Rob Reiner’s son arrested on suspicion of homicide as more details emerge about shocking killings
LAT, STAFF: "Rob Reiner’s son Nick was arrested on suspicion of murdering his parents after the Hollywood legend and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead at their Brentwood home Sunday.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said that officers responded to the Reiner home at about 3:40 p.m. Detectives from the elite Robbery-Homicide Division “worked throughout the night” and took Nick Reiner, 32, into custody."
Rob Reiner was more than a Hollywood legend. He helped shape California politics
CALMatters, RYAN SABALOW: "The rest of the country may remember Hollywood legend Rob Reiner for his work in front of and behind the camera, but in California, he leaves behind a political legacy that endures beyond his films and movie and television roles.
Reiner, a longtime Democratic activist, donor and fundraiser, played a critical role in the legalization of same-sex marriage in California, and he was a driving force behind California’s signature early-childhood development program, First 5."
READ MORE -- Rob Reiner remembered for political activism. ‘He made California a better place’ -- SacBee, DON SWEENEY; Five things to know about Rob Reiner’s life, work and political reach -- SacBee, GRAHAM WOMACK
‘This is a sick man’: Newsom leads backlash to Trump’s unhinged response to Reiner killings
Chronicle, AIDIN VAZIRI: "President Donald Trump faced swift backlash Monday after he used the killing of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, to make an unfounded political claim linking the deaths to criticism of him.
The response, which came as authorities continued investigating the case, drew condemnation across the political spectrum, including from some of Trump’s typical allies."
Feds say antigovernment group plotted New Year’s Eve bombings in Southern California
LAT, GRACE TOOHEY: "A plan to attack several Los Angeles-area businesses on New Year’s Eve was detailed, dangerous and already in motion, authorities said.
But as four people allegedly tied to a left-wing, antigovernment group gathered last week in the Mojave Desert to make and test several test bombs, FBI officials say, agents were able to foil the terror plot."
Trump’s plan to pump more water in California is ill-conceived and harmful, lawmakers say
LAT, IAN JAMES: "A Trump administration plan to pump more water to Central Valley farmlands is facing vehement opposition from Democratic members of Congress who represent the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and the Bay Area.
A group of seven legislators led by Rep. John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove) said pumping more water will threaten the availability of water for many Californians, disrupt longstanding state-federal cooperation and put the Delta’s native fish at risk."
The hydrants will run dry: Trump’s LA fire claims missed the mark, study shows
CALMatters, RACHEL BECKER: "As firefighters battled catastrophic fires in Los Angeles last January, one question reverberated across the country: Where was the water?
The question came from wealthy developer Rick Caruso and then-President-elect Donald Trump, from reporters and residents. It prompted executive orders and state and federal investigations. Once the fires were more ash than flame, the Trump administration used a water shortage to justify its baffling move to release vital summer irrigation supplies from two reservoirs that do not supply Los Angeles."
Immigrant truck drivers have become collateral damage in the state's war with Trump
Chronicle, SARA DINATALE: "Many asylum-seeking immigrants and DACA recipients with valid documents were among the 17,000 commercial drivers whose licenses were canceled last month by California amid pressure from the Trump administration, cutting them off from their livelihood amid the busy holiday driving season.
California told thousands of drivers in November their licenses would be canceled by Jan. 6 because state records showed the expiration date on their federal work permits came before the expiration date on their state-issued license. But the state was unaware that the work permits of many of the drivers had been extended, meaning there was no conflict between the dates."
Trump immigration raids take toll on child-care workers in California and nationwide
LAT, MORIAH BALINGIT/JENNY GOLD: "Not long after President Trump took office, the staff at CentroNía bilingual preschool in Washington began rehearsing what to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents came to the door. As ICE became a regular presence in their Latino neighborhood in the summer, teachers stopped taking children to nearby parks, libraries and playgrounds that had once been considered an extension of the classroom.
And in October, the school scrapped its beloved Hispanic Heritage Month parade, when immigrant parents typically dressed their children in costumes and soccer jerseys from their home countries. ICE officers had begun stopping staff members, all of whom have legal status, and school officials worried about drawing more unwelcome attention."
Eric Swalwell absent from Congress since entering governor’s race
SacBee, LIA RUSSELL: "In late October, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, posted a video of himself on Facebook criticizing anonymous masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for swarming a woman in a Wal-Mart parking lot, peppering her with questions about where she was born.
“These masked bandits, and that’s what they are, they’re running around like they’re invincible,” Swalwell said into the camera, wearing a “No Kings” protest baseball cap. “Accountability is coming.”"
Tani Cantil-Sakauye and the Alliance of Former Chief Justices (PODCAST)
Capitol Weekly, STAFF: "December 15 is Bill of Rights Day – it is also the launch date for a new organization comprised of over 40 retired state Supreme Court Chief Justices committed to educating the public about the role of the judiciary and protecting the constitutional balance put in place by the Founders. The Alliance of Former Chief Justices is a project of Keep Our Republic, a non-partisan civic education organization committed to “strengthening the vitality of America’s democracy by promoting trust in elections, the rule of law, and the constitutional system of checks and balances.
We’re joined today by former California Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who was appointed to the high court by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010 and served until January 2023. Following her term on the Supreme Court she has served as the President and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California. The launch of the new organization comes at a fraught time, as judges across the nation face heightened political pressure and public attacks. Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye spoke with us about the need to bolster the public’s understanding of the judiciary and the crucial role the judiciary plays in the separation of powers that is a hallmark of the American system of government.”"
Dear Dems: if you want to woo voters, cap the rent (OP-ED)
Capitol Weekly, CHRISTINA LIVINGSTON: "The race to win the 2026 elections to save our country from all-out authoritarianism has begun. Last month’s election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s next mayor—running on a bold platform of freezing rents for 2.4 million rent-stabilized tenants—shows exactly how Democrats can win. California Democratic leadership, from Assembly leader Robert Rivas to Governor Gavin Newsom, have pledged to address Californian’s kitchen table economics. But they continue to ignore one of the most powerful tools available to provide immediate relief to millions now—rent caps.
The disconnect is staggering. A new report shows California tied with Louisiana for the highest poverty rate in the country, driven by the crushing cost of housing. And yet many of our elected officials remain paralyzed by the myth that capping rents is politically toxic. It’s time to set the record straight: rent caps aren’t just good policy, it’s a winning issue that Democrats can lead on to rebuild trust with working families in 2026."
Men will also lose out from cuts to Planned Parenthood
Capitol Weekly, LEAH O'TARROW: "As a recent college graduate without health insurance, George Roehr knew where to go when he noticed a lump that seemed to be growing.
“I made an appointment for Planned Parenthood, the doctor performed a physical examination, and just within seconds, felt it, looked at me and said, ‘You should go see a specialist,’” Roehr said."
More adults return to college in California as inflation and job fears rise
CALMatters, ADAM ECHELMAN: "If you want to gauge the health of California’s economy, start with its community colleges.
“When the economy is doing well, our enrollments are down, and when the economy is in a tough stretch or in a recession, we see our enrollments go up,” said Chris Ferguson, an executive vice chancellor with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, which oversees all of the state’s 116 community colleges."
Upheaval hits Oakland schools with senior staff shakeup amid budget crisis
Chronicle, JILL TUCKER: "Oakland’s school district has been mired for months in political infighting over how to pull out of a financial tailspin, but late last week, the situation took a turn for the worse with the sudden departure of two key officials — the chief of staff and the chief business officer.
Lisa Grant-Dawson, the CBO, confirmed to the Chronicle she gave notice late Friday. She will meet with her staff to hand off responsibilities and then remain on leave until her contract officially expires on July 1, she said Monday."
Diversity and representation of women on streaming TV series in sharp decline, UCLA study shows
LAT, GREG BRAXTON: "Popular dramas and comedies on streaming services showed a sharp decline in cultural diversity from last year, signaling a troubling trend in the TV industry in terms of inclusion, a new UCLA study concluded.
The latest edition of the Hollywood Diversity Report released Tuesday, which examined the diversity of performers, creators and viewers in the top 250 series on streaming platforms, determined that the top shows in 2024 were less culturally diverse than the previous year and that people of color and women are facing more limited opportunities behind the camera."
‘A matter of time’: Fatal stabbing at S.F. General came after years of sanctions and warnings
Chronicle, ST. JOHN BARNED-SMITH/ANNIE VAINSHTEIN: "Staff members at San Francisco General Hospital’s Ward 86 were afraid.
For weeks, they had been warning the Department of Public Health, which runs the hospital, that an angry and delusional patient was targeting a doctor on their floor, the hospital’s long-term HIV outpatient clinic."
Will there be snow to ski in Tahoe by Christmas? Here’s what the forecast says
Chronicle, GREG PORTER: "Christmas week is one of the busiest times of the year in Tahoe. But with the region in the midst of the worst start to a season in nearly a half a century, the question is: Will there be enough snow to ski?
Right now, the answer is complicated."
Big rain and snow could hit California around Christmas, risking floods, landslides and snarling travel
LAT, RONG-GONG LIN II: "Big rain and snow could hit California around Christmastime, ending a long dry spell for the state.
There’s a high risk for heavy rainfall along the entire California coast between Dec. 23 through Christmas Day, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center said. There’s also a high risk of heavy snow along the Sierra Nevada."
Serious backlash to a Netflix/Warner Bros deal may come from European regulators
LAT, MICHAEL HILTZIK: "If you’re looking for where the most crucial governmental backlash to a merger deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery, you might want to turn your attention east — to Europe, where regulators are girding to take an early look at any such deal.
Both of the leading bidders — Netflix, which has the blessing of the WBD board, and Paramount, which launched a hostile takeover bid — could face obstacles from the European Union. EU officials have spoken only vaguely about their role in judging whatever deal emerges, since the outcome of the tussle remains in doubt."
Amazon distribution center at LAX sells for record price
LAT, ROGER VINCENT: "An Amazon warehouse near the gates of Los Angeles International Airport has sold for a record price as logistics centers near transportation hubs grow in value.
The real estate investment arm of global financial services firm Morgan Stanley recently paid $211 million for the distribution center on 98th Street amid several private long-term parking structures that serve LAX."
This liberal city sees San Francisco as a role model — for home building failure
Chronicle, CHRISTIAN LEONARD: "Alana Moore stood in the doorway of the home she thought she would never own.
A longtime renter, the thought of actually buying a home in a city like Portland felt impossible. In her neighborhood, the typical home costs nearly $600,000, according to real estate company Zillow. The median household income in Portland is just $86,000."
Traveling for the holidays in California? Here are best times to drive and fly
SacBee, ANGELA RODRIGUEZ: "The holidays bring crowded stores, packed schedules and busy roads — and this year will be no exception.
According to AAA, holiday travel is expected to set a new record, with an estimated 122.4 million people traveling at least 50 miles from home between Saturday, Dec. 20, and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1."
Oakland airport now lets non-ticketed visitors go past security for goodbyes at the gate
Chronicle, AIDIN VAZIRI: "The scene once common at American airports — families lingering for one more hug at the gate, friends waving until a jet bridge door closed — is returning to Oakland, at least for travelers willing to plan ahead.
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport began offering what it calls an OAK Guest Pass on Monday, allowing members of the public without airline tickets to enter the post-security side of its terminals."
