Updating . .
Alleged CIA hacks rekindle security fears over Silicon Valley tech products -- A new WikiLeaks dump of documents, allegedly revealing evidence of Central Intelligence Agency efforts to hack into consumer electronics made by Silicon Valley’s biggest tech companies, is raising fresh concerns about the security of cellphones, computers and televisions connected to the internet. Rex Crum in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/7/17
Jerry Brown wants details about GOP healthcare plan: ‘This thing has been done in secret’ -- Gov. Jerry Brown, his state facing the potential of a massive crater in the budget, said Tuesday it’s too soon to assess the implications of Republican legislation to replace the Obamacare law. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/7/17
Millions of Californians would likely lose coverage under GOP Obamacare replacement, experts say -- The GOP alternative would undo the requirement that everyone have insurance and change how subsidies are offered through the state’s insurance marketplace, Covered California. But the biggest impact would likely be on the state’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, which provides coverage to more than a third of California’s residents. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
Anxious seniors pack NorCal town hall over GOP health care alternative -- Just hours after the GOP unveiled its plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, nearly 1,000 Northern California seniors packed a town hall meeting Monday hosted by Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman, nervously pressing him for details about the draft legislation and its potential impacts on their families, coverage and their drug prices. Carla Marinucci Politico -- 3/7/17
McClintock tells undocumented student best path to citizenship is to leave U.S. -- Rep. Tom McClintock on Saturday reiterated a hardline immigration policy, telling a young immigrant in his conservative Northern California district that her best option for obtaining U.S. citizenship is to go back to her birth country. During a rowdy, two-hour town hall meeting in El Dorado Hills, Doris Romero asked the Elk Grove Republican what she should do to become an American citizen. Romero spoke in front of a crowd of about 1,700, most of whom voiced disapproval of McClintock and President Donald Trump. Anita Chabria in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/7/17
Apple iPhone and Android phones hacked by CIA: WikiLeaks -- Whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone, spooks from America’s spy agency can hack it, siphon off your conversations and messages, and secretly turn on your phone’s camera and microphone to spy on you. So says WikiLeaks after making public March 7 a purported trove of thousands of leaked documents from the U.S. spy agency. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/7/17
Republican John Cox is running for governor: ‘There are two Californias’ -- John Cox, a Republican businessman and investor from Rancho Santa Fe, formally announced his campaign for governor on Tuesday, promising to improve the state’s financial accountability and create a more welcoming climate for business. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ Carla Marinucci Politico Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
Californians could begin voting at age 17 under a new proposal in the Legislature -- "We want to expand the opportunity," said Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), author of the constitutional amendment that would have to be approved by a statewide vote in 2018. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ Katy Murphy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/7/17
Lawmaker wants to limit Californians to buying no more than one gun a month -- Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada-Flintridge) said his measure would close a loophole by including long guns in a monthly buying limit that currently only applies to handguns. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
Anthony Beilenson, 10-term congressman who championed Santa Monica Mountains, dies at 84 -- Anthony C. Beilenson, a veteran Democratic politician from Southern California who advocated for abortion rights, environmental protection and gun control as a state legislator and 10-term congressman, has died. He was 84. Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
A section of the San Andreas fault close to L.A. could be overdue for a major earthquake -- Southern California could be overdue for a major earthquake along the Grapevine north of Los Angeles, according to a sobering new study by the U.S. Geological Survey. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Ti mes$ -- 3/7/17
Capitol myth vs. reality, Part Deux -- Welcome to Part II of our series on the myths and realities of legislative procedure. This time we’ll take a look at how bills are amended and moved around. After our earlier piece appeared, one reader called to thank us – he said it helped him sleep at night. Chris Micheli Capitol Weekly -- 3/7/17
LA voters trickle to the polls on Election Day -- Voters strolled to the polls Tuesday in the San Fernando Valley to cast their ballots. Shortly after 7:30 this morning, nine people had voted at Telfair Elementary School in the 10900 block of Telfair Avenue in Pacoima. Gregory Wilcox in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/7/17
Trump's travel ban could hurt LA's tourism industry -- The ban only stops refugees and citizens from six countries at the border for 90 days, but tourism experts say international travelers from other nations are also watching the news and taking away that they, too, are not welcome in the U.S. Leo Duran KPCC -- 3/7/17
Who wins and loses under the GOP's Obamacare repeal bill? -- The bill released by House Republicans doesn’t yet have an official Congressional Budget Office score or coverage estimates, so it’s hard to measure its full impact on Americans needing coverage, or health plans and providers. But there are several groups that stand to clearly gain — or lose — under the plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Dan Diamond Politico -- 3/7/17
Why Some Republicans Are Rejecting the Bill -- The bill seems unlikely to lower costs, does less to open up the market than conservatives had hoped and offers subsidies still seen as too generous. Margot Sanger-Katz in the New York Times$ -- 3/7/17
Senate GOP poised to jam through Obamacare repeal -- Senate Republican leaders said Tuesday that they're planning to jam through legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare if and when it passes the House — warning there may be no drawn out debate or extensive input from lawmakers. Burgess Everett Politico -- 3/7/17
Trump’s split screen: A two-hour virtual conversation between the president and ‘Fox & Friends’ -- For more than two hours, the president tweeted responses to the Fox News morning show. Jenna Johnson in the Washington Post$ -- 3/7/17
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra says Trump's decision to rescind first travel ban confirms it was unconstitutional -- California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra issued a statement Monday saying President Trump’s decision to rescind a travel ban bogged down in court challenges “confirms what we all knew: the travel ban was unconstitutional and un-American.” Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
Trump’s new travel ban seeks to avoid 1st edict’s flaws -- President Trump’s revised executive order temporarily banning people from six Muslim-majority countries tries to sidestep some of the flaws of its predecessor that the courts rejected and thousands protested — but while some of the changes in the new order are significant, much of the difference was in how the administration rolled out the new travel ban Monday. Hamed Aleaziz and Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/7/17
New travel order may still have legal obstacles, analysts say -- President Trump’s new version of a 90-day ban on U.S. entry from selected Muslim-majority countries has been stripped of some of its most legally vulnerable provisions, such as its application to legal U.S. residents and visa holders. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/7/17
California Senate calls on Trump to end immigration enforcement at churches, schools and hospitals -- The state Senate on Monday adopted a resolution calling on President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to honor a 2011 policy that prohibits federal agents from enforcing immigration laws at "sensitive locations," such as schools, hospitals, churches and marches. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
‘We’re bigger than Trump,’ says daughter of immigrant arrested by ICE near LA school -- Scores of people converged in downtown Los Angeles to call for the release of an undocumented father who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers last week near a school in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. Brenda Gazzar in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/7/17
At LAX, legal advocates set up even before new travel ban takes effect -- President Trump's executive order restricting travel from select Muslim-majority countries won't take effect until March 16, but public interest attorneys nonetheless set up a table at the Los Angeles International Airport on Monday to answer questions about the directive. Josie Huang KPCC -- 3/7/17
Immigrant charged in crash was deported 5 times, family says victim’s death ‘could have been prevented’ -- Los Angeles police say Estuardo Alvarado, the man who allegedly caused the collision, was speeding down Sepulveda Boulevard as he tried to flee the scene of another crash and slammed into a car being driven by Duran, who died at the scene. Gregory J. Wilcox in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/7/17
Protesters rally against travel ban at SFO -- Protesters returned to San Francisco International Airport on Monday night to rally against President Trump’s new travel ban. But they lacked the numbers that helped drive a nationwide backlash to a first round of restrictions in late January. Michael Bodley and Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle Tatiana Sanchez, Patrick May and Queenie Wong in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/7/17
Former customs officer gets 3 years for stealing checks from Torrance postal facility -- A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer assigned to a postal sorting center in Torrance was sentenced Monday to 37 months in federal prison for stealing checks and arranging to have an accomplice deposit them. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/7/17
Jerry Brown talks about the time he first decided to run for California governor -- A young Brown took up residence on the third floor of the Governor’s Mansion where he studied and eavesdropped on political conversations. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/7/17
Central Valley GOP Rep. David Valadao spends hours in one-on-one meetings with constituents — and away from the crowds -- Central Valley Rep. David Valadao found a way to open his doors to people in his hometown without having to face protesters, hecklers and the public berating that scorched his Republican colleagues up and down California in recent weeks. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
FBI agent tells jury she was threatened with arrest by ex-Sheriff Lee Baca’s deputies -- Tanner’s testimony is at the heart of the federal government’s case against Baca, who they allege was aware of his high-ranking officers’ intentions to stop her and other agents from probing deeper into inmate abuse by deputies. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/7/17
San Jose flood: Silicon Valley behind the curve in implementing alert system -- Santa Clara County has had access to technology that could have quickly sent alerts to residents’ mobile phones about the Coyote Creek flood, but few county workers know how to use it and the system has yet to be implemented. Eric Kurhi in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/7/17
Oroville Dam: Farmers blame sudden spillway shutoff for eroded riverbanks -- For three generations, Phillip Filter’s family has tended orchards that grow on a shelf of floodplain above the Feather River. Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ Roger Phillips in the Stockton Record -- 3/7/17
Sacramento hit with $5 million verdict in lawsuit saying wrong man was arrested for Internet child sex abuse -- A Los Angeles man charged in an Internet child-sex-abuse case in 2011 and held for six months before the charges were dismissed has won a $5 million civil suit against the city of Sacramento and its police department, the man’s attorney said Monday. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/7/17
Ex-Stockton mayor stole money meant for disadvantaged kids, prosecutors allege -- Former Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva stole hundreds of thousands of dollars meant for San Joaquin County’s most economically vulnerable youths over a four-year span, laundering cash and charging trips on credit cards, San Joaquin County prosecutors said Monday. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/7/17
California eases conditions at death row disciplinary unit -- California will no longer keep death row inmates in solitary confinement for years only because of their purported gang affiliations, according to a lawsuit settlement announced Monday. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 3/7/17
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Jurors award $1.5 million to LAPD detective who claimed he was victim of retaliation -- Jamie McBride, an outspoken leader of the union that represents Los Angeles Police Department officers, won $1.5 million Monday in a lawsuit alleging that his supervisors retaliated against him. Cindy Chang in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
Raiders secure Las Vegas financing -- Bets are back on for Las Vegas, as far as the Oakland Raiders are concerned. Team President Marc Badain told the NFL stadium and finance committees Monday that the Raiders have secured financing for a 65,000-seat stadium, league sources told The Chronicle. Vic Tafur in the San Francisco Chronicle Sam Farmer in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf met with NFL owners about Raiders stadium -- Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf presented a plan Monday to the NFL joint stadium and finance committee in Florida that she said “responsibly meets the needs of all parties.” Daniel Mano in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/7/17
Shares in Snapchat maker fall below initial trading price — and analysts think they'll drop more -- Snap Inc.’s stock market debut last week has been celebrated as a success in the tech world as its share price surged in their first two days on the market. Nina Agrawal in the Los Angeles Times$ George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/7/17
GoPro shares fall to record low after Goldman, Citi say sell -- GoPro Inc. fell to a record low Monday after Goldman Sachs became the second firm in two days to recommend selling the stock, highlighting the San Mateo camera maker’s struggles to compete in an increasingly competitive market and overcome missteps with new products. Selina Wang in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/7/17
Donald Trump’s hiring freeze brings concern, creativity to federal offices -- The ice is melting on the Trump administration’s hiring freeze. Uncle Sam posted about 650 new help-wanted ads for work in California in the weeks since President Donald Trump announced a federal hiring freeze, offering opportunities from the Border Patrol to the National Park Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/7/17
San Ramon office park testing 2 self-driving shuttles -- As the boxy red shuttle glided at 12 mph around a parking lot at Bishop Ranch, a San Ramon business park, a crowd of onlookers discussed implications of the robot vehicle driving itself. “What would it do if a pedestrian steps in front of it?” someone wondered. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle Angela Ruggiero in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/7/17
San Francisco may require breastfeeding-friendly workplaces -- Supervisor Katy Tang will introduce legislation Tuesday that would require all workplaces in the city — private and public — to have a lactation space that would include a seat, surface, electrical outlet and sink. Lizzie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/7/17
Costly Transbay Transit Center in busload of trouble -- an Francisco’s over-budget and oversize $2.4 billion Transbay Transit Center will open in December — but it’s going to cost an estimated $20 million a year to run the place, and no one knows where all the money will come from. The three-block-long behemoth was envisioned as the Grand Central Station of the West, a dynamic hub for buses and high-speed rail that would draw more than 100,000 visitors a day. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/7/17
Slowdown in H-1Bs could mean trouble for Bay Area -- In what could be an ominous sign for Silicon Valley’s ability to import tech workers, the Trump administration’s immigration gatekeepers have announced they will suspend fast-tracking of H-1B visas. Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/7/17
Education
Sacramento school district launches campaign to protect undocumented students -- The Sacramento City Unified School District will launch a campaign Tuesday to protect undocumented students in the face of deportation threats and attacks targeting immigrants. Cathy Locke in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/7/17
New California commission looks for long-range plan to meet child care needs -- Opening the first meeting of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, said that the reason he ran for office was to address child care needs. Louis Freedberg EdSource -- 3/7/17
USD reports swastikas, other anti-Jewish incidents -- A number of swastikas have been found at the University of San Diego over the past month, and a Jewish professor at the school recently revealed that someone left human feces in front of his office a few days after the Nov. 8 election. Gary Warth in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/7/17
L.A. Unified is expanding beneficial dual-language programs for preschoolers -- The children in Erlich’s expanded transitional kindergarten class at Grand View Boulevard Elementary School in Mar Vista are almost all 4 years old. They are the youngest in the Los Angeles Unified School District to be enrolled in a dual-language program. Sonali Kohli in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
Immigration / Border
Kelly confirms he's considering program to separate migrant children and parents -- Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly confirmed Monday that the Trump administration is considering separating migrant parents from their children who cross the U.S.-Mexico border together illegally. Madeline Conway Politico -- 3/7/17
Environment
Chevron Releases Causes of Flaring That May Have Sent Toxic Gas to San Francisco -- Two separate malfunctions at Chevron’s Richmond refinery that may have sent toxic gas to San Francisco in December were caused by a communication breakdown between plant workers and a clogged pump line, the company has revealed. Ted Goldberg KQED -- 3/7/17
Huge sewage spill was perhaps far bigger: 230 million gallons? -- The massive sewage spill on the Tijuana River in Mexico that fouled South County beaches may have been significantly larger than first estimated, although it’s unclear how regulators arrived at the new figure. Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/7/17
Health
House GOP releases bill replacing Obama health care overhaul -- House Republicans on Monday released their long-awaited plan for unraveling former President Barack Obama's health care law, a package that would scale back the government's role in helping people afford coverage and likely leave more Americans uninsured. Alan Fram and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Associated Press -- 3/7/17
GOP reveals Obamacare repeal plan, alarming California Democrats -- Long-awaited legislation announced Monday night to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act immediately raised cries of dismay among Democratic legislators and consumer health advocates in California. House Republicans in Washington, D.C., called it a necessary fix. Tony Pugh, Alex Daugherty, Claudia Buck and Sammy Caiola in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/7/17
Hiltzik: The GOP's Obamacare repeal plan is out--and it's even worse than anyone expected -- Elements of the proposal, which was kept under lock and key last week — have been dribbling out for a few days. The text of the bill encompassing the GOP plan validates much of that reporting. On the whole, however, it’s a nastier, more consumer-unfriendly proposal than even close followers could have expected. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
Sexual Harassment, Misconduct Also Plague UC Medical Centers -- The University of California operates five nationally recognized medical centers known for their breakthrough research, medical specialties and doctor-training programs. But documents released last week show sexual harassment and misconduct are not only plaguing UC campuses, but also the system’s medical centers and hospitals. Ana Tintocalis KQED -- 3/7/17
With Legalization of Marijuana, Health Teachers Struggle to Find Right Tone -- Californians voted to legalize adult use of marijuana last November, but the change in law has introduced a quandary for health educators who teach teens about drug use. Jessica Portner California Health Report -- 3/7/17
Also . . .
Fearing a 'Ghost Ship' tragedy, city starts demolition of vacant Dana Point Harbor Inn -- Crews began an emergency demolition of the Dana Point Harbor Inn on Monday after city officials expressed concerns that illegal activity by squatters in the vacant hotel could result in a fire leading to injuries or loss of life. Erika I. Ritchie in the Orange County Register -- 3/7/17
Two Southern California executives out at Wells Fargo amid stream of departures -- A Wells Fargo spokeswoman confirmed that Marla Clemow and Reza Razzaghipour, former regional presidents, no longer work for the San Francisco banking giant but would not disclose details of their departure. James Rufus Koren in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
POTUS 45
This former British lawmaker is at the heart of the Trump wiretap allegations -- A former British legislator is at the heart of the Trump administration’s explosive allegation that President Barack Obama was spying on him during the 2016 campaign. But who exactly is Louise Mensch? Karla Adam in the Washington Post$ -- 3/7/17
GOP refuses to back Trump's wiretap claim -- President Donald Trump will have to look somewhere besides Republican-controlled Capitol Hill for backup to his explosive and unsubstantiated charge that former President Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower before the election. Burgess Everett and John Bresnahan Politico -- 3/7/17
White House Rejects Comey’s Assertion That Wiretapping Claim Is False -- The White House on Monday refused to acknowledge reports that James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director, had asked the Justice Department to refute President Trump’s claim that President Barack Obama wiretapped him during the 2016 presidential campaign, and said Mr. Trump still believes he was spied on. Michael S. Schmidt in the New York Times$ -- 3/7/17
White House aides struggle to defend Trump wiretap claims -- The White House on Monday attempted to defend President Trump’s unfounded claim that former president Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower near the end of the presidential campaign, sending out several administration officials — both on and off camera — to reiterate the assertion without providing supporting evidence. Ashley Parker and Jenna Johnson in the Washington Post$ -- 3/7/17
Fact-Checking Trump’s Defenses of His Wiretapping Claim -- President Trump’s accusations that President Barack Obama spied on him have stirred another tempest in his early months in office. Linda Qiu in the New York Times$ -- 3/7/17
AP Fact Check: Trump praises Exxon and himself for 2013 plan -- President Donald Trump is again citing corporate investments planned before he took office as evidence that his policies are growing jobs and business. Christopher S. Rugaber Associated Press -- 3/7/17
Beltway
Trump's travel ban contains a tool that could change how the U.S. conducts foreign policy -- He asked the departments of State and Homeland Security, along with intelligence agencies, to determine which countries come up short on cooperating with U.S. immigration officials who are vetting travelers who want to enter the country. Brian Bennett in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/7/17
While Trump tweets grab spotlight, appointees make crucial changes -- While President Trump’s angry tweets and pugnacious public statements make the headlines, the growing number of under-the-radar decisions and rule changes being carried out by his political appointees throughout the government are far more likely to change the direction of the country. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/7/17
The disappearing Sean Spicer -- After two flayings on Saturday Night Live, sustained mockings on late-night shows, and a series of televised confrontations with reporters, White House press secretary Sean Spicer is retreating from the harsh glare of the daily televised briefing. Matthew Nussbaum and Hadas Gold Politico Michael M. Grybaum in the New York Times$ -- 3/7/17
-- Monday Updates
At rally for state Sen. Janet Nguyen, De Léon offers an apology — and a dig: 'She enjoyed her 15 minutes of fame' -- The show of support for Republican state Sen. Janet Nguyen from California's Vietnamese American community continued Monday in a Capitol rally that drew a crowd of hundreds who traveled from Orange County, San Jose and the Bay Area. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/17
Man accused of killing Whittier cop appears in Bellflower court as 19 officers watch -- An East Los Angeles gang member stood impassively in a courtroom Monday as 19 Whittier police officers grimly bore witness to a legal proceeding for the man accused of killing one of their colleagues. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/17
UC proposes its first enrollment cap — 20% — on out-of-state students -- In an unprecedented move to ease controversy over its admission policies, the University of California on Monday proposed a 20% systemwide limit on nonresident undergraduate enrollment and vowed to continue giving Californians top priority. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/17
Avalanches and road closer persists from major Sierra snowstorm -- After effects of weekend storms spilled over into Monday morning with road closures, accidents and snow as low as 1,500 feet across parts of Northern California. Filipa A. Ioannou in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/6/17
Google, Apple, Tesla, HP and other Silicon Valley firms imperiled by proposed Trump import tariffs and Republicans’ ‘border adjustment tax’ -- That shiny new iPhone may say “assembled in China” on the back, but its origins are scattered around the world: wafers from Taiwan, modem chips and batteries from South Korea, displays from Japan, components from Europe and raw materials from Africa, Asia, Europe and the U.S. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/6/17
California sheriffs say 'sanctuary state' bill would prevent immigration officials from going after violent offenders -- County sheriffs on Monday slammed a Senate bill that would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from using resources for immigration enforcement, saying it would cause their departments to lose federal funding and allow violent offenders to go free. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/17
Sheriff Scott Jones says ‘sanctuary state’ bill is invalid: ‘Federal law reins supreme’ -- Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said Monday that he believes pending legislation preventing state and local police agencies from using their resources to assist federal immigration authorities would be invalid because it conflicts with federal law. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/6/17
Immigration raid at French restaurant shows difficulties of nabbing workers here illegally -- It was just weeks after the Pacific Beach restaurant and bakery The French Gourmet had been raided by immigration authorities that chef and owner Michel Malécot was out to dinner. Kristina Davis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/17
Trump puts the brakes on H-1B visas -- In what could be a blow to Silicon Valley’s ability to import the best and the brightest tech workers to fuel its innovation engine, the Trump Administration’s immigration gatekeepers have announced they are suspending their 15-day “premium processing” program to fast-track applicants of H-1B visas. Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/6/17
L.A. sheriff gains support in legal fight over secret list of 300 problem deputies -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and three other advocacy groups have gone to court to back Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell’s attempt to send prosecutors the names of deputies found to have committed serious misconduct on the job. Maya Lau in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/17
Money, politics and the twin tunnels -- In the wake of the Oroville dam near-disaster, a question floating around Capitol corridors now is: Given the amount of money needed for what everyone agrees must be an expensive revamping of the state’s water infrastructure, is there room now for Gov. Jerry Brown’s heart’s desire — the $15.5 billion twin tunnels project? Chuck McFadden Capitol Weekly -- 3/6/17
Fox: Effects of the CA-DC Stare-down: Brown Walks a Tightrope. Feinstein Re-election Opponent? -- Reporting on California policy and politics nowadays seems to be rooted in what happens in Washington, D.C. California, which sets itself up as the exception and trendsetter is spending much time reacting to what is coming out of the theater playing out in Washington. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 3/6/17
Decker: The Trump administration faces multiple threats as it seeks to investigate itself -- After six weeks spent scrambling to fend off chaos, the Trump White House has found itself in territory familiar to several past administrations: trying to pursue a sense of normality as it conducts an investigation into itself. Cathleen Decker in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/6/17
Trump’s Revised Travel Ban Is Less Restrictive But Will Still Face Suits -- After federal courts blocked the president’s initial order barring people from seven mostly Muslim nations from entering the U.S. the administration will now confront fresh legal challenges over a second, somewhat less restrictive ban, legal experts said. David Voreacos, Bob Van Voris and Kartikay Mehrotra Bloomberg -- 3/6/17
Trump University Lawsuits May Not Be Closed After All -- President Trump’s postelection agreement to pay $25 million appeared to settle the fraud claims arising from his defunct for-profit education venture, Trump University. But a former student is now asking to opt out of the settlement, a move that, if permitted, could put the deal in jeopardy. Steve Eder in the New York Times$ -- 3/6/17
GOP’s Obamacare repeal would steer more financial help to affluent -- Doing so would represent a fundamental break from the original intent of Obamacare: to make individual health insurance more accessible and affordable to millions of Americans who need it but can’t pay for it. Tony Pugh McClatchy DC -- 3/6/17