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L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take a morning hike in Griffith Park -- On his last stop in a three-day visit to California, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti at Griffith Park on Saturday for an early morning hike. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/10/18

For legal cannabis, some new wrinkles: older users -- Even before Jan. 1, when California legalized recreational weed, pot was enjoying a gray renaissance. Between 2006 and 2013, the National Survey of Drug Use and Health reported a 250 percent rise in marijuana use by Americans 65 and older. This is still a small number, climbing from 0.4 percent to 1.4 percent of that population, but local dispensaries see plenty of silver-haired shoppers. Peter Rowe in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/10/18

Should veterans be allowed to use medical marijuana for post-combat stress? The Trump administration says no -- Frustrated with traditional therapies for chronic pain and post-combat stress disorders, a growing number of military veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are turning to medical marijuana for their treatment, a move that has put them at sharp odds with the Trump administration. David S. Cloud in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/10/18

L.A. County set to build its first new freeway in 25 years, despite many misgivings -- The California Department of Transportation, in cooperation with a joint powers authority, will in June begin buying land to build a 63-mile high desert freeway connecting the Los Angeles County communities of Palmdale and Lancaster with the San Bernardino County communities of Victorville, Apple Valley and Adelanto. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/10/18

'Deep division,' distrust pervade Huntington Beach Police Department, study finds -- Team-building among police staff, leadership development, infrastructure improvements and additional staffing are among 16 recommendations for improvement made by an independent consulting firm tasked with studying operations at the Huntington Beach Police Department. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/10/18

With BART ridership down, and complaints up, agency promises new cleanup -- BART officials who acknowledge that filthy stations and trains, the presence of sleeping homeless people and fear of crime may be scaring away riders said this week they have big plans to clean up the region’s backbone transit system. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/10/18

Sudden appearance of electric scooters irks Santa Monica officials -- The dockless shared scooters took Santa Monica by surprise, including the mayor, who says he received a LinkedIn message from Bird chief executive Travis VanderZanden, offering to introduce him to the company’s “exciting new mobility strategy for Santa Monica” — after they landed in town. Noah Smith in the Washington Post$ -- 2/10/18

How an Olympic skier from Tahoe made it, despite being as tall as Draymond Green -- They dismissed him as too tall. They said his size 15 feet were too big an obstacle. They told his parents it just couldn’t be done. But 6-foot-7 Bryce Bennett dreamed of growing into a top downhill ski racer anyway. “There’s a first time for everything,” he once told his father. Elliott Almond in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/10/18

Meet the Sacramento ‘Lady Birds’ who flew back home -- The Oscar-nominated movie “Lady Bird,” set in Sacramento, has trained a spotlight on the capital city as the pleasant but unexciting hometown of a young woman eager to escape to a bigger life elsewhere. There’s more to the Sacramento story. Some of those who leave – some “Lady Birds” – fly home. Call it the real-life sequel. Tony Bizjak and Ryan Lillis in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/10/18

Problems in the pipeline for Sempra's subsidiary in Mexico -- Sempra, San Diego’s Fortune 500 energy giant, has made sizable investments across Mexico, looking to take advantage of the Mexican government’s decision more than four years ago to dramatically reform its energy system and open it up to projects from foreign companies. But an incident in a small town in the state of Sonora offers a stark example how expensive plans can be disrupted. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/10/18

CHP officer in Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's motorcade hurt in crash near Ronald Reagan library -- A crash involving motorcycle officers accompanying Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his visit to Southern California sent one officer to the hospital, but Trudeau's vehicle was not involved and he was not hurt. Associated Press -- 2/10/18

As domestic abuse claims roil the White House, Trump says lives are being ruined ‘by a mere allegation’ -- President Trump appeared to be coming to the defense of men accused of domestic abuse or other sexual misconduct, asking in a Saturday morning Twitter post, “Is there no such thing any longer as Due Process?” Anne Gearan in the Washington Post$ -- 2/10/18

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

State, feds clash in court over Trump's border wall -- At the center of the case — three lawsuits that have been consolidated into a single matter — is whether the federal government had the authority to waive its compliance with a host of laws in order to rush border construction projects in San Diego and Calexico, including the eight border wall prototypes that have already been completed on Otay Mesa. Kristina Davis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/10/18

Judge leans toward asserting right to rule on border wall -- A judge who was berated by Donald Trump during the presidential campaign said Friday he was inclined to conclude he can decide a lawsuit that challenges the president's proposed border wall with Mexico but gave no indication how he'll rule. Elliot Spagat Associated Press -- 2/10/18

Man in US illegally guilty of killing 2 California deputies -- Luis Bracamontes was found guilty of murder in the shootings of Sacramento County sheriff's Deputy Danny Oliver and Placer County sheriff's Detective Michael Davis Jr. in 2014. He also was convicted of attempted murder, carjacking, weapons violations and other crimes. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 2/10/18

California must consider earlier parole for sex offenders, judge rules -- Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Allen Sumner preliminarily ordered prison officials to rewrite part of the regulations for Proposition 57. The 2016 ballot measure allows consideration of earlier parole for most state prison inmates, but Gov. Jerry Brown promised voters all sex offenders would be excluded. That goes too far, Sumner said in rejecting Deputy Atty. Gen. Maria Chan's argument that the ballot measure gave state officials broad discretion to exclude any class of offenders whose release might harm public safety. Associated Press -- 2/10/18

Feinstein roars back after early election stumbles -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein seemed under siege within her own party last fall, with fellow California congressional Democrats openly speculating about possible primary challengers and progressives railing against her brand of centrism. But with the state’s “top two” primary just four months away, few are talking about her vulnerability anymore. David Siders Politico -- 2/10/18

Youth tackle football could be banned in California by next year -- The "Safe Youth Football Act," announced Thursday by Assemblymembers Kevin McCarty (D- Sacramento) and Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D – San Diego), aims to protect children from brain injury by establishing a minimum age to play in organized contact football programs. Ted Andersen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/10/18

Four file to run against disciplined Judge Gary Kreep -- Kreep, 67, filed papers Jan. 30 to seek his second second six-year term on the bench, following a first term that featured a lengthy disciplinary proceeding with the Commission on Judicial Performance which charged him with numerous counts of misconduct. Greg Moran in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/10/18

San Francisco’s key issues condensed to van rental agent’s tweet storm -- Sharky Laguana typed the string of 37 tweets in a fit of frustration Thursday, describing an hours-long saga of trying to recover a rental van that wasn’t returned when it was due, an effort stymied by red tape and laws that prevent police from getting involved. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/10/18

Protesters Still Fighting Charges From 2016 Neo-Nazi Rally At California Capitol -- Three protesters who demonstrated at the neo-Nazi rally at the Capitol a year-and-a-half ago are still crying foul at the Sacramento District Attorney. They face felony and misdemeanor charges related to the event — and want them dropped. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 2/10/18

Inmates denied costly hepatitis C cure, suit says -- The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by Sacramento attorneys Mark E. Merin and Fred J. Hiestand. The 18 prisoners named as plaintiffs all have hepatitis C and “seek to require” the prison health care system to provide them and other inmates who have the viral infection with the new drugs. Cathy Locke in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/10/18

California Politics Podcast: New Law, New Charges -- This week: A female legislator faces sexual misconduct allegations as lawmakers pass a new staff whistleblower act. And we dig into that new public poll in the race for governor -- with two Democratic candidates neck and neck. Analysts: John Myers and Melanie Mason of the Los Angeles Times. Link here -- 2/10/18

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

L.A. gets extended deadline to consider 2026 World Cup bid -- Alex Comisar, spokesman for Mayor Eric Garcetti, said Friday the United Bid Committee extended the deadline until later this month for Los Angeles to bid on a piece of the international event. The United Bid Committee represents the three-nation group cooperatively seeking to host the World Cup in North America. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/10/18

Police can’t be fired for having affairs with other officers, court rules -- Reinstating a damage suit by a former policewoman in the Placer County community of Roseville, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said supervisors could not punish her for off-duty sexual conduct unless it affected her work. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/10/18

PG&E won’t give 2018 financial forecast, due to fires -- Concerned about mounting lawsuits that could expose it to billions of dollars in liability from October's massive wildfires, PG&E Corp. took the highly unusual step Friday of not forecasting revenue for the coming year. The parent company of utility Pacific Gas and Electric Co. suspended its dividend in December for the same reason. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/10/18

Bottled water giant Nestlé tells California regulators it’s entitled to keep piping water -- Nestlé is disputing the findings of an investigation by California water regulators, arguing the company is entitled to keep piping water out of the San Bernardino National Forest — even more water than it has been bottling and selling in the past few years. Ian James in The Desert Sun -- 2/10/18

Guns 

San Diego Lawmakers Introduce Bill Aimed At Increasing Concealed-Carry Permit Requirements -- Assemblyman Todd Gloria co-authored the bill with Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher. It would require concealed-carry permit applicants to complete a minimum of eight hours of firearm training and perform live-fire exercises in a firing range. KPBS Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/10/18

Homeless  

Letters reportedly posted at San Francisco tent encampment threaten to burn, beat homeless people -- Shortly after 1:45 p.m., a homelessness service provider found letters on multiple tents at an encampment beside the Duboce skate park between Mission and Valencia streets, according to Kelley Cutler of the Coalition on Homelessness. Michelle Robertson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/10/18

Wildfire  

Refugees from Santa Rosa mobile home park: ‘We feel really abandoned’ after firestorm -- Their home was called Journey’s End, the very name promising a well-earned respite. For nearly 60 years, the mobile-home park in Santa Rosa was a haven for low-income seniors. One of the owners was a former resident, and he took good care of them. The rent was cheap. The pool was clean. The city’s hospitals were down the street. Lizzie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/10/18

Education 

High school science fair project questioning African American intelligence sparks outrage -- Students, parents and staff at C.K. McClatchy High School are upset over a science fair project by a student in its elite magnet program that questioned whether certain races of people lack the intelligence to handle the program’s academically challenging coursework. Diana Lambert in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/10/18

Immigration / Border 

Court rules Los Angeles sheriff violated immigrants' rights -- A federal judge has found that the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and immigration officials violated the rights of suspected immigrants who were detained after they should have been released from jail. KPCC Brenda Gazzar in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/10/18

Health 

Flu-related deaths in California surpass 150 as worst season in years continues its toll -- New influenza cases are dropping across California, but deaths continue to rise in the Golden State as this season’s mighty wave of flu maintains its grip locally and on the nation, state health officials announced Friday. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/10/18

These 5 bills before California lawmakers seek to expand health coverage, lower costs -- This week, advocates of moving California to a single-payer health care system renewed their push in Sacramento. On Wednesday, hundreds of them crowded into a hearing of a special State Assembly committee that's exploring whether and how to bring universal health care to the state. Michelle Faust KPCC -- 2/10/18

Environment 

Nutria crackdown: California looks to eradicate ruinous rodent before it tears up state -- A remarkably destructive rodent that can grow up to 3 feet long and 20 pounds has been spotted in California for the first time in nearly half a century, prompting state wildlife officials to announce an aggressive crackdown. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/10/18

POTUS 45  

Breaking with tradition, Trump skips president’s written intelligence report and relies on oral briefings -- For much of the past year, President Trump has declined to participate in a practice followed by the past seven of his predecessors: He rarely if ever reads the President’s Daily Brief, a document that lays out the most pressing information collected by U.S. intelligence agencies from hot spots around the world. Carol D. Leonnig, Shane Harris and Greg Jaffe in the Washington Post$ -- 2/10/18

Beltway 

Pelosi comes out a loser — and a winner — in battle over spending bill -- “Win some, lose some” may be the ancient mantra of politics, but Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi managed to do both in the same vote on a compromise budget agreement early Friday morning. Predictably, the result angered plenty of Democrats and left Pelosi as a target of both the right and the left. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/10/18

 

-- Friday Updates 

L.A. federal judge rules that a key part of Trump's immigration crackdown effort is illegal -- A federal judge in Los Angeles has ruled that police departments violate the Constitution if they detain inmates at the request of immigration agents, marking the latest legal setback for the Trump administration's plans to identify and deport immigrants in the country illegally. Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/9/18

Feds drop case against driver of fake UPS truck carrying 77 immigrants -- Federal prosecutors have quietly dismissed the case against a man accused of smuggling 77 immigrants in the back of a fake UPS truck. In its request to drop the felony charge, the U.S. attorney's office cited "certain factual issues," saying "the interests of justice warrant dismissal of this case." No further details were given. Kristina Davis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/9/18

Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia to take leave of absence during investigation of misconduct allegations -- The statement comes one day after Politico reported that two men alleged improper sexual advances from Garcia. She has been one of the most vocal legislators speaking out about sexual harassment in the state Capitol. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ Kevin Modesti in the San Jose Mercury$ Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 2/9/18

Democratic candidates for governor make promises to union workers ahead of key endorsement vote -- Days before one of California’s most powerful labor unions announces its endorsement in the race for governor, the four top Democratic candidates courted members of the group’s largest and most influential local chapter in Los Angeles on Thursday night. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/9/18

California pensions facing hit as charter schools consider leaving -- One of the state’s largest charter school organizations is exploring whether it wants to withdraw from CalPERS, raising alarms among unions and public pension officials who fear a gradual weakening of the fund. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/9/18

California DMV worker used driver’s license records to steal identities, federal government says -- Sarah Laray Sandoval, 39, was a DMV employee with access to computer records that included driver’s names, dates of birth, addresses and other personal information that was used to steal victims’ identities and open phony bank accounts, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Sacramento. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/9/18

In shadow of San Andreas fault, hundreds of Inland Empire buildings face collapse in huge earthquake -- As many as 640 buildings in more than a dozen Inland Empire cities including Riverside, Pomona and San Bernardino have been marked as dangerous — but remain unretrofitted despite decades of warning, according to a Times analysis of the latest building and safety records. These cities are far behind coastal regions of California, which have retrofitted thousands of buildings after devastating earthquakes exposed how deadly they can be. Rosanna Xia, Rong-Gong Lin II and Raoul Rañoa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/9/18

California police worked with neo-Nazis to pursue 'anti-racist' activists, documents show -- Officers expressed sympathy with white supremacists and sought their help to target counter-protesters after a violent 2016 rally, according to court documents. Sam Levin The Guardian -- 2/9/18

L.A. Unified once again embarks on a tough search for a new superintendent -- The nation's second-largest school system has a dizzying array of problems, but the board is divided on how to solve them. Meanwhile, there aren't many candidates considered qualified for such a daunting job, and those who are may be getting other offers. Anna M. Phillips, Howard Blume and Joy Resmovits in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/9/18

Fox: GOP Voters Could Decide Governor’s Race -- The Public Policy Institute of California poll revealed a tight race for governor between Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with nary a Republican in sight. Yet, in the end it may be Republican voters who could choose the next governor because of California’s top two primary system. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 2/9/18

A teenager killed by deputies, a missing gun and community rage -- The father of a 16-year-old teenager who was shot and killed Sunday by a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy stood in front of a packed church seeking answers. Nicole Santa Cruz and Maya Lau in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/9/18

A plan to house L.A.'s homeless residents could transform parking lots across the city -- In the decades following World War II, when the suburbs were young and the car was king, Los Angeles went on a land-buying spree. The city bought parcels in every size and shape, demolished any buildings on them and opened parking lots to serve emerging commercial districts. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/9/18

Cannabis doctors’ offices are closing as over-the-counter sales surge -- A month into adult-use sales in California, legal cannabis has already driven a half-dozen medical marijuana recommendation clinics out of business, with consumers no longer needing medical recommendations to buy the botanical over the counter. One prominent online provider has also reported a steep decline in patients seeking referrals. Carolyne Zinko Greenstate -- 2/9/18

Last iconic 'immigrant crossing sign' disappears -- The “immigrant crossing” signs have become obsolete, said Cathryne Bruce-Johnson, a spokeswoman for Caltrans. The transportation department stopped replacing the signs years ago because it constructed fences along medians to deter people from running across highways. The last sign, which stood on the side of Interstate 5 near the San Ysidro border crossing, vanished in September. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/9/18

Sacramento’s first female cops have headquarters’ atrium named in their honor -- Flossie Crump and Felicia Allen, the first two women sworn into the Sacramento Police Department, were honored for paving the way for other women interested careers in local law enforcement, despite many challenges, during a department ceremony on Thursday. Nashelly Chavez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/9/18

California Town Wrestles With Aftermath Of Shooting Rampage -- On one level, it looks like all is mostly back to normal in the small, rural community of Rancho Tehama in northern California. But just below the surface it's clear people here are still grappling with the aftermath and struggling to heal from a local man's murderous rampage nearly three months ago that killed five and wounded 12 others. Eric Westervelt NPR -- 2/9/18

‘Endless photo slide show’: Train heroes’ movie opens to harsh reviews -- Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone and Anthony Sadler’s heroics in the midst of a terror attack aboard a European train resonated internationally as the epitome of courage in the face of adversity. Clint Eastwood’s film depicting the event, though, appears to have elicited a colder reaction. Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/9/18