Updating . .   

Most counties may reopen in-store retail, hairdressers within weeks, Newsom says -- Most California counties will have the opportunity to reopen a slew of new businesses like in-store retail and hairdressers within the next few weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. Fiona Kelliher, Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/20

Trump says he's taking hydroxychloroquine despite FDA warnings -- Why it matters: The FDA issued a warning last month that the unproven drug should only be taken in hospitals because of the risk of heart complications. There's no substantiated evidence that taking hydroxychloroquine prevents COVID-19 infections. Axios -- 5/18/20

Newsom eases California reopening rules, allowing more counties to restart economy -- Announcing that more California communities are in a position to slowly reopen businesses, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday loosened rules on allowable coronavirus infection and death rates — a change that could release most parts of the state from the tight rules of his stay-at-home order. John Myers, Taryn Luna, Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/18/20

Gov. Newsom says sports with no fans could return in June; SD Loyal have experience -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday said sporting events without spectators could be allowed in California beginning next month. Tom Krasovic in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ John Shea in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/20

All Bay Area counties to allow storefront retail pickup, associated businesses to reopen -- In a joint statement Monday, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, Santa Clara counties and the city of Berkeley said that a new order — replacing the current one lasting through the end of May — will be released later this morning detailing the changes. Fiona Kelliher, Robert Salonga, Evan Webeck in the San Jose Mercury$ Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/20

California records 80,000 coronavirus cases, more than 3,200 deaths -- Californians traveling between county lines may soon need a field guide to assess coronavirus restrictions in various parts of the state as permissions to reopen continue to fluctuate day by day. The state has surpassed 80,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 3,200 deaths. Although the numbers continue to increase overall, the case count has started to taper off in some areas. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/20

Coronavirus infection rate in L.A. County is falling. But it’s still in the danger zone -- As Los Angeles County found itself in a coronavirus crisis in March, it became clear the highly infectious disease was surging out of control, with every one person testing positive for the virus infecting an average of 3½ other people. Rong-Gong Lin II, Iris Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/20

More new cases in San Francisco, San Mateo but hospitalization rates continue to fall -- As San Francisco and San Mateo County entered the second phase of reopening and businesses began to reopen for curbside service Monday, new cases of COVID-19 on the peninsula continued to tick up. Evan Webeck in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/20

As California reopens, officials hope social distancing prevents new coronavirus outbreaks -- More of California was reopening Monday as coronavirus restrictions continued to be eased in the state, with hopes the changes will help the economy without causing a rise in new cases. At least three Bay Area counties — San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin — plan to incrementally ease their social-distancing restrictions starting Monday. Alex Wigglesworth, Christopher Goffard, Susanne Rust, Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/20

Chula Vista veterans home adjusts to fend off coronavirus threat -- Chula Vista — Residents of San Diego County’s only state veterans home in Chula Vista are living under new constraints, as officials work to keep the coronavirus outside the facility’s walls. So far, its director says, that’s working. Andrew Dyer in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/18/20

California Ramps Up COVID-19 Contact Tracer Training For Government Workers – But Citizens Want To Help, Too -- Cindy Moore has been spending a lot of time on her iPad lately, keeping up on the latest COVID-19 news and looking for ways to help. The 67-year-old retired geologist, who lives in Sacramento, would love to be a contact tracer, one of thousands the state of California is training to track how people acquired the coronavirus. Bob Moffitt Capital Public Radio -- 5/18/20

Policy & Politics    

Underfunded pensions make GOP leaders reluctant to send federal aid to states like California -- Top Washington Republicans determined not to send federal money to states say their biggest fear is Democrats will use it to help reeling public employee pensions funds. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/18/20

San Diego County Supervisors consider proposals to share CARES Act funds with cities -- San Diego County will use some of the $334 million in federal funds it received under the CARES Act to support the region’s 17 cities that were too small to qualify for direct federal funds. However, it appears a debate is brewing over how much aid the county should provide. Charles T. Clark in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/18/20

Rep. Jackie Speier dons pajamas to fight lawmakers sleeping in offices -- Rep. Jackie Speier wants you to see her in her pajamas — in the hopes of exposing the “dirty little secret” of members of Congress sleeping in their workplaces. It’s a practice she argues should be banned. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/20

Quinn: All Mail Voting Works – for Republicans -- For all the Republican howling of late about mail balloting, we have now had our first two all mail ballot elections in California, and guess what, Republicans won both: a State Senate seat in Riverside County and a congressional district in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties that Democrats had won in 2018. Tony Quinn Fox & Hounds -- 5/18/20

Vanishing Jobs  

Uber cuts 3,000 more jobs as coronavirus devastates ride-hailing -- As millions of people worldwide stay home during the coronavirus pandemic, Uber is cutting 3,000 more jobs, it said Monday. Along with the 3,700 positions it cut two weeks ago, the San Francisco ride-hailing company is laying off 25% of its staff. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Cathy Bussewitz Associated Press -- 5/18/20

Coronavirus unemployment: Eight weeks, more than 100,000 layoffs in Bay Area -- Bay Area employers have issued official notices for furloughs, layoffs, or job cuts that have hopped past 100,000 in eight weeks — even as more workers are unable to reach the state labor agency to process unemployment claims — a reminder of the grim economic effects spawned by coronavirus-linked shutdowns. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/20

Status Update: Orange County’s jobless can apply for $800 from workforce program -- Orange County residents who lost jobs because of the pandemic can apply for help and $800 as part of a workforce program funded with a state grant. The Orange County Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act program is designed to help job seekers upgrade skills, obtain employment, improve job retention and increase earnings. Samantha Gowen in the Orange County Register -- 5/18/20

New Business Normal  

In twist, dozens of Los Angeles restaurants oppose delivery app fee cap -- In an unexpected move, more than 20 Los Angeles restaurants, including Canter’s, Sichuan Impression and Sweetfin, have signed a petition opposing a City Council proposal to cap third-party delivery app fees. Jenn Harris in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/20

Restaurants and bars look ahead -- Remember restaurants? Not the empty storefronts where you grab a takeout bag from a masked employee standing behind a makeshift counter in the doorway, but those places where you’d gather with friends, enjoy hours-long meals and allow chefs and waitstaff to take care of you? Soleil Ho, Janelle Bitker and Esther Mobley in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/20

San Jose’s San Pedro Square Market reopens today with 10 restaurants, vendors -- Good news for downtown dwellers in San Jose: San Pedro Square Market, which had closed for the first two months of the COVID-19 crisis, will greet customers again starting today, with 10 of its vendors offering takeout and delivery. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Linda Zavoral in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/20

Viejas Casino reopens after two-month closure, more to follow suit -- They may have been rolling the dice with their health, but hundreds of people eager to play slot machines and card games returned to Viejas Casino on Monday as the gaming venue reopened with new safety guidelines. Gary Warth, Lyndsay Winkley in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/18/20

Northern California casinos nearly ready to open doors — cautiously -- Slot machines are being removed to create social distancing. Temperature stations are being installed to make sure employees and guests are healthy when they walk in the door. Two months after closing because of the coronavirus pandemic, Northern California’s casinos are gearing up to reopen. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/18/20

Olvera Street merchants struggle to survive amid the coronavirus pandemic -- It was a sad sight for Jorge Contreras: rows of blue, yellow and orange puestos, or market stalls, on Olvera Street were shuttered. Nineteenth-century brick buildings that house restaurants, shops and museums were closed, too. La Plaza, typically teeming with people, was empty and quiet. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/20

Hair And Nail Salons Squeezed As They’re Deemed 'High Risk' Businesses During Pandemic -- At Exquisite U hair salon in Arden Arcade, Stephanie Hunter Ray is doing business a little differently these days. Before the coronavirus, the salon she’s owned for 15 years on Fulton Avenue was packed with regular clients. Sarah Mizes-Tan Capital Public Radio -- 5/18/20

Business Lost  

New American restaurant in Auburn closes permanently, citing coronavirus -- The 10-month-old New American restaurant has closed permanently, owner Mikki Ruiz announced on Facebook Sunday night. Scheduled power outages designed to mitigate wildfire risk hamstrung Mikki’s in October, Ruiz said, and the full-service restaurant never fully recovered. Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/18/20

Education 

ACT chief says UC students would be hurt by Napolitano plan to scrap SAT and ACT -- UC President Janet Napolitano’s proposal to suspend a standardized testing requirement will fuel student uncertainty, strain budgets and exacerbate concerns about fairness by making the admissions process more subjective, the head of the ACT testing organization said Monday. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/20

L.A. schools’ distance learning amid coronavirus has uneven results, survey says -- Families give the Los Angeles school district good marks for its efforts to help them, but many report they are struggling — both in trying to keep their children on pace academically and in other ways, according to a survey that the district released Monday. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/20

Only a matter of time   

Man in surgical mask uses gun to rob Vista gas station -- The masked man entered the Mobil gas station on Sycamore Avenue on Sunday shortly before 10:10 p.m.and pointed a silver semi-automatic handgun at the clerk. Karen Kucher in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/18/20

Also . . .   

ATF joins probe of LA blast that injured 12 firefighters -- Investigators on Monday began combing the wreckage of a fire and explosion at a downtown Los Angeles hash oil manufacturer as six burned firefighters remained in the hospital and two more went home. Stefanie Dazio and John Antczak Associated Press -- 5/18/20

 

 

California Policy & Politics Monday Morning  

Coronavirus: How we decide the risks we’re willing to take to venture out -- Emerging research shows that the most dangerous settings are large gatherings of mixed social groups, where people who don’t know each other are close, sing, chat and commingle. Think San Francisco’s Outside Lands festival, where music lovers from far-flung locales are crowded together for hours. Indoor and confined areas, like bars and restaurants, are much worse than more solitary outdoor recreational activities, such as golf or hiking. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/20

Churches in Oceanside, Chula Vista hold in-person services despite public health orders -- San Diego County officials reported 174 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, a day in which at least two local churches, in Chula Vista and Oceanside, held religious services in person despite orders intended to slow the virus. No new deaths were reported Sunday, leaving the county’s death toll at 209. David Garrick, David Hernandez in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/18/20

Coronavirus may have spread at a church service. Now the pastor is speaking out -- A Butte County pastor who defied public health officials and held an in-person Mother’s Day service that potentially exposed 180 congregants to the coronavirus has spoken out about his decision on social media. Laura Newberry in the Los Angeles Times$ Tatiana Sanchez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/20

L.A. County records 694 new coronavirus cases and 29 deaths -- Long Beach, which has its own public health department, reported an additional 27 cases of the virus, bringing the county’s total to 38,001 cases and 1,821 deaths. Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/20

Officials mishandled coronavirus outbreaks at Lompoc and Terminal Island prisons, lawsuits claim -- The American Civil Liberties Union on Saturday filed a pair of class-action lawsuits on behalf of federal prisoners at Lompoc and Terminal Island, claiming officials mishandled coronavirus outbreaks at the facilities that have infected a combined total of 1,775 inmates, killing 10. Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/20

Official: Stats behind San Bernardino County coronavirus ‘hot spot’ report are ‘insane’ -- A federal report calling San Bernardino County one of three U.S. coronavirus hot spots and suggesting the rate of spread doubled in the past week doesn’t line up at all with the county’s records. Ryan Hagen in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 5/18/20

Coronavirus vaccine could come from California, with no shot needed -- Bay Area researchers’ proximity to leading health care centers and Silicon Valley has given them a leading role in developing drugs to treat COVID-19. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/20

Policy & Politics 

De Blasio, Newsom push back on Trump’s ‘bad management’ rhetoric -- President Donald Trump accused state governments of using the pandemic to make up for “25 years of bad management,” as local leaders prod the federal government for more aid. Democrats were not pleased. Rishika Dugyala Politico -- 5/18/20

Walters: Business targets COVID-19 bills as ‘job killers’ -- A quarter-century ago — rather suddenly — California began shifting rapidly from a two-party state into what became utter dominance by one party, the Democrats. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 5/18/20

Skelton: To balance California’s budget, state will stick it to its most vulnerable citizens -- The aged, blind and disabled always get the shaft whenever a governor pulls out his cutting knife. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/18/20

Business Lost  

Bay Area bakery favorite Specialty’s closes permanently because of coronavirus -- In a gut punch to Bay Area sandwich and cookie lovers, Specialty’s Cafe & Bakery announced this weekend that it will close for good Tuesday after 33 years in business. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/20

Reopen  

Tesla tells employees Fremont factory has approval to restart this week -- The factory’s health and safety plan was approved by Alameda County’s interim health officer after authorities toured the facility last week, according to a letter from Laurie Shelby, Tesla’s vice president for environmental, health and safety. Rusty Simmons in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/20

Salesforce’s coronavirus office reopening plan: separated, masked workers and more cleaning -- There will be temperature scans on every floor, mandatory masks, and 6-foot separations for all workers. Hand sanitizer will be everywhere and cleaners will work throughout the day. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/20

Sighs of relief and hope as more Bay Area businesses prepare to reopen -- Stanley Pas had just relocated West Coast Leather to a new San Francisco location earlier this year when the novel coronavirus pandemic effectively shut down his business. Three months later, Pas and manager Joe Crane were excited to welcome customers Monday when business resumes as part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-phase plan to reopen California. Elliott Almond in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/18/20

Survey reveals dire state of SF restaurants during coronavirus shelter-in-place -- The numbers are striking: 47% of San Francisco restaurant owners laid off all of their employees during shelter-in-place. And among the 73% of restaurants open for takeout, 60% are losing money by doing so. Janelle Bitker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/20

CARES Act    

Here’s how $2.3 trillion in stimulus money was doled out and what could be next -- As Congress argues about a second stimulus package, here’s a look at how the $2.3 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act was divided up. The CARES Act became the largest economic stimulus bill in modern history, more than doubling the stimulus act passed in 2009 during the financial crisis. Kurt Snibbe in the Orange County Register -- 5/18/20

Education 

With Cal State and other colleges moving online, higher ed has to prove its value -- As colleges and universities grapple with how to conduct business this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic, they also face larger, long-term challenges in balancing traditional instruction and digital innovation. “Higher education rarely faces existential questions about its future,” said Mitchell Stevens, an associate professor in Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, “but this is one of those moments.” Ron Kroichick in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/20

Hundreds of UC Berkeley lecturers fear losing jobs -- Lecturers with six years or less of experience on campus originally were exempt from the hiring freeze announced April 1. But UC Berkeley officials subsequently revised the terms of the freeze to include those lecturers. Ron Kroichick in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/20

AP exams to get new safeguards after widespread reports of technical glitches -- In a message sent out to teenagers and their families on Sunday, the nonprofit organization that administers the exams expressed concern for the students who were unable to successfully submit their responses online for the high-stakes tests last week and said it would roll out a backup email option for those who run up against error messages, starting Monday. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/18/20

In response to pandemic, colleges across California hold virtual commencements -- In another fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, and its devastating impact on education, college campuses around California are holding commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2020 — for the first time online. Louis Freedberg EdSource -- 5/18/20

How some California charter schools support students during distance learning -- Each morning, Yolanda Anguiano receives a text message asking if her two kids, who attend Rocketship Fuerza Community Prep in San Jose, have what they need to stay safe and continue learning while their school is closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Sydney Johnson EdSource -- 5/18/20

Also . . .   

‘Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!’: Hear firefighters’ calls for help from downtown L.A. fire -- Firefighters were already en route when dispatchers received confirmation of heavy fire coming from a smoke shop on the 300 block of Boyd Street in downtown Los Angeles at about 6:37 p.m. Saturday, May 16. “Everybody off of the roof!” one firefighter shouted into his radio moments later, at 6:39 p.m., as a massive explosion erupted. Eric Licas in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/18/20

Criminal probe launched into L.A. building explosion amid questions about stored oils -- A criminal investigation is underway into an explosion in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday that injured 12 firefighters and left several buildings damaged, several law enforcement sources told The Times, and officials are looking at whether oils stored there might have sparked the blast. Richard Winton, Hailey Branson-Potts, Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ Stefanie Dazio and Frank Baker Associated Press Ryan Carter, Josh Cain in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/18/20

Some Parents Skip Meals to Feed Their Children, but Who Will Feed the Adults? One Organization has an Answer -- Prior to the stay-at-home order, Diosmery Durán said she and her family were doing fine, supported by her husband's handyman business. But when the pandemic hit, he lost nearly all his work overnight, and the family income disappeared. After paying the rent, utilities, cable, and phone bills, there was little left. Deepa Fernandes KQED -- 5/18/20

POTUS 45  

In next phase of pandemic, Trump appears poised to let others take the lead -- President Trump has proclaimed the latest phase of pandemic response the “transition to greatness.” But Trump appears poised to preside over the eventual transition more as a salesman and marketer than a decider. Ashley Parker and Philip Rucker in the Washington Post$ -- 5/18/20

Eric Trump claims coronavirus is Democratic hoax, will ‘magically’ vanish after 2020 election -- Eric Trump claimed Saturday that the coronavirus will “magically” vanish after the November election and allow the country to fully reopen — an assertion that has no basis in science and is contradicted by health experts worldwide. Derek Hawkins in the Washington Post$ -- 5/18/20

AP Fact Check: Trump, GOP falsehoods on Flynn, Biden, virus -- President Donald Trump and his GOP allies are misrepresenting the facts behind the legal case of former national security adviser Michael Flynn as they seek to allege improper behavior during the Obama administration in the presidential campaign season. Hope Yen, Eric Tucker and Matthew Perrone Associated Press -- 5/18/20

Beltway   

Fed Chair Says Economic Recovery May ‘Stretch’ Through End of 2021 -- Jerome H. Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, said that the United States would have a slow recovery from what he called the “biggest shock that the economy’s had in living memory,” suggesting that a full rebound from virus-induced lockdowns could take until the end of 2021. Jeanna Smialek in the New York Times$ -- 5/18/20

Faced with a Trumpian barrage of attacks, Joe Biden chooses to look the other way -- In a return to his old fighting form last week, President Trump suggested that his electoral rival, Joe Biden, should go to prison for an unspecified offense he labeled the “greatest political crime in the history of our country.” In response, Biden did nothing, holding back in silence for hours after Trump’s interview aired Thursday on Fox Business Network, until the presumptive Democratic nominee’s campaign finally sent out a tweet. Michael Scherer and Josh Dawsey in the Washington Post$ -- 5/18/20

 

-- Sunday Updates   

Despite pandemic, sheriff continues booking suspects on minor, nonviolent offenses -- In the weeks following March 12 — the day before San Diego County canceled large public gatherings and imposed a sweeping social-distancing order to combat COVID-19 — Angel Gutierrez was booked into county jail 13 times. Kelly Davis, Lauryn Schroeder, Jeff MCDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/17/20

California’s prisons and jails have emptied thousands into a world changed by coronavirus -- In short order, the coronavirus pandemic has ushered in a sweeping and historic emptying of California’s overcrowded prisons and jails, as officials have dramatically lowered the number of people held in custody to avert deadly outbreaks. Matt Hamilton, James Queally, Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/20

‘We are terrified’: Coronavirus outbreak reported at Chino women’s prison -- The women sat anxiously inside their prison cells at the California Institution for Women in Chino as a guard roamed about their cell block, yelling out an ominous announcement. A knock on a cell door, the guard said, meant that they tested positive for the coronavirus. They would be told to gather their things and prepare to be isolated for an indefinite amount of days. Jonah Valdez in the Inland Daily Bulletin$ -- 5/17/20

With in-person public access on pause, San Diego’s criminal courts go live on YouTube -- On hold for weeks due to coronavirus shutdown, hearings in criminal cases have slowly restarted in San Diego Superior Courts. But the public is not yet allowed back in to the courtroom. Now the courts have a high-tech work around: livestreaming the hearings on YouTube. Teri Figueroa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/17/20

Firefighters had to run through fireball to escape downtown L.A. explosion -- Firefighters were inside a burning downtown Los Angeles business Saturday evening when there was a huge explosion. The blast injured 12 first responders and spurred an investigation into its cause, fire officials said. Liam Dillon, Alex Wigglesworth, Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ Stefanie Dazio and Frank Baker Associated Press Ryan Carter, Josh Cain in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/17/20

Marin health director’s own illness changes his view of dealing with COVID-19 -- The terrifying reality hit Dr. Matt Willis hard on day 10 of his coronavirus infection, when the nightmarish ordeal of fever and sickness landed him in the hospital. The top public health officer in Marin County could hardly breathe, oxygen levels in his body had hit rock bottom and, he admitted, he was scared because “this is the sickest I’ve ever been.” Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/17/20

Coronavirus grief is like no other. ‘Everything just feels fake’ -- It’s been seven weeks since Karen Blanks’ brother-in-law died from COVID-19, but his death still doesn’t seem real to her. Bettina Boxall in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/20

The price of being ‘essential’: Latino service workers bear brunt of coronavirus -- For Lupe Martinez, who does the laundry at a Riverside nursing home, each day presented an agonizing choice: Go to work and risk getting the novel coronavirus or lose the $13.58-an-hour paycheck her family relies upon. Martinez went to work. Hailey Branson-Potts, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Matt Stiles, Andrew J. Campa, Gary Coronado in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/20

Once united, Bay Area counties take divergent paths toward reopening -- Bay Area counties mostly have been in lockstep in their response to the coronavirus since the first shelter-in-place orders took effect two months ago, but as outbreaks begin to subside, counties are starting down divergent paths, and that parting of ways is causing some confusion and impatience across the region. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/17/20

California homeless quarantine in hotels, more rooms needed -- Anxiety mounted every time someone at the homeless shelter sneezed or residents got too close. For Matthew Padilla, a 34-year-old with a pacemaker and asthma, catching the novel coronavirus would likely mean death. Christopher Weber and Janie Har Associated Press -- 5/17/20

Landlords & Tenants  

SF landlord Veritas responds to Pelosi’s demand to return $3.6 million small business loan -- Veritas Investments, which manages more than 250 San Francisco properties and has a $3 billion real estate portfolio, issued a statement on Sunday that said it plans to repay the loan within the two years allotted by the federal government. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/17/20

New Normal  

Bowl of oranges for a bunch of basil: Strapped for cash, Angelenos turn to bartering and sharing -- Kacha never thought too much about it all. Gardening was just a hobby that happened to put food on the table. But as Los Angeles shut down and the world became smaller, as people lost their jobs and the economy faltered, neighbors started stopping by to ask for tips. One brought over a big bowl of oranges from her own backyard, ready to trade for basil. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/20

Old Normal  

Face masks are protection from coronavirus, but in SF they’re doing double duty as litter -- San Francisco has a new problem with its already dirty streets — people tossing their used masks and gloves onto the sidewalks. Phil Matier in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/17/20

Reopen Challenges  

‘It’s still kind of weird’: L.A.-area businesses say reopening with limits has challenges -- Businesses around the Los Angeles area this weekend began to figure out what the new normal looked like. Curbside pickup was allowed, but social-distancing rules required that the public not enter many stores that did not provide essential services such as food and medicine. Christopher Goffard, Alex Wigglesworth, Kevin Baxter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/20

For coronavirus-jolted bridal shops, curb service just isn’t cutting it -- May is usually one of the busiest months for White Tie Tuxedo owner Flor Vergara, who is used to spending long days in her San Fernando shop assisting grooms and their guests with tailoring tuxedos and suits. Olga Grigoryants in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/17/20

Chatsworth deli bounced back from riots, quake … but was nearly undone by coronavirus -- After he got infected with COVID-19 and had to spend 30 days in isolation, Pasquale Roberto thought he would shutter his business for good. Olga Grigoryants in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/17/20

Empty Plates   

Houses of worship struggle financially amid coronavirus pandemic -- When the 97-year-old Second Baptist Church in Santa Ana closed its doors like most houses of worship in the aftermath of California’s shelter-at-home orders, donations plunged. Deepa Bharath in the Orange County Register -- 5/17/20

Also . . .   

Raging house party amid coronavirus ends when man shoots himself in the groin, police say -- Larger gatherings are still prohibited under strict coronavirus stay-at-home orders. But that didn’t stop a raging house party Saturday night in the Hollywood Hills that ended when, police say, a man accidentally shot himself in the groin. Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/20

Forty years after its famed eruption, Mt. St. Helens looms as a marvel and a threat -- The government is trying to prevent a new disaster on Mt. St. Helens -- the breach of a 73-billion-gallon lake held in place by debris from the 1980 eruption. Richard Read in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/17/20