The murder late Wednesday of Philandro Castile by Minnesota police spawned protests across the country. In Dallas, a peaceful protest turned into a killing ground for police: Several people opened fire Thursday night on police officers protecting the marchers -- five officers were fatally shot and seven more were wounded
Patrick McGee, Manny Fernandez and Jonah Engel Bromwich with N.Y. Times write: "At least one sniper, who said he wanted to shoot white police officers, killed five officers and wounded seven others in a coordinated ambush at a demonstration in Dallas on Thursday night against police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana, officials said. The sniper was killed, and three other people are in custody, officials said."
"During an hourslong standoff after the attack, in which two civilians were also wounded, one suspect told police negotiators that “he was upset about Black Lives Matter,” the Dallas police chief, David O. Brown, said on Friday."
“He said he was upset about the recent police shootings,” Chief Brown said. “The suspect said he was upset at white people. The suspect stated he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers.”
READ MORE related to Philando Castile: Philando Castile was a role model to hundreds of kids, colleagues say -- Melissa Chan with TIME; As police shootings continue, bystanders get more sophisticated at filming altercations -- Matt Pearce, Molly Hennessy-Fiske and Erica Evans with L.A. Times; Protests have shut down Interestate 880 for hours: 'No racist police' -- Shelby Grad and Matt Hamilton; Obama condemns 'despicable' shootings of Dallas police officers -- Michael A. Memoli in L.A. Times
California deals with it's own recent fatal police shooting as a recent video of the death of 19-year-old Dylan Noble forces the F.B.I. to begin an investigation.
Veronica Rocha and Richard Winton in the LAT: "Cellphone video showing Fresno police officers shooting an unarmed 19-year-old man lying on the ground at a gas station has sparked protests and prompted the FBI to launch an investigation."
"The shooting, which occurred last month but generated debate this week after the video was made public, is the latest in a series of police use-of-force incidents caught on tape."
"The video shows Dylan Noble lying on the ground on June 25 as two officers with their guns drawn stand feet away from him. As officers yell “Keep your hands up” and other commands, one shot is fired. Seconds later, a third officer approaches the pair, and another shot rings out. At one point during the video, Noble can be seen raising his arm and saying, “I’ve been shot.”"
Meanwhile, it appears Kamala Harris is maintaining a substantial lead over opponent Loretta Sanchez for U.S. Senate.
Sac Bee's Christopher Cadelago writes: "Kamala Harris holds a strong lead over fellow Democrat Loretta Sanchez in the fall contest to succeed California U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, according to the latest Field Poll."
"Harris, the state attorney general, has an early 15-point lead over Sanchez, 39 percent to 24 percent. But the all-Democratic confrontation is causing large numbers of likely voters, especially Republicans and conservatives, to say they will sit out the race in November."
"Some 31 percent of Republicans and 35 percent of strongly conservative voters volunteered that they won’t support either Harris or Sanchez. In a previous poll, conducted in late May, similar numbers of GOP voters told the poll they planned to lay off the contest in the Nov. 8 election."
Are you a state worker? California's Department of Human Resources has some advice for you for planning your next career move.
Rachel Cohrs in Sacramento Bee writes: "Getting a promotion can be great for your career and your wallet. Katie Hagen with the California Department of Human Resources offered a few tips on how to best prepare yourself for the next step. There will likely be plenty of promotional opportunities available in the near future as baby boomers leave the workforce. Hagen said the state is “very concerned about a knowledge loss as folks retire.”
"Dig up your CalCareer account"
"Those interested in promoting can search for a position they want on the California State Jobs website. Then, state employees can sign in to their CalCareer account, which they likely used to apply for their current position. Through their CalCareer account, employees can sign up to receive e-notifications when departments post certain job listings. Those applying for promotions can also upload application documents and resumes to their account."
And as the new downtown arena awaits opening in downtown Sacramento, a new phone app promises to help you find a parking spot there! We'll believe it when we see it....
Tony Bizjak in Sacramento Bee: "Sacramento officials say they plan to launch a smartphone app next month that will allow people headed to the new downtown arena to reserve and pay for a parking spot in a downtown garage days or weeks in advance."
"Hurrying to prepare for large crowds this fall at Golden 1 Center, the city this week announced it has signed a deal with an international parking technology firm, Parkeon, to design an app that will tell drivers which garages have spots available, at what price, and what’s the best route to get there."
"The app, also usable by those not headed to the arena, ensures that parking will be available in the garage the driver chooses, although it does not reserve a specific spot. Garage gates will open automatically using license plate recognition technology."
Recently released documents in PG&E's pipeline safety trial are beginning to reveal that the energy giant chose profits over precaution.
The Chronicle's Bob Egelko reports: "Pacific Gas and Electric Co. says in its ads, its public policy statements and its lawyers’ statements to a federal court jury that customer service and safety come first for California’s largest utility."
"But on Thursday, prosecutors displayed company documents indicating that PG&E’s highest corporate priority in the years leading up to the 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion was profits, with safety and reliability much lower on the list."
"Much of the evidence Thursday, wrapping up the third full week of the criminal trial, consisted of internal company documents, including email exchanges over cuts in safety budgets and, perhaps most importantly, PG&E’s own statements of its priorities."
SEE MORE in Energy/Utilities: Edison calls $3.3 billion settlement 'reasonable' -- Ivan Penn with L.A. Times
Ed Mendel with
Capitol Weekly: "California pension funds take a bigger share of tax revenue than the national state average, a research website shows. Why the growing costs are outpacing the norm is not completely clear."
"A prime suspect for some would be overly generous pensions, particularly what critics say is an “unsustainable” increase for police and firefighters widely adopted to match a big increase given the Highway Patrol by SB 400 in 1999."
"The Public Pension Database does not have information on the formulas that determine pension amounts, like the Highway Patrol’s “3 at 50” or three percent of final pay for each year served at age 50."
#WorstWeekCA: Dorothy Reik for intense crticism she received from those who said she disparaged the passing of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel.
