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Updating . .   

3 Beverly Hills residents, including a doctor, arrested in Capitol attack -- Gina Bisignano, 52, was taken into custody by FBI agents Tuesday morning , and on Monday John Strand, 37, and Simone Gold, 55, were arrested, according to an FBI spokeswoman. All three were taken into custody without incident, according to Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI’s Los Angeles office. They are expected to make court appearances Tuesday afternoon. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

Dianne Feinstein defends GOP senators’ right to object to election results -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein defended Republican senators who objected to Electoral College results and downplayed the importance of an upcoming impeachment trial for President Trump, diverging from her Democratic colleagues. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/19/21

Covid  

Newsom administration gave far less COVID-19 relief cash to smaller communities, audit finds -- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s finance department may have shortchanged some California communities in distributing federal COVID-19 relief funds, according to a state audit released Tuesday that criticized both the implementation and outcome of a process that was supposed to fairly divvy up the money on a per-person basis. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

L.A. County opens 5 vaccine sites, plans to reach 20,000 people daily -- The sites are located at the Forum in Inglewood, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Cal State Northridge, the Fairplex in Pomona and the L.A. County Office of Education’s Downey Education Center. Another site run by the city of Los Angeles is located at Dodger Stadium. Lila Seidman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

‘I have no idea’: The ordeal facing older Californians searching for COVID-19 vaccine -- The problem is that there are more people who want to be inoculated, and who are brimming with questions, than there is vaccine to do the critical job. The result? Widespread confusion, particularly in Los Angeles County, which has lost more residents to COVID-19 than any other in this hard-hit state. Maria L. La Ganga, Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

California hits 3 million coronavirus cases; roughly 1 out of 13 in state have been infected -- California passed 3 million total coronavirus cases Tuesday — a mind-boggling milestone that arrived amid promising signs that the pandemic has plateaued following a months-long surge, as well as fresh concerns that recently confirmed variants could add more fuel to the viral wildfire. Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

Bay Area surge appears to be leveling off as U.S. hits 400,000 deaths from COVID-19 -- Even as the coronavirus surge in the Bay Area appeared to be leveling off, the United States crossed another grim milestone on Tuesday: 400,000 deaths. Michael Williams in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/19/21

San Diego COVID-19 health order enforcement still murky -- Local authorities remain reluctant to enforce state and county health orders despite repeated violations and months of increasing COVID-19 cases. As a result, a number of businesses, especially restaurants, defy the orders and operate openly at various levels of service. Some serve patrons outdoors and a few allow indoor dining despite the orders that forbid it. Phil Diehl in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/19/21

Columnist Diane Bell on her COVID-19 battle: ‘I was one of the lucky ones’ -- Spending my vacation and New Year’s Eve on a ventilator in intensive care definitely was not my idea of a fun holiday. Diane Bell in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/19/21

Newsom’s COVID-19 briefings often leave more questions than answers, some officials say -- In his last news briefing of 2020, one of more than 100 held since the COVID-19 pandemic exploded in March, Gov. Gavin Newsom looked seriously into the camera and assured Californians that public schools could reopen as soon as February. Phil Willon, Taryn Luna, Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

Wildfire  

Evacuations begin as winds reignite fires in Santa Cruz Mountains CZU burn scar -- Fire crews started evacuations in Santa Cruz County on Tuesday morning as fierce winds are kicking up long-dormant hot spots from this summer’s devastating CZU Lightning Complex wildfire. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ Vanessa Arredondo and Suzanne Espinosa Solis in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/19/21

Street  

Details emerge on man who shot and killed Sacramento sheriff’s deputy, K-9 -- The man who shot and killed a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy and K-9 had a history of criminal activity, drug use and mental illness, law enforcement sources and the suspect’s mother told The Sacramento Bee. Sam Stanton and Jason Pohl in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/19/21

Former California prison guard pleads guilty to charge of covering up inmate death -- A former prison guard charged with helping to cover up how an inmate at California State Prison, Sacramento, died in 2016 pleaded guilty Tuesday. Ashley Marie Aurich, 32, of Sacramento, was charged in federal court in December with one count of falsifying records in a federal investigation. Sam Stanton and Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/19/21

Gig Fees  

Postmates the latest gig company to add Prop. 22 fees — and they’re hefty -- Postmates is the latest gig company to slap customers with fees to pay for Proposition 22, the measure that keeps gig workers as independent contractors. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/19/21

Education  

5 inventions a day. 529,000 jobs. Incomes average $151,656. UC’s brag sheet is eye-popping -- Every college has its brag sheet. But the University of California has taken it to a whole new level with a 123-page report of exhaustive detail on jobs created, research performed, start-up businesses launched, tax dollars generated and students served. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

How one California preschool program is helping youngest learners with math -- Teaching math remotely to kids who might literally throw a tantrum onscreen would be laughable in a typical year. But California preschool providers are attempting the seemingly impossible. Sydney Johnson EdSource -- 1/19/21

Also . .  

Korean Americans who remember 1992 riots fight to save LAPD station -- During the 1992 riots, Chang Lee stood on the roof of his family’s mini-mall in Koreatown holding a borrowed gun he didn’t know how to use. Leila Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

‘Cinderella story for a dog’: Bidens’ shelter pet gives adoption trend a boost -- Call it a tale of wags to riches. The presidential inauguration Wednesday heralds a new era: the first time a shelter dog will live in the White House. President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, adopted their pup Major, a German shepherd, from the Delaware Humane Assn. just over two years ago. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

 

California Policy and P  olitics Tuesday Morning  

FBI raids home of Huntington Beach activist who initially admitted, later denied taking part in Capitol siege -- The FBI on Monday searched the Huntington Beach apartment of a well-known far-right activist who initially claimed in a video that he participated in the siege earlier this month at the U.S. Capitol, then backtracked as he became the target of death threats. Scott Schwebke in the Orange County Register

FBI searches home of Huntington Beach far-right extremist who posted about attending the Capitol riot -- FBI agents searched an apartment on Viewpoint Lane around 10 a.m., said Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. Eimiller said the search resulted in unspecified items being removed, but no arrests were made. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

Vaccine  

New L.A. County order gives older residents vaccine access by Thursday -- Amid widespread confusion over when and how senior citizens can get the coronavirus vaccine, Los Angeles County supervisors are urging that people 65 and older be inoculated immediately. Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ David Rosenfeld, Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 1/19/21

Pasadena begins offering COVID-19 vaccine to city residents 75 and over, but supplies are limited -- Pasadena has joined Long Beach as Los Angeles County cities that have expanded coronavirus vaccinations to senior citizens who are not living in nursing facilities. Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

San Diego County residents 75 and older can now get COVID vaccine -- San Diego County on Monday extended eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to residents 75 and older because of a recent slowdown in vaccination appointments. Kristen Taketa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/19/21

Southern California health providers scramble to isolate Moderna vaccine tied to bad reactions -- Hundreds of health providers all over the state, including some in Southern California, have received doses from a specific lot of Moderna vaccine tied to about six serious reactions in San Diego last week. Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register -- 1/19/21

Lopez: It took me just minutes to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. In Alaska -- The good news is that I was able to get an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination this Thursday afternoon. The bad news is that it’s at a Costco in Anchorage. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

Covid  

Variant virus vs. vaccine: Why the new strain means we must move faster -- Every virus mutates. But the longer it is allowed to multiply, the more mutations it accumulates and the better the odds it will learn to evade detection. That’s why, especially in the face of worrisome new COVID-19 viral variants, a fast and effective vaccination campaign is so essential. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/19/21

New local coronavirus strain may be contributing to surge, Cedars-Sinai says -- More than one-third of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles may have been caused by a new, locally-distinct strain of the coronavirus, researchers from Cedars-Sinai said on Monday, Jan. 18. They believe it may have contributed to the virus’ devastating resurgence in recent weeks, but don’t yet know for sure. Bradley Bermont in the Orange County Register -- 1/19/21

‘Each one of those numbers is a story, a family left grieving’ -- Recently, Davis intubated a 33-year-old man. “He said, ‘Please don’t let me die. I want to see my four-year-old son grow up,’” Davis recalled. “It was gut-wrenching. I think of my own little children.” The man didn’t survive. Susan Christian Goulding in the Orange County Register -- 1/19/21

MLK  

Near California’s fortress-like Capitol, MLK is remembered. ‘We’ve got to overcome’ -- Stevante Clark lost his brother when Sacramento police mistook Stephon Clark’s cellphone for a gun and killed him in 2018, igniting weeks of protests. On Monday morning, Stevante stood in the back of a flatbed truck with an amplified microphone and a message for uniformed officers standing nearby. Anita Chabria, Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

Sacramento Martin Luther King Day Celebrations Looked Different This Year, But Still Preserved His Legacy -- There was still music, cowbells and Black Lives Matter banners flying, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no marching. Sarah Mizes-Tan Capital Public Radio -- 1/19/21

Man with gun disrupts MLK Jr. caravan in Alameda -- As the group rolled through Alameda neighborhoods, they encountered a sight all-too-familiar to the 1960s civil rights leader they intended to honor: an apparently white man, brandishing a rifle-like gun, telling them to go home. Brian Boyle in the San Francisco Chronicle Erin Baldassari, Beth LaBerge, Cecilia Lei KQED -- 1/19/21

MLK Day honored in San Diego at 33rd annual All People’s Celebration -- Alliance San Diego hosted a virtual celebration on Monday in honor of the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr. Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/19/21

Policy & Politics 

Southern Californians eagerly await — or dread — Joe Biden’s inauguration -- Four years ago this week, Rick Reiss, while visiting his wife’s family in the Philippines, got up at 3 a.m. to watch President Donald Trump’s inauguration. On Wednesday, Jan. 20, Reiss will be home in Temecula. But instead of watching President-elect Joe Biden’s swearing-in, Reiss might grab his “Don’t Tread on Me” flag and join fellow conservatives at an outdoor rally. Jeff Horseman, Ryan Carter, Beau Yarbrough in the Orange County Register -- 1/19/21

Giants owner Charles Johnson asks QAnon-backing Rep. Lauren Boebert for refunds -- Giants owner Charles B. Johnson, criticized by many of the team’s fans for supporting Rep. Lauren Boebert, said Monday night he asked for his and his wife’s donations to be returned. John Shea in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/19/21

Five things to know about California’s new U.S. senator, Alex Padilla -- After Joe Biden picked Sen. Kamala Harris as his vice presidential running mate in August, the parlor game of choice for California’s most politically plugged-in was: Who will Gov. Gavin Newsom pick to fill her vacant Senate seat? Ben Christopher CalMatters -- 1/19/21

Oakland’s neighbors, firefighters see red over plan to deactivate engines, shutter stations -- Oakland will begin deactivating some of its fire engines and shuttering stations temporarily on Thursday in a budget-cutting move that drew criticism from firefighters and neighboring communities that contract with the city for fire protection. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/19/21

Walters: California still lags behind in vaccinations -- The good news is that California finally ramped up its lagging COVID-19 vaccination program last week. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 1/19/21

Education 

San Diego superintendent will bring years of teaching experience to deputy secretary of education post -- On the campaign trail, Joe Biden promised to select a teacher to be his secretary of education. Just before Christmas, he named Connecticut commissioner of education Miguel Cardona to the post. Cardona was not on the list of likely candidates, but he had been a teacher — albeit for only five years several years ago. Louis Freedberg EdSource -- 1/19/21

Also . . .   

Graffiti on Koreatown temple investigated as a possible hate crime, police say -- The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating a possible hate crime after someone spray-painted a hateful phrase and symbol on a Jewish temple in Koreatown on Monday morning. Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/19/21

POTUS 46  

Biden to propose overhaul of immigration laws on first day in office -- President-elect Joe Biden will roll out a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws the day he is inaugurated, including an eight-year pathway to citizenship for immigrants without legal status and an expansion of refugee admissions, along with an enforcement plan that deploys technology to patrol the border. Seung Min Kim in the Washington Post$ -- 1/19/21

POTUS 45  

Trump Prepares Pardon Wave for Final Hours -- Along with the White House counsel, Pat A. Cipollone, and advisers including Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. Trump has spent days sifting through names and recommendations, assembling a list that officials say he intends to disclose on Tuesday, his last full day in office. Maggie Haberman, Kenneth P. Vogel and Dana Rubinstein in the New York Times$ -- 1/19/21

-- Updates

Allergic reactions that caused California to halt 330,000 vaccine doses occurred at San Diego’s Petco Park -- The “higher-than-usual” number of allergic reactions that prompted California health officials Sunday to pause the use of one batch of Moderna vaccines occurred at a mass vaccination clinic at Petco Park in San Diego, the state confirmed Monday. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/18/21

Bay Area has its own scary new variant: Why experts are so concerned -- The Bay Area’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic suffered a potentially large setback this weekend, as public health experts sounded the alarm over another new variant of the coronavirus spreading across California and linked to multiple outbreaks. The variant, which is called L452R, is different from the highly transmissible B.1.1.7 variant that was first found in the United Kingdom, as well as other virus mutations recently identified in South Africa and Brazil. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/18/21

As death rate doubles, air quality regulator suspends limits for cremations in LA County -- With the current death rate being more than double that in pre-pandemic years, a permit limiting the number of monthly cremations is Los Angeles County for air quality reasons has been temporarily suspended to assist in relieving the current backlog caused by COVID-19. Quinn Wilson in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 1/18/21

Coronavirus: California’s outlook improves but with complications -- There were substantially fewer new cases of COVID-19, as well as fatalities from the virus, around California on Sunday than there were a week ago, as the state’s case curve continued its most extensive downturn since Christmas. Evan Webeck in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/18/21

Fight against COVID-19 hits wall of defiance, suspicion in rural California: ‘The excuses just go on’ -- Among their biggest obstacles: overcoming widespread skepticism that the virus is a serious threat in far-flung towns, fear that the new vaccine is unsafe, and open rebellion against health orders. The pushback in rural parts of California is emblematic of the challenge in many parts of the United States, particularly outside more liberal urban centers. Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/18/21

Beutner presses for L.A. schools to become COVID-19 vaccine centers -- Los Angeles schools Supt. Austin Beutner on Monday pressed for using schools as COVID-19 vaccination centers, saying his 900 campuses are “ready to go” — a move that could speed up the reopening of in-person classes for students. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ Linh Tat in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 1/18/21

As virus spreads unchecked, 5 more inmates at Donovan state prison succumb to COVID-19 -- Five more inmates have died from COVID-19 at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility over the past week, pushing the total number of fatalities to 14 since the pandemic erupted and making Otay Mesa prison the fourth-deadliest prison in the state. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/18/21

Homeless  

This L.A. project shows that homeless housing can be done quickly and cheaply -- For years it was just another dreary piece of the downtown Los Angeles backdrop — a vacant lot between the county jail and the rusted hulk of a factory. But since Thanksgiving, two three-story buildings, flanked by a village of trailer homes, have sprung up on the former industrial site. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/18/21

Rent  

San Jose, S.F. lead nation in plunging rent — while inland California sees most price growth -- San Jose housing rental prices in December were down 13.7% year over year, the nation’s sharpest decline, according to a new report, and San Francisco wasn’t far behind. Kellie Hwang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/18/21

DC Siege  

FBI seeks woman accused of taking Pelosi laptop in Capitol siege, as Washington security tightens -- A manhunt was underway Monday for a Pennsylvania woman suspected of stealing a laptop from the offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) during the attack on the U.S. Capitol, possibly with the intent to hand the device over to the Russian government, the FBI said. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/18/21

Large police presence remains in downtown Sacramento despite no demonstrations -- Despite there being no active demonstrations in downtown Sacramento on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a large police force was still present throughout the city, the Sacramento Police Department said in a social media post. Molly Sullivan in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/18/21

Potus 46    

Biden chooses San Diego Unified superintendent as deputy education secretary -- President-elect Joe Biden nominated San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten as his deputy secretary of education, the Biden administration announced Monday. Kristen Taketa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/18/21

Harris: Serving as California’s senator has been an honor. But this is not a goodbye -- The first time I came to work in the United States Senate was not as a United States senator but as an intern. Kamala Harris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/18/21

Potus 46    

Five ways Trump changed California — including one that helped Democrats -- His immigration policies sharply restricted migration to the state and made it harder for Silicon Valley to bring in foreign talent. His rollback of environmental safeguards stalled efforts to fight climate change that threatens coastal cities. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/18/21