Updating . .
Newsom to scale back struggling high-speed rail, twin tunnels projects -- Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in his State of the State speech Tuesday that he intends to scale back California’s $77-billion high-speed rail system, saying that while the state has "the capacity to complete a high-speed rail link between Merced and Bakersfield … there simply isn’t a path to get from Sacramento to San Diego, let alone from San Francisco to L.A." Phil Willon and Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 2/12/19
Newsom downsizes Delta water project: one tunnel, not two -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, diving into one of California’s most contentious water issues, said Tuesday he wants to downsize the Delta tunnels project. The Democratic governor also set out to overhaul state water policy by naming a new chair of the state’s water board. Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/12/19
California Governor Proposes Digital Dividend Aimed at Big Tech -- But he said companies that make billions of dollars "collecting, curating and monetizing our personal data have a duty to protect it. Consumers have a right to know and control how their data is being used." He went further by suggesting these companies share some of those profits. Kartikay Mehrotra Bloomberg -- 2/12/19
Draft Beto O’Rourke campaign gains steam in California -- When two dozen young people crowded into a Google employee’s living room last weekend for one of Silicon Valley’s first events of the 2020 presidential race, they were greeted by freshly printed campaign signs, a table full of chocolate cookies and enthusiastic volunteers eager to sign them up. The only thing missing: their candidate. Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/12/19
Abcarian: Ammar Campa-Najjar is running again despite racist attacks in midterms -- During the campaign, Campa-Najjar had been demonized by Hunter and his father, a former congressman, as an Islamic terrorist who was trying to “infiltrate” Congress. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/12/19
What happens when the next big wildfire hits? -- Don’t be fooled by the precipitation, the snowpack, the wildflowers. When winter ends, it’s unlikely that California’s iconic landscape will sustain the moisture to withstand the 100-degree summer and fall. Judy Lin Calmatters -- 2/12/19
‘The science is clear.’ California lawmakers say Green New Deal will fight global warming -- Hotter summers. Colder winters. Mega-storms and massive droughts. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change paints a grim picture of how global life will change in the 21st century as a result of human-caused climate change. Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/12/19
Assemblyman asks state for ‘deep dive’ audit of Sacramento City school district -- Putting more pressure on Sacramento City Unified School District, under the threat of state takeover as it struggles to correct a $35 million budget gap, the assemblyman representing the district has requested a “deep dive” by the California state auditor into the district’s finances and decision-making. Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/12/19
Early tax filing statistics confirm fears about refunds -- The first numbers from this year’s tax-filing season seem to confirm fears that many workers had too little withheld from their paychecks last year, and will get a smaller refund or owe more than expected with their 2018 returns. Kathleen Pender in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/12/19
Edna’s eviction from San Francisco firehouse enrages animal lovers online -- Four or five years, especially in cat years, is a long time to call a place home. Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/12/19
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Gavin Newsom has been more antagonistic to Trump than Jerry Brown was. And he's just getting started -- Gavin Newsom’s decision to reassign National Guard troops from the Mexico border is likely just the beginning of a more aggressive stance by California and its new activist governor against President Trump's policies. Taryn Luna and Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$-- 2/12/19
California governor to rebut Trump in 1st State of State -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom is preparing to deliver his first State of the State address a day after declaring he wouldn’t participate in the Trump administration’s “political theater” over border security. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 2/12/19
California Judge Orders Planned Parenthood Workers' Names To Remain Sealed -- The names of 14 Planned Parenthood workers and others will remain sealed during the trial of two anti-abortion activists who are charged with secretly recording them, a California judge ruled Monday. Richard Gonzales NPR -- 2/12/19
California wildfire cleanup hits top gear amid new fear of survivor ‘re-victimization’ -- In a dramatic rebuke last summer, California officials accused the federal government of “re-victimizing” wildfire survivors in Sonoma and Napa counties by allowing cleanup crews to damage property and over-scrape home sites. Now, it’s California’s turn on the hot seat. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/12/19
San Diego paying out $1M in another cycling injury settlement -- The payout comes nearly two years after San Diego paid nearly $5 million to a bicyclist who suffered severe head injuries after he was launched several feet by a damaged sidewalk in Del Cerro. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/12/19
California jail guards would get help with urine-hurling inmates under new bill -- Assembly Bill 294 would require jails and prisons to provide better safety training and more information to officers about their rights following an attack, would require facilities to replace soiled uniforms and would strengthen investigations of attacks. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/12/19
Former state Sen. Kevin de León will run to replace Jose Huizar on L.A. City Council -- Former state Sen. Kevin de León is looking to shift his political base of operations to Los Angeles City Hall, by seeking the Eastside council seat being vacated by Councilman Jose Huizar. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/12/19
Judge denies motion to arrest 14 more people in Ghost Ship fire case -- The motion itself alleged probable cause to arrest the list of 14 people, who in the months and years leading up to the deadly fire had all been inside the warehouse itself either as inspectors or partygoers, and knew of the dangers inside. Angela Ruggiero in the East Bay Times -- 2/12/19
Politifact CA: Gavin Newsom’s housing tax credit promise is ‘In the Works’ -- On the campaign trail, Gavin Newsom promised a "Marshall Plan" to confront California's affordable housing crisis. He said he'd help the state build its way out of the problem by cutting red tape and, notably, boosting money for the state's low-income tax credit by more than five-fold. Chris Nichols, Sami Soto Politifact CA -- 2/12/19
California Has a High Rate of Police Shootings. Could a New Open-Records Law Change That? -- After her son, Eric, was killed by the police in Los Angeles two years ago when officers mistook a water pistol he was holding for a real gun, Valerie Rivera channeled her grief into activism. She joined Black Lives Matter and lobbied the state legislature to open to the public California’s records on police shootings, which have long been hidden. Tim Arango in the New York Times$ -- 2/12/19
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
City of Industry construction firm fined nearly $12 million for wage theft -- A City of Industry construction firm has been fined nearly $12 million in what state regulators are calling the biggest wage theft violation ever by a private company in California. Kevin Smith in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/12/19
San Diego neuroscientist says brain-buzzing device causes weight loss -- A San Diego entrepreneur just took first place in a big startup competition put on by all the University of California schools, winning judges over with its brain-manipulating wearable device used for weight loss. Brittany Meiling in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/12/19
Housing
Urban community in Santa Clara is launched near train stop -- With its location a few blocks from Sunnyvale’s Lawrence Station, which is served by Caltrain, the Nuevo complex will have the draw of being near a rail stop. Prices for the homes range from $1.2 million to $2 million range. At the end of 2018, the median price for a Santa Clara County home, excluding condominiums, was $1.15 million. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/12/19
Support growing in San Francisco for transit-oriented housing, poll finds -- San Franciscans appear to be warming to the idea of building denser housing around transit hubs, an issue that has proved to be divisive in the city and across the Bay Area. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/12/19
Transit
With a Hiccup Here and a Stumble There, BART Launches Early-Morning Buses -- Early-morning BART commuters got their first taste of life without 4 a.m. service, and the results were -- well, mixed. Dan Brekke KQED -- 2/12/19
Lyft, Mayor Schaaf pledge bikes and transit discounts for ‘underserved’ Oaklanders -- The city of Oakland announced Monday that it will partner with San Francisco-based ride-hailing app Lyft on a program designed to “bring more transportation options to historically underserved Oaklanders,” including discount AC Transit fares and a new “bike library” in East Oakland. Adam Brinklow Curbed San Francisco David DeBolt in the San Jose Mercury$ Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/12/19
Cannabis
Bay Area marijuana businesses Apothecarium, Harborside in Canada deals -- Two Bay Area pot retailers saw their owners strike deals with Canadian companies Monday, highlighting the financial edge Canada has gained in the marijuana industry since it became the first major economy to fully legalize cannabis in October. Shwanika Narayan and Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/12/19
Immigration, Border, Deportation
Volunteers, activists, journalists interrogated at border about caravan -- Cordero soon learned from other advocates and volunteers that he was not the only one who had been stopped and interrogated about his interactions with migrants in Tijuana. At least a couple dozen others — freelance photojournalists, advocates and volunteers — had all spent time in secondary inspection, many on multiple occasions. Kate Morrissey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/12/19
More than 70 detainees condemn conditions in San Diego immigration facility -- The letter, written in December, alleges that detainees have experienced medical neglect, safety issues and racism and discrimination, according to Freedom For Immigrants, the group to whom the letter was addressed. The detainees also said that their complaints were not being heard at the facility. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/12/19
Health
San Diego Neurologist: New Alzheimer’s Drug Could Slow Or Halt Disease Progression -- There is no effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease yet, but researchers at UC San Diego said there is reason to be optimistic. They are testing a new drug for its potential to slow or halt the progression of the debilitating brain disease. Susan Murphy KPBS -- 2/12/19
Robots can diagnose kids almost like a human doctor, UCSD study finds -- Common childhood diseases as well as dangerous conditions can be diagnosed with an artificial intelligence system just about as accurately as an experienced pediatrician, scientists in San Diego and China report Monday. Bradley J. Fikes in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/12/19
Environment
18 million trees died in California last year; officials say that's an improvement -- Another 18 million trees in California died over the last year, a grim toll that nonetheless officials see as a sign the epic forest die-off in the state’s mountains is finally slowing. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde in the Los Angeles Times$ Molly Peterson KQED Ezra David Romero Capital Public Radio Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/12/19
How much snow is there in Tahoe? Big rigs are hauling it away at this ski resort -- As Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows closed Sunday due to high avalanche danger and the ski resort prepared the mountain terrain for re-opening, 18-wheel big rigs were hauling away huge loads of snow. David Caraccio in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/12/19
Water
LA headed for above-average rainfall with more storms in the forecast -- A second consecutive month of above-average rainfall may be in store for Los Angeles, where more than 3 inches of rain have already fallen in February. Elijah Chiland Curbed LA -- 2/12/19
Also . . .
Man accused of bleach attacks in California supermarket freezers is arrested -- The man authorities say was behind a series of attacks in which bleach was poured into California supermarket freezers in Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, West Los Angeles, West Hollywood and Sunnyvale has been arrested and charged with tampering with consumer products, the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles said Monday. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ Jason Green in the East Bay Times -- 2/12/19
Freezing temperatures leave dozens stranded overnight on Mt. Baldy -- After the sun went down Sunday, the narrow, winding road up to Mt. Baldy froze, causing an hours-long backup that left dozens of people stranded overnight. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/12/19
Edna the cat officially removed from San Francisco fire facility, and she does not have a permanent home -- A former employee at a San Francisco fire station is speaking out after the station was forced to say goodbye to their beloved pet cat Edna on Monday after a complaint was filed about the cat's presence at the station. Eric Ting in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Joan Morris in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/12/19
150,000 Californians who paid for driver’s licenses aren’t getting them yet -- The DMV acknowledged on Monday that about 150,000 customers have yet to receive licenses they paid for as far back as September. The error was much greater than the department realized when customers complained about missing licenses. Bryan Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/12/19
IBM’s AI loses debate to human but has strong showing -- IBM’s Project Debater — manifested onstage by a black monolith with a female voice — battled champion debater Harish Natarajan in a theater packed with about 700 spectators at Yerba Buena Center. It was the artificial intelligence technology’s first live debate in public. Levi Sumagaysay in the East Bay Times -- 2/12/19
A hedge fund’s ‘mercenary’ strategy: Buy newspapers, slash jobs, sell the buildings -- The tactics employed by Alden and Digital First Media are well-chronicled: They buy newspapers already in financial distress, including big-city dailies such as the San Jose Mercury News and the Denver Post, reap the cash flow and lay off editors, reporters and photographers to boost profits. Jonathan O'Connell and Emma Brown in the Washington Post$ -- 2/12/19
POTUS 45
‘It will create a firestorm’: Mulvaney’s border wall cash grab sparks dissent in White House -- The White House is firming up plans to redirect unspent federal dollars as a way of funding President Donald Trump’s border wall without taking the dramatic step of invoking a national emergency. Nancy Cook and Eliana Johnson Politico -- 2/12/19
Beto takes on Trump in tale of 2 mega-rallies -- But the events practically took place in parallel universes: One with rowdy MAGA-gear wearing Trump backers chanting "USA, USA!"; the other serenaded by a mariachi band before O'Rourke took the stage for a lengthy takedown — at times in Spanish — of the president's signature project. David Siders and Anita Kumar Politico -- 2/12/19
GOP livid with Trump over ignored Khashoggi report -- Senate Republicans are fuming at President Donald Trump for telling lawmakers he would disregard a law requiring a report to Congress determining who is responsible for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Andrew Desiderio and Burgess Everett Politico -- 2/12/19
Beltway
‘Progressive Prosecutor’: Can Kamala Harris Square the Circle? -- Ms. Harris seemed to try to be all things to all people as a district attorney and state attorney general. Now, as she runs for president, her record faces a chorus of critics, especially on the left. Kate Zernike in the New York Times$ -- 2/12/19
-- Monday Updates
Appeals court sides with Trump in border wall prototype dispute -- The ruling affirms a district court's decision that allowed the federal government to construct wall "prototypes” and replace 14 miles of primary fencing near San Diego and replace similar fencing along a three-mile strip near Calexico, Calif. Lydia Wheeler The Hill -- 2/11/19
Sheriff Baca loses appeal, faces prison -- An appeals court upheld the conviction of former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca on Monday, clearing the way for the once powerful but now ailing law enforcement figure to spend years in prison for obstructing justice and lying to federal authorities. Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/11/19
‘Awful, chilling moment’: Fresno Bee newspaper carrier finds newborn on Madera County road -- Aurelio Fuentes Jr. said it was an “awful, chilling, moment,” early Monday when he came upon a newborn baby in the middle of a dark Madera County roadway as he was delivering copies of The Fresno Bee in the Madera Ranchos area. Jim Guy in the Fresno Bee -- 2/11/19
2020 Democrats search for California whisperers -- At least six campaigns are having private discussions with California strategists over how to decipher the complicated primary landscape. David Siders Politico -- 2/11/19
Nursing licenses delayed, public protection at risk without more money, state board says -- A state nursing board is warning that it needs more money to protect the public from unsafe nurses and eliminate delays in licensing new ones. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/11/19
In big win for coastal advocates, judge refuses to approve deal that would limit the public from reaching Hollister Ranch beaches -- In a major victory for coastal advocates, a Santa Barbara judge refused to approve a controversial deal that would have allowed access to Hollister Ranch’s coastline only to landowners, their guests, visitors with guides, and those who could boat or paddle in from two miles away. Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/11/19
Seeking ‘trust and credibility’ after fires and bankruptcy, PG&E to overhaul board of directors -- The move comes amid increasing pressure on Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to restructure, with some critics urging a state takeover of the utility. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/11/19
Report: California’s tree die-off reaches 148 million. Major fire threat looms -- Two years after California’s historic drought came to an end, the sweeping die-off of the state’s forests has slowed, yet vast tracts of dry, browning trees are still struggling to recover, federal officials reported Monday. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/11/19
Teens used to be killed at an alarming rate in Sacramento. Here’s why that’s changing -- Minutes before midnight one day in July, 17-year-old John McGee was killed on Del Paso Boulevard after being shot in the torso. Weeks before, 16-year-old Zachary Whittington was gunned down by a friend in a Carmichael apartment building. About one month later, Christian Matu of Antelope died at age 18 after sustaining “multiple gunshot wounds” while in a South Natomas neighborhood. Michael Finch II in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/11/19
Dysfunction at juvenile detention centers is bigger than pepper spray, L.A. County report says -- Life inside Los Angeles County’s juvenile detention centers can be menacing for the hundreds of young people locked up there — and for the guards who oversee them, too. Matt Stiles in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/11/19
Bay Area granny flats: When in-law units become outlaws -- But that red-tape cutting hasn’t extended to existing flats. Owners trying to bring older units up to code encounter costly permits and renovations and decide it’s not worth the expense, say advocates, planners and real estate agents. Louis Hansen in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/11/19
A $950 Bong? A $1,475 Weed Grinder? You Can Find Them at Barneys -- Maybe you’ve heard about MedMen, the design-forward marijuana dispensary chain that Page Six described as “the Barneys of weed.” And then there’s the Plug, a premium dispensary in downtown Los Angeles that LA Weekly called “the Barneys of weed.” Alex Williams in the New York Times$ -- 2/11/19
Revolt of the gig workers: How delivery rage reached a tipping point -- By their name, you might think independent contractors are a motley crew — geographically scattered, with erratic paychecks and tattered safety nets. They report to faceless software subroutines rather than human bosses. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/11/19
Kamala Harris celebrates Oakland, but the feeling isn’t necessarily mutual -- To some in Oakland, a city of tender pride, the homecoming rang false, like a distant relative showing up just long enough to pose for a smiling family portrait. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/11/19
Fox: Exploring the Socialism Experiment in California -- President Trump’s declaration during the State of the Union address that the United States will never be a socialist country set off rounds of debate and articles dealing with proposals from a number of Democrats that would move the country solidly to the left. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 2/11/19