The governor and other Golden State denizens have chimed in on Trump's budget plan and its ramifications for California.
Sacramento Bee's WALTER KO: "Here are some responses to President Donald J. Trump’s proposed budget:"
"Gov. Jerry Brown:"
“This budget proposal is based on utterly bogus economic assumptions. It gives a massive tax break to the wealthiest, while imposing painful and debilitating burdens on tens of millions of decent and hard-working people. It’s unconscionable and un-American."
READ MORE related to Economy: Tempers flare as troubled California tax board weighs audit reforms -- Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON; Can Sacramento city and county do a better job with affordable housing? -- Sacramento Bee's ELLEN GARRISON/ANITA CHABRIA; Fairytale Town could see a growth spurt for the first time since the 1960s -- Sacramento Bee's ALEXANDRA YOON-HENDRICKS; Trump budget underscores new national priorities: slashing the safety net and taxes -- LA Times' BRIAN BENNETT/DON LEE/LISA MASCARO; SF supervisors OK taller buildings in exchange for affordable housing -- The Chronicle's RACHEL SWAN; Trump budget: More for the military, less for the poor -- AP's ANDREW TAYLOR/MARTIN CRUTSINGER
Also in reference to the governor: Jerry Brown took a tour through southeast LA on Tuesday to see the effects of pollution in lower income communities where renewable energy programs have yet to take root.
LA Times' TONY BARBOZA/CHRIS MEGERIAN: "Gov. Jerry Brown slipped quietly into southeast Los Angeles County on Tuesday to tour some of California’s most polluted neighborhoods and meet with activists who have criticized his administration for doing too little to protect the health of the people living there."
READ MORE related to Environment: Lamb on the lam: Escaped lamb leads Fremont police on wild sheep chase -- The Chronicle's FILIPA IOANNOU; Massive landslide brings new level of isolation to Big Sur -- The Chronicle's KURITS ALEXANDER; Long Beach one of the best US cities for access to local parks -- Daily News' ANDREW EDWARDS
Is the president's mental health deteriorating? Speech analysts, cognitive therapists and other experts examine Donald Trump's speaking history over the entirety of his public life, and many are wondering if the onsets of dimentia are now starting to creep in.
STAT's Sharon Begley: "It was the kind of utterance that makes professional transcribers question their career choice:"
" … there is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign, but I can always speak for myself - and the Russians, zero."
"When President Trump offered that response to a question at a press conference last week, it was the latest example of his tortured syntax, mid-thought changes of subject, and apparent trouble formulating complete sentences, let alone a coherent paragraph, in unscripted speech."
READ MORE related to Beltway/Kremlingate: Here's why US intel agencies homed in on the Trump campaign over its Russia ties -- McClatchy DC's MATTHEW SCHOFIELD; From a friendly Mideast, Trump arrives in a skeptical Europe -- LA Times' ERIK KIRSCHBAUM/LAURA KING; Trump-Russia story is a threat to Fox News' ratings dominance -- LA Times' STEPHEN BATTAGLIO; Sean Hannity: 'I am not going to stop trying to find the truth' -- LA Times' STEPHEN BATTAGLIO/DAVID NG; French interior minister says Manchester suicide bomber had been to Syria -- AP; Trump makes personal appeal to both sides for Mideast peace -- AP's JONATHAN LEMIRE/JULIE PACE; Southern California clergy hope Trump Vatican visit will heal divisions -- Daily News' BRENDA GAZZAR
Speaking of health, California is expected to fork over ~$1.3B for Medi-Cal, despite an already precariously balanced budget.
California Healthline's EMILY BAZAR: "California will contribute about $1.3 billion to its Medi-Cal expansion this year, a new expenditure that will further strain an already burdened health care budget."
"This year marks the first time states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act will have to pitch in to help fund their expansion of the program. Their share of the overall price tag compared with federal contributions is small – 5 percent of the cost to cover newly eligible enrollees – but that still equates to real money in the Golden State."
"That’s because the expansion of Medi-Cal, California’s version of the federal Medicaid program for low-income residents, has added nearly 4 million additional enrollees, according to the state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Most other states don’t have that many enrollees in their entire Medicaid programs."
All PD officers in Sacramento will be expected to be fully equipped with body cameras by the end of this fall.
Sacramento Bee's ANITA CHABRIA: "The Sacramento Police Department has been rolling out body cameras for police officers over the past few months, and it expects to place them on all patrol officers by this fall."
"Right now, you can find the square-box cameras on officers who don’t have access to in-car cameras, including bike patrols, horse-mounted officers and motorcycle cops. But as the cameras become more common, police want the public to know they’re being filmed, and what exactly those cameras are catching."
"Here are three facts to know:"
The perception of the assault on the 1st amendment at academic institutions in recent months due to the incorporation of 'free speech zones' has fired up a bipartisan effort to remove the borders from said zones and instead create 'free speech campuses.'
LA Times' MELANIE MASON: "In the realm of political odd couples, state Sen. Jim Nielsen of Gerber and aspiring public interest lawyer Nicolas Tomas may be among the oddest. Tomas, a 26-year-old Democrat, is a promoter of the vegan lifestyle. Nielsen, a 72-year-old Republican, is a cattleman and dairyman by trade."
"The unlikely duo found common cause in pushing back against what they see as a climate of restricted free speech on college campuses. Two years ago, Tomas sued Cal Poly Pomona for preventing him from distributing pro-vegan leaflets outside of the “free speech zone”— a 144-square-foot area designated for such activities. Now, Nielsen is carrying a bill to dismantle the use of these zones on public campuses."
"The growing number of lawsuits aimed at knocking down speech limits on campus — along with recent high-profile cancellations of controversial speakers such as Ann Coulter at UC Berkeley because of safety concerns — has sparked a raucous public debate over how the 1st Amendment is practiced at colleges and universities."
READ MORE related to Education: After raising tuition, Cal State trustees grapple with smaller budget increase in governor's latest proposal -- LA Times' ROSANNA XIA
A recent United Airlines flight from Newark, NJ to San Francisco, CA had to remain grounded after the aircraft's engine burst into flames as the plane was beginning to take off.
AP: "New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport has temporarily closed after a plane engine caught fire."
"United Airlines Flight 1579 from Newark to San Francisco was scheduled to take off Tuesday night when its engine caught fire, officials say."
"A spokesman for United, Jonathan Guerin, said the tower notified the crew of what appeared to be flames from one of the engines. He said the crew immediately deployed the plane's slides and evacuated the passengers."
READ MORE related to Transportation: Southern California Edison to offer $450 rebate for all-electric, plug-in hybrid vehicle owners -- Daily News' STEVE SCAUZILLO; Losing their kicks? Funds for Route 66 towns may be at risk -- AP's RUSSEL CONTRERAS
The immigration hardline from the new administration could be the root cause of why LA wage-theft complaints have slowed to a crawl.
Daily News' ELIZABETH CHOU: "Recent federal immigration policy may be deterring some low-wage workers in Los Angeles from coming forward to report employers who cheat them out of their wages, the city’s lead wage theft inspector said Tuesday."
"John Reamer, an inspector who works out of the Public Works Department, told the City Council their office recovered $250,000 in back wages or paid leave compensation in their first year, but complaints came in slower than anticipated."
"He said there could be a number of different reasons, but noted one “could be the concern over the national approach, and not wanting to bring themselves in to file a complaint."
