Updating . .
California, with alliance of states, pledges to keep pushing climate policies despite lack of federal progress -- California and a growing alliance of states committed to fighting global warming said Wednesday that they're slashing greenhouse gas emissions at the rate required by the Paris climate agreement. However, the rest of the country would need to join their effort for the United States to actually hit the target of cutting emissions by at least 26% below 2005 levels by 2025. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/20/17
Bannon, Coulter back on the list of expected UC Berkeley speakers -- Bannon, Coulter and many others included in the updated list, however, have not confirmed directly with the university that they will show up. But the event promoter, Milo Yiannopoulous, says they will. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/20/17
Berkeley 'Free Speech Week' with Bannon will be costly, university president says -- University of California President Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that the so-called Free Speech Week planned at Berkeley this month that will feature former White House strategist Steve Bannon will be an expensive test for the school that has become the center of debate over free speech on college campuses. Benjamin Wermund Politico -- 9/20/17
He tried to stay alive to testify against the officer who shot his son. He didn’t make it -- Ted Rose, the pastor whose schizophrenic son died in his arms when he was shot and killed by a Sacramento County Sheriff's deputy called to their home, died late Tuesday at a local care facility, a family attorney said Wednesday. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/20/17
Mueller casts broad net in requesting extensive records from Trump White House -- The special counsel investigating Russian election meddling has requested extensive records and email correspondence from the White House, covering everything from the president’s private discussions about firing his FBI director to his White House’s handling of a warning that President Trump’s then-national security adviser was under investigation, according to two people briefed on the requests. Carol D. Leonnig and Rosalind S. Helderman in the Washington Post$ Michael S. Schmidt in the New York Times$ -- 9/20/17
California sues to stop Trump's border wall: 'No one gets to ignore the laws. Not even the president' -- California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging that President Trump’s proposal to expedite construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border violates laws aimed at protecting the environment. Patrick McGreevy and Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/20/17
Illegal immigration into California drops as border crossings shift to Texas -- Undocumented immigrants are shunning California in favor of Texas, with the Lone Star State’s undocumented population growing nearly five times as fast as California’s, new federal data show. Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/20/17
San Francisco, Oakland sue major oil companies over rising seas -- The suits, filed separately Tuesday in Superior Court in San Francisco and Alameda County, claim that a slate of oil, gas and coal producers not only caused the heat-trapping gases that drove sea-level rise but knowingly did so, a challenge akin to litigation against big tobacco companies in the 1990s. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/20/17
Could your building collapse in a major L.A. earthquake? Look up your address on these databases -- The destruction from the 7.1 earthquake that rocked central Mexico on Tuesday is a reminder of the vulnerabilities Southern California faces from a strong temblor. Shelby Grad, Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/20/17
Fearing a big earthquake like the one in Mexico isn't enough. Here's how to turn anxiety into action -- The magnitude 3.6 earthquake that struck Westwood on Monday night was small and caused no damage. The deadly 7.1 earthquake that struck hours later in Mexico City caused buildings to collapse and resulted in a significant number of deaths. Both are reminders that a much bigger and more damaging quake eventually will hit Southern California. Shelby Grad, Rong-Gong Lin II and Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/20/17
California pensioners: Your COLAs are safe, for now -- The state’s largest pension fund on Tuesday shot down a pitch from a Republican lawmaker who wants it to study how much money it could save by cutting benefits for retired public workers. Sen. John Moorlach of Orange County in July wrote letters to CalPERS board members – Richard Costigan and Dana Hollinger – making two touchy requests for the pension fund. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/20/17
Fox: Tax Reform in Washington has CA Implications -- If done right, tax reform is really a jobs bill. Cutting taxes for large and small businesses to 15 percent, as President Donald Trump wants to do, puts more resources in the hands of business leaders and entrepreneurs to expand business and create jobs. Cutting taxes through increased deductions will help workers gain larger paychecks. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 9/20/17
California Policy & Politics This Morning
How Bernie Sanders is cultivating California for 2020 --Bernie Sanders can’t get enough of California. Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, barnstormed the Golden State ahead of the June 2016 primary like no presidential candidate in recent memory. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/20/17
Bernie Sanders to visit SF on Friday for state nurses convention -- The Vermont senator and former Democratic presidential candidate will be joined by California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in the Yerba Buena Gardens Esplanade for the event that’s hosted by the California Nurses Association. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/20/17
Trump pushed California to pass laws to protect undocumented immigrants -- Lawmakers at the state Capitol spent the last nine months taking shots at immigration policies out of Washington and pledging to protect California’s undocumented community with legislation of their own. While a few proposals fell flat in the Legislature’s final week of the year, advocates say President Donald Trump’s promise to more aggressively pursue illegal immigration created a new sense of urgency. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/20/17
Continuing a fierce assault on 'sanctuary' policies, Sessions attacks California bill -- In another shot in the ongoing battle over so-called sanctuary city policies, Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions on Tuesday attacked California’s new bill that affords some protections to undocumented immigrants across the state, calling it “unconscionable” and a threat to public safety. Joseph Tanfani in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/20/17
San Diego City Council Passes Resolution In Opposition To Trump’s Border Wall -- The San Diego City Council passed a resolution Tuesday opposing President Donald Trump's plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The resolution was approved on a 5-3 vote, with council members Chris Cate, Mark Kersey and Lorie Zapf dissenting. Zapf said the resolution only served as "political posturing." KPBS -- 9/20/17
$17 billion Delta tunnels plan in trouble after key water agency backs out -- In a major and potentially fatal setback to Gov. Jerry Brown’s $17 billion plan to build two huge tunnels under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, America’s largest irrigation district voted Tuesday to pull out of the project. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ Bettina Boxall in the Los Angeles Times$ Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Scott Smith Associated Press -- 9/20/17
Judge rules state used misleading language in summary of ballot measure to repeal California gas tax -- A judge tentatively ruled Tuesday that the state-written title and summary of an initiative to repeal the recent gas-tax increases were misleading and should be rewritten by the state attorney general’s office. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/20/17
Walters: We’ll see whether this cornucopia of legislation makes life better -- Anthony Rendon, the speaker of the state Assembly, calls the first half of the Legislature’s biennial session, which ended last week, “the most productive and progressive legislative session in memory.” Dan Walters Calmatters.org -- 9/20/17
Villaraigosa to address PAC that typically supports GOP candidates -- Tickets to see the gubernatorial candidate speak at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Fresno Chamber of Commerce’s Political Action Committee cost $40, money that supports the group’s mission of electing pro-business candidates. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/20/17
‘Righteous roar’ by faith leaders at Nunes’ office to protect immigrants, health care -- Faith leaders prayed, sang and chanted at Rep. Devin Nunes’ office in Visalia on Tuesday morning to voice concerns about federal policies regarding immigration and health care. They also requested a meeting with the Republican, who heads the House Intelligence Committee, making him one of the nation’s most powerful representatives. Carmen George in the Fresno Bee -- 9/20/17
Bill that targets child sex trafficking puts California senators in tricky spot -- Bipartisan legislation to crack down on online child sex trafficking is putting Silicon Valley tech companies and California’s two Democratic senators on the spot, as proponents of the legislation try to rewrite a section of a 21-year-old law that the companies argue has been the foundation of the Internet’s growth. Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/20/17
Senators pledge to defeat Silicon Valley on sex-trafficking bill -- Senators on Tuesday vowed to press ahead with an anti-sex trafficking bill opposed by the biggest names in the tech industry, in the latest sign that Silicon Valley has lost some of its luster in Washington. Ashley Gold Politico -- 9/20/17
Health officials declare hepatitis A outbreak in L.A. County -- Los Angeles County health officials declared a hepatitis A outbreak Tuesday, days after a public health emergency was announced in San Diego County, where at least 16 people have died of the highly contagious virus. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/20/17
Taking aim at Hep A, one shot at a time: on city streets, nurses vaccinate all comers -- On an East Village sidewalk Monday afternoon, three nurses unpack supplies beside a man slumped over a shopping cart. Swabs. Bandages. Surgical gloves. Needles. Vaccines. The man looks up. “The Hep A shot?” he asks. “Where do I get it?” “Right here!” says Paulina Bobenrieth, one of the nurses. “We want to protect you.” Peter Rowe in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/20/17
San Francisco’s soda law blocked by appeals court -- San Francisco’s groundbreaking effort to curb soda consumption by requiring health warnings in display ads hit a judicial wall Tuesday when a federal appeals court barred enforcement, saying the messages were one-sided and would violate advertisers’ freedom of speech. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/20/17
Top L.A. County prosecutors who reported sexual harassment by boss receive $700,000 settlement -- Two prosecutors in the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office will receive $700,000 to settle a lawsuit accusing their supervisor of subjecting them to regular harassment and fostering an abusive, sexually charged workplace. Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/20/17
Lawyer for Ed Buck says councilwoman waging 'character attack' after OD death of his client's houseguest -- A lawyer for a wealthy Democratic donor who has become the subject of an investigation into a drug death claims that a West Hollywood official has launched a “character attack” on his client and should be investigated for ethics violations. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/20/17
Russia, WikiLeaks and Mars: Why Rep. Dana Rohrabacher keeps making headlines -- Costa Mesa Congressman Dana Rohrabacher continues to make headlines far beyond the boundaries of his district, getting coverage this month in the San Francisco Chronicle after claiming the Charlottesville violence was part of a Democratic scheme and in the Wall Street Journal for being rebuffed in his effort to talk to President Donald Trump about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 9/20/17
Reversal in decision to hold inmate arraignments in Dublin -- Felony arraignments of in-custody inmates that had been moved to a new Dublin courthouse will be headed back to Oakland after a coalition spearheaded by the Alameda County public defender fought the move, officials said Tuesday. Jenna Lyons in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/20/17
Coalition Reopens Fight for Improved Emergency Spillway at Oroville Dam -- A coalition of California environmental groups is calling on the California Department of Water Resources to build a complete, functional emergency spillway at Oroville Dam as part of a sweeping program to improve dam safety and flood control practices across the state and beyond. Dan Brekke KQED Bob Moffitt Capital Public Radio Steve Schoonover in the Chico Enterprise -- 9/20/17
Former Judge Accuses CPUC of Wrongful Termination, Racial Bias -- A former California Public Utilities Commission administrative judge announced Tuesday afternoon that she is filing a legal complaint with the State Personnel Board alleging wrongful termination of a whistleblower and systemic racial bias. Lisa Pickoff-White KQED -- 9/20/17
Commission steps up fight as Khosla refuses to open Martins Beach access -- The California Coastal Commission plans to issue a cease-and-desist order to Silicon Valley billionaire Vinod Khosla, who has refused to provide public access to Martins Beach south of Half Moon Bay despite a state appeals court’s ruling in August that he had no right to block access through his property. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/20/17
San Francisco supervisors want Justin Herman’s name yanked off plaza -- The San Francisco Board of Supervisors made it clear Tuesday that it no longer wants the plaza at the foot of Market Street to be named for Justin Herman, the city’s longtime redevelopment chief who is widely blamed for bulldozing the Western Addition. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/20/17
A supervisor's solution to crime on Twin Peaks? Close it at night -- The popular lookout spot has been the backdrop of a handful of crimes in recent years, including the shooting death of a 71-year-old photographer in July. Property crimes, including armed robberies, and aggravated assaults have also been reported in recent years, many of which remain unsolved. Michelle Robertson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/20/17
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
From oil refineries to solar plants, unions bend California climate change policies in their favor -- No contour of California’s vast landscape inspires such passionate devotion as its coastline, so state lawmakers recoiled when President Trump announced in April that he wanted to expand offshore drilling. The outrage was channeled into a proposal for preventing any new infrastructure along the water, pipelines or otherwise, for additional oil production. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/20/17
Cities urge CalPERS to help ease staff, pay cuts -- The city manager of once-bankrupt Vallejo expects soaring police pension costs to reach 98 percent of pay in a decade. Lodi employees dropped from 490 to 390 in the last decade. And Oroville, after cutting a third of its staff, recently cut police pay 10 percent. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 9/20/17
LA County leaders hope to lure Amazon — and 50,000 jobs — to the region -- Hoping to showcase the Los Angeles County region as the perfect fit to house Amazon’s second headquarters, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a pair of motions Tuesday to begin the process of crafting a proposal to be considered by officials with the internet giant. Susan Abram in the New York Times$ -- 9/20/17
Synthetic Genomics hit with gender discrimination suit -- A former attorney for a prominent La Jolla biotech has sued the company, alleging gender discrimination against her and other female employees. The company, Synthetic Genomics, said it will fight the lawsuit because it is without merit and against its principles of diversity. Bradley J. Fikes in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/20/17
Tulare County slips from its perch as California’s top agricultural county -- Lousy milk prices spoiled Tulare County’s chances of holding on to its title as the state’s No.1 agriculture county. Robert Rodriguez in the Fresno Bee -- 9/20/17
'SDCCU Stadium' name approved — and maybe a nickname -- “SDCCU Stadium” replaced Qualcomm as the name on San Diego’s 50-year-old landmark Tuesday with the unanimous approval of the City Council. Roger Showley in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/20/17
Homeless
Santa Ana creates homeless czar position as it works to combat growing issue -- As Orange County municipalities take steps to address growing homeless populations within their borders, the city with one of the largest concentrations is doubling down on its efforts to keep the issue from getting even more out of hand. Jessica Kwong in the Orange County Register -- 9/20/17
Housing
Getting Rich Off Low-Income Housing -- Oakland nearly lost 126 affordable apartments due to a nonprofit's mismanagement. And behind that nonprofit is a wealthy Southern California resident who owns a $19 million mansion. Darwin BondGraham East Bay Express -- 9/20/17
Education
Cal State faculty take a stand against 'hasty' plans to loosen course requirements -- In a resolution by the university system’s Academic Senate, faculty members said they hadn’t been given enough time to weigh in on what could be “rushed and poorly designed implementation” and should be given at least another year to prepare. Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ Larry Gordon and Mikhail Zinshteyn EdSource -- 9/20/17
Udacity adds course on flying cars and ramps up self-driving program -- Udacity, a Mountain View online educational company focused on programming and robotics, will offer a course early next year covering basics of autonomous flight, with hands-on projects such as flight simulation and deploying code on a small drone. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/20/17
Stanford’s Carol Dweck wins new $3.8 million prize for education research -- A Stanford University researcher is among two inaugural winners of the biggest prize in education circles, receiving nearly $4 million for her research on the ability to learn. Carol Dweck, a psychology professor, was named as one of two Yidan Prize winners, receiving a $1.9 million cash prize and another $1.9 million for educational initiatives. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/20/17
California college students continue to borrow less than those in 47 other states -- Many graduates of California’s colleges may be anxious about paying off student loans but a new study shows that they actually finish school with some of the lowest average debt in the nation. Only two other states showed smaller student debt loads. Larry Gordon EdSource -- 9/20/17
Colleges Hope New Name Attracts Students To Aid Program -- The California Community College System hopes changing the name of a free tuition program will get more eligible students to take advantage of it. Randol White Capital Public Radio -- 9/20/17
UC San Diego to test self-driving cars on campus roads -- UC San Diego is going to begin testing self-driving vehicles on campus roads and lanes early next year, taking advantage of the fact that it doesn’t need state permission to carry out such studies. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/20/17
Health
California lags in testing toddlers for lead exposure -- A third of young California children at risk for lead poisoning are not being tested despite state and federal laws that require it, according to a new study—a problem at least partly addressed by legislation now on the governor’s desk. Elizabeth Aguilera Calmatters.org -- 9/20/17
Environment
California condor takes flight in wild after near extinction -- In a remote, rugged valley overlooking the Pacific Ocean, researchers closely monitor an endangered icon: the California condor. The giant vultures flap their wings and circle the sky before perching on branches and observing their observers. Wildlife biologist Amy List uses a handheld antenna to track the birds, which wear radio transmitters and numbered tags. Terence Chea Associated Press -- 9/20/17
Also . . .
SFPD committed to DOJ reforms despite changes under Sessions -- The San Francisco Police Department said Tuesday it remains committed to the reforms recommended last year by the Department of Justice, despite Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recent announcement that his office will shift resources away from assisting local jurisdictions with community policing efforts. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Alex Emslie KQED -- 9/20/17
San Francisco deputy whose gun was stolen from rental car is now out of a job -- A San Francisco sheriff’s deputy who left his service pistol unsecured in a parked car over the weekend, allowing a thief to break in and take it, is no longer employed by the department, officials said Tuesday. Vivian Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/20/17
POTUS 45
Trump rebounds after polling slide -- After months of declining poll numbers, the president's approval rating ticks upward. Steven Shepard Politico -- 9/20/17
RNC taps legal account to help pay for President Trump’s lawyers in Russia probes -- The Republican National Committee is using a pool of money stockpiled for election recounts and other legal matters to pay for President Trump's ballooning lawyer fees related to the multiple Russia investigations, directing more than $230,000 to his attorneys in August alone, party officials confirmed Tuesday. Matea Gold in the Washington Post$ -- 9/20/17
Beltway
As Trump presses for a border wall, there’s a new Coast Guard record for drug seizures at sea -- The Coast Guard has set a new record for cocaine seizures at sea for the second consecutive year, an effort that admirals are linking to border security as they look to build new ships while President Trump presses for a border wall. Dan Lamothe in the Washington Post$ -- 9/20/17
Senate Republicans Embrace Plan for $1.5 Trillion Tax Cut -- Senate Republicans, abandoning a key fiscal doctrine, agreed on Tuesday to move forward on a budget that would add to the federal deficit in order to pave the way for a $1.5 trillion tax cut over the next 10 years Alan Rappeport and Thomas Kaplan in the New York Times$ -- 9/20/17
-- Tuesday Updates
California’s ‘four-party’ system -- For more than 165 years, political battles in California have played out almost entirely within the framework of a two-party system. There are signs that may be changing. Differing ideologies within each party are competing for money, supporters and attention. Out of it all, four major, distinct political tribes seem to be emerging: Chuck McFadden Capitol Weekly -- 9/19/17
California's attorney general asks Senate for more tools to fight online sex trafficking -- California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra pleaded with a U.S. Senate committee on Tuesday to change a decades-old Internet freedom law in order to give states more power to go after online sex traffickers. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/19/17
Coastal Commission begins crackdown against tech billionaire to open Martins Beach -- In a significant move that could result in Silicon Valley billionaire Vinod Khosla being hit with tens of millions of dollars in penalties, the California Coastal Commission has begun an enforcement action against Khosla for his refusal to open Martins Beach, along the San Mateo County coast, to the public. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/19/17
Farming district says it won’t pay for Delta tunnels in a vote that could kill the project -- A large agricultural district Tuesday dealt a potentially fatal blow to Gov. Jerry Brown's Delta tunnels project, voting overwhelmingly not to help pay for the $17 billion plan to remake the fragile estuary that serves as the hub of California's water delivery network. Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/19/17
Feinstein criticizes Trump for using U.N. speech 'as a stage to threaten war' -- It's the second time this week Feinstein has been harshly critical of Trump. On Monday, she said he needed to "grow up" and stop obsessing over former rival Hillary Clinton. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/19/17
Major 7.1 Earthquake Shakes Mexico City -- A powerful earthquake has shaken Mexico City, causing buildings to sway sickeningly. The U.S. Geological Survey says it calculates the earthquake as magnitude 7.1 It says the epicenter was near the town of Raboso, about 76 miles southeast of Mexico City. Mexico's seismological agency calculated its preliminary magnitude at 6.8 and said its center was east of the city in the state of Puebla. Associated Press Kate Linthicum and Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/19/17
Social media explodes with videos showing chaos in Mexico City after magnitude 7.1 earthquake -- Most videos came from Mexico City, where the quake sent buildings swaying, leading some to crack and collapse. People fled office buildings and filled the streets, embracing one another. The full extent of the damage is still unclear. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/19/17
Becerra predicts trouble for politicians who resist DACA fix -- Speaking to reporters before testifying at a Senate hearing, Becerra said those who stand in the way of such a measure now risk a backlash like the one that met Gov. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.) after he supported the anti-illegal-immigration Prop. 187 in 1994. Josh Gerstein Politico -- 9/19/17
After cap-and-trade vote, Assemblyman Chad Mayes faces a second Republican challenger for reelection -- Former Palm Springs Police Chief Gary Jeandron on Tuesday became the second Republican to announce plans to challenge Assemblyman Chad Mayes (R-Yucca Valley) in the 2018 election. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/19/17
Southern California home prices jump again. Lots of residents worry about affordability -- The Southern California real estate market continued to sizzle in August as home prices jumped 7.5% from a year earlier, highlighting new poll results showing widespread concern about the state’s housing affordability. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/19/17
Lazarus: Despite Equifax hack, GOP lawmakers want to deregulate credit agencies -- Even as millions of consumers grapple with fallout from the Equifax data breach, Republican lawmakers are quietly backing legislation to deregulate credit agencies and make them even less accountable for wrongdoing. David Lazarus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/19/17
'My daughters are going to be OK.' Then Trump phased out DACA -- Behind closed doors, Bertha Martinez and her husband, Victor Soriano, often discussed how they would tell their oldest daughter that she was in the country illegally. “We didn’t want to hurt her,” Soriano said. Esmeralda Bermudez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/19/17
Leaving America: With shaky job prospects and Trump promising crackdowns, immigrants return to Mexico with U.S.-born children -- Five months before, Luz’s parents walked into the Mexican Consulate on the edge of MacArthur Park to make her and her 3-year-old brother — who are American — Mexican citizens as well. Trump’s victory felt like a bad omen. They wanted to be ready to leave. Thousands of others across the country also went to Latin American consulates seeking dual citizenship for their U.S.-born children. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/19/17
Plans for religious-themed retreat in Mission Valley rejected by City Council -- Longstanding plans by San Diego televangelist Morris Cerullo to transform an aging Mission Valley hotel into a $160 million religious-themed retreat and conference center failed Monday to win support from the San Diego City Council after some members raised concerns about the potential for increased traffic congestion. Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/19/17
Laguna Beach may clone beloved, 135-year tree to save it -- The story of a 135-year-old pepper tree in front of Laguna Beach’s City Hall has taken a new twist. Bryce Alderton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/19/17
San Francisco's worst street corners for hard-core drug trafficking -- On one of the busiest street corners for the meth trade in San Francisco, buyers and sellers barely make an effort to conceal their transactions. Tweakers palm drug packets after paying in cash that is quickly pocketed. Some don't wander far before using. Mike Moffitt in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/19/17
Gun groups fight California bills they say will drive up cost of firearms -- The Firearms Policy Coalition is among the groups now lobbying Gov. Jerry Brown to veto measures like Senate Bill 464, by Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, requiring new security measures for storing inventory at gun shops, and Assembly Bill 1525, by Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, R-Dublin, updating the warning labels displayed on firearm packaging and in businesses. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/19/17
Trump Vows to ‘Totally Destroy’ North Korea if It Threatens U.S. -- President Trump’s bellicose speech to the United Nations on Tuesday drew a series of good-versus-evil lines that forecast confrontations to come as he vowed to “totally destroy North Korea” if it threatened the United States and denounced the nuclear agreement with Iran as “an embarrassment” that he may abandon. Peter Baker and Somini Sengupta in the New York Times$ -- 9/19/17