The Oroville Dam spillway collapse could have been prevented if decades' worth of warnings had not gone ignored, reports find.
Sacramento Bee's STUART LEAVENWORTH/SEAN COCKERHAM/RYAN SABALOW: "Engineers have known for decades that if water ever spilled onto Lake Oroville’s unpaved auxiliary spillway, it would cause serious erosion, possibly compromising the earthen structure that holds back the reservoir and threatening communities downstream."
"But California water districts that helped pay for Oroville resisted calls to armor the backup spillway, which would have required construction outlays in the tens of millions of dollars. Environmentalists, meanwhile, opposed an earlier proposal to install gates atop the structure to raise the dam’s elevation and prevent water from topping it during a flood."
"The resulting stalemate contributed to Oroville’s near catastrophe on Sunday, when nearly 200,000 people were ordered to evacuate after officials detected erosion on the unlined hillside."
READ MORE related to Oroville Dam spillway crisis: In peril at Oroville Dam, a parable on infrastructure -- New York Times' EDITORIAL BOARD; Feds order independent review of Oroville Dam spillway problems -- Sacramento Bee's RYAN SABALOW; Courting disaster at Oroville Dam -- key questions and answers -- The Chronicle's JILL TUCKER; Cal Expo opens a shelter for people evacuating due to Oroville spillway concerns -- Sacramento Bee's ELLEN GARRISON; Sikh temple provides shelter for hundreds of Oroville Dam evacuees -- Sacramento Bee's STEPHEN MAGAGNINI; Thousands displaced in Oroville Dam scare wait for word -- Sacramento Bee's TONY BIZJAK/ANDY FURILLO/SAM STANTON; Trucks, helicopters dump loads of boulders in rush to fortify Oroville dam spillway -- Sacramento Bee's ED FLETCHER; Series of storms to make trouble for Lake Oroville -- The Chronicle's EVAN SERNOFFSKY; Crews prepare to shore up Lake Oroville emergency spillway -- The Chronicle's EVAN SERNOFFSKY; Evacuations remain in effect along Feather River, lake level dropping -- Chico Enterprise-Record's ANDRE BYIK; Evacuees safe at Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, awaiting news of what's next -- Chico Enterprise-Record's HEATHER HACKING; What happened at the Oroville Dam? -- New York Times' HENRY FOUNTAIN/K.K. REBECCA LAI/TIM WALLACE; A race against Mother Nature as officials send water cascading out of Lake Oroville -- L.A. Times' CHRIS MEGERIAN/BETTINA BOXALL/MELANIE MaSON/LAURA J. NELSON; Are LA County dams safe? In wake of Oroville spillway trouble, local leader wants to know -- Daily News' SUSAN ABRAM; Is there an Oroville-style threat looming in Southern California? Experts say no -- The Press-Enterprise's DAVID DOWNEY; Evacuees might not go home until Oroville Dam spillway is repaired -- AP's JONATHAN J. COOPER/BRIAN MELLEY
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn has resigned amid allegations that he illegally discussed sanctions with a Russian official and then lied about it to the Vice President.
AP: "President Donald Trump’s embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned late Monday night, following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia. His departure upends Trump’s senior team after less than one month in office."
"In a resignation letter, Flynn said he held numerous calls with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. during the transition and gave “incomplete information” about those discussions to Vice President Mike Pence. The vice president, apparently relying on information from Flynn, initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, though Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up."
"Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser. Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Trump on national security issues during the campaign."
READ MORE related to The Flynn FUBAR: Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn resigns over contacts with Russia -- L.A. Times' MICHAEL A. MEMOLI
Healthline takes a 'deep dive' into the GOP's primary areas of concern when criticizing the nation's current healthcare platform.
California Healthline's JULIE ROVNER: "Republicans leaders have a lengthy list of talking points about the shortcomings of the health law. Shortly before his inauguration last month, President Donald Trump said that it “is a complete and total disaster. It’s imploding as we sit.” And they can point to a host of issues, including premium increases averaging more than 20 percent this year, a drop in the number of insurers competing on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces and rising consumer discontent with high deductibles and limited doctor networks."
"Yet a careful analysis of some of the GOP’s talking points show a much more nuanced situation and suggest that the political fights over the law may have contributed to some of its problems. Here is an annotated guide to four of the most common talking points Republicans have been using. "
READ MORE related to Health: Former FDA chief cites 5 things to watch on drug approvals, and keeping drugs safe -- California Healthline's SYDNEY LUPKIN/SARAH JANE TRIBBLE; For California's smallest business, Obamacare opened the door -- California Healthline's PAULINE BARTOLONE; Community Corner: Disability Action Center -- Chico Enterprise-Record's KYRA GOTTESMAN
Federal agents swept across the state arresting nearly 700 immigrants last week; three-quarters of suspects apprehended allegedly had criminal backgrounds.
L.A. Times' JENNY JARVIE/DEL QUENTIN WILBER: "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security pushed back Monday against claims that it had broadened the scope of its immigration enforcement raids, saying that about three-quarters of the 680 immigrants arrested by federal agents last week had criminal convictions."
"Over the last few days, immigrant advocacy groups have argued that Immigration and Customs Enforcement seemed to be going beyond the norm by arresting people who did not represent a public safety threat."
"But John Kelly, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement Monday that the roundups were routine, targeting convicted criminals, gang members and others who posed public safety threats, as well as those who had illegally reentered the country after being removed and “immigration fugitives” who had already appeared before immigration judges and faced final removal orders."
READ MORE related to Immigration: Actor George Takei shows solidarity with Muslim community at LA City Hall -- Daily News' STAFF; PHOTOS: Actor and activist George Takei presented over 300,000 petition signatures supporting the Muslim Community -- Daily News' T. CORDOVA
State lawmaking is a confusing landscape to navigate if you're not adequately informed. Capitol Weekly's Chris Micheli attempts to enlighten.
Capitol Weekly's CHRIS MICHELI: "Over the years, there have been myriad misconceptions about different aspects of state law making. So let’s hold our breath, take a deep dive into the Capitol and separate the myths from the reality. Later, we’ll also look at amendments, committees, the governor, special sessions, floor actions and the like."
"Misconception: Only urgency bills take effect immediately."
"Reality: Nope, not always."
U.C. President Janet Napolitano has emerged as a bulwark for undocumented students.
EdSource's LOUIS FREEDBERG: "When Janet Napolitano was named president of the University of California over three years ago, her appointment provoked impassioned protests by students and others upset about her role as head of the Department of Homeland Security overseeing the deportation of more than 2.5 million undocumented immigrants."
"At the July 2013 board of regents meeting when she was selected to the position, protesters brandishing signs like “Undocumented is not a crime, Napolitano, it’s not your time” briefly shut down the proceedings. Student regent Cinthia Flores, the only dissenting vote against her on the board, said Napolitano’s background in immigration enforcement would “cast a long shadow on her future endeavors” at the university."
"Fast forward to today. Napolitano has emerged as one of the leading defenders of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which has provided temporary relief from deportation to three-quarters of a million undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children, including many attending UC."
READ MORE related to Education: Superintendent calls to extend Butte school closures all week -- Chico Enterprise-Record's STAFF
A refugee who came to America from war-torn Iraq in 2003 has attempted to sue the former Bush administration for his 'war of aggression' in her home country, but has been rejected by San Francisco's federal appeals court.
The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO: "A federal appeals court in San Francisco has rejected a woman’s attempt to hold former President George W. Bush and his top officials to account for their alleged “war of aggression” in her native Iraq, saying federal employees can’t be sued for carrying out their job duties."
"Sundus Shaker Saleh, who fled with four of her children when the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 and is now a refugee abroad, filed the suit in San Francisco in 2013 against Bush, former Vice President Dick Cheney and other administration officials. Saying the war was based on fabricated claims of weapons of mass destruction and violated international law, she sought damages on behalf of all innocent Iraqi civilians who suffered harm."
"Without deciding whether the war was legal, the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco said a 1988 law shields federal employees at all levels from suits for actions they performed in service to the government, even if they violated U.S. or international law."
CalPERS' investment in the DAPL has drawn the ire of those protesting the controversial pipeline's construction.
Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON: "After hearing sometimes tearful testimony from environmentalists and Native Americans, the CalPERS Board of Directors indicated on Monday that it would consider divesting from the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline project."
"The board did not make a final decision, but several of its members said they were swayed by the dozens of people who raised objections to an 1,100-mile pipeline that would carry oil from North Dakota to Illinois."
"Many of them were retired public employees who said the investment jeopardized their future by supporting a fossil fuel business that they consider to be a danger to the environment."
READ MORE related to Economy: Steven Mnuchin wins slim vote for Treasury secretary -- now he goes to work on taxes and regulations -- L.A. Times' JIM PUZZANGHERA; Investment shift costs CalPERS $900 million in potential gains -- Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON; Toshiba chairman steps down over huge nuclear business loss -- AP's YURI KAGEYAMA; Gasoline prices creeping back up -- Union-Tribune's STAFF; Chargers ready to 'Fight for L.A.' -- Union-Tribune's STAFF; #NakedIsNormal: Playboy magazine reverses position and brings back nude pictorials -- AP; Are consumers falling out of love with Valentine's Day cards? -- The Press-Enterprise's DAVID DOWNEY; Kings broadcaster Bob Miller to sit out February -- Daily News' TOM HOFFARTH; Recent Trump win on China trademark raises ethics questions -- AP's ERIKA KINETZ; Ghost Ship fire fallout has the LA Derby Dolls roller derby league racing to keep their home -- Daily News' KEVIN SMITH