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Newsom signs bill protecting California abortion providers from civil liability -- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Friday that immediately protects abortion providers in California from liability when caring for patients traveling from areas where the procedure is now banned or access is narrowed. Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ Lindsey Holden and Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/24/22

Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade; states can ban abortion -- The Supreme Court has ended the nation’s constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years in a decision by its conservative majority to overturn Roe v. Wade. Friday’s outcome is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states. Mark Sherman Associated Press -- 6/24/22

Californians express outrage over Roe vs. Wade ruling: ‘Shameful’ -- “Shameful.” “Devastating.” “Heart-wrenching.” Californians on Friday were quick to condemn the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision in a move that says states may again outlaw abortion. Hayley Smith, Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

After Roe: What happens to abortion in California? -- Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the Roe decision, here are key takeaways of what to expect for abortion in California. They include the politics, more legislation, a possible influx of out-of-state patients and changes for health care providers. Alexei Koseff and Kristen Hwang CalMatters Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ Lindsey Holden in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/24/22

The post-Roe future California has been prepping for is here. How the state plans to welcome abortion-seekers -- More than half of the states in the country are expected to ban abortion now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. But in California, abortion access will get stronger. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Marisa Kendall, Maggie Angst, Jakob Rodgers and Katie Lauer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/24/22

California has a quarter of U.S. abortion clinics. They’re still outnumbered by anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers -- But California is also a haven for something abortion rights opponents support: crisis pregnancy centers, places that “may advertise a full range of reproductive health services,” according to a recent consumer warning from Attorney General Rob Bonta, but “do not provide abortion or abortion referrals, and usually do not provide birth control or other forms of contraceptives.” Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/22

Policy and Politics  

These are the California candidates running in 2022 who do not support abortion rights -- Republican candidates for statewide office have been more hesitant to speak about the issue. Some, like gubernatorial candidate Brian Dahle, oppose abortion rights. Most others, including controller candidate Lanhee Chen, have refused to say where they stand. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/22

After San Francisco, will L.A. County D.A. Gascón be recalled next? Inside the final push -- Energized by the successful recall of San Francisco Dist. Atty. Chesa Boudin, those seeking to boot his progressive colleague George Gascón from office in Los Angeles County are close to gathering the signatures necessary to put his job on the ballot. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

Could endorsements from Biden, Harris or Obama help swing LA mayor’s race? -- Just five days before the mayoral primary this month, the nation’s top housing official made an unusual appearance with Rep. Karen Bass in Los Angeles, helping the mayoral candidate make a show that she would tackle the city’s homeless crisis by summoning friends in the federal government. Noah Bierman, Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

Feds sue Sacramento councilman for threatening to deport employees helping investigators -- The federal government has sued Sacramento City Councilman Sean Loloee alleging he threatened to deport employees who cooperated with a federal investigation into his grocery stores. Theresa Clift in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/24/22

‘Historic and strategic blunder’: Schiff gloats as Trump decries McCarthy’s handling of Jan. 6 committee -- Former President Trump says House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy mishandled appointments to the Jan. 6 committee. But so far, McCarthy’s caucus is sticking with him. Nolan D. McCaskill in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

Water  

Early signs indicate Southern California finally using less water. But big test lies ahead -- Less than a month after sweeping water restrictions took effect across Southern California, early indications suggest residents are finally heeding calls to conserve as officials report a noticeable drop in demand throughout the region. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

COVID  

What’s the difference between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for the youngest kids? -- Children as young as 6 months can now receive a COVID-19 vaccine to protect them against severe disease, hospitalization and death. And they have two choices: One from Moderna and one from Pfizer and BioNTech. Ada Tseng in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

Monkeypox  

Monkeypox at ‘critical stage’ in the Bay Area: Here’s what you need to know -- There are only be a handful of confirmed monkeypox cases in the Bay Area, but following the lessons learned from the coronavirus pandemic, local health officials are scrambling to control the rapidly growing global outbreak. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/22

Guns  

Experts: Supreme Court ruling means more guns in public places for Southern California -- The U.S. Supreme Court decision to swat down a major part of New York’s concealed weapons law ensures there will be more guns on the street in Southern California and more roadblocks to reform, experts said Thursday. Tony Saavedra and Brian Rokos in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 6/24/22

Education  

Switching Lowell High School back to merit-based admissions won’t be easy -- After a nearly two-year battle, supporters of the merit-based admissions process celebrated Thursday, while opponents vowed to continue the fight to ensure entrance to Lowell remains a lottery-based process, as has been the case for the last two admission cycles. The school has become more diverse under the lottery. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/22

California lawsuit leads Biden Education Department to erase $6 billion in debt for 200,000 -- Students who can show their schools misled them or otherwise engaged in misconduct or violated certain state laws may be eligible for what is called a borrower defense loan repayment. The rule was first added in the 1990s and expanded at the end of the Obama administration after the demise of for-profit education conglomerates Corinthian Colleges and ITT Tech. Gillian Brassil in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/24/22

Environment  

A California gold mine’s toxic legacy: Inside the fight over reopening a treasure trove -- Five years ago, Canadian mining executive Ben Mossman came to this little Gold Rush town in the Sierra Nevada foothills, planning to strike it rich. His company bought the abandoned Idaho-Maryland mine — an 1860s-era treasure trove that once was one of the most productive gold mines in the country. Hailey Branson-Potts, Robert Gauthier in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

Climate  

Inside California’s climate change paradox -- A Bay Area train derailing from tracks overheated by an early-summer heat wave, sending at least one person to the hospital. Lightning strikes killing a woman and her two dogs in Southern California and injuring a man pushing a baby stroller in Kern County. A wildfire causing PG&E power outages so persistent that Stanford University on Wednesday canceled summer classes for the rest of the week. Emily Hoeven CalMatters -- 6/24/22

Also . . .   

Shark attack victim: “I didn’t know if I was going to bleed to death” -- A swimmer who was attacked by a shark Wednesday morning off a Pacific Grove beach about one mile west of the Monterey Bay Aquarium says he was bitten so badly he was concerned he might bleed to death, and owes his life to good Samaritans who rushed to his rescue. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/24/22

One man’s fight to end California’s ban on ferrets -- In nearly three decades of ferret activism, Pat Wright has gone to jail, run for political office, lobbied legislators, collected thousands of signatures and battled decades of rejection and apathy. Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

California Policy and Politics Friday Morning  

Former Adelanto councilman found guilty of taking $10,000 bribe in undercover FBI operation -- Jermaine Wright took $10,000 from an FBI agent posing as a cannabis business owner and paid another undercover agent to burn down his restaurant for insurance money. Nathan Solis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

Guns  

California leaders vow new gun restrictions after Supreme Court ruling threatens state law -- California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta on Thursday pledged to work with the governor and lawmakers to pass new gun control legislation “to keep Californians safe” in response to a Supreme Court ruling that weakens requirements to obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon in the state. Taryn Luna, Hannah Wiley, Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ Andrew Sheeler and Lindsey Holden in the Sacramento Bee$ Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/22

Experts: Supreme Court ruling means more guns in public places for Southern California -- The U.S. Supreme Court decision to swat down a major part of New York’s concealed weapons law ensures there will be more guns on the street in Southern California and more roadblocks to reform, experts said Thursday. However, advocates on both sides of the gun debate promised they will not let down, especially in California, which has some of the strictest firearm regulations in the nation. Tony Saavedra, Brian Rokos in the Orange County Register -- 6/24/22

Policy and Politics  

Legislators, Newsom negotiating behind closed doors over energy deal -- California’s top-ranking legislators, under pressure from Gov. Gavin Newsom, are privately negotiating to include a far-reaching energy package in their budget deal that would give the state Energy Commission sole control over siting of clean-energy facilities. Julie Cart and Rachel Becker CalMatters -- 6/24/22

Electricity use would surge under California’s new climate plan -- Hundreds of people lined up today to voice concerns about California’s sweeping new climate strategy at a public hearing. Without massive investments in clean energy, air board officials warned that more fossil fuels will be needed to power electric cars and ensure a reliable power grid. Nadia Lopez CalMatters -- 6/24/22

Plastic  

What’s the best way to reduce plastics? Not all California environmentalists agree -- Most California environmentalists want limits on the manufacture of plastics. But negotiations on a bill in the legislature has unveiled a divide between groups willing to compromise and those who aren’t. Owen Tucker-Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/24/22

Monkeypox  

First suspected cases of monkeypox in Riverside and Santa Clara counties reported -- The man, who is under 60 years old, showed up at a clinic with symptoms and was tested, Arballo said. He did not require hospitalization and was well enough to recover at home. Jonah Valdez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

Workplace   

Full rankings of the Top Workplaces in the Bay Area 2022 -- The San Francisco Chronicle partnered with research firm Energage to survey more than 21,000 employees in search of the Top Workplaces in the Bay Area. The responses led us to 126 highly rated organizations, as recognized by the people who know them best: their workers. Vanessa Arredondo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/22

Nurses at Kaiser hospital in Los Angeles stage one-day strike -- Hundreds of nurses at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center staged a one-day strike Thursday, June 23, claiming they are understaffed, overworked and lacking in supplies needed to adequately do their job. Nearly 700 of the facility’s 1,200 nurses were on hand, wielding picket signs reading, “On Strike for Safe Patient Care.” Kevin Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

Street  

Debate over S.F. funding cuts to Tenderloin and Mid-Market ambassadors heats up -- San Francisco supervisors are considering whether to cut some funding for community ambassadors employed by the nonprofit Urban Alchemy to improve street conditions in the Tenderloin and Mid-Market areas. J.D. Morris, Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/22

Homeless  

LA council committee approves ban on homeless camps near schools -- A Los Angeles City Council committee on Thursday approved an amendment to the city’s sweeping law regulating locations of homeless encampments that would bar them within 500 feet of all schools. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 6/24/22

Housing   

Beverly Hills’ historic Saks Fifth Avenue complex set for development into offices and apartments -- Saks Fifth Avenue, one of Beverly Hills’ most famous department stores, is set to move to make way for a mixed-use complex that could energize a sedate stretch of Wilshire Boulevard near Rodeo Drive. Roger Vincent in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

Wildfire  

Grass fire southeast of Livermore explodes to 250 acres -- A brush fire southeast of Livermore erupted to 250 acres Thursday evening, according to social media posts from Cal Fire’s Santa Clara unit. Dubbed the Tesla Fire, the blaze that started near Tesla and Corral Hollow roads appeared to be spreading through the hillsides. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/22

Education  

Stanford’s power outage has lasted for days. Here’s why there’s no quick fix -- Stanford University, the intellectual core of Silicon Valley, is struggling with something basic: electricity. Kate Galbraith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/22

Fight over mask mandate disrupts Nevada City student’s senior year -- Anthony Pritchett, a senior at Nevada Union High School, sits on the Nevada Joint Union High School District’s board of education as the student member. He’s tried to enjoy his last year of high school while also trying to navigate the politics surrounding schools and the pandemic. Salgu Wissmath CalMatters -- 6/24/22

Middle school student overcomes struggles with online learning, now ready for high school -- At Buttonwillow Elementary School, Lorena Hernandez ended the school year ready to graduate eighth grade and start high school, something she thought she couldn’t do after her experience with distance learning during the pandemic. Larry Valenzuela CalMatters -- 6/24/22

Despite COVID challenges, family embraces community feel of their small school -- It’s 6 a.m. and soft light hits the home in a serene Soledad neighborhood. The sound of parents getting kids ready for school can be heard from outside. David Rodriguez CalMatters -- 6/24/22

California to boost number of bilingual teachers in Asian languages -- It’s about to get easier to become a bilingual teacher in Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin and other Asian languages in California. Zaidee Stavely EdSource -- 6/24/22

Landlords and Tenants  

They didn’t get their security deposits back. Now a big L.A. landlord agrees to pay $12.5 million -- Prominent Los Angeles landlord Geoffrey Palmer has agreed to pay $12.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing his company of withholding security deposits from more than 19,000 tenants when they moved out of his apartment complexes. Jack Flemming in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

Transit  

Track temperatures of 140 degrees led to Bay Area train derailment, officials say -- About 50 passengers had to be evacuated around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after a Bay Area Rapid Transit train derailed near Hastings Drive and David Avenue. Firefighters said several people reported minor injures. One person who complained of back pain was taken to a hospital, BART officials said. Felicia Alvarez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

Also . . .   

Nancy Pelosi’s husband charged with DUI in Napa County -- Paul Pelosi was arrested and administered a blood test that showed an 0.082% blood alcohol content, the Napa County district attorney’s office said in a news release. Christian Martinez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/22

Sacramento couple saves California man attacked by shark during vacation -- Sutter Health nurse Aimee Johns and her husband, Sacramento Police officer Paul Bandy, were celebrating their 12th wedding anniversary with paddleboarding at the popular Monterey Bay cove when they heard screams for help and noticed a man in distress. Lucy Hodgman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/24/22

Napa is home to one of the most talented wine barrel builders in the world. He only works for 2 wineries -- In the middle of a legendary Napa vineyard sits a makeshift workshop. Constructed of two metal containers and a tin roof, it doesn’t even have a foundation. But this humble shop functions as a small cooperage, the place where master cooper Ramiro Herrera painstakingly builds, toasts and repairs fine oak wine barrels. Jess Lander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/22