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A Snapshot of California Public Policy and Politics
   
 
 
 

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California Policy and Politics Friday

‘Paper or plastic?’ will no longer be a choice at California grocery stores -- Lawmakers passed two identical laws to close a loophole that allowed stores to offer ‘reusable’ plastic bags at checkout despite 2014 legislation meant to ban plastic bags. Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

S.F. mayor seeks new laws against 'dangerous' sideshows -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Friday announced plans to introduce legislation that would make it a crime for people to plan and participate in sideshows, even if they’re not the ones behind the wheel. Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/30/24

California lawmakers pass bill allowing Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes -- Under a bill approved by the state Legislature Wednesday, Californians may soon be able to walk into a dispensary, light a cannabis pre-roll and order a side of fries or a sandwich to enjoy with it. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Newsom energy plan sparks tug of war with lawmakers in final hours of legislative session -- Amid tense, closed-door negotiations, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers have released a suite of seven bills that aim to reduce Californians’ soaring energy costs — including a controversial electricity affordability plan that critics say was substantially weakened by lobbying from utilities and will offer little real relief. Hayley Smith and Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

A stunt or first step? Inside California’s last-minute effort to cut electric bills and streamline clean energy -- Consumers would get a small credit on electric bills if the legislation passes. Solar companies say the energy measures might not be effective in streamlining projects. Alejandro Lazo, Julie Cart and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde CalMatters -- 8/30/24

Gavin Newsom is generating heat for Kamala Harris on gas prices -- Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to do something about California’s high gas prices — and the state’s Republicans want to make sure the rest of the country knows about it. Wes Venteicher and Debra Kahn Politico -- 8/30/24

California to pay $350K to settle case accusing Treasurer Fiona Ma of sexual harassment -- A lawyer for the state signed off on the agreement Thursday, according to a copy provided by the California Department of Justice. The trial in the case was delayed several times but was scheduled to begin early next month. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/30/24

California Legislature approves insurance for infertility amid concerns about the future of IVF -- California lawmakers sent a bill to Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday that would expand healthcare coverage to include in vitro fertilization amid concerns that a potential Trump presidency could threaten access to reproductive healthcare. Mackenzie Mays in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

AI safety bill passes California Legislature -- A controversial bill that would require developers of advanced AI models to adopt safety measures is one step closer to becoming law. Wendy Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Health insurers hit with California’s largest-ever penalty over gender-affirming care denials -- A major California health insurer must hire a dedicated case manager for people diagnosed with gender dysphoria after state regulators found it improperly denied coverage to some patients. Shaanth Nanguneri CalMatters -- 8/30/24

Will a Vietnamese American candidate help Democrats win a congressional seat in Little Saigon? -- Derek Tran, a Democrat and Vietnamese American, is hoping to unseat Republican Rep. Michelle Steel to represent California’s 45th Congressional District. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Los Angeles to get $21.8 million in federal money to help shelter migrants -- City officials, with support from the county, had applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to shelter newly arrived migrants who have struggled to find housing after arriving in Los Angeles. Paloma Esquivel in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Walters: In Los Angeles County and San Francisco, government reform is on the ballot -- In long-term impact, the most significant measure on California’s Nov. 5 ballot may be one that, if passed, would overhaul governance in Los Angeles County, home to a quarter of the state’s nearly 40 million residents. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 8/30/24

Reparations

Los Angeles unveils reparations report on Black residents’ experiences since 1925 -- The city-sponsored report documents the impacts of decades of discrimination against Black Angelenos, with an eye toward reparations. Jasmine Mendez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Cannabis

California’s legal weed system is broken, while Michigan’s is thriving. What gives? -- A comparison of Michigan and California shows how one state can have a booming cannabis economy while another’s still feels like a pipe dream. Connor Sheets in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Bird Flu

H5N1 Bird flu infections suspected in California dairy herds -- Should tests confirm the presence of the virus, health officials said “it is important to note that pasteurization is fully effective at inactivating the virus and there is no milk or dairy product safety concern for consumers.” Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Rocketdyne

Toxic chemicals found in soil and groundwater near former Rocketdyne site in Canoga Park -- The report, delivered on behalf of RTX Corp. to the California State Water Resources Control Board in June, detailed soil vapor and groundwater inspections at seven locations near the now vacant lot that was once home to the Rocketdyne testing and development site. It is adjacent to the Westfield Topanga mall. Terry Castleman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Chiquita Canyon

Regulators say Chiquita Canyon has made ‘no meaningful improvement’ to odors -- Chiquita Canyon landfill is operating under ‘crisis-like conditions’ according to an attorney for the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Tony Briscoe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Recycle

To boost recycling, California will fund 250 new types of recycling sites for beverage containers -- CalRecycle awarded nearly $70 million in grants for 37 projects involving new recycling methods, such as reverse vending machines, mobile recycling centers and bag-drop sites. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Education

Two guns found at LAUSD high schools, bringing total to four in the first month -- Two Los Angeles Unified high school students were reportedly found carrying guns in their backpacks on campuses this week, bringing the number of firearms found at L.A. schools to four since the start of the academic year on Aug. 12. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Students kick off fall semester with protests that adhere to UC/CSU zero-tolerance bans -- Student protesters at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State stayed in line with regulations being enforced at California’s public universities this school year, but made it clear they intend to keep their concerns about the war in Gaza front and center. Hannah Wiley, Teresa Watanabe and Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

California may ban legacy admissions at colleges. The end of affirmative action is a reason why -- Lawmakers want to ban legacy admissions at California private colleges, even though few colleges admit students that way. Bill backers say the bill will signal to students that college is for them in the aftermath of the national ban on affirmative action. Mikhail Zinshteyn CalMatters -- 8/30/24

Stanford creative writing layoff ‘scandal’ ignites backlash among authors and students -- Stanford University’s announcement that 23 creative writing instructors will be pushed out of their jobs and replaced has set off a national backlash in the literary community and among students in the program. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/30/24

Lead

Oakland Schools Official Calls for State, Federal Help After Lead Contamination Findings -- At a contentious Oakland school board meeting where officials gave an update on elevated lead levels found in water at nearly two dozen campuses, district leaders called for state and federal help to address aging infrastructure and criticized communication lapses. Katie DeBenedetti KQED -- 8/30/24

Street

California finally begins to detail why it is booting some police officers out of the profession -- One officer groped a sleeping woman while off duty. Another was accused of taking advantage of a domestic violence victim he met while on duty. Sophia Bollag, Demian Bulwa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/30/24

Nighttime raiders of dispensaries across California are nabbed in operation ‘Sticky Fingers’ -- Dubbed operation “Sticky Fingers,” a multi-agency investigation resulted in the arrest of 22 suspects alleged to have burglarized more than a dozen cannabis dispensaries in California. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Shakedown or ‘cheap spy novel’: What did L.A. investigators do for a Chinese millionaire? -- Federal prosecutors say former L.A. County Sheriff’s employees helped a woman in China extort her former business partner for $100 million in disputed shares. Matthew Ormseth, Brittny Mejia and Keri Blakinger in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Top of the Ticket

7 Takeaways From Harris’s First Major Interview -- Kamala Harris showed her tendency toward winding answers in the CNN interview, but said nothing likely to cause her serious political trouble. Reid J. Epstein Politico -- 8/30/24

Harris Says She Has ‘No Regrets’ About Defending Biden’s Capabilities -- Vice President Kamala Harris spoke fondly of the president, but made clear that he no longer represents the future of the country. Michael D. Shear in the New York Times$ -- 8/30/24

Garofoli: Kamala Harris kept repeating one key phrase in CNN interview. Will voters buy it? -- Harris didn’t channel any deities on CNN Thursday, but how undecided voters grade her performance will depend on how they interpret this phrase she dropped a couple of times when confronted with her flip-flops: “My values haven’t changed.” Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/30/24

How Biden’s Senate Allies Helped Push Him From the Race -- The president’s allies in the chamber he so revered feared he would drag them down and spoil his own legacy, and played a more assertive role than was previously known in his stepping aside. Carl Hulse in the New York Times$ -- 8/30/24

With Court Victories, Conservatives Push Back on Biden Policies -- Legal challenges have blocked many of the policies that President Biden saw as critical to his legacy, on issues like immigration and student loans. Hamed Aleaziz and Michael D. Shear in the New York Times$ -- 8/30/24

Harris says she will put a Republican in her Cabinet if elected -- In first major interview since Biden’s withdrawal, Harris calls Trump’s attack on her identity the “same old tired playbook.” Matt Viser and Cleve R. Wootson Jr. in the Washington Post$ -- 8/30/24

Donors Quietly Push Harris to Drop Tax on Ultrawealthy -- Vice President Kamala Harris’s fund-raising has benefited from a surge of interest from Silicon Valley and Wall Street. Andrew Duehren and Theodore Schleifer in the New York Times$ -- 8/30/24

Trump

‘Political poison’: How Trump’s tariffs could raise gasoline prices -- Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s promised tariff on imports could hit U.S. voters where it hurts — their gas tanks. Ben Lefebvre Politico -- 8/30/24

‘Trump’s got it made’: To the MAGA faithful, polls are wrong and he can only win -- Inside a hulking steel warehouse where Donald Trump rallied his supporters on Thursday, the former president’s backers sweltered in the heat — and gave no oxygen, either, to the idea that their candidate arrived in this battleground state weakened by Kamala Harris’ ascent. Adam Wren Politico -- 8/30/24

Trump again asks N.Y. federal court to take over hush money case -- Trump attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove argued that the former president is being harmed by actions taken by the state court judge overseeing the N.Y. case. Shayna Jacobs in the Washington Post$ -- 8/30/24

Trump Team Tries to Clarify Remarks on Florida Abortion Rights Measure -- After Donald J. Trump suggested that he might support a ballot measure to expand abortion rights, his campaign sought to make clear that he “has not yet said how he will vote.” Patricia Mazzei in the New York Times$ Arek Sarkissian and Kierra Frazier Politico -- 8/30/24

Trump proposes covering IVF costs with few details, drawing skepticism -- Republicans have struggled to navigate the politics of reproductive issues since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The announcement appeared aimed at addressing some of those political challenges. Maeve Reston and Sabrina Malhi in the Washington Post$ Neil Vigdor and Michael Gold in the New York Times$ -- 8/30/24

Barabak: Trump asks why Harris hasn’t done all she’s promised. The answer: Because she’s VICE president -- He’s called her Laffin’ Kamala and Lyin’ Kamala. Crazy Kamala and Comrade Kamala. He’s described the vice president as lazy, dumb and antisemitic. (Even though her husband is Jewish, so maybe Donald Trump should throw in masochistic as well?) Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/30/24

Legendary pop group ABBA wants to be taken off Trump’s rally playlist -- The Swedish band joins a long list of artists that have protested the former president’s use of their music. Praveena Somasundaram in the Washington Post$ -- 8/30/24

RFK Jr. is stuck on 3 swing-state ballots. That’s a headache for Trump -- North Carolina joins Michigan and Wisconsin in saying they can’t remove Kennedy’s name — and thickening the 2024 plot. Aaron Blake in the Washington Post$ -- 8/30/24

Vance

Vance defends telling Harris to ‘go to hell’ for nonexistent cemetery criticism -- The GOP vice-presidential candidate said an Arlington cemetery worker pushed aside by a Trump aide does not deserve an apology. Meryl Kornfield in the Washington Post$ -- 8/30/24

Walz

Walz says his military record ‘speaks for itself’ in CNN interview -- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz shrugged off an accusation that he misstated his military record when asked about it alongside Vice President Kamala Harris in the first major sit-down interview of their campaign for the White House. Kierra Frazier Politico -- 8/30/24

Also

Elon Musk to shut down X’s San Francisco headquarters on Friday the 13th -- Employees stationed at the San Francisco location will be relocated to new offices in San Jose or Palo Alto. The headquarters are expected to move to Austin, aligning with Musk’s other ventures like Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company. Aidin Vaziri, Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/30/24

 

California Policy and Politics Thursday

California Bill to Regulate Catastrophic Effects of AI Heads to Newsom's Desk -- A bill that would mandate safety testing for companies that develop the largest generative AI models has passed the state assembly, by 41-9. Governor Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto it. Rachael Myrow KQED Khari Johnson CalMatters Cecilia Kang in the New York Times$ Gerrit De Vynck and Cat Zakrzewski in the Washington Post$ Nicole Nixon in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/29/24

Newsom threatens to call another special session on oil regulation -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ultimatum is intended to counter the pressure oil interests are putting on lawmakers to reject his proposal that could require petroleum refiners to maintain a stable inventory. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/29/24

Gavin Newsom to decide if California should help undocumented immigrants buy homes -- California lawmakers passed a first-in-the-nation bill on Wednesday that would allow certain undocumented immigrants to use a state program that provides up to $150,000 in low-cost loans for first-time homebuyers. Eric He Politico -- 8/29/24

California lawmakers pass protections for pregnant women in prisons and ban on legacy admissions -- California could expand protections for pregnant people who are incarcerated, ban legacy admissions at private colleges and set new requirements for colleges to address gender discrimination on campuses under proposals passed by state lawmakers Tuesday. Sophie Austin Associated Press -- 8/29/24

With support from Paris Hilton, California lawmakers pass bill to protect teens in treatment programs -- California lawmakers on Wednesday passed bipartisan legislation to enact stricter public oversight on the use of seclusion or restraints on children and teenagers in residential treatment facilities, protections advocated by celebrity hotel heir Paris Hilton. Anabel Sosa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/28/24

From inmate release to immigrant home-buying aid, California bills spur end-of-session fireworks -- Some Democrats are pushing bills that could put their colleagues on the hot seat in an election year. The authors say they’re representing their constituents and there’s never a perfect time for votes. Sameea Kamal CalMatters -- 8/29/24

S.F. crime is down. But public safety worries still define the mayor’s race -- Andy “Chino” Yang doesn't care that statistics show crime is down in San Francisco: His Chinese restaurant near Alamo Square was recently broken into for the ninth time in four years. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/29/24

‘White supremacy, patriarchy and colonialism:’ Behind S.F.’s $3 million plan to cull its monuments -- San Francisco is about to embark on evaluating its nearly 100 statues and monuments to figure out which ones no longer represent the city’s values and should be removed from view, relocated or re-interpreted with explanatory plaques. Sam Whiting in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/29/24

How California Became a New Center of Political Corruption -- Across the state, local politicians engaged in what authorities called an “extraordinary” wave of corruption, unable to resist favors and bribes from land developers. Ralph Vartabedian in the New York Times$ -- 8/29/24

While an Orange County supervisor was under scrutiny, his daughter interned with county prosecutors -- Within weeks of it being revealed that Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do had directed millions of dollars in contracts to a nonprofit without disclosing a link to his daughter — a scandal that sparked a lawsuit and a possible federal probe — his daughter began working as an intern for the county’s top prosecutor. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/29/24

Workplace

Weeks after California’s indoor heat standards took effect, workers still swelter -- But more than four weeks after the regulations took effect, interviews with workers and union leaders indicate compliance varies by industry and workplace. Rebecca Plevin and Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/29/24

SAG-AFTRA celebrates passage of California AI bill regulating use of digital replicas -- Performers union SAG-AFTRA is celebrating a key victory this week: the passage of a bill that would regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the local entertainment industry. Christi Carras in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/29/24

1 in 6 CHP jobs are vacant — despite historic raises and Newsom’s hiring campaign -- California Highway Patrol officers received historically high raises in 2022 and 2023, but it continues to face a high vacancy rate of 16%. Nigel Duara CalMatters -- 8/29/24

Walters: California’s fast food workers got a $20 minimum wage, but is it working? It’s debatable -- Every session of the California Legislature seems to produce at least one bill that generates high-octane political debate and media attention. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 8/29/24

Insurance

Allstate to raise California home insurance rates by 34% on average. Map details hikes up to 650% -- Allstate has been approved for the largest rate increase in California of any major insurer in the past three years. Megan Fan Munce in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/29/24

Wildfire

Could crowded Tahoe evacuate fast enough from an inferno? New study presents dire scenarios -- But a new independent analysis, employing artificial intelligence and a consulting agency specializing in fire emergencies, estimates that it could take nine to 14 hours — or more — to clear the tourist-laden area, as drivers gather on roads that may be jammed or closed. Matthias Gafni in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/29/24

Homeless

Santa Monica to consider revising homeless ban to prohibit pillows and blankets outdoors -- Homeless people in Santa Monica may soon be prohibited from sleeping outdoors as the city considers changing its anti-camping ordinance to comply with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the contentious topic. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/29/24

Burbank police chief says forget that video: Officers didn’t ‘dump’ homeless man in L.A. -- In June, Burbank police officers were accused of ‘homeless dumping’ a man outside Paul Krekorian’s office in North Hollywood. But the Burbank police chief said they did nothing wrong. Jack Flemming in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/29/24

Homelessness in this part of San Francisco is soaring. What’s at play? -- Briseno, who sleeps most nights in a friend’s tent or RV, is one of more than 1,000 unhoused people estimated to be living without shelter in San Francisco’s District 10, which includes the neighborhoods of Bayview-Hunters Point, Potrero Hill and Dogpatch on the southeastern edge of the city. Maggie Angst in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/29/24

Education

California passes school cellphone restrictions. But some students find workarounds -- At Dymally High School in South Los Angeles, test scores are slightly up, fights are down and teachers can better focus on instruction — and Principal Darvina Bradley credits her campus cellphone ban. Veronica Roseborough in the Los Angeles Times$ Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/29/24

More than 1 in 10 students say they know of peers who created deepfake nudes, report says -- When news broke that AI-generated nude pictures of students were popping up at a Beverly Hills Middle School in February, many district officials and parents were horrified. Jon Healey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/29/24

UC Berkeley’s new chancellor tackles financial, political tumult at flagship campus -- “Why would anybody not want to do this?” asks Richard Lyons, the university’s 12th chief, in his first Chronicle interview. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/29/24

SF State drops investments in arms makers in deal with pro-Palestinian students -- San Francisco State has pulled investments from three companies it says don’t meet its human rights standards following pressure from pro-Palestinian student activists. Amy DiPierro EdSource -- 8/29/24

Environment

L.A. mayor demands more testing after lead is found in Watts drinking water -- Lead was found in tap water samples from private homes and public housing units in Watts. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass calls for more testing. Tony Briscoe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/29/24

1/6/21

House G.O.P. Releases Jan. 6 Videos of Pelosi, Seeking to Shift Blame From Trump -- House Republicans on Wednesday made their latest attempt to rewrite the history of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, releasing a video compilation that sought to shift blame away from former President Donald J. Trump and onto former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was pursued that day by a violent mob of Trump supporters. Luke Broadwater in the New York Times$ -- 8/29/24

Top of the Ticket

    Trump Reposts Crude Sexual Remark About Harris on Truth Social -- Former President Donald J. Trump used his social-media website on Wednesday to amplify a crude remark about Vice President Kamala Harris that suggested Ms. Harris traded sexual favors to help her political career. The post, by another user on Truth Social, was an image of Ms. Harris and Hillary Clinton, Mr. Trump’s opponent in 2016. The text read: “Funny how blowjobs impacted both their careers differently…” Michael Gold in the New York Times$ -- 8/29/24

How a Trump visit sparked turmoil at America’s most sacred cemetery -- Army officials hoped clear rules would avoid a damaging public spat with Trump. He gave them one anyway. Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey and Dan Lamothe in the Washington Post$ -- 8/29/24

Trump Videos at Arlington Stir More Fallout After Gravesite Visit -- The family of a Green Beret buried there expressed concern about videos and photos taken by his grave. And a cemetery employee declined to press charges after an altercation with the Trump team, fearing retribution. Chris Cameron, Maggie Haberman and Eric Schmitt in the New York Times$ -- 8/29/24

Looming court deadlines and hearings threaten to snag Trump’s sprint to November -- Trump may not be going to trial again this year — but that doesn’t mean his legal troubles won’t interfere with the campaign. Kyle Cheney and Erica Orden Politico -- 8/28/24

Litman: Lock him up? Donald Trump’s crimes present a challenge for Kamala Harris’ campaign -- The vice president and longtime California prosecutor had a carefully institutionalist answer to Democrats chanting for her opponent’s incarceration. Harry Litman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/29/24

‘Jesus doesn’t pick kings’: California Christian leaders sound alarm over Trump voting comments -- Christian leaders in California called former President Donald Trump’s claim invoking Jesus Christ in his electoral aspirations “ridiculous” and “appalling.” Molly Burke in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/29/24

Trump Sees a World on Fire, and Says He Knows Who’s to Blame -- Former President Donald J. Trump blames President Biden for crises around the globe. But the reality is that presidents inherit a world already hurtling through history. David E. Sanger in the New York Times$ -- 8/29/24

Trump claims Zuckerberg plotted against him during the 2020 election in soon-to-be released book -- Former President Donald Trump writes in a new book set to be published next week that Mark Zuckerberg plotted against him during the 2020 election and said the Meta chief executive would “spend the rest of his life in prison” if he did it again. Alex Isenstadt Politico -- 8/29/24

24 hours of Trump: QAnon tributes, crude attacks and hawking pieces of his suit -- With fewer than 70 days until the election, Trump is zigging and zagging with an arsenal of unfocused broadsides and peripheral pursuits. Hannah Knowles in the Washington Post$ -- 8/29/24

Why It Will Be Harder for Trump to Challenge This Year’s Election -- New laws and court rulings have created a range of guardrails against efforts to delay or interfere with the electoral process. Richard L. Hasen in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 8/29/24

Vance

Dispute Grows Over Trump’s Arlington Cemetery Visit as Vance Says Harris Can ‘Go to Hell’ -- Former President Donald Trump’s honoring of fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery sparked a controversy after an apparent altercation between campaign and cemetery staff over access for a photographer during the visit. Now the ordeal has become fodder on the campaign trail. Natalie Andrews and Nancy A. Youssef in the Wall Street Journal$ Maegan Vazquez in the Washington Post$ -- 8/29/24

Vance repeats a bogus Trump claim on ‘factories’ debunked years ago -- The figure he cites doesn’t actually refer to factories. And Biden’s record on this front is better anyway. Glenn Kessler in the Washington Post$ -- 8/29/24

Harris

Harris gains on Trump in Sun Belt states where Biden struggled, Fox poll finds -- Kamala Harris is now in a tight race with Donald Trump in four Sun Belt states where President Joe Biden was struggling just before he dropped out of the race, according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday. Kierra Frazier Politico -- 8/29/24

Harris, Walz tour southern Georgia by bus, chasing rural votes in key state -- The tour is the Democratic campaign’s latest effort to compete in Georgia, which has become a critical battleground state. Toluse Olorunnipa and Cleve R. Wootson Jr. in the Washington Post$ -- 8/29/24

Harris Tours Georgia as Democrats See the State Fully in Play -- The vice president on Wednesday began a bus tour in the rural southeastern corner of the state, as her campaign focuses heavily on Georgia and North Carolina, another Sun Belt battleground. Nicholas Nehamas and Maya King in the New York Times$ -- 8/29/24

Inside Kamala Harris’s L.A. Life: SoulCycle, Hollywood Parties, Annoyed Neighbors -- Once an escape from Washington, Los Angeles is now giving the vice president access to powerful Hollywood neighbors and help in the race for the White House. Erich Schwartzel in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 8/29/24

Also

Arellano: A new era at California Endowment as longtime leader Robert K. Ross retires -- The fourth-floor office of California Endowment CEO Robert K. Ross offers an Instagram-worthy view of Union Station, Olvera Street, City Hall and Chinatown. But I found a far more interesting landscape Friday inside his corner suite. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/29/24

Can China Tech Find a Home in Silicon Valley? -- Entrepreneurs and venture capitalists are setting up firms across the Pacific, only to find that any investment with Chinese ties is a hard sell. Li Yuan in the New York Times$ -- 8/29/24

A California lake turned pink this week — in the name of science -- Stockton’s McLeod Lake turned pink this week, as scientists dumped dye in the hope of figuring out why there are toxic algal blooms some years but not others. Jack Flemming in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/29/24

Can dogs ‘talk’ to humans? A UC San Diego study offers an intriguing clue -- The university and its collaborators have been studying whether the animals can comprehend, and possibly share, certain words. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 8/29/24

Lopez: Langer’s closing? Mayor Bass comes for lunch and vows to “respond urgently” to neighborhood problems -- Norm Langer, owner of the iconic MacArthur Park deli with his name on the sign, got a phone call just after 8 a.m. Tuesday. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/29/24