California bullet train picks its path between Burbank and Palmdale
LA Times's RALPH VARTABEDIAN: "The California bullet train would cut through Sun Valley, San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Agua Dulce, the state rail authority proposed Wednesday as it laid out its plans for the complicated route from Burbank to Palmdale — one of its most controversial and costly segments."
"Compared with other alternatives, the route would be the easiest to build and cause the least harm, rail authority officials said, but it is likely to face intense opposition from communities and institutions along the way."
"The 38-mile route closely follows the 14 Freeway through the San Gabriel Mountains via five separate tunnels, numerous bridges and various sections that would run at-grade."
Cannabis revenue coming up short
Capitol Weekly's JESSICA HICE: "The California cannabis conundrum: A lot more weed, a lot less money."
"Since Proposition 64 took effect earlier this year, the cannabis industry has raked in nearly $135 million of revenue for the state through sales taxes, not including local jurisdiction taxes. Even with increased sales each quarter, some officials are calling the revenue “substantially below projections.”
"With banking and security concerns due to a lack of federal law-enforcement protection, will revenues continue to increase?"
Brown signs bill allowing new affordable housing to be built on Stockton Boulevard
Sacramento Bee's HANNAH DARDEN: "Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Tuesday a bill that paves the way for redevelopment of a lot that’s sat vacant for two decades on Stockton Boulevard in the Fruitridge Manor neighborhood of south Sacramento."
"The land on the 5700 block of Stockton Boulevard near Fruitridge Boulevard is slated to be used to develop affordable housing."
"The lot, which formerly housed the San Juan Motel and the adjacent Park Villa Victoria Motel, has been vacant for more than 20 years, according to State Sen. Richard Pan."
Feinstein faces attack on immigration, this time from the left
LA Times's JACLYN COSGROVE/CINDY CARCAMO/.JAZMINE ULLOA: "Sen. Dianne Feinstein was fighting for her political life in 1994, facing a tight election that was swinging on the issue of immigration."
"Proposition 187, which would cut many public services to those in California illegally, was leading in the polls and her Republican opponent for the U.S. Senate, Michael Huffington, had embraced it. Her own television campaign ad captured a shadowy image, presumably of immigrants streaming across the border from Mexico, and touted her efforts to secure funding for more border agents and fencing. Yet, with weeks to go before election day, Feinstein stood strong against Prop. 187."
READ MORE related to Immigration: More immigration judges are coming to LA. Will that alleviate the nation's second-largest backlog? -- LA Times's ANDREA CASTILLO
Al Sharpton returns to Sacramento, calls for 'justice' six months after Stephon Clark shooting
Sacramento Bee's MOLLY SULLIVAN: "Six months after the death of Stephon Clark, civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton returned to Sacramento Wednesday to pressure police and city officials to complete their investigation of the shooting, and deliver what he called “justice” to the family."
"At a press conference at Genesis Church in Meadowview, Sharpton stood shoulder-to-shoulder with members of Clark’s family, saying “Justice delayed is justice denied. ... We are not going to forget about it. We are not going to let time wear us down. As long as it takes we are going to stand with this family.”
"Sharpton, who gave the eulogy at Clark’s funeral, has traveled to Sacramento three times since Clark was killed in March. He said he would keep coming back until “justice” was delivered and the case was closed."
Scammers calling, impersonating family of slain deputy, Rancho Cordova PD warns
Sacramento Bee's HANNAH DARDEN: "The Rancho Cordova Police Department has received reports of phone calls impersonating the family of slain deputy Mark Stasyuk, the department said in a tweet this week, asking for donations."
"Sacramento Sheriff Public Information Officer Shaun Hampton said he’s not sure how many calls are circulating, but encouraged anyone who receives a call to ignore it."
Casa Ramos restaurants closed across Northern California after raid by state officials
Sacramento Bee's Hannah Darden: "
Mexican restaurant chain Casa Ramos closed several locations after state Department of Justice search warrants were issued Wednesday at all 14 locations across Northern California.""The state attorney general’s office confirmed that the operation was part of the task force operation."
"A\ccording to the department’s website, the Tax Recovery and Criminal Enforcement Task Force“joins existing state and federal resources to collaboratively combat illegal business activities that rob California of public funds and its citizens of public services.”"
California doctors must tell patients about sexual misconduct
The Chronicle's CATHERINE HO: "California doctors who are on probation for sexual misconduct with a patient must begin disclosing the information to all their patients under new legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday."
"SB1448, authored by state Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), requires licensed physicians to notify their patients if they are on probation for sexual misconduct, drug abuse that has or could harm patients, criminal conviction involving harm to patients, or inappropriate prescribing resulting in patient harm."
"The law applies to doctors who are placed on probation on or after July 1, 2019."
Caltrans worker falls to his death on highway project
Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON: "A Caltrans worker fell to his death on a road project north of San Diego early Wednesday, the department reported."
"Caltrans leadworker William Casdorph, 57, fell about 50 feet off of a transition ramp on State Route 163 where it crossed over Highway 805 in Kearny Mesa, the California Highway Patrol reported to San Diego news outlets. The accident occurred about 3 a.m."
"We don’t know exactly how or why yet, but he did take a fall over the center divide,” California Highway Patrol Sgt. Brent Lowry told Fox 5. “He got out of his truck, went to step over the wall. We don’t exactly know how or why” he fell."
Feinstein critic Kevin de Leon failed his own #MeToo test, activists say
The Chronicle's MELODY GUTIERREZ: "State Sen. Kevin de León was quick to criticize Sen. Dianne Feinstein for her handling of an attempted-rape allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, saying his fellow Democrat and election opponent showed a “failure of leadership” by staying quiet for weeks."
"The reaction of many #MeToo activists was scathing: They said that if anyone showed a failure of leadership, it was de León during his time leading the state Senate as sexual harassment scandals were coming to a boil."
"“He dragged his feet on taking action,” tweeted Alicia Lewis, a former lobbyist who said she was fired from her firm in retaliation soon after signing a letter in October titled, “We Said Enough,” that prompted the #MeToo movement in the state Capitol."
California aims to get less affluent plug-in drivers into carpool lanes
The Chronicle's RACHEL SWAN: "The main purpose of California’s sticker program to let clean-air vehicles into carpool lanes was always simple: It helped induce people to buy hybrid and electric cars."
"But now the state has additional goals. Besides promoting cars with better fuel economy through rebates and access to carpool lanes, lawmakers also want to help poor people get nto these expensive vehicles. And they want to salvage the value of used plug-in cars that would be hard to sell without the stickers."
"It shows how complicated the system has become as drivers of these environmentally friendly cars anticipate a dramatic shift in January."
Trump admin sued over siezure of journalist's records
The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO: "A media organization in the Bay Area sued the Trump administration Wednesday over its seizure of phone and email records of a New York Times reporter who, during a relationship with a Senate Intelligence Committee aide, unearthed a Russian attempt to recruit a future Trump campaign adviser."
"The reporter, Ali Watkins, was working for other news outlets during her three-year relationship with Senate staffer James Wolfe, who was charged by the Justice Department in April with lying to the FBI when he denied giving classified information to reporters. He has pleaded not guilty."
"The lawsuit, filed by the First Amendment Coalition in San Francisco federal court, seeks an explanation from the Justice Department for its failure to notify Watkins before obtaining six months of her phone records and up to two years of her emails from telecommunications providers. The seizure of the records was reported publicly in June."
The Next California
LA Times's MELANIE MASON: "As Democrat Gavin Newsom and Republican John Cox close out the final weeks of their campaigns, the Los Angeles Times will take a look at what the next California governor will have to address."
"Some challenges that have long vexed the state have taken on new urgency. Others are unique to this moment in the state’s history. This series will introduce those issues and the Californians affected by them. We’ll also press the candidates on their plans to tackle the challenges."
"The Times wants to hear from you. What issues do you think will define California’s next chapter? Tell us below and check out the series beginning Sept. 23."
