California Policy & Politics This Morning   

Sacramento water agencies brace for historic drop in Folsom Lake levels -- Folsom Lake is losing more than a billion gallons of water each day. Lake levels will likely fall to historic lows by summer’s end, testing the reliability of a water supply that once seemed invulnerable. Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/28/15

California drought resurrects old population growth concerns -- Earlier this month, with his East Bay community facing the prospect of losing its only source of water, Edwin Pattison appeared before residents at a town hall meeting and lamented the strain of California’s growing population on dwindling water supplies. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/28/15

Decker: Top U.S. Senate candidates run quietly, for now -- Watching the U.S. Senate race in California makes you yearn for one of those childhood gizmos that magically makes invisible ink visible. Without one, the race has been hard to see. Cathleen Decker in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/28/15

Staff shakeup at California Democratic Party -- California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton confirmed Saturday he will not seek re-election when his term ends in 2017, and the party’s executive director, Shawnda Westly, has stepped down in anticipation of his departure. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/28/15

Legislation would bar PG&E tax deductions for $1.6 billion penalty in San Bruno explosion -- PG&E would not be able to harvest a tax windfall from state authorities by taking a tax deduction for a record-setting $1.6 billion penalty because it caused a fatal explosion in San Bruno, under legislation introduced Friday by two Bay Area state lawmakers. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/28/15

Walters: Governor has two big wishes -- Jerry Brown has a vision, or a hope, or perhaps just a fingers-crossed wish. It is that when he finally departs from the governorship in January 2019, construction will be unstoppably underway on two immense public works projects. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/28/15

Lawmakers tie $20 million in grants to police use of force -- The state budget that takes effect on Wednesday includes $20 million in grants for local law enforcement agencies, but lawmakers are linking the money to the national debate over killings by police. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 6/28/15

Morain: Prejudice comes in many forms -- In 2015, there should be no doubt that consenting adults have equal rights to marry the love of their life. Worshipers should be safe at Emanuel AME Church, or any other sanctuary where they give praise to their god, and Confederate symbols should be erased from Southern flags. And in 2015, anti-Semitism should be called out for what it is, although what should be so simple somehow is complicated. Dan Morain in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/28/15

Same-sex marriage: San Diego mayor's reversal in 2007 helped shift public attitudes -- In the immediate aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court decision making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states, much attention has rightfully been focused on the bold actions of the Democratic mayor of San Francisco in 2004. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/28/15

After marriage, LGBT activists prepare for next challenge -- Leno’s remarks underscore how, even in the midst of this weekend’s Pride celebration in San Francisco, key legislators and LGBT rights supporters are making plans for a new generation of activists to meet the political hurdles that still loom large. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/28/15

Court-appointed attorneys violated Disabilities Act, federal complaint says -- A disability-rights group has filed a federal complaint alleging that the Los Angeles County Superior Court has systemically violated the civil rights of intellectually disabled residents who are under limited conservatorships by failing to provide effective legal assistance through its court-appointed attorneys. Stephen Ceasar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/28/15

Fourth of July gone bad: Fireworks casualty warns of holiday hazard -- When Alazar Ortiz woke up at Regional Medical Center the morning after the Fourth of July last year, his gaze immediately went to the two huge fists of bandages and gauze at the end of his forearms. Eric Kurhi and Katrina Cameron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/28/15

Arnold terminates marriage-equality opponent -- Like many on Facebook, former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to use an image of himself overlaid with rainbow colors as his new profile picture to show support for the Supreme Court’s marriage-equality ruling. One of his Facebook followers took issue with that, and the Governator’s response was… classic. Josh Richman Political Blotter -- 6/28/15

California's vaccine bill could be a trend setter -- California has always had a reputation as a trend-setter, and the state’s recently passed vaccination bill has national bellwether potential — but only if it can survive the governor’s scrutiny and an almost certain legal challenge. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 6/28/15

BART's closed restrooms not reopening soon -- The transit agency closed the restrooms as a security measure after the 9/11 attacks 14 years ago. Now, directors are hearing that reopening them will be quite costly, and security concerns remain. But directors representing the areas with toilet-less stations are hearing there's a real need. Andrew McGall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/28/15

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits Novato home of 'American mom' -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has many reasons to rejoice this weekend. But perhaps Ban's best personal moment came Saturday morning when he was able to have breakfast Saturday at the Novato home of his "American mom," 98-year-old Libba Patterson, who Ban says helped shape his life. Adrian Rodriguez in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/28/15

Convicted killers of women in L.A. County more likely to get death penalty -- Chivalry and traditional roles between men and women influence jurors when deciding whether to issue a death sentence, according to a researcher who studies capital murder. Sarah Favot in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 6/28/15

Supreme Court decision fires up Pride celebrations -- As celebrations for Pride weekend kicked off across the globe, festivities in San Francisco revved into high gear Saturday with the roar of motorcycles leading the Dyke March — the unofficial prelude to Sunday’s Pride Parade. Jenna Lyons, Lizzie Johnson and Hamed Aleaziz in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/28/15

Friends, family show support for unarmed man shot by police in Los Feliz -- About 60 of Walter DeLeon's relatives, friends and co-workers slowly walked along Los Feliz Boulevard to the grassy patch where he was shot, carrying gray towels to represent what he was holding when an officer opened fire. Kate Mather in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/28/15

Family of murdered LAPD officer in limbo as killer languishes on death row -- For three decades, Sandy Verna Jackson has longed for the day her husband’s killers would be executed. Raynard Cummings and Kenneth Gay were convicted of first-degree murder for fatally shooting Los Angeles police motorcycle Officer Paul Verna six times during a traffic stop in Lake View Terrace in June 1983. Brenda Gazzar in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 6/28/15

Death Row inmate Raynard Cummings from Pacoima has one regret -- Raynard Cummings says he has been “fighting to live” on California’s death row for nearly three decades. Brenda Gazzar in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 6/28/15

Banks: A mother asks why some black lives don't matter to other blacks -- Rivers, 59, has lived her whole life in South Los Angeles and remembers when wearing the wrong colors in the wrong neighborhood would make you a target. But that was passe — or so she thought. Until last month, when her son Tavin, 19, was shot to death over his red sneakers during their weekly visit to a carwash on the border of blue gang territory. Sandy Banks in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/28/15

Calbuzz: Obama: Time for “An Honest Accounting of History” -- It’s been an amazing week of news: the Confederate flag lowering across the South, the Supreme Court upholding the rights of everyone, not only to have health insurance but also to marry. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 6/28/15

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions    

Families pack up as San Francisco. rents keep rising -- Dwyer wasn’t actually evicted. But when her landlord — who lives in China — sent a letter in February notifying her the monthly rent on the two-bedroom home was rising from $2,100 to $3,000, it meant Dwyer had no choice but to move. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/28/15

Massive warehouse plan has Moreno Valley divided over jobs, environment -- If his plan is approved, the developer could build more than 40 million square feet of warehouse space — enough to fit almost 700 football fields — on the eastern edge of Moreno Valley, on a vast stretch of Riverside County bounded by tract homes on one side and rugged hills on the other. Paloma Esquivel in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/28/15

Past failures key to Chargers' L.A. pitch -- The crux of the Chargers argument why the NFL should let them move to Los Angeles is nine unsuccessful stadium proposals the team has made across San Diego County since 2003, but it’s not clear whether that will do the trick. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 6/28/15

Drought   

Navy bases do their part to conserve water in California drought -- With its red and green synthetic turf, Destroyer Field at Surface Warrior Park is meant to reduce water use at Naval Base San Diego. The softball field needs occasionally to be combed, but not watered or mowed. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/28/15

Guns  

Jeb Bush rejects post-Charleston calls for stricter gun control laws -- Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush pushed back on Saturday against calls from President Obama and other Democrats for stricter gun control laws in the wake of the mass shooting at a Charleston, S.C., church that left nine parishioners dead. Kurtis Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/28/15

Also . . . 

City of L.A. slow to repair sidewalks despite complaints and injuries -- After years of hearing complaints about sidewalks made impassable by cracks, buckles and bulging tree roots, officials recently announced plans to spend nearly $1.4 billion on an ambitious, 30-year repair campaign. Ben Poston, Ryan Menezes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/28/15

Man wounded at Pride event in San Francisco -- A 64-year-old man was wounded and several people detained after shots rang out at a gay-pride event in San Francisco on Saturday night in the area of the United Nations Plaza. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ Carlyne Zinko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/28/15

Ride-sharing forces automakers to rethink how they sell cars -- For at least 22 hours a day most cars sit parked, sucking up their owners' money while waiting to be driven. For most people, it's one of their most underutilized - but most expensive - assets. Jerry Hirsch in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/28/15

Cyclists bare all in downtown L.A. for World Naked Bike Ride -- Hundreds of nude cyclists peddled through downtown Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon as part of World Naked Bike Ride, an international grass-roots movement to promote positive body image. Angel Jennings in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/28/15

Beltway 

Saunders: Supreme Court’s white lie on Obamacare -- The GOP-majority Supreme Court saved President Obama’s bacon Thursday with a political ruling that papered over his signature Affordable Care Act. Debra J. Saunders in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/28/15

As Left Wins Culture Battles, G.O.P. Gains Opportunity to Pivot for 2016 -- A cascade of events suggests that 2015 could be remembered as a Liberal Spring: the moment when deeply divisive and consuming questions of race, sexuality and broadened access to health care were settled in quick succession, and social tolerance was cemented as a cornerstone of American public life. Jonathan Martin in the New York Times$ -- 6/28/15

Bernie Sanders, Rising in Polls, Gets Standing Room Only Crowds in New Hampshire -- But the Vermont senator has a lot of ground to make up to truly compete with Hillary Clinton in the state. S.V. Dáte National Journal -- 6/28/15