Newsletter: San Bernardino’s view of Trump’s travel restrictions
Two Republicans senators have defected and will vote against Betsy DeVos for secretary of Education. Could President Trump’s proposed 20% border tax set off an international food fight? Are emails and texts sent on the personal devices of government
Good morning. Today is Thursday, Feb. 2, and here’s what’s happening across California:
TOP STORIES
In their name
President Trump’s controversial travel restrictions, which he said were inspired in part by the San Bernardino terrorist attack, have prompted starkly different reactions from families of the victims. Some, themselves immigrants, question the fairness and effectiveness of the policy, while others support Trump’s efforts as a means to protect the U.S. from terror attacks. Los Angeles Times
Liking Trump
In parts of California that voted for President Trump, many are pleased at his first week in office. They believe he’s carrying out campaign promises and think all the protests are an overreaction. “So far I couldn’t be happier,” one said. Los Angeles Times
Shut down
A speech by conservative firebrand and Trump supporter Milo Yiannopoulos was canceled at UC Berkeley on Wednesday amid violent protests on campus that sparked at least one fire. It marks the second time in a month that his talks on a UC campus were stymied by protesters, forcing the university system to confront the issues of free speech rights and “hate speech.” Los Angeles Times
L.A. STORIES
Turned off: Spanish-speaking viewers throughout Los Angeles were stunned Wednesday when they discovered their favorite Spanish-language television station, Univision’s KMEX-TV Channel 34, had been taken off the air — replaced by a blue screen. Los Angeles Times
Trump protest: The creative, some would say juvenile, protests outside Donald Trump’s Palos Verdes resort. (It involves urine.) Hollywood Reporter
Express LAX: Could Metro eventually create express train service from Union Station to Los Angeles International Airport? A dream project, possible, but a good dream. Curbed Los Angeles
A new river: Amid the meat processing plant and industrial crime south of downtown L.A., the dream of reviving the L.A. River as a place for nature is taking shape. San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Nestle gone: Another big corporate headquarters is leaving the L.A. area. Food giant Nestle USA is moving its headquarters from Glendale to Virginia, impacting 1,200 jobs. Los Angeles Times
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Hollywood fears: The election of President Trump, some say, has increased anxiety in the entertainment industry about how the new administration’s travel and immigration policies will affect visa applications and wait times for filmmakers and crew members who want to work on productions in the United States. Los Angeles Times
Trump vs. California: Federal waivers could be a quick way for President Trump to slow California’s climate change policy. CalMatters
No on DeVos: Eli Broad, the prominent local philanthropist behind a massive effort to increase the number of charter schools in Los Angeles, is protesting the appointment of Betsy DeVos as secretary of Education. Broad sent a letter to U.S. senators Wednesday, asking them to vote against President Trump’s nominee. Los Angeles Times
Taking a stand: California State University Chancellor Timothy P. White, in the annual state of the CSU address Wednesday, spoke of his ongoing commitment to protect vulnerable immigrant students and said access to education is a universal right. “We will go as far as state and federal laws allow to ensure all students have that opportunity,” White said. Los Angeles Times
Jerry’s money: With no clear campaign left to run in his storied electoral career, Gov. Jerry Brown nonetheless owns a $15-million political war chest, one of the largest of any elected official in the state. Few, though, suspect that Brown is out of ideas on what to do with it. Los Angeles Times
CRIME AND COURTS
Travel block: A federal judge in Los Angeles has added another legal ruling against President Trump’s controversial suspension of travel from a group of predominantly Muslim countries, issuing an emergency order that forbids government officials from enforcing many of the new rules. Los Angeles Times
Protesting: Interstate 5 was closed in Sacramento after protesters took to the streets over the district attorney’s decision not to charge officers in the fatal shooting of a black man. Sacramento Bee
Suing the sheriff: An investigator with the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Jim McDonnell and a group of deputies, alleging he was beaten and unlawfully detained while working last year. Los Angeles Times
DROUGHT AND CLIMATE
Slowing down: Despite all that snow and rain, you can expect state officials to be slow to loosen drought restrictions. Mercury News
CALIFORNIA CULTURE
So goes the nation? Does the California experience over the last 20 years when it comes to immigration and acceptance offer clues for the rest of the nation? New York Times
Surfing funk: The fall from grace of the famed Mavericks big wave competition in Northern California. Once a surfers’ paradise, now mired in financial problems and hype. San Francisco Chronicle
Raider uncertainty: Where will the Oakland Raiders end up? Las Vegas? Maybe not. San Diego? Still a very long shot? Or will they stay in the Bay Area? Wall Street Journal
Burger march: In-N-Out Burger’s next stop in its march east? Houston. The chain is making gains in Texas, as part of a deliberate, slow push. Orange County Register
Got a room? Hotel developers remain bullish on Southern California, with more than 13,000 rooms under construction during 2016, plus 66,000 more in the planning pipeline. And Los Angeles is leading the way. San Diego Union-Tribune
CALIFORNIA ALMANAC
Los Angeles area: Cloudy with highs in the mid-60s. San Diego: Partly cloudy with highs in the upper 60s. San Francisco area: Showers with highs in the upper 50s. Sacramento: Showers with highs in the lower 60s. More weather is here.
AND FINALLY
Today’s California memory comes from Ruth Hughes:
“I moved to Oxnard in December 1964. We had hardly any Mexican restaurants in Boston back then. My husband sent me to get tacos — five for $1. I had never heard of a taco, so all the way in I kept saying, “taco, taco.” I was afraid I would say it incorrectly. We are now back in Boston and have plenty of Mexican restaurants. We know the whole menu and have tried most of it.”
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 Shelby Grad.
