Gavin Newsom catches it from all sides in California gubernatorial debate
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI/JOHN WILDERMUTH: "Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is the undisputed front-runner in the June 5 primary for governor, which made him the No. 1 target in Tuesday night’s candidates’ debate in San Jose."
"For much of the 90-minute session, it was five against one, with the former San Francisco mayor fielding nonstop attacks from the other candidates looking to finish in the top two and advance to the November election to replace termed-out Gov. Jerry Brown."
READ MORE related to State Politics: High-stakes California governor's race debate gets testy as personal and political attacks fly -- LA Times's SEEMA MEHTA/PHIL WILLON; GOP candidates for governor say California schools need changes, not more funding -- EdSource's NICO SAVIDGE
FBI agents serve search warrants at home of Adelanto mayor, City Hall and elsewhere
RICHARD K. DE ATLEY and JOE NELSON in the San Bernardino Sun: "FBI agents on Tuesday raided Adelanto City Hall and the home of the mayor in a widening corruption probe into the High Desert town’s dealings with marijuana businesses."
"Agents also served search warrants at the Jet Room, an Adelanto marijuana dispensary, and the Professional Lawyers Group in San Bernardino, which is the law office of the Jet Room’s attorney, Philip E. Rios."
"The law office’s general counsel, David R. Serrano, is the brother of Jet Room owner Manuel “Manny” Serrano, Rios confirmed in a telephone interview Tuesday. He declined further comment."
SF Mayor Farrell could get to stay in office for a few extra weeks
The Chronicle's MATIER & ROSS: "Mayor Mark Farrell will probably remain in office for at least five weeks beyond the June 5 mayoral election, leaving him with plenty of time for the one final checkoff of his short term — the foreign junket."
"San Francisco elections chief John Arntz tells us it will probably take three weeks to count and check all the ballots before sending the results to the Board of Supervisors for approval."
Picket line grows to 1,400 at UC Davis hospital as two unions add support
Sacramento Bee's MOLLY SULLIVAN/CATHIE ANDERSON: "Roughly 1,400 workers picketed for a second day at the UC Davis hospital and campus on Tuesday, as two unions representing nurses and physical therapists, social workers and dietitians went on strike in sympathy with members of AFSCME 3299."
"The pickets have rallied throughout the University of California system. Combined, the three unions have about 10,000 members at UC Davis and 53,000 system-wide. Like AFSCME 3299, the California Nurses Association and University Professional and Technical Employees-CWA have been involved in protracted contract talks with the UC."
"Today nurses are here in solidarity with our co-workers, our AFSCME co-workers. We want them to get a fair contract," said Shirley Toy, a clinical nurse on the progressive-care unit and a CNA member. "They've cut clerks, and it falls onto us ... It definitely affects us as nurses because if they're not there, we have to do their work."
'We are humans too:' Voices of UCLA's striking custodians, hospital aides and imaging technicians
LA Times's JOY RESMOVITS: "This week, thousands of UC employees are staging a three-day strike for better pay and working conditions."
"On Monday, more than 20,000 custodians, cooks, lab technicians, nurse aides and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 walked off their jobs. By Tuesday, two more unions joined in sympathy strikes."
"The union and UC reached a bargaining impasse last year. The university has said it won’t meet the workers’ demands."
READ MORE related to Education: High school math needs major overhaul, teachers group says -- EdSource's CAROLYN JONES
Former Gov. George Deukmejian dies at 89
Sacramento Bee's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "Former California Gov. George Deukmejian, known as the "Iron Duke" for his tough-on-crime approach to governing, died Tuesday. He was 89."
"His family said the former Republican governor passed away at his home in Long Beach of natural causes. They plan to hold a public memorial at a later date."
"He was a fine, decent man of integrity and character who was tremendously proud of his Armenian heritage," their statement said. "He loved his family and his friends and was forever grateful to the many loyal people who believed in him and served in his administrations. We miss him deeply."
Transgender woman allowed to sue SF over alleged discrimination
The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO: "A California state civil rights agency can sue San Francisco on behalf of a transgender woman who said a city employee called her a “freak” and barred her from a women’s restroom on city property, a judge ruled Tuesday, rejecting the city’s claim that it was not covered by state anti-discrimination laws."
"Tanesh Nutall said the incident happened in February 2016 when she was working for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and attended a city Department of Public Health training session on working with poor and traumatized clients."
Santa Clarita may join other cities in opposing California's 'sanctuary' law
LA Times's NINA AGRAWAL: "The debate over California's immigration laws raged on in Santa Clarita on Tuesday evening as the City Council considered formally opposing the state's so-called sanctuary law and filing a brief in support of the Trump administration's lawsuit against the state."
"Santa Clarita could become what is believed to be the first city in Los Angeles County to officially oppose SB 54, potentially joining a handful of municipalities elsewhere in Southern California that have challenged the law since Gov. Jerry Brown signed it in October."
"The council chambers was packed Tuesday night, with people standing in aisles and doorways and spilling out into an overflow room as 200 had signed up to speak. Many wore red "Make America Great Again" caps. Some snacked on popcorn while others cooled themselves with fans."
Report: America is losing its best farmland
The Chronicle's TARA DUGGAN: "The United States is losing its best farmland to development, even as the country’s population booms, according to a new report from the nonprofit conservation organization American Farmland Trust."
"It’s a familiar sight for anyone who grew up in many Bay Area suburbs: The rolling pastureland or local fruit farms that once were on the outskirts of town have been replaced by a housing development or strip mall."
READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: Silicon Valley water agency votes to give $650 mil to Brown's tunnel project -- The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER; Solar panels could be required on all new California homes. Here's what it would cost -- Sacramento Bee's TONY BIZJAK
SF Police Chief Bill Scott is finalist for LAPD chief's job, report says
The Chronicle's EVAN SERNOFFSKY: "San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott is reportedly one of three finalists for the job of top cop in Los Angeles after being interviewed there last week."
"Scott made the cut as one of the finalists for chief after interviewing with the Los Angeles Police Department’s civilian Police Commission, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing anonymous sources."
READ MORE related to Prisons & Public Safety: A diverse trio of LAPD veterans makes the cut as finalists for chief -- LA Times's RICHARD WINTON/DAVID ZAHNISER/JAMES QUEALLY/CINDY CHANG
Are we asking judicial nominees to reveal too much? Experts say yes
McClatchy DC's KATE IRBY: "Ryan Bounds seemed like a shoo-in judicial nominee on paper, but he's become highly controversial — thanks to incendiary material he wrote in college more than 20 years."
"The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin deciding Wednesday if that material is indicative of who Bounds is today."
"Regardless of the outcome, legal scholars agree on this much: Bounds' case illustrates how the judicial selection process has become unwieldy and invasive."
Mormons severing all ties with Boy Scouts, ending long bond
AP's BRADY MCCOMBS: "The Mormon church said Tuesday it will sever all ties with the Boy Scouts of America at the end of next year and place its remaining 425,000 boys into a gospel-focused youth program it is developing. The move ends a nearly century-old relationship that was based on their shared values."
"The announcement by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Boy Scouts didn't come as a complete surprise after the religion last year removed 185,000 boys between the ages of 14 and 18, signaling that an end to the long-time alliance was near."
"Joining the Boy Scouts is practically automatic among Mormon boys, and the religion has long been the biggest sponsor of Boy Scout troops in the United States. The Mormon boys who will be leaving represent about 18.5 percent of the 2.3 million youth in the organization."
Second batch of new BART cars gets OK
The Chronicle's MICHAEL CABANATUAN: "BART’s second batch of sleek new rail cars — another 10-car train — will be rolling onto the transit system’s tracks by next week, officials said."
"The state Public Utilities Commission approved the new train for service in a letter to BART officials Tuesday afternoon, four days after it passed a systemwide test in which it stopped at every station and successfully opened and closed its doors under automatic controls."
Trump pulls US out of Iran nuclear deal, calling the pact 'an embarrassment'
WaPo's ANNE GEARAN/KAREN DEYOUNG: "President Trump on Tuesday said he is pulling the United States out of the international nuclear deal with Iran, announcing that economic sanctions against Tehran will be reinstated and declaring that the 2015 pact was rooted in “fiction."
"Trump’s decision, announced at the White House, makes good on a campaign pledge to undo an accord he has criticized as weak, poorly negotiated and “insane."
"The Iran deal is defective at its core. If we do nothing, we know exactly what will happen,” Trump said in remarks at the White House. “In just a short period of time, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror will be on the cusp of acquiring the world’s most dangerous weapons."
READ MORE related to POTUS45/KremlinGate: Congressional leaders mixed on Trump withdrawal of Iran deal -- AP's LISA MASCARO; Firm linked to Russian mogul paid $500,000 to Trump attorney Michael Cohen -- LA Times's MICHAEL FINNEGAN; Pompeo makes surprise trip to North Korea to finish plans for Trump-Kim summit -- LA Times's TRACY WILKINSON
Oliver North was once a key figure in the Iran-Contra scandal. Now he has a new role: NRA President
LA Times's KURTIS LEE: "He once stood at the center of an international political scandal, becoming a household name for destroying government documents and lying to members of Congress."
"That was more than three decades ago."