Updating . .   

Trump impeached after Capitol riot; historic second charge -- President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House for a historic second time Wednesday, charged with “incitement of insurrection” over the deadly mob siege of the Capitol in a swift and stunning collapse of his final days in office. Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick, Jonathan Lemire and Alan Fram Associated Press -- Sarah Ferris, Kyle Cheney and Heather Caygle Politico Janet Hook, Jennifer Haberkorn in the Los Angeles Times$ Dominic Fracassa and Rita Beamish in the San Francisco Chronicle$ David Lightman and Kate Irby in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/13/21

Here are the House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump -- Among those Republicans, Rep. David Valadao was the only California lawmaker who voted for impeachment. Just hours before the vote, Valadao had said he was undecided, according to the Washington Post. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/13/21

Sheltering in a Capitol office, California lawmaker sent text and got impeachment ball rolling -- Still taking refuge in a Capitol Hill office after violent Trump supporters besieged the House and Senate floors, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) fired off a text message to every Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Jennifer Haberkorn, Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

What they said at Trump impeachment trial: Key quotes from California lawmakers -- One California congressman was among the 10 Republicans in the House who joined Democrats in the 232-197 vote for impeachment. Rep. David Valadao of Hanford endorsed Trump last year but opposed GOP efforts to undermine the results of the 2020 election. Rita Beamish in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/13/21

California will begin offering COVID vaccine to residents age 65 and older -- California officials announced Wednesday a dramatic overhaul of their vaccine program, saying that counties can now begin vaccinating anyone over age 65 “in order to increase the pace of COVID-19 vaccine distribution to those at greatest risk.” Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ Ana B. Ibarra CalMatters -- 1/13/21

Some Bay Area health care workers declining COVID vaccine; some are changing their minds -- Savonnda Blaylock, a pharmacy tech at Kaiser in Tracy, was nervous about getting a coronavirus vaccine when she first heard she’d have the opportunity several weeks ago. “I believed the vaccine had been rushed,” she said, “and I just didn’t want to be used as a test project.”. But then, Blaylock got infected with the deadly disease and her thinking shifted. Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/13/21

COVID-19 infections in Kaiser outbreak linked to costume near 100 -- Kaiser said Wednesday that 74 employees who were working Dec. 25 and 15 patients "related to Dec. 25" have tested positive. An employee working in the emergency room on Dec. 25 passed away as a result of COVID-19 complications. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/13/21

LAPD sergeant dies of COVID-19 as virus rages through department -- A 53-year-old Los Angeles police sergeant died Tuesday from complications related to COVID-19 — the second such death in a week for a department that, like the city around it, is being ravaged by the coronavirus. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

How close is California to bending the coronavirus curve? -- In a nation wracked by a long-feared winter surge of the coronavirus, California has emerged as the emblem of the pandemic’s devastation. Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money, Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

What’s open and closed in SoCal under state’s latest COVID rules -- The calendar may have changed but COVID-19 restrictions haven’t let up in 2021. Mary Forgione, Christopher Reynolds in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

Serial killer, respected guard and many others killed by COVID-19 surge in California prisons -- Despite repeated assurances that corrections officials have made progress in controlling spread of the coronavirus, California prisons are in the midst of a deadly surge. Richard Winton, Anita Chabria in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

‘It will never completely go away.’ New details emerge on COVID’s toll in Placer County -- COVID-19 is surging in Placer County. And there’s no end in sight. Molly Sullivan in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/13/21

Arellano: His business is body bags. Thanks to COVID-19, it’s booming -- Your 2020 was probably terrible, but this past year was the best ever for Laguna Hills-based Salam International — moneywise, at least. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

Policy & Politics 

How California’s budget depends on staggering wealth gap -- The state’s progressive tax structure is reaping billions from the wealthiest to fund the state’s safety net. But it also reveals how the pandemic has widened the economic gulf for millions of Californians — more than the rest of the country. Jackie Botts CalMatters -- 1/13/21

After anonymous donation to Newsom recall, Democrat revives campaign finance proposal -- A California Democrat is reviving his effort to force more large political contributors to disclose their identities after an Orange County investor kicked in $500,000 to a campaign seeking to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom and remained anonymous for weeks. Lara Korte in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/13/21

What will happen to California health care plans when Joe Biden takes office? -- As a result, the changes Californians can expect for their health care include smaller steps that might make health care more affordable and more stable, such as increasing subsidies to low-income Californians from the federal government. Kate Irby in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/13/21

Newsom keeps politically connected picks in medical watchdog role past deadline -- Gov. Gavin Newsom used his emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic to extend the confirmation deadlines for three politically connected appointees to the state board that licenses and regulates doctors, allowing them to continue serving on the board without legislative approval. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/13/21

Street  

A deputy testified falsely. Was he lying or just ‘sloppy’? -- In his testimony against two men facing weapons charges, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Honea was clear: While searching a car the men were in, he had found a gun in a box in the front seat area. But prosecutors who later watched video footage of the May 2019 stop saw that account was wrong: It was another deputy who had discovered the weapon — in a bag that had been shut away in the trunk. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

Capitol Siege  

Smolens: Trump, violent Capitol siege rupture San Diego’s congressional delegation -- Rep. Issa’s votes challenging election results may make past unity on local issues more difficult to achieve. Michael Smolens in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/13/21

Chapman University will not fire law professor who spoke at pro-Trump Capitol rally -- Chapman University’s president says he cannot and will not fire a professor and former law school dean amid growing campus calls for action against the faculty member’s participation in a pro-Trump rally during which he made claims about election fraud on the day a violent mob stormed the Capitol. Nina Agrawal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

 

California Policy and P  olitics This Morning  

Stay-at-home COVID order lifted for greater Sacramento region, Gov. Newsom announces -- The announcement means the Sacramento region can allow restaurants to reopen for outdoor dining. Other businesses, including barbers, hair salons and nail salons would be allowed to reopen. Tony Bizjak and Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/13/21

Tahoe region partially reopens, but Bay Area travelers still discouraged from going -- Lake Tahoe can now reopen outdoor dining, wineries, barbershops and salons, after officials received word from the state Tuesday afternoon that the Greater Sacramento region was being moved out of the state’s regional stay-at-home order. Gregory Thomas in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/13/21

San Francisco’s COVID surge less than in December, but stay-home order remains -- San Francisco’s post-December surge is lower than Thanksgiving’s, but coronavirus cases continue to rise, city officials said Tuesday, adding that the state’s stay-at-home order was likely to last through January. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

L.A. County approaching 1 million coronavirus cases as officials brace for new hospital surge -- Los Angeles County is fast approaching 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases, a massive milestone that means 1 out of every 10 Angelenos has been infected at some point during the pandemic. Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

California’s post-holiday surge is here, but there is good news -- A post-holiday coronavirus surge is taking shape across California almost two weeks into the new year, public health officials said Tuesday. But the number of new cases following gatherings at Christmas and New Year’s so far does not appear to be nearly as large as the one after Thanksgiving that swamped hospitals and led to new shelter-in-place orders. Nico Savidge, John Woolfolk, Julia Prodis Sulek in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/13/21

Fifteen Kaiser San Jose patients now Covid-19 positive after Christmas Day outbreak -- The Christmas Day coronavirus outbreak at Kaiser Permanente San Jose continued to spread Tuesday — and hospital workers aren’t the only ones getting sick. Julia Prodis Sulek in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/13/21

Children apologize to their dying elders for spreading COVID-19 as L.A. County reels -- As hospitals across California braced this week for a surge in COVID-19 patients who got infected over Christmas, officials relayed painful stories of dying victims’ last moments with their families. Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

COVID cases at Sacramento County Main Jail more than triple in last week, lawyers say -- The number of COVID-19 positive inmates at Sacramento County Main Jail has more than tripled in the last week, alarming defense attorneys who say their access to clients is severely limited because of the spike. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/13/21

L.A. officials cut utilities to Fairfax home after repeated violations of party ban -- The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said it cut utilities Tuesday to a Fairfax district home where at least three parties were held in violation of the city’s ban on large gatherings. Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office approved the shut-off in line with a public order aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Erin B. Logan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

Japan Airlines to resume nonstop flights between San Diego and Tokyo -- While nonstop service between San Diego and Tokyo had been offered daily before the pandemic forced a shutdown of the flights last April, the new schedule calls for three flights a week, departing San Diego on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, through April 15. Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/13/21

Vaccine  

Orange County will give COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older -- Orange County officials announced Tuesday that residents 65 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, marking a significant expansion of access to the vaccine in the county. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

COVID vaccines start for elderly in Sacramento. But California still lags nation in roll out -- Sacramento health care providers on Tuesday provided the first COVID-19 vaccines for people in the general public age 75 and up, marking a notable expansion of the so-far bumpy month-long roll out of virus inoculations in California. Tony Bizjak and Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 1/13/21

California planning to make big changes to vaccination plan — after feds direct states to do so -- Gov. Gavin Newsom is taking heat from all sides over California’s program, which is among the slowest in the nation. The governor has promised to deliver 1 million new doses by this weekend, but it’s not clear how that will happen. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/13/21

Coronavirus vaccination plans begin to take shape in Southern California -- To counter the sluggish pace of vaccinations in the region, officials in Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange counties are in the process of setting up “supersites” or “superpods” — large, well-known venues such as Disneyland and Dodger Stadium — where mass vaccinations can take place, some as early as this week. Deepa Bharath in the Orange County Register -- 1/13/21

San Francisco leaders clash over timing of opening mass coronavirus vaccination sites -- As California scrambles to rectify its slow vaccine roll out, a number of potential mass vaccination sites have been offered up around the state — including Levi’s Stadium, the Oakland Coliseum, and — further afield — Disneyland in Anaheim and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. None have been announced in San Francisco, however — leaving at least one critic frustrated. Michael Williams and Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/13/21

O.C. embarks on a PR offensive to convince skeptics that COVID-19 vaccines are safe -- As the number of COVID-19 infections continues to climb across Orange County — flooding hospitals and further straining the region’s healthcare system — county leaders Tuesday approved hiring a public relations firm to help reassure residents about the safety and efficacy of the coronavirus vaccines. Hannah Fry, Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

San Diego County ups the enforcement ante as state considers federal 65+ vaccination mandate -- As the number of staffed and available intensive care beds continued to run low Tuesday, county supervisors moved forward with the biggest changes to date in enforcement of local health orders, bringing in 17 more workers and allowing more proactive pursuit of blatant violations. Paul Sisson, Jonathan Wosen, Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/13/21

COVID Loan  

El Dorado Hills company SlideBelts admits to lying to get COVID-19 relief loan -- SlideBelts, an online fashion accessories retailer based in El Dorado Hills, agreed to pay $100,000 to the U.S. government for lying to banks to receive $350,000 in coronavirus aid intended for small businesses suffering financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rosalio Ahumada in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/13/21

Policy & Politics 

Democrats liken Newsom recall effort — a legal option in California — to extremist ‘coup’ -- When is a constitutionally outlined petition campaign to remove an elected leader actually a “treasonous” effort to subvert the democratic process? According to the California Democratic Party, when Republicans are on one side of the campaign and Gov. Gavin Newsom is on the other. Ben Christopher CalMatters Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ Carla Marinucci Politico Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/13/21

Trouble for Gavin Newsom’s electric car plan? Democrats criticize it at hearing -- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s coronavirus recovery proposal is too focused on promoting electric cars and not enough on supporting small businesses, some lawmakers said Monday. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/13/21

As The Pandemic Rages On, California Lawmakers Return To The Capitol With Urgent To-Do List -- Normally, January and February “tend to be slow” for lawmakers, says Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). But with a looming wave of evictions, a raging pandemic and millions of Californians still out of work, “we don’t have the luxury of waiting” to begin committee hearings, Ting said. Nicole Nixon Capital Public Radio -- 1/13/21

Walters: California’s technology woes deepen -- While doing his stretch in solitary confinement as lieutenant governor of California, Gavin Newsom wrote a book entitled “Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government.” Dan Walters CalMatters -- 1/13/21

Biden to return donation from ex-California Sen. Barbara Boxer over Chinese lobbying -- President-elect Joe Biden’s inaugural committee said it would refund a $500 donation from former California Sen. Barbara Boxer because she was working as a lobbyist for a Chinese firm that allegedly helps Beijing imprison hundreds of thousands of Uighur Muslims in concentration camps. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/13/21

Kevin McCarthy’s rudderless GOP leadership -- Back in 2015, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) unexpectedly announced his departure. It appeared to pave the way for the culmination of a meteoric rise in American politics: Next in line was then-House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who would have become speaker after less than nine years in the chamber. Aaron Blake in the Washington Post$ -- 1/13/21

City Administrator Naomi Kelly to resign amid City Hall scandal -- San Francisco City Administrator Naomi Kelly, the city’s highest-ranking nonelected official, will resign Feb. 1, she told Mayor London Breed on Tuesday, weeks after federal prosecutors implicated her husband in an expanding City Hall corruption scandal. Megan Cassidy and Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/13/21

U.S. Capitol Siege  

Fury, gloom and determination: Bay Area lawmakers process trauma as they press impeachment -- One Bay Area lawmaker tested hundreds of pens to see if they had ink. Another Californian made sure his life insurance policy was up to date. Some congressional staffers have trouble sleeping. Most describe feelings of anger, sadness and fear. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/13/21

California ramps up security around state Capitol ahead of possible protest -- State and local law enforcement agencies are ramping up security measures around the California Capitol in the aftermath of last week’s insurrection in Washington, D.C. by rioters seeking to keep President Trump in office. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/13/21

After Calling U.S. Capitol Insurrection ‘First Shots Against Tyranny,’ California Lawmaker Backtracks -- Asm. Randy Voepel, who represents communities in eastern San Diego County, defended the insurrection as an effort to push back “against tyranny,” before later abandoning that position. Chris Nichols Capital Public Radio -- 1/13/21

Group wants Assemblyman Voepel expelled for comments on Capitol riot -- California chapters of a group focused on national security are calling on the State Assembly to expel member Randy Voepel, R-Santee, for comments he made following the siege on the U.S. Capitol last week. Gary Warth in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/13/21

LAPD officer who attended Trump rally directed to speak with FBI -- The unnamed officer told police officials that he attended the large pro-Trump rally on the National Mall on Jan. 6, where Trump spoke, but left “prior to any other activity and did not participate in anything that occurred at the Capitol,” Moore said. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office forms task force to combat right-wing terrorists -- Move follows pro-Trump takeover of the U.S. Capitol Building, expectation of armed protests in days leading up to inauguration. Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/13/21

Megan Rapinoe rails against Trump backer wearing USWNT crest upon return from Capitol -- Megan Rapinoe has seen the widely circulated image of a woman who participated in last week’s MAGA rally in Washington, D.C., returning home wearing a Trump mask and a USWNT sweatshirt at San Francisco International Airport. And the American soccer player has thoughts. Ann Killion in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/13/21

Election  

Trump’s rhetoric behind California’s big gains in Latino voter registration -- President Donald Trump’s harsh rhetoric toward Latinos and failed promise to build a wall may well be the driving force behind a significant increase in Latino voter registration in California. Lewis Griswold CalMatters -- 1/13/21

Street  

OC sheriff’s investigators repeatedly accessed recordings of attorney-client calls from jail, new documents allege -- Orange County sheriff’s investigators improperly and repeatedly listened to recordings of confidential attorney-client phone calls made from the jail — more than has previously been acknowledged to defense lawyers, according to court documents. Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register -- 1/13/21

LAPD panel approves new oversight of facial recognition, rejects calls to end program -- The Los Angeles Police Commission approved a policy Tuesday that set new parameters on the LAPD’s use of facial recognition technology, but stopped far short of the outright ban sought by many city activists. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

LA Unions  

L.A., city unions strike tentative deal to delay raises, avoid layoffs and furloughs -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has struck a tentative deal with civilian city employee unions to avoid layoffs and furloughs for the next six months, by postponing raises for those workers until the summer of 2022. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

Education 

Los Angeles school board could sue California over Newsom reopening plan -- The Los Angeles Unified school board voted Tuesday to authorize the district to sue California over Gov. Gavin Newsom's new school reopening plan, escalating tension between the country's second largest school district and the governor. Mackenzie Mays Politico -- 1/13/21

Big district superintendents, Newsom advisers remain at odds on back to school plan -- After a meeting Monday with top advisers of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration, superintendents of two of the largest school districts in California said nothing had changed: Their districts won’t pursue $2 billion in state funding in return for committing by Feb. 1 to send younger students back to school when Covid infection rates fall. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 1/13/21

5 ways parents and teachers are explaining the U.S. Capitol riot to kids -- On Jan. 6, an insurrection unfolded at the U.S. Capitol when a mob stormed the building while lawmakers were voting to certify the electoral college results and Joe Biden’s presidential election victory. The Los Angeles Times asked parents, guardians and teachers how they are explaining the events of the day to their children and students. Maneeza Iqbal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

UC should permanently eliminate all standardized tests for admissions, experts say -- Now that the University of California is permanently phasing out the SAT, will another standardized test take its place as an admissions requirement? The answer is no, if two expert panels have their way. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/13/21

After dropping SAT and ACT, University of California urged not to add new admissions test -- After doing away with the SAT and ACT in freshman admissions, the University of California should not develop its own standardized test or use any other standardized exam as an admissions requirement, a key university committee has recommended. Michael Burke EdSource -- 1/13/21

California’s ’cradle-to-career’ data system in line to receive $15 million for next phase -- Ending speculation as to how much California will invest in building an ambitious “cradle-to-career” data system, Gov. Gavin Newson is proposing to spend $15 million for the next phase of creating a data system that will shed light on effective strategies contributing to student success and to provide useful tools to students trying to plan their education careers. Louis Freedberg EdSource -- 1/13/21

Housing  

San Diego loosens rules for housing under flight paths, adds incentives for moderate-income homes -- Policy changes San Diego approved Tuesday will allow more housing projects under airplane flight paths, will increase construction of moderate-income housing and will make it easier to convert ground-floor commercial space to housing. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/13/21

Also . . .   

California Innocence Project client, convicted of murdering 3 children in house fire, released -- JoAnn Parks suffered the ultimate injustice nearly three decades ago when, based on faulty science, she was convicted of murdering her three children who perished in a house fire that she escaped. Alex Riggins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/13/21

POTUS 45  

Trump takes no responsibility for riot, visits Texas -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday took no responsibility for his part in fomenting a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol last week, despite his comments encouraging supporters to march on the Capitol and praise for them while they were still carrying out the assault. “People thought that what I said was totally appropriate,” Trump said. Jill Colvin and Zeke Miller Associated Press -- 1/13/21

-- Tuesday Updates

Some L.A. County residents should wear masks at home to slow virus spread, officials say -- With the coronavirus spreading rapidly and pushing hospitals to a crisis point, Los Angeles County officials are recommending further safety measures — going so far as to urge some residents to wear masks inside their homes. Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/12/21

Coronavirus surges up the coast: Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara now hit hard -- Three counties northwest of Los Angeles are experiencing alarming spikes in coronavirus cases, further heightening the level of infections in already hard-hit Southern California and triggering fresh fears about potentially overtaxing local healthcare systems. Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II, Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/12/21

UCSD says new strain of coronavirus found in Japan also likely present in U.S. -- A new variation of the coronavirus discovered in Japan is “very likely already in the U.S.” as well, according to Davey Smith, director of infectious diseases at UC San Diego. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/12/21

Trump to prioritize older adults for Covid vaccines, release all doses -- The Trump administration will no longer hold back second doses of coronavirus shots and is asking states to start vaccinating older adults and people with high-risk medical conditions in an effort to accelerate vaccinations. Rachel Roubein Politico -- 1/12/21

California has the most vaccines of any US state; it has used only 27% of them -- This makes sense, as California is the most populous state in the country with about 40 million residents. But what doesn't make sense is the Golden State is getting its allotment into the arms of citizens more slowly than other states. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/12/21

Surprising number of frontline workers skeptical of vaccine. Can the state force them? -- Pat Withrow, the San Joaquin County sheriff, survived a bout with COVID-19 last summer. Dozens of inmates and staff at the county jail also have tested positive. So it was with a good deal of alarm that Withrow reported last week that many of his deputies are reluctant to take the new coronavirus vaccines. Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/12/21

We asked all 9 Bay Area counties for their vaccine plans. Here's what they shared -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said the end of the coronavirus pandemic is in sight with the rollout of vaccines. But with multiple hurdles delaying distribution, the process has moved more slowly than expected, and the question on everyone's mind is: When can I get the COVID-19 vaccine? Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/12/21

Can a common childhood vaccine protect against coronavirus? Here’s what experts say -- New research suggesting that a common childhood vaccine may help protect against COVID-19 has caught the attention of some at the back of the line for coronavirus vaccinations hoping to reduce their pandemic risk. Annie Vainshtein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/12/21

Mill Valley officials call for outdoor dining exemption from COVID order -- Mill Valley is the first municipality in California to seek an exemption from the outdoor dining ban under Gov. Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home order designed to curb spread of the coronavirus. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/12/21

Gig Work    

Prop. 22 faces first legal challenge as SEIU, ride-share drivers plan to file suit -- One of the nation’s largest labor unions and several ride-share-app drivers in California plan to file a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 22. The California law, approved by voters in November, allows gig companies to continue treating their workers as independent contractors rather than as employees. Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ Jeong Park in the Sacramento Bee$ Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/12/21

Education 

California schools would get more money than ever in Newsom’s budget, but can they open? -- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new budget proposal would send more money than ever to California schools, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be ready to reopen this academic year. Hannah Wiley, Sawsan Morrar, and Lara Korte in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/12/21

Berkeley parents to stage 'sit-in' for reopening schools at Kamala Harris' old elementary school -- A group of Berkeley parents are preparing to stage a sit-in at Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' elementary school to demand that schools reopen "as soon as public health officials deem it safe," according to a news release. Joshua Bote in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/12/21

Sacramento-area school district identifies employee who died from COVID-19 as coach -- San Juan Unified School District identified the employee who died from COVID-19 over winter break as Bella Vista High School cross country coach Tom Laythe. Laythe was also a substitute teacher in the district. Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/12/21

These mentors see the ‘collective trauma’ of pandemic-hit teens. Here’s how they help -- Sometimes it’s karaoke. Sometimes it’s multiplayer games like skribbl or Among Us. Whatever it is, middle-school student Tiggerina Virgen never skips her after-school program — even though it means more time on Zoom. Julia Barajas in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/12/21

Biden’s debt forgiveness plan would help millions of California students -- Both President-elect Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats want to forgive some amount of federal student loan debt. The question is, how much — $10,000 or $50,000 — and is it even a good idea? Mikhail Zinshteyn CalMatters -- 1/12/21

Homeless 

COVID-19 job losses will worsen L.A. homelessness by 2023, new report says -- Massive job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic nationwide will leave tens of thousands of low-wage workers without homes over the next three years, a report published Tuesday by a Los Angeles-based research group forecasts. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/12/21

Councilman Kevin de León wants 25,000 housing units for homeless by 2025 -- When the Los Angeles City Council opens its 2021 term on Tuesday, Councilman Kevin de León will introduce a range of motions with the goal of creating 25,000 new housing units for homeless people by 2025. Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/12/21

Housing Scams 

Scam artists are using San Francisco’s coronavirus safety rules to trick renters looking for a good deal -- The plunge in San Francisco’s apartment market fueled by the coronavirus pandemic has been a blessing for thousands of tenants who have successfully haggled with their landlord for lower rents or moved into units that are at least 25% less expensive than they were a year ago. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/12/21

Exodus   

California exodus intensifies as retirees, teachers, musicians seek cheaper, less-crowded pastures -- The California dream has been fading for a long time, and people have been voting with their feet. In the last few years, the exodus has accelerated, with tens of thousands more people leaving than moving in. Stephanie Lai in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/12/21

Street    

Did secret Sacramento City Council discussion of Sac PD’s protest response break state law? -- The Sacramento City Council gathered last week behind closed doors to discuss the police department’s response to downtown demonstrations attended by white supremacist groups, a move that watchdogs said potentially violated a state law requiring most meetings about city business to be public. Theresa Clift in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/12/21

Climate   

King tides swelling across Bay Area coasts -- Tides above 7 feet — some of the highest of the year — are expected to swell across the Bay Area coast Tuesday and inundate the lowest-lying areas of the coastline, forecasters said. Vanessa Arredondo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/12/21

Why so many people are getting swept to sea along California's coast -- Three were pulled from the sea during difficult rescue attempts and pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Four are still missing and presumed dead. One — the still unnamed man who was searching for mussels — is in the hospital. Ashley Harrell in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/12/21

Also . . .   

State bullet train delays ‘beyond comprehension,’ contractor says in blistering letter -- One of the state’s top bullet train contractors has sent a scorching 36-page letter to California high-speed rail officials, contradicting state claims that the line’s construction pace is on target and warning the project could miss a key 2022 federal deadline. Ralph Vartabedian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/12/21