PG&E's San Bruno pipeline trial has come to a close, and now the court is ordering a monitor be assigned to oversee the company's policies and practices.
Bob Egelko writes in The Chronicle: "The consequences of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s criminal convictions for violating pipeline-safety rules and obstructing the investigation into the 2010 San Bruno disaster might not be limited to the modest fine of up to $3 million set by federal law."
"The company, which has said it is intent on regaining the public’s trust after the lethal pipeline explosion, will have to satisfy a court-appointed overseer if San Bruno officials get their way."
"San Bruno will be asking the judge to install an independent monitor at PG&E to provide independent oversight of the company’s policy and operational practices,” City Manager Connie Jackson said Wednesday at a news conference applauding Tuesday’s jury verdict."
READ MORE related to Environment/Energy: State seeks public input on its efforts to stop another Porter Ranch gas leak -- Sharon McNary with KPCC; California mayors voice support for climate proposal -- Chris Megerian with L.A. Times
Lots of propositions on this year's ballot also means big bucks as contributions begin to pour in.
John Myers and Sophia Bollag report for L.A. Times: "Political professionals who run California ballot measure campaigns always worry about how to get the attention of voters. And it all starts with a lot of money."
"Through early August, almost $200 million has been collected for campaigns to support or oppose propositions on the Nov. 8 statewide ballot."
"That hews to what campaign consultants have been predicting for months, with voters facing 17 measures — the most on any single ballot in California since March 2000."
Donald Trump's camp continues to draw scrutiny for a barrage of violent rhetoric against 'enemy' politicians -- something which appears to be part of a pattern.
Politico's Michael Crowley reports: "In May, the Secret Service investigated Donald Trump’s butler over a Facebook post saying that President Barack Obama “should be shot as an enemy agent."
"Secret Service agents also interviewed a Trump campaign adviser last month, after he said that Hillary Clinton “should be put in the firing line and shot for treason."
"In December, Trump himself appeared on the radio show of the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who has warned that the federal government might round up gun owners “like Jews in Nazi Germany."
A recent lawsuit brought forth by a sergeant of the LAPD against his own department claims discrimination and racism -- which the city settled for $500,000. It was the second such lawsuit by the same individual, who had a smilar court battle nearly twenty years ago with the same department.
Emily Alpert Reyes with L.A. Times reports: "Los Angeles will pay $500,000 to settle a lawsuit by a police sergeant who alleged that he suffered retaliation after speaking up about racism in the Los Angeles Police Department."
"It is the second time that the city has approved a monetary settlement to resolve a lawsuit brought by Sgt. Wayne Guillary over claims of discrimination in the department. After settling an earlier case a decade and a half ago, Guillary “continued his career, thinking the racism he experienced in the past was behind him,” his lawsuit stated."
"Instead, Guillary said he was again subjected to harassment and discrimination after standing up for his rights, speaking out publicly about race issues, and reporting misconduct in the department. For instance, Guillary said, three years ago he was berated by his captain after informing him of a car accident that sent another officer to the hospital — a “strong overreaction” that stemmed from Guillary “speaking publically and internally about race issues within the department,” his lawsuit alleged."
Linda Katehi has been ousted from the Chancellor's spot at U.C. Davis, but the state will still provide her with a half-million dollar parachute for a year.
Diana Lambert with The Bee reports: "After resigning Tuesday as UC Davis chancellor under a cloud of controversy, Linda P.B. Katehi will take advantage of a University of California perk that allows campus leaders to receive chancellor-level pay with few responsibilities for one year."
"Katehi will continue to receive her salary of $424,360 plus retirement and health benefits, but she will not have to teach classes in her transition year, after which she plans to become a UC Davis engineering professor."
"The purpose of the administrative leave after stepping down is to allow the person to gear back up for being a productive member of the faculty,” said Dianne Klein, a spokeswoman for the UC Office of the President, in an email. “They are supposed to use that time to get back up to speed on the developments in their field, begin the steps necessary to restart or build up their research lab, etc."
Rep. Mike Honda's camp has released documents with a list of donors' names who have contributed nearly $32,000 to his defense fund during his ethics probe.
Eric Kurhi with East Bay Times says: "Rep. Mike Honda's campaign released the list of donors to his legal defense fund in the ongoing ethics probe this week -- two dozen individuals, businesses and a labor fund, totaling a fairly lackluster $37,000."
"According to the report, $32,000 has been spent on legal fees in the second quarter of the year ending June 30."
"That's not going to go very far if you have an active ethics issue and are in the process of providing a lot of documents or actively engaged in defending yourself," said Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School and president of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission. "That sounds like significant money, but in this world, it's not."
Rep. Xavier Becerra stumps for the House amid Donald Trump's continual downward spiral -- claiming that the Republican candidate will cause Democrats to win the house if he continues stumbling.
Michelle Hackman with Wall Street Journal writes: "Rep. Xavier Becerra (D., Calif.), who has been criss-crossing the country to help support Democratic challengers, predicted Democrats will win the 30 seats needed to regain control of the House if Republican Donald Trump continues to stumble."
"If this is a change election, the sky’s the limit,” Mr. Becerra said in an interview. “We can get to our 30 for sure."
"The Democratic Conference chair, who occupies a safe Los Angeles seat, traveled to the western suburbs of Minneapolis, where he joined State Sen. Terri Bonoff for several campaign events in her uphill bid to unseat popular Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen.
The Coastal Commission's 'ex-parte' controversy is back under the spotlight as legislation to prevent 'private meetings' approaches.
Aaron Orlowski reports in
The Press-Telegram: "Sacramento proposals to ban California Coastal Commission members from meeting privately with developers, environmentalists and citizens on pending projects face key votes today -- and could die before reaching the full Legislature."
"The so-called “ex parte communications” became a target of Coastal Commission critics early this year, when the panel fired executive director Charles Lester, despite public protests."
"Environmentalists, many of whom supported Lester, said the private meetings gave developers and their paid staff and lobbyists an advantage in influencing commission members and were a symbol of the powerful panel’s drift away from the spirit of a voter-approved mandate to protect the coast."
Read More in Development: Coastal Commission is resolving temporary cash flow problem amid state audit -- Dan Weikel with L.A. Times
