California governor “owns” blackouts, takes political risk

KATHLEEN RONAYNE Associated Press SACRAMENTO — With hundreds of thousands of Californians again in the dark amid high wildfire danger Thursday, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom had a message: "I own this." Newsom again blasted California's utilities — most notably Pacific Gas & Electric — for failures to modernize electrical systems. He said shutting off power shouldn't have to be the alternative in a state that is the most technologically advanced. But he also personalized the crisis. "It's on me to make sure this doesn't happen again," he said at a Los Angeles news conference as a wildfire raged in Northern California's wine country. Hours later, two wildfires were burning in Los Angeles County, where temperatures soared into the 90s and extreme winds were forecast through Fr