California Policy & Politics Wednesday Morning  

California may start next school year in July if coronavirus is under control -- California schools could reopen as early as July to help make up for a “learning loss” caused by early closures and a switch to online classes in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. Schools typically start the academic year in mid- to late August, but the governor said that might be moved up if the pandemic is under control. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Sonali Kohli, Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press Marisa Kendall, Fiona Kelliher and Aldo Toledo in the San Jose Mercury$ Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ Ana B. Ibarra Calmatters-- 4/29/20

L.A. County exceeds 1,000 coronavirus-related deaths -- Los Angeles County officials on Tuesday announced 59 additional deaths linked to the coronavirus, sending the county’s toll past 1,000 and marking another dramatic increase in the number of daily deaths reported. Colleen Shalby, Anita Chabria, Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

L.A. County releases first neighborhood breakdown of COVID-19 deaths; poor areas hit hard -- Working-class neighborhoods such as East Hollywood, Pico-Union and Westlake all have more than 40 deaths per 100,000 people, which is four times higher than the countywide rate of 9.9 per 100,000. Many neighborhoods across South L.A. also had higher death rates, figures show. Tony Barboza, Ben Poston, Matt Stiles in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

Coronavirus hospitalizations hit new high in Orange County as death toll reaches 42 -- Countywide, 178 people were hospitalized as of Tuesday — a new single-day high for the county — and 74 of those patients were in intensive care. Over the previous week, the number of people hospitalized has ranged between 148 and 162. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

The insidious coronavirus can invade heart, lungs — even brain -- Patricia Dowd had flu-like symptoms a few days before she suddenly died of a massive heart attack — a death now attributed to COVID-19 that adds to increasing evidence that the coronavirus can damage almost all of the body’s major organs. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Coronavirus or not? What to do if symptoms show up -- Symptoms of COVID-19 — the illness caused by the new coronavirus — can be difficult if not impossible to distinguish from influenza, or even a really bad cold or allergies. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Isolated COVID-19 Deaths Have People Asking About Right-to-Die Medications -- Normally, these are people with a protracted terminal illness who are interested in taking life-ending medications to avoid prolonged suffering. Increasingly, she’s been hearing from her regular cancer patients, and otherwise healthy people, who are afraid of dying from COVID- 19. April Dembosky KQED -- 4/29/20

L.A. to secure 24 million N95 masks. ‘These will be lifesavers’ in coronavirus battle -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Tuesday a deal with mask manufacturer Honeywell to procure 24 million N95 masks — at 79 cents each — to distribute and sell to first responders and hospitals in need. The city will get 100,000 masks in May, 500,000 more in July and 1.2 million per month by November, Garcetti said. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

Coronavirus: Should California brace for a meat shortage? Not exactly, say industry experts -- There’s not a shortage, exactly, say industry experts, though interruptions to the supply chain mean that it’s taking a little longer than usual for meat to get from a farm to your grocery store shelf. Esther Mobley in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Protest organizer could face second criminal charge for rally in Pacific Beach -- Naomi Israel Soria, 27, is accused of spearheading the protests in violation of the county’s health order, which bans gatherings and imposes other restrictions in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. David Hernandez in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/29/20

Navy destroyer fighting COVID-19 outbreak arrives in San Diego, sailors move off ship -- A Navy destroyer battling an outbreak of the novel coronavirus pulled into Naval Base San Diego Tuesday where much of its crew will begin an off-ship quarantine and a small number will stay behind to clean and disinfect the ship, Navy officials said. Andrew Dyer in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/29/20

Ticketmaster agrees to refunds on certain concerts postponed by coronavirus -- Music fans whose concert-going plans were put on hold by the coronavirus will soon be able to apply for refunds of their ticket prices — in many cases, anyway. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Money for meals for California seniors could end in 2 weeks -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first-in-the-nation plan to pay for and deliver three meals a day to vulnerable seniors during the coronavirus crisis has less than two weeks to launch before federal funding runs out, government documents show. Michael R. Blood Associated Press -- 4/29/20

Doctors Say They’re Not Getting Vital Coronavirus Info About Senior Facilities -- San Diego doctors who are in and out of senior facilities say information that’s vital for doing their jobs has been tough to come by in recent weeks. There are also major gaps in recently published data on senior facilities with coronavirus cases, sowing confusion. Jared Whitlock Voiceofsandiego.org -- 4/29/20

Border Effect  

2 hospitals contact feds for help, another cuts staff during COVID crisis -- The growing number of COVID-19 cases in South Bay has prompted leaders of two hospitals to email the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary over what they call an emerging local health crisis. Gary Warth, Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/29/20

Testing   

San Diegans roll through newest drive-thru coronavirus testing sites -- Martinez groaned as most of the swab disappeared up her nose. The 56-year-old, who lives in a busy multi-generational family, said she suffers from a compromised immune system. She said she decided to get tested after her 27-year-old niece was hospitalized with the virus. Jonathan Wosen, Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/29/20

Reopen  

Some California businesses could reopen within weeks as state fights coronavirus, Newsom says -- California businesses seen as presenting less risk of spreading the coronavirus could open in the near future under a plan Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled Tuesday, the first of what he suggested were several slow steps toward easing the statewide shutdown order. “We believe we are weeks, not months, away from making meaningful modifications” in the current restrictions, Newsom said. John Myers, Taryn Luna, Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ Jeremy B. White and Mackenzie Mays Politico -- 4/29/20

This is California’s reopening plan for stores, offices, schools, sports, concerts, theaters -- The phases are designed to slowly reopen the state while preventing new outbreaks that could lead to another shutdown. There are no timetables attached; rather, officials will use benchmarks around testing, hospitalizations and other factors. Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

L.A. County working to ease stay-at-home order by May -- Los Angeles County officials passed a motion Tuesday to develop a plan to ease the safer-at-home order, strict social distancing rules that have slowed the spread of the coronavirus, that is set to expire May 15. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

Marin County health officer says new stay-home order will be issued Wednesday -- Marin County will issue its new shelter-in-place order Wednesday at noon, health officer Matt Willis told county supervisors during a virtual meeting Tuesday. Health officials in the six Bay Area counties and city of Berkeley announced Monday that stay-at-home orders aimed at curbing spread of the coronavirus will be extended through May and will “largely” keep the current restrictions in place when issued this week. Matt Kawahara in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Orange County creating guidelines for when businesses reopen -- The Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a set of business guidelines Tuesday that could help inform the county’s eventual easing of stay-at-home rules that have helped slow the spread of the coronavirus. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ Alicia Robinson in the Orange County Register -- 4/29/20

Newport Beach council votes to keep beaches open, despite crowds and rebuke from Newsom -- Instead, the council advised city staff to maintain beach access with additional enforcement of social distancing. Any visitors to the city’s beaches will see an increased presence of police officers and lifeguards, and the council supported citing anyone who doesn’t follow the social distancing order, according to a city news release. Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

Laguna Beach to reopen city beaches for a couple of hours weekday mornings -- The decision to try opening the sands with restrictions was made during a special meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, April 28, in which dozens of residents pushed to use city beaches for their own recreation and enjoyment and as a way to reduce the impacts to South Laguna beaches that experienced “Coachella-like” conditions as warmer weather settled in last weekend. Erika I. Ritchie in the Orange County Register -- 4/29/20

Baffert rallies for return of live racing at Santa Anita -- Kentucky Derby-winning trainers Bob Baffert and Doug O’Neill joined horse racing advocates rallying outside a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday in an effort to convince government officials to allow the resumption of live racing at Santa Anita. Beth Harris Associated Press -- 4/29/20

El Dorado County lets local stay-home directive expire, Tahoe travel ban still in place -- Citing a low volume of confirmed coronavirus cases and saying that the “vast majority” of residents and businesses have done well in adhering to state and local orders, El Dorado County’s public health officer on Tuesday announced the countywide stay-at-home directive would expire Thursday. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/29/20

Trails in 13 San Mateo County parks to reopen May 4 -- In a news release Tuesday, the San Mateo County Parks Department said park visitors will be required to hike single file on narrow trails, keep six feet apart from others, not congregate with people who aren’t from their household and carry face coverings. Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/29/20

Evangelical church sues Newsom over coronavirus restrictions -- A small San Joaquin County evangelical church that was forced to stop meeting for Sunday services because of coronavirus restrictions is suing Gov. Gavin Newsom, arguing the state’s public gathering ban violates First Amendment rights to religious freedom. Priscella Vega in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

Sacramento-area gym owner says he’ll open doors on Friday, despite stay-at-home order -- Sean Covell, who owns three Fitness System franchises, issued a message to members of his gyms Tuesday afternoon, saying “no city, county, or state official has the power to cancel the Constitution and the Bill of Rights of the United States.” Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/29/20

‘Let us get cooking again’: Business owners, Republican leaders ask Newsom to relax order -- Rural Northern California officials on Tuesday petitioned Gov. Gavin Newsom to accept their request to begin reopening their economies, despite a continued coronavirus stay-at-home order. Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/29/20

Disneyland and other theme parks can’t reopen for months under state plan -- Disneyland and other California theme parks currently closed by the COVID-19 pandemic can’t reopen for months, possibly until an as-yet-undeveloped coronavirus treatment becomes available, according to state government officials. Brady MacDonald in the Orange County Register -- 4/29/20

PG&E   

Wall Street Ties of Lawyer for PG&E Fire Victims Have Some Survivors Querying Settlement Vote -- A potential conflict of interest on the part of a lawyer representing PG&E fire victims is prompting questions about the integrity of an ongoing vote by fire survivors on their multi-billion-dollar compensation deal with the utility. Lily Jamali KQED -- 4/29/20

Politics & Policy   

California Republicans prepared to match Democrats on 'ballot harvesting.' Then came coronavirus -- The practice allows party volunteers to collect mail-in ballots and submit them in groups to polling places or election offices. Carla Marinucci Politico -- 4/29/20

How can California improve confidence in elections? Count the vote faster -- A ballot count that lasts for weeks, an unintended feature of California voting, can undermine confidence in the results, according to a new report about conducting elections during the coronavirus pandemic and other troubled times. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Walters: New wrinkles in old school fights -- The semi-shutdown of California’s social, economic and institutional life, that was ordered to arrest the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, seems to be working — albeit at immense cost. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 4/26/20

How Nancy Pelosi is staying safe during coronavirus pandemic -- The speaker of the House walking the halls of the Capitol is a common sight. The silk scarf tied around her face, however, is not. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

California scales up 1st-in-US electric truck sale proposal -- California regulators on Tuesday strengthened a proposed first-in-the-nation rule that would force auto makers to sell more electric delivery vans and work trucks in a state with the country’s worst air quality. Adam Beam Associated Press -- 4/29/20

Video Shows White Sacramento County Deputy Punching, Slamming Head Of Black 14-Year-Old -- A widely shared video of a Rancho Cordova deputy punching a 14-year-old black teenager and slamming his head into the ground has prompted the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office to open a use-of-force investigation. Nick Miller, Sarah Mizes-Tan Capital Public Radio -- 4/29/20

Staying afloat  

May Rent Is Due Friday. Here’s Advice For Tenants Who Are Struggling to Pay -- For tenants who lost jobs due to COVID-19, May 1 looms as the deadline to pay what’s now even harder in California: the monthly rent. Some barely cobbled together their April payment. And while cities from Sacramento to Los Angeles are giving renters more time to pay, advocates say no one’s getting a free pass. Chris Nichols Capital Public Radio -- 4/29/20

Knight: SF will return $138 million of health care funds to help jobless weather coronavirus crisis -- The city next week will contact all 104,000 account holders and give them the option of requesting the money in their accounts be released to them. The mayor’s office is still trying to figure out whether the money will come in regular checks or something like a grocery gift card. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Paycuts  

Bay Area hospitals slash workers’ pay as losses from coronavirus pile up -- Stephanie Lum Ho lost half her work hours when the coronavirus pandemic forced UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Walnut Creek to halve the number of its physical therapy patients this month and send the rest to telemedicine. Lum Ho and hundreds of other workers at UCSF Children’s Hospitals, Stanford Health Care and Marin General Hospital have lost hours and pay as business has dried up during the shelter-in-place order, hospital executives and workers’ unions said. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Unemployed  

California independent contractors struggle for unemployment help amid coronavirus -- Two weeks after other states started sending checks, California on Tuesday began accepting unemployment benefit claims from millions of independent contractors, gig workers and the self-employed, but many said ongoing glitches on the state’s overtaxed website prevented them from filing applications. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ Chris Nichols Capital Public Radio Kathleen Pender in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Uber CTO departs as company considers laying off 5,400 staffers -- Ride-hailing leader Uber, which had already lost money hand over fist even before the shelter-in-place orders sent its business plunging, is considering laying off as much as a fifth of its workforce — about 5,400 people, The Information reported on Tuesday. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Business  

Coronavirus economy: Governor Newsom chats with retail bosses -- Gov. Gavin Newsom met with retail executives and a retail worker Tuesday to mark the inaugural session of a digital listening tour to collect viewpoints about how to reopen an economy that government agencies have shut down to curb health dangers posed by the coronavirus. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/29/20

SF supervisor wants to delay vacancy tax as coronavirus keeps stores shut -- San Francisco’s retail vacancy tax may be delayed through 2021, in an attempt to remove a financial burden from landlords and businesses as they endure dramatic losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. Trisha Thadani and Shwanika Narayan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Google’s business grows despite coronavirus, hiring slowdown -- Revenue exceeded Wall Street expectations. However, the Mountain View tech giant said it had seen a “significant slowdown” in advertising in March after a strong January and February. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Housing  

Mayor London Breed seals deal for 1,100 new homes near Balboa Park BART -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed has finalized an agreement with the developers of the Balboa Reservoir, a key milestone in winning approvals of a controversial plan that would add 1,100 homes to the 17-acre parking lot next to City College. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Education 

From bad to worse: California schools face devastating budget cuts due to the coronavirus crisis -- Schools across California face a devastating fiscal future, with a loss in revenue of $1,400 per student — or more, state education experts said Tuesday. That figure is perhaps optimistic. With the state heading into what could be a severe recession, the loss may be closer to $2,000 per student — a 15% reduction from the current funding level of $13,000. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

San Francisco schools abandon all A’s grading policy -- The San Francisco school board abandoned a plan to give students automatic A’s on their transcripts this semester, instead adopting a credit/no credit grading policy on Tuesday evening. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

Coronavirus and college: UC, Cal State students file lawsuits over spring-term campus fees -- California State University offered a vigorous response Tuesday to a class-action lawsuit seeking a refund of spring-term campus fees in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Ron Kroichick in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/29/20

USC says no to partial tuition refunds for coronavirus shift to online learning -- “While this is not the semester any of us envisioned, we are continuing to provide a high-quality education, ensure academic progress towards degree, and offer a robust learning environment,” Zukoski said in an email to the campus community. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

Pandemic costs UC San Diego $150 million -- a figure that could double this summer -- UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said Tuesday that the coronavirus pandemic has cost the school and its hospitals and clinics $150 million and that it expects to lose another $200 million to $300 million over the summer. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/29/20

Environment   

Back off the beach and the rising sea? No way, California cities say -- With swelling seas now posing a greater threat to California’s economy than wildfires or severe earthquakes, authorities want those who live along some of the state’s famous shores to do what they’re loath to do: retreat. Julie Cart Calmatters -- 4/26/20

As Tijuana Sewage Pollutes South San Diego Beaches, County Asks For Federal Help -- South San Diego County’s ocean waters are awash in sewage-tainted runoff coming across the border and local and state officials want action to stop the polluted flows. Sixty million gallons of sewage-tainted water flows into the U.S. every day. Erik Anderson KPBS -- 4/29/20

Also . . .   

With Burning Man Canceled, Attendees Lend Trailers To Sacramento Health Workers In Isolation -- When registered nurse James Frye isn’t working in the emergency room, he’s in a 27-foot-long trailer in West Sacramento, resting between shifts or video-calling his family. He’s parked in a cul-de-sac, at the foot of the driveway where his wife and two children live. He’s been isolating from them for several weeks. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 4/29/20

Rafael Cardenas set out to capture L.A. in a photo a day. He ended up recording a pandemic -- The plan was simple: take a photo a day, every day, for a year. Carolina A. Miranda in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

Virtual pet therapy, a floor for potential cases: How children’s hospitals responded to coronavirus -- In the 14 months that 4-year-old Rhett has battled cancer, few things excite him more than visits with Cooper. When the playful dog lies on Rhett’s bed at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the boy forgets about everything else. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

Coronavirus and giving to charity: How to decide where to donate -- According to a survey of nonprofit organizations by Charity Navigator and Reuters this month, 83% of respondents said they were suffering financially because of the outbreak. Many groups have had to cancel fundraisers and in-person events meant to bring in revenue. But choosing where to donate can be an overwhelming task. Nicole Santa Cruz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

Coronavirus canceled wedding season. So what’s a wedding singer to do? -- Until a few weeks ago, if you got married in L.A. and hired a mariachi band, there was a good chance Susie Garcia’s family played you down the aisle. August Brown in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/29/20

POTUS 45  

His name on stimulus checks, Trump sends a gushing letter to 90 million people -- President Trump pushed to have his name printed on the economic stimulus payments the IRS is sending to tens of millions of Americans. Now he’s written a gushing letter to almost 90 million people, with his jagged signature in thick black pen. Lisa Rein and Michelle Singletary in the Washington Post$ -- 4/29/20

Trump’s allies sound alarm over his attacks on independent watchdogs -- President Donald Trump’s recent hostility toward independent federal watchdogs has jolted the very Senate Republicans who are among his most outspoken defenders. Andrew Desiderio Politico -- 4/29/20

Beltway 

Justin Amash announces exploratory committee for president -- Justin Amash, an independent congressman from Michigan, announced Tuesday that he is forming an exploratory committee for president as a Libertarian Party candidate. David Siders and Ally Mutnick Politico Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns in the New York Times$ David Weigel in the Washington Post$ -- 4/29/20

Pelosi to Trump: Ice cream in freezer is ‘better than having Lysol in somebody’s lungs’ -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday hit back at President Donald Trump for mocking her quarantine stash of ice cream, saying that her vice is less harmful than some of his musings on coronavirus treatments. Caitlin Oprysko Politico -- 4/29/20

Sanders’s campaign alumni create super PAC to support Joe Biden’s presidential run -- Former senior aides to Sen. Bernie Sanders’s two presidential campaigns have created a new super PAC to energize the young, progressive and Latino voters who turned out for Sanders to now support Democrat Joe Biden in the November election. Colby Itkowitz in the Washington Post$ -- 4/29/20

Under Pressure, House Leaders Scrap Plans for Speedy Return to the Capitol -- Democratic leaders on Tuesday scrapped a plan to call the House of Representatives back into session in Washington next week, abruptly reversing themselves after some rank-and-file lawmakers complained that doing so constituted an unnecessary risk as the novel coronavirus continues to spread in the capital and throughout the country. Emily Cochrane and Nicholas Fandos in the New York Times$ -- 4/29/20

 

-- Tuesday Updates   

Some California businesses could reopen within weeks as state fights coronavirus, Newsom says -- California businesses seen as presenting less risk of spreading the coronavirus could open in the near future under a plan Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled on Tuesday, the first of several slow steps toward easing the statewide shutdown order. John Myers, Taryn Luna, Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ Fiona Kelliher in the San Jose Mercury$ Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/28/20

California governor: Schools may reopen as soon as July -- California schoolchildren could return to their classrooms as early as July though there likely will be modifications, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. Kathleen Ronayne and Adam Beam Associated Press -- 4/28/20

First shipment of California governor’s big mask buy arrives -- Three million surgical masks arrived in California as the first shipment in a major deal cut by Gov. Gavin Newsom for 200 million masks a month to protect health care and other workers from the coronavirus. The weekend shipment came as part of a $104.7 million payment under a $1 billion contract with Chinese company BYD, Newsom’s finance director, Keely Bosler, wrote in a letter to lawmakers shared Monday. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 4/28/20

Coronavirus worsens in L.A. County as hopes of an early reopening fade -- The coronavirus is on the decline in many parts of California but continues to spread in Los Angeles County, sparking new debate about whether officials will need to begin easing stay-at-home restrictions in certain sections of the state while giving harder-hit regions time to flatten the curve. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Joe Mozingo, Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/20

The insidious coronavirus can invade heart, lungs — even brain -- Patricia Dowd had flu-like symptoms a few days before she suddenly died of a massive heart attack — a death now attributed to COVID-19 that adds to increasing evidence that the coronavirus can damage almost all of the body’s major organs. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/28/20

How can the state’s model project possibly thousands of deaths in Bay Area by June? -- It may sound astounding that in 10 Bay Area counties, where 241 COVID-19 deaths were reported as of Friday, the state model projected as many as 8,727 by the beginning of June. But how could that be? John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/26/20

What’s a city to do when half its population is in the crosshairs of coronavirus? -- The Coachella Valley may be best known for music festivals, tennis tournaments and championship golf, but it’s also home to some of the densest concentrations of senior citizens in California — the very same people with the greatest risk of contracting the coronavirus simply because of the year they were born. Maria L. La Ganga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/20

At least 40 percent of COVID-19 deaths in California are from eldercare homes, state reveals -- Residents of long-term care homes in California make up nearly 40 percent of the COVID-19 deaths in the state, new public health data shows, making skilled-nursing and assisted-living facilities by far the deadliest hotspots in the coronavirus pandemic. Jason Pohl in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/28/20

Quick publicity of coronavirus research leads to some iffy conclusions -- Two California studies this month shocked many across the nation with the suggestion that the coronavirus is infecting far more people than thought — as much as 85 times more. The findings were met with widespread skepticism, even disdain. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/28/20

Navy destroyer with COVID-19 outbreak bound for San Diego; 1 in 5 on Theodore Roosevelt now have virus -- San Diego will be the next stop for a deployed Navy destroyer experiencing an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the Navy said Tuesday in a statement. The ship — the guided-missile destroyer Kidd — will arrive at Naval Base San Diego Tuesday. Andrew Dyer in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/28/20

Reopen Status   

When will California reopen? Here’s a reality check from across the state -- Most of the calls to reopen have come from areas that haven’t been hit as hard by the outbreak as hot spots such as Los Angeles and the Bay Area, where many officials say they are concerned about the effects of restarting the economy too soon. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Hannah Fry, Colleen Shalby, James Queally, Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/20

L.A. County leaders will create team to craft recovery roadmap, but stay-home orders still in place -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 20 approved an economic recovery roadmap, setting down an early blueprint for when social distancing orders could be eased and how the sputtered-out wheels of the region’s economy get spinning again. Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/20

‘Open the damn city up.’ Fresno councilman, Crazy Bernie call for opening amid COVID-19 -- Bredefeld said businesses should be able to operate while following Centers for Disease Control guidelines, including the use of masks, as well as social distancing and routine cleaning. Thaddeus Miller in the Fresno Bee -- 4/28/20

Tesla won’t re-open Fremont factory this week: report -- Tesla’s decision to keep its assembly lines silent came on the heels of six Bay Area counties, including Alameda County, where Tesla’s Fremont plant is located, saying on Monday that as part of the effort to contain the spread of coronavirus, the current shelter-in-place order is being extended until the end of May. The order had been set to be lifted on May 3. Rex Crum in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/26/20

List: What California colleges, universities are saying about fall semester amid pandemic -- The COVID-19 pandemic has many college students wondering if they will be back on campus in the fall. The Chronicle of Higher Education is keeping an updated list of U.S. colleges and universities that have publicly commented on their plans. Pueng Vongs in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/26/20

Distancing / Testing   

Bay Area’s shelter-in-place to last through May -- As states across the country rush to restart economies battered by the coronavirus, the Bay Area is telling residents to buckle down — at least until June. Robert Salonga, Fiona Kelliher in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/26/20

L.A. is using a streamlined coronavirus test. But it has potential risks and rewards -- When the coronavirus hit, Los Angeles County faced a testing crisis. Officials had only one test processing machine at its laboratory in Downey and had little hope of getting help from the federal government. Swabs were scarce. Laboratories were backlogged. And there weren’t enough healthcare workers to take samples from patients. Maya Lau, Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/20

Jobless and Benefits   

Coronavirus unemployment: One of six Bay Area companies have chopped jobs -- One out of every six companies in the Bay Area have chopped jobs amid the economic fallout unleashed by the coronavirus, and pressure has intensified to end government-mandated lockdowns that have throttled the now-feeble regional economy, a poll released Tuesday shows. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/26/20

California paid 1 of every 8 new claims in March, lagging national average -- California’s embattled labor agency made first-time payments during March to only one out of every eight workers who filed initial unemployment claims, fresh evidence of the state’s flagging quest to pay people who lost jobs amid coronavirus-linked business lockdowns. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/26/20

Quirk in coronavirus relief law gives full $600 a week even to workers facing only cut hours -- California workers who see their hours cut as little as 10% due to the coronavirus outbreak are eligible to receive the entire $600-a-week federal subsidy offered in the $2-trillion federal rescue package, state officials and employment experts say. Sarah D. Wire in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/28/20

Policy and Politics   

LA County unveils $35.5 billion budget blueprint, but coronavirus-fueled cuts will reshape it -- Los Angeles County unveiled a $35.5 billion proposed budget on Monday, April 27. But facing huge coronavirus-spurred revenue cuts, the plan is sure to change as the economic toll from the pandemic unfolds. Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 4/28/20

Drained by coronavirus, LA County’s checking account running ‘extremely low’ -- A day after she released a $35.5 billion proposed spending plan, the county's CEO warns that the margins in the county's account have been hit hard. Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 4/28/20

Californians backed a gas tax to fix roads. What will coronavirus mean for highway projects? -- California voters two years ago emphatically endorsed a plan to speed highway and transportation projects when they supported at the ballot box a package of gas taxes and vehicles fees. But the cororonavirus outbreak looks likely to jeopardize those plans. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/28/20

Not if, but how: California prepares for an all vote-by-mail election in November -- All eyes are on the governor who, with an executive order, could make California's upcoming election an "all-mail" affair. Ben Christopher Calmatters -- 4/26/20

Trump suggests federal bailout for states could hinge on sanctuary city policies -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday suggested that state and local bailout money from the federal government could hinge on whether the immigration policies of the individual governments seeking relief align with Trump administration priorities. Myah Ward Politico -- 4/28/20

How Devin Nunes raises millions: Lawsuits, a ‘deep state’ doll and Fox News spots -- Rep. Devin Nunes sent out a campaign fundraising pitch on the afternoon of Feb. 13 with the subject line: “They hate me.” Kate Irby in the Fresno Bee -- 4/28/20

$500 billion bailout plan for large companies has no requirements to preserve jobs or limit executive pay -- The Federal Reserve’s coronavirus aid program lacks restrictions Congress placed on companies seeking financial help under other programs. Jeff Stein and Peter Whoriskey in the Washington Post$ -- 4/28/20

Fox: Opening the Economy? Ask Us How, Business Groups Tell Governors -- Business groups from three western coastal states want to be involved in strategies to end the lockdown and open up the economy. From a California perspective, at least, it’s possible that the business coalition was formed because of fear that business concerns would be ignored by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 4/28/20

Beverly Hills lawyer at center of FBI agent corruption scandal, sources say -- When a veteran FBI agent was charged last week with taking bribes, one question loomed: Who was the Beverly Hills lawyer, unnamed in the charging documents, who told investigators he gave the agent cash, escorts and other perks for sensitive law enforcement information? Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/20

Also . .   

L.A. coronavirus clean air streak has already come to an end. Here’s why -- Dramatic reductions in vehicle and industrial emissions contributed to lower smog levels, air quality experts say, but much of the improvement was also due to stormy spring weather. Tony Barboza in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/20

On the open road, U.S. truck drivers face the coronavirus and new risks -- By the time Connie Reynolds pulled her 18-wheeler into Cowboy Travel Plaza, she’d made the long haul up Interstate 35 from the Texas border town of Laredo to central Oklahoma and was looking forward to kicking back at a table and sampling the rest stop’s Smokey Pokey barbecue before heading to Wichita, Kan. Molly Hennessy-Fiske in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/28/20

Students’ Six Feet Supplies team shops for folks who can’t during coronavirus -- Eric, a junior at West Ranch High School and Julianna, a senior at Valencia High School, are members of Six Feet Supplies, a group of students who shop and deliver groceries at no cost for people who cannot shop for themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hans Gutknecht in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 4/28/20