Updating . .   

Plummeting reservoir levels could soon force Oroville hydropower offline -- According to state water officials, the Edward Hyatt Powerplant at Lake Oroville could go offline as soon as August or September — a time frame that would coincide with a feared power crunch this summer. The plant, which opened in the late 1960s, has never been forced offline by low lake levels before. Julia Wick in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

Fire  

California wildfires: Dixie Fire swells to more than 85,000 acres -- The Dixie Fire in Feather River Canyon exploded by more than 24,000 acres Tuesday night after winds picked up and pushed the blaze northeast. Omar Shaikh Rashad in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Michael McGough and Amelia Davidson in the Sacramento Bee$ Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

Wildfire smoke is more harmful than previously thought, research shows -- As California’s fire season begins to cough up nasty, gray air — all too familiar over the past few years — scientists are learning that wildfire smoke may be a lot more harmful than previously thought, even for those living far from the flames. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

Power lines and high winds ignite southern California’s deadliest fires, study finds -- A new analysis concludes that fierce winds and power line failures are to blame for all of Southern California’s most deadly and destructive fires, a finding with implications for high-risk Northern California, as well. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/21/21

Virus  

California coronavirus hospitalizations hit highest point in months as Delta spreads -- A spate of new coronavirus infections is striking California’s healthcare system, pushing COVID-19 hospitalizations to levels not seen since early spring — lending new urgency to efforts to tamp down transmission as a growing number of counties urge residents to wear masks indoors. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

Delta is the most infectious COVID variant we've seen. So, what comes next? -- The delta variant has sprinted into pandemic prominence, now accounting for the largest share of coronavirus cases in California, the nation and worldwide, according to health officials. The reason for its dominance is straightforward: It’s the most infectious strain yet, experts say. Annie Vainshtein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

Get a vaccine at McDonald’s? How California is shifting outreach as Delta variant spreads -- Right before a San Jose soccer tournament this month at PayPal Park Stadium, a pre-game event offered sports fanatics food, music, family activities — and COVID-19 vaccines. Kim Bojórquez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/21

Policy & Politics 

Gavin Newsom report card: What he has done, and what he hasn’t -- Backers of the campaign to fire Gov. Gavin Newsom are hoping that Californians will keep some things in mind when they cast their vote in the Sept. 14 recall election. To name a few: Mask mandates, shuttered schools, sluggish vaccine rollouts and the French Laundry. More than any other issue, the pandemic — and Newsom’s handling of it — is the reason the state is holding its second gubernatorial recall ever. Ben Christopher and Sameea Kamal CalMatters -- 7/21/21

A's

Oakland Mayor Schaaf says she believes A's want to stay in Oakland despite team's objections to city vote -- Mayor Libby Schaaf said Wednesday she feels confident the A’s want to stay in Oakland and that the city has met most of the team’s demands in the development framework approved Tuesday for a $12 billion waterfront ballpark and development. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

Uber & Lyft  

Uber and Lyft drivers strike over pay, gig-work conditions -- Uber and Lyft drivers joining a strike across California on Wednesday are aiming their message at Washington, in the first such strike by ride-hailing drivers intended to rally support for national legislative changes to improve their working conditions. Johana Bhuiyan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

Housing  

‘It’s crazy’: Orange County home sales up 67%, median price soars to $900,000 -- Southern California’s housing boom stormed into June with home prices setting a fifth-straight record and sales soaring to the highest level in almost 15 years. Bidding wars and buyer concessions remain the norm, with seven out of 10 homes selling over the asking price, agents and CoreLogic said. Jeff Collins in the Orange County Register -- 7/21/21

Guns  

Outgunned: Why California’s groundbreaking firearms law is failing -- California enacted a law to remove guns from people deemed too dangerous to be armed. But the measure, plagued by problems, has not achieved its promise. Robert Lewis CalMatters -- 7/21/21

Street  

Would-be victim shoots 2 armed men who tried to rob him, video shows -- Two robbery suspects had the tables turned on them when the man they tried to hold up at gunpoint pulled a firearm and shot them, Los Angeles police said. Chris Kuo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

LAPD officer arrested on suspicion of perjury, falsifying police report -- Officer Alejandro Castillo was investigated by the department’s Internal Affairs Division after the city attorney’s office raised concerns over Castillo’s body-worn camera video captured during a DUI arrest in October 2019, the LAPD said in a statement. Melissa Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

Education  

Staffing shortages, exhaustion, family vacations temper big summer-school hopes -- The message to schools from top brass, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, was clear. Summer programs in 2021 should be robust. They should reach as many students as possible. And above all else, they should fun. Laura Newberry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

Also . . .   

Arellano: Apocalypse, cow — our growing drought and the great L.A. cattle escape -- The great cow escape happened on a late June evening. Forty cattle made a break for it through the streets of Pico Rivera in a sprint for their lives. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

California Policy and Politics Wednesday Morning  

S.F. group representing 500 bars considers new initiative requiring vaccine proof for entry -- San Francisco bar-goers may soon need to show up with vaccine cards at more bars. The San Francisco Bar Owner Alliance, which represents 500 bars, announced Tuesday that it’s considering a new program that asks patrons to show proof of vaccination before entry. Tanay Warerkar in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

Small study indicates J&J shot may be less protective against delta variant than other vaccines -- The Johnson & Johnson vaccine may be less effective against the delta variant of the coronavirus than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and health officials should at least consider urging that people who received J&J’s single dose get a booster shot, authors of a small study said Tuesday. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

LA County reports uptick in nursing home cases, as coronavirus numbers continue to rise -- Cases of coronavirus in Los Angeles County continued to go in the wrong direction on Tuesday, July 20, with public health officials confirming a slight uptick in skilled nursing facilities partly because of “breakthrough” cases among people already vaccinated. Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 7/21/21

California's delta surge pushes COVID hospitalizations to their highest since April -- With the now-dominant delta variant still on the rise in California, COVID-19 hospitalizations are also increasing, passing thresholds in the Bay Area and state not seen since the spring. Kellie Hwang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

Open  

O.C. Fair sells out for first time since 1890, but there may be ways to get in on booked days -- Orange County residents hankering for a corndog and pig races will have to act fast, as O.C. Fair organizers say the regional festival sold out on opening weekend for the first time in more than a century. Sara Cardine in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

COVID Economy  

S.F. small businesses shut because of pandemic could get out of paying rent -- San Francisco supervisors unanimously passed a controversial ordinance Tuesday that will give businesses forced to shut down during the pandemic an excuse to not pay back rent — and an upper hand over landlords who opposed the measure. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

Policy & Politics 

Newsom administration hires special counsel in probe of California unemployment fraud -- Faced with widespread fraud in California’s unemployment benefit system, state officials said Tuesday they have hired former federal prosecutor McGregor Scott to serve as special counsel to assist in the investigations of bogus claims filed by international criminal organizations, prison inmates and others. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/21

Walters: Three growing crises could affect Newsom recall -- In many ways, the campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom is evolving just as Newsom hoped it would. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 7/21/21

Another L.A. recall effort has sprung up. This one targets Councilman Kevin de León -- Another day, another recall notice. Five voters who live in Northeast Los Angeles have signed paperwork seeking to recall City Councilman Kevin de León, making him the third council member to be targeted with such an effort in recent weeks. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

Recall proponents go after Gavin Newsom’s crime policies. What they had to say at rally -- Anne Dunsmore, campaign manager for the recall committee Rescue California, said the state is a more dangerous place today because of the policies supported by the governor and his Democratic allies. Lara Korte in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/21

Huntington Beach City Council hits standstill on filling seat vacated by Tito Ortiz -- With not enough votes to nominate a candidate to fill the council seat left vacant by the resignation of Tito Ortiz, nor the needed votes to call a special election, the Huntington Beach City Council finds itself at a standstill on how to proceed. Matt Szabo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

Broadband  

California will spend $6 billion to expand internet access. Who gets priority? -- Much of the money will fund increased connectivity for rural communities with little to no network access and public spaces like schools and libraries with less access to high-bandwidth internet. Isabella Bloom in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/21

Fire  

California fires: What you need to know about the largest wildfires burning across the state -- Multiple major wildfires burned in Northern California on Tuesday, including the Tamarack Fire south of Lake Tahoe and the Dixie Fire in Butte and Plumas counties as the state’s already highly active fire season continued. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

Help for homeowners in wildfire areas? California wins lawsuit over insurance coverage -- With wildfires burning again and thousands of rural Californians losing their insurance coverage, state regulators have won a key legal battle that they believe could stabilize the fragile market for homeowners’ policies in fire-prone areas. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/21

Couple whose gender-reveal party sparked 2020 fire charged with involuntary manslaughter -- In September — as a record heat wave crested over Southern California — a couple set off a smoke-emitting pyrotechnic device at a gender-reveal party in a Yucaipa park. Julia Wick in the Los Angeles Times$ Brian Rokos in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 7/21/21

Water  

California voters OK’d billions for water projects. Where are the new dams, reservoirs? -- None of the major water storage projects being funded by Proposition 1, the 2014 water bond, will be able to provide short-term relief for California’s worsening water situation.They’re all still in the pre-construction phase: reviewing environmental impacts, designing dams and nailing down financing to pay for the costs the state won’t handle. Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/21

Street  

LAPD investigates claims of excessive force at Wi Spa protest -- Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said Tuesday that officials were investigating allegations of excessive force by officers during dueling protests over transgender rights at a Westlake spa Saturday. Kevin Rector, Leila Miller, Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

22% of LAPD officers failed to promptly activate body cameras in force incidents -- Nearly a fourth of Los Angeles police officers involved in incidents where serious force was used failed to activate their body cameras in a timely manner, according to a recent review of such cases by the department’s inspector general. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

Judge orders Contra Costa deputy to stand trial for manslaughter in on-duty shooting, lesser charge dismissed over DA screw-up -- At a preliminary hearing, Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Terri Mockler ordered Dep. Andrew Hall to stand trial on a voluntary manslaughter charge in the November 2018 killing of 33-year-old Laudemer Arboleda, whom Hall shot during a slow-speed pursuit through the streets of Danville. Nate Gartrell in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/21/21

Sacramento bomb plot suspect nearly wins release. How his wife kept him in jail -- One of the men accused of plotting to blow up the California Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento came within minutes of winning his release from jail Tuesday, but the deal fell through after his wife changed her mind about taking responsibility for him while he awaits trial. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/21

‘Just unbelievably horrifying’: Woman with dementia allegedly kidnapped from Wilshire VA parking lot -- A 68-year-old woman with dementia was kidnapped outside the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center then held for several hours at an East Hollywood motel, authorities said. The woman was freed Monday afternoon when FBI agents arrested the alleged kidnapper outside the Dixie Hollywood Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard, according a release from the U.S. attorney’s office. Julia Wick in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

Capitol Siege  

Ex-DEA agent from California charged in U.S. Capitol insurrection -- Mark Sami Ibrahim, 33, was arrested Tuesday in Washington, D.C., and charged with entering the Capitol grounds with a firearm and lying to federal law enforcement officials, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Court documents describe Ibrahim as living in Orange County, and public records suggest he once lived in Anaheim. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

New California ballot measure would ban Styrofoam food packaging statewide, force industry to reduce plastic litter -- Setting the stage for a major environmental battle over a growing pollution issue, a coalition of environmental groups has qualified a statewide ballot measure that would require plastic packaging sold in California to be recyclable or reusable. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/21/21

Homeless  

S.F. expands authority to impose mental health holds. Paramedics can now place people in confinement -- San Francisco paramedics - not just police officers and doctors - can now order people to be held in confinement for up to 72 hours if they believe those people are experiencing a mental health crisis and are a danger to themselves or others. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

Aging Queen  

Long Beach considers options for Queen Mary, including sinking the ship -- The aging Queen Mary could cost the city of Long Beach up to $175 million to preserve and maintain over the next 25 years but it could cost even more — up to $190 million — to recycle for scrap or sink into the ocean. Hugo Martín in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

Housing  

San Diego’s median home price reaches $750,000 in June, another record high -- Supply of homes for sale remains well below historic levels, driving buyers to offer thousands over the asking price — in one case $45,000 — in hopes of landing hot properties. Mike Freeman in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/21/21

Education  

Orange County to explore tense issues over ethnic studies and race -- In March, after multiple drafts, the State Board of Education approved a voluntary framework for a high school ethnic studies course. In late September, the Legislature will likely pass again — and Gov. Gavin Newsom this time will likely sign — legislation mandating that all students take a high school ethnic studies course to graduate. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 7/21/21

Thousands of students in South San Diego County head back to school this week -- California’s waiver that allowed school districts to do distance learning has expired, so schools are required to provide full-time in-person instruction this new school year, although families can still choose independent or online learning. Kristen Taketa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/21/21

Tired of the same old student assessments? This fund wants to help -- Teachers who have long dreamed of alternatives to traditional methods for assessing students now have an avenue to put their prototypes to the test. Sydney Johnson EdSource -- 7/21/21

A's

A’s official says team open to Oakland’s latest terms for waterfront ballpark plan -- all was said and done Tuesday, the Oakland A’s and the city were still at odds over the financial terms of building a waterfront ballpark and village at Howard Terminal. But after weeks of tough talk from both sides, there emerged the possibility that the $12 billion project could still happen. Annie Sciacca, Shayna Rubin in the San Jose Mercury$ Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

What the Oakland City Council vote means to A's pursuit of a ballpark -- Oakland’s City Council voted yes on a term sheet for a ballpark village at Howard Terminal and considered it a big win. The A’s considered it a big loss. Commissioner Rob Manfred considered it a big disappointment and is talking with the A’s about the next step, neither side ruling out a relocation to Las Vegas. John Shea in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

Here's how the A's and Oakland proposals for new ballpark differ -- The city of Oakland and the A’s have proposed separate term sheets for the baseball team’s $12 billion plan to build a waterfront ballpark and development at Howard Terminal. The project includes residential towers, commercial and retail space, an indoor performance center, a hotel and 18 acres of publicly accessible open space. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

'Keep fighting': Fans weigh in on A's battle with city of Oakland over terms for new stadium -- A sign decorating the outfield railings at the Oakland Coliseum during the A’s game against the Angels on Tuesday said “Keep fighting.” Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

Climate  

S.F. embraces aggressive new climate change goals as drought, heat and wildfires engulf California -- San Francisco set new, more ambitious climate change goals Tuesday, including getting to net zero greenhouse gas emissions produced in the city by 2040, as wildfires, drought and heat waves worsened by climate change plague California and floods in Europe grab headlines. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/21

Also . . .   

‘His vision was to dream big.’ Funeral for Father Joe Carroll draws hundreds -- Father Joe Carroll might not get his final wish, if the hundreds of people attending his funeral mass Tuesday in San Diego have any say in the matter. Carroll, who died July 10 after devoting four decades to helping the homeless, asked to be described on his gravestone as “a good priest.” John Wilkens in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/21/21

‘She never left her cub’: Heartbreaking photo shows danger cars pose to Yosemite’s bears -- A viral Facebook post urging motorists to drive slowly through Yosemite National Park shows the tragic reality that deadly collisions leave in their wake. Rachel Schnalzer in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/21

Tom Barrack, L.A. billionaire and Trump ally, charged with acting as agent of UAE -- Thomas J. Barrack, Jr., the chair of former President Trump’s inaugural committee and a prominent Southern California businessman, was arrested Tuesday on federal charges that he and two associates were part of a secretive, years-long effort to shape Trump’s foreign policy as a candidate and later, president, all to the benefit of the United Arab Emirates. Matt Hamilton, Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ Brian Melley and Larry Neumeister Associated Press -- 7/21/21