The Oakland warehouse fire death toll hits 33 and counting, as residents mourn their lost neighbors.
AP's KRISTIN BENDER and BRIAN MELLEY: "As investigators searched for signs of a crime in the fire that killed at least 33 in an Oakland warehouse during a late-night dance party, survivors and teary-eyed friends of those who perished viewed the charred building from a distance, placed flowers on several small memorials and embraced each other to mourn their losses."
"Bouquets of sunflowers, single white roses, lilies and carnations were stuck in chain-link fences, votive candles burned on sidewalks and post-it notes paid tribute to the missing and the dead in the most lethal building fire in the U.S. in more than a decade."
"Kai Thomas and a group of red-eyed classmates from an arts high school in San Francisco pressed against police tape Sunday near the street corner where the "Ghost Ship," a warehouse converted to artist studios and illegal living spaces, rapidly went up in flames late Friday, taking the life of a friend.
READ MORE related to Oakland 'Ghost Ship' Fire: Oakland warehouse fire: DA launches criminal probe -- JULIA PRODIS SULEK with East Bay Times; Vibrant arts scene helped re-energize Oakland, but fire spreads fear of crackdown -- DAVID DEBOLT with East Bay Times; Sac State graduate among missing in Oakland warehouse fire that has claimed at least 33 -- HUDSON SANGREE, NASHELLY CHAVEZ and JESSICA HICE with Sacramento Bee
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson hangs up his mayoral hat, but not on the same positive note he had when he came into office.
RYAN LILLIS with Sacramento Bee: "Kevin Johnson rolled into Sacramento City Hall a superstar. A son of Oak Park, he was the first African American to serve as his hometown’s mayor. He was a charismatic celebrity, a former NBA star trailed around town by an entourage of intensely loyal aides and greeted by high-fiving supporters nearly everywhere he went."
"He won his first campaign, in 2008, by a landslide. Even before the results of that election were official, Johnson threw himself an inauguration party at Memorial Auditorium. Dance troupes and gospel choirs performed. Confetti fell from the ceiling. Television personality Lisa Ling was the evening’s emcee."
"Eight years later, the party is over. Johnson will preside over his final full City Council meeting on Tuesday night, ending what was one of the most tumultuous and consequential political runs in city history. There won’t be any choirs to send him off; there will be no confetti. Instead, the city is planning a one-hour reception in Johnson’s honor before the City Council meeting and the mayor’s staff is throwing him an invite-only farewell dinner next week at La Venadita, a hip but modest restaurant in Oak Park."
A disgraced Sacramento officer arrested on felony criminal charges may have jeapordized the integrity of multiple past cases.
ANITA CHABRIA with Sacramento Bee: "Sacramento police are likely investigating past arrests made by an officer who was charged last month with felony weapons- and drug-related crimes."
"Officer Isaac Richard Knutila, 45, was arrested Nov. 4 at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West Hotel in possession of “usable” amounts of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin as well as his .40-caliber duty pistol, according to the department and information obtained by The Sacramento Bee through a Public Records Act request."
"Knutila was later found to have possession of an illegal .223-caliber Ruger Mini-14 semiautomatic rifle, police said."
Democrats are on the offensive about providing protection to immigrants against a Trump administration hardline.
JOHN MYERS with LAT: "With President-elect Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric on illegal immigration still fresh on their minds, legislative Democrats have readied a pair of proposals they believe will offer some immigrants additional legal help."
"The bills, set to be introduced on the first day of the new legislative session Monday, primarily aim to bolster the legal representation of immigrants who are in the country illegally and threatened with deportation. California has no formal role in national immigration policy, but the bills could supercharge the state's role in pushing back against a Trump administration's effort to deport as many as 3 million people living in the United States."
"Most sweeping is a bill that would authorize state government grants to nonprofit organizations that provide legal help for immigrants facing deportation. Dubbed "due process for all" in a summary document obtained by The Times, Democrats believe the money could help a significant number of immigrants to successfully challenge deportations."
The Army Corps of Engineers has blocked access to a section of the Missouri River, denying permission to the Dakota Access pipeline -- delivering a small victory for protestors and activists.
WILLIAM YARDLEY and SANDY TOLAN with LAT: "The Army Corps of Engineers on Sunday denied permission for the Dakota Access pipeline to cross under a section of the Missouri River, handing at least a temporary victory to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and its supporters."
"The decision came after months of protests by thousands of self-proclaimed “water protectors” — bolstered by the arrival of more than 2,000 U.S. military veterans — who have opposed the pipeline out of concern that it could rupture and contaminate the river, which they say provides drinking water to the tribe and 17 million other Americans."
"The pipeline is being built by Energy Transfer Partners, whose chief executive, Kelcy Warren, has said the company would not be willing to explore alternative routes."
If you've ever wondered what role reporters play in legislation, this 'primer' may interest you.
CHRIS MICHELI with Capitol Weekly: "Love ’em or hate ’em, reporters play an important role in the legislative process — as well as with legislative strategy and ethics — in California."
"Because of this influence, the media in many ways are commonly viewed as a fourth branch of government (or “fourth estate,” as the cliché goes). They don’t approve or reject legislation, but their coverage affects those who do and they often influence the fate of bills."
"They can push an issue or a bill to the forefront of the Legislature’s attention. Their coverage of an issue or a bill can help or hurt its chances of success. And, of course, perhaps most importantly, they can bring to light what is happening behind the scenes during the legislative session."
Donald Trump's Taiwan call has led to renewed, epeated claims about Chinese currency manipulation -- a claim that Chinese economists deny.
ZHEPING HUANG with Quartz: "After infuriating Beijing with a phone call with Taiwan that upended decades of US diplomatic protocol, president-elect Donald J. Trump went a few steps further, rallying against China’s currency and military policies on Sunday (Dec. 4) in a series of tweets:"
"Who knows what prompted Trump’s latest China blast on Twitter. But what is certain is his accusation that Beijing is devaluing its currency is wrong—again."
"It is a repeat of the accusations he made on the campaign trail. He saidduring the first presidential debate that “They’re devaluing their currency, and there’s nobody in our government to fight them… they’re using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild China, and many other countries are doing the same thing."
And now for a page from our "I want my Baby Back Ribs" file ...
Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert just wants to barbeque his ribs from his Capitol balcony in peace.
NATHAN WELLMAN with U.S. Uncut: "Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert was not okay. The Capitol’s maintenance crew has not allowed him to cook ribs in his own office for the last seven years, resulting in Gohmert venting about it in front of all of Congress on Friday for a full two minutes."
Swell....
