Doctor, hospital groups organize to oppose single-payer in California
Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART: "A group of influential, deep-pocketed business and health care organizations that have long helped shape the legislative agenda in California have joined forces to oppose any future effort to craft a universal, single-payer health care system for the nation’s largest state."
"The main focus of the coalition, called “Californians against the costly disruption of our health care,” is to kill any single-payer health care bill in the state Legislature, said Ned Wigglesworth, a political strategist for the coalition."
"As long as proponents plan to bring this back time and again, we think it’s important to have a strong, unified presence to oppose it,” Wigglesworth said, referring to Senate Bill 562, the 2017 single-payer bill pushed by the California Nurses Association that was shelved last year by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon."
Climate change report: California to see 77 percent more land burned
The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER: "This year’s wildfire season is not the worst that California will see."
"The number of large fires across the state will likely increase by 50 percent by the end of the century while the amount of land that burns annually will rise 77 percent, according to a new, far-reaching state report that seeks to document the impacts of climate change."
"And the problems don’t end here. California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, released Monday by the governor’s office with other state agencies, portrays a multiheaded threat that promises more wildfires at the same time that higher seas overrun beaches, less water fills state reservoirs and drier weather shrivels Central Valley crops."
READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: More than 1,000 dead fish at Malibu Lagoon may be tied to record-warm ocean temperatures - LA Times's HANNAH FRY/ALEJANDRA REYES-VELARDE; California lawmakers pledge to keep working, but remain at oddds in wildfire prevention talks -- LA Times's JOHN MYERS
Gov. Brown vetoes bill regulating payments to family members by political campaigns
LA Times's PATRICK MCGREEVY: "Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday vetoed a bill that would have prevented politicians from paying family members an amount greater than fair-market value for goods and services."
"The bill by Assemblyman Marc Steinorth (R-Rancho Cucamonga) sought to ban politicians from making excessive payments to parents, children and siblings working on their campaigns."
"This proposed new authority for the Fair Political Practices Commission concerns me," Brown wrote in his veto message."
Mollie Tibetts killing touches California governor's race
Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART: "Authorities announced this month that a Mexican national in the country illegally is responsible for the stabbing death of the young Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, unleashing a wave of criticism by Republicans who say the U.S. must to toughen border security."
"Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox was among the Republicans – led by President Donald Trump – who seized on the news."
"A sad and terrible ending to a story that should have NEVER happened,” Cox tweeted, linking to a Fox News story with the headline: “Mollie Tibbetts’ suspected murderer ID’d as Cristhian Rivera, 24, living in the US illegally.”
GOP candidate faces backlash for posing at Muslim center
Sacramento Bee's CAITLIN CHEN: "Republican congressional candidate Andrew Grant rushed to post a photograph of him with two leaders in front of the Muslim Community of Folsom building on Sunday."
"In his quest to unseat Rep. Ami Bera, the Democratic incumbent, Grant thought it demonstrated of his ability to represent diverse groups."
"Instead, he got outrage."
Four Demos are turning against their own party over the gas tax
LA Times's PATRICK MCGREEVY: "Democratic leaders are facing a mutiny by four of the party’s congressional candidates who are opposing a recent increase in the California gas tax that has proved unpopular with many voters."
"The defections could bolster Proposition 6, a Republican-led initiative on the November ballot that would repeal a 2017 law that increased the state’s gas tax and vehicle fees to fix roads and improve mass transit. Six Republican congressional candidates helped fund the ballot measure in hopes of boosting conservative voter turnout and changing the outcome in some close races."
READ MORE related to Transportation: California lawmakers want the state to collect data on drivers under the influence of pot -- LA Times's PATRICK MCGREEVY
Mayor in Japan lobbies SF Mayor London Breed about 'comfort women'
The Chronicle's HEATHER KNIGHT: "The controversial “Women’s Column of Strength” statue in Chinatown has now been in place for nearly a year, but the fight over whether it should stay remains as heated as ever."
"The statue — three Asian girls standing on a pedestal holding hands and a grandmother standing down below — represents “comfort women,” the 200,000 women from China, Korea and the Philippines who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II."
"Unidentified assailants clearly aren’t happy about the statue. First, somebody scratched up the panel describing it. That was replaced, but it was scratched up again."
Bill to tally untested rape kits across California on way to Gov. Brown
The Chronicle's MELODY GUTIERREA: "California would require law enforcement agencies to disclose their number of untested rape kits under a bill sent to Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday, while another bill to require speedy testing of the evidence awaits approval in the Legislature."
"AB3118, by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, would create the first statewide tally of untested rape kits — evidence collected after a sexual assault — by mandating law enforcement agencies to count and report how many they have to the Department of Justice by July 1, 2019."
"The bill passed the Assembly in a 57-0 vote on Monday. The Senate passed the bill 39-0 on Thursday. Brown has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto it."
State censures, bans Kern County court commissioner for ethics violations
The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO: "A Kern County court commissioner who shared some far-right political views on social media has been publicly censured and permanently banned from holding judicial office by the state Commission on Judicial Performance."
"Joseph Gianquinto, a Superior Court commissioner for more than a decade, wrote on Facebook in 2016 that presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was “an unethical, corrupt, lying criminal dirtbag” whose “supporters don’t care.” He wrote in 2017 that former President Barack Obama had planned to transform the United States “from a primarily Judeo-Christian nation to Islam” and had “created open hunting season on police officers.” And he posted a message saying that “liberals are America’s cancer."
"His conduct violated numerous judicial ethics standards, including requirements to “uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary,” act in ways that promote public confidence in the courts’ impartiality, and refrain from publicly endorsing or opposing candidates for non-judicial offices, the commission said in a unanimous order last week."
Were UCD employees recorded while changing clothes? Officials say no
McClatchy's CATHIE ANDERSON: "UC Davis Health employees are contending that a manager installed a video camera in a supply room where employees changed into their scrubs. But UCD officials said Monday that the camera had not been hooked up to record anything."
"Officials with AFSCME Local 3299 said a member noticed the camera on the wall in the last few weeks and had asked that the matter be brought to the attention of UCD Health leaders. Employees in the hospital’s respiratory care unit wanted to know who was recording them, who had access to the video and how long taping had occurred."
"UCD Health officials said in a prepared statement the camera was not hooked up to power and was never put in operation."
Californians were asked about the American Dream. Here's why they said it's dying
Sacramento Bee's MICHAEL FINCH II: "Unemployment in California is 4.2 percent. While many people have jobs, a new survey says many Californians feel like this state is no longer a place where economic mobility is possible."
"A recent survey of more than 3,300 residents conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute paints a grim picture, estimating that close to one-third of all working Californians are grappling with poverty. Housing costs are too high in California, they say, and wages remain stagnant."
"The severity of financial hardship varies by race and ethnicity and from region to region. But the conclusion is no less bleak."
BART gets $6.8M federal grant to improve security
The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO: "BART says it has lined up $6.8 million in federal funds to keep a special police patrol on trains traveling through its busiest stations and upgrade its security systems."
"The funding will maintain BART’s Critical Asset Patrol, seven officers and one sergeant, to provide a visible presence on trains, particularly at peak travel periods, and to collaborate with other law enforcement agencies, Bay Area Rapid Transit officials said Monday. The patrol was started in 2011 and is trained, among other things, to respond rapidly to threats of terrorism, said BART spokesman Jim Allison,"
"The funding will also pay for improved security cameras at three San Francisco stations — Powell Street, Civic Center and 16th Street — and for radio equipment that will make it easier for officers on underground trains to contact above-ground regional offices in San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, BART said."
New direction for Gates Foundation aims to build on progress in LA schools
LA Time's HOWARD BLUME: "A new direction for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — and millions in new funding — will make their presence felt in Los Angeles schools as a result of grants announced Tuesday."
"The L.A. district and others across the country hope to benefit from a foundation effort to build on what already is helping to keep students on track toward graduation."