Updating . .
Trump appoints new EPA head in San Francisco who led ‘Lock her up’ chants against Clinton -- A Santa Barbara County attorney who has fought for farmers and fossil fuels and led the “Lock Her Up” chants in opposition to Hillary Clinton, was appointed by the Trump administration Friday to head the Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Southwest office in San Francisco. Peter Fimrite and Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/19/18
Fake Facebook accounts and online lies multiply in hours after Santa Fe school shooting -- In the first hours after the Texas school shooting that left at least 10 dead Friday, online hoaxers moved quickly to spread a viral lie, creating fake Facebook accounts with the suspected shooter's name and a doctored photo showing him wearing a "Hillary 2016" hat. Drew Harwell in the Washington Post$ -- 5/18/18
30 percent of California tax agency managers have a relative on staff -- A California tax department where almost a third of managers are related to another employee is unwinding nepotistic chains of supervision six months after a state audit revealed a problematic concentration of personal relationships among staff. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/18/18
California charter school backers put their money on Antonio Villaraigosa -- Antonio Villaraigosa once worked for a teachers union, married a teacher and jumped into politics with educators and their labor unions in his corner. But that was a long time ago. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/18
In another rebuke of President Trump, cities and counties come out in support of 'sanctuary state' law -- Pushing back against the Trump administration, the California Senate and more than 20 cities and counties have come out in support of the state’s “sanctuary” law, which limits law enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal immigration agencies. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
Since Sandy Hook, a gun has been fired on school grounds nearly once a week --There have been more than 180 shootings on school campuses that resulted in an injury or death in the U.S. since Dec. 14, 2012, when 20 children and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Conn. Priya Krishnakumar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
A closer look at the three finalists for LAPD chief -- As young cops, the three finalists for chief of the Los Angeles Police Department were taught a harsh style of policing that emphasized crackdowns and arrests. They have since disavowed that strategy, rising through the ranks of a department that has recast itself as a kinder, gentler LAPD. Cindy Chang, James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
Kaiser will put $200 million toward affordable housing, homelessness -- Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente said Friday it will invest $200 million in the coming years in programs to grow affordable housing and mitigate homelessness in Bay Area cities and other locations where the health system operates. Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Louis Hansen in the San Jose Mercury$ Noam N. Levey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
Mare Island could get film studio, winery after car factory falls through -- A corner of Vallejo’s Mare Island once eyed for an electric car factory could house a film studio and a winery instead, if a Wine Country mogul and his business partners succeed. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/18
Taylor: Even in Oakland, calling the cops on black people just living their lives -- The first time I saw the video of a white woman on the phone with police because two black men were using a charcoal grill at Lake Merritt, I thought it was a parody, a provocative satire on race in America. But, no, this is America, a country where a black person must be prepared for the possibility that police might be called to investigate and indict their blackness. Otis R. Taylor Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/18
Knight: ‘He really loves the job’: Could San Francisco interim Mayor Mark Farrell return? -- Back in January, shortly after being named San Francisco’s interim mayor after the unexpected death of Mayor Ed Lee, Mark Farrell told The Chronicle’s editorial board his upcoming six months in office would be the end of his political career. “This is it,” he said then. “Ask my wife.” Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/18
Gunman opens fire in Texas high school, killing up to 10 -- At least one gunman opened fire at a Houston-area high school Friday, killing eight to 10 people, most of them students, authorities said. It was the nation’s deadliest such attack since the massacre in Florida that gave rise to a campaign by teens for gun control. Juan A. Lozano Associated Press -- 5/18/18
Trump administration moves to put new restrictions on abortion services -- The Trump administration moved Friday to place new restrictions on access to abortion, as the Health and Human Services Department prepared new regulations that would effectively bar organizations that receive federal family planning money from providing abortions or counseling women about how to get the procedure. Noam N. Levey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
California gains nearly 40,000 jobs, and unemployment falls to record low -- California added 39,300 net new jobs in April, as the unemployment rate fell from 4.3% to a new record low of 4.2%, according to data released Friday by the state Employment Development Department. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
Traffic or $9 tolls? Bay Area voters to decide which is worse -- Voters in all nine Bay Area counties next month will face a difficult choice: endure bridge tolls reaching as high as $9 by 2025 or continue to suffer through seemingly constant traffic gridlock with few viable alternatives. Erin Baldassari in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/18
Elon Musk’s interesting take on a boring subject -- Elon Musk’s big dream to drill tunnels beneath Los Angeles as a way to ease the insane traffic in the city became a bit clearer this week after the Tesla CEO shared his vision for the Boring Company with a group of excited local residents. Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/18
Ryan-linked group raised $24.6M from anonymous donor -- American Action Network, the nonprofit group closely aligned with House Speaker Paul Ryan, raised a record $41.9 million amid the GOP push to repeal Obamacare and restructure the tax code — more than half of which came from one donor, according to a tax filing obtained by Politico. Scott Bland Politico -- 5/18/18
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Democratic dread: Party tries to keep California’s odd election rules from denying them the U.S. House -- California Democrats know exactly the trouble they’re in: They have too much of a good thing. Competitive congressional districts across Southern California are packed with qualified, enthusiastic and well-financed candidates touting progressive policies and promising stiff resistance to President Trump’s agenda. Ben Christopher Calmatters -- 5/18/18
Dems increase effort to avoid California catastrophe -- The political arm of House Democrats is undertaking a late push to drive up voter turnout in a handful of marquee California congressional districts where the party now faces the possibility of not even having a Democrat make it onto the November ballot. Alex Roarty in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/18/18
Garcetti taps Hollywood ties to fuel 2020 campaign -- Eric Garcetti is employing a unique and potentially potent home-state advantage as he prepares for an expected presidential campaign — delivering Hollywood’s expansive donor network to Democratic Party officials from early primary states. David Siders Politico -- 5/18/18
McClintock food stamp limits too strict even for other Republicans -- California Republican Rep. Tom McClintock doesn't believe his party's controversial plan to stiffen work requirements for food stamp recipients goes far enough. Kate Irby, Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/18/18
Rhee: The good, the bad and the ugly of our endorsement interviews -- For the last two months, my colleagues and I have spent hours upon hours interviewing candidates in the June 5 primary in races from local school board all the way up to U.S. Senate. Foon Rhee in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/18/18
Elias: Antonio Villaraigosa says he’s going up while Newsom goes flat -- Antonio Villaraigosa reads the polls, both his own campaign’s internal surveys and the public ones reported frequently via newspapers and television. These days, they make him feel good. Thomas D. Elias in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 5/18/18
Feds ask for clarification after Rep. Darrell Issa gave copies of his book to his campaign -- The Federal Election Commission is asking Rep. Darrell Issa’s campaign for more information about its income and expenses after the congressman donated copies of his book to his political campaign committee, to the tune of $17,000. Joshua Stewart in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/18/18
Judge rules that L.A. politician accused of sexually assaulting teenage girl can be named in lawsuit -- The decision by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Sotelo also allows attorneys to serve the suit against the politician, who has been identified in court papers only as John Doe. U.S. Rep Tony Cárdenas (D-Los Angeles) identified himself as the target of the lawsuit earlier this month. His attorney called the allegations "100%, categorically untrue." Emily Alpert Reyes, Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
Groping allegation against Cristina Garcia not substantiated by Assembly -- An Assembly investigation did not corroborate allegations that Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia drunkenly groped a former legislative staff member. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters -- 5/18/18
California judge in rape case has no regrets -- Judge Aaron Persky says he has no regrets. The Northern California judge says he would handle the sexual assault case of former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner the same way today as he did almost two years ago, though it’s the reason he is the target of a June 5 recall election and has become the self-described “most hated man on the internet.” Paul Elias Associated Press -- 5/18/18
Who is this George Soros and why should I care? -- He’s put a lot of money into the campaign for San Diego District Attorney, but who is George Soros? Merrie Monteagudo in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/18/18
Organized Labor Split in East Bay Assembly Race -- The huge field of candidates in the 15th Assembly District (currently at 11, the largest of Assembly races in the state) threatens to split the vote among leading Democrats. And a handful of those candidates have already split the loyalties of California's most powerful labor unions, leading to an arms race between typical allies in a district Democrats are virtually assured of winning. Guy Marzorati KQED -- 5/18/18
West Covina Council votes to strip mayor Mike Spence of his title, duties amid drug investigation -- Under the specter of an ongoing police investigation into a possible drug overdose, West Covina Mayor Mike Spence resigned from the largely ceremonial position Thursday night — then his colleagues made it effective immediately. Christopher Yee in the San Gabriel Tribune$ -- 5/18/18
Will Trump's pick to run EPA in California show up for work? -- The White House may have finally found someone to take on the stress of overseeing President Trump's fossil fuel-friendly environmental agenda in the heart of hostile territory: California and nearby states. But there's one glaring problem. Tony Barboza, Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
Political Breakdown: Angela Alioto -- San Francisco mayoral candidate Angela Alioto talks about growing up as the daughter of the mayor, her mother's brief disappearance in 1974, what Joe Alioto taught her about politics, her proposal to change San Francisco's 'sanctuary' law, and how she's changed politically over her career. Scott Shafer, Marisa Lagos KQED -- 5/18/18
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Wells Fargo reportedly altered business clients' documents without their knowledge -- Some Wells Fargo & Co. employees reportedly altered information improperly on documents related to certain business customers, adding another layer to the banking giant's woes. James F. Peltz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
PG&E ‘Wishfully Thinking’ It Can Toss Key Claim Over Wildfires -- Officials haven’t determined the causes of the Tubbs Fire and a series of other blazes that burned through wine country north of San Francisco last year, but analysts have said the utility could face more than $15 billion in claims from the fires. Joel Rosenblatt Bloomberg -- 5/18/18
Bay Area now has more billionaires than Moscow or London: report -- It is no surprise that the Bay Area is home to tech billionaires such as Apple CEO Tim Cook, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. But the local billionaires’ club is rapidly growing, especially compared to other metropolises around the world, according to the latest billionaires’ census from Wealth-X, a data company which tracks billionaires’ net worth. Seung Lee in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/18
Uber drivers’ wages revisited: How much do they make? -- A new analysis about Uber drivers’ wages finds that they take home about $9.21 an hour, or less than minimum wage in many of the biggest markets where the ride-hailing service operates. The analysis, by the pro-labor think tank Economic Policy Institute, builds on a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology study that at first said Uber drivers made an average of $3.37 an hour, then revised that figure to a median $8.55 an hour. Levi Sumagaysay in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/18
Oil prices surging — and that means gasoline prices are going up, too -- Crude oil prices have hit their highest levels in nearly four years and that means motorists are paying more for gasoline just as the upcoming Memorial Day weekend moves the summer driving season into high gear, pushing the price at some stations in San Diego over the $4 a gallon mark. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/18/18
Elon Musk brings his tunnel vision, and charm offensive, to West L.A. -- When the doors to the Leo Baeck Temple swung open at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, the public rushed through with the enthusiasm of a crowd sprinting toward a Black Friday sale. The crowd jostled for good seats, then waited. About 25 minutes late, billionaire Elon Musk walked onto the stage to applause, attributing his lateness to the 405 Freeway. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ Megan Barnes in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/18/18
Apple, Google, Facebook should ‘hire more women than men’ -- As debate rages about the best ways to bring more women into the technology industry — and keep them there — a new analysis asserts that even under ideal circumstances, it will be up to 15 years before major Silicon Valley firms close the gender gap. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/18
Silicon Valley startup peddles 3D-printed bike -- Arevo is using the bike to demonstrate its design software and printing technology, which it hopes to use to produce parts for bicycles, aircraft, space vehicles and other applications where designers prize the strength and lightness of so-called “composite” carbon fiber parts but are put off by the high-cost and labor-intensive process of making them. Stephen Nellis Reuters -- 5/18/18
California birth rate falls again to record low -- California’s birth rate fell to its lowest level in at least 100 years during 2017, even dipping below rates seen in the Great Depression, according to new figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/18/18
China Buys Record Amount of Russian Soy as It Shuns U.S. Growers -- China, the world’s biggest soybean importer, almost tripled purchases from Russia amid a trade dispute with the U.S., the biggest producer. Anatoly Medetsky Bloomberg -- 5/18/18
Calpers Considers Following Buffett’s Way -- The nation’s largest pension is considering a new strategy: setting up multibillion-dollar funds to buy and hold private companies for the long haul, replicating the approach of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Dawn Lim in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 5/18/18
Attendance soars at Southern California's most popular theme parks despite high prices -- If you're a theme park fan in Southern California, you already know that visiting one almost requires you to take out a cash advance on your paycheck. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
Three men charged with scamming agricultural guest workers -- Federal authorities charged three Southern California men with fraud and conspiracy Thursday, saying the trio illegally charged Mexican workers for agricultural guest-worker visas, then billed them for housing and other services that are supposed to be provided for free. Geoffrey Mohan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds
Initiative to expand Prop 13 homeowner tax benefits eligible for November ballot -- Just as a ballot initiative that would dramatically expand Proposition 13 tax benefits for longtime homeowners was deemed eligible for the November ballot on Thursday, its proponents said they were negotiating with the Legislature on a compromise to avoid a bruising and costly initiative battle. Katy Murphy in the San Jose Mercury$ Chris Nichols Capital Public Radio -- 5/18/18
Homeless
L.A. transit officials consider Metro-owned sites in Valley, Venice to aid homeless -- Los Angeles County transportation officials have identified five properties, including parking lots in the San Fernando Valley and a former bus yard in Venice Beach, that could be used to provide services or temporary housing for Los Angeles County's growing homeless population. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
Housing
Want to buy a home in California? Here's how much you need to earn — by county -- You’ll need to earn at least $333,270 a year to qualify to buy a median-priced home in San Francisco — but not all of California is that costly: An income of $35,400 is enough in Lassen County. Don Sweeney in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/18/18
California housing plans jump 30%, but that’s not enough -- California developers filed 30 percent more building permits already this year, but that’s not making much progress. Permits statewide were filed to build 28,352 residential units across the state in the first quarter, the third-largest tally among the states, according to Census Bureau stats. Building permits are seen as a solid indicator of developers’ construction plans. Jonathan Lansner in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/18
Southern California house prices up 7.3 percent in April, Realtors report -- The median price of an existing Southern California house — or price at the midpoint of all sales — was $515,000 for a second straight month in April. That’s the highest median for the region in more than a decade. Jeff Collins in the Orange County Register -- 5/18/18
One woman’s plan to solve the Bay Area’s housing problem: 10,000 tiny, backyard homes -- What do these two places have in common: Hale County, Alabama, one of the nation’s poorest communities, and Silicon Valley, one of the nation’s richest? People can’t afford homes in either place, says Pam Dorr, director of affordable housing at Menlo Park-based nonprofit Soup. Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/18
Cannabis
Lowell Herb makes pre-rolled marijuana joints and is looking to hire non-violent cannabis offenders -- Lowell Herb Co., a Los Angeles-based maker of marijuana cigarettes, is looking to hire more employees and the company is giving special consideration to non-violent cannabis offenders. Company CEO David Elias said many of them are having difficulty finding work. Kevin Smith in the Orange County Register -- 5/18/18
Education
Cal athletic department employee fired after report verifies sex assault allegations -- After a months-long investigation sparked by a star basketball player’s allegations of sexual assault, UC-Berkeley has fired a longtime official in its athletic department for conduct involving at least seven women athletes, bringing the university’s long struggles with sexual harassment into the #metoo era. Elliott Almond in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/18
Chinese government has 'serious concerns' about USC gynecologist and allegations of misconduct with students -- The Chinese government has expressed "serious concerns" over revelations that a gynecologist at USC's student health clinic was allowed to continue treating students despite repeated allegations of misconduct with patients, including many from China. Paul Pringle, Matt Hamilton, Harriet Ryan, Melissa Etehad in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
'Excruciating' video of bus driver accused of abusing autistic 8-year-old released -- A family released video of their 8-year-old daughter being roughly handled by a former Vacaville Unified School District driver transporting students with special needs, and their attorney says they believe there are other alleged victims out there. Dianne de Guzman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/18
California lacks system to track student progress from high school through college and jobs – While most states have some system that links their high school and college data to track what happens to students once they exit high school, California does not. Mikhail Zinshteyn EdSource -- 5/18/18
Immigration, Border, Deportation
ICE arrests of noncriminals in California soar amid Trump crackdown -- Immigration arrests of people without criminal convictions continue to soar in California, where the Trump administration emphasized its crackdown with a February sweep in the northern part of the state meant to counteract pro-immigrant sanctuary laws. Hamed Aleaziz in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/18
Sessions takes key authority away from immigration judges -- Attorney General Jeff Sessions barred the nation’s immigration judges Thursday from putting deportation cases on hold, a practice used in hundreds of thousands of cases of immigrants who needed time to gain legal status or were found to be low priorities for removal. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/18
Judge allows case over alleged forced labor in immigration detention to move forward -- Two former immigration detainees will be allowed to bring a class action lawsuit against CoreCivic, the private prison company that owns and operates Otay Mesa Detention Center, for alleged labor violations, a federal judge ruled Monday. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/18/18
Health
Governor, Lawmakers Offer Solutions For California Counties That Don’t Spend Mental-Health Funds -- Counties are leaving billions of dollars in state mental health funds unspent. Now Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers are looking for solutions to make sure that the money gets used. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 5/18/18
Grand jury faults local response to San Diego's hepatitis crisis -- Starting with its title, which includes the phrase “(Mis)handling a public health crisis,” the 20-page document doles out pointed criticism, and also some praise, for the very-public fight waged against the hepatitis A outbreak that killed 20 and sickened nearly 600 largely homeless and drug-using residents throughout the region last year. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/18/18
Environment
Taller than Niagara Falls: Giant sequoia forest preserved in landmark conservation deal -- In a deal to preserve some of the planet’s rarest and most massive living things, a Bay Area conservation group has signed an agreement to purchase the second-largest grove of giant sequoia trees left in private ownership in the world. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/18
As salinity grows and toxic dust spreads, patience wears thin at Salton Sea -- Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia watched with ill-disguised frustration as a hearing aimed at expediting state projects to restore habitat and control dust storms at the shrinking Salton Sea instead dissolved into discussion of why the efforts were falling further behind schedule. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
Despite a comeback in California, threatened sea otters are 'stuck' -- While threatened southern sea otters bob and sun in the gentle waves of this central California estuary, wildlife experts up and down the West Coast are struggling to figure out how to restore the crucial coastal predator to an undersea world that's falling apart in their absence. Ellen Knickmeyer Associated Press -- 5/18/18
Also . . .
While out for a jog, she discovered a baby buried alive. Twenty years later, they reunite -- For decades, Azita Milanian would wonder what happened to the boy after he recovered at a Pasadena hospital and was put up for adoption. This week, 20 years to the date of when she found him, the pair were reunited. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
L.A. County reveals 'possible breach' of personal data from social services hotline -- UpGuard, a cybersecurity firm based in Mountain View, Calif., said it notified the county in April that it discovered exposed Social Security numbers, addresses and sensitive notes about calls regarding mental health and abuse. Nina Agrawal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/18
People Don't Read Everything They Share Online ... and That's a Big Problem -- Shareability. Yes, that’s a word now. Certain posts encourage people to share them. Some even transgress into “sharebait,” an evolution of “clickbait.” Instead of being enticed to click, we’re compelled to share, perhaps without even looking at the actual article we're sharing. Sam Harnett KQED -- 5/18/18
Judge rules against county in child’s death after ingesting meth -- The brother of a 3-year-old girl who died after twice ingesting methamphetamine was also exposed to danger inside a Stockton foster home, a federal judge said while rejecting a motion to drop allegations against Alameda County. David DeBolt in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/18
County settles third sexual misconduct case against deputy; 12 more lawsuits still unresolved -- Another alleged victim of Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Fischer has agreed to a six-figure settlement of her lawsuit against San Diego County. The County Counsel’s Office offered $254,000 to a woman identified in court papers only as D.N., a resident of Vista who claimed that Fischer repeatedly groped her against her will after responding to a routine call for help. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/18/18
Rhino pregnancy stirs hope for a nearly extinct species -- Victoria, a southern white rhino at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, is pregnant. It’s an event of vital importance for a program to bring back her nearly extinct kin, the northern white rhino. Bradley J. Fikes in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/18/18
POTUS 45
Poll: Just 13 percent of Americans consider Trump honest and trustworthy -- Trump's honesty and trustworthiness scores are lowest in the poll, which also measures the president's ability to get things done, whether he is tough enough for the job and if he stands up for his beliefs. Thirty-five percent of Americans polled said they believed Trump has the ability to get things done, while 33 percent of those polled said he was tough enough for the job. Forty-one percent of those surveyed said Trump stands up for what he believes in. Julia Manchester The Hill -- 5/18/18
Bill Gates: I had to explain to Trump the difference between HIV, HPV -- Bill Gates discloses in newly revealed footage that President Trump twice asked him to clarify the difference between HIV and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Jacquelin Thomsen The Hill -- 5/18/18
Beltway
Ryan and McCarthy collide over immigration -- Paul Ryan and his longtime No. 2, Kevin McCarthy, have maintained a unified public front on immigration — but behind the scenes, the interests of the outgoing speaker and his potential successor are colliding over controversial Dreamers legislation. Rachael Bade Politico -- 5/18/18
GOP builds massive shadow army in fight for the House -- Republicans have amassed a sprawling shadow field organization to defend the House this fall, spending tens of millions of dollars in an unprecedented effort to protect dozens of battleground districts that will determine control of the chamber. Rachael Bade Politico -- 5/18/18
House panel rebukes Trump, upholds sanctions on Chinese tech megafirm -- Lawmakers from both parties unanimously agreed to include in an appropriations bill a provision that would uphold sanctions against the Chinese phone-maker, just days after President Donald Trump revealed in a tweet that he has directed his administration to help put the company “back in business.” Sarah Ferris, John Hendel Politico -- 5/18/18
-- Thursday Updates
2 'complete' IEDs found in home of blast victim's ex-boyfriend, authorities say -- Authorities investigating an explosion that killed the owner of an Aliso Viejo day spa and injured two customers say they have discovered two "complete" improvised explosive devices in the home of the dead woman's former boyfriend, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday. Richard Winton, Brittny Mejia, Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/18
Gov. Brown signs bill preventing disclosure of immigration status in court -- Pushing back against mounting criticism of California’s sanctuary policies, Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday signed a bill placing strict limits on the disclosure of a person’s immigration status in open court. Tatiana Sanchez in the San Jose Mercury$ Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/18
In Trump era, LAPD strengthens bonds with immigrants here illegally -- Al Labrada recalls the terror he felt as a young boy each time he rode from Los Angeles to San Diego on a Greyhound bus and passed through an immigration checkpoint. Brittny Mejia, Andrea Castillo, Kate Mather in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/18
Covered California premiums projected to rise 11 percent in 2019 -- The elimination of the Affordable Care Act’s requirement to buy health insurance, which takes effect in 2019, is expected to lead to a 12 percent drop in enrollment and an 11 percent rise in insurance premiums for Californians buying health plans on the individual market, according to estimates in a proposed annual budget released by Covered California, the state health insurance marketplace, on Thursday. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/17/18
CalPERS slashed pensions for 200 workers. Their boss is suing to keep his -- The first retiree to sue CalPERS after it decided to reduce pensions among a group of Southern California public employees is a former executive who’s facing criminal charges alleging that he embezzled government funds. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/17/18
Why a mailer on Dreamers from a 'nonpartisan' Latino group is worrying Democrats -- The pitch to voters in swing congressional districts is aimed at reminding Latino voters which vulnerable Republican and Democratic congressmen are supporting Dreamers. What the mailers don't say is that they come from a group with close ties to the conservative Koch brothers. Kate Irby in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/17/18
Pelosi says California delegation will pick sides in primary fights -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Democrats in the state’s congressional delegation are going to put their thumbs on the scale in some key House primary races to make sure strong Democratic candidates are among the top two facing voters in the fall. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/18
This California congressman is avoiding a #MeToo backlash so far. Here’s why -- Asked recently whether she would push Rep. Tony Cárdenas of California to resign over allegations in a lawsuit that he molested a teenager in 2007, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi shrugged. That seems to sum up Washington's collective response so far to the latest #MeToo sexual misconduct crisis involving a member of Congress. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/18
How California’s primary could stop Democrats from retaking the U.S. House -- Under the state’s top-two primary, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes advance to the general election in November, regardless of party. Democrats fear that the high numbers of hopefuls on the primary ballot could split the vote and leave the party without candidates in high-stakes congressional races in November. Priya Krishnakumar, Swetha Kannan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/18
Judge Persky: Effort to recall judge in Stanford sexual assault leads by double digits, poll finds -- Nearly half of likely voters — 46 percent — support removing Judge Aaron Persky from office, compared to 33 percent who oppose his ouster, according to the survey of likely voters conducted earlier this month for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and this news organization. Persky has drawn national notoriety for sentencing former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner to just six months in jail in a sensational sexual assault case. Tracey Kaplan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/17/18
Baby boomers would get a huge property tax break under this November initiative -- Older California residents who buy pricier homes could save thousands of dollars in property taxes under an initiative that has qualified for the statewide November ballot. Ryan Lillis in the Sacramento Bee$ Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/18
You need to make six figures to afford the median house in this Sacramento-area county -- You need a six-figure household income to buy the median-priced home in El Dorado County – and nearly as much to buy a home in Placer County. While not as expensive as coastal counties, it is getting tougher in the Sacramento region for people to afford homes, according to a new report by the California Association of Realtors. Ryan Lillis in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/17/18
Gov. Jerry Brown approves $1.9 million payment to man wrongly imprisoned for Simi Valley murders -- Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday approved a $1.95 million payment to compensate a man wrongly sent to prison for more than 38 years for a double-murder in Simi Valley that is now being investigated to determine whether it was actually the work of the Golden State Killer. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/18
Authorities arrest boyfriend and business partner of woman killed in day spa blast -- Stephen Beal, 59, of Long Beach was arrested on suspicion of possessing an unregistered destructive device, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said Thursday. Richard Winton, Brittny Mejia Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ Kelly Puente, Sean Emery, Scott Schwebke in the Orange County Register -- 5/17/18
Ex-girlfriend of 49ers’ Reuben Foster testifies she lied about domestic violence -- Reuben Foster’s ex-girlfriend took the stand Thursday in the 49ers linebacker’s felony domestic violence case and recanted allegations that he punched her in the head multiple times, saying she made up the entire story after he broke off their relationship. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/17/18
Mexico rejects Trump's comments that some immigrants are 'animals -- Mexico’s Foreign Minister said on Thursday that recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump describing some undocumented immigrants as “animals” were unacceptable, and that a formal complaint would be filed with the State Department. Reuters -- 5/17/18
Fox: Would You Believe? GOP Bill Would Raise Tax Revenue—Democrats Say No -- Here’s a shocker—Republicans, taxpayer groups and business associations pushed a bill that would raise tax revenue but it was rejected by the Democrats in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on the advice of unions, interest groups and others who always pine for more tax money. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 5/17/18