Gov. Brown has put on hold a plan to link California's power grid with those in five western states -- a departure from his administration's earlier position.
The Bee's Adam Ashton reports: "Brown sent letters on Monday to legislative leaders announcing that he wanted state agencies to take more time studying whether California’s Independent System Operator should link with the multistate grid managed by Oregon-based PacifiCorp."
"Some advocates for the proposal had been urging lawmakers to approve the expansion before the end of the state’s legislative session this month. The ISO reaches about 80 percent of Californians through Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric."
"The plan met resistance from groups that feared California would inadvertently support PacifiCorp coal-fired plants by connecting with the company, as well as from public utilities who worried they’d be forced to pay higher fees to move power on transmission lines owned by the larger grid."
Meanwhile, California's Supreme Court has decided that legislators' votes are a form of free speech and, thus, constitutionally protected.
Maura Dolan with LAT reports: "The California Supreme Court decided Monday that the votes of elected officials are protected free speech."
"The state high court ruled in a lawsuit brought by the city of Montebello against three former council members and a city administrator. Montebello contended the officials had violated a conflict of interest law in supporting a garbage hauling contract in exchange for campaign contributions."
"In a 5-2 decision, Justice Carol A. Corrigan wrote that voting by an elected official was protected by a state law designed to combat lawsuits that chill free speech. The law allows defendants to bring a special motion to throw out such a lawsuit at an early stage."
Donald Trump's tensions with the Republican establishment are increasing, as 50 GOP officials -- some hailing from Nixon's administration -- are contendng publicly that he would be the worst president this country's ever had.
Evan Halper reports in L.A. Times: "Donald Trump’s problems inside his own party were compounded Monday when 50 senior national security officials who have served under GOP administrations stretching back to that of Richard Nixon warned he “would be the most reckless president in American history.”
"None of us will vote for Donald Trump," said the letter, in which some of the most influential players in defense policy warned he would be "dangerous" in the Oval Office."
"Those who signed include Michael Chertoff and Tom Ridge, both former secretaries of Homeland Security, as well as John Negroponte, who served as director of national intelligence."
Transparency in Public Safety is in the spotlight this week as the Sacramento City Police Commission has suggested an ordinance requiring police camera footage be released to the public when lethal force or death-in-custody falls upon a detainee/suspect.
Anita Chabria reports in Sac Bee: "The Sacramento Community Police Commission may ask the City Council to pass an ordinance requiring the release of dashboard and body camera footage from officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths."
"The recommendation was made by a subgroup of four members of the Commission, who examined transparency issues in city policing and presented their findings to the entire panel Monday night."
"A key aspect of their report suggested the police department create a website where details of all officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths would be available to the public. The recommendation called for the website to include dashboard and body camera footage and for the information to be available according to a schedule."
READ MORE in Public Safety: Sacramento fire crews arrive 2 minutes later than national average -- Anita Chabria with Sac Bee
If parking in downtown Sacramento hasn't irritated you already, prepare for this: The Golden 1 Arena parking plan, with variable-priced parking encompassing multiple city blocks.
Sac Bee's Tony Bizjak writes: "The city of Sacramento is proposing a series of event-parking zones around Golden 1 Center where it can charge variable prices for street and garage parking when the downtown arena opens in two months."
"The proposed zones will be discussed Tuesday at a City Council law and legislation committee hearing. City parking officials are seeking the OK to establish boundaries for four event-parking zones for street meters in a 12-block area around the arena."
"Parking chief Matt Eierman said no decision has been made yet on event-related rates. But he said the amounts will be higher close to the arena, notably in the immediate three-block area. He said city staff is contemplating flat fees for major arena events that could range from $11.25 for fans who reserve a city garage spot in advance to $18.75 for those seeking a street-metered spot close to the arena."
The resolution of issues surrounding embattled UC Davis chancellor Linda Katehi's is expected to be disclosed at a special meeting of the UC regents onThursday.
Diana Lambert and Sam Stanton with Sac Bee write: "In what may signal a decision on the future of UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi, the University of California Board of Regents has scheduled a special meeting Thursday to discuss a “personnel matter, Davis Campus.”
"The meeting, to be held at UC San Diego at 2:30 p.m., is closed and will be attended by regents only, according to an agenda item posted late Monday."
"UC spokeswoman Dianne Klein would not say whether the special meeting was about Katehi. The session is billed as a “special meeting,” although the Health Services, and Governance and Compensation committees were already going to meet that day."
SEE MORE related to Education: Recent crimes raise safety concerns for students on campus -- Mira Chaplin with The Daily Californian; Disease rates likely to fall as new vaccination laws take affect, medical experts say -- Jane Meredith Adams with EdSource.
