Updating . .   

High cost of living forces San Jose State professor to live in car, report says -- An adjunct professor at San Jose State University says the ever-rising cost of living in the Bay Area has made her homeless. Ellen Tara James-Penney told KPIX that despite her full-time job teaching four English classes at the university, she sleeps in her car most nights. Alix Martichoux in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/31/17

How one Sunset couple’s $4,800 rent increase could shatter eviction protections for Bay Area tenants -- A case headed to court this fall could have major ramifications for renters. Lamar Anderson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/31/17

Noe Valley Victorian sells fo r nearly $1 million over the asking price -- Realtor Ken Eggers knew that his new Noe Valley listing would sell for over its asking price when he listed it at $2.295 million in mid-July. But even he did not foresee the four-bedroom, four-bath Victorian selling for close to $1 million over that figure until the first week of the marketing period began. Emily Landes in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/31/17

Google in San Jose: Citizens hold prayer rally to hold company accountable -- Google’s planned downtown campus threatens to worsen San Jose’s housing crisis and homelessness, but it gives the company a chance to strike a blow against both, said participants in a prayer rally on Thursday. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/31/17

Borenstein: Liberals don’t own the First Amendment -- Bigoted speech of ultra-conservatives, even neo-Nazis, is protected, too. Most of us are repulsed by it. But, in a nation premised on free expression, the answer is not silencing political opponents. Daniel Borenstein in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/31/17

California lawmaker's proposal would pave way for supervised drug-injection sites to 'get needles out of the playground' --Legislation authored by Assemblyman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton) would allow eight counties — Alameda, Fresno, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Mendocino, San Francisco, San Joaquin and Santa Cruz — to pilot supervised drug injection centers by 2022. Mina Corpuz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

State help for planned Clippers arena still possible, senator says -- A proposal to fast-track a new arena in Inglewood for the Los Angeles Clippers remains on the table at the Capitol, said the state senator who represents the city. “If it’s needed, we’re definitely going to introduce it,” said Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena). Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

Gov. Jerry Brown will attend economic conference in Russia next week -- After a trip to China in June, he's jetting to Russia next week, his office announced. Brown will speak to international government and business leaders about the need to combat climate change at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/31/17

Trump making it tougher for immigrants to get permanent residency -- The U.S. government has announced measures that will slow down the green card process and make it tougher for tens of thousands of immigrants who came here on work visas, or are fleeing persecution, to obtain permanent residency. Stephen Magagnini in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/31/17

Trump called him 'my African American.' But he condemns the president's treatment of black America -- On the day that changed his life, Gregory Cheadle almost stayed in bed. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

No Reason to Believe Trump Will Change: Sen. Kamala Harris -- Sen. Kamala Harris didn’t mute her criticism of President Donald Trump on Wednesday, one day after Sen. Dianne Feinstein took heat for saying President Trump could become a good president. Marisa Lagos KQED -- 8/31/17

Apple comes out in support of net neutrality -- After a long silence on the issue, Apple defended net neutrality in a letter to the FCC Thursday. Tech giants such as Facebook, Google and Amazon have long expressed their support for the current net neutrality regulations, but Apple had stayed quiet about them. Seung Lee in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/31/17

Behind a $13 shirt, a $6-an-hour worker -- How Forever 21 and other retailers avoid liability for factories that underpay workers to sew their clothes. Natalie Kitroff and Victoria Kim in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

Senate investigators may seek Rohrabacher testimony about his meeting with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange -- CNN reported Thursday that two sources confirmed that the committee members are deciding if they will call on Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) to testify as part of its ongoing investigation into Russian attempts to influence the outcome of the 2016 election and what the Trump campaign might have known. It's one of several congressional investigations into the issue. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

US shutters Russia’s San Francisco consulate in retaliation -- In addition to the San Francisco closure announced Thursday, State Department officials said the U.S. would scale back the Russian diplomatic presence in Washington and New York. Jill Tucker and Sam Whiting in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/31/17

Houston offers a grim vision of Los Angeles after catastrophic earthquake -- For years, scientists have drawn up terrifying scenarios of widespread destruction and chaos that would come to Southern California when a catastrophic earthquake hits. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

Big Sur: A breathtaking, costly isolation -- It takes a lot more effort these days to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Big Sur coastline. The stunning region was slammed by storms last winter resulting in multiple landslides and a bridge failure that have largely isolated the region for six months. Lisa Renner Capitol Weekly -- 8/31/17

Port clean air plan moves too slowly, critics say -- Residents and air regulators are questioning whether the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are moving fast enough to cut emissions from the region’s largest source of air pollution. Emily Guerin KPCC -- 8/31/17

Climate Change Spells Extinction for Pikas of Lake Tahoe -- One of north Lake Tahoe’s cutest residents, the American pika, has disappeared. UC Santa Cruz researchers have discovered an extinction spanning from Tahoe City to Truckee, the largest pika die-off in the modern era. Lesley McClurg KQED -- 8/31/17

Fox: A Late Bargaining Chip and Other Capitol Thoughts -- History is not on the side of Assembly Republicans who want to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to protect the two-thirds vote for special taxes following the California Supreme Court case announced this week that may have eviscerated that taxpayer protection. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 8/31/17

Wells Fargo says 3.5 million accounts involved in scandal -- The scope of Wells Fargo's fake accounts scandal grew significantly on Thursday, with the bank now saying that 3.5 million accounts were potentially opened without customers' permission between 2009 and 2016. Ken Sweet Associated Press George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/31/17

North Bay man nabbed in hit-run death of UC Berkeley lawyer -- A man with a history of public drunkenness and vandalism in the small North Bay community of Monte Rio has been arrested in the weekend hit-and-run death of UC Berkeley’s top attorney, officials said Thursday. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/31/17

Man wanted for deportation allegedly kills girlfriend, exposing complex debate -- When Santa Rosa police officers jailed a man in early August for allegedly abusing his girlfriend, they worried the violence might escalate and obtained an emergency order barring him from contacting the woman. Hamed Aleaziz in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/31/17

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning   

Sen. Kamala Harris plans to back Medicare-for-all legislation -- The freshman Democratic senator from California has previously said she supports the concept of universal healthcare, but this is the first time she has explicitly said she would join Sanders when he files the bill. The House version of the measure, sponsored by Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), has 117 sponsors, including 27 California Democratic House members. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ Carla Marinucci Politico Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/31/17

Eight California Republicans voted against Sandy aid. It’s not clear what they’ll do about Harvey -- The Trump administration is expected to ask Congress for billions of dollars to address the disaster caused by Hurricane Harvey in Texas. But after congressional Republicans' extremely public fight over an aid package for 2012’s Superstorm Sandy, attention is turning to GOP members who voted against it. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

Governor, Legislative Democrats At Odds Over Inclusionary Housing For Rental Units -- Although Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic legislative leaders have reached agreement on three key bills that seek to reduce California’s high housing costs, they’re still working to flesh out the rest of the package. Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 8/31/17

Skelton: Thanks to effective legislating, California lawmakers may soon pass affordable housing bills -- Democrats are about to achieve one of their top priorities for this legislative session: passing bills to confront California’s affordable housing shortage. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

Here we go again: California does the Taxes Two-Step -- At this point, it’s practically a California tradition. First, state judges find a loophole in California’s constitutional bulwark against new, higher taxes. Then conservative legislators and anti-tax activists rush in to patch the hole with a new ballot proposition. Ben Christopher Calmatters.org -- 8/31/17

California legislative leaders pitch big spending for water and parks improvements for the 2018 ballot -- Rendon and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) said they’re negotiating details of a measure that, if approved by voters next year, would spend billions to build and maintain parks and water infrastructure. Gov. Jerry Brown also has agreed to support a water and parks bond. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ Daniel Potter Capital Public Radio -- 8/31/17

Walters: State Supreme Court has made it easier to raise taxes, or did it? -- The state Supreme Court this week issued a much-anticipated ruling that will make it much easier for local tax increases to be enacted. Or maybe not. Dan Walters Calmatters.org -- 8/31/17

California considers an electric future without fossil fuels -- California lawmakers are considering a future without the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity, a step that would boost the renewable energy industry and expand the scope of the state’s battle against global warming. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

AP Exclusive: California taxpayers fund legislative mailings -- California Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez sent more than 200,000 pieces of mail to constituents last winter. One letter invited women to self-defense classes, another highlighted a bird-watching event, and a third promoted a tree adoption day. Sophia Bollag Associated Press -- 8/31/17

A look at who spends the most on mail in California Assembly -- California Assembly members spent $3.2 million in taxpayer money last year sending out mail to their constituents. It's supposed to be "non-campaign," but records show the top spenders are often in competitive districts. Associated Press -- 8/31/17

Gavin Newsom says California's next governor must do more than build upon Gov. Jerry Brown’s legacy -- Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that California’s next governor must do more than simply build upon Gov. Jerry Brown’s legacy because of the massive economic transformation and uncertainty the state will face in coming years. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

Feinstein’s kind words about Trump anger Democrats -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s rare kind words for President Trump have Democrats in an uproar and left her scrambling Wednesday to explain that she really didn’t mean it when she told a San Francisco audience Trump still “can be a good president.” John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/31/17

Dianne Feinstein thinks Trump ‘can be a good president,’ angering a top Democrat -- While much of California’s Democratic establishment is resisting Donald Trump at every turn, the state’s senior U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein is urging “patience.” Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/31/17

Some California Counties Racing To Adopt "All Vote-By-Mail" Process -- Sacramento and four other California counties are preparing for an overhaul of how they conduct elections, before voters head to the polls next year. Polls actually won't exist in Sacramento, Napa, San Mateo, and Nevada counties. Instead, every registered voter will receive a mail-in ballot, which they can send in or drop-off, or they can head to any of their county's new voting centers, which will replace precinct-level polling sites. Ben Bradford Capital Public Radio -- 8/31/17

Sacramento sheriff’s deputy killed in hotel shootout. Two CHP officers shot, hospitalized -- A search for car-theft suspects in an Auburn Boulevard Ramada Inn on Wednesday turned into a violent shootout that left a veteran Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy dead and two California Highway Patrol officers wounded. Deputy Robert French, 52, died on the way to the hospital, Sheriff Scott Jones said. He was a 21-year veteran of the department and worked as a training officer with the north area patrol unit. Cathy Locke, Anita Chabria, Hudson Sangree and Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/31/17

Orange County money manager asks Trump to pardon 'junk bond king' Michael Milken -- In a letter sent to Trump this week, David Bahnsen argued that Milken did not commit any crime worthy of prosecution or prison time and that history has been kinder to junk bonds — now a staple of corporate finance — than to the man who pioneered their use. James Rufus Koren in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

San Francisco asks judge to permanently block effort to cut sanctuary cities’ funds -- San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed a motion on Wednesday urging a federal judge to declare the Trump administration’s efforts to cut off funding for sanctuary jurisdictions unconstitutional. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/31/17

California Wins Fossil Fuel Lawsuit Against Trump Administration -- California has won the first lawsuit it filed against the Trump administration—without going to trial. A federal judge issued summary judgment Wednesday that the Department of the Interior has illegally suspended an Obama-era rule that could increase costs for the coal industry, but the court won't require the rule's restoration. Ben Bradford Capital Public Radio -- 8/31/17

L.A. City Council replaces Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day on city calendar -- The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to eliminate Columbus Day from the city calendar, siding with activists who view the explorer as a symbol of genocide for native peoples in North America and elsewhere. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ Elizabeth Chou in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 8/31/17

Revamped bill deems driving into a group of protesters an act of domestic terrorism -- A measure by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) would consider the act an infringement on free speech and assembly. Although it is already illegal to use a vehicle as a weapon, Lara said attacks against peaceful protesters need to be treated differently. Mina Corpuz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

Water Agency Says Oroville Dam ‘Green Spot’ Poses No Threat -- The state Department of Water Resources has released a report on the Oroville Dam’s “green spot,” declaring the extensive area of persistent moisture on the face of the dam is due to seasonally trapped rainfall and poses no threat to the dam’s integrity. Dan Brekke KQED -- 8/31/17

Nunes sends email to voters asking ‘where do you get your news?’ -- Congressman Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, wants to know where his constituents get their news. He emailed an eight-question survey on Friday. The purpose of the survey was not specifically stated but said that Nunes’ “office is collecting information related to constituents of California’s 22nd Congressional District.” Lewis Griswold in the Fresno Bee -- 8/31/17

Former Compton Mayor Omar Bradley sentenced to 36 months' probation for misappropriating public funds -- Late last month, Bradley was convicted for the second time on two counts of misappropriating public funds. His first conviction, returned in February 2004, was thrown out by a state appellate court in 2012. Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

Boycott closes O’mei, Santa Cruz owner Roger Grigsby defends David Duke donations -- A long-time Westside Chinese food restaurant has shuttered, perhaps permanently, in the face of a boycott and heated online backlash against the owner’s 2016 political donations. Jessica A. York in the Santa Cruz Sentinel -- 8/31/17

How ‘Doxxing’ Became a Mainstream Tool in the Culture Wars -- Identifying extremist activists and revealing their personal information has become a bit of a sport on the internet. Some worry about mistakes and the permanent stigma of online shaming. Nellie Bowles in the New York Times $ -- 8/31/17

CONTEST: Can YOU name the people on the Top 100 Cover? -- Just who are all those people on the cover of Capitol Weekly’s 2017 Top 100 Book? We’re having a contest to see if anyone can name all 59 of the Californians on the cover. The winner will receive a $150 gift certificate to Frank Fat’s! Capitol Weekly -- 8/31/17

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

Ski resorts and others worry the Trump administration may cut visa workers program -- The Trump administration is considering overhauling a program that allows foreign college students to work temporarily in the United States, sparking panic among operators of ski resorts and concessions at state and national parks who rely heavily on such seasonal help. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

White House stops plan for companies to report worker pay by race and gender -- The White House has halted an Obama administration rule that would require businesses to report worker pay data by gender, race and ethnic groups in hopes of narrowing wage gaps among workers. James F. Peltz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

Local leaders oppose state law that could turn utility poles into cell phone towers -- The legislation, Senate Bill 649, aims to streamline bureaucratic processes for telecommunications giants, such as Verizon and AT&T, by stripping local governments of their ability to impose conditions — aesthetic or otherwise — on “small-cell” wireless transmitters, a relatively new development intended to enable the next generation of wireless (5G) networks, an as-yet unproven technology. Courtney Tompkins in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 8/31/17

Buzz Kill for Pot Farmers: Lower Prices -- From Washington to Colorado, wholesale cannabis prices have tumbled as dozens of states legalized the drug for recreational and medicinal uses, seeding a boom in marijuana production. Jacob Bunge in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 8/31/17

Disney's ABC Television Group is said to be preparing for layoffs -- Walt Disney Co.’s ABC Television Group plans to make substantial jobs cuts, including at the broadcast network’s Burbank headquarters, in an effort to reduce costs at a time when traditional TV networks face huge challenges. Meg James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

Possible star-studded telethon next month for Hurricane Harvey relief -- Los Angeles might play host to part of a star-studded telethon next month to raise money for relief efforts in hurricane-ravaged Texas. Houston rapper Bun B told the website TMZ.com he is working to plan a Sept. 12 three-city event that would be nationally televised. The event would be hosted in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 8/31/17

July Home Prices Rise To 10 Year High -- Home prices in the Sacramento region are the highest they've been in about a decade. Research firm CoreLogic says Sacramento County's median sales price in July was $344,000. Steve Milne Capital Public Radio -- 8/31/17

LA police unions slam hate groups’ use of ‘thin blue line’ symbols -- Police unions are calling out attempts to hijack the phrase and symbol “thin blue line” for hate and intolerance. The Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) in a statement on Monday joined with the United Coalition of Public Safety (UCOPS) to denounce extremists. Wes Woods in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 8/31/17

What Salary Is Needed To Buy A Home In San Diego? -- Prospective buyers needed nearly $117,000 in salary to purchase a home in San Diego during the second quarter of this year, according to a study released Wednesday by the mortgage information firm HSH.com. KPBS -- 8/31/17

This survey found the gap in pay between men and women tech workers in LA is growing -- Women in the Los Angeles area are out-earning men in several key industries, but their pay in computer and math-related occupations still lags, according to a report released this week. Kevin Smith in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 8/31/17

Housing  

How affordable housing in LA reinforces economic segregation -- They’re clustered in Downtown Los Angeles. They follow the 110 through South L.A., appearing on vacant lots, and in previously industrial areas. A cluster surrounds MacArthur Park. Some sit inconspicuously under solar panels and pretty facades in ritzier neighborhoods. But mostly, KPCC found, publicly-funded affordable housing developments in Los Angeles County have overwhelmingly been built in L.A.’s very poorest neighborhoods. Rina Palta with Aaron Mendelson KPCC -- 8/31/17

LA construction firms can’t find enough skilled workers amid too much demand for fixing up homes, granny flats -- Construction firms are grappling with a shortage of workers, and contractors in California and other western states are among the hardest hit. Kevin Smith in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 8/31/17

Finding starter homes a tall order in the Bay Area -- The Bay Area housing shortage showed no signs of abating in July, as the number of homes sold fell by 17.3 percent from June and by 2.6 percent from July of last year, according to a CoreLogic report released Wednesday. Kathleen Pender in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/31/17

Wildfire  

Yosemite’s south entrance closed because of wildfire -- The Railroad Fire, which ignited Tuesday afternoon north of Oakhurst, had charred 1,200 acres of foothills in and around the Sierra National Forest as of Wednesday evening, according to the U.S. Forest Service. High temperatures and strong winds were expected to fuel further growth, officials said. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/31/17

Education 

In one year, head of small school district in Lawndale made $663,000. Now he's facing a dozen public corruption charges -- During his nearly five years heading the tiny Centinela Valley Union High School District, prosecutors say, Jose A. Fernandez devised policies to dramatically pad his salary and retirement benefits. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

Legal clinic to help immigrant CSUN students opens for work -- The one-year pilot program will provide pro bono legal services to CSUN students and will be held two days a week in a handful of study rooms on the library’s second floor. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 8/31/17

'Black Minds Matter' under fire from conservative group -- A coalition of conservatives and some civil rights activists is calling on San Diego State University to withdrawal its support of a doctoral class inspired by Black Lives Matter. Gary Warth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

Santa Rosa teachers protest at Wednesday school board meeting -- Santa Rosa City Schools and a labor group representing the district’s teachers have been at a prolonged standoff over employee compensation. Nearly 1,000 teachers have been working for 14 months without a contract, according to the Santa Rosa Teachers Association. Eloísa Ruano González in the Santa Rosa Press -- 8/31/17

Trump wants to cut college work study amid calls to boost job aid to public campuses -- Whittier College junior Iyesha Ferguson learned the advantages of a federally subsidized work-study job — especially compared to dishing out pizza off-campus. Larry Gordon and Mikhail Zinshteyn Edsource -- 8/31/17

Immigration / Border 

L.A. immigrant detained while taking his daughters to school is released -- The call they had been waiting for came just before the sun set on a blazing day. Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez told his wife, Norma, that he was finally getting out of the immigration detention facility. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ Brenda Gazzar in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 8/31/17

‘Dreamers’ took a big risk by registering with the government. Now, their trust may lead to their deportation -- About 800,000 young immigrants could lose their jobs and be rounded up by police and deported to countries where their lives are at risk — and which are foreign to them — if the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is allowed to lapse. Vivek Wadhwa in the Washington Post$ -- 8/31/17

Health 

Is Sacramento County's New Mental Health Treatment Approach Working? -- Turning Point is a crisis residential program, created by Sacramento County to alleviate a decade-long shortage in mental health services. It offers people who are coming down from suicide attempts, panic attacks and other serious mental health episodes a safe place to stay for 30 days. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 8/31/17

Environment 

Climate Change Activists Not Deterred by California's Industry-Friendly Law -- Environmentalists say that despite the fact that Big Oil got almost everything it wanted in California's cap-and-trade extension, local caps on refinery emissions are still doable. Will Parrish East Bay Express -- 8/31/17

Also . . . 

Bakersfield woman, mistaken for male suspect, files excessive force claim against police -- Tatyana Hargrove was arrested on June 18 after Bakersfield police stopped her because she matched the description of a suspect who was armed with a machete and had visited a grocery store. During the stop, Hargrove claimed, she was beaten by officers and attacked by a police dog. Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

LA County’s rainbow-colored lifeguard tower could lose its gay-pride stripes -- A Venice Beach lifeguard tower wrapped in the rainbow colors of the gay pride flag could be repainted to its original iconic blue, unless the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors votes next week to save it. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 8/31/17

Flame-throwing chopsticks crown giant Burning Man takeout box -- If Burning Man already has its own gated, air-conditioned yurt enclaves for the rich techie elite, it was only a matter of time before it began offering takeout. This week, Catmandu Culinary Institute opened a giant Chinese takeout container on the playa. It comes equipped with oversized chopsticks that shoot fire to alert playa partiers that its food is ready. Mike Moffitt in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/31/17

Syd Silverman, longtime Variety publisher, dies at 85 -- Syd Silverman, the last in a line of family members who steered the Hollywood trade publications Variety and Daily Variety from the days of vaudeville to the era of mega-budget cinema, has died at 85. Steve Marble in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

How A Kid’s Summer Job In San Diego Brought Joy To Alzheimer’s Patients -- Kids heading back to school this week are probably telling their friends about what they did over their summer break. Many probably took vacations or camping trips. But one San Diego boy will have a unique story to tell — his summer volunteering with seniors. Katie Schoolov KPBS -- 8/31/17

Hurricane Harvey: Anonymous donor pledges $1 million to match San Diegans' donations -- An anonymous businessman who said he wanted to help Hurricane Harvey victims in a “very significant way” is pledging to match the money donated by San Diegans up to $1 million. Local American Red Cross officials, who called the gift “incredible and generous,” said the charitable organization got the news Monday night from KFMB TV, after the news organization got a call from the donor’s attorney saying the wealthy man wanted to help. Debbi Baker in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 8/31/17

POTUS 45  

Trump launches push for tax overhaul with populist speech devoid of details -- In a speech heavy on populism but almost devoid of specifics, President Trump on Wednesday launched what the White House said will be an aggressive push for a tax code overhaul centered on slashing the rate paid by companies. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/31/17

The reality beneath Trump's tax reform talk -- President Donald Trump’s tax plans hardly match his populist rhetoric. Though he sold his plan to rewrite the tax code as a boon to the average American worker in a speech Wednesday, he mostly focused on the taxes paid by America’s largest corporations. Brian Faler Politico -- 8/31/17

Trump order cramps rebuilding stronger against floods -- Two weeks before Harvey’s flood waters engulfed much of Houston, President Donald Trump quietly rolled back an order by his predecessor that would have made it easier for storm-ravaged communities to use federal emergency aid to rebuild bridges, roads and other structures so they can better withstand future disasters. Michael Biesecker and Joan Lowy Associated Press -- 8/31/17

Trump fudges the numbers to promote his GDP growth -- There is little doubt that the economy continues to strengthen under President Trump. But yet another misleading argument is emerging from him and his supporters in an effort to pump up his successes. Aaron Blake in the Washington Post$ -- 8/31/17

Trump calls senator investigating his son’s Russia contacts about ...ethanol -- President Trump called the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee to talk about one of his most important parochial issues — ethanol — shortly before the committee is slated to interview his son in its ongoing Russia probe. Karoun Demirjian and Philip Rucker in the Washington Post$ -- 8/31/17

Beltway 

Mueller teams up with New York attorney general in Manafort probe -- Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team is working with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on its investigation into Paul Manafort and his financial transactions, according to several people familiar with the matter. Josh Dawsey Politico -- 8/31/17

Dems' 2020 dilemma: Familiar 70-somethings vs. neophyte no-names -- Old but well-known vs. fresh but anonymous: That’s how the 2020 Democratic presidential field is shaping up so far — and it’s causing anxiety within a party starting to acknowledge that President Donald Trump could be harder to beat for reelection than the base would like to admit. Edward-Isaac Dovere Politico -- 8/31/17

 

-- Wednesday Updates 

Sacramento sheriff’s deputy killed in hotel shootout. Two CHP officers shot, hospitalized -- Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert French died Wednesday in a shootout at an Auburn Boulevard hotel, Sheriff Scott Jones said this afternoon. French, 52, died on the way to the hospital, Jones said. He was a 21-year veteran of the department and worked as a training officer with the north area patrol unit. Cathy Locke, Anita Chabria and Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/30/17

Ousted leader’s advice to fellow Republicans: Stop ‘repelling’ Californians -- Days after losing his position as leader of Assembly Republicans, Chad Mayes was entertaining lobbyists and lawmakers at a bar near the state Capitol, raising money for his re-election with a live video message from Arnold Schwarzenegger. Laurel Rosenhal Calmatters.org -- 8/30/17

Assembly Republicans want to close 'loophole' for local tax proposals written by citizen groups -- The announcement comes on the heels of a California Supreme Court ruling on Monday that local ballot initiatives imposing new taxes for specific purposes may need only a simple majority of voters to approve. Mina Corpuz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/17

Think Harvey-like flooding couldn’t happen to Sacramento? Think again -- Taxpayers have spent billions of dollars on dams, levees and bypasses to keep Sacramento and other Central Valley towns and cities from flooding, but experts say the infrastructure would prove no match for a megastorm like the one that pummeled Houston this week. Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/30/17

Eric Garcetti won’t rule out run for California governor -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who is stirring the 2020 presidential rumor mill with recent trips to New Hampshire and Wisconsin, declined Wednesday to rule out a run next year for California governor. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/30/17

California Senate leader Kevin de León fires back at Sen. Dianne Feinstein's call for 'patience' with Trump -- The leader of California's state Senate on Wednesday sharply criticized a call from Sen. Dianne Feinstein for "patience" with President Trump, suggesting it was tantamount to being "complicit" in his behavior. John Myers and Mina Corpuz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/17

After 24 years, wealthy inventor gets his day in tax court – and wins -- A California tax board slashed millions of dollars in taxes and penalties that a wealthy computer chip inventor faced after state tax collectors accused him of fabricating a move to Nevada just as he started to cash in on a lucrative patent he obtained in 1990. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/30/17

Legislator proposes putting local races ahead of presidential elections on California ballot to boost participation -- Concerned about low voter participation in local elections, state Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada-Flintridge) proposed Wednesday that the order of future ballots be flipped so that local contests would be first and presidential or gubernatorial races would be last. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/17

Crackdown on H-1B visas leaves lowest-paid applicants hanging -- The changes are consistent with the Trump administration’s desire to curtail lower-paid foreigners from coming into the country, and constitute a significant shakeup to the H-1B program that many Silicon Valley companies rely on to staff technical positions. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/30/17

‘Sanctuary’ cities: Santa Clara County seeks to permanently nix Trump’s defunding order -- On the heels of legal victories last month, Santa Clara will on Wednesday ask a federal court to declare unconstitutional and permanently ban enforcement of an executive order de-funding “sanctuary” jurisdictions. Eric Kurhi in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/30/17

Fox: SB 2’s Tax Hurdle -- Senator Toni Atkins’ Senate Bill 2 is focused on one of the gnawing problems eating away at California’s people and economy—affordable housing. Yet, the bill is struggling to gain the necessary two-thirds vote. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 8/30/17

Growing wildfire east of Lake Oroville destroys 10 homes; 1,500 people told to flee -- The Ponderosa fire erupted just after 1:15 p.m. Tuesday in a wooded and rugged area about two miles northwest of Forbestown, 21 miles east of Oroville, said Mary Ann Aldrich, spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in Butte County. Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ Laura Sussman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/30/17

At least 100 structures threatened by Railroad Fire near Yosemite, as Highway 41 remains closed -- A raging inferno that started a short distance south from Yosemite National Park, forcing the evacuation of Fish Camp including at Tenaya Lodge, was at 920 acres and 5% contained Wednesday morning. Mark Evan Smith in the Fresno Bee -- 8/30/17

Lawyers in East Bay corruption case see racial profiling in FBI stings -- The attorneys for two Oakland contractors charged with bid rigging in an offshoot of the FBI investigations that netted former state Sen. Leland Yee and Chinatown gangster Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow are accusing the FBI of conducting a decadelong campaign to entrap African Americans in and out of office in crimes that the agency itself created. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/30/17

Dole, the world’s largest fresh fruit and vegetable company, is stepping back from Southland -- Dole Food Co. is planning to sell its sprawling corporate headquarters and uproot its strawberry operations in Southern California as it seeks to sweeten its books ahead of yet another public stock offering. Geoffrey Mohan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/17

Martins Beach: Key vote could force tech billionaire Vinod Khosla to sell public route to beach he closed -- The battle over opening Martins Beach to the public will face a key test this week as lawmakers in Sacramento decide the fate of a bill that could clear the way for the state to purchase a public route through the property from tech billionaire Vinod Khosla. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/30/17

Lopez: Hey President Trump, leave the San Gabriel Mountains alone -- When the temperature hits 100 degrees in Southern California, lots of people think beach. On Tuesday morning, as the asphalt began to cook under a stubborn late-August sun, I went north, instead. To the mountains. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/17

Many L.A. students get to college; only a few finish -- A study released Wednesday put an exclamation point on something that Los Angeles Unified School District officials already have acknowledged: too few of their graduates — about one in four — are earning a college degree. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/17