Top of the morning’s news
- Newly-released emails show that venture capitalist and former state controller Steve Westly warned the White House in advance of President Obama’s visit to Solyndra in May, 2010, concerned that the company’s precarious finances might become an embarrassment later. BANG
- The Society of Professional Journalists has decided to retire its Helen Thomas Award in the wake of her remarks suggesting Israelis should get out of Palestinian territories and perhaps go back to
Germany. Romenesko
- Nine months after ex-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger shortened the prison sentence of a political friend’s son on his way out of office, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that requires a governor to give 10 days written notice to local prosecutors in most cases before commuting a prisoner’s sentence. Capitol Alert
- State Attorney General Kamala Harris chose Nathan Barankin, who most recently was communications director for state Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), as her new chief of staff, replacing Terri Carbaugh. PolitiCal
- San Francisco’s political action committee devoted to dog owners endorsed Supervisor John Avalos for mayor. San Mateo Daily Journal
“Come on! Come on! It would be like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu! . . . They’re the enemy! Obama! And Biden! Are you kiddin’ me, the Three Stooges!”-- Country singer Hank Williams Jr.’s remark that prompted ESPN to pull his venerable musical intro to “Monday Night Football.”
Other news
- A sea lion that shocked motorists after flopping across eight lanes of traffic on Highway 101 in Burlingame Saturday was suffering from a gunshot wound, the Marine Mammal Center said Monday. Chronicle
- October’s first storm was expected to dump up to a foot or more of snow at Lake Tahoe by Wednesday night. Slope Dope
- The IRS ruled that Oakland’s Harborside Health Center—the largest medical marijuana dispensary on the West Coast—owes millions of dollars in taxes. The Bay Citizen
- The popular Trail of 100 Giants was temporarily closed in Sequoia National Forest after two of the towering trees fell side by side over the trail. AP
- The California Travel & Tourism Association has decided to rebrand simply as Visit California. SF Business Times
- Bank of America, whose stock price continues to fall, continued to have trouble with its online banking operation Monday after issuing premature statements that problems had been solved. LA Times
- Producers of a movie about surfing legend Jay Moriarity put out a casting call for surfers for a paddle-out scene at Pleasure Point near Santa Cruz for Oct. 13 and 14. Santa Cruz Sentinel
- Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley announced it plans to lay off up to 5 percent of its hospital staff. SF Business Times
- Terry, the oldest bottlenose dolphin at Vallejo’s Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, died at the age of 51, more than double a dolphin’s typical lifespan. ABC 7
