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Lawmaker considers regulating home school charter vendors -- Private businesses and religious organizations have been getting public school dollars through charter schools that allow home-schooling parents to use state funds to pay for certain services for their children — a practice some lawmakers want to rein in. Kristen Taketa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/28/19

Los Angeles may store water under an Owens Valley lake drained to fill its faucets -- Quick shifts in climate have prompted Los Angeles to consider an unlikely place to bank some of its Sierra Nevada snowmelt: beneath dry Owens Lake, which the city drained starting in 1913 to fill the L.A. Aqueduct and supply a thirsty metropolis. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/28/19

More than half of San Onofre’s nuclear waste now in dry storage -- Southern California Edison says focus has been on safety during recent moves from cooling pools, which should be empty by next year. Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register -- 12/28/19

Environmentalists, lawmakers see big year ahead for new laws intended to help the coast -- Offshore windmills, new washing machines and a $4-billion climate-change bond are just some of the items on the environmental agenda as state legislators ready for a 2020 session in which global warming and plastic waste may loom larger than ever. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 12/28/19

‘Menstrual equity’: L.A. may offer free tampons and pads in public bathrooms -- Los Angeles is considering a plan to provide free tampons and sanitary napkins at public restrooms, joining a national movement pushing for what advocates describe “menstrual equity.” Julia Barajas in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/28/19

Suicides rise again in California prisons — 36 this year, despite scrutiny -- The suicide rate among California prisoners has climbed five years in a row and rose in 2019 to the highest level in at least three decades, reflecting a mental health crisis behind bars that appears to be worsening, according to experts, advocates for prisoners and the state’s top corrections official. Jason Fagone and Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/28/19

Even amid affluence of tech capital, local news struggles -- The cities and suburbs on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay are home to 2.7 million people, a world-class University of California campus and bedroom communities for Silicon Valley that produce median incomes 50 percent higher than the national average. What they no longer have is a thriving landscape of local daily newspapers. Janie Har Associated Press -- 12/28/19

Vietnamese boat refugee shares power of education -- After the Vietnam War ravaged his homeland, Hao Lam tried to flee Saigon more than 10 times. In 1988, at the age of 20, he succeeded, arriving at a refugee camp in the Philippines after spending seven treacherous days on a fishing boat with nearly 150 other people, seasick and low on food and water. Tatiana Sanchez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/28/19

For students with kids, college can be a lonely struggle. One program aims to help -- Daisy Garcia’s small Van Nuys apartment doesn’t offer much space for her 9-month old daughter to crawl. So this 27-year-old college student brings her little one to a children’s play area at Los Angeles Valley College. Nina Agrawal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/28/19

How will California’s new laws affect you? -- California will ring in 2020 with hundreds of new state laws addressing a range of issues including monthly limits on gun purchases, more protections against high-interest loans, increased pay for low-wage jobs and the end of touring circus shows featuring exotic animals. John Myers, Priya Krishnakumar and Phi Do in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/28/19

Apple, Tesla, Netflix lead ‘Santa Claus’ rally for Bay Area stocks -- With just two more trading days left in 2019, Apple shares were up more than 83% for the year, after closing at $289.80 on Friday, while Tesla’s stock price finished the day at $430.38 a share, giving it a year-to-date gain of more than 29 percent. Netflix shares have risen 23 percent for the year, after closing Friday at $329.09 a piece. Rex Crum in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/28/19

Trump’s stock market rally is very good, but still lags Obama and Clinton -- The best calendar year for stocks under Obama was 2013, when the S&P 500 finished the year up 29.6 percent as the economy was rebounding from the Great Recession. If this year tops that mark, it would be the best for stocks since the late 1990s. Roughly half of Americans have money in the stock market — mainly through pensions or 401(k) retirement funds. Heather Long in the Washington Post$ -- 12/28/19

It’s not just Trump and 15 Democrats: Californians will see 52 names on primary ballots -- Californians will have more than 50 options when they consider which presidential candidate to support for the March 3, 2020 primary. Under rules set by the state parties, a voter must be a registered Republican in order to cast a ballot in the GOP’s closed primary. Unlike California’s Republican Party, the Democratic, Libertarian and American Independent parties allow no party preference voters to request a ballot to participate in their open primary system. Bryan Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/28/19

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

PG&E: Wired to Fail -- The utility has sparked deadly fires and pipeline explosions, left millions of Californians in the dark and gone bankrupt twice in less than 15 years. Here’s what went wrong. Russell Gold, Rebecca Smith and Katherine Blunt in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/28/19

Court says immigrants don’t forfeit appeals when they’re deported -- Federal regulations say an immigrant who is appealing a deportation order forfeits that appeal by “departure” from the United States. So, when a man was deported from Southern California to Mexico in 2016 while trying to challenge his removal, immigration officials ruled that he had dropped his appeal by “departing” the U.S. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/28/19

ICE arrests in Bay Area decrease, officials cite sanctuary policies and border efforts -- Federal immigration officials in the greater Bay Area deported about 1,000 fewer people in fiscal 2019 than in the previous year, in tune with a national decline officials largely attribute to reallocation of resources to the U.S- Mexico border. Tatiana Sanchez and Alejandro Serrano in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/28/19

Stanislaus County DA Birgit Fladager clears Ceres cop who shot fleeing teen in back -- The Stanislaus County district attorney’s office will not charge the Ceres police officer who fatally shot a fleeing suspect in the back, a shooting that resulted in a lawsuit against the city that recently settled for $2.1 million. Kevin Valine in the Modesto Bee -- 12/28/19

Traffic, noise from new LA Clippers arena would be ‘significant’ and ‘unavoidable,’ report says -- If the Los Angeles Clippers play on the same day as a big concert at The Forum, drivers in Inglewood will see more traffic at up to 61 intersections and at eight segments of the 405 and 105 freeways, according to a draft environmental impact report released Friday. Jason Henry in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Nathan Fenno in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/28/19

The California Consumer Privacy Act Mandates What, Again, Exactly? -- On Jan. 1, the toughest data privacy law in the U.S. goes into effect: the California Consumer Privacy Act. That's why you're seeing a host of emails pop up in your inbox from various companies announcing updates to their terms of service, particularly their privacy policies. With no similar federal law on the horizon, this one is expected to set the standard nationally for some time. Rachael Myrow KQED -- 12/28/19

Suspected fentanyl OD turns night of partying into tragedy for popular Oakland men -- When they were back in their apartment in West Oakland in the early morning hours of Dec. 20, someone busted out what they all believed was cocaine and tragedy struck, Hall’s mother said. Evan Sernoffsky and Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/28/19

Elizabeth Warren talks universal child care in San Jose visit -- Elizabeth Warren brought her Democratic presidential campaign to San Jose Friday, talking about the importance of her plan for universal, federally funded child care and higher pay for the people who work with those young children. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/28/19

State utility regulators hold off on San Onofre funding request -- State utility regulators have delayed responding to a funding request from Southern California Edison that sought more than $400 million to pay for next year’s costs related to tearing down the shuttered San Onofre nuclear plant. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/28/19

PG&E electricity bills head higher on New Year’s Day, gas bills will slip lower -- PG&E residential customers will experience an overall increase in their combined electricity and gas bills starting Jan. 1, and the embattled utility on Friday filed formal papers that outlined the potential for even higher power costs later in 2020. George Avalos in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/28/19

Disneyland hits capacity, temporarily stops selling tickets -- Friday’s halt in daily ticket sales marks the first crowding incident since the May 31 opening of a $1-billion expansion to build Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in the northwest corner of the park. Hugo Martín in the Los Angeles Times$ Brady MacDonald in the Orange County Register -- 12/28/19

No, California Drivers — It Is Not Yet Legal to Eat Your Roadkill -- Earlier this year, the California Legislature passed, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed, a bill that could, one day, make it legal to salvage and consume roadkill deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and wild pigs. The not very subtle and important qualification in that sentence and in the bill itself — that the law might someday make it legal to freely collect and eat some big roadkill mammals — was lost on many media outlets. Dan Brekke KQED -- 12/28/19

2019 the deadliest year for San Jose pedestrians in decades -- Margaret Urueta was walking down East Santa Clara Street just after midnight one day in January when someone driving a white van on 10th Street hit and killed the 59-year-old mother of seven. The driver didn’t stop and still has not been found. Nico Savidge, Robert Salonga and Fiona Kelliher in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/28/19

2 pet shops close, but dogs from ‘puppy-laundering ring’ are still being sold in California stores -- The state’s groundbreaking ‘puppy mill ban,’ enacted one year ago, may need fine tuning. A legislative fix is in the works. Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register -- 12/28/19

Don Imus dead at 79: Shock jock’s career forged in Sacramento, was betrayed by his mouth -- Imus joined KXOA in Sacramento in the late 1960s and was known for his on-air “satirical hijinks.” Notably, one time he phoned a McDonald’s while on the air, and ordered 1,200 hamburgers. The stunt led the Federal Communications Commission to order disc jockeys to identify themselves when making on-air calls. The item is in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/28/19

 

-- Friday Updates 

Terrorists could make a ‘dirty bomb’ from this common medical device; why regulators won’t act -- Scientific experts warned Congress more than a decade ago that just four teaspoons of radioactive cesium-137 — if spread by a terrorist’s “dirty bomb” — could contaminate up to 10 square miles of Manhattan. The material is commonly found across the United States. Hospitals, blood banks and medical research centers use it in devices called irradiators, which sterilize blood and tissue. Hundreds of the devices are licensed for use, including at least 50 in Southern California. David Willman and Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/19

Travel delays: I-15 to Vegas, I-5’s Grapevine reopen after drivers stranded in snow for hours -- A strong winter storm that barreled into Southern California on Christmas Day and spent the night, dumping rain and blanketing the mountains with heavy snow, continued to cause travel delays Friday. Interstate 5 at the Grapevine, which authorities shut down amid heavy snowfall late Wednesday, reopened Friday morning after a roughly 36-hour closure. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/19

Can the Mission scale back gentrification with influx of affordable homes? -- Over the past few years, San Francisco’s Mission District has gone from laggard to leader when it comes to building affordable housing. After a decade in which the Mission did not produce a single unit of affordable housing, the neighborhood skyline is dotted with construction cranes. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/27/19

L.A. rent rose 65% over the last decade, study shows -- On Jan. 1, a sweeping rent control bill will take effect in California, capping yearly rent increases at 5% plus inflation and requiring just cause for eviction. But after the last decade for L.A. renters, the new protections appear akin to putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, according to a new study from listing service RentCafe. Jack Flemming in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/19

Is there a way to predict who will become homeless? These UCLA researchers say yes -- With the ranks of homeless people growing faster than housing is being built, one of the most popular strategies for reducing homelessness has become to simply keep people in their homes. In theory, a small infusion of cash, counseling or legal aid could be the difference that prevents someone from ending up on the street. But reality isn’t so simple. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/19

Could Tahoe’s next ski resort be private? -- White Wolf ski village would be a gated community for skiers and a whole new addition to Lake Tahoe’s ski industry. But will it ever get built? Gregory Thomas in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/27/19

Granny flats and converted garages are going upscale -- Time was, accessory dwelling units in California were often just slapdash drywall jobs, turning drafty garages into passable but unpermitted guesthouses and granny flats. Now, with state regulations evolving over the past three years to allow and even encourage ADUs, once outlawed in-law suites have not only gone legit, they’re taking a design-forward, upscale turn. Arielle Paul in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/19

Food manufacturers find a home in San Leandro -- As 2020 approached, Torani CEO Melanie Dulbecco realized she needed to move her company out of its South San Francisco plant. “We were totally out of space and our leases were going to more than double next year,” Dulbecco said. Janelle Bitker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/27/19

As rents soar, more small businesses turn to loan program to buy property -- Facing soaring rents and property prices, hundreds of small businesses across the Bay Area have turned to a federal loan program in the last few years to keep a foothold in one of the nation’s most expensive real estate markets. Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/27/19

End of the Decade: Southern California was again at the forefront of change, and not all of it was bad -- For all its allure as the land of opportunity over more than a century, there are troubling signs today that stem from Southern California’s high cost of living and soaring housing costs. More residents are leaving than new transplants arriving from other states. Businesses, too, are fleeing to other states in disturbing numbers. Frank Suraci in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 12/27/19

‘Candy Land for sheriffs:’ How California counties spend cash meant to fix jails -- Two summers ago, the board of supervisors in Contra Costa County faced a packed meeting room. On the agenda was a proposal to divert $1.5 million in state taxpayer money intended to ease jail overcrowding to other priorities of the local sheriff’s office. Jason Pohl and Ryan Gabrielson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/27/19

In videos, Gallagher’s SEAL brethren allege war crimes -- Navy SEALs who were never called to testify in the war crimes trial of Chief Petty Officer Eddie Gallagher told naval criminal investigators about behavior they witnessed, including the alleged stabbing of a wounded ISIS fighter that led to murder charges against Gallagher. The two SEALs were granted immunity to testify in the trial this past summer, but were never called to the stand. Andrew Dyer in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/27/19

Federal government deleted more immigration court records about asylum in public data release: researchers -- Though the federal government promised to review a public data release of immigration court cases after researchers pointed to missing records relating to asylum, the issue has only gotten worse. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/27/19

Asylum grant rates under Remain in Mexico are far below historic average -- New data show that it continues to be nearly impossible for asylum seekers in the controversial Remain in Mexico program to be granted asylum. As of November, more than 24,000 people had completed asylum cases through the program officially known as Migrant Protection Protocols but only 117 of them had actually received asylum. Gustavo Solis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/27/19