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'You live in some fantasy land': Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom receives flood of criticism on gun and marijuana initiatives -- Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday received a flood of critical remarks from gun owners and others when he opened up a live Q&A session on Facebook in which he invited questions on his gun control measure, Proposition 63, and his initiative to legalize recreational use of marijuana, Proposition 64. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

California decriminalizes prostitution after Gov. Jerry Brown signs bills to aid trafficking victims -- Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday signed more than half a dozen bills that decriminalize prostitution and increase protections for young trafficking victims in court amid growing efforts in California to help children and young adults swept into the trade of forced sex and labor. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/26/16

Brown vetoes bill to raise price of concealed gun permits -- Though often sympathetic to new gun regulations, Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday vetoed legislation that would have allowed sheriffs to raise the price of obtaining a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/26/16

Governor signs bill requiring police officers to lock guns in vehicles -- Gun owners and law-enforcement officers will be required to lock up their firearms if they leave them in an unattended vehicle under legislation Gov. Jerry Brown has signed. Associated Press -- 9/26/16

Gov. Brown signs bills to curb gun thefts from police cars, speed up confiscation of firearms from felons -- Capping a year of major gun control legislation in California, Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday signed a raft of bills including one addressing a series of killing involving firearms stolen from law enforcement vehicles. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

Families of school maintenance workers and bus drivers won't be getting higher death benefits -- Citing the high cost of government employee pensions, Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday vetoed an effort to boost the death benefit paid to families of public school cafeteria workers, maintenance staff and bus drivers. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

Pie-tossing activist prepares to sue Mayor Kevin Johnson -- The activist who hit Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson in the face with a coconut cream pie last week is preparing to file a civil lawsuit against Johnson, who immediately tackled and hit the pie-thrower in the scuffle. Anita Chabria in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/26/16

State Bar facing fiscal crisis -- The agency that protects Californians from unethical lawyers faces an uncertain future because of complaints about its ability to do its job. Lisa Renner Capitol Weekly -- 9/26/16

State watchdog agency to investigate funding of campaign against marijuana legalization measure -- The state campaign watchdog agency will investigate allegations that a Washington, D.C., group failed to properly disclose how it is funding a campaign against Proposition 64, which would legalize recreational use of marijuana in California, according to a letter released Monday. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

Issa Shows He Knows He's in for a Fight -- 8-term California Republican is spending more time in his district. Eric Garcia Roll Call -- 9/26/16

California Politics Podcast: Polls on propositions, new accusations in Silicon Valley congressional race -- The last few days have seen the release of an enormous amount of polling data on some of the most high-profile state propositions this election season. And in many cases, the early reviews from voters are good. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

Fox: Transportation Special Session in Gridlock -- Much like much of the state’s traffic, the legislative special session on transportation/infrastructure is stuck in gridlock. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 9/26/16

Californians To Decide Record-High 650 Local Ballot Measures This November -- When California voters open up their November election ballots, they won't just see 17 statewide propositions. There are a record 650 local ballot measures -- including 425 tax and bond measures that seek to raise or extend local revenues. Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 9/26/16

Donald Trump takes center stage in a Santa Clarita Assembly race attack ad -- The race for an open Assembly seat representing Simi Valley and Santa Clarita is getting punchier as Democrat Christy Smith is lobbing new attacks at Republican Dante Acosta's business. Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

California wildfire forces geothermal plant evacuation -- A wildfire that erupted amid hot, dry conditions and gusty winds in Sonoma County north of San Francisco was burning close a massive geothermal power producing facility on Monday, forcing the evacuation of one of its 14 plants, officials said Monday. Associated Press -- 9/26/16

As Jerry Brown shrinks pile of bills, fate of ‘all-gender’ bathrooms still unknown -- Gov. Jerry Brown signed nearly 90 bills over the weekend and vetoed 24 more, leaving him with 353 measures yet to decide this week, according to Brown’s office. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/26/16

Clinton vs. Trump: The only 30 minutes that matter -- Most of the big debate moments in history came in the encounter’s opening rounds, something Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton would do well to remember. Shane Goldmacher Politico -- 9/26/16

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

This Democrat's legal past both helps and haunts him in California's most competitive congressional race -- When first-time candidate Bryan Caforio explains how he got into politics, he points out that it was his experience as a lawyer that fueled his decision last winter to jump into a heated Los Angeles County congressional race. Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

Bill to ensure San Bernardino terror attack first responders get reimbursed vetoed -- Brown, in a statement issued Sunday, said signing the bill would create a precedent for the state to cover other costs incurred during emergencies. Ali Tadayon in the Los Angeles Daily News$ David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/26/16

No vouchers for families on welfare to buy diapers after Gov. Jerry Brown vetoes plan -- The veto on Assembly Bill 492 came almost two weeks after the governor vetoed a different bill aimed at reducing the cost of diapers, both efforts by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) to help low-income families. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

California eyes unusual power source: its gridlocked roads -- The California Energy Commission is investing $2 million to study whether piezoelectric crystals can be used to produce electricity from the mechanical energy created by vehicles driving on roads. Delara Shakib Associated Press -- 9/26/16

Skelton: The problems with rushing to legalize marijuana for stoner use in California -- Californians seem hot to visit a legal pot shop and smoke a joint or munch a weeded brownie. But driving home could be risky. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

Indian-Americans no sure bet to “fall in line” for Khanna -- Ro Khanna is counting on strong support from his fellow Indo-Americans to catapult him into Congress, but the community is notoriously splintered. Matthew Artz in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/26/16

Vin Scully's last broadcast at Dodger Stadium has a befitting ending -- Late Saturday night, after the Dodgers routed Colorado and made their Sunday clinch of their fourth consecutive division title a near formality, Justin Turner and Adrian Gonzalez exchanged text messages. What could they do to honor the retiring Vin Scully during the last of more than 4,000 games the man described at Dodger Stadium? Pedro Moura in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

'The cheapest buzz you can get on skid row': Officials try to stop homeless from smoking spice after dozens sickened -- When paramedics arrived at downtown’s skid row last Friday in response to a 911 call, they found dozens of people who looked as if they’d overdosed. Many were on the ground, passed out. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

San Francisco police investigating possible hate crime after two tourists pepper-sprayed -- San Francisco police said they are investigating a possible hate crime after two tourists from New York were pepper-sprayed Saturday night by a group of assailants yelling homophobic slurs. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

Kevin Johnson says OK to disagree with him, but ‘don’t revert to violence’ -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson spoke for the first time Sunday night about his run-in with a pie-wielding protester last week but wouldn’t say whether he would press charges against the man accused of being his assailant. Jessica Hice in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/26/16

Calbuzz: Round 1: What the Lying, Corrupt Narcissist Must Do -- There’s one essential challenge facing Republican nominee (!) Donald Trump in Monday night’s First Round debate, and it’s monumental: Stand on the stage at Hofstra University and appear to be a plausible president and commander in chief. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 9/26/16

Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls     

Walters: Tax boosts that target the powerless -- Jerry Brown is fond of aphorisms he may believe sound wryly sage, but often come across as cynical. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/26/16

Homeless     

Deal for San Francisco homeless camp: Keep the peace, get a gift certificate -- With the clunk of a portable toilet plopping down alongside the sidewalk at their shantytown, 20 homeless people in San Francisco began an experiment with the police and a nonprofit agency to try to improve their lives before they inevitably have to tear down their camp. Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/26/16

Housing     

New report shows rents falling in San Jose and San Francisco -- Falling rents? What a concept — especially in the Bay Area, ground zero for out-of-sight rent increases over the past few years. Richard Scheinin in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/26/16

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions 

In a first, CalPERS may cut small town’s pensions -- A CalPERS crackdown on employers that have not been paying into the pension fund could cut the pensions of all four retirees of a small Sierra County city, Loyalton, which stopped making its payments more than three years ago. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 9/26/16

Under pressure from union, L.A. County makes it easier for probation workers with discipline problems to get promotions -- More than 50 employees working inside Los Angeles County’s juvenile lockups received promotions despite a history of disciplinary problems or criminal arrests under a deal county leaders quietly cut earlier this year. Abby Sewell and Garrett Therolf in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

Education 

Brown vetoes bill intended to place more emphasis on test scores -- Sending a strong message endorsing the school accountability system adopted by the State Board of Education, Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed a bill that would have placed more emphasis on standardized test scores in measuring school and district performance. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 9/26/16

An honor for a principal who emphasizes peace at her LA Unified school -- Marcia Reed, principal of 186th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles Unified, was honored this month as a 2016 National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. The association recognizes one outstanding principal in each of the 50 states each year. Michael Janofsky EdSource -- 9/26/16

Environment 

San Francisco launches program to compost dog poop -- San Francisco has a lot of dogs — about 120,000 — and that means 32 million pounds of puppy poop produced each year, with the vast majority of it going into the landfill. The item is in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/26/16

Health 

Outreach to At-Risk Communities Crucial to Diabetes Prevention -- At the senior center in Kerman, Calif., Rosendo Iniguez demonstrates how to cook a more healthful version of empanadas. Although such traditional Latino dishes are typically high in calories, fat and carbs, Iniguez is showing how diabetics can create healthier versions by making simple substitutions. Linda Childers California Health Report -- 9/26/16

Beltway 

Hillary Clinton Struggles Most With Truth About Herself -- Politico fact-checked both candidates for a week. This is what we found. Kyle Cheney, Isaac Arnsdorf, Daniel Lipman and Daniel Strauss Politico -- 9/26/16

Donald Trump’s Week of Misrepresentations, Exaggerations and Half-Truths -- Politico fact-checked both candidates for a week. This is what we found. Kyle Cheney, Isaac Arnsdorf, Daniel Lipman, Daniel Strauss and Brent Griffiths Politico -- 9/26/16

Presidential debate: Despite lead, Clinton faces higher bar -- Despite a small lead in polls, Hillary Clinton faces a more daunting challenge than Donald Trump in tonight’s debate, politics experts say. To woo all-important undecided voters, she’ll need to overcome negative perceptions by presenting herself as a personable candidate with a vision for where she’ll take the country. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 9/26/16

Scope of Trump's falsehoods unprecedented for a modern presidential candidate -- Donald Trump says that taxes in the United States are higher than almost anywhere else on earth. They’re not. He says he opposed the Iraq war from the start. He didn’t. Now, after years of spreading the lie that President Obama was born in Africa, Trump says that Hillary Clinton did it first (untrue) and that he’s the one who put the controversy to rest (also untrue). Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/26/16

5 California Debate Questions for Trump and Clinton -- So here are five questions with roots in California or implications for us that could be asked. Scott Shafer KQED -- 9/26/16

Trump’s reference to Bill Clinton affair underscores his own history of infidelity -- Donald Trump’s threat to seat Gennifer Flowers, who had an extramarital affair with Bill Clinton, in the front row at Monday night’s presidential debate focuses new attention on Trump’s own history of infidelity and could further weaken his support among female voters. Mary Jordan in the Washington Post$ -- 9/26/16

Clinton’s, Trump’s opposition to trade pact dims growth prospects -- Contrary to what you may believe after the debate Monday night between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, a president actually wields little direct control over today’s economy. Thomas Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/26/16

Podcast: This Golden State: If you were the moderator, what would you ask? -- Up to 100-million Americans will tune into the first presidential debate tonight. Scrutiny on the candidates and scrutiny of debate moderator Lester Holt as well. In fact, Donald Trump is already complaining about moderator bias. Randy Shandobil This Golden State -- 9/26/16

Donald Trump's plan for America's schools -- "I'm a tremendous believer in education." So begins a campaign ad for Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump. But what does that mean? Cory Turner and Eric Westervelt NPR -- 9/26/16

Hillary Clinton's plan for America's students -- For nearly as long as she's been in the public eye, Hillary Clinton has counted the well-being of children among her defining causes — from the bestselling 1996 book (and enduring cliche) It Takes A Village to her advocacy for the State Child Health Insurance Program. Anya Kamenetz NPR -- 9/26/16

 

-- Sunday Updates 

Farmers say, ‘No apologies,’ as well drilling hits record levels in San Joaquin Valley -- Two years after Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill designed to limit groundwater pumping, new wells are going in faster and deeper than ever. Farmers dug about 2,500 wells in the San Joaquin Valley last year alone, the highest number on record. Ryan Sabalow, Dale Kasler and Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/25/16

Bullet train route across Big Tujunga Wash meets growing opposition -- The Big Tujunga Wash, among Southern California’s most powerful and least developed rivers, is at ground zero of a growing political battle over the route the California bullet train would take as it enters the Los Angeles basin. Ralph Vartabedian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/25/16

Nursing home magnate rocks Humboldt County with plans to close three of the area’s six facilities -- In remote Humboldt County, where local controversies tend toward medical marijuana dust-ups and billboard blight, a furor has erupted around the fate of three nursing homes – and whether the state will intervene. Marjie Lundstrom in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/25/16

Self-driving trucks threaten one of America’s top blue-collar jobs -- At risk is one of the most common jobs in many states, and one of the last remaining careers that offer middle-class pay to those without a college degree. Natalie Kitroeff in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/25/16

Bay Area wages soaring — but still can’t keep up with housing prices -- The Bay Area’s wages are getting higher, far outpacing most of the country, but more residents are finding their paychecks can’t keep up with the region’s skyrocketing cost of living. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury -- 9/25/16

After plea deal, attacker files defamation lawsuit against victim -- As Yee Xiong prepared to leave the sentencing hearing for a man who sexually assaulted her at an off-campus apartment when they were students, she felt ready to finally put the case behind her after four years. Then, she was handed a $4 million defamation lawsuit. Darcy Costello Associated Press -- 9/25/16

Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center is Ranadive’s high-tech vision sprung to life -- Vivek Ranadive is a creature of Silicon Valley. He built two successful software companies, wears an Apple watch and last year took his employees on a tour of Tesla’s electric car factory. He seeks advice from the man who designed the computer mouse for Steve Jobs. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/25/16

Sinking Millennium Tower’s developer built strictly to code -- The glassy blue Millennium Tower on Mission Street cuts a sleek figure on San Francisco’s downtown skyline. But these days the 58-story building is noteworthy not so much for its $10 million penthouses but for something much less glamorous: its foundation. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/25/16

No legalized pot: Walnut Creek council formally opposes recreational use initiative -- An unwillingness to make marijuana easier for young people to use and concern over rising traffic accident numbers in states where recreational marijuana has been legalized were two motivators for the City Council to formally oppose Proposition 64. Sam Richards in the East Bay Times -- 9/25/16

Scope of Trump's falsehoods unprecedented for a modern presidential candidate -- Never in modern presidential politics has a major candidate made false statements as routinely as Trump has. Over and over, independent researchers have examined what the Republican nominee says and concluded it was not the truth — but “pants on fire” (PolitiFact) or “four Pinocchios” (Washington Post Fact Checker). Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/25/16

Hillary Clinton Struggles Most With Truth About Herself -- Politico fact-checked both candidates for a week. This is what we found. Kyle Cheney, Isaac Arnsdorf, Daniel Lipman and Daniel Strauss Politico -- 9/25/16

6 weeks to go, Clinton and Trump are tied -- The 2016 candidates walk into Monday’s pivotal debate locked in a margin-of-error race. Eli Stokols Politico -- 9/25/16