Updating . .  

No need for full border wall, Trump says -- President Trump, who made the building of a wall along the border with Mexico a central promise of his campaign, significantly scaled back the pledge Thursday. David Lauter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17 

Airbnb host must pay $5,000 for canceling reservation based on race -- An Airbnb host who canceled the reservations of a woman because of her race has agreed to pay $5,000 in damages and take a course in Asian American studies, a state regulatory agency announced Thursday. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ Michael Balsamo Associated Press -- 7/13/17

LAPD union joins national push for feds to help prepare police for contacts with mentally ill -- Los Angeles’ police union has thrown its support behind a national push for federal funding and other resources to help officers better prepare for interactions with people who are mentally ill. Kate Mather in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

‘Most important vote of your life’ coming on climate, Jerry Brown tells lawmakers -- Gov. Jerry Brown, pressing for support of a climate package slated for votes next week, held up the state’s cap-and-trade system as the most efficient and elegant way to reduce emissions from greenhouse gases, warning legislators Thursday that the alternative would be significantly more burdensome and massively expensive. Christopher Cadelago and Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ Katy Murphy in the San Jose Mercury$ Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press Ben Bradford Capital Public Radio -- 7/13/17

California's senators vow to stop water bill that passed House on Wednesday -- Some of California’s decisions about how to use its water would be relegated to the federal government under a bill passed by the House on Wednesday. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

L.A. took their water and land a century ago. Now the Owens Valley is fighting back -- A century ago, agents from Los Angeles converged on the Owens Valley on a secret mission. They figured out who owned water rights in the lush valley and began quietly purchasing land, posing as ranchers and farmers. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

Adobe sets big San Jose expansion for 3,000 workers downtown -- Adobe Systems, in a dramatic expansion of its headquarters complex in downtown San Jose, said Thursday it will buy a property near its main offices where it could employ 3,000 more workers. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/13/17

Study: Companies talk inclusion, but few walk the walk -- Companies today know it’s not enough to do the job they set out to do and call it a day. Increasingly, customers demand that corporations stand for something, a new study found, and work to make the world a better, more equal place. Marissa Lang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

South: Is the top of the California ticket finally out of reach for Republicans? -- In the 2018 election for governor of California, surprised voters might well find only two Democrats to choose from in the general election – which would be a historical first in a governor’s race. Garry South in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/13/17

Without water lifeline, tiny town on Santa Cruz coast is running dry -- All across California, one storm after another dumped drought-busting rains last winter that put an end to water-saving emergency measures and the doomsday scenario of taps running dry. Except here. On the coastal bluffs just north of Santa Cruz, this hamlet is in danger of drying up because those storms were more than a 100-year-old water pipe could handle. Lizzie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

Murder suspect who escaped from Fresno detectives caught in Sacramento area -- Fresno police this morning captured a murder suspect who escaped from police headquarters a week ago. Ibn Haqq, 21, was caught in the Sacramento area by a fugitive task force that includes U.S. Marshals, along with Fresno officers, police Chief Jerry Dyer said at a news conference this morning. Jim Guy in the Fresno Bee -- 7/13/17

Fox: Not Just Enviros, Biz Also Split on Cap-n-Trade Bills; GOP Might Hold the Key -- Much has been made in news reports that the environmental community is not of one mind on the cap-and-trade bills produced by the governor’s negotiations. They are not alone. The business community is split as well. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 7/13/17

Robots delivering groceries, take-out roll into East Bay -- Autonomous robots bearing groceries, parcels and take-out soon will rove the streets of downtown Concord and, possibly, Walnut Creek. The squat, black-and-white “personal delivery devices” travel on six wheels and use nine cameras to navigate sidewalks and cross streets on their delivery runs. Lisa P. White in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/13/17

California still faces big cuts under revised Senate health bill -- The revised Senate health care bill released by Republicans on Thursday largely maintains the same dramatic cuts in federal Medicaid spending and premium subsidies as the previous version of the proposal — changes that experts say would lead to millions of poor Californians losing some benefits or paying more for insurance. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

Divided Senate Republicans unveil new version of Obamacare repeal bill -- Senate Republicans on Thursday unveiled revised legislation to roll back the Affordable Care Act as they labor to rally enough votes to formally open debate of their sweeping bill next week. Lisa Mascaro and Noam N. Levey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

U.S. asks judge to let it take action against sanctuary locales -- A federal judge showed little inclination Wednesday to accept the government’s assurances that President Trump isn’t about to strip San Francisco, Santa Clara County and other sanctuary cities and counties of their federal funding for refusing to cooperate with immigration officers. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

California lawmakers delay climate change vote amid push for affordable housing -- While conversations over climate change have dominated recent debate at the Capitol, California lawmakers are accelerating bills to address the state’s housing affordability crisis, and may vote on a series of measures before they break for summer recess next Friday. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

Why two California lawmakers aren’t giving up on universal health care -- Toni Atkins grew up without health insurance in a “crossroads out in the middle of nowhere.” The family lived in rural Virginia, where her father worked as a miner and her mother was a seamstress. Her mom broke an arm at one point, reducing the family to one income while medical bills stacked up. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/13/17

Could Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra join Trump in the fight to defend DACA? It depends -- California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said Wednesday he is prepared to do everything in his power to defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program – including standing with the Trump administration against a legal threat from Republican states. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

Oakland sex scandal: Judge says city must respond to report within two months or face sanctions -- In the wake of a hearing Monday, U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson on Wednesday ordered the city of Oakland to file a detailed response to a court-commissioned report critical of the police department’s handling of a sexual misconduct case or else face possible sanctions or contempt of court proceedings. David DeBolt in the East Bay Times -- 7/13/17

Skelton: Our current bail system is indefensible, but the bill that aims to fix it needs work -- If you’re rich and get arrested, you’ll probably waltz out of jail after writing a big check. If you’re broke, it’s likely you’ll be locked up. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

Walters: California’s voter turnout gap grows, and could hurt Democrats -- The last three California election cycles demonstrated that at the political margins, voter turnout can have a major impact. Dan Walters Calmatters.org -- 7/13/17

Issa raises $455k for campaign, leads pack -- Rep. Darrell Issa raised $455,207 in campaign funds in the second quarter of this year, a sum that likely puts him considerably ahead of his competition in his coastal San Diego district. The Vista Republican’s campaign said he received 3,363 contributions and has raised $1.23 million since November. He spent about $294,000 and has $671,529 left in his account. Joshua Stewart in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/13/17

Emily's List endorses Orange County pediatrician in bid to unseat Ed Royce -- Emily's List, the national pro-choice advocacy group focused on electing women, is backing Orange County pediatrician Mai Khanh Tran in her race against Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton). Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

More candidates take on Reps. Issa, Hunter, Peters -- San Diego House members are facing new challengers in next year’s election, with three new candidates announcing their campaigns. Joshua Stewart in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/13/17

Report: Orange County DA investigation couldn’t corroborate key allegations against Supervisor Todd Spitzer -- An Orange County District Attorney’s investigator was unable to corroborate key corruption allegations against county supervisor and DA candidate Todd Spitzer after months of probing, according to a June 9 internal report obtained by the Register. Tony Saavedra, Jordan Graham in the Orange County Register -- 7/13/17

With state legislators from L.A. County divided, panel recommends plan to expand Board of Supervisors -- State legislators from Los Angeles County were divided Wednesday over a proposal to expand the Board of Supervisors and create a new elected position of county executive, but the proposal in the end won a recommendation from a key Senate panel. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

Draft audit: Taxpayers owed for Levi’s Stadium games, events -- A draft of a city-commissioned audit claims the San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium management owes taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars for city staff time spent on games and events and parking on a public golf course. Ramona Giwargis in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/13/17

Rules for collecting racial profiling data in California are delayed -- Police departments in Los Angeles and other large cities across California won’t have to collect data in an effort to combat racial profiling until next July, delaying by six months the timeline called for under state law. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

Without trust between immigrants and police, crimes won't be reported, victims tell California lawmakers -- Tri-Valley University appeared legitimate. The Bay Area school had a website, a roster of professors and a single building with classrooms in Pleasanton. When Vishal Dasa, a native of India, enrolled in 2009, he had hopes of completing a master’s degree in healthcare management. Instead, he said he ended up painting walls, cleaning utensils and building heavy office equipment, hours of unpaid labor that he said were assigned to him by the university president, Susan Su, under the threat of deportation. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

Protesters plan dueling rallies at Trump’s Hollywood star -- Michelle Xai, of South Los Angeles and Randi Berger, of Encino, will be staging opposing demonstrations Saturday at President Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Brenda Gazzar in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 7/13/17

In San Francisco, ex-attorney general Holder tells left to keep fighting -- Former Attorney General Eric Holder doesn’t see a lot of political sunshine on the horizon for anyone who feels aghast at efforts by national Republican power-holders to roll back much of what he and his erstwhile White House boss did before President Trump’s inauguration. But he does have some basic advice. Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

The Democrats’ newest fundraising star: Kamala Harris -- If you’re a progressive, getting an email fundraising pitch from MoveOn.org is like seeing the fog roll in through the Golden Gate. It seemingly happens every day at the same time. But check out the name fronting one that just landed: Sen. Kamala Harris. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

Don’t wait for hours at the DMV — head to the grocery store instead -- The DMV has installed self-service “DMV Now” kiosks in a handful of grocery stores in the San Fernando Valley and around Los Angeles. Drivers can renew their vehicle registrations at the bright yellow touch-screen terminals and get new registration cards and license plate tags on the spot. Antonie Boessenkool in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 7/13/17

Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds

Tax cuts for power companies offered in Jerry Brown’s climate plan -- Until this week, Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration has resisted proposals to extend an existing sales and use tax break for manufacturers. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/13/17

Ronen wonders if proposed fee for utility boxes is high enough -- A proposed law that would relieve AT&T of obligations to spruce up its sidewalk utility boxes hit resistance Wednesday at a Board of Supervisors committee meeting, when one supervisor asked if the city was asking enough of the telecom company. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

Price to take a hike: Seniors race to buy National Parks passes -- Seniors, who don’t run as fast as they used to, are running to snap up a great deal before the federal government jacks up the price of it by 700 percent. It’s the lifetime senior pass to national parks, and the National Park Service is set to raise the price Aug. 28 from the current $10. The new price will be $80, an increase every bit as breathtaking as the sight of Yosemite or Muir Woods — two places the pass is valid. Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions

Net neutrality supporters say online rally is just the start of the fight to keep tough FCC rules -- Some of the Web’s biggest names — Amazon, Google, Netflix and Twitter — joined thousands of smaller websites Wednesday in urging users to tell Washington to leave the Internet the way it is. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

So you need a job but you're a felon? L.A. County may be on your side -- Los Angeles County may soon join the City of Los Angeles and others around the country in making it easier for people like Gonzalez to find employment. Two motions approved by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday direct county officials to recommend standards for establishing “fair chance” ordinances in L.A. County. Nina Agrawal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

Carlsbad To Share Cost Of Community Choice Energy Study -- Community Choice Energy. Carlsbad City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to join other North County coastal cities and start exploring the feasibility of buying energy from cleaner sources of power. Alison St John KPBS -- 7/13/17

San Diego Could Provide Cheaper, Greener Energy Than SDG&E, Study Shows -- The study commissioned by the city of San Diego was meant to see if it was feasible for the city to shift away from gas while still competing with SDG&E on price. The answer is, by and large, yes. Ry Rivard Voiceofsandiego.org -- 7/13/17

Granting of Point Reyes ranch leases halted in lawsuit settlement -- Granting long-term leases to the two dozen ranching families that have raised cattle for generations at Point Reyes National Seashore would be halted under a proposed court settlement announced Wednesday to resolve a lawsuit brought last year by three environmental groups. Guy Kovner in the Santa Rosa Press -- 7/13/17

Ranchers allowed 5-year extension to graze cattle in Point Reyes National Seashore -- Under the settlement, announced Wednesday, the Park Service can extend grazing leases to ranchers for five years and must complete a comprehensive environmental assessment and management plan within four years, which conservationists said has been overdue for decades. Tara Duggan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

Uber Drivers Win Preliminary Class-Action Status in Labor Case -- A federal court in North Carolina gave conditional certification on Wednesday to a class-action lawsuit by several Uber drivers that was brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act. David Streitfeld in the New York Times$ -- 7/13/17

The Pop-Up Employer: Build a Team, Do the Job, Say Goodbye -- At first glance, the organization chart for the maker of True Story, a card game and mobile app in which players trade stories from their daily lives, resembled that of any company. Noam Scheiber in the New York Times$ -- 7/13/17

Group seeks referendum on flavored tobacco ban in San Francisco -- A San Rafael lawyer has filed a referendum measure to strike down the Board of Supervisors’ ban on flavored tobacco, which passed unanimously in June. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

Building Around BART -- After bulldozing neighborhoods early in its history, BART now wants to build communities. Scott Morris Oakland Magazine -- 7/13/17

Homeless  

2,000 homeless people off the street – or else the mayor says blame him -- Mayor Darrell Steinberg has thrown down the gauntlet: Sacramento needs to get 2,000 homeless people off the street in the next three years. Ryan Lillis and Anita Chabria in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/13/17

A room for sleeping, one for eating. This homeless camp was inside a highway bridge -- It’s not unusual to find homeless camps under highway bridges, but some enterprising folks in the Lincoln area apparently set up housekeeping inside a bridge. Cathy Locke in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/13/17

Wildfire  

Scenes of 'zombie apocalypse' left in the path of California wildfires -- The pool, the dining hall and a single cabin are all that remain of the 290-acre Boy Scouts facility at Rancho Alegre, which the Whittier fire swept across Saturday. Most of the property, nestled in the Los Padres National Forest, was gutted or reduced to ash. Gone from the 52-year-old grounds were the yearlong staff residences, classrooms, even the camp pets — two snakes and an iguana. Meg Bernhard in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

Education 

Home-Less: Ebony’s Story -- What happens when you’re poor and struggling, trying to go to college in one of the most expensive cities in America? Sometimes you end up living out of your car. That’s what happened to Ebony Ortega. She works at Starbucks and has a full course load at San Francisco State. What she doesn’t have is a home. Ana Tintocalis KQED -- 7/13/17

UC regents panel backs limited use of letters of recommendation at campuses systemwide -- The University of California is headed toward allowing all campuses to use letters of recommendation in admissions decisions for the first time, despite concerns that the policy could hurt students who have less access to teachers and counselors who could artfully write the endorsements. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

More recommendation letters likely to be sought for UC admissions; some worry about equity in college access -- Letters of recommendation have been rarely asked for in freshman application reviews at the University of California’s nine undergraduate campuses. But now that may be changing for a small slice of the 170,000-plus application pool despite some concerns that low-income and minority students could be hurt. Larry Gordon EdSource -- 7/13/17

Do girls have access to team sports? Many California schools aren't telling, despite law -- A new study finds that many California schools aren't reporting data, as required by a recent state law, to show that girls are getting the same shot at team sports as boys. Jane Meredith Adams EdSource -- 7/13/17

Immigration / Border 

Lawsuit claims CBP has illegally turned away hundreds of asylum seekers at U.S.-Mexico border -- Customs and Border Protection officers have been illegally turning away asylum seekers who ask for help at the U.S.-Mexico border for more than a year, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles by several immigrant rights organizations. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/13/17

Refugee admissions pass Trump administration cap of 50,000 -- The U.S. refugee program surpassed the Trump administration's 50,000-person cap on Wednesday, meaning that many refugees will now be denied entry into the country. Camila Domonoske KPCC -- 7/13/17

Border Patrol finds 'trifecta' of drugs hidden in SUV -- Border Patrol agents seized what they called a “trifecta” of drugs valued at about $560,000 during a vehicle stop just south of San Clemente Tuesday. David Hernandez in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/13/17

Health 

Latino Patients Sue State Over ‘Separate and Unequal’ Health Care -- Because the majority of Medi-Cal patients are Latino – 7.2 million out of 13 million total enrollees – the lawsuit alleges that delays in access to care, and denials of care, amount to civil rights violations. April Dembosky KQED Susan Abram in the Inland Daily Bulletin$ Rebecca Plevin KPCC Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

Rural Californians Want Price Relief From GOP Health Bill – But Most Won’t Get It -- So, when people are already used to doing without health coverage, it’s particularly annoying to have the government say you have to buy it, according to Albaugh and many of his neighbors in Lassen, Modoc and Shasta Counties. While Obamacare is largely viewed as a success in California – the state marketplace, Covered California, is one of the most financially stable in the country – it hasn’t worked as well for folks in this rural northeast corner of the state. April Dembosky KQED -- 7/13/17

In Rural California, This New Addiction Treatment Is Being Ignored — by the Doctors -- If you want to quit heroin and you live in Quincy, California, a small pioneer town up in the Northern Sierra Nevada mountains, you’ll probably go see Dr. Mark Satterfield. Pauline Bartolone KQED -- 7/13/17

Environment 

Activists Urge State To Ban Pesticide After EPA Reverses Ruling -- More than a hundred activists and farm workers traveled to Sacramento Wednesday to urge state regulators to ban a pesticide that President Trump has decided to allow farmers to continue to use. The EPA reversed a ban President Obama had approved on chlorpyrifos. Sally Schilling Capital Public Radio -- 7/13/17

Scientists expect floods in Bay Area from rising seas in coming decades -- Coastal neighborhoods in several Bay Area cities are likely to face such frequent flooding from rising sea levels over the next century that residents will simply pack up and leave, according to a new study of the effects of climate change. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Lisa M. Krieger, Denis Cuff in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/13/17

Scientists predict parts of Southern California could face chronic flooding from rising sea levels -- Huntington Beach and Newport Beach could see chronic flooding of streets and beaches from rising sea levels in 13 years, decades earlier than predicted, according to a new report. Lauren Williams in the Orange County Register -- 7/13/17

Rep. Paul Cook joins other Republicans to seek reduction of two new area national monuments -- Rep. Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, has joined 16 other Western Caucus congressional representatives in seeking a reduction in size of both the newly created Mojave Trails National Monument and the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, among others. Jim Steinberg in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 7/13/17

L.A. Tries to Cool Off by Focusing on Roofs, Streets and Trees -- Like most big cities, Los Angeles literally creates its own climate. Buildings and asphalt absorb and radiate heat, raising summer temperatures by as much as 19 degrees in some parts of the region. According to CalEPA, L.A. has the worst urban heat island effect of any region in California. Emily Guerin KQED -- 7/13/17

Also . . . 

San Diegan killed in military plane crash long dreamed of becoming a Marine and pilot -- As a 4-year-old boy, Sean Elliott took his Christmas gift — a model C-130 plane he loaded with his toy soldiers — to bed with him each night, cradling it in his arms. Carl Prine in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/13/17

In six months, Fresno has had nearly as many murders as in all of 2016 -- During a review of crime numbers for the media Wednesday, the chief identified gang activity, domestic violence, homeless-related violence and mental illness as the main causes for this year’s surge, adding that the factors are often intermixed. Jim Guy in the Fresno Bee -- 7/13/17

Man accused of murder climbs through window and escapes Fresno police headquarters, chief says -- Authorities are looking for a 21-year-old man accused of murder who they say climbed through window and escaped Fresno police headquarters five days ago. Ibn Lugman Haqq was last seen Friday night running from officers as they searched for him in downtown Fresno, authorities said. Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

Deputy named in second fatal shooting in Vista -- The deputy who shot and killed a gang member in a Vista backyard last week is the same deputy who fatally shot another gang member in Vista 11 months earlier. Lyndsay Winkley and Teri Figueroa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/13/17

Video of San Diego police dog biting man in handcuffs creates stir -- A video that shows a San Diego police canine biting and shaking a man in handcuffs while he was face down in a street Sunday has gained attention on social media. On Wednesday, police officials said the officers and the dog adhered to the department’s policy. Lyndsay Winkley in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/13/17

This ‘Smart Glove’ Can Translate Sign Language -- UC San Diego researchers have designed a "smart glove" that can turn sign language into text that can be wirelessly transmitted to mobile devices, all for less than $100. David Wagner KPBS -- 7/13/17

'He is a monkey': Federal appeals court appears doubtful that a monkey who took a selfie can sue -- A federal appeals court appeared highly skeptical Wednesday that a monkey had standing to sue for copyright protection. During a hearing, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals considered a lawsuit by an Indonesian macaque named Naruto. The animal allegedly grabbed a photographer's camera in 2011 and snapped a self-portrait. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/13/17

The downhill thrill on San Francisco Chronicle’s steepest streets -- The videos are an adrenaline gut-punch: people careening down some of the steepest of San Francisco’s famed hills on skateboards, often without helmets. Sometimes in the rain. Filipa Ioannou and Lizzie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

POTUS 45  

Conspiracy or Coincidence? A Timeline Open to Interpretation -- At 6:14 p.m. on June 7, 2016, Donald Trump Jr. clicked the send button on an email to confirm a meeting with a woman described as a “Russian government attorney” who would give him “information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia.” Peter Baker in the New York Times$ -- 7/13/17

Every Russia story Trump said was ‘fake news’ or a ‘witch hunt’ -- President Trump continues to insist the Democrats are responsible for any story relating to Russian interference in the 2016 election despite a year's worth of evidence to the contrary. Michelle Lee in the Washington Post -- 7/13/17

‘I think many people would have held that meeting,’ Trump says of son’s huddle with Russian lawyer -- President Trump said Wednesday that he was not aware of his son Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting last year with a Russian lawyer but that he does not blame him for the ensuing controversy, which has thrust the White House back into a cloud of questions surrounding the Trump campaign's interactions with Russia in 2016. Ashley Parker in the Washington Post -- 7/13/17

Trump-Russia investigators probe Jared Kushner-run digital operation -- Investigators at the House and Senate Intelligence committees and the Justice Department are examining whether the Trump campaign’s digital operation – overseen by Jared Kushner – helped guide Russia’s sophisticated voter targeting and fake news attacks on Hillary Clinton in 2016. Peter Stone and Greg Gordon McClatchyDC -- 7/13/17

Beltway 

Many Republicans unmoved by Trump Jr. revelations -- Orange County Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher called the emails and subsequent meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and an attorney with ties to the Russian government “still a nothingburger” and “the same old fake news.” Tulare Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said he would not discuss Russia or “anything that starts with R.” Carolyn Lochhead and John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/13/17

From hospitals, doctors and patients, a last gasp of opposition to the Senate health-care bill -- Just four days after Senate GOP leaders revealed their health-care bill this summer, Tucson Medical Center hosted a town hall thousands of miles away drawing roughly 700 people in person and 1,900 online. Juliet Eilperin and Paige Winfield Cunningham in the Washington Post -- 7/13/17

 

-- Wednesday Updates 

Rep. Brad Sherman just introduced articles of impeachment against President Trump -- Sherman, an 11-term Democrat who represents part of the San Fernando Valley, was the first to draft and circulate articles of impeachment last month. He formally introduced the measure, H.R. 438, on the House floor Wednesday afternoon. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ Stephen Ohelmacher Associated Press -- 7/12/17

Gov. Jerry Brown and Michael Bloomberg launch an effort to collect climate data -- Gov. Jerry Brown continues to add to his resume as global climate crusader, announcing on Wednesday a partnership with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to measure how states, cities and businesses are cutting their greenhouse gas emissions. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 7/12/17

Walters: Jerry Brown wants to be global climate change leader, but has a problem in California -- “Desperate” may be too strong a word, but Gov. Jerry Brown, who aspires to global leadership of the climate change movement, very badly needs to renew “cap-and-trade” controls on California’s greenhouse gas emissions that will expire in 2020. Dan Walters Calmatters.org -- 7/12/17

Orange County D.A. is investigating his biggest critic — a former ally — as ugly political battle looms -- Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas had groomed his senior prosecutor Todd Spitzer as his successor — and then he fired him. The termination seven years ago set off a bitter political rivalry that is expected to culminate in 2018 when the two face off in an election for Orange County’s top prosecutor. Adam Elmahrek in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/12/17

Taylor: New prosecutor in Contra Costa County could right racial wrongs -- Contra Costa County is looking for a top prosecutor. In the next two months, the Board of Supervisors will decide who will replace Mark Peterson, the last district attorney, who resigned in disgrace after pleading no contest to one count of perjury for making false statements on state campaign disclosure forms. Otis R. Taylor Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/12/17

Study: GPS rules send California juveniles into jail cycle -- Counties' overly stringent and varied GPS tracking policies are cycling California juvenile offenders back behind bars for minor infractions, according to a new report. Rules for juveniles who wear GPS monitors were "unrealistically onerous," and "undermine the rehabilitative purpose of the juvenile justice system," said researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the East Bay Community Law Center in a report released Wednesday. Michael Balsamo Associated Press -- 7/12/17

Latino plaintiffs sue California alleging poor health care -- California is harming medical care for more than 13 million lower-income residents, more than half of them Latinos, by failing to pay doctors enough to provide proper care, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 7/12/17

State lawmakers advance bill that would make 'stealthing' sexual assault but question whether it's enforceable -- Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) introduced the legislation in May through the "gut and amend" process, stripping the contents of an unrelated bill to insert the new language. It targets stealthing, or the practice of intentionally removing or tampering with a condom during sexual intercourse without consent. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/12/17

UC Board of Regents adds experts in sports management, media, arms control, finance -- Gov. Jerry Brown’s newest appointees to the University of California Board of Regents offer media pizazz, policy expertise and political skills at a time when the university system is facing major challenges. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/12/17

Politifact CA: Mostly True: California’s taxes are 'among the highest in the nation' -- In the video announcing his run for California governor, Republican Travis Allen said he wants to reduce the state’s crime rate and its high taxes. Chris Nichols Politifact CA: -- 7/12/17

Fox: AG’s First Test on Ballot Title & Summary -- California Attorney General Xavier Beccera faced his first test in approving the title and summary of a controversial and highly watched ballot initiative when the gas tax repeal measure came before him. Becerra has now released the title and summary on that measure. How did he fare? Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 7/12/17

Huge hepatitis outbreak claims fifth victim in San Diego County -- A fifth person has died in San Diego County’s ongoing hepatitis A outbreak — the state’s largest in two decades, public-health officials said Wednesday. The outbreak started in November 2016 and has grown among the region’s homeless population. There have been 228 confirmed infections, including 161 people who had to be hospitalized, according to the county’s Health and Human Services Agency. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/12/17

Gymboree is closing 350 stores, including 24 in California -- Children’s apparel retailer Gymboree Corp. said it would close about 350 of its Gymboree, Janie and Jack and Crazy 8 stores nationwide — including 24 in California — as it restructures its business after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June. Ethan Varian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/12/17

Residents return to fire-gutted homes as California firefighters make progress on massive blazes -- Firefighters took advantage of cooler temperatures Wednesday and increased containment on several destructive wildfires in California just ahead of another forecast of triple-digit heat this weekend. Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/12/17

Praise pours in for firefighters pictured saving American flag in Oroville wildfire -- The image has been shared thousands of times and brought freelance photographer Josh Edelson messages of thanks from both home and abroad. Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/12/17

McManus: At long last, the smoking Russian gun -- The unraveling mystery of whether Donald Trump’s presidential campaign colluded with Russia just produced a smoking gun: those emails from Donald Trump Jr. welcoming an offer from Moscow to supply dirt on Hillary Clinton. Doyle McManus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/12/17

The investigation goes digital: Did someone point Russia to specific online targets? -- Before social media — most specifically, Facebook — campaigns had to balance cost, reach and targeting through spending on direct mail and field programs and television. Now, they can pick out individuals from a massive crowd with a tailor-made video ad, for relatively little cost — with much less of a chance that their opponents find out it ever happened. The presidential campaign of Donald Trump embraced this explicitly. Philip Bump in the Washington Post -- 7/12/17