California net neutrality bill was hijacked, author says
From Wired's KLINT FINLEY: "Last month the California Senate passed what would be the country's toughest net neutrality protections, which go even further than the repealed Obama-era Federal Communications Commission rules. But Wednesday, a California Assembly committee amended the bill, removing many protections in the original.
The amended version of the bill still bans broadband providers from blocking or throttling legal content, and from creating "fast lanes."
"But critics of the changes worry that they could create loopholes that would allow broadband providers to undermine net neutrality. Perhaps most important is the removal of a prohibition on broadband providers charging access fees to content providers. Depending on how courts interpreted the bill, this could create a loophole that would allow companies like Verizon or Comcast to charge companies like Facebook or Netflix additional fees to make their content available and block access to content from companies that don't pay."
See what's on your California ballot this year
Sacramento Bee's DAN SMITH: "California's Nov. 6 ballot is long and about to get longer."
"By the end of June, state and county officials will have determined which initiative measures will come before voters this fall."
"Here's what's already on there, and what's likely to come."
READ MORE related to California-trois: OP-ED: A vote for three Californias is a vote for endless water wars -- BARTON H THOMPSON/MATT KLINE/HEATHER WELLES in LA Times
Federal judge is skeptical of Trump administration arguments against California's 'sanctuary' law
From the LAT's JOHN MYERS: "A federal judge on Wednesday challenged attorneys for the Trump administration and California over their contrasting views of laws designed to limit the state’s involvement in enforcing federal immigration policy."
"In the end, U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez seemed to poke a number of sizable holes in the federal government’s argument that California’s “sanctuary” law — which limits local law enforcement cooperation with immigration agents — is unconstitutional."
State Supreme Court agrees that SF ordinance restricting landlords went too far
The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO: "The state Supreme Court refused Wednesday to reinstate a San Francisco ordinance requiring landlords who evict their tenants to go out of the rental business to wait 10 years before rebuilding or renovating any of the formerly rented units."
"A state appeals court had ruled in March that the ordinance, enacted in December 2013, penalized property owners for exercising their rights under the state’s Ellis Act. That 1986 law, backed by real estate interests, allows owners to evict renters without any of the reasons usually required for evictions — like nonpayment of rent, or property damage — if the owner is taking the property off the rental market."
"On Wednesday, the state’s high court denied review of the city’s appeal by a 5-1 vote, making the appellate ruling final. Only Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar voted to take up the case."
READ MORE related to Homelessness & Housing: Why the average Bay Area rent is so hard to pin down -- The Chronicle's KATHLEEN PENDER; Can't afford a down payment on a house? This new program could help -- BANG's MARISA KENDALL
Gas tax repeal: Billions in Bay Area transportation projects at risk
BANG's ERIN BALDASSARI: "From Oakland to San Jose, pavement crews are already at work repairing roads and tackling long-deferred maintenance of city streets. Caltrans contractors earlier this month started grinding and repaving a 104-mile swath of Interstate 880 in the East Bay, a freeway one commuter called “the crappiest in all of California."
"All that work is partially funded from the state’s new gas taxes and registration fees, which will generate more than $3.1 billion for Bay Area highway repairs and public transit upgrades over the next several years, along with nearly $496 million cities and counties are slated to receive this year to repair local streets."
"But now, with the release of a Los Angeles Times and USC poll last month showing more than half of California voters would repeal those taxes and fees, it’s looking more likely that many of the newly funded projects are at risk of being delayed or eliminated."
Pay for CalPERS' next chief investment officer can reach $1.77M
Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON: "The next chief investment officer at the nation’slargest public pension fund will have a shot to earn $1.77 million in a single year, about 50 percent more than the executive in that post today can collect in wages and bonuses."
"CalPERS on Wednesday voted to sweeten the compensation package it offers for two top executives as it sets out to replace outgoing Chief Investment Officer Ted Eliopoulos and to fill a vacancy at chief financial officer."
"Eliopoulos earned $867,200 last year with $553,000 in base salary, according to state salary records. The cap on his total pay is about $1.1 million."
READ MORE related to Pensions & Retirement: See the 100 highest pensions in the CalPERS and CalSTRS systems -- Sacramento Bee's PHILLIP REESE
At raucous rally, Trump touts hawkish immigration plans
AP's JILL COLVIN/JONATHAN LEMIRE: "Hours after reversing himself to end the forced separations of migrant families, President Donald Trump returned to the warm embrace of his supporters at a raucous rally Wednesday to defend his hard-line immigration policies while unleashing a torrent of grievances about the media and those investigating him."
"Trump downplayed the crisis that has threatened to envelop the White House amid days of heart-wrenching images of children being pulled from their immigrant parents along the nation's southern border. He made only a brief mention of his decision to sign an executive order after spending days insisting, wrongly, that his administration had no choice but to separate families apprehended at the border because of federal law and a court decision."
"We're going to keep families together and the border is going to be just as tough as it's been," Trump told the cheering crowd in Duluth."
READ MORE related to Zero Tolerance Crisis: Nearly 100 children separated from parents at the border are in LA area, most of them detained advocates say -- LA Times's ESMERALDA BERMUDEZ; Trump's immigration order replaces one crisis with another -- McClatchy DC's ANITA KUMAR/FRANCO ORDONEZ; Essential California: Trump's immigration flip -- LA Times's BENJAMIN ORESKES/SHELBY GRAD; OP-ED: Trump's family separation reversal is no victory -- The Chronicle's EDITORIAL BOARD; Where do kids split from parents go? -- AP's ASTRID GALVAN; Trump's shift: For California congressional Republicans, it's still a crisis -- The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH; Text of EO stopping family separation -- BANG's PUENG VONGS
Trump administration reverses Obama ocean-protection program
The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER: "While most eyes have been on the nation’s southern border, the White House this week rolled out a new policy for the coasts, reversing an Obama-era program that sought greater protection of the high seas and angering environmentalists from New England to California."
"An executive order signed by President Trump late Tuesday eliminates an uncelebrated but far-reaching review process put in place eight years ago among state, tribal and federal agencies to better coordinate ocean policy in the wake of the devastating Deepwater Horizon oil spill."
"In a prepared statement, the Trump administration cited a need to “streamline” government and bolster domestic energy production and national security at sea."
READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: A deep dive into groundwater, desalination -- KEITH VAN DER MAATEN in Capitol Weekly; The two biggest challenges to groundwater recharge in California -- Water Deeply's ALVAR ESCRIVA-BOU; California limits daily personal water use to 55 gallons - kind of -- Water Deeply's MATT WEISER; Koko the gorilla dies in Woodside -- AP
In a first, LAPD voluntarily releases body camera video of a suspect who died in custody
LA Times's JAMES QUEALLY: "The Los Angeles Police Department, roiled more than two decades ago by an infamous video of police brutality, entered a new era Wednesday, publicly releasing police body camera video in what will be a regular process aimed at increasing transparency when officers use force."
"The department’s hope is to provide the public with a clearer view of the chaotic scenarios and split-second decisions officers face at a time when controversial officer-involved shootings in Los Angeles and across the country have eroded trust between police and the communities they protect."
"The LAPD has equipped most of its officers with body cameras and video equipment in patrol cars, and after much debate this year adopted one of the nation’s most liberal policies for making the recordings public."
READ MORE related to Prisons & Public Safety: Juveniles are owed special protection from police coercion. Brendan Dassey should serve as that reminder -- LA Times EDITORIAL BOARD
California budget deal includes extra funding for students with lowest test scores
EdSource's JOHN FENSTERWALD: "In one of the largest new appropriations in the state budget, school districts will receive $300 million in 2018-19 to help improve the performance of students with the lowest standardized test scores. That will equal about $2,000 apiece for the estimated 146,000 students designated for the funding."
"The one-time money is aimed at a group of students who had been overlooked under the Local Control Funding Formula, the main source of general purpose funding for school districts. The formula targets additional dollars to English learners and low-income, foster and migrant children."
"The Low-Performing Students Block Grant will reach low-performing students who don’t fit under any of those categories, which is about 4 percent of the 3.2 million students tested in California. Students with disabilities will be excluded, since they already get extra money from another source of state funding. School districts will have considerable flexibility with the funding, which they can spend over the next three years."
READ MORE related to Education: Getting free college tuition in California: a quick guide -- EdSource's NICO SAVIDGE
158th annual Pony Express ride kicks off in Old Sacramento
Sacramento Bee's CLAIRE MORGAN/JORDAN CUTLER-TIETJEN: "So help me, God,” Annette Nylander said. The oath of the National Pony Express Association was complete."
"After a banjo cover of the national anthem resounded through Old Sacramento, she and her horse galloped away from the crowd that gathered to celebrate the 158th anniversary of the first Pony Express ride."
"Nylander is the first of almost 750 riders who will meet along the Pony Express National Historic Trail and hand off 1,000 letters in a traditional letter holder called a mochila. The riders will operate 24 hours for 10 days straight until the letters reach St. Joseph, Mo."
'White civil rights' rally marking Charlottesville anniversary set to be held next to White House
LA Times's JAWEED KALEEM: "Less than a year after deadly clashes at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., the main organizer has gained federal approval for another demonstration — across the street from the White House."
"The National Park Service announced Wednesday it had approved the “white civil rights” rally for Lafayette Square the weekend of Aug. 11-12. That is the anniversary of the “Unite the Right” protest, which sparked a national furor with its blatant displays of racism. President Trump amplified the controversy when he initially failed to condemn the white supremacists."
"In the request he submitted on May 8, Jason Kessler, who was behind the Charlottesville rally, estimated that 400 people would attend and said the purpose was to protest “civil rights abuse in Charlottesville."
