Interest groups’ all-or-nothing approach to revising a state water bond for the November ballot has stalled negotiations, says Speaker Toni Atkins.
Ben Adler reports for Capitol Public Radio: ““I’m incredibly disappointed,” Atkins said in the interview. “The stakeholders are really going to have to understand, if they hold out for everything that they want, they could end up with nothing – and I think that’s my biggest concern. We need parochial interests to take a back seat to the needs of the entire state. If one region gets undercut, that’s going to have economic and environmental repercussions in other parts of the state.””
“Atkins specifically said water storage supporters and environmental groups that oppose money for dams won’t get everything they want.”
Central Valley legislator Kristin Olsen takes the reins as next minority leader of the State Assembly.
Jeremy B. White: “First elected in 2010, Olsen has served as vice chair of the Assembly Education Committee. After Republicans voted to retain Conway as leader in the wake of sweeping election losses last year, Olsen was relegated to a smaller office amid speculation that the move was tied to leadership maneuverings. Conway will leave the Assembly due to term limits after this year.”
A rare and costly recount of votes cast in California’s election for state controller may be in the works.
Chris Megerian reports in the Los Angeles Times: “The Los Angeles Democrat is 481 votes behind Betty Yee, a Bay Area Democrat and a member of the Board of Equalization. It's a tiny margin in a contest with more than 4 million ballots cast.”
“In a statement, Pérez said his team is considering whether to call for a recount.”
“"Since this is one of closest statewide elections in the history of California, we have an obligation to review and ensure that every vote cast is accurately counted," he said.”
California House representatives are seeking increased oil train safety guards.
Curtis Tate reports in the Sacramento Bee: “In a letter to Secretary Anthony Foxx, Matsui and Reps. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, John Garamendi, D-Fairfield and George Miller, D-Martinez, asked the department to go beyond its previous emergency orders, issued after a series of high-profile accidents involving crude oil trains in the past year.”
“"We are especially concerned with the high risks involved with transporting lighter, more flammable crude in densely populated areas," they wrote. "Should spills or explosions occur, as we have seen over the last year, the consequences could be disastrous, costing lives, damaging property, and harming the environment."”
Billions of dollars in waterfront trading remain on line as negotiations with West Coast dock workers creep past the deadline date.
The Associated Press reports: “The Pacific Maritime Association has said that labor peace is essential to keeping West Coast ports competitive, especially with larger vessels able to sail from Asia directly to East Coast markets once an expansion of the Panama Canal is completed.”
“In 2002, as negotiations reached an impasse, employers locked dockworkers out for 10 days, costing the U.S. economy an estimated $1 billion each day. The economic damage from a work stoppage now would be about $2 billion per day, according to a recent analysis by groups representing retailers and manufacturers.”
A group of anti-immigration protesters block a busload of undocumented migrants moving through California.
Marty Graham reports for Reuters: “The group caught up in Tuesday's confrontation arrived by plane at midday in San Diego from Texas, where they had been apprehended while trying to cross the border, and were put on three unmarked buses for the ride to Murrieta.”
“As the buses neared their destination, some 150 protesters waiving American flags and shouting "Go home - we don't want you here," filled a street leading to the access road for the Border Patrol station, blocking the buses from reaching the facility.”
Now, what could go wrong here? A gun range in Nebraska will start serving alcohol to its visitors…
Erin Golden reports for World-Herald: “Officials said the facility plans to serve only beer, and only in designated clubhouse and patio areas. Alcohol would be available only to people who were not shooting or had finished shooting, and would not be served during youth competitions.”
““If anybody has had a drink, they will not be shooting,” Parks Director Brook Bench told the council.”