Anti-Trump protestors and police threw down outside a Thursday night campaign rally in Costa Mesa before riot squads stepped in to quell the action.
Washington Post's Jose A. DelReal reports: "Protesters opposing Donald Trump clashed with police after a campaign rally Thursday hosted by the Republican presidential candidate. Individuals vandalized vehicles and in one instance smashed the windows of a police car."
"The incident marked the most recent flash of tensions that have followed Trump to campaign events around the country. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Orange County Fair & Event Center after Trump finished delivering a speech, chanting and waving signs insulting the candidate."
"The chaotic scene featured several instances of violence, though the Orange County Sheriff's Department said no injuries were formally reported. One Trump supporter, who had been apparently punched in the face, was seen bleeding from his face. Neither the assailant nor the victim were immediately identified."
As the ends of the San Bernardino shooting spree are being tied up, a new aspect of the investigation reveals marriage fraud and it's role in threatening national security.
The Sun's Joe Nelson in Daily Bulletin: "The arrests Thursday of three people in a marriage and immigration fraud case connected to the San Bernardino terror attack reflects a national problem in which marriage is used as a mechanism by foreign nationals to gain U.S. citizenship."
"The use of marriage as a vehicle to enable foreign nationals to gain lawful status is not uncommon,” said Virginia Kice, spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in a telephone interview Thursday. “We’ve had a large number of substantial cases here in Southern California involving marriage fraud."
"Kice noted the September indictment of Santa Fe Springs resident Jason Shiao, his daughter, Lynn Leung, and Shannon Mendoza, who stand accused of orchestrating an elaborate scheme to set up sham marriages between U.S. citizens and Chinese nationals seeking permanent residency in the U.S."
The UC school system goes head to head with the Senate over a bill aimed at changing the UC Board of Regents.
Daily Californian's Sujin Shin reports: "The University of California and the UCLA Undergraduate Students Association sent letters Tuesday to the state Senate opposing a bill that would alter term lengths of UC Board of Regents."
"Both letters, which were sent to the chair of the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee, spoke against SCA 1, which would reduce the term of a regent from 12 to four years. Additionally, the bill would set a maximum term limit for regents of 16 years."
"“If this were to pass, it would be detrimental not only to the universities, but the students in the way the institution is run,” said Claire Doan, a spokesperson for the UC Office of the President. “The system that we have now ensures that regents are able to act more independently and … allows for greater blends of board members who are appointed by different governors and legislators.”"
Meanwhile, the board responsible for overseeing California's highspeed rail program have approved the latest revision of the $64 billion transportation plan.
AP's Juliet Williams reports: "The board that oversees California’s high-speed rail project has approved the latest $64 billion business plan calling for trains to run from the Central Valley to the San Jose area starting in 2025."
"Board members approved the plan Thursday after delaying the vote by a week."
"Rail officials have pitched a $21 billion first segment between Merced and San Jose as the only way to ensure a useable segment gets built with the existing funding."
It turns out that a many of the candidates running for a position on the San Jose council have donated a majority of their own campaign funds.
Mercury News' Ramona Giwargis: "In the highly-anticipated election to succeed District 6 Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio, several City Council candidates have emerged as early front-runners in fundraising -- but only after lending big bucks to their own campaigns."
"Stanford University researcher Devora "Dev" Davis raised the most money -- $51,662.84 since January -- according to campaign finance reports due on Thursday. Davis, 38, the only Republican in the District 6 council race, beat her seven opponents only after loaning her own campaign $20,000."
"Davis, who won support from former Mayor Chuck Reed, spent $30,923.70 since January. She also earned the endorsement of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, a nod most political insiders assumed would go to the pro-business candidate Norm Kline."
It's Friday and time to pick someone who had the worst week, #WorstWeekinCA, and that's a pretty easy call this week: UC-Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi.
Katehi received a letter from UC President Janet Napolitano outlining the reasons for her being placed on administrative leave.
Anna Sturla reports in the Daily Californian: "UC President Janet Napolitano sent a letter to UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi on Wednesday detailing reasons for placing her on paid administrative leave."
"Napolitano specifically cited in the letter concerns over a rapid series of promotions and pay raises given to Katehi’s daughter-in-law totaling $50,000 over a period of 2 1/2 years. Her daughter-in-law, Emily Prieto, is the chief of staff to UC Davis Vice Chancellor Adela de la Torre."
"Prieto was also placed as the direct supervisor of a program that includes Katehi’s son, an epidemiology graduate student who has a paid research position at UC Davis."