New battle over pensions

California legislators are fighting federal opposition to California's new state-run retirement program for private employees.

The Chronicle's KATHLEEN PENDER: "California legislators are fighting a resolution in Congress that could derail plans to create a state-run retirement plan for private-sector employees who don’t have one at work."

"The Republican-led House passed the resolution Wednesday. Its next stop would be the Senate floor. If it passes, President Trump is expected to sign it. If that happens, the state might have to go to court to salvage its plan or go back to the drawing board."

So how exactly are the states reservoirs faring after a week of wild weather?

Sacramento Bee's STAFF: "Three graphs show key California reservoir conditions and river stages for the upper and lower Sacramento Valley. The images are from the California Department of Water Resources’ Data Exchange Center and the National Weather Service."

READ MORE related to California Water Crisis: Crews repair new water seepage spot on Feather River levee near Sacramento River -- Sacramento Bee's BRAD BRANAN; Lake Oroville outflow slowing, but soaking storm approaching -- The Chronicle's KEVIN FAGAN/EVAN SERNOFFSKY; Will the crisis at Oroville Dam become a catalyst for change? -- L.A. Times' CHRIS MEGERIAN; Strongest storm in years taking aim at Southern California -- L.A. Times' HAILEY BRANSON-POTTS; Public should stay off rocks, jetties during the weekend storm -- San Diego Union-Tribune; With powerful rain on the way, LA communities prepare for 'a messy day' -- Daily News; National Weather Service warns of forthcoming storms -- Daily Cal's JESSICA LYNN; 

A woman accused of a hate crime in Davis has pleaded not guilty.

Sacramento Bee's STEPHEN MAGAGNINI: "A 30-year-old woman who police say wrote text messages about wanting to kill people and had expressed admiration for a white supremacist mass shooter pleaded not guilty Thursday to vandalism and hate crime charges in relation to a Jan. 22 attack on the Davis Islamic Center."

"Lauren Kirk-Coehlo is being held on $1 million bail and faces up to six years in prison if convicted of felony vandalism with a hate crime enhancement, said Yolo County District Attorney Jeff. W. Reisig. Clad in a green-and-white striped jail jumpsuit and wearing her chestnut hair in pigtails, Kirk-Coehlo did not speak at the arraignment hearing in the courtroom of Yolo Superior Court Commissioner J. Kent O’Mara other than to agree to appear at a March 6 preliminary hearing."

"A Feb. 23 date has also been set to discuss Kirk-Coehlo’s attorneys’ request to lower her bail and release her on her own recognizance. The woman’s private attorneys, Steven Sabbadini and David Dratman, declined to comment to The Sacramento Bee about the case."

READ MORE related to Public Safety: Oakland 'retracts' policy for police to report illegal warehouses -- The Chronicle's KIMBERLY VEKLEROV; Police searching for white van in San Leandro road rage slaying -- The Chronicle's MICHAEL BODLEY; Firefighter injured battling SF blaze that displaced 11 people -- The Chronicle's MICHAEL BODLEY; Sheriff's Department investigates alleged head-butting incident involving Justin Bieber at West Hollywood redtaurant -- L.A. TImes' VERONICA ROCHA; 15 years after a boy was kidnapped and sexually assaulted in Northridge, DNA leads LAPD to the suspect -- L.A. Times' KATE MATHER; Robert Durst confessed to killing Susan Berman, 'secret witness' says in court -- L.A. Times' MARISA GERBER/JAMES QUEALLY; L.A. County supervisors call for action on missed payments from child protection agency -- L.A. Times' ADAM ELMAHREK

Assemblyman Kansen Chu is resurrecting his bid to do away with Daylight Saving Time.

Sacramento Bee's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "Daylight saving time won last year, but Assemblyman Kansen Chu wants a rematch."

'The San Jose Democrat has introduced another bill targeting the divisive biannual changing of our clocks."

"Assembly Bill 807 would put a measure before voters asking them to repeal the 1949 initiative that instituted daylight saving time in California and allow the Legislature to adjust it with a simple majority vote – whether that be switching the dates it takes effect, getting rid of it altogether or, should the federal government allow it, moving to daylight saving time all year long."

READ MORE related to Local: Lobbyist faces fine after inviting L.A. politicians to his $51,000 birthday party downtown --L.A. Times' EMILY ALPERT REYES; Pressure for town halls ratchets up; Issa not biting -- San Diego Union-Tribune; Alameda County court case management system causing problems -- Daily Californian's KATE TINNEY

El Dorado Hills will get a Montessori charter school despite local opposition.

Sacramento Bee's LORETTA KALB: "A Montessori charter school will open in a vacant El Dorado Hills campus despite opposition from a number of parents in the Blackstone neighborhood who held out hope that a traditional elementary program would open at the site."

"Buckeye Union School District trustees voted unanimously Wednesday night to allow Charter Montessori to open next year at the Valley View Elementary campus in a controversial move that drew an opposing petition with more than 700 signatures."

"For the last four years, Valley View Elementary has remained vacant after development dried up during the recession in the surrounding neighborhood south of Highway 50. The district said that left Valley View perennially shy of enough families to operate a school that needs at least 150 students to open."

READ MORE related to Education: Rethinking classroom design to promote creativity and collaboration -- EdSource's MICHAEL COLLIER; Teacher training programs urged to increase focus on social-emotional skills -- EdSource's JANE MEREDITH ADAMS

Vice Admiral Robert Harward has rejected Trump's offer to replace Flynn as National Security Adviser.

AP's JULIE PACE: "Vice Admiral Robert Harward has turned down an offer to be President Donald Trump's new national security adviser, the latest blow to a new administration struggling to find its footing."

"Harward told The Associated Press that the Trump administration was "very accommodating to my needs, both professionally and personally."

"It's purely a personal issue," Harward said Thursday evening. "I'm in a unique position finally after being in the military for 40 years to enjoy some personal time."

READ MORE related to Beltway: Trump commerce pick Wilbur Ross faces new Russia questions -- Sacramento Bee's KEVIN G. HALL; Trump raps 'criminal' leaks, 'dishonest' media, 'bad' judges -- AP's JULIE PACE; Trump's base unfazed by recent allegations, criticisms -- The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI; AP FACT CHECK: Trump's messy case that he inherited a mess -- AP's JOSH BOAK/CALVIN WOODWARD; Remember Nixon? There's history behind Trump's press attacks -- AP's NANCY BENAC; Here are some of the puzzling moments from Trump's first solo news conference -- L.A. Times' COLLEEN SHALBY; OP-ED: About time: Trump Cabinet may get a Latino, as labor secretary -- San Diego Union-Tribune

Trump is attempting to reinstate a court-proof version of the travel ban.

Sacramento Bee's SAM STANTON/ANDY FURILLO: "The Trump administration declared Thursday that it planned to rescind its controversial travel ban and replace it with a new one that officials believe can withstand court challenges."

"Rather than continuing this litigation, the President intends in the near future to rescind the Order and replace it with a new, substantially revised Executive Order to eliminate what the panel erroneously thought were constitutional concerns,” the Justice Department said in briefs filed Thursday in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which earlier had refused to overturn a lower-court order that halted the travel ban."

"The filing came as the 9th Circuit was considering whether to review the earlier decision by a three-judge panel and order a larger, “en banc” review by 11 judges."

READ MORE related to Immigration: Woodland students miss school in apparent support of national immigration protest -- Sacramento Bee's LORETTA KALB; 'Day Without Immigrants' observed across Bay Area and beyond -- The Chronicle's HAMED ALEAZIZ; Trump could scapegoat H-1B visas for immigration goals -- The Chronicle's THOMAS LEE; Trump says he will issue a new order after a 'very bad decision' blocked his initial travel ban -- L.A. Times' MAURA DOLAN; 'Day Without Immigrants' protest closes restaurants across the U.S. -- AP; LA County business experience 'A Day Without Immigrants' -- Daily News' USAN ABRAM; Berkeley businesses strike to recognize contributions of immigrants to economy -- Daily Californian's PAMELA LARSON; Some immigrants, fearful of political climate, shy away from Medi-cal -- California Healthline

San Francisco has been losing its foothold as the tech industries' 'showcase mecca.'

The Chronicle's WENDY LEE/TRiSHA THADANI: "When Google co-founder Sergey Brin wanted to make a splash with a new piece of technology in 2012, he orchestrated an elaborate display that landed skydivers on the roof of Moscone West, with the dome of the Westfield San Francisco Centre in the background. The city’s urban landscape made the best possible backdrop for video-capturing Internet headgear that promised to change our lives."

"Now, Google Glass is a footnote to tech history. And so, too, may be the big tech showcases that made San Francisco a mecca for Silicon Valley engineers and executives seeking to put their wares on display before the world. The Bay Area’s largest tech companies — Google, Apple and Facebook — are all moving their developer conferences out of the city and farther south."

"While developer events like Google I/O, Facebook’s F8 and Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference are targeted at a technical crowd, the companies also invite media from around the world and use keynote speeches to reveal new products and strategies. They also attract a host of events and parties thrown by other companies aiming to capitalize on the buzz and the crowds."

READ MORE related to Economy: Park Commission says no to Summer of Love anniversary concert -- The Chronicle's SAM WHITING; Fox apologizes for 'A Cure for Wellness' ad campaign -- L.A. Times' DAVID NG; Sempra unleashes controversy with lobbying on rival electricity program -- Union-Tribune's JOSHUA EMERSON SMITH; Top weekend events: Penn & Teller, San Diego Comic Fest, wildlift art festival -- San Diego Union-Tribune; D.C. zoo prepares to say goodbye to giant panda Bao Bao -- San Diego Union-Tribune; Should California bars close two hours later at 4 a.m.? -- San Diego Union-Tribune; Valley housing market off to solid start in 2017 -- Daily News' GREGORY J. WILCOX; The bees that give you almonds -- N.Y. Times' MELISSA LYTTLE/JOSHUA THOMAS/LOGAN JAFFE

If you drive down Lombard Street on a regular basis, you may soon be subject to a toll.

The Chronicle's EMILY GREEN: "Driving down the crooked stretch of Lombard Street, a destination for tourists from around the world, is one of the most thrilling free attractions anywhere. But maybe not for long."

"Visitors could be required to make a reservation and pay a fee to drive the 500 feet of red brick road renowned for its curvy switchbacks and sweeping views of the city and bay."

The San Diego VA has regained it's four-star rating after losing a star due to declining performance last year.

Union-Tribune's PAUL SISSON: "San Diego VA officials announced Thursday that their health system has regained its four-star rating — after dropping to three stars several months ago — based on performance from October 2015 through September of last year."

"This interim rating, out of a possible five stars, is being circulated internally in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It’s expected to be formally released to the public in the fall."

"But local VA leaders didn’t want to wait until then to share their progress. Media coverage in December revealed that the VA had a previously private star rating program for its regional health networks, and the San Diego VA Healthcare System was one of a handful in nationwide that had suffered a notable drop in performance year over year."