5 takeaways from last night’s Republican presidential debate
LA Times, NOAH BIERMAN: "Republican presidential candidates — with the notable exception of the front-runner, former President Trump — held the second primary debate Wednesday night at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.
Here’s what happened when seven other GOP candidates faced off:"
As GOP presidential candidates debate, Democrats unleash a top attack dog: Gov. Gavin Newsom
LA Times, TARYN LUNA, BENJAMIN ORESKES: "Gov. Gavin Newsom has largely served as a cheerleader on the sidelines of President Biden’s reelection bid this year, fawning over his record in the White House to Democratic donors and slapping down criticism about the president’s age on the national news.
On Wednesday, Newsom graduated to the starting lineup. The Biden campaign deployed Newsom to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, site of the Republican presidential debate, as the president’s chief defender and leader of the Democratic offense."
Up the road from GOP debate, Republican women wonder if one of their own can beat Trump
LA Times, FAITH E. PINHO: "As seven GOP candidates faced off on a debate stage at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Wednesday night, a couple of dozen Republican women gathered about 10 miles up the road to assess whether any of the contenders had a chance of beating former President Trump.
The members of the Simi Valley & Moorpark Republican Women Federation, mostly white women over 50, munched chicken tenders and sipped beers beneath the twinkling string lights at the Simi Hills Golf Course bar, alternately cheering and jeering as their favorite and least favorite candidates spoke up."
Why California Republicans are facing a moment of truth
CALMatters, SAMEEA KAMAL: "For the California Republican Party, the moment could be ripe with opportunity.
Nationally, some reliably Democratic voters are straying, including some Latinos and those who blame Democratic policies for rising crime and inflation. But the state GOP’s focus at its fall convention this weekend is not on finding ways to court those voters."
Rising Stars: Kapri Walker, office of Sen. Nancy Skinner
Capitol Weekly, MOLLY JACOBY: "Born and raised in an exceptionally close family in sunny San Diego, Kapri Walker was initially hesitant to take the leap and begin building career roots in Sacramento. But she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to return after her Capitol Fellowship position ended and she was offered a job as a legislative aide in Sen. Nancy Skinner’s office (D-Oakland).
“I have an immense amount of respect for Sen. Skinner, and admiration for the work that she’s done,” Walker says. “I mean, I couldn’t pass up working for one of the best in the game.”"
Biden slams McCarthy over looming shutdown at S.F. fundraisers
The Chronicle, JOE GAROFOLI: "President Biden slammed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for being more concerned about saving his job than preventing a government shutdown during a fundraising appearance Wednesday in San Francisco.
“The speaker is making a choice between the speakership and American interests,” Biden said during a fundraiser in the Sea Cliff home of billionaire former hedge fund manager and environmentalist Tom Steyer."
This year’s top contributor to California campaigns is an unexpected fossil fuel giant
Sacramento Bee, ARI PLACHTA: "A corporate natural gas giant is now the top contributor to those running for state office in California, according to an analysis of campaign finance data from the first half of this year.
Sempra, the parent company of the nation’s largest gas utility SoCalGas as well as San Diego Gas & Electric, contributed more than a quarter of a million dollars to candidates, including half of all sitting California lawmakers, in the first two quarters of 2023."
California gunmakers fear their ‘expiration date’ in a state that doesn’t want them
CALMatters, ALEXEI KOSEFF: "There are two decisions about the future of gun rights in California that the employees at Rifle Supply are closely watching these days.
Like many firearms enthusiasts, they anticipate the imminent end of California’s ban on “large-capacity magazines” capable of holding more than 10 rounds, a potential boon to their business. U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego overturned the law on Friday, with a brief stay to give the state a chance to appeal."
Here’s what could happen in Yosemite, Point Reyes, Alcatraz during impending government shutdown
The Chronicle, KURTIS ALEXANDER, SHIRA STEIN: "With a government shutdown looming, many parks and public lands could close or partially close as soon as the weekend, including Point Reyes, Alcatraz and Yosemite, in what will be one of the most visible impacts of the federal budget impasse.
The extent of the closures, should it come to this, will hinge on the Biden administration and how it chooses to operate its financially limited and short-staffed agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management."
Dianne Feinstein’s estate battle raises the question: Why are a senator’s medical bills so high?
The Chronicle, SHIRA STEIN: "Sen. Dianne Feinstein is battling for control of her late husband’s estate in multiple lawsuits, in part to pay significant medical bills she’s incurred over the last year. The suits have prompted big questions, like whether Feinstein is mentally and physically fit enough to serve her constituents. But they’ve also spurred more practical questions: Why are the medical bills so high, and doesn’t her Senate insurance plan cover them?
Feinstein’s “significant medical expenses,” according to filings in a suit over her late husband’s estate, were $160,055.15, plus an additional $9,166 for the monthly salary of her security guard and caretaker."
Frequent GOP L.A. congressional candidate charged with misusing campaign funds
LA Times, SARAH D. WIRE: "Omar Navarro, a favorite of former President Trump’s MAGA movement for repeatedly challenging Democrat Maxine Waters for her congressional seat, was indicted Wednesday on 43 counts of misusing campaign funds, including funneling tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations back to himself through friends and family.
FBI agents also arrested Navarro’s mother, Dora Asghari, 59, of Torrance and a friend, Zacharias Diamantides-Abel, 34, of Long Beach. Both are accused of conspiring with Navarro to convert campaign donations to personal use. Navarro, 34, is in state custody on unrelated charges, according to the office of the district attorney for the Central District of California, but he is expected to be turned over soon to federal authorities."
California’s first snow of season is coming to Sierra ski resorts
The Chronicle, ANTHONY EDWARDS, JACK LEE: "Less than two months since Mammoth Mountain’s historic ski season concluded, the first snowfall of the new season is set to arrive in the Sierra Nevada.
Weather models predict a low-pressure system with Canadian roots will bring cool temperatures and rain showers to the California coast and Central Valley on Saturday. In the Sierra Nevada, the air is expected to be cold enough for the first snowfall of the season at Kirkwood Mountain, Mammoth Mountain and other high-elevation ski resorts."
Wildfires can make your California red wine taste like an ashtray. These scientists want to stop that
AP: "The U.S. West Coast produces over 90% of America’s wine, but the region is also prone to wildfires — a combustible combination that spelled disaster for the wine industry in 2020 and one that scientists are scrambling to neutralize.
Sample a good wine and you might get notes of oak or red fruit. But sip on wine made from grapes that were penetrated by smoke, and it could taste like someone dumped the contents of an ashtray into your glass."
A hidden climate danger threatens U.S. coastal communities
Bloomberg, STAFF: "A little-known climate threat lurks under our feet: rising groundwater that could release toxic chemicals from more than 132,000 contaminated sites in coastal areas of the US. In a first of its kind study, researchers estimated the number of polluted industrial sites and mapped them to areas likely to experience groundwater inundation due to rising seas.
“A lot of people don’t realize that the ocean actually extends under the land in coastal areas, so as the ocean rises, it pushes up the groundwater toward the surface,” said Kristina Hill, an associate professor at the University of California at Berkeley and the lead author of the paper, which was published last week in the journal Earth’s Future."
‘It’s our choice to use’: S.F. Mayor Breed’s plan to link drug screening to welfare faces pushback
The Chronicle, NORA MISHANEC: "Struggling with an opioid addiction and fleeing successive wildfire evacuations in her native Lake County, Shelly Brown arrived in San Francisco two years ago to find a city awash in aid. She began receiving monthly welfare payments in addition to food and money from local nonprofit organizations.
On Tuesday, when Brown learned of Mayor London Breed’s proposal to make San Francisco welfare contingent on substance abuse screening and treatment, the Tenderloin resident was despondent."
Ron DeSantis said California welfare programs have no work requirements. Is he right?
Sacramento Bee, GILLIAN BRASSIL: "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis kicked at California a couple times during Wednesday’s Republican debate.
When asked about the low numbers of Floridians with health insurance, he said: “This is a field of dreams, you can do well in the state. But we’re not going to be like California and have massive numbers of people on government programs without work requirements.”"
Despite low public tuition, California ranks in top third among states for average student debt
EdSource, ASHLEY A. SMITH: "California may have low public college tuition costs when compared to other colleges and universities nationally, but it is not enough to prevent students from taking high amounts of student loans.
A new study released exclusively to EdSource from The Century Foundation found Californians have higher average student debt balances, risky graduate school debt, a unique reliance on parent-held debt and significantly high student debt among Black families."
She lost her financial aid while homeless. A bill on Newsom’s desk could help students like her
CALMatters, ADAM ECHELMAN: "Elizabeth Clews was taking classes at a community college, working a full-time job at the local mall and living in a Toyota Camry with her baby when she learned that she no longer qualified for financial aid.
To qualify for state and federal aid in community college — an average of $2,000 to $3,000 a year, according to one estimate — students must meet certain requirements, known as “satisfactory academic progress.” Most notably, they must maintain a GPA above 2.0, the equivalent of a C average."
False starts, secret talks: Insiders tell how the writers’ strike ended with ‘Let’s make a deal’
LA Times, MEG JAMES, JOSH ROTTENBERG: "As the bitter, months-long strike by the Writers Guild of America against the major media companies spilled into September, neither side could agree on whose turn it was to make the next proposal.
Negotiations were tied in knots for weeks. Then, finally, the breakthrough came."
Sexual harassment allegations, infighting, labor unrest: The unraveling of Hollywood Legion Theater
LA Times, JESSICA GELT: "It was meant to be a transformative moment for the American Legion — and for a few shining years, it was. In late 2018, American Legion Hollywood Post 43 unveiled a new theater to its military veteran members and the public. The state-of-the-art, 482-seat venue cost $6 million to build — including renovations to the organization’s nearly century-old Egyptian Revival headquarters — and was equipped to project 35-millimeter and 70-millimeter film, as well as digital movies, with lush Alcons sound.
Publications including The Times lauded Post 43 and its new theater. The Wall Street Journal called it “Hollywood’s hottest private club,” and KCRW wrote, “Veterans bring Hollywood sizzle to Legion Post.” Premieres were held for Baz Luhrmann’s Oscar contender, “Elvis,” and the “Yellowstone” prequel series, “1923.” It hosted the TCM Classic Film Festival several times. In February, the Hollywood Legion won the prestigious Kodak Theatre Award “in recognition of exhibition standards and patron services that elevate the cultural and communal experience of cinema.”"
Historic restaurants face eviction from Fisherman’s Wharf over $1.4 million debt
The Chronicle, MARIO CORTEZ: "The Port of San Francisco is evicting two Fisherman’s Wharf restaurants that accrued a combined $1.4 million in debt, according to a port representative, adding to vacancies along the waterfront.
Fishermen’s Grotto No. 9, at 2847 Taylor St., and Tarantino’s, at 206 Jefferson St., were named in unlawful detainer notices in San Francisco Superior Court earlier this week, after they received three-day notices dated Sept. 13 to pay rent or vacate. Both have been closed since 2020."
Where San Francisco ranks on list of ‘most valuable’ real estate markets
The Chronicle, DANIELLE ECHEVERRIA: "California again has the most valuable housing market in the country, and six of the top 20 most valuable metro areas are in the state — including San Francisco and San Jose in the Bay Area, according to a new report from real estate website Zillow.
Zillow defines total housing market value as the sum of the value of each home. California’s more than $10 trillion value makes up nearly 20% of the national total of just under $52 trillion, according to Zillow data as of June. Florida follows at nearly $4 trillion, surpassing New York, now third at $3.6 trillion, for the first time. Rounding out the top five are Texas and New Jersey at $3.3 trillion and $1.8 trillion, respectively."
The slump in Bay Area home prices could be over
BANG*Mercury News, KATE TALERICO: "It’s unwelcome news for homebuyers: Bay Area home prices are back on the rise.
The median sales price for existing homes in the nine-county Bay Area rose 5% in August from a year earlier, reaching $1.26 million, according to new data from the California Association of Realtors. Prices had been on the decline for 14 months, the longest such period since 2012."
A pedophile priest fled the U.S. The FBI tracked him. How a California DA let him slip away
Sacramento Bee, JOE RUBIN: "Deanna Hampton wants justice for her son. She wants the priest accused of sexually abusing her little boy to be brought back to the United States. She wants him to stand trial.
She wants her son’s bravery – exemplified when he testified openly before a grand jury in 2014 – to mean something. Trevor died in a tragic accident two years later."
San Jose leaders OK $400,000 settlement with ex officer who alleged anti-Muslim harassment
BANG*Mercury News, JASON GREEN: "A former San Jose police officer will receive a $400,000 payout to settle a lawsuit that claimed his colleagues subjected him to constant Islamophobic harassment.
The San Jose City Council approved the pre-trial settlement with Nabil Haidar on Tuesday."
