Updating . .
Trump moves to slash environmental rules on Delta, pushing California water to farms -- The Trump administration Friday pledged to slash the thicket of federal environmental regulations that govern the Delta and much of California’s water supply, aiming to increase water deliveries to his political allies in the San Joaquin Valley. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/19/18
Can Trump force California to drain its rivers? He’s about to try -- This story was updated Oct. 19 at 1 pm to reflect statements by President Donald Trump clarifying that he will seek to change federal environmental regulations regarding water usage, which could result in less water in California rivers. Trump did not indicate he would move to block a plan by the State Water Resources Control Board to re-allocate the waters of the San Joaquin River watershed to help endangered fish species, a move that the office of Rep. Jeff Denham had earlier implied Trump would take. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/19/18
USC reaches tentative $215-million settlement over gynecologist accused of sexually assaulting hundreds of students -- USC said Friday it has reached an “agreement in principle” to pay $215 million to patients treated by Dr. George Tyndall, the longtime campus gynecologist accused of abusing and sexually harassing scores of young women. Matt Hamilton and Harriet Ryan in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/19/18
Fact check: Trump thinks California fires cost taxpayers ‘hundreds of billions.’ Here’s the real number -- President Donald Trump, pointing a finger at a persistent political nemesis, said this week that California’s wildfires are costing American taxpayers “hundreds of billions of dollars.” The true cost is a sliver of that. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/19/18
Juul users more likely to get hooked, Stanford study of young vapers finds -- Young Californians are so taken with the joys of vaping - the fruity flavors, how easy it is to hide, the social status it confers - that they’ve forgotten the most important thing about the e-cigarettes, a new survey finds. These toxic devices are highly addictive. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/19/18
ACLU demands sheriff’s Taser policy in unarmed black man’s Millbrae death -- The ACLU has requested the San Mateo County Sheriff’s policies for use of force and stun guns after an Oct. 3 incident in which an unarmed black man suffering a mental breakdown died after officers repeatedly shocked him with Tasers. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/19/18
Tim Cook wants retraction of Chinese spy-chip story that named Apple, Supermicro -- Apple CEO Tim Cook has taken the unusual step of going on the record to deny a news story, and is further asking the news agency that published it for a retraction. Bloomberg News reported earlier this month that servers from San Jose-based Supermicro — which were used by many big tech companies including Apple and Amazon — were implanted with Chinese surveillance chips, and that there is an ongoing FBI investigation into the matter. Apple, Amazon and Supermicro have all denied the report, and any knowledge of a government investigation. Levi Sumagaysay in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/19/18
Fox: Not Another Water Bond? -- It feels every election Californians are voting on another water bond—and passing them. This November Proposition 3 is on the ballot, placed there through the initiative process. The state has plenty of unspent water related bonds. Shouldn’t we use the billions authorized for past water bonds yet expended before adding more billions to the state debt? Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 10/19/18
California Policy & Politics This Morning
GOP lawmakers who voted for years to repeal Obamacare now campaigning to save popular parts of it -- Republican lawmakers and candidates across the country are suddenly telling voters they’ll protect preexisting conditions rules, brushing aside the fact that many voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act dozens of times and that GOP leaders pledge to resume that fight in 2019. Jennifer Haberkorn in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/19/18
Record number of East Bay jail inmates likely to vote in 2018 midterms -- Sascha Atkins-Loria had only a few hours at Alameda County jail in Oakland to register inmates to vote, so she didn’t waste time last week as she delivered her pitch to each housing unit. Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/19/18
Partisanship roils voting reform efforts -- Moves to make voting easier in California have caused yet another divide between Republicans and Democrats. Chuck McFadden Capitol Weekly -- 10/19/18
Why didn’t Kevin de León go after Dianne Feinstein? -- State Sen. Kevin de León was down by double digits in the polls going into his only debate against Sen. Dianne Feinstein, less than three weeks before election day. It was desperation time. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/19/18
Politifact CA: Fact-checking claims in California’s U.S. Senate race -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein and her challenger in California’s U.S. Senate race Kevin de León made several claims that caught our attention during their only scheduled campaign forum this week in San Francisco. Chris Nichols Politifact CA -- 10/19/18
A doctor warned California about prisoner care. After an inmate suicide, he got $822,000 -- California has awarded more than $800,000 to a prison psychiatrist who said he was retaliated against after he warned that conditions at San Quentin State Prison would endanger inmates. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/19/18
You could get $6,000 a year under this California senator’s new plan -- American families making less than $100,000 a year could be eligible for a monthly tax credit of up to $500, or $6,000 a year, under new legislation announced Thursday by Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California. Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/19/18
New seismic era begins as earthquake warnings are readied to ring in California -- Tom Heaton thought it was crazy when, back in the 1970s, he first heard about the concept of an earthquake early warning system. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/19/18
Scores more former patients sue USC over gynecologist's alleged sexual misconduct -- An additional 95 women sued USC this week, saying longtime campus gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall had sexually assaulted them and that the university had failed to protect them despite complaints. Hailey Branson-Potts and Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/19/18
Orange County sheriff's deputy caught on video repeatedly punching intoxicated man -- An Orange County Sheriff’s Department dashcam video shows a deputy repeatedly punching a motorist in the face while arresting him for misdemeanor public intoxication this year, an action the man’s attorney calls excessive force. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/19/18
LA County sees spike in reported hate crimes against Latinos, blacks -- Hate crimes against black victims reported in Los Angeles County rose 15 percent last year after a significant decline the previous year, while crimes targeting Latinos rose 16 percent, according to a new report. Brenda Gazzar in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 10/19/18
California revisits three-strike life sentences -- Up to 4,000 California inmates serving life sentences for nonviolent convictions will have a chance at parole following the state’s decision to let stand a judge’s ruling saying those prisoners are eligible for freedom under a voter-approved law. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 10/19/18
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
UTC Aerospace to end aircraft systems manufacturing in Chula Vista, cutting 300 jobs -- The company -- a division of Farmington, Conn.-based conglomerate United Technologies -- said the decision stems from ending production of certain commercial aircraft models. The Chula Vista plant builds aerodynamic engine pods and mounts for customers such as Boeing and Airbus. Mike Freeman in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 10/19/18
Far from fame, poverty blossoms in ‘forgotten California’ -- A rooster signals the start of the day as workers wearing sombreros and ball caps emerge from the shadows and shuffle past boarded-up businesses in this tiny farm town. They converge on a dimly lit dirt lot outside Panaderia de Dios, a bakery sweetening the air with the aroma of Mexican cookies and bread as workers catch rides to the fields. Brian Melley Associated Press -- 10/19/18
H-1B spouses’ work-ban rule coming next month, feds say -- Time appears nearly up for an estimated 100,000 foreign citizens working in the U.S. under a special authorization for spouses of foreign workers here on the controversial H-1B visa. The federal government, which has been promising since late 2017 to ban these H-4 visa holders from working, has just put out a notice that the new rule will be issued sometime next month. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/19/18
Homeless
San Francisco judge throws out charges against homeless people camping on sidewalk -- A San Francisco judge dismissed criminal charges Thursday against three homeless people who were arrested for camping or sleeping on the streets, a decision that follows a federal appeals court ruling barring cities from prosecuting such cases when no shelters are available. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/19/18
Cannabis
Marijuana policies at play on Election Day, even in Republican strongholds -- A number of red communities in California, from the Inland Empire town of Hemet to rural El Dorado County, also will join dozens of blue communities in voting during the midterm elections on whether to allow commercial marijuana businesses. Brooke Staggs in the Orange County Register -- 10/19/18
Education
Four communities in California turn to voters to help fund children's programs -- In the face of compelling research showing the importance of providing services for children before they reach kindergarten, four communities in California are going to voters to ask them for special funding to underwrite a range of early education programs. Zaidee Stavely EdSource -- 10/19/18
Environment
Tule elk are eating too much grass in Pt. Reyes. Should they be shot so dairy cows can graze? -- Twice each day, 80-year-old Betty Nunes ventures into the wet winds and murky fog that regularly blow across her coastal Marin ranch to feed her calves and check the land her family has worked for generations. Usually, her 230 dairy cows aren’t the only creatures she finds munching grass in the green meadows of her farm. Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/19/18
Community leaders celebrate removal of deadly, ugly Dennett Dam in Modesto -- Community leaders on Thursday gathered along the shore of the Tuolumne River in Modesto to celebrate the removal of Dennett Dam, an eyesore that created blight, damaged the ecosystem and presented a safety hazard for decades. Rosalio Ahumada in the Modesto Bee$ -- 10/19/18
POTUS 45
Trump, amid outcry over missing Saudi journalist, praises GOP congressman for body slamming reporter --
President Trump, as he continued equating Democrats to a “mob” in the run-up to next month's midterm election, praised a Montana congressman Thursday night for body slamming a reporter last year. Eli Stokols in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/19/18
Beltway
How Republicans could (barely) hang on to the House -- The confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court has given GOP voters a badly needed enthusiasm boost, they argue, and several races seen as unwinnable just weeks ago are suddenly back within reach for Republicans. Rachael Bade Politico -- 10/19/18
Abcarian: Warren's DNA test gives critics more ammo, ticks off Native Americans and won't shut up Trump -- What am I? I’ve been thinking a lot about this since Elizabeth Warren revealed that she has proof she has a Native American forebear. As it happens, I am half Armenian, one-quarter English, one-eighth Irish and one-eighth Norwegian. And, of course, 100% American. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/19/18
-- Thursday Updates
De León has run against Feinstein from the left, but much of his support comes from Republicans, new poll finds -- Senate candidate Kevin de León has campaigned as the progressive alternative to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, but with the election just weeks away, his strongest support is coming from Republicans, according to a new USC-Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/18/18
Garcetti, Bonin and Moore face anger over a proposal to build a homeless shelter in Venice -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Police Chief Michel Moore and Westside Councilman Mike Bonin knew what was coming when they appeared together Wednesday night at a town hall to defend a proposal to build a homeless shelter in Venice. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/18/18
How do you build a safer city after California's worst wildfire? Santa Rosa officials say the answer may have to wait -- After the Tubbs fire destroyed his home, Will Abrams’ son read a book about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. He learned that following the catastrophic blaze, the city required all new buildings to be constructed with fireproof materials like brick and stone. Laura Newberry in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/18/18
A simple earthquake flaw can invite financial catastrophe. Most California homeowners ignore it -- Retrofitting single-family homes is considered one of the cheapest seismic improvements available, a foundation bolting process that usually costs an average of $7,000 and can be done within several days without the residents moving out. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/18/18