AP: "California’s governor and legislative leaders on Wednesday proposed raising $52 billion to fix the state’s roads through a big gasoline tax increase, higher car registration fees and a charge on emission-free vehicles."
"The 10-year plan would boost gasoline excise taxes for the first time in more than two decades, raising them 12 cents per gallon — a 43 percent increase. The tax would rise automatically with inflation."
"For the first time, owners of zero emission vehicles would pay a $100 annual fee because they use public roads but don’t pay gasoline taxes that fund highway maintenance."
READ MORE related to Economy: SF's bitter real estate war is killing off the elderly -- The Chronicle's DAVID TALBOT; $3-million real estate deal with Paul Manafort's son-in-law goes south for Dustin Hoffman and son -- LA Times' DANIEL MILLER; Sacramento tries to fend off LA in race for $44m from VW to boost electric cars -- Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER/ANITA CHABRIA; Jerry Brown, Democratic leaders agree to increase taxes to fix California roads -- Sacramento Bee's JIM MILLER
Could Gavin Newsom vs. John Cox be the final matchup in the race for next governor of California?
Sacramento Bee's CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO: "A Republican newcomer now leads the pack of candidates trailing frontrunner Gavin Newsom in next year’s race for California governor, according to a new statewide poll Wednesday."
"Among the five announced candidates, Newsom, who as lieutenant governor has been grooming himself for the top elected position, is out ahead with support from 28 percent of voters, the Berkeley IGS Poll found. Running behind him at 18 percent is John Cox, a Republican businessman from Rancho Santa Fe who announced his candidacy earlier this month."
"The pair are followed by three Democrats: former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at 11 percent, Treasurer John Chiang at 8 percent and former state schools chief Delaine Eastin at 3 percent. Nearly a third of voters remain undecided."
Sacramento Bee's LORETTA KALB: "Students at most San Juan Unified schools will see their first class delayed by five minutes next fall in an attempt to improve performance and allow better sleep."
"District trustees Tuesday night voted unanimously for the proposal, which will delay start times by five minutes a year in each of the next three school years."
"Board President Mike McKibbin said Wednesday that trustees wanted to change start times in small increments to minimize disruption to family schedules."
READ MORE related to Education: Frank Gehry's vast archive joins the Getty's collection -- NY Times/CA Today's JOSHUA BARONE; Guidelines designed to help districts implement new science standards -- EdSource's CAROLYN JONES
The site of another deadly fire in Oakland had a troubled history when it came to following the law.
The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER/JK DINEEN/SARAH RAVANI: "The West Oakland halfway house struck by a deadly blaze this week drew complaints about unsafe living conditions for years, but the city allowed well over a year to pass between the last two fire inspections, an apparent breach of a state law requiring annual reviews."
"Oakland fire officials said Wednesday that the three-story building on San Pablo Avenue that was occupied by clients of nonprofit aid groups had been inspected seven times this decade: twice in 2010, twice in 2012, and once each in 2014, 2015 and 2017."
LA mayor Garcetti didn't back down from his city's immigrant detention policy when meeting with the Homeland Security chief this week.
Daily News' ELIZABETH CHOU: "Mayor Eric Garcetti, who is in Washington, D.C., this week, said he and other mayors spoke to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly on Wednesday about the responsibilities of cities to follow the United States Constitution when dealing with immigrants who are in the country illegally."
“One of the things we wanted to underscore with Secretary Kelly this morning was (that) upholding the Constitution means abiding by the decisions the courts have put forward,” Garcetti said after the meeting, during remarks at a House Democrats-led forum on President Donald Trump’s immigration policies."
"The court decisions limit the ability of local law enforcement to keep immigrants in their custody longer than the usual 48 hours, and cities can be put at risk of breaking the law, Garcetti said."
READ MORE related to Immigration: Mexican state attorney general arrested at US border in San Diego on drug trafficking charges -- LA Times' MATT HAMILTON; California Democrats want a 'sanctuary state' for immigrants here illegally. But those who are felons should be sent packing -- LA Times' GEORGE SKELTON; Refugee or militant? High-stakes screening outside Mosul -- LA Times' MOLLY HENNESSY-FISKE; Sacramento schools join legal effort challenging Trump on sanctuary penalties -- Sacramento Bee's LORETTA KALB
A bipartisan senate panel headed by Senator Richard Burr and Mark Warner probing Russia's election interference held a press conference on Capitol Hill yesterday.
Daily News: "Pledging cooperation, the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee said Wednesday they would steer clear of politics in their panel’s probe of Russian interference in last year’s election. They made a point of putting themselves at arm’s length from the House investigation marked by partisanship and disputes."
"Richard Burr of North Carolina, the GOP chairman of the Senate committee, told reporters on Capitol Hill he would not even answer questions about the House probe. “We’re not asking the House to play any role in our investigation. We don’t plan to play any role in their investigation,” Burr said ahead of his panel’s open hearing Thursday."
"Standing alongside his committee’ ranking Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, Burr said: “Mark and I work hand in hand on this. … We’re partners to see that this is completed and that we have a product at the end of the day that we can, in bipartisanship, support.”
READ MORE related to Beltway: Senate heads for 'nuclear option' if Democrats filibuster Gorsuch nomination -- LA Times' LISA MASCARO
The battle for America's health care isn't over yet, say officials and insurers.
The Chronicle's CATHERINE HO: "Buoyed by Congress’ failed attempt last week to replace the Affordable Care Act, California officials, health advocates and insurance executives are pressing forward on a new phase of resistance against GOP efforts to weaken the health care law."
'California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones sent a letter Wednesday to the White House and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, urging the administration to enforce the law."