There's a big challenge in stemming Berkeley protest violence: Bringing the cases to court
SF Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER/EVAN SERNOFFSKY: "Scenes of chaos have repeatedly emerged from Berkeley this year — people pummeling each other with punches, kicks and makeshift weapons, from sticks to pepper spray to bike locks, amid clashes between right-wing activists and left-wing counterprotesters in the famously political city."
"But though scores of videos of violence at demonstrations have gone viral, and despite authorities’ efforts to stop the mayhem, relatively few of those in the thick of things have been hauled into court."
Meanwhile, the agony of Harvey continues. A historic rainfall record is broken and Houston imposes a curfew. The death toll climbs to 18.
LA Times' JENNY JARVIE/MOLLY HENNESSY-FISKE: "City officials in Houston imposed an overnight curfew to guard against opportunistic crimes as Tropical Storm Harvey continued to deluge southeast Texas on Tuesday, breaking the record for the most extreme rainfall on the U.S. mainland."
"Authorities announced the curfew — midnight to 5 a.m. — after police arrested a crew of armed robbers who were hijacking vehicles, and officials warned residents of people impersonating Homeland Security investigators. There also were fears of looting as thousands of houses lay partially submerged and abandoned."
"Since Harvey made landfall Friday night as a hurricane, some areas around Houston have seen in excess of 50 inches of rain — more than what they usually receive in a year. Authorities said the death toll had risen to 18, including a Houston police officer who drowned in his car on the way to work."
READ MORE related to Hurricane Harvey: Rocket was scheduled to die. Now the ex-Sacramento shelter dog is aiding first responders in Houston -- Sacramento Bee's HANNAH KNOWLES; Crippled Houston watches dams, levees; forecast offers hope -- AP's NOMAAN MERCHANT/JUAN LOZANO; Posts, tweets spread widely as the Harvey missing are sought -- AP's ANDREW DALTON; Professor fired for calling Hurricane Harvy 'karma' for Trump voters -- Mercury News' JASON GREEN
Agency misspent $32 million, but Interior Department has held no one to account
McClatchyDC's STUART LEAVENWORTH: "Investigators have confirmed that a federal water agency misspent $32 million in funds meant to protect fish and wildlife in the Klamath basin of California and Oregon, a finding that Obama-era officials attempted to sideline after whistleblowers first alerted them to it."
"According to a report from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, sent to President Donald Trump and obtained this week by McClatchy, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for eight years effectively handed the money to a Klamath water project controlled by private irrigators, with few or no controls on how the funds were spent."
"The bureau, part of the Interior Department, shut down the water bank in 2016 after two whistleblowers alleged it was transferring money to irrigators that was intended for environmental purposes. But agency leaders have continued to dispute any wrongdoing and have apparently taken no administrative action against those responsible."
Meanwhile, in the truly important news of the day, Capitol Weekly released its Top 100 List for 2017.
CW Staff: "It’s time again for Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 list, as subjective a ranking as exists anywhere in politics, and one that sparks wildy diverse reactions – even some that are positive."
"Dear God, you’re not doing that again,” said one. “You’ve got people on that list who haven’t been in the building (Capitol) in years… go get some new blood!” snapped another. “Who the hell is ____?” said another. “This is great! Our staff uses it for sourcing,” said still another."
"There are 22 people new to this year’s ranking compared with 2016 — changes that we believe reflect political and policy developments in the Capitol. And for those who aren’t on the list this time around: Some retired, some got new gigs, and some just weren’t as central to the political zeitgeist as they were last year. Others have simply moved up or down the ranks."
READ MORE related to Capitol Weekly: Brown's commutations: A journey through violence, redemption -- CW's CHUCK MCFADDEN
Spokeo lawsuit highlights challenge of protecting privacy in digital age.
LA Times' DAVID LAZARUS: "For anyone who feels powerless about controlling their personal information in a world of search engines and public databases, take heart. A recent court ruling suggests you might have more muscle than you thought."
"The case involves a Pasadena company called Spokeo, which operates a “people search” website that instantaneously pulls together information from publicly available sources."
"The company says it helps users “know more about the people in their lives.” It does this by providing “access to social-media profiles, court records, criminal records, names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, marital status and more."
Google effect unleashes downtown San Jose property boom
Mercury News' GEORGE AVALOS: "Google’s effort to acquire a broad swath of downtown San Jose properties for a massive new tech campus is triggering a sharp jump in selling prices for commercial real estate in the area."
"The internet search giant’s plan to expand into San Jose with a new campus employing up to 20,000 Googlers near the Diridon train station and SAP Center could take years to become a reality, if the company moves ahead with plans to build."
Pentagon chief Mattis freezes Trump's ban on transgender troops, calls for more study
WaPo's DAN LAMOTHE: "Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announced Tuesday that he is freezing the implementation of President Donald Trump's ban on transgender people serving in the military, saying that he will first establish a panel of experts to provide advice and recommendations on how to carry out Trump's directive."
"The Pentagon confirmed the move in a statement attributed to Mattis, saying that the Pentagon will first develop a study and implementation plan "as directed" by the president in a memorandum released Friday. Soon-to-be arriving political appointees at the Defense Department "will play an important role in this effort," the statement added. The plan will address both the potential for transgender people looking to serve in the military for the first time, and transgender troops who already are serving."
"Our focus must always be on what is best for the military's combat effectiveness leading to victory on the battlefield," Mattis said. "To that end, I will establish a panel of experts serving within the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to provide advice and recommendations on the implementation of the president's direction."
Trump to kick off tax-cut push with speech devoid of details, White House says
LA Times' JIM PUZZANGHERA: "President Trump will kick off a weeks-long effort to sell Americans on tax cuts with a speech on Wednesday in Missouri that aides said will not contain any details on a Republican plan that still is being drafted."
"Trump will use the event at the Loren Cook Co. manufacturing plant in Springfield, Mo., to explain why Congress should cut corporate rates and make other changes to the federal tax code, said senior White House officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide a preview of the president’s remarks."
"This is not a ‘how’ speech,” said one official."
READ MORE related to POTUS45/Beltway: Why Trump's threat to withdraw from NAFTA is an empty one -- LA Times' DON LEE; Sen. Dianne Feinstein laments that Trump hasn't brought the nation together -- LA Times' MINA CORPUZ; Sen. Dianne Feinstein booed at San Francisco event after saying she hopes Trump can change -- Mercury News' CASEY TOLAN
Indigenous Peoples Day or Diversity Day? LA is poised to rename Columbus Day, but councilmen have different ideas
LA Times' DAVID ZAHNISER: "Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino has long been effusive about his Italian heritage, bringing opera singers to City Hall and posting YouTube videos about his family’s tomato sauce and his parents’ move from Sicily."
"Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, a member of the Wyandotte Nation, is equally passionate about his Native American roots. When he took office four years ago, he was sworn in by his tribe’s chief, who performed a traditional blessing at the event."
"Now the two councilmen, one from a neighborhood next to the port, the other representing the increasingly affluent Echo Park-to-Hollywood area, are at odds over an incendiary issue: Columbus Day."
READ MORE related to Immigration: Sacramento reassures 'dreamers' that federal action won't change local welcome -- Sacramento Bee's ANITA CHABRIA
A 16-year-old walked into a New Mexico library on Monday, and then immediately opened fire. "Run! Why aren't you running? I'm shooting at you! RUN!" Multiple people were injured, including a 10-year-old boy.
WaPo's ANDREW DEGRANDPRE/AMY B WANG: "Authorities in Clovis, N.M., intend to file first-degree murder charges against a 16-year-old high school student accused of killing two and wounding four during a shooting rampage inside the city’s library."
"Clovis Police said Tuesday that Nathaniel Jouett was armed with two handguns when he entered the facility about 4:15 p.m. Monday and killed two library employees: Wanda Walters, 61, and Kristina Carter, 48. Officials identified the wounded as Howard Jones, 53, Jessica Thron, 30, Alexis Molina, 20, and Noah Molina, 10."
"All four remain hospitalized, with Thron and Alexis Molina the most seriously injured, officials said."
READ MORE related to Teen Mass Shooting: Teen mass shooting suspect was searching for 'inner peace' -- AP
Another week, another resignation; Hollywood finally addresses sexual harassment
LA Times' MEREDITH BLAKE: "Last week, the Los Angeles film community was shaken when two key figures at Cinefamily, a popular nonprofit theater on Fairfax Avenue, resigned after accusations of sexual harassment and assault circulated on social media. A few days later, Cinefamily announced that it was suspending its programming to conduct an investigation."
"A disturbing local story, but also another example in a larger one:"
"A generation after Anita Hill forced the term into the lexicon, Hollywood is finally taking sexual harassment seriously."
Expedia chief Dara Khosrowshahi accepts job as Uber's new CEO
LA Times' TRACEY LIEN: "Dara Khosrowshahi, the low-profile chief executive of travel booking company Expedia, on Tuesday accepted an offer to be Uber’s next CEO."
"In an email sent to Uber employees two days after offering him the job, the company’s board of directors confirmed Khosrowshahi’s appointment."
“We’re really fortunate to gain a leader with Dara’s experience, talent and vision,” the email read. “The board and the executive leadership team are confident that Dara is the best person to lead Uber into the future building world-class products, transforming cities, and adding value to the lives of drivers and riders around the world while continuously improving our culture and making Uber the best place to work."
READ MORE related to Transportation: Uber reportedly cooperationg with US investigation on possible overseas bribes -- LA Times' PARESH DAVE
Get an email with IRS and FBI emblems? It's likely a scam to take your data hostage
Sacramento Bee's MARK GLOVER: "The Internal Revenue Service has issued an urgent warning about a new phishing scheme that impersonates the IRS and the FBI as part of a ransomware scam to take computer data hostage."
"The scam email displays the emblems of both the IRS and FBI in an attempt to entice users to select a link to download a fake FBI questionnaire."
"Instead, the link downloads ransomware that prevents users from accessing data stored on their devices unless they pay money to the scammers."
Deadly online rap battle prompts Sacramento to move forward on controversial gang problem
Sacramento Bee's ANITA CHABRIA/RYAN LILLIS: "A deadly shooting in Meadowview over the weekend related to a trio of local rappers and the gangs who support them pushed the Sacramento City Council to immediately approve a controversial gun-violence prevention program that targets the handful of young men suspected of being behind most of the violence."
"In front of a packed City Council Chambers, the council voted 9-0 on Tuesday to adopt a three-year, $1.5 million contract for Advance Peace, a mentoring and intervention approach to gun violence. Pioneered in Richmond, the program is credited by city leaders there for significantly reducing gun crime, but has been criticized for giving cash stipends to participants for reaching goals such as earning a high school diploma."
"The Advance Peace program in Sacramento would target about 50 young men, mostly black and Latino, who are thought by police and city leaders to be responsible for most gun violence in the city, especially gang-related crimes that are often retaliatory and personal. City police are currently investigating five homicides this year that are possibly gang related, said police spokesman Officer Eddie Macaulay. In total, 13 people in the city have died this year from gunshot wounds."
Kaiser Permanente hit with $2.2 million fine
East Bay Times' CHAD TERHUNE: "California officials have again slapped health care giant Kaiser Permanente with a multimillion-dollar fine for failing to provide data on patient care to the state’s Medicaid program."
"The $2.2 million fine comes just months after a $2.5 million penalty in January against Kaiser, one of the largest nonprofit health plans in the country. The California Department of Health Care Services said these are the first fines it has imposed against a Medicaid managed-care plan since at least 2000."
"The state agency uses this data on hospital admissions, doctor visits and prescription drugs to help set rates, ensure adequate care is available and monitor how tax dollars are being spent in the $100 billion program, known as Medi-Cal in California."
State could reap big economic benefits with later school start time
EdSource's THERESA HARRINGTON: "While California legislators debate a bill to ban secondary schools from starting before 8:30 a.m., a new report shows the change could contribute $10.2 billion to the state’s economy within 10 years and $24.8 billion after two decades."
"In fact, if all schools nationwide were to convert to this later start time, the RANDCorporation and RAND Europe found that the U.S. economy would get an $83 billion boost within a decade."
"The RAND report released Wednesday is the first-ever economic analysis of 47 states based on a shift in school start times. It is a follow-up to research by RAND Europe in 2016 that found insufficient sleep among U.S. workers causes economic losses of up to $411 billion a year."
READ MORE related to Education: UC Berkeley ranks 7th-highest in statewide postgraduate salary survey -- DailyCalifornian's ALICIA KIM; LA Unified pursuing path from conflict to district-charter collaboration in how it shares space -- EdSource's GEORGE WHITE;
