Updating . .   

New federal indictment accuses ex-Sheriff Lee Baca of obstructing justice, lying to authorities -- A federal grand jury on Friday indicted former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca on charges of obstructing justice and lying to federal investigators concerning operations at the troubled county jail system. Joel Rubin, Cindy Chang and Shelby Grad in the Los Angeles Times$ Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 8/5/16

Tax for homeless housing to top LA’s measures on November ballot -- The Los Angeles City Council voted Friday on the order of four measures that will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot. The order must be approved by the Los Angeles County Registrar’s office. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 8/5/16

8 dead, 350 square miles burned, 300 homes destroyed since June in grim beginning to California fire season -- Several forces have come together to make this fire season so difficult, with the five-year drought being just one. An unprecedented bark-beetle infestation that’s killed 66 million trees since 2010 won’t subside for years, even if California’s rainfall returns to average, Moore said. Joseph Serna and Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

Prison not recommended for Rep. Bera’s dad in election fraud sentence -- Federal prosecutors are raising strong objections to a probation officer's advice that the father of Rep. Ami Bera, D-Elk Grove, should not be sentenced to prison for election fraud involving the finances of his son's campaign committee. Denny Walsh in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/5/16

Sacramento County resident becomes first person in California to die of West Nile virus -- A Sacramento County senior citizen became the first person in California to die of West Nile virus this year, the state Department of Public Health announced Friday. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/5/16

US Senate candidates Harris and Sanchez on the issues -- In November, voters will get a chance to elect a new U.S. senator for California. That hasn't happened in 24 years. Competing for retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer's seat are two Democrats — California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Orange County. Brooke Ruth KPBS -- 8/5/16

Five things we learned from the surprisingly strong July jobs report -- The second straight month of surprisingly strong job growth shows the labor market has regained its health after a springtime stumble, and economists welcomed the news after recent signs of weakness in the broader U.S. economy. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

Ex-San Jose firefighter among London stabbing spree victims -- Reached by phone in England on Friday, Marty Hoenisch said he came face-to-face with the attacker just moments after the first victim was stabbed. He tried to confront the man, but he ducked past Hoenisch. Mark Gomez in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/5/16

Union calls for resignation of mayor amid strip poker claim -- A police union has called for the resignation of a California mayor who prosecutors say audio-recorded a game of strip poker that included a 16-year-old boy and at least four other young adults at a camp for underprivileged children run by the mayor. Janie Har and Kristin J. Bender Associated Press -- 8/5/16

California Politics Podcast: Legislature's Last Lap -- The Legislature's last big month of 2016 and the clash over climate change and more. We also discuss the political fallout from the missing Democratic assemblyman, and our weekly political side dishes. With John Myers of the Los Angeles Times, Marisa Lagos of KQED News and Anthony York of the Grizzly Bear Project. Link here -- 8/5/16

Poll: Silicon Valley Republicans fleeing Trump -- Meg Whitman is hardly the only Silicon Valley Republican ditching Donald Trump for Hillary Clinton, a new poll shows. Trump is commanding support from only 54 percent of likely GOP voters in Santa Clara County, according to the survey conducted by Moore Methods. Matthew Artz in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/5/16

San Diego roadside sign hacked with profane message about Trump -- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump loves to see his name in lights, with his moniker commanding attention atop buildings and casinos. Joshua Stewart in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

Donald Trump’s new team of billionaire advisers could threaten his populist message -- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday announced a new team of ultra-rich financiers and businessmen as his core economic advisers, a move that brings high-profile names to his inner circle but also may step on his populist claims to save America's middle class. Jim Tankersley in the Washington Post$ -- 8/5/16

Diaz: Why Chronicle made its Clinton endorsement so early -- The presidential endorsement is typically the last in a series of general-election recommendations. Until now, the earliest presidential endorsement of the five in my tenure had come on Oct. 17. This year, our endorsement of Hillary Clinton arrived first. Then again, this is no ordinary election year. John Diaz in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/5/16

California Policy & Politics This Morning   

California cap and trade could go to ballot -- The fight to extend California’s climate change program could mean putting the issue before voters, a top aide to Gov. Jerry Brown said on Thursday as the governor launched a new ballot measure committee. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

SoCal Gas hopes to reopen gas field that leaked by September -- Southern California Gas Company is making progress toward its goal of reopening the underground storage field at Aliso Canyon, the company's chief executive said Thursday. Sharon McNary KPCC -- 8/5/16

Consumer group accuses refiners of keeping California gasoline prices unusually high -- A consumer advocacy group accused oil refiners of intentionally keeping California’s gasoline prices higher than in the rest of the nation to bolster profits, despite growing inventories and falling wholesale prices. Ivan Penn in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

Torrance oil refinery scoffs at consumer group’s ‘smoking gun’ claim on gasoline price fixing -- A nonprofit group that has repeatedly accused the oil industry of collusion to keep gasoline prices high in California reiterated that charge Thursday, pointing to new earnings reports, price data and remarks made by PBF Energy, the owner of the Torrance refinery. Nick Green in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 8/5/16

California lawmakers move toward limiting police seizures of property without a criminal conviction -- Major law enforcement groups and state Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) have reached a deal on legislation to limit the ability of police in California to permanently seize cars, cash, homes and other property from suspected criminals without a conviction, potentially paving the way for California to join the growing list of states that have reined in the practice. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

'Ready for Hillary' hangman tweet leads to local GOP official's resignation -- The Riverside County Republican Party official who tweeted a picture of a hooded hangman with the phrase “I’m Ready for Hillary” on Thursday resigned from his job with the state Board of Equalization. Nathan Miller, a local party official and aide to Board of Equalization member Diane Harkey, accepted responsibility for the tweet, said Russell Lowery, a spokesman for Harkey’s office. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/5/16

Kevin De León endorses Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate in California -- Democrat Kamala Harris, laboring to coalesce support from California Latino leaders for her U.S. Senate bid against Rep. Loretta Sanchez, announced endorsements Thursday from Senate President Kevin de León, Sen. Ricardo Lara and former Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/5/16

San Francisco crime boss ‘Shrimp Boy’ Chow gets life, insists he’s innocent -- Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow, sentenced to life in prison for racketeering and murder as the leader of a venerable Chinatown community organization, said Thursday he was an innocent victim of dishonest prosecutors, a biased judge and incompetent defense attorneys. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ Sudhin Thanawala Associated Press -- 8/5/16

Effort to give big development projects environmental relief passes the Assembly with overwhelming support -- A bill that would give some legal environmental relief to mega-development projects across California, which would probably include four in Los Angeles, overwhelmingly passed the Assembly on Thursday. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

Hundreds attend funeral for slain SDPD Officer Jonathan De Guzman -- Flowers lined the entrance Thursday to Corpus Christi Catholic Church where friends, family, fellow law enforcement officers and members of the public gathered in Bonita for the first of two memorial services to honor slain San Diego police officer Jonathan De Guzman. Debbi Baker in the San Diego Union-Tribune$

Stockton Mayor Silva arrested; charges include crimes against children -- Anthony Silva was arrested Thursday morning at his Mayor’s Youth Camp in Silver Lake and charged with playing strip poker with naked teenagers, providing alcohol to minors and illegally recording the activities that are said to have occurred at last year’s camp in the wee hours of Aug. 7, 2015. Roger Phillips in the Stockton Record Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ Joaquin Palomino and Cynthia Dizikes in the San Francisco Chronicle Nashelly Chavez and Bill Lindeloff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/5/16

Democratic congressional challenger gets backing of Lancaster's Republican mayor -- R. Rex Parris, the Republican mayor of Lancaster, said the last Democrat he endorsed was Kathleen Brown back in 1994 when she was lost her bid challenging GOP Gov. Pete Wilson. Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

Wardens at two women's prisons retire amid abuse, suicide claims -- The wardens at California's two major women's prisons have retired amid allegations of pervasive problems, including sexual abuse of inmates at one institution and persistent suicides at the other. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 8/5/16

Walters: John Chiang’s campaign money haul puts him in game against Newsom -- California’s political cognoscenti took notice this week when state Treasurer John Chiang reported raising $2.3 million in the first 45 days of his campaign for governor. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/5/16

Former DWP security chief's suit alleges he was fired for exposing illegal acts -- A former security chief at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is suing the municipal utility, alleging that he was fired for complaining about security gaps and illegal actions by other employees. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

After 'very embarrassing' blunders, prosecutors offer no-jail deals in L.A. Coliseum corruption case -- Two concert promoters accused in a bribery-and-embezzlement scheme involving raves at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will avoid serving any jail time under a plea bargain with prosecutors who acknowledged, for the second time, that they mishandled evidence in the high-profile corruption case. Rong-Gong Lin II, Paul Pringle and Marisa Gerber in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

SFPD union’s dog photo called insult to Black Lives Matter cause -- The union representing San Francisco police officers published a photograph of two dogs in its monthly newspaper that critics say belittles the Black Lives Matter movement and raises questions about the police force’s commitment to repairing its relationship with communities of color. Vivian Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/5/16

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions      

Homeland security to Silicon Valley: We need drones -- Last week, technology entrepreneurs filled a Menlo Park conference room, where officials spelled out their needs — drones small and light enough to launch easily and fly over vast stretches of desert. The machines would look for questionable activity, scan faces of suspects and compare them against a database for prior criminal history. Wendy Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/5/16

Amateur drone operators soon could face high-tech barriers -- Something weird happened to Duncan Sinfield's drone shortly after he was told by a security guard to stop flying over a tech company's campus in the heart of Silicon Valley. It flew off, defying attempts to control it, and headed for a watery demise. Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/5/16

New deal for Cache Creek casino tribe; others settle union fight -- The Brown administration announced casino pacts between the state and several tribes Thursday, including a deal with the tribe that operates Cache Creek Casino Resort in Yolo County and other agreements that could end years of bad blood between some tribes and organized labor. Jim Miller and Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/5/16

Gov. Brown Signs 25-Year Compact Between State And Jamul Casino -- Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday signed a 25-year gaming compact between the state and Jamul Indian Village, setting the terms under which the tribe will operate its soon-to-open casino. The tribe's Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego is slated to begin operating by the end of summer in East County. KPBS -- 8/5/16

Grocery strike averted: Workers reach tentative deal with Ralphs and Albertsons -- Southern California grocery workers have reached a tentative labor agreement with the Ralphs and Albertsons chains. The move averts the immediate threat of a strike that could have roiled some of the region's largest supermarket chains. Shan Li in the Los Angeles Times$ Nancy Luna in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 8/5/16

Sempra Energy posts lower earnings; costs rise for the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak -- The San Diego-based company, parent of Southern California Gas and San Diego Gas & Electric, reported earnings of $16 million, or 6 cents a share, compared with $295 million, or $1.17 a share, in the second quarter of 2015. Revenue fell 8.9% to $2.16 billion. Rob Nikolewski in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

Hotel development booming in California -- California, like the rest of the country, is in the midst of a hotel building boom, with more than 17,000 rooms under construction and 84,000 more in the pipeline. Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 8/5/16

Home Prices in the Bay Area Push Builders, Buyers to More Distant Suburbs -- With median home prices in San Francisco hovering near $1 million, developers are looking to the far reaches of the Bay Area and beyond in search of affordable land on which to build. And buyers are taking the plunge, sometimes in places as distant as Sacramento, more than 80 miles from the city. Chris Kirkham in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 8/5/16

Education 

Los Rios community colleges face enrollment slide as economy improves -- The improved economy is taking a toll on the Los Rios Community College District. As more college-age adults have found jobs, enrollment has been flat or down for three straight years and shows no sign of changing course. Loretta Kalb in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/5/16

Getting ready for preschool by focusing on child and family mental health -- Getting preschoolers ready for their first day of class involves a daunting checklist – school supplies, transportation plans, new budgets – but for children and families who have experienced trauma, the preparations can be even more complex. Dorian Merina KPCC -- 8/5/16

Federal investigators cite harsh discipline in special education at Bay Area school -- Stuart Candell was a 9-year-old, underweight, intellectually gifted student with autism, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder when, with the consent of his parents, his home school district Oakland Unified placed him at the Anova Center for Education Contra Costa in 2013. Jane Meredith Adams EdSource -- 8/5/16

Environment 

California Agencies Warn Of Harmful Algal Blooms Across State -- Water regulators and public health agencies are warning Californians to avoid contact with water containing blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria. The algal blooms are occurring all over the state - in San Luis Reservoir, Lake Shasta and Oroville, coastal and inland areas and even in the Sierra. Amy Quinton Capital Public Radio -- 8/5/16

Ain’t no cure for Southern California’s summertime smog -- If the smog seems terrible this summer, well, it is. In June, Southern California’s ocean-to-mountains air basin had just four days of healthy air. David Danelski in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 8/5/16

Health 

Two babies in California born with microcephaly from Zika, officials say -- Two babies in California were born with microcephaly after their mothers were infected with Zika virus, state health officials said Thursday. The mothers had traveled to countries with outbreaks of the illness before becoming infected. Officials would not release any more information about the women or the babies. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

Also . . . 

2 years later, shooting of Ezell Ford still mired in controversy -- Nearly two years after Los Angeles Police Department officers shot and killed Ezell Ford, his family and the officers who fired the fatal shots are still in limbo about what will happen to both sides' claims — the officers' allegations they did nothing wrong and the family's claims that Ford’s civil rights were violated. Chris Keller and Frank Stoltze KPCC -- 8/5/16

Former L.A. County sheriff's deputies lose appeal in obstruction of justice case -- A federal appeals court Thursday upheld the convictions of seven former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies on charges they tried to thwart an FBI investigation into county jails. Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

Traffic worker fatally shot in Venice leaves behind a 1-year-old daughter -- Marvin Ponce was at the end of his shift about 4 p.m.Wednesday and cleaning up traffic control equipment when a man dressed in black approached him, aimed a chrome revolver and opened fire. Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

POTUS 44

How being a dad made Obama a feminist -- To celebrate his 55th birthday, President Obama penned a piece for Glamour magazine about being a feminist. Jessica Roy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/5/16

Beltway 

Two new polls put Donald Trump further back than Mitt Romney ever was -- The best polling news for Donald Trump on Thursday was that an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll had him down only nine points to Hillary Clinton. That survey was released a little while after a poll from McClatchy/Marist that showed Trump down 15 points, pulling only 33 percent of the vote. Philip Bump in the Washington Post$ -- 8/5/16

Trump team projects optimism amid dire poll numbers -- There's plenty of time to make up ground, campaign chairman Paul Manafort says. Nick Gass Politico -- 8/5/16

Trump continues to claim, with no evidence, that Iran released a video of a cash transfer from the U.S. -- Donald Trump continued to say on Thursday that he has seen video footage taken by the Iranian government that shows the United States delivering $400 million in cash in January, even though his spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday night that the Republican nominee had instead seen footage of three released American prisoners arriving in Switzerland. Jenna Johnson and Tom Bell in the Washington Post$ -- 8/5/16

-- Thursday Updates 

Should 16-year-olds vote? California puts question on hold -- A constitutional amendment to let California 16-year-olds vote in school board elections has halted for the year. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/16

California Senate reconfirms controversial ag labor board member -- Despite a concerted campaign by growers who objected to her ties to a farmworker union lobbyist, the California Senate on Thursday approved Genevieve Shiroma’s appointment to the Agricultural Labor Relations Board for a fourth time. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/16

2012 overhaul of workers’ compensation has dropped employer costs -- A 2012 overhaul of California’s system of compensation for work-related injuries and illnesses has moderated its employer-paid costs, but they remain, by far, the highest in the nation, according to a new study. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/16

2 California babies born with Zika-related birth defects, officials say -- The two women who gave birth to the infants were infected by the Zika virus infections during pregnancy after spending time in a country where the virus is endemic, said Dr. Karen Smith, state director for the California Department of Public Health. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle Rebecca Plevin KPCC -- 8/4/16

Lead reported in urine of northeast Fresno resident; is water to blame? -- What may be the first positive test for elevated lead in a person’s urine has surfaced in northeast Fresno as residents stew over the pace of the city’s investigation into the corrosion of galvanized plumbing in households. Tim Sheehan in the Fresno Bee -- 8/4/16

Stockton’s mayor arrested on several charges relating to minors -- Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva was booked into jail Thursday on several charges relating to minors at his Mayor’s Youth Camp a year ago in Amador County. Silva, 42, was arrested by the FBI Thursday morning at the Silver Lake, where he was conducting his annual camp, according to Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe. Bill Lindelof in the Sacramento Bee$ Roger Phillips in the Stockton Record -- 8/4/16

Should reserve peace officers be able to buy assault rifles to use on the job? -- A group of reserve law enforcement officers has sued Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris, contending her office has improperly ended a longstanding practice of allowing them to have assault weapons while on duty. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/16

Marijuana legalization campaign sues over ballot arguments -- The California campaign to legalize recreational marijuana filed a lawsuit Thursday in Sacramento Superior Court asking a judge to disallow several of what it deems false or misleading statements submitted by opponents as their official ballot arguments. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/16

Super PAC raises $1M to boost Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate -- It has received six-figure contributions from the Service Employees International Union and SEIU California State Council, as well as the California Professional Firefighters and California School Employees Association, according to Federal Election Commission filings through June 30. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/16

Lane-splitting guidelines for motorcyclists -- California has become the first state in the nation to formalize the practice of lane splitting after state Assembly members on Thursday passed a bill authorizing the California Highway Patrol to establish guidelines for motorcyclists on how to do it safely. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/16

This Assemblyman gets $176 a day to work in Sacramento — even though he can't work, per doctor's orders -- Assemblyman Roger Hernández, who was booted from his committee posts this summer after a judge issued a domestic violence restraining order against him, continues to draw per diem payments for travel-related expenses to Sacramento despite being absent from work and on medical leave. Melanie Mason, Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/16

Running as terror expert, Sanchez misses many anti-terror panel meetings -- California U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez, who points to expertise in homeland security issues as a reason for Californians to elect her to the U.S. Senate this fall, has missed more than half the hearings of the House Committee on Homeland Security since she first joined the influential panel 13 years ago. Sean Cockerham in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/16

Former Republican congressman backs Loretta Sanchez for Senate -- Former Republican Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon of Santa Clarita crossed party lines to endorse Democrat Loretta Sanchez for U.S. Senate, citing her expertise on military and national defense issues. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/16

San Bernardino Attack Drove Spike in Local Hate Incidents Against Muslims -- Hate-motivated incidents against Muslims in Orange County and throughout Southern California skyrocketed last year, with the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino driving the increase, according to organizations that track the incidents. David Washburn VoiceofOC.org -- 8/4/16

The Big 5: California’s top political donors -- High-profile unions, companies and trade groups spend tens of millions of dollars on political candidates and causes every election cycle, but five deep-pocketed Californians have collectively given $46.6 million since 2013. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/16

L.A.'s longest-serving police commissioner is stepping down -- The 61-year-old became a distinct voice championing changes within the LAPD, urging the department to be more transparent and challenging top brass, including the chief. Kate Mather in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/16

Napster co-founder Sean Parker once vowed to shake up Washington — so how's that working out? -- The 36-year-old Silicon Valley oligarch once vowed to rattle the established order of Washington. But several years into a multiplatform, multimillion-dollar effort that seeks to transform politics through technology, campaign cash and a few big ideas, the renowned rule-breaker is finding that the rules of politics are not easily broken. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/16

Fox: Contrary Goals of the Tobacco Tax -- What is the tobacco tax increase for? Is the tax proposed in Proposition 56 to reduce smoking or to gain revenue? It seems the proponents’ goal is to be all things—a deterrent to smoking by raising the cost, plus raising revenue mostly for health care. Can they really have it both ways? Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 8/4/16

Apple gets OK to start selling solar power from Monterey County and other sites -- Apple can start reaping the fruits of its $850 million Monterey County solar power investment, along with electricity from its solar facilities in Nevada and Arizona. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/4/16

Environmentalists sue, seek to stop oil wells in protected aquifer -- Environmentalists sued state agencies Wednesday to halt oil well injections into a federally protected aquifer near California’s Central Coast. Brian Melley Associated Press -- 8/4/16

In heat of the campaign, White House and Clinton face questions about $400-million payment to Iran -- As the White House and Hillary Clinton faced questions Thursday about a $400-million cash payment to Iran early this year, there was a bit of shared incredulity that it has suddenly become an issue in the presidential campaign. Michael A. Memoli in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/16

Gaps in Melania Trump's immigration story raise questions -- A racy photo shoot is prompting fresh scrutiny of the would-be first lady's early visits to the United States. Ben Schreckinger and Gabriel Debenedetti Politico -- 8/4/16

Polls: Clinton Pulling Ahead in Battleground States -- Hillary Clinton has widened her lead over Donald Trump in several states, including battlegrounds like New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Colorado, as more voters say the business mogul is not qualified to be president, according to polls from those states. Stephanie Akin Roll Call Philip Bump in the Washington Post$ -- 8/4/16