From CalMatters politics reporter Maya C. Miller:

The California Supreme Court has for the second time refused Republican lawmakers’ pleas to intervene and halt Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan, which opponents have characterized as “unconstitutional” since it undermines the state’s independent redistricting commission. 

The Republican plaintiffs include Sens. Suzette Martinez Valladardes of Lancaster and Tony Strickland of Huntington Beach, as well as Assemblymembers Tri Ta of Westminster and Kate Sanchez of Rancho Santa Margarita.

The group of legislators on Monday argued the Legislature violated the state’s constitution by “gutting and amending” the two bills that ultimately allowed them to facilitate the statewide special election on such short notice and, with voters’ approval, install the partisan maps. They previously sued the Newsom administration on similar grounds before the bills were officially passed, which the court also denied.

The four plaintiffs argued the court was abdicating its responsibility to hold the Legislature and governor in check, a move that “undermines voter confidence and sets a terrifying precedent,” they wrote in a joint statement. 

“We are watching in real time the destruction of law-and-order, and of our republic at the hands of a Democratic governor, Democratic super-majority legislature and Supreme Court.”

Speaking of the California GOP: Assuring that his proposal was “not a stunt,” Republican Assembly leader James Gallagher unveiled a plan Wednesday to break off 35 California counties and create a new U.S. state.

Described by the Chico legislator as a “two state solution,” the new state would be made up of inland counties spanning the northern most part of California down to the Inland Empire, and include more than 10 million Californians. Known as Assembly Joint Resolution 23, the proposal is in response to Democratic leaders and Newsom’s redistricting measure.

• Gallagher: “A long time ago a man went to a great king in a land where his people were being completely oppressed … and he said to that king, let my people go. In kind of the same token this morning, I’m saying, Gavin, let my people go.”

Since its founding, there have been hundreds of failed attempts to break up California. In one of the most recent efforts, San Bernardino County released a study last year that found that seceding would be challenging and result in financial loss.

Cal Poly Pomona has postponed its annual job fair this week after receiving blowback for including the U.S. Customs and Border Protection as a recruiter at the fair, writes CalMatters’ Mikhail Zinshteyn.

Nearly 28,000 students attend the Los Angeles County campus, the majority of whom are Latino. Its job fair attracts more than 1,500 students and the immigration enforcement agency has participated in almost every job fair at Cal Poly Pomona since 2017. 

The university’s career center director, Tracee Passeggi, said she received as many as 250 emails objecting to the agency’s presence at the job fair. In a public letter published Monday, Cal Poly Pomona’s interim president said the campus has “listened carefully” and plans to push the fair to a later date.

But Passeggi also noted that others have expressed disappointment over the postponement, and how it would affect students who are still job hunting.

Read more here.

From CalMatters water reporter Rachel Becker:

Water thieves could face fines of up to $10,000 per violation for stealing water from fire hydrants, under a bill that California lawmakers passed earlier this week. 

It’s a dramatic increase from penalties previously set as low as $130 per violation under state law. Water providers have said for years that the fine is far too low to fit the seriousness of the crime in a water scarce state. 

The bill by Sen. Ben Allen, an El Segundo Democrat, ramps up the penalties that water suppliers can level at thieves caught stealing from hydrants, starting at $2,500 for a first violation to $10,000 each for three or more. 

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, a sponsor of the bill, estimates that thieves have stolen up to 45 million gallons of water per year in recent years, according to spokesperson Adrienne Burns — costing money, risking firefighting supplies and potentially damaging the system. Elsewhere in the state, thefts have traced back to illegal marijuana farms.

The bill now awaits Gov. Newsom’s signature.

California Voices

CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: Though California schools are still struggling to improve student test scores, one bit of good news is that the state is making progress on its high levels of chronic absenteeism.

Obesity is a significant driver of health care spending, and continuing Medicaid coverage for weight loss drugs will save California money, writes Kenneth Thorpe, a health policy professor at Emory University and chairperson of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease.