Capitol Basement

Mar 31, 2017

Smokers around the state are going to have sticker shock come Saturday.

Sacramento Bee's MARK GLOVER: "The cost of cigarettes sold in California will go up significantly, starting Saturday."

"That’s when the provisions of Proposition 56 – formally known as the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 and approved by voters last November– go into effect."

"The cigarette tax rate on Saturday spikes from the current 87 cents to $2.87 per pack of 20 cigarettes."

READ MORE related to Economy: Sales tax increases to kick in on April Fools Day -- no joke -- Sacramento Bee's CATHY LOCKE; Fairytale Town in Sacramento's Land Park to get first new play structure in 20 years -- Sacramento Bee's CATHY LOCKE; Will Trump's NAFTA revamp reflect all that tough talk on trade deals? Not exactly -- LA Times' DON LEE

A Sacramento Auschwitz survivor is receiving international attention for some choice words that he shared with authorities at an immigration forum.

Sacramento Bee's ED FLETCHER: "Bernard Marks, 87, will talk about the Holocaust with anyone who will listen."

"The world was listening this week after the Auschwitz survivor stood at a Sacramento immigration forum Tuesday and compared the Trump administration’s hardline stance on refugees and undocumented immigrants to Nazi Germany."

"History is not on your side,” Marks told Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, who hosted the forum featuring Thomas Homan,, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement."

READ MORE related to Immigration: For some California sheriffs, it's not politics stopping them from fully helping ICE: It's the legal risk -- LA Times' JOEL RUBIN/PALOMA ESQUIVEL

Gov. Brown equated his new infrastructure tax to parts of the food pyramid.

Sacramento Bee's CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO: "When Gov. Jerry Brown campaigned for his sales and income tax increase five years ago, he appealed to statewide voters by arguing it would cost them just “one penny more” for their cappuccinos."

"In the Bay Area trying to build support for his $5.2 billion road-funding package, Brown acknowledged Thursday that convincing the Legislature to raise fees and taxes on motorists was more akin to feeding them green vegetables than sweet confections."

"Gov. Jerry Brown, right, arrives with Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León at an event in Concord, Calif., on Thursday to press public support for $5.2-billion annual spending plan that involves tax and fee increases to pay for roads and transportation projects."'

READ MORE related to Transportation: Bay Area traffic called emergency in new poll: 'Never been this bad' -- EBT's GEORGE AVALOS; BART bathrooms to repoen with 'secure' layout -- EBT's GARY RICHARDS

READ MORE related to Local: The money race in LA's congressional election: 5 candidates have gotten 75% of the cash -- LA Times' CHRISTINE MAI-DUC/MALOY MOORE/RYAN MENEZES/JAVIER PANZAR

Some are wondering if this years record weather might prompt the governor to publicly announce a change in California's drought status.

Sacramento Bee's RyAN SABALOW: "Two years ago, Gov. Jerry Brown stood on a patch of bare Sierra dirt that should have been covered in feet of snow and declared the state was in a “historic drought.”

"Things couldn’t be more different this year as the state enters the traditional start of its long dry season."

"On Thursday, the state recorded 94 inches of snow where Brown stood in 2015 at the Phillips Station off Highway 50 in the Sierra. Melted down, that would be the equivalent of 46 inches of water."

Michael Flynn is now seeking immunity in the mounting Russian conspiracy looming ominously over the Trump presidency.

LA Times' DAVID S. CLOUD: "President Trump's former national security advisor, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, has been seeking immunity from prosecution in return for testifying to the House and Senate intelligence committees, a congressional official confirmed Thursday."

"The negotiations were first reported by the Wall Street Journal."

"In a statement, Flynn's lawyer, Robert Kelner, said "Gen. Flynn certainly had a story to tell and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit."

READ MORE related to Beltway: Top aide to President Donald Trump leaves administration -- AP's JULIE BYKOWICZ; The creator of "Cards Against Humanity" is threatening to buy and expose US Congress members' browsing history -- QUARTZ's JOON IAN WONG

A case in which a man was beaten during arrest has found 1 deputy involved to be guilty of abuse under color of authority, but the jury has deadlocked on the rest of the defendants.

"A San Bernardino County jury Thursday convicted a sheriff’s deputy of assault for his role in the televised beating of a man in the high desert after a horseback pursuit."

"Jurors found Charles Foster guilty of assault under the color of authority by a public officer, a charge that carries up to three years in county jail, according to Chris Lee, spokesman for the San Bernardino County district attorney’s office."

"But Foster’s verdict — a rare vote of guilt for a sworn law enforcement officer — was only a partial victory for prosecutors: The jury deadlocked over two other sheriff’s deputies charged in the case."

READ MORE related to Public Safety: Richmond sergeant punched by man he was trying to help -- EBT's KATHLEEN KIRKWOOD

California is behind much of the rest of the nation when it comes to kindergarten education.

EdSource's LOUIS FREEDBERG/SUSAN FREY: "Even though substantial research shows that children benefit academically from attending a full-day kindergarten program, only about 70 percent of California’s elementary schools offer full-day programs, according to a new EdSource report."

"That’s in part because state law requires schools to offer only a half-day of kindergarten, and the state pays school districts the same amount, based on student attendance, regardless of whether they offer a half-day or full-day program, according the report titled “Expanded Early Learning Time: Accessing Full-Day Preschool and Kindergarten in California,“

"Districts who offer full-day classes must come up with the funds to cover the extra costs of hiring more teachers, finding the additional classroom space, and other expenses from other parts of their budgets. There is, therefore, a financial incentive to only offer half-day classes."

Smokers await Saturday tax hike