Covered California announces 12.5 percent premium hikes in 2018, but what's this new surcharge?
Sacramento Bee's CATHIE ANDERSON: "California consumers buying insurance for 2018 through the state’s insurance exchange will see average premiums increases of 12.5 percent, but by comparison pricing, many could limit their premium hikes to 3.3 percent, Covered California officials announced Tuesday."
"The increase was a little lower than the average 13.2 Covered California premium hike implemented this year, despite uncertainty over the future of the Affordable Care Act amid Republican attempts to repeal the law. The average 2018 increase was also much lower than premium hikes seen in several other states."
“Covered California remains robust and strong, and we are pleased to welcome back all 11 plans to compete in regions across the state,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee. “While there is ongoing uncertainty and a lack of clarity at the federal level, consumers who need affordable health insurance will continue to have good choices in Covered California next year."
READ MORE related to Health: State worker's boses fired him over a medical test. Now taxpayers owe his widow $500,000 -- Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON; Birth of compromise on Obamacare? -- AP
Gavin Newsom outpaces rivals in fundraising race for governor.
The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH: "Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom leads the 2018 fundraising race for governor, pulling in $5.4 million in the first six months of the year, according to campaign finance reports filed with the California secretary of state."
"Fundraising continues to be extremely strong,” Dan Newman, a spokesman for the campaign, said in a statement, noting that the former San Francisco mayor has received contributions from more than 81,000 donors. “Bottom line: It’s very early, but it’s going very well."
READ MORE related to State: Rep. Ted Lieu speaks to activists working to oust GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher at 'empty chair' town hall -- LA Times' JAVIER PANZAR
Politically, millennials are a pain.
Capitol Weekly's CHUCK MCFADDEN: "Millennials are better educated than previous generations; they are technologically savvy. For political types, they are a headache."
"They are the largest living generation. Even though there are 9.4 million California millennials, making them a potentially rich source of votes, they don’t vote in very high percentages unless they’re thrilled. They get more excited about general elections than midterms. That’s true of the electorate as a whole, usually, but it’s especially evident among millennials."
"The core of the millennials is the group of people aged 18-to-34 years, which is how we use the term as it relates to California voters, but some demographers and media types say it is anyone born as early as 1976 and as late as 2004. So go figure."
LA Times' LAIM DILLON: "Every week, Yolanda Bowie’s part-time job as a driver for Lyft and Uber takes her from her Sacramento home and across the constellation of cities that make up the greater Bay Area."
"Bowie was surprised when Lyft told her recently that she might have to pay for a business license to drive in each one of them. If that happened, Bowie said, she would stop working for the companies."
"I drive to pay for my Harley,” Bowie, 50, said, “not extra fees for business licenses."
READ MORE related to Transportation: Officials approve reopening some California thrill rides shut down after fatal malfunction in Ohio -- LA Times' ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN
Activists say they will rush into action during federal immigration raids in Sacramento.
Sacramento Bee's NASHELLY CHAVEZ: "Local activists announced Tuesday they will rush into action to help undocumented immigrants during federal raids within Sacramento County."
"The Sacramento Immigration Coalition has trained about 60 volunteers to serve as legal observers who will take video and notes during any Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions reported to the group’s 24-hour hotline. Observers also will provide detainees with contact information for local attorneys."
"The coalition also said its emergency hotlinewill double as a resource for undocumented immigrants with questions. The number is 916-245-6773."
Why California has tossed drinking water limit on 'Erin Brockovich' chemical.
Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER/RYAN SABALOW: "California’s water agency Tuesday agreed to eliminate the cap on hexavalent chromium in drinking water, the toxic chemical made famous in the movie “Erin Brockovich."
"The State Water Resources Control Board said it removed the cap after a Sacramento judge ruled in May that its regulation was invalid. Spokesman Andrew DiLucca said the board would begin work quickly on a new version of the regulation, although the process generally takes 18 to 24 months."
"The decision doesn’t mean there are no limits on hexavalent chromium, also known as chrome 6. The state’s less-stringent maximum ceiling for total chromium remains in place, including chrome 6 and a chemical called trivalent chromium. Trivalent chromium isn’t considered toxic."
READ MORE related to Environment: An ode to the Embarcadero Freeway, the blight by the bay -- The Chronicle's BILL VAN NIEKERKEN
Justice Dept. to use resources to sue universities over discrimination against whites, document says
Sacramento Bee's CHARLIE SAVAGE: "The Trump administration is preparing to redirect resources of the Justice Department’s civil rights division toward investigating and suing universities over affirmative action admissions policies deemed to discriminate against white applicants, according to a document obtained by The New York Times."
"The document, an internal announcement to the civil rights division, seeks current lawyers interested in working for a new project on “investigations and possible litigation related to intentional race-based discrimination in college and university admissions.”
"The announcement suggests that the project will be run out of the division’s front office, where the Trump administration’s political appointees work, rather than its Educational Opportunities Section, which is run by career civil servants and normally handles work involving schools and universities."
See where California is taking guns with restraining orders
Sacramento Bee's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "California courts ordered people to temporarily give up possession of their firearms 86 times last year."
"A new law, which took effect in 2016, allows family members or law enforcement officers to seek a “gun violence restraining order” against someone they believe poses an “immediate and present danger” of harming themselves or others. Generally, the suspension expires within 21 days, though in 10 cases last year, the judge held a hearing and extended the order to one year because they determined the individual was still a substantial threat."
"Legislators proposed the gun violence restraining order in 2014, in the wake of a mass murder in the college town of Isla Vista where six individuals were killed by stabbing and shooting. Supporters, including the parents of slain students, argued the law would provide a tool to prevent future tragedies. (Local authorities had conducted a welfare check on the Isla Vista shooter after his parents raised concerns about his mental health.) But critics worried about officials stripping guns from people without good cause and violating the rights of individuals who have not yet committed a crime."
Conservative media is keeping tabs on Kamala Harris.
Sacramento Bee's CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO: "U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris has given little public consideration to running for president in 2020. But the conservative media is all over it already."
"While the freshman Democrat from California is a star in the making for liberal pundits, Harris has become a growing target of far-right websites, which are often vehicles for undesirable and unflattering tidbits of opposition research."
"This week, the Washington Free Beacon ran a story about her campaign renting office space from a travel agency on Capitol Hill, citing Federal Election Commission filings. Such offices are commonly used for officeholders to conduct their political affairs, including making phone calls to prospective donors."
Bashing Hillary Clinton back in style among Republicans.
Sacramento Bee's MATTHEW SCHOFIELD: "Hillary Clinton is back, as Republicans try to make people forget its failure to do much this year by bashing the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate."
"The GOP is returning to a time-tested strategy for rallying its base. It’s a tactic crucial to the party’s hopes for retaining control of the House and Senate next year, because so far, Republicans can’t promote their effectiveness."
"Despite control of the White House and both Houses of Congress, the party has been unable to repeal and replace Obamacare. Next month, it’s likely to struggle to revamp the tax code or spending significantly. And Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating ties between Russia and the Trump campaign."
READ MORE related to Beltway/Kremlingate: Sen. Jeff Flake is one Republican willing to take on President Trump and his party's 'denial' -- LA Times' LISA MASCARO; Pentagon misses deadline for finishing California Guard bonus review -- LA Times' DAVID S. CLOUD; Trump helped write his son's misleading statement about a 2016 meeting with Russians, White House acknowledges -- LA Times' NOAH BIERMAN