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Richmond couple among those stuck on research vessel in Antarctica -- George and Norma Trillia of Richmond were two of 74 tourists, scientists and crew members stuck aboard the Russian vessel MV Akademik Shokalskiy, said Trillia's neighbor Jane Gonzalez. Katie Nelson in the Contra Costa Times$ -- 1/1/14

Same-sex wedding, SeaWorld whale float among Rose Parade winners -- Rose Parade officials Wednesday announced that a float celebrating same sex marriage and one depicting captive orcas were among 20 award winners in the annual parade. Frank C. Girardot in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 1/1/14

5 California politics stories that mattered in 2013, 5 to watch in 2014 -- Let's call this the bookends to your end-of-the year rite of passage: a guide to what's been going on in California politics and a sense of where we're likely headed. John Myers News10 -- 1/1/14

Gun controls, more immigrant rights among new laws for 2014 -- Gov. Jerry Brown signed 800 bills last year, and most take effect with the start of the new year. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/1/14

New year, new laws to take hold -- New state laws taking hold Jan. 1 address some of California’s most controversial and complex societal issues of the day, from gun control to immigrant rights to abortion. Michael Gardner UT San Diego$ -- -- 1/1/14

Hundreds of new laws affect life throughout state -- Immigrants held for deportation after being arrested for a minor crime. Celebrities who confront a barrage of cameras while running errands with their children. Mountain lions that wander through cities. Laura Olson in the Orange County Register$ -- 1/1/14

California’s new laws: What changes in 2014 -- Bills that crossed Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk in 2013 encompassed policy topics from bullets to bike safety. In some cases Brown signed legislation that enshrined key Democratic goals, reflecting the strength of robust Democratic majorities in both houses of the Legislature. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/1/14

California new laws: Higher wages, safer cycling, gun restrictions -- Starting today, teens can no longer text friends using Siri while on the road, and this summer, the minimum wage will increase to one of the highest rates in the nation. Jessica Calefati in the Contra Costa Times$ -- 1/1/14

Political committee is shutting down after Calderon controversy -- A political committee tied to the California Legislature's Latino caucus is shutting down after drawing controversy for one of its donations. The group, called Yes We Can, notified state officials on Tuesday that it plans to end operations. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/1/14

PG&E projects 2.8 percent increase in residential gas/electric bills -- Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is projecting an increase of 2.8 percent, or $3.38, in the combined natural gas and electric bills of typical residential customers to start the new year. Mark Glover in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/1/14

Walters: An election year with some certainties and some uncertainties -- The new year is an election year – by no means the most important one in California history, but one that has interesting and perhaps significant aspects. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/1/14

Justice Sotomayor grants temporary Obamacare exemption to nuns -- The Catholic nuns would have faced 'draconian fines' if they failed to provide contraceptive coverage, as the healthcare law requires. David G. Savage and Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/1/14

Former California lawmaker pays state fine, closes committee -- Former state Sen. Dean Florez has closed his 2014 campaign committee for state controller after paying off a $60,000 fine for misusing campaign funds, the largest such penalty in state history. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/1/14

Apple Denies Working With NSA on iPhone Backdoor -- Apple Inc. said it never worked with the National Security Agency to create a backdoor way for the organization to spy on iPhone users and it was unaware of any program to target its products. Daisuke Wakabayashi in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 1/1/14

Calbuzz: Happy New Year: Calbuzz Resolutions for 2014 -- It was a weird year at Calbuzz, a season when politics offered little of interest to vamp on, filled with long stretches when at least half of our highly compensated and far-flung staff masqueraded as hospital patients, working undercover to uncover the socialist plot behind Obamacare, while the rest of us conspired to establish a revolutionary beachhead for our crypto-fascist-communist Muslim-Jewish-Seventh Day Adventist agenda. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 1/1/14

Tea Party faces 2014 challenge -- The Tea Party is facing a huge test in 2014 as establishment Republicans and business groups try to wrestle back control of the GOP. Molly K. Hooper The Hill -- 1/1/14

As schools give students computers, price of L.A.'s program stands out -- Districts nationwide are replacing textbooks with computers, but many are finding less costly ways than L.A. Unified's $768 per device. Howard Blume and Stephen Ceasar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/1/14

Torlakson calls for giving school districts more money for Common Core -- Gov. Jerry Brown included $1.25 billion in this year’s state budget for implementing the new Common Core standards. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson is calling on the governor and the Legislature to match if not raise that amount next year – and throw in additional dollars to help districts cut student absenteeism and suspension rates. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 12/31/13

Lopez: Making a New Year's pledge to stay safe -- Instead of trying to give up chips and salsa or joining a gym, you would be better off aiming not to be one of the millions who will land in emergency rooms in 2014 for entirely avoidable mishaps. And I just happen to have some pointers from ER doctors who have seen it all. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/1/14

This $55,000 Bill Is The Perfect Example Of Our Broken Hospital System -- "I never truly understood how much healthcare in the US costs until I got appendicitis in October," wrote Reddit user zcypher, identifying himself as "a 20 year old guy." He posted the hospital bill to Reddit after he was shocked by the price. Lauren Freidman Business Insider -- 12/31/13

FPPC will not investigate Sen. Kevin de León -- California's political watchdog agency has decided not to open an investigation of state Sen. Kevin de León, and will instead investigate the political action committee that made a $25,000 contribution to a nonprofit group run by the brother of Sen. Ron Calderon, who is under federal investigation for alleged bribery. Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/31/13

L.A. councilman says Jerry Brown failed taxpayers on Coliseum deal -- Bernard C. Parks says the governor ignored a letter from him last June asking him to block the lease deal negotiated in secrecy. Paul Pringle and Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/31/13

Jahi McMath's family wins restraining order extension -- The family of Jahi McMath won a last-minute extension on a restraining order that prevents Children's Hospital Oakland from removing the teen from a ventilator for another week. Carolyn Jones in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/30/13

Drop in San Fernando Valley homicides outpaces other L.A. regions -- LAPD and community leaders say decline in violence appears linked to less gang tension in communities like Pacoima and Sylmar. Richard Winton and Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/30/13

Legal fight over California prisons could intensify, and end, in 2014 -- In a matter of days, eleventh hour negotiations over the size of California's prison population and its impact on inmate health care will be over -- with the fate of a decade-plus long fight over prison conditions left again to three federal judges. John Myers News10 -- 12/30/13

Alito slams Vaughn Walker on ‘purported’ marriage findings -- Legal writers with time on their hands sometimes leaf through Supreme Court rulings and see things they’ve never noticed before. Like Justice Samuel Alito’s derisive putdown of San Francisco’s former chief federal judge, Vaughn Walker, over his ruling on same-sex marriage. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/30/13

Walters: Uneven economic recovery California’s biggest political story of 2013 -- The biggest political story in California this year didn’t happen in the Capitol or other political arenas. Rather, it was the state’s very uneven and somewhat uncertain recovery from the worst recession since the Great Depression. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/30/13

Californians Facing Expiration of Federal Jobless Benefits Still Have Options -- Some state and county assistance may be available to the more than 200 thousand long-term unemployed Californians who face the end of the federal unemployment benefit extension. Max Pringle Capital Public Radio -- 12/30/13

Audit Confirms Chamber’s Spotty Expense Tracking -- A long overdue audit of Anaheim Chamber of Commerce spending under a city contract shows that the Chamber's expense tracking was so shoddy that auditors could not determine if the business group spent taxpayer funds on other -- perhaps political -- activities. Adam Elmahrek VoiceofOC.org -- 12/30/13

They came, they saw, they spent: Orange County tourism up big -- Tourism helped lead Orange County out of the recession, and hospitality industry leaders expect the good times to continue to roll in 2014. Mary Ann Milbourn in the Orange County Register$ -- 12/30/13

Commission defends right to pull CCSF accreditation -- The question over whether City College of San Francisco will lose its accreditation and have to close next summer should be allowed to play out, not halted by city officials who want to stop an accrediting commission from doing its job, lawyers for the commission told a Superior Court judge Monday morning. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/30/13

L.A., Santa Monica buildings may sit atop quake faults -- The cities of Los Angeles and Santa Monica in the last decade have approved more than a dozen construction projects on or near two well-known faults without requiring seismic studies to determine if the buildings could be destroyed in an earthquake, according to a Times analysis. Rosanna Xia, Rong-Gong Lin II and Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/30/13

Hiltzik: U.S. judge asks: Why haven't the financial executives been prosecuted? -- As the five-year statute of limitations approaches for the wrongdoing that bequeathed us the Great Recession, the question of why no high-level executives have been prosecuted becomes more urgent. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/30/13

Chicory brews up coffee, Capitol gossip -- Sheron Landis doesn't like coffee. She prefers tea. But politicians run on caffeine, so she naturally made that a focal point of the small shop she set up across the street from the state Capitol. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/30/13

Gay activists get ready for tough sledding at Winter Olympics -- U.S. gay rights activists, buoyed by their unprecedented political successes in 2013, are gearing up to make an international statement at the Winter Olympics in Russia - but know that speaking out against new antigay laws there may be more difficult than anything they faced in America. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/30/13

NSA Spying Report Shows What Its Elite Hacking Units Can Do -- It sees you when Windows has crashed and you send the error report. In some cases, it sees you even when you’re not online. It, unsurprisingly, is the NSA, according to leaked internal documents seen by German magazine Der Spiegel. Levi Sumagaysay in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/30/13

You Won’t Believe All the Crazy Hardware the NSA Uses for Spying -- Over the weekend we learned a lot about the National Security Agency’s Access Network Technology, or ANT, division, that, in the words of Der Spiegel, the German news magazine that first disclosed it based on leaked documents from Edward Snowden, can break pretty much any lock on any computing or network hardware you can think of. Arik Hesseldahl All Things D -- 12/30/13

Six states chosen as drone testing sites; California among losers -- After a fierce nationwide competition that offers potentially big economic benefits for the winners, six sites were selected Monday for testing of how drones can be more widely used in U.S. airspace. The Federal Aviation Administration announced the selection of sites in Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia. Richard Simon and W.J. Hennigan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/30/13

State Sen. Roderick Wright's trial to get underway this week -- More than three years after a grand jury indicted state Sen. Roderick Wright on charges of perjury and voting fraud, the Inglewood Democrat's trial is scheduled to start on Thursday. Jean Merl in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/30/13

Medi-Cal braces for New Year's jolt as Obamacare kicks in -- Medi-Cal hopes to avoid major disruptions as hundreds of thousands of low-income residents shift to the system on New Year's Day. Eryn Brown in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/30/13

Skelton: Resolutions for better politics in the New Year -- With 2013 quickly receding, here are some suggestions for California politicians, and a few others, for the upcoming year. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/30/13

Walters: Open seats on Los Angeles County board generate feeding frenzy -- A seat in Congress is one of the nation’s most sought-after political prizes, and once elected, a member rarely gives it up voluntarily. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/30/13

Greenhut: Oil tax could cap a well of prosperity -- Are Californians going too easy on Big Oil, or is the state’s relatively low tax rates on oil production a boon to job growth and economic activity? Steven Greenhut UT San Diego$ -- 12/30/13

California cap and trade cash rolls in for 2013 -- It was an important year for California's ambitious efforts to limit greenhouse gases, one where the buying and trading of pollution credits brought in big money but left lingering questions about how the money should be spent. John Myers News10 -- 12/30/13

Lopez: 2013: A great year for scandal, incompetence and corruption -- In more ways than one, I'm sorry to see 2013 fade into the books. Thanks to a steady run of incompetence, corruption and bungling by various public officials, it was a banner year for local news in Greater Los Angeles. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/30/13

Corruption trial exposes problems at East Bay anti-poverty agency -- It was supposed to be Alameda County's voice of the poor, a grass-roots public agency rooted in President Lyndon B. Johnson's 1964 War on Poverty. Matt O'Brien in the Oakland Tribune -- 12/30/13

San Jose pension reforms ruled violation of rights -- A superior court ruling announced last week overturned key parts of a voter-approved San Jose pension reform: an attempt to cut employer costs for pensions earned by current workers in the future. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 12/30/13

Latinos still face electoral hurdles in California -- Aging apartment buildings and small, closely spaced houses line streets near the center of town where Escondido's Hispanic population is concentrated. Whites have long since moved to the outskirts, where upscale subdivisions and wide, well-paved streets have replaced avocado and orange groves. Elliot Spagat Associated Press -- 12/30/13

Californians to watch in 2014: Board of Education President Michael Kirst tries to shepherd complex school-funding overhaul to reality -- Michael Kirst will mark a half-century in the education policy trenches next year, an anniversary that coincides with major decisions on a landmark school-finance plan he crafted, sold to Gov. Jerry Brown, and now is trying to bring to fruition as president of the California State Board of Education. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/30/13

Q & A: Transforming toxic school cultures -- For Anthony Muhammad, a widely recognized expert on school culture, the success of California’s big push to improve public schools rests on the ability of administrators and teachers to put aside blame, learn to talk to each other and work together to support their belief that every student can be successful – which is his definition of a healthy school culture. Jane Meredith Adams EdSource -- 12/30/13

High housing costs push many teachers out of San Francisco -- Todd Morgan and Victoria Traverso's lives revolve around their roles as teachers, coaches and mentors at Phillip & Sala Burton Academic High School in San Francisco's Bayview district. Marisa Lagos in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/30/13

BART workers get chance at $500 bonus this year -- BART workers will get a chance at up to $500 in bonuses this year under the final labor agreement worked out between BART management and the system's biggest unions. Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/30/13

Gay couple to marry on Rose Parade float -- Danny Leclair snapped a photo of two toy grooms holding hands. He then sent the photo via email to his longtime partner, Aubrey Loots, with a question: "Do you want to get married on a Rose Parade float?" Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/30/13

L.A. ban on plastic grocery bags takes effect Jan. 1 -- Some Los Angeles grocery store customers will have to adjust to a lifestyle change come Jan. 1, when a ban on plastic bags takes effect. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/30/13

Federal stance on tribal casinos touches off California fights -- The Obama administration's broader policies on casinos may yield more land approvals for California tribes, but not without opposition. Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/30/13

Greenhut: New gun law steps over 'line in the sand' -- Gun registration had always seemed like the “line in the sand” — a proposal that would so offend the nation’s gun-rights advocates that they would bring out their full political muscle to stop it. Yet a California law mandating government record-keeping for all new long-gun purchases goes into effect on Jan. 1 and few people even seem to know about it. Steven Greenhut UT San Diego$ -- 12/30/13

L.A. County hired dozens rejected by the Sheriff's Department -- Those hired by other L.A. county agencies included an officer who cut a man's neck with a knife in an off-duty fight, records show. Ben Poston and Robert Faturechi in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/29/13

Sacramento area school trustees boost their own stipends -- Trustees in the Sacramento region’s three largest school districts have boosted their own stipends after cutting the payments during the recession. Loretta Kalb in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/28/13

As the local economy improves, the poor are left behind -- Local unemployment is down. The Sacramento economy is slowly growing. But Sacramento’s poorest residents are reaping few of the rewards. Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/29/13

Drought brings water rationing orders -- December is usually not the time of year to discuss water rationing. But this holiday month has been so dry that mandatory water conservation orders are beginning to sweep across the Sacramento region. Matt Weiser in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/29/13

Walters: California politicians, interests play ‘economic impact’ game -- One of the games that politicians and interest groups play is called “economic impact.” Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/29/13

Claremont church Nativity scene replaces Jesus with Trayvon Martin -- Instead of an infant Jesus, the Nativity at Claremont United Methodist Church features a bloody depiction of Trayvon Martin. Reactions have been strong. Rick Rojas in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/29/13

Morain: Matthew Herrera is getting care now, but for how long? -- Matthew Herrera showed me his fingernails. Nice manicure. He jutted his cleanly shaven chin. Smooth. Dan Morain in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/29/13

Man dies in Border Patrol holding cell -- The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office is investigating the death of 58-year-old Steven Keith, who died while in the custody of U.S. Border Patrol agents on Christmas at the Campo Station. Allison Sampite-Montecalvo and Susan Shroder UT San Diego$ Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/28/13

AC Transit workers approve 3-year contract -- Union bus drivers and mechanics have approved a contract with AC Transit after months of tense negotiations and strike threats. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/28/13

UC forging ahead with cross-system online courses -- UC program will let students take Web classes not offered at their home campus or already filled up in the traditional format. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/28/13

New tobacco tax, abortion rules weighed for 2014 ballot -- A requirement for minors to notify their parents before having an abortion and a new tax on tobacco products are among the proposals that could be headed to the state ballot next fall. Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/28/13

College recruiters give low-income public campuses fewer visits -- Recruiters' patterns mean students at underserved schools may lose out in the competition for college entrance and aid, experts say. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/28/13

Portable drug test a new addition at New Year's DUI checkpoints -- The upcoming New Year’s crackdown on drunken driving will include a new test for many people who are pulled over — an oral swab that checks for marijuana, cocaine and other drugs. Paresh Dave in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/28/13

Texas, California embody red-blue divide -- California and Texas are nation-states within the United States, a pair of behemoths in size, population, history and influence. In the debate over red-state vs. blue-state governance, they stand at opposite poles. Dan Balz in the Washington Post$ -- 12/28/13

Red, blue states move in opposite directions in a new era of single-party control -- Political polarization has ushered in a new era in state government, where single-party control of the levers of power has produced competing Americas. Dan Balz in the Washington Post$ -- 12/28/13

This Resume Alternative Could Land You Your Dream Job -- Here's one new year's resolution that you'll be happy to have made: getting your dream job. Mashable -- 12/28/13

New California laws try to help employees, immigrants -- As California's economy recovers, the Democrats who control the state Legislature put a priority on assisting more vulnerable workers with some of the laws taking effect in the new year. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 12/28/13

New version of 2009 pandemic flu virus surges; targets healthy middle-aged people and young adults -- Just days after a Christmas Eve federal health advisory, Sacramento County’s top public health official warned Friday of a sudden increase in local influenza activity, possibly led by a strong resurgence of a version of the virus behind the 2009 worldwide flu pandemic. Cynthia H. Craft in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/28/13

One in four GPS devices on criminals in L.A. County were faulty -- Probation department audit says violent felons released in L.A. County could roam undetected for days and sometimes weeks. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/13

Toxic waste watchdog can be glacially slow -- The California Department of Toxic Substances Control is supposed to use regulations, fines and the threat of legal action to protect the environment. But its oversight is often ineffectual. Jessica Garrison, Kim Christensen and Ben Poston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/13

An ecosystem of our own making could pose a threat -- The plastisphere, a marine ecosystem that starts with bacteria on particles of discarded plastic, is drawing increasing attention. Scientists fear it might host pathogens and leach dangerous chemicals. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/13

NSA collection of phone data is lawful, federal judge rules -- A federal judge in New York ruled Friday that the massive collection of domestic telephone data brought to light by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden is lawful, rejecting a challenge to the program by the American Civil Liberties Union. Sari Horwitz in the Washington Post$ -- 12/27/13

California congressman files for re-election in wrong district -- It's been more than two years since California redrew its political map, but old district-numbering habits apparently still linger for Rep. Ed Royce. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/27/13

GOP chief supports controversial Orange County consultant -- Republican consultant Matt Cunningham’s satirical online portrayal of Latino street memorials has been compared by some critics to two iconic instances of the GOP alienating Hispanics: the state party’s backing of 1994’s Proposition 187, which attempted to block public benefits to undocumented immigrants, and the county party’s 1988 posting of uniformed security guards outside Latino polling places. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register$ -- 12/27/13

California once again the nation's top municipal bond issuer -- A multi-billion-dollar surge of bond issues by state and local governments is making California, once again, the nation's top issuer of municipal debt, the Bloomberg financial news service calculates. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/27/13

Ex-employee accuses lobbying firm of directing illegal contributions -- Former worker's lawsuit says Sloat Higgins Jensen and Associates fired her because she protested that the company was breaking the law. Patrick McGreevy and Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/13

Lawsuit alleges hidden Sacramento lobbying gifts -- A newly filed lawsuit accuses one of the state's most prominent lobbying firms with hiding gifts for years to state legislators, with an ex-employee claiming she was told if a gift wasn't reported "then it didn't happen." John Myers News10 -- 12/28/13

Los Angeles bus company shut down for safety violations -- Federal regulators have ordered a private bus company in Los Angeles to immediately cease operations because of widespread safety problems that endanger its employees and the traveling public. Dan Weikel in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/13

Lawsuit demands city eliminate stink on rocks at La Jolla Cove -- A lawsuit has been filed demanding the city eradicate the "foul, noxious and sickening odors" left by birds and sea lions defecating on the rocks next to La Jolla Cove. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/28/13

Inmates go from lock-up to start-ups -- Entrepreneurs create a high-tech incubator at San Quentin that teaches prisoners about technology, then gives them paid internships upon release. Jessica Guynn in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/13

As Colorado, Washington legalize recreational pot, California mulls its options -- On New Year’s Day in Colorado, state-licensed marijuana stores will begin selling pot purely for pleasurable consumption. Peter Hecht in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/27/13

Schrag: Can Jim Brulte resuscitate the GOP? -- As the 2013 season for making lists comes to an end – the 10 best, the 10 greatest, the 10 worst – add yet another 11th-hour contender: The smartest thing the Republicans did in 2013 was choosing Jim Brulte to chair the California GOP. Peter Schrag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/27/13

Poll shows Jean Quan leading Oakland mayor's race -- Already written off by some politicos, Mayor Jean Quan actually might be the front-runner in next year's mayoral election -- as long as Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan stays out of the race. Matthew Artz in the Oakland Tribune -- 12/26/13

Newport Beach candidate taking donations in bitcoins -- City Council contender Michael Glenn adds a feature to his website allowing supporters to contribute in the digital currency, which is converted to dollars. Emily Foxhall in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/26/13

Consumer Watchdog fundraises off of tonsillectomy surgery debacle -- A prominent California consumer advocacy group is actively tying a tonsillectomy gone horribly awry to a planned ballot initiative. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/26/13

BART fares go up on Jan. 1 -- BART fares will rise an average of 19 cents, or 5.2 percent, starting Jan. 1. A one-way trip from Pittsburg to the San Francisco Airport, for example, will rise by 60 cents from $11.05 to $11.65. The price for a trip from Walnut Creek to the Embarcadero Station in San Francisco will jump a quarter from $4.85 to $5.10. Lisa Vorderbrueggen in the Oakland Tribune -- 12/26/13

California schools prepare for transgender rights law -- With a law that spells out the rights of transgender students in grades K-12 set to take effect in California, school districts are reviewing locker room layouts, scheduling sensitivity training for coaches, assessing who will sleep where during overnight field trips and reconsidering senior portrait dress codes. Julie Watson and Lisa Leff Associated Press -- 12/26/13

UC forging ahead with cross-system online courses -- UC program will let students take Web classes not offered at their home campus or already filled up in the traditional format. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/26/13

Influential voices in food movement seek better worker wages -- Since he wrote "Fast Food Nation" more than a decade ago, muckraking author Eric Schlosser has noticed a sympathy gap in the food movement that he helped foster. Some foodies seem to care more about the treatment of the animals they eat than the workers who prepare and serve them. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/26/13

Delta tunnels plan's true price tag: As much as $67 billion -- For more than a year, Gov. Jerry Brown's administration has been describing his plan to build two massive water tunnels through the Delta as a $25 billion project. That would rank it as one of the largest public works plans in California history. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/26/13

Former part-time pols in Bay Area reap medical benefits at taxpayer expense -- Virgil Gay, James Shattuck and Donald Bartels sat together on West Contra Costa Unified's school board way back when Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon. So why almost 45 years later are taxpayers still spending thousands of dollars a year on their health insurance? Thomas Peele in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/26/13

Register columnist Frank Mickadeit passes the Bar, gives notice -- Nice column by Frank Mickadeit tracing his path from roommate to Chapman University law student to newest member of the firm of Greenberg Gross LLP, which resides on the 17th floor of the Center Tower at South Coast Plaza. Kevin Roderick LA Observed -- 12/26/13

Greenhut: Pension ruling delays day of reckoning -- The late adviser to Richard Nixon, Herb Stein, is best known for his oft-quoted “law” that he first applied in the 1980s to the balance-of-payments deficit: “If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.” It’s often used as a rejoinder to policymakers who are eager to fix some fiscal situation they view as unsustainable. Steven Greenhut UT San Diego$ -- 12/26/13

Feinstein, Boxer side with Obama in Iran sanctions dispute -- A showdown is looming in the Senate next month over increased U.S. sanctions on Iran that could unravel a tentative international agreement over Iranian nuclear development, with President Obama on one side and Israel on the other. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/26/13

Schnur: FBI raid spurs scant political reform -- In the months since the FBI raided the offices of Senator Ron Calderon, the most interesting thing that’s happened in the State Capitol is what hasn’t happened in the State Capitol. Dan Schnur Capitol Weekly -- 12/26/13

AG Harris: Legal pot would reap hundreds of millions -- Marijuana legalization advocates got something sweet in their stocking this week when Attorney General Kamala Harris issued the title and summary for one of the pot legalization ballot measures wafting through the system. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/26/13

DWP is moving ahead with plans for Owens Valley solar plant -- The agency wants to erect 1 million photovoltaic panels on 1,200 acres. But critics worry it will mar historic elements of the Manzanar internment camp and harm wildlife. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/25/13

Do water woes help 2014 bond? -- When it comes to water, there’s bad news flowing for the state and its farmers, water agencies, customers, environmentalists, home owners, towns, landscapers — you name it — as California faces a third consecutive dry year. Samantha Gallegos Capitol Weekly -- 12/25/13

Fake Knee Surgery as Good as Real Procedure, Study Finds -- A fake surgical procedure is just as good as real surgery at reducing pain and other symptoms in some patients suffering from torn knee cartilage, according to a new study that is likely to fuel debate over one of the most common orthopedic operations. Joseph Walker in the Wall Street Journal$ Pam Belluck in the New York Times$ -- 12/25/13

Late Surge in Web Buying Blindsides UPS, Retailers -- A surge in online shopping this holiday season left stores breaking promises to deliver packages by Christmas, suggesting that retailers and shipping companies still haven't fully figured out consumers' buying patterns in the Internet era. Shelly Banjo, Suzanne Kapner, Serena Ng and Laura Stevens in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/25/13

Plans for skid row restaurant concern some residents -- The new restaurant's request to serve alcohol has some skid row residents, many recovering addicts, worried about having temptation so near. Gale Holland in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/25/13

Lower enrollment at once-crowded Belmont High brings mixed results -- Passing periods at Belmont High School used to mean pushing your way through a hall teeming with students. Now, it is a leisurely stroll. Stephen Ceasar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/25/13

A&E launches ‘Duck Dynasty’ marathon -- The television network A&E is capitalizing on the controversy surrounding the anti-gay comments of one of the stars of their hit show by running an 11-hour Christmas marathon of “Duck Dynasty.” Hadas Gold Politico -- 12/25/13

Jesse Jackson: 'Duck Dynasty' star 'white privilege' -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. has stepped into the “Duck Dynasty” uproar, using the case of civil rights hero Rosa Parks to make his case against show star Phil Robertson. Hadas Gold Politico -- 12/25/13

The Francis factor: Pope’s economic ideas rattle GOP -- Pope Francis has dramatically shifted the message and tone of the Vatican in the last nine months, and he’s forcing Republicans in Washington to reassess their relationship with the Catholic church. Katie Glueck Politico -- 12/25/13

222,000 Californians facing loss of jobless benefits -- With no extension of federal benefits for the long-term unemployed and members of Congress home for the holidays, aid will end Saturday. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/24/13

Judge: Brain-Dead Teen Can Be Taken off Life Support -- A judge on Tuesday ruled that a 13-year-old Northern California girl declared brain dead after suffering complications following a tonsillectomy can be taken off life support. Paul Elias Associated Press Carolyn Jones and Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/24/13

Brown pardons hero firefighter -- Nearly 20 years ago, Brooke Linman was on the wrong side of the law, twice convicted of various firearms, drug and theft charges. Michael Gardner UT San Diego$ -- 12/24/13

Firefighter cited for heroism on Brown's list of Christmas pardons -- The governor grants clemency to 127 people, including Brooke Linman, who joined state firefighters after serving time and being paroled in the 1990s. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/24/13

California governor Jerry Brown pardons 127, mostly for drugs -- In the spirit of holiday forgiveness, Gov. Jerry Brown announced pardons on Tuesday for 127 people. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/24/13

L.A. County transit officials plan to put sales tax measure on ballot -- Transit leaders are pondering whether to seek an additional half-cent levy or extension of Measure R, either next year or in 2016. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/24/13

Calbuzz: Merry Christmas from the Cooked Geese at Calbuzz -- Warmed by mass quantities of fat-laden fowl and hot chocolate martinis, we’re settling in to watch LeBron destroy the dog-ass Lakers spend some quality time celebrating with our families. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 12/25/13

Latinos, Asian Americans square off in political races -- Dave Gilliard has seen a lot in 25 years of coordinating political campaigns in California, a resume that includes the 2003 recall of Gov. Gray Davis. But even he doesn't know what to expect in two legislative races he's running that are a window into the future of state politics. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/24/13

Pensions for city workers can't be cut, but pay can, judge rules in major San Jose case -- In a landmark ruling that could help shape city budgets around the state, a judge invalidated key parts of San Jose's voter-approved pension cuts but upheld other elements that could still save huge taxpayer costs. Mike Rosenberg in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/24/13

Independent brain exam ordered for Jahi McMath -- The wrenching case of an Oakland girl declared brain-dead by doctors and a family unwilling to accept the diagnosis tumbled into a courtroom Monday, where a judge sought the help of an independent physician to weigh in on the unusual battle. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/24/13

Folsom mandates 20 percent cut in water use for residents -- Folsom Lake levels are so low that Folsom city officials have mandated that residents reduce their water use by 20 percent. Bill Lindelof in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/24/13

Race for California tax board gets unusually personal -- State Sen. Mark Wyland and Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, both Republicans, have traded barbs about her husband's legal troubles. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/24/13

BART meeting to consider contract set for Jan. 2 -- BART's board of directors will hold a special meeting Jan. 2 to consider approval of contracts with its two largest employee unions. Paul Burgarino and Matthias Gafni in the Contra Costa Times$ -- 12/24/13

Lawsuit filed over transgender law referendum -- Critics of California’s first-in-the-nation law allowing transgender students to use any school restroom have filed a lawsuit claiming the state and two counties unconstitutionally refuse to count nearly 5,000 signatures submitted on petitions to put the issue before voters. Michael Gardner UT San Diego$ -- 12/24/13

What would six Californias look like? -- Since California's inception, its residents have been trying to break it apart. Wikipedia notes 220 such proposals since statehood in 1850. Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/24/13

Big Sur fire's toll rises - 34 homes -- The new number came after firefighters contained the 917-acre blaze Friday and were better able to assess damage along Pfeiffer Ridge Road, a wooded area west of Highway 1 in Los Padres National Forest where most of the structures were lost. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/24/13

Pelosi makes her case for extending emergency jobless benefits -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other Democratic women members of Congress made a pre-Christmas pitch Monday to extend emergency unemployment benefits. David Lightman McClatchy DC -- 12/24/13

Congress moving toward debate on unemployment benefits -- A three-month extension of emergency unemployment benefits is gaining momentum. David Lightman McClatchy DC -- 12/24/13

California has nation's largest Native American population -- They may comprise less than 1 percent of California's 38 million residents, but the state — perhaps surprisingly to many — has the nation's largest population of Native Americans, a new Census Bureau report reveals. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/24/13

Calbuzz: Why Jerry Brown Will Not Run for President Again -- We were just settling down for a long winter’s nap when our old friend Mark Barabak, obviously with too much time on his hands — hasn’t this guy ever heard of holiday shopping? — filed a story suggesting that Gov. Jerry Brown is being urged to run for president for the fourth time. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 12/24/13

Volunteers help tech feasts get to needy -- For 25 years, Food Runners has been relaying untouched meals to San Francisco clinics and shelters for the homeless and addicted, runaways and sex workers. This is nothing new. What is new is that the hot meals are being supplied by tech companies. Sam Whiting in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/24/13

Obama grants 1% pay raise to civilian and military employees -- President Obama issued an executive order Monday granting civilian and military employees a 1% pay raise in 2014. Military employees have received a raise each year that Obama has been in the White House, but civilian pay has been flat over the last three years as members of Congress have tangled over the budget and the federal deficit. Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/24/13

Fallout from Target customer data breach shows in sentiment survey -- Consumers' perception of Target has fallen to its lowest point since at least June 2007, a survey by YouGov BrandIndex finds. An effort to soothe patrons apparently fell short. Tiffany Hsu in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/24/13

Chase Bank opened branches Sunday, signaling severity of Target's cards breach -- JPMorgan Chase opened a third of its branches nationwide Sunday to help customers affected by Target's credit and debit card security breach. Mark Calvey San Francisco Business Times -- 12/24/13

Target May Be Liable For Up To $3.6 Billion From Credit Card Data Breach -- This is not exactly the merriest of times for Target. Last week the retailer revealed that credit card data from 40 million customers had been stolen. Now it looks like the giant retailer could be liable for up to $3.6 billion. Alex Williams Techcrunch -- 12/24/13

Target’s 40 million-customer data breach could become class action lawsuit -- Two days after officials with Target acknowledged there had been a major theft of customers’ credit and debit card data, attorneys filed the first lawsuits against the company over the issue. David Hanners in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 12/24/13

California ranks last on small business policy list -- California has landed on another naughty list, ranking as the state with the least friendly policy environment for small businesses, according to report from an advocacy organization. Sonya Sorich Sacramento Business Journal -- 12/24/13

Mark Cuban says entrepreneurship will boom outside Silicon Valley -- Dallas billionaire Mark Cuban said he believes the entrepreneurship outside Silicon Valley will "dwarf" what happens inside it, and says that Dallas is among the areas that will benefit from it. Lance Murray Silicon Valley Business Journal -- 12/24/13

Americans are buying less electricity. That’s a big problem for utilities -- Perhaps this is just a random blip. Yet some analysts think we really could be entering a new era in which Americans buy less and less electricity — either because they're becoming more efficient or they're finding ways to generate their own electricity, through solar panels and other means. And if that's true, it's a huge problem for many electric utilities. Brad Plumer in the Washington Post$ -- 12/24/13

Google’s Schaft Robot Dominates Pentagon Contest -- It may not be the prettiest robot on the scene, but the angular blue creation from Google’s newly acquired Japanese start-up is poised to secure more Pentagon funding to develop a creation capable of venturing into dangerous disaster zones to help humans. Dion Nissenbaum in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/24/13

LAUSD vacancy highlights concerns in black community -- The recent debate over a vacancy on the L.A. Unified Board of Education highlighted the changing demographics of South Los Angeles, and the concern in the African-American community is about losing political clout. Alice Walton KPCC -- 12/24/13

Students only know a fraction of math teacher's good deeds -- Jim O'Connor is a strict disciplinarian at St. Francis High, so it wasn't until students volunteered to help with a blood drive that they discovered he had a gentler side. Nita Lelyveld in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/24/13

Getting past the stigma of student homelessness -- Tiffani Lee has a hard time even saying the word “homeless” without crying. The single mother of two grew up in a middle-class family in Washington and associates the word with images of people living under bridges or in cars. Jessica Terrell in the Orange County Register$ -- 12/24/13

Will Los Angeles schools have enough Internet access for students to take state tests? -- L.A. Unified is switching from state exams taken with papers and pencils to digital assessments this spring, and officials are still not sure how they will pull it off. Annie Gilbertson KPCC -- 12/24/13

California State University applications on the rise, Long Beach the most popular -- Applications to the largest public university system in the country continue to climb, with the California State University system receiving a record 775,498 applications, according to preliminary figures obtained Monday. Josh Dulaney in the San Bernardino Sun -- 12/24/13

Last-minute surge of health law sign-ups -- Federal healthcare officials push back a key enrollment deadline to Tuesday as a crush of consumers test the functioning of HealthCare.gov and Covered California. Chad Terhune, David Lauter and Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/24/13

California health exchange struggles with heavy volume at deadline -- The agency overseeing California’s health insurance exchange offered a bit of breathing room for consumers who tried but failed to meet Monday’s deadline for coverage starting in the new year, as its website and call centers were overwhelmed by last-minute demand. Tom Verdin Associated Press -- 12/24/13

CDC says Valley Fever is a chief concern nationwide -- California’s Central Valley, the southern part of New Mexico, and southwest Texas all have been hit heavily by Valley Fever in the past year. Cynthia H. Craft in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/24/13

Gun Laws Passed In 2013 Take Effect At Different Times -- New gun laws will take effect January first in California. Some gun owners are confused about what will be legal or illegal next year. Bob Moffitt Capital Public Radio -- 12/24/13

In Highland Park, a 'newspaper sidewalk' is machinist's legacy -- Leon Rudek has passed on, but the concrete facsimiles of L.A. Times front pages he made from printing plates have preserved an era. Bob Pool in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/24/13

Father of computer science Alan Turing issued royal pardon 59 years after his death -- British mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing was convicted of "gross indecency" in 1952, before being sentenced to chemical castration. Now, 59 years after his death from cyanide poisoning in an apparent suicide, he has been issued a posthumous pardon by Queen Elizabeth. Rich McCormick The Verge -- 12/24/13

JetBlue Grants Christmas Miracles to Stranded Passengers -- It seems airlines want to one-up Santa this year. JetBlue surprised stranded people this holiday season with free flights home. Neha Prakash Mashable -- 12/24/13

Obama Enrolls In Health Care Under Affordable Care Act -- President Barack Obama has enrolled in a health care plan under the Affordable Care Act, the White House confirmed Monday. According to a White House official, Obama selected a bronze plan through the District of Columbia's exchange. Mollie Reilly Huffington Post -- 12/24/13

Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission’s accomplished -- Edward Joseph Snowden emerged at the appointed hour, alone, blending into a light crowd of locals and tourists. He cocked his arm for a handshake, then turned his shoulder to indicate a path. Before long he had guided his visitor to a secure space out of public view. Barton Gellman in the Washington Post$ -- 12/24/13

Post-Obamacare, more fed tech hurdles ahead -- A defective website is the least of the government’s tech problems. Jessica Meyers Politico -- 12/24/13

Retiring Members of Congress Hold Over $13 Million in Campaign Accounts -- The seventeen Members of Congress who have announced their retirement from Congress have campaign accounts that hold over $13 million in campaign funds. Some of these funds may be donated to charities during this holiday season, some may not. Kent Cooper Roll Call -- 12/24/13