Park Fire arson suspect charged as blaze grows to 12 times the size of S.F.
The Chronicle's MICHAEL CABANATUAN, JILL TUCKER: "After two days of cooler weather allowed firefighters to gain some control of the huge Park Fire near Chico, the 5,000 firefighters on the front lines of the blaze Monday were bracing for warmer days and more wind ahead that could spur the fire’s progress.
The change in weather and increased sunshine were expected to further dry out the vegetation — particularly the abundant crop of grasses — that has fueled the 373,357-acre blaze, now the sixth-largest in California history."
As massive Park fire marches into history books, firefighters face hurdles to slowing it down
LAT's GRACE TOOHEY: "As the Park fire marches into history books — becoming California’s sixth largest on record — experts say it still has much life left, with several challenges hindering efforts to combat the blaze as it continues to chew up remote wilderness at an astonishing clip.
Burning across mostly rural areas of Butte and Tehama counties, the Park fire surpassed 370,000 acres Monday, with a shift in weather forcing firefighters to react to new hot spots and unpredictable flare-ups."
Who is Park Fire arson suspect Ronnie Stout? What to know about Chico man’s charges, history
Sacramento Bee's ELISE FISHER, ISHANI DESAI: "Ronnie Dean Stout II, the man arrested last week on suspicion of starting the sprawling Park Fire in Northern California, has a criminal history dating back to at least 2001 and could face an extended prison sentence if convicted of arson.
Stout appeared Monday for his arraignment in Butte Superior Court. He faces a felony charge of arson of an inhabited structure or property. He also faces an enhancement of committing arson with special circumstances, and three enhancements related to prior convictions under California’s “Three Strikes” law."
Two moments from Kamala Harris’ California past helped hone her fighting instincts
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI: "Vice President Kamala Harris’ first week as the presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee has been surprisingly strong, raising more than $200 million and drawing millions of volunteers.
One reason for Harris’ early success is because she has remained squarely in her political sweet spot: fight mode."
Kamala Harris is a cook — and she knows her L.A. restaurants. Will it help her win?
LAT's DANIEL MILLER: "While Kamala Harris was holding the first rally of her presidential campaign, Charlee Nessel was polishing off a skinny margarita at one of the vice president’s favorite L.A. restaurants: El Cholo in Santa Monica.
Nessel, a regular, was pleased to learn that Harris often visits the Wilshire Boulevard spot when she’s in town. Might that influence Nessel’s vote in November?"
Undocumented immigrants in California are paying billions in taxes. Here’s how much
Sacramento Bee's DAVID LIGHTMAN, MATHEW MIRANDA: "Amid pledges for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants by presidential candidate Donald Trump, a new study has highlighted the increasingly positive economic effects of this community.
The report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a Washington-based progressive research group, found undocumented immigrants nationwide paid an estimated $96.7 billion in taxes in 2022. About $37.3 billion was spent on state and local taxes, and the rest went to federal taxes."
California helped this teen fight deportation. Now the program is on the chopping block
CALMatters's WENDY FRY: "A California project that provides legal advocacy for unaccompanied child immigrants will end in September unless backers can convince lawmakers to renew funding by next month.
The Children’s Holistic Immigration Representation Project was funded through a one-time allocation in 2022 and not renewed when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed California’s $298 billion budget last month."
A chat with Building Trades leader Chris Hannan (PODCAST)
Capitol Weekly's STAFF: "Last year Chris Hannan was named President of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, which represents nearly half a million members in the construction trades. Hannan had earlier served as the Executive Secretary of the Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. SBCTC is one of the biggest players in California labor politics, particularly in housing policy. President Hannan joined us to talk about the trades, about his own journey from apprentice sprinkler fitter to the president’s office and about the role of union construction workers in California’s future."
California’s golden years, turning to dust (OP-ED)
Capitol Weekly's MICHAEL WEINSTEIN: "A lot of assumptions about the “golden years” of retirement have been blown away by runaway rent increases. We used to believe that, if you worked hard, were thrifty, and saved up a nest egg, you would be comfortable in retirement.
Most retired people live on fixed incomes from Social Security or a pension. In addition, if they have put money aside through retirement accounts, they have calculated how much they need to live and how long their money will last. When inflation outstrips the money they earn, it throws a wrench into those plans."
‘Stinging barbs’: California high court allows lawsuit over single use of N word in SF DA office
CALMatters's SHAANTH NANGUNERI: "Twanda Bailey didn’t tell her supervisors that a colleague called her the N-word in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, but she said in court claims when they learned about it, her workplace was forever changed.
In court records, she said a human resources officer seemed to mock her, jeering at her and telling her that a workers’ compensation claim she filed wasn’t a “real issue.”"
S.F. drug crisis: Breed and ally want to pay welfare recipients $100 a week to stay sober
The Chronicle's MAGGIE ANGST: "Faced with a devastating fentanyl crisis, San Francisco Mayor London Breed has increasingly embraced punishment and law enforcement crackdowns to try to stop people from using illicit drugs. But a proposal released Monday would rely on incentives rather than discipline to encourage sobriety.
Breed and Supervisor Matt Dorsey on Monday unveiled legislation called “Cash Not Drugs” that would reward some welfare recipients with $100 every week they test negative for illicit drugs. Despite the name of the program, the payment would not be in cash but rather in the form of a gift card or an electronic benefit transfer, similar to a debit card, used by some other government programs, Dorsey said."
Fog returns to Bay Area after unusual absence. Here’s how long it could last
The Chronicle's ANTHONY EDWARDS: "San Francisco’s iconic summer fog went missing for much of June and July due to an unusually strong and stubborn high-pressure system over California. But the high-pressure system has given way to a more typical summertime weather pattern, and fog and clouds have returned to the city.
On Monday, thick morning fog extended far inland to Wine Country, the East Bay valleys and the Santa Clara Valley. Meanwhile, San Francisco remained shrouded in fog all day."
Why earthquake in L.A. felt terrifying to some, nothingburger to others — even in the same building
LAT's RONG-GONG LIN II: "The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that rattled Southern California on Monday spurred some classic questions: Why did it feel like it lasted so long for some and so short for others, and why did some not feel it at all?
It is not surprising that people by the epicenter near Barstow felt the strongest, longest jolt."
Judge orders UCLA, Jewish students to draft plan for equal campus access in wake of protests
LAT's JAWEED KALEEM: "A federal judge Monday told UCLA and Jewish students who sued the university that they have one week to hash out a court-enforceable plan that would ensure equal access to campus for all if protests over the Israel-Hamas war or other disruptions erupt in the future.
The directive, issued during a hearing in downtown Los Angeles, followed a lawsuit three Jewish students filed last month against UCLA alleging that an April pro-Palestinian encampment violated their civil rights by illegally blocking them and other Jews from parts of campus, including the site of the camp, Royce Quad."
L.A. County is the epicenter of an ADU boom. Why these surprising cities are building the most
LAT's TERRY CASTLEMAN: "Los Angeles County has emerged as the capital of new backyard housing units, with a surprising array of communities leading the way, according to a Times data analysis.
L.A. has permitted more accessory dwelling units per capita than any other county in the state, with lower- and middle-income cities approving the most construction, the data show."
This wealthy S.F. neighborhood hasn’t added new housing in 50 years. That could soon change
The Chronicle's JK DINEEN: "Laurel Heights, a sleepy San Francisco neighborhood south of the Presidio that has not seen new residential development in a half-century, could finally be getting a serious blast of new housing.
On Tuesday, Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Catherine Stefani will introduce legislation aimed at jump-starting two long-stalled projects at defunct medical facilities at opposite ends of Laurel Heights, a total of 1,300 units that would inject thousands of new residents into the expensive enclave."
Investigation underway after video shows LAPD officer punch handcuffed man
LAT's RICHARD WINTON, LIBOR JANY: "Los Angeles police officials are investigating an LAPD officer who was seen punching a handcuffed man in a now-viral video, an incident that has sparked calls for the officer to be criminally charged.
Authorities said the altercation occurred Sunday in the Southeast police division, which covers 10 square miles in the Watts area."