An atmospheric-river-fueled storm is headed to California. Here’s what to expect
The Chronicle, ANTHONY EDWARDS, JACK LEE: "Astronomical fall begins Friday night, and autumn storms are already knocking on California’s door.
A major September storm is forecast to bring heavy rains and strong winds to Washington, Oregon and Northern California beginning Sunday night. Heavy rain is expected Monday in Seattle, Portland, Redding and Eureka, which could challenge some September rainfall records."
El Niño is getting stronger, and odds are tilting toward another wet winter for California
LA Times, HAYLEY SMITH: "On the heels of a record-setting wet and warm August, forecasters on Thursday announced that El Niño is gaining strength and will almost certainly persist into 2024.
El Niño, the warm phase of the El Niño-La Niña Southern Oscillation pattern, is a major driver of weather worldwide and is often associated with hotter global temperatures and wetter conditions in California."
Can this plan fix California’s insurance crisis? What you need to know
CALMatters, BEN CHRISTOPHER: "A week after negotiations to rescue California’s floundering home insurance market stalled out in the Legislature, the state’s top insurance regulator put out his own rescue plan that effectively amounts to a trade for the state’s major insurers.
Under proposed regulations Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced this afternoon, major insurers will be required to cover a certain share of homeowners in the state’s most wildfire-prone areas. In exchange, the Department of Insurance will allow companies to charge more to cover the rising costs of doing business in a fire-ravaged state."
READ MORE -- California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announces actions to home insurance -- Sacramento Bee, HECTOR AMEZCUA
Viral video spawns feud between California congressmen, and it’s really weird
The Chronicle, SHIRA STEIN: "Two Northern California lawmakers are sparring after a viral video clip that included a quip about one member’s intelligence — and it may threaten legislation they had planned to team up on that impacts their constituents.
The feud began after Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Chico (Butte County), made a quip casting doubt on the existence of climate change while questioning Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during a congressional hearing Wednesday. “Climate change is real,” Buttigieg said, and in response, LaMalfa said, “Yeah, this one’s called autumn.” Buttigieg, confused, asked him multiple times to repeat his remark. LaMalfa reiterated twice more, “This climate change right now, it’s called autumn.”"
The Micheli Files: Is there a difference between intent and policy statements in statutes?
Capitol Weekly, CHRIS MICHELI: "Readers of bills and statutes will regularly come across statements of legislative intent, such as paragraphs that usually begin with either “It is the intent of the Legislature to …” or “The Legislature finds and declares that …” On other occasions, readers may come across statements that “it is the policy of the state.” Both are expressed opinions or state desires of the Legislature.
For example, a plus section at the end of a bill recently provided:"
City Hall corruption: Former top Recology executive gets probation for bribes to Nuru
The Chronicle, ST. JOHN BARNED-SMITH: "A former top Recology executive was sentenced Thursday in federal court to three years probation, following his guilty plea to paying bribes to disgraced former San Francisco Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. The first six months of the probation he will be confined to his home.
John Francis Porter, 40, the former vice president and general manager of SF Recology Group, which has contracted with the city to provide trash services for decades, pleaded guilty in May to paying more than $55,000 in bribes to Nuru. In addition to three years probation, Porter was ordered to pay a fine of $30,000 and perform 300 hours of community service."
A vote of “no confidence” for EV charging companies as automakers pave their own road (OP-ED)
Capitol Weekly, ASSEMBLYMEMBER JACQUI IRWIN: "Automaker’s decision to build their own electric vehicle charging network shows it is time for more accountability of state grant programs.
A recent announcement by seven large car manufacturers shows a lack of confidence in the current state of electric vehicle (EV) charging in California. The major car manufacturers, including General Motors, Honda, Mercedes, and Hyundai, are teaming up with their competitors to develop what these companies call a “reliable” charging system, even mentioning the word “reliable” six times in their statement. California is the “lab” for so many programs designed to fight climate change with other states and countries eagerly watching, ready to replicate our work. This is why the state needs to hit the reset button and ensure our EV charging networks are serving both our climate goals and the expectations of California drivers."
Exclusive: How pollution from dry cleaners left California sitting on cancer-linked ‘time bombs’
Sacramento Bee, MACKENZIE SHUMAN: "The deep, crystal blue waters of Lake Tahoe are the iconic centerpiece of one of California’s most famed recreation areas.
A local water provider is among the biggest cheerleaders of the lake’s legendary clarity, boasting this on its website:"
New analysis shows how much PG&E bills could rise next year
The Chronicle, JULIE JOHNSON: "Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers will pay between about $25 and $31 more each month for energy next year, according new rate estimates from state regulators obtained Thursday by the Chronicle.
PG&E has asked the California Public Utilities Commission for permission to collect more money from customers in its pending four-year budget to help the company pay for wildfire safety improvements and meet rising demand for electricity."
Several Bay Area counties issue new mask mandates in hospitals amid COVID-19 surge
BANG*Mercury News, ANDRE BYIK: "Several Bay Area counties have issued new masking mandates for health care workers as officials confront seasonal upticks in the rates of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses such as influenza.
Health officials in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Sonoma issued orders this week requiring health care personnel to wear masks in hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities, surgery centers and other facilities where patients receive care indoors. In Santa Clara County, a health order issued in March requiring seasonal masking in patient areas of health care facilities remains in effect."
HBCUs brace for flood of applications after Supreme Court affirmative action decision
LA Times, KWASI GYAMFI ASIEDU: "College presidents and admission experts are expecting a significant increase in applications at historically Black colleges and universities following this summer’s Supreme Court decision outlawing race-based affirmative action policies.
At a time of heightened social divisions with race relations at the forefront, school administrators say the conservative majority court’s ruling opens a door for HBCUs to fill a gap for students and their families seeking an educational experience in which Black identity and culture are celebrated."
2024 state ballot battle to determine if voters can pass school parcel taxes by majority vote
EdSource, JOHN FENSTERWALD: "Alate-session strategy by Democrats in the California Legislature to sabotage a tax-limitation initiative may determine whether citizen groups can propose a school parcel tax requiring only a majority of voters to pass.
The anti-tax initiative, called the Tax Protection and Government Accountability Act and organized by the California Business Roundtable and the anti-tax Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, has already qualified for the November 2024 election ballot. Among its provisions would be an expanded definition of taxes to include some revenue sources that state and local governments consider fees, thus making them harder to impose. And it would require all local special taxes — those passed to fund specific purposes, as opposed to general taxes, like sales and income taxes — to require a two-thirds majority to pass."
How small is too small? UC Regents delay approval of new UCLA dorm, questioning room size
LA Times, TERESA WATANABE: "UCLA has been planning the best deal in town for student housing: a new residence hall featuring shared living, study and socializing spaces with most rooms going for just $600 a month — 66% below projected market rates in the pricey Westwood neighborhood where the campus is located.
But the eight-story, 545-bed project hit a roadblock Thursday, when the University of California Regents deferred a vote on its budget and design after raising crucial questions about whether the rooms were too small and what potential impact that might have on student mental health. The planned space is 265 square feet for three beds, desks, closets, storage space and a refrigerator."
Legal fights over California’s homeless camps expand to Supreme Court
CALMatters, JEANNE KUANG: "Fed up with homeless encampments, California local officials are seeking guidance from the nation’s most powerful judges.
In a legal brief filed Tuesday with the U.S. Supreme Court, the California State Association of Counties and League of California Cities told the justices that a string of federal court rulings over the last five years that restrict cities’ abilities to sweep camps and order residents off the streets have made addressing health and safety concerns “unworkable.”"
Echo Park Lake homeless encampment is gone. So is the fence. The problem now? Geese
LA Times, HAILEY BRANSON-POTTS: "First, the tents had everyone up in arms.
Two years ago, more than 170 tents or makeshift structures encircled Echo Park Lake, a beloved Los Angeles landmark that had became a sprawling homeless encampment."
Car break-in thieves use tactic unique to San Francisco to find victims, locals say
The Chronicle, RACHEL SWAN: "Thieves who break into cars in San Francisco appear to have a unique way of finding victims: They target motorists who forget to curb their wheels.
Dave Jordan, an Alamo Square resident who often warns tourists about the break-in crisis, made the observation during a hearing at City Hall Thursday morning. Given San Francisco’s expensive tickets for parking violations, forgetting to curb wheels is a telltale sign that a motorist is from out of town, he said."
