The biggest storm to hit California in years has left a region battered and bruised, and caused many residents to be displaced.
L.A. Times' MATT HAMILTON/FRANK SHYONG/ADAM ELMAHREK/HOWaRD BLUME: "The third in a series of powerful winter storms unleashed a deluge in Southern California on Sunday, flooding numerous roads and freeways, setting new rainfall records and stranding some in dangerously rising waters."
"Forecasters had predicted this storm would be the strongest and several years, and it didn't disappoint. While earlier storms produced periods of heavy showers, this one delivered several hours of sustained pounding rain, with damaging results."
"Coastal areas of Los Angeles County were among the hardest hit, with Long Beach Airport setting a new all-time rainfall record, 3.87 inches. The intense rain was too much for local roads. Sunday afternoon, both the 110 Freeway in Carson and the 710 Freeway in Long Beach were shutdown due to extreme flooding that left cars stranded like islands in a lake."
READ MORE related to Environment: Lab explores projects to lessen effects of sea level rise on SF Bay -- The Chronicle's JOHN KING; What mackerel and a volcano can tell us about climate change -- AP's PATRICK WHITTLE; A seemingly endless barrage of rain and snow -- NYT's MIKE MCPHATE; After years of drought, Sacramento confronts an old foe: flood risk -- Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER/PHILLIP REESE/RYAN SABALOW; 19 die amid apparent winter tornadoes, other storms in South -- AP's JAY REEVES/BRENDAN FARRINGTON; Month's rains swamp most years' January figures -- The Chronicle's EVAN SERNOFFSKY; Driver thought drowned as floods, debris block some roadways -- East Bay Times' ANNIE SCIACCA
If populist proponents thought liberalism was a dying platform, progressives around the world showed up million strong at the Women's March on Saturday to put those thoughts to rest.
The Chronicle's OTIS R. TAYLOR JR.: "The first step was taken Saturday in opposition of the new president, and it was sure-footed."
"An estimated 100,000 people attended the Women’s March in Oakland. The molasses-slow mass stretched for dozens of blocks. Couples held hands and friends locked arms. Women and men wore pink hats, toted poignant homemade signs and sang songs of solidarity."
"We are family."
A whistle-blower lawsuit has cost the city of San Francisco $2.5 million dollars -- and the case has yet to see the inside of a court room.
The Chronicle's MATIER & ROSS: "Talk about a high-stakes poker game."
"Records show that San Francisco’s City Attorney Dennis Herrera’s office has paid out more than $2.5 million to the law firm headed by former Police Commission PresidentJohn Keker to fend off a whistle-blower lawsuit filed by a former top trial deputy at City Hall."
"And the case hasn’t even gone to court yet."
In a surprise turn of events, WikiLeaks has blasted Donald Trump for his refusal to release his tax returns.
Sacramento Bee's GREG HADLEY: "In the span of a few years, WikiLeaks, the hacking organization responsible for some of the biggest leaks of classified information in recent history, enjoyed a surge in popularity among Republicans in the U.S. Now, that might be coming to a screeching halt."
"With two tweets Sunday, the organization offered a stinging critique of President Donald Trump. Specifically, WikiLeaks blasted the Trump administration’s announcement that it would not release his tax returns, a decision that is legal but departs from past precedent."
"Trump’s decision, which was announced by one of his top aides, Kellyanne Conway, shut down a White House petition that had garnered 200,000 signatures since it was introduced Friday."
Ever wondered if being a member of Congress had a Cost? Look no further.
L.A. Times' JAVIER PANZAR: "If you want to snag one of California’s 53 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, start saving: The average winner in 2016 spent $1.5 million to be a part of the country’s largest congressional delegation."
"While some races were cheap, sleepy contests where incumbents strolled past the opposition, others were bitter partisan fights that ended up costing millions."
"Here’s a look at who got the most bang for their buck and who had to pay through the nose to win votes. "
Trump's first national address struck a populist chord on an aggressive note. The speech also set an unusually grim overtone.
L.A. Times' MICHAEL A. MEMOLI/BRIAN BENNETT: "One by one, just hours after President Trump’s inauguration, some of his most senior aides made the short journey from their new West Wing offices to the press briefing room."
"Press Secretary Sean Spicer stood for a moment behind the lectern where he will conduct news briefings.Stephen Bannon, chief strategist, took note of the cramped quarters many correspondents worked in. AndKellyanne Conway exchanged pleasantries with the reporters and photographers who will document the administration."
"Within 48 hours, what had seemed to be a goodwill tour instead appeared to have been a reconnaissance mission, the new administration sizing up a prominent adversary."
Discussions on abortion ramp up as the subject of material disposal comes into question.
L.A. Times' ALEXANDRA ZAVIS: "Tucked against a fence in an East Los Angeles cemetery, a long, flat headstone reads: “In memory of the 16,500 precious unborn, buried here, Oct. 6, 1985."
"The aborted fetuses had been found in a metal storage container repossessed from the Woodland Hills home of a former medical laboratory owner who had kept them after testing."
"Abortion defenders argued that they should be incinerated as medical waste. But abortion foes wanted to give them a funeral."
Experts say: Trump has limited scope on states' rights.
L.A. Times' GEORGE SKELTON: "President Donald Trump began his inaugural address with words that might have heartened nervous California Democrats. But then he warmed up and reverted to the familiar campaigner-in-chief."
"Like many Republican leaders, Trump preached states’ rights — or seemed to."
"Today, we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another,” he said. “But we are transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the people."
Mexico's gasoline price hike has prompted border protests that are clogging the San Ysidro freeway.
L.A. Times' LYNDSAY WINKLEY: "A Sunday protest over Mexico’s gasoline price hike prompted authorities to block freeway access into Mexico from San Ysidro for the third weekend in a row."
"Customs and Border Protection and California Highway Patrol officials closed south Interstate 5 at State Route 905 about 11:15 a.m. and south Interstate 805 at Route 905 about 1:30 p.m., a CHP official said."
"Northbound traffic from Mexico remained open. Motorists headed into Mexico were told to use the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, which was also clear."
An issue with United Airlines' computer systems forced the company to ground over 200 flights on Sunday.
AP: "United Airlines says six flights were cancelled and 200 more were delayed because of a computer problem that forced a ground stop for all domestic flights that lasted about 2 ½ hours Sunday."
"Company spokeswoman Maddie King calls the glitch an "IT issue."
"The airline is waiving flight change fees through Wednesday for any travelers affected by the problem. United says there will be no extra charge for anyone flying in the same class and between the same cities."
Samsung's official word on Galaxy Note 7 fires: faulty batteries.
AP:"Samsung Electronics said Monday that tests of more than 200,000 Galaxy Note 7 smartphones found defects in two sets of batteries from two different manufacturers that made the devices prone to catch fire."
"Samsung's mobile division president, Koh Dong-jin, ruled out any problems with other aspects of the Note 7, either in its hardware or its software. He said Samsung would use what it learned from its investigations to improve lithium ion battery safety for the industry, though analysts questioned if the company had really gotten to the heart of the problem."
"Samsung discontinued the Note 7 just two months after it was launched on Aug. 2, in one of its worst product fiascos ever."
UC Davis students find themselves at the mercies of the rental market.
Sacramento Bee's RICHARD CHANG: "A mega apartment project with a towering six-story parking garage is facing criticism from Davis neighbors, even as the city struggles to house the growing number of UC Davis students amid skyrocketing rents."
"Plans for the Sterling Fifth Street complex call for multiple five-story buildings with a separate garage that could accommodate 525 cars. With 244 units, the complex could accommodate more than 1,000 students and easily be one of the largest apartment communities in the college town."
"The five-acre site, near the Davis Police Department, was a longtime children’s home operated by EMQ FamiliesFirst. The facility was shuttered by the state a few years ago after child abuse allegations came to light."
READ MORE related to Education: Napolitano's cancer treatment took UC regents by surprise -- The Chronicle's MATIER & ROSS
Recent vandalism at a local mosque in Davis has police investigating the incident as a hate crime.
Sacramento Bee's JESSICA HICE: "The Davis Police Department is investigating a vandalism incident, regarded as a hate crime, that occurred at the Davis Islamic Center early Sunday morning."
"Six windowpanes were smashed and strips of uncooked bacon were placed on an exterior door handle just after 3:45 a.m., Davis police said. Police are calling it a hate crime because pork is a forbidden food in Muslim and other religious traditions."
"Two bicycles parked on the property also were destroyed."
READ MORE related to Public Safety: For new SFPD Chief William Scott, earning officers' trust is key -- The Chronicle's VIVIAN HO; Five arrested in police crackdown on prostitution -- East Bay Times' PETER HEGARTY; Man critical after shooting, police investigating -- East Bay Times' ANNIE SCIACCA
The new administration's immigration hardline could reshape the H-1B visa program.
East Bay Times' LOUIS HANSEN: "Clément Garnier earned his computer engineering degree in France, grabbed an internship in Montreal, and finally, a full-time job in San Francisco with a coveted H-1B visa."
"The papers allow Garnier, a 25-year-old software engineer, to work with a health care start-up and help it grow from 5 to 50 employees. Until the election of Donald Trump, he saw his visa as the start of a long and perhaps permanent stay in the U.S."
“Now, I’m even worried about being able to stay here in the very near future,” Garnier said. “I’m worried that these things will maybe disappear.”
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. recalls its beers across 36 states.
AP: "Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. announced a recall Sunday of certain 12-ounce bottles of its pale ales, IPA’s and other beers after detecting a packaging flaw that could cause a piece of glass to break off into the bottle."
"In a statement Sunday, it said the recall applies to eight different types of its craft beers, including its popular Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, purchased in 36 states across the Midwest, the South and East Coast of the United States."
"The California-based company issued the voluntary recall after quality inspections at its Mills River, North Carolina, brewery detected a limited number of bottles made with a flaw “that may cause a small piece of glass to break off and possibly fall into the bottle, creating a risk of injury,” the statement said."
