AP: Feds to end policy that allowed legalized cannabis to prosper. Impact on California?
From the AP's SADIE GURMAN: "Attorney General Jeff Sessions is rescinding the Obama-era policy that had paved the way for legalized marijuana to flourish in states across the country, two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. Sessions will instead let federal prosecutors where pot is legal decide how aggressively to enforce federal marijuana law, the people said."
"The people familiar with the plan spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it before an announcement expected Thursday."
"The move by President Donald Trump’s attorney general likely will add to confusion about whether it’s OK to grow, buy or use marijuana in states where pot is legal, since long-standing federal law prohibits it. It comes days after pot shops opened in California, launching what is expected to become the world’s largest market for legal recreational marijuana and as polls show a solid majority of Americans believe the drug should be legal."
READ MORE related to Cannabis: Despite helping hand from LA, drug offenders would face obstacles in cannabis industry -- LA Times' JAMES RUFUS KOREN; What are the marijuana laws in your California city? Explore our database of local cannabis policies -- Daily News' DANIEL AITKEN/BROOKE EDWARDS STAGGS/PHILIP LAWRENCE/IAN WHEELER
State Sen. Tony Mendoza takes leave of absence during investigation of misconduct accusations
LA Times' PATRICK MCGREEVY: "Faced with the threat of an embarrassing Senate vote to suspend him, state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) agreed Wednesday to take a one-month paid leave of absence. "
"Mendoza said he made the decision after a four-hour closed session with Senate Democrats who were considering a rare vote of suspension because of concern over allegations that he harassed three former aides."
"I thought that to accommodate that and to take away any appearance of impropriety or any appearance of giving any special influence, I have decided I will take a leave of absence for this month to allow the investigation to move forward,” he said, adding he will return Feb. 1 or when the investigation is completed, whichever comes first."
READ MORE related to Boy's Club: He announced a run for Feinstein's seat. Then a harassment scandal broke under his roof. -- Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART; Sen. Tony Mendoza: No 'inappropriate bodily contact' but he'll temporarily step down -- Sacramento Bee's TARYN LUNA/ALEXEI KOSEFF
Burning questions California's gubernatorial, Senate candidates must answer
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI: "If you’ve been sleeping through California’s gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races, it’s time to wake up. A lot of major questions about the candidates are about to be answered."
"We’re kicking into a five-month sprint to the June 5 primary, and the next few weeks will be critical in defining the races — particularly for the candidates who want to replace Gov. Jerry Brown as leader of the world’s sixth-largest economy."
"The four top Democrats will share the stage in forums and debates several times before the Feb. 23 California Democratic Convention in San Diego. Look for them to drop the gloves and start swinging harder to differentiate themselves, even though they largely agree on many top issues."
Net neutrality fight heads to California capital
The Chronicle's BENNY EVANGELISTA: "The battle over net neutrality rules that were overturned in Washington last month moved into Sacramento on Wednesday."
"State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, introduced a bill to require telecommunications companies doing business in the state to guarantee equal Internet access. The bill is a reaction to last month’s Federal Communications Commission decision to revoke nationwide net neutrality regulations."
"We will protect a free and open Internet in our state,” Wiener said in a tweet. “We won’t let the FCC undermine our democracy."
State lawmakers eye plan to help Californians get around higher federal taxes
The Chronicle's MELODY GUTIERREZ: "State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León said Wednesday that he’s planning to introduce legislation that would allow Californians to get out of paying the higher federal taxes they will face under the Republican tax overhaul."
"The GOP overhaul caps state and local tax write-offs on the federal income tax return at $10,000, a move expected to jolt high-local-tax states such as California, where the average state and local tax write-off in 2016 was $22,000."
"But de León’s plan would allow Californians to get around the cap by allowing them to donate any amount of owed taxes above $10,000 to a charitable fund created by the state. That donation — in lieu of taxes — would allow donors to write off the gifts on their federal tax returns. The state would use the money to pay for existing taxpayer-funded programs."
Acting ICE Director wants to arrest politicians running sanctuary cities
NY Mag's ADAM K. RAYMOND: "Acting ICE director Thomas Homan, who will become the permanent head of the agency if President Trump has his way, thinks it’s time to start arresting politicians in sanctuary cities and charging them with crimes."
"In an interview Tuesday with Fox News Channel’s Neil Cavuto, Homan said political leaders in sanctuary cities, which don’t cooperate with ICE officials looking to make immigration arrests, are breaking the law when they “knowingly shield and harbor an illegal alien."
"That is a violation of 8 USC 1324. That’s an alien-smuggling statute. I’ve asked the Department of Justice to look at this,” he said. “Can we hold them accountable? Are they violating federal law?"
READ MORE related to Immigration: ICE leader says sanctuary city politicians should be arrested. Come get me, mayor says -- Sacramento Bee's ANITA CHABRIA/RYAN LILLIS; Born in the USA and working in the fields -- what gives? -- LA Times' CINDY CARCAMO; Confusion over Trump's border wall delays spending talks -- The Hill's ALEXANDER BOLTON
CalPERS leader will get 18 months of salary to decide what he wants to do next
Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON: "Instead of retiring, a two-term CalPERS member will go on vacation, collect his $122,000 salary and get a raise while he figures out what to do next."
"J.J. Jelincic accumulated 18 months worth of paid time off over his 31-year career at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, he said."
"It’s a perquisite he’ll gradually draw down as he considers whether he’d like to run again for election to the CalPERS Board of Administration or return to his staff job there as an investment officer."
Damaged PG&E equipment near Wine Country fires' origins, new reports show
The Chronicle's DAVID R. BAKER/EVAN SERNOFFSKY: "Pacific Gas and Electric Co. found damaged electrical equipment at or near the suspected starting points of the four biggest Wine Country wildfires last fall, according to reports the utility filed with the state."
"The locations match suspected ignition points — reported by The Chronicle in October — for the Atlas, Nuns, Partrick and Tubbs fires. Together, those fires scorched more than 142,800 acres and killed 31 people."
"In three of the locations — near the suspected origins of the Atlas, Nuns and Partrick fires — PG&E reported tree limbs or even an entire tree hitting power lines, the result of the fierce windstorm that began Oct. 8."
READ MORE related to The West is Burning: Some homeowners lose insurance coverage as wildfire risks rise -- The Chronicle's KIMBERLY VEKLEROV
Despite cutbacks, auto shops play a role in math and science education in California schools
EdSource's CAROLYN JONES: "Thirty years ago, auto shop was as much a part of California high schools as frog dissection, typing classes and Friday night football."
"But due to budget cuts, teacher shortages and a push for more academic course offerings, fewer than half those auto shops remain in California — even though they have the potential to complement hands-on math and science curriculum, education experts say."
"Vocational education classes, such as auto shop, can provide training and career options for students less likely to go to college, but also can be useful for students who are on academic tracks, educators said. They provide students with practical skills and can be a helpful way to teach science, technology engineering and math, or STEM."
READ MORE related to Education: Racial minorities feel like outsiders at some colleges, USC diversity expert says -- EdSource's LARRY GORDON; California education issues to watch in 2018 -- and predictions of what will happen -- EdSource's JOHN FENSTERWALD
Effort under way to make naloxone opioid antidote more accessible in state
The Chronicle's CATHERINE HO: "Bay Area public health officials have begun receiving shipments of naloxone — the drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose — in the first state-funded effort to get the emergency antidote to local health departments across California."
"The distribution of the drug, funded by a one-time $3 million grant approved by state legislators in 2016, marks a ramp-up in the state’s response to deadly overdoses of prescription painkillers, heroin and the synthetic opioid fentanyl."
"While the number of people dying from opioid overdoses in California has held relatively steady over the past several years — between 1,900 and 2,000 people each year — the number of deaths related to fentanyl is rising quickly. The number of Californians who died from fentanyl overdoses nearly tripled between 2013 and 2016, from 81 to 234, according to data from state health officials. Heroin-related deaths also rose during the same period, from 483 to 565, about 17 percent."
READ MORE related to Health & Health Care: Vicious flu spike in Southern California has caused extreme fevers, some deaths -- Daily News' DAVID WHITING; Drug overdose deaths plateau in California, soar nationally -- California Healthline's PAULINE BARTOLONE; State gives Medi-Cal enrollees something to smile about -- California Healthline's EMILY BAZAR
LA man suspected in Call of Duty 'swatting' death waives extradition right
Daily News: "A local man suspected of making a 9-1-1 call to police in Kansas as a “swatting” prank that led to the police shooting death of a man in Wichita waived his extradition rights at a hearing in downtown Los Angeles."
"Tyler Raj Barriss, 25, was arrested in South Los Angeles around 3:15 p.m. Friday on a fugitive arrest warrant issued by authorities in Sedgwick County, Kansas, officials said."
"He is being held without bail, and if not picked up by Kansas authorities by Jan. 17 he will return to court in Los Angeles for a case status update. Kansas authorities have until Feb. 2 to take him back to that state."
Judge rules councilman likely was biased, overturns vote denying Crocker village gas station
Sacramento Bee's TONY BIZJAK: "A Sacramento judge has ruled that the city of Sacramento acted improperly two years ago when council members voted to deny developer Paul Petrovich’s application to build a gas station in his Crocker Village development near the Curtis Park neighborhood."
"In his ruling, issued Wednesday morning, Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny wrote that Councilman Jay Schenirer, who represents the project area, demonstrated “an unacceptable probability of actual bias,” and failed to act in an open-minded manner when the issue came before the council for a hearing and vote in late 2015."
"The Court cannot ignore evidence that, in the days preceding the hearing, Councilmember Schenirer was no longer a neutral, unbiased decisionmaker,” the judge wrote."
"Accordingly, Councilmember Schenirer should have recused himself from the vote on the project’s (permit), and his failure to do so was a failure to proceed in the manner required by law."
SF CIty Attorney Dennis Herrera signals intention to run for mayor in June
The Chronicle's RACHEL SWAN: "San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera on Wednesday pulled candidate’s papers for the race to succeed Ed Lee in June."
"A veteran city politician, Herrera has held his current seat since 2002. Before he was elected city attorney he was president of the city’s Police Commission."
"Herrera is widely seen as a front-runner in the race against progressives Mark Leno and Jane Kim and moderate acting Mayor London Breed, who vaulted to the executive branch after Lee’s death on Dec. 12."
Get ready for a lot more housing near the Expo Line and other California transit stations if new legislation passes
LA Times' LIAM DILLON: "A dramatic increase in new housing near transit stations could be on its way across California under new legislation proposed by a Bay Area legislator."
"Subject to some limitations, the measure would eliminate restrictions on the number of houses allowed to be built within a half-mile of train, light-rail, major bus routes and other transit stations, and block cities from imposing parking requirements. Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the bill’s author, said the state needs the housing to address affordability problems, maximize recent multi-billion-dollar transit investments and help the state meet its climate change goals."
“We have a severe housing shortage and part of the problem is that core areas with transit access don’t allow much housing,” Wiener said. “That creates sprawl, huge commutes and it’s not sustainable.”
California construction firms plan to hire in 2018, but skilled workers in short supply
Daily News' KEVIN SMITH: "California contractors are feeling optimistic about their prospects for 2018, but many are struggling to recruit enough skilled workers, according to a report released Wednesday."
"Expecting Growth to Continue: The 2018 Construction Industry Hiring and Business Outlook,” contains survey results gathered from the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate."
"The report shows that 75 percent of construction firms nationwide plan to expand their payrolls in 2018, based on the feeling that economic conditions will remain strong as tax rates and regulatory burdens fall."
Magnitude 4.5 earthquake felt throughout Bay Area
LA Times' RONG-GONG LIN II: "A magnitude 4.5 earthquake shook up the San Francisco Bay Area early Thursday."
"It was felt throughout the region, and could be felt for perhaps five to 10 seconds. Near the San Francisco International Airport, several jolts could be felt."
"The earthquake was centered along the Oakland-Berkeley border, just north of the Claremont Hotel. The epicenter of the earthquake is in the area of the Hayward fault, one of the most feared in the Bay Area, which could produce a magnitude 7 or greater earthquake and is directly underneath heavily populated areas."
READ MORE related to Environment: Sparse Sierra snowpack has officials worried about a long, dry summer -- The Chronicle's PETER FIMRITE; Bulk of storm to make landfall in Bay Area in time for afternoon commute -- The Chronicle's SARAH RAVANI; Snow measures just 3 percent of average in first California mountain survey -- Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER
2 shot, 1 dead after officer fires near BART train station
AP: "Authorities say two people were shot — one of them fatally — near an Oakland train station after a transit officer fired a weapon."
"Oakland Police Officer Johnna Watson says two men were taken to nearby hospitals after a Bay Area Rapid Transit officer fired shots near the West Oakland BART station shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday."
"Watson says one of the men has since been declared dead."
SCOTUS takes up voter purges next week
ThinkProgress' IAN MILLHISER: "Between 2011 and 2016, the state of Ohio purged 2 million names from its voter registration rolls, 1.2 million of which were purged under a process that targets infrequent voters. That process is now going before the Supreme Court, which will hear oral arguments in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute on Wednesday."
"Husted involves several interlocking provisions of the federal law governing when a state may remove voters from its rolls."
"Voting rights advocates rest heavily on one provision, which provides that states may not deregister a voter “by reason of the person’s failure to vote."
Powerball jackpot jumps to $550 million after no winning tickets are sold
AP: "No winning tickets were sold for the $460 million Powerball drawing Wednesday night."
"The winning numbers were 2, 18, 37, 39 and 42, and the Powerball number was 12."
"The jackpot jumps to an estimated $550 million for Saturday's drawing. That would make it the nation's 8th largest lottery prize ever."
US women figure skaters look to reclaim country's attention in San Jose
The Chronicle's ANN KILLION: "If you head to your local movie theater this week, you can travel back in time, to an era when women’s figure skating was the biggest thing on the planet. It led the nightly news, created monster television ratings, resulted in fevered crowds and turned tiny glitter-swathed females into single-name athletes who people argued about over the dinner table or the barstool."
"But 24 years after the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan showdown dramatized in the film “I, Tonya,” the U.S. Figure Skating Championships is a decidedly different scene."
"This week in San Jose there is plenty of room in the press area. There were thousands of empty seats in the SAP Center on Wednesday night, and that was even with the top of the arena curtained off. The competitors list was filled with unknown names, only a few of which might have been recognizable to even the most ardent figure skating fans."
Family to hold interfaith memorial service to honor slain sisters from West Sacramento
Sacramento Bee's STEPHEN MAGAGNINI: "An interfaith memorial service honoring the memory of two young sisters who died in what police say was a murder-suicide by their father will be open to the public from 5-7 p.m. Sunday at the Salam Islamic Center in Sacramento."
"Sophie and Sara, ages 12 and 9, were found in the car of their father, Hamdy Rouin, on New Year’s Eve in front of a West Sacramento Subway. Their mother, Amy Hunter, had planned to pick them up from their dad there. Rouin and Hunter were divorced and had been going through a long custody battle."
"Rouin, 46, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the girls later were declared dead at UC Davis Medical Center. There were no obvious signs of trauma, West Sacramento police said, and the cause of death is under investigation."
In-N-Out adds Ghirardelli hot cocoa, the first new menu item in more than a decade
Daily News' NANCY LUNA: "In-N-Out Burger has made a rare move, adding a new item to its limited menu of burgers, shakes and fries: hot cocoa."
"The Southern California burger institution — with a menu that has remained relatively unchanged since it was founded in Baldwin Park in 1948 — is selling an 8-ounce cup of hot chocolate."
"The hot drink was added to menus about two weeks ago, according to employees working at restaurants in Huntington Beach and Orange."
Trump says Bannon 'not only lost his job, he lost his mind' as president's lawyers send cease-and-desist letter
WaPo's JOSH DAWSEY/ASHLEY PARKER: "President Trump on Wednesday castigated his former chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon as a self-aggrandizing political charlatan who has “lost his mind,” marking an abrupt and furious rupture with the onetime confidant that could have lasting political impact on the November midterms and beyond."
"The White House’s sharp public break with Bannon, which came in response to unflattering comments Bannon made about Trump and his family in a new book about his presidency, left the self-fashioned populist alienated from his chief patron and even more isolated in his attempts to remake the Republican Party by backing insurgent candidates."
"Late Wednesday, lawyers for Trump sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bannon, arguing he violated the employment agreement he signed with the Trump Organization in numerous ways and also likely defamed the president. They ordered that he stop communicating either confidential and or disparaging information, and preserve all records in preparation for “imminent” legal action."
READ MORE related to POTUS45: Inside the tumultuous relationship of Donald Trump and Steve Bannon -- WaPo's MICHAEL KRANISH; The Trump-Bannon feud is already upending the midterm elections -- ThinkProgress' ADDY BAIRD; Conservatives aren't done with Bannon yet -- McClatchy DC's KATIE GLUECK; Trump's decision to cut ties with Steve Bannon is one of the best moves of his presidency -- National Review's DAVID FRENCH; The person anonymously leaking racist attacks on the Mueller grand jury sounds a lot like Trump -- ThinkProgress' JUDD LEGUM; Donald Trump Jr.: Bannon 'nightmare of backstabbing, leaking, lying, undermining' -- Breitbart's JOHN NOLTE; Bannon firestorm consumes Washington -- The Hill's NIALL STANAGE
Trump dissolves voter fraud commission
The HIll's JORDAN FABIAN/BRANDON CARTER: "President Trump on Wednesday dissolved a controversial commission that was set up to investigate his unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud during the 2016 election."
"The White House said Trump decided to disband the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity because several states failed to hand over voter information."
"Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement that “rather than engage in endless legal battles at taxpayer expense,” Trump signed an executive order abolishing the panel and turning the matter over to the Department of Homeland Security."
Manafort sues Mueller, Justice Department over Russia probe
AP's ERIC TUCKER/CHAD DAY: "President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman sued special counsel Robert Mueller and the Justice Department on Wednesday, saying prosecutors had overstepped their bounds by charging him for conduct that he says is unrelated to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election."
"The lawsuit by Paul Manafort, filed in federal court in Washington, is the most direct challenge to date to Mueller's legal authority and the scope of his mandate as special counsel. It comes amid Republican allegations of partisan bias among members of Mueller's team, which for months has been investigating whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to influence the outcome of the U.S. election."
"The lawsuit also takes aim at Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is overseeing Mueller's investigation and recently said he was satisfied that the former FBI director was staying within the scope of his authority."
READ MORE related to KremlinGate: Deputy AG, FBI director make unannounced visit to Paul Ryan's office -- Politico's KYLE CHENEY; Nunes announces deal with DOJ on document requests -- CNN's DEIRDRE WALSH; Beating a hasty retreat from the Steele dossier -- National Review's ANDREW C. MCCARTHY
