Updating . .
Bill would cap out-of-state enrollment at University of California -- Assemblymen Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, and Jose Medina, D-Riverside, on Tuesday announced a proposal to withhold state funding from UC unless it caps the amount of out-of-state and international undergraduates on its campuses at their current level of 15.5 percent systemwide. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/26/16
Students criticize CSU tuition increase proposal -- A draft plan to buffer funding for the California State University system by raising tuition automatically each year attracted attacks from nearly all corners at Tuesday’s California State University trustee meeting in Long Beach. Adolfo Guzman-Lopez KPCC -- 1/26/16
California independents have three choices for presidential primary -- California’s top-two primary law makes a voter’s party affiliation – or lack thereof – almost moot. In congressional and legislative contests, people can vote for anyone, regardless of party, and the two candidates with the most votes advance to a November runoff. But party still matters in presidential races. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/26/16
California to release more reservoir water thanks to El Niño storms -- California officials offered some good news Tueday amid the throes of the continuing drought, announcing they’ll likely have a little more water to release from the state’s mountain-fed reservoirs this year because of wet weather. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/26/16
Officials say California has more snow than the drought-stricken state has seen in five years -- Recent El Nino storms have boosted the Sierra Nevada snowpack to 115 percent of normal — more than the drought-stricken state has seen in five years, officials said Tuesday. The electronic reading by the state Department of Water Resources was the highest since it reached 129 percent in 2011. Scott Smith Associated Press -- 1/26/16
After a Million Miles, BART Cars Are Hella Old -- According to the American Public Transportation Association, BART is home to the oldest big-city commuter rail fleet in the nation. The typical useful life span of these cars is about 25 years. The average age of BART’s fleet (as of 2010, when the study was done) is 30 years. Adam Grossberg and Alan Toth KQED -- 1/26/16
California Regulators Propose New Round of Rules for Uber, Lyft -- Nearly two weeks after California regulators struck Uber with a $7.6 million fine, an administrative law judge with the California Public Utilities Commission has proposed an updated set of guidelines for ride services that stop short of requiring more rigorous background and fingerprint checks for drivers. Bryan Goebel KQED -- 1/26/16
Trump will skip Thursday's GOP debate -- Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told reporters that Trump would not join Thursday’s debate and that plans are instead in the works for a competing event. Shane Goldmacher Politico -- 1/26/16
Farming Industry Balks at Obamacare Requirements -- Obamacare is throwing the agricultural industry into a tailspin. Farm labor contractors who must now offer their workers health insurance are complaining loudly about the cost in their already low-margin business. April Dembosky KQED -- 1/26/16
Super Bowl shutdown at top Golden Gate Bridge sightseeing spot -- One of the most popular viewing areas of the Golden Gate Bridge will be shut down to cars later this week in an attempt by officials to prevent Super Bowl-related gridlock on the majestic span. Kale Williams in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/26/16
Daily fantasy sports industry targets California assemblyman -- Amid a legal fight over the daily fantasy sports industry's fate, a group representing businesses like FanDuel and DraftKings has launched an advertising campaign targeting a California lawmaker who labeled the practice illegal gambling and voted against authorizing it in law. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/26/16
Millennials at Cal State Long Beach mull whether to get health insurance, or pay fines -- Millions of young adults healthy enough to think they don’t need insurance face painful choices this year as the sign-up deadline approaches for President Barack Obama’s health care law. Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Associated Press -- 1/26/16
Home prices jump in L.A. and Orange counties -- and soar in San Francisco -- Home prices in Los Angeles and Orange counties jumped 6.2% in November compared with a year earlier, and prices in San Francisco kept soaring, according to results from the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index released Tuesday. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/26/16
The problem with your lottery tickets and school funding -- Lottery commercials and billboards plastered around the state suggest that the long-shot gamble of buying a lottery ticket can not only make you rich but also make you a better person. Sonali Kohli and Joy Resmovits in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/26/16
He brokered deals for an empire of California charter schools -- and now faces a felony charge -- By the time Steve Van Zant left the Mountain Empire Unified School District in 2013, he had overseen the authorization of more than a dozen charter schools to operate in other districts throughout San Diego County — with several going on to hire his education consulting firm. Maureen Magee in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/26/16
El Niño lets landslide scientists get back to their research -- The El Niño rains pounding the Bay Area are delivering both a threat and an opportunity to some of the region's most precarious hillsides: After four dry winters, scientists are finally getting a chance to gather information that may improve their ability to predict landslides -- a science that has been notoriously imprecise. Emily Benson in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/26/16
Here's why California's new DMV voter registration law won't raise turnout rates anytime soon -- The Motor Voter Act took effect Jan. 1 and made headlines as California became one of the first states to automate voter registration when people visit the Department of Motor Vehicles. Mary Plummer KPCC -- 1/26/16
Super Bowl 50 tickets on track to be most expensive ever -- Tickets to Super Bowl 50 are nearing record price levels, with the average resale price of a ticket now weighing in at $5,178, according to ticket price tracker SeatGeek. Riley McDermid San Francisco Business Times -- 1/26/16
Assemblyman Gatto proposes Parking Bill of Rights: 'The public owns the streets' -- Among the reforms: he'd make permanent a law that sunsets at the end of this year that prohibits cities from giving tickets at expired meters, valets couldn't block the public from using meters or loading zones, and you wouldn't have to pay towing and storage fees if your car is stolen and dumped on a city street. John Rabe KPCC -- 1/26/16
Fox: Hollywood Bigwigs Want to Raise Property Taxes -- The ballot initiative to raise property taxes to pay for poverty programs is starting to report donations from influential Hollywood players. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 1/26/16
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Order could lead to release of e-mails between Brown’s office, CPUC -- The state Public Utilities Commission must justify its refusal to release e-mails that could reveal a behind-the-scenes role for Gov. Jerry Brown in a multibillion-dollar deal with two utilities that shut down a Southern California nuclear power plant, a San Francisco judge ruled Monday. Jaxon Van Derbeken in the San Francisco Chronicle Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/25/16
Owners of 2 businesses in Porter Ranch file lawsuit for losses related to gas leak -- A local realtor and the owners of a nail salon in Porter Ranch are suing the Southern California Gas Company, its parent Sempra Energy, and two California state agencies for revenue lost due to the Aliso Canyon gas leak and other damages. Brian Watt KPCC -- 1/25/16
California gun-seizure backlog remains despite $24 million -- An additional $24 million that was supposed to end the backlog in a unique California firearms seizure program has reduced the waitlist only about 40 percent, according to a report released Monday. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 1/25/16
NFL says it’s ready for a super soaking in Santa Clara -- Santa Clara, where Super Bowl 50 will be played, is getting far less attention than its prestigious neighbor 45 miles to the north. But the South Bay city has at least one big advantage over San Francisco when it comes to outdoor sporting events, especially one held in the middle of an El Niño winter: It gets a lot less rain. Kurtis Alexander and Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/26/16
California Senate backs bill to slow medical marijuana bans -- The California Senate has approved a bill aimed at slowing a rush of cities and counties racing to ban marijuana cultivation. The Senate backed the measure in a 35-3 vote on Monday, sending it to the Assembly. Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press -- 1/25/16
San Mateo judge reprimanded over treatment of women in courtroom -- A veteran San Mateo County judge was reprimanded by the state’s judicial disciplinary agency Monday for conduct demeaning to women in his courtroom, such as asking a prosecutor to get him coffee. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/26/16
Walters: School bonds highlight California’s competing priorities -- A high-stakes political poker game is being played in the backrooms of the Capitol over the seemingly motherhood-and-apple-pie issue of building and renovating schools. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/26/16
Ratings Agency S&P Cautions Against More California Spending -- The ratings agency says California may have less money to work with than it appears, as the stock market slows and the state's retirement costs rise. Ben Bradford Capital Public Radio -- 1/26/16
S&P says California economy might have peaked -- Standard & Poor’s, one of the nation’s top three credit ratings services, has forecast another year of economic growth for the California economy. But in a report released Monday, the agency also warned that the growth may soon end. Allen Young Sacramento Business Journal -- 1/26/16
California official urges insurers to divest from coal -- California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is urging insurers to voluntarily divest from thermal coal, citing the risks of climate change and the danger of losses on assets backing policyholder obligations. Bloomberg -- 1/26/16
San Francisco Supervisor Pushes for Super Bowl Event Reimbursement -- On Tuesday, San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim will introduce emergency legislation to force the city to renegotiate its deal with the NFL over the cost of hosting Super Bowl events. A recently commissioned city budget and legislative analysis estimates the cost of San Francisco’s nine days of fan festivities at nearly $5 million. Sara Hossaini KQED -- 1/25/16
There have been 15 rooftop escapes at O.C. Central Jail, despite push for more security -- Five days after the opening of Orange County’s Central Jail in 1968, an inmate escaped through the roof. Two others followed months later through the unrepaired opening. Tony Saavedra, Ian Wheeler and Meghann Cuniff in the Orange County Register -- 1/26/16
As manhunt for 3 inmates continues, experts dissect why it took the Orange County jail so long to detect the escape -- The escape from Orange County's largest jail probably took only a few minutes. But it took 16 hours for jailers to realize that three dangerous inmates had broken out of the Santa Ana lockup. Richard Winton and James Queally in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/26/16
Expert: Escaped California inmates must have had inside help -- Three California inmates who sawed through a metal grate, crawled through plumbing tunnels and shimmied to freedom down a rope made from bed linens likely had help to pull off the daring plan and also benefited from the complacency of jail staff, security experts said Monday. Gillian Flaccus Associated Press -- 1/25/16
Plastic bag vote looms, but locals proceed anyway -- California’s statewide law banning plastic bags may have been suspended pending the voters’ decision in the November referendum, but cities and counties are moving ahead with their own local bans. Dorothy Mills-Gregg Capitol Weekly -- 1/25/16
San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener: Homeless Tent Camps ‘Need to Go Away’ -- San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener says the city needs to find a prompt and “humane” way to eliminate tent encampments that house a growing number of homeless people. Ted Goldberg KQED -- 1/25/16
Honda, Khanna battle for endorsements in heated House rematch -- The South Bay rematch between longtime San Jose Rep. Mike Honda and fellow Democrat Ro Khanna of Fremont has turned into an increasingly bitter clash of dueling endorsements, with the biggest prize still to come. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/25/16
CA120: Gen X, millennials abound, but oldies decide elections -- California is in the midst of major generational and cultural changes. Nationally, we see the increased influence of Millennials on our culture and waning influence of the Greatest Generation and Silent Generation. Paul Mitchell Capitol Weekly -- 1/25/16
Capitol Weekly Podcast -- The Nooner’s Scott Lay sits down with Capitol Weekly’s John Howard and Tim Foster on the Capitol Weekly Podcast. They talk money, Proposition 13, Gov. Brown, the unfolding drama at the California Coastal Commission and those great, state bathrooms. Link here -- 1/25/16
Lawmakers eye their own districts' underground gas fields -- As methane pours out of a leaking underground gas storage field near Porter Ranch, local lawmakers are looking with concern at gas fields in their own districts. Southern California Gas Company operates three underground storage fields in Los Angeles County and one in Santa Barbara County. Sharon McNary KPCC -- 1/25/16
Abcarian: Poetic justice: Felony charge for maker of anti-Planned Parenthood videos -- I’ve said it all along and will say it again: The antiabortion “sting” videos purporting to trap Planned Parenthood into admitting it harvests and sells aborted fetal parts for profit were as malicious as they were untrue. On Monday in Houston, a grand jury agreed. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/26/16
GOP-Allied Group Cautions on Republican’s ‘Rebuild San Diego’ Plan -- An influential taxpayers group has taken a skeptical look at San Diego Councilman Mark Kersey’s “Rebuild San Diego” ballot proposal to pay for billions in city infrastructure needs. Ken Stone Times of San Diego -- 1/26/16
Saldana challenging Faulconer for re-election -- San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer finally has a re-election opponent with name recognition now that former Assemblywoman Lori Saldana has filed papers to challenge him in the June primary. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/26/16
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee calls for federal probe of Mario Woods killing -- San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee is calling for a federal investigation into the police killing of Mario Woods and the practices of the police force, saying in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch that he was “inviting transparency and accountability” in a bid to repair frayed relations between law enforcement and people of color. Vivian Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/26/16
Former San Francisco officials charged in bribery case turn themselves in -- Three former San Francisco government employees, charged with taking bribes from undercover agents who allegedly sought access to Mayor Ed Lee, turned themselves in Monday and were freed on bail. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/26/16
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls
Santa Clara County to Poll Voters on Potential Sales Tax -- Starting this week, pollsters will call Santa Clara County voters to see if they’re open to a new sales tax to help the region’s homeless population. Jennifer Wadsworth SanJoseinside -- 1/26/16
How Caltrans is studying a pay-per-mile program that could replace the gas tax -- Desperate to grow funds for fixing crumbling roads, Caltrans has begun the first pilot study in the state that would assess motorists by number of miles driven instead of them paying gasoline taxes at the pump. Steve Scauzillo in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 1/25/16
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
New initiative would force San Jose employers to offer more hours to part-timers before hiring additional staff -- Silicon Valley Rising filed formal paperwork on Monday for what they're calling the "opportunity to work" initiative, which could appear on the November ballot in San Jose. Nathan Donato-Weinstein Silicon Valley Business Journal -- 1/26/16
California lawmakers ask for fishery disaster after delay in crab season -- State health officials have delayed the Dungeness crab season since November, citing high levels of domoic acid in crab that make it unsafe for public consumption. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/26/16
Port of Oakland sees upside in losing giant tenant -- To hear Port of Oakland officials tell it, losing terminals operator Ports America — a major tenant — is a blessing in disguise that will create a leaner, meaner seaport. But some maritime experts say the fallout could hurt the port, a vital economic engine that supports tens of thousands of jobs related to overseas cargo. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/25/16
$1 billion insured losses in California fires -- Damage from two destructive Northern California wildfires that killed six and sent thousands fleeing their homes topped $1 billion in insured losses, according to a preliminary estimate by the state's insurance department. Janie Har Associated Press -- 1/25/16
Education
Graduation rates are on the agenda as Cal State trustees meet in Long Beach -- The message from Gov. Jerry Brown in his latest budget proposal could not have been more clear: Cal State schools are not graduating enough students within four years. Carla Rivera in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/26/16
Turkey wants Fremont school board to reject charter school -- A Southern California charter school wants to expand into Fremont, despite a history of financial problems and accusations of it being linked to a controversial Turkish cleric, which its leaders emphatically deny. Rebecca Parr in the Contra Costa Times$ -- 1/26/16
College classes for middle school students? It's happening in Hayward -- The students giggle, squirm and whisper to each other as their instructor gets ready to begin. It’s the start of a typical middle school class except for one thing: these 12-year-olds are taking a college course. Susan Frey EdSource -- 1/26/16
Economic gains brings improvement in poverty rates -- Approximately 44,000 school aged children in California will no longer be living in households considered low-income, according to the latest U.S. Census data, reflecting a positive shift since the recession ended nearly six years ago. Alisha Kirby Cabinet Report -- 1/26/16
Health
California has so far gotten a break from the flu, and it might be helped by the weather -- Two years ago, influenza killed 146 Californians between October and late January. When the flu season ended months later, more than 400 people had died of the infection — an outbreak the state rated "moderately severe." Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/25/16
What's causing the rise in STDs in L.A. County and how can technology help? -- Some public health experts have blamed the heavy use of online dating apps, arguing that they lead to more casual sex among people 25 and younger, who are the most likely to be infected and also the least inclined to seek testing. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/25/16
Also . . .
San Francisco transit agency seeks face-detecting cameras to check streets -- San Francisco’s public transit agency plans to purchase up to 150 cameras marketed for their ability to find and focus on human faces, although city officials insist the devices will monitor only traffic — not people. Sean Sposito in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/25/16
Orange County Sheriff on plunge in marijuana-related arrests: 'It's essentially decriminalized already' -- At the height of recent anti-reefer madness, law enforcement slapped 7,440 people in Orange County with marijuana-related misdemeanor arrests. That was in 2009. Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register -- 1/25/16
AP sources: Bomb in San Bernardino attack was poorly built -- A homemade bomb left behind by the husband and wife who perpetrated a mass shooting at a California social services center failed to detonate because it was poorly constructed, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. Tami Abdollah and Amanda Lee Myers Associated Press -- 1/25/16
Almost 7,500 volunteers are signed up to help count L.A. County's homeless -- As city and county officials gear up for what is promised as a $100-million program to reduce homelessness, thousands of volunteers will hit the streets to document the scale of the problem. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/26/16
Beltway
Democratic town hall takeaways: Little new ground broken with unusual format -- The three Democratic presidential candidates did not quite debate on Monday night. Instead, in one of the last chances for voters to see them before the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1, they took separate questions from the audience of Democrats who plan to caucus. What we noticed: Noah Bierman in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/26/16
Clinton and Sanders Address Voter Skepticism at Iowa Democratic Forum -- Hoping to persuade undecided Democrats with just a week until the Iowa caucuses, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders took on some of the questions that have most dogged their candidacies, from trustworthiness and e-mails to feasibility and socialism. Jennifer Epstein and Margaret Talev Bloomberg Politics -- 1/26/16
Saunders: Greed is Hillary Clinton’s Achilles’ heel -- When Bernie Sanders hits rival Hillary Clinton for taking humongous speaking fees from big banks — notably the $675,000 Goldman Sachs paid her for three speeches while she eyed the Oval Office — he struck Clinton’s Achilles’ heel. Both the former secretary of state and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have cashed in since they left the White House in 2000. Debra J. Saunders in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/26/16