Sharp divisions on GOP tax bill; rainy forecast, judge quits

DEREK Carr. Not David. DEREK Carr. Not David. Welcome to your Tuesday Morning Report, where some of you noticed Monday that we're still working out some of the kinks. Nevertheless, we press on. Hello again if you're a subscriber to the 5-Minute Merc or the East Bay Times Top Headlines just joining us; I'm Daniel M. Jimenez, the curator of your new daily newsletter. Here we go! [Morning Report] Tuesday, December 19, 2017   DEREK Carr. Not David. [DEREK Carr](. Not David. Welcome to your Tuesday Morning Report, where some of you noticed Monday that we're still working out some of the kinks. Nevertheless, we press on. Hello again if you're a subscriber to the 5-Minute Merc or the East Bay Times Top Headlines just joining us; I'm Daniel M. Jimenez, the curator of your new daily newsletter. Here we go! Sharp divisions on GOP tax bill; rainy forecast, judge quits A new poll shows that a slim majority of California residents oppose the Republican tax-reform plan; while the party divisions are about what you'd expect, what's surprising is [which income groups told pollsters they expected to pay more]( under the law. Read the [latest]( on the push in Congress to pass a sweeping tax cut bill. Rain is coming -- but how much of it? A fast-moving storm is [expected to bring rain to the Bay Area by Tuesday night](, but weather officials aren't hopeful that the system will drop enough moisture to put this dry December back on track. Powerful appeals-court judge abruptly retires: Faced with an investigation of inappropriate sexual behavior alleged by some 15 women, Judge Alex Kozinski [left the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday](, joining [a growing list of notable California political figures]( brought down by such claims. Cop's bizarre behavior before shooting incident: Audio recordings indicate that a Richmond police officer arrested after allegedly firing his gun inside a San Francisco hotel was acting very strangely, [wandering the halls and talking of "spirits."]( Stories from the Amtrak train derailment: Commuters shocked at the sight of [an Amtrak train that derailed on a highway overpass]( Monday morning leapt into action, [pulling survivors from the wreckage and offering medical assistance](. The train was speeding [50 mph](over limit. At least three people were killed.  Teens held in East Bay flare-gun attacks: Police say residents' surveillance cameras helped them track down a group of teenagers who were [randomly firing a flare gun at homes]( in San Ramon and Danville over the weekend. Also: [Is an arsonist targeting an Antioch church](? Trump rolls out new foreign-policy focus: President Trump presented [a new national security strategy]( Monday that focused on economic engagement and promised to focus on fighting terrorism. However, our editorial board says Trump's deportation policies are [targeting even those here legally](. Pictures of the week High-school football champions, a local leader remembered, "Star Wars" mania and more are featured in [the best from our staff photographers](. Tough news on combating dementia: Researchers studying a variety of methods hoped to stave off cognitive decline found nothing that had a noticeable effect in stopping dementia, they said, a finding made urgent by [the growing number of people diagnosed]( with the affliction. Whooping cough outbreak at East Bay high school: A disease largely controlled through vaccinations is coming back as the shots become the subject of controversy, and a group of students at a local high school [are now being treated](. Another surge in housing prices: There's no good news for you here, homebuyers. [Fewer listings, a big jump in prices, and faster sales]( characterized the Bay Area housing market in November. How many died in Puerto Rico hurricane? In the weeks after Hurricane Maria devastated the island territory, officials said that 64 people had been killed in the storm, but detailed reporting from news organizations suggests [the number may be more than 1,000](. Wish Book: A program to support refugees settling in the Bay Area isn’t just meeting basic needs and helping families become self-sufficient. It’s also challenging cultural biases at the same time. [Read more]( to see how you can help. Business: Iconic SJ building sold Investors in Menlo Park and Manhattan teamed up to buy the historic Bank of Italy tower in downtown San Jose; the new owners say they are hoping not only to make the building a draw for business tenants, but [an example of energy efficiency]( as well. Rent a home, then rent it out: Airbnb is looking to streamline its process even further by creating its own apartment buildings, then allowing tenants to put them up as short-term rentals for up to 180 days a year. The apartments will be designed for [maximum convenience for both hosts and guests](. Twitter cracks down on hate speech: A move to shut down users that encourage hate speech and abuse caught at least one account that had been retweeted by President Trump, but [it's unlikely the official @POTUS account]( will be subjected to added scrutiny. Sports: Warriors rain on Kobe's parade The night was all about celebrating the legendary Laker's jersey retirement, but a furious performance from Kevin Durant [kept the Dubs' nine-game winning streak alive]( with an overtime win. 49ers' "playoff" matchup this weekend: OK, so they're not actually going to the playoffs, but putting a three-game winning streak on the line against a talented Jacksonville squad [will be big for the Niners](. We break down the matchup in our [Niners By Nature podcast](. Raiders jobbed by refs again? To The Immaculate Reception and The Tuck Rule you may now add ... [The Index Card](? After a Sunday night loss that may have ended their thin playoff hopes, the Silver & Black were [none too happy]( with a referee's unconventional method for measuring a first down. Lifestyle & Entertainment: Pet expertise on tap Not just "pets," per se, since this week our animal expert, Joan Morris, uses her Pet-Pal Connection column to answer reader questions about [chickens, turkeys and a dog that may not have been a dog](. Cold-weather fantasies: So we're heading into the coldest part of the year (even if the rain's not here to make it truly feel like winter.) Set your imagination free with this list and photo slideshow of [the most stunning beaches in the world](. More holiday recipes: Still wondering what you'll serve for the big holiday meal? We have more answers: [Prime Rib from America's Test Kitchen]( (I will personally vouch for ATK; I cook with their recipes a LOT) and [five perfect side-dish recipes](. And there we go; Tuesday's in the books. Well, the newsletter part is, anyway. You probably still have to go to work. Don't forget to [share the signup page]( if you liked what you read, [contact us with your feedback](mailto:morningreport@bayareanewsgroup.com) if you have suggestions, questions or (gulp) complaints, and keep a tab open with [MercuryNews.com]( or [EastBayTimes.com]( for breaking news during the day. Tomorrow's Hump Day, so drinks are on me. -- Daniel M. Jimenez  [banglogo]( Copyright 2017 Bay Area News Group. All rights reserved. 4 N. Second Street, Suite 800 Â|  San Jose, CA 95113 [Unsubscribe](