Updating . .   

California Gov. Jerry Brown cutting down on number of speeches -- Brown’s aides said Monday that when he takes the oath of office Jan. 5 for his fourth term, his inaugural speech in the state Assembly Chambers in Sacramento will also serve as the governor’s constitutionally required annual report to the Legislature, also known as the state-of-the-state address. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ John Myers KQED -- 12/8/14

Drought's cause more natural, less human-induced, NOAA finds -- The current drought that has gripped California for the past three years is mainly the result of naturally occurring phenomena, according to a study sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Jed Kim KPCC -- 12/8/14

Meet the People Who Might Try to Replace Barbara Boxer -- The list is long, but so far entirely speculative. Tessa Berenson TIME -- 12/8/14

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac detail plans for 3% down-payment mortgages -- Housing finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Monday detailed plans to once again back mortgages with down payments as low as 3%, saying the move to make home ownership more accessible contains safeguards to protect against abuses that led to the subprime housing market crash. Jim Puzzanghera, E. Scott Reckard in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

L.A. mayor calls for mandatory earthquake retrofitting for thousands of buildings -- Garcetti’s recommendations target two of the riskiest types of buildings in Los Angeles built before 1980: concrete buildings and wooden structures built atop weak first floors, such as those on top of carports and garages and supported by slender columns. Rong-Gong Lin II, Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

How California’s Water Rights Make It Tough to Manage Drought -- The system is largely invisible, buried in legal contracts, court decisions and stacks of century-old papers. To get a sense of what it all means, there is a place you can go to actually see water rights in action: east of Interstate 5, near Los Banos, in the Central Valley. Lauren Sommer KQED -- 12/8/14

Historic moment for Black, Asian caucuses -- California’s Legislature has reached a historic moment for diversity. Latino elected officials are still wining seats in the Assembly and Senate as demographics shift favorably in their direction, but this election year brought a surge in California’s other ethnic caucuses. Samantha Gallegos Capitol Weekly -- 12/8/14

Leland Yee, Darrell Steinberg make Citizen Hotel’s naughty/nice list -- If Santa dispensed with the coal and started punishing people with FBI investigations, his methodology would be closer to the Citizen Hotel’s moral sorting. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/8/14

Walters: Early class times hurt California children -- If one watches California’s educational politics – those practiced in the Legislature, in local school boards and in bureaucracies – long enough, an inescapable conclusion is that students’ welfare is often a secondary consideration. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/8/14

Groups merge to form big California biotech lobbying group -- The Bay Area biotech industry’s advocacy organization is merging with another group to become a newly created organization that will represent all of California’s biomedical industry. Stephanie M. Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/8/14

Greenhut: Demographic changes threaten pensions -- New CalPERS report finds fewer workers and more pensioners. Steven Greenhut UT San Diego$ -- 12/8/14

New appliances disappearing from troubled California housing agency -- A missing stove might sound like a mundane problem, but it’s part of a disturbing trend: New stoves and refrigerators are disappearing mysteriously throughout Richmond’s troubled public housing projects. Amy Julia Harris and Corey G. Johnson Center for Investigative Reporting -- 12/8/14

Brazen thefts by 'Rainbow Girls’ at high-end retailers -- Police tell us the “Rainbow Girls” — who get their name from their bright attire and dyed hair — are actually about three independent groups of women in their teens and 20s. The cops say they swoop into stores in the Union Square area, grab high-end goods and exit like running backs, plowing over anyone in their path. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/8/14

Police Union Challenge Halts SJPD Body Camera Program -- As protests rage across the country in reaction to police officers not being charged in two separate killings of unarmed black men, the call for cops to wear body cameras has grown to a steady roar. It’s with this backdrop that the San Jose Police Department received praise last week for 12 officers volunteering to wear body cameras as part of a pilot program. Josh Koehn sanjoseinside.com -- 12/8/14

Los Angeles weighs trade-offs in billboard removal -- When it comes to the issue of billboards, L.A. isn't exactly known for having its act together. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

Huge L.A. blaze being investigated as criminal fire -- Although blazes "of this magnitude" are always treated as criminal fires, "it's very rare for the entire building to be engulfed at once," Capt. Jaime Moore told the Los Angeles Times. "There may have been some foul play." Marisa Gerber, Brittny Mejia, Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

L.A. fire: Building developer vows to go forward after massive blaze -- The developer of an upscale apartment project in downtown Los Angeles that saw one of two buildings go up in flames during a massive blaze said the Da Vinci development would move forward despite the destruction. Roger Vincent in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

Blue Shield moves into Medicaid with Care 1st deal -- Looking to seize on the massive expansion of Medicaid, Blue Shield of California said it has agreed to acquire Monterey Park health plan Care 1st for an undisclosed sum. Chad Terhune in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

‘Six Californias’ backer to co-produce reality show -- Yes, Atherton venture capitalist Tim Draper’s Draper University of Heroes – the San Mateo school/ecosystem/incubator/ashram he founded in 2013 to nurture tech innovators – has partnered with Ugly Brother Studios to produce a show that will follow students as they build and launch a Silicon Valley startup. Josh Richman Political Blotter -- 12/8/14

Are West Coast longshoremen spoiling Christmas? -- The International Longshore and Warehouse Union says any pileup in dock warehouses is not the union's fault. Mike Elk Politico -- 12/8/14

Largest U.S. School districts to teach computer science in White House deal -- A big focus? Getting girls and minority boys into these classes. Computer-related jobs are projected to expand for years to come, but only a small percentage of college graduates obtain a degree in the field. Josh Lederman and Kimberly Hefling Associated Press -- 12/8/14

G.O.P. Donors Seek to Narrow Field of Presidential Candidates to One -- Dozens of the Republican Party’s leading presidential donors and fund-raisers have begun privately discussing how to clear the field for a single establishment candidate to carry the party’s banner in 2016, fearing that a prolonged primary would bolster Hillary Rodham Clinton, the likely Democratic candidate. Nicholas Confessore in the New York Times$ -- 12/8/14

California Policy & Politics This Morning   

Fox: Setting up for the Coming Debates over Minimum Wage – Some History and Examples -- With rallies in Los Angeles and Bay Area cities seeking a $15 minimum wage for fast food workers and Senator Mark Leno introducing a bill to increase the state minimum wage over the recent boost the legislature approved, the debate on the minimum wage is sure to heat up across the state. Arguments over increasing the minimum wage have been going on for a long time. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 12/8/14

More protests: Highway 24 blocked; vandalism, looting in Berkeley -- Hundreds of protesters returned to East Bay streets on Sunday for a second night of raucous demonstrations against police killings of unarmed black men in Missouri and New York. Kale Williams, Erin Allday and Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle Bettina Boxall in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

In a bipartisan holiday mood, legislators get down to (some) business -- With children in tow, state lawmakers gathered for a moment of bipartisan good cheer last week. Democrats and Republicans alike hugged and backslapped, got themselves sworn in and offered a few clues about the issues ahead. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

For first time in years, San Francisco departments don’t face budget cuts -- It had become a somber annual ritual in San Francisco. The heads of city departments would troop into City Hall, where, regardless of who was mayor, they would be told to cut their budgets to help close next year’s deficit. This time it was different. John Coté in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/8/14

Skelton: Many want more money; UC should get in line -- First of all, Californians think that raising university tuition again is a really bad idea. A non-starter. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

When California and L.A. County don't vote, the nation feels it -- The nation tumbled to a new low for voting in November, the lowest since 1942, when many had a rather compelling excuse for not showing up at the polls: World War II. And it's on us. On California, that is. Or more precisely, on Los Angeles County. Cathleen Decker in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

Economic interests drive defeat of propositions -- Studies show that wealthy special interests have limited success supporting ballot measures that would benefit them economically – but they do a lot better when it comes to defeating ballot measures that could hurt their pocketbook. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register$ -- 12/8/14

With Harvest Season, ‘Trimmigrants’ Flock To California’s Pot Capital -- Every fall, young people, mostly in their 20s, come from all over the world to work the marijuana harvest. They come seeking jobs as “trimmers” — workers who manicure the buds to get them ready for market. The locals have a name for these young migrant workers: “trimmigrants.” Olivia Cueva KQED -- 12/8/14

L.A. Mayor Garcetti set to unveil earthquake safety plan -- Mayor Eric Garcetti on Monday is scheduled to unveil his long-awaited proposal to better protect buildings and other infrastructure in Los Angeles against a major earthquake. Rong-Gong Lin II, Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

Willie Brown: A few words of advice for a conversation on race -- The recent tragedies in New York and Ferguson, Mo., have renewed the decades-old call for a national “conversation” on race. Chances are we will never really have an honest conversation on race, but in the meantime, we should share a few words of advice. Willie Brown in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/8/14

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Pensions   

San Jose set to legalize, tax Airbnb stays like hotel rooms -- Striking one of the first deals in the country with Airbnb, San Jose is ready to start taxing residents who offer their homes for strangers as a way to help pay off their own sky-high housing costs. Mike Rosenberg in the Contra Costa Times$ -- 12/8/14

California copied as states seek retirement plans -- A California plan to give private-sector workers a state-run retirement savings plan is nearing $1 million in contributions, the goal set to pay for a market analysis to help design the program. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 12/8/14

California Foodways: Native American Tribe Bets on Olive Oil -- It’s only in its fourth year of production, but over 200 restaurants — including Berkeley’s Chez Panisse — use it. The premium oil, called Seka Hills, sells in specialty shops and upscale farmers markets. Lisa Morehouse KQED -- 12/8/14

Big tech wants to grow innovation in Orange County at The Vine -- An incubator program focused on growing early-stage tech companies is coming to Orange County, an area that has long had trouble keeping similar projects alive and homegrown firms from moving away. Lily Leung in the Orange County Register$ -- 12/8/14

Beyond profits: Millennials embrace investing for social good -- Once she gets her MBA degree from UC Berkeley in May, Leigh Madeira's dream is to help find funding for young companies devoted to improving the lives of the world's poor. Tom Petruno in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

Education

More money needed to fix faulty student records system in L.A. Unified -- Los Angeles needs to spend at least $11 million more to deal with problems caused by a new and faulty student records system, officials will tell the school board this week. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

Schools work to improve vision health -- It was a good week for the 90 students at Merritt Trace Elementary School in San Jose who climbed into a mobile eye exam van and emerged with the promise of a free pair of eyeglasses. But for thousands of students across the state who need glasses but don’t have them, it was another blurry week of not seeing the blackboard or the letters in a book. Jane Meredith Adams EdSource -- 12/8/14

Drought  

Redwoods Damaged by South Bay Experiments With Recycled Water Irrigation -- With a drought continuing to punish California, cities across Santa Clara County are expanding their use of recycled water to irrigate parks. But the water-saving step may put a local icon at risk: redwood trees. Liam Kane-Grade KQED -- 12/8/14

Seminar will discuss climate change and California water supplies -- The public has a unique opportunity Tuesday to learn about how climate change may alter the availability of water in California and to offer ideas on adapting to those changes. Matt Weiser in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/8/14

Immigration / Border

Anti-illegal immigration activists look beyond California for action -- For years, Raul Rodriguez Jr. would let out an exasperated sigh, then move on, whenever he read or heard news about illegal immigration. But something clicked last summer when he saw reports of multitudes of Central Americans illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Cindy Carcamo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

Secure Communities' end raises concerns -- Immigration rights supporters had long argued for an end to the Secure Communities Program, a controversial strategy of having police detain people on behalf of federal agents. Roxana Kopetman in the Orange County Register$ -- 12/8/14

Next step for undocumented California drivers: Insurance -- Starting Jan. 1, unauthorized immigrants can get California driver’s licenses, but before they can register their vehicles they’ll need one more, pricier item -- auto insurance. Another state law is aimed at fixing that. Also starting Jan. 1, unauthorized immigrants for the first time are eligible to buy insurance through California Low Cost Auto Insurance. Roxana Kopetman in the Orange County Register$ -- 12/8/14

Environment

Mayor Kevin Johnson to propose plastic bag ban in Sacramento -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson will announce Monday a proposal to prohibit single-use plastic bags at stores in the city in the event that opponents of a newly adopted statewide ban are able to force a public vote on that legislation. Ryan Lillis in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/8/14

Peru climate change talks slowed by clashes of rich and poor nations -- International climate talks in Lima, Peru, are entering their final week, with few hints of whether a newfound optimism that marked the start of negotiations will ultimately translate into an agreement that would rein in climate change. Neela Banerjee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

Helping hand for greener homes: San Francisco moving to finance upgrades -- Four years ago, San Francisco was ready to become one of the first counties in California to adopt an innovative program giving homeowners an easy, affordable way to finance energy efficiency upgrades and solar installations. Marisa Lagos in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/8/14

Also . . .

New Chronicle award will honor top Bay Area visionary -- It is where creative leaders, trendsetters and game changers proliferate — where genius is part of the kaleidoscope of culture. This abundance of brilliance is why The Chronicle has decided to embark on a mission over the next few months to select a particularly radiant light from among the merely luminescent. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/8/14

Donor provides $400,000 to CicLAvia street festival -- An anonymous donor has contributed $400,000 to Los Angeles' increasingly popular CicLAvia bike festival to help keep the periodic event going next year, organizers said Sunday. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/8/14

POTUS 44    

Obama calls for patience in fight against racism -- President Barack Obama, responding to the wave of protests and racial tensions across the country in recent weeks, appealed for patience and persistence in solving what he described as an issue "that is deeply rooted in our society ... our history." Don Lee McClatchy DC -- 12/8/14

Beltway

By the Numbers: Half of the Senators Who Voted for Obamacare Will be Gone in 2015 -- An under-the-hood look at the best showing in Senate elections by either party in 34 years. Greg Giroux Bloomberg Politics -- 12/8/14

Conservatives Build 7 Million-Strong 'Digital Army' to Push GOP Rightward in 2016 --The digital army sprung to life with a click of a mouse in a nondescript office park in Alexandria. Less than 10 miles away, at the White House, the phones began to light up. One call came into the switchboard and then another. Thousands of people flooded the phone lines. Shane Goldmacher and Tim Alberta National Journal -- 12/8/14

Democrats Irrelevant? Don’t Be So Sure, Pelosi Promises -- Nancy Pelosi insists she doesn’t gloat when House Republicans can’t shore up the votes among their own members to pass any number of critical bills, and it’s Democrats who get to swoop in and call themselves the heroes. Emma Dumain Roll Call -- 12/8/14