Updating . .   

Man who killed TSA officer at LAX in 2013 pleads guilty and avoids death penalty -- An unemployed motorcycle mechanic who gunned down airport screening officers at Los Angeles International Airport in a 2013 attack that sent passengers running for their lives pleaded guilty Tuesday to murder and 10 other charges. Paul Ciancia, 26, pleaded guilty to all 11 charges in the rampage that killed one officer and wounded two others and a teacher who was headed for a flight. Amanda Lee Myers and Brian Melley Associated Press -- 9/6/16

Two possible cases of leprosy reported at Riverside County elementary school -- Nursing staff at Indian Hills Elementary School in Jurupa Valley notified county officials Friday of the suspected infections, which will take several weeks to officially confirm, said Barbara Cole, director for disease control for the Riverside County Department of Public Health. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/6/16

Harris rejects Sanchez debate offer -- California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris is refusing a demand from her Senate rival to participate in three additional debates. Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez on Tuesday called for four debates. The proposal was a counter offer to the two debates that Harris announced she would participate in last month. Phil Willon and Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/6/16

Loretta Sanchez makes counteroffer in heated negotiations over California Senate debates -- U.S. Senate candidate Loretta Sanchez wants to have four debates — seeking to double the two proposed by her rival in the November election, Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/6/16

Supporters urge governor to sign bill ending statute of limitations for prosecuting rape -- Flanked by alleged sexual assault victims and their supporters, state Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino) urged Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday to end California's statute of limitations for rape. Sophia Bollag in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/6/16

CCSF needs Prop. B parcel tax to shore up faculty pay -- As City College of San Francisco prepares for what faculty and staff hope will be a successful — and final — meeting with accreditors this fall, the school is also asking voters for a financial leg up to help smooth the way. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/6/16

Judge rules against 7 cities that filed suit over language in transit tax ballot measure -- A judge today rejected a petition filed on behalf of South Bay and southeast-area cities seeking significant changes in the ballot language for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposed half-cent county sales tax measure, saying there was no evidence the wording was confusing to voters. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 9/6/16

Future climate change field test doesn't make Earth greener -- In the course of a 17-year experiment on more than 1 million plants, scientists put future global warming to a real world test — growing California flowers and grasslands with extra heat, carbon dioxide and nitrogen to mimic a not-so-distant, hotter future. The results, simulating a post-2050 world, aren't pretty. Seth Borenstein and Alicia Chang Associated Press -- 9/6/16

San Bernardino terror attack conference focuses on victims -- Dozens of first-responders, victim advocates and other experts came together Tuesday to talk about the insights gathered from the Dec. 2 San Bernardino terror attack including how to take a more victim-centered approach to mass casualty incidents. Beatriz Valenzuela in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 9/6/16

San Jose State under fire in sexual harassment scandal -- A San Jose State professor found to have sexually harassed a student last year remained the head of his department for nearly five months after the campus investigation concluded, stepping down just days before the end of the academic year, an investigation by this newspaper has found. Katy Murphy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/6/16

Study finds inequality unchanged in Hollywood -- Despite widespread attention over diversity in the movie business, a new study finds that little is changing in Hollywood for women, minorities, LGBT people and others who continue to find themselves on the outside of an industry where researchers say inequality is "the norm." Jake Coyle Associated Press -- 9/6/16

Lopsided spending in California initiative races -- Handicapping initiatives based purely on financial resources can be a fool’s errand. Proposition 103, the landmark initiative from 1988 giving the elected state insurance commissioner authority to regulate rates for car, homeowner, property and casualty insurance, was outspent by a whooping 60-to-1. Christopher Cadelago and Anshu Siripurapu in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/6/16

Brock Turner's mom blocks cameras as her son signs sex registry -- As the former Stanford swimmer — whose six-month sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman sparked national outrage — signed the sex registry in his home state of Ohio on Tuesday morning, his mother stood behind him, raising her arms and blocking photographers and media with her white knit sweater. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/6/16

MannKind developing inhalable epinephrine to challenge Mylan's EpiPen -- A Valencia drugmaker that has tried to convince diabetics to inhale rather than inject their insulin is working on a product that will make a similar pitch to a new group of patients: severe allergy sufferers who rely on Mylan Pharmaceuticals’ pricey EpiPen. James Rufus Koren in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/6/16

ITT Tech shuts down all its schools; students might get loans forgiven -- The company that operates ITT Technical Institutes said Tuesday it was permanently closing all its campuses nationwide, blaming the recent move by the U.S. Education Department to ban the for-profit college operator from enrolling new students who use federal financial aid. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times$ Samantha Valtierra Bush in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Bill Lindelof and Jessica Rice in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/6/16

For business school students, Silicon Valley is new Wall Street -- The tech world’s riches have become such a lure for the strivers who have historically sought the credential that programs are now struggling to convince them that an MBA will help them achieve their dreams. Marissa Lang in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/6/16

State Judicial Council: ‘We are o ut of money’ for court construction -- State judicial officials voted last month to delay more than two dozen courthouse construction projects in 26 counties, saying budget shortfalls have drained the money needed to fund them. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/6/16

Major job losses feared when self-driving cars take to the road -- Millions of Americans make a living by driving trucks, delivery vans, taxis and ride-hailing cars. When technology takes the wheel, what will happen to their livelihoods? David R. Baker and Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/6/16

Alameda rent control activist trying not to be evicted -- When Rommel Laguardia moved into the Bayview Apartments in Alameda with his family six years ago, he found a community where neighbors knew each other and a 400-square-foot unit rented for $1,000 a month — a rare gem in the Bay Area’s high-priced housing market. Libby Rainey in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/6/16

Grizzly bears in California: Reintroduction push ignites strong emotions -- The mighty grizzly bear ruled California's valleys, forests and coasts with fierce claws and jaws until people shot the last ones nearly a century ago. Now an environmental group is asking the state to consider bringing it back. Denis Cuff in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/6/16

Teachers unions launch ads criticizing political spending by charter advocates -- Leaders of California's largest teachers union have launched a new ad campaign, but this time they're not battling for hearts and minds on school policy. They're competing against charter school advocates to get politicians elected to office — with some schoolyard name calling. Kyle Stokes KPCC -- 9/6/16

Man, woman accused of impersonating CHP officers try to pull over off-duty cop -- The pair were driving a black, unmarked, police-style Crown Victoria with side-mounted spot lights on the northbound I-405 when they deployed red and blue strobe lights to pull over a car, said Tom Joy, a CHP officer and spokesman. Joshua Sudock in the Orange County Register -- 9/6/16

Fox: Business Losses and Wins in Legislative Bills Battle -- No one knows for sure what Governor Brown will do with the 800 bills on his desk that await his signature, but for the business community the recently ended legislative session saw some successes and some big setbacks. Perhaps there are more to come. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 9/6/16

A Decade Later, San Diego’s Living Wage Law Quiets Critics -- The city’s experience over the past decade appears to have silenced business leaders who argued that requiring pay well above the minimum wage would kill jobs and put employers out of business. Joe Yerardi, Chris Young KPBS -- 9/6/16

A new 50-state poll shows exactly why Clinton holds the advantage over Trump -- With nine weeks until Election Day, Donald Trump is within striking distance in the Upper Midwest, but Hillary Clinton’s strength in many battlegrounds and some traditional Republican strongholds gives her a big electoral college advantage, according to a 50-state Washington Post-SurveyMonkey poll. Dan Balz and Scott Clement in the Washington Post$ -- 9/6/16

Five reasons Hillary could be blowing it -- Everybody who has ever worked for Hillary Clinton, covered her, supported her with clutched rosary and gnarled innards through the darkest days — or even watched her with educated interest from afar — knew this moment would come. Glenn Thrush Politico -- 9/6/16

California Policy & Politics This Morning   

California Assembly Dems Eye Supermajority -- Democrats in the California Assembly need to pick up only a couple of seats in the November elections to win two-thirds control of the chamber. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has performed terribly against Hillary Clinton in the last few California polls. In a normal election year, that would be a bad sign for Republicans running down-ticket. Typically, the most high-profile races drive turnout. Ben Bradford Capital Public Radio -- 9/6/16

Nine weeks before election day, here are the 12 California congressional races we're watching -- Voters in all of California’s 53 House districts will weigh congressional candidates this fall, but with a host of powerful incumbents, and districts shaped to benefit people in power, only a handful of those races are thought to be competitive or up in the air. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/6/16

U.S. Senate Candidates Can’t Agree On Debate Schedule -- The race between two Democrats to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in California continues to be a sluggish one, but it may get even slower if the two candidates can’t agree on a debate schedule. Amita Sharma KPBS -- 9/6/16

California fails to extend green sticker program for plug-in hybrids -- If you have a plug-in electric hybrid car like a Prius and want a coveted green sticker to drive solo in Bay Area carpool lanes, the news is not encouraging. Gary Richards in the East Bay Times -- 9/6/16

California's Prop. 61 seeks to lower drug prices, increase transparency -- Counting on the growing public outrage over the soaring costs of prescription drugs -- and bolstered by the recent fury generated by huge price hikes for lifesaving EpiPens -- Proposition 61 proponents are gearing up for one of the most highly anticipated ballot measure showdowns this election season. Tracy Seipel in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/6/16

Armed officers now stand guard in Fresno County jail lobbies; injured officers still critical -- Armed officers were standing guard inside the lobbies of Fresno County jails on Monday, even as two correctional officers who were shot two days earlier continued to fight for their lives at Community Regional Medical Center. Barbara Anderson in the Fresno Bee -- 9/6/16

The California Voter Ordeal: 17 Decisions on the Ballot -- Seventeen voter initiatives are on the state ballot in November, a glut of citizen-lawmaking that could, among other things, end the death penalty, legalize recreational marijuana, impose a tax surcharge on the wealthy and place limits on prescription drug costs. Adam Nagrourney in the New York Times$ -- 9/6/16

Affordability Report Ranks San Diego County Near The Bottom -- San Diegans are making lower salaries and paying higher housing costs compared to competing metropolitan areas, including San Francisco, Seattle and Denver. A new report from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce shows San Diego County’s high cost of living is holding back the region's economic potential. Susan Murphy KPBS -- 9/6/16

Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls     

Pay by the mile or at the pump? A gas tax experiment -- California faces a $59 billion backlog of deferred maintenance on roads and bridges. Drivers in the state pay some of the highest gas taxes in the country but they haven't kept pace with rising construction costs. And increasing fuel efficiency means revenues will fall even more in the future. Meghan McCarty KPCC -- 9/6/16

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions 

Shipper Hanjin moves to resolve cargo chaos -- Moving to unsnarl the chaos in its container cargo after it filed for bankruptcy protection, Hanjin Shipping Co. will seek stay orders in dozens of countries, the Financial Services Commission said Monday. Youyung Lee Associated Press -- 9/6/16

As pensions eat budgets, what can a county do? -- Public pension debt took an unusual bite out of taxes in Sonoma County last year, playing a role in the rejection of a ¼-cent sales tax increase by 63 percent of voters. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 9/6/16

No ‘For Sale’ Sign? Silicon Valley Buyers Aren’t Deterred -- Buyers in Silicon Valley must be aggressive and innovative as well as well-heeled, especially as housing inventory here hits its lowest point in at least 20 years. David Streitfeld in the New York Times$ -- 9/6/16

After explosion, SpaceX satellite customer says it's due $50 million or a free ride -- The costs of the SpaceX rocket explosion Thursday are starting to roll in. The customer whose satellite blew up with the rocket, Space Communication Ltd., based in Israel, said in a conference call Sunday that it could seek $50 million or a free flight, according to a Reuters report. Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/6/16

Around San Francisco’s arts scene, the state of the unions is strong -- The organized labor movement in San Francisco may have weakened to the point that unions can no longer muster a Labor Day parade up Market Street, but there are still an estimated 100,000 union workers in the city. This week, more than any other, their cultural might is at work. Sam Whiting in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/6/16

Education 

State’s role in building schools at issue in battle over Prop. 51 -- California voters last saw a statewide school construction bond on their ballots a decade ago, but that’s not for lack of interest by bond supporters. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/6/16

A closer look at test scores for English learners, magnet schools and charters -- More than three million students across California traded in pencils for computers to take their standardized tests last school year. Sonali Kohli, Joy Resmovits and Sandra Poindexter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/6/16

State board poised to take new direction in school accountability -- After months of drafting, revising and debating how best to measure and improve schools, the State Board of Education this week will adopt key elements of a new and distinct school accountability system. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 9/6/16

Los Angeles magnet school looks to launch a robot revolution -- For the past decade, robotics have been the rage across the Los Angeles Unified School District, with students from schools that included Haddon STEAM Academy in Pacoima, Millikan Middle School, an affiliated charter in Sherman Oaks, and James Monroe High School in North Hills entering and winning top robotics contests. Dana Bartholomew in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 9/6/16

Big test for Cal students: affording housing in costly market -- Like many UC Berkeley students, Aaron Glover is overworked. He’s got a full schedule of classes as an integrative biology major, holds down a job at the campus library and fills his off hours with homework. But at the end of the day, instead of heading back to a home in Berkeley, Glover faces another exhausting task: a 30-mile commute to Benicia by bus, BART and car. Libby Rainey in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/6/16

San Diego grad assistants come up short on pay -- Graduate teaching assistants play an important role at universities — giving lectures, grading papers, preparing exams — but federal data show that those working in San Diego earn wages considerably lower than their counterparts in places where the cost of living is much cheaper. Chris Young inewsource.org -- 9/6/16

Guns   

Shooters turn out at Chabot Gun Club, closing after 52 years -- The East Bay Regional Park District’s directors voted unanimously in March to close the 65-acre gun club, saying the range could not afford to pay the costs of meeting stricter environmental standards governing the cleanup of lead contamination from spent bullets. Victoria Colliver in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/6/16

Immigration / Border 

Haitian influx continues through Tijuana -- With the city’s shelters full, migrant advocates in Tijuana say they are in crisis mode — and calling for more government help in coping with large numbers of Mexicans, Haitians, and others petitioning for entrance to the United States. Sandra Dibble in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/6/16

Health 

Dignity Health Trains Providers to Recognize Trafficking Victims -- In 1992, when Holly Austin Gibbs was 14-years-old, she met a man at a New Jersey shopping mall who convinced her to run away from home. He told her she was pretty enough to be a model, and promised to help her find a glamorous job in Los Angeles. Linda Childers California Health Report -- 9/6/16

Also . . . 

Family finds silver lining in theft of disabled son's floating chair -- A Claremont couple who pleaded for the public’s help after their disabled son’s floating wheelchair was stolen said they found compassion in the local community and plan to pay it forward – starting with the city of Long Beach. Courtney Thompkins in the Orange County Register -- 9/6/16

Beltway 

Here’s what Hillary Clinton told the traveling press corps aboard her campaign plane -- After months of not engaging with the traveling press that follows her across the country, Hillary Clinton ventured to the back of her new campaign plane three times on Monday — once just to say hello and twice to start and complete what resembled a news conference in the air (albeit in cramped quarters and with a television reporter sitting directly in front of her in the aisle). John Wagner in the Washington Post$ -- 9/6/16

Clinton suggests Russia working to elect Trump -- During her first press conference in 275 days, she expresses concern about the intervention of Vladimir Putin's government in the election. Annie Karni Politico -- 9/6/16

Trump agrees to participate in all three presidential debates -- Donald Trump said Monday that he will participate in all three presidential debates, ending lingering questions about whether the GOP presidential nominee would escalate complaints about the debate schedule or moderators. Jose A. DelReal in the Washington Post$ -- 9/6/16

Trump dismisses questions about improper gift to Florida attorney general -- Donald Trump on Monday dismissed questions about his failure to disclose an improper $25,000 contribution in 2013 to a political group connected to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was at the time considering whether to open a fraud investigation against Trump University. Jose A. DelReal and David A. Fahrenthold in the Washington Post$ -- 9/6/16

Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative activist, has died at age 92 -- Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative activist, lawyer and author who is credited with almost single-handedly stopping the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and who helped move the Republican Party toward the right on family and religious issues, died Monday at her home in St. Louis. She was 92. Patricia Sullivan in the Washington Post$ -- 9/6/16

Inside Bill Clinton’s nearly $18 million job as ‘honorary chancellor’ of a for-profit college -- The guest list for a private State Department dinner on higher- education policy was taking shape when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered a suggestion. Rosalind S. Helderman and Michelle Ye Hee Lee in the Washington Post$ -- 9/6/16