In California: Universal basic income could be future of progressive politics

Wendy Leung | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Universal basic income: What Andrew Yang and Nixon have in common What would you do if the government gave you $1,000 per month? That’s what democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang wants. We explain UBI.

This is Wendy Leung on the first Monday of March. Arlene returns tomorrow.

It's the eve of Election Day. Let's dive right in.

In California has your daily news, features and interviews from across USA TODAY Network newsrooms and beyond. Click here to get this straight to your inbox.

Stockton is giving some residents $500 a month

Andrew Yang may be out of the presidential race but the issue of a universal basic income isn't going away.

In the first-in-the-nation pilot program, Stockton is offering $500 a month to 125 of its residents. Economists, researchers, politicians and labor leaders are mixed on this idea. But Mayor Michael Tubbs, 29, who grew up in poverty, pointed out that a lot of people are struggling.

“There are teachers, cops, firefighters, social workers, people with a lot of credit card debt or student loan debt or rising housing costs," Tubbs said. "And everyone could use a little bit of help.”

A successful program could mean that universal basic income will be the future in progressive politics. Tubbs said supervisors in San Francisco and officials in Washington and Massachusetts have reached out to him about starting a similar program.

Can Bernie be beat?

What's at stake as California votes on Super Tuesday? Oh, just 415 pledged delegates, NBD.

A new Suffolk University/USA TODAY statewide poll has Bernie Sanders dominating the California vote. Among likely Democratic primary voters, some 35% support the Vermont senator, well ahead of second-place finisher Michael Bloomberg, who will be on the ballot for the first time tomorrow.

But the telephone survey was taken through Saturday and a lot has changed. Joe Biden netted a decisive win in South Carolina. Tom Steyer, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar have dropped out. We shall see if moderate voters will consolidate their power behind an alternative to Sanders.

Advice from Lt. Dan, Ballmer's baller plans, R.I.P. Trader Joe's founder

Gary Sinise stopped by California Lutheran University and talked about his start in acting. The "Forrest Gump" actor was close to getting kicked out of school when a teacher suggested Sinise audition for "West Side Story." His advice to theater arts students: "You have to have a thick skin. It’s 99% rejection."

The Los Angeles Clippers' plans to build a new arena near the existing Forum have triggered multiple lawsuits. What's the wealthy team owner Steve Ballmer to do? Buy The Forum.

In honor of Trader Joe's founder Joe Coulombe, who died at 89, we raise a glass of Two Buck Chuck, any variety. The first Trader Joe's opened in 1967 in Pasadena with a particular customer in mind — the educated, well-traveled shopper wary of Folgers and Velveeta.

Ronald Reagan needs your help

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, housed at the presidential library in Simi Valley, has a bad case of "active hacktivism."

Every year, the foundation's computer system gets attacked more than 2,000 times from China, Iran, Russia and other foreign countries, officials say. A recent fire that damaged some of the cyber-defense systems didn't help either. That's why the foundation is seeking donations to purchase more sophisticated firewalls.

Things that make you go hmm ...

About a year ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom halted all executions in the state. But have there been any significant changes since the moratorium? In Riverside County, which in recent years has led the nation in new imposed death sentences, the district attorney believes the governor doesn't have the power to stop executions.

State lawmakers in 2018 passed a bill that required public companies to have at least one female board member but an analysis of the data has shown that Latinas are being left behind. Of the 511 female directors added since the new law, just 17 have been Latina, compared to 398 whites.

The age-old fight between developers and environmentalists has a new twist in Lake Arrowhead. This time, God plays a role. An evangelical Christian congregation wants to build a large complex surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. "Unless God says 'stop,' we're going to keep persevering," said a Church of the Woods pastor.

Surgeon general: 'Stop buying masks'

If there's one item that can represent 2020 so far, it might be the ubiquitous face masks worn by people at airports, markets and anywhere the public congregates. But the U.S. surgeon general tweeted this: "Seriously people — STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!" Many stores are selling out of masks as the number of coronavirus cases spread andth death toll rises in the U.S.

Meanwhile in San Francisco Chinatown, participants in an anti-Chinese discrimination rally urged, "fight the disease, love the people." In Los Angeles, the coronavirus has turned Chinatown into a ghost town.

Oh hello winter, you're a little late

Most parts of California had no rain in February. That's zero inches. The last time San Francisco had a dry February was 1864.

But then March arrived. This weekend, Big Bear reported 6-8 inches of snow and Mammoth Mountain in the Eastern Sierra had 9-11 inches. Wherever you are, bundle up tomorrow and vote!

In California is a roundup of news from across USA TODAY Network newsrooms. Also contributing: Los Angeles Times, SFGate, Associated Press and The Washington Post.