California strongly objects to Trump’s plan to pump more delta water south
LAT, IAN JAMES: "The Trump administration plans to weaken environmental protections for threatened fish in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and pump more water to Central Valley farmlands, according to letters obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
The letters show Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration strongly criticizing the Trump administration plan."
Trump tariffs, immigration policy drag down California economy
SacBee, DAVID LIGHTMAN: "California’s economic outlook continues to be sluggish, as UCLA forecasters predicted Wednesday the state’s unemployment rate will keep climbing as Trump administration tariff and immigration policies continue to have an impact.
“The employment recession we described three months ago has likely continued and is expected to continue through the early part of 2026,” wrote Jerry Nickelsburg, UCLA Anderson Forecast director emeritus."
READ MORE -- California unemployment set to rise as the economy continues to suffer -- LAT, LAURENCE DARMIENTO
Who’s running for California governor? Here’s a look at the current field of candidates
CALMatters, JEANNE KUANG: "The game of musical chairs in the race to be California’s next governor lost another player last week.
After Democratic businessman Stephen Cloobeck — who was polling at below half a percent — dropped out of the race and endorsed Rep. Eric Swalwell on Monday, at least 10 candidates remain."
Pregnant immigrants held for months in detention despite rules against it
LAT, RACHEL URANGA: "Lorena Pineda was five months pregnant when masked agents picked her up on a street corner near a San Fernando Home Depot in June.
An agent grabbed her from the vending stand she ran with her sister-in-law and put her against a car. “Be careful,” she told him. “I’m pregnant.”"
A weather pattern shift brings the Bay Area its brightest day in a week
Chronicle, GREG PORTER: "The Bay Area will finally see its clearest and cleanest air mass in more than a week on Wednesday as a dry offshore wind sweeps out the haze and fog.
After more than a week of a stiff temperature inversion aloft — locking in tule fog and producing moderately unhealthy air quality at times — the entire air mass will reset on Wednesday as drier air arrives from the north and northeast."
‘Do you use Roundup?’ many Napa vineyards have abandoned Monsanto’s controversial weed killer
Chronicle, ESTHER MOBLEY: "The nonprofit Napa Green, which provides a prominent sustainability certification to Napa Valley vineyards, announced a major milestone on Tuesday: All 101 vineyards with the Napa Green certification have officially stopped using Roundup, the controversial weed killer that’s been shown to cause cancer, according to numerous studies.
Vineyards and wineries seek the Napa Green certification to show consumers that they’re taking steps toward sustainability. The protocol requires members to prove that they are practicing water efficiency, elements of regenerative agriculture and social equity (by paying a living wage to workers and participating in diversity workshops, for example). It’s one of many sustainability certifications available to California vineyards. Some, like California Certified Organic Farmers, prohibit glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, while others, like Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, allow it."
San Francisco sues Coca-Cola, Kellogg over ultra-processed foods. What that means
LAT, KAREN GARCIA: "In a historic action, San Francisco on Tuesday became the first government to file a lawsuit against food manufacturers over ultra-processed snacks and drinks that officials argue are wreaking havoc on Americans’ health.
San Francisco’s lawsuit, which names 10 of the most popular food manufacturers known for highly processed fare — Kraft Heinz Company, Mondelez International, Post Holdings, The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, General Mills, Nestle USA, Kellogg, Mars Incorporated and Conagra Brands — argues that the food industry knew its products were making people sick, but continued to market the addictive foods to maximize profits."
Lawsuits challenge Trump administration’s radical homeless policy changes
CALMatters, MARISA KENDALL: "California is fighting back after President Donald Trump’s administration instigated homeless housing cuts that local service providers said would be “devastating.”
Two recently filed lawsuits accuse the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of illegally going over Congress’ head to make massive changes to the way federal homelessness funds are distributed."
Mayor Lurie just won a major S.F. housing battle. But the fight is far from over
Chronicle, J.D. MORRIS/ALYCE MCFADDEN: "Mayor Daniel Lurie and seven San Francisco supervisors won the near-term fight over Lurie’s contentious plan to allow taller and denser housing in parts of the city that have long resisted new development.
But Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors vote was not the final say on Lurie’s “Family Zoning” plan. Now, the mayor and supervisors who signed onto the rezoning effort will have to defend their actions against backlash that will feature prominently at the ballot next year and possibly in court as well."
Oakland needs 200-plus police officers it can’t afford but pays millions to officers on leave
Chronicle, DAVID HERNANDEZ: "Roughly 100 Oakland police officers off the job on extended leave — many of whom are awaiting the outcome of plodding misconduct-related investigations — are costing the city millions of dollars a year at a time when it faces both a budget deficit and an officer shortage, according to department data and reports reviewed by the Chronicle.
The absences mean that about 15% of the department’s 622 officers are on some sort of leave, exacerbating a chronic staffing shortage. A study commissioned by the City Council that was released this year found that the department is already about 250 officers short of being able to handle its workload. As a result, the department consistently blows past its overtime budget to fill gaps."
Ex-deputy accused of fatally stabbing son in Elk Grove shot dead after I-5 chase
SacBee, DARRELL SMITH/ROSALIO AHUMADA: "The Elk Grove man shot and killed by Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies after fatally stabbing his son was a former Sacramento deputy who was recently relieved of his duties, authorities said.
Marvin Morales fled his family’s home in the 7600 block of Ferrell Way by the time Elk Grove police arrived just after 8 a.m. Inside, his 11-year-old son had been stabbed. A 6-year-old in the home was not hurt. The 11-year-old later died at a nearby hospital."
READ MORE -- Ex-Sacramento deputy, accused in son’s fatal stabbing, overdosed on-duty in 2023 -- SacBee, ROSALIO AHUMADA
