After reducing deficit, Newsom proposals bring extra costs to California
LAT's TARYN LUNA: "Tax revenues have exceeded estimates in California, but Gov. Gavin Newsom’s spending proposals and other state costs could quickly swallow up any extra funds.
An extra $420-million tax break for Hollywood film studios. Twenty-five million dollars to wage legal battles against President-elect Donald Trump. Unanticipated costs for providing healthcare to seniors and undocumented immigrants."
This was the most consequential political decision of 2024 — and it wasn’t made by voters
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI: "The year’s most consequential political story had nothing to do with the election.
Rather, it came in June, when the Supreme Court gave cities broad power to evict people from street encampments and confiscate their property, even if they didn’t have shelter beds for them."
Most reports ordered by California’s Legislature this year are shown as missing
CALMatters's SAMEEA KAMAL: "California lawmakers pass nearly 1,000 new laws each year. How do they know whether they are working?
Many new laws include a requirement for progress reports to the Legislature, but state agencies and commissions assigned to prepare those reports often fail to submit them on time, or at all, according to the Legislature’s website."
Will Trump ban H-1B visas? The issue could divide him and Elon Musk
The Chronicle's KO LYN CHEANG: "Immigration attorneys are bracing for President-elect Donald Trump to revive the restrictive immigration policies of his first term, including a 2020 attempt to ban H-1B visas, the temporary work visa for high-skilled foreign workers.
But he may face pushback from two tech executives who backed his campaign and have since joined his administration: megabillionaire Elon Musk and multimillionaire David Sacks."
Capitol Spotlight: Susannah Delano, Close the Gap California
Capitol Weekly's LISA RENNER: "Activism is something Susannah Delano was exposed to from birth. “It’s kind of the family business in some ways,” she said.
A “double preacher’s kid,” she was raised in Indianapolis and Cleveland by progressive clergy members from the United Church of Christ. At age 19, her mother was part of the Mississippi Freedom Summer and her father participated in efforts to halt racial discrimination in housing rentals."
California judges say they’re underpaid, and their new lawsuit could cost taxpayers millions
CALMatters' ADAM ASHTON: "California judges make a good living. They earn at least $240,000 and can count on a raise just about every year, a requirement that’s written into state law.
So why do they feel shortchanged by the state?"
Fewer California workers were dying on the job. Then fentanyl happened
CALMatters's JEANNE KUANG, JEREMIA KIMELMAN: "As the nation continues to struggle with an opioid crisis now supercharged by fentanyl, overdoses have become one of the leading causes of workplace deaths.
California is no different: Workplace overdose deaths have risen so dramatically that in 2021 and 2022, they caused more fatalities than falls at construction sites or being hit by machinery, and in 2022 were second only to car crashes and other transportation incidents."
Firefighters struggle to contain wind-driven fire in Malibu threatening homes
LAT's RUBEN VIVES, NATHAN SOLIS, CLARA HARTER: "Firefighters worked overnight to gain control over a dangerous fire that burned homes in Malibu and forced thousands from their homes.
The Franklin fire continued to menace the coastal city overnight, burning close to some homes and forcing some water drops by helicopters. A red-flag fire danger warning remains in effect for the area until 6 p.m. But winds are expected to ease after that, and firefighters hope to make progress."
Through a window, Pepperdine students watch Malibu fire engulf campus
LAT's JENNY JARVIE: "The students huddling in Pepperdine University’s library watched through the windows as flames crested the Santa Monica Mountains.
Some students prayed. Others called their parents as the wind blew embers across campus, setting palm trees on fire and drawing orange flames closer and closer to their building."
What high school graduating classes might look like in 2041
Enrollment climbs at some Cal State campuses, tumbles at others
EdSource's AMY DIPIERRO: "Diego Lopez, a student in his last year at Cal State San Marcos, gives the north San Diego County campus high marks. The Army veteran likes his classes, feels the campus is generally well-managed and appreciates that at the school’s current size, “you can just chill, and relax, and not get too overwhelmed.”
But Lopez can tell the student body is expanding, especially at the start of the semester, when he has to navigate crowded parking lots."
What high school graduating classes might look like in 2041
LAT's MALLIKA SESHADRI: "More graduates in California and nationwide will walk across the stage to receive their high school diplomas in the spring of 2025 than in more than a decade — and more than in decades to come.
The “Knocking at the College Door” report, released Wednesday by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, predicts how many students might graduate across each state in the country, how demographics might shift, and the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic could have an impact still."
Rain, snow return to Northern California ahead of powerful weekend storm
The Chronicle's ANTHONY EDWARDS: "The San Francisco Bay Area’s multi-week dry stretch is coming to an end.
A system Wednesday night will bring a soaking rain to all of Northern California, although its meager totals and relatively light winds will fall short of qualifying as a full blown storm. Less than 48 hours later, a more powerful storm could have wide-ranging impacts, including heavy rain and snow, strong winds and large waves capable of causing coastal flooding."
After court loss, Albertsons backs out of merger with Kroger, sues grocery chain
LAT's QUEENIE WONG, JOEL RUBIN: "Plans for the largest grocery merger in American history are over.
A day after a federal judge delivered a serious blow to the merger, Albertsons announced Wednesday it was giving up on the controversial deal to join forces with its competitor Kroger and sued the chain, alleging it failed to do enough to win government approval for the $24.6-billion agreement."
S.F. has the same housing goals as New York City — which is 10 times its size
The Chronicle's JK DINEEN: "Last week New York housing advocates celebrated the passage of the “City of Yes” legislation, a plan to rezone the city of 8 million in order to encourage 82,000 units over the next 15 years, with Mayor Eric Adams calling it “the most pro-housing piece of legislation in city history.”
But for those who track housing politics in the Bay Area, the news stood out for another reason: 82,000 happens also to be the number of units state housing officials are mandating that San Francisco — a city with one-tenth of the population of New York — plan for in its current eight-year housing element, which goes from 2023 to 2031."