September 30, 2019

30Sep

POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

 

How Post-Its, Macklemore and design are helping build a better Modesto

Modesto Bee

What do Post-It notes, Macklemore and design have to do with making the valley better? More than you might realize, according to a new book focused on the ways the Central Valley — particularly Stanislaus County — is tackling its most complicated problems.

 

New housing, roads, restaurants and business show Merced to be a city on the rise

Fresno Bee

We are in a period of strong growth in the building sector. Last fiscal year we issued more building permits than we have in any recent year. Earlier this year, Merced County was identified as having the fastest-growing population in the state.

EDITORIAL: For Stockton, ‘cause’ might prove costly

Stockton Record

In January 2014, the Stockton City Council voted unanimously to promote Kurt Wilson from interim city manager to city manager.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

Jerry Dyer’s campaign run for Fresno mayor is on. So why’s Andrew Janz’s standing still?

Fresno Bee

Janz’s preferred method of voter outreach, at least for now, is to have “substantive conversations” at smaller gatherings. The kind that don’t generate media attention.

 

Rodriguez will not seek re-election

Madera Tribune

After almost 15 years in office, Max Rodriguez will not seek re-election to the Madera County Board of Supervisors. Citing a desire to spend more time with his family, Rodriguez said it was time to retire and allow for the next generation of leaders to emerge. 

Lynda and Stewart Resnick give $10 million to support new student union

Fresno State News

After a historic vote last year by Fresno State students to build a new student union, philanthropists and entrepreneurs Lynda and Stewart Resnick, owners of The Wonderful Company, have made a $10 million investment to make this new facility a reality.

South SJ Valley:

 

Did​​ the Kern County Fair grossly mismanage taxpayer funds for years?

Bakersfield Californian

A state audit says the organizers of a county fair grossly mismanaged public funds and violated state law multiple times, while a local television station claims those charges involve the Kern County Fair.

See also:

Hotline created to connect Sikh community in Bakersfield to resources

Bakersfield Californian

After two incidents of violence shook the Sikh community in Bakersfield this year, the Bakersfield Sikh Women's Association realized something needed to be done. 

State:

 

Can California and federal government work together to protect the environment? Not likely

Fresno Bee

California has been fighting a nonstop​​ political war with the federal government since the day Donald Trump​​ took office, but nowhere has the battle been more intense than on environmental and energy policy.

See also:

Brown Vetoed But They’re Persisting: Take Two Of MeToo Hits Newsom’s Desk

Capital Public Radio

As the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment washed across the country last year, it hit especially hard in the California Capitol.

 

Consumer online privacy measure could be headed for California ballot

San Francisco Chronicle

The fight over California’s landmark internet-privacy law could soon lead to warfare between tech companies and privacy-rights advocates at the ballot box.

See also:

Who wants to leave California? Young voters can’t afford housing, and conservatives feel alienated

Los Angeles Times

Just over half of California’s registered voters have considered leaving the state, with soaring housing costs cited as the most common reason for wanting to move, according to a new poll.

Commentary: For California to thrive, Latinos must be included, and right now they’re too far behind

CALmatters

The good news is that the last decade has been better economically for Latinos living in California. But challenges persist. While Latino poverty rates are shrinking, Latinos still make up the largest ethnic group in the state who live in poverty.

Walters: A trifecta for children?

CALmatters

Gavin Newsom’s website is topped by a photo of him talking to a group of children, and he has repeatedly stressed that as a governor and a father, he considers nurturing them to be one of his highest priorities. Twice in recent weeks, Newsom has acted to protect California’s children from harm. 

 

Why Have So Many Vaping Bills Stalled In The California Legislature?

VPR

Earlier this week, the state Department of Public Health urged Californians to stop vaping immediately, less than a week after Governor Newsom signed an executive order to curb vaping among youth.

See also:

Federal:

 

California has pivotal role in impeachment inquiry

Sacramento Bee

As House Democrats launch their impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, no state will play a more pivotal role in the process than California.

See also:

 

Elections 2020:

 

‘California is wide open’: Pete Buttigieg ramps up efforts to claim progressive state

Fresno Bee

When the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, first announced his desire to become president, he was met with widespread confusion across California. Few people knew who Pete Buttigieg was, let alone why they should vote for him.

See also:

Harris opens Oakland campaign office, remains confident as poll numbers sink

San Francisco Chronicle

Some of Sen. Kamala Harris’ top hometown supporters aren’t giving up on her campaign even though polls​​ show her trailing badly in her native California — including the Bay Area,​​ where she was born and raised, and first came to prominence.

See also:

 

Democratic candidates try to campaign through an impeachment gale

Los Angeles Times

After straining all year to make their candidacies about things​​ bigger​​ than disgust with President Trump, Democratic White House hopefuls now find themselves in the thick of a primary contest abruptly upended by the party’s clamor to impeach him.

See also:

Democratic Presidential Candidates Compete to March to California’s Drum

Wall Street Journal

In the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, California has become a rallying point, with its liberal policies that frequently defy those of the Trump administration, serving as a proxy for the direction candidates would like to take the nation.

Ahead of 2020, Facebook Falls Short on Plan to Share Data on Disinformation

New York Times

In April 2018, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, told Congress about an ambitious plan to share huge amounts of posts, links and other user data with researchers around the world so that they could study and flag disinformation on the site. 

 

Did Republicans Lose Orange County for Good?

Politico

Demographic changes and an unpopular president have remade Orange County’s electoral map. Is the transformation permanent? 

EDITORIAL: Bernie’s National Rent Control

Wall Street Journal

Economists of all stripes agree rent control doesn’t work. A mere 2% think it has positive effects, according to a 2012 survey by the IGM Forum.

Other:

 

Here is an idea to keeping animal shelter services functioning in Fresno

Fresno Bee

An old conflict in Fresno has again reared its ugly head: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has given notice that it will terminate its contract with the city on June 30, 2020.

Will KMPH Fox 26 go dark for AT&T cable and DirecTV Valley customers? And when?

Fresno Bee

AT&T is in another contract dispute that could cause channel blackouts for its DirecTV and U-verse customers. The dispute would affect stations owned by the Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which includes KMPH Fox 26 and KFRE CW in Fresno, Merced and Visalia.

 

NAS Lemoore has a new skipper - Captain Douglas Peterson

abc30

Captain David James delivered a heartfelt and occasionally humorous goodbye to Navy officers on Friday, during a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Lemoore.

See also:

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

Sunday, October 6, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 –​​ Maddy Report:​​ “To Catch a Thief: Workers Comp Fraud”​​ – Guest: California State Auditor Elaine Howle. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, October 6, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) –​​ Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition:​​ “Prosecuting Workers Comp Fraud in the Valley”​​ – Guests: Manuel Jimenez (Fresno Co DA), Janelle Crandell (Stanislaus Co DA), Spencer Johnston (Tulare Co DA), Dave McKillop (Kern Co. DA). Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, October 6, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) –​​ El Informe Maddy:​​ “Workers Comp Fraud”​​ – Invitado: Margarita Fernandez, PIO State Auditor's Office. Presentado Por: Coordinadora del Programa del Maddy Institute, Maria Jeans.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

CalFresh expansion can put more food on Fresno’s tables

Fresno Bee

As of June 1, California expanded its CalFresh program. The change means hundreds of thousands of people across California who have disabilities, and older adults who receive SSI/SSP, now are eligible for CalFresh food benefits.

See also:

Almonds top grapes to become SJ’s biggest crop

Stockton Record

Agricultural production continues to be a major driver of San Joaquin County’s economy, reaching nearly $2.6 billion in gross value last year, according to the 2018 Crop Report released recently by the county’s Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.

San Joaquin Farmers Using New Technology To Increase Crop Production

Capital Public Radio

Growers are using such techniques as flying drones over orchards and fields, satellites to measure their crops, and collars for dairy cows to monitor their nutritional needs.

When deciding what foods to eat for lunch, consider climate change

Los Angeles Times

Agriculture — and the changes in land-use it necessitates — accounts for about 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions warming the planet. But not all foods have equal impacts.

 

Avocado Toast, Meet Gene Editing

New York Times

Scientists in the U.S. and Mexico have mapped the DNA of several varieties, work that could help the fruit survive the effects of climate change.

 

First cannabis retail store in Merced County celebrates its grand opening

Merced Sun-Star

The first retail cannabis store opened in Merced County on Saturday. Close to 200 people flocked to Medallion Wellness in Atwater within the first two hours after the store opened Saturday morning, according owner Michael O’Leary.

 

Lawsuit: That really could be weed growing near Arvin

Bakersfield Californian

A recent lawsuit claims private testing found samples from hemp planted in the Arvin area "significantly exceeded" the federal limit for THC, the high-inducing chemical in marijuana.

These California politicians once helped regulate legal marijuana. Now they’re working for the industry

Los Angeles Times

As California’s attorney general from 1999 to 2007, Bill Lockyer was on the inside as the state wrestled with a developing marijuana industry. But these days he’s watching the transformation from the outside, as co-founder of a licensed pot distributor in Lynwood.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

Suicides in California prisons rise despite decades of demands for reform

San Francisco Chronicle

The suicide rate inside California prisons, long one of the highest among the nation’s largest prison systems, jumped to a new peak in 2018 and remains elevated in 2019, despite​​ decades of effort by federal courts and psychiatric experts to fix a system they say is broken and putting lives at risk.

Force of Law, Episode 6: Breakdowns

CALmatters

Now that California has passed new laws meant to reduce police shootings, a key question is how much difference they’ll make in the ways officers respond to calls to help people in mental crisis.

California’s mini-Trump: Why Scott Jones is the worst Sacramento sheriff in a generation

Sacramento Bee

From his flouting of state law by redacting information regarding the conduct of his officers – information that The Sacramento Bee has sued to obtain – to his failure to release information sought by The Bee that was supposed to have been public nine months ago, Jones is in a category all his own among elected officials in Sacramento County.

 

California prison agency withholds director’s retirement party records

Sacramento Bee

The California state agency that trains prison inmates for work after release is withholding spending records related to its former general manager’s retirement party.

 

Public Safety:

Big Fresno Fair honors retiring Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer with ‘Super Hero’ sculpture

Fresno Bee

The Big Fresno Fair CEO John Alkire on Friday unveiled a new art piece honoring retiring Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer and his 40 years of service.

See also:

Visalia Police Department invites the community to National Night Out

Visalia Times Delta

On Tuesday, Visalia Police Department will host its annual Visalia’s Night Out Against Crime from 5 to 8 p.m. at Recreation Park. The event will feature food, fun and games. It is part of a national project aimed at connecting communities with their local first responders.

 

Kings County public safety employees awarded for outstanding service

Hanford Sentinel

After years of hard work and service, 15 public safety employees were honored during the Kings County Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon Friday afternoon. 

Judge orders California prisons to give light-duty to pregnant correctional officers

Merced Sun-Star

A judge on Friday ordered California prisons to make light-duty assignments available to​​ six correctional officers who sued the state​​ after they were denied common accommodations while they were pregnant.

 

EDITORIAL: Skydivers keep dying at this Lodi business. Why hasn’t it been shut down?

Merced Sun-Star

Every person who straps on a parachute and jumps out of a plane risks life and limb. But, statistically speaking, skydiving is a relatively safe activity.​​ Lightning strikes​​ kill more Americans than​​ skydiving accidents​​ every year. 

See also:

Fire: 

Merced Fire Department Starts New Paramedic Program

abc30

Firefighters in the City of Merced will soon be able to do even more to save lives during emergencies, thanks to a new rescue paramedic program that was recently approved by the City Council.

Madera County Fire Station 11 Hosts Open House Saturday

Sierra News

The firefighters and EMTs at North Fork’s Station 11 together with the North Fork Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary hosted an open house Saturday afternoon.

Prescribed burn held near reservation

Porterville Recorder

Cal Fire held a prescribed burn on the border of the southwest boundary of the Tule River Indian Reservation on Thursday.

California’s Latest Wildfire Problem: Insuring the Tree Trimmers

New York Times

Contractors crucial to clearing vegetation around power lines face higher coverage costs because of potential liability in later disasters.

 

Outages to deter wildfires burden rural California counties

AP News

When California’s largest utility warned it would cut power to thousands to prevent its equipment from starting wildfires during warm, windy weather, officials in the wealthy wine region of Sonoma County sprang into action.

ECONOMY / JOBS

 

Economy:

2019 California Economic Summit Registration Opens

CAFWD

Register 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.

See also:

Facing the hidden economic problem of California’s recovery

CAFWD

California is in the midst of the longest economic recovery in economic history, 10 years of increased growth and counting. At last report California led the way with 26 percent of national job growth this past year.

 

Forever 21 fashion chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

abc30

Low-price fashion chain Forever 21, a one-time hot destination for teen shoppers that fell victim to its own rapid expansion and changing consumer tastes, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

GM Bondholders Not Ready for ‘Panic’ as Strike Enters Third Week

Bloomberg

General Motors Co. bonds might soon slide into reverse, analysts warn, as the company’s contract negotiations with the striking United Auto Workers union head toward their third week.

 

Opinion: House Democrats Resist a Win for American Workers

Wall Street Journal

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is unambiguously a win for America. It would create new jobs, expand export markets, strengthen protections for workers, and generate billions of dollars in new prosperity. 

 

Opinion: Trump’s Middle-Class Economic Progress

Wall Street Journal

President Trump’s critics can’t deny that the economy is doing well, so instead they insist all the benefits have gone to the rich and large corporations.

 

EDITORIAL: States of Economic Comparison

Wall Street Journal

Incomes overall in America are growing smartly, but some states and regions are doing better than others. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) this week published state personal income data for the second quarter and revisions for the past three years—and the comparisons carry economic and policy lessons.

Jobs:

Gap is bringing 1,200 jobs to the Fresno area

abc30

Gap Incorporated is set to begin hiring for the 2019 holiday season which will bring more than 1,200 jobs to the Fresno area.

 

California has a new law for contract workers. But many businesses aren’t ready for change

Los Angeles Times

Now​​ Assembly Bill 5 is signed into law​​ and will take effect in January. So businesses will automatically reclassify hundreds of thousands of contractors as bona fide employees with benefits, right? Not so fast.

 

What’s the real impact of employment programs?

AEI

For the uninitiated, “active labor market policies” are the programs governments use to train workers and connect them to employment.

 

Fund more investments in non-BA workers

Brookings

Congress has until the end of the month to reach an agreement to fund the government, including many workforce and education programs that rely on those that require some postsecondary education but not a four-year degree.

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Porterville school official dies, district mourns passing of a ‘champion of education’

Fresno Bee

Porterville Unified School District​​ lost a longtime governing board trustee on Sunday. Sharon Gill died due to complications from a medical procedure, according to a statement from the district. She was 73.

See also:

 

KDMC hosts first-ever adaptive sports expo, featuring wheelchair basketball game

Visalia Times Delta

The highlight of the event was a wheelchair basketball scrimmage between the Valley Children’s Adaptive Sports Program’s team and Visalia Unified School District’s Sports Therapy, Rehabilitation, Orthopedics, and Neuromuscular Gains Academy.

Tests find carcinogen in tap water at Ripon school. Maybe it wasn’t the cell tower.

Modesto Bee

A chemical compound that is a known carcinogen was detected in the drinking water at Ripon’s Weston Elementary School last March, during the same month parents were protesting a cellular tower as the possible cause of cancer cases among students.

 

School suspension rules hurt our most vulnerable students. That’s about to change

Sacramento Bee

Earlier this month​​ Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 419, which will protect thousands of students from a vague, umbrella category of​​ suspensions known as “willful defiance” and “disruption.”

 

Delay In School Ethnic Studies Plan Would Bring More Voices To The Table

Capital Public Radio

California’s embattled plan for an ethnic-studies curriculum in public high schools — excoriated by opponents as too politically correct, too pedantic and anti-Semitic in its draft form — could soon get a reprieve.

See also:


Common Core State Standards in California: Evaluating Local Implementation and Student Outcomes

Public Policy Institute of California

In 2010, California adopted the Common Core State Standards for math and English. The new standards are part of a state effort to prepare students for college and careers in the 21st-century global economy and narrow longstanding achievement gaps.

Higher Ed:

 

California becomes first state to allow college athletes to be paid

Fresno Bee

Rejecting opposition from the NCAA, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a law allowing college athletes to be paid starting in 2023. The proposal from state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, will allow players to be compensated for their name, image and likeness.

Lyles College receives three NSF grants for nearly $800,000

Fresno State News

The National Science Foundation has awarded three grants totaling nearly $800,000 to faculty in the Lyles College of Engineering.

 

Fresno State, CSU Bakersfield, Stan State to work on STEM education

Fresno State News

Three California State University campuses in the San Joaquin Valley will work together on developing innovative teaching practices to improve student academic performance and retention in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

 

UC Merced accomplishments recognized by interim chancellor

Merced Sun-Star

At a time when national higher education is beset by admissions scandals, political winds and declining public confidence, there is a young but mighty institution in California’s Central Valley that is demonstrating everything that is right about higher education.

 

CSUB officials, students view additional high school math, science course a positive for college readiness

Bakersfield Californian

The CSU system is investigating a proposal to add one year of quantitative reasoning coursework to the "a-g" subject admission requirements.

Three CSUB students selected for prestigious scholars program

Bakersfield Californian

Three Cal State Bakersfield students have been selected for a program supporting doctoral aspirations of students who have experienced economic and educational disadvantages.

West Hills College Lemoore Asphalt Repair Project Underway

Hanford Sentinel

West Hills College Lemoore is set to begin an asphalt repair project on Monday, September 30. A contractor will be on site to repair concrete and asphalt on the east side of campus.

California’s latest undergraduate project? Providing more assistance to campus moms and dads

CALmatters

California has increased awards to up to $6,000 for UC, Cal State and community college students with children, but delays and funding limitations are making it clear that for “nontraditional” students, more must be done.

 

California’s new online community college to open Tuesday

EdSource

California’s newest two-year institution — the online-only Calbright College — opens on Tuesday and for the first time, and students will be able to register and enroll in programs that are intended to serve an entirely new adult and underemployed population.

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

Environment:

Can California and federal government work together to protect the environment? Not likely

Fresno Bee

California has been fighting a nonstop​​ political war with the federal government since the day Donald Trump​​ took office, but nowhere has the battle been more intense than on environmental and energy policy.

See also:

 

Citing ‘a way to keep doors open,’ Jerry Brown enlists China in his war on climate change

CALmatters

As the Trump administration pulls back on environmental enforcement, former Gov. Jerry Brown and China’s top climate change official have formally launched a California-China Climate Institute. Brown calls it a response to environmental "malfeasance" in Washington.  

A historic bid for limited boating at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

San Francisco Chronicle

A landmark proposal to allow rental kayaks, canoes and electric-powered boats for the first time at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park is being considered by U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, who has oversight over the national parks system.

Earth's Oceans Are Getting Hotter And Higher, And It's Accelerating

NPR

As the world's climate changes, ocean warming is accelerating and sea levels are rising more quickly, warns a new report by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The Interior Secretary Wants to Enlarge a Dam. An Old Lobbying Client Would Benefit.

New York Times

For years, the Interior Department resisted proposals to raise the height of its towering Shasta Dam in Northern California. The department’s own scientists and researchers concluded that doing so would endanger rare plants and animals in the area.

 

Energy:

 

Fresno Is Weighing Community Choice Aggregate Energy, Giving Residents Options For Their Utilities

VPR

In most Central Valley communities,​​ there’s only one electric and gas utility. And unless you have solar panels to offset some of the cost, you have no control over the rates set, which are proposed by the utility and approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Here’s a way to put people to work, reduce wildfires and generate electricity

CALmatters

California has embarked on an aggressive, unprecedented forest management effort to protect communities, assure public safety, and restore forest resiliency.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

One of Central Valley’s first AIDS activists, Cynthia Brazil Karraker, dies at 69

Fresno Bee

For Cynthia Brazil Karraker, the way to fight AIDS was clear. Karraker was one of the Valley’s first AIDS/HIV activists, the founder of the nonprofits​​ All About Care​​ and​​ Camp Care​​ and the person responsible for getting​​ the AIDS Memorial Quilt​​ displayed in Fresno. 

 

Air pollution linked to psychiatric disorders in children, study finds

abc30

It's no secret that the Central Valley has some of the worst pollution in the country, but a new study links air pollution with psychiatric disorders in children.

 

Optimism has a surprising benefit: Better heart health, study finds

abc30

Looking on the bright side is more than a tool for taking life's ups and downs in stride. An optimistic outlook is also good for your health, according to new research.

Californians strongly back vaccine law in new statewide poll

Los Angeles Times

Californians strongly support a state law creating new oversight of vaccine medical exemptions for schoolchildren in a statewide poll released Monday, with backing across a spectrum of political affiliations, income and education levels, and geography.

Why Have So Many Vaping Bills Stalled In The California Legislature?

VPR

Earlier this week, the state Department of Public Health urged Californians to stop vaping immediately, less than a week after Governor Newsom signed an executive order to curb vaping among youth.

See also:

‘Sicker than the rest of us” — More docs making house calls to people without houses

CALmatters

Homeless people who live outdoors die, on average, three decades earlier. In California locales, "street medicine" teams are trying to improve those odds.

California's Immigrants Are Making Health Care More Wholistic and Human

Zocalo Public Square

It’s an example of the health care system I think we should build—one that meets our patients’ and their families’ medical needs first, treating them at the most accessible times and most convenient places for them, and at an affordable cost.

CVS Stops Selling Zantac Products

Wall Street Journal

CVS Health Corp. has stopped selling Zantac products at its drugstores, citing a recent alert by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the popular heartburn drug could contain low levels of a probable human carcinogen.

Human Services:

Red Cross gives Central Valley an inside look 

abc30

When disasters strike, the American Red Cross responds. In a matter of hours they can set up a shelter for people impacted. On Saturday morning that's exactly what they did, at an event at River Park to raise awareness and funds. They gave people an inside look.

ER patients at Selma hospital evacuated after chemical leak scare

abc30

At least four patients are back in the emergency department at Adventist Health in Selma after a potential chemical leak. Officials say employees in the emergency department started smelling a chemical odor around 6 o'clock.

Yosemite Lakes Park Hosts Inaugural Safety & Health Fair

Sierra News

Public safety agencies, nonprofit groups and businesses came together Saturday to promote a positive message at the First Annual Yosemite Lakes Park Safety & Health Fair.

Springville Community Blood Drive set

Porterville Recorder

The Springville Community Blood will be held on Wednesday, October 2 from 3 to 5:30 p.m/ at the Springville Veterans Memorial Building. 

 

Emotional Support May Help Reduce Health Disparities, Says Study Of Valley Cancer Survivors

VPR

The study, which enrolled roughly 50 women from the Visalia area from 2016-2017, involved weekly 1-on-1 meetings between participants land trained breast cancer survivors referred to as compañeras, or “companions”.

Even In Deep Blue California, Medi-Cal Expansion For Undocumented Doesn’t Sit Well With Some

Capital Public Radio

Although Democrats in the Golden State were largely united in granting taxpayer-funded health benefits eligibility to undocumented adults ages 19-25, others complain that it comes at the expense of citizen needs.

 

Trying to shop for medical care? Lots of luck with that

Los Angeles Times

Deductibles have more than tripled over the last decade for people who get insurance through their jobs, but the promised consumer revolution never materialized.

 

Community Health Centers Teeter on Financial Cliff, Courtesy of Congress

Pew Trusts

As happened in 2017, Congress is on the precipice of failing to meet the Sept. 30 deadline for reauthorizing the Community Health Center Fund that supports nearly 1,400 community health centers, which treat more than 27 million predominately poor patients.

Purdue Pharma family profits from sale of ski resorts in regions plagued by opioid addiction

Washington Post

Mitchell Yeaton is battling a wave of opioid addiction from his counseling center in New Hampshire ski country, just a short drive from two winter resorts that are engines of the local economy, Atti­tash and Wildcat.

IMMIGRATION

 

Judge blocks plan that would have allowed indefinite detention of migrant families

abc30

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's plan that would have allowed the government to detain undocumented families with children indefinitely.

See also:

 

Tijuana’s call centers offer a lifeline to deportees struggling to live in Mexico

Los Angeles Times

Call centers in Tijuana are booming and deportees who spent most of their lives living in the United States are a large part of that growth.  

 

California may ban private prisons. What would that mean for ICE detainees?

San Francisco Chronicle

California would become the first state in the country to shut down privately run federal immigration detention facilities under a bill awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature — but even the measure’s supporters say it could impose hardships on some detainees.

 

Immigrants afraid of Trump’s ‘public charge’ rule are dropping food stamps, MediCal

CALmatters

A looming change in what is known as the "public charge" rule is sowing confusion and fear within the immigrant community, causing many people to abandon programs they need for fear of retaliation from immigration authorities.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

Rio Bravo didn't win the university but it kept the character

Bakersfield Californian

We all know how Miller-Nickel vs. Kern County Land Co., the sequel, turned out. Today, CSUB's presence is the single biggest reason west Bakersfield has grown and thrived as it has — and Rio Bravo, despite its attractive vistas and more temperate climate, has largely remained a rural basin of scattered settlements.

 

For this Idaho candidate, the enemy is California exodus

San Jose Mercury News

Wayne Richey, candidate for mayor in Boise, Idaho, wants to save his native city from an invasive species — Californians. Get rid of West Coast amenities. No more bike paths. Deep-six a proposed $100 million library. Shred plans for a new minor league ballpark. And slap new buyers with higher property taxes.

The Lessons of Fresno's Ingenious Underground Gardens

Zocalo Public Square

In our search for inspiring new ideas for solving California’s housing crisis, we must dig deeper. We must take our cues from Archimedes, “Give me a place on which to stand, and I will move the earth.”

 

EDITORIAL: Sacramento’s Capitol Mall is home to a giant, gaping hole. When will CalPERS fill it?

Sacramento Bee

The​​ CalPERS hole in the Capitol Mall​​ may not be dense, black and sucking energy from space, but it’s beginning to feel like it may be turning into a black hole.

 

Housing:

 

Throwing people in jail on drug charges? That’s Bakersfield’s idea to fight homelessness

Los Angeles Times

In Bakersfield, officials are considering a more radical approach: They want to put homeless people in jail for misdemeanor drug offenses and potentially for trespassing.

 

Fresno apartment rents rose over the past year. Here’s how much more it costs now

Fresno Bee

Market-rate rents in Fresno’s large apartment complexes climbed by more than 6 percent over the past 12 months, but prices remain some of the lowest among California cities in the latest monthly report by​​ RentCafe.com.

 

Chowchilla officials applaud Senate Bill 5, urge Governor Newsom to sign it

Madera Tribune

The City of Chowchilla thanked members of the Legislature for passing Senate Bill 5 (Beall, McGuire, Portantino), a bill that establishes a state partnership with cities and counties to provide ongoing, sustainable funding to subsidize affordable housing in the City of Chowchilla and communities throughout the state. 

The missing middle: a local housing solution

Bakersfield Californian

While observing homes from the street in a single-family neighborhood, you would never know that a residence has a so-called “granny flat” in the back. The longer-term renters or vacationers come and go quietly, woven into the fabric of the neighborhood.

Tenants could work with landlords to take in homeless people under new California law

Sacramento Bee

California tenants will have a new avenue to take in people at risk of homelessness with permission from their landlord under a new law taking effect next year.  The measure is one of 13 bills Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Thursday.

See also:

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Did the Kern County Fair grossly mismanage taxpayer funds for years?

Bakersfield Californian

A state audit says the organizers of a county fair grossly mismanaged public funds and violated state law multiple times, while a local television station claims those charges involve the Kern County Fair.

See also:

 

Commentary: The Treasury’s Housing Plan Would Pave the Way for Another Financial Crisis

National Review

Treasury’s plan for releasing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from their conservatorships is missing only one thing: a good reason for doing it. The dangers the two companies will create for the U.S. economy will far outweigh whatever benefits Treasury sees.

 

Social Security: Raising or Eliminating the Taxable Earnings Base

Congressional Research Service

Social Security taxes are levied on covered earnings up to a maximum level set each year. In 2019, this maximum—formally called the contribution and benefit base, and commonly referred to as the taxable earnings base or the taxable maximum—is $132,900.

TRANSPORTATION

 

Visalia DMV reopens

Visalia Times Delta

The Department of Motor Vehicles office reopened on Friday in Visalia — two weeks after customers and employees were evacuated due to​​ mold found in the building.

It’s fair to bag on California’s high-speed rail. But don’t forget how it benefits Fresno

Fresno Bee

I may be a vocal bullet train supporter — mainly for the economic benefits it can bring to this region — but I’m not a Kool-Aid drinker. The “government waste” critique is fair and accurate.

 

You have one year to get a California Real ID. Here’s what you need to know

Sacramento Bee

The clock is ticking for the millions of Californians who have yet to visit the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to get a federally mandated Real ID card. Starting Oct. 1, 2020, people across the United States will need the special card to board airplanes.

Auto Makers Set to Meet With Justice Department on Antitrust Probe

Wall Street Journal

Car makers facing a federal antitrust probe for their auto emissions deal with California will meet with the Justice Department next week, according to people familiar with the matter, as the department itself faces questions about its decision to press an issue with political overtones.

 

WATER

Potentially harmful chemical found in drinking water for 7.5 million people: Report

abc30

A potentially harmful chemical has been found in drinking water systems that serve about 7.5 million California residents, according to a report by a nonprofit.

 

Trump Administration Blames Homeless For California's Water Pollution

Capital Public Radio

California leaders called these claims "political retribution" and denied that the homeless crisis is affecting environmental issues.

 

Bakersfield's water usage drops as residents' behavior become more efficient

Bakersfield Californian

So far in 2019, city residents have saved 3,348 acre feet of water compared to 2013 quantities. Cumulatively, the city has cut water usage by nearly 12 percent since 2013, an average year before drought struck the state.

“Xtra”

 

President's Lecture Series welcomes Robert Costa back on Tuesday

Fresno State News

Robert Costa, a national political reporter with The Washington Post and moderator for PBS’s “Washington Week,” will return for the President’s Lecture Series at Fresno State, where he will offer insights on President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Congress and the 2020 presidential election.

What’s inside Modesto’s new Save Mart store? Get a peek before it opens this week

Modesto Bee

For Modesto-based grocery giant Save Mart, the answers are in its new flagship store built from the ground up on the corner of Oakdale Road and Sylvan Avenue. They include new complimentary services, an in-store restaurant that serves beer and wine, and increased self-serve hot and cold take-home options.

 

Hillcrest Pumpkin Patch open for Halloween season

abc30

One of the Valley's favorite October traditions is back open this weekend. The Hillcrest Pumpkin Patch is ready for Halloween season. You can wander the patch or book hay rides and picnics from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekend until October 27.

See also:

Valley law enforcement agencies selling pink patches for cancer patients

abc30

In October, local law enforcement officers will honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month by both wearing and selling pink patches. Money raised will go to the Marjorie Radin Breast Care Center at Clovis Community Medical Center.

 

Kern County Fair wraps up after raucous two weeks

Bakersfield Californian

The food, the fun and the Kern County Fair draws to a close this weekend. On Saturday, many flocked to the fairgrounds for a last go at the sights and sounds that make up the annual tradition.

 

Nominations being accepted for 2020 Wendy Wayne Ethics Awards

Bakersfield Californian

The Kegley Institute of Ethics at Cal State Bakersfield is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Wendy Wayne Ethics Awards.

Gandhi’s grandson spreads message of nonviolence in Bakersfield

Bakersfield Californian

When Arun Gandhi was a boy, he lived and worked with his grandfather, the legendary civil rights leader Mohandas K. Gandhi. On Saturday, he traveled to Bakersfield to spread the seeds of the lessons he learned across the city.

 

Lopez: How league football titles appear to be shaping up in the Stanislaus District

Modesto Bee

Week 6 in the Stanislaus District wasn’t great ... if you are a fan of competitive games. Fifteen of the 18 games in our immediate coverage area were decided by 10 points or more with seven being decided by 35 or more.


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