CalGuard troops stuck in limbo as Trump seeks to weaponize them against other states
Chronicle, SOPHIA BOLLAG:"President Donald Trump is doubling down on his efforts to deploy the National Guard in American cities, even as California officials say his deployments are hurting troops’ morale and making it harder to respond to natural disasters.
During a last-minute hearing Sunday night in Portland, Ore., Deputy California Attorney General Jane Reilley said the federalization of California National Guard troops risks their morale and reputation."
Relief from ear-splitting commercials on streamers with new California law
LAT, KAREN GARCIA: "Streaming services are now required to turn the dial down on commercial advertisements that blare louder than providers’ content under legislation signed into law Monday by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The law was inspired by baby Samantha — whose dad is Zach Keller, legislative director for Tom Umberg, the state senator who authored the bill — as well as exhausted parents across the state who have “finally gotten a baby to sleep, only to have a blaring streaming ad undo all that hard work,” Umberg said in a statement."
CA SOS can advance voting rights with one simple move (OP-ED)
Capitol Weekly, JONATHAN MEHTA STEIN: "Six years ago, I was part of a team of legal advocates that sought to make translated voting materials more widely available to California’s immigrant voters. That effort failed on one central point, meaning that as ballots head to voters today for the November 4 special election, over 50,000 limited-English speaking voters will try to vote without access to translated ballot materials.
In the coming months, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber has the chance to remedy the situation. In a required guidance the Secretary will issue later this year, she can use her discretion to change a single definition and, in so doing, knock down barriers to the ballot for immigrant Californians."
Fire after fire, L.A. County keeps promising to fix failures but doesn’t deliver
LAT, JENNY JARVIE: "Agencies across Los Angeles County were “overwhelmed.”
The Emergency Operations Center was “largely ineffective” in maintaining situational awareness."
Regulators know PG&E, Edison are slow to hook up solar. Why are there no penalties?
CALMatters, MALENA CAROLLO: "The state’s two largest utilities routinely drag their feet connecting solar panels to the electric grid, missing state-mandated deadlines as much as 73% of the time, according to a complaint filed to regulators by solar advocates.
The complaint filed by a solar energy advocacy group urges the California Public Utilities Commission to hold utilities accountable when they fail to meet such deadlines. The commission is formally reviewing it."
LAT, CHRISTOPHER BUCHANAN: "The mayor of South Lake Tahoe confessed to stealing funds from a church and attempting to commit suicide because of her overwhelming guilt over the crime, according to a self-exposé she sent to a local newspaper.
In a tell-all letter addressed to the South Lake Tahoe community, Mayor Tamara Wallace confessed on Monday that she “took funds” from the city’s Presbyterian church after a prolonged “mental health crisis,” according to the letter published by the Tahoe Daily Tribune. While Wallace claimed that the theft was not discovered by church or legal authorities, she said the guilt caused her to attempt suicide and eventually come clean."
A huge $600-million casino — bigger than many Vegas rivals — is coming to California next month
LAT, SUHAUNA HUSSAIN: "A massive new tribal casino — big enough to rival the largest casinos in Las Vegas — is scheduled to open its doors next month in the Central Valley.
The Hard Rock Casino Tejon, which is set to open Nov. 13, will be the first full-scale casino in Kern County. The property is owned by the Tejon Indian Tribe and will be managed by Hard Rock International."
CA SOS can advance voting rights with one simple move (OP-ED)
Capitol Weekly, JONATHAN MEHTA STEIN: "Six years ago, I was part of a team of legal advocates that sought to make translated voting materials more widely available to California’s immigrant voters. That effort failed on one central point, meaning that as ballots head to voters today for the November 4 special election, over 50,000 limited-English speaking voters will try to vote without access to translated ballot materials.
In the coming months, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber has the chance to remedy the situation. In a required guidance the Secretary will issue later this year, she can use her discretion to change a single definition and, in so doing, knock down barriers to the ballot for immigrant Californians."
The Micheli Minute, October 6, 2025
Capitol Weekly, STAFF: "Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome."
Special Episode: Health Care – In terview with Dr. S. Monica Soni of Covered California
Capitol Weekly, STAFF: "In today’s episode we present the Keynote: A conversation between Dr. S. Monica Soni of Covered California and Capitol Weekly Editor Rich Ehisen.
California is reeling from devastating federal budget cuts to health care and social services while state leaders grapple with shortfalls in our own Budget. Whatever happens in DC and Sacramento, California’s health care system is poised to see major changes."
California’s nursing shortage is getting worse. Front-line workers blame management
Chronicle, ANGELA HART: "Califor nia like much of the nation, is not producing enough nurses working at bedsides to meet the needs of an aging and diverse population, fueling a workforce crunch that risks endangering quality patient care. Nearly 60% of California counties, stretching between the borders with Mexico and Oregon, face a nursing shortage, according to state data.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers have tried to bolster the state’s health care workforce, in part by implementing recommendations from the California Future Health Workforce Commission, a 24-member panel of state, labor, academic, and industry representatives. The state in recent years has expanded the scope of practice for nurse practitioners, allowing them to practice medicine — ordering tests and prescribing medication, for instance — without traditional doctor supervision, and has worked to expand academic nursing slots and training programs."
USC faculty members denounce Trump compact that would shift university to the right
LAT, DANIELLE MILLER: "During an impassioned USC Academic Senate meeting on Monday, faculty strongly denounced and rejected the Trump administration offer to give the university funding preference in exchange for abiding by conservative education goals.
In forceful speeches, University of Southern California department chairs, professors, researchers and others who attended the virtual meeting called the compact “egregiously invalid,” “probably unconstitutional,” “antithetical to principles of academic freedom” and “a Trojan horse.”"
A Bay Area startup sold a plastic recycling dream. Neighbors call it just another incinerator
CALMatters, ALEJANDRA REUYES=VELARDE: "The plan sounded like a magic bullet from the future to solve one of the world’s most vexing environmental waste problems.
In Rohnert Park, just north of San Francisco, a startup company called Resynergi planned to use a form of “advanced recycling” to reuse plastic. Its process would chemically transform old plastic, blasting bits of it with microwaves until they turned into an oil that could then be used to make new plastic."
California consumers get surprise sticker shock ordering imports online
CAROLINE PETROW-COHEN: "Every year, Ventura County resident Carlos Soto buys a Liverpool Football Club jersey for his son to celebrate the start of the soccer season. This year it was delivered with an additional bill of $107.
“The UPS guy said he couldn’t release it unless I paid more,” said Soto, who owns the Historia Bakery Cafe in Thousand Oaks. “Until this tariff thing started, I’ve never, ever had a bill on top of my purchase.”"
AI wealth has created a new dynamic in S.F. real estate: Not enough mansions
Chronicle, LAURA WAXMANN: "After just four days on the market, a 5,000-square-foot mansion in San Francisco’s ritzy Pacific Heights neighborhood went into contract to sell for roughly $9.4 million last month. It was nearly the same price the property fetched eight years ago. But, back in 2017, 112 days passed before an offer came in.
“It was a difficult house at the time,” said luxury broker Peter Rodway, senior partner at Neal Ward Properties, who worked to sell the 1994 Jackson St. home in 2017 and whose team also facilitated the current sale. “This time, buyers were just banging at the doors to get into it. An offer came in on the first day, at full price.”"
Can San Diego Airport’s new $3.8 billion terminal stem sliding tourism?
CALMatters, DEBORAH BRENNAN: "On the last day of summer, San Diego International Airport’s new Terminal 1 opened with an airy, white concourse, local eateries and new flight routes.
Passengers arriving on the first Southwest Airline flights on Monday, Sept. 22 deplaned to applause through balloon arches over the gates."