Updating . .
Mirkarimi gets conviction expunged in his domestic violence case -- Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi’s conviction for grabbing and bruising his wife’s arm, which nearly cost him his job and made him the first sheriff in San Francisco history to be legally barred from carrying a gun, was expunged from his record Monday. Vivian Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/20/15
In blow to water conservation, court rejects city's tiered rates -- In a ruling with major implications for California's water conservation campaign, a state appeals court on Monday ruled that a tiered water rate structure used by the city of San Juan Capistrano to encourage conservation was unconstitutional. Matt Stevens in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
'New normal’: Scientists predict less rain from here on out -- This drought hasn’t been marked simply by a dearth of rain, but also by unusual heat, the team noted. That warmth — the average temperature in California in 2014 was 61.5 degrees, a record — points to human-caused climate change as one big reason for the drying out of California, the researchers believe. Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/20/15
LAPD officer charged with assault in videotaped beating -- A Los Angeles Police Department officer has been charged in connection with a videotaped incident in which a man alleged he was beaten and kicked while being held down by other officers in South L.A., authorities said Monday. Richard Winton and Kate Mather in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Lawmakers OK $968,400 for 3 wrongful convictions -- The Assembly on Monday approved legislation that would pay $968,400 to settle lawsuits by three people who said they were erroneously convicted of crimes, including Brian Banks, a former football star at Polytechnic High School in Long Beach who spent five years in prison before a young girl recanted her accusation that he raped her. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
'Intolerant Jackass Act' proposed as response to anti-gay initiative -- A proposed state ballot measure that would authorize the killing of gays and lesbians infuriated one woman so much that she filed her own measure with the state attorney general’s office: the “Intolerant Jackass Act.” Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Nonprofit hopes $25,000 prize lures L.A. schools' District 5 voters -- A nonprofit voter group has a plan to turn around traditionally abysmal turnout for a key election to the Los Angeles Board of Education: It's going to pay one lucky voter $25,000. Those who cast ballots in the race for District 5 in the May 19 election will be entered in a drawing. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Earthquake fault heightens California tsunami threat, experts say -- Geologists say a Ventura fault is more dangerous than previously thought, capable of producing an earthquake as large as magnitude 8 as well as severe tsunamis. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
San Diego hires experts for stadium deal -- San Diego announced Monday the hiring of investment banker Citigroup and law firm Nixon Peabody to negotiate a possible stadium deal with the Chargers. David Garrick UT San Diego$ -- 4/20/15
Dry, warm conditions keep California's national forests parched -- With the state’s snowpack at only 5%, water resources in the 18 national forests in California are low and trees are water-starved, said climatologist William Patzert of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Veronic Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Report: Bay Area ill-prepared for coming superstorm's floods -- - With California stuck in a remorseless drought, most people in the Bay Area probably aren't worried about getting too much rain. But a new report claims they should be. Aaron Kinney in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/20/15
William Shatner: Solve California drought with Seattle pipeline -- Actor William Shatner is hoping to save California from further drought by proposing an enterprise of his own — importing water from the Seattle area, where rain is plentiful. Veronica Rocha , Shelby Grad in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
San Diego County farmers pleased at changes in water cutback rules -- After a vigorous effort to alert the state water board about what they saw as the unfairness of proposed drought rules, San Diego County farmers were pleased at how the rules were modified. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
San Jose Weighs Strict Drought Plan, Echoing State Restrictions -- To step in line with unprecedented state mandates limiting water use, city of San Jose officials will consider a long list of local restrictions on lawn-watering, car-washing and serving water at restaurants. Jennifer Wadsworth SanJoseInside -- 4/20/15
Drought Not Likely To Cause Higher Grocery Bills -- Even though the price of water is skyrocketing in California and experts predict farmers will fallow about a million acres this year, your grocery bill is not likely to go up. California farmers are making choices to insulate consumers from the drought. Lesley McClurg Capital Public Radio -- 4/20/15
Bill Would Require Water Submeters On New Apartments -- California lawmakers are considering a bill that would require the installation of water meters in each unit of newly constructed apartments. Amy Quinton Capital Public Radio -- 4/20/15
New bill could legalize paid carpooling -- Carpooling is one of the most popular services transport network companies like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar offer, but it faces a problem. Under California law, paid carpooling is prohibited. Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) is hoping to change that. Tracey Lien in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
California legislator tests pot ‘breathalyzer’ -- Those who get stoned and then get behind the wheel would be more likely to get busted under legislation Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, promoted on Monday by publicly taking a drug test, though he called the event’s timing a coincidence. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/20/15
Bill revised after adult cyclists balk at being forced to wear helmets -- A bill that would have required all bicycle-riding adults to wear a helmet in California has been scaled back following wide opposition from numerous bicycling organizations. Arin Mikaillian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Dionne: Can the GOP learn from California? -- Jim Brulte, California’s Republican state chairman, has sobering but useful words for his party’s 2016 candidates now focused on winning over a homogenous and very conservative primary electorate. E.J. Dionne Jr. in the Washington Post$ -- 4/20/15
Public safety at center of Eric Garcetti's new $8.57-billion budget -- Mayor Eric Garcetti on Monday released his proposed $8.57-billion budget for the next fiscal year, a plan that would preserve funding for at least 10,000 police officers on Los Angeles' streets and boost anti-gang initiatives, among other measures. Peter Jamison in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
L.A. Times wins Pulitzers for coverage of California drought and cultural criticism -- Staff writer Diana Marcum won the feature writing prize for her narrative portraits of farmers, fieldworkers and other Californians in drought-stricken towns in the Central Valley. Mary McNamara, The Times’ television critic and cultural editor, won the prize for criticism. Christopher Goffard in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Daily Breeze wins Pulitzer Prize for Centinela Valley school investigation -- The Daily Breeze on Monday won the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting for an investigative project into the Centinela Valley Union High School District, which exposed former Superintendent Jose Fernandez’s excessive salary and unusual perks as well as other serious issues within the district and its leadership. Susan Abram The Daily Breeze -- 4/20/15
Pulitzer 2015 Winners
Fresno blast: Workers didn't look for utilities before digging, agency says -- A preliminary investigation by a state utility agency revealed Fresno County workers who hit a gas line, triggering an explosion that injured 14, had not checked for underground utilities before work began, officials said. Joseph Serna and Diana Marcum in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Vatican goes on offensive to defend Junipero Serra -- The Vatican is mounting a campaign to defend an 18th century Franciscan missionary who will be canonized by Pope Francis in the U.S. against protests from Native Americans who have compared his conversion of natives to genocide. Nicole Winfield Associated Press -- 4/20/15
Abortion restrictions relying on 'junk science,' rights advocates say -- In Montana, the Legislature has approved and sent to the governor a bill that would require a fetus to be anesthetized before an abortion is performed so it would not feel pain. Maria L. LaGanga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
California transgender bill spurs initiative for ‘bathroom privacy’ -- Opponents have opened up a new front in the fight against a California law allowing transgender students to use public school facilities such as bathrooms, showers and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identities. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/20/15
Assemblywoman Young Kim recalls parents’ sacrifice to move to U.S. -- On a beach in Guam, an intermediate home for Young Kim’s family between leaving Seoul and settling in Hawaii, an adolescent Kim would join her mother in collecting bottles and cans. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/20/15
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Governor urges unity in drought fight during visit to Sonoma County’s Iron Horse Vineyards -- Gov. Jerry Brown used an Earth Day celebration at Sonoma County’s Iron Horse Vineyards on Sunday to applaud California’s environmental leadership and reassure residents the state will survive its historic four-year drought by tapping its reservoirs of innovation and creativity. Kevin McCallum in the Santa Rosa Press -- 4/20/15
Money Shapes Power of Capitol Committees -- A KQED and Maplight.org analysis of data, along with interviews with current and former lawmakers, shows that the most powerful committee chairs in the state Assembly share a knack for prolific fundraising and a propensity to funnel this money to the Democratic Party and other Democrats running for office. Our analysis looked at campaign finance contributions from when each current member entered office through the end of 2014. Marisa Lagos KQED -- 4/20/15
Loretta Sanchez seen as unscripted alternative for U.S. Senate -- Loretta Sanchez, a congresswoman from Santa Ana, paused briefly and then smiled after taking a question recently on what distinguishes her from fellow Democrat Kamala Harris, the early favorite to succeed U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/20/15
Rep. Sanchez set to announce decision on Senate bid -- Before heading back to Congress after a two-week Easter recess, Rep. Loretta Sanchez stoked the buzz that she’ll be challenging Attorney General Kamala Harris next year in the race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register$ -- 4/20/15
Bill would limit aggressive repossession by Buy Here Pay Here dealers -- The loans, with interest rates of 30% or more, contribute to defaults for about 1 in 4 purchasers. The cars are quickly repossessed — sometimes with remote signals that stop their engines — and then resold. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Beaten suspect had a history with deputies, and that could affect civil rights probe -- Francis Pusok and his attorneys say his prior arrests show a pattern of misbehavior and aggression on the part of law enforcement that culminated in the April 9 beating. Paloma Esquivel and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
For California governors, the roller-coaster ride is routine -- Two former governors sat before a crowd of civic leaders last week, a serene 51 floors above the lunch-hour cacophony of Flower Street in downtown Los Angeles. Pete Wilson and Gray Davis were doing what politicians do, debating the fine points of policy. Cathleen Decker in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Walters: California-Texas economic rivalry still rages -- California is the nation’s most populous state with about 39 million residents, while Texas is No. 2 at 27 million. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/20/15
Pot’s holy day brings new attention to legalization debate -- Even amid their celebratory haze, the group of San Rafael kids called the Waldos surely couldn’t have imagined they were creating the Fourth of July for weed. Peter Hecht in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/20/15
Mirkarimi tries to wipe domestic violence conviction from books -- San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, facing a tough re-election battle this year and grasping for any advantage he can find, will send his attorney into court Monday seeking to have his domestic violence-related misdemeanor conviction wiped clean from his record forever. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/20/15
PG&E hires engineering firm to probe Fresno blast -- Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has hired an independent engineering firm to determine the cause of a natural gas pipeline explosion that injured 12 people in Fresno, company officials said Sunday. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/20/15
Calbuzz: Ophidia in Herba: Thoughts On Gov. Snake Wrangler -- The last we checked, Jerry Brown had 3,563 likes, 218 shares and scores of comments on the Facebook photo he proudly posted on Saturday of himself overpowering a snake. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 4/20/15
Taxes, Fees, Rates
Borenstein: BART looking to 2016 voters for property tax increase to fix ailing system -- Lauded when it opened in 1972 as the transit model of the future, BART has deteriorated into a dirty, expensive and overcrowded metropolitan rail system. Daniel Borenstein in the Contra Costa Times$ -- 4/20/15
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Small CalPERS fund on autopilot 1,736% funded -- A small CalPERS fund that provides payments to the survivors of workers who die before retirement has a surplus rarely if ever seen in the pension world — 1,736 percent of the funds needed to pay future obligations. But 7,409 local government workers must continue to make $2 monthly contributions to the fund, the minimum required by current state law. Employer contributions have no minimum and dropped to zero. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 4/20/15
L.A. restaurants push for tips to count toward minimum wage -- The battle over boosting the minimum wage in Los Angeles has turned to the dollar bills tucked under an empty coffee cup, the spare change dropped into tip jars and the hasty calculations jotted down on meal tabs. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Southwest Airlines' new seats are wider with "streamlined" armrests -- The newest seats on Southwest Airline planes are expected to give passengers what they’ve been demanding: more breathing space. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
San Rafael firm must pay back wages to 18 workers denied overtime -- The U.S. Labor Department says a San Rafael credit card company wrongly classified 18 employees as managers or administrators exempt from overtime and must pay them a total of $51,000 in back wages and damages. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/20/15
Drought
What you need to know about the state's proposed water restrictions -- The state water board has modified its proposed conservation regulations in an attempt to incorporate feedback from urban water suppliers, interest groups and members of the public who had roundly criticized its framework. Matt Stevens in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Truckee River's level drops after flow from reservoir halted -- With the start of summer two months away, the Truckee River's level already is dropping around Reno after flows into it from a Sierra Nevada reservoir were halted last week. Associated Press -- 4/20/15
Drought restrictions may end era: Bye-bye front lawn --Planning a move to Santa Barbara, the Nolets expect to soon list their property for $7 million to $8 million, and theirs is one of a growing number of high-end properties that are on the market without the traditional lawn. Richard Scheinin in the Oakland Tribune -- 4/20/15
Wealthy Woodside Is Among State’s Top Water Wasters -- The rural town of Woodside combines the leafy luxury of Marin County with the remoteness of Mendocino. Woodside is nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, but its rustic setting off scenic Highway 280 south of San Francisco is anything but high tech. Scott Shafer KQED -- 4/20/15
Education
Little oversight of restraint practices in special education -- Kindergartner Malik Evans, a nonverbal boy with autism, wouldn’t sit still in his classroom at Mno Grant Elementary School in fall 2012, so his teacher repeatedly wound a rubber strap around his legs, looped it through his chair and tied him to his seat, according to the lawyer who filed a lawsuit against the Antioch Unified School District. Jane Meredith Adams and Erin Brownfield EdSource -- 4/20/15
Sex education quietly disappears from Fresno Unified schools -- In California, where schools are not mandated to offer comprehensive sex education, its history is patchy and difficult to track. Hannah Furfaro in the Fresno Bee -- 4/20/15
Environment
Hotel hopes charging station doesn't generate shocking rates -- Hotels that want to offer their guests fast-charging stations to power up the electric cars of green-minded guests may worry about getting stuck with higher electric bills. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Sea lion pup taken from Dockweiler Beach parking lot, witness says -- A sea lion pup was believed to be in possible peril Sunday after a witness told police that he saw a group of people harassing, then removing the animal from a parking lot at Dockweiler State Beach in Playa del Rey, authorities said. Frank Shyong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
Health
A surge in federal funding for Mental Health First Aid could make it as popular as CPR -- It's not very often that someone can say he talked a person out of jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Gary Scheppke can. Scheppke, a member of the Marin County Board of Mental Health, credits completing a certified course that trains a broad spectrum of people to identify and respond to mental illness. Joyce Tsai in the Contra Costa Times$ -- 4/20/15
Shopping tools help patients find cash prices for medical procedures -- When Vicki Burns was told she needed total hip replacement surgery in 2012 she asked her local hospital for a cash price. She got a $79,000 estimate for the surgery. Lisa Zamosky in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/15
John Muir opens first pediatric ICU in the county -- With three children who have medical conditions, Robert Pewitt estimates that over the past 14 years, he and his wife, Nancy, have made more than 200 trips back and forth to the hospital. Joyce Tsai in the Contra Costa Times$ -- 4/20/15
Rossmoor seniors fired up about curative powers of cannabis -- There is a club for Bay Area marijuana enthusiasts where most members don’t want to get high. Mostly because they’re afraid of falling. Or getting too disoriented. The club is in Rossmoor, the senior citizen community of 10,000 near Walnut Creek. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/20/15
Also . . .
India anti-rape rap song resonates from South Asia to Fremont -- A female Indian duo's rap song protesting violence against women has gone viral, joining the global debate about women's rights with a fiery message that has spread online from South Asia to Fremont. Chris De Benedetti in the Contra Costa Times$ -- 4/20/15
Beltway
Willie Brown: For Hillary Clinton’s running mate: Gov. Jerry Brown -- Having ticked off half the world by suggesting Gavin Newsom as a possible running mate for Hillary Rodham Clinton, I want to double down and make a better suggestion: Jerry Brown. Willie L. Brown, Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/20/15