With $310 million, Harris raised more than twice as much as Trump in July
LAT's SEEMA MEHTA: "During the most tumultuous period of any presidential contest in recent memory, likely Democratic nominee Kamala Harris crushed former President Trump in the July money race.
The vice president and her allies raised $310 million; Trump and his supporters raised $139 million, according to reports by both campaigns."
CA120: New polls show young voters, Latinos key to Dem hopes in November
Capitol Weekly's PAUL MITCHELL: "The events of the past week have seemingly turned the Presidential race on its head in a frenetic month of nerve-wracking surprises. The abysmal debate performance from the sitting President Joe Biden, more than a week of prominent Democrats calling for him to drop out of the campaign, or abandon his office entirely, the unthinkable attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, right before the four-day Republican National Convention, followed shortly thereafter by President Biden’s Sunday afternoon withdrawal from the contest, and less than 30 minutes later his endorsement of his Vice President, Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee.
Each of these events have been of a magnitude greater than any “October Surprise” in the past half-century. Yet, surprisingly, each of them has barely fluctuated the national polling more than a few points. Our political polarization is reflected in the sclerotic polling results that barely budge even with the kind of event that, in past elections, should have caused a huge insurmountable shift."
Tired of text spam from political fundraisers? Here’s what to do
LAT's JON HEALYEY: "“Hi, we chose you for our Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Candidate Assessment but you didn’t respond. It’s only 11 questions,” the text message said, followed by a link.
The scolding came out of the blue, given that I hadn’t received the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Candidate Assessment, nor had I asked for one. In fact, the sender — the Progressive Turnout Project — was entirely new to me when the message arrived April 15."
CalSTRS announced that the state’s pension fund outperformed, ending the year with $341.4B
Sacramento Bee's WILLIAM MELHADO: "The California State Teachers’ Retirement System announced Tuesday that the state’s pension fund outperformed anticipated returns, ending the year with a total value of $341.4 billion.
CalSTRS said the past year’s return on investments reached 8.4%, exceeding the benchmark for the 2023-24 fiscal year by 1%. The pension fund outperformed expectations despite uncertainties such as inflation, rising interest rates and geopolitics, the teacher retirement system said in a Tuesday statement."
Passing AB 1331 will support a healthier California (OP-ED)
TIM LESLIE in Capitol Weekly: "California is at a critical juncture in its mission to enhance health data exchange and transform its health care delivery system. Assembly Bill 1331 (Wood) is a key legislative step to realize the full potential of the Data Exchange Framework (DxF) and address the systemic barriers that hinder effective data sharing across the state, a necessary foundation for better health and well-being for all Californians.
The DxF requires data exchange among most health entities, including crucial alerts and notifications from hospitals, emergency departments (EDs), and Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) to providers that are critical in the patient’s follow-up care. It also mandates the exchange of social service information, positioning California as a leader in enabling truly patient-centered, whole person care. The DxF aims to eliminate the confusion and burden that both providers and individuals face when seeking care and support."
California lawmakers negotiating sweeping package to speed up solar, wind energy
CALMatters's ALEJANDRO LAZO, JULIE CART: "California lawmakers are crafting a end-of-session package of proposed laws that could streamline the building of solar and offshore wind energy projects, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Democratic legislators, who have shared drafts with environmental groups, industry, lobbyists and other interested parties, are negotiating the details with Gov. Gavin Newsom. The talks among staff in the state Senate and Assembly and Newsom’s office are being held behind closed doors and the proposals are not yet public. California’s legislative session ends Aug. 31."
A soil fungus that can kill is on the rise in California: What to know about Valley fever
CALMatters's ANA B. IBARRA: "It’s shaping up to be a bad year — possibly the worst yet — when it comes to Valley fever, a fungal disease marked by cough and fevers. More than 5,300 cases have been reported in California through June, that’s 63% more infections than the same period last year.
Valley fever is caused when people inhale microscopic spores of a fungus found in soil. This fungus typically affects the lungs. Many cases are mild and resolve on their own, but the infections, which are not contagious, can become serious enough to require hospitalization. About 80 Californians die every year from it. Moderate cases may last months and require antifungal medication."
Wild horses are romping all over California’s massive dam-removal project
The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER: "The massive dam-removal project on the Klamath River, near the California-Oregon border, has faced all sorts of challenges. The newest one may be the most unexpected: wild horses.
In recent months, more than 100 free-roaming horses have descended on the dam sites, eating and crushing the new grasses and shrubs being planted in areas where the dams once held reservoirs. The plants are intended to help revegetate the formerly submerged lands and prevent soil from slipping into the newly flowing river."
Plagued by landslides, Rancho Palos Verdes residents had their gas cut off. Electricity may go next
LAT's GRACE TOOHEY: "Days after gas service was abruptly cut off to a group of homes facing accelerating landslide damage, fear and anxiety are mounting in Rancho Palos Verdes that other utilities could soon follow suit.
The concern appears to be fully warranted, with Southern California Edison officials advising residents this week that service could be discontinued “if conditions warrant.”"
California weather: One-two punch of lightning, winds to raise fire risk
The Chronicle's ANTHONY EDWARDS: "While parts of California face a high fire risk this weekend, others may experience flash flooding.
Another surge of monsoon moisture is the culprit for the potentially wide-ranging weather impacts statewide this week. A weak atmospheric disturbance known as an “easterly wave” began drawing humid air from Arizona toward Southern California on Thursday."
Cal State board anticipates a ‘painful year’ as campuses cut costs
EdSource's AMY DIPIERRO: "California State University is taking the forecast of a snowballing budget gap so seriously, even a recent message touting a new hire came with the equivalent of a financial weather advisory.
The nation’s largest university system welcomed Emily F. Cutrer as the new interim president of Sonoma State University last week with the stern reminder that she must address “enormous financial pressures” facing the university, where fall 2023 enrollment was down more than 36% over the last decade."
Fresno and San Jose CSU campuses to offer PK-3 credential
EdSource's DIANA LAMBERT: "Two California State University campuses will soon be offering teacher preparation programs that lead to the new PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential.
San José State will offer its PK-3 credential program this fall and Fresno State will begin to offer the program in the summer of 2025. Eventually, 17 additional campuses and CalState TEACH, the university’s online program, will offer programs leading to the credential."
Police arrested hundreds of pro-Palestinian students in L.A. The fallout continues
LAT's JAWEED KALEEM, MONICA OBRADOVIC: "Since police arrested her twice this spring at UCLA — accusing her of failing to obey orders to leave pro-Palestinian encampments — Asil Yassine has spent the summer navigating court dates and uncertainties.
No criminal charges have been filed in one case, although it has not been dismissed. In the other, an arraignment is coming up in late August. The consequences of her arrests are piling up."
Unemployment rises again in July, reviving worries of a recession
LAT's DON LEE: "U.S. job growth slowed sharply last month and the unemployment rate rose to a nearly three-year high of 4.3%, the latest sign of a cooling labor market, the government reported Friday.
Employers added 114,000 jobs in July, well below economists’ projections and down from an average monthly gain of 215,000 in payrolls over the previous 12 months, said the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics."
Breed orders S.F. homeless people be offered bus tickets out of town before shelter or housing
The Chronicle's MAGGIE ANGST: "Mayor London Breed on Thursday ordered city employees to offer homeless people a bus ticket out of town before presenting shelter or housing as an option.
The mayor’s new executive order, which marks a shift from current practices, comes amid an escalated crackdown on homeless encampments after a recent court Supreme Court ruling gave city officials more power to enforce anti-camping laws. San Francisco officials are ramping up citations and arrests against homeless people who refuse to move indoors."
‘Taking it off the speculative market’: These nonprofits help tenants afford to stay put
CALMatters's FELICIA MELLO: "Nine years ago, tenants of the Pigeon Palace at 2840-2848 Folsom Street in San Francisco faced a dilemma. Their aging landlord, who had long rented at affordable rates, was unable to continue overseeing the place. Instead a court-appointed conservator took steps to auction off the building.
Because Pigeon Palace is in the popular and increasingly expensive Mission neighborhood, the residents feared a new owner might dramatically raise their rents — or kick them out altogether. So they crowdfunded $300,000 and gave it to a non-profit called the San Francisco Community Land Trust, which combined it with loans from a bank and the city to place the winning bid of more than $3 million. The trust then rented units back to the tenants at affordable rates."
As Sacramento jail’s death toll rises, another family demands answers in latest fatality
Sacramento Bee's DARRELL SMITH: "The scene Thursday outside the Sacramento County Main Jail was all too familiar: a grieving Black family clutching handmade signs demanding to know how and why their loved one had died in sheriff’s custody.
Asaiah Washington’s family was the latest. On Thursday, Washington’s family and community advocates gathered at the jail to demand answers for Asaiah and accountability from Sacramento County and Sheriff’s Office leaders for the mounting toll behind bars of what advocates are calling a “death chamber.”"
S.F. drivers get the most red light tickets at these intersections
The Chronicle's DANIELLE ECHEVERRIA: "Drivers barreling down Highway 1 out of the Presidio should think twice before speeding through the traffic signal to beat the red light: the red-light camera stationed at Park Presidio and Lake Street has issued almost 2,500 tickets in the past two years. That makes it San Francisco’s most prolific red- light camera during that period.
The camera is one of 19 at 13 different intersections in the city. Together, the cameras issued more than 23,000 tickets between July 2022 and May 2024, according to data obtained by the Chronicle. Over the past five years, which is as far back as data is available, the cameras have issued more than 58,000 tickets."
