"The governor collected the most votes in our contest for the person who best encapsulated California in 2016. Not far behind was Vin Scully, followed by Kamala Harris, Elon Musk and Barbara Boxer."
"Mr. Brown, 78, is the most prominent Democrat in an overwhelmingly Democratic state. In a Field Poll in September, 60 percent of respondents said they approved of his performance, up from a low of 43 percent over the last five years."
"Pennsylvania is one of 11 states where the majority of voters use antiquated machines that store votes electronically, without printed ballots or other paper-based backups that could be used to double-check the balloting. There's almost no way to know if they've accurately recorded individual votes — or if anyone tampered with the count."
"More than 80 percent of Pennsylvanians who voted Nov. 8 cast their ballots on such machines, according to VotePA, a nonprofit seeking their replacement. A recount would, in the words of VotePA's Marybeth Kuznik, a veteran election judge, essentially amount to this: "You go to the computer and you say, 'OK, computer, you counted this a week-and-a-half ago. Were you right the first time?'
"But California — a state that has for 50 years been a leader in environmental advocacy — is about to step unto the breach. In a show of defiance, Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, and legislative leaders said they would work directly with other nations and states to defend and strengthen what were already far and away the most aggressive policies to fight climate change in the nation. That includes a legislatively mandated target of reducing carbon emissions in California to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030."
"The owl, whose popularity has been fed by viral videos featuring its charming antics, is a prime example of how the goals of conservationists and developers can end up on a collision course in building-dense Northern California."
"They’re very charismatic, they’re a little mysterious — you see them one minute and then they pop down into their holes. They have a cartoon-like quality that people just love,” said Andrea Jones, director of bird conservation at Audubon California."
California's drought has found relief with the recent storms, but experts warn our water issues have yet to fully subside.
PAUL ROGERS with The Mercury News: "As 2016 wound down, California entered its sixth year of drought."
"But every part of the state wasn’t created equal. Northern California experienced significant drought relief during the year, while Southern California continued to be mired in historically arid conditions."
"The reason? A much-anticipated El Niño brought substantial storms during the spring to the north, giving Bay Area cities and communities across Northern California their best rainfall totals in five years. San Francisco rainfall was 98 percent of the historic average. San Jose was a healthy 100 percent, and Oakland 80 percent."
Covered California tries to stay positive in face of Trump's HHS pick for his administration.
DEVIN BROWNE with SCPR: "While Donald Trump's picks for the senior health positions in his administration indicate that he intends to follow through on his pledge to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the head of Covered California is trying to stay positive about the future of the health law."
"Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, Rep. Tom Price (R-Georgia), is an orthopedic surgeon and six-term congressman who has introduced several bills to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act."
"Price’s latest legislation, The Empowering Patients First Act, would do away with Obamacare and create incentives for people to contribute to health savings accounts, offer grants to states to subsidize insurance for "high-risk populations" and allow insurers to sell policies across state lines."
A Jewish news organization has given SDSU the title of 'worst college campus for Jewish students in the nation.'
GARY WARTH with San Diego Union-Tribune: "A New York-based Jewish news organization has named San Diego State Universityas one of the “worst college campuses for Jewish students in the nation.”
"Dovid Efune, editor in chief of The Algemeiner, said the list was the first of its kind and involved months of research, interviews and data analysis in its methodology."
"The head of a local chapter of Hillel, an international organization devoted to fostering Jewish life on campus, called the list absurd on a Facebook post."
In light of the abstination vote for Israeli settlements, Trump blasts the UN as a sort of 'good ol' boys club.'
AP's VIVAN SALAMA in The Chronicle: "Days after the United Nations voted to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, Donald Trumpquestioned its effectiveness Monday, saying it's just a club for people to "have a good time."
"The president-elect wrote on Twitter that the U.N. has "such great potential," but it has become "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!"
"On Friday, Trump warned, "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th," referring to the day he takes office."
A new technology developed by NASA just made the safety and well-being of a firefighter on duty a whole lot more secure.
JASON HENRY with Daily News: "A new technology under development at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory could help pinpoint a firefighter’s location in a burning building down to the meter and alert a team commander if the firefighter collapses."
"NASA and the Department of Homeland Security want to use the technology with first responders, soldiers and in JPL’s case, autonomous robotics."
"Precision Outdoor and Indoor Navigation and Tracking for Emergency Responders, or POINTER, is similar, at least in function, to a highly precise global positioning system, though the technology behind this new invention is something of a breakthrough."
Researchs are pushing for victims of a racially-charged, California-based eugenecis program to receive reparations for experimentation done on them during institutionalization -- a program that disproportionately affected people of color.
KATE MORRISSEY with LAT: "California should pay reparations to victims of its eugenics-based sterilization programs, which took away the reproductive abilities of about 20,000 people in the first half of the 20th century, researchers said in a new study."
"In particular, Mexican immigrants were disproportionately affected by those programs. And overall, an estimated 800 victims may still be alive today, according to the paper, which was released last week."
“Given the advanced age and declining numbers of sterilization survivors, time is of the essence for the state to seriously consider reparations,” said Alexandra Stern at the University of Michigan, the study’s lead author."
A year after the murder of Brendon Glenn, a family left reeling over tragedy contemplates finding closure.
KATE MATHER with LAT: "When Brendon Glenn arrived in Venice, he was quickly captivated by one of L.A.’s most memorable spots, an eclectic stretch of beach that has long attracted travelers like the 29-year-old."
"The New York native was on a yearlong trip to find work and adventure in California, where he marveled at the abundant sunshine and fresh avocados. In Venice, he found people who, like him, loved to skateboard and spend time on the sand."
“There’s a really fantastic beach,” Glenn told his mother during one of their regular phone calls. “Venice Beach.”
SoCalGas is downplaying a newly detected methane leak at Aliso Canyon, likening it to the 'wisping vapors of a single table candle.'
BRENDA GAZZAR with Daily News: "Southern California Gas Co. officials sought to allay concerns Monday about a “small amount” of methane seeping since Saturday from the vicinity of a plugged storage well near the San Fernando Valley that was responsible for the nation’s largest atmospheric release of natural gas."
"SoCalGas spokesman Chris Gilbride said a “very slight and intermittent indication of methane” was detected Saturday morning near the SS-25 wellhead at the Aliso Canyon storage facility above the upscale Los Angeles community of Porter Ranch."
"Before the leaking well was plugged in February, it spewed more than 100,000 metric tons of methane into the atmosphere over more than three months, sickened thousands and prompted the temporary relocation of more than 8,300 households and two schools."
A new report suggests that 'suburban sprawling' should be penalized due to its 'contribution to climate change'.
PHILLIp MOLNAR with LAT: "Imagine having to plant a few hundred trees near the Oregon border or handing over all the money in your wallet next time your city council votes down a housing project."
"That is one of the ideas coming out of a new report from the California Apartment Assn., which represents residential property owners."
"The report suggests rewarding communities that build housing near jobs and transportation, but penalizing suburban sprawl by linking it to California climate change legislation."
Hotels around the nation are taking the initiative to help continually support the wellness efforts of their patrons throughout the year; not just at the start of one.
SHIVANI VORA with NYT: "A new year, a new opportunity to get healthy: Resolutions to exercise more and eat right are popular come Jan. 1. With all of these intentions in mind, hotels typically offer limited-time fitness- and nutrition-themed packages to attract guests for stays during the first few months of the year. This year, however, some properties are changing their approach by introducing wellness programs and packages that travelers can take advantage of at any time."
"The hotel industry is realizing that travelers today want to stay on top of their health all the time, not just as a New Year’s resolution, so they’re now using January as an opportunity to launch long-term wellness initiatives,” said Sean Hennessy, a hotel consultant and an assistant professor of hospitality at the Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism at New York University."
"To his point, Westin Hotels and Resorts recently commissioned a survey in partnership with the market research firm StudyLogic that looked at trends around New Year’s resolutions. It found that 75 percent of more than 1,500 respondents in the United States and Canada will drop the “New Year’s” from their resolution and make yearlong wellness commitments to themselves."