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Likely California voters now almost evenly split on Newsom recall, poll finds -- Californians who say they expect to vote in the September recall election are almost evenly divided over whether to remove Gov. Gavin Newsom from office, evidence of how pivotal voter turnout will be in deciding the governor’s political fate, according to a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ Lara Korte in the Sacramento Bee$ Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ Quint Forgey Politico -- 7/27/21

Larry Elder leads GOP field in race to replace Newsom in recall, poll finds -- A new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times found that among the dozens of candidates in the running to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, conservative talk radio host Larry Elder leads the race, with many voters still undecided. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

COVID  

Aggressive measures to battle California’s new coronavirus surge: Will they work? -- California’s latest coronavirus spike is prompting more action as officials work aggressively to stymie the spread — especially among the unvaccinated, who are most at risk. Luke Money, Faith E. Pinho, Brittny Mejia, Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

CSU to require COVID vaccinations for students, faculty, staff on campus this fall -- California State University — the nation’s largest four-year public university system — will require students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus for the fall semester. Medical and religious exemptions will be allowed, with unvaccinated students having to undergo regular coronavirus testing. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ Amelia Davidson in the Sacramento Bee$ Hayley Munguia in the Orange County Register -- 7/27/21

‘Well past time’: L.A. politicians want COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city workers -- A growing number of Los Angeles politicians want to require city workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as infection numbers have resurged, a step already announced in New York, San Francisco and Pasadena. Emily Alpert Reyes, Chris Kuo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

As Virus Cases Rise, Another Contagion Spreads Among the Vaccinated: Anger -- Frustrated by the prospect of a new surge, many Americans are blaming the unvaccinated. A tougher stance may backfire, some experts warn. Roni Caryn Rabin in the New York Times$ -- 7/27/21

Education  

California is failing to meet demand for UC admission. Why it’s a crisis -- A troubling undercurrent belies the University of California’s celebratory news that it has admitted the largest and most diverse class ever for fall 2021: There are not enough seats for qualified students at most campuses, a worsening capacity crisis that threatens to break the California promise of a UC education for them. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

Homeless  

Disgraced attorney returns to sue city over restrictions on RV parking -- A class-action lawsuit filed in federal court Monday alleges that parking restrictions being imposed by the city of Los Angeles violate the civil rights of people who live in recreational vehicles because they have no other place to live. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

Fire  

Satellite images of wildfires are saving lives. The Pentagon might let the program expire -- When a brush fire trapped more than 100 hikers and campers last year in the Sierra National Forest, California firefighters needed to know precisely where the blaze was — and they needed to know fast. Jennifer Haberkorn, Anna M. Phillips in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

Dixie Fire surpasses 200,000 acres; conditions expected to worsen -- California’s biggest wildfire of the season surpassed 200,000 acres overnight Monday and was threatening thousands of buildings in Butte and Plumas counties, but officials were confident that key communities near Lake Almanor and Bucks Lake remained protected. Fiona Kelliher in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/27/21

Also . . .   

Work-From-Anywhere Perks Give Silicon Valley a New Edge in Talent War -- Online interior-design startup Havenly can’t compete with Silicon Valley heavyweights when it comes to compensation, but it used to have an effective weapon in the battle for tech talent: the Rocky Mountains. The 150-person company counted on Denver’s outdoorsy lifestyle to help lure people from more-expensive places. Katherine Bindley in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 7/27/21

California Policy and Politics Tuesday Morning  

California’s new vaccination proof requirement: What you need to know -- Those who work for the state of California, or in public or private healthcare settings, soon will be required to show proof they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19. If they aren’t vaccinated, or decline to show such documentation, they’ll have to be tested for infection regularly. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

Want to work in San Francisco city government? You'll need to be vaccinated -- San Francisco will require all new city employees to be vaccinated before they start their new job — or else, they won’t be hired. This mandate, which kicks in Wednesday, expands on previous news that San Francisco will require all 35,000 of its municipal employees to be vaccinated once the shots receive full approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/27/21

S.F. bar group is recommending its 500 members require vaccine proof for entry -- The San Francisco Bar Alliance — a group representing nearly 500 establishments in the city — is officially recommending that its members ask patrons for proof of vaccination before entry. Tanay Warerkar in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/27/21

What HIPAA is and is not: A primer on the healthcare privacy law -- If you’re being interviewed and a journalist asks you if you’re vaccinated, is that a violation of HIPAA? No. What if your employer is asking you to prove you’ve been vaccinated — is that a HIPAA issue? No. What if you go to a bar or restaurant or store and a person at the front door says you need to show proof of vaccination to enter? Are they violating your HIPAA rights? Still no. Jessica Roy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

Is California’s vaccine pace picking up amid COVID surge? Here’s what the numbers show -- It’s possible that a surge of infections could do what a $116 million lottery may not have: break the vaccine slump. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/27/21

California surge is driven by vaccination holdouts, but it's a 'collective problem' -- Yet the big picture obscures an important distinction: People who are not vaccinated are driving this surge — in some places being infected at rates five or six times higher than the vaccinated. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/27/21

Actual number of U.S. coronavirus cases may be more than double the official tally -- By early March 2021, roughly 65 million people in the U.S. — or one out of every five people — had been infected by the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, a new analysis shows. Amina Khan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

Anti-mask Huntington Beach restaurant says it will only serve unvaccinated diners -- While the emergence of the Delta variant of COVID-19 has many businesses and consumers proceeding with caution, Basilico’s Pasta E Vino in Huntington Beach continues with its campaign of noncompliance with state safety recommendations. It recently posted a sign saying it will be asking diners for “proof” of being unvaccinated. Anne Valdespino in the Orange County Register -- 7/27/21

Policy & Politics 

Newsom calls out the unvaccinated, blasts Tucker Carlson for COVID-19 misinformation -- Gov. Gavin Newsom compared choosing to remain unvaccinated to drunk driving and denounced high-profile conservatives including Fox News host Tucker Carlson in a rare public rebuke as COVID-19 spreads in California and adds political pressure on the governor ahead of the recall election. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ MacKenzie Mays Politico -- 7/27/21

Walters: COVID-19 roaring back, forcing Newsom to act -- For weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom has been crisscrossing the state, boasting that California is “roaring back” from the health, social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 7/27/21

The California GOP's endorsement process may do harm - to Republicans -- Some people are ticked off that the California Republican Party has decided to endorse a candidate in the Sept. 14 recall election. At least one of them is among the top Republican candidates seeking to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, should voters choose to recall him. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/27/21

Health Coverage  

Thousands of patients scramble to avoid huge bills amid Anthem, Dignity contract dispute -- Thousands of Californians are learning that they will have to foot a bigger portion of their medical bills if they want to continue seeing their doctor since Dignity Health severed its contract with Anthem Blue Cross of California on July 15. Cathie Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/27/21

Workplace   

USC healthcare workers OK contract that includes raises between 11%-68% -- More than 1,500 USC workers have voted to ratify a labor contract that boosts healthcare benefits and provides hefty wage hikes for many employees. The move averts a potential walkout after employees at Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, several university clinics and a university call center voted in May to authorize a five-day strike. Kevin Smith in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 7/27/21

COVID Economy  

San Diego would make outdoor dining permanent for restaurants willing to pay fees -- Restaurants across San Diego soon may be allowed to make their COVID-19 outdoor dining areas permanent in exchange for paying the city a fee to help make streets and sidewalks more inviting places to hang out. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/27/21

Street  

Oakland: Former Sen. Boxer unhurt in afternoon strong-arm robbery -- Former United States Sen. Barbara Boxer was the victim of a strong-arm robbery Monday afternoon in the city’s Jack London Square district, authorities said. The former senator’s Twitter account confirmed the incident Monday afternoon. Boxer served in the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 2017 and as a congressional representative from 1983 to 1993. Harry Harris, George Kelly in the San Jose Mercury$ Emma Talley in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

Rally organizers, police deny coordinating with far-right extremists ahead of pro-Israel rally -- Organizers from the non-profit Shield of Israel denied a claim by the leader of a local far-right “patriot” group that he met with them ahead of a pro-Israel rally Sunday featuring former secretary of state Mike Pompeo and California gubernatorial recall candidate Larry Elder. Andrew Dyer in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/27/21

FBI breached rights of Beverly Hills safe deposit box holders, judge rules -- Federal authorities have suffered two new court setbacks in their attempt to confiscate tens of millions of dollars seized from Beverly Hills safe deposit boxes that the government was legally barred from searching. Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

Bay Area law enforcement vows tougher stance on crime in wake of Oakland Chinatown attacks -- In the wake of recent robberies and attacks in Oakland’s Chinatown, the region’s top federal and local law enforcement representatives pledged at a Monday news conference to take a tougher stance against criminals to deter violence. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/27/21

Gunman kills 4, including 2 sons and deputy, in Kern County mass shooting -- A “catastrophic” mass shooting in the San Joaquin Valley city of Wasco left five people dead, including the gunman and a deputy sheriff who responded to the 911 call of a hostage situation, Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said Monday. Maria L. La Ganga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

Deputies find man dead in Sacramento County Main Jail cell -- The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a 34-year-old man died over the weekend in his cell at the Main Jail downtown, authorities announced Monday. Jason Pohl in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/27/21

Border  

New mural at the border fence aims to inform migrants -- Stickers with QR codes direct them to a website with information on seeking asylum. Alexandra Mendoza in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/27/21

Homeless  

This Oakland homeless encampment will be co-run by the residents themselves -- The Oakland City Council voted Monday to open a co-governed homeless encampment to provide shelter for 40 people in West Oakland — making it potentially the second site that residents and service providers would operate together. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/27/21

Housing  

Why are key California affordable housing bills bottled up? -- Affordable housing advocates are asking why bills supported by state Senate leader Toni Atkins are stuck in the Assembly. One answer appears to be a labor provision pushed by the State Building and Construction Trades Council. Manuela Tobias CalMatters -- 7/27/21

Fire  

See dramatic video as remote wildfire camera is engulfed by flames from Dixie Fire -- A remote Sierra wildfire camera this weekend captured the moment when it was engulfed by the Dixie Fire, now the 15th-largest wildfire in California history and still growing. Kellie Hwang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/27/21

Northern California’s Dixie Fire nears 200,000 acres -- Roaring in remote parts of Butte and Plumas counties, the Dixie Fire had scorched more than 198,000 acres — an area larger than the size of New York City — as of Monday evening and was only 22% contained. The blaze has destroyed more than 20 structures in the densely forested northeast section of the state, and another 10,700 remain in harm’s way. Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/27/21

Education  

Free school meals for all here to stay in California -- With 1 in every 6 children facing hunger in the U.S., California is the first state to promise every public school student — all 6 million of them — free school meals. Ali Tadayon EdSource -- 7/27/21

Power  

First steps taken to make pumped hydro energy storage project at San Vicente Reservoir a reality -- Pumped hydro projects have been part of the nation’s energy grid for more than 100 years. The concept is pretty basic: Using turbines, water is pumped from one reservoir up to another at a higher elevation. The water is then released and the ensuing rush of water generates electricity. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/27/21

Environment  

Here's how much trash volunteers removed from Bay Area beaches last year -- Cigarette butts were among the most widespread type of trash nationwide, along with food wrappers, plastic straws, nets, bottle caps and rings, plastic bottles, and foam and plastic fragments. Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/27/21

Also . . .   

Overdose reversal drug Narcan has already been used more than 4,200 times in S.F. this year -- The opioid-driven drug overdose crisis in San Francisco, which accelerated in 2020, continues to kill an average of more than 50 people nearly every month in the city. Yoohyun Jung in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/27/21

Rosie the Riveter Phyllis Gould dies at 99 - successfully pushed for Congressional Gold Medal -- More than 75 years ago, Phyllis Gould welded warships in Richmond, one of the millions of Rosie the Riveters who helped win World War II. When the fighting ended, the Rosies were largely forgotten — but Gould made it her life’s mission to fix that, lobbying every political leader from the White House on down to get more recognition for these iconic women. Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/27/21

Business jet crashes near Truckee-Tahoe Airport, 3 dead -- A twin engine jet that was approaching for landing at the Truckee-Tahoe Airport crashed on Monday afternoon, killing the three people on board, officials said. The plane, a Bombardier CL 600 aircraft, slammed into a wooded area alongside the second hole of Truckee’s Ponderosa Golf Course on Reynolds Way, a few blocks from the airport. Deborah Wandell, Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/27/21

Crisis PR firm tells Golden Globes group there’s only one way to save the show -- As the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.’s vote on its proposed new bylaws nears, the outcome remains in play. Underscoring the uncertainty, the group’s crisis PR consultant sent a memo to members last week, prodding them to “consider what will happen if you do not pass the bylaws.” Stacy Perman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21

After feds drop charges against Chinese scholars, new concerns about racial profiling -- When the Trump administration in 2018 unveiled a sweeping crackdown on economic espionage by the Chinese government, advocacy groups and academics raised concerns the effort could result in racial profiling and have a chilling effect on collaborations. Del Quentin Wilber, Leila Miller, Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/27/21