California Policy and Politics Sunday

WGA, Hollywood studios close to a deal on ending writers’ strike, sources say -- Lawyers for the two sides were haggling over the details of a possible agreement on Saturday during a meeting that began mid-morning, according to people close to the discussions who were not authorized to comment. However, the union and studio alliance had not announced a deal as of early Saturday evening. Meg James, Wendy Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/23

Newsom kills driverless truck safety bill, says he trusts the DMV -- The California Legislature passed a bill this month to require human safety drivers in heavy-duty robot trucks for at least the next five years. On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom killed it. Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/23

After climate summit, California Gov. Gavin Newsom faces key decisions to reduce emissions back home -- Lawmakers have sent him bills aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, help schools adapt to the changing climate and ease the cost to taxpayers for the cleanup of orphan oil and gas wells. Sophie Austin Associated Press -- 9/24/23

Watching the Real-Estate Bust From the Streets of San Francisco -- City’s new landmarks are struggling office buildings and a shopping mall losing tenants. Shane Shifflett, Peter Santilli in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 9/24/23

Here’s why L.A. council members could get a one-time shot at a six-year term -- If you’ve been following the push for reform at Los Angeles City Hall, you’ve heard plenty of arguments in favor of expanding the size of the City Council. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/23

Bay Area officials say antisemitic ‘Zoombombing’ is derailing local democracy -- The 50 minutes of the Walnut Creek City Council’s June 6 meeting passed as routine: the Pledge of Allegiance, one proclamation and two presentations. But as the council turned to take public comment, the meeting was derailed by one Zoom attendee’s antisemitic rant — followed by three others. Megan Fan Munce in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/24/23

Walters: California politicians point fingers as tolerance of homelessness wears thin -- As California’s homelessness crisis continues, its politicians are carping over who should be held responsible for resolving it. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 9/24/23

Speaker McCarthy is giving hard-right Republicans what they want. But it never seems to be enough -- Staring down a fast-approaching government shutdown that threatens to disrupt life for millions of Americans, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has turned to a strategy that so far has preserved his tenuous hold on House leadership but also marked it by chaos: giving hard-right lawmakers what they want. Stephen Groves, Lisa Mascaro, Farnoush Amiri Associated Press -- 9/24/23

Why does Donald Trump attack the Ronald Reagan Library? -- Why would the library, devoted to a man who was a movie star, California governor and a popular president, draw criticism from a Republican presidential candidate? The answer may lie in the differences in the personalities of the two conservative politicians. Olga Grigoryants in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 9/24/23

Post-ABC poll: Biden faces criticism on economy, immigration and age -- A finding that shows Trump leading Biden by a wide margin does not match other recent polling, however, suggesting it is an outlier. Dan Balz, Scott Clement, Emily Guskin in the Washington Post$ -- 9/24/23

Street

LAPD investigating midnight heist of $1.5-million Buddha statue -- The thief pulled up to an antiquities gallery on La Cienega Boulevard with a clear plan. Harriet Ryan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/23

S.F. car break-in crisis: Here’s what tourists are hearing from rental agencies -- When Scarlet Kenwrick and Philippa Haile arrived at San Francisco International Airport this month, they checked out their Nissan Rogue from the Alamo Rent a Car kiosk and received a stern warning from the clerk. Matthias Gafni in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/24/23

Also

How NASA Ames plans to bring asteroid samples to Earth, safe and sound -- As a primordial space rock hurtles toward Earth on Sunday morning, it will be protected by a heat shield invented in Silicon Valley. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury$ Aylin Woodward in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 9/24/23

Artificial intelligence, hip-hop and classical music commingle at 112th S.F. Symphony Gala -- From Bay Area rappers and computer generated imagery to Mahler and Ravel, tradition and innovation struck a harmonious chord at season opener. Tony Bravo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/24/23

S.F.’s Chinatown bustles with colorful costumes at Autumn Moon Festival -- The events celebrate three concepts: gathering of family and friends, thanksgiving for the harvest, and praying for loved ones and prosperity. The item is in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/24/23

Yosemite’s longest-serving seasonal ranger is retiring after 59 years. Here are his stories -- If you’ve spent time in Yosemite National Park any of the past 59 summers, there’s a chance you’ve had a friendly run-in with Fred Koegler, the park’s longest-serving seasonal ranger. Gregory Thomas in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/24/23