Headaches at LAX, other airports as global tech outage cancels flights, strands passengers
LAT's JOSEPH SERNA, LIBOR JANY, NOAH GOLDBERG: "A massive globe technology outage has interrupted air travel at Los Angeles International Airport and other California airports, one of many impacts facing the world Friday.
“We urge passengers to please check your flight status with your airline prior to heading to the airport,” the LAX Airport account on X, formerly known as Twitter, posted Friday morning."
READ MORE -- Massive global tech outage affecting SFO, with United flights heavily impacted -- The Chronicle, DOMINIC FRACASSA
Biden ‘absolutely’ still in race despite speculation he is preparing to withdraw, campaign chair says
LAT's NOAH BIERMAN: "President Biden is “absolutely” in the race for a second term, his campaign leader said Friday, beating back growing speculation that he is preparing to withdraw because of concerns from fellow Democrats that he cannot win the race and may be incapable of serving a second term.
“We’re looking at polling. We’re seeing ... what a lot of people are seeing, of course,” said Biden’s campaign chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, on “Morning Joe.” “But we’re also looking at a lot of numbers that matter, which is what is happening on the ground.”"
Trump recounts assassination attempt, outlines grim portrait of America in 92-minute acceptance speech
LAT's SEEMA MEHTA, FAITH E. PINHO: "Former President Trump formally accepted the Republican presidential nomination for a third time Thursday night, capping a momentous six days in which he survived an assassination attempt, selected a running mate and made nightly appearances before adulatory crowds and speakers at the party’s national convention.
Trump began his speech in a more subdued tone than normal, with occasional flashes of his usual bombastic energy. But it soon turned menacing, as he painted a dark vision of an America that needed to be restored."
5 takeaways from Trump’s Republican convention acceptance speech
LAT's NOAH BIERMAN: "Former President Trump delivered his formal acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday, another step in an unprecedented campaign.
Here is what was notable from his remarks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee:"
Donald Trump could have put the race away with his RNC speech. Instead, he blew it back open
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI: "If Donald Trump had ended his speech accepting the Republican Party presidential nomination after 25 minutes Thursday, it would have been lauded as the dawn of a new Trump, remade by his near-death experience six days earlier dodging an assassin’s bullet.
Humble. Poignant. Religious. Grateful."
Gavin Newsom is ‘all in’ for Biden as defections grow. He’s playing the ‘long game’
CALMatters's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "As efforts to push embattled President Joe Biden out of the race crescendo, Gov. Gavin Newsom has remained one his most committed champions.
Asked last week by CBS News’ Robert Costa about receiving appeals to jump into the fray to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee, Newsom said he hits “delete, delete, delete, delete” on the texts and emails."
To Anthony Rendon, happiness is serious business
Capitol Weekly's LISA RENNER: "How happy are California residents? It depends on where they live. According to World Happiness Report rankings, the happiest residents live in Alpine, Marin and Placer counties. Most unsatisfied are in Mariposa, Del Norte and Lake counties.
A new California Assembly committee is exploring the reasons why some people are happier with their lives than others. Headed by former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), the Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy Outcomes has had two hearings this year."
Noncitizens banned from voting in federal elections but not some local races
LAT's HANNAH WILEY, HANNAH FRY: "Marcela Rosas immigrated to Southern California from the Mexican state of Michoacán more than a decade ago in search of the American dream.
She imagined a life with a house for her three children, educational opportunities and the ability to have a say in her community. There’s one cornerstone of American life that Rosas, 52, hasn’t been able to access: voting."
Hot, inland California cities face the steepest water cuts with new conservation mandate
CALMatters's RACHEL BECKER: "Facing a future of shortages, California is entering a new phase of water conservation: Cities and towns must meet new mandates ramping down use over the next 15 years — and some will be hit harder than others.
Approved two weeks ago, the new state rules require 405 cities and other urban suppliers serving 95% of Californians to meet individualized water budgets."
UC regents approve $1.5 billion plan to improve crucial Oakland children’s hospital
The Chronicle's CATHERINE HO: "The University of California Board of Regents approved a $1.5 billion plan on Thursday to expand UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland that will double the safety net facility’s emergency department space and triple the number of single-patient hospital rooms.
The project, slated for completion by 2030, entails the construction of a seven-story, 277,500-square-foot hospital that will include a neonatal intensive care unit, seven surgical suites and a 20-bed inpatient behavioral health unit, as well as updates to imaging and surgical services. Two existing buildings, built in 1928 and 1946 and no longer in compliance with state seismic standards, will be demolished."
LAUSD families still struggling to access disability supports
EdSource's MALLIKA SESHADRI: "When the Covid-19 pandemic led to school shutdowns in 2020, and students began plugging into their classes online, Naomi Burn saw her 17-year-old son’s grades soar.
Her son seemed more engaged, completed his assignments and was in better spirits. The virtual classes seemed to serve him better. So, when face-to-face instruction returned, Burn decided to enroll him in one of the district’s virtual academies, where he would also be able to receive the counseling outlined in his individualized education program (IEP)."
Inside the Sheriff Department’s secretive investigation into oversight officials
LAT's ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN, KERI BLAKINGER: "A multi-year criminal investigation under former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva into the agency’s inspector general — a probe that a legal advisor for the county called “not legally viable” — was based largely on unfounded accusations that state and federal prosecutors repeatedly turned down, documents reviewed by The Times show.
Villanueva long used the case to try to discredit the county watchdog, regularly referring to Inspector General Max Huntsman as a “felony suspect” and asking county officials to remove him from the job at least twice. At one point, Villanueva cited the probe as part of the justification to lock Huntsman out of department databases."
Mayor Breed says ‘very aggressive’ sweep of S.F. homeless encampments will launch in August
The Chronicle's MAGGIE ANGST, ELIZABETH WILSON: "Mayor London Breed said that San Francisco will launch a “very aggressive” crackdown on homeless encampments in the city next month.
The mayor’s comments — made Thursday during an election debate hosted by the firefighters union — come about three weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court granted cities broad power to evict unhoused people from encampments."
