Updating . .
California’s top Republican ignored business plea to help Caltrain -- Business leaders at the Bay Area Council business group did their best at a recent fundraiser for House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to persuade the Bakersfield Republican to get behind Caltrain electrification — but no dice. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/22/17
California voters could make it easier to raise taxes to build transit, low-income housing under new legislation -- Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) has proposed a constitutional amendment that would lower the margin needed for local governments to pass a tax hike or bond measure to pay for such efforts from a two-thirds supermajority to 55%. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Delaine Eastin kicks off 2018 bid: "Time for California to have a woman governor." -- Former California Superintendent of Public Instruction Schools Delaine Eastin acknowledges that being the only declared female candidate is the least of her challenges in her quest to become the next state’s governor. Carla Marinucci Politico -- 2/22/17
Activists plan vigils and 'search parties' Thursday near the homes of California's Republican members of Congress -- After weeks of protests outside the offices of Republican members of Congress failed to persuade them to hold town halls meetings, activists are planning "search parties" and candlelight vigils outside the homes of seven California representatives Thursday evening. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Democrats’ Best Bet to Retake the House? Follow the Sun -- The voters who decided the last election might not decide the next. The road to a Democratic House starts in Orange County in California. Nate Cohn in the New York Times$ -- 2/22/17
With Obamacare's future uncertain, hundreds rally at state Capitol for single-payer healthcare in California -- The details of their plan are still hazy, but proponents of a single-payer healthcare system in California are already ramping up pressure on lawmakers to back publicly funded universal coverage. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
How Trump’s campaign staffers tried to keep him off Twitter -- The trick? Making sure his media diet included a healthy dose of praise. Tara Palmeri Politico -- 2/22/17
Donald Trump is losing his war with the media -- A new poll from Quinnipiac University suggests that while people may be broadly unhappy with the mainstream media, they still think it's more credible than Trump. Aaron Blake in the Washington Post$ -- 2/22/17
San Jose mayor admits failures in flood evacuation order -- The mayor of San Jose acknowledged that the city failed to properly notify residents to evacuate during a flood emergency early Wednesday when some people said they got their first notice with a knock on their door from a firefighter. Janie Har Associated Press -- 2/22/17
San Jose city officials: Flooding occurred as creek flowed below capacity -- City officials said Wednesday they did not anticipate the level of flooding that submerged a neighborhood near Kelley Park because water in Coyote Creek was flowing below the capacity of the channel where the breach occurred. Mark Gomez, Julia Prodis Sulek and Robert Solanga in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/22/17
Evacuees tell stories of escape from San Jose flood -- Yuni Rho kept hoping she wouldn’t have to evacuate the two group homes she manages. The logistics of moving 30 mentally disabled residents out of the facilities would be challenging even in good weather. Robert Salonga in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/22/17
At least 14,000 households evacuated as flood ravages San Jose -- More than 36,000 households in total have been affected by the flooding, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said during a morning press conference. Flooded areas included the Rocksprings and Brookwood Terrace neighborhoods, and three mobile home parks on Oakland Road. Jenna Lyons and Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/22/17
Worst flooding in 100 years hits San Jose, forcing 14,000 to evacuate -- As mandatory evacuations continued for a second day, San Jose officials said Wednesday they could still not provide a timetable for when thousands of residents would be allowed to return after the city was hit by what officials described as the worst flooding in 100 years. Veronica Rocha and Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Mexican migrant dies minutes after deportation in possible border suicide -- A Mexican man who had just been deported from the United States fell to his death Tuesday from a bridge near the Tijuana-San Diego border crossing. Kate Linthicum in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
What you need to know about the Trump administration's new immigration rules -- New memos issued this week by Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly brought President Trump’s promised crackdown on illegal immigration one step closer to reality. Kelly lifted nearly all restrictions on targeting the 11-million people in the U.S. illegally for deportation. Brian Bennett and Amy Fiscus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
'You can't even walk anywhere without fearing you may get caught': Immigrants prepare for possible deportation -- New details about President Trump’s immigration crackdown have heightened fears among people in this country illegally, with some saying they are now preparing for the possibility of deportation. Ruben Vives, Andrea Castillo and Cindy Carcamo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Immigrants change up their routines, brace for arrest -- In Orange County, California, dozens of immigrants have signed powers of attorney authorizing relatives and friends to pick up their children from school and access their bank accounts to pay their bills in the event they are arrested by immigration agents. Deepti Hajela and Amy Taxin Associated Press -- 2/22/17
Santa Ana Plans Legal Defense Fund for Undocumented Immigrants Facing Deportation -- Orange County’s second-largest city would pay for attorneys to represent undocumented residents facing deportation, under a preliminary plan endorsed by council members early Wednesday. Nick Gerda VoiceofOC.org -- 2/22/17
Republican lawmaker wants California voters to deport felons released from prison who are in the U.S. illegally -- The bill by state Sen. Tom Berryhill (R-Modesto) would place the issue on the ballot in 2018, and would enshrine the mandate in the California Constitution. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
LA County has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs, got low-paying restaurant jobs in return -- Southern California is trailing Northern California in job growth, and many of the jobs the region has added pay low wages. That’s the sweep of a new report being released today from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. Kevin Smith in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Josie Huang KPCC -- 2/22/17
Aerojet Rocketdyne buys missile-target maker and may provide satellite launches -- The deal, which is expected to close Friday, will allow Aerojet Rocketdyne — a unit of El Segundo-based Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. — to expand into the missile-targets business, as well as offer commercial launch options for the potentially lucrative small-satellite launch market, said Tyler Evans, company vice president of defense advanced programs. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Video appears to capture off-duty LAPD officer opening fire during confrontation with teens -- An off-duty Los Angeles police officer fired his gun Tuesday during a confrontation with at least two teenagers in Anaheim, authorities said. No one was struck, and two teens were later arrested, according to Anaheim Police Sgt. Daron Wyatt. Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Abcarian: UC Berkeley's tiny minority of black students finally get a space to call their own -- A small but important piece of history was made Tuesday evening at UC Berkeley when the Fannie Lou Hamer Black Resource Center opened its doors. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Quinn: California: An Enemy Of The People -- President Trump last week called his media critics an “enemy of the American people.” The phase “enemy of the people” has a long and sordid history that should concern those to whom it is being applied, especially if it becomes part of Trump’s approach to government. Tony Quinn Fox & Hounds -- 2/22/17
A California tale: The one-room schoolhouse -- The 112-year-old schoolhouse with the old-fashioned bell looks like it should be a historical museum. But it’s a working K-8 public school with only 10 students. Washington School, about 20 miles east of Nevada City in the Sierra foothills, is one of a handful of one-room schools scattered scattered across rural California. Lisa Renner Capitol Weekly -- 2/22/17
Tires slashed outside McClintock town hall, police find no tie among victims -- Despite inaccurate rumors that all four vehicles contained Bernie Sanders bumper stickers, police have not discovered a connection between the victims or the cars, said Officer Adrian Perez, a CHP spokesman. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/22/17
Many Republicans duck protesters, but Tom McClintock keeps asking for more -- The last time Rep. Tom McClintock hosted a town hall meeting in his district, the California Republican left with a police escort and an earful from hundreds of hostile protesters. David Siders Politico -- 2/22/17
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Tom McClintock to town hall crowd: ‘I understand...You don’t like Donald Trump’ -- The event – McClintock’s second since Trump’s inauguration – served as a rebuke to the congressman’s stances on Obamacare, climate change, and immigration. But it also highlighted a contentious political tug-and-pull for McClintock and other Republicans in Congress. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/22/17
Killing with kindness, GOP's McClintock faces down hostile questioners as town hall goes into overtime -- The last time Rep. Tom McClintock held a town hall meeting, earlier this month in the Sacramento suburbs, he left under police escort. His session Tuesday night in Mariposa, a small tourist way station on the road to Yosemite, drew plenty of barbed questions, criticizing the five-term GOP congressman and attacking President Trump. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
GOP Rep. McClintock gets an earful at Northern California town hall -- McClintock, first elected to Congress in 2008, has done more than 100 town halls, and his Mariposa stops typically draw 60 to 80 people. On Tuesday, every metal chair was taken 45 minutes before the event started. While a few wore “Make America Great Again” caps, the majority didn’t appear to be supporters of the president. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/22/17
Were water conference refunds about politics or capacity? -- Symposiums about water policy don’t typically spark dust-ups about ticket refunds and allegations that members of Congress are trying to duck their constituents. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/22/17
Issa appears at morning rallies, addressing supporters, critics -- Telling supporters and protesters gathered outside his Vista office that calm and civil discourse is what America needs now more than ever, Congressman Darrell Issa spent nearly 90 minutes Tuesday morning answering a wide range of questions about the controversial policies of President Donald Trump. J. Harry Jones in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/22/17
Issa Releases Proposed Legislation To Repeal, Replace Obamacare -- Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, Tuesday released an initial draft of proposed legislation that would repeal and replace the Affordable Healthcare Act, as demonstrators on both sides rallied outside his North County office. KPBS -- 2/22/17
Issa bill to replace Obamacare doesn't address subsidies -- His 10-page bill calls for repeal of the Affordable Care Act after a two-year adjustment period and does not maintain the subsidies that currently defray health insurance premiums by significant amounts for millions of Americans. It also does not explicitly continue the flow of federal cash that has allowed expansion of Medicaid programs in many states, including California. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/23/17
Hundreds turn out for Vista town hall -- Several hundred people turned out for a town hall rally in Vista Tuesday night, chanting and cheering in support of Obamacare. The invited guest, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, did not attend the gathering, held at the Jim Porter Recreation Center at Brengle Terrace Park, about 5 miles from Issa’s district headquarters. Teri Figueroa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/22/17
At Rep. Tony Cárdenas' town hall, Democrats worry about what Donald Trump may do -- The topic was supposed to be the Affordable Care Act. But many who attended Democratic Rep. Tony Cárdenas' town hall meeting Tuesday night in a crammed auditorium at the Cesar E. Chavez Learning Academies came with a question: What can we -- as Democrats -- do to help you? Kurtis Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
It's time for an independent commission on Russian election interference, California Rep. Eric Swalwell says -- The 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$ -- 2/22/17
SDPD Investigates Another Threat To Local JCC As Trump Says Anti-Semitism ‘Is Horrible’ -- On Monday, 11 Jewish community centers across the country received phoned-in bomb threats, according to the JCC Association of North America. Like three waves of similar calls in January, Monday's threats proved to be hoaxes, the association said in a statement. KPBS -- 2/22/17
Resistance to Trump takes some cues from the tea party -- Three times every day, now and for the foreseeable future, Brina Bujkovsky is placing calls to Washington D.C. — one to her representative in Congress and one to each of her U.S. senators. Joshua Stewart and Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/22/17
San Diego's Catholic bishop urges citizens to be 'disruptors' and 'rebuilders' in Trump era -- Even before the White House announced stricter immigration policies Tuesday, there were signs of opposition. Addressing people “of all faiths and no faith,” San Diego’s Roman Catholic bishop on Saturday urged Americans to be “disruptors” and “rebuilders.” Peter Rowe in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/22/17
Trump supporters applaud his new deportation guidelines -- For Robin Hvidston, of We the People Rising, an anti-illegal immigration group based in Claremont, the guidelines are Trump's way of "seeking to keep the nation secure." "He's going forward in the name of safety for the American public," Hvidston said. She was pleased that the memo mentioned establishing an office within Immigration and Customs Enforcement to assist families of those killed by undocumented immigrants. Alejandra Molina in the Orange County Register -- 2/22/17
Penalty for lobbyist — but not politicians — after $51,000 birthday party -- The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission fined lobbyist John Ek more than $11,000 on Tuesday for inviting dozens of city officials to a birthday party with free food, drinks and musical entertainment, saying he had violated city rules that restrict gifts from registered lobbyists. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Levee system battered by record rainfall from 'atmospheric river' -- As the latest major storm to saturate California got in its final licks Tuesday, the state deployed all the weapons in its flood-control arsenal — including farm tractors, pontoon boats and controlled releases from mountain reservoirs. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Downstream communities brace for flooding as dams overflow -- Northern California is forecast to get a brief break from persistent downpours Wednesday but the surge of water released from Don Pedro Dam into the Tuolumne River in the foothills east of Modesto is expected to reach overtopped levees later in the day. Associated Press -- 2/22/17
Some stuck in Big Sur chopper out, for a hefty price -- Due to this winter's relentless storms, Highway One is closed at the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge just south of the Pfeiffer Canyon State Park in Big Sur. It is also closed north of the beautiful Central Coast town at Garrapatta State Park, according to Caltrans. So you might think there is no way in or out. David Curran in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/22/17
‘It’s rising fast!’ wife says before being rescued from San Jose flood -- When the worst of the flooding was over Tuesday, the rampaging Coyote Creek submerged a San Jose neighborhood, forcing emergency crews in rescue boats to save 246 shocked and frantic people trapped in chest-high water in their homes. Julia Prodis, Robert Salonga, Mark Gomez and Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/22/17
Rains fade but flooding prompts rescues of 225 people in San Jose -- Ruben Lechuga had been nervously watching the ever-rising Coyote Creek from his home in San Jose in recent days, well-aware of the possibility for disaster. Jenna Lyons and Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/22/17
'Once-in-a-lifetime' flooding prompts hundreds of rescues in San Jose -- San Jose city officials declared a local emergency after streets became flooded as water levels rose along Coyote Creek. San Jose firefighters traversed flooded streets in rafts, rescuing residents trapped in their homes and in trees in the Rock Springs neighborhood. Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
A section of Highway 50 has crumbled down the hillside. Repairs could take months -- A section of Highway 50 crumbled farther down the hillside early Tuesday near Bridal Veil Falls, offering the latest dramatic reminder of how vulnerable Sierra highways have become in this winter’s deluge of rain and snow. Brad Branan in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/22/17
Oroville hoping to turn dam crisis into a tourism opportunity -- It was just a week ago that this city in the shadow of America’s tallest dam was in a state of crisis. Joseph Serna and Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
L.A. officials want LAPD to explore ways to put more cops on city streets -- Los Angeles lawmakers pressed the Police Department on Tuesday for detailed reports explaining how officers are deployed across city streets, echoing simmering concerns that there aren’t enough cops working patrol duties to adequately respond to calls for help. Kate Mather in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Walters: Are our softer criminal laws a factor in officer’s killing? -- Polly Klaas, a 12-year-old Petaluma schoolgirl, was enjoying a slumber party with two friends in 1993 when a recently released felon, wielding a knife, entered her bedroom, tied up the friends and disappeared into the night with the terrified girl. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/22/17
Suspect in Whittier cop killing, East L.A. slaying was AB 109 probationer -- A man suspected of killing a Whittier police officer in a shootout Monday, hours after slaying his cousin, was arrested five times in the past seven months while under supervision of county authorities as part of a controversial program many law enforcement agencies blame for an uptick in crime, according to records and authorities. Stephanie K. Baer in the Orange County Register -- 2/22/17
Official: Reforms didn't cut sentence of suspect in killing -- A gang member suspected of shooting two California police officers, killing one of them, was released from prison last year on probation under a criminal justice reform initiative that had no impact on how long he spent behind bars, a prison official said Tuesday. Michael Balsamo Associated Press -- 2/22/17
Board of Supervisors to investigate fatal shooting of Whittier police officer by probationer -- Janice Hahn, who attended a vigil for fallen officer Keith Boyer Monday night, said everyone was troubled by his death and are looking to blame AB 109, and voter approved propositions 47 and 57, which are supposed to alleviate prison and jail crowding. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/22/17
California lawmakers say new state agency rules do little to guarantee family visits for jail inmates -- California lawmakers on Tuesday scrutinized new state agency regulations that will allow more county jails across the state to prevent inmates from visiting with their families in person. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
California Senate memorializes one of its own, former state Sen. Tom Hayden -- The California Senate on Tuesday remembered one of its own, late former state Sen. Tom Hayden, who spent nearly two decades in the state Legislature after serving as a leading voice in the campaign to end the Vietnam War. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Garcetti takes re-election campaign to Hollywood studio -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Tuesday touted his efforts to enhance the state film tax credit program, which has brought movie and television productions back to the city. Gregory J. Wilcox in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/22/17
Homeless
LA County leaders want Sylmar Armory to become year-round homeless shelter -- Los Angeles County supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Kathryn Barger asked in a joint motion introduced Tuesday to look into how much it would cost to lease the armory from the National Guard and make repairs to it. Susan Abram in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 2/22/17
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Retailers and law enforcement officials want lawmakers to increase penalties for repeated theft on businesses -- Retailers and law enforcement officials want lawmakers to amend parts of a 2014 voter initiative that reduced drug possession and some theft crimes to misdemeanors in order to increase penalties for repeated theft on businesses. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
How will Trump’s Supreme Court nominee rule on California union cases? -- Two years ago, Placer County middle school teacher Michelle Raley launched a long-shot bid to change one of the state’s most powerful labor groups from the inside. She ran for president of the California Teachers Association, and rhymed her frustrations with the union in a campaign statement. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/22/17
Universal Studios Hollywood raises gate ticket prices -- The daily ticket price at the gate rose to $120 from $115, on top of increases adopted last year of up to 20%. Universal Orlando also raised prices over the weekend by up to $5 per ticket. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
China's clampdown on foreign investments raises questions for Hollywood as Wanda's Dick Clark deal stalls -- The Chinese government’s recent clampdown on money leaving the country has broad repercussions for industries like mining and real estate. Now the crackdown may have reached Hollywood’s doorstep. Ryan Faughnder and Jessica Meyers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Sherman Oaks company builds the sets that help the Oscars dazzle -- On the edge of a quiet residential neighborhood in Sherman Oaks sits a collection of nondescript warehouses. There you’ll find Goodnight & Co., where artists are busy sanding wooden set pieces and applying gold leaf to 20-foot towers that are being readied for their close-up on Hollywood’s biggest night. Denise Quan in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/22/17
Transit
Final plan for corporate shuttles approved by Muni board -- San Francisco’s corporate shuttles, maligned as sleek private buses full of tech-industry gentrifiers as often as they’re praised for taking cars off the streets, are here to stay. So is a citywide system designed to control the shuttles and let them share Muni stops. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/22/17
Environment
Ex-air quality workers say district illegally lowered fines for polluters -- Two former Bay Area Air Quality Management District employees say district managers destroyed records showing that major polluters were given big breaks in the fines they should have received. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/22/17
Class-action lawsuit accuses Torrance refinery owners of placing ‘profit above public safety’ -- A class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of three South Bay residents alleges a “corporate choice to place profits over public safety” has led to the fires, leaks and other public safety issues plaguing the Torrance refinery. Nick Green in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/22/17
Refinery flaring reports dumped in trash, records destroyed, whistleblowers say -- In January 2016, a temporary records retention specialist hired by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District discovered that flare reports chronicling air pollution for Chevron, Tesoro, Shell and the region’s other oil refineries had been discarded in a dumpster, according to a claim filed Tuesday and obtained by this newspaper. Matthias Gafni in the East Bay Times -- 2/22/17
Education
Fresno County Board of Education urges local districts to support undocumented students -- The Fresno County Board of Education has signed a resolution vowing to support undocumented students, and is urging the 32 school districts in the county to do the same. Mackenzie Mays in the Fresno Bee -- 2/22/17
U.S. attorney won't file charges after probe of $1.3-billion iPads-for-all project in L.A. schools -- The U.S. attorney’s office has decided not to file charges after a lengthy FBI investigation into the bidding process that won Apple a contract to provide 650,000 iPads, one for every student, teacher and administrator in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Stanford University backs app for helping undocumented immigrants avoid deportation raids -- Web developer Celso Mireles used to panic whenever he drove past a police car. So, as a formerly undocumented immigrant to the U.S., Mireles understands the fear taking hold across the U.S. as the administration of President Donald Trump moves to make good on promises to deport many of the estimated 11 million Mexicans illegally in the country. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/22/17
California students again rank 5th in latest AP exam scores -- Three out of 10 of California’s 2016 high school graduates earned a score of 3 or higher in Advanced Placement tests, allowing them to earn college credit, according to new figures from the test’s publisher, the College Board. Fermin Leal EdSource -- 2/22/17
California examines how and why to improve its measures of school climate -- The tricky matter of how to quantify nearly everything at school that is not an academic test score — from staff friendliness at the water cooler to student trust of adults on campus — will be before the State Board of Education next month when an advisory group is scheduled to recommend ways to make measuring “school climate” a potentially more meaningful exercise for school districts. Jane Meredith Adams EdSource -- 2/22/17
Immigration / Border
Sweeping new immigration guidelines emphasize more enforcement, deportations -- Immigration enforcement officers are free to target any of the 11 million people in the U.S. illegally for removal, the Trump administration said Tuesday, a vast expansion of the federal government's deportation priorities as the president pursues his promised crackdown on illegal immigration. Del Quentin Wilber and Brian Bennett in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Trump immigration rules could mean ‘mass deportation,’ LA activists say -- Southern California activists denounced new Homeland Security rules affecting undocumented immigrants Tuesday as a “dragnet,” saying they will likely result in “mass deportation of millions of families” and workers. Brenda Gazzar in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/22/17
California Senate leader says federal officials are 'speaking out of two sides of their mouth' on immigration -- California Senate leader Kevin de León on Tuesday said the Trump administration was downplaying its directive on immigrants targeted for removal from the country , which he said signaled the beginning of mass deportations. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Sen. Kamala Harris meets with people affected by the travel ban, calls Trump's approach 'extreme' and 'outrageous' -- U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris sat down to lunch Tuesday with two men who weren't sure a few weeks ago whether they'd be able to step foot into the U.S. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Spotlight is on local police as feds outline tougher deportation rules -- The Trump administration said Tuesday it will enlist local police officers and sheriff’s deputies to help catch undocumented immigrants as it broadens the categories of people the federal government will seek to deport. Ryan Lillis, Stephen Magagnini and Andy Furillo in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/22/17
It's legal for an immigration agent to pretend to be a police officer outside someone's door. But should it be? -- The use of the tactic, critics said, is particularly egregious in heavily immigrant cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, where police and elected officials have tried for decades to distinguish their cops from federal immigration agents, in an effort to convince immigrants living illegally in their cities that they can interact with local police without fear of deportation. Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/22/17
Immigration reform failures set stage for Trump’s strategy -- It’s been a long and winding road, this journey to craft effective immigration policy in the U.S., and one that has encountered not a few dead-ends along the way. David Downey in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/22/17
Mexicans weigh the daunting prospect of deportee camps -- Now, under a sweeping rewrite of enforcement policies announced Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, migrants might be dumped over the border into a violence-plagued land where they have no ties while their asylum claims or deportation proceedings are heard in the United States. U.S. officials didn't say what Mexico would be expected to do with them. Mark Stevenson Associated Press -- 2/22/17
Environment
San Francisco’s pure drinking water to get a new ingredient -- San Francisco’s famously pure High Sierra water is about to be served with a twist. Starting next month, city water officials will begin adding local groundwater to the Yosemite supplies that have satiated the area’s thirst since the 1930s and made the clean, crisp water here the envy of the nation. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/22/17
POTUS 45
After delay and amid pressure, Trump denounces racism and anti-Semitism -- President Trump on Tuesday denounced racism and anti-Semitic violence after weeks of struggling to offer clear statements of solidarity and support for racial and religious minorities. Abby Phillip and John Wagner in the Washington Post$ -- 2/22/17
Trump Appears Set to Reverse Protections for Transgender Students -- President Trump appears on the verge of reversing protections put in place by the Obama administration to stop discrimination against transgender students in schools, officials said Tuesday. Eric Lichtblau in the New York Times$ -- 2/22/17
100 days of Trump claims -- Throughout President Trump’s first 100 days, the Fact Checker team will be tracking false and misleading claims made by the president since Jan. 20. In the 33 days so far, we’ve counted 132 false or misleading claims. Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Glenn Kessler and Leslie Shapiro in the Washington Post$ -- 2/22/17
President Trump’s favorite so-called insult -- Here, in reverse chronological order, is everything that Donald Trump has referred to as “so-called” on Twitter — and our analysis of whether that so-called thing is actually that thing or not. Philip Bump in the Washington Post$ -- 2/22/17
-- Tuesday Updates
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