California poised to allow ‘toilet to tap’ projects, in landmark water rule
The Chronicle, KATE GALBRAITH: "California water regulators are poised to approve long-awaited rules that will allow local water agencies to convert sewage — such as what drains from toilets and showers — directly into drinking water.
The landmark regulations will go before the State Water Resources Control Board for consideration next week. If approved, they would enable projects sometimes dubbed “toilet to tap” to move forward in numerous communities, including Santa Clara County, Los Angeles and San Diego."
2023: A look back, with Marisa Lagos (PODCAST)
Capitol Weekly, STAFF: "KQED’s Marisa Lagos joins us for a look back at the biggest stories of the past year. Lagos is a correspondent for KQED’s California Politics and Government Desk and co-hosts a weekly show and podcast, Political Breakdown. We discuss Governor Newsom’s year, hot labor Summer, the success of the YIMBY movement, the death of Dianne Feinstein and arrival of Laphonza Butler, and much, much more. Plus, we offer up our pick for who had the Worst Week in California Politics."
Uncontrolled chemical reactions fuel crises at L.A. County’s two largest landfills
LA Times, TONY BRISCOE: "Hundreds of feet underground, in a long-dormant portion of Chiquita Canyon landfill, tons of garbage have been smoldering for months due to an enigmatic chemical reaction.
Although operators of the Castaic landfill say there’s no full-blown fire, temperatures within the dump have climbed to more than 200 degrees, and area residents have complained of a burned garbage odor wafting through the neighborhoods."
He passed the California bar at 17. At 18, he’s now prosecuting criminal cases
LA Times, JOE GAROFOLI: "Peter Park doesn’t find it that unusual that at 17, he recently became the youngest person to pass the California bar exam.
Or that he started law school online when he was 13 years old, as he was beginning high school. Or that he was sworn in as a prosecutor for the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office last week, shortly after turning 18."
‘Special’ Geminid meteor shower peaks this week. Here’s how to watch in the Bay Area
The Chronicle, KELLIE HWANG: "If you’re looking for a special way to close out 2023 — and you’re willing to brave chilly weather — then look no further than the night sky.
The annual Geminid meteor shower peaks this week and is considered to be one of the best and most reliable annual cosmic light shows, according to NASA. The Geminids are particularly special because they originate from an asteroid rather than a comet."
Niles: Lack of new attractions coming to California theme parks in 2024 is COVID’s legacy
BANG*Mercury News, ROBERT NILES: "Next year is shaping up to be an unusual one for California theme parks and their fans. It also shows that — nearly four years after its start — the theme park industry continues to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The spring and summer of 2024 promise the thinnest line-up of major new rides at California theme parks in more than a decade. We won’t have one open until Tiana’s Bayou Adventure premieres at Disneyland sometime late in the year. The only new coaster that fans will be getting will be a kiddie coaster at Knott’s Berry Farm when its revamped Camp Snoopy debuts Memorial Day weekend."
Faculty, staff urge California colleges to make backup plans in case DACA ends
EdSource, ZAIDEE STAVELY: "Iveth Díaz has spent much of her career helping immigrant students living in the U.S. illegally navigate college. But when her own application to renew her work permit and temporary protection from deportation was delayed because of backlogs, she had to resign from her job for three months.
“It was extremely stressful. It was a time when I suffered from anxiety and depression, which is unfortunately very common within our community,” Díaz said."
S.F. schools likely to cut 900 jobs as district faces $400 million deficit
The Chronicle, JILL TUCKER: "San Francisco schools are facing a massive deficit created by years of overspending as well as recent raises, leaving the district with no choice but to cut staffing by more than 900 already vacant positions, according to district officials.
Superintendent Matt Wayne is expected to give the school board the big budget picture Tuesday evening and — based on a preview of his presentation — the current outlook is ugly."
Charts show how California’s Hispanic population has shifted
The Chronicle, ADRIANA REZAln NAMI SUJOMA
Massive fire guts historic California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey
LA Times, ALEXANDRA E. PETRI: "Firefighters worked overnight Monday to extinguish a blaze that erupted at a historic yacht club in Marina del Rey.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department received a call around 11:30 p.m. Monday for a structure fire at the California Yacht Club in the 4400 block of Admiralty Way, said Fred Fielding, a Fire Department spokesperson."
Stiiizy’s founder built a legal cannabis empire — while being landlord to black market dispensaries
LA Times, MATTHEW ORMSETH: "The sign on the building said Jerry’s Liquor, but inside, Compton code enforcement inspectors found a cannabis dispensary called Fly High 20 Collective.
The discovery of the black market dispensary in 2019 wasn’t unusual in a city plagued with them. But when authorities looked deeper into the property on Rosecrans Avenue, they found something startling: It was owned by Tony Huang, the man behind one of the cannabis industry’s biggest and most successful companies."
Ousted Fox News host Tucker Carlson is launching a streaming service
LA Times, STEPHEN BATTAGLIO: "Tucker Carlson, who was ousted from his Fox News program earlier this year, is going it alone via streaming.
The conservative provocateur announced he is launching a new subscription streaming service that will ask consumers to pay $9 a month or an annual fee of $72 for his produced videos of commentary and programming."
About 6,000 buildings in L.A. are at risk in an earthquake. Do you live or work in one of them?
LA Times, STAFF: "If your home or office building was constructed before 1996, it may be in need of a seismic retrofit.
A retrofit strengthens earthquake-vulnerable buildings to better withstand shaking, making them less likely to collapse or be damaged. Depending on the type of building, fixes include adding support — such as steel frames or beams — installing new concrete walls or repairing vulnerable welds."
Hundreds of formerly homeless people get evicted after L.A. nonprofit fails to pay rent on time
CALMatters, RHYONDA LYONS, JEANNE KUANG: "Jesus Mares got a lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to rental support from one of Los Angeles’ leading homelessness agencies, he had a roof over his head.
He had been bouncing between sleeping in his car and hotel rooms. The taxpayer-subsidized room in a South L.A. duplex provided stability until he could get back on his feet, he’d hoped."
Ukraine money likely to be delayed until January, Senate Republican says
The Hill, ALEXANDAR BOLTON: "
