An Oregon tribe’s casino bid sparks furor over what land tribes can rightfully call home
LAT's HANNAH WILEY: "It was midafternoon at the Rain Rock Casino in this faded Gold Rush town, and Jody Criner had just won $47 on the Dancing Drums slot machine, a respectable return on her $5 investment.
“Cha-ching,” Criner said, her black leather jacket reflecting the neon blues, reds and purples flashing from the slots."
How California legislators got more than $1.4 million in travel and gifts in 2023
CALMatters's JEREMIA KIMELMAN: "Last June, more than half of California’s lawmakers — Republicans and Democrats alike, with no particular ideological preference — attended a celebratory gala for new Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. They left with a gift: A personally engraved box worth $85.94.
These gifts are documented in financial disclosures that elected officials in California have to file every March for the previous calendar year. The reports, officially called Form 700, provide insight into gifts, sponsored travel, plus any property they own and stocks they hold."
Political rhetoric aims ‘vitriol and hatred’ at immigrant asylum-seekers, California advocates say
Sacramento Bee's ROSALIO AHUMADA: "Brian Lopez recently drove more than 500 miles from Northern California to Tijuana, Mexico, just south of the border, where he and other legal experts gathered to offer free guidance to people seeking asylum in the United States.
Lopez, a Sacramento-based immigration attorney, said it’s important work — especially because only a small fraction of asylum seekers can obtain legal help as they formally submit their cases to the immigration courts."
Katie Porter is optimistic about the future of her congressional seat — and her career
LAT's BENJAMIN ORESKES: "Since Democratic Rep. Katie Porter launched her losing bid for Senate, an air of discontent has simmered quietly — and not so quietly — among fellow Democrats.
They had worked hard to flip her Orange County congressional seat from red to blue in 2018. Porter’s decision to run for Senate against fellow Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee meant the swing-district House seat would be vacant, setting up an expensive race for Democrats — and a potential flip for Republicans — as each side fights for control of Congress."
Which trailblazer: Will Californians here elect a GOP Latina or a transgender Democrat?
CALMatters's DEBORAH BRENNAN: "Soon after the March primary, state Senate candidate Lisa Middleton pitched her vision for Inland Empire transportation to the Pass Democratic Club in Beaumont.
“We’ve not built the roadways we need to serve the growing population,” she said, referring to chronic congestion on Interstate 10."
Capitol Spotlight: Don Andrews, audio specialist and poker player extraordinaire
Capitol Weekly's LISA RENNER: "A former radio journalist turned audio production specialist, Don Andrews helps make sure politicians’ voices are heard.
He’s a proud family man with a successful side hobby as a professional poker player. He started playing tournaments with a $300 windfall in the late 1990s and has been playing off that money ever since."
Power is never having to say ‘no.’ How California Democrats kill bills without voting against them
CALMatters's RYAN SABALOW and JULIE WATTS: "Mike Fong has cast more than 6,000 votes since he joined the state Assembly in 2022 and never once voted “no.” Pilar Schiavo is newer to the Assembly, but she has yet to vote “no” after more than 2,000 opportunities.
Remarkably, their Democratic colleagues in the Legislature are not much different. Using our new Digital Democracy database, CalMatters examined more than 1 million votes cast by current legislators since 2017 and found Democrats vote “no” on average less than 1% of the time."
California auditor looks at favoritism, corruption in marijuana permitting process
Sacramento Bee's ANDREW SHEELER: "Via Vik Jolly...
A state audit triggered by instances of corruption and graft at the municipal level in permitting cannabis businesses has come up with recommendations that California cities and counties can use to boost public confidence and stem illegal schemes. The auditor urges steps to prevent favoritism and encourage transparency."
California’s housing crisis is hitting Nevada hard. Could that help Trump win a crucial state?
LAT's BENJAMIN ORESKES: "Christine Dyken had just returned home after picking up her grandson from school, and she was stressed.
Dyken — who lives in a quiet corner of North Las Vegas with her daughter, Doreen, and 7-year-old Christopher — needed to move, and the process was overwhelming and expensive."
California residents could see up to $175 off utility bills this month. Who qualifies?
Sacramento Bee's ANGELA RODRIGUEZ: "Millions of California residents will see an approximate $30 to $175 credit on their April electric and natural gas bills, according to the California Public Utilities Commission.
As part of California’s Cap-and-Trade Program, the California Climate Credit is designed to reward most customers of electric investor-owned utilities and provide support to those experiencing high natural gas and electric bills during the winter."
The case for re-incentivizing drug court participation in California
Capitol Weekly's KELLY VERNON: "As a person with extensive experience working within the criminal justice system, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of collaborative courts in California. This is especially true for drug courts which are aimed at addressing a person’s underlying addiction issues which often leads to criminal activity. Sadly, I have also witnessed policy changes that have unintentionally shifted us away from incentivizing people to participate in drug courts. This shift has contributed to crime in our communities and has had a devastating impact on individuals in need of substance abuse treatment.
Addressing the theft crisis and the fentanyl epidemic is a complicated problem and requires comprehensive solutions. However, there are actions California can take immediately to help stem the tide of theft, drug use, and the pain addicts experience."
Solar eclipse thrills crowds in California as it darkens swath of countryside
LAT's HANNAH FRY, JIREH DENG and CAROLINE PETROW-COHEN: "Bhavini Lad’s three children were so fired up to experience their first solar eclipse on Monday that standing in line to pick up protective eyewear at the California Institute of Technology campus was almost too much to bear.
The 7-year-old twins and their 5-year-old brother buzzed and jumped, chatting with people in the line around them. They spoke with great enthusiasm about their space-themed bedroom that features a replica solar system hanging from the ceiling."
Bay Area weather to see major shift to warmer temperatures
The Chronicle's ANTHONY EDWARDS: "A high-pressure system will continue to strengthen across California on Tuesday, resulting in clear skies and widespread 70-degree temperatures in the Bay Area.
Parts of the North Bay and South Bay could match or exceed their warmest day so far this year Tuesday, reaching the mid-70s. That mark won’t last long though, as Wednesday is expected to be even warmer. Inland valleys will be in the upper 70s to lower 80s Wednesday and Thursday before cooling back down Friday."
These California colleges are a path to UCLA, Berkeley. Here’s which have highest acceptance rates
The Chronicle's NAMI SUMIDA: "University of California admissions decisions are now coming out, not only for high school seniors but also for community college students wishing to transfer into the UC system.
Transferring from community colleges has long been an important pathway into the UCs, especially for low-income, first-generation and historically underrepresented students. In 2023, one out of every four students who enrolled in a UC was a transfer student from a California community college."
Tesla settles lawsuit over Apple engineer’s Autopilot death on eve of trial
BANG*Mercury News's ETHAN BARON: "On the eve of a jury trial expected to delve deeply into Tesla’s controversial “Autopilot” technology, the company has settled a lawsuit filed by the family of an Apple engineer killed on Highway 101 in Mountain View, according to court filings Monday.
Walter Huang, a married father of two from Foster City, died in 2018 after Autopilot steered his Tesla Model X compact SUV into a freeway barrier while he played a video game on his phone, a federal investigation found."
Visiting California’s famous Fern Canyon this year should be easier after permit changes
The Chronicle's GREGORY THOMAS: "One of Northern California’s most popular outdoor attractions will be easier to visit this year.
For the past two summers, people who wanted to hike through the vibrant Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park have had to procure an online permit 6 months in advance — a program park managers created to cut down on problematic crowding and traffic snarls at the popular Humboldt County destination. However, it had the unintended consequence of barring walk-up visitors, some of whom weren’t aware a permit was needed."
A baby left to die on the 405 linked to shocking family violence as cops find mother, husband dead
LAT's RICHARD WINTON, JACK DOLAN, CAROLINE PETROW-COHEN: "Police spent Monday following a bizarre and tragic trail of violence that left the dead and injured bodies of a Woodland Hills family scattered across Los Angeles County.
The horror began with a woman killing her husband at their Valley home, abandoning her two small daughters on the 405 Freeway — one of whom died — and then fatally crashing her car into a tree in Redondo Beach, according to a law enforcement source who was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation."
