‘Triple Whammy’ Headed For The Bay Area: After a stretch of blissfully clear days, air quality in the Bay Area is expected to deteriorate in the days ahead, meteorologists say. The “triple whammy” of wildfire smoke, high temperatures and smog could cloud the skies this weekend, especially Sunday and Monday, said Kristine Roselius of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
PG&E Warns Of Power Shut-Offs: Some 21,000 customers in portions of Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties have been notified of the potential public safety power shutoff, according to the utility. “This weather event will be localized to the Sierra Foothills, so customers in the Bay Area and southern parts of PG&E’s service area will not be impacted,” the utility said. Read more from the Bay Area News Group.
California Healthline wants to hear about workplace COVID testing policies. Does your job require you to show up in person or is it transitioning away from remote work? Share your experiences here.
Below, check out the roundup of California Healthline’s coverage and the best of the rest of the news.
More News From Across The State
Bay Area News Group:
Coronavirus Unemployment: California Jobless Claims Rise, Statewide Recovery Is Elusive
California is lagging the nation in recovering its lost jobs, and new unemployment claims continue to rise. An estimated 230,400 workers in California filed for unemployment benefits last week, up 4,000 from the week before, the U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday. After briefly dipping below the 200,000 mark in late August, claims have been well above that level for the last four weeks. But more tellingly, California accounted for a whopping 27 percent of the 870,000 jobless filings nationwide. (Avalos, 9/24)
Fresno Bee:
Fresno County Issues $3 Million To Help Rural Cities Struggling With The COVID-19 Pandemic
With the looming deadline for federally-issued coronavirus relief funds, Christmas came early for small Fresno County cities dealing with pandemic-related economic uncertainty. On Thursday, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors gathered mayors and city managers from 14 rural cities to formally announce a $3 million spending package to help local communities. The board unanimously approved the funding at their meeting earlier this week. (Rodriguez-Delgado, 9/25)
Los Angeles Times:
This L.A. Company Was Hit With State's Largest-Ever COVID-19 Fine. Some Say It's A Model For Worker Safety
In late July, Gloria Lopez, a weight checker at a frozen food processing plant in Vernon, noticed that a plexiglass divider was missing between workers on the production line. Two employees were left exposed to the coronavirus. Neither had said anything. “I said to one of them, ‘Do you feel comfortable the way you’re working?’ And she said, ‘No, but what do you want me to do?’” Lopez recalled. (Miller, 9/25)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Mechanics Bank Arena, Condors Team For Initiative To Boost COVID-19 Testing
Mechanics Bank Arena and the Bakersfield Condors are aiming to help the general community as well as some lucky residents with the new “Tickets For Tests” initiative. In partnership with the county, this joint effort aims to increase COVID-19 testing in Kern County with a little incentive. Residents who choose to get tested now through Nov. 15 can enter to win a chance at tickets for two for all 2021 events at Mechanics Bank Arena. (9/24)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Kern Ranks In Top 10 Among California Counties For COVID-19 Deaths As A Share Of Population
Kern County ranks tenth among California counties in COVID-19 deaths per capita, a position it has held steadily since July. What's changed since then is that four more Central Valley counties have joined it — Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Merced and Tulare. (Shepard, 9/24)
The Bakersfield Californian:
1 Death, 73 New COVID-19 Cases In Kern On Thursday
Another death and 73 new cases of COVID-19 were reported Thursday in Kern County, bringing total deaths to 361 and total cases to 31,785. The state reports that 75 people were hospitalized as of Tuesday, with 21 in the intensive care unit. (9/24)
Ventura County Star:
Ventura County COVID Update: 52 New Cases, One New Death Recorded
Ventura County added 52 new COVID-19 cases and one new death on Thursday, according to public health data. The county now stands at 12,437 total cases and 147 deaths attributed to the virus. The doubling time for Ventura County is 120.8 days at the current rate of spread, county officials said. (Childs, 9/24)
The Bakersfield Californian:
BCSD Unveils Plan To Gradually Reopen Its Doors For In-Person Learning
Bakersfield City School District released details about its plan to gradually open up its schools to special education, foster youth and homeless students, and English learners at a board meeting on Tuesday night. (Gallegos, 9/24)
LA Daily News:
Parents Sue LAUSD Over Distance Learning Plan
A group of parents is suing the Los Angeles Unified School District, alleging its distance learning plan fails to adequately educate every child and that such violation of students’ Constitutional right to a free and appropriate education – particularly for low-income Black and Latino students, English learners and students with disabilities – amounts to race and wealth discrimination. (Tat, 9/24)
The Bakersfield Californian:
'Keep Learning California' Helps Struggling Families Navigate Distance Learning
The Parent Institute for Quality Education, also known as PIQE, had been offering workshops to parents who need help navigating the school systems. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the organization realized it needed to rethink how it was reaching out to the families it serves, who are often low-income, immigrants and refugees and don’t speak English. (Gallegos, 9/24)
LA Daily News:
L.A. County Cites Dozens Of Businesses, Churches For Coronavirus Health-Order Violations
More than 70 citations have been issued over the past month to various businesses and organizations — most notably churches and gyms — for violating health restrictions imposed to control spread of COVID-19, but Los Angeles County’s health officer said Thursday, Sept. 24, that no closures have been ordered. (9/24)
LA Daily News:
Judge Could Hit Sun Valley Church And Pastor With $6,000 COVID Fine
A judge said Thursday that he will decide later on the scope of a hearing on whether Grace Community Church and its pastor should be held in contempt for continuing to hold indoor services. (9/24)
San Francisco Chronicle:
An Oakland Events Space Openly Defied Coronavirus Rules. Did The City Do Enough To Stop It?
An Oakland events space has hosted indoor weddings, birthday parties and wakes — sometimes exceeding 100 people — since July, according to the manager of the space, in violation of state and county pandemic restrictions about large gatherings. Events manager David Oertel reopened the Humanist Hall events space this summer because he said he suffered a “devastating” financial loss from canceling so many events. Oertel said people want a place to gather, and he hasn’t seen “any evidence” of the coronavirus and doesn’t think it’s anything more than “a bad flu.” (Ravani, 9/25)
LA Daily News:
Disneyland Stuck ‘In Limbo’ Waiting For California Theme Park Reopening Plan From State
Disneyland remains stuck “in limbo” waiting for a promised reopening plan from Gov. Gavin Newsom and state officials as the coronavirus closure of California theme parks stretches past the six-month mark. (MacDonald, 9/24)
Bloomberg:
United To Offer $250 Coronavirus Tests On Flights To Hawaii
United Airlines Holdings will offer on-the-spot coronavirus testing to customers flying to Hawaii who are willing to pay $250 to avoid a two-week quarantine on arrival. (Bachman, 9/24)
Los Angeles Times:
Flying During Coronavirus: Travel Safety Tips
Don’t get on an airplane right now unless you absolutely have to. Don’t leave your house unless you have to, frankly. The coronavirus pandemic: still a thing. Hospitalizations and deaths have been declining, but transmission rates have recently crept higher in L.A. County, and public health officials have not declared it jet-setting season yet. (Roy, 9/24)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Facial Recognition Tech Used To Build SFPD Gun Case, Despite City Ban
San Francisco police investigators may have circumvented the city’s ban on facial recognition technology by building a gun case, in part, on facial recognition software used by another law enforcement agency, according to interviews and documents obtained by The Chronicle. The revelation has raised serious questions among city officials about whether the Police Department bypassed a city law intended to curb the use of certain surveillance technologies by law enforcement and most other city agencies. (Cassidy, 9/24)
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Worker Contracts Coronavirus, Prompts Partial Lockdown Of Surgical Unit
A group of patients are being quarantined for 14 days at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, after coming in contact with a hospital employee recently infected with the coronavirus. (Espinoza, 9/24)
Oakland Tribune:
Editorial: Honor Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Register And Vote
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will forever be remembered as one of this nation’s greatest crusaders for women’s rights. But, in this moment of extreme political turmoil with the nation’s most consequential election in decades approaching, let us also remember that RBG was a champion of voting rights. (9/20)
LA Daily News:
The Passing Of An Icon Of The Supreme Court And The Tumultuous Times Ahead
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, associate justice of the Supreme Court, champion of women’s rights and unexpected cultural icon, certainly left her mark on American society. While her passing on Friday has kicked off what was naturally going to be a heated and divisive fight over her replacement, we take this moment to reflect on her legacy. (9/23)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Safe Ways To Vote In November
Some issues being raised in the national media regarding the November election may be causing concern among some voters. These issues include increased volume of mail ballots, poll site availability, health and safety of voters and poll workers, as well as availability of results on election night. Adding to these concerns is a postcard recently sent out by the US Postal Service that contains generic election information that does not specifically relate to California. I would like to address how these issues are being handled in Kern County. (Mary Bedard, 9/24)
Los Angeles Times:
To Help California Survive Wildfires, Focus On Homes, Not Trees
Firestorms in the West have grown bigger and more destructive in recent years — and harder to escape. Massive and frenzied, they have overtaken people trying to outrun or outdrive them.Gridlocked mountain roads prevented many Paradise residents from fleeing the Camp fire, which killed 85 people in 2018. This year, more than 30 people have died in the fires in California and Oregon, and again, in many cases, people were trying to escape fast-moving blazes. (9/22)
Bay Area News Group:
It’s Climate Change That Keeps This East Bay Doctor Up At Night
He came to me wheezing, ribs sucking in and out, his young body struggling to get words out. Oral steroids, inhalers — nothing made a difference. My patient, an 8-year-old boy, is suffering from asthma. His asthma is exacerbated by the polluted air he breathes and the planet on which he lives, which is rapidly warming. I am a primary care pediatrician and a mother of two children in Northern California. (Dr. Amanda Millstein, 9/24)
Bay Area News Group:
Civilization Requires Collective Common Sense
Without common sense in government, civilization cannot continue. After the summer protests and rioting in many large cities, activists demanded a defunding, or at least radical pullbacks, of the police. So-called crime experts often concurred. So some city governments ignored public warnings and diminished their police presence despite a sharp rise in crime in many cities. Looting and arson were often ignored. (Victor Davis Hanson, 9/25)
Los Angeles Times:
California Spurs A New World Of Zero-Emission Cars
For years, automakers have pleaded that, much as they’d love to lead the way to a zero-emissions vehicular future, they just can’t wean Americans from their love of SUVs and other gas-guzzlers. California just called their bluff. An executive order signed Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom aims to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars and light trucks in the state by 2035. (Michael Hiltzik, 9/25)
Fresno Bee:
Judging One Another On Whether A Mask Is Worn Or Not Is A New Frontier For Biases
Masks entered our lives months ago. It began in March with the first shelter-in-place orders. A mask was thought to be a simple method to control the spread of the coronavirus. But an uneven road of adoption ensued and I still see pockets of those who resist. A mask allows for quick identification: we can assess by appearances and, rightly or wrongly, make judgments. No differently than people have been doing for centuries over the color of skin. (David "Mas" Masumoto, 9/25)
Fresno Bee:
A Shout-Out To Fresno’s Teachers Trying To Instruct From A Distance Because Of COVID-19
You are essential workers in our community. When students are isolated and afraid of health and social crises, you are the person who connects them with knowledge, skills and values they need to understand what’s happening. Even before the pandemic, there were challenges for students of color and poverty, falling behind in academics, suffering from trauma and depression, and lacking opportunities for civic engagement. Now these are more severe and you are expected to create a safe, exciting online learning environment to teach all students in your classes. Our community owes you our gratitude and support. (John Minkler, 9/20)
Fresno Bee:
Assembly Bill 841 Will Make Schools Safer With Better Ventilation For When Students Return
It has been six months since Gov. Gavin Newsom first issued school-related executive orders as a result of the COVID-19 health emergency. Since that time, we have seen most of our public schools shift successfully to distance learning, while parents and students across the state are anxious for a return to in-person instruction. (Tony Thurmond, 9/24)
LA Daily News:
LAUSD Must Be Bold, Not Stagnant, On Adapting To Coronavirus
Los Angeles County officials have opened the door for students with disabilities and English language learners to return to campus for small, in-person classes. This is a much-needed and greatly welcomed opportunity for the children and families our organizations serve. We have seen firsthand how distance learning disproportionately underserves Black and Latino students. Los Angeles Unified should follow the county’s guidance and safely open for special populations as soon as possible to avoid any further learning loss for our most vulnerable students. (Vanessa Aramayo and Michael Lawson, 9/23)
LA Daily News:
Aging In The 2020s Isn’t How Grandma Aged
Picture for a minute how your grandparents and great-grandparents lived when they were 60 or 70 compared with how you (if you are a senior) or your parents live today. My grandfather retired as a federal agent when he was only 58 years old. He enjoyed his hobbies, church, occasional social outings (and a lot of TV) until he passed away 39 years later. Forty percent of his life was spent in quiet retirement. (Michelle Herting, 9/20)
LA Daily News:
High Housing Costs Keep Californians Poor
Congratulations California, you’ve done it again. The Census Bureau has once again found that California has the highest real-world poverty rate of any state, 17.2 percent over the previous three years and much higher than the national rate. (Dan Walters)