Updating . .   

Rod Rosenstein, Justice Department official overseeing Russia investigation, will stay — at least for now -- Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, the senior Justice Department official supervising the Russia investigation, will meet Thursday with President Trump, an announcement that stanched, at least for now, a flurry of reports that Rosenstein would be leaving his post. Chris Megerian and Del Quentin Wilber in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/18

Los Angeles reduces Eastern Sierra water deliveries because of climate change. At risk, ranchers say, is a way of life -- The lush plains east of Yosemite National Park offer a window into a bygone California — a place where sage grouse welcome the arrival of spring with theatrical mating rituals and cattle graze on verdant pastures. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/18

Capitol lawsuit hints at the limits of #MeToo laws -- In one of the first legal challenges since the #MeToo movement forced the California Legislature to confront its history of dismissing sexual misconduct in its own workplace, the Senate is trying to fend off a former employee’s lawsuit with arguments that she’s not covered by new whistleblower protections and that the Capitol, as part of the public sector, isn’t covered by state labor laws. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters -- 9/24/18

SiriusXM buying Oakland’s Pandora Media for $3.5 billion -- Oakland’s struggling Pandora Media is being bought by SiriusXM as the subscription radio company expands its streaming music offerings for home and mobile devices. Sophia Kunthara in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/24/18

A Delta farmer says the state poisoned his crops. Is California’s water supply safe? -- For years, state boats have sprayed thousands of pounds of herbicides into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to kill invasive aquatic weeds. And, for years, California officials have insisted they closely monitor their chemical use to protect the ecologically fragile estuary and the drinking and irrigation water the Delta supplies to millions of Californians. Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/24/18

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

What ignited many of California’s worst wildfires a mystery -- California officials quickly determined an arsonist started last month's huge wildfire southeast of Los Angeles, and that two weeks earlier sparks from a vehicle produced a deadly wildfire in the far northern part of the state. Julie Watson Associated Press -- 9/24/18

Kevin de León wants to crash Senate ‘country club’ to battle Trump -- Kevin de León, Los Angeles state senator and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, was on a roll. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/24/18

In a rebuke to Trump, Gov. Jerry Brown signs bans on short-term health plans, Medi-Cal work requirements -- California will formally forbid the sale of short-term health plans and work requirements for those who receive subsidized healthcare, under laws signed on Saturday by Gov. Jerry Brown, with both proposals crafted as sharp rejoinders to efforts by the Trump administration. Melanie Mason and John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/18

Top #MeToo lawmakers donate to colleague accused of harassment -- Just days after taking a victory lap for successfully shepherding a landmark bill to beef up sexual harassment investigations in the California legislature, two leading female Democratic legislators in the #MeToo movement wrote generous political checks to their Democratic colleague, Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia — the subject of an ongoing sexual harassment investigation. Carla Marinucci Politico -- 9/24/18

Hundreds attend vigil in Palo Alto to support Blasey Ford -- The horns blared loudly from cars careening past the corner of Embarcadero Road and El Camino Real, and cheers roared back from more than a thousand throats as dusk fell. George Kelly in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/24/18

Walters: The high cost of a zero-emission California -- It’s time again, boys and girls, for more fun with numbers – this edition being about electrical power generation and consumption in California. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 9/24/18

Schnur: Voters want a gas tax repeal. Many California leaders call it a horrible idea -- No politician would ever promise to make our commutes longer. No voters beg for more crowded highways. Everybody hates traffic. The question is what should we do about it? And more specifically, how should we pay for it? Dan Schnur in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/24/18

Statewide Rallies Held in Support of Proposition to Repeal Rent Control Law -- Tenant advocates held rallies across the state on Saturday in support of Proposition 10, a statewide ballot initiative that could pave the way for the expansion of rent control. Sara Hossaini KQED -- 9/24/18

Fresno Heat and Foul Air Set Stage for Trump Tailpipe Debate -- To test how Americans feel about its plan for rolling back car and truck pollution standards, the Trump administration will hold an initial public hearing on Monday in Fresno, California, a place where it might reasonably expect a friendly response. John Lippert and Mark Chediak Bloomberg -- 9/24/18

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

Disneyland Resort hotel workers approve a new contract with a $15-an-hour minimum wage -- After months of demonstrations and protests, hotel workers at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim overwhelmingly approved a contract that boosts hourly salaries by at least 40% over two years and clears the way for staff to get bonuses that were promised last year. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/18

Abcarian: She's captivated millennials. But can 31-year-old Katie Hill capture the seat in this Republican stronghold? -- Predicting how well a candidate will fare in an election by the number of supporters she turns out at a debate with her opponent is probably a fool’s game. But sometimes, you just get a feeling. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/18

California Politics Podcast: The Brett Kavanaugh conundrum comes to the U.S. Senate race -- California’s fall election for the U.S. Senate, already a nasty intraparty fight among two Democrats, now finds itself another place where the debate over Judge Brett Kavanaugh is at center stage. John Myers and Melanie Mason of the Los Angeles Times. Link Here -- 9/24/18

Homeless  

As Orange County struggles with homeless crisis, plans for two shelters stall amid money woes -- Despite an urgency to address Orange County’s growing homeless population, a plan to expand two shelters in Midway City is at a standstill as officials seek funding for the project. Priscella Vega in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/18

Immigration, Border, Deportation 

L.A. Archdiocese passes virtual collection plate to support immigrant families -- For years, Catholic leaders in Los Angeles have made no secret of their sharp opposition to government crackdowns on illegal immigration. Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/18

Education 

Newsom's 'cradle-to-career' education pledge will require sweeping changes in California -- Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, California’s likely next governor, is calling for an all-out assault to change the state’s educational outcomes, one that starts before birth and extends through school, college and into the workplace. Karin Fischer EdSource -- 9/24/18

Also . . . 

Chasing 'likes' on Instagram, hikers break limbs — and need rescuing -- As Wilson Guarin watched the green helicopter roaring above, he wondered if the men being hoisted into the sky felt the risk had been worth it. Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/18

Baby's fentanyl overdose death puts parents, and alleged supplier, in prosecutors' crosshairs -- Baby Leo spent the early hours of Sept. 18, 2017, the way he usually did, snuggled up next to his parents in bed. Except that morning he didn’t wake up. Toxicology tests showed fatal levels of fentanyl in his bloodstream and stomach. Kristina Davis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/18

POTUS 45  

Constrained From Fighting, Trump Is Left a Spectator With Kavanaugh in Peril -- As the fate of Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, his Supreme Court nominee, teetered over a sexual assault allegation from decades ago, President Trump vented his frustration about his own party’s unwillingness to aggressively hit back. Julie Hirschfeld Davis in the New York Times$ -- 9/24/18

Beltway 

Senate Democrats Investigate A New Allegation Of Sexual Misconduct, From Brett Kavanaugh’s College Years -- A s Senate Republicans press for a swift vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Senate Democrats are investigating a new allegation of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh. Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer in the New Yorker -- 9/24/18

New sexual abuse allegations roil Kavanaugh nomination -- Brett Kavanaugh’s embattled nomination for the Supreme Court faced further disarray Sunday night after an explosive new account emerged of alleged sexual misconduct when he was in college, putting the White House on the defensive and the judge’s confirmation in fresh doubt. Laura King and Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/24/18