Updating . .
After decades of problems, new allegations surface of a secret clique within L.A. County Sheriff's Department -- For decades, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has struggled to combat secretive cliques of deputies who bonded over aggressive, often violent police work and branded themselves with matching tattoos. Maya Lau, Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/18
Why California’s fire season is off to the worst start in 10 years -- The reason behind this year’s ominous early trend is something many Californians thought was behind them: the 2012-2017 drought. The relentless drought, the most severe at any time since California became a state in 1850, ended with drenching rains in the winter of 2016-2017. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/10/18
Judge: Experts Can Testify That Roundup Linked to Cancer -- A U.S. judge in San Francisco says evidence seems weak that Roundup weed killer causes cancer, but experts can still make that claim at trial. Associated Press -- 7/10/18
Hate crimes rise in California for third straight year, state report says -- There were 1,093 reported hate crimes in California in 2017, a 17.4% increase, according to a report released Monday by the California attorney general’s office. Hate crimes have increased annually since 2014, jumping roughly 44% in that three-year span, records show. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/18
Judge Who Denied Trump Policy Known for Immigration Rulings -- The Trump administration's effort to detain migrant families together for long terms collided with a formidable obstacle in a Los Angeles judge. Brian Melley Associated Press -- 7/10/18
Contra Costa severing contract for jailing immigration detainees in Richmond -- Contra Costa County will sever a contract to house immigration detainees in its West County Detention Facility in Richmond after months of protests, according to immigration officials who were informed of the decision this week. Hamed Aleaziz in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/18
Bay Area economy growing nearly twice as fast as rest of U.S. -- Were it a country, the Bay Area’s economy would be larger than Saudi Arabia’s, getting rich from its residents’ minds rather than minerals pumped from the ground, according to a new report. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/18
“Immense growth” makes the Bay Area the world’s 19th-largest economy, if it were a nation -- If the Bay Area happened to be its own independent nation, it would command the 19th-largest economy in the world, according to the Bay Area Council’s Economic Institute. And the nine-county region’s dynamic economy is still surging, the Economic Institute states. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/10/18
L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services employee charged with distributing child pornography -- Carlos Enrique Castillo, 54, faces five felony counts of distributing child pornography and one felony count of possession of over 600 images of child or youth pornography, according to the criminal complaint. Castillo pleaded not guilty on Tuesday. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/18
Newport Beach sues to halt what city calls a marijuana dispensary at Church of the Holy Grail -- Newport Beach officials are asking an Orange County Superior Court judge to block an operation that identifies itself as a church but the city says is a marijuana dispensary violating local law. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/18
Lawsuit Aims to Get Effort to Split up California off Ballot -- Opponents of an initiative to split California into three states asked the state Supreme Court to pull the measure from the ballot, arguing it's too drastic a change to state government to go through the normal initiative process. Sophia Bollag Associated Press -- 7/10/18
Pressure builds to change how California measures student progress on state tests -- A group of education professors and dozens of student advocacy groups are urging California education officials to switch to a method that most states use to rate student progress on standardized tests. They say it will more accurately measure and compare schools’ performance than what they see as the flawed system the state uses now. John Fensterwald, Mikhail Zinshteyn EdSource -- 7/10/18
California and New York City: We’ll buy more electric cars. How about you? -- A coalition of states, cities and businesses determined to fight climate change announced a campaign Tuesday to buy more zero-emission vehicles for their own fleets and convince others to do the same. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/18
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Fast-track misdemeanor immigration court rolls out with confusion, tension -- A separate fast-track court designed to quickly process the steady stream of misdemeanor border crossing cases under the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy rolled out Monday in San Diego in a hearing that was punctuated by moments of confusion, tension and passionate objection. Kristina Davis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/10/18
Judge rejects Trump administration bid to indefinitely detain immigrant children with parents -- A federal judge in Los Angeles dealt the Trump administration a significant blow Monday by rejecting its attempt to indefinitely detain immigrant children caught crossing the border illegally with their parents. Victoria Kim, Kristina Davis in the Los Angeles Times$ Brian Melley Associated Press -- 7/10/18
Dozens of Immigrant Children Will Be Reunited With Parents -- Dozens of immigrant children will be released from detention centers and reunited with their parents Tuesday. A government lawyer said Monday at least 54 children under the age of 5 would join their parents by a court-ordered deadline, only about half the 100 or so children covered by the order. The Trump administration was working on final background checks for another five children ahead of Tuesday's deadline. Elliot Spagat Associated Press -- 7/10/18
Judge Denies US Claim on 2 of 3 California Immigration Laws -- A judge on Monday dismissed the federal government's claim that U.S. law trumps two California laws intended to protect immigrants who are in the country illegally, affirming his ruling last week that California was within its rights to pass two of its three so-called sanctuary laws. Don Thompson Associated Press Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ Lizzie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/18
Judge fast-tracks Huntington Beach lawsuit against California’s sanctuary law -- In the first courtroom discussion about a lawsuit titled “City of Huntington Beach v. The State of California,” The State of California was a no-show. Susan Christian Goulding in the Orange County Register -- 7/10/18
California police killed more than 170 civilians in 2017 -- As the California Legislature considers a bill that would tighten restrictions for deadly use of force by law enforcement, the state Department of Justice reported Monday an increase in the number of casualties in 2017 during confrontations between police and suspects. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/10/18
Environmental group files lawsuit to block California's split-the-state measure from November ballot -- The challenge, filed with the California Supreme Court, asserts that the proposal is too sweeping in its nature to have been placed on the ballot under the same provisions used to enact traditional laws. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/10/18
Initiative to toughen criminal penalties and expand DNA collection makes 2020 California ballot -- California voters will decide whether to increase penalties for some crimes while expanding the collection of DNA from those convicted of nonviolent offenses under an initiative that earned a place Monday on the 2020 ballot. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 7/10/18
Hate crimes increase again by double digits in California -- The number of hate crimes reported in California surged more than 17 percent between 2016 and 2017, according to new data released Monday by the state Department of Justice, the third straight year of double-digit increases. Local law enforcement reported 1,093 hate crimes last year. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/18
Kamala Harris will vote ‘no’ on Kavanaugh; Feinstein rejects White House invite -- Sen. Kamala Harris came out in opposition to Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court within 20 minutes of President Trump’s announcement of his pick. Sen. Dianne Feinstein was invited to the White House to watch the president reveal his selection, but declined — and later issued a statement that stopped just short of declaring she’d vote against the nominee. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/18
Hundreds of customers are still without power as hot and angry Angelenos fume at the DWP -- Before the scorching heat descended on Los Angeles last week, the Department of Water and Power assured residents it had “adequate resources” to meet the electrical demands of their air conditioners and refrigerators as temperatures rose. Emily Alpert Reyes, Dakota Smith, Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/18
Customers sue embattled Compton water district over discolored water -- Frustrated by discolored drinking water pouring from their taps, four Compton residents filed a class-action lawsuit late Monday against their water provider, Sativa Los Angeles County Water District. Ruben Vives, Angel Jennings in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/18
Turnout climbed to 37% in California’s primary—here’s the who, where and why -- Give yourself a round of applause, California. For a decade, voter participation during midterm primary elections has been slipping down and down. Last time around, in 2014, the state hit an all time low for voter apathy: only one-in-four registered voters bothered to participate. But this June, we broke the trend. Ben Christopher Calmatters -- 7/10/18
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Work in health care? Keep an eye on these five California bills that could become law -- Among the hundreds of bills on the Legislature's agenda for August are ones that would make key changes in the lives of California health care workers. Here are five to watch: Caitlin Chen in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/10/18
Record Crop For California Almonds As Growers Uncertain About Tariffs -- Despite a winter freeze, California almonds will see an increase of almost 8 percent over last year. Some 70,000 additional acres came into production. And last year’s inventory is almost sold out, all good news for growers. Rich Ibarra Capital Public Radio -- 7/10/18
Oakland leaders hope reward money stops arsons at construction sites -- After a series of unsolved arsons at housing projects under construction in the East Bay, Oakland developers said Monday they hope hundreds of thousands of dollars in reward money will attract a useful tipster and end the destruction. Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/18
Housing
Facebook founder’s fund pledges $250,000 to back affordable housing ballot measure -- The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative wants you to vote yes on Prop. 1 — a state ballot measure that would funnel money to affordable housing programs — and it’s ponying up $250,000 to help make sure that happens. Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/10/18
Transit
Highways considered for carpool lanes in and out of San Francisco -- Transit officials are looking into carving out carpool lanes along both Highway 101 and Interstate 280 that could double as toll lanes to allow drivers willing to pay a bit extra for a faster commute in and out of the city. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/18
Wildfire
Something Else Adding Fuel to California's Fire Season: Warmer Nights -- It will most likely be weeks before the County Fire west of Sacramento is completely extinguished. By Friday it had consumed nearly 140 square miles -- an area larger than Las Vegas. Craig Miller KQED -- 7/10/18
A California couple wed with a massive wildfire burning behind them. Then, they ran -- Evacuate or tie the knot? That was the dilemma facing one Northern California couple this weekend, as the massive and destructive Klamathon Fire raged not far from a wedding venue built specifically for their nuptials. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/10/18
Education
Outside funders give L.A. Unified under new Supt. Beutner a $3 million vote of confidence -- When it comes to his new job as Los Angeles schools chief, Austin Beutner is hoping to get by with a little help from his friends — tapping his peer group of the wealthy and well-connected to bring new resources into L.A. Unified. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/18
California’s gone without higher ed affirmative action since 1996. Black enrollment at top UCs never recovered -- While the Trump administration caused a stir last week when it reversed Obama-era policies encouraging universities to consider racial diversity in admissions, reaction in California was muted. That’s because California’s public universities have been banned from using race in admissions decisions since voters passed Proposition 209 in 1996. Felicia Mello Calmatters -- 7/10/18
Environment
Appeals court rejects effort to tear down Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Reservoir -- The push to drain Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and restore the Sierra canyon to its natural state was rejected by the courts — again — Monday, though opponents of the dam said they plan to take their fight to the California Supreme Court. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/18
A beach behind lock and key is turning into a fight over social justice in California -- Tucked along a stretch of famous surf breaks and crowded beaches, down a winding road dotted with multimillion-dollar homes, a wrought-iron gate guards this little community’s not-so-secret secret. Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/18
The United States is on the verge of losing more than half of its low-carbon energy as the fight against climate change reaches a critical point — a reality the country hasn’t fully grappled with. That’s according to findings recently published by researchers at UC San Diego, Harvard University and Carnegie Mellon University in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/10/18
Record heat put thousands of Californians in the dark Friday. Scientists predicted this from climate change -- Temperatures shot up over 110 degrees in Southern California on Friday, obliterating all kinds of long-standing heat records, and the lights went out for tens of thousands of customers. Californians were powerless, without air conditioning, in the hottest weather many had ever experienced. Climate scientists have known this was coming, and it may only be the beginning. Jason Samenow in the Washington Post$ -- 7/10/18
Monsanto 'bullied scientists' and hid weedkiller cancer risk, lawyer tells court -- As ill California man’s landmark case begins, attorney attacks Roundup maker’s response to researchers’ findings. Sam Levin The Guardian -- 7/10/18
Also . . .
San Bernardino County gang prosecutor suspended for offensive social media rants; civil rights activists demand his firing -- A top gang prosecutor at the center of a political firestorm over a series of offensive social media posts has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of an administrative investigation. Joe Nelson, Teri Sforza in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 7/10/18
Death of postal carrier found in her truck during heat wave in Woodland Hills is under investigation -- The Los Angeles County coroner’s office is investigating the death of a 63-year-old U.S. Postal Service carrier who was found dead in her truck amid sweltering temperatures last week, the department said Monday. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde in the Los Angeles Times$ Brenda Gazzar in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 7/10/18
LeBron James likes to bike to work. We tested his route — and it’s dangerous -- LeBron James made headlines in 2012 by biking from his Coconut Grove home to a Miami Heat game. If he wants to pedal to work as a Laker, it will take significantly more time, and could put him at risk of hurting both himself and the team’s playoff chances next year. Ellis Simani, Javier Panzar, Mark Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/18
POTUS 45
Anatomy of a Trump rally: 76 percent of claims are false, misleading or lacking evidence -- We’re doing something new today: Analyzing every factual claim from President Trump’s campaign rally in Montana on July 5. Salvador Rizzo and Meg Kelly in the Washington Post$ -- 7/10/18
-- Monday Updates
Contractors, labor pour millions into campaign to save California gas tax hike for road repairs -- In the two weeks since an initiative qualified that would repeal an increase to the gas tax, construction companies, labor groups and civic organizations have poured $3.7 million into a campaign against Proposition 6, campaign records show. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/9/18
7,000 customers still without power as hot and angry Angelenos fume at DWP -- The hardest-hit neighborhood was Koreatown, where the utility said that 2,200 customers remained without power. The DWP said it had successfully brought back power to 76,000 homes and businesses since the heat wave began Friday. Emily Alpert Reyes, Dakota Smith, Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/9/18
California Wildfires: Grant Fire beaten back, Klamathon keeps growing -- A deadly and fast-moving inferno burning at the California-Oregon border continued to grow in size Monday, resulting in widespread mandatory evacuations in both states, officials said. The Klamathon Fire grew to 35,250 acres — nearly 13,000 acres more than Sunday evening’s last count — and was 30 percent contained in Siskiyou County, according to Cal Fire. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/9/18
Changes on San Francisco Board of Supervisors a political challenge for new Mayor Breed -- One of London Breed’s first big decisions after being sworn in as San Francisco’s mayor Wednesday will be naming her District Five replacement on the Board of Supervisors, and it could shape up as a family affair. Matier & Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/9/18
Private prisons are California political players -- So you think privately-run prisons are a Republican thing? Perhaps in Texas and Tennessee. But in deep blue California, it is the Democrats who take in the most contributions from for-profit correctional corporations, primarily Florida’s The GEO Group and the Tennessee-based CoreCivic, formerly Corrections Corporation of America. Scott Soriano Capitol Weekly -- 7/9/18
The 2020 census could undercount 1 million kids — which means less money for California schools -- Almost a quarter of the nation’s children under 5 are at risk of not being counted in the 2020 census, which could have serious implications for the well-being of children around the United States, according to a recent study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Melissa Etehad in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/9/18
With marijuana legal, California flooded with dubious health claims about the drug -- Spend a few minutes surfing Twitter and you’re likely to encounter a startling claim that comes without proof: Cannabis cures cancer. The online world is awash with such posts, startling scientists and physicians who are urging weed’s proselytizers to tap the brakes. Gary Robbins in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/9/18
From behind the scenes to picket lines: Why Dignity lab workers want better benefits -- Union representatives for more than 200 laboratory scientists and technologists at Dignity Health say they plan informational picketing Monday at their employer's facilities in Woodland, Stockton and Carmichael, having rejected the company's latest contract offer for wages and benefits. Cathie Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/9/18
Going to the DMV? Be prepared -- Mirella Ortiz was on the verge of tears. It had been five and a half hours since she first arrived at the Hayward DMV, and she’d just gotten a number and a chance to sit down. Erin Baldassari in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/9/18
39 Occupy ICE protesters in San Francisco arrested in camp raid -- A weeklong encampment of activists protesting Immigration Customs and Enforcement and President Trump’s zero-tolerance immigration policy came to an end early Monday, when nearly 40 people were arrested overnight in San Francisco. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/9/18
Woman attacked with her own pepper spray at San Francisco protest -- A woman attending a protest in San Francisco attempted to ward off a robber with pepper spray, but the suspect managed to turn the weapon against her and spray her before stealing her sunglasses and hat, authorities said. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/9/18
Wine Country artists find new life, inspiration in the wreckage of studios -- Just about everything in the airy Sonoma art studio where Helena Donzelli and her two pals work is ruined. And they like it that way. They craft artistic works from the ashy wreckage left behind after the Wine Country fires rampaged through last fall. Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/9/18
There’s a cutthroat turf war behind the race to charge Bay Area scooters -- Bobby Cruze looks like a stunt man as he zig-zags on an electric scooter, balancing eight others behind the handle bars. What passersby might think is a free talent show come to grace San Jose’s streets is really just Cruze’s evening job. Anna-Sofia Lesiv in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/9/18