Updating . .   

Oakland Police Department vows to ‘root out’ officers who endorsed Capitol takeover posts -- Oakland police vowed to investigate allegations that officers have endorsed or “been involved” in social media accounts of Wednesday’s Capitol takeover. “We will not tolerate any form of hate speech, any expression that supports hate speech or any acts of subversion, whether in-person or on online platforms,” the department said in a statement released on Friday. Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/9/21

How likely is it that Trump will face criminal prosecution after leaving office? -- Even after repeatedly pushing the limits of presidential power and surviving an impeachment last year, his last-ditch bid to hold on to power through intimidation and insurrection has dramatically increased the odds he will face a criminal investigation and possibly the first-ever prosecution of an ex-president. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

Here lies @realDonaldTrump, having tweeted itself to death -- The Twitter account @realDonaldTrump died Friday. It was 11 years, 8 months old and had issued nearly 47,000 tweets. None of them survived. The cause of death was hubris. Owen Thomas in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/9/21

‘The storm is here’: Ashli Babbitt’s journey from capital ‘guardian’ to invader -- The politician she revered above all others had lost an election. She’d struggled with crippling amounts of debt. Her home state of California was locking down again because of a virus she believed was fiction. As she walked east along the Mall on Wednesday, wearing a backpack emblazoned with the American flag, Ashli Babbitt was elated. Peter Jamison, Hannah Natanson, John Woodrow Cox and Alex Horton in the Washington Post$ -- 1/9/21

Covid  

L.A. County Christmas coronavirus surge worsening; coming days will be critical -- The post-Christmas surge of coronavirus cases is worsening considerably in Los Angeles County, a much-feared scenario that officials say will result in more patient crowding at already overwhelmed hospitals and an increase in deaths. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

California is desperate, but volunteer health corps dwindles -- California desperately needs more medical workers at facilities swamped by coronavirus patients, but almost no help is coming from a volunteer program that Gov. Gavin Newsom created at the start of the pandemic. An army of 95,000 initially raised their hands, and just 14 are now working in the field. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 1/9/21

California is expanding who it’s vaccinating. Are you next? -- Weeks into the California’s mass vaccination plan, we’re far behind schedule. Of the roughly 2 million doses that have been distributed, only about 650,000 have been injected into the arms of state residents, according to Friday’s data from the California Department of Public Health. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury$ Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/9/21

COVID-19 vaccine rollout painfully slow to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities -- No group has suffered more during the COVID-19 pandemic than staff and residents of nursing homes, where high concentrations of elderly people with serious health problems created the perfect killing ground for the virus. Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

Questions and anxiety mount over San Diego’s slow roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine -- County health officials don’t know the total number of immunizations that have occurred so far. Jonathan Wosen, Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/9/21

Policy & Politics 

After a painful 2020, California’s next budget will have far more cash than anticipated -- Just months ago, California officials expected this year’s budget would be another bloodbath of cuts to schools and services. But instead, Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers find themselves in an unexpected budget oasis, practically swimming in money. Sophia Bollag, Lara Korte, and Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/9/21

Newsom’s budget targets reopening, reviving public schools and universities -- In a turnaround from recent dire predictions, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget boosts next year’s funding for K-12 school districts and includes emergency grants to reopen campuses as soon as possible — part of a sweeping effort to address learning loss and social stresses in children. Howard Blume, Teresa Watanabe, Nina Agrawal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

How Californians plan to spend $600 stimulus checks — some need the money, some can share it -- For Mary Bane and her husband in Sacramento, $1,200 will help the couple in their mid-70s get groceries delivered, avoiding trips to stores where they could contact the coronavirus. Jeong Park and Kim Bojórquez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/9/21

Share the Road  

Sport cyclists and car culture collide in San Diego’s massive expansion of bike lanes -- Horns blared and wheels screeched on Highway 101 along Cardiff State Beach. “Did you see that?” exclaimed Serge Issakov, who was out for a ride on a recent Saturday, clad in full green and black cycling attire. Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/9/21

California Policy and P  olitics Saturday Morning  

Protest over COVID shutdown planned at California Capitol days after arrests at Trump rally -- A group opposed to California regional orders to halt the COVID-19 spread plans to host a rally at the state Capitol building Saturday, three days after a rally of President Donald Trump supporters in downtown Sacramento led to numerous skirmishes stopped by police and 12 arrests. Rosalio Ahumada in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/9/21

Violent Breach In D.C. Raises Questions About Safety At California State Capitol -- Is the California State Capitol safe from potential rioters? Several law enforcement officials and lawmakers say they believe so. Chris Nichols, Ed Fletcher Capital Public Radio -- 1/9/21

Deputies’ union files complaint over Sacramento supervisor Serna’s post on Trump supporters -- The union representing 1,500 Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies is calling for county Board of Supervisor chairman Phil Serna to resign following a social media post in which he described people supporting President Donald Trump as “traitors” and “dead to” him. Serna wrote Sunday evening to his personal Facebook page, in part: “If you are a supporter of Donald Trump, you’re dead to me. You don’t matter. You are irrelevant. You are a traitor.” Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/9/21

Menlo Park candy store boycotted after owner spotted at Trump rally near U.S. Capitol -- Sugar is sweet but the reaction a Menlo Park candy store owner received after a photo of her attending President Trump’s rally in Washington appeared on social media has been intensely bitter. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/9/21

Covid  

After lagging start, Newsom promises 1 million more California COVID-19 vaccinations in nine days -- Gov. Gavin Newsom set an ambitious target of vaccinating an additional 1 million people against COVID-19 over the next nine days, but offered few new details in Friday’s budget proposal indicating how the state would spend the estimated $372 million he says is needed to improve vaccine rates. Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

L.A. ambulance crews struggle amid bottlenecks, surging call volume -- Like hospitals, ambulance systems in Los Angeles County are buckling under the surge of COVID-19 cases. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

As COVID-19 rages, an L.A. hospital plans to close its doors, sparking criticism and questions -- When healthcare workers at Olympia Medical Center reported for work on New Year’s Eve, they were prepared for another grueling day of patient care amid L.A.’s worsening COVID-19 surge. What they weren’t prepared for was the laminated paper taped to the front door. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

Congress, LA take divergent paths after COVID test warning -- Los Angeles will continue using a coronavirus test that federal regulators warned may produce false results while Congress, which has used the same test, is seeking an alternative. Brian Melley and Matthew Perrone Associated Press -- 1/9/21

Hospitals seek relaxed rules for nursing, patient discharge -- As ICUs are overwhelmed, California hospitals ask the state to loosen rules related to nursing and where patients are discharged. But nurses say hospitals already have too much leeway. “This is not the time to be cutting back on standards of nursing care,” said registered nurse Gerard Brogan. Barbara Feder Ostrov CalMatters -- 1/9/21

San Diego County sets fresh single-day coronavirus case record -- San Diego County set another record Friday with the latest daily coronavirus new case total hitting 4,550. That’s 72 more than the previous record set on New Year’s Eve. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/9/21

City Attorney files civil action after NYE revelers hurt in balcony collapse in Miramar warehouse -- In particular the lawsuit notes that the New Year’s Eve party violated county and state orders preventing large gatherings, done in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, which is raging in Southern California. Teri Figueroa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/9/21

For nurses, California’s virus outbreak has a personal toll -- For Caroline Brandenburger, the coronavirus outbreak that has overwhelmed California hospitals comes with a very personal toll. “Just today we had two deaths on this unit. And that’s pretty much the norm,” said Brandenburger, who works on the COVID-19 unit at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, south of Los Angeles. “I usually see one to two every shift. Super sad.” Don Thompson and Eugene Garcia Associated Press -- 1/9/21

Policy & Politics 

California has so much money it could send some back to taxpayers, Gavin Newsom says -- The state is on pace to hit a spending cap voters adopted in 1979 when state politics were dominated by a taxpayer revolt, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday as he unveiled his $227 billion 2021-22 spending plan. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/9/21

Pay cuts for California state workers could be lifted by July under Newsom proposal -- A better-than-expected financial outlook, including a projected $15 billion surplus, means the state can consider modifying the pay cuts that took effect in July of last year for the state’s roughly 230,000 employees, according to the budget proposal. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/9/21

Better than ‘anyone could have imagined’: Inside Newsom’s optimistic, record-breaking budget proposal -- More than last year’s budget. More than the year before. More than any California budget ever. Despite — or maybe because of — the last 10 months of arrested economic activity and unchecked viral contagion, Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced a record-breaking $227 billion spending plan for the coming fiscal year. Ben Christopher CalMatters -- 1/9/21

Here's How Newsom's Proposing to Spend $4.1 Billion on the Climate and Environment -- The $227 billion budget proposed on Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom includes $4.1 billion in spending on a suite of environmental initiatives meant to fight climate change, gird California against devastating wildfires, reduce smog, and bolster the adoption of clean vehicles on the state’s roads. Kevin Stark, Danielle Venton KQED -- 1/9/21

Gavin Newsom’s $227 billion budget calls for new spending on schools, vaccines and stimulus -- Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to spend more on struggling small businesses, COVID-19 vaccines and school reopenings in his $227.2 billion 2021 budget proposal. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/9/21

Newsom’s budget offers tax breaks to businesses, job training to spur California economy -- Californians struggling to get back to work during the coronavirus pandemic could get help from more than a billion dollars earmarked for job creation and workforce training in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new budget proposal. Jeong Park and Kim Bojórquez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/9/21

Newsom calls for using budget windfall to boost California reserves, fight pandemic-caused woes -- Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a $227.2 billion budget Friday that would shore up California’s financial reserves and use a one-time windfall to chart an economic recovery out of the coronavirus pandemic. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/9/21

Newsom’s budget calls for investment in prescribed fire to combat catastrophic blazes -- Following a record wildfire season in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to invest an additional $1 billion to make the state’s forests and communities more resilient to future blazes. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/9/21

Newsom’s 2021 budget includes billions for California housing, homelessness -- Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to dedicate billions of the 2021 budget toward addressing the state’s housing and homelessness crisis, he said Friday, laying out a proposal that includes funding to expand a successful pandemic housing program, increase living options for seniors and add beds in behavioral health facilities. Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/9/21

California governor’s budget booms despite pandemic problems -- Ten months into a pandemic that has overwhelmed hospitals and prompted government shutdowns that left millions of people out of work and forced many small businesses to close, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday revealed the most expensive budget in state history — a $227 billion spending plan highlighted by a $15 billion one-time surplus. Adam Beam Associated Press -- 1/9/21

California budget — from boom to bust and back to boom -- Six months ago Gov. Gavin Newsom was bemoaning the reversal of the Golden State’s fortunes, as his stay-home order to slow the coronavirus had constrained the economy and helped turn a projected $5.6 billion surplus into a $54.3 billion shortfall. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/9/21

Walters: Newsom budget spends windfall on pandemic victims -- While California’s overall economy is still being battered by the COVID-19 recession and unemployment remains high, its tax revenues have shown amazing resiliency. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 1/9/21

News Analysis: Trump’s parting gift to Gavin Newsom is undermining his strongest challenger --It’s been years since California’s sad-sack Republican Party had a statewide candidate with the potential of Kevin Faulconer, who’s now, wink, exploring a run against Gov. Gavin Newsom. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

Judge won’t order Gov. Newsom to testify in California Capitol protest ban lawsuit -- A federal judge in Sacramento has refused to order Gov. Gavin Newsom and two former top state officials to submit to depositions in a lawsuit that challenges some of California’s COVID-19 restrictions. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/9/21

Kamala Harris dissolving PACs, giving money to charity -- Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is dissolving her political fundraising committees as she prepares for her inauguration with President-elect Joe Biden on Jan. 20, and will give the leftover money to California charities. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/9/21

Street  

Black woman describes terrifying attack by Trump mob in L.A.: ‘I’m thinking I’m dead’ -- As a violent mob of President Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, a crowd of at least 20 pro-Trump demonstrators, many clad in “Make America Great Again” hats, surrounded 25-year-old Berlinda Nibo on a busy downtown Los Angeles street, she said, feet away from a gaggle of police officers. “It seemed like these people were trying to kill me,” said Nibo, 25. “To use me to make some kind of statement or something.” Faith E. Pinho in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

Stephan calls L.A. DA Gascón’s reforms unlawful, wants case back -- San Diego DA Summer Stephan said newly elected L.A. DA George Gascón’s directives could let accused cop-killer, serial robber Rhett Nelson walk free at 50. Alex Riggins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/9/21

Transgender S.F. police officer settles with city, which agrees to more training -- Flint Paul became a San Francisco police officer in 1995, with a female birth name and identity. But Paul had identified as male since childhood, started telling other officers that in the early 2000s, and made it official in 2006, when he underwent surgery, filed documents with his new name and moved to the men’s locker room. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/9/21

Education 

Newsom rejects tuition increases for UC and Cal State but proposes more funding than expected -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday rejected tuition increases this fall at the University of California and California State University but provided more higher education funds in his 2021-22 proposed budget than some campus leaders had expected. Teresa Watanabe, Nina Agrawal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

As Trump supporters stormed Capitol, students watched history unfold in real time -- Sara Romero tutors math for middle school students in San Diego during their last class of the day. But on Jan. 6, her attention was divided between two monitors: one showing her students and another open to news coverage of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Janelle Marie Salanga, Maddie Beck, Julianna Domingo, Hannah Getahun, Ryan Loyola and Marisa Martinez CalMatters -- 1/9/21

Program to buy hotels for homeless people could get another influx of cash -- Last year, a small silver lining amid a deadly pandemic was a state program that helped local municipalities buy hotels, motels and apartment buildings to house and shelter homeless people. Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

Environment   

State regulatory agency slaps LADWP with violation over methane gas leak at Sun Valley power plant -- Responding to South Coast Air Quality Management District’s notice, LADWP said in a statement that repairs to a pair of compressors at the natural gas-powered Valley Generating Plant were completed in December, adding that the “the leak has been completely stopped.” Lila Seidman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

Climate  

Bay Area natural gas bans spread in 2020. They’re not done yet -- Over the past year and a half, a groundswell of California cities and counties have embraced the environmental movement to end the use of natural gas in buildings. Now, supporters of the effort are looking ahead to further victories this year — despite legal challenges and opposition from some business leaders. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/9/21

Also . . .   

Ray Appleton suspended for saying editors should be ‘hanged,’ says parent company of KMJ -- The longtime KMJ talk show host on Thursday said “certain news editors should be hanged. Maybe” while addressing media coverage of the invasion of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump. Thaddeus Miller in the Fresno Bee -- 1/9/21

Many couldn’t afford a car in 2020. The rich went on a buying spree -- The pandemic economy has favored the well-off and made life miserable for the working poor. New motor vehicle sales for 2020 reflect that bifurcated reality. Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21

POTUS 46  

Biden, who ran on unity, now leads a party furious at GOP -- President-elect Joe Biden, who campaigned on a promise to reach out to Republicans and unite the country, found himself Friday leading a party angrily bent on impeaching President Trump, forcing the resignation of GOP senators and making Republicans pay for their baseless challenge to the election results. Annie Linskey in the Washington Post$ -- 1/9/21

POTUS 45  

Congress can move fast if it wants to — and it’s moving fast toward impeaching Trump -- In the aftermath of the storming of the Capitol by a Trump-encouraged mob that left a police officer and four rioters dead, virtually all Democrats in Congress and a handful of Republicans have called for the president to be removed from office. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/9/21

Trump without Twitter: Will he move to the ‘Trumpnet’? -- Parler. Gab. Rumble. MeWe. DLive. Over the last four years, a small constellation of newish social media sites and web platforms has found favor with those on the political right who see the heavy hand of censorship in Facebook and Twitter’s tightening policies against hate speech and violent rhetoric. Brian Contreras in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/9/21