Updating . . .

California's drought getting even worse, experts say -- California's drought conditions have worsened over the past week with the percentage of the state suffering from the highest category increasing, the National Weather Service said Thursday. Caitlin Owens in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/14

California lawmakers seek ways to address oil train risks -- With elected officials sounding alarms about crude-laden trains rumbling through California, state lawmakers on Thursday pressed for more information about safety risks to cities and water reservoirs sitting near rail lines. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/19/14

Free media bonanza: GOP gov candidate Kashkari to host John and Ken show -- California GOP gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari, who appeared last month during a combative radio debate hosted by Southern California conservative shock jocks “John and Ken,” is returning to their KFI 640 mike — this time as a fill-in host. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/19/14

Gov. Jerry Brown to sign budget in San Diego -- Gov. Jerry Brown will head south to San Diego to sign the state budget on Friday morning, his office announced. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/19/14

California lawmakers OK bill limiting high school football practices -- California lawmakers on Thursday approved legislation that restricts football practices in an attempt to reduce concussions and brain injuries to student athletes. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/14

State prisons violated procedures in sterilizations, audit finds -- At least 39 female inmates at California prisons underwent sterilizations in which the women’s “informed consent” was in question, according to a state audit released Thursday. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/19/14

Corinthian Colleges struggling financially as feds apply pressure -- A for-profit college chain that has been sued by California Attorney General Kamala Harris faces financial issues as it grapples with simultaneous federal scrutiny, filings show. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/19/14

Boxer, Feinstein Calling For U.S. Action In Iraq -- California's two Democratic U.S. senators disagreed on whether to go to war with Iraq in 2003, but now both are calling for U.S. intervention in the country. Matt Laslo Capital Public Radio -- 6/19/14

Rep. Kevin McCarthy elected House Majority Leader, first Californian to hold post -- use Republicans elected Rep. Kevin McCarthy as their next majority leader Thursday, continuing the Bakersfield congressman's rapid rise through the ranks of congressional leadership. Michael A. Memoli in the Los Angeles Times$ Matt Fuller Roll Call Russell Berman The Hill Ashley Parker and Jeremy W. Peters in the New York Times$ Ed O'Keefe, Robert Costa in the Washington Post$ -- 6/19/14

Riggs: McCarthyism redefined in Washington -- Kevin McCarthy's new leadership role means extra clout for California. Kevin Riggs Riggs Report -- 6/19/14

Dog emerges from Tahoe forest after 2 years, is reunited with family -- Almost two years after a golden retriever went missing on a camping trip in Tahoe National Forest, the thin, frail dog has been reunited with her family after being spotted at a campground emerging from the woods. Caitlin Owens in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/14

Shelly Sterling accuses Donald Sterling of intimidating witnesses -- Donald Sterling threatened to “take out” a lawyer representing his wife and left hostile voicemail messages with two doctors who declared him mentally incapacitated, according to documents filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court. Nathan Fenno, James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/14

iPhone's 'kill switch' reduces thefts, data show -- New crime data show Apple's addition of a "kill switch" to its iPhones last September has sharply reduced robberies and thefts, authorities said Thursday. Michael Virtanen Associated Press -- 6/19/14

Google pushes girls into coding with 'Made With Code' program -- Diana Navarro loves to code, and she's not afraid to admit it. But the 18-year-old Rutgers University computer science major knows she's an anomaly: Writing software to run computer programs in 2014 is -- more than ever -- a man's world. Martha Mendoza Associated Press -- 6/19/14

California Competes tax credits awarded today -- State officials handed out tax credits to 29 businesses across the state today as part of a new state tax relief program known as California Competes. Allen Young Sacramento Business Journal Juliet Williams Associated Press -- 6/19/14

Fox: California Does Poorly in Small Business Friendliness Survey -- The most enthusiastic applause for political speakers who addressed Monday’s California’s Small Business Day celebration came when Assembly minority leader Connie Conway expressed her vision of dealing with California’s budget. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 6/19/14

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning    

Lawmakers OK last-minute solar deal in budget -- SB871, which extends a property tax for solar credits through 2024, was never heard by a regular policy committee and the public had little chance to provide input before the Democratic Legislature rammed it through last weekend. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 6/19/14

Sonoma County ballots could swing state controller's race -- Sonoma County and its 28,000 unreported ballots could decide who gets to run for state controller in November. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/19/14

Anti-Delta tunnel groups gear up to oppose water bonds -- California lawmakers haven't finished maneuvering to get a new water bond on the ballot in November, but opponents have already begun mobilizing. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/19/14

Could It Be Water Versus Schools on California’s November Ballot? -- The safe money, so to speak, in California politics for years has been that voters are usually happy to approve long-term government borrowing. In some ways, it has seemed like free money. John Myers KQED -- 6/19/14

Skelton: Brown's tunnel plan looms over effort to pass water bonds -- As lawmakers struggle to craft a water bond proposal for voters, there's a huge reservoir of wonderful, non-controversial project ideas. But practically everyone is suffering from tunnel vision. Literally. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/14

Setback put Kevin de León on the path to Senate leadership -- Kevin de León thought his political career might be over. After losing a bitter contest for the California Assembly speakership to John Pérez in 2009, De León was stripped of his coveted Appropriations Committee chairmanship and moved to one of the dreariest offices in the Capitol. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/14

Assembly committee rejects Ellis Act bill -- A bill to curtail the number of Ellis Act evictions in San Francisco met a fate that has become customary - it was rejected by lawmakers Wednesday, but it will be allowed to be brought back for another vote at a later date. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/18/14

Proposal to raise PG&E electricity and gas bills advances -- Electricity and natural gas rates for customers of PG&E are headed higher, if a powerful state agency adopts a proposal issued Wednesday evening by a state administrative law judge. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/19/14

CalPERS has interim agreement in San Bernardino bankruptcy case -- CalPERS and bankrupt San Bernardino have reached an “interim agreement” that could head off a major legal battle over bankruptcy debts and the ironclad status of public pensions, the city reported. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/19/14

California Supreme Court Justice Marvin R. Baxter to retire next year -- California Supreme Court Justice Marvin R. Baxter, will retire from the state's high court when his term ends in January, the second vacancy this year to be filled by Gov. Jerry Brown. Baxter, 74, plans to depart after 24 years on the court. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ Steve Clow in the Los Angeles Times$ Howard Mintz in the San Jose Mercury$ Cheryl Miller and Scott Graham The Recorder -- 6/18/14

Advocacy group: Thousands in Sacramento face the risk of crude oil train spills -- More than 135,000 Sacramentans live within a half-mile of rail tracks and could find themselves in harm’s way should a crude oil train derailment cause a spill, according to a report published Wednesday by the National Resources Defense Council in California. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/18/14

The new oil crisis: Exploding trains -- Communities throughout the U.S. and Canada are waking up to the dark side of North America’s energy boom: Trains hauling crude oil are crashing, exploding and spilling in record numbers as a fast-growing industry outpaces the federal government’s oversight. Kathryn A. Wolfe, Bob King Politico -- 6/19/14

California Caregivers Sue Their Employer for Wage Violations -- Professional caregivers filed a class action lawsuit in California Wednesday on behalf of hundreds of workers throughout the state. They say their employer, Kindred Healthcare and its affiliates, shorted them on wages, overtime, and breaks. April Dembosky KQED -- 6/19/14

Temporary workers, paid sick days, back wages lead California labor priorities -- Paid sick days. Tougher penalties for employers who withhold back wages. More liability for corporations that use subcontractors. The priority list of organized labor, a formidable force in the Legislature, begins with these three items. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/19/14

Walters: Wage theft a real problem, but solving it isn’t easy -- The Capitol is accustomed – even inured – to political battles between unions and employers over laws governing labor-management relations. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/19/14

Greenhut: 'Kill switch' gives life to unseen problems -- Legislature takes simplistic approach to stop cell-phone thefts. Steven Greenhut UT San Diego$ -- 6/19/14

Taxes/Fees   

A bump at the pump? Senators propose a 12-cent hike in federal gas tax -- A bipartisan Senate proposal emerged Wednesday to rescue beleaguered federal transportation funding by raising the tax on gasoline by 12 cents a gallon. Ashley Halsey III in the Washington Post$ Michael A. Memoli in the Los Angeles Times$ Kevin Drawbaugh and Roberta Rampton Reuters -- 6/18/14

Economy, Employers, Jobs   

Housing advocates, environmentalists consider Sacramento arena lawsuit -- A group of affordable housing advocates, environmentalists and homeless organizations is considering a lawsuit challenging the environmental impact report approved last month by the Sacramento City Council for a new downtown sports arena. Ryan Lillis in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/19/14

Education

California lawmakers consider expanding teacher tenure despite court ruling -- A union-backed bill in the California legislature to expand tenure protections for public school teachers to other employees stalled on Wednesday amid concern about a court ruling last week that said the practice is unconstitutional and hurts students. Sharon Bernstein Reuters -- 6/19/14

Appeals tie up teacher misconduct cases -- Two years after teacher misconduct scandals rocked Los Angeles Unified and sent a surge of complaints to state regulators, a new spike threatens to degrade the educator oversight system as credential-holders accused mostly of criminal offenses fight to retain their licenses. Tom Chorneau Cabinet Report -- 6/19/14

No more science camp for kids -- An annual camping program for fifth- and sixth-grade students in all of Orange County’s school districts has been canceled, marking the end of a beloved but expensive 40-year tradition. Lauren Syeussy and David Montero in the Orange County Register$ -- 6/19/14

Brownstein: Why the Vergara Decision Isn’t Enough -- A California court struck down laws that put adults before kids in public schools. But that won't close the achievement gap. Ronald Brownstein National Journal -- 6/19/14

Drought  

California banning burning on 31 million acres -- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Director Ken Pimlott announced Wednesday that his 21 unit chiefs and six contract county fire chiefs have been ordered to issue local burning suspensions by July 1. Associated Press -- 6/18/14

Immigration / Border

Michelle Obama: Immigration is president’s top legislative priority -- Michelle Obama participated in the swearing-in of 50 new citizens Wednesday to express her support for stalled efforts to overhaul the nation's immigration laws. Krissah Thompson in the Washington Post$ -- 6/19/14

Environment

L.A. councilman wants to put ground-based solar arrays on pause -- Worried solar farms could overtake prized patches of open space, a Los Angeles councilman is asking the Department of Water and Power board to put off allowing new arrays that are mounted on the ground -- part of its Feed-In Tariff program -- until the city can make sure they mesh with neighborhoods. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/14

San Diego County looks to aid bee comeback -- Board of Supervisors moves toward opening some county-owned land to commercial bee hives. Mark Walker UT San Diego$ -- 6/19/14

Tricolored blackbird population falling at alarming rate -- The dairy farms of the Central Valley have proven good nesting sites for California's tricolored blackbird. Grains grown to feed the cows resemble the lost tules and cattails that the picturesque songbirds once called home, providing the flocks new sanctuary to raise their young. That is, until harvest time. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/19/14

Health

Covered California Questions Health Insurance Initiative -- Ahead of its board meeting Thursday, Covered California officials are raising questions — literally — about a November ballot initiative that some say could destabilize the state’s health insurance marketplace. Lisa Aliferis KQED -- 6/19/14

California bill would restore funding for adult day care centers -- California lawmakers advanced a bill on Wednesday that would restore adult day care services as a benefit under Medi-Cal, the state's health insurance program for low-income and disabled residents. Jennifer Chaussee Reuters -- 6/19/14

California Improves its Long-Term Supports – Improvements Still Needed -- California’s support systems for older adults, the disabled, and their family caregivers have improved in recent years and now rank among the top ten states in the nation, according to a scorecard released Thursday. Matt Perry HealthyCal.org -- 6/19/14

Also . . .

Trial of L.A. County sheriff's officials focuses on FBI encounters -- A videotape of an encounter between two sheriff's sergeants and an FBI agent outside the agent's home, played in federal court Wednesday, showed a surprisingly polite exchange, even as the agent was advised she would soon be arrested. Cindy Chang in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/14

Hands On With Yo, The Absurdly Simple Messaging App -- In certain web-obsessed circles, the word of the day today was definitely “yo.” Yo is a ridiculously simple smartphone app that allows you to contact friends with one word messages that say, you guessed it, yo. Colleen Taylor TechCrunch -- 6/19/14

The 10 coolest things about Amazon's new Fire Phone -- From head-tracking to unlimited photo storage, here's what you need to know. The Verge -- 6/19/14

POTUS 44    

NBC/WSJ poll: Obama approval rating low point -- According to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, 41 percent of respondents approve of Obama’s performance as president, tied for the lowest point in his presidency. His approval rating on foreign policy sits at 37 percent, setting a new low. Jonathan Topaz Politico -- 6/19/14

Beltway

Kevin McCarthy may be shoo-in for House majority leader, but he'll have to walk a fine line -- When Bakersfield Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected to Congress just eight years ago, he became part of a trio soon known as the "Young Guns," the faces of a younger generation that would map the GOP's future. Josh Richman in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/18/14

Tech riding high with expected McCarthy ascension -- The good-natured California Republican and expected majority leader hasn’t devised many tech-related bills or even hammered away on the industry’s core issues. But he has made frequent pilgrimages to Silicon Valley, befriended prominent tech players and lauded the value of innovation. Jessica Meyers Politico -- 6/19/14

Father of Isla Vista victim knows he has to keep speaking out -- Richard Martinez's phone doesn't ring every few minutes as it did in those first days after the killings. The interview requests and condolence calls have slowed. When family and friends gathered for his son's memorial service, the national media had moved on to new tragedies. Marisa Gerber in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/19/14

Clinton navigates foreign policy balancing act as Obama leadership questioned -- It is a near-perfect storm that has come together as Hillary Rodham Clinton tours the country promoting her new book and preparing for a possible presidential campaign in 2016. Dan Balz in the Washington Post$ -- 6/19/14