Trump’s call for U.S. takeover of Gaza hits wall of opposition
LAT, LAURA KING/NABIH BULOS: "President Trump’s declaration that the United States wants to “take over” the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and permanently resettle Palestinians living there was met Wednesday with a mixture of scorn and disbelief across the region and beyond — but greeted with delight by right-wing allies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump’s vague but far-reaching proposals, unveiled during a White House visit by Netanyahu on Tuesday, were swiftly denounced by critics as a call for ethnic cleansing, in violation of international law."
Trump pledges to investigate California high-speed rail. Is it actually over budget?
Sac Bee, TIM SHEEHAN: "President Donald Trump took dead aim at California’s high-speed rail project Tuesday, promising to lead an investigation into the beleaguered project under construction in Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley.
“The train that’s being built between Los Angeles and San Francisco is the worst managed project I think I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some of the worst,” Trump told reporters Tuesday. He asserted that the project is “billions and billions, hundreds of billions of dollars over budget.”"
‘Shadow government’? Billionaire Elon Musk’s grip on U.S. government spending raises questions
LAT, KEVIN RECTOR: "The world’s richest man, acting as an unelected “efficiency” consultant to President Trump, has in recent days managed the rare feat of overshadowing his boss — presuming to storm into and begin closing out government agencies at will.
After two weeks of chaos caused by Trump’s own unilateral executive orders to radically alter the federal government, it was suddenly Elon Musk whose name was everywhere in Washington this week, as he and his deputies in the new, so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, slashed at the federal bureaucracy in a purported effort to cut costs."
China, gaining ground in Latin America, spies opportunity in Trump’s chaotic foreign policy
LAT, KATE LINTHICUM/STEPHANIE YANG: "During a nine-day trip through Latin America in the fall, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the leaders of Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina and inaugurated a $3-billion Chinese-funded port in Peru.
Over and over, Xi stressed his interest in strengthening economic ties with the region 10,000 miles from Beijing."
Seeking LA fire aid, Gavin Newsom is set to meet Donald Trump in D.C.
CALMatters, ALEXEI KOSEFF: "A day after California lawmakers finalized approval of $25 million in legal funding to challenge the Trump administration, Gov. Gavin Newsom headed east Tuesday for his first D.C. visit of the new Trump era.
The Democratic governor left for Washington midday, his office announced, and is expected to stay through Thursday to lobby for assistance for the Los Angeles fires."
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announces decision about running for governor in 2026
Sac Bee, ANDREW SHEELER: "California Attorney General Rob Bonta is not running for governor in 2026.
The Democratic AG told Politico that he is seeking reelection to his current position, and endorsing former Vice President Kamala Harris, should she decide to run for the state’s top executive office."
Mayor Daniel Lurie wins more power to address S.F. drugs and homelessness. What will he do with it?
The Chronicle, JD MORRIS: "San Francisco lawmakers agreed to temporarily expand Mayor Daniel Lurie’s power so he can take quicker action in response to the fentanyl crisis and homelessness.
Lurie’s ordinance to cut red tape and allow him to fundraise for initiatives related to addiction treatment, homeless shelters and mental health services was approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors in a 10-1 vote. Supervisor Shamann Walton dissented. The vote marks an early political victory for Lurie, who secured the passage of his first major legislation with little resistance."
As California’s fire season grows, state senators push for more year-round firefighters
CALMatters, SAMEEA KAMAL: "Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire proposed Tuesday that state firefighters work year-round in place of the seasonal workforce the agency currently staffs for nine months each year. The increased duty for about 3,000 seasonal firefighters is estimated to cost at least $175 million.
“This escalating crisis has stretched firefighters dangerously thin,” McGuire said at a press conference in Sacramento, flanked by 21 other state senators and representatives from the union representing CalFire firefighters. “The threats to their health and safety along with the threats to local communities — they have never been greater.”"
Flu in California surging to levels not seen since before the COVID pandemic
The Chronicle, CATHERINE HO: "The seasonal flu in California is surging to levels not seen in several years — though the reasons why aren’t entirely clear.
Test positivity for influenza specimens at state laboratories hit 26% in the week ending Jan. 25 — notably higher than the peaks of the prior four seasons — and is still trending upward, according to the state’s most recent surveillance data on respiratory viruses."
LAUSD sets aside $2.2 billion to rebuild burned campuses, make schools more resilient
LAT, HOWARD BLUME/JENNY GOLD: "The Los Angeles school district will set aside $2.2 billion to repair or rebuild three fire-damaged schools and to make all campuses more “natural disaster resilient.”
L.A. schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho on Tuesday also announced that new health and safety evaluations are being undertaken at two smoke-damaged campuses near the burn scar of last month’s Pacific Palisades fire. Parents at Canyon Charter Elementary and Revere Charter Middle School had expressed concerns over whether these recently reopened campuses were safe."
Sacramento State’s policies for ICE criticized. Faculty urges more support for undocumented students
Sac Bee, MATHEW MIRANDA: "Sacramento State faculty fired back against a recent university statement intended to reassure undocumented students by unleashing a series of emails addressed to the administration and its president.
The internal conflict was set off by a Jan. 24 campus-wide email from the Office of the Provost intended to highlight the school’s commitment to the undocumented community and policies amid rising immigration enforcement fears. But an email thread ensued four days later with several faculty members who urged for stronger support and further clarity about the campus’ policy regarding immigration enforcement."
‘Pineapple express’ storm arrives in Southern California after pounding the Bay Area
LAT, RONG-GONG LIN II/HANNAH FRY: "The first of two “pineapple express” storms has arrived in Southern California after delivering a stronger-than-expected pounding to the San Francisco Bay Area, breaking rainfall records.
A house in the Sonoma County town of Forestville fell into the Russian River after a rain-saturated hillside gave way, and all low-lying areas of the river downstream of Healdsburg — including Guerneville — were ordered evacuated due to the risk of flooding. Roadways flooded across the region, including lanes on U.S. 101 in Windsor, near Santa Rosa, as well as Interstate 5 and California 99 in San Joaquin County. A large tree branch in San Francisco’s Visitacion Valley fell and hit a person, who declined to be taken to a hospital."
California mountains brace for feet of snow as next storm approaches
The Chronicle, GREG PORTER: "Following closely on the heels of a powerful atmospheric river that brought heavy rain and gusty winds to the Bay Area on Tuesday, another strong storm is set to impact the region on Thursday.
With colder air in place, several feet of snow is expected to accumulate across the Sierra by Friday morning, likely closing mountain passes and disrupting travel. Additional rainfall across the Bay Area could push rivers and streams to the brink of flooding, particularly in the North Bay, where heavy rain Tuesday triggered floods that caused serious damage."
Hundreds of federal workers are likely to flood downtown S.F. as part of Trump’s return-to-work order
The Chronicle, LAURA WAXMANN: "President Donald Trump’s return-to-office mandate for federal workers could have ripple effects in San Francisco as scores of U.S. General Services Administration employees were told Monday to “expect” that they would be called back to the office full-time by March to an iconic Civic Center building.
However, the Chronicle has learned, it’s uncertain whether the building will continue to serve the government workers in the future."
Bay Area city opening a homeless parking site for half of what it cost S.F.
The Chronicle, MAGGIE ANGST: "San Francisco officials are shutting down the city’s only safe parking site for homeless people, a troubled project dubbed “by far the most expensive homeless response intervention.” Meanwhile, another Bay Area city is opening a similar project at about half the cost per vehicle, pointing to San Francisco’s ongoing struggle to provide homeless services at a reasonable price tag.
San Jose in the coming weeks is set to open its second site for homeless vehicle dwellers at 1300 Berryessa Road with the capacity to hold 86 vehicles."
