Updating . .   

ICE launches new immigration sweeps in L.A. area; at least 100 detained so far -- Federal officials are in the midst of an immigration enforcement operation in the Los Angeles area and have so far detained more than 100 people suspected of being in violation of immigration laws. The sweep, launched on Sunday, is focusing on "individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security," Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Sarah Rodriguez said. Cindy Carcamo in the Los Angeles Times$ Elizabeth Chou and Alejandra Molina in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/14/18

Federal judge visits homeless camps as he pushes for Orange County shelter solution -- As people peeked out from ragged tents next to Angel Stadium in the early-morning darkness Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter strode briskly through the vast homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River trail. Just after 6 a.m., he whipped out his cellphone to begin snapping pictures of the filth and the people living among it. Anh Do in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

Top Clinton aide to run for California governor -- Amanda Renteria, a longtime Democratic operative and the national political director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, has filed paperwork to run for California governor. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ Seema Mehta and Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ Ben Bradford Capital Public Radio John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

DMV clerk issued phony driver’s licenses and let applicants skip tests, feds say -- The latest charge comes in an indictment unsealed in federal court in Fresno, where DMV clerk April Mills is charged with four counts of unlawful production of an identification document and aiding and abetting. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/14/18

Mendoza bills under criticism were cleared with state Senate officials -- Christine Pelosi, the chair of the state Democratic Party’s Women’s Caucus, is criticizing Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) for introducing 15 bills this week even though he is on a leave of absence pending an investigation of sexual harassment allegations. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

Risk of disastrous heat, floods and fire skyrockets with warming, Stanford prof finds -- The extreme weather that brought record floods and ruinous wildfires to the United States in the last year is just a taste of what’s to come, new research shows. Because of global warming, increasingly brutal spells of heat, drought and precipitation are up to five times as likely to occur over large chunks of the planet in coming decades, according to a study out of Stanford University published Wednesday. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

What drought? Seven California cities where water use is up -- It didn’t take some Californians long to drop those water-conservation habits they had honed so well during the state’s last drought, which dragged on from December 2011 to March 2017. Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/14/18

California drought: Water conservation slipping statewide as dry weather returns -- As California suffers through another dry winter, increasing fears that drought conditions may be returning, the state’s residents are dropping conservation habits that were developed during the last drought and steadily increasing their water use with each passing month. Paul Rogers and Leigh Poitinger in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/14/18

Berkeley cuts its cannabis tax rate in half to attract, keep businesses -- In a boost to a fledgling industry, the Berkeley City Council slashed the city’s recreational cannabis tax rate in half Tuesday to attract an d keep businesses in town. The tax rate, now 5 percent, is among the lowest in the Bay Area and could put pressure on neighboring cities to cut theirs, too. Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

School Daze: 10 San Francisco students got sick from consuming cannabis, District says -- Ten students who mysteriously took ill at James Lick Middle School on Tuesday afternoon are believed to have consumed cannabis, a school district official said. Sophie Haigney in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

A cellphone found in prison leads to huge bust of gang selling drugs on Snapchat -- Federal officials announced the indictment Wednesday of 19 defendants – including suspected gang members and two current state prison inmates – on charges that they were part of a massive conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin by using social media. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/14/18

Family of San Francisco man killed with stolen police gun files claim -- The family of a 23-year-old San Francisco man shot dead by an alleged assailant armed with a stolen police officer’s gun filed a legal claim Wednesday against the city of San Francisco and its police department. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

Hello, inflation, my old friend. What you need to know about financial markets today -- Half a percentage point doesn't sound like a lot. But that increase for the consumer price index in January was nearly twice the rate experts were expecting Wednesday morning — and it was more than enough to fuel investors' inflation fears. Dan Beucke in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

Fox: PAGA Problem Mirrors Workers Comp Before Reform of 2004 -- For the business community, the difficulties of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) are similar to what business faced under the burden of workers compensation costs over a decade ago. Small businesses particularly had to cope with workers comp costs that stood at twice the national average threatening the viability of many establishments. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 2/14/18

Trump's military parade could cost as much as $30 million, budget director says -- President Trump’s proposal to hold a large-scale military parade in Washington, with marching soldiers and rows of tanks and armored vehicles, could cost as much as $30 million, according to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. David S. Cloud in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

Senators say they are close to a bipartisan immigration plan -- As the White House pushed a 500-page immigration bill as the only option in Congress to help "Dreamers," a bipartisan coalition of senators appeared close Wednesday to agreeing on an alternative proposal that may draw broader support. Lisa Mascaro and Brian Bennett in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

A ‘water grab’? Southern California water agency eyes possible control of Delta tunnels project -- In a dramatic twist on the Delta tunnels saga, Southern California’s powerful water agency is exploring the feasibility of owning the majority stake in the controversial project, a move that raises fears of a “water grab.” Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/14/18

He's on a leave of absence during a sexual harassment investigation, but he's just introduced flurry of bills -- Despite being on a leave of absence pending a sexual harassment investigation, state Sen. Tony Mendoza has introduced 15 pieces of legislation this week, including a measure that would remove the Legislature’s exemption from state audits. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

A look at the new whistleblower protections -- Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law whistleblower protections for Capitol staffers. Now, legislative employees will have the same protections as all other state employees. But a question arises: Will the new law, which passed both Democrat-controlled houses without a dissenting vote, really make much of a difference? Jessica Hice Capitol Weekly -- 2/14/18

Walters: Capitol harassment cases handled inconsistently -- Four years ago, the state Senate was thrown into turmoil by the simultaneous prosecution of three senators on unrelated felony charges. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 2/14/18

Bay Area Dems defend 4 GOP-appointed judges facing challengers in next election -- Four Bay Area elected officials, all Democrats, are speaking out against a campaign by San Francisco public defenders to unseat Republican-appointed judges in this year’s elections. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

Three of the top Democrats in the governor's race vow to make California — and Sacramento — more diverse -- Three of the top Democrats in California’s race for governor vowed to help enrich the lives of women of color in California, both economically and in political influence, at a congenial candidate forum in Sacramento Monday evening. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

Can Gubernatorial Candidates Tackle Childhood Poverty? -- Living in poverty is hard. If anyone knows that it’s Jessica Bartholow, with the Western Center on Law & Poverty. “There were times we went without food. We moved a lot because we couldn’t afford rent,” she said. Bartholow grew up in a working-class family in Northern California. Katie Orr KQED -- 2/14/18

Union gives Newsom a big labor endorsement in California governor’s race -- The 700,000-member Service Employees International Union California endorsed Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom for governor and state Sen. Kevin de León for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, giving the Democrats a powerful union ally to supply grassroots campaign help. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

SEIU endorsement of Kevin de León is a big boost in his bid to unseat Sen. Dianne Feinstein -- California Senate leader Kevin de León received a significant boost in his insurgent bid to defeat U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday, winning the endorsement of one of the state’s most politically powerful labor unions. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

Veteran Democratic operatives leading a new PAC that plans to play in California's House primaries -- Veteran Democratic strategist Joe Trippi and pollster Paul Maslin are calling their committee CA-BAM (get it?) and aim to raise about $5 million to spend on at least five House races here. The goal, according to a press release, is to “identify the strongest Democrats with the best path to victory” and spend money to help them win. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

California's Legislature should require a formal vote to kill bills, Republican lawmaker says -- Republican state lawmaker whose bill to protect legislative staff from workplace retaliation was killed four times without a formal vote says it’s time to change the rules of the Legislature. “Don’t keep passing the buck,” said Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore). “That’s a cowardly way of doing business.” John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

California initiative to ban fluoride, chlorine, vaccine requirements approved to collect signatures -- Dubbed the "California Clean Environment Initiative" by its creator Cheriel Jensen, the initiative would also eliminate vaccination requirements at schools and daycares, ban more than 300 chemicals it claims are linked to cancer, autism and Parkinson's disease, and prohibit the use of smart meters to monitor energy consumption. Filipa Ioannou in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

Campaign to recall Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon fizzles -- The Recall Rendon campaign posted on Facebook that their attempt to recall Rendon, a Democrat from Paramount, “will not move forward,” explaining that collecting the required 23,000 signatures was too burdensome. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

Nunes attends hometown farm show but doesn’t stay long -- Rep. Devin Nunes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and author of the infamous Nunes memo, made a brief appearance in his hometown of Tulare at the opening day of the World Ag Expo. But not many people got to see him. Those who missed him included three protesters who stood across the street holding banners urging Donald Trump to release his tax returns and for Congress to pass DACA reform. Lewis Griswold in the Fresno Bee -- 2/14/18

Counties Await State Funds For New Voting Systems -- Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing millions of dollars for an upgrade of old voting machines, long sought by counties. The money would come as counties transition to a much cheaper voting system, mostly based on mail-in ballots. Ben Bradford Capital Public Radio -- 2/14/18

Rhee: Can California do elections better? Sacramento is the first big test -- With concerns over the security and inclusiveness of the 2018 elections, California is turning to Sacramento County voters to test a new way to do elections. California’s new approach should be for the better, boosting voter turnout and leading to faster vote counts – if elections officials do their job. Foon Rhee in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/14/18

Survivors of human trafficking in California can now sign up for confidential mailing addresses -- Human trafficking survivors can now sign up for a confidential mailing address program that enables some California crime victims to privately receive mail, open bank accounts and register to vote. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

Bill calls for increased education about opioid addiction and overdose -- A bill introduced in the state Senate would require warning labels on opioid prescription bottles and require doctors and sports programs to provide more information to youths and their parents about the risk of addiction and overdose. The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 1109, was drafted by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and introduced by state Sen. Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel.) Karen Kucher in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/14/18

Trump trying to make example of San Francisco, says lawyer for Kate Steinle defendant -- The undocumented immigrant who was acquitted by a San Francisco jury of murdering Kate Steinle, and promptly charged by federal prosecutors with two felonies for possessing a gun, is being targeted by a Trump administration that wants to punish the city, his lawyer said Tuesday. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

Colorado man found slain on San Francisco street may have owed big drug debt -- A $14,000 debt in a drug deal may have led to the bizarre strangulation death of a 31-year-old Colorado man whose body was found tied to a mobile walker on a sidewalk near Union Square, according to court documents filed Tuesday in San Francisco. Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

Cal student sues Southwest — he was booted off flight for phone call in Arabic -- A UC Berkeley student who was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight in 2016 after speaking in Arabic on his cell phone sued the airline for discrimination Tuesday. Southwest “punished him for publicly displaying his identity,” lawyers for Khairuldeen Makhzoomi said in a lawsuit filed in San Francisco federal court. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds 

California tax revenues far exceed expectations for second month in a row -- California’s tax revenues far exceeded expectations in January for the second consecutive month, but it remains to be seen how much of the excess reflects underlying strength in the economy, versus people speeding up their 2017 state income tax payments while they were still fully deductible on federal tax returns. Kathleen Pender in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

L.A. school board approves three-year benefit package with some cost containment -- The 60,000 employees of L.A. Unified are not among the nation's highest paid, but most enjoy comprehensive medical benefits for themselves and their families without paying monthly premiums. Such subsidies are rare in the workplace. Howard Blume amd Sonali Kohli in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

Metro staff support a $6-billion widening of the 710 Freeway -- Each year, tens of thousands of truck drivers make the 19-mile trip up the 710 Freeway from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to rail yards near downtown, carrying cargo bound for every corner of the United States. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

San Francisco’s massive new Whole Foods set to transform Mid-Market -- The biggest Whole Foods in San Francisco — a 55,000-square-foot store to be located at Market and Eighth streets — is expected to become the hub of a neighborhood that has seen an explosion of new housing and tech offices but lacks the conveniences and amenities of an established neighborhood. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

The East Bay's Changing Demographics -- If recent trends continue, the number of Black residents in the urban East Bay will decline further, as the percentage of Latinos and whites rise. Darwin BondGraham in the East Bay Express -- 2/14/18

He earned $540,000 working at two California jails -- Prison psychiatrist Anthony Coppola earned a pretty good living splitting his workdays – and vacation days – between two California government agencies. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/14/18

Transit  

BART’s bid to catch fare evaders has yet to leave the station -- But the agency’s new handheld, proof-of-payment scanners had to be held back for repairs after tests showed a high error rate when scanning paper tickets. That left the fare inspectors empty-handed, forced to ask riders to flash their tickets or pre-paid Clipper cards and take it on faith that riders had actually used those tickets and cards at the gates. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

Homeless  

Deal reached on relocating evicted California homeless -- Publicofficials and homeless advocates reached an agreement Tuesday on providing for homeless people who are being evicted from an encampment in a Southern California riverbed. Orange County officials said they would use motels and other means to get 700 to 800 beds for the homeless driven from the encampment in Anaheim. Amy Taxin Associated Press -- 2/14/18

L.A. lawmakers tentatively back proposals to ease the way for housing homeless people -- A City Council committee decided to move forward with the two proposals, which would make it easier to build permanent supportive housing and to temporarily turn motels into housing for homeless people. City lawyers will now vet both proposals and bring them back to the committee for at least one more vote before they go on to the entire council for approval. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

LA needs tens of thousands of rentals for homeless, report says -- Los Angeles County needs over 22,000 new supportive housing units and 11,000 short-term rental vouchers to functionally end homelessness, according to a report released Tuesday. The report by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority identified L.A.'s gap in permanent and temporary housing options for homeless and found L.A. is far from meeting the need on its streets. Rina Palta KPCC -- 2/14/18

Homeless man files civil rights suit after San Francisco tows car for parking tickets -- Smith had been living in a 2007 Honda Accord for more than a month, he said, and when it vanished from Hyde Street in San Francisco, he suspected someone had stolen it. Police had a different idea and recommended he get in touch with San Francisco’s contracted tow company, he said. Jenna Lyons in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

Dumping patients at homeless shelters ‘a systemic issue’ in Sacramento, new survey says -- Days after her double mastectomy surgery late last month, Lara Woods still had drainage tubes dangling from her chest when a ride-share car delivered her from UC Davis Medical Center to the Salvation Army building near downtown Sacramento. Cynthia Hubert in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/14/18

Housing  

Supervisors push for rent control at trailer parks -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors moved forward Tuesday with a plan to establish rent controls at mobile home parks in unincorporated areas. The motion, written by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Sheila Kuehl, gives county departments six months to amend the county code and cap annual rent increases. Melissa Etehad in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

Wildfire  

Fire aftermath: Sonoma County steps up effort to prevent next big disaster -- If Sonoma County has a prayer of preventing the next firestorm, it’s already grievously behind. And unless it gets cracking fast, ruin could be right around the corner. Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

After fires, Sonoma County seeks to defend landscape against next disaster -- As Sonoma County tries to prevent its scorched landscape from contaminating local watersheds, government officials are exploring additional measures to help the environment withstand another major firestorm, including a possible expansion of controlled burns and rules requiring more landowners clear defensible space around their homes. J.D. Morris in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat -- 2/14/18

Education 

Student wounded in Westlake school shooting still has a bullet lodged in his head, his former teacher says -- A bullet struck 12-year-old Issa Al-Bayati in his skull, but didn't hit any vital organs, said Bridgette Robinson, who instructed Al-Bayati in English, science and English language development at the school last year. The teacher said he will require additional treatment. Sarah Parvini in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

San Ramon high school students ban national anthem from rallies -- Students at California High School in San Ramon decided at a recent pep rally that the national anthem will no longer be played, bucking tradition and drawing the school into a national controversy about what and whom the anthem represents. Sophie Haigney in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

State utility regulators rebuff UC bid to join San Onofre case -- The University of California’s bid for a piece of millions of dollars in research funding has been dashed by state utility regulators, who took one week to deny its application to join the proceeding dividing costs of the failed San Onofre power plant. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/14/18

10 schoolchildren in San Francisco hospitalized after ingesting unknown substance -- Ten schoolchildren were hospitalized Tuesday afternoon in San Francisco after they ingested an unknown substance at a local middle school, officials said. Police and firefighters were called to a medical emergency at James Lick Middle School, located at 1220 Noe St. Emergency responders carried a student out of the school on a stretcher. Annie Ma and Jenna Lyons in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

Woody Allen at center of free speech fight at UC San Diego -- Once again, a free speech controversy has erupted at an American university. This time, it’s UC San Diego. The fight involves Woody Allen. It involves the #MeToo movement as well as speech. And some of the main figures aren’t speaking freely. At least not at the moment. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/14/18

Science education funding still in Trump’s crosshairs, despite being saved by Congress -- Days after Congress passed a budget that mostly preserves funding for science education, President Donald Trump released a new budget proposal for 2019 that would eliminate many of those same programs. Carolyn Jones EdSource -- 2/14/18

Cannabis 

Politifact CA: How much privacy do you have when you buy marijuana in California? -- Should California’s marijuana customers be worried about the federal government charging them with a crime? Chris Nichols Politifact CA -- 2/14/18

Berkeley City Council votes to become sanctuary city for cannabis, likely a first -- The Berkeley City Council voted unanimously to become a sanctuary city for legal adult-use marijuana, prohibiting city agencies and employees from turning over information on legal cannabis activities and assisting in enforcing federal marijuana laws. Annie Ma in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

L.A. County supervisors seek plan to clear and reduce marijuana convictions -- The county district attorney's office estimates there have been 40,000 felony convictions involving pot-related offenses since 1993. It is unclear how many of those people are eligible for relief or how many have petitioned for it. Melissa Etehad in the Los Angeles Times$ Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/14/18

Half Of Sacramento’s Proposed Marijuana Businesses Want To Move To This Neighborhood -- Since it began accepting submissions in April of last year, the city has received 160 applications for pot grows and processing companies. But 80 hope to open shop in the industrial warehouse district near Power Inn Road. Bob Moffitt Capital Public Radio -- 2/14/18

Immigration / Border 

Judge rules against Trump in case over DACA immigration program -- A federal judge in New York has ruled President Donald Trump's administration didn't offer "legally adequate reasons" for ending a program that spared many immigrants from deportation if they were brought to the U.S. as children. U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis said in an order issued Tuesday the Republican president "indisputably" has the power to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program but relied on flawed legal positions in doing so. Associated Press -- 2/14/18

Bid to help immigrant 'Dreamers' may bog down over issue of family reunification visas -- As the Senate considers protections for "Dreamers," the debate has quickly turned to the question of whether those who achieve legal status should be able to sponsor loved ones to join them in the United States. Lisa Mascaro in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/14/18

Also . . . 

United flight from SFO to Honolulu loses engine parts while mid-air in terrifying ordeal -- Passengers recorded the harrowing in-flight experience aboard United flight 1175 with photos and videos depicting the airplane's starboard-side engine exposed, high above the Pacific Ocean. The Boeing 777-200's cowling, a metal covering that protects the engine, flew off during the flight, United said in a statement. Michelle Robertson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

Feeling like getting married? San Francisco seems to be the place to do it -- The number of marriage licenses issued in San Francisco has jumped 52 percent since the 2007-08 fiscal year, according to data released Tuesday by Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu. There was a spike beginning in the 2013-14 fiscal year, when 10,993 licenses were recorded — over 2,000 more than the previous period. The assessor-recorder’s office is responsible for recording and maintaining marriage licenses. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

The newest online dating minefield: Did you vote for Trump? -- The Trump era’s effect on romance is something Spira, a dating expert, has seen in her professional capacity. Today, wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat at a bar might get you a free drink – or get one thrown in your face. Jeff Horseman in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/14/18

Family of man killed by BART police call for murder charge, release of video -- Burris, who is representing the family in a civil suit, said video footage shown to the family by Oakland police proves that there was no firearm in Tindle’s hands when he was shot three times in the back. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/14/18

POTUS 45  

White House reels as FBI director contradicts official claims about alleged abuser -- The White House struggled Tuesday to contain a widening crisis over its handling of domestic violence allegations against a senior official, as it reeled after sworn testimony by the FBI chief directly contradicted what President Trump’s aides had presented as the official version of events. Ashley Parker, Philip Rucker and Josh Dawsey in the Washington Post$ -- 2/14/18

 

-- Tuesday Updates 

California guides businesses on how to avoid “aiding and abetting” immigration authorities -- The California Attorney General Tuesday issued details on how businesses can navigate a controversial new state law that limits employers’ cooperation with immigration authorities while still complying with federal law. Anita Chabria in the Sacramento Bee$ Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/13/18

Amid tense immigration climate, LAPD revises rules for working with ICE, place-of-birth questions -- Students of the Academia Avance charter school in Highland Park, and many of their parents, were on edge last February. It was the morning after a classmate’s father, Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez, had been detained by federal immigration agents as he dropped off his children at school. Elizabeth Chou in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/13/18

He was a prison counselor in California before he turned to jihad, FBI says -- A former Sacramento youth counselor for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is awaiting extradition to the U.S. on suspicion he lied to the FBI about his role fighting alongside Islamic militants in Syria. Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/13/18

Will this become the driest February on record in Bay Area? -- The Bay Area has experienced February dry spells before, including twice from 2013 to 2016 during California’s historic drought when rainfall totals were drastically below the monthly average. Mark Gomez in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/13/18

Applications for college aid through the California Dream Act are down again -- Each year, California invites students who are in the country without legal permission to apply for the same financial aid packages available to others. But officials once again are concerned that fears are keeping those they want to help from seeking the funding. Joy Resmovits in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/13/18

Don’t ask about citizenship on census, California tells Trump -- California, home to 1 in 4 of the nation’s foreign-born population, is pushing back against the Trump administration’s efforts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/13/18

Why cops like Antonio Villaraigosa and not Gavin Newsom -- California organizations representing both police chiefs and rank-and-file officers put their law enforcement muscle behind Antonio Villaraigosa’s campaign for governor on Monday, contending that his Democratic rival, Gavin Newsom, supported criminal justice and public safety measures that are anathema to their priorities. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/13/18

McCarthy and Pence fundraisers shored up vulnerable California Republicans -- Some vulnerable California House Republicans can thank House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Vice President Mike Pence for at least a fifth of the money they have raised for this year’s midterm elections. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/13/18

He Barely Has A Campaign. But Doug Ose Is Running For California Governor. Really -- Ose believes his pragmatic voting record in Congress combined with his early, outspoken backing of President Donald Trump, will help him consolidate enough support to finish in the top two in California’s June primary. Under the state’s open primary system, the top two finishers — regardless of political party — advance to the November general election. It’s a fine line to walk in a deep blue state that voted for Hillary Clinton by a 2-to-1 margin in 2016. Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 2/13/18

Study commissioned by Brown administration says his Delta tunnels plan would pay off for farmers, cities -- Even a single water tunnel burrowed under the California’s Delta would be worth it for urban ratepayers and farmers who would to pay to build and maintain the project, according to an analysis released Tuesday by Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration. Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/13/18

Dry, hot California winter closes ski resorts, stalls wildflower blooms and revives drought fears -- In the Sierra Nevada, snowpack levels are running below even the darkest days of the drought, with cross-country ski resorts closed and mountain biking becoming the sport of choice until the snow returns. In the Bay Area, cities like San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Rosa are experiencing the hottest starts to a year on record. And Southern California remains in the grip of unprecedented dry and hot conditions, despite a weak storm that moved in Monday. Paige St. John, Rong-Gong Lin II and Sarah Parvini in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/13/18

Sacramento Valley stays dry as up to 6 inches of snow dusts mountains over weekend -- Most mountain passes were expected to get 1 to 3 inches of powder, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, but the Sierra Nevada Snow Report showed at least four ski resorts exceeded that amount. Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/13/18

Boom and Gloom: An Economic Warning for California -- For California and the nation, there is a long list of things that could go wrong. A surging budget deficit could stoke higher interest rates. And if the recent upheaval in stocks signals a longer-term decline, it would hurt California in particular because its budget relies heavily on high earners whose incomes rise and fall with the market. Connor Dougherty in the New York Times$ -- 2/13/18

16 former employees sue Taylor Farms for racial discrimination -- Former employees of Taylor Farms, one of the state’s largest producers of bagged salads and fresh-cut vegetables, filed a lawsuit Monday against the company in San Francisco federal court, alleging African American workers faced rampant racist and discriminatory behavior at the farm’s manufacturing plant in Tracy. Justin Phillips in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/13/18

Teacher: Bullet lodged in boy's head after school shooting -- A 12-year-old boy who was shot in the head when a gun accidentally went off in the backpack of a classmate is experiencing impaired vision and has trouble walking as the bullet remains lodged in his head, his former teacher said Tuesday. Michael R. Blood Associated Press -- 2/13/18

Most Sex Trafficking Victims See A Doctor At Some Point. Experts Say Clinics, Hospitals Can Help End The Abuse -- When Marie was being sold for sex throughout California, she was rarely away from her pimp. Even when he wasn’t physically confining her, she was frightened he was watching or listening. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 2/13/18

Abcarian: Does recalling the judge who gave Brock Turner a light sentence for sexual assault imperil judicial independence? -- Last month, I dismissed as "hogwash" concerns that the recall of Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky could impair judicial independence. This did not endear me to many attorneys, law professors and retired judges who reached out to accuse me of flippantly dismissing their sincerely held beliefs. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/13/18

Fox: Speed Up the Sexual Harassment Investigations -- While the legislature sets up procedures to deal with sexual harassment complaints and at the same time tries to create a system that is transparent and independent given that the accused are often colleagues, it leaves both victims of harassment and those who may be wrongly accused frustrated with the lack of resolution. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 2/13/18

Winners and Losers in the Trump Budget in One Chart -- The Trump administration submitted its fiscal 2019 budget request to Capitol Hill on Monday, outlining the president’s priorities for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. Randy Leonard Roll Call -- 2/13/18