California could get 21 new federal judges under bill with bipartisan support
The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO: "Congress hasn’t approved a nationwide increase in federal judgeships since 1990, leading to a shortage of judges that has increased their caseloads and the time it takes to get into court. But that could be changed by bipartisan legislation that would add 66 judges to U.S. courts in the next decade, 21 of them in California.
Bills to expand the judiciary have been introduced frequently during Democratic administrations and then scuttled by congressional Republicans. The current measures may be more resilient because they would authorize periodic judicial appointments through 2033, and both lead authors are Republicans."
California lawmakers to consider rival ballot measure to compete with more conservative crime reform
LAT's ANABEL SOSA/TARYN LUNA: "The California Legislature this week is expected to approve a voter initiative for the November ballot to crack down on retail theft and fentanyl dealers, an effort designed to compete against a tougher anti-crime measure championed by a group of county district attorneys.
The plan comes after days of tense negotiations between Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and Democratic legislative leaders, with details about the initiative made public in a bill released Sunday evening."
READ MORE -- Hidden fees, gun taxes, date-rape testing kits: New California laws that take effect in July -- LAT's LAURA J. NELSON; California now has 11% tax on gun and ammunition due to new law. Here’s what to know -- Sacramento Bee's HANH TRUONG; Seven new California laws go into effect today. Here’s what residents need to know -- Sacramento Bee's STAFF; He used to run a nightclub. Now he’s pushing for new laws to fight drink spiking -- CALMatters's RYAN SABALOW; California voters will decide an anti-crime measure in November. Democrats say this one is better -- CALMatters's NIGEL DUARA
Supreme Court sends Trump immunity case back to lower court, dimming chance of trial before election
AP's MARK SHERMAN: "The Supreme Court on Monday extended the delay in the Washington criminal case against Donald Trump on charges he plotted to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss, all but ending prospects the former president could be tried before the November election.
In a historic 6-3 ruling, the justices said for the first time that former presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution for their official acts and no immunity for unofficial acts. But rather than do it themselves, the justices ordered lower courts to figure out precisely how to apply the decision to Trump’s case."
The Micheli Minute for July 1, 2024
Capitol Weekly's TIM FOSTER: "Lobbyist and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome."
COVID cases keep rising in L.A. County due to FLiRT; Mayor Karen Bass tests positive
LAT's RONG-GONG LIN II: "COVID-19 cases are continuing to climb in Los Angeles County, as are the number of people hospitalized with infections, as the typical summer surge in the illness creeps up.
Among those recently testing positive for the coronavirus was Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, whose office disclosed the result Friday morning, shortly before she spoke at a press conference virtually, through Zoom. The mayor first tested positive for the virus in June 2023."
California voters could see schools bond and historic climate initiative on November ballot
LAT's MACKENZIE MAYS: "California lawmakers have announced plans to pursue bond measures that would add $20 billion to the state’s debt but help fund the response to climate-related disasters, ensure clean drinking water and modernize school buildings.
The two climate and education bond measures would borrow $10 billion each and could be put before voters on the November ballot if approved by the Legislature this week, then signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom."
Lawmakers reach agreement on $10 billion school bond
CALMatters's CAROLYN JONES: "The Legislature announced today a $10 billion bond to pay for repairs and upgrades at thousands of K-12 school and community college buildings across California, some of which have languished for years with dry rot, mold, leaks and other hazards due to lack of funds. K-12 schools would get $8.5 billion and $1.5 billion would go to community colleges.
“This money is badly needed,” said Rebeca Andrade, superintendent of Salinas City Elementary District in Monterey County. “We don’t have the money to make the basic, structural repairs that are needed at every one of our schools. Students need safe spaces to learn if they’re going to reach their full potential.”"
PG&E warns of potential power shut-offs during Northern California heat wave
The Chronicle's JESSICA FLORES: "As California braces for a heat wave this week, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. warned Sunday of potential power shut-offs in parts of the Bay Area and elsewhere in Northern California to help prevent its electrical equipment from sparking wildfires.
PG&E officials were monitoring weather conditions for a possible public safety power shut-off Tuesday in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Napa, Shasta, Solano, Tehama and Yolo counties. During the shut-offs, the utility preemptively turns off customers’ power in areas with elevated fire risk when weather forecasts predict gusty winds and dry conditions."
Bay Area heat wave will bring hottest weather in years. Here’s when it will peak
The Chronicle's ANTHONY EDWARDS: "An exceptionally strong high-pressure system will build off the West Coast on Monday and move over California on Tuesday into Wednesday, resulting in the hottest weather since September 2022 in much of the Bay Area.
The stubborn area of high pressure, also known as a heat dome, is expected to park itself over Northern California through the holiday weekend into early next week. Heat domes trap hot air near the ground, further strengthening the high-pressure systems overhead in a feedback loop."
CALMatters's FELICIA MELLO, WENDY FRY: "When Antonio Bravo stepped into the Salinas hotel in May 2020, he first noticed a foul smell. Then he saw the bare metal cot with no mattress that his employer had given him to sleep on after working long days in the fields.
“My spirits fell when I saw that place,” said Bravo, a guest worker recruited from Michoacán, Mexico by a company that supplied farms with workers to pick strawberries for brands like Driscoll’s. “I couldn’t breathe.”"
S.F. becomes first California city to miss its housing goals. The impact will be massive
The Chronicle's J.K. DINEEN: "The majority of housing projects in San Francisco will now be eligible for over-the-counter approval, thanks to the activation of a new state law that eliminates the city’s famously contentious land-use battles and cuts the average time frame for entitlements from two years to under six months.
On Friday, the California Department of Housing and Community Development ruled that San Francisco did not meet its housing permitting goals in 2023, making it the first city in California to be subject to Senate Bill 423, the housing streamlining legislation passed last fall. The law, written by State Sen. Scott Wiener, requires cities that are behind on their state housing goals to streamline the approval of most projects."