Updating . .   

George Deukmejian dead at 89, public safety and law-and-order dominated two-term governor's agenda -- George Deukmejian, a perennially popular two-term Republican governor of California who built his career on fighting crime, hardening the state's criminal justice stance and shoring up its leaky finances, died on Tuesday. He was 89 years old. Claudia Luther and Richard Paddock in the Los Angeles Times$ Kathleen Roynane Associated Press Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/18

Brown's Delta tunnels get $650 million boost from Bay Area water agency -- A Bay Area water agency agreed Tuesday to pump $650 million into Gov. Jerry Brown's Delta tunnels project, providing a meaningful boost for the controversial $16.7 billion plan. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/18

Three finalists for LAPD chief are a diverse group of department veterans -- Arcos, a third-generation Mexican American, is in charge of Central Bureau, which includes downtown and parts of northeast Los Angeles. Moore oversees the LAPD's patrol operations. Scott, who is African American, left the LAPD more than a year ago to become police chief in San Francisco. Richard Winton, David Zahniser, James Queally and Cindy Chang in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

Marijuana tax cut could be in jeopardy as revenue lags behind budget projections -- Money collected through California’s marijuana taxes may fall short of the $175 million budgeted for the first six months of this year. The less-than-expected haul could force the Legislature to shelve a bill that would reduce the excise tax on pot from 15% to 11%, state officials warned Tuesday. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

Sutter nurse testifies surgery center leader asked: 'You couldn't just eat at your desk?' -- At hearings unfolding this week and next week at the California Labor Commissioner's Office, Sutter Health employees testified that they were not able to take meal breaks or rest breaks because of chronic understaffing in their departments at Sutter’s Capitol Pavilion Surgical Center in midtown Sacramento. Cathie Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/18

Political veteran vs. political outsiders in race for California schools superintendent -- The race for the state’s top schools job has long followed a familiar pattern: A state legislator, anointed by the Democratic establishment and the teachers unions, faces off against political outsiders who want to bust up the Sacramento status quo. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/18

‘Meet the Press’ host Chuck Todd steps into California’s ‘weird jungle primary’ -- On Tuesday, Todd will be thrown into the middle of the jungle at a crucial moment in the gubernatorial campaign, as moderator of a candidates debate being televised statewide. It will probably be the last time voters get to see the top six candidates sharing a debate stage before the June 5 primary. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/18

San Francisco Mayor Farrell wants city to be prepared for the next economic downturn -- Taking the hard lessons learned after the national economic downturn of 2008, which resulted in painful cuts to city services and the loss of some 40,000 local jobs, Farrell’s directive calls for the formation of an economic oversight board that will closely monitor economic conditions at the local, state and national levels. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/18

All systems are go for SpaceX’s BFR rocket facility at Port of Los Angeles after City Council OKs plan -- The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved a plan allowing SpaceX to build and operate a facility at the Port of L.A., where the Hawthorne space company will produce its next-generation BFR rockets and spacecraft. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

Worried about wildfires, PG&E unveils new fire forecasting center -- In a room where Pacific Gas and Electric Co. personnel used to monitor the electricity grid, analysts now watch day and night for fire. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/18

Knight: A plan for San Francisco to take rape cases seriously at last -- Late last month, a string of women testified at a City Hall hearing that they’d reported being raped or sexually assaulted in San Francisco and that the brush-off by city officials made the trauma even worse. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/18

Santa Clara County sheriff faces fiercest election challenge in two-decade tenure -- Santa Clara County’s longest-serving sheriff, Laurie Smith, faces her stiffest challenge yet for an unprecedented sixth term that she appears poised to win despite one of the biggest scandals in the agency’s history. Robert Salonga in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/8/18

Fox: Will Recall Election be a Harbinger for Gas Tax Repeal? -- Much was made at the recent state GOP convention about the gas tax repeal initiative being a magnet to bring Republican voters to the polls in November. Whether the magnet has true pulling power is yet to be determined but a test of that theory comes soon with the recall election of Democratic Sen. Josh Newman. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 5/8/18

"We've got some healing to do." New Phillips ad sounds social justice themes -- Noah Phillips has launched a new television spot sounding the themes of equal justice, police accountability and repairing community trust that have driven his campaign to unseat Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert on June 5. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/18

Proposed California solar mandate could add $10,500 to cost of a house -- The California Energy Commission on Wednesday is expected to mandate solar arrays on almost all new single-family houses built after Jan. 1, 2020, as part of the state’s fight against global warming. The rule also would apply to new multifamily buildings up to three stories tall. David R. Baker and Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/18

Uber shows off its flying-car prototype -- At its second annual Elevate Summit in Los Angeles, the ride-hailing giant introduced a prototype for its electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL), which are designed to carry four passengers in ride-sharing flights in dense, urban markets. Levi Sumagaysay in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/8/18

Google CEO unveils new era of robots that sound like humans -- Pichai demonstrated Duplex’s ability by having Assistant make reservations with restaurants and hair salons in two recorded phone calls. The receivers of the calls seemed to have no idea they were speaking to an artificial intelligent voice. In the phone calls, Google Assistant said “ums” and “uhs” to make itself sound more human. Seung Lee in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/8/18

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning

California governor’s campaign could turn nasty as voters tune in -- For voters just starting to pay attention to the California governor’s race, Tuesday’s debate among the top six candidates offers a chance to catch up fast. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/18

California’s Governor Candidates Debate: Here’s A Look The Six Contenders -- The six leading candidates for California governor will debate on Tuesday evening in San Jose as vote-by-mail ballots arrive for the June 5 primary election. Democrat Gavin Newsom, who has emerged in polls as the frontrunner, says his careers in both the public and private sectors shape what he’d bring to the governor’s office. Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 5/8/18

Newsom ad highlights odd incentives of top-2 primary -- The California primary is a month away, but Democratic front-runner Gavin Newsom is already slamming Republican rival John Cox. Or he’s helping him. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom aired a television ad slamming Cox’s support for gun rights, noting “John Cox stands with Donald Trump and the NRA.” Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press -- 5/8/18

Gabby Giffords backs Gavin Newsom's gubernatorial campaign in her first television ad this election cycle -- Gavin Newsom’s campaign on Monday released a television ad that focuses on gun control and features former Rep. Gabby Giffords, the survivor of an assassination attempt, and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

DCCC drops first TV ads of 2018, attacking Republicans running for Ed Royce seat -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will begin airing ads in one Orange County congressional district on Tuesday, signaling it’s ready to take a more active role in one of the most competitive open House seats in the country. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

Sen. Josh Newman in fight for his political life over vote to raise California's gas tax -- A week after voting with fellow Democrats to raise California's gas tax, state Sen. Josh Newman was vacationing with his wife on a Caribbean island when he saw a news alert on his phone that said Republicans were targeting a lawmaker for recall over the action. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

California lawmakers move to limit opioids for minors -- The Assembly voted 53-0 to advance a bill to limit doctors from prescribing more than five days’ worth of opioid drugs to minors. AB2741 makes exemptions for situations including medical emergencies, hospice care and other instances where doctors deem a longer prescription medically necessary. It now goes to the Senate. Sophia Bollag Associated Press -- 5/8/18

Assembly Democrats make pitch for $1 billion in healthcare spending in upcoming budget talks -- As budget negotiating season heats up, Assembly Democrats are making their priorities clear, proposing $1 billion in new healthcare spending that includes expanding Medi-Cal coverage to young adults without legal status and subsidizing insurance premiums for the poor. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 5/8/18

More undocumented immigrants would qualify for health care in $250 million California plan -- More than 100,000 undocumented adult immigrants in California would be eligible for state-subsidized health coverage, under a major budget push announced by Assembly Democrats Monday. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/18

Needle by Needle, a Heroin Crisis Grips California’s Rural North -- The dirty needles can be found scattered among the pine and brush, littering the forest floor around Eureka, a town long celebrated as a gateway to the scenic Redwood Empire. They are the debris of a growing heroin scourge that is gripping the remote community in Northern California. Jose A. Del Real in the New York Times$ -- 5/8/18

California Gubernatorial hopefuls look to health care for election edge -- California’s leading gubernatorial candidates agree that health care should work better for Golden State residents: Insurance should be more affordable, costs are unreasonably high, and robust competition among hospitals, doctors and other providers could help lower prices, they told California Healthline. Pauline Bartolone California Healthline via the Orange County Register -- 5/8/18

Vice News special on California candidate Katie Hill offers unvarnished -- sometimes uncomfortable -- look at campaigning in 2018 -- The first-time candidate is seen hunting for votes at the state Democratic Party Convention, preparing for a debate by watching a bit from comedian John Oliver and recounting how her personal life has changed since she entered the crowded race challenging GOP Rep. Steve Knight. Even breakfast with mom has to be scheduled by her campaign manager. Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

Billionaire Soros drops $1.5 million into PAC supporting DA candidate Jones-Wright -- For weeks Interim District Attorney Summer Stephan’s campaign has been promoting the not-so-closely held rumor that billionaire financier and criminal justice reform advocate George Soros was planning sizable campaign funding for rival candidate Genevieve Jones-Wright. Greg Moran in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/8/18

Bucking precedent, Garcetti won't name three finalists for LAPD chief -- The names of three finalists for Los Angeles police chief have been forwarded to Mayor Eric Garcetti, who is bucking recent precedent by declining to name them. Cindy Chang, David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

California justice calls for new rules on eyewitness identification in court -- A California Supreme Court justice, dissenting Monday in a death penalty decision, called for new rules to curb inaccurate eyewitness identification, a leading cause of wrongful convictions. The dissent came in a case in which the court decided 5 to 2 to uphold the death sentence of Ennis Reed, convicted of killing two people in Compton. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

California police officers mourn six killed in 2017 -- One was a new California Highway Patrol officer who died on Christmas Eve while his kids waited for him to open their presents. Another was a deputy from Stanislaus County who was killed in a car crash while his department’s leaders were paying respects to fallen officers at a national memorial. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/18

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

Massive UC workers' strike disrupts dining, classes and medical services -- A massive labor strike across the University of California on Monday forced medical centers to reschedule more than 12,000 surgeries, cancer treatments and appointments, and campuses to cancel some classes and limit dining services. Teresa Watanabe, Joy Resmovits in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

Three UCLA staffers hit by vehicle during service workers’ strike -- Police took a man into custody Monday after he drove his vehicle into a crowd, hitting three UCLA staff members who were taking part in a state-wide strike by University of California service workers, university police said. Melissa Etehad in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

First company to $1 trillion: Apple zeroes in on historic market cap for ultimate ‘icing on the cake’ -- For the past few months, Apple has flirted with the possibility of becoming the first company ever to reach the once-thought-impossible $1 trillion market capitalization. Seung Lee and Rex Crum in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/8/18

Homeless  

Oakland to clear long-standing homeless encampment while opening new shed-homes -- A long-standing homeless encampment in Oakland will be cleared out in the coming months as the city moves a portion of the population there into a publicly owned lot outfitted with Tuff Sheds. Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/18

Housing  

Sonoma County government offices may move to downtown Santa Rosa, freeing up space for future housing -- Sonoma County leaders are poised to move forward Tuesday with a yearslong effort to redevelop their aging and sprawling north Santa Rosa government campus, a measure that could make room for at least 1,400 housing units. J.D. Morris in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat -- 5/8/18

Why Hasn't the Tenderloin Gentrified Like the Rest of San Francisco? -- San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood is located downtown, bordered by some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city. Yet, it has a bad reputation. Tourists are told to avoid the area. You can often see drug dealing out in the open, and garbage on the streets. Kelly O'Mara KQED -- 5/8/18

Water  

$650 million vote set on Delta tunnels project: Are taxpayers protected? -- In a vote that could give Gov. Jerry Brown’s $17 billion Delta tunnels plan new momentum, Silicon Valley’s largest water agency on Tuesday will consider changing course and endorsing the controversial project to make it easier to move water to the south. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/8/18

Gov. Brown accused of behind-the-scenes manipulation in vote of water tunnel project -- Two nonprofit groups are accusing Gov. Jerry Brown of improperly working with Metropolitan Water District board directors behind the scenes to put pressure on a key vote for a massive water tunnel project. Sharon McNary KPCC -- 5/8/18

Education 

Kamala Harris cancels Cal graduation speech in boycott of UC over labor dispute -- California Sen. Kamala Harris announced Monday she will boycott the UC Berkeley graduation, where she was supposed to deliver the keynote address, because of a labor strike. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

GOP candidates for governor say California schools need changes, not more funding – The Republican candidates for governor of California are offering voters vastly different plans for education compared to their Democratic rivals and Gov. Jerry Brown. Nico Savidge EdSource -- 5/8/18

Immigration, Border, Deportation 

Sessions: Zero-tolerance policy may split families at border -- A “zero-tolerance” policy toward people who enter the United States illegally may cause families to be separated while parents are prosecuted, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Monday. Elliot Spagat Assciated Press Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ Joseph Tanfani and Cindy Carcamo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

Hondurans immigrants protest loss of their protected status -- Victor Diaz left his poverty-stricken existence in Honduras in 1992 for the United States and ended up in Richmond. He survived on temporary jobs in the underground economy until 1999, when the U.S. granted Temporary Protected Status against deportation to Hondurans because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/18

Health 

Even milder concussions double dementia risk, UCSF study finds -- As concern grows over the long-term danger of concussions, San Francisco medical researchers have found that the brain injuries are more potentially debilitating than previously thought, doubling the risk of dementia even in people who suffer milder trauma without loss of consciousness. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/8/18

California judge affirms ruling for coffee cancer warnings -- Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle said Starbucks Corp. and other roasters and retailers failed to show that benefits from drinking coffee outweighed any risks from a carcinogen that is a byproduct of the roasting process. He had tentatively made the same written decision in March. Brian Melley Associated Press -- 5/8/18

Environment 

Lake Tahoe’s Shores Would Change, Including More Piers, Under New Proposal -- The way people play along Lake Tahoe's 72 miles of shoreline could change this year. The latest iteration of theTahoe Shoreline Plan comes out Tuesday. The proposal would add 138 piers, of which 10 are public. Ezra David Romero Capital Public Radio -- 5/8/18

Also . . . 

California governor denies parole for 1979 murder accomplice -- Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday denied parole for one of four men convicted in the 1979 killing of a Modesto couple. A parole panel recommended in December that Ronald Ray Anderson, 57, be freed nearly four decades after the slayings of Phillip and Kathryn Ranzo. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 5/8/18

Did the East Area Rapist have an accomplice? 'That is a possibility,' detective says -- Detective Paul Holes, credited with coming up with the family-tree tracing method that caught suspect Joseph James DeAngelo last month, said Monday it's possible two people were involved in some of the crimes. Anita Chabria in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/8/18

House votes to name L.A. post office for Motown legend Marvin Gaye -- He shaped the sound of Motown in the 1960s and 1970s, and legend Marvin Gaye could soon have a Los Angeles post office carrying his name. The House of Representatives on Monday approved legislation to name the post office at 4040 W. Washington Blvd. in Gaye’s honor by a voice vote. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/8/18

POTUS 45  

Trump considers benching Giuliani from doing TV interviews -- President Donald Trump is growing increasingly irritated with lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s frequently off-message media blitz, which has included muddying the waters on hush money paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels and making claims that could complicate the president’s standing in the special counsel’s Russia probe. Jonathan Lemire Associated Press Eliana Johnson, Annie Karni and Darren Samuelsohn Politico -- 5/8/18

Trump wants a $15 billion spending cut. That’s about 1 percent of the cost of his tax bill -- President Trump has been a big spender since taking office, as he and Congress have put America on track to run the largest deficit ever in good economic times. Now Trump is trying a different approach: He is calling on Congress to claw back $15 billion in spending. Heather Long in the Washington Post$ -- 5/8/18

New plagiarism row for Melania Trump as pamphlet bears uncanny resemblance to 2014 version -- Booklet on children’s online safety for first lady’s ‘Be Best’ campaign seems almost identical to one first published by FTC four years ago. David Smith The Guardian -- 5/8/18

Beltway 

Peter Thiel and Palantir Are at the Heart of the Iran Nuclear Deal -- Silicon Valley billionaire -- and Donald Trump supporter -- Peter Thiel has emerged as an unlikely player in the international debate over Iran’s nuclear deal with six world powers. Jonathan Tirone Bloomberg -- 5/8/18

HUD Secretary Ben Carson to be sued for suspending Obama-era fair-housing rule -- Fair-housing advocates planned to file a lawsuit early Tuesday against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and HUD Secretary Ben Carson for suspending an Obama-era rule requiring communities to examine and address barriers to racial integration. Tracy Jan in the Washington Post$ -- 5/8/18

 

-- Monday Updates 

University Of California Workers Start 3-Day Strike Over Pay -- Thousands of custodians, security guards, gardeners and other service workers at University of California campuses started a three-day strike Monday to address pay inequalities and demand higher wages. Strikers gathered at sunrise on the 10 campuses throughout the state, wearing green T-shirts and carrying signs that call for "equality, fairness, respect." Olga R. Rodriguez Associated Press -- 5/7/18

UCSF workers walk off job, medical appointments canceled -- Thousands of medical appointments were postponed this week at UCSF’s Mission Bay and Parnassus Avenue campuses as health-care workers across the University of California system walked off the job Monday amid an impasse in wage negotiations. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/7/18

L.A. Unified school bus drivers and teacher assistants are planning a daylong strike -- The union that represents 30,000 Los Angeles Unified School District support staff workers is planning a strike on May 15 over what its leaders have called unfair labor practices. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/7/18

Children likely to be separated from parents illegally crossing the border under new Trump administration policy -- All immigrants who cross the border illegally will be charged with a crime under a new "zero-tolerance" border enforcement policy, Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions said Monday, in a crackdown that could overwhelm already-clogged detention facilities and immigration courts with hundreds of thousands of new cases. Joseph Tanfani in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/7/18

Gig economy faces shakeup after California high court ruling -- Berkeley’s Aaron Powell may be the consummate gig worker. He drives his electric Volkswagen Golf for Uber, Lyft, Postmates, DoorDash, Caviar — “anything that might give me a step up,” he said. “I just pick whoever is paying the most money at the time and do that one.” Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/7/18

Elk Grove lawmaker called out for accepting tobacco money -- A non-profit organization is calling out Assemblyman Jim Cooper, D-Elk Grove, for ending his pledge to reject campaign donations from tobacco companies. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/7/18

Surfer Rohrabacher faces ‘blue wave’ -- After 30 years in office, Orange County Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher is facing his toughest re-election. Rohrabacher, 70, is being challenged by more than a dozen people in the June primary, including his former ally, Republican Scott Baugh. Lisa Renner Capitol Weekly -- 5/7/18

Big voting changes in Sacramento, but business as usual elsewhere -- With mail-in voting for California's June 5 primary election set to begin Monday, some officials are worried that Sacramento County's move to a new voting system could be confusing to those in neighboring counties. Diana Lambert in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/7/18

Solar panels on new homes soon could be required in California -- The mandate, which would take effect in 2020, is expected to be approved by the California Energy Commission on Wednesday as part of the state’s ongoing push to move from fossil fuels to renewable power. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/7/18

A teacher allegedly harassed students every few years. School leaders say they're powerless -- Roseville school superintendent Ron Severson and assistant superintendent Steve Williams have asked lawmakers to help protect students and staff from alleged pedophiles and sexual harassers. Diana Lambert in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/7/18

This one stretch of river could decide the future of Shasta Dam -- The final stretch of the McCloud River before it empties into the state's largest reservoir is a place of raw beauty. On a recent morning, the river's icy water, flanked by flowering dogwood trees and jagged rock formations, flowed fast and clean. Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/7/18

California Governments Take Drugmakers To Court Over Opioid Crisis -- From Shasta to San Diego, local governments are asking drugmakers to cover the cost of caring for opioid-addicted patients, and to pay for the public safety and law enforcement resources used to combat the crisis. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 5/7/18

Bretón: Hey, man, light one up for Cheech Marin, he's earned it -- If someone had told comedic actor Richard "Cheech" Marin 40 years ago that he would be in Sacramento Monday to receive an award from politicians at the state Capitol for being a "positive role model," Marin likely would have said: "You're stoned, man." Marcos Bretón in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/7/18

Tourists in Los Angeles County pumped a record $22.7 billion into the local economy -- A record-setting pace of tourists visiting Los Angeles County injected $22.7 billion into the local economy last year, countering fears that a strong dollar and tough rhetoric from the White House might scare off international tourists. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/7/18

Rank-and-file Republicans get almost no guidance from California GOP -- The big news out of the state GOP convention in San Diego over the weekend wasn’t who the Republicans endorsed, but who they didn’t. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/7/18

Fox: GOP Whiffs on Guv Endorsement -- In an article last week, I argued that an endorsement for governor at the state GOP convention could have a serious impact on the entire party strategy in November. But there was no endorsement for either businessman John Cox or Assemblyman Travis Allen, thus no impact on that race and possibly down ticket races if the lack of a Republican at the top of the ticket means Republican voters will not bother to vote. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 5/7/18

Here's what came out of the California GOP convention -- In the June 5 primary election, voters will select the top two gubernatorial candidates to advance to the November 6 runoff; the highest voter-getters move on, regardless of their political party. Many in the party had hoped Republicans would unite behind one candidate rather than risk being shut out of the general election by the Democrats. Of the six major candidates running to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown, four are Democrats and just two are Republicans. Mary Plummer and Sandra Oshiro KPCC -- 5/7/18

D.C. vs. Sacramento? GOP House members target California’s gas tax -- With the president and a federal tax bill both less than popular, and talk of a blue wave coming in November, what’s a GOP congressman from California to do? Take on Sacramento! Specifically, House Republicans from California are teeing off on SB 1, the gas tax increase passed a year ago by their home state’s Legislature. Jeff Horseman in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 5/7/18

Transgender woman on migrant caravan: 'I wouldn’t last a day if I returned to Honduras' -- Of the 225 asylum seekers escaping from places like Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, the dozen or so members of the transgender community who arrived in Tijuana feel they are targeted wherever they go. Gustavo Solis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/7/18

Climate Scientist Won't Back Down Despite Threats, Harassment -- Even as negotiators wind up another round of climate talks in Germany this week, there is little evidence that leaders are reining in global greenhouse gas emissions enough to avoid warming Earth by more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) — that's the threshold at which scientists say we can avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Craig Miller KQED -- 5/7/18

Trump calls on Congress to pull back $15 billion in spending, including on Children’s Health Insurance Program -- President Trump is sending a plan to Congress that calls for stripping more than $15 billion in previously approved spending, with the hope that it will temper conservative angst over ballooning budget deficits. Damian Paletta and Erica Werner in the Washington Post$ -- 5/7/18