If Bernie Sanders' presidential bid resonated at all with society, it was partly because of his advocacy of free education. California lawmakers say they are working on a way to make that possible.
LA Times' MELANIE MASON/TERESA WATANABE: "Seizing on growing concerns over college affordability, California lawmakers are poised to propose what would be the most generous college aid plan in the nation, covering not just tuition but also living expenses that have led to spiraling student debt."
"The plan, to be formally rolled out by Assembly Democrats at a news conference Monday morning, would supplement California’s existing aid programs, with the aim of eradicating the need for student loans for nearly 400,000 students in the Cal State and University of California systems. It also would boost grants to community college students and give those attending them full time a tuition-free first year."
"Lower-income students … are able to many times, through our great programs in California, get help to pay for tuition. But they’re still graduating with a tremendous amount of debt,” said Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), who is spearheading the plan. “The cost of living, the books, the transportation — that’s [what] we really need to tackle.”
READ MORE related to Education: Girls now outnumber boys in high school STEM, but still lag in college and career -- EdSource's CAROLYN JONES; UC Davis Aggies take historic first step into NCAA tournament -- Sacramento Bee's AILENE VOISIN
Speaking of Bernie, the Democratic Socialist party has seen a massive boom in their enrollment.
LA Times' MATT PEARCE: "Holding red and white signs, they protested outside Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s election party on Tuesday, demanding the city take a tougher stand against deportation."
"The next day, they rallied in support of the International Women’s Day strike, demanding social and economic equality for women."
"These weren’t liberals. They were card-carrying members of the Democratic Socialists of America, one of the fastest growing groups on the American left."
READ MORE related to Beltway: Trump lets key offices gather dust amid 'slowest transition in decades' -- NY Times/CA Today's JULIE HIRSCHFIELD DAVIS/SHARON LAFRANIERE
The Trump admin's anti-climate stance has put California's climate legislation into the 'hot seat' as the state tries to figure out a way to maintain the battle against rapid warming.
LA Times' CHRIS MEGERIAN: "Outdated refrigerators arrive at a Compton warehouse in a funeral procession of defunct appliances. Workers vacuum out the coolants and ship the chemicals halfway across the country, where they’re destroyed instead of allowed to escape into the atmosphere, worsening global warming."
"The operation is among dozens of projects that qualify as carbon offsets, which are funded by major polluters such as oil refineries and power plants to comply with California’s requirements for slashing greenhouse gases."
"By paying for offsets, companies can generate environmental benefits anywhere in the country — they are not required to invest in green projects in California — as an alternative to cleaning up their own operations. Now that lawmakers are debating how to continue the state’s fight against climate change, the system is being targeted by some environmentalists who would rather force industry to directly reduce its emissions."
READ MORE related to Environment: UCSD scientists worry Trump could suppress climate change data -- LA Times' GARY ROBBINS/JOSHUA EMERSON SMITH
The recent spike in toxic xenophobia across the country post-election has prompted a flash gathering in San Jose to protest 'hate.'
Mercury News' ERIC KURHI: "With recent hate-fueled shootings of minorities in Kansas and Washington — and an alarming confrontation closer to home in downtown San Jose — about 75 community members gathered downtown Sunday to urge action in what they called an increasingly hostile post-election atmosphere."
"This is not something that’s just happening far away,” said Anirvan Chatterjee, one of the unaffiliated activists who put together the afternoon event at Lytton Plaza. “This is happening right here at home.”
While police body cameras are intended for the protection of both cop and citizen, the specifics surrounding the recorded footage the devices capture are not entirely clear.
OC Register's CHRIS HAIRE: "Guns drawn, police officers cautiously approached an SUV, the cameras on their uniforms recording as they searched for a firearm a suspect had supposedly pointed at a motorist."
"As one officer guarded the middle-aged driver now in handcuffs, two other officers flanked the vehicle, with one finding a rifle inside."
"Taking in the entire encounter — from tense beginning to jail-cell ending — were body cameras, standard operating procedure for these Fullerton officers as well as an increasing number of their brethren across Southern California."
READ MORE related to Public Safety: Nearly 200 firefighters battle downtown LA building fire -- LA Times' VICTORIA KIM; San Bernardino's crime interruption plan, Ceasefire, moves forward -- SB Sun's RYAN HAGEN
Two of the world's biggest corporate brands are now dabbling in the art of architectural grandiosity.
The Chronicle's WENDY LEE: "Next month, Apple will inaugurate its circular “spaceship” campus, an eye-catching Cupertino landmark that will house some 12,000 employees of the world’s most valuable company under a single roof."
"About 10 miles away in Mountain View, Google is moving past the planning stage for a futuristic campus that, when it opens in 2019, will be the first major real estate project the search engine giant has built from scratch. The central building, which resembles a puffy white cloud, will be along a bicycle and pedestrian path that connects Google’s other offices."
"Though different in size, design and public accessibility, the two campuses point toward a single idea: Real estate is becoming a status symbol for Silicon Valley companies, which are now competing in part on the glamour value of their work spaces. As they vie for software engineers, Apple and Google are trying to woo potential hires with design and lifestyle flourishes, down to small details such as temperature controls at the desk level at Google’s new campus and an interior meadow, pond and orchard just for Apple employees."
Sacramento International Airport is looking to branch out with Asian and European service terminals.
Sacramento Bee's RICHARD CHANG: "Hiking the Great Wall of China. Sampling sushi at a Tokyo fish market. A weekend shopping trip to London."
"Travel to those far-flung locales could soon be easier, if airlines begin nonstop service from Sacramento International Airport to Asia and Europe. Once considered unrealistic due to limited market demand, nonstop flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, London and Frankfurt could become reality, thanks to technological advances in aircraft and fierce competition in the aviation industry."
"Airlines traditionally consolidated their international passengers at major gateways, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, because the long-haul jetliners seat several hundred passengers. The financial limitations for such flights from a smaller city like Sacramento didn’t make sense."
READ MORE related to Transportation: New California license plate features redwoods, needs 7.500 ordered by May -- Mercury News' PAUL ROGERS
People who live in California are well aware of the inflated cost of living, among the highest in the nation. Unfortunately, now property taxes are trying to catch up.
Daily News' JONATHAN LANSNER: "Warning: Property taxes are due April 10."
"Before you search for the bill and the checkbook – and perhaps express a few choice nasty words aloud about the financial pinch – let me make you extra grumpy."
"While Prop. 13 may keep California property taxes low for many folks, the overall financial burden remains relatively high. My trusty spreadsheet tells me we’re 10th worst among the states."
Some medical experts are bracing themselves for the Trumpcare replacement for Obamacare -- legislation that they claim will ruin millions of lives.
SB Sun's JIM STEINBERG: "The early version of the Trump administration’s plan to cure “Obamacare” is a prescription many — but not all — area health providers are having a hard time swallowing."
“These guys are not addressing structural issues (in U.S. health care delivery). They are focused on destruction and dismantling (the Affordable Care Act),” said Faisal Qazi, a Pomona neurologist."
"While some Republican Party supporters of the Trump Administration’s American Health Care Act cite rapidly rising premiums as a reason the Obama administration’s health care plan wasn’t working, they ignore the fact that premiums were rising rapidly before the ACA was signed into law on March 23, 2010, said Qazi, who is an assistant professor of neurology at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona."
READ MORE related to Health: Sacramento battle over telling patients about doctors' probation -- The Chronicle's MELODY GUTIERREZ; Proposed law would require all California children to be screened for lead -- California Healthline's ANA B. IBARRA; Deadly fungal infection that doctors have been fearing now reported in US -- WaPo's LENA H. SUN
