Former OC chief, five others indicted on Capitol riot conspiracy charges
LA Times, ANITA CHABRIA/PAIGE ST JOHN/RICHARD WINTON/HANNAH FRY/DEL QUENTIN WILBER: "Two Orange County extremists — a former police chief and his partner in organizing Stop the Steal rallies — have been indicted along with members of the Three Percenters militia for their roles in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
Alan Hostetter, former chief of the La Habra police department, faces charges along with fellow Californians Russell Taylor, Erik Scott Warner, Felipe Antonio “Tony” Martinez, Derek Kinnison and Ronald Mele on multiple counts.
Though all are charged with being in restricted areas of the Capitol, Warner, a registered nurse, is the sole indictee to be accused of entering the building, via a broken window. Kinnison and Warner are charged with destroying evidence, while Taylor also faces a weapons count for carrying a knife with a blade longer than 3 inches."
Rocklin man indicted in US Capitol siege is one of four Sacramento-area defendants
Sac Bee, SAM STANTON: "A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., has indicted a Rocklin man who is one of four Sacramento-area suspects accused of participating in the against 471 individuals so far at the U.S. Capitol.
The seven-count indictment filed Thursday in federal court in Washington charges Tommy Frederick Allan with obstruction of an official proceeding, theft of government property, entering and remaining on the floor of Congress and other charges related to the siege of the Capitol that day.
Allan previously had been named in a criminal complaint following a tip from a confidential source who told the FBI about Facebook and other video posts, including video that the FBI said appeared to show him carrying a flag from the floor of the U.S. Senate before it was taken from him."
California's high-speed rail project to get back nearly $1B in federal funding that Trump cut
The Chronicle, LAUREN HERNANDEZ: "California will receive $929 million in grant funding toward its high-speed rail project — funding that former President Donald Trump had previously canceled in 2019 — under a deal announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office late Thursday night.
Officials with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the state finalized settlement negotiations to restore the funding, Newsom’s office said.
Newsom applauded the funding restoration, saying the reversal is a testament to President Biden’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’ shared vision with California: “Clean, electrified transportation that will serve generations to come.”"
‘Bubble baby’ treatment shifted to stem cell agency, UCLA
DAVID JENSEN, Capitol Weekly: "A London-based biotech firm has given up its life-saving treatment for the bubble baby disease and turned it over to California’s $12 billion stem cell agency and UCLA, where it was developed with tens of millions of taxpayer dollars.
The families of children suffering from the rare affliction hailed the decision, saying that they were relieved, grateful and hopeful that it would soon mean treatments for their children.
“Waiting was never the worst part,” said Shayla Sulack of Tehachapi, whose daughter was in line to be treated. “It was wondering if the waiting would ever end, or was this (treatment) on hold indefinitely. This is movement, at least, in the forward direction.” (See the full texts of the parents’ comments here.)"
State bar admits 'mistakes' in handling years of complaints against Tom Girardi
LA Times, HARRIET RYAN/MATT HAMILTON: "The State Bar of California acknowledged Thursday that its investigators had mishandled years of complaints against disgraced legal titan and “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member Tom Girardi.
The stunning public admission comes after a Times investigation published in March described how Girardi had kept his law license pristine despite more than 100 lawsuits against him and his firm, many of them alleging misappropriation of funds. The article detailed how Girardi cultivated close relationships with bar employees by treating them to wine-soaked lunches at Morton’s, casino parties in Las Vegas and private plane rides.
The regulatory agency’s Board of Trustees said in a news release Thursday that an internal audit of the L.A. power broker’s file at the bar “revealed mistakes made in some investigations over the many decades of Mr. Girardi’s career going back some 40 years and spanning the tenure of many Chief Trial Counsels.”"
VTA releases personnel report showing mass shooter was subject of 4 investigations
The Chronicle, JULIE JOHNSON/STEVE RUBENSTEIN: "The workplace history of the man who shot and killed nine co-workers in a San Jose rail yard last month shows glimpses of an uncooperative and combative employee, a man whose behavior once led a co-worker to say she feared Samuel James Cassidy could “go postal.”
Cassidy’s managers and union representatives scrambled to respond to four incidents reported to his bosses over his 20-year career with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, documents released Thursday showed, cases that led to minor consequences, including a verbal warning and a two-day stint of leave without pay.
The most serious incident occurred on Jan. 29, 2020, when several employees witnessed Cassidy accost a co-worker, “shouting and pointing at her” and calling her “the most corrupt person at VTA.”"
Wearing a mask may go from a symbol of responsibility to vulnerability as California reopens
LA Times, RONG-GONG LIN II/LUKE MONEY: "With California’s full economic reopening days away, there remains one question that has not been fully resolved in the minds of many eager to get back to normal life: To mask, or not to mask?
Beginning Tuesday, most of California’s mask rules imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic — covering customers’ trips to the store, the gym and restaurants — will disappear for those who are vaccinated.
There is growing evidence of the shots’ power to prevent serious disease and blunt transmission of the coronavirus, and health officials are increasingly unified in their belief that those who are fully inoculated can safely resume many activities without wearing face coverings."
Nearly all the Bay Area is now in 'exceptional' drought category -- and the outlook's grim
The Chronicle, JESSICA FLORES: "A persistent lack of precipitation has landed most of the Bay Area in the worst drought category, according to data released Thursday.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows that seven of the Bay Area’s nine counties moved to the “exceptional” drought category in the last week. San Mateo and Santa Clara counties remained in “extreme” drought, the second-worst category, as of Tuesday.
“California continued to see the impacts of drought increase,” meteorologists wrote in their summary of the latest drought data, with much Northern and Central California increasing to “extreme” and “exceptional” drought conditions."
Lake Mead drops to a record low amid drought
AP, FELICIA FONSECA/SAM METZ: "Lake Mead, a key reservoir on the Colorado River, has dipped to a record low level in the latest evidence of drought’s grip on the region.
The surface elevation of the lake along the Nevada-Arizona border dipped to 1,071.56 feet at 11 p.m. Wednesday. That level was last recorded in July 2016 and is 18.5 feet lower than one year ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. It’s the lowest level since Lake Mead was filled in the 1930s.
“We’re expecting the reservoir to keep declining until November. Then it should start to rebound,” said Bureau of Reclamation spokeswoman Patti Aaron."
California's shifting rules on masks and workplace safety confuse, frustrate businesses
The Chronicle, CHASE DiFELICIANTONIO: "With strict statewide workplace masking and social distancing rules now in place until the end of the month, many businesses are frustrated and confused as the state moves to do away with masks in most other situations and fully reopen next week.
The standards board for California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, voted last week to loosen some masking restrictions at work for unvaccinated people to coincide with the June 15 reopening, but switched course during a marathon meeting Wednesday night. Board members will consider rules more in line with the state’s public health department next week, but meanwhile, stricter emergency measures passed late last year remain in effect.
The California Department of Public Health plans to lift most masking requirements for vaccinated people on June 15, while keeping some requirements in place for public transportation, large events and other close settings in line with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations."
Newsom, other state officials slated to get 4.2% raise after commission vote
Sac Bee, SOPHIA BOLLAG: "Gov. Gavin Newsom, California lawmakers and other state elected officials are slated to get a 4.2% raise at year’s end after a commission voted this week to approve the raises.
The California Citizens Compensation Commission, a four-member group appointed by the governor, voted Tuesday to approve the 4.2% increase, said Government Operations Agency spokeswoman Amy Palmer.
That would bring the governor’s official salary from $209,747 to $218,556. Most lawmakers’ pay would increase from $114,877 to $119,701."
Newsom recall could cost California taxpayers at least $215M, counties say
Sac Bee, LARA KORTE: "California counties expect to spend an estimated $215 million to conduct a statewide special recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to a report compiled by the California Department of Finance.
That’s more than the $200 million local public health officials requested from Newsom in this year’s budget to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for future challenges.
The estimate from counties comes as state agencies prepare for the expected recall election, which has not been scheduled."
California vaccine lottery winner thought call from state 'was a joke'
The Chronicle, AIDIN VAZIRI: "Gov. Gavin Newsom identified one of the first 15 winners of the state’s $50,000 lottery for residents who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 — a man named Tony who said he initially dismissed the news as a gag.
“I got the call last Friday. At first, I thought it was a joke, so I ignored it,” Tony says in a clip posted Wednesday evening on the governor’s social media sites.
Tony, who didn’t give a last name, woke up to his good fortune after he did some research about the giveaway."
Newsom slams fed. judge as California appeals ruling on assault gun ban
Sac Bee, SOPHIA BOLLAG: "California officials announced Thursday they are appealing a ruling by a federal judge to strike down California’s assault weapons ban.
The announcement comes nearly a week after U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez overturned California’s 30-year-old law banning assault weapons. In his ruling, Benitez compared AR-15 rifles to Swiss Army knives and described them as “good for both home and battle.” Benitez stayed his ruling for 30 days so the law remains in effect as state officials appeal.
Gov. Gavin Newsom excoriated Benitez at a press conference announcing the appeal, calling him “a stone cold ideologue” and “a wholly owned subsidiary of the gun lobby and the National Rifle Association.”"
Caitlyn Jenner, once an 'American hero,' struggles to win support from California voters
Sac Bee, LARA KORTE: "Caitlyn Jenner’s initial ascent into American social strata was astronomical.
Before 1976, she was relatively unknown: a dyslexic kid from Westchester, New York, who had traveled to Iowa on a football scholarship before heading to California to pursue athletic glory.
Jenner, who at that point had not yet come out as transgender, sold insurance at night and trained for the decathlon during the day. She relied mostly on her then-wife Chrystie Crownover’s income as a United Airlines flight attendant to survive."
SF Supe Peskin says he's entering alcohol treatment after complaints
The Chronicle, MALLORY MOENCH/HEATHER KNIGHT/TRISHA THADANI: "San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin said Thursday he is in treatment for alcohol use, a day after The Chronicle asked him to respond to complaints about his behavior, including allegations that he was under the influence during a Board of Supervisors meeting.
“After serious consideration, I have decided to enter into alcohol treatment under the guidance of professionals,” Peskin said in a statement. “I stand by my long legislative and civic record but must also take full responsibility for the tenor that I have struck in my public relationships — for that, I am truly sorry.”
Peskin, one of the most powerful politicians in City Hall, made the announcement as several of his colleagues, department heads and other city staffers became increasingly frustrated with the supervisor, who has long been a combative and polarizing figure in San Francisco. It came a day after The Chronicle asked the supervisor whether he had been drinking before or during Tuesday’s meeting, an allegation that he neither confirmed nor denied."
LA teachers union pact mandates masks and coronavirus tests for all this fall
LA Times, HOWARD BLUME: "Masks will remain on for students and staff at Los Angeles schools this fall, and coronavirus testing will continue for all, under a tentative agreement announced Thursday between district officials and the teachers union.
The mask mandate would continue regardless of whether employees or students are vaccinated, with rare potential exceptions for students with disabilities. And the coronavirus testing would take place at least once every two weeks. That’s a possible step back from the current practice, which has required testing every week since campuses gradually reopened in April.
Daily screening for symptoms also would be required for students, staff and visitors before entering a campus. This screening has typically consisted of a temperature check and a verbal self-affirmation of good health. The district also has an online Daily Pass that allows for the same affirmation, but people haven’t been required to use it."
SCUSD teachers, staff vote no confidence in Superintendent Aguilar
Sac Bee. SAWASN MORRAR: "Sacramento City Unified School District teachers and classified staff overwhelmingly voted no confidence in Superintendent Jorge Aguilar, claiming fiscal mismanagement and failure to provide services.
Out of the district’s 2,200 certificated educators, 1,350 teachers voted no confidence, with just 55 voting the other way for a 96% vote against Aguilar. About 62% of the educators cast a vote.
Of the 2,000 classified staff, which includes bus drivers, custodians and food services, 97% of those who voted chose to vote no confidence in the superintendent. SEUI 1021 did not release how many members voted."
White, Asian families have most to gain if Congress restores tax break Trump capped, report says
Sac Bee, DAIVD LIGHTMAN:: "Black and Hispanic families in California would get far less of a benefit than white and Asian households if Congress repeals the federal income tax deduction limits on state and local taxes, a study of the impact finds.
White taxpayers would save an average of $2,260 next year if the cap is gone. Asian families would get $2,420. Black families would save $1,080 while Latino households would save $1,020.
Whites make up 46.3% of California taxpayers, but would get 58% of the benefit from SALT repeal next year."
DoJ under Trump siezed data from House Dems in leaks inquiry
AP, MARY CLARE JALONICK/MICHAEL BALSAMO: "The Justice Department under then-President Trump seized data from the accounts of at least two members of the House Intelligence Committee in 2018 as part of an aggressive crackdown on leaks related to the Russia investigation and other national security matters, according to a committee official and two people familiar with the investigation.
Prosecutors from Trump’s Justice Department subpoenaed Apple for the data, according to the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss the secret seizures. The revelations were first reported by the New York Times.
The records of at least 12 people connected to the intelligence panel were eventually seized, including Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), who was then the ranking member on the committee. California Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) was the second member, according to spokeswoman Natalie Edelstein."