Updating . .
Boat where 34 died was a ‘fire trap’ despite passing inspections, experts say. It’s far from alone -- A day of diving off Santa Cruz Island ended like countless others aboard the Conception, with dozens of divers asleep in tightly arranged bunks that all but filled the belly of the 75-foot boat. As always, there were two ways out in case of emergency — up a curved stairway at the front of the cabin, or through an escape hatch in the ceiling over bunks at the rear. Kim Christensen, Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
Authorities are still searching for the final victim of the California boat fire that killed 34 -- As officials search for the final victim of the worst maritime disaster in modern California history, the U.S. Coast Guard hopes to soon raise the sunken Conception boat where 34 died from Santa Barbara Channel. Officials planned to begin the process Friday, but that was put off because of weather conditions and safety concerns. Richard Winton, Mark Puente, Leila Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
Two wildfires keep growing in Northern California, causing evacuations -- A wildfire in Plumas County grew rapidly, expanding to more than 24,000 acres by early Saturday, while another fire in Tehama County also grew overnight, to nearly 8,000 acres, fire officials said. Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/7/19
A fierce battle over defining employees in California nears decisive vote -- Residents of California’s capital city might not have been following every development in the sweeping summertime effort to remake state employment law, but it was hard to ignore the sound of protests circling the historic statehouse this week. John Myers, Liam Dillon, Johana Bhuiyan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
Hospital giant Sutter Health faces legal reckoning over medical pricing -- Economists and researchers long have blamed the high cost of healthcare in Northern California on the giant medical systems that have gobbled up hospitals and physician practices — most notably Sutter Health, a nonprofit chain with 24 hospitals, 34 surgery centers and 5,000 physicians across the region. Jenny Gold Kaiser Health News via the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
Bay Area parents, schools mobilize against teen vaping: ‘We have quite a fight ahead of us’ -- His high school friends would inhale the sweet or minty vapor from their Juul and joke about how close society came to convincing kids to stay away from cigarettes, said one San Francisco teenager. No one smoked regular cigarettes anymore, said the now college student, who asked not to use his real name because using e-cigarettes is illegal for someone his age. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/7/19
$9 million restoration OK’d for historic Pigeon Point Lighthouse on San Mateo County coast -- The structure, which is tied with the Point Arena Lighthouse in Mendocino County for the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast, was built in 1871 to keep wooden ships from hitting the rocky shoreline. For years it was a popular attraction, with tours taking schoolchildren to the top of the lighthouse. But in 2001 the building was padlocked after large chunks of cast-iron metal bracing fell to the ground. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/7/19
Will Lake Tahoe’s invasive shrimp become the next mass-market health supplement? -- First it was development runoff. Then it was algae triggered by global warming. Now UC Davis researchers have seized on a new explanation for the continued dinginess of Lake Tahoe’s blue waters — tiny invasive shrimp. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
We found quirky, beautiful and historic sights along 49 Mile Scenic Drive. And plenty of duds, too -- One minute, the gorgeous vistas, quirky characters and historic landmarks have you wondering how you became one of the lucky ones to call this city home. But then, just around the bend, the maddening traffic, heaps of trash and stomach-churning smells have you considering whether life in San Francisco is really worth the trouble. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/7/19
Lopez: Column: Nearly 3 homeless people die each day in L.A. County. Here’s the story of one of them -- L.A. County coroner investigator Adrian Munoz had one last duty to perform in the case of Alvin Robinson, a homeless man whose body was retrieved from a West L.A. sidewalk: making the call no one wants to receive. He dialed a Las Vegas phone number and a woman picked up. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
Judiciary panel to activate rare impeachment-time authorities, highlighting divide in chamber’s endgame -- A House panel eager to impeach President Trump will adopt rare investigative procedures next week to bolster its probe, tools used in previous impeachments of American presidents. But rather than signal a stronger focus on ousting Trump, the news highlights a division within the Democrats’ oversight strategy and endgame, as well as the party’s messaging to voters. Rachael Bade in the Washington Post$ -- 9/7/19
Trump says two Washington Post reporters shouldn't be allowed at the White House -- The tweet linked to an op-ed by White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham and Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley rebutting a Washington Post story published earlier this week that highlighted the president’s missteps amid the administration’s policy stumbles over the summer. But the White House op-ed inaccurately claimed the Washington Post didn’t report stories that it actually did cover. Craig Howie Politico -- 9/7/19
California Policy & Politics This Morning
California vaccine bill exemption rules agreed to by Newsom and lawmakers -- The author of a bill to clamp down on school vaccine exemptions agreed to scale back parts of it under a deal reached Friday with Gov. Gavin Newsom following a chaotic week of negotiations. But their pact was quickly met with fierce opposition from protesters who had hoped the governor’s apprehension signaled trouble for Senate Bill 276. Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ Don Thompson Associated Press -- 9/7/19
Without state bond, PG&E needs money — and hedge funds await CA’s largest utility -- Without state bond, PG&E needs money — and hedge funds await CA’s largest utility -- With a proposed $20 billion wildfire recovery bond tabled for this legislative session, PG&E is back where it started — searching for a way forward amid tens of billions of dollars in damages from past wildfires. Judy Lin Calmatters -- 9/7/19
California Wins Fossil Fuel Lawsuit Against Trump Administration -- California has won the first lawsuit it filed against the Trump administration—without going to trial. A federal judge issued summary judgment Wednesday that the Department of the Interior has illegally suspended an Obama-era rule that could increase costs for the coal industry, but the court won't require the rule's restoration. Ben Bradford Capital Public Radio -- 9/7/19
After bruising Ghost Ship trial, attorneys, families brace for round 2 -- Colleen Dolan sat through every day of testimony during the Ghost Ship trial, immersed for three months in the horror surrounding her daughter’s death. She listened as witnesses described Chelsea Faith Dolan running back inside the burning warehouse to help her friends, and as coroners listed in clinical detail how much carbon monoxide was found in each of the 36 bodies. Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/7/19
Juror in Ghost Ship case reveals how verdicts for Almena, Harris went down -- A day after a jury acquitted Max Harris of 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the Ghost Ship fire case, a juror said the decision came down to the wire, with one person refusing to find him innocent until the final days of deliberations. David DeBolt and Angela Ruggiero in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/7/19
At vigil for Conception boat fire victims, love of diving unites and soothes mourners -- Addressing a mournful crowd, Don Barthelmess described the unique shared experiences of divers. The weightlessness of being underwater. Sliding into a damp and cold wetsuit at 6 in the morning. The sway of an underwater kelp forest. The longtime diver stood in front of several hundred people spread out on the grass at Santa Barbara’s waterfront Chase Palm Park at a vigil Friday evening for the 34 victims of the deadliest maritime disaster in modern California history. Leila Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
Probing dive boat Conception’s demise: what we know and what we don’t -- But as investigators probe the Labor Day disaster, attention is focusing on three key areas: the crew’s actions and training, the boat’s design and construction, and the regulations governing the operation. Did the crew neglect key safety rules? Were escape routes and fire alarms adequate? Why was one federal inspector alarmed by a ship that had passed inspections? John Woolfolk and Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/7/19
Wiener proposes legislation to limit PG&E shutoffs -- State Sen. Scott Wiener has proposed legislation that he says will prevent Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and other utilities from turning off power unnecessarily during wildfire-prone weather. Wiener, D-San Francisco, said the state needs guardrails to limit the frequency and duration of planned shutoffs because utilities are inclined to flip the switch to avoid fire liability costs. Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/7/19
Bill to boost California homebuilding headed to Newsom’s desk -- The “Housing Crisis Act of 2019” is heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, seeking to boost homebuilding in “urbanized” zones throughout the state, according to the bill’s author, state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. Jeff Collins in the Orange County Register -- 9/7/19
Rep. Duncan Hunter argues his campaign filings are immune from prosecution -- Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, argued to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday that filing campaign finance forms is a legislative act -- immune from federal prosecution by constitutional separation of powers protections. Morgan Cook in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/7/19
Running for office(s)? For many Orange County politicians the answer is yes. Always. -- Forget 2020. Many current and aspiring career politicians in Orange County already have set themselves up to run for a variety of state and local offices in 2022 and beyond. Some have filed legal paperwork to run multiple campaigns — sometimes within the same election cycle — even though state law says they’ll eventually have to pick just one elected position per ballot. Brooke Staggs in the Orange County Register -- 9/7/19
Juul sharing customer info with PR firm to find vaping ‘success stories’ -- San Francisco vaping company Juul is sharing customer data with a Washington public relations and political strategy firm that is using the information to contact Juul users and urge them to share personal testimonials about Juul helping them switch from cigarettes to vaping. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/7/19
Lung disease tied to vaping on the rise; 5 killed, 1 in L.A. -- The number of suspected cases of severe lung disease tied to vaping in the U.S. more than doubled over the past week to 450, including at least five deaths, federal public health officials said Friday. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/7/19
More deaths associated with mysterious vaping illness; 11 cases reported in San Diego County -- A nationwide outbreak of lung illness associated with e-cigarettes has the nation’s top public health authority advising caution as the number of cases, including hospitalizations 11 in San Diego, continues to mount. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/7/19
LAPD officers hospitalized after exposure to fentanyl in North Hollywood -- The person was taken into custody without incident, but as the officers were searching the person’s car, they came across an open container of fentanyl, police said. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
Orange County taking steps to crack down on addiction treatment fraud -- As Sacramento debates how to overhaul California’s fraud-ridden and poorly-regulated addiction treatment industry, Orange County — Ground Zero of the “Rehab Riviera” — has taken a homegrown approach to the problem. Teri Sforza and Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register -- 9/7/19
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Huge housing and retail redevelopment of UCSF’s Laurel Heights campus gets key SF approval -- Plans to transform the UCSF Laurel Heights campus into a 744-unit housing and retail complex passed a major hurdle Thursday with an approval from the Planning Commission. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/7/19
Contract extends $3,100 health care perk to another group of California state employees -- About 4,000 more California state workers will be eligible for monthly stipends to cover their health insurance premiums under a tentative contract agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/7/19
Newsom signs SEIU-backed bill requiring Kaiser to share more hospital financial data -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law on Friday a measure that will require Kaiser Permanente to join other insurers in providing more detailed information on expenses and revenue at each of its hospitals and medical facilities. Cathie Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/7/19
The story of a California delta island selling for less than a San Francisco condo -- A 10-acre island in Isleton, an hour south of Sacramento in the California Delta's fresh-water Seven Mile Slough, is changing hands for $1.195 million. (SF's median condo price is about $1.25 million.) The buyer is Thai Tran, who owns a mini-chain of Vietnamese pho restaurants in Sacramento, and listing agent Tony Wood of KW Commercial says Tran and his family plan to transform the property at 1200 West Brannan Island Road into a destination. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/7/19
Where are the wealthiest zip codes in California? They have one thing in common -- California’s wealthiest zip codes all have one thing in common: They come with a waterfront view. A new report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office found that while California residents have $6.3 trillion in wealth — nearly a fifth of America’s total wealth — the assets are not evenly distributed across the Golden State. Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/7/19
Modest hiring enough to fuel sluggish but durable US economy -- Hiring by U.S. employers was slower but steady in August, and hourly pay jumped — trends that should sustain the U.S. economy’s record-long expansion in the coming months. Yet with the economy still under threat from a weak global economy and President Donald Trump’s trade war with China, Chairman Jerome Powell made clear Friday that the Federal Reserve is poised to cut interest rates. Christopher Rugaber Associated Press -- 9/7/19
Workers Turn To Gig Platforms Like Uber And Lyft As An ‘Alternative Safety Net’ -- The on-demand gig economy isn’t just a new type of work. Some economists say platforms like Uber and Lyft have also evolved into a new kind of economic safety net for those who can’t rely on their primary job to make ends meet. David Wagner KPCC -- 9/7/19
Economic hardship tied to increase in U.S. suicide rates, especially in rural areas -- Whether they are densely populated or deeply rural, few communities in the United States have escaped a shocking increase in suicides over the last two decades. From 1999 to 2016 , suicide claimed the lives of 453,577 adults between the ages of 25 and 64 — enough to fill more than 1,000 jumbo jets. Melissa Healy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
Transit
Take the scenic route: now you can get to SFO via ferry -- Tired of squishing suitcases against surly BART commuters on your way to the airport? Also tired of shelling out piles of money for a Lyft? Now, East Bayites can take a leisurely trip to the airport instead: San Francisco Bay Ferry and San Francisco International Airport have teamed up to offer ferry rides and free shuttle buses to SFO on weekday mornings. Madeline Wells in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/7/19
SANDAG unveils spending blueprint for traffic-prone commuter corridors, vexing backers of freeway expansion -- San Diego’s top transportation experts released a long-awaited spending blueprint on Friday for kick starting an overhaul to many of the region’s most gridlock-prone commuter corridors. Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/7/19
Housing
Trump’s housing plan could leave buyers fewer options, experts say -- The Trump administration’s vast plan for remaking the housing market could leave future home buyers, particularly those who are lower-income, with fewer options and resources, according to housing advocates. Renae Merle in the Washington Post$ -- 9/7/19
Education
College admissions scandal: Prosecutors recommend one-month sentence for Felicity Huffman -- Prosecutors want actress Felicity Huffman to receive a one-month prison sentence when she appears before a judge next Friday, the first parent to be sentenced in the college admissions scandal that exploded in March with the arrests of Huffman and nearly three-dozen other parents. Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
What happened to California’s crackdown on for-profit colleges? -- Democratic lawmakers sought to tighten oversight of the troubled industry. Then the lobbying began. Felicia Mello Calmatters -- 9/7/19
Lawsuit alleges discrimination against disabled, black students at Sacramento City Unified -- A coalition of nonprofit advocacy groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court against the Sacramento City Unified School District, alleging that the district discriminates against students with disabilities, especially black students. Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/7/19
CSU may up their college admissions requirements. But will that hurt low-income students? -- As a high school freshman, Jennifer Velasquez worked every day after classes helping her mom sell elotes, raspados and tacos from a street cart in East Los Angeles. With rent to pay and siblings to support, they would often work late into the night, sometimes until 2 a.m. — and she would get only a few hours of sleep. It’s why, in part, she failed Algebra I. Nina Agrawal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
VA yanks authority from California agency overseeing veterans’ education -- The U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs has canceled its contract with a California state agency that approves colleges to receive GI Bill funds, after a lengthy dispute over how to regulate for-profit and out-of-state schools. Felicia Mello Calmatters -- 9/7/19
Cannabis
Program To Erase Old Pot Charges Aids 58 California Counties -- The Yolo County District Attorney's office says its been able to expunge more than 700 marijuana-related convictions since it began using a computer app to speed up the process. Yolo was the first county in the state to use the technology from Code for America. On Thursday, the San Francisco-based nonprofit announced it was making its algorithm available for free to all 58 county DA's in the state. Associated Press -- 9/7/19
Immigration / Border
Disabled Concord woman from Guatemala fights to stay in the US -- Just last year, Isabel Bueso graduated from Cal State East Bay with honors. Now, the 24-year-old Concord woman is fighting to stay in the United States, where she has lived for 16 years — and where she receives lifesaving care. Tatiana Sanchez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/7/19
'I refuse to die in here': the marine who survived two tours and is now fighting deportation -- Jose Segovia Benitez survived two tours of duty with the US Marine Corps, a bomb blast, and a traumatic brain injury. But the US is not helping him recover. On the contrary, the government may be leading him to his death. Sam Levin The Guardian -- 9/7/19
Feds appeal asylum decision for first ‘Remain in Mexico’ migrant to win his case -- The U.S. government appealed an immigration judge’s decision to give asylum to an Honduran pastor who was the first migrant in the Remain in Mexico to win a case. That appeal puts the man’s future in the United States in question. Gustavo Solis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/7/19
Trump Administration Considers a Drastic Cut in Refugees Allowed to Enter U.S. -- The White House is considering a plan that would keep most refugees who are fleeing war, persecution and famine out of the United States, significantly cutting back a decades-old program, according to current and former administration officials. Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael D. Shear in the New York Times$ -- 9/7/19
Environment
Air board kills regulation of dangerous refinery acid in favor of oil industry plan -- Air quality regulators on Friday killed a years-long push for stronger regulation of a dangerous acid used at two South Bay refineries that has frightened many neighbors, voting instead to accept a voluntary, oil industry pledge to enhance safety measures. Tony Barboza in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
Trump’s dual threat to California’s car deal -- Gov. Gavin Newsom vows that California "will keep fighting" for cleaner cars, despite the Trump administration's efforts to derail the pact to cut greenhouses gases from tailpipes. Rachel Becker Calmatters -- 9/7/19
Also . . .
Lelyveld: How the Little Free Library led to the Little Free Pantry, a fast-growing approach to helping those in need -- Sometimes a good idea spreads so fast, it’s like watching a stone skip across water. Remember when you saw your first Little Free Library? Take a book, leave a book — so eye-catching, so simple, so I-want-to-do-that-too inspiring. Nita Lelyveld in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/7/19
POTUS 45
House Judiciary panel preparing vote to define Trump impeachment probe -- The House Judiciary Committee is preparing to take its first formal vote to define what Chairman Jerry Nadler calls an ongoing “impeachment investigation” of President Donald Trump, according to multiple sources briefed on the discussions. Kyle Cheney, Heather Caygle and John Bresnahan Politico -- 9/7/19
Dems demand info on Trump allegedly steering government spending to his resorts -- House Democrats have taken their first formal steps to probe President Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to steer U.S. and foreign government business to his luxury resorts, part of an expanding roster of inquiries informing them whether to recommend of articles of impeachment. Kyle Cheney Politico -- 9/7/19
Air Force crew made an odd stop on a routine trip: Trump’s Scottish resort -- In early Spring of this year, an Air National Guard crew made a routine trip from the U.S. to Kuwait to deliver supplies. What wasn’t routine was where the crew stopped along the way: President Donald Trump’s Turnberry resort, about 50 miles outside Glasgow, Scotland. Natasha Bertrand and Bryan Bender Politico -- 9/7/19
Trump drags his Alabama hurricane claims into 6th day -- The president on Friday continued to defend his misleading prognostication for the path of Hurricane Dorian, assailing the news media and in the process, digging in and reviving the controversy for a sixth day. Caitlin Oprysko Politico -- 9/7/19
Beltway
Politifact CA: Kamala Harris claimed she ‘sued Exxon Mobil’ as California AG. She didn’t -- During a climate town hall on CNN this week, Democratic presidential candidate and California Sen. Kamala Harris vowed to take on Big Oil and other powerful interests when they "profit off of harmful behaviors" such as burning fossil fuels. In answer to a direct question, she claimed she already did that as California’s attorney general. Chris Nichols Politifact CA -- 9/7/19
-- Friday Updates
California vaccine bill exemption rules agreed to by Newsom and lawmakers -- Key California lawmakers agreed to scale back a bill to tighten rules for school vaccine exemptions after Gov. Gavin Newsom raised last-minute concerns, but the deal is likely to be met with fierce opposition from protesters who had hoped the governor’s apprehension signaled trouble for Senate Bill 276. Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/6/19
PG&E’s $20 billion plan to repay fire victims falters at Capitol -- PG&E’s plan to take on billions of dollars in tax-exempt debt to help pay victims of devastating wildfires has fizzled at the state Capitol, at least until next year. After weeks of intense lobbying from PG&E shareholders, the hedge funds that own much of the company announced Friday that they don’t expect to pass the legislation before lawmakers adjourn on Sept. 13. Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Adam Beam Associated Press -- 9/6/19
Trump administration: California gas-mileage deal with carmakers breaks the law -- California’s deal with automakers to circumvent a proposed federal rollback of mileage standards violates the law and the state should immediately abandon its plan, the Trump administration said Friday. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Tom Krisher and Ellen Knickmeyer Associated Press -- 9/6/19
Harrowing stories of death and survival in first minutes of California boat fire -- Harrowing tales have emerged from surviving crew members about the fire that broke out on the diving boat Conception off the Ventura County coast on Monday morning, leading to the deadliest maritime disaster in modern California history. Richard Winton, Mark Puente, Matt Hamilton, Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/6/19
Sheriff: Dive boat victims killed by smoke, not flames -- Dozens of people trapped on a scuba diving boat that caught fire off the Southern California coast appear to have died from smoke inhalation, not burns, authorities said Friday. Stefanie Dazio Associated Press -- 9/6/19
Dive boat fire: Crews hope to recover Conception today -- Recovery crews are hoping to lift the dive boat Conception off of the ocean floor and return it to shore Friday, but high winds could force a delay in that effort. As authorities began officially identifying some of the 34 people who died after a fire broke out aboard the ship early Monday morning, investigators said Friday they they believe the victims died from smoke inhalation. Nico Savidge in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/6/19
Fresh Face, Fresh Start for the California GOP? -- California's Republican Party has lost so many voters it is now a third party — there are more Californians registered "no party preference," than GOP in the Golden State. Scott Shafer KQED -- 9/6/19
Recruiting blacks to the GOP: Bay Area woman says she can do it -- Redwood City resident Corrin Rankin realizes the monumental task she’s undertaking: She just started a political action committee devoted to recruiting more African Americans to the California Republican Party. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/6/19
Firefighters’ overnight efforts boost containment of Tenaja fire near Murrieta to 20% -- Nearly 900 firefighters have been assigned to the Tenaja fire in Riverside County, which erupted about 4 p.m. Wednesday near Tenaja and Clinton Keith roads on a day marked by thunderstorms in the region, officials said. Hannah Fry, Jaclyn Cosgrove, Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/6/19
Red Bank fire burns 6,500 acres in Tehama County, evacuations still in place -- The blaze, which started at 1:19 p.m. Thursday, was burning brush and oak vegetation in a remote location with difficult access about 35 miles west of Red Bluff, according to Cal Fire. It was 5% contained as of Friday morning, officials said. Pete Grieve in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/6/19
Beds for SF’s mentally ill, drug addicted sit empty despite huge need -- Despite the abundance of people suffering on San Francisco’s streets, dozens of treatment beds for those struggling with mental illness and drug addiction have regularly sat vacant. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/6/19
Facebook hit with antitrust investigation by states’ attorneys general -- Facebook is under antitrust investigation by the attorneys general of eight states and Washington, D.C., the second such probe it is facing amid a growing backlash against U.S. tech giants. Levi Sumagaysay in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/6/19
Backyard granny flats: California sees them as a housing-crisis solution -- Before Michael Wolff could persuade his father to move down from Oregon, the Santa Rosa resident had to figure out where he would live. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/6/19
BART’s rent is soaring, so it wants to buy a new Oakland headquarters -- BART may move its Oakland headquarters in an effort to save millions of dollars in annual rent as it grapples with the city’s record-high office costs. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/6/19
Disabled Concord woman from Guatemala fights to stay in the U.S. -- A severely disabled Concord woman at risk of deportation may have a chance to stay in the United States, where she has lived for the past 16 years — and where she receives life-saving care. Tatiana Sanchez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/6/19
To chase away homeless people, 7-Eleven stores in L.A. use classical music -- The roar of traffic along Camarillo Street in North Hollywood doesn’t drown out the soaring strings of Pachelbel’s Canon in C. The classical music continues all day and all night — it’s not coming from some stranger with a violin sitting on the street, but a set of speakers bolted below a glowing 7-Eleven sign. Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/6/19
The longtime leader of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is stepping down -- Jerry Schubel, the president and CEO of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach who led the aquarium’s $53-million expansion, announced Friday that he is stepping down. Schubel, 83, who joined the aquarium in 2002, said he plans to retire when its board of directors finds a replacement. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/6/19
Love letter to Muni: A Chronicle photographer's tribute to the SF transit system -- Jessica Christian in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/6/19
Fox: Legislature: Beat Up Trump if You Must, but Fix SB 1 -- In the California legislature, standing up for the environment while taking a shot at the Trump Administration is business as usual. But when business as usual casts a wide net that comes with consequences that can interfere with the state’s agriculture and the state’s economy then legislators should have second thoughts. Such is the situation with Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins’ SB1. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 9/6/19