Two Capitol staffers helped in the probe of state Sen. Ron Calderon, according to newly unsealed court documents related to his indictment case.
Dakota Smith reports for the LA Daily News: “The documents show that some of the information that led to Calderon’s arrest was provided by at least one of the senator’s own staff aides.”
“Another source for the FBI was a former Assembly adviser and board member of the Diversity PAC, the political committee that aided Calderon and his brother Thomas, a former Assemblyman, documents state.”
Now that he’s guaranteed his place in the general election, Neel Kashkari is challenging Gov. Jerry Brown to a series of 10 debates.
Seema Mehta reports for the Los Angeles Times: “Kashkari made the remarks on a marathon day of talk radio interviews, a victory lap after he placed second in Tuesday’s primary, allowing him to take on Brown in the fall contest.”
“Many political observers have been skeptical that Brown would debate the GOP standard-bearer, given the incumbent’s enormous advantage going into the general election.”
Protesters took to the state Capitol in droves to voice their opposition of the governor’s plans to cap the number of hours in-home aides may work per week.
Jessica Calafeti reports for The Mercury News: “New federal rules require America's in-home workers to get overtime pay starting next year, but Gov. Jerry Brown says it will be too costly for California and instead wants to limit aides to a 40-hour workweek.”
“Funding for state programs to help those who are poor and have disabilities were slashed several years ago at the height of California's budget crisis. That fact makes Brown's proposal to block In-Home Supportive Services workers from earning overtime pay even more painful, advocates for people with disabilities say.”
California congressional lawmakers are pushing for legislation to take guns out of the hands of the mentally unstable.
David Montero reports for the OC Register; “Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, both Democrats, will try to shepherd the Pause for Safety Act through the Senate, while U.S. Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, likely faces an even steeper climb in the Republican-dominated House.”
“Boxer spokesman Zachery Coiles said the senator believes the federal push will spur more states to pursue similar measures as Congress has largely punted on sweeping gun legislation.”
Kings County is again trying to take the high-speed rail authority to court over plans for the $68 billion project.
Juliet Williams reports for the Associated Press: “The rail authority said it had not yet been served with the lawsuit. But spokeswoman Lisa Marie Alley said in an email that the lawsuit "is not about protecting the environment but about Kings County trying every means possible to stop high-speed rail."
And finally, coming soon to San Francisco: tiny hotel rooms.
J.K. Dineen reports in SF Gate: “Yotel, which has hotels in New York, London and Amsterdam, calls its rooms cabins. The cabins in its Times Square property average 170 square feet - 48 percent smaller than the average New York hotel room size. Yotel favors a stark, modern aesthetic and money-saving technologies like a robotic baggage carrier (known as a Yobot), electronic check-in system and retractable beds. Yotel rooms in New York average about $249 a night, compared with $374 and up for rooms at the city's downtown Marriott.”