Good morning. It’s Thursday, June 30.
- Nancy Pelosi receives communion at the Vatican.
- Lapses reported in handling of suspect before cop killings.
- And executives say tax proposal imperils lithium industry.
Statewide
1.
The California Department of Justice acknowledged Wednesday that it had exposed the personal information of possibly hundreds of thousands of people who sought concealed-carry weapon permits, including victims of domestic violence. The breach — including names, driver’s license numbers, addresses, and other details — occurred as part of a new firearms transparency initiative. Rob Bonta, who heads the agency, said he was “deeply disturbed” and ordered an investigation. A.P. | L.A. Times
2.
California lawmakers on Wednesday approved a bill that could help extend the life of the state’s last nuclear power plant. The legislation establishes a “contingency fund” to keep aging power plants running and ensure the reliability of the power grid as it transitions to renewable energy. Over the last year, a group of scientists and energy officials has cautioned against haste in powering down Diablo Canyon, which generated 6% of the state’s power last year and is set to close in 2025. CalMatters
3.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has described a plan to send up to $1,050 to most Californians as an “inflation relief” package. But critics warn that it could have an unintended outcome: pushing inflation even higher. “These policies do nothing to solve the underlying problem, and they are poorly targeted as relief for those who need the help most,” said Jared Walczak, of the Tax Foundation. H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the state’s Department of Finance, said he appreciated “academic arguments” about long-term effects but Californians need help now. Sacramento Bee | Bloomberg
Checks are anticipated to go out starting in late October. See how much to expect. 👉 CNBC
4.
Every so often, when the sun and mist align just so, a Yosemite waterfall transforms into a brilliant, cascading rainbow. Rarer still are moonbows, created by lunar light that are barely detectable to the naked eye. Using a powerful lens and editing software, the Los Angeles filmmaker Brian Hawkins brought the valley’s moonbows to life in a gorgeous short video. YouTube
Northern California
5.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Pope Francis on Wednesday and received communion during a papal Mass at the Vatican, witnesses said. On May 20, Pelosi’s hometown priest, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, announced that she would be denied communion over her support for abortion rights, accusing her of perpetuating a “grave evil.” While Pope Francis has called abortion murder, he has also said, “I have never refused the Eucharist to anyone.” A.P. | Washington Post
6.
“Her blood is on their hands.”
Eight times Bay Area social workers were told that Sophia Mason was being abused or neglected under the care of a mother with a history of mental illness. Eight times they decided she was safe. That included a meeting with the girl during which she cried, said she was being beaten, and begged to be taken in by her aunt. A year later, police found Sophia’s lifeless body in a bathtub. In a three-month investigation, the reporter Maggie Angst provided a damning account of how an exuberant little girl was failed by Alameda County’s child welfare agency. Mercury News
7.
State lawmakers advanced a bill this week that would allow government attorneys to sue social media companies such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat for features that hook children on their apps. The measure was introduced after a whistleblower report revealed that Facebook was aware its products were addictive to children, defined as use that continues even while causing psychological or physical harm. An industry executive said the bill would violate free-speech rights. Wall Street Journal | Ars Technica
8.
One of the best social media accounts for style inspiration focuses on an unlikely group: the elderly community of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Since the project started in 2014, the Chinatown Pretty account has celebrated the audacious blend of styles commonly encountered in the country’s oldest Chinese immigrant enclave, including floral prints set against plaid, bejeweled baseball caps, and necktie-plus-bow-tie combos. Input
Southern California
9.
Reporters uncovered a troubling series of lapses by the authorities in the days and weeks leading up the killing of two El Monte police officers on June 14:
- The suspect, Justin Flores, was on probation for a felony conviction but hadn’t been seen by his probation officer in more than six months.
- In early June, Flores’ mother called his probation officer to report that he was using drugs. She begged for help, but the officer refused to discuss the case with her.
- Days before the killings, officials received reports that Flores was in possession of a gun, which he was barred from having, and that he had beaten a woman with whom he was romantically involved. L.A. Times
10.
A federal jury in San Diego convicted four former U.S. naval officers on corruption charges Wednesday, capping one of the most notorious scandals in the history of the Navy. The case centered around the Malaysian defense contractor Leonard Francis, dubbed “Fat Leonard,” who showered Navy officers with fancy meals, prostitutes, and other perks. In exchange, the officers shared classified information and redirected military vessels to ports that were lucrative for his Singapore-based ship servicing company. S.D. Union-Tribune | A.P.
11.
California wants to impose a flat-rate tax on lithium produced in the Salton Sea region, but executives say it would stifle the nascent industry before it even begins. Demand for the lithium needed to power electric cars has set off what’s been called a “white gold rush” in places like the Salton Sea, which researchers say could yield 600,000 tons of the chemical element a year. The tax proposal would impose a fee of up to $800 per ton. “We’re willing to pay and contribute to the local community, but it has to be a rational tax,” said Eric Spomer, of EnergySource Minerals LLC. Reuters
12.
Rep. Liz Cheney delivered a speech on Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, a monument to a man who championed the so-called 11th commandment: Republicans should not attack fellow Republicans. But Cheney held nothing back. “We are confronting a domestic threat we have never faced before,” she said of former President Trump. She denounced Republican leaders for making themselves “willing hostages to this dangerous and irrational man,” adding: “We have to choose, because Republicans cannot be loyal to both Donald Trump and to the Constitution.” L.A. Times | CNN
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The California Sun is written by Mike McPhate, a former California correspondent for the New York Times.
Please tell us how we can make the newsletter better. Email mike@californiasun.co.
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