Kincaid Fire is 0% contained, grows to 10,000 acres; evacuation orders expanded
The Chronicle's J.D. MORRIS/MATTHIAS GAFNI/PETER FIMRITE/LAUREN HERNANDEZ: "A fast-moving wildfire ignited late Wednesday in a remote, mountainous stretch of northeastern Sonoma County, rapidly growing to 10,000 acres amid intense winds and prompting evacuations outside Geyserville."
"The fire continued burning into Thursday morning near The Geysers geothermal plant in the Mayacamas Mountains and the glow of flames was visible throughout the area. Winds were so powerful, a gust of 76 mph was recorded near the scene of the fire, according to the National Weather Service."
"Dubbed the Kincade Fire, the blaze was 0% contained as of 4:35 a.m., according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection."
READ MORE related to Kincaid Fire: Kincaid fire being fueled by monster wind gusts up to 76mph, driving rapid spread -- LA Times's RONG-GONG LIN II/JACLYN COSGROVE/PAUL DUGINSKI
PG&E blackouts hit NorCal. Another outage possible this weekend
Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER/TONY BIZJAK/THERESA CLIFT/SAWSAN MORRAR: "PG&E Corp. shut off the lights to thousands of customers in the Sierra foothills and the North Bay on Wednesday as it began its second major deliberate blackout in two weeks — and warned that it might have to pull the plug again this weekend."
"The troubled utility, citing dangerous winds that could cause wildfires, said it would eventually cut power to 179,000 households and businesses in 17 Northern and Central California counties."
"PG&E said the gusting winds could cause trees to come into contact with power lines or other equipment and said low humidity had dried out vegetation throughout its territory. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for much of Northern and Central California until Thursday afternoon."
READ MORE related to Blackouts & Energy: PG&E may pay $5M for batteries, hotel vouchers for people with disabilities -- The Chronicle's CATHERINE HO; More than 500k California utility customers could lose power as strong winds pick up -- LA Times's HANNAH FRY/JACLYN COSGROVE; PG&E outages reveal vulnerability for rural and community patients, experts say -- Sacramento Bee's CATHIE ANDERSON; The big questions: How long will I be without power? And could 2 outages this week merge together? -- The Chronicle's JD MORRIS; PG&E blacks out part of 17 counties -- and looks ahead to the next, bigger outage that could start Saturday -- The Chronicle's ALEJANDRO SERRANO/STEVE RUBENSTEIN/JD MORRIS
LaMalfa joins Republicans who disrupted impeachment deposition
The Chronicle's TAL KOPAN: "A group of House Republicans that included Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale (Butte County), delayed an impeachment-related deposition for hours Wednesday when they burst into the proceedings."
"Several dozen GOP lawmakers forced their way into the closed-door deposition of a Defense Department official speaking before three House committees. The deposition was part of the investigation into whether President Trump withheld aid and a face-to-face meeting from Ukraine until they agreed to investigate Democrats and his potential political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden."
"The Republicans said they were protesting the lack of transparency of the proceedings, which to this point have been closed-door depositions of witnesses. The lawmakers involved were not on any of the three bipartisan House committees conducting the interviews: Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs."
READ MORE related to Impeachment Inquiry: What's really happening inside the impeachment inquiry room stormed by Republicans -- LA Times's JENNIFER HABERKORN/SARAH D WIRE
Newsom raked in campaign money amid Trump feud, legislative deadlines
Sacramento Bee's SOPHIA BOLLAG: "Gov. Gavin Newsom likely won’t be on the ballot again until 2022, but since August, his reelection campaign has seen a significant boost."
"The timing coincides with high profile fights between Newsom and President Donald Trump over everything from homelessness to fuel emissions standards, which Newsom’s campaign has touted in fundraising emails. During the same time frame, Newsom and lawmakers were also busy negotiating final deals on key legislation ranging from new employment rules to recycling regulations."
"Newsom has brought in about $1.8 million since he took office. More than 25 donors have given at least $30,000, including real estate executives, Native American tribes and corporations like Coca-Cola and Facebook."
California's tough-on-crime past haunts Kamala Harris
LA Times's MICHAEL FINNEGAN: "The Zodiac killer struck first. Then came the Manson family. Later, the Hillside Stranglers, the Night Stalker and the Golden State Killer terrorized California."
"Starting in the late 1960s, one lurid murder after another fed public perceptions that crime in California was spiraling out of control. Gang shootings turned neighborhoods into combat zones. The crack epidemic ravaged communities."
"Fear and outrage spawned a raft of harsh sentencing laws. California enacted one of its most punitive, “three strikes and you’re out,” after one parolee killed 18-year-old Kimber Reynolds of Fresno in 1992 and another kidnapped and killed 12-year-old Polly Klaas of Sonoma County a year later."
Trump sues to undo California's climate change pact with Canada, calls it 'rogue foreign policy'
Sacramento Bee's KATE IRBY/DALE KASLER: "President Donald Trump’s administration ramped up its fight with California over climate change and greenhouse gases Wednesday, launching a lawsuit that challenges a deal the state made with the Canadian province of Quebec to reduce carbon emissions."
"The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, goes after California’s “cap-and-trade” program, a market-based system created when Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor in 2006. It requires businesses to buy carbon credits or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions."
"In an effort to expand the reach and effectiveness of the program, California brought Quebec into the fold in 2014. Ontario had planned on joining but changed its mind."
Can Tom Steyer helped raise money for ... Julian Castro?
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI: "Meet the new fundraising tool in the Democratic presidential primary: San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer."
"A couple of candidates who are struggling to qualify for the November debate are fundraising by pointedly accusing their fellow candidate, a former hedge fund manager, of “buying” his way onto the debate stage."
El Dorado County deputy killed responding to call of stolen cannabis, 2 arrested
Sacramento Bee's MICHAEL MCGOUGH/SAM STANTON/MOLLY SULLIVAN: "An El Dorado County sheriff’s deputy responding to reports of marijuana plants being stolen was shot and killed early Wednesday morning while responding to a call in a rural community southeast of Placerville."
"The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office identified the fallen officer as Deputy Brian Ishmael, 37. He was fatally shot while responding to a “possible 488,” or petty theft call, at Sand Ridge Drive and Mt. Aukum Road in the town of Somerset, a rural community about 10 miles southeast of Placerville, according to police radio traffic obtained through Broadcastify."
"A reporting party told the dispatcher he saw people in the area of a marijuana grow “taking plants,” according to radio traffic."
READ MORE related to Police & Public Safety: Who was Deputy Brian Ishmael, killed in line of duty in El Dorado County? -- Sacramento Bee's MOLLY SULLIVAN
Sacramento International Airport runway reopens after six-month closure for renovation
Sacramento Bee's VINCENT MOLESKI: "Sacramento International Airport’s west runway, which has been closed for six months undergoing renovations, reopened Wednesday with brand-new concrete."
"The old asphalt runway — which dates to the airport’s inception in 1967 — was closed in April for structural improvements."
"We are thrilled to have the west runway operational again,” Sacramento County Airports Director Cindy Nichol said in a statement. “The project was executed on time and with its completion it will allow us to continue to serve our customers with maximum efficiency."
(OP-ED) Ban vaping? Beware the knee-jerk reaction
OPINION: JAVIER MONTES in Capitol Weekly: "For decades, vaping has served as a viable alternative to meet evolving consumer preferences and medical needs. But in recent weeks, a public health crisis has emerged. State officials are working around the clock to develop potential solutions to address this critical situation – as demonstrated in Wednesday’s legislative hearings and ongoing discussions about the issue. But, too often, the conversation turns back to all-or-nothing approaches in the form of product bans on the state, county and local level."
"This type of knee-jerk reaction is a mistake. And, it is a mistake that could endanger more Californians while doing nothing to stymie the ongoing crisis."
"While there has yet to be a single thread that ties everything together, the Center for Disease Control has identified a repeat offender – counterfeit THC vaping products. Almost 90 percent of the THC products the CDC looked at from sickened patients were acquired from an “informal source” and nearly 70 percent were sold under the name “Dank Vapes”, a well-known counterfeit brand."
