mercurynews--2020-07-23--Biden: Trump is America’s first racist president

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden labeled Donald Trump on Wednesday the first racist to become U.S. president in remarks his opponent ’ s re-election campaign quickly rebuked .
Biden , who was vice president under Barack Obama , the first Black U.S. president , fielded a question at a Service Employees International Union roundtable from a healthcare worker concerned about the Republican president calling the coronavirus pandemic the “ China virus.
” He responded by saying it was “ absolutely sickening ” how Trump “ deals with people based on the color of their skin , their national origin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added : “ No sitting president ’ s ever done this .
Never , never , never .
No Republican president has done this .
No Democratic president .
We ’ ve had racists , and they ’ ve existed , and they ’ ve tried to get elected president .
He ’ s the first one that has.
” Trump campaign senior adviser Katrina Pierson fired back , calling Biden ’ s comments “ an insult to the intelligence of Black voters ” given the onetime senator ’ s past work with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loves all people ” and “ works hard to empower all Americans.
” A number of U.S. presidents owned slaves or supported policies including the repression of Native Americans and segregation of Black Americans .
Princeton University said last month it was dropping former President Woodrow Wilson ’ s name from the school , citing his racist thinking and policies .
The Biden-Trump exchange marks an escalation in what had already been a heated clash on race in the campaign being waged between the two candidates , who are both white , ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • These 5 words may cost President Trump a second term • Top Dems : US Congress appears again to be ‘ interference ’ target Biden previously criticized Trump for stoking racial division , often saying that he was motivated to run for office by his outrage over Trump ’ s assessment that “ both sides ” were to blame for violence between white supremacists and counterprotesters at a 2017 rally in Charlottesville , Virginia .
Race became an even more central issue as protests raged over unarmed African Americans being killed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death of George Floyd , a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police office pressed his neck into the pavement for more than eight minutes .

By Trevor Hunnicutt | Reuters
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden labeled Donald Trump on Wednesday the first racist to become U.S. president in remarks his opponent’s re-election campaign quickly rebuked.
Biden, who was vice president under Barack Obama, the first Black U.S. president, fielded a question at a Service Employees International Union roundtable from a healthcare worker concerned about the Republican president calling the coronavirus pandemic the “China virus.”
He responded by saying it was “absolutely sickening” how Trump “deals with people based on the color of their skin, their national origin, where they’re from.”
He added: “No sitting president’s ever done this. Never, never, never. No Republican president has done this. No Democratic president. We’ve had racists, and they’ve existed, and they’ve tried to get elected president. He’s the first one that has.”
Trump campaign senior adviser Katrina Pierson fired back, calling Biden’s comments “an insult to the intelligence of Black voters” given the onetime senator’s past work with segregationist lawmakers. She said Trump “loves all people” and “works hard to empower all Americans.”
A number of U.S. presidents owned slaves or supported policies including the repression of Native Americans and segregation of Black Americans. Princeton University said last month it was dropping former President Woodrow Wilson’s name from the school, citing his racist thinking and policies.
The Biden-Trump exchange marks an escalation in what had already been a heated clash on race in the campaign being waged between the two candidates, who are both white, ahead of their Nov. 3 election contest.
Biden previously criticized Trump for stoking racial division, often saying that he was motivated to run for office by his outrage over Trump’s assessment that “both sides” were to blame for violence between white supremacists and counterprotesters at a 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Race became an even more central issue as protests raged over unarmed African Americans being killed by police in the aftermath of the May death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police office pressed his neck into the pavement for more than eight minutes.


mercurynews--2020-07-23--House votes to remove Confederate statues from Capitol

By Matthew Daly and Jessica Gresko | Associated Press WASHINGTON — The House has approved a bill to remove statues of Robert E. Lee and other Confederate leaders from the U.S. Capitol , as well as a bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney , the author of the 1857 Dred Scott decision that declared African Americans couldn ’ t be citizens .
Besides Taney , the bill would direct the Architect of the Capitol to identify and eventually remove from Statuary Hall at least 10 statues honoring Confederate officials , including Lee , the commanding general of the Confederate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Confederate president .
Three statues honoring white supremacists — including former U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun of South Carolina — would be immediately removed .
“ Defenders and purveyors of sedition , slavery , segregation and white supremacy have no place in this temple of liberty , ” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said at a Capitol news conference ahead of the House vote .
The House approved the bill 305-113 , sending it to the Republican-controlled Senate , where prospects are uncertain .
Hoyer , D-Md.
, co-sponsored the bill and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the southern Maryland district Hoyer represents .
Hoyer said it was appropriate that the bill would replace Taney ’ s bust with another Maryland native , the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall , the high court ’ s first Black justice .
The House vote comes as communities nationwide reexamine the people they ’ re memorializing with statues .
Bills to remove the Taney bust and the statues of Confederate leaders have been introduced in the Senate , although they would require separate votes .
Even if legislation passes both chambers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s signature , and President Donald Trump has opposed the removal of historic statues elsewhere .
Trump has strongly condemned those who toppled statues during protests over racial injustice and police brutality following the May death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
The 2-foot-high marble bust of Taney is outside a room in the Capitol where the Supreme Court met for half a century , from 1810 to 1860 .
It was in that room that Taney , the nation ’ s fifth chief justice , announced the Dred Scott decision , sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s history .
“ What Dred Scott said was , Black lives did not matter , ” Hoyer said .
“ So when we assert that yes they do matter , it is out of conviction … that in America , the land of the free includes all of us.
” There ’ s at least one potentially surprising voice for Taney to stay .
Lynne M. Jackson , Scott ’ s great-great-granddaughter , says if it were up to her , she ’ d leave Taney ’ s bust where it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d add something too : a bust of Dred Scott .
“ I ’ m not really a fan of wiping things out , ” Jackson said in a telephone interview this week from her home in Missouri .
The president and founder of The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation , Jackson has seen other Taney sculptures removed in recent years , particularly in Maryland , where he was the state ’ s attorney general before becoming U.S. attorney general and then chief justice .
Rep. Barbara Lee , D-Calif. , said the statues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ deliberate attempts to rewrite history and dehumanize African Americans.
” The statues “ are not symbols of Southern heritage , as some claim , but are symbols of white supremacy and defiance of federal authority , ” Lee said .
“ It ’ s past time we end the glorification of men who committed treason against the United States in a concerted effort to keep African Americans in chains.
” Calhoun , who served as vice president from 1825-1832 , also was a U.S. senator , House member and secretary of state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the Civil War , but was known as a strong defender of slavery , segregation and white supremacy .
His statue would be removed within 30 days of the bill ’ s passage , along with former North Carolina Gov .
Charles Aycock and James Clarke , a former Arkansas governor and senator .
In the summer of 2017 , shortly after white nationalists gathered in Charlottesville , Virginia , to protest the removal of a statue of Lee , Baltimore ’ s mayor removed statues of Lee , Taney and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the grounds of the State House in Annapolis around the same time .
And a bust of Taney was removed that year from outside city hall in Frederick , Maryland .
Another Taney bust sits alongside all other former chief justices in the Supreme Court ’ s Great Hall , a soaring , marble-columned corridor that leads to the courtroom .
A portrait of Taney hangs in one of the court ’ s conference rooms .
Jackson said she believes that what memorials honoring figures like Taney need is context .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the “ place where the Dred Scott case was decided , ” but the fact he is “ there by himself is lopsided , ” Jackson said in suggesting a bust of Scott be added .
She had proposed a similar fix for the Taney statue in Annapolis .
In Congress , Taney ’ s bust was controversial from the start .
When Illinois Sen. Lyman Trumbull proposed its creation in 1865 , shortly after Taney ’ s death , he got into a heated debate with Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let me tell that senator that the name of Taney is to be hooted down the page of history .
Judgment is beginning now , ” Sumner said .
“ And an emancipated country will fasten upon him the stigma which he deserves.
” Funding for a Taney bust wasn ’ t approved until almost a decade later .
Today , near the Taney bust , inside the old Supreme Court chamber , there are also busts of the nation ’ s first four chief justices .
The first , John Marshall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief justice longer than Taney and a revered figure in the law .

By Matthew Daly and Jessica Gresko | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The House has approved a bill to remove statues of Robert E. Lee and other Confederate leaders from the U.S. Capitol, as well as a bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, the author of the 1857 Dred Scott decision that declared African Americans couldn’t be citizens.
Besides Taney, the bill would direct the Architect of the Capitol to identify and eventually remove from Statuary Hall at least 10 statues honoring Confederate officials, including Lee, the commanding general of the Confederate Army, and Jefferson Davis, the Confederate president. Three statues honoring white supremacists — including former U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun of South Carolina — would be immediately removed.
“Defenders and purveyors of sedition, slavery, segregation and white supremacy have no place in this temple of liberty,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said at a Capitol news conference ahead of the House vote.
The House approved the bill 305-113, sending it to the Republican-controlled Senate, where prospects are uncertain.
Hoyer, D-Md., co-sponsored the bill and noted with irony that Taney was born in the southern Maryland district Hoyer represents. Hoyer said it was appropriate that the bill would replace Taney’s bust with another Maryland native, the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the high court’s first Black justice.
The House vote comes as communities nationwide reexamine the people they’re memorializing with statues. Bills to remove the Taney bust and the statues of Confederate leaders have been introduced in the Senate, although they would require separate votes.
Even if legislation passes both chambers, it would need the president’s signature, and President Donald Trump has opposed the removal of historic statues elsewhere. Trump has strongly condemned those who toppled statues during protests over racial injustice and police brutality following the May death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The 2-foot-high marble bust of Taney is outside a room in the Capitol where the Supreme Court met for half a century, from 1810 to 1860. It was in that room that Taney, the nation’s fifth chief justice, announced the Dred Scott decision, sometimes called the worst decision in the court’s history.
“What Dred Scott said was, Black lives did not matter,” Hoyer said. “So when we assert that yes they do matter, it is out of conviction … that in America, the land of the free includes all of us.”
There’s at least one potentially surprising voice for Taney to stay. Lynne M. Jackson, Scott’s great-great-granddaughter, says if it were up to her, she’d leave Taney’s bust where it is. But she said she’d add something too: a bust of Dred Scott.
“I’m not really a fan of wiping things out,” Jackson said in a telephone interview this week from her home in Missouri.
The president and founder of The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, Jackson has seen other Taney sculptures removed in recent years, particularly in Maryland, where he was the state’s attorney general before becoming U.S. attorney general and then chief justice.
Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said the statues honoring Lee and other Confederate leaders are “deliberate attempts to rewrite history and dehumanize African Americans.”
The statues “are not symbols of Southern heritage, as some claim, but are symbols of white supremacy and defiance of federal authority,” Lee said. “It’s past time we end the glorification of men who committed treason against the United States in a concerted effort to keep African Americans in chains.”
Calhoun, who served as vice president from 1825-1832, also was a U.S. senator, House member and secretary of state and war. He died a decade before the Civil War, but was known as a strong defender of slavery, segregation and white supremacy.
His statue would be removed within 30 days of the bill’s passage, along with former North Carolina Gov. Charles Aycock and James Clarke, a former Arkansas governor and senator.
In the summer of 2017, shortly after white nationalists gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia, to protest the removal of a statue of Lee, Baltimore’s mayor removed statues of Lee, Taney and others. A statue of Taney was removed from the grounds of the State House in Annapolis around the same time. And a bust of Taney was removed that year from outside city hall in Frederick, Maryland.
Another Taney bust sits alongside all other former chief justices in the Supreme Court’s Great Hall, a soaring, marble-columned corridor that leads to the courtroom. A portrait of Taney hangs in one of the court’s conference rooms.
Jackson said she believes that what memorials honoring figures like Taney need is context. At the Capitol, the Taney statue sits in the “place where the Dred Scott case was decided,” but the fact he is “there by himself is lopsided,” Jackson said in suggesting a bust of Scott be added. She had proposed a similar fix for the Taney statue in Annapolis.
In Congress, Taney’s bust was controversial from the start. When Illinois Sen. Lyman Trumbull proposed its creation in 1865, shortly after Taney’s death, he got into a heated debate with Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner, a fierce opponent of slavery.
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Biotech firm settles with family over cells for research Politics | Opinion: Reparations to Black Californians is now up to Newsom “Let me tell that senator that the name of Taney is to be hooted down the page of history. Judgment is beginning now,” Sumner said. “And an emancipated country will fasten upon him the stigma which he deserves.”
Funding for a Taney bust wasn’t approved until almost a decade later. Today, near the Taney bust, inside the old Supreme Court chamber, there are also busts of the nation’s first four chief justices. The first, John Marshall, is the only person to serve as chief justice longer than Taney and a revered figure in the law.


mercurynews--2020-07-22--MLB, players’ association reopen expanded playoff talks, per report

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players ’ Association are cracking open the door to an expanded playoff with just one day left before the regular season , according to a new report .
The MLB postseason could expand from 10 teams to 16 in an effort to combat small sample size and wring revenue out of the coronavirus-shortened season , MLB.com ’ s Jon Heyman reported Wednesday .
Heyman said there “ seems to be optimism ” about the idea of turning the most exclusive playoff format in major American sports into a postseason club for more than half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It would tie the NBA and NHL for the largest playoff pool in major American sports , though both leagues have altered and expanded their own playoff formats due to the coronavirus .
Such a change for MLB would almost certainly just be for this shortened season .
The argument most pertinent to the players and club owners — and which likely brought the two sides together despite their long-acrimonious relationship — is the money angle .
With more nationally televised postseason games comes more revenue for teams and TV networks , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MLB implemented a 60-game season after failed negotiations with the players ’ union on terms for the campaign , it lost its ability to continue bargaining for such an expansion .
Now that appears back on the table , and it could expand the players ’ postseason earnings — assuming the season reaches that stage .
• Is this safe ?
As San Francisco Giants hit the road , MLB faces daunting challenges • A ’ s vs. Giants : Here ’ s what it feels like to watch a live baseball game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the A ’ s loss to the Giants : Why is the offense cold ?
Who is the Opening Day second baseman ?
• Alex Dickerson outhits the A ’ s on his own , SF Giants use 18 pitchers in two-day span Another argument in favor of the expanded playoff centers around baseball ’ s place as a sport with a high number of statistical anomalies — last year ’ s World Series champion Washington Nationals would have missed the 2019 playoffs if the season ended at 60 games .
An expanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure the best teams make the tournament .
This may go without saying , but it also would increase the odds that teams with lesser talent make the postseason .
A downside to the playoff expansion is that it boosts the chances that one of these less talented clubs heats up for three games and takes down a juggernaut .
Cinderella runs are fun in March Madness , but if the intent is to crown the most qualified club , expanded playoffs may not accomplish that goal .
Either way , the league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before first pitch on Opening Night .
It ’ s unclear yet if the sides could agree to expand the playoffs after that point .

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association are cracking open the door to an expanded playoff with just one day left before the regular season, according to a new report.
The MLB postseason could expand from 10 teams to 16 in an effort to combat small sample size and wring revenue out of the coronavirus-shortened season, MLB.com’s Jon Heyman reported Wednesday.
Heyman said there “seems to be optimism” about the idea of turning the most exclusive playoff format in major American sports into a postseason club for more than half of the league’s teams. It would tie the NBA and NHL for the largest playoff pool in major American sports, though both leagues have altered and expanded their own playoff formats due to the coronavirus. Such a change for MLB would almost certainly just be for this shortened season.
The argument most pertinent to the players and club owners — and which likely brought the two sides together despite their long-acrimonious relationship — is the money angle.
With more nationally televised postseason games comes more revenue for teams and TV networks, a boon for the league. But when MLB implemented a 60-game season after failed negotiations with the players’ union on terms for the campaign, it lost its ability to continue bargaining for such an expansion. Now that appears back on the table, and it could expand the players’ postseason earnings — assuming the season reaches that stage.
Another argument in favor of the expanded playoff centers around baseball’s place as a sport with a high number of statistical anomalies — last year’s World Series champion Washington Nationals would have missed the 2019 playoffs if the season ended at 60 games. An expanded postseason would be a bigger tent to ensure the best teams make the tournament.
This may go without saying, but it also would increase the odds that teams with lesser talent make the postseason. A downside to the playoff expansion is that it boosts the chances that one of these less talented clubs heats up for three games and takes down a juggernaut. Cinderella runs are fun in March Madness, but if the intent is to crown the most qualified club, expanded playoffs may not accomplish that goal.
Either way, the league and players have less than 24 hours before first pitch on Opening Night. It’s unclear yet if the sides could agree to expand the playoffs after that point.


mercurynews--2020-07-22--The mighty Jayhawks are back with splendid new album ‘XOXO’

The Jayhawks have delivered some truly amazing albums over the years , including 1992 ’ s “ Hollywood Town Hall , ” 1995 ’ s “ Tomorrow the Green Grass ” and , best of all , 2000 ’ s “ Smile.
” And now the Minneapolis pop-rock act is back with another excellent effort , “ XOXO , ” which hit stores on July 10 .
The album , which is the group ’ s 11th full-length studio outing overall , features songwriting and lead vocal contributions from all four longtime band members — Gary Louris , Marc Perlman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reagan .
One of the highlights of “ XOXO ” is the song “ Living in a Bubble.
” “ ‘ Living in a Bubble ’ lyrically is a reaction to the 24 hour news cycle and how the media can fan the flames of fear if one let ’ s it , ” Louris says .
“ It is also a commentary about data collection , Big Brother , and our obsession with devices , while never being truly present in the here and now .
Musically it is an homage to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driven by the amazing piano playing of Karen Grotberg .
”

The Jayhawks have delivered some truly amazing albums over the years, including 1992’s “Hollywood Town Hall,” 1995’s “Tomorrow the Green Grass” and, best of all, 2000’s “Smile.”
And now the Minneapolis pop-rock act is back with another excellent effort, “XOXO,” which hit stores on July 10. The album, which is the group’s 11th full-length studio outing overall, features songwriting and lead vocal contributions from all four longtime band members — Gary Louris, Marc Perlman, Karen Grotberg and Tim O’Reagan.
One of the highlights of “XOXO” is the song “Living in a Bubble.”
“‘Living in a Bubble’ lyrically is a reaction to the 24-hour news cycle and how the media can fan the flames of fear if one let’s it,” Louris says. “It is also a commentary about data collection, Big Brother, and our obsession with devices, while never being truly present in the here and now. Musically it is an homage to the great Harry Nilsson, and is driven by the amazing piano playing of Karen Grotberg.”
For more information, visit jayhawksofficial.com.
Always good news when @the_jayhawks release new music. So check out the cool new video from the forthcoming album https://t.co/o4aRMVwuQJ — Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) June 11, 2020


mercurynews--2020-07-22--Coronavirus: Jail numbers up, but most are asymptomatic, sheriff office says

DUBLIN — Although a total of 103 inmates at the Santa Rita Jail are currently positive with coronavirus , a majority of them are not showing any symptoms , according to the sheriff ’ s office .
“ This virus is very different , ” said Alameda County Sheriff ’ s spokesman Sgt .
Ray Kelly in an interview on Wednesday .
As of Wednesday morning , there were 103 inmates who tested positive for the coronavirus ; of those , 91 are asymptomatic , meaning they showed none of the typical signs of COVID-19 .
As many inmates as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they show symptoms .
The surge in inmates went up dramatically within the past week — just a week ago , there were only six inmates that had been diagnosed with the virus .
Then on Thursday , about 40 tested positive , and the next day , another 55 .
On Tuesday , there were 106 inmates total who had tested positive for COVID-19 — 100 more patients in less than a week ’ s time .
Kelly said jail officials began testing “ as much as we can.
” At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t many tests available , so only symptomatic inmates and those at-risk were being tested , he said .
Then , all those who were arrested and newly arrived at Santa Rita were tested after two weeks of being in the jail .
Now , more massive testing is being conducted .
All those inmates who have tested positive are now contained in housing units 22 , 25 and 8 .
The first group that tested positive last week was in housing unit 25 , and then housing unit 22 was tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What we ’ re worried about , is could you be positive and asymptomatic for two weeks and get cleared ?
And then a month later be COVID-19 positive again ?
” Kelly said .
“ We don ’ t know that.
” He said if more infected inmates are asymptomatic , they could be spreading the virus to others .
“ We know for a fact in our jail , the only way for COVID to enter is for it to come in , ” Kelly said .
That could mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived at the jail , employees or contractors .
• More than 100 Santa Rita Jail inmates now infected with coronavirus • At least 40 Alameda County sheriff ’ s deputies , staff test positive for COVID-19 The sheriff ’ s office also is doing temperature checks of employees as they enter the jail .
But , as Kelly pointed out , if they are asymptomatic , the temperature checks do not do much good .
He said the jail could benefit from a rapid-testing system — a technology that exists but hasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If tests had a shorter turn-around , such as 15 minutes , then those entering the jail who were positive could be better managed .
In the initial surge last week , the inmates who tested positive last Wednesday were from Housing Unit 25 , and worked either in the kitchen or laundry .
The kitchen has third-party contractors who work with the inmates to prepare food for the jail .
The jail is conducting “ contact tracing ” to determine where the virus could have originated from .
The jail has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for the virus .
As of Wednesday , there were 10 current staff or contractors who had tested positive with active cases .
In all , there have been 44 staff/contractors who have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began .
The jail has had a total or 177 inmates test positive for the virus since the pandemic began in March .
Of those , one has been hospitalized from COVID-19 complications ; none have died .
As of Wednesday , there are 1,882 total inmates at the jail .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has reported only one inmate who tested positive with the virus and two staff members .
It has a total population of 987 female inmates .
The federal facility is where actress Felicity Huffman served her 14-day sentence last year .

DUBLIN — Although a total of 103 inmates at the Santa Rita Jail are currently positive with coronavirus, a majority of them are not showing any symptoms, according to the sheriff’s office.
“This virus is very different,” said Alameda County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly in an interview on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday morning, there were 103 inmates who tested positive for the coronavirus; of those, 91 are asymptomatic, meaning they showed none of the typical signs of COVID-19. As many inmates as possible are now being tested, whether they show symptoms.
The surge in inmates went up dramatically within the past week — just a week ago, there were only six inmates that had been diagnosed with the virus. Then on Thursday, about 40 tested positive, and the next day, another 55. On Tuesday, there were 106 inmates total who had tested positive for COVID-19 — 100 more patients in less than a week’s time.
Kelly said jail officials began testing “as much as we can.” At the start of the pandemic, there weren’t many tests available, so only symptomatic inmates and those at-risk were being tested, he said. Then, all those who were arrested and newly arrived at Santa Rita were tested after two weeks of being in the jail. Now, more massive testing is being conducted.
All those inmates who have tested positive are now contained in housing units 22, 25 and 8. The first group that tested positive last week was in housing unit 25, and then housing unit 22 was tested out of precaution, he said.
“What we’re worried about, is could you be positive and asymptomatic for two weeks and get cleared? And then a month later be COVID-19 positive again?” Kelly said. “We don’t know that.”
He said if more infected inmates are asymptomatic, they could be spreading the virus to others.
“We know for a fact in our jail, the only way for COVID to enter is for it to come in,” Kelly said. That could mean from people who are arrested and newly arrived at the jail, employees or contractors.
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More than 100 Santa Rita Jail inmates now infected with coronavirus Crime and Public Safety | At least 40 Alameda County sheriff’s deputies, staff test positive for COVID-19 The sheriff’s office also is doing temperature checks of employees as they enter the jail. But, as Kelly pointed out, if they are asymptomatic, the temperature checks do not do much good.
He said the jail could benefit from a rapid-testing system — a technology that exists but hasn’t been made readily available yet. If tests had a shorter turn-around, such as 15 minutes, then those entering the jail who were positive could be better managed.
In the initial surge last week, the inmates who tested positive last Wednesday were from Housing Unit 25, and worked either in the kitchen or laundry.
The kitchen has third-party contractors who work with the inmates to prepare food for the jail. The jail is conducting “contact tracing” to determine where the virus could have originated from.
The jail has also seen its employees and contractors test positive for the virus. As of Wednesday, there were 10 current staff or contractors who had tested positive with active cases. In all, there have been 44 staff/contractors who have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Crime and Public Safety | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge The jail has had a total or 177 inmates test positive for the virus since the pandemic began in March. Of those, one has been hospitalized from COVID-19 complications; none have died.
As of Wednesday, there are 1,882 total inmates at the jail.
The nearby low-security Dublin Federal Correctional Institution has reported only one inmate who tested positive with the virus and two staff members. It has a total population of 987 female inmates. The federal facility is where actress Felicity Huffman served her 14-day sentence last year.


mercurynews--2020-07-22--Sunnyvale man arrested on suspicion of breaking into home, sexually assaulting female resident

SUNNYVALE – A 20-year-old Sunnyvale man has been arrested on suspicion of breaking into a home and sexually assaulting a @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
The assault was reported on the 600 block of San Diego Avenue in @ @ @ @ @ July 9 , the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety said in a news release .
@ @ @ @ @ after the assault .
The victim was treated at a hospital and later released .
@ @ @ @ @ a suspect in the case .
Authorities said he was arrested without incident on July @ @ @ @ @ to the assault was collected .
Gonzalez was booked into Santa Clara County jail on @ @ @ @ @ to commit rape and digital penetration .
The investigation is ongoing and authorities are asking @ @ @ @ @ the case to contact Detective Nicholas Kakis at 408-730-7297 or nkakis @ sunnyvale.ca.gov .

A 20-year-old Sunnyvale man has been arrested on suspicion of breaking into a home and sexually assaulting a female resident, authorities announced July 22.
The assault was reported on the 600 block of San Diego Avenue in Sunnyvale at about 4 a.m. July 9, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety said in a news release.
The suspect left the home after the assault. The victim was treated at a hospital and later released.
Detectives identified Elijah Gonzalez as a suspect in the case. Authorities said he was arrested without incident on July 16 and evidence linking him to the assault was collected.
Gonzalez was booked into Santa Clara County jail on charges including assault with intent to commit rape and digital penetration.
The investigation is ongoing and authorities are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact Detective Nicholas Kakis at 408-730-7297 or nkakis@sunnyvale.ca.gov.


mercurynews--2020-07-22--Mary Trump reflects on getting hate mail from Santa Clara

By offering devastating personal insights about her uncle , Donald Trump , Mary Trump has proven to be a hot ticket for book-sellers , TV and radio shows and podcasts as she promotes her memoir , “ Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World ’ s Most Dangerous Man.
” Her willingness to share Trump family gossip and her scathing views of the president has also attracted a share of critics .
So far , though , she said she hasn ’ t received death threats , as she reveals in the Daily Beast ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , there was one person “ from Santa Clara , California ” who sent her a particularly nasty note via a “ snail-mail ” greeting card , Mary Trump said .
“ It was like a Hallmark card , ” she said .
On the cover of the card was a message that consisted of a series of expletives , “ Oh s— , s— , s— .
s—.
” “ I opened it up and it says , ‘ You ’ re a piece of s— , ” Mary Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , co-hosting the podcast , jokingly asked , “ Was that signed Donald Trump ?
” Mary Trump said the card had a note in it that insulted her late father , Fred Trump Jr. , who was Donald Trump ’ s older brother .
“ It said , ‘ Your dad ’ s a loser , you should have been a billionaire , ” Mary Trump said .
What made the card particularly unsettling , she explained , was that it arrived at her home address .
“ It came to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weird , ” Mary Trump said .
After the podcast hosts expressed concern about her safety , Mary Trump assured them she has security .
In her tell-all book , Mary Trump describes her family , once headed by her grandfather , Fred Trump Sr. , as dysfunctional and abusive .
Mary Trump said Donald Trump was a vicious bully as a child and alleges he hired someone to take his SATs to get into the University of Pennsylvania .
For years , she said , he also looked down on her father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to die alone in a hospital when she was a teen .
Later on , Mary Trump wrote , her uncle ogled her in a bathing suit at Mar-a-Lago , and tried to cheat his siblings out of their share of their father ’ s fortune .
After Mary Trump was disinherited from her grandfather ’ s will in 1999 , she and her brother filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and his surviving siblings for their father ’ s share of the estate .
Mary Trump and her brother eventually settled their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to come into possession of thousands of pages of Trump family financial documents , which eventually would part of the foundation of a 14,000-word investigative story in the New York Times in 2018 .
The story , which won a Pulitzer Prize , exposed how the president and his family had evaded paying taxes for decades .
Mary Trump wrote in her book that the story revealed “ the long litany of potentially fraudulent and criminal activities my grandfather , aunts , and uncles had engaged in.
” In The New Abnormal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication of the story made her feel that she could go public with her concerns about her uncle — something she felt she couldn ’ t do when he was running for president .
“ One of the hardest things about 2016 is knowing there was nothing I could do , ” Mary Trump said .
“ I wanted to do something , but I didn ’ t have proof of anything .
I didn ’ t even remember about the documents .
I would have been seen as this disinherited , bitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( of fame ) .
” After New York Times story was published , Mary Trump said she felt like she had done something useful for the country .
“ ( But ) I realized it wasn ’ t enough , ” she said .
“ That ’ s when the book started taking shape .
”

By offering devastating personal insights about her uncle, Donald Trump, Mary Trump has proven to be a hot ticket for book-sellers, TV and radio shows and podcasts as she promotes her memoir, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.”
Her willingness to share Trump family gossip and her scathing views of the president has also attracted a share of critics. So far, though, she said she hasn’t received death threats, as she reveals in the Daily Beast’s “The New Abnormal” podcast.
However, there was one person “from Santa Clara, California” who sent her a particularly nasty note via a “snail-mail” greeting card, Mary Trump said.
“It was like a Hallmark card,” she said. On the cover of the card was a message that consisted of a series of expletives, “Oh s—, s—, s—. s—.”
“I opened it up and it says, ‘You’re a piece of s—,” Mary Trump said. Daily Beast writer Lachlan Cartwright, co-hosting the podcast, jokingly asked, “Was that signed Donald Trump?”
Mary Trump said the card had a note in it that insulted her late father, Fred Trump Jr., who was Donald Trump’s older brother.
“It said, ‘Your dad’s a loser, you should have been a billionaire,” Mary Trump said. What made the card particularly unsettling, she explained, was that it arrived at her home address.
“It came to my house, so that was a little weird,” Mary Trump said.
After the podcast hosts expressed concern about her safety, Mary Trump assured them she has security.
In her tell-all book, Mary Trump describes her family, once headed by her grandfather, Fred Trump Sr., as dysfunctional and abusive.
Mary Trump said Donald Trump was a vicious bully as a child and alleges he hired someone to take his SATs to get into the University of Pennsylvania. For years, she said, he also looked down on her father, an alcoholic, and allowed him to die alone in a hospital when she was a teen.
Later on, Mary Trump wrote, her uncle ogled her in a bathing suit at Mar-a-Lago, and tried to cheat his siblings out of their share of their father’s fortune. After Mary Trump was disinherited from her grandfather’s will in 1999, she and her brother filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and his surviving siblings for their father’s share of the estate.
Mary Trump and her brother eventually settled their lawsuit, but the legal battle allowed them to come into possession of thousands of pages of Trump family financial documents, which eventually would part of the foundation of a 14,000-word investigative story in the New York Times in 2018.
The story, which won a Pulitzer Prize, exposed how the president and his family had evaded paying taxes for decades. Mary Trump wrote in her book that the story revealed “the long litany of potentially fraudulent and criminal activities my grandfather, aunts, and uncles had engaged in.”
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Trump joins right-wing defense of friend Jason Aldean and his ‘pro-lynching’ video Entertainment | Harry and Meghan asked for ride home on Air Force One after queen’s funeral: report In The New Abnormal podcast, Mary Trump describes how the publication of the story made her feel that she could go public with her concerns about her uncle — something she felt she couldn’t do when he was running for president.
“One of the hardest things about 2016 is knowing there was nothing I could do,” Mary Trump said. “I wanted to do something, but I didn’t have proof of anything. I didn’t even remember about the documents. I would have been seen as this disinherited, bitter (relative) wanting her 15 minutes (of fame).”
After New York Times story was published, Mary Trump said she felt like she had done something useful for the country. “(But) I realized it wasn’t enough,” she said. “That’s when the book started taking shape.”


mercurynews--2020-07-22--A convent outside Detroit lost 13 nuns, 12 in one month

Coronavirus spread so quickly through a convent in Michigan that it claimed the lives of 12 nuns in one month , beginning on Good Friday .
They were all members of the Felician Sisters convent in Livonia , outside of Detroit , ranging in ages from 69 to 99 , the executive director for mission advancement , Suzanne English , confirmed to CNN on Tuesday .
A 13th sister initially survived the virus but passed away from its effects in June .
The women were long-time members of the convent and leave behind a legacy of service , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all served others through different roles , from teaching to helping at-risk children to playing music to publishing a 586-page book about the history of the convent .
One sister won a commercial script-writing contest for Campbell ’ s Soup with her second-grade class .
Another was assigned to the Felician Generalate in Rome twice and worked as secretary in the English section of the Vatican Secretariat of State .
“ We grieve for each of our sisters who has passed during the time of the pandemic throughout the province , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding us in prayer and supporting us in a number of ways , ” said Sister Mary Christopher Moore , provincial minister of Our Lady of Hope Province .
The women all lived and worked on the 360-acre campus that was once home to 800 sisters , according to the Global Sisters Report , an independent , non-profit Catholic news publisher .
Now , only around 50 reside there , according to English .
English said the Livonia convent is one of 60 convents in the US and Canada , plus a mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sisters of North America reside .
The Global Sisters Report said the death of the 13 nuns in Livonia may be the worst loss of life to a community of religious women in the US since the 1918 influenza pandemic .
At the beginning of the pandemic in March , the convent , like other long-term housing residences , implemented a no-visitors rule and placed restrictions on group activities to help curb the spread of the virus , according to Global Sisters Report .
‘ It kind of shattered our faith life a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the convent and on Good Friday , April 10 , came the first death : Sister Mary Luiza Wawrzyniak , 99 .
Her death was followed by Sister Celine Marie Lesinski , 92 , and Sister Mary Estelle Printz , 95 , who both died on Easter Sunday , April 12 .
By May 10 , a total of 12 sisters died , according to English .
They include ; Sister Thomas Marie Wadowski , 73 , Sister Mary Patricia Pyszynski , 93 , Sister Mary Clarence ( Adeline ) Borkoski , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 86 , Sister Mary Janice ( Margaret ) Zolkowski , 86 , Sister Mary Alice Ann ( Fernanda ) Gradowski , 73 , Sister Victoria Marie Indyk , 69 , Sister Mary Martinez ( Virginia ) Rozek , 87 , and Sister Mary Madeleine ( Frances ) Dolan , 82 .
The convent grappled with how they were able to care for each other and only 10 people could attend each funeral , according to Global Sisters Report .
“ The faith we share with sisters as they are dying , the prayers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dying : We missed all that .
It kind of shattered our faith life a little bit.
” Sister Joyce Marie Van de Vyver told the publication .
At the end of June , the convent lost Sister Mary Danatha ( Lottie ) Suchyta , 98 , to Covid .
In total , at least 30 sisters in Livonia were infected with the virus and 17 recovered , English said , citing Sister Noel Marie Gabriel , director of clinical health services for Our Lady of Hope Province .
“ Some of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to recover from a variety of effects , including continuing weakness , respiratory issues and more , ” a statement released by Felician Sisters in early July read .
In the United States , nearly 142,000 have died from the coronavirus , according to Johns Hopkins University ’ s tally of cases on Tuesday .
More than 3.89 million people have been infected with the virus in the US .
The Livonia convent is not the only religious order that has seen the devastating effects of the virus .
Sister Mary Ramona ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Covid on April 18 at a convent located in Lodi , New Jersey .
In 1971 , Borkowski founded and became the director of the Felician School for Exceptional Children in Lodi , a position she held until 2018 , according to her obituary .
Between April and May , six sisters of different religious orders that lived at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Greenfield , Wisconsin , died from Covid-19 .

By Amanda Jackson, Rebekah Riess and Sharif Paget | CNN
Coronavirus spread so quickly through a convent in Michigan that it claimed the lives of 12 nuns in one month, beginning on Good Friday.
They were all members of the Felician Sisters convent in Livonia, outside of Detroit, ranging in ages from 69 to 99, the executive director for mission advancement, Suzanne English, confirmed to CNN on Tuesday. A 13th sister initially survived the virus but passed away from its effects in June.
The women were long-time members of the convent and leave behind a legacy of service, according to their obituaries supplied by English. They all served others through different roles, from teaching to helping at-risk children to playing music to publishing a 586-page book about the history of the convent.
One sister won a commercial script-writing contest for Campbell’s Soup with her second-grade class. Another was assigned to the Felician Generalate in Rome twice and worked as secretary in the English section of the Vatican Secretariat of State.
“We grieve for each of our sisters who has passed during the time of the pandemic throughout the province, and we greatly appreciate all of those who are holding us in prayer and supporting us in a number of ways,” said Sister Mary Christopher Moore, provincial minister of Our Lady of Hope Province.
The women all lived and worked on the 360-acre campus that was once home to 800 sisters, according to the Global Sisters Report, an independent, non-profit Catholic news publisher. Now, only around 50 reside there, according to English.
English said the Livonia convent is one of 60 convents in the US and Canada, plus a mission in Haiti, where the 469 Felician Sisters of North America reside.
The Global Sisters Report said the death of the 13 nuns in Livonia may be the worst loss of life to a community of religious women in the US since the 1918 influenza pandemic.
At the beginning of the pandemic in March, the convent, like other long-term housing residences, implemented a no-visitors rule and placed restrictions on group activities to help curb the spread of the virus, according to Global Sisters Report.
‘It kind of shattered our faith life a little bit’
But the virus spread through the convent and on Good Friday, April 10, came the first death: Sister Mary Luiza Wawrzyniak, 99.
Her death was followed by Sister Celine Marie Lesinski, 92, and Sister Mary Estelle Printz, 95, who both died on Easter Sunday, April 12.
By May 10, a total of 12 sisters died, according to English. They include; Sister Thomas Marie Wadowski, 73, Sister Mary Patricia Pyszynski, 93, Sister Mary Clarence (Adeline) Borkoski, 83, Sister Rose Mary Wolak, 86, Sister Mary Janice (Margaret) Zolkowski, 86, Sister Mary Alice Ann (Fernanda) Gradowski, 73, Sister Victoria Marie Indyk, 69, Sister Mary Martinez (Virginia) Rozek, 87, and Sister Mary Madeleine (Frances) Dolan, 82.
The convent grappled with how they were able to care for each other and only 10 people could attend each funeral, according to Global Sisters Report.
“The faith we share with sisters as they are dying, the prayers we share with sisters as they are dying: We missed all that. It kind of shattered our faith life a little bit.” Sister Joyce Marie Van de Vyver told the publication.
At the end of June, the convent lost Sister Mary Danatha (Lottie) Suchyta, 98, to Covid. In total, at least 30 sisters in Livonia were infected with the virus and 17 recovered, English said, citing Sister Noel Marie Gabriel, director of clinical health services for Our Lady of Hope Province.
“Some of our sisters who have had COVID-19 are struggling to recover from a variety of effects, including continuing weakness, respiratory issues and more,” a statement released by Felician Sisters in early July read.
In the United States, nearly 142,000 have died from the coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University’s tally of cases on Tuesday. More than 3.89 million people have been infected with the virus in the US.
The Livonia convent is not the only religious order that has seen the devastating effects of the virus. Sister Mary Ramona (Florence) Borkowski, 93, died of Covid on April 18 at a convent located in Lodi, New Jersey. In 1971, Borkowski founded and became the director of the Felician School for Exceptional Children in Lodi, a position she held until 2018, according to her obituary.
Between April and May, six sisters of different religious orders that lived at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Greenfield, Wisconsin, died from Covid-19.


mercurynews--2020-07-22--Santa Clara County ordered salons closed in March. This San Jose salon never shut down

Back in March , when Santa Clara County announced that non-essential businesses had to close , James Griffiths boarded up the windows of his San Jose studio , Salon Blu .
And then he kept working .
“ I vowed on day one that they were going to have to take me away in cuffs to get me to close down , and I ’ ll be right back to it the next day , ” Griffiths said in an interview with Bay Area News Group on Wednesday .
“ As soon as I get out of jail , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I told my staff that , and I ’ ve stuck to it.
” Despite the pandemic — and restrictions that have shuttered local hair salons and barbershops for months — Griffiths never closed shop , defying local and state health orders and risking fines and jail time in the process .
As other salon owners applied for Paycheck Protection Program loans and filed for unemployment , Griffiths ushered customers through the back door , his windows boarded up to maintain the illusion that the salon was closed .
Around half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and about a quarter of his customers have still been coming in regularly .
Griffiths has spaced out his stations and added extra sanitation measures , and he bought masks to hand out to customers who want them .
But , Griffiths says , over 80 % of his customers choose not to wear masks , and he doesn ’ t force them to .
“ It ’ s hard because we ’ re service-oriented , and if a client really doesn ’ t want to wear a mask , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , ” he said .
“ And also , cutting around the ears and whatnot , it ’ s really difficult.
” Despite the boarded-up windows , Griffith ’ s surreptitious salon services haven ’ t completely escaped notice .
He said he has received hate mail online from other salon owners angry that he ’ s remained open while others have closed .
“ We do not endorse any of our licensed establishments to work in defiance to the law , ” said Fred Jones , legal counsel for the Professional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also gotten calls from the San Jose Police Department and the Santa Clara County district attorney ’ s office , warning him that there have been complaints about his continued operations , but Griffiths says that there hasn ’ t been any followthrough .
“ San Jose PD had come by , and they said they received complaints that we were open , ” he said .
“ They didn ’ t ask to come in .
They didn ’ t bring a warrant .
They didn ’ t threaten any sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and really , honestly , they seemed very uninterested in enforcing any of it.
” A spokesperson for the San Jose Police Department confirmed that the department had issued a warning to Salon Blu , and said the department ’ s “ focus continues to be education.
” Deputy district attorney Angela Alvarado said the office couldn ’ t comment on individual cases .
In general , she said , the district attorney ’ s office is largely trying to avoid citing people and businesses in violation of the health code .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far , and no charges have been filed .
When people call in complaints to the health referral hotline — anything from a resident reporting a loud party on their block or an employee blowing the whistle on their employer for unsafe practices — Alvarado ’ s team tries first to educate the offending party .
For the most part , she said , businesses comply once they ’ ve been made aware of what the guidelines are .
Business owners who remain open face the possibility of misdemeanor charges that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 90 days of jail time .
“ My cosmetology license would be my business risk , because that ’ s attached to my name .
My establishment license — I could shut this business down and open up a new entity and have an establishment license in a few days , ” Griffiths said .
“ I don ’ t want to play cat and mouse , but my main problem is that there ’ s been no cohesive policy in place and seems to be no coordination between the different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Jail numbers up , but most are asymptomatic , sheriff office says • A convent outside Detroit lost 13 nuns , 12 in one month • Watch California overtake New York for most coronavirus cases in the U.S. • Coronavirus : California childcare centers take big hit as parents try to go back to work Now that California is allowing salons to operate outside , he ’ s gone “ mostly legal , ” he said , conducting most of his salon ’ s business under pop-up canopies on the sidewalk in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parking lot out back .
But he ’ s still offering some indoor services .
On Wednesday morning , an unmasked stylist offered a haircut to an unmasked customer in the salon ’ s main room , its soaring white walls lined with mismatched gold-framed mirrors .
The stylist declined an interview — spooked , Griffiths said , after receiving a call from the District Attorney ’ s office Wednesday morning .

Back in March, when Santa Clara County announced that non-essential businesses had to close, James Griffiths boarded up the windows of his San Jose studio, Salon Blu.
And then he kept working.
“I vowed on day one that they were going to have to take me away in cuffs to get me to close down, and I’ll be right back to it the next day,” Griffiths said in an interview with Bay Area News Group on Wednesday. “As soon as I get out of jail, I will be right back doing it again. I told my staff that, and I’ve stuck to it.”
Despite the pandemic — and restrictions that have shuttered local hair salons and barbershops for months — Griffiths never closed shop, defying local and state health orders and risking fines and jail time in the process.
As other salon owners applied for Paycheck Protection Program loans and filed for unemployment, Griffiths ushered customers through the back door, his windows boarded up to maintain the illusion that the salon was closed.
Around half of his stylists kept working since March, and about a quarter of his customers have still been coming in regularly.
Griffiths has spaced out his stations and added extra sanitation measures, and he bought masks to hand out to customers who want them.
But, Griffiths says, over 80% of his customers choose not to wear masks, and he doesn’t force them to.
“It’s hard because we’re service-oriented, and if a client really doesn’t want to wear a mask, it’s really hard to force them to do it,” he said. “And also, cutting around the ears and whatnot, it’s really difficult.”
Despite the boarded-up windows, Griffith’s surreptitious salon services haven’t completely escaped notice. He said he has received hate mail online from other salon owners angry that he’s remained open while others have closed.
“We do not endorse any of our licensed establishments to work in defiance to the law,” said Fred Jones, legal counsel for the Professional Beauty Federation of California.
Griffiths has also gotten calls from the San Jose Police Department and the Santa Clara County district attorney’s office, warning him that there have been complaints about his continued operations, but Griffiths says that there hasn’t been any followthrough.
“San Jose PD had come by, and they said they received complaints that we were open,” he said. “They didn’t ask to come in. They didn’t bring a warrant. They didn’t threaten any sort of punishment or citation or anything like that, and really, honestly, they seemed very uninterested in enforcing any of it.”
A spokesperson for the San Jose Police Department confirmed that the department had issued a warning to Salon Blu, and said the department’s “focus continues to be education.” Deputy district attorney Angela Alvarado said the office couldn’t comment on individual cases.
In general, she said, the district attorney’s office is largely trying to avoid citing people and businesses in violation of the health code. Less than 50 citations have been issued so far, and no charges have been filed.
When people call in complaints to the health referral hotline — anything from a resident reporting a loud party on their block or an employee blowing the whistle on their employer for unsafe practices — Alvarado’s team tries first to educate the offending party. For the most part, she said, businesses comply once they’ve been made aware of what the rules are.
Business owners who remain open face the possibility of misdemeanor charges that could carry fines of thousands of dollars and up to 90 days of jail time.
Griffiths says he isn’t worried.
“My cosmetology license would be my biggest risk, because that’s attached to my name. My establishment license — I could shut this business down and open up a new entity and have an establishment license in a few days,” Griffiths said. “I don’t want to play cat and mouse, but my main problem is that there’s been no cohesive policy in place and seems to be no coordination between the different levels of governmental agencies.”
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge Now that California is allowing salons to operate outside, he’s gone “mostly legal,” he said, conducting most of his salon’s business under pop-up canopies on the sidewalk in front of the building and in the parking lot out back.
But he’s still offering some indoor services.
On Wednesday morning, an unmasked stylist offered a haircut to an unmasked customer in the salon’s main room, its soaring white walls lined with mismatched gold-framed mirrors. The stylist declined an interview — spooked, Griffiths said, after receiving a call from the District Attorney’s office Wednesday morning.


mercurynews--2020-07-23--California man dies after entering house while it was being fumigated

A resident of unincorporated Whittier died Tuesday , July 21 , after entering his home while it was undergoing fumigation @ @ @ @ @ .
Los Angeles County Fire Department officials were dispatched to a home covered with a @ @ @ @ @ of See Drive , where a man had been found dead inside , Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ Deputy Trina Schrader said .
Deputies wearing hazardous materials suits were summoned to search the @ @ @ @ @ and fond no evidence of foul play .
“ It appears that he wanted to @ @ @ @ @ thought it was safe , but it wasn ’ t , ” Schrader said .
@ @ @ @ @ working at the house at the time , but it was still filled with toxic @ @ @ @ @ There did not appear to be any lingering threat to the surrounding community .
Investigators @ @ @ @ @ death was an accident .
His identity was not immediately released .

A resident of unincorporated Whittier died Tuesday, July 21, after entering his home while it was undergoing fumigation and filled with dangerous pesticides.
Los Angeles County Fire Department officials were dispatched to a home covered with a tent on the 11500 block of See Drive, where a man had been found dead inside, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Trina Schrader said. Deputies wearing hazardous materials suits were summoned to search the house at 3:18 p.m., and fond no evidence of foul play.
#LASD SEB SWAT operation in a contaminated environment in Whittier has concluded. See Drive reopened. Neighborhood safe. pic.twitter.com/vn6ZTqYqtx — SEB (@SEBLASD) July 22, 2020
“It appears that he wanted to check on his home and thought it was safe, but it wasn’t,” Schrader said.
Pest exterminators were not actively working at the house at the time, but it was still filled with toxic chemicals, Schrader said. There did not appear to be any lingering threat to the surrounding community.
Investigators believe the man’s death was an accident. His identity was not immediately released.


mercurynews--2020-07-23--California city settles jailhouse suicide attempt case for $8.5 million

Pasadena has agreed to pay $ 8.5 million to settle a 2015 lawsuit against the city , which alleged Pasadena police officers failed to provide timely aid to a 27-year-old mother of two who attempted to hang herself in the city ’ s jailhouse while in police custody .
The woman , Margarita Sanchez , now has a permanent traumatic brain injury and is paralyzed from the neck down after she was left hanging by her neck from the jailhouse ’ s second floor for more than 20 minutes before officers showed up to cut her free , attorney Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her brain was deprived of oxygen for at least 21 minutes , he said , leading to extensive nerve damage that left her bedridden , blind and unable to speak .
She has limited communication abilities — mostly grunts and moans — to guide her mother who cares for her and her two children now .
“ The city recognizes the circumstances surrounding this 2015 incident are extremely tragic , and hopes that this settlement will allow the parties to move forward , ” spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said in a statement , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Many suicide and jail safety enhancements have been instituted since 2015 , including the use of body-worn cameras , onsite and on-call medical clearance providers , ongoing suicide crisis and prevention courses , rescue training and in-house protocol drills , ” Derderian said .
“ Enhancement efforts also include upgraded viewing monitors , housing visibility and motion alerts for quicker awareness and faster responses to any concerns.
” In February 2015 , Sanchez led officers in a stolen car on a chase which landed them on the 210 Freeway before she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanchez was arrested on suspicion of grand theft , felony evading and had two outstanding arrest warrants , according to CBS Los Angeles .
Carrillo said she was never charged or prosecuted .
Neither was the man , Derderian said .
After she was taken to jail , Sanchez was seen standing outside her cell , holding bed sheets , in clear view of the precinct ’ s security cameras , according to footage pulled from the jailhouse surveillance system and provided to this newsgroup by Carrillo .
In the video , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first floor to the second floor .
Over the course of about 5 to 10 minutes , she ties the bed sheets to a railing on the second-floor walkway , then ties the other end around her neck .
While this is happening , a second video shows a Pasadena police officer sitting at a desk in front of a monitor array , though the actual screens are obscured .
Around 11:30 a.m. , according to the timestamp on the jail ’ s security footage , Sanchez climbs to the other side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until the bed sheets are taut .
Still , she doesn ’ t let go .
She has her arms fully extended , holding on to the platform for about a minute before her arms go slack , leaving only her fingers touching the second story walkway .
One security camera is positioned toward the first floor ; another security camera is aimed at the second floor .
The former only shows Sanchez ’ s dangling legs ; the latter shows the entire scene .
She hanged by her neck for more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loose her .
In the security footage showing the on-duty officer , he can be seen watching the monitors while Sanchez is preparing , but it ’ s unclear what ’ s actually on the screens .
“ We don ’ t know if he was watching his favorite Netflix special or what , ” Carrillo said .
“ I don ’ t know if ( Pasadena ) offered mediation early so we wouldn ’ t get answers to those questions , but never did , and we won ’ t ever know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notices what ’ s happening , not from the monitors , it seems , but after he looks through the window directly behind him , which Carrillo said was a clear view of the women ’ s jail cells .
“ It seems to me , all he had to do was pick up his head and turn left or look at one of those monitors , and he could ’ ve saved her from tremendous brain damage , ” Carrillo said .
The employee who was on-duty at the time has since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employed by the Pasadena Police Department , ” Derderian said .
After noticing Sanchez , officers are seen running into the facility — just two at first — to the second floor to pull up Sanchez by her arms , releasing the tension from the makeshift rope .
They held her there for about 5 minutes until two additional officers positioned themselves beneath her , according to the footage .
When they finally untied her , she fell limp like a rag doll as one officer caught and guided her falling body to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resuscitate her .
According to court filings and confirmed by Carrillo , Sanchez had never shown any suicidal inclinations prior to this incident .
The family and the attorneys weren ’ t aware of any latent mental health disorders or other ailments , he said .
“ This kinda came out of the blue , at least in terms of past suicidal ideation , ” he said .
They ’ ve asked her what happened , but given her limited communication abilities , it ’ s tough to get anything more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response .
When they ’ ve been able to communicate with her , she said she didn ’ t remember the incident .
Neither Carrillo nor Sanchez ’ s family knew what had happened when Sanchez first arrived at Huntington Hospital , where she was transported immediately after the incident .
She was in a vegetative state , and doctors asked Sanchez ’ s mother if she wanted to pull the plug , Carrillo said .
Sanchez did recover somewhat afterward , Carrillo said , but she ’ ll never live a normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Carrillo said he recorded , Sanchez ’ s mother — a former housekeeper in her 60s now — is seen taking care of her daughter .
She helps Sanchez eat and helps clean up her drool .
In Spanish , she asks her daughter if she likes the food .
Sanchez grunts in response .
Throughout the video , Sanchez ’ s head is cocked to the side , her mouth agape .
After her mother and sister work together to bathe her , Sanchez is asked to turn her head to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow and difficult .
Her hands are frozen in a crimped position ; her feet bow inward and her ankle bones are jarringly visible under the skin , the video shows .
Her fingers and toes are balled , as though she ’ s fiercely straining every muscle in her extremities .
It ’ s a disturbing and unnatural sight , Carrillo acknowledged , likely a permanent symptom of the extensive nerve damage she suffered when her brain was deprived of oxygen for such a long period .
Reflecting on the security camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen it so many times now , and “ it still makes me sick to my stomach every time I think of it , ” he said .
Thinking back on how much time she took before she hanged herself and considering how she lowered herself gently — with her arms still supporting some of her weight at first –Carrillo believes “ she was calling out for help .
“ She was hoping that someone would pick her up off that level , and you can see it , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s saying ( figuratively ) ‘ Somebody stop me .
Somebody interrupt me.
’ And nobody did.
” In the video showing Sanchez at home , after she ’ s bathed and dressed — a process that takes a significant amount of time and teamwork between her mother and sister — Sanchez rests for most of the day until her 11-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son return from school .
That ’ s when Sanchez ’ s mother puts her in a wheelchair and brings her into the kitchen where her young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While Sanchez ’ s mother spoon-feeds her , Sanchez ’ s son reads to her .
At the time of the video , he ’ s still learning the basics and he stumbles through a few passages but beams proudly as he gets through it all .
The situation just makes it even sadder for Carrillo .
“ She can ’ t pick them up , she can ’ t be with them , ” he said .
“ She ’ ll need help for the rest of her life , ” Carrillo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s lieutenant fired after inmate dies when left chained to door • With 1,381 inmates with COVID-19 , San Quentin early release plan aims to curb virus exposure • Body cam video of East Bay inmate death shows little resistance from mentally ill man With the settlement , Sanchez ’ s family would be able to buy a van with the right accommodations , he said .
They could hire help to get Sanchez what she needs every day and get them a house that ’ s designed for a disabled person .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
According to court documents , Sanchez will receive about $ 5 million from the $ 8.5 million settlement — some immediately , some that will be disbursed over time — while lawyers will get the rest .
Carrillo and his father , who work together at the South Pasadena-based Carrillo Law Firm , will get about $ 1.4 million while their partner in the case , Dale Galipo who has his own eponymous law firm in Woodland Hills , will receive about $ 2 million .

Pasadena has agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle a 2015 lawsuit against the city, which alleged Pasadena police officers failed to provide timely aid to a 27-year-old mother of two who attempted to hang herself in the city’s jailhouse while in police custody.
The woman, Margarita Sanchez, now has a permanent traumatic brain injury and is paralyzed from the neck down after she was left hanging by her neck from the jailhouse’s second floor for more than 20 minutes before officers showed up to cut her free, attorney Michael Carrillo said Tuesday, July 21.
Her brain was deprived of oxygen for at least 21 minutes, he said, leading to extensive nerve damage that left her bedridden, blind and unable to speak. She has limited communication abilities — mostly grunts and moans — to guide her mother who cares for her and her two children now.
“The city recognizes the circumstances surrounding this 2015 incident are extremely tragic, and hopes that this settlement will allow the parties to move forward,” spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said in a statement, adding the city is committed to suicide prevention.
“Many suicide and jail safety enhancements have been instituted since 2015, including the use of body-worn cameras, onsite and on-call medical clearance providers, ongoing suicide crisis and prevention courses, rescue training and in-house protocol drills,” Derderian said.
“Enhancement efforts also include upgraded viewing monitors, housing visibility and motion alerts for quicker awareness and faster responses to any concerns.”
In February 2015, Sanchez led officers in a stolen car on a chase which landed them on the 210 Freeway before she was ultimately arrested with another man. Sanchez was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, felony evading and had two outstanding arrest warrants, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Carrillo said she was never charged or prosecuted. Neither was the man, Derderian said.
Security camera footage
After she was taken to jail, Sanchez was seen standing outside her cell, holding bed sheets, in clear view of the precinct’s security cameras, according to footage pulled from the jailhouse surveillance system and provided to this newsgroup by Carrillo.
In the video, she is seen moving slowly, walking from the first floor to the second floor.
Over the course of about 5 to 10 minutes, she ties the bed sheets to a railing on the second-floor walkway, then ties the other end around her neck.
While this is happening, a second video shows a Pasadena police officer sitting at a desk in front of a monitor array, though the actual screens are obscured.
Around 11:30 a.m., according to the timestamp on the jail’s security footage, Sanchez climbs to the other side of the railing and gently lowers herself until the bed sheets are taut.
Still, she doesn’t let go. She has her arms fully extended, holding on to the platform for about a minute before her arms go slack, leaving only her fingers touching the second story walkway.
One security camera is positioned toward the first floor; another security camera is aimed at the second floor. The former only shows Sanchez’s dangling legs; the latter shows the entire scene.
She hanged by her neck for more than 20 minutes before officers came running to loose her.
In the security footage showing the on-duty officer, he can be seen watching the monitors while Sanchez is preparing, but it’s unclear what’s actually on the screens.
“We don’t know if he was watching his favorite Netflix special or what,” Carrillo said. “I don’t know if (Pasadena) offered mediation early so we wouldn’t get answers to those questions, but never did, and we won’t ever know what he was doing.”
The officer notices what’s happening, not from the monitors, it seems, but after he looks through the window directly behind him, which Carrillo said was a clear view of the women’s jail cells.
“It seems to me, all he had to do was pick up his head and turn left or look at one of those monitors, and he could’ve saved her from tremendous brain damage,” Carrillo said.
The employee who was on-duty at the time has since been removed “and is no longer employed by the Pasadena Police Department,” Derderian said.
After noticing Sanchez, officers are seen running into the facility — just two at first — to the second floor to pull up Sanchez by her arms, releasing the tension from the makeshift rope.
They held her there for about 5 minutes until two additional officers positioned themselves beneath her, according to the footage. When they finally untied her, she fell limp like a rag doll as one officer caught and guided her falling body to a nearby table where they tried to resuscitate her.
‘Calling out for help’
According to court filings and confirmed by Carrillo, Sanchez had never shown any suicidal inclinations prior to this incident. The family and the attorneys weren’t aware of any latent mental health disorders or other ailments, he said.
“This kinda came out of the blue, at least in terms of past suicidal ideation,” he said.
They’ve asked her what happened, but given her limited communication abilities, it’s tough to get anything more than a “yes” or “no” response. When they’ve been able to communicate with her, she said she didn’t remember the incident.
Neither Carrillo nor Sanchez’s family knew what had happened when Sanchez first arrived at Huntington Hospital, where she was transported immediately after the incident.
She was in a vegetative state, and doctors asked Sanchez’s mother if she wanted to pull the plug, Carrillo said.
Sanchez did recover somewhat afterward, Carrillo said, but she’ll never live a normal life again.
In another video, which Carrillo said he recorded, Sanchez’s mother — a former housekeeper in her 60s now — is seen taking care of her daughter.
She helps Sanchez eat and helps clean up her drool.
In Spanish, she asks her daughter if she likes the food. Sanchez grunts in response.
Throughout the video, Sanchez’s head is cocked to the side, her mouth agape. After her mother and sister work together to bathe her, Sanchez is asked to turn her head to the other side. The movement is slow and difficult.
Her hands are frozen in a crimped position; her feet bow inward and her ankle bones are jarringly visible under the skin, the video shows. Her fingers and toes are balled, as though she’s fiercely straining every muscle in her extremities.
It’s a disturbing and unnatural sight, Carrillo acknowledged, likely a permanent symptom of the extensive nerve damage she suffered when her brain was deprived of oxygen for such a long period.
Reflecting on the security camera footage, Carrillo said he’s seen it so many times now, and “it still makes me sick to my stomach every time I think of it,” he said.
Thinking back on how much time she took before she hanged herself and considering how she lowered herself gently — with her arms still supporting some of her weight at first –Carrillo believes “she was calling out for help.
“She was hoping that someone would pick her up off that level, and you can see it,” he said. “Every step of the way, she’s saying (figuratively) ‘Somebody stop me. Somebody interrupt me.’ And nobody did.”
‘Freedom’
In the video showing Sanchez at home, after she’s bathed and dressed — a process that takes a significant amount of time and teamwork between her mother and sister — Sanchez rests for most of the day until her 11-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son return from school.
That’s when Sanchez’s mother puts her in a wheelchair and brings her into the kitchen where her young son is cooking eggs for her.
While Sanchez’s mother spoon-feeds her, Sanchez’s son reads to her. At the time of the video, he’s still learning the basics and he stumbles through a few passages but beams proudly as he gets through it all.
The situation just makes it even sadder for Carrillo.
“She can’t pick them up, she can’t be with them,” he said. “She’ll need help for the rest of her life,” Carrillo said.
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“This money gives them freedom,” he said.
According to court documents, Sanchez will receive about $5 million from the $8.5 million settlement — some immediately, some that will be disbursed over time — while lawyers will get the rest.
Carrillo and his father, who work together at the South Pasadena-based Carrillo Law Firm, will get about $1.4 million while their partner in the case, Dale Galipo who has his own eponymous law firm in Woodland Hills, will receive about $2 million.