Updating . .   

Even cut in half, plan for Delta tunnels doesn’t win over opponents -- One day after Brown’s administration downsized the Delta tunnels project, a host of project opponents tried Thursday to halt a state regulatory hearing that’s crucial to getting the project built. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/8/18

From Fallujah to FBI investigation: The undoing of Duncan Hunter -- Duncan Hunter The Republican congressman faces allegations of misusing campaign funds, and his freewheeling Washington lifestyle is coming under scrutiny, too. Rachael Bade and John Bresnahan Politico Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

Congressman’s office deletes question on sexual harassment scandal from town hall video -- Rep. Brad Sherman’s town hall in Reseda last month lasted more than an hour, as the Los Angeles Democrat updated constituents via Skype about Congress’ battle over government funding. His response to one particular question from the audience, however, didn’t make the final cut of the video the congressman’s office posted on his official YouTube page – regarding a sexual harassment scandal involving a former senior aide that has rocked his office. Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/8/18

A Community College online? Gov. Brown’s plan re-imagines cyber learning, but faces skeptics -- Laticia Middleton perches in front of a computer at the Greater Sacramento Urban League’s job center, scanning employment ads. At 30, with two children, a high school diploma and a job at a call center, Middleton is the kind of student Gov. Jerry Brown has in mind as he pushes for a new online community college. Felicia Mello Calmatters -- 2/8/18

UC Irvine academics come to the defense of players after WHO proposes 'gaming disorder' as a thing -- After learning of the World Health Organization's plan to add "gaming disorder" to its list of mental health conditions, UC Irvine published a response against the classification, arguing that for a majority of players, video and other games have a positive influence. Priscella Vega in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

Coastal Commission on Trump's offshore drilling plan: Ain't gonna happen -- New offshore drilling in California is economically infeasible, legally questionable and politically a nonstarter, but if there's any doubt the state's coastal waters could still be opened up to oil and gas interests, the Coastal Commission this week flexed its own authority and said no way. Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

Abcarian: 'Little' Adam Schiff, Trump's Twitter nemesis, liked it better when he had a nasty nickname to himself -- Schiff, as it happens, is the perfect foil for a guy like Trump. He's calm, unflappable and wry, always the grown-up to the president's spoiled child. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

Search warrants served at Maywood City Hall; mayor reportedly questioned by authorities -- Authorities served search warrants at Maywood City Hall and other locations Thursday morning, prosecutors confirmed. Maywood City Councilman Eduardo De La Riva said that when he arrived at City Hall, he was met by law enforcement officers serving search warrants at the building. Ruben Vives and Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

Chevron fights California cities' climate-change lawsuits with 'creative lawyering' -- If Chevron Corp. has caused climate change and needs to pay for its damage, so should pretty much every company that has ever explored for oil and gas near North America, as well as manufacturers of cars and equipment that burn fuel, plus consumers. Kartikay Mehrotra in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

LAPD still searching for owner of gun that went off in Westlake classroom -- The gunfire erupted in a classroom Feb. 1, with a single bullet striking a 15-year-old boy in the temple and a 15-year-old girl in the left wrist. The girl was discharged from the hospital over the weekend and the boy remains in fair condition. Two other students and a teacher suffered minor injuries. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

Congressmen Ask: Will FEMA Refuse Payment for Oroville Spillway Work? -- Two Northern California members of Congress are asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to clarify under what conditions it will reimburse the state for the cost of rebuilding and rehabilitating the ruined spillways at Oroville Dam. The request came from Reps. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, and John Garamendi, D-Fairfield, who represent Sacramento Valley districts directly impacted by last year’s Oroville spillway crisis. Dan Brekke KQED -- 2/8/18

Twitter makes money for first time ever, but problems remain -- The company is still struggling to get people to sign up, despite the attention President Donald Trump’s no-holds barred tweets have drawn to the service. One problem: Anyone can read tweets without signing up. As a result, Twitter’s user base pales compared with Facebook and the Facebook-owned Instagram. Barbara Ortutay Associated Press -- 2/8/18

Fox: Prop 13 Change, Gas Tax Repeal in Trouble in PPIC Poll -- In tax conscience California, a split in attitude: the granddaddy of taxpayer protections looks safe while a threatened new gas tax increase might feel the same way according to the latest Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 2/8/18

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

Jerry Brown officially downsizes Delta tunnel plan -- Unable to secure enough money from California’s water agencies for the original twin tunnels concept, the California Department of Water Resources said it would now try to build the project in phases: one tunnel now and a second tunnel years down the road. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ Bettina Boxall in the Los Angeles Times$ Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Ellen Knickmeyer Associated Press -- 2/8/18

Voter, Bee databases hit with ransomware attack -- The intrusion, which was discovered by a Bee employee last week, exposed one database containing California voter registration data from the California Secretary of State and another that had contact information for 53,000 current and former Bee subscribers who activated their digital accounts prior to 2017. The Bee did not pay the ransom and has deleted the databases to prevent further attacks, Publisher Gary Wortel said. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/8/18

Poll: Newsom and Villaraigosa virtually tied in the governor's race while California's Senate race isn't even close -- With less than four months to go until the June 5 primary, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are running practically neck and neck in the 2018 race for governor, according to a new poll by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ Ben Adler Capital Public Radio John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ Scott Shafer KQED Mary Plummer KPCC Carla Marinucci Politico -- 2/8/18

Skelton: Latino voters could make all the difference in California's narrowing race for governor -- Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom shouldn't be called the front-runner anymore in the race for California governor. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has essentially caught up. "It's a virtual toss," says Mark Baldassare, president and pollster of the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

Poll: Feinstein holds massive lead in primary -- Feinstein leads state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León by nearly 30 percentage points — 46 percent to 17 percent — among likely California voters, according to a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California. David Siders Politico -- 2/8/18

Republican John Cox boosts personal investment in his campaign for California governor to $4 million -- GOP gubernatorial candidate John Cox told supporters on Wednesday that he was putting another $1 million of his money into his campaign, adding to his significant financial advantage among Republican candidates in the race. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

Harassment allegations aren’t stopping this candidate for California governor -- Assemblyman Travis Allen was having one heck of a week. One of three California Republicans running for governor, Allen reported last week that he finished the year with $135,535 in his campaign account, far less than fellow Republican John Cox, and three of their Democratic challengers. The report also showed his campaign had $342,850 in unpaid debts. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/8/18

California voters divided over proposed measure to repeal increase in gas tax, survey finds -- The repeal of the gas tax is supported by 47% of likely voters and opposed by 48% according to the statewide survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

Walters: Recall drives could spark more political chaos -- The recall – allowing voters to fire elected officials before their terms expire – was one aspect of the populist political reform movement that swept through California more than a century ago. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 2/8/18

How your brain may have shielded you from depression after the 2016 election if you didn't like the result -- For some people the election of Donald Trump was a glorious moment of triumph. For others, it was a debilitating moment of trauma. But for a team of researchers at UCLA, it was the perfect opportunity to test how the brain responds to political distress. Deborah Netburn in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

With 14 harassment investigations underway, how do lawmakers handle the accused? -- Under investigation for sexual harassment—including allegations that he invited a young staffer to come home with him—state Sen. Tony Mendoza agreed on Jan. 3 to take a month-long leave of absence from the California Legislature. But a week later, the Democrat from Artesia showed up in the Capitol and lingered until the leader of the Senate told him to leave. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters -- 2/8/18

Woman in Newsom affair ‘doubtful’ it was sexual harassment -- Ruby Rippey Gibney, the former aide to Gavin Newsom whose more than decade-old affair is resurfacing as part of the gubernatorial race, wrote Wednesday that her former boss should be absolved from recurring accusations of workplace harassment. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/8/18

Former aide to Gavin Newsom speaks out about their affair while he was San Francisco mayor -- The woman gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom had an affair with when he was mayor of San Francisco spoke out about their relationship on Wednesday after questions about the liaison emerged in the governor's race. Seema Mehta and Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

California says it will ban crude from Trump offshore drilling plan -- California will block the transport of petroleum from new offshore oil rigs through its state, officials told Reuters, a move meant to hobble the Trump administration’s effort to vastly expand drilling in U.S. federal waters. Sharon Bernstein Reuters Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press -- 2/8/18

Trump administration opens millions of acres of California desert to mining -- The California desert is the latest target of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's campaign to promote resource extraction on public lands across the West. Zinke's Interior Department said this week it would allow mining on 1.3 million acres, or more than 2,000 square miles, across the California desert, reversing an Obama-era effort to protect those lands. Sammy Roth in The Desert Sun -- 2/8/18

4 San Francisco public defender’s lawyers to run against GOP-appointed judges -- In an unusual effort to redirect judicial politics in San Francisco, four lawyers from the city public defender’s office announced their candidacies for Superior Court judge on Wednesday, all seeking to unseat appointees of Republican governors. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/8/18

Counterprotesters want charges dropped in Capitol riot case -- As the lone white supremacist arrested in 2016’s bloody clash with counterprotesters returns to court Thursday, anti-fascist demonstrators plan to seek dismissal of the charges against them, claiming they were victims of a “witch hunt” by Sacramento authorities. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/8/18

Butte County DA files lawsuit against DWR over Oroville Dam environmental damages -- On the one-year anniversary of the day the spillway started to break apart, Ramsey said his office was civilly prosecuting DWR under a state law enacted in 1875 to fight pollution of the state’s rivers. Risa Johnson in the Chico Enterprise-Record -- 2/8/18

How a group of scientists are using the deadly Montecito mudflow to predict future disasters -- When the storm and mudflow subsided, the destruction was worse than anyone had predicted. That's something that Kean and his colleagues at the USGS, California Geological Survey, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and Santa Barbara County Fire Department want to change. Current USGS maps show only which hillsides are prone to debris flows, but not where those flows will go. Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

Bakersfield baker who turned away lesbian couple wins court ruling -- As the U.S. Supreme Court ponders a baker’s refusal to prepare a wedding cake for a gay couple, a California judge has ruled that the owner of a Bakersfield bakery had a free-speech right to turn away a lesbian couple who wanted a cake to celebrate their marriage. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/8/18

Chaos erupts at emergency community meeting called to quell tensions after teen is killed by deputies -- An emergency town hall meeting called in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy ended in chaos Wednesday night as the teen's family and residents demanded answers from Los Angeles County sheriff's officials. Nicole Santa Cruz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

LA’s ‘broken’ streets, sidewalks may not be ready for 2028 Olympics, city leaders say -- A pair of L.A. council members say they want to speed up the city’s ongoing efforts to fix its failing roadways and buckled sidewalks, and there may now be new sources of funding to achieve that. Elizabeth Chou in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/8/18

Calbuzz: Tony V Pulls Even with Prince Gavin for Governor -- Gavin Newsom and Antonio Villaraigosa, both Democrats, are virtually tied in the race for governor of California, but Villaraigosa has a secret weapon: a 4-1 lead among Latino voters who, if they turn out in big numbers, could swing the election. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 2/8/18

Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds 

Tax to fund Oakland public libraries heads to June ballot -- The Oakland City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to place on the June ballot a $75-per-parcel tax that’s expected to raise $10 million annually for the next 20 years for city libraries. Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/8/18

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

Council demands investigation of generous pension program that doubled pay of workers who went on leave -- Five Los Angeles city council members have called for investigation and reform of a program that pays aging cops and firefighters almost double at the end of their careers while allowing them to take lengthy injury leaves, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Ryan Menezes, Jack Dolan and Gus Garcia-Roberts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

Time to trash junk mail, California lawmaker says -- Assemblyman Marc Steinorth, R-Rancho Cucamonga, introduced Assembly Bill 2021 Monday that would require the state attorney general to maintain a “do not contact” list containing telephone numbers and mail addresses of those who do not want to receive solicitations. Billy Kobin in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/8/18

Robots Help Reduce Port Pollution — But They Also Steal Jobs -- A foul-mouthed longshoreman named Frank Gaskin pointed his phone at a chain link fence at the Port of Long Beach last summer and made a video of the robots that had taken his and his buddies’ jobs. Emily Guerin KQED -- 2/8/18

In Los Angeles, a Billionaire Doctor Takes On an Ailing Newspaper -- He was perhaps the least famous billionaire in a city brimming with wealthy celebrities. But Patrick Soon-Shiong, 65, a doctor who turned a cancer drug into a multibillion-dollar biotech empire, emerged on Wednesday as a major figure in Los Angeles life with his surprise $500 million purchase of The Los Angeles Times and its sister newspaper, The San Diego Union-Tribune. Adam Nagourney, Sydney Ember and Tim Arango in the New York Times$ -- 2/8/18

Homeless  

Monterey County Declares Hepatitis A Outbreak Among Homeless -- California has been dealing with its largest hep A outbreak since the vaccine came out more than 20 years ago. Ten people in Monterey County have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, nine of them homeless. The virus infects the liver and causes flu-like symptoms. It can be deadly. Erika Mahoney KQED -- 2/8/18

Housing  

Santa Rosa OKs housing zone in Wine Country high fire-risk area -- A housing development that became a test of Santa Rosa’s appetite for approving major new projects in fire hazard zones, in the aftermath of the deadly Tubbs Fire, has won City Council approval. Lizzie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/8/18

Wildfire  

California’s wildfire risk is rising. Congress missed a chance to help -- Forestry experts have a dire warning for California: the conditions are ripe for more catastrophic fire seasons like the one last fall. And an arcane federal funding arrangement is making it a lot harder for forestry officials to do something about it. Instead of fixing the problem, however, Congress just punted – again. Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/8/18

Education 

UC San Diego students pressing the school to drop class devoted to the films of Woody Allen -- UC San Diego theater student is circulating a petition that asks campus leaders to cancel a class devoted to the films of Woody Allen because of allegations by his adopted stepdaughter that he molested her as a child. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/8/18

Presentation High: 20 students, alums now allege sex abuse involving 8 teachers, staff -- The number of women claiming they were sexually abused as students at a prestigious San Jose Catholic girls high school has swelled to 20 while the number of accused staff has grown to eight. The mounting accusations surfaced as nearly 5,000 former students and their supporters have signed a petition demanding an independent investigation of how the administration handled reported abuse. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/8/18

May preliminary hearing set in Ref Rodriguez's political money laundering case -- A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on Wednesday set a May preliminary hearing date for L.A. school board member Ref Rodriguez, making it more likely that Rodriguez, who faces criminal charges, will be on hand to cast important votes on the school board in the coming months. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/8/18

California's largest districts address chronic absenteeism with focus on why students miss school – As the school day ends at Peyton Elementary School in Stockton, Christina Del Prato calls a mother whose daughter was absent 62 times last year. Nico Savidge EdSource -- 2/8/18

Immigration / Border 

With eyes on Congress, 'dreamers' gather at border fence -- About 30 so-called “dreamers” and their supporters marched to the border fence at Friendship Park on Wednesday afternoon to call on Congress to pass a bill to protect the young unauthorized immigrants from deportation. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/8/18

Health 

UC San Diego Research Finds More Children Affected By Fetal Alcohol Disorders Than Previously Thought -- Fetal alcohol syndrome and other alcohol-related disorders may be more widespread than autism. That is the conclusion of a new study from UC San Diego. In the study, the largest of its kind ever conducted in the U.S., researchers screened more than 6,000 first-graders in four different regions of the country. Kenny Goldberg KPBS -- 2/8/18

Flu update: 25 new deaths announced as case rate increases -- Even though it looks like it may have peaked in late December, San Diego’s flu season showed Wednesday that it has staying power. And health officials are keeping a watchful eye should there be a flareup. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/8/18

Also . . . 

LA County deputy shootings sink to lowest number seen in decades, agency says -- Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies fired their guns at suspects in 22 incidents last year — the lowest number of deputy-involved shootings since at least “the mid-1990s,” according to the agency. Brenda Gazzar in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/8/18

Grateful Dead lyricist, digital civil rights pioneer John Perry Barlow dies -- In an online biography, John Perry Barlow offered a short and simple version of his life: “I co-founded (Electronic Frontier Foundation), wrote songs for the (Grateful) Dead, ranched in Wyoming for 17 years. A weird father, a good friend, and an excellent ex.” Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/8/18

POTUS 45  

Trump's military parade draws bipartisan rebuke -- Members of Congress from both parties joined retired military leaders and veterans in heaping scorn Wednesday on President Donald Trump’s push to parade soldiers and weaponry down the streets of the nation's capital — calling it a waste of money that would break with democratic traditions. Bryan Bender Politico -- 2/8/18

Three Pinocchios: President Trump’s claim that ‘thousands and thousands’ of MS-13 members are off the streets -- This is a new twist on Trump’s well-worn claim that his administration is deporting thousands of members of the violent MS-13 gang. Salvador Rizzo in the Washington Post$ -- 2/8/18

Beltway 

Pelosi's Dreamers protest leaves some Democrats wanting -- But other lawmakers praised her eight-hour talkathon, even if it failed to produce the desired result. Heather Caygle Politico -- 2/8/18

 

-- Wednesday Updates 

Immigration lawsuit pits California Department of Justice against federal counterpart -- The California Department of Justice on Wednesday took its federal counterpart to court, seeking an order to release documents that would explain the rationale of a threat to withhold law enforcement grants unless agencies in the state cooperate with immigration enforcement. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/7/18

California's Legislature may put its new sexual harassment disclosure policy into state law -- The decision by leaders of the California Legislature to voluntarily disclose some records related to sexual misconduct investigations could, under a new proposal, become state law. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/7/18

California officials say they’ll block Trump’s plan to expand oil drilling off coast -- The California Coastal Commission sent a letter Wednesday to the federal Bureau of Ocean Management urging the agency to withdraw plans to allow the ocean drilling, saying the proposal increases the threat of an oil spill that could cause “catastrophic harm.” Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/7/18

Two new polls show tight race for second place in campaign for governor -- One public poll conducted for the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education found Newsom, a Democrat, in the lead with 25 percent, followed by Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa, the former Los Angeles mayor, at 10 percent, Republican John Cox, a San Diego County businessman, at 9 percent, Democrat John Chiang, the state treasurer, at 8 percent, and Republican Travis Allen, a state assemblyman, at 7 percent. Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/7/18

Opposing Trump paying off for vulnerable California Democrat -- Rep. Ami Bera is getting an assist on his 2018 campaign – from President Donald Trump. A new independent poll from the University of California, Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) found that a plurality of likely voters – 48 percent are inclined to re-elect the Democratic incumbent in the Sacramento-area swing district. Another 44 percent are not, while just 8 percent are undecided. Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/7/18

Pelosi puts her foot down on spending bill leading to Dreamer legislation -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday she couldn’t support a broad spending deal that would keep the government open and meet most Democratic demands unless House Republicans allow votes on legislation to help young immigrants, throwing GOP efforts to avoid another government shutdown into turmoil. Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Scott Detrow NPR Amber Phillips in the Washington Post$ Sheryl Gay Stolberg in the New York Times$ -- 2/7/18-- 2/7/18

Pelosi launches hours-long filibuster-style speech in bid to force immigration votes in the House -- Pelosi (D-Calif.) began talking shortly after 10 a.m., using her right as minority leader to speak for as long as she wants. She began by saying that she would lead opposition to a broad two-year budget agreement that includes several Democratic priorities but does not address immigration — the topic that has prolonged the spending debate for several months. “I have no intention of yielding back,” Pelosi said at 3:41 p.m. Eastern as she neared the six-hour mark of her ongoing remarks. Ed O'Keefe, David Weigel and Paul Kane in the Washington Post$ -- 2/7/18

Doctors Prepare for Immigration Enforcement Visits At Hospitals -- Pediatricians across California are calling on Congress to pass legislation protecting immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, saying their patients are skipping appointments because they’re afraid a visit to the hospital will get them deported. April Dembosky KQED -- 2/7/18

Elon Musk’s red Roadster overshoots Mars orbit, heads for asteroid belt -- The Tesla Roadster that Elon Musk blasted into space aboard the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket was supposed to head for orbit around Mars, but instead, it’s on a flight path expected to take it close to the dwarf planet Ceres, in the middle of our solar system’s asteroid belt. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/7/18

Billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, who just purchased the Los Angeles Times, is a controversial figure in medicine -- Patrick Soon-Shiong, a respected transplant surgeon from the University of California at Los Angeles turned entrepreneur and philanthropist, first became famous for inventing an important cancer drug. Ariana Eunjung Cha in the Washington Post$ -- 2/7/18

Prop. 13 fight looming over how California taxes business properties -- It has been a liberal dream for decades to undo parts or all of Proposition 13, the seminal California initiative limiting the property tax rate. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/7/18

San Gabriel becomes the latest California city to withdraw from ICE collaborations -- San Gabriel city leaders on Tuesday rescinded a police department agreement with immigration officials, citing doubts about the arrangement’s necessity and heightened fears about deportations. Frank Shyong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/7/18

California lawmaker wants all Uber, Lyft cars to be electric by 2028 -- Senate Bill 1014 from Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) would set goals for the electrification of ride-hailing cars over the next decade, and set aside up to $300 million to help subsidize the purchase of electric cars by ride-hailing drivers. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/7/18

Solar jobs drop in California, after years of growth -- The number of solar jobs in the state fell more than 13 percent in 2017, an annual survey released Wednesday found, as issues ranging from regulatory changes to a long, wet winter stunted sales. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/7/18

Covered California enrollment dips 2% after ‘repeal and replace’ drama -- In California and across the nation, millions of Americans who do not receive health insurance through their employers are continuing to sign up for health plans through marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/7/18

Despite Trump attacks, Obamacare sign-ups hold steady, new numbers show -- Almost 12 million Americans signed up for 2018 health coverage through marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act, according to a new tally that indicates nationwide enrollment remained virtually unchanged from last year despite President Trump’s persistent attacks on the 2010 health law. Noam N. Levey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/7/18

Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Riverbed Homeless Evictions -- Federal Judge David. O Carter halted the county’s Santa Ana riverbed homeless evictions late Tuesday night when he ordered the County of Orange and Anaheim, Orange and Costa Mesa to stop enforcing anti-camping and trespass laws along the riverbed. Spencer Custodio VoiceofOC.org Jordan Graham in the Orange County Register -- 2/7/18

Judge: Baker can refuse to make same-sex wedding cakes -- A California bakery owner can continue to refuse to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples because it violates her Christian beliefs, a judge ruled. The decision came after a lawyer for Tastries Bakery in Bakersfield argued that owner Cathy Miller’s right to free speech and free expression of religion trumps the argument that she violated a state anti-discrimination law. Associated Press -- 2/7/18

Disclosing sexual misconduct — or not -- That’s why state Sen. Connie Leyva, D-Chino, has authored a bill, SB 820, to ban these secrecy-driven agreements in cases of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination. While last year’s tide of allegations, particularly in the Capitol itself, stirred broad support for policy change, there is considerable debate within those supporters about whether this bill is the best approach. Alex Matthews Capitol Weekly -- 2/7/18

He suffered severe burns at the hands of police. Now he wants more than $26 million -- James Bradford Nelson spent nearly two months in the hospital recovering from burns to his face, torso, legs and buttocks after officers held him down on the pavement on an afternoon when temperatures reached triple digits. Cynthia Hubert in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/7/18

Reformers: End pepper spray use in California juvenile jails -- A state lawmaker and reform groups are pushing to restrict the use of pepper spray in juvenile jails in California, one of just six states that allow employees to carry the caustic chemicals in youth detention facilities. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 2/7/18

San Quentin staffer made me a sex slave, murderer says. He’s awarded $65,000 -- The #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and abuse has taken an unusual gender and geographic turn, with a convicted murderer in San Quentin State Prison being awarded $65,000 in damages by a federal jury after being turned into a “sex slave” by a female prison staffer. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/7/18

Toyota failed to fix defect that can cause Prius to overheat and lose power, dealer claims in lawsuit -- Toyota said the problem on model years 2010-14 had been taken care of with a software change. But having seen more than 100 post-recall failures, Roger Hogan — whose family owns Claremont Toyota and Capistrano Toyota — warned customers about the issue and refused to resell used Priuses he'd gotten as trade-ins. Ralph Vartabedian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/7/18

Fox: Judicial Independence on Trial with Judge’s Recall -- A judge’s recall moves forward as another test to California’s judiciary and a challenge to judicial independence. Judge Aaron Persky will face voters in a recall election now that enough signatures have been certified to present his recall to voters. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 2/7/18

Democrats say corporate shareholders have pocketed nearly $100 billion from GOP tax law -- Twenty-seven of America's biggest businesses have already spent about $100 billion buying back stocks from shareholders in 2018, a move that shows how the new Republican tax law is primarily benefiting wealthy Americans and large corporations, a new report unveiled by three Senate Democrats says. Jeff Stein in the Washington Post$ -- 2/7/18