Drug industry spent millions to squelch talk about high drug prices
California Healthline's JAY HANCOCK: "Facing bipartisan hostility over high drug prices in an election year, the pharma industry’s biggest trade group boosted revenue by nearly a fourth last year and spread the millions collected among hundreds of lobbyists, politicians and patient groups, new filings show."
"It was the biggest surge for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, known as PhRMA, since the group took battle stations to advance its interests in 2009 during the run-up to the Affordable Care Act."
"Does that surprise you?” said Billy Tauzin, the former PhRMA CEO who ran the organization a decade ago as Obamacare loomed. Whenever Washington seems interested in limiting drug prices, he said, “PhRMA has always responded by increasing its resources."
READ MORE related to Health Care: GOP tax bill also manages to needlessly screw up the healthcare system -- LA Times' DAVID LAZARUS; No sweeteners added to tax bill to spread use of health savings accounts -- California Healthline's MICHELLE ANDREWS
Residents report nosebleeds and headaches after new leak at Aliso Canyon natural gas facility
LA Times' ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN: "Southern California Gas Co. late Monday reported a leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility during a routine operation to pressurize equipment after maintenance."
"In a community alert, the company said the leak occurred about 4:55 p.m. and didn’t pose any health risks, though it did produce a noticeable odor."
"But Andrew Krowne, a Northridge resident who developed a cellphone application for those within 18 miles of the facility to report health issues, said 34 people reported symptoms including headaches, nosebleeds, and burning of the eyes and throat."
Republican tax plan is a 'monstrosity,' Jerry Brown says. but do Californians agree?
Sacramento Bee's CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO: "With California’s governor lambasting the Republican tax overhaul as an ugly “monstrosity,” a new statewide poll found the widespread perception that the bill will hurt the state."
"The survey, released late Monday by UC Berkeley’s Institute for Governmental Studies, shows 52 percent of Californians believe the federal legislation will adversely affect the state, while just 17 percent say it will have a positive impact. Fourteen percent don’t foresee the tax plan changing much in California. Republicans were split, 33 percent negative to 33 percent positive, over how it will impact the state."
"The general view that the law is bad for California could haunt GOP officials and candidates in next year’s midterm elections, poll director Mark DiCamillo said in an interview."
READ MORE related to Death & Taxes: A quick look at some of the biggest tax changes for Californians -- LA Times' SARAH D. WIRE; Congress expected to pass tax bill and then pivot to spending bill -- The Chronicle's CAROLYN LOCHHEAD
WaPo's RODIKA TOLLEFSON/LUZ LAZO/ASHLEY HALSEY III: "An Amtrak train making its inaugural trip on a new service from Seattle to Portland, Ore., derailed near here early Monday while crossing an overpass, toppling cars onto one of the busiest highways on the West Coast, killing at least three people and injuring about 100."https://edsource.org/2017/california-school-district-targets-underlying-issues-to-combat-chronic-absenteeism/591735
"The wreck left 65-ton passenger rail cars scattered — several of them on the highway below, one tucked under the bridge it was to cross, others beside the railroad embankment and one dangling from the bridge with an end resting on the rail car that had been in front of it. In all, 13 of the train’s cars jumped the tracks, officials said."
"At least five vehicles passing below on Interstate 5 — including two tractor-trailers — were heavily damaged as the rail cars from Amtrak Cascades train 501 fell from above."
READ MORE related to Olympia Train Disaster: Amtrak train that derailed in Washington was traveling at 80 mph in a 30 mph zone, investigators say -- AP
Firefighters have never seen a wildfire like this one
LA Times' MELISSA ETEHAD/ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN/HAILEY BRANSON-POTTS: "Over the last three weeks, the Thomas fire has burned its way through the history books with a menacing pattern."
"Powerful Santa Ana winds push flames through hillsides, mountains and canyons at a rapid pace firefighters can do little to control. Then the winds die down, giving crews a chance to regroup and mount aggressive defensive actions before the Santa Anas return."
"Firefighters are used to battling the wind, but not this much of it. Southern California set a record this month for the longest sustained period of fire weather warnings — 12 consecutive days — due to the winds, which have made it impossible for firefighters to get a handle on what is now California’s third-largest fire on record."
READ MORE related to The West is Burning: They leaped into a pool to save themselves from fire, their story went viral, now they are starting over -- LA Times' ROBIN ABCARIAN; Calm days bring gains on giant Southern California wildfire -- AP's CHRISTOPHER WEBER/ANDREW DALTON; Thomas Fire on course to become California's largest-ever wildfire -- CNN's EUAN MCKIRDY
GOP lures some mountain bike groups in its push to roll back protections for public land
LA Times' EVAN HALPER: "When their vision of creating a scenic cycling trail through a protected alpine backcountry hit a snag, San Diego area mountain bikers turned to an unlikely ally: congressional Republicans aiming to dilute conservation laws."
"The frustrations of the San Diego cycling group and a handful of similar organizations are providing tailwind to the GOP movement to lift restrictions on the country’s most ecologically fragile and pristine landscapes, officially designated “wilderness."
"Resentment of these cyclists over the longstanding ban on “mechanized” transportation in that fraction of the nation’s public lands presents a political opportunity for Republicans eager to drill fissures in the broad coalition of conservation-minded groups united against the GOP environmental agenda."
READ MORE related to Environment: EPA says herbicide in Roundup weed killer doesn't cause cancer, contradicting California regulators -- LA Times' GEOFFREY MOHAN
Fear and yelling in LA congressman's office led to silence on harassment, aides say
McClatchy DC's EMILY CADEI: "Los Angeles-area Congressman Brad Sherman says none of his staff ever complained about longtime aide and California Assemblyman Matt Dababneh, who’s been accused of sexual harassment while working in the congressman’s district office."
"Eight former aides said the environment in Sherman’s D.C. and California offices was so toxic, it was laughable to think junior staff would have felt comfortable raising concerns about harassment – or anything else."
"Congressman Sherman showed zero interest in the personal well-being of his staffers and there’s no reason to believe he would have cared or taken any action if a complaint was made,” said one former staffer."
READ MORE related to Boy's Club/#MeToo: Federal Judge Kozinski retires as sexual misconduct inquiry launched -- The Chronicle's SARAH RAVANI; OP-ED: Alex Kozinski's retirement doesn't end the discussion about sexual harassment in the judiciary -- LA Times Editorial Board
The secret backstory of how Obama let Hezbollah off the hook
Politico's JOSH MEYER: "In its determination to secure a nuclear deal with Iran, the Obama administration derailed an ambitious law enforcement campaign targeting drug trafficking by the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, even as it was funneling cocaine into the United States, according to a POLITICO investigation."
"The campaign, dubbed Project Cassandra, was launched in 2008 after the Drug Enforcement Administration amassed evidence that Hezbollah had transformed itself from a Middle East-focused military and political organization into an international crime syndicate that some investigators believed was collecting $1 billion a year from drug and weapons trafficking, money laundering and other criminal activities."
"Over the next eight years, agents working out of a top-secret DEA facility in Chantilly, Virginia, used wiretaps, undercover operations and informants to map Hezbollah’s illicit networks, with the help of 30 U.S. and foreign security agencies."
Medical examiner confirms heart attack killed Mayor Ed Lee
The Chronicle's STEVE RUBENSTEIN: "The San Francisco medical examiner confirmed that a heart attack killed San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee last week."
"The results of the examination were released on Monday. Lee died about 1 a.m. Dec. 12 after collapsing in a Safeway store on Monterey Boulevard near his home about three hours earlier."
"Lee, 65, was the city’s first Asian American mayor. He was appointed in 2011 to fill the term of Mayor Gavin Newsom, who was elected state lieutenant governor. Lee went on win two subsequent mayoral elections."
More H-1B hopefuls denied under Trump, data show
The Chronicle's TRISHA THADANI: "Foreigners who were once considered solid candidates for an H-1B visa — those with multiple degrees, high salaries offered by major tech companies and, in at least one case, an actual rocket scientist — are receiving extra scrutiny and delays on their applications."
"Thousands are also getting denied, prompting them to go home or revise their career plans."
"More than twice as many H-1B applications were rejected in November compared with the same time last year, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data provided to The Chronicle. The newly reported data show that the administration is acting on its promise to curtail a work program for foreigners that it says is rife with loopholes and abuse."
READ MORE related to Immigration: At a remote Texas border crossing, pleas for 'No wall' -- LA Times' MOLLY HENNESSY-FISKE
Trump administration: Union fees trample First Amendment
Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON: "Public employee unions bargaining for better wages are effectively “lobbying” government officials and should be barred from passing their fees onto workers who disagree with the political stances that labor leaders advocate, the Trump administration argues in a new Supreme Court brief."
"Trump’s solicitor general filed the brief last week in Janus vs. AFSCME, an Illinois case that could cost California public employee unions thousands of members and millions of dollars."
"A decision against AFSCME would forbid public employee unions from collecting so-called “fair share” fees from workers who do not want to join labor groups but benefit from representation. California is one of 22 states that allow public employee unions to charge them."
California school district targets underlying issues to combat chronic absenteeism
EdSource's LEE ROMNEY: "On an early fall evening, hundreds of students, ranging from 1st-graders to high school seniors, filed onto the stage of a cavernous auditorium at a San Francisco Bay Area high school. One by one, they marched to the microphone to state their name and their milestone in achieving perfect attendance for at least a year: Some had made the goal for four years, some for seven years. One girl, a recent graduate, received a trophy in absentia, for 12."
"Twelve years without a single tardy, let alone an absence."
"The annual ceremony is among a host of incentives the Pittsburg Unified School District uses to encourage attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism, defined in California as missing more than 10 percent of school days in a year for any reason — excused, unexcused or suspension."
READ MORE related to Education: OP-ED: Education: One student's triumphant odyssey -- CESAR BERNARDO TORRES in Capitol Weekly; From the field to the classroom: Pro sports teams are becoming players in math, science education -- EdSource's CAROLYN JONES
Berkeley may repeal law that lets police use pepper spray during violent protests
The Chronicle's KIMBERLY VEKLEROV: "A civilian commission in Berkeley worried about the health effects of pepper spray is urging the City Council to repeal an ordinance that allows police officers to use the chemical on violent protesters."
"The council approved the law in September in response to a series of destructive political clashes between extremist groups in the city. The vote overturned a 20-year-old ban on police using the eye-stinging spray for crowd control."
"Police officers have long been equipped with pepper spray, but were prohibited from using it when a mass of people was involved. The September ordinance gave them permission to deploy the agent on people committing violence in a crowd."
Sacramento Music Festival canceled after 44 years
Sacramento Bee's BENJY EGEL: "After 44 years, the final note has been played for the Sacramento Music Festival."
"The Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society announced the annual jubilee’s cancellation in a Facebook post Monday morning, ending years of speculation about its economic viability amid falling turnout."
"Previously known as the Old Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee, the festival had been held in Old Sacramento each Memorial Day weekend since 1974."
Comcast launches high-speed internet service throughout Sacramento area
Sacramento Bee's MARK GLOVER: "Comcast announced Tuesday that it is launching a new internet service that will deliver speeds up to 1 gigabit per second to residential and business customers in Sacramento and nine other cities in the area."
"The telecommunications giant said the speeds will be among the fastest in the region and include access to the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network of more than 18 million hotspots."
"Besides Sacramento, the high-speed service will be offered in Antelope, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Rancho Cordova, Rio Linda and Roseville. McClellan also will have access to the service."
New Twitter policies targeting abuse, hate groups lead to crackdown
The Chronicle's MARISSA LANG: "After months of promising a crackdown on hate speech and abuse on Twitter, the company on Monday suspended several accounts tied to an ultra-nationalist British group whose inflammatory anti-Muslim videos were retweeted by President Trump last month."
"Though the suspensions sparked outrage among far-right groups, Twitter’s move was anything but sudden."
"It was the latest in a steady rollout of policies that Twitter hopes will make the social network more approachable for non-users and more palatable for women and people of color — two groups that are among Twitter’s most loyal, as well as most vulnerable to the barbs of Internet trolls and abusers."
Scientists hope to inject robo-cat with AI to help seniors
AP's MICHELLE R. SMITH: "Imagine a cat that can keep a person company, doesn't need a litter box and can remind an aging relative to take her medicine or help find her eyeglasses."
"That's the vision of toymaker Hasbro and scientists at Brown University, who have received a three-year, $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to find ways to add artificial intelligence to Hasbro's "Joy for All" robotic cat."
"The cat, which has been on the market for two years, is aimed at seniors and meant to act as a "companion." It purrs and meows, and even appears to lick its paw and roll over to ask for a belly rub. The Brown-Hasbro project is aimed at developing additional capabilities for the cats to help older adults with simple tasks."
Saudis intercept Yemen rebel missile targeting royal palace
AP's ABDULLAH AL-SHIHRI/AYA BATRAWY: "The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Shiite rebels said it intercepted a missile fired over southern Riyadh on Tuesday, which the rebels said was targeting the royal palace in the kingdom’s capital."
"It was the second time in as many months that a rebel projectile had reached as far inside the kingdom as Riyadh."
"The Yemeni rebels said they launched a ballistic missile to target Yamama Palace in Riyadh, where King Salman chairs weekly government meetings and receives dignitaries and heads of state from around the world."
READ MORE related to International: Abu Dhabi's Louvre to unveil Leonardo painting 'very soon' -- AP's FAY ABUELGASIM
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The Roundup is compiled by Associate Editor Geoff Howard. Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email him at geoff@capitolweekly.net