Newsom calls on Trump to boost wildfire preparedness and ‘make America rake again’
LAT, NOAH HAGGERTY: “As California’s fire season heats up, Gov. Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the Trump administration Tuesday for failing to devote adequate resources to wildfire preparation and response efforts on federal lands.
Newsom said his office sent the White House a proposed executive order that, if signed, would direct the federal government to match California’s forest management investments and capabilities in the state."
Trump renews plan to reopen Alcatraz, this time with sharks
THE CHRONICLE, AIDIN VAZIRI: “President Donald Trump on Tuesday revisited his proposal to renovate and reopen Alcatraz as a functioning federal prison, announcing that “conceptual work” quietly began six months ago.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president described the shuttered penitentiary as a potent symbol in the fight against crime, with sharks lurking.”
Trump administration says it’s pulling 150 members of the National Guard from Los Angeles
THE CHRONICLE, DOMINICK FRACASSA: “U.S. military officials on Tuesday said they planned to pull about 150 members of the National Guard from Los Angeles, where they’ve been tasked by the Trump administration with protecting federal property and ICE personnel as they conduct immigration arrests and deportations.
Thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines have been in Los Angeles since early June after protests erupted in the wake of immigration arrests predicated on President Trump’s promise to deport undocumented immigrants en masse.”
READ MORE -- Even some Orange County Republicans question Trump sweeps targeting immigrant workers – LAT, HANNAH FRY/ CHRISTOPHER BUCHANAN; L.A. ‘under siege’: Brown-skinned people targeted, tackled, taken, and it must stop, federal suit says – LAT, RACHEL URANGA/BRITTNY MEJIA
How SALT cap has changed in latest version of Trump’s tax bill
THE CHRONICLE, JESSiCA ROY: “The Senate on Tuesday passed its version of the Republican tax and spending megabill, and it’s got a different formulation of the state and local tax deduction, or SALT, than the House version.
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act during the first Trump administration reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, and lowered marginal tax rates for most income brackets, along with other major changes to the tax code. Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill” would make those changes permanent and tweak some other provisions.”
In a first, California moves toward paying incarcerated firefighters minimum wage
CALMATTERS, CAYLA MIHALOVICH: “In a historic policy change, California is moving to pay incarcerated firefighters the federal minimum wage during active fires.
The wage increase, funded through the new state budget, follows years of advocacy to improve pay and working conditions for incarcerated labor. That effort took on a new urgency after hundreds of incarcerated firefighters were deployed to battle deadly wildfires that hit Los Angeles in January.”
Lawmakers wanted a new infrastructure agency to operate in secret. Why they backed down
CALMATTERS, YU STELLA YUE: “California lawmakers wanted to create a nonprofit agency authorized to borrow limitless taxpayer money to finance infrastructure projects — all while shielding most of its operations from the public eye.
Sponsored by state Treasurer Fiona Ma, SB 769 would create the Golden State Infrastructure Corporation, a nonprofit organization within the treasurer’s office that would use public and private financing for projects from transportation to housing.”
Bill to unionize rideshare drivers the product of a decade of work
CAPITOL WEEKLY, BRIAN JOSEPH: “A rideshare driver since 2016, Nick Cabalar of Stockton said his work experience changed dramatically after voters approved Proposition 22 in 2020.
That ballot measure, supported by the gig-economy companies Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Postmates, sought to not only define app-based drivers as independent contractors under state law, but also prevent them from forming unions.”
California AI regulations safe after Senate strips moratorium from ‘big, beautiful bill’
CALMATTERS, RYAN TATE: “The U.S. Senate voted not to interfere with state artificial intelligence regulations, defeating a 10-year moratorium on such laws that had earlier cleared the House and alarmed California officials.
The 99-1 vote to strip the moratorium from the president’s “big, beautiful” budget bill followed opposition from a handful of Republicans. Dissenting from GOP colleagues, they argued the measure would allow the proliferation of highly realistic, AI-enabled “deepfake” impersonation videos, endanger jobs and infringe on the rights of state governments.”
Paramount agrees to pay $16 million to settle Trump’s CBS ‘60 Minutes’ lawsuit
LAT, MEG JAMES: “Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million to end President Trump’s lawsuit over edits to a “60 Minutes” interview — a legal tussle that roiled CBS News, spurred high-level departures and threatened to derail the company’s hoped-for sale.
The money will be allocated to Trump’s future presidential library. As part of the deal, Paramount did not offer an apology or express regret for CBS News’ reporting or edits.”
A new toxic metal has been found in the air after L.A. fires. No one knows where it’s coming from
THE CHRONICLE, MEGAN FAN MUNCE/SUSIE NEILSON: “Krista Copelan’s home didn’t burn in the Eaton Fire. But for months afterward, it was filled with poisonous traces of things that did.
Arsenic from treated wood and pesticides in the soil. Copper, likely from the wiring systems of the thousands of homes reduced to ash. Lead, discovered on the floor of her daughter’s bedroom, from old paint and leaded gasoline that leached into the ground only to be vaporized by flames.”
READ MORE -- The Palisades fire spewed toxins into the Pacific. Summer surf camps are paying the price – LAT, DANIEL MILLER
Orange County congresswoman targeted by protests over Trump megabill, cuts to healthcare
LAT, SEEMA MEHTA: “Protesters railed on Tuesday against an Orange County congresswoman who could be a critical vote on President Trump’s proposal to cut more than $1 trillion in federal dollars that helped pay for healthcare for those in need and extend tax cuts for millions of Americans.
Trump’s proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” narrowly passed the U.S. Senate hours before hundreds of people gathered in a cul-de-sac outside of the Anaheim field office of Republican Rep. Young Kim to protest those cuts. The legislation still needs to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives, which could happen before the end of the week.”
CA state workers savor return-to-office relief, even if it was last minute
SACRAMENTO BEE, WILLIAM MELHADO: “On what was supposed to be the first day of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to return to pre-pandemic working conditions, a steady stream of state workers poured into government offices Tuesday morning for one of their in-person workdays. But instead of four days in office, nearly all public employees who have the ability to telework can continue doing so at the same rate as the past year, after Gov. Gavin Newsom traded state bargaining units another year of remote work for millions in savings related to employee compensation to help plug California’s deficit.”
Senate approves Planned Parenthood funding cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill
SACRAMENTO BEE, REBECCA-ANN JATTAN/ DAVID LIGHTMAN: “Planned Parenthood would lose federal Medicaid money under the Big Beautiful Bill passed by the U.S. Senate Tuesday, a development the organization’s supporters say could reduce vital health care services for millions across the country.
The House plans to take up the bill Wednesday. If it passes with no amendments, it would head for the White House where President Donald Trump is eager to sign it into law
California schools are scrambling as Trump administration withholds almost $811 million
CALMATTERS, TARA GARCIA MATHEWSON/CAROLYN JONES: “California school districts are short hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grant money they had already budgeted for this year. While Congress approved the funds as part of its 2025 budget, the Trump Administration today refused to release them, sending districts across the country scrambling.
The grant money pays for teacher professional development, after school and other enrichment programs, services for students learning English and migrant education. Across all five programs the money funds, California schools are due almost $811 million, according to an analysis by the Learning Policy Institute. Nationwide, the grants total $6.2 billion for K-12 schools.”
Homeless student counts in California are up. Some say that’s a good thing
CALMATTERS, CAROLYN JONES: “In Kern County, the first rule in counting homeless students is not saying “homeless.”
Instead, school staff use phrases like “struggling with stable housing” or “families in transition.” The approach seems to have worked: More families are sharing their housing status with their children’s schools, which means more students are getting services.”
Oakland schools face new crisis as state oversight saga comes to an end
THE CHRONICLE, JILL TUCKER: “After 22 years under state oversight, the Oakland school board was finally on its own Tuesday, its seven squabbling members fully in control of the district’s finances and fate. A new interim superintendent added to the fresh start with her first day on the job.
On Monday, officials sent their final payment to Sacramento for a $100 million bailout loan issued in 2003, when the district ran out of cash and couldn’t pay its bills, triggering a state takeover.”
Where to find California’s clearest skies for Fourth of July fireworks
THE CHRONICLE, GREG PORTER: “A modest cool-down will be in play for much of California heading into the holiday weekend, with a weak upper-level system swinging through Northern California, a lingering marine layer along the coast and only moderate inland heat.
The hottest spots — the deserts and the Central Valley — will still flirt with triple digits, but weather in most places will stay within a manageable range for outdoor plans. Gusty winds may raise fire weather concerns in a few interior locations, and coastal fog will linger each morning near the beaches. But skies should be mostly clear by the time fireworks begin in most locations away from the immediate coast.”
READ MORE -- These fireworks are illegal in CA. You could face jail time for setting them off – SACRAMENTO BEE, ANGELA RODRIGUEZ
LAT, RICHARD WINTON: “racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution.
The jury sent a note to the trial judge Tuesday afternoon stating they’d reached a verdict on several counts but were unable to reach a consensus on count one — racketeering. They will continue deliberating on that count in Manhattan starting Wednesday at 9 a.m.”
San Francisco Zoo CEO resigns after months of controversy — and a nudge from Lurie
THE CHRONICLE, TARA DUGGAN: “Tanya Peterson, the embattled longtime leader of the San Francisco Zoo, has resigned from her position as CEO and executive director.
Peterson plans to retire in August, according to public relations consultant Sam Singer.”
Sacramento mayor’s plan to bar homeless from sleeping at City Hall draws criticism
SACRAMENTO BEE, MATTHEW MIRANDA: “Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty’s plan to stop homeless people from sleeping outside City Hall drew criticism Tuesday afternoon from advocates, residents and council members.
His proposal, unveiled last week, seeks to prohibit people from sitting or laying down on the ground outside City Hall except in limited circumstances. This would amend a city policy made six years ago which has allowed people to sleep on the property overnight but not during the day.”