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August 26,2020-
CalTrans plans work between Exeter and Lindsay includes 4 Roundabouts
Cal Trans plans to make operational improvements on State Route 65, State Route 198 and State Route 245 in Tulare County with construction of the first phase beginning in 2026. The big project includes four roundabouts. The improvements include straightening out the curve along Hwy 65 at Lindsay. Two roundabouts would be constructed on the new alignment. Roundabouts would be constructed at Hermosa Street and the north end of the new alignment where it reconnects with State Route 65, A new roundabout would-be built at the intersection of 65 and 198 near Exeter as well.
Significant drop in COVID cases at Kaweah Delta
Visalia’s Kaweah Delta Hospital reports a continued drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations.From a high earlier of 91, COVID hospitalizations have now dropped to 38 as of Aug 25. 10 ventilators are in use out of a supply of 48.
Electric Car market share rises in California
The latest snapshot from the California New Car Dealers Association shows the electric vehicle market share for the first half of 2020 climbed to 13.4%. The number is the combination of electric and hybrid vehicles including plug-in hybrid. Electric only climbed to 5.8% – up from 5.1% last year and 4.6% in 2018. Hybrids made up 5.6% of all sales, them number from the last period. Total electric sales like the number of all vehicles sales in California are down from year ago.Tesla for example had half the number of new registrations in the 2nd quarter than it did in the 2nd quarter of 2019 but its market share went up YTD in 2020.
Used car sales up/new cars not so much
Edmunds research says used vehicle retail prices are rising during the coronavirus pandemic. Edmunds analysts say used vehicle trade-in values are also increasing dramatically. Edmunds data reveals that the average value for all vehicles traded in during the month of July climbed to $14,066 compared to $12,083 in June, marking a 16.4% increase that is just shy of $2,000. Their analysts note that limited new vehicle inventory and a surge in demand for used vehicles are driving values up.
As for new cars the California New Car Dealers Assn recently reported that although there is an upward trend in new vehicle registrations but they are expected to fall 22% this year compared to the last.That is still better than the latest quarter in California when it hit a low point. In the first 6 months of the year passenger car sales dropped 35.6% while light trucks fell 20,5%
Oil companies closing refineries, converting some to biofuels
Count them – four California oil refineries are being shuttered with several being converted to produce low carbon biofuels it was recently reported. Phillips 66, Global Clean Energy, and Marathon Oil all plan to convert their California petroleum refineries to produce renewable diesel from plant oils and animal fats. Phillips 66 will also shut their big pipeline that brings crude north to the Bay Area and will also close their pipeline connected refinery in Santa Maria, the company announced. The SF Phillips 66 refinery will be re-tooled as the state’s largest biodiesel plant In Kern County a refinery conversion in Bakersfield will use a new feedstock: Camelina sativa, an oilseed crop grown in rotation with wheat. Global Clean Energy bought the Alon Refinery for $40 million in May. It plans to make renewable diesel starting in 2022 and has a deal to sell 2.5 million bbl per year of the fuel to ExxonMobil.
County establishes 4.7% cost of living index
Tulare County cost-of-living index will be pegged at 4.76% for 2019-20 using a new formula based on local non-residential new construction in the county.The county could have used the California per-capita personal income index which was 3.73% but chose the higher amount that would return a higher state appropriation.
Kaweah Delta studies 24 hour pharmacy
Kaweah Delta staff is looking at the possibility of establishing a 24 hr pharmacy in the city ,a service not available now. Spokesperson Laura Florez-McCusker says ”We are interested in having a 24-hour pharmacy in town to serve our community, and we have carefully evaluated the feasibility of opening one. Unfortunately, it is cost prohibitive at this time. In response to these studies, we have extended hours and now cover many holidays in order to better serve the population. We have also developed a strategy to fill the prescriptions of patients who are discharged from the Emergency Department when there are no other pharmacies open.”
Election notes
Dems gain in registration in Tulare /SLO counties
State registration numbers show Democrats have gained vs Republicans in the traditional GOP leaning counties of Tulare and San Luis Obispo counties.
In the case of Tulare County, Republicans still outnumber Democrats by 71,234 to 61,132 Democrats in the latest count as of July. But that spread of about 10,000 voters countywide is smaller than September 2018 when the the spread was over 14,000 in favor of the GOP – 65,527 Republicans vs 51,107 Democrats.
Another note -Tulare County has approved 12 new voter drop boxes in the county that are being set out to make voting easier this year.
In SLO County the registration trend is similar. Democrats now outnumber Republican registration, reversing a long term trend. In September 2018, Republicans outnumbered Democrats 59,171 to 57,076. By July of 2020 the numbers are 66,247 Democrats vs 61,883 Republicans- a swing of about 6 thousand in favor of Democrats.