POLICY & POLITIC
Valley:
Hanford Sentinel
John Cox, Republican candidate for governor, was in Hanford on Thursday to talk about the California high-speed rail, or as he likes to call it, “slow-speed boondoggle.”
A violation of our democratic rights
Madera Tribune
There has been quite a bit of controversy during the City of Madera council meetings since late last year. Concerns arose when community members started seeing their service fees (such as water) increase, while our administrators appeared to be getting overpaid compared to their counterparts in cities with similar demographics.
Why haven’t we seen Tom Berryhill campaigning or voting?
Modesto Bee
Has anyone seen Tom Berryhill lately?
CNBC
Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, may have the bull's-eye on his back from Democrats, but he's in a district in California's Central Valley that's consistently voted 63 percent or above to keep him in Congress for nearly two decades.
State:
McCarthy leads GOP charge against Silicon Valley
TheHill
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is leading the charge against President Trump’s new favorite punching bag: big tech.
Gay conversion therapy bill dropped by California lawmaker
The Sacramento Bee
The author of a California bill to declare gay conversion therapy a fraudulent business practice has abandoned his effort for this year after a fierce outcry from the state’s religious community.
Some good news, and lots of bad, from state legislative session
Bakersfield Californian
Last week the California Legislature wrapped up another two-year session, so it’s time to start counting the wins and losses.
CA Lawmakers pass bill guaranteeing Net Neutrality despite opposition from internet providers
ABC30
California lawmakers passed a bill Friday that would guarantee Net Neutrality. The state Senate approved the measure in a 27 to 12 vote over stiff opposition from internet service providers.
See Also:
California Lawmakers Pass Net Neutrality Rules, Sending Bill To Governor Capital Public Radio
California lawmakers vote to pass toughest net neutrality law in the nation Washington Post
California lawmakers pass bill designed to combat President Trump's tax plan
Los Angeles Times
State legislators approved a measure Friday that aims to help California taxpayers who face larger federal tax payments following the Trump administration’s recent overhaul.
As the legislative year ends, the #MeToo movement shows its influence
Los Angeles Times
After the #MeToo wave crashed upon the Capitol’s granite steps last fall, the issue of sexual harassment seeped into nearly every corner of California’s legislative landscape.
California bill banning sale of animal-tested cosmetics goes to governor after last-minute changes shrink its scope
Los Angeles Times
A proposal that passed the California Legislature on Friday would impose the nation’s strictest laws on animal testing for cosmetics.
Last stop: On these 2018 California bills, it’s the governor’s call
CALmatters
Democrats lost their supermajority early in the year when three lawmakers stepped down facing sexual harassment accusations. Then in June, voters recalled Democratic state Sen. Josh Newman because he had supported a hike in the gas tax. The chaos made it a bad year for brokering big deals.
An election? We prefer to call it a job interview.
CALmatters
If you’re a registered voter in California, you have a few decisions to make. As a member of one of the world’s largest hiring boards, you and 8 to 15 million of your fellow Californians will decide who ought to run our state.
EDITORIAL: Bail, energy, net neutrality: 3 ways Sacramento gambled with California's future
San Diego Union-Tribune
The state Legislature wrapped up its annual session in a sprint that saw it pass boldly liberal legislation on bail reform, renewable energy and net neutrality. On these hugely important issues, California may inspire other states to follow its lead. Or not.
Federal:
Despite Democrats' opposition, Kavanaugh hearings on track for Tuesday
ABC30
Despite efforts by most Senate Democrats to protest his nomination and delay his confirmation hearings, Judge Brett Kavanaugh is set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday to make the case he belongs on the Supreme Court.
See Also:
Democrats raise alarm over White House decision to withhold Kavanaugh documents ABC30
Brett Kavanaugh won’t be pawn of Trump, predicts GOP stalwart John Yoo San Francisco Chronicle
Trump administration withholds 100,000 pages of Kavanaugh records CBS News
Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, goes before GOP-dominated Senate Judiciary Committee Los Angeles Times
The Kavanaugh hearings don’t have to be an exercise in futility Los Angeles Times
Brett Kavanaugh’s Record Shows Push to Restrain the Regulatory State WSJ
The Case That Shaped Brett Kavanaugh’s Thinking on Presidential Power WSJ
It’s Kavanaugh Week on the Hill. Here’s What to Expect The Hill
Sens. Dianne Feinstein, Kamala Harris have agendas in Brett Kavanaugh hearings San Francisco Chronicle
Key Question in Senate Hearings: Would Kavanaugh Overturn Supreme Court Precedents? WSJ
EDITORIAL: Kavanaugh confirmation presents a stress test for judiciary San Francisco Chronicle
FBI to political campaigns: Up your 'cyber hygiene'
ABC30
The initiative, called Protected Voices, is part of a larger online effort by the bureau to educate campaigns and the public about cyberattacks.
Trump attacks Sessions, suggests DOJ hurt GOP in midterms
Sacramento Bee
President Donald Trump escalated his attacks on Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Monday, suggesting the Department of Justice put Republicans in midterm jeopardy with recent indictments of two GOP congressmen.
See Also:
Trump levels a new blast at Sessions for not shielding indicted GOP lawmakers, including Hunter Los Angeles Times
Trump attacks union leader on Labor Day
Los Angeles Times
President Trump started his Labor Day with an attack on a top union leader, lashing out after criticism from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.
See also:
Who do you trust? Trump's attacks take a toll on his own credibility, as well as the media's
Los Angeles Times
As President Trump stokes the fires of doubt with attacks on much of the media as “fake news” and “enemies of the people,” the nature of the news bubbles into which Americans have sorted themselves has taken on increased importance.
How Trump Betrays ‘Forgotten’ Americans
New York Times
From the Supreme Court to labor organizing rules, the president undermines workers’ greatest champions.
Road Ahead: The House Is Back, Looking for Deals on Spending and Farm Bill
Roll Call
Lawmakers return with hearings headlined by Supreme Court nomination, social media.
Why Republican Candidates Aren’t Getting Asked Who They’d Back for Speaker
Roll Call
Democratic candidates constantly get asked about Pelosi, but Republicans are rarely questioned about McCarthy, Jordan
Trump wrongly claims Google shunned speech
AP
President Donald Trump is wrongly claiming that Google shunned his State of the Union speech
Trump's baseless claim of 'fudged' NBC tape
AP
President Donald Trump is making a baseless charge that NBC News somehow doctored an interview
Memories of 2006 Fuel Democrats’ Midterm Hopes
WSJ
As crucial midterm elections approached, Democrats were upbeat, their prospects buoyed by the Republican president’s low job-approval ratings. They tried to expand that advantage by charging that the Republicans running Washington were mired in a culture of corruption.
Poll: Democrats regain clear advantage in midterms shaping up as referendum on President Trump
Washington Post
Two months ahead of the midterm elections, Democrats hold a clear advantage over Republicans in congressional vote support, with antipathy toward President Trump fueling Democratic enthusiasm, even among those in the party who stayed home four years ago, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds.
See also:
Polling Places Remain a Target Ahead of November Elections
PEW center
In the five years since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key parts of the Voting Rights Act, nearly a thousand polling places have been shuttered across the country, many of them in southern black communities.
EDITORIAL: The paradox of rising globalism fueling rising nationalism
Los Angeles Times
If there is one inarguable truth about the state of the modern world, it’s that industries and national economies have become so globalized that there is no turning back, no matter how many tariffs President Trump slaps on imports or how hard he tries to rewrite trade deals. But there’s another inarguable truth, too.
Other:
After 70 years, Tulare County's KTIP radio faces uncertain future
Visalia Times-Delta
Local news radio station KTIP AM 1450 has parted ways with longtime station operations manager and lead on-air personality Kent Hopper, he announced on Facebook Thursday.
From The Editor: Coverage of our area is vital, and comes with a cost
Modesto Bee
In recent weeks, The Modesto Bee has drawn the ire of some of our non-subscribing readers.
From radio to Snapchat: Parents fret technology through the ages
Stockton Record
History tells us that adults have worried about their kids’ fascination with new-fangled entertainment and technology since the days of dime novels, radio, the first comic books and rock n’ roll.
Los Angeles Times
Facebook, Google, and Twitter find themselves on the defensive from both ends of the political spectrum. And they have no one to blame but themselves, critics say.
College Football’s Growing Problem: Empty Seats
WSJ
Announced attendance dropped 3.2% in football’s top division last season, but schools’ ticket scans show even fewer fans in stands.
Transcript: Phone call between President Trump and journalist Bob Woodward
The Washington Post
Bob Woodward, an associate editor at The Washington Post, sought an interview with President Trump as he was writing “Fear,” a book about Trump's presidency.
John McCain Honored As A Principled Politician, Beloved Father At Washington Funeral
Capital Public Radio
Meghan McCain and former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush were among the speakers at Saturday's service at the Washington National Cathedral, the culmination of a week of public mourning.
See also:
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
State Democratic head walks back controversial In-N-Out tweet. ‘There is no boycott’
Fresno Bee
There’s no real boycott of In-N-Out, says California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman, who tweeted about the CA burger company’s donation to the Republican Party. He visited Fresno on Labor Day.
See Also:
What’s California Democrats’ beef with In-N-Out Burger? We explain in less than a minute Fresno Bee
In-N-Out boycott doesn't hit home with Valley faithfuls Visalia Times-Delta
In-N-Out devotees shrugged off a boycott. Now California's Democratic Party leader is backing down Los Angeles Times
Are we done boycotting In-N-Out yet? California Democrats have better things to do The Modesto Bee
EDITORIAL: In-N-Out boycott a silly symbol of the times San Diego Union Tribune
Watch the efficiency of a prune harvest happening now in the Sacramento Valley
Fresno Bee
Filter Farms in Sullivan, California, north of Yuba City, CA, has begun the prune harvest. The fruit is being harvested all around the Sacramento Valley.
Ag leaders of tomorrow being taught in novel Valley program
Fresno Bee
A class of 124 graduates from Wonderful Ag Career Prep is demonstrating the power of high school that combines college and career preparation in the San Joaquin Valley.
New UFW president — just the third, and a woman — rolls up her sleeves
Bakersfield Californian
Since being named president, Teresa Romero has been constantly been reminded that she -- a woman, and an immigrant at that -- will be the next president of a decades-old labor and social movement.
North Coast grape growers depend on foreign workers and machines for annual harvest
The Press Democrat
Under a cloudly marine layer, workers were out Thursday morning at Martinelli Winery’s Zio Tony Ranch in Sebastopol, methodically picking pinot noir grapes to go into premium rosé wine available to buy next spring.
The paradox of irrigation efficiency
ScienceMag.org
Reconciling higher freshwater demands with finite freshwater resources remains one of the great policy dilemmas. Given that crop irrigation constitutes 70% of global water extractions, which contributes up to 40% of globally available calories
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Kern County Sheriff’s Office to receive grant to fight alcohol-related crime
Bakersfield Californian
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to battle alcohol-related crime.
Wave of gun crimes keep Stockton police scrambling
Stockton Record
An exceptional number of reported gun incidents kept police officers on the move throughout the city Sunday afternoon into early Monday. But fortunately only two gunshots were fired in one of the incidents and no one was reported injured.
California's 'cautionary tale' for others considering no cash bail system
Visalia Times-Delta
A decision by California lawmakers has the potential to alter the criminal justice system in the state, forever. It is the first of its kind in the nation.
See Also:
Is eliminating money bail system a double-edged sword for Merced County defendants? Merced Sun-Star
Bail bonds industry facing obsolescence under law eliminating cash bail Bakersfield Californian
Bail reform ‘a step forward’ ... depending Stockton Record
Bail agents face death sentence in California San Diego Union-Tribune
EDITORIAL: California's bail bond empire strikes back Los Angeles Times
Bail reform bill stretches the 72-hour notice law CALmatters
Feds and local law enforcement target ‘MS-13’ gang in Fresno County
The Modesto Bee
Local, state and federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations were in the community of San Joaquin on Thursday interviewing people taken into custody following a raid against alleged MS-13 gang members in Mendota, The Bee has learned.
Jury says Los Banos police officer used ‘unreasonable force’ in deadly shooting
Merced Sun-Star
A Sacramento jury found Los Banos Officer Jairo Acosta used unreasonable force when he fired the second of two shots that killed 43-year-old Sonny Lam in 2013.
California could soon limit who can be charged with felony murder
Los Angeles Times
California lawmakers have sent a proposal to the governor that would widely limit who can be charged under the felony murder rule, which allows defendants to be convicted of first-degree murder if a victim dies during the commission of a felony, even if the defendant did not intend to kill or did not know a homicide occurred.
Public Safety:
Bartenders asked to pore over course instead of just pour drinks to stop DUIs
Modesto Bee
The bartender who pours you a drink could be the same bartender who saves your life, or someone else’s, thanks to a new program launched by the state to curb drunk driving.
Los Angeles Times
Endorsing a dramatic departure from decades of secrecy surrounding policing in the state, California lawmakers have moved to undo some of the nation’s strictest rules keeping law enforcement records confidential, particularly involving officer killings of civilians.
PolitiFact statements about Guns
PolitiFact
Recent statements involving guns.
More U.S. Cities Brace for ‘Inevitable’ Hackers
WSJ
Hackers are constantly probing for “the one flaw overlooked” in Houston’s computer networks, said the official responsible for safeguarding the fourth-largest U.S. city’s system.
Fire:
ABC30
The California legislature also approved a measure that would allow higher electricity bills to pay off lawsuits stemming from last year's deadly wildfires.
See Also:
California lawmakers decided to give utilities a break after wildfires Merced Sun-Star
After feeling the burn from constituents, California lawmakers decide to change how the state addresses wildfires Los Angeles Times
California lawmakers ratify new efforts at wildfire prevention and assessing who's responsible Los Angeles Times
What The Heck Is In California’s Wildfire Liability Rule That Lawmakers Just Passed? Capital Public Radio
California approves measure to pass on wildfire costs APnews
California Passes Bill to Rescue Utility Facing Fire Costs WSJ
Grants towards future of eastern Madera County announced at Wheeler’s town hall meeting
Sierra Star
With the memory of the Ferguson Fire fresh in the community’s mind on, fire safety was the focus of Madera County District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler’s latest town hall on Thursday.
Study Shows Health, Reaction-Time Declines In Firefighters
Capital Public Radio
An ongoing health-monitoring study on firefighters involved wrist-worn motion monitors and body composition measurements.
California's response to record wildfires: shift to 100% clean energy
The Guardian
In America today, it’s rare to see political leaders respond to a threat with an appropriate evidence-based policy solution. At the national level, more often we see actions that aggravate existing problems or create new ones. California – the country’s most populous and economically powerful state – has been a welcome exception.
Expert Views: Managing Wildfires to Protect Water Resources
News Deeply
Researchers weigh in on the complex relationship between forest and water management in a region increasingly threatened by both wildfires and drought.
Thinning California’s fire-prone forests: 5 things to know as lawmakers approve a plan
CALmatters
With wildfires smoldering all over California, prevention has risen to the top of lawmakers’ agenda. A key to making forests more fire-resistant is to thin tree stands and thus reduce the fuel that propels the blazes—a reality the Legislature acknowledged late Friday by approving a proposal that includes $200 million for that purpose.
EDITORIAL: Climate change is going to make wildfires worse. Cutting trees and controlled burns can help
Los Angeles Times
Californians are already facing long fire seasons and record-setting blazes that have scorched the landscape and created clouds of soot. But this is just a hint of what’s to come as the planet gets hotter.
EDITORIAL: If we intend to clear the homeless from fire danger zones, then we need to have housing for them
Los Angeles Times
The danger of fire has never been more constant in this area, so it’s vital that we not allow homeless encampments to be a source of ignition.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
Five industries expected to fuel Valley growth by 2024
Fresno Bee
As the Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, the San Joaquin Valley is poised to benefit from more than 100,000 job openings in five key industries over the next six years.
US consumer confidence rises to 18-year high
APnews
Americans’ consumer confidence rose in August to the highest level in nearly 18 years as their assessment of current conditions improved further and their expectations about the future rebounded.
Economy’s Surge Cuts Uneven Path in Districts
WSJ
Growth lifts GOP candidates in some tight races, but tariffs, taxes and local factors leave others vulnerable
U.S., Canada Pass Friday Deadline With No Nafta Deal
WSJ
The countries agree to continue talks next week rather than break off negotiations, aiming to keep Canada in the three-way trade pact.
See also:
AFL–CIO president: 'Hard to see' new NAFTA deal without Canada
UPI
The president of the largest union federation in the United States said Sunday that a reworked North American Free Trade Agreement would require Canada's involvement.
See also:
When Machines (and Humans) Decide to Sell at Once
WSJ
On Feb. 5, the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its worst one-day point-decline in history amid a tumultuous week for global markets. Although the blue-chip index has since erased that loss, some investors are still trying to puzzle out what caused such a drop.
Stocks’ Return to Records Paves Way for Volatile Autumn
WSJ
U.S. stocks are back at all-time highs after a dizzying August rally, prompting some investors to fear a reckoning heading into what historically has been a weak stretch for markets.
Am I Paying Too Little for Stuff?
WSJ
From New York to San Francisco, lunch prices are starting to get ridiculous. Most days I cruise past $13 salads and $14 ramen before landing at a Chick Fil-a or Chipotle.
Jobs:
Now that Amazon and Ulta are open, what jobs will be coming to the Valley?
Fresno Bee
The San Joaquin Valley is poised to benefit from more than 100,000 job openings in five key industries over the next six years. In Fresno County, the job market has been marked in the early and middle stages of 2018 by the opening of two major retail distribution centers.
Perspectives vary on what constitutes Kern County's top 5 jobs
Bakersfield Californian
A good job can be defined as the position that pays best, or it can be the position that's easiest to get in a pinch. Or, it may just be steady employment that lasts.
Los Angeles Times
The Labor Question is back, big-time. The term came into use around the turn of the 20th century; it was a shorthand way of asking: What should be done about the working class’ smoldering discontent in the wake of industrialization?
Hundreds of hotel workers march in SF for better pay
San Francisco Chronicle
Hundreds of demonstrators descended on the Westin St. Francis hotel to demand better pay and stronger job protections for Marriott International hotel employees.
More 55-plus workers delaying retirement, but how hard is it to get a job?
San Diego Union-Tribune
With a master’s degree in computer science and 30 years experience working for technology companies, Tom Middleton had little doubt he would soon find new employment after losing his job a decade ago as a software engineering manager at San Diego’s Kyocera.
Unions enjoy big clout, but membership declining
CALmatters
The 2016-18 legislative session, which ended last week, provided more proof of the symbiotic relationship between California’s labor unions and the Legislature’s Democratic majority.
Trump’s fight against federal workers and the health of labor unions
PBS NewsHour
The Trump administration has been ramping up pressure on organized labor and federal workers lately.
Where did our raises go? To health care.
Washington Post
It’s wages vs. health benefits. On this Labor Day, just about everything seems to be going right for typical American workers, with the glaring and puzzling exception of wage stagnation. The unemployment rate is 3.9 percent, near its lowest since 2000. The number of new jobs exceeds the peak in 2008 by about 11 million. Then there’s wage stagnation.
CALmatters
Lawmakers extended a subsidy aimed at improving battery technology, at a cost of $166 million per year.
Appeals Court Revives Minimum-Wage Fight in Clash Between State, Federal Law
LAW
Marriott's lawyers at Seyfarth Shaw had removed the case to California federal district court, arguing the claims were pre-empted by federal laws that govern collective bargaining. The appeals court revived the suit, and ordered the case to return to state court.
How Is the Mortality Gap Affecting Social Security Progressivity?
Center for Retirement Research at Boston College
Brief’s key findings.
Parents’ Jobs Increasingly Shape How Far Kids Get in Life
WSJ
The American Dream of upward social mobility is less common than once thought, and it has become increasingly difficult for workers to to achieve in recent decades, according to new study.
WSJ
The United States faces two significant challenges: too few workers in a private economy with millions of open positions and too many workers in a public sector generating an expected federal deficit this year of $804 billion. If only there were an obvious solution that could somehow address both problems.
EDITORIAL: This Labor Day, don’t fear the gig economy
San Diego Union-Tribune
This Labor Day, maybe workers shouldn’t fear the future. Maybe they should look to it with relish. After decades of declining clout, workers may be in position to demand — and get — a better deal.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Statistics to keep city future bleak
Madera Tribune
The newspaper USA Today has named Madera the 14th-worst city in the United States — and the worst in California — in which to rear a child.
DeVos: Schools have 'flexibility' to arm teachers with federal funds
ABC30
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos says local officials can decide for themselves if they want to use federal funds to arm teachers with guns.
Superintendent candidates agree on need to review California’s charter school law
EdSource
The two candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction agree that the time has come to review California’s quarter-century-old charter school law, while disagreeing over how best to handle the impact of charter school growth on the financial health of school districts.
The School Shootings That Weren't
NPR
How many times per year does a gun go off in an American school? We should know. But we don't.
Candidates for state schools’ chief spar over giving teachers in tough classrooms extra pay
CALmatters
In their contest to become the next state schools’ chief, candidates Tony Thurmond and Marshall Tuck clashed today over charter schools, the achievement gap and the state’s system on funding public schools. But their debate in Sacramento grew especially heated over whether to pay teachers more in low-income districts.
CALmatters
Armed officers won’t patrol schools in California, as one bill proposed in the emotional aftermath of last year’s Parkland, Fla. shooting. And most districts likely will say thanks but no thanks to a Trump administration official’s remark that federal education funds can be used to arm teachers.
Don’t spend it all in one place, kids
CALmatters
The state budget signed in by Gov. Jerry Brown in June lays out $11,640 per pupil, an overall increase of $4,633 since 2011, when the state began to emerge from recession and Brown came in.
Where chronic student absence is a problem and strategies to make progress
Brookings
Many students across America head back to the classroom this week, and in the weeks and months that follow, some will miss so many days of school it jeopardizes their academic success.
Higher Ed:
New program removes barriers for future South Valley teachers
Hanford Sentinel
A new California State University, Fresno Visalia Campus program will allow students to earn a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and a multiple subject teaching credential in four years without having to leave the South Valley.
Inmates aim to move beyond past mistakes with BC program
Bakersfield Californian
The first group of inmates at Kern Valley are participating in a new program that Bakersfield College started in spring 2015 called Inmate Scholars. As part of the program, BC professors teach classes directly to inmates in various prisons in Kern County.
Cal State Bakersfield ranks high nationally for master's degree programs
The Bakersfield Californian
In a new report by the magazine Washington Monthly, Cal State Bakersfield was ranked No. 5 in the top universities across the nation for master’s degrees, a significant jump from its No. 10 rank last year and a far cry from No. 87 in 2015.
University of California nears funding tipping point
University World News
After years of sagging funding and rising enrolment, the University of California (UC) system is nearing a ‘tipping point’ where it cannot continue to grow with California’s population and labour needs without seeking new revenues and state reinvestment.
A California community college adopts a New York model that doubled graduation rates
EdSource
California is looking outside its borders for a proven approach to improving community college completion.
California Today: A New Home for the Study of Politics
New York Times
There is a history of political consultants leaving Washington after a tour of duty and heading west, to try their hand at California politics or even Hollywood screenwriting. Two prominent examples of this diaspora are Mike Murphy, a Republican, whose clients included the late Senator John S. McCain of Arizona, and Bob Shrum, a Democrat, a longtime speechwriter for the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts.
The Government’s ‘Predatory’ College-Loan Program
National Review
Leftists usually reserve the word “predatory” for private lending they don’t like, especially quick “payday” loans. But did you know that the feds are running a college lending program that also gets that description?
UCLA's infatuation with diversity is a costly diversion from its true mission
Los Angeles Times
If Albert Einstein applied for a professorship at UCLA today, would he be hired? The answer is not clear. Starting this fall, all faculty applicants to UCLA must document their contributions to “equity, diversity and inclusion.”
My turn: Extend community colleges’ 4-year degree program
CALmatters
The community college baccalaureate movement is reaching a crucial juncture in California. Two years after a limited number of community colleges began offering bachelor’s degrees in applied workforce preparation areas, a sunset provision is threatening to reverse the program’s success.
Is the Decline in the Humanities Overstated?
PPIC
While there has been a strong increase in STEM degrees awarded at California colleges and universities over the past 16 years, many have noted a decline in student interest in the humanities. Colleges have adjusted their offerings to reflect changes in student demand, and some observers have questioned whether liberal arts colleges can sustain their enrollments in the face of diminishing student interest.
Ten Things They Didn’t Tell You at Freshman Orientation
WSJ
Learn how to be a good American, challenge your teachers, study a language, and tackle hard subjects.
EDITORIAL: Betsy DeVos sides with predatory for-profit colleges over America's students
Los Angeles Times
The future of the nation’s economy and the ability of its citizens to earn a decent living increasingly depend on having an educated population, with more people getting at least some college education after high school.
Apprenticeships:
U.S. Department Of Labor Announces Apprenticeship.Gov
U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of a new digital platform, Apprenticeship.gov. This innovative web portal features an Apprenticeship Finder tool that offers career seekers a platform to search for apprenticeships by city, state and occupation, as well as connects job seekers to high-skilled, high-paying careers.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
Triple digits not in rear-view mirror, yet
Visalia Times-Delta
Although Central Valley temperatures have been creeping out of the triple digits, the days of 100-degree temperatures may not be out of sight.
Will Gov. Brown outlaw mile-long swordfish nets that kill marine mammals?
San Francisco Chronicle
Fishing gear that is responsible for the unintentional deaths of dozens of marine mammals every year will be phased out under a new bill passed by the state Legislature and awaiting the governor’s signature.
California is a global model for climate policy. Should it be?
CALmatters
This CALmatters PolicyMatters panel discussion will explore the state’s ambitious and experimental policies to reduce greenhouse gases.
See also:
California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment
CA.gov
California’s Climate Change Assessments contribute to the scientific foundation for understanding climate-related vulnerability at the local scale and informing resilience actions, while also directly informing State policies, plans, programs, and guidance, to promote effective and integrated action to safeguard California from climate change.
A Summer of Megafires and Trump’s Non-Rules on Climate Change
The New Yorker
Against an infernal backdrop of widespread wildfires, the Administration announced its plan to roll back rules limiting greenhouse-gas emissions from power plants.
Sherwin-Williams Lands in Trouble Over 114-Year-Old Paint Ad
WSJ
Paint makers petition Supreme Court to intervene after California court ruled the firms promoted hazardous lead paint for years
Environmentalists Need to Get Real
WSJ
The problem isn’t climate-change denial. It’s doubt that activists have the answers.
Energy:
Trump’s rollback of pollution rules to hit coal country hard
Sacramento Bee
An analysis done by Trump’s own Environmental Protection Agency concludes that his plan would lead to a greater number of people here dying prematurely, and suffering health problems that they otherwise would not have, than elsewhere in the country, when compared to health impacts of the Obama plan.
California wants 100% clean power by 2045. Wishful thinking?
San Francisco Chronicle
In the past decade, California has tripled its use of renewable power, raising wind turbines above hills and plugging vast fields of solar panels into the grid. That may have been the easy part.
See Also:
California is poised to be the world’s largest economy with a zero-emissions goal Quartz
California wants 100 percent renewables by 2045. Easier said than done San Francisco Chronicle
California Cannot Run on Electricity Alone Fox & Hounds
California Lawmakers Scuttle Bill for One Western Power Grid Bloomberg
In California, Facts and Science Still Matter
The New York Times
People who worry about climate change have been in a state of high anxiety about President Trump’s ignorance about the issue, his assault on Obama-era policies designed to do something about it and the growing evidence that extreme weather events and other consequences of global warming, long predicted by mainstream scientists, are now upon us.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Redlining’s impact on Fresno lives on
Fresno Bee
When it comes to health, your zip code is more important than your genetic code. Why? Because the conditions in your neighborhood reflect a lot about how valued you are in society. It shouldn’t be a surprise that people of color continue to be sectioned off from affluent neighborhoods in most cities in California. It was done by design.
Virus-carrying bloodsuckers fill Tulare County: Here's what you can do to avoid mosquitoes
Visalia Times-Delta
This year, more mosquitoes have tested positive for St. Louis Encephalitis Virus than in 2017, officials said. In some people, the virus can cause serious damage to the central nervous system.
Ban health insurance that doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions? Jerry Brown to decide
Sacramento Bee
California is poised to become the first state in the nation to ban cheap, short-term health insurance plans pushed by the Trump administration as a low-cost alternative to Obamacare.
For addicted women, the year after childbirth is the deadliest
Stockton Record
A new study shows that women with an opioid addiction are at high risk of an overdose during the year that follows childbirth.
California's valley fever on the rise
Capitol Weekly
Valley fever, an illness caused by a fungus that lives in dirt and soil, is on the rise in California.
Why is it so hard to get mentally ill Californians into treatment? Three bills tell the tale
CALmatters
For years, Diane Shinstock watched her adult son deteriorate on the streets. Suffering from severe schizophrenia, he slept under stairwells and bushes, screamed at passersby and was arrested for throwing rocks at cars.
Latest perk for tech companies: doctor visits at work
San Francisco Chronicle
Inside a small conference room, feet away from her desk at San Francisco fitness app maker Strava, Camilla Ring got her blood pressure and heart rate taken by Dr. Anju Goel.
Noxious Mix of Smoke And Pollution Stresses Health In California's Heartland
NPR
More than a dozen major blazes still are raging across California, including the Mendocino Complex fire in the northern part of the state that has charred nearly 460,000 acres and is now the largest in the state's recorded history.
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Fox News pundit says Brett Kavanaugh is pro-Obamacare. Is he?
PolitiFact
The nomination of U.S. District Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court has set off a scramble to define where he stands on key issues. Fox News legal pundit Judge Andrew Napolitano gave his take the morning after President Donald Trump announced his pick.
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Human Services:
Outreach program helps Modesto homeless; another event planned for Turlock
The Modesto Bee
Service providers were at Mellis Park in west Modesto on Wednesday to help the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.
Central California VA celebrates new expansion
ABC30
The Central California VA's marked the grand opening of its newest addition on Friday. The facility will help serve even more veterans in a state of the art small house model -- meaning they'll be in a home-like environment that is much more intimate.
Cooking classes teaching healthy eating
abc30
Dozens of Fresno families are introducing their kids to new, healthier food choices thanks to a program by the Fresno Metro Ministry.
New Tehachapi hospital one step closer to opening
Bakersfield Californian
State officials have given Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley the OK to begin stocking supplies and allowing staff into the new hospital.
Bakersfield Homeless Center looking to city, county to address funding crisis after federal sources dry up
Bakersfield Californian
Over the past several years, the Bakersfield Homeless Center has experienced a marked increase in demands for its services, while receiving less money from previously reliable funding sources.
How to avoid the costly Medicare mistake that too many people make
Los Angeles Times
Your husband isn’t alone in misunderstanding the importance of signing up for Part B after retirement. Unfortunately, there’s probably no remedy.
How many people have lost health insurance under Donald Trump?
PolitiFact
Democrats have deployed a staggering statistic to attack Republicans on health care. While the details might vary, the common thread is that 4 million Americans have lost their health insurance under President Donald Trump.
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The uninsured rate and President Trump PolitiFact
Did conservative study show big savings for Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All plan?
PolitiFact
When a free-market think tank published its analysis of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ single-payer health care plan, Republicans took to social media to tout the report’s most eye-popping finding.
PolitiFact
Predictions about the federal health care law, Obamacare, were a dime a dozen when it was being drafted in 2009 and 2010. Supporters contended that virtually everyone around the country would soon have access to affordable insurance.
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Improving health care through occupational licensing reform
Brookings
The rules that determine who can legally work in an occupation and provide particular services—known as occupational licensure—affect a wide swath of workers and are important constraints on how the labor market and economy function.
A Vet's Suicide Pushes The VA To Do Better
NPR
Your kid can grow up, even join the Army and go to war, and you'll still do dad things when he comes back. David Toombs would make his son lunch.
Unexpected Medical Bills Extremely Common, Survey Shows : Shots
NPR
A Texas man has a heart attack – and good medical insurance – and still finds himself on the hook for $109,000 in medical bills.
IMMIGRATION
Senate Bill bans civil immigration arrests in courthouses
Fresno Bee
The California Legislature approved a bill on Aug. 31 that prevents civil arrests of any kind in California courthouses.
Immigrants outworking American workers?
Fresno Bee
In tribute to John McCain, this Labor Day weekend I’m serving up straight talk about the American work ethic.
Father of slain Iowa student decries using her as ‘pawn’
Fresno Bee
The father of slain Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts in an opinion piece spoke out against using his daughter's death in support of "views she believed were profoundly racist," a call that comes after President Donald Trump and others seized on the suspected killer's immigration status to argue for changes in U.S. immigration laws.
EDITORIAL: Trump stripping Mexican Americans of their passports on flimsy evidence is unconscionable, even for him
Los Angeles Times
In its zeal to rid the United States of people living here illegally, the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has long crossed lines of decency and propriety. And not just immigrants are affected by these zero-tolerance policies.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Supervisor Maggard contributes to fix veterans memorial
Bakersfield Californian
Supervisor Mike Maggard has contributed $1,500 from his discretionary fund to help repair the Kern County Veterans Memorial on Truxtun Avenue that was vandalized in June.
Housing:
Rent control is the surest way to stop new affordable housing
Sacramento Bee
For months, the city of Sacramento has been in the throes of a heated debate over the city’s affordable housing problem, its root cause and potential solutions – highlighted by two workshops arranged by the mayor.
Could This Tax On Vacant Properties Help End Homelessness?
Capital Public Radio
Oakland voters could approve the state’s first tax on privately-owned vacant properties in November.
Getting a Section 8 Voucher Is Hard. Finding a Landlord Willing to Accept It Is Harder.
PEW center
B.R. Williams says looking for a place to live with a housing voucher is a “full-time job.” U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is launching a campaign to encourage more landlords to accept Section 8 housing vouchers.
Is Middle-Class Housing Obsolete in CA?
Fox & Hounds
Recently, California homebuilders delivered to the state Legislature a healthy dose of reality. At a special hearing of the Assembly’s Select Committee on Housing Affordability (the Committee), representatives of the California Building Industry Association (CBIA) illustrated why housing in the state is so expensive.
A deeper dive into California's housing and homelessness crisis
CALmatters
Over 134,000 Californians now face homelessness on any given night. Recent research conducted at UCLA found that there is a correlation between high cost of living and homelessness rates. As rents continue to rise, millions of low-income Californians struggle to meet ends meet, and many live on the edge of homelessness.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Chowchilla votes to pursue bonds to retire the city pension liability
Madera Tribune
The Chowchilla City Council has embarked on a program to handle the city’s unfunded pension liability debt and also save money on the interest.
Stockton’s financial outlook is looking positive
Stockton Record
The city’s general fund bonds have been upgraded by Standard & Poor’s, and now the financial outlook moving forward has been declared “positive.”
Your credit score may have just gone up, but that doesn't mean you can rest easy
Los Angeles Times
First the good news: Your credit score may have just gone up. That’s because the big credit agencies have cleaned house a bit, removing outdated info that may have been weighing on your creditworthiness.
Required vote for local tax increases in legal limbo
CALmatters
California’s booming economy is pouring many billions of additional tax dollars into state and local government treasuries.
Taxpayer Danger Lurks Beneath State’s Employment Numbers
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
On a superficial level, things look pretty good in California. Sure, we have big problems with wildfires and other periodic disasters, but the state’s finances have made a strong recovery since the depths of the recession. Indeed, Gov. Brown has repeatedly touted the multi-billion-dollar surplus and the state’s balanced budget.
U.S. Corporate Profits Soared in Second Quarter, Boosted by Tax Cuts and Economic Growth
WSJ
U.S. corporate profits boomed in the second quarter, boosted by large tax cuts and stronger economic growth than initially reported.
Is California facing a tax exodus? Thanks to Trump's tax law, more may start to flee
Bizjournals
Recent changes that might increase federal tax bills for entrepreneurs and executives could turn the trickle out of California into a wave.
TRANSPORTATION
Planes damaged in two separate accidents at Porterville Airport
ABC30
It's was an unusual end to the week at the Porterville Airport, after two airplanes were damaged, with each of the pilots saying the planes "pulled" or changed direction suddenly.
See Also:
Unexplained pulling forces two planes down in Tulare County Visalia Times-Delta
Where can you find self-driving cars?
Merced Sun Star
In 2016, 37,000 Americans were killed in traffic accidents. That’s nearly half the population of Merced – a horrifying statistic.
Modesto looks to limit transportation tax committee
Modesto Bee
The Modesto City Council on Tuesday could limit the authority of a commission charged with overseeing how a transportation sales tax is spent.
See Also:
EDITORIAL: Fix oversight committee, don’t toss it out Modesto Bee
Gas Tax Debate Rages as Roads Continue to Fall Apart
Fox40
Money from California's controversial gas tax is meant to go toward road repair, but voters will decide in November on whether or not the tax stays in place.
See Also:
California, Texas Riding Different Tracks To High-speed Rail
The Business Journal
For nearly eight years, Californians have engaged in a deep and often caustic debate over the development of a high-speed rail system.
See also:
Let’s Look At Cumulative Plug-In Electric Car Sales In California
InsideEVs
In the past quarter, sales of plug-in cars in California amounted to 35,466, which represents 6.9% of the total volume and growth of 58% year-over-year, according to the California Center for Jobs and the Economy.
Caltrans finds Arvin misused hundreds of thousands of grant fund dollars; city disputes claims
The Bakersfield Californian
The California Department of Transportation is seeking reimbursement of a half-million dollars it distributed to the city of Arvin several years ago as part of a grant application Arvin submitted to make city streets safer for children walking to school.
Rising Trucks Disturbing ZEV Market of California
InsideCarNews24
As per another report published by the California Center for Jobs and the Economy, the light truck piece of the pie in Q2 in California was 55.5% – up from 50.4% in the Q2 of 2017. Purchasers are purchasing ever bigger vehicles.
WATER
Push for drinking water tax dies in the California Legislature
The Sacramento Bee
An effort to impose a “voluntary” water tax on residents to pay for safe drinking water projects died in the Legislature on Friday.
City of Fresno announces new watering schedule
ABC30
There is a new two-day watering schedule for the City of Fresno.
Madera Co. residents could see water rate hike
ABC30
Some Madera County residents could soon have to pay more for their water. Madera County Public Works officials say several districts could see an increase to their water rates as part of a study that started two years ago.
Algae blooms in Hensley Lake pose health risks, officials say
Sierra Star
The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board announced the finding of the algae blooms in east Madera County’s Hensley Lake and warned touching or swallowing the contaminated water could pose health risks.
Trump administration talks of boosting Central Valley water deliveries. But is it just talk?
Los Angeles Times
With talk of boosting water deliveries to Central Valley agriculture, the Trump administration is telling growers exactly what they want to hear. But given California’s complex water system and a web of federal and state environmental regulations, such promises could prove more political than practical.
See Also:
EDITORIAL: How do you make California water wars worse? Get the Trump administration involved Sacramento Bee
Trump administration talks of boosting Central Valley water deliveries. But is it just talk?
Los Angeles Times
With talk of boosting water deliveries to Central Valley agriculture, the Trump administration is telling growers exactly what they want to hear.
Groundwater Banking: A Likely Solution to Achieve Greater River Flows
News Deeply
Rather than fighting over flow allocation in the San Joaquin River, water users should collaborate on a groundwater banking system. That could let river restoration proceed while ensuring enough water for all concerned, says Patrick Koepele of the Tuolumne River Trust.
California’s Can’t-Miss Chance to Provide Safe Drinking Water for All
News Deeply
State legislators have until the end of the month to pass the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. There is an urgent need to provide clean drinking water to the 1 million Californians who lack access to such supplies, says Kirsten James of Ceres.
How to help Californians whose tap water is tainted?
CALmatters
Karen Lewis knows about water problems. The 67-year-old lives in Compton, where the water coming out of her tap is tinged brown by manganese, a metal similar to iron, from old pipes.
“Xtra”
One way or another, Sheriff Mims is gonna getcha (getcha, getcha, getcha)!
Fresno Bee
In true better-late-than-never fashion, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has joined in on the lip sync challenge with a close to nine-and-a-half minute video that has Sheriff Margaret Mims singing Blondie from her desk, while a dude in a doughnut costume roams around robbing downtown coffee shops.
William Saroyan House Museum opens in central Fresno. See the writer as a hologram
Fresno Bee
It may look like just another house on the block, but the Fresno home where Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and playwright William Saroyan lived out his final years is now open to the public as an interactive museum.
Preparation for Tehachapi GranFondo underway; there's still time to sign up
Bakersfield Californian
Flashes of speed, encouraging local shouts and up to 100 miles ahead of them.
Hundreds celebrate Labor Day at Fresno Fairgrounds
ABC30
Hundreds of people came together, on Monday morning, to celebrate Labor Day. Over 700 union workers along with their families, city, county, and political leaders spent their morning eating breakfast and enjoying music at the Fresno Fairgrounds.
Visalia book thief clears out kindergarten shelf. Here's how you can help fill it
Visalia Times-Delta
For a group of Visalia kindergartners at Manuel F. Hernandez, they may not get to flip through their favorite Dr. Seuss rhyme or enjoy "Corduroy." Tracy VanMeter walked into her classroom after summer vacation and found an entire bookshelf had been cleared and many of the puzzles stowed away were gone.
Bikes - and smiles - donated to Modesto Boys & Girls Club
Modesto Bee
Some children on Modesto’s west side will be getting brand-new bicycles, thanks to a donation from the Lowe’s Home Improvement stores from Modesto and Turlock.
On the road: Shenandoah Valley wineries, Gold Rush history make Sierra foothills the place to visit
Stockton Record
What do Plymouth, Amador City, Sutter Creek and the Shenandoah Valley in the Sierra foothills have in common? The answer is a heavy dose of early California and Gold Rush history, fine wines and stunning scenery — all linked by a scenic stretch of California Highway 49.
7 terrific books about America's labor movement
Los Angeles Times
These days, Americans are more likely to associate Labor Day with cookouts, the beginning of the school year and a much-needed three-day weekend. But Labor Day was envisioned as a celebration of the American worker.
Female janitors working the night shift take safety into their own hands
Los Angeles Times
The women planted their bodies and kicked one foot forward, imitating the self-defense move displayed on a projector screen: La patada hacia los testiculos. The kick to the testicles.