U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's attempt to re-establish a ban on assault weapons, a dicey effort from the get-go despite the public outrage over the Newtown, Conn. shootings, got the coup-de-gras Tuesday when the Senate leader yanked it from the gun-control package.
From the LAT's Richard Simon: "But on Tuesday, none of that was enough as the Senate majority leader, a fellow Democrat, excluded Feinstein's proposed assault weapons ban from a broader gun package."
"Nevada Sen. Harry Reid said he made the move out of fear the Feinstein ban would jeopardize the passage of more popular measures. "I'm not going to try to put something on the floor that won't succeed," Reid said."
"That was the unofficial death knell, and brought Feinstein to a place she has been before. She suffered similar disappointment in 2004, when Congress allowed her 1994 assault weapons ban to expire."
Those who illegally cross the border to find a better life in the United States face daunting odds, including a steadily rising risk of death.
From KPBS's John Rosman: "A study released Tuesday, by The National Foundation for American Policy suggests an immigrant attempting to cross illegally into the United States is eight times more likely to die in the attempt than a decade ago."
"In 2012, immigrant deaths rose by 27 percent to 477 individuals. This number is the second highest in more than a decade."
"The figures obtained by the U.S. Border Patrol show a rise in deaths over time, despite thesignificant decline in the numbers of immigrants crossing the border."
A judge says the text messages and emails of San Jose officials, even though they are written on private devices, should be disclosed to the public if they deal with municipal affairs.
From the Mercury News' John Woolfolk: "A Santa Clara County judge has ruled that San Jose must provide city officials' private text messages, emails or other electronic communications about city affairs in response to an activist's request, a potentially far-reaching decision that could settle a growing dispute over what open-government advocates say has become a glaring loophole in the state's public records law...."
"The ruling by Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge James P. Kleinberg on Friday was a victory for San Jose activist Ted Smith, who sued the city in August 2009 over its refusal to disclose officials' personal electronic communications in response to his request. Smith had requested emails, texts and other messages sent to and from personal devices by Mayor Chuck Reed, council members and redevelopment officials about city business including subsidizing a development in San Pedro Square downtown on property owned by former Mayor Tom McEnery and his family."
"Smith's attorney, James McManis, said the city's refusal to provide the records was ironic given that Reed had championed open-government "sunshine reforms" and San Jose's groundbreaking policy, adopted in January 2010, that declared such personal electronic messaging by council members and their staff subject to disclosure.
Gov. Brown's move to shift authorilty over some state services to the locals -- known in the patois of politics as "realignment" -- has been facing mounting criticism. And the governor apparently is paying attention to his critics.
From the Bee's David Siders: "In a private meeting, Brown told two Stanford Law School professors and their students that he was concerned about the way counties are managing their jail populations, among other matters, according to the professors with whom he met."
"Later, Brown said he is "looking at realignment" and is considering "some ideas" about potential changes to the law."
"Yet on the most basic questions about realignment, including its impact on crime rates and recidivism, neither the Stanford researchers nor Brown's own administration can provide meaningful answers."
And in Los Angeles, the Department of Water and Power -- and a few other people, too -- are ready to celebrate the "End of Coal."
From the LA Daily News' Rick Orlov: "The proposal calls for the city to sell off one of its coal-fired plants in Arizona and convert a second plant in Utah so it can run on natural gas. Los Angeles now receives 40 percent of its power from the two plants, which has been subject to wide opposition by environmentalists."
"It has been estimated the two plants produce emissions equal to 2 million cars."
"Former Vice President Al Gore, chair of the Climate Reality Project, is scheduled to be in Los Angeles on Friday to celebrate the new policy with Villaraigosa.: