Is California's water crisis over?
L.A. Times' BETTINA BOXALL: "The state’s biggest reservoirs are swelling. As of this date, the Sierra Nevada have seen as much snow, sleet, hail and rain as during the wettest years on record. Rainy Los Angeles feels more like London than Southern California."
"So is the great California drought finally calling it quits?"
"Yes. Or at least maybe. If the storm systems keep coming, state and regional water managers say, 2017 could be the end of a dry spell that has, for more than five years, caused crops to wither, reservoirs to run dry and homeowners to rip out their lawns and plant cactus."
Read More related to Water Crisis: Reservoirs starting to fill in California, but nobody's saying the drought is over -- Fresno Bee's LEWiS GRISWOLD; Wow! Sierra Nevada snowpack doubles in 10 days -- East Bay Times' MARK GOMEZ; California storms add 350 billion gallons to parched reservoirs -- East Bay Times' PAUL ROGERS; More rain and snow coming, but will pack less punch -- Fresno Bee
A recent L.A. Times report on political donations to an apartment project in Harbor Gateway has spurred a state watchdog to begin its own inquiry.
L.A. Times' EMILY ALPERT REYES and DAVID ZAHNISER: "A state agency that enforces campaign finance laws has launched an investigation in response to a Times report on political donations connected to the developer of a Harbor Gateway apartment project.""
"A spokesman for the Fair Political Practices Commission said the agency opened its probe after receiving a letter from a Times reader, who pointed to the newspaper’s investigation into donors with ties to Samuel Leung, developer of the 352-unit Sea Breeze project. The reader asked the agency to look into whether donors mentioned in the story had violated campaign finance laws."
"FPPC spokesman Jay Wierenga declined to provide further details, saying that the commission does not comment on open investigations."
A Sacramento Councilman has asked for a temporary moratorium on the city's anti-camping ordinance, much to the joy of a group of protestors attending the meeting.
Sacramento Bee's RYAN LILLIS: "For over a year, homeless rights activists have descended on Sacramento City Hall, demanding an end to the city’s ban on urban camping. They’ve slept on the sidewalk on cold winter nights, staged sit-ins and have been hauled away by police."
"After all that, they suddenly have an ally on the City Council."
"Councilman Allen Warren surprised his council colleagues Tuesday night by asking for a temporary moratorium on the city’s anti-camping ordinance in some areas of Sacramento. A small group of protesters attending the City Council meeting erupted in cheers when Warren made his request."
And in heartwrenching news for Chargers fans, their beloved team may be moving from San Diego to Los Angeles, it's original home in the old AFL
Union-Tribune's JAY POSNER and DAVID GARRICK: "Chargers Chairman Dean Spanos has called an 8 a.m. staff meeting for Thursday, at which time he is expected to inform his employees that the franchise is moving from San Diego, its home of 56 years, to Los Angeles."
"The move was first reported Wednesday night by ESPN, although the story’s author, Adam Schefter, also said that a league source cautioned that “Spanos has yet to send a formal relocation letter to the NFL, yet to notify public officials in Los Angeles or San Diego of the team's move, or even tell the members of the San Diego organization about his plans. The source insisted nothing is final.”
"But, Schefter wrote, “the Chargers have notified NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and other league owners, of their intent to move to Los Angeles for the 2017 season.”
READ MORE related to NFL: Raiders' move to Las Vegas is no sure thing -- The Chronicle's Scott Ostler
Sacramento could soon begin taking commercial cultivation applications for cannabis.
Sacramento Bee's PETER HECHT: "The city of Sacramento soon may begin accepting applications from businesses wanting to cultivate marijuana."
"A City Council committee this week voted to lift Sacramento’s moratorium on commercial cannabis cultivation. The action means that aspiring marijuana businesses would be able to apply for cultivation permits beginning April 2 under a new ordinance that could position the capital city as regional hub for commercial pot production."
"The council in November voted 5-3 to allow licensed recreational or medical marijuana cultivation in city limits under state rules governing the marijuana industry. But it is unlikely that the city will be issuing actual permits for cultivations businesses until months after the application period opens."
The Placer County Sheriff, Ed Bonner, has announced his retirement.
Sacramento Bee's CATHY LOCKE: "Placer County Sheriff Ed Bonner announced Wednesday that he will retire next month after 22 years in the post."
"In a video posted on the Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page, Bonner, 65, cited health reasons for his decision to leave office effective Feb. 24."
“My doctors and I have huddled up and they say, ‘You know what, son? You need to get rid of a little bit of stress in life to be healthier,’ ” Bonner said in the video."
READ MORE related to Public Safety: No charges for El Cajon police officer who killed unarmed man -- New York Times' NIRAJ CHOKSHI; Senior citizen raped by Sacramento cop gets $1.35 million -- Sacramenot Bee's DARRELL SMITH; Sacramento police officer faced review for saying 'just hit him with a baseball bat' -- Sacramento Bee's ANITA CHABRIA; Off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent found guilty in fatal Hemet shooting over speeding vehicle -- VERONICA ROCHA with L.A. Times; SF Police Commission chief Loftus bids tearful farewell -- The Chronicle's VIVIAN HO; Give working prisoners dignity -- and decent wages -- National Review's CHANDRA BOZELKO
Sacramento State has recruited from across the pond a new dean of the College of Education.
Sacramento Bee's DIANA LAMBERT: "Alexander “Sasha” M. Sidorkin has been named the new dean of the College of Education at Sacramento State."
"Sidorkin formerly was the dean of the Graduate School of Education and the director of the Center for the Study of Innovation in Education at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow."
“Dr. Sidorkin brings tremendous knowledge, experience, and passion to the University,” said interim provost Mike Lee in a statement. “He will be a critical leader in our efforts to strengthen educational programs and to address California’s teacher shortage.”
READ MORE related to Education: Jewel Plummer Cobb, 92, Dies; Led a California Campus -- New York Times' DANIEL E. SLOTNIK; 'Transformative' donation to UCSF: $500 million -- The Chronicle's ERIN ALLDAY; UC Berkeley introduces efforts to assist with Cancel for Non-Payment policy -- The Daily Californian's REVATI THATTE; Cyber attack exposes private information of Berkeley College Republicans -- The Daily Californian's ALEAH JENNINGS-NEWHOUSE; Contra Costa College board makes 'sanctuary' status official -- East Bay Times' SAM RICHARDS; Oakland: Interim school superintendent to take helm Feb. 1 -- East Bay Times' JOYCE TSAI; Teachers union tells Fresno Unified board Superintendent Hanson must go now -- Fresno Bee's MACKENZIE MAYS; Under Trump, LGBT student rights could be in trouble -- The Nation's MICHELLE CHEN
As the megastorm begins to wane, the impact of this week's weather still remains.
Sacramento Bee's PHILLIP REESE, DALE KASLER, BILL LINDELOF and ED FLETCHER: "A tornado briefly touched down in South Natomas, a Rio Linda church was flooded and the Sacramento River reached its highest point in 20 years Wednesday as the effects of a multiday storm continued to ripple through the region."
"But the heavy rain and snow that had pounded Northern California since Saturday mostly stopped, several highways and local roads reopened and the region largely avoided major flooding or widespread property damage."
"Sacramento received 5.4 inches of rain during two “atmospheric rivers” from Saturday through Tuesday, the first time since 1999 that the city had seen that much rain in four days, state data show. Another two-tenths of an inch fell early Wednesday as the rain dissipated. A similar amount of rain will likely fall Thursday during morning showers, according to the National Weather Service."
READ MORE related to Megastorm: Bay Area gets storm break, but floods and landslides persist -- The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER, PETER FIMRITE and EVAN SERNOFFSKY; Mass flooding, and some relief, as Russian River peaks in Guerneville -- The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER; Bay Area storm: Respite from rain, but not from chaos -- East Bay Times' AARON KINNEY
Yolo County has reported its first flu death and is now warning the public to get vaccinated.
Sacramento Bee's CLAUDIA BUCK: "Yolo County reported its first flu-related death this season, prompting health officials to remind Californians there’s still time to get a flu shot."
“It’s absolutely not too late,” said Dr. Stuart Cohen, chief of the infectious diseases division for the UC Davis Health System."
"Last week, he said, UC Davis lab technicians confirmed 32 new cases of flu, roughly double the number during the week between Christmas and New Year’s."
The President-elect has given a press conference for the first time since July 2016. Lots of stories here -- take your pick.
Trump's boldest campaign promises are getting a reality check -- L.A. Times' MICHAEL A MEMOLI, NOAM N. LEVEY; US military: November fight with Taliban killed 33 civilians -- AP; Ethics experts: Conflicts-of-interest protections fall short -- The Chronicle's DOMINIC FRACASSA; Trump says he does no business in Russia, but he omits Russian partners and investors -- Fresno Bee's KEVIN G. HALL, PETER STONE and ANITA KUMAR; Trump admits Russian hacking even as he attacks U.S. intelligence community -- WaPo's Philip Rucker; Decision to brief Trump on allegations brought a secret and unsubstatntiated dossier into the public domain -- WaPo's GREG MILLER, ELLEN NAKASHIMA and KAREN DEYOUNG; Fact-checking President-elect Trump's news conference -- WaPo's GLENN KESSLER; Tillerson's Tough Day -- National Review Staff; The Trump 'Kompromat' story is disturbing -- every bit of it -- National Review's DAVID FRENCH; Shame on BuzzFeed -- National Review's DAVID FRENCH; What Trump's Allies have to fear from his Twitter feed -- National Review's JONAH GOLDBERG; The high stakes of Jeff Session's confirmation -- National Review's JEREMY CARL; Rex Tillerson would put the dollar sign on the American flag -- The Nation's JOHN NICHOLS; Jeff Sessions claims to be a champion of voting rights, but his record suggests otherwise -- The Nation's ARI BERMAN; When Trump pits journalists against each other, he's won -- The Nation's JOAN WALSH; Trump's pick to be top diplomat breaks with him in key ways -- AP's JOSH LEDERMAN
And in healthcare news, the Obamacare repeal has officially started.
AP: "The Senate early Thursday passed a measure to take the first step toward dismantling President Obama's healthcare law, responding to pressure to move quickly even as Republican lawmakers and President-elect Donald Trump grapple with what the replace it with."
"The nearly party-line 51-48 vote came on a nonbinding Republican-backed budget measure that eases the way for action on subsequent repeal legislation as soon as next month. "
"“We must act quickly to bring relief to the American people,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)."
READ MORE related to Healthcare: Hospitals overrun with flu patients; Visalia hospital opens tent for overflow -- Fresno Bee's BARBARA ANDERSON; The health-care villains nobody wants to talk about -- National Review's PASCAL-EMMANUEL GOBRY; A health-care plan the GOP could get behind -- National Review's MICHAEL TANNER; Trump just stumbled into a canyon on Obamacare -- The Nation's DAVID DAYEN
Los Angeles grapples with the prospect of a billion-dollar museum project spearheaded by George Lucas.
L.A. Times' CHRISTOPHER HAWTHORNE: "The erosion of Exposition Park’s public open space continues.” So wrote urban planner Alan Loomis nearly 15 years ago, in an essay published by the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design."
"That was before the Natural History Museum, born as the county museum and long the park’s anchor cultural tenant, ditched one expansion plan and built another; before the architecture firm Morphosis added an elementary school, wrapped in its signature slashing forms, near the northeast corner of the park; before USC took formal control of the Coliseum, with plans to modernize it; before the space shuttle Endeavour arrived at the California Science Center, with a new glass pavilion planned to house it; and before Welton Becket’s Sports Arena was demolished to make way for a soccer stadium."
"With the news Tuesday that George Lucas will be building a billion-dollar museum of “narrative art” just west of the Coliseum, choosing that site over a competing one on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay, the balance in Exposition Park has tipped once more from open space toward architecture, from protecting to building. The museum — a long, white, aerodynamic form that will seem to float above the surface of the park — will be designed by young Chinese architect Ma Yansong and is expected to open in 2021."
Hollywood Hills experienced a bizzarre traffic shutdown on Laurel Canyon Blvd after a home's balcony collapsed and spilled onto the road.
L.A. Times' JOSEPH SERNA: "Amid stormy weather and a Wednesday afternoon rush hour, authorities were forced to close Laurel Canyon Boulevard in the Hollywood Hills after a home’s back balcony collapsed onto the road."
"The earth underneath the home, in the 8100 block of Gould Avenue, was saturated and gave way, sending a 9,000-pound slab of concrete and a retaining wall sliding 20 feet down to Laurel Canyon Boulevard, the Los Angeles Fire Department said."
"No one was injured but the building was red-tagged, displacing the residents, officials said. Homes on either side of the property were yellow-tagged by Los Angeles’ Building and Safety Department, meaning residents can stay there but can’t go into the backyard until the city determines it’s safe."
Hackers successfully extorted $28,000 from LACCD after holding the campus email and computer network hostage.
L.A. TImes' VERONICA ROCHA: "The Los Angeles Community College District paid a $28,000 ransom in bitcoin last week to hackers who took control of a campus email and computer network until a payment was made."
"The malicious cyberattack was detected at Los Angeles Valley College on Dec. 30 after a virus locked the campus’ computer network as well as its email and voicemail systems, Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez said in a statement."
"After consulting with the college’s information technology staff, cybersecurity experts and law enforcement, the district paid the ransom on Jan. 4, a day after classes started, according to district officials. The district has a cybersecurity insurance policy that has been activated and covers such attacks."
Recent research into baboon speech may give some clues about human speech as well.
L.A. Times' AMINA KHAN: "Listen closely to those baboon calls — they may tell you a thing or two about human speech. Scientists who studied baboons’ wahoos, yaks, barks and other vocalizations have found evidence of five vowel-like sounds – a sign that the physical capacity for speech may have evolved over much longer timescales than previously thought."
"The findings, described in the journal PLOS One, could have significant implications for our understanding of human speech’s development and the emergence of language."
"Scientists studying the evolution of speech are left in a tricky bind because, unlike bones or shells, spoken words leave no fossil imprints in the geological record. How do you study the development of something as insubstantial as a sound?"
READ MORE related to Science: Psychiatrists can't predict mass shootings -- meanwhile, let the public defend itself -- National Review's JOHN R. LOTT JR.
Oakland's mayor is taking steps to help warehouse artists.
The Chronicle's RACHEL SWAN: "Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf — facing mounting pressure to beef up building safety and shield warehouse artists from eviction — took the unusual step Wednesday of endorsing a measure by one of her political foes."
"The measure by city Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan would strengthen tenant protections by nearly doubling the relocation fee property owners must pay residential occupants they evict on grounds that they must repair code violations."
"The proposed ordinance is especially timely as property owners have been evicting tenants from non-permitted housing and live-work spaces in the wake of the Dec. 2 Ghost Ship fire, which killed 36 people at a music event in a non-permitted warehouse. Schaaf urged the City Council to approve the measure during a special hearing on Tuesday."
Fat is making a comeback in the human diet as a favorable macronutrient.
The Chronicle's TARA DUGGAN: "Attitudes about fat are experiencing a sea change in the country, but the transformation is only very slowly reflected in official government advice. Take avocado toast, one of the biggest wholesome-food trends of the decade. It took until last month for the Food and Drug Administration to say that avocados can be labeled “healthy.” The fruit previously didn’t qualify — because it had too much fat."
"In recent years, many prominent scientists, journalists and diet gurus have been sounding the alarm that our decades-long obsession with swapping carbs for fat is only making America more unhealthy, and that the government has overplayed the role of dietary fat in heart disease and obesity, among other chronic illnesses. Like almost everything in nutrition science, the issues are far from settled, but the new ideas about fat are taking root in grocery shopping."
“Avoidance of traditional health-related attributes like fat or cholesterol are waning,” says David Portalatin, vice president and industry analyst of the market research company NPD Group."
