Updating . .
California lawmakers OK Newsom plan to tap utility customers $10.5 billion for wildfire costs -- California lawmakers on Thursday hastily approved complex legislation to overhaul the state’s method of paying for utility wildfire damages at the urging of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has sought to calm Wall Street concerns about liability. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ Bryan Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ Jim Christie Reuters -- 7/11/19
Lawmakers OK giving Trump a choice: Release taxes or skip California primary -- The matter is now in the hands of Gov. Gavin Newsom, after the state Senate gave final approval Thursday to SB27, which would require presidential candidates to release their last five years of income tax returns in order to be eligible for the primary election in California. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Bryan Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/11/19
Steamy allegations complicate GOP congressman’s bid to keep seat, avoid prison -- For GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter, getting re-elected next year is the least of his concerns. Right now, he has to be worried about whether he will make it to the November 2020 ballot at all. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
“We’re moving forward:” SF starts shelter construction, despite lawsuit -- San Francisco is moving ahead on building a 200-bed Navigation Center on the Embarcadero, despite looming legal challenges that could stop the construction. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
Before the double-dealing allegations, there were red flags over $30-million DWP contract -- The head of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s contracting division was alarmed: Top DWP executives wanted to give a $30-million, no-bid contract to a new consulting company to fix the utility’s billing system. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/19
FBI investigating tattooed deputy gangs in Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department -- The FBI is investigating a secret society of tattooed deputies in East Los Angeles as well as similar gang-like groups elsewhere within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, multiple people familiar with the inquiry said. Maya Lau and Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/19
UCLA knew of doctor sex abuse allegation in 2014 but didn’t fire him for four years -- UCLA Medical Center learned in 2014 that a breast cancer patient had made abuse allegations against gynecologist Dr. James Mason Heaps, but officials did not move to fire him until four years later, after more accusations came to light, university records obtained by The Times and interviews show. Richard Winton and Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/19
How much is Apple’s spaceship headquarters worth? Now we have the answer -- The tech giant’s circular headquarters in Cupertino was assessed at $3.6 billion by Santa Clara County for property tax purposes. The valuation doesn’t perfectly coincide with its market value — how much it would sell for — but is based off a detailed appraisal of the building, which opened in 2017. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
They’re young, they have a college degree, they’re coming to California. Who are they? -- It’s no secret that not everybody loves the Golden State. In fact, more people are moving out of California than are moving into it from other states. Yet the population of California continues to expand. Births, an influx of international immigration and a wave of young, college-educated adults moving in are combining to keep the state growing. Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/11/19
Social workers didn’t remove boy from his home despite court order. He later died -- Los Angeles County caseworkers allowed 4-year-old Noah Cuatro to remain in his parents’ home despite a court order in May — weeks before the Palmdale boy died under what authorities say are suspicious circumstances, according to two sources who have reviewed court documents. Garrett Therolf and Alyson Stamos in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/19
Deported airman’s mother inspires bill to protect ‘patriot parents’ -- Every day, Caesar Flores, a senior airman in the Air Force, thinks about his mother. She supported his decision to enlist at 19 and was there to cheer him on when he graduated from basic training in September 2016. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/19
US poised to begin immigration enforcement operation -- A nationwide immigration enforcement operation targeting people who are in the United States illegally is expected to begin this weekend after it was postponed last month by President Donald Trump, according to two administration officials and immigrant activists. Sophia Tareen and Colleen Long Associated Press -- 7/11/19
UCLA professor faces 219 years in prison for send U.S. missle chips to China -- An adjunct UCLA professor of electrical engineering faces 219 years in federal prison for conspiring to export semiconductor chips with military applications to China. Yi-Chi Shih, 64, was found guilty June 26 of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The federal law makes certain unauthorized exports illegal. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/19
Armless, legless South Bay football coach honored at ESPYS has a message for you -- Rob Mendez was just a little tyke when college basketball coach and broadcaster Jim Valvano made his resonant speech at the 1993 ESPYS upon receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Gary Peterson in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/11/19
Colin Kaepernick's skin appears darkened in Republican campaign fundraiser ad -- Former NFL star Colin Kaepernick did not look like himself in a fundraising email that was sent by the National Republican Congressional Committee on Wednesday. The message included a picture of Kaepernick that appeared noticeably altered to make his skin darker, an attack ad tactic that has been used before and is considered by many as racist. Hunter Walker Yahoo News -- 7/11/19
Tom Steyer facing tough deadline to qualify for crucial Democratic debates -- Tom Steyer may have only just now entered the presidential race, but there’s a chance the former hedge fund manager from San Francisco could qualify for the Democratic Party’s crucial next round of debates at the end of the month. A slim chance, but a chance. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Legislation to stop patients getting massive ER bills is on life support -- Assemblyman David Chiu on Tuesday said he is holding back his bill that was inspired by news of San Francisco General Hospital’s unfair billing practices after intense lobbying from hospital CEOs around the state urging his colleagues to kill it. The bill was supposed to be heard in the Senate’s health committee Tuesday, but Chiu said its passage would have required amendments making the bill worthless, and he wasn’t willing to move ahead with them. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
Newsom’s sweeping wildfire plan is on brink of passage -- California lawmakers are on the cusp of approving a landmark bill to shield the state’s major electric companies from future wildfire costs and reshape key aspects of how those utilities are regulated, a sweeping endeavor that could become law by Friday after less than a week of public debate in the Legislature. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
California cities say bill harms plans for public utilities -- With Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. in bankruptcy amid billions of dollars in wildfire liability claims, some California cities are considering buying off pieces of the utility’s assets and running parts of the power system on their own. But new legislation aimed at bringing financial stability to PG&E and other utilities could make it harder for local governments to do that. Andrew Oxford Associated Press -- 7/11/19
Walters: Another dicey utility overhaul -- Californians should always be skeptical when their politicians overhaul the state’s electrical utility system while promising more efficient, less polluting and reasonably priced service. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 7/11/19
Judge Orders PG&E to Answer Newspaper Report on How It Handled Aging Power Lines -- The San Francisco federal judge overseeing PG&E's felony probation for a 2016 pipeline safety conviction is ordering the company to respond to a published report that it was aware of the wildfire danger posed by some of its high-voltage power lines but failed to act. Dan Brekke KQED -- 7/11/19
Juul spends another $1 million on bid to overturn SF e-cigarette ban -- Juul has funneled another $1 million into a local campaign to overturn San Francisco’s ban on e-cigarette sales — bringing the vaping company’s spending on a ballot measure that would kill the ban to $1.5 million. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
Ghost Ship attorney accuses prosecution of ‘character assassination’ of client -- In the third day of Derick Almena testifying in his own involuntary manslaughter trial, his demeanor changed, as he became testy with some of the questions by the prosecution, with his own attorney accusing the prosecution of “character assassination.” Angela Ruggiero in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/11/19
'Outrageous conflicts of interest': Watchdog groups urge California Gov. Gavin Newsom to fire oil regulators -- Two consumer groups are calling on California's governor to freeze all new oil drilling permits and to clean house at the agency that issues them, after the organizations uncovered records showing that top state regulators and engineers held investments in Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP, Valero and other petrochemical giants. Janet Wilson in the Palm Springs Desert Sun -- 7/11/19
Skelton: California moves to block Trump from rolling back its environmental protections -- There’s a new twist in the California-Trump brawl in the state Legislature. It’s aimed at overriding the president’s power to weaken environmental protections. Put simply, any federal protections President Trump tried to gut would immediately become state regulations in their original, strong form. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/19
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Gig-work bill passes Senate committee as crowds rally for and against it -- The bill, which passed the Assembly 53-11 in May, codifies and expands a 2018 California Supreme Court decision known as Dynamex. The ruling makes it harder for companies to claim that workers are independent contractors, saying workers are employees if companies control their activities, if they do work central to the company’s business, and if the workers do not have independent enterprises doing that work. Carolyn Said and Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Johana Bhuiyan in the Los Angeles Times$-- 7/11/19
Lyft wins preliminary ruling for exclusive bike-rental rights in SF -- Ride-hail giant Lyft has exclusive rights to operate a bike-rental program on San Francisco streets, whether its two-wheelers are parked in docks or tethered to random bike racks, a San Francisco judge said Tuesday. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
Kaiser Permanente Therapists Hold One-Day Strike in San Francisco Over Staffing Shortages -- Kaiser Permanente therapists held a one-day strike on Wednesday to protest what they said were conditions that make it difficult for children and adults in San Francisco to access mental health care services, including staffing shortages and weeks-long waits for appointments. Laura Klivans KQED -- 7/11/19
FCC votes to block part of San Francisco broadband law -- The Federal Communications Commission voted to preempt part of a San Francisco city law that prevents property owners from denying internet service providers access to existing wiring within multiunit buildings. Sophia Kunthara in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
Grocery union, execs return to negotiating table -- Contract talks resumed Wednesday between Southern California’s big grocers and the union representing store workers in an effort to avert a possible strike. Representatives of Albertson, Vons, Ralphs and Pavilions are scheduled to meet for three days with leaders of the United Food and Commercial Workers. The talks are being moderated by a federal mediator. Jack Katzanek in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 7/11/19
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds
Extra 91 Freeway toll revenue collected in Corona to be spent as far as Riverside, Lake Elsinore -- A divided transportation board on Wednesday, July 10, OK’d the spending of surplus toll revenue collected from the 91 Express Lanes in Corona on roads outside the city. David Downey in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 7/11/19
California Wants To Allow Credit Cards At The DMV, But It’ll Cost You A Fee -- Got a driver’s license to renew or a vehicle to register? Well, if you were planning to pay for it with a credit card, you may want to do it this summer. Judy Lin Calmatters via Capital Public Radio -- 7/11/19
Homeless
Residents file lawsuit against Embarcadero Navigation Center -- Opponents of a 200-bed Navigation Center planned for the Embarcadero filed a lawsuit against the project Wednesday in an attempt to stop the city from building the homeless shelter in their neighborhood. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/19
Oakland will close street behind Fruitvale Home Depot where RV dwellers park -- Oakland City Council voted early Wednesday to close a section of street behind Home Depot in Fruitvale after the hardware chain store complained that homeless people parking recreational vehicles there had made employees feel unsafe. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
Garcetti and Newsom fire back at Trump over homeless remarks: ‘Political cheap shots’ -- For years, President Trump has taken pleasure in beating up on his archnemesis of California, even when his attacks don't align with the facts. He has used the state — and the Democrats who run it — as a political punching bag for its management of wildfires, environmental regulations and immigration policies. Add homelessness to that list. Benjamin Oreskes and Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/19
Housing
Rent control bill struggles in California Legislature -- Lawmakers and landlords are haggling over how much California housing to carve out of a tenant protection bill that would cap rent increases and require a just cause for evictions. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
Earthquake
Trona infrastructure improving, but more quake damage to property called likely -- Trona residents suffering from damage to their homes, psyches and utilities from a pair of powerful earthquakes last week received some good news on the latter front Wednesday, July 10, at a community meeting organized by San Bernardino County officials. Water service has been restored to almost all areas of the region, and most major natural gas leaks have been repaired. Brian Rokos in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 7/11/19
Education
Largest publisher of scholarly journals cuts off UC researchers amid cost dispute -- On Wednesday, professors and students across the University of California who tried to read articles published in any of 2,500 scholarly journals since Jan. 1 got an unpleasant surprise: They couldn’t. Elsevier, the world’s largest publisher of journals — from the famous Lancet to the less-known Journal of Psychosomatic Research — had cut UC off. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
10 California districts struggle, and find some success, as they shift to Common Core math -- For five years, a San Francisco foundation funded, and a research organization closely monitored, a collaboration by 10 California districts to raise achievement under the Common Core math standards. With math proficiency legging behind English language arts performance on the new academic standards, the project took on one of the biggest impediments to student success and challenges facing California schools. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 7/11/19
Immigration / Border
U.S. Prepares to Arrest Thousands of Immigrant Family Members -- Nationwide raids to arrest thousands of members of undocumented families have been scheduled to begin Sunday, according to two current and one former homeland security officials, moving forward with a rapidly changing operation, the final details of which remain in flux. The operation, backed by President Trump, had been postponed, partly because of resistance among officials at his own immigration agency. Caitlin Dickerson and Zolan Kanno-Youngs in the New York Times$ -- 7/11/19
Bill to scrap per-country green card cap passes House with bipartisan support -- Amid a backlog that sees some applicants waiting decades for green cards, 140 Republican members of Congress joined 224 Democrats and passed a bill Wednesday to end the per-country cap on green cards. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/11/19
San Diego Migrant Shelter Treats Sick Families Coming Out Of Custody -- Lice, scabies, influenza, chickenpox and dehydration are some of the ailments children and their parents are suffering from when they arrive on the doorstep of the temporary migrant family shelter in San Diego. Melaina Spitzer KPBS -- 7/11/19
Baja California migration chief resigns amid Mexico’s crackdown on illegal immigration -- Baja California’s immigration chief resigned Monday, and his number two quickly stepped-in as a temporary replacement, amid an unprecedented shift in Mexico’s immigration strategy that includes a crackdown on illegal immigration prompted by pressure from the U.S. Wendy Fry in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/11/19
Border officials not told of massive surveillance breach until three weeks after subcontractor was first alerted -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection was not informed that a hacker had stolen a huge cache of sensitive border-surveillance documents until nearly three weeks after the cyberattack was first discovered, according to a new timeline provided Wednesday by the subcontractor Perceptics, raising new questions over a breach that left travelers’ images and license plates open to potential abuse. Drew Harwell in the Washington Post$ -- 7/11/19
Health
A black mother told not to scream in labor asks: Can California fix racism in maternity care? -- A host of factors underlie the maternal health gap between black and white women, but studies consistently point to an ugly one: the persistence of racial bias. Adria Watson Calmatters -- 7/11/19
Confirmed cases of E. Coli from San Diego County climbs to 10 -- The number of confirmed cases of E. coli that might be tied to animals at this year’s San Diego County Fair has risen to 10, the county’s Health and Human Services Agency said Wednesday. HHA also said there is one probable case of E. coli from the outbreak, which hospitalized three people and killed a 2-year-old boy. Gary Robbins, Alex Riggins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/11/19
Imperial County man is likely the state’s first West Nile virus fatality of the year -- West Nile virus, which is transmitted to humans through a mosquito bite, kills Californians every year. Last year, 11 people in the state died of West Nile, and 44 in the previous year. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/19
Environment
Coastal Commission orders Newport homeowners to remove yards from public beach -- Some 55 Newport Beach homeowners who’ve extended their yards as much as 80 feet onto the public beach must return those areas to their natural state, the state Coastal Commission decided Wednesday in a unanimous vote. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 7/11/19
San Diego Winters Could Start Seeing More Intense Storms Soon -- Scripps Institution of Oceanography researchers are among a team of scientists that expect atmospheric rivers to have a growing impact on Southern California. Erik Anderson KPBS -- 7/11/19
U.S. wildlife agency pulls plan to poison mice on Farallon Islands — for now -- Federal officials withdrew a request Wednesday for approval of their plan to blanket the Farallon Islands with poison to kill off the hordes of mice that are threatening the ecosystem on the rocky archipelago, after intense questioning from California regulators. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/11/19
Also . . .
SLO police chief left her gun in a restaurant bathroom — now it’s missing -- San Luis Obispo’s police chief has issued a public apology after she left her gun in an El Pollo Loco bathroom Wednesday. When she went back to retrieve the firearm, it was was gone, and now the Police Department is looking for a man they suspect may have taken it. Nick Wilson in the SLO Tribune -- 7/11/19
Scripps Research Scientists Take Lead In $129 Million Grant For HIV Vaccine Research -- Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute are moving forward on developing an HIV vaccination with part of a $130 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. Scripps researchers are leading an international research effort and will be receiving around half of the grant money over the next several years. Shalina Chatlani KPBS -- 7/11/19
Big Sur locals are fed up with tourists, banner over Bixby Bridge shows -- The Bixby Creek Bridge on Highway 1 is an iconic symbol of Big Sur. Spanning an arroyo by the blue sea, it stands prominently in the opening credits of HBO’s “Big Little Lies” and stars in countless selfies by nearly anyone who visits the California dreamscape. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/19
California man who kept runaway teen in metal box at pot farm sentenced to 31 years in prison -- A 36-year-old Lake County man was sentenced Wednesday to 31 years in prison for his role in illegally growing hundreds of marijuana plants and forcing a runaway teen to work at the farm, sometimes keeping her inside a small metal tool chest. Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/11/19
State Funds Restorative Justice Pilot Program In San Joaquin County -- San Joaquin County has been putting victims face to face with their criminal offenders for the last three years. The program attempts to keep criminals out of prison and from committing new crimes. Rich Ibarra Capital Public Radio -- 7/11/19
POTUS 45
Six Ways to Manipulate Donald Trump -- Outgoing British Ambassador Kim Darroch’s leaked diplomatic cable is full of inside dope on how to bend the president to your will. Jack Shafer Politico -- 7/11/19
Trump's Salute to America cost DC, feds more than $5 million -- President Donald Trump's Fourth of July celebration last week cost the federal government and Washington, D.C., $5.35 million, according to an Interior Department letter released exclusively to ABC News. Stephanie Ebbs ABC News -- 7/11/19
Appeals court dismisses emoluments lawsuit involving Trump’s D.C. hotel -- A federal appeals court Wednesday sided with President Trump, dismissing a lawsuit claiming the president is illegally profiting from foreign and state government visitors at his luxury hotel in downtown Washington. Ann E. Marimow and Jonathan O'Connell in the Washington Post$ -- 7/11/19
Beltway
Intelligence aide, blocked from submitting written testimony on climate change, resigns from State Dept. -- A State Department intelligence official who was blocked by the White House from submitting written congressional testimony on climate change last month is resigning from his post. Juliet Eilperin in the Washington Post$ -- 7/11/19
California Democrats to Trump: Labor Secretary Acosta Must Resign Over Sex Trafficking Case -- Nearly 70 members of Congress, including many California Democrats, urged President Trump on Wednesday to “immediately demand” the resignation of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, whose handling of a sex trafficking case when he was a prosecutor has come under intense scrutiny after the suspect was indicted earlier this week on similar charges. Miranda Leitsinger KQED -- 7/11/19
Trump’s company cancels strip-club-sponsored golf tournament at his Florida resort -- resident Trump’s company has canceled a golf tournament that a Miami-area strip club planned to hold at his Doral, Fla., resort this weekend. In a statement, the president’s company said it canceled Shadow Cabaret’s tournament after the nonprofit named as the beneficiary of the event — Miami Allstars Foundation — dropped out earlier Wednesday. David A. Fahrenthold in the Washington Post$ -- 7/11/19
-- Wednesday Updates
PG&E Knew for Years Its Lines Could Spark Wildfires, and Didn’t Fix Them -- Documents obtained by The Wall Street Journal show that the utility has long been aware that parts of its 18,500-mile transmission system were dangerously outdated. Katherine Blunt and Russell Gold in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 7/10/19
BART’s new stacked gates, meant to deter cheats, inspire gallows humor -- Critics compare BART’s new double-decker fare gates to a guillotine. Supporters call them a necessary innovation. Some riders simply recoil at the design: two gates stacked vertically with one at waist level and the other at the average adult’s shoulders. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/19
Coastal Commission to consider poisoning mice to restore balance on Farallon Islands -- The California Coastal Commission will hold a public hearing Wednesday on the plan, which created a furor six years ago when federal officials and conservation groups last brought it up. The commission, which has no power to veto the plan, is expected to decide only whether it complies with its coastal management rules. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/19
Ridgecrest earthquake mystery: Why so little destruction from huge temblors? -- After major temblors on July 4 and 5, structural engineers descended on Ridgecrest expecting to study destruction from the largest earthquake to hit Southern California in nearly 20 years. They found relatively little. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/19
California Rep. Katie Porter outraises other vulnerable House Democrats with $1-million haul -- Coming out in favor of impeachment doesn’t seem to have slowed the campaign of Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine), one of seven California House freshmen who must defend competitive congressional seats in 2020. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/19
Pender: New report sheds little light on state’s groundbreaking women-on-boards law -- The California Secretary of State has published a mid-year report on SB826, the groundbreaking law requiring publicly held companies headquartered in California to have at least one board member who self-identifies as a woman by the end of 2019 or face penalties. By the end of 2021, these companies must have at least two women on five-member boards and at least three women on boards with six or more directors. Kathleen Pender in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/19
After an Officer Fatally Shoots a Teenager on a California Freeway, Her Family Asks, ‘Why, Lord?’ -- The authorities said they found a replica handgun at the scene but declined to provide any details about what led to the shooting. Mihir Zaveri in the New York Times$ -- 7/10/19
Ex-USC gynecologist sold sex videos he recorded in foreign hotel rooms, prosecutor says -- A former USC gynecologist charged with sexual abuse of patients also sold photographs and sex videos he took of young women he lured to his hotel rooms while traveling outside the U.S., a prosecutor said Tuesday. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/19
Abcarian: For sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s child victims, the justice system may finally be working -- There are a lot of complicated threads to untangle in the case of billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein, the Gatsbyesque financier who owns six homes — including mansions in Palm Beach and Manhattan — two private jets and a Caribbean island, and has a sexual predilection for teenage girls. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/19
Desperate to get rid of homeless people, some are using prickly plants, fences, barriers -- With dirt, they can weigh hundreds of pounds. The makeshift planter boxes are Peter Mozgo’s creations — roughly 140 of them lined up on the sidewalk to prevent homeless people from pitching tents outside his business. Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/10/19
Dixie School District now called Miller Creek Elementary School District, board votes -- The vote followed months of debate between people who said the name is linked to the Confederacy and others who wished to keep the long-held name. Lauren Hernández in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/19
Elevated mercury found in blood of some SF firefighters who battled Tubbs Fire -- Some San Francisco firefighters who pitched in to battle the deadly Tubbs Fire in 2017 came back to their firehouses with higher levels of mercury and other dangerous chemicals in their blood, partly because of inadequate equipment, says Jeanine Nicholson, the city’s new fire chief. And that equipment is still standard issue for urban firefighters sent to assist in putting out large wildfires, Nicholson said Tuesday. Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/10/19
Iconic glass-paned church converted to Catholic cathedral -- An iconic glass-paned church in Southern California that once housed a booming televangelist ministry has been transformed into a cathedral to give the region’s Catholics a long-awaited and much larger place to congregate and pray. The landmark, with a facade made up of nearly 11,000 glass panes, was long known as Rev. Robert H. Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral. Amy Taxin Associated Press -- 7/10/19
Fox: Supreme Court Needs to Decide Tax Vote Requirements for Initiatives -- I can’t say I was surprised by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman’s ruling that two San Francisco tax increases for special purposes were valid despite receiving less than a two-thirds vote. A tax dedicated for special purposes needs a two-thirds vote, but a California Supreme Court decision in 2017 created confusion about the two-thirds vote requirement for taxes, opening the door for Shulman’s ruling. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 7/10/19