S.F. judge sentences Paul Pelosi attacker David DePape to life in prison
The Chronicle's ANNIE VAINSHTEIN: "David DePape, the man who bludgeoned House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer in San Francisco, offered a rambling, tearful statement about his conspiracy theories just before he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
DePape’s sentencing hearing took place just a day after the two-year anniversary of the attack."
Kamala Harris, at Trump’s pre-insurrection rally site, casts him as dangerous chaos agent
LAT's NOAH BIERMAN, KEVIN RECTOR, JENNY JARVIE: "Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a closing message at the same spot near the National Mall where former President Trump encouraged his allies to challenge the 2020 election at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, casting him as a dangerous chaos agent who would bring only “more division” to the nation if he wins back the White House.
Harris told those in the crowd — which her campaign numbered at 75,000 — that their vote in this election would likely be “the most important vote you ever cast,” and “a choice about whether we have a country rooted in freedom for every American or ruled by chaos and division.”"
Trump and Harris' closing arguments go hard on gendered messages
The Chronicle's SHIRA STEIN: "Abortion. Women’s sports. Gender-based insults. The possibility of a history-making president. In the crucial final stretch before Election Day, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris and their surrogates are putting gender issues at the center of their closing messages to voters.
Even if neither campaign will explicitly say it, the presidential candidates are each banking on one gender to win the election. In poll after poll, Harris has received a majority of women’s support, while Trump has received a majority of men’s."
Election and law enforcement officials brace for Nov. 5 as early voter L.A. turnout is slow so far
LAT's RACHEL URANGA: "Fewer Los Angeles County voters are turning in early ballots compared to the last presidential race, but officials said Tuesday that given the heated national election they are stepping up security measures to prevent voter tampering or intimidation.
There have been “no credible threats here in Los Angeles County to polling locations or polling workers” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna."
How California’s Portuguese community may tip the balance of power in Congress
LAT's FAITH E. PINHO: "The town is tiny enough that most drivers speeding along Interstate 5 in California’s Central Valley miss it.
But on a recent weekend, twinkling white lights stretched over Thornton’s main intersection, the scent of linguica sausage clung to the cool autumn air and Portuguese flags flew proudly above throngs of visitors pouring into the streets."
When should a candidate apologize? The question roils an L.A. City Council race
LAT's DAVID ZAHNISER: "Los Angeles police officer Roberto Yanez said he has spent much of his career forging ties with residents in South L.A. and Watts, working with them to tackle gang graffiti, theft and many other quality-of-life issues.
As a senior lead officer, Yanez works to ensure that residents and business owners feel comfortable contacting him about neighborhood problems."
Here’s why so many Black and Latino voters are backing Breed for mayor
The Chronicle's CHRISTIAN LEONARD, JESSICA FLORES: "Mayor London Breed faces a tough road to reelection, but she’s continued to enjoy strong levels of support among Black and Latino voters, according community leaders and recent polling data.
About half of Black likely voters said Breed was their top choice for mayor, according to a mid-October poll commissioned by the Chronicle. That was by far the highest share of any race or ethnicity group, followed by 37% of Latino voters. In the final round of ranked choice voting versus Daniel Lurie, Breed’s advantage grew to around two-thirds of the vote for both groups, excluding those who gave no response."
Undecided on California propositions? Here’s what the major editorial boards recommend
JENNA PETERSON, CalMatters: "Endorsements have made national headlines lately, with both the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post announcing in the final weeks of the campaign that they won’t be backing a presidential candidate.
But presidential endorsements are only part of an editorial board’s role during election season. They’re also busy crafting recommendations for state and local candidates, plus ballot propositions."
Q&A: He’s an expert on political violence. He warns of a rise in ‘violent populism’
LAT's JEFFREY FLEISHMAN: "America is restless, armed, divided and angry.
Days away from one of the most defining elections in its history, the nation faces the growing specter of political violence. Donald Trump has survived two assassination attempts since July."
Capitol Spotlight: Katie Talbot, CA Department of Fish and Wildlife
Capitol Weekly's LISA RENNER: "What state government staff want and what reporters want is often not the same. But communications strategist Katie Talbot has found a way to work with both effectively.
What it comes down to is taking the time to get to know people. “It’s so cliche but the key to success in the Capitol is relationships,” she said."
USAA to hike insurance rates by double-digits for 265,000 California homeowners
The Chronicle's MEGAN FAN MUNCE: "USAA’s two largest home insurance subsidiaries were approved this month to raise rates for homeowners and condominium owners by double digits starting at the end of the year.
USAA is the sixth largest home insurer in California, representing about 5.61% of the market as of 2023. Its largest subsidiary, known also as USAA, was approved to raise rates at the beginning of the month by 16% for homeowners and 31% for condo owners. Its second largest subsidiary, USAA Casualty Insurance Company, was approved last week to raise rates by 25% for homeowners and 40% for condominium owners, filings with the California Department of Insurance show."
Public support for abortion funds surged after Roe. What happens when the money runs out?
The Chronicle's ROBIN BULLER: "Soon after anti-abortion activists achieved their 50-year goal of overturning Roe v. Wade, financial support began pouring into an unexpected beneficiary: grassroots organizations that help people get abortions.
According to the National Network of Abortion Funds, budgets grew an average of 88% nationwide in the 12 months that followed the 6-3 ruling that revoked the constitutional right to an abortion in June 2022."
Catholic hospital agrees to provide abortions after California sues over miscarriage care
KRISTEN HWANG, CalMatters: "Providence St. Joseph Hospital and the California Attorney General’s office have reached a temporary agreement in a case alleging the Catholic-owned hospital in Humboldt County violated multiple state laws by denying emergency abortion care to pregnant patients.
Last month, Attorney General Rob Bonta sued Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, alleging it illegally refused to provide emergency abortion care to a woman who was 15 weeks pregnant and hemorrhaging."
UC Davis can officially become a Hispanic-serving university. What does that label mean?
MATHEW MIRANDA, SacBee: "Latino students now represent more than 25% of UC Davis’ enrollment, positioning the school to qualify as a Hispanic-Serving Institution — a benchmark becoming more common across higher education.
The designation, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, is given to schools with a student body of at least 25% Hispanic students and makes them eligible for millions of dollars in federal grants. This fall, UC Davis’ undergraduate Latino enrollment reached 8,100 or roughly 25.1% of the school’s population, according to the university."
Teachers, conservatives battle for sway on school boards
EdSource's DIANA LAMBERT: "California school board races, largely ignored by voters until the 2022 election, are again taking center stage. The California Teachers Association(CTA), the California Republican Party and other organizations have significantly ramped up efforts to help their favored candidates win local school board seats on Nov. 5.
On Saturday, teachers and other school employees dropped into the offices of the Elk Grove Education Association to receive last-minute instructions and pick up yard signs and union T-shirts before fanning out across the Sacramento County district to encourage residents to vote for a local school bond and union-supported school board candidates."
Oakland Unified faces school closures again — three years after they sparked bitter fights
The Chronicle's JILL TUCKER: "For months, Oakland school officials have been warning families and staff about the pain ahead as the district addresses a $174 million deficit and the cost of running dozens of half empty schools, but the warnings have lacked specifics.
Finally, the details are starting to come into focus, with a vote on closing schools possible as soon as December or as late as the spring."
State A.G. probing school district’s handling of sex abuse allegations
EdSource's THOMAS PEELE: "The California Attorney General’s office is investigating the El Monte High School District in Los Angeles County for its handling of sexual abuse cases, Business Insider reported Monday.
Business Insider has reported extensively on the scandal, revealing widespread allegations of sexual misconduct by more than 20 educators dating from the 1980s until last year at Rosemead High School. Several district employees who were mandatory reporters allegedly failed to take action by alerting authorities after learning of misconduct allegations."
Bird flu jumped from cows to people. Now advocates want more farmworkers tested
KRISTEN HWANG, CalMatters: "In the heart of California’s dairy country, workers kitted in respirators, face shields and gloves are grappling with one of the largest bird flu outbreaks in history. California has reported 16 human cases of bird flu this month, and worker advocates say the state isn’t doing enough to protect dairy workers.
Only 39 people have been tested for H5N1, the strain of bird flu ravaging herds of cattle, according to the California Department of Public Health. California’s confirmed cases of sick workers account for almost all of the country’s cattle-to-human transmissions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
Rain is heading toward the Bay Area. Here's how it could impact your Halloween plans
The Chronicle's GREG PORTER: "An active week of weather finally kicks into gear Wednesday as a cold front is poised to move through the Bay Area late in the day and bring rain showers after dark.
But will it ruin Halloween plans?"
Reports of S.F. coyote encounters exploded this year. What should the city do about it?
The Chronicle's NORA MISHANEC: "A growling coyote charged at three boys playing in the backyard of a home in the Presidio in early October, sending the boys running for safety. At Crissy Field in August, a coyote leapt from the bushes and circled a woman and her dog as she screamed for help. At a high school in Potrero Hill, coyotes trailed people on school grounds multiple times this year.
These were among the hundreds of reports of coyote encounters reported to San Francisco Animal Care and Control officials this year. More coyote reports were filed through October of this year than in all of 2023, according to a Chronicle review."
The low carbon fuel standard energizes California’s EV future (OP-ED)
ALAN HOFFMAN in Capitol Weekly: "California is recognized the world over for its innovative spirit. So, it’s no surprise our state is playing a critical role in transitioning to cleaner, better transportation options like electric vehicles (EVs). The growth in sales of EVs over the last decade has been remarkable. EVs now make up nearly a quarter of all vehicles sold in California. The state’s ambitions and openness to new technologies are just a couple of the reasons why Rivian decided to put its headquarters right here in Orange County.
The EV landscape has never been more competitive, with newcomers like us and traditional car manufacturers producing a wide range of EVs. Importantly, this competitive market also ensures that the best vehicles will succeed. As a company, we support robust competition because we stand behind the quality and innovation that goes into making our products."
She fights for affordable housing in the Inland Empire. Now she’s fighting to keep a roof over her head
DEBORAH BRENNAN, CalMatters: "Every other week Laurel LaMont walks one block from her Temecula apartment to City Hall to make the case for a new model for low income housing.
She and her organization, Upward Community, have been calling on the city to create a community land trust, a nonprofit that buys land, then rents or sells homes to low- and moderate income residents. But first, LaMont has a more pressing issue; she’s fighting her own eviction from an affordable apartment after her earnings rose above the building’s threshold for subsidized housing."
Grisly international murder case follows Afghan woman to Sacramento. She now faces extradition
SHARON BERNSTEIN, SacBee: "Wajiha Korashi was living among fellow Afghan refugees in Elk Grove when federal agents swooped in last May, detaining the mother of two in a gruesome murder case that raises questions of transnational law enforcement, honor killings and the trauma of war.
Details of the case are murky. The Swedish government, which is seeking to extradite Korashi and her husband in the case of a man whose body was found in a duffel bag in the woods near Stockholm, redacted the name of the victim and did not offer specific details of how the crime was committed."
L.A. moves to prohibit landlords from evicting tenants in order to remodel units
LAT's PALOMA ESQUIVEL: "The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted in support of eliminating a rule that allows renters to be evicted when landlords remodel their buildings.
Under the city’s “just cause” eviction rules, landlords can evict tenants only for specific reasons, one of which is to “substantially remodel” their properties."
Lake Tahoe ranch hits market at $188 million. Take a look at one of the priciest US listings
DAVID CARRACIO, SacBee: "The iconic 130-acre Shakespeare Ranch along the eastern shoreline of Lake Tahoe hit the market this week for $188 million, putting it near the top of the list of most expensive properties in the United States.
The Nevada-side ranch, which dates back to the late 1800s, comprises 17 residences, cabins and fantastic amenities, including 425 feet of lake frontage, a coveted 465-foot private pier with two boat lifts, 14 private buoys and a rare boat house in Tahoe City, California."
