7 Dead in Shooting in Half Moon Bay
NY Times, APRIL RUBIN/JESUS JIMENEZ: "Seven people were shot to death on Monday afternoon in San Mateo County, Calif., the sheriff’s office said, the second mass shooting in the state in three days.
The shooting happened around 2:20 p.m. local time at two separate locations near Highway 92 and the Half Moon Bay city limits, about 30 miles south of San Francisco, the authorities said. An eighth person was transported to Stanford Medical Center with life-threatening injuries."
Watch police take Half Moon Bay shooting suspect into custody
BANG*Mercury News, ALDO TOLEDO: "Seven people were shot and killed on Monday Jan. 23, 2023 in Half Moon Bay, and police said they have a suspect in the killings in custody.
Kati McHugh, who described herself as a member of the local agricultural community, was at the Half Moon Bay sheriff’s substation for a news conference on the shooting when the suspect arrived and was quickly taken into custody by deputies. She captured the scene on video.
“I was surprised to see (the suspect) here and of course hopeful that he came to turn himself in,” McHugh said. “It was shocking and I was very impressed with the way the officers took care of the takedown. It wasn’t in any way adding energy to the situation.”"
Not invited to the dance: A possible motive for Monterey Park shooting
LA Times, STAFF: "The investigation into the Monterey Park mass shooting is focused on previous interactions the gunman had with the two dance studios he targeted and whether jealousy over a relationship was a motive, according to law enforcement sources.
The sources stressed that the investigation was in its early stages. But detectives believe that 72-year-old Huu Can Tran frequented the clubs — the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park and the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio in Alhambra — and that the shooting may have been sparked by a personal dispute.
“We’re hearing those things too but have not confirmed any of that information,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Monday at a news conference. “It’s part of what our investigators are diligently looking into.”"
How the Lunar New Year massacre unfolded: A night of ballroom dancing, terror, manhunt
LA Times, JEONG PARK/JULIA WICK/MARISA GERBER/SUMMER LIN/RICHARD WINTON: "The burst of pops sounded, at first, like the firecrackers expected to cap a day of celebration.
It was late Saturday night in Monterey Park, and the city’s Lunar New Year festival had ended an hour earlier. People were still strolling through downtown when the noise echoed from a ballroom dance studio tucked into a strip mall.
Three people sprinted across Garvey Avenue and into the Clam House, a seafood restaurant, where they begged owner Seung Won Choi to barricade the door. They said they just escaped from a class at Star Ballroom Dance Studio, where a gunman had opened fire."
After Monterey Park shooting, Sen. Dianne Feinstein seeks to ban ‘military-style assault weapons’
SCNG*Daily News, HANNA KANG: "In the wake of the mass shooting in Monterey Park that claimed the lives of at least 11 people, Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation to ban “military-style assault weapons” and high-capacity magazines or ammunition feeding devices.
Officials said the gunman, who fired 42 times at a dance hall on Saturday night, Jan. 21, was carrying a modified 9 mm semi-automatic weapon.
The legislation — which is joined by Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both of Connecticut, would include the gun used by the shooter, Feinstein’s office said in a news release on Monday."
President Biden orders flags at half-staff after Monterey Park mass shooting
OC Register, TODD HARMONSON: "President Joe Biden late Sunday ordered flags at half-staff in honor of the victims of the mass shooting in Monterey Park that left 10 dead and 10 injured Saturday night.
Flags will be at half-staff until Thursday night, according to Biden’s proclamation.
“I hereby declare that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset January 26, 2023,” Biden’s proclamation read in part."
California's wealthiest residents could pay more taxes under new bill
The Chronicle, SOPHIA BOLLAG: "Multimillionaires and billionaires would face new taxes on their wealth under a bill pushed by a group of California Democrats, who argue the state needs to aggressively crack down on “extreme wealth.”
Similar proposals have died in recent years, but the lawmakers backing the plan this year say they hope coordination with other states, an influx of new lawmakers in Sacramento and a looming budget deficit will give the proposal better odds."
After nationwide infant formula shortage, California bill would create state stockpile
Sac Bee, ANDREW SHEELER: "Remember last year’s nationwide infant formula shortage? Assemblywoman Lori Wilson does, and she has introduced a bill aimed at preventing a recurrence in California.
Assembly Bill 228 would direct the California Department of Public Health and the Office of Emergency Services to establish an infant formula stockpile for the state.
In an interview with The Bee, the Suisun City Democrat recalled being horrified by last year’s shortage, which left many parents scrambling to find some way to feed their babies."
Prison population falls but spending still up in Newsom budget
Capitol Weekly, SETH SANDROSKY: "California prison spending for 2023-24 in the proposed $297 billion state budget is up to $14.5 billion even as the prisoner population drops.
What does all this mean for a budget proposal with a $22.5 billion deficit? For one view, we turn to a coalition of prison reform advocates, Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB).
“Despite the significant decrease in the state prison population, down 6.6% from spring 2022 projections, the 2023-24 proposed budget for corrections has increased another half a billion dollars,” according to Amber-Rose Howard, CURB’s executive director. “With projections indicating a prison population decline to 87,295 in 2025-26, the state should be making cuts to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s budget and redirecting investments to community infrastructure.”"
Pelosi mum on transit fiscal crisis as leaders tout $400 million for Golden Gate Bridge
BANG*Mercury News, ELIYAHU KAMISHER: "Under crystal blue skies and a postcard backdrop of one of the world’s most iconic bridges, heavy hitters from the White House and Capitol Hill continued a victory lap for President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill on Monday, touting a $400 million seismic upgrade of the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the legislation’s biggest single awards.
But even as Washington promises massive flows of new infrastructure spending for transportation projects across the country, a more urgent question brought on by post-pandemic economic headwinds has surfaced: Is there enough money to keep the country’s trains and buses running?
National leaders, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, offered no commitments at Monday’s event when asked about whether the Biden administration or Congress should help ailing public transit agencies weather a near-term fiscal crisis. Budget shortfalls could threaten BART’s weekend service in the coming years and transit funding is shaping up to be a key battle in Sacramento."
McCarthy urged to keep fellow Californians Schiff, Swalwell on Intelligence panel
LA Times, NOLAND D. MCCASKILL: "House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries renominated two California Democrats to serve on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, setting up a clash with Speaker Kevin McCarthy over committee assignments he has vowed to block.
In the last Congress, Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) chaired the committee, and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) led its Intelligence Modernization and Readiness Subcommittee, but McCarthy has long signaled that Schiff, Swalwell and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) would lose their committee assignments if he became speaker.
His threat followed moves by his predecessor Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), Democrats and a few Republicans to strip Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) of their committee assignments when Democrats were in control."
Va Lecia Adams Kellum appointed new head of L.A. city-county homelessness agency
LA Times, BENJAMIN ORESKES: "The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s new chief executive is no stranger to the often contentious and closely watched efforts to remove tents from public spaces and get homeless people indoors.
She’s managed and run many of them.
Va Lecia Adams Kellum will now take on a bigger challenge: Attempting to chart a path for the much maligned joint-powers authority, whose mission and management has been under the microscope in recent years. Adams Kellum’s appointment was approved by the agency’s board of commissioners, which is made up of people appointed by elected officials from the city and county."
LA County’s homeless agency hires CEO with blessing of Mayor Karen Bass
SCNG*Daily News, STEVE SCAUZILLO: "The agency in charge of conducting the Los Angeles County homeless count hired a new chief executive officer on Monday, Jan. 23, one day before the start of the massive, three-day canvass.
Va Lecia Adams Kellum becomes the fourth leader of the countywide Los Angeles Homeless Services Agency (LAHSA) in the past year.
LAHSA executive director Heidi Marston, was in charge for two years until she resigned in April 2022 over a dispute with a management committee of the LAHSA Commission, the same body that hired Adams Kellum."
A Look at the Career of Richard Polanco, with Dan Morain (PODCAST)
Capitol Weekly, STAFF: "Richard Polanco served 16 years in the legislature, eight years in each house. Elected to the Assembly in 1986, he soon began efforts to build the Latino coalition in the legislature, ultimately helping expand the number of Latino legislators from seven members to 24 by the time he left office in 2002.
Polanco was a shrewd and energetic organizer who grew Latino political power just as anti-immigrant sentiment swept the state, culminating in the passage of Proposition 187 in 1994. As Republicans celebrated the win (ultimately overturned by the courts), Polanco and his allies worked to identify and support strong Latino candidates; their success in building the Latino Caucus helped pave the way for the Assembly’s first Latino Speaker of the modern era, Cruz Bustamante, in 1996.
Polanco is the subject of a new video Oral History produced by Open California and available at CapitolWeekly.Net. Journalist and author Dan Morain covered Polanco’s career for the Los Angeles Times and conducted the interview for the oral history. He joined Capitol Weekly’s Rich Ehisen and Tim Foster to talk about Polanco’s career and legacy, and offered up his thoughts on who had The Worst Week in CA Politics."
Has California avoided another devastating winter COVID wave?
LA Times, LUKE MONEY/RONG-GONG LIN II: "In the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, winter holidays were marred by a pair of devastating waves that ripped through California, sending case counts soaring, residents to the hospital in droves and, ultimately, leaving thousands dead.
But the third winter seems to have escaped that same fate. A late autumn upswing in transmission, which picked up steam after Thanksgiving, began to dissipate in mid- to late December instead of becoming the runaway train public health officials had feared. And in a stark departure from previous years, COVID-19 metrics have continued to improve in the weeks since.
Officials emphasize that the danger is not past — especially for those at higher risk of developing severe illness."
Latino teens in Valley deputized as health educators where COVID vaccine fears linger
Kaiser Health News, HEIDI DE MARCO: "Classmates often stop Alma Gallegos as she makes her way down the bustling hallways of Theodore Roosevelt High School in southeast Fresno. The 17-year-old senior is frequently asked by fellow students about COVID-19 testing, vaccine safety, and the value of booster shots.
Alma earned her reputation as a trusted source of information through her internship as a junior community health worker. She was among 35 Fresno County students recently trained to discuss how COVID vaccines help prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death, and to encourage relatives, peers, and community members to stay up to date on their shots, including boosters.
When Alma’s internship drew to a close in October, she and seven teammates assessed their work in a capstone project. The students took pride in being able to share facts about COVID vaccines. Separately, Alma persuaded her family to get vaccinated. She said her relatives, who primarily had received COVID-19 information from Spanish-language news, didn’t believe the risks until one close family friend died."
Butte County Supervisors to reassess spending from PG&E settlement fund
Chico ER, JAKE HUTCHISON: "The Butte County Board of Supervisors is set to look at its spending from the PG&E settlement fund Tuesday and potentially implement a budget line for additional internal management going forward.
Chief Administrative Officer Andy Picket is bringing the item before the board at its upcoming meeting with a suggestion that the board authorize a Camp Fire Burn Area Cost Center within the fund to reserve funding for certain projects.
After the Camp Fire in 2018, the county filed a lawsuit against PG&E. From the lawsuit, the power company settled to the tune of $252 million, which was then reserved by the county to go toward rehabilitation of the areas affected by the fire. After attorney fees, the county received $206.5 million. Since the settlement was reached, the county has used the funding for 25 projects with a cumulative cost of $89.3 million."
‘Dry’ California got big rains. Was it really an epic weather forecasting fail?
LA Times, RONG-GONG LIN II: "For decades, two climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean have loomed large in predicting weather in California and other parts of the globe. El Niño — a warming of sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific — seemed synonymous with wet winters for Southern California, while La Niña was a heralder of drought.
But the would-be model didn’t hold up this winter. Despite La Niña’s presence, a robust series of 10 storms brought impressive precipitation across California, spurring floods and landslides, increasing reservoir levels and dumping eye-popping snowfall in the mountains.
The Sierra Nevada has a snowpack of 240% of average for the date, and 126% of where it should be by the start of April. San Francisco was drenched with more than 18 inches of rain since Christmas, posting its wettest 22-day period since 1862. Downtown Los Angeles has logged more than 13 inches of rain since October — more than 90% of its annual average of 14.25 inches."
Sac Bee, DANIELLA SEGURA: "A 3.7-magnitude earthquake shook the Santa Clara County area in California, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The nearly 4-mile deep quake hit about 5 1/2 miles from San Martin at 5:58 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23, according to the USGS.
More than 200 people from as far away as Santa Rosa and Hollister reported feeling the shake, according to the agency."
Gusty winds nearing 100 mph tear through Southern California
LA Times, NOAH GOLDBERG: "Gusty winds reaching nearly 100 mph tore through Los Angeles County early Monday, and strong gale-like conditions could continue through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service issued a high-wind warning through 9 a.m. for Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains and warned of hazardous driving conditions, possible power outages and downed trees as northern and northeastern winds pounded Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties late Sunday into Monday.
The strongest wind gusts impacted Los Angeles County, where the Magic Mountain Truck Trail in Santa Clarita had 95 mph winds, according to National Weather Service data. In Santa Barbara, the foothills of Montecito also had gusts up to 95 mph."
These ‘bioswales’ were built to help prevent flooding. Here’s how they fared in Bay Area storms
The Chronicle, JOHN KING: "When San Francisco’s new Southeast Community Center opened in October, the three acres of parkland included an expansive landscaped bioswale that, in theory, would handle the water running off even the most extensive storm.
Less than a month later, the theory was put to the test — and it passed with flying colors."
L.A. now picks up your compostable food scraps. Here’s what you have to do
LA Times, KAREN GARCIA: "The wait is finally over for city of Los Angeles residents wanting to comply with California’s food waste mandate.
The Bureau of Sanitation announced Jan. 16 that residents citywide should dispose of their banana peels (even the moldy parts), eggshells and other compostable waste in their green bins."
Banning gas stoves? Berkeley’s way ahead of you
Daily Cal, GABE CLASSON: "When a member of the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission floated a ban on gas stoves earlier this month, a heated debate played out online and in the media. Conservative pundits panned the proposal, talking of the government “coming for your stove.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, tweeted an image of a flag emblazoned with a gas range and the words “Don’t tread on Florida.”
President Joe Biden and other Democrats have distanced themselves from the ban, and it is unlikely to be implemented. But in Berkeley, ditching gas stoves isn’t a hot topic or a forlorn proposal. It’s politically feasible, and it’s already here: the city has banned gas lines in new construction since 2020.
“The right’s hysterical culture war meltdown is way behind schedule,” said Berkeley City Councilmember Rigel Robinson in an email. “Electrification of new construction is better for our health & better for our emissions. The science is unambiguous, and developers, architects, and restauranteurs are figuring it out too.”"
Charts show University of California admissions rates for every public high school in state
The Chronicle, NAMI SUMIDA: "More than 100,000 seniors in high schools across California apply each year for admission into the University of California, one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in the country.
But securing a spot at one of the nine undergraduate campuses is competitive, even for a California resident. Acceptance rates at the most competitive campuses are as low as 1 in 10 for in-state applicants. Even high school seniors from the academically elite Lowell High School in San Francisco have less than a 20% chance of getting into UCLA or Berkeley.
That’s according to a Chronicle analysis of UC application, admission and enrollment data for every public high school in the state (including charter schools). The most recent data is for the 2021 fall semester, which The Chronicle paired with data on senior enrollment to calculate application rates for each high school."
Community college leaders warn of 'dire' consequences of proposed transfer rules
EdSource, ASHLEIGH PANOO: "A statewide effort to streamline transfer to California’s two public university systems is facing controversy over which classes students should be required to take at their community colleges before making the switch.
The proposed general education pathway — a list of lower-division course requirements — to transfer to the University of California and the California State University so far does not include classes in such areas as psychology, physical education, health science and child development. Community colleges are protesting that omission, claiming it will cause a collapse of enrollment in those courses and harm both faculty and students.
Carole Goldsmith, chancellor of the Central Valley’s State Center Community College District, said the proposed pathway would result in “severe unintended consequences,” causing faculty to lose course loads and making fewer courses transferable, hurting the students it was meant to help."
Stanford MBAs now make a median $175,000 salary after graduation
The Chronicle, ROLAND LI: "Stanford Master of Business Administration graduates now make a median salary of $175,000 per year after graduating following eight consecutive years of increases, the school said.
The median compensation amount includes a median $175,000 in base salary for 218 graduates who received full-time job offers and disclosed their compensation. In addition, 65% of those students expect a median of $45,000 in annual performance bonuses and 47% of those students had a median $30,000 signing bonus."
UC Regents discuss graduate supplemental tuition, student athlete mental health at 3rd day of meetings
Daily Californian, CLARA BROWNSTEIN/CHRISSA OLSON: "The University of California Board of Regents met Thursday for a third day of meetings to discuss a multiyear supplemental tuition plan and student athlete mental health.
The day began with a public comment period. UCLA students asked the regents to invest in rape test kits for campuses, while other commenters encouraged the university to divest from BlackRock and a few expressed support for the UC Berkeley clean energy project that Gov. Gavin Newsom put on hold.
Dennis McIver, chair of the Council of University of California Staff Assemblies, also spoke, calling staff retention a “crisis.”"
UC Berkeley pays cheerleader nearly $700K after three concussions gave her ‘a 24-7 headache’
The Chronicle, BOB EGELKO: "High-flying cheerleaders at UC Berkeley sporting events will receive new protection and training under a $695,000 settlement with a former student who suffered three concussions in five months during acrobatic cheerleading in 2017-18.
In a 2019 lawsuit against the university, Melissa Martin said aerial athletes such as divers and gymnasts were watched closely by coaches, trainers and physicians for signs of injury, but no such monitoring was provided for cheerleaders who engaged in equally high-risk maneuvers. Instead, she said, she was pressured into participating in team practices and games after suffering a head injury while training for an aerial maneuver in September 2017, and had two more concussions before leaving the team in February 2017."
Elizabeth Holmes ‘recklessly and incorrectly’ accused of trying to flee the country, her lawyers say
BANG*Mercury News, ETHAN BARON: "Federal prosecutors used “incomplete and provably inaccurate statements” when they “recklessly and incorrectly” accused Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes last week of trying to flee the U.S. after her fraud conviction, her legal team said in a court filing Monday.
The prosecution last week made the bombshell allegation that Holmes had a one-way plane ticket to Mexico, to leave in late January 2022 following her conviction at the start of that month, and only canceled after a prosecutor contacted her lawyers about it. Holmes’ partner Billy Evans, prosecutors claimed, flew to Mexico, not returning for nearly six weeks, and then from South Africa.
In Monday’s filing, Holmes’ lawyers said she “has never attempted to flee” the U.S. “Before the jury had reached its verdict, Ms. Holmes hoped to be acquitted and thus to be able to attend the wedding of close friends in Mexico in late January 2022,” the filing said. “Mr. Evans booked flights for himself and Ms. Holmes — on commercial airlines based in the United States, using Ms. Holmes’ name — in December 2021, before the verdict. Once the verdict was issued, Ms. Holmes did not intend to make the trip.”"
Twitter sued by landlord at S.F. HQ after alleged $6.8 million in missed rent payments
The Chronicle, ROLAND LI: "The landlord of Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters sued the social media company on Friday after it allegedly failed to pay almost $6.8 million in rent in December and January.
SRI Nine Market Square LLC alleges that Twitter did not pay rent after being served with a notice of default in December and breached its lease in a suit filed in San Francisco Superior Court. The landlord said it drew from most of Twitter’s letter of credit security deposit of $3.6 million to satisfy the December rent payment, but Twitter still owes $3.1 million in unpaid rent from January."
Arte Moreno no longer selling Angels, will stay owner for ‘2023 season and beyond’
LA Times, BILL SHAIKIN/MIKE DIGIOVANNA: "On second thought, Arte Moreno decided not to sell the Angels.
On Monday, five months after putting the team up for sale, Moreno announced he would retain ownership. Potential buyers had been reviewing team finances and visiting the stadium, and initial bids were due next month.
“During this process, it became clear that we have unfinished business and feel we can make a positive impact on the future of the team and the fan experience,” Moreno said in a statement. “This offseason we committed to a franchise record player payroll and still want to accomplish our goal of bringing a World Series Championship back to our fans.”"
M&M’S to shelve mascots because ‘even a candy’s shoes can be polarizing’
The Hill, JUSTYN MELROSE: "Say so long to Red, Yellow and all the other M&M’S spokescandies. Mars, the company behind the candy-coated chocolates, said it is shelving its M&M mascots – at least for now – after receiving backlash over recent design changes.
On Thursday, Mars said the company would be redesigning the M&M’S characters as part of the brand’s commitment “to creating a world where everyone feels they belong.”
For example, the green M&M traded her go-go boots for a pair of sneakers, and the brown M&M changed her motto to “Not bossy. Just the boss.” They also introduced the new purple M&M, who is also female."
San Francisco will appeal homeless enforcement ban
The Chronicle, BOB EGELKO: "San Francisco says it will appeal a federal magistrate’s order prohibiting the removal of homeless people from encampments without offering them shelter — a rule the city insists it’s already following.
City Attorney David Chiu said Monday his office would ask the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a Dec. 23 injunction by U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu that barred police from sweeping homeless encampments, citing their occupants for sleeping in public and seizing their belongings while she considers a lawsuit against the city. She cited federal appeals court rulings saying local governments violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment when they make it a crime to sleep on a street or sidewalk and do not make shelter available."
Caltrans wants millions of more dollars to clear thousands of California homeless encampments
Sac Bee, MAGGIE ANGST/LINDSEY HOLDEN: "Caltrans says it is struggling to keep up with the number of homeless encampments popping up on its properties and is seeking millions of dollars to help clear them.
The California Department of Transportation has requested $20.6 million over the next two years to remove hazardous materials from encampments on its properties. It is also asking for an additional $5.8 million to expand its newly established Office of Homelessness and Encampments.
In a proposal to the state’s Department of Finance, the agency said it planned to hire seven employees for a new “Homeless Solutions Team” and also add 10 coordinators to the current 20-member Caltrans team tasked with overseeing clearance of encampments on its right-of-way properties."
