Updating . .  

California, 2 other states sue over federal rollback of fuel economy standards -- California and two other states sued the Trump administration Wednesday for its sweeping rollback of fuel economy standards, claiming the new rules will increase air pollution, harm the economy and risk lives when the nation can least afford it. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

California coronavirus milestone: 100,000 cases. ‘It hasn’t ended’ -- The number of coronavirus infections in California is poised to surpass 100,000 Wednesday, marking a milestone that comes as the state is rapidly reopening its economy. Hannah Fry, Sarah Parvini, Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ Shayna Rubin, Fiona Kelliher in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/27/20

California is reopening too quickly, posing ‘very serious risk,’ health officer warns -- In particular, Dr. Sara Cody, health officer for Santa Clara County — home to Silicon Valley and Northern California’s most populous county — said she was concerned by the decision to allow gatherings of up to 100 people for religious, political and cultural reasons. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ Matt Kawahara in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

A silent coronavirus threat looms large as California reopens businesses -- At Eaton Canyon, a popular Pasadena hiking area, so many people crowded the trail Saturday morning — many without masks and jammed close together — that rangers shut it down for the rest of the month. Rong-Gong Lin II, Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

He was part of Amazon’s coronavirus hiring spree. Two weeks later he was dead -- With that human wave came the virus. The same week that Sentoso was called back into work, new cases of COVID-19 were reported at six warehouses across Southern California. Until now, no cases at the Irvine facility, known as DLA9, have been made public, and Sentoso’s death had gone unreported. Sam Dean in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/27/20

Policing during COVID-19: Officers face new threat in the line of duty -- Daily temperature checks are one of several new precautions law enforcement agencies instituted in recent months to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the coronavirus as they continue to do their jobs. Other precautions include donning masks and gloves when they interact with the public and regularly wiping down their police vehicles, which are shared from one shift to the next. David Hernandez in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/27/20

Policy & Politics 

PG&E utility replacement if safety woes persist: Golden State Energy -- PG&E would be replaced by a non-profit company called Golden State Energy if the disgraced utility operates unsafely in the future and causes more catastrophes such as wildfires or explosions, under the provisions of a proposed state bill to be debated before a legislative panel Thursday. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/27/20

Battle between Trump and California over car pollution heads to court -- California and nearly two dozen other states on Wednesday filed suit against the Trump administration, arguing that its decision to weaken fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks puts the public’s health at risk and is based on flawed science. Anna M. Phillips, Tony Barboza in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

California bullet train could end up needing subsidies, despite promises to voters -- When California voters approved bonds in 2008 to build a bullet train across much of the state, a ballot measure promised them that future passenger service would not require operating subsidies. Ralph Vartabedian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

Family separation returns under cover of the coronavirus -- Three of the children — ages 10, 14, and 16 — just joined their father, Jose, after winning release from a government shelter where they had been held for more than two months. Now, they have deportation orders hanging over their heads. U.S. officials are fighting in court to take the three children and deport them to El Salvador — to no one. Molly O’Toole in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

How Kamala Harris and other Bay Area lawmakers score in a ranking of bipartisanship in Congress -- The Bay Area doesn’t have a reputation for being politically purple. A new analysis suggests that its representatives in Congress aren’t, either. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

Trump threatens social media after Twitter fact-checks him -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened social media companies with new regulation or even shuttering after Twitter added fact checks to two of his tweets. Zeke Miller Associated Press -- 5/27/20

Reopen  

L.A. Archdiocese could resume daily Mass, scheduled confessions next week -- As California rolls back coronavirus-related restrictions on houses of worship, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has released guidelines to reopen churches for private prayer and public Mass as early as next week. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

Google announces phased-in return to offices, but adds home-expenses ‘allowance’ -- Starting July 6, Google will allow employees to return to offices on a limited basis that would restrict worker numbers to about 10% of buildings’ capacities, Pichai said. That means an employee would probably come into the office “one day every couple of weeks,” he said. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/27/20

Runyon Canyon reopens for hiking with new coronavirus safety measures in place -- Park officials have reduced how many people can enter at one time, installed cameras and electric counters to monitor crowds, added additional staff and converted the trail into a one-way loop, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

Six Flags gives a preview of what it’ll be like when theme parks reopen -- Six Flags Entertainment Corp. became the first major U.S. theme park company to release a set of safety protocols for the reopening of all its U.S. parks, saying it will limit the number of people allowed in, check guests’ temperatures and require everyone to wear masks and spread out in lines and on rides. Hugo Martín in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

One-way halls, lunch at desk, playing alone. L.A. schools could reopen with stark rules -- Sixteen students to a class. One-way hallways. Students lunch at their desks. Children could get one ball to play with — alone. Masks are required. A staggered school day brings on new schedules to juggle. These campus scenarios could play out based on new Los Angeles County school reopening guidelines released Wednesday. Howard Blume, Sonali Kohli in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

Virus Job Losses  

California Academy of Sciences announces layoffs, furloughs, pay cuts affecting hundreds -- San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences will let go a fifth of its over 500 employees, furlough others, and cut pay and hours for remaining employees. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

Also . .  

State workers could be reassigned for coronavirus work if volunteer drive comes up short -- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration expects more state workers to volunteer for contact tracing assignments, and if they don’t, the state has the authority to reassign them to the work, according to an administration spokeswoman. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/27/20

SF’s shuttered office buildings could face new health threat: unsafe water -- Plumbing systems — the vast network of pipes that connect the city’s water system to cooling towers, showers, sinks, toilets and urinals — require a consistent water flow in order for water to stay safe. When there are no workers around to flush toilets or wash their hands, water stagnates in pipes. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

Sanctioned SF tent camp riles Haight-Ashbury neighborhood -- The cascade of tents hitting San Francisco’s liberal Haight-Ashbury has stunned merchants and residents alike, and led to an outcry over the city’s decision to set up a “safe sleeping site” at one of the neighborhood’s busiest intersections. Phil Matier in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

Lopez: West L.A. property, surrounded by stars, on sale for $745,000. Are you dying to move in? -- What if I were to tell you that an exclusive piece of real estate is available on L.A.’s Westside, right next door to a couple of the biggest names in entertainment history. And you can pick it up at the recently discounted price of $745,000? Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

 

California Policy & Politics Wednesday Morning  

California reopening further, but L.A. County still stymied by coronavirus numbers -- Los Angeles County, which accounts for the bulk of the state’s COVID-19 cases and more than half of its reported deaths, is one of 11 counties not yet permitted to push further in reopening. The county confirmed 27 additional deaths on Tuesday and 1,843 new cases of COVID-19. Colleen Shalby, Sarah Parvini in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

Coronavirus cases on the rise across the Bay Area, especially in Alameda County -- Coronavirus cases are climbing across the Bay Area as the region gradually loosens stay-home orders — most notably in Alameda County, which reported more new cases last week than at any other time in the local outbreak and has now surpassed Santa Clara County as hardest-hit in the region. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

Santa Clara health officer suggests California is reopening too soon -- The local public health officer who led the nation’s first regional shelter-in-place order early in the Covid-19 pandemic sounded the alarm Tuesday on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s swift reopening plans, which now allow haircuts and church services. Victoria Colliver Politico Matt Kawahara in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

Coronavirus ‘silent spreaders’ become a bigger risk as California reopens -- Health experts say it can take a few days from the time a person becomes infected, and could infect others, and the point at which they begin to show signs of illness. It’s called “presymptomatic transmission.” There’s also “asymptomatic transmission,” in which infected people show no serious signs of illness but still can spread the disease. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

This is how they died: Santa Clara County releases information on every COVID-19 death -- Pneumonia, respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome were listed as a cause of death in more than three-fourths of the COVID-19 deaths. Other fatal complications included renal failure and cardiac arrest, adding to evidence that the disease can ravage not just the lungs but other systems. Joaquin Palomino , Matthias Gafni and Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

‘What the heck is going on?’ County supervisors demand answers on Vernon coronavirus outbreaks -- Alarmed by a rising number of coronavirus infections among meatpacking workers in Vernon, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave local health officials and plant operators one week to review worker safety protocols and report back. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

Orange County authorities won’t enforce mask requirement: ‘We are not the mask police’ -- Orange County’s sheriff said Tuesday that his department has no intention of enforcing a recent health order requiring residents and visitors to wear face coverings in public. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

Inland Empire will worship in person after state gives green light -- The past three days have brought notable changes to the Inland Empire, as both Riverside and San Bernardino counties were given the green light to further reopen. Kailyn Brown in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

Orange County deems in-person church ‘essential,’ says rules too restrictive for megachurches -- Orange County supervisors on Tuesday declared religious services “essential” and expressed concerns that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to reopen places of worship with major restrictions is too constraining for megachurches and other large institutions. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

California’s coronavirus testing ground: Is this the kind of place that’s ready to reopen for business? -- There was a huge outbreak this month at the local meat-packing plant in this Central Valley community that’s home to miles of sprawling dairies and cattle farms. The number of coronavirus cases has continued to surge over the past week, and the number of COVID-19 patients at the county’s hospitals have been climbing all month long. Does Kings County sound like the kind of place that’s ready to reopen for business? John Woolfolk, Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/27/20

Places to cool off during Bay Area heat wave mostly closed, leaving elderly even more vulnerable -- Air conditioned malls, movie theaters and retail centers, where people normally go to cool off, are mostly closed because of coronavirus health orders, so older people are being left to fend for themselves in the heat. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

City of San Jose makes last-second decision to open cooling centers during pandemic -- With temperatures climbing around the Bay Area on Tuesday, the city of San Jose’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department made a last-second decision to open five cooling centers this week. Kerry Crowley in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/27/20

Cal/OSHA sees 30% increase in complaints about workplace safety due to pandemic -- As of Friday, Cal/OSHA received more than 2,300 coronavirus-related complaints since Feb. 1. State regulators have responded to about 1,900 of those issues, resolving more than 900 complaints remotely. Matthias Gafni in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

Santa Clara County, San Jose extend eviction moratoriums -- Although California is slowly beginning to reopen, Santa Clara County and the largest city in its jurisdiction are extending measures to protect tenants as regional public health orders continue to create financial hardships for thousands of residents. Aldo Toledo, Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/27/20

Policy & Politics 

Assembly to Newsom: Don’t count on feds to rescue California from deep budget cuts -- At an historic Assembly meeting, lawmakers on both sides criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom for proposing billions in cuts to schools, health care and safety net programs. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters Katie Orr KQED -- 5/27/20

California Assembly slams governor’s proposed budget cuts -- The California Assembly slammed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal on Tuesday, criticizing his proposed cuts to public education, health care and environmental protections during a rare meeting that allowed them to question the administration directly. Adam Beam Associated Press -- 5/27/20

Walters: The SF-LA economic gap is growing wider -- Even before COVID-19 rocked California, there were stark economic differences between the state’s two major metropolitan regions — the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County-centered Southern California — and the pandemic will widen the gap even more. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 5/27/20

Feinstein cleared by Justice Department in husband’s stock trades -- Justice Department is dropping its inquiry into Sen. Dianne Feinstein over stock trades made as the novel coronavirus struck the U.S. and roiled the economy, a person familiar with the matter said. Del Quentin Wilber, Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

It’s ‘budget dust.’ Paradise calls out Gov. Newsom on proposal to rescind Camp Fire funds -- Leaders in fire-scarred Paradise say Gov. Gavin Newsom is stifling their chance of rebuilding their town by reneging on an agreement to provide the local water agency with state bailout funds this year. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/27/20

Fact Check: Will California’s vote-by-mail order really lead to election fraud? -- On Tuesday, for the first time ever, Twitter fact-checked tweets and under the Trump tweet advised readers to “Get the facts about mail-in ballots.” To the left of that advice is an exclamation mark in a circle. Clicking on that note sends the reader to a page that explains: “On Tuesday, President Trump made a series of claims about potential voter fraud after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced an effort to expand mail-in voting in California during the COVID-19 pandemic. These claims are unsubstantiated, according to CNN, Washington Post and others. Experts say mail-in ballots are very rarely linked to voter fraud.” David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/27/20

Politifact CA: No, California Gov. Gavin Newsom Is Not Sending Mail-In Ballots “To Anyone In The State,” As Trump Falsely Claimed -- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan calls for sending mail-in ballots only to registered voters in California, not to “anyone.” Several GOP groups filed a lawsuit to halt the governor’s plan. Trump’s claim that voting by mail leads to fraud is misleading. Election experts have found it is exceedingly rare. Chris Nichols Politifact California -- 5/27/20

Trump pushes aggressive GOP campaign against California mail voting -- President Trump on Tuesday slammed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order to send mail ballots to every registered voter in California this November, ramping up a Republican campaign to brand an increasingly common method of voting as a guarantee of election fraud. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

San Diego May Have to Pay SDG&E Millions for Natural Gas it Doesn’t Want -- San Diego’s new government-run utility will likely have to spend millions on natural gas-fired power it doesn’t want as it takes its first steps into the energy market this year. MacKenzie Elmer Voiceofsandiego.org -- 5/27/20

California DA launches investigation into Tara Reade testimony -- The Monterey County District Attorney’s office has launched an investigation into whether Tara Reade lied on the witness stand while acting as an expert witness. Natasha Korecki Politico -- 5/27/20

Front Lines  

‘Powder keg’ at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison with 110 cases of COVID-19 in two weeks -- Until May 13, none of the 2,306 men incarcerated at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The prison on the eastern edge of Riverside County had seemed spared from the outbreaks ravaging penal institutions in Chino and Lancaster. Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

As inmate deaths and infections rise, Chino, Avenal prisons will test all employees for coronavirus -- The state corrections agency has implemented mandatory testing of all employees at the California Institution for Men in Chino as the number of inmates who have died after contracting COVID-19 there has risen to nine and the total number of inmates testing positive has grown to 635. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

Kaiser patients needed more intense care than ones in China, study finds -- But new research out of Kaiser Permanente and UC Berkeley suggests the pandemic is playing out very differently, at least in California and Washington. A study of 9.6 million Kaiser patients across the two states found that the more than 1,200 people hospitalized with the coronavirus by early April stayed longer on average than Chinese patients and were more likely to need intensive care. Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/27/20

Reopen     

L.A. County will ask state to allow restaurants, other businesses to reopen sooner -- Los Angeles County officials said Tuesday they will ask the state to allow a speedier reopening of restaurants in the county offering in-person dining and other businesses shuttered by the coronavirus outbreak. Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

Gov. Newsom: Hair salons, barbershops can reopen, but not in all Bay Area counties -- Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Francisco and San Mateo counties have taken a more cautious approach and have yet to file or receive state approval to move through Stage Two, which blocks other changes, like allowing dine-in service at restaurants. Sonoma County has received Stage 2 approval but has decided not to open hair salons or barbershops yet. Kerry Crowley, Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/27/20

L.A. County allows churches, stores, pools, drive-in theaters to reopen with restrictions -- Los Angeles County announced Tuesday that it will align with California’s latest guidelines and allow the resumption of faith-based services, in-store shopping at low-risk retail stores, drive-in movies and other recreational activities with restrictions. Sarah Parvini in the Los Angeles Times$ Robert Jablon and Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press Ryan Carter, Elizabeth Chou, David Rosenfeld in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/27/20

Barbershops, hair salons get OK to reopen in much of California -- Barbershops and hair salons can begin accepting customers again in counties that have been given permission by the state to move faster on loosening coronavirus lockdown measures — a large swath of California that excludes the majority of the Bay Area. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

Disneyland and other California theme parks can reopen in Stage 3, state says -- Disneyland and other California theme parks currently closed by the COVID-19 pandemic can reopen during Stage 3 of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-stage road map for reopening the state’s economy, according to state officials. Brady MacDonald in the Orange County Register -- 5/27/20

Throngs of people, many without masks, pack Venice Beach over Memorial Day weekend -- Californians cooped up for months amid stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus outbreak crowded beaches, parks and trails over the Memorial Day weekend, pushing the limits of social distancing. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

‘Longhairs’ rejoice, barbershops, salons can reopen with social distancing -- Barbershops and salons, yes; nail salons, no. That is how Gov. Gavin Newsom broke it down Tuesday, signaling that barbers and stylists can go back to work, starting Wednesday, provided they create and follow a reopening plan that meets a range of safety precautions from universal mask wearing to regular sanitation of surfaces. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/27/20

Here’s when you can shop in stores, eat in restaurants and get haircuts in Yolo County -- These activities will resume in Yolo County later this week, but customers, employees and attendees must comply with state health guidelines to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which causes the infectious respiratory disease COVID-19. Rosalio Ahumada in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/27/20

Placer pushes governor to be first California county to reopen movie theaters, gyms -- Saying they have coronavirus infections largely under control, Placer County leaders on Tuesday sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom asking to be allowed to go full throttle into the next phase of reopenings, including higher-risk businesses such as nail salons, movie theaters and fitness centers. Tony Bizjak and Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/27/20

New Normal  

Why some Bay Area restaurants have actually thrived during shelter-in-place -- Sergio Monleón worked alongside just one employee when he opened his Berkeley tapas bar La Marcha for takeout after March’s shelter-in-place order closed dining rooms. He only sold about $100 worth of food that first day and didn’t think the business would make it. Janelle Bitker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

Homeless  

San Francisco homeless deaths soar — and officials say it’s not directly due to COVID-19 -- The number of homeless people in San Francisco who died over a recent eight-week period spiked compared to the same time last year, an increase that officials say was likely driven by drug overdoses, underlying medical conditions and a disruption to shelter and services due to the coronavirus pandemic. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/27/20

San Diego to open motel for homeless families during pandemic -- About 40 homeless families soon will be able to seek shelter from the coronavirus in a recently refurbished South Bay city-owned motel, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced Tuesday. Gary Warth in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/27/20

Education 

Virtual special education meetings popular in some districts, but a major hurdle in others -- In the wake of a federal order for schools to keep providing special education during school closures, one of the trickiest parts of those services — mandatory parent meetings — has proven to be an unexpected boon in some districts but almost impossible in others. Carolyn Jones EdSource -- 5/27/20

Also . . .   

Authorities crack down on illicit Hollywood Hills parties at short-term rentals -- Now, the Los Angeles Police Department and city attorney are warning homeowners that they can be held criminally and civilly accountable for renters’ unruly parties. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

Division scrutinized for allegedly falsifying interview cards issued the most in LAPD -- The field interview cards have been used for decades to gather intelligence and create a database that officers can access to help with investigations. Police can fill them out to document encounters they have with anyone they question on their beat. Information from the cards is also used to add names to the statewide CalGang database. Ben Poston, Leila Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

Shark season is back: Surfers spooked at Trestles, advisory in San Clemente, sightings off Capo Beach and Manhattan -- Mike Estrada sat on his surfboard at Lower Trestles on Tuesday, May 19, when he saw the dark gray fin, not the dolphin kind, sticking out of the ocean’s surface, slowly passing not far from where he and others waited for waves. Laylan Connelly in the Orange County Register -- 5/27/20

Shark surfaces near lifeguard just off shore in Coronado -- A lifeguard on a paddle board just off the Coronado shoreline spotted a roughly 12-foot-long shark Tuesday afternoon, city and police officials said. Lifeguards posted signs warning beachgoers about the sighting, which occurred about 2 p.m in the North Beach area. David Hernandez in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/27/20

Mexico health workers demand more protection as COVID-19 toll in their ranks climbs -- The emergency room doctor shielded his wife and son from his growing unease about a lack of safety gear at the public hospital where he regularly treated coronavirus patients. Patrick J. MCDonnell, Cecilia Sánchez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/27/20

POTUS 45  

Trump calls mask wearing ‘politically correct,’ Biden calls him a ‘fool’ -- President Trump dismissed a mask-wearing reporter as being “politically correct” on Tuesday while the presumptive Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, called him a “fool” for mocking their use. Colby Itkowitz in the Washington Post$ -- 5/27/20

 

-- Tuesday Updates   

Hair salons, barbershops can reopen now, in Stage 3 of Newsom’s plan -- Gov. Gavin Newsom issued welcome news Tuesday for some shaggy Californians and struggling stylists: counties can begin reopening hair salons and barber shops. The move to resume salon services under a county-by-county approach marks the transition in many parts of the state to Stage 3 of Newsom’s reopening plan as confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to rise and appear on track to nearly double in May. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ Sophia Bollag, Tony Bizjak, and Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/26/20

Hair salons, barbershops can reopen, but not in all Bay Area counties -- Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Marin County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, San Francisco County and San Mateo County have yet to file attestation forms or receive state approval to move through state two, which will temporarily prevent hair salons and barbershops from reopening in these counties. Kerry Crowley in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/26/20

California’s Proposition 13 ballot fight intensifies with coronavirus pandemic -- A proposed change to California’s sacrosanct Proposition 13 that seeks to raise $12 billion annually for schools and local government was already primed to be one of the hottest battles on the November ballot before the coronavirus pandemic hit. But the financial damage brought on by the disease is transforming the fight over a measure that would raise property taxes for many businesses into a struggle over the future of California. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/26/20

California Assembly to meet in rare committee to talk budget -- The California Assembly is set to hold an extraordinary session Tuesday to question Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration about its plan to fill an estimated $54.3 billion budget deficit created by the effects of the new coronavirus. Adam Beam Associated Press -- 5/26/20

Blind spot: Lobbying behind California coronavirus contracts can stay secret -- A common thread runs through at least four of the companies Gov. Gavin Newsom has tapped to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic: a Sacramento lobbyist named Mark Weideman. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters -- 5/26/20

PG&E’s long-running bankruptcy saga enters pivotal stage -- Pacific Gas & Electric limped into bankruptcy vilified for its long-running neglect of a crumbling electrical grid that ignited a succession of horrific Northern California wildfires that left entire cities in ruins. Michael Liedtke Associated Press -- 5/26/20

Big Oil loses appeal, climate suits go to California courts -- A U.S. appeals court ruled Tuesday against major oil companies in lawsuits brought by California cities and counties seeking damages for the impact of climate change. Brian Melley Associated Press -- 5/26/20

Despite a budget crisis, L.A. officials give new bonuses to officers with college degrees -- The Los Angeles Police Department is set to award officers who have college degrees nearly $41 million in bonuses in the coming budget year, even as thousands of other city employees face pay cuts amid a financial crisis at City Hall. David Zahniser, Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/26/20

Facing schedule delays, L.A. Metro seeks $120 million more for Crenshaw Line -- The cost overruns on the $2.06-billion Crenshaw Line come as crews work to repair flaws in the project, delaying its opening to mid-2021. If the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s directors approve two budget requests at their Thursday meeting, the cost of the Crenshaw Line will rise by $90 million, or 4%. The increase would be the first since 2013. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/26/20

Lazarus: Sorry your trip got canceled. But we’re keeping your travel-insurance money -- Most travel insurance has so many exclusions — including for epidemics — that I generally don’t advise people to bother with coverage unless they’re spending big bucks on a trip, like for a cruise. David Lazarus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/26/20

Heat wave to bake parts of Southern California, dry out vegetation that can fuel fires -- A heat wave will bake Southern California through Thursday, boosting the mercury to dangerously high levels in some inland areas and parching vegetation that could serve as fuel for brush fires, forecasters say. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/26/20

New Normal  

Coronavirus ‘silent spreaders’ become a bigger risk as California reopens -- Health experts say it can take a few days from the time a person becomes infected, and could infect others, and the point at which they begin to show signs of illness. It’s called “presymptomatic transmission.” There’s also “asymptomatic transmission,” in which infected people show no serious signs of illness but still can spread the disease. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/26/20

Los Angeles opens its largest coronavirus testing site at Dodger Stadium -- The city is partnering with the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Community Organized Relief Effort, a nonprofit co-founded by Sean Penn, which will oversee operations and have 60 staffers helping. Priscella Vega in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/26/20

Santa Clara County said it needed 700 contact tracers. So far, it has hired just 50 -- Attracting contact tracers have proved difficult, county CEO Jeff Smith admitted in an interview, noting that the county is asking cities to contribute to the workforce and recruiting its own “nonessential” workers currently on administrative leave. Fiona Kelliher in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/26/20

Coronavirus outbreak hits Morgan Hill fish packing plant -- The spouse of an employee at the plant was hospitalized several weeks ago, prompting the employee to get tested, Cody said. The company notified all its workers and has since counted 38 positives among them, many of whom were asymptomatic. Fiona Kelliher, John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/26/20

California’s battle over reopening churches isn’t over despite new coronavirus rules -- California’s new plan to allow churches and religious institutions to reopen in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic marks a major step forward. But it still will alter religious services in dramatic ways, and it’s unlikely to end the push by some churches to allow more regular operations. Monte Morin, Alex Wigglesworth, Mike Freeman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/26/20

Eaton Canyon closed till June 1 after being overrun by visitors -- A popular hiking area in Pasadena has been closed for the rest of the month amid concerns that crowded conditions could pose health risks. Officials closed Eaton Canyon on Sunday after the area was overwhelmed by crowds. Alex Wigglesworth, Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/26/20

San Ysidro won’t be open for business until the border is -- Stores throughout San Diego County are finally allowed to have customers inside for the first time since the pandemic forced them shut in mid-March. But in San Ysidro, Sunil Gakhreja didn’t have much to celebrate. That’s because 95 percent of the customers who frequent his perfume shop on San Ysidro Boulevard come from Tijuana. Gustavo Solis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/26/20

Why some Bay Area restaurants have actually thrived during shelter-in-place -- Sergio Monleón worked alongside just one employee when he opened his Berkeley tapas bar La Marcha for takeout after March’s shelter-in-place order closed dining rooms. He only sold about $100 worth of food that first day and didn’t think the business would make it. Janelle Bitker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/26/20

Restaurants reopening after shutdown face challenges over masks, money -- After struggling for weeks to find an affordable supply of face masks for her restaurant employees at Chicken as Cluck in San Francisco, Bua Vanitsthian recently decided to save money by making her own washable and reusable versions. It was a choice driven by her restaurant’s diminishing finances, and it foreshadowed a problem thousands of Bay Area restaurant owners are just starting to face. Justin Phillips in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/26/20

Is dining as we knew it gone for good or can restaurants rebound in a post-COVID world? -- Some of San Diego’s biggest restaurateurs worry about surviving financially with fewer diners coming through their doors amid strict social distancing rules. Lori Weisberg, Pam Kragen in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/26/20

These groups have been hit especially hard by California’s unemployment surge -- Women, people under 25 and people of color are getting hit the hardest by the massive cutbacks in jobs, a new study has found. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/26/20

Will fans come back when theme parks reopen? -- While theme parks in California remain closed indefinitely, parks on the East Coast are preparing to return. Legoland Florida reopens on June 1, and Universal Orlando’s three parks will welcome back guests starting June 5. Robert Niles in the Orange County Register -- 5/26/20

High school seniors embrace improvised graduation events in strange final year -- Sophia Riva had often driven past Carondelet High in Concord since the coronavirus pandemic forced classes online. She found the scene grim and dark, the locked gates a stark reminder of how her senior year veered into an unsettling realm. Ron Kroichick in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/26/20

Coronado Unified to borrow $12 million to close budget deficit -- A $12 million loan that Coronado Unified’s school board voted to take out last week will save the school district from long-standing structural budget deficits. At least it would have before the coronavirus pandemic ravished state budgets. Gustavo Solis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/26/20

‘Everyone is overwhelmed.’ A teacher struggles to engage her students via distant learning -- Distance learning has proven to be challenging for everyone involved: parents, students and their educators. As some families jump onto online platforms and use Zoom for the first time, teachers are also left learning as they go. Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/26/20

Children learn computer coding as asylum-seeking families ‘remain in Mexico’ -- The pilot program — a partnership involving the migrant shelter Espacio Migrante, education nonprofit Create Purpose and UC San Diego’s U.S. Immigration Policy Center — aims to teach the girls skills that will give them more opportunities as their families follow their migrant journeys to wherever they end up. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/26/20

Fox: Trial by Zoom Jury? -- I was scheduled for jury duty just as the COVID-19 crisis came to a head in March and courts, along with everything else in the state, closed. With legal cases piling up and the coronavirus court lockdown still in place, the inevitable question arises: Will there be trials in California decided by juries watching on Zoom or other video conferencing applications? Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 5/26/20