San Bernardino County Reports 158 New COVID-19 Cases, 14 More Deaths Saturday Active Coronavirus Cases Drop While Deaths Increase Due to Data Verification

San Bernardino County adds 158 COVID-19 cases, 14 deaths Saturday 9/13/20, 8:46 AM

NEWS San Bernardino County reports 158 new COVID-19 cases, 14 more deaths Saturday Active coronavirus cases drop while deaths increase due to data verification

Christopher Damien Palm Springs Desert Sun Published 8:50 p.m. PT Sep. 12, 2020

San Bernardino County officials announced more than 150 new cases of coronavirus and 14 new virus-related deaths among county residents Saturday. The increase in deaths, along with a decrease of about 1,000 active cases reported since Friday, is due to officials revising errors in previously reported data.

As of Saturday, San Bernardino County's positivity rate is 9.34%, placing it in the purple, or strictest, of the state's new four-tier framework for reopening. This tier restricts the most business activity and has the most capacity restrictions because COVID-19 is "widespread."

The state looks at both rates — positivity and cases — to determine whether a county is allowed to reopen.

The purple tier is for counties with widespread COVID-19 cases. It represents counties with a case rate of greater than seven cases per 100,000 people or a positivity rate of 8% or higher. This tier limits indoor operations for many non-essential business sectors, including restaurants.

In order for San Bernardino County to move to the next level, the red tier, it has to document fewer than seven new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents on a rolling seven- https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2020/09/12/san-bernardino…nnounces-158-new-coronavirus-cases-and-14-more-deaths/5782409002/ Page 1 of 4 San Bernardino County adds 158 COVID-19 cases, 14 deaths Saturday 9/13/20, 8:46 AM day average, and its positivity testing rate must be less than 8% in the same period.

New cases: County health officials on Saturday reported 158 new cases of coronavirus and 14 additional virus-related deaths since Friday. The county's online dashboard notes that a large amount of deaths are being added this week "as a result of staff's continuous validation and cleaning of COVID-19 associated data."

Total cases: So far, there have been a total of 50,543 reported COVID-19 cases and 814 virus-related deaths. San Bernardino County is reporting the fourth-highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the state after Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange counties.

Active cases: The county's total amount of known active coronavirus cases has lowered substantially to 4,416, from more than 5,500 over the past several days. This total is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total, 50,543.

Recoveries: According to the county, a total of 45,313, people have recovered, which is about 89.7% of its overall number of cases. This is an increase of about 400 patients who have recovered in recent days.

Tests: Health officials on Saturday reported that 541,016 coronavirus tests have been conducted in the county, including 4,749 tests that were added since Friday. The county, which has a target of 3,288 tests per day, launched a new billboard campaign urging people to get tested, even if they don't have symptoms.

Who is contracting the virus?

About 54% of cases in the county are in people under the age of 40. The cases, broken down by age bracket, are as follows:

3,368 (6.7%) cases are among people ages 0 to 14 2,629 (5.2%) cases are among people ages 15-19 11,483 (22.7%) cases are among people ages 20-29 9,528 (18.9%) cases are among people ages 30-39

https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2020/09/12/san-bernardino…nnounces-158-new-coronavirus-cases-and-14-more-deaths/5782409002/ Page 2 of 4 San Bernardino County adds 158 COVID-19 cases, 14 deaths Saturday 9/13/20, 8:46 AM

8,269 (16.4%) cases are among people ages 40-49 7,391 (14.6%) cases are among people ages 50-59 4,394 (8.7%) cases are among people ages 60-69 3,420 (6.8%) cases are among people older than 70 The ages for 61 cases (0.1%) are unknown

About 78% of virus-related deaths in the county are over the age of 60. The deaths, broken down by age bracket, are as follows:

0 (0%) deaths are among people ages 0 to 14 0 (0%) deaths are among people ages 15-19 5 (0.6%) deaths are among people ages 20-29 28 (3.4%) deaths are among people ages 30-39 40 (4.9%) deaths are among people ages 40-49 103 (12.7%) deaths are among people ages 50-59 174 (21.4%) deaths are among people ages 60-69 464 (57%) deaths are among people older than 70

Where are the cases?

Here is Saturday's list of confirmed cases and deaths in the High Desert, with increases from the previous day's tally in parentheses:

Adelanto: 750 cases, 19 deaths Apple Valley: 1,094 cases, 23 deaths (+1) Baker: 12 cases Baldy Mesa: 1 case Barstow: 284 cases, 9 deaths Daggett: 1 case Helendale: 57 cases (+1), 1 death Hesperia: 1,859 cases, 24 deaths Hinkley: 7 cases Joshua Tree: 73 cases, 2 deaths https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2020/09/12/san-bernardino…nnounces-158-new-coronavirus-cases-and-14-more-deaths/5782409002/ Page 3 of 4 San Bernardino County adds 158 COVID-19 cases, 14 deaths Saturday 9/13/20, 8:46 AM

Landers: 9 cases, 1 death Lucerne Valley: 23 cases, 2 deaths Morongo Valley: 38 cases Needles: 48 cases Newberry Springs: 9 cases Oak Hills: 183 cases, 1 death Oro Grande: 16 cases (+1), 1 death Phelan: 201 cases, 3 deaths Piñon Hills: 56 cases Pioneertown: 2 cases Trona: 9 cases Twentynine Palms: 81 cases (+1), 1 death Victorville: 3,220 cases, 29 deaths Yermo: 12 cases Yucca Valley: 231 cases, 14 deaths

Here is the list of cases and deaths in the mountain communities:

Angelus Oaks: 2 cases Big Bear City: 36 cases Big Bear Lake: 52 cases Blue Jay: 12 cases, 1 death Cedar Glen: 7 cases Crestline: 68 cases, 3 deaths Fawnskin: 2 cases Forest Falls: 6 cases Lake Arrowhead: 25 cases Rimforest: 4 cases Running Springs: 25 cases Sugarloaf: 12 cases Twin Peaks: 11 cases, 1 death Wrightwood: 28 cases (+1)

https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2020/09/12/san-bernardino…nnounces-158-new-coronavirus-cases-and-14-more-deaths/5782409002/ Page 4 of 4 San Bernardino County reports 158 new coronavirus cases, 14 new deaths – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:38 AM

LOCAL NEWS • News San Bernardino County reports 158 new coronavirus cases, 14 new deaths

By JEFF HORSEMAN | [email protected] | The Press-Enterprise PUBLISHED: September 12, 2020 at 1:03 p.m. | UPDATED: September 12, 2020 at 1:39 p.m.

This critical coverage is being provided free to all readers. Support reporting like this with a subscription to The Sun. Special Offer: 99¢ for the first 3 months.

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San Bernardino County’s coronavirus death toll rose by 14 while its total con!rmed cases grew by 0.31% compared to Friday, Sept. 11 in the latest update posted Saturday by county public health o"cials.

Countywide, there are 50,543 COVID-19 cases and 814 deaths from the virus.

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/12/san-bernardino-county-reports-158-new-coronavirus-cases-14-new-deaths/ Page 1 of 5 San Bernardino County reports 158 new coronavirus cases, 14 new deaths – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:38 AM

Here are the latest numbers, according to county and state public health o"cials.

San Bernardino County

Con!rmed cases: 50,543, up from 50,385 Friday, Sept. 11

Deaths: 814, up from 800 Friday

Hospitalizations: 201 con!rmed patients Friday, down from 205 Thursday; 49 suspected patients Friday, down from 54 Thursday

Intensive-care unit: 67 con!rmed patients Friday, down from 74 Thursday; 10 suspected patients Friday, up from 4 Thursday

People tested: 541,016, up from 536,267 Friday

Recoveries (estimated): 45,313, up from 44,989 Friday

To see a map and list of cases, deaths and per-capita rates by community, click here.

Here is a look at how the county’s numbers have changed each day:

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Tags: All Readers, Coronavirus, Top Stories IVDB, Top Stories RDF, Top Stories Sun

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/12/san-bernardino-county-reports-158-new-coronavirus-cases-14-new-deaths/ Page 2 of 5 San Bernardino County reports 156 new COVID-19 cases, 18 more deaths Sunday 9/13/20, 2:16 PM

NEWS San Bernardino County reports 156 new COVID-19 cases, 18 more deaths Sunday Maria Sestito Palm Springs Desert Sun Published 1:36 p.m. PT Sep. 13, 2020

San Bernardino County officials announced 156 new cases of coronavirus and 18 new virus-related deaths among county residents Sunday. The county is reporting the third- highest number of coronavirus cases in the state after Los Angeles and Riverside counties.

For the most recent week of state-reviewed data, San Bernardino County is reporting a positivity rate of 7.5%, placing it in the purple, or strictest, of the state's new four-tier framework for reopening. This tier restricts the most business activity and has the most capacity restrictions because COVID-19 is "widespread." The county's current positivity rate is dropping. Earlier this month, the county was reporting a positivity rate of 9.8%.

The state looks at both rates — positivity and cases — to determine whether a county is allowed to reopen.

In order for San Bernardino County to move to the next level, the red tier, it has to document fewer than seven new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents on a rolling seven- day average, and its positivity testing rate must be less than 8% in the same period.

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2020/09/13/san-bernardino-co…-reports-156-new-covid-19-cases-18-more-deaths-sunday/5786570002/ Page 1 of 5 San Bernardino County reports 156 new COVID-19 cases, 18 more deaths Sunday 9/13/20, 2:16 PM

Statewide, California on Sunday reported a total of 754,923 cases, including 4,625 new confirmed cases on Saturday, and 14,329 deaths — an increase of 0.5% since Friday. More than 12 million tests have been administered, including 133,049 since Friday. The positivity rate over the last two weeks is 3.8%.

Related: COVID-19 testing lags as California announces new initiatives with Apple and Google

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California also reported 121 fewer hospitalizations and 38 fewer cases in intensive care units between Friday and Saturday.

New cases: San Bernardino County health officials on Sunday reported 156 new cases of coronavirus and 18 additional virus-related deaths since Saturday. The county's online dashboard notes that a large number of deaths are being added this week "as a result of staff's continuous validation and cleaning of COVID-19 associated data."

Total cases: So far, there have been a total of 50,699 reported COVID-19 cases and 832 virus-related deaths in the county.

Active cases: The county's total number of known active coronavirus cases has lowered substantially to 4,359 from more than 5,500 over the past several days. This total is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total, 50,699.

Recoveries: According to the county, a total of 45,508, people have recovered, which is about 89.8% of its overall number of cases.

Tests: Health officials on Saturday reported that 545,008 coronavirus tests have been conducted in the county, including 3,992 tests that were added since Saturday. The county, which has a target of 3,288 tests per day, launched a new billboard campaign urging people to get tested, even if they don't have symptoms.

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2020/09/13/san-bernardino-co…-reports-156-new-covid-19-cases-18-more-deaths-sunday/5786570002/Who is contracting the virus? Page 2 of 5 San Bernardino County reports 156 new COVID-19 cases, 18 more deaths Sunday 9/13/20, 2:16 PM

Who is contracting the virus?

About 53% of cases in the county are in people under the age of 40. The cases, broken down by age bracket, are as follows:

3,384 (6.7%) cases are among people ages 0 to 14 2,637 (5.2%) cases are among people ages 15-19 11,523 (22.7%) cases are among people ages 20-29 9,552 (18.8%) cases are among people ages 30-39 8,293 (16.4%) cases are among people ages 40-49 7,413 (14.6%) cases are among people ages 50-59 4,408 (8.7%) cases are among people ages 60-69 3,429 (6.8%) cases are among people older than 70 The ages for 60 cases (0.1%) are unknown.

About 79% of virus-related deaths in the county are among people age 60 and older. The deaths, broken down by age bracket, are as follows:

0 (0%) deaths are among people ages 0 to 14 0 (0%) deaths are among people ages 15-19 5 (0.6%) deaths are among people ages 20-29 28 (3.4%) deaths are among people ages 30-39 41 (4.9%) deaths are among people ages 40-49 104 (12.5%) deaths are among people ages 50-59 183 (22%) deaths are among people ages 60-69 471 (57%) deaths are among people older than 70

Pregnant women account for 308 total cases.

Where are the cases?

Here is Sunday's list of confirmed cases and deaths in the high desert, with increases from the previous day's tally in parentheses:

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2020/09/13/san-bernardino-co…-reports-156-new-covid-19-cases-18-more-deaths-sunday/5786570002/ Page 3 of 5 San Bernardino County reports 156 new COVID-19 cases, 18 more deaths Sunday 9/13/20, 2:16 PM

Adelanto: 751 cases (+1), 19 deaths Apple Valley: 1,098 cases (+4), 23 deaths Baker: 12 cases Baldy Mesa: 1 case Barstow: 284 cases, 10 deaths (+1) Daggett: 1 case Helendale: 57 cases, 1 death Hesperia: 1,867 cases (+8), 25 deaths (+1) Hinkley: 7 cases Joshua Tree: 74 cases (+1), 2 deaths Landers: 9 cases, 1 death Lucerne Valley: 23 cases, 2 deaths Morongo Valley: 38 cases Needles: 48 cases, 1 death (+1) Newberry Springs: 9 cases Oak Hills: 183 cases, 1 death Oro Grande: 16 cases, 1 death Phelan: 201 cases, 3 deaths Piñon Hills: 56 cases Pioneertown: 2 cases Trona: 9 cases Twentynine Palms: 82 cases (+1), 1 death Victorville: 3,236 cases (+16), 31 deaths (+2) Yermo: 12 cases Yucca Valley: 233 cases (+2), 14 deaths

Here is the list of cases and deaths in mountain communities:

Angelus Oaks: 2 cases Big Bear City: 36 cases Big Bear Lake: 52 cases Blue Jay: 12 cases, 1 death

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2020/09/13/san-bernardino-co…-reports-156-new-covid-19-cases-18-more-deaths-sunday/5786570002/ Page 4 of 5 San Bernardino County reports 156 new COVID-19 cases, 18 more deaths Sunday 9/13/20, 2:16 PM

Cedar Glen: 7 cases Crestline: 68 cases, 3 deaths Fawnskin: 2 cases Forest Falls: 6 cases Lake Arrowhead: 27 cases (+2) Rimforest: 4 cases Running Springs: 25 cases Sugarloaf: 12 cases Twin Peaks: 11 cases, 1 death Wrightwood: 28 cases

Maria Sestito covers aging and the senior population in Coachella Valley for The Desert Sun. She is also a Report for America corps member and new to the desert. Please say "hello" via [email protected] or @RiaSestito.

Prior reporting by Desert Sun reporter Christopher Damien was used in this report.

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2020/09/13/san-bernardino-co…-reports-156-new-covid-19-cases-18-more-deaths-sunday/5786570002/ Page 5 of 5 San Bernardino County reports 18 more coronavirus deaths – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 4:05 PM

LOCAL NEWS • News San Bernardino County reports 18 more coronavirus deaths

By JENNIFER IYER | [email protected] | Redlands Daily Facts PUBLISHED: September 13, 2020 at 3:09 p.m. | UPDATED: September 13, 2020 at 3:52 p.m.

Eighteen more people have died due to coronavirus complications and 156 more have tested positive according to San Bernardino County data released Sunday, Sept 13.

The county noted on its website Wednesday there could be a spike in the number of deaths over the next few days due to sta!’s work to validate and clean its data.

Though the county recorded 26 deaths Wednesday, that was a two-day total, as the county did not report numbers Tuesday due to the Labor Day holiday.

The seven-day average of new deaths has been trending downwards, from a high of 15.1 on July 25 to 0.7 last week before the spike.

Data released by the state Sunday show the number of COVID-19 patients in county hospitals is at 190, down from a peak of more than 600 in late July.

Here are the latest numbers, according to county and state public health o"cials.

San Bernardino County

Con!rmed cases: 50,699, up from 50,543 Saturday, Sept. 12

Deaths: 832, up from 814 Saturday

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/13/san-bernardino-county-reports-18-more-coronavirus-deaths/ Page 1 of 4 San Bernardino County reports 18 more coronavirus deaths – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 4:05 PM

Hospitalizations: 190 con#rmed patients Saturday, down from 201 Friday; 36 suspected patients Saturday, down from 49 Friday

Intensive-care unit: 66 con#rmed patients Saturday, down from 67 Friday; 2 suspected patients Saturday, down from 10 Friday

People tested: 545,008, up from 541,016 Saturday

Recoveries (estimated): 45,508, up from 45,313 Saturday

To see a map and list of cases, deaths and per-capita rates by community, click here.

Here is a look at how the county’s numbers have changed each day:

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Tags: Coronavirus, public health

SPONSORED CONTENT Which romantic comedy is better? https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/13/san-bernardino-county-reports-18-more-coronavirus-deaths/ Page 2 of 4 COVID-19: San Bernardino County reports 7.5% positivity rate 9/13/20, 8:47 AM

NEWS San Bernardino County's positivity rate is 7.5%, but it can't move to the red tier. Here's why. On Friday, 175 cases were added to the county's dashboard; death toll hits 800

Amaray D. Alvarez, Mark Olalde and Kristin Scharkey Palm Springs Desert Sun Published 6:43 p.m. PT Sep. 11, 2020

San Bernardino County is reporting a positivity rate of 7.5% for the most recent week of state-reviewed data, but it can't reopen more businesses just yet.

Why? Because the county's case rate continues to fall within the threshold of the purple or "widespread" tier of California's reopening framework, which means most non- essential business operations are closed or limited to outdoor operations.

The state looks at both rates — positivity and cases — to determine reopening. In order for San Bernardino County to move to the next level, the red tier, it has to document fewer than seven new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents on a rolling seven-day average, and its positivity testing rate must be less than 8% in the same period.

The county is currently finding 7.9 coronavirus-positive patients per 100,000 residents, but the state adjusted that figure up to 8.7 due to a new system it unveiled on Tuesday. Under this latest plan, the state health department adjusts counties' case rates based on whether they're conducting more than or fewer than the state's average number of tests.

https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2020/09/11/covid-19-san-bernardino-county-reports-9-44-positivity-rate/5773564002/Friday's numbers Page 1 of 4 COVID-19: San Bernardino County reports 7.5% positivity rate 9/13/20, 8:47 AM

Friday's numbers

New cases: County health officials on Friday reported 175 new cases of coronavirus and four additional virus-related deaths since Thursday. The county's online dashboard notes that a large amount of deaths are being added this week "as a result of staff's continuous validation and cleaning of COVID-19 associated data."

Total cases: So far, there have been a total of 50,385 reported COVID-19 cases and 800 virus-related deaths. San Bernardino County is reporting the fourth-highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the state after Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange counties.

Active cases: The county's total amount of known active coronavirus cases stands at 5,596. This total is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total, 50,385.

Recoveries: According to the county, a total of 44,989 people have recovered, which is about 89.2% of its overall number of cases.

Tests: Health officials on Friday reported that 536,267coronavirus tests have been conducted in the county, including 4,381 tests that were added since Thursday. The county, which has a target of 3,288 tests per day, launched a new billboard campaign urging people to get tested, even if they don't have symptoms.

Who is contracting the virus?

About 53% of cases in the county are in people under the age of 40. The cases, broken down by age bracket, are as follows:

3,347 (6.6%) cases are among people ages 0 to 14 2,614 (5.2%) cases are among people ages 15-19 11,411 (22.7%) cases are among people ages 20-29 9,500 (18.9%) cases are among people ages 30-39 8,260 (16.4%) cases are among people ages 40-49

https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2020/09/11/covid-19-san-bernardino-county-reports-9-44-positivity-rate/5773564002/ Page 2 of 4 COVID-19: San Bernardino County reports 7.5% positivity rate 9/13/20, 8:47 AM

7,364 (14.6%) cases are among people ages 50-59 4,381 (8.7%) cases are among people ages 60-69 3,416 (6.8%) cases are among people older than 70 The ages for 62 cases (0.1%) are unknown

About 78% of virus-related deaths in the county are over the age of 60. The deaths, broken down by age bracket, are as follows:

0 (0%) deaths are among people ages 0 to 14 0 (0%) deaths are among people ages 15-19 5 (0.4%) deaths are among people ages 20-29 28 (3.4%) deaths are among people ages 30-39 40 (5%) deaths are among people ages 40-49 102 (12.9%) deaths are among people ages 50-59 167 (20.4%) deaths are among people ages 60-69 458 (57.9%) deaths are among people older than 70

Where are the cases?

Here is Friday's list of confirmed cases and deaths in the High Desert, with increases from the previous day's tally in parentheses:

Adelanto: 750 cases (+3), 19 deaths Apple Valley: 1,090 cases (+11), 22 deaths Baker: 12 cases Baldy Mesa: 1 case Barstow: 284 cases (+4), 9 deaths Daggett: 1 cases Helendale: 56 cases, 1 death Hesperia: 1,858 cases (+8), 24 deaths Hinkley: 7 cases Joshua Tree: 72 cases, 2 deaths Landers: 9 cases, 1 death https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2020/09/11/covid-19-san-bernardino-county-reports-9-44-positivity-rate/5773564002/ Page 3 of 4 COVID-19: San Bernardino County reports 7.5% positivity rate 9/13/20, 8:47 AM

Lucerne Valley: 23 cases, 2 deaths Morongo Valley: 38 cases Needles: 48 cases Newberry Springs: 9 cases (+2) Oak Hills: 183 cases (-1), 1 death Oro Grande: 15 cases, 1 death Phelan: 201 cases, 3 deaths Piñon Hills: 56 cases Pioneertown: 2 cases Trona: 8 cases Twentynine Palms: 79 cases (+1), 1 death Victorville: 3,213 cases (+17), 29 deaths Yermo: 12 cases Yucca Valley: 229 cases (+1), 14 deaths

Here is the list of cases and deaths in the mountain communities:

Angelus Oaks: 2 cases Big Bear City: 37 cases Big Bear Lake: 52 cases (+1) Blue Jay: 12 cases, 1 death Cedar Glen: 7 cases Crestline: 68 cases, 3 deaths Fawnskin: 2 cases Forest Falls: 6 cases Rimforest: 4 cases Running Springs: 25 cases Sugarloaf: 12 cases Twin Peaks: 11 cases (+1), 1 death Wrightwood: 27 cases (+2)

https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2020/09/11/covid-19-san-bernardino-county-reports-9-44-positivity-rate/5773564002/ Page 4 of 4 Coronavirus state tracker: New cases, deaths and hospitalizations seeing declines across the state – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:38 AM

LOCAL NEWS • News Coronavirus state tracker: New cases, deaths and hospitalizations seeing declines across the state

Coronavirus state tracker: New cases, deaths and hospitalizations seeing declines across the state

By JEFF GOERTZEN | [email protected] | Orange County Register PUBLISHED: September 12, 2020 at 4:59 p.m. | UPDATED: September 12, 2020 at 4:59 p.m.

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/12/coronavirus-state-tracker-new-cases-deaths-and-hospitalizations-seeing-declines-across-the-state/ Page 1 of 6 Coronavirus state tracker: New cases, deaths and hospitalizations seeing declines across the state – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:38 AM

Daily coronavirus cases and 14-day totals of cases per 100,000 people are seeing declines across the state.

According to an analysis by the Southern California News Group, the seven-day average of 3,546 new cases from the coronavirus represents a 71% decline since its high of 9,935, July 23, according to an analysis of data from public health websites Saturday.

The seven-day average of 88 new deaths is a 41% drop from its Aug. 15 high of 150.

A comparison of 14-day totals of new cases per 100,000 between Aug. 29 and Sept. 11 also showed the state had a 27.6% drop in new cases per 100K from the previous 14- day totals, with 48 of the 58 counties showing declines.

Hospitalizations statewide are down 56% from their July 21 high of 8,820. According to health agencies, there were 3,848 people in the hospital for COVID-related reasons on Friday, 175 fewer than reported the previous day.

California reported 2,067 new cases as of Sept. 12, bringing the total of those infected with the coronavirus to 754,501. There were 92 new deaths reported Saturday, or 14,297 total deaths.

All data on the state tracker is preliminary and subject to change.

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/12/coronavirus-state-tracker-new-cases-deaths-and-hospitalizations-seeing-declines-across-the-state/ Page 2 of 6 Coronavirus state tracker: New cases, deaths and hospitalizations seeing declines across the state – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:38 AM

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/12/coronavirus-state-tracker-new-cases-deaths-and-hospitalizations-seeing-declines-across-the-state/ Page 3 of 6 Coronavirus state tracker: New cases, deaths and hospitalizations seeing declines across the state – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:38 AM

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Johns Hopkins University, the World Health Organization, the California Department of Public Health, The Associated Press, reporting counties and news sources

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https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/12/coronavirus-state-tracker-new-cases-deaths-and-hospitalizations-seeing-declines-across-the-state/ Page 4 of 6 Libraries Back Open in San Bernardino County 9/13/20, 9:18 AM

SFV / VENTURA | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

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HUMAN INTEREST Libraries Back Open in San Bernardino County

BY KIM PASSOTH | CHINO PUBLISHED 5:11 PM ET SEP. 12, 2020

CHINO, Calif. — Libraries in San Bernardino County, including four located on school campuses, have reopened to the public but with major changes to ensure safety.

https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/san-fernando-valley-ventura/education/2020/09/12/libraries-back-open-in-san-bernardino-county Page 1 of 5 Libraries Back Open in San Bernardino County 9/13/20, 9:18 AM

Most libraries are operating with limited hours Tuesday through Thursday and Saturdays. The library in Chino is not far from the senior apartments where Joy Boese, 75, lives. Until COVID-19 shut the library down in March, she’d visit every day. “I’ve known all the librarians for 17 years,” Boese said. The staﬀ is like a second family, and the facility with computers, air conditioning, and collection of books is like a second home that Boese relies on for her basic needs. “The hardest part about not having the library was no internet,” Boese said. Now Boese is limited to an hour a day since the library reopened, but she’s glad to have it. “I am very happy,” Boese stated. “For us, it was very important to get them open again,” said Michael Jimenez, a San Bernardino County librarian. He knows people like Boese rely on their local library, especially during diﬃcult economic times.

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“It’s a place that folks can go to get the resources that they need, whether they have the money to do it or not,” Jimenez said. “We have put a lot of thought and eﬀort into ensuring that we have the safest environment possible.” There are temperature checks at the front door, all of the furniture and computers have been rearranged to allow for social distancing, a monitor disinfects an area after it has been used, books can be checked out from a smartphone, and returned books are quarantined for four days.

https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/san-fernando-valley-ventura/education/2020/09/12/libraries-back-open-in-san-bernardino-county Page 2 of 5 Libraries Back Open in San Bernardino County 9/13/20, 9:18 AM

In a typical year, more than a million people visit the libraries in San Bernardino County, the largest county in the nation. While the libraries in San Bernardino County were closed, all employees kept their jobs working at COVID-19 testing sites and as contact tracers. Visit the San Bernardino County library website to check if your local library is open.

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In the Inland Empire, seven sectors cost Black workers over 600 jobs each. Altogether, these sectors saw 133,733 or 75.1% of the 178,100 total job loss from 2019-2020. Black workers lost 7.5% or 9,988 of these positions.

Looking at these sectors, the eating and drinking establishments were hit the hardest. Here, 55,967 workers were laid off or 31.4% of the 178,100 lost jobs. An estimated 7.8% of employees in the sector are Black, meaning that community lost 4,360 jobs.

READ MORE: How the Inland Empire’s Hispanic community has been impacted by the shutdown

Ranked second were retail outlets after most were either ordered closed or shutdown due to lack of demand. In the Inland counties, 26,733 jobs were lost as a result. That represented 15.0% of the total decline in local positions. In these stores, an estimated 6.6% of workers were Black. Their loss was 1,773 jobs.

People have largely stopped traveling due to the coronavirus, hurting the travel and hotel industries. Locally, 9,467 jobs were lost from second quarter 2019 to second quarter 2020 with maids, bartenders, front-desk workers, janitors and management staff laid off. They represented 5.3% of total lost positions. Black workers hold 10.3% of the local sector’s jobs meaning a loss of work for 978 people.

With the schools largely not opened by second quarter 2020, the Inland Empire’s elementary and high schools laid off 12,733 people. That was 7.1% of the total job decline. Black employees represented 6.6% or 841 of these jobs.

Inland Empire manufacturers have slowed down as the pandemic caused less demand for goods. As a result, 11,600 production jobs were lost jobs or 6.5% of the 178,100 total decline. Black manufacturing employment is an estimated 6.2% of the sector’s workers. That translates into 713 jobs lost.

Service workers were the next largest group hit hard. They include such groups as hair stylists, barbers, gardeners, auto mechanics and household helpers. Their decline of 11,700 jobs was 6.6% of the total Inland Empire job loss. In these fields, an estimated 5.8% of workers were Black, meaning a combined decline of 678 jobs.

Many of the people working in social assistance agencies RELATED ARTICLES and non-profits are Black. With the slowdown and drying up

Soaring lumber prices a hurdle for of contributions, the sector has been forced to lay off homebuilding’s rebound workers. Altogether, 5,567 jobs were lost or 3.1% of the total job loss. In this group, 11.6% of workers are estimated Grand Terrace helps small businesses to be Black with 646 losing their positions. pay their leases amid coronavirus pandemic Finally, in the 19 sectors not described here, the Inland

Poll: Share of young adults living with Empire saw another 44,367 jobs disappear. Together, they parents higher now than Great represented 24.9% of all jobs lost. Of these positions, 2,653 Depression or an estimated 6.0% were lost by Black workers. Including these losses, the total impact on the Black community of California jobless claims rise again the coronavirus downturn was a loss of 12,641 jobs or Aztec pivots amid COVID-19, pitching its 7.1% of the 178,100 total employment decline. tents to schools, restaurants, hospitals John E. Husing, Ph.D., Vice President, Economics & Politics, Inc., Chief Economist Emeritus, Inland Empire Economic Partnership

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https://www.sbsun.com/...nland-empire/?utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social[9/14/2020 8:55:33 AM] 9/13/20, 8:53 AM

Live events a no-show despite eased rules

Entertainment venues are slow to reopen as Maryland lifts limits. Is it a sign of what’s in store for other states?

IN MARYLAND, Merriweather Post Pavilion, shown in 2015, didn’t open this year. Rules that capped capacity at 50%, or 100 people inside and 250 outside, whichever is lower, made it unfeasible for the venue to reopen. (Kyle Gustafson For the Washington Post)

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BY BRIAN CONTRERAS WASHINGTON — In a normal year, Merriweather Post Pavilion draws fans from up and down the mid-Atlantic region to sit on its long, grassy lawn and enjoy live music. But Merriweather, which is southwest of Baltimore, didn’t open this year because of the coronavirus crisis. In theory, that could have changed Sept. 4, when Maryland entered Stage 3 of its coronavirus reopening plan. The new regulations allowed many in-person entertainment businesses, including movie theaters and live-music venues, to open for the first time since March. But the rules also capped capacity at 50%, or 100 people indoors and 250 outdoors, whichever is lower. And local governments retain the power to enforce more stringent rules. Merriweather got “no relief” under those restrictions, said Audrey Schaefer, the venue’s spokeswoman. “Our normal shows are 6,000 to 18,000. We have more than 250 people working a show normally.” Maryland’s movie theaters and music venues, many of which remain closed, may offer a preview of what’s to come for Los Angeles and other parts of the country where commercial entertainment venues remain off limits. Even when state and local governments ease regulations, as Orange County has done, the pandemic can produce a reality on the ground strikingly different from the one on paper. Joi Brown, artistic director at Strathmore, a multidisciplinary arts center outside Washington whose primary performance spaces are closed, said the slow restart isn’t surprising.

“What’s clear is that the entire live events and arts economy will not look the same for many years,” Brown said in an email. “There’s no light switch, so it will come back in segments and will look different than it did before.”

Capacity limits aren’t the only problem. The live entertainment industry has largely ground to a standstill, and a lack of touring artists makes reopening an unrealistic option for many venues.

“Bands aren’t going to tour until there’s uniformity of reopening across the country,” Schaefer said. “It’s just too expensive to design a tour, mount it, get everybody on the bus and hit one town, have to skip the next seven and then go to the eighth.” Movie theaters face a similar dearth of content. Kathleen Lyon co-owns two theaters in

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Baltimore, the Senator and the Charles. Yet while the Senator has reopened, buoyed by the release of Christopher Nolan’s spy thriller “Tenet,” the Charles remains closed. “The issue with the Charles theater … is it plays art films and documentaries and foreign films,” Lyon said. “Everything came to a standstill, but the art market even more dramatically came to a standstill.” After Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan eased the regulations Sept. 1, some theaters scrambled to reopen. The hustle seems to have paid off at the Senator, where “Tenet” is playing in three of the four auditoriums. Lyon said she plans to continue screening “Tenet” until “Wonder Woman 1984” arrives in early October — but Deadline reports that the superhero film might get bumped back to the winter. And as releases get delayed, theaters are being required by film studios to screen the few movies that do come out for longer, said Anthony Fykes, co-founder of Next Act Cinema, an independent theater in Pikesville, Md. “If we’re forced to keep [playing] a movie, within the fourth or fifth week … attendance is definitely going to be down,” Fykes said. “And then there’s nothing else to come out that third or fourth week to make up that revenue.” For venues that remain closed, the future is even less clear. A lot hinges on when the public feels comfortable going out, regardless of when it’s allowed to. Sandra Gibson, executive director of the Maryland Film Festival, which owns and operates the temporarily closed Parkway theater in Baltimore, said that business in the surrounding arts and entertainment district “has come to a grinding halt.”

“Just because we can open doesn’t mean we will,” Gibson said.

Supply-chain problems have also slowed reopenings. The Parkway is still waiting to receive the sanitation chemicals needed for its new disinfecting fog machine, Gibson said.

For now, some theaters and music venues are finding new ways to stay relevant.

Lyon said her theaters have hosted virtual screenings. But it’s been hard to compete with Netflix and other big names in streaming, let alone do so with the “teeny-tiny titles” she has access to. The Parkway is also running a virtual theater, while repurposing its physical building as a TV and film studio, Gibson said.

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And at Merriweather, the musical acts eliminated by the pandemic have been replaced with one of the few remaining in-person activities: testing for the coronavirus. “That’s not a revenue stream, but it’s something that we’ve got the outdoor facility to do,” Schaefer said. “We wanted to help.”

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The Desert Trail Council will re-examine vacation home rental rules

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Nutritional Services employees Susie Katona, Melanie Duncan, Heidi Baker, Mary Abernethy, Sarah Mayer and Teresa Roeber work at Yucca Valley High School Thursday.

News New commander takes charge of School leaders reveal plan to combat combat center 'devastating' effects of pandemic

By Jené Estrada Sep 11, 2020 11:44 AM Hi-Desert Star

MORONGO BASIN — Morongo Uniﬁed School District leaders at a board meeting Tuesday night discussed their plan to test students more often and intervene quickly when they falter.

News Assistant Superintendent Amy Woods provided a rough draft of the learning continuity and attendance JT teachers get $2,000 to buy supplies plan, which is mandated by the state Department of Education. The state requires detailed information on how the district has been affected by COVID-19, how it has been communicating with families and community members, its distance learning and reopening plan and how to deal with pupil learning loss.

Woods noted that families in the Morongo Basin have been primarily affected ﬁnancially by the pandemic and the district is attempting to combat the problem by providing food and electronic

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devices. The Desert Trail Accident sends deputy to HDMC “The impact to our stakeholders and our community has been devastating,” Woods said.

“Many stakeholders lacked the ability to be able to provide the basics to their families and MUSD instituted a food/meal supply service for all stakeholders to ensure that Morongo Basin families had food.”

The district has allocated about $172,000 toward school nutrition and about $6 million for technological equipment.

The plan also lays out how student progress and attendance will be tracked this year. The district will News increase benchmark testing. Students will take benchmark tests in English and math twice a year and Planning commission takes the lead for now on native plant permits secondary-school students will take math placement tests at the start and end of the year. They will also be given science and social studies assessments.

Woods said in the plan that if a student is not succeeding or participating, their teacher and school administrators will intervene with two tiers of support. The student may be moved from the independent study program to the distance learning program or vice versa.

“When the teacher determines that the student is not making adequate progress, differentiations within the instruction will be implemented,” she said.

“If the instructional format itself is not working for that student, format changes can be made. Through !! assessment and interaction, student progress towards mastery of content standards will determine the !! effectiveness of student learning.” !!

The district set aside $500,000 for personnel and tutoring to address the learning loss students will face because of the pandemic.

MUSD also plans to spend $100,000 to train teachers to address students’ academic and social- emotional needs.

The plan goes on to give further details on how children who are learning English, are homeless, are low-income or have special learning needs will be supported. To view the plan visit https://tinyurl.com/y3zsvuv3.

The plan Woods presented to the board of education Tuesday was a rough draft. “It will go back to the county and you will have a ﬁnal copy on the 22nd,” she said.

https://hidesertstar.com/news/178117/school-leaders-reveal-plan-to-combat-devastating-effects-of-pandemic/ Page 2 of 3 More progress made safeguarding San Bernardino Mountains communities from El Dorado fire – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:39 AM

NEWS!CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY • News More progress made safeguarding San Bernardino Mountains communities from El Dorado fire

Elkhorn General Store is closed on Valley of the Falls Drive as the tow is still evacuated due to the El Dorado Fire in Forest Falls on Friday, September 11, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

By BRIAN ROKOS | [email protected] | The Press-Enterprise PUBLISHED: September 12, 2020 at 10:23 a.m. | UPDATED: September 12, 2020 at 6:51 p.m.

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Crews on the El Dorado !re burning in the San Bernardino National Forest on Saturday, Sept. 12, continued to shore up the containment lines near Forest Falls and Mountain Home Village.

The "ames were moving laterally along the creek in that area.

“This has allowed !re crews a good opportunity to continue to prepare the area with securing handlines and increasing defensible space,” U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Kate Kramer said.

The latest numbers Saturday evening showed 14,212 acres had burned with 41% containment of the "ames. Containment was up from 37% Friday night. Containment is the area of a !re that !re!ghters have surrounded, usually with hand lines, bulldozer lines, !re retardant, or landmarks such as roads or rivers that the "ames are not expected to jump.

RELATED: This map shows the location of the El Dorado !re in Yucaipa

No additional homes have burned since the last update that reported four had been destroyed and two had been damaged. Several outbuildings have also burned.

A bulldozer line has been carved north of the !re perimeter and south of Angelus Oaks from Highway 38 eastward to the 2015 Lake Fire scar.

Smoke continues to be seen in Wildwood Canyon, but those "ames are not expected to jump the lines, Kramer said.

“We couldn’t be any happier,” San Bernardino County Fire Chief Dan Munsey said in a Facebook video. “We’re reaching some major milestones to be able to really button this thing up.”

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Highway 38 remains closed between Bryant Street and Lake Williams Drive.

Only residents and employees of businesses and business support services have access to Oak Glen Road between lower Potato Canyon Road and Pine Bench Road.

All evacuation orders and warnings have been li#ed for Riverside County, but some areas of San Bernardino County remain under evacuation orders: the neighborhood bordered by Bryant Street on the west, Carter Street on the south, Je$erson Street on the east and Highway 38 to the north. Angelus Oaks, Forest Falls and Mountain Home Village also remain under evacuation orders.

The areas bounded by north of Oak Glen Road, west of Bryant Street, south of Highway 38 and east of Garnet Street are under an evacuation warning, which means that residents need to be prepared to evacuate.

More than 1,400 !re!ghters were battling the blaze Saturday.

#ElDoradoFire Morning Update Acres: 14,043 Containment: 39% Personnel: 1,465 More: https://t.co/GQgLVT8nlq pic.twitter.com/iwqvxhVZf2

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/12/more-progress-made-safeguarding-san-bernardino-mountains-communities-from-el-dorado-fire/— San Bernardino Page 3 of 6 Some evacuations lifted in El Dorado fire, and a few Oak Glen apple farms reopen – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 4:07 PM

NEWS!CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY Some evacuations lifted in El Dorado fire, and a few Oak Glen apple farms reopen

The air quality in SoCal is extremely bad as smoke from the El Dorado Fire and others ﬁll the sky partially blocking the sun with a tree in the roundabout at Yucaipa Blvd and California Street in the foreground in Yucaipa on Friday, September 11, 2020. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

By RICHARD K. DE ATLEY | [email protected] | The Press-Enterprise PUBLISHED: September 13, 2020 at 8:58 a.m. | UPDATED: September 13, 2020 at 12:47 p.m.

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/13/some-evacuations-lifted-in-el-dorado-fire/ Page 1 of 6 Some evacuations lifted in El Dorado fire, and a few Oak Glen apple farms reopen – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 4:07 PM

El Dorado !re evacuations and restrictions were li"ed Sunday for Yucaipa, Oak Glen and Mentone, a week and a day a"er the 14,283-acre wild!re investigators said was started by a smoke bomb at a gender-reveal photo shoot burned four homes and forced about 20,000 people to #ee under orders.

The evacuations were li"ed at 7 a.m. Along with Saturday’s re-opening of Oak Glen Road, some of the apple-picking farms in the Oak Glen area have re-opened, as well as the Oak Glen Preserve and Southern California Montane Botanic Garden.

The El Dorado !re’s start on Labor Day weekend wrecked the traditional start of apple and raspberry picking season for the farms, restaurants and shops in Oak Glen.

Still under evacuation orders and restrictions Sunday morning were Mountain Home Village, Forest Falls, Angelus Oaks and Seven Oaks. Highway 38 remained closed from Bryant Street to Onyx Summit.

In Oak Glen, Riley’s at Los Rios Rancho and Mom’s Country Orchards opened Saturday and Parrish Pioneer Ranch was back in business Sunday. Snowline Orchard and Winery said in its Facebook posting it would open again for business on Monday.

“The hurdles and challenges this year have been just plain hard, but the outpouring of love, encouragement, prayers, and support have been nothing short of amazing!,” Snowline’s Facebook posting said.

It would be best to check !rst with a business in Oak Glen to see when it will resume.

The !re was 41% contained. Fire authorities urged residents in the !re to remain cautious a"er the partial li" of evacuations.

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The !re was described Sunday as having “minimal growth” overnight, with crews worker to secure the !re’s perimeter, including extending containment lines along Mill Creek from Vivian Creek to the Apple !re scar.

Bulldozer lines have been made south of Angelus Oaks along Highway 38 to protect that community, and crews worked to build a line in the Skinner Creek area above the highway. Crews were in place to defend homes in Forest Falls as the !re moved slowly down slope above the town, !re!ghters said.

Containment is when !re!ghters create and hold a !re break around the perimeter of a wild!re.

#ElDoradoFire Update 09/13/2020 Incident Management Team 11 Daniel Diaz of the Operations Section giving a recap on fire activity on the El Dorado Fire.https://t.co/rg4q8k6g1D — San Bernardino National Forest (@SanBernardinoNF) September 13, 2020

More than 1,400 !re!ghting personnel were at the blaze.

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The San Bernardino National Forest remained closed Sunday.

Ten injuries were reported Sunday, up from !ve reported on previous days. Cal Fire spokeswoman Cathey Mattingly said Sunday a"ernoon no details were available about the injuries.

In addition to four destroyed homes, the !re that started the morning of Sept. 5 in Yucaipa’s El Dorado Ranch Park damaged two others. Six other structures that were not dwellings were also burned and four were damaged.

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https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/13/some-evacuations-lifted-in-el-dorado-fire/ Page 4 of 6 How to help – or at least not hinder – firefighters as they battle wildfires and try to save homes – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:40 AM

NEWS!CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY • News How to help – or at least not hinder – firefighters as they battle wildfires and try to save homes

Fireﬁghters work to save homes in the 394000 block of Canyon Drive in Forest Falls Wednesday afternoon Sept. 9, 2020. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

By ALMA FAUSTO | [email protected] | Orange County Register PUBLISHED: September 11, 2020 at 5:36 p.m. | UPDATED: September 12, 2020 at 5:34 p.m.

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It’s not even the height of wild!re season, but resources are spread thin as !re!ghters battle multiple, massive !res around California, including some in our backyards.

More than 20 million acres – a modern-day record – have burned in the state so far in 2020.

And the worst, likely, is yet to come.

While there o"en are summer wild!res, the state’s most destructive blazes typically occur in the fall. But the dry vegetation already prevalent in the region heightens the risk that !res will continue before then.

As !re!ghters gird against fatigue, they want residents to understand how to help themselves and those on the front lines.

“People can think of it as being our teammates and setting all of us up for success,” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg Barta said. “They should pay attention to what they’re doing and think about how that could start a !re or how that will a#ect our response.”

Here’s what they want us to do.

Know your routes

Tra$c gridlock hampered evacuations during the Canyon 2 !re in 2017, said Anaheim Fire & Rescue spokesman Shane Carringer. That 9,217-acre blaze, which took nine days to contain, was the biggest !re to hit Orange County in nearly a decade and forced several thousand people to %ee dozens of neighborhoods, namely in Anaheim Hills.

People trying to evacuate can make it hard for emergency vehicles trying to get in, Carringer said, especially in canyon areas and where there are narrower roads. So residents, especially those in isolated communities, should know what the best routes out of the area are.

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Since the Canyon 2 !re, Anaheim authorities have created maps —available on the city’s site— outlining evacuation routes based around major streets including Weir Canyon Road, Fairmont Boulevard and Santa Ana Canyon Road.

“Those residents should be familiar with that evacuation plan so they can safely evacuate,” Carringer said. “But it’s also designed to help !rst responder vehicles to get up there safely.”

Get out when you’re told to

When you’re told to evacuate, do it. Take what you can’t live without such as medications, baby food, pet food and important documents. But most importantly, get out.

“We understand that folks want to stay back and want to protect their homes but it really compounds the problem for us,” said inspector Sean Ferguson of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

“These !res are emitting a tremendous radiant heat and a garden hose is going to do next to nothing,” Ferguson said. “We have the training, the equipment and we’re ready to get in there.

“Let us do our job.”

Barta added that those who stay behind risk getting hurt and needing help.

“It becomes an incident within an incident,” Barta said. “We’re still battling a !re but we have to perform a rescue to provide an exit from an environment they should haven’t have been in.”

‘Harden’ your home

Everyone should know this part by now. And yet.

Fire authorities all echo that preparation is key especially when there’s already a !re burning near your area.

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“Break the fuel continuity by managing the grasses, cutting back shrubs, removing dead fuels and keeping a clear perimeter around your house,” Ferguson said.

“We don’t want trees hanging over your house near your chimney … and we don’t want to see large wood piles located directly to your home.”

By doing that, you lessen the work !re!ghters have when they’re safeguarding homes during a blaze, Ferguson said.

“The less amount of time we have to spend on each individual home,” he said, “the more homes we can get to to protect.”

Make way for !rst responders

Earlier this week, Laguna Beach city o$cials advised residents to avoid parking on narrow streets, to make it easier for !rst responders to get into neighborhoods.

The city and its !re authorities have long formed plans to shield the city from brush !res, in the wake of a 1993 disaster that torched 14,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes.

Councilwoman Toni Iseman said in a meeting this week that the way people park their cars in those narrow streets could hinder !re engines from getting past. It was suggested curbs in the area be painted red to restrict parking.

“If we don’t do it immediately, we’ll have people trapped in neighborhoods,” Iseman said.

In canyon areas, roads are steep and winding, Ferguson said. So the sooner people evacuate and clear the roads of cars, the better the access for emergency vehicles.

“We’re trying to get in there quickly and it can be dangerous,” he said.

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Don’t ask for trouble

Because of the El Dorado !re, authorities in Big Bear are asking people to not visit the popular mountain community. By Saturday morning, that blaze had burned more than 14,000 acres.

Big Bear is not under evacuation orders, nor is it in imminent danger, but authorities still are concerned about too many people on the routes out of the city in case of an emergency.

“Access to and from the Big Bear Valley is currently limited to (state highway) 18 only, and a lower population in the Big Bear Valley will enable a faster, more e$cient evacuation if ultimately necessary, ” Big Bear city o$cials announced.

For those not immediately a#ected by !res, there are still ways to be helpful. In Orange County, the number of hikers who have needed helicopter rescues has skyrocketed.

“When a helicopter is busy doing that they can’t assist on !re responses,” Barta said. Authorities say the warm weather and recent closures of gyms have fueled the uptick in outdoor activities, but those sometimes lead to people needing medical help.

“If we can get a helicopter making drops (of water) early in a !re then we can mitigate that,” Barta said. “But all that time we’re doing medical aids is time that helicopter isn’t on a !re.”

Be mindful of your physical limitations, Barta said. Hike with partners, be hydrated and bring a cellphone.

“Set yourself up for success.”

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Another way to help – don’t be a lookie-loo. In Monrovia, under an evacuation warning due to the Bobcat !re, which grew to 29,245-acres by Saturday, tra$c gathered in the north end of the city with people wanting to see and photograph the blaze, police said.

“We are asking all non-residents to refrain from traveling above Foothill Blvd and impeding potential evacuation routes,” the Monrovia Police Department requested on social media.

And when it comes to gender reveal party explosions, like the one authorities say started the El Dorado !re nearly a week ago, and one that sparked an $8 million wild!re in Arizona in 2018, just don’t.

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California’s climate apocalypse

Fires, heat, air pollution: The calamity is no longer in the future — it’s here, now

BY SUSANNE RUST AND TONY BARBOZA In 2001, a team of international scientists projected that during the next 100 years,third United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report the planet’s inhabitants would witness higher maximum temperatures, more hot days and heat waves, an increase in the risk of forest fires and “substantially degraded air quality” in large metropolitan areas as a result of climate change. In just the past month, nearly two decades after the was issued, heat records were busted across California, more than 3 million acres of land burned, and air pollution has skyrocketed in major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. “This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone,” said Michael Gerrard, director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. “Maybe we underestimated the magnitude and speed” at which these events would occur, he said, but “we’ve seen this long freight train barreling down on us for decades, and now the locomotive is on top of us, with no caboose in sight.”

In a matter of weeks, California has experienced six of the 20 largest wildfires in the state’s modern history and toppled all-time temperature records from the desert to the coast.

Millions are suffering from some of the worst air quality in years due to heat-triggered smog and fire smoke. A sooty plume has blanketed most of the West Coast, blotting out the sun and threatening people’s lungs during a deadly pandemic. California is being pushed to extremes. And the record heat, fires and pollution all have one thing in common: They were made worse by climate change. Their convergence is perhaps the strongest signal yet that the calamity climate scientists have warned of for years isn’t far off in the future; it is here today and can no longer be ignored.

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“What we’ve been seeing in California are some of the clearest events where we can say this is climate change — that climate change has clearly made this worse,” said Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist at the Breakthrough Institute, an Oakland-based think tank. “People who have lived in California for 30, 40 years are saying this is unprecedented, it has never been this hot, it has never been this smoky in all the years I’ve lived here.” Unprecedented, yes. But not unexpected. Since the 1980s, government and oil industry scientists have been anticipating the events that have transpired across the state this past month. As one 1988 internal Shell Oil Co. document noted, “by the time the global warming becomes detectable it could be too late to take effective countermeasures to reduce the effects or even to stabilize the situation.” “I’m only sorry that in 1989, I could not get an audience for what I wanted to communicate,” said Jim Hansen, a retired NASA researcher and early climate-change scientist, of testimony he made to Congress about the issue. Record highs Each of the extremes Californians are living through right now is fueled, at least in part, by the gradual warming of the planet, which is accelerating as greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. California summers are 2.5 degrees warmer than they were in the 1970s and are on track to heat up an additional 4.5 degrees by the end of the century if the world’s current emissions trajectory continues, said Hausfather. While precise attribution studies on the extreme heat waves in California in recent weeks will take time to complete, he said, they are clear examples of how climate change compounds natural weather variability to increase the likelihood of what once would have been a rare event.

“In a world without climate change, it still would have been a hot August; we still would have had some fires. But it’s clear that climate change has made things notably worse,” he said. “An extreme heat event that would have been 100 degrees is now 102.5 or 103 degrees, and that is actually a pretty big difference in terms of the impacts on people.” During the mid-August heat wave, Death Valley soared to 130 degrees, one of the hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth. Another ferocious heat wave over the Labor Day weekend brought Death Valley-like heat to other areas. Los Angeles County had its hottest temperature on record when Woodland Hills hit 121 degrees Sept. 6. At Cal Poly San Luis

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Obispo, the temperature reached 120 degrees, the highest reading since recordkeeping began in 1869, in an area less than 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean. John Lindsey, a marine meteorologist with Pacific Gas and Electric, said temperatures rose to unprecedented levels in San Luis Obispo due to hot, downslope winds blowing from the northeast. Known locally as Santa Lucia winds, they can increase temperatures by 5.5 degrees for every 1,000 feet they descend. “It was just rip-roaring hot,” said Lindsey, who has forecast weather along the Central Coast since 1991. “You just don’t expect Death Valley temperatures along coastal California.” Lindsey, who acknowledges that he was a bit of a climate skeptic in the past, said seeing the increase in seawater temperatures, in particular, over many years “was a real epiphany or wake-up call.” “By now, there’s no doubt in most people’s minds that the atmosphere is warming and the ocean is warming,” he said. “With the way greenhouse gases are increasing, in my mind, there’s no doubt that we’re causing this. It’s human activity that’s causing this. So I’m concerned about the future. And that’s somebody who’s very skeptical.” Global warming has increased the odds of unprecedented heat extremes across more than 80% of the planet and “has doubled or even, in some areas, tripled the odds of record- setting hot events” in California and the Western U.S., said Stanford University climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh. Unprecedented fires When it comes to wildfires, “what we’ve had in California over the last three to four weeks is unprecedented in our historical experience,” Diffenbaugh said. “This is more extreme than any other year in living memory,” he said, and is consistent with the impact of global warming.

Research by Diffenbaugh and colleagues published last month found that the number of days with extreme wildfire weather in California has more than doubled since the early 1980s, primarily due to warming temperatures drying out vegetation.

“It means that even with no change in the frequency of strong wind events, even with no change in the frequency of lightning, the risk of wildfire and risk of large, rapidly growing wildfires goes up as a result of the effect of that warming,” he said. And it’s that atmospheric warming that has set the stage for the fires raging in the western U.S., said Park Williams, a hydroclimatologist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty

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Earth Observatory. “If we think of the atmosphere as a giant sponge that’s always trying to extract water from the landscape, then temperature increases the sponginess,” he said. As soils become drier, heat waves become more intense. That’s because the energy in the atmosphere is no longer being used in evaporation but is just building up heat. And as heat increases, and soils — and, therefore, fuel for fire — dry out, the risk grows, laying the foundation for the type of wild and destructive fires we are now observing. “That’s why, I think, you keep reading quotes from these firefighters who say they are seeing fire behavior unlike anything they’ve seen before,” he said. “As we go out in the future, in a world with this exponentially growing risk … we’re going to see fires far different than we’ve seen before.” He noted that fires are not unusual in California — they are an integral part of the state’s history and landscape. Bad forest management, combined with human behavior — intentional and unintentional starting of fires — have contributed to the problem. But the effect of climate change is real and growing. “We have seen the rapid warming of California summers really turbocharge the type of conditions that are suitable for rapid growth of wildfires,” Hausfather said. “We see fires growing from essentially nothing to a quarter of a million acres in one day. And that’s because the conditions are ripe, and temperature plays a large role.” John Abatzoglou, associate professor in the Department of Management of Complex Systems at UC Merced, agreed. “What we are seeing play out does indeed have human fingerprints on it, including those from climate change,” he said. “We can see how warm and dry years catalyze these fires,” he said, adding that for fires to start, however, “they need to have ignitions. But the heat and dryness have absolutely set the table for widespread fire activity.” Dreadful air quality It was no coincidence that ozone pollution levels in downtown L.A. spiked to their highest levels since the mid-1990s on a day in which temperatures reached an all-time high for the county, said Cesunica Ivey, an assistant professor of chemical and environmental engineering at UC Riverside who studies air quality. The global rise in temperatures observed over decades is also occurring locally, she said, “and these frequently occurring heat waves, this upward trend in basin-wide average

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temperature, is contributing to ozone exacerbation.” Southern California regulators have seen decades of progress fighting smog stymied in recent years by hotter weather and stronger, more persistent inversion layers that trap pollution near the ground. Their efforts are being hindered by rising temperatures from climate change, according to air quality experts. That’s because hotter weather speeds up the photochemical reactions that turn pollutants from vehicle tailpipes and other sources into ozone, the invisible, lung-damaging gas in summer smog. Studies show that ozone levels are about two parts per billion higher than they would be without global warming. What precisely is driving changes such as elevated smog levels can be hard to tease out in the middle of an extreme event because so much is happening at once, with multiple hazards piling on top of each other in a vicious feedback loop. The recent heat spells, for instance, both fueled smog formation and led to power outages. Gov. Gavin Newsom suspended air quality rules on power plants and other polluters to ease strain on the grid, allowing more emissions to sully the air. The COVID-19 pandemic has added an additional layer of complexity at a time when Californians are trying to protect their homes, lungs and bodies from threats that seem to be coming from all sides. “When you add COVID, extreme heat, wildfires and air pollution all together, they’re all detrimental to public health, and it just makes things worse,” said Yifang Zhu, a professor of environmental health sciences at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health who studies air pollution and its effects. “These stressors are happening at the same time. So the impact is cumulative and maybe even synergistic to each other.” That cascading effect, in which one extreme compounds another, is a feature of global warming that experts have long warned about. Ivey said she and other scientists aren’t surprised to see so many extremes hitting simultaneously, “but to see it playing out is scary.”

“It’s one of those moments where ozone converged with record acres burned and a heat wave,” she said. “If the writing isn’t on the wall, then I don’t know what to tell folks.”

Global warming is also fueling increases in wildfire pollution, a mix of soot particles and gases that can fuel ozone formation and dramatically worsen smog. Those added emissions are only going to get worse as the severity and frequency of fires increases. “People may not directly connect local air pollution to global climate change, but they are intertwined,” said Zhu. “They are two sides of the same coin.” What this year’s extreme heat, fire and air quality degradation is showing, said Columbia’s https://enewspaper.latimes.com/desktop/latimes/default.aspx?edid=e8987281-10d0-4baf-9f9f-02b7000ecf50 Page 5 of 6 9/13/20, 8:52 AM

Williams, is that we are, in a sense, blindly stepping off a cliff from a world in which we could somewhat predict what was going to happen, based on decades and centuries of data. “We’re finding that we’ve lost complete control,” he said. “The baselines we’ve used for decades no longer apply. There really isn’t a normal anymore.”

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Newsom assails Trump over ‘climate damn emergency’

Governor also signs Assembly bill to make it easier for inmate firefighters to get licensed upon release.

GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM on Friday toured the North Complex fire zone in Butte County. He criticized administration rollbacks of environmental protections. (Pool Photo) BY TARYN LUNA

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SACRAMENTO — Standing among charred trees in Oroville, Gov. Gavin Newsom insisted that California will do more to fight climate change and took the Trump administration to task for its policies that reduce environmental protections. “People that want to roll back vehicle emission standards so you could spend more money at the pump and produce more greenhouse gas emissions, to create more of what you see around me — it’s beyond the pale of comprehension,” Newsom said. “We’re fighting against that and will prevail as long as more people come to this cause.” The governor warned that the problems facing West Coast states would soon be experienced across the country. “This is a climate damn emergency,” he said. “This is real, and it’s happening.” Newsom made a passionate argument for increasing efforts to address climate change as the number of acres that have burned in California so far this year topped 3 million, while other state and foreign governments sent resources to battle major blazes statewide. The governor also signed legislation Friday that would make it easier for inmate firefighters to have their records expunged in order to continue fighting blazes upon release. The California Legislature approved Assembly Bill 2147, introduced by Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace), with the intent of allowing inmate firefighters who put their lives on the line for very little compensation to have more opportunities to seek professional licenses in the state. Existing law requires former inmates to complete parole before they can apply to have their records expunged. The new law, which takes effect in January, states that inmates who participate in a state or county fire camp will be eligible to have their records expunged once they are released. If they successfully complete the process to have their records expunged, they will be able to seek professional state licenses.

“Rehabilitation without strategies to ensure the formerly incarcerated have a career is a pathway to recidivism,” Reyes said in a statement. “We must get serious about providing real pathways to employment for those that show the determination and commitment to turn their lives around.”

Although advocates hailed Newsom’s signature on the bill as a major step toward providing career opportunities to released prisoners, some worry that former inmate firefighters could struggle to find work because their criminal records would not be sealed and would therefore appear on background checks. The bill gained attention this year amid the major wildfires and after Newsom approved

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the early release of thousands of inmates as COVID-19 spread through the state prison system. The decision left the state short of inmate firefighters who work on hand crews to dig lines around fires. Despite boosting funding in recent years to hire more firefighters, invest in vegetation control projects, buy helicopters and airplanes and improve forest health, the pandemic and resulting economic meltdown left little money in this year’s state budget for new wildfire prevention efforts. Two last-minute attempts to free up millions in wildfire response and prevention funding fell flat late last month in the California Legislature. Newsom touted an agreement his administration made last month with the U.S. Forest Service, in which the federal government plans to match the state’s goal of treating 500,000 acres of forest land per year by 2025. But even under the new commitments, it could take decades to treat millions of acres of unhealthy forests in California. When asked if the state was doing enough to prevent and fight fires, Newsom said the extreme weather in California and historic number of lightning strikes over the summer would have overwhelmed even the “most abundant and well-resourced” agencies. Newsom said he spoke on the phone with President Trump on Thursday for nearly 30 minutes about California’s fires, emergency declarations and federal wildfire aid. The governor credited Trump for being “proactive” in his efforts to provide assistance to the state and expects him to say more publicly about the fire emergency. But in criticism that Newsom indicated was aimed not only at Trump, he encouraged people to vote for leaders who recognize the importance of the fight against climate change. “If people are still in denial, and they’re leading the charge of keeping you protected and keeping you healthy and safe ... they’re not truly, I think, positioned to be the kind of leaders that we need for your community, for the state and our nation into the future,” Newsom said. “This is that serious, and it requires a seriousness of purpose, a seriousness of understanding, a seriousness of consciousness around science and Mother Nature and the realities of the world.”

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NEWS As wildfires burn across state, local air quality expected to remain poor Martin Estacio Victorville Daily Press Published 5:15 p.m. PT Sep. 12, 2020

High Desert residents should expect to see hazy and smoke-filled skies for at least the next couple of days as large blazes continue to burn across the state in what so far has been a record-breaking wildfire season.

A temperature inversion at 10,000 feet Saturday was expected to “keep smoke from completely mixing out and keeping hazy skies” over the Inland Empire and desert area, said Rick Graw, air resource advisor for the El Dorado Fire.

He reported the same daily pattern would continue on Sunday, “transporting smoke to the east during the day and to the west overnight.”

The El Dorado Fire — which has burned more than 14,000 acres so far in the Yucaipa, Oak Glen and San Bernardino Mountains areas — is one of eight uncontained large fires in Southern California, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center.

Reports say 10 structures have either been damaged or destroyed.

As of Saturday, officials said the fire was 39% contained with over 1,400 firefighters battling it.

The 2020 fire season is already looking to be the largest in California’s history.

Last week, a Cal Fire official told CNN that more than 2,094,955 acres had burned so far — the equivalent of 10 New York cities.

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"This is crazy. We haven't even got into the October and November fire season, and we've broken the all-time record," Cal Fire Captain Richard Cordova said.

Six of the 20 largest wildfires in California history have started this year, according to the state fire agency, including the list’s No. 1 blaze, the August Complex Fire in Northern California.

At a cost so far of $24.5 million, the fire has charred more than 846,000 acres, destroyed 26 structures and left one person dead.

“Since the beginning of the year, wildfires have burned over 3.2 million acres in California, which is larger than the State of Connecticut,” Cal Fire said in a statement Saturday.

Since Aug. 15, more than 19 people have died with over 4,000 structures destroyed, the agency added.

With the increase in fire activity, local air quality officials are warning people of the potential hazards of breathing in what those blazes emit.

The Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory that has been in effect since Tuesday.

The agency said monitors and sensors had been showing varying levels of PM2.5, a pollutant found in wildfire smoke. Levels had ranged from unhealthy for sensitive groups to hazardous in general since Sunday — the day after the El Dorado Fire ignited from a gender-reveal pyrotechnic device.

PM2.5 is particulate matter thinner than the width of a human hair that can lodge itself in the lungs and cause serious health issues, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

“It’s been an exceptionally bad couple of weeks” for air quality, MDAQMD spokesperson Ryan Orr said.

Along with wildfire smoke, Orr said it is also the season for ground-level ozone, which is created when sunlight reacts with emissions from vehicles and industrial plants.

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According to the air quality website, AirNow.gov, most of California is experiencing either yellow (moderate) levels of air quality or red (unhealthy) levels as of Saturday.

People in areas of poor air quality should avoid vigorous outdoor or indoor activity, especially those with respiratory or heart disease, and older adults and children, the MDAQMD recommended.

Windows and doors should also be kept closed with air conditioning to provide recirculation.

Orr said the agency also tells people to follow a common sense approach.

“If you smell smoke, you’re breathing smoke,” he said.

Daily Press reporter Martin Estacio may be reached at 760-955-5358 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DP_mestacio.

https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2020/09/12/high-desert-air-quality-poor-fires-burn/5781565002/ Page 3 of 3 El Dorado fire threatening Angelus Oaks in the San Bernardino Mountains – Press Enterprise

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NEWSCRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY • News El Dorado fire threatening Angelus Oaks in the San Bernardino Mountains

   

https://www.pe.com/...untains/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_content=tw-pressenterprise&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social[9/14/2020 8:55:07 AM] El Dorado fire threatening Angelus Oaks in the San Bernardino Mountains – Press Enterprise

Smoke from the El Dorado Fire rises from a hillside behind homes in Forest Falls Thursday afternoon Sept. 10, 2020. (Photo by Will S Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

By RICHARD K. DE ATLEY | [email protected] | The Press-Enterprise  V PUBLISHED: September 14, 2020 at 8:41 a.m. | UPDATED: September 14, 2020 at 8:45 a.m. By

An early morning flareup by the El Dorado fire on Monday, Sept. 14, threatened the San Bernardino M Mountains community of Angelus Oaks – prompting an urgent message from authorities that anyone who remained in the town should leave immediately.

Angelus Oaks was already under evacuation orders.

“We have increased fire activity below Angelus Oaks,” in a creek area, Cal Fire spokeswoman Cathey Mattingly said.

Firefighters were in the town, with more being sent.

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The energized fire was sending a large plume of smoke up, she said.

The El Dorado fire, started by a smoke bomb set off at a gender-reveal photo shoot at a park in Yucaipa on Sept. 5, has burned 14,478 acres and was 44% contained as of Monday morning. Containment is the percentage of the fire’s perimeter that will no long expand, because of firefighters’ work or barriers such as roads and bodies of water.

In addition to Angelus Oaks, evacuation orders were in effect for Mountain Home, Forest Falls, 7 Oaks and the Barton Flats/Jenks Lake area.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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https://www.pe.com/...untains/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_content=tw-pressenterprise&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social[9/14/2020 8:55:07 AM] 9/11/2020 El Dorado fire flames are stopped short of Mountain Home Village – San Bernardino Sun

NEWSCRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY • News El Dorado fire flames are stopped short of Mountain Home Village

Firefighters watch as the El Dorado fire burns near the intersection of Highway 38 and Valley of the Falls Drive just west of Forest Falls Wednesday evening Sept. 9, 2020. The El Dorado fire burned into the mountain community of Forest Falls and threatened a number of homes. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

By BRIAN ROKOS || [email protected] || TheThe Press-EnterprisePress-Enterprise PUBLISHED: September 11, 2020 at 10:32 a.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: September 11, 2020 at 4:15 p.m.

Containment lines — both hand-built and natural — have slowed the spread of the El Dorado fire, particularly in the area of Mountain Home Village in the San Bernardino National Forest..

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/11/el-dorado-fire-flames-stop-short-of-mountain-home-village/ 1/6 9/11/2020 El Dorado fire flames are stopped short of Mountain Home Village – San Bernardino Sun The acres burned stood at 13,715 on Friday morning, Sept. 11, and containment grew to 31%.

“Fire crews made great progress last night in the containment of the El Dorado firefire withwith favorablefavorable downslopedownslope windswinds thatthat allowedallowed crewscrews thethe opportunityopportunity toto continue fire line construction and strengthening the fire perimeter in all areas around the fire,” forest spokeswoman Kate Kramer said.

MAP: WhereWhere thethe ElEl DoradoDorado firefire isis burningburning inin thethe SanSan BernardinoBernardino MountainsMountains

Although the flames jumped Highway 38 east of Mountain Home Village on Thursday, they were stopped at a line carved by bulldozers as a backup to the highway, Kramer said.

The fire also crossed Highway 38 above the hairpin turn at the entrance to Forest Falls. But the flames entered the scar of the July 2018 Valley fire, where there is littlelittle brushbrush toto burn.burn.

San Bernardino National Forest @SanBernardinoNF

#ElDoradoFire

To date, there is no residential structure loss in Mountain Home Village or Forest Falls. Evacuation orders remain in place, as the fire is active & still a threat.

Firefighters are in these communities providing structure defense & building containment lines.

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10:04 AM · Sep 11, 2020

200 53 people are Tweeting about this

The fire is moving slowly downhill toward Forest Falls. The hard work by fire resources over this last week is allowing for a successful defense of structures.

A key task Friday will be building a line north of the fire to protect Angelus Oaks and Big Bear. Crews have been increasing defensible space around homes in Angelus Oaks.

More than 1,200 firefighters were battling the blaze as well as high temperatures and steep terrain.

The fire has also burned into the western portion of Oak Lane in Forest Falls, where crews on the ground are protecting homes. The blaze also is burning in Wildwood Canyon. Fire lines are holding on the southern flank of the fire, Kramer said.

No additional homes have burned since the most recent update,, whenwhen itit waswas announced that four were destroyed and two suffered lesser damage. Officials have not said where the homes burned but said in a Twitter message that no homes have been lost in Mountain Home Village or Forest Falls.

Evacuation orders remain in place Friday.

The blaze, which started at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa on Sept. 5, was ignitedignited byby aa pyrotechnicpyrotechnic devicedevice atat aa gendergender revealreveal photophoto shoot,shoot, investigatorsinvestigators said.said.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a smoke advisory because of fires in California. People who are sensitive to smoke should remain indoors,indoors, thethe advisoryadvisory said.said.

Sign boards with updates have been posted at the Stater Bros. shopping center in Beaumont at 1430 Beaumont Ave., 1775 east Lugonia Ave. in Redlands near the Starbucks and 11365 Bryant St. Yucaipa in the Stater Bros. shopping center.

San Bernardino National Forest @SanBernardinoNF

This somber morning firefighters at #ElDoradoFire reflected on the 19th anniversary of the 09/11/2001 https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/11/el-dorado-fire-flames-stop-short-of-mountain-home-village/ 3/6 9/11/2020 Grand Terrace helps small businesses pay their leases amid coronavirus pandemic – San Bernardino Sun

LOCAL NEWS • News Grand Terrace helps small businesses pay their leases amid coronavirus pandemic The city received just north of $153,000 in federal relief this summer

By BRIAN WHITEHEAD || [email protected] || SanSan BernardinoBernardino Sun PUBLISHED: September 11, 2020 at 3:54 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: September 11, 2020 at 3:55 p.m.

Grand Terrace has committed $35,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds to help small businesses cover their lease payments.

Such businesses must be in good standing with the city and have at least one and no more than 25 full-time employees deemed non-essential by the San Bernardino County Public Health Department. National chains or local chains with three or more locations are not eligible.

Grants of $3,000 will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and be distributed to landlords as lease payments.

Grand Terrace will offer financial assistance to small businesses for the duration of its declared state of local emergency and while funds are available.

Applicants must verify their business has lost revenue due to the stateʼs response toto thethe coronavirus pandemic.pandemic.

Businesses must have a physical storefront, opened in town for at least one year as of March 1 and participate in the countyʼs COVID-19 Compliance Business Partnership Program. https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/11/grand-terrace-helps-small-businesses-pay-their-leases-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/ 1/3 9/11/2020 Grand Terrace helps small businesses pay their leases amid coronavirus pandemic – San Bernardino Sun Grant applications can be picked up at City Hall, 22795 Barton Road.

This summer, Grand Terrace leaders made $50,000 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act funds available toto helphelp restaurantrestaurant andand barbar owners set up outdoor operations.

Seven businesses – Woodyʼs Classic Grill, Kaz Ramen, Donut House, Thai Kitchen, Venue bar and Beer Room – applied for and received financial assistance, city officials said this week.

Grand Terrace received about $153,000 in federal coronavirus relief this summer.

For more information, visit grandterrace-ca.gov..

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/11/grand-terrace-helps-small-businesses-pay-their-leases-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/ 9/11/2020 Joshua Tree Do Tell, Sept. 11: The Joshua Tree Night Market will reopen Saturday; Art Queen launches sculpture show | Hi-Desert Star

Joshua Tree Do Tell, Sept. 11: The Joshua Tree Night Market will reopen Saturday; Art Queen launches sculpture show

By Dawn Davis Sep 11, 2020 11:03 AM

If you are experiencing food insecurity, clip this article or mark your calendar for the following distributions in Joshua Tree:

https://hidesertstar.com/news/178111/joshua-tree-do-tell-sept-11-the-joshua-tree-night-market-will-reopen-saturday-art-queen-launches-sculpture-show/ 1/9 Joshua Tree Do Tell, Sept. 11: The Joshua Tree Night Market will reopen Saturday; Art Queen launches sculpture show | Hi-Desert Star The FIND R2 Mobile Market Distribution takes place on the rst and third Tuesday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Joshua Tree Elementary School, located at 4950 Sunburst Ave. The next distribution will be Sept. 15.

Center the third Tuesday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. The center is located at 65336 Winters Road. The next distribution is Sept. 15.

• The Joshua Tree Community Center continues to offer rst come, rst serve drive-through distribution on the third Monday of the month. The next distribution is from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Sept. 21. If you do not have a car or need access as a person with disabilities, call the center at (760) 366-8415. The community center is located at 6171 Sunburst Ave.

• Every Wednesday, register at the Community Food Pantry, 6336 Hallee Road. Registration is from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. and food box shopping is from 10 a.m. to noon.

• Pick up a breakfast and packed lunch at The Way Station (61-722 Commercial Street) Tuesday to Friday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. or visit the USDA Food distribution on the second Friday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon.

The Joshua Tree Night Market is back from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at 61877 Twentynine Palms Highway in JT at El Search for... Reposo.

There will be new vendors, live music and the disco porta-potty.

Masks are required and social distancing must be observed.

The Shops at Zanny’s, adjacent to the market, will also be open late. Come see the new shops Thirty Nine Fox, selling vintage wares and wears, and macramé shop Knots of Orion.

Hi-Desert Film Lab will also have its grand opening. Come meet the owners, Nicole and Stephen. They’ve been working really hard on the place and it looks fabulous.

While you’re out and about in the fresh air of the Joshua Tree East Village, take a stroll over to Art Queen and check out their diverse sculpture garden and the extended “Mirroz” exhibit, curated by Zara Kand. The courtyard is open for art viewing 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and most weekdays. The Courtyard of Art Queen is located at 61855 Twentynine Palms Highway. https://hidesertstar.com/news/178111/joshua-tree-do-tell-sept-11-the-joshua-tree-night-market-will-reopen-saturday-art-queen-launches-sculpture-show/ 2/9 Joshua Tree Do Tell, Sept. 11: The Joshua Tree Night Market will reopen Saturday; Art Queen launches sculpture show | Hi-Desert Star If you’re staying in, there are a couple of virtual openings to entertain you. “Never Tired of Winning” will be presented by the Beatnik Lounge at 6 p.m. at beatniklounge.org.

Then, starting at 6:30 p.m., go to the La Matadora Gallery Facebook page for an up-close-and-personal gallery our of their new show, “Holy Sh*t!” We still can’t say it in the newspaper, but hopefully you get the drift.  

And even more art! After a nearly six-month pause, the historic 29 Palms Art Gallery has reopened, and has kicked off the season with an absolutely fabulous exhibit featuring “Expressionism Off the Grid” by Susan Kearns and “Desert Metal” by Anna Stump. As a San Bernardino County COVID-Compliant Business Partner, the 29 Palms Art Gallery has implemented a variety of new safety measures and protocols in accordance with state and county guidelines to create the safest environment possible. Masks are required, occupancy is limited to six visitors at a time, and the gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at 74055 Cottonwood Drive in Twentynine Palms.

Full details are available at www.29palmsartgallery.com.

——

If you have news for this column, call Dawn Davis at (760) 392-1293 or email [email protected]. Hear Dawn’s podcast at desertladydiaries.com. 5 things to know about the smoke advisory across Southern California – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:39 AM

NEWS!CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY • News 5 things to know about the smoke advisory across Southern California

A helicopter heads off after making a water drop on the El Dorado ﬁre near Forest Falls Wednesday evening, Sept. 9, 2020. The El Dorado ﬁre has contributed to the bad air quality in the Inland area. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

By EMILY RASMUSSEN | [email protected] | Long Beach Press-Telegram PUBLISHED: September 11, 2020 at 6:37 p.m. | UPDATED: September 12, 2020 at 9:44 a.m.

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/11/5-things-to-know-about-the-smoke-advisory-across-southern-california/ Page 1 of 8 5 things to know about the smoke advisory across Southern California – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:39 AM

Orange skies tinted by wild!re ash loomed over Southern California on Friday as a smoke advisory was extended for at least another day.

The advisory cautioned folks in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties to limit outdoor activities due to the unhealthy air quality, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The Bobcat !re near the San Gabriel Valley, and the El Dorado !re in the Inland Empire, had burned more than 40,000 acres as of Friday morning.

The smoke advisory likely will continue into the weekend as those two !res, and several others, continue to burn statewide.

While smoke advisories are nothing new to folks in the region who have endured wild!re seasons in the past, the start to this year’s season is unprecedented. Since the start of August, the state has seen !ve of the largest wild!res in history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

As the smoke advisory continues, here are some things to keep in mind:

What is a smoke advisory, and why does one get issued?

Smoke advisories warn the public if the air quality from wild!res are at unhealthy levels and recommend limited exposure. The local Air Quality Management District has monitors throughout the region, which can detect the quality of the air.

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/11/5-things-to-know-about-the-smoke-advisory-across-southern-california/ Page 2 of 8 5 things to know about the smoke advisory across Southern California – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:39 AM

AIR QUALITY ADVISORY UPDATE: #BobcatFire + #ElDoradoFire Smoke Advisories extended to Saturday, September 12th: https://t.co/Y158OoPtBX pic.twitter.com/LTaefz9YA8 — South Coast AQMD (@SouthCoastAQMD) September 11, 2020

Since Thursday morning, the air quality in the region has been categorized as unhealthy to hazardous. Vulnerable groups — such as children, older people and folks with respiratory conditions — can be particularly at risk under such conditions.

“If you smell smoke, that’s probably a very good indication that it’s doing damage to your lungs if it were to prolong for a longer period,” said Todd Hall, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Is this all from the Bobcat and the El Dorado fires?

While the Bobcat and El Dorado !res are signi!cantly contributing, the majority of the smoke is coming from wild!res further north. The !res in through Northern California and Oregon – which have caused hundreds of thousands of evacuations – are the main source.

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/11/5-things-to-know-about-the-smoke-advisory-across-southern-california/ Page 3 of 8 5 things to know about the smoke advisory across Southern California – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:39 AM

A large high-pressure system o" of the coast was pushing down the smoke from those !res further south, Hall said.

“That’s pushing all of the smoke south,” he said, “As it’s moving down some of it is settling and that’s creating some of the air quality issues.”

While the smoke from the northern !res was mostly in the upper levels of the atmosphere, the Bobcat !re was producing the majority of the ash that was being reported downwind, according to the South Coast AQMD. However, both the Bobcat and El Dorado !res could be seen producing smoke from satellite imagery.

Why is the bad air lingering?

Due to the high-pressure system o" of the coast and the marine layer, the smoke keeps moving down to Southern California and isn’t going anywhere.

“Any smoke that’s near the surface can get trapped in,” Hall said of the marine layer, “and make some of the air quality issues a little worse.”

One bright side to the mixed marine layer and smoke, though, is that it has brought temperatures down slightly, aiding in !re!ghting e"orts, he added.

How long can we expect this to go on?

The current smoke advisory was issued until Saturday a#ernoon, but that could be extended.

Locally, the Bobcat !re was at 26,368 and 6% containment as of Friday, and the El Dorado !re was at 13,715 acres and 31% containment. Fires up north continue to rage as well.

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/11/5-things-to-know-about-the-smoke-advisory-across-southern-california/ Page 4 of 8 5 things to know about the smoke advisory across Southern California – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:39 AM

“We see a little more (smoke) headed our way right now,” Hall said. “Looking at some of the latest information we have coming from satellite and some of our models, the $ow pattern won’t start to switch around until really probably late in the weekend.”

The best hope for breaking out of the smoke would be Saturday a#ernoon, or possibly even Sunday, he said.

How does one stay safe from smoke exposure?

The best way to stay safe from poor air quality is to stay indoors. That’s especially important for people with health conditions.

Even when inside, windows and doors should be shut, according to the San Bernardino County Department of Health. Air conditioners should be set to be run on a recirculation function, as not to pull in the smokey air, health o%cials said.

People should avoid being outside for long periods of time, such as for exercise. Using your nose to smell for smoke is the best tool people have to determine how bad the air is, Hall said.

When you do have to go outside, wearing a mask can help with some of the smoke particles, according to the Air Quality Management District.

“Fortunately, we have a lot of people wearing masks right now so that does help substantially,” Hall said. “And it cuts some of the larger particles that are in the air.”

Anyone who feels symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath or fatigue should contact a doctor, health o%cials said.

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/11/5-things-to-know-about-the-smoke-advisory-across-southern-california/ Page 5 of 8 Yucaipa man arrested after gunfire hits sheriff’s helicopter – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:37 AM

NEWS!CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY • News Yucaipa man arrested after gunfire hits sheriff’s helicopter

By BRIAN ROKOS | [email protected] | The Press-Enterprise PUBLISHED: September 12, 2020 at 1:42 p.m. | UPDATED: September 12, 2020 at 3:26 p.m.

A Yucaipa resident was arrested Friday, Sept. 11, a!er he struck a San Bernardino County sheri"’s helicopter with gun#re, authorities said.

Douglas James Kircher, 36, was apprehended in the 13300 block of Roberts Road, a sheri"’s news release said.

Deputies responded about 12:45 a.m. a!er someone reported hearing gun#re and seeing Kircher with a shotgun, a news release said. Arriving deputies said they heard more gunshots. When they ordered Kircher to surrender, he instead #red at the helicopter, the release said.

Deputies placed an armored vehicle in front of the home and called on Kircher to come out. He did, the release said, but he was armed with a knife. Kircher then dropped the knife and was arrested. https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/12/yucaipa-man-arrested-after-gunfire-hits-sheriffs-helicopter/ Page 1 of 4 Yucaipa man arrested after gunfire hits sheriff’s helicopter – San Bernardino Sun 9/13/20, 8:37 AM

Deputies who later inspected the helicopter found that it had been struck by gun#re, the release said. No deputies were reported injured.

A search of Kircher’s home turned up a ri$e, the release said.

Kircher was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a #rearm. He was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

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SPONSORED CONTENT Venture out to the Inland Empire’s favorite restaurants on your way to the desert By the t.e.a.

https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/12/yucaipa-man-arrested-after-gunfire-hits-sheriffs-helicopter/ Page 2 of 4 Polling places to stay open four days | News | championnewspapers.com 9/13/20, 9:23 AM

https://www.championnewspapers.com/news/article_8dcae7a4-f453-11ea-8f98-138b42d273b1.html Polling places to stay open four days

By Marianne Napoles Sep 12, 2020

To address the loss of about 50 percent of polling places due to the pandemic, the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters will keep polling places open for four days — Saturday, Oct. 31 through Tuesday, Nov. 3.

In addition, 70 exterior locations are being set up in the county for residents who do not wish to vote by mail, including three mail ballot drop boxes in Chino and one in Chino Hills, according to the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters O!ce.

Gov. Newsom issued an executive order in May requiring election o!cials to send vote-by-mail ballots to every voter who is registered to vote in the Nov. 3 Presidential General Election, whether they request them or not, due to the pandemic.

https://www.championnewspapers.com/news/article_8dcae7a4-f453-11ea-8f98-138b42d273b1.html Page 1 of 4 Polling places to stay open four days | News | championnewspapers.com 9/13/20, 9:23 AM

Four drop boxes

Residents who don’t want to mail their ballots may drop them o" at four exterior drop box locations starting Tuesday, Oct. 6.

The proposed locations in Chino are the Chino Airport on Merrill Avenue, the Chino Police Department on Guardian Way, and Chino City Hall on Central Ave.

In Chino Hills the location is the James S. Thalman Chino Hills Branch Library.

The county is responding to a series of executive orders and bills established by the state to ensure that Californians who would rather place their ballots in exterior drop box locations than mail them have the opportunity to do so.

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The polling places and 70 countywide drop box locations are listed on the county registrar website at sbcounty elections.com.

The public has until 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 to submit comments.

Written public comments on the polling place locations ended Friday.

Polling places

Residents who wish to vote in person may go to their designated polling location beginning Oct. 31 and ending Election Day, Nov. 3. It is recommended they take their unused vote by mail ballot and give it to the sta" at the polling location.

ChinoChino

Cortez Elementary School on Carissa Ave., Baitul Hameed Mosque on Ramona Avenue, Chino Community Building on B Street, Don Lugo High on Pipeline Ave., Rhodes Elementary on Schaefer Avenue, Living Word Assembly on Telephone Avenue, Valley Christian Church on Norton Avenue, and Yanks Air Museum on Stearman Drive.

Chino Hills

https://www.championnewspapers.com/news/article_8dcae7a4-f453-11ea-8f98-138b42d273b1.html Page 3 of 4 Polling places to stay open four days | News | championnewspapers.com 9/13/20, 9:23 AM

Butter#eld Ranch Elementary School on Mystic Canyon Road, Chaparral Elementary on Bird Farm Road, Chino Hills High on Pomona Rincon Road, Eagle Canyon Elementary on Eagle Canyon Drive, Glenmeade Elementary on Whirlaway Lane, Hidden Trails Elementary on Ridgeview Drive, McCoy Equestrian Center on Peyton Drive, Wickman Elementary on Pinehurst Drive, and Oak Ridge on Valle Vista Drive.

Written public comments on the drop box locations will be accepted until Friday, Sept. 18 by email at communica [email protected] and by mail or in-person at 777 E. Rialto Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92415.

For pro#les of candidates in the congressional, senate and assembly districts, see Page B1.

https://www.championnewspapers.com/news/article_8dcae7a4-f453-11ea-8f98-138b42d273b1.html Page 4 of 4 Chino Valley BUSINESS | Business | championnewspapers.com 9/13/20, 9:22 AM

County o!ers $1,200 grantgrant San Bernardino County is o!ering $1,200 grants to business that relocated their operations to outdoor settings because of coronavirus pandemic rules.

Eligible businesses include, but not limited to, restaurants, shopping malls, nail and hair salons, barbershops, churches, "tness facilities and service businesses.

Deadline to apply is Oct. 31, or until all funds for the program have been allocated. Applications are being accepted at www.sbco vid19.org

Information: [email protected] or 387- 3911

Send business news to [email protected].

https://www.championnewspapers.com/business/article_bfe39676-f441-11ea-8650-aff60131b0b7.html Page 3 of 3 Digital victim advocate program launched | News | championnewspapers.com 9/13/20, 9:23 AM

https://www.championnewspapers.com/news/article_ebdb8b10-f443-11ea-9bdd-5b46783e261d.html Digital victim advocate program launched

By Josh Thompson Sep 12, 2020

San Bernardino County District Attorney’s o!ce launched the state’s "rst digital victim advocate program last month allowing victims of crimes to digital access to have their answers questions, provide support and follow up on individual cases.

“With more and more people in the community becoming accustomed to using their computers, tablets and mobile phones for everything in their day-to-day lives, the program is setting the example for how to be more accessible to the community, especially victims and witnesses,” according to a district attorney’s o!ce statement.

The service is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Team members are not available on holidays or weekends.

No case information will be released, however, because of security and con"dentiality reasons.

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Users, who have the option to remain anonymous, can visit sbcountyda.org and "nd a chat bubble on the webpage’s lower right corner. When the chat window opens, user can chat with a district attorney digital advocate team member. If a team member is helping someone at the same time, the user can leave a message and get a phone call once the team member is free.

“Our hope for this program is to rea!rm the communities’ trust and con"dence in our o!ce and the services we provide,” said District Attorney Jason Anderson. “All too often, people forget that our o!ce exists to protect victims and "ght for them and their rights. This new way of communicating takes us one step closer in helping the communities we serve.”

Because more people are at home during the coronavirus pandemic, technology is being used more than ever,” said Flerida Alarcon, the bureau

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chief for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Victim Services Bureau.

“I believe its critical that victims of crime who may be isolated are able to reach out to a victim advocate to receive much-needed services using their preferred method of communication,” she said. The digital victim advocacy program will allow us to provide additional services using technology and social media platforms.” Information: sb countyda.org.

https://www.championnewspapers.com/news/article_ebdb8b10-f443-11ea-9bdd-5b46783e261d.html Page 3 of 3 City supports sewer study, cautions against development | News | championnewspapers.com 9/13/20, 9:19 AM

https://www.championnewspapers.com/news/article_c658e5e4-f453-11ea-962c-37cd711c991c.html City supports sewer study, cautions against development

By Dawn Marks Sep 12, 2020

Environmental activist Erin Brockovich wrote on her Facebook page last week: “Monte Vista Water District in San Bernardino County, California took a bold step... getting out ahead of a real environmental problem.”

The Monte Vista Water District Board commissioned a feasibility study on Sept. 2 to replace hundreds of old septic tanks in the unincorporated area of Chino with a sewer system operated by the water district.

Sewage service would be a new area for Monte Vista Water District, which provides water services in Montclair and small pockets in northwest Chino.

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The study will explore the provision of sewer service in the unincorporated portions of its service area.

Sewer service for most of Chino is provided by the city which allows connection only to annexed parcels that are consistent with its general plan.

A 2018 regional septic conversion feasibility study by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency found approximately 21,800 septic systems within the agency’s 242 square mile service area extending from Chino to Fontana. Spokesperson Kathy Besser said the study did not break up the region.

Speaking at the Sept. 1 Chino City Council meeting, a consultant for Monte District Water District said the area has several thousand septic tanks that have caused signi!cant impairment to local ground water resources.

Councilmember Paul Rodriguez said, “Water is extremely important, not just for the residents but for human life. The water could be polluted, which is not good.”

Mr. Rodriguez said the residents in Flint, Michigan just settled a $600 million lawsuit with their city.

In response, Chino Mayor Eunice Ulloa said Flint was a di"erent situation and the water from Monte Vista Water District was good quality.

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The city council approved a letter to Monte Vista Water District supporting a new sewer system that was not at the expense of good development planning.

The mayor said the city is more than willing to extend sewer services as long as a landowner complies with its general plan, or the city council approves a zoning change consistent with the surrounding area.

Developer Borstein Enterprises, of the proposed Chino Francis Estates project, approached Monte Vista Water District about providing sewer services after the city council denied its project for con#icting with the general plan.

The water district's consultant said several developers had approached the county and the water district with the opportunity to use private funds to “kick start” the sewer connection project.

Councilmember Mark Hargrove said he supported private developers paying and his only concern was that it was not used as “an end around” for city zoning.

Mayor Ulloa said, “What’s being built right now is hodgepodge, which isn’t appropriate because we will eventually annex the area.”

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After the area is annexed, the city will be responsible for its upkeep without receiving its fair share of revenue, which will be retained partially by the county, she said.

Chino’s General Plan is being updated with housing options, parks and other facilities. It includes the unincorporated area, which is in the city’s sphere of in#uence, but under county jurisdiction.

San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors chairman Curt Hagman, who represents the 4th District, wrote a letter to the Monte Vista Water District to support removing the septic tanks and providing sewer services.

The Monte Vista Water District said it will not consider planning and zoning considerations in its study.

https://www.championnewspapers.com/news/article_c658e5e4-f453-11ea-962c-37cd711c991c.html Page 4 of 4 County of San Bernardino, Department of Airports - Public Notice | Legal Notices | championnewspapers.com 9/13/20, 9:22 AM

https://www.championnewspapers.com/legal_notices/article_379!3e2-f458-11ea-b8c0- 43bfd869b45a.html County of San Bernardino, Department of Airports - Public Notice

Legal ads Sep 12, 2020

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Government Code Section 6061 that the County of San Bernardino, Department of Airports, intends to lease the following locations at Chino Airport.

Hangar A-245, consisting of approximately 9,803 square feet of hangar, 1,475 square feet of o"ce space, 1,921 square feet of shop space and 53,850 square feet of ramp area for storage, maintenance and restoration of aircraft, and aircraft parking for a period of three-#ve years at the monthly rate of $7,597.00. Parcel E-310 located at the NWC of Grove and Kimball consisting of approximately 10 acres or 435,600 square feet of unimproved land for the use and operation of a nursery for cultivation and retail sale of palm trees, plants and ground coverings, for a period of three-#ve years at the monthly rate of $5,273.00. For additional information, contact Steven Mintle, Real Estate Services Department, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., 3rd Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0180, (909) 677-8294.

https://www.championnewspapers.com/legal_notices/article_379ff3e2-f458-11ea-b8c0-43bfd869b45a.html Page 1 of 2 Ex-Deschutes prosecutor still plans to sue county, despite report refuting most claims - KTVZ 9/13/20, 9:26 AM

News

By KTVZ news sources

September 11, 2020 5:47 pm

Published September 11, 2020 12:22 pm

Ex-Deschutes prosecutor still plans to sue county, despite report refuting most claims

Hummel releases report disputing most of e…

(Update: Adding video, Hummel comments; Troncoso still plans lawsuit; attorney's news release)

https://ktvz.com/news/2020/09/11/hummel-releases-report-disputing-most-of-ex-prosecutors-race-sex-bias-claims/ Page 1 of 19 Ex-Deschutes prosecutor still plans to sue county, despite report refuting most claims - KTVZ 9/13/20, 9:26 AM

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- On Friday, the results of a nearly four-month investigation into allegations of racism and sexism in the Deschutes County District Attorney's office were announced.

The independent investigator's report found all but one allegation made by former deputy district attorney Jasmyn Troncoso in a notice of intent to sue were not substantiated.

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Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said he was relieved.

"I know everyone who works with me, of course,” Hummel told NewsChannel 21 on Friday. “They're valued members of my team. I was shocked when I heard people on my team allegedly acted this way."

Troncoso alleges her co-workers bullied her, told her she was unqualified and a drama queen, accused her of having affairs and was ridiculed for speaking Spanish.

https://ktvz.com/news/2020/09/11/hummel-releases-report-disputing-most-of-ex-prosecutors-race-sex-bias-claims/ Page 2 of 19 Ex-Deschutes prosecutor still plans to sue county, despite report refuting most claims - KTVZ 9/13/20, 9:26 AM

Hummel confirmed Troncoso was the only Spanish-

The investigation found that the only substanti55ated°

ug withWatch offensive language on it was on the desk of an employee.

Hummel announced that the staff member has been suspended for five days without pay.

But Hummel said there was a roadblock to finding more evidence of Troncoso's claims.

"It's real hard to find it when the complainant refuses to talk to you," he said, noting that Troncoso declined to take part in the investigation.

Troncoso told NewsChannel 21 Friday she was disappointed with the investigator's findings -- but not surprised.

"The purpose of that investigator was to defend the office,” she said. “I had no interest (in taking part in the investigation), after I already provided all the statements that I had, not only to the office, but to the human resources manager in Deschutes County."

Troncoso resigned to return to her role as a deputy DA in San Bernardino County, Calif., where she worked prior to Deschutes County.

"Was I surprised with what was in the report?” she said. “No -- I figured it was going to be inflammatory."

She contended her claims are backed up by witnesses.

Hummel said he would have taken drastic action if the

https://ktvz.com/news/2020/09/11/hummel-releases-report-disputing-most-of-ex-prosecutors-race-sex-bias-claims/ Page 3 of 19 Ex-Deschutes prosecutor still plans to sue county, despite report refuting most claims - KTVZ 9/13/20, 9:26 AM

report came back supporting Troncoso's claims.

"I wouldn't have stood for it,” he said. “I would have terminated the people who did what they were alleged to have done."

Troncoso said she will proceed with filing a formal lawsuit, not only for herself, but to inspire other women to come forward with similar claims.

Troncoso's attorney, Matthew Ellis of Portland who specializes in employment law, issued a news release blasting Hummel for his news release.

Matthew Ellis news release Download

"Mr. Hummel's press release today is further evidence of the backlash suffered by women of color who accuse historically white institutions, like the Deschutes County District Attorney's office, of discrimination," he wrote.

":At best, Mr. Hummel's decision to issue this press release showed extraordinarily poor judgment by a public servant. At worse, it was defamatory and in bad faith," Ellis added.

Ellis disputed that the investigation was independent, calling it "hugely biased."

"Against this backdrop, it was a very poor choice to issue this press release in response to concerns a women of color with the bravery to stand up to a historically white institution and bring forth claims of discrimination," Ellis wrote.

"Mr. Hummel's tone-deaf response shows he lacks the judgment and foresight to lead the DA's office

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through this difficult time. He should resign, immediately," he concluded.

Here's the full news release from Hummel:

DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICE INVESTIGATION COMPLETED

In April, former Deschutes County Deputy District Attorney Jasmyn Troncoso’s attorney notified Deschutes County that Ms. Troncoso intended to file a lawsuit against the County. Ms. Troncoso alleged that her former coworkers bullied her and that this treatment was motivated by her race and gender (Ms. Troncoso self identifies as Latina).

Upon receipt of this notice, Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel immediately ordered an independent investigation be conducted, and vowed that if any of Ms. Troncoso’s allegations were confirmed, he would take immediate action. Hummel also informed the public that he would announce the investigator’s findings when the investigation was completed.

Local employment attorney Peter Hicks was retained to investigate Troncoso’s allegations, and he has now completed his investigation (report here). Mr. Hicks found all allegations except one to be not substantiated. The one that was substantiated (concerning a coffee mug emblazoned with offensive language, discussed below) was determined not to have been motivated by racial or gender animus and concerns the actions of an employee that occurred without the knowledge of District Attorney Hummel and his management team.

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The allegation which Mr. Hicks confirmed involved an employee who had been given a gift of a mug with a message that is offensive toward Spanish-language speakers and individuals with intellectual disabilities. The recipient kept the mug on their desk for a relatively short period of time. No member of the management team was aware of the mug, and had not been alerted to its presence until Ms. Troncoso came forward with the allegation concerning the mug in the written notice of her intent to file a lawsuit. If any member of the District Attorney management team had been aware of the mug, neither they nor District Attorney Hummel would have tolerated its presence.

After reviewing the investigator’s findings, District Attorney Hummel determined the intent of the gift giver and the gift recipient was to make fun of the “stupid” questions they joked about often fielding during the performance of their job duties. It was determined that the mug owner did not intend to insult Mexican-Americans or people with intellectual disabilities by owning the mug. And, in fact, it was determined that while employed with the District Attorney’s Office Ms. Troncoso had joked about the mug with the mug owner, saying about the mug: “that’s ******* awesome,” and then asking to take a picture of it because her friend would find it funny.

District Attorney Hummel imposed a five-day suspension without pay to the mug owner because even though the employee did not intend to belittle Mexican-Americans or people with intellectual disabilities, the message on the mug is contrary to the values his office embraces and having the mug at the Office showed extremely poor judgment. He

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wrote in his notice of discipline (full notice here (note graphic language)):

"Regardless of what your intent was in having the mug, you exercised extremely poor judgment in doing so. … Every person served by our office deserves to be respected, valued, and treated with dignity. What is in our heart is irrelevant, if our actions convey dismissiveness, hate, or disrespect. I shudder to think of how a mother with a young daughter living with an intellectual disability and who was a victim of a crime, would feel if she walked into one of our prosecutors’ offices to prepare for trial and saw your mug. She might rightfully feel like we did not value her daughter as much as we value victims of crime who do not live with a disability.

"Or imagine a Mexican-American defense attorney who stops by our office to negotiate a resolution of one of her client’s cases. How would she feel if she saw a mug emblazoned with [the message]?” She might feel hurt, disrespected, and enraged. She also might rightfully question whether her clients are treated the same as clients of white attorneys.

Statement from District Attorney Hummel upon release of the investigation:

“Jasmyn Troncoso was one of my deputies, and I appreciate the service she provided to our County during her brief tenure. I continue to wish her well in her future career. What Ms. Troncoso alleges happened to her during her employment in my office is outrageous, despicable and has no place in our society. The moment her attorney notified me of these allegations, I set out to find out if they were true. The investigation is now complete and almost https://ktvz.com/news/2020/09/11/hummel-releases-report-disputing-most-of-ex-prosecutors-race-sex-bias-claims/ Page 7 of 19 Ex-Deschutes prosecutor still plans to sue county, despite report refuting most claims - KTVZ 9/13/20, 9:26 AM

all of the allegations were deemed not substantiated.

"It now makes sense to me why, when Ms. Troncoso’s attorney first contacted me on April 27, he pushed me to settle this case for a large amount of taxpayer money before I even conducted an investigation to determine if the allegations were true. And he advocated for keeping his proposed settlement secret from the public. Specifically, he said: “This may be one of the few cases that is best resolved on a confidential basis.” I immediately rejected his proposal for a quick and secret settlement, telling him that we would inform the public, conduct a full and fair investigation, and let the truth dictate the result.

"I do not have the final say in this matter. If Ms. Troncoso disputes the findings of the investigator she has the right to go in front of a jury and ask them to decide the facts. I support our system of justice and believe it is the best in the world.

"I was shocked when these allegations were brought to my attention because I know the team in my office to be dedicated, ethical, and respectful people. I’m proud to work with some of the finest public servants in our country. We do our business in public, never hiding from the facts.

"It was uncomfortable for people in my office to have allegations against them aired publicly for months with no opportunity to respond. With the investigator’s report now public, Deschutes County residents can see that, like anyone, we are not perfect, but we did not do what we were alleged to have done. We’ll now get back to focusing on making Deschutes County the safest place in the country to live, work, and raise a family.” https://ktvz.com/news/2020/09/11/hummel-releases-report-disputing-most-of-ex-prosecutors-race-sex-bias-claims/ Page 8 of 19 Sewer moved before construction of Green Tree Blvd. Extension project 9/13/20, 2:16 PM

NEWS Sewer main moved before construction of Green Tree Boulevard Extension project Rene Ray De La Cruz Victorville Daily Press Published 11:07 a.m. PT Sep. 13, 2020

Heavy machine operators continue to move tons of dirt to relocate a sewer main that’s in the path of the Green Tree Boulevard Extension project.

“The sewer line lies directly in line with the extension that will run from Hesperia Road east toward the railroad tracks,” City of Victorville spokeswoman Sue Jones told the Daily Press on Friday.

Traffic congestion should be expected through October at the intersection of Hesperia Road and Green Tree Boulevard, Jones said.

During the city council meeting on Sept 1, city engineer Brian Gengler told the council the project includes the construction of a new traffic bridge over the railroad tracks that will connect Green Tree Boulevard to Yates Road near the entrance of Mojave Narrows Regional Park.

The extension project is the third and final phase of the Yucca Loma Bridge/Yates Road/Green Tree Boulevard Project, Gengler said.

During the meeting, the council unanimously voted to approve a contract with Parsons Transportation Group with a limit of nearly $4.9 million through fiscal 2021-22 for management of the construction project.

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The council also approved a contract with Dokken Engineering with a limit of nearly $582,000 for design support of the project.

Also, the council approved an amendment to the fiscal 2020-21 budget, appropriating $1.2 million from the road service development impact fee for construction management of the project.

The estimated cost of the project is $44.6 million, with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority picking up 49%, Jones said.

“The remaining funding will come from the Town of Apple Valley and San Bernardino County,” Jones said. “The city has also submitted a federal funds request with Caltrans Local Assistance. Once we receive those CalTrans funds, the city will put the construction project out to bid.”

Barring any delays, construction of the Green Tree Extension is expected to begin in 2021, Jones said.

Phase one of the project was the construction of the Yucca Loma Bridge over the Mojave River and improvements to Yates Road between Spring Valley Lake and the Mojave Narrows.

Phase two included the widening and improvements of Yucca Loma Road from Apple Valley Road to the newly constructed bridge.

Both phases were completed in 2017 after more than two years of work and 11 years after the Town Council identified the project as a top transportation priority.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.

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NEWS Adelanto’s purchase of $120K van with COVID-19 relief money draws criticism Evans, Camargo frown on city's purchase of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with CARES Act money

Martin Estacio Victorville Daily Press Published 5:17 p.m. PT Sep. 11, 2020 The city of Adelanto's purchase of a $120,000 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van with federal coronavirus grant money came under renewed scrutiny earlier this week when some City Council members questioned the need and price tag.

The matter was discussed Wednesday before the Council voted 4-1 to amend the city’s budget to include money from several grants, including $440,336 of funds from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act.

The CARES Act — signed into law by President Donald Trump in March — established a $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund for state and local governments to help cover COVID-19 expenses.

City staff first suggested purchasing the van on Aug. 12 after submitting recommendations for how to use the federal grant money. The Council approved the recommendations with a 4-1 vote that same day, a move that paved the way for City Manager Jessie Flores to buy both the van and the trailer, among other items.

Council member Stevevonna Evans cast the dissenting vote in that motion and in Wednesday’s.

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City officials said the van would be used to tow a dump trailer that was also approved for purchase with grant money, and for a food delivery program to seniors, according to a staff report.

While Council member Ed Camargo voted to approve the recommendations, he said Wednesday that he had reservations about the cost of the Mercedes-Benz van.

“My concern then, and I have to apologize for overseeing this, but we’re spending $120,000 for a van when we got a Silverado truck that we could put it (the food) in the back of the bed and deliver it? I mean is this a refrigerated van?” he asked. “Again if I oversaw that, I do apologize, but that money could be utilized somewhere else, but not for no van.”

Camargo then implied that he wanted to rescind his vote Aug. 12 vote. City Attorney Lloyd Pilchen said that likely wasn’t possible.

Flores described the van — expected to arrive in the next few weeks — as a “great asset” and a multi-purpose vehicle. It could be used to transport City Council members and staff to various meetings, he said.

“What we’ve been operating out of are old vehicles that put our City Council at risk, as well as our staff. And no air conditioning, they break down,” Flores said. “This vehicle will also represent the city well, and I want to remind the Council that this is not coming out of our general fund. These are grant dollars, and we need to be grateful that we continue to attract these grant dollars into our city at no cost to our general fund.”

City officials have said the recommended and approved purchases are all legitimate and related to COVID-19 as the CARES Act requires.

Mayor Pro Tem Gerardo Hernandez supported the purchase and reminded Council members of the cost of airline tickets.

“We’ll have our own means of transportation rather than flying up and down the state all the time,” he said.

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But Evans argued a similar vehicle could have been purchased “for way cheaper than $120,000.”

According to the Mercedes-Benz website, a 2020 Sprinter passenger van starts at the base price of $41,095 excluding options, taxes, title, registration, transportation charge and dealer prep fee.

Documents related to the purchase, however, did not list specifics on the van the city purchased. As a result, details such as the model year and whether any upgrades were added were unknown Friday.

“I don’t like being used as a scapegoat for this purchase as a Council member,” Evans said. “Whether coming out of the general fund or not, like residents brought up, we could have used that $120,000 on things that could have actually benefited our community during COVID.”

Evans, in past meetings, has questioned other uses of the CARES Act money Adelanto received, including a new $50,000 computer server and $24,000 for two electronic reader board signs for the Public Works department.

When she asked on Aug. 12 how the electronic signs were related to the coronavirus, Director of Development Services Dave Martinez said they could be used for COVID-19 programs, such as food banks the city has previously hosted at Adelanto Stadium.

“Alright, that kind of sounds like a stretch,” Evans replied.

The CARES Act money is also being used to purchase personal protective equipment for the city, computer hardware and software and the aforementioned food program for seniors.

Daily Press reporter Martin Estacio may be reached at 760-955-5358 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DP_mestacio.

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Fire warnings failed to prevent deaths

A timeline of response to the Bear blaze shows delays in efforts to alert communities

CREW MEMBERS from Trinity River Conservation Camp worked Friday to mop up after a flare-up from the Bear fire on Stringtown Road in Oroville, Calif. Nine bodies have been recovered so far after the blaze. (Brian van der Brug Los Angeles Times) BY PAIGE ST. JOHN, ANITA CHABRIA AND JOSEPH SERNA BERRY CREEK, Calif. — The turn in the wind was expected.

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The U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire on Tuesday morning braced for 45-mph gusts across the large Bear fire that had been crawling through the Plumas National Forest — dry and cool air coming from the northeast, so the fire would fan back on itself, onto miles of tinder primed by drought, four days of record heat and three weeks of low fire. The extreme danger was clear. They got that wind and more: gusts of 60 mph by 4 a.m. through Jarbo Gap, the hellish wind tunnel on the Feather River canyon that had spawned the Paradise fire two years before, and 45 mph in Plumas County, on the remaining hot edge of the dying Bear fire. Within hours, the conflagration had joined the list of wind-swept California blazes that raced into communities before residents could flee. Incident records and interviews by The Times found that the protection of those in harm’s way was hindered by evacuation orders that came by surprise, went unheeded and were impaired by a power outage. Now the Bear fire takes its place on the roster of California’s deadliest wildfires, coming after blazes in Paradise and wine country killed scores and exposed lethal flaws in public warning systems. What failed? Technology? Or human nature? It was clear early Tuesday that the fire was exploding. By 10 a.m., the oxygenated fire jumped the Middle Fork of the Feather River and leaped into the crown of old-growth forest. It took off at a narrow, mad run, burning across 2,000 acres an hour and throwing out spot fires two miles ahead of the main front. It was on a trajectory to reach the city of Oroville by nightfall. One of three dozen fires ignited by lightning in mid-August, it had been left to smolder in the Plumas National Forest while attention was focused on fires near populated areas. The wakened giant sent so much smoke into the sky that many people in neighboring Butte County called 911 in panic. But rather than convey the concern firefighters were voicing among themselves, or the news that the fire was on the run, the Sheriff’s Department used its Facebook platform to send a reassuring message just after noon: “There is no fire currently in Butte County.”

An hour later, the sheriff put two communities, Feather Falls and Clipper Mills, on notice with a warning about the fire across the county line.

Evacuation orders didn’t go out for five more hours, at 3:30 p.m., when the fire was halfway to affected communities. Most of the towns on the list had been given no warnings and had been without power since the night before, when Pacific Gas and Electric deliberately plunged them into blackout to avoid sparking fires. Long after those evacuation orders — via text, phone, Facebook messages and every

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possible kind of uniformed official, from probation officers to game wardens, going door- to-door with sirens — people remained in the old mountain hamlet of Berry Creek when the flames came into town just before 10 p.m. Nightmarish stories ensued: mad dashes for survival through burning canyons and bodies recovered the next day from the ash. Firefighters were unable to reach all those who were trapped during the siege. By 5 a.m. Wednesday, the wounded were triaged at a state fire post in town where many had sheltered. Nine bodies so far have been recovered from the Bear fire, and 19 people remain missing, as archaeologists from Cal State Chico sift through the char for remains. “We did the best job that we could, given the resources and time that we have,” said Butte County Sheriff-Coroner Kory Honea, who has the grim job of overseeing the search for bodies. “That said, as I have said many, many times before, there is no way to guarantee 100% saturation of your message,” he added. “There’s no way to guarantee perfection. It’s particularly difficult when we’re dealing with communities in remote and rural areas that are hard to get to and sometimes have spotty coverage.” Evacuation orders are a local decision, and the Butte County Sheriff’s Department had limited information, a spokeswoman said. The department was not told the fire had crossed the river for almost an hour. At 12:30 p.m., more than two hours after the jump, incident managers with Cal Fire, the Califonia Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, suggested that the sheriff start evacuation warnings. “Their concern was that it was heading in our direction, and they didn’t currently know where the fire was at,” said the sheriff’s spokeswoman, Megan McMann. But the Sheriff’s Department could provide no information on how many residents of Berry Creek successfully received evacuation calls that came three hours later, nor could it say when deputies drove through with sirens. McMann did not respond to questions about whether the midday notice that there was no fire in Butte County ran contrary to what firefighters were seeing.

Of those who did not evacuate, she said, “You can’t force people out.”

Residents of Berry Creek described a more nuanced situation reflecting the complexity of disaster response — a community inured to neglect and economic hardship, with many households turning to each other and their social connections in a time of crisis. From their perspective, it didn’t help that PG&E had turned off the power Monday night on people intending to stay and fight a fire, impairing communication. “People were frustrated, and they couldn’t use their wells to save their damn houses,” said Denise Bethune, 51, a 12-year resident of Berry Creek and member of the local fire

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council. She monitored the fire and left within an hour of receiving the evacuation order on her phone but knows plenty of people who did not receive it, including neighbors who live off the grid. Others — including marijuana growers, both legal and those squatting on federal land at the behest of cartels — say they don’t trust authority figures. The community has no warning sirens. Sheriff’s deputies drove through, sounding the sirens on their cars, but the area is spread out. “There was a lot of tension; a lot of people were stressed,” Bethune said. “But when you don’t have power, and you don’t have a cellphone, how you gonna find out?” Berry Creek is cradled by canyons and wild, scenic rivers. Its center consists largely of a school, a post office, a store, a gas station and three churches. The estimated population is 1,200. Motivated by the 2018 Paradise disaster a few ridges away, residents had begun to organize the local fire safety council to discuss communication and evacuation plans. Bethune said the social distancing requirements imposed by COVID-19 shut that down. “It’s just frustrating when you know what needs to happen, but it’s not a rich area per se ... and we don’t get the attention,” Bethune said. “We all say to ourselves, when it comes to safety and fire protection ... we have no government help.” In a neighborhood down the hill from Berry Creek, Kelly Huth-Pryor received a call from her mother Tuesday, warning about the approaching Bear fire. Huth-Pryor and her husband had lost their mobile home in Paradise. They made a quick decision about the family house: “Not losing it again.” She said they never received an evacuation order from the county and spent Tuesday watering down their land. It wasn’t the fire but a lack of provisions, including gas for the generator, that forced them out Thursday. Even then, they stayed within the burn zone, aware that if they crossed evacuation lines they could not return.

Another resident, Jason Hill, said he left because of warnings he received from friends in the local Fire Department three hours before the official evacuation order. He said many in the community were more likely to rely on word of mouth and social media than official sources. “Some don’t take it seriously,” he said. “You have a lot of people out there giving real information, and then you have social media. A lot of people want to believe things that align better with what they want.” Honea is a veteran of disaster response. The sheriff’s evacuation miseries run from the https://enewspaper.latimes.com/desktop/latimes/default.aspx?&edid=13d2ac90-b100-45fa-9399-8022ba1e94aa Page 4 of 6 9/13/20, 9:05 AM

2017 threatened collapse of the Oroville Dam, in which thousands received little warning, to the 2018 fire that engulfed Paradise and neighboring mountain communities before orderly evacuations could be issued. That was California’s deadliest wildfire: Most of the 86 dead were elderly residents caught off-guard, while others were trapped as they tried to outrun the fire on narrow mountain roads. After each disaster, Honea has promised improvements, from earlier action to less reliance on subscription-based phone alert programs. The Bear fire saw the use of a federal emergency broadcast alert, including a message narrowly targeted to campers in the woods. Police vehicles drove through the area sounding special “high-low” tones that residents were expected to know meant “Leave.” The Bear fire was not unusual amid the hot, dry weather conditions and terrain of steep, wind-funneling canyons. Two years before, similar northeast winds sent embers aloft and pushed the Camp fire into the town of Paradise at twice the speed, burning some 4,600 acres an hour. In San Diego County, the Cedar fire in 2003 ran 17 miles in three hours; 15 people died. In the wine country of Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties, the Tubbs fire in 2017 traversed 12 miles in four hours, killing 22. A Times investigation found that while early Butte County disaster plans approved by the state warned of canyon fires driven by east winds, those references were dropped after 2005. To add to the hurdles faced by residents imperiled by the fast-moving, massive fire, counties posted evacuation maps that stopped at their borders. A Yuba County map ordering mandatory evacuations, for instance, not only was difficult to read but made it appear that the fire, and the danger, stopped at the county line. Butte County’s evacuation maps did the same. “Why is a nearly unreadable map being put out for something as important as a mandatory evacuation? And why are evacuation advisories not being issued ahead of the mandatory areas? Wouldn’t it be prudent to give people as much of a heads up as possible?” one Facebook user asked Yuba County on Tuesday.

The written reply from the Yuba County Sheriff’s Department: “That’s all we have at the moment. Please use description of roads & regions above for better detail.”

Some firefighters also were critical of the response. One cited continued failure despite many evacuation disasters in Northern California. “I still see a major lack of foresight. There seems to be some unexplainable hesitancy to call for evacuations in a timely fashion,” said a former area firefighter who asked not to be named, fearing backlash against herself and her family. She said the danger to Berry

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Creek was clear if one looked at the fire maps and wind speed and direction. Honea, for his part, emphasized the responsibility carried by those living in forested canyons where fire ecology is colliding with beetle infestations, overgrowth, logging and a warming climate. “That’s why, for the last year or so, post-Camp-fire, myself and my colleagues have gone round trying to impress upon people the importance of being prepared,” Honea said. “The importance of maintaining situational awareness, understanding what’s going on, especially if you live in a wildland fire-prone area, and doing what you need to do to make yourself safe.”

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Prison virus death leads to suit

Family of San Quentin inmate cites transfer of infected prisoners in claim against state corrections system.

SAN QUENTIN has reported 27 COVID-19-related deaths. The prison on May 30 took in 121 inmates from a Chino facility that had a high rate of infections. (Mark Boster Los Angeles Times) BY RICHARD WINTON The family of a San Quentin State Prison inmate who contracted the novel coronavirus https://enewspaper.latimes.com/desktop/latimes/default.aspx?&edid=13d2ac90-b100-45fa-9399-8022ba1e94aa Page 1 of 3 9/13/20, 9:11 AM

has filed the first pandemic-related death claim against the California correctional system, citing the botched transfer of infected prisoners as the cause of his death. Daniel Ruiz, 61, is one of 27 inmates and employees who died of virus-related illnesses after San Quentin, California’s oldest prison, took in 121 transfers from the California Institution for Men in Chino, which had become a hotbed for the virus. Civil rights attorneys for Ruiz’s three children and his mother filed a legal claim Thursday that is a precursor to a lawsuit accusing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation of wrongful and unconstitutional death. About 2,237 San Quentin inmates have tested positive for the virus, whereas before the May 30 transfer, none had. At the time of the transfer, the Chino prison had reported more than 600 cases of the coronavirus and nine COVID-19 deaths. During a state hearing, a federal monitor overseeing inmate health in California prisons conceded that three or four weeks had passed since some of the transferred inmates had been tested. “The folks in our prisons are human beings. Many who died at San Quentin had done nonviolent crimes and should have been coming back to their families soon,” Ruiz family attorney Michael Haddad said. “It is tragic and unacceptable that some prison bureaucrats treated them as less than human.” While San Quentin is home to California’s death row, it also houses many lower-level offenders. Haddad said Ruiz was serving time for a minor drug crime. He had been notified in March that he was eligible for early release for good behavior as a nonviolent offender, according to the legal claim. But on July 11 he died. Haddad said Ruiz was known to be among the 40,000 inmates housed in California prisons who were deemed to be high-risk because of asthma and other health issues. Because of corrections policies, Ruiz’s family did not learn he had developed COVID-19 and had been hospitalized for two weeks when he was near death, said attorney Julia Sherwin.

“Daniel suffered alone while the CDCR kept his mom, kids and siblings in the dark about his condition,” she said.

About 288 correctional and medical staff at the Bay Area prison have tested positive for the virus. Twenty-six inmates and one employee, Sgt. Gilbert Polanco, 55, a veteran officer, have died. Gov. Gavin Newsom has acknowledged that the Chino inmates “should not have been transferred.”

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To stem outbreaks, Newsom has slashed the prison population by several thousand, including 3,500 inmate releases so far and a commitment to release about 8,000 more. San Quentin had housed more than 3,000 people in open tiers that facilitated the spread of the virus, according to the Ruiz family’s claim. Corrections officials knew that the combination of tight quarters and poor ventilation with older inmates and underlying health problems meant a high risk of morbidity, the claim says. It also alleges that corrections officials failed to conduct proper testing. In the wake of the massive outbreak, the head physician for inmates across the state was replaced.

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Garcetti warns of possible layoffs

Mayor says costs need to be cut, with eye on promised pay raises.

BY DAVID ZAHNISER Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti instructed the city’s top managers on Friday to begin preparations for a “potential layoff scenario,” saying such measures may be needed to weather the budget crisis sparked by the outbreak of COVID-19. In a four-page memo, Garcetti ordered various city managers to identify positions that could be proposed for elimination, examining employee work history and other issues. He also called on the city’s negotiators to work with public employee unions on cost- cutting proposals, including the possible postponement or outright cancellation of previously approved raises. With revenue coming in $87 million below expectations for July and August, the first two months of the city’s fiscal year, Garcetti is also pressing department heads to find ways to cut costs another 3%. “We must take action now to put ourselves in a better position to withstand the financial crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic in our city,” the mayor wrote in his memo, which went to council members and the heads of most city agencies.

Garcetti’s instructions come as L.A. reaches the six-month mark in the pandemic, which has led to a major slowdown in tourism, a reduction in business activity and the temporary closure of cultural institutions. Sales taxes, hotel taxes, parking ticket proceeds and other revenue have come in lower than the projections established before the arrival of the outbreak. New pay raises approved by Garcetti and the City Council also have put pressure on the city’s finances. Police officers are on track to receive a 4.8% raise over the course of the current fiscal year, along with new bonuses. Firefighters received a 4.75% increase in July; employees with the Coalition of L.A. City Unions are slated to receive two 2% raises https://enewspaper.latimes.com/desktop/latimes/default.aspx?&edid=13d2ac90-b100-45fa-9399-8022ba1e94aa Page 1 of 3 9/13/20, 9:09 AM

between January and June.

In a status report issued Friday, City Administrative Officer Richard Llewellyn estimated the city could face a gap of $200 million to $400 million, even if the economy mostly recovers next year. The council has responded to the crisis by signing off on furloughs — one unpaid day off every two weeks — for more than 15,000 workers starting mid-October. They reduced the budget of the Los Angeles Police Department by $150 million in July, taking the number of sworn officers down to its lowest level in a dozen years. Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, said his union will continue to work with the city to address the budget crisis. But he also noted that the cuts made two months ago will leave the LAPD with 250 fewer officers by mid-2021. “We encourage other city departments to make similar sacrifices to protect basic city services,” he said. The league is pushing for city leaders to tap a portion of the funding L.A. received from the federal CARES Act, which provides money to help communities weather the coronavirus outbreak, to cover public safety costs. Whether layoffs will ultimately be carried out, or are simply a bargaining chip as Garcetti seeks concessions from city unions, is not clear. In his memo, Garcetti did not even describe the furloughs as a certainty, saying the city may impose them on some workers. Even with a looming budget gap, Garcetti and the council have declined to impose furloughs on a huge chunk of the workforce, exempting police officers, firefighters, nurses, librarians and building inspectors, among others. Council members also put a third of the money from the LAPD’s budget cut into a fund aimed at reducing the number of furlough days needed this year.

Bob Schoonover, president of Service Employees International Union Local 721, said Friday’s memo simply shows that city officials are preparing for the worst-case scenario, taking administrative steps “just in case revenues continue to fall short.”

He said his union, which represents about 12,000 city employees, would continue working with elected leaders on budget solutions. Still, Schoonover remains an outspoken foe of the furlough program, saying it would hurt workers and cannot be imposed unilaterally.

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He and other union leaders have pushed for an alternative cost-saving initiative: buyouts of up to $80,000 to workers who are eligible to retire. The council approved the buyouts in July but then found that the program drew a weaker- than-expected response from the workforce. It is now expected to save up to $14 million. The financial crisis is the city’s most serious since the 2008 recession, which spurred city leaders to lay off workers, impose furloughs and give early retirement to 2,400 city employees. The city is still paying for the cost of that early retirement initiative, which provided pensions to departing workers up to five years ahead of schedule. In April, during his yearly State of the City address, Garcetti said he expected this year’s economic downturn will be worse for the city than the one that began more than a decade ago.

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O.C. sheriff plans to deploy body cameras

The idea is to start the program by 2022. Supervisors are expected to sign off in a vote Tuesday.

O.C. SHERIFF Don Barnes on body cameras: “I think now is the time for all the right reasons — for evidentiary value, for oversight, for transparency.” (Allen J. Schaben Los Angeles Times)

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BY ALEX WIGGLESWORTH The Orange County Sheriff’s Department plans to roll out a body-worn camera program over the next 18 months. The Orange County Board of Supervisors signaled in a nonbinding straw vote Sept. 1 that it would allocate $679,000 for the program’s implementation. Formal approval is expected Tuesday when county supervisors take a final budget vote. The development was first reported by the Orange County Register. The Sheriff’s Department had initially asked to add 13 positions and receive $1.9 million for the program’s implementation, but the county chief executive officer recommended that the department instead add 12 positions and receive $679,000. That sum will cover the cost of implementation only. The total cost is estimated to be $5 million to $7 million annually, Sheriff Don Barnes told the Board of Supervisors. The cities that contract with the department for policing services are expected to bear about 80% of the annual cost, he said. Barnes told the Board of Supervisors that the department has been researching the program for several years and plans to start implementing it by January 2022. Officials must first issue a request for proposals, find a vendor, draft policies and train personnel. “It’s an issue not only of having a physical device that records, it’s the storage of that device, the bandwidth of moving that information about, the oversight and management of the program, the appropriate redaction of video for protections that are pursuant to public records request acts and legal representation of video and also working with the courts to make sure that it is appropriately transferred to them for prosecution through discovery,” Barnes said. “All of that takes people to be able to manage that program, which is what we’re moving toward as we go forward.”

Barnes said that the department has been able to take a deliberate approach in adopting body cameras because it has had dash cameras in its vehicles for more than 30 years.

“But I think now is the time for all the right reasons — for evidentiary value, for oversight, for transparency — to move toward the implementation of body-worn cameras,” he said.

Experts say body cameras are important tools for accountability and transparency, but studies are mixed about how well they work to prevent the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers. Some say the devices are not effective unless they’re coupled with appropriate policies and practices.

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The Sheriff’s Department will join multiple cities in Orange County that have adopted body cameras in recent years, including Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana and Fullerton. Irvine and Costa Mesa also greenlighted programs this year. The Los Angeles Police Department began deploying body cameras in 2015, and the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department is scheduled to roll out cameras for deputies working at its Century Station by next month. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors recently set aside nearly $35 million to equip 5,200 deputies and security officers with the devices over the next two years. Times staff writers Alene Tchekmedyian and Dorany Pineda contributed to this report.

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Is it time to leave L.A.? Some are starting to think so

A LAYER OF SMOKE hovers Wednesday east of downtown L.A. Between the vast fires and “brutal” smog, some residents say they’re considering relocating. (Gary Coronado Los Angeles Times) BY ANH DO Adam Ho often asks himself why he lives in Los Angeles — its prices prevent him from buying a home or traveling and entertaining as much as he dreams.

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“In the beginning, it was the culture and the music, the pop-up food and the nightlife,” said the aficionado of downtown L.A., an out-of-work waiter. “These days, it’s COVID, peer pressure to wear or not wear masks, more fires than you ever imagined, and, man, the smog is brutal.” And the haze will only worsen. The South Coast Air Quality Management District says two major local fires, as well as wildfires racing across Central and Northern California, are sparking challenges to residents the minute they step outdoors, not to mention leaving trails of smoke heading south, affecting vast swaths of the L.A. Basin. People are advised to avoid outdoor activities at least into Sunday, with unhealthy air quality reported Saturday across the L.A. Basin and inland valleys. Air quality was somewhat better in Orange County. The Bobcat fire exploding north of Azusa and Monrovia in the Angeles National Forest, with a burn area of more than 30,000 acres, was only 6% contained as of Saturday, according to officials. The fire continues to burn into the forest, which is good news for foothill communities that have been poised to evacuate if the winds shift. But many evacuation warnings remain in place. Crews spent Saturday working the southern lines, trying to protect homes in Monrovia, Arcadia, Azusa and other communities. Meanwhile, the El Dorado fire in the San Bernardino Mountains near Yucaipa, spanning 14,000 acres, was 31% contained Saturday. Both infernos pumped out substantial amounts of smoke. The district’s monitoring equipment measured hourly values in the “unhealthy” to “hazardous” air quality index categories since Thursday evening. Southern California is also still dealing with smoke driven into the basin by fires to the north, some as far away as Washington state. Fires are leaving ash particles small enough to be detected by the South Coast AQMD’s PM10 monitors, according to the advisory.

On Saturday, the IQAir app predicted L.A.’s air quality would be “unhealthy for sensitive groups” Sunday and worse Monday.

Air quality has continued to nosedive across Southern California, with the looming smoke creating a plume up and down the West Coast stretching more than 1,000 miles wide, said Philip Fine, deputy executive officer of the South Coast AQMD. Ho, who has started tracking air quality, has downloaded apps onto his phone to stay in the know and was reading up on multiple blazes as he texted friends, trying to decide whether to share Thai takeout over the weekend.

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“If we’re practical, we should stay in. And as long as I’m in front of the screen, I might as well check housing prices in more affordable places,” he said. He’s considering researching a move to a less costly state, such as Arizona. Angie Cisneros, too, has thought about leaving California, for Louisiana or, better yet, Utah, since she would love to be close to the beguiling red rocks of the Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks. The Echo Park store clerk said it saddened her “not to see a single cloud” while driving around L.A. Thursday and Friday. “This is not the scene we see in the magazines when we think of the City of Angels,” she said. “Somehow, we have to take better care of our environment to come back to those bright, beautiful photos. But really, these fire tragedies made me rethink why I want to be here.” Cisneros said she’s “very scared” of weather conditions that will spread more ash over areas where she and her extended family in San Bernardino County live. “I’m totally stressed out,” Cisneros added. “You go out to the car, and it’s like extra icing that no one needs to eat. I’m tired of all the unexpected extras in California.” Times staff writers Hayley Smith and Tony Barboza contributed to this report.

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LOCAL NEWS • News 13 years after indictment, no trial or plea deal for California Charter Academy defendants Former Hesperia Mayor Tad Honeycutt and academy founder Charles Steven Cox face up to 20 and 64 years in prison, respectively

Tad Theron Honeycutt, a Hesperia city councilman, left, and Charles Steven Cox, right, formerformer founderfounder ofof CaliforniaCalifornia CharterCharter Academy,Academy, appearedappeared inin aa VictorvilleVictorville courtroomcourtroom inin 2007 to determine who their lawyers would be in the alleged illegal transfer of $5.5 million in state funds. (File photo by William Wilson Lewis III, The Press- Enterprise/SCNG)

By BEAU YARBROUGH || [email protected] || TheThe Press-Press- https://www.pe.com/2020/09/11/13-years-after-indictment-no-trial-or-plea-deal-for-california-charter-academy-defendants/ 1/5 9/11/2020 13 years after indictment, no trial or plea deal for California Charter Academy defendants – Press Enterprise

Enterprise PUBLISHED: September 11, 2020 at 1:56 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: September 11, 2020 at 1:591:59 p.m.p.m.

On Friday, Sept. 4, 2007, San Bernardino County prosecutors indicted former Hesperia Mayor Tad Honeycutt and California Charter Academy founderfounder CharlesCharles Steven Cox on suspicion of misappropriating $5.5 million in state and federal funds.funds.

Thirteen years later, they have never been tried, have not taken a plea deal and theirtheir casecase hashas nevernever beenbeen dismissed.dismissed.

The case has faced years of delays,, duedue inin partpart toto itsits complexitycomplexity andand HoneycuttʼsHoneycuttʼs political connections and now complicated by the coronavirus pandemic,, according to Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Fermin, the prosecutor on thethe case.case.

“We still continue to work toward framing a resolution,” he said.

Including their first appearance 13 years ago, Cox and Honeycutt have had more thanthan sixsix dozendozen scheduledscheduled courtcourt appearances,appearances, includingincluding 7272 pre-trialpre-trial hearings.hearings.

Both men deny wrongdoing. Cox and Honeycutt have repeatedly denied requests over the years to comment on the case before itʼs finished. But, after the 2005 audit that eventually led to the indictment, Honeycutt said the spending was legal and appropriate.

“Itʼs private company money,” Honeycutt said at that time. “Iʼm not even sure why theyʼdtheyʼd bebe lookinglooking atat howhow thethe privateprivate companycompany wouldwould bebe spendingspending theirtheir money.”money.”

Almost 2,000 cases in which defendants have not waived their rights to a speedy trialtrial needneed toto bebe heardheard inin thethe nextnext fewfew weeks,weeks, FerminFermin said.said. Court employees have been quarantined atat timestimes duringduring thethe pandemicpandemic afterafter beingbeing exposedexposed toto thethe coronavirus and whole courtrooms closed for deep cleaning. In late March, California loosened rules onon howhow fastfast thethe judicialjudicial systemsystem hashas toto movemove duringduring thethe pandemic.

Founded in 1999, the Victorville-based California Charter Academy eventually became the largest chain of charter schools in the state, with more than 60 sites serving 12,000 students before abruptly closing in August 2004.

https://www.pe.com/2020/09/11/13-years-after-indictment-no-trial-or-plea-deal-for-california-charter-academy-defendants/ 2/5 9/11/2020 13 years after indictment, no trial or plea deal for California Charter Academy defendants – Press Enterprise In addition to CCA, Cox also started Educational Administrative Services Corp., a for-profitfor-profit companycompany intendedintended toto provideprovide managementmanagement servicesservices toto thethe schools,schools, which employed Honeycutt. Cox served as CEO for the charter academy and his administrative services company.

In an April 2005 audit commissionedcommissioned byby thethe statestate DepartmentDepartment ofof Education,Education, CoxCox and Honeycutt, along with a whoʼs who of High Desert elected officials, were accused of misappropriating $23 million in state and federal funds and spending thethe moneymoney onon thingsthings suchsuch asas tripstrips toto DisneylandDisneyland andand thethe purchasepurchase ofof high-endhigh-end JetJet Skis by the High Desert charter school.

Five months later, the San Bernardino County District Attorneyʼs Office filed charges against the pair.. CoxCox waswas accusedaccused ofof makingmaking $5.5$5.5 millionmillion inin paymentspayments toto Honeycuttʼs for-profit subsidiary without the academy boardʼs approval or knowledge. Charter schools are public schools under California law and subject to all open-government rules.

Cox was charged with 56 counts of misappropriation of public funds, 56 counts of grand theft and a single count of failing to file a tax return. He faces up to 64 years inin prison.prison.

Honeycutt was charged with 15 counts of misappropriation of public funds, 15 counts of grand theft, three counts of failure to file a state tax return and a single count of filing a false tax return. He faces up to 20 years in prison..

Both men have have gone through multiple defense attorneys, and Honeycuttʼs political connections have caused problems as well.

Honeycutt was the third member of his family to be elected to public office from Hesperia. He served as a city councilman from 2000 to 2008. In the 1990s, his father,father, Theron,Theron, waswas aa councilmancouncilman andand hishis mother,mother, Kathleen,Kathleen, representedrepresented thethe 34th34th Assembly District.

A friend and ally to former county assessor Bill Postmus, whose high-flying political career ended with state prison time,, HoneycuttHoneycutt waswas activeactive inin RepublicanRepublican politics, raising funds that helped a number of officials get elected. Several judges inin VictorvilleVictorville SuperiorSuperior CourtCourt recusedrecused themselvesthemselves fromfrom thethe case,case, andand itit waswas movedmoved toto FontanaFontana andand thenthen toto RanchoRancho CucamongaCucamonga asas aa result.result.

As for Cox, heʼs gone through four defense attorneys. The first two stepped down due to workload concerns — the prosecution presented 52,000 pages of discovery and 456 exhibits to the grand jury in 2005 — or conflicts of interest. His third attorney died and his fourth attorney withdrew, citing a conflict of interest.

https://www.pe.com/2020/09/11/13-years-after-indictment-no-trial-or-plea-deal-for-california-charter-academy-defendants/ 3/5 Cox is now retired and lives in Arizona. Honeycutt now lives overseas, complicating supervised parole should he take a plea agreement. They both commute in for court appearances. 9/11/2020 Business Owners Join Forces, File Lawsuit Against LA County to Reopen Stores - MyNewsLA.com

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Home » Business » This Article Business Owners Join Forces, File Lawsuit Against LA County to Reopen Stores POSTED BY CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 IN BUSINESS | LEAVE A RESPONSE

A group of business owners joined together to le a lawsuit Thursday claiming Los Angeles County is hurting their ability to earn a living due to health 9/11/2020 Business Owners Join Forces, File Lawsuit Against LA County to Reopen Stores - MyNewsLA.com

regulations they claim arbitrarily target stores at indoor shopping malls while allowing other retailers, including hair and nail salons, to reopen.

The owner and operator of Pro Image Sports, Daisy Rivas, says regulations keeping her stores from accepting walk-in customers are unfair because virtually all other stores, including big box and department stores, barber shops and nail salons have been allowed to re-open under approved guidelines.

Business was expected to be brisk at her stores with the NFL season kicking o and the Lakers and Clippers moving closer to an NBA playo matchup. But, because of the county’s health orders not allowing her to reopen, the store will have no way to make money or support its employees, according to the lawsuit.

“We have operated safely and followed the government guidelines to the letter of the law, and we are prepared to be fully compliant with the new guidance announced by Governor Newsom last week, including operating at 25% capacity,” Rivas said. “Yet without a single word of explanation by the County, they continue to shut us down. We and many other small businesses need our stores open in order to survive. I’d like to know how they believe it’s safe to shop at a big box retailer or get a haircut, but I’m prevented from serving my customers and earning a living.”

The lawsuit points out that an Aug. 28 order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom through the state’s Department of Public Health allows Los Angeles County to reopen indoor malls and shopping centers, including retail businesses, with a maximum 25% capacity, with common areas closed, but Los Angeles County, without explanation, is the only county in the state to keep stores in indoor malls shuttered, the lawsuit alleged.

The owner of the Del Amo Fashion Center reopened malls in San Bernardino, Alameda and Santa Clara counties on Aug. 31. Each of those counties has the same coronavirus risk rating as Los Angeles County, the lawsuit stated.

https://mynewsla.com/business/2020/09/10/business-owners-join-forces-file-lawsuit-against-l-a-county-to-reopen-stores/ 9/11/2020 Copper Mountain Mesa, Sept. 11: Neighbors will be able to vote early at Joshua Tree Community Center | Hi-Desert Star

Copper Mountain Mesa, Sept. 11: Neighbors will be able to vote early at Joshua Tree Community Center

By Annelies Kuiper and Mary Cassle Sep 11, 2020 11:14 AM

Our little community has been frighteningly uncomfortable recently with smoke-lled skies, ghastly air quality and record-breaking heat. Thankfully, we did not have any power outages and our swamp cooler managed to keep it

https://hidesertstar.com/news/178113/copper-mountain-mesa-sept-11-neighbors-will-be-able-to-vote-early-at-joshua-tree-community-center/ 1/8 Copper Mountain Mesa, Sept. 11: Neighbors will be able to vote early at Joshua Tree Community Center | Hi-Desert Star almost bearable inside the cabin. Then, overnight we cooled off into the mid-50s and found ourselves scrambling to nd jammies and blankets; 2020 is certainly an extreme year.

As our beloved neighbor Bob Deloyd commented, “With all the riots, pandemics, hurricanes, heat waves and

With all the civil disagreement and unrest, accompanied by shockingly vivid news reports with alarmingly different interpretations, it is challenging to know who or what to believe when it comes to our upcoming elections.

• Neighbors may have questions about voting, so here are a few tips: Register to vote NOW or make sure your personal details have not changed since the last time you voted (e.g. have you moved or changed your name

• Vote early in person or by mail. Early voting for the Morongo Basin will be offered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 26 through Oct. 30 at the Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst Ave. in JT. You can vote here in person or drop off your completed mail-in ballot.

• You can nd all early voting sites and Election Day in-person voting sites in San Bernardino County at www.sbcountyelections.com. For more local voting information visit www.facebook.com/VoteMorongoBasin, or if you prefer call (866) OUR-VOTE.

• Remember to SIGN the ballot envelope before you mail it, and make sure your signature matches the signature on your driver’s license as this is checked to make sure your signature is valid.

• Once you have mailed in your ballot, you can track it to make sure it has been veried and counted. If there is a problem you may still be able to correct it. Go to https://california.ballottrax.net/voter.

Stay well, neighbors!

——

Please call in news at (760) 362-5212 and leave a message for Annelies or email [email protected].

https://hidesertstar.com/news/178113/copper-mountain-mesa-sept-11-neighbors-will-be-able-to-vote-early-at-joshua-tree-community-center/ 2/8 9/11/2020 Council will re-examine vacation home rental rules | Hi-Desert Star

Council will re-examine vacation home rentals

By Kurt Schauppner Sep 11, 2020 10:01 AM The Desert Trail

TWENTYNINE PALMS — The city council will discuss rules and regulations for the operation of vacation home rentals when they meet in regular session at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at city hall 6136 Adobe Road. According to a staff report, the discussion item grew out of a June 9 city council meeting which saw an appeal of approval of a vacation home rental unit in the Indian Cove area of Twentynine Palms. https://hidesertstar.com/news/178110/council-will-re-examine-vacation-home-rental-rules/ 1/8 Specically, concerns were expressed about the potential for VHRs to generate trafc, noise, and changes in the residential character of a neighborhood,” the report states. “For discussion purposes, Staff provides this background about the VHR application, approval, and enforcement

Council members approved an ordinance regulating vacation home rentals in February 2015. The ordinance provides denitions and establishes a permitting process that requires the city to notify nearby property owners when an application is submitted. It sets operating standard and remedies for non-compliance that can include non-renewal or revocation of permits. Among other things the applicant is compelled to obtain a building safety inspection, certication that the septic tank is in good working order, insurance in the amount of $1 million worth of coverage and a sign with a contact number placed in front of the rental unit. Applicants are also required to have business permits and pay Transit Occupancy Tax. “The City has approximately 80 active VHRs within the City limits, with 10 pending. Since establishing the VHR permitting process, over 100 permits have been issued,” the report states. “The number of active VHRs is lower since some owners chose to drop out of the VHR market, obtain a long term tenant instead, or chose to live in the home themselves. Currently, there are 3 pending applications for VHRs throughout the City. “The City has 9,681 housing units of which 5,830 are single-family dwellings. Thus VHRs represents 1.3% of the single-family housing units in the City and 1% of all housing units. “By comparison, Joshua Tree (Unincorporated San Benardino County) has 1,160 VHRs and Yucca Valley has 193 VHRs.” 9/11/2020 DA announces non-profit to offer support services for Route 91 survivors | KBAK

79 ° 93 ° 95 °

DA announces non-profit to offer support services for Route 91 survivors

by BakerseldNow Sta Friday, September 11th 2020

https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/das-office-non-profit-to-offer-support-services-for-route-91-survivors 1/4 DA announces non-profit to offer support services for Route 91 survivors | KBAK BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer announced 79 ° 93 ° 95 ° today that the nonprot, ‘Give an Hour,’ is partnering with the California Victim Compensation Board to oer support services to victims of the October 2017 Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting.

Approximately 65% of the more than 24,000 attendees of the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival were from California, with most residing in Southern California.

Funding for this project, SoCalRoute91, will benet eight counties – Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego.

The Kern County District Attorney’s Oce Victim Services Unit has assisted more than 100 Kern County residents aected by the Harvest Festival Shooting. Based on ticket sales, it is estimated that more than 300 Kern residents attended the Harvest Festival, and the impacts of the shooting extend beyond those who were directly present.

The SoCalRoute91 project will begin oering the following no cost services in late September 2020:

Ongoing Support Groups: Initially, support groups will be available online using a web- based platform. When it is safe to do so, face-to-face groups will be oered in each county; Emotional wellness training and coaching; https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/das-office-non-profit-to-offer-support-services-for-route-91-survivors 2/4 DA announces non-profit to offer support services for Route 91 survivors | KBAK An Evidence-Based Peer Support Model that will provide training to survivors who are 79 ° 93 ° 95 ° interested in becoming a peer supporter in the project; An online Trauma Resource Library; Referrals for mental health services; and Annual anniversary and memorial events in each county. For 2020, the project is producing video memorials from survivors to share online. If a survivor is interested in sharing their story, they should contact Give an Hour Outreach Coordinator Michael Morisette at: [email protected].

Funding for this program is provided by a federal grant from the Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program in the federal Oce for Victims of Crime awarded to the California Victim Search Site Compensation Board. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Oce is assisting to coordinate support services throughout the several aected counties.

The Kern County District Attorney’s Oce is encouraging anyone impacted by the Route 91 Harvest Festival Shooting to inquire further about the services available by visiting the website: www.giveanhour.org/route91.

Founded in 2005, Give an Hour is a national nonprot that specializes in mental health and emotional wellness, and has extensive experience in providing recover assistance after mass trauma events. 9/11/2020 San Bernardino County coronavirus hospitalizations are 1/3 of peak – San Bernardino Sun

LOCAL NEWS • News San Bernardino County coronavirus hospitalizations are 1/3 of peak

By RYAN HAGEN || [email protected] || TheThe Press-EnterprisePress-Enterprise PUBLISHED: September 11, 2020 at 2:09 p.m. || UPDATED:UPDATED: September 11, 2020 at 2:09 p.m.

The number of people hospitalized by thethe novelnovel coronaviruscoronavirus inin SanSan Bernardino County has dropped to less than one-third of the peak it reached in July.

Hospitals reported 205 patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, Sept. 10, which is 32% of the 638 people hospitalized with the disease July 25. Hospitalization numbers reflect one day earlier.

The last time the county had 205 or fewer patients with a confirmed case was June 13.

The county also reported its 800th death from COVID-19 on Friday, reflecting fourfour newnew deathsdeaths fromfrom thethe diseasedisease sincesince thethe dayday before.before.

Meanwhile, the number of cases inched up 0.3% since Thursday to 50,385. https://www.sbsun.com/2020/09/11/san-bernardino-county-coronavirus-hospitalizations-are-1-3-of-peak/ 9/11/2020 San Bernardino County coronavirus hospitalizations are 1/3 of peak – San Bernardino Sun San Bernardino County

Confirmed cases: 50,385,50,385, upup fromfrom 50,21050,210 ThursdayThursday

Deaths: 800,800, upup fromfrom 796796 ThursdayThursday

Hospitalizations: 205205 confirmedconfirmed patientspatients Thursday,Thursday, downdown fromfrom 210210 Wednesday; 54 suspected patients Thursday, down from 60 Wednesday

Intensive-care unit: 7474 confirmedconfirmed patientspatients Thursday,Thursday, downdown fromfrom 8181 Wednesday; 4 suspected patients Thursday, down from 6 Wednesday

People tested: 536,267,536,267, upup fromfrom 531,886531,886 ThursdayThursday

Recoveries (estimated): 44,989,44,989, upup fromfrom 44,67544,675 ThursdayThursday

To see a map and list of cases, deaths and per-capita rates by community, click here.. 9/11/2020 When will more businesses and schools be able to reopen in S.B. County? | News | fontanaheraldnews.com

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/when-will-more-businesses-and-schools-be-able-to-reopen-in-s- b-county/article_f9dec294-f444-11ea-be0a-5f37856cef34.html

FEATURED When will more businesses and schools be able to reopen in S.B. County?

Sep 11, 2020

San Bernardino County ocials are hoping to continue to make progress on reducing the number of COVID-19 cases so that more businesses and schools can reopen.

There is one question that seemingly everyone in San Bernardino County is asking: What will it take for the county to move from the state’s Purple Tier (when COVID-19 is deemed “widespread” in a particular county) to the Red Tier (when the outbreak level has decreased to “substantial”)?

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/when-will-more-businesses-and-schools-be-able-to-reopen-in-s-b-county/article_f9dec294-f444-11ea-be0a-… 1/3 9/11/2020 When will more businesses and schools be able to reopen in S.B. County? | News | fontanaheraldnews.com In this instance, “getting into the red” is a very positive development, since it will allow additional businesses to reopen (with modications and limits), including personal care services, gyms, movie theaters and indoor restaurants. Schools in Red Tier counties are also permitted to provide students in-person instruction.

Per the guidelines, Purple Tier counties are those that are 1) reporting seven or more COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population and 2) showing a “positivity rate” (the percentage of those tested whose results are positive) of 8 percent or higher. Simply put, San Bernardino County needs to average (over a seven-day period) 153 or fewer cases per day, while maintaining a positivity rate below 8 percent.

So where does San Bernardino County stand?

“We are showing impressive gains in our numbers, especially in terms of cases,” said Corwin Porter, the county’s director of public health, in a news release on Sept. 10. “We are seeing an average of 175 cases per day, which is getting close to the number needed to move us into the Red Tier, and our positivity rate has declined from around 10 percent at the beginning of the month to 7.3 percent today. The key now is to continue this steady rate of decline since we need to maintain the right numbers for 14 straight days.”

Porter emphasized that maintaining -- let alone reducing -- these rates will require residents to continue following the guidelines that should now be very familiar to everyone.

"That means continuing to avoid gathering in groups, maintaining social distancing, and absolutely wearing a face covering whenever you’re in close proximity to a person outside your immediate household," Porter said.

Earlier this year, the county had been making similar progress against the coronavirus, but in June the number of cases suddenly surged upward after Memorial Day. Now, the rate of new cases has nally decreased, although ofcials are concerned about another increase following Labor Day.

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/when-will-more-businesses-and-schools-be-able-to-reopen-in-s-b-county/article_f9dec294-f444-11ea-be0a-… 2/3 9/11/2020 When will more businesses and schools be able to reopen in S.B. County? | News | fontanaheraldnews.com The county is strongly encouraging residents to get tested for the disease -- including those who show none of the symptoms associated with COVID-19.

“We have conducted more than 50,000 tests since we began working with our new testing provider, and this increase has undoubtedly contributed to our improved positivity rate,” Porter said. “We urge those of you who have not yet been tested to do so as soon as possible. Remember: getting tested is free, painless, and does not require a doctor’s prescription. And now, all of county testing sites are accepting walk-ins, even though we still encourage setting up an appointment. So there really is no excuse for not getting tested -- and doing so will help us move into the Red Tier and reopen more schools and businesses.”

Increased testing helps identify someone with COVID-19, and triggers the county's contact tracing process so people who may have had contact with a carrier can be identied. It is especially important that anyone who has been in a social situation with persons outside their household to make the effort to get tested, Corwin said.

In Fontana, testing is held inside the Jessie Turner Center, 15556 Summit Avenue, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments can be made by visiting sbcovid19.com.

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/when-will-more-businesses-and-schools-be-able-to-reopen-in-s-b-county/article_f9dec294-f444-11ea-be0a-… 3/3 Despite OK to reopen, some California schools stay closed - Los Angeles Times

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Why are so many schools closed when California cleared them to reopen?

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-14/ok-to-reopen-california-schools-stay-closed[9/14/2020 8:55:13 AM] Despite OK to reopen, some California schools stay closed - Los Angeles Times

Principal Ryan Stanley, left, welcomes second-grader Maeva Chappaz, with her mother, Amelie Chappaz, upon arrival for her first day of in-class instruction at Ocean Air School in the Del Mar Union School District. ( Bill Wechter / San Diego Union-Tribune)

By PALOMA ESQUIVEL, HOWARD BLUME, ANDREW J. CAMPA

SEP. 14, 2020 | 6:30 AM

The Capistrano Unified School District is ready to go, preparing to start welcoming students back to class on Sept. 28, soon after Orange County is expected to meet the state’s COVID-19 requirements for reopening schools.

But 25 miles northwest, Santa Ana Unified School District officials have laid out a more sobering timetable. Elementary schoolchildren probably won’t be back to class until at least November. High school students? Possibly not until early 2021.

“We have some of the highest COVID rates in all of Orange County,” said Santa Ana district spokesman Fermin Leal. “We’re not going to reopen just because the state tells us it’s OK, or the county gives us the go-ahead.”

The recent decline of new coronavirus cases in California has freed 25 counties to

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-14/ok-to-reopen-california-schools-stay-closed[9/14/2020 8:55:13 AM] Despite OK to reopen, some California schools stay closed - Los Angeles Times

reopen schools in the weeks ahead. On Sept. 1, San Diego County — home to the second-largest school district in the state — got the go-ahead. Orange County is on track to reopen schools on Sept. 22. San Francisco, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz are also cleared to soon open.

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But state and county clearance are only the first steps. In sprawling and diverse Orange and San Diego counties — and in the future Los Angeles County — school district leaders face disparate situations and complicated decisions that must take into account neighborhood COVID-19 rates, the size of the district, parent opinions and negotiations with employee unions.

Across the nation, many school districts switched from campus-based classes to online-only just before the start of school in response to outbreaks, staffing issues and lack of preparedness. Some schools that did open had to quickly shut down amid outbreaks.

In Los Angeles County, where COVID-19 remains widespread, such decisions are months away as Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said last week that no schools will be allowed to open to all students until at least November.

Districts such as Santa Ana and San Diego County’s National Elementary — and others serving low-income majority-Latino neighborhoods hard hit by the coronavirus — say it’s still unsafe to reopen, adding yet another blow to the disproportionate hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-14/ok-to-reopen-california-schools-stay-closed[9/14/2020 8:55:13 AM] Despite OK to reopen, some California schools stay closed - Los Angeles Times

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Children in many of these communities were more likely to have slower access to computers and high-speed internet at the onset of school closures. As school started this fall online, their families were often unable to afford private tutors — and their parents are more likely to hold jobs as essential workers, making it difficult to offer support at home. Now many of these students won’t have the option to return to campus as early as their peers in more affluent communities with lower infection rates.

“The same children whose educations were most disrupted and learning interrupted from March to June are now least likely to have the face-to-face interactions and personalized supports they need to regain lost ground,” said economist Emma García, who co-authored a report released last week on COVID-19 related inequities for the Economic Policy Institute, based in Washington, D.C.

In districts serving more affluent MORE COVERAGE ON CORONAVIRUS IN CALIFORNIA households, such as Capistrano Unified, COVID rates are lower and school leaders feel their hard-tooled planning will allow for safe reopening. Tustin and Cypress in Orange County are among the districts readying classrooms for their students. Del Mar Union Elementary in San Diego County opened on Sept. 8.

L.A. school parents will be able to learn if anyone has coronavirus in their child’s class

During pandemic, trash and crime increased on

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-14/ok-to-reopen-california-schools-stay-closed[9/14/2020 8:55:13 AM] Despite OK to reopen, some California schools stay closed - Los Angeles Times

Whittier Boulevard. Lowrider clubs said: Enough

Coronavirus cases at San Diego State near the 600 mark

Small districts, meanwhile, may have more agility to pivot quickly from distance learning to in-person education. Big districts — including San Diego Unified, the state’s second largest — must factor in myriad circumstances given the expanse and diversity of the communities they serve.

Tough choices for schools

In the National Elementary School District, just south of San Diego, cumulative infection rates for the community are among the highest in the county: 2,593 people per 100,000 residents. The district is 84% Latino and 8% Filipino, and nearly four in five students live in poverty.

Supt. Leighangela Brady announced in mid-August that the district hoped to reopen its 11 schools by Oct. 19, but that the date might have to be pushed back given that coronavirus case rates in the community remained high.

Christina Benson, a union leader and fifth-grader teacher at Central Elementary in the National district, said the virus has taken a tragic toll on some of her 28 students — five have had a family member die of COVID-19.

And she worries about whether schools are ready to protect against the virus. Her school is large and her classroom windows face a busy street near a fire station and naval base, making it challenging to keep them open for proper ventilation because of noise.

“To me, it doesn’t seem like we could open,” she said, “our infections rates are too high.”

Meanwhile, Del Mar Union Elementary District, located along the coast north of San Diego, 26 miles from the National district, opened its campuses last Tuesday.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-14/ok-to-reopen-california-schools-stay-closed[9/14/2020 8:55:13 AM] Despite OK to reopen, some California schools stay closed - Los Angeles Times

Del Mar’s eight schools operate in two ZIP Codes that have had among the lowest county rates of coronavirus infection over the course of the pandemic, according to San Diego County health data. About 8% of its students qualify for a free or reduced- price lunch, putting it among the most affluent school communities in the county.

“The variation in school openings is not surprising,” said Isidro D. Ortiz, professor of Chicana and Chicano studies at San Diego State University. It reflects “historical disparities in resources and educational opportunity” for Latinos, who comprise the largest ethnic group in the county.

“The crisis calls for stakeholders to rise to the occasion across all districts,” Ortiz said. “But will they? Will we see an exacerbation of the disparities?”

In Orange County’s Anaheim Elementary School District, where about 85% of students are Latino and 84% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, officials say local transmission rates make it impossible to reopen soon.

“When we’re actually at a safe number, then we’ll consider the reopening,” said district spokeswoman Iris Camacho.

In a letter to families in late August, district officials noted that the schools’ surrounding neighborhoods “continue to have approximately twice the COVID-19 positivity rates in comparison to all of Orange County.”

Just eight miles away, however, Cypress School District officials have announced that students will be allowed to return starting Sept. 23, as long as county case rates continue to decline. About 34% of students qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch. The total case rate in the city of Cypress is 1,027 per 100,000, according to county data.

Health officials in Orange and San Diego counties say they are encouraging districts to look closely at case rates, ZIP Code by ZIP Code, as they consider reopening, said Orange County Health Officer Dr. Clayton Chau.

“We have had weekly meetings with our 27 districts and the O.C. Department of

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-14/ok-to-reopen-california-schools-stay-closed[9/14/2020 8:55:13 AM] Despite OK to reopen, some California schools stay closed - Los Angeles Times

Education about their reopening plans,” Chau said. “This is a work in progress that necessitates ongoing updates, review and dialogue.”

The largest school districts, meanwhile, must consider the wide diversity of the communities they serve.

In June, San Diego Unified’s Board of Education voted to open for five-days-a-week, on-campus instruction as soon as possible. But though it has the county’s OK to open, it still hasn’t set a date.

“The county’s decision to allow schools to reopen does not mean it is safe for every school to do so,” said district spokeswoman Maureen Magee. Many of the district’s 123,000 students travel from one neighborhood to another for school, as do district employees, increasing the danger of spreading the virus.

“These are precisely the kinds of local factors that districts are required to examine,” Magee said.

With a quick reopening unlikely, the San Diego school board approved a plan to offer appointment-based, in-person services to help younger students most at risk of learning loss. In-person “learning-loss sessions” for an estimated 12,000 students will be conducted one-on-one or in small groups only in spaces “with adequate air exchange, including MERV-13 air filters and/or portable ventilation units,” according to the district.

Parents have differing opinions

Parents, too, are weighing the possibility of returning to campus on a smaller level — based on unique family circumstances:

Is a family member at high risk of developing serious complications from the virus? How have their children taken to online learning? Do both parents work from home? State rules require schools that do reopen to continue offering a distance-learning option. And some districts are allowing parents to choose between attending school 100% in person, 100% online or a hybrid.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-14/ok-to-reopen-california-schools-stay-closed[9/14/2020 8:55:13 AM] Despite OK to reopen, some California schools stay closed - Los Angeles Times

Lee Ann Kim, whose two teenage sons attend high school in the San Diego Unified School District, said she is leaning toward a hybrid option.

“For high school and middle school, everything is about your friends,” she said. But she feels most comfortable with a “one foot in the door, one foot out” option, she said.

Home distractions, arguments and a need for structure have convinced Fullerton mother Juana Serrato on a return to the classroom as soon as possible.

Her three boys — Edgar, 11, César, 10, and Alan, 8 — attend Pacific Drive Elementary’s virtual classes from their bedrooms and the living room, while Serrato and 4-year-old Ariel do preschool activities in the kitchen.

“They’re learning and they’re working their hardest to do their homework, but ... it’s hard to ask them to stare at a screen for hours,” she said. “When one gets bored, he distracts another. And when I go see what’s going on, sometimes two are fighting, and how can they learn like that?”

Serrato said that as long as children take precautions — wearing masks, socially distancing and washing hands frequently — they should be allowed to return to campus.

“You have to live and have faith that things will be fine,” Serrato said.

Trang Lai, Fullerton School District’s director of educational services, says no reopening date has been set, but officials are looking at “anywhere from the third week in September to October,” she said. “It just depends on the number of [COVID- 19] cases.”

Alondra Castellanos says online learning has been challenging for son Phoenix, 8, who is on the autistic spectrum and attends Roosevelt-Walker Elementary School in Santa Ana. Castellanos bounces in between Zoom classes with her son while watching her 4-year-old daughter and working from home in telecommunications.

“This all takes a toll,” Castellanos said.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-14/ok-to-reopen-california-schools-stay-closed[9/14/2020 8:55:13 AM] Despite OK to reopen, some California schools stay closed - Los Angeles Times

Still, even if an on-campus option were available, Castellanos said she wouldn’t send her son back. Santa Ana has among the highest total case rates in Orange County: 2,848 per 100,000, according to the county health agency.

“It’s safest to continue distance learning until at least after the winter break,” she said. “If the situation improves, then maybe we can think about getting back to class.”

Times staff writer Ada Tseng contributed to this report.

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Paloma Esquivel

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Paloma Esquivel is an education reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She was on the team that won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for public service for investigating corruption in the city of Bell and the team that won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for coverage of the San Bernardino terror attack. Prior to joining The Times in 2007, she was a freelance writer, worked in Spanish-language radio and was an occasional substitute teacher. A Southern California native, she graduated from UC Berkeley and has a master’s in journalism from Syracuse University.

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https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-14/ok-to-reopen-california-schools-stay-closed[9/14/2020 8:55:13 AM] 2 L.A. deputies shot in ‘ambush’ attack recovering after surgery - Los Angeles Times

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2 L.A. deputies shot in ‘ambush’ attack recovering after surgery

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-12/l-a-sheriffs-deputy-shot-in-compton-near-blue-line-station[9/14/2020 8:55:52 AM] 2 L.A. deputies shot in ‘ambush’ attack recovering after surgery - Los Angeles Times

Deputies block off the scene near the bus station where two L.A. County sheriff’s deputies were shot. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

By DOUG SMITH, MATTHEW ORMSETH, RICHARD WINTON, ALEX WIGGLESWORTH

SEP. 12, 2020 | 7:50 PM UPDATED SEP. 13, 2020 | 11:59 AM

Two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were out of surgery and recovering after being shot Saturday evening in Compton in what authorities described as an “ambush” that was captured on surveillance video.

The video, released by the department, shows a man walking up to the deputies’ parked patrol car, pulling out a gun and firing several times into the front seat area from the passenger side. The assailant is then seen running from the scene. On Sunday, officials asked for the public’s help to locate the person who opened fire.

The Sheriff’s Department reported that the shooting occurred about 7 p.m. near the Blue Line station at 275 Willowbrook Ave.

“One male deputy and one female deputy were ambushed as they sat in their patrol vehicle. Both sustained multiple gunshot wounds and are in critical condition.

The deputies were listed in critical condition but were expected to survive.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva on Sunday called the condition of the deputies a “double miracle.”

Law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times that at least one of the deputies was shot in the face and the other in the head.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva, second from left, exits a news conference outside St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, where two L.A. County sheriff’s deputies are being treated. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Speaking at a news conference at the hospital late Saturday, Villanueva described one of the injured deputies as a 31-year-old mother of a 6-year-old boy and the other as a 24-year-old man. He said both deputies were sworn into office just 14 months ago.

“The two deputies were ambushed by a gunman in a cowardly fashion,” he said. “This is a dangerous job.”

He noted that sheriff’s detectives on Thursday shot and killed a man in Compton who they said opened fire on them as they served a search warrant.

“Every week across the nation someone is losing their life in the line of duty,” he said.

“This is just another grim reminder of that.”

Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-South Los Angeles) also spoke at the news conference.

“This was an unprovoked, cowardly act,” he said. “The individual will be caught, and justice will prevail.

“Tonight we must as a community condemn the act of the perpetrator,” he added. “More importantly, we must come together and pray for the officers because they are heroes.”

LAPD Chief Michel Moore also offered his support.

“Tonight we pray for these two guardians to survive,” the chief tweeted. “I recognize and acknowledge we live in troubled times. But we must as a community work thru our differences while loudly and resoundly condemn violence. Blessed are the Peacemakers.”

No further details on the shooting were immediately available, and it was unclear whether detectives had identified a suspect. The FBI is assisting in the investigation.

Detectives comb the scene where two L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies were shot and gravely injured Saturday night in Compton. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

Some local law enforcement officers took to social media to express their anger and disgust over the shooting.

“I hope this monster is caught soon,” LAPD Capt. Gisselle Espinoza tweeted. “I’m sick to my stomach. The deputies are in my prayers. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”

The Sheriff’s Department has been under scrutiny for several deputy-involved shootings in recent months. The killing of a man on a bicycle in Westmont has sparked days of tense protests. Some demonstrators came to St. Francis Medical Center, where the wounded deputies were being treated. The department said on Twitter that some of those protesters blocked entrances and exits at the hospital, but that could not be independently verified.

Videos from the scene capture at least one person in the crowd yelling, “I hope they ... die.”

A reporter for LAist was arrested there. Video showed the reporter, Josie Huang, pinned by several deputies. LAist said it had called for her immediate release and an apology from the department.

Huang was released Sunday morning.

She said she would respond to claims on Twitter by the Sheriff’s Department that she didn’t have proper press credentials. “Hi, all. I’m out of county jail and am headed home. Thank you for caring. I have seen tweets and have thoughts and videos to share soon after a little rest,” she wrote on Twitter.

Both of the deputies who were shot Saturday were members of the sheriff’s transportation detail.

Metro has split policing duties of its 1,433-mile service area — including 93 rail

stations and nearly 14,000 bus stops — among three agencies: the Los Angeles Police Department, which patrols buses, trains and stations in the city of L.A.; the Long Beach police, who work at eight Blue Line stations; and the Sheriff’s Department, which patrols the rest of the system.

This summer, the Metro board approved a series of policing reform measures, including no longer sending armed officers to respond to nonviolent crimes, hiring unarmed ambassadors to work at stations, and expanding fare discounts.

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Los Angeles Times senior writer Doug Smith scouts Los Angeles for the ragged edges where public policy meets real people, combining data analysis and gumshoe reporting to tell L.A. stories through his 50 years of experience covering the city.

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Matthew Ormseth is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Before joining The Times in 2018, he covered city news and state politics at the Hartford Courant. He grew up in

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-12/l-a-sheriffs-deputy-shot-in-compton-near-blue-line-station[9/14/2020 8:55:52 AM] Deputies arrest reporter covering protest outside hospital - Los Angeles Times

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L.A. County deputies arrest radio reporter covering protest outside hospital

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-13/deputies-arrest-radio-reporter-covering-protest-outside-hospital[9/14/2020 8:55:18 AM] Deputies arrest reporter covering protest outside hospital - Los Angeles Times

A large number of L.A. County sheriff’s deputies converged on the area surrounding St. Francis Medical Center, where two sheriff’s deputies are being treated after being shot. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

By ALEX WIGGLESWORTH | STAFF WRITER

SEP. 13, 2020 | 9:34 AM UPDATED 4:16 PM

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies arrested a public-radio reporter as she covered protests that had erupted outside a hospital where two deputies were being treated for gunshot wounds suffered Saturday evening in an “ambush” attack.

The incident drew widespread condemnation from journalism organizations and prompted the sheriff’s chief watchdog to launch an investigation.

The reporter, Josie Huang, of KPCC and LAist, was taken into custody outside St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood and released hours later. She received a citation for allegedly violating the obstruction law, Penal Code Section 148.

“That’s what surprises me the most is that once she was identified as a reporter that they transported her, that they cited her,” L.A. County Inspector Gen. Max Huntsman said Sunday. The independent monitor oversees investigations into actions by the

Sheriff’s Department.

The incident came a day after sheriff’s deputies in riot gear surrounded a news conference being held by activists. The speakers were condemning the department’s use of force against demonstrators who have been gathering regularly to protest the killing of Dijon Kizzee by deputies in South Los Angeles last month. At Friday’s event, one sheriff’s official grabbed a legal observer who had been filming him. When the news conference ended, the deputies ordered those attending, including reporters, to leave the area.

The inspector general’s office has opened investigations into the department’s conduct at the news conference, as well as its arrest of Huang, Huntsman said.

“Those two incidents are of concern to us because 1st Amendment rights are absolutely critical to the public’s respect of law enforcement,” he said. “And so we feel that requires immediate investigation.”

The office doesn’t have the power to prosecute or bring a lawsuit against the department, but its purpose is to provide information to the public. How long that may take is uncertain, Huntsman said.

“We have requested information from the Sheriff’s Department,” he said. “They have of late not cooperated in investigations of themselves so we do not anticipate their cooperation, and that makes things more difficult.”

Huang wrote in a series of tweets that she had been trailing behind deputies as they followed a man down the street when she saw a commotion ahead of her. The deputies had pinned the man down in the street and were arresting him. As she filmed the arrest, deputies shouted at her to back up and then shoved her, she said.

Video posted by KABC-TV Channel 7 showed multiple deputies then pinning Huang to the ground and handcuffing her.

“We saw one of the radio reporters that was here at the scene, she had rushed up to the police line there to see what was going on when she was suddenly taken down by the deputies,” said ABC7 reporter Leanne Suter. “We are not exactly sure what happened there, why they tackled her and put her into a patrol car, but that happened.”

Demonstrators had gathered outside the hospital where two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were recovering from surgery. Both were critically wounded after being shot Saturday evening in Compton in what authorities described as an ambush that was captured on surveillance video.

The Sheriff’s Department’s relationship with the community has remained tense in the wake of several deputy-involved shootings, including the killing of Kizzee as he rode a bicycle in the Westmont neighborhood of South L.A. An attorney for Kizzee’s family has said he was shot at 15 times as he ran away.

On Thursday, sheriff’s detectives shot and killed a man who they said opened fire on them as they served a search warrant in Compton.

In June, video surfaced of three sheriff’s deputies beating a man who was handcuffed and lying face down on the pavement, sparking outrage and prompting Compton city leaders to call for the deputies’ “immediate removal.”

“We are tired of dodging sheriff’s cars that have no regard for traffic laws or personal property, being snatched out of our cars, having our vehicles illegally searched, being threatened and intimidated, beaten and in some cases murdered,” Compton Mayor Aja Brown said at a news conference.

In the wake of Saturday’s shooting, Brown said she was “devastated to learn of the tragedy” and that the city would be working with the Sheriff’s Department to find and arrest those responsible.

The Sheriff’s Department said on Twitter that some of the protesters blocked entrances and exits of the hospital Saturday, but that could not be independently verified.

Video from the scene shows a small group of people approaching a driveway leading to the hospital before security officers block them from entering the campus. The security officers are then replaced by sheriff’s deputies, at least one of whom points a weapon at the group while some of those gathered shout obscenities and call the deputies names. Huang can also be seen approaching the group and asking for an interview.

The situation becomes more tense as sheriff’s deputies order people to back up and then begin shoving them. One deputy appears to strike a man with a baton.

Deputies were trying to arrest a protester who refused to comply with an order to disperse, the department tweeted, when Huang “ran towards the deputies, ignored repeated commands to stay back as they struggled with the male and interfered with the arrest.”

The department said that Huang did not identify herself as a member of the media and lacked “proper” press credentials.

That account was directly contradicted by videos Huang shared on Twitter, which showed that she did not intervene in the man’s arrest but instead was filming from a distance. As deputies take her to the ground, she can clearly be heard identifying herself as a reporter with KPCC and screaming for help.

“After my phone drops, it keeps recording and it captures two deputies damaging my phone by kicking and stepping on it,” she wrote. “I can hear myself in the background shouting: ‘You guys are hurting me’ and ‘Stop it.’”

As Huang was being put into the patrol car, she could be seen wearing a lanyard around her neck with a badge attached to it.

The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists said in a statement that it was “deeply troubled by news reports and on-the-scene video that

details what clearly seems to be inappropriate use of force to subdue and arrest” Huang.

“SPJ/LA takes special note that this is at least the second time that a journalist of color from this news organization was mistreated and injured while reporting on civil protests,” the statement said.

In June, a Long Beach police officer shot KPCC reporter Adolfo Guzman-Lopez in the neck with a rubber bullet while he was covering an anti-police-brutality protest. The department later apologized and pledged an investigation.

“This action by the Sheriff’s Department demands attention both for what appears to be an excessive use of force, and as a serious threat to the First Amendment, which protects the press, free speech, and the right to protest,” SPJ/LA said.

Herb Scannell, chief executive of Southern California Public Radio, said in a statement that the charge against Huang should be dropped. “Her arrest is the latest in a series of troubling interactions between our reporters and some local law enforcement officers,” he said. “Journalists provide an essential service, providing fair, accurate and timely journalism, and without them, our democracy is at risk.”

Huntsman described the events as the latest turn in a polarizing cycle that had seen law enforcement officers and civilians spinning further away from each other.

“I think we have a feedback loop going on where law enforcement feels under assault, where members of the public feel under assault and as a result you’re having protests … and there’s violent confrontations between police and members of the public,” he said. “And that convinces all parties that members of the other party are violent. And it gets worse and worse.”

To break the pattern, Huntsman said, it’s crucial to stress the importance of following the law, and that applies to members of the public and sworn officers.

“As long as law enforcement doesn’t follow the law as to itself, it’s difficult to convince the public it’s legitimate and maintain the best protection law enforcement officers have against violence from the public, which is that feeling they are

legitimate, that they’re not an enemy of the public but are representing the public,” he said, adding that the Sheriff’s Department should respond to questions from his office and the media with enthusiasm rather than anger.

“I hope we can get through this process of yelling at each other and get to a point where the government is more responsive to the laws and the desires of the public.”

Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

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https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-13/deputies-arrest-radio-reporter-covering-protest-outside-hospital[9/14/2020 8:55:18 AM]