Experts Expound: Who won the debate?
Capitol Weeekly's STAFF: "The first – and hopefully only – presidential debate was held last night. With so much at stake in the November election, it seemed right to ask our panel of experts who they thought won the contest. Per usual, they didn’t hold back."
READ MORE --- Biden’s debate gamble went spectacularly wrong. Now Democrats are in panic mode -- LAT's DAVID LAUTER; Biden’s verbal stumbles, Trump’s ‘morals of an alley cat’: 6 debate takeaways -- LAT'S NOAH BIERMAN, ANITA CHABRIA
Newsom praises Biden, shoots down post-debate questions about replacing him
LAT's TARYN LUNA: "President Biden’s lackluster performance in the first debate of 2024 with former President Trump ended with harsh questions about whether Biden should end his campaign, which California Gov. Gavin Newsom was compelled to answer as a top surrogate for the president in Atlanta.
“I think it’s unhelpful, and I think it’s unnecessary,” Newsom told MSNBC on Thursday after the debate. “With all due respect, the more times we start having these conversations, going down these rabbit holes, it’s unhelpful to our democracy, the fate and future of this country, the world. They need us right now to step up and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”
READ MORE -- Biden’s debate performance pushes Dems to consider the once-unthinkable: Casting him aside -- LAT's NOAH BIERMAN, SEEMA MEHTA; Biden’s disastrous debate performance amplifies spotlight on Newsom -- The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI
Here’s why it would be tough for Democrats to replace Joe Biden on the presidential ticket
AP: "President Joe Biden ‘s halting debate performance on Thursday night has led some in his own party to begin questioning whether he should be replaced on the ballot before November.
There is no evidence Biden is willing to end his campaign. And it would be nearly impossible for Democrats to replace him unless he chooses to step aside."
Supreme Court rules cities may enforce laws against homeless encampments
LAT's DAVID G. SAVAGE: "The Supreme Court ruled Friday that cities in California and the West may enforce laws restricting homeless encampments on sidewalks and other public property.
In a 6-3 decision, the justices disagreed with the 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco and ruled it is not “cruel and unusual” punishment for city officials to forbid homeless people from sleeping on the streets or in parks."
READ MORE -- Supreme Court strikes down homeless protections, giving cities broad power to address encampments -- The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO; Supreme Court gives cities in California and beyond more power to crack down on homeless camps -- CALMatters's MARISA KENDALL; Supreme Court says cities can ban homeless encampments. How it affects California -- Sacramento Bee's GILLIAN BRASSIL
Supreme Court throws out obstruction charges lodged against hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters
LAT's DAVID G. SAVAGE: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the most severe charges lodged against more than 300 of the violent insurrectionists who broke into the U.S. Capitol three years ago.
In a 6-3 decision, the court’s conservative majority said the rioters may not be prosecuted under a financial recordkeeping law that criminalized destroying evidence and obstructing an official proceeding."
READ MORE -- Supreme Court dumps obstruction charge for Jan. 6 rioters. Ruling could affect Californians -- Sacramento Bee's GILLIAN B RASSIL
Capitol Briefs: Fireworks in the Assembly, PAGA reforms move to the gov
Capitol Weekly's STAFF: "Assembly gets heated over outing protections bill: There was high drama in the Assembly on Thursday during debate over AB 1955, a bill that would bar schools from outing their LGBTQ+ students. Things got heated when Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Corona) stood to oppose the measure. When he brought up one of his own previous bills, Chair Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) cautioned that he was out of order. That sparked a furious exchange between them, including Essayli accusing Wood of running the chamber like the “Chinese Communist party.” Things actually then got worse when Essayli said something that Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) took offense to – great offense. So much so it took several other folks to hold him back from going after Essayli. Several members then formed a line between the two men, and Wood called a recess to allow cooler heads to prevail. Once returned almost an hour later, the measure passed easily along party lines. It moves now to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has not publicly taken a position on the bill."
Steven Suchil: a remembrance
Capitol Weekly's TOM DRESSLAR: "As he became a fixture in Sacramento’s Capitol community during a 36-year career working on insurance and finance issues in the California Legislature, State executive agencies and the private sector, Steven M. Suchil had a simple formula for success.
“To be effective,” he said, “your word has to be your bond.”"
‘Representing the youngest, most progressive district’: Cecilia Lunaparra serves as Berkeley City Council’s first openly queer woman of color
Daily Californian's KYLE GARCIA TAKATA: "Cecilia Lunaparra joined the Berkeley City Council in May as its first openly queer woman of color and the youngest council member.
Lunaparra represents District 7, which encompasses the UC Berkeley campus and several blocks of the Southside neighborhood. She will serve until 2026."
Who are the wealthiest California legislators? Good question.
CALMatters's JEREMIA KIMELMAN: "Four legislators reported at least $1 million invested in the stock market in 2023, but California’s limited disclosure laws don’t provide a complete picture of each lawmaker’s wealth.
The four legislators are Sen. Roger Niello, a Republican from Roseville and a prominent car dealer in the Sacramento area; Sen. Bill Dodd, a Democrat from Napa and former water company executive; Democratic Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, a former county elections administrator in Santa Cruz; and Republican Assemblymember Joe Patterson from Rocklin, who ran a small consulting business."
State Farm asks for huge California home insurance rate increase, signaling financial distress
The Chronicle's MEGAN FAN MUNCE: "State Farm has requested its largest home insurance rate increase yet — a sign that the state’s largest insurer may be running out of money.
This week, State Farm General, the company’s California subsidiary, submitted a request to the California Department of Insurance to raise its homeowners insurance rates by an average of 30% for homeowners, 52% for renters and 36% for condominium owners. If approved, the rate increase would be State Farm’s largest in at least seven years, according to the company’s filings."
Add personal finance to what every California high school graduate must learn
EdSource's JOHN FENSTERWALD: "Soon, all California high school students will learn about college grants and loans, how tax rates work, the benefits of insurance and how interest high rates can blow your budget when you miss a payment on a credit card.
This week, legislators rushed to pass legislation that would make California the 26th state to require a course in personal finance as a requirement for high school graduation as of 2030-31. A semester of personal finance must be offered in all high schools starting in 2026-27."
Young people don’t trust ads for financial aid. California is polishing its pitch
CALMatters's MIKHAIL ZINSHTEYN: "Even when California high school seniors set a record last year in applying for college financial aid, more than a quarter didn’t bother, leaving gobs of money on the table.
Now, the state agency overseeing student grants and scholarships is about to embark on a new campaign to persuade more students and their parents to apply for financial aid. The strategy is buttressed by novel market research that produced counterintuitive conclusions about what compels people to seek cash for college."
Apple’s weather app said Sacramento would reach 119 degrees next week. How accurate is it?
Sacramento Bee's ESTHER SUN: "Ahead of a coming heat wave that will continue through the Fourth of July, Sacramento residents woke up on Thursday morning to see Apple’s weather app predicting a highs well over 100 degrees in the next week.
The most surprising forecast, however, was an estimated high of 119 degrees on Saturday, July 6."
