Updating . .
Trump administration plans crackdown on recreational marijuana -- President Donald Trump’s administration said on Thursday for the first time that it will crack down on marijuana sales in states that have approved recreational pot use. Anita Kumar and Rob Hotakainen McClatchy DC Evan Halper and Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Gov. Jerry Brown on Measure S: It 'goes too far' -- Gov. Jerry Brown is against a Los Angeles ballot measure that would restrict real estate development, its opponents announced Thursday. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Rep. Duncan Hunter's office says he will no longer meet with protest groups -- Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) will no longer meet with constituent activist groups that have peppered his offices in recent weeks, according to a letter Deputy Chief of Staff Mike Harrison sent to a local Indivisible group. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Santa Cruz police: Homeland Security misled city with ‘gang’ raids that were immigration related -- Police Chief Kevin Vogel denounced the Department of Homeland Security in a press conference Thursday morning, saying the federal agency had misled Santa Cruz concerning a series of raids Feb. 13. Michael Todd in the Santa Cruz Sentinel -- 2/23/17
Homeland Security chief insists there will be 'no mass deportations' of people in U.S. illegally -- Two of President Trump’s Cabinet secretaries and their Mexican counterparts emphasized cooperation and friendship after meeting in Mexico — but their public remarks seemed unlikely to quell profound tensions between the two countries or clear up confusion over the plans of the Trump administration. Patrick J. McDonnell and Tracy Wilkinson in the Los Angeles Times$ Antonio Olivo in the Washington Post$ -- 2/23/17
As Kelly and Tillerson Visit Mexico, Their Reassurances Differ From Trump’s Stance -- But it remains unclear which version of Washington will come to bear on Mexico in the coming months —the more aggressive approach of the American president or the more reassuring stance of Mr. Tillerson and Mr. Kelly, whose job will be to oversee many proposals likely to antagonize Mexico the most. Azam Ahmed, Gardiner Harris and Ron Nixon in the New York Times$ -- 2/23/17
The good news after all that rain? Most of California is out of the drought -- A year ago, some Californians thought this day would never come. But, after being battered by weeks of record-setting rain, the vast majority of the state is out of drought. Shelby Grad in the Los Angeles Times$ Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/17
San Jose flood: About 3,800 residents remain under mandatory evacuation -- As flood waters along Coyote Creek continue to recede, about 3,800 San Jose residents remain affected by mandatory evacuations Thursday morning, according to city officials. Mark Gomez and Ramona Giwargis in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/23/17
California senator removed from floor after criticizing late lawmaker Tom Hayden -- Sen. Janet Nguyen, R-Garden Grove, was escorted from the chamber by the Senate sergeant-at-arms as she tried to criticize the late Democratic lawmaker Tom Hayden for his stance against the Vietnam War. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ John Myers and Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ Katy Murphy in the San Jose Mercury$ John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle John Howard Capitol Weekly -- 2/23/17
Manafort faced blackmail attempt, hacks suggest -- A purported cyberhack of the daughter of political consultant Paul Manafort suggests that he was the victim of a blackmail attempt while he was serving as Donald Trump’s presidential campaign chairman last summer. Kenneth P. Vogel, David Stern and Josh Meyer Politico -- 2/23/17
Anaheim police release boy held after altercation with off-duty LAPD officer who fired his gun -- Anaheim police have released a 13-year-old boy from custody following public outrage and protest over videos showing an off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer firing his gun during an altercation with the boy and other teenagers. Melissa Etehad and Kate Mather in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
California moves to pre-empt Trump on environment, endangered species -- Needling President Donald Trump and bracing for a rollback of Obama-era environmental protections, Democrats in the nation’s most populous state are launching a preemptive strike. David Siders Politico -- 2/23/17
24 arrested after video of off-duty officer firing gun during dispute with teens sparks Anaheim protests -- More than 300 people protested on the streets of Anaheim on Wednesday night after an off-duty Los Angeles police officer fired his gun during an altercation with teenagers in the city, an incident that was caught on video. Melissa Etehad and Kate Mather in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Trump: Removal of undocumented immigrants is 'military operation' -- The comment was surprising given that ICE and the border patrol are civilian, not military, organizations. The comments about undocumented immigrants being responsible for “much” of the violence in the U.S. is also dubious, as studies do not indicate that undocumented immigrants are disproportionately responsible for crime. Matthew Nussbaum Politico Philip Rucker in the Washington Post$ -- 2/23/17
Trump's promise to ramp up deportations spreads fear — among California businesses -- The news that President Trump ordered an aggressive crackdown on 11 million undocumented people sent a chill through immigrant communities. California businesses that employ lots of immigrants are shivering too. Natalie Kitroeff and Shan Li in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Travel ban, targeting of mosques trigger mental health concerns among California Muslims -- When Ayman Mohamed arrived at the Tarbiya Institute in Roseville for morning prayer on Feb. 1, he saw his religion had been attacked. On the mosque’s white front walls, “Muslim Out” and other hateful messages about Islam had been spray-painted in black. Sammy Caiola in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/17
California's gay and lesbian lawmakers condemn Trump's action on transgender students -- California's gay and lesbian state legislators lambasted President Trump's decision to rescind federal guidelines protecting transgender students as an "egregious attack" on Thursday. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
What Trump's policy means for transgender students in California -- But losing federal protection could negatively affect transgender children in the state, particularly in conservative areas where students may be afraid to speak up. Sonali Kohli in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
In Guatemala, Trump's Homeland Security chief contradicts new immigration directives -- Speaking at a news conference Wednesday after meeting with Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, Kelly said his agency would return deportees "to their home country as quickly as possible," according to the Associated Press. A sweeping set of immigration directives signed by Kelly and made public Tuesday suggested the department would be doing otherwise. The directives outlined changes that would allow immigration agents to send some migrants detained at the border back to Mexico, whether they’re Mexican or not. Kate Linthicum in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
What New DHS Immigration Memos Might Mean for California -- One notable change is the expansion of expedited removal, a policy which allows immigration authorities to swiftly deport undocumented immigrants without a court hearing. The directives also call for a major increase in immigration enforcement staff. Bert Johnson KQED -- 2/23/17
Trump’s Election Drives More Women to Consider Running for Office -- Early signs from the groups that work with women considering a bid for office suggest a level of intense interest not seen in at least a quarter century. Katie Orr and Megan Kamerick KQED -- 2/23/17
More than a quarter of Orange County's youngest kids lives in poverty -- A quarter of California’s children under age six were living in poverty, more than 750,000, as the state emerged from the Great Recession, according to new data from nine local regions on income, demographics, cost of living, social safety programs and other factors. Margot Roosevelt in the Orange County Register -- 2/23/17
Mega-mansions in this L.A. suburb used to sell to Chinese buyers in days. Now they're sitting empty for months -- The mansion on Fallen Leaf Road in the secluded Upper Rancho neighborhood of Arcadia has all the trappings a wealthy buyer from China could want: a crystal chandelier in the entryway, marble floors, a home theater outfitted with a dozen reclining leather chairs and, naturally, a fortuitous eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms. David Pierson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Fox: From Baby Boom to Latino Boom in LA County -- The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) annual economic forecast conference spent a good deal of time focused on the Latino community and its effect on the county’s economy. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 2/23/17
Campaign aims to make Tower Bridge twinkle with LED lights that could change color -- Sacramento’s landmark entryway – the Tower Bridge – could be getting some new sparkle as community leaders work to drape it in energy-efficient LED lights that could be programmed to shine different colors to celebrate holidays or events. Robin Opsahl in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/17
Epic snowpack prompts Squaw Valley to promise Fourth of July skiing -- Squaw Valley is betting there’s so much snow in the Sierra Nevada that people will be able to ski July 4 – 132 days away. Brad Branan in the Sacramento Bee$ Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/23/17
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge in Big Sur cracked beyond repair by rains, must be replaced -- The Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge has multiple cracks in one of its support columns and and has been closed to traffic since Feb. 15. Caltrans announced after a bridge inspection on Tuesday that the structure is beyond repair, and it will take six months or more to build a new one. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/23/17
Jerry Brown makes surprise visit to Oroville Dam -- Nine days ago, with the Oroville Dam under stress and battered by more harsh weather, Gov. Jerry Brown said he had no immediate plans to visit the site, suggesting “I don’t think they need politicians fluttering around.” “This is not law. It’s not politics. It’s not what I am used to,” Brown said. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/17
Amid Oroville emergency, California Legislature moves to make flood-control fixes -- As heavy winter storms continue to hammer California, the Legislature is launching a review of dam and levee safety and bracing for major investments necessary to shore up flood control throughout the state. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/17
14,000 households remain under flood evacuation order in San Jose -- As the waters receded from the swamped homes, schools and businesses in San Jose on Wednesday, thousands of residents in the nation’s 10th largest city remained pitched into a state of uncertainty and sadness in the wake of a “100-year event” flood. Jenna Lyons, Sarah Ravani and Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/23/17
After the flood, San Jose residents get sober look at homes -- Neighbor to neighbor, some struggled to settle their nerves as they awaited word of when they would be able to go back to their waterlogged homes. Others made the return trek anyway and started cleaning up, even as officials pleaded for them to reconsider. Robert Salonga in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/23/17
San Jose mayor: Clear ‘failure’ led to record flooding -- A day after rescuers boated hundreds of people to safety during San Jose’s worst flooding in decades, city officials Wednesday let many of the 14,000 evacuated residents return home and blamed the sudden overflow of Coyote Creek on bad information about its capacity. Eric Kurhi, Ramona Giwargis and Mark Gomez in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/23/17
'It was like I was looking at an aquarium': San Jose flood victims tell their stories -- Even those who had prepared for flooding in San Jose were outmatched by rising floodwaters no one expected. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Rohrabacher's unorthodox diplomacy raises eyebrows -- Orange County Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a longtime Donald Trump supporter and an avowed fan of Russian president Vladimir Putin, lobbied unsuccessfully to be Secretary of State -- but that hasn’t kept him from engaging in his own iconoclastic, and some say eyebrow-raising, diplomacy in recent weeks. Carla Marinucci Politico -- 2/23/17
Khanna tells anxious Democrats: Hold us accountable -- In solidly blue Silicon Valley, anxious Democrats turned out in droves on Wednesday for the inaugural town hall meeting of freshman U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna. Carla Marinucci Politico -- 2/23/17
Activists plan vigils and 'search parties' Thursday near the homes of California's Republican members of Congress -- The rallies, largely centered around immigration and healthcare concerns, will focus on the homes of Reps. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock), Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa), Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Steve Knight (R-Lancaster). Activists also plan to demonstrate outside the office of Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) at noon. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Fearing President Trump's next steps, California lawmakers review their options under Clean Air Act -- In a sign of uneasiness over President Trump's environmental agenda, state lawmakers hosted a hearing Wednesday to discuss how California's air quality policies rely on federal regulations. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Walters: Workers’ compensation factions maneuver on bill -- As chronicled in this space on other occasions, California’s multi-billion-dollar system of compensating workers for job-related illnesses and injuries is a political jungle in which the strong prey upon the weak. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/17
Gov. Jerry Brown endorses LA Mayor Eric Garcetti -- Eric Garcetti nabbed another big-ticket endorsement Wednesday, with Gov. Jerry Brown backing a second term for the Los Angeles mayor. Garcetti has also been endorsed by former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden and California Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Elizabeth Chou in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/23/17
This California gubernatorial candidate wants state-funded 'universal basic income' for everyone -- Zoltan Istvan, whose long-shot presidential campaign in 2016 included a campaign bus shaped like a coffin, says he’s jumping into California’s 2018 race for governor. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Livermore: Bipartisan message on display from lawmakers at town hall -- About 300 people packed into a middle school auditorium Wednesday night and cheered for both Republican and Democrat lawmakers as they shared their views on hot topics ranging from immigration and health care to BART repairs. Angela Ruggiero in the East Bay Times -- 2/23/17
Protesters gather in Anaheim over LAPD officer firing gun during confrontation with teens -- Chaos erupted Wednesday night after what started as a peaceful assembly on the street where a shooting happened the day before — involving an off-duty LAPD officer — devolved into a protest involving as many as 300 people. Joshua Sudock and Chris Haire in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/23/17
State Bar of California seeks to discipline ex-L.A. city attorney Carmen Trutanich -- The State Bar of California is seeking to discipline former Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich, claiming that as a county prosecutor he suppressed important evidence and allowed a witness to give false testimony during a 1985 murder case. Frank Shyong and Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
New bill would let bicyclists roll through stop signs -- Bicyclists would be allowed to pedal past stop signs — without stopping — under legislation proposed by two lawmakers who say it would make the roads safer. Joshua Stewart in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/23/17
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds
California’s poor leave $2 billion in tax credits unclaimed -- California’s poorest families left an estimated $2 billion on the table last year in unclaimed state and federal tax credits designed to give bigger cash refunds to low-income workers. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/17
A 27-year pace to close California’s gender-wage gap is too slow, lawmakers say -- That’s how long state officials estimate it will take to eliminate the 20.5 percent disparity between the average earnings of men and women who are employed by the state. “Frankly, that’s appalling. That’s a couple generations of women who don’t have an opportunity to work in these positions,” said Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, D-Salinas. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/17
California voters could make it easier to raise taxes to build transit and 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$ -- 2/23/17
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
California wants to give a tax credit to the working poor but people aren’t signing up -- California officials and nonprofit groups want to encourage poverty-level workers to take advantage of the state’s earned income tax credit, which put an average of $519 in the pockets of people who received it in the 2015 tax year. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/17
Tahoe officials tackle congestion, say wider roads not part of the solution -- In an expansive transportation planning report issued Wednesday called “Linking Tahoe,” officials with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency say congestion happens only in certain spots at key times, and needs to be managed with an environmentally friendly rather than car-centric approach. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/17
Education
Fearing deportation, California’s “Dreamers” are skipping out on financial aid -- As widespread fears of deportation sweep the state, the number of undocumented immigrant students in California applying for college financial aid has dropped more than 40 percent, new data shows. Tatiana Sanchez in the East Bay Times Larry Gordon Edsource -- 2/23/17
UC President Janet Napolitano blasts Trump immigration crackdown as a backward step -- University of California President Janet Napolitano blasted the Trump administration's immigration crackdown on Wednesday, calling it a step backward that would make communities less safe. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
The state plans to keep its promises to transgender students, says California schools chief -- With news that the Trump administration is rolling back former President Obama's guidance on protecting transgender students, State Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson is reminding California students of their rights. Joy Resmovits in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Are California's jeopardized Middle Class Scholarships worth saving? -- The $300 state grant Devon Graves got his senior year at Cal Poly Pomona was only enough for gas and groceries—it didn’t make his $20,000 in student loans any easier to manage. Still, it meant a lot to the teen from Murrieta, a commuter town on the edge of Riverside County. Jessica Calfati Calmatters.org -- 2/23/17
Cannabis
Cities and counties tell legislators they're struggling to keep up with the legalized marijuana industry -- As state officials scramble to begin licensing marijuana sales by the end of the year, cities and counties have already begun issuing their own permits for medical pot and putting local regulations and taxes in place, officials said Wednesday. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Immigration / Border
DACA recipient from Los Angeles arrested, attorney says -- A young immigrant from Los Angeles who has been living and working here under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program has been arrested and is being detained, according to his attorney. DACA provides temporary protection from deportation and a work permit to roughly 750,000 young immigrants brought into the country as children who are in the U.S. illegally. Leslie Berestein Rojas KPCC -- 2/23/17
As Trump immigration crackdown comes into focus, anxiety grows along with anger -- Cristina Reyes eyed her daughter toddling about on a patch of grass while waiting for the trolley that would take them to their Lynwood home. The 33-year-old has stuck to public transportation ever since someone stole her car last year. She and her husband contemplated buying a new one, but worried it would go to waste. Ruben Vives, Andrea Castillo, Cindy Carcamo and Corina Knoll in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/17
Lack of court hearings for undocumented immigrants violates Constitution, Sacramento lawsuit charges -- For a year and a half, Jose Garcia-Alcazar has been sitting in jails in Richmond and Elk Grove while his lawyers fight the government’s efforts to deport him to his native Mexico. Andy Furillo in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/17
Students, parents urge Fresno Unified school board to become ‘safe haven’ -- Fresno Unified students, parents and community members urged the school board to pass a resolution protecting undocumented students at a meeting Wednesday night. Mackenzie Mays in the Fresno Bee -- 2/23/17
Immigrants seeking legal US status: Beware of notarios -- Fears over the President Donald Trump’s stance on immigration has sent many undocumented immigrants in search of services to help them legalize their U.S. status. But many are falling prey to unscrupulous “notarios” or “immigration consultants” who lack the legal expertise to help clients. Kevin Smith in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/23/17
Mexicans consider daunting prospect of deportee camps -- Mexicans fear deportee and refugee camps could be popping up along their northern border under the Trump administration’s plan to start deporting to Mexico all Latin Americans and others who entered the U.S. illegally through this country. Mark Stevenson in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/23/17
Deported Mexicans Say Bridge Death Linked To Larger Suicide Problem -- Mexican officials are investigating the death of a man they said likely jumped from a Tijuana bridge footsteps from San Diego about an hour after being deported from the United States. Jean Guerrero KPBS -- 2/23/17
Environment
Port of Oakland: Big-rig smog checks reflect change in trucking industry -- For trucking companies at the Port of Oakland, the hardest part is mostly over — if they’re still in business, that is. Erin Baldassari in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/23/17
Health
A radical idea revived: Single-payer health care bill introduced -- As lawmakers in Washington move to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a state lawmaker is reviving a radical idea: transform California's private health insurance system into a state-run single-payer model. George Lavender KPCC -- 2/23/17
Also . . .
CHP officer dies from injuries suffered in motorcycle crash during chase in south Sacramento -- A California Highway Patrol officer died from injuries he suffered Wednesday when he was involved in a crash during a high-speed chase in south Sacramento and thrown from his motorcycle. Lucas F. Chellew, 31, an 8-year veteran of the CHP died at 6:11 p.m. at UC Davis Medical Center, authorities announced in a 9:30 p.m. news conference at the hospital. Cathy Locke in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/17
Judge blocks California law on posting actors' ages -- A California law that restricts a popular Hollywood website from posting actors' ages raises First Amendment concerns and does not appear likely to combat age discrimination in the entertainment industry in any meaningful way, a federal judge said Wednesday. Sudhin Thanawala Associated Press -- 2/23/17
Senator Dianne Feinstein calls for changes to Olympic sports law to protect children from abuse -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) announced Wednesday she is crafting legislation to amend the federal law that governs Olympic sports organizations in America, triggering potentially far-reaching changes in how the organizations that put together the United States’ Olympic teams deal with allegations of sexual abuse that arise from their ranks of tens of thousands of local coaches, and millions of child athletes across the country. Will Hobson in the Washington Post$ -- 2/23/17
Grace Slick donates Chick-fil-A paycheck to LGBQT group -- Jefferson Airplane singer Grace Slick revealed in an essay in Forbes that the money she received from Chick-fil-A’s use of Starship’s 1987 hit “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” in a Grammy night commercial will go to an LGBQT rights organization — in protest of the fast food chain’s stance on same-sex marriages. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/23/17
POTUS 45
Conservatives welcome Trump with delight – and wariness -- For the past eight years, thousands of conservative activists have descended on Washington each spring with dreams of putting a Republican in the White House. This year, they're learning reality can be complicated. Lisa Lerer and Andrew Taylor Associated Press -- 2/23/17
GOP senator says she’s open to demanding Trump’s tax returns as part of Russia probe -- A Republican member of the Senate Intelligence Committee says she is open to requesting President Trump’s tax returns as part of the panel’s ongoing investigation into Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 elections. Karoun Demirjian in the Washington Post$ -- 2/23/17
Trump's Russia problem dogs Republicans at town halls -- Constituents are demanding GOP lawmakers investigate the president's ties to Moscow. Kyle Cheney Politico -- 2/23/17
GOP to bury House resolution on Trump conflicts -- House Republicans next week plan to derail a Democratic resolution that would have forced disclosure of President Donald Trump's potential ties with Russia and any possible business conflicts of interest, according to multiple House sources. Rachel Bade and John Bresanahan Politico -- 2/23/17
Mexico to Trump: We won’t take your unwanted immigrants -- Mexico is not happy – actually, angry – about President Donald Trump’s expectation that it would hold tens of thousands of apprehended migrants who can’t be immediately deported, regardless of where they come from. Franco Ordoñez McClatchy DC -- 2/23/17
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. The president regularly accuses the press of “fake news,” but people see more “fake news” coming out of his own mouth. Aaron Blake in the Washington Post$ -- 2/23/17
-- Wednesday Updates
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