mercurynews--2020-12-17--What to expect from 49ers’ George Kittle as he returns to practice

George Kittle ’ s return to practice Wednesday six weeks after a foot fracture started a late-season comeback with the San Francisco 49ers .
It did not , however , guarantee a return this season .
Kittle ’ s comeback bid could be scrapped if the 49ers ( 5-8 ) lose to the host Dallas Cowboys ( 4-9 ) on Sunday , coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged .
“ I would think about it a lot differently , ” Shanahan said Wednesday by video conference from Glendale , Arizona , where the 49ers have been staying since Santa Clara County ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Not saying a for-sure no , but if I thought it would help him and help our team , definitely , ” Shanahan added .
Kittle has missed the past five games , as well as Week 2 and Week 3 because of a knee sprain .
He has 37 receptions for 474 yards and two touchdowns this season , after signing an NFL record contract for a tight end Shanahan said there are more factors than if the 49ers make the playoffs .
“ Obviously that ’ s the No .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But if George was risking anything , then it ’ d be an easy decision and I wouldn ’ t even think about it .
If he could 100 percent come back and be normal , we ’ d talk about it and figure what ’ s best for him and the team.
” Opening Kittle ’ s practice window allows the 49ers to activate him off injured Reserve any time in the ensuing three weeks .
Quarterback Nick Mullens , who will make his sixth consecutive start on Sunday , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any capacity on the practice field this week .
“ Even just taking his talent and playmaking ability aside , just his energy and smile , George is always bringing juice , ” Mullens said .
“ People know anytime he gets the ball in his hands , a big play is about to happen.
” The 49ers ’ other tight ends haven ’ t come close to matching Kittle ’ s production or presence .
Jordan Reed has 24 catches for 213 yards and three touchdowns ; Ross Dwelley 15-196-1 ; and @ @ @ @ @

George Kittle’s return to practice Wednesday six weeks after a foot fracture started a late-season comeback with the San Francisco 49ers.
It did not, however, guarantee a return this season.
Kittle’s comeback bid could be scrapped if the 49ers (5-8) lose to the host Dallas Cowboys (4-9) on Sunday, coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged.
“I would think about it a lot differently,” Shanahan said Wednesday by video conference from Glendale, Arizona, where the 49ers have been staying since Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 restrictions two weeks ago.
“Not saying a for-sure no, but if I thought it would help him and help our team, definitely,” Shanahan added.
Kittle has missed the past five games, as well as Week 2 and Week 3 because of a knee sprain. He has 37 receptions for 474 yards and two touchdowns this season, after signing an NFL record contract for a tight end
Shanahan said there are more factors than if the 49ers make the playoffs.
“Obviously that’s the No. 1 thing,” Shanahan added. “But if George was risking anything, then it’d be an easy decision and I wouldn’t even think about it. If he could 100 percent come back and be normal, we’d talk about it and figure what’s best for him and the team.”
Opening Kittle’s practice window allows the 49ers to activate him off injured Reserve any time in the ensuing three weeks.
Quarterback Nick Mullens, who will make his sixth consecutive start on Sunday, said he is excited to see Kittle in any capacity on the practice field this week.
“Even just taking his talent and playmaking ability aside, just his energy and smile, George is always bringing juice,” Mullens said. “People know anytime he gets the ball in his hands, a big play is about to happen.”
The 49ers’ other tight ends haven’t come close to matching Kittle’s production or presence. Jordan Reed has 24 catches for 213 yards and three touchdowns; Ross Dwelley 15-196-1; and, Charlie Woerner 2-33-0.


mercurynews--2020-12-17--Former Bay Area executive admits to $26 million Ponzi scheme

A former Novato executive pleaded guilty Wednesday in what authorities called a Ponzi scheme to embezzle tens of millions of dollars from hundreds of investors .
Lewis Wallach , 64 , of Encino admitted to two felony counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud during a hearing held online by the U.S. District Court of Northern California .
The federal government charged Wallach on Sept. 29 after a months-long investigation following the death of his business associate , Kenneth Casey .
The probe found that Wallach and Casey defrauded as many as 1,300 people who invested in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Professional Financial Investors Inc. , or PFI , and its associated fund , Professional Investors Security Fund Inc. , or PISF .
Casey founded the companies in the 1980s and died of a heart attack in May .
His death prompted the beginning of the federal investigation .
Wallach was PFI ’ s president and chief executive from 1998 until this summer .
He admitted to embezzling $ 26 million from a PFI account and using the money to buy personal luxuries such as a Malibu vacation home formerly owned by actress Judy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took money without the company ’ s permission to pay for personal real estate investments , pay off credit cards and pay the mortgage of his home , according to prosecutors .
Wallach admitted to being aware that the companies were not profitable as soon as the mid-2000s , but continued to obtain properties throughout Marin and Sonoma counties and assure investors of their financial stability up until Casey ’ s death .
The companies took on new investors whose payments were used to pay interest to existing investors .
The U.S. Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentenced to eight years in federal prison as part of a plea deal for his cooperation in the ongoing investigation .
Wallach would pay at least $ 27.6 million in restitution under the agreement and surrender any funds and property he illegally obtained .
Under the charges , Wallach could face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison , a maximum fine of $ 250,000 , a maximum of three years supervised release , a mandatory special assessment of $ 100 and restitution payments determined by the court .
The sentencing date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing is set for March 24 .
Before Wallach entered his plea , victims told the court how they had lost all their retirement savings ; how investors who relied on the interest payments can not afford their medicine or rent payments now ; and how the crimes have caused them emotional and financial distress .
Lisa de Mondesir said she , her elderly mother and her daughter invested in the company this year when Wallach assured her of the company ’ s strong financial standing .
She and two other investors called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentence than eight years .
De Mondesir questioned why Wallach is not being charged with other crimes such as embezzlement , especially when more than a thousand people will continue to suffer for many years after his sentence will end .
“ There is no escape from our incarceration , if you will , ” she said .
“ It does not feel like justice is well served for such a light sentence to be applied .
And I share with many others that it ’ s a bit of cold comfort that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope for his own soul ’ s sake that he is.
” Peter Bagatelos of San Mateo County said he and his wife expect to lose retirement savings they had built up for decades .
Both in their 70s , they do not expect to recover it before they die , Bagatelos said , although investors hope to recoup some of their losses through the companies ’ ongoing bankruptcy case .
“ The word ‘ betrayal ’ hits home very strongly because I did consider Ken and Lewis to be friends , trusted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maxine Chesney said the word “ betrayal ” also came to her mind during Bagatelos ’ testimony .
Hilary Winslow said she lost the entire retirement account she had been building for 30 years .
• Former UC researcher , a Chinese national charged with visa fraud , gets a trial date in federal court • California DA investigating at least $ 5 million in suspected unemployment fraud by local inmates • Former San Mateo County Sheriff ’ s Activities League director arrested on suspicion of embezzlement • One partner attempted bizarre underwater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Let me assure you , my life will change dramatically because of this loss , because of this fraud , ” Winslow said .
“ And personally I consider Lewis Wallach to be a financial rapist.
” Wallach initially pleaded not guilty in federal court on Sept. 30 .
Later that day , Wallach ’ s attorney , Ed Swanson , said Wallach would plead guilty and had been cooperating with federal investigators .
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lloyd Farnham said that the investigation is ongoing and that Wallach has been providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He urged the court to set a sentencing date beyond March so that Wallach can continue his cooperation .
“ I think it would be best for the government and the court to have more information and have sentencing at a later date but with a status date in March , ” Farnham said .

A former Novato executive pleaded guilty Wednesday in what authorities called a Ponzi scheme to embezzle tens of millions of dollars from hundreds of investors.
Lewis Wallach, 64, of Encino admitted to two felony counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud during a hearing held online by the U.S. District Court of Northern California.
The federal government charged Wallach on Sept. 29 after a months-long investigation following the death of his business associate, Kenneth Casey. The probe found that Wallach and Casey defrauded as many as 1,300 people who invested in their Novato real estate investment companies, Professional Financial Investors Inc., or PFI, and its associated fund, Professional Investors Security Fund Inc., or PISF.
Casey founded the companies in the 1980s and died of a heart attack in May. His death prompted the beginning of the federal investigation.
Wallach was PFI’s president and chief executive from 1998 until this summer. He admitted to embezzling $26 million from a PFI account and using the money to buy personal luxuries such as a Malibu vacation home formerly owned by actress Judy Garland and luxury cars.
Wallach also took money without the company’s permission to pay for personal real estate investments, pay off credit cards and pay the mortgage of his home, according to prosecutors.
Wallach admitted to being aware that the companies were not profitable as soon as the mid-2000s, but continued to obtain properties throughout Marin and Sonoma counties and assure investors of their financial stability up until Casey’s death. The companies took on new investors whose payments were used to pay interest to existing investors.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is recommending Wallach be sentenced to eight years in federal prison as part of a plea deal for his cooperation in the ongoing investigation. Wallach would pay at least $27.6 million in restitution under the agreement and surrender any funds and property he illegally obtained.
Under the charges, Wallach could face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum of three years supervised release, a mandatory special assessment of $100 and restitution payments determined by the court.
The sentencing date has not been scheduled. A status hearing is set for March 24.
Before Wallach entered his plea, victims told the court how they had lost all their retirement savings; how investors who relied on the interest payments cannot afford their medicine or rent payments now; and how the crimes have caused them emotional and financial distress.
Lisa de Mondesir said she, her elderly mother and her daughter invested in the company this year when Wallach assured her of the company’s strong financial standing. She and two other investors called on the judge to impose a longer sentence than eight years.
De Mondesir questioned why Wallach is not being charged with other crimes such as embezzlement, especially when more than a thousand people will continue to suffer for many years after his sentence will end.
“There is no escape from our incarceration, if you will,” she said. “It does not feel like justice is well served for such a light sentence to be applied. And I share with many others that it’s a bit of cold comfort that Mr. Wallach might be remorseful. I hope for his own soul’s sake that he is.”
Peter Bagatelos of San Mateo County said he and his wife expect to lose retirement savings they had built up for decades. Both in their 70s, they do not expect to recover it before they die, Bagatelos said, although investors hope to recoup some of their losses through the companies’ ongoing bankruptcy case.
“The word ‘betrayal’ hits home very strongly because I did consider Ken and Lewis to be friends, trusted friends,” Bagatelos said.
Judge Maxine Chesney said the word “betrayal” also came to her mind during Bagatelos’ testimony.
Hilary Winslow said she lost the entire retirement account she had been building for 30 years.
Related Articles Business | Sextortion plot led teen to suicide. 2 Nigerians arrive in U.S. to face charges
Sextortion plot led teen to suicide. 2 Nigerians arrive in U.S. to face charges Business | FTX Founder Bankman-Fried, who had been living in Palo Alto, jailed in NYC
FTX Founder Bankman-Fried, who had been living in Palo Alto, jailed in NYC Business | How multilevel marketing schemes prey on vulnerable women, according to new book
How multilevel marketing schemes prey on vulnerable women, according to new book Business | San Jose preservationists focus on “endangered eight” historic buildings
San Jose preservationists focus on “endangered eight” historic buildings Business | Former Sacramento Kings player gets 10 years in prison for NBA benefit fraud “Let me assure you, my life will change dramatically because of this loss, because of this fraud,” Winslow said. “And personally I consider Lewis Wallach to be a financial rapist.”
Wallach initially pleaded not guilty in federal court on Sept. 30. Later that day, Wallach’s attorney, Ed Swanson, said Wallach would plead guilty and had been cooperating with federal investigators.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lloyd Farnham said that the investigation is ongoing and that Wallach has been providing information and working to turn over assets. He urged the court to set a sentencing date beyond March so that Wallach can continue his cooperation.
“I think it would be best for the government and the court to have more information and have sentencing at a later date but with a status date in March,” Farnham said.


mercurynews--2020-12-17--Fatal fire in Santa Cruz kills one, injures two

SANTA CRUZ – A fatal fire broke out Tuesday at 265 Water St. , killing one person and injuring two more .
The structure was previously used as a recovery center , County Spokesman Jason Hoppin said .
However , at the time of the fire , the building was boarded up .
The facility had been unused since the start of the pandemic .
An initial report from the city stated the building was a part of the neighboring county jail .
However , the Santa Cruz County Sheriff ’ s Office clarified the confusion .
The recovery center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Jail , Santa Cruz County Sheriff ’ s Office Spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said .
Instead , the recovery center is owned by the county .
The jail was not affected by the fire .
The Santa Cruz Fire Department responded to the fire at about 2 a.m. , according to Battalion Chief Josh Coleman .
When first responders arrived , there was a fire in the back of the building .
Person exited and alerted responders that someone was inside .
First responders entered the building but were forced to back out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coleman said .
A backup crew arrived with a hose and the firefighters re-entered the building .
However , conditions worsened and forced crews to transition to defensive tactics , which limit firefighters to try and extinguish the fire from the outside only .
Several people were inside the building , according to Hoppin , which led to the fatality and injuries .
The two injured persons were one citizen and one firefighter .
The victim was pronounced dead on the scene .
County officials have not released information on the deceased person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until they identify the next of kin .
The injured fireman was transported to Dominican Hospital .
• Woman dies trying to take photo at edge of 262-foot cliff • Navy ends search and rescue operation for sailor overboard the USS Roosevelt The fire is still under investigation and investigators have not yet determined the cause , Coleman said .
The westbound side of Water Street was closed during the investigation .
Investigators continue to exercise caution as the integrity of the building is compromised , Coleman continued .
“ Safety is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run into the building , right now , ” Hoppin said .
“ It ’ s still considered an active fire and the damage is pretty extensive , so they ’ re going to have to be cautious before entering the building.
” The building was deemed a total loss and will likely be demolished , according to Coleman .

SANTA CRUZ – A fatal fire broke out Tuesday at 265 Water St., killing one person and injuring two more.
The structure was previously used as a recovery center, County Spokesman Jason Hoppin said. However, at the time of the fire, the building was boarded up. The facility had been unused since the start of the pandemic.
An initial report from the city stated the building was a part of the neighboring county jail. However, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office clarified the confusion.
The recovery center is not part of the Santa Cruz County Jail, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said. Instead, the recovery center is owned by the county. The jail was not affected by the fire.
The Santa Cruz Fire Department responded to the fire at about 2 a.m., according to Battalion Chief Josh Coleman. When first responders arrived, there was a fire in the back of the building. Person exited and alerted responders that someone was inside.
First responders entered the building but were forced to back out due to fire heat and smoke, Coleman said. A backup crew arrived with a hose and the firefighters re-entered the building.
However, conditions worsened and forced crews to transition to defensive tactics, which limit firefighters to try and extinguish the fire from the outside only.
Several people were inside the building, according to Hoppin, which led to the fatality and injuries. The two injured persons were one citizen and one firefighter.
The victim was pronounced dead on the scene. County officials have not released information on the deceased person and do not plan to do so until they identify the next of kin. The injured fireman was transported to Dominican Hospital.
Related Articles California News | Sailboat stays stuck at Stinson Beach as owner works to remove it
Sailboat stays stuck at Stinson Beach as owner works to remove it California News | Pedestrian hit and killed by train Tuesday in Gilroy
Pedestrian hit and killed by train Tuesday in Gilroy California News | Southern California football legend drowns in Oregon river
Southern California football legend drowns in Oregon river California News | Young woman killed in rope swing accident at Folsom Lake
Young woman killed in rope swing accident at Folsom Lake California News | Private jet came ‘within 100 feet’ of colliding with Southwest plane at California airport, NTSB says The fire is still under investigation and investigators have not yet determined the cause, Coleman said. The westbound side of Water Street was closed during the investigation. Investigators continue to exercise caution as the integrity of the building is compromised, Coleman continued.
“Safety is an issue. They can’t just run into the building, right now,” Hoppin said. “It’s still considered an active fire and the damage is pretty extensive, so they’re going to have to be cautious before entering the building.”
The building was deemed a total loss and will likely be demolished, according to Coleman.


mercurynews--2020-12-17--Manjoo: All I needed to survive the COVID lockdown was sourdough

For a few innocent weeks about 10,000 years ago , at the dawn of the quarantine era of 2020 , my Instagram feed and perhaps yours , too , was suddenly overrun with images of impossibly lovely loaves of homemade bread .
It was one of the first social-media show-off fads of the pandemic ; with everyone stuck at home , cut off from gym mirrors and airplane wings at sunset , bread-making virtuosity emerged in certain circles as the hottest new way to show everyone online how much better you were than everyone else .
Naturally , I jumped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the precise moment my sourdough FOMO ( fear of missing out ) kicked in .
I was at the supermarket on one of those blissful last days of the Before Times , and I ’ d been amused at the fevered run on toilet paper ( one word , folks : bidets ! )
.
Then I rounded the corner into the baking aisle and I went cold .
The endless rows of empty shelves made the lockdown real to me : If we were facing a shortage of flour — you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — should we fear for the rest of civilization , too ?
Right there , in the empty aisle , I pulled out my phone and found a wholesaler in New York selling flour in 50-pound bags meant for bakeries .
I could get one delivered to my house in California , along with a few smaller bags of specialized bread flours , for about $ 100 , which seemed both outrageous and totally reasonable .
A couple weeks later , this ludicrous heave of flour dropped onto my doorstep , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baguettes , challah and burger buns , but mostly , and most therapeutically , loaves and loaves of sourdough .
It has been revelatory .
On Instagram , shots of rustic boules and rubber-banded Mason jars of fermenting starter have long since grown passé , but in my kitchen , sourdough has become an unexpected savior — a hobby , a challenge , an escape , a deceptively complex puzzle , and the deepest of comforts amid so much misery and stress .
Through political strife and economic uncertainty , wildfires and toxic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cough and sneeze , sourdough has been the duct tape holding together the fraying last threads of my sanity .
I flew through the first 50-pound bag in about three months ; now I ’ m elbow-deep into the second .
For me , the restorative magic of sourdough begins and ends with its tactility .
Unlike work , school , friendships and so much else in lockdown , the blessing of sourdough is that it lives completely apart from digital screens .
Sourdough is a real thing in the real world — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a jiggly mass in a bowl , a fragile loaf to be gently scored and coaxed into the oven , then sliced and eaten .
In the very beginning , one attempts to make sourdough from a recipe , but that inevitably proves futile ; explaining how to make sourdough is like explaining how to dunk a basketball — you can describe the process to a T , but you ’ ll get nowhere without taking a shot for yourself .
Sourdough then becomes a pursuit of feel and touch , of timing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approaching unattainable perfection .
There is much cliché here , I ’ ll grant you .
The office-bound digital worker who discovers new purpose in an antiquated pastime is a stock character in everyone ’ s social feed .
And sourdough is not my first domestic enthusiasm .
I meditate , I pickle , I have even made my own cheese and churned my own butter .
And yet , banal as this sort of digital-detox hobbyism has become , I still believe there is much to recommend it — even more so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Best of all , sourdough fits seamlessly into the work-from-home life .
Bread is made over time , in snippets .
You can take breaks between emails to fold your dough .
You can attend a meeting , shape your boules , then attend another while the dough rests .
As your colleague drones on about this or that office quandary , you can take in the warm aroma of freshly baking bread , and when you take a bite , you might be transported , for just a moment , far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a happier time in a more serene place .
Sourdough will not solve all your problems ; the earth is still ailing , the country remains an ungovernable mess and pessimism still feels more appropriate than optimism .
But we have bread , and that ’ s not nothing ; sometimes , it might even be enough .

For a few innocent weeks about 10,000 years ago, at the dawn of the quarantine era of 2020, my Instagram feed and perhaps yours, too, was suddenly overrun with images of impossibly lovely loaves of homemade bread.
It was one of the first social-media show-off fads of the pandemic; with everyone stuck at home, cut off from gym mirrors and airplane wings at sunset, bread-making virtuosity emerged in certain circles as the hottest new way to show everyone online how much better you were than everyone else.
Naturally, I jumped on the bread wagon. I remember the precise moment my sourdough FOMO (fear of missing out) kicked in. I was at the supermarket on one of those blissful last days of the Before Times, and I’d been amused at the fevered run on toilet paper (one word, folks: bidets!). Then I rounded the corner into the baking aisle and I went cold. The endless rows of empty shelves made the lockdown real to me: If we were facing a shortage of flour — you know, wheat, the staff of life — should we fear for the rest of civilization, too?
Right there, in the empty aisle, I pulled out my phone and found a wholesaler in New York selling flour in 50-pound bags meant for bakeries. I could get one delivered to my house in California, along with a few smaller bags of specialized bread flours, for about $100, which seemed both outrageous and totally reasonable. A couple weeks later, this ludicrous heave of flour dropped onto my doorstep, and I’ve been baking ever since — baguettes, challah and burger buns, but mostly, and most therapeutically, loaves and loaves of sourdough.
It has been revelatory. On Instagram, shots of rustic boules and rubber-banded Mason jars of fermenting starter have long since grown passé, but in my kitchen, sourdough has become an unexpected savior — a hobby, a challenge, an escape, a deceptively complex puzzle, and the deepest of comforts amid so much misery and stress. Through political strife and economic uncertainty, wildfires and toxic air, through Zoom-schooling and every anxiety-provoking cough and sneeze, sourdough has been the duct tape holding together the fraying last threads of my sanity.
I flew through the first 50-pound bag in about three months; now I’m elbow-deep into the second.
For me, the restorative magic of sourdough begins and ends with its tactility. Unlike work, school, friendships and so much else in lockdown, the blessing of sourdough is that it lives completely apart from digital screens.
Sourdough is a real thing in the real world — some bubbly goop in a jar, a jiggly mass in a bowl, a fragile loaf to be gently scored and coaxed into the oven, then sliced and eaten. In the very beginning, one attempts to make sourdough from a recipe, but that inevitably proves futile; explaining how to make sourdough is like explaining how to dunk a basketball — you can describe the process to a T, but you’ll get nowhere without taking a shot for yourself. Sourdough then becomes a pursuit of feel and touch, of timing and accumulated intuition, of endless practice approaching unattainable perfection.
There is much cliché here, I’ll grant you. The office-bound digital worker who discovers new purpose in an antiquated pastime is a stock character in everyone’s social feed. And sourdough is not my first domestic enthusiasm. I meditate, I pickle, I have even made my own cheese and churned my own butter.
And yet, banal as this sort of digital-detox hobbyism has become, I still believe there is much to recommend it — even more so now that the sourdough craze has passed.
Best of all, sourdough fits seamlessly into the work-from-home life. Bread is made over time, in snippets. You can take breaks between emails to fold your dough. You can attend a meeting, shape your boules, then attend another while the dough rests. As your colleague drones on about this or that office quandary, you can take in the warm aroma of freshly baking bread, and when you take a bite, you might be transported, for just a moment, far away from this terrible year, to a happier time in a more serene place.
Sourdough will not solve all your problems; the earth is still ailing, the country remains an ungovernable mess and pessimism still feels more appropriate than optimism. But we have bread, and that’s not nothing; sometimes, it might even be enough.
Farhad Manjoo is a New York Times columnist.


mercurynews--2020-12-17--What we know about Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine and how it differs from Pfizer’s

Moderna ’ s coronavirus vaccine candidate is similar to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that was authorized and shipped out to the first Americans earlier this week .
But there are a few key differences .
Most importantly , Moderna ’ s vaccine can be stored in normal freezers and does not require a super-cold transportation network , making it more accessible for smaller facilities and local communities .
The US Food and Drug Administration ’ s vaccine advisory committee meets Thursday to review whether to recommend emergency use authorization for Moderna ’ s vaccine , with the FDA ’ s decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a look at what we know about the Moderna vaccine and how it compares to Pfizer ’ s .
While Pfizer is a pharmaceutical behemoth , Moderna — short for modified RNA — is a biotech company based in Cambridge , Massachusetts .
Established in 2010 , Moderna has never brought a product to market , or gotten any of its nine or so vaccine candidates approved for use by the FDA .
It had also never brought a product to phase three of a clinical trial previously .
The company ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the National Institutes of Health on a vaccine for another coronavirus , Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome ( MERS ) .
When Chinese researchers released the genomic sequence for the novel coronavirus in mid-January , they had a jump start .
The vaccine , called mRNA-1273 , had development help from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
The US Biomedical Advance Research and Development Authority , known as BARDA , supported late-stage clinical trials and has helped scale up manufacturing .
The FDA green-lit clinical trials of Moderna ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the gate .
Its advanced stage clinical trial started July 27 and it was the first government-funded Phase 3 clinical trial for a Covid-19 vaccine in the US .
The company applied to the FDA for emergency use authorization for the vaccine on November 30 .
The Moderna vaccine was effective in preventing Covid-19 cases in total and in limiting severe Covid-19 during the trial .
The vaccine ’ s efficacy against Covid-19 was 94.1 % , occurring at least 14 days after the second dose , according to a briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FDA .
In Moderna ’ s trial , 15,000 study participants were given a placebo , which is a shot of saline that has no effect .
Over several months , 185 of them developed Covid-19 , with 30 developing severe forms of the disease .
One of them died .
Another 15,000 participants were given the vaccine , and only 11 of them developed Covid-19 .
None of the 11 became severely ill .
The vaccine was effective across age groups , genders , racial and ethnic groups , and participants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of severe Covid-19 , according to the briefing document .
About 10 % of study participants were Black and 20 % were of Hispanic or Latino .
How does it work ?
Like Pfizer ’ s vaccine , Moderna ’ s delivers messenger RNA , or mRNA , which is a genetic recipe for making a piece of the spikes that sit atop the coronavirus .
Once injected , the body ’ s immune system makes antibodies to the spikes .
If a vaccinated person is later exposed to the coronavirus , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack the virus .
The Moderna vaccine in particular contains a synthetic mRNA that codes for a structure called the “ pre-fusion stabilized spike glycoprotein ” of the virus .
The vaccine also contains fatty materials called lipids , tromethamine , tromethamine hydrochloride , acetic acid , sodium acetate and sucrose .
How is Moderna ’ s vaccine different from Pfizer ’ s ?
The two vaccines are very similar , but they have a few key differences that make Moderna ’ s vaccine “ more flexible , ” as US Health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
Efficacy : Both Moderna ’ s and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have shown similar efficacy levels of near 95 % .
“ They appear to be roughly equivalent , ” said Dr. Paul Offit , a member of the FDA ’ s vaccine advisory committee , during an appearance on CNN ’ s “ New Day ” on Tuesday .
Structure : Both vaccines rely on mRNA , or messenger RNA , to work , although with slightly different structures and makeup .
“ Even though they ’ re both messenger RNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messenger RNA molecules , they have different so-called lipid delivery systems , meaning the sort of fatty droplet in which the messenger RNA is located , ” Offit said on Monday .
“ That ’ s why they have different storage and handling characteristics.
” Cold storage : Most importantly , Moderna ’ s vaccine does not need to be kept at super-cold temperatures , like Pfizer ’ s .
The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at about minus-75 degrees Celsius , about 50 degrees colder than any vaccine currently used in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in the refrigerator for only up to five days before it expires .
To accommodate that , the CDC created a complex set of handling and storage requirements known as the “ cold chain ” that included expensive ultra-cold freezers and lots of dry ice .
In contrast , Moderna ’ s vaccine can be kept at about minus-20 degrees Celsius , or about the temperature of a home freezer , according to Moncef Slaoui , the head of the US effort to develop a vaccine for Covid-19 .
Moderna ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refrigerator for 30 days before it expires .
“ So that ’ s more manageable and much more commonly available , ” Slaoui said Tuesday .
These differences suggest that Pfizer ’ s vaccine may be used more for major institutions with established infrastructure like hospitals , while Moderna ’ s may be more useful to smaller facilities like a local chain or pharmacist .
Dosage and timing : Moderna ’ s vaccine is administered as two 100-microgram doses given 28 days apart .
Pfizer ’ s vaccine is administered as two 30-microgram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : If authorized , the Moderna vaccine would be used in people 18 and older , while the Pfizer vaccine was authorized for people 16 and older .
The vaccine has a “ favorable ” safety profile , the briefing document to the FDA says , “ with no specific safety concerns identified ” that would prevent it from getting emergency authorization .
The most common adverse reactions to the vaccine have been injection site pain , fatigue , headache , muscle pain , joint pain and chills , according to the document @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Overall , “ the frequency of non-fatal serious adverse events was low and without meaningful imbalances ” between the group that received the vaccine and the group that received the placebo .
One study participant , 24-year-old Yasir Batalvi , told CNN he got a low-grade fever , fatigue and chills after getting the second shot of what he believed to be the real vaccine .
He was fine by the next morning .
Slaoui , the Operation Warp Speed chief scientific adviser , has said about 10-15 % of immunized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side effects.
” When will I be able to get it ?
The US initially purchased 100 million doses of Moderna ’ s vaccine , and last week agreed to buy 100 million more doses .
Moderna began manufacturing the first 100 million doses while clinical trials were getting underway , Health and Human Services said in a statement .
• California sets teachers , first responders for next vaccines The vaccine still has to be authorized first .
The FDA ’ s advisory committee meets Thursday to discuss emergency use authorization for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the committee to approve it by Friday .
If that happens , he said to expect shipments to begin 24 hours later in order for the vaccines to arrive at facilities by Monday morning .
There will be more than 6 million doses of Moderna vaccines shipped to more than 3,200 sites , far more than the 636 sites that Pfizer ’ s vaccines were shipped to .
From there , the vaccines will be administered in an order established by state and local authorities .
Vaccine advisers to the CDC recommended that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care facilities be first in line for any coronavirus vaccines that get emergency approval .
CNN Chief Medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta estimated that vaccines will be generally available by late spring or early summer .

Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine candidate is similar to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that was authorized and shipped out to the first Americans earlier this week.
But there are a few key differences. Most importantly, Moderna’s vaccine can be stored in normal freezers and does not require a super-cold transportation network, making it more accessible for smaller facilities and local communities.
The US Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory committee meets Thursday to review whether to recommend emergency use authorization for Moderna’s vaccine, with the FDA’s decision expected by Friday.
Here’s a look at what we know about the Moderna vaccine and how it compares to Pfizer’s.
What is Moderna?
While Pfizer is a pharmaceutical behemoth, Moderna — short for modified RNA — is a biotech company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Established in 2010, Moderna has never brought a product to market, or gotten any of its nine or so vaccine candidates approved for use by the FDA. It had also never brought a product to phase three of a clinical trial previously.
The company’s scientists had already been collaborating with researchers from the National Institutes of Health on a vaccine for another coronavirus, Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). When Chinese researchers released the genomic sequence for the novel coronavirus in mid-January, they had a jump start.
The vaccine, called mRNA-1273, had development help from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The US Biomedical Advance Research and Development Authority, known as BARDA, supported late-stage clinical trials and has helped scale up manufacturing.
The FDA green-lit clinical trials of Moderna’s vaccine on March 3, the first out of the gate. Its advanced stage clinical trial started July 27 and it was the first government-funded Phase 3 clinical trial for a Covid-19 vaccine in the US. The company applied to the FDA for emergency use authorization for the vaccine on November 30.
Does the vaccine work?
The Moderna vaccine was effective in preventing Covid-19 cases in total and in limiting severe Covid-19 during the trial.
The vaccine’s efficacy against Covid-19 was 94.1%, occurring at least 14 days after the second dose, according to a briefing document released by an advisory committee to the FDA.
In Moderna’s trial, 15,000 study participants were given a placebo, which is a shot of saline that has no effect. Over several months, 185 of them developed Covid-19, with 30 developing severe forms of the disease. One of them died.
Another 15,000 participants were given the vaccine, and only 11 of them developed Covid-19. None of the 11 became severely ill.
The vaccine was effective across age groups, genders, racial and ethnic groups, and participants with medical comorbidities associated with high risk of severe Covid-19, according to the briefing document. About 10% of study participants were Black and 20% were of Hispanic or Latino.
How does it work?
Like Pfizer’s vaccine, Moderna’s delivers messenger RNA, or mRNA, which is a genetic recipe for making a piece of the spikes that sit atop the coronavirus. Once injected, the body’s immune system makes antibodies to the spikes. If a vaccinated person is later exposed to the coronavirus, those antibodies should stand at the ready to attack the virus.
The Moderna vaccine in particular contains a synthetic mRNA that codes for a structure called the “pre-fusion stabilized spike glycoprotein” of the virus.
The vaccine also contains fatty materials called lipids, tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate and sucrose.
[vemba-video id=”health/2020/12/16/moderna-pfizer-vaccine-comparison-gupta-sot-ac360-vpx.cnn”]
How is Moderna’s vaccine different from Pfizer’s?
The two vaccines are very similar, but they have a few key differences that make Moderna’s vaccine “more flexible,” as US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said last month.
Efficacy: Both Moderna’s and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have shown similar efficacy levels of near 95%.
“They appear to be roughly equivalent,” said Dr. Paul Offit, a member of the FDA’s vaccine advisory committee, during an appearance on CNN’s “New Day” on Tuesday.
Structure: Both vaccines rely on mRNA, or messenger RNA, to work, although with slightly different structures and makeup.
“Even though they’re both messenger RNA vaccines, they’re really different messenger RNA molecules, they have different so-called lipid delivery systems, meaning the sort of fatty droplet in which the messenger RNA is located,” Offit said on Monday. “That’s why they have different storage and handling characteristics.”
Cold storage: Most importantly, Moderna’s vaccine does not need to be kept at super-cold temperatures, like Pfizer’s.
The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at about minus-75 degrees Celsius, about 50 degrees colder than any vaccine currently used in the US. The vaccine can be put in the refrigerator for only up to five days before it expires.
To accommodate that, the CDC created a complex set of handling and storage requirements known as the “cold chain” that included expensive ultra-cold freezers and lots of dry ice.
In contrast, Moderna’s vaccine can be kept at about minus-20 degrees Celsius, or about the temperature of a home freezer, according to Moncef Slaoui, the head of the US effort to develop a vaccine for Covid-19. Moderna’s vaccine can also be kept in a refrigerator for 30 days before it expires.
“So that’s more manageable and much more commonly available,” Slaoui said Tuesday.
These differences suggest that Pfizer’s vaccine may be used more for major institutions with established infrastructure like hospitals, while Moderna’s may be more useful to smaller facilities like a local chain or pharmacist.
Dosage and timing: Moderna’s vaccine is administered as two 100-microgram doses given 28 days apart. Pfizer’s vaccine is administered as two 30-microgram doses given 21 days apart.
Age: If authorized, the Moderna vaccine would be used in people 18 and older, while the Pfizer vaccine was authorized for people 16 and older.
Is it safe?
The vaccine has a “favorable” safety profile, the briefing document to the FDA says, “with no specific safety concerns identified” that would prevent it from getting emergency authorization.
The most common adverse reactions to the vaccine have been injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain and chills, according to the document. Swollen lymph nodes have also been reported.
Overall, “the frequency of non-fatal serious adverse events was low and without meaningful imbalances” between the group that received the vaccine and the group that received the placebo.
One study participant, 24-year-old Yasir Batalvi, told CNN he got a low-grade fever, fatigue and chills after getting the second shot of what he believed to be the real vaccine. He was fine by the next morning.
Slaoui, the Operation Warp Speed chief scientific adviser, has said about 10-15% of immunized study subjects will develop “quite noticeable side effects.”
When will I be able to get it?
The US initially purchased 100 million doses of Moderna’s vaccine, and last week agreed to buy 100 million more doses. Moderna began manufacturing the first 100 million doses while clinical trials were getting underway, Health and Human Services said in a statement.
Related Articles Health | San Jose office building wobbles into default — again
San Jose office building wobbles into default — again Health | College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds
College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds Health | One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining
One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining Health | Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms
Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge The vaccine still has to be authorized first. The FDA’s advisory committee meets Thursday to discuss emergency use authorization for it, and Slaoui said he expects the committee to approve it by Friday.
If that happens, he said to expect shipments to begin 24 hours later in order for the vaccines to arrive at facilities by Monday morning.
There will be more than 6 million doses of Moderna vaccines shipped to more than 3,200 sites, far more than the 636 sites that Pfizer’s vaccines were shipped to.
From there, the vaccines will be administered in an order established by state and local authorities. Vaccine advisers to the CDC recommended that health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities be first in line for any coronavirus vaccines that get emergency approval.
CNN Chief Medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta estimated that vaccines will be generally available by late spring or early summer.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-12-17--Sponsored: Detached-but-divine outdoor living

Builders are happy to give buyers California Rooms or other covered outdoor areas that they ’ ve already worked into the plans .
But these days , buyers may as well create even more outdoor play , work , exercise , lounge or socially distant entertaining spaces .
After discussing California Rooms and their related outdoor living areas last week , let ’ s look at other ways to take advantage of as much of the footprint of your property as possible .
It ’ s time to truly make the outdoors a natural extension of the indoors .
First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is poured , inform your builder if you ’ re considering installing a detached structure .
Don ’ t let the reports of a La Niña winter catch you off guard and soaked .
While the La Niña winter that meteorologists are forecasting for the next few months may have some people thinking we ’ ll get less rain than normal , the Bay Area ’ s location means we ’ re less susceptible to the reduced rainfall that La Niña brings to places such as Southern California .
In other words , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoor entertaining with your household or small groups .
Ways to do this include building a pergola from wood or a recycled composite material .
The pergola can either stretch from the back of the house , near a sliding door and over part of the patio , or can be positioned farther into the backyard .
Consider a canopy cover for your pergola to protect from both rain and sunlight .
Canopies for shade and weather coverage can be made of materials such as outdoor canvas , plastic roof tiles , wood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all shade cover materials will keep people completely dry during a heavy storm with sideways wind and rain .
But some covers , especially those made with shade sail or lightweight canvas , can be made to retract or pull away , either into a mechanism attached to the structure or manually along guide wires .
Another structure choice is a gazebo , which likely would be built with a solid roof .
Some softer fabrics like shade sail can be used to offer partial shade from the side of the gazebo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember to inform your builder in advance of your outdoor plan .
The posts of an arbor , much like fencing , ideally are positioned in the ground , not attached to the house .
Deciding what you want to do before concrete is poured will allow more flexibility in size and location of your structures .
Consult with your builder as you come up with ideas .
Chances are , they ’ ve been asked how to add these kinds of structures to buyers ’ patios and gardens .
They may even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this work , such as a landscaping contractor or a prefab manufacturer specializing in outdoor structures .
You may want heat Patio heaters — you know , the ones that look like 8-foot-tall lamps that emit propane-powered heat downward — are hard to come by these days .
Seems everybody wants to serve meals and drinks outside for their socially-distanced groups , and it ’ s not just at restaurants .
While on the waitlist for yours to arrive , consider a few other heat options to make your outdoor space more hospitable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small groups .
A fire pit is a good option for creating a social area where people can spread out around the warmth .
Look at several options before deciding .
Some fire pits can be built using hardscape design in stone or concrete that matches your backyard garden beds .
Others are not permanently affixed to the patio , but can be moved , with some effort , if desired .
Before choosing outdoor heating elements , look into your county ’ s and city ’ s clean air requirements ( natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You won ’ t want to end up with a heating source that ’ s merely decorative .
When planning the size and position of detached outdoor structures , consider how much seating and table space you ’ ll want to place under and around each structure .
Achieving social distancing at small gatherings may be easier by choosing a mixture of pub tables with stools and cushioned seats separated by side tables .
Want DIY cocktail tables with a local twist ?
Northern California ’ s hundreds of wineries often sell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , staining and finishing can bring these pieces to life so that they are not only functional but attractive .
They ’ ll match any outdoor decor and blend in nicely with fresh , in-ground or potted plant life come spring .

Builders are happy to give buyers California Rooms or other covered outdoor areas that they’ve already worked into the plans. But these days, buyers may as well create even more outdoor play, work, exercise, lounge or socially distant entertaining spaces.
After discussing California Rooms and their related outdoor living areas last week, let’s look at other ways to take advantage of as much of the footprint of your property as possible.
It’s time to truly make the outdoors a natural extension of the indoors.
First things first: Before any backyard concrete is poured, inform your builder if you’re considering installing a detached structure.
You’ll want coverage
Don’t let the reports of a La Niña winter catch you off guard and soaked.
While the La Niña winter that meteorologists are forecasting for the next few months may have some people thinking we’ll get less rain than normal, the Bay Area’s location means we’re less susceptible to the reduced rainfall that La Niña brings to places such as Southern California.
In other words, plan some form of overhead coverage for outdoor entertaining with your household or small groups.
Ways to do this include building a pergola from wood or a recycled composite material. The pergola can either stretch from the back of the house, near a sliding door and over part of the patio, or can be positioned farther into the backyard.
Consider a canopy cover for your pergola to protect from both rain and sunlight. Canopies for shade and weather coverage can be made of materials such as outdoor canvas, plastic roof tiles, wood planks or galvanized tin roofing.
Not all shade cover materials will keep people completely dry during a heavy storm with sideways wind and rain. But some covers, especially those made with shade sail or lightweight canvas, can be made to retract or pull away, either into a mechanism attached to the structure or manually along guide wires.
Another structure choice is a gazebo, which likely would be built with a solid roof. Some softer fabrics like shade sail can be used to offer partial shade from the side of the gazebo, when hung as curtains.
Again, remember to inform your builder in advance of your outdoor plan. The posts of an arbor, much like fencing, ideally are positioned in the ground, not attached to the house. Deciding what you want to do before concrete is poured will allow more flexibility in size and location of your structures.
Consult with your builder as you come up with ideas. Chances are, they’ve been asked how to add these kinds of structures to buyers’ patios and gardens. They may even have recommendations on whom to call for this work, such as a landscaping contractor or a prefab manufacturer specializing in outdoor structures.
You may want heat
Patio heaters — you know, the ones that look like 8-foot-tall lamps that emit propane-powered heat downward — are hard to come by these days. Seems everybody wants to serve meals and drinks outside for their socially-distanced groups, and it’s not just at restaurants.
While on the waitlist for yours to arrive, consider a few other heat options to make your outdoor space more hospitable to family members and close friends in small groups.
A fire pit is a good option for creating a social area where people can spread out around the warmth. Look at several options before deciding.
Some fire pits can be built using hardscape design in stone or concrete that matches your backyard garden beds. Others are not permanently affixed to the patio, but can be moved, with some effort, if desired.
Before choosing outdoor heating elements, look into your county’s and city’s clean air requirements (natural gas, propane and wood burning). You won’t want to end up with a heating source that’s merely decorative.
Map out the furniture
When planning the size and position of detached outdoor structures, consider how much seating and table space you’ll want to place under and around each structure.
Achieving social distancing at small gatherings may be easier by choosing a mixture of pub tables with stools and cushioned seats separated by side tables.
Want DIY cocktail tables with a local twist? Northern California’s hundreds of wineries often sell their empty barrels.
A little sanding, staining and finishing can bring these pieces to life so that they are not only functional but attractive. They’ll match any outdoor decor and blend in nicely with fresh, in-ground or potted plant life come spring.


mercurynews--2020-12-17--France’s Emmanuel Macron tests positive for Covid-19, sending other European leaders into quarantine

French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for Covid-19 after experiencing symptoms and will self-isolate for a week , his office said Thursday , The Elysee Palace said Macron , 42 , was diagnosed after he was tested “ at the onset of the first symptoms.
” “ In accordance with current health regulations applicable to all , the President of the Republic will isolate himself for 7 days .
He continues to work and carry out his activities remotely , ” the statement added .
French first lady Brigitte Macron , 67 , has protectively gone into quarantine but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her office told French media .
Prime Minister Jean Castex has also gone into quarantine , and Macron ’ s planned trip to Lebanon next week has been canceled .
The French President had meetings with a number of other top European leaders in recent days , several of whom announced they would quarantine in the wake of Macron ’ s diagnosis .
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa , Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and European Council President Charles Michel said they would go into quarantine as a precautionary measure .
Here ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s movements in recent days : • On Wednesday , he met Portuguese Prime Minister Costa for lunch , and attended a cabinet meeting , according to the Elysee Palace .
• On Tuesday , Macron met with various people including the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross , Peter Maurer .
• On Monday , he attended a working lunch at the Elysee marking the 60th anniversary of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , where he met with Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez , European Council President Michel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Macron was also at the European Council in Brussels last Thursday and Friday , which was attended by 25 of the 27 EU leaders ( two were absent for Covid-related reasons ) .
An EU official in the European Council , who is not authorized to speak on the record about protocol measures , told CNN that “ all sanitary measures were observed , and we have not been informed of any other participant or staff present during the summit who tested positive.
” Spain ’ s foreign ministry said Sanchez would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week .
He sent his “ best wishes ” to Macron in a tweet .
A European Commission spokesman said Michel would go into quarantine “ as a precaution , ” but noted that Michel had tested negative as recently as Tuesday .
Macron is the latest major world leader to test positive for the novel coronavirus .
US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson , key French allies , were both hospitalized after contracting the virus earlier in the pandemic .
“ Sorry to hear my friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are all wishing you a speedy recovery , ” Johnson tweeted Thursday .
France has been in a lockdown since early November .
It was due to be lifted this week , but this has been delayed as new cases remain well above the target of 5,000 per day that Macron had set as a precondition to lifting the restrictions .
France on Wednesday reported 17,615 new coronavirus cases , its highest figure since November 21 , bringing it to more than 2.4 million infections since the start of the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , taking it to a total of 59,361 Covid-19 fatalities .
French television showed footage of artists and cultural workers protesting throughout the country on Tuesday after theaters , museums , and cinemas did not reopen as planned .
They will instead remain closed for three additional weeks , Castex said .
The curfew hours of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. were also extended on Tuesday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m .
However , French citizens will no longer need certificates to leave their homes , Castex said .
They will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Restaurants and cafés are still scheduled to reopen on January 20 , 2021 .

French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for Covid-19 after experiencing symptoms and will self-isolate for a week, his office said Thursday,
The Elysee Palace said Macron, 42, was diagnosed after he was tested “at the onset of the first symptoms.”
“In accordance with current health regulations applicable to all, the President of the Republic will isolate himself for 7 days. He continues to work and carry out his activities remotely,” the statement added.
French first lady Brigitte Macron, 67, has protectively gone into quarantine but has “presented no symptoms,” her office told French media. Prime Minister Jean Castex has also gone into quarantine, and Macron’s planned trip to Lebanon next week has been canceled.
The French President had meetings with a number of other top European leaders in recent days, several of whom announced they would quarantine in the wake of Macron’s diagnosis.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and European Council President Charles Michel said they would go into quarantine as a precautionary measure.
[vemba-video id=”world/2020/12/17/emmanuel-macron-positive-coronavirus-covid-19-melissa-bell-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn”]
Here’s what we know about Macron’s movements in recent days:
On Wednesday, he met Portuguese Prime Minister Costa for lunch, and attended a cabinet meeting, according to the Elysee Palace.
On Tuesday, Macron met with various people including the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer.
On Monday, he attended a working lunch at the Elysee marking the 60th anniversary of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, where he met with Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez, European Council President Michel and OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria.
Macron was also at the European Council in Brussels last Thursday and Friday, which was attended by 25 of the 27 EU leaders (two were absent for Covid-related reasons).
An EU official in the European Council, who is not authorized to speak on the record about protocol measures, told CNN that “all sanitary measures were observed, and we have not been informed of any other participant or staff present during the summit who tested positive.”
Spain’s foreign ministry said Sanchez would immediately take a test and quarantine for a week. He sent his “best wishes” to Macron in a tweet. A European Commission spokesman said Michel would go into quarantine “as a precaution,” but noted that Michel had tested negative as recently as Tuesday.
Macron is the latest major world leader to test positive for the novel coronavirus. US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, key French allies, were both hospitalized after contracting the virus earlier in the pandemic.
“Sorry to hear my friend @EmmanuelMacron has tested positive for coronavirus. We are all wishing you a speedy recovery,” Johnson tweeted Thursday.
European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen wished Macron “a quick recovery.”
France has been in a lockdown since early November. It was due to be lifted this week, but this has been delayed as new cases remain well above the target of 5,000 per day that Macron had set as a precondition to lifting the restrictions.
France on Wednesday reported 17,615 new coronavirus cases, its highest figure since November 21, bringing it to more than 2.4 million infections since the start of the pandemic. The country also reported 289 deaths Wednesday, taking it to a total of 59,361 Covid-19 fatalities.
French television showed footage of artists and cultural workers protesting throughout the country on Tuesday after theaters, museums, and cinemas did not reopen as planned. They will instead remain closed for three additional weeks, Castex said.
The curfew hours of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. were also extended on Tuesday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. However, French citizens will no longer need certificates to leave their homes, Castex said. They will also be allowed to travel to other regions. Restaurants and cafés are still scheduled to reopen on January 20, 2021.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-12-17--California sets teachers, first responders for next vaccines

By DON THOMPSON | The Associated Press SACRAMENTO — Teachers , first responders , and grocery and restaurant workers were among those recommended Wednesday to get the next round of scarce vaccines in California , as were florists and sawmill operators who fall into the same broad category of those deemed essential workers .
“ We ’ ve got to figure who we ’ re going to prioritize , ” said Dr. Oliver Brooks , co-chairman of a 16-member panel of medical experts recommending who makes the potential life-and-death cut after the first round of about 3 million vaccines began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and those in long-term care facilities .
They ’ re divvying up the next round of about 8 million doses expected early next year , and settled on three broad sectors in no particular order : — 1.4 million education and child care providers , a category that includes preschools , K-12 , and higher education including trade schools .
— 1.1 million emergency services providers , including not only police and firefighters but those who provide child and youth services , shelters , social services for the elderly and those with disabilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses that provide goods used by the safety workers .
— 3.4 million food and agriculture workers , from farm to table including those working in food and drinking establishments as well as farmworkers and grocers , bakers and butchers .
Plant nurseries , florists and sawmills all fall into that category , as do community food services and pharmacies .
The nearly 6 million in those sectors make up about half of all those deemed essential workers in California — and that roughly 12 million makes up nearly two-thirds of the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us are essential .
That ’ s nice to know , ” said Brooks , who is immediate past president of the National Medical Association and heads the Watts Health Care Corporation .
In picking which groups go first , the panel prioritized what they termed the “ societal impact ” of the job ; equity — making sure low-income workers and those working in vulnerable communities are included ; the jobs ’ impact on the economy ; and the risk of each occupations ’ exposure to the coronavirus , including workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading the virus in the community .
Yet there won ’ t be enough vaccine to protect even that narrower group of educators , first responders and food providers until next spring .
Officials expect 2 million doses by year ’ s end , 4 million by the end of January and more than 20 million by the end of April .
So the experts are trying to further decide who goes first within those categories .
“ We ’ ll be grappling with trying to determine criteria that can be used practically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of scarce vaccine , whether that ’ s using age or medical condition or other factors to … let the highest-risk priority go first , ” said Dr. Robert Schechter , co-chairman of the expert panel and chief of the California Department of Public Health ’ s Immunizations Branch .
The panel and a broader committee of 60 community organizations ’ representatives were lobbied by dozens of professions that want their members included in the next round of vaccines , including ride-hailing drivers and news reporters .
Of 142 written public comments to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoping to be near the front of the line to get the first vaccines after health care workers .
Among them were the state ’ s chief justice seeking protections for court workers , public defenders wanting vaccines for themselves and their jailed clients , multiple groups representing the elderly , cemetery workers , public transit workers , nonemergency health care workers like dentists and podiatrists , NASA employees , dock workers , Amazon employees , solid waste workers , cleaning services , retailers , pharmacists and power grid workers .
By contrast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 78 , wrote what the committee described as passionate letters urging that essential workers get the vaccines before them .
The discussion comes as the virus surges across California , straining the state ’ s health care system .
State health officials on Wednesday reported 53,711 new coronavirus cases and 293 additional deaths , setting new records .
The public meeting took place as other states are holding closed discussions about vaccine allocation and receiving criticism .
The massive surge led committee members to warn against allowing even the perception that some Californians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the line , a process complicated by the difficulty in proving who belongs to which group .
“ There ’ s a social solidarity here that we all say , ‘ Yes , the health care workers go first , ’ ” said Anthony Wright , executive director of the consumer advocacy group Health Access .
“ But once people think that other people are sort of cutting the line , that dissolves the social compact that we ’ re all in , and I ’ m really scared about that.
” Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their work sites or through appointments with providers at which their employment can be verified .
But “ there may be many settings that need to rely on the honor system rather than more sophisticated validation , ” Schechter acknowledged .
Mitch Steiger , legislative advocate of the California Labor Federation , urged strict uniformity across California instead of allowing counties to make their own potentially conflicting decisions that could set up disparities within broad state and federal distribution guidelines .
“ We also need to figure out what we do when angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine show up and you ’ ve got a pharmacy tech who … has to deal with someone screaming at them , really angry that this lifesaving care isn ’ t going to be offered to them , ” he said .

By DON THOMPSON | The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO — Teachers, first responders, and grocery and restaurant workers were among those recommended Wednesday to get the next round of scarce vaccines in California, as were florists and sawmill operators who fall into the same broad category of those deemed essential workers.
“We’ve got to figure who we’re going to prioritize,” said Dr. Oliver Brooks, co-chairman of a 16-member panel of medical experts recommending who makes the potential life-and-death cut after the first round of about 3 million vaccines began going this week to health care workers and those in long-term care facilities.
They’re divvying up the next round of about 8 million doses expected early next year, and settled on three broad sectors in no particular order:
— 1.4 million education and child care providers, a category that includes preschools, K-12, and higher education including trade schools.
— 1.1 million emergency services providers, including not only police and firefighters but those who provide child and youth services, shelters, social services for the elderly and those with disabilities, the criminal justice system, and businesses that provide goods used by the safety workers.
— 3.4 million food and agriculture workers, from farm to table including those working in food and drinking establishments as well as farmworkers and grocers, bakers and butchers. Plant nurseries, florists and sawmills all fall into that category, as do community food services and pharmacies.
The nearly 6 million in those sectors make up about half of all those deemed essential workers in California — and that roughly 12 million makes up nearly two-thirds of the state’s entire workforce.
“Two-thirds of us are essential. That’s nice to know,” said Brooks, who is immediate past president of the National Medical Association and heads the Watts Health Care Corporation.
In picking which groups go first, the panel prioritized what they termed the “societal impact” of the job; equity — making sure low-income workers and those working in vulnerable communities are included; the jobs’ impact on the economy; and the risk of each occupations’ exposure to the coronavirus, including workers’ risk of death and risk of spreading the virus in the community.
Yet there won’t be enough vaccine to protect even that narrower group of educators, first responders and food providers until next spring. Officials expect 2 million doses by year’s end, 4 million by the end of January and more than 20 million by the end of April.
So the experts are trying to further decide who goes first within those categories.
“We’ll be grappling with trying to determine criteria that can be used practically and efficiently to sort between worthy recipients of scarce vaccine, whether that’s using age or medical condition or other factors to … let the highest-risk priority go first,” said Dr. Robert Schechter, co-chairman of the expert panel and chief of the California Department of Public Health’s Immunizations Branch.
The panel and a broader committee of 60 community organizations’ representatives were lobbied by dozens of professions that want their members included in the next round of vaccines, including ride-hailing drivers and news reporters.
Of 142 written public comments to the committees, 131 were from groups hoping to be near the front of the line to get the first vaccines after health care workers.
Among them were the state’s chief justice seeking protections for court workers, public defenders wanting vaccines for themselves and their jailed clients, multiple groups representing the elderly, cemetery workers, public transit workers, nonemergency health care workers like dentists and podiatrists, NASA employees, dock workers, Amazon employees, solid waste workers, cleaning services, retailers, pharmacists and power grid workers.
By contrast, three people, each over age 78, wrote what the committee described as passionate letters urging that essential workers get the vaccines before them.
The discussion comes as the virus surges across California, straining the state’s health care system. State health officials on Wednesday reported 53,711 new coronavirus cases and 293 additional deaths, setting new records. The public meeting took place as other states are holding closed discussions about vaccine allocation and receiving criticism.
The massive surge led committee members to warn against allowing even the perception that some Californians can unfairly push to the front of the line, a process complicated by the difficulty in proving who belongs to which group.
“There’s a social solidarity here that we all say, ‘Yes, the health care workers go first,’” said Anthony Wright, executive director of the consumer advocacy group Health Access. “But once people think that other people are sort of cutting the line, that dissolves the social compact that we’re all in, and I’m really scared about that.”
Many eligible workers will get their vaccines at their work sites or through appointments with providers at which their employment can be verified.
Related Articles Health | San Jose office building wobbles into default — again
San Jose office building wobbles into default — again Health | College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds
College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds Health | One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining
One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining Health | Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms
Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge But “there may be many settings that need to rely on the honor system rather than more sophisticated validation,” Schechter acknowledged.
Mitch Steiger, legislative advocate of the California Labor Federation, urged strict uniformity across California instead of allowing counties to make their own potentially conflicting decisions that could set up disparities within broad state and federal distribution guidelines.
“We also need to figure out what we do when angry people who can’t get the vaccine show up and you’ve got a pharmacy tech who … has to deal with someone screaming at them, really angry that this lifesaving care isn’t going to be offered to them,” he said.


mercurynews--2020-12-17--California mother convicted of killing 15-year-old daughter’s newborn son

BAKERSFIELD — A Southern California woman was convicted Wednesday of killing her newborn grandson because she feared her family wound be shamed over the fact that her 15-year-old daughter had given birth , according to news reports .
Investigators said Dhillon drowned the baby , and then she and a nephew buried the body in her backyard in 2018 .
Dhillon ’ s teenage daughter informed detectives that she was told the baby was taken somewhere to be adopted .
Later the girl found out the baby was dead and told a social worker at school , who contacted police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removes a majority of its videos after investigation reveals child abuse • Nurse at Kaiser Oakland charged with child porn possession in Antioch • California father indicted for torture and murder of missing 8-year-old son She killed the child to hide that her daughter had been pregnant out of fear over what the Sikh community would think , said prosecutor John Allen .
Allen said it was a “ correct , just ” verdict .
Defense attorney David Torres said he was disappointed with the verdict .
Dhillon faces 25 years to life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jan. 21 .

BAKERSFIELD — A Southern California woman was convicted Wednesday of killing her newborn grandson because she feared her family wound be shamed over the fact that her 15-year-old daughter had given birth, according to news reports.
A Kern County jury found Beant Kaur Dhillon guilty of first degree murder, KGET-TV reported.
Investigators said Dhillon drowned the baby, and then she and a nephew buried the body in her backyard in 2018.
Dhillon’s teenage daughter informed detectives that she was told the baby was taken somewhere to be adopted. Later the girl found out the baby was dead and told a social worker at school, who contacted police, according to KBAK-TV.
Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Sextortion plot led teen to suicide. 2 Nigerians arrive in U.S. to face charges
Sextortion plot led teen to suicide. 2 Nigerians arrive in U.S. to face charges Crime and Public Safety | California mom arrested after authorities say she put alcohol in baby’s bottle
California mom arrested after authorities say she put alcohol in baby’s bottle Crime and Public Safety | Facing more than 500 abuse lawsuits, San Francisco Archdiocese says bankruptcy ‘very likely’
Facing more than 500 abuse lawsuits, San Francisco Archdiocese says bankruptcy ‘very likely’ Crime and Public Safety | ‘That’s me!’: Turpin adult son makes rare appearance in open court
‘That’s me!’: Turpin adult son makes rare appearance in open court Crime and Public Safety | Father charged after being found in hot car in desert with 2 children She killed the child to hide that her daughter had been pregnant out of fear over what the Sikh community would think, said prosecutor John Allen.
Allen said it was a “correct, just” verdict.
Defense attorney David Torres said he was disappointed with the verdict.
Dhillon faces 25 years to life in prison when she’s sentenced Jan. 21.


mercurynews--2020-12-17--Judge extends California strip-club exemption from lockdown

By ELLIOT SPAGAT and JULIE WATSON | The Associated Press SAN DIEGO — Two San Diego strip clubs can remain open and make their own determinations about providing a safe environment for dancers and patrons during the pandemic , a judge ruled Wednesday , dealing a setback to Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s health order that calls for such establishments to be shuttered .
The scope of San Diego Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil ’ s preliminary injunction appeared to extend far beyond the two clubs that sued the state to potentially all of the thousands of restaurants in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s second-largest county after Los Angeles .
Wohlfiel said it applies to “ San Diego County businesses with restaurant services , ” including the strip clubs , and that it exempts them from shutdowns and “ any related orders ” that bar live adult entertainment and go beyond protocols “ that are no greater than essential ” to controlling the spread of COVID-19 .
The judge noted that Pacers International Showgirls and Cheetahs Gentlemen ’ s Club operated for five weeks during the pandemic under their own safety measures , which included keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from tables , allowing no more than one stripper per stage and requiring them and other employees to wear masks .
Michael Workman , a spokesman for San Diego County , said county attorneys were meeting “ to decipher the ruling and determine what ’ s next .
Stay tuned.
” County supervisors last week vowed to appeal any extension of the exemption for strip clubs , which the judge initially granted last month .
The state attorney general ’ s office referred questions to Newsom and the California Department of Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its legal team was “ reviewing options to determine next steps.
” “ While we are disappointed in the court ’ s decision today , we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the health and safety of all Californians , ” Newsom ’ s office said in statement .
Jason Saccuzzo , a lawyer for Pacers , referred to the order ’ s precise language when asked about its scope , saying it was “ a difficult question to answer.
” Steve Hoffman , an attorney for Cheetahs , said he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and had no comment on whether it extended to other strip clubs and restaurants .
“ Cheetahs and Pacers will continue to operate in a manner that takes all appropriate and essential measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while at the same time providing a means for their staff to earn a livelihood , ” he wrote in an email .
The ruling , which takes effect immediately , comes after Newsom ’ s Dec. 3 stay-at-home order in response to a surge of coronavirus cases that has hammered hospitals across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a “ cease-and-desist ” order to both clubs last week that they were violating the state ’ s new policy , which bars indoor and outdoor dining and prohibits social gatherings that bring together people of different households in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus .
Becerra wrote that he was acting on behalf of Newsom , a fellow Democrat , and the state health department and that he will pursue legal action if the companies didn ’ t comply .
Wednesday ’ s ruling followed more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state authorities overreached or acted within the law to protect public health .
“ What ’ s going to happen next when there is some greater emergency ?
Are we all going to be under house arrest ?
Are we going to even have a Constitution ?
” said Saccuzzo , the Pacers lawyer .
“ I fear that we may end up in a country that we don ’ t even recognize.
” Patti Li , an attorney for the state , highlighted extreme scarcity of intensive-care unit beds and growing waits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she emphasized were temporary measures .
• California sets teachers , first responders for next vaccines “ It really is about the entire community , the entire state , ” Li said .
“ This is the most serious moment of this pandemic in the state , in the nation so far.
” Li disputed the clubs ’ argument that orders violated constitutional rights to free speech by prohibiting adult entertainment , saying the restrictions are aimed at live performances with people in close proximity .
“ There is no targeting of expression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clubs sued the state and county in October after they were ordered to close .
Last month , a judge in another case denied a request to temporarily lift some restrictions on San Diego County restaurants and gyms .
The California Restaurant Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday ’ s ruling .

By ELLIOT SPAGAT and JULIE WATSON | The Associated Press
SAN DIEGO — Two San Diego strip clubs can remain open and make their own determinations about providing a safe environment for dancers and patrons during the pandemic, a judge ruled Wednesday, dealing a setback to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s health order that calls for such establishments to be shuttered.
The scope of San Diego Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil’s preliminary injunction appeared to extend far beyond the two clubs that sued the state to potentially all of the thousands of restaurants in San Diego County, the state’s second-largest county after Los Angeles.
Wohlfiel said it applies to “San Diego County businesses with restaurant services,” including the strip clubs, and that it exempts them from shutdowns and “any related orders” that bar live adult entertainment and go beyond protocols “that are no greater than essential” to controlling the spread of COVID-19.
The judge noted that Pacers International Showgirls and Cheetahs Gentlemen’s Club operated for five weeks during the pandemic under their own safety measures, which included keeping strippers 15 feet (4.6 meters) from tables, allowing no more than one stripper per stage and requiring them and other employees to wear masks.
Michael Workman, a spokesman for San Diego County, said county attorneys were meeting “to decipher the ruling and determine what’s next. Stay tuned.” County supervisors last week vowed to appeal any extension of the exemption for strip clubs, which the judge initially granted last month.
The state attorney general’s office referred questions to Newsom and the California Department of Public Health. The governor’s office said its legal team was “reviewing options to determine next steps.”
“While we are disappointed in the court’s decision today, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the health and safety of all Californians,” Newsom’s office said in statement.
Jason Saccuzzo, a lawyer for Pacers, referred to the order’s precise language when asked about its scope, saying it was “a difficult question to answer.”
Steve Hoffman, an attorney for Cheetahs, said he was “very pleased” with the ruling and had no comment on whether it extended to other strip clubs and restaurants.
“Cheetahs and Pacers will continue to operate in a manner that takes all appropriate and essential measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while at the same time providing a means for their staff to earn a livelihood,” he wrote in an email.
The ruling, which takes effect immediately, comes after Newsom’s Dec. 3 stay-at-home order in response to a surge of coronavirus cases that has hammered hospitals across the state.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a “cease-and-desist” order to both clubs last week that they were violating the state’s new policy, which bars indoor and outdoor dining and prohibits social gatherings that bring together people of different households in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Becerra wrote that he was acting on behalf of Newsom, a fellow Democrat, and the state health department and that he will pursue legal action if the companies didn’t comply.
Wednesday’s ruling followed more than an hour of spirited argument about whether state authorities overreached or acted within the law to protect public health.
“What’s going to happen next when there is some greater emergency? Are we all going to be under house arrest? Are we going to even have a Constitution?” said Saccuzzo, the Pacers lawyer. “I fear that we may end up in a country that we don’t even recognize.”
Patti Li, an attorney for the state, highlighted extreme scarcity of intensive-care unit beds and growing waits in hospital emergency rooms to justify what she emphasized were temporary measures.
Related Articles Business | San Jose office building wobbles into default — again
San Jose office building wobbles into default — again Business | College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds
College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds Business | One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining
One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining Business | Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms
Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Business | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge “It really is about the entire community, the entire state,” Li said. “This is the most serious moment of this pandemic in the state, in the nation so far.”
Li disputed the clubs’ argument that orders violated constitutional rights to free speech by prohibiting adult entertainment, saying the restrictions are aimed at live performances with people in close proximity. “There is no targeting of expression here,” she said.
The clubs sued the state and county in October after they were ordered to close.
Last month, a judge in another case denied a request to temporarily lift some restrictions on San Diego County restaurants and gyms. The California Restaurant Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday’s ruling.


mercurynews--2020-12-17--California’s growth rate at record low as more people leave

By ADAM BEAM | The Associated Press SACRAMENTO — California saw its slowest growth rate on record for the nation ’ s most populous state , adding just 21,200 people during the year that ended in July , state officials said Wednesday .
For the second straight year , more people left California than moved to the state , resulting in a net migration loss of 135,600 people .
People left the state in similar numbers as they did last year .
but far fewer people moved to California , especially from April to June , when the state was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
California also had more deaths , which state officials said is most likely due to the pandemic .
From 2017 to 2020 , California would average about 4,800 additional deaths each year .
But this year , California ’ s deaths grew by 12,800 to a total of 280,100 .
The state reported a total of 6,163 coronavirus deaths on July 1 , a number that has since grown to 21,481 as of Tuesday .
Still , when subtracting deaths from births , California added 156,600 people to its population naturally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population grew 0.05 % , down from 0.23 % the prior year .
Its total population now stands at 39.78 million people .
The latest estimate came from the California Department of Finance and covers the change in population from July 1 , 2019 , to July 1 , 2020 .
• Dispute between California billionaire and neighbor now in the hands of a judge • Camera 12 revamp in downtown San Jose gets city O.K .
• Photos : JFK ’ s former home where he met wife Jackie sold for $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Californians ‘ seriously ’ thinking of leaving • California billionaires says neighbor made him feel like a ‘ prisoner ’ in his oceanfront mansion Recent high-profile departures include Tesla CEO Elon Musk , who moved to Texas , where tech giants Hewlett Packard and Oracle also intend to move their headquarters .
Matt Frinzi , 68 , moved from San Francisco to Reno , Nevada , on Tuesday .
He had lived in California for 25 years but said he was tired of paying high income taxes and frustrated with the deterioration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a state income tax .
“ I loved San Francisco when I moved here in 1996 .
I thought it was the premiere city in the United States .
I wouldn ’ t give you a nickel for it now , ” he said .
“ I think there is a quiet rebellion growing .
”

By ADAM BEAM | The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO — California saw its slowest growth rate on record for the nation’s most populous state, adding just 21,200 people during the year that ended in July, state officials said Wednesday.
For the second straight year, more people left California than moved to the state, resulting in a net migration loss of 135,600 people. People left the state in similar numbers as they did last year. but far fewer people moved to California, especially from April to June, when the state was under a stay-at-home order because of the pandemic.
California also had more deaths, which state officials said is most likely due to the pandemic. From 2017 to 2020, California would average about 4,800 additional deaths each year. But this year, California’s deaths grew by 12,800 to a total of 280,100.
The state reported a total of 6,163 coronavirus deaths on July 1, a number that has since grown to 21,481 as of Tuesday.
Still, when subtracting deaths from births, California added 156,600 people to its population naturally. Overall, the state’s population grew 0.05%, down from 0.23% the prior year. Its total population now stands at 39.78 million people.
The latest estimate came from the California Department of Finance and covers the change in population from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2020.
Related Articles California News | San Jose office building wobbles into default — again
San Jose office building wobbles into default — again California News | Bay Area, California hotel sales implode as investors flee sector
Bay Area, California hotel sales implode as investors flee sector California News | Google will activate downtown San Jose village sites ahead of project
Google will activate downtown San Jose village sites ahead of project California News | Big Bay Area vineyard lands local buyer
Big Bay Area vineyard lands local buyer California News | Colorado’s housing market is so strained it’s endangering domestic violence victims, advocates says Recent high-profile departures include Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who moved to Texas, where tech giants Hewlett Packard and Oracle also intend to move their headquarters.
Matt Frinzi, 68, moved from San Francisco to Reno, Nevada, on Tuesday. He had lived in California for 25 years but said he was tired of paying high income taxes and frustrated with the deterioration of his neighborhood. Nevada doesn’t have a state income tax.
“I loved San Francisco when I moved here in 1996. I thought it was the premiere city in the United States. I wouldn’t give you a nickel for it now,” he said. “I think there is a quiet rebellion growing.”


mercurynews--2020-12-18--Ode to Oakland? Raiders’ Jon Gruden dons wrong hat to start game vs. Chargers

East Bay Raiders fans might want to think of it as a sign that coach Jon Gruden misses his old @ @ @ @ @ , though , it was just an innocent mistake .
Gruden began Thursday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Chargers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas by wearing an Oakland Raiders cap , a @ @ @ @ @ numerous sleuths on social media .
The hat slip-up was quickly corrected , as Gruden @ @ @ @ @ styled Las Vegas Raiders cap .
Gruden coached the Oakland Raiders from 1998-2001 before he @ @ @ @ @ coached in Oakland in 2018 and 2019 .
The Raiders are in their first season @ @ @ @ @ had a 49-47 record with the Raiders in Oakland , as his teams made the @ @ @ @ @ .
The Raiders are 7-6 this season , and were almost in a must-win situation @ @ @ @ @ remain in the hunt for a spot in the AFC playoffs , so chances are @ @ @ @ @ his mind when he first put on the Oakland cap .

East Bay Raiders fans might want to think of it as a sign that coach Jon Gruden misses his old home.
Nope. Instead, Gruden said Thursday’s mix-up was the result of a prank that somebody else had played on him.
Gruden began Thursday’s game with the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas by wearing an Oakland Raiders cap, a boo-boo that did not escape numerous sleuths on social media.
The hat slip-up was quickly corrected, as Gruden soon was wearing a similarly styled Las Vegas Raiders cap.
“I will say I apologize for not having the right hat on,” Gruden said after the Raiders’ 30-27 overtime loss to the Chargers. “Somebody played a pretty good trick on me.”
Gruden coached the Oakland Raiders from 1998-2001 before he returned to the franchise and coached in Oakland in 2018 and 2019. The Raiders are in their first season in Las Vegas.
Gruden had a 49-47 record with the Raiders in Oakland, as his teams made the playoffs in 2000 and 2001. The Raiders are 7-6 this season, and were almost in a must-win situation Thursday if they wanted to remain in the hunt for a spot in the AFC playoffs, so chances are Gruden had other things on his mind when he first put on the Oakland cap.
Jon Gruden made a minor first-half wardrobe change pic.twitter.com/BOiGBRP2jr — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 18, 2020