Xavier Becerra's ascension to California Attorney General has led to a rag-tag rat-race of 24 candidates -- count 'em -- going head-to-head for his open Congressional seat.
Daily News' STAFF: "Two dozen candidates will be vying in a special election today to fill the 34th Congressional District seat left vacant by former Rep. Xavier Becerra’s move to Sacramento to become the state’s attorney general."
"The district stretches roughly from Koreatown in the west to the Long Beach (710) Freeway in the east and from the Santa Monica (10) Freeway in the south to the Ventura (134) Freeway in the north. It includes downtown Los Angeles, the Westlake district, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Boyle Heights and Lincoln Heights."
"If no candidate receives a majority today, a runoff between the top two finishers will be held June 6. Because of the large field, no candidate is expected to receive a majority."
A recent study shows that immigrant driver's licenses may ease the prevalence of hit and run crashes on the road.
AP's JANIE HAR: "A California law granting driver’s licenses to hundreds of thousands of people in the country illegally might have reduced the likelihood of hit-and-run collisions, according to a new study released Monday."
"Researchers at Stanford University’s Immigration Policy Lab estimated that granting driver-only licenses appears to have reduced hit-and-run crashes and saved insured drivers about $17 million that they would have absorbed from at-fault drivers fleeing collisions to avoid possible arrest."
"Jens Hainmueller, faculty director of the policy lab, said the study was conducted because of a lack of data when California debated its law that went into effect on 2015."
READ MORE related to Transportation: Harrison Ford will keep pilot's license after John Wayne Airport taxiway landing -- OC Register's JOSHUA SUDOCK/SCOTT SCHWEBKE; BART extension to San Jose on track, but new cars delayed -- The Chronicle's MICHAEL CABANATUAN
The drama surrounding Aliso Canyon's re-opening has hit a snag: a study showing that the natural gas in the Canyon's pipes are unnecessary.
Daily News' SUSAN ABRAM: "Southern California won’t plunge into darkness this summer or next winter if the Aliso Canyon natural gas facility remains untapped for a while longer, according to conclusions reached in a Los Angeles County study."
"The findings, compiled by researchers with EES Consulting Inc., contradict warnings by state regulators of rolling blackouts and no heat if withdrawals of natural gas from wells in Aliso Canyon continued to be postponed."
"Consultants said in the study several mitigation efforts that included using other sources of reliable energy and conservation worked well enough so that withdrawing natural gas from the wells in Aliso Canyon is unnecessary in the short term. In addition, the wells contain enough natural gas in case of emergencies so that injecting them with more product also wasn’t needed."
Speaking of immigration, many undocumented LA county residents are under constant threat of deportation and gentrification.
Daily News STAFF: "Amid White House promises to crack down on illegal immigration, fear of deportation is on the rise in Los Angeles County, with more than one-third of residents concerned they or someone they know will be removed from the country, according to a UCLA survey released today."
"The second annual Los Angeles County Quality of Life Index survey, produced by the Los Angeles Initiative at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, queried about 1,600 county residents between Feb. 28 and March 12, and found that 37 percent are worried about deportation. Of that group, more than half said they were very concerned."
“The level of anxiety over deportation among county residents is staggering,” Los Angeles Initiative Director and former County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said. “The national debate on immigration has heavily impacted Los Angeles. The extraordinary number of people who now fear engaging local government for services should be of concern for all of us.”
READ MORE related to Immigration: Should RCCC continue holding undocumented immigrants forthe feds? Sheriff Jones says yes -- Sacramento Bee's RyAN LILLIS; 'Sanctuary state' bill passes California Senate -- Sacramento Bee's TARYN LUNA
An experimental , futuristic home on the market in Santa Ana designed to meet zero-net-energy standards has been awarded to a low-income veteran as a Habitat for Humanity project.
OC Register's JEFF COLLINS: "Design an experimental house of the future that meets 2020 zero-net-energy building standards? Check."
"Build it at the Orange County Great Park with high school students taking part in the construction? Check."
"Put it on display for a year, disassemble it, move it to a permanent new location and put it back together again? Check, check and check."
READ MORE related to Economy: Irvine to consider committing $40 million toward veterans cemetery at Great Park -- AP's TOMOYA SHIMURA; Jerry Brown's gas tax increases still need more votes -- Sacramento Bee's DAN WALTERS
California is thinking about restructuring its bail schedule.
AP's DON THOMPSON: "California could dramatically change the way it pressures criminal defendants to show up for court, doing away with monetary bail for most and taking income into account for others to ensure poor suspects get an equal shot at freedom."
"Instead of requiring suspects to post bail, county officials would decide whether to release them based on their risk to public safety and would use jail alternatives like home detention or monitoring bracelets that track their locations."
"When a judge decides monetary bail is needed for suspects accused of serious or violent crimes, the amount would be based on defendants’ incomes instead of on a pre-determined bail schedule that varies in each of California’s 58 counties."
READ MORE related to Public Safety: Yolo sheriff turns down free MRAP, citing 'political climate' -- Sacramento Bee's BRAD BRANAN; Abuse, rape survivors take stage for tribute to Yolo County crime victims -- Sacramento Bee's DARRELL SMITH; Feds detain Folsom prostitute who gave Google exec fatal drug shot -- AP/Sacramento Bee; Roman Polanski's request to have sexual abuse case resolved is denied -- NY Times' NIRAJ CHOKSHI
The Gorsuch nomination drama continues to ramp up as the Democrats filibuster the confirmation and Republicans head for the doom-and-gloomly named 'nuclear' option.
Sacramento Bee's MICHAEL DOYLE: "The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday approved the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, setting up a filibuster showdown with Democrats that’s likely to end with a rules change so explosive it’s been dubbed the “nuclear option.”
"On a party line 11-9 vote, the Republican-controlled Judiciary panel acted to move Gorsuch’s nomination to the Senate floor. There, Democrats have pledged a filibuster that Republicans, in turn, have promised to end by eliminating the rule that requires 60 votes to end debate on a Supreme Court nomination."
“Here’s where we’re headed,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “We’re headed toward a world where you don’t need one person from the other side to pick a judge."
A local has pledged to fight Trump on his education funding plan and is now campaigning for the Scool's Chief race.
"Framing his campaign as a fight against federal efforts to undermine public education, California Assemblyman Tony Thurmond announced Monday that he will run for state superintendent of public instruction in 2018."
"The Richmond Democrat said he is seeking the post overseeing California schools to improve public education and combat a federal defunding “crisis.” Though California schools are largely funded by the state, President Donald Trump has proposed a budget with deep cuts to his Department of Education, which provides grants for disadvantaged students and after-school programs, and more money for “school choice” programs."
“It’s time to make our public education system among the greatest in the nation. I won’t stop until we get there,” Thurmond said in a statement. “I will put in place innovative strategies to reform California’s schools. We must close the achievement gap, and I will work to provide rigorous educational opportunities for all students at all levels.”
READ MORE related to Education: Smokey Robinson inspires students at Stockton elementary school -- Sacramento Bee's KALIN KIPLING
Here is a list of upcoming Bay Area political events.
The Chronicle's SARAH RAVANI: "Political events in the Bay Area"
"Rallies and protest events are a part of political life in the Bay Area. Here’s a roundup of what’s happening."
READ MORE related to Local: Berkeley's homeless Hate Man dies at 80 -- The Chronicle's KEVIN FAGAN; Lawsuit alleging violation by Councilwoman Angelique Ashby heads to jury -- AP's DON THOMPSON; Sacramento homeless warming centers close as spring temperatures rise -- Sacramento Bee's ANITA CHABRIA; Dianne Feinstein 2018? Voters consider that a 'bad thing for California' -- Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART; Fist or Glove: California Democrats debate response to Trump -- NY Times/CA Today's ADAM NAGOURNEY; OP-ED: It's OK, California. Breaking up isn't hard to do -- NY Times' STEVEN GREENHUT
