Updating . .   

Confusion reigns over who is eligible for boosters, prompting California to take action -- With confusion mounting over who is eligible for COVID-19 booster shots, California health officials updated the state’s guidelines Tuesday to say that essentially all adults are recommended to get the additional vaccinations. Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II, Christian Martinez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

LAUSD to spend $5 million on gift cards, prizes to encourage students to get vaccinated -- With a student vaccination deadline days away — and about 72% in compliance — the Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday authorized an estimated $5 million for prizes and treats as incentives, including gift cards to Amazon and Target, tickets to “Hamilton” and food trucks on campus. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

Cal State requires students to be vaccinated for COVID-19 — but it’s not evenly enforced -- Some campuses barred students from in-person classes and on-campus buildings after they failed to upload proof of vaccination or request an exemption, while others allowed them to continue attending. Michaella Huck, Zaeem Shaikh and Julian Mendoza CalMatters -- 11/17/21

The White House estimates nearly 10 percent of younger children have gotten a first shot -- The administration estimates that by the end of Wednesday, 2.6 million of the 28 million children in that age group will have had their first of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the only one currently authorized for them. Sheryl Gay Stolberg in the New York Times$ -- 11/17/21

Policy and Politics  

Analyst: California expected to see $31 billion budget surplus -- California will have a $31 billion budget surplus next year as revenues continue to climb despite the pandemic, according to a new forecast from the state’s independent Legislative Analyst’s Office. Adam Beam Associated Press Lara Korte in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

O.C. supervisors set to approve majority Latino district amid allegations of gerrymandering -- The Orange County Board of Supervisors appears poised to select a map that creates a majority Latino district for the first time while also giving influence to Asian voters as a once-in-a-decade redistricting process moves closer to completion. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

We asked every Bay Area Congress member if they plan to run for re-election in 2022. Here are their answers -- There are few if any safer Congressional districts for Democrats than in the Bay Area. So with Republicans threatening to take back control of the House of Representatives in 2022, we polled the region’s representatives Tuesday after Jackie Speier’s announcement that she won’t run for re-election to ask about others’ plans for 2022. We also asked the state’s two senators about their future plans. Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/17/21

As Garcetti waits, senators review allegations in harassment lawsuit involving key aide -- More than four months after Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was announced as President Biden’s pick to become U.S. ambassador to India, the mayor is still waiting for a hearing and vote before a key Senate committee that will consider his nomination. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

By talking about her abortion, Jackie Speier inspired a generation of lawmakers to do the same -- There has always been a fearlessness about Rep. Jackie Speier, a courageousness forged when she was shot five times on a Guyana airstrip after the Jonestown massacre in 1978, when she was a young aide to Bay Area Rep. Leo Ryan. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/21

Street  

California Attorney General Bonta, DA Gascon colluding to overturn death sentences, prosecutor alleges -- District Attorney George Gascón and California Attorney General Rob Bonta are working in tandem as part of an apparent legal strategy that already has overturned the death penalty sentences of four Los Angeles County convicted killers, a high-ranking prosecutor said Tuesday. Scott Schwebke in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 11/17/21

Sacramento businesses, leaders pledged support of Black communities in 2020. Who stepped up? -- A year and a half later, there are mixed reviews on how well those commitments were carried out in the Sacramento region, research and interviews with Black business leaders conducted by The Sacramento Bee found. The city of Sacramento and some businesses stepped up to lead change, while other groups made promises they didn’t keep. Marcus D. Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

California defends private prison ban in petition to federal appeals court -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Wednesday announced the state filed a petition to repeal a federal appeals court decision to block a law that would end the state’s use of private, for-profit detention facilities. Kim Bojórquez in the Sacramento Bee$ Don Thompson Associated Press -- 11/17/21

Capitol Siege  

Los Angeles County brothers get probation for breaking into US Capitol during Jan. 6 riot -- Kevin Cordon, 33, of Alhambra was sentenced to 12 months of probation and Sean Cordon, 35, of Los Angeles was sentenced to two months of probation during separate sentencing hearings in recent days in a Washington, D.C. courtroom. Sean Emery, Josh Cain in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 11/17/21

Jan. 6 rioter who carried spear, wore horns, draws 41 months -- Jacob Chansley, the spear-carrying Jan. 6 rioter whose horned fur hat, bare chest and face paint made him one of the more recognizable figures in the assault on the Capitol, was sentenced Wednesday to 41 months in prison. Jacques Billeaud Associated Press -- 11/17/21

Staying Afloat  

Still waiting for a California stimulus check? Here’s when to expect yours -- If you haven’t gotten your Golden State Stimulus check, you may want to check your mailbox periodically over the next few weeks. Hundreds of thousands of Californians will get their $600 to $1,100 paper checks in the mailbox between now and January. Jeong Park in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

Environment  

‘A spectacular landscape.’ California ranch of late finance giant Dean Witter to become park -- Three years ago, a 26,600-acre ranch in remote Northern California, with a 10-bedroom lodge, 16 miles of riverfront and two herds of Roosevelt elk was drawing attention in the nation’s luxury real estate market. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/21

‘Good news’ for Lake Tahoe’s clarity after destruction of Caldor Fire, new report finds -- Lake Tahoe’s water quality and clarity are in good condition following this summer’s devastating Caldor Fire, new research showed. Molly Sullivan in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

‘The right thing to do’: North Coyote Valley will be preserved as open space and farmland -- After years of speculation, a longtime vision of transforming an open, green expanse on the southern edge of San Jose into an employment center where thousands of people could work has officially been taken off the table. Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/17/21

Lead exposure goes undetected in Sacramento children, endangering them -- Pediatrician Deepti Rastogi moved from the Wellspace clinic in Oak Park to their offices in Arden Arcade three years ago and was struck by the problems she saw in her new patients: Small children with disturbingly elevated lead levels. Ariane Lange in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

Water  

California, Arizona and Nevada in talks on new plan to save Colorado River water -- Two and a half years after signing a deal aimed at averting a damaging crisis along the Colorado River, water officials from California, Arizona and Nevada are discussing plans to take even less water from the shrinking river and leave it in Lake Mead in an effort to prevent the reservoir from falling to dangerously low levels. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

Workplace   

UC lecturers win raises, concessions in deal that averts two-day strike -- The University of California and the UC lecturers union reached an agreement after years of negotiating, heading off a planned strike. In addition to raises, the lecturers secured job stability promises following a CalMatters investigation showing how tenuous their employment is. Mikhail Zinshteyn CalMatters Teresa Watanabe, Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ Dominic Fracassa, Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Lara Korte in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

Want to quit your job but can’t right now? How to cope while you plan next steps -- There are myriad reasons that employees who might want to leave their jobs cannot do so — financial obligations, healthcare benefits or a fear of the unknown. But that doesn’t necessarily make the desire to leave any less acute. Rachel Schnalzer, Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

Develop  

Oakland council selects developer to start exclusive negotiations on building out Coliseum site -- The Oakland City Council decided Tuesday to start negotiating exclusively with a developer group that includes an East Oakland native and a former city manager to purchase or lease the city’s share of the Coliseum site — moving the plan to transform the East Oakland area one step closer to fruition. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/21

Housing  

Rooftop decks and home offices: More modern housing planned for downtown Sacramento -- SKK Developments, a firm that has been busy constructing new apartments and town homes around the central city, is proposing to build 16 three-story townhouses on the southeast corner of 13th and C streets in the Mansion Flats neighborhood of downtown. Ryan Lillis in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

Homeless  

Homeless woman vows to fight new court order to leave Mile Square Regional Park -- On most days, Nancy Wood makes her bed and carefully does her make-up. Sometimes she paints her nails, like many other women — except she lives in a tent tucked into the brush at Fountain Valley’s Mile Square Regional Park. Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register -- 11/17/21

Cannabis  

Large farms are replacing small ones in California’s marijuana industry -- The commercial cannabis industry in California is growing rapidly, but data about its production remains sparse. That’s because cannabis is still an illicit drug under federal law and not regulated as an agricultural crop, which requires the the federal government to collect much more data. Yoohyun Jung in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/21

Also . . .   

In South L.A., a legacy of limbs lost to diabetes tells a larger story -- The coronavirus piggybacked on a catastrophe of poorly treated chronic illnesses rampant in South L.A.: heart disease, high blood pressure, lung cancer, kidney disease, asthma, arthritis, depression. And diabetes. Joe Mozingo, Francine Orr in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

Whistleblower or flamethrower? California Medical Board member calls out his colleagues -- The pleas for help find him. They arrive by email or seep into his social media account. One showed up in a tightly sealed letter to his home. After years of feeling ignored by the Medical Board of California, the writers hope he’ll finally be the one who hears them. Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

City controller calls for fixes to L.A.'s sidewalk repair program -- Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin called Wednesday for a citywide assessment of broken and buckled sidewalks, saying city workers are still struggling to make headway on repairs that are required as part of a major legal settlement. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

California Policy and Politics Wednesday Morning  

Gov. Newsom warns of California winter surge, with virus 'coming back in force' -- Gov. Gavin Newsom warned Tuesday that the state is in for another potentially devastating winter surge and sharpened his call for all Californians 18 and older to get COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/21

Director of S.F. Film Commission forced to resign after not getting COVID vaccine -- Susannah Greason Robbins, executive director of the San Francisco Film Commission, is being forced from her job at the end of this year after choosing not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as required by a city mandate, she said. Andres Picon in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/21

LAUSD to loosen COVID-19 protocols next semester -- With all staff members and most students 12 and older who will be on campus expected to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by early January, Los Angeles Unified officials are planning to relax some of the school district’s health-and-safety protocols next semester, including policies regarding who must undergo weekly COVID-19 testing and who can remove their masks outdoors. Linh Tat in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 11/17/21

California agency suspends alcohol license at bar where fake vaccination cards were sold -- State agents on Nov. 1 posted a suspension notice, prohibiting all alcohol sales at The Old Corner Saloon, said John Carr, a spokesman for the Alcoholic Beverage Control agency. The bar is located at 18783 East Highway 88 in the small town of Clements, 12 miles northeast of Lodi. Rosalio Ahumada in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

F.D.A. Plans to Authorize Pfizer Boosters for All Adults This Week -- The Food and Drug Administration is aiming to authorize booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine for all adults as early as Thursday, a move that would expand the number of Americans eligible for additional shots by tens of millions, according to people familiar with the agency’s plans. Noah Weiland and Sharon LaFraniere in the New York Times$ -- 11/17/21

Policy and Politics  

Jackie Speier retirement sets off jockeying to replace her in Congress -- The San Mateo Democrat’s announcement that she will not seek another term in Congress caught the Bay Area by surprise Tuesday, opening up a rare shot at a job that some local lawmakers hold for decades. Already, young, ambitious politicians are eyeing the Peninsula district race — one that could end up being quite expensive. Tal Kopan, Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/21

From Jonestown survivor to Congress -- A timeline of Jackie Speier’s career -- Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/21

Walters: Paying so much to earn so little -- It could be called “diploma creep.” At the dawn of the 20th century, an eighth-grade education was considered the norm in the United States. Fewer than 7% of public school students even earned high school diplomas in 1900 and tiny numbers went on to college. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 11/17/21

Gas  

Here's why Bay Area gas prices are among the highest in the nation -- A bubbling brew of reasons can be blamed for the high gas prices, starting with the pandemic. Michael Cabanatuan, Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/21

Cars  

CA cars: Supply slows, while prices head to the fast lane -- Several factors are shaping demand, prices, sales and supply of new and used cars in the Golden State, but consumers know one thing — their pocketbooks are taking a hit. Seth Sandronsky Capitol Weekly -- 11/17/21

Workplace   

More than 500,000 California workers will get $500 pandemic bonuses. Here are the details -- More than 500,000 caregivers in California will each receive a $500 bonus from the state as soon as January, as it tries to retain workers in a sector long hampered by low wages and high turnover rates. Those who worked as caregivers for at least two months between March 2020 and March 2021 are eligible. Jeong Park in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

University of California lecturers set for strike at 9 campuses, including UC Davis -- Lecturers at the University of California, Davis, will be among teachers at nine UC campuses throughout the state participating in a two-day strike, canceling their classes Wednesday and Thursday in a protest against what they call “unfair labor practices.” Rosalio Ahumada and Lara Korte in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

Street  

City Hall corruption scandal: Former S.F. building inspector, building commissioner indicted -- A former San Francisco senior building inspector and former city building commissioner were indicted in federal court Tuesday on charges of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and committing honest services wire fraud, records show. Lauren Hernández in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/21

L.A. County supervisors seek to decriminalize bike violations after Times investigation -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday moved toward decriminalizing bicycling violations and ordered a review of “biased policing” the Sheriff’s Department uses to enforce such laws. Alene Tchekmedyian, Ben Poston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

'Extremely troubling': ACLU questions CHP's use of aerial surveillance during 2020 racial justice demonstrations -- The California Highway Patrol’s use of aerial surveillance technology last year to film racial justice demonstrations after the police murder of George Floyd was widespread and raises questions about why the agency monitored and recorded these particular events, the ACLU of Northern California said Tuesday. Andres Picon in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

S.F. working to open supervised drug use site by spring, possibly in building near the Tenderloin -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed is pushing to open a site as early as the spring where people can use drugs under the supervision of medical professionals, and she’s working to acquire a building near the Tenderloin that could house the program. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/21

Villanueva doesn’t regret telling deputies to get rid of Kobe Bryant crash photos -- Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said that after discovering some of his deputies had shared images of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others last year, he directed the “photos never see the light of day.” Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

New voice in S.F. for crime victims? Proposal would ask voters to create an office to support survivors -- On Tuesday, Stefani introduced the San Francisco Victim’s Rights Initiative, a ballot measure that would create a new city office pulling together a range of victims’ services currently spread across multiple departments. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/21

LAPD officer charged with filing false report in 2019 arrest of motorist -- A Los Angeles police officer has been criminally charged with filing a false report under the penalty of perjury in a 2019 arrest of a motorist in Hollywood, prosecutors said Tuesday. Prosecutors alleged that Officer Alejandro Castillo, 49, lied when he reported stopping the motorist after observing the driver “conduct an unsafe turn ... nearly causing an accident,” court records show. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

California electrician ordered to pay $481 million for scam -- A California electrician was ordered Tuesday to pay $481.3 million in restitution as part of his sentence for participating in a $1 billion Ponzi schemed that suckered Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., among many others. Joseph W. Bayliss, 46, of Martinez, was sentenced to three years in federal prison on top of the restitution. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 11/17/21

Homeless  

Two homeless men lit on fire in attack at Thousand Oaks encampment -- Burn allegedly entered a tent where he found the two victims, both adult males, and is accused of pouring a flammable liquid on them before lighting them on fire, Lohman said. Both men had minor burns but did not need further medical treatment, he said. Burn fled and has not been located by authorities. Gregory Yee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

Will California’s plan for clearing homeless camps work? -- California is spending more than ever before on homelessness — $12 billion between 2021 and 2023 — which also means there’s more pressure to make an impact. The bulk of that money will go to creating more living spaces and providing mental health resources for people who are now on the streets. But some of the money is being used by Caltrans in a ramped-up effort to move people like Brown off the state’s bustling freeways in the name of safety. Manuela Tobias CalMatters -- 11/17/21

Duo’s bold plan to fix homelessness in SLO County could be first of its kind in California -- Sam Blakeslee, a former state senator and assemblyman, and Greg Gillett, a San Luis Obispo attorney, spent four months researching the county’s growing unhoused population and developing a proposal for reform that would include a more centralized and effective network of homeless services and housing solutions. Nick Wilson and Lindsey Holden in the San Luis Obispo Tribune -- 11/17/21

Education  

UC San Diego has 9th highest number of top scientists in the world and could soon pass MIT -- UC San Diego has the ninth-largest collection of highly cited researchers in the world and is close to passing UC Berkeley and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says an annual assessment of global brain power by Clarivate, a British science data company. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/17/21

Does Los Angeles Unified’s powerful school board contribute to leadership turnover? -- As Los Angeles Unified begins interviewing candidates for yet another superintendent, it must face a tough question: Has its unusual board governing structure blurred the lines between board member and superintendent and contributed to the steady churn in district leadership? Louis Freedberg EdSource -- 11/17/21

Immigration  

Judge finds Omar Ameen can be removed from US, rejects claims Sacramento resident was terrorist -- A federal immigration judge in Van Nuys ruled Tuesday that Iraqi refugee Omar Ameen lied on his application forms seeking entry to the United States and can be removed from the country, but she said the government had not proven its claims that Ameen participated in terrorist activities. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

Water  

California drought: Proposed ballot measure would fast-track construction of dams, desalination plants and other water projects -- That’s the message from a growing coalition of Central Valley farmers and Southern California desalination supporters who have begun collecting signatures for a statewide ballot measure that would fast-track big water projects and provide billions of dollars to fund them — potentially setting up a major political showdown with environmentalists next year shaped by the state’s ongoing drought. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/17/21

California backslides on water conservation amid drought -- A severe drought prompted California Gov. Gavin Newsom last summer to ask the state’s nearly 40 million residents to voluntarily reduce water use by 15% this year. New data released Tuesday shows few people are doing that. Adam Beam Associated Press Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

Rooftop Solar  

Edison’s new rate plans create financial pinch for rooftop solar panel owners -- Solar panels glistening on the rooftop meant sustainability, independence, respect for the planet — and vastly lower electric bills. But for rooftop solar owners trying to navigate Southern California Edison’s new “time-of-use” plans — which make power most expensive at dinnertime — and other changes, it means more time before their sizable investments pencil out. Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register -- 11/17/21

Also . . .   

Federal bill would rename San Diego VA Medical Center after fallen soldier Jennifer Moreno -- Army Capt. Jennifer Moreno grew up in Logan Heights and was killed in action while serving as a nurse in Afghanistan. Andrew Dyer in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/17/21

Goodbye, Staples Center. Hello, Crypto.com Arena -- The downtown Los Angeles venue — home of the Lakers, Clippers, Kings and Sparks — will wear the new name for 20 years under a deal between the Singapore cryptocurrency exchange and AEG, the owner and operator of the arena, both parties announced Tuesday. Sam Dean in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/21

Is there a turkey shortage? As Californians prepare for Thanksgiving, here’s what to know -- Production of frozen turkeys is down compared to last year. And if you can find decent-sized turkey, it’ll probably cost you more than usual. The nationwide inventory sat 24% lower than the three-year average volumes, according to a recent report. Brianna Taylor in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/21

'This behavior is not typical': Tahoe bear walks into 7-Eleven -- Maybe it wanted a Klondike Bar. A large bear opened the door of a 7-Eleven store in Tahoe's Olympic Valley near Palisades resort with his paw this week and casually walked into the store, putting his two front legs up on a freezer at the door. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/17/21

Elon Musk's historic Hillsborough mansion finally sells after 18 months on the market -- Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s final Bay Area estate has sold for $32 million after nearly 18 months of stagnating on the market. Joshua Bote in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 11/17/21