Remember former state Sen. Ron Calderon, who went to prison on corruption charges seven months ago? He's now asking for his release.
Sacramento Bee's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "Seven months into his prison term for corruption charges, former California Sen. Ron Calderon is already preparing for possible release."
"The Montebello Democrat, who pleaded guilty last year to a federal count of “mail fraud through the deprivation of honest services,” filed paperwork last week requesting a judicial recommendation to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons that he be afforded a “reasonable opportunity” under the Second Chance Act of 2007."
"That law ensures prisoners, “to the extent practicable,” can serve up to the final 12 months of their term under conditions that prepare them for re-entry into the community, such as a halfway house. The bureau can place an inmate in home confinement for up to 6 months or 10 percent of their term, whichever is shorter."
California Republicans breaking with their party over climate change are receiving a little 'fire and fury' themselves from their own home team.
LA Times' CHRIS MEGERIAN/SEEMA MEHTA: "After weeks of escalating criticism, Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes still doesn’t have any regrets over bucking his party to support California’s cap-and-trade program on climate change."
"There’s just one thing Mayes would have done differently: He wishes he had attended the ceremony on San Francisco’s Treasure Island where Gov. Jerry Brown signed the legislation."
"The perception was, ‘He didn’t go because he was getting heat.’ That’s not how I operate,” Mayes said, explaining his absence as a scheduling conflict. “When you do the right thing, it’s a good idea to stand by that."
This weekend's white supremacy-rooted bloodshed is an echo of a past that refuses to loosen its grip on our country. And now the people affected by the results of that history and this week's violence remember the young woman who lost her life at the rally.
LA Times' MELISSA ETEHAD: "Heather Heyer was a paralegal known to family and friends as someone who stood up for what she felt was right."
"Lt. Pilot H. Jay Cullen spent years flying the governor of Virginia around the state. Trooper Pilot Berke M.M. Bates had recently realized his dream of joining the state police aviation unit."
"Details are emerging about those killed after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., turned violent Saturday. They included a woman, Heyer, who died when a man drove his car into a crowd of anti-racist counter-demonstrators and two state troopers whose helicopter crashed near the city after monitoring the protests."
READ MORE related to White Nationalist Resurgence: Atty. Gen Jeff Sessions defends Trump's response to the violence in Charlottesville -- AP; Charlottesville police face critics as a tense city tries to regroup from deadly weekend -- LA Times' JAWEED KALEEM/DAVID S. CLOUDMELISSA ETEHAD; Hundreds rally in Sacramento in response to Charlottesville racial violence -- LA Times' ANITA CHABRIA/MO:LLY SULLIVAN
North Korea's now feeling the pressure as its only friend and ally, China, just agreed to sanction the Hermit Kingdom's coal and other export industries.
AP: "China announced Monday that it will cut off imports of North Korean coal, iron ore and other goods in three weeks under U.N. sanctions imposed over the North's nuclear and missile programs."
"China, the isolated North's main trading partner, has been reluctant to push leader Kim Jong Un's regime too hard for fear it might collapse. But Beijing is increasingly frustrated with Pyongyang and supported an Aug. 5 U.N. Security Council ban on importing North Korean coal and other key goods."
"The Chinese customs agency said it will stop processing imports of North Korean coal, iron and lead ores and fish at midnight on Sept. 5."
READ MORE related to North Korean Crisis: Xi calls for calm after Trump says US is 'locked and loaded' -- AP's ERIC TALMADGE/JONATHAN LEMIRE
What are Southern California lawmakers up to with Congress in recess?
The Press-Enterprise's JEFF HORSEMAN: "Lawmakers face a full agenda when they return to Capitol Hill next month: a new federal budget, the debt ceiling, tax reform and infrastructure spending. Plus, President Donald Trump still wants Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare, and then there’s North Korea."
"But for now, during their August recess, members of Congress from both parties are back in their districts getting reacquainted with constituents. Southern California lawmakers are touring businesses and factories, appearing at public events, speaking to community groups and holding campaign fundraisers."
"They may seem omnipresent, but that doesn’t mean everyone can see them."
Hamilton has finally come to Hollywood, and the task of moving production sets was a gargantuan undertaking.
LA Times' DEBORAH VANKIN: "Hollywood Boulevard, 4:45 a.m. The sky is charcoal-colored and hazy, the nearly empty streets bathed in a blur of red, orange and green from a thicket of neonsignage — the W Hollywood hotel, Deco-era apartments, Dunkin’ Donuts."
"Suddenly a spot of white appears in the distance. Two 18-wheel trucks roll into view, cutting through the glow of the lights. The unmarked trucks could be carrying produce to nearby restaurants or T-shirts to a souvenir shop. But as they rumble and turn onto Argyle Avenue, a finely printed slogan becomes visible on the truck’s side: “Let’s get the show on the road.”
"That show would be “Hamilton.” And the cargo would be pieces of the set, to be installed at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre for opening night Aug. 16. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop musical about the life of Alexander Hamilton, the Broadway version of which won 11 Tony Awards last year and sparked a fan frenzy driving resale ticket prices into the thousands of dollars, is on tour and making its first jump from city to city. Arguably the most anticipated production in American theater history has — at long last — arrived in Los Angeles."
The Koch's may not be in Trump's corner, but that doesn't mean their dollars don't have any suction at the White House.
LA Times' LISA MASCARO: "During the presidential campaign, about the only common ground between billionaire conservative Charles Koch and Republican nominee Donald Trumpwas a colorful disregard for each other."
"Koch complained the choice between Trump and Hillary Clintonwas like opting for cancer or a heart attack. And Trump bashed big-money donors, deriding his Republican rivals as “puppets” who went knocking on Koch’s door for backing."
"Not surprisingly, the Koch network largely sat out the 2016 presidential election and, Trump went on to win without them. Normally such a high-profile snub would carry a steep political price, shutting doors to the new administration."
READ MORE related to Beltway: Republicans desperately want to be united. Trump just won't let them -- Sacramento Bee's KATIE GLUECK
A California congressman's solution to the healthcare crisis is "simple": Medicare for the masses.
LA Times' GEORGE SKELTON: "Dreaming of a state-run single-payer healthcare system? Wake up and enter the real world. Want universal healthcare for all Americans? Medicare for all is the solution."
"Not this year or next, but possibly in the future — when Democrats recapture the presidency and Congress."
"That’s the clear-eyed, pragmatic fight to engage in, and one advocated by U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove), a longtime healthcare warrior."
A couple of men growing cannabis were facing prison time for conspiracy and manufacturing until a judge pardoned them under a Congressional budget provision barring the interference of Cannabis commerce where medical marijuana is legal.
LA Times' JOEL RUBIN: "When agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration raided a remote farm in Humboldt County five years ago, they found plenty to incriminate the owners, Anthony Pisarski and Sonny Moore."
"More than 300 marijuana plants were growing in a pair of greenhouses. Agents found guns in a house on the sprawling property and about $225,000 in cash, much of it bundled in vacuum-sealed pouches, hidden in a garage and some pickup trucks. Later searches uncovered another large stash of cash, along with bars of gold and silver."
"But in a ruling believed to be the first of its kind, a judge last week put a stop to the case before the men were sentenced to prison. The judge found he had no choice but to call off prosecutors in light of an unusual budget rule in Congress that forbids federal law enforcement from interfering with states where medical marijuana is legal."
READ MORE related to Environment: After tons of drama with the California Coastal Commission, things are looking up -- LA Times' STEVE LOPEZ
As natural gas and other alternatives gain economic traction, nuclear power is starting to feel the pinch.
LA Times' ROB NIKOLEWSKI: "The nuclear energy industry has had a bad couple of weeks."
"On July 31, utilities in South Carolina announced that they are stopping work on two new reactors at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Generating Station, saying cost estimates came to more than $20 billion, almost twice what was expected. About $9 billion has already been spent on the project since 2008."
"Then, two days later, developers of another nuclear project in the South — the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Georgia — announced costs had swelled from $14 billion to more than $25 billion and predicted completion will be delayed an additional 18 months."
READ MORE related to Economy: Can an investment pro persuade state workers to let him manage their pensions? -- Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON; Mexico enters new NAFTA negotiations with delicate task: give President Trump a 'win' but do no harm -- LA Times' KATE LINTHICUM
Sacramento's latest attempt at a police oversight commission begins today, and now fingers are crossed in hopes that the third time truly is the charm.
Sacramento Bee's NASHELLY CHAVEZ: "The new commission charged with overseeing the Sacramento Police Department’s policies and procedures will meet for the first time Monday, months after City Council members voted to replace the previous oversight group."
"The 11-member advisory board will serve as a link between the City Council and the community, listening to residents’ concerns and forwarding recommendations to council members of any changes they deem necessary within the Police Department. Members will also look into department policing programs to evaluate their implementation and success."
"The issues that this commission will deal with are going to be high profile and it’s important that there is a group of community leaders that provide guidance and a voice for these crucial issues,” Mayor Darrell Steinberg said."
Truck drivers in the Golden state are now facing a regulatory challenge from GOP lawmakers.
LA Times' MEG BERNHARD: "After half a century driving semitrucks, Charles Oaks, 71, developed a strategy to stave off fatigue during 14-hour days on the road."
"He drinks cups of coffee and unsweetened tea, and, most importantly, takes a rest stop every four hours."
“I am going to take the stops so I can travel safely,” the Idaho-based driver said while sitting in his truck, parked near a McDonald’s in Vernon.
