Republicans in California have had an unexpected shift on climate change, and now vow to push back against a Beltway hardline.
LA Times' CHRIS MEGERIAN: "California’s ambitious efforts to fight climate change have been almost exclusively supported by Democrats, but that could be changing."
"A top Republican and some of his colleagues are taking the unusual step of embracing the state’s complex system of regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pledging to work with Democrats at the same time President Trump rolls back national policies on global warming."
“Californians, whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, are different from the rest of the country,” said Assembly Minority Leader Chad Mayes, who represents parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. “What they’re doing back in Washington, D.C., is not what we’re going to be doing in California.”
READ MORE related to Environment: Pet ferrets still prohibited in California after Fish and Game panel denies petition -- Sacramento Bee's TARYN LUNA; Power industry consultant proposes dual design Oroville Dam spillway -- Chico ER's RISA JOHNSON; Experts review DWR secret memos -- Chico ER's DAN REIDEL
Sen. Josh Newman is having a hard-time with his constituents, some of whom want him ousted for his vote on Gov. Brown's road-repair tax.
Sacramento Bee's CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO: "Freshman Sen. Josh Newman, the subject of a recall effort following his vote for legislation raising fees and taxes by billions of dollars to pay for road repairs, says he should be allowed to remain in office in part to avoid a costly off-cycle election."
"Newman, a Fullerton Democrat whose upset win last fall gave Senate Democrats a two-thirds supermajority needed to raise taxes without Republican support, argues in his official response filed with the state this week that a recall would “waste millions of your tax dollars” by requiring the three Southern California counties covered by the 29th Senate District to hold unneeded special elections."
"Such a recall would “disrespect the will of voters by removing a hard-working, conscientious Senator we elected less than six months ago,” Newman wrote, adding that it would “inject even more politics and divisiveness into public life at a time when we desperately need leaders who will unite us while solving real problems."
READ MORE related to Local: LA City Council candidate slammed after online slurs insult black, transgender, obese people -- Daily News' ELIZABETH CHOU
BART dispatchers have painted a portrait of how Saturday's train mob robbery transpired.
The Chronicle's MICHAEL BODLEY: "The first warning sign of the 50-odd teenagers that hopped BART fare gates at Coliseum Station in Oakland Saturday before beating and robbing passengers of a car they commandeered came with a warning from a dispatcher."
“Be advised of three juveniles, nasty ones, over the fare gates at Coliseum,” the dispatcher said at 9:19 p.m., according to a recording of BART’s police radio channel provided by Broadcastify."
"The whole episode, in which dozens more teens followed the first trio over the gates and beat and robbed at least seven people, was over in less than five minutes, according to the transit agency."
READ MORE related to Transportation: BART seeks arrest warrants after identifying teens in mob robbery -- The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER; Uber has a 'competitive intelligence' team -- and it's not alone -- LA Times' STAFF
A miiltary commander informed Congress yesterday of North Korea's very real ICBM threat to the state of Hawaii.
Sacramento Bee's VERA BERGENGRUEN: "The Pentagon needs to consider deploying new anti-ballistic missile systems and a defensive radar to Hawaii to protect against a growing threat from North Korea, the top U.S. military officer in the Pacific told Congress on Wednesday."
“Kim Jong-Un is clearly in a position to threaten Hawaii today, in my opinion,” Adm. Harry Harris, the chief of U.S. Pacific Command, told the House Armed Services Committee. “I have suggested that we consider putting interceptors in Hawaii that . . . defend (it) directly, and that we look at a defensive Hawaii radar.”
"The U.S. currently has anti-missile interceptors at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and in Fort Greely, Alaska."
READ MORE related to Beltway: Think Trump didn't achieve much in his first 100 days? Think again. -- Sacramento Bee's LINDSAY WISE; Full Senate, in rare move, goes to White House grounds for classified North Korea briefing -- LA Times' WJ HENNIGAN/TRACY WILKINSON/MICHAEL A. MEMOLI; Trump says US will not withdraw from NAFTA -- AP
Wells Fargo has been hit in the gut publicly by another scandal: predatory practices that targeted undocumented immigrants for opening accounts.
The Chronicle's THOMAS LEE: "Wells Fargo branches across the country deliberately targeted “undocumented immigrants” to open savings and checking accounts in order to meet aggressive sales goals, according to court documents."
"In sworn declarations obtained by Burlingame plaintiff’s attorney Joseph Cotchett, former employees describe a scheme in which Spanish-speaking colleagues would visit places they knew were frequented by immigrants (including construction sites and a 7-Eleven), drive them to a branch and persuade them to open an account. Some employees would give the immigrants $10 apiece to start an account. The events described in the declaration go back a decade."
A broad overview of Trump's tax plans have been revealed: reduce the bracket number from 7 to 3.
The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH: "Putting the political dessert before the vegetables, the Trump administration Wednesday announced a plan for massive business and personal tax cuts, but provided only vague indications of how to pay for them."
"While Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin promised that the tax cut “will pay for itself with (economic) growth” and with the elimination of different deductions and closing loopholes, he declined to provide any numbers.
California's doctors are trying to diversify medical research.
Sacramento Bee's CLAUDIA BUCK: "Getting diagnosed with cancer was “horrific” enough. But discovering that very few African American women like herself were enrolled in clinical trials to find a cure? That was almost as distressing for Tammie Denyse, a longtime breast cancer survivor in Sacramento."
"After her Sutter Health oncologist offered her a slot in a clinical trial to test a new breast cancer drug treatment, the youth pastor carefully checked the study’s protocols for potential side effects. Then promptly signed up."
“The most important thing about being in a clinical trial is that I was giving back,” said Denyse, 52, a part-time pastor at Cho Un Korean United Methodist Church in Orangevale. By participating in a clinical trial, she gained an “opportunity as an African American woman to impact medicine … to know that this horrific cancer journey I was on was not in vain.”
In a stark contrast to the Rodney King riots 25 years ago, Angelenos say they trust LAPD now more than any other local governmental body.
Daily News' DANA BARTHOLOMEW: "Los Angeles burst into flames a quarter-century ago this week during riots that were based in part on a belief that its police force was biased."
"Now Angelenos trust the Los Angeles Police Department more than any local institution or government, according to a Loyola Marymount University survey released Wednesday. At the same time, a majority believe another riot will break out in the next five years."
"While the LAPD has had its share of serious issues, the one constant over the last two decades has been efforts by its leadership to mend fences and build relationships with the people of Los Angeles, especially minority communities,” said Fernando Guerra, director for the LMU Center for the Study of Los Angeles, author of the study."
READ MORE related to Public Safety: Pot house murders may be linked to crimes against Asian Americans in South Sac, police say -- Sacramento Bee's DARRELL SMITH/RYAN LILLIS
The Assembly speaker has blasted UC for its planned tuition increase after a state audit revealed gross mismanagement of funds.
Sacramento Bee's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "A day after the state auditor blasted the University of California for raising tuition while its administration sat on a secret $175 million reserve, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon became the second member of UC’s governing Board of Regents to call for a reversal of the fee hike."
"In an interview, Rendon, who as speaker serves as an ex officio regent, said he would seek to undo a nearly 3 percent increase in UC tuition and fees approved for next fall, the university’s first in six years."
"Rendon, D-Paramount, said he was most disturbed by the assertion that UC had interfered in the auditing process. Surveys sent independently to its 10 campuses to solicit feedback on the central administration were reviewed by the Office of the President and then submitted to the auditor with substantial revisions that reflected more positively on the university."
