Updating..         

Gang members say hunger strike aim is to 'sell drugs, make money' -- California prison officials in federal legal filings alleged that the ongoing inmate hunger strike was orchestrated by prison gangs. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Gil Cedillo Jr. out at embattled LA water district -- A southern California water district under federal scrutiny has let go of Gilbert Cedillo Jr., the son of former assemblyman and current Los Angeles City Councilman Gil Cedillo Sr. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

San Diego County clerk wants same-sex marriage stopped -- San Diego County Clerk Ernest Dronenburg filed a legal challenge Friday asking the California Supreme Court to back down from its order requiring clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Chris Nichols UT San Diego$ Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

California prisoners retain ex-Bush appointee in court case --California prison inmates have an ally in famed Supreme Court litigator, and former Bush administration appointee, Paul Clement. Michael Doyle in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

California develops framework for releasing more prison inmates -- California has begun fleshing out the framework to release inmates from its crowded prisons, even as it asks the U.S. Supreme Court to lift the order for those releases. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times$ Don Thompson Associated Press -- 7/19/13

Obama reflects on race, says 'Trayvon Martin could have been me' -- “Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago,” President Obama said Friday, discussing the death of a black teenager and the acquittal of his shooter as he offered some of his most personal and extensive remarks on race since he became president. Kathleen Hennessey in the Los Angeles Times$ Mark Lander in the New York Times$ Aaron Blake and Juliet Eilperin in the Washington Post$ Julie Pace Associated Press -- 7/19/13

Transcript: President Obama’s remarks on Trayvon Martin -- Washington Post -- 7/19/13

Senate panel plans hearing on ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws -- After almost a week of protests about the verdict in the George Zimmerman murder trial and calls for the federal government to respond, a leading senator said Friday that he plans to hold a hearing on so-called “stand your ground” laws. Ed O'Keefe in the Washington Post$ -- 7/19/13

Four reasons why ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws won’t be repealed -- With an escalating national debate over “Stand Your Ground” laws unfolding across the country, this much is clear: Opponents have so far found little success trying to repeal the laws, and they continue to face a steep uphill climb in their efforts. Sean Sullivan in the Washington Post$ -- 7/19/13

Pelosi won’t say whether Filner should resign -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Friday declined to weigh in on whether San Diego Mayor Bob Filner (D), her former colleague in the California congressional delegation, should step down over sexual harassment allegations. Aaron Blake in the Washington Post$ -- 7/19/13

Coroner: Crash survivor was run over -- A 16-year-old girl who survived the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 was killed a short time later when she was hit by an emergency vehicle responding to the scene, the San Mateo County coroner said Friday. Jaxon Van Derbeken in the San Francisco Chronicle Robert Salonga and Joshua Melvin in the San Jose Mercury Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ Terry Collins Associated Press -- 7/19/13

WellPoint's Anthem Blue Cross spurns California small-business exchange -- Health insurance giant Anthem Blue Cross said it won't participate in California's new insurance market for small businesses. Chad Terhune in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Special elections for legislative seats set for Tuesday -- It is down to the wire for two special elections set for Tuesday to fill seats in the Legislature. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Protests a rite of passage for new UC leader -- When Mark G. Yudof took the helm of the University of California five years ago, he was greeted by protests over his $600,000 annual salary. Now he's departing, and his successor, outgoing U.S. homeland security chief Janet Napolitano, has tried to sidestep the same issue by taking a smaller salary than Yudof. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

SV 150: Searchable database of Silicon Valley's top 150 companies for 2013 -- Daniel J. Willis in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/19/13

Retail jobs surge in California despite so-so sales -- Employers in California’s retail trade industry seemed optimistic in June, adding 7,900 jobs despite lackluster sales throughout the first half of the year. Tiffany Hsu in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

'Bash mobs' sweep through Southern California -- Organized "bash mob" crime rampages of roving groups attacking innocent people and businesses have been striking cities around the United States. Law enforcement agencies in Southern California have reported few similar problems -- until now. Ari Bloomekatz and Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Muni seeks to bring order to shuttle bus chaos -- Muni wants to share 100 of its stops with the growing swarm of private commuter shuttles, give priority to its own buses and charge a fee to the private operators in an effort to impose some order on the out-of-control industry. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/19/13

Wildermuth: McClintock Is Right to Fight Yosemite Plan -- You won’t often hear anyone with the slightest tinge of environmental green say this about Rep. Tom McClintock: He’s right. At least when it comes to his take on Yosemite’s future. John Wildermuth Fox & Hounds -- 7/19/13

Pensions Are an Increasingly Perilous Perk for Supervisors -- As Orange County supervisors increasingly call on public employees to pay more into their pensions, the effort is beginning to trigger uncomfortable questions about their own pay and perks. Norberto Santana Jr. VoiceofOC.org -- 7/19/13

Bay Area officials approve controversial land use plan -- Bay Area officials approved a sweeping land use plan that has stirred opposition from a wide spectrum of groups. Eric Young San Francisco Business Times -- 7/19/13

Mars needs workers! Space startups desperate for talent -- Hardware, software, mobile apps, product development. The list of potential jobs for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) talent goes on. As a result, bagging that talent is no small feat for employers, in particular small companies and startups. Lauren Hepler Silicon Valley Business Journal -- 7/19/13

Nelson: Launch of searchable CalPERS pension database blocked by retirees’ concerns -- Last week, the planned launch of a CalPERS website that would reveal an abundance of information on pensioners, including names and monthly retirement allowances, was blockaded by several groups representing retirees. Christopher Nelson Cal Forward -- 7/19/13

 

 California Politics and Policy This Morning        

San Francisco plane crash victim was alive when she was hit, sources say -- The 16-year-old girl who was run over by a vehicle after the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 was alive when she was hit, two sources close to the investigation into her death told The Chronicle on Thursday night. Jaxon Van Derbeken in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/19/13

Idyllwild evacuated as Mountain fire rages south of Palm Springs -- Most residents leave Idyllwild as the Mountain fire roars in rugged terrain south of Palm Springs; six homes are lost in the early stages. Rick Rojas and Kurt Streeter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Environmental documents for proposed delta project criticized -- Federal agencies reviewing draft for proposal to re-plumb the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta call it 'insufficient' and 'biased.' Bettina Boxall in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Report: Online ed project backed by Jerry Brown on pause -- Six months after Gov. Jerry Brown touted a deal between San Jose State University and an online education startup, Inside Higher Ed reports that the arrangement is on pause. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

San Jose State suspends collaboration with online provider -- San Jose State suspends its project with Udacity to offer low-cost, for-credit online courses after many students fail to pass them. Carla Rivera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Four inmates on hunger strike require medical attention -- California prison medical officials said Thursday that four inmates participating in a statewide hunger strike have required medical care and a fifth has been referred to a physician. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

California bans inmates rights lawyer from prisons -- California corrections officials have barred a prominent legal advocate from visiting prison inmates, saying they are investigating unspecified threats created by one of her volunteers. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times$ Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

Little recourse for attorney barred from visiting California prisoners during hunger strike -- Four California prisoners required medical treatment and a fifth was referred to a physician on the 11th day of a hunger strike to protest the long-term isolation of inmates, health care officials said Thursday. Julie Small KPCC -- 7/19/13

Regents approve Napolitano as president of UC system -- The UC regents on Thursday confirmed U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano as the next president of the 10-campus system during a sometimes rowdy meeting marked by a protest from students and others who contend Napolitano expanded deportations of undocumented immigrants. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times$ Katy Murphy in the San Jose Mercury Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee$ Mihir Zaceri Associated Press Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle Laila Kearney Reuters Kathryn Baron EdSource -- 7/19/13

Grand jury investigates California campaign violations -- A grand jury is apparently investigating whether several “dark money” groups linked to billionaire conservatives David Koch and Charles Koch illegally funneled $11 million to defeat two California ballot measures in the 2012 general election. If verified, the case would be the largest incidence of campaign money laundering in the state’s history. Christopher Arns Sacramento Business Journal -- 7/19/13

California pension funds keep elective travel -- California's two public pension systems continued to fly top officials around the globe for conferences, workshops and speaking engagements even after Gov. Jerry Brown ordered a ban on discretionary travel while the state was trying to emerge from years of budget deficits. Judy Lin Associated Press -- 7/19/13

Brown tackles debt wall, but other walls loom large -- When Gov. Jerry Brown first compared California's growing debt problems to a massive wall between the state's current position and its future, it instantly caught on with everyone from pundits to policy makers. After all, everyone knew the state had a problem that needed to be addressed. John Myers News10 -- 7/19/13

Walters: Government 'moneyball' could work -- As the All-Star Game break ends and major league baseball teams head into the pennant stretch, the Oakland A's, with one of the game's smallest payrolls, are sitting atop their division. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

Oakland surveillance center progresses amid debate on privacy, data collection -- With this city repeatedly roiled by civil protests and the public’s attention sharply focused on government surveillance, local officials are pushing forward with a federally funded project to link surveillance cameras, license-plate readers, gunshot detectors, Twitter feeds, alarm notifications and other data into a unified “situational awareness” tool for law enforcement. Ali Winston Center for Investigative Reporting -- 7/19/13

Advocates Seek Governor’s Attention on California Developmental Centers -- Advocates for the developmentally disabled gathered today at the state Capitol to demand that Gov. Jerry Brown focus his attention on the 1,500 men and women living in California’s troubled board-and-care facilities, described by one resident as “hellholes.” Caroline Chen Center for Investigative Reporting -- 7/19/13

GOP crosses the (state) line with letter slamming Bera's votes -- According to the National Republican Congressional Committee, Rep. Ami Bera will be held accountable next year for putting the interests of big business ahead of voters. In Illinois. Curtis Tate in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

Texas lawmaker Wendy Davis — star of abortion law filibuster — coming to San Francisco -- Texas Senator Wendy Davis — who became a national political celebrity with her determined filibuster of a GOP bill to restrict abortion — will join activist Sandra Fluke at a major EMILY’s List fundraiser in San Francisco next month, we’ve learned. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/19/13

Nancy Pelosi opens front on women’s economic issues -- Insisting that the conference table set with flowers was incomplete without bowls of San Francisco’s Ghirardelli chocolates, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi laid out her new “When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: An Economic Agenda for Women and Families” Thursday to a room of female reporters, promising that she would rather have Republicans “join us in this rather than having it as a political weapon.” Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle Mike Lillis The Hill -- 7/19/13

JPMorgan may settle California energy market manipulation case -- JPMorgan has been negotiating a settlement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission over its role in trading electricity in California. Andrew Tangel and Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Here’s Why JP Morgan Is Being Accused of Enron-Style Shenanigans -- FERC alleges that JP Morgan manipulated energy prices at some old power plants it acquired when Bear Stearns dissolved in 2008, causing California and Michigan to pay $83 million more than they should have for power. Tim Fernholz The Atlantic Wire -- 7/19/13

Edison starts legal fight with maker of faulty San Onofre generators -- Southern California Edison files a formal notice of dispute with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan and its U.S. subsidiary. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

California suspends 16 treatment centers after raids uncover suspected fraud -- State officials moved Thursday to suspend Medi-Cal payments to 16 alcohol and drug treatment centers across California, after uncovering suspected fraud in raids last week. Richard Chang in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

VoIP phone hackers pose public safety threat -- Hospitals, 911 call centers and other public safety agencies can be shut down by hackers using denial-of-service attacks. Paresh Dave in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

 Filner                                                     

Democrats won't call for Filner to resign -- A deeply divided San Diego County Democratic Party Thursday night decided not to join the mounting calls for Mayor Bob Filner’s resignation over sexual harassment accusations as his supporters began gearing up a campaign to keep him in office. Mark Walker UT San Diego$ Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Will Filner sue for defamation? -- One of Mayor Bob Filner’s former allies responded Thursday to rumors that the mayor plans to sue him for defamation for making sexual harassment allegations against Filner public. Craig Gustafson UT San Diego$ -- 7/19/13

San Diego mayor target of dueling rallies by supporters, opponents -- Supporters and opponents of Mayor Bob Filner have planned dueling rallies outside City Hall over the demand that he resign due to allegations that he sexually harassed staff members and constituents. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

House lacks regular harassment training -- Members and staff of the U.S. House of Representatives, where San Diego Mayor Bob Filner served for 20 years, are not required to undergo regular sexual harassment prevention training — a standard out-of-step with other private- and public-sector workplaces in San Diego and around the country. Lee Ann O'Neal UT San Diego$ -- 7/19/13

Abcarian: San Diego Mayor Bob Filner is no Bill Clinton -- The lurid saga in San Diego continues: Democratic Mayor Bob Filner, who has been accused of vile, unwanted sexual behavior by several women, insists he will not resign. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

 Zimmerman                                             

Zimmerman verdict prompts Florida boycott -- Assemblywoman Shirley Weber on Thursday called for a boycott of the state of Florida in protest of last week’s acquittal in the Trayvon Martin shooting. Kristina Davis UT San Diego$ -- 7/19/13

Los Angeles after Trayvon -- Tuesday afternoon, South L.A. Five African-American teen-agers waited by a fence, twenty feet high and barbed, outside Dorsey High School—football players, early for practice. Darlington, who starts his junior year in the fall, shaded his eyes with his hand. “I did a walk on Sunday,” he said quietly. Dana Goodyear The New Yorker -- 7/19/13

Does California, like Florida, have 'stand your ground' law? -- The Bee has gotten a deluge of responses to a report on members of the California Legislative Black Caucus planning to call for a boycott of Florida until the state repeals its much-dissected "stand your ground" self-defense law. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

LAPD intercepts 'Smash White Supremacy Fun Run' in Westwood -- A dozen protesters ran through the streets of Westwood Thursday night, ending in at least one arrest. The small group gathered at the Federal Building on Wilshire Boulevard for what was billed on social media as the Smash White Supremacy Fun Run, organized to protest the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case. Kelly Goff in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 7/19/13

6 arrested in anti-Zimmerman march in San Bernardino -- Hours after it began, a protest Thursday resulted in at least six arrests related to civil disobedience, authorities say. About 100 people angry about the acquittal of George Zimmerman participated in a march from Perris Hill Park to the corner of Base Line and Waterman Avenue. The item is in the San Bernardino Sun Robert J. Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ Tim Gaynor Reuters -- 7/19/13

Oakland: Forum sheds light on media portrayal of black men -- In the wake of protests that spread throughout Oakland this week in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman, African-American activists challenged inaccurate perceptions in media and urged the community to work together to create the solution. Brittny Mejia in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/19/13

 Economy, Employers and Employees            

California redistributes $4 billion in redevelopment funds -- The erasure of California's local redevelopment agencies and the redistribution of their revenues and assets resulted in nearly $4 billion in payments, according to a new report from the state Department of Finance. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

California payrolls grew by 30,200 in June, jobless rate falls to 8.5% -- California employers added 30,200 jobs in June, and the unemployment rate fell slightly to 8.5%, down from 8.6% in May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday. Ricardo Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ Ben Adler Capital Public Radio Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

Bay Area adds 5,600 jobs in June, while state adds 30,200 -- The Bay Area added 5,600 jobs during June, a sturdy performance that eases fears of an employment slowdown in the region. Meanwhile, the statewide jobless rate improved to its lowest level in nearly five years, labor officials reported Thursday. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/19/13

Californians May Lose Federal Jobless Aid as Rate Falls -- California’s jobless rate declined to a four-year low of 8.5 percent last month, triggering an end to benefits for more than 100,000 people still out of work, according to the state employment agency. Mark Melnicoe Bloomberg -- 7/19/13

House committee restores money for JPL's Mars programs -- The House Appropriations Committee sent a scathing message to the White House Thursday, accusing the administration of "damaging and disproportionate" cuts to NASA's planetary science budget. The committee voted to restore $100 million in funding that will directly benefit Pasadena's Jet Propulsion Lab. Kitty Felde KPCC -- 7/19/13

Google shares plunge 5% after earnings miss -- Google reported second-quarter sales below analyst estimates as advertisers continue to switch to reaching consumers through smartphones and tablets instead of desktop computers, driving down average prices. The miss sent Google shares plunging 5% in after-hours trading. Jessica Guynn in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

California home prices climbed at a record pace in June -- California’s hyperactive housing market appeared headed from statewide recovery to all-out exuberance last month as prices on closed sales climbed at a record pace. Alejandro Lazo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

How’s manufacturing doing in California? -- Is California manufacturing doing better than we think? Yes, according to a new blog from a leading nonpartisan advocacy group. Christopher Arns Sacramento Business Journal -- 7/19/13

University of California Regents increase pension contributions -- Employees of the University of California just saw their payments into their pension plan go up July 1, and they will go up again next summer. Steven E.F. Brown San Francisco Business Times -- 7/19/13

Proposed high speed train to Vegas going nowhere fast -- You can cancel that high speed train trip to Las Vegas — at last for now. The Department of Transportation has decided to "suspend further consideration" of a $5 billion federal loan application from a private company that wants to link Southern California with the gambling and entertainment mecca. Kitty Felde KPCC -- 7/19/13

Why the Gender Pay Gap Is Worse for Whites Than Blacks -- There are a couple of long-held truths when it comes to pay disparities: Blacks and Hispanics earn less than whites and Asians. Women earn less than men. But something strange happens when you combine gender and race: Black and Hispanic women, it turns out, do better when compared with their male counterparts than do Asian and white women. Niraj Chokshi National Journal -- 7/19/13

 Education                                               

UC to pay $4.5 million to settle racial discrimination suit -- Dr. Christian Head, a surgeon at UCLA’s medical school, will receive $4.5 million to settle a racial discrimination lawsuit against the UC Board of Regents, the university system announced Thursday. Stephen Ceasar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

LAUSD proposes transformation of arts education program -- Five years after Los Angeles Unified's arts programs were devastated by the recession, district officials want to pump millions of dollars into arts education and integrate dance, music, theater and the visual arts into core academic classes. Barbara Jones in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 7/19/13

Older adult and parent ed programs left out of adult education budget compromise -- An effort to narrow adult education’s core mission is being met with resistance from advocates for older adult and parent education programs, which would lose funding under a budget compromise crafted by supporters of adult education and Gov. Jerry Brown. Susan Frey EdSource -- 7/19/13

Among Mountain Fire evacuees: students attending summer program away from family -- With fire threatening this San Jacinto Mountains town, about 6,000 residents were forced to evacuate for their safety, with the potential for embers flying into the town from the nearby Mountain Fire. Neil Nisperos in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 7/19/13

UC Davis unveils plan for World Food Center -- UC Davis officials are forging a plan to turn the campus into a nexus for food research, policy and new technology, Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi told the University of California Board of Regents on Thursday. Edward Ortiz in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

The Senate has a student loan deal. Here’s what you need to know -- The deal ties the interest rates for all student loans to the 10-year Treasury rate, a change that Republicans in Congress, as well as the White House, have embraced for a while. Dylan Matthews in the Washington Post$ Michael A. Memoli in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Student Loans 101: Why Uncle Sam is your banker -- As Congress scrambles to pull back a messy student loan increase, it raises the question: Why did Uncle Sam get into the college loan business, anyway? The short answer: Because the Russians launched Sputnik. Connie Cass Associated Press -- 7/19/13

House poised to leave 'No Child' behind -- Republicans lined up Thursday behind a bill that would roll back the federal government’s involvement in education, despite concerns earlier this week that the party’s more conservative members weren’t on board with the legislation. Libby A. Nelson Politico -- 7/19/13

 Health                                                    

Obama: Health insurance rebate checks are in the mail -- The Obama administration is pushing back against the Affordable Care Act naysayers. Tony Pugh McClatchy DC -- 7/19/13

How Obama's claims about health insurance rebates compare with the facts -- Another year, another round of exaggeration from President Barack Obama and his administration about health insurance rebates. Calvin Woodward Associated Press -- 7/19/13

Obama boasts of health care savings, but costs likely to rise for many -- President Barack Obama assailed Republicans on Thursday for trying to dismantle his signature health care law, saying it’s already providing a benefit of one kind or another to millions of Americans, including a drop in projected premium costs in nearly a dozen states. Lesley Clark and Tony Pugh McClatchy DC -- 7/19/13

On health law, Obama sells big by talking small -- The auditor-in-chief routine lets Obama tout how real people have pocketed savings, while steering clear of the many controversies swirling around the law, including a recent decision to extend a requirement for employers. Dan Nather Politico -- 7/19/13

Quitters Can Win, It Seems -- Former smokers earn higher wages than smokers and people who have never smoked, according to new research. Khadeeja Safdar in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 7/19/13

10 million Latinos qualify for Obamacare. Is there funding to get the word out? -- The Obama administration is counting on Latinos to help make the Affordable Care Act a success, but there may be troubles ahead: Hispanic health centers and community organizations say they don’t have the funding or resources to carry out the complicated sign-up process for the 10 million Latinos who will be eligible for new public and subsidized health coverage options. Jenny Gold in the Washington Post$ -- 7/19/13

AIDS Healthcare Foundation accuses L.A. County of 'retaliatory' audit -- Amid an escalating war between the two organizations, the nation's largest AIDS/HIV care provider is seeking to block Los Angeles County from launching an audit of its finances on Monday. Christina Villacorte in the Los Angeles Daily News Frank Stoltze KPCC -- 7/19/13

Sacramento County one of state's hotbeds for sexually transmitted diseases -- Here's what public health officials are saying about Sacramento County's persistently high rates of sexually transmitted disease: "From bad to worse," "alarmingly shocking," "unacceptable." Cynthia H. Craft in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

 Environment                                            

Judge orders West Marin oyster farm to do cleanup -- A Marin County judge has ordered an oyster farm to comply with Coastal Commission cleanup orders on its property at Point Reyes National Seashore while awaiting a federal court ruling on the Obama administration's attempt to shut the operation down. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle Julie Cart in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Great Blue Herons Die at Solar Project -- ReWire reported Wednesday that a surprising number of water birds are being found dead and injured at a pair of solar energy facilities in the California desert. Since publishing that story we've learned that the toll is greater than we reported: two great blue herons have been found dead at one of the projects. Chris Clarke KCET Rewire -- 7/19/13

Latest heat wave leads to 'Spare the Water' call in Sacramento -- Officials in the city of Sacramento issued a "Spare the Water Alert" on Thursday due to temperatures forecast to exceed 100 degrees for several days. Matt Weiser in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

Water agency approves Hinkley clean-up plans -- PG&E and the small, unincorporated community of Hinkley, located about 10 miles from here, have been wrestling with the world's largest known underground water chromium-6 water contamination for decades. Jim Steinberg in the San Bernardino Sun -- 7/19/13

Democrats looking to build support for new climate change action -- Democrats on Capitol Hill sought to move climate change back to the front of the congressional agenda Thursday morning, after a long period of inaction. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

 Immigration                                             

Senate immigration plan wins majority support from public -- A big majority of Americans supports a Senate-approved surge of manpower and fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. But some recoil at the high costs of implementing the plan, highlighting deep partisan disagreement about whether the effort is worth the cost. Scott Clement and Ed O'Keefe in the Washington Post$ -- 7/19/13

New labor secretary has immigrant advocacy background -- The Buffalo, N.Y.-born son of Dominican parents, until now an assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's civil rights division, is a former board president of CASA de Maryland. Leslie Berestein Rojas KPCC -- 7/19/13

 Also                                                        

Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman to be interviewed by feds in jail probe -- Federal prosecutors examining abuse in the Los Angeles County jail and others problems in the sheriff's department are slated to interview Sheriff Lee Baca's chief spokesman next week. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Los Angeles Sheriff's officials suspect deputies of cheating for promotions -- Department officials have launched an investigation into allegations that some deputies cheated on the promotional exam this month. Robert Faturechi in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Officer involved in El Monte dog shooting incident promoted -- One of two police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a pet German shepherd in an El Monte family's fenced-in front yard last month has been promoted as police continue conducting an internal investigation into the incident. Brian Day in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 7/19/13

Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo makes first court appearance in prowling, burglary case -- No charges were filed Thursday during Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo's first court appearance after his predawn arrest Saturday on suspicion of prowling and burglary. Julie Johnson and Brett Wilkison in the Santa Rosa Press -- 7/19/13

Christopher Dorner manhunt cabin owner files $420,000 claim against San Bernardino County -- The owner of a cabin near Barton Flats has filed a claim against San Bernardino County seeking $420,000, alleging sheriff's deputies stood by and allowed her cabin to burn to the ground during their February standoff with rogue ex-Los Angeles police Officer Christopher Dorner. Joe Nelson in the San Bernardino Sun -- 7/19/13

Law enforcement cracking down on Internet gambling operations in Southern California -- Three nondescript printing shops nestled in Carson retail strips were stormed by sheriff's deputies recently in a crackdown on what they describe as illegal Internet gambling operations. Sandy Mazza in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 7/19/13

Morrison: 'Fruitvale Station's' Ryan Coogler, the message maker -- The California kid whose first full-length feature film wowed the judges at Sundance and Cannes this year is now showing it off to the world. Patt Morrison in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Animal rights group sues State Fair over pig exhibit -- A national animal rights group from the Bay Area on Thursday sued the State Fair and the University of California Board of Regents over the confinement of pregnant and nursing pigs in a livestock exhibit. Morgan Searles in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/13

Malibu residents complain of becoming Rodeo Drive by the Sea -- Malibu residents are weighing whether to regulate the influx of upscale retail chains that are driving quaint mom-and-pop stores out of business. Matt Stevens in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/13

Flying the Coop: Why urban farmers should do research before raising chickens -- Keeping chickens in Los Angeles is really nothing new, but with the rise in popularity of "urban homesteading," more and more Angelenos are deciding to raise chickens in their backyards. Robert Garrova KPCC -- 7/19/13

Verizon Looks to Edge Out Competition With Six-Month Upgrade Program -- And Verizon makes three. As expected, Verizon is joining AT&T and T-Mobile in offering a new program that will allow customers to upgrade their phones more frequently than every two years. The plan is called Verizon Edge, and it will launch on Aug. 25. Bonnie Cha All Things D -- 7/19/13

The U.S. oil and gas boom is straining the country’s infrastructure -- Over the past few years, the U.S. fracking boom has taken a great many people by surprise. Companies have been producing so much oil and gas that it’s now putting a strain on America’s energy infrastructure. Brad Plumer in the Washington Post$ -- 7/19/13

Here’s The Craziest Wedding Video You’ll See Today -- The Draper family isn’t just one of the most decorated in the history of Silicon Valley venture capital — it’s also one that’s always been comfortable living its collective life in public. Peter Delevett in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/19/13

 NSA / Surveillance                                      

NSA director suggests phone companies, not government, could store calling records -- The director of the National Security Agency said Thursday that he is open to the idea of allowing telephone companies, rather than the NSA, to store vast pools of calling records that could be used in counterterrorism cases. Robert O’Harrow Jr. in the Washington Post$ -- 7/19/13