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Supreme Court extends relief for 'Dreamers,' refuses to rule now on Trump immigration plan -- The Supreme Court handed President Trump a significant defeat Monday, turning down the administration's plea for a quick ruling on the president's power to end special protections for so-called Dreamers. The court's decision not to immediately hear the administration's appeal could keep in place a legal shield for nearly 700,000 young immigrants for the rest of this year, and perhaps longer. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times$ Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/26/18

ICE says sanctuary cities ‘not immune’ from law, but won’t confirm California operation -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials issued their first public comments Monday, two days after after Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf put out an extraordinary warning that the agency was planning to arrest people in a large-scale Northern California operation. Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/26/18

Visits by federal immigration authorities are spooking California businesses and workers -- When federal immigration agents visited Los Angeles 7-Eleven stores and trucking companies near the ports in recent weeks to conduct audits of employee records, it sent a chill through those businesses and others in the region. Andrew Khouri and Geoffrey Mohan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/26/18

New 'border wall' may actually be a fence -- Plans for the project began in 2009, according to Border Patrol agent Justin Castrejon, well before Trump as a candidate began calling for a border wall. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/26/18

Trump expected to visit California to view border wall prototypes -- The president, who has rarely crossed the Mississippi River during his first 13 months in office, is scheduled to visit California in mid-March to see prototypes for a potential border wall and learn more about the construction, according to administration officials involved in the planning. He will also visit Los Angeles to attend a Republican National Committee fundraiser, these people said, one of a number of fundraisers he is expected to headline in the next two months. Josh Dawsey and Nick Miroff in the Washington Post$ -- 2/26/18

Republican drops out of race for California governor -- Republican Doug Ose dropped out of the race for California governor Monday, citing a crowded field of candidates and lack of fundraising needed to defeat Democrats, who are leading in the polls. "There's no money, and if you don't have enough money, you can't communicate a message," Ose said in an interview. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/26/18

California Democratic Party’s unifying principle: tack left and boo Trump -- As California’s Democrats wrapped up their party’s annual convention Sunday, they left San Diego as they arrived: a party still fraying at the seams after the 2016 election, held together by one strong bond—a unifying dislike of President Donald Trump. Ben Christopher Calmatters -- 2/26/18

Two LAPD officers plead no contest to sexually assaulting women while on duty, receive 25- year prison terms -- In a downtown L.A. courtroom, officers Luis Valenzuela and James C. Nichols entered their no-contest pleas to two counts each of forcible rape and two counts each of forcible oral copulation. The officers appeared in court in orange, jail-issued jumpsuits and were shackled at the waist. Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/26/18

Sonoma County emergency readiness, warnings fell short in Wine Country fires, state report says -- Sonoma County’s emergency managers were not prepared for the wind-driven wildfires that swept across the North Bay last October, resulting in difficulties warning residents about a disaster that ultimately claimed 24 lives in the county, according to a long-anticipated review released Monday. Joaquin Palomino in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/26/18

A tiny city with huge problems, Maywood faces its biggest scandal yet -- A Los Angeles County investigation into possible corruption in Maywood has set its sights on a broad swath that includes four current and former council members, 13 companies, five current and former city administrators and one activist who dresses up as a clown. Ruben Vives and Adam Elmahrek in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/26/18

Coronado mansion wrongful death lawsuit opens in San Diego court -- Officially, Rebecca Zahau died at her own hand. Investigators who first looked around the Coronado mansion where she reportedly was found hanging — naked, gagged and bound hand and foot — suspected they had a homicide on their hands. Pauline Repard in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/26/18

Voting registration drive makes inroads in unexpected territory: county jails -- Several men in green "L.A. County Jail" jumpsuits stood behind bars and listened to Esther Lim speak about this year's elections. "How many here didn't know they could vote?" Lim asked them. Some men came out of their cells or turned around as Lim explained their voting rights. Later, in the day room of the Men's Central Jail downtown, a line of inmates eager to register had formed. Michael Livingston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/26/18

Fox: Unions Must Stick to Basics if Janus Decision Goes Against Them -- The Janus v American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees case will be argued before the United States Supreme Court today and many are predicting that public employee unions will be crippled if the court decides against the union—but only if the union doesn’t do its job of representing workers the way they want to be represented. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 2/26/18

Maviglio: Winners and Losers at California Democratic Party Convention -- If you thought the California Democratic Party’s last convention dominated by a battle for party chair was wild, take that event and put it on steroids. Then you’d have last weekend’s jamboree in San Diego. Steven Maviglio Fox & Hounds -- 2/26/18

Jeffe & Jeffe: First Thoughts on the California Democratic Party Convention -- The intensity dividend that has worked for Democrats in special elections and state contests in Virginia, New Jersey and even Alabama, appears to be building in the Golden State. Donald Trump is the gift that keeps on giving to California Democrats. Sherry Bebitch Jeffe & Doug Jeffe Fox & Hounds -- 2/26/18

Kamala Harris positions herself for White House run -- The former California attorney general, who is just at the beginning of her second year in the Senate, is taking positions that could endear herself with the Democratic base while allowing her to stand out from a group of Democrats who might seek the progressive mantle. Amie Parnes The Hill -- 2/26/18

Electric vehicles in the fast lane -- By the time today’s infants are in their early 30s, gasoline-powered cars that aren’t hybrids could be a rarity in California. That’s the goal of California policy makers who are doing their best to phase those cars out by 2050 and replace them with zero-emissions vehicles like electric cars, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Lisa Renner Capitol Weekly -- 2/26/18

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

California Democrats snub of party icon Dianne Feinstein could be a speed bump, or a signal -- The lack of support could simply be a speed bump on Feinstein’s path to reelection in November. But many Democrats gathered in San Diego for their annual convention said they were looking for a flamethrower who would more aggressively confront President Trump and viewed Feinstein as a creature of the nation’s capital who has lost touch with her California roots. Seema Mehta and Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/26/18

Liberals fight for the soul of the California Democratic Party -- As her primetime speech at the California Democratic Party convention ran long Saturday, an orchestral recording drowned out Sen. Dianne Feinstein. "I guess my time is up," she said, as she walked off stage midway through her remarks. Angela Hart and Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/26/18

Nancy Pelosi is the most conservative candidate in her 2018 race -- And while national Republicans love to target Pelosi as the face of the far left in their campaigns, her opponents complain she’s actually not liberal enough for her San Francisco district, particularly on issues like health care and campaign finance. Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/26/18

Dave Min, Hans Keirstead win state Democratic Party nods in House races against Walters, Rohrabacher -- Two Democratic candidates in targeted Southern California GOP House districts won dramatic endorsements from the state party on Sunday, Feb. 25, buoying their odds in emerging from large and contentious Democratic fields in those races. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 2/26/18

Major Bay Area ICE raids yet to occur; Oakland mayor felt warning ‘ethical obligation -- Hours after Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf publicly announced ICE activity was imminent in the Bay Area, including her hometown, she spoke publicly for the first time stressing that “credible sources” told her the actions would target civil deportations, not undocumented immigrants wanted for crimes other than their residency. As of early Sunday afternoon, however, Schaaf said her office had received no notices of immigration arrests or raids. Matthias Gafni in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/26/18

Skelton: Why we need bail reform: California shouldn’t be requiring a payment for freedom -- California is moving toward ending its unjust pretrial bail system, a four-decade effort begun by Gov. Jerry Brown when he was governor the first time. Brown actually started crusading for bail reform before most current Californians were born. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/26/18

Walters: Three legislators down, how many to go? -- Three down, but how many to go? Last Thursday, Tony Mendoza became the third state legislator and the first senator to resign after being accused of sexual harassment in the scandal that has enveloped the Capitol. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 2/26/18

State Sen. Bob Hertzberg’s accuser, an ex-colleague, says he should go -- Former Assemblywoman Linda Halderman is closely following the sexual harassment scandal as it unfolds at the state Capitol, taking down one elected official after another. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/26/18

Former California Senate Staffer Says She Was Fired After Reporting Rape By Colleague -- A woman who worked in the California Senate says she was raped by a colleague in December of 2016, struggled with the emotional toll of the attack — and was fired from her job nine months later as a result. Catalina Sanchez filed a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing on Friday against both houses of the state Legislature. The claim is precursor to litigation. Bob Moffitt Capital Public Radio -- 2/26/18

Authorities on alert as winter storm moves toward charred mountains in Santa Barbara County -- Authorities are monitoring a winter storm that's expected to bring rain to fire-ravaged mountains in Santa Barbara County starting Monday evening, possibly giving way to flooding and debris flows. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ Nikie Johnson in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/26/18

Gascón’s million-dollar task force for SF car break-ins finds few friends -- San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón’s call for an extra $1 million for a task force to fight the epidemic of car break-ins is getting a decidedly chilly reaction at City Hall — including a straight-up thumbs-down from the mayor. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/26/18

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

Court case could ‘financially cripple’ California unions -- Thirteen years ago, California’s teacher union went toe-to-toe with the state’s movie star governor and crushed him at the ballot box, funding almost half of the $121 million campaign that swamped his proposals to revamp tenure and restrict government spending. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/26/18

Weinstein Co. is set to file for bankruptcy after sale talks collapse -- The decision came after the board was unable to revive a deal to sell the struggling studio to an investor group led by Maria Contreras-Sweet, who ran the Small Business Administration under President Obama from 2014 to 2017. Ryan Faughnder in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/26/18

Guns 

Hundreds of Malibu students and their families march against gun violence, call for stricter gun control laws -- The Call to Action March at Zuma Beach was prompted by the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. on Feb. 14 that took the lives of 17 students and school personnel and wounded 16 others. Carlos Lozano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/26/18

Rep. DeSaulnier to Introduce Bill to Fund Gun Violence Research -- Fearing impending gridlock on gun control policy in Congress, even in the wake of this month’s school shooting in Florida, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) wants to create an independent board to research solutions to gun violence. Guy Marzorati KQED -- 2/26/18

Wildfire  

Fires fuel a daunting push to solve Sonoma County housing crisis -- As it emerged from the Great Recession and a moribund housing market, Sonoma County in 2011 needed seven years to build nearly 5,000 new homes. The fires of October wiped a greater number of houses and apartments off the map here in a single day. Robert Digitale in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat -- 2/26/18

Education 

State bill would let SAT replace standardized tests -- The SAT may be an important hurdle in the college admissions process, but until recently it was one that many students in the Long Beach Unified School District weren’t clearing. Felicia Mello in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/26/18

Colleges offer micro grants to get cash-strapped students across finish line – More schools are adding a focus on aiding students who are near graduation but might not make it without some extra money — often relatively modest amounts — beyond traditional financial aid. Larry Gordon EdSource -- 2/26/18

Environment 

‘Game of Floods’ teaches tough climate change choices for Marin County -- Coastal homes are flooded and uninhabitable. Roads resemble creek beds, and hospitals and fire stations regularly fill with water. The drinking water supply has been contaminated by the rising sea and power outages are a matter of routine rather than rare occurrence. This is Marin Island, year 2050. Sophie Haigney in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/26/18

POTUS 45  

Trump claimed credit for rising stock prices. Now he owns their fall — and a possible recession -- Until the recent downturn, the soaring U.S. stock market had been one of President Trump’s favorite topics. He’s tweeted more than 60 times since his election about new highs and frequently touted the gains in public comments. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/26/18

 

-- Sunday Updates 

Warning of ICE sweep, Oakland mayor takes Trump resistance to new level -- The relationship between U.S. immigration officials and California’s liberal leaders soured long ago, but Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf’s decision to warn potential targets of federal arrest that an immigration sweep could be imminent was an extraordinary escalation. Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/25/18

None of the Democrats running for California attorney general won the party's endorsement -- To win the party endorsement, one of the candidates needed to nab 60% of the votes cast by delegates at the party’s convention in San Diego this weekend. Jones received 56% and Becerra got 42%. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ Scott Shafer KQED -- 2/25/18

California Democratic Party shocks Dianne Feinstein by not endorsing her -- California Democrats sent a loud message to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, one of the nation’s best-known and longest-serving politicians, by not endorsing her for re-election at their state convention Sunday. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press David Siders and Carla Marinucci Politico Adam Nagourney in the New York Times$ David Weigel in the Washington Post$ -- 2/25/18

Years after leaving office, ex-members of Congress still spend campaign money -- It’s been more than three years since Gary Miller was a congressman. But it can be hard to tell from his campaign spending. In 2016 and 2017, Gary Miller for Congress paid Treasurer Cathleen Miller more than $79,000, federal campaign finance records show. The campaign paid United Airlines $8,160 in 2017 and spent $774 at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse last Dec. 29. Jeff Horseman in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/25/18

California Democrats Don’t Endorse in Governor’s Race -- After a weekend of trying to woo delegates at their state Convention, none of the Democratic gubernatorial candidates was able to win enough support to secure the party’s endorsement, which required 60 percent of the delegate vote. Katie Orr KQED -- 2/25/18

Hidden cost of housing: How a shortage of construction workers is making our crisis worse -- As the Bay Area scrambles to find housing for its growing population, developers are running into another kind of shortage: There aren’t enough construction workers to build the homes the region needs. Erin Baldassari and Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/25/18

Tribes cut out of California pot market might grow their own -- American Indian tribes that say they have been cut out of California's legal marijuana market have raised the possibility of going their own way by establishing pot businesses outside the state-regulated system that is less than two months old. Michael R. Blood Associated Press -- 2/25/18

'This is not normal': Glitches mar new tax law -- The glitches in the new tax law are starting to pile up. One inadvertently denies restaurants, retailers and others generous new write-offs for things like remodeling. Another would allow wealthy money managers to sidestep a crackdown on lucrative tax breaks that allows them to pay lower taxes on some of their income than ordinary wage earners. Brian Faler Politico -- 2/25/18