Newsletter: Essential California: Obamacare premiums are about to go up in the Golden State

Good morning. It is Wednesday, July 20. This $14-million compound east of San Diego has a million-dollar swimming pool and a go-kart track. Sounds like fun! Here’s what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Housing dispute

Gov. Jerry Brown and the union that represents construction workers of various trades are locked in a fight over wages and that could delay the governor’s plan to build more housing for low-income Californians. Brown wants to speed up the approval process for housing with affordable units and as part of that plan, the State Building and Construction Trades Council wants him to require that firms pay workers “prevailing wages.” “The developers are just going to pad their profits,” said the labor group’s Robbie Hunter. Los Angeles Times

Cost of care

Premiums for Covered California health insurance will increase more than 13% next year. Officials blamed rising medical care for the price hike. “We’re paying more for less. Insurers are limiting access to doctors and hospitals while also demanding a higher price,” said Jamie Court, the president of Consumer Watchdog in Santa Monica. Los Angeles Times

L.A. AT LARGE

Do the hustle: The homeless are taking a cue from immigrant sidewalk vendors in Westlake and selling items like T-shirts, plants and condoms for a few dollars. “I’m flat broke and I want to get a sandwich, and if I do this I can do that,” said one man. Street peddling is illegal. Los Angeles Times

Arts scene: Downtown L.A.’s Music Center will get a $30-million renovation. Plans include leveling the plaza and creating more space for outdoor performances. “What we want to see happening here is that this plaza will be transformed,” said L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis. Downtown News

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Sick to their stomachs: At least a dozen staffers in California’s delegation at the Republican National Convention are suffering from the norovirus (better known as the cruise ship virus). Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, fever and diarrhea. The delegation is staying at the Kalahari Resort, which is home to the nation’s largest water park. It’s also an hour away from the convention in Cleveland. Los Angeles Times

Serve and protect: Voters in Siskiyou County will be asked this November to increase their sales tax a quarter of 1% to pay for a new jail. The proposal could generate $27 million for law enforcement. “We simply can’t afford to let (this funding) be lost,” said Sheriff Jon Lopey. Siskiyou Daily News

Political endorsement: President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden endorsed state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. She’s running against fellow Democrat Rep. Loretta Sanchez for the open seat. “It just kind of says that it’s really not going to be that competitive going forward,” said Lori Cox Han, a political science professor at Chapman University. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Wrongfully convicted: A man who spent 20 years in prison before his murder conviction was overturned will receive a $10.1-million settlement from Los Angeles County. Francisco Carrillo Jr. was convicted and sentenced to life in prison back in 1992 for the drive-by shooting death of a Lynwood man. Sixteen at the time of the shooting, Carrillo always maintained his innocence. Los Angeles Times

More fighting: Representatives with Hyperloop One are firing back at Brogan BamBrogan, the co-founder who sued the tech company for intimidation and breach of fiduciary duty. In a cross-complaint, BamBrogan is accused of trying to manufacture a rebellion and seize control of the company. His attorney denies the allegation. Fortune

Stalking case: A 29-year-old woman is accused of harassing her ex-boyfriend and his wife and then escalating the situation by posting ads on Craigslist that sought out men to rape the wife, who is pregnant. Several men did show up at the wife’s house and one physically attacked her before she could call for help, authorities said. Michelle Suzanne Hadley was charged with felony stalking, attempted forcible rape, violating a protective order and assault. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Dirty waters: Beaches in Long Beach were closed after a sewage line near downtown L.A. ruptured for the second day in a row. “This happening is just a part of the maintenance system. Something grows old, you have to repair it or replace it,” said Adel Hagekhalil, assistant director of Los Angeles Sanitation. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Jackpot!: Now this is how to win the lottery: Marvin and Mae Acosta waited six months to collect their piece of a $1.6-billion jackpot. That time allowed them to get a lawyer, make a plan and “fall off the grid.” The Acostas opted to take their winnings in a lump sum, which totaled $327.8 million before taxes. Los Angeles Times

Behind the wheel: Marie Krafcik is 97 years old and just got to check out Google’s self-driving car. “That’s one of the great benefits of self-driving cars. We can get all those folks from where they are to where they want to be,” Krafcik said. BuzzFeed

Snap a picture: A new exhibit in Los Gatos pays tribute to photographer Anne Brigman, who was known for photographing her subjects nude and in the wild. “From her point of view, she was exalting the athletic Western woman,” said Drew Johnson, curator of photography and visual culture at the Oakland Museum of California. KQED

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Francisco will have low clouds and a high of 67 degrees. There will be lots of sunshine and a high of 90 degrees in Sacramento. Los Angeles will be sunny with a high of 89. It’ll be hot at 103 degrees in Riverside. There will be some fog in San Diego before temperatures reach a high of 80 degrees.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California Memory comes from Bill Mills:

“I drove from the Central Valley, arrived at dawn in an empty Yosemite parking lot and headed up the Half Dome trail. I had planned this hike for months. I stumbled down in the dark to find my car after an exhausting day. There were acres of parked cars in the full parking area on a moonless night. I hadn’t noted my car’s location that morning. After frantic hours of searching, I finally spotted it. I was so thankful to find my car for the drive home. I never returned to Yosemite unless at least one other person was with me.”

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad.