California's Supreme Court could reinstate death row executions if a controversial hearing on Prop. 66, the death penalty initiative, upholds the core provisions of the proposition.
The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO: "The justices could reject the deadlines while upholding other Prop. 66 provisions aimed at shortening the death-penalty process, such as limiting prisoners’ appeals and requiring more lawyers to accept capital cases. But opponents say the proposed timetables for court action are the heart of an initiative that seeks to hamstring judicial authority over state law."
"Neither lawmakers nor voters can “force the courts to prioritize a certain type of case at the expense of all other types of cases,” said Christina Von der Ahe Rayburn, a lawyer in the suit to overturn Prop. 66. The requirement to move death cases to the front of the line, she said, would “impair the court’s inherent function of giving fair and equal treatment to (all) litigants."
"Not so, said Kent Scheidegger, legal director of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation and an author of Prop. 66. He said the measure would actually relieve the state Supreme Court of some of its current death-penalty workload by transferring some hearings to trial courts. It sets a five-year deadline that he says the court could meet if it eliminated needless delays."
Last year was one of the most turbulent ever for the California Coastal Commission, but things have smoothed out -- finally
From Capitol Weekly's Michael Warren Mott: "Last year, long-simmering tensions erupted when the Commission fired executive director Charles Lester in what was publicly described as a struggle between pro-development interests and pro-environmental interests. Internally, the issues were far more complex, allegedly involving project scheduling and time management, among other factors. (Click here and here to see Capitol Weekly’s earlier stories.)"
“There’s been a lot of attention on the Commission’s decisions over the past year,” Lester said in an interview. “They’ve obviously made some strong decisions in the Newport Banning Ranch case and a couple of enforcement orders,” he said, sipping coffee at a Midtown Sacramento Starbucks. “Hopefully, they’ll continue to do what they’ve done for decades, which is to uphold the Coastal Act.”
"Lester, several commissioners and other agency watchers spoke with Capitol Weekly about the tenor of the commission since his ouster, which marked the first forced departure of a commission executive director in decades."
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, like many other state Democrats, is trying to lead California's resistance against Trump
Daily News' RACHEL URANGA: "It ran like a crash course on the economics and security of cargo as California’s new senator shot off a succession of questions to those at the helm of the Port of Los Angeles during her whirwind tour of the cargo hub Wednesday."
"How has technology changed jobs? What are the unmet infrastructure needs? What’s in place in case of cyberattacks?"
"Kamala Harris, freshman senator, shuttled through Southern California to tour the ports, naval facilities and an outpatient center in South Los Angeles, all of which rely on federal dollars that could be cut under the Trump administration."
READ MORE related to Local: Longtime Villaraigosa ally Jose Huizar to back his rival John Chiang for California governor -- LA Times' SEEMA MEHTA; Capital Muslims mourn victims of terrorism in Kabul, London -- Sacramento Bee's STEPHEN MAGAGNINI
Pro-Trump/Anti-Trump protests raged on in Portland this weekend; chaos ensued.
LA Times' JAWEED KALEEM: "Skirmishes broke out Sunday in downtown Portland as hundreds of President Trump’s supporters who were rallying for free speech faced off against a series of counter-demonstrations far bigger in size."
"Police in riot gear made 14 arrests and used pepper spray and flash-bang grenades to break up the crowds. But the violence was far less than city officials had anticipated after a white supremacist was accused of stabbing to death two men who tried to defend a pair of teenagers from his anti-Muslim insults and racist taunts on a city train. A third man was injured during the confrontation May 26."
"Trump supporters held signs aloft saying, “Don’t tread on me,” “God, guns and Trump” and “Make America great again,” as they engaged in heated arguments with black-clad protesters holding signs saying, “Black lives matter,” “You have blood on your hands” and “Portland stands against hate.”
READ MORE related to Beltway: Megyn Kelly gets outmaneuvered by Vladimir Putin on her NBC premier 'Sunday Night' -- LA Times' LORRAINE ALI; Trump vows to do whatever is necessary to protect US, criticizes London's mayor -- AP's DARLENE SUPERVILLE; 12 arrested in London's night of terror; IS claims attack -- AP's DANICA KIRKA/JILL LAWLESS/GREGORY KATZ; 4 nations cut diplomatic ties to Qatar as Gulf rift deepens -- AP's JON GAMBRELL; US official downplays effect of Gulf rift on extremist fight -- AP's ROBERT BURNS; Mexico ruling party has preliminary lead in key state vote -- AP's PETER ORSI/MARIA VERZA
Gov. Brown is on a 'climate change collaboration' tour in China, and his first stops 'are cities that look a lot like California.'
LA Times' JESSICA MEYERS: "A shaded promenade traces the river in this southern Chinese city that — when the smog blows away — fills with couples dancing to the sunrise. Nearly 900 miles east, leafy boulevards and mountainside parks cover the former imperial capital of Nanjing."
"The first two stops on Gov. Jerry Brown’s China tour are places that envision themselves as California sees itself — progressive and green."
READ MORE related to Environment: Upcoming eclipse will darken solar power production in California -- The Press-Enterprise's DAVID DANELSKI; LA Mayor Garcetti's office, Dr Pepper Snapple want kids playing more -- Daily News' ANTONIE BOESSENKOOL; The Oroville Dam crisis was a good thing for these people -- Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER; Your local recycling center is in trouble -- should California come to the rescue? -- Sacramento Bee's WALTER KO; A hazard of summer: Dogs vs. rattlesnakes -- The Chronicle's TOM STIENSTRA
Individuals interested in teaching STEM can find ample support in California for reaching their goals.
EdSource's CAROLYN JONES: "If you have any desire to be a math or science teacher in California, there is no shortage of programs to help you achieve that goal."
"In an effort to lure more people to the profession, the California Department of Education, California State University, the University of California and nonprofits such as 100Kin10 have all created programs to entice college students and mid-career professionals – especially those in the math and science fields – to become teachers."
"100kin10 has a web site, “Blow Minds: Teach STEM,” that connects undergraduates with teacher preparation programs in the so-called STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering and math. And college campuses are plastered with “Teach Math!” and “Teach Science!” posters aimed not just at those majoring in math and science, but students interested in social justice as well."
READ MORE related to Education: Man walks daughter to school on first, last days. Social media loves the moments. -- Sacramento Bee's NOEL HARRiS; Education critical in fight against chronic diseases -- Capitol Weekly's KENNETH THORPE; East Bay student's perfect attendance streak began in kindergarten -- LA Times' STEVE RUBENSTEIN
Consultant David Blaszczak made millions predicting Medicare funding changes, and bragged he was 'unstoppable' -- until last week, when the feds rained on his parade.
California Healthline's CHRISTINA JEWETT/MELISSA BAILEY: "In his prime, consultant David Blaszczak bragged that he made millions for his hedge-fund clients when he predicted important Medicare funding changes."
“Warren Buffett can eat it,” Blaszczak wrote in one email in 2013, referencing the legendary stock trader."
"He boasted in that same year to a finance executive: “I am a beast that cannot be stopped."
READ MORE related to Health: Keep your germs, and your handshake, to yourselves, some medical experts say -- California Healthline's ANNA GORMAN
The High Times Cannabis Cup had a huge turnout in what is traditionally wine country, bringing in thousands of tourists since last November's legalization vote.
The Chronicle's DAVID DOWNS: "Northern California’s biggest pot party of the summer drew an estimated 10,000 marijuana fans, friends and family to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday for the High Times Cannabis Cup Nor-Cal— featuring performances by 311 and Bob Marley’s backing band, the Wailers."
"Sunny skies and huge crowds greeted the regional cannabis competition and expo — which featured more than 450 entries in 14 categories such as best marijuana buds, hash, edibles and more. The winners were to be announced Sunday afternoon. This year, the Cup’s “medication area” expanded to envelop about half the event space, where hundreds of California’s leading pot shops and brands handed out free samples and did what could be millions of dollars in business over two long days."
"California legalized pot for adults 21 and over, but commercial licensing and sales have yet to begin. That meant hourlong lines to see a doctor and get a medical recommendation that granted access to the most attractive parts of the event. California is also in the middle of creating its first set of detailed regulations for both medical and recreational pot — a hot topic among growers, stores and activists at the event."
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Ed's Note: A Roundup item on Friday had an incorrect headline accompanying the story about a test-cheating issue at CalFire. Here's the corrected headline, followed by the story abstract.
Hundreds of firefighter promotions at CalFire will be able to move forward, pending individual vetting, in the wake of a cheating issue that emerged in an advancement exam.
Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON: "Almost 300 state firefighters whose promotions were suspended after Cal Fire discovered suspected cheating on a November 2016 exam can move up the ranks as long their individual results are vetted one more time, according to a Thursday decision from the State Personnel Board."
"The board voted to allow Cal Fire to promote from an exam that it dismissed last month when it reported that it found “irregularities” on a test that captains must pass before advancing to battalion chief. Cal Fire’s decision meant 289 captains who passed the test would have to retake it this summer before moving up the ranks."
"Their union, Cal Fire Local 2881, on Thursday asked the personnel board to uphold the promotion list, arguing that only one promotion candidate allegedly cheated on the test."
