mercurynews--2020-07-07--San Bruno police make 35 fireworks-related arrests

SAN BRUNO – Nearly three dozen people were arrested on suspicion of using or possessing illegal fireworks in San Bruno on the Fourth of July , authorities said Monday .
Officers also seized 58 pounds of illegal fireworks , said San Bruno police Capt .
Jeremy Brandenburg in a news release .
Brandenburg said 50 officers responded to 181 fireworks-related calls and made 35 arrests .
The arrestees were issued an administrative citation , the penalty for which is a $ 1,000 fine , and released .
In the days leading up to the Fourth of July , officers visited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past , Brandenburg said .
They spoke with residents about the use of illegal fireworks , penalties for their possession and use , and the dangers they pose .
“ Illegal fireworks , including firecrackers , bottle rockets , aerials , mortars , M-1000 ’ s , roman candles and others present an obvious public safety hazard as they can cause personal injury and significant damage to property , ” Brandenburg said in the news release .
“ Additionally , the extreme noise associated with most illegal fireworks can be very disruptive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he continued , “ and can cause serious distress to family pets .
”

SAN BRUNO – Nearly three dozen people were arrested on suspicion of using or possessing illegal fireworks in San Bruno on the Fourth of July, authorities said Monday.
Officers also seized 58 pounds of illegal fireworks, said San Bruno police Capt. Jeremy Brandenburg in a news release.
Brandenburg said 50 officers responded to 181 fireworks-related calls and made 35 arrests. The arrestees were issued an administrative citation, the penalty for which is a $1,000 fine, and released.
In the days leading up to the Fourth of July, officers visited areas where problems have arisen in the past, Brandenburg said. They spoke with residents about the use of illegal fireworks, penalties for their possession and use, and the dangers they pose.
“Illegal fireworks, including firecrackers, bottle rockets, aerials, mortars, M-1000’s, roman candles and others present an obvious public safety hazard as they can cause personal injury and significant damage to property,” Brandenburg said in the news release.
“Additionally, the extreme noise associated with most illegal fireworks can be very disruptive to other Fourth of July revelers,” he continued, “and can cause serious distress to family pets.”


mercurynews--2020-07-07--NHL, players’ union announce plan to resume play on Aug. 1

The NHL is not only in a position to resume playing within the next month , the league has the potential of enjoying labor peace through 2026 .
The National Hockey League and the NHL Players ’ Association on Monday announced reaching a tentative deal on a return to play format which is coupled with the two sides agreeing to a memorandum of understanding on a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement .
Should both agreements be ratified , the NHL would proceed immediately to its expanded 24-team playoff format , with play beginning on Aug. 1 .
Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 13 , with teams traveling to their respective hub cities for exhibition games on July 26 .
A person with direct knowledge of the agreements told The Associated Press that the NHL has selected Toronto and Edmonton , Alberta , to be the hub cities in hosting the qualifying round and at least first two playoff rounds .
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the league and NHLPA have not released this information .
The person said , the league is being cautious , and allowing itself flexibility in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections in not yet determining which cities will host the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final .
The agreements need two-thirds approval by owners .
On the union side , the agreements must first be approved by a majority of the NHLPA ’ s 31-member executive committee before going to a vote to the full membership .
The executive committee is expected to make its recommendation by the end of day Tuesday .
If approved , the players would be expected to complete their voting process by Friday .
Extending the CBA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2022 , was considered a necessary step in restarting the season , which was placed on pause in March as a result of the pandemic .
The CBA extension covers numerous on- and off-ice issues , including the NHL ’ s potential return to the Olympics , the person said .
If approved , players would be in a position to compete at the Beijing Olympics in 2022 and Cortina Milan Games in 2026 .
In order for that to happen , the NHL would first have to resolve its outstanding issues , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation .
The NHL , NHLPA and IIHF had what were called productive talks earlier this year .
The NHL participated in five consecutive Olympics from 1998-2014 before skipping 2018 in Pyeongchang .
Financially , this CBA extension would address the monetary hit affecting the league and players as a result of lost revenues stemming from the remainder of the regular season being wiped out and with the resumption of games being played in empty arenas .
A second person familiar with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players would defer 10 % of salaries next season which owners would pay back over three consecutive seasons starting in 2022-23 .
The salary cap will remain at $ 81.5 million for at least next season , the person added , and spoke on the condition of anonymity because the details were not revealed .
Escrow payments to owners to even out hockey-related revenue at 50/50 would be capped at 20 % next season , with the cap decreasing throughout the deal , the second person said .
If owners are still owed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be extended for an additional season .
Escrow has remained one of the biggest complaints of players in the past several years .
Over the weekend , the league and players agreed to an extensive series of return-to-play protocols involving training camps and games .
Players will be allowed to opt out of competing in the expanded playoffs , and will have three days to make their decision once the agreement is ratified .
For more AP NHL coverage : https : //apnews.com/NHL and https : //twitter.com/AP_Sports

By JOHN WAWROW and STEPHEN WHYNO
The NHL is in position to resume playing in less than a month — with 24 teams in action, all in Canada — and could be on the verge of enjoying labor peace through 2026.
The National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association on Monday announced a tentative deal on a return-to-play format and a memorandum of understanding on a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement.
Should both agreements be ratified, the NHL would proceed immediately to its expanded 24-team playoff format, with play beginning on Aug. 1. Under the plan, training camps would open July 13, with teams traveling to their respective hub cities for exhibition games on July 26.
The hub cities are Toronto and Edmonton, Alberta, for the qualifying round and at least first two playoff rounds, according to a person with direct knowledge of the agreements who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league and NHLPA have not released this information.
For the conference finals and the Stanley Cup Final, the person said, the league is being cautious and allowing itself site flexibility in the event of potential spikes in COVID-19 infections.
Extending the CBA, which was set to expire in September 2022, was considered a necessary step in restarting the season, which was placed on pause in March as a result of the pandemic. The extension covers numerous on- and off-ice issues, including the NHL’s potential return to the Olympics, the person said.
If approved, players would be in a position to compete at the Beijing Olympics in 2022 and in Italy four years later. In order for that to happen, the NHL would first have to resolve marketing rights and health insurance, among otehr issues, with the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation.
The NHL, NHLPA and IIHF had what were called productive talks earlier this year. The NHL participated in five consecutive Olympics from 1998-2014 before skipping 2018 in South Korea.
Financially, the CBA extension would attempt to address the lost revenue stemming from the remainder of the regular season being wiped out and with empty arenas looming for the playoffs.
Players would defer 10% of salaries next season which owners would pay back over three consecutive seasons starting in 2022-23, a second person familiar with the proposed agreement told The AP. The salary cap will remain at $81.5 million for at least next season, the person said, also speaking only on the condition of anonymity because the details have not been released.
Escrow payments to owners to even out hockey-related revenue at 50/50 would be capped at 20% next season, with the cap decreasing throughout the deal, the second person said. If owners are still owed money from the players, the CBA would be extended for an additional season. Escrow has been one of the biggest complaints of players in the past several years.
The agreements need two-thirds approval by owners.
On the union side, the agreements must first be approved by a majority of the NHLPA’s 31-member executive committee before going to a vote to the full membership. The executive committee is expected to make its recommendation by the end of day Tuesday; if approved, the players would be expected to complete their voting process by Friday.
Over the weekend, the league and players agreed to an extensive series of return-to-play protocols involving training camp and games. Players will be allowed to opt out of competing in the expanded playoffs, and will have three days to make their decision once the agreement is ratified.
Should the league push ahead, the matchups are already known: The top four teams in each conference (Boston, Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia in the East and St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas and Dallas in the West) play a handful of round-robin games to determine seeding.
Those top seeds then face the winners of eight opening-round, best-of-five series: No. 5 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 12 Montreal Canadiens; No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 11 New York Rangers; No. 7 New York Islanders vs. No. 10 Florida Panthers; No. 8 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 9 Columbus Blue Jackets; No. 5 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 12 Chicago Blackhawks; No. 6 Nashville Predators vs. No. 11 Arizona Coyotes; No. 7 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 10 Minnesota Wild; and the No. 8 Calgary Flames vs. No. 9 Winnipeg Jets.
___
For more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


mercurynews--2020-07-07--Affordable apartments on Mission Boulevard get Union City Planning Commission OK

UNION CITY — Plans to build 80 below-market rate apartments and more than 6,000 square feet of office space on a vacant city-owned lot along Mission Boulevard are moving ahead after the city planning commission gave the project the green-light .
The Planning Commission unanimously approved the plans for the Lazuli Landing project from nonprofit developer MidPen Housing at its July 2 meeting , and the City Council will have final say on the complex at its July 28 meeting , city staff said .
The project , if approved , will take advantage of more than $ 20 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which are coming from Measure A1 affordable housing funds , a $ 580 million set of bonds approved by voters in 2016 .
In one building — expected to be two to four stories high — the project will have 80 apartments for lower-income people and families as well as a manager ’ s unit .
Of those , 21 will be one-bedroom units , 37 two-bedroom units , and 23 three-bedroom units .
The smallest units would be 559 square feet , while the largest units would be 1,240 square feet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the plans envisioned for the 1.65-acre lot on Mission Boulevard between D and E streets included apartments that would be available to people earning between 20 and 60 percent of the area ’ s median income .
However , in the plans approved by the commission , the apartment availability was extended to people earning 80 percent of the AMI .
For fiscal year 2020 , a family of four at 80 percent of the AMI would be qualified for one of the rental units if the household didn ’ t earn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development .
And , while the complex would still include joint office space for the city ’ s public service agencies Centro de Servicios and Youth and Family Services , the planned space has been reduced from more than 7,500 square feet to just over 6,300 , city reports said .
Centro provides a range of services to low-income families including food , legal aid , job placement assistance , and interpretation and translation .
To help make the affordable housing a reality , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Measure A1 funds , $ 8,787,121 , and Alameda County has earmarked $ 4,453,899 in regional A1 funds for the project as well .
Union City ’ s council also committed $ 5,034,924 in city housing funds , and $ 1.8 million for improvements to the Youth and Family Services and Centro de Servicios office space .
The city is also donating the land , which it has owned since 2004 , and city staff previously estimated to be worth around $ 3 million .

UNION CITY — Plans to build 80 below-market rate apartments and more than 6,000 square feet of office space on a vacant city-owned lot along Mission Boulevard are moving ahead after the city planning commission gave the project the green-light.
The Planning Commission unanimously approved the plans for the Lazuli Landing project from nonprofit developer MidPen Housing at its July 2 meeting, and the City Council will have final say on the complex at its July 28 meeting, city staff said.
The project, if approved, will take advantage of more than $20 million in various public funds, the bulk of which are coming from Measure A1 affordable housing funds, a $580 million set of bonds approved by voters in 2016.
In one building — expected to be two to four stories high — the project will have 80 apartments for lower-income people and families as well as a manager’s unit. Of those, 21 will be one-bedroom units, 37 two-bedroom units, and 23 three-bedroom units.
The smallest units would be 559 square feet, while the largest units would be 1,240 square feet, city reports said.
Previous versions of the plans envisioned for the 1.65-acre lot on Mission Boulevard between D and E streets included apartments that would be available to people earning between 20 and 60 percent of the area’s median income. However, in the plans approved by the commission, the apartment availability was extended to people earning 80 percent of the AMI.
For fiscal year 2020, a family of four at 80 percent of the AMI would be qualified for one of the rental units if the household didn’t earn more than $104,400 annually, according to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
And,while the complex would still include joint office space for the city’s public service agencies Centro de Servicios and Youth and Family Services, the planned space has been reduced from more than 7,500 square feet to just over 6,300, city reports said.
Centro provides a range of services to low-income families including food, legal aid, job placement assistance, and interpretation and translation.
To help make the affordable housing a reality, the city plans to contribute its entire share of the Measure A1 funds, $8,787,121, and Alameda County has earmarked $4,453,899 in regional A1 funds for the project as well.
Union City’s council also committed $5,034,924 in city housing funds, and $1.8 million for improvements to the Youth and Family Services and Centro de Servicios office space.
The city is also donating the land, which it has owned since 2004, and city staff previously estimated to be worth around $3 million.


mercurynews--2020-07-07--Foreign students face ousting from US under new rules

International students will be forced to leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools offer classes entirely online this fall , under new guidelines issued Monday by federal immigration authorities .
The guidelines , issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , provide additional pressure for universities to reopen even amid growing concerns about the recent spread of COVID-19 among young adults .
Colleges received the guidance the same day that some institutions , including Harvard University , announced that all instruction will be offered remotely .
President Donald Trump has insisted that schools and colleges return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Soon after the guidance was released , Trump repeated on Twitter that schools must reopen this fall , adding that Democrats want to keep schools closed “ for political reasons , not for health reasons.
” “ They think it will help them in November .
Wrong , the people get it !
” Trump wrote .
Under the updated rules , international students must take at least some of their classes in person .
New visas will not be issued to students at schools or programs that are entirely online .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of in-person and online courses this fall , international students will be barred from taking all their classes online .
It creates an urgent dilemma for thousands of international students who became stranded in the U.S. last spring after the coronavirus forced their schools to move online .
Those attending schools that are staying online must “ depart the country or take other measures , such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction , ” according to the guidance .
The American Council on Education , which represents university presidents , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will result in confusion as schools look for ways to reopen safely .
Of particular concern is a stipulation saying students won ’ t be exempt from the rules even if an outbreak forces their schools online during the fall term .
It ’ s unclear what would happen if a student ended up in that scenario but faced travel restrictions from their home country , said Terry Hartle , the council ’ s senior vice president .
“ It ’ s going to cause enormous confusion and uncertainty , ” Hartle said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incentive for institutions to reopen , regardless of whether or not the circumstances of the pandemic warrant it.
” The international education group NAFSA blasted the rules and said schools should be given the authority to make decisions that are right for their own campuses .
It said the guidance “ is harmful to international students and puts their health and well-being and that of the entire higher education community at risk.
” Nearly 400,000 foreigners received student visas in the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30 , down more than 40 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partly blame visa processing delay .
Colleges across the U.S. were already expecting sharp decreases in international enrollment this fall , but losing all international students could be disastrous for some .
Many depend on tuition revenue from international students , who typically pay higher tuition rates .
Last year , universities in the U.S. attracted nearly 1.1 million students from abroad .
Trump ’ s critics were quick to attack the new guidelines .
Sen. Bernie Sanders , the Vermont independent , said the “ cruelty of this White House knows no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened with a choice : risk your life going to class in-person or get deported , ” Sanders said in a tweet .
“ We must stand up to Trump ’ s bigotry .
We must keep all our students safe.
” Dozens of colleges have said they plan to offer at least some classes in person this fall , but some say it ’ s too risky .
The University of Southern California last week reversed course on a plan to bring students to campus , saying classes will be hosted primarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it will invite first-year students to live on campus , but classes will stay online .
Immigration authorities suspended certain requirements for international students early in the pandemic , but colleges were awaiting guidance on what would happen this fall .
ICE notified schools of the changes Monday and said a formal rule would be forthcoming .
• What the California ’ s budget deal means for K-12 schools • Bay Area schools turn to mindfulness to help students cope with stress The announcement was the Trump administration ’ s latest pandemic-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , authorities extended a ban on new green cards to many people outside the United States and expanded the freeze to include many on temporary work permits , including at high-tech companies , multinational corporations and seasonal employers .
The administration has long sought deep cuts to legal immigration , but the goal was elusive before the coronavirus .

By Collin Binkley | Associated Press
International students will be forced to leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools offer classes entirely online this fall, under new guidelines issued Monday by federal immigration authorities.
The guidelines, issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, provide additional pressure for universities to reopen even amid growing concerns about the recent spread of COVID-19 among young adults. Colleges received the guidance the same day that some institutions, including Harvard University, announced that all instruction will be offered remotely.
President Donald Trump has insisted that schools and colleges return to in-person instruction as soon as possible. Soon after the guidance was released, Trump repeated on Twitter that schools must reopen this fall, adding that Democrats want to keep schools closed “for political reasons, not for health reasons.”
“They think it will help them in November. Wrong, the people get it!” Trump wrote.
Under the updated rules, international students must take at least some of their classes in person. New visas will not be issued to students at schools or programs that are entirely online. And even at colleges offering a mix of in-person and online courses this fall, international students will be barred from taking all their classes online.
It creates an urgent dilemma for thousands of international students who became stranded in the U.S. last spring after the coronavirus forced their schools to move online. Those attending schools that are staying online must “depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction,” according to the guidance.
The American Council on Education, which represents university presidents, said the guidelines are “horrifying” and will result in confusion as schools look for ways to reopen safely.
Of particular concern is a stipulation saying students won’t be exempt from the rules even if an outbreak forces their schools online during the fall term. It’s unclear what would happen if a student ended up in that scenario but faced travel restrictions from their home country, said Terry Hartle, the council’s senior vice president.
“It’s going to cause enormous confusion and uncertainty,” Hartle said. “ICE is clearly creating an incentive for institutions to reopen, regardless of whether or not the circumstances of the pandemic warrant it.”
The international education group NAFSA blasted the rules and said schools should be given the authority to make decisions that are right for their own campuses. It said the guidance “is harmful to international students and puts their health and well-being and that of the entire higher education community at risk.”
Nearly 400,000 foreigners received student visas in the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, down more than 40% from four years earlier. School administrations partly blame visa processing delay.
Colleges across the U.S. were already expecting sharp decreases in international enrollment this fall, but losing all international students could be disastrous for some. Many depend on tuition revenue from international students, who typically pay higher tuition rates. Last year, universities in the U.S. attracted nearly 1.1 million students from abroad.
Trump’s critics were quick to attack the new guidelines. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, said the “cruelty of this White House knows no bounds.”
“Foreign students are being threatened with a choice: risk your life going to class in-person or get deported,” Sanders said in a tweet. “We must stand up to Trump’s bigotry. We must keep all our students safe.”
Dozens of colleges have said they plan to offer at least some classes in person this fall, but some say it’s too risky. The University of Southern California last week reversed course on a plan to bring students to campus, saying classes will be hosted primarily or exclusively online. Harvard on Monday said it will invite first-year students to live on campus, but classes will stay online.
Immigration authorities suspended certain requirements for international students early in the pandemic, but colleges were awaiting guidance on what would happen this fall. ICE notified schools of the changes Monday and said a formal rule would be forthcoming.
Related Articles Education | Taliban have no plans to lift ban on female education
Taliban have no plans to lift ban on female education Education | College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds
College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds Education | Ex-California law school dean John Eastman, who advised former President Donald Trump, indicted on 9 counts
Ex-California law school dean John Eastman, who advised former President Donald Trump, indicted on 9 counts Education | 4 ways restarting student loan payments could impact economy
4 ways restarting student loan payments could impact economy Education | Are they students or employees? Stanford joins surge in graduate student unions across the country The announcement was the Trump administration’s latest pandemic-related strike against legal immigration. Last month, authorities extended a ban on new green cards to many people outside the United States and expanded the freeze to include many on temporary work permits, including at high-tech companies, multinational corporations and seasonal employers.
The administration has long sought deep cuts to legal immigration, but the goal was elusive before the coronavirus.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--Georgia governor declares state of emergency

Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp on Monday declared a state of emergency and activated as many as 1,000 National Guard members .
Kemp , a Republican , said the executive order follows “ weeks of dramatically increased violent crime and property destruction in the City of Atlanta.
” The governor ’ s statement says more than 30 Georgians were wounded by gunfire over the extended holiday weekend , including five people who died .
One of the five deaths was that of an 8-year-old girl who was shot while riding in a car with her mother and another person .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the car tried to enter a parking lot that had illegal barricades , police said .
The shooting was near the scene where a now-fired Atlanta police officer fatally shot Rayshard Brooks after he fought with officers and tried to run away with a stolen Taser .
“ We ’ ve had over 75 shootings in the city over the past several weeks , ” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said when talking about the 8-yeard-old ’ s death on Sunday .
“ You can ’ t blame that on APD ( Atlanta Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of George Floyd in late May there were protests in downtown Atlanta , several of which were followed by looting and vandalism .
“ Peaceful protests were hijacked by criminals with a dangerous , destructive agenda .
Now , innocent Georgians are being targeted , shot , and left for dead , ” Kemp said in a statement .
“ This lawlessness must be stopped and order restored in our capital city .
”

By Pierre Meilhan | CNN
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday declared a state of emergency and activated as many as 1,000 National Guard members.
Kemp, a Republican, said the executive order follows “weeks of dramatically increased violent crime and property destruction in the City of Atlanta.”
The governor’s statement says more than 30 Georgians were wounded by gunfire over the extended holiday weekend, including five people who died.
One of the five deaths was that of an 8-year-old girl who was shot while riding in a car with her mother and another person. Secoriea Turner was killed Saturday night as the car tried to enter a parking lot that had illegal barricades, police said.
The shooting was near the scene where a now-fired Atlanta police officer fatally shot Rayshard Brooks after he fought with officers and tried to run away with a stolen Taser.
“We’ve had over 75 shootings in the city over the past several weeks,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said when talking about the 8-yeard-old’s death on Sunday. “You can’t blame that on APD (Atlanta Police Department).”
After the death of George Floyd in late May there were protests in downtown Atlanta, several of which were followed by looting and vandalism.
“Peaceful protests were hijacked by criminals with a dangerous, destructive agenda. Now, innocent Georgians are being targeted, shot, and left for dead,” Kemp said in a statement. “This lawlessness must be stopped and order restored in our capital city.”


mercurynews--2020-07-06--Atlanta mayor says she tested positive for coronavirus

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms , one of the top prospects to be presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s running mate , said Monday that she has tested positive for Covid-19 .
“ COVID-19 has literally hit home .
I have had NO symptoms and have tested positive , ” the mayor said on Twitter .
She told MSNBC that she received the news that both she and her husband were positive on Monday .
She said they decided to get tested because her husband was sleeping more than normal .
“ It ’ s a shock , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially thought her husband ’ s symptoms were due to allergies .
“ It leaves me at a loss for words.
” The mayor added that her diagnosis highlights how contagious the virus is and that she has no idea where they were exposed .
Coronavirus cases have been steadily rising around the US , with the nationwide total of cases topping 2.9 million on Monday , according to Johns Hopkins University ’ s tally .
More than 130,000 people have died in the United States , the university has found .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spotlight during both the racial reckoning roiling the country and the fight to contain the coronavirus , Bottoms has seen her standing among the women being considered to be Biden ’ s running mate grow in recent weeks .
CNN reported late last month that Bottoms , Sen. Kamala Harris of California , Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Val Demings of Florida were believed to be the four leading vice president prospects .
Bottoms has leaned into the prospect of becoming Biden ’ s running mate .
When CNN ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was ready to be president , she bluntly said , “ Yes.
” • Foreign students face ousting from US under new rules • Report shows small biz aid went beyond the hardest-hit • COVID-19 quandary : Why is outdoor dining shut down in Santa Clara County and not elsewhere ?
“ There ’ s been no handbook for so many mayors and so many governors across this country dealing with Covid-19 and now with the demonstrations that we are seeing around the country , ” she said in the late June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been a response to crisis that not many people have been tested in this way in the same way that leaders across this country have been over the past several months.
” This story has been updated with more details about Bottoms ’ diagnosis and her Biden running mate prospects .

By Dan Merica and Pierre Meilhan | CNN
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, one of the top prospects to be presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate, said Monday that she has tested positive for Covid-19.
“COVID-19 has literally hit home. I have had NO symptoms and have tested positive,” the mayor said on Twitter.
She told MSNBC that she received the news that both she and her husband were positive on Monday. She said they decided to get tested because her husband was sleeping more than normal.
“It’s a shock,” she said, noting that she initially thought her husband’s symptoms were due to allergies. “It leaves me at a loss for words.”
The mayor added that her diagnosis highlights how contagious the virus is and that she has no idea where they were exposed.
Coronavirus cases have been steadily rising around the US, with the nationwide total of cases topping 2.9 million on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University’s tally. More than 130,000 people have died in the United States, the university has found.
A mayor that has risen in the national spotlight during both the racial reckoning roiling the country and the fight to contain the coronavirus, Bottoms has seen her standing among the women being considered to be Biden’s running mate grow in recent weeks.
CNN reported late last month that Bottoms, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Val Demings of Florida were believed to be the four leading vice president prospects.
Bottoms has leaned into the prospect of becoming Biden’s running mate.
When CNN’s Jake Tapper last month asked Bottoms if she was ready to be president, she bluntly said, “Yes.”
Related Articles National News | Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms
Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms National News | California COVID cases are rising. Here’s why and where health experts are masking “There’s been no handbook for so many mayors and so many governors across this country dealing with Covid-19 and now with the demonstrations that we are seeing around the country,” she said in the late June interview. “I think that there has been a response to crisis that not many people have been tested in this way in the same way that leaders across this country have been over the past several months.”
This story has been updated with more details about Bottoms’ diagnosis and her Biden running mate prospects.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--FC Dallas withdraws from MLS tournament because of 10 positive tests

Major League Soccer suffered a setback Monday with the announcement that FC Dallas has been forced to withdraw from its reopening tournament that begins this week after 10 of its players tested positive for COVID-19 .
Dallas ’ s three Group F games were postponed , including one against the San Jose Earthquakes on July 20 .
Dallas was scheduled to open the event Thursday against the Vancouver Whitecaps .
The Earthquakes are scheduled to open group play Friday against defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC .
The league statement did not address any schedule changes to ensure Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The league announcement also said one member of Dallas ’ technical staff tested positive .
The positive tests occurred upon Dallas ’ arrival or within a few days of its arrival to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando , Florida , the news release said .
The Quakes were the first of the 26 MLS teams to arrive at the facility two weeks ago .
Veteran San Jose player Shea Salinas said Monday that no one from the Earthquakes has tested positive for the novel coronavirus .
“ Given the impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the club ’ s ability to train and play competitive matches , we have made the decision to withdraw FC Dallas from the MLS is Back Tournament , ” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a prepared statement .
“ The health of everyone involved in our return to play has always been our top priority , and we will continue to make decisions consistent with that priority.
” The league statement said of the 557 players currently in Orlando 13 players have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 .
The announcement said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clubs , which MLS did not identify .
The Athletic reported Sunday that Nashville SC had five positive tests since arriving in Florida .
The report cited unidentified sources .
• Game on : Earthquakes and rest of MLS headed to Disney for soccer • Earthquakes learn their opponents as MLS to start in July with tournament The Colorado Rapids on Sunday announced the team had delayed its departure to Orlando after learning two members of its traveling party had presumptive positive tests for COVID-19 .
“ I expected guys to come in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one of the Earthquakes team leaders .
“ But the Dallas and Nashville thing came as a shock.
” The tournament is scheduled to end Aug. 11 with the three group games counting as part of the regular season standings .
League officials have not released a schedule for the resumption of the rest of the season as they continue to monitor the pandemic .

Major League Soccer suffered a setback Monday with the announcement that FC Dallas has been forced to withdraw from its reopening tournament that begins this week after 10 of its players tested positive for COVID-19.
Dallas’s three Group F games were postponed, including one against the San Jose Earthquakes on July 20. Dallas was scheduled to open the event Thursday against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Earthquakes are scheduled to open group play Friday against defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC. The league statement did not address any schedule changes to ensure Group B teams get to play three games.
The league announcement also said one member of Dallas’ technical staff tested positive.
The positive tests occurred upon Dallas’ arrival or within a few days of its arrival to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, the news release said. The Quakes were the first of the 26 MLS teams to arrive at the facility two weeks ago.
Veteran San Jose player Shea Salinas said Monday that no one from the Earthquakes has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
“Given the impact of the number of positive tests on the club’s ability to train and play competitive matches, we have made the decision to withdraw FC Dallas from the MLS is Back Tournament,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a prepared statement. “The health of everyone involved in our return to play has always been our top priority, and we will continue to make decisions consistent with that priority.”
The league statement said of the 557 players currently in Orlando 13 players have been confirmed positive for COVID-19. The remaining three players were from Nashville SC and the Columbus Crew.
The Athletic reported Sunday that Nashville SC had five positive tests since arriving in Florida. The report cited unidentified sources.
Related Articles San Jose Earthquakes | Game on: Earthquakes and rest of MLS headed to Disney for soccer
Game on: Earthquakes and rest of MLS headed to Disney for soccer San Jose Earthquakes | Earthquakes learn their opponents as MLS to start in July with tournament The Colorado Rapids on Sunday announced the team had delayed its departure to Orlando after learning two members of its traveling party had presumptive positive tests for COVID-19.
“I expected guys to come in and test positive,” said Salinas, one of the Earthquakes team leaders. “But the Dallas and Nashville thing came as a shock.”
The tournament is scheduled to end Aug. 11 with the three group games counting as part of the regular season standings. League officials have not released a schedule for the resumption of the rest of the season as they continue to monitor the pandemic.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--Kurtenbach: Mahomes’ mega-deal proves the 49ers gave Jimmy Garoppolo the right contract

The Kansas City Chiefs waited decades for a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes .
So it only made sense for the team to lock him up for 10 years .
Mahomes and the Chiefs agreed to a decade-long contract Monday worth a whopping , hard-to-believe-but-all-too-real $ 503 million , according to NFL Network , with $ 477 million in something they called “ guarantee mechanisms ” .
If all of those guarantees are paid , it will be the largest contract ever for a player in a North American team sport .
And given the way Mahomes ’ first two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s impossible to argue that the Chiefs have done wrong with this massive contract .
Every NFL team needs a quality quarterback to win , and the best quarterback a team can have is one like Mahomes : young , obscenely talented , wildly prolific , and above all else , a winner .
I ’ ve said it before and I ’ ll say it again here : Mahomes is Steph Curry .
He ’ s a revolution .
He ’ s the franchise .
Yes , there are risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a 10-year contract , even in the NFL , but when you have a once-in-a-generation player like Mahomes , you pay him whatever he wants and you see how far he can take you .
The 49ers do not have a quarterback like Mahomes at the helm — we saw that in the Super Bowl .
But the Mahomes mega-deal highlighted how well San Francisco did when they signed Jimmy Garoppolo to his five-year , $ 137.5 million deal in early 2018 .
Because if you don ’ t have a player @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can delude yourself into thinking is in his same class ) , the best thing to have is a quarterback who wins games playing on a contract that provides both security and flexibility to the team that employs him .
When Garoppolo signed with the Niners , he had only started five games for them .
The contract — at the time the largest in NFL history — was a risk for the Niners .
But a little more than two years later , the deal looks like an absolute bargain .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his well-established flaws , has a 21-6 record at the helm of the 49ers ’ offense and led his team to a showdown with Mahomes ’ Chiefs in last year ’ s Super Bowl .
He ’ s pretty good .
And a little more than two years after signing a record deal , he isn ’ t even one of the 10 highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL .
But while the value of Garoppolo ’ s deal is strong for San Francisco , the flexibility his deal provides is even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the ability to release Garoppolo in the coming years with little to no friction should his performances dip or if the team decides they ’ re better off going in another direction ( $ 2.8 million dead-cap hit in 2021 , $ 1.4 million hit in 2022 ) .
Perhaps head coach Kyle Shanahan feels the next Mahomes is available in next year ’ s draft , or maybe the Niners — who considered signing Tom Brady this past offseason — decide a more veteran quarterback is a better play for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Niners could have extended Garoppolo this offseason — it would have made it easier to sign tight end George Kittle to a contract extension , or perhaps even kept DeForest Buckner in Santa Clara .
To my knowledge , the Niners did not present such an offer to Garoppolo .
Now , the Chief ’ s record-setting contract more than re-set the quarterback market — it broke it down and built a new one .
That could benefit Garoppolo should he get another deal from San Francisco .
But I imagine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this deal for as long as they can .
Because while I don ’ t think Garoppolo is going anywhere anytime soon — I ’ m not sure the Niners can do better than him — in a salary-capped NFL where there ’ s seemingly never enough money to pay all your good players , it ’ s never a good idea to be fully beholden to someone .
Unless , of course , that someone is Mahomes .

The Kansas City Chiefs waited decades for a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes.
So it only made sense for the team to lock him up for 10 years.
Mahomes and the Chiefs agreed to a decade-long contract Monday worth a whopping, hard-to-believe-but-all-too-real $503 million, according to NFL Network, with $477 million in something they called “guarantee mechanisms”. If all of those guarantees are paid, it will be the largest contract ever for a player in a North American team sport.
And given the way Mahomes’ first two years as an NFL starter have gone, it’s impossible to argue that the Chiefs have done wrong with this massive contract.
Every NFL team needs a quality quarterback to win, and the best quarterback a team can have is one like Mahomes: young, obscenely talented, wildly prolific, and above all else, a winner.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again here: Mahomes is Steph Curry. He’s a revolution. He’s the franchise. Yes, there are risks for the Chiefs in signing a player to a 10-year contract, even in the NFL, but when you have a once-in-a-generation player like Mahomes, you pay him whatever he wants and you see how far he can take you.
The 49ers do not have a quarterback like Mahomes at the helm — we saw that in the Super Bowl. But the Mahomes mega-deal highlighted how well San Francisco did when they signed Jimmy Garoppolo to his five-year, $137.5 million deal in early 2018.
Because if you don’t have a player like Mahomes (or a player you can delude yourself into thinking is in his same class), the best thing to have is a quarterback who wins games playing on a contract that provides both security and flexibility to the team that employs him.
When Garoppolo signed with the Niners, he had only started five games for them. The contract — at the time the largest in NFL history — was a risk for the Niners. But a little more than two years later, the deal looks like an absolute bargain.
Just a quick reminder: Garoppolo, even with his well-established flaws, has a 21-6 record at the helm of the 49ers’ offense and led his team to a showdown with Mahomes’ Chiefs in last year’s Super Bowl. He’s pretty good. And a little more than two years after signing a record deal, he isn’t even one of the 10 highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL.
But while the value of Garoppolo’s deal is strong for San Francisco, the flexibility his deal provides is even better for the team.
The Niners have the ability to release Garoppolo in the coming years with little to no friction should his performances dip or if the team decides they’re better off going in another direction ($2.8 million dead-cap hit in 2021, $1.4 million hit in 2022). Perhaps head coach Kyle Shanahan feels the next Mahomes is available in next year’s draft, or maybe the Niners — who considered signing Tom Brady this past offseason — decide a more veteran quarterback is a better play for them long-term.
And it should be noted that the Niners could have extended Garoppolo this offseason — it would have made it easier to sign tight end George Kittle to a contract extension, or perhaps even kept DeForest Buckner in Santa Clara. To my knowledge, the Niners did not present such an offer to Garoppolo.
Now, the Chief’s record-setting contract more than re-set the quarterback market — it broke it down and built a new one. That could benefit Garoppolo should he get another deal from San Francisco.
But I imagine the Niners will try to ride out this deal for as long as they can.
Because while I don’t think Garoppolo is going anywhere anytime soon — I’m not sure the Niners can do better than him — in a salary-capped NFL where there’s seemingly never enough money to pay all your good players, it’s never a good idea to be fully beholden to someone.
Unless, of course, that someone is Mahomes.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--Props to you, Californians: Real estate’s 3 slices of the November ballot

After a bit of last-minute legislative maneuvering , the 12 propositions that California voters will be asked to weigh in on has been finalized .
Here ’ s the three real estate-related ones … Who put it there : Citizens .
Campaign largely funded by the California Teachers Association , SEIU California and the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation What it would do : Tax some commercial property based on its market value , rather than the price at which it was purchased .
This would raise property taxes on many large businesses across the state , increasing funding for schools and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters passed Proposition 13 , placing a cap on property taxes , kicking off a nationwide anti-tax revolt and placing city and county budgets in a generation-spanning straitjacket .
By tying a landlord ’ s property tax payments to the original purchase price , Prop .
13 has been the gift that keeps on giving to property owners , particularly those lucky enough to have bought cheap real estate decades ago .
There ’ s been bipartisan reluctance among lawmakers to touch it ever since , lest they incur the wrath of irate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and conquer that political problem by repealing the property tax protections only for commercial landlords with more than $ 3 million in holdings .
If this measure passes , those landowners would have to make tax payments based on the current value of their properties — a tax hike for most — resulting in an estimated $ 6.5 to $ 11.5 billion more for cities , counties and school districts .
Who put it there : The Legislature , via a bill by San Mateo Democrat Assemblymember Kevin Mullin , but sponsored by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do : Allow homeowners who are over 55 , disabled or victims of natural disaster to take a portion of their property tax base with them when they sell their home and buy a new one .
It would also limit the ability of new homeowners who inherit properties to keep their parents ’ or grandparents ’ low property tax payments .
Most of the additional money raised would go into a state fire response fund .
We ’ ve seen this one before — half of it , anyway .
In 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a measure on the ballot allowing older or disabled homeowners to keep a portion of their Prop .
13 tax break .
The Realtors argued that the current property tax rules disincentivize longtime homeowners from moving , “ trapping ” empty-nesters in houses that are too big for them and locking out new families .
But because the measure would cost schools , counties and cities , it was opposed by organized labor and local government groups — and failed by 20 points .
The Realtors tried again this year , but with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal , anyone who inherits a home from their parents or grandparents would only be allowed to keep the low property taxes if they use the home as their primary residence and only on the first $ 1 million between the home ’ s original purchase price and its market value .
Inspiration for that caveat may have come from the Los Angeles Times , which tracked down a number of California scions , including “ The Big Lebowski ” star Jeff Bridges , who are still paying 1970-era property tax levels on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a last-minute wrinkle .
In the final weeks of June , the Realtors sprang a deal : designating that most of the funding generated by the measure would go to fighting wildfires .
That won the support of the influential California Professional Firefighters union .
It also means the measure will be funding a public need that might be on many voters ’ minds come November .
That bargain was struck after the Realtors had submitted their signatures , so with the help of Assemblyman Mullin , they passed it through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the deadline .
Who put it on the ballot : Signatures , collected via an effort mostly funded by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation .
What it would do : Allow cities to introduce new rent control laws , or expand existing ones .
Despite a 20-percentage point , 56-out-of-58 county defeat in 2018 , a statewide rent control measure is back on the ballot .
Polling from that election season suggested that California voters generally liked rent control as a concept , but worried about the specifics of the proposal .
Accordingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweaks .
Under this one , cities would be allowed to apply new rent control ordinances only to homes that are at least 15 years old .
And it exempts single-family homes owned by landlords with no more than two properties .
Just like last time , the measure is being pushed by the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation and its pugnacious president Michael Weinstein .
State lawmakers — by passing a law last year that set a 7 % ceiling on how much landlords can raise rents each year — had hoped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and company .
They had no such luck .
• Palo Alto mansion is sold by former Facebook exec

This wouldn’t be a California election without at least a few wildly contentious ballot measures about housing and property taxes.
After a bit of last-minute legislative maneuvering, the 12 propositions that California voters will be asked to weigh in on has been finalized. Here are the three real estate-related ones …
Prop 15: Split roll
Who put it there: Citizens. Campaign largely funded by the California Teachers Association, SEIU California and the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation
Type: Constitutional amendment
What it would do: Tax some commercial property based on its market value, rather than the price at which it was purchased. This would raise property taxes on many large businesses across the state, increasing funding for schools and local government.
In 1978, California voters passed Proposition 13, placing a cap on property taxes, kicking off a nationwide anti-tax revolt and placing city and county budgets in a generation-spanning straitjacket.
By tying a landlord’s property tax payments to the original purchase price, Prop. 13 has been the gift that keeps on giving to property owners, particularly those lucky enough to have bought cheap real estate decades ago. There’s been bipartisan reluctance among lawmakers to touch it ever since, lest they incur the wrath of irate homeowners.
This initiative attempts to divide and conquer that political problem by repealing the property tax protections only for commercial landlords with more than $3 million in holdings. If this measure passes, those landowners would have to make tax payments based on the current value of their properties — a tax hike for most — resulting in an estimated $6.5 to $11.5 billion more for cities, counties and school districts.
Prop. 19: Property tax breaks
Who put it there: The Legislature, via a bill by San Mateo Democrat Assemblymember Kevin Mullin, but sponsored by the California Realtors.
Type: Constitutional amendment
What it would do: Allow homeowners who are over 55, disabled or victims of natural disaster to take a portion of their property tax base with them when they sell their home and buy a new one. It would also limit the ability of new homeowners who inherit properties to keep their parents’ or grandparents’ low property tax payments. Most of the additional money raised would go into a state fire response fund.
We’ve seen this one before — half of it, anyway. In 2018, the California Association of Realtors put a measure on the ballot allowing older or disabled homeowners to keep a portion of their Prop. 13 tax break. The Realtors argued that the current property tax rules disincentivize longtime homeowners from moving, “trapping” empty-nesters in houses that are too big for them and locking out new families. But because the measure would cost schools, counties and cities, it was opposed by organized labor and local government groups — and failed by 20 points.
Attention, real estate watchers: Sign up for The Home Stretch newsletter. It’s a free, three-times-a-week review of what’s important for housing around the region. Subscribe here!
The Realtors tried again this year, but with an added fiscal sweetener. Under this proposal, anyone who inherits a home from their parents or grandparents would only be allowed to keep the low property taxes if they use the home as their primary residence and only on the first $1 million between the home’s original purchase price and its market value. Inspiration for that caveat may have come from the Los Angeles Times, which tracked down a number of California scions, including “The Big Lebowski” star Jeff Bridges, who are still paying 1970-era property tax levels on their rental properties.
And then there was a last-minute wrinkle. In the final weeks of June, the Realtors sprang a deal: designating that most of the funding generated by the measure would go to fighting wildfires. That won the support of the influential California Professional Firefighters union. It also means the measure will be funding a public need that might be on many voters’ minds come November.
That bargain was struck after the Realtors had submitted their signatures, so with the help of Assemblyman Mullin, they passed it through the Legislature, pulling their original proposal just before the deadline.
Prop. 21: Rent Control (Again)
Who put it on the ballot: Signatures, collected via an effort mostly funded by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
Type: Statute
What it would do: Allow cities to introduce new rent control laws, or expand existing ones.
Despite a 20-percentage point, 56-out-of-58 county defeat in 2018, a statewide rent control measure is back on the ballot.
Polling from that election season suggested that California voters generally liked rent control as a concept, but worried about the specifics of the proposal. Accordingly, this new initiative makes a few tweaks.
Under this one, cities would be allowed to apply new rent control ordinances only to homes that are at least 15 years old. And it exempts single-family homes owned by landlords with no more than two properties.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--A breakdown of the Oakland Athletics’ 2020 schedule

While most teams around Major League Baseball are hosting enough cleared players to host intra-squad games , the Oakland A ’ s are on the bad luck end of a severe COVID-19 testing shipment backlog and have yet to see any non pitcher or catcher on the Coliseum grounds .
Nonetheless , the A ’ s are scheduled to play the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the Coliseum in less than three weeks .
All teams in the American League West and National League West will be playing each other exclusively in this regular season .
Every team plays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 20 against their NL counterparts .
And , of course , there will be no fans in attendance in the foreseeable future .
• Coronavirus : Oakland A ’ s tests haven ’ t been shipped to the lab in Utah • Kurtenbach : Is baseball ’ s new preseason long enough ?
• Jesús Luzardo , Mike Fiers yet to join A ’ s on field due to ‘ pending issues ’ • On this date , 1996 : A ’ s , Angels score MLB record 16 runs in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future look like ?
Here are some takeaways from the schedule : • The first series will be a four-gamer against the Angels at the Coliseum starting on Friday , July 24 .
Opening Day first pitch is at 7:10 p.m. PT with the following games at 1:10 p.m. and 1:05 p.m .
The Colorado Rockies follow for a two-game series at the Coliseum , a day game and a night game .
• Something new : After that 7 p.m .
Opening Day , all night home games will start at 6:10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home day games will start at 12:40 p.m. PT .
Weekend home games will mostly start at 1:10 p.m. • The A ’ s first road trip will be to Seattle on July 30 to play a four-game series against the Mariners .
• Remember the Houston Astros “ banging scheme ?
” Feels like ages ago that the A ’ s AL West foes were enduring rapid-fire heat regarding their exposed cheating methods in previous successful seasons — exposed by former Astro and current Athletic Mike Fiers .
Fiers and the A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 times .
Just one , three-game series between the two teams will be at Minute Maid Park from Aug. 28-30 .
The first seven will be played in Oakland in series Aug. 7-9 and Sept. -10 .
• The A ’ s will also only make one trip to Anaheim this season , on August 10-12 .
They ’ ll make two trips to T-Mobile Park in Seattle and two to Arlington at the new Globe Life Stadium .
• The A ’ s will host all five National League West teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A ’ s will play three at Dodger Stadium in the second-to-last series of the season .
The A ’ s will not travel to San Diego , but host the Padres Sept. 4-6 .
• The Bay Bridge Series will consist of six games on two different weekends between the A ’ s and San Francisco Giants .
The first will be Aug. 14-16 at Oracle Park .
The second Sept. 18-20 in Oakland .
• As for the other NL West teams — the Arizona Diamondbacks and Rockies — will split @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-game series .
• Short season still includes a hefty amount of travel for west coast teams , and the A ’ s are booked to travel 11,363 miles this season — fifth most of any MLB team .
• September could be particularly tiring .
The A ’ s leave California twice within the first two weeks , but there are two off days that cushion a two-game trip to mile-high Denver following a trip to face the Rangers in Arlington .
• The A ’ s start the season at home…and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Mariners .

While most teams around Major League Baseball are hosting enough cleared players to host intra-squad games, the Oakland A’s are on the bad luck end of a severe COVID-19 testing shipment backlog and have yet to see any non pitcher or catcher on the Coliseum grounds.
Nonetheless, the A’s are scheduled to play the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the Coliseum in less than three weeks.
All teams in the American League West and National League West will be playing each other exclusively in this regular season. Every team plays 40 games against teams within their division and 20 against their NL counterparts.
And, of course, there will be no fans in attendance in the foreseeable future.
Related Articles Oakland Athletics | Rookie outfielder hits first homer but Oakland’s road losing streak reaches nine
Rookie outfielder hits first homer but Oakland’s road losing streak reaches nine Oakland Athletics | Oakland A’s outfielder could miss rest of season with knee injury
Oakland A’s outfielder could miss rest of season with knee injury Oakland Athletics | Oakland A’s fail to hold another lead as road woes continue
Oakland A’s fail to hold another lead as road woes continue Oakland Athletics | A’s suffer historic ninth-inning collapse while getting swept in Washington
A’s suffer historic ninth-inning collapse while getting swept in Washington Oakland Athletics | A’s fall again as Nationals win on Ruiz’s walkoff home run What will the A’s future look like? Here are some takeaways from the schedule:


mercurynews--2020-07-07--Man acquitted of murder is suing cities of Vallejo and Oakland for malicious prosecution, excessive

Man acquitted of murder is suing cities of Vallejo and Oakland for malicious prosecution, excessive force

A Vallejo man acquitted of first-degree murder and attempted murder charges last year is suing , alleging he was the victim of malicious prosecution by Vallejo police .
Filed in the Northern District of California , Everette Highbaugh alleges that Vallejo police purposelessly withheld exculpatory evidence in connection with the murder of Kenesha Jackson , 36 , the mother of his three children , and the wounding of Brad David , who was staying with Jackson at the time of the shooting in a Virginia Street apartment during the early morning hours of Nov. 23 , 2016 .
“ Within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vallejo Officers had possession of Brad David ’ s cell phone , which contained numerous threatening texts messages from a woman named HopeMcKinney , who Brad David was dating at the same time he was having an intimate sexual relationship with Kenesha Jackson , ” the lawsuit states .
“ However , despite this exculpatory evidence that existed that should have ruled the Plaintiff out as a possible suspect , the DOE Vallejo Officers chose to focus their sites on the Plaintiff anyway.
” The lawsuit , filed by San Francisco-based attorney Stanley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have probable cause to arrest the plaintiff.
” The lawsuit also names the City of Oakland and several DOE officers for excessive force while arresting Highbaugh at his Oakland workplace .
“ DOE Oakland police officers located the Plaintiff at his place of employment in Oakland , placed him in tight fitting handcuffs that caused him pain and extreme discomfort and left him in the back of a police car for two hours with the tight fitting handcuffs , without the DOE Oakland Officers making any adjustments to loosen the handcuffs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain and discomfort to these Defendants numerous times and repeatedly requesting for the Oakland Defendants to loosen or adjust his handcuffs , ” the lawsuit further alleges .
It also alleges that the City of Vallejo has a history of sanctioning its “ officers ’ actions to engage in the withholding of exculpatory evidence.
” “ ( Vallejo ) failed to train and supervise its police officers properly to ensure they conduct proper police investigations under the color of the law ; and acted with deliberate indifference in failing to properly train its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent such constitutional violations , ” the lawsuit alleges .
Highbaugh was acquitted in April 2019 , a few hours after closing arguments ended the three-week trial .
He was facing 40 years to life in state prison .
The shooting occurred exactly two months after a Solano County Family Court judge , Garry Ichikawa , denied Jackson ’ s request for a permanent restraining order against Highbaugh .
The judge had noted that while Jackson had been the victim of domestic violence , she did not face an imminent threat of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not grant the order .
After Jackson ’ s death , Ichikawa faced the possibility of a recall mounted by outraged victims ’ advocates , but he resigned his judge ’ s post before it began .
Highbaugh is asking for compensatory , punitive , and general damages , for costs and reasonable attorneys ’ fees .
He is seeking a jury trial , as well .

A Vallejo man acquitted of first-degree murder and attempted murder charges last year is suing, alleging he was the victim of malicious prosecution by Vallejo police.
Filed in the Northern District of California, Everette Highbaugh alleges that Vallejo police purposelessly withheld exculpatory evidence in connection with the murder of Kenesha Jackson, 36, the mother of his three children, and the wounding of Brad David, who was staying with Jackson at the time of the shooting in a Virginia Street apartment during the early morning hours of Nov. 23, 2016.
“Within hours after the shooting, the DOE Vallejo Officers had possession of Brad David’s cell phone, which contained numerous threatening texts messages from a woman named HopeMcKinney, who Brad David was dating at the same time he was having an intimate sexual relationship with Kenesha Jackson,” the lawsuit states. “However, despite this exculpatory evidence that existed that should have ruled the Plaintiff out as a possible suspect, the DOE Vallejo Officers chose to focus their sites on the Plaintiff anyway.”
The lawsuit, filed by San Francisco-based attorney Stanley Goff, alleges the “defendants did not have probable cause to arrest the plaintiff.”
The lawsuit also names the City of Oakland and several DOE officers for excessive force while arresting Highbaugh at his Oakland workplace.
“DOE Oakland police officers located the Plaintiff at his place of employment in Oakland, placed him in tight fitting handcuffs that caused him pain and extreme discomfort and left him in the back of a police car for two hours with the tight fitting handcuffs, without the DOE Oakland Officers making any adjustments to loosen the handcuffs, despite the Plaintiff giving notice of his pain and discomfort to these Defendants numerous times and repeatedly requesting for the Oakland Defendants to loosen or adjust his handcuffs,” the lawsuit further alleges.
It also alleges that the City of Vallejo has a history of sanctioning its “officers’ actions to engage in the withholding of exculpatory evidence.”
“(Vallejo) failed to train and supervise its police officers properly to ensure they conduct proper police investigations under the color of the law; and acted with deliberate indifference in failing to properly train its police officers or to adopt policies necessary to prevent such constitutional violations,” the lawsuit alleges.
Highbaugh was acquitted in April 2019, a few hours after closing arguments ended the three-week trial. He was facing 40 years to life in state prison.
The shooting occurred exactly two months after a Solano County Family Court judge, Garry Ichikawa, denied Jackson’s request for a permanent restraining order against Highbaugh. The judge had noted that while Jackson had been the victim of domestic violence, she did not face an imminent threat of death, and, therefore, did not grant the order.
After Jackson’s death, Ichikawa faced the possibility of a recall mounted by outraged victims’ advocates, but he resigned his judge’s post before it began.
Highbaugh is asking for compensatory, punitive, and general damages, for costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. He is seeking a jury trial, as well.
Vallejo Interim City Attorney Randy Risner couldn’t be reached for comment.
Vacaville Reporter staff writer Richard Bammer contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-07-07--On this date, 2016: Kevin Durant stuns NBA, officially joins Warriors

OAKLAND — Kevin Durant playfully put up some shots at the Warriors ’ practice facility after having won his introductory news conference Thursday afternoon .
Durant was seated between smiling coach Steve Kerr and G.M .
Bob Myers , who expressed how he still couldn ’ t believe all this had happened .
The 2014 MVP and four-time scoring champ , before holding up his Warriors jersey , explained what motivated him to leave Oklahoma City and come west .
“ When I met these guys , I felt as comfortable as I ’ ve ever felt , ” Durant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was authentic , it was real , and it was feelings I couldn ’ t ignore.
” He repeated those sentiments in describing the fit with his new teammates , saying , “ It was natural , it was authentic , and it was real.
” Here are the other major themes that emerged : Stephen Curry , Klay Thompson , Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala and the chemistry they showed made a huge difference in Durant ’ s decision .
Durant felt that they genuinely enjoyed playing the game with each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weren ’ t in the NBA , ” Durant said .
“ It felt like those guys just played pickup every single day … That ’ s the kind of feel that I wanted.
” Durant smiled and said it was as if the four players came into the meeting together holding hands .
He described the conversation in the room as “ effortless.
” In the end , the togetherness Warriors ’ top players provided a window into the organization ’ s family atmosphere .
“ It felt like they just loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Durant needed to know how a fellow superstar in Curry felt about all this , so he looked him the eye to find out .
Curry in turn made Durant feel completely comfortable .
“ He ’ s a guy that ’ s on top of the world right now , ” Durant said .
“ He ’ s the face of the NBA in a lot of people ’ s eyes .
I wanted to see if he really would embrace me as a player and as a person , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He showed that he was all in on this thing .
He worked with his family to come to the meeting and be a part of the meeting , and then he showed me how much he cared and how much he wanted me to be a part of it.
” Curry texted Durant after the meeting and asked him to trust what the Warriors were saying in how they could all share the spotlight .
“ It took me a couple hours to really think about that , and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somebody I just met and just talked to and making this huge change , ” Durant said .
“ But I went with my gut and my instincts and I trusted the situation.
” Durant and Iguodala had bonded before as USA Basketball teammates , and Iguodala ’ s words hit home .
“ He said that it would be the most fun you ’ ll have in your life , and the guys all love to play basketball , they love each other , they love the environment , and he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed him , ” Durant said .
“ He was genuine.
” Jerry West doesn ’ t want credit for landing Durant , but did speak to him after the Warriors ’ meeting .
“ We just talked about the Warriors and how I would be a great fit and how I would love the guys and the whole organization , ” Durant said .
“ Nothing more than that .
I know it ’ s Jerry West and I know he ’ s the logo , and you ’ re expecting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so about the team and how I could fit in and how great the coaching staff was.
” Despite reports to the contrary , Durant said his relationship with Russell Westbrook was great and he called him a friend .
“ It ’ s tough , ” Durant said .
“ Obviously we were teammates for so long and I had a lot of great memories .
I ’ m sure he wasn ’ t happy about the decision , but he respected it as my friend.
” Together , the two made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three other trips to the Western Conference finals .
“ You know , we had great years , something that you ’ ll never take away from us , ” Durant said .
“ But like I said , I wanted a new chapter in my life .
I felt like it was time for it , and I made the decision .
I couldn ’ t consider totally everybody ’ s feelings at this point because it would be hard to , so I just tried to focus on me but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still wanted those to be — I ’ m sure they won ’ t be the same , but I still wanted to go out there and leave with some class and some dignity , but hopefully I did , hopefully he understands , and I ’ m sure we ’ ll talk again.
” Durant said tears were shed as he told the Thunder in a phone call that he wasn ’ t going back there , and he called it the hardest thing he ’ s ever had to do in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can ’ t erase .
That love doesn ’ t fade .
Those memories don ’ t erase.
” Of course , some Thunder fans set fire to their Durant jerseys .
“ It ’ s the unpopular decision , but I can live with it , ” Durant said .
Durant shot down the idea that he had changed or was easily influenced by others to leave Oklahoma City .
“ I know I haven ’ t changed as a person , ” Durant said .
“ In this life you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd and opinions of everybody else , so I tried not to worry about that and sit down and focus on what I wanted as a player and as a person , and I figured this was the best place for me.
” By 7 a.m. on July 4 , Durant came to a decision after sleeping on it and having wrestled with it .
He wanted to go to the Warriors .
Durant dismissed those who decried Durant leaving Oklahoma City to form a Super Team .
“ It doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The relationships between me and this team doesn ’ t feel forced .
It just feels like a missing piece of the puzzle .
Everybody on the outside of course , they view this as a super team , but we ’ ve still got to put the work in.
” “ They told me just to be myself , ” Durant said .
“ I don ’ t want to go out there and try to be extra vocal or be too quiet or not shoot the shots that I normally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pass and they would complement each other playing off the ball .
Durant joked that the only reason he came to the Warriors was to reunite with assistant coach and defensive guru Ron Adams , who coached him in Oklahoma City .
It ’ s on defense where Durant will make an impact as well .
“ We had a pretty tough time in the playoffs with Kevin ’ s length and versatility defensively , and of course that ’ s kind of been our calling card as a defense the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to switch , and Kevin fits perfectly into that style , ” Kerr said .
Durant will play on the Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro with Green and Thompson .
He previously forged relationships with Curry , Thompson and Iguodala while on the national team and knows that can help them gain some chemistry .
“ To have two teammates part of this experience with me , it ’ s going to be amazing , just getting to know them outside of basketball , ” Durant said .
“ I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but as people I ’ m looking forward to getting to know them even more.
” Durant signed a two-year contract with a player option in the second year , but it ’ s expected to be a long-term commitment .
“ I don ’ t want to go through that again , so I plan on being here , ” Durant said .
“ I ’ m committed.
” • Discourse over national anthem looms for NBA , other leagues • Kurtenbach : Who should the Warriors draft ?
How about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out NBA restart while Seth plays on as dad watches closely Durant called it the toughest day of his life when he had to let Oklahoma City know the news .
For the Warriors , it was joy .
“ I ’ m so honored that you ’ re here , and I ’ m so honored you chose us to play for , ” Myers told Durant .

(This story was originally published in 2016)
OAKLAND — Kevin Durant playfully put up some shots at the Warriors’ practice facility after having won his introductory news conference Thursday afternoon.
Durant was seated between smiling coach Steve Kerr and G.M. Bob Myers, who expressed how he still couldn’t believe all this had happened.
The 2014 MVP and four-time scoring champ, before holding up his Warriors jersey, explained what motivated him to leave Oklahoma City and come west.
“When I met these guys, I felt as comfortable as I’ve ever felt,” Durant said. “It was organic, it was authentic, it was real, and it was feelings I couldn’t ignore.”
He repeated those sentiments in describing the fit with his new teammates, saying, “It was natural, it was authentic, and it was real.”
Here are the other major themes that emerged:
A perfect pitch
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala and the chemistry they showed made a huge difference in Durant’s decision. Durant felt that they genuinely enjoyed playing the game with each other.
“It felt like they weren’t in the NBA,” Durant said. “It felt like those guys just played pickup every single day … That’s the kind of feel that I wanted.”
Durant smiled and said it was as if the four players came into the meeting together holding hands. He described the conversation in the room as “effortless.” In the end, the togetherness of the Warriors’ top players provided a window into the organization’s family atmosphere.
“It felt like they just loved each other unconditionally,” Durant said.
Curry’s huge impact
Durant needed to know how a fellow superstar in Curry felt about all this, so he looked him the eye to find out. Curry in turn made Durant feel completely comfortable.
“He’s a guy that’s on top of the world right now,” Durant said. “He’s the face of the NBA in a lot of people’s eyes. I wanted to see if he really would embrace me as a player and as a person, and I had no doubts that he would. He showed that he was all in on this thing. He worked with his family to come to the meeting and be a part of the meeting, and then he showed me how much he cared and how much he wanted me to be a part of it.”
Curry texted Durant after the meeting and asked him to trust what the Warriors were saying in how they could all share the spotlight.
“It took me a couple hours to really think about that, and it’s hard for me to just trust somebody I just met and just talked to and making this huge change,” Durant said. “But I went with my gut and my instincts and I trusted the situation.”
Iguodala was ‘real’
Durant and Iguodala had bonded before as USA Basketball teammates, and Iguodala’s words hit home.
“He said that it would be the most fun you’ll have in your life, and the guys all love to play basketball, they love each other, they love the environment, and he was just real, man, and I believed him,” Durant said. “He was genuine.”
West downplays role
Jerry West doesn’t want credit for landing Durant, but did speak to him after the Warriors’ meeting.
“We just talked about the Warriors and how I would be a great fit and how I would love the guys and the whole organization,” Durant said. “Nothing more than that. I know it’s Jerry West and I know he’s the logo, and you’re expecting a sexier conversation, but it was more so about the team and how I could fit in and how great the coaching staff was.”
Westbrook strife?
Despite reports to the contrary, Durant said his relationship with Russell Westbrook was great and he called him a friend.
“It’s tough,” Durant said. “Obviously we were teammates for so long and I had a lot of great memories. I’m sure he wasn’t happy about the decision, but he respected it as my friend.”
Together, the two made a trip to the NBA Finals and three other trips to the Western Conference finals.
“You know, we had great years, something that you’ll never take away from us,” Durant said. “But like I said, I wanted a new chapter in my life. I felt like it was time for it, and I made the decision. I couldn’t consider totally everybody’s feelings at this point because it would be hard to, so I just tried to focus on me but also realize the relationships that I had I still wanted those to be — I’m sure they won’t be the same, but I still wanted to go out there and leave with some class and some dignity, but hopefully I did, hopefully he understands, and I’m sure we’ll talk again.”
Tears for OKC
Durant said tears were shed as he told the Thunder in a phone call that he wasn’t going back there, and he called it the hardest thing he’s ever had to do in his life.
“Those nine years you can’t erase. That love doesn’t fade. Those memories don’t erase.”
Of course, some Thunder fans set fire to their Durant jerseys.
“It’s the unpopular decision, but I can live with it,” Durant said.
Tuning out critics
Durant shot down the idea that he had changed or was easily influenced by others to leave Oklahoma City.
“I know I haven’t changed as a person,” Durant said.
“In this life you tend to base things on the outside crowd and opinions of everybody else, so I tried not to worry about that and sit down and focus on what I wanted as a player and as a person, and I figured this was the best place for me.”
By 7 a.m. on July 4, Durant came to a decision after sleeping on it and having wrestled with it. He wanted to go to the Warriors.
Super Warriors
Durant dismissed those who decried Durant leaving Oklahoma City to form a Super Team.
“It doesn’t feel forced,” Durant said. “The relationships between me and this team doesn’t feel forced. It just feels like a missing piece of the puzzle. Everybody on the outside of course, they view this as a super team, but we’ve still got to put the work in.”
Getting his shots
“They told me just to be myself,” Durant said. “I don’t want to go out there and try to be extra vocal or be too quiet or not shoot the shots that I normally shoot.”
Durant noted that Curry wants to pass and they would complement each other playing off the ball.
Don’t forget defense
Durant joked that the only reason he came to the Warriors was to reunite with assistant coach and defensive guru Ron Adams, who coached him in Oklahoma City. It’s on defense where Durant will make an impact as well.
“We had a pretty tough time in the playoffs with Kevin’s length and versatility defensively, and of course that’s kind of been our calling card as a defense the last couple years, the versatility, the ability to switch, and Kevin fits perfectly into that style,” Kerr said.
Olympic bonding
Durant will play on the Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro with Green and Thompson. He previously forged relationships with Curry, Thompson and Iguodala while on the national team and knows that can help them gain some chemistry.
“To have two teammates part of this experience with me, it’s going to be amazing, just getting to know them outside of basketball,” Durant said. “I know all about them on the basketball court, but as people I’m looking forward to getting to know them even more.”
‘I plan on being here’
Durant signed a two-year contract with a player option in the second year, but it’s expected to be a long-term commitment.
“I don’t want to go through that again, so I plan on being here,” Durant said. “I’m committed.”
Durant called it the toughest day of his life when he had to let Oklahoma City know the news.
For the Warriors, it was joy.
“I’m so honored that you’re here, and I’m so honored you chose us to play for,” Myers told Durant.


mercurynews--2020-07-07--Man held in Northern California attacks that killed 1, wounded 2

DOWNIEVILLE — A 15-year-old boy was lost for more than 30 hours in a Sierra Nevada forest after a gunman killed his father during an Independence Day trip and wounded two other people in separate attacks , authorities and acquaintances said .
The suspect was arrested on Saturday after a chase .
His name wasn ’ t immediately released .
Dr. Ari Gershman of Danville was shot Friday while off-roading in a new four-wheel drive Jeep with his son , Jack , near Downieville , according to a GoFundMe page set up for the family .
Downieville is northeast of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jack fled and called police to say he was lost , according to the Sierra County Sheriff ’ s Office .
He was found in good condition on July 4 in Tahoe National Forest .
He was alone in the forest for more than 30 hours , according to the GoFundMe page .
Shortly after finding the boy , authorities spotted the suspect in an all-terrain vehicle , chased and stopped him , the Sheriff ’ s Office said .
The same man is believed to have shot two other people during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , and they were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries , the Sheriff ’ s Office said in a Facebook post .
There was no immediate word on a motive for the shootings .
Gershman “ was an avid bicyclist , a vegetarian , an outdoorsman , an internal medicine doctor , a devoted and loving father and fantastic friend that was willing to drop anything for his friends and family , ” according to the GoFundMe page .
“ He was witty and wise .
He died doing what he loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had hoped to retire in one day.
” In addition to his son , Gershman is survived by two other children , Evan , 16 , and Maci , 10 , and by his wife , Paige , who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer , according to the GoFundMe page .

DOWNIEVILLE — A 15-year-old boy was lost for more than 30 hours in a Sierra Nevada forest after a gunman killed his father during an Independence Day trip and wounded two other people in separate attacks, authorities and acquaintances said.
The suspect was arrested on Saturday after a chase. His name wasn’t immediately released.
Dr. Ari Gershman of Danville was shot Friday while off-roading in a new four-wheel drive Jeep with his son, Jack, near Downieville, according to a GoFundMe page set up for the family.
Downieville is northeast of Sacramento and west of Reno, Nevada.
Jack fled and called police to say he was lost, according to the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office. He was found in good condition on July 4 in Tahoe National Forest.
He was alone in the forest for more than 30 hours, according to the GoFundMe page.
Shortly after finding the boy, authorities spotted the suspect in an all-terrain vehicle, chased and stopped him, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The same man is believed to have shot two other people during a separate attack in the same area on Friday, and they were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
There was no immediate word on a motive for the shootings.
Gershman “was an avid bicyclist, a vegetarian, an outdoorsman, an internal medicine doctor, a devoted and loving father and fantastic friend that was willing to drop anything for his friends and family,” according to the GoFundMe page. “He was witty and wise. He died doing what he loved with his son in an area he had hoped to retire in one day.”
In addition to his son, Gershman is survived by two other children, Evan, 16, and Maci, 10, and by his wife, Paige, who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, according to the GoFundMe page.


mercurynews--2020-07-07--California Capitol closing after Assembly members test positive for coronavirus

By ADAM BEAM and DON THOMPSON | The Associated Press SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) — A coronavirus outbreak is closing California ’ s Capitol and forcing the Assembly to put off its return to work as infection and hospitalization rates soar across the state .
Assemblywoman Autumn Burke , a Democrat from Inglewood , tweeted Monday that she was exposed to COVID-19 by someone when the Assembly met on June 26 to pass a $ 202.1 billion budget , even though she and others were wearing masks and observing physical distancing requirements .
“ Currently , my daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be remaining in quarantine until released by a doctor , ” Burke tweeted .
Four other people who work in the Assembly also have tested positive for the virus , Speaker Anthony Rendon ’ s office confirmed without indicating whether they were lawmakers or staff .
The Speaker ’ s office said the Capitol building would be closed until further notice for “ cleaning and sanitizing.
” The Assembly was scheduled to return to work on July 13 along with the state Senate .
There was no immediate word on whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many state legislatures shut down earlier this year as the pandemic took hold of the U.S. , including California , where lawmakers missed nearly two months of work in its first unscheduled recess in 158 years .
But many legislatures eventually returned to work with restrictions in place to limit the spread of the virus .
The delay comes as more young people are getting the coronavirus in California , fueling a surge of hospitalizations across the state and prompting Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s administration to step up enforcement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Statewide , coronavirus hospitalizations have increased 56 % in the past two weeks while the number of confirmed cases has jumped 53 % .
In Los Angeles County , where one quarter of the state ’ s population lives , people between the ages of 18 and 40 now account for 25 % of all coronavirus hospitalizations — up from about 10 % in April .
“ Unfortunately where we are today is different than where we were two , three or four weeks ago , ” Los Angeles County Public Health Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has more than 30,000 beds potentially available for new patients , the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has steadily increased and now accounts for 8 % of all hospitalizations .
In Imperial County , an agricultural county that borders Mexico , hospitals have been overwhelmed and 500 patients have been transferred to other counties .
Public health officials fear many of the new cases come from close contact at recently reopened beaches , indoor restaurant dining areas , bars and similar gathering spots .
Newsom has ordered bars , indoor restaurant dining and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three weeks in 23 of the state ’ s 58 counties .
Over the busy Independence Day weekend , Newsom ’ s administration deployed “ strike teams ” of state inspectors to enforce those rules .
But the teams only issued 52 citations because most business owners complied with state directives , Newsom said .
“ The overwhelming majority of people were doing the right thing , ” he said .
“ Even if people were out of compliance , the engagement got people back into compliance very quickly.
” San Diego County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more than 3 million residents , was added to the list last week and announced Monday it would bar indoor dining and re-close movie theaters , card rooms , museums , bowling alleys and other family entertainment venues .
• Foreign students face ousting from US under new rules • Atlanta mayor says she tested positive for coronavirus • Report shows small biz aid went beyond the hardest-hit The county has seen more than 21 outbreaks of at least three people from different households , including 16 at restaurants .
There also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and barbecues with neighbors or out-of-town relatives may further spread infection , although any surge may take several weeks to show up in the statistics .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .
Associated Press reporters John Antczak and Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles and Julie Watson in @ @ @ @ @ @

By ADAM BEAM and DON THOMPSON | The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A coronavirus outbreak is closing California’s Capitol and forcing the Assembly to put off its return to work as infection and hospitalization rates soar across the state.
Assemblywoman Autumn Burke, a Democrat from Inglewood, tweeted Monday that she was exposed to COVID-19 by someone when the Assembly met on June 26 to pass a $202.1 billion budget, even though she and others were wearing masks and observing physical distancing requirements.
“Currently, my daughter and I have no symptoms, but will be remaining in quarantine until released by a doctor,” Burke tweeted.
Four other people who work in the Assembly also have tested positive for the virus, Speaker Anthony Rendon’s office confirmed without indicating whether they were lawmakers or staff.
The Speaker’s office said the Capitol building would be closed until further notice for “cleaning and sanitizing.”
The Assembly was scheduled to return to work on July 13 along with the state Senate. There was no immediate word on whether the Senate’s reentry had been postponed.
Many state legislatures shut down earlier this year as the pandemic took hold of the U.S., including California, where lawmakers missed nearly two months of work in its first unscheduled recess in 158 years. But many legislatures eventually returned to work with restrictions in place to limit the spread of the virus.
The delay comes as more young people are getting the coronavirus in California, fueling a surge of hospitalizations across the state and prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration to step up enforcement of new restrictions on bars and restaurants.
Statewide, coronavirus hospitalizations have increased 56% in the past two weeks while the number of confirmed cases has jumped 53%. In Los Angeles County, where one quarter of the state’s population lives, people between the ages of 18 and 40 now account for 25% of all coronavirus hospitalizations — up from about 10% in April.
“Unfortunately where we are today is different than where we were two, three or four weeks ago,” Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.
While the state has more than 30,000 beds potentially available for new patients, the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has steadily increased and now accounts for 8% of all hospitalizations. In Imperial County, an agricultural county that borders Mexico, hospitals have been overwhelmed and 500 patients have been transferred to other counties.
Public health officials fear many of the new cases come from close contact at recently reopened beaches, indoor restaurant dining areas, bars and similar gathering spots.
Newsom has ordered bars, indoor restaurant dining and other indoor businesses to close for the next three weeks in 23 of the state’s 58 counties.
Over the busy Independence Day weekend, Newsom’s administration deployed “strike teams” of state inspectors to enforce those rules. But the teams only issued 52 citations because most business owners complied with state directives, Newsom said.
“The overwhelming majority of people were doing the right thing,” he said. “Even if people were out of compliance, the engagement got people back into compliance very quickly.”
San Diego County, the state’s second-most populous with more than 3 million residents, was added to the list last week and announced Monday it would bar indoor dining and re-close movie theaters, card rooms, museums, bowling alleys and other family entertainment venues.
Related Articles Politics | San Jose office building wobbles into default — again
San Jose office building wobbles into default — again Politics | College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds
College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds Politics | One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining
One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining Politics | Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms
Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Politics | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge The county has seen more than 21 outbreaks of at least three people from different households, including 16 at restaurants.
There also is concern that Fourth of July dinners and barbecues with neighbors or out-of-town relatives may further spread infection, although any surge may take several weeks to show up in the statistics.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
___
Associated Press reporters John Antczak and Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles and Julie Watson in San Diego contributed to this report