Updating . .
Trump might limit states’ say in offshore drilling plan -- In a notice published earlier this month, the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration asked the public to weigh in on ways to “streamline” a state review process granted under the Coastal Zone Management Act. Anna M. Phillips and Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
Sacramento’s Bishop Quinn, oldest living Catholic bishop in America, dies -- Quinn inspired faith through action. He went out of his way to minister to people on the margins of society, including death-row inmates and AIDS patients. He distributed groceries at food closets and washed dishes in soup kitchens. He roamed K Street Mall at night, slipping $20 bills to homeless people. Robert D. Dávila in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/21/19
Vanishing Violence -- Almost unnoticed, serious youth crime has fallen off drastically, leaving juvenile halls emptied and experts mystified. Jill Tucker and Joaquin Palomino in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/21/19
ACLU sues FBI for records related to black extremists report -- The ACLU and the Oakland, California-based Center for Media Justice filed the lawsuit against the FBI and Department of Justice in federal court Thursday. The groups want records detailing how the black extremist assessment came to be and how it has been used. Janie Har Associated Press -- 3/21/19
Pants on fire: Levi’s soars in IPO -- By mid-morning, the stock had risen to $22.75 — a 34 percent premium to the price it offered institutional investors, signaling strong interest in a company that hopes to defy the harsh business environment facing retailers in the age of Amazon. Kate Galbraith and Shwanika Narayan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/21/19
A new study says it can predict homelessness. But L.A. County doesn’t want to use it -- Hoping to lower the cost of mitigating homelessness by preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place, a Los Angeles research group says it has created a screening tool that can predict who is likely to become chronically homeless after losing a job or leaving the foster-care system. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
San Francisco housing construction down 41 percent in 2018 -- San Francisco struggled to get dividends on housing in 2018, as the number of new homes built fell significantly compared to the year before, down more than 40 percent across the city. That’s according to the city’s new Housing Inventory report, published this week and surveying the sum total of housing construction last year. Adam Brinklow Curbed San Francisco -- 3/21/19
Wiretaps, emails and checks: Parents in college admissions scam face tough legal fight -- Some of the parents charged in the colleges admission scandal have a tough choice to make in the coming weeks: Do they fight the charges against them or agree to cooperate with federal authorities? Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
As colleges decide fate of children in admissions scandal, a key question: What did they know? -- Some parents indicted in the scandal allegedly took steps to keep the cheating from their children and instructed William “Rick” Singer to also keep them in the dark. However, court documents allude that some students had some level of knowledge about what was happening, though the documents don’t make it clear exactly how much. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
‘He should be fired’: Lawmaker’s resolution urges dismissal of UC Davis prof over cop comments -- Weeks after a UC Davis professor’s past comments about police officers stirred controversy, a resolution has been introduced in the California Legislature to call for his removal. But the UC administration says not much can be done. Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/21/19
USC’s new president ready to ‘fix’ school after scandals -- Folt said she was horrified to learn of the bribery scheme, which involved wealthy parents paying to have a college counselor rig standardized tests or get their children admitted as recruits of sports they didn’t play. But it didn’t give her pause about taking on the position. Amanda Lee Myers Associated Press -- 3/21/19
Anti-Semitic fliers found near San Fernando Valley schools. Police call it a hate crime -- El Camino Real Charter High School officials were notified Monday about the fliers — some bearing swastikas — which had been taped to signposts and traffic signal poles on the streets surrounding the Woodland Hills campus, said Daniel Chang, chief compliance officer at the high school. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
California governor pushes for fee to clean up tainted water -- Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to charge California water customers up to $10 per month to help clean up contaminated water in low-income and rural areas, but he will face resistance from some legislative Democrats hesitant to impose new taxes. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 3/21/19
Brace for a brutal 2019 allergy season in the Bay Area -- Spring is busting out all over — and that means that it’s about to be peak allergy season. The combination of rain showers and warm weather means that we are about to be surrounded by wildflowers and the pollen they generate. Karen D’Souza in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/21/19
Facebook Stored Millions of Passwords in Plaintext—change Yours Now -- On Thursday, following a report by Krebs on Security, Facebook acknowledged a bug in its password management systems that caused hundreds of millions of user passwords for Facebook, Facebook Lite, and Instagram to be stored as plaintext in an internal platform. This means that thousands of Facebook employees could have searched for and found them. Krebs reports that the passwords stretched back to those created in 2012. Lily Hay Newman Wired -- 3/21/19
Family sues Sheriff's Department after fatal shooting in Pico Rivera -- The family of a 22-year-old man who was fatally shot by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies last year following a pursuit in Pico Rivera filed a lawsuit against the county this week, alleging that authorities used unreasonable and excessive force. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
Fox: The Return of the Phrase: “San Francisco Democrats”? -- Will the phrase “San Francisco Democrats” be revived nationally in the 2020 presidential contest? Opponents of Kamala Harris very well could test that idea. As in 1984 when the phrase was first coined, it would be an attempt to exploit the divide in the Democratic Party. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 3/21/19
How Trump is on track for a 2020 landslide -- Economic models point to a Trump blowout in 2020. But a faltering economy or giant scandal could change everything. Ben White and Steven Shepard Politico -- 3/21/19
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Use Private Accounts for Official Business, Their Lawyer Says -- The chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee revealed information on Thursday that he said showed that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner used private email accounts and a publicly available messaging service for official White House business in a way that possibly violated federal records laws. Nicholas Fandos in the New York Times$ -- 3/21/19
Jimmy Carter is about to become the longest-living president in American history -- His presidency — remembered for the Camp David accords, the Iran hostage crisis and creation of the Departments of Energy and Education — flamed out during the election of 1980, when Ronald Reagan defeated him. Deanna Paul in the Washington Post$ -- 3/21/19
California Policy & Politics This Morning
UC Berkeley in spotlight as Trump expected to issue campus free-speech order -- The debate over free speech on college campuses moves into the White House on Thursday, and as has often been the case over the past 50 years, UC Berkeley will be front and center. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/21/19
If Trump wants to get on California’s 2020 ballot, he might need to release his tax returns -- For the second time in three years, a California Democrat is trying to force President Donald Trump to release his tax returns. Under Senate Bill 27, presidential candidates from all parties would need to publicly disclose the last five years of their tax returns if they want to have their name on the state’s primary ballot. Bryan Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/21/19
Oakland police lose ground on reforms in court monitor’s new report -- A court monitor has found Oakland police are losing ground in their 16-year struggle to comply with dozens of reforms, dealing a major setback to the department’s goal of finally emerging from federal oversight. Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/21/19
‘Devin Nunes’ Cow’ Twitter account gained more followers than congressman after he sued it -- The Twitter account “Devin Nunes’ cow,” which professes to be “hanging out on the dairy in Iowa looking for the lil’ treasonous cowpoke,” has more than 455,000 followers as of Wednesday afternoon, a dramatic increase from the 1,000 or so before Rep. Devin Nunes filed a lawsuit Tuesday accusing the cow account, Twitter, and two other users of defamation. Nunes’s own verified account has 395,000 followers. Herman Wong in the Washington Post$ Laura M. Holson in the New York Times$ -- 3/21/19
Skelton: Gov. Gavin Newsom is developing a bad habit: ignoring the will of voters -- Gov. Gavin Newsom has drawn heavy flak for kissing off the voters on capital punishment. He’s also ignoring promises made to voters when they supported a gas tax and vehicle fee increase. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
Schwarzenegger Pulls No Punches in a Rare Rebuke of Trump -- Arnold Schwarzenegger and John McCain saw in each other a willingness to buck the Republican Party and became fast friends and political allies. Mindful of McCain’s legacy, the former California governor said on Wednesday he couldn’t stay silent in the face of President Trump’s recent spate of attacks on the late senator. Peter Nicholas The Atlantic -- 3/21/19
We’d love to help, Pence tells California. Here’s how a top Democrat replied -- What’s a California Democrat to do when he gets a letter from Vice President Mike Pence? Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, for one, didn’t take too kindly to a recent message from the Trump administration wishing the state “a productive and successful legislative session.” Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/21/19
Walters: School accountability good for some, not others? -- Last year, in his final budget as governor, Jerry Brown proudly proclaimed a new policy to encourage the state’s 114 community colleges to pay more attention to how their students are faring. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 3/21/19
Lopez: USC has lost its way. Here’s how the new president can put it back on track -- I almost spit out my breakfast Tuesday when I read that the USC Board of Trustees had approved a tuition increase of 3.5% to $57,256. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
Family awarded $6.5 million for baby's coffee burns at Omni La Costa resort -- A San Diego federal jury awarded a nearly $6.5 million verdict to the family of a 9-month-old girl who was burned by coffee at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa. The Deruveyer family was visiting from Michigan in May 2016 when the incident occurred. Kristina Davis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/21/19
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Naval Reservist Wins Discrimination Appeal Against DEA -- A retired Drug Enforcement Agency agent said the agency discriminated against him because he was a reserve officer in the Navy. Kevin Sharpe started with the DEA in 1995. He also deployed three times as a Naval Reserve officer. Four years ago Sharpe was one of several agents in the San Diego field office who filed suit against the DEA. Steve Walsh KPBS -- 3/21/19
After refinery fire, prepare to spend more at the gas pump -- With drivers already spending a little more for gasoline due to gradual increases in the price of oil, a recent refinery fire in the Los Angeles area will likely lead to even more pain at the pump. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/21/19
Lawsuit Seeks to Force Lyft to Provide 'Full, Equal' Service to Wheelchair Users -- But a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court says that one significant population is still being denied the go anywhere, go anytime benefits bestowed by the company's service: wheelchair users who need specially equipped vehicles to get to appointments, the airport, dates or work. Dan Brekke KQED -- 3/21/19
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds
MTS says polling shows strong support for raising taxes to expand bus and trolley service -- San Diegans like the idea of raising taxes to beef up the region’s bus and trolley network, including funding the construction of a San Diego Grand Central to connect public transit to the San Diego International Airport. Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/21/19
Transit
How dangerous are electric scooters? Two deaths in California show the risks are real -- Two people have died in the last week in electric scooter crashes in California, prompting new safety concerns as the mobility devices become more common on city streets. A 53-year-old man died in San Diego after he lost control and hit a tree. The victim, who had been riding on the sidewalk, suffered serious head injuries, police said. He was not wearing a helmet. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/21/19
A busy traffic link between L.A. and Orange counties is closed for at least a year -- A heavily trafficked road that links the San Gabriel Valley and Orange County is expected to be closed for at least a year following a season of torrential rain that caused a portion of the winding thoroughfare to sink. La Habra Heights officials closed Hacienda Road from Canada Sombre Road t56o West Skyline Drive this month after they discovered a section in the southbound lane was sinking. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
Homeless
Gov. Newsom has a $500 million plan for homelessness. Steinberg, other CA mayors want more -- Newsom’s proposed budget includes $500 million for homelessness — the same amount that was included in the state’s 2018-19 budget. The mayors did not say how much more money they’re requesting. Theresa Clift in the Sacramento Bee$ Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
‘The Budget Just Changed’: Governor Gavin Newsom Responds To Big City Mayors’ Call For More Homelessness Funding -- Gov. Gavin Newsom says the mayors of California’s largest cities have persuaded him to rework his budget proposal for emergency homelessness aid. “We need to step up our game,” the governor of the state said after meeting with mayors of its 13 largest cities. Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 3/21/19
Brandau proposal would ticket Fresno drivers for giving to street-corner panhandlers -- Fresno City Councilman Steve Brandau said his proposal, which will be introduced at Thursday’s City Council meeting, is directed at improving public safety. “It’s not a no-panhandling ordinance, although it will affect that world a little bit,” he said. “It’s about transferring stuff at signaled intersections to pedestrians.” Tim Sheehan in the Fresno Bee -- 3/21/19
Housing
With renters struggling, California still needs 1.4 million more affordable units, report finds -- Despite recent laws and new funding to boost housing construction, California still needs 1.4 million more affordable rental units, according to a report out Thursday. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/21/19
Wildfire
California wildfire season looms: How can technology help? -- California’s first wildfire technology summit talks tools for detection, prevention, communication. Levi Sumagaysay in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/21/19
Education
Woman accuses Cal football players, coaches of sexual harassment -- UC Berkeley’s athletic department has referred an allegation of sexual harassment involving the football team to the campus’ Office for Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination. Rusty Simmons in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/21/19
Students and teachers say City College in San Francisco will cut under-enrolled classes -- City College of San Francisco students and instructors say the college’s administration could soon put computer science, foreign language and music classes on the chopping block as it seeks to minimize under-enrolled courses. Gwendolyn Wu in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/21/19
Democratic Party, School Board Members, LGBTQ Leaders Urge Beiser to Resign -- Following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, Kevin Beiser is on leave from his job as a middle school math teacher in Chula Vista, and facing calls to resign from his colleagues and high-profile Democrats across the county. Will Huntsberry Voiceofsandiego.org -- 3/21/19
New USC president Carol Folt no stranger to dealing with athletic department in crisis -- Carol Folt had never been tasked with overseeing a big-time college athletic department when she arrived on the campus of North Carolina in July 2013. J. Brady McCollough in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
More California students may be banned from using cellphones at school under new bill -- The measure by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) would require school boards to adopt policies that limit or prohibit the use of cellphones on school grounds, leaving it up to them what their rules would do. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
California colleges expand mental health services to meet rising needs -- With heightened awareness of college students’ psychological stress, worried state officials and campus leaders in California are providing more money and expanding programs to promote mental health. Larry Gordon EdSource -- 3/21/19
Immigration / Border
H-1B: Fremont university slammed as ‘visa mill’ gets warning over student jobs -- A university in Fremont found to have strikingly high numbers of foreign pupils has been hit with a warning from its accreditor for failing to place enough graduates in jobs. And a new report indicates Northwestern Polytechnic University saw a massive revenue drop in 2017, the year after an exposé called it an “upmarket visa mill.” Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/21/19
ICE, immigrant rights advocates dispute hunger strike at Adelanto facility -- Detainees would have to miss nine consecutive meals and not be seen eating food within 72 hours for a hunger strike to officially be initiated, Haley said. Detainees might also skip eating at the cafeteria but then purchase meals from the commissary, which also would not constitute a hunger strike, she continued. Roxana Kopetman in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 3/21/19
Iraqi man held in Sacramento in extradition fight now facing criminal probe in US -- The disclosure came Wednesday in federal court in Sacramento, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan agreed to a one-month delay in the start of an extradition hearing for Omar Ameen, a Sacramento truck mechanic arrested last August and accused of being a terrorist leader in Iraq. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/21/19
Guns
As U.S. struggles to pass modest gun curbs, New Zealand swiftly bans assault weapons -- Firearms are part of the culture in both countries. New Zealand has 4.7 million people and 1.5 million guns, and the U.S. has 328 million people and between 265 million and 393 million guns. But when it comes to gun laws, there are some big differences. Most importantly, New Zealand’s constitution does not guarantee the right to own a gun. Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
Health
Sutter, Anthem Blue Cross reach Medi-Cal agreement after months of contract dispute -- Sutter Health and Anthem Blue Cross have reached an agreement that will allow Blue Cross Medi-Cal, HMO and PPO users to continue receiving care via Sutter Health facilities and doctors, Sutter announced Wednesday. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/21/19
Fentanyl overdose deaths in the U.S. have been doubling every year -- A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention details the meteoric rise of a drug that was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration back in 1968. It shows that fentanyl’s role as a driver of the opioid epidemic can be traced to late 2013. Melissa Healy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
LA County health officials ID 2nd measles case involving LAX Passenger -- Los Angeles County health officials said Wednesday they have confirmed another case of measles involving a passenger who arrived aboard a flight at Los Angeles International Airport. The newest case was a passenger on United Airlines flight 240 that arrived at the airport on March 5 and may have been in the area of Gate 76A at Terminal 7 between 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The item is in the LA Daily News$ -- 3/21/19
Environment
'It blindsided me': Surprise as massive butterfly swarm reaches Northern California -- The front end of a massive migrating butterfly swarm reached Northern California late last week, and the so-called painted ladies are flying through some unexpected places, including San Francisco's Presidio National Park. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/21/19
Within 50 Years, Two Southern California Mountain Lion Populations Could Go Extinct, Study Predicts -- It’s not that the populations are too small, Benson said. It’s a genetic diversity problem due to inbreeding and connectivity issues. Cities, real estate and freeways keep the lions from breeding with other populations. Benson says the research predicts rapid extinction is almost certain. Ezra David Romero Capital Public Radio -- 3/21/19
Also . . .
Richmond Police Officer Fired for Lying in 'Celeste Guap' Case, New Records Show -- One of the Richmond police officers swept up in the "Celeste Guap" sexual exploitation case in 2016 was fired from the force for making false statements to internal affairs investigators, and another was suspended for an unspecified period of time for having sex on duty, brief records on the matter released Wednesday show. Thomas Peele, David DeBolt and Alex Emslie Bay Area News Group and KQED -- 3/21/19
DA clears officers who killed man in Camp Fire evacuation zone -- At the end of the pursuit, Hendrix — who had been wanted by police for absconding parole — popped out the driver’s side door of his sedan, turned and pointed what investigators determined was six-inch long steel pipe toward the officers, the district attorney said. Andre Byik in the Chico Enterprise-Record -- 3/21/19
Skip the slip? California lawmaker wants email receipts to replace paper ones -- When Carol Dahmen discovered the CVS receipt draped across the counter of her Carmichael kitchen, she couldn’t resist pulling out her tape measure to document it. Her husband had purchased one single prescription. The receipt, she discovered, stretched on to contain 11 coupons before topping out at an astonishing 4 feet 8 inches—the height of Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles. Elizabeth Castillo Calmatters -- 3/21/19
How a woman’s secret note to an East Bay cop led to arrests on human trafficking, domestic violence -- When a Walnut Creek policeman responded to a 911 hangup call last November, the driver of a parked car explained the call away; he told the officer his ex-girlfriend had been following him, trying to start an altercation, so he called the police. In the backseat was a young woman “crying hysterically,” according to the officer’s report. She was unable to speak, but slyly typed a two-word message on her phone and turned her screen toward the officer. Her message read, “He’s lying.” Nate Gartrell in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/21/19
Ojai woman held in felony elder abuse and misdemeanor animal abuse case -- When authorities arrived at the two-bedroom home in Ojai last week, they could smell the urine from 20 feet away. Upon entering, they found four adults living in unimaginable filth, sharing the home with 12 dogs, two caged rabbits, two cats and one caged African grey parrot. Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
No, a meteor did not just crash in downtown Los Angeles -- No, it wasn’t a meteor. Or an alien invasion. Many Los Angeles residents were dazzled Wednesday night when a fire ball streaked over downtown Los Angeles, resembling a slow meteor. Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/21/19
POTUS 45
‘It’s going to be really easy:’ Trump says his 2020 debate strategy will be all about the economy -- President Trump, in a speech largely crediting himself for the strong economy, told plant workers here Wednesday that his future 2020 Democratic opponent will struggle in debates because he can just rattle off low unemployment statistics. “ Ashley Parker and Colby Itkowitz in the Washington Post$ -- 3/21/19
Beltway
Federal judge demands Trump administration reveal how its drilling plans will fuel climate change -- A federal judge ruled late Tuesday that the Interior Department violated federal law by failing to take into account the climate impact of its oil and gas leasing in the West. Juliet Eilperin in the Washington Post$ -- 3/21/19
Bernie Sanders returns to California, fires up striking workers at UCLA -- Campaigning in California for the first time in his second run for president, Bernie Sanders flashed familiar themes Wednesday in a speech to UCLA workers staging a one-day strike amid stalled contract negotiations. Kevin Modesti in the LA Daily News$ -- 3/21/19
-- Wednesday Updates
Border Patrol says detention centers are full — and starts releasing migrants -- The Border Patrol released 50 recently apprehended migrants here Tuesday, the first of several hundred border-crossers who officials say will soon be freed because there is no room to hold them. Molly Hennessy-Fiske and Molly O'Toole in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/20/19
Man framed for murder gets $13.1-million settlement from San Francisco -- San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $13.1-million settlement for a man who spent eight years in prison after police officers framed him for murder. Javier Panzar in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/20/19
USC selects Carol Folt as new president as university tries to move past scandals -- Carol L. Folt, the recently departed chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will be the next president of USC, a choice underscoring the university’s desire to turn the page on myriad scandals that have defined it in recent years. Harriet Ryan and Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/20/19
New USC president Carol Folt removed Confederate statue, faced N. Carolina backlash -- The monument in the heart of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus was a landmark, honoring former students who fought for the slaveholding Confederacy. But the Confederate statue became a lightning rod for Carol L. Folt, who led the university amid intense debate over the statue and was named Wednesday as the new president of USC. The item is in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/20/19
Old Dominion leader Ellen Neufeldt named new president of Cal State San Marcos -- Ellen J. Neufeldt, an administrator at Old Dominion University in Virginia, was named Wednesday as the new president of Cal State San Marcos, according to the California State University Board of Trustees. Pam Kragen in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/20/19
Workers hit picket line at UC Davis Medical Center as strike unfolds at campuses statewide -- The blare of vuvuzelas, the horns familiar to soccer fans, echoed around the UC Davis Medical Center during the morning rush hour Wednesday as roughly 200 unionized workers picketed over stalled contract negotiations with the University of California. Cathie Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/20/19
Bay Area leads charge on fixing housing crisis -- California lawmakers have unveiled a far-reaching package to stem the state’s housing affordability crisis, from new protections against surging rents and evictions to more apartments near public transit and in coastal communities. The proposals could reshape the state’s housing landscape — and they all come from Bay Area politicians. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/20/19
Why won’t developers build housing in this Bay Area city? -- San Jose fell short of its annual housing goals last year, missing one marker by 1,000 homes and prompting City Council on Tuesday to ask a key question: why aren’t developers building here? Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/20/19
L.A. promised more housing for homeless people — but some neighborhoods are way behind -- Housing for homeless people? In Chatsworth? Jason Brackett isn’t holding his breath. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/20/19
Oakland’s plan to improve roads stuck in a rut -- Oakland’s new Department of Transportation, backed by bond proceeds that voters approved in 2016, promised a renaissance in a city of potholes and rutted roads. And in the two years since the department’s genesis, it has unleashed a flurry of plans and ideas. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/20/19
California goes all in for the census -- As the country prepares for the important 2020 census, California is throwing more resources than ever into making sure its population is properly counted. Lisa Renner Capitol Weekly -- 3/20/19
Farmers Are Supposed to Consider Safer Alternatives to Toxic Pesticides. UCLA Report Says That’s Not Working Out Well -- Just under 200 million pounds of pesticides a year are used on California’s crops. When it comes to using them safely, 56 county agricultural officers are local communities final line of defense. Molly Peterson KQED -- 3/20/19
As Southern California cougars near ‘extinction vortex,’ a radical rescue plan emerges -- The future is looking increasingly bleak for some Southern California mountain lions. Urban encroachment, inbreeding, vehicle strikes, rat poison and wildfire have all taken their toll on cougars living in the Santa Monica and Santa Ana mountains. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/20/19
How Charter Schools Became Such a Big Player in California's Education System -- In the recent school walkouts in Oakland and Los Angeles, striking teachers and their unions took particular aim a charter schools, accusing them of stripping traditional public schools of crucial resources. Matthew Green KQED -- 3/20/19
The Luxe hotel was a hot spot for fundraisers. But some L.A. politicians didn’t pay the bill -- Donors descended on the Luxe City Center Hotel last April for a fundraiser supporting two L.A. politicians: City Council President Herb Wesson and a colleague from the San Fernando Valley, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. David Zahniser and Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/20/19
Lopez: Veterans to Trump: Enough already with the attacks on late Sen. John McCain -- Jack LeGros, a helicopter door gunner during the Vietnam War, was on his way into the Veterans Affairs Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center on Tuesday afternoon when I asked him what he thought about President Trump’s continued attacks on late Sen. John McCain of Arizona. “I think he’s an…” Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/20/19
Fox: Your One-Party Government at Work -- Here’s what one-party government looks like in California: the voters make decisions at the ballot box and the majority party elected officials shrug and move forward to overturn those decisions not fearing a rebuke when up for re-election. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 3/20/19
Trump could be left off some states’ ballots in 2020 if these bills become law -- In refusing to release his tax returns, President Trump bucked decades of tradition and set off a Democrat hunt to obtain them. Now several statehouses are looking at making their release a condition of the 2020 presidential election: Show us your tax returns, or you can’t be on the ballot. Kayla Epstein in the Washington Post$ -- 3/20/19
Gillum to launch Florida voter-registration campaign to trip up Trump -- Andrew Gillum has launched a Florida voter registration group dedicated to defeating President Donald Trump’s re-election chances in the nation’s largest swing state. Gary Fineout Politico -- 3/20/19