Complaints, probes on judges kept secret by ruling
The Chronicle's CYNTHIA DIZIKES: "The agency that disciplines unethical judges in California does not have to release thousands of confidential judicial complaints and investigations sought by the state auditor, a San Francisco Superior Court judge has ruled."
"Judge Suzanne Ramos Bolanos said in her ruling this week that the state Constitution gives the San Francisco-based Commission on Judicial Performance the power to shield certain records, effectively trumping the auditor’s legislative authority to review government agencies."
"Regardless of the “merit or popularity” of the auditor’s arguments to view such records, Bolanos wrote, voters made clear in a 1994 proposition that amended the state constitution that only proceedings involving formal charges against judges would be public."
PG&E suspends dividends over possible wildfire costs
The Chronicle's DAVID R. BAKER: "PG&E Corp., the parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric Co., warned investors Wednesday that it will stop issuing dividends due to the possibility that the utility could be held liable for October’s deadly Wine Country wildfires, which caused more than $9 billion in damage."
"PG&E Corp. will suspend dividends on its common stock beginning with the fourth quarter of 2017. The company, whose most recent quarterly dividend was 53 cents per share, did not indicate when dividend payments might resume."
"Although the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, has not determined a cause for any of the North Bay fires, numerous homeowners have sued Pacific Gas and Electric Co., accusing the company of improper maintenance and operations of its equipment. A fierce windstorm the night the fires began knocked down PG&E utility poles and sent trees and limbs crashing into power lines. The fires killed 44 people."
READ MORE related to The West is Burning: Gov. Jerry Brown requests a major disaster declaration for SoCal wildfires -- LA Times' ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN; Powerful winds fan new dangers in Thomas fire: 'It will be the test to see if we have done everything correct' -- LA Times' NICOLE SANTA CRUZ/ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN; LA's increasingly hot and dry autumns result in 'these apocalyptic fires' -- LA Times' RONG-GONG LIN II; LA County looks to cut the red tape for Creek fire homeowners trying to rebuild -- Daily News' SUSAN ABRAM
In CA, high-speed rail partisans eye Washington crash
Capitol Weekly's CHUCK MCFADDEN: "Although it might be regarded as an opportunity to score points against Gov. Jerry Brown’s beloved high-speed rail project, the train crash that killed at least three people Monday is drawing a muted response from both opponents and boosters – at least for the time being."
"Amtrak Cascades Train 501, on its way from Seattle to Portland, Oregon, derailed southwest of Tacoma, and sent rail cars off a bridge onto the highway below. It was the maiden journey of a rail link that, if not quite a bullet train, was designed to provide fast travel times between the two major northwestern cities. The train was reportedly going 80 miles per hour when the accident occurred."
"In an email to Capitol Weekly, Aaron Fukuda, co-chair of anti-bullet-train Citizens for California High-Speed Rail Accountability, said"
READ MORE from Capitol Weekly: CA120: Alabama election a wave -- or just a ripple? -- Capitol Weekly's PAUL MITCHELL
Sacramento Bee's CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO: "Wealthier, white voters and people from the Bay Area like Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom."
"Los Angeles residents tend to prefer their former mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who also gets support from households of modest means and Latinos."
"The two have settled into first and second place in the race to replace Gov. Jerry Brown, according to the latest California gubernatorial poll by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein is under pressure over a fix for 'Dreamers'
LA Times' SARAH D. WIRE: "California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is under pressure from activists and fellow Democrats to withhold support for a spending bill that would avert a government shutdown in exchange for protections for people brought to the country illegally as children."
"Feinstein said in October that protections for so-called Dreamers are “the most important thing we can get done,” but the senator known for her moderate bent said this week that she won’t try to block the end-of-the-year spending bill over it, and has not offered an explanation."
"Dreamers this week flooded Feinstein’s five California offices and her office on Capitol Hill. Two UCLA students refused to leave her Capitol Hill office after three hours Tuesday and were briefly detained by police. On Wednesday, about a dozen students and parents returned and were asked to leave after about 30 minutes of shouting in her office lobby."
Barbara Boxer's PAC blasts California Republicans for their 'yes' tax vote
Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART: "A new attack ad launched Wednesday targets California Republicans who voted in favor of the GOP tax overhaul, seen as overwhelmingly unpopular among California voters."
"The advertising campaign, funded by former California Sen. Barbara Boxer’s political action committee, comes after 12 of California’s 14 House Republicans voted Tuesday for the $1.5 trillion tax bill that slashes the corporate tax rate to 21 percent and limits deductions for state and local taxes – a provision that hits high-tax blue states like California and New York especially hard."
"Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, and Dana Rohrabacher, R-Costa Mesa, voted against the tax bill. More than half of California voters believe the federal legislation will hurt the state."
READ MORE related to Looting the Treasury: Trump stands to save millions under new tax measure, experts say -- WaPo's DREW HARWELL; California health insurance premiums expected to rise under Republican tax plan -- Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART; 'Loaded with ornaments.' These Californians view GOP tax plan as a Christmas gift -- Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER; Taxpayers will have to wait to find out how they did under new legislation -- WaPo's RENAE MERLE/AARON GREGG; Republicans celebrate their tax bill -- and heap praise on Trump -- WaPo's JOHN WAGNER; In tax overhaul, Trump tries to defy the economic odds -- NYT's PATRICIA COHEN
Protesters stash bullhorns and hot chocolate, just in case Trump fires Mueller
LA Times' CHRIS MEGERIAN: "Organizers have stashed bullhorns in apartments and offices near Manhattan’s Times Square. They’ve stockpiled hot chocolate mix and sleeping bags in Salt Lake City. And they’ve started arranging carpools in Houston."
"Across the country, activists are making plans, collecting supplies and raising money to swiftly launch hundreds of street protests if President Trump fires Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel who has been investigating the Trump administration."
"The last thing we want is to be caught unprepared,” said Elizabeth Beavers, a Washington-based policy manager for Indivisible, one of several liberal groups involved in the protest plans."
READ MORE related to KremlinGate: White House Counsel knew in January Flynn probably violated the law -- Foreign Policy's MURRAY WAAS; Sen. Mark Warner criticizes 'irresponsible and reckless' attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller -- CNBC's TUCKER HIGGINS
Funding impasse puts health coverage at risk for millions of children
McClatchy DC's TONY PUGH/EMMA DUMAIN: "With prospects for reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program this year rapidly dimming, 25 states are expected to exhaust their federal funding to provide coverage for 1.9 million low-income children by January 31, researchers at Georgetown University reported Wednesday."
"Key Republican senators said Wednesday that the CHIP program’s longer term future would be decided next year."
"Congress must pass a government spending bill by Friday night, or trigger a partial shutdown of federal operations. CHIP advocates had hoped the program, whose funding authorization ended Sept. 30, would be reauthorized as part of that legislation."
READ MORE related to Child Welfare: High cost of living and low wages drive up childhood poverty rate in California -- EdSource's ASHLEY HOPKINSON
Near incineration of psychiatric hospital highlights gaping need for more beds
California Healthline's BARBARA FEDER OSTROV: "As fire raged in Ventura, Calif., earlier this month, Gracie Hartman made her way to the county fairgrounds to look for her friend, Fernando."
"She found him there at the evacuation center, among 69 patients from the Vista del Mar acute psychiatric hospital, one of two such facilities in the county. They had been removed with little time to spare as the hospital was overtaken by flames."
"Over the next couple of days, Fernando was transferred to one general hospital as a stopgap, then to another, because, unlike the first, it would accept his insurance."
READ MORE related to Health Care: The long goodbye: Coping with sadness and grief before a loved one dies -- California Healthline's JUDITH GRAHAM; Unregulated herpes experiments expose 'black hole' of accountability -- California Healthline's MARISA TAYLOR
San Francisco is getting a new mayor and creating a political star. Who will it be?
LA Times' MARK Z. BARABAK: "San Francisco is the city everyone loves, even if they hate it."
"The stately Victorians, like a gingerbread dream come to life. The majestic Golden Gate Bridge, standing like heaven’s portal above the fog. The plucky cable cars, scrabbling up its impossible hillsides."
"It can almost make you forget the bands of ravaged homeless, the paralyzing traffic, the scent of human waste wafting from sidewalks outside the city’s posh eateries and palatial tech headquarters."
A dream deported: Oakland family upended by deportation
The Chronicle's HAMED ALEAZIZ: "In a village two hours north of Mexico City, a girl stands on the patio of her adobe home, looking out on her family’s small plot of land. Maria Mendoza-Sanchez is just 13, but on this day, as she watches her parents drive up in a rush, the path of her life is shifting."
"Her 15-year-old sister has become pregnant, and her father is enraged. He steps from his truck, picks up a rope he uses to discipline horses, and barrels through the door. As her sister absorbs the lashing, Maria cries out: “Don’t hit her! She’s going to have a baby!"
"Soon Maria is a target, too. “If your sister did what she did after being so quiet and responsible, what can I expect from you?” her father shouts as he hits her. Maria turns silent, knowing anything she says will frustrate the man who’d hoped to have boys to work the land, not four girls."
READ MORE related to Immigration: A solution for Dreamers by Congress put off until next year -- The Chronicle's CAROLYN LOCHHEAD
US economy grew at 3.2 percent rate in third quarter
AP's MARTIN CRUTSINGER: "The U.S. economy grew at a 3.2 percent annual rate from July through September, slightly slower than previously estimated but still enough to give the country the best back-to-back quarterly growth rates in three years."
"The Commerce Department says the third quarter growth was revised down slightly from last month's estimate of 3.3 percent. The change reflects slightly less spending by consumers, which was offset somewhat by increased spending by state and local governments."
"Still, the 3.2 percent growth followed a 3.1 percent gain in the second quarter, the first consecutive quarters that growth has topped 3 percent since 2014."
READ MORE related to Economy: Homeownership will get more expensive for some Californians under the GOP tax bill -- LA Times' ANDREW KHOURI; There's money to be made in returning e-commerce orders -- LA Times' TRACEY LIEN; Iced tea company stock triples after adding "blockchain" to name -- Ars Technica's TIMOTHY B. LEE
Outside of war zones, Mexico is the most dangerous place for journalists
LA Times' JACLYN COSGROVE: "The number of journalists killed while on the job or in retaliation for their work declined worldwide in 2017, but one country remains increasingly perilous — Mexico."
"So far in 2017, 42 journalists have been killed, compared with 48 a year earlier, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, a nonpartisan group that tracks press freedoms."
"Iraq and Syria were the deadliest places for journalists this year, with eight killed in Iraq and seven in Syria. But outside war zones, Mexico is the most dangerous place for journalists."
LA County officials warn of 'cold snap' coming to town
Daily News' ELIZABETH CHOU: "People who are “vulnerable” to cold weather should prepare for a plunge in temperature expected to set in this week in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, Los Angeles County health officials warned this week."
"Temperatures will go below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, with the chilly weather that began Wednesday and Thursday, depending on the location."
"The San Fernando Valley is expected to experience these cold weather conditions on Thursday and Friday, and the Santa Clarita Valley will be hit with them on Thursday. The cold alert also affects the Antelope Valley, the Los Angeles County mountain areas, and Pomona this week."
READ MORE related to Environment: Wind-related power outages hit 2800 LADWP customers -- City News Service
FBI chief in Nevada says motive behind Las Vegas massacre is still a mystery
LA Times' DAVID MONTERO: "Federal authorities continue to search for the motive that drove a gunman to open fire on county music festival this fall, a bloody rampage that left 58 people dead and hundreds wounded."
"FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Rouse told the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Wednesday that investigators still couldn’t say what made 64-year-old Stephen Paddock begin firing into a crowd of 22,000 at the Route 91 Harvest Festival on Oct. 1."
"“Ours is focusing a large part on the why, OK? Which is what everybody wants to know,” Rouse said. He said federal authorities expected to issue a report sometime next year."
Ammunition, tactical gear stolen from ICE agent's car in Oakland
The Chronicle's STEVE RUBENSTEIN: "Ammunition and tactical gear were stolen from the locked truck of an immigration agent’s official car in Oakland, the latest in a string of thefts from law enforcement vehicles, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement service reported on Wednesday."
"The theft, reported to police on Monday, did not involve the loss of firearms, according to ICE service spokesman James Schwab."
"The stolen items included a government credit card. They had been locked inside a lockbox, which was also taken."
Students defrauded by for-profits may not get full relief
AP's MARIA DANILOVA: "Students who were defrauded by the for-profit Corinthian Colleges may not get their loans forgiven entirely, the Education Department announced Wednesday, in a reversal of the Obama administration policy of wiping out the debt."
"Under President Barack Obama, tens of thousands of students deceived by the now-defunct schools had more than $550 million in federal student loans canceled in full."
READ MORE related to Education: Creating a culture of coaching to support teachers in every school -- EdSource's MICHAEL MOODY; Novel program allowing California community colleges to award bachelor's degrees not yet ready to expand -- EdSource's MIKHAIL ZINSHTEYN; Early intervention helps boost reading skills for California children most at risk of falling behind -- EdSource's ASHLEY HOPKINSON
Internet outage cripples state business for a day
Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON: "A widespread internet outage slowed the business of state government at many downtown offices on Wednesday and state officials do not know when they’ll be back online."
"Thousands of state workers lost internet service about 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday when a downtown construction project clipped a fiber optic cable that supports their offices. State officials did not know which project damaged the cable."
"A state vendor and the California Department of Technology were not able to restore internet service during the workday."
Drive-by shooting at Sacramento park leads to more than two dozen arrests
Sacramento Bee's NASHELLY CHAVEZ: "In an enforcement effort that stretched from San Francisco to Sacramento, police agencies have made 29 felony arrests and seized 211 firearms in what they’re calling a multi-agency operation targeting gang violence in the city and county of Sacramento, the Sacramento Police Department announced Wednesday."
"The operation was triggered by an August drive-by shooting during an afternoon rap video shoot in Meadowview that left five injured and one dead. Community activists said the shooting was likely related to an online feud between Sacramento rappers and the gangs that follow them."
"Sacramento police officials say two rival street gangs have been feuding in Sacramento since 2015, though they would not identify them by name Wednesday."
READ MORE related to Public Safety: 1 of 2 girls accused in Slender Man stabbing to be sentenced -- AP; East Bay gang crackdown nets eight arrests -- The Chronicle's SARAH RAVANI; East Contra Costa gang linked to violent conflict over territory; eight arrested in FBI/SWAT raids -- EBT's NATE GARTRELL
Half the Saudi population receiving welfare in new system
AP's AYA BATRAWY: "Saudi Arabia paid 2 billion riyals ($533 million) on Thursday in the first monthly installment of a new welfare system for low and middle-income families that make up approximately half of the kingdom's population."
"The payments come ahead of the introduction of a 5 percent value-added tax on most goods, like food and services, as well as subsidy cuts that will raise the price of electricity and gasoline next year."
"Minister of Labor and Social Development Ali al-Ghafees told the state-run Saudi Press Agency that bank transfers were made to approximately 3 million families, reaching around 10.6 million beneficiaries. He said half of those families received the maximum payment of 938 riyals ($250). The minimum payment is 300 riyals ($80)."