Updating . .
Republican holds slight edge in House race to replace Ed Royce, poll finds -- Republican Young Kim holds a slight edge over Democrat Gil Cisneros in the fiercely contested race to succeed GOP Rep. Ed Royce of Fullerton, according to a poll released Tuesday. Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/18/18
It’s getting ugly in California races that hold key to House control -- With six weeks to go before the Nov. 6 election, the TV and digital battle for California House seats is heating up. But it’s not the congressional candidates who are doing most of the spending. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/18/18
California's children fall behind before they start school, and some never catch up, study finds -- When students enter school in California, they learn at a pace on par with — if not better than — those in other states. The problem is that they arrive far behind their national peers, and they never catch up. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/18/18
A farm's workers voted 5 years ago on ousting the UFW union. Today, the ballots are being counted -- California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Board is finally counting ballots cast five years ago by workers at the state’s largest producer of peaches and other stone fruit, after the ballots were impounded over irregularities in the campaign to oust the United Farm Workers union from Gerawan Farming. Geoffrey Mohan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/18/18
Suspect in deputy killing appears to be local rapper. ‘No stranger’ to law enforcement, official says -- The suspect in custody after the shooting that killed a Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputy and injured another Monday has been identified as Anton Lemon Moore, a 38-year-old Rancho Cordova man, the Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday in a statement. Michael McGough, Anita Chabria and Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/18/18
Abcarian: In sadness and anger, female pastors open up about sexual harassment in black churches -- It was a sweltering weekday morning, and the vibe inside the Rev. Rosalynn Brookins’ Los Angeles home was festive. “Girl! You look great!” “Are you a Delta?” “Hello, room of God!” Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/18/18
McDonald’s workers in SF allege sexual harassment ahead of national protest -- Customers of the McDonald’s at 24th and Mission streets in San Francisco may have to go elsewhere to get their Big Macs on Tuesday. Workers plan to walk off the job at lunchtime as part of a national protest of sexual harassment, which they claim the company ignores. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/18/18
UC Berkeley report assails business improvement districts as 'anti-homeless' -- In a scathing review of the state’s proliferating business improvement districts, a student project released Tuesday by the UC Berkeley law school accuses the nonprofit groups of systematically abusing homeless people. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/18/18
Is L.A.'s homeless population closer to 100,000? Nonprofit offers an alternative view of the data -- The Los Angeles homeless count has become an annual civic drama, starting with thousands of volunteers spreading across the county on three nights in January and ending five months later with the unveiling of the new number: 52,765 this year. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/18/18
Financially ailing Oakland schools will get cash infusion under new state law -- State lawmakers are coming to the aid of the financially embattled Oakland Unified School District, which is bracing for the effects of budget cuts over the next three years. On Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the Education Trailer Bill, which will provide financial relief to cash-strapped school districts across the state. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/18/18
Why running your washing machine in the evening could soon cost you more money -- If you like to crank up your air conditioner or dishwasher in the evening, think twice. It’s about to cost you more on your electricity bill. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District will launch a new rate system next month that charges residential users higher rates between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. — and lower rates at other times. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/18/18
Tesla Is Facing U.S. Criminal Probe Over Elon Musk Statements -- Tesla Inc. is under investigation by the Justice Department over public statements made by the company and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, according to two people familiar with the matter. The criminal probe is running alongside a previously reported civil inquiry by securities regulators. Tom Schoenberg and Matt Robinson Bloomberg -- 9/18/18
California Policy & Politics This Morning
HSR projected real estate costs nearly double to $1.5 billion for Valley segment -- Among the many challenges that threaten California’s embattled high-speed rail project now under construction in the San Joaquin Valley, one of the more persistent has been the state’s difficulties in buying the real estate it needs for the route. Tim Sheehan in the Fresno Bee -- 9/18/18
California voters will be able to fix sloppy signatures and track their ballots under new election laws -- A California voter whose signature can’t be verified on an absentee ballot will have eight days to fix the problem under a law signed Monday that takes effect immediately. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/18/18
Kavanaugh accuser, a Palo Alto professor, is respected among academic colleagues -- A Palo Alto professor who is expected to testify next week about her accusation of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is widely respected for her professional integrity and commitment to students, colleagues said Monday. Kimberly Veklerov, Erin Allday and Ashley McBride in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/18/18
Christine Blasey Ford feared an avalanche of attacks if she went public about Kavanaugh, friends say -- The fog was just lifting at Capitola beach one morning this July when Christine Blasey Ford confided in two friends. She had written her congresswoman and anonymously tipped off the Washington Post with her explosive story, claiming Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in high school. Julia Prodis Sulek in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/18/18
De León isn’t backing off criticism of how Feinstein handled allegation against Kavanaugh -- State Sen. Kevin de León, a Democrat who is challenging U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s re-election this fall, continues to assail her response to a constituent’s accusation of sexual assault by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, saying the explanation that emerged over the weekend didn’t mollify his objection. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters -- 9/18/18
Mystery Nunes event requires guests to submit to personal search, no cell phone photos -- Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, is expected to appear at an invitation-only event at a private residence in the Sanger area on Tuesday, according to his campaign website. Rory Appleton in the Fresno Bee -- 9/18/18
California Legislature’s New Sexual Harassment Investigative Unit Signed Into Law -- Unlike the current system where the Senate and Assembly have separate processes, a new investigative unit in the Legislative Counsel’s office will handle complaints for both chambers. Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 9/18/18
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Business booming again as NASSCO begins building next generation of oilers for Navy -- General Dynamics-NASSCO is about to begin building a new class of oiler ships for the Navy, work that signals a sharp upturn for the San Diego shipyard, which has had a tough year that included a serious construction accident. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/18/18
Amazon will build second fulfillment center in Stockton, with 1,000-plus jobs -- The center will use an existing building at 4532 Newcastle Road, just north of Arch Road near Stockton Metropolitan Airport. It is nearly three miles east of the first center, which opened earlier this month. John Holland in the Modesto Bee Wes Bowers in the Stockton Record -- 9/18/18
New California Law to Help Sidewalk Vendors Operate Legally -- California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill to make it easier for sidewalk vendors to operate legally in the state. It's one of dozens of bills Brown announced signing Monday, including measures to help voters ensure their mail ballots are counted and standardize balcony inspections. Sophia Bollag Associated Press -- 9/18/18
Federal lawsuit claims young female employees were harassed at Del Taco restaurants -- The Del Taco fast-food chain is being sued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on allegations of allowing male supervisors to sexually harass young female employees since 2014, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court on Monday. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/18/18
San Diego approves plan to improve sports arena area with housing, parks, bay-to-bay trail -- Hundreds of acres surrounding San Diego’s aging sports arena would slowly be transformed into dense housing, modern commercial projects, 30 acres of parks and a bay-to-bay trail under a plan the City Council approved on Monday. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/18/18
Just who is an independent contractor? -- A sweeping new California Supreme Court ruling restricting who is an independent contractor is shaking up an exceptionally diverse range of industries. Lisa Renner Capitol Weekly -- 9/18/18
Cannabis
Marijuana industry fights 'stoner,' 'pot' and other words that stigmatizes people -- There’s a badge on her uniform, possibly a gun on her hip, and her arms are spread a little, suggesting she’s ready for anything. You might think that you’re looking at a police officer walking a beat. Gary Robbins in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/18/18
Immigration, Border, Deportation
ICE held an American man in custody for 1,273 days. He’s not the only one who had to prove his citizenship -- Immigration officers in the United States operate under a cardinal rule: Keep your hands off Americans. But Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents repeatedly target U.S. citizens for deportation by mistake, making wrongful arrests based on incomplete government records, bad data and lax investigations, according to a Times review of federal lawsuits, internal ICE documents and interviews. Paige St. John and Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/18/18
Congolese replacing Iraqis as county's largest refugee arrivals in 2018 -- With one month left in fiscal 2018, Congolese refugees are the largest group resettling in San Diego County, a change from a decade-long trend of Iraqis dominating lists of new arrivals. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/18/18
Education
San Francisco schools giving teachers raises without revenue to pay for them -- Officials at San Francisco Unified School District may have acted prematurely in raising wages for around 3,600 teachers before the revenue stream to pay for them — generated by a parcel tax voters approved in June — actually kicks in. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/18/18
UC Berkeley professor in sex harassment case resigns, threatens to sue -- A prominent UC Berkeley architecture professor who was suspended in August for three years without pay for sexually harassing a graduate student and abusing his faculty power has resigned from the university, The Chronicle has learned. Nanette Asimov and Cynthia Dizikes in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/18/18
Spending on California state superintendent race expected to set records again – Spending in the campaign for state superintendent of public instruction in California is expected to break records once again this fall, as charter school advocates and organized labor focus on the race. Nico Savidge EdSource -- 9/18/18
Also . . .
Sheriff’s deputy killed in Rancho Cordova shooting at auto parts store -- Deputy Mark Stasyuk, 27, died Monday afternoon after being shot in the upper body, Jones said near the crime scene about three hours after the shooting. Stasyuk was a 4 1/2-year veteran of the department. Molly Sullivan, Anita Chabria, Mike McGough and Hannah Darden in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/18/18
Protest planned outside cops’ convention; a counterprotest is encouraged by sheriff -- On Tuesday, the six-month anniversary of the police shooting death of Stephon Clark, a group led by the local chapter of Black Lives Matter will protest outside of the Sacramento Convention Center during a conference of law enforcement officials. Daniel Hunt in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/18/18
Six Months After Police Shooting of Stephon Clark, Sacramento Still Waits For Investigation To Conclude -- A man wearing a T-shirt with the words “Stay Loud!” emblazoned on the front pulls the lid off a barbecue, revealing sizzling hot dogs and a rack of ribs. Fold-up chairs dot the sidewalk and a stereo blasts Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright.” Two mutts tussle on a nearby strip of lawn as the sun drops over downtown Sacramento. It’s a party. Or at least that’s the feel on this sweaty August evening. Nick Miller Capital Public Radio -- 9/18/18
Meet the man who's paying SpaceX to fly him around the moon and back: billionaire Yusaku Maezawa -- Japanese e-commerce billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will be the first paying customer to travel around the moon on SpaceX’s yet-to-be-developed BFR rocket, the company announced Monday night. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/18/18
POTUS 45
U.S. increases China tariffs by $200 billion, but spares Apple, Fitbit -- Apple, Fitbit and other Bay Area device makers who manufacture in China were largely spared. Smart watches and Bluetooth devices were removed from an earlier list of targeted imports, according to senior administration officials who briefed reporters Monday. Apple CEO Tim Cook had criticized tariffs as a tax on consumers. The Cupertino hardware maker unveiled a new model of its Apple Watch last week. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Don Lee and Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/18/18
Beltway
How much has changed since Anita Hill? Kavanaugh case may show us -- A Supreme Court nominee is accused by a woman of sexual misconduct that allegedly happened years ago. Her charges are taken seriously, but the nominee flatly denies them. That happened 27 years ago, when Anita Hill accused high court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/18/18
-- Updates
Storefront lender accused of pushing customers into taking out big loans without interest rate caps -- California regulators want to seize Cash America Advance’s license, alleging the storefront lender duped customers into taking out installment loans with triple-digit interest rates. James Rufus Koren in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/18
Feinstein was right to withhold Kavanaugh letter, accuser’s attorney says -- But an attorney for the letter’s author, Palo Alto University Professor Christine Blasey Ford, says the veteran Democratic lawmaker was right to keep the letter confidential for more than a month. Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/17/18
Anger in California's carpool lanes as more than 200,000 drivers are set to lose decals -- For some California commuters, cutting down on carbon emissions isn’t a sexy enough reason to buy an electric car. But the ability to bypass freeway traffic without having to carpool — that’s another story. Laura Newberry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/18
Flare-off at Chevron oil refinery sends massive plume of smoke rising above El Segundo -- Slover said the refinery lost power this morning and initiated the flare as a safety measure to burn off their product so it didn’t back up in their system and pose a hazard. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/18
Gavin Newsom, John Cox to Debate on KQED's Forum on Oct. 8 -- California's two candidates for governor, Democrat Gavin Newsom and Republican John Cox, will debate live in studio on KQED's Forum program at 10 a.m. on Oct. 8 — the first time they have shared a stage since before the June primary. Marisa Lagos KQED Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/17/18
Farmers thought they had 20 years to use groundwater as they wished - maybe not anymore -- California farmers are laboring under a daunting edict: They must stop over-pumping groundwater from beneath their ranches. The saving grace is that state law gives them more than 20 years to do it. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/17/18
Missed cable-car fares cost San Francisco nearly $18 per ride, audit finds -- Cable car operators in San Francisco are failing to collect fares from nearly a quarter of passengers, according to an audit by the City Controller that was released on Monday. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/17/18
Tenants got a rare chance to come back after being evicted — but most didn't -- Two years ago, when she was booted from her airy apartment on Franklin Avenue, Sylvie Shain was packing up until nearly midnight. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/18
Bretón: Gov. Brown, if you don’t veto a bill to protect young killers, you create a legacy of pain -- Please do not sign SB 1391 into law. Veto it. Reject it. If enacted, it would go too far in the name of good intentions by barring prosecutors from recommending that some 14- and 15-year-olds be tried as adults for horrendous crimes. Marcos Bretón in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/17/18
Fox: Let’s Avoid a “High Speed Rail” Situation in Space -- Putting aside questions of effectiveness and even validity of the satellite project proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown at his Global Climate Action Summit, we should be concerned that the satellite could emulate the high-speed rail in that the costs will not be covered as promised and that taxpayers will end up holding the bag. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 9/17/18
White House Hasn’t Asked FBI to Vet Kavanaugh Allegations, Sources Say -- The White House hasn’t asked the FBI to investigate the allegation that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a woman when they were in high school, a request required for the bureau to take further action, according to two people familiar with the matter. Chris Strohm and Shannon Pettypiece Bloomberg -- 9/17/18