California will sue over feds' decision to add citizenship question to the U.S. Census, Becerra says
From the AP: "Commerce says that between 1820 and 1950, almost every decennial census asked a question on citizenship in some form."
"California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said the state would sue the Trump administration over its decision to add the citizenship question."
"We're prepared to do what we must to protect California from a deficient census," he said. "Including a citizenship question on the 2020 census is not just a bad idea — it is illegal."
Anti-'sanctuary state' movement picks up steam in Orange County
LA Times's CINDY CARCAMO: "Just more than a week after tiny Los Alamitos voted to defy California's law protecting immigrants in the country illegally, Orange County is poised to become a counterpoint against the state's resistance to the Trump administration's policies."
"On Tuesday, Orange County supervisors may consider whether to take up a resolution to condemn and possibly take legal action against the state's "sanctuary" laws."
READ MORE related to Immigration: ICE gained access to Santa Clara County inmates, breaching sanctuary policies -- The Chronicle's HAMED ALEAZIZ; California sues Trump administration over addition to citizenship question to census -- WaPo's SAMANTHA SCHMIDT
Republicans essentially opt out of California's US Senate race
The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH: "Republicans have virtually opted out of California’s U.S. Senate race, clearing the way for an all-Democratic contest in November."
"While the official list of candidates for the June 5 primary, released late Friday night by Secretary of State Alex Padilla, includes 11 Republicans among the 31 candidates challenging Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, there’s much less there than meets the eye."
READ MORE related to State Politics: Sacramento developer spending millions to elect daughter to office -- Sacramento Bee's TARYN LUNA
As outrage over Stephon Clark's killing grows, his grandmother asks: 'Why? Why?'
LA Times's PAIGE ST. JOHN/NICOLE SANTA CRUZ: "Between sobs and gasps, Sequita Thompson struggled Monday to recount her terror eight days ago when gunfire rocketed through her backyard."
"Call 911!" Thompson cried to her husband as she crawled out of the living room with her 7-year-old granddaughter in tow. Her husband told her he called police moments earlier after hearing someone tapping at the back window and calling to get in."
"It turned out the police were already in the backyard. Sacramento officers searching the neighborhood for a reported vandal encountered Thomas' grandson Stephon Clark, who lived there with them. Police fired a reported 20 rounds at the 23-year-old. Videotapes of the encounter showed officers shouting "gun, gun, gun" before opening fire, but the only object discovered near the dead man was a cellphone."
READ MORE related to Stephon Clark Shooting: Stephon Clark case doesn't lend itself to easy answers, or quick ones -- The Chronicle's MELODY GUTIERREZ/EVAN SERNOFFSKY/KEVIN FAGAN; Top stories and videos in our ongoing coverage of the Stephon Clark shooting -- Sacramento Bee
SF mayoral candidate Angela Alioto vows to ditch department heads if she wins
The Chronicle's DOMINIC FRACASSA: "If Angela Alioto wins San Francisco’s mayor’s race on June 5, the directors of the city’s Public Works Department, Municipal Transportation Agency and Recreation and Park Department might want to have their resumes handy."
"Not one to mince words, Alioto told The Chronicle’s editorial board on Monday that if she wins the city’s top job, she intends to clean house — ousting department leaders whom she accused of being more concerned with consolidating power in their personal “fiefdoms” than tackling the city’s problems."
The private man at the center of California's very public debate over single-payer healthcare
LA Times's PAULINE BARTOLONE: "Dale Fountain is an intensely private man. He won't say where he works. One of his oldest friends can't say for sure where he lives. His sister knows he was once married, but she isn't in the loop these days — they haven't spoken in two years."
"He keeps to himself," said Chris Pulliam, who went to high school with Fountain in Los Angeles and now lives in Silver Spring, Md. "I've just got into the habit of not asking about things."
READ MORE related to Health & Health Care: Under pressure, California Assembly pitches alternatives to single-payer health care -- Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART/TARYN LUNA
Report: How LA could source its water locally
Water Deeply's TARA LOHAN: "Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti believes his city is poised for a “second Mulholland moment.” William Mulholland was responsible for the construction, over a century ago, of the 200-mile-long aqueduct to Owens Valley that helped drive L.A.’s growth. In a recent op-ed, Garcetti wrote, “we have launched a second opportunity to reimagine our water infrastructure."
"But this time it will take place closer to home."
"The city announced a plan in 2015 to reduce imported water 50 percent by 2025 and produce half of the city’s water supply locally by 2035. A vision also supported by the local water utility, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)."
READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: Bleaching in Australia's Northern Territory is a scary sign for corals -- Oceans Deeply's SELINA WARD; Report: Offshore fish farms could thrive in California -- Oceans Deeply's ALASTAIR BLAND
Civil rights group files lawsuit in McClatchy High alleged gang rape
Sacramento Bee's DIANA LAMBERT: "A former C.K. McClatchy High School student who alleged that she was drugged and gang-raped by classmates at a party two years ago has filed a lawsuit against Sacramento City Unified School District, four members of the school staff and its former school resource officer."
"The lawsuit was filed on March 20 in Sacramento Superior Court on behalf of the now 19-year-old graduate by Equal Rights Advocates, a San Francisco civil rights organization that focuses on sexual harassment. The suit seeks unspecified damages and for the school district to change its policies and practices to conform to state and federal laws on gender discrimination."
"A story about the proposed lawsuit in the Sacramento Bee last week resulted in hundreds of McClatchy High School students walking outof class in protest Wednesday. The students are demanding that the district make changes in how it deals with sexual harassment and assault reports."
Here's how much cannabis you'd need to be eligible for the death penalty under federal law
WaPo's CHRISTOPHER INGRAHAM: "Last week Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo encouraging federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for certain drug trafficking offenses."
"Federal law allows for capital punishment in drug trafficking cases involving murder or homicide. But the attorney general also specifically called out one provision that allows for capital punishment in cases involving "extremely large quantities of drugs."
A's offer to purchase Coliseum site wins East Bay officials' hearts
The Chronicle's KIMBERLY VEKLEROV: "Oakland and Alameda County officials quickly warmed Monday to the A’s offer to buy the publicly owned 130-acre Coliseum site, but some cautioned that a deal would be more complex than swapping debt for land, as the team proposed."
"A’s President Dave Kaval sent Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, the City Council and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors a letter over the weekend with an opening bid: The team would assume full control and ownership of the Coliseum sports complex and surrounding land — including Oracle Arena — in exchange for paying off the nearly $137 million in debt owed by the city and county."
Who will be LA's next police chief? 31 people have applied for the job
LA Times's KATE MATHER/CINDY CHANG: "More than 30 people have applied to become Los Angeles' next police chief, cementing the pool of candidates competing for one of the highest-profile jobs in law enforcement."
"As of Friday's deadline — the end of a three-week application window — the city had received 31 applications for the position, said Steve Soboroff, president of the Police Commission."
READ MORE related to Prisons & Public Safety: 'He is pure evil.' Prosecutors seek death for cop killer Bracamontes -- Sacramento Bee's SAM STANTON
Does a rash of GOP retirements portend a Democratic wave in November?
LA Times's MARK Z. BARABAK/ELLIS SIMANI: "They’re headed for the exits in Congress, more than 50 lawmakers in all, deciding they’ve had enough and opting to quit rather than run again in November."
"Some — like Minnesota's Democratic Sen. Al Franken, Michigan's Democratic Rep.
"Others, like GOP Sen.
Judge rules against Pulse nightclub shooter's widow
AP's TAMARA LUSH/JASON DEAREN: "The revelation that the Pulse nightclub shooter's father was an FBI informant for 11 years before the attack has little bearing on the trial of the gunman's widow, a judge ruled Monday."
"U.S. District Judge Paul Byron rejected a defense motion for a mistrial of Noor Salman, who is accused of helping her husband plan his June 2016 mass shooting at the gay nightclub in Orlando, where he killed 49 people."
Most Americans say country is headed wrong way, poll shows
The Chronicle's EMILY SWANSON: "While Americans say they’re feeling slightly better about the current direction of the country than they did last month, their overall outlook for the future remains quite dim, according to a new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research."
"The poll released Monday finds that 37 percent of Americans believe the country is headed in the right direction. That’s up slightly from the 32 percent who said the same in February."
Another prominent lawyer declines offer to represent Trump in Russia investigation
WaPo's CAROL D. LEONNIG/ROSALIND S. HELDERMAN: "A prominent Chicago defense attorney said Monday that he had declined an invitation to lead President Trump’s legal team responding to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s Russia investigation, underscoring the president’s difficulty in attracting top legal talent to represent him in the probe."
"Dan K. Webb, a Republican, is a former U.S. attorney for Illinois and a corporate and white-collar-defense lawyer for the firm Winston and Strawn."
"In a statement, his firm said the president and his team recently reached out to Webb and D.C.-based partner Tom Buchanan."
READ MORE related to POTUS45/KremlinGate: Suburban voters angry with Trump threaten GOP's grip on House -- WaPo's KARI LYDERSEN/MICHAEL SCHERER