to residents in Fresno whose wallets have been hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. The Fresno City Council added to its $5 million program to help people stay in their homes despite a hit to their hours at work or other hardships from COVID-19. The money is part of the city’s CARES Act federal relief package.

Gov. signs eviction relief law as Calif ban expires during COVID-19 pandemic

Fresno Bee

Calif Gov. Gavin Newsom late Monday announced he signed a law to prevent a looming wave of evictions during the coronavirus outbreak. The agreement was urgent because the state’s coronavirus eviction ban was scheduled to expire at midnight on Sept. 1, and eviction proceedings could have restarted as early as Wednesday, leaving an estimated 4 million Califns at risk of eviction due to unpaid rent checks.

● COVID-19 eviction protections extended to January Turlock Journal

● Calif OKs Extension Of COVID-19 Moratorium On Evictions VPR

● Can’t pay the rent? Here’s how Calif’s new pandemic eviction law affects you SF Chronicle

● Analysis: How Renters, Landlords And Banks Fared In The Eviction Compromise Capital Public Radio

Bid to allow duplexes on most Calif lots dies after Assembly approval comes too late

LA Times

Calif lawmakers nearly sent a bill to the governor that would have essentially ended single-family zoning across much of a state mired in a housing crisis. Then they ran out of time. In a legislative season marred and compressed by the coronavirus outbreak, the Calif Assembly approved Senate Bill 1120 three minutes before the midnight deadline Monday for bills to pass both houses, a time enshrined in the state Constitution.

Trump moves to ban evictions nationwide through December

Politico

The Trump administration said on Tuesday that it will ban evictions of tenants who are unable to pay rent because of the coronavirus crisis through the end of the year with a broad new order under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s public health powers.

VPR

PUBLIC FINANCES

Public Pension Investments Largely Recover After Pandemic-Related Slide

Pew Trusts

State pension plan investments largely recovered by the end of June after several dramatic market drops linked to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the spread of the novel coronavirus has caused steep declines in economic activity and state revenue, which will complicate states’ efforts to make expected annual contributions to worker retirement programs.

Shortchanged Calif firefighters to be paid $4.8 million in back wages

Sac Bee

Calif is paying $4.8 million to a group of state firefighters to make up for miscalculating an insurance-related benefit. The state offers $155 per month to workers who get health and dental insurance from a spouse or another source instead of through the state.

How to get promoted in Calif state government: an expert’s guide

Sac Bee

Calif state jobs likely are going to become more competitive under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s orders to fill only the highest-priority vacancies amid the coronavirus pandemic. That means state workers angling for promotions might need to sharpen their application and interview skills to move up.

How Using Rainy Day Funds Affects State Credit Ratings

Pew Trusts

Credit ratings are critically important for state governments. A low rating may suggest to investors that a state is more likely to default on the debt it issues. That makes it more costly for a state to borrow money and adds strain to its budget. A robust rainy day fund, however, can have a significant positive impact on a state’s credit rating.

TRANSPORTATION

Parking garage groundbreaking held at Fresno Yosemite International Airport

Fresno Bee

A parking garage groundbreaking was held at Fresno Yosemite International Airport for construction of a 4-story structure that will launch the first phase of FATforward, the Airport’s multi-year expansion program.

Highway 99 offramp in Modesto reopens after five-month closure to help with new 132

Modesto Bee

The northbound offramp from Highway 99 to Kansas Avenue in Modesto has reopened after a nearly five-month closure as part of the Highway 132 rerouting. The reopening came right on schedule for the Calif Department of Transportation. It had said in mid-April the closure would run through August.

This Calif city is the worst place to drive in the US, study says

Modesto Bee

Calif has some of the least driver-friendly cities in the nation, according to a new report from personal finance company WalletHub. The report ranks the country’s 100 most populous cities based on how pleasant or unpleasant it is to own and drive a car there. Researchers ranked 17 Calif cities in the bottom half of their list, the report shows.

Calif transit agencies struggle to hold on

CalMatters

Transit agencies across Calif are grappling with a three-headed foe amid the pandemic: unprecedented revenue shortfalls, steep declines in ridership and increased expenses from new health policies.

WATER

Calif Water Institute to Conduct Groundwater Recharge Study

Clovis RoundUp

Over the next couple years, the Central Valley may have a much better idea if it can more efficiently capture and store precious groundwater. The Calif Water Institute, located at Fresno State, and the Agricultural Research Institute, will be working together on a study that aims to determine whether there are adequate underground water storage areas in the Valley for groundwater recharge.

Delta Conveyance

Calif Department of Water Resources

Delta conveyance refers to State Water Project (SWP) infrastructure in the vast network of waterways comprising the Sac-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) that collects and moves fresh affordable water to homes, farms and businesses throughout major regions of the state from the Bay Area to southern Calif.

Commentary: Calif must ensure water access during COVID-19 pandemic

CalMatters

Safe drinking water is a human right and essential during the COVID-19 crisis. And Calif must do more to ensure water service during concurrent health and economic emergencies.

“Xtra”

Children’s Storybook Garden and Museum continues to host fun for children

Hanford Sentinel

The Children’s Storybook Garden and Museum continues to be a place of fun. From Little Sprouts to Cultural Saturday to Garden Workshops, the garden safely puts on events with social distancing, masks and hand sanitizer stations.

Greater Kings County Foodie Month hopes to uplift local restaurants

Hanford Sentinel

For those with an extensive and eclectic palate, a mouthwatering event is coming to Kings County soon. The Greater Kings County Chamber of Commerce announced the first-ever Greater Kings County Foodie Month last Friday. Amy Ward, president and CEO of the chamber, said it’s their job to identify issues facing their members and this was one they wanted to address.

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