California Gov. Newsom says he will commute all death sentences in state to life without parole

The judge in the federal corruption trial for former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao admonished the government s star witness Thursday morning as the trial resumed following a nearly weeklong break. After having a side conversation with attorneys from both sides during a break and before the jury came back in, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers told businessman Mario Juarez, who has already pleaded guilty to bribing a public official, that she understood he had been getting information about the trial beforehand and firmly reminded him that he better be telling the truth on the stand. You have pled guilty, and I am the sentencing judge, Gonzalez Rogers said. I will not forget. I understand you very well, your honor, Juarez responded. I m putting you on notice, Gonzalez Rogers said back. Juarez is hoping for a lighter sentence by testifying on behalf of the prosecution. The prosecution has alleged that as part of a bribery and corruption scheme, co-defendants David and Andy