Updating . . .
San Jose Unified, teachers to ask State Board for waiver from tenure law -- In the ongoing trial Vergara vs the State of California, lawyers for the state and the California Teachers Association have been defending the state’s two-year probation for teachers as a sound law that protects teachers’ and students’ interests. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 3/10/14
Diaz: Elected officials should reveal pledges to special interests --The California Teachers Association abhors standardized tests for second-graders, but the union does not hesitate to subject candidates for the state Legislature to the group's own standardized test of 39 yes-or-no questions. John Diaz in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/10/14
OCTA Fires Lobbying Firm Over Illegal Gifts -- Orange County transportation officials fired their Sacramento lobbying firm today in the wake of a massive fine against the firm for giving illegal gifts to state lawmakers. Nick Gerda VoiceofOC.org -- 3/10/14
After Big Bet, Hedge Fund Pulls the Levers of Power -- Staking $1 Billion That Herbalife Will Fail, Then Lobbying to Bring It Down. Michael S. Schmidt, Eric Lipton and Alexandra Stevenson in the New York Times$ -- 3/10/14
Two decades of budget expenditures, revenue -- Legislative budget subcommittee hearings on Gov. Jerry Brown's January spending plan are in full swing, with lawmakers, administration officials, the Legislative Analyst's Office and others debating the proposal's finer points. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/10/14
Fox: Fracking Debate Dilemma for Democrats -- The hydraulic fracturing issue got the most attention at this weekend’s state Democratic convention with protestors haranguing Governor Jerry Brown during his address. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 3/10/14
Survey: Kaiser leads in customer satisfaction, Blue Shield ranks last -- For the seventh consecutive year, Kaiser Permanente ranked highest in customer satisfaction for health insurance among California policyholders, according to ratings firm J.D. Power & Associates. Chad Terhune in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/14
Some San Francisco workers earn $300,000-plus thanks to OT -- Thanks to ample overtime - especially at the Fire Department - more than 700 San Francisco city workers took home wages in excess of $200,000 last year. That included 20 who collected more than $300,000 apiece. Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/10/14
Rand Paul Is Taking His Anti-NSA Message to Berkeley -- The early 2016 Republican front-runner thinks he can win over young voters worried about their privacy. Shane Goldmacher National Journal -- 3/10/14
Barbara Boxer to join all-nighter on climate change -- The action is part of a strategy that Boxer outlined earlier this year to push back against climate-change deniers and raise public visibility of the issue in hopes of forcing Congress to pass legislation aimed at reducing carbon-dioxide emissions. Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/10/14
Farewell to a Towering Californian -- A quiet giant in California’s civic affairs passed away last weekend. Loren Kaye Fox & Hounds -- 3/10/14
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Longtime business leader William Hauck dies -- Mr. Hauck died Friday evening at Sutter Roseville Medical Center after an eight-month battle with brain cancer, said Rick Brandsma, a close family friend. He was 73. Dan Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/10/14
Democrat-vs.-Democrat races intensify divide in California party -- For the party that dominates blue state California, 2014 could be a year of the great divide - one that pits "business Democrats" against "labor Democrats" in key campaigns and at the polls. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/10/14
California Democrats in good shape for now, but registration slide, party tensions loom large -- As California Democrats decamped from their annual convention and dispersed from Los Angeles on Sunday, they looked ahead to the year’s elections from a deep-seated position of strength: They have been holding every statewide office and a supermajority in the Legislature, and challenges to the party’s highest-profile candidates, including Gov. Jerry Brown, are marginal at best. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/10/14
State Democrats' meeting ends on fractious note -- As their L.A. convention closes, California Democrats disagree with their governor, Jerry Brown, on fracking and legalization of pot. Michael Finnegan and Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/14
California Democrats, eye on election, adopt activist agenda -- California Democrats wrapped up their annual convention on Sunday with an appeal to their progressive base even as leaders vowed to stay on a centrist path that has won wide popularity for Governor Jerry Brown and firm control over the state legislature. Sharon Bernstein Reuters -- 3/10/14
Democratic candidates fail to secure endorsements at convention -- Despite fervent courting of delegates at the California Democratic Party convention this weekend, no statewide candidate in a contested race received enough votes to capture the party’s endorsement, an official said Sunday. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/14
Skelton: Water fight pits farmer against farmer -- Forget farmers vs. fishermen — or south state vs. north state. California's current water war is being waged most intensely by farmers against fellow farmers. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/14
Walters: Once again, workers’ compensation tinged with scandal -- When the FBI conducted a years-long undercover investigation of influence-peddling in the state Capitol during the 1980s, agents posed as businessmen seeking special state treatment for a fictional shrimp-processing plant. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/10/14
Asians rally against SCA 5, call it revival of Affirmative Action -- Asians in the San Gabriel Valley and beyond joined forces Friday to rally against a proposed Senate constitutional amendment that they said would punish their children for working hard to achieve the American Dream. Zen Vuong in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/10/14
State oversight may tame California’s medical marijuana industry -- A California lawmaker has introduced legislation to regulate the state’s free-wheeling medical marijuana industry — the farmers that grow the drug, the hundreds of storefront shops that sell it and especially the doctors who write recommendations allowing people to use it. Lisa Leff Associated Press -- 3/10/14
Bipartisan effort would create task force to combat metal theft -- California lawmakers for years have been battling ravenous metal thieves, who pull copper wires out of street lights, grab rebar from construction sites, and steal pumps and other costly equipment from farmers' fields. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/14
California prisons' solitary units - necessary or inhumane? -- Tucked within the sweeping green hills here is one of California's high-security prisons, and within it a cellblock for the worst of the worst inmates, where a visit requires a protective vest and three authorization checkpoints. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/10/14
State Sen. Noreen Evans faces uphill battle on oil tax -- It has been killed repeatedly in the state Legislature or at the ballot box, but the backers of an oil severance tax hope 2014 is the year to get it done. History is not on their side. John Howard Capitol Weekly -- 3/10/14
State lawmakers to confront massage industry oversight -- California lawmakers will take another stab Monday at how to regulate massage establishments, which have been proliferating faster than coffee shops. Timm Herdt in the Ventura Star$ Laura Olson in the Orange County Register$ -- 3/10/14
Kelly Thomas case prompts counties to take fresh look at Laura's Law -- Twelve-year-old state law allows court-ordered treatment of mentally ill adults. So far, only tiny Nevada County has fully implemented it. Paloma Esquivel in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/14
Issa: Longing for the Private Sector? -- Rep. Darrell Issa says he is running for re-election, but he may return to the private sector sooner rather than later. Grace Dobush Roll Call -- 3/10/14
Calbuzz: Merv Field at 93: A Tribute to California’s “Swami” -- Mervin Field, a pioneer in using non-partisan public opinion research to analyze and interpret politics, will be feted, honored and gushed over by friends, colleagues and neighbors on his Marin County hometown turf tonight. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 3/10/14
Economy, Employers and Jobs
Judge finds no ‘vested right’ to spiked pensions -- A superior court judge last week said he plans to uphold a key part of a new state law that curbs ‘spiking’ in county retirement systems, notorious for giving retirees pensions that are much higher than the salaries they earned on the job. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 3/10/14
Gas prices may jump from California emissions law -- California's greenhouse gas reduction law already has shaken up the state's industrial sector, costing it more than $1.5 billion in pollution permit fees. It's now poised to hit the pocketbooks of everyday Californians. Jason Dearen and Don Thompson Associated Press -- 3/10/14
Safeway's new owner not afraid to make changes -- In 2006, Cerberus Capital Management bought more than 600 Albertsons grocery stores, including more than 170 in Northern California. Today, following dozens of store closures and the sale of dozens more, not a single Albertsons is left in Northern California. Heather Somerville in the Contra Costa Times$ -- 3/10/14
Retirees return to old LAX power plant to help usher in new utility -- Retired engineers have been the transition team running LAX's old utility while current workers prepare to open the new plant Tuesday. Bob Pool in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/14
Women find opportunities in construction fields -- There was a time not that long ago, Karen Hansen mused Saturday, that she would be hard-pressed to find five women to sit on a panel on construction. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/10/14
Drought
Where local drought money goes -- North County avocado farmers irrigating their groves with all recycled water. Residents of the southeast San Diego working-class neighborhood of Encanto enjoying a revitalized Chollas Creek, a respite in a sea of concrete. And dozens of homeowners cashing rebate checks in return for tearing out thirsty lawns. Michael Gardner UT San Diego$ -- 3/10/14
HOAs get real about water shortage -- When residents at Regency Villas in University City got a peek of the condo complex’s drought-resistant landscaping during a clubhouse reception last week, it was a watershed moment, said community association manager Pamela Walker. Deborah Sullivan Brennan UT San Diego$ -- 3/10/14
Education
Crisis over: California gets waiver for Common Core field tests without penalties -- California will not face penalties or multimillion-dollar fines from the federal government for giving all students a preliminary test on the new Common Core standards, instead of on the old state standards that California has abandoned. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 3/10/14
Innovative San Jose alternative school bucks ‘school of last resort’ label -- Small classes. Individualized instruction. Ready access to counselors and a school nurse. The latest technology. Focused students. An expanded school day. Susan Frey EdSource -- 3/10/14
Testing waiver clears path for accountability update -- In what is likely to be an historic step in transforming how California schools are graded for student success, the board of education this week is expected to officially suspend for two years the state’s school-performance measurement tool known as the API. Kimberly Beltran Cabinet Report -- 3/10/14
Hundreds of districts, partnerships signal interest in ‘career pathways’ grant program -- Competition is shaping up to be fierce for a new state grant program supporting programs that link academics with real-world career opportunities. Michelle Maitre EdSource -- 3/10/14
Environment
Feds deny permits on project to widen Guadalupe River at Alviso -- A $9.6 million plan that would widen the lower Guadalupe River in Alviso, providing more access to boaters by removing thick sediment, bulrushes and tule reeds, has hit a possibly fatal setback, with federal officials denying it necessary permits. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/10/14
Health
Obamacare: Fifteen percent of Covered California enrollees haven't paid -- With less than a month left to sign up for private insurance under the federal health care law, California's enrollment numbers are closing in on the magic number of 1 million as 8,000 people sign up every day. Tracy Seipel in the Santa Cruz Sentinel -- 3/10/14
Prices of new hepatitis C drugs are tough to swallow for insurers -- Hepatitis C drugs Sovaldi and Olysio offer much better cure rates than other therapies, but they can cost up to $1,000 a pill, a potentially staggering cost to taxpayers and health plans. Chad Terhune and Eryn Brown in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/14
E-cigarettes face restrictions as cities update smoking ordinances -- Electronic cigarettes, touted as a smokeless alternative to regular cigarettes, are coming under increased scrutiny as cities and counties consider applying the same restrictions to e-cigarettes as to their tobacco counterparts. Cathy Locke in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/10/14
Also . . .
6.9 earthquake in Northern California felt as long and slow -- A magnitude 6.9 earthquake off the coast of Eureka in Northern California on Sunday night was felt as long and slow by residents from San Francisco to southern Oregon. Shelby Grad in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/14
Motorists on the 118 Freeway notice this smile marker -- Happy Face Hill's huge smiley face welcomes motorists to Simi Valley. Thanks to solar lamps, the grin now has even more sparkle. Bob Pool in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/14
Hiltzik: Cultural production of ignorance provides rich field for study -- Robert Proctor is one of the world's leading experts in agnotology, a neologism signifying the study of the cultural production of ignorance. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/14
United Airlines cracks down on oversized carry-on bags -- The crackdown on oversized bags is an effort to address what United says is one of the biggest gripes among its passengers: The overhead bins are so overstuffed with carry-on bags that the boarding process is often bogged down as fliers try to find space for their luggage. Hugo Martín in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/10/14
Beltway
Big business takes on tea party, gently -- Big Business swore this would be the year it would wrestle back the soul of the Republican Party from the grip of the tea party. Anna Palmer Politico -- 3/10/14