With conventions over, a 10-week sprint to the White House begins
LAT's SEEMA MEHTA: "Vice President Kamala Harris has enjoyed a monthlong burst of energy and optimism among Democrats who believe she is the party’s best chance of defeating former President Trump in November. But once the balloons dropped after Harris claimed her party’s nomination on Thursday, the reality set in that there is much work to be done in coming weeks in what is still expected to be a razor-thin contest.
“On Friday, I’m going to give you leave to take a three-hour nap. Eat a damn vegetable. And then sign up for shifts to get people registered to vote, to knock on doors, to hold events, to pull people in and make a seat at the table for people who are so busy they’re not consuming the information like we are,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told California delegates over breakfast. “We can do this. I’m more optimistic than ever. So lace up your Chucks, hit the doors, make room at the table, and let’s get it done.”"
Kamala Harris would be a historic first as president. Here’s why her DNC speech didn’t dwell on that
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI: "From her earliest days in California politics, Kamala Harris has frequently shared her mother’s admonition with audiences: “You may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last.”
Harris shared more of Shyamala Gopalan Harris’ wisdom with the rest of America Thursday as she became the first Black woman and first southeast Asian American to accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for president. It was another in a long line of firsts for the former San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general and senator."
Kamala Harris vows to unite America, as California Democrats look to flip the House
CALMatters's SAMEEA KAMAL: "Kamala Harris pledged to unite Americans in her acceptance speech tonight, saying she’d chart “a new way forward” and build a more inclusive economy to boost the middle class.
But presidents often are only as good as Congress allows them to be."
Kamala Harris put abortion at the center of the election. What her California record shows
CALMatters's KRISTEN HWANG: "At a fundraiser in San Francisco last week, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke bluntly about the future of reproductive rights: California is not immune to a national abortion ban, she said.
“The stakes are high,” Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, said to a cheering crowd at the Fairmont Hotel that included Gov. Gavin Newsom and other high-profile Democrats. She continued the theme this week at the Democratic National Convention, where delegates have stressed their fears that reproductive rights could be curtailed nationwide."
Project 2025 plans ‘thermonuclear attack’ on internet — so why do some Big Tech execs prefer Trump?
The Chronicle's RAHEEM HOSSEINI: "Project 2025, the far-right agenda intended for a second Donald Trump presidency, portrays Silicon Valley as an incubator for technological products that addict children, censor conservatives and help the Chinese government spy on U.S. citizens — and sets out to transform the internet as we know it.
Yet, some of the valley’s wealthiest executives are backing Trump in what amounts to a high-stakes bet about which provocations he and his surrogates are serious about, and which ones are negotiable."
Tim Walz’s son Gus has a nonverbal learning disorder. What is that?
LAT's KAREN KAPLAN: "After his heartfelt reaction to his father’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention thrust him into the spotlight, 17-year-old Gus Walz has become one of the most high-profile people with nonverbal learning disorder.
The condition doesn’t mean Gus can’t speak — he does. After hearing his dad, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, describe his family as “my entire world” Wednesday night, the tearful teenager rose to his feet, pointed toward the stage and said, “That’s my dad!”"
FBI raids homes of Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and his daughter
LAT's SALVADOR HERNANDEZ, HANNAH FRY: "Federal agents on Thursday raided the homes of Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and his daughter, as well as several other properties, in an investigation into the alleged improper use of taxpayer money.
At least five locations, including several homes and a restaurant, were searched in connection with allegations made against the local nonprofit Viet America Society in a lawsuit brought by Orange County last week. In the lawsuit, the county alleges that the nonprofit misused money it was awarded to feed the elderly and needy during the pandemic, instead spending the funds on “lavish purchases.”"
Second year end-of-session rule reminders
Capitol Weekly's CHRIS MICHELI: "August means not only the end of this year’s Legislative Session, but also the end of the current 2-year Session. The California Constitution guides us in determining these dates. So, as the 2023-24 Legislative Session comes to a close on Saturday, August 31, there are a number of reminders of key rules to keep in mind during the final four weeks of the Session.
Although the following items are not an exhaustive list, they cover some of the most frequently-asked questions regarding process items at the end of the 2-year California Legislative Session:"
After pushback, Gavin Newsom cuts much of his electric bill affordability plan. What’s next?
Sacramento Bee's ARI PLACHTA: "It appears increasingly likely that the mad dash to finish this year’s legislative session in the state Capitol will not produce meaningful relief for Californians from their sky-high electric bills.
That’s after Gov. Gavin Newsom walked back from what experts consider the most significant piece of his initial energy affordability plan, according to two sources familiar with closed-door negotiations without authorization to speak publicly."
New initiative aims to turbocharge wildlife-crossing construction across California
LAT's LILA SEIDMAN: "A vision to provide safe passage for mountain lions above 10 lanes of whizzing traffic near Los Angeles faced a foe: time.
Genetically isolated pumas hemmed in by the 101 Freeway were showing birth defects and needed an outlet fast."
California law helps tribes keep kids out of foster care. A new court ruling strengthens their hand
CALMatters's SHAANTH NANGUNERI: "For nearly a century, California and other states forced Native American youth into boarding schools, aiming to erase their cultural practices while separating children from parents, placing them in a foster system that often left them without any ties to their communities.
It was only in the late 1970s that the federal government passed a law to protect families from separation, ensuring that child welfare agencies inquire about Native ancestry and work to keep tribes, relatives and communities together. Decades later, contested cases continue to appear regularly before California courts, where state protections are stronger than federal law."
Protect prescription drug affordability and access in California
STEVEN WANG in Capitol Weekly: "In high school I discovered my passion for scientific subjects. I knew I wanted to turn my passion into purpose. I found a career path in a field of health care where science and helping people meet: pharmacy.
I began working as a pharmacy technician during college and quickly found fulfillment helping patients in need, seeing firsthand the value of building one-on-one relationships."
Lawsuit against West Contra Costa schools could set precedent for how districts handle complaints
EdSource's MONICA VELEZ: "A recently filed lawsuit against the West Contra Costa Unified School District could set a new precedent for how districts in California handle and comply with complaints filed by students, educators and community members.
The lawsuit, filed by civil rights law firm Public Advocates last month, alleges the school district failed to remedy issues in the required time frame for nearly 50 "Williams complaints" filed by teachers, students and parents since June 2023. The bulk of the complaints were about poor building conditions at Stege Elementary School, and three were filed about teacher vacancies. There are five complainants, including four educators and a parent, who are suing the district."
San Francisco is the No. 1 county when it comes to preparing students for UC system
The Chronicle's DANIELLE ECHEVERRIA: "Bay Area counties fare better than most of the state when it comes to completion of high school courses required for admission to a four-year public university, a Chronicle analysis found — a factor that has a strong impact on whether students apply to the University of California.
Of all California counties, San Francisco had the highest A-G completion rate for high school students who graduated last spring, according to a Chronicle analysis of state education data. Six of the nine Bay Area counties had higher A-G course completion rates than the statewide average of 52%. The data only includes students who graduated from public high schools."
S.F. funded plan to put Black male teachers in schools. Many went to another city instead
The Chronicle's MICHAEL BARBA, ST. JOHN BARNED-SMITH: "Urban Ed Academy had an ambitious goal when it asked San Francisco officials for taxpayer funding in the spring of 2021. As the country grappled with the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota, the nonprofit pitched the city on its mission to place one Black male teacher in every San Francisco elementary school within a few years.
Urban Ed had been founded a decade earlier to address the racial achievement gap in San Francisco schools by mentoring children. Its newest program, Man the Bay, recruited Black men from around the country who aspired to be teachers, helped them with housing, and paid them stipends as they worked toward their credentials."
Silicon Valley school district spent big on ‘energy healer’ for top brass
The Chronicle's JILL TUCKER: "A small Silicon Valley school district with a significant achievement gap has quietly spent taxpayer dollars on a long list of questionable expenses in recent years — including hiring a Washington D.C. public relations firm and a Sacramento-based “energy healer” who uses “chakra clearing” while charging nearly $1,200 per session for meditation.
District officials defended the spending as necessary for staff wellness and retention."
Fed leader, concerned about jobs downturn, tees up interest rate cuts
LAT's DON LEE: "After a near-textbook campaign to rein in inflation by raising interest rates, the head of the Federal Reserve, Jerome H. Powell, all but promised Friday to start lowering rates next month — with fingers crossed that it’s not too late to avoid a recession.
From the beginning of the inflationary surge triggered three years ago by the economic disruptions of the pandemic, it was clear that raising interest rates could tame price hikes. It was also clear that, if rates stayed too high too long, they could choke the economy into recession."
Northern California rain chances increase Friday. Here’s where it may hit
The Chronicle's ANTHONY EDWARDS: "Atypical August weather is expected across portions of Northern California on Friday. Conditions will be more similar to early November than late August, with high temperatures in the upper 60s to mid-70s, scattered showers and a chance of snowflakes in the high Sierra.
The late summer rainfall is being spawned by a strong low-pressure system just off the coast of southern Oregon. A cold front will sweep across Northern California very early Friday morning, and the atmosphere is expected to destabilize in its wake, increasing the chance for showers and thunderstorms. Widespread wetting rain is not expected in the Bay Area, but drizzle is likely along the coast and perhaps as far east as the Oakland and Berkeley hills."
L.A.’s ‘Ketamine Queen’ lived a celebrity-studded life. Now she’s been charged in Matthew Perry’s death
LAT's NATHAN SOLIS, HANNAH FRY, CONNOR SHEETS, RICHARD WINTON: "On social media, Jasveen Sangha offered herself up as an L.A. power player — rubbing elbows with celebrities, sporting fashionable attire and jetting across the globe on lavish vacations.
She posed for Instagram photos with actor Charlie Sheen and Perla Hudson, the ex-wife of Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash. Social media posts show luxurious trips to Tokyo and a resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, complete with pre-flight caviar at the PS luxury travel lounge at Los Angeles International Airport."
