Pot flap

Big safety testing failure rate for California pot products

The AP's MICHAEL R. BLOOD: "Nearly 20 percent of marijuana products in California have failed tests for potency and purity since the state started requiring the checks on July 1, a failure rate some in the industry say has more to do with unrealistic standards and technical glitches than protecting consumer safety."

"The testing has been especially tough on cannabis-infused cookies, candies and tinctures: About one-third have been blocked from store shelves."

"In much smaller numbers, testing companies licensed by the state are finding unacceptable levels of pesticides, solvents and bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella, according to data provided by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control."

In governor's race, Gavin Newsom doing his best to pretend he has no opponent

Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART: "A few days after his Republican opponent launched a pair of websites attacking him as a privileged, San Francisco elitist, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom boarded a campaign bus with something else in mind: Shifting the balance of power in Washington, and returning the Democratic supermajority to both houses of the state Legislature."

"Newsom on Wednesday wasn’t focused on his Republican rival in the governor’s race, businessman John Cox. He was rallying support for Democrats Josh Harder, challenging Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, and TJ Cox, challenging Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford."

"I’m running for governor and we’re doing everything we can to win...but it won’t mean as much if that evening, Democrats don’t take back the House and we don’t restore some sanity,” Newsom said on his campaign bus outside Fresno. “I have tremendous anxiety of another two years of the status quo."

READ MORE related to Gubernatorial: Gavin Newsom piles up IOUs in swing through California's red country -- The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI

GOP hopeful has Trump's 'enemy of the people' lines down -- but not his endorsement

The Tribune's ANDREW SHEELER: "California GOP Congressional candidate and former Assemblyman Tim Donnelly took to Twitter Wednesday to attack a favorite target — the media — using a phrase popularized by President Donald Trump."

"The Wednesday post from Donnelly’s campaign Twitter account used the term “enemy of the people” in a tweet criticizing media coverage following an attempted knife attack on a fellow Republican candidate Sunday."

Criminal records, even minor ones, mean life of obstacles, report says

The Chronicle's MEGAN CASSIDY: "Nearly 80 percent of Californians with even low-level criminal records struggle to find a job, locate housing or achieve other hallmarks of success despite having paid their full debt to society, according to a sweeping new report published Thursday."

"About 8 million Californians, or 1 in 5 people throughout the state, have such records — and they’re subject to thousands of restrictions, large and small, imposed on freed people with a criminal history, the report says."

"Its authors recommend far-reaching reforms around the state, including purging some criminal records and reducing barriers to obtaining occupational licenses."

Senate approves 1st spending bill to avert partial shutdown

AP's MATTHEW DALY: "As a potentially catastrophic hurricane heads for the Carolinas, Congress is moving to avert a legislative disaster that could lead to a partial government shutdown just weeks before November's elections."

"The House is set to vote Thursday on a $147 billion package to fund the Energy Department, veterans' programs and the legislative branch. The Senate on Wednesday approved the measure 92-5."

"The bill is the first of three spending packages Congress hopes to approve this month to avoid a government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1. It represents a compromise between House and Senate negotiators."

California state engineers say yes to 8.5 percent raise, other perks

Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON: "The union that represents California state engineers announced on Wednesday that its members ratified a two-year contract that nets them a cumulative 8.5 percent general wage increase and delivers a number of other perks."

"Professional Engineers in California Government reported that 98.4 percent of members who cast ballots favored the contract." 

California House candidates trade accusations

McClatchy DC's EMILY CADEI: "Democratic congressional candidate Jessica Morse hadn’t even advanced to the general election when her campaign began airing an ad hitting Republican Rep. Tom McClintock on his residency."

"“In ten years, Tom McClintock has never voted for himself, because he doesn’t live in our district,” a narrator said, as pictures of the 4th District congressman flashed onto the screen."

Snell fire in Napa County's reach 75 percent containment, Cal Fire says

Sacramento Bee's HANNAH DARDEN: "The Snell Fire, burning northwest of Lake Berryessa in Napa County, is 75 percent contained, Cal Fire said."

"All evacuations and road closures were lifted on Monday, according to Cal Fire. Cal Fire is encouraging residents to drive safely, as emergency and fire personnel are still working in the area."

READ MORE related to Fire Season: Downed PG&E power line blamedd for sparking Irving Fire in Marin County -- The Chronicle's GWENDOLYN WU

California's poverty rate is still the highest in the nation, despite state efforts

Sacramento Bee's MICHAEL FINCH: "Newly released federal estimates show California’s poverty rate remained the highest in the nation, despite a modest fall, and the state’s falling uninsured rate slowed for the first time since before Medicaid expansion."

"According to the Census Bureau, the share of Californians in poverty fell to 19 percent — a 1.4 percent decrease from last year. However, policy experts warned that in spite of the good news more than 7 million people still struggle to get by in the state."

SFPD can seek discipline of officers for racist texts

The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO  "The state Supreme Court cleared the way Wednesday for San Francisco to seek disciplinary action against a group of police officers who exchanged racist, sexist and homophobic"

"text messages in 2011 and 2012 — calling African Americans “monkeys” and encouraging the killing of “half-breeds,” among other slurs.

The texts, which surfaced publicly in 2015, prompted the district attorney’s office to re-examine thousands of criminal cases the officers have handled. As many as nine officers, who have been on paid leave since December 2015, could be fired if the Police Commission finds serious misconduct."

"Federal agents discovered the messages in 2012 during a corruption investigation of veteran plainclothes Sgt. Ian Furminger, who had exchanged thousands of texts with his fellow officers. A jury convicted Furminger in December 2014 on federal charges of taking thousands of dollars in cash that police had found while searching drug dealers and their homes."

City officials recommend monument status for three LA Times buildings

LA Times's ROGER VINCENT:  "A campaign by preservationists to garner monument status for three buildings the Los Angeles Times occupied for decades will have the support of city staff when the Cultural Heritage Commission meets next week to consider the issue."