Newsom names 'energy czar' amid California blackouts, suggests state could take over PG&E
Sacramento Bee's SOPHIA BOLLAG/BRYAN ANDERSON: "California Gov. Gavin Newsom designated a top aide as his “energy czar” in the wake of Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s prolonged power outages and on Friday suggested the state could take charge of the bankrupt utility."
"The entire system needs to be reimagined,” Newsom said at a press conference."
"Ana Matosantos will continue to serve as Newsom’s cabinet secretary while also working as the state’s energy czar, where she will be charged with helping fix the state’s utility problems."
Wildfires are mostly under control, but risk remains high
LA Times's LAURA NEWBERRY: "The California wildfires that scorched thousands of acres and prompted mass evacuations across the state in recent weeks are largely under control, but experts warn that hot and dry conditions will continue to elevate fire risk throughout the week."
"The Maria fire, which broke out atop South Mountain just south of Santa Paula in Ventura County on Thursday night and spread to nearly 10,000 acres, was 70% contained as of Sunday evening, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. All mandatory evacuation orders were lifted Saturday."
"We’re pretty much in the mop-up stage,” fire Capt. Steve Kaufmann said."
READ MORE related to Wildfire Epidemic: NorCal's most destructive wildfires -- The Chronicle's BILL VAN NIEKERKEN; As wildfires burn across the state, Trump lashes out at the state on Twitter -- LA Times's JAMES RAINEY; Ranch Fire consumes nearly 500 acres as Tehama officials issue evacuation warning -- Sacramento Bee's MITCHEL BOBO
Calif. governor hits back at Trump over wildfire criticism, threat to cut aid
From the Washington Post's KIM BELLWARE: "President Trump on Sunday criticized California’s Democratic governor for his handling of wildfires and made a vague threat to cut aid as blazes continue to burn in the northern and southern parts of the state. The comments are the latest installment of the president’s long-standing grievance with California, a state that has clashed with Trump’s administration, particularly on issues of environmental regulation."
Could mass blackouts, Kincade Fire end PG&E as we know it?
The Chronicle's J.D. MORRIS: "For more than a century, one private corporation has delivered electricity to much of Northern and Central California. It may not stay that way."
"In just the past decade, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has been tied to a gas pipeline explosion and series of major fires that collectively killed dozens of people and burned thousands of homes to the ground, leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins and almost destroying the town of Paradise."
"The company was convicted of multiple felonies in connection with the explosion and subsequent investigations, and is still serving a five-year probation sentence imposed in January 2017. In January, PG&E filed for bankruptcy protection because of the wildfires it caused in 2017 and 2018.
Sell a house? Cash in an IRA? You may be hit with a surcharge on Medicare premiums
From KATHLEEN PENDER, Chronicle: "Susan Bullock and her husband got a shock last fall when they got a letter saying their Medicare Part B premiums for 2019 would be $433 each, up drastically from $134 per person in 2018."
"The reason: In 2017, they’d sold their three-bedroom home of 50 years in Alameda for $1.2 million. The capital gain caused a one-year spike in their normally modest income and triggered a surcharge that Medicare imposes on high-income beneficiaries."
“Someone who did our taxes warned us about the capital gains, but not the huge increase in our Medicare,” Bullock said. “In my view, that’s another tax on that same money that’s already been taxed.”
More than 18,000 SMUD customers were briefly without power after blackout hits Sacramento
Sacramento Bee's VINCENT MOLESKI: ""\More than 18,000 SMUD customers were briefly affected by an unplanned power outage Sunday afternoon that hit south Sacramento."
"The outage occurred at 1:23 p.m., according to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s outage map, but the cause of the blackout was initially unidentified."
"Just after 2 p.m., about 12,000 customers had their power restored, leaving almost 6,000 still in the dark. By 2:15 p.m. all customers were back online."
PG&E chief's remarks strike a bitter note
The Chronicle's DON SWEENEY: "Comments by the head of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. seeming to suggest customers hit by blackouts can be grateful “their house is still there” are sparking outrage, KGO reports."
"The private utility imposed blackouts on hundreds of thousands of customers across California in October to curtail the threat of wildfires sparked by downed power lines during extreme winds, The Sacramento Bee reported."
"On Thursday, a KGO reporter asked PG&E CEO Bill Johnson about people who are still struggling to replace food spoiled during the blackouts."
California blackouts will test regulators' ability to rein in PG&E
The Chronicle's J.D. MORRIS: "The power was out for hundreds of thousands of people in Wine Country, and state Sen. Bill Dodd was incensed."
"Dodd, D-Napa, understood why Pacific Gas and Electric Co. decided to start cutting electricity to prevent wildfires. He evacuated during the 2017 Atlas Fire, which was started by a PG&E power line. He also championed legislation that was intended to help the company — and its customers — withstand the costs of disasters it caused two years ago."
"But PG&E had never blacked out more than 2 million people in 35 counties, as it started to do Oct. 9. Dodd felt the outages affected way too many people too early or even unnecessarily."
How Mark DeSaulnier's cancer gave him new purpose in politics
The Chronicle's TAL KOPAN: "Rep. Mark DeSaulnier carries a small pill in his breast pocket. It’s the medicine that keeps him alive."
"The routine of carrying the drug in his shirt helps the Concord Democrat remember to take his medication. But his daily struggle with cancer is never far from his mind in his legislative work."
Newsom urged by advocacy groups to stop deportation of Cambodian refuges with criminal records
Sacramento Bee's THEODORA YU/ALEXANDRA YOON-HENDRICKS: "Family members, advocates and supporters gathered Friday at the state Capitol in Sacramento to urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to stop the deportation of Cambodian refugees with criminal convictions living in California."
"The coalition delivered a petition with 40,000 signatures to the governor’s office, asking for Newsom to pardon Saman Pho, who is being held by federal authorities, and to grant parole to Tith Ton, in an effort to prevent him from being transferred to immigration officials."
"They are hopeful that the governor’s actions could prevent them and other Cambodians from being swept up in the Trump administration’s recent efforts to deport thousands of undocumented immigrants."
4.2 magnitude quake rattles world's largest geothermal field, USGS reports
Sacramento Bee's DON SWEENEY: "\A 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck the California coast north of San Francisco on Sunday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey reports."
"The 1.3-mile deep quake hit near The Geysers at 12:34 p.m. Pacific time, according to the USGS. Dozens of people from as far away as Santa Rosa reported feeling the tremor to the agency."
"The earthquake follows dozens of smaller tremors, most falling below 2.0 magnitude, in the area in the past seven days, including a 3.7-magnitude quake Saturday, the USGS reports."
How 'President Pence' would change the 2020 race
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI: "Pence 2020."
"It’s the yard sign of dreams for many Democrats, confirmation that President Trump has been removed from office before next year’s election and has been replaced by his loyal vice president."
"That scenario is light-years away from happening, even though the House voted last week to formalize its impeachment inquiry into Trump. Before Mike Pence moves into the Oval Office, the Democratic-dominated House has to impeach Trump and at least 20 Republicans in the Senate must join a united Democratic caucus in voting to remove him — which is still far, far from likely."
Lawyer: Whistleblower willing to take written GOP questions
AP's HOPE YEN: "A lawyer for the whistleblower who raised alarms about President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine said Sunday his client is willing to answer written questions submitted by House Republicans."
"The surprise offer, made to Rep. Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, would allow Republicans to ask questions of the whistleblower, who spurred the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry, without having to go through the committee's chairman, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif."
"Attorney Mark Zaid tweeted that the whistleblower would answer questions directly from Republican members "in writing, under oath & penalty of perjury," part of a bid to stem escalating efforts by Trump and his GOP allies to unmask the person's identity. Only queries seeking the person's identity won't be answered, he said."
