Updating . .
San Diego welcomes more refugees than any other California county -- Zawadi Namagazuzyo was about 12 when she was forced to flee her native Congo. Her mother and many family members were dead. Her father wanted her to live. Elizabeth Aguilera Calmatters.org -- 7/20/17
O.J. Simpson granted parole -- O.J. Simpson was granted parole Thursday by the state of Nevada for convictions connected to a robbery in a Las Vegas about a decade ago. He could be out of jail as early as October. The ruling came after a hearing that in which Simpson testified that he longed to be reunited with his family and children and said that he has no interest in returning to the media spotlight. David Montero and Matt Pearce in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
Fire officials optimistic in battle against blaze near Yosemite -- The wildfire that’s been raging near Yosemite National Park was showing signs Thursday of calming down as temperatures in the area dipped and humidity rose, officials said. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/17
The drought is over. Why are Republicans in Congress fighting for more water for farmers? -- The drought may be over and Central Valley farmers are getting more water than they have in years, but that hasn’t stopped Congressional Republicans from resurrecting a bill that would strip environmental protections for fish so more water can be funneled to agriculture. Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/17
A new suit says lawmakers broke the law when they changed California's recall election rules -- Republican activists and an anti-tax organization filed a lawsuit Thursday to scrap a new law that revised the rules for California’s recall elections, accusing Democrats of a blatant attempt to help an embattled state senator keep his job. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
Assembly GOP Leader Chad Mayes survives challenge over cap-and-trade vote but party activists will push for his removal -- Under pressure from some party activists to step down, Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes of Yucca Valley met with his caucus for more than an hour Thursday and emerged saying he remains its leader. Melanie Mason and Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
'I'm done': Fed up with California, some conservatives look to Texas -- The tipping point came in November, when he ran as a “pro-life, pro-family, pro-faith conservative Republican” in California’s 31st Congressional District on a platform of bringing back a shuttered military base to San Bernardino and cracking down on crime. A veteran of the Iraq war who remains in the Navy reserves as an intelligence officer, he lost to his Democratic opponent by more than 11% of the vote. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
Tom Steyer rebrands his political group for anti-Trump mission -- Tom Steyer, a major donor to Democratic causes and a potential candidate for California governor, has long signaled his political ambitions stretched far beyond climate change, his signature issue. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
Ed Royce stopped Dana Rohrabacher from going to Russia last spring, senior GOP aide says -- Rep. Dana Rohrabacher has made several trips to Moscow during his 15 terms in Congress. But the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats canceled a publicly announced trip to meet with the Russian parliament last spring with little notice. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
Volkswagen to pay millions more in California for diesel scandal -- Volkswagen agreed Thursday to pay California an additional $153.8 million in the carmaker’s diesel air-pollution scandal. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/17
Childhood trauma -- Preventing childhood trauma should be one of the top goals of California policymakers, a coalition of child advocates say. About 150 of the advocates came to Sacramento last week to educate legislators about the devastating effects of adverse childhood experiences. The goal was to help legislators create policies that will better protect kids. Lisa Renner Capitol Weekly -- 7/20/17
Jeffe & Jeffe: Somewhere in a Galaxy Not So Far Away…President Jerry Brown -- Brown, once known as “Governor Moonbeam” used laser focus to get his legislation over the top. Donald Trump could learn a lot from Jerry Brown 2.0. It takes persistence and experience for a chief executive to get things done, not just random tweeting. As the GOP fiasco in Washington clearly shows, a headless horseman inevitably falls off a cliff. Sherry Bebitch Jeffe & Doug Jeffe Fox & Hounds -- 7/20/17
Former Santa Ana Police Chief Alleges Wrongdoing by Top City Officials and Officers’ Union Leader -- Santa Ana’s former police chief has taken a step toward suing the city for alleged wrongdoing he says involved the officers’ union president, Mayor Miguel Pulido, and two other City Council members the union helped win election last year. Nick Gerda VoiceofOC.org -- 7/20/17
Lopez: USC bosses flunk the leadership test amid shocking allegations about former medical school dean -- By now you probably know the details. Dr. Carmen Puliafito, a $1.1-million-a-year professor, doctor, dean and big-bucks rainmaker for the University of Southern California, left plenty of time in his busy schedule for extracurricular activities. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
How an ex-FBI profiler helped put an innocent man behind bars -- The wrongful conviction has renewed questions about the credibility of profiling and focused attention on the role played by Safarik, the star of the season-long television show “Killer Instinct,” whose testimony was considered crucial at Jennings’ trial. Marisa Gerber in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
Revised GOP healthcare bill would still leave millions more without insurance, new report concludes -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) may have as much as $99 billion to spend to woo GOP senators wary of the party’s legislation rolling back the Affordable Care Act, according to a new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Noam N. Levey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
Apple iPhone, iPad users: Update now to protect against dangerous ‘Broadpwn’ hack -- Apple patched more than 40 issues in its new 10.3.3 update, but the one that matters most is its fix against the “Broadpwn” exploit. Through this exploit, hackers can take over a person’s device if the target is within their Wi-Fi range. Seung Lee in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/20/17 (on Apple devices go to Settings -> General -> Software update)
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Morain: Here’s what happens when a Republican dares to vote with Democrats -- For a guy who was getting slimed and threatened, Assembly Republican leader Chad Mayes seemed mighty calm as he sat in his Capitol office. Dan Morain in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/17
Will California Democrats pay a price for Jerry Brown’s latest victories? -- Jerry Brown doesn’t want to talk about his legacy. “First of all, I don’t have a legacy. I don’t know what a legacy is,” Brown, who previously served as governor from 1975 to 1983, told a TV reporter at a recent climate event. Christopher Cadelago and Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/17
Skelton: Brown's climate-change deal is how complex legislation gets passed. Was the White House watching? -- One particular message to the agriculture industry was simple: You want Gov. Jerry Brown to be a friend or an enemy the rest of his term? Friends will support his climate change legislation, it was made clear. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
What's Delaine Eastin thinking? The long-shot candidate for governor explains -- Accusing Sacramento’s political power barons of neglecting California schoolkids, former state schools chief Delaine Eastin jumped into the 2018 governor’s race in the fall vowing to shove the issue of education to the forefront of the campaign. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
As state clears gas field to reopen, governor calls for it to close -- Two state agencies cleared the Aliso Canyon gas storage field to resume operations on Wednesday, while the same afternoon Governor Jerry Brown called for it to eventually close. It's an odd juxtaposition of different state entities acting simultaneously on the controversial gas storage field, where a well ruptured in late 2015 and drove thousands of people from their homes. Sharon McNary KPCC -- 7/20/17
Walters: Democrats hurt by gerrymandered congressional districts, but not in California -- Belatedly – and only after they had lost control of Congress to Republicans – the national Democratic Party grasped the impact of how state legislatures redraw congressional districts after each decennial census. Dan Walters Calmatters.org -- 7/20/17
Republican David Hadley drops out of California governor's race two weeks after entering -- In an evening email to supporters, Hadley said he concluded that he could not win the race despite receiving encouragement since announcing his candidacy. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
The staying power of Nancy Pelosi -- In the end, it all comes down to following the money – about $568 million and counting. Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader of the House and former speaker, is no stranger to criticism and this year is no different. Daniel Maraccini Capitol Weekly -- 7/20/17
Trump Election Commission Should Focus on Russian Meddling, California Democrats Say -- As President Trump’s controversial election commission held its first meeting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, California Democrats were also in the nation’s capital — denouncing the group’s work. Marisa Lagos KQED -- 7/20/17
A Top Rohrabacher Aide Is Ousted After Russia Revelations -- Paul Behrends, a top aide to Representative Dana Rohrabacher, has been ousted from his role as staff director for the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee that Rohrabacher chairs, after stories appeared in the press highlighting his relationships with pro-Russia lobbyists. Rosie Gray The Atlantic -- 7/20/17
Dana Rohrabacher dismisses new report on request he got from Russia as a 'nothing burger' -- Yes, the Russian government asked Rep. Dana Rohrabacher to push back against sanctions on Russians, and he doesn't see what the big deal is. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
Not easy for Democrats to use health care vote to win back House -- Democratic strategists say the Republican failure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act will have repercussions in California’s 2018 election, and the potential victims are nine House Republicans who voted for the GOP plan and are being targeted by the Democrats. But that wishful thinking may be premature at this point. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/17
Another Santa Clara County jail guard in trial on excessive force charge -- For the second time this year, a Santa Clara County jail guard is on trial facing excessive-force charges, part of an unprecedented wave of prosecution in the two years since officers beat an inmate to death. Tracey Kaplan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/20/17
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Forum owners move to block LA Clippers arena, claim Inglewood mayor deceived them -- Owners of The Forum concert venue filed a claim for damages Wednesday against the city of Inglewood for quietly entering into a deal to build a new Los Angeles Clippers arena just down the street. Sandy Mazza in the Inland Daily Bulletin$ -- 7/20/17
House-rich, cash-poor: why older LA homeowners are standing with Airbnb -- Debbie Pollack speaks fondly of acting in 80's teen comedy “Sixteen Candles” and playing a "pscyhotic nun" on a daytime soap. But these days she says her most important role is that of Airbnb host. Josie Huang KPCC -- 7/20/17
Another minimum wage increase on track in California -- Barring a surprise sag in the state’s employment picture, California’s hourly minimum wage will increase as scheduled on Jan. 1. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/17
Homeless
On Peninsula and in South Bay, RVs Have Become Symbol of Homelessness -- On El Camino Real this year, right alongside Stanford University, RVs and trailers have been parked bumper to bumper. Some recreational vehicles look worn down; others are set on blocks. This is in Palo Alto, where the median home value is $2.5 million. Liz Gannes KQED -- 7/20/17
$10 million from state will fund new San Francisco Navigation Center -- San Francisco is getting a new Navigation Center — possibly as early as next spring — thanks to a $10 million gift from the state. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/17
Whiting: Santa Ana River Trail walkers, cyclists fear homeless, give up outdoor ‘jewel’ -- Dozens of interviews, emails and online comments reveal that walkers and cyclists fear, or have fled, the 30-mile Santa Ana River Trail after being injured and scared off by the exploding homeless population. David Whiting in the Orange County Register -- 7/20/17
Wildfire
'An insane amount of heat' as fire near Yosemite National Park moves with frightening speed -- It has destroyed 29 structures, temporarily cut off power to Yosemite National Park and threatened the historic gold-mining town of Mariposa, sending its residents fleeing. It’s sent its smoke as far away as Idaho, and it burned so hot that it created its own weather system. Meg Bernhard, Veronica Rocha and Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
Education
Alleged conduct by former USC dean 'horrible and despicable,' med school head tells angry students -- Addressing scores of bewildered and at times angry students, the dean of USC’s medical school said Wednesday that the university had launched multiple internal investigations into the conduct of his predecessor after The Times reported that he associated with criminals and drug abusers who told of using methamphetamine and other drugs with him. Sarah Parvini, Paul Pringle, Matt Hamilton and Adam Elmahrek in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/17
Mobile classroom brings education to the hardest-to-reach students -- Five Keys, a San Francisco-based charter organization, now has a mobile classroom to help with its mission of helping students earn their high school diplomas or pass the general education development (GED) exam, after they’ve dropped out of traditional high schools. Carolyn Jones EdSource -- 7/20/17
LA Unified administrator tapped to lead troubled Inglewood schools -- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced on Wednesday that he’s picked long-time local educator Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana as the new trustee for the troubled Inglewood Unified School District. Adolfo Guzman-Lopez KPCC -- 7/20/17
Berkeley free-speech fight flares up again over Ben Shapiro -- The University of California at Berkeley is again blocking a conservative speaker from coming to the flagship public campus, an advocacy group claimed, threatening the constitutional rights of students. But university officials said they welcome Ben Shapiro. Susan Svrluga in the Washington Post$ -- 7/20/17
Cal brouhaha over conservative pundit Ben Shapiro’s planned visit -- Conservative columnist Ben Shapiro, the latest right-wing pundit whom a Republican student organization has tried to bring to UC Berkeley, won’t be allowed to speak on the campus under the conditions the group has proposed, school officials said Wednesday. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/17
Cannabis
Marijuana dispensaries aren’t magnets for crime, study says -- Conventional wisdom says marijuana dispensaries make neighborhoods less safe, but a new study suggests the conventional wisdom is wrong and that crime increases after cities move to close pot shops. The research may help shape conversations in Southern California communities, including Long Beach, helping them hammer out timetables, regulations and tax structures for legal pot. Brooke Staggs in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 7/20/17
More marijuana growers than Starbucks stores? That could be Sacramento’s future -- Someday soon, more businesses could grow marijuana in the city of Sacramento than there are Starbucks and McDonald’s restaurants combined. More than 100 businesses are seeking special permits from the city to run indoor marijuana growing operations. Ryan Lillis and Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/17
Immigration / Border
San Diego Group Expands Legal Services For Immigrants Here Illegally -- An immigrant rights group in San Diego is partnering with pro bono attorneys to provide free legal advice for people who do not have legal U.S. immigration status. The move comes as the Trump administration considers dismantling an Obama-era program protecting immigrants who arrived illegally as children. Jean Guerrero KPBS -- 7/20/17
Health
Kaiser and state officials reach settlement agreement over deficiencies in mental health care -- Kaiser Permanente and the California Department of Managed Health Care announced this week a settlement agreement aimed at resolving “deficiencies” in the HMO’s oversight and access to its mental health services, DMHC officials said. Martin Espinoza in the Santa Rosa Press -- 7/20/17
Also . . .
David Perlman and more media news from the north -- Colleagues of David Perlman are tweeting that the respected longtime San Francisco Chronicle science editor is retiring. Did I say longtime? Perlman first began working for the Chronicle in 1940 — he had actually started at newspapers two years earlier. Kevin Roderick LA Observed -- 7/20/17
Rep. Susan Davis, three other House Dems sued for displaying Pride flag -- The plaintiff: Chris Sevier, an attorney who has an ongoing campaign against same-sex marriage and has also unsuccessfully sued states for the right to marry a laptop computer, to make a point about rulings on same-sex marriage. Joshua Stewart in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/20/17
Could O.J. Simpson move to Sacramento if paroled? Why his friend says it’s possible -- O.J. Simpson has been locked up in Nevada for more than eight years. Could his next home be ... Sacramento? Simpson, a former football star and Hollywood celebrity, is scheduled to have a parole hearing Thursday, where he’ll aim for his release. Noel Harris in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/17
Film crew robbed at gunpoint in downtown Oakland -- Four members of a crew filming a television reality show in downtown Oakland were robbed at gunpoint Monday night of $50,000 worth of equipment and personal items, according to a victim and authorities. Harry Harris in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/20/17
POTUS 45
Citing Recusal, Trump Says He Wouldn’t Have Hired Sessions -- President Trump said on Wednesday that he never would have appointed Attorney General Jeff Sessions had he known Mr. Sessions would recuse himself from overseeing the Russia investigation that has dogged his presidency, calling the decision “very unfair to the president.” Peter Baker, Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman in the New York Times$ -- 7/20/17
Big German Bank, Key to Trump’s Finances, Faces New Scrutiny -- Separately, Deutsche Bank has been in contact with federal investigators about the Trump accounts, according to two people briefed on the matter. And the bank is expecting to eventually have to provide information to Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel overseeing the federal investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia. Ben Protess, Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Jesse Drucker in the New York Times$ -- 7/20/17
President Trump’s first six months: The fact-check tally -- Shortly before reaching the six-month mark of his presidency, President Trump made an assertion and then paused that perhaps he should not be so definitive. “I better say ‘think,’ otherwise they’ll give you a Pinocchio. And I don’t like those — I don’t like Pinocchios.” Glenn Kessler, Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Meg Kelly in the Washington Post$ -- 7/20/17
How to reboot Trump after failing fast in his first 6 months -- President Trump has been in the White House for exactly six months, and in that time he’s torched the most precious thing a new president gets: his honeymoon. Instead, Trump looks more like he needs marriage counseling. To be charitable, as they say in Silicon Valley, the president has failed fast. He needs a reboot. And we’re here to help. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/17
Beltway
‘Give it hell’: Obama, lawmakers react to John McCain’s cancer diagnosis -- President Trump, former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, members of Congress and other Washington officials put aside bickering and partisan gridlock Wednesday night in a show of support for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who announced he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Alex Horton in the Washington Post$ -- 7/20/17
AP-NORC Poll: Most say feds should ensure health coverage -- A new poll suggests the country may be shifting toward the political left on the issue, with 62 percent saying it's the federal government's responsibility to make sure that all Americans have health care coverage, while 37 percent say it is not. Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Laurie Kellman Associated Press -- 7/20/17
Republicans’ Push to Overturn Health Law Is Back From the Dead -- Republican health care push was declared dead Wednesday morning. By afternoon it had a breath of life. Legislation in Washington can assume Frankenstein-like qualities. Carl Huse in the New York Times$ -- 7/20/17
-- Wednesday Updates
Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility can reopen, state says -- The Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility near Porter Ranch, which closed after a massive leak forced thousands to flee their homes, can reopen at a reduced capacity, state officials said Wednesday. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/17
Dana Rohrabacher dismisses new report on request he got from Russia as a 'nothing burger' -- Yes, the Russian government asked Rep. Dana Rohrabacher to push back against sanctions on Russians, and he doesn't see what the big deal is. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/17
Mariposa County fire doubles in size as flames force thousands to flee and threaten power to Yosemite -- A massive wildfire in Mariposa County nearly doubled in size overnight as flames destroyed structures, threatened power to Yosemite National Park and forced 4,000 people to flee their homes. Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ Mark Evan Smith in the Fresno Bee$ Evan Sernoffsky, Sarah Ravani and Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/19/17
He’ll lead California’s water department as it rebuilds Oroville Dam, restricts groundwater -- A longtime Sonoma County water manager and environmental advocate is in line to lead the state Department of Water Resources, Gov. Jerry Brown announced on Wednesday. Brown appointed Grant Davis, the general manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency, to be the next director of the state water department. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/17
Oroville dam repairs would benefit from multibillion-dollar ballot measure -- With California’s drought fresh on voters’ minds, a longtime water activist is asking their approval for a veritable wish list of water and other environmental projects costing billions – from fixing Oroville Dam’s cratered spillway to improving the watershed of the Tijuana River. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/17
Plan calls for L.A., Long Beach ports to go to zero-emissions technology; cost could hit $14 billion -- The nation’s largest port complex will seek to slash air pollution and health risks to Southern Californians by replacing diesel trucks and cargo equipment with zero-emissions technology over the next two decades, according to a plan released Wednesday. Tony Barboza in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/17
California’s cap-and-trade program is costly, controversial. But how does it work? -- Californians pay more for gasoline – and food, cement and other goods – to finance the state’s fight against climate change. They’ll continue doing so at least through 2030, thanks to a landmark bill extends California’s cap-and-trade program for another decade. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/17
California’s economy will suffer plenty from climate change. But at least it’s not Florida -- Higher crime rates and electric bills. Crops and laborers wilting in the sun. A new study says California’s economy is going to lose billions of dollars a year to climate change. But hey, it will be a picnic compared to states like Florida and Texas. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/17
California is working to avoid a shortage of legalized marijuana, state pot czar says -- With Nevada suffering a shortage of legalized marijuana, California’s state pot czar said Wednesday that efforts are being made in her state to make sure sufficient licenses go to farmers, testers and distributors to supply retailers. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/17
Alum Rock faces credit slam after critical state audit -- In a potentially costly hit to taxpayers, Standard & Poors Global Credit has signaled that it expects to downgrade or possibly even withdraw its credit rating of the Alum Rock Union School District’s bonds and other debt. Sharon Noguchi in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/19/17
Walters: Jerry Brown wins on cap-and-trade, but is it just symbolism? -- Gov. Jerry Brown traveled two not always parallel paths to win legislative approval for extending California’s cap-and-trade approach to shrinking its carbon emission footprint. Dan Walters Calmatters.org -- 7/19/17
Former Obama advisor jumps in to challenge Rep. Mimi Walters in Orange County -- Brian Forde, who previously served as senior advisor on technology to former President Obama, announced Wednesday that he'll join several other Democrats hoping to unseat the two-term Republican. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/17
The Democrat running against Rep. Darrell Issa has more money than any challenger in California's hottest races -- Out of more than a dozen closely watched congressional seats that Democrats and Republicans are trying to flip in California, the one that belongs to Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) has drawn some of the most robust fundraising. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/17
Looking toward a 2018 rematch, Rep. Steve Knight's opponent is catching up in fundraising -- At one point last year, GOP Rep. Steve Knight of Palmdale was labeled by an analyst as "the most vulnerable incumbent in California." But despite his sometimes shaky fundraising and the attack ads unleashed by Democrats seeking to unseat him, Knight went on to defeat Democratic challenger Bryan Caforio by more than 6 percentage points in November. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/17
Rep. Barbara Lee won't get her war vote after all -- House Republicans have stripped from a Defense Department spending bill Rep. Barbara Lee's amendment to reconsider the authority the president has to wage war. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/17
Decker: Gov. Jerry Brown shows President Trump the upside of experience -- As his party’s healthcare plan imploded Monday night, President Trump could look across the country to the state he seems to disdain the most and see success forged by the very thing he ran against: old-f ashioned politics. Cathleen Decker in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/17
Mark Zuckerberg vs. Trump? Poll reveals how tech mogul would fare if he ran for president -- A survey released this week by a Democratic polling firm shows it would be a tight race. Public Policy Polling surveyed 836 registered voters from July 14-17. The poll has a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points. Queenie Wong in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/19/17
Putin-friendly congressman gets boost from House majority leader -- House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who was once caught remarking that Rep. Dana Rohrabacher might be the one member of Congress paid by Russian President Vladimir Putin, is now headlining a fundraiser for him, according to an invitation reviewed by McClatchy. Katie Glueck McClatchyDC -- 7/19/17
Not dead yet: Trump exhorts Senate to pass Obamacare repeal -- Lecturing fellow Republicans, President Donald Trump summoned GOP senators to the White House Wednesday and told them face-to-face they must not leave town for their August recess without sending him an “Obamacare” repeal bill to sign. Erica Werner and Alan Fram Associated Press Lisa Mascaro and Noah Bierman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/17
Justices uphold refugee ban but say grandparents still OK -- The Supreme Court says the Trump administration can strictly enforce its ban on refugees, but is leaving in place a weakened travel ban that includes grandparents among relatives who can help visitors from six mostly Muslim countries get into the U.S. Mark Sherman Associated Press -- 7/19/17
Mexico announces new laptop, tablet security on US flights -- Laptops and tablets on U.S.-bound flights from Mexico will be subjected to heightened carry-on security measures beginning Wednesday at the request of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mexican authorities announced. Associated Press -- 7/19/17
California's nuts: Why the almond, pistachio, pecan and walnut were each declared the official state nut -- Botanically speaking, the nuts are technically seeds of drupe fruits, unlike the acorn — a true nut — which did not make the list. Even though they aren’t scientifically nuts, the almond, walnut, pecan and pistachio still all are considered nuts in normal conversation and from a culinary perspective. But semantics are only one part of this nutty development. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/17
Great white shark swims with paddleboarders off California coast -- How would you react if you saw the fin of a great white shark pop up in the ocean next to you? Francesca Nash was pretty calm when a juvenile great white approached her paddleboard Saturday at Santa Claus Beach in Carpinteria (Santa Barbara County). Alix Martichoux in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/19/17
Owners of Oakland Magazine purchase East Bay Express -- Telegraph Media owners Stephen Buel and Judith M. Gallman purchased the Express from majority owner Jay Youngdahl, bringing familiar faces back to the scrappy alternative weekly. David DeBolt in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/19/17