Newsom proposes $2.5 billion for wildfire response as L.A. burns
LAT's TARYN LUNA, ANDREA CASTILLO: "Gov. Gavin Newsom asked legislative leaders Monday to approve at least $2.5 billion in response to the wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles County — a move that expands the focus of the special session in the California Capitol beyond strictly fighting President-elect Donald Trump.
The aid request comes as Democrats at the Capitol find themselves under mounting pressure to spend less time waging a national political battle against Trump as unprecedented blazes have left at least 25 dead and a trail of destruction in their own state."
Trump has long threatened to withhold California fire aid. Now Republicans in Congress are, too
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI: "House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans say they believe approval of wildfire aid to California to assist with devastating fires in Los Angeles County should be contingent on policy changes.
That is sure to put some California Republicans in a tough position between their party and their constituents."
Unprecedented new extreme fire alert brings danger to SoCal for next two days (LIVE UPDATES)
LAT's RONG-GONG LIN II: "An unprecedented fourth “particularly dangerous situation” fire weather warning took effect Tuesday morning and is expected to last through Wednesday.
The National Weather Service reserves the designation for signifying an extreme red flag warning, when especially hazardous fire weather conditions are expected."
L.A. fires: Dangerous weather returns even as fires continue to burn
LAT's AIDIN VAZIRI, JESSICA FLORES: "On the eighth straight day of wildfires burning across Los Angeles County, the region is bracing for another period of dangerous fire weather. Firefighters have increased containment of the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire, but a red-flag warning remains in effect and damaging wind gusts of up to 70 mph are likely starting this morning through tomorrow, creating high risks for large fires with “very rapid” fire spread, according to the National Weather Service.
Nearly 100,000 residents were under evacuation orders as of Tuesday morning. The death toll was 24 and expected to grow."
Rural areas got millions in state fire prevention funds over parts of L.A. that burned
LAT's CONNOR SHEETS: "Since 2021, state authorities have repeatedly declined to fund wildfire prevention efforts in communities devastated by the Palisades fire, according to Cal Fire records, which show the agency instead poured money into projects in far-flung rural areas.
Records reviewed by The Times show Cal Fire elected not to fund more than $3.8 million in Wildfire Prevention Grants for Santa Monica Mountains communities including Pacific Palisades and Malibu over the last four years."
California prepares its anti-Trump fund
CALMatters' LYNN LA: "Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders plan to set aside $50 million in state money to pay for the legal costs of fighting President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
The deal comes two months after Newsom first called a special session on how to address Trump’s presidency."
Newsom wants to give California families with newborns a three-month diaper supply
The Chronicle's MOLLY BURKE: "Families welcoming new babies could soon be coming home from the hospital with free diapers if an initiative within Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal, unveiled on Friday, passes.
The diaper initiative would set aside up to $7.4 million in this year’s budget and $12.5 million the following year to provide a three-month supply of diapers to families of newborns, regardless of income. The program aims to provide an estimated 40 million diapers this year and 80 million next year."
With her city in flames, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ political future hangs in the balance
LAT's JULIA WICK: "Apocalyptic fires had been ravaging Los Angeles for more than 24 hours when Mayor Karen Bass stepped off a plane and into a now-viral encounter that may come to define her mayoralty.
As an Irish reporter who happened to be on her flight hurled questions at her, the mayor of the nation’s second-largest metropolis stood silent and seemingly paralyzed."
Mayor Bass issues order to expedite rebuilding efforts after fires
LAT's LIAM DILLON, ANDREW KHOURI: "Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order Monday that seeks to expedite rebuilding efforts after fires leveled thousands of homes and businesses in the city last week, mostly within Pacific Palisades.
Executive Order 1 requires city departments to complete project reviews within 30 days from when a complete application is submitted and waives discretionary hearings under zoning rules, among other efforts."
Capitol Weekly's STAFF: "Stuart K. Spencer, the California political strategist who guided Ronald Reagan’s ascent from Hollywood to the governor’s mansion, and ultimately to the presidency, has died at age 97. Spencer ran Reagan’s successful 1966 gubernatorial campaign in California, and his presidential campaigns in 1980 and 1984. Reagan’s blowout win in 1984 saw him collect 525 electoral votes – the second largest Electoral College victory in U.S. history.
As part of Open California’s Oral History Project, author and journalist Lou Cannon conducted a two part video interview with Spencer in his Palm Desert Home in 2018. Spencer detailed Reagan’s strengths and weaknesses as a candidate – and as governor and president – and the important role played by Nancy Reagan."
Map: How big are the LA fires? Use this tool to overlay them atop where you live
CALMatters' JEREMIA KIMELMAN, JOHN OSBORN D'AGOSTINO: "The fires sweeping across Los Angeles County for the past week have burned more than 40,000 acres, an area roughly equivalent to 1,800 Alcatraz Islands or 400 Disneylands, or slightly larger than Washington, D.C.
An arid fall and winter has dried out vegetation after two wetter-than-average years, providing fuel as a windstorm, with hurricane-force gusts topping 100 miles per hour, swept across the region. Wind-whipped flames spread rapidly throughout much of the county."
Small California schools brace for layoffs as Congress slashes funding for rural education
CALMatters' CAROLYN JONES: "Rural school districts — already beset with financial struggles — are furiously scrambling to save a century-old funding source that Republican lawmakers last month eliminated from the federal budget.
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, which has been approved almost continuously since 1908, is intended to compensate rural counties that have large swaths of non-taxable national forest land. Last year, the bill brought nearly $40 million to 39 California counties, funding everything from after-school programs to school roof repairs."
A Sacramento school district waited months to disclose a data breach. What info was exposed?
Sac Bee's JENNAH PENDLETON: "Staff members of Natomas Unified School District were notified July 15 that the network shutdown they had been dealing with for several weeks was due to a potential hacker. Usernames and passwords may have been accessed, Deputy Superintendent William Young wrote in the email to the district’s 1,400 staff members.
Students and parents, however, were not provided with the same information. A few days later, families of the district’s 14,500 students were told via parent portal that they would temporarily lose access to their school accounts due to annual maintenance by the IT department. The message did not mention the suspicious activity on the district’s network."
West Contra Costa Unified struggles to stay solvent, avoid state takeover
EdSource's KENNETH HOWE: "West Contra Costa Unified School District is on the cusp of a new and uncertain era following the retirement of its superintendent, Chris Hurst, who stepped down in December after just over three years on the job.
Whoever is chosen to permanently replace him will face a daunting set of concerns, including ensuring that the district is not placed under state control. For now that job is in the hands of interim Superintendent Kim Moses, who until December was the district’s associate superintendent for business services."
Palisades fire threatens last population of steelhead trout in the Santa Monica Mountains
LAT's LILA SEIDMAN: "Rain might bring relief from wildfires searing Los Angeles County but could spell disaster for the only known population of Southern California steelhead trout in the Santa Monica Mountains.
The destructive Palisades fire appears to have scorched the entirety of the state and federally endangered trout’s accessible habitat in Topanga Creek, a small coastal mountain stream that drains into the Pacific Ocean. But experts say the secondary effects of the fire are what pose the biggest existential threat."
Frost advisory in effect for the Bay Area: Here’s where temperatures will drop
The Chronicle's GREG PORTER: "A frost advisory is in effect through Tuesday morning for large parts of the Bay Area, as temperatures were forecast to fall into the 30s in places like San Jose, Livermore and Petaluma.
In San Francisco and Oakland, the water will likely help moderate temperatures a bit, but still, temperatures on the Peninsula and west of the Berkeley hills are forecast to drop into the low 40s."
California wildfire victims can now wait months to file taxes, IRS says. Here’s who qualifies
Sac Bee's KENDRICK MARSHALL: "California residents affected by devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County now have another form of assistance.
State and federal tax agencies are teaming up to provide disaster tax relief for home and business owners impacted by the Southern California wildfires that have scorched more than 40,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and killed at least 25 people."
There’s a new formula for retirement spending — but is it different for Californians?
The Chronicle's JESSICA ROY: "Is there a “magic number” for retirement withdrawals for Californians?
The traditional wisdom is 4%. In other words, you should plan for an annual investment portfolio withdrawal rate of 4%, in addition to Social Security and other non-investment sources."
New Starbucks rules: No more hanging out or using bathrooms without a purchase
The Chronicle's AIDIN VAZIRI: "Starbucks announced Monday that it is reversing its policy of welcoming anyone into its cafes without making a purchase.
The coffee chain’s new code of conduct, set to be posted in all North American company-owned stores by the end of the month, introduces stricter rules for customers."
False reports of immigration sweeps in California spread across social media, cause panic
Sac Bee's MATHEW MIRANDA: "Rampant misinformation about immigration enforcement operations in California has caused panic among undocumented communities and frustration from local advocates.
Most reports and sightings began circulating online last week after a three-day operation in Kern County by U.S. Border Patrol agents. Then, a social media comment indicated expanding enforcement in Fresno and Sacramento. In the days following, online posts falsely claimed federal immigration agents were conducting more sweeps in Southern California, the Bay Area and the Central Valley."
They stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. Now these four people with Bay Area ties may get Trump pardons
The Chronicle's MATTHIAS GAFNI: "As Donald Trump returns to the Oval Office, he has vowed to pardon “many” of the roughly 1,500 supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Four of those pardons could go to “J6ers” with ties to the Bay Area — and would come with little penitence.
Despite entering guilty pleas and serving short prison stints, three of these locals appear to now embrace their roles in the insurrection, a mob attack meant to keep Trump in office despite his election loss."
Ethics and costs led one California DA to commute death sentences. Will Sacramento follow?
Sac Bee's SHARON BERNSTEIN: "The murderers sentenced to death over the past half-century by juries in Santa Clara County are far from sympathetic characters.
gRichard Farley killed seven people in a 1988 mass shooting in Sunnyvale. Mark Crew shot his wife in 1982, while an accomplice severed her head."