CA120: A close look at California's early vote
Capitol Weekly's PAUL MITCHELL: "Literally minutes after Donald Trump’s election in 2016, political pundits, consultants and prospective candidates started a march toward the mid-term elections."
"The expectations were set extremely high, with Democratic hopes of taking back the House of Representatives led, in part, by a huge gain in the limited number of remaining Republican-held congressional seats in California."
"Yet today, less than a week out from election day, we are still unsure what will happen here in California or nationally."
16-year-olds can pre-register. Free postage comes next. California's all in on voter access
Sacramento Bee's ALEXIE KOSEFF: "A new system approved in 2016 allows counties to move to all-mail ballot elections, which some did for the first time in June. And this summer, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a measure requiring counties to provide prepaid postage for mail ballots starting next year."
"During this time, California also added pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds, created conditional registration up until Election Day, expanded the languages in which voting material is available, tightened the restrictions for removing somebody from the voter rolls, and allowed anybody to turn in a mail ballot if it is signed by the voter."
"Many of the ideas emerged from a collaborative of voter advocacy groups and local elections officials called the Future of California Elections, which was convened in 2011 by the James Irvine Foundation."
READ MORE about the elections: Veteran featured in GOP congressman's midterm election ad posted racist rants and violent threats on Facebook -- LA TIMES' MICHAEL FINNEGAN and MAYA SWEEDLER; Under attack by Hunter, Campa-Najjar's complex family history spans continents and generations of Middle East strife -- CHARLES T. CLARK, San Diego Union-Tribune; How California initiatives went from “power to the people” to a big money game -- MEGHAN MCCARTY CARINO, KPCC and CALmatters; Where's Kamala Harris? California Senator Making the 2020 Rounds -- MARISA LAGOS, KQED
Oroville Dam fixed and ready to go, officials say — but at a big price
From the Chronicle’s KURT ALEXANDER: “The nearly two-year race to rehab the nation’s tallest dam after an almost-catastrophic failure prompted the evacuation of 188,000 people is scheduled to wrap up in time for the rainy season.”
“State water officials who manage the 770-foot-high Oroville Dam said Wednesday they’ve met their Nov. 1 deadline for rebuilding most of the complex’s two faulty spillways. Final touches are still being made, but the dam is ready to discharge water should an early winter storm fill up the reservoir and require releases.”
“The cost of the work, on top of the initial emergency response, soared to $1.1 billion, according to the state, far exceeding the initial estimates of a few hundred million dollars. State officials, though, said the higher price tag was necessary to quickly secure a reservoir that provides vital flood protection for the Oroville area and holds water for millions of people in the Central Valley, Bay Area and Southern California.”
READ MORE about Oroville: Is Oroville Dam ready for the rainy season? Main spillway fixed, but work remains -- RYAN SABALOW/DALE KASLER; Officials: Oroville Dam Spillway Will Be Ready For Rain -- JONATHAN J. COOPER, AP
Bullet train project scores possible victory in civil suit seeking to block bond money
From the LAT's RALPH VARTABEDIAN: "The California bullet train appears to have fended off a civil suit attempting to stop the project, inching the high-speed rail line toward what could be another in a series of legal victories."
"A case brought by opponents seeking to stanch the flow of bond dollars to the project was dealt a blow in a tentative ruling Thursday by Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Richard K. Sueyoshi, though arguments Friday put off a final ruling. A final decision could take three months."
"The case, brought by almond farmer John Tos, Kings County and other groups, asserts that legislation that clarified the 2008 $9-billion high-speed rail bond was an unconstitutional modification of a voter-approved act."
California power customers file claims in pre-emptive outage
PAUL ELIAS, AP: "A Northern California utility said Wednesday it received 146 demands for reimbursement from customers who say Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s controversial decision to cut power to prevent wildfires hurt them economically."
"The utility said in a report to California regulators that it won’t pay any of the claims. Most of the complaints were over spoiled food."
"PG&E also explained its decision to pre-emptively cut power for the first time to 60,000 Northern California customers from Oct. 14 to Oct. 16. PG&E said in its report to the California Public Utilities Commission that it made the decision after the National Weather Service issued a wildfire warning for much of the region."
Rare drop in NRA election spending as gun-limit groups rise
AP's JULIE PACE/LISA MARIE PANE: "The National Rifle Association — long seen as a kingmaker in Republican politics — is taking a lower profile in this year's high-stakes midterm campaign, a sign of the shifting dynamics of the gun debate as the GOP fights to maintain its grip on Congress."
"The NRA has put $11 million into midterm races this year — less than half what it spent four years ago in an election that gave Republicans full control of Congress. This year's totals are also far below the $54 million the group spent in 2016 on both the presidential and congressional races."
"The shift comes as spending to support tougher gun control measures has surged. Everytown for Gun Safety, a group founded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, pledged $30 million for this year's election and has continued to put new money into competitive races in the final days. A political action committee formed by Gabby Giffords, the former congresswoman wounded in a shooting, is spending nearly $5 million."
President Trump stirs controversy on Twitter with video of Sacramento cop killer
Sacramento Bee's HANNAH DARDEN: "President Trump posted a tweet Wednesday afternoon blaming Democrats for “letting in” Luis Bracamontes, the man who killed two law enforcement officers in a 2014 shooting in the capital region."
"Bracamontes was sentenced to death in April for killing Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputy Danny Oliver and Placer County Sheriff’s Detective Michael Davis Jr. in a daylong crime spree that began at a Motel 6 on Arden Way and ended in Auburn."
"Bracamontes was in the country illegally at the time of the shooting. He had been previously deported twice."
Trump says border troops could hit 15k, surprising Pentagon
AP's ZEKE MILLER/ROBERT BURNS: "President Donald Trump says the number of military troops deployed to the U.S.-Mexican border could reach 15,000 — roughly double the number the Pentagon said it currently plans for a mission whose dimensions are shifting daily."
"The Pentagon says “more than 7,000” troops were being sent to the southwest border to support the Customs and Border Protection agents. Officials said that number could reach a maximum of about 8,000 under present plans."
"The troop numbers have been changing at a dizzying pace, with Trump drawing a hard line on immigration in the lead-up to the midterm elections."
