Water Wars: Democrats block GOP bid to speed Shasta Dam enlargement
McClatchy DC's EMILY CADEI/DALE KASLER: "Democrats in Congress have stalled an attempt to jump start an expansion of Shasta Dam, California’s largest reservoir and a major water source for the Central Valley."
"Their objections blocked a Republican gambit to allow the $1.3 billion project to move forward without full up-front funding and despite objections from Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration."
"A Democratic leadership aide in the House confirmed to the Sacramento Bee on Monday that House Democrats rejected a GOP proposal to speed preparations for the project, by eliminating a requirement on the amount of upfront funding needed for pre-construction."
READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: Big oil faces big test in climate-change court showdown with SF, Oakland -- The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER; Atmospheric river may dump up to 4 feet of Sierra snow in what could be the last big storm of the season -- Sacramento Bee's BENJY EGEL; Santa Barbara County orders mandatory evacuations amid 'high' threat of rock falls and mudslides -- LA Times's ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN; Desalinated water in California doesn't have to come from the ocean -- Water Deeply's IAN EVANS; Deeply Talks: Hedging climate change by insuring coral reefs -- Oceans Deeply's IAN EVANS
Fatal crash of Uber robot car prompts California to seek answers
Sacramento Bee's TONY BIZJAK: "California officials say they plan to review the cause of an Arizona pedestrian fatality Sunday night involving an autonomous Uber vehicle, but indicated they have no plans as of now to delay next month's planned testing of robot cars in the state."
"The Arizona fatality occurred in the city of Tempe, where police say an Uber driverless vehicle hit a woman who was walking near a crosswalk."
"It is believed to be the first instance nationally in which a completely autonomous self-driving vehicle has been involved in a fatal crash. The woman who was struck died later at a hospital."
READ MORE related to Transportation: Tempe police chief says early probe shows no fault by Uber -- The Chronicle's CAROLYN SAID
Gov. Jerry Brown curses high-speed rail critics in forceful speech to labor leaders
LA Times's LIAM DILLON: "California Gov. Jerry Brown gave a forceful defense of one of his signature projects Monday night, responding to critics of the escalating costs of the state's high-speed rail program."
"That's bullshit," Brown said, at the outset of a 15-minute speech to California labor leaders at a Sacramento hotel."
"Brown said the high-speed rail effort, with a newly escalated cost estimate of $77.3 billion to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco, was a small investment when compared with the scale of the California economy. Other countries such as Spain with much smaller economies, Brown said, have already built major high-speed rail lines."
Chiu at Supreme Court with his law on crisis pregnancy centers
The Chronicle's HEATHER KNIGHT: "California Assemblyman David Chiu has never been inside the U.S. Supreme Court to hear oral arguments, so Tuesday will be a big deal. After all, he’ll be there to see the court take up a law that he wrote — and one he believes is crucial to the health and well-being of Californian women."
"At issue are “crisis pregnancy centers,” pro-life facilities that provide women with pregnancy testing, prenatal vitamins, parenting classes and other services. But what they don’t provide? Abortions or birth control, even though they’re often listed in online directories under those very categories."
"Chiu’s law, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2015, requires all health clinics with a doctor on staff to tell clients about the range of low-cost reproductive health services available under California law, including contraception and abortion. Clinics without a doctor must tell clients they’re not licensed by the state."
READ MORE related to First Amendment Fight: California disclosure law for faith-based pregnancy centers faces free-speech test in the Supreme Court -- LA Times's DAVID G. SAVAGE
California's chief justice calls out Trump during annual speech
The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO: "California’s chief justice devoted much of her State of the Judiciary speech Monday to the state of the judiciary, its finances and the shortcomings of its bail system. But Tani Cantil-Sakauye also took a few swipes at fellow Republican, President Trump."
"At the national level, we are coping with unprecedented disruption, attacks on the free press, threats to civility, the Rule of Law, and judicial independence,” Cantil-Sakauye said in her eighth annual address to the Legislature since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated her to lead the state Supreme Court in 2010."
"The nation’s founders, she observed, “built a federal system that still leaves the citizens of each state some ability to govern their own affairs.” And, she added, “California’s efforts to govern its own affairs (are) being tested now in our federal court system."
California congressional candidate, a Navy vet, says prior service should be required to run for office
Union-Tribune's JOSHUA STEWART: "Former Navy SEAL Josh Butner is under fire for comments he made taking a shot at his Democratic opponent for Congress, saying, "It should be a requirement to have served to even run."
"The comment came in an interview with Voice of San Diego."
"When you look at anybody for any political office you should look at their past experiences. I served for 23 years," Butner said in the interview. "It shows dedication and you've been exposed to foreign policy at the tip of the spear. I learned a lot about cultures, in conflict and cooperation. It should be a requirement to have served to even run."
READ MORE related to State Politics: California's Senate leader, Kevin de Leon, prepares to step aside and urges colleagues to 'Take advantage of this moment' -- LA Times's JOHN MYERS
Comments on housing bill disappear from SF candidate Kim's Facebook page
The Chronicle's RACHEL SWAN: "When a Facebook live video surfaced Thursday of San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim criticizing a housing density bill by her political rival, state Sen. Scott Wiener, dozens of commenters rushed to weigh in."
"But within two hours, both the video and the commentary had disappeared from Kim’s public Facebook page. Their abrupt removal angered some of the people who had opined on her speech — including SoMa resident Rebecca Peacock, who is one of Kim’s district constituents."
"Peacock and others later vented their frustrations on the social media website Nextdoor.com. Some accused Kim, who is running for mayor in June, of suppressing negative comments."
CalPERS won't pull its money out of gun sellers. Here's what it's doing instead.
Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON: "The nation’s largest public pension fund isn’t ready to entirely break from companies that sell the kinds of weapons and ammunition that are associated with mass shootings from San Bernardino to Parkland, Florida."
"The CalPERS Board of Administration on Monday instead wants to continue its practice of using its clout as a $355 billion pension fund to compel changes in business practices."
"Its leaders believe pressure from CalPERS contributed to recent decisions by Dick's Sporting Goods and Walmart to restrict gun sales."
Capitol Weekly Podcast: Joe Rodota
Capitol Weekly STAFF: "Political consultant-turned-author Joe Rodota joins the Capitol Weekly Podcast to talk about his new book: The Watergate – Inside America’s Most Infamous Address."
"The story of the Watergate break-in has been well-told, but in this “biography of a building,” Rodota weaves a fascinating history that includes more than just the events of June 17, 1972. The Watergate was home to myriad players on the national stage, including Senator Bob Dole – and his next-door neighbor, Monica Lewinsky. Rodota introduces odd figures on the fringes of history like Aline Griffith, the “Dowager Countess” of Romanones who fancied herself a spy, and real CIA operative Walter Pforzheimer, who built the agency’s official library and had thousands of volumes in his apartment."
This city wants nothing to do with California's 'sanctuary state' laws. Will it start a new resistance?
LA Times's CINDY CARCAMO/ANH DO/ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN: "With about 12,000 residents spread across a few miles of suburban Southern California, Los Alamitos is better known for its good schools and small-town charms than political activism."
"But the city now finds itself at the center of a rebellion against California's "sanctuary" policies, which aim to protect immigrants here illegally as President Trump vows to ramp up deportations."
"Los Alamitos leaders on Monday approved an ordinance that exempts their Orange County municipality from Senate Bill 54, a law that took effect Jan. 1 and restricts local law enforcement's cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It marks a rare effort by a city to challenge the sanctuary movement, which has wide support among elected officials in left-leaning California."
READ MORE related to Immigration: In SF, Newsom policy reported undocumented youth to ICE -- Mercury News' CASEY TOLAN
Cannabis grow houses lead to criminal charges and civil penalties for Sacramento woman
Sacramento Bee's BRAD BRANAN: "A Sacramento property owner faces criminal charges and $2 million in civil penalties for allegedly maintaining houses across Sacramento for the purpose of growing illegal cannabis."
"City officials say Lisa Ung, 63, owns eight homes in south Sacramento where more than 4,000 marijuana plants and clones have been recovered between August 2016 and this month."
"Ung was arraigned Monday in Sacramento Superior Court on five counts of maintaining a place to furnish a controlled substance. She was ordered held in the county jail in lieu of $50,000 bail."
READ MORE related to Cannabis: California's new cannabis regimen leaves out neediest patients, advocates say -- The Chronicle's PETER FIMRITE
Cal State turned away 32,000 students because campuses were too full to accommodate them. Now, trustees will focus on how to fix that
LA Times's JOY RESMOVITS: "California is raising and educating more and more qualified Cal State applicants — but the system can't put all of them on the campuses where they want to be."
"Trustees of the public university system will focus on the problem during their two-day meeting in Long Beach."
Huge crowd at Yountville memorial honors women who 'dedicated their lives' to vet
The Chronicle's JK DINEEN/PETER FIMRITE: "Health care workers, former soldiers, politicians and mourners from across California gave a tearful farewell Monday to three health care workers shot to death by a troubled veteran at the Pathway Home care facility in Yountville a little more than a week ago."
"The somber crowd of close to 2,000 people packed into the Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater, on the sprawling tree-lined campus of the Veterans Home of California in Yountville, to honor Jennifer Gonzales Shushereba, Christine Loeber and Jennifer Gray Golick."
"They were killed March 9 when Albert Wong, 36, a decorated veteran of the war in Afghanistan, barged into a farewell party for an employee at the treatment center for troubled veterans and took them hostage."
Implementation of metals tariffs remains muddled days before they take effect
LA Times's DON LEE: "As the Trump administration barrels ahead with its plan to apply stiff tariffs on imported metals starting Friday, governments and businesses across the globe are in a fog as to what is happening and are bracing for at least a short-term hit because of what many criticize as the administration's slapdash process."
"When President Trump made his official announcement of the tariffs March 8 — 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum — he exempted Mexico and Canada, at least temporarily, and said that other nations could negotiate with the White House to get out of paying duties on tens of billions of dollars of imports."
Body cam gives new look at alleged beating by former Alameda sheriff's deputies
The Chronicle's SARAH RAVANI: "San Francisco prosecutors on Monday played never-before-seen body-camera footage that allegedly shows two former Alameda County sheriff’s deputies brutally beating a man who led authorities on a cross-bay chase in late 2015."
"Paul Wieber and Luis Santamaria appeared before Judge Bruce Chan in San Francisco Superior Court after pleading not guilty in May to felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon. The pair were fired by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office in December 2016."
"Monday’s preliminary hearing, held to see whether the case will move forward, featured the footage that shows an officer repeatedly using a baton to strike Stanislav Petrov, who on Nov. 12, 2015, was accused of stealing a car and ramming two patrol cruisers before leading a 38-minute chase from San Leandro to San Francisco."
READ MORE related to Prisons & Public Safety: San Francisco police tout 31 percent decrease in auto break-ins -- The Chronicle's ANNIE MA; Now-secret LAPD video could soon become public after Police Commission vote -- LA Times's KATE MATHER
Scandal-hit Weinstein Co. files for bankruptcy protection
AP's ALEXANDRA OLSON: "The Weinstein Co. filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday with a buyout offer in hand from a private equity firm, the latest twist in its efforts to survive the sexual misconduct scandal that brought down co-founder Harvey Weinstein, shook Hollywood and triggered a movement that spread out to convulse other industries."
"The company also announced it was releasing any victims of or witnesses to Weinstein's alleged misconduct from non-disclosure agreements preventing them from speaking out. That step had long been sought by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who filed a lawsuit against the company last month on behalf of its employees."
"Since October, it has been reported that Harvey Weinstein used non-disclosure agreements as a secret weapon to silence his accusers. Effective immediately, those 'agreements' end," the company said in a statement. "No one should be afraid to speak out or coerced to stay quiet."
READ MORE related to Sexual Misconduct: Fate of Harvey Weinstein sexual assault cases now in hands of two cautious prosecutors -- LA Times's RICHARD WINTON
'You can only scare so many people to the polls' -- Republicans rethink Pelosi tactics
McClatchy DC's KATIE GLUECK: "Nancy Pelosi alone can’t fix it."
"That’s the sense among some Republicans who are increasingly anxious about the 2018 political environment in the wake of a loss in a deep-red district in Pennsylvania last week, where their efforts to tie a relatively moderate Democrat to one of the most detested Democrats in conservative circles failed."
"As a small but growing number of Democrats follow in the footsteps of Conor Lamb, the apparent victor of the tight race in Pennsylvania’s 18th District who repeatedly said he wouldn’t support the House minority leader, some Republicans say there needs to be a recalibration in messaging around a person the GOP base still sees as toxic—with the understanding that anti-Pelosi rhetoric, which has driven so many other campaigns, can’t be the sole focus."
Investigators suspect FedEx bomb is tied to Austin bombings
AP's PAUL J. WEBER: "A package bomb that authorities believe is linked to the recent string of Austin bombings exploded early Tuesday inside of a FedEx distribution center near San Antonio, leaving one worker with minor injuries."
"FBI agent Michelle Lee said the explosion happened at around 1 a.m. at a FedEx facility in Schertz, which is just northeast of San Antonio and about 60 miles (95 kilometers) southwest of Austin. One worker was treated for minor injuries and released, according to statements issued by the Schertz Police Department and FedEx."
"Lee said that although it is still early in the investigation, "it would be silly for us not to admit that we suspect it's related" to the four Austin bombings that have killed two people and injured four others since March 2. She didn't have details about the size, weight or description of the package."
Chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov warns of a Russia increasingly devoid of freedoms
LA Times's ANN M SIMMONS: "Until his retirement from the professional game in 2005, Garry Kasparov was widely considered to be the greatest chess player of all time. These days, the Russian grandmaster has moved from battling opponents at the checkered board to fighting for democracy and civil rights."
"He is the chairman of the New York-based Human Rights Foundation, whose mission is "promoting freedom and human rights around the world and … supporting dissidents, no matter what cause they stand for, as long as it's creative dissent," he said."
"Dominating its recent agenda is Russian President Vladimir Putin. Earlier this month, the foundation held PutinCon, a conference in New York dedicated to examining the Russian leader's rise to power, his 18 years at the helm and his vision for the country's future."
