Updating . .
Thomas Fire Likely to Become California’s Largest Ever as Crews Brace for Return of Winds -- After a two-day lull in powerful winds that drove the massive wildfire burning in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, crews are bracing for the return of potentially dangerous gusts that could revive the flames. Crews used the calm conditions to build containment lines and set controlled fires to clear dry brush ahead of so-called sundowner winds expected to whip up Wednesday afternoon. KPCC -- 12/20/17
Suing Big Oil over climate change, Santa Cruz eyes wildfire, storm costs -- The city and county of Santa Cruz has joined a growing number of communities suing oil companies over climate change, alleging a Big Tobacco-like plot in which the fossil fuel industry long concealed the dangers of its products from consumers. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/17
Judge says state records of judicial investigations can remain private -- Judge Suzanne Ramos Bolanos said in her ruling this week that the state constitution gives the San Francisco-based Commission on Judicial Performance the power to shield certain records, effectively trumping the auditor’s legislative authority to review government agencies. Cynthia Dizikes in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/17
Homeownership will get more expensive for some Californians under the GOP tax bill -- The Republican tax bill that appears headed for President Trump’s desk reduces the ability of home buyers to deduct mortgage interest, which will be a hit to home shoppers in Southern California and the Bay Area, where housing costs are sky-high. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/17
California health insurance premiums expected to rise under Republican tax plan -- Despite successfully beating back Republican efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, the future of the federal health care law appears uncertain after congressional Democrats were unable to defeat a provision of the GOP tax plan that dismantles the foundation on which Obamacare is built. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/20/17
Walters: How would federal tax overhaul hit California? -- As we weigh the impact of the federal tax overhaul, now being wrought by President Trump and the Republican Congress, on California, we should keep in mind the first and foremost axiom about taxation. Dan Walters Calmatters.org -- 12/20/17
How the final tax bill will affect four tax returns. The highest earners get the biggest break -- Earlier this month, The Times reviewed tax returns submitted by a handful of readers to see how the House and Senate tax plans would have affected their 2016 taxes had they been law at the time. Now, that details of the final plan are out, we’ve re-crunched the numbers to see how those same readers would have fared. James Rufus Koren in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/17
12 California Republicans vote to support tax overhaul for a second time; Rohrabacher and Issa say no -- The House gave final approval for the GOP tax bill Wednesday, with 12 Republicans in the state delegation again voting in favor of the bill. Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Darrell Issa of Vista voted no. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/17
Insurance companies couldn’t drop customers after a wildfire under proposed bill -- A new proposal from Sen. Ricardo Lara, a Bell Gardens Democrat running for insurance commissioner next year, could change that trend. It would prohibit insurance companies from dropping or not renewing homeowners’ policies after a wildfire disaster, and would require them to seek approval from the Department of Insurance before pulling out of areas with a high fire risk. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/20/17
A dream deported -- Maria Mendoza-Sanchez raised four children in Oakland, built a nursing career and bought a home. Then came the election — and the most agonizing decision of her life. Ha/med Aleaziz in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/17
CA120: Alabama election a wave — or just a ripple? -- The recent U.S. Senate election in Alabama marked for many political observers the first striking evidence that the coming year will bring a “wave election” that could wash Republican majorities out of Congress and trickle down to gubernatorial and legislative seats. Paul Mitchell Capitol Weekly -- 12/20/17
In CA, high-speed rail partisans eye Washington crash -- Although it might be regarded as an opportunity to score points against Gov. Jerry Brown’s beloved high-speed rail project, the train crash that killed at least three people Monday is drawing a muted response from both opponents and boosters – at least for the time being. Chuck McFadden Capitol Weekly -- 12/20/17
Prosecutors sue owners of South L.A. property, calling it a 'dangerous hazard' because of gang crime -- For nearly a decade, the South Los Angeles duplex has been a hub for gang violence and troublesome parties filled with drugs, city officials say. In the last four months alone, police have responded there multiple times after reports of gunfire. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/17
Tesla troubles: Can California impose its blue values on the green economy? -- In the waning hours of the legislative session, Democrats pushed through new labor requirements widely viewed as retaliation against Tesla, the electric car maker embroiled in a union-organizing campaign at its Fremont plant. Judy Lin Calmatters.org -- 12/20/17
Hey California, say farewell to your traditional incandescent light bulbs -- Starting Jan. 1, 2018, the humble everyday incandescent light bulb will continue on its long and steady fade into our collective memory. Manufacturers will no longer make the traditional 100-watt bulb and stores will eventually sell out of current supplies. Consumers will have to choose from more efficient bulbs that use no more than 72 watts, including halogen incandescents, compact fluorescents and light-emitting diode, or LED, bulbs. Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/20/17
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Near tax victory, Trump is as unpopular in California as Jimmy Carter in defeat -- UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies found that 66 percent of the state’s registered voters disapprove of the Republican’s performance. That disapproval rate is nine percentage points greater than the poll showed in May and five percentage points greater than it found in March. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/20/17
Two-thirds of Californians disapprove of Trump, but guess which presidents fared worse -- “Disapproval of the job Trump is doing is not only broad but also very deep,” said Mark DiCamillo, the poll’s director, noting that 57 percent of respondents said they strongly disapproved of the commander-in-chief and only 30 percent give him a thumbs up. “It’s a very dismal set of numbers for him.” Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/20/17
After snub, California expects disaster relief from $81 billion federal aid plan -- But while the supplemental disaster aid has bipartisan support in Washington, the bill itself is being used as a political pawn, congressional Democrats warned Tuesday. That’s because GOP leaders have attached the relief funding to a temporary spending measure to prevent a government shutdown at midnight Friday. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/17
Willie Brown Looms Large Over the Race to Replace Ed Lee -- Between the singing, the prayers and the tears at Sunday’s memorial service for San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, political luminaries like Gov. Jerry Brown, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Nancy Pelosi all spoke about Lee’s life and the sacrifice he made for the city. But perhaps the person with the most at stake was a relatively unknown member of the Board of Supervisors, the first politician to address the gathered crowd at City Hall. Scott Shafer KQED -- 12/20/17
San Bernardino woman, detained by ICE despite being U.S. citizen, sues -- The American Civil Liberties Union and a law firm have filed a lawsuit on behalf of a San Bernardino woman who spent a day in immigration custody despite repeatedly saying that she was an American citizen. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/17
Secrecy looms over sexual misconduct claims -- Leaders in the California Senate and Assembly have promised transparency as they combat sexual harassment in the Capitol, but so far most information from misconduct investigations remains hidden from public view. Sophia Bellag Capitol Weekly -- 12/20/17
How to report workplace sexual harassment -- Sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious issue. Thanks to the #MeToo movement, more victims are stepping forward to report misconduct. Jessica Roy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/17
L.A. real estate developer and billboard executive fined over political donations -- A real estate developer and a billboard executive were fined Tuesday by the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission for flouting city rules that restrict how much donors can give to politicians. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/17
Councilman retweets Swedish anti-immigrant firebrand, and that ruffles feathers online -- Fresno City Councilman Steve Brandau raised a few eyebrows on social media over the weekend when he retweeted a nationalist, anti-immigrant post from Sweden. But the councilman said that doesn’t reflect his own opinion. Tim Sheehan in the Fresno Bee -- 12/20/17
Ex-Beaumont officials guilty in corruption case; ordered to pay $8.1 million in restitution -- Four former Beaumont officials accused of corruption pleaded guilty Tuesday, Dec. 19, to charges including embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds and conflict of interest, and agreed to pay a total of $8.1 million in restitution. Richard K. De Atley in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 12/20/17
Berkeley OKs continued use of pepper spray in crowds -- The Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday to keep in place a recently passed ordinance that allows police officers to use pepper spray on violent protesters, rejecting a recommendation from a civilian commission to roll back the law for health concerns. Annie Ma in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/17
‘My life flashed before my eyes:’ San Francisco hotel guests say they received no warning of active shooter -- Kimberly Archie awoke early Sunday morning in her room on the ninth floor of the ritzy Four Seasons Hotel, after she thought she heard something. She fell back asleep, unaware that an off-duty Richmond police officer, possibly having a mental breakdown, was firing his handgun throughout the hotel as police responded in force to an active-shooter incident. Matthias Gafni in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/20/17
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds
Poll: Voters support new transit taxes, especially on Uber, Lyft -- A majority of San Franciscans want improvements to the city’s roads and Muni system — and they think businesses, including Uber, Lyft and food-delivery services, should pay for them, according to a survey by the San Francisco Transportation Authority. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/17
Wineries could raise a glass to tax bill -- The Republican tax bill could be a boon to wineries in Napa and Sonoma. The bill, which the House is expected to formally pass Wednesday, contains tax credits that could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to large wineries. Brewers and distillers will also benefit. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/17
California Vehicle Registration Fees Increasing In 2018 -- You'll pay more to renew your car's California registration in 2018, as part of a new law to help pay for deferred maintenance and roadwork. The deal approved by Gov. Jerry Brown also increased the state gas tax on Nov. 1. Capital Public Radio -- 12/20/17
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
'Reasonable rates' is stricken from CPUC mission statement -- The California Public Utilities Commission has amended its long-standing mission statement, leaving out the idea of ensuring “reasonable rates” for the water and power used by the public. The change comes as state utility regulators have been under criminal investigation for potentially improper backchannel dealings with the utility companies they oversee and facing multiple lawsuits alleging they failed to protect the people they serve. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/20/17
California toughens stance, says employers must protect workers from wildfire smoke -- Two weeks after telling employers they "must consider" taking steps to protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke, California’s Department of Industrial Relations Tuesday released a new advisory telling employers that they must protect workers exposed to hazardous particulates from fires. Leslie Berestein Rojas KPCC -- 12/20/17
Can the Tesla Semi perform? UPS, PepsiCo and other truck fleet owners want to find out -- Orders are trickling in for the sleek vehicle, unveiled in mid-November. On Tuesday, UPS said wants 125. Last week, PepsiCo ordered 100. Budweiser parent Anheuser-Busch reserved 40. Sysco, the big food distributor wants 50. Wal-Mart ordered 15. Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/17
Uber Suffers Major Setback After Europe Court Rules It’s a Taxi Service -- Uber lost a major legal battle on Wednesday, when the European Union’s highest court declared that the ride hailing app must comply with tough rules governing traditional taxi associations, a significant setback for a company already grappling with a string of scandals. Liz Alderman in the New York Times$ -- 12/20/17
Club 33 members sue Disneyland, saying they were booted for speaking out on harassment -- An Arizona couple who joined Club 33 in 2012 sued the theme park in Orange County Superior Court, saying Disneyland revoked their membership because they had been speaking out about bullying and harassment of other members at the club. Disneyland rejected the allegations, implying that the couple, Scott and Diana Anderson, were kicked out because they had misbehaved. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/17
Wildfire
No charges for men accused of igniting massive Valley Fire in Lake County -- No criminal charges will be filed against two men whose faulty hot tub wiring was linked to the most destructive fire in the history of Lake County, prosecutors there said Tuesday. Five people died, four firefighters were seriously injured and 2,048 structures were destroyed, including Harbin Hot Springs and Hoberg’s Resort. Damage was estimated to exceed $1.5 billion. Sophie Haigney in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/17
The Thomas fire is now the second largest in modern California history -- After a brief respite from the relentless gusts that have driven the deadly Thomas fire for more than two weeks, powerful winds are expected to return, adding to the challenges facing firefighters working to contain the mammoth blaze. Hailey Branson-Potts and Nicole Santa Cruz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/17
Wildfire evacuees worry about homes as holidays approach -- Thousands of people under wildfire evacuation orders in Southern California were wondering if they'll be home for the holidays as fire officials braced for a new round of strong winds Wednesday. Amanda Lee Myers Associated Press -- 12/20/17
‘Defensible Space’ Couldn’t Keep Thomas Fire From Burning Ventura County -- A lot of things about the Thomas Fire surprised veteran Ventura County firefighter Steve Kaufmann. The fact that it burned 70 square miles in 12 hours. The fact that it nearly incinerated city hall in downtown Ventura. But perhaps the most shocking to him was that by daybreak on the first full day of the fire, more than 150 homes had been destroyed. Emily Guerin KQED -- 12/20/17
Food banks expand efforts in wake of wildfires, putting donations to use -- Like firefighters and other emergency responders, Bay Area food banks practice responding to earthquakes, fires and other natural disasters. So when a firestorm swept through Wine Country in early October, displacing thousands of families, the Redwood Empire Food Bank knew what to do. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/17
Santa Rosa City Council deadlocks on new housing development in burned Fountaingrove area -- A plan to build as many as 237 new homes in an area of Santa Rosa decimated by the October wildfires was unexpectedly upended Tuesday after City Council members said they worried about putting future residents in harm’s way. Kevin McCallum in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/20/17
New Sonoma County government office will focus on wildfire recovery, resiliency -- Sonoma County supervisors Tuesday created a new government office to help the region bounce back from this year’s devastating wildfires and assist with charting a formal vision for the long-term recovery of the local housing supply, the economy and other key areas. J.D. Morris in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat -- 12/20/17
Education
UC Berkeley settles sex harassment claim against professor for $80,000 -- A UC Berkeley doctoral student whose academic career changed dramatically after an architecture professor placed his hand on her upper thigh and proposed they become “close friends” has agreed not to sue the University of California in exchange for an $80,000 settlement, The Chronicle has learned. Nanette Asimov and Cynthia Dizikes in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/17
Early intervention helps boost reading skills for young children most at risk of falling behind -- By implementing summer programs for students in early grades and high-quality preschool that focuses on preparing students for kindergarten, one California county is improving the reading skills of its young children. Ashley Hopkinson EdSource -- 12/20/17
Cannabis
Go big, go small? The fight to survive in California pot -- Drive by the High Desert Truck Stop, turn down a rutted road by the bail bond signs, slip behind a steel fence edged with barbed wire, and you can glimpse the future of California's emerging legal pot industry. Michael R. Blood Associated Press -- 12/20/17
Carrying a Weed Conviction in California? There May Be a Fix for That -- If you’ve been convicted of marijuana-related crimes in California, you might be able to have your record wiped clean or the charges greatly reduced under a provision in the state’s new marijuana law, Proposition 64. More than 4,000 people already have petitioned the courts about their records and sentencing. Tanya Ballard Brown NPR -- 12/20/17
As Marijuana Industry Grows, Workers Begin to Unionize -- At the Hugs Alternative Care dispensary, there is far more for sale than regular old smokeable marijuana. The Sacramento shop has cannabis butter, barbecue sauce, lollipops — the list goes on. Brittany Dyke is one of the “budtenders” at the shop who helps customers choose between all these products. “It’s like walking into a candy shop for adults,” Dyke said. Sam Harnett KQED -- 12/20/17
How LA County plans to make sure pot shops are safe -- Recreational pot will be legal in just about two weeks, and Los Angeles County leaders are taking steps to make sure consumers are sold a safe product. Robert Garrova KPCC -- 12/20/17
Immigration / Border
Judge to weigh suits on program protecting young immigrants -- Five lawsuits against the Trump administration's decision to end a program protecting some young immigrants from deportation face a key federal court hearing in San Francisco that could put an early end to the legal challenges or give them a big boost. Sudhin Thanawala Associated Press -- 12/20/17
Immigrants Rights Advocates Launch San Diego Rapid Response Network -- The hotline is part of the newly-launched San Diego Rapid Response Network, a coalition modeled after others in the state that aims to prepare for and respond to what organizers describe as inhumane immigration enforcement activities. Jean Guerrero KPBS -- 12/20/17
Health
Complaints Rise in California as Nursing Homes Evict Poor Patients -- Anita Willis says the social worker offered her a painful choice: She could either leave the San Jose, Calif., nursing home where she’d spent a month recovering from a stroke — or come up with $336 a day to stay on. She had until midnight to decide. Jocelyn Wiener KQED -- 12/20/17
San Diego hopes to exit hepatitis A emergency by Jan. 31 -- Although the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday again ratified the region’s local public health emergency status, Helen Robbins-Meyer, the county’s chief administrative officer, said her office has begun talking to local city governments about ending the official emergency status declared on Sept. 1. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/20/17
Environment
CARB Approves $663 Million For Clean Trucks, Low-Income Communities -- California wants more environmentally friendly vehicles on the road so much so that the state has approved $663 million to do just that. The main purpose of the funding approved by the California Air Resources Control Board, or CARB, is to eliminate diesel emissions. Ezra David Romero Capital Public Radio -- 12/20/17
California's new climate plan uses incentives to cut vehicle emissions -- California has the toughest air quality regulations of any state in the country. But they're not tough enough to satisfy a new state law that requires California to double the rate at which it cuts greenhouse gases. Sonari Glinton NPR -- 12/20/17
Also . . .
Mother Sues Over Fatal San Francisco Police Shooting; Attorneys Call for Criminal Charges -- Attorneys representing the mother of a man shot and killed by a rookie San Francisco police officer earlier this month called the shooting a “murder” and “execution” Tuesday as they announced the filing of a federal civil rights lawsuit. Keita O’Neil, 42, was killed Dec. 1, allegedly after stealing a stolen California state lottery van and leading police on a chase. Alex Emslie KQED -- 12/20/17
A one-time Communist, she lived to 100 fighting for California seniors -- Nancy Rosenfield Lund, a senior activist who served four terms on the California Senior Legislature, died of natural causes at home Saturday. She was 100 years old. Jane Braxton Little in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/20/17
POTUS 45
Senators, White House lay groundwork for Dreamers deal -- Top senators and White House officials are laying the groundwork for a major immigration deal in January to resolve the fate of young undocumented immigrants whose legal protections were put in limbo by President Donald Trump. Seung Min Kim, Heather Caygle and Elana Schor Politico -- 12/20/17
White House takes down ‘We the People’ petitions site before responding to a single one -- The White House has taken down a popular online tool created by President Barack Obama's administration that allowed the public to create online petitions, some of which required an official response. All of the petitions, including one that called on President Trump to release his tax returns — the most popular, with more than a million signatures — disappeared from Petitions.WhiteHouse.Gov as part of what a statement posted on the site said was part of a maintenance effort to improve its performance. Eli Rosenberg in the Washington Post$ -- 12/20/17
Beltway
The stealth repeal of Obamacare -- The sweeping Republican tax bill on the verge of final passage would repeal the individual mandate in 2019, potentially taking millions of people out of the health insurance market. On top of that, the Trump administration has killed some subsidies, halved the insurance enrollment period, gutted the Obamacare marketing campaign, and rolled out a regulatory red carpet for skimpy new health plans that will change the insurance landscape in ways that are harmful to former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. Joanne Kenen Politico -- 12/20/17
The Republican tax bill was the easy part. The next debate could be much uglier -- The Republicans’ tax-cut legislation makes the nation's already serious debt problem even worse, and sets the stage for a politically fraught debate in coming years on questions as fundamental as what type of financial security to provide elderly Americans and how secure a safety net there will be for the nation’s poor. Heather Long in the Washington Post$ -- 12/20/17
-- Tuesday Updates
GOP tax overhaul passes House with help from a dozen California Republicans -- Despite weeks of consternation from some California House Republicans, a dozen of them joined their colleagues to pass an overhaul of the U.S. tax code Tuesday. Two — Darrell Issa and Dana Rohrabacher — voted against the plan. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/17
More than half of Californians oppose GOP tax bill, according to new poll -- More than half of Californians oppose the GOP tax bill expected to be approved by Congress today, and just 20% believe it will have a positive affect on their families, according to a poll released Monday. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/17
A quick look at some of the biggest tax changes for Californians -- Congressional Republicans are framing their tax cut bill as a Christmas gift that will give Americans an average tax cut of $2,059. For Californians, especially in the wealthier areas along the coast, the situation isn’t as clear cut. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/17
Are tens of thousands of California kids about to lose their health care? -- When Alice Mayall rushed her daughter Hannah to the hospital for a head injury after a water polo tournament a few years ago, she didn’t think twice about whether she could afford it. Her daughter was covered by the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Elizabeth Aguilera Calmatters.org -- 12/19/17
Lazarus: GOP tax bill also manages to needlessly screw up the healthcare system -- But the part that strikes me as most galling, and which has become almost an afterthought amid all the other damage the bill will do, is its incongruous and completely unnecessary repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. David Lazarus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/17
Gusty winds expected to return this week as Thomas fire continues to grow -- After a brief respite from the relentless gusts that have driven the deadly Thomas fire for more than two weeks, gusty winds are expected to return, adding to the challenges facing firefighters working to contain the mammoth blaze. Hailey Branson-Potts and Nicole Santa Cruz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/17
Abcarian: They leapt into a pool to save themselves from fire, their story went viral, now they are starting over -- After the fire, they had nothing. To their surprise, they also had everything. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/17
Fear and yelling in L.A. congressman’s office led to silence on harassment, aides say -- Los Angeles-area Congressman Brad Sherman says none of his staff ever complained about longtime aide and California Assemblyman Matt Dababneh, who’s been accused of sexual harassment while working in the congressman’s district office. Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/19/17
California sues Trump, again. This time to defend an Obama gas rule -- California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Tuesday, blasting federal regulators for suspending an Obama-era rule directing oil and gas producers to curb methane flaring on federal lands. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/17
GOP lures some mountain bike groups in its push to roll back protections for public land -- When their vision of creating a scenic cycling trail through a protected alpine backcountry hit a snag, San Diego area mountain bikers turned to an unlikely ally: congressional Republicans aiming to dilute conservation laws. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/17
Sheriff McDonnell was not aware of some misconduct, says list of problem deputies is key to reform -- Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell learned for the first time about misconduct by some of his own deputies from a Times report this month that examined a confidential roster of problem officers, he said. Maya Lau in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/17
San Francisco’s tech-space market is ‘on fire’ — and so are the rents -- In a normal year, the 207,000-square-foot lease that software company Okta recently signed at 100 First St. would be a cause for celebration, an excuse for the city’s economic development staff to issue a press release highlighting all the jobs coming to San Francisco. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/17
Senate panel rejects Trump's pick to lead Export-Import Bank, a leader in the effort to shut it down -- A Senate committee on Tuesday rejected President Trump’s nominee to lead the Export-Import Bank, extending the chaos at the embattled agency whose job is to help U.S. companies sell their goods abroad. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/17