mercurynews--2020-03-12--The King’s Academy baseball team’s outlook is bright this season

The Kings Academy baseball team has left itself a tough act to follow .
After all , when you ’ ve won back to back Central Coast Section Division III championships , what can you do for an encore ?
But despite losing their first two games of the 2020 season , the Knights refuse to be burdened by the weight of expectations .
“ Historically , we have been notoriously slow starters , ” said The King ’ s Academy coach Greg Mugg , after his club recorded its initial win of the year , a 7-6 triumph over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Regarding the added pressure and expectations , I don ’ t believe we feel much .
The past two years , we didn ’ t set out to win CCS .
It has always been about the process of getting better every day .
Success is simply a reflection.
” The Knights , who were promoted to the Peninsula Athletic League ’ s Bay Division last year after winning the PAL ’ s Ocean Division in 2018 , return nine players from their 2019 CCS title squad — seniors Jeffrey Taylor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Josh Algarin , Garrett Plata , Joey Thompson , Finn Reid and Trenton Farnham , and sophomore Jason Kapi .
Taylor was a first-team Bay Division selection last year and runner-up for Pitcher of the Year in the PAL , while Plata was a second-team Bay Division pick .
The King ’ s Academy is coming off of an 18-13 campaign in which it tied for third place in the tough Bay Division along with Burlingame , two games in back of co-champs Menlo School and Carlmont .
“ At one point , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , but we didn ’ t panic , ” Mugg said .
Instead , the Knights pulled it together to win 12 of their last 14 games , including the final three of the year in the CCS tournament .
After opening this year with a 3-2 loss to Live Oak and a 4-1 setback to San Lorenzo Valley , the Knights broke into the 2020 win column by edging Cupertino behind the clutch hitting and pitching of Farnham .
The third-year varsity performer doubled and drove in three runs at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run over four innings of work on the mound .
Tanner Ellis was 2-for-4 with a run-batted-in , Plata delivered a two-run single , and both Algarin and Thompson scored twice to help the Knights ’ offensive attack .
Algarin also turned in a strong relief effort , striking out all four batters he retired in an inning and a third .
The loss snapped a modest two-game winning streak for Cupertino , dropping its non-league record to 3-2 .
The Pioneers , who finished 11-17 last year to miss the CCS playoffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , were coming off of back-to-back wins over Overfelt ( 13-0 ) and Oak Grove ( 9-2 ) before their loss to the Knights .
They opened the season with a 6-0 shutout of Evergreen Valley followed by a 5-3 loss to Oak Grove .
The Fremont Firebirds , who had gone 32-102 since their last winning season in 2014 , blanked South San Francisco 12-0 last Saturday to improve to 4-0-1 , their best start since winning six of their first seven games in 2015 .
Ryan Kao and J.T .
Kaprelian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco just one day after Daniel Moreno and Spencer Nogavich teamed up to no-hit the Overfelt Royals 7-2 .
Over a three-game span , including a 5-2 victory over the Harker Eagles , Fremont pitchers allowed a total of just two runs and four hits over 21 innings .
Like the Firebirds , the Homestead Mustangs are also off to a roaring start , thanks to some pretty good pitching of their own .
The Mustangs , hoping to rebound from an 11-16 season last year , posted wins in four of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shutout of Westmont in their 2020 opener .
Nicholas Elich and Eric Goulet combined to shut down the Warriors on just five hits while walking no one and striking out 10 .
Brian Ozawa-Burns doubled home Thomas Ngai and Simon Kirschenbaum in the top of the fourth inning to provide the only runs of the game .
After falling to Live Oak 7-5 , the Mustangs bounced back to beat Prospect 7-1 , Saratoga 8-1 and Lincoln 5-4 .
“ We have great team chemistry , ” said Luis Lerma , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s coach following stints at Pioneer and Valley Christian .
The Mustangs chances for a bounce-back season are bolstered by a roster that features 11 returners from last year ’ s squad , including seniors Josh Say , Matthew Maloney , Dillon Lee , James Coogan and Ozawa-Burns .
Early struggles at the plate had the young Lynbrook Vikings off to a sluggish 0-3 start .
While losing to Prospect 5-1 ( in nine innings ) , Live Oak 8-2 and North Salinas 3-1 , the Vikes managed a total of just four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We were very young last year and it showed , ” said Ramirez , who enters his fourth year at the Viking helm .
“ But this year we should be very competitive and compete for a league title .
We are loaded with pitching.
” Heading a cast of 12 returners is senior Max Smith-Uchida , who posted a respectable 3.50 earned run average last year in a staff-leading 12 appearances .
“ Max is getting looks from D-1 and D-2 schools this year , ” said Ramirez about Smith-Uchida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monta Vista Matadors had also gotten off to a rough start at 0-4 , losing to Prospect 12-2 and 6-3 , Mountain View 10-0 , and Los Altos 25-1 .
In those four games , the Mats were limited to just six runs and 11 hits .

The Kings Academy baseball team has left itself a tough act to follow.
After all, when you’ve won back to back Central Coast Section Division III championships, what can you do for an encore?
But despite losing their first two games of the 2020 season, the Knights refuse to be burdened by the weight of expectations.
“Historically, we have been notoriously slow starters,” said The King’s Academy coach Greg Mugg, after his club recorded its initial win of the year, a 7-6 triumph over Cupertino last Friday at Cupertino High. “Regarding the added pressure and expectations, I don’t believe we feel much. The past two years, we didn’t set out to win CCS. It has always been about the process of getting better every day. Success is simply a reflection.”
The Knights, who were promoted to the Peninsula Athletic League’s Bay Division last year after winning the PAL’s Ocean Division in 2018, return nine players from their 2019 CCS title squad — seniors Jeffrey Taylor, Tate Boynton and Nick Yandle, juniors Josh Algarin, Garrett Plata, Joey Thompson, Finn Reid and Trenton Farnham, and sophomore Jason Kapi. Taylor was a first-team Bay Division selection last year and runner-up for Pitcher of the Year in the PAL, while Plata was a second-team Bay Division pick.
The King’s Academy is coming off of an 18-13 campaign in which it tied for third place in the tough Bay Division along with Burlingame, two games in back of co-champs Menlo School and Carlmont.
“At one point, we lost eight of nine games last year, but we didn’t panic,” Mugg said.
Instead, the Knights pulled it together to win 12 of their last 14 games, including the final three of the year in the CCS tournament.
After opening this year with a 3-2 loss to Live Oak and a 4-1 setback to San Lorenzo Valley, the Knights broke into the 2020 win column by edging Cupertino behind the clutch hitting and pitching of Farnham.
The third-year varsity performer doubled and drove in three runs at the plate, and allowed just one earned run over four innings of work on the mound.
Tanner Ellis was 2-for-4 with a run-batted-in, Plata delivered a two-run single, and both Algarin and Thompson scored twice to help the Knights’ offensive attack.
Algarin also turned in a strong relief effort, striking out all four batters he retired in an inning and a third.
The loss snapped a modest two-game winning streak for Cupertino, dropping its non-league record to 3-2.
The Pioneers, who finished 11-17 last year to miss the CCS playoffs for the first time in three years, were coming off of back-to-back wins over Overfelt (13-0) and Oak Grove (9-2) before their loss to the Knights. They opened the season with a 6-0 shutout of Evergreen Valley followed by a 5-3 loss to Oak Grove.
The Fremont Firebirds, who had gone 32-102 since their last winning season in 2014, blanked South San Francisco 12-0 last Saturday to improve to 4-0-1, their best start since winning six of their first seven games in 2015.
Ryan Kao and J.T. Kaprelian combined to toss a one-hitter against South Francisco just one day after Daniel Moreno and Spencer Nogavich teamed up to no-hit the Overfelt Royals 7-2.
Over a three-game span, including a 5-2 victory over the Harker Eagles, Fremont pitchers allowed a total of just two runs and four hits over 21 innings.
Like the Firebirds, the Homestead Mustangs are also off to a roaring start, thanks to some pretty good pitching of their own.
The Mustangs, hoping to rebound from an 11-16 season last year, posted wins in four of their first five games, including a 2-0 shutout of Westmont in their 2020 opener.
Nicholas Elich and Eric Goulet combined to shut down the Warriors on just five hits while walking no one and striking out 10.
Brian Ozawa-Burns doubled home Thomas Ngai and Simon Kirschenbaum in the top of the fourth inning to provide the only runs of the game.
After falling to Live Oak 7-5, the Mustangs bounced back to beat Prospect 7-1, Saratoga 8-1 and Lincoln 5-4.
“We have great team chemistry,” said Luis Lerma, who is in his first year as Homestead’s coach following stints at Pioneer and Valley Christian.
The Mustangs chances for a bounce-back season are bolstered by a roster that features 11 returners from last year’s squad, including seniors Josh Say, Matthew Maloney, Dillon Lee, James Coogan and Ozawa-Burns.
Early struggles at the plate had the young Lynbrook Vikings off to a sluggish 0-3 start.
While losing to Prospect 5-1 (in nine innings), Live Oak 8-2 and North Salinas 3-1, the Vikes managed a total of just four runs and nine hits in 23 innings.
Despite the slow start, Lynbrook coach Johnny Ramirez remains optimistic.
“We were very young last year and it showed,” said Ramirez, who enters his fourth year at the Viking helm. “But this year we should be very competitive and compete for a league title. We are loaded with pitching.”
Heading a cast of 12 returners is senior Max Smith-Uchida, who posted a respectable 3.50 earned run average last year in a staff-leading 12 appearances.
“Max is getting looks from D-1 and D-2 schools this year,” said Ramirez about Smith-Uchida’s possible college options.
Other returners include Shree Phadke, Aaron Jew, Eugene Jew, Jim Fukusmi, Daniel VanWiggeran, William Chang, Chris Zhang, Jayson Lo, Jonathan Leslie, Fred Lee and Jason Lee.
The Monta Vista Matadors had also gotten off to a rough start at 0-4, losing to Prospect 12-2 and 6-3, Mountain View 10-0, and Los Altos 25-1. In those four games, the Mats were limited to just six runs and 11 hits.


mercurynews--2020-03-12--At least two federal judges in California suspend in-person appearances

OAKLAND — Two federal judges in Oakland and San Francisco issued orders Thursday stating that they would suspend most in-person proceedings in response to the coronavirus crisis .
Unified States Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers , of the Northern District of California in Oakland , stated in her order that “ in light of the evolving developments with coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) ” that her court would suspend all civil trials until May 1 , and hold all case management conferences through telephone .
Federal Judge Vince Chhabria , located in San Francisco , also issued a similar notice , stating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 , all in-person proceedings would only take place “ if they are critical , time-sensitive , and unable to be conducted telephonically.
” That means there will also be no oral arguments in person or personal appearances , and instead will be submitted through motions in paperwork .
Judge Rogers stated in her order that she is also looking into holding some proceedings through videoconference .
Although the order is through May 1 , Judge Rogers wrote that the court will contact parties regarding rescheduling once it has been determined that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judge Chhabria ’ s case , he said all criminal matters would be handled on a case-by-case basis .
He would also entertain extension requests .
“ All parties are instructed to closely monitor their dockets for further information from the Court regarding the status of upcoming case management conferences and civil hearings , ” the notice read .
Local county courts throughout the Bay Area have made preparations for the effects of the virus , although none have announced closures as of Thursday .
Local courts are giving wider latitude for remote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents and attorneys who fall ill , and custodial staffs are also ramping up sanitizing practices at court facilities .
Court officials across the region have also advised court employees , attorneys , jurors and other parties such as witnesses to stay home if they have flu-like symptoms .

OAKLAND — Two federal judges in Oakland and San Francisco issued orders Thursday stating that they would suspend most in-person proceedings in response to the coronavirus crisis.
United States Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, of the Northern District of California in Oakland, stated in her order that “in light of the evolving developments with coronavirus (COVID-19)” that her court would suspend all civil trials until May 1, and hold all case management conferences through telephone.
Federal Judge Vince Chhabria, located in San Francisco, also issued a similar notice, stating that from Thursday to at least April 13, all in-person proceedings would only take place “if they are critical, time-sensitive, and unable to be conducted telephonically.”
That means there will also be no oral arguments in person or personal appearances, and instead will be submitted through motions in paperwork. Judge Rogers stated in her order that she is also looking into holding some proceedings through videoconference.
Although the order is through May 1, Judge Rogers wrote that the court will contact parties regarding rescheduling once it has been determined that the public health concerns are lessened.
In Judge Chhabria’s case, he said all criminal matters would be handled on a case-by-case basis. He would also entertain extension requests.
“All parties are instructed to closely monitor their dockets for further information from the Court regarding the status of upcoming case management conferences and civil hearings,” the notice read.
Local county courts throughout the Bay Area have made preparations for the effects of the virus, although none have announced closures as of Thursday. Local courts are giving wider latitude for remote jury duty deferrals and case continuances for residents and attorneys who fall ill, and custodial staffs are also ramping up sanitizing practices at court facilities.
Court officials across the region have also advised court employees, attorneys, jurors and other parties such as witnesses to stay home if they have flu-like symptoms.
Check back for updates.


mercurynews--2020-03-12--Letter: Avoid using fireplaces to keep everyone healthier

Avoid using fireplaces to keep everyone healthier Even in the best of times , fireplace burning is harmful to the health of the entire community .
Toxins are released into the air that we all must breathe .
Some of us ( children , elderly , asthmatics , etc . )
appear to suffer more than others , but , in reality , no one goes unscathed .
• Letter : I worked at a clinic when the ACA was passed–I was elated • Letter : I would like to offer an apology to my great-grandchildren • Letter : Remote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than we are • Letter : Back candidate with the ideals of FDR and JFK • Letter : Buying more than needed is selfish and self-defeating These , however , are not the best of times .
The coronavirus crisis makes it even more important that everyone ’ s immune system is working at its best .
Therefore , for the common good , I urge everyone to refrain from using their fireplaces until this crisis has passed .
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Avoid using fireplaces to keep everyone healthier
Even in the best of times, fireplace burning is harmful to the health of the entire community. Toxins are released into the air that we all must breathe.
Some of us (children, elderly, asthmatics, etc.) appear to suffer more than others, but, in reality, no one goes unscathed.
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Letters: Insulate wires | CDE was wrong | Functional Chromebooks | Trump’s ego | Healthy debate | A new path Letters to the Editor | Letters: Local solar | Titan resources | Activism helps These, however, are not the best of times. The coronavirus crisis makes it even more important that everyone’s immune system is working at its best. Therefore, for the common good, I urge everyone to refrain from using their fireplaces until this crisis has passed.
Barry Tesar
Walnut Creek
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mercurynews--2020-03-12--An honor fit for a pop diva: New insect named for Lady Gaga

Meet the Mother Monster of the insect world .
Her name is Kaikaia gaga ( named for Lady Gaga , natch ) and she ’ s every bit as otherworldly as the pop diva .
She wears a pair of devilish horns on her head , and she ’ s unlike any other species in the forest .
Kaikaia gaga is a newly identified species of treehopper , an ostentatious but little-known insect group that populates most forests on Earth .
A paper detailing her discovery was recently published in the journal Zootaxa , a peer-reviewed scientific journal on animal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their due , according to Brendan Morris , an entomology graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who studied and named the new insect .
K. gaga is poised to change that .
Morris knew the discovery mattered : The ruddy insect , with her pointy horns and unique body structure , more closely resembles “ Old World ” species endemic to Asia , Africa and Europe .
But she ’ s native to the Pacific coast of Nicaragua .
So to shine a glittery spotlight on the new species , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s great iconoclasts .
“ If there is going to be a Lady Gaga bug , it ’ s going to be a treehopper , because they ’ ve got these crazy horns , they have this wacky fashion sense about them , ” Morris said in a university news release .
“ They ’ re unlike anything you ’ ve ever seen before.
” They ’ re certainly among the most theatrical of all insects : Treehoppers are splashed with color , and no two species look alike .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they ’ re harbingers of the health of forests , Morris told CNN .
“ It blows my kind that a group that is roughly 40 million years old has so much diversity of form — diversity , I would argue , that we don ’ t see in any other family of insects , ” Morris said in the news release .
There ’ s still a lot left to learn about K. gaga — “ basically everything , ” Morris told CNN .
Entomologists still don ’ t know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like , how she interacts with other animals and what her “ song ” sounds like .
But attempts to extract DNA from her specimen haven ’ t been successful .
She was collected in the early 1990s and sat in a museum before Morris and paper co-author , Illinois Natural History Survey entomologist Christopher Dietrich , decided to take a closer look .
Soon , Morris will head to the insect ’ s native Nicaragua to learn more about her native range and how ongoing environmental degradation will affect the species — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ New treehopper species are found all the time , and the only limit to our knowledge is funding and manpower , ” they told CNN .
“ So much of our natural world remains unknown , and we can ’ t know how to save species without knowing their names.
” Lady Gaga has yet to comment on the discovery of the eponymous insect , but K. gaga ’ s debut was certainly well-timed : The human Gaga premiered a new single and music video at the end of February .

Meet the Mother Monster of the insect world.
Her name is Kaikaia gaga (named for Lady Gaga, natch) and she’s every bit as otherworldly as the pop diva. She wears a pair of devilish horns on her head, and she’s unlike any other species in the forest.
Kaikaia gaga is a newly identified species of treehopper, an ostentatious but little-known insect group that populates most forests on Earth. A paper detailing her discovery was recently published in the journal Zootaxa, a peer-reviewed scientific journal on animal taxonomy.
But treehoppers have never gotten their due, according to Brendan Morris, an entomology graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who studied and named the new insect.
K. gaga is poised to change that.
A one-of-a-kind find
Morris knew the discovery mattered: The ruddy insect, with her pointy horns and unique body structure, more closely resembles “Old World” species endemic to Asia, Africa and Europe. But she’s native to the Pacific coast of Nicaragua.
So to shine a glittery spotlight on the new species, Morris named it after one of music’s great iconoclasts.
“If there is going to be a Lady Gaga bug, it’s going to be a treehopper, because they’ve got these crazy horns, they have this wacky fashion sense about them,” Morris said in a university news release. “They’re unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.”
They’re certainly among the most theatrical of all insects: Treehoppers are splashed with color, and no two species look alike. There are over 3,500 species of them worldwide, and they’re harbingers of the health of forests, Morris told CNN.
“It blows my kind that a group that is roughly 40 million years old has so much diversity of form — diversity, I would argue, that we don’t see in any other family of insects,” Morris said in the news release.
She’s still an enigma
There’s still a lot left to learn about K. gaga — “basically everything,” Morris told CNN. Entomologists still don’t know what the K. gaga males and nymphs look like, how she interacts with other animals and what her “song” sounds like.
But attempts to extract DNA from her specimen haven’t been successful. She was collected in the early 1990s and sat in a museum before Morris and paper co-author, Illinois Natural History Survey entomologist Christopher Dietrich, decided to take a closer look.
Soon, Morris will head to the insect’s native Nicaragua to learn more about her native range and how ongoing environmental degradation will affect the species — and hopefully find more of her.
“New treehopper species are found all the time, and the only limit to our knowledge is funding and manpower,” they told CNN. “So much of our natural world remains unknown, and we can’t know how to save species without knowing their names.”
Lady Gaga has yet to comment on the discovery of the eponymous insect, but K. gaga’s debut was certainly well-timed: The human Gaga premiered a new single and music video at the end of February.


mercurynews--2020-03-12--NBA advising players to self-quarantine to prevent spread of coronavirus

The NBA is advising players to self-quarantine until at least March 16 , according to multiple reports .
With the league having suspended play after a player tested positive for coronavirus Wednesday night , it is also encouraging players to remain home as much as possible , avoid traveling and have daily check-ins with team doctors .
Players have also been barred from group practices , meetings or workouts .
The league announced Wednesday that play was suspended after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 .
On Thursday , Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell had also been diagnosed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference Monday , Gobert had been seen touching reporters ’ microphones and reportedly made light of the novel virus in the locker room among teammates .
On Thursday , he posted an apology to his Instagram account that read , “ I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered .
At the time , I had no idea I was even infected .
I was careless and make no excuse .
I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , owners are encouraging the league to re-evaluate the suspension of play in 30 days , according to ESPN .
If the NBA were to resume play then , it would give the Warriors three more regular-season games — but only one at home .
Of the Warriors ’ 17 remaining games , seven were set to be played at Chase Center .
This will affect the roughly 1,500 part-time workers employed by the Warriors , most of which work on an hourly wage starting at San Francisco ’ s $ 15.59 minimum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardest part because we do have a number of those who live paycheck to paycheck who this is going to impact a lot more than it ’ s going to impact our players , me , ( general manager Bob Myers ) or anybody in this room , ” Warriors president and COO Rick Welts said Wednesday .
“ I don ’ t want that to get lost in the conversation about what something like this means in terms of its impact to our city because it goes way beyond the core business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Welts added that the loss of gate revenue will cost the organization “ tens of millions of dollars , ” as all basketball games , concerts and other events at Chase Center through March 21 have been officially postponed or canceled .
Meanwhile , Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told reporters he would replace the lost income of arena workers : “ I don ’ t have any details to give , but it ’ s certainly something that ’ s important to me.
” After returning from a four-month absence with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guard Stephen Curry missed two games with the seasonal flu .
Despite the initial scare , the team announced he did not show signs of having contracted coronavirus .
Now , the NBA has instituted rules to prevent the further spread of the virus through the league .
“ We ’ re all feeling it , and everybody has to take it very seriously , and we have to do everything possible to put people ’ s health first regardless of what kind of inconvenience there is for ourselves , ” Warriors head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to consider everyone else and live our lives the way that we are being advised by the health experts.
” • Warriors ’ Joe Lacob : Coronavirus will have ‘ monumental ’ economic impact on NBA • Kurtenbach : No time for fun and games — why all sports need to shut down in the wake of coronavirus

The NBA is advising players to self-quarantine until at least March 16, according to multiple reports.
With the league having suspended play after a player tested positive for coronavirus Wednesday night, it is also encouraging players to remain home as much as possible, avoid traveling and have daily check-ins with team doctors. Players have also been barred from group practices, meetings or workouts.
The league announced Wednesday that play was suspended after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. On Thursday, Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell had also been diagnosed with the virus.
After a press conference Monday, Gobert had been seen touching reporters’ microphones and reportedly made light of the novel virus in the locker room among teammates.
On Thursday, he posted an apology to his Instagram account that read, “I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered. At the time, I had no idea I was even infected. I was careless and make no excuse. I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously.”
Though the self-quarantine will last five days, owners are encouraging the league to re-evaluate the suspension of play in 30 days, according to ESPN. If the NBA were to resume play then, it would give the Warriors three more regular-season games — but only one at home.
Of the Warriors’ 17 remaining games, seven were set to be played at Chase Center. This will affect the roughly 1,500 part-time workers employed by the Warriors, most of whom work on an hourly wage starting at San Francisco’s $15.59 minimum.
“For me this is the hardest part because we do have a number of those who live paycheck to paycheck who this is going to impact a lot more than it’s going to impact our players, me, (general manager Bob Myers) or anybody in this room,” Warriors president and COO Rick Welts said Wednesday. “I don’t want that to get lost in the conversation about what something like this means in terms of its impact to our city because it goes way beyond the core business of playing NBA basketball games for sure.”
Welts added that the loss of gate revenue will cost the organization “tens of millions of dollars,” as all basketball games, concerts and other events at Chase Center through March 21 have been officially postponed or canceled.
Meanwhile, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told reporters he would replace the lost income of arena workers: “I don’t have any details to give, but it’s certainly something that’s important to me.”
After returning from a four-month absence with a broken left hand last week, Warriors guard Stephen Curry missed two games with the seasonal flu. Despite the initial scare, the team announced he did not show signs of having contracted coronavirus.
Now, the NBA has instituted rules to prevent the further spread of the virus through the league.
“We’re all feeling it, and everybody has to take it very seriously, and we have to do everything possible to put people’s health first regardless of what kind of inconvenience there is for ourselves,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “We have to consider everyone else and live our lives the way that we are being advised by the health experts.”


mercurynews--2020-03-12--Wall Street’s worst day since 1987: Stocks continue to plummet

By Stan Choe and Alex Veiga | Associated Press NEW YORK ( AP ) — The escalating coronavirus emergency sent the stock market Thursday into its worst slide since the Black Monday crash of 1987 , extending a sell-off that has now wiped out most of Wall Street ’ s big gains since President Donald Trump took office .
The S & P 500 plummeted 9.5 % , for a total drop of 26.7 % from its all-time high , set just last month .
That puts it way over the 20 % threshold for a bear market , officially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run of nearly 11 years .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 2,352 points , or 10 % , its heaviest loss since its nearly 23 % drop on Oct. 19 , 1987 .
European markets fell 12 % in one of their worst days ever , even after the European Central Bank pledged to buy more bonds and offer more help for the economy .
The rout came amid a cascade of cancellations and shutdowns across the globe — including Trump ’ s suspension of most travel to the U.S. from Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House and other authorities around the world can ’ t or won ’ t counter the economic damage from the outbreak any time soon .
“ We ’ re starting to get a sense of how dire the impact on the economy is going to be .
Each day the news doesn ’ t get better , it gets worse .
It ’ s now hit Main Street to a more significant degree , ” said Liz Ann Sonders , chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab .
Stocks fell so fast on Wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triggered an automatic , 15-minute trading halt for the second time this week .
The so-called circuit breakers were first adopted after the 1987 crash , and until this week hadn ’ t been tripped since 1997 .
The Dow briefly turned upward and halved its losses at one point in the afternoon after the Federal Reserve announced it would step in to ease “ highly unusual disruptions ” in the Treasury market .
But the burst of momentum quickly faded .
Trump often points proudly to the big run-up on Wall Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a rally last August that “ whether you love me or hate , you got ta vote for me , ” or else your 401 ( k ) will go “ down the tubes.
” Just last month , the Dow was boasting a nearly 50 % increase since Trump took the oath of office on Jan. 20 , 2017 .
By Thursday ’ s close , the Dow was clinging to a 6.9 % gain , though it was still up nearly 16 % since just before Trump ’ s election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went into a bear market on Wednesday , when it finished the day down more than 20 % from its all-time high .
For the S & P 500 , this is the fastest drop since World War II from a record high to a bear market .
The combined health crisis and retreat on Wall Street heightened fears of a recession .
“ This is bad .
The worst and fastest stock market correction in our career , ” Chris Rupkey , chief financial economist at MUFG Union , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is doomed to recession if the country stops working and takes the next 30 days off .
The stock market knows it.
” The coronavirus has infected around 128,000 people worldwide and killed over 4,700 .
The death toll in the U.S. climbed to 39 , with over 1,300 infections .
For most people , the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illnesses , including pneumonia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus in a matter of weeks .
The fallout mounted Thursday , as the NCAA canceled its men ’ s and women ’ s basketball tournaments , major league baseball postponed opening day , and Disneyland announced it is shutting down .
Even Mount Everest closed .
Closer to Wall Street , New York ’ s Metropolitan Museum of Art , Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera shut their doors , and Broadway theaters planned to go dark .
In a somber prime-time address Wednesday night from the White House , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as measures to extend loans , payroll tax cuts and other financial relief to individuals and businesses hurt by the crisis .
But the travel restrictions represented another heavy blow to the already battered airline and travel industries , and the other measures did not impress Wall Street .
“ What markets are waiting for are efforts to contain the virus in a very aggressive way , ways we ’ ve seen in other countries , ” said Nela Richardson , investment strategist at Edward Jones .
“ Short of that , nibbling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can help a firm with a very short-term impact or help an employee , doesn ’ t hurt , but it ’ s not the bull ’ s-eye , and it ’ s not as targeted as the markets would like to see.
” Michael McCarthy of CMC Markets said : “ The market judgment on that announcement is that it ’ s too little , too late.
” The damage was worldwide and eye-popping .
Among the big moves : • Travel stocks again were among the hardest hit .
Norwegian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost roughly a third of their value .
Another drop for United Airlines put its loss for the year at nearly 58 % .
• Oil continued its brutal week , with benchmark U.S. crude at $ 31.50 per barrel .
• In Asia , stocks in Thailand and the Philippines fell so fast that trading was temporarily halted .
Japan ’ s Nikkei 225 sank 4.4 % to its lowest close in four years , and South Korea ’ s market lost 3.9 % .
Also alarming were complaints in recent days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market wasn ’ t working well .
For reasons that weren ’ t immediately clear , traders said they were seeing surprisingly large gaps in prices being offered by buyers and sellers .
That threatened to cause the market to seize up .
In a surprise move , the Fed said it would pump in at least $ 1.5 trillion to help calm the market and facilitate trading .
• Coronavirus : Stocks swoon again as more cases are reported After earlier thinking that the virus could remain mostly in China and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed by a quick rebound , investors are seeing the damage and disruptions mount , with Italy locking itself down , the NBA suspending games and authorities in the U.S. and beyond banning large gatherings and closing schools .
“ Anyone who tells you they know how long this is going to last is wrong , ” said Adam Taback , chief investment officer for Wells Fargo Private Bank .
“ The uncertainty here is trying to figure out how you get this virus under control , and is that a matter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Press writer Yuri Kageyama contributed to this report .

By Stan Choe and Alex Veiga | Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — The escalating coronavirus emergency sent the stock market Thursday into its worst slide since the Black Monday crash of 1987, extending a sell-off that has now wiped out most of Wall Street’s big gains since President Donald Trump took office.
The S&P 500 plummeted 9.5%, for a total drop of 26.7% from its all-time high, set just last month. That puts it way over the 20% threshold for a bear market, officially ending Wall Street’s unprecedented bull-market run of nearly 11 years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 2,352 points, or 10%, its heaviest loss since its nearly 23% drop on Oct. 19, 1987.
European markets fell 12% in one of their worst days ever, even after the European Central Bank pledged to buy more bonds and offer more help for the economy.
The rout came amid a cascade of cancellations and shutdowns across the globe — including Trump’s suspension of most travel to the U.S. from Europe — and rising worries that the White House and other authorities around the world can’t or won’t counter the economic damage from the outbreak any time soon.
“We’re starting to get a sense of how dire the impact on the economy is going to be. Each day the news doesn’t get better, it gets worse. It’s now hit Main Street to a more significant degree,” said Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab.
Stocks fell so fast on Wall Street at the opening bell that they triggered an automatic, 15-minute trading halt for the second time this week. The so-called circuit breakers were first adopted after the 1987 crash, and until this week hadn’t been tripped since 1997.
The Dow briefly turned upward and halved its losses at one point in the afternoon after the Federal Reserve announced it would step in to ease “highly unusual disruptions” in the Treasury market. But the burst of momentum quickly faded.
Trump often points proudly to the big run-up on Wall Street under his administration, warning a crowd at a rally last August that “whether you love me or hate, you gotta vote for me,” or else your 401(k) will go “down the tubes.”
Just last month, the Dow was boasting a nearly 50% increase since Trump took the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2017. By Thursday’s close, the Dow was clinging to a 6.9% gain, though it was still up nearly 16% since just before Trump’s election in November 2016.
The Dow officially went into a bear market on Wednesday, when it finished the day down more than 20% from its all-time high. For the S&P 500, this is the fastest drop since World War II from a record high to a bear market.
The combined health crisis and retreat on Wall Street heightened fears of a recession.
“This is bad. The worst and fastest stock market correction in our career,” Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union, said in a research note overnight. “The economy is doomed to recession if the country stops working and takes the next 30 days off. The stock market knows it.”
The coronavirus has infected around 128,000 people worldwide and killed over 4,700. The death toll in the U.S. climbed to 39, with over 1,300 infections. For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the virus in a matter of weeks.
The fallout mounted Thursday, as the NCAA canceled its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, major league baseball postponed opening day, and Disneyland announced it is shutting down. Even Mount Everest closed. Closer to Wall Street, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera shut their doors, and Broadway theaters planned to go dark.
In a somber prime-time address Wednesday night from the White House, Trump announced the new travel ban as well as measures to extend loans, payroll tax cuts and other financial relief to individuals and businesses hurt by the crisis.
But the travel restrictions represented another heavy blow to the already battered airline and travel industries, and the other measures did not impress Wall Street.
“What markets are waiting for are efforts to contain the virus in a very aggressive way, ways we’ve seen in other countries,” said Nela Richardson, investment strategist at Edward Jones. “Short of that, nibbling around the edges, maybe doing something that can help a firm with a very short-term impact or help an employee, doesn’t hurt, but it’s not the bull’s-eye, and it’s not as targeted as the markets would like to see.”
Michael McCarthy of CMC Markets said: “The market judgment on that announcement is that it’s too little, too late.”
The damage was worldwide and eye-popping. Among the big moves:
Travel stocks again were among the hardest hit. Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises both lost roughly a third of their value. Another drop for United Airlines put its loss for the year at nearly 58%.
Oil continued its brutal week, with benchmark U.S. crude at $31.50 per barrel.
In Asia, stocks in Thailand and the Philippines fell so fast that trading was temporarily halted. Japan’s Nikkei 225 sank 4.4% to its lowest close in four years, and South Korea’s market lost 3.9%.
Also alarming were complaints in recent days by investors that trading in the Treasury market wasn’t working well. For reasons that weren’t immediately clear, traders said they were seeing surprisingly large gaps in prices being offered by buyers and sellers. That threatened to cause the market to seize up.
In a surprise move, the Fed said it would pump in at least $1.5 trillion to help calm the market and facilitate trading.
After earlier thinking that the virus could remain mostly in China and that any dip in the economy would be followed by a quick rebound, investors are seeing the damage and disruptions mount, with Italy locking itself down, the NBA suspending games and authorities in the U.S. and beyond banning large gatherings and closing schools.
“Anyone who tells you they know how long this is going to last is wrong,” said Adam Taback, chief investment officer for Wells Fargo Private Bank. “The uncertainty here is trying to figure out how you get this virus under control, and is that a matter of days, weeks or months.”
Associated Press writer Yuri Kageyama contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-03-12--Los Gatos girls basketball team has great run in NorCal playoffs

It was a longshot that the Los Gatos High School girls basketball team would be selected to compete in the California Interscholastic Federation Northern California playoffs .
But once the Wildcats got a spot in the Division III bracket , they proved they belonged in this postseason competition .
The 14th-seeded Wildcats upset No .
3 Placer 53-50 and No .
6 Palo Alto 47-44 before falling behind in the fourth quarter against No .
2 St. Mary ’ s Berkeley in the semifinals , two games from reaching the state championships .
“ It was so fun , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the experience .
“ We were so happy to get another shot .
It was like a new-found lease on life.
” There were only two double-digit seeds that reached the girls semifinals in any of the seven divisions – Los Gatos and No .
11 Sierra Pacific-Hanford ( Division IV ) .
It appeared that Los Gatos ’ season could be done after a 45-37 loss to No .
1 seed Palo Alto in the Central Coast Section Division I semifinals on Feb. 27 .
Los Gatos , the fifth seed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CCS Basketball committee as one of three semifinalists out of all the CCS divisions to continue on to the NorCal tournament .
Quilici said she told her team “ it was a small chance , but it didn ’ t seem likely.
” But Los Gatos was selected .
The Wildcats were given the No .
14 seed in Division III at the seeding meeting and would most likely play every game on the road .
In both of Los Gatos ’ ( 21-9 ) wins in the tournament , it received clutch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Placer ( 26-4 ) , Los Gatos held a 10-point lead in the third quarter before Placer rallied and held a two-point lead in the last two minutes .
But a step-back three-pointer by Los Gatos junior Olivia Lo and a free throw by senior Sabrina Belquist helped the Wildcats to come back .
Los Gatos junior Ashley Poshard led the team with 18 points , Belquist had 15 points and Lo finished with 14 .
Then Los Gatos faced a challenge against rival Palo Alto ( 19-9 ) , who the Wildcats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In fact , the Wildcats had not beaten the Vikings since 2016 , going 0-11 during that period including three CCS playoff losses .
In the March 5 game , Los Gatos trailed 22-19 at halftime to host Palo Alto , but went on a 21-11 run in the third quarter behind the hot shooting of Lo , who scored three baskets in a row and finished with a team-high 15 points .
The eventual winning points were due to a Belquist corner three-pointer in the final minute .
Belquist , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had 10 points in the game and freshman center Casey Brennan had nine points .
“ Everybody was so excited , ” said Quilici , in her second season as Los Gatos ’ coach .
“ I think we all knew we could beat them .
We just had to play well.
” Against St. Mary ’ s , Los Gatos led 25-22 at halftime and trailed by just six points ( 40-34 ) at the end of the third quarter .
But the host Panthers lengthened their lead , outscoring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lo poured in 27 points to cap a great NorCal run , and Belquist added nine points .
Los Gatos , the No .
3 seed in the CIF Northern California Division II playoffs , fell 4-1 in its opener to No .
6 Maria Carrillo on March 3 .
The host Wildcats finished their season with a 15-3-4 record .
Los Gatos went 2-1 last week to enter this week with a 3-1 record in the young season .
The Wildcats bounced back from an 8-5 loss to San Benito on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two days later and a 10-run win over Santa Cruz on Saturday .
San Benito scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to win against Los Gatos .
Kai Hori , Tommy Splaine and Logan Johnstone all had two hits for the Wildcats , and Splaine drove in three runs .
Los Gatos pounded out 11 hits in a 10-1 victory over Serra on March 5 .
Hori slammed a home run and had three RBI , and teammate Tommy Troy was 3 for 3 with a double , two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added two hits and two RBI , and Splaine and Jimmy Moore combined for a seven-hitter in the win .
On Saturday , the Wildcats ’ Ryan Nelson slammed two doubles and Splaine also had two hits , including a double , with four RBI in an 11-1 win over Santa Cruz .
Michael Splaine allowed only three hits and one run while striking out nine in four innings on the mound for Los Gatos .
Prospect was 1-1 last week to begin this week with a 4-2 record .
On March 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jackson Prudhon drove in the team ’ s only run in the top of the third inning .
But two days later , Prospect took a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning on its way to a 6-3 victory over Monta Vista .
Ketan Bagade slammed a triple and scored a run , and teammates Brandon Rodriguez and Robert Drews both had doubles and RBI in the win .
Los Gatos took a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning on its way to an 8-6 victory over Hillsdale in the Wildcats ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinched the win with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning .
Saratoga also won its opener , 17-3 over Gunderson on March 2 .

It was a longshot that the Los Gatos High School girls basketball team would be selected to compete in the California Interscholastic Federation Northern California playoffs.
But once the Wildcats got a spot in the Division III bracket, they proved they belonged in this postseason competition. The 14th-seeded Wildcats upset No. 3 Placer 53-50 and No. 6 Palo Alto 47-44 before falling behind in the fourth quarter against No. 2 St. Mary’s Berkeley in the semifinals, two games from reaching the state championships.
“It was so fun,” said Los Gatos coach Sara Quilici about the experience. “We were so happy to get another shot. It was like a new-found lease on life.”
There were only two double-digit seeds that reached the girls semifinals in any of the seven divisions – Los Gatos and No. 11 Sierra Pacific-Hanford (Division IV).
It appeared that Los Gatos’ season could be done after a 45-37 loss to No. 1 seed Palo Alto in the Central Coast Section Division I semifinals on Feb. 27. Los Gatos, the fifth seed, would need to be selected by a CCS Basketball committee as one of three semifinalists out of all the CCS divisions to continue on to the NorCal tournament. Quilici said she told her team “it was a small chance, but it didn’t seem likely.”
But Los Gatos was selected. The Wildcats were given the No. 14 seed in Division III at the seeding meeting and would most likely play every game on the road.
In both of Los Gatos’ (21-9) wins in the tournament, it received clutch performances in the second half.
Against Placer (26-4), Los Gatos held a 10-point lead in the third quarter before Placer rallied and held a two-point lead in the last two minutes. But a step-back three-pointer by Los Gatos junior Olivia Lo and a free throw by senior Sabrina Belquist helped the Wildcats to come back. Los Gatos junior Ashley Poshard led the team with 18 points, Belquist had 15 points and Lo finished with 14.
Then Los Gatos faced a challenge against rival Palo Alto (19-9), who the Wildcats had lost three games already this season. In fact, the Wildcats had not beaten the Vikings since 2016, going 0-11 during that period including three CCS playoff losses.
In the March 5 game, Los Gatos trailed 22-19 at halftime to host Palo Alto, but went on a 21-11 run in the third quarter behind the hot shooting of Lo, who scored three baskets in a row and finished with a team-high 15 points. The eventual winning points were due to a Belquist corner three-pointer in the final minute. Belquist, who had an outstanding career at Los Gatos, had 10 points in the game and freshman center Casey Brennan had nine points.
“Everybody was so excited,” said Quilici, in her second season as Los Gatos’ coach. “I think we all knew we could beat them. We just had to play well.”
Against St. Mary’s, Los Gatos led 25-22 at halftime and trailed by just six points (40-34) at the end of the third quarter. But the host Panthers lengthened their lead, outscoring the Wildcats 21-12 in the final period. Lo poured in 27 points to cap a great NorCal run, and Belquist added nine points.
Girls soccer
Los Gatos, the No. 3 seed in the CIF Northern California Division II playoffs, fell 4-1 in its opener to No. 6 Maria Carrillo on March 3. The host Wildcats finished their season with a 15-3-4 record.
Baseball
Los Gatos went 2-1 last week to enter this week with a 3-1 record in the young season. The Wildcats bounced back from an 8-5 loss to San Benito on March 3 with a big win over Serra two days later and a 10-run win over Santa Cruz on Saturday.
San Benito scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to win against Los Gatos. Kai Hori, Tommy Splaine and Logan Johnstone all had two hits for the Wildcats, and Splaine drove in three runs.
Los Gatos pounded out 11 hits in a 10-1 victory over Serra on March 5. Hori slammed a home run and had three RBI, and teammate Tommy Troy was 3 for 3 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Johnstone added two hits and two RBI, and Splaine and Jimmy Moore combined for a seven-hitter in the win.
On Saturday, the Wildcats’ Ryan Nelson slammed two doubles and Splaine also had two hits, including a double, with four RBI in an 11-1 win over Santa Cruz. Michael Splaine allowed only three hits and one run while striking out nine in four innings on the mound for Los Gatos.
Prospect was 1-1 last week to begin this week with a 4-2 record.
On March 3, the Panthers fell 7-1 to Homestead. Jackson Prudhon drove in the team’s only run in the top of the third inning.
But two days later, Prospect took a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning on its way to a 6-3 victory over Monta Vista. Ketan Bagade slammed a triple and scored a run, and teammates Brandon Rodriguez and Robert Drews both had doubles and RBI in the win.
Softball
Los Gatos took a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning on its way to an 8-6 victory over Hillsdale in the Wildcats’ opener on March 5. The Wildcats clinched the win with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Saratoga also won its opener, 17-3 over Gunderson on March 2.


mercurynews--2020-03-12--Oakland’s Lungomare closes after 7 years on waterfront

Lungomare , one of the first restaurants to establish Jack London Square as a culinary destination , has closed its doors after seven years on the Oakland waterfront .
The seafood-centric Italian eatery at 1 Broadway stopped service on Feb. 29 .
A March 1 message on the restaurant ’ s Facebook page posted by Joie de Vivre , the boutique hotel chain that owns the Waterfront Hotel above Lungomare , confirmed that a “ new waterfront dining experience ” will be coming to the space this summer , likely before the massive food hall , Oakland Assembly , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chef-owner Chris Pastena opened Lungomare in 2013 , introducing the waterfront to his brand of fresh , locally-sourced cuisine and paving the way for current tenants Forge , Dyafa and Farmhouse Kitchen .
He sold the restaurant to an L.A.-based restaurant group in June 2019 to focus on Chop Bar , Calavera and Tribune Tavern , his other restaurants .
On March 3 , Berkeleyside reported that Lungomare executive chef Phillip Taddei would be staying on to lead the kitchen for the new restaurant , but the tip is based on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the new Jack London Square restaurant .

Lungomare, one of the first restaurants to establish Jack London Square as a culinary destination, has closed its doors after seven years on the Oakland waterfront.
A March 1 message on the seafood-centric Italian restaurant’s Facebook page, posted by Joie de Vivre, the boutique hotel chain that owns the Waterfront Hotel above Lungomare, confirmed that a “new waterfront dining experience” will be coming to the space this summer, likely before the massive food hall, Oakland Assembly, also opens its doors in Jack London Square.
Chef-owner Chris Pastena opened Lungomare in 2013, introducing the waterfront to his brand of fresh, locally-sourced cuisine and paving the way for current tenants Forge, Dyafa and Farmhouse Kitchen. He sold the restaurant to an L.A.-based restaurant group in June 2019 to focus on Chop Bar, Calavera and Tribune Tavern, his other restaurants.
On March 3, Berkeleyside reported that Lungomare executive chef Phillip Taddei would be staying on to lead the kitchen for the new restaurant, but the tip is based on an anonymous source. Check back for information on the new Jack London Square restaurant.
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mercurynews--2020-03-12--Pittsburg rapper A-Wax charged with three felonies; bail revoked

MARTINEZ — Two days after his arrest in Pittsburg , Bay Area rapper A-Wax was charged with three felonies , and is now in county jail on no-bail status , according to public records .
A-Wax , whose real name is Aaron Scott Doppie , was charged Thursday afternoon with being a felon in possession of a firearm , illegal possession of ammunition , and having a large-capacity magazine .
The offense dates listed on all three charges are March 10 , the same day Doppie and two others were arrested in an early morning police raid in Pittsburg .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , other than to say it was active and details won ’ t be released until a later date .
It isn ’ t clear whether the gun charges were the original intent of the investigation , or simply the result of a gun recovered during the raid .
Jail records say Doppie — who was being held on $ 1.1 million bail yesterday — is now not eligible for bail .
He remains at the Martinez Detention Facility , according to the records .
The charging records say Doppie , 40 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a manslaughter conviction , which Doppie has said in interviews occurred when he was 16 .
The other is a 2001 burglary conviction , court records show .
Doppie ’ s rap career has spanned 20 years , and he ’ s become one of the most popular rappers in Contra Costa , known for a versatile delivery and prominent red “ P ” tattoo on his neck .
His songs have been cumulatively downloaded tens of millions of times .
Doppie is due in court at 1:30 p.m. Friday for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convicted of all three counts , Doppie would be eligible for a state prison sentence , but it ’ s unclear how much time he potentially faces .

MARTINEZ — Two days after his arrest in Pittsburg, Bay Area rapper A-Wax was charged with three felonies, and is now in county jail on no-bail status, according to public records.
A-Wax, whose real name is Aaron Scott Doppie, was charged Thursday afternoon with being a felon in possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, and having a large-capacity magazine. The offense dates listed on all three charges are March 10, the same day Doppie and two others were arrested in an early morning police raid in Pittsburg.
Police have not commented on the investigation, other than to say it was active and details won’t be released until a later date. It isn’t clear whether the gun charges were the original intent of the investigation, or simply the result of a gun recovered during the raid.
Jail records say Doppie — who was being held on $1.1 million bail yesterday — is now not eligible for bail. He remains at the Martinez Detention Facility, according to the records.
The charging records say Doppie, 40, has two felony convictions in Washington, including a manslaughter conviction, which Doppie has said in interviews occurred when he was 16. The other is a 2001 burglary conviction, court records show.
Doppie’s rap career has spanned 20 years, and he’s become one of the most popular rappers in Contra Costa, known for a versatile delivery and prominent red “P” tattoo on his neck. His songs have been cumulatively downloaded tens of millions of times.
Doppie is due in court at 1:30 p.m. Friday for an arraignment hearing, prosecutors said. If convicted of all three counts, Doppie would be eligible for a state prison sentence, but it’s unclear how much time he potentially faces.


mercurynews--2020-03-12--Coronavirus: White House guidance leaves Silicon Valley employers perplexed

With federal officials targeting Santa Clara County businesses with specific recommendations for slowing the spread of coronavirus that include health screenings for employees not working remotely , Silicon Valley companies are scratching their heads to understand how they might comply .
While Twitter on Wednesday ordered its employees around the world to work from home and virtually all other big companies have already urged employees to work remotely , the situation is far more challenging for customer-facing businesses .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the White House on Wednesday issued recommendations for mitigating the outbreak over the following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals , schools , seniors facilities , churches , hospitals and workplaces .
The workplace recommendations say employers should encourage employees to work remotely but if that ’ s not possible , they should ensure workers undergo “ regular health checks on arrival each day ( e.g.
, temperature and respiratory symptom screening ) of staff and visitors entering buildings.
” “ I ’ ve never heard of that , ” said John D ’ Ambrosio , co-owner of Giorgio ’ s Italian Food & Pizzeria in San Jose and Milpitas , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Mountain View .
D ’ Ambrosio said he didn ’ t know if he even had a legal right to conduct such testing , and even if he did , he doesn ’ t have what would be needed .
“ We ’ re not equipped , ” D ’ Ambrosio said .
The three restaurants , with 150 employees in total , are still doing a typical amount of business for the season , D ’ Ambrosio said , but he expects the situation to be different in two weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably see an increase in delivery service versus pickup to-go orders and in-house dining , ” D ’ Ambrosio said .
Management at the restaurants are reminding staff to keep the premises clean and wash and sanitize their hands more often , D ’ Ambrosio said .
Lunardi ’ s , an upscale grocery store in San Jose that ’ s part of an eight-store Bay Area chain , is twice as busy as usual with people stocking up on food and searching for hand sanitizer , paper towels and disinfectant spray , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Management has posted advisories that employees wash their hands frequently , and told staff to increase their use of hand sanitizer and continue adhering to strict food-related hygiene practices , Tauscher said .
“ There are a lot of customers that are a little paranoid if somebody coughs or something , ” Tauscher said .
“ But it ’ s allergy season , too.
” Tauscher said he didn ’ t know how the store , with its 100 employees , could comply with the health-check recommendation .
“ That would be kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Do you have to use a different thermometer for each ?
When our employees don ’ t feel well they don ’ t come to work .
They don ’ t have problems staying home .
Especially with the way things are , I don ’ t think they ’ d come into work if they had a fever.
” The Silicon Valley Leadership Group polled its 350 member-company CEOs about how they were responding to the outbreak .
Of the 95 who responded by mid-day Wednesday , about 46 percent said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , about 48 percent said they hadn ’ t changed their work-location policy , and about 5 percent said they were requiring employees to work from home .
Carl Guardino , president of the group , said he was surprised more companies were not making employees work from home .
“ If the numbers of people infected go up , and the numbers of people who lose their lives go up , then I believe that number will also go up , ” Guardino said .
Guardino emphasized that member companies requested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from one another in “ a valley known for fierce competition.
” • Steps your Starbucks may take to prevent the spread of coronavirus “ We ’ re learning from each other about travel practices , internal meetings , external meetings and gatherings , as well as workforce arrangements , ” Guardino said .
He dismissed the recommendation from the White House and CDC for employee health checks by employers .
“ What we ’ re learning from CDC and the state department of public health and others is you can have this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Guardino said .
“ Even if practical , what good is taking the temperature or a respiratory screening of every employee and every guest every day going to accomplish , when that will still miss people carrying COVID-19 who are asymptomatic ?
”

With federal officials targeting Santa Clara County businesses with specific recommendations for slowing the spread of coronavirus that include health screenings for employees not working remotely, Silicon Valley companies are scratching their heads to understand how they might comply.
While Twitter on Wednesday ordered its employees around the world to work from home and virtually all other big companies have already urged employees to work remotely, the situation is far more challenging for customer-facing businesses.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the White House on Wednesday issued recommendations for mitigating the outbreak over the following 30 days, with separate guidance for individuals, schools, seniors facilities, churches, hospitals and workplaces. The workplace recommendations say employers should encourage employees to work remotely but if that’s not possible, they should ensure workers undergo “regular health checks on arrival each day (e.g., temperature and respiratory symptom screening) of staff and visitors entering buildings.”
“I’ve never heard of that,” said John D’Ambrosio, co-owner of Giorgio’s Italian Food & Pizzeria in San Jose and Milpitas, and Frankie, Johnnie, & Luigi Too in Mountain View. D’Ambrosio said he didn’t know if he even had a legal right to conduct such testing, and even if he did, he doesn’t have what would be needed. “We’re not equipped,” D’Ambrosio said.
The three restaurants, with 150 employees in total, are still doing a typical amount of business for the season, D’Ambrosio said, but he expects the situation to be different in two weeks. “I predict that we’ll probably see an increase in delivery service versus pickup to-go orders and in-house dining,” D’Ambrosio said.
Management at the restaurants are reminding staff to keep the premises clean and wash and sanitize their hands more often, D’Ambrosio said.
Lunardi’s, an upscale grocery store in San Jose that’s part of an eight-store Bay Area chain, is twice as busy as usual with people stocking up on food and searching for hand sanitizer, paper towels and disinfectant spray, assistant manager Casey Tauscher said Thursday. Management has posted advisories that employees wash their hands frequently, and told staff to increase their use of hand sanitizer and continue adhering to strict food-related hygiene practices, Tauscher said. “There are a lot of customers that are a little paranoid if somebody coughs or something,” Tauscher said. “But it’s allergy season, too.”
Tauscher said he didn’t know how the store, with its 100 employees, could comply with the health-check recommendation. “That would be kind of hard,” Tauscher said. “Do you have to use a different thermometer for each? When our employees don’t feel well they don’t come to work. They don’t have problems staying home. Especially with the way things are, I don’t think they’d come into work if they had a fever.”
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group polled its 350 member-company CEOs about how they were responding to the outbreak. Of the 95 who responded by mid-day Wednesday, about 46 percent said they were encouraging employees to work from home, about 48 percent said they hadn’t changed their work-location policy, and about 5 percent said they were requiring employees to work from home. Carl Guardino, president of the group, said he was surprised more companies were not making employees work from home. “If the numbers of people infected go up, and the numbers of people who lose their lives go up, then I believe that number will also go up,” Guardino said.
Guardino emphasized that member companies requested a survey, hoping to gather insights from one another in “a valley known for fierce competition.”
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Business | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge “We’re learning from each other about travel practices, internal meetings, external meetings and gatherings, as well as workforce arrangements,” Guardino said.
He dismissed the recommendation from the White House and CDC for employee health checks by employers. “What we’re learning from CDC and the state department of public health and others is you can have this (virus) and be asymptomatic,” Guardino said. “Even if practical, what good is taking the temperature or a respiratory screening of every employee and every guest every day going to accomplish, when that will still miss people carrying COVID-19 who are asymptomatic?”


mercurynews--2020-03-13--Letter: It’s rare to find someone whose roots began in the Bay Area

It ’ s rare to find someone whose roots began here I was born in San Jose in 1966 .
I graduated in 1984 and got my first apartment while working full time at a bank .
In 1987 , my son was born .
He graduated in 2006 and got a job as an sign installer .
Housing has gotten so out of control , he never had the opportunity to afford his own apartment .
He is 31 and still lives at home .
It ’ s very rare to find a person whose roots began here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ replaced by engineers from other countries that work interdependently .
• Letter : The Delta project has had many aliases to obscure its origins • Letter : Avoid using fireplaces to keep everyone healthier • Letter : I worked at a clinic when the ACA was passed–I was elated • Letter : I would like to offer an apology to my great-grandchildren • Letter : Remote island nation more on top of virus than we are Being independent in America as we were taught is hurting Americans .
We must stand together strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s all taken away from us right under our noses .
Locals , wake up !
Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read more Letters to the Editor

It’s rare to find someone
whose roots began here
I was born in San Jose in 1966. I graduated in 1984 and got my first apartment while working full time at a bank.
In 1987, my son was born. He graduated in 2006 and got a job as an sign installer. Housing has gotten so out of control, he never had the opportunity to afford his own apartment. He is 31 and still lives at home.
It’s very rare to find a person whose roots began here. We are being pushed out. Then replaced by engineers from other countries that work interdependently.
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Shannon Lein
Milpitas
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Read more Letters to the Editor


mercurynews--2020-03-13--3 L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies, 5 firefighters quarantined amid coronavirus concern

Three L.A. County Sheriff ’ s deputies and five firefighters have been quarantined after responding to the death of a woman this week with coronavirus , the sheriff said on Thursday .
The 60-year-old woman tested positive for the novel coronavirus after her death in Pomona on Monday , March 9 .
She had been visiting a family in Walnut , officials have confirmed .
Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the woman had an underlying medical condition and had traveled internationally , including a long layover in South Korea .
The woman died shortly after she was hospitalized in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and officials at the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center .
In a health alert shared to its website Thursday , the city of Walnut said the woman ’ s travel history included a stay at a residence there .
Los Angeles County public health officials have said the woman did not circulate around the community and stayed primarily at the residence .
The family members of the patient are currently in quarantine , according to the city ’ s statement .
The city is coordinating with L.A. County public health officials to learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Walnut and her travel in the region .
In the meantime , the first-responding personnel have been quarantined at their homes and were being monitored for symptoms , officials said Thursday .
“ So far they are all asymptomatic , knock on wood , and hopefully it stays that way , ” said Sheriff Alex Villanueva .
So far in L.A. County there have been 32 confirmed cases of the virus — four in Long Beach and one in Pasadena — and the one death , according to the County of Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the personnel had tested positive for the respiratory illness that has led to 36 deaths in the United States and 1,215 cases in the United States , Villanueva was concerned that if the virus is not contained , similar instances could affect the allocation of resources in his department and smaller ones across the county , if their personnel contacts people who have the virus .
“ It just kind of demonstrates the threat of the virus to first responders , ” he said .
“ We keep getting first responders in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responders.
” Out of caution , the county has raised its emergency operations center response readiness to a “ Level 1 , ” enabling emergency agencies from various jurisdictions to coordinate a strong mutual aid response between the county ’ s 88 cities .
The Level 1 response allows the county to mobilize resources under the supervision of people who have expertise in crisis operations , Villanueva said .
The Sheriff ’ s Department is canceling vacations through the end of April to assure continuity of personnel , Villanueva said .
Dr. Barbara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports that any of the first-responders tested positive for the virus , but she acknowledged the risk that responders are walking into .
Her department has issued guidance on personal protection .
Among new protocols for that protection include new questions that dispatchers will now ask on 911 calls , such as if someone has been out of the country in the last 14 days , or if the person needing help has had a cough or a fever , said L.A. County Fire Inspector Henry Narvaez , a spokesman for the department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for responders , who would then relay it to the responder contacting a person who needs help .
For instance , an emergency responder would could send less personnel into a home initially , and they would wear personal protective gear .
The Walnut Valley Unified School District issued a statement Thursday that no student within the district lives at the residence where the woman had been staying .
The district said it is coordinating with the county health department and that all schools remain open and on their regular schedules .
Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk to its own workers .
“ Our highly trained staff followed all appropriate infection control protocols and took every precaution in caring for this patient , who tragically succumbed to their complications , ” said Dr. Daniel Gluckstein , director of Infectious Disease at Pomona Valley Hosptial Medical Center .
“ … The hospital has identified all staff who came into contact with the patient while providing care and is following all LA County Department of Public Health guidelines regarding healthcare worker exposure .
We understand people are feeling anxious about potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reassure our patients and their families that the risk of exposure from this case is low.
” COVID-19 , which stands for coronavirus disease 2019 , is caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2 .
Symptoms associated with the respiratory disease , which appear two-to-14 days after exposure , include fever , a cough and shortness of breath .
While most people — including healthy young adults — will experience mild symptoms , the disease can be severe and even fatal for at-risk groups , such as the elderly and those with underlying @ @ @

Three L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies and five firefighters have been quarantined after responding to the death of a woman this week with coronavirus, the sheriff said on Thursday.
The 60-year-old woman tested positive for the novel coronavirus after her death in Pomona on Monday, March 9. She had been visiting a family in Walnut, officials have confirmed.
Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the woman had an underlying medical condition and had traveled internationally, including a long layover in South Korea. The woman died shortly after she was hospitalized in full cardiac arrest, according to Ferrer and officials at the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.
In a health alert shared to its website Thursday, the city of Walnut said the woman’s travel history included a stay at a residence there. Los Angeles County public health officials have said the woman did not circulate around the community and stayed primarily at the residence. The family members of the patient are currently in quarantine, according to the city’s statement.
The city is coordinating with L.A. County public health officials to learn more about the woman’s stay in Walnut and her travel in the region.
In the meantime, the first-responding personnel have been quarantined at their homes and were being monitored for symptoms, officials said Thursday.
“So far they are all asymptomatic, knock on wood, and hopefully it stays that way,” said Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
So far in L.A. County there have been 32 confirmed cases of the virus — four in Long Beach and one in Pasadena — and the one death, according to the County of Los Angeles Public Health Department.
While none of the personnel had tested positive for the respiratory illness that has led to 36 deaths in the United States and 1,215 cases in the United States, Villanueva was concerned that if the virus is not contained, similar instances could affect the allocation of resources in his department and smaller ones across the county, if their personnel contacts people who have the virus.
“It just kind of demonstrates the threat of the virus to first responders,” he said. “We keep getting first responders in quarantine, we run out of first responders.”
Out of caution, the county has raised its emergency operations center response readiness to a “Level 1,” enabling emergency agencies from various jurisdictions to coordinate a strong mutual aid response between the county’s 88 cities.
The Level 1 response allows the county to mobilize resources under the supervision of people who have expertise in crisis operations, Villanueva said.
The Sheriff’s Department is canceling vacations through the end of April to assure continuity of personnel, Villanueva said.
Dr. Barbara Ferrer said on Thursday she had no reports that any of the first-responders tested positive for the virus, but she acknowledged the risk that responders are walking into. Her department has issued guidance on personal protection.
Among new protocols for that protection include new questions that dispatchers will now ask on 911 calls, such as if someone has been out of the country in the last 14 days, or if the person needing help has had a cough or a fever, said L.A. County Fire Inspector Henry Narvaez, a spokesman for the department.
A dispatcher will flag that information for responders, who would then relay it to the responder contacting a person who needs help. For instance, an emergency responder would could send less personnel into a home initially, and they would wear personal protective gear.
The Walnut Valley Unified School District issued a statement Thursday that no student within the district lives at the residence where the woman had been staying. The district said it is coordinating with the county health department and that all schools remain open and on their regular schedules.
Hospital officials were also working to lessen the risk to its own workers.
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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 “Our highly trained staff followed all appropriate infection control protocols and took every precaution in caring for this patient, who tragically succumbed to their complications,” said Dr. Daniel Gluckstein, director of Infectious Disease at Pomona Valley Hosptial Medical Center. “… The hospital has identified all staff who came into contact with the patient while providing care and is following all LA County Department of Public Health guidelines regarding healthcare worker exposure. We understand people are feeling anxious about potential exposure to coronavirus, but we want to reassure our patients and their families that the risk of exposure from this case is low.”
COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019, is caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms associated with the respiratory disease, which appear two-to-14 days after exposure, include fever, a cough and shortness of breath. While most people — including healthy young adults — will experience mild symptoms, the disease can be severe and even fatal for at-risk groups, such as the elderly and those with underlying health problems.


mercurynews--2020-03-13--How many body-brokering cases have been prosecuted by the feds under new law?

As California continues to grapple with the plague of body-brokering — the sometimes-deadly practice where addiction centers lure substance abusers into treatment , max out their insurance benefits , then give them drugs so they can test “ dirty ” and start the lucrative billing cycle again — officials here fear the federal government doesn ’ t have their backs .
Since President Trump signed a sweeping measure to address the nation ’ s opioid crisis in October 2018 , the U.S. Department of Justice hasn ’ t prosecuted a single case for body brokering , according to the DOJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Justice has not aggressively pursued cases where brokers treat patients as commodities , exploiting them for finders ’ fees with no intention of providing legitimate care , ” said Rep. Mike Levin , D-San Juan Capistrano , in a prepared statement .
“ There is no excuse for their failure to prosecute these cases , particularly when we desperately need an all-hands-on-deck approach to this crisis.
” Levin and five other Congressmembers wrote to U.S. Attorney General William Barr last August , stressing the need for federal action on body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice vary so widely from state to state — and since patients are often brokered across state lines — “ it is critical that the federal government step in , ” they wrote .
The letter was also signed by Reps. Harley Rouda , D-Laguna Beach ; Katie Porter , D-Irvine ; Judy Chu , D-Pasadena ; Gus Bilirakis , R-Florida ; and and Alcee Hastings , D-Florida .
All represent communities in Southern California and Florida that are so overpopulated with addiction rehab operators that the regions are known in the industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The lawmakers asked for data about the number of body brokering cases that have been filed under the new opioid law , how many convictions have been won , and the average sentence of offenders .
Five months later , the DOJ responded .
“ We have queried the United States Attorneys ’ Offices ’ case management system and have not identified any cases , ” Stephen E. Boyd , assistant attorney general , wrote last month in his official response .
“ This is not unexpected , however , given that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ago.
” Actually , the law was signed 16 months prior to Boyd ’ s response .
“ The Department takes seriously the need to investigate and prosecute illegal practices such as patient brokering and will carefully consider charging violations … in appropriate cases , ” Boyd wrote .
The DOJ can use other longstanding criminal statutes to prosecute violations , he wrote .
Knowingly and willfully defrauding , or attempting to defraud , any health care benefit program carries a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment , while the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 years .
Boyd said that in 2018 , the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Southern District of Florida charged four people with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with running a sober home while paying and receiving patient-brokering kickbacks funded through private health insurance reimbursements .
He cited no prosecutions in California , which became the hotbed for addiction-related fraud after Florida enacted stiffer laws on the addiction industry .
Florida ’ s Patient Brokering Act makes the offense a felony with a minimum $ 50,000 fine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Public Health the authority to penalize only licensed facilities and certified programs and counselors , with no specified fines .
It ’ s not for lack of trying .
In the California Legislature , state Sen. Pat Bates , R-Laguna Niguel , introduced a bill forbidding “ body brokering ” in sober living homes and slapping a $ 50,000 penalty on each occurrence , but it was sent back to the drawing board by the Senate Health Committee in January .
Bates has also introduced bills this session to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities ; require state-licensed and certified treatment programs to disclose their license numbers and expiration dates in all marketing materials ; and forbid rehab operators from false and misleading advertising .
She bemoaned the lack of federal action .
“ The failure of the DOJ to use this tool to reign in these predators in the substance abuse rehab industry is an injustice to the very people they have the duty to protect , ” said Bates .
Activist Wendy McEntyre of Sky Forest , whose son died of an overdose in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valley , said the DOJ ’ s lack of aggressive prosecution in this area adds insult to injury .
“ Current California law allows the back door to be left wide open by not penalizing the sober living home owner when they are ground zero for body brokering , ” McEntyre said .
“ I believe that all agencies attempting to place oversight on sober living homes are afraid of running afoul of fair housing and Americans with disabilities laws… .
This is why I believe there should be a National Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a health and human service issue that affects the entire nation.
” In California , a bi-partisan coalition led by state Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris , D-Laguna Beach , is working on a fundamental restructuring of the treatment industry here .
Activists hope it will resemble Florida ’ s stricter standards , and lawmakers plan to to unveil it later this year .
Echoing the findings of the Southern California News Group ’ s probe of the treatment industry , the Congressmembers told Attorney General Barr that body brokers treat patients as commodities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and often distant — facilities without meaningful supervision and support , to earn finders ’ fees up to tens of thousands of dollars.
” These facilities often buy private insurance in the patient ’ s name .
This allows the operator to bill hundreds of thousands of dollars for treatment , which does not always include strict medical oversight .
“ Once these benefits are exhausted , they eject the patients , often leaving them with nowhere else to go .
Brokers then push them to relapse by promising lavish lifestyles and providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance and re-enter addiction treatment , generating additional fees .
This perverse incentive system contributes to homelessness in our communities and results in countless relapses and deaths each year , ” the Congressmembers wrote .
Cities have found it hard to regulate sober living homes — which have become common in Southern California neighborhoods — because such homes have found legal protection under the Americans With Disabilities Act .
Lawyers for sober homes have successfully argued that people in those homes are disabled and that city attempts to regulate sober homes are discriminatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 ’ s disruption to their sports • Coronavirus : California nurses slam hospitals , CDC for not doing enough to protect them • San Mateo County pledges $ 20 million to stave off closure of hospital amid coronavirus outbreak But those rules might be changing .
On March 4 , a federal judge concluded that a history of addiction doesn ’ t automatically entitle people to protection under federal disability and fair housing laws .
Rather , they must prove disability on a case-by-case basis , said the judge in a lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could fundamentally change the way cities regulate sober living homes that have come to dominate many neighborhoods in Southern California .
Levin and the lawmakers plan to keep pushing .
“ We must use every tool at our disposal to ensure that people receive treatment and recovery services that are effective and accountable , ” Levin said in his statement .

As California continues to grapple with the plague of body-brokering — the sometimes-deadly practice where addiction centers lure substance abusers into treatment, max out their insurance benefits, then give them drugs so they can test “dirty” and start the lucrative billing cycle again — officials here fear the federal government doesn’t have their backs.
Since President Trump signed a sweeping measure to address the nation’s opioid crisis in October 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice hasn’t prosecuted a single case for body brokering, according to the DOJ.
“It is extremely frustrating that the Department of Justice has not aggressively pursued cases where brokers treat patients as commodities, exploiting them for finders’ fees with no intention of providing legitimate care,” said Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, in a prepared statement.
“There is no excuse for their failure to prosecute these cases, particularly when we desperately need an all-hands-on-deck approach to this crisis.”
Levin and five other Congressmembers wrote to U.S. Attorney General William Barr last August, stressing the need for federal action on body brokering. Since state laws against the practice vary so widely from state to state — and since patients are often brokered across state lines — “it is critical that the federal government step in,” they wrote.
The letter was also signed by Reps. Harley Rouda, D-Laguna Beach; Katie Porter, D-Irvine; Judy Chu, D-Pasadena; Gus Bilirakis, R-Florida; and and Alcee Hastings, D-Florida. All represent communities in Southern California and Florida that are so overpopulated with addiction rehab operators that the regions are known in the industry as the Rehab Riveria and Florida Shuffle.
The lawmakers asked for data about the number of body brokering cases that have been filed under the new opioid law, how many convictions have been won, and the average sentence of offenders.
Five months later, the DOJ responded.
“We have queried the United States Attorneys’ Offices’ case management system and have not identified any cases,” Stephen E. Boyd, assistant attorney general, wrote last month in his official response. “This is not unexpected, however, given that the statute was enacted less than one year ago.”
Actually, the law was signed 16 months prior to Boyd’s response.
“The Department takes seriously the need to investigate and prosecute illegal practices such as patient brokering and will carefully consider charging violations … in appropriate cases,” Boyd wrote.
The DOJ can use other longstanding criminal statutes to prosecute violations, he wrote. Knowingly and willfully defrauding, or attempting to defraud, any health care benefit program carries a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment, while the new opioid law has a maximum penalty of 10 years.
Boyd said that in 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida charged four people with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with running a sober home while paying and receiving patient-brokering kickbacks funded through private health insurance reimbursements.
He cited no prosecutions in California, which became the hotbed for addiction-related fraud after Florida enacted stiffer laws on the addiction industry.
State efforts
Florida’s Patient Brokering Act makes the offense a felony with a minimum $50,000 fine. California’s much weaker law gives the Department of Public Health the authority to penalize only licensed facilities and certified programs and counselors, with no specified fines.
It’s not for lack of trying. In the California Legislature, state Sen. Pat Bates, R-Laguna Niguel, introduced a bill forbidding “body brokering” in sober living homes and slapping a $50,000 penalty on each occurrence, but it was sent back to the drawing board by the Senate Health Committee in January.
Bates has also introduced bills this session to allow state regulators to take action against unlicensed facilities; require state-licensed and certified treatment programs to disclose their license numbers and expiration dates in all marketing materials; and forbid rehab operators from false and misleading advertising.
She bemoaned the lack of federal action.
“The failure of the DOJ to use this tool to reign in these predators in the substance abuse rehab industry is an injustice to the very people they have the duty to protect,” said Bates.
Activist Wendy McEntyre of Sky Forest, whose son died of an overdose in a sober living home in the San Fernando Valley, said the DOJ’s lack of aggressive prosecution in this area adds insult to injury.
“Current California law allows the back door to be left wide open by not penalizing the sober living home owner when they are ground zero for body brokering,” McEntyre said.
“I believe that all agencies attempting to place oversight on sober living homes are afraid of running afoul of fair housing and Americans with disabilities laws…. This is why I believe there should be a National Department of Treatment and Sober Living, as this is a health and human service issue that affects the entire nation.”
In California, a bi-partisan coalition led by state Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Laguna Beach, is working on a fundamental restructuring of the treatment industry here. Activists hope it will resemble Florida’s stricter standards, and lawmakers plan to to unveil it later this year.
Rehab Riviera
Echoing the findings of the Southern California News Group’s probe of the treatment industry, the Congressmembers told Attorney General Barr that body brokers treat patients as commodities, recruiting them to “disreputable — and often distant — facilities without meaningful supervision and support, to earn finders’ fees up to tens of thousands of dollars.”
These facilities often buy private insurance in the patient’s name. This allows the operator to bill hundreds of thousands of dollars for treatment, which does not always include strict medical oversight.
“Once these benefits are exhausted, they eject the patients, often leaving them with nowhere else to go. Brokers then push them to relapse by promising lavish lifestyles and providing drugs so they can qualify for new insurance and re-enter addiction treatment, generating additional fees. This perverse incentive system contributes to homelessness in our communities and results in countless relapses and deaths each year,” the Congressmembers wrote.
Cities have found it hard to regulate sober living homes — which have become common in Southern California neighborhoods — because such homes have found legal protection under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Lawyers for sober homes have successfully argued that people in those homes are disabled and that city attempts to regulate sober homes are discriminatory.
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On March 4, a federal judge concluded that a history of addiction doesn’t automatically entitle people to protection under federal disability and fair housing laws. Rather, they must prove disability on a case-by-case basis, said the judge in a lawsuit involving Costa Mesa.
If upheld, that could fundamentally change the way cities regulate sober living homes that have come to dominate many neighborhoods in Southern California.
Levin and the lawmakers plan to keep pushing. “We must use every tool at our disposal to ensure that people receive treatment and recovery services that are effective and accountable,” Levin said in his statement.