Sen. Diane Feinstein publicly accused the C.I.A. of spying on Congress.
From The New York Times’ Mark Mazzetti: “The chairwoman of the Senate intelligence committee on Tuesday accused the Central Intelligence Agency of improperly removing documents from computers that committee staff members had been using to complete a report on the agency’s detention program, saying the move was part of an effort to intimidate the committee.”
“Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California and the chairwoman of the committee, suggested on the Senate floor that the agency had violated federal law and said the C.I.A. had undermined Congress’s constitutional right to oversee the actions of the executive branch.”
The rift between state Democrats over an oil extraction method, known as “fracking,” is more apparent than ever.
From SF Gate’s David R. Baker: “The split erupted into public view when fracking opponents heckled Brown throughout his speech at the recent California Democratic Party convention. While some delegates shouted "Ban fracking!" others held aloft signs proclaiming "Another Democrat Against Fracking." The state party's platform now calls for a fracking moratorium - an idea Brown rejects.”
State Attorney General Kamala Harris and lawmakers are cracking down on rising absenteeism in California schools.
Jane Meredith Adams in Ed Source: “About 1 million California elementary school students each year are truant, meaning they have three or more unexcused absences or tardies. Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10 percent or more school days during the year, is a strong predictor of dropping out of school, Harris said, and has enormous social and financial costs for the student, school and state.”
The state Legislature’s “Woman of the Year” event honored transgender activists.
From San Francisco Chronicle’s Melody Gutierrez: “Three transgender women were honored Monday during a “Woman of the Year” celebration in the state Assembly for their work toward breaking down barriers and fighting for equality.”
For what his supporters called a lifelong commitment to gay rights, activists honored Gov. Brown at an Equality California reception.
From the Associated Press’ Juliet Williams: “It also cited his signing of several pieces of legislation since he became governor again in 2011, including legislation last year that guarantees students in grades K-12 the right to use the school restrooms and to participate in the sex-segregated activities that correspond with their expressed genders instead of their school records. Opponents had sought to put a referendum on the law on the ballot this year, but failed to gather enough signatures.”
“Brown did not directly address that legislation in a brief speech to the group, but said when he first became involved in politics, "there was nothing like the recognition, the appreciation or the respect that lesbian and gay, transgender, bisexual individuals now get."
The senate killed resolutions to suspend two Democratic senators involved in criminal cases.
From Sacramento Bee’s Laurel Rosenhall: “The latest move came Monday after Senate Republican leader Bob Huff introduced two resolutions, one calling for the Senate to suspend Sen. Rod Wright and the other to suspend Sen. Ron Calderon. Republicans have previously asked for Wright to be dismissed but Monday was the first time they asked for a vote on Calderon's fate in the Senate. The resolutions, SR 34 and SR 35, call for temporarily removing the senators, with pay, until their legal cases are resolved.”
Assemblyman Tim Donnelly called for a debate with GOP gubernatorial opponent Neel Kashkari at the party’s convention this week. That’s not going to happen.
From the Los Angeles Times’ Anthony York: “Alas, say state party officials, it appears as if it is not to be. The two Republican candidates are not even scheduled to address the full convention, but will be addressing smaller groups of activists throughout the weekend.”
Four San Diego lawmakers are running unopposed in their districts.
From UT-San Diego’s Mike Gardner: “Although running unopposed, local lawmakers will still appear on the ballot. They are free to collect campaign contributions and can distribute limited amounts to other candidates in need of resources.”
Orange County Transportation Authority officials have fired their Sacramento lobbying firm.
From Voice of OC’s Nick Gerda: “The firm and its principal, Kevin Sloat, were recently fined $133,500 by the state Fair Political Practices Commission for illegally providing state legislators with liquor, wine, cigars, sports tickets and flowers.”
Hundred of cannabis clubs will be shutting their doors in the City of Los Angeles.
Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times: “More than 100 pot shops have shut down since Los Angeles started enforcing its new rules restricting medical marijuana dispensaries, City Atty. Mike Feuer announced Monday.”
“Feuer said he was now stepping up that work, hiring two new attorneys who would exclusively tackle prosecutions under Proposition D, the measure passed by voters last spring. Staffers are also focusing more attention on real estate professionals and landlords renting space to marijuana dispensaries, providing them with a new brochure that warns of steep fines and jail time for breaking the rules.”
Now you can tour Napa's vineyards like never before.
Michelle Locke reports for the Associated Press: “ Come to California wine country taste the… olive oil?”
“Yes, there's liquid gold hidden among the vines, part of an olive oil boom in recent years. You can tour an orchard, learn what extra-virgin olive oil really means and taste your way through lemon-, herb- and even chocolate-infused olive oils. Harvest is usually around the end of the year, but any time is good for a visit. Here are five recommended "pit" stops.”
