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Gov. Jerry Brown says Hillary Clinton must slay email controversy -- Gov. Jerry Brown said Friday that the controversy over Hillary Clinton's emails is "almost like a vampire" and the presidential candidate needs to "find a stake and put it right through the heart." Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

About 7 Million Americans Haven’t Paid Federal Student Loans in at Least a Year -- Nearly seven million Americans have gone at least a year without making a payment on their federal student loans, a staggering level of default that highlights how student debt continues to burden households despite an improving labor market. Josh Mitchell in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 8/21/15

Compromise of 2011 has benefited Amazon, California -- Five years ago this summer, the relationship between Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc. and the state of California was adversarial at best, or downright toxic at worst. Mark Glover in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/21/15

California transit agency says federal grants blocked over public employee pension plan -- California transit agencies say the U.S. Department of Labor is blocking as much as $1 billion in vital grants unless the agencies agree to violate a state public employee pension reform law. Andrew McGall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/21/15

Judge tells California to explain empty psychiatric beds while prisoners wait for care -- The order by U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller follows a hearing in Sacramento this week in which she chastised the state for "backsliding" in the treatment of mentally ill inmates. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

California judge allows anti-abortion group to release video -- A Los Angeles judge has refused to block the release of an anti-abortion group's secretly recorded videos of discussions with a company that provides fetal tissue for research. But how soon the videos might be released is unclear. The company, StemExpress of Placerville, California, has said it will seek a stay from an appeals court. Brian Melley Associated Press -- 8/21/15

Hit hard by secretly recorded videos, Planned Parenthood fights back -- Hit hard by a series of graphic, secretly recorded videos, Planned Parenthood has spent the last five weeks fighting off accusations that it profits from sales of fetal body parts for medical research. Maria L. La Ganga in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Feds release extra water to save Klamath salmon from disease -- With water scarce in Northern California's Klamath Basin, a federal agency is again releasing cool, clean water into the Klamath River to prevent a repeat of the 2002 fish kill that left tens of thousands of adult salmon dead. Jeff Barnard Associated Press -- 8/21/15

LAPD to its own: Be guardians, not warriors -- For years, Los Angeles police officers have worked under the shadow of the department's dark past. Kate Mather in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Woman's killing throws Santa Maria into national immigration debate -- The Central Coast city is home to many workers at Vandenberg Air Force Base, as well as to laborers who tend to the vast agricultural fields that produce the nearly half-billion-dollar annual strawberry crop. Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Emily's List backs Nanette Barragan, signaling heated House race in L.A. area -- Emily's List, a nationally prominent backer of female Democratic candidates, is endorsing attorney Nanette Barragan for an open Los Angeles area House seat, giving the relatively unknown candidate a potential boost in credibility and fundraising. Jean Merl in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

State GOP, presidential hopefuls headed to Orange County -- The California Republican Party will return to the relative sanctuary of Orange County next month, when the faithful gather at the Anaheim Marriott Sept. 18-20 for their semiannual convention. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 8/21/15

Undecided state Democrats critical to Iran deal spend the summer asking voters their views -- With the largest delegation and with DeSaulnier among nearly two dozen Golden State Democrats who have yet to publicly commit on the deal, California has become crucial turf this summer as lawmakers home for a six-week recess ask their constituents how they feel about the diplomatic effort. Sarah Parvini in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Homeless Mexican beaten in Boston; alleged attacker says 'Trump was right' -- A homeless Boston man was beaten severely, and one of two brothers arrested for the crime said he was inspired by Donald Trump's views on immigrants. Associated Press -- 8/21/15

On immigration, Trump evokes Wilson era -- Wilson, the former U.S. senator and San Diego mayor, rode the illegal-immigration hard line to re-election the following year, when he defeated then-state Treasurer Kathleen Brown, the current governor’s sister. Michael Smolens in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 8/21/15

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning   

Ad blitz heats up climate change fight -- The oil industry helped Democrat Jim Cooper win his first election to the Legislature last year. Now it’s seeking his help fighting Democratic leaders in the state Capitol. Cooper is one of a handful of potential swing votes the oil industry is targeting as it tries to kill a controversial proposal to cut in half the amount of petroleum California vehicles use by 2030. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters.org -- 8/21/15

Edison: Private talks with state regulators on San Onofre did no harm -- Southern California Edison did its very best to figure out which chitchats between its executives and state regulators were “substantive” enough to require disclosure to the rest of the world, it argued in a legal filing Thursday. Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register -- 8/21/15

Political watchdog board approves hefty campaign fines -- California's political watchdog agency approved large fines Thursday against two state senators and a campaign committee that spent $3.3 million backing Gov. Jerry Brown in 2010. Juliet Williams Associated Press -- 8/21/15

Walters: Prop. 39’s criticism isn’t valid -- Kevin de León, the president pro tem of the state Senate, and billionaire Tom Steyer have an odd-bedfellows political alliance. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/21/15

Compton officials have been illegally inflating their pay, district attorney says -- Compton's mayor and council members have been illegally boosting their salaries for years by paying themselves for commission meetings that sometimes lasted only about a minute, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said. Angel Jennings in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Anti-abortion group to ask judge to release new videos -- Videos an anti-abortion group secretly recorded with officials at a California company that provides fetal tissue for research could be released as soon as Friday if a judge sticks by her preliminary ruling. Brian Melley Associated Press -- 8/21/15

Rocky Chavez gets rocky response at CoCo GOP -- 2016 U.S. Senate candidate and Assemblyman Rocky Chavez was in Walnut Creek on Thursday evening to take questions from the Contra Costa County Republican Party – and many in the crowd didn’t like some of his answers. Josh Richman Political Blotter -- 8/21/15

Cal Fire and disciplined Academy employees settle dispute -- Three former Cal Fire Academy managers named in a scandal that rocked the department have settled their disciplinary appeal cases. Meanwhile, a judge rejected a request by three other former employees to throw out the actions taken against them. Jon Ortiz in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/21/15

Oakland blocked from suing to keep Harborside pot dispensary open -- Oakland has no right to challenge the government’s attempt to shut down the huge Harborside medical marijuana dispensary even though it would cost the city millions of dollars in tax revenues, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/21/15

California Congressional Races Wasted Money on TV, Says Analysis -- The modern history of political campaigns really begins with the advent of the 30 second television ad and its ability to blast out messages to a wide audience. But a new report suggests it’s missing the mark, and flags two 2014 California contests as among the worst when it comes to wasting cash. John Myers KQED -- 8/21/15

Firefighting tab at $133 million -- California has spent $133 million fighting wildfires since July 1, about a third of its budgeted amount. The figure includes the costs of suppressing major blazes across the heat- and drought-ravaged state during the past month. John Howard Capitol Weekly -- 8/21/15

Battle against Rough fire intensifies as blaze bears down on Hume Lake -- The blaze, which started with a lightning strike July 31, grew by 1,500 acres overnight, reaching 32,414 acres as of 11:30 a.m. Thursday. It remains 3 percent contained. Cedar Grove and Hume Lake recreation areas remain closed. More than 2,500 people were evacuated from these areas Tuesday and Wednesday. Rory Appleton and Bonhia Lee in the Fresno Bee -- 8/21/15

Turning Up The Heat: California Politics Podcast -- It was a hot week in Sacramento, with triple-digit temperatures outside and heated debate and accusations under the state Capitol dome. John Myers KQED -- 8/21/15

California Bill Aims to Warn Consumers About Recording TVs -- Readers who scanned the user manual for a new Samsung smart TV may have been surprised to learn their household conversations could be recorded without their knowledge. State Assemblyman Mike Gatto certainly was. Julia Horowitz Associated Press -- 8/21/15

State government emails linked to Ashley Madison site -- The government email addresses of nearly 50 current and former California state workers were included in a list made public by hackers of users of Ashley Madison, the online dating site for married people. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

California Senate acts to require adoption of research cats and dogs -- University laboratories that use dogs and cats for research in California would be required to offer the healthy animals for adoption before euthanizing them under legislation approved Thursday by the state Senate. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Judge suggests he may side with most of Berkeley’s cell phone law -- A federal judge suggested Thursday that he would strip Berkeley’s cell phone ordinance of its most far-reaching language — telling customers the devices may pose radiation dangers for children — but might leave the rest of the city’s warning message intact, over industry objections. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/21/15

Taxes, Fees, Tolls, Rates    

State's biggest companies say taxes are part of the answer to transportation needs -- California’s largest corporations have a clear message for Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature: Now is the time to raise taxes and other revenue to repair California’s roads. Failure to act will hurt business. Allen Young Sacramento Business Journal -- 8/21/15

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions    

Uber's driver screening practices fuel political debate on rider safety -- The ride-hailing revolution holds the potential to radically change the way people get around. But the political battle over Uber and Lyft in California has focused on something more obscure: fingerprints. Laura J. Nelson, Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Why is a Chinese auto parts company making cars in Southern California? -- For the first time since GM left Van Nuys in 1992, cars will be rolling off an assembly line in Southern California. Ben Bergman KPCC -- 8/21/15

ACLU again accuses Laguna Beach of targeting the homeless -- A lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California accuses Laguna Beach of trying to push homeless people, particularly those with disabilities, out of the city. Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Hyperloop startup adds partners — and inches closer to launch -- Skeptics tend to view Elon Musk’s proposed “hyperloop” high-speed transportation system as a beautiful dream, unlikely to become real. But apparently, it’s a dream many share. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/21/15

Drought   

California drought: Climate change plays a role, study says. But how big? -- A growing number of scientists have made the claim that climate change is at least partly responsible for California's crippling drought. Now researchers have estimated the extent to which humans are to blame: between 8% and 27%. Louis Sahagan in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Drought Brings Soul Searching to California Winemaking -- Some regions have been hard hit, like eastern Paso Robles on the Central Coast and the Central Valley, source of much of the grapes that go into cheap bulk wines. But other regions, like the North Coast, are bearing up well. Eric Asimov in the New York Times$ -- 8/21/15

Education 

Assembly approves bill giving students exit-exam reprieve -- Thousands of California high school seniors blocked from fulfilling their graduation requirements got an assist from the Legislature on Thursday as Assembly members passed a bill giving students a reprieve from a phased-out test. Jeremy B. White in the Sacramento Bee Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Community colleges could require sexual assault disclosures -- The California Senate has approved legislation requiring community college applicants to disclose if they've been previously expelled for sexual assault. Transfer students would also need to share if they were expelled for rape or sexual battery at other schools or are currently undergoing an expulsion review. Associated Press -- 8/21/15

Marin high school athletes the first in the Bay Area to wear devices that monitor head impact -- With so many unreported concussions in high-school sports, San Rafael High wanted to intervene. After testing the technology last academic year, several San Rafael teams will wear Triax Technologies Smart Impact Monitors, beginning in the fall, to monitor and assess head impact during practices and games. Danny Schmidt in the Marin Independent Journal -- 8/21/15

Compton Unified fights a lawsuit over children's 'demons' -- Students who say trauma from abuse and violence requires special attention at school demanded that the Compton Unified School District immediately have teachers, administrators and staff undergo training to recognize and understand the effect of such incidents. Stephen Ceasar in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Teachers at Catholic high schools ink contract after close vote -- The move capped a contentious fight over the extent to which their private lives could be linked to their jobs, after Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone initially proposed adding morality clauses to the contract and an employee handbook. Emily Green in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/21/15

Common Core yet to emerge as major issue in presidential campaign -- One reason is surely the result of the near total eclipse of most substantive policy discussions in the GOP presidential contest by the presence and pronouncements of Donald Trump. Louis Freedberg EdSource -- 8/21/15

Environment 

July was warmest month on Earth in 136 years, NOAA says -- Earth’s average surface temperature for the month of July was 61.86 degrees Fahrenheit (or 16.61 degrees Celsius). That made July the hottest month since meteorologists began keeping track way back in 1880, according to a new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Karen Kaplan in the Los Angeles Times Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/21/15

El Niño likely to bring planet’s hottest year -- The El Niño strengthening in the tropical Pacific is not only boosting the odds of rain in parts of California this winter, but it’s driving up global temperatures. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/21/15

First wolf pack found in California in nearly a century -- State officials have confirmed that a gray wolf pack is now established in Northern California, a family that includes two adult black-furred wolves and five pups. Julie Cart in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Exide cleanup: L.A. County supervisor wants independent oversight -- A Los Angeles County supervisor is urging California Gov. Jerry Brown to appoint an independent expert to oversee a soil cleanup of potentially thousands of lead-contaminated homes surrounding a shuttered battery recycling plant in Vernon. Tony Barboza in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Lead contamination found at up to 10,000 southeast L.A. County homes -- Soil testing has found that lead contamination from a Vernon battery recycling plant extends over a much larger area than previously estimated, possibly reaching as many as 10,000 homes in southeast Los Angeles County, state environmental officials said Friday. Tony Barboza in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Health 

UC San Diego Study: Chantix Doesn't Significantly Help Smokers Quit -- Researchers found the drug's effectiveness lasts for three months. After this time, users report they no longer had a higher rate of success with the drug. Maureen Cavanaugh, Patty Lane, Peggy Pico KPBS -- 8/21/15

Scope maker Olympus investigates Pasadena infections, denies FDA violation -- Medical scope maker Olympus Corp. said Thursday that it has reached out to a Pasadena hospital that suspects the company's devices spread a superbug infection to at least three patients. Chad Terhune in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/21/15

Also . . . 

Lawmakers ask Obama to exonerate black Port Chicago sailors convicted of mutiny -- Bay Area lawmakers are calling on President Barack Obama to exonerate the African-American sailors convicted of mutiny during World War II because they refused to load ammunition following the horrific explosion at the Port Chicago naval munitions base. Lisa P. White in the Oakland Tribune -- 8/21/15

Beltway 

Can O’Malley win the tech nerd vote? If not, who can? -- Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley isn’t raising much money in his Democratic run for the White House, and his support is a pinprick in the polls. But during a 36-hour visit to San Francisco that ended Thursday, O’Malley may have found his niche in the race: the candidate of civic-minded tech nerds. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/21/15

Bergdahl's lawyer: Trump's statements threaten fair trial -- The lawyer representing Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who left his infantry post and was held by the Taliban for five years, said Thursday that callous statements Donald Trump is making about his client are threatening the soldier's right to a fair trial. Deb Riechman Associated Press -- 8/21/15

It’s on: Mark Zuckerberg’s FWD.us hits Donald Trump on immigration -- “Just wrong,” is how Mark Zuckerberg’s advocacy group, FWD.us, describes some of Donald Trump’s positions on immigration reform. Michelle Quinn in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/21/15

Trump takes heat from Romney advisers on immigration -- It has set off alarm bells among GOP lawmakers and strategists, particularly among former advisers to Romney, who vividly remember his problems with Hispanic voters. Alexander Bolton The Hill -- 8/21/15