Lawmakers blister DMV chief amid flood of complaints about hours-long waits
From the Chronicle's MELODY GUTIERREZ: "The Department of Motor Vehicles says the average wait time at its offices is 23 minutes with an appointment and one hour 23 minutes without."
"Don’t believe that?"
"Neither did lawmakers Tuesday at a Capitol hearing to review the DMV director’s request for millions in additional funding to reduce wait times."
READ MORE about the DMV: DMV scrambles with 'triage' measures to ease horrendous lines -- GARY RICHARDS and PATRICK MAY, Mercury News.
California strikes back against Trump over vehicle air pollution rules
Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER: "California struck back at the Trump administration over air pollution Tuesday, unveiling a proposal that would force automakers to comply with the state’s strict standards for tailpipe emissions even as the federal government moves to weaken the rules."
"The proposal, released by the California Air Resources Board, sharpens the conflict between the state and President Donald Trump over greenhouse gas emissions and attempts to reinforce the state’s ability to chart its own destiny in the fight against climate change."
"Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a plan that loosens air-pollution rules — and challenges California’s unique authority under federal law to establish stricter standards for vehicles sold in the state."
California unions win another pension lawsuit. Will their streak continue?
Sacramento Bee's CAITLIN CHEN: "The state Supreme Court last Thursday struck down one of the biggest efforts yet to force California public employees into 401(k) plans, giving unions another win in their effort to protect defined benefit retirement plans from elected leaders who want to rein in pension costs."
"The court sought to write a narrow decision, finding that former San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders failed to meet with unions while he campaigned heavily for a 2012 ballot measure that promised to put most new city employees in a 401(k)-style plan instead of a pension fund."
"It was the second significant pension lawsuit that favored unions this year. In January, an appeals court held that government agencies must consider the financial harm they’re causing to public employees if they want to adjust pension benefits."
California wildfires: How many fires are burning and where are they?
Sacramento Bee's DON SWEENEY/Tribune News's GABBY FERREIRA: "Firefighters continue to battle multiple wildfires across California on Tuesday night, including the Carr Fire in Shasta County, in which at least seven people have died, and the Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County, which has killed two. The Mendocino Complex Fire is the largest wildfire in state history as of Monday night, authorities said."
READ MORE related to Fire Season: Air quality changes by the minute: Here's what you should know, what sites to check -- Sacramento Bee's HANNAH HOLZER
State attorney general, SoCal Gas reach tentative settlement over massive Aliso Canyon gas blowout
From the Daily News' STEVE SCAUZILLO: "Almost three years after the largest gas leak in U.S. history, the state attorney general’s office has reached a tentative settlement of litigation brought against the Southern California Gas Co. over the blowout in Aliso Canyon that sickened thousands with nosebleeds and nausea and caused massive evacuations in the Porter Ranch community."
"Attorney General Xavier Becerra stated late Tuesday in a prepared statement his office would announce the agreement and presumably fill in the details at a news conference Wednesday morning alongside state, city and county leaders at the Ronald Reagan State Building in downtown Los Angeles."
"Participating in the press announcement will be: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garretti, Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch Englander, L.A. City Attorney Mike Feurer and L.A. County Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Hilda Solis."
BLM allies target Stephon Clark officer's wedding day, video shows
Sacramento Bee's SAM STANTON: "Nearly five months after two Sacramento police officers shot Stephon Clark to death and ignited demands for charges against them, police have not submitted their investigation to Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert for a decision on whether the shooting was justified."
"As a result, the case remains in limbo, leaving activists who want charges filed against the officers to continue regular protests outside Schubert’s office, at City Hall and at the state Capitol."
"On Sunday, activists aligned with Black Lives Matter Sacramento tried a new tactic: showing up at a pre-wedding event for one of the officers and confronting him on video, according to the group’s Facebook page."
Trump raised nearly $135M at 29 fundraisers. But nearly half the events were for himself
McClatchy DC's ANITA KUMAR/BEN WIEDER: "President Donald Trump has headlined 29 fundraisers since he was sworn into office, raising at least $135 million — but unlike the five previous presidents, nearly half of the events benefited himself, instead of just his party or candidates, according to an analysis by McClatchy."
"Trump is the first U.S. president since at least the 1970s to raise money for his own re-election campaign during the first two years of his term when the political world’s attention is usually focused on midterm elections for Congress. And Trump has held the fewest total fundraisers at this point in his term since Jimmy Carter, according to records of presidential fundraising compiled by Brendan J. Doherty, a political science professor at the U.S. Naval Academy."
"That’s a sign he’s more focused on himself and less tied to his party 18 months into presidency."
READ MORE related to POTUS45: Donald Trump's election helped inspire #MeToo movement, Jane Fonda says -- Sacramento Bee's ALEXEI KOSEFF
