Updating . .   

Senator Kamala Harris, darling of progressives, says she'd support a Feinstein re-election bid '100 percent' -- In a robust defense of Dianne Feinstein, her embattled Democratic colleague, Sen. Kamala Harris said Thursday that she would back the state’s senior U.S. senator “100 percent” should Feinstein decide to run again in 2018, calling her a tireless fighter for “California values.” Carla Marinucci Politico -- 9/14/17

Expanded worksite protections against ICE raids could be coming to California under bill sent to Gov. Brown -- After negotiations to help quell opposition from dozens of business associations and agricultural groups, the state Assembly sent a bill to Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday that would expand workplace protections for employees without legal residency in the U.S. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

San Jose to sue Trump administration over DACA decision -- The city will file a federal lawsuit today challenging the Trump Administration’s rescindment of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, officials announced early Thursday. Tatiana Sanchez in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/14/17

Trump, Democrats confirm outline of DACA deal, despite denials -- President Donald Trump and Democratic congressional leaders reached a tentative agreement Wednesday night to provide a pathway to citizenship for young immigrants known as Dreamers — but after a conservative backlash, the president and his aides sent conflicting signals about how firm the agreement was. Burgess Everett, John Dawsey, Rachael Bade and Louis Nelson Politico Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Yamiche Alcindor in the New York Times$ -- 9/14/17

Ryan dismisses potential DACA deal between Trump and Democrats -- President Trump further swept the debate over “dreamer” protections into confusion Thursday when he said he was not considering allowing hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants to become citizens, putting him at odds with top congressional Democrats who believed he supported the idea. Elise Viebeck, Ed O'Keefe and Mike DeBonis in the Washington Post$ -- 9/14/17

Unprecedented measures at Berkeley for conservative writer's speech -- To see what free speech looks like in 2017 at the birthplace of the famed movement, consider the elaborate preparations underway for a talk Thursday by a conservative writer. Ben Shapiro isn’t nearly as controversial as some right-wing speakers who have roiled the campus over the last year. Javier Panzar, Benjamin Oreskes and Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

California clean energy proposals face demise as opposition fails to yield -- California has grown accustomed to setting benchmark after benchmark on environmental policies, but ambitious efforts to spread renewable energy around the state and the region could grind to a halt this week. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

Sheriff’s deputy arrested on suspicion of sexual assault under color of authority -- A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault under the color of authority, according to law enforcement sources. Joseph Serna and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

Body cam footage shows police knew of illegal 2015 party at Ghost Ship -- “I will be talking to the city, and we’ll be dealing with this place.” That is the grim threat made by Oakland police Officer Hector Chavez in March 2015 as he stood in the open doorway of the Ghost Ship warehouse, talking to a party promoter and looking over the inside of the cluttered firetrap for 20 minutes. Matthias Gafni, Thomas Peele and David DeBolt in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/14/17

Trump pushes deal on DACA as many supporters erupt in anger -- President Trump on Thursday defended his negotiations with Democratic leaders on immigration, as many of his most prominent supporters denounced the idea of a deal to legalize the status of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who are in rthis county illegally. David Lauter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

The pro-Russia, pro-weed, pro-Assange GOP congressman who will be tough to beat -- It was a surreal visit to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher’s Orange County home. The 15-term Republican greeted me in bare feet, sitting on his front step making fundraising phone calls while wearing a stained white T-shirt and khakis he bought at Goodwill. Later, he proudly showed me a blazer he scored there for $10. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/14/17

Poverty rose faster in this Sacramento suburb than anywhere else in California -- Arden Arcade, a patchwork neighborhood of mansions, car lots and aging apartments between north Sacramento and Carmichael, saw the largest one-year jump in poverty of any large place in California, according to newly released U.S. census data. Anita Chabria, Jim Miller and Steve Magaganini in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/14/17

Median income soars in Bay Area, but some are left out -- With tech companies flooding the Bay Area with high salaries, San Francisco and four neighboring counties have risen to the top of the list for median income among the country’s 25 largest metro areas. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/14/17

Renewable diesel use in California moves to fast track -- Renewable diesel sounds like a contradiction in terms. But planners for the Capitol Corridor trains, which run between the Bay Area and the Sacramento region, see it as a way to slash climate-warming emissions. Isha Salian in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/14/17

Competition looks at redesign for San Francisco Bay as sea level rises -- Bay Area residents know how hard it is to get a full sense of the large and constantly shifting shoreline that frames the body of water at the center of this region. John King in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/14/17

Graffiti-fighting drones are coming to clean up San Jose -- San Jose has a new high-tech solution to its persistent graffiti problem. Mayor Sam Liccardo on Wednesday announced a graffiti-removing drone as the winner of the city’s “Unleash your Geek” contest. Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/14/17

Fox: Single Payer Health Care and the 2020 CA Primary -- In the week that Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced his Medicare for All bill backed by a number of Democratic senators, including California’s Kamala Harris, the California legislature is moving a bill to jump the 2020 presidential primary in the Golden State from June to early March. The two items are closely connected. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 9/14/17

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning   

Dianne Feinstein’s support slips in California poll – but don’t count her out in 2018 -- Her job approval rating has dropped to 50 percent, down from 59 percent less than six months ago, according to a survey by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/14/17

Trump fighter Kamala Harris edging Feinstein in popularity -- For decades, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has been California’s most popular national politician. But a new poll shows that newbie Kamala Harris, who has become an outspoken leader of the Trump “resistance” in her first eight months in office, is starting to eclipse the grand dame. Julia Prodis Sulek in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/14/17

California Democrats growing tired of Nancy Pelosi -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who won an eighth term leading the Democratic caucus last fall, should be replaced regardless of whether her party regains control of Congress’ lower chamber in next year’s elections, according to a new poll. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/14/17

State Senate committee approves budget proposal to assist DACA recipients in California -- A state Senate budget and fiscal committee on Wednesday approved an additional $30 million in funding for legal services and financial aid to help DACA recipients and young immigrants without legal residency known as "Dreamers." The budget proposal was struck Tuesday by legislative leaders and must be approved by the time the Legislature adjourns for the year Friday. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

California Assembly approves resolution denouncing Trump's decision on DACA -- After some intense exchanges on the house floor, the California Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution that condemned President Trump for his decision to rescind protections for people who were brought into the country illegally as children. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

Here's why those clean energy bills have stalled in the state Legislature -- California has grown accustomed to setting benchmark after benchmark on environmental policies, but ambitious efforts to spread renewable energy around the state and the region could grind to a halt this week. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ Katy Murphy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/14/17

Power grid expansion plan withdrawn amid political backlash -- The late-session plan to restructure management of the California power grid skidded to a halt Wednesday in the wake of growing opposition from interest groups and a spate of negative publicity. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press -- 9/14/17

Skelton: A good compromise will result in California becoming a 'sanctuary state' -- California is about to become a so-called sanctuary state. What does that mean? It means California will refuse to help federal agents deport people who came here illegally but are staying out of trouble and contributing positively to the state. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

California’s Resistance to Trump? So far, semi-successes and a few fizzles -- The 2017 legislative session now wrapping up began with a rhetorical punch in the face to Donald Trump. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters.org -- 9/14/17

Walters: Inventor Hyatt fought state tax collectors and won -- Sometimes, if you are stubborn enough, you can fight city hall, or a state bureaucracy, and emerge as a winner. Dan Walters Calmatters.org -- 9/14/17

‘Jordan’s Law’ just got a ‘step closer’ to fighting social media-motivated attacks -- A revised state bill that aims to deter social media-motivated attacks passed the Assembly Wednesday and is now headed to the governor’s desk for review. “Jordan’s Law” was introduced by Assemblyman Matt Dababneh following the punch on then 14-year-old Jordan Peisner in December outside a Wendy’s in West Hills by a teen he didn’t know. The brutal attack was caught on Snapchat and went viral. Brenda Gazzar in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 9/14/17

New parents at California's small businesses would get 12 weeks of leave under bill headed to Gov. Jerry Brown -- Employees at many small businesses across California could not be denied up to 12 weeks away from work to care for a new child under legislation sent Wednesday to Gov. Jerry Brown. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/14/17

Bill to shed more light on prescription drug prices heads to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk -- Powered by increasing scrutiny of costly prescription drugs, a measure that would require sweeping new disclosure on how medicines are priced cleared its final legislative hurdle Wednesday. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

Smoking pot or tobacco at California beaches could soon be illegal under bills headed to Gov. Brown -- California parks and beaches would be off-limits to those smoking tobacco or marijuana, or using electronic cigarettes, under legislation sent to Gov. Jerry Brown by state lawmakers Wednesday. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/14/17

Would you buy an electric car if you could use the carpool lane alone? -- Assembly Bill 544, which was sent to the governor’s desk on Wednesday, would extend through 2025 a decal program that allows low-emission cars into high-occupancy vehicle lanes, even when the driver is riding solo. It passed the Assembly on a 51-10 vote. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/14/17

A bill that would set new rules for online dating contracts in California heads to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk -- The bill, proposed by Assemblyman Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco), would set new specific contract requirements for Internet dating services. The bill's new requirements include allowing online-dating customers to cancel contracts by email and have access to electronic copies of contracts. Mina Corpuz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

Expanding Family Leave, Drug Price Transparency, School For Children Of Deportees -- California lawmakers are continuing their push through hundreds of bills before the legislative session ends Friday. Here are some of the highlights: Capital Public Radio -- 9/14/17

Drug pricing bill clears last hurdle in California Legislature -- Despite major opposition from the deep-pocketed pharmaceutical industry, the California Legislature Wednesday sent Gov. Jerry Brown a bill aimed at bringing more accountability and transparency to drug pricing. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/14/17

Children of deported parents could stay in California schools under plan on Brown’s desk -- Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, who introduced the bill, cites reports that show many U.S.-born children who move to Mexico to join their parents are not able to speak Spanish well enough to integrate into society or succeed in school. Lara, the son of undocumented parents, said he’s also heard reports of parents who make the difficult decision to leave their children in the U.S. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/14/17

California Legislature's final days of work this year have changed, thanks to voters -- For years, California’s most powerful interest groups relied on what they could pull off once night fell on the state Capitol in the final hours of every legislative year. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

Aliso Canyon gas field to remain open as LA County loses court bid -- Los Angeles County lost another bid Wednesday to halt operations at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility near Porter Ranch, with the state Supreme Court declining to review a lower court decision that allowed Southern California Gas Co. to resume limited gas injections at the facility. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 9/14/17

L.A. County crime-inspired measure would ban brandishing rifles in unincorporated areas of California -- Californians would be prohibited from openly carrying long guns in public, unincorporated areas of the state under a bill approved Wednesday by the Legislature and sent to the governor for consideration. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

Politifact CA: John Chiang’s claim on California’s affordable housing doesn’t add up -- State Treasurer John Chiang has made boosting California’s supply of affordable housing a key talking point during his run for governor. Chiang, one of several Democratic candidates in the 2018 race, claimed at a recent campaign event in Santa Monica that he’s helped greatly expand that supply. Chris Nichols Politifact CA -- 9/14/17

Preparations beginning for border wall prototypes -- The site on Otay Mesa where models of competing proposals to build President Donald Trump’s border wall are to be built is now nearly surrounded by a chain link fence, though there is still no official timeline for when companies that won a bidding contest will begin work. Greg Moran in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/14/17

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

Median income soars in Bay Area, but some are left out -- According to numbers released Thursday by the Census Bureau, the median income for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metro area, which also comprises Alameda, Marin, Contra Costa and San Mateo counties, jumped by 9 percent from 2015 to 2016, surpassing the Washington, D.C., area, which held the No. 1 spot last year. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/14/17

California motorists paying for Harvey’s wrath -- California motorists are paying an average $3.15 a gallon for unleaded regular gasoline, the highest statewide average in two years and currently the highest in the nation, according to AAA. Mark Glover in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/14/17

Transit  

San Francisco ponders new rules for Chariot and other private transit vehicles -- In an effort to appease a flurry of complaints, the city’s new permit program for private transit vehicles, like Chariot, will focus on keeping the passenger vans out of Muni bus lanes and crosswalks, and from replicating existing transit routes. Lizzie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/14/17

BART Weighs New Ordinance to Crack Down on Fare Cheaters -- Now, the agency is spending $2.65 million in the current year on a series of pilot initiatives to stem the tide of fare cheating. At the downtown Berkeley station, for instance, 5-foot-high glass barriers now surround the entrance to new, Clipper-only fare gates. Similar hard-to-jump barriers are slated for other stations. Dan Brekke KQED -- 9/14/17

Homeless  

San Diego hepatitis A outbreak deaths reach 16 -- San Diego County’s hepatitis A outbreak shows no signs of slowing, according to the latest update released Tuesday by the county Health and Human Services Agency. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/14/17

After Anaheim declares state of emergency, Santa Ana River homeless wonder what’s next -- Heather Smith-Bush isn’t sure what to make of rumors she has heard about how the city of Anaheim plans to move hundreds of homeless people like her out of the tents and makeshift shelters where they live along the Santa Ana River Trail. Joseph Pimentel and Theresa Walker in the Orange County Register -- 9/14/17

Mayor announces plan to house homeless in tents -- Hundreds of homeless people living on the street will find shelter in three large industrial tents with beds, showers, restrooms and hand-washing stations by the end of the year under a plan announced Wednesday by San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Gary Warth in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/14/17

Housing  

The Sunnyvale house that sold for $782K over asking? There’s more where that came from -- Yesterday’s post about that house in Sunnyvale — you know, the one that sold for $782,000 over its listing price — mentioned that it is one of dozens in the South Bay that sold for way “over asking” in the last month. Lost amid all the hoopla over the modest house on Prunelle Court — it’s less than 2,000 square feet — were any details about the 50 or so other “over asking” homes. Richard Scheinin in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/14/17

Should California look to Massachusetts to fix its housing crisis? -- It’s hard to fix a housing crisis. Just ask the California Legislature. After months of trying to put together a package of bills aimed at plugging the 100,000 unit affordable housing gap, lawmakers are still scrambling to finalize a deal before adjourning for the year on Friday. Matt Levin Calmatters.org -- 9/14/17

Education 

L.A. school board president faces felony charges over campaign contributions -- Los Angeles school board President Ref Rodriguez was charged Wednesday with three felony counts of conspiracy, perjury and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, the result of a months-long investigation by local authorities into donations to his successful first-time run for office in 2015. Anna M. Phillips, David Zahniser and Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ Maura Walz, Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, Kyle Stokes, and Annie Gilbertson KPCC -- 9/14/17

First year of California community colleges could be free under bill headed to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk -- Hoping to entice more students into California's community college system, lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill to make students' first year free. The Assembly gave final approval to a measure by Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) that waives fees for first-time full-time students. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/14/17

Court leans toward allowing protesters’ to sue UC administrators -- Despite a University of California lawyer’s warning of “mob rule on campus,” a federal appeals court seemed inclined Wednesday to allow UC Berkeley protesters to take school administrators to trial for allegedly sanctioning police brutality to break up a 2011 demonstration. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/14/17

Cal State chancellor 'cautiously optimistic' that Congress will protect 'Dreamers' -- California State University Chancellor Timothy P. White, who flew to Washington, D.C., this week to speak out against President Trump's decision to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, said he was "cautiously optimistic" that Congress will find a way to preserve the program that protects nearly 800,000 young immigrants. Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

UC regents to examine UC Irvine's rescission fiasco, impact of another possible tuition increase -- University of California regents, meeting this week in San Diego, will take a good look at campus policies for rescinding admission offers, prompted by the recent debacle after UC Irvine abruptly canceled nearly 500 acceptances this summer. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

L.A. Unified settles lawsuits with teacher Rafe Esquith -- Rafe Esquith may have been America’s most famous teacher — even, some said, its best — when the Los Angeles Unified School District fired him in 2015. The three lawsuits prompted by that dismissal were put aside as the two sides settled and issued a brief joint statement Wednesday morning. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

Three crucial debates to follow at September's California State Board of Education meeting -- How should California define underperforming schools and intervene in school districts that clearly need extra help? Joy Resmovits in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

A place for Dreamers: Fresno Unified opens doors of new center at Manchester mall -- Fresno Unified trustees and Edison High School students gathered Wednesday morning at Manchester Center to open a new Dream Resource Center for students affected by President Donald Trump’s decision to end DACA – a program that protected young immigrants from deportation if they came to the U.S. legally as children. Barbara Anderson in the Fresno Bee -- 9/14/17

California replaced an old science test despite the Obama administration's warnings. DeVos' crew says it's OK -- When the state of California asked the Obama administration for permission to drop an old science test in favor of a new one that the state was putting into place, the answer — more than once — was no. Joy Resmovits in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

California gets waiver from administering old science tests, but only for last year -- In a partial victory for California, the U.S. Department of Education has granted the state a retroactive waiver from administering outdated science tests, instead allowing it to give students pilot tests based on new science standards. Louis Freedberg and Carolyn Jones EdSource -- 9/14/17

State adopts plan required by federal education law; here's what's in it -- The State Board of Education adopted the state’s compliance plan for the federal Every Student Succeeds Act on Wednesday, with, as expected, few changes to the draft published last month. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 9/14/17

Health 

Is California Doing Enough To Protect Patients From Bad Doctors? -- In 2011, Marian Hollingsworth needed to get a colonoscopy. Her primary care doctor referred her to a gastroenterologist, who performed the procedure. It went well. Kenny Goldberg KPBS -- 9/14/17

Bipartisan effort to stabilize health insurance markets is coming down to the wire -- Despite broad support from consumer advocates, state officials and healthcare leaders across the country, a bipartisan effort in Congress to stabilize health insurance markets and control rising premiums is being threatened by resurgent political fighting over the Affordable Care Act. Noam N. Levey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

Rady Children's to create unique psychiatric emergency department for kids -- More than $6 million in philanthropic donations will help Rady Children’s Hospital create what is believed to be the nation’s first pediatric psychiatric emergency department. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/14/17

Environment 

Lawsuit aims to end commercial fur trapping in California -- Conservation groups, aiming to end California’s dwindling fur trade, filed a lawsuit Wednesday that would force state wildlife authorities to raise license fees to levels required by law to cover the full costs of regulating the trapping, killing and skinning of wild animals. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

Kremlin knocks San Francisco Spare the Air violation as ‘Russophobic stunt’ -- The Russian government isn’t taking too kindly to charges that its consulate illegally burned garbage on a Spare the Air day after being kicked out of its Cow Hollow digs in San Francisco by the Trump administration. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/14/17

California Could Set 100% Renewable Energy Goal -- California lawmakers are running out of time to decide whether the state's energy diet will be greener by 2045. And renewable energy advocates are pushing for the measure which could significantly change the kind of energy consumed in the state. Erik Anderson KPBS -- 9/14/17

In Bay Area, Even Sea Otters Have Wearable Med -- On a recent Thursday, Otto skipped his $12 seafood breakfast to prepare for surgery. The 8-year-old southern sea otter was poisoned by exposure to toxic algae, likely after eating a batch of crabs. Lindsey Hoshaw KQED -- 9/14/17

Also . . . 

Case tossed against Oakland cop accused in teen sex-abuse scandal -- An Alameda County judge tossed out criminal charges on Wednesday against a former Oakland police officer at the center of a police sex-abuse scandal. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/14/17

Union-Tribune Columnist Who Delved Into Homelessness Retires -- In the midst of the county's hepatitis A outbreak, The San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Dan McSwain did not hesitate to take city of San Diego leaders to task. The city, he wrote, faces "full-blown crises of public safety and public health, the twin imperatives of any functioning government." Michael Lipkin KPBS -- 9/14/17

Lease-a-dog? You’re kidding, right? -- Should customers be able to lease dogs and cats in the same way they rent cars, apartments or furniture? California legislators think not. Both houses overwhelming approved Assembly Bill 1491, which would outlaw the practice beginning Jan. 1. The bill, virtually unnoticed in the final days of the legislative session, is now awaiting final action from Gov. Jerry Brown. Lisa Renner Capitol Weekly -- 9/14/17

POTUS 45  

Trump’s diehard supporters are fuming after an apparent about-face on ‘dreamers’ -- Staunch conservative allies of President Trump erupted in anger and incredulity late Wednesday after Democrats announced the president had agreed to pursue a legislative deal that would protect thousands of young undocumented immigrants from deportation but not secure Trump’s signature campaign promise: building a massive wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Robert Costa in the Washington Post$ -- 9/14/17

Pelosi and Schumer Say They Have Deal With Trump to Replace DACA -- Democratic leaders on Wednesday night declared that they had a deal with President Trump to quickly extend protections for young undocumented immigrants and to finalize a border security package that does not include the president’s proposed wall. Maggie Haberman and Yamiche Alcindor in the New York Times$ Ed O'Keefe and David Nakamura in the Washington Post$ -- 9/14/17

Politics ‘A new strategy’ for Trump? Democrats cautious but encouraged by fresh outreach -- President Trump on Wednesday vowed not to cut taxes for the wealthy, extolled the virtues of bipartisanship as leading to “some of the greatest legislation ever passed” and then — in a surprise move announced deep into the night — agreed to cut a deal with Democrats saving hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants from deportation. Ashley Parker and Robert Costa in the Washington Post$ -- 9/14/17

Beltway 

GOP shudders as Trump courts Democrats on taxes -- President Donald Trump’s courtship of Democrats on tax reform is dividing congressional Republicans on the merits of a bipartisan bill — and could upend the party-line strategy that White House and GOP leaders have been pursuing for months. Rachael Bade and Burgess Everett Politico -- 9/14/17

 

-- Wednesday Updates 

Turning aside risk, Democrats rally to Bernie Sanders' single-payer health plan -- Like passengers leaping for a departing train, leading Democrats are scrambling to support single-payer health insurance, a system that would represent a huge expansion of government control over healthcare and which the party’s presidential nominee declared last year would “never, ever” come to pass. Cathleen Decker in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/13/17

Ex-pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli (Pharma Bro) headed to jail after bail revoked -- A judge jailed former pharmaceuticals company CEO Martin Shkreli on Wednesday after finding that he violated his bail on a securities fraud conviction with a social media posting she agreed posed a threat to Hillary Clinton. Tom Hayes Associated Press -- 9/13/17

Report: Investment needed to prepare San Joaquin Valley communities for high-speed rail -- Without state and local intervention, San Joaquin Valley cities with high-speed rail stations will become sleeper communities, farming out tech workers on express trains to the Bay Area and Los Angeles, a report released Wednesday by nonprofit think-tank SPUR argues. Erin Baldassari in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/13/17

San Francisco school board moves forward on teacher housing project -- The board voted unanimously Tuesday evening to enter into an agreement with Mayor Ed Lee’s office of housing and development to pursue the construction of up to 140 units on a former school site in the Outer Sunset neighborhood. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/13/17

Taylor: Contented family in changing West Oakland, with pangs about gentrification -- Sometimes when Nelson Fernandez walks his pug, Ninja, he runs into people touring Station House, the new solar-powered townhomes between 14th and 16th streets in West Oakland. If they chat him up, the conversation usually doesn’t end without them asking a question that’s become familiar: Is it safe to live there? Otis R. Taylor Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/13/17

California could flip the House, and these 13 races will make the difference -- The stakes are high in the 2018 midterm elections: control of the U.S. House. For Democrats to reclaim power, they must forge a path through California. The party considers nine districts here to be battlegrounds and can't win the House without winning at least a few of them. Christina Bellantoni, Julie Wesyfall and Allison Wisk in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/13/17

Fox: Trust-busting in the Silicon Valley -- The ghost of Teddy Roosevelt and his trust-busting big stick hovers over Silicon Valley as calls for countering the concentrated power of dominate Internet companies grow louder. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 9/13/17

Public workers from two more towns expected to lose CalPERS pensions -- Trinity County Waterworks District No. 1 west of Redding and Niland Sanitary District from Imperial County are in line to become the third and fourth government agencies to break with CalPERS over the past 12 months in a manner that shortchanges their retirees. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/13/17

Lopez: They raised tens of thousands of dollars to fix a dangerous intersection. Now they can't get the city to take action -- Alexander von Wechmar and Rob Ramsey, who live down the street from each other, have seen a lot of befuddled drivers negotiate their long-troubled intersection in the Hollywood Hills. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/13/17

Morrison: In the age of Trump, how do you build a legal marijuana industry from the ground up? -- Election night 2016 was such a shocker nationally that maybe you’ve forgotten that, oh yes, California voted to legalize recreational marijuana. And come January, if you’re at least 21, cannabis can be officially taxed and sold to you, just like, oh, the cheese doodles you’ll be wanting to eat after you light up. Patt Morrison in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/13/17

Impossible? Fake meat moves beyond burgers -- Today, a tasty cow-free burger. Tomorrow: fewer dead chickens, lambs, pigs and fish. That’s the mission of Impossible Foods, a Silicon Valley startup that has begun conducting tests in its Redwood City laboratory to apply its patented technologies — already proven to create sizzling and tasty engineered “beef” — to a wide array of other foods, perhaps even milk, eggs and cheese. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/13/17

Former Irvine attorney convicted of planting drugs in the car of PTA volunteer disbarred -- A former Irvine attorney convicted of planting drugs in the car of a PTA volunteer has been disbarred. The California State Bar has announced that because of his felony conviction and “moral turpitude,” Kent Easter, 43, can no longer practice law in the state. The State Bar’s recommendation to disbar him was approved by the California Supreme Court, records show. Sean Emery in the Orange County Register -- 9/13/17