mercurynews--2020-09-30--Glass Fire: North Bay counts its losses and digs in for siege that could last ‘weeks’

CALISTOGA — Howling winds that fueled the explosive growth of the Glass Fire across Napa and Sonoma counties subsided Tuesday , allowing residents and business owners to take stock of the damage to scores of homes and several renown Wine Country destinations .
But with the fire that ignited in the early hours Monday still burning out of control — threatening Calistoga and St Helena on three sides , while menacing Santa Rosa and other communities — hot and dry conditions forecast for the coming days likely portend a lengthy siege on the North Bay — and a long time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the blaze ’ s path .
“ We ’ re going to be in this for a couple of weeks , ” Santa Rosa Fire Chief Tony Gossner said , “ and it ’ s going to be painful for those that are dealing with it.
” As of Tuesday , the Glass Fire covered more than 42,000 acres and damaged more than 100 structures , including at least 80 homes , most in Napa County .
Deer Park , an unincorporated community north of St. Helena was devastated by the blaze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school and many homes were destroyed .
More than 70,000 people have been ordered to evacuate from the fire ’ s path , including all of Calistoga and parts of St. Helena and Santa Rosa , where some evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings on Tuesday .
Authorities have reported a handful of injuries to civilians , but no deaths .
With fire to the west , east and south , Calistoga was practically a ghost town Tuesday .
The city of about 5,000 residents had been threatened by the deadly Tubbs Fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Napa County to the north side of Santa Rosa in 2017 .
But this time , Calistoga Fire Department spokesman Jaime Orozco said the flames are even closer — within a mile of the city limits by Tuesday morning — and the potential for the blaze to enter the city remains a “ high concern and high priority.
” Still , 25-year-old Max Caldera stayed behind with his two dogs and cousin when his parents and four siblings fled from their downtown Calistoga home late Monday night , after officials issued a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m out if it gets close , ” Caldera said .
“ But today and yesterday there has been a lot of relief , and I ’ m just hoping it dies down now.
” The fire ’ s growth Tuesday was far slower than in its first two days , when powerful off-shore winds turned the blaze that started east of the Silverado Trail early Sunday morning into a monster .
While investigators initially believed the conflagration was the result of three fires that merged into one , Cal Fire Division Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the blazes were in fact spot fires caused when the winds hurled embers from the Glass Fire over the Napa Valley floor and onto its western slope .
From there the flames tore through an overgrown landscape on their way to Santa Rosa , with the fire growing 34,000 acres in 24 hours by Monday night .
The good news is that there is no sign at this point of another off-shore wind event like the one that battered Northern California earlier this week , National Weather Service meteorologist Roger Gass said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the North Bay are forecast to reach the 90s and 100s later this week , creating “ persistent critically dry conditions across those areas , ” Gass said .
Even the relatively typical on-shore winds forecast for the area will be a concern , he said , with the potential to drive the fire ’ s spread to the east .
And the chances for worse weather could rise if the fight drags on — the North Bay typically sees several off-shore wind events each October .
Just down Highway 29 from Calistoga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday despite fire damage at the landmark Castello di Amorosa property .
The winery ’ s famed castle building and wine tasting rooms were not damaged in the Glass Fire , but its farm house — which held management offices , a fermentation room and an estimated $ 5 million worth of wine — was severely damaged .
Other losses in the area included the Chateau Boswell winery , the heritage winery building at Burgess Cellars , the winery and tasting room at Fairwinds Estate and buildings at Hourglass Wine .
Both the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage — Chef Christopher Kostow confirmed that his three-Michelin-star Restaurant at Meadowood burned to the ground .
The cause remains under investigation .
Utility wires were down in two areas along North Fork Crystal Springs Road , the narrow hillside lane near where authorities said the fire broke out just before 4 a.m. Sunday , and workers were in the area Tuesday inspecting power lines .
Pacific Gas and Electric Company officials said they have not received any indication their equipment could have sparked a fire .
In nearby St Helena , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed .
Still , neighborhood streets were lined with cars and a small grocery store in town , Sunshine Foods , was running on a generator and busy as residents dropped in to grab supplies to get them through the next few days .
Zendy Olguin , 38 , returned to her home on the west side of town with her husband and four children after evacuating to Napa on Sunday night , when she walked outside and could see flames in the hills above her home .
On Tuesday , Olguin received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restored , and they decided to head home .
“ That ’ s really what we were gauging — if the power comes back , that kind of means we should be okay , ” she said .
But heavy smoke and poor visibility was already giving her doubts .
“ It ’ s starting to look pretty bad again , ” she said .

CALISTOGA — Howling winds that fueled the explosive growth of the Glass Fire across Napa and Sonoma counties subsided Tuesday, allowing residents and business owners to take stock of the damage to scores of homes and several renown Wine Country destinations.
But with the fire that ignited in the early hours Sunday still burning out of control — threatening Calistoga and St Helena on three sides, while menacing Santa Rosa and other communities — hot and dry conditions forecast for the coming days likely portend a lengthy siege on the North Bay — and a long time away from home for thousands who evacuated from the blaze’s path.
“We’re going to be in this for a couple of weeks,” Santa Rosa Fire Chief Tony Gossner said, “and it’s going to be painful for those that are dealing with it.”
As of Tuesday night, the Glass Fire had burned 46,600 acres and was 2 percent contained. It has destroyed or damaged more than 100 structures, including at least 80 homes, most in Napa County. Deer Park, an unincorporated community north of St. Helena was devastated by the blaze — its town hall, an elementary school and many homes were destroyed.
More than 70,000 people have been ordered to evacuate from the fire’s path, including all of Calistoga and parts of St. Helena and Santa Rosa, where some evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings on Tuesday. Authorities have reported a handful of injuries to civilians, but no deaths.
CALISTOGA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Sacramento firefighters light a backfire to prevent the Glass Fire from jumping Highway 29 near Mora Avenue in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Sacramento firefighters light a backfire to prevent the Glass Fire from jumping Highway 29 near Mora Avenue in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Sacramento firefighters light a backfire to prevent the Glass Fire from jumping Highway 29 near Mora Avenue in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: A Sacramento firefighter pauses as they light a backfire to prevent the Glass Fire from jumping Highway 29 near Mora Avenue in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: A Sacramento firefighter lights a backfire to prevent the Glass Fire from jumping Highway 29 near Mora Avenue in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Sacramento firefighters light a backfire to prevent the Glass Fire from jumping Highway 29 near Mora Avenue in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Sacramento firefighters light a backfire to prevent the Glass Fire from jumping Highway 29 near Mora Avenue in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Sacramento firefighter Brian Vidosh is bathed in the glow from a backfire they lit to prevent the Glass Fire from jumping Highway 29 near Mora Avenue in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: A Sacramento firefighter watches after they lit a backfire to prevent the Glass Fire from jumping Highway 29 near Mora Avenue in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: The entrance to Castello di Amorosa is photographed in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. The winery's warehouse sustained damage during the blaze caused by the Glass Fire. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: Venessa Close, an accounting manager at Castello di Amorosa, right, hugs colleague Katja Reuter outside of the damaged warehouse that was burnt by the Glass Fire at the winery in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: Burned bottles destroyed by the Glass Fire lay outside the warehouse at Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: The warehouse at Castello di Amorosa sustained damage during a blaze that burned a portion of the warehouse in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: Georg Salzner, president of Castello di Amorosa, walks past the winery's warehouse that was damaged during a blaze caused by the Glass Fire in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: The warehouse at Castello di Amorosa sustained damage during a blaze that burned a portion of the warehouse in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
ST. HELENA - SEPTEMBER 29: A downed electrical pole lays near North Fork Crystal Road in St. Helena, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
DEER PARK, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Nancy Ambrosini, right, and her daughter Chloee carry water from the family's pool to put out hot spots in the rubble of their home in the Deer Park community just north of St. Helena, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. The family has lived there for 24 years and evacuated, but weren't able to save any of their belongings. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
DEER PARK, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Burned Meyer lemons are seen on a tree in the rubble of Garvin and Nancy Ambrosini's home in the Deer Park community just north of St. Helena, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. The family evacuated, but weren't able to save any of their belongings. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
DEER PARK, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Garvin Ambrosini looks at a sign near the rubble of his home in the Deer Park community just north of St. Helena, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. The family has lived there for 24 years and evacuated, but weren't able to save any of their belongings. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
DEER PARK, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Damage to the destroyed Deer Park Community Hall from the Glass Fire is seen in the Deer Park community just north of St. Helena, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
DEER PARK, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: The remains of the Foothills Adventist Elementary School is seen in the Deer Park community just north of St. Helena, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. The Glass Fire continues to burn. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Damage from the Glass Fire is seen at the Fairwinds Estate Winery in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
DEER PARK, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Destruction from the Glass Fire is seen in the Deer Park community just north of St. Helena, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
ANGWIN, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Evacuation tags placed by the Napa County Sheriff's Department are seen along Howell Mountain Road in Angwin, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. The town was under a mandatory evacuation due to the Glass Fire. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
OAKVILLE, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: A waxing gibbous moon rises near a windmill at the Nickel & Nickel Winery along Highway 29 in Oakville, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
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With fire to the west, east and south, Calistoga was practically a ghost town Tuesday. The city of about 5,000 residents had been threatened by the deadly Tubbs Fire, which raced across a similar path from Napa County to the north side of Santa Rosa in 2017. But this time, Calistoga Fire Department spokesman Jaime Orozco said the flames are even closer — within a mile of the city limits by Tuesday morning — and the potential for the blaze to enter the city remains a “high concern and high priority.”
Still, 25-year-old Max Caldera stayed behind with his two dogs and cousin when his parents and four siblings fled from their downtown Calistoga home late Monday night, after officials issued a citywide evacuation order.
“I’m out if it gets close,” Caldera said. “But today and yesterday there has been a lot of relief, and I’m just hoping it dies down now.”
The fire’s growth Tuesday was far slower than in its first two days, when powerful off-shore winds turned the blaze that started east of the Silverado Trail early Sunday morning into a monster.
While investigators initially believed the conflagration was the result of three fires that merged into one, Cal Fire Division Chief Ben Nicholls said they now suspect two of the blazes were in fact spot fires caused when the winds hurled embers from the Glass Fire over the Napa Valley floor and onto its western slope. From there the flames tore through an overgrown landscape on their way to Santa Rosa, with the fire growing 34,000 acres in 24 hours by Monday night.
The good news is that there is no sign at this point of another off-shore wind event like the one that battered Northern California earlier this week, National Weather Service meteorologist Roger Gass said. The bad news: Temperatures across the North Bay are forecast to reach the 90s and 100s later this week, creating “persistent critically dry conditions across those areas,” Gass said.
Even the relatively typical on-shore winds forecast for the area will be a concern, he said, with the potential to drive the fire’s spread to the east. And the chances for worse weather could rise if the fight drags on — the North Bay typically sees several off-shore wind events each October.
The weather service on Thursday night issued a fire weather watch for the North Bay mountains above 1,000 feet, and specifically the Glass Fire. The watch is slated to take effect at 1 p.m. Thursday and run through 6 p.m. Friday. The weather service said winds are expected to increase from the northwest from 10 to 20 mph, with gusts from 25 to 30 mph; the forecast also calls for humidity values of 15 to 25 percent above 1,000 feet.
Just down Highway 29 from Calistoga, workers were back to crushing grapes Tuesday despite fire damage at the landmark Castello di Amorosa property. The winery’s famed castle building and wine tasting rooms were not damaged in the Glass Fire, but its farm house — which held management offices, a fermentation room and an estimated $5 million worth of wine — was severely damaged.
Other losses in the area included the Chateau Boswell winery, the heritage winery building at Burgess Cellars, the winery and tasting room at Fairwinds Estate and buildings at Hourglass Wine. Both the Meadowood and Calistoga Ranch resorts reported extensive damage — Chef Christopher Kostow confirmed that his three-Michelin-star Restaurant at Meadowood burned to the ground.
The cause remains under investigation. Utility wires were down in two areas along North Fork Crystal Springs Road, the narrow hillside lane near where authorities said the fire broke out just before 4 a.m. Sunday, and workers were in the area Tuesday inspecting power lines. Pacific Gas and Electric Company officials said they have not received any indication their equipment could have sparked a fire.
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Living with air pollution, especially from wildfires or agriculture, raises risk of dementia, US study finds Crime and Public Safety | Cadaver dogs are in Maui to help find the dead. Here’s how it works and why it’s difficult In nearby St Helena, which was partially evacuated, most businesses were closed. Still, neighborhood streets were lined with cars and a small grocery store in town, Sunshine Foods, was running on a generator and busy as residents dropped in to grab supplies to get them through the next few days.
Zendy Olguin, 38, returned to her home on the west side of town with her husband and four children after evacuating to Napa on Sunday night, when she walked outside and could see flames in the hills above her home. On Tuesday, Olguin received a notice that their power had been restored, and they decided to head home.
“That’s really what we were gauging — if the power comes back, that kind of means we should be okay,” she said. But heavy smoke and poor visibility was already giving her doubts. “It’s starting to look pretty bad again,” she said.
Jane Tyska, Linda Zavoral, Jessica Yadegaran and Jason Green contributed reporting.


mercurynews--2020-09-30--Critter Corner: How to prepare your pet for an evacuation

Dear Miss Behavin ’ : Recently I was under a potential evacuation order due to a fire nearby .
Luckily , I didn ’ t have to evacuate , but it made me realize I wasn ’ t at all prepared to evacuate with my cat .
What should I know about having to leave quickly with my pet ?
The first thing to do is to make sure your cat is microchipped and has your most up to date information , as well as up to date on their vaccines .
Have their carrier in a place where it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is familiar/comfortable with it .
Like a human emergency go bag , make a pet emergency bag that will be ready to go if you must leave in a flash .
It should have at least one week ’ s supply of food , water , medication , bedding , treats , bowls for food/water , a litterbox , and litter .
Aluminum roasting pans make for a good disposable litter tray in a pinch .
Food and medication must also be rotated out of the emergency kit , so they don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an out-of-the-area friend/family member who can help care for your pet in the event of an emergency .
Have an updated list of emergency vet clinics and pet-friendly hotels on hand .
You can also get a window sticker for your residence that lets emergency services know if there is a pet inside .
If time allows , you can write “ Evacuated ” on the sticker , so they know you and your pet got out safely .
The best thing you can do for yourself and your pet is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assistant for the Behavior and Training Department at the Peninsula Humane Society & nSPCA .
For more information , visit www.PHS-SPCA.org , call 650-340-7022 , ext .
416 , or e-mail aelias @ phs-spca.org .

Dear Miss Behavin’: Recently I was under a potential evacuation order due to a fire nearby. Luckily, I didn’t have to evacuate, but it made me realize I wasn’t at all prepared to evacuate with my cat.
What should I know about having to leave quickly with my pet? The first thing to do is to make sure your cat is microchipped and has your most up to date information, as well as up to date on their vaccines. Have their carrier in a place where it is easily accessible and that your pet is familiar/comfortable with it. Like a human emergency go bag, make a pet emergency bag that will be ready to go if you must leave in a flash. It should have at least one week’s supply of food, water, medication, bedding, treats, bowls for food/water, a litterbox, and litter. Aluminum roasting pans make for a good disposable litter tray in a pinch. Food and medication must also be rotated out of the emergency kit, so they don’t go bad.
Establish a local and an out-of-the-area friend/family member who can help care for your pet in the event of an emergency. Have an updated list of emergency vet clinics and pet-friendly hotels on hand. You can also get a window sticker for your residence that lets emergency services know if there is a pet inside. If time allows, you can write “Evacuated” on the sticker, so they know you and your pet got out safely. The best thing you can do for yourself and your pet is to be prepared!
Alex Elias is the Assistant for the Behavior and Training Department at the Peninsula Humane Society & nSPCA. For more information, visit www.PHS-SPCA.org, call 650-340-7022, ext. 416, or e-mail aelias@phs-spca.org.


mercurynews--2020-09-30--Subscribers, we have a new way to log in. Please read to learn how

Our new and improved login system has arrived , here ’ s what you need to know : • As of today , a new login system replaced our old login system .
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Dear Valued Subscriber,
Our new and improved login system has arrived, here’s what you need to know:
As of today, a new login system replaced our old login system. With this enhancement, you’ll automatically be logged out of your account and will need to log in to the new system.
and will need to log in to the new system. With our new login system, in addition to your regular username and password, you’ll now have the option to login using your Google, Facebook, or Apple account.
If you do not wish to log in using a social account, your current username and password will work to get you logged back in.
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mercurynews--2020-09-30--Theranos case: Feds hit back at Elizabeth Holmes’ bid to nix charges

Federal prosecutors responded to a barrage of attempts by Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes to have fraud charges against her thrown out , saying her lawyers had made no attempt to meet the requirements for a judge to revisit a decision .
Prosecutors also attacked Holmes ’ claim that they were using a “ cryptic ” definition of “ investors ” against her .
Holmes , charged with 12 felony fraud counts in connection with her defunct Palo Alto blood-testing startup , in late August filed a group of motions seeking dismissal of charges and the indictments against her .
Among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edward Davila in U.S. District Court in San Jose was a request that he nix seven charges on the basis that prosecutors have introduced a “ cryptic and tortured definition of the term ‘ investors ’ ” that “ would expand exponentially the scope of the alleged scheme to defraud.
” In another motion , attempting to have indictments against her thrown out , she claimed Davila had erred earlier when he agreed with prosecutors that the indictments sufficiently alleged that she and co-accused former Theranos president Sunny Balwani had “ a duty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addressed that claim in a short filing this month that said although Holmes ’ team was trying to get the judge to revisit his decision to uphold the indictments , they had made no attempt “ to meet the standards for reconsideration.
” Holmes , a Stanford University dropout who founded Theranos in 2003 , is charged with allegedly bilking investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars , and defrauding doctors and patients with false claims that the company ’ s machines could conduct a full range of tests using just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Balwani have denied the allegations .
Prosecutors , responding to Holmes ’ claim that they were using an unclear definition of “ investors , ” said her petition to Davila “ appears to stem from strategic concerns rather than genuine confusion or concern.
” Holmes ’ motion had said prosecutors were using loose language that could see people and entities classed as potentially defrauded investors just for having “ engaged in transactions ” with Theranos .
“ Which business partners ?
” Holmes ’ lawyers asked in the filing .
“ How is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ invested ’ in Theranos ?
” Her team , prosecutors argued in response , should understand “ investors ” according to common sense and its usual meaning , in this case meaning “ individuals or entities who paid Theranos money in exchange for Theranos securities.
” Also , the feds said , “ there is no requirement that an indictment disclose the name of each victim who was defrauded during a far-reaching fraudulent scheme , ” adding that they weren ’ t even required to prove individual victims were defrauded because “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself regardless of whether it is completed.
” The individuals and entities who invested include “ certain business partners ” along with members of the Theranos board and others who put their money into “ purpose-built firms , ” prosecutors argued .
All are “ readily identifiable ” using the terms of the indictments , prosecutors ’ filing said .
“ As to business partners , both Safeway and Walgreens qualify as investors under any reasonable definition of the term , ” the filing said .
Theranos ’ machines had been available for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alto and Arizona .
Safeway built clinics for Theranos machines in hundreds of stores but testing never started , the Wall Street Journal has reported .
Forbes in 2015 pegged Holmes ’ net worth at $ 4.5 billion , based on an estimated $ 9 billion valuation for Theranos and her ownership of half the company ’ s stock .
But the Securities and Exchange Commission has said Holmes never sold any stock , and that between 2013 and 2015 she received a salary of $ 200,000 to $ 390,000 per year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ SEC , Holmes agreed to pay a $ 500,000 fine within a year .
• Theranos founder Holmes claims judge erred , as she files barrage of attacks on her fraud charges Holmes faces a potential 20-year prison sentence , up to $ 2.75 million in fines , and possible restitution to investors the government alleges lost more than $ 700 million .
The federal government has said that if she ’ s found guilty , it will go after any ill-gotten money or assets she may have .
Plaintiffs in a separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her criminal trial , twice delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic , is scheduled to start in March .

Federal prosecutors responded to a barrage of attempts by Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes to have fraud charges against her thrown out, saying her lawyers had made no attempt to meet the requirements for a judge to revisit a decision. Prosecutors also attacked Holmes’ claim that they were using a “cryptic” definition of “investors” against her.
Holmes, charged with 12 felony fraud counts in connection with her defunct Palo Alto blood-testing startup, in late August filed a group of motions seeking dismissal of charges and the indictments against her. Among her five Aug. 28 petitions to Judge Edward Davila in U.S. District Court in San Jose was a request that he nix seven charges on the basis that prosecutors have introduced a “cryptic and tortured definition of the term ‘investors’” that “would expand exponentially the scope of the alleged scheme to defraud.”
In another motion, attempting to have indictments against her thrown out, she claimed Davila had erred earlier when he agreed with prosecutors that the indictments sufficiently alleged that she and co-accused former Theranos president Sunny Balwani had “a duty of trust” to investors.
Prosecutors addressed that claim in a short filing this month that said although Holmes’ team was trying to get the judge to revisit his decision to uphold the indictments, they had made no attempt “to meet the standards for reconsideration.”
Holmes, a Stanford University dropout who founded Theranos in 2003, is charged with allegedly bilking investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars, and defrauding doctors and patients with false claims that the company’s machines could conduct a full range of tests using just a few drops of blood. She and Balwani have denied the allegations.
Prosecutors, responding to Holmes’ claim that they were using an unclear definition of “investors,” said her petition to Davila “appears to stem from strategic concerns rather than genuine confusion or concern.”
Holmes’ motion had said prosecutors were using loose language that could see people and entities classed as potentially defrauded investors just for having “engaged in transactions” with Theranos. “Which business partners?” Holmes’ lawyers asked in the filing. “How is the government alleging that such business partners ‘invested’ in Theranos?”
Her team, prosecutors argued in response, should understand “investors” according to common sense and its usual meaning, in this case meaning “individuals or entities who paid Theranos money in exchange for Theranos securities.”
Also, the feds said, “there is no requirement that an indictment disclose the name of each victim who was defrauded during a far-reaching fraudulent scheme,” adding that they weren’t even required to prove individual victims were defrauded because “the wire fraud statute criminalizes the scheme itself regardless of whether it is completed.”
The individuals and entities who invested include “certain business partners” along with members of the Theranos board and others who put their money into “purpose-built firms,” prosecutors argued. All are “readily identifiable” using the terms of the indictments, prosecutors’ filing said. “As to business partners, both Safeway and Walgreens qualify as investors under any reasonable definition of the term,” the filing said.
Theranos’ machines had been available for patient use at Walgreens stores in Palo Alto and Arizona. Safeway built clinics for Theranos machines in hundreds of stores but testing never started, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
Forbes in 2015 pegged Holmes’ net worth at $4.5 billion, based on an estimated $9 billion valuation for Theranos and her ownership of half the company’s stock. But the Securities and Exchange Commission has said Holmes never sold any stock, and that between 2013 and 2015 she received a salary of $200,000 to $390,000 per year. In a March 2018 settlement with the SEC, Holmes agreed to pay a $500,000 fine within a year.
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Her criminal trial, twice delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, is scheduled to start in March.


mercurynews--2020-09-30--Pelosi says she is ‘hopeful’ about virus aid legislation

WASHINGTON – U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Tuesday she hoped to have a coronavirus aid deal with the White House this week , after speaking with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin for about 50 minutes and making plans for further talks on Wednesday .
“ I ’ m hopeful , ” Pelosi told reporters who asked whether agreement on additional coronavirus relief could be reached this week .
Her discussion with Mnuchin on Tuesday was their third conversation in as many days .
“ The two went over the provisions of the updated Heroes Act and agreed to speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hammill said on Twitter , referring to a $ 2.2 trillion measure unveiled on Monday by House of Representatives Democrats .
Pelosi has taken the lead for Democrats in trying to reach a compromise with the Trump administration on a further coronavirus relief bill .
Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer had been pressing for a $ 3.4 trillion relief package , but scaled back their demands by over a trillion dollars .
House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern told reporters that lawmakers could take up the legislation as soon as Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s next conversation with Mnuchin .
“ We ’ re trying to figure out … whether or not they ’ re willing to , you know , negotiate , ” McGovern said .
“ We ’ re making a lot of compromises … so we ’ ll see what they say.
” In an interview with CNBC , White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow made clear that the White House still viewed the $ 2.2 trillion figure as too high .
“ There are things , I think , that both sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team wants a gigantic package and we don ’ t think we need that , ” he said .
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said previously that President Donald Trump would be willing to sign a $ 1.3 trillion measure .
Pelosi on Monday urged the Trump administration to raise its offer .

By Tim Ahmann and Susan Cornwell | Reuters
WASHINGTON – U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Tuesday she hoped to have a coronavirus aid deal with the White House this week, after speaking with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin for about 50 minutes and making plans for further talks on Wednesday.
“I’m hopeful,” Pelosi told reporters who asked whether agreement on additional coronavirus relief could be reached this week. Her discussion with Mnuchin on Tuesday was their third conversation in as many days.
“The two went over the provisions of the updated Heroes Act and agreed to speak again tomorrow,” Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said on Twitter, referring to a $2.2 trillion measure unveiled on Monday by House of Representatives Democrats .
Pelosi has taken the lead for Democrats in trying to reach a compromise with the Trump administration on a further coronavirus relief bill.
Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer had been pressing for a $3.4 trillion relief package, but scaled back their demands by over a trillion dollars. House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern told reporters that lawmakers could take up the legislation as soon as Wednesday but that a lot depended on Pelosi’s next conversation with Mnuchin.
“We’re trying to figure out … whether or not they’re willing to, you know, negotiate,” McGovern said. “We’re making a lot of compromises … so we’ll see what they say.”
In an interview with CNBC, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow made clear that the White House still viewed the $2.2 trillion figure as too high.
“There are things, I think, that both sides agree with, but then the other team wants a gigantic package and we don’t think we need that,” he said.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said previously that President Donald Trump would be willing to sign a $1.3 trillion measure. Pelosi on Monday urged the Trump administration to raise its offer.


mercurynews--2020-09-30--Alameda selects interim police chief

Alameda selects interim police chief

ALAMEDA — The city has tapped former Fairfield police chief to serve as interim police chief until someone permanent is @ @ @ @ @ Randy Fenn will step into the position on Monday .
The former Alameda police chief @ @ @ @ @ in July that he was retiring after 28 years with the department .
Fenn retired @ @ @ @ @ Fairfield police chief .
Before serving in Fairfield , Fenn worked in law enforcement in @ @ @ @ @ He received a bachelor ’ s degree from Golden Gate University and a master ’ @ @ @ @ @ from the University of Cincinnati .
Alameda has hired a recruitment firm as it looks @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I look forward to working with Chief Fenn over the coming months , @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
“ Chief Fenn ’ s commitment to partnering with and @ @ @ @ @ as a proven leader and clear communicator will support the department while we work together @ @ @ @ @ chief .
”

ALAMEDA — The city has tapped a former Fairfield police chief to serve as interim police chief until someone permanent is hired for the slot.
Randy Fenn will step into the position on Monday.
The former Alameda police chief, Paul Rolleri, announced in July that he was retiring after 28 years with the department.
Fenn retired earlier this year as the Fairfield police chief. Before serving in Fairfield, Fenn worked in law enforcement in Truckee and in Concord. He received a bachelor’s degree from Golden Gate University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati.
Alameda has hired a recruitment firm as it looks for a new police chief.
“I look forward to working with Chief Fenn over the coming months,” City Manager Eric Levitt said in a statement. “Chief Fenn’s commitment to partnering with and developing staff and his reputation as a proven leader and clear communicator will support the department while we work together to hire a new police chief.”


mercurynews--2020-09-30--Liberty disputes report about Falwell Jr. severance

RICHMOND , Va. — Liberty University said it paid its recently resigned president , Jerry Falwell Jr. , the two years ’ base salary owed under his employment contract Tuesday .
The Lynchburg , Virginia-based Christian university issued a brief statement about the compensation that did not provide an exact figure but said previous “ media reports regarding the size and terms ” of Falwell ’ s severance were incorrect .
Falwell stepped down in August from his post at the school founded by his late evangelical father after a series of scandals .
“ By his pre-existing contract , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ base salary as severance , ” the statement said .
“ Additional compensation that Mr. Falwell receives under his agreement following his resignation are only accrued retirement benefits .
These accrued retirement payments reflect reasonable terms after 30 years of service to Liberty , with 13 as university president.
” Falwell , who declined comment in response to questions from The Associated Press last month about the terms of his employment contract and exit package , has previously discussed the matter with other news organizations that reported he would receive $ 10.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached for comment Tuesday .
Falwell ’ s “ reportable compensation ” from Liberty was $ 1,099,356 , according to a 2018 tax form the school provided AP .
Other compensation was listed as $ 59,655 .
Liberty ’ s statement also said there was no severance or retirement negotiated in exchange for Falwell ’ s resignation last month .
Falwell , an early supporter and close ally of President Donald Trump , resigned after Reuters published an interview with Giancarlo Granda , a much younger business partner of the Falwell family , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual relationship with Falwell ’ s wife , Becki Falwell , and Jerry Falwell participated in some of the liaisons as a voyeur .
Although the Falwells have acknowledged a sexual relationship between Becki Falwell and Granda , Jerry Falwell has said he had no role in the affair .
Falwell had already been on leave since earlier in August after a swift backlash to a photo he posted on social media .
The image showed him with his pants unzipped , stomach exposed and arm high around the waist of his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held a glass of dark liquid that he described in a caption as “ black water.
” Falwell has said the photo was taken at a costume party during a family vacation .
The week after Falwell ’ s resignation , Liberty ’ s board announced it had retained an outside firm to conduct a wide-ranging inquiry into Falwell ’ s tenure as president that would include financial , real estate and legal matters .
• Pelosi says she is ‘ hopeful ’ about virus aid legislation • Court nominee Barrett visits with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far declined to identify the firm it has retained , but spokesman Scott Lamb told AP Tuesday that the work had commenced .
“ They have begun their investigative work and those who want to know should understand who they are in a week or so , ” he wrote in an email .

By Sarah Rankin | Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va. — Liberty University said it paid its recently resigned president, Jerry Falwell Jr., the two years’ base salary owed under his employment contract Tuesday.
The Lynchburg, Virginia-based Christian university issued a brief statement about the compensation that did not provide an exact figure but said previous “media reports regarding the size and terms” of Falwell’s severance were incorrect. Falwell stepped down in August from his post at the school founded by his late evangelical father after a series of scandals.
“By his pre-existing contract, Mr. Falwell is entitled to two years’ base salary as severance,” the statement said. “Additional compensation that Mr. Falwell receives under his agreement following his resignation are only accrued retirement benefits. These accrued retirement payments reflect reasonable terms after 30 years of service to Liberty, with 13 as university president.”
Falwell, who declined comment in response to questions from The Associated Press last month about the terms of his employment contract and exit package, has previously discussed the matter with other news organizations that reported he would receive $10.5 million. He could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
Falwell’s “reportable compensation” from Liberty was $1,099,356, according to a 2018 tax form the school provided AP. Other compensation was listed as $59,655.
Liberty’s statement also said there was no severance or retirement negotiated in exchange for Falwell’s resignation last month.
Falwell, an early supporter and close ally of President Donald Trump, resigned after Reuters published an interview with Giancarlo Granda, a much younger business partner of the Falwell family, who said that he had a yearslong sexual relationship with Falwell’s wife, Becki Falwell, and Jerry Falwell participated in some of the liaisons as a voyeur.
Although the Falwells have acknowledged a sexual relationship between Becki Falwell and Granda, Jerry Falwell has said he had no role in the affair.
Falwell had already been on leave since earlier in August after a swift backlash to a photo he posted on social media. The image showed him with his pants unzipped, stomach exposed and arm high around the waist of his wife’s pregnant assistant. He also held a glass of dark liquid that he described in a caption as “black water.” Falwell has said the photo was taken at a costume party during a family vacation.
The week after Falwell’s resignation, Liberty’s board announced it had retained an outside firm to conduct a wide-ranging inquiry into Falwell’s tenure as president that would include financial, real estate and legal matters.
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“They have begun their investigative work and those who want to know should understand who they are in a week or so,” he wrote in an email.


mercurynews--2020-09-29--Kurtenbach: The A’s will have to find their heart if they want to avoid another first-round exit

The good news for the A ’ s is that they still have another game to play .
The past few years , that has not been the case .
The bad news is , well , everything else .
The A ’ s were mowed down in Game 1 of their wild card series against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday , losing 4-1 .
And while losing a game is something that happens all the time , it was how the A ’ s lost Tuesday is what ’ s most concerning .
Not only did the prospect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first pitch onwards , but once the A ’ s fell behind to Chicago , they also showed little scrap , fight , or — dare I say it ?
— heart .
The A ’ s rolled over Tuesday , and that does not bode well for Wednesday ’ s elimination game .
The A ’ s listless performance tells us one of two things : either Chicago is significantly better than Oakland or the A ’ s don ’ t have what it takes between the ears to win this series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first option .
Chicago is unquestionably a bad matchup for Oakland , but it is not a juggernaut — there ’ s a reason they fell to the No .
7 seed .
The A ’ s are much better than they showed Tuesday .
The second option ?
Well , the jury is still out , and things aren ’ t looking good .
• All-around failure : White Sox crush mistakes , A ’ s foul them off in another playoff-opening dud for Oakland • White Sox starter Lucas Giolito has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inning against A ’ s • A ’ s Jesús Luzardo rocked for two home runs in short playoff start • With season in peril , Oakland A ’ s turn to Chris Bassitt For everyone who thought this year would be different , the start to the 2020 playoffs looked an awful lot like the past two years : Oakland fell behind early after a starting pitching decision that was guessed well before first pitch backfired , while the offense barely made a dent .
All due credit to White Sox starter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six innings and splendid overall in his first-ever playoff start ( seven innings , two hits and one earned run allowed , eight strikeouts , ) .
But what happened to the never-say-die A ’ s who posted so many memorable come-from-behind wins in this shortened regular season ?
Conceding that Giolito had the A ’ s number , one hit against three innings of Chicago ’ s so-so bullpen was underwhelming , to say the least .
And while defeatism has never won anything , the A ’ s appeared to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to many observers and commentators , the White Sox ’ Game 1 win was fait accompli when the A ’ s picked 22-year-old lefty Jesus Luzardo to start .
Chicago is now 15-0 in games where they faced a left-handed starter this season , and they jumped on Luzardo ’ s handedness and poor fastball location early , posting six hits , three runs , and two homers before registering their 11th out of the game .
It ’ s easy to second-guess the decision to go with the A ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortstop Tim Anderson and say that the A ’ s “ didn ’ t do their homework ” — but the truth remains that he was going to have to start at some point in this series , lest the A ’ s start Mike Fiers .
Might Game 2 starter , righty Chris Bassitt , have been the better option for Game 1 ?
Perhaps , but then you ’ d be throwing the young lefty or Fiers in Game 2 — Frankie Montas pitched Sunday and will not be available to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Game 3 on Thursday .
Luzardo against the White Sox was inevitable , and it ’ s silly to delay the inevitable .
And while external expectations become reality and Luzardo didn ’ t put Oakland in a position to win the game , he also didn ’ t lose the contest for the A ’ s either .
The A ’ s bats , however , did .
The A ’ s mustered three singles Tuesday .
The White Sox belted three homers .
You can see where it went wrong .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hardly insurmountable , but the A ’ s negative body language and often weak hacks at the plate gave the impression that they were going up against the Avengers of baseball .
Not once — even in the eighth inning when the A ’ s had the tying run at the plate — did the game truly feel competitive .
Blame the lack of a crowd or a Giolito hangover , but that negative energy was telling , and if you can bet that the White Sox fed off it .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the loss in their postgame press conferences .
Luzardo said there was “ no pessimism ” in the Oakland clubhouse after the loss .
“ Bassitt is going to dominate tomorrow and our hitters are going to hit .
We ’ ll go to Game 3 and see what happens , ” he said .
The media isn ’ t allowed into the clubhouse anymore , but my guess that that ’ s Luzardo speaking from a place of confidence that only youth can provide .
In fact , to his credit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capable of fighting on Tuesday .
No , his first playoff start was not good , but don ’ t let that take away from his potential , which is still limitless .
Whether the A ’ s are energized or beaten down , they have no choice but to win Wednesday .
And they couldn ’ t have a better pitcher on the mound , either .
Bassitt was the best pitcher in the American League in September ( he has a plaque for it and everything ) and Chicago ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not otherworldly , like it is against lefties .
But Game 2 will also be Bassitt ’ s first playoff appearance , and while there won ’ t be a crowd , the stakes couldn ’ t be higher for Oakland .
Meanwhile , Chicago will trot out former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel , who has 11 career postseason starts ( 4-2 , 3.47 ERA ) and posted a 1.99 ERA this season .
The A ’ s had the 22nd ranked offense in baseball against lefties .
But , that said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finished with an 11-3 record in games started by southpaws .
So something has to give — there ’ s a lot of contradictions here .
Either Bassitt is great or jittery , the A ’ s bats either opportunistic or overpowered .
But more than anything else the A ’ s have to give some fight back to a loose Chicago squad that should only feel more confident going into Wednesday ’ s game .
Without some grit , some spark , and some heart , this A ’ s team is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already short — and all of Oakland ’ s big hopes for this season will go by in a flash .
The A ’ s are better than this .
They better show it in Game 2 .

The good news for the A’s is that they still have another game to play. The past few years, that has not been the case.
The bad news is, well, everything else.
The A’s were mowed down in Game 1 of their wild card series against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, losing 4-1. And while losing a game is something that happens all the time, it was how the A’s lost Tuesday is what’s most concerning.
Not only did the prospect of a victory feel unlikely from the first pitch onwards, but once the A’s fell behind to Chicago, they also showed little scrap, fight, or — dare I say it? — heart.
The A’s rolled over Tuesday, and that does not bode well for Wednesday’s elimination game. The A’s listless performance tells us one of two things: either Chicago is significantly better than Oakland or the A’s don’t have what it takes between the ears to win this series.
I don’t believe the first option. Chicago is unquestionably a bad matchup for Oakland, but it is not a juggernaut — there’s a reason they fell to the No. 7 seed. The A’s are much better than they showed Tuesday.
The second option? Well, the jury is still out, and things aren’t looking good.
For everyone who thought this year would be different, the start to the 2020 playoffs looked an awful lot like the past two years: Oakland fell behind early after a starting pitching decision that was guessed well before first pitch backfired, while the offense barely made a dent.
All due credit to White Sox starter Lucas Giolito, who was perfect through six innings and splendid overall in his first-ever playoff start (seven innings, two hits and one earned run allowed, eight strikeouts,). But what happened to the never-say-die A’s who posted so many memorable come-from-behind wins in this shortened regular season? Conceding that Giolito had the A’s number, one hit against three innings of Chicago’s so-so bullpen was underwhelming, to say the least.
And while defeatism has never won anything, the A’s appeared to have it in spades Tuesday.
Of course, to many observers and commentators, the White Sox’ Game 1 win was fait accompli when the A’s picked 22-year-old lefty Jesus Luzardo to start. Chicago is now 15-0 in games where they faced a left-handed starter this season, and they jumped on Luzardo’s handedness and poor fastball location early, posting six hits, three runs, and two homers before registering their 11th out of the game.
It’s easy to second-guess the decision to go with the A’s young ace — to echo White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson and say that the A’s “didn’t do their homework” — but the truth remains that he was going to have to start at some point in this series, lest the A’s start Mike Fiers.
Might Game 2 starter, righty Chris Bassitt, have been the better option for Game 1? Perhaps, but then you’d be throwing the young lefty or Fiers in Game 2 — Frankie Montas pitched Sunday and will not be available to the A’s until a possible Game 3 on Thursday.
Luzardo against the White Sox was inevitable, and it’s silly to delay the inevitable.
And while external expectations become reality and Luzardo didn’t put Oakland in a position to win the game, he also didn’t lose the contest for the A’s either. The A’s bats, however, did.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Joakim Soria (48) wipes his forehead after giving up a solo home run to Chicago White Sox's Yasmani Grandal (24) in the eighth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) heads to home plate to score on his solo home run in front of Oakland Athletics' Sean Murphy (12) in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Robbie Grossman (8) makes a catch for an out on a hit by Chicago White Sox's Luis Robert (88) in the fourth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) celebrates his solo home run with Chicago White Sox's Leury Garcia (28) against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Marcus Semien (10) makes a catch for an out on a hit by Chicago White Sox's Nick Madrigal (1) in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) fields a ball hit by Chicago White Sox's Yoan Moncada (10) in the third inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Moncada was out at first. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) heads to the dugout after the final out of the top of the third inning during their game against the Chicago White Sox for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) fields a ball hit by Chicago White Sox's Yoan Moncada (10) in the third inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Moncada was out at first. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) reacts to the last out of the top of the first inning against the Chicago White Sox during Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) traps a ball hit by Chicago White Sox's Yasmani Grandal (24) in the third inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Grandal was out at first. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) throws against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) is welcomed to the dugout by Oakland Athletics' Mark Kotsay (3) during their game against the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) heads to the dugout after being pulled from the game against the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' J.B. Wendelken (57) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) throws against the Oakland Athletics in the seventh inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox's Yasmani Grandal (24) heads to third base in front of Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Diekman (35) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the ninth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) hits a single against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) high-fives teammates after their 4-1 win over the Oakland Athletics for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Ramon Laureano (22) yells at the home plate umpire after he struck out looking against the Chicago White Sox in the sixth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Matt Olson (28) heads to the dugout after striking out to end the game in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Tommy La Stella (3) fist-bumps Oakland Athletics first base coach Mike Aldrete (17) after hitting a single against the Chicago White Sox in the seventh inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) walks on the infield after giving up a solo home run to Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
The A’s mustered three singles Tuesday. The White Sox belted three homers. You can see where it went wrong.
The 3-0 deficit Luzardo left his team was hardly insurmountable, but the A’s negative body language and often weak hacks at the plate gave the impression that they were going up against the Avengers of baseball. Not once — even in the eighth inning when the A’s had the tying run at the plate — did the game truly feel competitive.
Blame the lack of a crowd or a Giolito hangover, but that negative energy was telling, and if you can bet that the White Sox fed off it.
The A’s tried to play off the loss in their postgame press conferences. Luzardo said there was “no pessimism” in the Oakland clubhouse after the loss.
“Bassitt is going to dominate tomorrow and our hitters are going to hit. We’ll go to Game 3 and see what happens,” he said.
The media isn’t allowed into the clubhouse anymore, but my guess that that’s Luzardo speaking from a place of confidence that only youth can provide. In fact, to his credit, he seemed to be the only one capable of fighting on Tuesday. No, his first playoff start was not good, but don’t let that take away from his potential, which is still limitless.
Whether the A’s are energized or beaten down, they have no choice but to win Wednesday. And they couldn’t have a better pitcher on the mound, either. Bassitt was the best pitcher in the American League in September (he has a plaque for it and everything) and Chicago’s offense was merely strong against right-handers — not otherworldly, like it is against lefties.
But Game 2 will also be Bassitt’s first playoff appearance, and while there won’t be a crowd, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Oakland. Meanwhile, Chicago will trot out former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel, who has 11 career postseason starts (4-2, 3.47 ERA) and posted a 1.99 ERA this season.
The A’s had the 22nd ranked offense in baseball against lefties. But, that said, because they were scrappy, they finished with an 11-3 record in games started by southpaws. So something has to give — there’s a lot of contradictions here.
Either Bassitt is great or jittery, the A’s bats either opportunistic or overpowered. But more than anything else the A’s have to give some fight back to a loose Chicago squad that should only feel more confident going into Wednesday’s game.
Without some grit, some spark, and some heart, this A’s team is toast. And this best-of-three series — already short — and all of Oakland’s big hopes for this season will go by in a flash.
The A’s are better than this. They better show it in Game 2.


mercurynews--2020-09-29--Glass Fire: Napa Valley’s Castello di Amorosa winery loses $5 million worth of wine — but $30 millio

Glass Fire: Napa Valley’s Castello di Amorosa winery loses $5 million worth of wine — but $30 million castle unscathed

It pays not to put all your eggs in one basket .
Or to put a Wine Country spin on the truism , all your barbera in one building .
While the property losses sustained in the Glass Fire by the Napa Valley ’ s castle on a hill , the Castello di Amorosa winery , were significant , the Tuscan-style castle itself that noted vintner Dario Sattui had built over 15 years emerged unscathed — and the $ 5 million worth of lost wine was only a fraction of the inventory .
Georg Salzner , president of Castello di @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Glass Fire came up a canyon on the side of the Calistoga winery early Monday morning and set ablaze the roof tiles of the farmhouse , an accessory building that sits behind the main castle building and wine tasting rooms .
The farmhouse , which was severely damaged in the fire , held offices for management , a fermentation room and a fulfillment center where about one-tenth of the winery ’ s wine bottles were stored .
Ironically , Salzner said , in the Medieval ages , kingdoms stored goods that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separated from the main castle .
Hoping to recreate Castello as authentically as possible , Sattui did the same here — just without the expectation that “ one day it would really pay off , ” Salzner said .
“ There was no damage to the castle per se , ” said Castello marketing VP Jim Sullivan .
Click here if you are unable to view the photos on a mobile device .
They estimate that about 120,000 bottles of wine were lost in the fire — or about $ 5 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special releases and some of the first vintages made by the winery nearly two decades ago .
Luckily , Sullivan said , “ We have a lot of wine stored offsite .
And in the castle.
” Castello di Amorosa started receiving visitors in 2007 .
But Sattui ’ s dream was years in the making .
“ I did it partly to honor my ancestors , ” Sattui , a fourth-generation winemaker , told Mercury News reporter Michael Martinez soon after the opening .
“ And partly , I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passion for this.
” Sattui ’ s great-grandfather , Vittorio , started V. Sattui in 1885 but was shut down by Prohibition laws in the 1920s .
Dario , 10 years out of San Jose State University , rebuilt it in 1975 in St. Helena .
The Castello di Amorosa architectural plan and line of wines were conceived later .
Originally designed to cover 8,500 square feet , the castle grew as Sattui ’ s love of architecture and all things Italian overwhelmed his intent , Martinez wrote .
• As famous wineries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple fights all night to save home • Watch : How the Glass Fire exploded the first night and continues to grow • List of Napa Valley wineries destroyed or damaged in 2020 Glass Fire • Bay Area wildfires : Cooler , less windy weather may help fight against Glass Fire The resulting edifice measures 121,000 square feet , with 107 rooms on eight levels , four of them underground .
Some 8,000 tons of stones — including basalt and sandstone — were chiseled by hand and set individually .
Leaded glass was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A maze of narrow hallways below ground measures 900 feet and leads to several chambers filled with wine barrels and artifacts .
On Tuesday morning , employees were back at the castle on the hill — less than 24 hours after the farmhouse was burned — crushing grapes .
“ It ’ s unfortunate , ” Salzner said .
“ But we can not just stop , so we will be crushing grapes and we will immediately be starting on renovations .
”

It pays not to put all your eggs in one basket.
Or to give a Wine Country spin to the truism, all your barbera in one building.
While the property losses sustained in the Glass Fire by the Napa Valley’s castle on a hill, the Castello di Amorosa winery, were significant, the Tuscan-style castle itself that noted vintner Dario Sattui had built over 15 years emerged unscathed — and the $5 million worth of lost wine was only a fraction of the inventory.
Georg Salzner, president of Castello di Amorosa, said he believes the flames of the Glass Fire came up a canyon on the side of the Calistoga winery early Monday morning and set ablaze the roof tiles of the farmhouse, an accessory building that sits behind the main castle building and wine tasting rooms.
The farmhouse, which was severely damaged in the fire, held offices for management, a fermentation room and a fulfillment center where about one-tenth of the winery’s wine bottles were stored.
Ironically, Salzner said, in the Medieval ages, kingdoms stored goods that were flammable in a farmhouse that was separated from the main castle. Hoping to recreate Castello as authentically as possible, Sattui did the same here — just without the expectation that “one day it would really pay off,” Salzner said.
“There was no damage to the castle per se,” said Castello marketing VP Jim Sullivan.
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: Venessa Close, an accounting manager at Castello di Amorosa, right, hugs colleague Katja Reuter outside of the damaged warehouse that was burnt by the Glass Fire at the winery in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: Georg Salzner, president of Castello di Amorosa, pulls some wine bottles out of the winery's fire-damaged warehouse in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. Part of the winery's warehouse was damaged by the Glass Fire. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: Burned wine bottles destroyed by the Glass Fire are photographed inside the burnt warehouse at Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: Smoke surrounds Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. The winery's warehouse sustained damage caused by the Glass Fire. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: Wine bottles that survived the Glass Fire lay in the rubble of a damaged warehouse at Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: Georg Salzner, president of Castello di Amorosa, holds a bottle of wine that he pulled from the winery's warehouse that was damaged by the Glass Fire in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: The warehouse at Castello di Amorosa sustained damage during a blaze that burned a portion of the warehouse in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
CALISTOGA - SEPTEMBER 29: Burned wine glasses remain outside of the warehouse at Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, Calif., on Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)
Click here if you are unable to view the photos on a mobile device.
They estimate that about 120,000 bottles of wine were lost in the fire — or about $5 million in wine, including some collector items, special releases and some of the first vintages made by the winery nearly two decades ago.
Luckily, Sullivan said, “We have a lot of wine stored offsite. And in the castle.”
Castello di Amorosa started receiving visitors in 2007. But Sattui’s dream was years in the making.
“I did it partly to honor my ancestors,” Sattui, a fourth-generation winemaker, told Mercury News reporter Michael Martinez soon after the opening. “And partly, I don’t know. I just really have a passion for this.”
Sattui’s great-grandfather, Vittorio, started V. Sattui in 1885 but was shut down by Prohibition laws in the 1920s. Dario, 10 years out of San Jose State University, rebuilt it in 1975 in St. Helena. The Castello di Amorosa architectural plan and line of wines were conceived later.
Originally designed to cover 8,500 square feet, the castle grew as Sattui’s love of architecture and all things Italian overwhelmed his intent, Martinez wrote.
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Living with air pollution, especially from wildfires or agriculture, raises risk of dementia, US study finds Crashes and Disasters | Cadaver dogs are in Maui to help find the dead. Here’s how it works and why it’s difficult The resulting edifice measures 121,000 square feet, with 107 rooms on eight levels, four of them underground. Some 8,000 tons of stones — including basalt and sandstone — were chiseled by hand and set individually. Leaded glass was imported from Italy. Gargoyles were hand-carved. A maze of narrow hallways below ground measures 900 feet and leads to several chambers filled with wine barrels and artifacts.
On Tuesday morning, employees were back at the castle on the hill — less than 24 hours after the farmhouse was burned — crushing grapes.
“It’s unfortunate,” Salzner said. “But we cannot just stop, so we will be crushing grapes and we will immediately be starting on renovations.”


mercurynews--2020-09-30--Editorial: Keep East Bay park district on track by electing Echols

During the pandemic , the East Bay Regional Park District has proven once again to be an invaluable community asset .
With indoor activities a threat to public health , residents turned to the nation ’ s largest regional urban park district for escape .
And the district , consisting of 73 parks with 1,250 miles of trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties , has met the challenge .
It ’ s an organization that generally works cooperatively for the common good .
When longtime Director Whitney Dotson stepped down shortly before his death in January , the board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fill the vacancy .
It was an excellent choice .
In the only contested park district race of the Nov. 3 election , voters in Ward 1 , stretching from Berkeley to Richmond and El Sobrante , should elect Echols to a full four-year term .
She ’ s the sort of smart , collegial , environmentally sensitive leader the district needs .
Echols has a long history of public service .
An attorney who graduated from Stanford Law School , she served in the Commerce Department during the Clinton administration and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration .
In between , she was policy director at Google and then director of the U.S. Green Building Council .
And today , she represents utility ratepayers as the director of the Public Advocates Office at the California Public Utilities Commission .
In approach , she and her opponent , attorney and former El Cerrito Councilman Norman La Force , couldn ’ t be more different .
At the park district , La Force is best known as the guy who files legal challenges .
La Force claims in his campaign material @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have the district purchase more land to double the size of the Point Isabel Dog Park , perhaps the East Bay ’ s most popular escape for canine owners .
Actually , when the park at Point Isabel was expanded in the early 2000s , La Force sought to block dog access to the new area .
Not surprisingly , some members of the dog-owner community consider La Force an obstacle , not an ally .
More recently , in 2012 , the Sierra Club and an environmental organization La Force heads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to block off-leash dog access planned as part of the Albany Beach Restoration project .
A court ruled that the district ’ s analysis in its environmental impact report about the effect of dogs was inadequate .
So , the district redid the analysis and when the results again showed no significant effect from the dogs , La Force and his group filed another legal challenge .
All told , the litigation lasted four years .
In the end , the park district prevailed , but it spent about $ 325,000 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , he wants to join the board so he can change the park district from the inside and lead it in a different direction .
But we ’ re quite happy with the district ’ s current direction .
Echols is the candidate who will keep it on track .

During the pandemic, the East Bay Regional Park District has proven once again to be an invaluable community asset.
With indoor activities a threat to public health, residents turned to the nation’s largest regional urban park district for escape. And the district, consisting of 73 parks with 1,250 miles of trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, has met the challenge.
It’s an organization that generally works cooperatively for the common good. When longtime Director Whitney Dotson stepped down shortly before his death in January, the board appointed former Obama administration official Elizabeth Echols to fill the vacancy.
It was an excellent choice. In the only contested park district race of the Nov. 3 election, voters in Ward 1, stretching from Berkeley to Richmond and El Sobrante, should elect Echols to a full four-year term. She’s the sort of smart, collegial, environmentally sensitive leader the district needs.
Echols has a long history of public service. An attorney who graduated from Stanford Law School, she served in the Commerce Department during the Clinton administration and the Small Business Administration during the Obama administration.
In between, she was policy director at Google and then director of the U.S. Green Building Council. And today, she represents utility ratepayers as the director of the Public Advocates Office at the California Public Utilities Commission.
In approach, she and her opponent, attorney and former El Cerrito Councilman Norman La Force, couldn’t be more different. At the park district, La Force is best known as the guy who files legal challenges.
La Force claims in his campaign material that he led the Sierra Club campaign to have the district purchase more land to double the size of the Point Isabel Dog Park, perhaps the East Bay’s most popular escape for canine owners.
Actually, when the park at Point Isabel was expanded in the early 2000s, La Force sought to block dog access to the new area. Not surprisingly, some members of the dog-owner community consider La Force an obstacle, not an ally.
More recently, in 2012, the Sierra Club and an environmental organization La Force heads filed a lawsuit against the park district trying to block off-leash dog access planned as part of the Albany Beach Restoration project.
A court ruled that the district’s analysis in its environmental impact report about the effect of dogs was inadequate. So, the district redid the analysis and when the results again showed no significant effect from the dogs, La Force and his group filed another legal challenge. All told, the litigation lasted four years. In the end, the park district prevailed, but it spent about $325,000 on legal fees.
Now, La Force says, he wants to join the board so he can change the park district from the inside and lead it in a different direction. But we’re quite happy with the district’s current direction. Echols is the candidate who will keep it on track.


mercurynews--2020-09-30--F-35 fighter and military air tanker collide over Southern California town; crew members treated for

F-35 fighter and military air tanker collide over Southern California town; crew members treated for injuries

A U.S. Marine Corps jet crashed and an air tanker made an emergency landing ; and crew members sustained mild injuries Tuesday , Sept. 29 ; after the aircraft collided over Thermal during a refueling exercise , officials said .
The incident took place near 59th Avenue and Polk Street , just east of Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport , at about 4 p.m. , said Lt. Brett Vannier , a spokesman for the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma , Arizona .
The tanker , a four-engine Lockheed Martin KC-130J , went down “ in a field , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still up.
” Thermal is about 83 miles southeast of Riverside .
• Army takes new look at suicide outreach as numbers rise • 2 charged in connection with deadly coronavirus outbreak at veterans home • 2 Marines at Camp Pendleton indicted over drug ring allegations after third Marine dies from fentanyl overdose • Marines from Camp Pendleton quickly train to help with Creek Fire nearing Mammoth Lakes Details regarding where the jet crashed were not immediately available .
The pilot of the F-35B , a single-seat combat plane , managed to eject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for injuries , Vannier said .
The crew of the air tanker also reported mild injuries , but were safe Tuesday evening .
It was not immediately clear if any people were hospitalized , Vannier said .
No fire was reported , but there may have been a fuel leak in the area , according to California Highway Patrol logs .
Authorities shut down 59th Avenue Between Polk Street and Fillmore Street after the collision .

A U.S. Marine Corps jet crashed and an air tanker made an emergency landing; and crew members sustained mild injuries Tuesday, Sept. 29; after the aircraft collided over Thermal during a refueling exercise, officials said.
BREAKING: We're learning of an aircraft emergency involving two planes, a c-130 and an F-35, near the Thermal airport. https://t.co/rH3QiSmyL2 — KESQ News Channel 3 (@KESQ) September 30, 2020
The incident took place near 59th Avenue and Polk Street, just east of Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, at about 4 p.m., said Lt. Brett Vannier, a spokesman for the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona. The tanker, a four-engine Lockheed Martin KC-130J, went down “in a field, and on its belly with the landing gear still up.” Thermal is about 83 miles southeast of Riverside.
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No fire was reported, but there may have been a fuel leak in the area, according to California Highway Patrol logs. Authorities shut down 59th Avenue Between Polk Street and Fillmore Street after the collision.


mercurynews--2020-09-30--California tightens rules on rat poisons that kill wildlife

SACRAMENTO — Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed a bill widely restricting the use of certain highly potent rat poisons that are blamed for killing mountain lions , birds and endangered wildlife .
Assembly Bill 1788 bars the general use of so-called second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides , or SGARs , until the director of the state Department of Pesticide Regulation certifies that the chemicals have been reevaluated and any additional restrictions needed to limit the impact on wildlife are adopted .
No deadline was given .
The highly potent SGARs work by preventing clotting and causing rodents such as mice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die from internal bleeding .
The deaths can be slow , and the chemicals linger in the bodies of the rodents and can be passed on up the food chain to predators and scavengers from the dead or dying rodents .
They include mountain lions , bobcats , badgers , golden eagles , great-horned owls , black bears , Pacific fishers , coyotes and endangered San Joaquin kit foxes , according to state regulators .
Last month , wildlife officials announced that an adult bobcat and a young mountain lion that were part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wilderness west of Los Angeles both died after ingesting rat poisons .
Consumer sales of SGARs were banned in 2014 and their use restricted to licensed exterminators .
However , the chemicals are still widely used commercially and in agriculture .
Supporters of the bill said stronger measures were needed because the 2014 restrictions haven ’ t reduced the impact on wildlife that play important roles as natural rodent predators .
A Department of Fish and Wildlife study found that from 2014 to 2018 , the rodenticides were found in more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in the majority of tested bobcats , Pacific fishers and northern spotted owls .
“ My father was a naturalist and a strong advocate for the preservation of mountain lions , and I grew up loving these cats and caring about their well-being , ” Newsom said .
“ He would be proud to know that California is taking action to protect mountain lion populations and other wildlife from the toxic effects of rodenticides.
” The bill affects rodenticides containing the chemicals brodifacoum , bromadiolone , difenacoum or difethialone .
Opponents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other business groups , argued that the poisons were a key tool to prevent damage and disease .
They noted a 2018 outbreak in downtown Los Angeles of typhus , which is spread by fleas frequently carried by rats and mice .
Rodent populations have surged in some cities , especially near trash-littered homeless camps .
However , the bill permits the use of the poisons to protect public health , specifically naming rodent infestations that pose an urgent and “ significant risk ” to human health .
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“ This legislation will protect countless wild animals , many of whom are threatened and endangered , from suffering slow , inhumane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Animals said in a statement .
“ We are thrilled that the State of California is taking the lead in removing these insidious silent killers from our backyards and our backcountry , ” said Rebecca August with the group Los Padres ForestWatch .

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed a bill widely restricting the use of certain highly potent rat poisons that are blamed for killing mountain lions, birds and endangered wildlife.
Assembly Bill 1788 bars the general use of so-called second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, or SGARs, until the director of the state Department of Pesticide Regulation certifies that the chemicals have been reevaluated and any additional restrictions needed to limit the impact on wildlife are adopted.
No deadline was given.
The highly potent SGARs work by preventing clotting and causing rodents such as mice, rats, squirrels and gophers to die from internal bleeding.
The deaths can be slow, and the chemicals linger in the bodies of the rodents and can be passed on up the food chain to predators and scavengers from the dead or dying rodents.
They include mountain lions, bobcats, badgers, golden eagles, great-horned owls, black bears, Pacific fishers, coyotes and endangered San Joaquin kit foxes, according to state regulators.
Last month, wildlife officials announced that an adult bobcat and a young mountain lion that were part of a study of big cats in the wilderness west of Los Angeles both died after ingesting rat poisons.
Consumer sales of SGARs were banned in 2014 and their use restricted to licensed exterminators. However, the chemicals are still widely used commercially and in agriculture.
Supporters of the bill said stronger measures were needed because the 2014 restrictions haven’t reduced the impact on wildlife that play important roles as natural rodent predators.
A Department of Fish and Wildlife study found that from 2014 to 2018, the rodenticides were found in more than 90 percent of mountain lions tested, and in the majority of tested bobcats, Pacific fishers and northern spotted owls.
“My father was a naturalist and a strong advocate for the preservation of mountain lions, and I grew up loving these cats and caring about their well-being,” Newsom said. “He would be proud to know that California is taking action to protect mountain lion populations and other wildlife from the toxic effects of rodenticides.”
The bill affects rodenticides containing the chemicals brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum or difethialone.
Opponents, including pest control, apartment management and other business groups, argued that the poisons were a key tool to prevent damage and disease. They noted a 2018 outbreak in downtown Los Angeles of typhus, which is spread by fleas frequently carried by rats and mice.
Rodent populations have surged in some cities, especially near trash-littered homeless camps.
However, the bill permits the use of the poisons to protect public health, specifically naming rodent infestations that pose an urgent and “significant risk” to human health.
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How birdlife in the East differs from the West Environment | Otter attacks in Sierra Nevada: Panicked swimmer scrambles onto stranger’s paddleboard It also permits their use to protect water supplies; to eliminate non-native species that have invaded offshore islands; in food warehouses, slaughterhouses, canneries, breweries, and wineries; and for certain other agricultural uses.
Conservation groups applauded the signing.
“This legislation will protect countless wild animals, many of whom are threatened and endangered, from suffering slow, inhumane deaths,” the group In Defense of Animals said in a statement.
“We are thrilled that the State of California is taking the lead in removing these insidious silent killers from our backyards and our backcountry,” said Rebecca August with the group Los Padres ForestWatch.