mercurynews--2020-08-31--First day of school after California wildfires: Teaching remotely after losing their own homes

SANTA CRUZ — Brian Cooper sat in front of his computer at Santa Cruz High School on Monday morning , getting ready to teach integrated math to an empty classroom .
His first lesson wasn ’ t about equations .
It was about resilience and empathy .
Cooper was supposed to be teaching 32 students remotely from his house , like most teachers grappling with distance learning in the age of coronavirus .
But his home office in Bonny Doon , with the view of the madrone and oaks and an occasional deer passing by , was destroyed by wildfire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his fiancee had just purchased the house a month ago .
Their misfortune wasn ’ t a reason not to get back to class , he said — even in a year when the classroom is virtually empty .
“ I ’ m trying to stay focused , ” he said , positioning the monitors he rescued while evacuating .
“ I ’ m trying to keep my kids ’ needs in mind.
” Monday morning was the first day back since the CZU Lightning Complex fire destroyed hundreds of homes and forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Santa Cruz mountain towns a week-and-a-half ago , just days after the new school year had started .
Several teachers lost their homes to lightning-sparked wildfires — both in the Santa Cruz district and across the region around Vacaville .
And along the way , as Cooper opens up about his own loss and encourages his students to do the same , there ’ s a chance that a bond may take hold that has been missing in Zoom ’ s virtual classrooms .
“ Something so intimate and painful , it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly than telling them what you did for your summer break , ” Cooper said .
That connection began in Cooper ’ s empty , chilly classroom Monday morning , where he sat in front of a multiplication chart and spoke to the freshman students through the computer microphone .
Unlike the rental home he just moved into over the weekend , he has a desk here .
“ I want to say that I ’ m fully aware of the impact this has had on you guys , even if you weren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still reeling from this , ” he said .
“ I understand everyone is going through a lot right now.
” Cooper , 39 , who just started his job at Santa Cruz High after moving up from Southern California , was one of five teachers and staff who lost homes in the CZU fire.At least 114 employees were evacuated .
In the Vacaville area , where the LNU Lightning Complex fire destroyed more than 1,200 structures , about a half dozen employees , including two teachers and a principal , lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it appears , are right back at their jobs .
“ For me , just having a bit of normalcy , if you can call virtual teaching normal , just having that to do , and interact with the students , has really helped me manage a really awful thing , ” said Brenda Hensley , a math teacher at Will C. Wood High School in Vacaville who has been teaching for 27 years .
Her home in the Berryessa Highlands neighborhood was one of about 100 homes that were destroyed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Besides , Hensley said , her students “ need to see someone coping with something really difficult and still moving ahead and still there for them if they need it.
” The losses come in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic , when students are banned from the classroom and teachers are still trying to get the hang of teaching remotely , with breakout rooms , virtual whiteboards and thumbs up emojis .
“ It ’ s a whole other complexity on top of the pandemic , ” said Judith Mayer , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruz whose rental home in Ben Lomond was also destroyed .
She ’ s staying with friends in San Jose .
“ Running so many virtual classes and keeping all your tech aligned and apps open and on the correct flow of how you want the class to run — it ’ s just a different level of feeling displaced.
” But she will be back teaching again on Tuesday , when remote learning returns to Harbor High .
Two days after lightning strikes sparked the CZU wildfire , Cooper and his fiancee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their first dinner party in their new home .
Her sister and her sister ’ s boyfriend who lived up the hill were their first guests .
Dessert was ready to be served when they received a call about the fire heading in their direction .
Both couples managed to evacuate with their valuables , but both lost their homes .
Over the weekend , to save money as they wrangle with insurance companies , the four of them moved into a Santa Cruz rental home together .
Once Cooper finds furniture , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bedroom as his teaching office .
On Monday , he told the students not to worry about homework for a couple of weeks .
“ We ’ re hoping that can alleviate the stress a little bit , ” he said .
“ I ’ m here for you guys and I want to do anything I can to help you out because I really appreciate you guys being there for me.
” Then he started his math class .
“ Today , we ’ re going to be looking at patterns of @ @ @

SANTA CRUZ — Brian Cooper sat in front of his computer at Santa Cruz High School on Monday morning, getting ready to teach integrated math to an empty classroom.
His first lesson wasn’t about equations. It was about resilience and empathy.
Cooper was supposed to be teaching 32 students remotely from his house, like most teachers grappling with distance learning in the age of coronavirus. But his home office in Bonny Doon, with the view of the madrone and oaks and an occasional deer passing by, was destroyed by wildfire nearly two weeks ago. He and his fiancee had just purchased the house a month ago.
Their misfortune wasn’t a reason not to get back to class, he said — even in a year when the classroom is virtually empty.
“I’m trying to stay focused,” he said, positioning the monitors he rescued while evacuating. “I’m trying to keep my kids’ needs in mind.”
Monday morning was the first day back since the CZU Lightning Complex fire destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate in nearby Santa Cruz mountain towns a week-and-a-half ago, just days after the new school year had started. Several teachers lost their homes to lightning-sparked wildfires — both in the Santa Cruz district and across the region around Vacaville.
And along the way, as Cooper opens up about his own loss and encourages his students to do the same, there’s a chance that a bond may take hold that has been missing in Zoom’s virtual classrooms.
“Something so intimate and painful, it does help build that relationship a little more quickly than telling them what you did for your summer break,” Cooper said.
That connection began in Cooper’s empty, chilly classroom Monday morning, where he sat in front of a multiplication chart and spoke to the freshman students through the computer microphone. Unlike the rental home he just moved into over the weekend, he has a desk here.
“I want to say that I’m fully aware of the impact this has had on you guys, even if you weren’t directly affected, the community is still reeling from this,” he said. “I understand everyone is going through a lot right now.”
Cooper, 39, who just started his job at Santa Cruz High after moving up from Southern California, was one of five teachers and staff who lost homes in the CZU fire.At least 114 employees were evacuated. In the Vacaville area, where the LNU Lightning Complex fire destroyed more than 1,200 structures, about a half dozen employees, including two teachers and a principal, lost their homes. Most of those teachers, it appears, are right back at their jobs.
“For me, just having a bit of normalcy, if you can call virtual teaching normal, just having that to do, and interact with the students, has really helped me manage a really awful thing,” said Brenda Hensley, a math teacher at Will C. Wood High School in Vacaville who has been teaching for 27 years.
Her home in the Berryessa Highlands neighborhood was one of about 100 homes that were destroyed, about a third of the subdivision.
Besides, Hensley said, her students “need to see someone coping with something really difficult and still moving ahead and still there for them if they need it.”
The losses come in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, when students are banned from the classroom and teachers are still trying to get the hang of teaching remotely, with breakout rooms, virtual whiteboards and thumbs up emojis.
Harbor High School history teacher Judith Mayer's rental home in Ben Lomond before the fire. (Courtesy of Judith Mayer)
Harbor High School history teacher Judith Mayer's rental home in Ben Lomond after the fire. (Courtesy of Judith Mayer)
“It’s a whole other complexity on top of the pandemic,” said Judith Mayer, a Harbor High School history teacher in Santa Cruz whose rental home in Ben Lomond was also destroyed. She’s staying with friends in San Jose. “Running so many virtual classes and keeping all your tech aligned and apps open and on the correct flow of how you want the class to run — it’s just a different level of feeling displaced.”
But she will be back teaching again on Tuesday, when remote learning returns to Harbor High.
Two days after lightning strikes sparked the CZU wildfire, Cooper and his fiancee, Heather Burman, had been hosting their first dinner party in their new home. Her sister and her sister’s boyfriend who lived up the hill were their first guests. Dessert was ready to be served when they received a call about the fire heading in their direction. Both couples managed to evacuate with their valuables, but both lost their homes.
Over the weekend, to save money as they wrangle with insurance companies, the four of them moved into a Santa Cruz rental home together. Once Cooper finds furniture, he is hoping to use the third bedroom as his teaching office.
On Monday, he told the students not to worry about homework for a couple of weeks. “We’re hoping that can alleviate the stress a little bit,” he said. “I’m here for you guys and I want to do anything I can to help you out because I really appreciate you guys being there for me.”
Then he started his math class. “Today, we’re going to be looking at patterns of growth.”


mercurynews--2020-08-31--Man wounded, child injured in West Oakland shooting

OAKLAND — A man was shot Monday afternoon while driving in West Oakland and his 5 1/2-year-old daughter who was @ @ @ @ @ injured by glass fragments , authorities said .
Police said the man wounded was not @ @ @ @ @ was wounded and his daughter injured after a shooting erupted between other people , at @ @ @ @ @ in a vehicle and the vehicle they were in was hit by some of the @ @ @ @ @ reported at about 2:29 p.m. in the 2500 block of Adeline Street .
The vehicle @ @ @ @ @ child ended up in the 2700 block of Adeline .
They were taken to hospitals @ @ @ @ @ immediately available .
No other injuries were reported .
No motive has been determined yet @ @ @ @ @ arrests have been made .
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to @ @ @ @ @ for information leading to the arrest of the shooter .
Anyone with information may call @ @ @ @ @ Stoppers at 510-777-8572 ,

OAKLAND — A man was shot Monday afternoon while driving in West Oakland and his 5 1/2-year-old daughter who was also in the vehicle was injured by glass fragments, authorities said.
Police said the man wounded was not an intended target. He was wounded and his daughter injured after a shooting erupted between other people, at least one of whom was in a vehicle and the vehicle they were in was hit by some of the bullets.
The shooting was reported at about 2:29 p.m. in the 2500 block of Adeline Street. The vehicle with the man and his child ended up in the 2700 block of Adeline. They were taken to hospitals but their conditions were not immediately available.
No other injuries were reported.
No motive has been determined yet for the shooting and no arrests have been made.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $10,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3426 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572,


mercurynews--2020-09-01--Inside the Raiders: Five areas of concern with regular season opener approaching

The media window , such as it was , is officially closed for the Raiders .
Those covering the team on-site in Henderson , Nevada , Monday were restricted to stretching and a few drills before being sent on their way .
That ’ s how it is in the regular season , and although the final cutdown to 53 players isn ’ t until Saturday , ridding themselves of the prying eyes in practice means preparations for the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 13 have begun in earnest .
It was a training camp devoid of any real drama .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all things Antonio Brown , that ’ s just the way coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock wanted it .
As much as COVID-19 changed things in terms of an off-season , practice sessions and the elimination of the preseason , the pandemic did afford the opportunity to greatly restrict media access and keep everything in-house .
The Raiders have every reason to believe they ’ re in position to make another step in the Gruden rebuild from 4-12 to 7-9 to a winning record considering the roster upgrades .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here ’ s five of them going in to the opener : Hard to tell whether wide receiver Tyrell Williams ( torn labrum ) will be available to start the season or whether the Raiders are in for another year of “ maybe , maybe not ” in terms of availability and effectiveness .
Top draft pick Henry Ruggs III will start and Hunter Renfrow will get ample work , mostly in the slot .
As for the second outside starter , does Gruden go with third-round pick Bryan Edwards or a veteran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Edwards has drawn raves , so he ’ ll play .
But Gruden ’ s offense isn ’ t easily digestible to rookies who were denied OTAs and minicamps , and receivers are asked to learn all three spots .
Amari Cooper never seemed to get the hang of it .
Two rookies starting outside would be interesting , although formations which would flex tight end Darren Waller is one possible solution .
At cornerback , the Raiders released veteran Prince Amukamara , leaving slot corner Lamarcus Joyner as the closest thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trayvon Mullen and rookie Damon Arnette should start outside , while the rest of the corners include rookie Amik Robertson and second-year players Keisan Nixon and Isaiah Johnson .
It beats the days of running Leon Hall , Rashaan Melvin and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie out there , but that ’ s still a lot of youth .
The Raiders guaranteed $ 17 million to Nassib , who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , to prove energy and add to the pass rush .
While I haven ’ t been at any practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounts of those in attendance .
And if Nassib has leaped tall buildings in a single bound , it ’ s gone unreported .
Knowing most of those doing the reporting , that ’ s unlikely .
Since the Raiders decided in the pandemic environment to forgo any introductory calls with the media during free agency , and haven ’ t made Nassib available in Zoom calls , he ’ s a mystery .
Maybe Nassib is one of those guys who shines brightest when the games begin .
Betting the coaching staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out in practice , though .
It should be Marcus Mariota , but he ’ s missed recent practices because of undisclosed injuries and a constant theme has been how beat up he was last year .
Plus other than one Gruden rave review early on about Mariota using his feet , the former No .
2 overall draft pick hasn ’ t wowed anyone with his passing .
So Gruden has about a week to determine if in Week 1 he would be comfortable with Mariota should starter Derek Carr go down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time being prefer Nathan Peterman , who is in his second year in the system ?
That could change the makeup of the 53-man roster .
Gruden always wants three quarterbacks around , and the likelihood is that Peterman could be waived and brought back to the expanded 16-man practice squad .
But if Peterman is the actual backup , that means carrying three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster at the outset and then putting him on the practice squad later once Mariota is up to speed .
4 .
Where does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m going out on a limb and predicting new acquisition Raekwon McMillan ’ s first job won ’ t be covering Christian McCaffrey against the Panthers in Week 1 .
If it is , Gruden and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther will be having some words .
The Raiders brought in Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski specifically for players like McCaffrey , equally adept at catching passes as taking handoffs .
OK , so McCaffrey is an extreme case — he ’ s the best dual threat back in the NFL .
But you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McMillan will find a role in short-yardage and goal line .
Perhaps play in some three-linebacker sets in the middle .
McMillan is known for shedding blocks and making tackles against the run .
It ’ s still a useful skill , just not as useful as it used to be back in the day before the NFL became a pass-first league .
5 .
How much do they trust Daniel Carlson ?
The Raiders signed Utah State ’ s Dominik Eberle following the draft , ostensibly to challenge Daniel Carlson as place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 18 in 2018 as an in-season signing , was 19 of 26 and made just 6 of 10 between 40 and 49 yards last season .
He also missed a pair of extra points .
The expected competition never materialized .
Eberle was released Aug. 3 , and Carlson has been running unopposed ever since .
Special teams coach Rich Bisaccia gave his vote of confidence Monday via zoom conference call .
“ I think he ’ s really stronger than he was a year ago and he ’ s certainly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We ’ ve put him in a lot of pressure situations throughout the entire training camp with different situations .
He ’ s responded well.
” The most pressure-packed training camp situation , of course , pales in comparison to the real thing .
We ’ ll see how much they trust Carlson on a long attempt that would give up field position should he miss in Week 1 .
Gruden loves move-the-pile power backs , and it just so happens they ’ ve got no real answer if Josh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attrition takes its toll on just about every team at some point .
Would he reach back into his past ( Tyrone Wheatley ? )
and bring in Leonard Fournette , released by Jacksonville after three seasons ?
In some ways , it makes sense .
But in terms of a 53-man roster , Fournette ( 6-foot , 228 pounds ) has played only four special teams snaps in three seasons .
Backup running backs almost always contribute on special teams .
Fournette has also not always been the best teammate .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacobs and would have to understand that coming in and legitimately be a team-first guy .
A lot depends on whether Gruden thinks Lynn Bowden Jr. , Jalen Richard and Alec Ingold could carry the load during a game in which Jacobs was unavailable .
The guess here is Fournette goes to a team where he ’ s got a chance to start , and the Raiders keep their eye on the waiver wire for a back they can stash on the practice squad .
RAIDERS THEN AND NOW Watched KRON ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Raiders beat the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 in Pasadena following the 1976 season .
Was struck by two things : — If you think Gruden was conservative , then John Madden may as well have been Woody Hayes .
It was the right way to play it , too .
The Raiders offensive line , featuring Art Shell and Gene Upshaw , put together a game I ’ d put against any line in Super Bowl history .
They ran the ball 52 times ( for 262 yards ) and Ken Stabler threw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prince Amukamara , will go young at cornerback • Raiders ’ Jon Gruden on navigating pandemic , social protests : ` Don ’ t make an emotional statement .
Make an educational one ’ • These eight NFL teams canceled practice in response to Blake shooting Gruden ’ s reputation is that of a quarterback whisperer , but it would still would be his dream game .
He still treasures his quarterback-under-center formations and power football and is the same guy who once told me the best thing about running for four yards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run it again.
” — Forgot that on Jack Tatum ’ s iconic helmet-removing hit on Sammy White , that White actually held on to the ball .
He was woozy , had to be helped off the field .
On the same play , Skip Thomas had reached across White ’ s helmet an instant before Tatum lowered the boom .
Announcers Curt Gowdy and Don Meredith said nothing about it being dirty or illegal .
It was simply how the game was played in the 1970s .
White was the intended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Old Man Willie ” 75-yard interception return .
In 2020 , White would be escorted to a sideline tent following the Tatum hit and been done for the day .

The media window, such as it was, is officially closed for the Raiders.
Those covering the team on-site in Henderson, Nevada, Monday were restricted to stretching and a few drills before being sent on their way. That’s how it is in the regular season, and although the final cutdown to 53 players isn’t until Saturday, ridding themselves of the prying eyes in practice means preparations for the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 13 have begun in earnest.
It was a training camp devoid of any real drama. Coming as it did a year after all things Antonio Brown, that’s just the way coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock wanted it. As much as COVID-19 changed things in terms of an off-season, practice sessions and the elimination of the preseason, the pandemic did afford the opportunity to greatly restrict media access and keep everything in-house.
The Raiders have every reason to believe they’re in position to make another step in the Gruden rebuild from 4-12 to 7-9 to a winning record considering the roster upgrades. But there are areas of concern, and here’s five of them going in to the opener:
1. Are the kids all right?
The Raiders placed wide receiver Tyrell Williams (torn labrum) on injured reserve Tuesday, meaning he’s out for the season. Draft pick Henry Ruggs III will start and Hunter Renfrow will get ample work, mostly in the slot.
As for the second outside starter, does Gruden go with third-round pick Bryan Edwards or a veteran such as Nelson Agholor or Zay Jones? Edwards has drawn raves, so he’ll play. But Gruden’s offense isn’t easily digestible to rookies who were denied OTAs and minicamps, and receivers are asked to learn all three spots. Amari Cooper never seemed to get the hang of it.
Two rookies starting outside would be interesting, although formations which would flex tight end Darren Waller is one possible solution.
At cornerback, the Raiders released veteran Prince Amukamara, leaving slot corner Lamarcus Joyner as the closest thing to a savvy veteran at the position. Trayvon Mullen and rookie Damon Arnette should start outside, while the rest of the corners include rookie Amik Robertson and second-year players Keisan Nixon and Isaiah Johnson.
It beats the days of running Leon Hall, Rashaan Melvin and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie out there, but that’s still a lot of youth.
2. Anyone seen Carl Nassib?
The Raiders guaranteed $17 million to Nassib, who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to inject energy and add to the pass rush.
While I haven’t been at any practices, I’m faithfully reading the accounts of those in attendance. And if Nassib has leaped tall buildings in a single bound, it’s gone unreported. Knowing most of those doing the reporting, that’s unlikely.
Since the Raiders decided in the pandemic environment to forgo any introductory calls with the media during free agency, and haven’t made Nassib available in Zoom calls, he’s a mystery.
Maybe Nassib is one of those guys who shines brightest when the games begin. Betting the coaching staff would sure love to see him stand out in practice, though.
3. Who backs up Derek Carr?
It should be Marcus Mariota, but he’s missed recent practices because of undisclosed injuries and a constant theme has been how beat up he was last year. Plus other than one Gruden rave review early on about Mariota using his feet, the former No. 2 overall draft pick hasn’t wowed anyone with his passing.
So Gruden has about a week to determine if in Week 1 he would be comfortable with Mariota should starter Derek Carr go down. Or would he — at least for the time being — prefer Nathan Peterman, who is in his second year in the system?
That could change the makeup of the 53-man roster. Gruden always wants three quarterbacks around, and the likelihood is that Peterman could be waived and brought back to the expanded 16-man practice squad. But if Peterman is the actual backup, that means carrying three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster at the outset and then putting him on the practice squad later once Mariota is up to speed.
4. Where does Raekwon McMillan fit in?
I’m going out on a limb and predicting new acquisition Raekwon McMillan’s first job won’t be covering Christian McCaffrey against the Panthers in Week 1.
If it is, Gruden and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther will be having some words.
The Raiders brought in Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski specifically for players like McCaffrey, equally adept at catching passes as taking handoffs. OK, so McCaffrey is an extreme case — he’s the best dual threat back in the NFL. But you get the idea.
More likely, McMillan will find a role in short-yardage and goal line. Perhaps play in some three-linebacker sets in the middle. McMillan is known for shedding blocks and making tackles against the run. It’s still a useful skill, just not as useful as it used to be back in the day before the NFL became a pass-first league.
5. How much do they trust Daniel Carlson?
The Raiders signed Utah State’s Dominik Eberle following the draft, ostensibly to challenge Daniel Carlson as place kicker. Carlson, after going 17 of 18 in 2018 as an in-season signing, was 19 of 26 and made just 6 of 10 between 40 and 49 yards last season. He also missed a pair of extra points.
The expected competition never materialized. Eberle was released Aug. 3, and Carlson has been running unopposed ever since. Special teams coach Rich Bisaccia gave his vote of confidence Monday via zoom conference call.
“I think he’s really stronger than he was a year ago and he’s certainly in constant competition with himself,” Bisaccia said. “We’ve put him in a lot of pressure situations throughout the entire training camp with different situations. He’s responded well.”
The most pressure-packed training camp situation, of course, pales in comparison to the real thing. We’ll see how much they trust Carlson on a long attempt that would give up field position should he miss in Week 1.
Fournette or no Fournette?
Gruden loves move-the-pile power backs, and it just so happens they’ve got no real answer if Josh Jacobs goes down at a position where attrition takes its toll on just about every team at some point.
Would he reach back into his past (Tyrone Wheatley?) and bring in Leonard Fournette, released by Jacksonville after three seasons?
In some ways, it makes sense.
But in terms of a 53-man roster, Fournette (6-foot, 228 pounds) has played only four special teams snaps in three seasons. Backup running backs almost always contribute on special teams. Fournette has also not always been the best teammate. He’d be second banana to Josh Jacobs and would have to understand that coming in and legitimately be a team-first guy.
A lot depends on whether Gruden thinks Lynn Bowden Jr., Jalen Richard and Alec Ingold could carry the load during a game in which Jacobs was unavailable. The guess here is Fournette goes to a team where he’s got a chance to start, and the Raiders keep their eye on the waiver wire for a back they can stash on the practice squad.
Raiders then and now
Watched KRON’s replay of Super Bowl VI, when the Raiders beat the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 in Pasadena following the 1976 season.
Was struck by two things:
— If you think Gruden was conservative, then John Madden may as well have been Woody Hayes. It was the right way to play it, too. The Raiders offensive line, featuring Art Shell and Gene Upshaw, put together a game I’d put against any line in Super Bowl history. They ran the ball 52 times (for 262 yards) and Ken Stabler threw 19 passes.
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— Forgot that on Jack Tatum’s iconic helmet-removing hit on Sammy White, that White actually held on to the ball. He was woozy, had to be helped off the field. On the same play, Skip Thomas had reached across White’s helmet an instant before Tatum lowered the boom. Announcers Curt Gowdy and Don Meredith said nothing about it being dirty or illegal. It was simply how the game was played in the 1970s.
White was the intended receiver on Willie Brown’s “Old Man Willie” 75-yard interception return. In 2020, White would be escorted to a sideline tent following the Tatum hit and been done for the day.


mercurynews--2020-09-01--SF Giants Gameday podcast: Farhan Zaidi explains why it was a quiet deadline

The San Diego Padres are going all in for their playoff push as general manager A.J .
Preller spent the last several days acquiring players to beef up his major league roster .
The Arizona Diamondbacks are waving the white flag for the 2020 season as general manager Mike Hazen spent the hours leading up to the trade deadline shipping Starling Marte , Archie Bradley , Robbie Ray and Andrew Chafin to new clubs .
How did Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi spent the trade deadline ?
He says he was discussing a variety of different need-for-need trades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the trade deadline passed , the Giants did announce a transaction as the club acquired left-hander Anthony Banda in exchange for cash considerations from Tampa Bay , but the Rays had recently designated Banda for assignment .
The former D ’ backs and Rays prospect will head to Sacramento and work at the alternate site , so the Giants won ’ t look much different on Tuesday when they open their two-game series in Colorado against the Rockies .
The club will have to make at least one roster move as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inflammation ) on its 28-man roster , but the Giants won ’ t be calling up a ton of prospects or bringing in veteran assets acquired in the types of win-now deals the Padres made .
With the Giants ’ 17-19 record , Zaidi wanted to keep the roster intact and give the club a chance to sneak into an expanded postseason field and didn ’ t feel any of the trade possibilities he discussed with other clubs were worth executing .
On a day where the Padres ( and Rockies ) both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became much worse , the Giants stayed the same .
It ’ s too soon to know whether the lack of moves will pay off with a surprise postseason berth , but Zaidi wanted to at least give the 2020 team a chance before focusing on the future this offseason .
SF Giants Gameday : Listen to the Bay Area News Group ’ s daily San Francisco Giants podcast , hosted by our beat reporter Kerry Crowley .
We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season .
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— Kerry Crowley

The San Diego Padres are going all in for their playoff push as general manager A.J. Preller spent the last several days acquiring players to beef up his major league roster.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are waving the white flag for the 2020 season as general manager Mike Hazen spent the hours leading up to the trade deadline shipping Starling Marte, Archie Bradley, Robbie Ray and Andrew Chafin to new clubs.
How did Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi spent the trade deadline?
He says he was discussing a variety of different need-for-need trades, but nothing materialized. Ninety minutes after the trade deadline passed, the Giants did announce a transaction as the club acquired left-hander Anthony Banda in exchange for cash considerations from Tampa Bay, but the Rays had recently designated Banda for assignment.
The former D’backs and Rays prospect will head to Sacramento and work at the alternate site, so the Giants won’t look much different on Tuesday when they open their two-game series in Colorado against the Rockies.
The club will have to make at least one roster move as it must replaced Joey Rickard (left elbow inflammation) on its 28-man roster, but the Giants won’t be calling up a ton of prospects or bringing in veteran assets acquired in the types of win-now deals the Padres made.
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On a day where the Padres (and Rockies) both got better and the D’backs became much worse, the Giants stayed the same. It’s too soon to know whether the lack of moves will pay off with a surprise postseason berth, but Zaidi wanted to at least give the 2020 team a chance before focusing on the future this offseason.
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mercurynews--2020-09-01--Federal judge upholds California ban on carrying guns in public

SACRAMENTO — A U.S. judge on Monday upheld California ’ s near-total ban on carrying guns in public even as protests in other states have seen counter-demonstrators armed with weapons .
U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller denied a review of a 2017 federal appeals court decision that upheld the law , which bans carrying concealed weapons in most urban areas and permits open-carry of weapons only if someone believes that a person is in immediate danger and law enforcement has failed to respond , the San Francisco Chronicle reported .
However , Mueller also said gun owners can proceed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while awaiting a court hearing next month involving another open-carry ban in Hawaii .
An 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled on Sept. 24 to consider a challenge to the law , which effectively only permits police and security guards to openly carry firearms .
Any ruling is at least several months away but it would be binding in nine states , including California .
Amy Bellantoni , a lawyer for the gun owners , said they may ask the appeals court to halt enforcement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pending , the Chronicle reported .
• NY attorney general files suit to break up the NRA • A year after Gilroy shooting : San Jose mayor ’ s plan to require gun owners carry insurance is at a halt Most states permit open carrying of firearms .
They include Wisconsin , where an anti-racism demonstration over the police shooting of Jacob Blake ended in the killing of two protesters and the arrest of 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of Illinois , who was carrying a rifle although he wasn ’ t legally of age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a lawyer for the gun owners , said they may ask the appeals court to halt enforcement of the California law while their case is pending .

SACRAMENTO — A U.S. judge on Monday upheld California’s near-total ban on carrying guns in public even as protests in other states have seen counter-demonstrators armed with weapons.
U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller denied a review of a 2017 federal appeals court decision that upheld the law, which bans carrying concealed weapons in most urban areas and permits open-carry of weapons only if someone believes that a person is in immediate danger and law enforcement has failed to respond, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
However, Mueller also said gun owners can proceed with a lawsuit against California over the ban while awaiting a court hearing next month involving another open-carry ban in Hawaii.
An 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled on Sept. 24 to consider a challenge to the law, which effectively only permits police and security guards to openly carry firearms. Any ruling is at least several months away but it would be binding in nine states, including California.
Amy Bellantoni, a lawyer for the gun owners, said they may ask the appeals court to halt enforcement of the California law while their case is pending, the Chronicle reported.
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Amy Bellantoni, a lawyer for the gun owners, said they may ask the appeals court to halt enforcement of the California law while their case is pending.


mercurynews--2020-09-01--Firefighter killed at scene of wildfire in Northern California forest

SAN FRANCISCO — A firefighter was killed and another injured Monday battling a wildfire in the Northern California forest , authorities said .
The firefighter was killed in Mendocino National Forest north of San Francisco , where a wildfire that started on Aug. 17 was 20 % contained , according to a statement from the U.S. Forest Service .
No other details were immediately available .
The blaze was burning in timber , chaparral and tall grass .
It began as 37 separate fires but many have either been contained or merged , according to the Forest Service .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was free of extreme weather warnings Monday but firefighters working to contain massive wildfires were cautioned about increasingly warm and dry conditions heading toward the Labor Day weekend .
The two largest fires , east and north of San Francisco Bay , were each about 65 % surrounded , the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said .
A third big fire , burning to the south in the Santa Cruz Mountains region , was 41 % surrounded .
That fire has burned nearly 900 homes .
The progress has allowed thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40,000 remained under evacuation orders , Cal Fire said .
Those fires and others began with a massive electrical storm on Aug. 15 that unleashed thousands of lightning bolts .
Hundreds of wildfires ignited in that time period have burned more than 2,218 square miles ( 5,747 square kilometers ) .
There have been eight deaths and more than 2,800 structures destroyed , many of them homes .
A Red Flag warning in Humboldt and Del Norte counties expired at late morning .
Air quality alerts due to smoke went into effect for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District .

SAN FRANCISCO — A firefighter was killed and another injured Monday battling a wildfire in the Northern California forest, authorities said.
The firefighter was killed in Mendocino National Forest north of San Francisco, where a wildfire that started on Aug. 17 was 20% contained, according to a statement from the U.S. Forest Service.
No other details were immediately available.
The blaze was burning in timber, chaparral and tall grass. It began as 37 separate fires but many have either been contained or merged, according to the Forest Service.
Many other fires continued to burn.
California was free of extreme weather warnings Monday but firefighters working to contain massive wildfires were cautioned about increasingly warm and dry conditions heading toward the Labor Day weekend.
The two largest fires, east and north of San Francisco Bay, were each about 65% surrounded, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. A third big fire, burning to the south in the Santa Cruz Mountains region, was 41% surrounded.
That fire has burned nearly 900 homes.
The progress has allowed thousands of people to return home but nearly 40,000 remained under evacuation orders, Cal Fire said.
Those fires and others began with a massive electrical storm on Aug. 15 that unleashed thousands of lightning bolts.
Hundreds of wildfires ignited in that time period have burned more than 2,218 square miles (5,747 square kilometers).
There have been eight deaths and more than 2,800 structures destroyed, many of them homes.
A Red Flag warning in Humboldt and Del Norte counties expired at late morning. Air quality alerts due to smoke went into effect for the Lake County air basin and in parts of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.


mercurynews--2020-09-01--Beloved North Bay animal sanctuary destroyed by LNU Compley fire

All was calm Saturday in rural Fairfield , where roosters crowed , pigs scratched at the dirt , llamas called and a passel of doggies played escort .
Some would call it a typical day in the country .
But those in the know would say it ’ s a slice of peace following a harrowing escape from the LNU Lightning Complex Fire that chased a family from their rural Vacaville home last week and destroyed it — along with their animal sanctuary .
Thao Le , who , with her husband , Vince Ones , founded Lucky Ones Ranch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being at home alone when disaster hit .
It was late at night when Le drifted off to sleep .
A county alert had warned of a possible evacuation of an area outside her zone , so Le slept lightly to be sure she heard any emergency vehicles .
Soon , she heard sirens and a friend called to warn of the fast-moving blaze .
The Contra Costa County dispatcher , where her husband also works in law enforcement , quickly had a nearby sheriff ’ s deputy alert Solano CART to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many of which are blind or have other special needs .
She then called her husband and had him come home in a hurry .
Next , she got to work .
Volunteers arrived and together , the animals were put into carriers and loaded into various vehicles .
CART took a bunch to the Solano County fairgrounds in Vallejo , Le took a bunch to a Browns Valley property , some sheltered in place and still more were fostered out .
Le would later be evacuated once more , and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryan Clagg , where they sheltered for a bit as they decided what would happen next .
Within days , the couple was reunited with the majority of their animals .
Their pig , Swiney Todd , had initially escaped evacuation but has since been found .
Three chickens died , and their cat , Tigerlily , remains missing .
She ’ s a survivor , Le emphasized , and loves the outdoors .
So she ’ s likely around somewhere and just needs to come home .
The couple have temporarily relocated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend of a volunteer offered up her rural property and a mini animal sanctuary is being set up .
The remaining 105 animals are at eight other sites .
On Saturday , chickens , donkeys , sheep and more roamed their new digs and made happy noises at passersby .
Meanwhile , friends put up pens , stocked food items , tended the animals and , essentially , gave them affection , which the animals returned .
It ’ s been rough , Le said , but there have been good things to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost a lot but I feel we gained so much , ” she mused .
“ The outpouring of help .
I didn ’ t know that I knew so many people .
It ’ s just amazing , ” she said .
“ It ’ s a lot of community and the Blue ( law enforcement ) family.
” She ’ s haunted by the memories the couple lost , of all the good times at the sanctuary , which is now gone .
All the time spent with volunteers , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The house , we just slept in it , ” she said .
“ We didn ’ t gather in it .
That had more effect on me , the outside.
” The couple had moved onto the ranch in 2011 and opened their nonprofit animal sanctuary in 2016 .
Now , the couple are waiting to hear from their landlord .
Once that happens , they ’ ll decide whether to rebuild there or elsewhere .
Ultimately , Le said , they ’ d love to return to the Cantelow Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end goal is clear .
“ We want to secure a property to give us a forever home , ” she said .
“ It ’ s not just about us , it ’ s the community ( too ) .
” Kris Thomas said she and her mom , 82-year-old Gail Lavalier , are happy to provide a safe space for everyone .
“ I ’ ve always wanted tons of animals at home and now I have 50 , ” she joked .
Offering the couple and their menagerie some comfort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the least she can do , Thomas advised .
• New evacuation order for Dolan Fire in South Monterey County • First day of school after California wildfires : Teaching remotely after losing their own homes • Hot weather expected to complicate crews ’ fight to contain Bay Area wildfires • Carmel Fire : All but a dream up in smoke “ I ’ m a special education teacher , ” she said .
“ They ’ ve helped out the special needs community .
They wanted our kids there ( at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebrities in my world of special education .
“ It ’ s my opportunity to give back to them.
” Many people have contacted the family , offering to help .
Right now , volunteers are being asked to stand by as the area is made safe for the animals and future volunteers .
There will be a call to help , Le said , so watch the Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/LuckyOnesRanch ) for updates .
Other ways to help include : • Meals for the couple and current volunteers : https : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list : https : //a.co/h4TM4La • Or donating to the ongoing general wish list : http : //a.co/9EXqDGX

All was calm Saturday in rural Fairfield, where roosters crowed, pigs scratched at the dirt, llamas called and a passel of doggies played escort.
Some would call it a typical day in the country. But those in the know would say it’s a slice of peace following a harrowing escape from the LNU Lightning Complex Fire that chased a family from their rural Vacaville home last week and destroyed it — along with their animal sanctuary.
Thao Le, who, with her husband, Vince Ones, founded Lucky Ones Ranch on Cantelow Road, recalled the stress of being at home alone when disaster hit.
It was late at night when Le drifted off to sleep. A county alert had warned of a possible evacuation of an area outside her zone, so Le slept lightly to be sure she heard any emergency vehicles. Soon, she heard sirens and a friend called to warn of the fast-moving blaze.
The Contra Costa County dispatcher, where her husband also works in law enforcement, quickly had a nearby sheriff’s deputy alert Solano CART to come quickly to help rescue the animals, many of which are blind or have other special needs. She then called her husband and had him come home in a hurry. Next, she got to work.
Volunteers arrived and together, the animals were put into carriers and loaded into various vehicles. CART took a bunch to the Solano County fairgrounds in Vallejo, Le took a bunch to a Browns Valley property, some sheltered in place and still more were fostered out.
Le would later be evacuated once more, and this time they went to the home of Ryan Clagg, where they sheltered for a bit as they decided what would happen next.
Within days, the couple was reunited with the majority of their animals. Their pig, Swiney Todd, had initially escaped evacuation but has since been found. Three chickens died, and their cat, Tigerlily, remains missing. She’s a survivor, Le emphasized, and loves the outdoors. So she’s likely around somewhere and just needs to come home.
The couple have temporarily relocated to Fairfield with 50 animals. A friend of a volunteer offered up her rural property and a mini animal sanctuary is being set up. The remaining 105 animals are at eight other sites.
On Saturday, chickens, donkeys, sheep and more roamed their new digs and made happy noises at passersby. Meanwhile, friends put up pens, stocked food items, tended the animals and, essentially, gave them affection, which the animals returned.
It’s been rough, Le said, but there have been good things to come of the bad.
“We lost a lot but I feel we gained so much,” she mused. “The outpouring of help. I didn’t know that I knew so many people. It’s just amazing,” she said. “It’s a lot of community and the Blue (law enforcement) family.”
She’s haunted by the memories the couple lost, of all the good times at the sanctuary, which is now gone. All the time spent with volunteers, with the community, with each other.
“The house, we just slept in it,” she said. “We didn’t gather in it. That had more effect on me, the outside.”
The couple had moved onto the ranch in 2011 and opened their nonprofit animal sanctuary in 2016.
Now, the couple are waiting to hear from their landlord. Once that happens, they’ll decide whether to rebuild there or elsewhere.
Ultimately, Le said, they’d love to return to the Cantelow Road property. But whatever happens, their end goal is clear.
“We want to secure a property to give us a forever home,” she said. “It’s not just about us, it’s the community (too).”
Kris Thomas said she and her mom, 82-year-old Gail Lavalier, are happy to provide a safe space for everyone.
“I’ve always wanted tons of animals at home and now I have 50,” she joked.
Offering the couple and their menagerie some comfort in a time of sadness and distress is the least she can do, Thomas advised.
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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 “I’m a special education teacher,” she said. “They’ve helped out the special needs community. They wanted our kids there (at the ranch), These guys are celebrities in my world of special education.
“It’s my opportunity to give back to them.”
Many people have contacted the family, offering to help. Right now, volunteers are being asked to stand by as the area is made safe for the animals and future volunteers. There will be a call to help, Le said, so watch the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LuckyOnesRanch) for updates.
Other ways to help include:


mercurynews--2020-09-01--New evacuation order for Dolan Fire in South Monterey County

MONTEREY — With the River and Carmel fires almost completely contained , the Dolan Fire near Big Sur is still burning in all directions , prompting a new evacuation order , and only a quarter contained .
“ Due to the continued spread of the Dolan Fire to the southeast , the Monterey County Sheriff ’ s Office in cooperation with Dolan Fire incident management team and Monterey County Office of Emergency Services has declared an evacuation order effective immediately , ” said the agencies in a release .
The evacuation order includes the areas south of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ridge , including Alms Ridge .
The Sheriff ’ s Office said the order was issued due to fire behavior and a wind shift .
“ An Evacuation Order signals an immediate threat to life and safety .
This is a lawful order to leave now .
The area is lawfully closed to public access , ” said the release .
“ Firefighting resources previously assigned to the north end of the fire are being shifted to the southern end as the operations in the McWay Ridge area are secured .
The Dolan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nacimiento Fergusson Road.
” The Forest Service reported that as fire activity increased in the southeast portion , firefighters worked on containment lines around the Twin Peak area including along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road , which has the potential to be used to stop the fire ’ s spread as it heads south .
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is closed to all traffic — public and residential — from Highway 1 to the Fort Hunter Liggett base boundary line 16 miles inland .
The closure includes the intersection with South Coast Ridge Road at the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Road and South Coast Ridge Road .
Crews are constructing lines on the southeast corner of the Dolan Fire to protect local communities and other resources at risk .
Along with work on Nacimiento-Fergusson Road , the forest trail and road system , firefighters ’ work shifts to address the fire ’ s move further east into the Ventana Wilderness .
Highway 1 remains closed as firefighters and other agencies work to open the road as soon as it is safe to do so , but rolling rocks are a continued safety concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ River and Carmel fires approach total containment , Cal Fire is preparing to move out of Toro Park , where it has had its base camp since mid-August .
“ We ’ re in the process of reducing our footprint in Toro Park , ” said Reno DiTullio , a Cal Fire spokesperson , at a Monterey County briefing on Monday .
DiTullio said he expects Cal Fire to be out of Toro Park by the weekend but the park will remain indefinitely closed to the public because of damage it sustained during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be done before a recovery plan is put in place to make the park accessible to the public again , Monterey County announced last week .
The marine layer continues to help decrease Dolan Fire activity , at least in the early morning hours , allowing crews in the north to reinforce the containment line along the McWay drainage and clear fuels around infrastructure in the Partington area .
But warmer , drier weather is expected to return this week and will test those lines .
The Dolan Fire is 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 1,025 fire personnel fighting it .
• First day of school after California wildfires : Teaching remotely after losing their own homes • Hot weather expected to complicate crews ’ fight to contain Bay Area wildfires • Carmel Fire : All but a dream up in smoke Closer to Salinas and Carmel Valley , the River Fire and Carmel Fire have also benefited from the weather conditions that have reduced fire activity allowing crews to patrol and mop up within the fires ’ perimeters .
The River Fire has burned 48,088 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the Carmel Fire has scorched 6,905 acres and is 97 % contained .
Fire personnel from both fires are beginning to return to their respected units or get reassigned to other incidents .
Air quality around Monterey County has improved to a “ good ” level .

MONTEREY — With the River and Carmel fires almost completely contained, the Dolan Fire near Big Sur is still burning in all directions, prompting a new evacuation order, and only a quarter contained.
“Due to the continued spread of the Dolan Fire to the southeast, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with Dolan Fire incident management team and Monterey County Office of Emergency Services has declared an evacuation order effective immediately,” said the agencies in a release.
The evacuation order includes the areas south of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road and west of South Coast Ridge to Prewitt Ridge, including Alms Ridge. The Sheriff’s Office said the order was issued due to fire behavior and a wind shift.
“An Evacuation Order signals an immediate threat to life and safety. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access,” said the release. “Firefighting resources previously assigned to the north end of the fire are being shifted to the southern end as the operations in the McWay Ridge area are secured. The Dolan Fire is burning two miles northwest of Nacimiento Fergusson Road.”
The Forest Service reported that as fire activity increased in the southeast portion, firefighters worked on containment lines around the Twin Peak area including along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, which has the potential to be used to stop the fire’s spread as it heads south.
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is closed to all traffic — public and residential — from Highway 1 to the Fort Hunter Liggett base boundary line 16 miles inland. The closure includes the intersection with South Coast Ridge Road at the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road summit, Los Burros Road, Plaskett Road and South Coast Ridge Road.
Crews are constructing lines on the southeast corner of the Dolan Fire to protect local communities and other resources at risk. Along with work on Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, the forest trail and road system, firefighters’ work shifts to address the fire’s move further east into the Ventana Wilderness.
Highway 1 remains closed as firefighters and other agencies work to open the road as soon as it is safe to do so, but rolling rocks are a continued safety concern throughout the highway closure.
As the River and Carmel fires approach total containment, Cal Fire is preparing to move out of Toro Park, where it has had its base camp since mid-August.
“We’re in the process of reducing our footprint in Toro Park,” said Reno DiTullio, a Cal Fire spokesperson, at a Monterey County briefing on Monday.
DiTullio said he expects Cal Fire to be out of Toro Park by the weekend but the park will remain indefinitely closed to the public because of damage it sustained during the River Fire.
Damage assessments will need to be done before a recovery plan is put in place to make the park accessible to the public again, Monterey County announced last week.
The marine layer continues to help decrease Dolan Fire activity, at least in the early morning hours, allowing crews in the north to reinforce the containment line along the McWay drainage and clear fuels around infrastructure in the Partington area.
But warmer, drier weather is expected to return this week and will test those lines.
The Dolan Fire is 25% contained and has burned 29,434 acres, with 1,025 fire personnel fighting it.
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The River Fire has burned 48,088 acres and is 95% contained, while the Carmel Fire has scorched 6,905 acres and is 97% contained. Fire personnel from both fires are beginning to return to their respected units or get reassigned to other incidents.
Air quality around Monterey County has improved to a “good” level.


mercurynews--2020-09-01--San Jose man accused of Santa Cruz Mountains killing enters plea

SANTA CRUZ — The man accused of murdering a San Jose man in the Santa Cruz Mountains in June pleaded not guilty to charges Monday .
Albaro Montalvo Amaral , 30 , of San Jose , was arrested by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff ’ s Office July 9 for his suspected involvement in the fatal shooting of Kevin Medina-Lopez , 27 on the 17000 block of Laurel Road , near Highway 17 .
• Vandalism of San Jose mayors ’ homes takes protests to a new level • Fishermen reel in pipe bombs at Barge Hole north of Red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to Medina-Lopez ’ s death , Amaral faces attempted murder charges for other individuals , as well .
Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick set a preliminary hearing date of Feb. 4 for Amaral and codefendant Ruben Gonzalez , who has been charged as an accessory after-the-fact in the homicide .
If convicted in the case , Amaral could face additional prison time due to a previous felony conviction or “ strike ” on his record .
On June 14 , the night of the shooting , Santa Cruz County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the scene based on reports of gunshots in the area .
During the investigation , deputies found that there were allegedly two additional victims they said Amaral had attempted to shoot .

SANTA CRUZ — The man accused of murdering a San Jose man in the Santa Cruz Mountains in June pleaded not guilty to charges Monday.
Albaro Montalvo Amaral, 30, of San Jose, was arrested by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office July 9 for his suspected involvement in the fatal shooting of Kevin Medina-Lopez, 27 on the 17000 block of Laurel Road, near Highway 17. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Man shot, killed by Colorado cop was holding a marker, not a weapon
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In addition to a murder charge related to Medina-Lopez’s death, Amaral faces attempted murder charges for other individuals, as well. Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick set a preliminary hearing date of Feb. 4 for Amaral and codefendant Ruben Gonzalez, who has been charged as an accessory after-the-fact in the homicide.
If convicted in the case, Amaral could face additional prison time due to a previous felony conviction or “strike” on his record.
On June 14, the night of the shooting, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the scene based on reports of gunshots in the area. During the investigation, deputies found that there were allegedly two additional victims they said Amaral had attempted to shoot.


mercurynews--2020-09-01--Fire season just beginning, Santa Cruz County residents seek early preparation tips

SOQUEL — The threat of fire to many residents along the rural Soquel San Jose Road and beyond was an imminent concern — before the CZU August Lightning Complex fires blazed south into Santa Cruz County .
And wildfire season across California is just getting started , Cal Fire officials have warned repeatedly during recently twice-daily press conferences .
The CZU Lightning Complex fire line was held well northwest of the heart of the Soquel community , to the point where the Seventh-day Adventist Soquel Conference Center campgrounds became one of the county ’ s fire evacuation zones .
Residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepare themselves for the worst-case scenarios and sought help from their nearby fire department .
Leading the charge was Steve Goodson , whose property is adjacent to the campgrounds property and is part of a community advisory group pulled together this summer by 1st District Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold in response to community pushback for a new coronavirus-initiated temporary youth homelessness shelter program .
On Thursday , a meet-and-greet Goodson had helped organize prior to the lightning-induced fires , brought together other advisory board members , his immediate neighbors and representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive up rutted dirt and gravel roads behind the campgrounds and onto private property connected to Rodeo Gulch Road , aiming to put concerns at risk about firefighters ’ access issues .
Central Fire Interim Chief John Walbridge , standing in a grassy hilltop field with a ring of residents around him , described the high-level response required of his and other Santa Cruz County fire agencies during the Lightning Complex fires that temporarily left a skeleton crew manning the district ’ s fire stations .
Walbridge agreed with resident concerns that access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pullouts installed .
He turned down requests to have his heavy fire response vehicles drive from the hilltop down to the residential area , however , saying that those heavy vehicles can do significant damage to the pavement when they transition off the gravel and dirt .
However , he said , that does not mean the engines can not respond when needed .
“ If it ’ s at all possible to get there , they ’ ll do it — they ’ ll break it , they ’ ll open it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessities .
“ I know the incident right now is dealing with a lot of damage that we call ‘ suppression damage.
’ It ’ s because they broke it , because they had to get to it .
So , don ’ t ever question their ability to get to something — they ’ ll get to it .
We ’ re just trying to make it as safe as we possibly can.
” Fire Marshal Marco Mack gave residents some pointers on how best to create 100 feet of “ defensible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a buffer between their homes and oncoming fires .
In areas where residents are working to improve that buffer , such as Happy Valley , Mack said , workers are removing low-level tree limbs and brush beneath .
A surface fire will burn at least one-and-a-half-times the height of the fuel that ’ s available and can get up into the trees themselves , otherwise , Mack said .
Officials recommended creating at least 6 feet of separation between the ground fuel and the lowest limbs of trees close to structures .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Monterey County • First day of school after California wildfires : Teaching remotely after losing their own homes • Hot weather expected to complicate crews ’ fight to contain Bay Area wildfires • Carmel Fire : All but a dream up in smoke “ If I was driving in my fire engine into the wildland fire coming here , and I would call it an ‘ ordinary ’ wildlfire , where it ’ s burning through the surface materials and comes to a bush and it burns aggressively and continues to burn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intense fire with wind and everything — I wouldn ’ t stop my fire truck here to fight fire , ” Mack said , gesturing to an access point from the neighborhood to the upper conference center property .
“ What I ’ m looking for is a place where the surface fire is going to come through and when it gets within 50 feet of my engine , the surface fire is not going to have any intensity.
” Walbridge warned those gathered that there are times when the best preparations will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s progress immediately .
“ Really , what everybody needs to understand as we move through this is we ’ re only limited by our ability to control nature , ” Walbridge said .
“ And sometimes nature trumps us .
And that ’ s a fact .
”

SOQUEL — The threat of fire to many residents along the rural Soquel San Jose Road and beyond was an imminent concern — before the CZU August Lightning Complex fires blazed south into Santa Cruz County.
And wildfire season across California is just getting started, Cal Fire officials have warned repeatedly during recently twice-daily press conferences.
The CZU Lightning Complex fire line was held well northwest of the heart of the Soquel community, to the point where the Seventh-day Adventist Soquel Conference Center campgrounds became one of the county’s fire evacuation zones. Residents were still looking to find ways to prepare themselves for the worst-case scenarios and sought help from their nearby fire department.
Leading the charge was Steve Goodson, whose property is adjacent to the campgrounds property and is part of a community advisory group pulled together this summer by 1st District Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold in response to community pushback for a new coronavirus-initiated temporary youth homelessness shelter program. On Thursday, a meet-and-greet Goodson had helped organize prior to the lightning-induced fires, brought together other advisory board members, his immediate neighbors and representatives from the Central Fire Protection District to drive up rutted dirt and gravel roads behind the campgrounds and onto private property connected to Rodeo Gulch Road, aiming to put concerns at risk about firefighters’ access issues.
Central Fire Interim Chief John Walbridge, standing in a grassy hilltop field with a ring of residents around him, described the high-level response required of his and other Santa Cruz County fire agencies during the Lightning Complex fires that temporarily left a skeleton crew manning the district’s fire stations. Walbridge agreed with resident concerns that access roads should have proper vehicle turnaround and pullouts installed. He turned down requests to have his heavy fire response vehicles drive from the hilltop down to the residential area, however, saying that those heavy vehicles can do significant damage to the pavement when they transition off the gravel and dirt. However, he said, that does not mean the engines cannot respond when needed.
“If it’s at all possible to get there, they’ll do it — they’ll break it, they’ll open it,” Walbridge said of fire response necessities. “I know the incident right now is dealing with a lot of damage that we call ‘suppression damage.’ It’s because they broke it, because they had to get to it. So, don’t ever question their ability to get to something — they’ll get to it. We’re just trying to make it as safe as we possibly can.”
Fire Marshal Marco Mack gave residents some pointers on how best to create 100 feet of “defensible space” around their properties and extend a buffer between their homes and oncoming fires. In areas where residents are working to improve that buffer, such as Happy Valley, Mack said, workers are removing low-level tree limbs and brush beneath. A surface fire will burn at least one-and-a-half-times the height of the fuel that’s available and can get up into the trees themselves, otherwise, Mack said. Officials recommended creating at least 6 feet of separation between the ground fuel and the lowest limbs of trees close to structures. Related Articles Crashes and Disasters | Map: Lightning fires prompt evacuation order west of Yreka
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“If I was driving in my fire engine into the wildland fire coming here, and I would call it an ‘ordinary’ wildlfire, where it’s burning through the surface materials and comes to a bush and it burns aggressively and continues to burn — which is entirely different than the intense fire with wind and everything — I wouldn’t stop my fire truck here to fight fire,” Mack said, gesturing to an access point from the neighborhood to the upper conference center property. “What I’m looking for is a place where the surface fire is going to come through and when it gets within 50 feet of my engine, the surface fire is not going to have any intensity.”
Walbridge warned those gathered that there are times when the best preparations will not be enough to stop a wildfire’s progress immediately.
“Really, what everybody needs to understand as we move through this is we’re only limited by our ability to control nature,” Walbridge said. “And sometimes nature trumps us. And that’s a fact.”


mercurynews--2020-09-01--Porn star Ron Jeremy facing 20 new sex crime charges involving 12 woman, teen girl

LOS ANGELES — Adult film star Ron Jeremy was charged Monday with 20 new counts of rape or sexual assault involving 12 women and a teenage girl , authorities said .
The charges come two months after the 67-year-old Jeremy was charged with the rape of three women and the sexual assault of a fourth .
Jeremy pleaded not guilty to the new charges in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday morning , and had already denied the previous allegations .
Jeremy , whose legal name is Ronald Jeremy Hyatt , has been held in jail on $ 6.6 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ span 16 years , from 2004 to January of this year , when he is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 21-year-old woman outside a business in Hollywood , the district attorney ’ s office said .
The charges include five counts of forcible rape and six counts of sexual battery by restraint .
They also include an allegation that he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl at a party in 2004 .
After the previous charges were filed , Jeremy ’ s attorney Stuart Goldfarb said he was “ absolutely innocent.
” Goldfarb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking comment on the new counts .
Investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department put out a call for more possible victims to come forward when the initial charges were filed in June .
The combined counts could bring sentences of more than 250 years in prison .
Jeremy , nicknamed “ The Hedgehog , ” has been among the best known and most prolific performers in the adult film industry since the 1970s .
He was investigated and charged by a district attorney ’ s task force formed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry as the # MeToo era gained momentum in late 2017 .

LOS ANGELES — Adult film star Ron Jeremy was charged Monday with 20 new counts of rape or sexual assault involving 12 women and a teenage girl, authorities said.
The charges come two months after the 67-year-old Jeremy was charged with the rape of three women and the sexual assault of a fourth.
Jeremy pleaded not guilty to the new charges in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday morning, and had already denied the previous allegations.
Jeremy, whose legal name is Ronald Jeremy Hyatt, has been held in jail on $6.6 million bail since June.
The new counts span 16 years, from 2004 to January of this year, when he is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 21-year-old woman outside a business in Hollywood, the district attorney’s office said.
The charges include five counts of forcible rape and six counts of sexual battery by restraint. They also include an allegation that he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl at a party in 2004.
After the previous charges were filed, Jeremy’s attorney Stuart Goldfarb said he was “absolutely innocent.” Goldfarb did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment on the new counts.
Investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department put out a call for more possible victims to come forward when the initial charges were filed in June.
The combined counts could bring sentences of more than 250 years in prison.
Jeremy, nicknamed “The Hedgehog,” has been among the best known and most prolific performers in the adult film industry since the 1970s.
He was investigated and charged by a district attorney’s task force formed to take on sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry as the #MeToo era gained momentum in late 2017.


mercurynews--2020-09-01--Elon Musk now richer than Mark Zuckerberg after Tesla stock split

Elon Musk is the third-richest person in the world — at least for the moment .
Musk passed Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg Monday as shares of Tesla Inc. continued their unrelenting rally after undergoing a forward stock split .
As of 11:25 a.m. , Musk was worth $ 111.3 billion compared with $ 110.5 billion for Zuckerberg , according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index , which is updated at the end of each market day .
Musk has seen a meteoric rise in his wealth , with his net worth growing by $ 76.1 billion this year as Tesla shares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helpful : an audacious pay package — the largest corporate pay deal ever struck between a chief executive officer and a board of directors — that could yield him more than $ 50 billion if all goals are met .
Last week , the Tesla CEO joined Zuckerberg , Amazon.com ’ s Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates in the rarefied centibillionaire club as tech stocks surged .
• Elon Musk ’ s wealth exceeds $ 100 billion ; Jeff Bezos worth twice as much The heady pace of wealth accumulation in recent months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the global economy .
Growth has slumped sharply since the pandemic began with companies laying off millions of workers and consumer demand cratering .
The brunt of economic pain has been borne by young and lower-wage workers , whose jobs are typically more vulnerable to Covid-related layoffs .
Musk still has a long way to become the world ’ s richest person .
Bezos is worth about $ 200 billion .

By Jack Pitcher | Bloomberg
Elon Musk is the third-richest person in the world — at least for the moment.
Musk passed Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg on Monday as shares of Tesla Inc. continued their unrelenting rally after undergoing a forward stock split. As of 11:25 a.m., Musk was worth $111.3 billion compared with $110.5 billion for Zuckerberg, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which is updated at the end of each market day.
Musk has seen a meteoric rise in his wealth, with his net worth growing by $76.1 billion this year as Tesla shares surged more than 475%. Also helpful: an audacious pay package — the largest corporate pay deal ever struck between a chief executive officer and a board of directors — that could yield him more than $50 billion if all goals are met.
Last week, the Tesla CEO joined Zuckerberg, Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates in the rarefied centibillionaire club as tech stocks surged.
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Elon Musk promises to fund legal fights of discriminated X users Technology | Tesla is under investigation again after 12 drivers complain of steering problems The heady pace of wealth accumulation in recent months is in stark contrast to the state of the global economy. Growth has slumped sharply since the pandemic began with companies laying off millions of workers and consumer demand cratering. The brunt of economic pain has been borne by young and lower-wage workers, whose jobs are typically more vulnerable to Covid-related layoffs.
Musk still has a long way to become the world’s richest person. Bezos is worth about $200 billion.


mercurynews--2020-09-02--Watch: Orca whale pod frolics in kelp bed near Pebble Beach

CLICK HERE if you ’ re having trouble viewing media on a mobile device .
Nancy Black was trailing Monterey Bay ’ s most frequently seen orca whale pod in the area in a vessel full of passengers last Saturday when the mammals changed course and headed several miles closer to shore .
Black , a marine biologist with Monterey Bay Whale Watch and president of the nonprofit California Killer Whale Project , turned to keep up .
She followed the pod along the south edge of Monterey Canyon , the largest and deepest submarine canyon off the Pacific coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bed off Spanish Bay , near Pebble Beach .
Star , Bumper , Orion and Comet , who are also known in Monterey Bay as “ the friendly pod , ” specialize in hunting other marine mammals , but their weekend trip to the kelp bed did not include any violence .
Instead , the CA51 pod trekked to the rubbery algae bed to frolic and roll the strands of kelp over their dorsal fins .
“ This most likely feels good on their skin , ” according to Black .
Aerial video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ captured the pod as it played , recording the pod ’ s belly up tail slaps and spy hops , those moments when orcas raise their head above the surface to look at people .
The behavior in the footage above is rarer to observe in summer , Black said in a statement .
Killer whale sightings are more frequent in Monterey Bay in spring , when the mammals arrive to hunt gray whales .
Fall offers a second peak in sightings .
“ We expect to see them periodically in the coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Black said .
“ There are many humpback whales feeding in the bay now and a few blue whales have arrived as well.
” • My cat hides when she hears loud , obnoxious noises • Hawk is an unwelcome visitor to a Redwood City backyard The CA51 pod was first identified by Black in 1992 .
Star is an adult female orca and the mother to Bumper , Orion and Comet .
Bumper and Orion are her sons .
Comet is her young daughter .
The mammals are known for living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ female and her offspring .

CLICK HERE if you’re having trouble viewing media on a mobile device.
Nancy Black was trailing Monterey Bay’s most frequently seen orca pod in a whale watching vessel last Saturday when the mammals changed course and headed several miles closer to shore.
Black, a marine biologist with Monterey Bay Whale Watch and president of the nonprofit California Killer Whale Project, turned to keep up. She followed the pod along the south edge of Monterey Canyon, the largest and deepest submarine canyon off the Pacific coast of North America, to a kelp bed off Spanish Bay, near Pebble Beach.
Star, Bumper, Orion and Comet, who are also known in Monterey Bay as “the friendly pod,” specialize in hunting other marine mammals, but their weekend trip to the kelp bed did not include any violence.
Instead, the CA51 pod trekked to the rubbery algae bed to frolic and roll the strands of kelp over their dorsal fins.
“This most likely feels good on their skin,” according to Black.
Aerial video from onlooker Mike Kauffmann’s drone captured the pod as it played, recording its belly up tail slaps and spy hops, those moments when orcas raise their head above the surface to look at people.
The behavior in the footage above is rarer to observe in summer, Black said in a statement. Killer whale sightings are more frequent in Monterey Bay in spring, when the mammals arrive to hunt gray whales. Fall offers a second peak in sightings.
“We expect to see them periodically in the coming months but we never know when,” Black said. “There are many humpback whales feeding in the bay now and a few blue whales have arrived as well.”
The CA51 pod was first identified by Black in 1992. Star is an adult female orca and the mother to Bumper, Orion and Comet. Bumper and Orion are her sons. Comet is her young daughter. The mammals are known for living in family groups composed of an adult female and her offspring.