Updating . .
A community gripped by fear of ICE raids and deportations tries to separate fact from rumor -- The housekeeper panicked when she heard about Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents descending on Santa Paula. The 40-year-old, a Mexican immigrant in the U.S. illegally, called her boss and asked for that Friday off. When she returned Monday, another housekeeper had already taken her place. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra tells Democratic leaders in Atlanta that California will continue battling Trump's policies -- Taking the national stage as a leading foe of President Trump's policies, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra on Friday told a meeting of the Democratic National Committee in Atlanta that his state is fighting federal efforts to roll back protections for immigrants and the environment. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
California Republicans are looking for a comeback in 2018. Here's the chairman's game plan for getting there -- As the California Republican Party looks ahead to a high-stakes governor’s race and midterm elections in 2018, it faces a grim reality: A Republican hasn’t been elected to statewide office here in more than a decade, and the Democrats hold a powerful supermajority in the state Legislature. Phil Willon and Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Fear of disruptions prompts heavy security at California GOP convention -- Bracing for protests, the California Republican Party is spending thousands of dollars to heighten security at its annual convention that begins Friday. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Protesters dodge sprinklers at Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's Costa Mesa house -- A group of activists who went to Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's home Thursday night asking for a meeting say they found a closed door and, soon after, the sprinklers turned on. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
The Republicans who made Reagan president mourn the party they once knew -- His brand of Republicanism — support for legal abortion, certain gun controls and, most urgently, a need to reach out to voters who are not white or conservative — has grown largely out of fashion in the political party to which he devoted his life. He spent 70 years laboring on behalf of the GOP only to be called a RINO, or Republican In Name Only, Spencer said with wonder. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Travel ban, targeting of mosques trigger mental health concerns among California Muslims -- In response, mosques, student groups and mental health agencies around the Sacramento region are stepping up and offering Muslims a safe place to share their anxieties and receive professional help. The Amala Hopeline, a Sacramento-based mental health hotline for young Muslims, has seen a spike in calls since Donald Trump’s election, said Saba Saleem, a volunteer and one of the founders of the organization. Sammy Caiola in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/17
Agency plans to award Mexico border wall contracts by April -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Friday that it plans to start awarding contracts by mid-April for President Donald Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico, signaling that he is aggressively pursuing plans to erect "a great wall" along the 2,000-mile border. Elliot Spagot Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Gov. Jerry Brown proposes speeding up water and flood-protection projects after the winter's big storms -- Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday unveiled a $437-million plan for shoring up some of California’s most pressing water and flood-control needs, saying the storms of January and February have made clear the state has substantial needs that have gone unmet for years. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ Denis Cuff in the San Jose Mercury$ Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/17
Storm-battered California roads to cost $600 million to fix -- The bill to repair California's roadways hammered by floods and rockslides in an onslaught of storms this winter has reached nearly $600 million, more than double what the state budgeted for such emergencies, and the costs are mounting for other badly damaged infrastructure just two months into 2017. Scott Smith Associated Press -- 2/24/17
California's coastal Highway 1 is now temporarily closed in several places after recent storms -- After being battered by above-average rain this winter, California’s coastal Highway 1 remains temporarily closed in several places roughly between Ragged Point and Carmel. Mary Forgione in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
PG&E customers brace for next bill after spikes in gas rates -- In some cases, customers opened their December and January bills to see charges double or triple what they were a year earlier. And as February draws to a close, many are bracing for another big hit. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/24/17
New growers group will promote ‘sun-grown’ marijuana in California -- In the latest sign of the maturing marijuana industry in California, a group of mostly Humboldt County-based growers is launching a new organization narrowly focused on representing t he interests of sun-grown farmers. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/17
Capital-Control Policy Puts Brakes on Chinese Investment in Hollywood -- The new dynamic highlights Hollywood’s dependence on China, where the slightest change in state policy has ripple effects across the entertainment industry. Erich Schwartzel, Kane Wu and Wayne Ma in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 2/24/17
Should patients be told their doctors are on probation? Capitol hearing revives debate -- Calling it a “serious consumer protection issue,” state Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, chair of the Senate Business Professions and Economic Development Committee, will revive the idea Monday during a committee hearing review of the Medical Board of California. Claudia Buck in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/17
Homeless people have found safety in a library – but locals want them gone -- Of all the places associated in the popular imagination with homelessness – park benches, skid rows, the undersides of freeways – libraries are probably low on the list. Alastair Gee The Guardian -- 2/24/17
Oakland OKs tiny homes, homeless youth housing plans -- A tiny homes project and a housing program for youth, both aimed at easing a little of the city’s homelessness crisis, got the go-ahead Tuesday from the City Council. Mark Hedin in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/24/17
JCPenney closing up to 140 stores, cutting 6,000 jobs. Here’s what we know -- In an effort to streamline its operations, increase profitability and better compete with online retailers, J.C. Penney announced Friday that it plans to close 130 to 140 underperforming stores in the coming months and sell two distribution centers including one in Buena Park and another in Lakeland, Fla. Kevin Smith in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/24/17
After Trump calls media an enemy of the people, White House bars many news outlets from briefing -- Friday's White House press briefing, normally an on-camera affair open to all reporters with press credentials, was turned into an exclusive event for certain outlets hand-picked by the administration. Noah Bierman in the Los Angeles Times$ Lynn Elber Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Fact Check: Trump Blasts ‘Fake News’ and Repeats Inaccurate Claims at CPAC -- President Trump’s speech on Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference followed a familiar pattern: Blast the news media as “dishonest,” repeat a string of falsehoods, and wrap up by promising to change the status quo. Linda Qiu in the New York Times$ -- 2/24/17
Trump repeats false GOP talking point on Obamacare, makes 12 other dubious claims -- We examine the president’s statements in the order he made them at the conservative summit. Glenn Kessler and Michelle Ye Hee Lee in the Washington Post$ -- 2/24/17
'It's a Russian flag!' Trickster strikes CPAC before Trump's speech -- As the crowd waited to hear President Trump speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, little red-white-and-blue flags appeared without warning, handed down the aisles by a man with a green bag, according to a witness. The flags said "Trump." They also happened to be the flag of the Russian Federation. Matt Pearce in the Los Angeles Times$ Mike Moffitt in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/24/17
AP Fact Check: Trump considers 20 million people 'very few' -- President Donald Trump said Friday that his predecessor's health care law covers "very few people" as he minimized the impact of replacing it. That's only true if you consider more than 20 million people to be very few. He took another mysterious poke at Sweden, too, and decried open U.S. borders that are not. Alicia A. Caldwell and Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Why therapists are having such a hard time talking about Trump -- In her 35 years as a therapist, Arlene Drake has never heard so many clients talking about the same issue. Week after week, they complain of panic attacks and insomnia because of President Trump. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Today, Trump said the L.A.Times poll 'did a great job. Shocking...' Here’s what you need to know -- Throughout the fall campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump and his allies loved the USC/L.A. Times "Daybreak" poll -- the only major survey that consistently showed him winning. David Lauter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
The Trump Era: First 100 days -- Here are all the stories The Chronicle has reported on the new administration since Trump was sworn in on Jan. 20. The rundown is in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/24/17
Taylor: Seeds of a new resistance movement start to take hold -- I’m curious: How are people coping with the fear that their government could fail to protect their basic rights — a reality that has choked black and brown people for centuries? Yes, I’m talking about white people. Otis R. Taylor Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/24/17
Horsey: To blunt Trumpism, resistance will need to translate into votes -- Republican members of Congress will be happy to return to the serenity and safety of Washington after spending a week back in their home districts either hiding from Trump-troubled constituents or braving a gantlet of angry protesters at raucous town hall meetings. David Horsey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Los Angeles officials urge ICE agents to stop identifying themselves as police -- Citing a practice disclosed this week in The Times, Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Atty. Mike Feuer and City Council President Herb Wesson cosigned a letter to the directors of the immigration services “to urge in the strongest possible terms that ICE immediately cease this practice in our city.” Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ Frank Stoltze KPCC -- 2/24/17
Santa Cruz and federal agents in war of words over whether a gang sweep was really a secret immigration raid -- A Northern California raid ostensibly targeting violent gang members triggered a dispute Thursday, with Santa Cruz’s police chief angrily accusing the Homeland Security Department of turning it into a secret immigration sweep. Richard Winton and James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ Paul Elias Associated Press Hamed Aleaziz in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/24/17
U.S. Border Patrol accuses detained L.A. DACA recipient of immigrant smuggling -- A 22-year-old North Hollywood resident and beneficiary of the Obama administration’s immigration relief program was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents near the Southern California border earlier this month on suspicion of attempting to smuggle someone into the country illegally. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
How Increased Immigration Enforcement Could Impact San Diego County Farms -- Farms across the country, including those in San Diego County, rely on laborers who are in the country illegally. Between 50 percent and 70 percent of farmworkers in the U.S. are in the country illegally, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Maureen Cavanaugh, Brooke Ruth KPBS -- 2/24/17
Santa Clara County calls Trump’s sanctuary order ‘extortion’ -- Santa Clara County officials asked a federal judge Thursday to impose a nationwide preliminary injunction against President Trump’s executive order threatening to withhold federal funds from sanctuary jurisdictions, calling the move “extortion” by the White House. Jenna Lyons in the San Francisco Chronicle Maura Dolan and James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
California immigration policy debate brings local law enforcement role into focus -- A California proposal to shield people from deportation by limiting communication between local police and federal agents took on new relevance this week after the Department of Homeland Security revealed it will try to enlist the help of local law enforcement agencies to crack down further on illegal immigration. Katy Murphy in the East Bay Times -- 2/24/17
Nancy Pelosi: Brave immigrants make 'America more American' -- Immigrants who bring their courage and dreams to the United States make "America more American," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as she met with community leaders in San Francisco over the president's recent orders targeting immigrants and refugees. Janie Har Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Rep. Doris Matsui discusses Trump’s orders, her history of internment and Democrats’ future -- Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, spoke about her experience in the House, her family’s history of internment and politics in the Trump era Thursday to a crowd of more than 100 at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento as a part of the “She Shares” series that features prominent women leaders. Robin Opsahl in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/17
Protest vigil outside Issa's home draws 200 -- Roughly 200 people gathered outside Rep. Darrell Issa’s Vista home Thursday evening, part of an organized effort to bring the national debate over immigration and healthcare to the doorsteps of California’s Republican congressmen. Teri Figueroa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/24/17
Protesters seek out California's Republican members of Congress at their homes -- A couple of dozen activists came out to a suburban cul-de-sac in Lancaster on Thursday night, planning to hold a candlelight vigil outside Rep. Steve Knight's house, part of a statewide effort targeting seven GOP representatives. The protesters were there in large part to demand a town hall meeting with Knight to discuss the Trump administration's immigration and healthcare policies. Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Protesters target Sen. Feinstein for not holding town halls -- Republican members of Congress aren’t alone in feeling the heat from constituents at town hall meetings this week. California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein will be the target at two Bay Area events over the next three days — and she won’t even be at one of them. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/24/17
Water district official criticized for anti-Muslim comments on Twitter, Facebook -- Hector Gastelum, an elected member of the Otay Water District board, found himself under fire on Facebook this week after San Diegans shared screenshots of his tweets calling Muslims things like “#SubhumanMonsters.” Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/24/17
Lou Correa's town hall in Santa Ana offers guidance to worried immigrants -- A crowd of nearly 700 — predominantly Latino parents — filled the Santa Ana High School auditorium Thursday evening to get the details of President Donald Trump’s new immigration policy and learn what to do if they are arrested. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 2/24/17
Orange County Fairgrounds will shut down for March weekend amid concerns over pro-Trump rally -- The OC Fair & Event will close the weekend of March 25-26, canceling several events, over concerns about a planned pro-Donald Trump rally and counter-protest near the property, fair officials said Thursday. The Make America Great Again Nationwide March is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. March 25 near Fair Drive and Fairview Road, according to a Southern California MAGA March Facebook page. Louis Casiano Jr. in the Orange County Register -- 2/24/17
Rohrabacher draws early challenge -- It didn’t take long for Rep. Dana Rohrabacher to attract a challenger to his 2018 reelection bid. But whether Democrat Boyd Roberts can mount a competitive bid against the veteran Republican is another question altogether. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 2/24/17
Khanna headed to Appalachia to support program that trains young people for tech jobs -- U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, whose Silicon Valley district is home to Apple, Google, Facebook and Tesla, says he’ll travel to Appalachia next month to lend his support to a program that trains young people — including the children of coal miners — for jobs like coding and computer tech. Carla Marinucci Politico -- 2/24/17
California GOP dilemma: Do we embrace Trump or not? -- Before the California Republican Party convention starts Friday in Sacramento, let’s ask Orange County state Sen. John Moorlach what he wants to get out of the weekend-long event. “What are you, a therapist?” Moorlach cracked. “I’ll just stretch out on my couch here and tell you.” Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/24/17
Can the California Republican Party bounce back in 2018? Here's the chairman's game plan -- Jim Brulte hopes to keep a job few would envy: As chairman of the California Republican Party, he’s tasked with trying to steer his party out of the wilderness in one of the bluest states in the nation. Phil Willon and Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Trump Looms Large as California GOP Convention Opens -- The math isn’t friendly for Californian Republicans as they gather for their state convention this weekend in Sacramento. Less than 30 percent of California voters are registered as Republicans. Katie Orr KQED -- 2/24/17
Kevin Faulconer says he isn’t running for California governor. Republicans hope he will anyway -- During last year’s campaign, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer labeled fellow Republican Donald Trump’s rhetoric as divisive and unacceptable and criticized his border wall, suggesting it’s an economic strength for his city to be located so close to Mexico. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/17
Water released from Shasta Dam's top gates for first time in nearly two decades -- With the reservoir at 135% of its historical average for this time of year and nearly 93% of its capacity, dam engineers were releasing billions of gallons of water to make room for incoming flows from the surrounding foothills and Sierra Nevada, according to the bureau. Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Did the drought contribute to severe flooding in San Jose? Officials search for answers -- For five long, drought-plagued winters, Mother Nature refused to refill Coyote Creek. Foliage filled its dry bed, and without regular rains, the vegetation remained in the creek rather than being flushed out to sea. Rong-Gong Lin II, Veronica Rocha and Matt Stevens in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
San Jose flood: Residents want answers from water district and city -- As hundreds of frustrated residents returned home Thursday to begin cleaning up the damage from the worst South Bay flooding in decades, water district officials said they tried to warn city officials in the hours before Coyote Creek spilled into neighborhoods that potentially destructive flows would arrive within three to four hours. Eric Kurhi and Ramona Giwargis in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/24/17
Flooded California town fights to keep its only restaurant -- When Kim Troughton found her diner under 2 feet of water this week, she figured that was the end of Kim’s Country Cafe — the only restaurant in the tiny farming community of Maxwell, California. Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Levee Managers: Need Five Miles Of Repairs To Feather River -- A state management and local reclamation district in Yuba City say repairs are required to Feather River levees as they connect to the Highway 99 bridge. Last week the districts asked the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency for help. Bob Moffitt Capital Public Radio -- 2/24/17
Rural California levees besieged by pounding wet winter -- Billions of dollars in flood projects have eased fears of levee breaks near California's capital and some other cities, but state and federal workers are joining farmers with tractors in round-the-clock battles this week to stave off any chain-reaction failure of rural levees protecting farms and farm towns. Ellen Knickmeyer Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Skiing on July 4. More rain than Seattle. Yes, California’s drought is receding -- How much precipitation has fallen on Northern California this winter? So much that Squaw Valley expects to be open for skiing July 4. So much that Sacramento’s rainfall has surpassed that of traditional rainy meccas like Seattle and Portland, Ore. Dale Kasler and Brad Branan in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/17
Why it’s raining so much in California -- Why is it raining so much this year in California? Two words: Pineapple Express. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/24/17
Mayor 'deeply disturbed' over incident between cop and teen -- Anaheim officials pressed for calm Thursday after a night of raucous protests that followed an incident in which an off-duty policeman scuffled in his front yard with a boy, drew a weapon and fired a shot into the ground after another teen pushed him over a hedge and others surrounded him. Amy Taxin and Brian Melley Associated Press -- 2/24/17
13-year-old boy in scuffle with off-duty LAPD cop who discharged his gun set free for now -- A 13-year-old boy arrested Tuesday after a confrontation with an off-duty Los Angeles police officer who discharged his gun — a scene caught by several cellphone videos that went viral and became national news — was released from Orange County Juvenile Hall the next day, Anaheim police said on Thursday. Alma Fausto, Chris Haire and Scott Schwebke in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/24/17
What are gun rules for off duty cops? -- Outrage — and questions — followed the public release of a video of an off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer shooting his gun during an argument Tuesday with neighborhood teens in A naheim. Tony Saavedra in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/24/17
Does California have a ‘fiscal emergency?’ Possibly, but Gov. Jerry Brown won’t declare one -- Approved by voters more than two years ago, Proposition 2 created a rainy-day reserve that can only be tapped if the governor declares a “fiscal emergency.” Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/17
Lawmakers propose adopting federal environmental protections they fear Trump will drop -- Fearing a federal rollback of longstanding protections for air quality, clean water, endangered species and workers’ rights, California Democrats are pursuing legislation that would cement those environmental and labor regulations in state law. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ Sophia Bollag and Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press Amy Quinton Capital Public Radio Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/24/17
Regulators investigating SDG&E for potential lobbying violations -- State regulators said they’re investigating San Diego Gas & Electric’s efforts to influence the local adoption of government-run electricity programs, saying the company doesn’t have permission to do so yet. Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/24/17
Lawyers deliver arguments in Judge Kreep discipline hearing -- While presiding over misdemeanor cases in a San Diego courtroom four years ago, Judge Gary Kreep made comments to attorneys, defendants and others that, at best, were inappropriate and at worst, could constitute sexual harassment, according to evidence presented at a disciplinary hearing this month. Dana Littlefield in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/24/17
Kids could be jailed for selling sex again under Travis Allen's bill -- It earned a “Pants on fire: The statement is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim” rating from Politifact’s Truth-O-Meter, but state Assemblyman Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach, has stuck to his guns. Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register -- 2/24/17
Bar exam failure rates draw scrutiny -- California’s law-school students are failing the daunting State Bar exam in surprising numbers — and experts are trying to figure out why. John Howard Capitol Weekly -- 2/24/17
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Lockheed will move 650 missile jobs away from Sunnyvale -- Lockheed Martin will move 650 jobs in the legendary Trident missile program from Sunnyvale to other states, the defense contractor said Thursday. The affected employees work for the Fleet Ballistic Missile Program, which designs and engineers nuclear missiles for the nation’s submarine fleet. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/24/17
Ready Pac Foods bought by French company who says Irwindale jobs are safe -- Bonduelle, a world leader in ready-to-eat canned and frozen vegetables, has entered into an agreement to buy Ready Pac Foods in a move that will expand the French company’s U.S. presence. Kevin Smith in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/24/17
Jerry Brown comes out against L.A. real estate development measure -- Wading into the contentious debate over real estate development in Los Angeles, Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday lent his formal opposition to Measure S, suggesting the city ballot initiative dubbed by opponents as a “housing ban” is too restrictive. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Big new convention center hotel proposed for downtown L.A. -- A towering 1,024-room hotel will rise next to the Los Angeles Convention Center a few years from now if developer TriCal Construction Inc. gets its way. Roger Vincent in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Factory CEOs tell Trump: Jobs exist, skilled applicants don't -- President Trump brought two dozen chief executives of manufacturing companies to the White House on Thursday and declared their collective commitment to restoring factory jobs lost to foreign competition. Yet some of the CEOs suggested that there were still plenty of openings for U.S. factory jobs but too few qualified people to fill them. Christopher S. Rugaber Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Writers Guild of America prepares for potentially tense contract negotiations with major studios -- The Writers Guild of America said it would begin formal contract negotiations next month, as writers look to sit down with studios, networks and independent producers to discuss TV and film compensation for the guild’s members. David Ng in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Google-bred company accuses Uber of self-driving car theft -- A self-driving car company founded by Google is colliding with ride-haling service Uber in a court battle revolving around allegations of betrayal, high-tech espionage and greed. Michael Liedtke Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Transit
BART ridership slumps; board mulls service cuts, fare increases -- Despite crush-loads of passengers during peak commute times, the number of people riding BART is actually falling, forcing the transit agency to begin tough conversations about how to make up for lost revenue. Erin Baldassari in the East Bay Times -- 2/24/17
Metro approves a $797-million security plan that reduces the power of the Sheriff's Department -- For more than a decade, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has been solely responsible for patrolling Metro’s vast transit network, from subway stations in downtown L.A. to solitary bus stops near San Gabriel Valley strip malls. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Education
CSU students told to call campus cops if stopped by immigration officers -- As deportation fears grow among college students who are in the country illegally, the head of California State University has told everyone in the 23-campus system to call school police if approached by immigration officials. Gary Warth in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ Carolyn Jones EdSource -- 2/24/17
California legislators reassure transgender students of protections, denounce Trump -- A day after the Trump administration rescinded federal protections that allowed transgender children and youth to use the school bathroom of their choice, members of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus on Thursday told those students that they are legally protected and welcome to be themselves in California schools. Jane Meredith Adams EdSource -- 2/24/17
UC regents unanimously approve Georgia Tech dean as new chancellor for UC Davis -- University of California regents unanimously approved a new chancellor for UC Davis on Thursday, tapping a Georgia Tech dean who is widely praised for his engineering brilliance, administrative skills and effective advocacy for underrepresented minority students. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
OCC rescinds suspension of student who recorded teacher's anti-Trump comments -- Orange Coast College will lift its suspension and other sanctions against a student who secretly video-recorded an instructor making anti-Trump statements. Roxana Popetman in the Orange County Register -- 2/24/17
California education officials reject Long Beach's request to replace statewide assessment with SAT -- A half-dozen states are planning to swap their 11th-grade statewide assessment tests for the SAT this spring. Long Beach Unified wanted to join them, but California’s state superintendent and State Board of Education president emphatically said no. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 2/24/17
Immigration / Border
$1M settlement reached in border death lawsuit -- The U.S. government has agreed to pay $1 million to settle a lawsuit that accuses federal border officers of beating and Tasering a handcuffed Mexican man at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in a confrontation that ended in his death. Kristina Davis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/24/17
Health
Obamacare 101: Are health insurance marketplaces in a death spiral? -- It’s been a rocky few months for the health insurance marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act. Noam N. Levey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Boehner: Republicans won't repeal and replace Obamacare -- Former House Speaker John Boehner predicted on Thursday that a full repeal and replace of Obamacare is “not what’s going to happen” and that Republicans will instead just make some fixes to the health care law. Darius Tahir Politico -- 2/24/17
Also . . .
Marcus Yam named 2016 POYi Newspaper Photographer of the Year -- Los Angeles Times staff photographer Marcus Yam has won the premier 2016 Newspaper Photographer of the Year award in the 74th annual Pictures of the Year International (POYi) competition. Jeremiah M. Bogert Jr in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
POTUS 45
White House adviser asked FBI to dispute Russia reports -- White House chief of staff Reince Priebus asked a top FBI official to dispute media reports that President Donald Trump's campaign advisers were frequently in touch with Russian intelligence agents during the election, a White House official said late Thursday. Julie Pace Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Caitlyn Jenner to President Trump on transgender issues: 'This is a disaster' -- In a video posted on Twitter late Thursday, Caitlyn Jenner slammed Donald Trump and his administration for rolling back protections for transgender students under Title IX set by the Obama administration. Luis Gomez in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/24/17
For all of the motion, Trump is falling behind on his ‘100-day’ promise list -- On Oct. 22, just weeks before the election, President Trump released what he called his “Contract with the American Voter.” This was an unusually detailed plan of action that would guide his administration in the first 100 days, listing 60 specific promises. He even signed the “contract” with his distinctive signature. Glenn Kessler in the Washington Post$ -- 2/24/17
VP Pence: ‘America’s Obamacare nightmare is about to end’ -- Vice President Pence forcefully defended on Thursday night the Trump administration's plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, saying the law known as Obamacare is a “nightmare” and that the administration is committed to “an orderly transition” to a new health-care system. Philip Rucker in the Washington Post$ -- 2/24/17
-- Thursday Updates
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