The Delta tunnels project has reached a pivotal stage in its development after receiving "a crucial green light from two federal agencies."
Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER: "The Delta tunnels got a crucial green light from two federal agencies Monday when scientists said the controversial project can co-exist with the endangered fish that inhabit the waters of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta."
"In a pair of long-awaited decisions, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service said the tunnels, known as California WaterFix, aren’t likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the Delta smelt, Chinook salmon, steelhead and other imperiled species."
"WaterFix will not jeopardize or threaten endangered species, or adversely modify their critical habitat,” said Paul Souza, regional director with Fish & Wildlife, which is responsible for protecting Delta smelt. Barry Thom, regional administrator at the Fisheries Service, said his agency made a similar conclusion that “the project doesn’t deepen any harm."
READ MORE related to Environment: Key federal agencies clear way for proposed delta tunnel project -- The Chronicle's CAROLYN LOCHHEAD
The Board of Equalization is a storied-yet-somewhat-obscure California agency with a tumultuous record, and after nearly a century, its functions are being parsed out among new entities.
Capitol Weekly's CHUCK MCFADDEN: "Ask the average Californian what the state Board of Equalization (BOE) does and you’re likely to get a blank look."
"That may not matter anymore. Much of what the 138-year-old agency does — which includes collecting some $60 billion in taxes — may be taken away from it amid a spate of recent reports about potential corruption and possible criminality. The board has a long and checkered past, and is often referred to in the Capitol, accurately, as “powerful but obscure.”
"It may soon just become “obscure.”
A new digital divide in California is rearing its head as a technological caste system is being established: Households who rely solely on smartphones for internet access are on the rise, but inadequate connectivity threatens said households' productivity and their inhabitants' abilities to flesh out necessary skills in today's economic landscape.
East Bay Times' SEUNG LEE: "California faces a growing class of “under-connected” households that rely only on smartphones for online access, a trend that may worsen the state’s economic inequality, according to a report released Monday by UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies."
"In 2017, more Californians — 87 percent of the state’s households — had broadband Internet connectivity at home. But of those, 18 percent had smartphones as their only computing devices, more than double the 8 percent just two years earlier."
"While smartphones provide a cheaper, more portable way to get online, their limited computing power hinders the development of basic computing skills, leaving smartphone-only households much less likely to be integrated into California’s booming tech economy, experts said."
READ MORE related to Economy: Despite Republican opposition, Dodd-Frank not going anywhere -- The Chronicle's THOMAS LEE; Despite money and effort, homelessness in SF as bad as ever -- The Chronicle's HEATHER KNIGHT
An Oakland councilmember announced Monday his intentions to run for an East Bay State Assembly seat in District 15.
East Bay Times' CASEY TOLAN: "Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb announced he was running for an East Bay State Assembly seat on Monday, joining a growing field competing for an open seat."
"Kalb, who’s in his second term representing North Oakland on the city council, is running in Assembly District 15, which stretches from Hercules and Pinole through Richmond, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont and parts of Oakland."
"All through my career, I have dedicated myself to solving big problems by bringing folks together with determination and in good faith,” Kalb said in a statement. “Our leaders must get creative to tackle our toughest problems with innovative solutions. I know I can do that in Sacramento because I’ve done it time and time again on the City Council and throughout my career."
Sacramento's city riverfront manager has big dreams: a grand structure similar in scope to the St. Louis Gateway Arch that embodies and celebrates the capital city's rich railroad history.
Sacramento Bee's RYAN LILLIS/TONY BIZJAK: "Is Sacramento’s version of the famed Gateway Arch coming to the riverfront?"
"As the city embarks on a reinvention of Old Sacramento and the waterfront, the man leading the effort thinks the city should build an interactive monument on the river at the site of the city’s birth."
"Richard Rich, the city’s riverfront manager, will ask the City Council on Tuesday to form a committee of artists, business leaders and others to explore how a large monument could be funded and built at Front and K streets in Old Sacramento. It’s early in the process, but one idea Rich is floating is a work that shoots steam – as if from a locomotive – drawing crowds like Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park."
California's gun magazine law overhaul goes in to affect July 1st, so doublecheck that gun safe and make sure you're in compliance.
Sacramento Bee's RYAN SABALOW: "Sweeping new gun laws passed last year by California voters and legislators require those with magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition to get rid of them by July 1."
"The question is: How many of California’s 6 million-plus gun owners are actually going to comply, even though violators face potential jail time if they’re caught?"
"Talk to gun owners, retailers and pro-gun sheriffs across California and you’ll get something akin to an eye roll when they’re asked if gun owners are going to voluntarily part with their property because Democratic politicians and voters who favor gun control outnumber them and changed the law."
California regulators have taken major steps Monday in being the first state to officially label the weed killer Roundup as a cancerous substance. (Click here to see Capitol Weekly's earlier story on this issue).
AP's SCOTT SMITH: "Regulators in California took a pivotal step on Monday toward becoming the first state to require the popular weed killer Roundup to come with a label warning that it's known to cause cancer."
"Officials announced that starting July 7 the weed killer's main ingredient, glyphosate, will appear on a list California keeps of potentially cancerous chemicals. A year later, the listing could come with warning labels on the product, officials said."
"However, it's not certain whether Roundup will ultimately get a warning label."
CNN sees a major shake up after a controversial story involving Trump team's Anthony Scaramucci was retracted, forcing the ouster of three of the network's journalists.
LA Times' STEPHEN BATTAGLIO: "Three journalists from CNN’s investigative unit are leaving the network after the retraction of their June 22 story connecting an ally of President Trump to a Russian investment fund."
"The story, citing an anonymous source, said Senate investigators were examining a meeting between Wall Street financier Anthony Scaramucci and an executive for the Russian Direct Investment Fund. The $10-billion fund makes direct investments in Russian companies."
"Scaramucci, who founded hedge fund specialist SkyBridge Capital, served on Trump’s transition team."
READ MORE related to Beltway/Kremlingate: There's an SF connection to major challenge to GOP gerrymandering -- The Chronicle's MATIER & ROSS; White House warns Syria's Assad against chemical attack -- AP; Syria rejects US chemical attack allegations -- AP; Justice Gorsuch makes conservative mark in 4 Supreme Court cases -- The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO
The Senate Republican healthcare repeal continues to face mounting obstacles as an increasing number of GOP senators rescind their support for the controversial bill.
LA Times' LISA MASCARO: "The Senate Republican healthcare bill ran into serious trouble late Monday when key GOP senators indicated they may block the Obamacare overhaul from proceeding to a vote this week."
"Political turmoil has been building over the bill for days. But GOP tension burst open after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported that 22 million more Americans would lose insurance coverage under the plan and that out-of-pocket costs for many of those buying policies on the Affordable Care Act marketplace would rise."
"Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hoped to start procedural votes by Wednesday, and President Trump called key senators over the weekend as support splintered."
Speaking of controversial, Trump's travel ban saw some reprieve in the Supreme Court after a compromise: Anyone with a "bona fide relationship with a person/entity in the US" can not be denied entry, leaving the ban to primarily affect tourists from 6 Muslim-majority nations.
The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO: "The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that President Trump could enforce part of his travel ban, aimed at nations with overwhelmingly Muslim populations, at least until the court decides in its next term whether the ban is constitutional."
"But until then the wording of Monday’s decision generated mostly confusion about who will be permitted to enter the country, who can’t and who decides."