Updating . .   

Suspect in alleged road rage killing of Aiden Leos faces ‘depraved heart’ murder charge -- Orange County prosecutors say they will try to prove that the man accused of killing 6-year-old Aiden Leos in a road rage shooting on the 55 Freeway committed the crime with “malice aforethought,” a charge that if affirmed by a jury could result in a sentence of 40 years to life. Richard Winton, Hannah Fry, Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/9/21

Open  

California June 15 reopening: How COVID rules will change near you -- The state’s plan, dubbed “Beyond the Blueprint,” lifts capacity and social distancing restrictions for most businesses and activities on June 15. But as has been the case with most pandemic guidelines, there are some exceptions, and some counties may maintain stricter rules. Kellie Hwang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

San Francisco is nearing COVID-19 herd immunity, but L.A. still has months to go -- San Francisco has one of California’s highest rates of vaccination, with 72% of residents having received at least one dose. Only one other county in California — Marin, just north of San Francisco — has a higher rate of vaccination, with 75% of residents there at least partially vaccinated. Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/9/21

Water  

California's farmers are already taking drastic measures to conserve water -- Normally, Humberto Castañeda Produce grows heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, watermelons and other crops on its 180-acre farm outside of Santa Rosa. But this year, Humberto Castañeda and his son, Gabriel, are planting only 17 acres after receiving a fraction of their normal allotment of water. Tara Duggan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

Workplace  

California could decide one huge remaining question on masks and reopening today -- With less than a week to go before California drops most of its remaining coronavirus health restrictions, one major question remains to be settled: What will workplace restrictions look like? Anna Buchmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

Apple and Google want to force remote workers back into cubicles. That friction could lead to a job exodus -- Tech companies like search giant Google envision most employees coming into an office three days a week with some flexibility, and a percentage of workers staying remote for good. The company has previously said employees will stay at home until September but some can come in voluntarily before then. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

Vaccine  

Kaiser enrolling Sacramento, Bay Area children ages 5 to 11 in COVID-19 vaccine trial -- Kaiser Permanente is taking part in a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine trial, with dozens of children ages 5 through 11 participating at sites in Sacramento, Oakland and Santa Clara. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/9/21

Policy & Politics 

Unions are the powerhouse behind California’s troubled bullet train. A big test awaits -- The brawny bodies in yellow hardhats and orange vests have been hard to miss in the audience over the years at California bullet train board meetings, legislative hearings and other key events. Ralph Vartabedian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/9/21

Gavin Newsom’s opponents say his actions are driven by the recall. Are they right? -- Standing in front of a sparkling gold curtain and a colorful game show prize wheel, Gov. Gavin Newsom cracked jokes and grinned last week as he announced the winners of the state’s vaccine lottery. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/9/21

California is about to lose a seat in Congress. How it could shift the balance of power -- The balance of power in Congress is also on the line, as states like New York, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania each face losing a seat, while Florida, Montana, Oregon, Colorado, North Carolina stand to gain a seat. Texas is gaining two. Kim Bojórquez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/9/21

California reparations committee confronts harms of slavery, debates direct payments -- For more than three decades, Black members of Congress have introduced legislation to study the lasting harms of slavery on African Americans, and propose remedies. Year after year, the federal proposal languished. Now, California is going it alone. Jackie Botts CalMatters -- 6/9/21

Safety for pedestrians, cyclists targeted in legislation -- An effort backed by advocates for pedestrians and bicycle riders would set up experimental programs in several California cities to get drivers to obey traffic laws, in part through the use of red-light and speed cameras. Eric Furth Capitol Weekly -- 6/9/21

With restrictions tightening elsewhere, California moves to make abortion cheaper -- State lawmakers are debating a bill to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses like copays and payments toward deductibles for abortions and related services, such as counseling. The measure, approved by the Senate and headed to the Assembly, would apply to most private health plans regulated by the state. Rachel Bluth Kaiser Health News in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/9/21

Majority of Republicans back same-sex marriage for the first time, Gallup poll finds -- A record number of Republicans nationwide say that they support same-sex marriage, according to a new Gallup poll. Overall support in the U.S. for same-sex marriage also reached a record high at 70%. This marks the first time a small majority of Republicans are in favor of marriage equality. Danielle Echeverria in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

Homeless  

Homeless activists, medical students urge officials not to clear Sacramento homeless camps -- Sacramento activists are urging local law enforcement not to clear homeless encampments starting June 15. That’s the date the county’s coronavirus public health order is set to expire. Theresa Clift in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/9/21

Landlords and Tenants  

$2 billion in federal aid, but little to no relief for Bay Area landlords -- San Jose property manager Jeff Zell submitted 70 applications in March to the state for pandemic-related rent relief. More than two months later, all he’s heard is that his applications are being considered. Louis Hansen in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/9/21

Education  

California's community colleges took a massive hit during the pandemic -- While the CSU and UC systems had slight increases in undergraduate enrollment, the community college system’s enrollment decreased dramatically, according to a recently released study from economists at the UC Santa Cruz. Nami Sumida in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

Thanks, but no thanks: Why community colleges are resisting $170 million -- College faculty for decades have been seeking more money to hire full-time instructors. But could that hurt colleges financially down the line if student enrollments continue to sag? Mikhail Zinshteyn CalMatters -- 6/9/21

Guns  

Bill would ban gun shows at California-owned properties, including fairgrounds -- A popular gun show that’s been held at the OC Fair & Event Center since 1996 might have to find a new venue, if a bill from state Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, becomes law. Min’s bill – which passed in the Senate June 1 and awaits consideration in the Assembly – would ban gun shows on state property, including state-owned fairgrounds. Alicia Robinson in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/9/21

Street  

Oakland police offering $10,000 reward for information in teen's killing -- Oakland police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the homicide of Tatiana Dugger. Dugger, 19, went missing from Oakland on Jan. 9. In March, a hiker discovered a body in Siskiyou County near U.S. Route 97, and an April 1 autopsy identified the remains as Dugger. Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

21 accused of operating California methamphetamine-distribution ring -- Twelve people were arrested Wednesday morning, June 9, after a federal grand jury indictment accused them of trafficking methamphetamine from Mexico and distributing it in the Inland Empire, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Brian Rokos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/9/21

Also . . .   

S.F. makes city ID cards free, ends more fees and fines to help low-income residents -- San Francisco will eliminate more fees and fines that disproportionately affect low-income people of color in an effort toward racial and financial justice, Mayor London Breed and the city treasurer announced Wednesday. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

California Policy and Politics Wednesday Morning  

Talk of Batman cocaine and murder: how the FBI tricked criminals with encrypted phones -- The full extent of an unprecedented FBI effort to beat the criminal underworld at its own encrypted-communications game became clearer Tuesday following a two-day takedown, with some 800 arrests worldwide and San Diego racketeering indictments against 17 high-level targets, according to federal authorities. Kristina Davis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 6/9/21

Vaccine  

COVID-19 vaccination site opens at Union Station as state hurtles toward reopening -- A COVID-19 vaccination site opened Tuesday at downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station as the effort to get shots into more residents’ arms ramped up ahead of the state’s planned reopening next week. Lila Seidman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/9/21

Open  

'We are opening San Francisco' - Bay Area lining up with state in dropping COVID rules -- The Bay Area will be wide open along with the rest of California when the state lifts almost all pandemic restrictions next week. Even San Francisco, which has had among the strictest public health responses in the country, plans to align with the state, city officials said Tuesday night. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

S.F. residents among most eager in U.S. to travel as pandemic eases, survey finds -- Over 1 million adults in the San Francisco metro area — almost one-third of the total adult population — have plans to take an overnight trip at least 100 miles from home in the next four weeks, according to new survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Danielle Echeverria in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

State Department eases its travel warnings on Mexico, Canada, other countries -- The U.S. State Department has loosened its travel warnings for dozens of nations, including Mexico, Canada, France and Germany, in a move that could ease airline restrictions for people wanting to go overseas as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes in parts of the world. Nick Wadhams Bloomberg -- 6/9/21

Water  

After a bitter fight, Southern California’s water kingpin has a new leader -- The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has hired Adel Hagekhalil as its next general manager, following a bitter power struggle over the future of an agency that delivers hundreds of billions of gallons each year from the Colorado River and Northern California to a region that otherwise wouldn’t have nearly enough water to support 19 million people. Sammy Roth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/9/21

EBMUD to charge more for water, but won’t force customers to use less -- Higher bills will soon be on the way for the roughly 1.4 million people who get their water from the East Bay Municipal Utility District, but at least for now they won’t be required to cut their water use despite the drought. Joseph Geha in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/9/21

Amazing new map shows the path of every raindrop that hits the United States -- Water is like electricity. Most people don’t think about it much until it’s gone. Now, as California and other Western states find themselves heading into a severe and worsening drought, a new interactive map is providing a breathtaking journey that shows where America’s water comes from and ends up. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/9/21

Policy & Politics 

Bonta's money and Sacramento ties a dividing wedge in East Bay Assembly race -- On paper, the top candidates vying for an open Assembly seat in the East Bay have plenty in common: They are progressives, women of color and have spent their careers focused on advocacy work. Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

New faces enter fray as California recall slowly takes shape -- Six weeks after California officials announced that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom would face an almost certain recall election that could drive him from office, the contest continues to be roiled by uncertainty and questions – even the date when it might take place remains unclear. Michael R. Blood and Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 6/9/21

Senate passes $250 billion tech investment bill, co-authored by Ro Khanna -- The Senate on Tuesday passed a landmark tech investment bill co-authored by South Bay Rep. Ro Khanna, a significant feat that puts pressure on the House to follow suit. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

California ban on private prisons, immigration detention centers ‘extreme,’ feds say -- An ongoing battle between state officials and federal immigration authorities over a California law that bans privately run immigration facilities intensified Monday during a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals hearing, when attorneys representing the Biden administration urged the court to strike down the “extreme” measure. Nadia Lopez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/9/21

Walters: Newsom owes apology for EDD’s failings -- Were Gov. Gavin Newsom as humble as he often proclaims to be, he would interrupt his “California Comeback” campaign long enough to issue a personal apology to hundreds of thousands of Californians who remain mired in the managerial meltdown at the Employment Development Department. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 6/9/21

Street  

Marcus Eriz, suspected shooter in the death of 6-year-old Aiden Leos, liked his guns -- Marcus Anthony Eriz, the 24-year-old Costa Mesa man accused of killing 6-year-old Aiden Leos in a fit of road rage, had a penchant for firearms and Mazda Miatas, his beloved “Yatas.” He also could be, at times, optimistic and empathetic, traits seen among the myriad postings on his Instagram page. Tony Saavedra in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 6/9/21

SFPD's fentanyl bust: 'Enough lethal overdoses to wipe out San Francisco's population four times over" -- San Francisco police arrested five men and seized 16 pounds of fentanyl — enough to kill the city’s population four times over — in a narcotics operation in Oakland meant to block deadly drugs from entering the city’s Tenderloin neighborhood, authorities said Tuesday. Lauren Hernández in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

Manny's S.F. café tagged with 'antisemitic' graffiti -- “Racist Pigz ... Zionist Pigz ... Free Palestine,” were scrawled in blue spray paint on the front walls of Manny’s at 16th and Valencia streets. The graffiti, left over the weekend, drew heated criticism from fans of the cafe and from public officials, including Mayor London Breed. Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

Police Commission to consider new alcohol rules for armed off-duty officers -- The Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday said it was considering changing LAPD policy to restrict the use of alcohol by armed off-duty officers. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/9/21

L.A. County Sheriff’s deputy charged with assault, evidence tampering -- A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with assault and evidence tampering stemming from an arrest she made in Lancaster two years ago, prosecutors said. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/9/21

Workplace  

California prison guards to get $5,000 bonus, raises in deal with Newsom administration -- The California Correctional Peace Officers Association agreement would restore a 3% raise for officers that was suspended last year, when Newsom and the Legislature cut state workers’ pay in anticipation of a budget deficit. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/9/21

San Diego workers are more burned out now than at the height of 2020’s pandemic -- San Diego workers are reporting increased feelings of burnout — even while the threat of the pandemic weakens — due to increased workloads, a lack of real vacations and an inability to disconnect from work. That’s according to a nationwide survey of thousands of workers by staffing giant Robert Half. Brittany Meiling in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 6/9/21

After study shows pay disparities, San Diego adopts resolution to fix it -- Five months after a study showed gender and ethnic pay disparities among city of San Diego workers, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday supporting policies to shrink those disparities. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 6/9/21

Homeless  

S.F. stopped 'poverty tows' during the pandemic. Homeless advocates want to keep it that way -- The old Buick made Charlie Mikich’s back ache and Kai Martin’s knees throb, but it worked as the San Francisco couple’s home of last resort — until it got towed. Lauren Hepler in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

San Francisco's latest feud: What to do about toilets for homeless people -- Early in the pandemic, the city filled the streets with nearly three dozen portable toilets, mostly to serve the increase in the homeless population as shelters emptied out, but the number of toilets has dropped by two-thirds since last summer. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

Education  

School district superintendent in Marin County arrested on suspicion of lewd act with child -- Robert Patrick Raines, the 66-year old superintendent of Shoreline Unified School District, was arrested on suspicion of one count of committing a lewd or lascivious act with a child under the age of 14, according to Sgt. Brenton Schneider of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office. Nora Mishanec in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

Quick Guide: Ethnic studies requirement coming to California community colleges -- Soon, many students attending California’s community colleges will likely need to take a class in ethnic studies in order to receive a degree. Michael Burke EdSource -- 6/9/21

Environment  

EPA agrees to disclose data on products containing asbestos, reversing Trump protocol -- The Biden administration, in response to a suit by California, other states and environmental advocates, has agreed to collect and disclose information from companies whose products contain the cancer-causing mineral asbestos. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

Fire  

These parts of California are going under a red flag warning, signaling high fire danger -- The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Tuesday signaling the coming of high-danger fire weather as gusty winds and worryingly low humidity levels stretch across the eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range to western Colorado. Nora Mishanec in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21

Also . . .   

Half Moon Bay surfer sets sail on 2-month journey to Hawaii - on a hydrofoil -- The 46-year-old South Africa-born surfer, who lives in El Granada, has been keeping a close eye on the ocean for weeks, waiting for the right moment to launch a solo journey to Hawaii that could keep him at sea more than two months. Gregory Thomas in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/9/21