Chevron agrees to $150M settlement with EPA for violating Clean Air Act at California refineries
The Chronicle's LAUREN HERNANDEZ: "Chevron will spend $150 million to replace vulnerable pipes and improve corrosion inspections of its refineries as part of a national settlement reached Wednesday with the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, for repeatedly violating Clean Air Act provisions."
"An investigation into Chevron’s refinery practices was sparked following a fire involving “high-temperature hydrocarbons” that were released in the Crude Unit at Chevron’s Richmond refinery on August 6, 2012, the EPA said."
"Roughly 15,000 local residents sought medical attention after hydrogen sulfide was released into the air, 19 employees were “endangered” by the release and Contra Costa County officials implemented a shelter-in-place order at the time."
READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: (OP-ED) California water officials must stop putting oil industry over water -- HOLLIN KRETZMANN in Water Deeply
Survey: Newsom, Feinstein Lead -- Gas Tax Repeal, Rent Control Lag
From the Public Policy Institute of California: "In the closing weeks of the fall campaign, Gavin Newsom holds an 11 point lead among likely voters in the governor’s race and Dianne Feinstein is ahead by 16 points in the US Senate election. Two closely watched ballot measures—one to repeal the recent gas tax increase and another to expand local authority to enact rent control—are trailing."
"These are among the key findings of a statewide survey released today by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC)."
"Democrat Newsom leads Republican John Cox among likely voters 49 percent to 38 percent, with 10 percent undecided. A large majority of Democratic likely voters (83%) favor Newsom, and a similar majority of Republicans (82%) support Cox. Independents are divided (43% Cox, 38% Newsom). Across racial/ethnic groups, white likely voters are divided (45% Newsom, 45% Cox), while Latinos favor Newsom (65% to 23%). Likely voters in other racial/ethnic groups prefer Newsom by 25 points. (Sample sizes for Asian American and African American likely voters are too small for separate analysis.)"
Most voters oppose rent control
From LA Times' LIAM DILLON: "An initiative to expand rent control across California is losing ground and now faces a large deficit less than two weeks before election day, according to a new poll."
"Just 25% of likely voters say they’ll vote yes on Proposition 10, with 60% against the measure and 15% undecided, a poll released Wednesday from the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California said."
“There is really no group in which we’re seeing support for Proposition 10 at this point,” said Mark Baldassare, the institute’s president and pollster.
READ MORE on the PPIC poll: Gas tax repeal lacks ‘momentum’ in new poll of California voters -- ALEXEI KOSEFF, Sacramento Bee; Newsom, Feinstein Maintain Leads, Rent Control and Gas Tax Repeal Lagging -- MARISA LAGOS, KQED; CA gas tax hike repeal losing, rent control measure being hammered in new poll -- MELODY GUTIERREZ, Chronicle; California rent control initiative appears headed for defeat -- Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART; Gavin Newsom, Dianne Feinstein lead for top California offices, poll says -- Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART
California colleges get funding to expand services to undocumented college students
EdSource's ZAIDEE STAVELY: "As the federal government increases immigrant detention and attempts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, many California colleges are finding new ways to help undocumented students succeed and get assistance to their families as well."
"The latest effort is the California Campus Catalyst Fund, established by a group of educators, funders and advocates, and administered by the nonprofit organization Immigrants Rising, which announced last week that it has awarded grants of about $125,000 each to 32 public colleges and universities across the state. Immigrants Rising, which works to help undocumented youth meet their education and career goals, is providing the grants to expand legal aid, mental health services and career guidance to undocumented students. The funders are also taking the unusual move of assisting students’ undocumented family members with services that range from legal consultations and mental health therapy to workshops on how to become an entrepreneur and civics classes teaching them how to participate in a city council meeting."
Serious business: Seducing the California voter
CHUCK MCFADDEN in Capitol Weekly: "This, too, shall pass."
"There will come a day in the not-too-distant future when we’ll be able to sit down in front of our television sets or computer screens without being subject to political campaign commercials. Hallelujah!"
"Between now and Nov. 6, however, we can all entertain ourselves with a new hobby while enduring the spots. What’s the hobby? Trying to figure out all the deceptive scheming that goes into what we’re seeing."
What happens if Duncan Hunter wins relection and is convicted? It could depend on who's in charge
LA Times's COLLEEN SHALBY: "Less than a month after he battles for reelection Nov. 6, Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter is expected in a courtroom to face felony charges that he misused campaign contributions."
"The congressman from Alpine pleaded not guilty in August and refused to take himself out of the race, saying the federal indictment alleging fraud and conspiracy was politically motivated. (Even if he had withdrawn, his name would have remained on the ballot.)"
"If Hunter wins reelection and is subsequently convicted, there is no constitutional provision or House rule that explicitly requires him to lose his seat, even if he is imprisoned and unable to vote on behalf of his district. Whether he would be pressured to resign could largely depend on which party comes out on top in congressional elections."
SF's Prop. C: Some worry that it gives businesses one more reason to leave the city
The Chronicle's MELIA RUSSELL: "Jack Dorsey, head of Square and Twitter, has repeatedly aired the idea of moving his companies out of San Francisco — in testimony before Congress and in a recent series of tweets about city taxes."
"Mayor London Breed has likewise voiced concern that taxes, real estate prices and other concerns will reach a point that forces San Francisco’s fast-growing tech companies to pack up and leave."
"Some companies have in fact left — though no big tech employers have. Many are seeking to plant offices in other cities, seeking less heated competition for talent and lower office rents. Others are contemplating using the very technologies they create to build “distributed workforces” connected by instant messages and video chat."
California white supremacists vowed to 'reimagine' racist movements with new look, secretive tactics
LA Times's ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN/BRITTNY MEJIA: "From the beginning, the founders of the so-called Rise Above Movement had a goal: to reinvent what it meant to be a white nationalist."
"Members of the Southern California group were instructed to blend in at political rallies with polo shirts, khakis and military-style haircuts. They were told to avoid violent or extremist language on social media, to keep a low profile."
"Its time to reimagine the nationalist look and playbook, we have become predictable that needs to change,” Benjamin Daley told an associate in a Facebook message in August 2017."
Sacramento Bee's RYAN SABALOW/PHILLIP REESE: "A Northern California sheriff has apparently largely abandoned his job and moved to another state while still collecting his salary, a Sacramento Bee investigation has found."
"For months, Trinity County Sheriff Bruce Haney has been living nearly full time six hours away from the jurisdiction where he was elected in 2010, according to interviews and records obtained by The Bee. Haney for much of 2018 has frequently been at an Oregon home he purchased last year, according to a nearby resident in Oregon and Trinity county officials."
"Despite what appears to be periods of long-term absences in Trinity, Haney has continued to collect his salary and benefits, according to records obtained by The Bee. Trinity County pay records show Haney has received gross pay of more than $9,000 a month this year."
San Diego Union-Tribune staff, others briefly evacuated after suspicious packages spotted
U-T's LYNDSAY WINKLEY: "A downtown San Diego building that houses the San Diego Union-Tribune and other businesses was briefly evacuated Wednesday morning after a stack of suspicious looking packages — later determined to contain an assortment of random items — was spotted near the front doors, San Diego police said."
"Although police have not determined whether the incident was related, the scare occurred on the same day pipe bombs were sent to former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. CNN also received a similar bomb at its building in Manhattan."
"Out of an abundance of caution, we take these measures,” San Diego police Lt. Kevin Wadhams said. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
READ MORE related to Political Pipe Bombs: Bombs sent to Biden and Robert De Niro -- NYT
Saudi Arabia says Khashoggi killing was premeditated
LA Times's TAMER EL-GHOBASHY: "Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said Thursday that Jamal Khashoggi was killed in a planned operation, based on information it received from Turkish investigators in Istanbul, according to a statement from the kingdom's Foreign Ministry."
"It is the latest reversal from Saudi authorities, who last week said Khashoggi was killed accidentally in a fistfight at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul by "rogue" agents."
"The Foreign Ministry did not say what led the prosecutor to draw that conclusion, only that it was based on information shared by Turkish investigators working with Saudi officials in Turkey. According to the statement, the Saudi prosecutor will continue its investigation based on the new information."