Updating . .
Donald Trump says he’s open to Dianne Feinstein’s assault weapons ban -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein got a high-profile boost for her new legislation to raise the minimum age for purchasing assault rifles. President Donald Trump raised the issue, unprompted, during a roughly hour-long televised meeting with Feinstein and other members of Congress Wednesday afternoon at the White House. Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/28/18
No gun purchases before the age of 21 under California bill -- Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, amended Senate Bill 1100 on Wednesday to prohibit someone from purchasing more than one gun in 30 days and to increase the age limit to buy all firearms to 21. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/28/18
War of words: ICE compares Schaaf to ‘gang lookout’; Schaaf decries ‘racist’ crackdown -- A war of words intensified Wednesday between federal officials and Libby Schaaf over the Oakland mayor’s decision to alert the public about a big Northern California immigration enforcement operation that began Sunday and was designed to counter local sanctuary laws. Hamed Aleaziz in the San Francisco Chronicle$ George Kelly and Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury$ Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/28/18
A rural county legalized marijuana farms. It took their tax money – then voted to ban them -- The county’s stance has some growers feeling betrayed. Cultivators say they started businesses here with good intentions and want to provide tax revenue to the government. Now, they feel officials have stabbed them in the back — after taking their money. Sarah Parvini in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/28/18
As California oil regulator seeks more money, legislators ask “Is this working?” -- Early in 2011, Bill Allayaud was so fed up with what he saw as dereliction of duty by California’s oil and gas regulator that he began to catalog grievances: unregulated fracking, allowing companies to inject oilfield wastewater into clean water aquifers, little or no oversight into critical practices affecting public health and safety. Julie Cart Calmatters -- 2/28/18
State GOP puts $200,000 into gas tax repeal campaign as study indicates economic benefits from road repairs -- The infusion of cash to the group Give Voters a Voice comes as supporters of the tax increases in Senate Bill 1 released a study Wednesday that predicted the revenue generated by the levies will significantly boost the state economy. The initiative drive has collected 550,000 of the 585,000 signatures needed to qualify a constitutional amendment that would not only repeal the taxes but require future increases to be approved by voters. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/28/18
California loosens rules for driverless cars, clearing the way for robot taxis -- The rules, first proposed last October, will also allow ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft to begin selling rides in driverless cars, removing expensive human drivers from the equation. Technically, that could happen this year, although no ride-hailing companies have yet announced such plans. (It's unclear whether robot taxis would require approval by the California Utilities Commission in addition to the DMV.) Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/28/18
Perhaps to state’s delight, Trump vows not to prioritize wall on California border with Mexico -- President Trump seems to have done for California what a federal judge would not: halt plans for the border wall he has promised with Mexico. At least temporarily. David Nakamura and Matt Zapotosky in the Washington Post$ -- 2/28/18
Lopez: Coastal Commission's preposterous antics go to court, and taxpayers foot the bill -- It was almost like old times. Everywhere I looked Tuesday in a downtown San Diego courthouse, I saw a former California Coastal commissioner whose conduct is under scrutiny. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/28/18
Smolens: Why Applegate is a problem for Democrats in race for Congress -- Democrats have been worrying that they could be shut out of the November election in the 49th Congressional District. Now they have something else to worry about even if they aren’t. Michael Smolens in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/28/18
Stem cell researcher enters political fray -- A relatively obscure stem cell scientist last week one-upped — sort of — one of the more powerful lawmakers in the United States Senate. It was not a direct, head-to-head contest — just sort of a rough comparison involving Democratic politics in California. David Jensen Capitol Weekly -- 2/28/18
Fox: Strange Bedfellow Politics of 2018 -- Could you imagine anyone in their right (as opposed to left) political mind making the following statement even a year ago: Dianne Feinstein and Antonio Villaraigosa will be the Republican favorites for U.S. Senate and Governor in 2018? Hard to believe, even still! We are not there yet but consider… Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 2/28/18
L.A. County sheriff's deputy under criminal investigation for alleged sexual misconduct with woman seeking aid -- The mother of three said she walked into the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station desperate for protection from her ex-husband. She'd been turned away on previous occasions because she lacked proof that her former spouse violated a restraining order, she said. This time, a deputy in the front office said he would help. Maya Lau in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/28/18
Sexual predators pose as Uber and Lyft drivers and attack women leaving bars and clubs, police say -- In January of last year, a woman climbed into what she thought was an Uber outside a Hollywood nightclub on a bustling stretch of Cahuenga Boulevard. But instead of driving her home, authorities allege the man behind the wheel took her to a secluded area and repeatedly sexually assaulted her. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/28/18
SDSU changes course title that implied that Trump should be impeached -- San Diego State University on Wednesday changed the name of one of its courses after the school was criticized by the public for implying that President Trump should be impeached or removed from office. The one-unit course, which begins on Friday, was titled, “Trump: Impeachment, Removal or Conviction?” Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/28/18
Elon Musk quips Boring Company could dig new Transbay Tube for one-tenth the cost -- Elon Musk loves to stoke the fires. Musk tweeted Tuesday that the Boring Company, his infrastructure and tunnel-construction company, could build a new BART tunnel beneath San Francisco Bay for one-tenth the cost and one-fifth the amount of time. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/28/18
Common human bacteria could protect against skin cancers, researchers say -- The study provides another example of the role of the microbiome — the collection of microbes found in and on the body — in health and disease. While some microbes cause disease, many others have no effect or actually provide benefit. Bradley J. Fikes in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/28/18
California Policy & Politics This Morning
ICE confirms 150-plus arrests in California sweep, slams Schaaf’s early warning -- Federal officials said Tuesday they arrested more than 150 undocumented immigrants in a Northern California sweep aimed at countering local sanctuary laws, while suggesting Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf’s decision to alert the public to the secret operation may have allowed some targets to elude capture. Hamed Aleaziz in the San Francisco Chronicle$ George Kelly and Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury$ Eli Rosenberg in the Washington Post$ Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/28/18
Convicts or community members: Immigration war escalates in California -- U.S. Customs and Immigration officials confirmed Tuesday evening they had arrested more than 150 undocumented immigrants in Northern California over the weekend, describing half of them as known criminals aided by sanctuary policies. But immigration activists were quick to push back that many of those arrested in the sweep were law-abiding community members unfairly targeted by the federal agency. Anita Chabria in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/28/18
U.S. intel: Russia compromised seven states prior to 2016 election -- Top-secret intelligence requested by President Barack Obama in his last weeks in office identified seven states where analysts — synthesizing months of work — had reason to believe Russian operatives had compromised state websites or databases. Three senior intelligence officials told NBC News that the intelligence community believed the states as of January 2017 were Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Texas and Wisconsin. Cynthia McFadden, William M. Arkin, Kevin Monahan and Ken Dilanian NBC News -- 2/28/18
Did Antonio Villaraigosa help a murderer? Video is misleading -- Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox, bidding for a top-two spot in the California primary, has released a video on social media attacking one of his Democratic rivals, Antonio Villaraigosa. The video draws from Villaraigosa's role following a stabbing case involving the son of one of his friends, former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez. Amy Chance and Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/28/18
Counties slow to spend millionaires' money on mental health -- California counties are sitting on money from a special tax on millionaires that should be spent on mental health programs, but the state isn’t moving fast enough to reclaim the funds, according to a state audit released on Tuesday. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/28/18
“Largest storm of the year” to bring up to 7 feet of snow to Sierra Nevada -- A major storm system is forecast to slam into California from Alaska and Canada starting Wednesday night, bringing soaking rain to the Bay Area on Thursday and dumping up to seven feet of new snow to the historically dry Sierra Nevada by Saturday. But as welcome as the snow is during a very dry winter so far, it won’t be enough to return the Sierra Nevada — the source of 30 percent of California’s water supply — back to its average for the year, experts said Tuesday. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/28/18
Authorities recommend evacuations in parts of Santa Barbara County ahead of storm -- The Sheriff's Office recommended that residents in parts of Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria evacuate starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday. The county has created an interactive map that shows which neighborhoods are most at risk. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/28/18
Veiled threats from Trump ‘are par for the course,’ says California AG -- California Attorney Gen. Xavier Becerra confirmed Tuesday that talks are ongoing with President Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency on creating a “national” vehicle emissions standard, as opposed to differing standards in California and other states. But Becerra said his state won’t be cowed into compromising, and lowering its standards, amid veiled threats by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to intervene if California doesn’t strike a deal. Stuart Leavenworth in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/28/18
California leaders to protest scrapping of Clean Power Plan -- California's top energy and environment officials were expected Wednesday to vociferously oppose a Trump administration effort to scrap an Obama-era policy aimed at fighting climate change by slashing emissions from coal-fired power plants. Ellen Knickmeyer Associated Press -- 2/28/18
Walters: Democratic convention shows disconnect with voters -- One should never – repeat never – judge the true tenor of a political party by what happens at its convention, and last weekend’s Democratic gabfest was a case in point. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 2/28/18
For Democrats, Retaking the House Might Depend on Fewer Candidates Running -- In past election years, Democrats have suffered from a shortage of serious candidates running for congressional seats held by Republicans. This year, they have the opposite problem: Too many serious candidates in districts Democrats are targeting. Scott Shafer KQED -- 2/28/18
Republicans flock to take out scandal-plagued Duncan Hunter -- Sensing that the five-term congressman is mortally wounded by a federal investigation into alleged misuse of campaign money and a recent Politico report about his freewheeling Washington lifestyle, Republicans in Hunter’s San Diego-area district are lining up to challenge him. Rachael Bade Politico -- 2/28/18
Switching parties again, Joe Baca wants back in Congress -- Baca, who represented the Inland Empire in Congress for more than a decade, has filed papers to run as a Democrat against Rep. Norma Torres, D-Pomona, in California’s 35th Congressional District, which includes Pomona, Ontario, Montclair, Chino and parts of Fontana and Rialto. Jeff Horseman in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 2/28/18
How to get teenagers to vote when they turn 18? Lawmakers think DMV may be the answer -- Any eligible 16- or 17-year-old who gets a California driver's license or state ID card at the DMV will automatically become pre-registered to vote under a measure signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown. Mary Plummer KPCC -- 2/28/18
Trial starts for coastal commissioners facing millions of dollars in fines for alleged undisclosed meetings -- Several former and current members of the Coastal Commission could be forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines for alleged undisclosed meetings with developers and others seeking to curry favor. Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/28/18
California man arrested in bid to fight along Islamic State in Africa -- Bernard Raymond Augustine, a resident of the small farming community of Keyes south of Modesto, was picked up by FBI agents in Tunisia last week and transported to New York, where he was expected to make an appearance Tuesday in federal court, documents show. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/28/18
SFPD Shootout: Officers Fired 65 Shots at Suspect, and No One Was Hit -- Seven San Francisco police officers fired some 65 rounds at a homicide suspect on Feb. 17 after he shot a handgun twice from inside a parked RV, according to a description of the incident released along with videos from the officers’ body cameras Tuesday night. No one was hit by the gunfire. Alex Emslie KQED -- 2/28/18
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds
Santa Cruz declares fiscal emergency, places sales tax measure on June ballot -- The Santa Cruz City Council unanimously declared a fiscal emergency on Tuesday afternoon, preparing to place a revenue-raising sales tax measure before voters on the June ballot. Jessica A. York in the Santa Cruz Sentinel -- 2/28/18
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Unions prepare to lose in the courthouse and strike back in the statehouse -- The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to weigh in on a high-profile case that could slash the power of public-employee unions. But California labor leaders are already planning to push for new state laws to blunt the impact of an unfavorable ruling. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters -- 2/28/18
PG&E CEO could get more than $12 million in bonuses — if company performs -- PG&E Corp. CEO Geisha Williams could receive an annual bon us for 2018 worth up to $4.23 million in addition to her $1.085 million salary, the company’s board recently decided. Williams could also receive over the next three years long-term incentives worth up to $8 million, depending on how the company and its subsidiary, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., perform. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/28/18
Sempra anticipates bigger returns for LNG project, thanks to tax reform -- Sempra, the San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy giant, is placing a big bet on a massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility under construction in the Gulf Coast and on Tuesday, the company said the tax reform deal passed by Congress will lead to bigger returns on the project. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/28/18
Huge transit-centric SoMa development plan kicking into gear -- A seven-year push to encourage transit-centric job growth in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood is about to become reality, as Mayor Mark Farrell and the Planning Department this week introduce zoning legislation that could produce as many as 40,000 new jobs and 7,000 housing units. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/28/18
Disneyland Resort workers struggle to pay for food, housing and medical care, union survey finds -- In an unprecedented challenge to Walt Disney Co., a coalition of 11 Disneyland unions is calling on the resort to raise its base wage to $20 an hour after a survey of 5,000 workers found many were hard-pressed to pay for food and medical expenses and 11 percent said they experienced homelessness in the past two years. Margot Roosevelt in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ Jennifer Medina in the New York Times$ -- 2/28/18
Study: Climate Change Threatens Major Crops in California -- California currently provides two-thirds of the country’s fruits and nuts, but according to a new study published Tuesday, by the end of the century California’s climate will no longer be able to support the state’s major crops, including orchards. Amel Ahmed KQED Ezra David Romero Capital Public Radio -- 2/28/18
L.A. County leaders look to regulate short-term rentals -- The Los Angeles City Council has spent two years grappling with how to regulate short-term rentals through popular platforms such as Airbnb. On Tuesday, county lawmakers took up the question. Melissa Etehad in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/28/18
Net neutrality proponents, opponents square off online -- Protesters on both sides of the net neutrality controversy took their causes to the Internet on Tuesday as Senate Democrats introduced a resolution aimed at reversing the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of Obama-era net neutrality rules. Benny Evangelista in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/28/18
Homeless
For LA County’s mobile mental-health teams, persistence is key to leading homeless to help -- The woman known as Miss Chevron has lived on a Los Angeles County bus bench for nine years, which is why people just call her by the name of the gas station behind her. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/28/18
At SFPD town hall on shooting, a focus on homelessness, not gunfire -- In contrast to past town halls on officer-involved shootings, the gatheringon Tuesday was small and subdued. Attendees were focused more on issues of homelessness in the neighborhood than on the officers’ conduct. Annie Ma in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/28/18
Wildfire
California fire officials request $100 million to fix mutual-aid system -- Tuesday’s hearing before two state Senate committees — the emergency services and governmental organization committees — came after a Chronicle story in November revealed that thousands of mutual-aid requests in fire emergencies went unfilled in the past few years, including 175 requests made during the early hours of the October fires that ravaged parts of the North Bay. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Randi Rossmann in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat -- 2/28/18
Sonoma County supervisors eye changes to emergency system after missteps in fires -- A torrent of firsthand reports from firefighters, law enforcement and 911 callers on Oct. 8 confirmed a massive natural disaster was unfolding in the North Bay, but Sonoma County had no coordinated system in place to track the location and spread of the destructive fires that erupted that night. Julie Johnson in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat -- 2/28/18
Education
Southern California man accused of threatening to 'shoot up' Chino Hills school -- Authorities in Southern California have arrested a 19-year-old man they say threatened to carry out a shooting at his former high school. San Bernardino County sheriff's officials say deputies were dispatched Monday afternoon to Ruben S. Ayala High following a report that an ex-student had made threats to "shoot up the school." Associated Press -- 2/28/18
Teen arrested on suspicion of threatening to shoot up San Diego high school -- School officials told police the teen told other students they shouldn’t attend class at Westview High School on Wednesday after telling them of his plans, San Diego police acting Capt. Paul Phillips. Lyndsay Winkley in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/28/18
Arrests made in slew of copycat threats targeting Fresno schools after Florida shooting -- Fresno police are vowing to arrest anyone who makes false threats “regardless of age” after a slew of social media posts targeting local schools were made since the Florida school shooting on Valentine’s Day. Mackenzie Mays in the Fresno Bee -- 2/28/18
Applications for California grants to undocumented college students lag as officials encourage more – With a March 2 deadline looming, California education officials are once again urging undocumented students to overcome any fears and to apply for the special state aid that helps cover their college tuition. Larry Gordon EdSource -- 2/28/18
Immigration / Border
Immigrants awaiting deportation hearings have no right to bail, court says -- The decision, by the court’s conservative majority, could affect thousands of immigrants now in detention. It reverses a ruling by an appeals court in San Francisco to require bail hearings every six months. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/28/18
Water
Californians Are Struggling to Pay for Rising Water Rates -- Water rates are rising in many California communities faster than some residents can keep up. While the state works to come up with a plan to tackle affordability issues, one bill seeks to protect against water shutoffs. Alastair Bland KQED -- 2/28/18
Environment
Living near oil wells can cause health problems, LA County believes it has solutions -- More protections are needed for residents living in close proximity to thousands of oil and gas wells releasing toxic air contaminants near homes, schools and playgrounds in dense, low-income neighborhoods, according to a report released Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Department of Health. Steve Scauzillo in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/28/18
Cancer-Causing Chemical Found in Some Santa Rosa Drinking Water -- Some drinking water in Santa Rosa remains undrinkable months after the North Bay fires, and pressure is mounting on the city’s water department to locate and control the cause. Molly Peterson KQED -- 2/28/18
US Judge Blocks Weed-Killer Warning Label in California -- A U.S. judge blocked California from requiring that the popular weed-killer Roundup carry a label stating that it is known to cause cancer, saying the warning is misleading because almost all regulators have concluded there is no evidence that the product’s main ingredient is a carcinogen. Sudhin Thanawala Associated Press Geoffrey Mohan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/28/18
Also . . .
Pedestrian deaths surge in L.A., overall traffic fatalities down slightly -- Pedestrian deaths in Los Angeles have surged more than 80% in the first two years of a high-profile initiative launched by Mayor Eric Garcetti to eliminate traffic fatalities, new data show. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/28/18
New Bill Would Replace Coroner's Office With Medical Examiner -- A new bill introduced in the California Senate would abolish the Coroner’s Office and replace it with a Medical Examiner's Office. This comes after San Joaquin County’s chief medical examiner resigned after saying the sheriff-coroner interfered with autopsies. Rich Ibarra Capital Public Radio -- 2/28/18
All aboard for Mars? Why not? -- Will you (OK, your grandchildren) someday take a vacation jaunt to Mars? Or maybe move there permanently? You will if California’s 0utside-the-box-thinker Elon Musk and his competitors have their way. Chuck McFadden Capitol Weekly -- 2/28/18
POTUS 45
Despite legal victory, Trump needs money for border wall -- President Donald Trump has won a judge's permission to build a border wall with Mexico. Now he just needs the money. Elliot Spagat Associated Press -- 2/28/18
Beltway
House members can now spend taxpayer funds on bulletproof vests -- A House panel on Tuesday voted to expand the range of permissible uses of public funds for lawmakers’ security — making clear, among other things, that members can be reimbursed by taxpayers if they purchase bulletproof vests for themselves. Mike DeBonis in the Washington Post$ -- 2/28/18
Ryan throws cold water on gun control push -- House GOP leaders downplayed the need for Congress to pass expansive new gun control measures on Tuesday, instead turning their ire on the FBI and local law enforcement for failing to prevent the Parkland, Fla. school shooting. Rachael Bade Politico -- 2/28/18
Ben Carson’s HUD, Planning Cuts, Spends $31,000 on Dining Set for His Office -- Department of Housing and Urban Development officials spent $31,000 on a new dining room set for Secretary Ben Carson’s office in late 2017 — just as the White House circulated its plans to slash HUD’s programs for the homeless, elderly and poor, according to federal procurement records. Glenn Thrush in the New York Times$ -- 2/28/18
White House Has Given No Orders to Counter Russian Meddling, N.S.A. Chief Says -- Faced with unrelenting interference in its election systems, the United States has not forced Russia to pay enough of a price to persuade President Vladimir V. Putin to stop meddling, a senior American intelligence official said on Tuesday. Matthew Rosenberg in the New York Times$ -- 2/28/18
Kushner’s overseas contacts raise concerns as foreign officials seek leverage -- Officials in at least four countries have privately discussed ways they can manipulate Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, by taking advantage of his complex business arrangements, financial difficulties and lack of foreign policy experience, according to current and former U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reports on the matter. Shane Harris, Carol D. Leonnig, Greg Jaffe and Josh Dawsey in the Washington Post$ -- 2/28/18
-- Tuesday Updates
Judge sides with Trump on challenge to Mexico border wall -- A judge who was taunted by Donald Trump during the presidential campaign sided with the president Tuesday on a challenge to building a border wall with Mexico, possibly removing a major obstacle to the signature campaign pledge. U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel rejected arguments by the state of California and advocacy groups that the administration overreached by waiving laws requiring environmental and other reviews before construction could begin. Elliot Spagat Associated Press -- 2/27/18
A California congressman is trying to force a vote on a gun background check bill -- California Rep. Mike Thompson of St. Helena is trying to get support for a rarely successful procedural move that wou ld force a vote on a bill to require background checks for all gun purchases. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/27/18
Supreme Court strengthens government's power to jail immigrants who face deportation -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday strengthened the Trump administration's power to hold immigrants in jail for months or years as they fight deportation, ruling federal law gives these detainees no right to a bail hearing or chance to go free. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/27/18
Immigration: Visa quagmire forces San Jose cafe owner to ‘self-deport’ -- After an immigration quagmire left his business visa in limbo, the owner of a popular cafe across from San Jose State University has closed his business, let go his half dozen employees, donated the leftover food to Catholic Charities and, on Wednesday, will board a plane with his wife and four children to fly back to his home country of Kuwait. Julia Prodis Sulek in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/27/18
Capitol Weekly podcast: Wayne Johnson -- Veteran political consultant Wayne Johnson, who has handled well over 200 campaigns in California, the U.S. and across the world, joins the Podcast this week to chat about politics and technology with Capitol Weekly’s John Howard and Tim Foster. Link here -- 2/27/18
California's pollution cops crack down on big rigs. That might start a fight with Trump -- California is already wrestling the Trump administration over the levels of air pollution spewed by cars. Now the state is set to tangle with the White House over pollution from big rigs. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/27/18
California may tweak climate program that’s quietly pushing up gas prices -- Even as drivers debate repealing California’s recent gasoline tax hike, an often-overlooked state program has quietly helped push fuel prices higher. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/27/18
Focus on Devin Nunes prompts group to spend money in his district -- Rep. Devin Nunes’ high-profile role in the House Russia investigation has prompted one state political action committee to focus its attention on his Central Valley seat. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/27/18
Knight: Alice’s life on the sidewalk ends with a dignified death -- Nobody knew many concrete details about the woman who lived for at least three years on the pavement outside the Burger King at the corner of 16th and Mission streets. Her first name was Alice, but she gave different last names and different ages. She once told me she was 62 and another time 65. She didn’t know what year it was, how long she’d been homeless or exactly why she’d fallen into such misery. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/27/18