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Harrowing escapes, heartbreaking loss in Northern California -- In the days since a ferocious, wind-whipped wildfire began tearing through this Northern California town, residents who stayed behind to try to save their property or who managed to get back to their neighborhoods despite mandatory evacuation orders found cars incinerated and homes reduced to rubble. They have tales of harrowing escape and struggling to cope with loss. Associated Press -- 11/11/18
Butte County fire continues to worsen Bay Area air quality -- Air quality in San Francisco, the Peninsula and the East Bay, devastated by smoke from the massive Camp Fire in Butte County, is likely to get worse Sunday, although the northern reaches of the Bay Area could see conditions improve, weather forecasters said. Ashley McBride in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/11/18
New satellite to monitor future West Coast fires -- It hadn’t arrived by the time the Camp Fire began raging in Butte County, but high-tech help to monitor fires is on the way. Sophia Kunthara in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/11/18
Unexpected — and unwelcome — guest paid visit to Gavin Newsom’s home -- Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom is certainly getting a taste of what it means to have a raised profile, as evidenced by a family scare involving a stalker at his Marin County home just weeks before the election. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/11/18
California Policy & Politics This Morning
N. California fire officials begin agonizing search for dead -- Sheriff’s investigators have begun the agonizing task of scouring through the wreckage of California’s most destructive fire on record in search of the dead. By Saturday, the death toll had reached 23, but it seemed likely to climb. Gillian Flaccus, Don Thompson and Paul Elias Associated Press -- 11/11/18
Death toll in Camp Fire rises to 23 as coroner’s teams search for remains -- The Camp Fire in Butte County grew to 105,000 acres, or 164 square miles, by Saturday evening and fire officials warned that weather conditions were changing for the worse, with high winds through Monday morning pushing the blaze and firefighting even more difficult. Melody Gutierrez, Steve Rubenstein and Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle Louis Sahagun, Liam Dillon and Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times Benjy Egel, Claire Morgan and Kevin Valine in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/11/18
Trump on California’s wildfires: ‘Forest management is so poor’ -- President Trump weighed in Saturday on the Camp Fire in Butte County, the most destructive wildfire in California history, blaming it and other disastrous blazes burning in the state on “poor” forest management. Trump also threatened to cut off unspecified federal aid if changes aren’t made. Trapper Byrne and Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury Hector Becerra in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/11/18
Firefighters call Trump tweet on California wildfires ‘reckless and insulting’ -- California firefighters are clapping back at President Donald Trump for comments he made in a tweet Saturday morning threatening to pull federal funding for California wildfire relief as another devastating round of blazes ravage the state. Cassie Dickman in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/11/18
PG&E: Power line had problems before Camp Fire ignited -- The public utility, already facing billions in potential liability for earlier wildfires, is under scrutiny from regulators for possibly causing the latest fire, which broke out early Thursday. That same day, PG&E canceled plans to shut off power as a precaution against fires in parts of Butte County, where the fire is burning. Roland Li , Jill Tucker and Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/11/18
Man fights Paradise fire for hours to save his disabled 90-year-old mother -- Brad Weldon heard the sirens and watched as each of his neighbors on Lisa Lane in Paradise jumped into their cars and fled as a wall of flames descended on their town. They should go too, he knew that. It’s crazy to stay, he remembers thinking. But, his 90-year-old mother, Norma, immobile and blind, was having none of it. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/11/18
‘This is when I die’ . . . unforgettable tales of escape from the Camp Fire -- It’s the terror, the sheer terror of being stuck in a vehicle in bumper to bumper traffic with flames closing in and nowhere to go that haunts them most. On the main road that locals affectionately called “the Skyway to Paradise,” many of those trapped in the nerve-wracking slow-motion evacuation Thursday morning said their goodbyes, whispered their prayers and wondered, is this the end? Julia Prodis Sulek and Annie Sciacca in the San Jose Mercury -- 11/11/18
The two bodies found in Malibu Friday were severely burned, officials say -- The Los Angeles County coroner’s office received reports Friday night of the bodies found on Mulholland Highway, but officials said at the time that they could not yet determine whether the deaths were connected to the Woolsey fire that burned through the area hours before. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/11/18
Firefighters use break in winds to assess damage from Woolsey fire and fortify defenses -- Firefighters on Saturday got a respite from destructive Santa Ana winds to take stock of the Woolsey fire, which has burned 83,000 acres, claimed two lives, destroyed more than a hundred homes and forced 260,000 people to evacuate across a wide swath of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Ruben Vives, Laura Newberry, Jaclyn Cosgrove, Dakota Smith and Ben Poston in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/11/18
'There’s no word in the English dictionary to describe the fear we’ve felt' -- On Saturday morning, Maxwell Korrodi was the last person standing at his family’s Malibu mansion, which sits on a ridge overlooking the Pacific Coast Highway. The place is jokingly called “the hotel” because his parents adopted 16 children, himself included. Laura Newberry in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/11/18
Family wakes to terror as flames approach their Bell Canyon home -- At 5:30 a.m. Friday, the Gallaghers got a warning from their homeowners association that the fire was spreading fast. Soon after, Gallagher was screaming as she and her family rushed into action. Tall, deep orange flames chewed timber near their home. Before they could scramble into their cars and leave, the fire had already crept to their driveway. Gallagher’s niece was last in the caravan, and as she left, burning branches landed on her car hood, Gallagher said. Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/11/18
This was Paradise: ‘How do you quantify everything being gone?’ -- A settler named this place in 1864, at the end of a hot and dusty day of travel. As oak land gave way to pine, he took a deep breath of the cool mountain air and said, “This is paradise.” Lizzie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/11/18
Camp Fire destroyed 132-year-old wooden covered bridge that was monument to Gold Rush era -- Since it was built 132 years ago, the covered bridge — the only three-span truss bridge of its kind in the United States — was cherished and protected. It was a monument to the Gold Rush era, a treasure that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lauren Hernández in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/11/18
Cowboy volunteers ride to the rescue of horses and other animals from fire area -- Towing four horse trailers, the group headed to a home in Paradise, where a woman reported that she had to flee without her eight horses. Kirk made it just a few miles before a woman from another rescue group flagged down the caravan. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/11/18
GoFundMe campaign raises more than $13,000 in matter of hours for family that lost five homes in blaze -- A GofundMe campaign has raised more than $13,000 for the family of a California Department of Fish and Wildlife officer whose family lost a total of five homes in the latest round of destructive wildfires. Cassie Dickman in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/11/18
California wildfires start in the woods. Why do cities keep burning? -- The Camp Fire — state history’s most destructive and third deadliest — began Thursday in a wild and wooded part of unincorporated Butte County before demolishing the Northern California town of Paradise, leaving at least 23 people dead and most of the town’s homes burned to cinders. Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/11/18
GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher loses, and the Republicans' 'bad year' may get worse yet -- Rep. Dana Rohrabacher has lost the congressional seat he held for 30 years in one of the most conservative stretches of Orange County, a stunning defeat for the GOP as other Republicans’ early leads receded in the latest ballot counts, putting the party in fear of losing all six tightly contested House races in California. Joe Mozingo and Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times Elise Viebeck in the Washington Post -- 11/11/18
New GOP House rules would strip indicted lawmakers of committee spots, leadership roles -- The move would most immediately affect the legislative futures of Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.). Both lawmakers — who were early endorsers of President Donald Trump’s 2016 bid for the White House — were indicted in August, but respectively won additional two-year terms in the House in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Quint Forgey Politico -- 11/11/18
Republican concedes in key state Senate race, scales tip toward Democrat ‘supermajority’ -- A Democrat has all but officially won what’s considered one of the most important local races this election, as Republican Rob Poythress on Saturday conceded to Democrat Anna Caballero in the race for the Senate District 12 seat. Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/11/18
Even with some very close races left to decide in California, a recount of ballots is rare -- No state in the nation had as many voters show up for last week’s midterm elections as California. Preliminary data show that about 12 million ballots were cast — some coming in races that produced razor-thin outcomes, the kind that fuel talk about a recount in other states. But not in California. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/11/18
Walters: Newsom won’t have budget crisis, but can it last? -- Gavin Newsom is one lucky fellow. Not only did he coast into the governorship of the nation’s richest and most populous state with token opposition, but he will be only the second governor of the past half-century to be inaugurated without a severe budgetary crisis. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 11/11/18
State files notice of appeal against Orange County judge’s ruling exempting Huntington Beach from ‘sanctuary’ law -- In a closely watched legal battle, the state attorney general’s office has filed notice that it will appeal an Orange County Superior Court judge’s ruling that the city of Huntington Beach is exempt from complying with a state law providing “sanctuary” protections for immigrants who are in the country illegally. Priscella Vega in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/11/18
Democrats find grassroots organizing might be key to 2020 -- A growing number of organizers and donors say the midterm election results show Democrats that the formula for winning back the White House in 2020 is a two-part equation. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/11/18
Willie Brown: Trump backs Pelosi for speaker. She’ll win anyway -- Rep. Nancy Pelosi nailed it when she predicted a week before the election that Democrats would win back the House. Even the doubters now have to admit: She knows her stuff. Willie Brown in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/11/18
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
San Jose Marriott workers reach agreement to end strike -- No details about the agreement with Unite Here Local 19 in San Jose were immediately available because Marriott workers in other cities are still on strike, said Sarah McDermott, a spokesperson for Local 19. Martha Ross in the San Jose Mercury -- 11/11/18
Immigration, Border, Deportation
As migrant caravan heads to Tijuana, ‘all contingencies on the table’ as feds plan for worst -- A slew of contingency plans are being hammered out before the first wave of potentially thousands of migrants arrive — from the worst-case scenario of a complete shutdown of cross-border travel to using military troops to fortify fences to adding staffing to process a flood of asylum claims at ports of entry. Kristina Davis and Kate Morrissey in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/11/18
Deployed Inside the United States: The Military Waits for the Migrant Caravan -- With little electricity, no combat pay and holidays away from home, the 5,600 American troops on the southwest border are on a mission ordered by a politically determined commander in chief and a Pentagon unable to convince him of its perils. Thomas Gibbons-Neff and Helene Cooper in the New York Times -- 11/11/18
Guns
Gunman who killed 12 died from self-inflicted gunshot -- Ian David Long, a 28-year-old ex-Marine machine-gunner, fatally shot 11 people at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks and a police officer who responded just before midnight Wednesday. The officer exchanged gunfire with Long, who was found dead at the scene. Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press -- 11/11/18
POTUS 45
Miriam Adelson gave the GOP millions. Trump is giving her the Medal of Freedom -- President Trump on Saturday named seven individuals who will receive the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, next week — a list that includes a GOP mega-donor. Michael Brice-Saddler in the Washington Post -- 11/11/18
Critics rail after Trump cancels visit to U.S. military cemetery outside Paris, citing weather -- The White House said President Trump and the first lady scuttled plans due to bad weather, but the sight of other world leaders at other sites outside Paris led analysts to speculate that Trump just wasn’t up for it. David Nakamura, Seung Min Kim and James McAuley in the Washington Post -- 11/11/18
-- Saturday Updates
Camp Fire could threaten Oroville on Saturday night, Cal Fire says -- With high winds expected Saturday night, Cal Fire has positioned crews to the south of the Camp Fire in an attempt to prevent it from reaching Lake Oroville, and possibly jumping into the city. Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/10/18
Winds whip deadly Camp Fire in Butte County to 100,000 acres -- Strong winds caused the deadly Camp Fire in Butte County to grow overnight to 100,000 acres, or 156 square miles, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported early Saturday. Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/10/18
Southern California fire burns mobile homes, Malibu mansions -- Two people were found dead and scores of houses from ranch homes to celebrities’ mansions burned in a pair of wildfires that stretched across more than 100 square miles of Southern California, authorities said Saturday. Jonathan J. Cooper and Andrew Dalton Associated Press -- 11/10/18
‘Nothing here’: Returning to rubble in Northern California -- The air thick with smoke from a ferocious wildfire that was still burning homes Saturday, residents who stayed behind to try to save their property or who managed to get back to their neighborhoods in Northern California found cars incinerated and homes reduced to rubble. Gillian Flaccus, Don Thompson and Paul Elias Associated Press -- 11/10/18
Trump's erroneous claims about cause of California fires don't add up -- President Trump on Saturday once again attacked California during destructive wildfires, using erroneous claims. He said poor forest management policies caused the fires plaguing the state, even though the massive Woolsey fire didn’t occur in a forest. The Woolsey fire started near Simi Valley in a hillside area next to the old Santa Susana Field Lab and quickly spread into nearby suburban communities. The item is in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/18
Trump fans flames by blaming wildfires on California, threatening to withhold federal funds -- With a quarter-million Californians evacuated from their homes and wildfires so far claiming nine lives, President Donal Trump today took to Twitter and inflamed tensions—blaming California for causing the fires by mismanaging its forests and threatening to cut off federal funds. Julie Cart Calmatters -- 11/10/18
California’s most destructive wildfire should not have come as a surprise -- Both burned their way into the record books by searing areas that have burned before — and will undoubtedly burn again. Bettina Boxall and Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/18
Fires are dangerously polluting California's air. Some cities are handing out masks -- Many Californians, some as many as a hundred miles from a fire, report thick, gray air in their neighborhoods. School was canceled in some areas because of the smoke, as the danger is worse in places where smoke is visible. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/10/18
Stars join thousands waiting to learn wildfire’s damage toll -- Rich or not, famous or not, there was no reprieve Saturday from the California wildfires sweeping through towns as different as the star-filled oceanside enclave of Malibu and the modest communities nearby and in the state’s north. Lynn Elber Associated Press -- 11/10/18
Harley Rouda declares victory over 30-year Congressman Dana Rohrabacher -- Harley Rouda has declared victory in a hotly contested California race against Dana Rohrabacher, the Republican dubbed “Putin’s favorite congressman” who is approaching his 30th year in office. Bryan Anderson in the Sacramento Bee -- 11/10/18
Voters give another multi-billion-dollar thumbs up to school bonds -- Election results may still be in flux throughout California, but on school spending, one trend is clear: Once again, voters appear to have given a hearty thumbs up to borrowing for local school improvements, with nearly $12 billion in new bond measures on track to being approved. Ricardo Cano Calmatters -- 11/10/18