Updating . .   

Supreme Court bolsters gun owners’ right to carry a weapon in public -- California’s gun laws are widely viewed as some of the strictest in the country by advocates on both sides of the gun-control debate. But a new Supreme Court ruling puts a number of those laws on shaky constitutional ground. Jon Healey in the Los Angeles Times$ Jessica Gresko Associated Press Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Ben Christopher CalMatters -- 6/23/22

Supreme Court gun ruling a ‘dark day for America,’ says California Gov. Gavin Newsom -- Newsom said: “This is a dangerous decision from a court hell bent on pushing a radical ideological agenda and infringing on the rights of states to protect our citizens from being gunned down in our streets, schools, and churches.” David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/23/22

Supreme Court shields police from being sued for ignoring Miranda warnings -- The Supreme Court on Thursday shielded police from being sued by suspects for failing to provide well-known Miranda warnings Ruling in a Los Angeles case called Vega vs. Tekoh, the justices by a 6-3 vote said that the only remedy for a Miranda violation is to block the use in court of a suspect’s incriminating comments. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times$ Mark Sherman Associated Press -- 6/23/22

Policy and Politics  

What happens if Californians pass two sports betting initiatives? -- There’s a good chance that two initiatives to legalize sports betting will appear on the November ballot. If both pass, they might both go into effect or the result could be decided in court, depending on which one gets more yes votes. Grace Gedye CalMatters -- 6/23/22

Skelton: California has long been a voice for abortion rights. But there’s a political ring to it -- People often ask me how things have changed at California’s Capitol over the last 60 years. One answer: Politics today is a lot more knee-jerk partisan. A striking example is abortion. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/23/22

Barabak: California wasted $200 million on the recall. Why aren’t lawmakers fixing the process? -- Last fall, after state and local governments flushed more than $200 million down the toilet for a failed effort to chase Gov. Gavin Newsom from office, there was all sorts of talk about reforming California’s recall process. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/23/22

Will California heed President Biden’s plea for state gas tax holiday? -- California lawmakers, governor remain at odds over relief. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/23/22

Anaheim will hire firm to probe campaign contributions, city contracts -- Anaheim officials plan to hire a firm to investigate campaign contributions to City Council members and the former mayor, and whether those donations had any connection to contracts, project approvals or other business political donors did with the city. Alicia Robinson in the Orange County Register -- 6/23/22

Controversy over Asian American education embroils Capitol -- A bill that would encourage schools to teach students in grades 1 through 12 about Asian American and Pacific Islander contributions to the history of California and America has stalled in the state Legislature — despite bipartisan support and the backing of California’s most prominent Asian American officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Treasurer Fiona Ma and Controller Betty Yee. Emily Hoeven CalMatters -- 6/23/22

California’s top military brass rocked by homophobia, antisemitism, indecent exposure scandals -- A top general in the California National Guard violated government rules by having subordinates ferry his mother on a shopping trip, perform other personal errands for him and complete a part of his cybersecurity training. A second general allegedly made antisemitic and homophobic remarks, including that Jews are unrepentant sinners and that gay marriage is a reason terrorists attack the United States. Paul Pringle in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/23/22

Street  

Parents of Beverly Grove man killed by intruder sue LAPD over response to prior 911 calls -- The parents of a 31-year-old man fatally stabbed by an intruder at his Beverly Grove home last year have sued the Los Angeles Police Department, claiming the police mishandled multiple 911 calls about the suspect in the hours before the attack. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/23/22

S.F. police release photo of ‘person of interest’ in fatal shooting on Muni train -- One person was killed and another injured Wednesday morning following a shooting inside a Muni train between the system’s Forest Hill and Castro stations, District Seven Supervisor Myrna Melgar said on Twitter. Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/23/22

Wildfire  

Kern County fire likely sparked by lightning grows to 2,300 acres, could threaten Interstate-5 -- A brush fire likely ignited by lightning in Kern County and burning close to Interstate 5 has grown to 2,300 acres and was 20% contained as of Thursday morning, officials said. Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/23/22

Workplace   

California to pay $1,500 pandemic bonuses to state law enforcement officers -- Law enforcement officers and other public safety workers employed by California are set to receive pandemic bonuses of $1,500 after Gov. Gavin Newsom and unions reached agreements. Itzel Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/23/22

Climate  

California emissions, carbon neutrality plan draws criticism -- California air regulators are likely to hear a barrage of criticism Thursday on a plan to slash fossil fuel use and reach carbon neutrality by 2045, a proposal that would require a sweeping shift in how the state powers its massive economy in the face of climate change. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 6/23/22

Education  

After year of violence, US schools try to tame tensions -- The first week of school was supposed to mark a triumphant return to classrooms at San Francisco’s Everett Middle School after more than a year of distance learning. But as computer science teacher Yesi Castro-Mitchell welcomed a class of sixth graders last fall, a student started punching her, again and again. Jocelyn Gecker Associated Press -- 6/23/22

Staying Afloat   

Homes lost. Savings destroyed. How medical debt has upended these people’s lives -- Some lost their homes. Some emptied their retirement accounts. Some struggled to feed and clothe their families. Medical debt now touches more than 100 million Americans, as the U.S. healthcare system pushes patients into debt on a mass scale. Noam N. Levey and Aneri Pattani Kaiser Health News in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/23/22

Also . . . 

Unprecedented plan to return Bruce’s Beach to rightful Black heirs revealed by officials -- In a plan made public for the first time, Los Angeles County officials have detailed how they would complete the unprecedented transfer of Bruce’s Beach to the descendants of a Black couple who were run out of Manhattan Beach almost a century ago. Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/23/22

Man survives after being hit by lightning while pushing baby stroller in Kern County -- The unidentified man was struck by lightning while walking in his neighborhood in Ridgecrest, east of Bakersfield, according to the Ridgecrest Police Department. The man survived and the baby and the dog were unharmed, police said. Nathan Solis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/23/22

Tech extravaganza Dreamforce returns to S.F.’s Moscone Center in September -- The Dreamforce tech megaconference is returning to San Francisco in September for its 20th year. The Salesforce-backed event at Moscone Center will take place from Sept. 20 to 22. It will be larger than last year’s outdoor-only affair and include indoor programming. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/23/22

California Policy and Politics Thursday Morning  

Legal scholars worry measure to enshrine abortion rights in California Constitution isn’t clear enough -- With the Supreme Court apparently prepared to repeal the right to abortion it declared in 1973, California voters are likely to consider, and approve, a measure in November that would proclaim a right to abortion in the state Constitution. But some constitutional researchers at UC Berkeley say the proposal, as currently worded, may not protect abortion rights for long. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/23/22

Fossil fuel divestment bill dies in California Legislature — and a Democrat killed it -- Climate activists and environmental groups were seething Wednesday after a Democratic Assembly member killed a measure that would have required the state’s pension systems — two of the country’s largest — to divest from fossil fuels in the next decade. Chasity Hale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/23/22

State OKs lawsuit over Wesson appointment, throwing his future at City Hall in doubt -- A state official cleared the way for a group of South Los Angeles community leaders to sue over the selection of Herb Wesson as a temporary member of the Los Angeles City Council, throwing the future of his City Hall appointment into question. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ Elizabeth Chou in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 6/23/22

Workplace   

Hundreds of nurses at Daly City hospital launch 2-day strike -- Hundreds of nurses from AHMC Seton Medical Center in Daly City started a two-day strike Wednesday morning, an effort, the nurses said, to call attention to what they described as the hospital’s prolonged inattention to critical supply problems. Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/23/22

MasterClass, headquartered in San Francisco, lays off 20% of employees -- CEO David Rogier posted the news on Twitter and LinkedIn on Wednesday morning, writing that the cutbacks are a way for the company “to adapt to the worsening macro environment and get to self sustainability faster.” Joshua Bote in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/23/22

Street  

Santa Ana murder conviction overturned due to misuse of jailhouse informant -- A federal judge has overturned the murder conviction of a Santa Ana man found guilty in 2012 of shooting a fellow gang member in the head and stashing his body in a children’s pool. Prosecutors will not seek a new trial. U.S. District Court Judge Dolly M. Gee reversed the conviction based on evidence that a Santa Ana homicide detective secretly promised money to a jailhouse informant to testify that defendant Ramon Alvarez had confessed to him. Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register -- 6/23/22

Mistrial in Suge Knight wrongful death suit of man run down in Tam’s Burgers lot -- Terry Carter was killed in 2015 when rap impresario Marion “Suge” Knight struck him with a pickup truck in the parking lot of Tam’s Burgers in Compton. Christian Martinez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/23/22

Shooting inside S.F. Muni train leaves 1 dead, 1 injured with gunman still at large -- One person was killed and another injured Wednesday morning following a shooting inside a Muni train between the system’s Forest Hill and Castro stations, District Seven Supervisor Myrna Melgar said on Twitter. Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/23/22

Suspect in North Hollywood anti-Asian attack on Filipino family is arrested and charged -- Nicholas Weber, 31, was arrested by Costa Mesa police “on an unrelated matter” and is set to be arraigned on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said. Gregory Yee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/23/22

Staying Afloat   

A third of Californians live in or near poverty. Advocates say the budget must do more -- California lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom are in a fierce debate over several-hundred dollar gas rebates as budget negotiations approach the June 30 deadline. But with one-third of Californians living in or near poverty and one-time pandemic relief payments largely in the past, advocates say leaders must use the state’s record surpluses to create more support for low-income residents. Owen Tucker-Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/23/22

Housing   

Zillow data shows impact of rising mortgage rates on how much San Francisco home buyers are paying -- According to a new report from real estate listings site Zillow, rising rates have had a particularly dramatic impact in the pricey Bay Area, with average monthly mortgage payments more than 50% higher than what they were just one year ago. Kellie Hwang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/23/22

California is cracking down on NIMBY housing delays. So why are major projects in S.F. and Oakland still stalled? -- Nine months after forming an enforcement arm to go after cities that illegally deny housing development, the state says the unit has helped save 2,568 homes throughout California that would otherwise have been rejected or indefinitely delayed. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/23/22

Wildfire  

New CalMatters series reveals severe mental health struggles facing Cal Fire crews -- Across the state, the Cal Fire crews who fight wildfires opened up to tell CalMatters their heart-wrenching stories — exhaustion on the firelines, weeks on duty without respite, suicidal thoughts, never-ending trauma and the terror of seeing their colleagues injured or killed. Sonya Quick CalMatters -- 6/23/22

California wildfires caused by humans are more dangerous than fires sparked by lightning -- Yet not all fires are equal. New research from UC Irvine shows that fires caused by human activity — be it arson, a neglected campfire, sparking electrical equipment or ill-conceived gender reveal parties — spread faster, burn hotter and destroy more trees than those caused by lightning strikes. Corinne Purtill in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/23/22

PG&E  

Trustee for PG&E wildfire victims resigns as stock price slump threatens payouts -- John Trotter, a retired California appellate court justice, announced his resignation Tuesday as head of the PG&E Fire Victim Trust. Trotter said he always planned on leaving in mid-2022, two years after the trust began operations. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/23/22

Education  

Lowell admissions will return to merit-based system after S.F. school board vote -- After nearly two years of intense and bitter debate, test scores and grades will once again determine which San Francisco students are admitted to Lowell High School after the city’s school board decided to return to the merit-based admissions Wednesday. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/23/22

LAUSD kicks off popular summer school with more than 100,000 students -- Enrollment surpasses last year's by more than 25%, as students look to catch up or explore personal interests. Linh Tat in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 6/23/22

Can LAUSD’s board and Superintendent Carvalho do a dramatically better job educating students? -- A bold new strategy puts pressure on the adults to improve reading, math — and college entry. Linh Tat in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 6/23/22

Tutoring options in Los Angeles Unified leave families frustrated -- In response to the learning loss students across L.A. County have dealt with as a result of the pandemic, LAUSD has largely left tutoring up to the local districts and their schools, which has satisfied some and frustrated others. Kate Sequeira EdSource -- 6/23/22

Environment  

Three beaches in one Bay Area county are among the most polluted in California, report says -- Erckenbrack Park, Marlin Park and Lakeshore Park all struggle to clear pollution, as they are “enclosed in an engineered patchwork of channels that do not allow much water circulation so pollution is not easily flushed away from the beaches,” the report, from Heal the Bay, states. Kate Galbraith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/23/22

Roundup  

Judge OK’s refunds for customers in lawsuit accusing Roundup weedkiller manufacturer of concealing cancer risks -- Buyers of Roundup herbicide products in recent years would be eligible for 20% refunds under a proposed nationwide settlement, tentatively approved by a federal judge, of a suit accusing Monsanto Co. of false advertising for failing to warn customers the product could cause cancer. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/23/22

Also . . .   

A year after Surfside collapse, two California startups are creating Carfax-like reports for HOAs -- New tools surface to help shoppers and owners assess the soundness of homeowners associations. Jeff Collins in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 6/23/22

Bear knocks woman to ground after walking into California home as she took trash out -- The woman took out the trash “in broad daylight” in North Lake Tahoe on Thursday, June 16, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said. She left the front door open as she stepped out, and a bear used that time to walk in. Maddie Capron in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/23/22

Peninsula police warn of mountain lion spotted in Redwood City neighborhood -- Though several concerned people reported seeing the big cat to San Mateo County’s animal control program, officials have not confirmed that the animal was a mountain lion, nor has it attacked anyone. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/23/22