California could take the helm in the battle over repealing the ACA by instituting its own single-payer, Medicare-like healthcare access system.
L.A. Times' SOUMYA KARLAMANGLA: "With President Trump now vowing to put forward a replacement for the Affordable Care Act in March, some California politicians and healthcare advocates are once again promoting the idea of a state-run “single-payer” system that operates like Medicare."
"Backers say the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s promise to repeal Obamacare presents California with a chance to rethink how healthcare is delivered to its 39 million residents."
"Why wouldn’t we take this as an opportunity to create what we want in California?” Dr. Mitch Katz, head of L.A. County’s health department, said at a conference in December. He mentioned a single-payer system as a possible solution."
READ MORE related to Health: Ask Emily: Health and taxes -- EMILY BAZAR in Capitol Weekly; She voted for Trump. Now she fears losing the Obamacare plan that saved her life -- L.A. Times' NOAM N. LEVEY; Science closing in on polio-like virus that paralyzed children -- The Chronicle's ERIN ALLDAY; Doctors tweak aid-in-dying drugs to prevent prolonged deaths -- California Healthline's JONEL ALECCIA
A debris pile on the Oroville Dam spillway has prompted its closure by the dam's operators as the experts ramp up removal.
Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER: "Oroville Dam operators plan to halt water releases from the dam’s battered spillway Monday in order to ramp up efforts to remove a debris pile that’s preventing them from restarting a hydroelectric plant."
"It will mark the first time since Feb. 7, when a giant crater opened in the concrete spillway, that no water has been released from Lake Oroville."
"The state Department of Water Resources announced Sunday that with water levels at Lake Oroville reduced to 842 feet, and inflows at a modest 25,000 cubic feet per second, dam operators are confident that shutting off the outflows from the spillway makes sense."
The California Coastal Commission has named a new executive director: senior employee Jack Ainsworth.
Daily News' LAUREN WILLIAMS: "One year after a management shake-up at the California Coastal Commission drew withering criticism and raised questions about the agency’s commitment to preserving the state’s shoreline, a milestone has been reached in the powerful regulatory body’s effort to regain stability and public trust."
"This month, commissioners unanimously appointed a new executive director, Jack Ainsworth, a 29-year agency veteran who stepped up as an interim leader after a former top manager was abruptly dismissed over the loud objections of environmentalists, community groups and some elected officials."
"Ainsworth’s appointment comes at a precarious time for the agency charged with ensuring public access and controlling development along 1,100 miles of coastline. The commission is facing a host of weighty decisions amid shifting political values on conservation at the federal level and possible changes in the 12-member panel that could alter its direction and priorities."
READ MORE related to Environment: Heavy rains hit farmers market vendors hard -- Sacramento Bee's ELLEN GARRISON; Where to go for Spring Break -- N.Y. Times' MICHELLE HIGGINS
Meanwhile, California's GOP is trying to align itself more closely with President Trump.
Sacramento Bee's CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO: "The California Republican Party moved Sunday into greater alignment with President Donald Trump, approving resolutions opposing sanctuary cities, advocating robust vetting of citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations and supporting a swift repeal of the federal healthcare overhaul."
"Delegates to the state party, meeting in Sacramento for their annual spring convention, also voted to reaffirm their aversion for tax and fee increases proposed as part of the state’s 2017-18 budget."
"The resolutions, drafted with the help of longtime conservative activist Steve Frank, come as Republicans labor to identify common ground with Trump as some of their officials continue to distance themselves from his more controversial stances and statements."
READ MORE related to Local: Jim Brulte easily re-elected California GOP boss -- Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART; California's Republican party is buoyed by Trump, but struggles for relevance at home -- L.A. Times' SEEMA MEHTA/CHRISTINE MAI-DUC; How lawsuits are forcing cities to face their homeless issues -- O.C. Register's THERESA WALKER
A unprecedented gaffe at the Academy Awards saw 'Moonlight' ultimately take home the Best Picture award.
AP's JAKE COYLE: "Barry Jenkins' "Moonlight" — not, as it turned out, "La La Land" — won best picture at the Academy Awards in a historic Oscar upset and an unprecedented fiasco that saw one winner swapped for another while the "La La Land" producers were in mid-speech."
"Presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway apparently took the wrong envelope — the one for best actress winner Emma Stone — onto the stage for the final prize. When they read "La La Land" as the winner, representatives for ballot tabulators PwC — formerly Price Waterhouse Coopers — realized the mistake and raced onstage to try to stop the acceptance speeches. Host Jimmy Kimmel came forward to inform the cast that "Moonlight" had indeed won, showing the inside of the envelope as proof. "I knew I would screw this up," said Kimmel, a first-time host."
READ MORE related to Economy: 'Apollo 13' and 'Titanic' actor Bill Paxton dead at 61 -- AP's LINDSEY BAHR; Judge Joseph Wapner, who presided over 'The People's Court,' dies at 97 -- L.A. Times' DENNIS MCLELLAN; Developers of affordable housing in California are on pins and needles over Trump's tax plan -- L.A. Times' LIAM DILLON; Why Snapchat's unprecedented real estate strategy in Venice could be tech's new standard -- L.A. Times' NINA AGRAWAL; Developers are finally taking interest in South L.A. Will Measure S kill those dreams? -- L.A. Times' ANGEL JENNINGS/MATT STEVENS; EU extends arms embargo, some sanctions against Belarus -- AP; Trump is a topic at the Oscars for jokes, protest -- AP's DAVID BAUDER
California's roads are getting renewed, critical scrutiny this year.
Sacramento Bee's TONY BIZJAK: "Oroville Dam isn’t the only piece of California dancing on the edge of disaster this month."
"For years, people in the transportation world have complained California roads and other infrastructure have been quietly crumbling. With this winter’s heavy rains, that deterioration is no longer quiet. It’s become YouTube fodder."
"That includes sensational video last week of a fire truck suddenly plummeting off the edge of a collapsed section of Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County and a video in Studio City of two cars disappearing into a 20-foot-deep sinkhole in the middle of a residential street."
Jerry Brown's plans to upgrade California's infrastructure may come at an increased cost to Californians.
READ MORE related to Transportation: "The way California raises money to maintain and repair state highways and local roads has largely been the same for more than two decades."
"Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic legislative leaders want to change that, and Californians would pay more as a result."
"In what would be the biggest shakeup of state transportation funding since the early 1990s, they are trying to craft a package that would raise billions of dollars for road upkeep, goods movement and public transit, mostly through a mix of higher taxes and fees."
READ MORE related to Transportation: Caltrans: Work continues on storm-damaged highways in foothills, Sierra -- Sacramento Bee's JESSICA HICE/CATHY LOCKE
A Sacramento cop is being called a hero after saving an elederly woman from a burning building.
Sacramento Bee's JESSICA HICE: "A Sacramento police officer rescued an elderly woman from a burning South Sacramento home Saturday afternoon."
"Just around 5 p.m., Officer Justin Freeman and a ride-along officer-in-training were headed to a call when they noticed smoke coming from a home in the 7000 block of Westmoreland Way."
"I saw a lot of smoke pouring out of the garage and there was a bunch of people in the street,” Freeman said. He alerted the Sacramento Fire Department and moments later reached the house. Family members urgently said, “Grandma won’t leave the house."
READ MORE related to Public Safety: She never saw a female firefighter growing up. Now she's Woodland's new fire chief. --Sacramento Bee's NASHELLY CHAVEZ; Police identify victims in Santa Rosa homicides -- The Chronicle's JILL TUCKER; Guilty plea coming from Takata, and GDP estimate will be revised -- N.Y. Times' California Today STAFF
Many undocumented immigrants on the border find themselves in a sort of nail-biting limbo.
L.A. Times' PATRICK J. MCDONNELL: "At a shelter here across the border from Arizona, volunteers are stocking food and other supplies in case of a large influx of deportees from the other side."
“We don’t want any surprises from Mr. Trump,” Juan Francisco Loureiro, director of the Don Bosco migrant center, said of the U.S. president’s plans to step up deportations. “We need to be ready.”
"Along the border, dejected recent deportees and new arrivals from the south headed for the U.S. are weighing whether to vault for the north or just go home — essentially, admitting defeat."
READ MORE related to Immigration: Oscar-winning Syrian rescue group says award is inspiration -- AP's SARAH EL DEEB; SF tourism industry fears impact of Trump immigration policies -- The Chronicle's TRISHA THADANI
Philip M. Bilden has withdrawn from his consideration for Navy secretary due to financial conflicts of interest.
L.A. Times' W.J. HENNIGAN: "Philip M. Bilden, President Trump’s pick for Navy secretary, withdrew from consideration late Sunday, becoming the second White House nominee to bail on a top Pentagon position due to problems untangling his financial investments."
"After an extensive review process, I have determined that I will not be able to satisfy the Office of Government Ethics requirements without undue disruption and materially adverse divestment of my family's private financial interests,” Bilden said in a statement."
"He did not detail the issues but he said he “fully” supported “the president's agenda … to modernize and rebuild our Navy and Marine Corps."
READ MORE related to Beltway: A divided White House still offers little guidance on replacing Obamacare -- WaPo's JULIET EILPERIN