mercurynews--2020-12-02--Stephens: Thank you, Justice Gorsuch, for standing up for religious freedom

It may take a terrorist attack , a war or some other national emergency , but America will one day thank Justice Neil Gorsuch for his stirring words last week in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo .
“ Government , ” he wrote in a concurrence to the 5-4 majority opinion , “ is not free to disregard the First Amendment in times of crisis.
” The case arises from restrictions Andrew Cuomo imposed by executive order in October that sharply limit attendance at houses of worship in zones designated by the New York governor as pandemic hot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendance is capped at 25 people ; in red zones , at 10 .
That goes for churches and synagogues that can seat hundreds and that were already limiting attendance , barring singing , practicing social distancing and taking other precautions .
The Catholic diocese , along with Agudath Israel of America and affiliated entities , sued , arguing the restrictions amounted to religious discrimination .
The crux of the matter was that businesses in orange and red zones , ranging from liquor stores to bike shops to acupuncturists , were subject to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deemed them “ essential.
” “ So , at least according to the governor , it may be unsafe to go to church , but it is always fine to pick up another bottle of wine , shop for a new bike or spend the afternoon exploring your distal points and meridians , ” Gorsuch wrote .
“ Who knew public health would so perfectly align with secular convenience ?
” The Supreme Court ’ s decision only temporarily prevents Cuomo from enforcing his executive order , pending a decision by a U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an important departure from similar cases earlier this year , in which the court deferred to the judgment of governors for how best to handle the pandemic .
It also rejects the view ( argued by New York state ) that Cuomo treats houses of worship in red zones more favorably than he does , say , movie theaters .
The right to the free exercise of religion , even if subject to regulation , deserves greater deference than the right to attend your local cineplex .
What changed ?
Most obviously , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her replacement by Amy Coney Barrett .
But other factors clearly weighed on Gorsuch and the four other conservative justices who voted with him .
( Chief Justice John Roberts dissented . )
One was time .
It was one thing for courts to defer to executive authority in the early days of the crisis .
But how long can governors override fundamental rights ?
“ Even if the Constitution has taken a holiday during this pandemic , it can not become a sabbatical , ” Gorsuch wrote .
Another was the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to play with the court as the case was working its way through the legal system , by switching the affected areas ’ designations back to “ yellow.
” That was enough to convince Roberts and other dissenters that they could leave well enough alone , at least for now .
But , as Gorsuch noted , one also has to be modest about judicial modesty : “ We may not shelter in place when the Constitution is under attack .
Things never go well when we do.
” That ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberals most of all .
Imagine slightly different circumstances , in which , say , a conservative governor of a red state had used pandemic concerns last summer to impose draconian limits on public protests and that he had done so using color-coded maps that focused on denser urban areas and that seemed to apply most restrictively to predominantly Black neighborhoods .
Now imagine this governor had , at the same time , loosened restrictions on large gatherings such as motorcycle rallies , business conventions and football games — on the grounds that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the state .
Any objections ?
The point here isn ’ t that the interests of public safety and respect for executive authority must always and fully give way to the assertion of constitutional rights .
They shouldn ’ t and don ’ t .
Nor is the point that the behavior of religious communities during the pandemic has been beyond reproach or beyond the reach of justifiable legal sanction .
It hasn ’ t .
The point is there are no second-class rights — and the right to the free exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Constitution as the right to assemble peaceably , petition government for redress , and speak and publish freely .
That goes in circumstances both ordinary and extraordinary .
As Justice Samuel Alito put it in a speech this month that caused some gnashing of teeth : “ All sorts of things can be called an emergency or disaster of major proportions .
Simply slapping on that label can not provide the ground for abrogating our most fundamental rights.
” There is a perennial danger that rights denied or abridged during one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately be denied during another emergency for another class .
The reverse is also true .
The victory for conservatives in last week ’ s ruling will be a victory for liberals somewhere down the road .
The precedent set by the ruling , and the power of Gorsuch ’ s concurrence , will make the victory sweeter .

Thank You, Justice Gorsuch
It may take a terrorist attack, a war or some other national emergency, but America will one day thank Justice Neil Gorsuch for his stirring words last week in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo. “Government,” he wrote in a concurrence to the 5-4 majority opinion, “is not free to disregard the First Amendment in times of crisis.”
The case arises from restrictions Andrew Cuomo imposed by executive order in October that sharply limit attendance at houses of worship in zones designated by the New York governor as pandemic hot spots. In so-called orange zones, attendance is capped at 25 people; in red zones, at 10. That goes for churches and synagogues that can seat hundreds and that were already limiting attendance, barring singing, practicing social distancing and taking other precautions.
The Catholic diocese, along with Agudath Israel of America and affiliated entities, sued, arguing the restrictions amounted to religious discrimination. The crux of the matter was that businesses in orange and red zones, ranging from liquor stores to bike shops to acupuncturists, were subject to no such restrictions because the governor had deemed them “essential.”
“So, at least according to the governor, it may be unsafe to go to church, but it is always fine to pick up another bottle of wine, shop for a new bike or spend the afternoon exploring your distal points and meridians,” Gorsuch wrote. “Who knew public health would so perfectly align with secular convenience?”
The Supreme Court’s decision only temporarily prevents Cuomo from enforcing his executive order, pending a decision by a U.S. Court of Appeals. But it marks an important departure from similar cases earlier this year, in which the court deferred to the judgment of governors for how best to handle the pandemic. It also rejects the view (argued by New York state) that Cuomo treats houses of worship in red zones more favorably than he does, say, movie theaters. The right to the free exercise of religion, even if subject to regulation, deserves greater deference than the right to attend your local cineplex.
What changed? Most obviously, the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her replacement by Amy Coney Barrett.
But other factors clearly weighed on Gorsuch and the four other conservative justices who voted with him. (Chief Justice John Roberts dissented.) One was time. It was one thing for courts to defer to executive authority in the early days of the crisis. But how long can governors override fundamental rights? “Even if the Constitution has taken a holiday during this pandemic, it cannot become a sabbatical,” Gorsuch wrote.
Another was the game of Hot Zone Whac-a-Mole that Cuomo tried to play with the court as the case was working its way through the legal system, by switching the affected areas’ designations back to “yellow.” That was enough to convince Roberts and other dissenters that they could leave well enough alone, at least for now. But, as Gorsuch noted, one also has to be modest about judicial modesty: “We may not shelter in place when the Constitution is under attack. Things never go well when we do.”
That’s a thought that ought to inspire everyone, liberals most of all. Imagine slightly different circumstances, in which, say, a conservative governor of a red state had used pandemic concerns last summer to impose draconian limits on public protests and that he had done so using color-coded maps that focused on denser urban areas and that seemed to apply most restrictively to predominantly Black neighborhoods.
Now imagine this governor had, at the same time, loosened restrictions on large gatherings such as motorcycle rallies, business conventions and football games — on the grounds that these were essential to the economic well-being of the state. Any objections?
The point here isn’t that the interests of public safety and respect for executive authority must always and fully give way to the assertion of constitutional rights. They shouldn’t and don’t. Nor is the point that the behavior of religious communities during the pandemic has been beyond reproach or beyond the reach of justifiable legal sanction. It hasn’t.
The point is there are no second-class rights — and the right to the free exercise of religion is every bit as important to the Constitution as the right to assemble peaceably, petition government for redress, and speak and publish freely. That goes in circumstances both ordinary and extraordinary. As Justice Samuel Alito put it in a speech this month that caused some gnashing of teeth: “All sorts of things can be called an emergency or disaster of major proportions. Simply slapping on that label cannot provide the ground for abrogating our most fundamental rights.”
There is a perennial danger that rights denied or abridged during one emergency for one class of people will ultimately be denied during another emergency for another class. The reverse is also true. The victory for conservatives in last week’s ruling will be a victory for liberals somewhere down the road. The precedent set by the ruling, and the power of Gorsuch’s concurrence, will make the victory sweeter.
Bret Stephens is a New York Times columnist.


mercurynews--2020-12-02--UK becomes first country to authorize Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for emergency use

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and DANICA KIRKA | The Associated Press British officials authorized a COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use on Wednesday , greenlighting the world ’ s first shot against the virus that ’ s backed by rigorous science and taking a major step toward eventually ending the pandemic .
The go-ahead for the vaccine developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany ’ s BioNTech comes as the virus surges again in the United States and Europe , putting pressure on hospitals and morgues in some places and forcing new rounds of restrictions that have devastated economies .
The Medicines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ licenses drugs in the U.K. , recommended the vaccine could be used after it reviewed the results of clinical trials that showed the vaccine was 95 % effective overall — and that it also offered significant protection for older people , among those most at risk of dying from the disease .
But the vaccine remains experimental while final testing is done .
“ Help is on its way , ” British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC , adding that the situation would start to improve in the spring .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re the first country in the world to have one formally clinically authorized but , between now and then , we ’ ve got to hold on , we ’ ve got to hold our resolve , ” he said .
Other countries aren ’ t far behind : Regulators in the United States and the European Union also are vetting the Pfizer shot along with a similar vaccine made by competitor Moderna Inc. British regulators also are considering another shot made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University .
Hancock said Britain expects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 800,000 doses “ within days , ” and people will begin receiving shots as soon as the National Health Service gets the vaccine .
Doses everywhere are scarce , and initial supplies will be rationed until more is manufactured in the first several months of next year .
A government committee will release details of vaccination priorities later Wednesday , but Hancock said nursing home residents , people over 80 , and healthcare workers and other care workers will be the first to receive the shot .
Pfizer said it would immediately begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has been gearing up for even wider distribution if given a similar nod by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , a decision expected as early as next week .
“ We are focusing on moving with the same level of urgency to safely supply a high-quality vaccine around the world , ” Bourla said in a statement .
While the U.K. has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine , enough for 20 million people , it ’ s not clear how many will arrive by year ’ s end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive “ millions of doses ” by the end of this year , adding that the actual number will depend on how fast Pfizer can produce the vaccine .
One concern about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is that it must be stored and shipped at ultra-cold temperatures of around minus 70 degrees Celsius ( minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit ) , adding to the challenge of distributing the vaccine around the world .
Pfizer says it has developed shipping containers that use dry ice to keep the vaccine cool .
GPS-enabled sensors will allow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they stay cold , the company says .
“ Pfizer has vast experience and expertise in cold-chain shipping and has an established infrastructure to supply the vaccine worldwide , including distribution hubs that can store vaccine doses for up to six months , ” the company said in a statement .
The company also says it has agreed to work with other vaccine makers to ensure there is sufficient supply and a range of vaccines , “ including those suitable for global access.
” Every country has different rules for determining when an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use .
Intense political pressure to be the first to roll out a rigorously scientifically tested shot colored the race in the U.S. and Britain , even as researchers pledged to cut no corners .
In contrast , China and Russia have offered different vaccinations to their citizens ahead of late-stage testing .
The shots made by U.S.-based Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech were tested in tens of thousands of people .
And while that study isn ’ t complete , early results suggest the vaccine is 95 % effective at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The companies told regulators that of the first 170 infections detected in study volunteers , only eight were among people who ’ d received the actual vaccine and the rest had gotten a dummy shot .
“ This is an extraordinarily strong protection , ” Dr. Ugur Sahin , BioNTech ’ s CEO , recently told The Associated Press .
The companies also reported no serious side effects , although vaccine recipients may experience temporary pain and flu-like reactions immediately after injections .
• California officials urge U.S. Supreme Court to leave coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ map : Here ’ s what color tier each California county is in on Dec. 1 • Disneyland lays off more than 11,500 employees , state records show • COVID-19 : San Jose State football team finds home in Hawaii for its next game Final testing must still be completed .
Still to be determined is whether the Pfizer-BioNTech shots protect against people spreading the coronavirus without showing symptoms .
Another question is how long protection lasts .
The vaccine also has been tested in only a small number of children , none @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s no information on its effects in pregnant women .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and DANICA KIRKA | The Associated Press
British officials authorized a COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use on Wednesday, greenlighting the world’s first shot against the virus that’s backed by rigorous science and taking a major step toward eventually ending the pandemic.
The go-ahead for the vaccine developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech comes as the virus surges again in the United States and Europe, putting pressure on hospitals and morgues in some places and forcing new rounds of restrictions that have devastated economies.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which licenses drugs in the U.K., recommended the vaccine could be used after it reviewed the results of clinical trials that showed the vaccine was 95% effective overall — and that it also offered significant protection for older people, among those most at risk of dying from the disease. But the vaccine remains experimental while final testing is done.
“Help is on its way,” British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC, adding that the situation would start to improve in the spring.
“We now have a vaccine. We’re the first country in the world to have one formally clinically authorized but, between now and then, we’ve got to hold on, we’ve got to hold our resolve,” he said.
Other countries aren’t far behind: Regulators in the United States and the European Union also are vetting the Pfizer shot along with a similar vaccine made by competitor Moderna Inc. British regulators also are considering another shot made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.
Hancock said Britain expects to begin receiving the first shipment of 800,000 doses “within days,” and people will begin receiving shots as soon as the National Health Service gets the vaccine.
Doses everywhere are scarce, and initial supplies will be rationed until more is manufactured in the first several months of next year.
A government committee will release details of vaccination priorities later Wednesday, but Hancock said nursing home residents, people over 80, and healthcare workers and other care workers will be the first to receive the shot.
Pfizer said it would immediately begin shipping limited supplies to the U.K. — and has been gearing up for even wider distribution if given a similar nod by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a decision expected as early as next week.
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla called the U.K. decision “a historic moment.”
“We are focusing on moving with the same level of urgency to safely supply a high-quality vaccine around the world,” Bourla said in a statement.
While the U.K. has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, enough for 20 million people, it’s not clear how many will arrive by year’s end. Hancock said the U.K. expects to receive “millions of doses” by the end of this year, adding that the actual number will depend on how fast Pfizer can produce the vaccine.
One concern about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is that it must be stored and shipped at ultra-cold temperatures of around minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit), adding to the challenge of distributing the vaccine around the world.
Pfizer says it has developed shipping containers that use dry ice to keep the vaccine cool. GPS-enabled sensors will allow the company to track each shipment and ensure they stay cold, the company says.
“Pfizer has vast experience and expertise in cold-chain shipping and has an established infrastructure to supply the vaccine worldwide, including distribution hubs that can store vaccine doses for up to six months,” the company said in a statement.
The company also says it has agreed to work with other vaccine makers to ensure there is sufficient supply and a range of vaccines, “including those suitable for global access.”
Every country has different rules for determining when an experimental vaccine is safe and effective enough to use. Intense political pressure to be the first to roll out a rigorously scientifically tested shot colored the race in the U.S. and Britain, even as researchers pledged to cut no corners. In contrast, China and Russia have offered different vaccinations to their citizens ahead of late-stage testing.
The shots made by U.S.-based Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech were tested in tens of thousands of people. And while that study isn’t complete, early results suggest the vaccine is 95% effective at preventing mild to severe COVID-19 disease. The companies told regulators that of the first 170 infections detected in study volunteers, only eight were among people who’d received the actual vaccine and the rest had gotten a dummy shot.
“This is an extraordinarily strong protection,” Dr. Ugur Sahin, BioNTech’s CEO, recently told The Associated Press.
The companies also reported no serious side effects, although vaccine recipients may experience temporary pain and flu-like reactions immediately after injections.
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The vaccine also has been tested in only a small number of children, none younger than 12, and there’s no information on its effects in pregnant women.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


mercurynews--2020-12-02--Opinion: The U.S. is falling behind in science and engineering

In January of this year the National Science Board , which is part of the National Science Foundation , published its biennial report on Science and Engineering Indicators .
It captures how the United States compares to other countries from the perspective of degree production , investments in research and development , and scientific articles and patents ( as a proxy for technical prowess ) .
Basically , we ’ re falling behind on every major measure , which means we may not have enough trained people and core competencies to combat climate change , defeat contagious viruses or compete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems .
Not only have we closed the borders ( even to students ) and raised the walls ( literally and figuratively ) to shared knowledge , we have diluted educational achievement standards at home and outsourced our critical manufacturing capabilities overseas .
Turning the tide will require new educational policy , targeted federal funding and visionary executive leadership .
Investment in science reveals verifiable facts that we use to live longer , happier , more-affordable lives .
It also leads to products and services that we can sell in foreign markets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ matters is that China is eager to assume any mantle we abandon or neglect .
There ’ s no better example of where misbegotten technology policy has hurt us than the energy sector .
The U.S. should be leading in every topic from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to clean electricity generation .
China today has almost three times our renewable generative capacity ; in 2019 a quarter of their net-new capacity was solar .
One example of where science-based decisions could better inform our energy policy are small modular nuclear reactors , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power as a viable energy option because of two false perceptions : that it is fundamentally unsafe and that there is no good way to dispense with spent radioactive fuel .
However , even well-respected former anti-nuclear advocates , like Michael Schellenberger , have changed their minds on this .
Electricity from nuclear plants can be created safely , affordably and without turning radioactive material into weapons .
Another example is hydrogen-based fuel cells , which produce electricity in a way that exhausts only water and heat .
The global market is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion today , but one analyst believes it could grow to $ 40 billion in six years ; another believes that in 2032 over 5 million hydrogen-fueled cars will be sold worldwide , worth over $ 250 billion .
Almost every major foreign manufacturer has scaled a fuel cell electric vehicle ( FCEV ) to production , but the U.S. is virtually invisible in the market .
Unwisely retreating from FCEVs unnecessarily limits the U.S. from competing in advanced energy manufacturing and transportation .
There are three decisions we can make that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First , we need to agree that voluntarily relinquishing technological leadership is going to severely hurt our economy and our global political influence .
Pushing a coal-based agenda or ripping up environmental regulations is not going to make us cleaner , healthier , more productive or more employable .
The last Quadrennial Energy Review predicted that 1.5 million new jobs will be created in the energy sector between 2016 and 2030 ; in fact , according to the 2020 US Energy and Employment Report , there were 54,000 net new jobs in just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to get serious about exposing our children to core concepts of science , technology , engineering and mathematics , the so-called STEM curricula .
Just because K-12 public education is typically a local or state issue doesn ’ t mean that we can afford to live in regional isolation , where some school boards promote fundamental physics and others fundamentalist philosophy .
Willful ignorance is not consistent with our values and freedoms .
Finally , we need leadership attention and actionable agenda on where and how to invest precious resources into research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And we need to make sure that the international playing field is safe , fair and level for everybody .
That means constructive engagement with our partners , and clear and enforceable rules for our competitors .
It means less bluster and polemic outrage , and more product demonstrations and value creation .
Greg Douquet is a former Marine Corps colonel , co-founder and managing partner of Red Duke Strategies LLC , and co-director of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center ’ s Veterans Advanced Energy Project .
Peter L. Levin is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a senior adjunct fellow at the Center for a New American Security .
( c ) 2020 The Baltimore Sun .
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency , LLC

In January of this year the National Science Board, which is part of the National Science Foundation, published its biennial report on Science and Engineering Indicators. It captures how the United States compares to other countries from the perspective of degree production, investments in research and development, and scientific articles and patents (as a proxy for technical prowess). Basically, we’re falling behind on every major measure, which means we may not have enough trained people and core competencies to combat climate change, defeat contagious viruses or compete in the growing market for advanced energy systems.
This is a dangerous signal.
Not only have we closed the borders (even to students) and raised the walls (literally and figuratively) to shared knowledge, we have diluted educational achievement standards at home and outsourced our critical manufacturing capabilities overseas. Turning the tide will require new educational policy, targeted federal funding and visionary executive leadership. Investment in science reveals verifiable facts that we use to live longer, happier, more-affordable lives. It also leads to products and services that we can sell in foreign markets. The only “alternative fact” that matters is that China is eager to assume any mantle we abandon or neglect.
There’s no better example of where misbegotten technology policy has hurt us than the energy sector. The U.S. should be leading in every topic from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to clean electricity generation. China today has almost three times our renewable generative capacity; in 2019 a quarter of their net-new capacity was solar.
One example of where science-based decisions could better inform our energy policy are small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs. Many people immediately reject nuclear power as a viable energy option because of two false perceptions: that it is fundamentally unsafe and that there is no good way to dispense with spent radioactive fuel. However, even well-respected former anti-nuclear advocates, like Michael Schellenberger, have changed their minds on this. Electricity from nuclear plants can be created safely, affordably and without turning radioactive material into weapons.
Another example is hydrogen-based fuel cells, which produce electricity in a way that exhausts only water and heat. The global market is still relatively small, only about $5 billion today, but one analyst believes it could grow to $40 billion in six years; another believes that in 2032 over 5 million hydrogen-fueled cars will be sold worldwide, worth over $250 billion. Almost every major foreign manufacturer has scaled a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) to production, but the U.S. is virtually invisible in the market. Unwisely retreating from FCEVs unnecessarily limits the U.S. from competing in advanced energy manufacturing and transportation.
There are three decisions we can make that would put the U.S. on proper footing.
First, we need to agree that voluntarily relinquishing technological leadership is going to severely hurt our economy and our global political influence. Pushing a coal-based agenda or ripping up environmental regulations is not going to make us cleaner, healthier, more productive or more employable. The last Quadrennial Energy Review predicted that 1.5 million new jobs will be created in the energy sector between 2016 and 2030; in fact, according to the 2020 US Energy and Employment Report, there were 54,000 net new jobs in just energy efficiency alone.
Second, we need to get serious about exposing our children to core concepts of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the so-called STEM curricula. Just because K-12 public education is typically a local or state issue doesn’t mean that we can afford to live in regional isolation, where some school boards promote fundamental physics and others fundamentalist philosophy. Willful ignorance is not consistent with our values and freedoms.
Finally, we need leadership attention and actionable agenda on where and how to invest precious resources into research, technology transfer and export commercialization. And we need to make sure that the international playing field is safe, fair and level for everybody. That means constructive engagement with our partners, and clear and enforceable rules for our competitors. It means less bluster and polemic outrage, and more product demonstrations and value creation.
Greg Douquet is a former Marine Corps colonel, co-founder and managing partner of Red Duke Strategies LLC, and co-director of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center’s Veterans Advanced Energy Project. Peter L. Levin is a co-founder and CEO of Amida Technology Solutions, and a senior adjunct fellow at the Center for a New American Security. (c)2020 The Baltimore Sun. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC


mercurynews--2020-12-02--A photographer said he watched the now-famous monolith in Utah fall to the ground

The mysterious monolith discovered last week in a Utah desert just disappeared — but it wasn ’ t taken by aliens or government conspiracies .
It was moved by another phenomenon : TikTokers .
Colorado adventure and outdoor lifestyle photographer Ross Bernards told CNN he saw the monolith being removed by a group of four last Friday night .
Bernards , who has about a decade of experience in hiking and navigating deserts , set out to capture photos of the world-famous monolith with a group of friends last Friday after determining its location earlier in the week .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ location of the monolith and had been taking photos for over an hour , they heard the voices of a new group rounding the corner toward the location .
Bernards assumed the group of four was there to take photos as well , but that was not the case .
“ They immediately started really pushing on it , like throwing their whole-body weight into it , ” said Bernards .
“ It took them maybe three big pushes to get that thing to pop up a little bit and start turning on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were able pry the entire monolith loose , it fell straight on the ground and made a loud bang .
It sounded as if someone threw their largest stew pot off a ladder as hard as they could , Bernards said .
“ Once that happened , one of them said this is why you don ’ t leave trash in the desert , ” said Bernards .
The group of four took the big pieces of the monolith and placed them in a wheelbarrow and said “ leave no trace ” as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to Bernards , the phrase “ Leave No Trace , ” is a known principle in the outdoor community that encourages people who visit the outdoors to protect the environment by minimizing their impact .
Bernards and his friends did not stop the group from removing the monolith because they agreed that it needed to be removed because the area is not set up for the type of attention it was receiving and could cause damage that would negatively impact the land , he said .
“ It was a cool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just needed to go , ” said Bernards .
“ The wilderness areas — Mother Nature is the artist up there and we need to leave the art to her.
” One of the individuals who helped remove the monolith announced in a post on social media Tuesday that he and a team were responsible for removing the monolith on the night of November 27 at around 8:30 p.m. Sylvan Christensen , who has almost 30 thousand followers on TikTok , posted a video of the monolith strapped to a wheelbarrow and carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removing the structure blurred .
The post has since been viewed almost 200 thousand times on TikTok .
“ Don ’ t abandon your personal property on public land if you don ’ t want it to be taken out , ” Christensen wrote in a caption along with a hashtag # LeaveNoTrace .
• There ’ s a second monolith .
And it disappeared , too .
• Missing Utah monolith : The message left by those who removed it • Man suspected of tunneling into California office is shot by business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Moab Adventure Tours , according to his social media .
“ We removed the Utah Monolith because there are clear precedents for how we share and standardize the use of our public lands , natural wildlife , native plants , fresh water sources , and human impacts upon them , ” the group said in an emailed statement to CNN .
“ The mystery was the infatuation , and we want to use this time to unite people behind the real issues here — we are losing our public lands — things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

The mysterious monolith discovered last week in a Utah desert just disappeared — but it wasn’t taken by aliens or government conspiracies. It was moved by another phenomenon: TikTokers.
Colorado adventure and outdoor lifestyle photographer Ross Bernards told CNN he saw the monolith being removed by a group of four last Friday night.
Bernards, who has about a decade of experience in hiking and navigating deserts, set out to capture photos of the world-famous monolith with a group of friends last Friday after determining its location earlier in the week.
After he and his friends had reached the location of the monolith and had been taking photos for over an hour, they heard the voices of a new group rounding the corner toward the location. Bernards assumed the group of four was there to take photos as well, but that was not the case.
“They immediately started really pushing on it, like throwing their whole-body weight into it,” said Bernards. “It took them maybe three big pushes to get that thing to pop up a little bit and start turning on its side.”
As soon as they were able pry the entire monolith loose, it fell straight on the ground and made a loud bang. It sounded as if someone threw their largest stew pot off a ladder as hard as they could, Bernards said.
“Once that happened, one of them said this is why you don’t leave trash in the desert,” said Bernards.
The group of four took the big pieces of the monolith and placed them in a wheelbarrow and said “leave no trace” as they rolled it away, said Bernards.
According to Bernards, the phrase “Leave No Trace,” is a known principle in the outdoor community that encourages people who visit the outdoors to protect the environment by minimizing their impact.
Bernards and his friends did not stop the group from removing the monolith because they agreed that it needed to be removed because the area is not set up for the type of attention it was receiving and could cause damage that would negatively impact the land, he said.
[vemba-video id=”style/2020/11/24/mysterious-metal-monolith-utah-desert-orig-orig-tp-jm.cnn”]
“It was a cool thing to see, but it also just needed to go,” said Bernards. “The wilderness areas — Mother Nature is the artist up there and we need to leave the art to her.”
One of the individuals who helped remove the monolith announced in a post on social media Tuesday that he and a team were responsible for removing the monolith on the night of November 27 at around 8:30 p.m.
Sylvan Christensen, who has almost 30 thousand followers on TikTok, posted a video of the monolith strapped to a wheelbarrow and carried away with the faces of the individuals removing the structure blurred. The post has since been viewed almost 200 thousand times on TikTok.
“Don’t abandon your personal property on public land if you don’t want it to be taken out,” Christensen wrote in a caption along with a hashtag #LeaveNoTrace.
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“We removed the Utah Monolith because there are clear precedents for how we share and standardize the use of our public lands, natural wildlife, native plants, fresh water sources, and human impacts upon them,” the group said in an emailed statement to CNN. “The mystery was the infatuation, and we want to use this time to unite people behind the real issues here — we are losing our public lands — things like this don’t help.”
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mercurynews--2020-12-02--Sponsored: Views, outdoor resort, barn and more at Happy Valley estate

Sweeping 270-degree Mount Diablo and hillside views , an abundance of natural light , and a seamless flow to amazing outdoor space elevate the appeal of this classic Happy Valley home to new heights .
Extensive and classic millwork including wainscot and crown molding , richly stained oak hardwood floors , high ceilings , floor-to-ceiling windows , and an open floor plan are just the beginning .
There are five bedrooms , three-and-a-half bathrooms , a bonus room , office , chef ’ s eat-in kitchen , and spacious living and dining areas .
Located at 3683 Happy Valley Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4,574 square feet of living space on 1.24 acres dotted with majestic oak trees .
Its level backyard , bordering open space , is a private paradise complete with about 1,000 square feet of patio , sprawling lawns , lush gardens , pool , pergola , play structure , and wide open spaces .
The property also includes a vintage grass tennis court that can be restored for tennis or adapted to a sports court .
There is also a three-stall , 500-square-foot barn that could board two horses ( according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be converted into a spectacular guesthouse , ADU , home office , and more .
The living and dining rooms feature walls of windows that frame the treetop and hillside views .
A fireplace and built-in cabinetry anchor the living room .
This room also features flexible-use space with sliding glass doors for comfortable indoor-outdoor living and entertaining .
The kitchen also has bright natural light and east-facing views .
The casual dining area has a gas fireplace .
The kitchen features granite counters and an island/breakfast bar , custom cabinetry , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , GE refrigerator , dual JennAir ovens , and an LG dishwasher .
Just off the kitchen is a powder room with convenient pool access , the laundry room and a private office .
The bedroom wing on the main level features three bedrooms , including the luxurious master bedroom suite that offers breathtaking east-facing views .
A wall of custom built-in cabinetry and a gas fireplace anchor the adjoining library/office .
The bedroom also features a walk-through closet with built-ins and a large bathroom with a dual-sink vanity .
Two additional bedrooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and share a full bathroom beautifully updated with Carrera marble , pendant lighting , and a skylight .
Two more bedrooms are located on the entry-level just off the grand foyer .
The bedrooms share a Jack and Jill bathroom .
A bonus/media room , also on this level , has a separate entry .
Lafayette ’ s prestigious Happy Valley is ideally located about 25 miles east of San Francisco .
Hop on nearby walking paths or enjoy the convenience of being less than a mile to BART , shopping and dining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access .
Top-rated schools in the Lafayette and Acalanes school districts are also nearby .
Check out the Lafayette Reservoir and Tilden and Briones regional parks for more outdoor recreation opportunities .

Sweeping 270-degree Mount Diablo and hillside views, an abundance of natural light, and a seamless flow to amazing outdoor space elevate the appeal of this classic Happy Valley home to new heights.
Extensive and classic millwork including wainscot and crown molding, richly stained oak hardwood floors, high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an open floor plan are just the beginning. There are five bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, a bonus room, office, chef’s eat-in kitchen, and spacious living and dining areas.
Located at 3683 Happy Valley Road, this gated estate property features about 4,574 square feet of living space on 1.24 acres dotted with majestic oak trees. Its level backyard, bordering open space, is a private paradise complete with about 1,000 square feet of patio, sprawling lawns, lush gardens, pool, pergola, play structure and wide open spaces.
The property also includes a vintage grass tennis court that can be restored for tennis or adapted to a sports court. There is also a three-stall, 500-square-foot barn that could board two horses (according to the city of Lafayette R40 zoning) or be converted into a spectacular guesthouse, ADU, home office and more.
The living and dining rooms feature walls of windows that frame the treetop and hillside views. A fireplace and built-in cabinetry anchor the living room. This room also features flexible-use space with sliding glass doors for comfortable indoor-outdoor living and entertaining.
The kitchen also has bright natural light and east-facing views. The casual dining area has a gas fireplace. The kitchen features granite counters and an island/breakfast bar, custom cabinetry, and stainless appliances, including a DCS cooktop, GE refrigerator, dual JennAir ovens, and an LG dishwasher.
Just off the kitchen is a powder room with convenient pool access, the laundry room and a private office.
The bedroom wing on the main level features three bedrooms, including the luxurious master bedroom suite that offers breathtaking east-facing views. A wall of custom built-in cabinetry and a gas fireplace anchor the adjoining library/office. The bedroom also features a walk-through closet with built-ins and a large bathroom with a dual-sink vanity.
Two additional bedrooms on this level are generous in size and share a full bathroom beautifully updated with Carrera marble, pendant lighting, and a skylight.
Two more bedrooms are located on the entry-level just off the grand foyer. The bedrooms share a Jack and Jill bathroom. A bonus/media room, also on this level, has a separate entry.
Additional features include a three-car garage, three-zone HVAC, custom window coverings, upgraded electrical and recessed LED lighting.
Lafayette’s prestigious Happy Valley is ideally located about 25 miles east of San Francisco. Hop on nearby walking paths or enjoy the convenience of being less than a mile to BART, shopping and dining in the charming downtown, and freeway access. Top-rated schools in the Lafayette and Acalanes school districts are also nearby. Check out the Lafayette Reservoir and Tilden and Briones regional parks for more outdoor recreation opportunities.
Price: $3,495,000
Where: 3683 Happy Valley Road, Lafayette
Website: www.3683happyvalley.com Shown by appointment only.
Listing agents: Dudum Real Estate Group, Kaaren Brickman, DRE#01932119, 925-351-5049, kaaren@dudum.com. Julie Del Santo, DRE#01290985, 925-818-5500, julie@dudum.com


mercurynews--2020-12-02--Will 49ers’ long-lost pairing of Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel trigger playoff run?

Statistically , George Kittle remains the 49ers ’ leading receiver , even though he ’ s missed the past three games and 5-of-11 games this season .
That should change after Monday night ’ s game .
The 49ers expect wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel together in the lineup for the first time since an Oct. 25 rout of the New England Patriots .
Aiyuk first must get cleared off the NFL ’ s COVID-19 reserve list since Nov. 20 .
Coach Kyle Shanahan expected that to happen Tuesday but Aiyuk and three other players still could get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight to Phoenix .
Shanahan is excited to see what that Aiyuk-Samuel pairing can do against another AFC East foe , the Buffalo Bills ( 8-3 ) .
The playoff-chasing 49ers ( 5-6 ) will host the Bills on Monday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale , Ariz. , the 49ers ’ makeshift home after Santa Clara County ’ s contact-sports ban .
“ Just the more these guys can play together , the more they can get out there , they ’ re made of the right stuff , they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ll only get better , ” Shanahan said .
“ I just want to get them going.
” Samuel ’ s bullish presence with the ball in his hands , when combined with Aiyuk ’ s gracefulness as a multi-dimentional receiver , make for the 49ers ’ best offensive weapons , especially with their usually reliable run game sputtering this season amid injuries .
Kittle would be that offensive workhorse if not for injuries this season , including a knee sprain that kept him out Weeks 2 and 3 before a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games ( and counting , until at least probably Week 16 ) .
Aiyuk has missed two of the past three games on the COVID-19 reserve list , but the first-round draft pick has shown great potential and come through with 35 receptions ( 56 targets ) for 446 yards and three touchdowns .
Samuel opened the season on injured reserve because of a June foot fracture , then came a four-game spree in which he showed the play-making potential that helped the 49ers reach the Super Bowl his rookie season .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Samuel until his bruising return against the Rams ( 11 receptions , 133 yards ) .
Samuel ’ s ability to break tackles and rack up yards after the catch fired up his teammates and set the tone against the favored Rams .
“ That ’ s what we ’ re hoping for when we took him , ” Shanahan said .
“ We wanted that physicality and stuff in him .
We thought we needed that , and he ’ s brought that a ton .
And that ’ s why when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter where he ’ s at , he always helps us.
” Samuel credited the 49ers ’ training staff for putting him through game-like situations ahead of Sunday ’ s grand return , adding : “ It also felt great to be out there with teammates to get the ‘ W. ’ ” Shanahan ’ s trust in Samuel is essential , as well .
“ It all starts from trust , how I am with the ball and what Kyle trusts me to go out there and do that , ” Samuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reporters since going on the COVID-19 list a second time ; his initial stay was for being a close contact after Kendrick Bourne ’ s positive test before the Packers ’ game .
When Aiyuk last spoke to the media Nov. 13 , he said of the COVID-19 concerns : “ It was frustrating , mostly being just the unknown .
First I wanted to make sure I didn ’ t have the virus , and with what I had going on at home with my family .
Not being able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After this second stint — it ’ s unknown if he tested positive himself — Aiyuk can rejoin his teammates for Wednesday ’ s trip to Arizona .
He had seven catches for 75 yards and scored his fifth career touchdown in his last game , a Nov. 15 loss at New Orleans .
Samuel has missed seven games , and the 49ers don ’ t have enough healthy weapons to compensate for his , Aiyuk and so many other players ’ absences .
“ Every time Deebo gets going , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setback , ” Shanahan said , “ but you guys see how much he helps us , and how much he has every time he ’ s been in , and it ’ s a lot more fun to have him out there.
” One extra element working in the 49ers ’ offense ’ s favor , amid this month ’ s relocation from Santa Clara , is what State Farm Stadium ’ s natural-grass field offers .
“ It feels fast .
I ’ ve always liked that , ” Shanahan said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 74 players used , still hope to get back Garoppolo and Kittle • 49ers making Arizona land grab for practices plus games after Santa Clara County expulsion • Borenstein : In COVID fight , 49ers , churches need to stop whining • 49ers heading to Arizona after Santa Clara County ’ s COVID ban on games , practices

Statistically, George Kittle remains the 49ers’ leading receiver, even though he’s missed five of the 49ers’ 11 games this season, including the past three.
That should change after Monday night’s game.
The 49ers expect wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel together in the lineup for the first time since an Oct. 25 rout of the New England Patriots.
“Last time we were on the field together, we put good things on tape,” Aiyuk said. “This whole receiver group, we’re getting our guys back and trying to establish that rhythm and go on this run.”
Aiyuk came off the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list Wednesday, along with defensive linemen D.J. Jones and Jordan Willis, all in time for the 49ers’ flight to Arizona, where they’ll be embedded for at least the next two games and more likely four of their final five after Santa Clara County’s contact-sports ban under COVID-19 directives.
Shanahan is excited to see what that Aiyuk-Samuel pairing can do against another AFC East foe, the Buffalo Bills (8-3). The playoff-chasing 49ers (5-6) will host the Bills on Monday night at State Farm Stadium, the 49ers’ makeshift home
“Just the more these guys can play together, the more they can get out there, they’re made of the right stuff, they’re built the right way, and they’ll only get better,” Shanahan said.
“I just want to get them going.”
Samuel’s bullish presence with the ball in his hands, when combined with Aiyuk’s gracefulness as a multi-dimensional receiver, make for the 49ers’ best offensive weapons, especially with their usually reliable run game sputtering this season amid injuries.
Kittle would be that offensive workhorse if not for injuries this season, including a knee sprain that kept him out Weeks 2 and 3 before a foot fracture sidelined him the past three games (and counting, until at least probably Week 16).
Aiyuk has missed two of the past three games on the COVID-19 reserve list, but the first-round draft pick has shown great potential and come through with 35 receptions (56 targets) for 446 yards and three touchdowns.
Samuel opened the season on injured reserve because of a June foot fracture, then came a four-game spree in which he showed the play-making potential that helped the 49ers reach the Super Bowl his rookie season. The 49ers are 15-5 when he’s played.
A hamstring injury late at New England shelved Samuel until his bruising return Sunday against the Rams (11 receptions, 133 yards). Samuel’s ability to break tackles and rack up yards after the catch fired up his teammates and set the tone against the favored Rams.
“That’s what we were hoping for when we took him,” Shanahan said. “We wanted that physicality and stuff in him. We thought we needed that, and he’s brought that a ton. And that’s why when he’s out there, no matter where he’s at, he always helps us.”
Samuel credited the 49ers’ training staff for putting him through game-like situations ahead of Sunday’s grand return, adding: “It also felt great to be out there with teammates to get the ‘W.’ ”
Shanahan’s trust in Samuel is essential, as well.
“It all starts from trust, how I am with the ball and what Kyle trusts me to go out there and do that,” Samuel added.
Samuel has missed seven games, and the 49ers don’t have enough healthy weapons to compensate for his, Aiyuk and so many other players’ absences.
“Every time Deebo gets going, we’ve had a little bit of a setback,” Shanahan said, “but you guys see how much he helps us, and how much he has every time he’s been in, and it’s a lot more fun to have him out there.”
Aiyuk has not been available to reporters since going on the COVID-19 list a second time; his initial stay was for being a close contact after Kendrick Bourne’s positive test before the Packers’ game.
Aiyuk tested positive himself two weeks ago, and he’s now “fresh” physically and mentally, he said. Aiyuk had seven catches for 75 yards and scored his fifth career touchdown in his last game, a Nov. 15 loss at New Orleans.
One extra element working in the 49ers’ offense’s favor, amid this month’s relocation from Santa Clara, is what State Farm Stadium’s natural-grass field offers. “It feels fast. I’ve always liked that,” Shanahan said.


mercurynews--2020-12-02--California Supreme Court challenge to juvenile justice reform initiative has ties to Santa Cruz homi

California Supreme Court challenge to juvenile justice reform initiative has ties to Santa Cruz homicide

SANTA CRUZ — A California Supreme Court panel in San Francisco heard constitutional arguments Tuesday on how criminal justice plays out for accused 14- and 15-year-old defendants , the outcome of which is likely to impact a Santa Cruz child-homicide case .
The state legislation coming under fire , 2018 ’ s Senate Bill 1391 , was signed by the governor as an amendment to a voter-approved juvenile justice reform initiative , Proposition 57 , from two years prior .
Prior to Prop .
57 ’ s approval in 2016 , criminal prosecutors determined when minors 14 and 15 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Voters then decided judges should make the call , instead .
A decision in Tuesday ’ s case is expected within 90 days .
The outcome is likely to affect court proceedings for a local case involving the killing of 8-year-old Madyson “ Maddy ” Middleton .
Her accused murderer , Adrian “ A.J.
” Gonzalez , was arrested in the case five years ago , when he was 15 years old .
Due to the series of subsequent changes to state law , Gonzalez ’ s case has ping-ponged back and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems and has yet to make it to trial .
Last year , local Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge John Salazar himself declared SB 1391 unconstitutional during a hearing for Gonzalez ’ s case , a decision that is in the midst of its own higher-court appeal proceedings .
The case debated Tuesday involved a legal challenge to a case similar Gonzalez ’ s , involving a young Ventura County man who was 15 years old at the time he was accused of committing two murders in 2018 .
The California Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of SB 1391 in coming months will determine whether the man is eligible to be tried as an adult — and sent to an adult prison if convicted — or whether he will be adjudicated in juvenile court with the opportunity to receive rehabilitative services in that system .
While Prop .
57 ’ s language allowed for future legislative amendments to the part of the law related to the judge ’ s transfer hearing provision , attorneys arguing the case Tuesday disagreed on whether or not the removal of all transfers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained “ consistent with and further the intent of this act , ” as the proposition ’ s language mandates .
“ By further narrowing the pipeline of juveniles that are sent to adult court and returning California to the minimum age for transfers as 16 years old , where it was previously for more than 30 years , 1391 is consistent with and furthers the intent of Proposition 57 , thus it ’ s a lawful amendment , ” said attorney Jennifer Hansen of the nonprofit California Appellate Project ’ s Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • 2 young California children die after being hurt in crash that killed father • California officials urge U.S. Supreme Court to leave coronavirus restrictions on churches in place Attorney Nelson Richards , speaking on behalf of state Attorney General Xavier Becerra , said that the state legislation forged in SB 1391 was based on juvenile justice findings and past court rulings .
The legislature , he said , “ came to the conclusion that transferring 14- and 15-year-olds doesn ’ t advance public safety , that keeping them in the juvenile system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to rehabilitation.
” • Ga. official pleads with Trump to stop fraud claims • Car plows into a crowd in Germany , killing at least 4 Justice Pro Tempore Anthony Kline said that he felt that the effect of SB 1391 , in addition to offering continued rehabilitation opportunities to juvenile offenders , was to support Prop .
57 ’ s goal of reducing the adult prison population .
Michelle Contois , speaking for the Ventura County District Attorney ’ s Office said the legislative amendment would render the portion of Prop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if 14- and 15-year-olds should be charged as adults effectively obsolete .
She argued that the amendment needed to uphold all the intentions of Prop .
57 , not solely focus on prison population reduction .
“ The ballot materials , the history , the text of this initiative demonstrate that the voters understood that , by enacting Proposition 57 ’ s provisions , they were furthering its intentions , ” Contois said .
“ They were furthering those intentions by entrusting judges as gatekeepers to decide whether or not 14- and 15-year-olds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

SANTA CRUZ — A California Supreme Court panel in San Francisco heard constitutional arguments Tuesday on how criminal justice plays out for accused 14- and 15-year-old defendants, the outcome of which is likely to impact a Santa Cruz child-homicide case.
The state legislation coming under fire, 2018’s Senate Bill 1391, was signed by the governor as an amendment to a voter-approved juvenile justice reform initiative, Proposition 57, from two years prior. Prior to Prop. 57’s approval in 2016, criminal prosecutors determined when minors 14 and 15 years old were brought up on adult charges. Voters then decided judges should make the call, instead.
A decision in Tuesday’s case is expected within 90 days. The outcome is likely to affect court proceedings for a local case involving the killing of 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton. Her accused murderer, Adrian “A.J.” Gonzalez, was arrested in the case five years ago, when he was 15 years old. Due to the series of subsequent changes to state law, Gonzalez’s case has ping-ponged back and forth between the adult and juvenile court systems and has yet to make it to trial. Last year, local Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge John Salazar himself declared SB 1391 unconstitutional during a hearing for Gonzalez’s case, a decision that is in the midst of its own higher-court appeal proceedings.
The case debated Tuesday involved a legal challenge to a case similar Gonzalez’s, involving a young Ventura County man who was 15 years old at the time he was accused of committing two murders in 2018. The California Supreme Court’s decision on the constitutionality of SB 1391 in coming months will determine whether the man is eligible to be tried as an adult — and sent to an adult prison if convicted — or whether he will be adjudicated in juvenile court with the opportunity to receive rehabilitative services in that system.
While Prop. 57’s language allowed for future legislative amendments to the part of the law related to the judge’s transfer hearing provision, attorneys arguing the case Tuesday disagreed on whether or not the removal of all transfers to adult court for the affected age group remained “consistent with and further the intent of this act,” as the proposition’s language mandates.
“By further narrowing the pipeline of juveniles that are sent to adult court and returning California to the minimum age for transfers as 16 years old, where it was previously for more than 30 years, 1391 is consistent with and furthers the intent of Proposition 57, thus it’s a lawful amendment,” said attorney Jennifer Hansen of the nonprofit California Appellate Project’s Los Angeles office, representing the defendant. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Man shot, killed by Colorado cop was holding a marker, not a weapon
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Attorney Nelson Richards, speaking on behalf of state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, said that the state legislation forged in SB 1391 was based on juvenile justice findings and past court rulings. The legislature, he said, “came to the conclusion that transferring 14- and 15-year-olds doesn’t advance public safety, that keeping them in the juvenile system will achieve that purpose by offering them access to rehabilitation.”
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Giuliani: Legal quagmires have left him broke Crime and Public Safety | Oakland nonfatal shooting suspect hit with federal gun possession charges Justice Pro Tempore Anthony Kline said that he felt that the effect of SB 1391, in addition to offering continued rehabilitation opportunities to juvenile offenders, was to support Prop. 57’s goal of reducing the adult prison population.
Michelle Contois, speaking for the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said the legislative amendment would render the portion of Prop. 57 that empowered judges to decide if 14- and 15-year-olds should be charged as adults effectively obsolete. She argued that the amendment needed to uphold all the intentions of Prop. 57, not solely focus on prison population reduction.
“The ballot materials, the history, the text of this initiative demonstrate that the voters understood that, by enacting Proposition 57’s provisions, they were furthering its intentions,” Contois said. “They were furthering those intentions by entrusting judges as gatekeepers to decide whether or not 14- and 15-year-olds would be transferred to the adult system.”


mercurynews--2020-12-02--California paid $400 million in fraudulent jobless benefits to state prisoners

By ADAM BEAM | The Associated Press SACRAMENTO — California sent about $ 400 million in fraudulent unemployment benefit payments to state prisoners , a state official said Tuesday , nearly triple the amount disclosed last week and a number that could grow as a criminal investigation continues .
Nine county district attorneys and a federal prosecutor are investigating unemployment fraud involving payments from the California Employment Development Department , which was under intense pressure to quickly process millions of claims as the economic impact from the coronavirus intensified last spring .
Criminals took advantage by submitting numerous fraudulent claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state .
Prosecutors discovered the fraud included inmates working with people outside the prisons and last week estimated $ 140 million was paid to about 20,000 prisoners between March and August .
But Crystal Page , spokeswoman for the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency that oversees the unemployment office , said a review of records now pegs the figure at about $ 400 million .
The new number includes not just the base benefits of $ 450 per week but also additional aid Congress approved during the pandemic — $ 600 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 300 a week for six weeks after that .
In all , records show benefit claims were submitted in the names of 31,000 inmates .
About 20,800 inmates were paid and another $ 80 million in claims involving the other prisoners were not , according to Page .
The new figure came after comparing jobless claims data with the Social Security numbers of state prison inmates .
That part of the investigation was slowed — to the great frustration of prosecutors — because of a state law that forbids the prison system from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials got around that law by convincing the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Labor to issue a subpoena for the information in late September , according to Dana Simas , press secretary for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation .
The subpoena is only a temporary solution because it covers just records between March 1 and Oct. 30 .
State officials say they are working on a more permanent fix .
California OK ’ d benefits for at least 133 inmates on death row , including some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serial killers .
Prosecutors said someone filed a claim in the name of Scott Peterson , who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of his pregnant wife following a trial that gripped the nation .
It ’ s unclear how many inmates actually got the money .
It ’ s possible criminals applied for the benefits by stealing inmates ’ identities .
Peterson , whose death sentence was recently overturned by the California Supreme Court , did not apply or receive any unemployment benefits , according to his attorney Pat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hestrin said prosecutors “ have quite a bit of evidence that the inmates are in on it , ” including recorded phone calls from prison where inmates brag about how much they and their families are being paid by the state .
“ We ’ re continuing to uncover more fraud , and the scale of it is frankly stunning , ” Hestrin said .
Hestrin is among the nine DAs leading a statewide task force that also includes U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott .
Prosecutors first disclosed the scheme during a news conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dysfunction of the Employment Development Department that they said has hindered their investigation .
They sent Gov .
Gavin Newsom a letter asking him to get involved .
“ This has hardly been transparent at this point , ” said El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson , who is also president of the California District Attorneys Association .
Newsom responded to the letter Tuesday , saying he has been “ deeply alarmed ” by the problem .
He blamed the fraud in part on Congress ’ decision to expand unemployment benefits during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to self-certify that they were eligible .
“ While this helped many individuals in need during this pandemic , bad actors took advantage of the crisis to abuse the system , ” Newsom said .
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Newsom tapped Mark Ghilarducci , director of the Governor ’ s Office of Emergency Services , to smooth things out by coordinating the state ’ s cooperation with the investigation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ help multiple state and federal agencies cooperate when there is a natural disaster .
His skills could be useful in the investigation , which crosses multiple jurisdictional boundaries .
“ We ’ re going to have to rethink our system here , ” Hestrin said .
“ The safeguards that were supposed to prevent this from happening didn ’ t work .
”

By ADAM BEAM | The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO — California sent about $400 million in fraudulent unemployment benefit payments to state prisoners, a state official said Tuesday, nearly triple the amount disclosed last week and a number that could grow as a criminal investigation continues.
Nine county district attorneys and a federal prosecutor are investigating unemployment fraud involving payments from the California Employment Development Department, which was under intense pressure to quickly process millions of claims as the economic impact from the coronavirus intensified last spring.
Criminals took advantage by submitting numerous fraudulent claims, many of which were approved by the state. Prosecutors discovered the fraud included inmates working with people outside the prisons and last week estimated $140 million was paid to about 20,000 prisoners between March and August.
But Crystal Page, spokeswoman for the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency that oversees the unemployment office, said a review of records now pegs the figure at about $400 million.
The new number includes not just the base benefits of $450 per week but also additional aid Congress approved during the pandemic — $600 per week for four months plus $300 a week for six weeks after that.
In all, records show benefit claims were submitted in the names of 31,000 inmates. About 20,800 inmates were paid and another $80 million in claims involving the other prisoners were not, according to Page.
The new figure came after comparing jobless claims data with the Social Security numbers of state prison inmates. That part of the investigation was slowed — to the great frustration of prosecutors — because of a state law that forbids the prison system from giving out inmates’ numbers.
State officials got around that law by convincing the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Labor to issue a subpoena for the information in late September, according to Dana Simas, press secretary for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The subpoena is only a temporary solution because it covers just records between March 1 and Oct. 30. State officials say they are working on a more permanent fix.
California OK’d benefits for at least 133 inmates on death row, including some of the state’s most notorious serial killers. Prosecutors said someone filed a claim in the name of Scott Peterson, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of his pregnant wife following a trial that gripped the nation.
It’s unclear how many inmates actually got the money. It’s possible criminals applied for the benefits by stealing inmates’ identities. Peterson, whose death sentence was recently overturned by the California Supreme Court, did not apply or receive any unemployment benefits, according to his attorney Pat Harris.
Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin said prosecutors “have quite a bit of evidence that the inmates are in on it,” including recorded phone calls from prison where inmates brag about how much they and their families are being paid by the state.
“We’re continuing to uncover more fraud, and the scale of it is frankly stunning,” Hestrin said.
Hestrin is among the nine DAs leading a statewide task force that also includes U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott. Prosecutors first disclosed the scheme during a news conference last week, where they decried the dysfunction of the Employment Development Department that they said has hindered their investigation. They sent Gov. Gavin Newsom a letter asking him to get involved.
“This has hardly been transparent at this point,” said El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson, who is also president of the California District Attorneys Association.
Newsom responded to the letter Tuesday, saying he has been “deeply alarmed” by the problem. He blamed the fraud in part on Congress’ decision to expand unemployment benefits during the pandemic while mostly relying on applicants to self-certify that they were eligible.
“While this helped many individuals in need during this pandemic, bad actors took advantage of the crisis to abuse the system,” Newsom said.
Newsom tapped Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, to smooth things out by coordinating the state’s cooperation with the investigation. Ghilarducci’s main job is to help multiple state and federal agencies cooperate when there is a natural disaster.
His skills could be useful in the investigation, which crosses multiple jurisdictional boundaries.
“We’re going to have to rethink our system here,” Hestrin said. “The safeguards that were supposed to prevent this from happening didn’t work.”


mercurynews--2020-12-02--Placer County to pay $10 million after deputy shoots, paralyzes Silicon Valley software engineer

By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ | The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — A Northern California county has agreed to pay nearly $ 10 million to settle a lawsuit by a Silicon Valley software engineer who was having a mental health crisis when a deputy shot him , paralyzing him from the waist down .
Placer County agreed to pay Samuel Kolb , 50 , and his family $ 9.9 million to settle a lawsuit the family filed after a deputy shot him twice on Jan. 14 , 2018 , inside a North Lake Tahoe rental cabin where Kolb and his teenage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There ’ s a measure of relief in not having to go through this and not having to put my family through any more legal challenges .
But I would trade all the money plus interest to have my old life back , to not have gone through this and put my family through this , to have full use of my body .
No amount of money makes up for that , ” Kolb said .
Kolb and his son traveled from their home in San Mateo for a ski trip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cabin in Carnelian Bay when Kolb woke up before dawn and began pacing around the cabin .
He woke up his then 16-year-old son and asked him to get medical help , Ronald Kaye , the Kolbs ’ attorney , said in a federal lawsuit he filed to dismiss Monday .
A federal court Tuesday granted their stipulation for dismissal .
Kolb ’ s son called 911 and reported his father was acting odd and was “ in a dream-like state , ” according to court documents .
He told the dispatcher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lobe epilepsy and that they had smoked marijuana together before going to bed .
Temporal lobe epilepsy can cause people to feel a sudden sense of fear or anxiety , anger or sadness , though a lawsuit filed by Kaye says Kolb had not had a similar incident in about 15 years .
Kolb ’ s son “ did not believe , nor did he represent , that his father presented any danger to his safety — he simply requested medical help as he observed his father suffering from a mental health episode @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When Placer County Deputy Curtis Honeycutt arrived , he found Kolb and his son standing outside the cabin in the cold .
Kolb was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt and pajama bottoms and Honeycutt instructed them to go back inside instead of securing Kolb in the back of the patrol car to await mental health intervention , the lawsuit said .
Once inside , Kolb grabbed a carving fork .
In response to Kolb ’ s raising the fork , Honeycutt began “ repeatedly , unreasonably and unjustifiably discharging his office issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s vertebrae , the lawsuit said .
After the incident , the Placer County Sheriff ’ s Office said in a statement posted on its Facebook page that Honeycutt believed his life was in danger after Kolb stabbed him with a sharp instrument .
His bulletproof vest protected him from injury but when Kolb tried to stab him a second time , the deputy used his service weapon to end the attack , the department said .
Kolb ’ s son later testified he never saw his father attack Honeycutt and forensic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no signs of a stabbing , Kolb said .
Detectives without training on interviewing minors who witnessed traumatic events questioned Kolb ’ s son without asking for the authorization of his mother , who was driving from Silicon Valley to reunite with him .
They also secretly recorded him while he spoke on his cellphone with family members to obtain incriminating information against his father , the lawsuit alleged .
Angela Musallam , a spokeswoman for the Placer County Sheriff ’ s Office , said Tuesday that the sheriff ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say about Mr. Kolb ’ s case.
” • Video : California sheriff ’ s deputy shoots parolee as he runs away • Mother of slain Florida teen shot during his burial service • San Francisco police ID arson suspect , two cops in officer-involved shooting last week At the time of the shooting , Kolb was working as a senior director at Survey Monkey .
He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer , which is a felony , and felony child endangerment .
He pleaded guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly weapon other than a firearm “ in order to spare my family further legal trouble and spare my son having to testify and worry that he held my life in his hands , ” Kolb said .
Honeycutt shot Kolb once on the left side of his torso and once in his back .
Kolb now lacks bowel and bladder control , can not engage in normal sexual activity and lives with chronic pain .
An engineering manager at Facebook , he is volunteering his free time to press for legislative changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officers and to reform policing in the country .
“ This is a morally bankrupt and corrupt system that is bent on one thing , which is protecting the power of the entrenched police unions and this power structure , ” he said .

By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ | The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — A Northern California county has agreed to pay nearly $10 million to settle a lawsuit by a Silicon Valley software engineer who was having a mental health crisis when a deputy shot him, paralyzing him from the waist down.
Placer County agreed to pay Samuel Kolb, 50, and his family $9.9 million to settle a lawsuit the family filed after a deputy shot him twice on Jan. 14, 2018, inside a North Lake Tahoe rental cabin where Kolb and his teenage son were vacationing, Kolb said.
“There’s a measure of relief in not having to go through this and not having to put my family through any more legal challenges. But I would trade all the money plus interest to have my old life back, to not have gone through this and put my family through this, to have full use of my body. No amount of money makes up for that,” Kolb said.
Kolb and his son traveled from their home in San Mateo for a ski trip in Lake Tahoe and were staying at a cabin in Carnelian Bay when Kolb woke up before dawn and began pacing around the cabin. He woke up his then 16-year-old son and asked him to get medical help, Ronald Kaye, the Kolbs’ attorney, said in a federal lawsuit he filed to dismiss Monday. A federal court Tuesday granted their stipulation for dismissal.
Kolb’s son called 911 and reported his father was acting odd and was “in a dream-like state,” according to court documents. He told the dispatcher his father had a history of temporal lobe epilepsy and that they had smoked marijuana together before going to bed. Temporal lobe epilepsy can cause people to feel a sudden sense of fear or anxiety, anger or sadness, though a lawsuit filed by Kaye says Kolb had not had a similar incident in about 15 years.
Kolb’s son “did not believe, nor did he represent, that his father presented any danger to his safety — he simply requested medical help as he observed his father suffering from a mental health episode,” Kaye said in court documents.
When Placer County Deputy Curtis Honeycutt arrived, he found Kolb and his son standing outside the cabin in the cold. Kolb was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt and pajama bottoms and Honeycutt instructed them to go back inside instead of securing Kolb in the back of the patrol car to await mental health intervention, the lawsuit said.
Once inside, Kolb grabbed a carving fork. In response to Kolb’s raising the fork, Honeycutt began “repeatedly, unreasonably and unjustifiably discharging his office issued firearm,” shattering one of Kolb’s vertebrae, the lawsuit said.
After the incident, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement posted on its Facebook page that Honeycutt believed his life was in danger after Kolb stabbed him with a sharp instrument. His bulletproof vest protected him from injury but when Kolb tried to stab him a second time, the deputy used his service weapon to end the attack, the department said.
Kolb’s son later testified he never saw his father attack Honeycutt and forensic evidence showed the deputy’s vest had no signs of a stabbing, Kolb said.
Detectives without training on interviewing minors who witnessed traumatic events questioned Kolb’s son without asking for the authorization of his mother, who was driving from Silicon Valley to reunite with him. They also secretly recorded him while he spoke on his cellphone with family members to obtain incriminating information against his father, the lawsuit alleged.
Angela Musallam, a spokeswoman for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, said Tuesday that the sheriff’s office “does not have anything further to say about Mr. Kolb’s case.”
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Utah man, suspected of threatening Biden, shot dead by FBI Crime and Public Safety | Road rage leads to deaths of Tesla driver and police dog at San Diego campus At the time of the shooting, Kolb was working as a senior director at Survey Monkey. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, which is a felony, and felony child endangerment. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense of brandishing a deadly weapon other than a firearm “in order to spare my family further legal trouble and spare my son having to testify and worry that he held my life in his hands,” Kolb said.
Honeycutt shot Kolb once on the left side of his torso and once in his back. Kolb now lacks bowel and bladder control, cannot engage in normal sexual activity and lives with chronic pain.
An engineering manager at Facebook, he is volunteering his free time to press for legislative changes to California’s blanket immunity for police officers and to reform policing in the country.
“This is a morally bankrupt and corrupt system that is bent on one thing, which is protecting the power of the entrenched police unions and this power structure,” he said.


mercurynews--2020-12-02--2 young California children die after being hurt in crash that killed father

The two most critically injured children who were in a traffic collision in San Bernardino that killed their father have died , the San Bernardino Police Department said Tuesday .
The children were ages 4 and 2 , said Sgt .
John Echevarria , a department spokesman .
It was unclear when they died .
Their names were not announced and could not be independently confirmed .
GoFundMe spokeswoman Jenny Perillo said a fundraising page has been established for the family .
A Facebook post identified the father as a former member of the California Conservation Corps .
A message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Coroner ’ s Office seeking additional information .
The man and four children were from Bakersfield .
One child remained in serious condition Tuesday and another suffered moderate injuries , Echevarria said .
Police said Brandon Jaquez-Perez , 23 , of Bloomington was drunk , speeding and ran a red light at the intersection of Kendall Drive and University Parkway late Friday night , slamming into the victims ’ car , police said .
The father of the four children died at the scene .
Jaquez-Perez was arrested on suspicion of gross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the influence of alcohol .

The two most critically injured children who were in a traffic collision in San Bernardino that killed their father have died, the San Bernardino Police Department said Tuesday.
The children were ages 4 and 2, said Sgt. John Echevarria, a department spokesman. It was unclear when they died.
Their names were not announced and could not be independently confirmed. GoFundMe spokeswoman Jenny Perillo said a fundraising page has been established for the family. A Facebook post identified the father as a former member of the California Conservation Corps.
A message has been left for the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office seeking additional information.
The man and four children were from Bakersfield. One child remained in serious condition Tuesday and another suffered moderate injuries, Echevarria said.
Police said Brandon Jaquez-Perez, 23, of Bloomington was drunk, speeding and ran a red light at the intersection of Kendall Drive and University Parkway late Friday night, slamming into the victims’ car, police said. The father of the four children died at the scene.
Jaquez-Perez was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of alcohol.


mercurynews--2020-12-03--Ivanka questioned under oath about inauguration funds

Ivanka Trump , the president ’ s daughter and adviser , was questioned under oath this week as part of a civil lawsuit alleging misuse of nonprofit funds for Donald Trump ’ s inauguration four years ago .
District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine ’ s office disclosed in a court filing on Tuesday that the deposition had taken place that day .
In a January 2020 lawsuit , Racine claimed Donald Trump ’ s real estate business and other entities misused nonprofit funds to enrich the Trump family .
According to the suit , a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Trump family to grossly overpay for event space in the Trump International Hotel in Washington .
Racine ’ s lawsuit alleged that in one case , the nonprofit paid more than $ 300,000 to hold a private reception at the Trump hotel for the president ’ s three oldest children – Donald Jr. , Ivanka and Eric – on the inauguration evening of Jan. 20 , 2017 .
“ District law requires nonprofits to use their funds for their stated public purpose , not to benefit private individuals or companies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His lawsuit seeks to recover the $ 1 million that was allegedly funneled directly to the Trump family business .
A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The inaugural committee has said its finances were independently audited , and that all money was spent lawfully .
Although campaign finance laws restrict the size of campaign contributions , inauguration committees can accept unlimited donations , including from corporations .
The $ 107 million raised by Trump ’ s inaugural committee , chaired by real estate developer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in history , according to Federal Election Commission filings .
Former Trump campaign aide Richard Gates served as deputy chairman of the inaugural committee .
Gates was one of several Trump associates convicted in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election .

By Jan Wolfe | Reuters
Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and adviser, was questioned under oath this week as part of a civil lawsuit alleging misuse of nonprofit funds for Donald Trump’s inauguration four years ago.
District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine’s office disclosed in a court filing on Tuesday that the deposition had taken place that day.
In a January 2020 lawsuit, Racine claimed Donald Trump’s real estate business and other entities misused nonprofit funds to enrich the Trump family.
According to the suit, a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation called the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee coordinated with the Trump family to grossly overpay for event space in the Trump International Hotel in Washington.
Racine’s lawsuit alleged that in one case, the nonprofit paid more than $300,000 to hold a private reception at the Trump hotel for the president’s three oldest children – Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric – on the inauguration evening of Jan. 20, 2017.
“District law requires nonprofits to use their funds for their stated public purpose, not to benefit private individuals or companies,” Racine said earlier this year.
His lawsuit seeks to recover the $1 million that was allegedly funneled directly to the Trump family business.
A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The inaugural committee has said its finances were independently audited, and that all money was spent lawfully.
Although campaign finance laws restrict the size of campaign contributions, inauguration committees can accept unlimited donations, including from corporations. The $107 million raised by Trump’s inaugural committee, chaired by real estate developer and investor Thomas Barrack, was the largest in history, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Former Trump campaign aide Richard Gates served as deputy chairman of the inaugural committee.
Gates was one of several Trump associates convicted in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election.


mercurynews--2020-12-03--Daly City: Man killed in hit-and-run on Thanksgiving

DALY CITY – A 40-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run collision on Thanksgiving in Daly City , police said @ @ @ @ @ at 8:15 p.m. on Nov. 26 on Geneva Avenue , just west of Bayshore Boulevard @ @ @ @ @ Department said in a news release Wednesday .
Police said the victim was walking across @ @ @ @ @ Hotel when he was struck by a vehicle traveling east on Geneva Avenue toward Bayshore @ @ @ @ @ , the vehicle swerved toward oncoming traffic and nearly hit another vehicle .
The suspect @ @ @ @ @ did not stop at the scene .
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene @ @ @ @ @ Coroner ’ s Office will release his identity once it has been confirmed and his @ @ @ @ @ .
The suspect vehicle is possibly a 2011 to 2014 Toyota Sienna , said police @ @ @ @ @ damage to the front passenger side , including a broken headlight .
Anyone with information @ @ @ @ @ Detective Kody Lizana at 650-991-8270 at klizana @ dalycity.org .

DALY CITY – A 40-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run collision on Thanksgiving in Daly City, police said.
The collision was reported at 8:15 p.m. on Nov. 26 on Geneva Avenue, just west of Bayshore Boulevard, the Daly City Police Department said in a news release Wednesday.
Police said the victim was walking across Bayshore Boulevard toward the Mylo Hotel when he was struck by a vehicle traveling east on Geneva Avenue toward Bayshore Boulevard. After the collision, the vehicle swerved toward oncoming traffic and nearly hit another vehicle. The suspect vehicle, police said, did not stop at the scene.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office will release his identity once it has been confirmed and his next of kin is notified.
The suspect vehicle is possibly a 2011 to 2014 Toyota Sienna, said police. The vehicle likely has damage to the front passenger side, including a broken headlight.
Anyone with information about the collision can contact Detective Kody Lizana at 650-991-8270 at klizana@dalycity.org.