Aaron Read
Edsource.org
Olson Hagel
Capitol Weekly
 
Maplight.org
CA Leg Analyst
 

Updating . .   

L.A. Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey’s husband will face charges after waving gun at protesters -- The California attorney general’s office, which was investigating the matter due to the conflict of interest for local prosecutors, made the decision to bring charges earlier this week, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ Carla Marinucci Politico Brian Melley Associated Press -- 8/4/20

Caltrain saved? Officials reach a deal to place measure on ballot that could avert a shutdown -- Officials have reached a tentative deal in the do-or-die dispute over a three-county sales tax measure to keep Caltrain running. In a first step, the deal was approved by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/4/20

California health insurance rates increase slightly for 2021 -- Health insurance premiums for the 1.5 million Californians who purchase coverage through the state marketplace will go up an average of 0.6% next year, state officials announced Tuesday, the smallest increase yet attributed in part to a surge of new signups during the coronavirus pandemic. Adam Beam Associated Press -- 8/4/20

School  

California health officials list conditions for an elementary school waiver -- The California Department of Public Health issued information Monday on what it would take for elementary schools to open for in-person instruction in counties where schools otherwise would be closed because of high rates of the coronavirus infection. John Fensterwald EdSource Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ Roxana Kopetman in the Orange County Register -- 8/4/20

Layoffs  

American Airlines plans to lay off about 700 Bay Area workers -- The company will also permanently end operations at Oakland International Airport on that date. It operated limited service from Phoenix through early June, according to a WARN Act notice filed with state officials. American and its predecessor airlines had served Oakland for nearly 75 years. Anna Kramer in the San Francisco Chronicle$ George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/4/20

Landlords & Tenants  

What to do about rent: California running out of time to avoid catastrophic wave of evictions -- The California Legislature has less than a month left in its pandemic-shortened session to deal with one of the state’s worst economic crises in decades, and there’s no greater emergency than what to do about the rent. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/4/20

Virus   

This GOP consultant traveled to a July family gathering amid pandemic. ‘Big mistake’ -- The tweet Richard Costigan posted July 23 was bluntly honest: “We tried our best to limit exposure to #COVID19 but we slipped up somewhere.” Samantha Young in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

California undercounting COVID-19 cases due to ‘serious’ technical issue, counties say -- Health officials in multiple California counties say the electronic system used by most local health departments statewide to report data on infectious diseases is currently experiencing “serious” technical issues, resulting in coronavirus cases being significantly undercounted. Michael McGough Tony Bizjak, and Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/20

Newsom says teenager's death is 'sober reminder' COVID-19 can impact anybody -- California Gov. Newsom addressed the death of a teenager due to complications with the coronavirus Monday. Deaths in children infected with COVID-19 are extremely rare, and the teen was the first child to die from the virus in the state. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/4/20

Child care has been safe during the pandemic. That could be a good sign for schools -- Sabrina Lira Garcia is proud to work as a clinical assistant in the COVID-19 ward of a Los Angeles hospital, but sometimes she wishes she could just stay home with her infant son until the pandemic is over. Anna Almendrala in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

A Peninsula school district is offering pandemic day care for working families. Not everyone can afford it -- San Carlos parents are cheering that the school district is offering full-time pandemic daycare to working parents, but the cost — $1,750 a month —means it’s out of reach for some families. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/4/20

Your phone could be telling you if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19. Here’s why it’s not -- Local officials want to develop and test an application using code designed by Apple and Google, but the state hasn’t approved the project. Lyndsay Winkley in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 8/4/20

WFH is not working: I traded a car payment for an office lease — and I have no regrets -- My conscience tells me it’s money I should put toward student loans, retirement or savings for my growing family. Instead, I bought access to a private room where I can work. It has a door, a printer and a wastebasket. There’s a microwave where I can reheat my coffee. After months of working from home, this feels like an unreasonable luxury. Brittany Meiling in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 8/4/20

Policy & Politics 

Trump’s base starting to erode, new poll shows -- President Trump’s support among Republicans and other conservative voters has begun to erode amid the continued coronavirus pandemic and its associated economic havoc, a new poll from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies shows. David Lauter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

California congressman pressured Yosemite National Park for July 4 access, emails say -- Rep. TJ Cox tried to bypass Yosemite National Park’s lottery for vehicle permits over a holiday weekend, and when he wasn’t selected, he used his office to push the National Park Service to grant him tickets, according to internal National Park Service emails. Kate Irby in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/20

AIDS nonprofit sues to halt L.A. real estate projects tied to Huizar and Englander -- AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a global nonprofit that has been a pugnacious player in local politics, sued the city of Los Angeles on Tuesday to stop some real estate developments vetted under Councilman Jose Huizar from moving forward. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

L.A. Rep. Karen Bass surged up Biden’s VP list. Is she ready for the national stage? -- Los Angeles Rep. Karen Bass is an unlikely contender for vice president. The five-term congresswoman has never run for statewide office, much less a national one; she hasn’t faced a tough reelection race in her comfortably liberal district. Jennifer Haberkorn, Adam Elmahrek in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

Also . . .   

Sausalito confronts historic inequities as it considers affordable housing on waterfront -- For 32 years Sausalito has used strict zoning restrictions to protect its scrappy industrial waterfront, banning both housing and offices in the 225-acre Marinship district, which stretches for about a mile north of downtown. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/4/20

San Diego startups pull in a record $1.26B in second quarter despite COVID-19 -- Money pours into life science companies, while young technology and consumer products firms have a tougher time finding venture investors. Mike Freeman in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 8/4/20

Keep your hands clean, but avoid these dangerous hand sanitizers, FDA warns -- The culprit is methanol, a poor cousin of isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol, the approved active ingredients in hand sanitizing products. Starting in late July, the FDA began detecting what it called a “sharp increase” in hand sanitizers that claimed to be made with ethyl alcohol but were contaminated by methanol. Melissa Healy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

California sued over climate change policy — by the nation’s biggest gas utility -- Southern California Gas Co. is taking its battle with state officials over climate change policy to court, arguing in a new lawsuit that the California Energy Commission has failed to promote natural gas as required by state law. Sammy Roth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

Rare, giant bluefin tuna off Half Moon Bay have turned the fishing world upside down -- The arrival of rare giant Pacific bluefin tuna off of Half Moon Bay has turned the world of fishing upside down. Tuna ranging over 150 pounds in large schools have arrived as close as 3 miles from Pillar Point Harbor. Tom Stienstra in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/4/20

 

California Policy & Politics Tuesday Morning  

California’s coronavirus cases are finally dropping. How do we stop another surge? -- The number of reported cases, people hospitalized with COVID-19 and the percent of tests coming back positive are dropping for the first time since a June spike in infections sent shock waves through the state’s recovery plans. Those are “encouraging signs,” Newsom said, but he warned Californians to not forget what happens when we get too comfortable. Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ Don Thompson Associated Press -- 8/4/20

Newsom Continues to Focus COVID-19 Response on Central Valley -- During an update Monday, Newsom said while some parts of the state are seeing a stabilization — or even declines — in COVID-19 numbers, the Central Valley is seeing an increase in positivity rates, hospitalizations and the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care. Katie Orr KQED Laura J. Nelson, Leila Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

California’s COVID-19 positive test rate declines. Did closing bars and malls work? -- The governor said it’s possible that “all of the above” contributed to the current decline, while cautioning that the trend is not yet clear. In critiquing his own performance, he has repeatedly said that the state didn’t focus enough in the first round of opening on educating the public about the caution and behavioral changes that would be required. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/20

California Has Reported The First Teen Death From COVID-19. Here’s What Parents Need To Know -- Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital, says public health officials have traced the infection rate among young adults to social gatherings with friends. “With the lifting of restrictions, we’ve had increased mobility and less social distancing,” he said. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 8/4/20

In a first, San Diego DA charges Ramona gym owner for violating California’s COVID-19 shutdown orders -- San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan has charged a Ramona gym owner with five misdemeanors for operating during the state’s shutdown orders, the first criminal charges filed against a business owner for violating public health orders aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Alex Riggins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 8/4/20

School  

Newsom provides path for elementary schools to open, strictly limits youth sports -- California elementary schools that want to open their doors for in-person learning must consult with parents, labor unions and others on campus and demonstrate their plans for contact-tracing and other public health measures that have been widely implemented in summer camps and child care settings, according to new guidelines released Monday night. Katy Murphy and Jeremy B. White Politico Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Robert Jablon Associated Press Anita Chabria, Nina Agrawal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

Some California elementary schools could reopen if they meet state waiver rules -- But because of the detailed rules, smaller schools — especially private and parochial campuses with more flexibility — will probably be among the most successful at meeting the special guidelines, prompting concern from some that select reopenings could add to gaps in educational equity. Anita Chabria, Nina Agrawal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

AT&T to provide 11,000 hotspots to San Jose students without internet -- As part of a citywide goal to prevent students from falling behind with virtual learning this school year, San Jose has partnered with AT&T to provide 11,000 hotspots to students and residents who have no internet access at home. Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/4/20

New California youth sports rules: No games or competitions, but limited outdoor training allowed -- Youth sporting events and competitions are outlawed in California for time being, but practices may go on with strict regulations, according to new state coronavirus safety guidelines released Monday evening. Michael Nowels in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/4/20

Silicon Valley investor tries to create 'microschool' in his yard, backlash ensues -- Jason Calacanis, an angel investor who reportedly has stock in Bay Area tech companies like Uber and Robinhood, posted the ad looking for "the best 4-6th grade teacher in Bay Area," and offered to pay them a salary "that will beat whatever they are getting paid" to teach a small group of children at his home. Andrew Chamings in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/4/20

School Workplace  

Los Angeles Unified reaches deal with teachers over distance learning while other districts struggle to finalize plans -- Students in Los Angeles will have about five hours of distance learning daily under an agreement announced Monday between Los Angeles Unified and the union representing teachers in the district. Michael Burke EdSource David Rosenfeld in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 8/4/20

‘It screams disrespect’: San Jose teachers must return to the classroom despite safety concerns -- Despite acknowledging the unknown long-term effects of COVID-19, the San Jose Unified School District is forcing most of its teachers back into the classroom next week for the start of the upcoming school year. Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/4/20

Chula Vista teachers want stricter school reopening criteria -- San Diego County’s largest elementary school district and its teachers union disagree about when it will be safe enough to reopen schools and what a safe reopening looks like. Kristen Taketa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 8/4/20

West Contra Costa County Unified Teachers Agree to New Rules for Distance Learning -- West Contra Costa Unified is the latest Bay Area school district to come to a tentative agreement with teachers unions over how the school day will work for teachers and students under distance learning. Julia McEvoy KQED -- 8/4/20

Policy & Politics 

California to let absent lawmakers vote during pandemic -- The California Assembly changed its rules on Monday to let lawmakers at high risk for the coronavirus vote on bills without being present in the chamber, defying advice from the Legislature’s own lawyers who say the new rule is likely illegal. Adam Beam Associated Press -- 8/4/20

California Has Lost A Greater Share Of Revenue Than Most States Due To COVID-19 -- California's progressive tax structure means state revenue does well in good economic times but suffers more than most other states when there's a downturn. Nicole Nixon Capital Public Radio -- 8/4/20

Is it time to raise taxes on the rich? California Democrats call for new millionaire’s tax -- California’s wealthiest households pay the highest income tax rate in the country. It could go up a few more percentage points if Democrats follow through next year on a new proposal that would levy on a new millionaire’s tax for seven-figure earners. MacKenzie Hawkins and Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/20

California donors spend $38 million trying to tilt Senate races around the country -- Californians have spent $38 million and counting trying to tilt Senate contests across the nation, making the state one of the top sources of campaign contributions in races that will decide which party controls the upper chamber next year, according to campaign finance disclosures. That’s despite the state not having a Senate race on its ballot in November. Seema Mehta, Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

Democrats take fundraising lead in Orange County’s State Senate, Assembly battles -- Democrats are raising more money than Republicans in all but one of Orange County’s nine state Senate and Assembly races, according to the latest fundraising reports filed with the state. Brooke Staggs in the Orange County Register -- 8/4/20

“Pervasive failure to investigate:” Report finds lack of scrutiny in cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women -- For generations, order and cleanliness had been Christina Lastra’s family’s way of fighting off poverty. But the day in July 1991 when her mother’s mysterious death was ruled an accident marked the end of the orderly life Lastra had been leading in Humboldt County. Laurence Du Sault CalMatters -- 8/4/20

California Supreme Court says no go to referendum challenges to certain state laws -- Once a local water board approves a rate increase, voters cannot prevent it from taking effect by circulating a referendum, though they can seek to reduce it later, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/4/20

L.A. Councilman Jose Huizar enters not guilty plea in City Hall corruption case -- Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar pleaded not guilty on Monday to bribery, money laundering and an array of other charges, his first public response to the allegations in the corruption probe since prosecutors began securing guilty pleas from others in the case. David Zahniser, Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

Street   

Culver City police officer and suspect wounded during police shooting -- Officials did not provide information on what led to the shooting or the identities of the people involved. The Associated Press reported that the officer had been shot in the leg by friendly fire and that a homeless man with a knife was killed during the encounter. Leila Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

A Sacramento family blames racism, not coronavirus, for new mother being on life support -- As Keona Hankston lay brain-dead Monday inside Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, outside her family declared that, while the coronavirus led her to seek care at the hospital, it was not the respiratory illness that put her on life support. Cathie Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/20

L.A. County Health Department investigating ‘first responder’ party at Sassafras Saloon -- Los Angeles County’s top public health official Monday announced an investigation into a party thrown for “first responders” at a Hollywood bar over the weekend that seemed to fly in the face of social distancing requirements as coronavirus cases continue to rise in Southern California. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/4/20

Landlords & Tenants  

San Francisco judge upholds city’s ban on evictions during coronavirus pandemic -- A coalition of real estate industry and landlord groups — including the San Francisco Apartment Association, the San Francisco Association of Realtors and the Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute — sued the city in June, claiming that the law was an unconstitutional overreach. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/4/20

Education 

UC Regents want to investigate top salary cuts -- Two key members of the UC Board of Regents are in favor of a model that would reduce top salaries to help offset pandemic expenses. Also, next year’s UC budget has more money for policing and the stage has been set for a likely September vote about a telescope in Hawaii. Mikhail Zinshteyn CalMatters -- 8/4/20

New Normal  

Sacramento Muslims Celebrate Eid — Outside And Six Feet Apart -- Hundreds of Muslims in the Sacramento-area gathered at the Salam Islamic Center on Friday to celebrate the start of a four-day holiday called Eid al-Adha, which centers around the idea of sacrifice. But the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to celebrate differently this year — outdoors. Pauline Bartolone Capital Public Radio -- 8/4/20

Layoffs  

Shutdown of Marathon's Martinez Refinery Prompts Calls for 'Just Transition' for Oil Workers -- Elected officials, union leaders, industry representatives and environmentalists are expressing concern about the hundreds of workers set to lose their jobs at California's fourth-largest refinery in the coming months. Ted Goldberg KQED -- 8/4/20

Environment   

Coyote Valley deal closes, public input sought for 937-acre San Jose property -- The largest remaining piece of property connected to San Jose’s agricultural history as the “Valley of Heart’s Delight” began a new chapter on Monday with the finalizing of a $93 million deal to purchase 937 aces in Coyote Valley, a rural expanse of farmland and open space on Silicon Valley’s southern edges. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/4/20

Wildfire    

Apple fire caused by diesel vehicle’s exhaust system, investigators say -- The Apple fire that started in Cherry Valley and caused the evacuations that displaced thousands before it raced into the ridges and canyons of the San Bernardino National Forest was caused by burning carbon from the exhaust system of a diesel-fueled vehicle, investigators said Monday, Aug. 3. Richard K. De Atley in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 8/4/20

Also . . .   

9 troops killed in Marine amphibious transport accident ranged in age from 18 to 23 -- The nine service members killed in a sinking amphibious transport near San Clemente Island Thursday were young men, ages 18 to 23, junior in rank and assigned to the same unit, the Marines said. Andrew Dyer in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 8/4/20

A rare disease is killing Northern California deer. Here’s what you should look out for -- A rare disease that can kill thousands of fawns in a single outbreak has been confirmed in Northern California, and wildlife officials are pleading with rural property owners to not feed deer or put out water for them. Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/4/20

POTUS 45  

D.A. Is Investigating Trump and His Company Over Fraud, Filing Suggests -- The office of the district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., made the disclosure in a new court filing arguing Mr. Trump’s accountants should turn over his tax returns. William K. Rashbaum and Benjamin Weiser in the New York Times$ -- 8/4/20

Beltway   

'Tidal wave': States fear fiscal disaster as Congress slow-walks aid -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo couldn't be farther apart in their views of how Congress should help states recover from the recession. But their states are among those with the most to lose if the situation gets much worse. Kellie Mejdrich and Katherine Landergan Politico -- 8/4/20

 

-- Monday Updates   

Rent is coming due in California: ‘Two weeks to avoid complete catastrophe’ -- The California Legislature has less than a month left in its pandemic-shortened session to deal with one of the state’s worst economic crises in decades, and there’s no greater emergency than what to do about the rent. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/3/20

Coronavirus: Unemployed Bay Area workers find new calling, new paychecks -- P.J. Denyer never thought her career path would take her to where she is now — clocking in at 7 a.m. each day to stand in an assembly line and package meals for San Jose’s homeless residents. Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/3/20

California unemployment agency workers say internal problems are stalling claims process -- As California grapples with a deluge of requests for unemployment benefits amid the COVID-19 pandemic, some state workers processing claims say they are buckling under pressure, hampered by outdated technology, bureaucratic red tape and a shortage of trained, experienced staff. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/3/20

1.13 million workers are in trapped in EDD payment limbo -- About 1.13 million unemployed California workers are stuck in EDD payment limbo, including 889,000 workers that the state Employment Development Department says it can’t pay “at this time,” even if they have been out of work for months amid coronavirus-linked business shutdowns. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/3/20

12 tips for getting your California unemployment benefits from the EDD -- Contact your state senator and Assembly member. Their staff will collect information about your case and reach out to EDD on your behalf. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/3/20

Virus   

California has the most coronavirus cases of any state, but there are signs of hope, Newsom says -- After a record-breaking month of fatalities linked to the coronavirus pandemic, California set a grim new milestone over the weekend: 500,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the most of any state. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/3/20

California passes 500,000 cases; 97% of residents on watchlist -- California officially surpassed 500,000 total lab-confirmed coronavirus infections and set a new daily high for reported COVID-19 deaths over the weekend, while Sacramento County reached the 10,000-case mark. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/3/20

Bay Area residents mostly wear masks and follow coronavirus rules. But there’s a big exception -- Most people interviewed for this story said they feel safe without a mask when they are outside, sitting down. They remove their masks in those settings with friends they trust. And everyone who agreed to be interviewed said that they wear masks at all times in public — except in parks. Anna Kramer in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/3/20

Ventura County trails to remain closed through September amid coronavirus concerns -- A popular Ventura County hiking area will remain off-limits for the next two months as officials look to stave off potentially unsafe crowding conditions amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/3/20

School   

LAUSD, teachers reach tentative deal for more predictable remote learning schedules for students -- The teachers union and the Los Angeles school district have reached a tentative agreement over rules for instruction in the fall, according to a source close to the negotiations. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/3/20

Stanford, Cal football players among group threatening boycott of ‘reckless’ season -- Citing academic, economic, health and racial injustices, a group of Pac-12 football players threatened Sunday not to play this year, a season already in jeopardy because of the coronavirus pandemic. Rusty Simmons in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/3/20

Policy & Politics 

Bass, Harris on Biden’s ticket? Either way, political effects would ripple in Southern California -- With presidential candidate Joe Biden on the cusp of announcing a running mate, the stakes are high in Southern California, where the political domino effects could be profound if either U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris or Rep. Karen Bass are picked and ultimately win. Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/3/20

California may ban African hunting trophies. How Black Lives Matter has altered the debate -- California lawmakers this week will debate Black inequality and injustice in an unlikely arena: Trophy hunting. For years, animal rights groups across Western nations, in campaigns often led by white celebrities, have pushed for bans on trophy hunting of iconic African species such as lions, hippos, rhinos, zebras, and elephants. Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/3/20

Smith: Chop down the lynching tree from this California city’s logo? Probably not so fast -- Mike Saunders talks about Placerville’s infamous “noose of justice” almost dispassionately. Even when, on one recent sweltering afternoon, he told me about unnamed people threatening to use it on him, he ended the story with a resigned shrug that masked the frustration in his eyes. Erika D. Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/3/20

Ballot battle underway to keep stem cell agency alive -- The California stem cell agency has just finished pumping $5.3 million into the fight to save the lives of COVID-19 victims. And — in a ballot-box bonus — its efforts are already surfacing in the ballot campaign to rescue the agency from its own demise. David Jensen Capitol Weekly -- 8/3/20

Street   

Five residents file lawsuit alleging LAPD falsely labeled them as gang members -- Five residents allege in a lawsuit filed Sunday that Los Angeles police officers labeled them gang members without evidence as part of a broader pattern of corruption that has caused irreparable harm to them and many others. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/3/20

Taylor: Open Vallejo, small nonprofit news site, strives to hold police accountable -- Willie McCoy’s death haunts the Vallejo Police Department. Vallejo police officers fatally shot McCoy in the drive-through lane of a fast food restaurant on Feb. 9, 2019. In police body camera footage, it appears McCoy, who had fallen asleep or passed out with a gun in his lap, was waking when officers fired 55 shots. He never had a chance. Otis R. Taylor Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/3/20

New Normal  

Restaurants are taking over parking spaces. Here are 6 ways to make them better -- First things first: The restaurants that are converting parking spaces to dining patios in cities across the Bay Area aren’t focused on aesthetics. With local governments’ blessing, they’re trying to survive the coronavirus-ravaged times in which we live. John King in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/3/20

Wildfire    

Apple fire at 26,450 acres, relief crews for weary firefighters arriving -- The Apple fire that started in Riverside County’s Cherry Valley and raced into the ridges and canyons of the San Bernardino National Forest had consumed 26,450 acres by Monday morning and was at 5% containment –with fresh firefighting crews coming in to relieve those who have battled the blaze since Friday afternoon. Richard K. De Atley in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 8/3/20

 

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