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California sues Trump administration to restore rules protecting farmworkers -- California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra joined his counterparts in New York and Maryland on Wednesday in filing another in a string of lawsuits against the Trump administration, this time challenging a decision to suspend safeguards for agricultural workers. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Right to die: Judge rebuffs effort to restore access to life-ending drug -- A Riverside Superior Court judge on Wednesday morning rebuffed an effort to restore California’s End of Life Options Act, which gives terminally ill patients the option to end life on their own terms. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/30/18

Why California's Kevin McCarthy is having a hard time locking down the speaker's job — again -- The same House conservatives who blocked the Bakersfield Republican from ascending to the coveted post in 2015 do not appear any more convinced that he’s their guy. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Republicans target Trump voters in California push -- The GOP's congressional campaign arm has mounted a six-figure digital effort focused on turning out Donald Trump voters in several of next week's California primaries, engaging in an early test of how to juice political participation from the president's base in some of the most potentially challenging districts for Republicans in the country. Katie Glueck in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/30/18

How California political ads fool voters, while candidates keep hands clean -- In California’s murky world of super PACs, just because a group is supporting a candidate doesn’t always mean that’s who its money is promoting. John Wildermuth and Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/30/18

More California voters, counties opting for mail-in ballots -- More than 1.4 million Californians already have cast ballots in the state primary. California election officials mailed more than 11.5 million ballots to registered voters. As long as a ballot is postmarked by June 5 it can arrive up to three days later and still be counted. Sophia Bollag Associated Press -- 5/30/18

Gavin Newsom ruminates on the legacy of Gov. Jerry Brown, the man he is running to replace -- California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would seek to model the budget-conscious ethos of Gov. Jerry Brown, but said he would be more active in the legislative process if elected to succeed him. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Jerry Brown has weak argument for 'large' prison guard raises, analyst says -- Gov. Jerry Brown's administration has a "weak justification" for the short and sweet tentative contract offer it struck with the state's union for correctional officers, a new report from the Legislative Analyst's Office says. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/30/18

A California church flirts with an unusual social experiment: to never call police again -- Standing on the front steps of First Congregational Church of Oakland late last month, Nichola Torbett issued a declaration. Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Capitol Weekly Podcast: Paul Mitchell -- California political data guru Paul Mitchell joins John Howard of Capitol Weekly to talk about the early voting returns as we head into next week's primary, as well as new numbers from the Secretary of State that show the California Republican Party slipping into third place in California voter preference, behind the Democrats and No Party Preference. Link Here -- 5/30/18

A.G. Block: Newsom TV spot hurts Democrats -- “Do not poke a dozing elephant with a stick; if the elephant’s asleep, leave it alone.” Now that you’ve been warned, let’s discuss Gavin Newsom. A.G. Block Capitol Weekly -- 5/30/18

Condos, restaurants, an elementary school. How an 80-story skyscraper could transform Bunker Hill -- Even in an era of mega real estate developments in downtown Los Angeles, the Angels Landing proposal stands out. Roger Vincent in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

San Leandro mattress plant closes as Serta Simmons lays off 150 workers -- As online competition reshapes one sector of retail after another, Serta Simmons Bedding, North America’s largest bedding manufacturer, said it will shut down its San Leandro plant and lay off 153 production workers. Wendy Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/30/18

Judge weighs release of warrants in Golden State Killer case -- A judge on Tuesday weighed how much information to release about the arrest of a former police officer accused of being the Golden State Killer. Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Sweet began considering the issue after a hearing where attorneys for suspect Joseph DeAngelo argued that sharing the details could lead to an unfair trial. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 5/30/18

Fox: Time to Change Ballot Designation Law -- The regulations on ballot designations found on the Secretary of State’s website starts with declaring the purpose of the law “is to ensure the accurate designation of the candidate upon the ballot in order that an informed electorate may intelligently elect one of the candidates.” I highlighted the phrase informed electorate because I believe the current regulations often work against more fully informing the electorate about candidates running for office. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 5/30/18

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning

Gavin Newsom: Dems should root for GOP candidate to make fall ballot -- Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom suggested Tuesday that California Democrats might be better off with a Republican running against him on the November ballot for governor, rather than dealing with an expensive, Democrat versus Democrat battle. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/30/18

Newsom warns of divisive Democratic battle if he and Villaraigosa advance to general election for California governor -- Gubernatorial front-runner Gavin Newsom on Tuesday predicted a bruising, divisive general-election campaign with $100 million spent against him if he and fellow Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa emerge as the top two winners in the June 5 primary. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Gavin Newsom on running for president: ‘Not even of passing interest to me’ -- With a week to go before the June 5 primary, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is vowing not to run for president if elected governor, dismissing criticism about his campaign tactics, and suggesting he’d take a more activist role in legislative debates than Gov. Jerry Brown. Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/30/18

Gavin Newsom insists his campaign tactic won’t really cost Democrats the House -- Democrat Gavin Newsom is trying to swat away growing complaints that his campaign tactic of boosting Republican rival John Cox could cause collateral damage in autumn: driving up GOP turnout and thereby undermining Democratic efforts to win key California congressional seats necessary for their party to take control of the House of Representatives. Ben Christopher Calmatters -- 5/30/18

California Governor's Campaign Enters Final Stretch -- Newsom is seen as a lock to finish first in next week’s primary, in which the top two finishers — regardless of political party — advance to the November general election. That leaves several other candidates fighting for second place. Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 5/30/18

John Cox seeks to consolidate GOP support as he courts voters in the Central Valley -- Republican John Cox kicked off the final week of his campaign by starting a tour with GOP attorney general candidate Steven Bailey, first stopping in Bakersfield and then Fresno. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Villaraigosa courts Central Valley voters and touts law enforcement endorsements -- Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa kicked off the final week of the gubernatorial campaign with a drive from Los Angeles to Fresno, where he nabbed the endorsement of Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, visited a boxing program for troubled youth and planned to end the day at a Teamsters union hall. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Politifact CA: Did Travis Allen oppose driver licenses for undocumented immigrants? -- Republican gubernatorial candidates John Cox and Travis Allen are competing for the conservative vote in California’s June primary. As part of that competition, they’re trying to prove who has the toughest credentials on immigration. Or, in the case of a recent TV attack ad by the Cox campaign, disprove their opponents’ record on the issue. Chris Nichols Politifact CA -- 5/30/18

That political mailer on your kitchen counter isn't what it seems -- The "Woman's Voice Newsletter" leads with an endorsement of Travis Allen, a Republican Assemblyman once accused of sexual harassment, as California's next governor. Sen. Ricardo Lara, Allen's liberal opposite, gets a nod for his Insurance Commissioner bid on the same slate mailer. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/30/18

Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra sued by Republican challenger over qualifications to hold office -- California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra’s campaign manager disputed allegations in a lawsuit filed Tuesday by Republican challenger Eric Early that the incumbent does not meet qualifications to hold office and should be kept off the November ballot. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Voters like high-speed rail, if they don't have to pay for it -- A new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll of 835 voters found that respondents were pretty equally divided over the high-speed rail line, with 48% expressing at least some support and 43% opposed. Looking that those numbers alone, you might think the public’s ardor for the project hadn’t dimmed all that much; voters approved a ballot measure authorizing the project in 2008 by a margin of only 53% to 47%. Jon Healey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Latest voter registration: Independents top GOP -- Updated numbers from California’s 58 counties showed decline-to-state voters, those who don’t disclose a party preference, had reached 25.5% in the weeks before the June 5 election. Republican registration, meanwhile, was put at 25.1%. John Howard Capitol Weekly Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/30/18

With election days away, California's top political ethics cop abruptly quits -- The head of California's campaign watchdog agency resigned her position on Tuesday. Jodi Remke, who Gov. Jerry Brown appointed in 2014, stepped down as the chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission amid ongoing turmoil. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

California's legislative budget writers must iron out differences with Gov. Jerry Brown, and each other -- Members of the California Legislature’s budget conference committee convene Wednesday with one task above all others: reconcile the plans put forth by their two houses, both of which would be more costly than the proposal crafted by Gov. Jerry Brown. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

San Francisco’s Homeless Crisis Tests Mayoral Candidates’ Liberal Ideals -- In the bluest of blue cities, it can be hard to tell political candidates apart. The four front-runners in the June 5 San Francisco mayoral election, all Democrats, talk about the importance of protecting immigrants and the pernicious effects of income inequality. Thomas Fuller in the New York Times$ -- 5/30/18

Walters: Conservative Supreme Court helps blue California -- When the U.S. Supreme Court set aside a federal law prohibiting states from legalizing gambling on sports, it elated pro-gambling interests and ignited a storm of media speculation about potential impacts on amateur and professional athletics. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 5/30/18

Even in California, Democratic Women Must Overcome Political Hurdles -- Diane Trautman remembers a time when “hardened attitudes” existed toward female candidates in Southern California, including the notion “that women don’t have the brain power or the stamina … to really be effective leaders.” Fast forward to the present. Bridget Bowman Roll Call -- 5/30/18

Major paint companies lobby California lawmakers to overturn a court ruling forcing them to clean up lead in homes -- With a key deadline a month away, two national paint companies are turning up the pressure on California lawmakers to absolve them of potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in legal penalties from lead paint hazards. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

LAPD begins sweeping criminal probe of former USC gynecologist while urging patients to come forward -- The Los Angeles Police Department said Tuesday it is investigating 52 complaints of misconduct filed by former patients of USC's longtime campus gynecologist as detectives launch a sweeping criminal probe into the scandal that has rocked the university. Matt Hamilton, Richard Winton, Adam Elmahrek in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Legal hurdles loom for prosecutors in USC gynecologist case -- Whether Dr. George Tyndall faces charges, though, depends on if complaints about creepy comments, improper photos in the exam room and uncomfortable probing went beyond dubious doctoring and into the criminal realm. Brian Melley Associated Press -- 5/30/18

Supreme Court turns down challenge to San Francisco advertising restrictions -- San Francisco’s restrictions on outdoor advertising signs, permitting the signs only where advertisers conduct business, were left intact Tuesday when the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a challenge by business groups. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/30/18

Hacker gets 5 years for Russian-linked Yahoo security breach -- A young computer hacker who prosecutors say unwittingly worked with a Russian spy agency was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for using data stolen in a massive Yahoo data breach to gain access to private emails. U.S. Judge Vince Chhabria also fined Karim Baratov $250,000 during a sentencing hearing in San Francisco. Paul Elias Associated Press -- 5/30/18

Do Not Sell My Personal Information: California Eyes Data Privacy Measure -- As Europe's sweeping new privacy law went into effect on Friday, California voters may get to decide on strict privacy laws for their state. An initiative likely headed for November's ballot in California would be one of the broadest online privacy regulations in the U.S. and could impact standards throughout the country. Laura Sydell KQED -- 5/30/18

Activists spar over bill that would outlaw sale of sexual orientation conversion therapies -- Supporters and opponents of Assembly Bill 2943, which makes the sale of so-called sexual orientation conversion therapies a violation of the state’s consumer protection laws, held dueling rallies in the city Tuesday morning, each side telling its members’ stories and highlighting its beliefs and ideologies. Deepa Bharath in the Orange County Register -- 5/30/18

Highest-ranking Latina braces for backlash over Pelosi snub -- Rep. Linda Sánchez called for a new generation of Democratic leadership. Her allies fear it might cost her her own spot in the upper echelon. Heather Caygle Politico -- 5/30/18

California Democrats agonize over House primaries -- Omar Siddiqui, a long-shot Democrat running for Congress in Southern California, was guaranteed two questions at a crowded candidate forum last week. But instead of probing his positions or qualifications, the moderators questioned his very presence in the race: “Shouldn’t you consider dropping out?” Elena Schneider Politico -- 5/30/18

Calbuzz: Why Steyer is Wrong, Wrong, Wrong on Impeachment -- Tom Steyer, the billionaire entrepreneur and Democratic activist, is right that the only way to get rid of President Donald Trump is to impeach him. But Steyer is dead wrong – and his millions invested in his impeachment petition compound the problem – that now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 5/30/18

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

California Must Be Doing Something Right in Trump’s America -- Just about every policy Donald Trump imposes to make his America great is opposed by the world's fifth-largest economy. That would be California, which is growing faster and outperforming the U.S. in job growth, manufacturing, personal income, corporate profits and the total return of its bonds. Matthew A. Winkler Bloomberg -- 5/30/18

PG&E shares crash after getting blame for some fires, 175 lawsuits -- PG&E shares nose-dived Tuesday, the first trading day after state fire investigators revealed that the embattled utility’s power lines had sparked four blazes in Nevada and Butte counties in October. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/30/18

Fears Grow Among Central Valley Recyclers as China Denies U.S. Recyclables -- While tariffs on the steel and agriculture industries have taken center stage in the trade conflict between the U.S. and China, that conflict has quietly moved into another less visible sector. It’s greatly disrupted the recycling industry. Kerry Klein KQED -- 5/30/18

Supreme Court questions legality of San Diego pension cuts during oral arguments -- Hearing arguments in a case that could force San Diego to overturn its six-year-old pension overhaul, state Supreme Court justices on Tuesday focused primarily on whether the cutbacks were legally placed on the June 2012 ballot. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/30/18

San Francisco to Uber, Lyft: Tell us what drivers earn -- Do Uber and Lyft stiff their drivers on wages? A legal push by the ride-hailing companies’ hometown of San Francisco could lead to the drivers becoming employees rather than independent contractors. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/30/18

With a successful second powered flight, Virgin Galactic could take paying customers to space in a year -- Less than two months after the first rocket-powered test flight of its suborbital spaceplane, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic on Tuesday completed another test and moved closer to its goal of regular tourist flights into space. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Oakland to challenge judge’s ruling overturning coal ban -- The city of Oakland plans to appeal a federal judge’s ruling that a citywide ban on coal violated an agreement with a developer building a massive terminal near the Port of Oakland. David DeBolt in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/30/18

Qualcomm aims to spark virtual reality market with its first standalone AR/VR chip -- Qualcomm is rolling out a dedicated chip targeting virtual reality/augmented reality headsets in hopes of driving the nascent market into the mainstream. Mike Freeman in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/30/18

San Diego 'chargers' flock downtown as app-based scooter craze soars -- On any given night, people scour downtown San Diego in their cars and pickup trucks looking to collect the electric scooters for rent that have flooded the city in recent months. Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/30/18

Scoot’s e-bike sharing plan hits bureaucratic wall in San Francisco -- San Francisco startup Scoot, known for its fleet of red electric mopeds, wants to add e-bike rentals in the city. But it can’t. San Francisco won’t issue any more permits for dockless e-bikes until summer 2019 at the earliest. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/30/18

Housing  

California’s High Rent Leaves Many One Crisis Away From Financial Ruin -- Charlene Holkenbrink-Monk tracks her family’s monthly budget on an Excel spreadsheet. Panic usually sets in by the end of the month. Amita Sharma KPBS -- 5/30/18

San Diego home prices up 7.7 percent in a year -- Prices were up across California. San Francisco prices went up 11.3 percent in the same time period and Los Angeles prices increased 8.1 percent. Phillip Molnar in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/30/18

Cannabis

California, US team up on an issue that divides them: pot -- An alarming increase in the use of a highly toxic and banned pesticide at illegal marijuana farms hidden on public land in California is leading U.S. and state officials to team up on an issue that recently divided them: pot. Don Thompson Associated Press Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Sam Stanton in the Merced Sun Star -- 5/30/18

Cannabis Tax Relief, Workers' Rights Bills Fail in Sacramento -- Californians could see more cannabis events as well as craft growers' markets this year. The two proposals are among about two dozen pot-related bills that remain alive as a Friday, June 1 deadline nears for proposed laws to clear their house of origin. David Downs in the East Bay Express -- 5/30/18

Guns 

California Senate approves raising age to buy long guns -- California would raise the age for buying rifles and shotguns from 18 to 21 and bar people from buying more than one long gun each month under a bill advancing in the Legislature. It’s been a frequently debated topic nationwide after a Florida high school shooting that killed 17 people. Associated Press -- 5/30/18

Education 

Marshall Tuck cites need for change, action plan in 2nd run for California schools chief -- Marshall Tuck is back with the intensity that took him tantalizingly close in 2014 to upending Tom Torlakson’s bid for a second and final term as state superintendent of public instruction. Armed with his own Marshall Plan for education, he’s running for California’s top job in K-12 education to advance ideas and policies he pursued as a school executive for charter and district schools in Los Angeles. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 5/30/18

Environment 

Measure P: Foster City's $90 Million Tax to Defend Against Rising Seas -- The only thing between Foster City and the salty San Francisco Bay is an earthen wall, eight miles long, fronted with crushed up concrete and riprap to defend against the sea. Molly Peterson KQED -- 5/30/18

Point Reyes Ranchers Create Lobbying Group to Weaken Protections for Public Lands - A growing population of tule elk has created tension between wildlife advocates and ranchers, whose cattle compete with the elk for food. A small and slightly mysterious agricultural lobbying group that surfaced recently in Marin County has community members, naturalists, and environmentalist organizations on edge. Alastair Bland in the East Bay Express -- 5/30/18

Also . . . 

Cal basketball coach says Southwest asked for proof biracial son was hers -- Cal women's basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb says she was asked to "prove" her son belonged to her before boarding a flight to Oakland on Sunday. Michelle Robertson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Jon Becker in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/30/18

'You Executed Him All Over Again': Family Members Respond to San Francisco DA's Decisions in Police Shooting Cases -- "Don't give my story nonchalantly," Gwendolyn Woods pleaded to a bank of television cameras and reporters Tuesday outside San Francisco's Hall of Justice. For nearly 10 minutes, she spoke about how she has been affected by San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón's decision last week to not criminally charge police officers who fatally shot her son. Alex Emslie KQED Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/30/18

Charges dropped against L.A. County jail guard accused of allowing inmates to beat up a man -- Prosecutors have dropped an assault charge against a former Los Angeles County sheriff's jail guard who was accused of allowing a man to be beaten by other inmates. The case against Jonathan Grijalva, 29, was dismissed on the first day of trial last week after prosecutors said they could not locate a key witness — the man who had been attacked. Maya Lau in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Tesla in Autopilot mode crashes into parked Laguna Beach police cruiser -- The collision happened at 11:07 a.m. at 20652 Laguna Canyon Road, according to Laguna Police Sgt. Jim Cota. The officer was not in the cruiser at the time of the crash. The Tesla driver suffered minor injuries, but refused transportation to the hospital. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

Video released of LAPD encounter that ended in fatal shooting of Boyle Heights teen -- An attorney for the family of a 14-year-old boy killed by a Los Angeles police officer released body camera footage Tuesday of the controversial 2016 encounter, arguing that the recordings show that the boy had tossed his gun and was unarmed when he was shot. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/30/18

 

-- Tuesday Updates 

June 5 primary: The chase is on -- The chatter online and in the media is all about the June 5 Primary Election. But, for those of us working in these races, the election has been ongoing for weeks. In fact, as of Memorial Day weekend, 1.25 million California voters have cast ballots, approximately 20% of the expected total turnout of by-mail and poll voters. Paul Mitchell Capitol Weekly -- 5/29/18

Election night: Why the first returns may tell the whole story -- It could be a very short evening for plenty of candidates next Tuesday, with their political dreams dying just minutes after the polls close in California. With more and more people casting ballots by mail, that first crush of early results represents an ever-growing percentage of the total vote. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/29/18

Counties acknowledge more errors in canceled voter registrations -- Santa Clara County elections officials have acknowledged some additional staff errors led to some residents getting kicked off the voter rolls by mistake, but said other reports of canceled registrations either originated in other counties or were misunderstandings. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/29/18

California schools are short of teachers. One reason? They’re going to Texas -- California’s schools are hiring teachers again. But California’s colleges aren’t producing enough new teachers to meet the demand. So where will the state's new teachers come from? Not from other states, if recent history is a guide. Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/29/18

Is 'sanctuary state' the best political issue for the GOP in years? Not in California, experts warn -- Roseville resident Amanda Sheldon told the City Council earlier this spring that a vote to oppose California’s "sanctuary state" law would lead the community down a dangerous road. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/29/18

'Vagueness goes a long way in politics:' Immigration effort in limbo for CA primary -- Vulnerable Republicans in California have a way to stifle Democratic criticisms over Dreamers before the June 5 primary — they can tout a deal involving Dreamers without having to cast any votes until after the polls close. Kate Irby in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/29/18

It could be another 'Year of the Woman,' but in California, probably not -- Comedian-turned-activist Chelsea Handler made a prediction a few months ago. “They had the ‘Year of the Woman’ in 1992,” Handler told a crowd, almost all women, who had gathered in a Los Angeles hotel ballroom over avocado toast and roasted tomatoes at a brunch for Emily's List, the group dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/29/18

She was a #MeToo leader. After sexual harassment accusations, she is fighting to be reelected -- The future looked bright for Democratic Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia when she coasted to reelection in 2016. She had gained clout in the Capitol and statewide attention for notching hard-fought victories for enviromental advocates and championed women's rights. Javier Panzar, Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/29/18

It took more than a decade to open public bathrooms on skid row. After three months, they're already gone -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's unveiling of the first new public bathrooms on skid row in more than a decade was seen as a possible turning point for the homeless enclave, which remains mired in misery even as downtown development closes in around it. Gale Holland in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/29/18

San Francisco leaders pleased, homeless activists angered as large tent camps vanish -- If it seems like all the big homeless tent camps in San Francisco have suddenly vanished, that’s because it’s true. City officials are delighted, and street activists are livid. Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/29/18

Environmentalists’ lawsuit to drain Hetch Hetchy Reservoir heads back to court -- Two years after losing in court and six years after being rejected by voters, a Berkeley environmental group is continuing its long-running battle to drain Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, a linchpin of the water supply for 2.6 million Bay Area residents from San Francisco to San Jose to southern Alameda County. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/29/18

Saying sorry is hard to do for Uber, Facebook, Wells Fargo -- Uber, Facebook and Wells Fargo have a message for the world: They’re sorry — sorta. The three Bay Area companies, all providers of modern everyday conveniences, are now blitzing the airwaves with apology ads — except the words “sorry” or “apology” are in short supply. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/29/18

Ancestry wants your spit, your DNA and your trust. Should you give them all three? -- In the age of Facebook and Google, consumers seem comfortable surrendering their personal information to corporations that aggregate it and monetize it. But Ancestry and other DNA testing companies have added an audacious tweak: Consumers are now paying to hand over their genetic code, their most sensitive individual identifier, to companies that could monetize it far into the future. Stuart Levinworth in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/29/18

Prosecutors drop charges against boyfriend and business partner of Aliso Viejo blast victim -- Federal prosecutors have dropped criminal charges against a man who was arrested after a suspected package bomb killed his former girlfriend and business partner in Aliso Viejo, according to court documents. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/29/18

EPA used disavowed research to justify putting dirtier trucks on the road -- At a time when acts of defiance against the Trump administration are ​​​​routine in Sacramento, the rebuke that breezed through the California Assembly this month still came as a jolt. Even Trump loyalists in the chamber joined in. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/29/18

In racial conflicts, video becomes a megaphone -- After Paula Nuguid was called a racial slur during a heated exchange, she sought social justice on the internet. Wendy Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/29/18

Garbage collectors in training bag good jobs -- When he was a kid, Khris Bland wanted to be a garbage man. “It looked so cool, hanging off the truck with their sunglasses on,” he said. Then he grew up, had a child by age 20 and spent a stint in jail. He didn’t know what he wanted to do, but he knew what he needed to do. “I needed a job,” he said. “I needed to provide.” Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/29/18

Judge in East Area Rapist case indicates he will allow release of some warrant details -- East Area Rapist suspect Joseph James DeAngelo returned to court Tuesday as a Sacramento judge decides whether he can receive a fair trial if arrest and search warrant information is made public. Sam Stanton and Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ Nate Gartrell, Matthias Gafni in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/29/18

Uber’s 911 ‘panic button’ is now live in its U.S. app -- Some have already taken to calling it the “panic button.” But for Uber, adding the ability to call 911 directly from within its app is meant to provide a better sense of security for its riders. Rex Crum in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/29/18

Why Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be the most ambitious theme park land ever -- Disney’s new Star Wars land won’t open until next year, but it is not too early to declare that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be the most ambitious theme park land ever built. Robert Niles in the Orange County Register -- 5/29/18

Jeffee&Jeffee: Polling, the Astrology of Politics -- The most recent polls on the California gubernatorial race are out and anyone who thinks he or she can predict what is going to happen on June 5th is probably smoking too much of the state’s newly legalized cannabis. Sherry Bebitch Jeffe & Doug Jeffe Fox & Hounds -- 5/29/18

How social media crushed Roseanne for her racist tweet -- Roseanne Barr's reboot at ABC is gone, less than 12 hours after her racist tweet and notwithstanding ratings so strong that she picked up a congratulatory phone call from President Trump. Mike Allen Axios 5/29/18