Updating . .   

Los Angeles Times owner will sell paper, ending a long-troubled relationship -- The Chicago-based owner of the Los Angeles Times is expected to announce it is selling the newspaper, according to people familiar with the company’s plans, in a surprise move that likely spells the end of its long-troubled relationship with Southern California’s leading news outlet. Paul Farhi in the Washington Post$ Meg James and James Rufus Koren in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

California’s first judicial recall in 86 years to appear on Santa Clara County ballot -- Santa Clara County supervisors Tuesday ordered the recall of Judge Aaron Persky to be placed on the June 5 ballot, setting the stage for voters in California to decide whether to oust a sitting judge for only the fourth time in more than a century. Tracey Kaplan in the San Jose Mercury$ Jenna Lyons in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/18

Tied to Trump, these two California Republican congressmen lag in poll -- Majorities of likely voters in the districts of Republican Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Steve Knight of Lancaster aren’t happy with Trump and are disinclined to vote for their representative’s re-election. Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/18

Killer who committed massacre in Isla Vista was part of alt-right, new research shows -- Elliot Rodger, the 22-year-old who killed six students in the college town of Isla Vista in 2014, was the first "alt-right killer" to strike in recent years, according to a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center. Ben Poston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

Thousands barred from owning guns in CA still have them -- Authorities have seized more than two dozen guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition from a California man, nearly five months after a judge signed an order prohibiting him from possessing firearms. Michael Balsamo Associated Press -- 2/6/18

Is California ready for a Proposition 13 overhaul? -- A new ballot initiative that takes aim at how commercial properties are taxed under California’s Proposition 13 could raise $6 to $10 billion more each year for schools and and other programs and services, according to a new analysis by the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Katy Murphy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/6/18

Republican John Cox's effort to create 12,000 'neighborhood' lawmakers in California fails to make the ballot -- The proposal’s backer, Republican businessman and candidate for governor John Cox, spent six years trying to get his “Neighborhood Legislature” plan in front of voters. State elections officials announced that the latest campaign fell short by 25,501 valid voter signatures. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

California joins other states to sue Trump administration over suspension of clean water rule -- California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said the lawsuit alleges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers acted without authority in suspending the rule, did not provide a rational explanation and did not provide required notice and opportunity for public comment. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

What’s the chance for a ‘normal’ rain year now? Grim, if history is a gauge -- A review of more than 100 years of rainfall records of major cities in California — including San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Rosa, Redding and Fresno — shows that none have ever finished the rainy season with normal rainfall totals after ending January with the amount of rain they’ve had so far this winter. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/6/18

President Trump plans to nominate Beverly Hills tax attorney for IRS commissioner -- President Donald Trump plans to nominate California tax attorney Charles "Chuck" Rettig to head the Internal Revenue Service as it implements the nation's tax code revamp, according to a person familiar with the deliberations. Saleha Mohsin and Justin Sink in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

U.S. appeals court refuses to scuttle $25-million Trump University settlement -- A federal appeals court refused Tuesday to derail a $25-million Trump University settlement to allow a former student to take the president to trial. A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decided unanimously that a district judge acted appropriately when he approved the settlement, reached days after Donald Trump was elected president. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

Knight: San Francisco safe injection sites expected to be first in nation, open around July 1 -- San Francisco is on track to open its first two safe injection sites this July, a milestone that will likely make the city the first in the country to embrace the controversial model of allowing drug users to shoot up under supervision. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/18

Bay Area rents likely to stay sky high -- Rates for one- and two-bedroom apartments in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose last year stayed among the highest in the nation, according to new market reports. Scarce rentals and a robust local economy marked by steady tech hiring drove up Santa Clara County prices 3.2 percent from a year ago, according to real estate data firm Yardi Matrix. Louis Hansen in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/6/18

It's Ronald Reagan Day, California governor declares -- California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared Feb. 6 Ronald Reagan Day in honor of the 107th anniversary of the former U.S. president and governor’s birth. Brown said Californians should recognize Reagan’s diplomatic achievements with the former Soviet Union and the economic recovery that occurred during his presidency in the 1980s. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

Trump immigration plan could keep whites in U.S. majority for up to five more years -- The plan, released by the White House last month, would scale back a program that allows people residing in the United States to sponsor family members living abroad for green cards, and would eliminate the “diversity visa program” that benefits immigrants in countries with historically low levels of migration to the United States. Together, the changes would disproportionately affect immigrants from Latin America and Africa. Jeff Stein and Andrew Van Dam in the Washington Post$ -- 2/6/18

Most Americans want DREAMers to stay — and the wall to go, NPR poll finds -- Two-thirds of Americans say people brought to the United States as children and now residing in the country illegally should be granted legal status — and a majority are against building a wall along the border with Mexico, according to a new NPR/Ipsos poll. Domenico Montanaro NPR -- 2/6/18

‘Shut It Down’: Trump Threatens Government Shutdown Over Border Security -- President Trump revived his threat on Tuesday to shut down the federal government if Congress cannot agree to a spending deal that tightens the nation’s immigration laws. Thomas Kaplan and Mark Landler in the New York Times$ -- 2/6/18

The Nunes memo made this congressman a national name. But his California district cares about water, not Russia -- At Old Salle Cafe, near the northern outskirts of this deeply conservative farming city, Archie Harrison said he did not know much about his congressman, Devin Nunes, nor did he need to know more. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

California Democrats have raised nearly two times as much money as the Republicans they are trying to oust -- If Democrats are going to regain control of the U.S. House and return Nancy Pelosi to the speakership, they must forge a path through California. Christine Mai-Duc and Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

California legislative staff get whistleblower protections -- California legislative staff members on Monday applauded the passage of a bill granting whistleblower protections to legislative staff members who say they are badly needed to ensure sexual misconduct and other misbehavior can be reported without fear of retaliation. It passed the Assembly unanimously and was quickly signed by Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, taking effect immediately. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

California gubernatorial front-runner addresses past scandal -- Democrat Gavin Newsom, the front-runner in California’s governor’s race, said Monday that he “learned an enormous amount” from his past admission of sexual transgressions while mayor of San Francisco more than a decade ago, saying, “I applaud women for coming forward” in as part of the #MeToo movement. Carla Marinucci Politico Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/18

CA120: A strong voter turnout? Maybe -- The 2018 primary election is right around the corner. And with stories of higher turnout and a Democratic wave in states like Virginia and Alabama, many political consultants and observers are expecting to see some higher turnout in California this June, with a potentially strong Democratic and Latino surge. Paul Mitchell Capitol Weekly -- 2/6/18

California Lawmaker Hopes Bot Bill Sheds Light On Fake Social Media Accounts -- Social media companies such as Twitter would be required to identify automated accounts, known as bots, under a new bill scheduled to be introduced in the California Legislature this week. Democratic state Sen. Bob Hertzberg of Los Angeles said his bill would not ban bots. Instead, it would shed light on the fake accounts that simulate real people and spread waves of false information across their platforms, the lawmaker said. Chris Nichols Capital Public Radio -- 2/6/18

Is A Statewide Insurance Mandate Next For California? -- Democratic state Sen. Ed Hernandez, chairperson of the Senate Health Committee, said he’s reaching out to consumer groups, health plans and the administration about the possibility of a statewide individual insurance mandate to replace the federal requirement that was eliminated by Republican lawmakers late last year. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 2/6/18

San Francisco ordinance targets fees faced by poor defendants -- When Joe Williams got out of San Francisco County Jail in 2015, he felt ready to reclaim his life and support his two children. So he got three jobs and went to work. But the 27-year-old became increasingly frustrated when he realized large portions of his paychecks would be garnished by the city for fees that had been imposed by the court. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/18

Hundreds of Sonoma County inmates could be freed without bail after California court ruling -- The so-called Humphrey decision involving a San Francisco theft suspect who languished in jail is expected to have far-reaching effects on the state’s bail system, which has been criticized as being unfair to the poor. It says judges must now consider a defendant’s ability to pay before setting bail. Paul Payne in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat -- 2/6/18

Abortion reversal, pregnancy centers targeted by billboard campaign -- A national network of abortion providers launched a billboard campaign Monday in the San Francisco Bay Area that targets what it calls the deceptive tactics of “crisis pregnancy centers” and the decision by the state nursing board to allow training on an abortion reversal procedure. Billy Kobin in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/6/18

Trump targets ‘Little’ Adam Schiff on Twitter — and the LA-area congressman fires back -- In a blow or boost to his stature, depending on how you look at it, Los Angeles-area congressman Adam Schiff was targeted by President Trump’s latest insulting tweet Monday morning. Kevin Modesti in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/6/18

Why are these two California congressmen in the middle of Trump’s firestorm? -- With a few taps on his keypad, Trump collared two California lawmakers, Republican Nunes and Democrat Schiff, and placed them dead-center in the firestorm surrounding a controversial memo released last week by the House committee the two men sit on. Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/6/18

Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds 

PolitifactCA: False claim GOP tax plan “nothing more than a middle-class tax increase” -- Like many California Democrats, Assemblyman Phil Ting is no fan of the Republican tax plan signed by President Donald Trump. He has likened it to a tax giveaway for big corporations. Chris Nichols PolitifactCA -- 2/6/18

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra says Trump administration proposal could mean billions in lost tips for workers -- California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra joined a coalition Monday to oppose a U.S. Department of Labor proposal governing tips, arguing the new rules could result in workers losing billions of dollars each year. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

Petition drive begins for initiative to raise San Diego's hotel tax -- Signature-gathering has officially begun for an initiative that would raise San Diego’s hotel tax to finance a convention center expansion, services and housing for the homeless, and road repairs. Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/6/18

Wells Fargo shares hammered by investors after unprecedented punishment by Federal Reserve -- On a day when the Dow experienced its biggest point loss in history, Wells Fargo & Co. did twice as bad. Jim Puzzanghera and James Rufus Koren in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

Soylent rolls out its drinks to more 7-Eleven stores, touting them as fast food -- Soylent is sidling up alongside Slurpee. The Los Angeles company, best known for chalky nutrition-rich shakes used by coders who are too busy to eat, is trying to fuel growth by pulling in mainstream customers at the convenience-store chain 7-Eleven. Craig Giammona in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

Lazarus: An act of madness: CFPB said to be letting Equifax off the hook for data breach -- The down-is-up world of the Trump administration grew even battier Monday amid reports that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is scaling back its investigation into credit agency Equifax, which allowed hackers to access the personal information of more than 145 million Americans. David Lazarus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

Homeless  

Orange County cities and the county must prove homeless crackdown is not discriminatory, judge says -- The cities of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Orange and the County of Orange must appear in court next week to prove that their anti-camping ordinances are not being used to criminalize the homeless camped along the Santa Ana River trail, according to a federal judge. Anh Do in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

Deputy director escorted out of City Hall after homeless person was swept up with the trash -- A senior official of the Environmental Services department was escorted out of City Hall on Friday, days after The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that city workers mistakenly placed a homeless person into the back of a trash truck during a December cleanup effort. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/6/18

Shelter for homeless families reopening, and there's a long waiting list -- Sixteen months after a budget shortfall led the organization to shut it down, Solutions for Change — which offers a program for homeless families — is reopening its short-term shelter in Vista. Teri Figueroa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/6/18

Carol DeLaurentis doesn't want to be defined by this number -- On the first morning of February 2018, Carol DeLaurentis and eight other homeless persons were roused by members of the El Cajon Police Department at about 6:30 a.m. near The Home Depot. Karen Pearlman in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/6/18

Housing  

New downtown San Jose towers would add 650 homes -- Two new towers proposed for downtown San Jose would add about 650 residential units to the city’s skyline, a project that is located near other efforts to add housing in the city’s urban core. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/6/18

Wildfire  

Time To Fight Fires With Fire, Watchdog Group Suggests -- A California watchdog group is calling to change the way forests are managed — including controlled burns of at least a million acres. The Little Hoover Commission, a watchdog group tasked with questioning the efficiency of state programs, recommends in its new study, Fire on the Mountain: Rethinking Forest Management in the Sierra Nevada, immediate action when it comes to reducing the risk of damage from fires. Ezra David Romero Capital Public Radio -- 2/6/18

Education 

UC Berkeley spent $4 million for free speech event security -- The university revealed in documents that it spent $3.9 million to bring in outside police forces, pay their room, board and overtime, have ambulances on standby, rent barricades and pay other security costs for three events scheduled from Aug. 27 to Sept. 27. Jocelyn Gecker Associated Press -- 2/6/18

3 Bay Area schools to close as enrollment shrinks -- Three elementary schools in the South San Jose area will soon shutter, apparently due in part to the fact that it's extremely expensive to live in the South Bay Area. Alyssa Pereira in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/18

Contrary to critics, parents tell pollster they find California’s school dashboard useful -- Nearly 4 in 10 parents say they’re familiar with or know a lot about the California School Dashboard, which grades schools and school districts using multicolored metrics, and those who have visited the website generally like what they’ve seen and found it useful. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 2/6/18

School for students with autism rises after Wine Country fires to welcome its kids home -- Like many Wine Country fire survivors, Andrew Bailey had no trouble recalling that October evening when flames ripped through Santa Rosa and devoured the city’s Anova campus. The school is part of a regional nonprofit that serves high-functioning autistic students. Jenna Lyons in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/6/18

And now, online teacher training for active shooters in schools, courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security -- With active shooting situations in schools no longer uncommon, the Department of Homeland Security is now offering online training for teachers and first-responders to prepare for such a disaster — right on their computers. Valerie Strauss in the Washington Post$ -- 2/6/18

Cannabis 

Cannabis legalization revives nearly defunct California pot ID Card -- California’s new recreational cannabis marketplace is reviving interest in a little-known document created 15 years ago to give medicinal pot users something to show law enforcement: a state-issued medical marijuana identification card. Marijuana’s legalization for all adults 21 and older was effective Jan. 1, and is creating a new demand for the IDs because cardholders don’t have to pay sales or use taxes at dispensaries — which can run between 7 and 10 percent plus the state’s 3 percent sales tax. Julie Johnson in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat -- 2/6/18

Will L.A. Follow S.F.’s Lead in Wiping Out Pot Convictions? Nope -- Los Angeles County’s district attorney said Friday she is not going to follow the lead of her counterparts in San Francisco and San Diego, who are dismissing or reducing thousands of past misdemeanor and felony marijuana convictions. Frank Stoltze KQED -- 2/6/18

Immigration / Border 

Immigration agents’ visits are hitting close to home and scaring away workers -- At least 40 workers at Bee Sweet Citrus in Fowler lost their jobs after federal immigration agents began checking employee records last week, searching for people who are not legally allowed to work in the United States. Robert Rodriguez in the Fresno Bee -- 2/6/18

Health 

Newly discovered fertility factor found by UCSD scientists -- UC San Diego researchers say they appear to have discovered a previously unknown cause of female infertility. Their study, performed in mice, is the starting point for determining whether this cause also applies to people. Bradley J. Fikes in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/6/18

Environment 

The Forgotten Renewable: Geothermal Energy Production Heats Up In The Mojave -- Jim Turner is the chief operating officer of Controlled Thermal Resources, an energy company from Australia. On a hill overlooking the Salton Sea, he points out a patch of land that will someday house his company’s first power plant, named Hell’s Kitchen. “We’re standing on top of what is probably the most robust geothermal resource in the United States,” he explains. Benjamin Purper KQED -- 2/6/18

Also . . . 

Boy, 16, fatally shot by LA deputy who thought he had gun -- A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy fatally shot a 16-year-old boy who was thought to have a gun tucked into his waistband and investigators believe someone in a crowd that rushed in after the shooting may have taken a gun from the teenager's body, officials said Monday. Michael Balsamo Associated Press -- 2/6/18

Orange County’s only needle exchange shuts down after Santa Ana denies permit -- Orange County's first and only needle exchange program has shut down after Santa Ana city officials denied its permit application, a move some local advocacy groups and the state's leading public health agency say could negatively affect public welfare. Ben Brazil in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

San Diego crime rate lowest in 49 years -- San Diego’s crime rate last year was the lowest it has been in nearly a half century — an achievement born in part from close ties between police and community members and strategic crime-fighting, city officials said Monday. Lyndsay Winkley in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/6/18

Tijuana's resurgence of homicides subject of USD policy brief -- The expansion into Tijuana of a new drug trafficking group, the Cartel Nueva Generacion Jalisco, is a key factor in explaining the city’s record number of homicides in 2017, according to a paper released Monday by the Justice in Mexico project at the University of San Diego. Sandra Dibble in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/6/18

Journalists are fleeing for their lives in Mexico. There are few havens -- Last year, reporters and photographers turned up dead in Mexico at a rate of about one per month, making it the most dangerous country in the world for journalists after war-torn Syria. They were some of the country’s most fearless investigators and sharp-tongued critics, shot down while shopping, while reclining in a hammock, while driving children to school. In January, 77-year-old opinion columnist Carlos Dominguez was waiting at a traffic light with his grandchildren when three men stabbed him 21 times. Kate Linthicum in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/6/18

Robert Wagner's action after Natalie Wood's death 'doesn't make any sense,' detective says -- Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators say they're closer to understanding exactly how actress Natalie Wood died while boating off Catalina Island nearly four decades ago, but say they would still like to hear from her husband, Robert Wagner. " Cindy Chang and Maya Lau in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/6/18

POTUS 45  

Trump’s Lawyers Want Him to Refuse an Interview in Russia Inquiry -- His lawyers are concerned that the president, who has a history of making false statements and contradicting himself, could be charged with lying to investigators. Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman in the New York Times$ -- 2/6/18

White House moves to distance Trump from market plunge -- Aides quickly coordinated statements and TV appearances after stock swings overtook the president's speech. Andrew Restuccia and Cristiano Lima Politico -- 2/6/18

Trump suggests that the black lawmakers who didn’t applaud his SOTU speech were treasonous -- During his first State of the Union address last week, President Trump bragged that the lowest black unemployment rate in history has happened under his presidency. Eugene Scott in the Washington Post$ -- 2/6/18

After enduring Trump’s criticism, some Eagles are skipping White House visit -- This past season, Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins raised his fist during the national anthem — a protest reminiscent of the black power salute by two American track stars at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. And Jenkins told CNN on Monday that he plans to skip the White House visit. “Nah, I personally do not anticipate attending,” he said on the “New Day” program. Eugene Scott in the Washington Post$ -- 2/6/18

Beltway 

House Pushes Another Stopgap Bill as Government Shutdown Looms -- With government funding set to expire on Thursday, Congress careened toward another standoff on Monday as House Republicans moved ahead with a temporary spending measure that Senate Democrats have promised to block. Thomas Kaplan in the New York Times$ -- 2/6/18

 

-- Monday Updates 

California Legislature passes long-stalled whistle-blower bill -- A long-stalled effort to extend whistle-blower protections to legislative employees is finally making its way to the governor’s desk. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/5/18

California lawmaker tries again to increase taxes on legal, accounting and other services -- State Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) has introduced versions of the legislation for years in a bid to help insulate the state from boom-and-bust cycles in revenue drawn from relying heavily on income tax payments from the wealthiest Californians. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/5/18

Key Schwarzenegger aide nabbed in ethics probe -- Susan Kennedy, a former aide to Govs. Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger, has agreed to pay a $32,500 fine from the state ethics watchdog for failing to register as a lobbyist while advocating for Lyft and a Southern California water company. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/5/18

Bid to hike commercial property taxes could raise $6 billion to $10 billion a year, analysis finds -- The proposal would make a dramatic change to rules implemented by California’s landmark Proposition 13 ballot measure that capped how much property tax bills could increase. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/5/18

Dow plunges 1,175 points in worst day for stocks since 2011 -- The Dow Jones industrial average plunged more than 1,100 points Monday as stocks took their worst loss in six and a half years. Two days of steep losses have erased the market’s gains from the start of this year and ended a period of record-setting calm for stocks. Marley Jay Associated Press -- 2/5/18

Trump vs. Schiff: Twitter spat over the Russia investigation -- As the highest ranking Democrat on the House Select Intelligence Committee, Burbank’s Rep. Adam Schiff has been the face of the Democratic opposition in the Russia investigation for months. Sarah D. Wire in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/5/18

Trump ripped this judge as ‘hater.’ Now he’ll hear environmental case on border wall -- A federal judge in California who Donald Trump once derided for his ethnicity will hear a case Friday that could determine the president’s latitude to waive environmental laws, paving the way for his “big, beautiful” border wall. The judge is the U.S. District Court’s Gonzalo Curiel, whom Trump berated during the 2016 campaign for his handling of a lawsuit involving Trump University. Stuart Leavenworth McClatchyDC -- 2/5/18

Could oil firms be forced to pay for climate change? California cities hope so -- The Bay Area city of Richmond recently made an unlikely move that got the attention of its largest employer and taxpayer, Chevron. It followed other municipalities and counties across California that have filed lawsuits against oil companies, alleging that the energy giants knowingly contributed to climate change and should begin paying for it. Literally. Julie Cart Calmatters -- 2/5/18

Green card backlog puts lives in, on the line -- Lemuel Dsouza no longer sees the point of staying in the U.S. If he stayed here on an H-1B visa, waiting for a green card, he would be stuck in the same job for years, stagnant in his career. But back home in India, he’ll be free to create his own company, apply for any job he wants and take full advantage of the country’s burgeoning tech sector. So in a search of better opportunities, he’s moving back home this month. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/5/18

Universal health bill unlikely given need to ‘heal relationships,’ says new Senate leader -- The infamous image of the California grizzly bear stabbed with a butcher knife inscribed with the last name of Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon may have done more than blow up the Twittersphere last year. The chances of reviving the Legislature’s universal health care bill don’t look good this year, said Sen. Toni Atkins, the incoming Senate leader and a co-author of Senate Bill 562. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/5/18

3 paths to universal health care in California -- The push to move California to a universal health care system enters a new phase this week, when a special committee will hear for the first time specific proposals on how the state might pursue a path to universal care. Michelle Faust KPCC -- 2/5/18

California Senate’s first woman leader: ‘It’s going to take real work’ to fight harassment -- Sen. Toni Atkins becomes the first woman and openly gay leader of the California Senate next month, tasked with guiding the house through an involuntary and overdue culture change after the “Me Too” movement rocked the Capitol. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/5/18

Lawmaker wants to ease restrictions on legal weed at special events -- A state lawmaker wants the state to relax its policies prohibiting organizers of festivals and other special events in California from allowing marijuana sales and use unless the event is at a county fairground. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/5/18

California to oversee San Francisco's police reforms -- California's attorney general announced Monday that his office will oversee reforms at the San Francisco Police Department that were recommended by federal officials after the U.S. Department of Justice's decision to scale back a program that helped departments improve community relations. Olga R. Rodriguez Associated Press Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/5/18

Legislature considers trimming role of state schools chief -- Lawmakers are expected to hold an informational hearing later this month to consider drastic changes to the role and responsibility of the state schools chief—potentially even asking voters to eliminate the office. Tom Chorneau K-12 Daily -- 2/5/18

Orange County's only needle-exchange program closes after Santa Ana denies permit -- Orange County's first and only needle-exchange program has shut down after Santa Ana city officials denied its permit application, sparking concerns from public health advocates. Ben Brazil in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/5/18

Limit painkiller prescriptions to three days, California lawmaker says -- Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez, D-Pomona, is pursuing legislation to limit prescriptions for opioids, which are often used as painkillers, to no more than three days. If the dosage has not decreased by the third refill, Assembly Bill 1998 would also require the doctor to justify in the patient’s medical record why continuing treatment at that level is needed. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/5/18

Crops May Contribute More to California’s Smog Than Previously Thought -- New research from UC Davis finds a sneaky contributor to the state’s smog problem rising from the floor of the Central Valley: California’s crops are emitting polluting nitrogen oxides, up to 10 times as much of those gasses as previously thought. Molly Peterson KQED -- 2/5/18

At schools near freeways, air filters help students breathe -- On the campus of Salesian High School in Boyle Heights, boys play soccer on a turf field a block away from the East LA Interchange. Four freeways converge here, and diesel trucks hauling containers are visible crawling along the overpass that towers over the neighborhood. Emily Guerin KPCC -- 2/5/18

Deputies fatally shoot 16-year-old during South LA chase -- Los Angeles County sheriff's officials say deputies fatally shot a 16-year-old boy they believed to be armed during a foot chase. Lt. John Corina says the deputies responded Sunday night in South Los Angeles following reports of a young man pointing a gun at a motorist. Associated Press -- 2/5/18

Fox: “Plan B” for Rail Always Made More Sense -- In reporting on the move by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to scrutinize the high speed rail, Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton mentioned a “Plan B” for rail discussed by the proponents of the audit request, Democratic Senator Jim Beall and Republican Assemblyman Jim Patterson. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 2/5/18

Rhee: Why rural California needs more love -- California politicians pay plenty of lip service to bridging the widening gap between the richer coast and poorer inland. If they mean what they say and want to back up their words with action, the agenda of Rural County Representatives of California is a pretty good place to start. Foon Rhee in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/5/18