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'A new day is dawning': Nancy Pelosi to step down as Democratic leader but will stay in Congress -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who made history as the first female speaker of the House and has been the driving force behind landmark legislation, will step down from House leadership, but the 82-year-old Democrat said Thursday that she will continue to represent San Francisco. Joe Garofoli, Shira Stein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Nolan D. Mccaskill, Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ Natalie Andrews in the Wall Street Journal$ Marianna Sotomayor and Paul Kane in the Washington Post$ Carl Hulse in the New York Times$ Lisa Mascaro Associated Press -- 11/17/22

Republican control of the House could deepen America’s red-blue divide -- Divided government in Washington will push even more of the nation’s fiercest political fights to the states. Noah Bierman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/22

Once a ‘Young Gun,’ McCarthy weathered threats from right on potential path to speaker -- McCarthy, 57, ended up on the path to claim the position he has long sought only after pledging fealty to former president Donald Trump and his party’s right-wing base. After winning a contentious internal party vote for speaker on Tuesday, he’ll have to work again to appease that right flank in order to win a House vote in January. Michael Kranish in the Washington Post$ -- 11/17/22

Skelton: Column: Being mayor is different from being a legislator. But Bass has shined in every political job -- Bass is the type of leader who gets things done with a smile rather than a sneer or a threatening stare. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/22

Smith: Representation matters. But a Mayor Karen Bass means more for Black women in L.A. -- As Black women, we’re disproportionately poor, disproportionately unhoused, disproportionately underemployed, disproportionately the victims of crimes, disproportionately overpoliced, disproportionately lacking access to healthcare. Representation matters. Erika D. Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/22

How California could count every vote faster -- California has expanded voting access and participation, but that can delay election results. Are there ways to count votes faster without undermining election security? Alexei Koseff, Sameea Kamal CalMatters -- 11/17/22

Budget whiplash: California faces $25 billion deficit -- The projection marks a stunning reversal from back-to-back years of unprecedented prosperity: The budget for California’s current fiscal year clocked in at a whopping $308 billion, fueled by a record $97 billion surplus that was by itself enough to treat every state resident to a $7,500 vacation. The year before, Newsom and lawmakers approved what was at the time a record-busting $263 billion budget that included a $76 billion surplus. Emily Hoeven CalMatters -- 11/17/22

Workplace   

Cisco employment cuts: San Jose tech titan may chop 4,000 jobs in “rebalance” -- Cisco began filling in employees Thursday about how they will be affected by the San Jose tech stalwart’s restructuring that’s poised to eliminate thousands of jobs worldwide, in a new setback for Silicon Valley. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/17/22

Tech layoffs signal slowing economy but not yet a recession -- Tech company layoffs are not expected to prompt a tsunami of job losses in other industries, but they are another sign of a cooling economy more broadly, economists say. Lauren Kaori Gurley in the Washington Post$ -- 11/17/22

Female sheriff’s deputy sues San Mateo County claiming ‘sexist’ and hostile workplace -- Carryn Barker alleges in lawsuit she suffered sexual harassment, hostility from male supervisors and was deprived of advancement because of her gender. Robert Salonga in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/17/22

Education  

Good times to end; funding for TK-12, community colleges to drop next year, LAO predicts -- After years of record-high education funding, California is now projecting a $2.6 billion deficit for schools and community colleges starting in July. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 11/17/22

Water  

Facing Colorado River shortage, 30 urban suppliers pledge to target decorative grass -- Water agencies that supply cities along the Colorado River are pledging to boost conservation and target ‘nonfunctional’ grass to address the water shortage. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/22

Capitol Riot  

Citing lack of remorse in Jan. 6 insurrection, feds seek prison time for California man -- Tommy Frederick Allan climbed up a rope hanging from the side of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, then went through a fire door that had been broken open by rioters and made his way inside the building. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/22

Meta  

Meta Employees, Security Guards Fired for Hijacking User Accounts -- Meta Platforms Inc. has fired or disciplined more than two dozen employees and contractors over the last year whom it accused of improperly taking over user accounts, in some cases allegedly for bribes, according to people familiar with the matter and documents viewed by The Wall Street Journal. Kirsten Grind and Robert McMillan in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/17/22

COVID  

California COVID-19 numbers spiking at rate similar to summer surge, latest data show -- Coronavirus infections and hospitalizations have climbed quickly in California in recent weeks, likely fueled at least in part by new, contagious COVID-19 subvariants overtaking older strains, as well the arrival of colder weather. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/22

Street  

L.A. COVID swindlers living European life of luxury extradited from Montenegro -- Husband and wife swindlers from L.A. are extradited from Montenegro after months of lavish spending under fake names in a scenic Mediterranean resort town. Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/22

Escorts, kickbacks and a Tesla: New details in scandal and fraud at Tom Girardi’s law firm -- A filing in federal court in Maryland on Wednesday offered new details about how Tom Girardi’s chief financial officer conducted what prosecutors have called a “side fraud” inside the massive corruption at the legal titan’s Los Angeles-based firm. Matt Hamilton, Harriet Ryan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/22

A morning run by 75 recruits turns into horror: ‘It looked like an airplane wreck’ -- Five L.A. County sheriff’s recruits were critically injured when a man plowed into a large group during a training run in South Whittier. Brittny Mejia, Richard Winton, Nathan Solis, Noah Goldberg, Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/22

Climate  

Slashing greenhouse gases: California revises climate change strategy -- The California Air Resources Board on Wednesday unveiled a new version of its highly-anticipated strategy for battling climate change, setting more ambitious targets for cutting greenhouse gases and scaling up controversial projects that capture carbon. Nadia Lopez CalMatters -- 11/17/22

Environment  

‘Momentous:’ Feds advance largest dam demo in US history -- U.S. regulators approved a plan Thursday to demolish four dams on a California river and open up hundreds of miles of salmon habitat that would be the largest dam removal and river restoration project in the world when it goes forward. Gillian Flaccus Associated Press Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/22

California Plant Rescue: The race to save precious wild seeds and sprouts -- A modern-day Noah’s ark, it fights the permanent loss of rich, unique and irreplaceable species. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/17/22

SFO    

The Best and Worst Airports of 2022 -- The one-two punch of more reliable flights and top-notch amenities vaulted the airport to first place in The Wall Street Journal’s first ranking of the country’s busiest airports since 2019. Atlanta and Minneapolis filled out the top three. Dawn Gilbertson in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/17/22

Also . . .   

Are California’s Hispanic Serving Institutions living up to their name? -- California has the most Hispanic Serving Institutions among its colleges of any state — 174, including 21 of 23 California State University campuses and five of the nine University of California campuses. But how well are HSIs — where almost 90% of the state’s Latino undergraduates are enrolled — actually serving Latino students? It’s a mixed bag, students and advocates say. Megan Tagami, Matthew Reagan CalMatters -- 11/17/22

California Policy and Politics Thursday  

‘Threat of a recession’: California will see a $25 billion budget deficit in 2023, forecast predicts -- California will see a $25 billion deficit next year, the California Legislature’s top fiscal analyst announced Wednesday, a dramatic change after the state budgeted for a nearly $100 billion surplus this year. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ Maggie Angst, Lindsey Holden in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/22

Karen Bass elected mayor, becoming first woman to lead L.A. -- Rep. Karen Bass has defeated businessman Rick Caruso in the Los Angeles mayor’s race, according to an Associated Press projection Wednesday, making her the first woman and second Black Angeleno elected to lead the city in its 241-year history. Julia Wick in the Los Angeles Times$ Alexander Nieves, Lara Korte Politico Michael R. Blood Associated Press Reis Thebault in the Washington Post$ Shawn Hubler in the New York Times$ -- 11/17/22

Will Pelosi Stay or Will She Go? Perhaps a Little Bit of Both -- As Democrats celebrate a stronger-than-expected performance in the midterm elections, a consequential question is hanging over the party: What will become of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the party’s long-serving House leader and the first woman to hold the post? Annie Karni in the New York Times$ Sarah Ferris, Nicholas Wu Politico -- 11/17/22

Pelosi to announce ‘future plans’ after GOP wins House -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to address her plans with colleagues on Thursday in the wake of Democrats narrowly losing control of the House to Republicans in the midterm elections. Lisa Mascaro Associated Press -- 11/17/22

Why the third in line to presidency post won’t go to Sen. Dianne Feinstein -- When senators likely elect Washington Sen. Patty Murray to become third in line to the presidency early next year, they’ll be bucking tradition slightly. The position will become vacant once Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, leaves office in January. Shira Stein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/22

Schiff passes on Dem leadership bid as Pelosi’s future stays murky -- Adam Schiff has decided not to seek a top House Democratic leadership post in the next Congress and is instead turning his focus to a potential Senate run, according to multiple people familiar with his decision. Sarah Ferris, Nicholas Wu Politico -- 11/17/22

GOP Rep. Mike Garcia wins northern L.A. County race, giving Republicans control of the House -- Republican Rep. Mike Garcia has won reelection to his northern Los Angeles County seat, dashing Democrats’ hopes they could reclaim a district where they had a sizable registration advantage. His win pushed Republicans to the majority in the next Congress. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ Olga Grigoryants in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 11/17/22

Democratic Rep. Mike Levin holds on to his coastal Southern California district seat -- Levin beat Brian Maryott, a Republican businessman and former San Juan Capistrano mayor, in a rematch of the 2020 contest. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/22

John Duarte takes slim lead over Adam Gray in House race, latest Valley ballot counts show -- Republican contender John Duarte, a farmer and businessman from Hughson, regained a slim advantage Wednesday night over longtime Assemblymember Adam Gray, D-Merced, with the latest returns. Tim Sheehan in the Fresno Bee -- 11/17/22

Oakland mayor: Loren Taylor, Sheng Thao remain locked in tight race -- The race to be the city’s next mayor is still far too close to call, but new results Wednesday gave City Councilwoman Sheng Thao more reason for optimism, though Councilman Loren Taylor continues to hold a small lead. Shomik Mukherjee in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/17/22

Mahan declares victory in San Jose mayor’s race after Chavez calls to concede -- Matt Mahan, the rookie city councilman backed by the incumbent mayor, declared victory on Wednesday after his challenger and longtime labor-backed South Bay politician Cindy Chavez called to concede the tight race. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/17/22

Nearly all Santa Clara County ballots recovered near a highway will count toward official results -- Nearly all of the Santa Clara County ballots recovered near a highway this week after they were reported missing will be included in the county’s election results, officials said Wednesday. Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/22

‘Bro, read the room.’ California politicians largely negative about Trump running for president -- Former President Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to run for president again in 2024 was met with mixed, but largely negative, reactions among California politicos. Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/22

Why California has so many votes left to count -- California has 21 million registered voters, more than any other state, and one of the nation’s most expansive vote-by-mail policies. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 8.8 million ballots had been processed in California — more than have been counted in either Texas or Florida, the nation’s second- and third-most populous states. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 11/17/22

Gas  

California gas prices are dropping. Here’s how low they could get -- Gas prices in the Bay Area and California have dropped about 70 cents since last month, and experts say prices could continue to fall over the Thanksgiving holiday — and possibly through the end of the year. Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/22

Workplace   

Cisco eyes restructuring, job cuts, severances, real estate trims, San Jose tech giant says -- Cisco, a San Jose tech stalwart, revealed Wednesday it is eyeing terminations and severances to help “rebalance” its workforce, a potentially wrenching plan that includes shedding real estate. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/17/22

Hollowed-out office spaces could hit S.F.’s city budget hard — here’s how bad it could get -- The hollowed-out offices of downtown San Francisco’s skyscrapers might cost the city as much as almost $200 million in annual lost property taxes in the coming years, according to a new estimate. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/22

Education Workplace   

UC says strikers’ demand to tie pay to housing costs could have ‘overwhelming’ cost impacts -- Pay and housing demands by University of California academic workers — who launched a massive strike across the system this week — could amount to several hundred million dollars annually, an “overwhelming” financial impact, a UC senior leader says. Teresa Watanabe, Grace Toohey, Summer Lin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/22

Twitter Workplace   

Elon Musk attempts ‘hardcore’ culture reset at Twitter. Will employees buy in? -- Twitter boss Elon Musk issued a staffwide ultimatum Tuesday evening: Either commit to the new “hardcore culture” of Twitter 2.0 or leave with three months’ severance. Employees have until 5 p.m. Eastern time Thursday to opt in or out, according to an email Musk sent to staff as first reported by the Washington Post. Jaimie Ding in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/22

Staying Afloat  

California issues $5 billion in inflation relief money so far. These groups are still waiting -- In a little over a month, California has rolled out more than $5 billion in inflation relief money to eligible taxpayers expecting either direct deposits or debit cards of up to $1,050. Brianna Taylor in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/22

Homeless

Sacramento backs off planned homeless sweep after appeals at City Council meeting -- City of Sacramento officials have decided not to clear a tight-knit North Sacramento homeless encampment — for now. Theresa Clift in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/22

Sacramento County commits to building its biggest-ever homeless shelter -- Sacramento County will spend at least $40 million in federal dollars to open a homeless shelter in North Highlands for 250 people — set to be the largest it has ever opened. Theresa Clift, Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/22

Newsom asked cities to set targets for reducing homelessness. Sacramento’s goal? A 71% spike -- So while reviewing local plans for action in recent weeks, he said he was dumbfounded by one region’s official goal: to keep the growth of its unsheltered homeless population from rising by more than 71%. Maggie Angst in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/17/22

Data shows one promising sign that San Francisco's homelessness crisis is improving -- More San Franciscans have exited homelessness through city programs so far in 2022 than any other year since 2018, the latest data from the city’s supportive housing department shows. Adriana Rezal in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/22

Water  

Los Angeles DWP to end water and power shutoffs for low-income customers who can’t pay -- The DWP will halt the practice of shutoffs as a debt collection tool for residents enrolled in its EZ-SAVE program and its Senior Citizen Lifeline Discount Program, officials said. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/17/22

COVID  

COVID, flu and RSV spikes are straining Bay Area hospitals — and it’s hitting ‘our youngest children’ -- Bay Area health officials on Wednesday said a substantial increase in flu activity and other respiratory viruses since the start of the month has led to a spike in emergency department visits and is putting a strain on health systems across the region. Aidin Vaziri, Matt Kawahara in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/22

Education  

These East Bay community colleges are offering free tuition this spring -- Laney College in downtown Oakland, and its sister community colleges in the East Bay will waive tuition and fees again in the coming spring semester, continuing a program that began last year to ease the financial pressures on students after the COVID-19 lockdown. Sam Whiting in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/17/22

Tutoring can come in many forms — almost all of them good, panel says -- Tutoring can be in person or online, after school or during class, tailored to specific homework assignments or cover broad concepts. But no matter what form it takes, tutoring will be the most important factor in helping students catch up academically after the pandemic, a panel of experts told an EdSource roundtable on Wednesday. Carolyn Jones EdSource -- 11/17/22

Climate  

California unveils plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2045 -- By 2045, the plan envisions a thirty-fivefold increase in zero-emission vehicles and four times the amount of power generation from wind and solar energy — an increase that would avoid the need for new natural gas-burning power plants, officials say. Tony Briscoe in the Los Angeles Times$ Nadia Lopez CalMatters -- 11/17/22