California reparations bills clear first state Senate hearings. ‘It’s what is owed’
Sacramento Bee's DARRELL SMITH: "Reparations bills to fund reparations policy and tackle past racially motivated eminent domain that took property from and displaced Black Californians sailed through their first hearings this week at the state Capitol.
The bills are part of the historic 2024 Reparations Priority Bill Package introduced in February by the California Legislative Black Caucus."
California tries again to protect workers from indoor heat — except in prisons
CALMatters's JEANNE KUANG: "California workplace safety officials will try again to pass a long-delayed rule to protect indoor workers from extreme heat this summer — other than correctional officers and other prison staff.
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, announced today that it plans to revise a proposed indoor heat rule for all workers statewide to carve out “state and local correctional facilities.”"
More than 20 previously uncounted ballots discovered during Congressional District 16 recount; San Mateo County now charging more to count ballots
BANG*Mercury News's GRACE HASE: "As the recount in the Congressional District 16 race entered its fourth day, more than 20 ballots excluded from the original count in Santa Clara County have been uncovered — a development that could swing the results of the election and break the tie for second between Assemblymember Evan Low and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian.
Low and Simitian, who ended the March primary in a 30,249-to-30,249 dead heat, were set to join frontrunner and former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo on the November ballot — a first for a congressional race since California changed its primary rules in 2012."
California sets nation’s first water standard for cancer-causing contaminant
CALMatters's RACHEL BECKER: "In an effort to protect more than 5 million Californians from a cancer-causing contaminant, state regulators today set a new standard that is expected to increase the cost of water for many people throughout the state.
The State Water Resources Control Board unanimously approved the nation’s first drinking water standard for hexavalent chromium, which is found naturally in some California groundwater as well as water contaminated by industries."
Governor Newsom: Save lives, not fossil fuel corporations
Capitol Weekly's ELLIE COHEN: "If your house was on fire, would you throw money at the arsonists fanning the flames? Probably not, but that’s exactly what California is doing by giving away hundreds of millions — if not billions — of dollars to fossil fuel corporations every year.
Even faced with a multi-billion-dollar deficit, Governor Newsom’s proposed state budget still includes taxpayer-funded giveaways for the oil and gas industry. It’s time for California to stop giving handouts to corporate polluters and reinvest in climate programs that create jobs and save lives."
China’s highflying EV industry is going global. Why that has Tesla and other carmakers worried
LAT's STEPHANIE YANG: "The U.S.-China rivalry has a new flashpoint in the battle for technology supremacy: electric cars.
So far, the U.S. is losing."
San Francisco Zoo to get coveted giant pandas from China, in big win for city
The Chronicle's TARA DUGGAN: "After a months-long campaign culminating in a trip to China by Mayor London Breed, the San Francisco Zoo is due to receive its first giant pandas in decades.
“San Francisco is absolutely thrilled that we will be welcoming giant pandas to our San Francisco Zoo,” Breed said in a statement Thursday from Beijing, where she signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese wildlife officials regarding the panda plan."
California moves a step closer to eliminating one of the state’s last teacher assessments
EdSource's DIANA LAMBERT: "Legislation that would remove one of the last tests teachers are required to take to earn a credential in California passed the Senate Education Committee unanimously Wednesday with little opposition.
Senate Bill 1263, sponsored by the California Teachers Association, will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee. If ultimately approved by the Legislature, it will do away with the California Teaching Performance Assessment, known as the CalTPA."
The CSU mishandled sexual harassment complaints. Two bills are aimed at protecting students
Sacramento Bee's EMMA HALL: "After the California State University system failed to investigate sexual misconduct, the system vowed to work through its systematic obstacles.
But lawmakers say the California State University system, which is the largest public institution in the state, needs to be held accountable. The result: two assembly bills addressing faculty retreat rights and hiring practices."
USC students protest the ‘silencing’ of valedictorian with cancellation of speech
LAT's ANGIE ORELLANA HERNANDEZ, CAROLINE POETROW-COHEN and JAWEED KALEEM: "USC students, faculty and pro-Palestinian protesters responded to a call to action Thursday to fight back against what they say is the “institutional silencing” of valedictorian Asna Tabassum.
“Let her speak! Let her speak!” the crowd of hundreds chanted, a few holding up signs bearing Tabassum’s face."
Newsom calls for increased oversight of local homelessness efforts
LAT's TARYN LUNA: "Frustrated over the lack of progress on homelessness in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling for increased oversight of cities and counties that receive state funds in an effort to hold them accountable to deliver results.
Newsom’s more aggressive stance is the latest example of the governor wanting local governments to do more to lessen homelessness, which has worsened in his tenure despite more than $20 billion in state funds spent on programs to help over the last five years. He threatened on Thursday to withhold homelessness funds from cities and counties that do not follow through."
Alameda County DA’s office charges three police officers in controversial death of Mario Gonzalez
The Chronicle's RACHEL SWAN and DAVID HERNANDEZ: "Alameda County prosecutors filed involuntary manslaughter charges against three officers in the death of Mario Gonzalez, a man they arrested in Alameda in April 2021 and pinned to the ground until he went limp, according to court records.
The decision to file felony charges reverses the decision of the previous district attorney, Nancy O’Malley, who cleared the officers — Eric McKinley, James Fisher and Cameron Leahy — of criminal wrongdoing in 2022. Shortly after taking office the next year, DA Pamela Price reopened investigations in the county into eight police shootings or in-custody deaths, including the Gonzalez matter. But on Thursday, she said she “walled” herself from the Gonzalez case and left the charging decision up to a Public Accountability Unit of prosecutors."
READ MORE -- DA Pamela Price’s office files involuntary manslaughter charges against 3 Alameda cops in death of Mario Gonzalez -- BANG*Mercury News's JAKOB RODGERS
California won’t prosecute LAPD officer who shot teenage girl in store’s dressing room
CALMatters's NIGEL DUARA: "The California Justice Department announced today that it has found no cause to file charges against a Los Angeles police officer who, while aiming at a suspect, shot and killed a 14-year-old girl hiding in a department store fitting room.
Fourteen-year-old Valentina Orellana Peralta was picking out a quinceanera dress with her mother just before Christmas in 2021. She was shot and killed by a bullet that ricocheted off the floor."
‘Confusion and chaos’: S.F. sues Oakland over airport renaming, says Bay Area tourism will suffer
The Chronicle's DANIEL LEMPRES: "San Francisco is suing the city of Oakland over a planned name change for the Oakland airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, arguing in a federal court filing that the new moniker will cause confusion among travelers and could damage San Francisco airport’s reputation and bottom line.
The trademark infringement lawsuit filed Thursday asks the court to prevent Oakland airport from moving forward with its plan and seeks a ruling that the proposed name is a violation of San Francisco International Airport’s trademark."
What we know about S.F.’s looming ‘intensive’ parking enforcement sweeps
The Chronicle's RICARDO CANO: "Last month Mayor London Breed promised that the city would renew focus on its Vision Zero pledge by ramping up enforcement of unsafe parking violations.
Those enforcement sweeps will begin by May, according to the Municipal Transportation Agency, which will deploy parking control officers to each of the 11 supervisorial districts for what officials describe as “intensive enforcement.”"
