Good morning. It’s Wednesday, Nov. 12.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom grabs spotlight at U.N. climate summit.
- Strong atmospheric river is poised to drench California.
- And tech titans seek to genetically engineer babies.
Statewide
1.
The Trump administration is planning to allow new oil and gas drilling off California for the first time since the 1980s, several reports said. Oil companies have been reluctant to contend with fierce local opposition to drilling. But Interior Department documents indicated that there is “industry interest” in drilling in Pacific waters near Southern California. Asked about the move on Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom rolled his eyes. It is “dead on arrival in California — dead on arrival,” he said. Bloomberg | N.Y. Times
2.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has stepped into the spotlight this week at the United Nations climate summit in Belém, Brazil, which President Trump chose to skip. As the most senior American politician in attendance, the Democrat has used the platform to accuse Trump of letting China “dominate” clean energy technologies of the future. “They’re doubling down on stupid as it relates to climate policy in my country, but not in my state,” he said. Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman, accused Newsom of falling for “Green Dreams.” Reuters | N.Y. Times
3.
A potent atmospheric river is expected to sweep across California over the coming days, packing powerful winds, heavy rain, and up to 2 feet of mountain snow, meteorologists said. The storm is forecast to make landfall in Northern California Wednesday and roll into Southern California by Thursday, where it could linger into the weekend. The potential for dangerous debris flows are a worry in areas recently scarred by wildfires. Accuweather | L.A. Times
- Predicted rainfall:
- See forecast animation. 👉 Scripps
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A rare aurora borealis lit up the night sky over Northern California on Tuesday. See pictures. 👉 KCRA | S.F. Chronicle
Northern California
4.
The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that it would investigate UC Berkeley’s handling of a Turning Point USA event on campus that was met by boisterous anti-fascist protesters a day earlier. Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed there were “violent riots,” adding: “Antifa is an existential threat to our nation.” Dan Mogulof, a spokesperson for UC Berkeley, said he was aware of two incidents of violence: two men trading punches and a person being struck in the head by a glass bottle. Four people were arrested, officials said. Berkeley Scanner | L.A. Times
5.
“Innovations that work seem obvious in retrospect.”
It’s become a regular feature of life in San Francisco: people in distress stumbling into traffic, screaming incoherently, or threatening strangers. The city is now testing a remarkably simple solution. A shuttered Goodwill store was transformed into an urgent care clinic for people having public breakdowns. The facility is staffed with mental health specialists around the clock and patients can leave whenever they choose. It seems to be showing real promise. N.Y. Times
6.
In February, a column of law enforcement officers stormed an open-air drug market in San Francisco and arrested 84 people. Afterward, Mayor Daniel Lurie, who was elected on pledges to tackle crime, declared on social media: “I want everyone to hear this. If you are selling drugs in this city, we are coming after you.” But just one person was ultimately charged with felony drug dealing. On Monday, his public defender announced that he was found not guilty. SFist | KRON
7.
The Make America Healthy Again movement is embracing Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced Silicon Valley entrepreneur who was convicted of defrauding investors in her blood-testing company Theranos. In online posts, MAHA figures portray Holmes as a deeply misunderstood character. Politico Magazine reports: “Perhaps Holmes’ most attractive quality as a MAHA anti-establishment hero is her prosecution itself: It’s seen as proof that she was an outsider being punished for pushing back against corporate interests.”
8.
It’s illegal to genetically engineer babies in the U.S. But a Silicon Valley startup named Preventive, backed by Sam Altman of OpenAI and Brian Armstrong of Coinbase, is trying to do it anyway, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal. Armstrong has told people that gene-editing technology could produce children who are less prone to heart disease, with lower cholesterol, and stronger bones to prevent osteoporosis. He’s floated the idea of revealing a healthy genetically engineered baby before anyone had a chance to object. Wall Street Journal
9.
During World War II, the clifftop above Muir Beach just north of San Francisco was prized by the military, which used the lofty perch to keep watch for enemy ships. In its next chapter as a park, Muir Beach Overlook became well known for its dreamy staircase, captured in countless tourist photos. In peacetime, the overlook’s combination of panoramic views and breathtaking scenery has offered other advantages, making it a perfect place to scan for migrating whales or take a beloved’s hand and drop to one knee. Outbound | California Through My Lens
Southern California
10.
“We won’t leave a fire that has any hot spots.”
“That fire was dead out.”
“We did everything that we could do.”
The Los Angeles Fire Department knew that firefighters were ordered to leave the scene of a Jan. 1 blaze in the Santa Monica Mountains despite complaints that the ground was still smoking, a source told the Los Angeles Times. The smoldering remnants later reignited into the devastating Palisades fire. Yet the department made no public mention of that information, even as victims demanded answers about the fire’s origins. Rather, officials were emphatic that the initial blaze was fully extinguished. L.A. Times
11.
Housing advocates celebrated when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law on Oct. 10 that allows higher-density residential buildings near transit stops. By one analysis, the law known as SB 79 immediately allows for roughly 448,000 new housing units to be built in Los Angeles. Now comes the hard part, Bloomberg reported: “SB 79 faces fierce opposition from community groups who see it as a destroyer of neighborhoods, and from lawmakers like Mayor Karen Bass and a majority of the city council who believe it usurps local control.”
12.
When Michael Schmidt, a Los Angeles designer to the stars, learned what happens to “male-oriented” rams that refuse to mate with ewes, he was troubled. They are generally sent to the slaughterhouse. Essentially, Schmidt said, “the sheep are killed for being gay.” He thought he could change the situation. Schmidt teamed up with Rainbow Wool, a German nonprofit that cultivates the wool of non-mating sheep, to bring to life a 37-piece knitwear collection. “I don’t view this really as fashion,” he said. “I view it as an art project.” N.Y. Times
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