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Evacuation warnings for Antelope Valley as Bobcat fire expands -- New evacuation warnings are in effect for parts of the southern Antelope Valley as the nearby Bobcat fire swelled to 50,539 acres, the U.S. Forest Service said Thursday. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ Nathaniel Percy in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 9/17/20
Two more victims of North Complex fire ID’d as deadly fires continue to burn. At least 15 have been killed to date -- The Butte County Sheriff’s Office said that Mark Delagardie, 61, and Kin Lee, 64, both of Berry Creek, died in the fire when it raced through the small town. Fifteen people have died in the fire to date. The 12 identified so far lived in either Berry Creek or Feather Falls. They ranged in age from 16 to 79. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/17/20
‘Erratic’ fire behavior possible on North Complex as Northern California winds pick up -- After days of calmer weather conditions in the north Sierra Nevada foothills, where the deadly North Complex wildfire continues to burn, crews are bracing for more gusty winds Thursday and Friday that will have the potential to again flare up fire activity. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/17/20
Wildfires have burned over 5 million acres in the West. Are they too big for Washington to ignore? -- With massive wildfires across the West burning more than 5 million acres and displacing tens of thousands of people, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon says this is the moment for Congress to reform the nation’s fire management policies, or brace for more Septembers like this one. Anna M. Phillips, Jennifer Haberkorn in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
Where wildfires meet COVID-19, disaster relief is forced to evolve -- James Wood checks his clipboard and bangs on the door at a Motel 6. The air is thick with smoke. “Red Cross,” he calls, loudly, through his heavy, protective mask. “Dinner!” Maria L. La Ganga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
‘The fires are coming for you’: These Californians found Oregon no longer an escape -- Brinkley Capriola was looking forward to Oregon’s fresh air. The 26-year-old photographer was in Sonoma keeping a wary eye on encroaching wildfire threats and smoky skies when she decided to make the move to Portland, where many of her friends and former University of Oregon classmates still lived. Annie Vainshtein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/17/20
Virus
California is turning the corner on the coronavirus. Will it last? -- After months of bleak figures and forecasts, California now appears to be riding a wave of success beating back the coronavirus as officials express cautious optimism about what is next for the state. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
COVID-19 cases leap in outbreak at ICE detention center in Adelanto -- The Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Adelanto is in the grips of a COVID-19 outbreak, according to federal officials. The confirmed case count more than doubled within a few days. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
Orange County mayors call on governor to let Disneyland and Knott’s reopen -- Six months after theme parks closed across California because of the pandemic, Orange County politicians, trade-worker union leaders and tourism promoters expressed frustration that the state has yet to give Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm a path to reopen. Hugo Martín in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
It’s been six months since the Bay Area sheltered in place: What have we learned? -- On a dreary, otherwise unremarkable gray Tuesday in March, the Bay Area hunkered into isolation, the first place in the nation shut down by the nascent coronavirus pandemic. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/17/20
Where are they now? Pandemic profiles -- To commemorate six months of sheltering in place, The Chronicle revisits the Bay Area’s most memorable coronavirus stories. Aidin Vaziri, Heather Knight, Sam Whiting, Annie Vainshtein, and Matthias Gafni in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/17/20
Charts show Bay Area’s coronavirus spikes vs. biggest hot spots of pandemic -- Virus hot spots have shifted throughout the pandemic from major cities on the coasts — to the South and Southwest and now to the Midwest. The coronavirus has wreaked havoc in skilled nursing homes and other congregate facilities, in prisons, and particularly among low-income essential workers and communities of color. Kellie Hwang and Mike Massa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/17/20
Virus Risk Perception
Californians divided along racial, income lines on coronavirus fears and public restrictions -- Worries about the coronavirus and support for continuing and even increasing state and local restrictions are highest among the state’s poor and communities of color, while concerns are far lower among white residents and the better-off, according to a new poll. “It’s a tale of two different Californias,” said Mark Baldassare, CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California and the poll’s director. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/17/20
Virus Economy
San Diego hotel sales come to near standstill since COVID-19 -- The dollar volume of San Diego County hotel sales plummeted by 70 percent during the first half of this year, yet another indicator of an industry facing huge financial challenges amid a pandemic that has already forced some properties to default on their loans. Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/17/20
Virus Workplace
Californians who contract COVID-19 at work get additional help under new law -- California will relax the burden of proof to receive workers’ compensation benefits for some employees who contract COVID-19 on the job under a bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Thursday. Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
Jobs
‘Jobless recovery’: Hiring resumes as layoffs stay high -- Another 860,000 Americans filed for unemployment insurance last week as the nation’s economic recovery continued to strain against the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/17/20
Reopen
If no post-Labor Day coronavirus surge, LA County could enter less risky recovery phase by October -- Los Angeles County could move to the next, less risky tier of pandemic recovery by early October, if positive current trendlines hold, the county’s public health chief said on Wednesday, Sept. 16 — but only if Labor Day’s gatherings fail to fuel a COVID resurgence. Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 9/17/20
Street
One of two deputies shot in Compton attack released from hospital -- “He has a long road ahead for recovery. But he’s not alone,” Sheriff Alex Villanueva said on Twitter. “We, as a community, are in this together.” Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
Judge rejects bid to oust Santa Clara County DA from concealed-gun permit corruption case -- A judge Thursday rejected a bid to disqualify Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s office from prosecuting a pay-to-play corruption case involving concealed-gun permits issued by the sheriff’s office, after defense attorneys claimed Rosen’s past friendship with one of the defendants posed an insurmountable conflict of interest. Robert Salonga in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/17/20
As protests over systemic racism persist, schools find themselves in the middle -- “They teach it as if, ‘OK, slavery happened, then they abolished it. Then, you know, the last racists on earth killed Abraham Lincoln and died in prison,’” said Archie. “They do away with it as if it’s no longer an issue.” Elyse Pham in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/17/20
Elections
What is Proposition 16? Affirmative action back on the ballot, in a more diverse and Democratic California -- The fall campaign to repeal California’s ban on affirmative action is a testament to the tectonic shift in the state’s politics since the 1990s — and a test of how far left its voters have swung from their politically purple past. Nico Savidge in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/17/20
In attack ad, California prison guards put bullseye on legislator -- Maybe you saw the video on Facebook before it was deleted: Glen Stailey, president of the state prison guards’ union, rails against “failed public safety policies” and “cheap political points” and announces that “it is time to bring accountability back to the state Capitol.” Ben Christopher CalMatters -- 9/17/20
Proposition 16: Why some Asian Americans are on the front lines of the campaign against affirmative action -- Six years ago, when California lawmakers mounted a campaign to repeal the state’s ban on affirmative action in college admissions, Chinese American opponents of the proposal flooded lawmakers with calls, emails and petitions. Their campaign, mobilized on the group messaging app WeChat and in Chinese-language media, was successful, and the constitutional amendment died in the Legislature. Nico Savidge in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/17/20
Election 2020: A breakdown of California’s 12 ballot propositions -- From affirmative action to rent control, voters could have a dramatic impact on life in the Golden State. The good news: This year, there’s less homework: only 12 statewide propositions, five fewer than 2016. Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/17/20
Caltrain funding measure on the ballot offers lifeline to the struggling rail service as ridership drops -- Caltrain is counting on a sales tax increase on the November ballot to keep the system running through the coronavirus crisis and fund long-term improvements to make service more frequent and accessible. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/17/20
Fox: New PPIC Poll on Propositions: One Anticipated Outcome, One Surprise -- The Public Policy Institute of California’s September poll measured the current standing of two ballot measures: Proposition 15, the property tax increase on commercial property, and Proposition 16 to rescind the ban on affirmative action. As expected, the Prop 15 battle is going to be close with a slim majority in favor at the present time. However, despite all the action around social justice the last few months, the affirmative action ban repeal trails badly. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 9/17/20
Also . . .
UC national labs suspend diversity training after Trump administration order -- The Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, managed by the University of California but federally funded, has suspended its employees’ diversity training program by order of the Trump administration, which recently called such programs “divisive, anti-American propaganda,” The Chronicle has learned. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/17/20
Marijuana seller’s story of ‘badass’ Mexican sisters was a cultural misstep, Latinas say -- The story of the three Mexican sisters who broke into the cannabis industry started out like a fairy tale and ended up like a reality television show gone awry. Dorany Pineda in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
East Bay woman sues fertility doc for ‘medical rape’: using his own sperm -- A Livermore woman is suing a fertility doctor for using his own sperm to impregnate her twice with her children– something she didn’t discover until 40 years later through an at-home DNA test. Angela Ruggiero, Thomas Peele in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/17/20
California Policy & Politics Thursday Morning
Californians support COVID-19 restrictions and remain worried about outbreak, survey shows -- The survey by the Public Policy Institute of California showed 74% of respondents favor restrictions on public activity to mange the pandemic, or want more aggressive limitations. Lara Korte in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/17/20
State watchdog investigating Assemblyman Kansen Chu’s campaign spending -- Assemblyman Kansen Chu is being investigated by the Fair Political Practices Commission for potentially violating state campaign finance laws, according to a letter from the agency shared with this news organization. Joseph Geha in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/17/20
Inspired by Stockton, Basic Income Programs May Be Coming to More Cities -- A growing number of mayors in cities across the country, including Oakland, say they support giving cash to low-income families with no spending restrictions — part of a widening movement to provide a guaranteed minimum income to combat poverty and systemic racism. Adam Beam Associated Press -- 9/17/20
Skelton: Climate change is affecting wildfires. But Newsom and legislators still need to do more -- Message to Democrats: Just because President Trump says it, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wrong. Yes, our president habitually fantasizes, distorts and lies. But to borrow an old cliché, even a broken clock is right twice a day. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
Beverly Hills police arrest 44 in bust of unemployment fraud schemes -- Citing an epidemic of fraud involving California’s unemployment benefits system, the Beverly Hills Police Department said Wednesday that it has arrested 44 people and confiscated 129 fraudulently obtained debit cards potentially worth more than $2.5 million in benefits issued by the state Employment Development Department. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
Q&A: Darrell Steinberg’s longtime focus on mental health -- When Darrell Steinberg first ran for the state Assembly in 1998, he made mental health the bedrock of his legislative agenda. Shortly after he took office, the former Sacramento city councilman introduced AB 34, which initially provided $10 million to fund pilot projects for community mental-health programs. Sigrid Bathen Capitol Weekly -- 9/17/20
Civic group says L.A. Council met illegally when federal judge held court in City Hall -- By any account, the Aug. 7 hearing convened in Los Angeles City Hall by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter was unusual. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
Freedom Caucus presses McCarthy to launch long-shot bid to oust Pelosi -- Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus are quietly working to convince GOP leadership to sign off on a long-shot bid to oust Nancy Pelosi from the speakership, according to multiple sources, which would represent a major affront to the California Democrat if they follow through with the plan. Melanie Zanona and John Bresnahan Politico -- 9/17/20
Elections
New poll finds shaky support for Proposition 16 to restore affirmative action in California -- The Public Policy Institute of California poll released Wednesday night found that just 31% of likely California voters surveyed said they would vote for the proposal, Proposition 16, while 47% said they oppose it. The remainder, 22%, were undecided. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ Katie Orr KQED Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ John Fensterwald EdSource -- 9/17/20
Slim majority of Californians supports raising property tax on large businesses, poll says -- Just over half of likely voters say they support a ballot measure to increase property taxes for many businesses, according to a poll released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California. The measure would undo part of a law passed by voters in 1978 that bases all property tax assessments in California on purchase price. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ Kim Bojórquez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/17/20
Virus
Over 850 inmates at Folsom Prison have caught COVID-19, most of them in past 2 weeks -- A major coronavirus outbreak that has lasted more than a month is growing rapidly again at Folsom State Prison, where more than 850 inmates and close to 40 prison staff have now tested positive for COVID-19 during the pandemic. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/17/20
Refusing to Wear a Mask in Berkeley Can Now Get You Fined $100 -- The new mask ordinance will be enforced by environmental health and neighborhood services and other city divisions, who will focus on citing large gatherings in parks, restaurants and parties — especially involving college students. Audrey Garces KQED -- 9/17/20
Does Wearing Glasses Protect You From Coronavirus? -- When researchers in China were analyzing hospital data of patients with Covid-19, they noticed an odd trend: Very few of the sick patients regularly wore glasses. Tara Parker-Pope in the New York Times$ -- 9/17/20
Coronavirus outbreaks hit 13 Sonoma County child care centers -- The infections involve 25 children, mostly age 6 and younger, 27 of their family members and 10 workers at the preschools. None of the individuals diagnosed with the highly contagious infectious disease have needed to be hospitalized, county Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase said. Martin Espinoza in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat -- 9/17/20
Virus Economy
San Diego estimates $300M tax revenue loss during COVID-19 pandemic -- The COVID-19 pandemic will cost San Diego about $300 million in tax revenue by next summer, including $48 million in hotel tax losses beyond previous estimates, according to projections city officials unveiled Wednesday. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/17/20
What happens when a restaurant can’t pay the rent? -- The former City Council member owns and operates two restaurants on the Santa Monica Pier, the Albright and Rusty’s. When the city shut down the tourist attraction in March due to the pandemic, Morena said he had no way of paying his rent, and no way of doing takeout. Jenn Harris in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
Coronavirus: Poor residents in some of Silicon Valley’s richest neighborhoods to get community pantry makeover -- Demand for food and social services has grown almost five-fold in some of Silicon Valley’s wealthiest neighborhoods. Now, the sole full-service social services provider in Cupertino, Sunnyvale and other west valley cities is starting renovations sooner than expected and planning a mobile pantry to respond to a still-growing population in need. Laurence Du Sault in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/17/20
Reopen
Coronavirus: Gavin Newsom says California has no restrictions preventing Pac-12 football’s restart -- Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday said there is nothing in the California guidance to prevent Pac-12 teams from playing, a statement that seemingly contradicts his own rules. Jon Wilner in the San Jose Mercury$ Jeremy B. White Politico -- 9/17/20
Governor pans San Diego proposal to excise SDSU from tier calculations -- Asked during a news conference whether he thought San Diego State University cases should be removed from San Diego County’s COVID-19 totals, Gov. Gavin Newsom had a one-sentence answer Wednesday. “You can’t isolate, as if on an island, a campus community that is part of a larger community, so no,” Newsom said. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/17/20
Back to School
Schools are about to reopen in a Placer district. Many teachers, parents want to stay home -- Just days before thousands of students in the Placer County community of Rocklin are scheduled to return to public school campuses, the district’s teachers union has filed a grievance that raises concerns about whether enough safety precautions are in place to keep students and teachers safe from COVID-19. Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/17/20
San Diego County Explores ‘Learning Hubs’ As Option For Distance Learning Program -- San Diego County will consider options for a child care/education program to help employees who have school-age children with distance learning, a supervisor's spokesperson said Wednesday. KPBS -- 9/17/20
Garden Grove Unified reverses plans for returning to in-person instruction -- In a statement on behalf of the board and Superintendent Gabriela Mafi, the district said that “more parents than expected” want to continue with distance learning and parents want more specific information about reopening plans before a transition is scheduled. Dan Albano in the Orange County Register -- 9/17/20
Families face the demands of online and hybrid learning -- Now, students in most parts of the state are getting to know new teachers, learning new skills and meeting new friends virtually, in a high-tech experiment that will likely affect education in California for years to come. EdSource -- 9/17/20
Back to the Field
USC, UCLA work together to get clarity on lifting of restrictions in L.A. County -- An unprecedented situation called for an unusual maneuver. The athletic directors at USC and UCLA joined forces and held a joint Zoom call with Los Angeles County health officials Wednesday evening to clear a path for the football teams to begin practicing, according to sources familiar with the discussions. And it worked. Jon Wilner in the Orange County Register -- 9/17/20
Virus Economy
San Diego estimates $300M tax revenue loss during COVID-19 pandemic -- The COVID-19 pandemic will cost San Diego about $300 million in tax revenue by next summer, including $48 million in hotel tax losses beyond previous estimates, according to projections city officials unveiled Wednesday. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/17/20
What happens when a restaurant can’t pay the rent? -- The former City Council member owns and operates two restaurants on the Santa Monica Pier, the Albright and Rusty’s. When the city shut down the tourist attraction in March due to the pandemic, Morena said he had no way of paying his rent, and no way of doing takeout. Jenn Harris in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
Coronavirus: Poor residents in some of Silicon Valley’s richest neighborhoods to get community pantry makeover -- Demand for food and social services has grown almost five-fold in some of Silicon Valley’s wealthiest neighborhoods. Now, the sole full-service social services provider in Cupertino, Sunnyvale and other west valley cities is starting renovations sooner than expected and planning a mobile pantry to respond to a still-growing population in need. Laurence Du Sault in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/17/20
Breathe
As smoke continues to shroud L.A. County, residents worry about long-term exposure -- Smoke from the Bobcat and El Dorado fires continues to blanket Southern California, prompting the South Coast Air Quality Management District to issue its 10th straight day of advisories. Some residents of Los Angeles County, growing weary of the thick, hazy air, say they’re at wit’s end. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
When will the air clear in the Sierra foothills? What new weather system means for the area -- After nearly three weeks of hazardous air quality, Wednesday marked the first respite for the Sacramento area. It’s a different story in the Sierra foothills, where the air remains smoky and unhealthy. Molly Sullivan in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/17/20
Wildfire
Rules proposed by state insurance commissioner offer discount for reducing wildfire risks -- After multiple years of insurers dropping homeowners’ policies in areas hard-hit by wildfires, the state insurance commissioner is pushing for regulations that would offset rising premiums with discounts for mitigating wildfire risks. Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
In California town lost to fire, this market was lifeline. Can Berry Creek recover? -- The Bear fire was burning in the mountains of Butte County, devouring acres of land and belching out black smoke as it inched toward Berry Creek and other communities in the area. More than 40 miles away in Chico, Carin Dorghalli had trouble sleeping. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
SDG&E to give county $100K to help pay for firefighting software -- The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to accept a $100,000 grant from San Diego Gas & Electric to help pay for technology that allows authorities to better analyze and monitor wildfires. Alex Riggins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/17/20
‘It’s going to happen’: Mudslides threaten fire-scorched Santa Cruz Mountains -- Even modest rainfall can trigger deadly debris flow when fire leaves soil exposed on steep slopes. Any storm bringing half an inch or more of rainfall in an hour risks debris flow after a fire, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Nicholas Ibarra in the Santa Cruz Sentinel -- 9/17/20
Street
How a piece of candy led to dismissal of San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy -- The search for proof that San Bernardino County sheriff’s Deputy Erdem Gorgulu had committed crimes and other ethical lapses while investigating the June 1 looting of a Big 5 sporting goods store in Highland yielded the following evidence against the field-training officer, according to a court document: Brian Rokos in the Orange County Register -- 9/17/20
Could a billionaire lose his LACMA board seat over his prison-phone investment? -- Activists have been pressuring Tom Gores ever since his private equity firm bought one of the nation’s largest prison phone companies. They have lobbied legislators, tried to squelch investments in his company, and now, with social justice in the fore, are bringing the fight to the Los Angeles billionaire’s social circles. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
Education
Coronavirus precautions at UC system likely until fall 2021 -- Zoom classes will need to stick around for at least another year at the University of California, according to the system’s top health official. Mikhail Zinshteyn CalMatters -- 9/17/20
Transit
After Initial ‘No’ Vote, Plan For Light Rail From Sacramento to West Sacramento Moves Ahead -- A controversial plan to build a three-stop light rail line between the River Cats ballpark in West Sacramento and the downtown Sacramento Amtrak station was approved on Monday, sending the project off to the Federal Transit Administration for approval. Sarah Mizes-Tan Capital Public Radio -- 9/17/20
Environment
Water company withdraws desalination proposal as battle over environmental justice heats up -- Amid mounting controversy and concerns over environmental justice, California American Water on Wednesday withdrew its application for a desalination project in the small Monterey Bay town of Marina. Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
Also . . .
He was supposed to go to a state mental hospital, but instead languished in county jail for 10 months -- Back in October, after being convicted of animal cruelty for the gruesome decapitation of his mother’s cat that he believed wanted to steal his soul, Christopher Frezier was found legally insane, and was supposed to go to Patton State Hospital for confinement and mental health treatment. He never made it. Greg Moran in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/17/20
Orange County reports its first West Nile virus death this year -- In the midst the COVID-19 pandemic and with the flu season around the corner, Orange County Health Care Agency officials Wednesday announced the county’s first fatality from the West Nile virus this year. Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
Human bones discovered in Santa Ana spur homicide investigation, halt electric streetcar project -- A homicide investigation is underway and work on Orange County’s first electric rail system has stopped after human bones were found Wednesday at a streetcar project worksite in Santa Ana. Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/17/20
POTUS 45
Trump contradicts his CDC director over masks, vaccine timeline -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday twice contradicted his own CDC director — on mask-wearing and vaccine distribution — saying the country’s top public health official misspoke while testifying under oath before a congressional committee earlier in the day. Robert Redfield told the Senate Appropriations Committee that wearing a mask could be more effective than a coronavirus vaccine at keeping the pandemic at bay. Brianna Ehley Politico -- 9/17/20
Trump blames blue states for the coronavirus death toll — but most recent deaths have been in red states -- For months, President Trump has been scrambling to deflect criticism for the breadth of the coronavirus pandemic toward whatever target might be available. During a news briefing Wednesday, he returned to one of his favorites: Democratic leaders. Philip Bump in the Washington Post$ -- 9/17/20
Beltway
Biden, Seizing on Worries of a Rushed Vaccine, Warns Trump Can’t Be Trusted -- With deaths from the coronavirus nearing 200,000 in the United States, Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Wednesday assailed President Trump for playing politics with a potential coronavirus vaccine, saying he did not trust Mr. Trump to determine when a vaccine was ready for Americans. “Let me be clear: I trust vaccines,” Mr. Biden said. “I trust scientists. But I don’t trust Donald Trump, and at this moment, the American people can’t either.” Sydney Ember in the New York Times$ Alexandra Jaffe and Will Weissert Associated Press -- 9/17/20
Jim Carrey Will Play Joe Biden on ‘Saturday Night Live’ -- Jim Carrey, the elastic actor and star of films like “The Mask,” “Dumb and Dumber” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” will be the latest performer to take on the role of former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic presidential nominee, at “Saturday Night Live.” Dave Itzkoff in the New York Times$ -- 9/17/20
-- Wednesday Updates
New evacuations as Bobcat fire jumps north, firefighters battle at Mt. Wilson -- The Bobcat fire continued shapeshifting overnight, expanding to the northeast, while all eyes remain on the southern foothill communities and the Mt. Wilson Observatory to the west. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/20
‘No end in sight’: California firefighters battle exhaustion, heat and pandemic in historic wildfire season -- Firefighter Justin Silvera worked 72 days straight in 2018, when the Camp Fire destroyed his Butte County hometown of Paradise. Seven of his family members lost homes. It took a toll, exhausting him more than anything in his two-decade career. But he’s even more worried about this fire season. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/16/20
It’s tough to tell COVID-19 from smoke inhalation symptoms — and flu season’s coming -- The patients walk into Dr. Melissa Marshall’s community clinics in Northern California with the telltale symptoms. They’re having trouble breathing. It may even hurt to inhale. They have a cough, and the sore throat is definitely there. A straight case of COVID-19? Not so fast. This is wildfire country. Mark Kreidler in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/20
Is your home ‘hardened’ against wildfire? California regulator, insurers work on new standards -- California’s insurance commissioner announced a plan to tackle the state’s wildfire insurance crisis Wednesday, saying the state will collaborate with the industry to develop standards for “hardening” homes and communities against fire risk. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/16/20
Sierra Nevada reels as flames and smoke drive visitors away -- It was bad enough that 2020 announced itself with a global pandemic that cratered the world economy and kept many people confined to their homes. Then, just as vacationers were tentatively returning to California’s rural lakes, parks, trails and campgrounds, they turned their minivans and campers around, fleeing unpredictable wildfires and a pall of noxious smoke. Julie Cart CalMatters -- 9/16/20
Breathe
Streak of 30 straight Spare the Air days in Bay Area will end Thursday -- Blue sky slowly peeked in amid the haze, initially small patches and then larger ones. Coastal fog appeared, then began to burn off slowly with the progression of the sun. A bit of mist even emerged, and it wasn’t ash. On the 30th day, at last, a bit or normalcy. Rick Hurd in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/16/20
Elections
Newsom backs reform for California’s Proposition 13, opposes tax-the-rich plans -- Gov. Gavin Newsom has endorsed an initiative that would overhaul California’s iconic Proposition 13 by changing how commercial property taxes are calculated — a measure likely to be one of the hardest-fought issues on the November ballot. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/16/20
Grocery stores are pushing California to be tougher on crime. Here’s why -- But if several large grocery store chains have their way, a measure on the ballot this fall will roll back some of these reforms, increasing penalties for shoplifting and making it harder for those convicted of certain non-violent property and drug crimes to get early parole. Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/20
Kamala Harris’ ‘Timbs’ and other practical campaign footwear wins Twitter attention -- Political observers can discuss the many ways Oakland native U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris is breaking ground as the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, but an unexpected discussion centers around her practical choice of footwear during campaign stops. Martha Ross in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/16/20
Republicans investigate California mail-vote contract that went to ‘Team Biden’ firm -- Congressional Republicans say they are launching an investigation into a $35 million contract that the California Secretary of State’s Office awarded to a firm with ties to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. Lara Korte in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/16/20
Fox: Connecting Justice Reform Demands with State Ballot Measures -- How might proposed justice and police reforms work with changes voters can make on sentencing, parole and cash bail measures on the November ballot? And will voters perceive any connections? Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 9/16/20
Street
Sheriff’s combative response to shocking deputy attack sparks new alarms, criticism -- The attack was every police officer’s worst nightmare: A gunman walks up to a marked patrol car, shooting the two people inside at close range because of the uniforms on their backs. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/20
Social media accused him of ambushing two deputies. It was fake news, but he’s paid a steep price -- Less than a day after two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were shot and wounded as they sat in their police cruiser outside a transit station in Compton, Darnell Hicks’ cellphone began to light up with messages from friends: He was identified as the alleged gunman in an alert circulated on social media. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/20
Meant for friends, Black cop’s video about racism embraced by Tustin police chief -- In his cellphone video, the Black man wears a hoodie and a backward baseball cap. Behind him is a placard that reads “Compton.” Somberly, he reflects on the momentous death of George Floyd days before. Susan Christian Goulding in the Orange County Register -- 9/16/20
Homeless
‘Nobody wanted to look at them’ — but this photographer insists that we do -- Last fall, I found myself sitting on a trash-strewn couch tucked under the elevated Orange Line busway in the Sepulveda Basin with a man who was heating a meth pipe. He goes by Rabbit and described years spent in and out of prison, falling in with a gang, and his life on the streets of the San Fernando Valley. Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/20
Placer County homeless quietly move into suburban homes. How unusual program is working -- Yankee Hill Estates in Rocklin is described by its residents as peaceful and welcoming — a slice of Placer County with moderately large homes, lawns to mow and a park for the kids. But right in the middle, there is something you might not expect: a six-bedroom house where formerly homeless men and women live. Matt Kreiser in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/16/20
Why didn’t these L.A. hotels house homeless people? A new report offers some answers -- When Los Angeles city and county officials reached out to local hotels, hoping to lease rooms through a new program meant to help homeless people survive the COVID-19 pandemic, they ran into a host of concerns. David Zahniser, Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/20
Virus
Coronavirus: Bay Area’s deadliest week of pandemic fueled by Alameda County -- An influx of fatalities in Alameda County has made the past week the deadliest of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Bay Area. Evan Webeck in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/16/20
Coronavirus updates: California numbers improving, but death toll climbs toward 15,000 -- Nearly every day for close to a month, multiple statewide metrics for COVID-19 activity have shown consistent improvement, a promising sign in California’s battle with the coronavirus. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/16/20
Hiltzik: How much worse off is America from COVID-19 than other rich nations? Much, much worse -- Mapping America’s response to the coronavirus pandemic compared with other countries hasn’t been a simple task, not least because of the densely obscuring smoke issuing from the Trump White House. But a new analysis points to an inescapable conclusion. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/20
Halloween: Trick-or-treating ‘not advised’ this year, top California health official says -- As they say every Halloween, ghouls just want to have fun. But whether millions of pirates and princesses will be making their rounds on California’s streets this year in search of candy corn and peanut butter cups remains a mystery. Fiona Kelliher, Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/16/20
Transit
Muni getting new rider-information system at $89 million, while ancient, floppy-disk computers route trains -- Muni is on track to award an $89 million contract for a new, state-of-the-art system to inform riders when the next bus or train will arrive. At the same time, the downtown Muni Metro train routing system still runs on floppy disks and is so antiquated that managers can barely find spare parts or qualified technicians to keep it running. Phil Matier in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/16/20
CalPERS
Benefit reductions, price hikes coming for CalPERS long-term care insurance plans -- CalPERS hasn’t publicly estimated how much it might raise premiums on its long-term care insurance policies next year, but the anticipated rate hikes are prompting the system to consider a wide range of changes including benefit reductions. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/16/20
Online School Stress
Teachers contend with stress as distance learning endures -- Five days before online-only school began in August, the fourth-grade teacher at Multnomah Elementary in El Sereno had just spent $500 to turn her 1,300-square-foot home into a four-room schoolhouse, and she was overwhelmed. Ryan Gorcey in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 9/16/20
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