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California Senate advances bill to punish oil companies for ‘price gouging’ -- A first-in-the-nation bill to punish oil companies for profiting from price spikes at the pump breezed through the California Senate on Thursday at the urging of Gov. Gavin Newsom, the first major vote in an effort to pass the law by month’s end. Adam Beam Associated Press -- 3/23/23

L.A. County Democratic Party leader says Valley candidate’s flier is ‘misleading’ -- A City Council campaign door hanger for Marco Santana is ‘completely misleading,’ county Democratic Party head says. Santana’s camp defends the flier. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Pajaro

California flooding victims cleared to return to ravaged farm town -- Monterey County authorities Thursday morning lifted evacuation orders for the flood-ravaged farm town of Pajaro, allowing residents to return to their homes in most cases for the first time since they were forced to flee in the middle of the night March 11 after a levee failed and inundated their community. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/23/23

Why is Pajaro not deemed a FEMA disaster after massive flooding from California storms? -- Nearly two weeks after a levee broke on the Pajaro River and flooded the nearby town, residents have received little in terms of federal help. They want to know why. Susanne Rust, Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Policy & Politics

Newsom wants to give Hollywood a big new perk. Will lawmakers agree? -- Movie studios would be eligible for a long-sought perk under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to let them convert a portion of their state tax credits into cash payments, essentially creating a government subsidy for Hollywood that California doesn’t offer to any other industry. Laurel Rosenhall in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Skelton: California’s population is on the decline, and high-income earners have joined the exodus -- It turns out high-income people are also fleeing the state — a new twist in the California exit. That should worry ruling liberal Democrats who love to tax wealthy people and spend their money, especially on social programs. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Pelosi reignites feud with S.F. archbishop over LGBTQ rights -- Nancy Pelosi rekindled her long-running feud with the San Francisco archbishop Thursday, saying that he was an “extreme” opponent of LGBTQ rights. Shira Stein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

End of the rainbow? California bill would ban sales of Skittles, other ‘toxic’ snacks -- The snack and candy aisles at your local grocery store could soon carry fewer items if a bill proposed by California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel is voted into law. Christian Martinez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Prominent academic Cornel West backs proposed California ban on caste-based discrimination -- Prominent civil rights philosopher, academic and Sacramento native Dr. Cornel West is lending his support to a proposal that would make discrimination on the basis of caste illegal in California. Victor Patton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/23/23

LAUSD Strike

L.A. Unified ‘strike camps’ promised child-care relief — if parents could find them -- Demand for child care during the LAUSD strike was muted. But many said they didn’t know how to find it, or that it even existed. Sonja Sharp in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Three-day LAUSD strike means three days without pay. How are low-paid workers coping? -- The three-day strike that has closed L.A. schools means many of the district’s lowest-paid workers will lose three days of wages while on the picket line. Many say it’s worth it. Brennon Dixson, Andrew J. Campa, Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Workplace

‘Fed up’ California workers across industries demand more amid rising cost of living -- Fast-food cooks and cashiers. Caretakers. Housekeepers. Hospital staff. School bus drivers. Custodians. State employees. Workers from all kinds of industries are demanding more in wages and benefits in order to keep up with the rising cost of living in California. Mackenzie Mays in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Automated writing? Not so fast, says the Writers Guild of America -- AI won’t replace human screenwriters anytime soon. At least that’s the message the Writers Guild of America is sending to the major Hollywood studios. Anousha Sakoui in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Water

Western water crisis solutions inevitably end with a lot less for California farms -- The water crisis in the West and the decline of the Colorado River are going to require painful changes for Southern California farms, and a lot less water. Jim Newton CalMatters -- 3/23/23

Cannabis

State launches probe of cannabis licensing to ‘clean house’ of corruption -- State officials will audit corruption in cannabis licensing after a Times investigation uncovered allegations of bribery, conflicts of interest and other misdeeds. Adam Elmahrek in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Storm Train

Photos: Marin County road destroyed by mudslide triggered by Bay Area storms -- A mudslide triggered by recent storms that rocked the Bay Area this week caused some extreme warping and buckling to a major road in Novato, officials said. Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

Video shows rescuers struggling to save farm animals buried in mud after California storm -- With ropes, animal sleds and a whole lot of patience, rescue teams in San Bernardino County successfully pulled 17 large farm animals out of a thick, sticky mud trap on a farm in the unincorporated area of Muscoy on Wednesday afternoon. Deborah Netburn in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Street

Woman partially blinded by police beanbag round during La Mesa protest settles lawsuit for $10 million -- Leslie Furcron, 61, said Wednesday that she’s glad the lawsuit settled in her favor, but there likely isn’t any amount o f money that could return her life to normalcy. Lyndsay Winkley San Diego Union-Tribune in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Antisemitic attacks and incidents reached a 43-year high, according to new report -- Anti-Jewish incidents hit a record high in U.S. and California in 2022, the Anti-Defamation League says. Some harassers referenced Ye’s antisemitic remarks. Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Missing San Francisco radio host found dead -- The San Francisco Medical Examiner on Thursday confirmed the death of 55-year-old Jeffrey Vandergrift, the Wild 94.9 radio DJ who went missing last month. Police and firefighters said they pulled human remains from the water near Pier 39 at about 5 p.m. Wednesday evening. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

Eviction

Oakland weighs phase-out of its eviction moratorium after three years -- Oakland will consider winding down over the next year an eviction moratorium enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic — a key decision that comes two days after landlords stormed a City Council meeting demanding an end to the rule. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

Housing

Should tiny cabins count as real housing? A new proposal could offer hope for S.F.'s homelessness crisis -- They finally have real beds, heat and doors that lock — so some residents of 33 Gough St. in San Francisco wonder why they can’t stay indefinitely in their new, tiny homes. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

California Policy and Politics Thursday

LAUSD Strike

Mayor Bass mediating LAUSD strike; union has not ruled out a second walkout at later date -- As the LAUSD strike that has shut down campuses continued for a second day — with the possibility of future walkouts a reality — Mayor Karen Bass stepped in Wednesday to talk with union and school leaders to offer “assistance and support,” the district reported at midday. Andrew J. Campa, Brennon Dixson, Howard Blume, Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -Alexander Nieves Politico Clara Harter, Delilah Brumer, Christina Merino in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/23/23

Los Angeles School Workers Are on Strike, and Parents Say They Get It -- Both parents and the striking school district employees are on the same side of the economic divide in one of the nation’s most expensive cities. Kurtis Lee and Jill Cowan in the New York Times$ Linh Tat in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/23/23

Storm Train

Death toll rises to 5 in wild California storms as officials assess damage, warn of flood risk -- Heavy rain and damaging winds gradually subsided Wednesday as one of the wildest storms of the season made its exit from the Golden State, leaving at least five people dead and others critically injured as it felled trees, knocked out power, and threatened additional flooding in the Central Valley. Hayley Smith, Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

“They let us down”: California flooding victims demand answers as town hall devolves into shouting match -- Monterey County officials say they are still waiting on a presidential declaration of emergency to give more help to Pajaro evacuees Aldo Toledo in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/23/23

One of the Bay Area’s worst commutes now nightmare after storm -- The severe afternoon congestion could be a preview of traffic headaches to come for commuters on 580 as state transportation workers try to repair major storm damage to one of the region’s busiest freeways. Ricardo Cano in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

Photos: Tornado rips roof off Montebello buildings as wild weather continues -- The National Weather Service said that a tornado was responsible for ripping the roof off a building in Montebello on Wednesday morning. It capped a period of wild weather across California that brought heavy winds and warnings of tornadoes and landspouts. Allen J. Schaben in the Los Angeles Times$ John Antczak, Christopher Weber Associated Press -- 3/23/23

Photos: Scenes From Recent Atmospheric Rivers in California -- California residents piled sandbags outside their homes and anxiously watched stream levels as the season’s 12th atmospheric river arrived on Tuesday morning, threatening to bring another round of flooding and chaos to the beleaguered state. Eliza Fawcett in the New York Times$ -- 3/23/23

Glass windows are shattering on S.F. high-rises. Is downtown safe? -- Windows cracked along 20 floors of a Salesforce office building in downtown San Francisco Tuesday, as hurricane-force winds whipped the region and battered at least four glass-sheathed high-rises on the city’s skyline. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

What was behind the Bay Area’s deadly ‘bomb’ cyclone? -- Lowest barometric pressure ever recorded in March at SFO. Rick Hurd, Austin Turner, Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/23/23

Endangered African bird escapes from Oakland Zoo aviary destroyed in storm -- The storms that pummeled the Bay Area this week caused major damage to the Oakland Zoo after a tree destroyed an aviary and six birds escaped, officials said. One of the missing birds is an endangered hooded vulture. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

Water

Map: See California’s drought nearly disappear in just six months -- Trillions of gallons of water have fallen on California in recent months, erasing the drought in much of the state. Harriet Blair Rowan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/23/23

Policy & Politics

Newsom’s plan to penalize Big Oil for California’s high gas prices scores first win -- The fate of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to bring down California’s high gas prices by going after oil companies over their recent record profits could be decided in a matter of days. Maggie Angst in the Sacramento Bee$ Adam Beam Associated Press -- 3/22/23

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, potential presidential candidate, woos Orange County Republicans -- Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a potential GOP 2024 presidential candidate, told Orange County Republicans on Wednesday that the party needs to nominate a proven leader and consistent conservative who can win independent and suburban voters to take back the White House. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Fragile Banks

First Republic rescue may hinge on government action -- First Republic Bank shares wavered Wednesday amid reports that industry leaders and U.S. officials discussing an intervention for the California lender are exploring the possibility of government action to pave the way for a deal, a prospect that analysts view as increasingly likely. Aaron Gregg and Jeff Stein in the Washington Post$ -- 3/23/23

‘Not going to jump ship’: Here’s how First Republic Bank customers are reacting to its struggles -- But allegiance remains strong among many in the impressive roster of companies, nonprofits and individuals featured in the San Francisco bank’s marketing campaign, even as they are bombarded with news reports that First Republic is fighting for its existence. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

Workplace

Bay Area tech and biotech layoffs worsen, Microsoft slashes more jobs -- Tech and biotech layoffs have worsened in the Bay Area, a fresh round of cutbacks resulting from job cuts at tech titan Microsoft and genetic testing firm Natera, according to official state government filings. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/23/23

Tech layoffs: Job sites Indeed and Glassdoor to slash workforces -- Job posting site Indeed will reportedly lay off 2,200 people from its global staff, around 15% of the company, CEO Chris Hyams told employees Wednesday and in a note posted to the company’s site. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

California workers can’t get timely hearings on wage theft claims. State orders audit -- It takes the state nearly 800 days — four times longer than is legal — to handle wage claims. Lawmakers ordered an audit to start Sept. 1, if agency issues aren’t addressed by then. Alejandro Lazo, Jeanne Kuang CalMatters -- 3/23/23

Why is this California Trader Joe’s pushing for a union? A rat infestation is only part of the problem -- Trader Joe’s workers in Oakland are the first in California to file a petition for a union election. They say the grocery chain has disregarded crew safety and prioritized profit at workers’ expense. Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

'No Reward for Loyalty': Gig Companies Winning Fight to Classify Drivers as Independent -- After a California appeals court upheld most of Proposition 22 last week, it’s widely expected the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) will appeal to the state Supreme Court. That’s even though the union says it’s still considering its options. Rachael Myrow KQED -- 3/23/23

Why Bosses Who Praised Remote Work Soured on Productivity From Home -- Companies trying to run leaner and more efficiently in a cooling economy are deploying familiar strategies from past downturns. (See ya, catered lunches.) Some are also taking new aim at their employees’ work-from-home arrangements. Callum Borchers in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 3/23/23

Earthquake

When it comes to earthquakes, Republicans and Democrats agree on L.A. retrofitting, poll finds -- Los Angeles residents strongly back the city’s landmark earthquake retrofit law, a new poll has found, despite decades of conventional wisdom that such a rule would be politically unpopular because of its cost. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Forced Sterilizatioin

More pain for California’s forced sterilization patients -- Patients who were already victimized once by California’s forced sterilization program — and who are running out of time to claim state compensation — were nearly victimized again. This time, it’s because of a data breach that exposed their personal and medical information. Lynn La CalMatters -- 3/23/23

Caste Discrimination

California Would Become First State to Outlaw Caste Discrimination Under New Bill --California may become the first state in the nation to outlaw caste-based bias, a safeguard people of South Asian descent say is necessary to protect them from discrimination in housing, education and the tech sector where they hold key roles. Deepa Bharath Associated Press -- 3/23/23

Housing

Huntington Beach’s 3-3 vote stalls state-mandated housing plan -- Referring to state housing laws as the “governor’s mandate,” Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland and two other city council members blocked approval of the city’s massive housing plan for the rest of the 2020s. Jeff Collins in the Orange County Register -- 3/23/23

State may scale down its new home loan program designed to assist first-time homebuyers -- Gov. Newsom wants to spend $300 million the first year, which could help about 2,300 buyers. But home prices are falling and mortgage rates are rising, complicating the launch. Alejandro Lazo CalMatters -- 3/23/23

Stanford

Fallout from Stanford clash over conservative judge: Diversity dean on leave, students face training -- In a 10-page letter to the law school community, Dean Jenny Martinez said she stood by her apology to Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan for the disruption of his March 9 talk by students who said they were angered by his decisions. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

Organ Donation

How organ donation in California is about to change --The federal government is set to overhaul the country’s organ transplant system, a move that is likely to have a substantial impact on California, the state with some of the worst statistics. Shira Stein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

Street

LASD saw signs of deadly street drug 4 years ago, told health officials about it this month -- It was at least four years ago that Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials say they began finding signs of a dangerous sedative infiltrating the local drug supply. Eri Blakinger, Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

S.F. corruption scandal: Two contractors barred from doing business with city -- San Francisco will bar a contractor, two of its executives and several associated companies from doing business with the city as part of the corruption scandal that put former Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru in prison. St. John Barned-Smith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

Former warden at women’s prison known as ‘rape club’ gets 70 months for sexual abuse -- Ray J. Garcia was found guilty of three counts of sex with an incarcerated person, four counts of abusive sexual contact and one count of lying to the FBI. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

Catalytic converter thieves in L.A. could soon face jail time, $1,000 in fines -- The crime trend has surged in the past year. Now thieves could face jail time or a fine under a proposed Los Angeles City Council ordinance. Nathan Solis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/23/23

Education

Charts show UC admissions rates for every high school in California -- Here are UC admissions rates for California public and private high schools to UCLA, Berkeley and other UC campuses. Nami Sumida in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

Panel: Underrepresented students should be the target of California's dual enrollment -- Taking college courses during high school puts students on track to succeed in high school and college, but even as dual enrollment programs have rapidly grown in California, the students most in need of that academic boost don’t always have access to it. Emma Gallegos EdSource -- 3/23/23

Environment

Deaths of four otters have California scientists worried -- Four sea otters found dead along the California coastline were killed by a toxic parasite that has never been detected in an aquatic animal, scientists reported Tuesday. Sam Whiting in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/23/23

Also . .

The surfer, the scientist and the big-wave beach at a breaking point -- A big-wave surfer at Mavericks is essentially an ocean sensor. Grant Washburn can tell you the approximate depth of the seafloor beneath him, the size of a 40-foot wave and the wind speed blowing foam off the peak, all based on the crescendo in his nervous system. Sally Jenkins in the New York Times$ -- 3/23/23