Updating . .
Powerful storms continue to batter Northern California amid concern about levees -- An “atmospheric river” continued to batter parts of Northern California on Tuesday, causing widespread flooding. The heavy rains prompted a warning from the National Weather Service of a dam failure outside Carson City, Nev., saying that it was “not a drill” and that residents should “move to higher ground now.” But less than 90 minutes after issuing the alert, the weather service then changed its report to say the retention basin in Dayton, Nev., had not failed. Liam Dillon, Joseph Serna, Rong-Gong Lin II and Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
California Senate leader puts 100% renewable energy on the table in new legislation -- It wasn’t just talk — Senate leader Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) is proposing legislation that would require California to generate all of its electricity from renewable sources. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
It's time for an independent commission on Russian election interference, California Rep. Eric Swalwell says -- he United States needs an independent investigation of Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election before voters return to the polls for a national election in 2018, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) said Tuesday. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
Under Trump, illegal immigrants with traffic tickets to be targeted for deportation -- The Trump administration is greatly expanding the number of people living in the U.S. illegally who are considered a priority for deportation, including people arrested for traffic violations, according to agency documents released Tuesday. Alicia A. Caldwell Associated Press -- 2/21/17
After Trump travel ban, immigrants seek to naturalize -- Andres Dorantes has long been content with the green card that lets him live in the U.S. and work as a tattoo artist in Los Angeles. That changed when Donald Trump became president and swiftly made executive orders to crack down on immigrants and ban travel from certain countries. Amy Taxin Associated Press -- 2/21/17
Issa appears at morning rallies, addressing supporters, critics -- Congressman Darrell Issa spoke for more than an hour Tuesday morning to supporters and critics gathered outside his Vista office in dueling rallies focused on promoting or defeating the agenda of President Donald Trump. J. Harry Jones in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/21/17
Crowd urges Peters to hold ground against president -- At his first town hall meeting since Donald Trump became president, Rep. Scott Peters was urged by an impassioned crowd to be a roadblock to the new administration. Joshua Stewart in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/21/17
State fears Trump will topple health care gains under Obamacare -- For much of the three years since the Affordable Care Act took hold in California, the Golden State has been largely insulated from the most drastic problems of the health care law that plague other states. It enjoys more robust competition among health insurers and has managed to keep premium hikes lower than in most states. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/21/17
Georgia Tech dean is chosen to replace UC Davis chancellor who resigned under cloud -- University of California President Janet Napolitano announced Tuesday that she has selected Gary May, a Georgia Tech dean and UC Berkeley alumnus, as her choice to become the seventh chancellor of UC Davis. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle Diana Lambert in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/21/17
Oroville dam holding steady below flood control stage -- Lake Oroville water levels have fallen below 850 feet, the flood control stage that officials normally want to keep the lake below this time of year, state figures show. In addition, water continues to flow into Lake Oroville at a slower pace than it is flowing out, meaning that lake levels continue to drop, albeit slowly. Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/21/17
Levee Breach Stabilized in San Joaquin County, Evacuation Order Remains -- An evacuation order remains in place Tuesday morning though San Joaquin County crews have stabilized a breached levee and at least temporarily halted the leak. Forecasters say a flash flood warning remains in effect. KQED -- 2/21/17
San Jose declares local emergency because of creek flooding -- San Jose city officials declared a local emergency Tuesday after record water flows from Coyote Creek submerged a neighborhood, flooded Highway 101 and prompted the evacuation of some animals at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. Mark Gomez, Robert Salonga and Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ Evan Sernoffsky and Jenna Lyons in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/21/17
Woman drowns after driving into floodwaters in Northern California -- The drowning was reported about 9:05 a.m. Saturday after someone saw the woman drive past a road closure sign on a rural county road used by residents, said Undersheriff Todd James of the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office. The woman was later identified as Orland resident Nicole Dufour. Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
Snow causes spinouts on I-80, erosion damages Highway 50 -- Travelers across the Sierra on Tuesday had to deal with damage to the westbound lanes of Highway 50 near Bridal Veil Falls and slippery driving conditions on much of Interstate 80. The state Department of Transportation reported that a shoulder along westbound Highway 50 east of Bridal Veil Falls collapsed and the slow lane is buckling. Bill Lindelof in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/21/17
Modesto prepares for the Tuolumne River to rise above flood stage as storm batters Northern California -- Residents living along the Tuolumne River in Modesto were continuing to prepare for rising floodwaters Tuesday morning. Liam Dillon and Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
Big Sur ravaged by floods, mudslides and storms: 'Paradise can turn on you' -- The Esalen Institute, a consciousness raising retreat perched above the Pacific Ocean, closed last week because there is no exit. When the rains stop, about 70 students and staff holed up in the picturesque spot on one of the world’s most famous stretches of road will be evacuated via helicopter. Carol Pogash The Guardian -- 2/21/17
Dams remain in line for bulk of funding over cheaper alternatives -- Despite the spectacular near failure of Oroville Dam, a linchpin of California’s vast plumbing system, Congress and the state remain focused on building new dams and repairing existing ones. But they are giving short shrift to cheaper, more environmentally benign alternatives for water storage. Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/21/17
California's voice on campaign money in Washington is packing her bags and heading home -- Ann Ravel is headed back home to California, tired of fighting Republicans at the nation's campaign finance agency and conceding control of the Federal Election Commission to President Trump. "I compromised, but the other side never would," the FEC commissioner said in an interview on Tuesday. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
Will Bernie Sanders endorse his former campaign aide in the race to replace Xavier Becerra in Congress -- In an appearance at the Theatre at Ace Hotel over the weekend, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke about the "totally new political world" as chants of "Bernie 2020" rang out in the soldout event. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
If Republicans in Washington scrap the estate tax, one California state lawmaker wants to bring it back -- New legislation at the state Capitol seeks to ensure that the heirs of California's wealthiest residents pay taxes on estates they inherit, even if the federal law is scrapped by President Trump and Congress. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
California's travel ban against anti-LGBT states is keeping athletes from games and students from conferences -- UC Davis senior Acacia Keith was excited to present her research on the anti-abortion movement at what would have been her first national conference this spring. Teresa Watanabe and Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
Sprawling former Toyota headquarters campus in Torrance is up for sale -- Looking for an office complex with its own helipads, swimming pool, data center and emergency power? One just hit the market in Torrance: the longtime North American headquarters of Japanese car manufacturer Toyota, which is consolidating its U.S. operations in Texas. Roger Vincent in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
Police chief says Whittier officer's slaying shows danger of criminal justice reform, but details are unclear -- Whittier Police Chief Jeff Piper says the man suspected of shooting an officer to death on Monday is an example of how statewide efforts to reduce incarceration of certain criminals can have tragic consequences. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
Thousands gather at vigil for Whittier Police Officer Keith Boyer -- Mourners by the thousands lit candles and listened to speeches outside the Whittier Police Department headquarters Monday night, all there to remember Officer Keith Boyer, who was killed in a shootout on Colima Road earlier in the day. “This has been a very, very difficult day,” Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri said. Sandra T. Molina in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 2/21/17
Gang member accused of killing Whittier cop had cycled in and out of jail, records show -- Sheriff's Homicide Capt. Steve Katz on Tuesday identified the suspect as Michael C. Mejia, 26, a career criminal with a history of drugs and violence. Mejia has a "history of control problems," Katz said. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
Lazarus: Republicans make killing consumer protections a top priority -- There’s a lot important stuff going down that our leaders need to deal with — immigration, climate change, Russians running amok. So what are Republican lawmakers doing? They’re busy with legislation aimed at stripping Americans of consumer protections. David Lazarus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
Fox: A New Holiday? Privileged Workers? -- f Assemblyman Chris Holden’s AB 542 offering another holiday to public employees becomes law it will widen the divide between public and private workers and may even aid pension reformers. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 2/21/17
California Secession Advocate Faces Scrutiny Over Where He’s Based: Russia -- This provincial Russian city, about 1,000 miles east of Moscow, is about as unlikely a place as any to find the leader of one of the more unlikely political causes to arise in opposition to President Trump. Andrew E. Kramer in the New York Times$ -- 2/21/17
A look inside the most expensive home for sale in America -- It is the most expensive home for sale in America — a four-level, 38,000-square-foot mansion in Bel Air, Calif., with a 270-degree view of mountains, ocean and the Los Angeles skyline. Developer Bruce Makowsky built it, saying he wanted to create the most luxurious home in the United States. Veronica Toney in the Washington Post$ -- 2/21/17
Trump calls rising violence aimed at Jews ‘horrible and painful’ -- President Trump, under pressure to speak out against rising anti-Semitic vandalism in the country, said Tuesday that such acts are “horrible and painful.” John Wagner in the Washington Post$ -- 2/21/17
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Half the candidates in L.A.'s latest congressional race have their own immigrant story. With Trump, this contest is personal -- For many of the candidates in the crowded race to fill a rare open congressional seat in central Los Angeles, the stories of how they came to be in this country are strikingly similar: They are immigrants, or the children of immigrants. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
The untold story of how Kevin Leon became Kevin de León -- The name on his birth certificate isn’t Kevin de León. That’s how the Los Angeles Democrat identified himself more than two years ago when he was sworn in as the 47th president pro tem of the California Senate, the first Latino to hold the position in more than a century. On his birth certificate and voter rolls, however, the 50-year-old politician is Kevin Alexander Leon. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/21/17
Evacuations ordered amid heavy Northern California rain -- Evacuations were ordered in Northern California on Monday and flash-flood warnings were issued elsewhere as downpours swelled creeks and rivers to potentially dangerous levels in the already soggy region. A levee break along the San Joaquin River prompted an evacuation order for about 500 people living in mainly ranch and farmlands near Manteca, San Joaquin County authorities said. Kristin J. Bender Associated Press -- 2/21/17
Continued erosion of Oroville Dam’s main spillway part of ‘normal process,’ state officials say -- Oroville Dam’s badly damaged main spillway is still deteriorating from an onslaught of fast-paced water, but state officials insist that it is “stable” as they make repairs. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/21/17
Not just Oroville: More Northern California infrastructure that needs fixes -- As this winter has proven, extended periods of heavy rains can do it too. In addition to the erosion at Oroville Dam which prompted the evacuation of 200,000 people, rains have worsened our already awful roads. Katie Dowd in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/21/17
Storm update: Road closures, flooding reported as intense rain, winds batter region -- Swollen creeks and rivers Monday overflowed as an intense storm drenched the Bay Area and the central coast, forcing evacuations on the Monterey Peninsula, stranding homeless people near Coyote Creek, inundating a San Jose mobile home park and closing Niles Canyon Road in Fremont. Tracey Kaplan, Mark Gomez and Rick Hurd in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/21/17
Rain falls, and Central Valley flooding begins -- As evening arrived, officials ordered a mandatory evacuation after a levee broke in San Joaquin County south of Manteca. Police in Lakeport, northwest of Sacramento, reported they needed a canoe to contact some residents in a flooded area. Phillip Reese and Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/21/17
Don Pedro spillway opens, could nearly triple Tuolumne River flow -- The spillway gates opened at Don Pedro Reservoir at 3 p.m. Monday, and over the next four or more days could nearly triple the flow of the Tuolumne River as it comes through Stanislaus County and Modesto. Deke Farrow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/21/17
Gunman who killed Whittier officer had fatally shot another man hours earlier, police say -- One officer was killed and a second injured in a shootout with a gang member who was wounded in a Monday morning altercation in Whittier, authorities said. Tony Barboza, Richard Winton and Maya Lau in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
Police say newly freed gang member killed California officer -- A gang member who was recently freed from jail killed his cousin and stole his car Monday then shot and killed a California police officer and wounded his partner before being wounded himself, authorities said. Robert Jablon Associated Press -- 2/21/17
A routine traffic stop ends with Whittier police in 'a gunfight for their lives,' leaving one veteran officer dead -- It began as a routine police call to a rear-end collision, the sort of traffic accident that happens every day in Southern California. Tony Barboza and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
Slain Whittier officer 'best of the best,' was thinking about retiring, chief says -- Keith Boyer spent 27 years patrolling the streets of Whittier and had become something of a legend at the Whittier Police Department. Richard Winton and Maya Lau in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
Officers line up at UCI Medical Center to pay respects to Whittier policeman shot to death -- Dozens of somber officers from different agencies formed two lines to honor their fallen brother, so his body could be wheeled out between them and placed into the Orange County Coroner's white Chrysler van. Alma Fausto in the Orange County Register -- 2/21/17
Media asks judge to order details of tool used on San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone released -- The Associated Press and two other news organizations asked a judge Monday to force the federal government to reveal how much it paid for a tool to unlock an iPhone used by one of the shooters in the San Bernardino terrorist attack. Eric Tucker Associated Press -- 2/21/17
Walters: It’s high time to legislate about times of our lives -- Precisely defining “time” has always been elusive – lying, as it does, at the nexus of science and philosophy. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/21/17
At Matsui Health Care Town Hall, A Lot Of Preaching To The Choir -- With Congress on recess this week, voters who support or oppose President Trump have the chance to get some face time with their local representatives. Sacramento Democrat Doris Matsui held a town hall meeting on health care Monday. Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 2/21/17
Town Halls Not On The Agenda Of Most Local Congressional Reps -- All of San Diego's Congressional representatives are expected to spend this week's recess at home in their districts. Megan Burke, Maureen Cavanaugh KPBS -- 2/21/17
This Golden State Podcast: John Chiang: The Quiet Maverick -- His poll numbers are dismal and he is not as TV-friendly or well known as some other candidates, but State Treasurer John Chiang is a man to watch in the 2018 California governor’s race. In an interview with This Golden State’s Randy Shandobil, the state’s banker reveals a maverick side. Wonkish, but defiant at times, he has a history of standing up to power and a backstory filled with discrimination and family tragedy. Link here -- 2/21/17
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Uber says Eric Holder, Arianna Huffington will help with sexual harassment investigation -- Following a sexual harassment claim posted by a former Uber employee named Susan Fowler Rigetti, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has announced the company will launch an independent review into the company's workplace environment. Alyssa Pereira in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/21/17
Southern California gas prices approach $3 a gallon -- Gas prices in the Los Angeles/Orange County region stood near $3 a gallon Monday while they topped $2.90 in the Inland Empire — up more than 50 cents from a year ago as OPEC production cutbacks worked their way to local pumps. Hannah Madans in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/21/17
What's Measure S? A breakdown of the ballot measure to restrict development -- The biggest issue facing Los Angeles voters on March 7 is Measure S, which would dramatically remake the city’s planning rules. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
La Jolla Investor Group Presents Plans To Redevelop Qualcomm Stadium -- It would undergo a massive transformation if the FS Investor’s vision comes to pass. Their detailed plan includes a new river park, commercial development and a Major League Soccer stadium. Developer Nick Stone said the plan would also add thousands of homes in Mission Valley. Erik Anderson KPBS Roger Showley, Mark Zeigler in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/21/17
Trump Tensions Scare Off Binational Consumers -- San Ysidro clothing and accessory shops like Carolin Shoes Inc. have long drawn Mexican shoppers because of affordable prices and proximity to Tijuana. But business owners are reporting a significant drop in sales since President Donald Trump was elected. Olivia Campos, the owner of Carolin Shoes Inc., said sales have plummeted 70 percent. Jean Guerrero KPBS -- 2/21/17
Costa Mesa council to review proposed city employee contract with pay raises and lower pension contributions -- Under the contract with the Costa Mesa City Employees Association, the city’s 236 workers would receive a 2.5 percent pay raise in the first two years and a 2.75 percent bump in the third and forth years. Louis Casiano Jr. in the Orange County Register -- 2/21/17
With Snap’s I.P.O., Los Angeles Prepares to Embrace New Tech Millionaires -- Blaine Lourd has long helped the movie stars, professional athletes and heiresses in Los Angeles manage their wealth. Over the past few years, he has also noticed millionaires who made their money in technology begin to dot the west side of the city. Katie Benner in the New York Times$ -- 2/21/17
Education
L.A. school board races draw millions in outside spending -- Based on outside campaign spending, the school board is where the action is in the March 7 Los Angeles city election. This is true even though there are 11 city contests, including races for mayor, city controller, city attorney and eight City Council seats — and just three seats up for grabs on th e L.A. Board of Education. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
San Diego Unified Proposal Would Eliminate Hundreds Of Positions, Reduce Work Year To Balance Budget -- The San Diego Unified School Board is scheduled Tuesday to hear the first reading of a plan to cut $124 million from the district's budget. Megan Burks KPBS -- 2/21/17
Project-based learning finding way into Sonoma County schools -- They’re working together to bring that hands-on experience to their classrooms at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma by launching an e-commerce site that will allow their students to create and design products to sell online. Eloísa Ruano González in the Santa Rosa Press -- 2/21/17
Teachers eye potential of virtual reality to enhance science instruction -- If you can’t afford a field trip to the International Space Station, donning a boxy black headset might be the next best thing. Carolyn Jones EdSource -- 2/21/17
Environment
Wet winter taking mammoth toll on trees -- Fierce, wet weather this winter is bringing welcome relief to drought-parched Southern California. But the storms, coming one after another, are also carving out sinkholes, unleashing floodwaters, and tossing around our prized trees like matchsticks. David Downey in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/21/17
Health
Who Will Be Our Aging Champion? -- “Is California prepared to meet the needs of the aging baby boomer generation?” That was the question posed three years ago by the California State Senate Select Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care chaired by Senator Carol Liu (D-La Canada), where I served as Chief of Staff. Suzanne Reed California Health Report -- 2/21/17
Also . . .
In a corner of Orange County, a dark chapter in history: the Japanese American internment -- The room is dark and smells of damp wood. A solitary chair sits in the center next to a file cabinet, its drawers pulled out. Technological relics, like an old, broken printer, lie strewn about the floor. Ben Brazil in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/21/17
ACLU sues San Diego police over how it collects DNA from juveniles -- A black teenager who was stopped by police last year while walking through a San Diego park is challenging the Police Department’s policies and practices for obtaining DNA from minors without first notifying a parent. Dana Littlefield in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/21/17
Former LA Mayor Richard Riordan marries Harvard-Westlake admissions director -- Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan tied the knot at St. James’ Episcopal Church on Sunday. The 86-year-old businessman and philanthropist, who was mayor from 1993 until 2001, married Elizabeth Gregory, the head of admissions at Harvard-Westlake School. Elizabeth Chou in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/21/17
POTUS 45
Trump takes new immigration fight to 9th Circuit -- The Trump administration is taking another immigration policy fight to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, less than two weeks after that court delivered a stinging rebuff to President Donald Trump's travel ban executive order. Josh Gerstein Politico -- 2/21/17
Revised Trump executive order may ditch indefinite ban on Syrian refugees -- The Trump administration is considering dropping an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees in a revised executive order on immigration that the president is expected to release this week, according to a source briefed on drafts of the plans. Nahal Toosi Politico -- 2/21/17
Trump to roll back Obama’s climate, water rules through executive action -- While both directives will take time to implement, they will send an unmistakable signal that the new administration is determined to promote fossil-fuel production and economic activity even when those activities collide with some environmental safeguards. Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson in the Washington Post$ -- 2/21/17
Contradicting Trump on Russia: Russian Officials -- For months, President Trump and his aides have insisted that they had no contact with Russian officials during the presidential campaign, a denial Mr. Trump repeated last week. Matthew Rosenberg in the New York Times$ -- 2/21/17
#NotMyPresidentsDay: About 1,000 protestors show up for anti-Trump rally in LA -- About 1,000 protesters took to the steps of Los Angeles City Hall Monday to air a range of grievances against President Donald Trump, joining similar rallies in Chicago, New York, Denver and Washington, D.C., that sought to rebrand the federal holiday as “Not My President's Day.” Kyle Stokes KPCC -- 2/21/17
‘Not My President’s Day’ protesters: ‘No ban. No Wall. California welcomes all’ -- Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters crowded around Los Angeles City Hall on Monday morning, using the Presidents Day holiday to challenge the current commander in chief as part of a nationwide Not My President’s Day rally. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/21/17
Trump protests bring big league sales for LA street vendors -- President Donald Trump made his fortune by selling everything from real estate to ties. Now, at marches and rallies, where protesters denounce his name and all that he stands for, a growing number of street merchants in downtown Los Angeles are cashing in on anti-Trump sentiment. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/21/17
Rain washes out Trump protest but not protesters -- Despite relentless rain and gusty winds, scores of hardy Bay Area protesters showed up in San Francisco on Presidents Day to voice their opposition to the nation’s commander in chief. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/21/17
Ex-spy Plame’s big worries: ‘reckless’ president, nuclear weapons -- When the most famous ex-CIA spy alive is concerned about the world blowing up, there’s probably something worrisome in that. Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/21/17
-- Monday Updates
Lake Tahoe braces for up to five feet of Presidents' Day snow, possible avalanches -- A winter storm that began in the area on Sunday evening and is continuing through Monday could bring up to five feet of snow in areas above 7,500 feet, between eight and 24 inches of snow in areas between 6,500 and 7,500 feet, and up to eight inches below 6,500 feet, according to the National Weather Service. Alyssa Pereira in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/20/17
It's legal for an immigration agent to pretend to be a police officer outside someone's door. But should it be? -- During a nationwide operation this month by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a team of ICE agents in Los Angeles approached the house of a man targeted for deportation. Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/20/17
This tiny California town's battle over 'sanctuary city' status started long before Trump -- Maywood’s decision to declare itself a sanctuary city did not sit well with Enrique Curiel. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/20/17
Latino laborers fear deportation, but officials tell California farmers not to fret -- Trump’s immigration policies threaten to scatter farm labourers and could disrupt America’s supply of fruit and vegetables – but not everyone is concerned. Rory Carroll The Guardian -- 2/20/17
Why Oakland halted police crackdown on potential Ghost Ships -- Nobody’s saying exactly why Oakland’s assistant police chief sent out an email directing officers to “immediately” begin reporting parties without permits and illegally converted warehouses to their superiors — only to have City Administrator Sabrina Landreth rescind the order hours later. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/20/17
Ghost Ship fire: Memorial mural in Oakland honors 36 people who perished in warehouse blaze -- As street artist Mel Waters last week was creating a memorial mural in San Francisco’s Clarion Alley, dedicated to a young couple who died in December’s Ghost Ship warehouse fire, across the bay in Oakland his friend Norman “Vogue” Chuck was painting a tribute to all 36 victims of the tragic incident. Tracy Seipel in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/20/17
Taylor: BART cameras a public relations decoy -- On a recent BART ride, I saw a teenager pull out a seat cushion, exposing the springs as well as a crumpled Cheetos bag, a candy bar wrapper and a tissue wad. And there it was: the outlet he needed to charge his phone. Otis R. Taylor Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/20/17
A court is blocking L.A. County sheriff from handing over a list of 300 problem deputies -- The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has collected the names of about 300 deputies who have a history of past misconduct — such as domestic violence, theft, bribery and brutality — that could damage their credibility if they testify in court. Maya Lau in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/20/17
Damage to Oroville's main spillway 'was an accident waiting to happen' -- The badly damaged main concrete spillway at Oroville Dam was pounded by massive volumes of stormwater this month, but its failures occurred well short of the maximum flow that engineers designed the system to handle. Ralph Vartabedian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/20/17
Reservoirs feeding Lake Oroville are filled to brink as more rain rolls in -- Lake Almanor is full. So is Antelope Lake. In fact, all of the nine reservoirs in the Feather River watershed that feed directly into Lake Oroville are brimming with water from recent storms. Jane Braxton Little in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/20/17
'Flood fighting is in our DNA': To live by the Feather River is to know its power and danger -- The early settlers snatched up the rich, loamy land along the Feather River to grow grapes and orchards. Joe Mozingo and Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/20/17
One officer dead, another injured in shootout after report of traffic collision in Whittier -- One officer was killed and a second injured in a shootout with a gang member who was wounded in the Monday morning al tercation in Whittier, authorities said. Tony Barboza and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ Stephanie K. Baer in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/20/17
CA120: The lowdown on California’s election -- Immediately after the 2016 general election, there were a number of people and organizations who made quick analyses of the electorate to explain what happened. Paul Mitchell Capitol Weekly -- 2/20/17
California’s Biggest Security Threat? Climate Change, Says Former Adviser -- Charges of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, cybersecurity and terrorism are topics that have recently dominated the national security conversation. But according to Richard Clarke, it’s climate change that poses an imminent threat to our nation’s shores. Sarah Craig KQED -- 2/20/17
For Turlock boy, orphan drug offers hope for rare disease – at high price -- So-called orphan drugs designed to treat rare diseases offer patients some hope of improvement, despite the high price tag. One boy in Turlock who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy has seen some improvement since taking Spinraza, which costs $125,000 a shot. Claudia Buck in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/20/17
Russia's ambassador to United Nations dies suddenly in New York City -- Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador, Vladimir Safronkov, told the Associated Press that the 64-year-old Churkin became ill in his office at Russia's U.N. mission and was taken to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, where he died. His cause of death wasn't immediately known. Associated Press -- 2/20/17
‘Not My President’s Day’ march draws hundreds to downtown LA to denounce Trump -- A growing crowd of anti-Trump protestors gathered outside Los Angeles City Hall Monday morning, using the federal holiday to denounce the current Commander-in-Chief’s policies, as part of a nationwide “Not My President’s Day” rally. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/20/17