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Assembly speaker outlines budget plans -- Gov. Jerry Brown won't unveil his revised budget plan until next week, but Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez detailed some of his own ideas Wednesday. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Officials plan $10-million fix for broken bolts on new Bay Bridge -- State and regional transportation officials Wednesday announced plans for a retrofit to the new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge that will cost up to $10 million and effectively do the job of three dozen massive bolts that snapped unexpectedly earlier this year. Lee Romney in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 NBA encouraging Sacramento suitors for the Kings to put entire purchase price in escrow, source says -- With an NBA vote on the future of the Sacramento Kings just a week away, a source says the league is encouraging a Sacramento business group to put 100 percent of its $341 million team purchase offer into an escrow account in hopes of persuading the Maloof family, team owners, to sign a deal with the local group. Tony Bizjak, Dale Kasler and Ryan Lillis in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/13 Interest groups reveal shared money, election role -- More than six months after the November election, two major California political interest groups are revealing the joint role they played in ousting two incumbent Democrats from the state Assembly. JULIET WILLIAMS Associated Press -- 5/8/13 Wendy Greuel supporters say she is target of negative 'push' poll -- An unidentified individual or organization that has not registered with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission appears to be conducting a negative “push” poll to try to turn voters against mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel, according to two Greuel supporters who said they received the phone calls in recent days. James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Police union puts another $850,000 into bid to elect Greuel -- The union that represents Los Angeles police officers put another $850,000 into the effort to elect mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel, according to a report posted Wednesday by the city’s Ethics Commission. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer wants to kill Microsoft deal to partner with Google, sources say -- Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has attempted unsuccessfully to unravel a 10-year search-advertising pact with Microsoft in favor of a deal with Google, according to people familiar with the matter. Douglas MacMillan and Dina Bass Bloomberg -- 5/8/13 Mark Zuckerberg rattles tech leaders -- Mark Zuckerberg is used to being disruptive — but this time it’s in politics and that is making some in the tech world uneasy. MICHELLE QUINN and ANDREW RESTUCCIA Politico -- 5/8/13 Rep. Jackie Speier outs obscene Marine Facebook page -- Amid the sudden uproar over sexual assaults in the military following a Pentagon report Tuesday that 26,000 members of the military were assaulted last year, Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, released portions of a Facebook page, “F’N Wook,” denigrating women in the Marine Corps. Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/8/13 CalPERS says San Bernardino has the money to pay its pension debt -- CalPERS says the bankrupt city of San Bernardino has enough money to pay what it owes the pension fund. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/13 Oakland: Police Chief Howard Jordan announces medical retirement -- Embattled Oakland police Chief Howard Jordan issued the following letter Wednesday morning to Oakland police employees that he is seeking medical retirement: Harry Harris and Matt Artz in the Oakland Tribune Matthai Kuruvila, Demian Bulwa and Henry K. Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/8/13 No quick answers on Bay Bridge opening -- The new eastern span of the Bay Bridge could still open as scheduled over Labor Day weekend, but it will be at least three weeks before a final decision is made, transportation officials said Wednesday. Jaxon Van Derbeken in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/8/13 Blacks in 2012 voted at higher rate than whites for the first time -- November’s election marked the first time in U.S. history that black voters turned out at a higher rate than whites, according to new census data showing how much the country’s burgeoning population of racial and ethnic minorities has reshaped the electorate. David Lauter in the Los Angeles Times$ Josh Richman in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/8/13 $2 per pack tobacco tax on fast track in California Legislature -- A proposal to raise the tobacco tax by $2 per pack of cigarettes cleared its first policy committee Wednesday, although Republicans objected. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 California Capitol fight between charities done for the year -- An ongoing political fight between Goodwill Industries and for-profit companies that accept used clothing in collection boxes has been put on hold in the California Capitol. Torey Van Oot in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/13 Maldonado, mulling gubernatorial bid, hits Brown's prison policy -- Abel Maldonado, in his first public move since announcing that he was considering a run for governor, on Wednesday attacked Gov. Jerry Brown’s prison policy, arguing that Brown has made Californians unsafe by allowing certain criminals serve their sentences in county jails instead of state prison. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 GOP Gov. candidate Maldonado to lead charge for ballot measure to end early prison releases -- Former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, the Republican running to challenge incumbent 3-term Democratic Gov.Jerry Brown in 2014, filed papers Wednesday to form a committee in support of a ballot measure to end early prison releases, sources say. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics -- 5/8/13 California no longer shuffling funds to pay bills, controller says -- For nearly six years, California finances were so weak that officials needed to constantly shuffle money between state accounts to ensure there was enough cash to pay bills on time. They would take money out of one fund, use it to cover costs and promise to pay it back later. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 John Chiang: California’s books still look good -- California took in $15.03 billion in revenue in April – $119.9 million short of estimates, but still leaving the Golden State in relatively solid financial condition, state Controller John Chiang reported today. Josh Richman Political Blotter -- 5/8/13 Perez wants changes to 'rainy day' ballot measure -- The state Assembly speaker wants to replace a rainy day fund measure on the November 2014 ballot that was pushed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Republican lawmakers three years ago. JUDY LIN Associated Press -- 5/8/13 Levi's Stadium: 49ers' new Santa Clara home gets a name in $220 million deal -- The San Francisco 49ers have scored the West Coast's biggest ever naming-rights deal, saying today that legendary San Francisco jeans-maker Levi Strauss & Co. will put its name on the team's new Santa Clara stadium when it opens next year. Mike Rosenberg in the San Jose Mercury Matt Barrows in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/13 Feinstein backs same-sex 'fiancee visas' -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Tuesday that binational same-sex couples who are married should be treated the same as heterosexual couples in any immigration overhaul, resisting pressure from gay rights groups to allow any same-sex couple, wedded or not, to sponsor foreign partners for U.S. residence. Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/8/13 Labor, charter cities clash over prevailing wage -- Millions of public dollars and thousands of jobs are on the line, but the impact of the prevailing wage on municipal projects is more than the price tag. It’s also about the constitution – and fairness. John Howard Capitol Weekly -- 5/8/13 Fox: Gov. Brown Enters the Field of Reform Again over Prop 65 -- Governor Jerry Brown has donned his white knight armor and ridden into another reform battle over lawsuit abuse on Proposition 65. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 5/8/13 State tech upgrade doubles in cost -- A state government technology project designed to integrate seven aging systems used for hiring examinations and certifications is expected to see costly delays, officials said Tuesday. Christopher Cadelago UT San Diego$ -- 5/8/13 Study: Most immigrants in L.A. illegally don't speak English well -- Nearly half of Los Angeles County's immigrants here illegally lack a high school diploma, and 60% do not speak English well, according to a study. Cindy Chang in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 ¥¥¥
California Guard Firefighting Aircraft Threatened by Cuts -- The California National Guard’s ability to supply planes and helicopters to fight wildfires in a season already above normal may be jeopardized by automatic federal budget cuts, according to the two-star general who commands the force. Michael B. Marois Bloomberg -- 5/8/13 Assembly speaker to push for new 'rainy-day fund' to help budget -- Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez is proposing a new state spending restriction that would set aside money from capital gains taxes in good years to help the state through economic downturns. Melody Gutierrez and David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/13 Jerry Brown on broken Bay Bridge bolts: 'S--- happens' -- Gov. Jerry Brown, apparently unfazed by reports of broken and suspect bolts on the new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, said today when asked about the problem, "Look, s--- happens." David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ Steven Harmon in the Contra Costa Times Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times$ Don Thompson Associated Press -- 5/8/13 Bay Bridge: Caltrans to reveal how it will fix bolt problems on span -- Just three months ago, Gov. Jerry Brown stood on the Bay Bridge and pushed a glowing button that started a countdown for the Labor Day opening of the gleaming new eastern span. Steven Harmon and Lisa Vorderbrueggen in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/8/13 Independent review urged for Bay Bridge fixes -- State and local transit authorities are calling for an independent review of proposals to repair the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, whose planned opening date has been jeopardized by recent construction setbacks. Charles Piller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/13 Costs mount for another state tech project -- California, no stranger to troubled technology projects, now has another upgrade facing delays and cost overruns. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 California Senate leader proposes mental health program expansions -- State Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) on Tuesday proposed a plan to significantly increase mental health services in California with the goal of reducing the number of people ending up in prison, jail and emergency rooms. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ Torey Van Oot in the Sacramento Bee$ Julie Small KPCC Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 5/8/13 Brown, Cal EPA back reforms to cut 'shakedown' lawsuits filed under Prop. 65 -- Gov. Jerry Brown has directed the state’s Environmental Protection Agency to work towards reforming Proposition 65, a law passed a quarter-century ago that aims to protect Californians from harmful chemicals. Molly Peterson KPCC Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ Cheryl Miller The Recorder Katie Orr Capital Public Radio Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Judge calls Prenda Law and others a 'porno trolling collective' -- A group of lawyers that made millions of dollars putting online viewers of pornographic films in the courtroom hot seat may soon be feeling the heat of federal investigators. Stuart Pfeifer in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Tribes working to craft online poker bill -- Representatives of some of the state’s most successful tribes with casinos have met privately to hammer out a proposal to legalize online poker, tribal leaders and others said Tuesday. JIM MILLER in the Riverside Press -- 5/8/13 Herdt: Drilling for middle ground on fracking -- Just last fall, the oil industry in California spent a good chunk of its considerable political money to try to defeat Democratic Sen. Fran Pavley in her toss-up district that includes eastern Ventura County. Timm Herdt in the Ventura Star -- 5/8/13 'Made in USA' bill is back -- If a barbecue is mostly made here, but it’s knobs were produced in Mexico, should the grill still carry a "Made in USA" label? The federal government thinks so. California does not. Michael Gardner UT San Diego$ -- 5/8/13 Bill would ban junk food from vending machines at state offices -- An Assembly bill to remove junk food and sugary drinks from vending machines at California government property intensifies debate about 'nanny state' tactics. Tiffany Hsu and Chad Terhune in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 First 2 GOP amendments to Boxer's levee bill? They're about guns -- The Senate began consideration of U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer's Water Resources Development Act Tuesday, but thanks to the first two Republican amendments, the legislation won't merely address flood control, port and navigation improvements and storm protection. Curtis Tate in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/13 Fresno gun dealers say gun-control bills are unfair -- Fresno gun dealers say a series of gun control laws moving through the California Legislature are unfair to law-abiding owners of weapons and will do nothing to stop violent crime. Jim Guy in the Fresno Bee -- 5/8/13 California senator wants to ban guns made with '3-D printers' -- A Democratic state legislator has announced a push to ban technology that could let people make guns with a "3-D printer" in the wake of media reports of the successful test fire of such a weapon. Torey Van Oot in the Sacramento Bee$ Julie Small KPCC -- 5/8/13 Walters: Immigration reform has big stakes in California -- State legislators often conduct their windiest floor debates over nonbinding "resolutions" commending this or that, condemning this or that, or beseeching Congress to do this or that. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/13 Liberal groups strike back at Facebook -- Progressive and environmental groups are declaring open warfare against Facebook, escalating their frustration over pro-oil, anti-Obamacare ads being sponsored by Mark Zuckerberg’s immigration reform campaign. ANDREW RESTUCCIA Politico -- 5/8/13 Rep. Mike Honda announces slew of endorsements in 2014 Silicon Valley House race -- A crowd of Democratic California elected officials have announced their endorsement of Rep. Mike Honda, who is facing a lively challenge for 2014 re-election in his South Bay CD-17 district. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/8/13 Morain: Democrats can eat their own, too, as an aide to Brown learns -- Steve Glazer's fight with Democrats might be a footnote to the 2012 election, except for what it shows about the dominant party in California and the new political order of the top-two primary. Dan Morain in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/13 Oakland: Robbery capital of America -- Oaklanders endured one robbery for every 91 residents last year. That not only was the city's highest robbery rate in two decades, it was the highest of any major American city since 2000, according to FBI figures analyzed by this newspaper. Matthew Artz in the Oakland Tribune -- 5/8/13 L.A. council finds funds to reverse Fire Dept. staffing shift -- As the Fire Department begins moving firefighters to ambulance duty, the City Council approves $1.6 million through June for overtime to keep staff where it was. Kate Linthicum, David Zahniser and Ben Welsh in the Los Angeles Times$ Alice Walton KPCC Rick Orlov in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 5/8/13 Wendy Greuel's campaign halts TV ads as cash runs short -- Los Angeles mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel's campaign organization has suspended her TV advertising two weeks before the election, a move that reflects her continuing struggle to raise enough money to compete head-to-head on the airwaves with her rival, Eric Garcetti. Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 DWP average pay rose 15%, despite flagging economy -- Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel trade accusations over blame for raises at the utility, whose union has given $1.45 million on Greuel's behalf. Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 L.A. mayoral candidates support making teacher evaluations public -- Los Angeles' two mayoral candidates said Tuesday that they support making teacher evaluations public, going well beyond a level of disclosure that is supported by top school district officials. Seema Mehta, Howard Blume and Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Eric Garcetti, Wendy Greuel talk education in radio mayoral debate -- The two Los Angeles mayoral candidates pledged Tuesday to make education a priority, telling radio listeners during a live debate that the city's economy depends on improving its schools. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 5/8/13 Lopez: Wendy Greuel takes on the crowd at Tolliver's -- "Hi guys, long time no see," Wendy Greuel said, strolling into Tolliver's barbershop as if she were a regular. It was her third mayoral campaign visit to the South Los Angeles institution where the haircuts are cheap and the political banter is free. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13
Two Prop. 13 defenders decry abuse of loophole by corporations -- Two prominent defenders of Proposition 13 spoke out on Tuesday against "gimmicks" used by some companies to avoid paying additional property taxes when buying real estate in California. Jason Felch in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13
Federal appeals court strikes down union notification requirement -- A federal appeals court here struck down Tuesday a rule that would have required more than 6 million private employers to post notices telling workers of their right to join a union. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Filner, Romney discuss Olympics -- The long-shot bid for San Diego and Tijuana to co-host the 2024 Olympics took a step forward with San Diego Mayor Bob Filner saying he met with former presidential candidate Mitt Romney to discuss a possible role for him. Craig Gustafson UT San Diego$ -- 5/8/13 Sacramento Mayor Tells Seattle Investors It Would Be Better For Them If They Forgot About The Kings -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says if he were leading the Seattle group trying to move the Sacramento Kings, he’d give up. Bob Moffitt Capital Public Radio -- 5/8/13 Tesla CEO Talking With Google About ‘Autopilot’ Systems -- Elon Musk, the California billionaire who leads Tesla Motors Inc., said the electric-car maker is considering adding driverless technology to its vehicles and discussing the prospects for such systems with Google Inc. Alan Ohnsman Bloomberg -- 5/8/13 Could More Base Closures Be on the Way? -- When the Pentagon last year asked Congress to initiate a base closure process, powerful lawmakers such as Michigan Democrat Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told the military it needed to look for cuts in Europe before lawmakers would consider cuts at home. Frank Oliveri Roll Call -- 5/8/13 Santa Cruz's Plantronics gets boost from China's hands-free law, reports record sales -- Tough enforcement of new hands-free laws in China this year and an uptick in the global economy overall provided Plantronics a bigger than expected boost in headset sales, pushing it above previous expectations. Jennifer Pittman in the Santa Cruz Sentinel -- 5/8/13 San Diego’s Waterfront Bustles With Cruise Ships -- Three large cruise ships carrying nearly 5,500 passengers arrived in San Diego within a few hours of each other today, giving a boost to the tourism industry. Two of the vessels, the Celebrity Solstice and the Oceania Regatta, made their inaugural visits to the Port of San Diego. Susan Murphy KPBS -- 5/8/13 Surprise! California ranks worst state for business on another list -- It's another day, with another list slapping California as a place unfriendly to businesses. According to a survey of more than 700 CEOs, California ranks dead last. Melissa Wiese Sacramento Business Journal -- 5/8/13
School district knew of alleged teacher abuse 3 years before arrest -- Los Angeles school district officials knew of sexual misconduct allegations in 2009 against a teacher at a Wilmington campus who was arrested more than three years later, the district’s top administrator confirmed Tuesday. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 In California, Push for College Diversity Starts Earlier -- As the Supreme Court weighs a case that could decide the future of affirmative action in college admissions, California offers one glimpse of a future without it. RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA in the New York Times$ -- 5/8/13 UC classes easing into online world -- Like higher education institutions everywhere, the University of California is moving to expand its online course offerings, albeit slowly. The UC may be cautious for a reason: An earlier digital foray didn’t work out so well. Karen Kucher UT San Diego$ -- 5/8/13 Many charter schools to begin offering transitional kindergarten in fall 2013 -- There had been some disagreement with the California Department of Education over whether charters were required to offer the new program for children who turn five in the first few months of the school year. Lillian Mongeau EdSource -- 5/8/13 High school 'twerking' suspensions to be appealed -- Students will get a chance to shake their fingers in protest over being busted for shaking their behinds in a suggestive "twerking" video. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Louisiana Supreme Court rules school voucher funding unconstitutional -- The Supreme Court of Louisiana ruled 6 to 1 on Tuesday that the way the state funds its school voucher program is unconstitutional and that public money now being used to pay private and religious school tuition should instead be going to public schools. Valerie Strauss in the Washington Post -- 5/8/13 The only three California universities that Bill Bennett says are "worth it" -- Former U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett published a book on whether going to college is "worth it," and just three schools in the Golden State -- Harvey Mudd and Cal Tech in Southern California, and Stanford in the Bay Area made his top 10 cut. San Francisco Business Times -- 5/8/13
AFSCME workers authorize strike at five UC medical centers -- AFSCME Local 3299, which represents nearly 13,000 technical workers at five University of California medical centers statewide, says its members have overwhelmingly authorized a strike. Chris Rauber San Francisco Business Times -- 5/8/13 Nurses union threatens 7-day East Bay strike against Sutter hospitals -- The California Nurses Association is planning a seven-day strike at several Sutter Health hospitals in the East Bay, in an attempt to put pressure on the system to end a long impasse. Chris Rauber San Francisco Business Times Sandy Kleffman in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/8/13 One hospital charges $8,000 — another, $38,000 -- Consumers on Wednesday will finally get some answers about one of modern life’s most persistent mysteries: how much medical care actually costs. For the first time, the federal government will release the prices that hospitals charge for the 100 most common inpatient procedures. Sarah Kliff and Dan Keating in the Washington Post -- 5/8/13 Malpractice cap, medical board under attack -- An initiative is in the works for the November 2014 ballot that seeks to repeal the $250,000 cap on damages in medical malpractice cases and overhaul the Medical Board of California. Kathy Robertson Sacramento Business Journal -- 5/8/13 Gov. Chris Christie’s Weight-Loss Surgery Demystified -- When New Jersey Governor Chris Christie quietly opted for weight-loss surgery in February, he chose the safest — but often least effective — procedure. Bonnie Rochman TIME -- 5/8/13 What does Obamacare mean for young people? -- Most young people feel like they have years of good health in the bank. They are, as a group, so unlikely to buy insurance that insurance companies dubbed them the young invincibles and in some cases gave up on trying to enroll them in health care plans. Callie Shanafelt HealthyCal.org -- 5/8/13 Foreign Food Inspections on Decline as Illnesses From Imported Goods Rise -- The Food and Drug Administration is struggling to find the money to inspect foreign foods under a law that Congress did not support with funds. RON NIXON in the New York Times$ -- 5/8/13
L.A. is a leader in greening of ports, Mayor Villaraigosa says -- The world looks to L.A. for ways to reduce pollution, Villaraigosa says at a ports conference. He cites a modernization of the Port of L.A. and the state's tough emissions law. Shan Li in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Gammon: CEQA Reform Bill Is Too Modest -- Senate President Darrell Steinberg's plan to change California's primary environmental law is a good first step but it doesn't do enough to reduce greenhouse gases. Robert Gammon East Bay Express -- 5/8/13 Divesting From Dirty Energy -- Cities are starting to pull their investments out of the oil, gas, and coal industries, but the biggest public investors like CalPERS remain unmoved. Darwin BondGraham East Bay Express -- 5/8/13 Cities, Counties Get $7 Million To Enforce Waste Tire Laws -- Old tires stockpiled or dumped illegally – it’s a sight that California’s recycling agency wants to make disappear. Today, CalRecycle announced its awarding $7 million in grants to fight the problem. Steve Milne Capital Public Radio -- 5/8/13 Desalination debate: Suspicion high ahead of environmental report -- Desalination opponents lined up Tuesday to warn top decision-makers in two local water agencies not to continue pursuing seawater desalination as a fix to overtaxed aquifers and severe drought. J.M. Brown in the Santa Cruz Sentinel -- 5/8/13 Bee Deaths May Have Reached A Crisis Point For Crops -- According to a new survey of America's beekeepers, almost a third of the country's honeybee colonies did not make it through the winter. That's been the case, in fact, almost every year since the U.S. Department of Agriculture began this annual survey, six years ago. Dan Charles NPR -- 5/8/13
Proposal Could Make It Tougher To Open Gun Stores In Sacramento -- Proposed restrictions on new gun stores will go before the Sacramento City Council –possibly by late June. Capital Public Radio -- 5/8/13 Man Arrested After Trying To Return Pipe Bomb At Gun Buyback -- A man was arrested during the city’s sixth gun buyback event over the weekend after showing up at a drop-off location with a homemade pipe bomb. Claudia Peschiutta CBSLA -- 5/8/13 What Really Sank Gun Control: Distrust of Government -- Think gun control failed in the Senate because of gun-clutching extremists? Or because of fanatical radicals who want to abolish the Second Amendment? Senator Joe Manchin, who's been at the heart of the effort, says it's nothing of the sort. In fact, the central problem really has nothing to do with firearms at all -- it's about trust. DAVID A. GRAHAM The Atlantic -- 5/8/13 Gun control ads have Democrats worrying -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s aides met recently with staffers of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to warn them: Targeting vulnerable Democrats like Arkansas’s Mark Pryor on gun control could backfire on the party, several sources told POLITICO. It didn’t work. JOHN BRESNAHAN and REID J. EPSTEIN Politico -- 5/8/13 Gun crime has plunged, but Americans think it's up, study says -- More than half of Americans think gun crime has jumped, the Bureau of Justice Statistics report noted. Researchers aren't sure why there's the misperception. Emily Alpert in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Justice Dept. report could shake up gun debate -- How much of a gun-violence problem do we have in this nation? Not nearly as much as we did 20 years ago, according to a new report from the U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics that might shake up the nation’s gun-policy debate. Josh Richman Political Blotter -- 5/8/13
Marco Rubio's task: selling immigration reform to GOP faithful -- The Florida senator — and fast-ascending presidential hopeful — must convince his party that the bipartisan bill is a good idea. It's going to be a challenge. Lisa Mascaro in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Conservatives Expect Immigration Bill to Move Right -- Conservatives exiting a private meeting with Sen. Marco Rubio to discuss immigration reform predicted that legislation pending before Congress would move significantly to the right as it proceeds toward President Barack Obama’s desk. David M. Drucker Roll Call -- 5/8/13 Republicans demand changes in Senate immigration bill -- Senate Republicans are pushing for tougher border security measures beyond those reached by bipartisan agreement, which may cost some Democratic support. Brian Bennett and Lisa Mascaro in the Los Angeles Times$ ERICA WERNER Associated Press -- 5/8/13 USC study: 1 in 10 L.A. County residents in U.S. illegally -- One in 10 Los Angeles County residents is an immigrant living in the country illegally, according to a study released Tuesday by the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration. Cindy Chang in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 California has 2.6 million illegal immigrants, USC study finds -- California has 2.6 million residents who are in the country illegally and thus would be heavily impacted by any immigration reform legislation, a massive new study by the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration concludes. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ Leslie Berestein Rojas KPCC -- 5/8/13 Why Conservatives Are Divided on Immigration Reform -- Heritage Foundation's opposition to the Senate proposal generated lots of opposition—among conservatives. Michael Catalini National Journal -- 5/8/13 Immigration's new ally: Tea partiers -- Immigration reform supporters are about to get some new conservative bonafides — prominent tea party backers. ANNA PALMER and TARINI PARTI Politico -- 5/8/13
Questions grow in limo fire's aftermath -- The circle of mourning for five nurses killed in a limousine fire on the San Mateo Bridge reached Alameda on Tuesday, as the final victim's name spread through a neighborhood that knew her as "a working mom who did everything." Carolyn Jones, Kevin Fagan and Ellen Huet in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/8/13 Limo fire: No safety inspections for smaller California limos -- The limousine that burst into flames on the San Mateo Bridge, killing five women, wasn't required to undergo a state safety inspection -- or even carry a fire-extinguisher -- under the regulations that are supposed to ensure the thousands of limos on California's roads are safe. Thomas Peele and Joshua Melvin in the Contra Costa Times -- 5/8/13 USC students, others meet with LAPD over alleged racial profiling -- On the eve of final exams, more than 700 students and others at USC and neighboring communities gathered on campus to discuss issues raised from a clash between students and police over how the LAPD responded to an off-campus house party over the weekend. Angel Jennings and Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Three parties to split reward in Christopher Dorner case -- Three parties will share what is expected to a be $1-million reward for information that led authorities to the whereabouts of fugitive former LAPD Officer Christopher Dorner, who died in February following a fiery gun battle with authorities, Los Angeles police officials said Tuesday afternoon. Andrew Blankstein and Robert J. Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Cover of Darkness: San Francisco Police Turned a Blind Eye to Some of the City's Most Dangerous Criminals — Who Were Also Some of Their Most Trusted Sources -- This unstable relationship is typical: Informants are essential law enforcement sources for intelligence about criminal activity, but many of the most valuable informants are career criminals themselves. Sandoval fit that bill. Ali Winston SFWeekly -- 5/8/13 Frazier to Reexamine Police Misconduct -- In an unprecedented move, OPD's new compliance director plans to reinvestigate closed misconduct cases, including ones involving Occupy Oakland. Ali Winston East Bay Express -- 5/8/13 Feds sue landlord of Berkeley medical marijuana dispensary -- The federal government filed a lawsuit targeting the city's largest medical marijuana outlet and is aiming to seize the property from its landlord. Doug Oakley in the Contra Costa Times -- 5/8/13 What The State Court Ruling On Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Means To San Diego -- San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith says the ruling demonstrates that his office's interpretation of the medical marijuana law is correct. Megan Burke, Maureen Cavanaugh KPBS -- 5/8/13 Ventura County votes to require condoms during porn filming -- Following Los Angeles County's lead, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to pass an urgency ordinance to require the use of condoms in adult film shoots. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 5/8/13 After outcry, Disney nixes attempt to trademark 'Dia de Los Muertos' for movie-themed products -- Faster than you can say mal idea, the Disney Co. has announced it is withdrawing its attempt to trademark the phrase Día de Los Muertos — as in the name of the traditional holiday that is celebrated in Mexico and elsewhere to honor the dead. Leslie Berestein Rojas KPCC -- 5/8/13 Researchers examine influence of wealthy, poor on lawmakers -- An often-heard criticism of American politics is that lawmakers listen only to the views of their wealthy constituents, not to the poor. David Lauter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Lopez: Mystery of Glassell Park sign solved -- The public artist who planted cutouts of Clint Eastwood, Gene Autry and John Wayne along Highway 2 in the Glendale area has struck again. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Anglicans who split over gay bishop must return church to diocese -- An Anglican church campus in Newport Beach belongs to the larger Episcopal Church Diocese of Los Angeles, an Orange County Superior Court judge ruled last week. St. James Anglican Church members split from the Episcopal Church nine years ago after a fissure over the ordination of a gay bishop and other issues. Jill Cowan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Used-car king Cal Worthington still flying high -- There's a good chance you never would have heard the name Cal Worthington, encountered his "dog" Spot nor had the lyrics to his car dealership jingles burned into your memory for decades, had he earned a college degree. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/13 Caesars Palace confirms ban on Google Glass-wearing gamblers -- World famous Las Vegas casino Caesars Palace has confirmed that patrons won't be allowed to wear Google Glass when gambling. Sam Byford The Verge -- 5/8/13
Obama delivers blunt message on sexual assaults in military -- The sobering statistics, along with several recent sexual-abuse scandals in the armed services, prompted President Obama to bluntly warn the Defense Department that he expected its leaders to take tougher action against sex offenders and redouble their efforts to prevent such crimes. Craig Whitlock in the Washington Post -- 5/8/13 Obama to dine with House Democrats Wednesday night -- Obama plans to head back to the Jefferson Hotel — the site of other recent congressional dinners — to break bread with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her leadership team, the White House announced late Tuesday. Ed O'Keefe in the Washington Post -- 5/8/13
House Speaker Boehner unlikely to support Internet sales tax bill -- Boehner's comments and others signal that momentum from easy passage of the sales tax bill in the Senate won't lead to quick House action on the issue. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/13 Hill Clout: 4 Big Underperforming States, Plus a Pair of Overperformers -- It would be tough for California, by far the most populous state since the first clout study back in 1990, to finish in a spot other than No. 1 — and it never has. David Hawkings Roll Call -- 5/8/13 Legislative package seeks to weaken derivatives provisions of Dodd-Frank law -- Nearly three years after Congress passed the Dodd-Frank financial law to limit risky activities on Wall Street, a series of bills could weaken regulation of derivatives — the exotic securities that helped fuel the crisis. Danielle Douglas in the Washington Post -- 5/8/13 |
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