Updating . .
Nipsey Hussle ‘was a protector.’ His parents and girlfriend Lauren London speak out -- In the days since rapper and community activist Nipsey Hussle was gunned down outside of his clothing store Sunday, his loved ones have taken comfort in each other, huddling, as they have for years, at Hussle’s grandmother’s house in South L.A. Angel Jennings in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/19
As Trump presses immigration crackdown, Santa Clara reconsiders sanctuary policy -- The slaying of a San Jose woman in her home, allegedly by an undocumented immigrant with prior arrests, has become a test of Santa Clara County’s sanctuary policy, throwing into question how far local leaders should go with such measures — and at what cost. Tatiana Sanchez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
Last major San Francisco Transbay tower, affordable housing at risk of delays -- A Transbay district tower that would fund more than 300 affordable housing units at no cost to the city could be held up for years, a potential victim of San Francisco’s cap on the approval of new office space and the flood of big South of Market projects lining up for permits. J.K. Dineen and Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
Some wealthy parents cut deals, others fight on in college admissions scandal -- In a busy week in the college admissions scandal, some accused parents have decided to cooperate with prosecutors. One couple that balked, however, has been indicted with an added charge of money laundering, indicating the government is ready to wield more charges as leverage. Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/19
With talent scarce, some firms offer ‘returnships’ to sidelined professionals -- But with the unemployment rate near record lows in the Bay Area — it’s 2.5 percent or below in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties — some employers are reaching out to people who have exited the labor market to care for kids or other family members. Kathleen Pender in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
Williams-Sonoma ‘prepared for the worst’ as China trade war continues -- The San Francisco home-goods company is one of several firms moving manufacturing operations out of China in anticipation of tariff hikes. Shwanika Narayan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
Lopez: Inglewood is gentrifying fast, but this girls’ softball team faces bleak conditions -- Several hundred yards away from the site where billions of dollars are being plowed into a new stadium for the Rams and Chargers, athletic field conditions are bad and getting worse at Morningside High School in Inglewood. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/19
DA clears four San Jose cops in fatal Christmas Day shooting of woman mistaken for suspect -- Four San Jose police officers who shot and killed a woman in a car on Christmas morning, after mistaking her for a suspect in an earlier shooting, will not face criminal charges, according to a report released Friday by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. Robert Salonga in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/6/19
Arsonist targets two Victorian house fires, blocks apart, in midtown Sacramento -- Two homes under renovation in midtown Sacramento, blocks away from each other, were set ablaze three hours apart early Saturday in what authorities believe was arson. Molly Sullivan in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/6/19
Glendale puts its natural gas plant back on the table — while LA, others back away from fossil fuels -- Just two months after Los Angeles announced it would not repower three natural gas-fired electric plants and instead move toward renewable energy, the city of Glendale is reigniting old plans for refurbishing its electricity plant using fossil fuels. Steve Scauzillo in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 4/6/19
Piles of cash, nearly $2 million in bitcoin seized in Sacramento darknet drug crackdown -- Federal officials in Sacramento announced a new round of indictments Friday aimed at disrupting the sale of opioids nationwide through marketplaces set up on the darknet, a portion of the internet that uses encryption to shield users from law enforcement. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/6/19
Willie Brown: It may be time to kiss Joe Biden goodbye -- It’s make-it-or-break-it time for Joe Biden’s presidential bid, and he hasn’t even formally entered the race. “Uncle Joe,” as the 76-year-old former vice president is called, finds himself accused of physical contact with women who didn’t welcome it. Willie Brown in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
Abcarian: Trump’s threat roils Calexico, where a border closure could spell disaster -- A giant inflatable baby Trump floated over the crowd of protesters who gathered Friday morning here at the Mexican border, next to the new outlet mall that was supposed to bring salvation to this economically depressed city. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/19
2020 Democrats grapple with immigration message as border crossings surge -- Aside from condemning President Trump’s immigration policies, Democrats and especially those running for president have largely avoided presenting their own border security policies to voters. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
California Policy & Politics This Morning
PG&E replacing all board members who were around for San Bruno blast -- PG&E Corp.’s decision to overhaul its board of directors stems most directly from two years of catastrophic wildfires, but the changes are ushering in a milestone related to an older incident: the 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
California sues Trump administration over rollback of emissions standards -- California’s Air Resources Board sued the Trump administration Friday for information that might support the federal government’s claim that its proposed weakening of auto emissions standards would save lives. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva reinstates four more fired deputies -- Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has reinstated at least six deputies who were previously discharged, according to county documents obtained by The Times. Villanueva has previously defended his department’s decisions to rehire two deputies fired for misconduct — one accused of assaulting and harassing a woman and lying about it, the other for using unreasonable force during an arrest. Maya Lau and Matt Stiles in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/19
Doctors demand UCSF break ties with Catholic hospitals over abortion, trans care -- More than 1,500 doctors and hospital staff have signed a petition opposing the partnership between UCSF and Catholic Dignity Health, as San Francisco’s public medical center expects to expand its affiliation with the faith-based organization. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
Private medical school asked Elk Grove to provide financing for $750M hospital, emails show -- In the months leading up to announcing a controversial $750 million hospital, California Northstate University frequently met with Elk Grove officials to discuss plans and at one point asked the city to provide “permanent financing through bonds” for its development, according to recently released city emails. Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/6/19
Solar project developer lined pockets with public dollars, City of Industry suit alleges -- The company behind a failed solar project on Tres Hermanos Ranch was a “sham” set up to siphon public funds for personal use by its owners, a new lawsuit filed by the City of Industry alleges. Jason Henry in the Orange County Register -- 4/6/19
Fresno County weighing new restrictions on employees who seek elected office -- Fresno County is considering a new rule that would require most county employees to take unpaid leave – up to four months in an election year – when they seek elected office, according to an early draft of the rule obtained by The Bee. Rory Appleton in the Fresno Bee -- 4/6/19
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Bay Area horse facility owner housed H-2B visa workers in stables, investigation finds -- The owner of a prestigious Bay Area horse training facility for years housed visa workers in stables without running water, failed to adequately compensate them and collected kickbacks from their visa fees, according to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/6/19
Transit
Falling concrete closes lanes of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Again. -- The California Highway Patrol issued a Sig-alert Friday afternoon after concrete once again fell from the upper deck of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge onto the deck below. Alix Martichoux in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
Assemblyman calls for new Richmond-San Rafael Bridge after second mishap -- “Enough with the Band-Aids — let’s have a bridge that will last for generations,” said Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, who was sitting in traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge on Friday afternoon. He had gone to lunch with his parents in Walnut Creek, then taken a circuitous route back to Marin to avoid the troubled span. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
Another state legislator is trying to block Orange County’s toll road agency from building new roadways -- A bill proposed in the state Legislature would block any new major projects by Orange County’s tollway agency, including an extension of the 241 toll road. If the bill were to pass, the Transportation Corridor Agencies would be kept from building any new bridges or toll roads after Jan. 1, 2020, and from issuing new bonds to finance projects. Jeong Park in the Orange County Register -- 4/6/19
Amtrak added a train to Sacramento for commuters in Modesto area. What went wrong? -- Low ridership is forcing Amtrak to suspend a train that gets San Joaquin Valley residents to Sacramento at the start of the business day. The train will no longer run as of May 6, a year after it debuted with the hope of taking Amtrak beyond its emphasis on leisure travelers in the Valley. John Holland in the Modesto Bee -- 4/6/19
Wildfire
The farmer that saw his budding California tea farm go up in smoke -- Mike Fritts planted California’s first commercial tea farm, located outside Paradise. His first oolongs were good enough to sell at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Then the fire destroyed everything. Or so he thought. Jonathan Kauffman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
2017 Wall Fire in Butte County sparked by failed electrical panel at residence, Cal Fire says -- Cal Fire investigators have determined the Wall Fire, a July 2017 wildfire that destroyed more than 40 homes and damaged dozens of other structures in Butte County, was caused by a defective electrical panel at a residence, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Friday. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/6/19
Education
State lawmakers consider banning Teach For America members from most high-poverty schools -- Education committee members in the state Assembly voted last week in favor of a bill that would prevent certain California public schools from hiring or paying for educators provided by third-party organizations. Lauryn Schroeder in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/6/19
Fresno Unified says the situation for its African American students is a state of emergency -- Fresno State associate professor Jenelle Pitt says she understands the point first-hand. Pitt recently told the school board about her experience with how a Fresno Unified transitional kindergarten teacher dealt with her then-4-year-old son. Aleksandra Appleton in the Fresno Bee -- 4/6/19
Cannabis
Marijuana home deliveries challenged by California cities in new lawsuit -- Twenty-four California cities and one county are suing the state to strike down a regulation that allows marijuana retailers to deliver products to residents in their communities without local permits. Adam Ashton and Jim Guy in the Sacramento Bee$ Brooke Staggs in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 4/6/19
Proposed state law would allow cannabis use in health care facilities -- Senate Bill 305 -- Ryan’s Law: Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis in Heathcare Facilities Act -- will begin the lengthy process of possibly becoming state law next week. J. Harry Jones in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/6/19
Health
California’s first surgeon general prioritizes children and addressing health disparities -- Addressing the adverse physical and mental repercussions of childhood trauma has been the highlight of Dr. Nadine Burke Harris’s career as a pediatrician. And it’s an issue that will take center stage during her tenure as California’s first-ever surgeon general. Deepa Bharath in the Orange County Register -- 4/6/19
Environment
San Jose: New bill aims to preserve Coyote Valley for future generations -- Decades after it first began, the push to preserve Coyote Valley is gaining new momentum. State Assemblyman Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, on Friday held a gathering with environmental groups and others to outline a new bill that would create a state-recognized Coyote Valley Conservation Program aimed at preserving the region’s open space. Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/6/19
Also . . .
LAPD to scrap some crime data programs after criticism -- Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore plans to scrap a controversial program that uses data to identify individuals who are most likely to commit violent crimes, bowing to criticism included in an audit and by privacy groups. Mark Puente in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/19
Walnut Creek cop falsified 31 police reports, kept job -- A police officer who once won his department’s “Top Cop” award was nearly fired in 2017 for losing and misfiling evidence in 35 criminal cases and often lying about his actions, records released late Friday show. Thomas Peele in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/6/19
7.1 tons of cocaine unloaded from Alameda-based Coast Guard ship -- The crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, who are based in Alameda along with the ship, unloaded 14,300 pounds of cocaine from the ship on Friday in San Diego, according to the Coast Guard. The cocaine was seized in international waters off of the Eastern Pacific Ocean from between February to late March. Drew Costley in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
Six guards charged with child abuse, assault over unreasonable use of pepper spray -- According to the charges brought by L.A. County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey, the officers assigned to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall were unreasonable in the way that they used the spray or prevented the detainees from being able to properly clear their skin and eyes of the chemical. Matt Stiles in the Los Angeles Times$ Jonah Valdez in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 4/6/19
State finance officials request $1 million to pay Briggs’ legal fees in lawsuit against Coastal Commission -- The state will pay more than $1 million in legal fees to San Diego lawyer Cory Briggs, who successfully sued members of the Coastal Commission for failing to properly disclose private meetings with people who had interests pending before the commission, according to the state’s Department of Finance. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/6/19
POTUS 45
Trump visits his for-profit golf course during California trip for dinner with son, local officials -- President Trump visited his for-profit golf course in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., on Friday night. He was expected to attend a dinner with his son Eric Trump, the city council and dozens of friends and supporters, according to one person who was told about the gathering. David A. Fahrenthold and Jonathan O'Connell in the Washington Post$ -- 4/6/19
Beltway
Joe Biden steps on his ‘I get it’ message -- Joe Biden still doesn’t get it, said longtime women’s rights activist Shaunna Thomas. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/6/19
-- Friday Updates
Head of California Air National Guard removed amid allegations of cover-up and retaliation -- Maj. Gen. Clay L. Garrison, the top commander of the California Air National Guard, was relieved of command this week for being unable to “maintain a positive command climate,” guard officials announced Friday. Alene Tchekmedyian and Paul Pringle in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/5/19
PG&E’s incoming CEO once ran another utility for less than one day. He got $44 million -- The next chief executive of PG&E Corp. has spent the better part of three decades working for large electric companies, so he comes to his new job with a wealth of experience — and baggage that is already generating criticism in California. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/5/19
Nipsey Hussle was one victim among many as South L.A. violence takes its toll -- Compared with the calm at the beginning of the year, the recent rise in homicides and shootings was more of a return to an unfortunate norm than anything out of the ordinary — a steady drumbeat of death and injury primarily afflicting black and Latino men in the poorest parts of the city. Nicole Santa Cruz and Cindy Chang in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/5/19
‘MAGA’ hat-wearing swordsman in San Francisco arrested, bail set at $1 million, police say -- A man who allegedly drew a sword and slashed another man after having his “Make America Great Again” hat knocked off was arrested near his home in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, authorities said Thursday. Matthias Gafni, Lauren Hernández and Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/5/19
Palo Alto woman sparks furor by berating man wearing MAGA hat -- A Palo Alto woman’s tirade against a 74-year-old man wearing a Make America Great Again hat inside a Starbucks has sparked a social media firestorm and national debate about whether her actions reflect this country’s political divide or simply epitomize out-of-bounds extremism. Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/5/19
California seeks injunction against border wall declaration ahead of Trump visit -- Hours before President Trump’s visit to the border fence in California, state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said Friday he is seeking a preliminary junction challenging Trump’s national emergency declaration that seeks funding to expand the barrier. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ Hannah Wiley and Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/5/19
5 misconceptions about the U.S.-Mexico border -- Is Trump able to shut down the southern border with Mexico? Will building a wall stop the flow of drugs? Is there an actual crisis at the border? We separate misconception from fact. The item is in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/5/19
Federal judge in Maryland blocks Trump’s administration plan to add citizenship question to 2020 Census -- The ruling, by Judge George J. Hazel of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in Greenbelt, found that the government violated adminstrative law. It is the third strike against the Trump administration over the question and, like the other two, will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court. Tara Bahrampour in the Washington Post$ -- 4/5/19
Sports, gifted programs could face cuts in Sac City Unified budget crisis, board told -- Emotions ran high at the Sacramento City Unified school board meeting Thursday night as members heard that key programs such as sports and Gifted and Talented Education could be cut if the district fails to close a $35 million budget gap. Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/5/19
Alex Villanueva says he is just ‘assuming the proper role’ of an elected sheriff -- Since taking office in December, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has faced criticism over his decision to reinstate Caren Carl Mandoyan, a deputy fired over allegations of domestic violence and lying to internal investigators. He and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors are now locked in a court fight over who has the ultimate authority over personnel decisions at the Sheriff’s Department. Matt Stiles in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/5/19
BART’s next stop is Silicon Valley, but delayed line faces new complication -- Riders have waited decades for BART to roll into Silicon Valley. Now, an ongoing financial negotiation stands in the way of the opening. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/5/19
California cities sue state over home deliveries of pot -- In the first significant challenge to California’s open cannabis market, 24 cities that restrict pot sales sued Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration Thursday, arguing that by allowing home deliveries in their city limits, the state is violating 2016’s Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/5/19
LAX expansion plans call for a new terminal east of Sepulveda Boulevard -- Documents released Thursday by Los Angeles airport officials call for an expansion and reorganization of the nation’s second-busiest airport, including changes to existing runways and the construction of a passenger terminal east of Sepulveda Boulevard. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/5/19
High-profile lawyer admits guilt and defends his daughter in college admissions scandal -- A high-profile attorney who was charged in the college admissions scandal said Friday he will plead guilty and defended his teenage daughter in a public statement, saying she was unaware of the scheme and “has been hurt the most by it.” Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/5/19
SFSU says $25 million crypto-gift is largest of its kind -- San Francisco State University’s business school will benefit from a huge new donation of $25 million — though no check is in the mail. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/5/19
With a New UC Campus and More Jobs, Merced Is Booming. But That Growth Isn’t for Everyone -- For many Merced families it is tough to make ends meet. Forty-three percent of all babies and toddlers in this county live in poverty. Merced is booming, but it hasn’t reached everyone. Deepa Fernandes KQED -- 4/5/19
L.A. takes more heat for spending millions of dollars cleaning up homeless camps -- Ansar was part of a protest by a coalition of homeless activists and health and housing providers, who called on L.A. to redirect the millions of dollars spent on police-led sanitation sweeps each year toward showers, water fountains, bathrooms, trash collection and regularly scheduled cleanups for people living in the city’s many street camps. Gale Holland in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/5/19
Knight: As San Francisco’s economy thrives, gap grows between whites and residents of color -- In a city with an annual budget of more than $11 billion, small homes selling for $1.5 million and “Help Wanted” signs in every other window, it’s clear that San Francisco’s economy is booming. But it’s also obvious the prosperity is leaving many residents behind. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/5/19
Is there a doctor on board? On airplanes, it’s asked more often than you might think -- Rep. Raul Ruiz’s old job can be a plane ride away – or half a ride, or just a minute or so into boarding. Ruiz is a physician. Before being elected to Congress in 2012, Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, worked as an emergency room doctor, helping people with all manner of maladies and trauma, often in first-responder style situations. And because his new career — politics — requires so much air travel, Ruiz has never really left his old career behind. Jeff Horseman in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 4/5/19
Instagram or Twitter account hacked? Good luck -- Your Instagram has been hacked. Who are you going to call? There’s nobody to call. This is true of most tech giants’ free services. Levi Sumagaysay in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/5/19
Fox: Electric Scooters Data Collection a Prelude to Taxes? -- As electric scooters become more prevalent around the state they face government regulation including the ability to collect data on the scooter’s use. While the data collection is controversial enough because it could reveal user’s personal habits, the problems related to scooter use and convenient data collection also could set up a scooter tax. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 4/5/19