"But the group is, in fact, largely funded by a handful of wealthy charter school supporters. Together they have spent more than $13 million in less than a month to boost Villaraigosa's chances in the June 5 primary — at a time when his fundraising and poll numbers are lagging. Reed Hastings, the founder of Netflix, jump-started the group with a $7-million check, by far the largest donation to support any candidate in the election."

READ MORE related to State Politics: Robocall attacks Diane Feinstein with anti-Semitic slurs -- The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI; Democrats running for California AG quarrel as Republicans hope for top-two finish -- LA Times's PATRICK MCGREEVY; When Gavin Newsom issued marriage licenses in San Francisco, his party was furious. Now, it's a campaign ad -- LA Times's MELANIE MASON; Hard-fought AG's race highlights down-ballot California contests -- The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH; Where California's candidates for governor stand on fixing health care -- The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI; Facebook, Instagram ads target Gavin Newsom over past relationship with women -- Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART

SF mayor candidates Leno, Kim help each other out while still competing

The Chronicle's MATIER & ROSS: "Stuck in second place with only three weeks left before the June mayoral election, former state Sen. Mark Leno has opted for a “hug-and-slug” campaign aimed at shaking loose enough votes to turn the election in his favor."

"Leno’s “hug” is with rival candidate turned tag-teammate Supervisor Jane Kim who, according to polls, is running a close third behind Leno." 

READ MORE related to Local Politics: SF mayoral candidates go easy on each other in debate -- The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH; Bay Area political events: SF mayoral forum pro-Palestinian rally -- The Chronicle's STAFF

Sacramento DA candidate Phillips lands Sen. Kamala Harris' endorsement

Sacramento Bee's DARRELL SMITH:  "Noah Phillips landed a major endorsement Monday, picking up U.S. senator and former San Francisco DA Kamala Harris’ endorsement for Sacramento County district attorney."

"The senator’s endorsement in the waning days of the campaign is expected to be a big boost for the reformist Phillips in an increasingly heated race with incumbent Anne Marie Schubert to become the county’s top prosecutor. Election Day is June 5."

'Crunch time' at CalPERS: Pension confidence drops among city managers

Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON: "Most California public workers and retirees are feeling a little better about their pensions, but their bosses are very worried."

"A new survey by the California Public Employees’ Retirement showed a steep drop in confidence in the $355 billion pension fund among government executives."

"Fewer than half of the city managers and other senior government leaders who replied to the annual CalPERS survey said they felt confident that their retirement money was safe, a decline of about 15 percentage points from last year."

"A surge in betting caused by the Supreme Court's lifting of a federal ban on sports wagering is expected to trigger new gaming opportunities and burnish existing sports books in Las Vegas casinos — but also spawn a battle in California among horse-racing tracks, Indian casinos and card clubs as they try to grab a slice of the added action."

"DeAngelo, 72, appeared in court for Monday's brief hearing, walking in on his own power and standing in a barred holding cage before the judge. In past hearings, DeAngelo was rolled into court in a wheelchair." 

"By taking six specific steps, officials from the United Nations' health agency said countries could reduce a tidal wave of heart disease and strokes that results in more than 500,000 deaths annually."

READ MORE related to Health & Health Care: Sexually transmitted diseases dramatically increase in California -- The Chronicle's PETER FIMRITE

In Hunters Point Shipyard cleanup scandal, supes push for redoing botched test

The Chronicle's JK DINEEN: "San Francisco supervisors Monday pressed the Navy to retest the entire Hunters Point Shipyard, including a portion already dotted with new condos, during the first public hearing into the widening scandal of the botched $1 billion cleanup at the Superfund site."

"For weeks, the supervisors had eagerly awaited an opportunity to question Tetra Tech, the environmental engineering company responsible for ridding the site of nuclear residue and other toxic materials. Two Tetra Tech employees have pleaded guilty of cheating when testing soil at the site."

Trump went from 'America first' to saving jobs in China. This could be why

LA Times's DON LEE: "President Trump's stunning change in stance toward a Chinese telecom-equipment maker that his administration recently sanctioned drew widespread rebuke Monday, even as it seemed to increase the likelihood that the U.S. and China could soon pull back from the brink of a trade war."

Melania Trump had an embolization to treat a kidney condition. What is an embolization?

LA Times's DEBORAH NETBURN: "The White House announced that First Lady Melania Trump underwent an embolization procedure Monday to treat a benign kidney condition."