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Mayor Ed Lee escorted to San Francisco City Hall for the last time -- A black hearse escorted by police on motorcycles slowly made its way from a Daly City mortuary to San Francisco City Hall, carrying the body of Mayor Ed Lee before dawn Friday morning. Sophie Haigney in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/15/17

Concerns raised over Breed serving as both San Francisco mayor, supervisor -- Breed, who is also the board’s president, was long seen as a contender to succeed Ed Lee in 2019. Lee’s unexpected death Tuesday vaulted her into the city’s top office, and if she can keep the high-profile job, she’ll have a big advantage in the June 5 election to finish the rest of his term. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/15/17

California firefighter’s December death underscores Cal Fire’s ‘new normal’ -- Thursday’s death of a state firefighter battling a December blaze in Ventura County underscored a stark message from this year’s devastating fires: There is no end to fire season in California anymore. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ Karen Kucher and Teri Figueroa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Thomas fire rages amid longest red flag warning on record -- As crews battling the deadly Thomas fire girded for a difficult weekend of firefighting, Los Angeles and Ventura counties ended their 12th consecutive day of red flag fire warnings Friday — the longest sustained period of fire weather warnings on record. Joseph Serna, Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Abcarian: In Northern California, forgotten victims of the wildfires struggle to regain their footing -- Claudia and Francisco Alvarez had what they thought was a perfect situation in the mountains west of Calistoga in Napa County. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Capitol misconduct accusations gather momentum -- The seemingly endless series of sexual harassment accusations swirling through the Capitol carries implications beyond the fates of individual lawmakers. The political fallout from all of it might endanger the Democrats’ supermajority and reverse the Legislature’s recent surge in approval among California voters. Chuck McFadden Capitol Weekly -- 12/15/17

Politifact CA: Travis Allen’s Mostly False claim on the California gas tax -- Top Republicans in California have strongly opposed the state’s gas tax increase, saying it’s a costly burden on drivers. Orange County Assemblyman Travis Allen is a GOP candidate for governor and a leading critic of the 12 cent per gallon tax hike. Chris Nichols Politifact CA -- 12/15/17

Fox: Who Else Might Jump into Big Statewide Races? -- We pretty much know the fields in the big races in California next year for governor and the U.S. Senate—or do we? Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 12/15/17

Stem cell agency nears $5 billion ballot plan -- Directors of the California stem cell agency on Thursday virtually endorsed a plan to stave off its financial death, pinning their hopes on a possible $5 billion bond measure and a private fundraising effort to bring in an additional $222 million. David Jensen Capitol Weekly -- 12/15/17

Sacramento airport will get nearly one-third of power from solar farm -- Sacramento International Airport this week announced it has opened two solar array fields on airport grounds that will produce an estimated 30 percent of the power needed to run the facility. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/15/17

It's official: Bob Hope Airport is now Hollywood Burbank Airport -- Thanks for the memories. The airport on North Hollywood Way in Burbank has officially rebranded itself the Hollywood Burbank Airport, putting an end to the former title that paid tribute to the comedian and showman Bob Hope. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

With the rise of SpaceX and Rams stadium, Hawthorne's industrial areas are becoming hip -- The rise of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, more-affordable rents and the lure of Inglewood’s future pro football stadium are combining to transform Hawthorne’s reputation as a nose-down industrial city to something, well, cool. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Lazarus: Drug industry lawsuit shows it wants to keep patients in dark on pricing -- The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the industry’s main lobbying group, filed a lawsuit the other day seeking to derail a California law that will require 60 days’ notice before drugmakers raise prices beyond a certain threshold. The law, SB 17, is set to take effect Jan. 1. David Lazarus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Judge's ruling backs Laguna Beach student suspended over watermelon thrown at black classmate's home -- An Orange County judge this week told the Laguna Beach Unified School District that it must comply immediately with an earlier order to remove a suspension from the record of a student who was disciplined in connection with a racially charged episode in which a watermelon was thrown at the home of a black classmate. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

GOP wins Rubio’s and Corker’s votes on tax bill after last-minute changes -- Republicans plan to pass the tax overhaul next week and send it to Trump’s desk. Seung Min Kim and Colin Wilhelm Politico -- 12/15/17

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

For a prominent California consumer group and savvy political consultants, documents reveal a close financial relationship -- If there’s a clear mantra for Consumer Watchdog, one of California’s most visible and vocal advocacy groups, it’s that hidden financial relationships shouldn’t shape politics and public policy. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Kamala Harris says Trump should resign -- Kamala Harris on Thursday called for President Donald Trump to resign over accusations of sexual harassment and assault, becoming the seventh senator to publicly call for Trump’s resignation. David Siders and Carla Marinucci Politico -- 12/15/17

Gov. Brown met with Edison over San Onofre costs, weeks before Warsaw pact -- As the failed San Onofre nuclear plant north of Oceanside drained resources from the utility company that owns it, Edison International CEO Ted Craver was hoping for speedy relief from the California Public Utilities Commission. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/15/17

Sen. Tony Mendoza refuses to take a leave of absence amid harassment probe -- Defying pressure from legislative leadership, state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) refused Thursday to take a leave of absence until an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against him is concluded early next year. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 12/15/17

Three more women accuse California assemblyman of sexual misconduct -- A Los Angeles woman has filed a police report alleging Democratic Assemblyman Matt Dababneh had sex with her without consent four years ago, adding new allegations of sexual misconduct to those that led the politician to announce his resignation last week. He says her claims are false. Melanie Mason, Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Sen. Bob Hertzberg will cooperate with investigation into unwanted hugs -- State Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles) said Thursday he will cooperate with a state investigation into complaints from a former legislator that she was uncomfortable with his repeated hugs after she asked him not to touch her. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Regional director resigns from California Democratic Party amid sexual misconduct claims -- A regional director with the California Democratic Party submitted his resignation on Thursday, nearly two weeks after a 23-year-old woman reported that he sexually assaulted her last year, spurring party leaders to seek his ouster. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Rep. Maxine Waters asks Justice Department to investigate fake letter tweeted by Republican opponent -- Rep. Maxine Waters is asking the Justice Department to look into a fake letter posted to Twitter by her Republican challenger that falsely indicated the congresswoman wants to resettle tens of thousand of refugees in her Los Angeles district. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Judge orders Derick Almena, Max Harris to trial for Ghost Ship deaths -- Two men will face trial on 36 counts each of involuntary manslaughter in the Ghost Ship fire after an Alameda County Superior Court judge determined Thursday that there was sufficient evidence in the case. Jenna Lyons in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/15/17

Covered California extends deadline to enroll in health plans to take effect Jan. 1 -- Covered California is extending its deadline to Dec. 22 to enroll in health plans that take effect Jan. 1, the agency announced Thursday. The deadline had previously been Friday. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/15/17

You’re paying for America’s smoothest roads. Can you tell? -- California’s newly paved roads are built to standards of smoothness that are the strictest in the country. With that standard comes high costs that have surprised contractors, who are fighting for reimbursement and bitterly condemning a level of smooth they say no driver would ever notice. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/15/17

Federal judge in San Francisco under investigation over sexual misconduct allegations -- Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Sidney Thomas issued an order launching an inquiry into judicial misconduct by Judge Alex Kozinski, citing sexual misconduct allegations against him first reported in a Washington Post article published Dec. 8. Annie Ma in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/15/17

San Francisco City Hall prepares for Ed Lee’s memorial -- The body of Lee, who died Tuesday of a heart attack, will be brought up the Polk Street steps and into the City Hall rotunda at 7 a.m. Friday. Mourners will come in on the Polk Street side and file past the closed casket from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. An honor guard will try to keep the line of people moving. Mourners will be invited to sign a book of remembrance. Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/15/17

Wildfire  

Nearly 100 firefighters and a water-dropping helicopter tackle brush fire near Occidental College -- Nealry a hundred Los Angeles firefighters, along with a water-dropping helicopter, swarmed a brush fire late Thursday in the hilly terrain above Occidental College in Eagle Rock. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Firefighter killed battling SoCal Thomas Fire; red flag warning for Bay Area -- High winds, dry skies and red flag conditions are heading for the Bay Area, the same weather that has plagued crews in Southern California, where a firefighter was killed on Thursday battling the relentless Thomas Fire. Forecasters say hardly a drop of rain is on the horizon. Sarah Ravani and Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/15/17

California will set more fires to try to stop wildfires -- California's seemingly endless cycle of wildfires is prompting authorities to make plans to set more "controlled burns" to thin forests choked with dead trees and withered underbrush that serves as kindling to feed monster blazes that force entire communities to flee, destroy homes and take lives. Christopher Weber Associated Press -- 12/15/17

California adopts sweeping new fire safety rules for utilities -- With wildfires raging in Southern California, state regulators on Thursday adopted new, tougher fire-safety rules for utility companies, regulations that have been in development for years. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/15/17

How a drone helped LA firefighters battle the Skirball fire -- When Los Angeles city firefighters battled the Skirball and Creek fires last week, they used a drone, for the first time, to help them assess damage and find hot spots. Robert Garrova KPCC -- 12/15/17

L.A. County animal control confirms investigation into death of 29 horses in Creek fire -- Animal care officials confirmed Thursday that they are investigating the death of 29 horses at a Sylmar ranch during the fast-moving Creek fire last week. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds 

Why Wall Street gets a cut of your power bill -- ric Hildebrandt first raised the red flag in an annual report written in 2015 for his bosses overseeing California’s electricity market. He raised the same issue in a 2016 report. And he is raising it again in a recently released 2017 report. Ivan Penn in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Tweaks to tax plan would help some Californians as bill heads for a vote -- House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Thursday he had secured three changes in the $1.5 trillion tax bill that would help California as Republicans worked on last-minute revisions to the legislation scheduled for final votes in the Senate and House next week. Carolyn Lochhead in the Washington Post$ -- 12/15/17

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

California Lawmakers Vow to Fight ‘Net Neutrality’ Rollback -- State Sen. Scott Wiener said he plans to introduce legislation early next year to create California’s own ‘net neutrality’ rules after the Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to dismantle the Obama-era regulations passed in 2015. Devin Katayama KQED -- 12/15/17

Trump administration publishes plan to halt work permits for H-1B spouses -- This confirms a report by The Chronicle last month that said the administration intended to overturn a 2015 rule that allowed the government to grant work permits to spouses of H-1B holders. Thousands of foreigners currently in the United States already have the permits. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/15/17

Coastal Commission tells Laguna Beach to loosen up on Airbnb -- The California Coastal Commission on Thursday rejected a ban on Airbnb-style short-term rentals in residential areas of Laguna Beach. The decision comes as cities up and down the coast are struggling with how to balance residents' concerns about short-term rentals with cities' obligation to share the coast with visitors. Jill Replogle KPCC -- 12/15/17

Central Coast Farmworkers Worked Through Thomas Fire Without Health Protections -- More than 100,000 people have been evacuated from the Thomas Fire burning in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. But workers in the area’s agricultural fields stayed on the job, breathing in smoke and ash as they picked strawberry and celery crops. Greta Mart KQED -- 12/15/17

Health risks to farmworkers increase as workforce ages -- That bag of frozen cauliflower sitting inside your freezer likely sprang to life in a vast field north of Salinas, Calif. A crew of men and women here use a machine to drop seedlings into the black soil. Another group follows behind, stooped over, tapping each new plant. Sarah Varney in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Colonies Partners seeks more than $45 million in damages from San Bernardino County for failed prosecution, litigation -- An attorney for Rancho Cucamonga investor group and developer Colonies Partners LP filed a claim Thursday against San Bernardino County seeking more than $45 million in damages, alleging the county failed to indemnify Colonies in two legal actions. Joe Nelson in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 12/15/17

Companies fined in Oakland accident that sent 13 workers plunging into fresh concrete -- California workplace safety regulators fined three contractors nearly $150,000 for their role in a harrowing construction accident in Oakland in which 13 workers tumbled two stories into freshly poured concrete, agency officials said Thursday. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/15/17

Guns 

Audit finds inconsistencies in how Sacramento County handles concealed carry permits -- None of the three California county sheriff’s offices audited by the state, including the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, consistently followed their own department polices when issuing concealed carry weapon permits, the California State Auditor’s Office found. Nashelly Chavez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/15/17

Audit: San Diego County Sheriff's Department can improve concealed weapon licensing process -- The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department hasn’t always followed its own policies when processing applications to carry concealed weapons, and it has renewed some licenses inappropriately, according to a new report by State Auditor Elaine M. Howle. Morgan Cook in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/15/17

L.A. County sheriff’s office failed to follow policy for issuing concealed weapon permits, audit says -- The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has repeatedly failed to follow its own rules for issuing concealed weapon permits, the state auditor concluded in a report released Thursday. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Homeless  

Crime-fighting robot retired after launching alleged ‘war on the homeless’ -- The only difference was that he was a slow-moving, 400-pound robot with a penchant for snapping hundreds of photos a minute without people’s permission, and this was San Francisco’s Mission District in 2017. What could go wrong? Quite a bit, as it turns out. Peter Holley in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/15/17

Housing  

Housing crunch hits new extreme: even big-spenders can’t find homes -- Silicon Valley is experiencing a new shortage of high-end homes, according to a recent report, demonstrating that the availability crisis is finally affecting wealthy homebuyers who had, until now, largely been shielded from the effects of a plunging inventory supply. Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/15/17

Education 

Female UC Berkeley student was raped by male student, police say -- The woman and the man left a party together and then went to the man’s room in Unit 3 Housing on UC Berkeley’s campus, police said Thursday in an advisory email. “Despite the victim telling the suspect that she did not want to have sex, he sexually assaulted her,” the email read. “A rape did occur,” said Sgt. Sabrina Reich, a spokeswoman for UC Berkeley Police. Reich said that the woman first reported the rape to police in November. Sophie Haigney in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/15/17

Oakland Unified to Cut $9 Million Despite Protests From Students -- The Oakland Unified School District is chopping $9 million from its budget in a move that will hit the district’s more than 36,000 students midyear. The school board approved the budget cuts Wednesday night in a 6-1 vote, in an effort to correct years of overspending and a growing deficit. Farida Jhabvala Romero KQED -- 12/15/17

After wildfires destroyed their homes, students find healing help at school -- With wildfires still raging across parts of Southern California, dozens of schools have been closed. Many will stay that way till the new year. That gives educators valuable time to think about what they can do, when school resumes, to help students who have been traumatized by these fires. Lauren Migaki and Haley Samsel NPR -- 12/15/17

California sues Trump administration on behalf of students seeking debt relief – California is suing the Trump administration for what it says is the U.S. Department of Education’s refusal to provide debt relief to more than 13,000 students that courts have found were defrauded by the since-shuttered for-profit Corinthian Colleges. Mikhail Zinshteyn EdSource -- 12/15/17

Betsy DeVos hit with two lawsuits in one day over backlog of student debt relief claims -- On Thursday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra sued DeVos and the department for failing to process more than 50,000 debt relief claims submitted by former Corinthian Colleges students. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel in the Washington Post$ -- 12/15/17

Cannabis 

San Jose, Santa Cruz cannabis businesses earn state’s first pot licenses -- Buddy’s Cannabis in San Jose and KindPeoples in Santa Cruz are stocking their shelves in anticipation of New Year’s Day sales of products ranging from simple $5 “pre-rolls” to elite $280-an-ounce packages of weed. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury$ David Downs in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Michael R. Blood and Julie Watson Associated Press -- 12/15/17

Immigration / Border 

Federal investigation finds 'significant issues' at immigrant detention centers -- Immigrants detained at four large centers used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement are subject to inhumane treatment, given insufficient hygiene supplies and medical care, and provided potentially unsafe food, according to a federal report. Richard Gonzales NPR -- 12/15/17

Environment 

Is California heading back into a drought? -- While experts say it’s still too early in the winter rainy season to say for sure, the evidence is accumulating, and the rain is definitely not. Paul Rogers and Mark Gomez in the San Jose Mercury$ Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/15/17

California regulators sign off on the state's ambitious 2030 climate change plan -- The effort, known formally as the “scoping plan,” details the state’s strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 1990 levels over the next 13 years as a way to fight climate change. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/15/17

Bark beetle, drought have killed 129 million trees. Yet foresters have hope -- The number of trees killed by bark beetles and severe drought in California reached a new high in the latest count, but foresters say a few more wet and cold winters like last year’s would make a big difference toward restoring forest health. Lewis Griswold in the Fresno Bee -- 12/15/17

Also . . . 

Riverside County deputy returns home, paralyzed, after Las Vegas shooting -- More than two months after Riverside County sheriff’s Deputy Jason McMillan was among those shot at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, he has returned home to continue his rehabilitation. McMillan is paralyzed from the waist down, the Sheriff’s Department said Thursday, Dec. 14, in its first statement on McMillan’s condition. The Las Vegas shooter killed 58 people and wounded more than 500 others on Oct. 1. Brian Rokos in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 12/15/17

POTUS 45  

AP Fact Check: Trump's iffy numbers on regulation -- President Donald Trump and his administration are ignoring one side of the ledger when they claim big savings from the federal regulations they've been able to roll back over most of this year. Joan Lowy and Christopher S. Rugaber Associated Press -- 12/15/17

After Purging Their Own, Democrats Take Aim at Trump -- Democrats forced out Senator Al Franken and Representative John Conyers Jr. Now they are intensifying a push to investigate the president over accusations of harassment and abuse. Carl Hulse in the New York Times$ -- 12/15/17

Beltway 

GOP considers letting tax cuts for families expire sooner -- Congressional Republicans are looking at shortening the duration of tax cuts that their plan would give to families and individuals, a leading lawmaker said Thursday. That change would free up more revenue for additional changes to their tax overhaul, but it could also heighten complaints that the bill prioritizes cuts for corporations over households. Erica Werner and Damian Paletta in the Washington Post$ -- 12/15/17

Paul Ryan Sees His Wild Washington Journey Coming to An End -- He felt he was ‘made for this moment.’ But now, on the verge of achieving his long-sought legislative dream, he’s got his eyes on the exits. Tim Alberta and Rachael Bade Politico -- 12/15/17

Net neutrality repeal gives Democrats fresh way to reach millennials -- The U.S. Federal Communications Commission vote on Thursday to roll back net neutrality rules could galvanize young voters, a move Democrats hope will send millennials to the polls in greater numbers and bolster their chances in next year’s elections. David Shepardson, Ginger Gibson Reuters -- 12/15/17

Once Unthinkable, Now Possible: Senate Looks Like a Tossup in 2018 -- At this time last year, the Democratic path to Senate control seemed impossible: Hold all of the Democratic seats, flip Arizona and Nevada, then hope for a miracle. The Democrats got the political version of a miracle on Tuesday. Nate Cohn in the New York Times$ -- 12/15/17

 

-- Thursday Updates 

Senate asks Tony Mendoza to take leave of absence pending harassment investigation -- California Senate Pro Tem Kevin de León said he asked Sen. Tony Mendoza to step away from his position in the Legislature as law firms investigate three separate misconduct allegations against the Artesia Democrat. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 12/14/17

Judge: State can't force NorCal baker to make cakes for gay weddings – yet -- A Kern County judge denied a temporary restraining order against a Bakersfield bakery owner who refused to make wedding cakes for gay couples, the defendant's lawyers announced Thursday. Michelle Robertson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/14/17

California state senator pledges to bring back net neutrality rules just as FCC votes to repeal them -- Moments after the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted to roll back net neutrality regulations, a state senator pledged to introduce legislation that would preserve open internet protections for consumers in California. “Net neutrality is essential to our 21st century democracy, and we need to be sure that people can access websites and information freely and fairly,” Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said in a statement. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/14/17

Thomas Fire: NASA Aerial Surveys Detect 1,300 Degree Fire Temperatures -- A pilot project out of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena is testing science instruments intended for space by measuring environmental impacts from the Thomas Fire. The aerial imaging project has already detected temperatures of around 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit on the blaze in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Ezra David Romero Capital Public Radio -- 12/14/17

Firefighter fatality reported at huge California wildfire -- A firefighter died Thursday while working a colossal wildfire burning in coastal mountains northwest of Los Angeles that has become the fourth largest in California history. The death, but no details of the circumstances, was confirmed in a statement from Chief Ken Pimlott of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Associated Press -- 12/14/17

If California wants to go all in on universal health care, Vermont’s former governor is here to help -- As Republicans in Congress continue their efforts to undo Obamacare, California is going in the opposite direction. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/14/17

Partial preservation of income tax deductions softens blow to Californians -- Some Californians are breathing a sigh of relief now that House and Senate Republicans have agreed to a partial preservation of state and local income taxes, but a lot of taxpayers will still be unhappy. Judy Lin Calmatters.org -- 12/14/17

FCC votes to repeal net neutrality rules, a milestone for Republican deregulation push -- Federal regulators voted on Thursday to repeal Obama-era net neutrality rules for internet traffic — a major victory for telecommunications companies and another milestone for the Republican deregulation push under President Trump. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/14/17

The Thomas fire is now the fourth largest in California wildfire history -- Despite a couple days of reduced winds and feverish efforts by firefighters to establish new containment lines, the 242,500-acre blaze has surpassed the size of the Zaca fire, which scorched Santa Barbara County in 2007, according to Dave Zaniboni, a spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. Joseph Serna and Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/14/17

In California’s wildfires, a looming threat to climate goals -- Beyond the devastation and personal tragedy of the fires that have ravaged California in recent months, another disaster looms: an alarming uptick in unhealthy air and the sudden release of the carbon dioxide that drives climate change. Julie Cart Calmatters.org -- 12/14/17

Cost of battling Southern California’s Thomas Fire at $69 million -- A relentless Southern California wildfire grew by 4,000 acres overnight as stiff winds propelled the monster inferno across rugged and extremely dry terrain, leaving at least 18,000 homes and other structures in the posh communities of Santa Barbara and Montecito under threat. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/14/17

Lopez: Bel-Air fire displays L.A.'s extremes of wealth and misery -- Sunbaked and wind-battered Los Angeles, blessed and burdened city of extremes, is home to those with everything and those with nothing. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/14/17

Freshman applicants to UC soar to a new record, with UCLA again leading the way -- UCLA has shattered its own record as the nation’s most popular college choice for high school seniors, attracting more than 113,000 freshman applications for fall 2018, according to preliminary data released Thursday. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/14/17