Updating . .
Janet Napolitano hospitalized, fighting cancer -- University of California President Janet Napolitano was hospitalized this week for side effects related to the treatment of cancer, which was diagnosed in August, UC officials said Tuesday. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/17/17
Trump vs. California: How the battle will be waged -- California lawmakers are bracing for a fight against soon-to-be President Trump and top officials in his administration who have said they will push for policy and legal changes that would threaten several of the state’s progressive laws. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/17/17
California shows low expectations for Trump, but support for some immigration plans -- California's expectations for Donald Trump’s presidency are in the cellar, with little more than a third of voters believing it will be a success, a new Hoover Institution Golden State Poll shows. Carla Marinucci Politico -- 1/17/17
Despite scorn and criticism, these Latino voters don't regret voting for Trump -- Ana Corona came from Mexico to California in 1967, following her father, brothers and sisters and joining millions who would live in the United States illegally. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/17
Startups concerned about Trump’s plans for H-1B visas -- For several months, Subhi Beidas’ career was in limbo. Whether the engineer from Jerusalem could continue working at a San Francisco startup hinged on him landing an elusive H-1B visa, with a 1 in 4 chance of success among thousands of applications, through a lottery process. Wendy Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/17/17
San Francisco housing shortage leaves little room for families -- San Francisco has no official definition of “family housing,” but Heather Hawkins knows what it isn’t. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/17/17
Indictment unsealed as Orlando gunman’s wife appears in court -- Noor Salman, 30, was arrested Monday morning at her home in Rodeo after being indicted Thursday by a grand jury in Orlando on charges of providing material support to a terrorist organization and obstruction of justice associated with her husband’s June 12 shooting rampage at the Pulse nightclub. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/17/17
California’s stem cell agency will run out of money in three years. Should voters OK spending more? -- Evangelina had much to be thankful for. She was born with “bubble baby” syndrome, which meant that she had no functioning immune system. Scientist Donald Kohn of UCLA cured her of the rare affliction by using her own blood stem cells to alter a troublesome gene. It was an experimental treatment not readily available to the public at large. David Jensen in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/17/17
The country's highest paid big-city mayor is reportedly right here in San Francisco -- Francisco isn't the biggest city in the world, but its mayor makes the biggest salary in the United States. Mayor Ed Lee is the highest-paid mayor of a major U.S. city, according to a report from the American City Business Journal. Lee, who is serving a second term, makes $289,000. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/17/17
Fox: Enough Already! More Woe for the High-Speed Rail -- Anyone who thinks the high-speed rail project will be completed within the cost figures projected by the rail authority, I’ve got a bridge to sell you. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 1/17/17
Lost and Found in the City of Angels -- Falling stars are the stuff of Hollywood legend. Early film industry folklore had it that the Pacific coast was littered with the bodies of actors who failed to make the transition from silent movies to sound – victims of suicidal depression. Matt Perry California Health Report -- 1/17/17
'He Is Going to Test Our Democracy as It Has Never Been Tested' -- Sometime early last fall, John Dean says he began having nightmares about a Trump presidency. He would wake in the middle of the night, agitated and alarmed, struggling to calm his nerves. “I’m not somebody who remembers the details of dreams,” he told me in a recent phone call from his home in Los Angeles. “I just know that they were so bad that I’d force myself awake and out of bed just to get away from them.” McKay Coppins The Atlantic -- 1/17/17
Poll: Trump will take office as least popular president in at least 4 decades -- After a tumultuous campaign and transition, President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office Friday as the least popular incoming president in at least four decades, but a majority of Americans nevertheless express optimism that he will be able to fulfill campaign pledges to boost the economy and deal with threats of terrorism, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. Dan Balz and Scott Clement in the Washington Post$ -- 1/17/17
Trump uses social media ads to entice supporters to inaugural festivities -- In an apparent bid to boost attendance at his inaugural festivities, President-elect Donald Trump is advertising on social media with a video in which he asks supporters to join him Friday for “our moment in American history.” John Wagner in the Washington Post$ -- 1/17/17
How a liberal Santa Monica high school produced a top Trump advisor and speechwriter -- Too-cool-for-school upper-class students at Santa Monica High scoffed when administrators in 2002 reinstated a daily recitation of the pledge of allegiance. Lisa Mascaro in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/17
Trump's America: Families Differ as Reagan Country Changes -- The week after Donald Trump was elected president, Dr. Mai-Phuong Nguyen and two dozen other Vietnamese-Americans active in liberal causes gathered in a circle of folding chairs, consoling one another about an America almost beyond comprehension. Now, days before Trump takes the oath of office, Nguyen sits in a restaurant booth in Orange County's neon-lit Little Saigon and studies perhaps the most confounding face of the divide exposed by the election — her father's. Adam Geller Associated Press -- 1/17/17
If thousands march on Washington Saturday, will Trump’s Twitter take note? -- The day after Donald Trump won the presidential election, Carmichael’s Patti Gale told her husband their planned trip to Cape Cod was off. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/17/17
18 million would lose insurance in first year of Obamacare repeal without replacement, CBO report says -- At least 18 million people would lose health insurance in the first year if Republicans move ahead with plans to repeal major portions of the Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan, estimates a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Kelsey Snell in the Washington Post$ -- 1/17/17
California Policy & Politics This Morning
In California, Democratic politicians' plans rest on Sen. Dianne Feinstein's future -- As top California Democrats plot their future career moves, a critical piece of information is missing: Will Sen. Dianne Feinstein seek reelection? Speculation about the 83-year-old senator’s plans took on new urgency this year, as ambitious statewide politicians decide whether to run for governor with Gov. Jerry Brown termed out. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/17
State Farm isn't cutting rates fast enough and could be fined billions, insurance regulator says -- The California Department of Insurance says State Farm is not moving fast enough to lower its rates for homeowners and renters and it could face billions of dollars in fines if it doesn’t speed up the process. James Rufus Koren in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/17
'We are not going back': California Democrats protest GOP efforts to dismantle Obamacare -- Democratic leaders on Monday urged Californians to fight GOP efforts to dismantle Obamacare, saying lives and jobs were at stake. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ Susan Abram in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 1/17/17
L.A. Councilman Mike Bonin proposes full public funding for city campaigns -- A Los Angeles lawmaker called Monday for the city to move to a public financing system for local elections, saying it would help address fears that wealthy donors buy influence at City Hall. Emily Alpert Reyes and David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/17
Walters: Those who use California roads should pay to fix them -- When California was building what became a world-class network of freeways, highways and local roads after World War II, it relied on a simple financial tool called “user pays.” Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/17/17
Former No. 2 in L.A. Sheriff's office surrenders to prison to serve 5-year sentence -- Former Los Angeles County Undersheriff Paul Tanaka surrendered Monday to federal authorities in Colorado to begin serving a five-year prison sentence for conspiracy and obstructing an FBI investigation into deputy jail abuses. Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/17
This Golden State Podcast: Infighting In Resistance-Land -- Some of the very same people Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, vows to shield from the Donald Trump administration are now attacking her, labeling her a fascist. In interviews with This Golden State’s Randy Shandobil, Mayor Schaaf talks about Oakland’s plans to protect immigrants and people of color. Link Here -- 1/17/17
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
American Apparel starts laying off 2,400 workers in Southern California -- American Apparel began to lay off 2,400 workers in Southern California on Monday — kicking off its final chapter as the country’s largest garment maker. Shan Li in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/17
Lefty O’Doul’s proprietor clears out memorabilia, gets legal help -- Flanked by attorneys and former Mayor Willie Brown, but not the sports memorabilia that lent Lefty O’Doul’s its famously cluttered coziness, proprietor Nick Bovis steadfastly insisted Monday that his family owns everything in the place and that he even plans to move the bar after the restaurant closes. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/17/17
Will beef with landlord result in two Lefty O’Doul’s? -- It sounds like the equivalent of a bench-clearing brawl. San Francisco’s legendary Lefty O’Doul’s restaurant and watering hole — a mainstay at Union Square since 1958, when the famed baseball player leased the space — is embroiled in a battle with the building’s landlord over who owns the rights to the name. Linda Zavoral in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/17/17
Venture capital investments in Southern California dropped in 2016 -- Southern California’s flow of venture capital — lifeblood to many young, growing businesses — slowed last year from 2015’s post-recession high. Jonathan Lansner in the Inland Daily Bulletin$ -- 1/17/17
Mountain View’s Moon Express plans moon mining after first launch this year: report -- The first company to get federal approval for a trip to the moon now has enough money for a launch and plans to blast off later this year, a new report said. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/17/17
Trump tweets prompt firms to rethink crisis communication plans -- President-elect Donald Trump’s apparent ability to move markets with a few taps on his Twitter app is prompting a wide array of companies to rethink how they manage their reputations and respond to crises that can hit with an unprecedented combination: the speed of social media and the weight of the White House. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/17/17
Education
Gov. Brown’s proposed budget lacks new funds to combat teacher shortage -- In his proposed budget for the coming year, Gov. Jerry Brown indicated that he wants California to continue addressing the statewide shortage of qualified teachers with ongoing initiatives rather than by funding new reforms. Fermin Leal EdSource -- 1/17/17
Charter school advocates in two states oppose aspects of Trump 'school choice' proposal -- Aspects of President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal for a massive $20 billion “school choice” program are running into resistance from an unexpected source: charter school advocates in at least two states. Louis Freedberg EdSource -- 1/17/17
Cannabis
Many 2016 Emerald Cup winners disqualified for pesticides -- The Emerald Cup has brought an audience of tens of thousands to the Sonoma County fairgrounds each of the last four years, and the contest’s environmental focus sets it apart from other cannabis competitions. Julie Johnson in the Santa Rosa Press -- 1/17/17
Immigration / Border
What taxpayers need to know when cities declare themselves sanctuaries -- Cities across Southern California have named themselves immigrant-friendly "sanctuary cities" as they take a stand against President-elect Donald Trump's pledge to deport millions living in the country illegally. Leslie Berestein Rojas KPCC -- 1/17/17
Health
Stolen laptop may have had data for thousands of patients at Children's Hospital Los Angeles -- A stolen laptop may have contained information about nearly 3,600 Children’s Hospital Los Angeles patients, spurring the hospital to warn families who might have been affected. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/17
Also . . .
Trial in Sierra LaMar disappearance tests ‘no-body’ murder cases -- When Sierra LaMar left her Morgan Hill home one morning in 2012, there was no indication the 15-year-old was headed anywhere besides high school. At 7:11 a.m., around the time she typically headed to her bus stop, she texted a friend to make plans to meet up on campus. Jenna Lyons in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/17/17
Kevin Starr was ‘rarest kind of San Franciscan’ - he loved LA -- Kevin Starr, who many consider to have been California’s greatest historian, was a writer, a teacher, a librarian and an adviser to governors on both sides of the aisle; the kind of charming companion who could make any meal memorable. KPCC -- 1/17/17
Prompted by mosque hate letter, Claremont forms human relations committee -- In November, the Islamic Center of Claremont — which uses Claremont in its name but is based in Pomona — received an anonymous threatening letter that vowed President-elect Donald Trump was going to “cleanse America.” Claremont city leaders quickly denounced the incident and voiced their support for the Muslim Community. Liset Márquez in the Inland Daily Bulletin$ -- 1/17/17
The impact of Martin Luther King Jr. is a talking point for Doc Rivers and the Clippers -- Doc Rivers has seen to it that his role with the Clippers is more than just coach of the team. On Martin Luther King Day, Rivers again made sure to impart his wisdom to his players about the importance of the civil rights icon. Broderick Turner in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/17
Thousands of Anaheim students spend Martin Luther King, Jr. Day serving their community -- ASB students making fiesta-themed dance decorations for peers with special needs. Puente program students penning inspirational letters to homeless men and women. National Honors Society and Key Club members re-purposing old shirts into dog toys. And this was just at Katella High. Brian Whitehead in the Orange County Register -- 1/17/17
South L.A. Kingdom Day Parade celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and teachings -- Bright skies greeted the dancers, brass bands and long lines of dignitaries who joined the 32nd annual Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles on Monday to honor the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/17
Trump on the minds of MLK Day marchers in San Francisco -- Thousands of people carrying banners deploring injustice, intolerance and Donald Trump marched through San Francisco on Monday in the annual celebration of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Steve Rubenstein and Michael Bodley in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/17/17
Thousands march for racial unity on MLK Day in Sacramento, but rival gatherings strike an angrier note -- Just days away from a contentious presidential inauguration, Monday’s traditional Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Sacramento reflected the divisiveness that’s roiled the country. Three separate groups of marchers aimed to honor the civil rights leader’s legacy, but had conflicting ideas about how to do so. Sammy Caiola and Claudia Buck in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/17/17
Thousands join Fresno march to remember Martin Luther King Jr. -- Organizers estimated between 4,000 and nearly 6,000 people attended the march, which included a large contingent of high school students from around the state who had just wrapped up a YMCA California Youth and Government conference and who joined the march as part of the program’s social responsibility initiative. Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado in the Fresno Bee -- 1/17/17
POTUS 45
For Trump, Three Decades of Chasing Deals in Russia -- Mr. Trump repeatedly sought business in Russia as far back as 1987, when he traveled there to explore building a hotel. He applied for his trademark in the country as early as 1996. And his children and associates have appeared in Moscow over and over in search of joint ventures, meeting with developers and government officials. Megan Twohey and Steve Eder in the New York Times$ -- 1/17/17
Wilbur Ross, Trump's Commerce pick, offshored 2,700 jobs since 2004 -- Billionaire Wilbur Ross, chosen by Donald Trump to help implement the president-elect's trade agenda, earned his fortune in part by running businesses that have offshored thousands of U.S. jobs, according to Labor Department data attained by Reuters. Andy Sullivan Reuters -- 1/17/17
Trump team defends health pick Tom Price over ethics charge -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's transition team defended his nominee for health and human services (HHS) secretary, Tom Price, from charges that he bought shares in a company days before introducing legislation that would have benefited the firm. Steve Holland Reuters -- 1/17/17
Trump, Price and Hill GOP at odds on Obamacare -- Trump's pick for health and human services secretary had an early Obamacare replacement plan that some Senate Republicans aren't excited about. Burgess Everett and Jennifer Haberkorn Politico -- 1/17/17
Donald Trump Warns on House Republican Tax Plan -- President-elect criticizes border-adjustment measure, which would tax imports and exempt exports, as ‘too complicated’ Richard Rubin and Peter Nichols in the Washington Post$ -- 1/17/17
Holt says NBC will be ‘unflinching’ covering Trump -- On a day that began with Brian Stelter going head to head with BuzzFeed’s Ben Smith on CNN’s “Reliable Sources,” and CNN itself still fuming after being labeled “fake news” by the president-elect, Lester Holt is “unflinching.” That’s the word he believes NBC News and specifically “NBC Nightly News With Lester Holt” should keep in mind as they get ready to cover the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump. David Wiegand in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/17/17
Beltway
Trump voters set own priorities for the first 100 days -- Donald Trump is planning to pursue a conservative agenda that closely reflects the priorities of those who voted him into office — and those priorities differ from the general population. Eli Stokols Politico -- 1/17/17
After a bruising defeat, Democrats are hunting for a new leader -- The candidates vying to be the next leader of the Democratic National Committee agree on one thing: The party needs a major overhaul. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/17
-- Monday Updates
How the UC system is bracing for an escalation of political clashes ahead of Trump -- It was the biggest political showdown at UC Davis in years: Hundreds of students and activists turned out last week with protest signs and noisy chants, ultimately shutting down a planned talk by provocative conservative Milo Yiannopoulos. Get ready for more like it. Paige St. John, Joel Rubin, Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/16/17
13.5 million Californians are covered by Medi-Cal. Here's how Trump's plan could cost the state -- Along with his vow to repeal Obamacare, President-elect Donald Trump has promised to restructure Medicaid, the nation’s low-income health program — a move that could be acutely felt in California, where 1 in 3 residents receive health coverage through the state version, experts say. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/16/17
Medical info of 3,600 Children’s Hospital Los Angeles patients on stolen laptop -- Thousands of families whose sons and daughters are patients at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles will receive letters this week notifying them that their personal health information may have been breached. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 1/16/17
Martin Luther King Jr. fought for more than civil rights. This was the protest less remembered -- In January 1967, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. packed several suitcases and secluded himself on the coast of Jamaica, far from the telephone, far from the crises roiling America. Matt Pearce in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/16/17
Thousands march for racial unity on MLK Day in Sacramento, but rival gatherings strike an angrier note -- A crowd of thousands poured out from the Sacramento City College Campus Monday morning, chins high and arms locked as they began the annual Martin Luther King day march from Land Park to downtown. Sammy Caiola and Claudia Buck in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/16/17
Wife of Orlando nightclub shooter arrested outside Oakland for obstruction, faces court hearing Tuesday -- Noor Zahi Salman, the wife of gunman Omar Mateen, will face federal charges filed in central Florida after making an initial court appearance in Oakland scheduled for Tuesday morning, federal prosecutors said in a brief message on Twitter, not giving further information. Matt Pearce in the Los Angeles Times$ Evan Sernoffsky and Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle Annie Sciacca in the San Jose Mercury$ Eric Tucker Associated Press -- 1/16/17
Trump's pick for Education secretary could put school vouchers back on the map -- Fifteen years ago, a controversial question about America’s schools dominated headlines, prompted ballot measures in California and other states and led wealthy philanthropists to dig deep into their pockets in the name of educational reform. Joy Resmovits in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/16/17
L.A. organizers propose linked, simultaneous Olympic ceremonies for Coliseum, Inglewood stadium -- As LA 2024 officials finalize their bid to bring the Summer Olympics back to Southern California, they have faced a difficult choice regarding the location of the opening and closing ceremonies. David Wharton in the Los Angeles Times$ Scott M. Reid in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 1/16/17
Marijuana shops are trying to look like the Apple store -- On a bustling stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard lined by vintage stores and eateries, the MedMen shop looks right at home. Shan Li in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/16/17
There are many Asian American attorneys, yet few are judges, study finds -- When Goodwin Liu joined the seven-member California Supreme Court in 2011, he became its fourth sitting member of Asian descent. The number is remarkable. Associated Press -- 1/16/17
Picketers call out Tarzana hospital for ‘effective termination’ of housekeepers -- Union workers will picket Providence Tarzana Medical Center today to protest what they say is the hospital’s “effective termination” of roughly half its housekeeping staff, many of whom they claim had been vocal union supporters. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 1/16/17
Reverse mortgages cost some surviving spouses their Bay Area homes -- In the past, just one spouse was often listed on the reverse mortgage application as a way of qualifying for a higher amount or in instances where the other spouse was not yet 62. But there was a downside many homeowners didn’t anticipate: If the mortgage wasn’t in someone’s name, the remaining occupant had to either pay back the loan or face foreclosure. Karina Ioffee in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/16/17
A Silicon Valley down payment could buy you an entire house in much of the U.S. -- The median 20 percent down payment on a house in metro San Jose is $192,320. Give or take a few bucks, that sum is equal to the median value of an entire house in the United States: $192,500. Richard Scheinin in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/16/17
Oakland: Airbnb issue highlights city’s gentrification fears -- As city leaders here take their first steps toward regulating Airbnb, they have made one concern abundantly clear: they don’t want what San Francisco has. Marisa Kendall in the East Bay Times -- 1/16/17
Lester Holt: Sacramento’s diversity prepared him for his NBC job -- Journalists are taught not to become part of the stories they cover – a lesson Lester Holt has learned is easier said than done since becoming anchor of the NBC “Nightly News” in 2015. Brad Branan in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/16/17
Trump national security spokeswoman Monica Crowley to forgo post amid plagiarism charges -- Monica Crowley, recently appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to a key national security communications job, said Monday that she would relinquish the post amid multiple allegations of plagiarism. John Wagner in the Washington Post$ -- 1/16/17
Big money names behind Trump inaugural start to come out despite his secrecy plan -- Donald Trump is trying to keep the names of the people and companies donating millions of dollars to his inauguration festivities this week a secret — a break from his Republican and Democratic predecessors in the White House. Anita Kumar McClatchy DC -- 1/16/17
Endangered bighorn sheep share a controversial lush life on the greens at La Quinta's desert golf courses -- This is a sunbaked oasis of walled and gated neighborhoods, chic boutique hotels and verdant golf courses at the base of the rugged Santa Rosa Mountains. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/16/17