Updating Thursday . .   

In massive turnabout, California, feds to deliver 100% of requested water supplies to cities and farms -- The state and federal government will send cities and farms all the water they requested for the first time in quite awhile. It’s a staggering change from last year, when cities and farms got very little. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/20/23

The fight to limit solitary confinement in California prisons is set to roil Sacramento again -- Democrats are divided over legislation to limit solitary confinement in California’s prisons, jails and private detention centers. Hannah Wiley in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

‘The state failed us’: Deaths of children at Bay Area hospital follow California’s lack of oversight -- John Muir Medical Center overstated patient counts and performed barred surgeries on newborns. Yet the state awarded the East Bay facility a certification that allowed it to boost profits and treat some of California's sickest children. Matthias Gafni, Cynthia Dizikes in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/20/23

Politics & Policy

Skelton: Newsom’s promise to appoint a Black woman for a Senate vacancy creates a quandary -- Gov. Gavin Newsom promised two years ago to appoint a Black woman to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein if she resigned. If he merely appointed a temporary “caretaker” would that honor his pledge? George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

What’s next for two of California’s outgoing legislative leaders? Both eye higher office -- Next year marks a changing of the guard in the California Legislature, with Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins both leaving office in 2024. Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/20/23

Lawmakers attempt crackdown on hidden fees -- A bevy of new legislation takes aim at hidden fees across several industries. A growing body of research mostly shows that people spend more when fees are revealed later. Grace Gedye CalMatters -- 4/20/23

California Legislature weeds through key bills -- The state Legislature’s policy committees are buzzing with activity this week, hearing bills on topics including election reform, missing persons and chemicals in candy. Lynn La CalMatters -- 4/20/23

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ police budget proposal reveals how politics can clash with reality -- Karen Bass was considered the more liberal candidate in the Los Angeles mayoral race, but as all mayors quickly discover, there’s no liberal or conservative way to fill potholes. Jim Newton CalMatters -- 4/20/23

5 things to know about secretary of Labor nominee Julie Su -- Before joining the Department of Labor, Su served in several top spots in California state government, including as labor secretary under Gov. Gavin Newsom. Kierra Frazier Politico -- 4/20/23

Health Care

Beverly Hospital in Montebello files for bankruptcy in effort to avoid closure -- Hospital officials said their goal is to find a buyer to keep the hospital open and maintain crucial services for residents in Montebello and nearby communities, including El Monte, Whittier and East Los Angeles. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

Workplace

The workplace is already awash in AI. Most people aren’t happy about it -- A new Pew report found that most people think AI will have a large effect on the workplace, but assume it won’t impact them personally. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/20/23

West Coast Dockworkers Reach Tentative Deal on Port Automation -- The agreement in the long-running talks clears one big hurdle and leaves negotiators to focus on wages. Paul Berger in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/20/23

How a stripper, a barista and an electrician ended up at a ‘Troublemakers School’ for L.A. labor activists -- As the labor movement struggles, a “Troublemakers School” draws more than 400 activists. Here are some of their stories. Margot Roosevelt in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

After ‘Rust’ shooting, California moves closer to impose film set safety rules -- After Alec Baldwin accidentally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set, legislators have been trying to pass bills to codify safety on film sets. Anousha Sakoui in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

Child Care

‘It’s collapsing.’ Pandemic woes persist for struggling Bay Area childcare providers -- Hundreds of childcare providers across the Bay Area shuttered their doors when the pandemic hit, and many never found a way to reopen. The shortage amid skyrocketing costs has made it tough on parents, creating a ripple effect across the economy. Grace Hase in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/20/23

Guns

They’ve Never Told the World What They Saw at Sandy Hook -- The crime-scene investigators are the ones who document, and remember, the unimaginable. Jay Kirk in the New York Times$ -- 4/20/23

Financial District

This S.F. neighborhood’s residents are unhappiest with city government, according to a survey -- The data comes from the “City Survey,” the government’s biennial survey that assesses San Francisco residents’ satisfaction with services ranging from street cleanliness to feelings of safety. Adriana Rezal in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/20/23

Develop

New luxury L.A. hillside development in severe fire danger zone brings protests. ‘Just not safe’ -- Opponents say there have been considerable environmental changes in the area since the project was first approved 20 years ago. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

Climate

Climate change is here. It’s time Californians stopped clinging to the past -- Let’s embrace the wildflower superblooms, abundant snowfall and roaring rivers while we’ve got them. Sammy Roth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

Environment

Massive sewage spill could cost L.A. city up to $21.7 million in fines -- Citing ‘gross negligence,’ water regulators say L.A.’s Hypieron treatment plant should pay $21.7 million in fines for a massive 2021 sewage spill. Robert J. Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

Why the Bay Area is home to one of the most effective carbon sinks in the world -- Dutch Slough, a restored wetland in Contra Costa County, stores carbon at a higher rate than nearly all other sites studied around the world. Here’s why. Tara Duggan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/20/23

A's

On the move? Oakland Athletics announce Las Vegas land deal -- Oakland A’s, who for five decades built an iconic legacy of baseball and community at the vast concrete Coliseum it called home, have agreed to buy land in Las Vegas and build a new stadium there, team officials confirmed Wednesday. George Kelly, Shomik Mukherjee, Michael Nowels, Laurence Miedema in the San Jose Mercury$ Sarah Ravani, Matt Kawahara in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/20/23

Housing

Home prices are rising again in two Bay Area counties. Is it a sign of wider rebound? -- After eight consecutive months of declining home values in each of the Bay Area’s nine counties, data shows that decreases are beginning to soften, and two counties even saw growth in March — indicating that the region’s real estate market might heat back up through the spring, experts said. Danielle Echeverria, Adriana Rezal in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/20/23

Canabis

The marijuana industry has too much pot. Could interstate trade help? -- California’s “Apple store of weed,” MedMen, is teetering with millions in unpaid bills, while the Canadian cannabis company Curaleaf has shuttered cultivation operations in California, Oregon and Colorado. Gene Johnson, Andrew Selsky, Michael R. Blood Associated Press -- 4/20/23

LA Jail

Inmate mistreatment, dirty conditions at LA County jail facility prompts contempt hearing -- 'People continue to suffer serious deprivations while in appalling conditions,' the ACLU alleged in a court filing over the county's Inmate Reception Center. Tony Saavedra in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 4/20/23

California Policy and Politics Thursday

Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan dies at 92 -- Richard J. Riordan, the take-charge venture capitalist who as mayor shepherded Los Angeles’ rebound from the 1992 riots, expanded its Police Department and masterminded its recovery from the Northridge earthquake, has died at his Brentwood home. Jean Merl in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

White House urges patience as Sen. Feinstein’s absence leaves judicial agenda in jeopardy -- Addressing the roadblock the longtime Democratic senator from California’s absence has created for judicial nominations, the administration says she must decide her future. Courtney Subramanian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

Contra Costa will not list supporters and opponents on election ballots -- The state has not offered to reimburse counties for any additional costs to provide that information since it is optional. Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder Kristin Connelly told supervisors the additional information could cost the county $174,000 or more. Rachel Heimann Mercader in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/20/23

Why fentanyl bills are stalling in the California Legislature -- Assembly member Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), who chairs the Assembly Public Safety Committee, announced he will hold all fentanyl-related bills in his committee until stakeholders can craft a “tactical solution” that addresses both supply and demand of illicit drugs. Nicole Nixon Capital Public Radio -- 4/20/23

Climate bills on fossil fuel divestment, emissions disclosure make headway -- California lawmakers advanced several climate bills intended to hold companies accountable for pollution contributing to atmospheric warming Tuesday, as opponents questioned whether the measures could make a tangible impact. Ari Plachta in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/20/23

Oil

Proposed California bill aims to boost air monitoring near petroleum refineries -- In California, petroleum refineries are required to gather data on air quality in areas near their facilities and share it with the public. But environmental groups and community advocates say current monitoring is inconsistent and gathered data isn’t easily accessible to the public. Manola Secaira Capital Public Radio -- 4/20/23

EV Credit

Volkswagen becomes first foreign carmaker to qualify for electric vehicle credit -- The inclusion of the German-based auto giant’s ID.4 could help ease some of the transatlantic tensions over the protectionist aspects of the Biden administration’s clean energy incentives. Tanya Snyder Politico -- 4/20/23

Workplace

Tech, biotech job cuts mount with fresh burst of Bay Area layoffs -- Tech and biotech job cuts have widened in the Bay Area with a fresh batch of layoffs being revealed by companies operating in the crucial engines of the region’s economy. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/20/23

Bay Area tech layoffs: 4,000 at Meta to lose jobs this week -- The parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp slashed jobs after ad revenue fell last year and after spending billions of dollars on the metaverse. Chase DiFeliciantonio, Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/20/23

Workers at Oakland Children's Hospital Stage 1-Day Strike, Demanding Better Working Conditions and Services -- Hundreds of workers at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland walked off the job Wednesday in a one-day strike over job security and protecting medical services in the East Bay, chanting, “UC, UC, you can’t hide … We can see your greedy side!” Matthew Green KQED -- 4/20/23

Walmart fulfillment center laying off 953 employees in Chino -- Martinez didn’t give a reason for the workforce reduction, but a company spokesman recently said layoffs at the Chino facility and other e-commerce centers in New Jersey, Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania are occurring because of a reduction or elimination in evening or weekend shifts. Kevin Smith in the Orange County Register -- 4/20/23

The existential threat driving a potential Hollywood writers’ strike -- e guild’s goals for the new contract include raising writers’ minimum wages and ensuring the compensation and residuals for writers whose projects appear only on streaming services are paid in line with those whose work is in theaters. Samantha Chery, Anne Branigin in the Washington Post$ -- 4/20/23

California’s gig worker fight will take center stage in Washington this week -- A House Republican is set to hold hearings bashing California’s AB5 one day before a Senate committee will vote on President Biden’s nomination of Julie Su to become labor secretary. Shira Stein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/20/23

Homeless

Los Angeles County leaders announce revamped homeless settlement -- Months after a judge shot down their first attempt, Los Angeles County officials announced an agreement they hope will finally settle a long-running federal lawsuit over the region’s treatment of homeless people. Rebecca Ellis, Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

Sen. Padilla secures millions in funding to tackle homelessness, San Diego is on the list -- U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced over $633 million in federal funding this week for programs to tackle homelessness and housing insecurity across California. Tania Thorne KPBS -- 4/20/23

CARE Court

California Supreme Court rejects challenge to Newsom’s CARE Court plan to address mental illness -- The state Supreme Court refused to block Gov. Newsom’s CARE Court, which will require thousands of mentally ill Californians to accept court-ordered treatment. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/20/23

Housing

Plan would slash S.F. affordable-housing requirements. Will it spur building? -- The percentage of affordable housing that developers would be required to build in San Francisco would be lowered under a new proposal aimed at reviving the city’s comatose housing development industry. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/20/23

Street

Compton — the ‘mecca of street takeovers’ — vows to take action on illegal car shows -- Compton is known as the “mecca of street takeovers,” and city officials and residents are fed up with the illegal car shows. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

Civil rights attorney plans federal lawsuit against Antioch cops named in racist text scandal -- Bay Area civil rights attorney John Burris, who filed the class-action lawsuit that led to federal oversight of the Oakland Police Department, is planning to file a similar suit against the Antioch Police Department. David DeBolt, Nate Gartrell in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/20/23

California city audits police who sent racist, abusive texts -- A San Francisco Bay Area city council is undertaking an audit of its troubled police department, the latest development in a year-long federal investigation of the Antioch Police Department that blew up this month with the disclosure of racist and hostile text messages sent by officers. Terry Chea, Janie Har Associated Press -- 4/20/23

Capitol Riot

Orange County entrepreneur accused of organizing ‘fighters’ for Jan. 6 riot takes plea deal -- Russell Taylor is accused of teaming with a former Orange County police chief and members of an extremist group to take part in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Sean Emery in the Orange County Register -- 4/20/23

Education

National wave of anti-CRT measures trickles into California schools -- Anational conservative movement to limit the teaching of race and racism is finding its way into California schools, leading to worry that teachers are being muzzled. Diana Lambert EdSource -- 4/20/23

LAUSD agrees to $6.5-million payout to a victim after administrators failed to report sex abuse by a teacher -- Los Angeles Unified pays $6.5 million to sexually abused ex-student. Two administrators were convicted of criminal charges for not reporting the abuse by a teacher. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

A terrifying rampage ends with a teen’s death at Westlake High School --In the span of an hour Tuesday afternoon, law enforcement officials say, a 24-year-old Westlake High School alumnus went on a deadly rampage across southern Ventura County, killing a 15-year-old, injuring five and endangering several others in a sequence of assaults that officials have been able to describe only as senseless. Christian Martinez, Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

COVID Booster

CDC greenlights spring COVID booster for some. Do you need it? -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the allowance of an additional updated booster for seniors 65 and older as well as those who are immunocompromised. Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/20/23

Also:

San Francisco Chase Center: Sacramento Kings fans can’t bring cowbells to Warriors game -- The Chase Center, the Warriors’ home arena, has listed the noisy cowbells among the prohibited items not allowed inside, along with air horns, whistles, drums, plastic horns and other noise-making devices. Rosalio Ahumada in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/20/23