PG&E restores all power to counties shut off for fire conditions
Sacramento Bee's VINCENT MOLESKI: "Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said Sunday afternoon that power has been fully restored to more than 10,000 customers in Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties who were interrupted by Saturday’s power shutoff amid now-canceled red flag conditions after the utility’s crews were able to inspect lines."
"Company spokeswoman Karly Hernandez said power was restored to all customers around 3:45 p.m. The utility interrupted power Saturday night as gusty winds were forecast to sweep across the region. Paradise and Magalia, two of the hardest-hit towns in last year’s deadly Camp Fire, were included in the blackout."
"In a news release, PG&E said weather conditions had improved overnight, and as of 9 a.m., 168 personnel and 11 helicopters were canvassing 954 miles of power lines to check for damage."
Guns from the United States are stroking a homicide epidemic in Mexico
From the LAT's KATE LINTHICUM: "he sun had not yet risen when dozens of gunmen stormed into the town of Ocotito in southern Mexico and started shooting."
"Salvador Alanis Trujillo tried to fight back, but his shotgun was no match for their assault rifles. So he and his family fled."
"This rugged stretch of Guerrero state had always been a little lawless, home to cattle rustlers and highway bandits. But by the time the gunmen seized Ocotito in 2013, the region was overrun with dozens of criminal groups battling for territory."
Trump is under fire in Washington. But he’s winning big in California
GEORGE SKELTON, LAT: "The unlikely givers are Democrats, although it’s certainly not their intention. Trump is still their favorite party piñata."
"The president was recently handed two very nice freebies."
"One was when a federal judge ruled last week that Democrats — legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom — had no business trying to strong-arm Trump into publicly releasing his income tax returns as a condition of appearing on California’s presidential primary ballot."
Trump opening California public land to fracking, gas leases. Is it 'reckless'?
McClatchy's EMILY CADEI: "The Trump administration has finalized its plans to open hundreds of thousands of acres of federal land in Central California to oil and gas leasing, paving the way for more fracking to soon begin in the state."
"The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved the oil and gas exploration plan “based on the administration’s goal of strengthening energy independence and the BLM support of an all-of-the-above energy plan that includes oil and gas underlying America’s public lands,” it said in its record of decision released Friday."
"The agency received more than 400 objections of its proposed leasing plan over a 30-day protest period, according to its final report. BLM officials ruled that none of them was valid."
California is feuding with this SoCal city over 'planned retreat' from sea level rise
LA Times's PHIL DIEHL: "Del Mar is gearing up for a tussle with the California Coastal Commission over the best way to adapt to rising sea levels, an issue with statewide implications."
"The city north of San Diego has taken the position that one of the Coastal Commission’s basic strategies, called “managed retreat” or sometimes “planned retreat,” will not work in Del Mar."
"We have a plan, and we stand by our plan,” Del Mar Councilman Dwight Worden said Friday."
California tightens rules in response to college admissions scandal
The Chronicle's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "California will tighten the process for special admissions to its public universities following a nationwide scandal earlier this year that exposed a ring of wealthy parents who paid tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to secure slots at elite colleges for their children."
"On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB1383, which requires at least three senior campus administrators to sign off any “admissions by exception.” That’s a process that allows state universities to accept some students who do not meet all eligibility requirements because they come from a disadvantaged background or have a special athletic or artistic skill."
"The new law will apply to California State University campuses and, if adopted by its independent governing board, to the University of California."
READ MORE related to Operation Varisty Blues: SF dad given longest prison sentence in college admissions scandal -- The Chronicle's MATTHIAS GAFNI
Stockton is giving people $500/month, no strings attached. Here's how they're spending it
Sacramento Bee's ALEXANDRA YOON-HENDRICKS/BRYAN ANDERSON: "New data released as part of Stockton’s closely watched universal basic income experiment offer a first glimpse into how an extra $500 a month affects the spending habits and quality of life for those receiving the no-strings-attached funds."
"The 18-month study — the first of its kind led by a U.S. city — aims to see whether a guaranteed income can reduce stress and, in turn, unlock new opportunities for people struggling to make ends meet. Tracking and analyzing the spending habits of the 125 individuals currently receiving the stipends in the California city, the program will also provide greater insight into the viability of long-term basic income models more broadly in the United States."
"In Stockton, a city once known as “America’s foreclosure capital” where one in four residents currently live below the poverty line, the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration, or SEED, is a kind of safety net that can empower residents financially, said Mayor Michael Tubbs. For people scraping by to pay rent or put food on the table, “something as small as $500 has been enough to allow them to breathe,” he said."
SF Supervisor Fewer '90%' sure she''s running for re-election in 2020
The Chronicle's TRISHA THADANI: "San Francisco Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer told The Chronicle that she is 90% sure she’ll run for re-election in 2020."
"Her comments allay months of speculation within City Hall about whether the District One supervisor — who represents the Richmond District and other surrounding neighborhoods — would seek another four-year term on the Board of Supervisors. Fewer said she is having the “final discussions” with her family about what another term would mean for their bucket lists."
"When you turn this age, you start to look at time very differently,” Fewer, 62, said in an interview."
Vaping crackdown leaves deadlier cigarettes untouched
The Chronicle's CATHERINE HO: "As states and cities race to impose new sales restrictions on e-cigarettes — now linked to more than 1,000 lung-related illnesses and close to two dozen deaths nationwide — almost none is taking action against traditional tobacco cigarettes, which have killed far more people."
"Why?"
"Rates of youth vaping are skyrocketing, while rates of youth use of cigarettes are falling to record lows — which may explain why politicians and regulators have a sudden new interest in cracking down on e-cigarettes. About 3.6 million high school and middle school students vape, compared with 1.4 million who smoke regular cigarettes, according to 2018 data from a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
Payouts to SF bathhouse, Oakland school reveal behind-the-scenes look at housing deals
The Chronicle's JK DINEEN: "In December, Russian bathhouse owner Mikhail Brodsky sued San Francisco to block the development of 1,575 homes next to his clothing-optional spa in Bayview-Hunters Point. At the time, he said that the project would “box in” his business, block water views and deprive his patrons of “fresh air."
"But in a case that provides insight into the private deal-making common in San Francisco development negotiations, it was not light and air that Brodsky received to settle the case. It was money — not only for the waterfront bathhouse, but also the small Oakland university where he’s president."
"Under the settlement, developer Build Inc. agreed to pay $100,000 to Brodsky’s Innes Avenue bathhouse, Archimedes Banya, and an additional $100,000 to Lincoln University, an East Bay nonprofit school of about 650 students that offers degrees in business administration."
The Las Vegas A's? Baseball commissioner tells Oakland it could happen
The Chronicle's PHIL MATIER: "Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made it clear to Oakland officials that the A’s proposed waterfront ballpark and the team’s desire to develop at the Coliseum is an “all in one” proposition — and that the city needs to drop its lawsuit over the Coliseum land sale to the A’s or risk the team relocating to another city."
"And apparently, everyone got the message."
"He kind of laid down the law,” said City Councilman Larry Reid, who also sits on the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority. He attended separate meetings Manfred held last week with Mayor Libby Schaaf and council President Rebecca Kaplan."
San Quentin's prison school powered by state effort, Bay Area resources
The Chronicle's PETE GRIEVE: "Prisoner Tommy Wickerd arrived at San Quentin in September 2015 with what he estimates was a fourth-grade education."
"This past June, he earned his GED, essentially the equivalent of a high school diploma, from San Quentin’s adult school. Now Wickerd, who is serving a 57-year sentence for fatally shooting a man in 2002, is moving on to college-level work."
"His educational transformation came thanks to the prison’s Robert E. Burton Adult School, which was the first winner of the newly created Distinguished School award from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation this year."
Bicycle turnouts are the answer to two-lane conflict
The Chronicle's TOM STIENSTRA: "Across the narrow, twisty back roads of the Bay Area foothills, car-versus-bike conflicts could be solved with one simple correction: Add bicycle turnout lanes."
"Last week, my wife and I were riding our road bikes on a country two-laner with no shoulder, when a fast-moving flatbed 1-ton commercial truck approached from behind. We sighted it in our mirrors, and hoped by staying far right, wearing helmets, and with multiple flashing lights on our bikes, the driver would understand we were trying to be safe and stay clear."
"It turned out that just ahead there was an asphalt pullout. He slowed to our speed, 17 mph, and when we were able to glide into the pullout, the truck driver even waved and smiled as he passed."
Trump allies sought changes at Ukraine utility
AP: "As Rudy Giuliani was pushing Ukrainian officials last spring to investigate one of Donald Trump's main political rivals, a group of individuals with ties to the president and his personal lawyer were also active in the former Soviet republic."
"Their aims were profit, not politics. This circle of businessmen and Republican donors touted connections to Giuliani and Trump while trying to install new management at the top of Ukraine's massive state gas company. Their plan was to then steer lucrative contracts to companies controlled by Trump allies, according to two people with knowledge of their plans."
"Their plan hit a snag after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko lost his reelection bid to Volodymyr Zelenskiy, whose conversation with Trump about former Vice President Joe Biden is now at the center of the House impeachment inquiry of Trump."
READ MORE related to POTUS: Second whistleblower emerges in impeachment inquiry, said to be one of 'many' complainants -- LA Times's LAURA KING; Here is what Joe Biden actually did in Ukraine -- LA Times's TRACY WILKINSON/SERGEI L LOIKO; Texas Rep. Will Hurd, Republican and former CIA officer, at center of impeachment fight -- LA Times's MOLLY O'TOOLE; Ukraine official: We tried to correct Trump's 'negative impression' -- LA Times's TRACY WILKINSON
