Updating . .
Synagogue got US security grant before attack -- A gunman fired his semi-automatic rifle at Jewish worshippers after walking through a Southern California synagogue’s open front door, a spot that synagogue leaders determined last year needed improved security. The Chabad of Poway synagogue applied for a federal grant to install gates and more secure doors to better protect that area. The $150,000 was approved in September but only got awarded in late March. Julie Watson and Don Thompson Associated Press -- 5/2/19
Poway synagogue shooting captured on video, prosecutors say, as they describe attack -- Prosecutors say the suspect, John T. Earnest, legally purchased the weapon used in the attack, which was captured on surveillance video. He has pleaded not guilty. Authorities have not yet determined whether he will face the death penalty. The item is in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/2/19
PG&E profits drop drastically because of Camp Fire, bankruptcy -- The parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said Thursday that its net income in the first quarter of this year plummeted 69 percent to $136 million, from $442 million a year earlier. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/2/19
California wildfire dilemma: Can the state keep bailing out counties ravaged by disaster? -- As embers were dying from the cataclysmic 2018 wildfire season, Gov. Gavin Newsom and California legislators rushed in with tens of millions of dollars in bailout funds for Butte and other counties to keep fire-ravaged areas afloat until they can rebuild their tax base. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/2/19
Google’s employee rebellion expands with same-day actions on two fronts -- Google workers angry about the firm’s employment practices and its handling of internal criticism held two protest actions Wednesday, fighting forced arbitration and alleged retaliation against organizers of a massive walkout in November. At one protest site, there were “tears and talk of unions,” according to an organizer. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/2/19
These Chinese parents paid $1.2 million to get their daughter into Yale. Are they victims of college admissions scam? -- Sherry Guo came to California five years ago, a teenager from China with dreams of attending an elite university. Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/2/19
Prescription drugs cost 14% more in San Francisco than national average -- Prescription drugs cost 14% more in San Francisco compared to the national average, making it the second most expensive U.S. city for prescription medications, according to an analysis released Thursday by GoodRx, a website that tracks prescription drug prices. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/2/19
California tap water may increase risk of cancer, study says -- How healthy is your tap water? Just as more of us are trying to boost our water intake, a new study says that drinking California tap water may increase the number of cancer cases statewide by more than 15,000 over the course of a lifetime. Karen D’Souza in the San Jose Mercury$ Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/2/19
Blueprint to battle Bay Area sea-level rise focuses on natural solutions -- A blueprint outlining how San Francisco Bay communities should combat sea-level rise was released early Thursday by ecosystem scientists and urban planners who envision a ring of man-made reefs, rocky beaches and graded marshlands around the largest estuary on the Pacific coast. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/2/19
Forecast calls for busy wildfire season along West Coast -- Most of the country can expect a normal wildfire season but residents along the West Coast of the United States should be ready for another busy season, the National Interagency Fire Center said Wednesday. Nicholas K. Geranios in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/2/19
Sharks the length of a small bus are showing up off Ventura and some say that's great news -- About the length of a small bus, one of the world's biggest sharks may be making a comeback off Ventura. After basking sharks all but disappeared decades ago, people had reported some sightings off the coast in recent years. Then, this spring, those numbers started to climb. Cheri Carlson in the Ventura County Star -- 5/2/19
Reform capitalism or face revolution, billionaires are told at Milken Conference -- The gathering of billionaires, hedge fund managers and other financial industry professionals who converged on the Beverly Hilton hotel largely had a particular end in mind: how to increase their alpha, which, not to get too complicated, means improving their investment returns. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/2/19
Borenstein: Oakland A’s private ballpark will be taxpayer-subsidized -- The Oakland A’s, after claiming the team would privately finance its new ballpark, could receive a taxpayer subsidy worth tens of millions of dollars. Once again, government officials are preparing to spend public money to try to keep a professional sports team under the false rationale that it would boost the local economy. Dan Borenstein in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/2/19
Taylor: A homeless Oakland couple moved into a $4 million Piedmont home. Then came the calls to police -- Greg Dunston and Marie McKinzie lived on Oakland’s streets for almost 10 years, pushing their carts around with all their belongings and sleeping in the doorway of an Alameda County building. But for the past three months, the couple have lived among the wealthy — on a nearly $4 million property in one of the Bay Area’s most exclusive neighborhoods in Piedmont. The homeowner, Terrence McGrath, did something few in his position would dare do: He opened his doors to homeless people in need. Otis R. Taylor Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/2/19
Fox: The Power of Single Family Homeowners and SB 50 -- If single family homeowners’ power can be harnessed it could mean the end of SB 50, the controversial bill designed to grant state authority to override local zoning laws in order to build high-density housing near transit lines. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 5/2/19
Facebook Bans Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos, Other Far-Right Figures -- Facebook Inc. said it’s banning a number of controversial far-right figures, including Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos and Laura Loomer, for violating the social-media company’s policies on hate speech and promoting violence. Kurt Wagner Bloomberg -- 5/2/19
California Policy & Politics This Morning
SDG&E takes its long-running dispute over wildfire costs to U.S. Supreme Court -- After being rebuffed by state regulators and two California courts, San Diego Gas & Electric has taken its years-long quest to be reimbursed for hundreds of millions of dollars in 2007 wildfire costs to the U.S. Supreme Court. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/2/19
California’s high-speed rail might start with old-school diesel trains -- The cost of getting high-speed trains up and running in the Central Valley is expected to jump $1.8 billion, California rail officials said Wednesday, but they have a plan to weather that increase — and it may include starting service with slower diesel trains. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/2/19
High-speed rail costs rise $1.8 billion in Central Valley -- Californians will have to shell out an additional $1.8 billion to complete the 119-mile stretch of tracks for the state’s first bullet train through the Central Valley, bringing the cost to $12.4 billion, according to a report released Wednesday by the state’s High Speed Rail Authority. Erin Baldassari in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/2/19
On California high-speed rail project, Newsom to scale back consultants but push ahead -- The California bullet train authority, despite spiraling cost increases, schedule delays and technical snafus over the last five years, told the Legislature on Wednesday it has a solid plan to build an operating segment in the Central Valley that would economically transform the region. Ralph Vartabedian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/2/19
San Diego County Board of Supervisors waded into Sacramento’s fight over a bill that would change when police deadly force is justified -- At an emotional meeting Tuesday, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors heard from family members of people shot by police and dozens of others who support a proposed state assembly bill which would raise legal standards for police use of deadly force. Charles T. Clark in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/2/19
Ex-BART cop said he was ‘fighting for my life’ with Oscar Grant before shooting; report says that was a lie -- A former BART police officer who pulled Oscar Grant from a train 10 years ago and ordered his arrest before a second officer fatally shot Grant in the back lied repeatedly to investigators, telling them he felt he was “fighting for my life” when in fact he was the aggressor in the notorious incident, according to a newly released report. Matthias Gafni in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/2/19
Chevron, PG&E and the ACLU are spending big to influence California politicians -- Companies and interest groups spent $86 million to influence lawmakers and other state officials in the first quarter of 2019, with oil companies and utilities among the top spenders, according to forms filed with the state ahead of a Tuesday midnight deadline. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/2/19
Kamala Harris just got a campaign assist from Donald Trump’s attorney general -- Kamala Harris’ most memorable moments during her short Senate career have come during nationally televised committee hearings with leading Trump administration officials. So the California senator and her 2020 presidential campaign came prepared for Attorney General William Barr’s testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/2/19
Newsom says new California commission will address jobs threatened by automation -- Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday that California must take action to prepare for an inevitable wave of job losses due to the rapid rise of automation and advances in technology, an economic transformation that will affect millions of workers over the next decade. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/2/19
Gov. Newsom Creates Commission To Study Future Of Work (And Struggles To Change A Light Bulb) -- How many governors does it take to change a light bulb? Just one, apparently, but California Gov. Gavin Newsom struggled to change a pair of long, narrow fluorescent office lights while perched atop a ladder as a janitor showed him how. Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 5/2/19
Skelton: Newsom says he has a fresh approach to California’s longtime water woes -- At first blush, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest action on water seems fanciful and naive. But it has logic and conceivably could work. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/2/19
Thousands of California Homeowners Still Waiting on FEMA for Seismic Retrofit Money -- Homeowners waiting for retrofits under the state’s Earthquake Brace and Bolt program are stuck in limbo while federal funding for this year’s program is tied up in red tape. That has put thousands of planned retrofits on hold. Craig Miller KQED -- 5/2/19
Prosecutors to Audit Fresno Catholic Diocese Files for Potential Sex Abuse Cases -- District attorney offices throughout the Central Valley are banding together to audit the Catholic Diocese of Fresno’s review of its own records for cases of possible sexual abuse, according to Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno. At least seven counties, including Fresno and Kern, have agreed to review files or receive cases for prosecution in their jurisdictions. Alexandra Hall KQED -- 5/2/19
Defense in Ghost Ship Trial Asserts Evidence Will Show Arson as Cause of Deadly Fire -- The defense in the trial of two men charged with 36 counts each of involuntary manslaughter in the deadly December 2016 Ghost Ship fire wrapped up opening statements Wednesday, reasserting that evidence will show arson was the cause of the blaze. Don Clyde KQED Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/2/19
California law barring adult prosecution of youths under 16 is upheld -- A state appeals court has rejected a challenge to a new California law prohibiting the prosecution of 14- and 15-year-olds in adult court, where they could be sentenced to as long as life in prison. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/2/19
After Poway synagogue attack, San Franciscans gather in remembrance of Holocaust -- The Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, event at the Jewish Community Center in San Francisco featured a talk by the Rev. Patrick Desbois, a French Catholic priest whose organization locates the sites of Nazi-era mass graves in Eastern Europe and interviews eyewitnesses to the executions — primarily villagers who were spectators or those who took clothes and possessions from the dead. Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/2/19
The alleged synagogue shooter was a churchgoer who talked Christian theology, raising tough questions for evangelical pastors -- Before he allegedly walked into a synagogue in Poway, Calif., and opened fire, John Earnest appears to have written a seven-page letter spelling out his core beliefs: that Jewish people, guilty in his view of faults ranging from killing Jesus to controlling the media, deserved to die. That his intention to kill Jews would glorify God. Julie Zauzmer in the Washington Post$ -- 5/2/19
As Ramadan approaches, Southern California Muslim communities take extra security precautions following string of attacks -- Beginning Sunday, armed guards will be stationed at the Islamic Center of Northridge. The mosque, one of the largest serving the San Fernando Valley Muslims, have hired guards over the month-long Ramadan observance for several years. The guns, however, are a new addition. Ariella Plachta in the Orange County Register -- 5/2/19
Long Beach terror plot case highlights new challenges for investigators as online recruiting grows -- The Southern California man accused of plotting a bomb attack at a Long Beach rally last weekend fit the profile of other extremists bent on violence over the past two decades, counter-terrorism experts said Wednesday. But Mark Domingo also represents a new threat of deep concern to terrorism investigators — the growing use of online forums and other internet tools to link isolated, frustrated young people with extremist groups. Josh Cain in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/2/19
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
California’s population growth is the slowest in recorded history -- Ethan Sharygin, a demographer with the state, said researchers had expected to find a decline in the birthrate but were surprised to see such a large change. One reason for the shift, he said, is the decline in immigrants from Mexico paired with an increase in Asian immigrants. Javier Panzar and Sarah Parvini in the Los Angeles Times$ Bryan Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/2/19
Google workers protest ‘culture of retaliation’ with sit-in -- It’s unclear how many employees participated in the sit-in, but organizer Meredith Whittaker tweeted that hundreds of people protested at the New York office Wednesday morning. The demonstration comes six months after thousands of workers at Google offices around the world walked out to protest how the company handled sexual misconduct claims. Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/2/19
Resident physicians, state senator urge UCD Health to recognize their union -- State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo rallied Wednesday alongside physician residents and fellows at the UC Davis Medical Center, urging UCD Health’s leaders to recognize the union that residents voted to represent them: the Committee of Interns and Residents. Cathie Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/2/19
L.A. County approves Tejon Ranch project, despite critics’ concern over the environment -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this week approved a 19,333-home Tejon Ranch development in the Antelope Valley, overruling environmental critics who say it will damage sensitive habitats and add to the region’s burden of commuter traffic and greenhouse gas emissions. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/2/19
Transit
LA wants Waze to stop sending drivers down small side streets -- With Angelenos from Encino to Echo Park complaining of a rise in disruptive cut-through traffic on residential streets, Los Angeles officials are trying to secure new data-sharing agreements with companies like Waze and Google Maps. Elijah Chiland Curbed LA -- 5/2/19
Caltrans inspecting troubled stretch of I-80 freeway after concrete falls -- Caltrans crews are inspecting an elevated section of Interstate 80 where a chunk of concrete broke off Tuesday night, falling 25 feet onto a street in SoMa. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/2/19
New roads throughout Southern California are not for cars but come at the cost of traffic lanes -- One alternative to building new roads — which California transportation experts have found only make congestion worse — are bicycle roads, separated from automobile traffic via permanent barriers and controlled by traffic signals. Steve Scauzillo in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/2/19
Homeless
Freight containers to be re-purposed for homeless shelter in Buena Park, part of new construction trend -- The city joins the cutting-edge trend of turning shipping containers into homes, businesses, libraries and classrooms by tapping Crate Modular, which specializes in container conversions, to work with its construction contractor, Griffin Structures, to build a facility for about 150 people several blocks north of Knott’s Berry Farm. Susan Christian Goulding in the Orange County Register -- 5/2/19
Housing
Amid the housing NIMBYs and YIMBYs, meet PIMBYs—“Parents in my Backyard” -- Paul Boehm wasn’t sure how his daughter would react to the idea of moving into her childhood backyard. Matt Levin Calmatters -- 5/2/19
Wildfire
PG&E offers $105 million in ‘wildfire assistance’ -- Facing intense criticism over the 2017 and 2018 wildfires, PG&E on Wednesday offered to create a $105 million fund to help fire survivors with living expenses. The proposal requires approval in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ Marisa Lagos KQED George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/2/19
Deadly wildfires drove an exodus from California cities last year, new report shows -- Wildfires drove an exodus from hard-hit California cities last year, shifting tens of thousands of residents from Paradise, Redding and Malibu to other communities, according to state population estimates released on Wednesday. The Camp Fire in Butte County, which killed 85 people, did the most damage. It destroyed 11,371 housing units in Paradise and wiped out 90 percent of the city’s residences. Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ Scott Rodd Capital Public Radio -- 5/2/19
Education
Michelle Obama, celebrities in tow, brings words of inspiration to students at UCLA -- Former First Lady Michelle Obama, who was told by her high school counselor that she wasn’t Ivy League material but went on to Princeton and Harvard anyway, urged thousands of students to follow her lead on Wednesday during a high-energy appearance at UCLA. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/2/19
Controversial charter school director avoids jail after fraud charges dropped -- A former Oakland charter school director known for boosting student test scores through humiliation and harsh discipline has avoided jail time following a six-year federal investigation into allegations of fraud. Ben Chavis, who ran the American Indian Model Schools, will spend one year on probation and pay a $100 fine in a plea deal with federal investigators, according to court documents. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/2/19
Should California Teachers Who Get Seriously Ill Have to Pay for Their Own Subs? -- A San Francisco public school teacher who is fighting a serious illness will have the cost of her replacement — a substitute — deducted from her paycheck while on she is out on extended sick leave. This law in the California Education Code was crafted by the state legislature and the Governor back in the early 1970s. Julia McEvoy KQED -- 5/2/19
SDSU vigil remembers Poway victim, marks Holocaust Remembrance Day -- As students, faculty members, area residents and people of different faiths gathered around him at San Diego State University on Wednesday, Rabbi Scott Meltzer offered a unifying message and a prayer of healing following the Chabad of Poway shooting four days earlier. Gary Warth in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/2/19
Deadly attacks give special relevance to new SDSU course on understanding evil -- She wants her course to be timely. But Angela Feres had a pained look Wednesday when she stepped before her students at San Diego State University to talk about the nature of evil. “This is another sad day,” said Feres, a religious studies professor. “There have been so many lately.” Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/2/19
Infants and toddlers the most undercounted in census; California wants to change that -- Children under 5 years old are more likely to be left uncounted for multiple reasons. Adults don’t always realize that infants and toddlers should be counted in the census and if small children split time between two or more homes, family members often aren’t sure in which home to count them. Zaidee Stavely EdSource -- 5/2/19
Immigration / Border
Trump wants $4.5 billion more in emergency funds for border assistance -- The White House asked Congress on Wednesday for $4.5 billion more in emergency funding to address a surge of migrants at the southern border. In doing so, the administration acknowledged that President Trump's emergency declaration to divert taxpayer money for a yet-to-be-built border wall cannot address the growing humanitarian challenge on the ground, which now requires additional government funding. Molly O'Toole in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/2/19
Health
Trump Administration Files Formal Request to Strike Down All of Obamacare -- The Trump administration formally declared its opposition to the entire Affordable Care Act on Wednesday, arguing in a federal appeals court filing that the signature Obama-era legislation was unconstitutional and should be struck down. Such a decision could end health insurance for some 21 million Americans and affect many millions more who benefit from the law’s protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions and required coverage for pregnancy, prescription drugs and mental health. Jan Hoffman and Abby Goodnough in the New York Times$ -- 5/2/19
Environment
San Francisco Bay: New plan to combat sea level rise -- There’s only one San Francisco Bay. But the Bay Area is made up of nine counties and 101 cities, each with its own politics, local rules and shorelines, differences that can make it complicated to figure out how to protect billions of dollars of highways, airports, sewage treatment plants, homes and offices from the rising seas, surging tides and extreme storms climate change is expected to bring in the years ahead. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/2/19
Do We Still Need To Protect Gray Wolves? Trump Administration Says No, Advocates Disagree -- The Trump administration wants to strip federal endangered species protections from gray wolves, even though a California judge ruled earlier this year that the they should remain protected in California. Ezra David Romero Capital Public Radio -- 5/2/19
Also . . .
San Francisco police tout use-of-force drop — no shootings for nearly a year -- San Francisco police report using force in 30% fewer cases three years after launching a sweeping reform effort following controversial killings that inflamed tension between officers and some communities they serve, officials said. The last police shooting in San Francisco came June 9, marking the start of the longest span without an officer-involved shooting in nearly two decades, Chief Bill Scott said. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/2/19
California Firefighter Who Saved Lives in Las Vegas Shooting to Be Honored -- Cal Fire apparatus engineer Chris Wetzel saved people's lives during the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, and California is about to present him with the state's highest honor for his heroic work the night of the massacre. Wetzel is among 13 state employees that will receive the Governor's State Employee Medal of Valor for acts of heroism during a ceremony at the California Highway Patrol Academy Thursday afternoon. Ted Goldberg KQED -- 5/2/19
Nazi-looted painting won’t be returned to California family, judge rules -- The back-and-forth legal drama over an Impressionist masterpiece that hangs in a Spanish museum has seemingly come to the end of the road for a San Diego family, which is left with nothing to show for their decade-long battle to reclaim the artwork they say was seized from them by Nazis 80 years ago. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/2/19
POTUS 45
As Biden Woos Labor, Trump Uses Twitter Barrage to Stake His Own Claim -- Two days after Joseph R. Biden Jr. defined his 2020 campaign as a mission to take back blue-collar voters, his close relationship with unions was already getting under the skin of President Trump, as the two men tussle over labor support in crucial Midwestern swing states. Trip Gabriel and Jonathan Martin in the New York Times$ -- 5/2/19
Beltway
Election security push stumbles amid White House resistance -- Senate Democrats and Republicans can agree on perhaps just one thing about special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation — that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. But bipartisan legislation to address foreign intrusions is all but dead amid a distinct lack of enthusiasm from Senate GOP leadership and the Trump White House. Marianne Levine and Tim Starks Politico -- 5/2/19
Who got tossed under the Bill Barr bus? -- Democrats repeatedly admonished Attorney General William Barr at a contentious Senate hearing Wednesday, accusing him of bias and lying, and even calling for his resignation. Barr’s response to many of those salvos? Throw others under the bus. Darren Samuelsohn and Josh Gerstein Politico -- 5/2/19
-- Wednesday Updates
Chinese family paid $6.5 million to the mastermind of the college admissions scandal for a spot at Stanford, sources say -- The family of a Chinese student admitted to Stanford paid $6.5 million to the consultant at the heart of the college admissions scandal, whom they met through a Morgan Stanley financial advisor, sources familiar with the case told The Times. Joel Rubin and Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/1/19
Hillsborough couple plead guilty in national college admissions scam -- Bruce Isackson, 61, president of Woodside real estate development firm WP Investments, and his wife, Davina Isackson, 55, were among 33 parents charged in the massive Operation Varsity Blues college admissions case federal prosecutors in Boston announced March 12. They are among 14 who agreed to plead guilty last month and the first from the Bay Area to plead guilty. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ Katie Dowd in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/1/19
Nipsey Hussle’s killing shook fans worldwide. It was one of 29 in South L.A. this year -- His death stirred an outpouring of grief worldwide, but he was one of 29 people who have lost their lives in the Los Angeles Police Department’s South Bureau so far this year. Almost all of the victims were black, male and died from gunfire. Some were killed standing on street corners. Others were in cars or hanging out with friends. Many left behind children. Nicole Santa Cruz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/1/19
Salesforce CEO Benioff donates $30 million to UCSF to study homelessness -- Tech billionaire Marc Benioff is once again tossing millions of dollars at homelessness — this time, a $30 million donation to start a new research institute at UC San Francisco called the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/1/19
BART Releases Report With New Details of Officers' Roles in Oscar Grant Killing -- More than a decade after the BART police killing of Oscar Grant, the transit agency has released a long-sealed report on a shooting that shocked the Bay Area, led to a rare criminal conviction for an officer's use of force and heralded a national movement for police accountability. Alex Emslie, Dan Brekke KQED -- 5/1/19
San Francisco planning big disaster-preparedness bond for next year’s ballot -- San Francisco officials are preparing a $628.5 million bond for the March 2020 ballot to bolster the city’s ability to respond to and recover from natural disasters. It’s a response to the slow-motion crisis of climate change and the ever-present threat of a major earthquake. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/1/19
More turnover at California pension board: Gavin Newsom appoints transgender woman to CalPERS -- Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Lisa Middleton, 66, of Palm Springs, to the seat representing local governments on the 13-member board, according to a Tuesday news release. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/1/19
California tech entrepreneur joins race to unseat Republican Rep. Tom McClintock -- The race to take on Republican Rep. Tom McClintock got a bit more crowded on Tuesday. Entrepreneur Brynne Kennedy, who recently relocated from San Francisco to Roseville, formally filed paperwork to challenge the conservative six-term congressman from Elk Grove. Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/1/19
State officials keep hiring their relatives. Will Newsom crack down on nepotism? -- Just before Robert O'Neill stepped down as director of the California Lottery, his agency hired his twin sons and his stepdaughter during one 17-day period. The daughter of Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) landed a job with the state Board of Equalization, where her mother also worked, after managers pressured personnel staff to hire her despite a low rating in an interview, according to a special investigation report by the California Personnel Board. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/1/19
Southern California ranked as second-worst “mega city” to live in -- The region of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties — beat only Miami in rankings of livability and economic issues. Jonathan Lansner in the Orange County Register -- 5/1/19
New study: Housing costs are exacerbating gap between rich, poor in LA -- To understand income inequality in Los Angeles, look no further than the housing market. A new report from Apartment List finds that the cost of living in Los Angeles has risen to such a degree that the lowest earners now spend a higher percentage of income on rent than top earners. Nadra Nittle Curbed LA -- 5/1/19
For aging California, is the future Florida? -- According to state projections, by 2030 more than 9 million Californians will be over the age of 65, 3 million more than there are today. Within a decade, more than 20% of the state’s residents will be seniors — a higher proportion than currently resides in Florida, a state famous for its large population of snowbird retirees. Matt Levin Calmatters -- 5/1/19
Lopez: In L.A.’s future, you may not need a car, insurance or a parking space -- You look out your window and there’s a vegetable garden where your driveway used to be. You pay no auto insurance bills because you haven’t got a car, but you can travel anywhere, anytime. All you do is tap an app and an electric, driverless vehicle pulls up and carts you away to the grocery store, to the beach, or to the bus or train stop. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/1/19
California memorial is first in U.S. to officially honor LGBTQ veterans -- They served their country and died in battle though they lived their lives in the shadows. Now a solemn site in California’s Coachella Valley ensures the sacrifices of gay and lesbian veterans will not be forgotten. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/1/19
Fox: Island California -- California makes a point of setting itself apart from her sister states by banning official travel to states that in the legislature’s view don’t meet “California values.” This idea was initially enforced on the issue of sexual orientation with a list of 10 states on the “no fly” list, if you will. However, California’s stand to set an agenda for other states to follow will unlikely stop there. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 5/1/19
5 takeaways from William Barr’s tense hearing -- Attorney General William P. Barr ventured up to Capitol Hill on Wednesday an embattled man. About 15 hours before his testimony, The Washington Post reported that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III had sent Barr a letter saying Barr’s summary of his report “did not fully capture the context, nature, and substance of this office’s work and conclusion.” Mueller asked Barr to release a fuller summary he provided; Barr did not do so. Aaron Blake in the Washington Post$ -- 5/1/19
Barr takes shots at Mueller during tense Senate hearing -- The attorney general went on the offensive after it was revealed Mueller twice pushed Barr to release Russia probe summaries. Kyle Cheney and Andrew Desiderio Politico -- 5/1/19
Attorney General William Barr grilled over his differences with special counsel Robert Mueller -- The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing quickly broke down into contentious competing narratives, with Democrats accusing Barr of distorting Mueller’s work, and Republicans pounding the FBI and the Justice Department for alleged problems at the start of the investigation. Chris Megerian and Del Quentin Wilber in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/1/19