Judge signals his approval of landmark USC settlement to ex-gynecologist’s patients
From the LAT's MATT HAMILTON: "A federal judge in Los Angeles said Monday that he would give final approval to USC’s landmark $215-million class-action settlement with former patients of Dr. George Tyndall, the campus gynecologist who has been accused of a decades-long pattern of sexual abuse and misconduct.":
"U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson said he “was inclined to accept” the settlement, a decision that, barring any appeals, would clear the way for USC to start writing checks to approximately 18,000 women who saw Tyndall during their time at the university."
"Finalizing the settlement closes the door to a large portion of USC’s legal exposure, but it does not end the institution’s mounting costs related to the Tyndall scandal. The university’s handling of the student health doctor, first exposed by an investigation by The Times, sparked a Department of Education probe and prompted more than 600 plaintiffs to file state court lawsuits that are still pending."
Officers falsely portrayed people as gang members and falsified records, LAPD says
LA Times's RICHARD WINTON/MARK PUENTE: "More than a dozen Los Angeles police officers with the elite Metro Division are being investigated on suspicion of falsifying information they gathered during stops and wrongly portraying people as gang members or associates, according to multiple sources."
"The officers, assigned to special patrols in South Los Angeles, are suspected of falsifying field interview cards during stops and inputting incorrect information about those questioned in an effort to boost stop statistics."
"In at least one case, body camera and car recordings did not match the accounts in the field interview cards, according to the sources."
From RICHARD WINTON and JAMES QUEALLY, LATimes: "Just hours after he entered a Manhattan courtroom where he will stand trial for sexual assault, Harvey Weinstein was charged with four more counts of rape and sexual battery in Los Angeles, deepening the legal peril faced by the fallen Hollywood mogul who is often seen as the archvillain of the #MeToo movement."
"The new charges stem from accusations brought by two women who say Weinstein attacked them in hotels in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills in 2013, Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey said during a downtown news conference Monday."
"Court documents show the incidents described in Southern California resemble dozens of other accusations made against Weinstein across the globe in recent years. Both women said the Miramax co-founder assaulted them or exposed himself inside a hotel room after an industry event or business meeting, according to filings made public Monday."
Housing bill cedes more control to local governments after major makeover
Sac Bee's HANNAH WILEY: "Last year, California local governments effectively blocked the broadest proposal out of the Legislature that attempted to boost home construction across the state."
"This year, lawmakers behind that bill are trying to win over cities and counties by promising them a lot more control over their zoning laws."
"State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, modified Senate Bill 50 after months of negotiations with local government leaders who raised concerns about the state infringing on local regulations. Wiener and other housing advocates view local zoning restrictions as obstacles to home construction, and want to legislatively require cities to clear a path for more development."
READ MORE related to Housing: Oakland's new housing towers: So-so on the skyline, but one soars on the street -- The Chronicle's JOHN KING
Gag clauses for state workers and public employees may violate 1A rights
Sac Bee's WES VENTEICHER: "Employees at a California tax agency started to suspect something was up when a compliance officer emailed everyone a reminder not talk with the media one morning in March.
"Later that day, CBS Sacramento aired a story on new “RIOT” buttons that had been installed in elevators in the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration building, alarming some employees. The story included interviews with a few workers outside the department’s building at 450 N Street, which has become notorious for maintenance problems."
“The general message of the policy is that when staff receives inquiries from reporters, they should refer them to their supervisor or manager as those inquiries are handled by CDTFA by what is now called our External Affairs Division,” said an email from Program and Compliance Bureau Chief James Dahlen."
EPA sees progress on clean air backlog caused by highway funding threats
Sac Bee's MICHAEL WILNER: "California is cooperating with the federal government to clear a backlog of reports on its implementation of the Clean Air Act, likely avoiding cuts to highway funding threatened by the Trump administration late last year."
"In a letter to Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, obtained by McClatchy, the EPA said the two sides “have made great progress” toward resolving the backlog of “outdated, unnecessary or deficient” reports on the state’s plans to combat pollutants."
“It’s a big deal because it’s a big chunk of the backlog,” EPA spokesman Michael Abboud told McClatchy. “This is something that allows us to move forward in a good-faith effort, and this makes a nice little dent in it, although we have over 90-odd cases left."
State sues billionaire over access to Martins Beach near Half Moon Bay
The Chronicle's MICHAEL CABANATUAN: "The state of California filed suit Monday against Silicon Valley billionaire Vinod Khosla, seeking to ensure public access to a scenic, sandy cove in San Mateo County — the latest development in a decade-long, back-and-forth battle."
"The suit, filed in San Mateo County Superior Court, says that Martins Beach had been open to the public since at least the early 1900s, giving beachgoers implied access rights under the state constitution."
"Khosla, a venture capitalist and co-founder of Sun Microsystems, bought the property in 2008 and shut off access to the beach in 2010. The constitution guarantees public access to all beaches below the mean high tide line. Khosla has argued that he has a right to stop people from crossing his property to reach the beach, a popular surfing and picnicking destination about 6 miles south of Half Moon Bay."
State Dems want their own Green New Deal
Sac Bee's BRYAN ANDERSON: "Under the banner of a so-called California Green New Deal, liberal state lawmakers on Monday unveiled sweeping new goals to reduce homelessness, cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve living standards in poor communities within 10 years."
"Their bill does not yet include any specifics about how they want the state to reach those goals or how they’d pay for the mandate."
"Among other things, the plan aims to hasten the state’s compliance with targets that are already in place under California law to wean the state off of fossil fuels."
State's latest pollution push: Banning gas-powered mowers and blowers
The Chronicle's MALLORY MOENCH: "The next frontier in California’s battle against pollution: lawn equipment."
"State air regulators are laying long-term plans to phase out gasoline-powered devices like leaf blowers and lawn mowers, saying they can produce more noxious emissions than cars."
"Plenty of Bay Area cities are already acting: At least eight have banned gas-powered blowers, and more restrict their use during times of day or up to a certain noise level. Novato may soon join the list."
Why is McKinsey the go-to consultant for our governor?
Sac Bee's SOPHIA BOLLAG: "Gov. Gavin Newsom turned at least four times to global consulting firm McKinsey & Co. over the past year when he wanted to bring a private sector perspective to California government."
"He hired a former McKinsey executive as his top economics adviser, and put him in charge of the state’s business department and its $79 billion high-speed rail project."
"The Newsom administration sought McKinsey’ help with separate contracts for guidance on fixing problems at the DMV and improving education opportunities in Fresno. McKinsey won a $1.5 million contract for its DMV work and earned $600,000 for its education study, according to state records."
How can Newsom start fixing California's deadly jails?
Sac Bee's JASON POHL/RYAN GABRIELSON: "Nearly a decade after California overhauled its prison and jail system, policymakers are considering reforms to the state’s landmark criminal justice transformation, calling for more oversight of county sheriffs and higher standards for inmate care."
Gov. Gavin Newsom has said he is crafting plans focused on local lockups, where homicides have surged, and exploring how to give the state more power to oversee the sheriffs who run them. More details are expected this week when the governor unveils his state budget proposal."
"At the same time, state lawmakers are also calling for accountability, recommending audits of how sheriffs have spent billions of dollars in state support and hearings to examine the deadly conditions in some facilities."
Vaping bill would ban all flavored tobacco sold in stores
LA Times's PATRICK MCGREEVY: "Days after concerns over youth vaping led the Trump administration to announce a partial ban on many e-cigarette pods, California lawmakers on Monday introduced a much stronger measure to outlaw store sales of all flavored tobacco products in the state."
"The proposal would go far beyond the federal government’s plan, announced Thursday, for a temporary ban on many candy- and fruit-flavored e-cigarette products that could be lifted if companies can convince the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the pods are safe. Senate Bill 793 would prohibit flavored products not covered by the federal ban, including menthol-flavored cartridges and refillable, tank-based vaping systems that can be filled with flavored chemicals. It would also outlaw flavors for traditional combustible cigarettes and cigars, as well as for chewing tobacco and hookah pipes."
"The measure does not apply to products available on the Internet, including those sold by out-of-state businesses. It is supported by health and youth advocacy groups."
State orders emergency shutdown of Sacramento-area card room. Here's why
Sac Bee's DALE KASLER: "California officials said Monday they’ve ordered the shutdown of a Rancho Cordova card room, saying it was “seriously underfunded” and didn’t have enough money to cover the cost of customers cashing out their gambling chips."
"Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued the emergency shutdown order against the Magnolia House Casino, a card room on Folsom Boulevard, just south of Highway 50.
“The card room will remain closed unless it is able to demonstrate that it has addressed its funding issues,” Becerra’s office announced."
Appeals court throws out case against four social workers in Gabriel Fernandez case
LA Times's JACLYN COSGROVE/MARISA GERBER: "Justices with the California 2nd District Court of Appeal threw out the case Monday against four former social workers who faced criminal charges in the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez."
"Gabriel died in May 2013 after months of torture and abuse, according to prosecutors. His mother, Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, are expected to spend the rest of their lives in prison for his murder."
"A surprising twist in the case came in 2016 when the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office charged former county Department of Children and Family Services employees Kevin Bom, Stefanie Rodriguez, Gregory Merritt and Patricia Clement with one felony count of child abuse and one felony count of falsifying public records. It marked the first time in recent memory in which child protective workers were criminally charged over the alleged mishandling of a case."
Trial begins in Nia Wilson murder case
The Chronicle's MEGAN CASSIDY: "The murder trial against the man accused in the brazen 2018 stabbing of Nia Wilson at an Oakland BART station officially began Monday, in a case that sparked a national outcry amid speculation that the crime was racially motivated."
"John Lee Cowell, 29, is charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder for the July 22, 2018, knife attack that left 18-year-old Wilson dead on the MacArthur BART Station platform and her sister, Letifah Wilson, grievously injured with a wound to her neck."
"Cowell could face life in prison if convicted. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty."
Bolton's surprise offer to testify in impeachment trial puts pressure on GOP
LA Times's JENNIFER HABERKORN: "Former national security advisor John Bolton said Monday he would testify in President Trump’s impeachment trial if the Senate issued him a subpoena, putting new and potentially intense pressure on Senate Republicans to open the trial further than they had planned."
"Several administration witnesses testified during the House investigation of Trump’s actions toward Ukraine that Bolton had told them he was concerned about aspects of the president’s behavior.Former administration official Fiona Hill recounted Bolton caustically comparing Trump lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani’s work in Ukraine to a “drug deal.”
"Bolton’s testimony — which Democrats have long sought, believing it would shine additional light on Trump’s actions — could serve as a focal point of a Senate impeachment trial."
Stampede at Iranian General's funeral kills 35, wounds 48
AP: "A stampede erupted on Tuesday at a funeral procession for a top Iranian general killed in a U.S. airstrike last week, killing 35 people and injuring 48 others, state television reported."
"According to the report, the stampede took place in Kerman, the hometown of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, as the procession got underway. Initial videos posted online showed people lying lifeless on a road, others shouting and trying to help them."
"Iranian state TV gave the casualty toll in its online report, without saying where it obtained the information. Pirhossein Koulivand, the head of Iran’s emergency medical services, earlier spoke by telephone to state TV and confirmed the stampede took place."
READ MORE related to Warpath Escalation: The US airstrike that killed a top Iranian general also eliminatied another key player -- LA Times's NABIH BULOS