As California's legislative session ends, some of California's House members turn their eyes toward Capitol Hill for hopeful resolution.
Michael Doyle in the SacBee: "San Joaquin Valley lawmakers will hit Capitol Hill after Labor Day with bleak prospects for completing some legislation once introduced with high hopes."
"A measure by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, to authorize the military enlistment of immigrants who are in the country illegally has stalled. So has a familiar bill by Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, authorizing the burial of Hmong veterans in U.S. national cemeteries. A bill by Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, to settle a big Westlands Water District irrigation drainage dispute is stuck for now."
"For all these Californians and their colleagues, the tail end of the 114th Congress, which began in January 2015, could become another exercise in frustration, leavened by the occasional opportunity for success."
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Gov. Brown has convinced members of the California State Assocation of Counties board to back down from opposing Proposition 57, a ballot measure aimed at parole reform.
John Myers with L.A. Times reports: "The state organization representing county governments decided Thursday to not take a position on Proposition 57, the revamping of California's prison parole system that is being championed by Gov. Jerry Brown."
"Brown made his case at a meeting of the California State Assn. of Counties' board of directors in Sacramento. The group also heard from Merced County Dist. Atty. Larry Morse, who opposes Prop 57."
"The measure, if approved by voters, would allow new opportunities of parole for some prison inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes."
Two bills aimed at reforming the Public Utilities Commissions have been blocked.
Jeff McDonald with San Diego Union-Tribune reports: "Advocates hoping for reform at the California Public Utilities Commission were disappointed twice this week, as an overhaul bill died in the legislature and a court ruling allowed certain emails regarding the agency’s response to the San Onofre failure to remain secret."
"Lawmakers did pass two bills that imposed changes on the commission, which for two years has been under criminal investigation for backchannel dealings with utility executives."
"Stronger reforms — agreed to in June by Gov. Jerry Brown and top lawmakers and embraced by both parties — were left in legislative limbo when the session ended at midnight Wednesday."
SEE MORE related to Environmental: How a bid to overhaul California's energy regulator fell apart on the Legislature's last day of session -- Liam Dillon with L.A. Times; Development interests defeat bills seeking to improve transparency at the California Coastal Commission -- Dan Weikel with L.A. Times
The woman at the center of the Oakland PD sex scandal has been arrested at a rehab center in Florida on assault charges.
East Bay Times' Matthias Gafni writes: "The 19-year-old woman at the center of an explosive Bay Area police sex misconduct scandal has been arrested on suspicion of felony aggravated battery in Florida, where she recently traveled to enter a substance abuse rehabilitation center."
"The woman, who goes by the name Celeste Guap, was arrested at 1:19 p.m. Monday and booked into the Martin County Jail, where she remains in custody on $300,000 bail, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office."
"The incident began Monday at Wellness Counseling and Detoxification in Stuart, Florida, where she had checked in only days earlier. Employees told a Martin County sheriff's deputy that Guap had run out of the voluntary facility, but a staff member convinced her to return, according to the police report."
In the wake of Proposition 64, which deals with legalized cannabis, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsome -- one of the proposition's most ardent supporters -- expresses the need for cautious advancement, as well as concerns with Big Tobacco becoming Big Pot.
Take Two with KPCC: "Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom is one of the biggest proponents of Proposition 64, the state ballot measure that would legalize recreational marijuana for California and, in the process, raise an estimated $1 billion in new tax revenue for the state."
"Newsom pitches the initiative as a social justice issue that could cut costs for the state's justice system and provide a new source of income for the state and its citizens. Still, as he tells Take Two, he has concerns about the economic incentives behind the prospect of legalizing pot."
""We don’t want to this to become the next California gold rush. We’re not doing this for revenue, at least that’s not what I’m about," Newsom says. "In order to generate more revenue, you need more use, and I’m not big into increased use … We have to temper some of that capitalistic appetite."
Specific support staff known as 'transition specialists' are being employed to help juveniles who have been incarcerated transition back into their educational surroundings and communities.
Michael Collier with EdSource writes: "Counties across California are stepping up efforts to ensure that students going to schools in juvenile detention facilities make it back to their communities — and have a fighting chance to succeed in school and life."
"In addition to help from caseworkers and counselors, many counties are hiring additional support staff, called “transition specialists,” to help students bridge the gap between “court schools,” which they may attend for a few weeks, and an educational placement allowing them to graduate from high school."
"At least sixteen California counties, from Butte in the north to Riverside in the south, have hired transition specialists, according to the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, which oversees county court schools."
READ MORE related to Education: Boxer gives congressional papers to Bancroft, launches speaker series -- Kathleen Maclay with Berkeley News; Parent Group withdraws suit against school vaccination law -- Jane Meredith Adams with EdSource; Judge tosses SF law preventing teacher evictions -- J.K. Dineen in The Chronicle
Finally, for our choice of the person who had the worst week in California, #WorstWeekCA, we picked Rep. Roger Hernandez. who quietly finished his career this week after backlash from a domestic violence dispute has forced him to call it quits.
