California Policy & Politics This Morning   

Neel Kashkari plunks another $1 million into governor’s race -- Neel Kashkari donated another $1 million to his gubernatorial campaign Friday, as the Republican continues to struggle to raise money ahead of Election Day. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Kashkari’s $1 million donation to slam “Jerry Brown’s Watergate” -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari says he is on “the right side of history, and the right side of the angels” by putting an additional $1,040,000 of his own money into his uphill race against Democrat Jerry Brown. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/18/14

CHP report cost $823,000 -- The California Highway Patrol investigation of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge released this month – which found no illegality or retaliation against engineers who complained about construction defects – cost about $823,000. Charles Piller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/18/14

4 Democrats, 1 Republican file papers for Rod Wright's Senate seat -- Four Democrats and one Republican have filed papers by the deadline to compete in the Dec. 9 special election to fill the state Senate seat that was vacated when Sen. Roderick D. Wright (D-Inglewood) resigned after his sentencing for lying about living in his district. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Big GOP money flowing to Calderon’s California Senate seat -- The California Republican Party and wealthy GOP benefactor Charles Munger, Jr. have more than doubled their independent efforts in the heavily Democratic 32nd Senate District in Los Angeles County, pouring in more than $230,000 for TV ads and mailers on Wednesday. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/18/14

Outside groups spending millions in hot California House races -- Spending by political parties and other interest groups in some of California's hottest congressional races continued to climb over the last week, in one case even surpassing what the candidates have raised for their campaigns. Jean Merl in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Peters' camp got DeMaio campaign playbook -- Rep. Scott Peters said Friday that Carl DeMaio's campaign plan was forwarded to his campaign, saying that once his people realized what it was they turned it over to police. Mark Walker UT San Diego$ -- 10/18/14

Peters, DeMaio Nail Down Positions On Net Neutrality -- Democratic Rep. Scott Peters and his Republican challenger in the 52nd District, Carl DeMaio, took on net neutrality when they fielded questions at forums this week on open government and transparency. Claire Trageser KPBS -- 10/18/14

State Watchdog Investigating Nguyen Campaign Donors -- The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating nearly a dozen people for political money laundering in connection to campaign contributions to county Supervisor and state Senate candidate Janet Nguyen. Thy Vo and Nick Gerda VoiceofOC.org -- 10/18/14

Porn industry extends production halt after possible HIV exposure -- A trade association for the adult film industry on Friday called for a hold on production to be extended through Monday in response to a possible HIV exposure on an out-of-state film set. Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

New Oakland Mayoral Poll: Kaplan Leads, Schaaf 2nd, Quan 3rd -- Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan continues to hold the lead in the race for Oakland mayor, and fellow Councilwoman Libby Schaaf has moved into second place, according to the latest poll from the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Mina Kim and Cyrus Musiker KQED -- 10/18/14

L.A. lawmakers move to sync elections with federal, state contests -- A panel of Los Angeles lawmakers pressed ahead Friday with a plan to ask voters to shift local elections to even-numbered years — a schedule change that would put them on the same ballot as closely watched contests for governor or president. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

2 Republicans seek same seat in Assembly -- Perhaps it’s their stand on fire rings that separates the candidates vying for Assembly District 74. In a bizarre twist, both are Republican: Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry and Huntington Beach Mayor Matthew Harper. Matthew Flemming in the Orange County Register$ -- 10/18/14

Latinos could be voting Republican now if it weren't for immigration -- It makes sense to believe that Latinos are a growing political force in California: more than a quarter of all eligible voters are Latino. But it's also true in states that you wouldn't expect like Massachusetts and Ohio. A Martínez with Leo Duran KPCC -- 10/18/14

Greenhut: Decision puts rail ‘caboose before engine’ -- High court won't consider appeal, lets high-speed rail authority float bonds. Steven Greenhut UT San Diego$ -- 10/18/14

Murrieta mayor suspected of DUI, seriously injuring four teens, police say -- Murrieta Mayor Alan Long was arrested Thursday on suspicion of seriously injuring four high school students while driving drunk, police said. Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Loma Prieta memories endure of love lost -- and love rediscovered -- After the earth lurched and jolted the Bay Area 25 years ago today, Lauren Anderson waited on her living room couch overnight in the Santa Cruz Mountains, hoping her husband was just delayed like everyone else in San Francisco and would soon come home to her and their two children. Julia Prodis Sulek in the Contra Costa Times$ -- 10/18/14

Nevius: SEIU on board with Republican BART director Fang -- We know that politics makes strange bedfellows, but this couple needs an intervention. C.W. Nevius in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/18/14

Gov. Jerry Brown says state is working on Ebola safeguards -- Gov. Jerry Brown said Friday that the state is drawing up plans to protect nurses, other health care workers and the public from Ebola, saying California must avoid mistakes made in Texas in dealing with the disease. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/18/14

San Francisco issues Ebola screening rules for 911 dispatchers -- Though there have been no cases of Ebola in the Bay Area or California, San Francisco’s Department of Emergency Management took a precautionary step and issued new Ebola-specific screening protocols Thursday for the city’s 911 dispatchers. Vivian Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/18/14

California Nurses' Union Pulls Ebola Into Contract Talks -- The powerful California Nurses Association has put Ebola on the bargaining table in its negotiations for a new contract with Kaiser Permanente. April Dembosky NPR -- 10/18/14

Why Airlines and the CDC Oppose Ebola Flight Bans -- The stakes are high: those for a flight ban believe it’s a necessary protection against a deadly epidemic that has already reached American soil, but those against it say a ban would make the U.S. even more vulnerable to the virus. Tessa Berenson TIME -- 10/18/14

New call to approve surgeon general -- Vivek Murthy's nomination was sidelined by Republicans' opposition to his gun positions. Lauren French Politico -- 10/18/14

President Obama selects Ron Klain as Ebola czar -- Klain will be responsible for the administration’s “whole of government Ebola response,” a White House official said. The official did not refer to Klain as Obama’s “Ebola czar,” but his responsibilities fit the definition. Jennifer Epstein Politico -- 10/18/14

In setback for Ebola vaccine, company says work will take longer than hoped -- The Ebola crisis took new twists Friday, with another somber update from the World Health Organization on the outbreak in West Africa and a bleak warning from a major drug manufacturer that a safe vaccine likely won’t be ready before the current epidemic has passed. John Zarocostas McClatchy DC -- 10/18/14

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Pensions   

The million-job economy returns to the Bay Area's three major urban centers -- For the first time since the 9/11 era, all three of the Bay Area's largest urban centers -- the South Bay, the East Bay and the San Francisco metro area -- are million-job economies, fresh evidence that the region has banished the woes of the Great Recession, a state labor report released Friday shows. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/18/14

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac reach deal to ease mortgage lending -- Mortgage financing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, together with their federal regulator, have drawn up rules aimed at loosening constricted lending standards to make mortgages more affordable and easier to get for those with less than stellar credit. E. Scott Reckard, Tim Logan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Port of Los Angeles cargo volume surges in September, up 7.8% for year -- The Port of Los Angeles in September saw its busiest month in eight years, as larger cargo ships called at the port and retailers rushed in goods for the holiday season. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

California unemployment rate drops to 7.3% in September -- The small one-month dip in state jobs comes after months of steady employment growth in the state. Since September 2013, California has added nearly 300,000 new jobs. The unemployment rate at this time last year was 8.8%. Chris Kirkham in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Aerojet Rocketdyne chosen to help with new mission to Mars -- Aerojet Rocketdyne is on a mission to Mars. The rocket motor maker has a contract with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to make motors to help a Mars rover. Melissa Wiese Sacramento Business Journal -- 10/18/14

Airship dedication reminds Worldwide Aeros chief of deferred dream -- A small crowd, including a priest and five members of Congress, gathered in a giant hangar in Tustin this week to christen Igor Pasternak's latest airship. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Education

Deasy slams teachers unions, speaks of regrets -- Days after stepping down as Los Angeles schools chief, John Deasy acknowledged he should have worked harder to improve relations with the school board but also criticized the teachers union for making it difficult to improve the district. Stephen Ceasar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

L.A. Unified says it believes Deasy acted ethically on iPads -- As part of its settlement this week with former schools Supt. John Deasy, the Los Angeles Board of Education declared that it did not believe Deasy had done anything wrong in connection with the project to provide students with iPads, even though the district has an ongoing investigation into the propriety of the bidding process. Howard Blume, Stephen Ceasar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Klein: The public is still owed an accounting on John Deasy's iPad emails -- Will the public eventually find out the truth regarding the question-raising emails between John Deasy and the two companies that won the contract to provide iPads to students in the Los Angeles Unified School District? Karin Klein in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

UC Berkeley issues alert after report that 5 drugged, sexually assaulted at frat -- The alleged assaults reportedly took place either Oct. 10 or 11 at the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity house on the 2300 block of Piedmont Avenue in Berkeley Natalie Neysa Alund in the Oakland Tribune -- 10/18/14

Cal student cleared in rape case -- Alameda County prosecutors dropped a rape charge Friday against a UC Berkeley student. Henry K. Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/18/14

Remains of missing Cal State Northridge student found in Palm Desert -- Authorities have identified the remains of a Cal State Northridge student from Saudi Arabia who went missing from his San Fernando Valley home last month, LAPD officials said Friday. Scott Glover in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Janet Yellen on the Broken Way America Pays for Public Schools -- Janet Yellen wades into the debate about how to make sure kids in poor districts get an equal opportunity to launch their lives. Peter Coy Bloomberg Businessweek -- 10/18/14

Many Franchisees Get Nothing for Their Investment -- Breathless marketing makes franchises sound like solid investments, but buyers are more likely to close than sell their businesses. Patrick Clark Bloomberg Businessweek -- 10/18/14

Immigration / Border

An immigrant family from Guatemala’s tearful reunion in San Francisco -- A husband held in Texas by immigration officials for nine months with a dozen men packed in a cell only slightly larger than a minivan was reunited with his wife and daughter Friday in the driveway of a Greyhound bus station in San Francisco. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/18/14

California law enforcement detaining fewer immigrants -- Local law enforcement agencies in California are transferring fewer undocumented immigrants into federal custody, a change occurring as the state implements a new law barring jails from holding on to nonviolent immigration detainees for federal officials. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/18/14

Health

Amgen to join Gates Foundation in effort to produce Ebola drug -- Amgen Inc. said it would work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other groups to come up with an alternative production method for ZMapp, the promising experimental drug to treat Ebola whose supply ran out in August. Bloomberg -- 10/18/14

SDSU tries to prevent meningitis outbreak -- Concerned students waited in line Friday at San Diego State University to receive antibiotics as public-health experts worked to prevent a suspected case of meningococcal meningitis from spreading. Maureen Magee and Paul Sisson UT San Diego$ -- 10/18/14

SDSU student’s new beginning stopped by illness -- This was supposed be the beginning of a new chapter in Sara Stelzer’s young life. But barely two months after starting freshman year at San Diego State University, Stelzer remained on life support Friday after an aggressive and short battle with suspected meningitis. Maureen Magee UT San Diego$ -- 10/18/14

Also . . .

Lazarus: So why can't you get only certain sections of the newspaper? -- Every time I write about a la carte TV -- paying only for the channels you want -- some clever reader fires back with the newspaper analogy. As this email from Bliss put it: "Can I stop paying for the L.A. Times sports section?" I get the point. But the analogy is flawed. David Lazarus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Paying by smart phone? Town prefers 100-year-old cash register -- High up in the Sierra at the end of a twisty mountain road, this tiny town is going to have a 100th birthday party Saturday for its oldest and most revered resident: a huge, brass cash register. Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/18/14

Bono Wears Sunglasses for Glaucoma, Not for Fashion -- The U2 frontman discussed his chronic health issue, a disorder where damaged optic nerves make eyes sensitive to light, on The Graham Norton Show. Bono said he's had glaucoma for close to 20 years. Neha Prakash Mashable -- 10/18/14

Space plane returns from secret mission, lands at Vandenberg -- The Pentagon’s secret space plane, which has been orbiting Earth for nearly two years on a mysterious mission, landed Friday morning at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

300-pound bronze frog statue stolen from San Dimas City Hall -- A beloved bronze statue of a frog that weighs as much as 300 pounds has been stolen from an outdoor water feature at San Dimas City Hall, authorities said. Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Sphinx unearthed from 1923 Cecil B. DeMille movie set -- Buried beneath the shifting sands of the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes is a story of Biblical proportions. Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Decision on LAPD detective's discipline poses major test for Beck -- The veteran Los Angeles police detective took the floor at a training class for fellow officers and let loose an expletive-laden rant. Kate Mather, Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

POTUS 44    

Obama signs order to protect consumers from identity theft -- President Obama signed an executive order Friday to protect consumers from identity theft by strengthening security features in credit cards and the terminals in which they are processed. Katie Zezima in the Washington Post$ -- 10/18/14

Obama's credit card was recently declined at dinner with first lady -- The commander-in-chief says he was at a New York restaurant recently eating out with First Lady Michelle Obama during the United Nations General Assembly. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/18/14

Beltway

California watches and waits as Senate's fate is decided -- Californians won't have any say about which party wins this year's biggest political prize -- the reins of the U.S. Senate -- but that doesn't mean the Golden State has nothing at stake. Josh Richman in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/18/14