mercurynews--2020-12-21--Western Pacific leatherback turtle population dwindling

SANTA CRUZ — The number of leatherback turtles that feed in Central California waters has declined by 80 % during the last two decades , according to new research out of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories .
“ They ’ re at risk of extinction in the Pacific Ocean , ” said Scott Benson , lead study author and marine ecologist with NOAA .
Benson and his coauthors tracked Pacific leatherback turtles using video cameras , satellite and aerial survey data from 1990 through 2017 .
The marine reptile makes an extraordinary migration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swims more than 6,000 miles from its Pacific foraging grounds in Oregon , Washington and California to Western Papa New Guinea .
There , leatherbacks nest and lay eggs .
Researchers have long known that on Indonesian shores Pacific leatherback turtle populations are sinking .
But Benson and colleagues wanted to investigate if the same was happening at Central California Coast feeding grounds .
Pacific leatherbacks swim to California to forage a common jellyfish — brown sea nettles — from the Monterey Bay area , north to Point Reyes .
Those jellies are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weigh up to 1,300 pounds and measure up to 6 feet in length Benson said .
“ This is a species that has been on the planet for 70 to 80 million years in its present form…it was around when the dinosaurs were around , it survived the ice ages , meteor strikes…it ’ s not a poorly adapted animal , ” Benson said .
But in the last 40 years , its numbers have rapidly declined .
Benson and colleagues documented annually around 128 leatherback turtles feeding off the Central California Coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 2017 only 55 leatherbacks came to forage annually here .
The turtle is protected in U.S. waters under the Endangered Species Act .
Leatherbacks are also provided safeguards from accidental fishery bycatch through various regulations .
Benson said currently , entanglement and bycatch of leatherbacks occurring in U.S. waters is somewhat rare .
And nowadays , those interactions are usually not fatal .
“ I ’ ve often said the safest place for a leatherback turtle in the Pacific is in the Exclusive Economic Zone in the United States , ” Benson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanse of ocean stretching 200 miles out from the coastline , where turtles are afforded protections under the Endangered Species Act .
But leatherbacks have complex and lengthy migration patterns that take them through international waters .
And the regulations that protect them in the U.S. don ’ t apply there .
“ Because leatherbacks are a transboundary species you have to have this level of international cooperation that we don ’ t have right now to ensure the recovery of the animal , ” Benson said , comparing the challenge to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue impacting the species is poor conditions on Indonesian nesting beaches , and poachers .
There are some things Santa Cruz residents can do , though .
For one , Benson said , if deciding to eat swordfish , make sure it ’ s certified caught in the U.S. Secondly , limiting your plastic footprint can help too — Pacific leatherback turtles can sometimes mistake plastic items as prey .

SANTA CRUZ — The number of leatherback turtles that feed in Central California waters has declined by 80% during the last two decades, according to new research out of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.
“They’re at risk of extinction in the Pacific Ocean,” said Scott Benson, lead study author and marine ecologist with NOAA.
Benson and his coauthors tracked Pacific leatherback turtles using video cameras, satellite and aerial survey data from 1990 through 2017.
The marine reptile makes an extraordinary migration — every three to five years it swims more than 6,000 miles from its Pacific foraging grounds in Oregon, Washington and California to Western Papa New Guinea. There, leatherbacks nest and lay eggs.
Researchers have long known that on Indonesian shores Pacific leatherback turtle populations are sinking. But Benson and colleagues wanted to investigate if the same was happening at Central California Coast feeding grounds.
Pacific leatherbacks swim to California to forage a common jellyfish — brown sea nettles — from the Monterey Bay area, north to Point Reyes. Those jellies are what sustain the turtles, who can weigh up to 1,300 pounds and measure up to 6 feet in length Benson said.
“This is a species that has been on the planet for 70 to 80 million years in its present form…it was around when the dinosaurs were around, it survived the ice ages, meteor strikes…it’s not a poorly adapted animal,” Benson said.
But in the last 40 years, its numbers have rapidly declined.
Benson and colleagues documented annually around 128 leatherback turtles feeding off the Central California Coast from 1990 to 2003.
From 2004 to 2017 only 55 leatherbacks came to forage annually here.
The turtle is protected in U.S. waters under the Endangered Species Act. Leatherbacks are also provided safeguards from accidental fishery bycatch through various regulations.
Benson said currently, entanglement and bycatch of leatherbacks occurring in U.S. waters is somewhat rare. And nowadays, those interactions are usually not fatal.
“I’ve often said the safest place for a leatherback turtle in the Pacific is in the Exclusive Economic Zone in the United States,” Benson said.
That’s an open expanse of ocean stretching 200 miles out from the coastline, where turtles are afforded protections under the Endangered Species Act.
But leatherbacks have complex and lengthy migration patterns that take them through international waters. And the regulations that protect them in the U.S. don’t apply there.
“Because leatherbacks are a transboundary species you have to have this level of international cooperation that we don’t have right now to ensure the recovery of the animal,” Benson said, comparing the challenge to the worldwide issue of climate change.
Another issue impacting the species is poor conditions on Indonesian nesting beaches, and poachers.
There are some things Santa Cruz residents can do, though.
For one, Benson said, if deciding to eat swordfish, make sure it’s certified caught in the U.S. Secondly, limiting your plastic footprint can help too — Pacific leatherback turtles can sometimes mistake plastic items as prey.


mercurynews--2020-12-21--Santa Cruz County man charged with manslaughter after fist fight at fast-food restaurant

WATSONVILLE – Watsonville Police arrested a man believed to be connected to the death of a 43-year-old man after a @ @ @ @ @ .
The fight on Dec. 2 was at a fast-food restaurant on the 100 block @ @ @ @ @ .
Police said surveillance footage captured Jose Figueroa Gonzalez , 30 , hitting the victim @ @ @ @ @ a car and the man he fought lying on the ground unconscious .
The unnamed @ @ @ @ @ local trauma center .
He remained in the ICU for a few days before being @ @ @ @ @ , according to police .
Doctors declared the victim brain dead on Dec. 9 .
@ @ @ @ @ force trauma was the cause of death .
“ We believe this incident was a @ @ @ @ @ ended tragically , ” a post from the Watsonville Police Facebook page reads .
“ @ @ @ @ @ voluntary manslaughter and other assault-related charges.
” Gonzalez appeared in court Tuesday and was released @ @ @ @ @ $ 50,000 bail .

WATSONVILLE – Watsonville Police arrested a man believed to be connected to the death of a 43-year-old man after a fight at a fast-food restaurant.
The fight on Dec. 2 was at a fast-food restaurant on the 100 block of Main Street in Watsonville.
Police said surveillance footage captured Jose Figueroa Gonzalez, 30, hitting the victim and leaving the scene in a car and the man he fought lying on the ground unconscious.
The unnamed man was taken to a local trauma center. He remained in the ICU for a few days before being transferred to the Stanford Hospital, according to police. Doctors declared the victim brain dead on Dec. 9. An autopsy determined that blunt force trauma was the cause of death.
Police charged Gonzalez with manslaughter.
“We believe this incident was a random act of violence that ended tragically,” a post from the Watsonville Police Facebook page reads. “Figueroa has been charged with voluntary manslaughter and other assault-related charges.”
Gonzalez appeared in court Tuesday and was released from custody after posting his $50,000 bail.


mercurynews--2020-12-21--Whack and stack: PG&E’s toppling of trees creates new hazards

Kristi and Brian Anderson have some thoughts about how the first year of California ’ s “ get-tough-on-utilities ” approach to preventing wildfires is going : Badly .
Very badly .
The Andersons , who live in Bonny Doon , nestled in the mountains near Santa Cruz , lost their home four months ago in the CZU Lighting Complex fires .
But their plight only got worse after the fires were out .
They returned to their property to find that Pacific Gas and Electric crews had felled 20 trees on their two-acre lot , toppling hundred-foot Douglas firs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attempt to clear vegetation from around power lines , the workers cut down old-growth redwoods , and in some cases simply sawed off the tops of the beloved giants , creating a “ horrid Dr. Seuss kind of tree , ” Kristi Anderson said .
“ It makes us sick to our stomachs.
” Worse , after spending weeks clearing away the remains of their incinerated home , Brian Anderson arrived at his property to find a massive pile of trees atop a new trailer pad where he and his family were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was being built .
Facing a potential bill for tens of thousands of dollars , the couple is wondering who is going to pay for the cleanup after PG & E left the piles of timber and woody debris that are themselves fire hazards .
Utility companies are carrying out numerous tasks to prevent wildfires , from ramping up line inspections to replacing antiquated equipment .
But critics say that PG & E and other electric providers should be focusing less on the cheap stuff , like cutting trees , and more on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines and aging equipment .
“ It ’ s been a longstanding problem with PG & E , instead of doing the responsible thing and investing in their infrastructure , they want to just do vegetation management , ” said Assemblymember Mark Stone , a Monterey Bay Democrat whose district includes Santa Cruz .
“ This is just a shortcut .
It ’ s part of their approach , taking the easiest path possible by cutting a bunch of trees and looking like they are doing something , while avoiding the bigger issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year managed vegetation along 1,861 line-miles at a cost of almost $ 500 million , the company says .
More than half of PG & E ’ s area is in high fire-threat zones , with 5,500 line-miles of electric transmission and 25,500 line-miles of distribution equipment .
PG & E also this year added 43 safety devices along transmission lines , upgraded 62 substations and replaced poles or covered lines along 370 miles , according to the company .
That leaves no documented plans for upgrading thousands of miles of lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage area , although some projects will be completed over the next 40 years .
The company ’ s combined fire mitigation costs this year are an estimated $ 2.5 billion .
Upgrading equipment , such as burying power lines , is significantly more costly for companies , so vegetation management is an appealing alternative .
Burying lines costs more than $ 2 million a mile .
In previous years , the crews removed downed trees .
But now contractors working for PG & E tell homeowners they have to leave larger trees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the resident ’ s property and may have commercial value .
“ You just don ’ t see someone doing a project and leave all the logs on a site .
That ’ s just not normal , ” said Angela Bernheisel , a Cal Fire division chief in the Santa Cruz area .
The Andersons said they were still putting out small flareups from the wildfire ’ s hot spots during the time that the trees were left on their property .
A PG & E spokeswoman said that U.S. Forest Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low fire risk .
But the practice , known as Whack and Stack , contributed to the 2007 Angora Fire around Lake Tahoe , according to research by Timothy Ingalsbee , executive director of the Oregon-based group Firefighters United for Safety , Ethics and Ecology .
“ They are little fire bombs waiting to ignite .
They can burn for hours , ” said Ingalsbee , a former federal firefighter and wildland fire ecologist .
Cheaper , but is it better ?
The plight of the Santa Cruz County residents is not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it created the Wildfire Safety Division within the Public Utilities Commission to review and approve the fire-mitigation plans of California electric providers .
With one in ten wildfires caused by utility equipment , it was clear that companies needed to do more to prevent fires .
The new division is trying to hold utilities accountable , but herding large , powerful companies that cling to old practices is daunting .
The Wildfire Safety Division approved most of the utilities ’ plans this summer with some modifications .
And , like a long-suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agency sent along this report card : “ Most utilities demonstrate a need for improvement.
” Caroline Thomas Jacobs , director of the new Wildfire Safety Division , is overseeing a department that did not exist before 2019 .
“ The reality is it was a massive task to undertake .
There ’ s been lots of opportunity to trip up .
The proof will be in the pudding , ” she said .
Thomas Jacobs said it was clear that most companies ’ plans leaned heavily on vegetation management , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why .
“ We told them , ‘ You guys have to get together and develop a study , and tell us why enhanced vegetation management is the way to go here.
’ They need to better articulate how they think through all the alternatives before they decide on a specific mitigation activity .
They have to think it through and not just pick the easy button and the cheapest approach , ” she said .
In other words , for the first time , the state will require utilities not only to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also to document what benefit each project would bring .
Because the companies ’ plans lack clear metrics for determining their chances of success , the PUC on Thursday extended the companies ’ deadline to June for providing the information .
PG & E officials declined to comment about the concerns that they are relying too heavily on cutting trees and delaying the more expensive equipment upgrades .
Other companies also are focusing heavily on fuel reduction projects around their equipment .
Southern California Edison ’ s plan , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hazardous trees for possible removal , check vegetation growing along 3,000 circuit-miles , clear brush from around 200,000 poles and expand buffer zones around some equipment in high fire-risk areas .
Santa Cruz County officials call the PG & E crews ’ tree-removal work “ reckless , ” worrying that it increases the risk of erosion and mudslides when winter rains begin .
“ We are in the midst of serious debris flow preparation .
There is high potential for people whose homes didn ’ t burn to now be in a danger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruz County is at risk , ” said County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty .
“ If they had worked with the county , Cal Fire and property owners , we could have done this in a safe and effective way .
But they have made the fire hazard worse.
” As residents called to complain , Santa Cruz County reached out to the state for help .
Cal Fire sent letters to PG & E , noting hundreds of violations of the state Forestry Practices Act , which could lead to millions of dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the California Coastal Commission sent the company a notice of violation for unpermitted work clearing about six miles of trees in the coastal zone .
The agency is working with PG & E so it can obtain the proper permission to construct erosion control measures and stabilize roads damaged by its heavy equipment .
The utility maintains it does not need permits to remove vegetation for fire mitigation work that is mandated by state law .
“ PG & E disagrees with the characterization that our tree removal work is illegal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ community concerns regarding this emergency hazard tree removal work and are committed to continuing to address these items with all stakeholders while prioritizing public safety , prompt restoration of electric service and environmental stewardship , ” PG & E spokeswoman Mayra Tostado said in an emailed statement .
The company is not alone in running afoul of state agencies while performing fire mitigation work .
In November the Coastal Commission fined the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power $ 1.9 million for similar transgressions .
“ PG & E is mucking it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Pat Veesart , an enforcement supervisor with the Coastal Commission , which regulates activities in the coastal zone .
“ Historically they have cleared 65 to 75 feet ( from power lines ) .
In this case they have cleared as much as 200 feet , exceeding what would be considered normal power line maintenance .
We are very concerned about damage to creeks and erosion.
” Much about firefighting is harsh on a landscape .
Apart from the fire ’ s annihilation , bulldozers and other heavy equipment used to combat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clog waterways , often leaving lasting impacts .
Post-fire work also can leave a trail of damage .
“ Some of these guys on the powerlines are going for overkill , with minimum supervision and no ecology , ” former firefighter Ingelsbee said .
The companies are allowed to pass on the costs of equipment upgrades to ratepayers .
“ There is little evidence that clearing vegetation is the most cost-effective approach .
They are charging Cadillac prices for a jalopy , ” said Loretta Lynch , former president of the Public Utilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just PG & E — all the wildfire mitigation plans are about their bottom line , not what will mitigate wildfires .
The record is really clear : It ’ s an environmental catastrophe.
” Lad Wallace thought himself lucky : There were 51 homes in his Bonny Doon neighborhood before the fire , and his was one of only 13 that survived .
But the privately maintained road leading to his property was destroyed by trucks operated by PG & E ’ s tree crews , the same crews that came on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his land strewn with felled trees .
• Share the Spirit : Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano helps Camp Fire survivors rebuild • In wake of summer wildfires , Santa Cruz Mountains residents brace themselves for winter rains • Sunday storms will give way to dry conditions , then more rain , weather service says “ A couple of years ago PG & E did some tree removal , ” Wallace said .
“ In those cases , they removed everything they cut .
This time they cut it and left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of trees is not an insignificant cost.
” Crews told the Andersons that their trees had commercial value , but no local buyers want Douglas fir , especially since the company “ short cut ” the logs .
The old-growth redwoods they cut were “ dropped and left in a messy stack , ” said Brian Anderson .
Meanwhile , the couple ’ s misery mounts .
They were grinding their teeth at night and now wear mouth guards .
Their doctor prescribed medication for sleep and stress .
“ This whole tree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stress from the fire , ” Kristi Anderson said .
“ It ’ s fighting and bureaucracy all the time , it takes a lot of energy .
There is no pocket in anybody ’ s insurance policy that covers tree debris removal .
We can ’ t afford to move .
We have a mortgage .
I ’ m a public school teacher — how do I feel right now ?
Not great .
”

Kristi and Brian Anderson have some thoughts about how the first year of California’s “get-tough-on-utilities” approach to preventing wildfires is going: Badly. Very badly.
The Andersons, who live in Bonny Doon, nestled in the mountains near Santa Cruz, lost their home four months ago in the CZU Lighting Complex fires.
But their plight only got worse after the fires were out. They returned to their property to find that Pacific Gas and Electric crews had felled 20 trees on their two-acre lot, toppling hundred-foot Douglas firs and leaving them where they fell.
In an attempt to clear vegetation from around power lines, the workers cut down old-growth redwoods, and in some cases simply sawed off the tops of the beloved giants, creating a “horrid Dr. Seuss kind of tree,” Kristi Anderson said. “It makes us sick to our stomachs.”
Worse, after spending weeks clearing away the remains of their incinerated home, Brian Anderson arrived at his property to find a massive pile of trees atop a new trailer pad where he and his family were planning to live while their new home was being built.
Facing a potential bill for tens of thousands of dollars, the couple is wondering who is going to pay for the cleanup after PG&E left the piles of timber and woody debris that are themselves fire hazards.
Utility companies are carrying out numerous tasks to prevent wildfires, from ramping up line inspections to replacing antiquated equipment. But critics say that PG&E and other electric providers should be focusing less on the cheap stuff, like cutting trees, and more on upgrading its thousands of miles of old lines and aging equipment.
“It’s been a longstanding problem with PG&E, instead of doing the responsible thing and investing in their infrastructure, they want to just do vegetation management,” said Assemblymember Mark Stone, a Monterey Bay Democrat whose district includes Santa Cruz.
“This is just a shortcut. It’s part of their approach, taking the easiest path possible by cutting a bunch of trees and looking like they are doing something, while avoiding the bigger issue of infrastructure improvement.”
PG&E this year managed vegetation along 1,861 line-miles at a cost of almost $500 million, the company says. More than half of PG&E’s area is in high fire-threat zones, with 5,500 line-miles of electric transmission and 25,500 line-miles of distribution equipment.
PG&E also this year added 43 safety devices along transmission lines, upgraded 62 substations and replaced poles or covered lines along 370 miles, according to the company. That leaves no documented plans for upgrading thousands of miles of lines, poles and other equipment in the coverage area, although some projects will be completed over the next 40 years.
The company’s combined fire mitigation costs this year are an estimated $2.5 billion.
Upgrading equipment, such as burying power lines, is significantly more costly for companies, so vegetation management is an appealing alternative. Burying lines costs more than $2 million a mile.
In previous years, the crews removed downed trees. But now contractors working for PG&E tell homeowners they have to leave larger trees on the ground because the timber is the resident’s property and may have commercial value.
“You just don’t see someone doing a project and leave all the logs on a site. That’s just not normal,” said Angela Bernheisel, a Cal Fire division chief in the Santa Cruz area.
The Andersons said they were still putting out small flareups from the wildfire’s hot spots during the time that the trees were left on their property.
A PG&E spokeswoman said that U.S. Forest Service research categorizes log stacks as posing a low fire risk.
But the practice, known as Whack and Stack, contributed to the 2007 Angora Fire around Lake Tahoe, according to research by Timothy Ingalsbee, executive director of the Oregon-based group Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology.
“They are little fire bombs waiting to ignite. They can burn for hours,” said Ingalsbee, a former federal firefighter and wildland fire ecologist.
Cheaper, but is it better?
The plight of the Santa Cruz County residents is not the outcome that the legislature envisioned last year when it created the Wildfire Safety Division within the Public Utilities Commission to review and approve the fire-mitigation plans of California electric providers.
With one in ten wildfires caused by utility equipment, it was clear that companies needed to do more to prevent fires.
The new division is trying to hold utilities accountable, but herding large, powerful companies that cling to old practices is daunting. The Wildfire Safety Division approved most of the utilities’ plans this summer with some modifications. And, like a long-suffering teacher attempting to soften the blow, the agency sent along this report card: “Most utilities demonstrate a need for improvement.”
Caroline Thomas Jacobs, director of the new Wildfire Safety Division, is overseeing a department that did not exist before 2019.
“The reality is it was a massive task to undertake. There’s been lots of opportunity to trip up. The proof will be in the pudding,” she said.
Thomas Jacobs said it was clear that most companies’ plans leaned heavily on vegetation management, but the utilities haven’t fully explained why.
“We told them, ‘You guys have to get together and develop a study, and tell us why enhanced vegetation management is the way to go here.’ They need to better articulate how they think through all the alternatives before they decide on a specific mitigation activity. They have to think it through and not just pick the easy button and the cheapest approach,” she said.
In other words, for the first time, the state will require utilities not only to perform more robust fire mitigation work, but also to document what benefit each project would bring.
Because the companies’ plans lack clear metrics for determining their chances of success, the PUC on Thursday extended the companies’ deadline to June for providing the information.
PG&E officials declined to comment about the concerns that they are relying too heavily on cutting trees and delaying the more expensive equipment upgrades.
Other companies also are focusing heavily on fuel reduction projects around their equipment.
Southern California Edison’s plan, for example, set a 2020 goal to inspect 75,000 hazardous trees for possible removal, check vegetation growing along 3,000 circuit-miles, clear brush from around 200,000 poles and expand buffer zones around some equipment in high fire-risk areas.
“Made the fire hazard worse”
Santa Cruz County officials call the PG&E crews’ tree-removal work “reckless,” worrying that it increases the risk of erosion and mudslides when winter rains begin.
“We are in the midst of serious debris flow preparation. There is high potential for people whose homes didn’t burn to now be in a danger zone. The water supply for Santa Cruz County is at risk,” said County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty. “If they had worked with the county, Cal Fire and property owners, we could have done this in a safe and effective way. But they have made the fire hazard worse.”
As residents called to complain, Santa Cruz County reached out to the state for help. Cal Fire sent letters to PG&E, noting hundreds of violations of the state Forestry Practices Act, which could lead to millions of dollars in fines.
And in late November, the California Coastal Commission sent the company a notice of violation for unpermitted work clearing about six miles of trees in the coastal zone. The agency is working with PG&E so it can obtain the proper permission to construct erosion control measures and stabilize roads damaged by its heavy equipment.
The utility maintains it does not need permits to remove vegetation for fire mitigation work that is mandated by state law.
“PG&E disagrees with the characterization that our tree removal work is illegal. We understand the County, agencies and community concerns regarding this emergency hazard tree removal work and are committed to continuing to address these items with all stakeholders while prioritizing public safety, prompt restoration of electric service and environmental stewardship,” PG&E spokeswoman Mayra Tostado said in an emailed statement.
The company is not alone in running afoul of state agencies while performing fire mitigation work. In November the Coastal Commission fined the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power $1.9 million for similar transgressions.
“PG&E is mucking it up and making things worse,” said Pat Veesart, an enforcement supervisor with the Coastal Commission, which regulates activities in the coastal zone. “Historically they have cleared 65 to 75 feet (from power lines). In this case they have cleared as much as 200 feet, exceeding what would be considered normal power line maintenance. We are very concerned about damage to creeks and erosion.”
Much about firefighting is harsh on a landscape. Apart from the fire’s annihilation, bulldozers and other heavy equipment used to combat fire can reshape and scrape soils and clog waterways, often leaving lasting impacts. Post-fire work also can leave a trail of damage.
“Some of these guys on the powerlines are going for overkill, with minimum supervision and no ecology,” former firefighter Ingelsbee said.
The companies are allowed to pass on the costs of equipment upgrades to ratepayers.
“There is little evidence that clearing vegetation is the most cost-effective approach. They are charging Cadillac prices for a jalopy,” said Loretta Lynch, former president of the Public Utilities Commission.
“It’s not just PG&E — all the wildfire mitigation plans are about their bottom line, not what will mitigate wildfires. The record is really clear: It’s an environmental catastrophe.”
Adding to heartbreak and stress
Lad Wallace thought himself lucky: There were 51 homes in his Bonny Doon neighborhood before the fire, and his was one of only 13 that survived. But the privately maintained road leading to his property was destroyed by trucks operated by PG&E’s tree crews, the same crews that came on his property without his permission and left his land strewn with felled trees.
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Crews told the Andersons that their trees had commercial value, but no local buyers want Douglas fir, especially since the company “short cut” the logs. The old-growth redwoods they cut were “dropped and left in a messy stack,” said Brian Anderson.
Meanwhile, the couple’s misery mounts. They were grinding their teeth at night and now wear mouth guards. Their doctor prescribed medication for sleep and stress.
“This whole tree issue comes on top of heartbreak and stress from the fire,” Kristi Anderson said. “It’s fighting and bureaucracy all the time, it takes a lot of energy. There is no pocket in anybody’s insurance policy that covers tree debris removal. We can’t afford to move. We have a mortgage. I’m a public school teacher — how do I feel right now? Not great.”
CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.


mercurynews--2020-12-21--Rehab doctor jailed for ‘patient brokering’ released to luxury California home after COVID diagnosis

The Beverly Hills doctor accused of building a luxurious life on the backs of desperate drug users — and contributing to some of their deaths — has been released from jail after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 , despite the strident objections of prosecutors who ’ ve charged him with 88 felonies and fear he ’ s a flight risk .
Randy Rosen ran Wellness Wave , a surgical center in Beverly Hills that allegedly paid addicts eager to make a buck to endure unnecessary surgeries , get unnecessary lab tests and receive unnecessary injections for inflated prices , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elaborate fraud scheme ” reaped some $ 29 million from insurance companies and employed “ body brokers ” to lure users for the sham procedures , according to court documents that paint a portrait of unrepentant greed and callous disregard for human suffering .
In a Dec. 15 court filing , Rosen ’ s attorney argued that he ’ s at great risk for complications because of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , centripetal obesity ( excessive marbled fat around the waist ) , coronary artery disease , high blood pressure and obstructive sleep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple risk factors , coupled with Randy Rosen ’ s age of 57 years , cause ( his doctor ) great concern for Randy Rosen ’ s health and well-being , ” his attorneys argued .
Prosecutors fought his release , arguing that there ’ s no legal basis for it , that he poses a significant risk of danger to the community , and that he ’ s asymptomatic and could be well cared for by the jail medical system even if his condition worsens .
They also noted that he committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of while out on $ 300,000 bail in a different criminal case , even though he had promised to commit no crimes .
He still has access to millions of dollars in assets and , because he faces more than 80 years in state prison if convicted on all charges , is a flight risk .
In the end , Orange County Superior Court Judge Sheila Hanson concluded that Rosen does have underlying medical conditions and ordered him released to his Los Angeles home — a 9,000-square-foot compound worth some $ 14 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electronic monitoring for up to 30 days .
He was released Thursday , Dec. 17 , the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department said .
Rosen can ’ t leave the property unless it ’ s to go to a doctor or hospital , can ’ t use the internet except to communicate with his defense team or health care professionals , and “ is not to apply for , obtain or use any passport , ” the judge ’ s order said .
“ We are watching the theater of the absurd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spitzer said in a prepared statement .
“ The criminal justice system shouldn ’ t have one set of rules for people who are wealthy and a separate set of rules ( for people ) who aren ’ t .
Poor people who pose a low risk to society shouldn ’ t have to sit in jail because they can ’ t afford to get out while wealthy people who have demonstrated they have no regard for the law or the lives of other human beings and have nothing to lose walk right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” There are 588 COVID-positive inmates in medical isolation right now , said a declaration from C. Hsien Chiang , Orange County ’ s medical director of Correctional Health Services .
Rosen has pleaded not guilty to 88 felony counts in two separate cases .
After a complicated preliminary hearing that lasted more than two months for one of those cases , a judge found there was sufficient evidence to try him .
Bail was set at $ 10 million .
Liza Vismanos , Rosen ’ s girlfriend , also is charged with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 36 years in state prison if convicted .
She owned Lotus Laboratories , a toxicology lab in Los Alamitos that allegedly processed and billed for the unnecessary tests Rosen ordered .
Part of Rosen ’ s scam was to pay addicts to get naltrexone implants , court documents allege .
Naltrexone binds to the brain ’ s opioid receptors , blunting an opioid high , and is designed to be part of a comprehensive program to address addiction , not as a cure in and of itself .
But that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors say , instead performing as many as 72 procedures in a single day , with the quickest surgery lasting just one minute .
Some parents whose children got the implants , then later died of an overdose , say he ’ s responsible .
“ To me , if you give an addict something like that , they ’ re just going to do more to get the buzz , ” Debbie Berry of Ashland , Missouri , said after Rosen ’ s arrest last summer .
Her son , Brennen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in February 2018 .
Two months earlier , Rosen billed $ 59,000 to Berry ’ s insurance for the procedure .
“ My son thought he had that security blanket in him , that it would save him .
And it didn ’ t. ” Rosen ’ s trial is scheduled to begin in April .

The Beverly Hills doctor accused of building a luxurious life on the backs of desperate drug users — and contributing to some of their deaths — has been released from jail after he was diagnosed with COVID-19, despite the strident objections of prosecutors who’ve charged him with 88 felonies and fear he’s a flight risk.
Randy Rosen ran Wellness Wave, a surgical center in Beverly Hills that allegedly paid addicts eager to make a buck to endure unnecessary surgeries, get unnecessary lab tests and receive unnecessary injections for inflated prices, according to Orange County prosecutors.
His “elaborate fraud scheme” reaped some $29 million from insurance companies and employed “body brokers” to lure users for the sham procedures, according to court documents that paint a portrait of unrepentant greed and callous disregard for human suffering.
At risk for complications
In a Dec. 15 court filing, Rosen’s attorney argued that he’s at great risk for complications because of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, centripetal obesity (excessive marbled fat around the waist), coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and obstructive sleep apnea. “(T)hese multiple risk factors, coupled with Randy Rosen’s age of 57 years, cause (his doctor) great concern for Randy Rosen’s health and well-being,” his attorneys argued.
Prosecutors fought his release, arguing that there’s no legal basis for it, that he poses a significant risk of danger to the community, and that he’s asymptomatic and could be well cared for by the jail medical system even if his condition worsens.
They also noted that he committed the crimes he’s now accused of while out on $300,000 bail in a different criminal case, even though he had promised to commit no crimes. He still has access to millions of dollars in assets and, because he faces more than 80 years in state prison if convicted on all charges, is a flight risk.
In the end, Orange County Superior Court Judge Sheila Hanson concluded that Rosen does have underlying medical conditions and ordered him released to his Los Angeles home — a 9,000-square-foot compound worth some $14 million in the hills of Brentwood — under electronic monitoring for up to 30 days.
He was released Thursday, Dec. 17, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said. Rosen can’t leave the property unless it’s to go to a doctor or hospital, can’t use the internet except to communicate with his defense team or health care professionals, and “is not to apply for, obtain or use any passport,” the judge’s order said.
‘Theater of the absurd’
“We are watching the theater of the absurd,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a prepared statement. “The criminal justice system shouldn’t have one set of rules for people who are wealthy and a separate set of rules (for people) who aren’t. Poor people who pose a low risk to society shouldn’t have to sit in jail because they can’t afford to get out while wealthy people who have demonstrated they have no regard for the law or the lives of other human beings and have nothing to lose walk right out the front door of the jail.”
There are 588 COVID-positive inmates in medical isolation right now, said a declaration from C. Hsien Chiang, Orange County’s medical director of Correctional Health Services.
Rosen has pleaded not guilty to 88 felony counts in two separate cases. After a complicated preliminary hearing that lasted more than two months for one of those cases, a judge found there was sufficient evidence to try him. Bail was set at $10 million.
Girlfriend also charged
Liza Vismanos, Rosen’s girlfriend, also is charged with multiple counts of insurance fraud and faces up to 36 years in state prison if convicted. She owned Lotus Laboratories, a toxicology lab in Los Alamitos that allegedly processed and billed for the unnecessary tests Rosen ordered.
Part of Rosen’s scam was to pay addicts to get naltrexone implants, court documents allege. Naltrexone binds to the brain’s opioid receptors, blunting an opioid high, and is designed to be part of a comprehensive program to address addiction, not as a cure in and of itself.
But that’s not how Rosen used it, prosecutors say, instead performing as many as 72 procedures in a single day, with the quickest surgery lasting just one minute. Some parents whose children got the implants, then later died of an overdose, say he’s responsible.
“To me, if you give an addict something like that, they’re just going to do more to get the buzz,” Debbie Berry of Ashland, Missouri, said after Rosen’s arrest last summer. Her son, Brennen, died with a naltrexone implant inside him in February 2018. Two months earlier, Rosen billed $59,000 to Berry’s insurance for the procedure.
“My son thought he had that security blanket in him, that it would save him. And it didn’t.”
Rosen’s trial is scheduled to begin in April.


mercurynews--2020-12-22--House passes $900B COVID relief bill; Senate takes up next

WASHINGTON — The House easily passed a $ 900 billion pandemic relief package Monday night that would finally deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and resources to vaccinate a nation confronting a frightening surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths .
Lawmakers tacked on a $ 1.4 trillion catchall spending bill and thousands of pages of other end-of-session business in a massive bundle of bipartisan legislation as Capitol Hill prepared to close the books on the year .
The lopsided 359-53 vote was a bipartisan coda to months of partisanship , politicking as lawmakers wrangled over the relief question , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden urged his party to accept a compromise with top Republicans that is smaller than many Democrats would have liked .
The relief package , unveiled Monday afternoon , sped through the House in a matter of hours .
A Senate vote that would send the bill to President Donald Trump appeared likely to follow soon .
The bill combines coronavirus-fighting funds with financial relief for individuals and businesses .
It would establish a temporary $ 300 per week supplemental jobless benefit and a $ 600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for hard-hit businesses , restaurants , and theaters and money for schools , health care providers and renters facing eviction .
The 5,593-page legislation — by far the longest bill ever — came together Sunday after months of battling , posturing and postelection negotiating that reined in a number of Democratic demands as the end of the congressional session approached .
President-elect Joe Biden was eager for a deal to deliver long-awaited help to suffering people and a boost to the economy , even though it was less than half the size that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This deal is not everything I want — not by a long shot , ” said Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern , R-Mass.
, a longstanding voice in the party ’ s old-school liberal wing .
“ The choice before us is simple .
It ’ s about whether we help families or not .
It ’ s about whether we help small businesses and restaurants or not .
It ’ s about whether we boost ( food stamp ) benefits and strengthen anti-hunger programs or not .
And whether we help those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To me , this is not a tough call.
” The Senate was also on track to pass a one-week stopgap spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown at midnight and give Trump time to sign the sweeping legislation .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , a key negotiator , said on CNBC Monday morning that the direct payments would begin arriving in bank accounts next week .
Democrats promised more aid to come once Biden takes office , but Republicans were signaling a wait-and-see approach .
The measure would fund the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s worth of action on annual spending bills into a single package that never saw Senate committee or floor debate .
The legislation followed a tortured path .
Democrats played hardball up until Election Day , amid accusations that they wanted to deny Trump a victory that might help him prevail .
Democrats denied that , but their demands indeed became more realistic after Trump ’ s loss and as Biden made it clear that half a loaf was better than none .
The final bill bore ample resemblance to a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican leaders in July , a proposal that at the time was scoffed at by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , as way too little .
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , took a victory lap after blocking far more ambitious legislation from reaching the Senate floor .
He said the pragmatic approach of Biden was key .
“ A few days ago , with a new president-elect of their own party , everything changed .
Democrats suddenly came around to our position that we should find consensus , make law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help out the door , ” McConnell said .
On direct payments , the bill provides $ 600 to individuals making up to $ 75,000 per year and $ 1,200 to couples making up to $ 150,000 , with payments phased out for higher incomes .
An additional $ 600 payment will be made per dependent child , similar to the last round of relief payments in the spring .
The $ 300 per week bonus jobless benefit was half the supplemental federal unemployment benefit provided under the $ 1.8 billion CARES Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and would be limited to 11 weeks instead of 16 weeks .
The direct $ 600 stimulus payment was also half the March payment .
The CARES Act was credited with keeping the economy from falling off a cliff during widespread lockdowns in the spring , but Republicans controlling the Senate cited debt concerns in pushing against Democratic demands .
“ Anyone who thinks this bill is enough hasn ’ t heard the desperation in the voices of their constituents , has not looked into the eyes of the small-business owner on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic leader Chuck Schumer , a lifelong New Yorker who pushed hard for money helping his city ’ s transit systems , renters , theaters and restaurants .
Progress came after a bipartisan group of pragmatists and moderates devised a $ 908 billion plan that built a middle-ground position that the top four leaders of Congress — the GOP and Democratic leaders of both the House and Senate — used as the basis for their talks .
The lawmakers urged leaders on both sides to back off of hardline positions .
“ At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wilderness because people on all sides of the aisle didn ’ t want to give , in order to give the other side a win , ” said freshman Rep. Elssa Slotkin , D-Mich. “ And it was gross to watch , frankly.
” Republicans were most intent on reviving the Paycheck Protection Program with $ 284 billion , which would cover a second round of PPP grants to especially hard-hit businesses .
Democrats won set-asides for low-income and minority communities .
The sweeping bill also contains $ 25 billion in rental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other live venues , $ 82 billion for local schools , colleges and universities , and $ 10 billion for child care .
The governmentwide appropriations bill was likely to provide a last $ 1.4 billion installment for Trump ’ s U.S.-Mexico border wall as a condition of winning his signature .
The Pentagon would receive $ 696 billion .
Democrats and Senate Republicans prevailed in a bid to use bookkeeping maneuvers to squeeze $ 12.5 billion more for domestic programs into the legislation .
The bill was an engine to carry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business , including an almost 400-page water resources bill that targets $ 10 billion for 46 Army Corps of Engineers flood control , environmental and coastal protection projects .
Another addition would extend a batch of soon-to-expire tax breaks , such as one for craft brewers , wineries and distillers .
It also would carry numerous clean-energy provisions sought by Democrats with fossil fuel incentives favored by Republicans , $ 7 billion to increase access to broadband , $ 4 billion to help other nations vaccinate their people , $ 14 billion for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Amtrak and $ 2 billion for airports and concessionaires .
The Senate Historical Office said the previous record for the length of legislation was the 2,847-page tax reform bill of 1986 — about one-half the size of Monday ’ s behemoth .

By Andrew Taylor | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The House easily passed a $900 billion pandemic relief package Monday night that would finally deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and resources to vaccinate a nation confronting a frightening surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Lawmakers tacked on a $1.4 trillion catchall spending bill and thousands of pages of other end-of-session business in a massive bundle of bipartisan legislation as Capitol Hill prepared to close the books on the year.
The lopsided 359-53 vote was a bipartisan coda to months of partisanship, politicking as lawmakers wrangled over the relief question, a logjam that broke after President-elect Joe Biden urged his party to accept a compromise with top Republicans that is smaller than many Democrats would have liked.
The relief package, unveiled Monday afternoon, sped through the House in a matter of hours. A Senate vote that would send the bill to President Donald Trump appeared likely to follow soon.
The bill combines coronavirus-fighting funds with financial relief for individuals and businesses. It would establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit and a $600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans, along with a new round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses, restaurants, and theaters and money for schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction.
The 5,593-page legislation — by far the longest bill ever — came together Sunday after months of battling, posturing and postelection negotiating that reined in a number of Democratic demands as the end of the congressional session approached. President-elect Joe Biden was eager for a deal to deliver long-awaited help to suffering people and a boost to the economy, even though it was less than half the size that Democrats wanted in the fall.
“This deal is not everything I want — not by a long shot,” said Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern, R-Mass., a longstanding voice in the party’s old-school liberal wing. “The choice before us is simple. It’s about whether we help families or not. It’s about whether we help small businesses and restaurants or not. It’s about whether we boost (food stamp) benefits and strengthen anti-hunger programs or not. And whether we help those dealing with a job loss or not. To me, this is not a tough call.”
The Senate was also on track to pass a one-week stopgap spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown at midnight and give Trump time to sign the sweeping legislation.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, a key negotiator, said on CNBC Monday morning that the direct payments would begin arriving in bank accounts next week.
Democrats promised more aid to come once Biden takes office, but Republicans were signaling a wait-and-see approach.
The measure would fund the government through September, wrapping a year’s worth of action on annual spending bills into a single package that never saw Senate committee or floor debate.
The legislation followed a tortured path. Democrats played hardball up until Election Day, amid accusations that they wanted to deny Trump a victory that might help him prevail. Democrats denied that, but their demands indeed became more realistic after Trump’s loss and as Biden made it clear that half a loaf was better than none.
The final bill bore ample resemblance to a $1 trillion package put together by Senate Republican leaders in July, a proposal that at the time was scoffed at by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as way too little.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., took a victory lap after blocking far more ambitious legislation from reaching the Senate floor. He said the pragmatic approach of Biden was key.
“A few days ago, with a new president-elect of their own party, everything changed. Democrats suddenly came around to our position that we should find consensus, make law where we agree, and get urgent help out the door,” McConnell said.
On direct payments, the bill provides $600 to individuals making up to $75,000 per year and $1,200 to couples making up to $150,000, with payments phased out for higher incomes. An additional $600 payment will be made per dependent child, similar to the last round of relief payments in the spring.
The $300 per week bonus jobless benefit was half the supplemental federal unemployment benefit provided under the $1.8 billion CARES Act in March. That more generous benefit and would be limited to 11 weeks instead of 16 weeks. The direct $600 stimulus payment was also half the March payment.
The CARES Act was credited with keeping the economy from falling off a cliff during widespread lockdowns in the spring, but Republicans controlling the Senate cited debt concerns in pushing against Democratic demands.
“Anyone who thinks this bill is enough hasn’t heard the desperation in the voices of their constituents, has not looked into the eyes of the small-business owner on the brink of ruin,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, a lifelong New Yorker who pushed hard for money helping his city’s transit systems, renters, theaters and restaurants.
Progress came after a bipartisan group of pragmatists and moderates devised a $908 billion plan that built a middle-ground position that the top four leaders of Congress — the GOP and Democratic leaders of both the House and Senate — used as the basis for their talks. The lawmakers urged leaders on both sides to back off of hardline positions.
“At times we felt like we were in the wilderness because people on all sides of the aisle didn’t want to give, in order to give the other side a win,” said freshman Rep. Elssa Slotkin, D-Mich. “And it was gross to watch, frankly.”
Republicans were most intent on reviving the Paycheck Protection Program with $284 billion, which would cover a second round of PPP grants to especially hard-hit businesses. Democrats won set-asides for low-income and minority communities.
The sweeping bill also contains $25 billion in rental assistance, $15 billion for theaters and other live venues, $82 billion for local schools, colleges and universities, and $10 billion for child care.
The governmentwide appropriations bill was likely to provide a last $1.4 billion installment for Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall as a condition of winning his signature. The Pentagon would receive $696 billion. Democrats and Senate Republicans prevailed in a bid to use bookkeeping maneuvers to squeeze $12.5 billion more for domestic programs into the legislation.
The bill was an engine to carry much of Capitol Hill’s unfinished business, including an almost 400-page water resources bill that targets $10 billion for 46 Army Corps of Engineers flood control, environmental and coastal protection projects. Another addition would extend a batch of soon-to-expire tax breaks, such as one for craft brewers, wineries and distillers.
It also would carry numerous clean-energy provisions sought by Democrats with fossil fuel incentives favored by Republicans, $7 billion to increase access to broadband, $4 billion to help other nations vaccinate their people, $14 billion for cash-starved transit systems, $1 billion for Amtrak and $2 billion for airports and concessionaires.
The Senate Historical Office said the previous record for the length of legislation was the 2,847-page tax reform bill of 1986 — about one-half the size of Monday’s behemoth.


mercurynews--2020-12-22--Santa Clara County investigates SJSU’s travel plans ahead of Arizona Bowl

SAN JOSE — Enforcement officers from Santa Clara County ’ s public health office are investigating whether the San Jose State football team has violated COVID-19 directives by returning home this week with plans to leave Sunday to play in a bowl game in Tucson , Arizona .
County Executive Dr. Jeff Smith said Monday that San Jose State could face fines , legal action and the team could even be stopped from boarding a flight Sunday to head to the Arizona Bowl if the Spartans do try to leave before their county-mandated quarantine ends .
“ Hopefully , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Smith told the Bay Area News Group .
Questions surfaced when the No .
19 Spartans returned to campus the morning after winning their first Mountain West Conference title Saturday in Las Vegas .
Because they returned from more than 150 miles away the traveling party is supposed to isolate for 10 days , according to a county directive .
But it seemed Monday county officials and San Jose State administrators had different interpretations of those guidelines .
School spokesman Kenneth Mashinchi said Monday evening SJSU based its travel plan on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who live outside Santa Clara County to leave immediately after landing instead of having to quarantine for 10 days .
However , Smith said everyone who traveled to the county from Las Vegas is supposed to quarantine for 10 days “ without exception.
” “ You shouldn ’ t be with other people ; you should be isolating by yourself , ” he said , adding that meeting family members for the holiday also is wrong .
“ Celebrating doesn ’ t meet that criteria , ” Smith said .
Mashinchi also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clara County planned to quarantine at home .
However , the stay would fall short of the 10-day quarantine order if they depart Sunday as planned .
“ They have been instructed to leave only to get tested and to depart for Tucson , ” Mashinchi said in an email .
The players and coaching staff planned to break from football activities this week so players had a chance to see family for the first time since July 14 , coach Brent Brennan said Monday during his weekly news conference .
“ Giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be with their people was the right thing to do , ” he said .
“ It was right for their mental health.
” But such action might violate the state and county ’ s stay-at-home orders implemented because of the high case rates and a limited number of ICU beds during the current COVID-19 surge .
“ This is not an appropriate protocol and doesn ’ t protect anybody against anything , ” Smith said on the day Gov .
Gavin Newsom said it is likely California will extend stay-home orders into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the county ’ s website , “ All gatherings with members of other households are prohibited in the Region except as expressly permitted herein.
” San Jose State ( 7-0 ) is scheduled to play Mid-American Conference champion Ball State ( 6-1 ) in the Arizona Bowl on Dec. 31 .
If the quarantine were followed , the team would not be able to practice or travel to Tucson until the day before the game .
Smith , who has been a vocal critic of college sports teams trying to play during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s plan sends “ a really bad message.
” But Mashinchi said the school has followed county and state public health guidelines .
“ Our student-athletes and staff have been extremely diligent in being safe and responsible during the pandemic , ” he said .
Brennan said the football team did not consider staying in Las Vegas or going directly to Tucson after defeating Boise State 34-20 in the conference championship .
The team had been on the road for 17 days to finish the regular season outside of Santa Clara County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month .
Brennan said it was important to let the players see their family members , especially those who were reared by grandparents .
He said players expressed concerns about not being able to see grandparents , who are in a higher-risk age group for suffering serious harm from COVID-19 .
Brennan said SJSU asked players to request family members get tested for the virus before their visits .
“ A big part of it for them is their COVID discipline while they are away from us , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our team has been amazing at that.
” The football team has reported just a few positive tests , most coming during summer training .
The Spartans had two games canceled this season when Fresno State and Boise State had COVID-19 issues .
Brennan said coaches told players in a Zoom meeting in July that the team with the best COVID discipline will win the Mountain West championship .
“ I feel like that happened , ” he said .
• San Jose State : Brennan declines to speak about Arizona vacancy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State football team makes it home for holidays but not for long • Stock report ( bowl edition ) : ESPN mocks the Pac-12 , Colorado draws Texas , the committee disses Cincinnati and more • San Jose State jumps to 19th in latest Associated Press football poll • San Jose State football : What to know about Ball State , surprise Arizona Bowl opponent The traveling party was tested in Las Vegas on Sunday , an athletic department spokesman said .
Everyone planning to go to the bowl game is scheduled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test negative will be allowed to go to Tucson , the spokesman said .
At least 15 Football Bowl Subdivision schools , including Stanford , USC , Penn State and Boise State , have declined to play bowl games this year because of the novel coronavirus .
But Brennan said opting out of a postseason game was not considered for a team having its best season since 1939 .
Brennan was also asked whether he had spoken to the University of Arizona regarding its coaching vacancy , but once again sidestepped the question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a question about the job , Brennan held up a miniature stop sign with his motto , “ Stop , I ’ m climbing the mountain.
” “ Anytime you win , there ’ s going to be those questions , ” Brennan said .
“ Those things are going to come up .
People in the athletics world , in the media world all want to try and find something to talk about or fill in the void with it .
I think when those conversations start , it ’ s really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here at San Jose State .
It ’ s a reflection of what ’ s happening with our players and what this team has accomplished.
” Of course , Brennan may not be able to avoid the questions once he arrives on the ground in Tucson , where the Spartans will play on Arizona ’ s campus for the Arizona Bowl .
His name has come up in the Wildcats ’ coaching search after Kevin Sumlin was fired following an 0-5 season .
Brennan has roots at both schools and has spoken about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was a graduate assistant under Dick Tomey at Arizona before working as an assistant under him at San Jose State .

SAN JOSE — Enforcement officers from Santa Clara County’s public health office are investigating whether the San Jose State football team has violated COVID-19 directives by returning home this week with plans to leave Sunday to play in a bowl game in Tucson, Arizona.
County Executive Dr. Jeff Smith said Monday that San Jose State could face fines, legal action and the team could even be stopped from boarding a flight Sunday to head to the Arizona Bowl if the Spartans do try to leave before their county-mandated quarantine ends.
“Hopefully, it won’t get to that point,” Smith told the Bay Area News Group.
Questions surfaced when the No. 19 Spartans returned to campus the morning after winning their first Mountain West Conference title Saturday in Las Vegas. Because they returned from more than 150 miles away the traveling party is supposed to isolate for 10 days, according to a county directive.
But it seemed Monday county officials and San Jose State administrators had different interpretations of those guidelines.
School spokesman Kenneth Mashinchi said Monday evening SJSU based its travel plan on county directives that allowed players and staff who live outside Santa Clara County to leave immediately after landing instead of having to quarantine for 10 days.
However, Smith said everyone who traveled to the county from Las Vegas is supposed to quarantine for 10 days “without exception.”
“You shouldn’t be with other people; you should be isolating by yourself,” he said, adding that meeting family members for the holiday also is wrong. “Celebrating doesn’t meet that criteria,” Smith said.
Mashinchi also said the players and staff staying in Santa Clara County planned to quarantine at home. However, the stay would fall short of the 10-day quarantine order if they depart Sunday as planned.
“They have been instructed to leave only to get tested and to depart for Tucson,” Mashinchi said in an email.
The players and coaching staff planned to break from football activities this week so players had a chance to see family for the first time since July 14, coach Brent Brennan said Monday during his weekly news conference.
“Giving them a chance to go home and be with their people was the right thing to do,” he said. “It was right for their mental health.”
But such action might violate the state and county’s stay-at-home orders implemented because of the high case rates and a limited number of ICU beds during the current COVID-19 surge.
“This is not an appropriate protocol and doesn’t protect anybody against anything,” Smith said on the day Gov. Gavin Newsom said it is likely California will extend stay-home orders into 2021.
According to the directive listed on the county’s website, “All gatherings with members of other households are prohibited in the Region except as expressly permitted herein.”
San Jose State (7-0) is scheduled to play Mid-American Conference champion Ball State (6-1) in the Arizona Bowl on Dec. 31.
If the quarantine were followed, the team would not be able to practice or travel to Tucson until the day before the game.
Smith, who has been a vocal critic of college sports teams trying to play during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the school’s plan sends “a really bad message.”
But Mashinchi said the school has followed county and state public health guidelines. “Our student-athletes and staff have been extremely diligent in being safe and responsible during the pandemic,” he said.
Brennan said the football team did not consider staying in Las Vegas or going directly to Tucson after defeating Boise State 34-20 in the conference championship.
The team had been on the road for 17 days to finish the regular season outside of Santa Clara County, which had banned all contact sports last month.
Brennan said it was important to let the players see their family members, especially those who were reared by grandparents. He said players expressed concerns about not being able to see grandparents, who are in a higher-risk age group for suffering serious harm from COVID-19.
Brennan said SJSU asked players to request family members get tested for the virus before their visits.
“A big part of it for them is their COVID discipline while they are away from us,” he said. “Trying to protect that process. Our team has been amazing at that.”
The football team has reported just a few positive tests, most coming during summer training. The Spartans had two games canceled this season when Fresno State and Boise State had COVID-19 issues.
Brennan said coaches told players in a Zoom meeting in July that the team with the best COVID discipline will win the Mountain West championship.
“I feel like that happened,” he said.
The traveling party was tested in Las Vegas on Sunday, an athletic department spokesman said. Everyone planning to go to the bowl game is scheduled to get tested Saturday. Only those who test negative will be allowed to go to Tucson, the spokesman said.
At least 15 Football Bowl Subdivision schools, including Stanford, USC, Penn State and Boise State, have declined to play bowl games this year because of the novel coronavirus.
But Brennan said opting out of a postseason game was not considered for a team having its best season since 1939.
Cold water on Arizona rumors
Brennan was also asked whether he had spoken to the University of Arizona regarding its coaching vacancy, but once again sidestepped the question. Before a reporter could finish asking a question about the job, Brennan held up a miniature stop sign with his motto, “Stop, I’m climbing the mountain.”
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SJSU athletics center could spur San Jose “family entertainment” zone College Sports | Plea deal ‘very close’ in ex-SJSU trainer sexual assault trial that ended in hung jury “Anytime you win, there’s going to be those questions,” Brennan said. “Those things are going to come up. People in the athletics world, in the media world all want to try and find something to talk about or fill in the void with it. I think when those conversations start, it’s really a reflection of what’s happening here at San Jose State. It’s a reflection of what’s happening with our players and what this team has accomplished.”
Of course, Brennan may not be able to avoid the questions once he arrives on the ground in Tucson, where the Spartans will play on Arizona’s campus for the Arizona Bowl. His name has come up in the Wildcats’ coaching search after Kevin Sumlin was fired following an 0-5 season.
Brennan has roots at both schools and has spoken about his loyalty to San Jose State. He was a graduate assistant under Dick Tomey at Arizona before working as an assistant under him at San Jose State.
Correspondent Justice delos Santos contributed to this story.


mercurynews--2020-12-22--White House advisers worry about Trump’s last days

President Donald Trump has turned to a fringe group of advisers peddling increasingly dubious tactics to overturn the results of the election , creating a dire situation that multiple senior officials and people close to the President say has led to new levels of uncertainty at how Trump will resist the coming end to his tenure .
“ No one is sure where this is heading , ” one official said on Monday .
“ He ’ s still the President for another month.
” Conspiracist lawyer Sidney Powell , disgraced former national security adviser Michael Flynn , onetime chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peter Navarro and the eccentric founder of the retail website Overstock have all recently found themselves in the Oval Office or on the telephone advising Trump on new last-ditch efforts to reverse his loss .
That ’ s in addition to Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani , who has been feeding the President ’ s conspiracy theories for weeks and who , along with Powell , was seen again at the White House on Monday .
In the process , Trump has mostly shunned those working inside the government , leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lash out in the four weeks he has remaining in the White House — or at how he may resist leaving the building come Inauguration Day .
Through it all , Trump has mostly abandoned the day-to-day running of government .
At a Cabinet meeting last week , he spent much of the time complaining about his suspicions of voter fraud , according to a person familiar with the matter , leaving some attendees puzzled at the point of the gathering .
Indeed , Trump has spent his days singularly focused on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election in a landslide , ” Trump claimed falsely during a Monday call to the activist Charlie Kirk , who broadcast the conversation using a microphone so attendees at a gathering of young conservatives in West Palm Beach , Florida , could all hear .
“ The problem is we need a party that ’ s going to fight and we have some great congressmen and women that are doing it and we have others , some great fighters , ” Trump went on .
“ But we won this in a landslide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need backing from , like , the Justice Department , and other people finally have to step up.
” Sources close to the President describe particular worry among his advisers over what Powell — who only three weeks ago was unceremoniously dumped from his official legal team — may convince him to do in the coming days .
Trump ’ s idea , which he floated in a heated Friday meeting at the White House , is for Powell to essentially embed as a special counsel inside the White House Counsel ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s office has not looked kindly at .
“ There ’ s high levels of concern with anything involving Sidney Powell , ” one source close to the President said .
“ The lawyers are very worried.
” Trump ’ s annual holiday trip to his Mar-a-Lago resort , where he will be surrounded by sycophants and devotees encouraging him to fight on , will likely only add grist to his election fraud fantasies , the official said .
The trip to Florida is set to begin later this week , though Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wonder whether it will remain on the schedule .
If he does go , officials say it ’ s likely he will take meetings , in person and via phone , that his official advisers aren ’ t aware of .
“ It ’ s scary , ” said another administration official , who added that Trump appears “ obsessed ” with far-flung scenarios to overturn the election results that are seemingly untenable , both feasibly and politically .
One of those includes an effort led by Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Electoral College victory when Congress meets to formally ratify it on January 6 .
Trump met with Brooks and a number of other conservative House lawmakers at the White House on Monday for a discussion focused on the President ’ s baseless claims and conspiracy theories that the election was stolen from him , participants said .
The lawmakers emerged confident that there was a contingent of House and Senate Republicans who would join the effort and prompt a marathon debate on the floor on January 6 that would spill into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have multiple senators and the question is not if but how many , ” Brooks said , something that would defy the wishes of Senate Republican leaders , who are eager to move on and are urging senators not to participate since doing so could force them to cast a politically toxic vote against Trump .
In his moments of deepest denial , Trump has told some advisers that he will refuse to leave the White House on Inauguration Day , only to be walked down from that ledge .
The possibility has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump will actually follow through .
How such an episode might unfold isn ’ t clear , and federal law enforcement agencies have been loath to discuss the possibility .
After news emerged of a heated Oval Office meeting Friday pitting Powell and Flynn against White House officials , including chief of staff Mark Meadows and White House counsel Pat Cipollone , Powell was seen exiting the executive mansion again on Sunday .
She was also seen at the White House on Monday , though it wasn ’ t clear with whom she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been promoting an executive order allowing the federal government to seize voting machines in order to inspect them for fraud , a proposition that administration officials including acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf have warned is outside their authority .
Powell attended Friday ’ s meeting alongside Flynn , her client who Trump pardoned last month after he had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI .
Flynn had suggested in a television interview last week that Trump could use the military to rerun the election in certain states , an idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting .
They were joined by Patrick Byrne , the founder of Overstock.com , who tweeted afterward that he was disappointed in how Trump is being served by his White House team .
“ President Trump is being terribly served by his advisers .
They want him to lose and are lying to him .
He is surrounding by mendacious mediocrities , ” Byrne wrote , adding later : “ For the first time in my life I feel sorry for Donald Trump .
He is standing up to his waist in snakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Byrne , who resigned from Overstock in 2019 after his comments about the “ deep state ” triggered a steep decline in the company ’ s stock price , did not respond to a request for comment on Monday .
He has previously admitted in a series of interviews that he had an intimate relationship with accused Russian agent Maria Butina , which lasted from 2015 to 2018 , and ultimately assisted law enforcement in their investigation of her .
More recently , he has emerged as a proponent of the debunked election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Powell .
He said last month he ’ d “ funded a team of hackers and cyber-sleuths , other people with odd skills ” to look into the claims .
Friday ’ s meeting was a highly charged example of a recurring phenomenon : Trump ’ s outside advisers raising their voices in anger at White House aides , accusing them of disloyalty and weakness , while Trump looks on .
Meanwhile , former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said Sunday night that he has also advised Trump to appoint special counsels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to investigate matters relating to Biden ’ s son , Hunter .
“ As I strongly recommended to the President , we need a special counsel named immediately — a special prosecutor just on election fraud and voter fraud , they ’ re two different things — election fraud and voter fraud — you need to do that immediately , ” Bannon said during a livestream with conservative pastors on Sunday night .
“ In addition , he must announce a special prosecutor , name a special prosecutor to look at the Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest that the former White House chief strategist is once again advising the President , even as he is under federal indictment and could be under consideration for a presidential pardon .
On the livestream , Bannon also said he does not believe Trump will attend Biden ’ s inauguration and that Trump “ will never concede.
” “ He is not going to back down .
He will never concede .
And I will tell you in the small chance we don ’ t win this , he will never sit on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as he should not .
This is an illegal effort that ’ s going on , ” Bannon said .
A day later , Bannon spoke on his own program , “ War Room , ” with Navarro , the trade adviser who officials say Trump is consulting frequently on his election fraud claims .
Navarro said he ’ d been personally phoning lawmakers in six states where Trump and his team still hope to overturn the results .
“ There are a lot of traditional Republicans who don ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can ’ t explain what ’ s going on in these state legislators except to say they don ’ t embrace economic nationalism and they ’ ve turned their back on the President , ” Navarro said .
On Monday , the split between the President ’ s official set of advisers and the informal group currently in his ear exploded into clear view .
Speaking during a news conference at the Justice Department , Attorney General William Barr roundly pushed back against the President ’ s calls in recent days for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters ’ requests to consider seizing voting machines .
Both are ideas floated by Powell and others who have spoken to the President in recent days .
• Trump meets with GOP allies to again push election claims • GOP lawmakers who downplayed virus slammed for getting shot • After 843 days in hiding , couple emerges from church basement “ I see no basis for seizure of machines by the federal government , ” Barr said at his news conference .
If he thought there was a need for a special counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would have already appointed one .
“ There is fraud , unfortunately , in most elections .
I think we ’ re too tolerant of it , ” he said .
But in this election , Barr said , he stands by the finding that there was no systemic or broad-based fraud , a finding the President refuses to admit .

By Kevin Liptak and Jeremy Diamond | CNN
President Donald Trump has turned to a fringe group of advisers peddling increasingly dubious tactics to overturn the results of the election, creating a dire situation that multiple senior officials and people close to the President say has led to new levels of uncertainty at how Trump will resist the coming end to his tenure.
“No one is sure where this is heading,” one official said on Monday. “He’s still the President for another month.”
Conspiracist lawyer Sidney Powell, disgraced former national security adviser Michael Flynn, onetime chief strategist Steve Bannon, hawkish trade adviser Peter Navarro and the eccentric founder of the retail website Overstock have all recently found themselves in the Oval Office or on the telephone advising Trump on new last-ditch efforts to reverse his loss.
That’s in addition to Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, who has been feeding the President’s conspiracy theories for weeks and who, along with Powell, was seen again at the White House on Monday.
In the process, Trump has mostly shunned those working inside the government, leading to growing fears of how he may lash out in the four weeks he has remaining in the White House — or at how he may resist leaving the building come Inauguration Day.
Through it all, Trump has mostly abandoned the day-to-day running of government. At a Cabinet meeting last week, he spent much of the time complaining about his suspicions of voter fraud, according to a person familiar with the matter, leaving some attendees puzzled at the point of the gathering.
Indeed, Trump has spent his days singularly focused on the election results.
“We won this election in a landslide,” Trump claimed falsely during a Monday call to the activist Charlie Kirk, who broadcast the conversation using a microphone so attendees at a gathering of young conservatives in West Palm Beach, Florida, could all hear.
“The problem is we need a party that’s going to fight and we have some great congressmen and women that are doing it and we have others, some great fighters,” Trump went on. “But we won this in a landslide, they know it, and we need backing from, like, the Justice Department, and other people finally have to step up.”
Sources close to the President describe particular worry among his advisers over what Powell — who only three weeks ago was unceremoniously dumped from his official legal team — may convince him to do in the coming days.
Trump’s idea, which he floated in a heated Friday meeting at the White House, is for Powell to essentially embed as a special counsel inside the White House Counsel’s Office, a proposal the counsel’s office has not looked kindly at.
“There’s high levels of concern with anything involving Sidney Powell,” one source close to the President said. “The lawyers are very worried.”
Trump’s annual holiday trip to his Mar-a-Lago resort, where he will be surrounded by sycophants and devotees encouraging him to fight on, will likely only add grist to his election fraud fantasies, the official said.
The trip to Florida is set to begin later this week, though Trump’s unpredictability has led some advisers to wonder whether it will remain on the schedule. If he does go, officials say it’s likely he will take meetings, in person and via phone, that his official advisers aren’t aware of.
“It’s scary,” said another administration official, who added that Trump appears “obsessed” with far-flung scenarios to overturn the election results that are seemingly untenable, both feasibly and politically.
One of those includes an effort led by Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama to challenge President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory when Congress meets to formally ratify it on January 6. Trump met with Brooks and a number of other conservative House lawmakers at the White House on Monday for a discussion focused on the President’s baseless claims and conspiracy theories that the election was stolen from him, participants said.
The lawmakers emerged confident that there was a contingent of House and Senate Republicans who would join the effort and prompt a marathon debate on the floor on January 6 that would spill into the next day.
“I believe we have multiple senators and the question is not if but how many,” Brooks said, something that would defy the wishes of Senate Republican leaders, who are eager to move on and are urging senators not to participate since doing so could force them to cast a politically toxic vote against Trump.
In his moments of deepest denial, Trump has told some advisers that he will refuse to leave the White House on Inauguration Day, only to be walked down from that ledge.
The possibility has alarmed some aides, though few believe Trump will actually follow through. How such an episode might unfold isn’t clear, and federal law enforcement agencies have been loath to discuss the possibility.
Heated Oval Office meeting
After news emerged of a heated Oval Office meeting Friday pitting Powell and Flynn against White House officials, including chief of staff Mark Meadows and White House counsel Pat Cipollone, Powell was seen exiting the executive mansion again on Sunday.
She was also seen at the White House on Monday, though it wasn’t clear with whom she was planning to meet. She has been promoting an executive order allowing the federal government to seize voting machines in order to inspect them for fraud, a proposition that administration officials including acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf have warned is outside their authority.
Powell attended Friday’s meeting alongside Flynn, her client who Trump pardoned last month after he had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Flynn had suggested in a television interview last week that Trump could use the military to rerun the election in certain states, an idea that again arose during Friday’s meeting.
They were joined by Patrick Byrne, the founder of Overstock.com, who tweeted afterward that he was disappointed in how Trump is being served by his White House team.
“President Trump is being terribly served by his advisers. They want him to lose and are lying to him. He is surrounding by mendacious mediocrities,” Byrne wrote, adding later: “For the first time in my life I feel sorry for Donald Trump. He is standing up to his waist in snakes. Trust Rudy and Sidney only.”
Byrne, who resigned from Overstock in 2019 after his comments about the “deep state” triggered a steep decline in the company’s stock price, did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. He has previously admitted in a series of interviews that he had an intimate relationship with accused Russian agent Maria Butina, which lasted from 2015 to 2018, and ultimately assisted law enforcement in their investigation of her.
More recently, he has emerged as a proponent of the debunked election fraud claims heralded by the President and Powell. He said last month he’d “funded a team of hackers and cyber-sleuths, other people with odd skills” to look into the claims.
Friday’s meeting was a highly charged example of a recurring phenomenon: Trump’s outside advisers raising their voices in anger at White House aides, accusing them of disloyalty and weakness, while Trump looks on.
Bannon’s advice
Meanwhile, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said Sunday night that he has also advised Trump to appoint special counsels to investigate allegations of election fraud and to investigate matters relating to Biden’s son, Hunter.
“As I strongly recommended to the President, we need a special counsel named immediately — a special prosecutor just on election fraud and voter fraud, they’re two different things — election fraud and voter fraud — you need to do that immediately,” Bannon said during a livestream with conservative pastors on Sunday night. “In addition, he must announce a special prosecutor, name a special prosecutor to look at the Biden hard drive.”
Bannon’s comments suggest that the former White House chief strategist is once again advising the President, even as he is under federal indictment and could be under consideration for a presidential pardon.
On the livestream, Bannon also said he does not believe Trump will attend Biden’s inauguration and that Trump “will never concede.”
“He is not going to back down. He will never concede. And I will tell you in the small chance we don’t win this, he will never sit on that stage and participate in that inauguration, as he should not. This is an illegal effort that’s going on,” Bannon said.
A day later, Bannon spoke on his own program, “War Room,” with Navarro, the trade adviser who officials say Trump is consulting frequently on his election fraud claims.
Navarro said he’d been personally phoning lawmakers in six states where Trump and his team still hope to overturn the results.
“There are a lot of traditional Republicans who don’t want to get on the Trump train. I can’t explain what’s going on in these state legislators except to say they don’t embrace economic nationalism and they’ve turned their back on the President,” Navarro said.
On Monday, the split between the President’s official set of advisers and the informal group currently in his ear exploded into clear view.
Speaking during a news conference at the Justice Department, Attorney General William Barr roundly pushed back against the President’s calls in recent days for a special counsel on voting or his supporters’ requests to consider seizing voting machines. Both are ideas floated by Powell and others who have spoken to the President in recent days.
“I see no basis for seizure of machines by the federal government,” Barr said at his news conference. If he thought there was a need for a special counsel on voting fraud, Barr said, he would have already appointed one.
“There is fraud, unfortunately, in most elections. I think we’re too tolerant of it,” he said. But in this election, Barr said, he stands by the finding that there was no systemic or broad-based fraud, a finding the President refuses to admit.


mercurynews--2020-12-22--West Point hit with worst cheating scandal in decades

The US Military Academy at West Point is dealing with the fallout from a major cheating incident involving 73 cadets , the largest cheating episode at the elite school since 1976 .
Seventy-two of the cadets accused of breaking the academy ’ s famed honor code are first-year cadets , referred to as the “ plebe year , ” according to the academy .
One student is a sophomore .
All of them are accused of cheating on a calculus exam in May , when West Point had shifted to virtual classes due to the coronavirus pandemic .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The cheating accusations were first reported by USA Today .
“ The honor process is working as expected and cadets will be held accountable for breaking the code , ” Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy said in a statement to CNN .
“ West Point honor code and character development program remains strong despite remote learning and the challenges brought by the pandemic , ” Lt. Col. Christopher Ophardt , a spokesman for West Point , told CNN in a statement .
Evidence of cheating was discovered by instructors who found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exams , according to Ophardt .
Two of the cases were dropped for lack of evidence and four other cadets resigned from the military academy .
The remaining 67 students await a decision on their fate .
“ Cadets are being held accountable for breaking the code , ” Ophardt said .
“ While disappointing , the Honor System is working , and these 67 remaining cases will be held accountable for their actions.
” A total of 59 cadets admitted to cheating on the exam , the academy said , with 55 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s “ willful admissions ” process , a rehabilitation program that involves after-hours classes , discussions on ethics and the honor code , and being on probation for the rest of the year .
Four of the students who admitted to cheating did not qualify for the rehabilitation process , according to the academy , and will face a cadet advisory board composed of fellow students , who will make a recommendation as to their fate , ranging from probation to expulsion .
The academy ’ s superintendent , Lt. Gen. Darryl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as to what is to happen to them .
• First female Marine drill instructors graduate from an integrated course at San Diego recruit depot • Navy ends search and rescue operation for sailor overboard the USS Roosevelt A full investigative hearing is being conducted for the eight cadets who did not admit to cheating , the academy said .
West Point has been rocked by major cheating scandals before , notably in 1951 and in 1976 , the latter of which involved 152 cadets .
Many of the cadets from the 1976 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations and punishments were handled .

By Ryan Browne | CNN
The US Military Academy at West Point is dealing with the fallout from a major cheating incident involving 73 cadets, the largest cheating episode at the elite school since 1976.
Seventy-two of the cadets accused of breaking the academy’s famed honor code are first-year cadets, referred to as the “plebe year,” according to the academy. One student is a sophomore. All of them are accused of cheating on a calculus exam in May, when West Point had shifted to virtual classes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
There are about 1,200 students in the first-year class.
‘The honor process’
The cheating accusations were first reported by USA Today.
“The honor process is working as expected and cadets will be held accountable for breaking the code,” Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy said in a statement to CNN.
“West Point honor code and character development program remains strong despite remote learning and the challenges brought by the pandemic,” Lt. Col. Christopher Ophardt, a spokesman for West Point, told CNN in a statement.
Evidence of cheating was discovered by instructors who found “irregularities” while grading the calculus exams, according to Ophardt.
Two of the cases were dropped for lack of evidence and four other cadets resigned from the military academy. The remaining 67 students await a decision on their fate.
“Cadets are being held accountable for breaking the code,” Ophardt said. “While disappointing, the Honor System is working, and these 67 remaining cases will be held accountable for their actions.”
Major cheating scandals
A total of 59 cadets admitted to cheating on the exam, the academy said, with 55 of those now enrolled in the academy’s “willful admissions” process, a rehabilitation program that involves after-hours classes, discussions on ethics and the honor code, and being on probation for the rest of the year.
Four of the students who admitted to cheating did not qualify for the rehabilitation process, according to the academy, and will face a cadet advisory board composed of fellow students, who will make a recommendation as to their fate, ranging from probation to expulsion.
The academy’s superintendent, Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, will make a final determination as to what is to happen to them.
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Marine charged with sexual assault of missing 14-year-old girl found in Camp Pendleton barracks Education | Niger’s junta gains the upper hand over the regional bloc threatening military force, analysts say A full investigative hearing is being conducted for the eight cadets who did not admit to cheating, the academy said.
West Point has been rocked by major cheating scandals before, notably in 1951 and in 1976, the latter of which involved 152 cadets.
Many of the cadets from the 1976 incident were readmitted because of how the investigations and punishments were handled.