The different worlds of California card rooms and tribal casinos
LAT's BRIAN JOSEPH: "The Hustler Casino and the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel both represent the pinnacle of California’s gambling industry, albeit in different categories of an oddly bifurcated sector.
The Golden State is home to two flavors of gambling establishments, even though both often refer to themselves as casinos. There are, of course, tribal casinos, of which Yaamava’ in San Bernardino County is one of the most successful. And then there are card rooms, which unlike tribal casinos are limited to table games and may be owned by individuals other than Native Americans. The Hustler Casino, just south of Los Angeles in Gardena, is the fourth largest."
High stakes: Inside the multimillion-dollar battle for gambling rights in California
CALMatters's RYAN SABALOW and JEREMIA KIMELMAN: "Powerful tribal casinos and their rivals in California’s multi-billion dollar gambling industry are fighting an epic battle in the Legislature this year. Millions of dollars in tax revenues for local cities hang in the balance.
Pending legislation would let California’s tribes sue their competitors, private card clubs, over their claim that card rooms are violating the tribes’ exclusive rights to Las Vegas-style gambling."
Former L.A. Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan found guilty in sprawling City Hall corruption case
LAT's DAVID ZAHNISER, DAKOTA SMITH: "A jury delivered a swift and decisive judgment in a federal corruption case targeting former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan, finding Wednesday that Chan secured bribes for himself and for former Councilmember Jose Huizar as part of a sprawling pay-to-play scheme.
Within a few hours, the jury found Chan guilty on 12 of 12 counts — racketeering conspiracy, bribery, honest services fraud and giving false statements to investigators — in a case focused on financial benefits provided by real estate developers with projects in Huizar’s district."
London Breed’s first big fundraiser offers a hint at election strategy: Win over women
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI: "Mayor London Breed is holding the first major fundraiser of her 2024 campaign Wednesday night, and the theme is one her campaign will focus on until Election Day: rallying women behind her.
Backed by the top female Democrats in the state, including Sen. Laphonza Butler, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, state Controller Malia Cohen, Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee, state Treasurer Fiona Ma, Oakland Assembly Member Buffy Wicks and others, the $500-a-head Women for Mayor London Breed fundraiser is the first salvo in an attempt to consolidate San Francisco’s female voters behind the city’s first Black female mayor."
Daniel Lurie’s campaign to unseat London Breed now has support from this former S.F. mayor
The Chronicle's J.D. MORRIS: "One of San Francisco’s former mayors is throwing his weight behind nonprofit founder Daniel Lurie’s campaign to unseat Mayor London Breed this year as the fight for key endorsements in the competitive race heats up.
Frank Jordan, who served as the city’s 40th mayor from 1992 to 1996, announced his support for the Levi Strauss heir’s mayoral bid Wednesday, praising Lurie’s work at the anti-poverty nonprofit Tipping Point Community and saying he trusted Lurie to spend the city’s $14.6 billion budget effectively. Jordan also called Lurie a “consensus builder” who would represent “a new era of accountable leadership.”"
Judge skeptical of Hunter Biden’s effort to dismiss tax case as politically motivated
LAT's MATT HAMILTON, BRITTNY MEJIA: "Lawyers for Hunter Biden asked a federal judge in Los Angeles to throw out nine tax-related charges, arguing that the president’s son is being vindictively prosecuted by the Justice Department and had his rights trampled by two IRS agents who publicly revealed his confidential tax records.
At a hearing Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi appeared skeptical about Biden’s eight motions to dismiss the criminal charges, pointing out that his lawyers had little evidence to bolster some of their arguments."
Higher prices on the menu as fast-food chains brace for California’s big minimum wage jump
LAT's ANDREA CHANG, DON LEE: "Chipotle, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Jack in the Box and Shake Shack are planning to raise menu prices. Fast-food franchisees are laying off employees or cutting their hours. Smaller independent business owners, meanwhile, worry their workers will bolt unless they also increase wages.
With California’s mandatory minimum wage for fast-food workers set to jump to $20 an hour on Monday, major restaurant chains are scrutinizing every aspect of their businesses to find ways to offset the extra money they will soon be spending on labor. In many cases, customers will end up eating the cost."
Winter storm warning issued for Northern California storm system. Here’s when not to travel
Sacramento Bee's ISHANI DESAI: "
The National Weather Service is warning Northern Californians to refrain from driving through the mountains Wednesday and Thursday due to a heavy storm rolling through the region, the first of two powerful weather systems expected this week.
Meteorologists at the weather service’s Sacramento office issued a winter storm warning for portions of High Sierra counties above 5,500 feet from 11 a.m. Wednesday until 11 a.m. Thursday. They warned residents to be prepared for mountain travel delays and chain controls."
Who is Shohei Ohtani’s new interpreter with Dodgers? They call him ‘Will the Thrill’
LAT's CHUCK SCHILKEN, JACK HARRIS: "Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wore a grim expression while talking to reporters in Seoul last week.
The team had just fired interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, who had been accused by representatives of Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani of engaging in a “massive theft” of the Dodgers two-way player’s funds to allegedly pay off at least $4.5 million in debt to an illegal Orange County bookmaker."
Bay Area whooping cough outbreak reported by county health officials
The Chronicle's AIDIN VAZIRI: "Marin County is experiencing a significant increase in whooping cough cases, primarily centered on one of its largest high schools.
The county’s health officer, Matt Willis, issued an advisory last week indicating that out of the 93 cases recorded in the region since mid-December, 65 have occurred at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley."
Should 4-year-olds have to take an English proficiency test?
EdSource's ZAIDEE STAVELY: "Four-year-olds are crying, putting their heads on their desks or simply refusing to answer the questions during an English proficiency test they’re required to take in transitional kindergarten.
The initial English Language Proficiency Assessment for California (ELPAC) is used to determine whether new students will be designated English learners. Under current law, the test must be given to all students whose parents speak another language at home within the first 30 days of enrollment in kindergarten through 12th grade. The test measures proficiency in four domains — listening, speaking, reading and writing in English."
BANG*Mercury News's MOLLY GIBBS: "More than 200 students at DCP Alum Rock High School, a small charter school in San Jose, will have to transfer when the campus closes this summer — a victim of declining enrollment and a hefty budget deficit it cannot overcome and keep the campus open.
Downtown College Prep – which operates the high school and three other campuses in San Jose – voted on the closure earlier this month."
The Broad announces massive expansion that will increase gallery space by 70%
LAT's JESSICA GELT: "The Broad on Wednesday announced a $100-million building expansion that will increase gallery space at one of Los Angeles’ most popular museums by 70%. The sweeping plans could provide a critical boost to downtown L.A., which has seen sluggish recovery since the pandemic and the rise of remote work left the city’s core a shell of what it had once been.
The 55,000-square-foot addition is designed by the New York-based firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, which designed the original museum — built at a cost of $140 million. It will rise directly behind the existing structure and is expected to break ground in early 2025, with completion anticipated in advance of the 2028 Summer Olympics."
Sacramento march honoring Latino activist Cesar Chavez to include calls for Gaza cease-fire
Sacramento Bee's MATHEW MIRANDA: "
A wide-range of Sacramentans will march near downtown this Saturday in honor of the late civil rights leader Cesar Chavez and to protest current issues affecting underrepresented communities.
The annual gathering, now in its 22nd year, pays homage to Chavez’s advocacy while connecting his work to modern day activism. This year, the march will take place one day before Chavez’s birthday, which is a federal commemorative holiday."
New Oakland police chief Floyd Mitchell officially introduced to the city
The Chronicle's DAVID HERNANDEZ: "Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao formally introduced Floyd Mitchell as the city’s next police chief Wednesday — an opportunity both leaders took to tell the public they believe he will drive down crime and build strong relationships in the community at a time of heightened concerns about public safety.
“As Oakland’s police chief I look forward to working with all of the residents, business owners, city leadership, fellow law enforcement agencies and our local media partners to build a stronger and safer Oakland,” Mitchell said during the introduction at City Hall."