California's archaic pay system is responsible for the delay of state worker wage hikes, according to a local union.
Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON: "State maintenance workers who last saw a bump in their paychecks almost two years ago are nudging Gov. Jerry Brown to move faster in doling out wage increases that are due to them in a contract they approved four months ago."
"The International Union of Operating Engineers filed a grievance with the state last month, contending wage increases for its 12,000 members have been delayed unfairly."
"Its contract is back-dated to July 1, 2015 – when its last agreement expired – and it includes wage increases that will raise pay by at least 14 percent through July 1, 2019."
READ MORE related to Local: New butane restrictions add roadblock to making hash oil in Sacramento County -- Sacramento Bee's ELLEN GARRISON
Turkey has slammed the United States for the U.S. decision to arm the Syrian Kurds aganst ISIS.
AP: "A top Syrian Kurdish official on Wednesday welcomed the U.S. decision to arm Kurdish fighters with heavier weapons, saying it would "legitimize" the force as it prepares to march on Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State group."
"But Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli said the decision, announced by the Trump administration Tuesday, was "unacceptable."
"The U.S. said it would provide heavier arms to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which have driven Islamic State from much of northern Syria with the help of U.S.-led airstrikes, and are among the most effective ground forces battling the extremists."
READ MORE related to Beltway: Trump fires FBI director James Comey -- AP's JULIE PACE/ERIC TUCKER; Under-18 marriage ban weakened after ACLU opposes -- Sacramento Bee's TARYN LUNA
Chris Micheli in Capitol Weekly explores many of the alterations a bill can undergo as it moves through the Legislature.
CHRIS MICHELI: "Lawmakers often alter bills as the measures move through committees and floor votes — it’s part of life in the Capitol. A legislator’s beloved bill introduced in February may have little resemblance to the measure approved (or defeated) in August."
"But while the public’s attention typically focuses on the substantive amendments that target the core of the bills, the technical amendments also are important. The technical changes often need to be made to legislation to make sure that the bills are properly enacted into statutes."
"According to the Legislative Counsel, the lawmakers’ nonpartisan legal adviser, an amendment is a proposal to change the text of a bill after it has been introduced."
A local Los Angeles leader wants companies seeking construction bids with the city to disclose whether they also are bidding to build the border wall.
Daily News: Councilman Gil Cedillo said Tuesday he plans to introduce a motion that would require companies seeking contracts with the city to publicly disclose if they are also submitting bids to build President Donald Trump’s controversial border wall.
The measure would impose strict penalties and fines on any company that fails to disclose the information."
"Cedillo said he plans to introduce the motion at Friday’s Los Angeles City Council meeting and discuss it at a news conference Thursday with a coalition of immigration rights, community and labor leaders, including Rusty Hicks, executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor."
READ MORE related to Immigration: There were serious problems in 2016 for some California voters who don't speak English, new report says -- LA Times' JOHN MYERS; In 'act of non-cooperation,' LAUSD bolsters protections for immigrant students, families -- Daily News' ANTONIE BOESSENKOOL
Los Angeles International prepares for the largest-ever move at an operating US airport starting Friday.
Daily News' RACHEL URANGA: "Transportation Security Administration officers won’t be switching terminals when Los Angeles International launches its massive five-day shuffle on Friday."
"Still, they’ve been preparing for an onslaught of confused travelers."
“We are taking precautions — plus-ing up our workforce with extra hours to make sure that we have enough people should something happen,” Nico Melendez, a TSA spokesman, said Tuesday."
READ MORE related to Economy: In Venice, where money meets misery, hoping for an end to homeless camps -- LA Times' STEVE LOPEZ
As Russia's expansive threat worries the countries surrounding it, the US is sending Lithuania a Patriot missile system to help bolster the region's defensive measures.
AP's LOLITA C. BALDOR: "U.S. defense officials said a long-range Patriot missile battery may be deployed to the Baltic region later this year as part of a military exercise. The move, if finalized, would be temporary but signal staunch U.S. backing for Baltic nations concerned about the threat from Russia."
"U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday declined to confirm the specific deployment, but said, "We are here in a purely defensive stance. Everyone knows this is not an offensive capability. For anyone who says otherwise, I would just say I have too much respect for the Russian army to think that they actually believe there's any offensive capability."
READ MORE related to Public Safety: Authorities seek autistic man last seen in Roseville -- Sacramento Bee's CATHY LOCKE; Jurors will decide if Kevin Johnson pie incident was 'political theater' or 'assault' -- Sacramento Bee's DARRELL SMITH
Another airline incident recorded last week continues the unending drama surrounding the skies lately as two drunk Americn men were seen exchanging fists and slurred words.
City News Service: "A 37-year-old man who was involved in a video-recorded brawl aboard a Southwest Airlines plane on the tarmac in Burbank was behind bars Tuesday."
"Airport police identified the man as Chaze Mickalo Cable of Lancaster, according to news reports."
"Cable was arrested on suspicion of battery following Sunday’s brawl aboard Flight 2530, which had landed at Bob Hope Airport after traveling from Dallas. Another passenger sustained minor injuries in the fight."
READ MORE related to Transportation: Automated parking reservation system approved for Placer County parks -- Sacramento Bee's CATHY LOCKE
A body recently found in a coffin under a Bay Area home has been identified as a young girl who passed away 140 years ago.
AP: "The body of a 19th-century girl found last year inside a small metal casket under a San Francisco home has been identified."
"The nonprofit Garden of Innocence project said Tuesday that the child was 2-year-old Edith Howard Cook, who died Oct. 13, 1876."
"The girl was apparently left behind when the remains of about 30,000 people originally buried in San Francisco's Odd Fellows Cemetery in the Richmond District were moved in the 1920s to Greenlawn Memorial Park in Colma."
READ MORE related to Environment: California water info can remain a secret, court rules -- Sacramento Bee's MICHAEL DOYLE; California not operating damaged Oroville dam safely, area mayors say -- AP; Dinosaur named for 'Ghostbusters' creature found in montana 75 million years after its death -- LA Times' AMINA KHAN
A lawmaker has called for UC President Napolitano's resignation, saying the controversial administrator is 'not worthy of the public's trust.'
Sacramento Bee's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "Prompted by a massive state audit that found misleading budgeting practices and extravagant spending in the University of California’s central administration, one lawmaker is demanding the resignation of UC President Janet Napolitano."
"The leaders of our state university systems are duty-bound to maintain the highest levels of transparency, integrity, and accountability to California taxpayers, students, their families, and the Legislature, especially when it comes to public monies,” Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva said in a statement Tuesday. “President Napolitano no longer engenders the public trust required to perform her duties. It’s time she resigned.”
"Released two weeks ago, the audit slammed UC’s Office of the President for systematically overcharging campuses to fund its operations, spending excessively on employee compensation and secretly stashing $175 million for presidential initiative, even as the university’s governing board recently voted to raise tuition for the first time in six years."
READ MORE related to Education: Cal rugby player from El Dorado Hills paralyzed during national championship match -- Sacramento Bee's BILL LINDELOF
