In California: A third of restaurants close, Newsoms release taxes, and what's that smell?

Plus: Stanford reverses course on canceling 11 varsity sports, and how about dinner and a trolley ride for $1,000? 

But first. Corpse flowers bloom about once a decade and for only a few days. They stink like rotting flesh, and can be up to 10 feet tall. Seeing one of these rare specimens at a public garden can be a big deal — think lines around the block. But when an amorphophallus titanum showed up in an abandoned gas station in the Bay Area city of Alameda on Monday — sans rules, security or an entry fee — the community was curious, intrigued and maybe even overjoyed. A line of admirers and photographers grew and stretched down the block for most of the day. Turns out, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, the plant belongs to a local nursery owner, Solomon Leyva, who deals in exceptionally rare plants. He had been posting updates on social media, and when he saw interest build, decided to share the plant with his neighbors.

Know someone who cares about the Golden State? Let them know they can sign up for the In California newsletter via this link. I'm Julie Makinen, California editor for the USA Today Network, bringing you today's key headlines.

Restaurants tell lawmakers that a third of eateries shut for good during pandemic

Did your favorite restaurant die during the pandemic? You're not alone. Nearly a third of California's restaurants permanently closed and two-thirds of workers at least temporarily lost their jobs as the pandemic set in more than a year ago and Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed the nation's first statewide lockdown, a legislative committee reported Tuesday, according to Associated Press.

Few business sectors were more battered than the dining industry, which before the pandemic included more than 76,000 eating and drinking establishments employing 1.8 million people, according to the California Restaurant Association.

But with the shutdown, as many as a million of those workers were quickly furloughed or laid off, the association told the state Senate's Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response.

Restaurant employment is still down one-quarter from before the pandemic, according to the latest numbers from the state Employment Development Department. Industry leaders said they fear a lack of labor may shutter more establishments as the economy reopens. No surprise, the restaurant association is nudging lawmakers to think about using part of the state's massive budget surplus to create an incentive program for employees to return to work.

Newsoms earned $1.7 million in 2019, tax returns show

Gov. Gavin Newsom tried to get then-President Donald Trump to release his taxes in 2019 by signing a law that required presidential candidates to release their tax returns in order to have their names appear on the California ballot. It didn’t work, but he's not giving up on the tax transparency issue. 

The Democratic governor is trying to press his Republican challengers in this year’s likely recall election to release their returns by saying that state law requires they do so. Will it work this time?

Newsom released his 2019 tax returns Monday, on tax filing deadline day, revealing that during his first year as governor he and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, took in $1,692,167, Cal Matters reports. They paid federal taxes of $518,402 and state taxes of $194,142, the records show. The couple’s adjusted gross income went up by 40% compared with the year before.

“I’m proud of the fact that some of the dollars that I’m putting back into the California coffers as a taxpayer are going to help single moms out there,” Newsom said last week during a presentation on his updated budget. “I don’t regret success — I’m proud.”

Most of their 2019 income came from assets held in a blind trust, where Newsom moved his ownership stake in the Plumpjack wine and hospitality businesses after he was elected governor in 2018. The couple also took in $140,000 from renting out their home in Marin County, which Zillow describes as a “spectacular mid-century modern” house designed by a renowned architect, with five bedrooms, six bathrooms and views of San Francisco Bay.  

Stanford reverses course, won't cancel 11 varsity sports after all

Stanford has reversed a decision it made last summer and will not eliminate 11 varsity sports, the school announced Tuesday. The decision comes after months of pressure from high-profile alumni, students and coaches, as well as a fundraising effort — spearheaded by a group called 36 Sports Strong — aimed at helping the sports become financially self-sustaining, ESPN reported.

"We have new optimism based on new circumstances, including vigorous and broad-based philanthropic interest in Stanford Athletics on the part of our alumni, which have convinced us that raising the increased funds necessary to support all 36 of our varsity teams is an approach that can succeed," Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne said in a statement.

Roughly 240 athletes who participate in men's and women's fencing, field hockey, lightweight rowing, men's rowing, co-ed and women's sailing, squash, synchronized swimming, men's volleyball and wrestling were set to be affected by the decision.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Ann Killion called the reversal "stunning." She noted that in the wake of last July's announcement, Stanford had suffered a public relations disaster. Many Cardinal athletes refused to wear the Stanford name while competing, and some, like wrestler Shane Griffith, won national championships while protesting the school’s decision. Stanford’s image as an elite “home of champions” and a pipeline to the Olympics was badly tarnished.

Ding-ding, your $1,000 dinner bill has arrived

Cable cars are still not back on the streets of San Francisco. But if you want a trolley ride, and have a tax rebate or stimulus check to burn, head on over to The Grove mall in Los Angeles. The L.A. Times reports on a new restaurant at the outdoor shopping center that will happily take your money. Called Bistro 1759, it will serve guests atop the center’s double-decker trolley, with a four-course menu from Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, plus wine and cocktail pairings. The temporary, mobile restaurant — named for the trolley car’s number — launched Tuesday. Seatings last 90 minutes as the trolley loops through the mall, with availability for parties of up to 10 people. Expect courses such as oxtail fried rice and sashimi platters, and pricing to start at $1,000.

In California is a roundup of news from across USA Today network newsrooms. Also contributing: Los Angeles Times, KTVU Fox 2 News, CalMatters, ESPN and San Francisco Chronicle. Julie Makinen is California editor for the USA Today Network. Follow her on Twitter at @Julie_Makinen.