Clout on Capitol Hill develops through party allegience, seniority and expertise -- and now, Democratic juice is at an all-time low while Republicans hold the most influential seats in the Congress.
Press-Enterprise's JEFF HORSEMAN: "Getting ahead in the nation’s capital doesn’t require Frank Underwood’s murderous lust for power or Ned Stark’s arguably naive idealism — we hope."
"But like the scheming congressman in “House of Cards” or the Iron Throne’s occupant in “Game of Thrones,” real-life members of America’s very real Congress wield unequal levels of power and influence. Party allegiance, seniority and expertise all help determine a lawmaker’s clout — or lack thereof."
"Think of it like a big, real-life trading card game. Some players have special powers, others don’t, but the stakes for all are high."
A Redondo Beach-based Republican club has had its chartership revoked by the county's GOP leadership after it was discovered that members of its executive committee were being internally maligned.
Daily News' NICK GREEN: "The county’s GOP leadership has revoked the charter of the Redondo Beach-based Beach Cities Republican Club for attacking members of its executive committee."
"No specifics were offered on the nature of the attacks nor would Jason Maruca, executive director of the Los Angeles County Republican Party, provide more information."
"This matter pertains to an internal issue,” he said. “We’re not going to be issuing a statement or commenting on the matter."
READ MORE related to Local: A Trump ally in Congress warns his state, California, to make nice -- N.Y. Times' ADAM NAGOURNEY; Panel discussion on Electoral College Wednesday in Chico -- Chico ER
San Francisco has officially become ground zero in the fight against Hepatitis C -- a deadly and infectious disease that obliterates the liver -- after a public plan known as 'End Hep C SF' recently saw medical breakthroughs aimed at eliminating the virus.
The Chronicle's ERIN ALLDAY: "San Francisco is trying to become the first city in the nation to eliminate hepatitis C, rolling out an ambitious plan that would involve curing everyone who already has it and stopping further spread of the infectious disease, which can cause severe liver damage."
"Just two or three years ago, the plan, called End Hep C SF, would have been impossible. But a new cure that is effective and relatively easy to take, combined with growing enthusiasm for programs to increase access to health care, has doctors and public health officials convinced that they can wipe out the virus over the next decade."
"Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have thought we’d be at a point where we were talking about elimination — where you could say that without someone laughing,” said Emalie Huriaux, who directs federal and state affairs for Project Inform, an advocacy organization in San Francisco, and chairs the California Hepatitis Alliance. “It’s going to be a heavy lift. But it’s really exciting. I hope this will become a model for other parts of the country."
READ MORE related to Health: Single-payer health care bill introduced in California Senate -- California Healthline's ANNA GORMAN; OP-ED: Urgent: Protect mental health services -- JOSEPH ROBINSON in CW; Women's heart attacks harder to detect -- Union-Tribune's MARLENE CIMONS; Can you live without cable TV for a week? -- Union-Tribune's JENNIFER VAN GROVE; President Trump is a 'world class narcissist,' but he's not mentally ill, says the psychiatrist who helped define narcissism -- L.A. Times' ROBIN ABCARIAN; How to deal with death as part of life -- Kaiser Health News' BRUCE HOROVITZ; California seniors increasingly land in ER after falls -- California Healthline's ANNA GORMAN; 'Tsunami' of Alzheimer's cases among latinos raises concerns over costs, caregiving -- Kaiser Health Network's ANA B. IBARRA/HEIDI DE MARCO
POTUS45 Trump's controversial and unusual presidency has redefined Presidents Day celebrations for many, while his supporters remain as unphased as ever.
AP's MICHELLE R. SMITH: "The United States on Monday marks Presidents Day, a holiday that's taking on a new meaning for some Americans this year as President Donald Trump — to the dismay of some and delight of others — upends traditional notions of the office."
"The holiday began as a celebration of George Washington's birthday, Feb. 22, and its official name remains Washington's Birthday."
"Throughout the 19th century, communities celebrated with parades and fireworks, said Evan Phifer, a research historian at the White House Historical Association. In the late 1800s, Feb. 22 became a federal holiday."
READ MORE related to Beltway: Senators seek evidence for probe of Russia -- The Chronicle's DEB RIECHMANN/EILEEN SULLIVAN; The latest: Trump invites Panama, Trinidad-Tobago leaders -- AP; Good news now for Trump, but bad news may be just around the bend -- The Chronicle's WILLIE BROWN; Sweden: It's 'unclear to us what President Trump was referring to' -- L.A. Times' LAURA KING; Trump's search for a national security advisor sums up his biggest challenges so far -- L.A. Times' MICHAEL A. MEMOLI; Treason! It's a provocative charge being leveled against Trump, and one that rarely amounts to much -- L.A. Times' MARK Z. BARABAK; Amid Russia scrutiny, Trump associates received informal Ukraine policy proposal -- WaPo's TOM HAMBuRGER/ROSALIND S. HELDERMAN; Shadow president or mere shadow? In Europe, Pence seeks to reassure allies unnverved by Trump -- WaPo's ASHLEY PARKER/MICHAEL BIRNBAUM; The Press vs. the President -- National Review's KEVIN D. WILLIAMSON; Omar Abdel Rahman, the 'Blind Sheikh', is dead -- National Review's ANDREW C. MCCARTHY; Everything Trump did in his 4th week that actually matters -- The Nation's ZOË CARPENTER/GEORGE ZORNICK
The Central Valley is now the latest area in California put under potential evacuation notice, as this week's incoming storm lingers ominously around the corner.
Sacramento Bee's RYAN SABALOW/ADAM ASHTON: "Forecasters with the National Weather Service offered a stark warning Sunday for just about everyone living in the soggy, soaked Central Valley."
"Pretty much anybody needs to be prepared for the possibility that they may have to evacuate quickly,” said Sacramento meteorologist Brooke Bingaman."
"Though most of the Valley had avoided further flooding by Sunday evening, the worst may be yet to come Monday and Tuesday, Bingaman said."
READ MORE related to Environment: Disturbing deficiencies seen in California's dam safety efforts -- The Chronicle's JOAQUIN PALOMINO/CYNTHIA DIZIKES; Town of Maxwell floods as worry about Oroville Dam shifts to creeks and canals -- Sacramento Bee's LORETTA KALB/ROBIN OPSAHL; High winds to hit Sacramento Monday night, weather service warns -- Sacramento Bee's MARY LYNNE VELLINGA; Spring forecast brings high grades for outdoor recreation -- The Chronicle's TOM STIENSTRA; San Diego gets Sunday respite from heavy rain, high winds -- Union-Tribune's DAVID GARRICK; Nearly 5,000 remain without power from storm-related outages, DWP says -- L.A. Times' MATT HAMILTON; Oroville Dam is about to face its next big test as a new storm moves into the area -- L.A. Times' LOUIS SAHAGUN; Government severely misjudged strength of Oroville emergency spillway, sparking a crisis -- L.A. Times' BETTINA BOXALL; California, parched for 5 years, is now battered by water -- N.Y. Times' THOMAS FULLER; Oroville Dam releases increase ahead of heavy rains -- Chico Enterprise-Record's ANDRE BYIK; Water conservation figures for December reported -- Chico Enterprise-Record's STAFF
Meanwhile, the issue of immigration reamains at center stage.
From the Chronicle's MICHAEL BIRNBAUM and LENA H. SUN: "Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the Trump administration is considering a new version of the executive order banning travel of citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations."
“The president is contemplating releasing a tighter, more streamlined version of the first E.O.,” Kelly told a gathering of the Munich Security Conference in Germany. That order, issued a week into Trump’s presidency, was quickly stayed by courts, prompting the president to criticize the workings of the justice system."
“We will have this time the opportunity ... of input on the rollout plan, in particular that no one’s caught in the system coming overseas to our airports,” Kelly said. “It’s a good assumption” that green-card holders will be exempt, he said, referring to legal permanent residents."
READ MORE related to Immigration: Trump considering 'streamlined' travel ban -- The Chronicle's MICHAEL BIRNBAUM/LENA H. SUN; Trump's wall looms over San Diego -- Union-Tribune's DAN MCSWAIN; Some hear echoes of Japanese internment in Trump's immigration plans -- Union-Tribune's JOHN WILKENS; Anti-Trump activists rally in support of immigrants -- Union-Tribune's LORI WEISBERG; Border, interrupted: Closings of Tijuana port of entry prompt criticism -- Union-Tribune's SANDRA DIBBLE; Homeland Security secretary drafts aggressive guidelines to carry out Trump's immigration orders -- L.A. Times' DEL QUENTIN WILBER; Berkeley business strike to recognize contributions of immigrants to economy -- Daily Californian's PAMELA LARSON; An 'abrazo' on the U.S.-Mexican border celebrates unity, but Trump has Laredo worried -- WaPo's BECCA MILFELD
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' recent report on 2015 wage data shows that the pay gap between women and men has steadily increased -- and is now at the widest it's been in 15 years.
Daily News: "California women appear to be losing ground in the pay-equality race."
"Fresh 2015 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows women’s median weekly earnings in the state running 15 percent below a similar benchmark for the pay of male workers. That gap — roughly equal to a $7,000 annual shortfall — is the widest since 2002."
"The report cites no reasons for the pay disparity, a subject of wide debate, noting the comparisons “do not control for factors that can be significant in explaining earnings differences, such as job skills and responsibilities, work experience, and specialization.” Nonetheless, the report does highlight how the pay of California’s female workers fares against male counterparts in the state and women across the nation."
READ MORE related to Economy: Defense Secretary Mattis arrives in Iraq and makes clear the U.S. is not there to take oil -- L.A. Times' W.J. HENNIGAN; Why border boycotts, slowdowns and taxes are a big deal in San Diego -- Union-Tribune's MICHAEL SMOLENS; Bill Maher's 'Real Time' interview with Milo Yiannopoulos fuels new criticism -- L.A. Times' STEVEN ZEITCHIK; How Kevin Durant became Silicon Valley's hottest startup -- N.Y. Times' ALEX WILLIAMS; Trump's labor pick has a history of attacking voting rights -- The Nation's JOHN NICHOLS; Property tax exemption filing deadline extended due to flood -- Chico Enterprise-Record's STAFF
Uber now faces a second wave of controversy, after an ex-employee alleges that the ride-sharing company covered up claims of sexual harassment.
Sacramento Bee's GREG HADLEY: "A bad year just got worse for Uber."
"Already reeling from a wave of bad press and calls for a boycott because of its CEO’s ties to President Donald Trump, the ride-sharing company is now undergoing an “urgent investigation” into the claims of a former female employee who says she was sexually harassed by her superior, who was never properly punished."
"Susan J. Fowler, an engineer who says she worked for Uber for one year starting in November 2015, made the explosive allegations in a lengthy blog post Sunday that quickly garnered attention on social media. On Twitter, Fowler’s link to the post has been retweeted nearly 10,000 times and liked 11,000 times as of Sunday night."
READ MORE related to Transportation: Transit service reduced for Presidents Day -- The Chronicle's STAFF; 'Good progress' on sinkhole repairs but unknown when Laurel Canyon will reopen -- Daily News' BRENDA GAZZAR; Why the Bob Hope Airport name is changing -- Daily News' GREGORY J. WILCOX
One of the many complexities of cannabis legalization is an entanglement of federal legislation and financial rules, which prevent legal business owners from safely depositing and storing marijuana money in banks.
Union-Tribune's KRISTINA DAVIS: "Sometime next year, the most populous state in the nation will let licensed recreational pot sellers start cashing in on a multibillion-dollar industry."
"But even though California voters approved these businesses in passing Proposition 64 in November, a major unresolved issue remains that will force a large portion of the state’s legal cannabis community to continue to operate in the shadows: banking."
"Because marijuana is still illegal under federal law, it is also illegal for banks to work with any marijuana-related businesses."
Tom Hayden, a legendary political activist who passed away October 2016, was celebrated this past weekend at a memorial service hosted by UCLA.
L.A. Times' MICHAEL FINNEGAN: "When Robert Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, the senator’s family picked Tom Hayden to be an honorary pallbearer at the funeral because the young antiwar activist embodied “the great hope that my father had in the future of our country,” Robert Kennedy Jr. recalled Sunday night at a memorial for Hayden."
"Hayden, who died in October at the age of 76, had been one of the first white students from northern states to join blacks in Freedom Ride protests against segregation in the South. He’d gotten beat up by police in Mississippi and “gone to jail for his beliefs in Georgia,” Kennedy told the audience at UCLA’s Royce Hall."
"Now, he said, Hayden had joined those in heaven “who spent their lifetime fighting for justice, fighting for the poor.”
In an age of climate change science-denial, California educators hold steadfast to their pledge to promote environmental literacy in schools.
EdSource's CAROLYN JONES: "In Clinton Huey’s 6th-grade science class at Bancroft Middle School in San Leandro just south of Oakland, students have made their own carbon dioxide, measured the acid content of car exhaust, created greenhouse gas models from plastic bottles, charted sea-level rise since 700 A.D. and built wind generators – all in a quest to understand climate change."
"To me, this is the single biggest issue facing humanity,” Huey said, referring to climate change. “We have to talk to our kids about it. We have to learn about it. … We need to educate our students to become citizens of the world, which is important if we care about what our future world will be."
"Huey’s class, and others like it around California, reflect an ongoing effort by California educators to integrate environmental education into the school curriculum – an effort that appears to be gathering momentum."
READ MORE related to Education: Former Jefferson Elementary School principal sues BUSD, alleges racial discrimination -- Daily Californian's JESSICA LYNN; UCPD asks public for help with investigation for Yiannopoulos demonstration -- Daily Californian's CHANTELLE LEE; DeVos keeps focus on school 'choice' without mentioning private school vouchers -- EdSource's LOUIS FREEDBERG; Placement tests put many students into math maze instead of pathways to success -- EdSource's PAMELA BURDMAN
