Thousands gather to mourn Montecito mudslide victims
From the LAT's MICHAEL LIVINGSTON and ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN: "Soon after the sun set over Santa Barbara, Ann Hagan grabbed a marker and wrote a short message to the 20 strangers who died in the devastating Montecito mudslides."
“In our hearts,” she wrote before signing her name on a whiteboard put up at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse."
"Hagan was one of thousands of people who huddled at the courthouse late Sunday evening to take part in a candlelight vigil."
Who they were: The victims of the Montecito mudslides
LA Times: "Santa Barbara County officials have identified 20 people who were killed in the mudslides that swept through Montecito on Tuesday morning."
"The oldest victim was 89. Four victims were children. The youngest was 3 years old."
"These are their names and stories."
READ MORE related to Montecito Mudslides: Another lesson from Montecito -- even in semi-arid Southern California, we need flood insurance -- LA Times' KENNETH S. KLEIN; Buried in mud, Montecito faces a daunting cleanup with no end in sight -- LA Times' MATT HAMILTON
Two storms bringing rain this week to Bay Area
The Chronicle's SARAH RAVANI: "Two storms expected this week will bring rain to the Bay Area and the fire-scarred North Bay, but forecasters said it’s unlikely that the showers will result in any dangerous flooding or mudslides."
"The first storm, expected to make landfall late Monday, won’t be the strongest, but could bring up to half an inch of rain to the highest elevations in the North Bay, Suzanne Sims, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said Sunday."
"The weak system should not result in any dangerous weather conditions, Sims said."
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DACA participants can again apply for renewal, immigration agency says
NYT' MATT STEVENS: "The federal government said on Saturday that it would resume accepting renewal requests for a program that shields from deportation young immigrants who were brought illegally to the United States as children."
"In a statement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said that “until further notice,” the Obama-era program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, “will be operated on the terms in place before it was rescinded” in September, when President Donald Trump moved to end it."
"The decision came after a federal judge in California issued a nationwide injunction on Tuesday ordering the Trump administration to resume the DACA program."
Pregnant teen who sued over abortion leaves federal custody
AP: "A pregnant immigrant teenager who told a judge that she was being prevented from having an abortion while in federal custody has been released, giving her the ability to obtain the procedure."
"The Trump administration said in a court filing Sunday that the 17-year-old had been released to a "sponsor," an adult who is usually a family member."
"The teen, who hasn't been identified by name, was the fourth pregnant immigrant teenager represented by the ACLU to go to court over the Department of Health and Human Services' policy of refusing to facilitate abortions for minors in its custody. The ACLU called her an "unaccompanied minor," suggesting she was detained while trying to enter the U.S."
As firms bring back cash to the US, some see a fresh wave of mergers
LA Times' JAMES F. PELTZ: "In late 2015, Apple Inc. Chief Executive
"I'd love to bring it home," Cook said of the cash hoard, which now totals a staggering $265 billion, in an interview aired on "60 Minutes." But, he added, "it would cost me 40% [in federal and state taxes] and I don't think that's a reasonable thing to do."
"Now, with the new U.S. tax law providing a much lower cost for cash repatriation, Cook and the managements of many other U.S. multinational companies are expected to bring home a sizable chunk of the $1.4 trillion that Moody's Investors Service estimates is held offshore by nonfinancial U.S. companies."
READ MORE related to Economy: Where California ranks for women-owned businesses -- Daily News' KEVIN SMITH
'We still have a way to go:' On eve of MLK Day, African-American churches challenge Trump
LA Times' JAWEED KALEEM/CINDY CHANG/JENNY JARVIE: "The Rev. Raphael G. Warnock had not planned to mention the words "Donald Trump."
"It was the day before the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, and Warnock was going to focus elsewhere."
"But after the president was said to call African countries, El Salvador and Haiti "shithole" places last week, Warnock changed his mind."
READ MORE related to MLK Day: Remembering civil rights leader MLK Jr. on 89th anniversary of his birth -- LA Times' MIRIAM VELASQUEZ
Car flies into second floor of California building
Mercury News' MARILYN KALFUS: "A speeding car struck a median and flew into the second floor of a building early Sunday morning, Jan. 14, remaining lodged into a dental office, authorities said."
"The white Nissan Altima was traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on French Street when the accident occurred in the 300 block of E. 17th Street, Santa Ana Police said in a news release."
"The driver struck a raised center median on 17th Street, launching the car into the air. The vehicle struck the 2nd floor of the building and was lodged there, sticking out of the structure as police arrived at around 5:30 a.m."
CHP officer, passing drivers rescue man who jumped from overpass
The Chronicle's BENNY EVANGELISTA: "A California Highway Patrol officer, with the help of several Good Samaritan motorists, helped rescue a man who had jumped off an overpass on Highway 101 in San Francisco, in a dramatic Sunday afternoon incident that also prompted a CHP helicopter to land on the freeway."
"The CHP received a report about 4:50 p.m. of a man running in the southbound lanes of Highway 101 just north of Cesar Chavez Street, said Vu Williams, a public information officer for the CHP’s Golden Gate division."
"Williams, who was on patrol, said he arrived at the scene about 4:58 p.m. and saw the man had jumped over the center divider and was by that time running in the northbound lanes. Officers stopped traffic on the freeway to chase the man."
READ MORE related to Public Safety: Increasing police oversight at heart of council study session -- Mercury News' ROBERT SALONGA
Is Gov. Brown's proposal for a public online community college a good idea? Some educators say no
LA Times' GEORGE SKELTON: "Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to create a statewide community college that offers only online courses seems headed for a bruising legislative brawl."
"Few important things are easy to achieve in today's fractious politics. This includes a signature agenda item for Brown in his newly proposed $190-billion state budget: the online college that seems so logical, so needed and a no-brainer — at least in concept."
"Brown wants to provide an affordable, easily accessible way for working adults to improve their job skills and financial futures by going online at home, maybe even with a smartphone."
READ MORE related to Education: Can 600-plus California districts narrow the achievement gap? -- EdSource's JOHN FENSTERWALD/DANIEL J. WILLIS
Successful aging: Sleep and the causes of fatigue and lack of energy
Daily News' HELEN DENNIS: "Q. I am a 68-year old man who has been physically active all of my life. I was a top athlete in high school, have been active hunting and fishing, raised and trained horses and for the last six years was active harvesting, cutting and splitting and stacking firewood – after my office job. My energy suddenly dropped off about a year ago. I had some physical problems which now are under control. My problem is – no energy and I sleep a lot, which is very frustrating. My doc wrote it off as just aging. I told him that was B.S. What’s my problem? Is it age? And where do I go for help?"
"Many thanks. T.B."
"Dear T.B."
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Activists protest homeless crisis by camping outside Oakland mayor's house
The Chronicle's BENNY EVANGELISTA: "A group of demonstrators pitched tents and camped Saturday night on the front lawn of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf’s home to protest what organizers called her “empty promises” on helping the city’s homeless."
"A group called the Anti Police-Terror Projectorganized the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend demonstration, calling for Schaaf to redirect half of the Police Department’s funding to pay for permanent funding for the homeless and to “take her own advice” and open her own home to help a homeless person."
“Housing is a human right,” group member Cat Brooks said in a video shot during the protest. “Oakland has 2,700 unhoused people in the street every single evening, and our mayor has done little to nothing to address the solutions."
Hawaii missile scare 911 audio: Police struggled to inform public was false alarm
Mercury News' MATTHIAS GAFNI/RICK HURD: "Police dispatchers in Hawaii figured out within five minutes that an incoming ballistic missile alert Saturday was a false alarm, but 911 audio recordings show authorities continued to struggle with what to do to calm panicked residents seeking safe cover."
"It took 38 minutes for a second alert confirming that there was no imminent attack to be sent. Recordings obtained by the Bay Area News Group show the confusion officers on the street and dispatchers confronted in the meantime."
"Somebody,” one officer said amid the haunting episode, “should get fired."
Oprah prompts a question: Will 2020 be (another) year of 'outsider' presidential candidates
Daily News' KEVIN MODESTI: "The political chatter early last week was about Oprah Winfrey. Should she run for president? Will she run? Can she win?"
"But the questions really could be about any of the super-famous, mega-wealthy, fabulously successful people thinking about making their first runs for public office at the highest level of the game."
"With the 2020 presidential race In the loose-speculation phase, one of the imponderables preoccupying campaign watchers is whether the first election since Donald Trump’s victory in 2016 will be another good one for non-politician, non-traditional, “outsider” candidates."
Aziz Ansari sexual misconduct allegations stir fierce debate about consent
Mercury News' MARTHA ROSS: "Master of None” star Aziz Ansari has built a globally renown persona as the witty, woke guy whose comedy explores the nuances of modern romance, including the subtle signals that women and men send to each other about love and sex."
"Identifying himself as a feminist, Ansari was one of the male entertainers at the Golden Globe Awards last week who proclaimed his support for Hollywood women’s anti-sexual harassment initiative by wearing a Time’s Up pin."
"But now he’s defending himself against allegations that he’s one of the sexually aggressive men that Time’s Up is fighting."
Dennis Rodman arrested on suspicion of DUI in Newport Beach
Daily News' ALMA FAUSTO: "Authorities say former basketball star Dennis Rodman was arrested Saturday, Jan. 13, on suspicion of driving under the influence in Newport Beach."
"Rodman, 56, was pulled over at 11:11 p.m. for a traffic violation near 4500 West Coast Highway, Lt. Rachel Johnson said."
"Rodman’s attorney Paul Meyer said in an email statement: “Dennis is taking this seriously, and will take positive steps to address his personal issues. He appreciates the professionalism of the Newport Beach Police Department."
Trump reportedly paid adult film star not to speak out about sexual encounter
ThinkProgress' LUKE BARNES: "One of the Trump Organization’s top lawyers reportedly paid an adult film star $130,000 to stop her from publicly discussing an alleged sexual encounter with Donald Trump, who was running for president at the time of the reported payment."
"Stephanie Clifford, also known by her stage name, Stormy Daniels, received the payment one month before the 2016 election, sources familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal. The settlement was organized by Michael Cohen, one of the Trump Organization’s top attorneys, who reportedly negotiated the payment after a nondisclosure agreement had been signed."
"The pair are alleged to have met during a celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe in 2006, a year after Trump married his current wife, Melania. Both the White House and Cohen strongly denied that the alleged affair had ever taken place, with Cohen calling the claims “outlandish allegations.” Cohen also provided a statement to Buzzfeed that he said was signed by Stormy Daniels, denying reports of a sexual encounter with Trump."
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