Updating . .   

He resigned his state Senate seat. But now he'll be on the ballot twice to try to get back to Sacramento -- The Artesia Democrat, who was pressured to quit because of sexual harassment allegations, was among a handful of candidates who took out papers on Friday to run in a special election to fill the vacancy in the 32nd Senate District caused by his own resignation. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/18

Cost for California bullet train system rises to $77.3 billion -- The California bullet train project took a sharp jump in price Friday when the state rail authority announced the cost of connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco would total $77.3 billion, an increase of $13 billion from estimates two years ago. Ralph Vartabedian in the Los Angeles Times$ Kathleen Ronayne and Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/9/18

Gunman takes hostages at Yountville veterans home, CHP says -- Reports of an active shooter came in about 10:30 a.m. at the Veterans Home of California-Yountville, said June Iljana, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Jenna Lyons and Sophie Haigney in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ Robert Salonga and Mark Gomez in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/9/18

Could this be Anthony Kennedy’s last stand on the Supreme Court? -- Supreme Court justice and Sacramento native Anthony Kennedy may hang up his robe for good before his 82nd birthday this summer, if Nevada Republican Sen. Dean Heller's statements in a speech last week ring true. Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/18

Stuck in limbo, DACA recipients are consumed with fear and anxiety -- The anxiety keeps coming in waves. And right now, for Fernando Hernandez and the hundreds of thousands of young DACA recipients whose fate lies in the hands of a polarized Congress and a mercurial president, the despair is crashing in. Tatiana Sanchez and Julia Prodis Sulek in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/9/18

Here's another glimpse of Kamala Harris' finances as she looks to 2020 -- California Sen. Kamala Harris, who is serving her first term, has an estimated net worth that puts her financially near the middle of the pack in a delegation that includes both the richest and poorest members of Congress. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/18

Snoop Dogg endorses London Breed for San Francisco mayor -- Snoop Dogg – famed gangsta rapper, fried-chicken-and-waffles booster, weed-delivery investor, Hillary fan and eclectic entrepreneur – has thrown his support behind London Breed to be San Francisco’s next mayor. And in pure SF style, he did it on Twitter: Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/9/18

At long last, Wi-Fi coming to BART, Caltrain — in 3 to 4 years -- BART and Caltrain riders have been clamoring for Wi-Fi service on trains almost since the Internet was invented, while sniffing with incredulity at the absurdity of low-tech transit in a region that gave flight to a high-tech world. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/9/18

Fox: “Strategic Misrepresentation” to Get Voters’ Money -- The headlines keep coming—public projects cost more than anticipated. Promises made to voters are unfulfilled then taxpayers are asked for more to clean up the messes. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 3/9/18

U.S. economy adds 313,000 jobs in February, but wage gains slow -- Hiring surged last month at its fastest pace since mid-2016, but wage growth slowed — an ideal combination for the stock market but not for workers longing for consistently bigger paychecks. Jim Puzzanghera and Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/18

Don't punish kids for walking out of California schools over guns, Newsom urges -- In a letter to state school leaders, Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday said that students should not face disciplinary action for participating in walkouts next week protesting gun violence. Billy Kobin in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/18

This Sacramento-area school district gets more NRA money than any other in the U.S. -- Several local school districts and the University of California system received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the National Rifle Association between 2010 and 2016. Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/18

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

‘I Am a Pawn’: Trump’s Immigration Fight With California Squeezes Those Caught in the Middle -- Employers contend that they have no way of knowing when a worker submits a fake Social Security number on their I-9 forms, the federal document on which employees attest they are citizens or otherwise legal. Supporters of tougher immigration enforcement say that employers are just winking at the issue. Miriam Jordan and Jennifer Medina in the New York Times$ -- 3/9/18

Amid rising tensions between President Trump and California, L.A. honors the braceros -- Decades ago, the United States eagerly welcomed more than 1 million Mexican nationals across the border. Through an agreement between the U.S. and Mexican governments, the temporary workers, known as braceros, came under a program to help fill labor shortages during and after World War II. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/18

Explaining The Trump Versus California Immigration Lawsuit -- The federal lawsuit against California for restricting cooperation with federal immigration agents is the latest in a back-and-forth over so-called “sanctuary” policies. It also goes back to the first days of the Trump administration — and even earlier. Ben Bradford Capital Public Radio -- 3/9/18

It‘s the U.S. vs. California - who‘s got the winning case? -- The fight over how undocumented immigrants in California are treated is now a matter for federal courts to decide after the Trump administration this week sued the state to invalidate a trio of "sanctuary" laws. Stephen Magagnini and Anita Chabria in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/18

Fox: Immigration Lawsuits, State’s Rights, and Why People Hate Politics -- In 2010, when Arizona passed legislation supported by the Republican governor and Republican dominated legislature allowing police to ask about legal status if there was a “reasonable suspicion” that individuals were in the country illegally, the Democratic White House and Justice Department challenged the law. They said immigration policy was the province of the federal government. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 3/9/18

Quinn: The War California will Lose -- Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ brief visit to Sacramento in which he explained the federal government’s lawsuits against three California bills that set up a “sanctuary state” has led Gov Jerry Brown to declare that the Trump Administration is “going to war against the state of California.” Tony Quinn Fox & Hounds -- 3/9/18

Stronger rent control supported by just one major candidate for California governor -- Delaine Eastin is the only major candidate for California governor to unequivocally support a potential November ballot measure that would allow stronger local rent control laws across the state. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/18

Kamala Harris keeps 'em guessing -- One year into her term, the Democratic rising star has cut a complex profile in the Senate. And no one — including her — seems to know what’s next. Burgess Everett and Elana Schor Politico -- 3/9/18

Democrats scramble for candidates in one of top California Congressional seat targets -- At first glance, the congressional district covering a swath of Central Valley farmland from Fresno to Bakersfield looks like fertile ground for Democrats. Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/9/18

Politifact CA -- Villaraigosa neglects key facts in claim single-payer ‘forces seniors off Medicare’ -- Would seniors in California really be forced off Medicare by the single-payer health plan backed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom? That’s the allegation from former Los Angeles Mayor and fellow Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa, Newsom’s top rival in the crowded gubernatorial campaign. Chris Nichols Politifact CA -- 3/9/18

Protesters allege whitewash, demand firing of BART cop who fatally shot man -- Dozens of protesters, including family and friends of a 28-year-old man fatally shot by a BART police officer in January, filled the BART board room Thursday to demand the officer be fired and prosecuted. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/9/18

He has support from local Democrats. Does he stand a chance against Sheriff Scott Jones? -- Milo Fitch, a former deputy chief with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, formally announced Thursday he will challenge incumbent Scott Jones, providing an alternative with backing from local Democratic leaders. Nashelly Chavez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/18

Massive money laundering, drug network taken down by federal authorities -- Federal prosecutors in San Diego announced Thursday they have indicted 75 people nationwide, including 40 in San Diego, in a massive drugs and money operation that interim U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman called the biggest money laundering investigation ever in San Diego. Greg Moran in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/9/18

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

Trump tariffs bump up costs for California businesses -- The same dynamic will play out in companies as small as Quick Mount and as large as Tesla, which uses both steel and aluminum in the electric cars it builds in Fremont. “Like all automakers, Tesla will be affected,” said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Autotrader. “And we may see car prices rise as automakers and their suppliers pass along the cost increases to car buyers.” David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/9/18

Starsky, Uber aim for driverless long-haul trucks -- Trucks move more than 70 percent of U.S. freight, but long-haul truckers are in scarce supply, with an aging population, a current shortage of 50,000 drivers and a lack of fresh recruits who want to sign up for long stretches on the road. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/9/18

‘You can make over $100,000.’ Program brings lucrative job opportunity to high school -- PHS is one of the first high schools in the nation to launch a truck driving program for students. Eight seniors began the yearlong program in August and the seven who remain are getting 180 hours of instruction in driving skills, safety standards and inspections. Ken Carlson in the Modesto Bee -- 3/9/18

California export trade gets off to strong start in 2018 -- Golden State businesses shipped merchandise valued at $13.7 billion in January, up from 3.2 percent $13.27 billion at the start of 2017, according to Beacon Economics’ analysis of U.S. trade statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Mark Glover in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/18

Data dig: Are foreign investors driving up real estate in your California neighborhood -- Scott and Erica Rothenberg thought the years of scrimping and saving had finally paid off. Matt Levin Calmatters -- 3/9/18

Despite Trump, renewable power pushing out coal -- Wind, solar and hydroelectric energy accounted for 16 percent of power production during President Trump’s first year in office, up from 13 percent in 2016 and nearly double the level when Barack Obama became president in 2009, according to a Natural Resources Defense Council analysis. Paul Feldman Capitol Weekly -- 3/9/18

For the Middle Class, the California Dream Has Become a California Joke -- Stratospheric housing costs, the exit of key companies and the failure to replace the jobs that left with them have downsized the state’s middle class. Amita Sharma KQED -- 3/9/18

Frustrated merchants want temporary dockless bike ban so San Diego can create rules -- The bright yellow and green bikes can be rented using a smartphone app, and don’t have to be returned to a shop or docking station. They lock in place when no one is using them, and they are crowding sidewalks across the city. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/9/18

Water  

Despite recent storm, California's 'drought map' depicts same bleak outlook -- Despite the recent storm that pummeled the Sierra with snow and scattered rain in the valleys and along the coast, California remains unseasonably dry with 47 percent of the state experiencing at least "moderate drought" conditions, according to the federal government's Drought Monitor. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/9/18

How NASA, Lasers And New Technology Help Measure California’s Snowpack With Exceptional Accuracy -- This is how it works: A plane equipped with a device called LIDAR, or light detection and ranging, flies over the range, shooting out laser pulses to detect how deep the snowpack is and how much water is in it. An imaging spectrometer on board detects albedo — the ratio of light reflected off snow — which helps determine when it will melt. Knowing when runoff will take place is important for managing reservoirs, especially when water is scarce. Ezra David Romero Capital Public Radio -- 3/9/18

Homeless  

Thousands of pounds of human waste, close to 14,000 hypodermic needles cleaned out from Santa Ana River homeless encampments -- Orange County Public Works released eye-popping figures Thursday, March 8, on the total amount of debris, needles and hazardous waste removed when crews cleaned up the area along the Santa Ana River Trail once populated by the encampments of homeless people. Theresa Walker in the Orange County Register -- 3/9/18

Advocates spent 12-hour days helping homeless people move from the Santa Ana River. Their work isn’t done -- The homeless people might be gone from the riverbed, but they remain a constant presence in Donald Dermit’s life. Like other advocates, Dermit’s outreach hasn’t ended with the scattering of more than 700 people from the Santa Ana River Trail to dozens of motels or to shelters. Theresa Walker in the Orange County Register -- 3/9/18

Housing  

Berkeley 4th Street developer plans to use new housing law to bypass review -- The battle over a proposed housing project on a parking lot across the street from Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto restaurant in West Berkeley escalated Thursday when the builder became the first in California to invoke a new state law that allows residential developers to bypass local environmental review processes in exchange for providing more affordable units. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Marisa Kendall and George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/9/18

Education 

Police find guns and ammunition at home of high school student in Gardena threat case -- The investigation began Thursday when police received a call regarding a threat to Serra High School, according to the Gardena Police Department. Investigators identified a student who posted a threatening message earlier this week. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/18

Special education funding is a morass; straightening it out may not be cheap or easy – California legislators have confirmed what several high-profile reports and nearly anyone involved with students with disabilities have been saying for years about the state’s system of paying for special education: It’s insufficient, inefficient and inequitable. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 3/9/18

There are many benefits to starting science education early — very early -- Science education for most children in California begins in elementary school, but it should start much sooner — in infancy, even — for children to achieve their full potential as young scientists, according to a new report by the Center for Childhood Creativity.​ Carolyn Jones EdSource​ -- 3/9/18

Immigration / Border 

Contra Costa sheriff says banned group broke jail rules in visiting immigrants -- Among the violations, were the depositing of money into commissary accounts, sending of “contraband” — although it did not say what, receiving phone calls and mail from detainees, relaying messages to family and friends of detainees, and providing their personal phone numbers and addresses to those they were visiting. Annie Ma in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/9/18

Video of mother being pulled away from her daughters calls immigration enforcement tactics into question -- Perla Morales-Luna clung to a young woman's arm as Border Patrol agents tugged her away. The agents, one dressed in uniform, pulled her until she released her grip and shoved her into a U.S. Customs and Border Protection van waiting at the curb, her three daughters watching. "Get in the car!" someone yelled. Voices cried and screamed in the background. Moments later, the van drove off. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/18

Fresno County sheriff goes on Fox news show, praises 'hard-working' ICE agents -- Mims appeared Wednesday evening on the FOX Business Network and said she hopes the White House administration’s lawsuit against California will help eliminate the state’s so-called sanctuary laws. Bryant-Jon Anteola in the Fresno Bee -- 3/9/18

Environment 

Hatchery-raised salmon released into Sierra creek to save endangered species -- Seeking to stave off the extinction of a storied species, state and federal wildlife officials are releasing 200,000 hatchery-raised salmon into a restored High Sierra creek where once-magnificent winter runs were wiped out over the past century. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/18

Also . . . 

Infected inmate spurs hepatitus A vaccination effort in county jails -- According to the county Health and Human Services Agency and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, a female inmate who was at the Vista Detention Facility in North County on Feb. 19 and 20, and the Las Colinas Detention Center in Santee from Feb. 20 to Mar. 1, showed hepatitis A symptoms and had to be hospitalized after she was released from custody. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/9/18

Retired LAPD officer arrested, accused of fraud in controversial city pension program -- Los Angeles police arrested one of their retired officers on Thursday on suspicion of workers' compensation fraud while enrolled in a controversial program that pays veteran cops and firefighters their salary and pension simultaneously for up to five years. Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/18

POTUS 45  

Trump’s bellicosity secures a diplomatic coup — for now -- For the moment, at least, it appears to be a clear-cut victory — the biggest foreign policy win of his young administration. President Trump has brought his arch-nemesis, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a.k.a. “Little Rocket Man,” to the table to negotiate away his nuclear arsenal. Karen DeYoung in the Washington Post$ -- 3/9/18

Trump’s Meeting With Kim Jong-un Is Another Pledge to Do What Nobody Else Can -- When the establishment told him he should talk with North Korea, President Trump scorned the idea. “Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years” and had been made to look like “fools,” he scoffed, and then rattled his saber. “Sorry, but only one thing will work!” Peter Baker in the New York Times$ -- 3/9/18

Beltway 

GOP weighs blocking Trump’s tariffs -- Some Senate Republicans are planning legislation to thwart the president — but it’s not clear if it will gain traction. Elana Schor and Burgess Everett Politico -- 3/9/18

New federal rules on Facebook and Google ads may not be in place for 2018 midterms -- Proposed Federal Election Commission rules aimed at preventing foreign influence on U.S. elections through better disclosure of online political ad sponsors may not take effect before the 2018 midterms, the panel’s Republican chairwoman said Thursday. Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Tony Romm in the Washington Post$ -- 3/9/18

 

-- Thursday Updates 

California bullet train plan to show updated cost, timeline -- California's bullet train project will likely require more time and money to complete than last estimated, but its new chief executive is promising more transparency with the public about its challenges. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 3/8/18

Former GOP leader Scott Baugh eyes Dana Rohrabacher’s congressional seat -- Former Orange County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh has taken out papers to run against Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, setting up a potential clash of two long-established county Republicans and former allies. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 3/8/18

California health insurance premiums could soar, analysis projects -- Across the country, people who buy health insurance on exchanges could see their premiums rise between 12 and 32 percent in 2019, according to an analysis released Thursday by Covered California, the state exchange that sells insurance to 1.2 million residents who don’t receive health coverage through their employers. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/8/18

Trump, in statement full of falsehoods, calls Schaaf’s immigration warning ‘a disgrace’ -- Trump stated, incorrectly, that 150 people had been arrested during the four-day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Northern California that began Feb. 25. In fact, ICE officials reported making 232 arrests. The president said Schaaf had, in her Feb. 24 warning, told undocumented immigrants to “scatter” and “get out of here.” Schaaf did not use those words. Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Brian Bennett in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/8/18

Some of the California 'sanctuary' laws targeted by feds could be vulnerable, legal experts say -- Law professors who read the lawsuit filed by Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions generally described it as a credible challenge that presents complex legal questions that might wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/8/18

Trump reelection campaign seeks to capitalize on California lawsuit -- California Democrats have decried the Trump administration’s decision to sue the state over immigration enforcement as little more than a political stunt. President Trump’s reelection campaign gave them more ammunition for that critique on Wednesday afternoon. Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/8/18

California teens are pre-registering to vote, and taking a pass on political parties -- The data released by Secretary of State Alex Padilla on Thursday covers the first eighteen months of a law designed to encourage teenagers to begin thinking about the voting process before they actually become eligible. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/8/18

Hugging banned for California lawmaker after harassment investigation -- The California Senate Rules Committee has reprimanded Sen. Bob Hertzberg and told him to cease his trademark hugs after an investigation determined that his behavior made two female legislators and a male sergeant at arms uncomfortable, a source in the Senate said Thursday. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Don Thompson and Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 3/8/18

Disneyland workers demonstrate at Walt Disney Co. meeting, demanding 'living wages' -- The demonstration was the latest effort by a coalition of unions at the Anaheim theme parks that is pushing Disney executives to raise wages for the resort's 30,000 workers during a profitable period for the Burbank media giant. Three of those unions are currently negotiating contracts. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/8/18

Trump expected to get cheers and jeers during San Diego border wall visit -- President Trump is expected to face both cheers and jeers Tuesday when he spends part of his day in San Diego inspecting prototypes for his proposed border wall before attending a fundraiser in Los Angeles. Kate Morrissey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/8/18

Despite rains, drought fears loom -- After a historically wet season last year, relatively little precipitation has fallen this year in California during two of the three historically wettest months. Officials are urging stricter water conservation and caution drier months ahead. Jessica Hice Capitol Weekly -- 3/8/18