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preliminary plan in place for now. “Our plan is to have a small Is racism a Cal Poly problem? percentage of our classes in person to allow for our learn by doing: our labs and projects,” Armstrong said. “And that is President talks about issues slated to be about 15% or less of the sections offered, and the rest of the courses would be while wrapping up a massive, offered either synchronously or BY MACKENZIE SHUMAN multi-year fundraising cam- asynchronously — online, vir- [email protected] paign. tual, however the faculty mem- The Tribune recently sat ber chose to do it.” As positive COVID-19 cases down with Armstrong via a On Friday the California continue to rise at Cal Poly, the video conference to discuss how Department of Public Health San Luis Obispo university is he and his administration are released health and safety nailing down plans for its up- dealing with Cal Poly’s past and guidelines for public colleges coming fall term. looking toward its future. Ques- and universities to open cam- President Jeffrey Armstrong is tions were provided to Arm- puses in the fall. That guidance, at the head of a massive effort strong ahead of the interview outlined in a 34-page that must balance safety and per a request from a media document, goes over certain physical health with the impor- relations official from the uni- restrictions for schools in tance and benefits of in-person versity. “watch-list” counties such as learning. restricting indoor lectures, re- But the coronavirus pandemic CAL POLY’S PLANS FOR quiring mask wearing on cam- isn’t his only concern. The JOE JOHNSTON [email protected] REOPENING AMID COVID-19 pus, implementing social dis- 21,000-student university has Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong says “we’re really about Right now, Cal Poly is still in tancing and prioritizing single- seen racist incidents involving minimizing risk” in dealing with campus coronavirus exposure. planning mode for its upcoming room occupancy for housing. Greek life that led to protests fall term, Armstrong said, large- Armstrong said the university and national outrage, and the ly because of a lack of guidance will be prepared to implement a botched hiring of a former Mi- worst collegiate sexual abuse In addition, Armstrong must from both the state and the strict hygiene protocol that will chigan State University official scandals in U.S. history has balance significant budget con- California State University sys- whose connection to one of the been hotly debated. straints connected to COVID-19 tem. But the university has a SEE CAL POLY, 5A

Calif. spent $43M suing Trump, his officials

BY ANDREW SHEELER AND KATE IRBY [email protected] [email protected] California has spent $43 million suing President Don- ald Trump’s administration over the past four years in a legal campaign that the state’s Democratic attorney general says has saved bil- lions of dollars in funding the state would have lost had the White House carried out its policies. The lawsuits have prevent- ed or stalled the Trump ad- ministration’s efforts to put a citizenship question on the census, weaken climate DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] change policies, revoke Protest organizer Tianna Arata holds a flag at a No Justice No Peace protest, which began at Mitchell Park in San Luis Obispo on July 21. California’s authority to set its own car pollution standards and rescind an Obispo County Jail, though the Obama-era Deferred Action precise maximum sentence will for Childhood Arrivals that Criminal case of SLO not be known until the county protects young immigrants District Attorney’s Office makes from deportation. a filing decision. The lawsuits have also Arata, 20, has not been for- stymied some of Trump’s key protest leader goes viral mally charged in court, and campaign promises, at least prosecutors say they have sub- temporarily, such as his as- stantial work to do reviewing sertion that he’d build a wall the San Luis Obispo Police De- on the Mexico border and BY MATT FOUNTAIN AND partment’s case against her. She rescind the Affordable Care MACKENZIE SHUMAN and another arrested protester, Act. [email protected] Elias Bautista, are not in police “Every single case is based [email protected] custody and are scheduled to on Donald Trump and his The ongoing criminal case appear in court for an arraign- administration doing some- against a Black Lives Matter ment Sept. 3. thing against the law,” said protest leader arrested by the A District Attorney’s Office California Attorney General San Luis Obispo Police Depart- spokesman said it’s possible Xavier Becerra. ment made national headlines that prosecutors will not have “We didn’t wake up in the Monday as donations flowed in made a filing decision by then. morning and say, ‘Wouldn’t to her legal defense campaign. As of Monday morning, a it be fun to sue Donald On Monday, the news maga- GoFundMe fundraising Trump again?” he said. zine Newsweek reported on the campaign to cover Arata’s legal His department provided a police department’s case against fees had raised more than summary of its costs in fight- local activist Tianna Arata. $33,000 from 1,100 donors — ing the lawsuits to The Sacra- Other publications such as nearly doubling over the week- mento Bee, updating figures Teen Vogue, Hip Hop Wired end — and a Change.org it released in 2018. and MadameNoire have also petition calling on the District The new tally shows rising written about Arata’s case. MATT FOUNTAIN [email protected] Attorney’s Office to not file spending on the cases. Cali- On Aug. 5, the agency asked Protesters urge the San Luis Obispo Police Department to drop charges had garnered more than fornia has spent county prosecutors to charge potential charges against Tianna Arata and Elias Bautista. 140,000 signatures. A $3.7 million in the state Arata with five felonies and Much of that nationwide budget year that ended on three misdemeanors related to support came from social media her July 21 arrest after marchers If convicted of all charges ment, Arata could potentially SEE SUING, 5A blocked traffic on Highway 101. proposed by the police depart- face several years in San Luis SEE PROTEST, 6A

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* Because of fires, SLO County has worst air quality in world

LAURA DICKINSON [email protected] Smoke on Spring Street in Paso Robles reduced visibility to no more than a few blocks as drivers navigated the conditions with their headlights on.

quality in the world on Thurs- BY CASSANDRA GARIBAY Heavy smoke could day, according to the air quality How to stay [email protected] monitoring company IQAir. At one point Thursday, Paso Ro- an Luis Obispo County last into the weekend bles, San Miguel, Atascadero safe from had the worst air quality and Lake Nacimiento held the in the entire world ogist John Lindsey told The top four spots for the worst air smoke, S Thursday as smoke from BY NICK WILSON Tribune on Thursday. quality in the nation. wildfires in the Bay Area poured [email protected] Winds from the northwest are Lindsey said that national south to the Central Coast, driving the thick, hazardous weather models showed the poor air blocking the sun and darkening San Luis Obispo County will haze from the Monterey County mass of smoke collecting along skies. continue to suffer under a fires to the Central Coast, Lind- the Central Coast. quality The conditions were worst in blanket of smoke at least sey said. “Smoke cover can be hard to the North County, which was through Friday and possibly into It’s so bad, North County blanketed in a choking haze the weekend, PG&E meteorol- towns registered the worst air SEE WEEKEND, 7A throughout the day. BY KAYTLYN LESLIE “I can’t remember a time in [email protected] my 30 years where (the poor air quality) was this widespread for San Luis Obispo County resi- this long,” San Luis Obispo Big Sur fire dents woke up to another day of County Air Pollution Control hazy skies on Thursday, as air officer Gary Willey said. 0% contained; quality across the county drop- The conditions were so bad ped to dangerous levels due to that at noon, four North County Highway 1, wildfire smoke. locations held the top four spots As fires continued to burn for the worst air quality in the parks closed across California, three North United States, according to County spots ranked among the IQAir, an air quality monitoring worst areas for air quality in the company. BY CASSANDRA GARIBAY United States on Thursday Paso Robles was ranked No. [email protected] morning, according to air qual- 1, followed by San Miguel, Atas- ity monitoring company IQ Air. cadero and Lake Nacimiento on The Dolan Fire near Big Sur So how can locals residents the top 10 list for the most haz- held at 2,500 acres and was 0% protect their health? ardous air quality in the nation. contained as of Thursday morn- Here are a few tips from the IQ Air calculates its air quality ing, according to the Los Padres San Luis Obispo County Air index by looking at the six most National Forest Service. Pollution Control District, the common pollutants — including Highway 1 remained closed county Public Health particulate matter, carbon mon- from Ragged Point in San Luis Los Padres National Forest Service Department and American oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen Obispo County to Pfeiffer Burns The Dolan Fire has held at 2,500 acres near Big Sur since Tuesday Lung Association on how to stay dioxide and ground level ozone State Park in Monterey County, night. Smoky conditions have blocked potential air attacks, according safe. — and calculating the health according to CalTrans. to the Los Padres National Forest Service. risk for each. The overall AQI is The area east of Dolan Can- WHAT TO DO IF determined by the most present yon was evacuated Wednesday, YOU SMELL SMOKE and “riskiest” pollutant, accord- and many state parks in and A Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Fire was started intentionally Smelling smoke is a direct ing to IQAir. near Big Sur were closed. Park, around 8 p.m. Tuesday in John sign that you are in an area with The index rating is measured According to the California A Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Little State Nature Reserve poor air quality. District officials on a scale from 0 to 500, with Department of Parks and Recre- A Andrew Molera State Park, south of Slates Hot Springs. recommend people in this sit- anything over 300 being con- ation, the following parks are A Point Sur State Historic The Monterey County Sheriff’s uation “take precautions and sidered hazardous, and any- closed for camping, hiking and Park, Office arrested 30-year-old use common sense to reduce thing under 50 considered good day use: A Garrapata State Park, and Fresno resident Ivan Geronimo your exposure to smoke.” air quality. A John Little State Natural A Point Lobos State Natural Gomez on suspicion of arson of All adults and children should Reserve, Reserve. SEE AIR QUALITY, 7A A Limekiln State Park, Officials believe the Dolan SEE BIG SUR, 7A SEE STAY SAFE, 5A

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Ranked at No. 19 was 2018 The Arborist Estate Red from Vina Robles Magazine lists 5 Paso Robles Vineyards & Winery. The blend of syrah, petite sirah, granache and tannat, which scored a wines among top 100 of 2020 94-point rating and retails for just $18, is “a scream- ingly good deal, offering 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon “Fresh out of the gates, both hedonistic pleasure BY SARAH LINN ranked at No. 7 — the this bottling is singing in and complexity,” Kettman [email protected] highest of any Central opulent aromas of Bing said. Coast wine on the list. cherry pie, clove, mace J. Lohr Vineyards & Five Paso Robles wines Writing for Wine Enthu- and rosewater,” Kettman Wines’ 2016 Cuvee Pau are among the best wines siast, Matt Kettman de- wrote of the wine, which Red landed on the list at of the year — and one scribed the wine, which retails for $25 and has a No. 44. retails for less than $20, has a rating of 95 points 94-point rating. “There is “This is a dense and according to Wine Enthu- and retails for $56 a bot- a wealth of baking spice detailed wine, starting with siast. tle, as a “reliable crowd- on the palate, from nut- rich, inviting aromas of The magazine recently pleaser” with “hearty meg to star anise, while dark berries, cherries, co- published its prestigious aromas of black currant, the silky, smooth mouth- coa, vanilla and mocha on Top 100 Wines of 2020 black plum, lush oak and feel presents flavors of the nose,” Kettman wrote list. caramel, accented by a cherry and mulberry.” of the wine, which retails “Our global team of hint of olive and loads of JOE JOHNSTON [email protected] Other Paso Robles for $60 a bottle and has a editors and tasters cumu- clove and nutmeg.” Austin Hope Winery’s 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is ranked at wines listed among Wine 95-point rating. “Those latively reviewed more “The mouthfeel is No. 7. Shown is the Austin Hope and Treana tasting cellar. Enthusiast’s Top 100 lavish tones carry to the than 25,000 wines” to hearty and rich, with just Wines of 2020 include palate, which is framed by determine the best bottles enough tannic weight to Brady Vineyard’s 2018 chiseled tannins.” of the year, the magazine balance the creamy black- which lead to an oaky Simeon Wines’ 2019 Zinfandel, which came in It’s the second time in says. cherry, caramel and choc- finish,” Kettman wrote. Estate Reserve Pinot Noir at No. 14 sells for $24 and Austin Hope Winery’s olate-ice-cream flavors, Reviewers ranked San at No. 12. has a rating of 96 points. SEE WINES, 4A

WINTER BEGINS – THE MOON SAYS SO County passes 9,000-case mark; 5 deaths added

WHAT IS ICU BED BY CASSANDRA GARIBAY AVAILABILITY [email protected] IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA San Luis Obispo Coun- AND SLO COUNTY? ty’s sharp rise in coro- According to the state, navirus cases continued 22 out of 53 of San Luis Tuesday, as the county Obispo County ICU beds passed the 9,000-case were available as of Mon- mark. day. The county has added Even though San Luis 1,166 coronavirus cases in Obispo County’s ICU the past seven days. availability isn’t below The health equity met- 15%, the ICU availability ric, positivity rate, ad- in the Southern California justed and unadjusted region means that the case rate have all soared county falls under a new since Dec. 15. stay-at-home order. The San Luis Obispo County stay-at-home order will added 258 new coronavi- remain in place for at least rus cases Tuesday, break- three weeks. ing the record for highest San Luis Obispo County daily case tally that was is considered to be part of set Saturday. A total of the Southern California 229 new cases were re- region — along with Impe- ported on that day. rial, Inyo, Los Angeles, On Tuesday, the county Mono, Orange, San Ber- Public Health Department nardino, San Diego, Santa reported five additional Barbara and Ventura deaths due to COVID-19 counties. — involving two people in As of Tuesday, ICU their 70s, one person in availability in the South- their 80s and two in their ern California region re- 90s. That brings the total mained at 0%, health number of local coro- department data showed. navirus-related deaths to Under the order, local DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] 65, the county reported. retail stores are limited to The moon is in first quarter phase the night of Dec. 21 as winter begins. This phase is seven days after the new Meanwhile, local hospi- 20% capacity inside. Res- moon and is a one-day event as it enters the waxing gibbous phase on the way to the full moon. talizations due to CO- taurants are closed to VID-19 have remained indoor and outdoor din- high after top health ing, and bars, wineries leaders warned of “dire and hair salons are re- may have been a result of consequences” due to quired to close. In addi- Santa Maria man who killed scavengers, NOAA told limited capacity. tion, places of worship will The Tribune in January A total of 38 people only be allowed to have 2019. were in local hospitals outdoor services. elephant seal faces prison time NOAA had offered a with coronavirus on Tues- In response, San Luis reward of up to $20,000 day. Of those, eight were Obispo County is pushing release. The government When Gerbich is sen- for information on the in intensive care units. for the state to separate it BY MATT FOUNTAIN is not seeking significant tenced April 12, a U.S. case. A total of 9,061 San Luis from the Southern Cali- [email protected] fines or restitution in the judge could decide to The animals are protect- Obispo County residents fornia region. case. reject the plea agreement ed under the federal Ma- have tested positive for San Luis Obispo, Santa A Santa Maria man is During and sentence Gerbich to rine Mammal Protection coronavirus since mid- Barbara and Ventura expected to be sentenced Monday’s the maximum penalty. If Act. March, the county said. counties jointly petitioned to six months in federal hearing, the so, Gerbich may withdraw According to a copy of Of those COVID-19 the state to form a Central prison for shooting and deputy U.S. his plea and the criminal the plea agreement filed cases, 2,050 were active Coast region under Cali- killing a northern elephant Attorney proceedings would contin- in U.S District Court, Ger- Tuesday, marking a record fornia’s regional stay-at- seal and mutilating its also noted ue in federal court. bich and another un- high for active cases. home order. carcass on a San Simeon that a named person drove to As of Tuesday, San Luis . beach in 2019. Jordan Springfield SEAL WAS SHOT the elephant seal viewing Obispo County remained Jordan Peter Gerbich, Peter XD IN THE HEAD, MAIMED area adjacent to the Pie- in California’s most re- WHAT TIER IS 30, pleaded guilty in U.S. Gerbich .45-caliber After the discovery of dras Blancas State Marine strictive tier of SLO COUNTY IN? District Court in Los An- handgun the seal’s body Sept. 28, Reserve with the .45- California’s Blueprint for a Tuesday marked the geles Monday to a single used in the crime — as 2019, the National Ocean- caliber pistol. Safer Economy and under seventh consecutive week misdemeanor count of the well as a host of other ic and Atmospheric Ad- That night, Gerbich, the Southern California San Luis Obispo County taking of a marine mam- weapons and ammunition ministration’s Office of aided with a flashlight, regional stay-at-home was considered “wide- mal in connection to the seized from Gerbich’s Law Enforcement began shot and killed the north- order. spread,” with metrics female elephant seal’s home — will be returned an investigation with the ern elephant seal as it was The county returned to worsening across the death. to him in the coming help of the California resting on the beach in the the purple tier on Nov. 16. board. Under a plea deal with weeks. Department of Fish and Piedras Blancas rookery, The stay-at-home order For the past six weeks, the U.S. Department of Under the Marine Mam- Wildlife. the government alleges. went into effect Dec. 6. the county’s case rate was Justice, federal prose- mal Protection Act, the After a field examin- In January 2020, federal what categorized in the cutors will recommend federal misdemeanor ation, it was determined agents conducted a search purple tier. However, as of Gerbich be sentenced to carried a maximum sen- that the elephant seal had of Gerbich’s home and Tuesday, both health six months in prison and tence of one year in prison been shot and some orga- one year of supervised and a $100,000 fine. ns were removed, which SEE SEAL, 4A SEE MARK, 4A

A group of four people Arayza and one pas- with three felony charges Paso Robles woman who died in went off a cliff in a rented senger were transported to related to gross vehicular Can-Am ATV, the CHP Sierra Vista Regional Med- manslaughter and driving said. The driver, 35-year- ical Center in San Luis under the influence. ATV crash identified, CHP says old Maria Arayza of Los Obispo with moderate and As of Tuesday morning, Angeles, and two of her minor injuries, respec- Arayza did not appear to Monday morning. Hatch Rotisserie and Bar passengers, a 42-year-old tively, the CHP said. An- be in San Luis Obispo BY CASSANDRA GARIBAY Tanya Corrine Hendry, in Paso Robles, according man from Long Beach and other passenger, who County Jail. Arzaya’s court [email protected] 34, was pronounced dead to her Instagram. a 46-year-old man from suffered minor injuries, date has been set for Feb. after the ATV she was in On Monday, officers Germany, were able to get refused transport to the 3, 2021, according to jail The California Highway rolled off a cliff into the responded to reports of a out of the vehicle by hospital, the ATV said. records. Patrol identified a Paso ocean, according to the vehicle accident on the themselves, the CHP said. According to the CHP, Robles woman who died California Highway Patrol. beach west of Alapay Way Another camper extri- Arayza was arrested on Cassandra Garibay: in an all-terrain vehicle Henrdry was an artist near Harmony around cated Hendry before first suspicion of driving under 805-781-7961, accident near Harmony on and bartender at The 3:50 a.m., the CHP said. responders arrived. the influence and charged @CassandraGari VOTING IN A TIME Extra OF VIRUS, UNREST LOCAL Voters navigated SLO County adds EXTRA curfews, health Subscribers will find concerns and mail-in 7 new COVID-19 this bonus content at ballots during sanluisobispo.com/ cases, bringing Tuesday’s elections. eedition MATT ROURKE AP total to 278 1B

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ANTI-RACISM MARCH STARTED IN PEACE

DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] Protesters retreat Monday as police fire tear gas after the crowd refused to leave the intersection of Santa Rosa and Walnut streets in San Luis Obispo. The altercation ended what was otherwise a peaceful march against racial injustice.. Peaceful march in SLO Police chief defends use of force to disperse ends in standoff, tear gas I’VE ALWAYS FELT THAT I WAS IMPORTANT crowd of protesters day. BY CASSANDRA GARIBAY AND ‘‘JUST BY MYSELF. BUT Hours later, the march would LINDSEY HOLDEN come to an end there when sion to disperse the evening [email protected] WATCHING PEOPLE after a two-hour standoff, police BY NICK WILSON crowd. [email protected] in riot gear dispersed demon- MARCH AND CHANT AND KAYTLYN LESLIE “I want you to know — and I For most of two days, San strators by firing rounds of tear ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER,’ [email protected] feel like you do know this — that Luis Obispo was spared the gas into the crowd. [email protected] we support peaceful protest scenes of conflict and violence No injuries were reported, but I’VE NEVER FELT MORE The San Luis Obispo Police here in San Luis Obispo,” she that have marred protests seven protesters were arrested. IMPORTANT AND Department is defending its use said at the conference. “No against racial injustice around SLO Police Chief Deanna of tear gas and pepper bullets police chief, no police officer ... the country. Cantrell issued a statement on MORE LOVED. AND I’M on a crowd of protesters Mon- wants what happened yesterday That changed on Monday. Facebook just before 10 p.m. NEW TO THIS day night, after a peaceful pro- to happen.” At 8 p.m. that evening, after “We are appalled by the test for much of the day ended Cantrell said that after hours hundreds of protesters took to senseless death of George Floyd COMMUNITY. THIS IS A in a standoff in front of the of following the protest, police the streets for an uplifting show in Minneapolis last week,” Can- BEAUTIFUL THING TO Police Station. formed a line at Walnut and of solidarity, demonstrators and trell said after the protest. “We San Luis Obispo Police Chief Santa Rosa streets around 6 police met again at an intersec- support the peaceful protests ME. Deanna Cantrell spoke Tuesday p.m. to prevent protesters from tion that had been the site of a at a news conference, detailing jubilant moment earlier in the SEE MARCH, 5A Miko Jackson the events that led to the deci- SEE CANTRELL, 5A

ed of damaging the Shoe Pal- with civil unrest in that city. Downtown ace, Central Coast Surfboards Sheriff urges peace Here is Parkinson’s full state- and Founders Bank. The men ment: stores, bank were seen fleeing the scene in a “Like many of you, the only white sedan. after nights of unrest information I have or have seen Police said the men used a on this matter has been through vandalized long BB gun to shoot seven He said that while he sup- the media reports. I’ve watched windows at the three busi- BY MATT FOUNTAIN ports residents’ First Amend- the video of the officers re- after protest nesses, shattering two of them. [email protected] ment rights to protest, he would straining George Floyd, and I The men entered the Shoe “not stand by and allow anyone was shocked, saddened and Palace, pulled out a mannequin San Luis Obispo County Sher- to take advantage of a peaceful angered over what I saw. The BY JOE TARICA and stole its clothes. iff Ian Parkinson on Monday march and turn it officers involved deserve to be AND MATT FOUNTAIN Officers responding to the said that he was “shocked, into an opportu- prosecuted for their actions, or [email protected] scene said the needed boards of saddened and angered” by the nity to hurt peo- their lack of actions, for Mr. [email protected] various sizes to secure the dam- killing of George Floyd in Min- ple or to damage Floyd’s death. Vandals struck downtown aged window, and SLO police, neapolis, but added that he was property.” “(I’ve spoken) to other chiefs San Luis Obispo on Monday sheriff’s deputies and CHP encouraged by the peaceful Parkinson also in other departments and other night, shooting out windows of officers patrolled downtown nature of local protests. noted that rough- law enforcement executives in multiple businesses on Marsh after the incident. As local demonstrations ly 50 local law this county, and they all share Street hours after a standoff Witness Jay Bender said one stretched into their second day, Sheriff Ian enforcement my same opinion on this mat- between protesters and police of the suspect vehicles was Parkinson said at a county news Parkinson officers have ter. We’ve seen people from ended with officers firing tear throwing firecrackers out their conference Monday, that the returned to San across this county take to the gas at the crowd. window just before this vandal- police officers involved in Luis Obispo County after being streets to protest what hap- Police said they were looking Floyd’s death should be prose- deployed to Los Angeles as part for four men who they suspect- SEE PROTEST, 4A cuted. of a state mutual aid to assist SEE SHERIFF, 4A

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*

community, coming after the shooting deaths of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. Civil rights leaders Trump at a Saturday event denounced Floyd’s death as a “grave tragedy” and called for a “partnership with community see parallels to past leaders, local law enforcement, and the faith community to restore hope.” this week, comparing the cur- all of the things that have bub- His statements since then BY FRANCESCA CHAMBERS rent turmoil to the turbulence of bled to the surface over the last have primarily advocated for [email protected] the 1960s. 70 days, is a direct result of the the use of “overwhelming” law Protests over the death of lack of leadership coming from enforcement presence to pre- WASHINGTON George Floyd, an unarmed the White House,” Derrick vent violence in protests. Disproportionately high rates black man who died in police Johnson, head of the NAACP, Trump delivered a Rose Gar- of coronavirus. Historic levels of custody last month, have be- said. den speech on Monday, saying joblessness. Repeated cases of come a symbol of the racial Floyd’s death after a white governors must “dominate” police violence toward African disparities in America that black police officer knelt on his neck their streets with the National Courtesy of Lucia Mar Unified School District Americans. The crises have leaders say Trump has failed to for nearly nine minutes – as he Guard or he will deploy active Lopez High School graduate created a “perfect storm” of effectively address. told the officer he couldn’t duty troops, at the same time Summer DeLorenzo raises an intolerable conditions that have “We have witnessed, perhaps, breathe before he became unre- that law enforcement officers arm for the camera. pushed the nation to the brink, the worst 70 days in U.S. history sponsive – was a breaking point black leaders told McClatchy outside of the Civil War. That for many members of the black SEE PARALLELS, 6A Lopez High School Class of 2020: Morro Bay High honors 63 School graduates 166 seniors seniors in ceremony

BY KAYTLYN LESLIE [email protected]

This has been an unusual year for almost all graduates across the country — includ- ing those at Lopez High School in Arroyo Grande. With coronavirus erasing all the usual hallmarks of a high school experience, and removing students from their campus and friends, the Class of 2020 has seen unprece- dented times. But that didn’t stop the continuation high school’s graduating class from having a rolling good commence- ment ceremony. On Wednesday, the school celebrated the achievements of its 63 graduating seniors with a sunny drive-through ceremony at its campus. Graduates bedecked in the school’s maroon robes waltzed across a stage set up in front of the stage while their families watched from DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] cars. Morro Bay High School graduate Season Bryant celebrates while standing in the sunroof during a campus drive-through event on Thursday. Family members hung out At left, Principal Kyle Pruitt leans into the photo. Morro Bay is planning to hold its official graduation ceremony in August. of car windows smiling and taking pictures of their stu- dents while a line of mask- big adjustment for teachers and conquered.” wearing teachers and staff BY NICK WILSON students who had to transition “Fast forward to 2020, and waved signs behind them. [email protected] to online learning. this class is faced again with the The graduates themselves “It’s definitely been one of challenge of being the graduating were all smiles as they Morro Bay High School salut- those things where students are FAST FORWARD TO class to once again have to con- grabbed their diplomas and ed its Class of 2020 with an all in it together because nobody 2020, AND THIS CLASS quer the challenge of a school walked down the path, ready on-campus drive-through knows what they’re doing,” said ‘‘IS FACED AGAIN WITH year cut short by unprecedented to enter the next phase of celebration Thursday in ad- Ford, who’s entering the U.S. health challenges worldwide,” their lives. vance of a complete graduation Navy. “I definitely missed the THE CHALLENGE OF Pruitt told The Tribune. ceremony on Aug. 7. one-on-one in-person interaction LOPEZ HIGH SCHOOL This year’s graduating class with teachers (after the shelter- BEING THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM MORRO CLASS OF 2020 numbers 166 students, many of at-home order), but was in con- GRADUATING CLASS TO BAY’S CLASS OF 2020 ACHIEVEMENTS whom are heading off to Cuesta tact with many of them on a daily As of late May, school offi- Lopez High School’s Class College as they navigate their basis. ... It required a lot of pa- ONCE AGAIN HAVE TO cials said this year’s class of 2020 celebrated a range of higher education years amid a tience and a lot of empathy for CONQUER THE earned 152 scholarships totaling achievements on Wednesday turbulent time of public health, all. But we’re here and made it to $191,000 to 48 graduates. after a particularly unusual economic and civic challenges. the end.” CHALLENGE OF A After graduation, 35 will be year for many of the students. The event featured jingling Ford said she particularly felt SCHOOL YEAR CUT attending four-year universities, Emilie Younger was this cowbells, decorated vehicles for teachers, some with more 110 are enrolling at Cuesta Col- year’s valedictorian with a and presents handed out to the than 100 students, who also SHORT BY lege and four are joining the 3.89 GPA. Delany Merino departing students. were faced with helping navi- UNPRECEDENTED military. Others will be working, Aguilar was salutatorian with Students jumped out of the gate their own children’s re- taking time off or entering trade a 3.34 GPA. cars to snap a quick photo with mote schooling at home. HEALTH CHALLENGES school. Thirty-two of the graduates Principal Kyle Pruitt, who greet- Ford was among the gradu- “Through it all, this class has will be attending either Allan ed them with a socially distant, ates grouped in alphabetical WORLDWIDE. everything to be proud of,” Hancock College or Cuesta air high five. order as students with last Morro Bay High School Pruitt said. “With students College this fall, and two are Some stood through the sun- names starting with “A” kicked Principal Kyle Pruitt headed off to colleges, the mil- joining the military. roof of their vehicles and waved off the event. itary and the workforce, the Lopez High grads from the excitedly to cheers and joyful The school is one of those in MBHS Class of 2020 stands to Class of 2020 received more celebration. the county looking to preserve amid ongoing COVID-19 pan- add excellence to our society as than $19,000 worth of schol- some of the memorable mo- demic precautions. a whole. ... I sincerely wish all of arships. Nine students re- SENIOR DESCRIBES ments of senior year by post- Pruitt noted that the Class of the graduates the best and am ceived some kind of financial END-OF-YEAR CHALLENGES poning until summer. It has 2020 was also Los Osos Middle so excited to watch all of them award. Graduating senior Alexa Ford resechuled its prom to Aug. 4 School’s first sixth-grade class, a thrive well into the future!” said the last two months were a and its senior tribute to Aug. 6 challenge they “embraced and SEE SENIORS, 2A

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Paso Robles victim Soon, nail salons and remembered as a tattoo parlors will ‘gentle and loving guy’ JOHNNY WATSON James Harding Watson, a begin to 58-year-old homeless man, died been shot in the head at close PASO ROBLES HOMELESS near the Paso Robles train BY LINDSEY HOLDEN range. Police say Watson was COMMUNITY ‘SCARED AND station after being shot by Mason reopen [email protected] killed by 26-year-old Mason UPSET’ James Lira, police said. His family James Lira, the same shooter Watson was a valued member remembered him as “a big ol’ Friends and family of the who ambushed the Paso Robles of the Paso Robles homeless momma’s boy.” “He would give BY TONY BIZJAK Paso Robles man who was shot Police Station early Wednesday community and was known to the shirt off his back to anyone in [email protected] in the head early Wednesday morning and shot multiple law wear red suspenders around need even after being down on morning are mourning his loss enforcement officers trying to town, said Gail McNichols, a his luck — he was just that kind Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ad- and remembering him as a apprehend him during a two- city homeless advocate and of man,” they said in an email to ministration announced Fri- “very gentle and loving guy.” day manhunt. former director of Paso Cares. The Tribune. day it will give counties the James Harding Watson, 58, It remains unclear whether “He was a very gentle and green light next week to allow was found dead at about 7 a.m. Watson was shot prior to the loving guy,” she said. “He was nail salons and tattoo parlors along the tracks near the Paso police station ambush or after. much beloved in his communi- “He was a fragile guy,” she to reopen based on local con- Robles train station at 8th and Lira was killed on Thursday ty.” said. “He was protected by the ditions and with the approval Pine streets, according to the evening off Vopli Ysabel Road McNichols said Watson other homeless folks because he of county governments. San Luis Obispo County Sher- and Ramada Drive in south would “literally give away any- could be victimized.” The decision marks yet iff’s Office. Paso Robles after a shootout thing he was given” and would another notable step toward Watson was found to have with law enforcement officers. go out of his way to help others. SEE VICTIM, 5A reopening much the Cali- fornia economy after it was shut down abruptly by New- som’s March 19 “stay at home” order in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the Health and Human Services Agency, said the

SEE REOPENING, 7A

BEBETO MATTHEWS AP Nail salons and other personal-care services such as electrolysis, cosmetology, and tattoo and piercing businesses will be allowed to reopen soon as coronavirus restrictions are gradually lifted in California.

DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] San Luis Obispo County law enforcement officers travel in an armored Bearcat vehicle near Volpi Ysabel Road and Ramada Drive, an industrial area on the south end of Paso Robles. Police killed a suspect accused of ambushing the Paso Robles Police Department, COVID-19 killing a homeless man and shooting a county sheriff’s deputy. cases ‘This was not a win.’ Paso Robles surge suspect dead, 3 officers injured across Sun Belt The man wanted in an attack on police in Paso Robles, California, died in a shootout Thursday. The suspect, who also killed a homeless man, shot 3 officers before he was BY JULIE BOSMAN AND MITCH killed trying to escape. SMITH New York Times

and into the CHICAGO BY LINDSEY HOLDEN, MATT Salinas river- The warning has echoed FOUNTAIN, CASSANDRA GARIBAY, KAYTLYN LESLIE AND NICK bed. ominously for weeks from WILSON By the end of epidemiologists, small-town [email protected] Thursday, three mayors and county health [email protected] more officers officials: Once states begin to [email protected] had been in- reopen, a surge in coronavirus [email protected] Mason jured and local cases will follow. [email protected] James Lira law enforce- That scenario is now play- ment agencies ing out in states across the In a grueling end to a two- had clashed with Lira a hand- country, particularly in the day manhunt, police shot and ful of times at locations across Sun Belt and the West, as killed a man they say killed a the area. thousands of Americans have homeless man in Paso Robles Lira, a homeless man who been sickened by the virus in and shot a San Luis Obispo most recently lived in the new and alarming outbreaks. County sheriff’s deputy in the Monterey area, had a history Hospitals in Arizona have face. of mental illness, his father been urged to activate emer- Mason James Lira, 26, died told The Associated Press. gency plans to cope with a during a shootout in Temple- At a press conference Thurs- flood of coronavirus patients. DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] ton on Thursday afternoon, a day night, San Luis Obispo On Saturday, Florida saw its A police officer holds a perimeter position on Ramada Drive day after he opened fire on the County Sheriff Ian Parkinson largest single-day count of during the pursuit of shooting suspect Mason James Lira on Paso Robles Police Depart- said Lira’s death was not the cases since the pandemic Thursday south of Paso Robles. Lira, 26, died during a shootout in ment and kicked off a multi- Templeton on Thursday afternoon. day search through the city SEE SUSPECT, 4A SEE CASES SURGE, 7A

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...... COVID-19 cases SLO County tops Central by county Coast in COVID-19 cases 67 The number of residents in San Luis Obispo County to test cases of any county between Fresno County had 31 and Kern As of Friday, San Luis Obispo positive for COVID-19. BY LINDSEY HOLDEN Ventura and San Jose — even County had 40, as of Friday. County had about 24 confirmed [email protected] those with significantly larger All of those counties have far patients per 100,000 people. populations — but it’s not en- larger populations than San Luis Santa Barbara County, which 47 Editor’s note: The data in this tirely clear why. Obispo. Between Los Angeles has the second-highest number The number of confirmed cases story is current as of 6 p.m. on The county on Saturday and the Bay Area, only Ventura of cases per capita, was home to of the coronavirus in Santa Friday, March 27. Counties are announced 67 local residents County had more coronavirus only 11 COVID-19 patients per Barbara Count. constantly updating their coro- have tested positive for cases with 83 patients, as of 100,000 people. navirus numbers, so check Public COVID-19, the illness caused by Friday. Monterey County had less 40 Health Department websites for coronavirus. When you consider the pop- than six, Kern County had four, the latest information. In comparison, Santa Barbara ulation differences, San Luis and Fresno had three. The number of confirmed cases San Luis Obispo County has County had 47 confirmed cases, Obispo County’s rate is even in Kern County. the most confirmed coronavirus Monterey County had 32 cases, more stark. SEE CORONAVIRUS, 3A ......

SLO County prepares hotels, campground to shelter homeless

day. BY MONICA VAUGHAN The focus, so far, is on identi- [email protected] fying safe and isolated beds for people who exhibit symptoms of Bracing for a potential surge coronavirus or test positive for in local COVID-19 cases, San COVID-19. Separating sick Luis Obispo County officials residents isn’t possible at per- have secured campgrounds, manent or temporary shelters hotel rooms and trailers in prep- because of the open living quar- aration to shelter residents ters. experiencing homelessness who The county made agreements show symptoms of coronavirus. with four hotels to secure hotel “Preventing the spread of the rooms for homeless residents virus among our homeless pop- who are symptomatic or diag- ulation is one of our many pri- nosed with the virus. That in- orities,” county emergency cludes 27 beds in Atascadero, services director Wade Horton 45 in Morro Bay, 22 in Pismo said March 22. “We have no Beach and 61 in San Luis Obis- DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] diagnoses in homeless individu- po. Michael Levesque and Gracy rest under tarps stretched over shopping carts. He prefers to live outside als yet, but we are preparing for “We will continue to talk to the 40 Prado Homeless Services Center shelter. it.” local motel owners and we will Early state models showed expand capacity if needed,” the virus that causes COVID-19 Horton said. could spread to 60,000 In addition to hotel rooms, Homeless SLO County homeless residents in California the county has closed El Chorro within two months, according to Regional Park just north of San the Los Angeles Times. Luis Obispo to reserve the On March 18, Gov. Gavin park’s campgrounds for symp- residents still told to Newsom allocated $150 million tomatic residents who don’t to protect unsheltered residents otherwise have safe shelter. from the virus. “These are being used to In San Luis Obispo County, screen and hold individuals ‘move along’ during order where an estimated 1,500 seeking shelter in their build- residents are homeless, ings that, by their staff’s assess- $500,000 is allocated to sup- ment, appear to have COVID-19 homes. But even under the they were in a serious automo- port emergency housing, Hor- BY MONICA VAUGHAN shelter-at-home order, they’re bile accident that left them ton told The Tribune on Tues- SEE PREPARATION, 4A [email protected] facing an extra challenge: being injured and unable to afford cited and fined for parking vio- rent. As most San Luis Obispo lations or regularly being told to Right now, life feels pretty County residents stay home to “move along.” normal, they said. They’re fo- NOTE TO READERS slow the spread of coronavirus, That means poor people try- cused on self-quarantine, taking Please activate your digital We are committed to that’s not an option for the ing to abide by the order have vitamins, eating healthy and account, which is included hundreds who can’t afford per- the added expense of either staying as clean as possible, but continue to deliver a with your subscription, at manent shelter and are also parking citations or buying gas “doing laundry is hard,” Mal- printed newspaper to you among the most at risk. to keep moving between loca- men said. sanluisobispo.com/activate. Homeless residents often tions. The pair parks their mobile during the coronavirus Our customer service team have existing health conditions The county is piloting a desig- home around Broad Street at pandemic, but if conditions that make them more vulner- nating safe lot for overnight night, then wake up at 5 a.m. to is here to help you navigate arise such as curfews, able to the virus that causes parking, but the program hasn’t move to public parking at Lagu- any questions you have by COVID-19, and some lack ac- yet grown to meet demand. na Lake for the day. The park- closures or circumstances cess to basic sanitary services — ing problem, Coleman said, is contacting us at that prevent print delivery, a problem made worse when SLO COUPLE LIVING IN “really bad. Even during the customerservice the shelter-at-home order MOTOR HOME ‘JUST WANT virus the cops say ‘You still we want you to be @thetribunenews.com. closed the gyms where many TO SURVIVE’ can’t park here.’” prepared. people access sinks and show- “I don’t want to get sick,” “We don’t want any prob- In addition, you may notice ers. said Christina Malmen, who lems. We just want to survive,” As a home delivery that we’ve moved some Maintaining social distancing lives in a motor home with her Coleman told The Tribune. subscriber, you have access is nearly impossible at regional significant other, Jason Cole- A few days before San Luis content to other sections. to our eEdition, an online shelters. Still, staff and volun- man, in San Luis Obispo. Obispo County’s shelter-at- This is a temporary teers regularly check clients for They’ve been together 30 home ordinance went into ef- replica of our newspaper symptoms and encourage hand- years. He’s from Brooklyn, she’s fect, Coleman said, several car measure, and content will with 40-50 pages of bonus washing to prevent spread. from Guam. They met at a campers were issued citations of return to its usual place as Outside shelters, people are nightclub in San Luis Obispo. $100 each. content, including a daily soon as possible. able to maintain distance by Malmen and Colemen coronavirus digital section. sleeping in tents, cars or motor worked in food service until SEE HOMELESS, 4A

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Newsom hits SLO County reverts back ‘emergency brake’ On Monday, many California counties were moved to the “purple” or highest tier of COVID-19 transmission. to purple tier as cases soar COUNTIES BY TIER 41 Widespread normal on Monday, and they COVID-19 activity has ex- cases,” and Gov. Gavin New- 11 Substantial BY CASSANDRA GARIBAY showed a surge across Cali- ploded in California in Novem- som’s office in a statement said AND MICHAEL MCGOUGH fornia, forcing counties up and ber. The state has reported an the state is “pulling an emergen- 4 Moderate [email protected] down the state into a new round average of 7,000 new daily cy brake” to halt the spread. 2 Minimal [email protected] of business hardships. cases over the past two weeks, The state made changes to San Luis Obispo County re- Thirty-nine of the state’s 58 up from a little over 4,100 to the tier list process as well. It’s verted back to the most restric- counties were demoted in total, start the month. Total hospital- now more continuous, tiers can tive purple tier of California’s with 28 moving to purple. The izations and cases in intensive change daily rather than on a Blueprint for a Safer Economy state’s mask mandate has also care units with the disease have weekly basis and the state says on Monday due to widespread been updated. Masks are now shot up 52% and 46%, respec- it can move counties back more coronavirus transmission, ac- required whenever one leaves tively, in those two weeks. than one tier if necessary. Coun- cording to the California De- their house, with very few excep- The state Department of Public ties previously had three days to Tiers partment of Public Health. tions, the state health department Health called the state’s recent implement the changes; but, updated Public Health released up- said in its updated reopening increase an “unprecedented Monday. dated metrics a day ahead of “blueprint” guidelines. surge in (the) rate of increase of SEE PURPLE, 8A Source: California Department of Public Health

212 new cases, one more death in SLO Co.

BY CASSANDRA GARIBAY [email protected]

San Luis Obispo County returned to the most restric- tive tier in California’s Blue- print for a Safer Economy amid an ongoing surge in cases Monday. Under the purple tier, many local businesses will have to revert to extremely limited indoor capacity or close their indoor services altogether. Since Friday, San Luis Obis- po County added 212 coro- navirus cases and one more DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] resident died due to COVID-19, according to the county Public Health Department. HIGH TIDE AND BUBBLES AT PISMO BEACH That brings the total num- Carter Charpentier, 7, found his sand rake perfect for chasing bubbles created by Phil Hinton. They were at Pismo Beach on Monday ber of county residents who morning about the time the high tide peaked. have tested positive for the virus since March to 5,250 and the total number of coro- navirus deaths up to 34. along with similar results from The San Luis Obispo Coun- Pfizer last week for its vaccine, ty resident who died of CO- Second virus vaccine appears “is something that foretells an VID-19 on Monday was in impact on this outbreak.” their 70s and had underlying “So now we have two vaccines health conditions, according to be effective at 94.5% rate that are really quite effective, so to the county. I think this is a really strong step On Saturday, 118 coronavirus day worldwide. The results are “truly strik- forward to where we want to be cases were added in San Luis BY LAURAN NEERGAARD The company said its vaccine ing,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, about getting control with this Obispo County. The triple-digit Associated Press appears to be 94.5% effective, the U.S. government’s top in- outbreak,” Fauci said. increase neared the county’s according to preliminary data fectious diseases expert. Earlier A vaccine can’t come fast daily case count record, which Moderna said Monday its from Moderna’s ongoing study. A this year, Fauci said he would be enough, as virus cases topped 11 was set the week prior on Nov. COVID-19 vaccine is proving week ago, competitor Pfizer Inc. happy with a COVID-19 vaccine million in the U.S. over the week- 7 at 128 new cases. highly effective in a major trial, announced its vaccine appeared that was 60% effective. end – 1 million of them recorded An additional 54 coronavi- a second ray of hope in the glo- similarly effective – news that Fauci, head of the National in just the past week – and gover- rus cases were added Sunday bal race for a shot to tame a puts both companies on track to Institute of Allergy and Infectious nors and mayors are ratcheting and 40 were added Monday. resurgent virus that is now kill- seek permission within weeks for Diseases, told NBC’s “Today” on ing more than 8,000 people a emergency use in the U.S. Monday that Moderna’s finding, SEE VACCINE, 8A SEE CORONAVIRUS, 7A

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BASKETBALL NO. 22 UCLA OUTLASTS PEPPERDINE IN TRIPLE OVERTIME Sports THRILLER 3B

COLLEGE FOOTBALL Stanford takes back The Axe, beats Cal in Big Game

BY JANIE MCCAULEY Associated Press

BERKELEY, CALIF. Stanford players danced, hooted and hollered on Cali- fornia’s home turf in Memorial Stadium. The Cardinal came together and posed for a group photo in front of card stunts in DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] the bleachers above featuring a Kobe Sanders netted 16 points as Cal Poly beat Bethesda 100-46. The Cal Poly men hosted Bethesda College of Anaheim for the message “Our axe” that came home opener Friday. Fans were absent from the bleachers due to coronavirus restrictions. from the opposing side. They cradled the actual axe trophy that was now theirs COLLEGE BASKETBALL again. “It was awesome,” quarter- back Davis Mills said. “There’s been emotions this whole Cal Poly men win week.” Austin Jones ran for a pair of short touchdowns, Mills threw for 205 yards and a TD, and home opener, women lose Stanford blocked a would-be tying extra point in the final minute to take back The Axe by beating Bay Area rival Cal 24-23 blowout against powerhouse in the Big Game on Friday. Stanford special teams did a little bit of everything – cap- tangs. lost its season opener Tuesday Dec. 10. italizing on a muffed punt, BY NICK WILSON Cal Poly (1-0) is hoping to at Stanford’s Maples Pavilion “Although fans are not per- [email protected] improve on a 7-23 record (4-12 108-40, against the No. 2- mitted to attend at this time SEE BIG GAME, 2B in the Big West Conference) in ranked Cardinal, according to due to multiple health and Cal Poly started its 2020- 2019-20, guided by second- Cal Poly officials. safety regulations, the game 2021 season against Bethesda year head coach John Smith. Sierra Campisano, a 6-foot-3 will be able to be followed live College of Anaheim, a member Cal Poly’s next contest is at senior forward, led Cal Poly via BigWest.TV as well as the of the Pacific Christian Athletic University of San Francisco on with 13 points and six re- Mustang Radio Network, with Conference, with a 100-46 win. Dec. 4. bounds, knocking down 2 of all streaming links available at The Mustangs took the lead The men’s team kicks off her 5 shots from beyond the GoPoly.com,” Cal Poly offi- from the first basket and never conference play at Hawaii in arc. cials said in a news release. gave it up in the 4 p.m. contest games on Dec. 27-28 and re- Stanford drained 14 of 30 of The Cal Poly women are at Mott Gym. turns home to Mott Athletics its three-pointers, sailing to a coming off a 11-18 overall Iowa graduate transfer Riley Center against Big West new- 51-18 halftime lead taking a season and a 6-10 Big West Till led the Mustangs with 17 comer UC San Diego on Jan. 78-24 edge after the third Conference record last year. points and seven rebounds on 1-2. quarter. Stanford’s Lexie Hull 7-for-7 shooting. Freshman recorded a team-high 19 Nick Wilson: 805-781-7922, Kobe Sanders netted 16 points CAL POLY WOMEN LOSE points. @NickWilsonTrib with five rebounds, and Mark BIG TO STANFORD Cal Poly women next host Crowe notched 15 for the Mus- Cal Poly’s women’s squad New Mexico State at 4 p.m. on JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO AP Stanford’s Malik Antoine carries the Stanford Axe after Stanford NFL defeated California 24-23 on Friday in Berkeley. Surging Rams still wary after 3 straight NBA releases losses to Niners shorter Super Bowl champions. I know BY GREG BEACHAM too much about these guys and preseason Associated Press their coaches and their players to ever take anything for grant- schedule; INGLEWOOD, CALIF. ed.” The Los Angeles Rams re- McVay’s caution is well JASON BEHNKEN AP turned from their bye week this founded: Since McVay and Sha- Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff celebrates as he leaves the games start month and promptly jumped nahan got their jobs in early field after a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this season in into first place in the NFC West 2017, Shanahan has won four of Tampa, Fla. Dec. 11 with impressive wins over con- seven matchups, including 24- ference elites Seattle and Tampa 16 in Santa Clara last month Bay. that wasn’t really close. The give San Francisco back-to-back petitive and winning ballgames. The San Francisco 49ers Niners racked up a whopping season sweeps of the Rams for We’re excited about getting BY TIM REYNOLDS stumbled through three straight 291 yards in the first half against the first time since 2008-09. back to work this week.” Associated Press injury-plagued losses to NFC a defense that now ranks as the “We were able to have suc- Goff’s game: Rams quarterback contenders Seattle, Green Bay stingiest in the NFL, allowing cess on defense going against Jared Goff has a chance to atone The NBA released a con- and New Orleans before their 291.9 yards per game. them in the last couple of out- for a rough 19-for-38, 198-yard densed 49-game preseason own bye last weekend. They’re McVay has won 13 more reg- ings,” said 49ers linebacker performance against San Fran- schedule Friday, with teams still without injured Jimmy Ga- ular-season games than Shana- Fred Warner, a Southern Cali- cisco. He went into the bye two playing between two and four roppolo and George Kittle, and han, who has a sub-.500 career fornia native. “But I know weeks later with an awful four- games starting on Dec. 11. they face a difficult climb back record and just one playoff ap- they’re trying to make a state- turnover performance in Miami, Preseason contests will con- to playoff contention despite pearance. But in the games that ment to get after us and make but the childhood Niners fan tinue through Dec. 19. Teams their still-generous allotment of count, his Niners regularly come sure they’re starting on the right has markedly improved his begin training camps next week. healthy talent. up big. foot come Sunday.” effectiveness over the past two The league plans to reveal the Although current form and “The Rams, they had our Well-rested: The Niners are weeks, passing for 678 yards in first half of the 72-game regular future prospects clearly favor number when I first started coming off a much-needed bye consecutive wins. season schedule — that meaning the Rams (7-3) when they host out,” Shanahan said of LA’s week after being decimated by “We came into the year know- games to be played between the Niners (4-6) on Sunday, that three wins in the coaches’ first injuries. They could get some ing every (NFC West) team got Dec. 22 and March 4 — in the doesn’t fill coach Sean McVay four matchups in 2017-18. reinforcements on offense with a little bit better, and every coming days. Games for the with the slightest bit of confi- “They’re playing as good as any leading rusher Raheem Mostert team is going to be good,” Goff season’s second half, scheduled dence. team in the league right now. and No. 1 receiver Deebo Sa- said. “These division games are as between March 11 and May Not after three straight losses It’s going to be a huge challenge muel both trying to return. Even the ones you need. These guys 16, will be revealed around the to Kyle Shanahan and the team this week.” the players who had been have taken care of us three in a midpoint of the season. that succeeded the Rams as San Francisco swept the two- healthy needed a break. row now. Hopefully we can buck The defending NBA cham- conference champions. game series last season with a “I feel like we needed it,” that trend.” pion Los Angeles Lakers will “It isn’t like this isn’t a great dominating 20-7 victory in Los Warner said. “It was kind of Depleted Rams: The Rams are play on the first night of the football team,” McVay said of Angeles and a late comeback for toward that midpoint of the on a short, jumbled week of preseason, technically a home the Rams’ first sub-.500 oppo- a 34-31 win at home that elim- season and now we’re just really preparation after not getting game against the Los Angeles nent in six weeks. “They’re the inated the Rams from playoff excited to get going again. Guys home from their win over Tam- Clippers. The Lakers play the reigning NFC champions, a contention despite their 9-7 are fresh. We’re hungry. We couple of plays away from being finish. A victory Sunday would want to get back to being com- SEE RAMS, 5B SEE NBA, 2B NLCS: IT’S FOR ALL Baseball THE MARBLES LOCAL The Dodgers and 7 juvenile condors XTRA Braves squared off in Subscribers will find Game 7 with a trip to to be released by this bonus content at the World Series on sanluisobispo.com/ wildlife society in the line. eedition ASHLEY LANDIS TNS San Simeon 3A BONUS for SUBSCRIBERS STAY CONNECTED FACEBOOK.COM/SLOTRIBUNE NEWS ALL DAY. MONDAY OCTOBER 19 2020 $2.00 Activate your account SANLUISOBISPO.COM TWITTER.COM/SLOTRIBUNE YOUR WAY. for exclusive online content: sanluisobispo. com/activate

Mayor criticizes 47,000 people have voted DA over in SLO County so far protest charges

BY CASSANDRA GARIBAY [email protected]

San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon condemned San Luis Obispo County Dis- trict Attorney Dan Dow in a strongly worded and partially inaccurate letter after three Black men were charged with misdemeanors Friday morn- ing for their involvement in a local Black Lives Matter pro- test. Harmon, who is running for reelection, has attended pro- tests, declared racial injustice as a public health crisis and expressed her concern about the San Luis Obispo Police Department’s use of teargas against protesters. However, she not spoken out against Dow until now. Dow recently spoke at a fundraiser for a California secessionist group with a controversial keynote speaker who told an enthusiastic crowd that systemic racism doesn’t exist. DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] During a July 21 protest, he Jane Baker, temporary election assistant, verifies signatures on ballot envelopes by comparing them to a digital record. The San Luis Obispo tweeted out a “public safety County Clerk Recorder’s Office has received more than 47,000 ballots back from voters with more than two weeks to go before the election. alert” and said the protest on the highway “must stop.” Harmon did not respond to rently registered in San Luis knew the COVID-19 pandemic larger portion of the actual vot- requests for comment Sunday BY KAYTLYN LESLIE Obispo County. would pose significant challeng- ing population, and will likely be morning. [email protected] Gong said the 19 drop boxes es, but elections officials have more indicative of the final Dow responded to multiple around the county have been prepared and voters have re- results as a whole. requests for comment by More than a quarter of regis- heavily used already, with the sponded. More Californians Simple explanation: We might saying he would release a tered voters have already re- workers at those stations calling voting early will mean a safer know much sooner in the night statement “during normal turned their mail-in ballots to over the weekend to report the Election Day for everyone — which candidates are likely business hours” Monday. the San Luis Obispo County boxes were full multiple times. voters, poll workers, and elec- heading toward victories. Elections Office — a huge At the box near his own office tions officials alike. By voting Because mail-in ballots can be 3 BLACK MEN FACE change from the usual amount on Monterey Street in San Luis early, you help preserve in- accepted as long as they are CHARGES IN CONNECTION at this point in an election. Obispo, Gong said that after person voting for those who postmarked on Election Day TO SLO PROTEST And with more than two emptying it late in the day, it need it — including our neigh- and provisional ballots from Harmon started off the weeks still to go, that number will be full of ballots once they bors with disabilities, those who people who register on Election letter, sent Saturday after- shows no signs of slowing. check it again in the morning. need language assistance, or Day must also be processed, noon, by writing that “Our “It’s definitely been a shot in “It is an election for the ag- those who need access to Same there may still be some delay in democracy is being called the arm,” County Clerk-Recor- es,” Gong said. Day Voter Registration.” the final official tally for close into question.” der Tommy Gong told The Tri- That echoes a statewide trend If the trend continues, Gong races, however. The focus of the letter was bune in a phone interview. toward early voting. said he expects Election Night In the lead-up to Election the charges filed against three Gong said his office has been On Wednesday, Secretary of in SLO County to look very Day, though, Gong and his of- Black men — Marcus Mont- practically swimming in the State Alex Padilla reported that different. fice are frantically working to gomery, Joshua Powell and accumulated ballot envelopes more than 1.5 million California “If we go this same clip every keep up with the flood of ballots Amman Asfaw — in connec- over the past week as more and voters have already turned in week, we will have a large num- so far ahead of schedule. tion to a July 21 protest in San more are brought in to be count- their ballots, a “massive in- ber of 8 p.m. results Election Gong said he expected that by Luis Obispo that ended in the ed. crease over the approximately Night,” Gong said. “We won’t the end of Friday, his office will arrest of 20-year-old orga- His office began its first offi- 150,000 ballots returned at this be so far behind if you have a have received more than nzier Tianna Arata. cial count of the ballots on same point in the 2016 General light turnout at the beginning of 50,000 returned vote-by-mail “Dow’s actions — to charge Thursday, and the final tally at Election.” the day.” ballots. these community members the end of the day — 47,236 — “Californians are voting early Gong said this means that the “It is all coming together,” represented more than a quarter in historic numbers,” Padilla first round of results typically SEE PROTEST, 6A of the the 182,804 voters cur- said in a news release. “We released at 8 p.m. will include a SEE ELECTION, 2A

centers and other new testing sites. Millions more rapid “Schools certainly don’t have the capacity to report these virus tests bring tests,” said Dr. Jeffrey Engel of the Council of State and Territo- rial Epidemiologists. “If it’s reporting challenges done at all, it’s likely going to be paper-based, very slow and incomplete.” ly required to report their re- Early in the outbreak, nearly BY MATTHEW PERRONE sults, positive and negative, to all U.S. testing relied on genetic Associated Press public health agencies. But state tests that could be developed health officials say many rapid only at high-tech laboratories. WASHINGTON tests are going unreported, Even under the best circum- After struggling to ramp up which means some new CO- stances, people had to wait coronavirus testing, the U.S. can VID-19 infections may not be about two to three days to get now screen several million peo- counted. results. Experts pushed for more ple daily, thanks to a growing And the situation could get “point-of-care” rapid testing supply of rapid tests. But the worse, experts say. The federal that could be done in doctors’ MARK J. TERRILL AP boom comes with a new chal- government is shipping more offices, clinics and other sites to People wait for coronavirus testing in July in Los Angeles. All U.S. lenge: keeping track of the re- than 100 million of the newest quickly find people who are testing sites are required to report their results, but as the number of sults. rapid tests to states for use in rapid tests increases, so do problems in accurate reporting. All U.S. testing sites are legal- public schools, assisted living SEE TESTS, 2A

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confrontations between motori- sts and protesters on July 21, bringing the total number of DA’s office: Activist Arata people facing charges over the July 21 protest to eight. Protesters and witnesses have told The Tribune that several held residents ‘hostage’ motorists were aggressive and a couple actually hit marchers, though no one was seriously Deputy District Attorney Dela- terviews, texts and emails, and tage,” Henretty wrote. hurt. No motorist has faced BY MATT FOUNTAIN ney Henretty quotes Martin social media activity, that the “In this context, ‘no justice, prosecution for their actions on [email protected] Luther King Jr. in response to a DA’s Office says shows Arata no peace’ really means ‘intimi- July 21. legal challenge by Arata’s de- was personally involved in ig- dation, power and control,’” he Arata and her co-defendants The San Luis Obispo County fense attorneys, who seek to noring the former police chief’s added. “Join the mob, or you are scheduled for an arraign- District Attorney’s Office for the dismiss the case on First warning about marching on the will have no peace. Do what we ment hearing Thursday, when first time outlined in court its Amendment grounds. freeway, and personally took say, or we will take your peace San Luis Obispo Superior Court criminal case against local Black The defense’s argument boiled part in blocking motorists. and liberty.” Judge Matthew Guerrero is Lives Matter activist Tianna down to an allegation that Arata “She purposely ignored the Arata is facing 13 misdemean- scheduled to hear the defense’s Arata, who prosecutors say held was targeted for prosecution offers of assistance and guid- ors including false imprison- motion to dismiss the case, residents “hostage” during a while others who organized and ance on how to conduct a safe ment and obstructing freedom which may include arguments July 21 protest when she and participated in the event are not and lawful protest because of of movement on a public street. from the prosecution. other marchers blocked traffic facing any charges. her animosity and hatred for the She has not entered a plea. A protest hosted by the Free on Highway 101 and downtown Henretty in his response, police. She deliberately dis- Prosecutors on Friday added Tianna Coalition — which in- city streets. however, laid out a specific regarded the safety and liberty three co-defendants to her on- cludes RACE Matters SLO, The fiery court document timeline of events based on of the people in this county and going case, and separately filed late last week written by video evidence, witness in- purposefully held them hos- charged three others over other SEE DA’S OFFICE, 6A

31 new COVID-19 cases in county

BY LAURA DICKINSON [email protected]

San Luis Obispo County added 31 new cases of coro- navirus Tuesday, a day after after passing the 4,000-case mark, according to ReadySLO.org. A total of 4,080 people have tested positive for CO- VID-19 locally since March. San Luis Obispo County remained in California’s red COVID-19 tier for a fifth con- secutive week — meaning that coronavirus spread has been “substantial,” but is no longer “widespread” according to the California State Department of Public Health. As of Tuesday, Oct. 20, the county had a positivity rate of 2% as of the latest data, the DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] same as the previous week. Hearst Castle tour guides are conducting virtual tours of the castle for school groups and other organizations. Guide Tracy Kosinski gives a The county had an adjusted virtual art and architecture tour to third graders, explaining the Neptune pool and fielding questions from the class. average of 5.1 new cases per 100,000 people per day — one point lower than the previous really fast,” she said, based on week. The unadjusted case rate the guides’ unexpectedly free was 7.5, according to state data. Hearst Castle guides stay time to do “all those things that The health equity metric in- we hadn’t been able to do, be- creased to 4%, meaning that cause there wasn’t time to do there is a 4% positivity rate for them.” people who live in the 12 cen- busy with virtual tours Of course, Castle officials sus tracts in San Luis Obispo wanted to keep all their employ- County ranked in the lowest ees on the payroll. And while quarter of California’s Health some of the others were as- Place Index. BY KATHE TANNER signed to special projects, most [email protected] kept on doing their regular jobs, COVID-19 CASES BY CITY which had to be done whether Here is where new CO- Imagine trying to keep 87 the facility was open to the pub- VID-19 cases were added highly trained Hearst Castle lic or not. Tuesday in San Luis Obispo tour guides on the payroll when County: the San Simeon facility where HEARST CASTLE IS they work is closed. STILL CLOSED DUE A Paso Robles: 18 That was the conundrum TO CORONAVIRUS A San Luis Obispo: 5 facing State Parks’ San Luis Some COVID-19 guidelines A San Miguel: 3 Obispo Coast District leaders on are easing in various areas. With A Arroyo Grande: 2 March 16, when the coronavirus San Luis Obispo County in the A Templeton: 2 pandemic shuttered the world- red tier under California’s Blue- A Atascadero: 1 famous museum and monument print for a Safer Economy, A Oceano: 1 and its associated visitor center. meaning that coronavirus is “Those were scary times,” considered substantial but not One case was removed from Dan Falat, superintendent of the widespread, some museums Cayucos’ total positive case Coast district, said recently of DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] have recently been allowed to count. Two COVID-19 cases the period immediately after the Hearst Castle in San Simeon is closed due to the coronavirus. Tour reopen with limited indoor ca- were listed Tuesday as “under closure. guides at the state park, such as Tracy Kosinski, have kept their jobs pacity. investigation” and the loca- “In the beginning of the out- and now focus on virtual videos and special projects. Hearst Castle, the former tions of six cases were listed break, we were all trying to estate of publishing magnate as “other.” figure out how we could be of William Randolph Hearst, is not A total of 16 on-campus Cal use to humanity working at the in that category. Poly students were in isolation Castle,” guide Shari Fortino ly hundreds of thousands of terpretive program manager. Falat said Oct. 6 that there’s due to coronavirus as of Tues- wrote via email. visitors each year, “the guides “We were pretty sad and pretty still no hint of when the state day, with an additional 142 With the public barred from couldn’t guide,” recalled Cara lost at first.” the museum, which gets typical- O’Brien, Hearst Castle’s in- “But we came up with a plan SEE HEARST, 5A SEE CASES, 2A

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* BLM activists struck by motorcycle

BY CASSANDRA GARIBAY [email protected]

Two Black activists were hit by a motorcycle while cross- ing a street in downtown San Luis Obispo during a march Wednesday afternoon — and witnesses said the act seemed intentional. “I have no words really,” said LeiYahna Jefferson, one of the protest organizers who was hit by the vehicle. “He came at full force and he hit me.” About 30 to 60 people marched Wednesday after- noon from the San Luis Obis- DAVID MIDDLECAMP [email protected] po County courthouse to the Black Lives Matter activists LeiYahna Jefferson, left, and Josephine Agoruah hug after sharing their stories of being hit by a motorcyclist while Marsh Street post office to in a crosswalk on Wednesday. A rally in support of protesters Tianna Arata and Elias Bautista was held at the San Luis Obispo County mail more than 544,000 courthouse, where Arata and Bautista were being arraigned on Thursday. signatures calling for charges against local activist Tianna Arata to be dropped. Organizers initially tried delivering the boxes of signa- tures to San Luis Obispo Arata makes no plea; 2nd County District Attorney Dan Dow’s office directly on Wednesday, but they were turned away. protester pleads not guilty So they decided to mail the signatures and hold a last- minute march Thursday from A crowd of several hundred disturbing the peace by loud Arata, went to the San Luis the courthouse to the post BY MATT FOUNTAIN, people began showing up to the noise. Obispo County courthouse to office, according to protester MACKENZIE SHUMAN AND CASSANDRA GARIBAY building on Monterey Street at During the virtual hearing, thank their supporters. Michael Giuffre. [email protected] about 7 a.m., and a rally featur- Arata spoke only to acknowl- “I don’t wish a court case on “If Dan Dow had accepted [email protected] ing Arata and supporters of edge that she understands the anybody,” Arata said to the the signatures, today [email protected] Bautista held a large crowd late charges against her. crowd. “It’s the most disruptive wouldn’t have happened,” into the morning. She had been released on thing to somebody’s lifestyle, Giuffre said. Prominent local Black Lives A second protest was sched- zero bail a few hours after her especially to somebody who just Matter organizer Tianna Arata uled for 5:30 p.m. later Thurs- arrest and is not in custody. started school at their new uni- MOTORCYCLIST HAD BEEN made her first court appearance day evening. Bautista, 23, pleaded not versity.” REVVING HIS ENGINE, via Zoom conference Thursday Arata entered no plea at her guilty to one felony count of “Its difficult, but I’m going to PROTESTER SAYS morning, just hours after the hearing before Superior Court resisting a peace officer and two get through it,” she added. Giuffre said Black Lives District Attorney’s Office filed Judge Matthew Guerrero, who misdemeanor counts of resist- Earlier, protest speakers Matter protesters stuck to the 13 misdemeanors against her scheduled a further arraignment ing, obstructing, or delaying a opened the event with a mo- right side of the road when and three charges including a for Sept. 17 to allow defense peace officer. ment of silence for Dijon marching so as to not com- felony against fellow protester attorney Patrick Fisher time to Bautista is due back in court Kizzee, a Black man who was pletely block traffic. Elias Bautista. file motions in the case. for a pre-preliminary hearing shot by Los Angeles County On their way back to the Both are facing charges relat- Chief Deputy District At- Sept. 14 after posting $50,000 sheriff’s deputies Wednesday. courthouse, protesters ed to a July 21 protest-turned- torney Lisa Muscari made no bail. “It really warms my heart that stopped at the corner of Osos march in which demonstrators, objection to continuing the The hearing was live- we in this town of San Luis Street and Higuera Street, allegedly led by Arata, blocked hearing. streamed on slo.courts.ca.gov Obispo still have a community near Firestone Grill and traffic on Highway 101 for Arata, 20, was charged late and broadcast on loudspeakers that comes together and when Woodstock’s Pizza. roughly an hour. Wednesday with 13 misdemean- to the crowd outside. they’re called, they show up,” According to protester She has emerged as one of or counts, including five counts Melissa Elizalde with the Calvin Stokes, demonstrators the leaders of numerous of false imprisonment, six ARATA SAYS SHE’S ‘GOING #FreeTianna Coalition said at stood on all four sidewalks at protests over the past three counts of obstruction of a thor- TO GET THROUGH IT’ the protest. the intersection and chanted months demanding racial and oughfare, one count of unlawful Shortly after the hearings, “so that people at the bank, social justice. assembly, and one count of Arata and her mother, Michelle SEE ARRAIGNMENT, 7A the people at Banana Repub- lic, the people at Firestone and Woodstock’s could all hear us.” Around 3:30 p.m., two of Protester Elias Bautista’s the march’s organizers used the crosswalk to go from one side of Higuera Street to the life before the charges other while the crosswalk sign permitted them to do so. nizers that they study,” J.P. said. The two organizers — Jef- BY MACKENZIE SHUMAN “They just light up and just start ferson and Josephine Agoruah [email protected] talking and spitting facts and — were nearly across the way spitting quotes. It’s just their when the streetlight turned Those who know Elias Bautis- language.” yellow and a motorcyclist ta say the 23-year-old University Bautista has been forced into turning left onto Higuera of California Santa Cruz student spotlight in recent weeks after Street hit them. Agoruah was is quiet and reserved. the events of July 21, when they hit in the hand, and Jefferson Bautista, who goes by the allegedly kicked a San Luis on the left side of her body. pronouns they/them, is some- Obispo police officer in the Giuffre said the act ap- one who doesn’t typically make groin following a Black Lives peared to be intentional, their presence known. Matter protest. Bautista, along adding that the man on the That is, until you get the with local organizer Tianna motorcycle had been revving Santa Maria resident talking Arata, were both arrested by the MACKENZIE SHUMAN [email protected] his engine while protesters about something they’re pas- police that night. Elias Bautista, shown on Aug. 26, faces a felony charge of resisting a chanted. He also had multiple sionate about. Both had their arraignment peace officer. lanes to turn into, but chose “Soon as you get them going hearing on Thursday. Bautista the one that the protest orga- about some music they really pleaded not guilty to one felony nizers occupied, Giuffre said. enjoy, like the new Roddy Ricch count of resisting a peace officer be found in a hat or a sweatshirt fast-flying punches directed at “I see the motorcyclist album that had come out recent- and two misdemeanor counts of with the hood up, they said. tearing them down simply be- revving their engine, knowing ly, they just light up like a Christ- resisting, obstructing or delay- Hiding behind clothes or a cause of the color of their skin. he doesn’t have the right of mas tree,” said Bautista’s friend, ing a peace officer. Arata de- hand in front of the camera isn’t “It forced me into the outfit way ... and then he turned Joshua Powell, who goes by J.P. layed entering a plea on 13 mis- just an aesthetic for Bautista, that you see me in today,” Bau- and targeted the Black orga- “And they also do that when demeanors. but a way to feel guarded. tista said. “It forced me to think: nizer,” Giuffre, who was you talk to them about folks like Bautista typically avoids the Growing up, Bautista was Angela Davis and other orga- spotlight and can almost always followed by taunts, slurs and SEE BAUTISTA, 7A SEE ACTIVISTS, 6A

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