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California Policy and Politics Monday
D.C. gala gunman wrote ‘manifesto,’ traveled from California before attack, officials say -- Cole Tomas Allen, the suspected gunman who rattled Washington’s leaders by exchanging gunfire with officials just outside a press gala late Saturday, had made a long journey from Southern California and written a “manifesto” threatening Trump administration officials before the attack, officials said. Kevin Rector, Alene Tchekmedyian, Connor Sheets and Tony Briscoe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/27/26
Caltech, Dominguez Hills, Torrance — accused Washington, DC attacker’s apparent past -- That trail, according to interviews and social media posts, shows a 31-year-old, highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer from Torrance who studied at one of the most elite learning institutions in the world, Caltech. Ryan Carter, Sean Emery, Tony Saavedra, Madeline Armstrong in the Orange County Register$ -- 4/27/26
Newsom renews $50,000 rewards for six Bay Area cold cases -- Urging tipsters to come forward, Gov. Gavin Newsom renewed $50,000 rewards for information in more than two dozen cold cases across California, including six in the Bay Area. The cases included the death of a 12-year-old girl who disappeared in Sonoma County in 1997 and the ambush of a Hillsborough police officer in San Mateo County last year. David Hernandez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/27/26
Also
California climber survived a 500-foot fall and freezing night out, forcing a dramatic air rescue -- It was a high-stakes rescue — one of the most challenging the helicopter aircrew had ever performed in the High Sierra. Gregory Thomas in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/27/26
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The Simple Security Flaws That Exposed Trump to Another Gunman -- With 1,107 guest rooms and suites, 47 meeting rooms and four on-site dining venues, the facility in the heart of the nation’s capital can’t be fully sealed off for a high-security event. One of those rooms was booked by the 31-year-old gunman, who checked in the day before the shooting, law-enforcement officials said, giving him an even deeper awareness of the Hilton’s contours. Sadie Gurman, C. Ryan Barber and Isabella Simonetti in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/27/26
Suspect Is Said to Have Written of Anger at Trump Officials Before Charging Gala -- The roughly 1,000-word note shared by officials does not mention Mr. Trump by name. But it indicates that the suspect, who was detained after a shooting involving federal agents on Saturday night, bore deep anger at the administration and the president himself. According to the note, the suspect said he could no longer allow a “traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.” Luke Broadwater, Michael M. Grynbaum, Shawn McCreesh, Tyler Pager, Devlin Barrett, Maggie Haberman and Amy Qin in the New York Times$ -- 4/27/26
Trump lashes out at ‘60 Minutes’ anchor for reading alleged gunman’s manifesto -- Any detente between the president and the press after the shared horror of Saturday’s dinner appears to be short-lived. Eli Stokols Politico -- 4/27/26
We were there: Hearing gunfire and ducking for cover at the D.C. dinner shooting -- Directly outside the Washington Hilton ballroom, as the yearly White House Correspondents’ Assn. dinner got underway Saturday, a Times reporter had just entered the men’s room when he heard a handful of loud pops ring out. “Shooter!” someone shouted. “Get down! Shots fired!” Gavin J. Quinton and Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/27/26
Shooter’s path to White House press gala prompts security questions -- An attack on the White House correspondents’ dinner by a gunman who came within feet of the ballroom where President Trump sat raised immediate questions about the night’s security protocol — and the future of large, high-profile events in a country with easy access to firearms and increasingly high political tensions. Justine McDaniel and Michael Wilner in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/27/26
Critics slam Trump’s purge of National Science Board: ‘Wholesale evisceration of American leadership in science’ -- The future of the National Science Foundation is in question after a slew of scientists who serve on the National Science Board, an independent body that promotes the progress of American science and provides advice to the U.S. president and Congress, were abruptly dismissed from their positions Friday by the White House. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/27/26
California Policy and Politics Sunday
Media dinner shooting suspect wrote about targeting administration officials, Trump says -- The man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner sent writings to family members minutes before the shooting referring to himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin,” railing against Trump administration policies and signaling what investigators increasingly believe was a politically driven attack, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation. Eric Tucker, Alanna Durkin Richer Associated Press -- 4/26/26
Caltech Grad, ‘Teacher of the Month’ Named as Washington Shooting Suspect -- The 31-year-old suspect in the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is a Caltech grad who recently won a “teacher of the month” award. Cole Allen, of Torrance, Calif., has been identified as the man suspected of opening fire Saturday night near the ballroom where President Trump was in attendance, according to two law-enforcement officials briefed on the investigation. Zusha Elinson and Neil Mehta in the Wall Street Journal$ Richard Winton, Connor Sheets, Hannah Fry and Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/26/26
Barabak: The congressional landmine stirring fears about the midterm election — and a Trump power grab -- The Constitution makes the House and Senate the ultimate arbiters of who gets seated. Some nervous Democrats and their allies worry that language could thwart installation of a Democratic majority in the next Congress. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/26/26
In Deep Blue California, a G.O.P.-Backed Voter ID Proposal Makes the Ballot -- A Republican-backed initiative has cleared the signature threshold for the November election. Critics say the measure could make it harder for people to vote. Tim Balk in the New York Times$ -- 4/26/26
California governor candidates race to claim pro-housing mantle -- As California’s housing crisis continues to dominate state politics, candidates for governor are increasingly positioning themselves as pro-housing, a shift driven in part by the growing influence of the Yes In My Backyard movement. Grace Hase in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/26/26
Let the debate begin: Here’s the preliminary 145-mile route for a new SDG&E transmission line -- The high-voltage line aims to strengthen California's electric grid, but it's already run into opposition from a desert conservation group and others. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 4/26/26
Their homes burned in the Eaton fire. Why Edison has kept information about the fire under wraps -- After last year’s disastrous Eaton fire, Southern California Edison executives vowed to be transparent about what caused the inferno that killed at least 19 people and left thousands of families homeless in Altadena. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/26/26
Growing brush fire triggers evacuation warnings in Orange County -- Orange County firefighters battled a brush fire Saturday that prompted evacuation warnings for some communities in the Carbon Canyon area of Brea. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/26/26
Apple promised Cupertino growth. It got that, and a pricier, more pressured city -- Apple promised Cupertino prosperity with Apple Park — and the city got more money and prestige, but also pricier housing, heavier traffic and a sharper divide over who can still afford to live there. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/26/26
California cities seek to bless polyamorous unions. Lawyers warn it will get messy in court -- West Hollywood is among the cities moving to recognize and protect multi-partner relationships, an effort that backers say addresses housing and healthcare discrimination. Some experts say the changes will face complications in being added to the existing system for divorces, custody disputes and family court battles. Sonja Sharp in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/26/26
Four LAPD officers collectively win more than $14 million in retaliation lawsuit -- A jury on Thursday awarded $14.6 million to four Los Angeles Police Department officers who said they were retaliated against for reporting problems they deemed serious, including serious staffing shortages that left police recruits with insufficient training in the use of deadly weapons. The item is in the LA Daily News -- 4/26/26
Water
Here’s where California reservoirs stand after spring storms -- As California heads into its dry season, its major reservoirs are in good shape, with statewide storage on Friday estimated to be 20% above normal for this time of year. Robust rainfall in April has given a slight boost in places — especially welcome after an unusually dry March. Jack Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/26/26
Also
California’s largest ski resort extends season after storms: ‘The show goes on into May’ -- California’s largest ski resort, which had announced it would close by late April, now says recent Sierra Nevada storms will allow it to remain open into May. Palisades Tahoe’s announcement comes almost two weeks after Mammoth Mountain announced it will remain open for a “second season” at least through May 25, Memorial Day. Warren Pederson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/26/26
This Tahoe ski resort is getting a new $50 million gondola next winter -- Last summer, Sugar Bowl Resort, one of the closest ski areas to San Francisco, embarked on a $100 million capital improvement project to modernize parts of its 87-year-old property. This offseason, the resort is beginning a more ambitious round of work to significantly improve access to the slopes for both first-time visitors and veteran passholders alike — starting next winter. Gregory Thomas in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/26/26
Rare Central Valley tornado outbreak: four twisters strike in five hours -- Tornadoes aren’t completely out of the question in California’s Central Valley. Over the last century, the region has had scores of them. But this week, as several thunderstorms moved through, the region experienced something rare: four tornadoes on the same day, all in less than five hours. David Zahniser Calmatters -- 4/26/26
Dogs outnumber kids in S.F. Now their day care costs nearly as much -- While taking a golden Labrador named Barley for a bathroom break last week, a San Francisco dog handler noticed something Barley’s owners needed to know about — immediately. After alerting them through a mobile app, the handler sent her boss a detailed note. Connor Letourneau in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/26/26
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Suspect to appear in court Monday and ‘many’ charges expected, Pirro says -- U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the suspect will be charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, along with one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. He will be arraigned in court on Monday, she said. Jenny Gathright in the Washington Post$ -- 4/26/26
Confusion and Fright Inside the Washington Hilton Ballroom -- There were no announcements or cries of “get down.” Instead, a sense of danger spread across the room like a wave. Hundreds of the country’s top media executives, editors in chief and prominent television anchors, clad in tuxedos and evening gowns, instinctively dropped to the floor, crouching besides chairs and ducking under tables. Michael M. Grynbaum in the New York Times$ John F. Harris Politico Dan Diamond, Cat Zakrzewski, Emily Davies and Maegan Vazquez in the Washington Post$ -- 4/26/26
Once again, a gunman gets perilously close to President Trump -- The storming of a security checkpoint on Saturday evening by an armed man at the hotel hosting the White House Correspondents' Association dinner was the third time in three years that Mr. Trump had faced danger. During the 2024 campaign, he survived two assassination attempts, including a bullet grazing his ear in Butler, Pa. Luke Broadwater in the New York Times$ -- 4/26/26
Aborted Pakistan Trip Leaves Trump With Tough Choices on Iran Talks -- President Trump scrapped a trip by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks with Iran, leaving himself tough choices over how to force Iran to make concessions the White House wants to strike a deal. Benoit Faucon, Laurence Norman and Natalie Andrews in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/26/26
Iran and U.S. Sink Into Awkward Limbo of ‘No War, No Peace’ -- Each side is betting it can last longer than the other, analysts say. But there are risks in a stalemate without a deal. Erika Solomon in the New York Times$ -- 4/26/26