Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. Governor Jerry Brown abruptly changed course Thursday and said he would not sign legislation that would have gutted California’s public records law, the LA Times$ reports. Instead, Brown said he intends to sign a new Assembly bill that will keep the California Public Records Act intact. State Senate President Darrell Steinberg also reversed his stance and said the Senate plans to pass the Assembly bill as well. Brown and state senators, including Loni Hancock and Mark DeSaulnier of the East Bay, had come under heavy criticism for their plan to eviscerate parts of the records law in order to save the state money. Brown and Steinberg said they will also support a ballot measure next year that would enshrine the public records law in the state constitution.