mercurynews--2020-08-30--The Latest: Navajo Nation coronavirus deaths rise to 500

By The Associated Press WINDOW ROCK , Ariz. — Navajo Nation health officials say the confirmation of a new death brings the number of fatalities from coronavirus to 500 .
The Navajo Nation on Friday night reported the additional death as well as 14 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
That brings the total number of people infected to 9,780 .
But that includes 165 cases that occurred between early April and mid-August and were recently identified as COVID-19 related .
Navajo officials said 94,099 people have been tested for the coronavirus and 7,032 have recovered .
The Navajo Nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but is asking residents to go out for emergencies or essentials .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK — Detroit to honor 1,500 who died from coronavirus — Restaurants and bars in Anchorage will reopen — Nurses on the front lines of New York ’ s COVID-19 pandemic call for state to enact minimum staffing standards before another wave of infections .
— Shiite Muslims are observing the solemn holy day of Ashoura that they typically mark with large , mournful gatherings , in the shadow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de France riders sped past a hospital in Nice where health workers are traumatized by their battle against the coronavirus .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : HONOLULU — The Hawaii Department of Public Safety says that three inmates and one staff member at the Oahu Community Correction Center tested positive for COVID-19 .
There are now more than 300 people who have tested positive at the Honolulu facility , including 256 inmates and 53 employees , the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported .
Early in the pandemic , several advocacy groups raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in jails and prisons statewide and mentioned the risk of an outbreak .
Since then , the Hawaii Supreme Court has had ongoing orders to release defendants incarcerated for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor crimes to open space in the facilities .
The state Department of Health has reported more than 7,800 confirmed coronavirus cases and 59 deaths , including 265 newly confirmed cases and four deaths , as of Friday .
PHOENIX — Arizona has reached a grim milestone of more than 5,000 known coronavirus deaths .
The state Department of Health Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more deaths on Saturday to total 5,007 .
Meanwhile , Arizona State University President Michael Crow says 452 students have tested positive for the coronavirus .
More than half involve students who live off campus in the metro Phoenix area .
Crow says 205 students are currently in quarantine on the Tempe campus .
MIAMI — Health officials in Florida are reporting 150 new deaths from COVID-19 and 3,197 new confirmed cases .
The new deaths bring the average daily toll reported over the past week to 120 .
The number of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 12,000 daily in mid-July .
The positivity rate in testing has averaged below 10 percent over the past week .
The number of people treated in Florida hospitals for coronavirus has also been declining since highs of more than 9,500 on July 23 .
ANCHORAGE , Alaska — Restaurants and bars in Anchorage will reopen Monday for dine-in service with some restrictions after city officials announced an updated emergency order .
Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz has replaced a four-week order , which closed food establishments to indoor service and drew criticism from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The updated regulation means businesses can resume dine-in service at no more than 50 % of building capacity .
Patrons will be required to practice social distancing .
Masks must be worn by all employees , and also by customers when they aren ’ t eating or drinking In Alaska , more than 5,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus since March and 37 have died .
CHICAGO — Freshmen and sophomore students at Northwestern University will take classes remotely , the Chicago school announced .
The Chicago Tribune reports Northwestern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return to campus .
The university also is keeping fraternity and sorority houses shuttered during the fall semester .
Students in their third and fourth years or graduate and professional programs are allowed on campus and can take classes remotely , in person or a mix of both .
Universities around the country have struggled with plans for the fall semester as the coronavirus continues to spread .
Early outbreaks forced some schools ’ administrators to cancel in-person classes temporarily or for the fall semester .
HILLSBORO , Mo .
— A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask mandate just one day after passing it .
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Jefferson County Health Center Board of Trustees voted unanimously Friday to revoke the ordinance .
The county says the decision came after residents raised concerns about whether the board had appropriately notified the public before discussing the ordinance .
State Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman , R-Arnold , raised concerns Friday about potential Sunshine Law violations .
Jefferson County has reported 2,663 cases of the coronavirus and 45 deaths .
ROME — Every Italian region reported new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up another 1,444 cases .
The health ministry says one more victim of COVID-19 brought Italy ’ s official death toll to 35,473 on Saturday .
Italy has nearly doubled its daily tests this month amid a surge in new infections , mostly among young people returning from vacation .
While most are asymptomatic , the number of people requiring hospitalization and intensive care is creeping back up .
Italy , the onetime European epicenter of the virus , plans to start school on Sept. 14 .
Unlike other European countries , Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — The city of Detroit is seeking about 400 volunteers to assist with a memorial to honor residents who have died from the coronavirus .
A memorial drive at Belle Isle State Park is scheduled for Monday .
Mayor Mike Duggan declared the day as Detroit Memorial Day to remember residents who didn ’ t have the funerals because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Families will drive in 15 processions past nearly 900 enlarged photos of their loved ones .
Hearses will lead the processions .
More than 1,500 Detroit residents have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public can visit Belle Isle to see the photos Tuesday and Wednesday .
Duggan says , “ we felt it was important and necessary to provide an opportunity for members of this community to collectively celebrate the lives of those we ’ ve lost to this terrible virus .
This is how we begin the healing process .
NICE , France — French authorities have made it harder for Tour de France teams to reach the finish line in Paris if a member tests positive .
They ’ ve decided teams will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more of their staff members test positive for the coronavirus within a week .
The move was announced just a few hours before the start of the three-week race ’ s opening stage in Nice .
It overruled a decision from cycling ’ s governing body that had eased the Tour ’ s exclusion rules on Friday .
There are 30 members per team , which includes staff .
This week , four staff members of the Belgian team Lotto-Soudal were sent home after “ non-negative ” coronavirus tests .
The team says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rider support staff returned “ one positive and one suspicious result.
” Both left the race bubble , along with their roommates .
BOSTON — This year ’ s Boston Marathon is a virtual event because of the coronavirus pandemic , but a weeklong TV special will showcase runners ’ stories as they go the distance on their own .
Amazon and WBZ-TV are teaming up on a “ Boston Marathon Live ” broadcast that will air nightly Sept. 7-13 .
The show is co-produced by the Boston Athletic Association , which puts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runners will complete the 26.2-mile ( 42.2-kilometer ) distance and share accounts of their preparation , motivation and execution .
Athletes can use a mobile app the BAA is rolling out to upload their routes and finish times .
The marathon normally is held in April .
It was postponed to mid-September because of the pandemic and canceled in May for the first time in its 124-year history .
NEW DELHI — India will resume its metro rail services in a phased manner on Sept. 7 and ease most of its nationwide restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 75,000 cases of coronavirus reported for the third consecutive day .
India ’ s Home Ministry says sports , entertainment , religious and political events will be allowed with a limit of 100 people .
Schools , colleges , swimming pools and indoor theatres will remain closed .
India has a total of 3.46 million confirmed cases and nearly 63,000 deaths , third highest in the world behind the United States and Brazil .
SACRAMENTO , Calif. — California Gov .
Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders have reached an agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from evictions .
The bill would ban evictions for tenants who haven ’ t paid their rent between the months of March and August because of the coronavirus .
Tenants need to sign a document saying they have a financial hardship because of the virus .
The protections would continue beyond August if tenants can pay at least 25 % of their cumulatively owed rent between Sept. 1 and Jan. 31 .
Evictions could resume on Feb. 1 .
The bill would not forgive the missed payments .
Tenants would still owe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get the money back , and a judge could order them to pay it .
But tenants could not be evicted .
The California court system has halted most eviction and foreclosure proceedings since April 6 because of the pandemic .
But those protections end Tuesday , prompting concerns of a wave of evictions in a state that already has the largest homeless population in the country .
BARCELONA , Spain — Police officers have dismantled an illegal party in a warehouse in Barcelona , where 160 people didn ’ t wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two organizers were charged for not enforcing the health measures against COVID-19 , while another person was arrested for selling drugs , according to a statement released Saturday by the Catalonian regional police .
Since mid-August , nightclubs were closed throughout Spain to slow down a new wave of outbreaks .
The country ended a strict three-month lockdown in June .
Social gatherings of more than 10 people are banned starting Saturday in Catalonia .
There were 1,547 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours , bringing the total cases to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s coronavirus case tally is nearing 440,000 , with the highest rate of contagion in western Europe .
There have been 29,000 deaths .
ELOY , Ariz. — Immigration and Customs Enforcement has reported 233 more confirmed cases of coronavirus at one of its facilities in Arizona .
The infections at the La Palma Correctional Center in Eloy now total 356 cases .
It ’ s unclear how many people are detained at La Palma , but ICE spokeswoman Yasmeen Pitts O ’ Keefe says the agency recently expanded virus testing at La @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 21,000 people are held in ICE custody on civil immigration violations nationwide .
The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project , an advocacy group that provides legal services , say the high number of infections underscores the need to release immigrants from detention .
Advocacy groups across the country have filed several lawsuits seeking to release vulnerable populations during the pandemic .
ICE has , on some occasions , released detainees who have health conditions .
The agency reported 850 new positive cases nationwide Friday for a total of 5,300 cases since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — The U.S. government has detained children at several major hotel chains during the coronavirus pandemic instead of transferring them to government-funded shelters .
The data released Friday show that since March , the Trump administration has used hotels to hold at least 660 children , most unaccompanied by a parent , before expelling them to their countries of origin .
The administration says it can not allow children to stay in the U.S. due to the coronavirus pandemic .
But opponents of U.S. immigration policy contend the pandemic is being used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in federal law .
Various hotel chains have been used to house children , and at least 25 hotels and motels have been used since March to detain children .
Marriott spokeswoman Connie Kim says the company last month issued a policy “ making it clear that properties should decline any requests to use our hotels as detention facilities.
” The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit challenging hotel detention .
ICE declined to comment , citing pending litigation .
MIAMI — Authorities say two South Florida men used fake and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in coronavirus relief funds .
Records show Jean Fleuridor and Hasan Brown made separate appearances this past week in Miami federal court on bank fraud conspiracy charges .
According to a criminal complaint , Fleuridor , Brown and their co-conspirators began a scheme in 2017 to defraud a Texas bank using about 700 fake identities to create bank accounts and shell companies .
Prosecutors say members of the group began using those fake identities and companies this spring to fraudulently apply for federal loans meant to help small businesses financially survive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pakistan ’ s foreign minister says his countrymen are lucky that coronavirus caused only 6,284 deaths in Pakistan since February , far less compared to projections under which they could face up to 50,000 COVID-19 deaths by the end of August .
Shah Mahmood Qureshi says coronavirus cases are in steady decline in Pakistan .
He says the situation is bad in neighboring India , where thousands of new cases were being added daily .
Pakistan reported only 319 new cases and one death in the past 24 hours .
Pakistan has reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection was detected in the country .
BERLIN — Tens of thousands of people are taking part in a protest in Berlin against pandemic restrictions after a court overturned a ban issued by authorities in the German capital .
Some among the crowd Saturday waved American , Russian or German Reich flags , while others wore T-shirts promoting the “ Q ” conspiracy theory or denouncing Germany ’ s limited rules requiring the wearing of masks .
The Berlin regional government had sought to ban the protest , citing rallies earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being spread weren ’ t respected .
Protest organizers successfully appealed the decision , though a court ordered them to ensure social distancing — a measure that wasn ’ t being enforced Saturday .
In eastern Paris , a few hundred people rallied to protest new mask rules and other restrictions prompted by rising coronavirus infections in France .
Masks are now required everywhere in public in Paris .
BEIJING — About one-third of students returned to school in the Chinese capital on Saturday in a staggered start to the new school year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ batch of 590,000 students in Beijing included all three years of high school , the first and third years of middle school and the first grade of primary school .
Another 400,000 students are to start school on Tuesday , and the final 520,000 on Sept. 7 .
Both students and teachers are required to wear masks .
China reported nine new coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period , bringing its official total to 85,022 .
All the new cases were overseas arrivals .
The country ’ s death toll remained at @ @

By The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 299 new cases of the coronavirus as officials placed limits on dining at restaurants and closed fitness centers and after-school academies in the greater capital area to slow the spread of the virus.
The 17th consecutive day of triple-digit daily increases brought the national caseload to 19,699, including 323 deaths.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 209 of the new cases came from the capital of Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province and Incheon, a region that had been at the center of a viral resurgence this month.
Health authorities have ordered churches and nightspots to close and shifted more schools back to remote learning nationwide as infections spiked in recent weeks.
For eight days starting Sunday, restaurants in the Seoul metropolitan area will be allowed to provide only deliveries and takeouts after 9 p.m. Franchised coffee shops like Starbucks will sell only takeout drinks and food while gyms and after-school academies will be shut to slow the viral spread in the region.
___
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
— Detroit to honor 1,500 who died from coronavirus
— Italy tests record 99,000 for virus, turn up 1,444 cases
— Restaurants and bars in Anchorage will reopen
— Nurses on the front lines of New York’s COVID-19 pandemic call for state to enact minimum staffing standards before another wave of infections.
— Shiite Muslims are observing the solemn holy day of Ashoura that they typically mark with large, mournful gatherings, in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.
— Tour de France riders sped past a hospital in Nice where health workers are traumatized by their battle against the coronavirus.
___
Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
___
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation health officials say the confirmation of a new death brings the number of fatalities from coronavirus to 500. The Navajo Nation on Friday night reported the additional death as well as 14 more confirmed cases of COVID-19. That brings the total number of people infected to 9,780. But that includes 165 cases that occurred between early April and mid-August and were recently identified as COVID-19 related. Navajo officials said 94,099 people have been tested for the coronavirus and 7,032 have recovered. The Navajo Nation lifted its stay-at-home order on Aug. 16, but is asking residents to go out for emergencies or essentials.
___
HONOLULU — The Hawaii Department of Public Safety says that three inmates and one staff member at the Oahu Community Correction Center tested positive for COVID-19.
There are now more than 300 people who have tested positive at the Honolulu facility, including 256 inmates and 53 employees, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
Early in the pandemic, several advocacy groups raised concerns about the safety of others crowded in jails and prisons statewide and mentioned the risk of an outbreak.
Since then, the Hawaii Supreme Court has had ongoing orders to release defendants incarcerated for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor crimes to open space in the facilities.
The state Department of Health has reported more than 7,800 confirmed coronavirus cases and 59 deaths, including 265 newly confirmed cases and four deaths, as of Friday.
___
PHOENIX — Arizona has reached a grim milestone of more than 5,000 known coronavirus deaths.
The state Department of Health Services reported 629 confirmed coronavirus cases and 29 more deaths on Saturday to total 5,007.
Meanwhile, Arizona State University President Michael Crow says 452 students have tested positive for the coronavirus. More than half involve students who live off campus in the metro Phoenix area.
Crow says 205 students are currently in quarantine on the Tempe campus.
MIAMI — Health officials in Florida are reporting 150 new deaths from COVID-19 and 3,197 new confirmed cases.
The new deaths bring the average daily toll reported over the past week to 120. The number of new known cases is down from peaks averaging nearly 12,000 daily in mid-July.
The positivity rate in testing has averaged below 10 percent over the past week. The number of people treated in Florida hospitals for coronavirus has also been declining since highs of more than 9,500 on July 23.
Florida has confirmed 619,000 cases and 11,246 deaths.
___
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Restaurants and bars in Anchorage will reopen Monday for dine-in service with some restrictions after city officials announced an updated emergency order.
Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz has replaced a four-week order, which closed food establishments to indoor service and drew criticism from the industry. That order expired Sunday.
The updated regulation means businesses can resume dine-in service at no more than 50% of building capacity. Patrons will be required to practice social distancing.
Masks must be worn by all employees, and also by customers when they aren’t eating or drinking
In Alaska, more than 5,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus since March and 37 have died.
___
CHICAGO — Freshmen and sophomore students at Northwestern University will take classes remotely, the Chicago school announced.
The Chicago Tribune reports Northwestern University officials originally planned for undergraduate students to return to campus. The university also is keeping fraternity and sorority houses shuttered during the fall semester.
Students in their third and fourth years or graduate and professional programs are allowed on campus and can take classes remotely, in person or a mix of both.
Universities around the country have struggled with plans for the fall semester as the coronavirus continues to spread. Early outbreaks forced some schools’ administrators to cancel in-person classes temporarily or for the fall semester.
___
HILLSBORO, Mo. — A county south of St. Louis has revoked a mask mandate just one day after passing it.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Jefferson County Health Center Board of Trustees voted unanimously Friday to revoke the ordinance. The county says the decision came after residents raised concerns about whether the board had appropriately notified the public before discussing the ordinance.
State Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, raised concerns Friday about potential Sunshine Law violations. Jefferson County has reported 2,663 cases of the coronavirus and 45 deaths.
___
ROME — Every Italian region reported new coronavirus cases after a record 99,000 tests turned up another 1,444 cases.
The health ministry says one more victim of COVID-19 brought Italy’s official death toll to 35,473 on Saturday.
Italy has nearly doubled its daily tests this month amid a surge in new infections, mostly among young people returning from vacation. While most are asymptomatic, the number of people requiring hospitalization and intensive care is creeping back up.
Italy, the onetime European epicenter of the virus, plans to start school on Sept. 14. Unlike other European countries, Italy never reopened schools last spring.
___
DETROIT — The city of Detroit is seeking about 400 volunteers to assist with a memorial to honor residents who have died from the coronavirus.
A memorial drive at Belle Isle State Park is scheduled for Monday. Mayor Mike Duggan declared the day as Detroit Memorial Day to remember residents who didn’t have the funerals because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Families will drive in 15 processions past nearly 900 enlarged photos of their loved ones. Hearses will lead the processions. More than 1,500 Detroit residents have died from complications of the virus.
The public can visit Belle Isle to see the photos Tuesday and Wednesday. Duggan says, “we felt it was important and necessary to provide an opportunity for members of this community to collectively celebrate the lives of those we’ve lost to this terrible virus. This is how we begin the healing process.
___
NICE, France — French authorities have made it harder for Tour de France teams to reach the finish line in Paris if a member tests positive.
They’ve decided teams will be expelled from the race if two or more of their staff members test positive for the coronavirus within a week. The move was announced just a few hours before the start of the three-week race’s opening stage in Nice.
It overruled a decision from cycling’s governing body that had eased the Tour’s exclusion rules on Friday. There are 30 members per team, which includes staff.
This week, four staff members of the Belgian team Lotto-Soudal were sent home after “non-negative” coronavirus tests. The team says a mechanic and a member of the rider support staff returned “one positive and one suspicious result.” Both left the race bubble, along with their roommates.
___
BOSTON — This year’s Boston Marathon is a virtual event because of the coronavirus pandemic, but a weeklong TV special will showcase runners’ stories as they go the distance on their own.
Amazon and WBZ-TV are teaming up on a “Boston Marathon Live” broadcast that will air nightly Sept. 7-13. The show is co-produced by the Boston Athletic Association, which puts on the marathon every year.
Registered runners will complete the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) distance and share accounts of their preparation, motivation and execution. Athletes can use a mobile app the BAA is rolling out to upload their routes and finish times.
The marathon normally is held in April. It was postponed to mid-September because of the pandemic and canceled in May for the first time in its 124-year history.
___
NEW DELHI — India will resume its metro rail services in a phased manner on Sept. 7 and ease most of its nationwide restrictions on travel.
That’s despite more than 75,000 cases of coronavirus reported for the third consecutive day.
India’s Home Ministry says sports, entertainment, religious and political events will be allowed with a limit of 100 people. Schools, colleges, swimming pools and indoor theatres will remain closed.
India has a total of 3.46 million confirmed cases and nearly 63,000 deaths, third highest in the world behind the United States and Brazil.
___
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders have reached an agreement on a bill to temporarily protect people from evictions.
The bill would ban evictions for tenants who haven’t paid their rent between the months of March and August because of the coronavirus. Tenants need to sign a document saying they have a financial hardship because of the virus.
The protections would continue beyond August if tenants can pay at least 25% of their cumulatively owed rent between Sept. 1 and Jan. 31. Evictions could resume on Feb. 1.
The bill would not forgive the missed payments. Tenants would still owe the money. Landlords could sue them to get the money back, and a judge could order them to pay it. But tenants could not be evicted.
The California court system has halted most eviction and foreclosure proceedings since April 6 because of the pandemic. But those protections end Tuesday, prompting concerns of a wave of evictions in a state that already has the largest homeless population in the country.
___
BARCELONA, Spain — Police officers have dismantled an illegal party in a warehouse in Barcelona, where 160 people didn’t wear masks or respect social distancing.
Partygoers and two organizers were charged for not enforcing the health measures against COVID-19, while another person was arrested for selling drugs, according to a statement released Saturday by the Catalonian regional police.
Since mid-August, nightclubs were closed throughout Spain to slow down a new wave of outbreaks. The country ended a strict three-month lockdown in June.
Social gatherings of more than 10 people are banned starting Saturday in Catalonia. There were 1,547 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the total cases to 128,396 in this region.
Spain’s coronavirus case tally is nearing 440,000, with the highest rate of contagion in western Europe. There have been 29,000 deaths.
___
ELOY, Ariz. — Immigration and Customs Enforcement has reported 233 more confirmed cases of coronavirus at one of its facilities in Arizona.
The infections at the La Palma Correctional Center in Eloy now total 356 cases. It’s unclear how many people are detained at La Palma, but ICE spokeswoman Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe says the agency recently expanded virus testing at La Palma and tested 1,000 detainees.
More than 21,000 people are held in ICE custody on civil immigration violations nationwide.
The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, an advocacy group that provides legal services, say the high number of infections underscores the need to release immigrants from detention.
Advocacy groups across the country have filed several lawsuits seeking to release vulnerable populations during the pandemic. ICE has, on some occasions, released detainees who have health conditions.
The agency reported 850 new positive cases nationwide Friday for a total of 5,300 cases since the start of the pandemic.
___
HOUSTON — The U.S. government has detained children at several major hotel chains during the coronavirus pandemic instead of transferring them to government-funded shelters.
The data released Friday show that since March, the Trump administration has used hotels to hold at least 660 children, most unaccompanied by a parent, before expelling them to their countries of origin.
The administration says it cannot allow children to stay in the U.S. due to the coronavirus pandemic. But opponents of U.S. immigration policy contend the pandemic is being used to deny access to asylum or other protections in federal law.
Various hotel chains have been used to house children, and at least 25 hotels and motels have been used since March to detain children.
Marriott spokeswoman Connie Kim says the company last month issued a policy “making it clear that properties should decline any requests to use our hotels as detention facilities.”
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit challenging hotel detention. ICE declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
___
MIAMI — Authorities say two South Florida men used fake and stolen identities to steal over $3 million in coronavirus relief funds.
Records show Jean Fleuridor and Hasan Brown made separate appearances this past week in Miami federal court on bank fraud conspiracy charges.
According to a criminal complaint, Fleuridor, Brown and their co-conspirators began a scheme in 2017 to defraud a Texas bank using about 700 fake identities to create bank accounts and shell companies.
Prosecutors say members of the group began using those fake identities and companies this spring to fraudulently apply for federal loans meant to help small businesses financially survive the coronavirus pandemic.
___
MULTAN, Pakistan — Pakistan’s foreign minister says his countrymen are lucky that coronavirus caused only 6,284 deaths in Pakistan since February, far less compared to projections under which they could face up to 50,000 COVID-19 deaths by the end of August.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi says coronavirus cases are in steady decline in Pakistan. He says the situation is bad in neighboring India, where thousands of new cases were being added daily. Pakistan reported only 319 new cases and one death in the past 24 hours.
Pakistan has reported 295,372 cases since February when the first infection was detected in the country.
___
BERLIN — Tens of thousands of people are taking part in a protest in Berlin against pandemic restrictions after a court overturned a ban issued by authorities in the German capital.
Some among the crowd Saturday waved American, Russian or German Reich flags, while others wore T-shirts promoting the “Q” conspiracy theory or denouncing Germany’s limited rules requiring the wearing of masks.
The Berlin regional government had sought to ban the protest, citing rallies earlier this month where rules intended to stop the virus being spread weren’t respected. Protest organizers successfully appealed the decision, though a court ordered them to ensure social distancing — a measure that wasn’t being enforced Saturday.
In eastern Paris, a few hundred people rallied to protest new mask rules and other restrictions prompted by rising coronavirus infections in France. Masks are now required everywhere in public in Paris.
___
BEIJING — About one-third of students returned to school in the Chinese capital on Saturday in a staggered start to the new school year because of the coronavirus.
The first batch of 590,000 students in Beijing included all three years of high school, the first and third years of middle school and the first grade of primary school. Another 400,000 students are to start school on Tuesday, and the final 520,000 on Sept. 7.
Both students and teachers are required to wear masks.
China reported nine new coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing its official total to 85,022. All the new cases were overseas arrivals. The country’s death toll remained at 4,634.
___


mercurynews--2020-08-30--Trump’s intel chief ends election security briefings to Hill

WASHINGTON — The nation ’ s top intelligence official has informed Congress that his office will no longer give in-person election security briefings on Capitol Hill , a move that raised concern among lawmakers Saturday about the public ’ s right to know about foreign interference in the upcoming presidential election .
President Donald Trump said National Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe made the decision because the administration “ got tired ” of intelligence about election security leaking from Congress .
“ They leaked the information … and what ’ s even worse , they leaked the wrong information and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told reporters while attending a briefing on Hurricane Laura in Orange , Texas .
He didn ’ t offer details to support his statement .
Sen. Angus King , I-Maine , said the idea that the national intelligence director ’ s office would stop briefing Congress on foreign threats to the U.S. election is “ an outrage ” and that written updates were “ flatly insufficient.
” “ America ’ s election — indeed , our foundation of democracy itself — is under threat as we face weaponized disinformation from global foes around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the Senate ’ s intelligence committee , said in a lengthy statement .
“ To stifle and limit the American peoples ’ awareness of this fact can not be explained — or allowed.
” Ratcliffe , who oversees the nation ’ s intelligence agencies , sent formal notification letters Saturday to the Senate and House leadership and the chairmen and ranking members of both chambers ’ intelligence committees .
In the letter , Ratcliffe wrote : “ I believe this approach helps ensure , to the maximum extent possible , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support of your oversight responsibilities on elections security , foreign malign influence , and election interference is not misunderstood nor politicized.
” White House chief of staff Mark Meadows , who was with Trump in Texas , said lawmakers will still be sent full written readouts .
Meadows said Ratcliffe is going to make sure there are “ proper tools for their oversight.
” Earlier this month , the nation ’ s counterintelligence chief , William Evanina , issued a statement saying U.S. intelligence officials believe Russia is using various methods to denigrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin are boosting Trump ’ s reelection bid .
U.S. officials also believe China does not want Trump to win a second term and has accelerated its criticism of the White House , Evanina wrote .
“ This intelligence belongs to the American people , not the agencies which are its custodian , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff , the Democrat who chairs the House ’ s intelligence committee , said in a joint statement .
“ The American people have both the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another nation , Russia , is trying to help decide who their president should be.
” Pelosi and Schiff called the decision a “ betrayal of the public ’ s right to know how foreign powers are trying to subvert our democracy.
” • ‘ How dare we not vote ?
’ Black voters organize after DC march • US doctors find possible case of COVID-19 reinfection An official with the House intelligence committee said the decision was unexpected because Ratcliffe ’ s office earlier had reached out to schedule an in-person briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A room on Capitol Hill had already been reserved , according to the official , who did not have permission to speak about the issue publicly and requested anonymity .

By Deb Riechmann | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The nation’s top intelligence official has informed Congress that his office will no longer give in-person election security briefings on Capitol Hill, a move that raised concern among lawmakers Saturday about the public’s right to know about foreign interference in the upcoming presidential election.
President Donald Trump said National Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe made the decision because the administration “got tired” of intelligence about election security leaking from Congress.
“They leaked the information … and what’s even worse, they leaked the wrong information and we got tired of it,” Trump told reporters while attending a briefing on Hurricane Laura in Orange, Texas. He didn’t offer details to support his statement.
Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said the idea that the national intelligence director’s office would stop briefing Congress on foreign threats to the U.S. election is “an outrage” and that written updates were “flatly insufficient.”
“America’s election — indeed, our foundation of democracy itself — is under threat as we face weaponized disinformation from global foes around the planet,” King, a member of the Senate’s intelligence committee, said in a lengthy statement. “To stifle and limit the American peoples’ awareness of this fact cannot be explained — or allowed.”
Ratcliffe, who oversees the nation’s intelligence agencies, sent formal notification letters Saturday to the Senate and House leadership and the chairmen and ranking members of both chambers’ intelligence committees.
[vemba-video id=”politics/2020/08/29/angus-king-dni-election-security-briefings-tsr-sot-vpx.cnn”]
In the letter, Ratcliffe wrote: “I believe this approach helps ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that the information ODNI provides the Congress in support of your oversight responsibilities on elections security, foreign malign influence, and election interference is not misunderstood nor politicized.”
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who was with Trump in Texas, said lawmakers will still be sent full written readouts. Meadows said Ratcliffe is going to make sure there are “proper tools for their oversight.”
Earlier this month, the nation’s counterintelligence chief, William Evanina, issued a statement saying U.S. intelligence officials believe Russia is using various methods to denigrate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and that people linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin are boosting Trump’s reelection bid. U.S. officials also believe China does not want Trump to win a second term and has accelerated its criticism of the White House, Evanina wrote.
On Saturday, Democratic lawmakers criticized Ratcliffe’s decision.
“This intelligence belongs to the American people, not the agencies which are its custodian,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democrat who chairs the House’s intelligence committee, said in a joint statement. “The American people have both the right and the need to know that another nation, Russia, is trying to help decide who their president should be.”
Pelosi and Schiff called the decision a “betrayal of the public’s right to know how foreign powers are trying to subvert our democracy.”


mercurynews--2020-08-29--Trump surveys Hurricane Laura damage in post-convention trip

LAKE CHARLES , La .
— President Donald Trump got a firsthand look Saturday at the damage from Hurricane Laura on a post-Republican National Convention trip that allowed him to use the trappings of his office to try to project empathy and leadership .
His stops , first in Louisiana and later in Texas , came two days after the Category 4 storm slammed the Gulf Coast , leaving at least 16 dead and wreaking havoc with severe winds and flooding .
While the storm surge has receded and the cleanup effort has begun , hundreds of thousands remain without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for weeks or months as the hot summer stretches on .
“ I ’ m here to support the great people of Louisiana .
It ’ s been a great state for me , ” he said in Lake Charles .
“ It was a tremendously powerful storm.
” He said he knows one thing about the state : “ They rebuild it fast.
” During the slightly more than two hours he spent in the city , Trump met with officials and relief workers but not with any of the residents whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storm .
He did , however , get a good look at the extensive damage and the debris strewn across the city of 80,000 people , beginning with the bird ’ s eye view from Air Force One as it came in for landing .
His first stop was a warehouse being used as a staging area for the Cajun Navy , a group of Louisiana volunteers who help with search and rescue after hurricanes and floods .
“ Good job , ” Trump told them .
Trump then toured a neighborhood with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf , making his way down a street blocked by felled trees and where houses were battered by the storm , one with its entire roof torn off .
Edwards has said Laura was the most powerful hurricane ever to strike his state , surpassing even Hurricane Katrina , which was a Category 3 when it hit almost exactly 15 years ago .
“ Whether you come from Louisiana or 5th Avenue In New York , you know about Katrina , ” Trump said .
The president then flew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was the worst-hit area in the state .
Several hundred supporters greeted his arrival with Trump 2020 flags , banners and signs .
Among the officials on hand were Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas .
Before a flyover to view damaged areas , Trump and other officials visited the emergency operations center in Orange County to discuss storm damage and the government response .
He was flying back to Washington Saturday evening .
Trump has sometimes struggled with his role as consoler in chief , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard hit by tragedy and disaster .
That includes in Puerto Rico , where Trump was photographed tossing rolls of paper towel into the crowd , which some saw as inappropriately playful , given the circumstances .
During a trip to the Carolinas in 2018 , Trump marveled at a yacht floodwaters had washed onto a family ’ s property , telling them , “ At least you got a nice boat out of the deal.
” And he was caught on camera telling a person he ’ d handed out food to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , Trump has been a source of comfort .
After a tornado ripped through Alabama last year , killing nearly two dozen people , Trump spent time with families who ’ d lost loved ones , listening to their stories and hugging them .
Showing empathy has come more naturally for his Democratic rival , Joe Biden , who issued a statement Saturday saying he and his wife were praying for those hurt by the storm and promising that “ we will be there to help you build back better.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Biden praised the response of families in the hurricane-hit states and thanked them for “ reminding Americans that no disaster , no single person , no injustice can match the humble , personal , courageous ways that Americans choose decency every single day.
” Laura , which packed 150-mph ( 240-kph ) winds and a storm surge as high as 15 feet ( 4.5 meters ) , toppled trees and damaged buildings as far north as central Arkansas .
More than 580,000 coastal residents evacuated in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach Category 4 before hitting Gulf Coast More than half of those who died succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning from the unsafe operation of generators .
The hurricane also killed nearly two dozen people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as it barreled toward the U.S .

By Jill Colvin | Associated Press
LAKE CHARLES, La. — President Donald Trump got a firsthand look Saturday at the damage from Hurricane Laura on a post-Republican National Convention trip that allowed him to use the trappings of his office to try to project empathy and leadership.
His stops, first in Louisiana and later in Texas, came two days after the Category 4 storm slammed the Gulf Coast, leaving at least 16 dead and wreaking havoc with severe winds and flooding. While the storm surge has receded and the cleanup effort has begun, hundreds of thousands remain without power or water, and they could for weeks or months as the hot summer stretches on.
“I’m here to support the great people of Louisiana. It’s been a great state for me,” he said in Lake Charles. “It was a tremendously powerful storm.” He said he knows one thing about the state: “They rebuild it fast.”
During the slightly more than two hours he spent in the city, Trump met with officials and relief workers but not with any of the residents whose homes had been ripped apart in the storm.
He did, however, get a good look at the extensive damage and the debris strewn across the city of 80,000 people, beginning with the bird’s eye view from Air Force One as it came in for landing.
His first stop was a warehouse being used as a staging area for the Cajun Navy, a group of Louisiana volunteers who help with search and rescue after hurricanes and floods. “Good job,” Trump told them.
[vemba-video id=”us/2020/08/28/hurricane-laura-mississippi-river-backwards-orig-dp.cnn”]
Trump then toured a neighborhood with Gov. John Bel Edwards and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, making his way down a street blocked by felled trees and where houses were battered by the storm, one with its entire roof torn off.
Edwards has said Laura was the most powerful hurricane ever to strike his state, surpassing even Hurricane Katrina, which was a Category 3 when it hit almost exactly 15 years ago.
“Whether you come from Louisiana or 5th Avenue In New York, you know about Katrina,” Trump said.
The president then flew by helicopter to Orange, Texas, which was the worst-hit area in the state. Several hundred supporters greeted his arrival with Trump 2020 flags, banners and signs. Among the officials on hand were Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. Before a flyover to view damaged areas, Trump and other officials visited the emergency operations center in Orange County to discuss storm damage and the government response. He was flying back to Washington Saturday evening.
Trump has sometimes struggled with his role as consoler in chief, failing to project empathy when visiting places hard hit by tragedy and disaster. That includes in Puerto Rico, where Trump was photographed tossing rolls of paper towel into the crowd, which some saw as inappropriately playful, given the circumstances. During a trip to the Carolinas in 2018, Trump marveled at a yacht floodwaters had washed onto a family’s property, telling them, “At least you got a nice boat out of the deal.” And he was caught on camera telling a person he’d handed out food to “have a good time.”
Other times, Trump has been a source of comfort. After a tornado ripped through Alabama last year, killing nearly two dozen people, Trump spent time with families who’d lost loved ones, listening to their stories and hugging them.
Showing empathy has come more naturally for his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, who issued a statement Saturday saying he and his wife were praying for those hurt by the storm and promising that “we will be there to help you build back better.”
In a possible subtle dig at the incumbent, Biden praised the response of families in the hurricane-hit states and thanked them for “reminding Americans that no disaster, no single person, no injustice can match the humble, personal, courageous ways that Americans choose decency every single day.”
Laura, which packed 150-mph (240-kph) winds and a storm surge as high as 15 feet (4.5 meters), toppled trees and damaged buildings as far north as central Arkansas. More than 580,000 coastal residents evacuated in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
More than half of those who died succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning from the unsafe operation of generators. The hurricane also killed nearly two dozen people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as it barreled toward the U.S.


mercurynews--2020-08-29--Arizona student group slammed for raising money for gunman

TEMPE , Ariz. ( AP ) — A Republican student group at Arizona State University is receiving backlash for donating money to the 17-year-old gunman who fatally shot two protesters in Wisconsin .
College Republicans United announced this week that half of any funds they raise during the semester will go toward paying for the legal defense of Kyle Rittenhouse .
“ He does not deserve to have his entire life destroyed because of the actions of violent anarchists during a lawless riot , ” the group said in a tweet .
Authorities in Kenosha , Wisconsin , say Rittenhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wounded a third with an AR-15 rifle Tuesday .
The victims were part of anti-racism demonstrations occurring in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake , who is Black , by a white police officer .
Blake , who was shot seven times , remains hospitalized .
Rittenhouse told police he was trying to protect businesses and people and acted in self-defense .
At a hearing Friday , a judge postponed a decision on whether Rittenhouse , who is in custody in Illinois , should be returned to Wisconsin to face charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said in a statement the school can not prohibit a group from fundraising .
But the school does not endorse the fundraiser .
• Police : 3 officers shot while responding to call in Maryland The group is not the only one raising money for Rittenhouse .
A self-described Christian fundraising site , GiveSendGo , says it has raised more than $ 100,000 for his defense .

TEMPE, Ariz. — A Republican student group at Arizona State University is receiving backlash for donating money to the 17-year-old gunman who fatally shot two protesters in Wisconsin.
College Republicans United announced this week that half of any funds they raise during the semester will go toward paying for the legal defense of Kyle Rittenhouse.
“He does not deserve to have his entire life destroyed because of the actions of violent anarchists during a lawless riot,” the group said in a tweet.
Authorities in Kenosha, Wisconsin, say Rittenhouse shot and killed two people and severely wounded a third with an AR-15 rifle Tuesday. The victims were part of anti-racism demonstrations occurring in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake, who is Black, by a white police officer.
Blake, who was shot seven times, remains hospitalized.
Rittenhouse told police he was trying to protect businesses and people and acted in self-defense. At a hearing Friday, a judge postponed a decision on whether Rittenhouse, who is in custody in Illinois, should be returned to Wisconsin to face charges, including first-degree intentional homicide.
ASU officials said in a statement the school cannot prohibit a group from fundraising. But the school does not endorse the fundraiser.


mercurynews--2020-08-29--What happens next in the Scott Peterson case after his death sentence was overturned?

SACRAMENTO , Calif. — The reversal of Scott Peterson ’ s death sentence on Monday came as a “ big relief ” to his family , his sister-in-law said .
And while Peterson ’ s attorney blames the District Attorney ’ s office for not speaking up when the judge erroneously excused jurors , the lead prosecutor on the case said they looked to the experienced judge for guidance .
“ To know they are not going to stick a needle in his arm , that is a big relief , ” Janey Peterson said .
“ It was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy weight ” to carry .
Scott Peterson is the 38th inmate on California ’ s death row to see his sentence reversed since 1998 , according to California Supreme Court data .
The court reversed the death sentences in fewer than 8.5 % of the 444 cases it has heard on automatic appeal during that time and Peterson ’ s attorney , Cliff Gardner , can think of only a few other cases that were reversed for the same reason .
The trial judge in Peterson ’ s case , Al Delucchi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stated they were opposed to the death penalty because he didn ’ t first determine whether they could put their beliefs aside and follow the law , according to the unanimous opinion by the court Monday .
In fact , the court provided several examples of potential jurors who said they could still impose a sentence of death despite their beliefs .
“ The record shows defense counsel consistently resisted these dismissals , ” the opinion reads .
Janey Peterson said she knew 15 years ago Scott ’ s death penalty sentence would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ errors ” made during jury selection .
The court said that because “ long-standing United States Supreme Court precedent ” was not followed , “ the penalty phase , in this case , was over before it ever began.
” The prosecution did not speak up as these errors were occurring to ensure an adequate record , according to the opinion .
“ You ’ ve got three experienced prosecutors who either knew the law or they didn ’ t know the law , ” Gardner said .
“ I find either explanation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager , who led the prosecution team during the 2004 trial , said they and the judge “ were indeed aware of the requirements regarding death qualification of jurors.
” “ Judge Delucchi was the most experienced and qualified judge in the state at that time in handling death penalty cases , ” Fladager said in an email Thursday .
“ He had even recently had a death penalty case affirmed on appeal prior to the Peterson case .
He was wading through in excess of 1,200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 20 pages .
All of the questionnaires were thoroughly reviewed and discussed by the parties and Judge Delucchi made what he believed were appropriate excusal for cause decisions.
” Scott Peterson was convicted of killing his wife Laci Peterson and unborn son Conner in 2002 .
Laci Peterson was about 8 months pregnant when she disappeared on Christmas Eve .
Peterson said he had gone fishing that day in the San Francisco Bay and returned to an empty home .
The remains of Laci and Conner , the couple ’ s unborn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly a mile apart along the shore of the San Francisco Bay , less than two miles from where Peterson said he fished .
Of the 38 death sentences reversed by the California Supreme Court in the last 22 years , nine saw a reversal of the guilty conviction .
Janey Peterson had hopes Scott ’ s case would have the same outcome .
But the court ’ s seven justices did not agree with Gardner ’ s argument that errors in the jury selection process should render the results of the guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made about an unfair trial .
California has not executed anyone since 2006 because of legal challenges over the three-drug method it was using .
It faced more challenges as it tried to come up with a new drug protocol .
And Gov .
Gavin Newsom put in place a moratorium on the death penalty in March 2019 , suspending all executions while he is governor in spite of voters ’ wishes .
In 2016 a majority voted against repealing the death penalty in Proposition 62 , and voted in favor of fast-tracking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peterson ’ s mother , Sharon Rocha , had vigorously campaigned for Prop .
66 and against Prop .
62 and said in 2016 she was pleased with the outcome .
She did not return messages seeking comment at the time of Newsom ’ s moratorium or since the court ’ s decision .
Gardner said the petition can either be heard by the California Supreme Court or get sent back to Stanislaus County Superior Court , and there is no time limit on when it is to be heard .
Peterson and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which represented the state in Peterson ’ s appeal , can petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review the California Supreme Court ’ s opinion .
They have 150 days to petition the court for review , Gardner said , typically 90 days but the time frame has been extended due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Neither side has made a decision on whether they will .
Fladager can also retry the penalty phase of the trial but she said she won ’ t make a decision on that until after the attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review by the U.S. Supreme Court .
For now , Scott Peterson ’ s sentence effectively becomes life without the possibility of parole .
He will remain in death row housing at San Quentin State Prison , at least until Fladager decides whether to pursue a new penalty phase trial , California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokeswoman Terry Thornton said Thursday .
Gardner would not say if he ’ s spoken to Peterson since Monday ’ s decision , saying he doesn ’ t discuss the personal conversations he has with clients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not yet spoken to Scott and assumes he learned about the death sentence reversal by watching the news on the TV in his cell .
According to media reports from a group of journalists who toured death row at San Quentin in 2016 , Scott Peterson is housed in a unit that allows for more privileges , including more recreation time .
“ Inmates can walk about the open tier , and walk themselves to the yard .
The waiting list to get in is decades long , ” reads a Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what unit Peterson lives in but said inmate privileges are based on their behavior , not where they are housed .
She noted that Peterson has never incurred any rules violations since entering the prison in March 2005 .
If his new life sentence stands , classification officials will review Peterson ’ s case factors to determine where he would be moved , which could include a different prison altogether .
• Sheriff and undersheriff plead the Fifth , supervisor blames bad memory in Santa Clara County gun-permit probe • Manhattan DA says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing decisions for all incarcerated people are made on a case-by-case basis based on their classification score and custody level , and taking into account that person ’ s security , medical , psychiatric and program needs , ” Thornton said .

By Erin Tracy | Sacramento Bee
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The reversal of Scott Peterson’s death sentence on Monday came as a “big relief” to his family, his sister-in-law said.
And while Peterson’s attorney blames the District Attorney’s office for not speaking up when the judge erroneously excused jurors, the lead prosecutor on the case said they looked to the experienced judge for guidance.
“To know they are not going to stick a needle in his arm, that is a big relief,” Janey Peterson said. “It was a very long wait and it is a heavy weight” to carry.
Scott Peterson is the 38th inmate on California’s death row to see his sentence reversed since 1998, according to California Supreme Court data.
The court reversed the death sentences in fewer than 8.5% of the 444 cases it has heard on automatic appeal during that time and Peterson’s attorney, Cliff Gardner, can think of only a few other cases that were reversed for the same reason.
The trial judge in Peterson’s case, Al Delucchi, wrongly excluded 13 potential jurors who stated they were opposed to the death penalty because he didn’t first determine whether they could put their beliefs aside and follow the law, according to the unanimous opinion by the court Monday.
In fact, the court provided several examples of potential jurors who said they could still impose a sentence of death despite their beliefs. “The record shows defense counsel consistently resisted these dismissals,” the opinion reads.
Janey Peterson said she knew 15 years ago Scott’s death penalty sentence would be reversed because of the “egregious errors” made during jury selection.
The court said that because “long-standing United States Supreme Court precedent” was not followed, “the penalty phase, in this case, was over before it ever began.”
The prosecution did not speak up as these errors were occurring to ensure an adequate record, according to the opinion.
“You’ve got three experienced prosecutors who either knew the law or they didn’t know the law,” Gardner said. “I find either explanation puzzling. I find either explanation unsatisfactory.”
Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager, who led the prosecution team during the 2004 trial, said they and the judge “were indeed aware of the requirements regarding death qualification of jurors.”
“Judge Delucchi was the most experienced and qualified judge in the state at that time in handling death penalty cases,” Fladager said in an email Thursday. “He had even recently had a death penalty case affirmed on appeal prior to the Peterson case. He was wading through in excess of 1,200 juror questionnaires that were each in excess of 20 pages. All of the questionnaires were thoroughly reviewed and discussed by the parties and Judge Delucchi made what he believed were appropriate excusal for cause decisions.”
Delucchi died in 2008.
Scott Peterson was convicted of killing his wife Laci Peterson and unborn son Conner in 2002.
Laci Peterson was about 8 months pregnant when she disappeared on Christmas Eve. Peterson said he had gone fishing that day in the San Francisco Bay and returned to an empty home. The remains of Laci and Conner, the couple’s unborn son, eventually were found months later roughly a mile apart along the shore of the San Francisco Bay, less than two miles from where Peterson said he fished.
Of the 38 death sentences reversed by the California Supreme Court in the last 22 years, nine saw a reversal of the guilty conviction.
Janey Peterson had hopes Scott’s case would have the same outcome. But the court’s seven justices did not agree with Gardner’s argument that errors in the jury selection process should render the results of the guilty phase unreliable, nor other arguments he made about an unfair trial.
California has not executed anyone since 2006 because of legal challenges over the three-drug method it was using. It faced more challenges as it tried to come up with a new drug protocol. And Gov. Gavin Newsom put in place a moratorium on the death penalty in March 2019, suspending all executions while he is governor in spite of voters’ wishes.
In 2016 a majority voted against repealing the death penalty in Proposition 62, and voted in favor of fast-tracking it in Prop. 66.
Laci Peterson’s mother, Sharon Rocha, had vigorously campaigned for Prop. 66 and against Prop. 62 and said in 2016 she was pleased with the outcome. She did not return messages seeking comment at the time of Newsom’s moratorium or since the court’s decision.
Gardner said the petition can either be heard by the California Supreme Court or get sent back to Stanislaus County Superior Court, and there is no time limit on when it is to be heard.
Peterson and the Attorney General’s Office, which represented the state in Peterson’s appeal, can petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review the California Supreme Court’s opinion. They have 150 days to petition the court for review, Gardner said, typically 90 days but the time frame has been extended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Neither side has made a decision on whether they will.
Fladager can also retry the penalty phase of the trial but she said she won’t make a decision on that until after the attorney general and Gardner make a decision regarding review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
For now, Scott Peterson’s sentence effectively becomes life without the possibility of parole.
He will remain in death row housing at San Quentin State Prison, at least until Fladager decides whether to pursue a new penalty phase trial, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokeswoman Terry Thornton said Thursday.
Gardner would not say if he’s spoken to Peterson since Monday’s decision, saying he doesn’t discuss the personal conversations he has with clients.
Janey Peterson said Wednesday she had not yet spoken to Scott and assumes he learned about the death sentence reversal by watching the news on the TV in his cell.
According to media reports from a group of journalists who toured death row at San Quentin in 2016, Scott Peterson is housed in a unit that allows for more privileges, including more recreation time.
“Inmates can walk about the open tier, and walk themselves to the yard. The waiting list to get in is decades long,” reads a Los Angeles Times story.
Thornton would not confirm what unit Peterson lives in but said inmate privileges are based on their behavior, not where they are housed. She noted that Peterson has never incurred any rules violations since entering the prison in March 2005.
If his new life sentence stands, classification officials will review Peterson’s case factors to determine where he would be moved, which could include a different prison altogether.
“All housing decisions for all incarcerated people are made on a case-by-case basis based on their classification score and custody level, and taking into account that person’s security, medical, psychiatric and program needs,” Thornton said.
(c)2020 The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.)
Visit The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) at www.sacbee.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


mercurynews--2020-08-29--‘How dare we not vote?’ Black voters organize after DC march

WASHINGTON — Tears streamed down Brooke Moreland ’ s face as she watched tens of thousands gather on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to decry systemic racism and demand racial justice in the wake of several police killings of Black Americans .
But for the Indianapolis mother of three , the fiery speeches delivered Friday at the commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom also gave way to one central message : Vote and demand change at the ballot box in November .
“ As Black people , a lot of the people who look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to sit in public , to vote , to go to school and to be able to walk around freely and live our lives , ” the 31-year-old Moreland said .
“ Every election is an opportunity , so how dare we not vote after our ancestors fought for us to be here ?
” That determination could prove critical in a presidential election where race is emerging as a flashpoint .
President Donald Trump , at this past week ’ s Republican National Convention , emphasized a “ law and order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base of supporters .
His Democratic rival , Joe Biden , has expressed empathy with Black victims of police brutality and is counting on strong turnout from African Americans to win critical states such as North Carolina , Florida , Pennsylvania and Michigan .
As the campaign enters its latter stages , there ’ s an intensifying effort among African Americans to transform frustration over police brutality , systemic racism and the disproportionate toll of the coronavirus into political power .
Organizers and participants said Friday ’ s march delivered a much needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do not vote in numbers that we ’ ve never ever seen before and allow this administration to continue what it is doing , we are headed on a course for serious destruction , ” Martin Luther King III told The Associated Press before his rousing remarks , delivered 57 years after his father ’ s famous “ I Have A Dream ” speech .
“ I ’ m going to do all that I can to encourage , promote , to mobilize and what ’ s at stake is the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What ’ s at stake is the future of our children.
” As speakers implored attendees to “ vote as if our lives depend on it , ” the march came on the heels of yet another shooting by a white police officer of a Black man – 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha , Wisconsin , last Sunday — sparking demonstrations and violence that left two dead .
“ We need a new conversation … you act like it ’ s no trouble to shoot us in the back , ” the Rev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote is dipped in blood .
We ’ re going to vote for a nation that stops the George Floyds , that stops the Breonna Taylors.
” Navy veteran Alonzo Jones- Goss , who traveled to Washington from Boston , said he plans to vote for Biden because the nation has seen far too many tragic events that have claimed the lives of Black Americans and other people of color .
“ I supported and defended the Constitution and I support the members that continue to do it today , but the injustice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives , that needs to end , ” Jones-Goss , 28 , said .
“ It ’ s been 57 years since Dr. King stood over there and delivered his speech .
But what is unfortunate is what was happening 57 years ago is still happening today.
” Drawing comparisons to the original 1963 march , where participants then were protesting many of the same issues that have endured , National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial said it ’ s clear why this year ’ s election will be pivotal for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reminding people and educating people on how important it is to translate the power of protest into the power of politics and public policy change , ” said Morial , who spoke Friday .
“ So we want to be deliberate about making the connection between protesting and voting.
” Nadia Brown , a Purdue University political science professor , agreed there are similarities between the situation in 1963 and the issues that resonate among Black Americans today .
She said the political pressure that was applied then led to the Voting Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of legislation that transformed the lives of African Americans .
She ’ s hopeful this could happen again in November and beyond .
“ There ’ s already a host of organizations that are mobilizing in the face of daunting things , ” Brown said .
“ Bur these same groups that are most marginalized are saying it ’ s not enough to just vote , it ’ s not enough for the Democratic Party or the Republican Party to ask me for my vote .
I ’ m going to hold these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accountable and I ’ m going to vote in November and hold those same people accountable .
And for me , that is the most uplifting and rewarding part — to see those kind of similarities.
” But Brown noted that while Friday ’ s march resonated with many , it ’ s unclear whether it will translate into action among younger voters , whose lack of enthusiasm could become a vulnerability for Biden .
“ I think there is already a momentum among younger folks who are saying not in my America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they want to live , but will this turn into electoral gains ?
That I ’ m less clear on because a lot of the polling numbers show that pretty overwhelmingly , younger people , millennials and Gen Z ’ s are more progressive and that they are reluctantly turning to this pragmatic side of politics , ” Brown said .
That was clear as the Movement for Black Lives also marked its own historic event Friday — a virtual Black National Convention that featured several speakers discussing pressing issues such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for electoral justice .
• Zuckerberg admits it was ‘ mistake ’ to leave Kenosha militia page up • Kenosha shooting suspect called a friend to say he ‘ killed somebody , ’ police say , and then shot two others • Day after RNC mention , Boogaloo-linked Bay Area man accused of killing cops stands in court with mask referencing police shootings “ I don ’ t necessarily see elections as achieving justice per se because I view the existing system itself as being fundamentally unjust in many ways and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to fundamentally transform , ” said Bree Newsome Bass , an activist and civil rights organizer , during the convention ’ s panel about electoral justice .
“ I do think voting and recognizing what an election should be is a way to kind of exercise that muscle .
”

By Kat Stafford | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Tears streamed down Brooke Moreland’s face as she watched tens of thousands gather on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to decry systemic racism and demand racial justice in the wake of several police killings of Black Americans.
But for the Indianapolis mother of three, the fiery speeches delivered Friday at the commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom also gave way to one central message: Vote and demand change at the ballot box in November.
“As Black people, a lot of the people who look like us died for us to be able to sit in public, to vote, to go to school and to be able to walk around freely and live our lives,” the 31-year-old Moreland said. “Every election is an opportunity, so how dare we not vote after our ancestors fought for us to be here?”
That determination could prove critical in a presidential election where race is emerging as a flashpoint. President Donald Trump, at this past week’s Republican National Convention, emphasized a “law and order” message aimed at his largely white base of supporters. His Democratic rival, Joe Biden, has expressed empathy with Black victims of police brutality and is counting on strong turnout from African Americans to win critical states such as North Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
As the campaign enters its latter stages, there’s an intensifying effort among African Americans to transform frustration over police brutality, systemic racism and the disproportionate toll of the coronavirus into political power. Organizers and participants said Friday’s march delivered a much needed rallying cry to mobilize.
“If we do not vote in numbers that we’ve never ever seen before and allow this administration to continue what it is doing, we are headed on a course for serious destruction,” Martin Luther King III told The Associated Press before his rousing remarks, delivered 57 years after his father’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech. “I’m going to do all that I can to encourage, promote, to mobilize and what’s at stake is the future of our nation, our planet. What’s at stake is the future of our children.”
As speakers implored attendees to “vote as if our lives depend on it,” the march came on the heels of yet another shooting by a white police officer of a Black man – 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday — sparking demonstrations and violence that left two dead.
“We need a new conversation … you act like it’s no trouble to shoot us in the back,” the Rev. Al Sharpton said. “Our vote is dipped in blood. We’re going to vote for a nation that stops the George Floyds, that stops the Breonna Taylors.”
Navy veteran Alonzo Jones- Goss, who traveled to Washington from Boston, said he plans to vote for Biden because the nation has seen far too many tragic events that have claimed the lives of Black Americans and other people of color.
“I supported and defended the Constitution and I support the members that continue to do it today, but the injustice and the people that are losing their lives, that needs to end,” Jones-Goss, 28, said. “It’s been 57 years since Dr. King stood over there and delivered his speech. But what is unfortunate is what was happening 57 years ago is still happening today.”
Drawing comparisons to the original 1963 march, where participants then were protesting many of the same issues that have endured, National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial said it’s clear why this year’s election will be pivotal for Black Americans.
“We are about reminding people and educating people on how important it is to translate the power of protest into the power of politics and public policy change,” said Morial, who spoke Friday. “So we want to be deliberate about making the connection between protesting and voting.”
Nadia Brown, a Purdue University political science professor, agreed there are similarities between the situation in 1963 and the issues that resonate among Black Americans today. She said the political pressure that was applied then led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other powerful pieces of legislation that transformed the lives of African Americans. She’s hopeful this could happen again in November and beyond.
“There’s already a host of organizations that are mobilizing in the face of daunting things,” Brown said. “Bur these same groups that are most marginalized are saying it’s not enough to just vote, it’s not enough for the Democratic Party or the Republican Party to ask me for my vote. I’m going to hold these elected officials that are in office now accountable and I’m going to vote in November and hold those same people accountable. And for me, that is the most uplifting and rewarding part — to see those kind of similarities.”
But Brown noted that while Friday’s march resonated with many, it’s unclear whether it will translate into action among younger voters, whose lack of enthusiasm could become a vulnerability for Biden.
“I think there is already a momentum among younger folks who are saying not in my America, that this is not the place where they want to live, but will this turn into electoral gains? That I’m less clear on because a lot of the polling numbers show that pretty overwhelmingly, younger people, millennials and Gen Z’s are more progressive and that they are reluctantly turning to this pragmatic side of politics,” Brown said.
That was clear as the Movement for Black Lives also marked its own historic event Friday — a virtual Black National Convention that featured several speakers discussing pressing issues such as climate change, economic empowerment and the need for electoral justice.


mercurynews--2020-08-29--Stanford closing most of its campus to the public as a coronavirus precaution

If you were planning to visit the Rodin Sculpture Garden or take in other of the many sites at Stanford University , you ’ re out of luck unless you are a student , staff , researcher or faculty member .
Starting Tuesday , Sept. 1 , the university will bar the public from entering the campus , establishing zones that each have particular restrictions .
Except for zones deemed usable to the public , all others areas will require special permission to enter .
Stanford officials , who earlier announced that most undergraduate students will not be allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the zones were created to allow research activities and education to resume while providing the most protection from the spread of coronavirus .
Although most undergraduate classes are being offered online , the school will see about a third of its students returning to the storied campus for the state of autumn quarter , Sept. 14 .
The zones and restrictions align with the California Department of Public Health ’ s guidelines on universities reopening , officials said .
The guidelines require universities and colleges to “ limit , to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community members from entering the site and using campus resources , as the number of additional people onsite and/or intermixing with students , faculty and staff increases the risk of virus transmission.
” Officials said they wanted to protect Stanford students , staff and faculty , while allowing the public to enjoy at least part of what the campus has to offer .
The university has created five zones : The Academic Campus Zone , bounded by Campus Drive and Roth Way in the center of campus and including many academic buildings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This area is reserved for teaching , research activities and student residences and dining .
The public , as well as alumni , faculty and staff working remotely , and their families , are barred from this zone .
The Campus Zones are on the east and west sides of campus , where student housing and academic facilities are located .
They will be restricted to faculty and staff working on campus as essential personnel , and students , residential faculty , staff and families and other affiliates living in the zones .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It will be reserved for students and essential faculty and staff approved to be on campus .
The Campus Arts Zone covers the Arts District , including the Cantor Arts Center , Rodin Sculpture Garden , the Anderson Collection , Frost Amphitheater and Bing Concert Hall .
As in other restricted zones , access is limited to approved students , faculty and staff .
The Community Zones are located on the edges of campus and include the Arboretum , the Dish area , Stanford Golf Course and Stanford Golf Learning Center & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fields .
These areas will remain open to the public .
Beginning Sept. 8 , when the university expects the number of people on campus to reach about 6,300 for the start of the autumn quarter , all faculty , staff and students must display their Stanford IDs when in any of the restricted zones .
The university will patrol areas to redirect the public and those not displaying their IDs .
In addition , Stanford announced a plan to provide surveillance testing for all students , faculty and staff coming to campus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and monitor the spread of the virus in real time .
The zones are expected to be temporary , but will remain in place through the end of the year .
The restrictions will not affect public access to Stanford Health Care facilities .

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If you were planning to visit the Rodin Sculpture Garden or take in other of the many sites at Stanford University, you’re out of luck unless you are a student, staff, researcher or faculty member.
Starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, the university will bar the public from entering the campus, establishing zones that each have particular restrictions. Except for zones deemed usable to the public, all others areas will require special permission to enter.
Stanford officials, who earlier announced that most undergraduate students will not be allowed to reside on campus during the fall quarter, said the zones were created to allow research activities and education to resume while providing the most protection from the spread of coronavirus. Although most undergraduate classes are being offered online, the school will see about a third of its students returning to the storied campus for the state of autumn quarter, Sept. 14.
The zones and restrictions align with the California Department of Public Health’s guidelines on universities reopening, officials said. The guidelines require universities and colleges to “limit, to the greatest extent permitted by law, external community members from entering the site and using campus resources, as the number of additional people onsite and/or intermixing with students, faculty and staff increases the risk of virus transmission.”
Officials said they wanted to protect Stanford students, staff and faculty, while allowing the public to enjoy at least part of what the campus has to offer.
The university has created five zones:
The Academic Campus Zone, bounded by Campus Drive and Roth Way in the center of campus and including many academic buildings, the Main Quad and the Oval. This area is reserved for teaching, research activities and student residences and dining. The public, as well as alumni, faculty and staff working remotely, and their families, are barred from this zone.
The Campus Zones are on the east and west sides of campus, where student housing and academic facilities are located. They will be restricted to faculty and staff working on campus as essential personnel, and students, residential faculty, staff and families and other affiliates living in the zones.
The Athletics Zone includes varsity athletic facilities. It will be reserved for students and essential faculty and staff approved to be on campus.
The Campus Arts Zone covers the Arts District, including the Cantor Arts Center, Rodin Sculpture Garden, the Anderson Collection, Frost Amphitheater and Bing Concert Hall. As in other restricted zones, access is limited to approved students, faculty and staff.
The Community Zones are located on the edges of campus and include the Arboretum, the Dish area, Stanford Golf Course and Stanford Golf Learning Center & Driving Range, and the Sand Hill Fields. These areas will remain open to the public.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Education | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge Beginning Sept. 8, when the university expects the number of people on campus to reach about 6,300 for the start of the autumn quarter, all faculty, staff and students must display their Stanford IDs when in any of the restricted zones.
The university will patrol areas to redirect the public and those not displaying their IDs. In addition, Stanford announced a plan to provide surveillance testing for all students, faculty and staff coming to campus to quickly identify new cases of COVID-19 and monitor the spread of the virus in real time.
The zones are expected to be temporary, but will remain in place through the end of the year. The restrictions will not affect public access to Stanford Health Care facilities.


mercurynews--2020-08-30--Walters: Rolling blackouts should serve as a California wakeup call

The rolling electrical blackouts that hit California in mid-August were — or should have been — a wakeup call about power supply deficits that have been building for years .
Simply put , state political leaders have committed California to phasing out nuclear- and hydrocarbon-powered generation in favor of “ renewables — primarily solar panel and windmills — in the name of battling climate change , but have failed to ensure we have enough juice to meet demands during the transition .
One nuclear plant , San Onofre , has been shuttered and the other , Diablo Canyon , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
We have shunned imported power generated by coal and one by one , natural gas-fired plants have been ticketed for closure .
At the same time , the amount of electricity generated by sun and wind has been increased with the goal of achieving 100 % renewable supply by 2045 .
On paper , the transition seems to balance out ; on some days California generates more sun and wind power than it can consume .
But the sun doesn ’ t always shine and the wind doesn ’ t always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blackouts occurred during a massive heat wave that drove demand from residential , industrial and commercial air conditioners to very high levels , peaking in late afternoons and early evenings when solar power was declining .
California ’ s Independent System Operator ( ISO ) could not fill the gaps with power from other states because they , too , were experiencing the heat wave , so it ordered selective blackouts to prevent a system-wide crash .
The last time California experienced blackouts , two decades earlier , the governor at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that history was not lost on Gov .
Gavin Newsom .
Newsom directed the ISO , the Public Utilities Commission and the Energy Commission to investigate causes , declaring , “ These blackouts , which occurred without prior warning or enough time for preparation , are unacceptable and unbefitting of the nation ’ s largest and most innovative state .
This can not stand.
” The agencies quickly responded , “ We are working closely as joint energy organizations to understand exactly why these events occurred .
The grid conditions of August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not above similar hot days in prior years.
” While the August 14-15 demands were not excessive in historical terms , the ability to respond to them had been truncated by a failure to maintain flexible supplies that could be brought on line quickly , such as gas-fired “ peaker ” plants .
In fact , the ISO had been warning state political authorities for quite some time that California would face a supply crunch under the circumstances that occurred two weeks ago .
By happenstance , the new sensitivity about our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state agency , the Water Resources Control Board , is on the verge of deciding whether four gas-fired plants in Southern California that use seawater for cooling should be closed as long planned .
Closure would advance the transition to renewable sources , but the Public Utilities Commission and the ISO want to keep them on-line a few years longer , citing the need for flexibility until renewables and new technologies , such as battery banks , are reliable enough to carry the load .
Under the circumstances , delay would seem to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are opposed , fearing the transition to renewables will be retarded , and Newsom is trying to walk a fine political line .
“ We can not sacrifice reliability as we move forward in this transition , ” Newsom said .
He knows that were the plants to shut down and Californians were to experience more blackouts , he would pay the political price .

The rolling electrical blackouts that hit California in mid-August were — or should have been — a wakeup call about power supply deficits that have been building for years.
Simply put, state political leaders have committed California to phasing out nuclear- and hydrocarbon-powered generation in favor of “renewables — primarily solar panel and windmills — in the name of battling climate change, but have failed to ensure we have enough juice to meet demands during the transition.
One nuclear plant, San Onofre, has been shuttered and the other, Diablo Canyon, is scheduled to shut down in a few years. We have shunned imported power generated by coal and one by one, natural gas-fired plants have been ticketed for closure.
At the same time, the amount of electricity generated by sun and wind has been increased with the goal of achieving 100% renewable supply by 2045.
On paper, the transition seems to balance out; on some days California generates more sun and wind power than it can consume. But the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow.
This year’s brief blackouts occurred during a massive heat wave that drove demand from residential, industrial and commercial air conditioners to very high levels, peaking in late afternoons and early evenings when solar power was declining.
California’s Independent System Operator (ISO) could not fill the gaps with power from other states because they, too, were experiencing the heat wave, so it ordered selective blackouts to prevent a system-wide crash.
The last time California experienced blackouts, two decades earlier, the governor at the time, Gray Davis, was recalled, and that history was not lost on Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Newsom directed the ISO, the Public Utilities Commission and the Energy Commission to investigate causes, declaring, “These blackouts, which occurred without prior warning or enough time for preparation, are unacceptable and unbefitting of the nation’s largest and most innovative state. This cannot stand.”
The agencies quickly responded, “We are working closely as joint energy organizations to understand exactly why these events occurred. The grid conditions of August 14 and 15 … were high, but not above similar hot days in prior years.”
While the August 14-15 demands were not excessive in historical terms, the ability to respond to them had been truncated by a failure to maintain flexible supplies that could be brought on line quickly, such as gas-fired “peaker” plants. In fact, the ISO had been warning state political authorities for quite some time that California would face a supply crunch under the circumstances that occurred two weeks ago.
By happenstance, the new sensitivity about our power supply deficit comes just as another state agency, the Water Resources Control Board, is on the verge of deciding whether four gas-fired plants in Southern California that use seawater for cooling should be closed as long planned.
Closure would advance the transition to renewable sources, but the Public Utilities Commission and the ISO want to keep them on-line a few years longer, citing the need for flexibility until renewables and new technologies, such as battery banks, are reliable enough to carry the load.
Under the circumstances, delay would seem to be a no-brainer. But environmental groups are opposed, fearing the transition to renewables will be retarded, and Newsom is trying to walk a fine political line.
“We cannot sacrifice reliability as we move forward in this transition,” Newsom said. He knows that were the plants to shut down and Californians were to experience more blackouts, he would pay the political price.
Dan Walters is a CalMatters columnist.