3 dead, 94K still without power in wake of powerful California storms
The Chronicle, JESSICA FLORES, NORA MISHANEC: "At least three people were killed in the storms that raked across Northern California, a powerful, atmospheric river-fueled system that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of Bay Area homes and businesses, closed streets, caused landslides and downed trees.
Officials in Santa Cruz County confirmed that one person died Sunday afternoon when a tree fell on a home, trapping the person inside. Hours later, another death occurred in Sutter County, where officials said David Gomes, 82, of Yuba City was found crushed beneath a fallen redwood tree in his backyard. Also, Sacramento County officials said 41-year old Chad Ensey of Carmichael died after a tree fell on him Sunday in his backyard."
READ MORE -- Death toll at 3 as California storm brings heavy rain, flooding, mudslides -- LAT, STAFF; Deadly storm slides out of Bay Area, leaving debris, damage and darkness -- BANG*Mercury News, RICK HURD; Avalanche warning issued for Tahoe area as snow blankets California’s high Sierra -- Sacramento Bee, SARAH LINN
California storms: ‘Extremely dangerous’ weather unfolding in Los Angeles after record rainfall
The Chronicle, JESSICA FLORES, NORA MISHANEC: "Los Angeles shattered rainfall records on Sunday, but meteorologists warned the worst could be yet to come with predictions that portions of the greater metropolitan area could be underwater by nightfall.
A large portion of the greater Los Angeles area remained under a flash flood warning Monday morning as an atmospheric river-fueled storm was expected to bring more heavy downpours throughout the week. Caltrans shuttered parts of some major highways in Los Angeles County — among them Interstates 5 and 110, and Highway 101 — and officials at the transportation agency urged drivers to stay off the roads as the threat of washouts and mudslides loomed."
READ MORE -- Mudslides, drowned highways, upended homes: Scenes from Southern California’s atmospheric river -- LAT, STAFF
Mike McGuire wants to ‘lift up every person’ as new California Senate leader
CALMatters, ALEXEI KOSEFF: "From the outside, Mike McGuire seems like exactly the type of person who would rise to the top of the California Senate.
The Healdsburg Democrat was student body president in high school, according to Sonoma Magazine, and his classmates voted him “most likely to become president” in the senior yearbook. After winning a seat on the local school board at just 19, McGuire then served on the Healdsburg city council and Sonoma County board of supervisors before his election to the Senate, where he already spent the past two years as majority leader."
READ MORE -- Northern California Democrat becomes Senate leader. He brings an ‘Energizer bunny’ work ethic -- Sacramento Bee, LINDSEY HOLDEN
Does insurance cover flooding and mudslides?
LAT, SAM DEAN: "This week’s rain is turning streets into creeks and hillsides into mudslides. Homeowners across Southern California are facing major damage to their homes as a result — and in most cases, they won’t get any help cleaning up the mess from their insurance companies.
The standard homeowners’ policy does not cover losses from flood damage. Mudslides, mud flows and debris flows aren’t covered by typical homeowners’ insurance, either — though in particular circumstances, a homeowner’s policy might cover some of the damage from these events. Damage from falling trees or other wind-related impacts should be covered by homeowners’ policies, however, and the comprehensive coverage in an auto insurance policy should cover any damage to Californians’ cars."
A chat with Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg (PODCAST)
Capitol Weekly, STAFF: "Our guest today is Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, a longtime advocate for increased availability of mental healthcare. While a member of the state Assembly Steinberg authored Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act, which has generated millions for mental healthcare in California. Steinberg was elected to the Senate in 2006 and became Pro Tem in 2008. In 2015 he launched The Steinberg Institute, which has helped enact sweeping improvements in California mental health policy, including securing $2 billion to provide housing and care for homeless people living with mental illness (No Place Like Home). He joined us today to discuss efforts to address California’s twin crises: homelessness and mental health, and this week’s Senate leadership transition."
Newsom slams GOP’s ‘pathetic’ Taylor Swift conspiracies
The Chronicle, AIDIN VAZIRI: "California Gov. Gavin Newsom came to Taylor Swift’s defense over the weekend amidst a rising tide of right-wing conspiracy theories targeting the pop superstar in the lead-up to the Super Bowl.
Various baseless rumors have surged on social media, ranging from Swift’s alleged involvement in Pentagon psychological operations to claims that she and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, are part of a scheme to aid President Biden’s reelection. Another theory suggests that the Chiefs’ success was manipulated to place them in the big game against the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 11."
In latest brawl between S.F. progressives and moderates, tempers flare when campaign sign is removed
The Chronicle, ST. JOHN BARNED-SMITH: "A progressive neighborhood activist stepped into Royal Ground Coffee Saturday afternoon for a beverage when she spotted a sign for Marjan Philhour, who is running against San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan.
As Julie Pitta left the cafe, by her own admission, the former Forbes editor, Los Angeles Times correspondent and columnist for the Richmond Review quietly peeled the sign from the cafe window, and then walked outside."
Exclusive: UCSF to pay $100 million to acquire two struggling S.F. hospitals
The Chronicle, CATHERINE HO, LAURA WAXMANN: "UCSF Health has confirmed that its $100 million deal to acquire two struggling San Francisco community hospitals is just weeks away from closing.
The city’s preeminent medical research institution has signed an agreement to purchase St. Mary’s Medical Center at 450 Stanyan St. — San Francisco’s oldest Catholic hospital — and Saint Francis Memorial Hospital at 900 Hyde St. from Dignity Health by the end of March."
LAUSD schools open amid historic storm with 4 in 10 students staying home
LAT, HOWARD BLUME, DAKOTA SMITH: "Los Angeles students and school employees soldiered through a challenging, drenching Monday — with about 63% of students and about 90% of teachers and other staff making their way to campuses as the city worked through the 10th wettest day ever recorded locally.
For Southland college students, classes moved largely online."
Students, faculty, staff distrust state college systems’ handling of Title IX cases
EdSource, ASHLEY A. SMITH: "Students and faculty at all three of California’s public higher education institutions do not trust how colleges and universities handle sexual discrimination and harassment.
The lack of trust was detailed in a California Assembly Higher Education Committee report released last week that offers recommendations on how the state’s public colleges and universities can better address sexual harassment and discrimination."
FAFSA delays are leaving students in limbo. California campuses don’t expect help
EdSource, MALLIKA SESHADRI: "The U.S. Department of Education is attempting to solve issues associated with this year’s rocky rollout of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and ensure colleges and universities release financial aid packages in a timely manner through a new plan announced Monday — but some California campuses remain pessimistic about receiving support.
This year, 17 million students across the nation completed the redesigned form and are now awaiting offers from colleges. Last year, more than 1 million California students submitted FAFSA applications, marking a 5.9% increase from the previous year, when Covid was said to have hindered the number of applicants."
East Bay school official investigated over offensive remark related to Woke Kindergarten program
The Chronicle, JILL TUCKER: "A Hayward school board member is facing a formal investigation as well as public outrage over offensive comments he made to a staff member during a recent public meeting.
Board member Joe Ramos was questioning the district’s contract with an anti-racist program called Woke Kindergarten, saying he was alarmed at the expense, before he directed comments to a senior administrator."
H-1B: Bad luck in the skilled-worker visa lottery pushes workers from Silicon Valley and other U.S. regions to Canada
BANG*Mercury News, ETHAN BARON: "Silicon Valley’s loss, Canada’s gain.
Data analyst Mengfan Cao, a Chinese citizen with a U.S. master’s degree, worked for several years in San Jose under temporary employment permits. But for three years running, she lost the H-1B skilled-worker visa lottery that would have allowed her to stay and work in the country. So she’s taken her talent to Vancouver, British Columbia, and she’s happy as can be. She now sees her failure to obtain the visa — intended to boost America’s companies and economy via workers like her with specialized skills — as a gift."
This East Bay neighborhood’s home values surged after the pandemic. Here’s what that says about the Bay Area’s market
The Chronicle, CHRISTIAN LEONARD: "When a three-bedroom, two-bath home in a small Fremont neighborhood sold in 2016, it went for $821,000, or about $1.04 million in 2023 dollars. It resold in 2023 for almost $1.53 million, according to real estate listing site Zillow.
That huge jump in price isn’t uncommon for Fremont’s 28 Palms neighborhood, a quiet locale of single-story houses and cul-de-sacs lined, fittingly, with palm trees. In fact, home values in the community saw the fastest growth of any in the San Francisco metropolitan area from 2019 to 2023, Zillow data shows."
