"Over a nine-year period, the city of Compton's loose accounting and weak financial oversight allowed officials to borrow $4.4 million from a special gas tax street improvement fund and nearly $800,000 from a traffic congestion relief fund in violation of state rules, the audit found."
Sexual harassment settlement didn't stop these retired California state workers from coming back
Sacramento Bee's MARJIE LUNDSTROM: "The sexual harassment lawsuit involving a premier state board fills 11 volumes, its overstuffed red folders wedged into a cardboard box and stored at an off-site warehouse in Sacramento County."
"The case against the Medical Board of California and five senior managers dragged on for five years before settling in 2010 for $750,000."
"The story, however, did not end there."
READ MORE related to Sexual Misconduct: Giving gropers a break? How some California state workers stay employed after big payouts -- Sacramento Bee's MARJIE LUNDSTROM; Some male sexual assault victims feel left behind by #MeToo -- AP's DAVID CRARY; Three sexual harassment lawsuits later, he's still working for the state of California -- Sacramento Bee's MARJIE LUNDSTROM
Sacramento region gets 'F' for worsening air pollution. Here's how to stay healthy
Sacramento Bee's MOLLY SULLIVAN: "Sacramento is among the most polluted cities in the United States."
"In a report by the American Lung Associationreleased Wednesday, Sacramento is fifth in the nation for ozone pollution, jumping up three spots from last year. Los Angeles and three Central Valley cities outrank Sacramento for pollution and average numbers of bad ozone days."
"Ozone pollution is a corrosive gas," said Bonnie Holmes-Gen, director for air quality and climate change with the American Lung Association in California. "It actually causes burns on lung tissue, like a bad sunburn ... It can cause long-term health problems. It can worsen asthma symptoms and contributes to heart attacks and early death."
READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: How California water suppliers are getting earthquake-ready -- Water Deeply's ALASTAIR BLAND; Why this insurer wants to put the spotlight on growing 'ocean risk' -- Oceans Deeply's JESSICA LEBER
Herrera's cease-and-desist letter does nothing to stop SF's scooters
The Chronicle's MATIER & ROSS: "Despite a cease-and-desist letter from the city attorney, the invasion of motorized scooters on San Francisco streets shows no sign of letting up."
"We’re still operating,” LimeBike spokesman Joe Arellano said. Scooters operated by Bird and Spin were also seen on the streets or parked on the sidewalks as well."
Bay Area food banks say 2018 Farm Bill will increase ranks of the hungry
The Chronicle's TARA DUGGAN: "As the House Agriculture Committee debated the 2018 Farm Bill on Wednesday in Washington, the most controversial component of the bill had nothing to do with agriculture, but rather, hunger."
"Bay Area food banks and House Democrats said that the country’s most vulnerable populations would be severely hurt by Republicans’ proposed changes to food stamps, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program portion of the bill. House Republicans have proposed more stringent food stamp eligibility and work requirements, which anti-hunger groups say will lead to millions losing an essential but modest safety net that provides an average of $1.40 per person per meal."
