State whistleblower bill -- which Democrats killed four years in a row -- passes with new urgency
Sacramento Bee's TARYN LUNA: "The California Senate approved a Republican bill to extend whistleblower protections to legislative employees Thursday after previously halting the legislation in the house four years in a row."
"Assembly Bill 403, with more than half of state lawmakers added as co-authors, cleared the Senate with a 38-0 vote. Earlier iterations of the legislation, introduced by Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, had quietly died in the Senate Appropriations Committee before sexual harassment allegations upended the Capitol late last year."
"Melendez said she felt “relief” to see the bill finally pass the Senate. She said the Harvey Weinstein scandal pushed women in the Capitol to speak up."
US immigration agency demands documents from dozens of NorCal employers
Sacramento Bee's ANITA CHABRIA/RYAN LILLIS: "Homeland Security agents this week hit dozens of Northern California businesses with a demand they turn over records proving employees are legally entitled to work, putting state employers in the middle of the escalating immigration battle between the state and the federal government."
"ICE officials served audit notices on 77 businesses across its San Francisco area of responsibility, which ranges from Bakersfield to the Oregon border and includes Sacramento. The notices come a week after California Attorney General Xavier Becerra warned businesses that they must comply with a new state law protecting worker privacy if confronted with ICE demands for records or access."
"That law, the Immigrant Worker Protection Act (AB 450), requires that employers post notices about the federal demand for records within 72 hours of being served, and that those notices be in the languages employers regularly use to communicate with workers. Any unions covering employees also need to be notified."
READ MORE related to Immigration: Federal agents demand documents from 77 NorCal businesses in immigration sweep -- LA Times' ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN; Immigration agents raid 77 NorCal workplaces; no arrests reported -- The Chronicle's HAMED ALEAZIZ
State Treasurer John Chiang, running for governor, outlines vision for state
The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH: "State Treasurer John Chiang may be running for governor, but 20 years on the financial side of government leaves a mark that isn’t going away."
"Time after time Thursday he apologized to the crowd at San Francisco’s Public Policy Institute of California for “becoming a bit technical” or “getting a little wonky” as he explained his plans for the state."
“You’re in the right place for that,” deadpanned moderator Mark Baldassare, president and CEO of the policy think tank."
READ MORE related to State Politics: State Senate passes long-stalled whistle-blower protection for Capitol workers -- The Chronicle's MELODY GUTIERREZ; By the numbers, Democrats look strong in Orange County congressional races they must win to flip the House -- LA Times' CHRISTINE MAI-DUC; Democratic candidates flock to California's 'very hostile' House districts -- Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART
Money flows to London Breed in race for SF mayor; Mark Leno's funds still on top
The Chronicle's DOMINIC FRACASSA: "Just 22 days after announcing her candidacy in the San Francisco mayor’s race, Board of Supervisors President London Breed has raised over $320,000 in campaign contributions, putting her within striking distance of Mark Leno, who leads the field of candidates in fundraising."
"According to campaign finance documents filed late Wednesday with the city’s Ethics Commission, Leno raised more than $417,000 in 2017, and, after expenses, has $338,267.72 in cash. Leno, a former supervisor who also served in the Legislature, had a substantial head start in raising money because last May he was the first to announce his intent to run for mayor."
"The Ethics Commission’s filings report money raised in 2017."
READ MORE related to Local Politics: SF District 2 candidate sues to move election up from November to June -- The Chronicle's LIZZIE JOHNSON
California taxpayers could foot the bill to shutter old oil rigs in the Pacific
CalMatters' LAUREL ROSENHALL: "It’s been nearly three years since an oil pipeline ruptured in Santa Barbara County, coating seven miles of beaches with crude oil and killing dolphins, birds and sea lions."
"Area parks and fisheries have since re-opened. The pipeline has not, and the company that owns it is under criminal indictment. But the financial impacts of the 2015 Refugio oil spill continue to wash up in California."
"The latest example: State lawmakers are considering an unprecedented request to spend more than $100 million in taxpayer money to dismantle two offshore oil-drilling facilities—a platform connected to the ruptured pipeline and a man-made island in nearby Ventura County—because the oil companies that were leasing the sites went bankrupt last year."
READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: Water storage needed -- but keep faith with Proposition 1 -- LARRY CRUFF/FRANK ZONNEVELD in Capitol Weekly; Voters OK'd $2.7B for new reservoirs. Critics say California won't spend it -- Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER/RYAN SABALOW; Mountain lion P-23 dies at 5 and a half, showing how hard it is to be a big cat in SoCal -- Daily News' RYAN CARTER; Environmentalism or 'nanny state'? Efforts to regulate plastic in California take off -- Sacramento Bee's BILLY KOBIN; With storms skipping state, nearly half of California is back in a drought -- The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER; Trump administration signals move against California desert protection plan -- The Chronicle's CAROLYN LOCHHEAD; First-of-a-kind agreement in Colorado could aid west's ailing rivers -- ASPEN JOURNALISM'S SARAH TORY
2 shot, 3 others injured in shooting at Salvador Castro Middle School in Westlake District; 12-year-old student arrested
Daily News' RYAN FONSECA/SUSAN ABRAM/RYAN CARTER/BRENDA GAZZAR: "A 12-year-old girl was arrested Thursday in connection with a shooting at a Los Angeles middle school that left two students hospitalized, one in critical condition, and three other people with minor injuries."
"The shooting occurred shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday at Salvador Castro Middle School in the Westlake District of Los Angeles."
"Police received a report of shots fired in the 1500 block of West 2nd Street, according to Officer Drake Madison of the LAPD."
READ MORE related to School Shooting Pandemic: LA middle school shooting shines spotlight on campus security -- Daily News' BRENDA GAZZAR; Middle school shooting renews debate over how LA Unified keeps student safe -- LA Times' SONALI KOHLI/HOWARD BLUME/RUBEN VIVES/ANNA M. PHILLIPS
How long will a $1 million retirement last in Sacramento?
Sacramento Bee's MARK GLOVER: "It’s time to retire, and you have a million bucks set aside for your golden years."
"You’re set for the remainder of your days, right? Maybe not."
"A new study by SmartAsset, the New York-based personal finance technology company, finds that $1 million will last you an estimated 24.24 years if you live in Sacramento, accounting for expenses that include housing, food, health care and utilities."
READ MORE related to Economy: Time to file taxes. Why the IRS should expect a lot of money from the Sacramento area -- Sacramento Bee's NOEL HARRIS; Tax bill beginning to deliver bigger paychecks to workers -- AP's SARAH SKIDMORE SELL
98% of California jurisdictions fail to approve adequate housing, state report finds
Daily News' JEFF COLLINS: "The state housing department released its first list showing how many California cities and counties are meeting their local homebuilding goals."
"The conclusion: More than 500 local jurisdictions — 98 percent of those in the state — are failing."
"As a result, local governments will be required to expedite the approval process for new home developments that include affordable housing units, the California Department of Housing and Community Development announced on Thursday, Feb. 1."
READ MORE related to Housing & Homelessness: In SF appearance, Villaraigosa says he has plans to solve the housing crisis -- The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI;
Apple just made $88 billion. It's paying $6 million for housing -- The Chronicle's WENDY LEE
Compton gave the world 'The Chronic' -- but the sale of pot here remains illegal
LA Times' ANGEL JENNINGS: "Of the many cultural touchstones born on the streets of Compton, one of the most lasting is "The Chronic."
"Dr. Dre's classic 1992 album brought the nickname for high-grade cannabis into the mainstream, and, to the disdain of many Compton residents, cemented the city as the home of West Coast gangsta rap. It also gave marijuana one of its biggest pop culture endorsements since Bob Marley appeared on an album cover smoking a joint."
Sacramento erased crosswalk two months before woman, child were struck by hit-and-run driver
Sacramento Bee's TONY BIZJAK: "Pedestrian advocates and residents are asking why Sacramento recently removed crosswalk markings from the intersection where an older woman and young boy were critically injured Wednesday."
"An unidentified 71-year-old woman and 6-year-old boy were struck in the intersection of Freeport Boulevard and Oregon Drive just before 3:30 p.m. Wednesday by a hit-and-run driver."
"The driver left the scene, but hours later, a 22-year-old man turned himself in to Sacramento police and has been booked for felony hit-and-run."
California's mentally ill inmate population keeps growing. And state money isn't enough to meet needs, lawmaker says
LA Times' JAZMINE ULLOA: "Gov. Jerry Brown has earmarked $117 million in his new state budget to expand the number of treatment beds and mental health programs for more than 800 mentally ill inmates found incompetent to stand trial."
"State officials said they have struggled to keep up with the needs of a population that has jumped in size by 33% over the last three years, as judges are increasingly referring defendants to treatment. But one state lawmaker says additional funds are not enough."
"Legislators, he said, need to update the laws used by judges to evaluate the mental health of people charged with crimes. And he has proposed his own legislation to keep mentally ill offenders out of the criminal justice system."
This ER nurse has some horror stories to tell about the flu in her viral video
Miami Herald's HOWARD COHEN: "A Florida hospital nurse is mad as heck and she’s not going to take it anymore."
"So what has gotten Escambia County nurse Katherine Lockler so frustrated?"
"Parents or coaches who bring their healthy kids to the ER when they really don’t belong there. Don’t you know that the otherwise well-intentioned adults are bringing their toddlers and softball teams into “a cesspool of funky flu at the ER” right now?"
READ MORE related to Health & Health Care: Why diets backfire: A year or more after weight loss, the desire to eat grows stronger -- LA Times' MELISSA HEALY; California to drug users: we'll pay for you to test your dope -- California Healthline's PAULINE BARTOLONE; Californians scramble to beat midnight deadline -- California Healthline's ANA B. IBARRA
Boss grabbed your breast but denies it? Workplace investigators must ferret out the truth
LA Times' ROBIN ABCARIAN: "Let's say, for argument's sake since we're arguing so much about sexual harassment these days, that a nursing home supervisor claimed that her boss assaulted her."
"That he came up behind her in a hotel corridor during a break in a training session, put his hands on her shoulders, slipped his right hand onto her breast and whispered, "Oh, how I want you."
"Let's say she whirled around in shock and threw her coffee on him. Then, later, when confronted, he not only denied that he touched her, but said he never even saw her that day."
READ MORE related to Me Too/Boy's Club: Amid misconduct accusations about co-founder, Guess focuses on its latest star, J.Lo -- LA Times' LINDZI SCHARF; Sacramento woman arrested on suspicion of international sex trafficking -- Sacramento Bee's BENJY EGEL; Humane Society keeps CEO after sexual harassment complaints, prompting seven board members to resign -- WaPo's DANIELLE PAQUETTE
Unions give big to Thurmond, charter backers to Tuck in state superintendent campaign filing
EdSource's JOHN FENSTERWALD/DANIEL J. WILLIS: "Marshall Tuck collected $2 million in donations in 2017 and Assemblyman Tony Thurmond received $1.4 million, according to year-end filings by the two presumptive candidates vying to become the next state superintendent of public instruction."
"In what could turn into an expensive, highly competitive race, Thurmond, a two-term Democratic legislator from Richmond, got the bulk of his contributions from labor unions, according to a campaign report filed on Jan. 31. Tuck, a former charter school executive and administrator of independently run schools in Los Angeles Unified, got most of his money from wealthy individual supporters of charter schools, many of whom gave to his 2014 campaign. In that race, he narrowly lost to incumbent Tom Torlakson, who is termed out of office this year."
"The combined $30 million Tuck and Torlakson spent on the 2014 race was the most expensive campaign for state superintendent in the California’s history. However, independent expenditures by organizations not bound by contribution limits made up all but $5 million of the total."
READ MORE related to Education: Kickboxing and Kundalini: Part of a novel approach to reducing charter school teacher attrition -- EdSource's GEORGE WHITE
Nearly 40 years after Natalie Wood's death, Robert Wagner is a person of interest, says lieutenant
Daily News' CITY NEWS SERVICE: "Nearly four decades after the Hollywood star Natalie Wood drowned off Santa Catalina island … Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators say her then-husband, actor Robert Wagner, is a person of interest."
"Investigators want to speak with Wagner about the circumstances surrounding her death in 1981, but Wagner has declined."
"We’ve investigated the case over the last six years. I think he’s more of a person of interest now,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lieutenant John Corina says of Wagner in an interview with “48 Hours” for a story — “Natalie Wood: Death in Dark Water” — to be broadcast Saturday night. “I mean, we know now that he was the last person to be with Natalie before she disappeared."
READ MORE related to Natalie Wood: Detective's comments ignite new interest in Natalie Wood's mysterious drowning -- LA Times' MAYA LAU/RICHARD WINTON
Rick Gates attorneys seek to withdraw from the case
CNN's KATELYN POLANTZ: "Attorneys for former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates are seeking to withdraw from the case, according to a new court filing."
"Gates pleaded not guilty in October to eight charges of money laundering and failing to register foreign lobbying and other business. His longtime business partner, former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort, pleaded not guilty to nine counts in the same case as Gates."
LA Times' SAM FARMER: "The rings are tucked away. Slipping them on would require Neal Dahlen driving to the bank near his home in Aurora, Colo., and retrieving them from a safe-deposit box."
"Dahlen isn't the type to show off. The retired NFL executive would prefer to stay in the background as a living, breathing — and golfing — Trivial Pursuits answer."
"He's the answer to question: Who is tied with New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick for the most Super Bowl rings, with seven?"
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The Roundup is compiled by Associate Editor Geoff Howard. Comments? Complaints? Questions? Email Geoff at geoff@capitolweekly.net.
