‘Major heat risk’ in California this week: Where will we see hottest temperatures?
The Chronicle, GERRY DIAZ: "The cool weather pattern in the inland valleys of the Bay Area comes to a close this week as a warm ridge of high pressure is forecast to start raising above-average temperatures across California on Wednesday and Thursday.
This shakeup in the weather pattern could translate into an elevated heat risk in parts of the Bay Area this week."
What caused the ‘catastrophic implosion’ that killed 5 on Titanic tourist sub?
LA Times, ALEXANDRA E. PETRI: "The tragic news that five people died when a submersible imploded while on a dive to explore the Titanic wreck site is sparking questions and will be the focus of an investigation.
“I know that there’s also a lot of questions about how, why and when did this happen,” U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. John W. Mauger said. “Those are questions that we will collect as much information as we can on now.”"
What you need to know on the California budget deal
CALMatters, SAMEEA KAMAL, ALEXEI KOSEFF: "Just in time for the start of a new fiscal year July 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders announced Monday night that they have reached a deal on the state budget — a $310 billion spending plan that they say protects core programs and covers a $30 billion-plus deficit without dipping into key reserves.
Despite largely agreeing on the overall structure for weeks, budget negotiations were delayed by the governor’s demands to include a sweeping infrastructure proposal that many lawmakers resisted. The final compromise narrows the types of projects that can take advantage of an expedited approval of permits, leaving out a contentious proposed water conveyance tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta."
Fact check: Gavin Newsom says California’s economy is booming. Is that correct?
Sac Bee, DAVID LIGHTMAN: "Gov. Gavin Newsom, eager to convince the nation that California is booming, rattled off number after number to Sean Hannity on the Fox News host’s show recently.
While most of Newsom’s numbers were accurate, there was other, less flattering data he didn’t share."
Supreme Court rejects GOP claim that state lawmakers have full power over elections
LA Times, DAVID G. SAVAGE: "In another surprise ruling, the Supreme Court on Tuesday firmly rejected a Republican claim that the Constitution gives state lawmakers full and unchecked power over the elections of members of Congress and the president in their state.
The so-called independent state legislature theory had alarmed Democrats and threatened to inject an element of uncertainty into the 2024 national elections."
Imelda Padilla takes early lead in L.A. City Council District 6 race
LA Times, DAKOTA SMITH, JULIA WICK: "Imelda Padilla led rival Marisa Alcaraz in initial results Tuesday night in the special election for the Los Angeles City Council seat representing the northeast and central San Fernando Valley, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder.
Alcaraz, a top advisor to City Councilmember Curren Price, and Padilla, a community advocate, are vying for the Council District 6 seat formerly held by City Council President Nury Martinez, who resigned last year."
Eric Guerra will have a challenger for his Sacramento City Council seat. Who’s joining race?
Sac Bee, THERESA CLIFT: "Amreet Sandhu is running for Sacramento City Council next year.
She will challenge Councilman Eric Guerra to represent Elmhurst, Tahoe Park, and southeast Sacramento."
Solar sprawl is tearing up the Mojave Desert. Is there a better way?
LA Times, SAMMY ROTH: "High above the Las Vegas Strip, solar panels blanketed the roof of Mandalay Bay Convention Center — 26,000 of them, rippling across an area larger than 20 football fields.
From this vantage point, the sun-dappled Mandalay Bay and Delano hotels dominated the horizon, emerging like comically large golden scepters from the glittering black panels. Snow-tipped mountains rose to the west."
Forward progress stopped on Riverside County fire amid evacuations; two homes destroyed
LA Times, HAYLEY SMITH, JEREMY CHILDS: "A wildfire in Riverside County on Thursday prompted evacuation orders and destroyed at least two residential structures, according to authorities. Meanwhile, another blaze broke out about 30 miles away in San Bernardino County.
The Riverside County blaze, dubbed the Juniper fire, was reported around 2:30 p.m. in the 19000 block of Santa Rosa Mine Road, according to Alex Izaguirre, a spokesperson for the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department."
Legislature, Newsom compromise, quickly pass and sign 2023-24 state budget with fewer cuts for K-12
EdSource, JOHN FENSTERWALD: "One day after settling their differences, the Legislature on Tuesday quickly approved a $310 billion 2023-24 state budget and sent it to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who signed the bill Tuesday night. Senate Bill 101, the budget, will provide slightly less funding for schools and community colleges than last year, yet assures school districts will have a sizable increase in general operating money by fully funding a cost of living increase.
The final deal also offers more immediate relief for struggling child-care providers that Newsom had offered and help for parents of young children by capping the amount of their income they must pay for child care."
California parents fed up with schools want to make high-quality education a constitutional right
CALMatters, JOE HONG: "For the second time in two years, a coalition of advocates wants to make a high-quality education a constitutional right in California.
The push comes in the aftermath of pandemic-era school closures and distance learning, during which parents witnessed firsthand what they considered deficient instruction."
Does your child speak a language other than English? California preschools want to know
EdSource, ZAIDEE STAVELY: "If you’re enrolling your child in California state-subsidized preschool this fall, you’ll be asked new questions about what languages they speak and understand.
It’s part of a new effort to identify which preschoolers speak languages other than English and make sure they’re supported to both keep those languages and learn English at the same time."
A big contract went to a San Jose private school run by the mayor’s wife. Was it competitive?
BANG*Mercury News, GABRIEL GRESCHLER: "A city contract worth nearly $1 million was awarded to a San Jose private high school run by the mayor’s wife, with officials assuring that it went through the routine competitive bidding process, though leaders at other schools say they weren’t aware of the opportunity.
The deal raised eyebrows at the June 20 City Council meeting after Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School nabbed the contract. City officials, meanwhile, insisted they performed the proper outreach to numerous schools in the city so that everyone had a fair shot."
Is California using an old labor board to get around a fast food industry referendum?
CALMatters, JEANNE KUNG: "Folded into California’s $310 billion budget agreement is a relatively small line item: $3 million to resurrect an obscure old state commission that once regulated industries from factories to farms to laundries — and even had the power to set the minimum wage.
The budget deal between the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom would reconvene the Industrial Welfare Commission, dormant since 2004, to issue new rules on wages and working conditions for specific industries."
New law targeting organized retail theft just kicked in. Will it make an impact in S.F.?
The Chronicle, SHIRA STEIN: "A federal law aimed at deterring organized retail theft went into effect Tuesday, but stakeholders and experts are skeptical the measure will make a substantial impact in San Francisco, where burglaries have plagued businesses and ignited national attention.
The law addresses the issue in a roundabout way; requiring online marketplaces to collect and disclose information about third-party sellers who make more than 200 sales amounting to $5,000 or more in a year. Goods stolen from retailers are often fenced online."
Caltech’s win in Apple Inc. patent case is upheld after U.S. Supreme Court declines appeal
BANG*Mercury News, JOHN ORONA: "The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear Apple Inc’s. appeal in the potentially $1 billion patent infringement case brought and won against the tech giant by the California Institute of Technology.
In 2016, Caltech filed a lawsuit alleging that Apple and its major chip supplier Broadcom infringed on its patents for signal encoding systems in millions of Apple iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, watches and TVs that relied on Broadcom WiFi components."
PetSmart to pay more than $1 million to settle Bay Area multi-county lawsuit
BANG*Mercury News, RICK HURD: "Prosecutors and representatives for a pet-supplies corporation have reached a settlement over a lawsuit claiming the corporation overcharged customers and committed false advertising, officials said.
With the settlement in the multi-county lawsuit, PetSmart LLC agreed to pay $1.46 million and acknowledged it created unfair competition, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Ted Asredgadoo said in a statement."
One of the most popular podcast apps, based in S.F., is shutting down
The Chronicle, AIDIN VAZIRI: "The popular San Francisco-based podcast app Stitcher will go silent this summer as its owner, SiriusXM, announced plans to shut down its apps and web-streaming audio service on Aug. 29.
The company made the announcement through a notice titled “Stitcher Farewell” posted on its website on Tuesday, June 27. SiriusXM intends to integrate all podcasts into its flagship SiriusXM subscription business, aiming to drive growth. “Subscribers can listen to podcasts within the SiriusXM app and will see an all-new listening experience later this year,” the note said."
California has tried to boost its housing stock. See which states have done better
LA Times, TERRY CASTLEMAN: "A retired human resources director, Pam Quinn was burnt out on the work-intensive culture of Silicon Valley and was looking to relocate to a place where she felt “like I was part of a community.”
After searching on her Ipad, the widowed 66-year-old empty nester from the San Jose suburb of Campbell found Twin Oaks, a newly built development in Hollister, described on its website as a “55+ active lifestyle community.” Quinn moved in April of 2022, just as the development was completed."v
California lawmakers reach budget deals over access to police misconduct records, transit bailout
BANG*Mercury News, JOHN WOOLFOLK, PAUL ROGERS: "California leaders late Monday made a final deal on a 2023-24 state budget after reaching hard-fought compromises to speed environmental reviews for big public projects and release records about bad cops.
Those last minute agreements — including one to bail out ailing mass transit systems — brought to a close a contentious process in which Gov. Gavin Newsom and the legislature had to close a steep budget deficit after years of hefty surpluses."
‘It’s so pervasive.’ California hate crimes soared 20% in 2022, report shows
LA Times, ANDREW J. CAMPA: "Hate crimes soared in California in 2022, with year-over-year rises recorded in crimes targeting virtually every demographic group, according to a report released Tuesday.
All told, there were 2,120 reported hate crimes, a 20.2% jump from the year prior, figures from the California Department of Justice show."
D.A. dismisses drug cases over claims SFPD officer had inappropriate relationship with informant
The Chronicle, MEGAN CASSIDY: "San Francisco prosecutors have begun dismissing drug dealing cases involving a veteran city police officer over allegations that the officer committed misconduct by having an inappropriate relationship with a confidential informant, sources familiar with the matter told The Chronicle on Tuesday.
The officer, Christina Hayes, was recently transferred from the Police Department’s narcotics unit to a position where she has no contact with the public, according to one of the sources, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case. The Chronicle agreed to protect the sources’ anonymity under the newspaper’s confidential sources policy."
Julian Sands, 65, actor who went missing in San Gabriel Mountains, found deadhttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-06-27/julian-sands-dead-actor-missing-hiker-mt-baldy-san-gabriel-mountains
Julian Sands, 65, actor who went missing in San Gabriel Mountains, found dead
LA Times, ALEXANDRA DEL ROSARIO: "British actor Julian Sands, known for films such as “A Room With a View” and “Warlock,” has died after going missing in California’s San Gabriel Mountains. He was 65.
Remains found Saturday on Mt. Baldy are those of Sands, the San Bernardino County coroner’s office confirmed Tuesday. The cause of death is pending further test results."