mercurynews--2020-10-10--Delta adds insult to injury in hurricane-ravaged Louisiana

By Rebecca Santana , Stacey Plaisance and Alanna Durkin Richer | Associated Press LAKE CHARLES , La .
— The day after Hurricane Delta blew through besieged southern Louisiana , residents started the routine again : dodging overturned cars , trudging through knee-deep water to flooded homes with ruined floors and no power , and pledging to rebuild after the storm .
Delta made landfall Friday evening near the coastal Louisiana town of Creole with top winds of 100 mph ( 155 kph ) .
It then moved over Lake Charles , a city where Hurricane Laura damaged nearly every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No deaths had been reported as of Saturday afternoon , but officials said people were not out of danger .
While Delta was a weaker storm than Category 4 Laura , it brought significantly more flooding , Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said .
He estimated that hundreds of already battered homes across the city took on water .
The recovery from the double impact will be long , the mayor said .
“ Add Laura and Delta together and it ’ s just absolutely unprecedented and catastrophic , ” Hunter said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything going in the country right now that this incident may not be on the radar nationally like it should be.
” Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards said no fatalities had been reported as of Saturday , but a hurricane ’ s wake can be treacherous .
Only seven of the 32 deaths in Louisiana and Texas attributed to Laura came the day that hurricane struck .
A leading cause of the others was carbon monoxide poisoning from generators used in buildings without electricity .
“ Everybody needs to exercise a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially now , ” Edwards said .
Delta , the 25th named storm of an unprecedented Atlantic hurricane season , was the 10th named storm to hit the mainland U.S. this year , breaking a record set in 1916 , Colorado State University researcher Phil Klotzbach said .
It rapidly weakened over land and slowed into a tropical depression Saturday morning .
Forecasters warned that heavy rain , storm surges and flash floods continued to pose dangers in areas from Texas to Mississippi .
Large swells and rip currents closed beaches down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the storm also could spawn tornadoes in the Tennessee Valley into Sunday , and flash floods could hit the southern Appalachians , the National Weather Service said .
Louisiana avoided one feared scenario : that the winds would pick up the debris left by Laura – piles of soggy insulation , moldy mattresses , tree limbs and twisted metal siding – and turn it into projectiles .
In at least some neighborhoods , the small mountains stood on curbs more or less intact .
Delta inflicted most of its damage with rain instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inches of rain on Lake Charles over two days and more than 10 inches on Baton Rouge .
Southwest parishes such as Cameron , Jefferson Davis , Vermilion and Acadia that sustained heavy blows from Laura took the hardest hit .
The governor cautioned that it would be difficult to distinguish the damage Delta caused from what was leftover from the August hurricane .
More than 9,400 people were being sheltered by the state Saturday , but only 935 were Delta evacuees , Edwards said .
The others were still displaced by Laura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soldiers were mobilized to clear roads and to distribute meals and tarps , and 10,000 utility workers were working to get power restored to nearly 600,000 customers .
With the water knee-deep along Legion Street in Lake Charles , resident Patrick King had to wade through the water Saturday to get to his home after he returned from spending the night in Beaumont , Texas .
“ I was hoping and praying that it didn ’ t get into the house , but it did .
It rose up close to the furniture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he had put sandbags and plastic in the doorway to keep water out of his one-story brick house .
Pulling them back upon his return , he saw worms and spiders scurrying about inside .
“ Look at that , look at that , ” he said .
“ Worms !
My wife sees that , she ’ s going to cry.
” “ It ’ s totally frustrating and in fact , it makes you want to give up , but you have to keep on pushing , ” King said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are praying people , so we just believe that God let things happen for a reason.
” The damage also stretched inland , with trees shorn of leaves and falling onto streets in Louisiana ’ s capital of Baton Rouge .
The storm blew down two homes under construction in Galveston , Texas , and toppled the steeple of a church in Jennings , Louisiana .
Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso told KPLC-TV that the vehicles overturned on Interstate 10 should give pause to anyone thinking about rushing back to the disaster area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rain is the biggest problem , ” Mancuso said .
“ It ’ s still dangerous out there , and we ’ re just going to have to start over from a few weeks ago.
” The U.S. Gulf Coast is no stranger to hurricanes , and its people are resilient , Lake Charles resident Katie Prejean McGrady said .
But the double punch of the back-to-back storms — on top of the pandemic — has left many in the community reeling , she said .
“ I ’ m taxed out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in town , ” she said .
“ There ’ s a mental exhaustion that sets in and then there ’ s a fear of ‘ Does anybody outside this region care ?
’ ” she said .
“ The reality is our town won ’ t be the same for a year , if not longer.
” McGrady and her family had just returned to their home for the first time since evacuating ahead of Hurricane Laura when she was nine months pregnant .
They arrived back in Lake Charles last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday and had to evacuate again Thursday .
• Beta hits Texas , first Greek-letter tropical storm ever to make landfall • ‘ Get out the Greek alphabet ’ : After running out of storm names , hurricane center pivots “ My husband hadn ’ t even unpacked his suitcase , ” McGrady said , who works for a Catholic publisher .
“ I had just put away my daughter ’ s toys.
” Associated Press contributors include Rebecca Santana in Jennings , Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge ; Gerald Herbert in Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maryland ; Alanna Durkin Richer in West Harwich , Massachusetts and Sophia Tulp in Atlanta .

By Rebecca Santana, Stacey Plaisance and Alanna Durkin Richer | Associated Press
LAKE CHARLES, La. — The day after Hurricane Delta blew through besieged southern Louisiana, residents started the routine again: dodging overturned cars, trudging through knee-deep water to flooded homes with ruined floors and no power, and pledging to rebuild after the storm.
Delta made landfall Friday evening near the coastal Louisiana town of Creole with top winds of 100 mph (155 kph). It then moved over Lake Charles, a city where Hurricane Laura damaged nearly every home and building in late August. No deaths had been reported as of Saturday afternoon, but officials said people were not out of danger.
Trees are cleared that have fallen on houses during Hurricane Delta in Jennings, La., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. The day after Hurricane Delta blew through besieged southern Louisiana, residents started the routine again: dodging overturned cars on the roads, trudging through knee-deep water to flooded homes with ruined floors and no power, and pledging to rebuild after the storm. (Scott Clause /The Daily Advertiser via AP)
Carey Blackmon, left, and Jerry Veal fist bump as Larry arrives to help Blackmon and others clean up Jerry's brother's house in Gloster, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, after a tree fell on it during Hurricane Delta. (Matt Williamson/The Enterprise-Journal via AP)
A former baseball player with LSU, Gerard Victoriano, Jr., salvages his old jersey the morning after Hurricane Delta passed over his house southeast of Lake Charles, La., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. His house was originally destroyed by Hurricane Laura. Rain and floodwater from Hurricane Delta can still be seen on the floor of his gutted living room. (Chris Granger/The Advocate via AP)
This GOES-16 GeoColor satellite image taken Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. EDT, and provided by NOAA, shows Hurricane Delta in the Gulf of Mexico. Landfall is expected Friday evening. (NOAA via AP)
Alayna Trahan, 13, and her sister, Chancy, 9, paddle in a pirogue across their front yard where Hurricane Delta pushed water around their home in southwest Louisiana on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (Chris Granger/The Advocate via AP)
Larry Veal Jr. hauls a way a piece of an oak tree after Hurricane Delta dropped a tree on his family's house, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, in Gloster, Miss. (Matt Williamson/The Enterprise-Journal via AP)
A vehicle passes a damaged utility pole after Hurricane Delta passed the area near Lake Arthur, La. Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. The day after Hurricane Delta blew through besieged southern Louisiana, residents started the routine again: dodging overturned cars on the roads, trudging through knee-deep water to flooded homes with ruined floors and no power, and pledging to rebuild after the storm. (Scott Clause /The Daily Advertiser via AP)
LAKE ARTHUR, LA - OCTOBER 10: A damaged property is seen after Hurricane Delta passed through the area on October 10, 2020 in Lake Arthur, Louisiana. Hurricane Delta made landfall as a Category 2 storm in Louisiana initially leaving some 300,000 customers without power. (Photo by Go Nakamura/Getty Images)
A truck drives through a flooded street in Lake Charles, La., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, past a home with damage from Hurricane Laura, after Hurricane Delta moved through on Friday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Marcus Peterson walks past a downed tree in his yard after Hurricane Delta moved through, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, in Jennings, La. Delta hit as a Category 2 hurricane with top winds of 100 mph (155 kph) before rapidly weakening over land. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Ronnie Guillory cleans up debris in a yard after Hurricane Delta in Jennings, La., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. The morning after Hurricane Delta blew through the besieged Louisiana bayou, residents are checking to see if the Category 2 storm had brought more deaths and destruction to communities with mountains of debris and displaced residents from another hurricane six weeks earlier. (Scott Clause/The Daily Advertiser via AP)
JENNINGS, LA - OCTOBER 10: A person pulls a shopping cart in front of fallen trees after Hurricane Delta passed through the area on October 10, 2020 in Jennings, Louisiana. Hurricane Delta made landfall as a Category 2 storm in Louisiana initially leaving some 300,000 customers without power. (Photo by Go Nakamura/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX ***
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While Delta was a weaker storm than Category 4 Laura, it brought significantly more flooding, Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said. He estimated that hundreds of already battered homes across the city took on water. The recovery from the double impact will be long, the mayor said.
“Add Laura and Delta together and it’s just absolutely unprecedented and catastrophic,” Hunter said. “We are very concerned that with everything going in the country right now that this incident may not be on the radar nationally like it should be.”
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said no fatalities had been reported as of Saturday, but a hurricane’s wake can be treacherous. Only seven of the 32 deaths in Louisiana and Texas attributed to Laura came the day that hurricane struck. A leading cause of the others was carbon monoxide poisoning from generators used in buildings without electricity.
“Everybody needs to exercise a lot of caution even now, and really, especially now,” Edwards said.
[vemba-video id=”weather/2020/10/10/tropical-depression-delta-update-path-gulf-coast-vpx.cnn”]
Delta, the 25th named storm of an unprecedented Atlantic hurricane season, was the 10th named storm to hit the mainland U.S. this year, breaking a record set in 1916, Colorado State University researcher Phil Klotzbach said.
It rapidly weakened over land and slowed into a tropical depression Saturday morning. Forecasters warned that heavy rain, storm surges and flash floods continued to pose dangers in areas from Texas to Mississippi. Large swells and rip currents closed beaches down to the Mexican border.
Remnants of the storm also could spawn tornadoes in the Tennessee Valley into Sunday, and flash floods could hit the southern Appalachians, the National Weather Service said.
Louisiana avoided one feared scenario: that the winds would pick up the debris left by Laura – piles of soggy insulation, moldy mattresses, tree limbs and twisted metal siding – and turn it into projectiles. In at least some neighborhoods, the small mountains stood on curbs more or less intact.
Delta inflicted most of its damage with rain instead wind. It dumped more than 15 inches of rain on Lake Charles over two days and more than 10 inches on Baton Rouge. Southwest parishes such as Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Vermilion and Acadia that sustained heavy blows from Laura took the hardest hit.
The governor cautioned that it would be difficult to distinguish the damage Delta caused from what was leftover from the August hurricane. More than 9,400 people were being sheltered by the state Saturday, but only 935 were Delta evacuees, Edwards said. The others were still displaced by Laura.
Edwards said 3,000 Louisiana National Guard soldiers were mobilized to clear roads and to distribute meals and tarps, and 10,000 utility workers were working to get power restored to nearly 600,000 customers.
With the water knee-deep along Legion Street in Lake Charles, resident Patrick King had to wade through the water Saturday to get to his home after he returned from spending the night in Beaumont, Texas.
“I was hoping and praying that it didn’t get into the house, but it did. It rose up close to the furniture,” King said.
Before evacuating, he had put sandbags and plastic in the doorway to keep water out of his one-story brick house. Pulling them back upon his return, he saw worms and spiders scurrying about inside.
“Look at that, look at that,” he said. “Worms! My wife sees that, she’s going to cry.”
“It’s totally frustrating and in fact, it makes you want to give up, but you have to keep on pushing,” King said. “Me and my wife, we are praying people, so we just believe that God let things happen for a reason.”
The damage also stretched inland, with trees shorn of leaves and falling onto streets in Louisiana’s capital of Baton Rouge. The storm blew down two homes under construction in Galveston, Texas, and toppled the steeple of a church in Jennings, Louisiana.
Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso told KPLC-TV that the vehicles overturned on Interstate 10 should give pause to anyone thinking about rushing back to the disaster area.
“Rising water with all the rain is the biggest problem,” Mancuso said. “It’s still dangerous out there, and we’re just going to have to start over from a few weeks ago.”
The U.S. Gulf Coast is no stranger to hurricanes, and its people are resilient, Lake Charles resident Katie Prejean McGrady said. But the double punch of the back-to-back storms — on top of the pandemic — has left many in the community reeling, she said.
“I’m taxed out. And I think that’s most people in town,” she said. “There’s a mental exhaustion that sets in and then there’s a fear of ‘Does anybody outside this region care?’” she said. “The reality is our town won’t be the same for a year, if not longer.”
McGrady and her family had just returned to their home for the first time since evacuating ahead of Hurricane Laura when she was nine months pregnant. They arrived back in Lake Charles last weekend, got a new roof on Monday and had to evacuate again Thursday.
“My husband hadn’t even unpacked his suitcase,” McGrady said, who works for a Catholic publisher. “I had just put away my daughter’s toys.”
Associated Press contributors include Rebecca Santana in Jennings, Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge; Gerald Herbert in Lake Charles; Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Maryland; Alanna Durkin Richer in West Harwich, Massachusetts and Sophia Tulp in Atlanta.


mercurynews--2020-10-10--Ex-NJ governor Chris Christie says he’s out of the hospital

TRENTON , N.J. ( AP ) — Former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie said Saturday he has been discharged from a New Jersey hospital where he spent a week , following his announcement that he had contracted the coronavirus .
“ I am happy to let you know that this morning I was released from Morristown Medical Center , ” Christie said in a Saturday morning post on Twitter .
“ I want to thank the extraordinary doctors & nurses who cared for me for the last week .
Thanks to my family & friends for their prayers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of this next week.
” Christie announced Oct. 3 that he had tested positive and said hours later that he had checked himself into the hospital after deciding with his doctors that doing so would be “ an important precautionary measure , ” given his history of asthma .
Christie was part of a string of virus cases connected to President Donald Trump ’ s inner circle .
In addition to Trump and first lady Melania Trump , multiple people who had traveled with the president or attended events with him recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former 2016 rival told The Associated Press on Oct. 2 that the last time he was with the president was Sept. 29 in Cleveland during preparations for his debate with former Vice President Joe Biden .
He tweeted the morning of Oct. 2 that he had last tested negative ahead of that first presidential debate and was not having any symptoms then .
• Love of job keeps 80-year-old EMT working during a pandemic • Salinas to receive $ 9.2 million to provide housing for homeless people In 2013 , during Christie ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he underwent lap-band surgery and lost a significant amount of weight .
Two years before that , he was hospitalized for difficulty breathing .
The 58-year-old , who uses an inhaler , once called himself “ the healthiest fat guy you ’ ve ever seen .
”

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Saturday he has been discharged from a New Jersey hospital where he spent a week, following his announcement that he had contracted the coronavirus.
“I am happy to let you know that this morning I was released from Morristown Medical Center,” Christie said in a Saturday morning post on Twitter. “I want to thank the extraordinary doctors & nurses who cared for me for the last week. Thanks to my family & friends for their prayers. I will have more to say about all of this next week.”
Christie announced Oct. 3 that he had tested positive and said hours later that he had checked himself into the hospital after deciding with his doctors that doing so would be “an important precautionary measure,” given his history of asthma.
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Christie was part of a string of virus cases connected to President Donald Trump’s inner circle. In addition to Trump and first lady Melania Trump, multiple people who had traveled with the president or attended events with him recently contracted the virus.
Trump’s former 2016 rival told The Associated Press on Oct. 2 that the last time he was with the president was Sept. 29 in Cleveland during preparations for his debate with former Vice President Joe Biden. He tweeted the morning of Oct. 2 that he had last tested negative ahead of that first presidential debate and was not having any symptoms then.


mercurynews--2020-10-10--49ers: Cornerback Jamar Taylor promoted from practice squad

The team promoted cornerback Jamar Taylor from the practice squad to the active roster and put defensive lineman Ziggy Ansah @ @ @ @ @ Williams on injured reserve .
Cornerback Brian Allen and wide receiver Kevin White also were @ @ @ @ @ .
The team also said cornerback Ken Webster will now wear No .
40 .
@ @ @ @ @ the 49ers has been a roller-coaster ride .
He signed with the team in early @ @ @ @ @ months later .
He rejoined the 49ers on Oct. 2 , signed to the practice @ @ @ @ @ a day later for the game against Philadelphia .
He had a tackle and sack @ @ @ @ @ loss to the Eagles .
Ansah is facing season-ending surgery after suffering a torn biceps @ @ @ @ @ Shanahan said this week .
Williams suffered a sprained knee in the Eagles game .
@ @ @ @ @ will miss at least three games .

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers announced a series of moves Saturday.
The team promoted cornerback Jamar Taylor from the practice squad to the active roster and put defensive lineman Ziggy Ansah and cornerback K’Waun Williams on injured reserve.
Cornerback Brian Allen and wide receiver Kevin White also were activated from the practice squad.
The team also said cornerback Ken Webster will now wear No. 40.
Taylor’s time with the 49ers has been a roller-coaster ride. He signed with the team in early July and was cut two months later. He rejoined the 49ers on Oct. 2, signed to the practice squad, and was activated a day later for the game against Philadelphia. He had a tackle and sack in the 49ers’ 25-20 loss to the Eagles.
Ansah is facing season-ending surgery after suffering a torn biceps against Philadelphia, Coach Kyle Shanahan said this week.
Williams suffered a sprained knee in the Eagles game. The move Saturday means he will miss at least three games.


mercurynews--2020-10-10--Several Stanley Cup winners breaking up championship core

While Braden Holtby saw his split with the Washington Capitals coming , Patric Hornqvist , Corey Crawford and Alex Pietrangelo weren ’ t so lucky .
Hornqvist was “ blindsided ” the Pittsburgh Penguins wanted to trade him .
Crawford was “ devastated ” the Chicago Blackhawks were going in another direction .
And Pietrangelo was caught off guard when the St. Louis Blues signed another big-money defenseman , moving on from him before he was ready to close the door on staying .
The past several weeks have featured several recent Stanley Cup winners breaking up their championship core @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his name on the trophy .
It ’ s a bittersweet reality in the NHL because of the salary cap , and the departing players are left with at least one Cup ring and the irreplaceable memories of winning — plus the hope they can do it all again with a new team .
“ We accomplished what we wanted to do there : We won a championship , and I think that ’ s something you can never take away , ” Holtby said after leaving Washington to sign with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important to me to find a team that has that same chance and that same structure of an organization and team that can win because that ’ s what you play for , and I think that ’ s the opportunity that we have in Vancouver that is very exciting to me.
” The young Canucks look ready to win now , and Holtby gives them another veteran with experience from deep playoff runs after they made it to the second round over the summer .
New Jersey is further away from being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plenty of similarities between the Devils and the Blackhawks of more than a decade ago that went on to capture the Cup three times .
Instead of Jonathan Toews , Patrick Kane , Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook , the Devils have Nico Hischier , Jack Hughes , Pavel Zacha and Jesper Bratt in their early 20s and able to grow up together .
“ Things change pretty quick in the NHL , ” Crawford said after signing with the Devils , who finished last in the Metropolitan Division , have one playoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over that time .
Chicago made the playoffs once in six years before winning it all in 2010 .
“ The Hawks did it .
They had a young group too , and they got good pretty fast .
… It ’ s a group that can definitely do the same thing.
” That ’ s what Hornqvist is betting on after waiving his no-trade clause to join the Florida Panthers .
The agitating , go-to-the-net winger helped Pittsburgh win the Cup in 2016 and 2017 .
He didn ’ t take it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they wanted to trade him , so now he ’ s even more motivated to help the Panthers get the job done .
“ The last six years of my hockey career has always been great in Pittsburgh , ” Hornqvist said .
“ All my family life is in Pittsburgh .
I like the city , I like the fans , but when they decide they didn ’ t want me , it was an easy choice to go down to Florida and try to win the Cup there.
” Former Penguins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same after getting traded and signing a $ 25 million , four-year contract with the Ottawa Senators .
Pittsburgh had already committed to Tristan Jarry as its goalie of the present and near future , so Murray gets a fresh start with a long-term rebuilding project in Ottawa .
Pietrangelo won ’ t need to be that patient .
While taken aback Friday night when the Blues signed Torey Krug to a $ 45.5 million , seven-year deal to essentially replace him on the blue line , Pietrangelo is almost certainly heading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the Vegas Golden Knights or another team .
GM Doug Armstrong said St. Louis tried hard to re-sign the only captain in franchise history to lift the Stanley Cup , but trading for and extending defenseman Justin Faulk at a big price more than a year ago and adding Krug paved Pietrangelo ’ s road out of town less than 16 months after winning it all .
“ That ’ s the frustration and the joy of today ’ s NHL with the salary cap , ” Armstrong said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s change and every team has to go through it .
You try and keep the nucleus together as long as possible , but change is inevitable.
” The Boston Bruins know that all too well .
They lost Krug because they weren ’ t willing to offer as many years as the Blues and others , and they ’ ve turned their attention to their longtime captain , Zdeno Chara , who raised the Cup in 2011 and is a free agent .
Chara is 43 now in the twilight of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to play another season .
Like Armstrong describing Pietrangelo as “ historic , ” Bruins GM Don Sweeney called Chara an “ iconic ” player — and the 6-foot-9 defenseman ’ s departure would be the biggest crack yet to the core that won the Cup nine years ago , and reached the final in 2015 before losing to Crawford ’ s Blackhawks and 2019 , losing to Pietrangelo ’ s Blues .
“ What Zee decides to do , ultimately he ’ ll tell us , then we ’ ll react accordingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And we have our own feelings as to where these things will go.
” The most recent Cup champions , the Tampa Bay Lightning , don ’ t really know how things will go before they try to defend their title .
They ’ re in a bind up against the salary cap , needing to get new contracts done for restricted free agents Mikhail Sergachev and Antony Cirelli .
Tampa Bay put longtime forward Tyler Johnson on waivers , but with a $ 5 million cap hit for four more years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s other 30 teams .
It ’ s back to the drawing board for the Lightning , and it looks as if they ’ ll have to part with an important player from their championship core .

By Stephen Whyno | Associated Press
While Braden Holtby saw his split with the Washington Capitals coming, Patric Hornqvist, Corey Crawford and Alex Pietrangelo weren’t so lucky.
Hornqvist was “blindsided” the Pittsburgh Penguins wanted to trade him. Crawford was “devastated” the Chicago Blackhawks were going in another direction. And Pietrangelo was caught off guard when the St. Louis Blues signed another big-money defenseman, moving on from him before he was ready to close the door on staying.
The past several weeks have featured several recent Stanley Cup winners breaking up their championship core by saying goodbye to a key player with his name on the trophy. It’s a bittersweet reality in the NHL because of the salary cap, and the departing players are left with at least one Cup ring and the irreplaceable memories of winning — plus the hope they can do it all again with a new team.
“We accomplished what we wanted to do there: We won a championship, and I think that’s something you can never take away,” Holtby said after leaving Washington to sign with the Vancouver Canucks. “It was very important to me to find a team that has that same chance and that same structure of an organization and team that can win because that’s what you play for, and I think that’s the opportunity that we have in Vancouver that is very exciting to me.”
The young Canucks look ready to win now, and Holtby gives them another veteran with experience from deep playoff runs after they made it to the second round over the summer.
New Jersey is further away from being a legitimate contender, but Crawford sees plenty of similarities between the Devils and the Blackhawks of more than a decade ago that went on to capture the Cup three times. Instead of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, the Devils have Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Pavel Zacha and Jesper Bratt in their early 20s and able to grow up together.
“Things change pretty quick in the NHL,” Crawford said after signing with the Devils, who finished last in the Metropolitan Division, have one playoff appearance eight years and no series victories over that time. Chicago made the playoffs once in six years before winning it all in 2010.
“The Hawks did it. They had a young group too, and they got good pretty fast. … It’s a group that can definitely do the same thing.”
That’s what Hornqvist is betting on after waiving his no-trade clause to join the Florida Panthers. The agitating, go-to-the-net winger helped Pittsburgh win the Cup in 2016 and 2017. He didn’t take it too kindly when the Penguins told him they wanted to trade him, so now he’s even more motivated to help the Panthers get the job done.
“The last six years of my hockey career has always been great in Pittsburgh,” Hornqvist said. “All my family life is in Pittsburgh. I like the city, I like the fans, but when they decide they didn’t want me, it was an easy choice to go down to Florida and try to win the Cup there.”
Former Penguins teammate Matt Murray will try to do the same after getting traded and signing a $25 million, four-year contract with the Ottawa Senators. Pittsburgh had already committed to Tristan Jarry as its goalie of the present and near future, so Murray gets a fresh start with a long-term rebuilding project in Ottawa.
Pietrangelo won’t need to be that patient. While taken aback Friday night when the Blues signed Torey Krug to a $45.5 million, seven-year deal to essentially replace him on the blue line, Pietrangelo is almost certainly heading to an elite contender, whether it’s the Vegas Golden Knights or another team.
GM Doug Armstrong said St. Louis tried hard to re-sign the only captain in franchise history to lift the Stanley Cup, but trading for and extending defenseman Justin Faulk at a big price more than a year ago and adding Krug paved Pietrangelo’s road out of town less than 16 months after winning it all.
“That’s the frustration and the joy of today’s NHL with the salary cap,” Armstrong said. “There’s turnover and there’s change and every team has to go through it. You try and keep the nucleus together as long as possible, but change is inevitable.”
The Boston Bruins know that all too well. They lost Krug because they weren’t willing to offer as many years as the Blues and others, and they’ve turned their attention to their longtime captain, Zdeno Chara, who raised the Cup in 2011 and is a free agent.
Chara is 43 now in the twilight of his career, though he’d like to play another season. Like Armstrong describing Pietrangelo as “historic,” Bruins GM Don Sweeney called Chara an “iconic” player — and the 6-foot-9 defenseman’s departure would be the biggest crack yet to the core that won the Cup nine years ago, and reached the final in 2015 before losing to Crawford’s Blackhawks and 2019, losing to Pietrangelo’s Blues.
“What Zee decides to do, ultimately he’ll tell us, then we’ll react accordingly to that,” Sweeney said. “And we have our own feelings as to where these things will go.”
The most recent Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, don’t really know how things will go before they try to defend their title. They’re in a bind up against the salary cap, needing to get new contracts done for restricted free agents Mikhail Sergachev and Antony Cirelli.


mercurynews--2020-10-10--California woman accused of stealing $500,000 in COVID-19 unemployment benefits

A Menifee woman was arrested on federal charges Friday , Oct. 9 , alleging she defrauded the state unemployment insurance system of more than $ 500,000 in COVID-19 unemployment benefits .
Cara Marie Kirk-Connell , 32 , was named in a federal criminal complaint that charges her with identity theft , mail fraud and access device fraud , the federal Department of Justice said in a news release .
She is due in court on Oct. 13 in Riverside .
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint , Murrieta police conducted a traffic stop of Kirk-Connell on Sept. 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the seizure of eight debit cards that contained unemployment benefits in other people ’ s names , as well as more than $ 30,000 in cash and several driver ’ s licenses for other motorists .
The affidavit said that Kirk-Connell admitted to investigators that she obtained the information from the “ dark web ” — the part of the internet that is invisible to search engines where such information is often illegally sold .
Kirk-Connell then used the stolen identities to apply for unemployment benefits from the California Employment Development Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act , passed by Congress in March , the release said .
Kirk-Connell admitted that she would have the debit cards that were loaded with unemployment benefits sent to an address where she would receive them , the affidavit says .
She would activate them by using the victims ’ Social Security numbers and PINs and then withdraw money from ATMs , according to the affidavit .
State records showed that $ 534,149 in unemployment payments had been authorized for Kirk-Connell ’ s various identities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If convicted as charged , Kirk-Connell faces a maximum sentence of 32 years in federal prison .
Separately , the Riverside Police Department said it has received a significant increase in calls about residents receiving mail from the Employment Development Department in other person ’ s names or from people whose identities have been stolen to acquire fraudulent unemployment benefits .
“ Be aware that suspects of this mail fraud scheme are showing up at homes and taking the incoming and returned mail from the mailboxes .
Some residents have even been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and threatened into relinquishing the EDD mail , ” police said in a news release that urged people to tell them if they receive such mail .
Forbes reported that the California Policy Lab at UCLA and the Labor Market Information Division at the Employment Development Department studied the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program with an emphasis on California and found a “ surge of potentially fraudulent PUA claims.
” For example , according to the New York Times , “ 21 inmates in the San Mateo County jail filed for pandemic unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least $ 250,000 , according to the district attorney.
” And Beverly Hills police said they have recovered 129 fraudulently obtained benefits debit cards with a value of more than $ 2.5 million .
Unemployment fraud may be reported online at askedd.edd.ca.gov/Fraud.aspx .

A Menifee woman was arrested on federal charges Friday, Oct. 9, alleging she defrauded the state unemployment insurance system of more than $500,000 in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
It’s an increasingly common crime, authorities say.
Cara Marie Kirk-Connell, 32, was named in a federal criminal complaint that charges her with identity theft, mail fraud and access device fraud, the federal Department of Justice said in a news release. She is due in court on Oct. 13 in Riverside.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Murrieta police conducted a traffic stop of Kirk-Connell on Sept. 11. A search of the car resulted in the seizure of eight debit cards that contained unemployment benefits in other people’s names, as well as more than $30,000 in cash and several driver’s licenses for other motorists.
The affidavit said that Kirk-Connell admitted to investigators that she obtained the information from the “dark web” — the part of the internet that is invisible to search engines where such information is often illegally sold.
Kirk-Connell then used the stolen identities to apply for unemployment benefits from the California Employment Development Department, which distributes the benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, passed by Congress in March, the release said.
Kirk-Connell admitted that she would have the debit cards that were loaded with unemployment benefits sent to an address where she would receive them, the affidavit says. She would activate them by using the victims’ Social Security numbers and PINs and then withdraw money from ATMs, according to the affidavit.
State records showed that $534,149 in unemployment payments had been authorized for Kirk-Connell’s various identities and that she had spent $270,000.
If convicted as charged, Kirk-Connell faces a maximum sentence of 32 years in federal prison.
Separately, the Riverside Police Department said it has received a significant increase in calls about residents receiving mail from the Employment Development Department in other person’s names or from people whose identities have been stolen to acquire fraudulent unemployment benefits.
“Be aware that suspects of this mail fraud scheme are showing up at homes and taking the incoming and returned mail from the mailboxes. Some residents have even been contacted at their home, then coerced and threatened into relinquishing the EDD mail,” police said in a news release that urged people to tell them if they receive such mail.
Forbes reported that the California Policy Lab at UCLA and the Labor Market Information Division at the Employment Development Department studied the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program with an emphasis on California and found a “surge of potentially fraudulent PUA claims.”
For example, according to the New York Times, “21 inmates in the San Mateo County jail filed for pandemic unemployment assistance, resulting in payments of at least $250,000, according to the district attorney.”
And Beverly Hills police said they have recovered 129 fraudulently obtained benefits debit cards with a value of more than $2.5 million.
Unemployment fraud may be reported online at askedd.edd.ca.gov/Fraud.aspx.


mercurynews--2020-10-10--Salamander habitat legislation allows Highway 156 interchange to go ahead

SALINAS — A new $ 55 million Castroville Boulevard interchange project can move forward thanks to state legislation authored by State Sen. Bill Monning , D-Carmel , to address the project ’ s impact on the endangered Santa Cruz long-toed salamander .
The legislation also applies to much of the overall $ 400 million Highway 156 improvement project , which includes the interchange along with a four-lane widening proposal and a new Highway 101 interchange .
Signed by Gov .
Gavin Newsom late last month , Senate Bill 1231 allows the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ species .
The permit requires species-specific minimization and avoidance measures , as well as full mitigations on habitat impacts from the project for the salamander .
The project had been stalled because the salamander is considered a “ no take ” species under state law , which prohibits any disturbance of its habitat .
Monning said he was pleased the Governor signed the legislation allowing “ necessary road improvements for SR 156 , improving the safety and mobility for residents and visitors while minimizing the impacts to the compromised species ’ habitat.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a major transportation corridor allowing access to the Monterey Peninsula and the Central Coast region but that “ poses a significant threat to driver safety , ” while pointing out there have been more than 500 collisions on the roadway since 2005 , a rate 20 % higher than the state average .
The highway is considered Monterey County ’ s top collision site and one of its most heavily traveled and congested roadways .
Transportation Agency for Monterey County executive director Debbie Hale , whose agency is partnering with Caltrans on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process of hiring a specialist to survey the project area and propose appropriate habitat to state and federal agencies for mitigation .
She thinks the legislation will actually benefit the salamander species in the long run .
“ We believe that this habitat preservation approach will , in fact , be a win-win for the species , which will receive more quality habitat , in greater acreage , than will be affected by the project , ” Hale said .
“ Our goal is to coordinate with a known habitat management entity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Bolstered by $ 30 million in local Measure X sales tax funding , the interchange project includes moving the interchange east of the existing interchange , and replacing the lone stoplight along the highway with an overpass and three roundabouts , one on either side of the overpass for vehicles exiting and entering the roadway , and one near the Monte Del Lago neighborhood .
It would also include widening the highway to four lanes between the old and new interchanges .
The project is currently scheduled to begin construction in 2022 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 % of California ’ s land and coastal waters • Watch : California Gov .
Gavin Newsom on new actions to combat climate change , Oct. 7 Eventually , the county is expected to extend Castroville Boulevard from the new interchange to Blackie Road as part of an initiative aimed at allowing commercial truck traffic to avoid Castroville .
The other two phases of the highway improvement project still need dedicated funding sources before they can move forward .

SALINAS — A new $55 million Castroville Boulevard interchange project can move forward thanks to state legislation authored by State Sen. Bill Monning, D-Carmel, to address the project’s impact on the endangered Santa Cruz long-toed salamander.
The legislation also applies to much of the overall $400 million Highway 156 improvement project, which includes the interchange along with a four-lane widening proposal and a new Highway 101 interchange.
Signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom late last month, Senate Bill 1231 allows the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue an “incidental take” permit for the species. The permit requires species-specific minimization and avoidance measures, as well as full mitigations on habitat impacts from the project for the salamander.
The project had been stalled because the salamander is considered a “no take” species under state law, which prohibits any disturbance of its habitat.
Monning said he was pleased the Governor signed the legislation allowing “necessary road improvements for SR 156, improving the safety and mobility for residents and visitors while minimizing the impacts to the compromised species’ habitat.” His office noted the current two-lane highway is a major transportation corridor allowing access to the Monterey Peninsula and the Central Coast region but that “poses a significant threat to driver safety,” while pointing out there have been more than 500 collisions on the roadway since 2005, a rate 20% higher than the state average.
The highway is considered Monterey County’s top collision site and one of its most heavily traveled and congested roadways.
Transportation Agency for Monterey County executive director Debbie Hale, whose agency is partnering with Caltrans on the project, said TAMC is in the process of hiring a specialist to survey the project area and propose appropriate habitat to state and federal agencies for mitigation. She thinks the legislation will actually benefit the salamander species in the long run.
“We believe that this habitat preservation approach will, in fact, be a win-win for the species, which will receive more quality habitat, in greater acreage, than will be affected by the project,” Hale said. “Our goal is to coordinate with a known habitat management entity, such as the Elkhorn Slough Foundation.”
Bolstered by $30 million in local Measure X sales tax funding, the interchange project includes moving the interchange east of the existing interchange, and replacing the lone stoplight along the highway with an overpass and three roundabouts, one on either side of the overpass for vehicles exiting and entering the roadway, and one near the Monte Del Lago neighborhood. It would also include widening the highway to four lanes between the old and new interchanges.
The project is currently scheduled to begin construction in 2022.
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The other two phases of the highway improvement project still need dedicated funding sources before they can move forward.


mercurynews--2020-10-10--Bay Area’s chances for abundant winter rain appear slim

After an already dry year marked by unrelenting fires , the Bay Area might not be getting the rain relief it needs this winter .
“ The three-month outlook for January , February and March has most of California above normal for temperature but below normal for precipitation , and that would also include Marin for below-normal chances for precipitation , ” said meteorologist Matt Mehle of the National Weather Service .
The agency is forecasting an 85 % chance of La Niña conditions to continue this winter , which tend toward wetter weather in the Pacific Northwest and drier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is somewhere in the middle , Mehle said , but the outlook is drier this year .
While the agency ’ s main weather gauge at the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael is still out of service because of construction , an unofficial Kentfield gauge recorded 27.7 inches of rain between the start of the water year on Oct. 1 , 2019 , through Sept. 30 , 2020 , Mehle said .
The prior year was about 58 inches .
A 30-year average for that gauge was unavailable for that gauge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the story there is , last year was pretty dry , ” Mehle said .
At Lake Lagunitas , the Marin Municipal Water District recorded 35.3 inches of rain during the water year .
That is 67.6 % of the average rainfall of 52.2 inches .
Amid the driest February on record for the Bay Area , the district recorded a hundredth of an inch of rain .
That was the driest since 1953 , when no rain was recorded .
The U.S. Drought Monitor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dry conditions , with 36 % , including Marin , showing severe drought conditions .
Last year at this time , 95 % of the state was showing drought-free conditions .
California has yet to get the rainfall it needs to recover from the 2011-2017 drought , said Marin County fire Chief Jason Weber .
Another dry winter could further worsen future fire conditions following a record-setting year in which 4 million acres have burned already .
This is more than double of the previous record of 1.67 million acres in 2018 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ drought , and when we see that fire season or our dry season is 80 days longer than it was in the 70s , that has long-term and substantial chronic impacts on our fuels , ” Weber said .
An example of this , Weber has said , was the unusual coastal fire , largely driven by dry fuels , in the Point Reyes National Seashore starting in August .
The so-called Woodward fire burned close to 5,000 acres before being contained in September .
Moisture levels in live plants have reached a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in October on Mount Tamalpais , Weber said .
For comparison , a 30 % moisture level is considered a dead plant .
These drier fuels , combined with the protracted drought and high winds , create a “ trifecta ” of conditions that can lead to massive fires in October , Weber said .
In anticipation of another potentially dry winter , the Marin Municipal Water District has been frontloading purchases of imported water from Sonoma Water rather than drawing on its seven reservoirs .
“ It allows us to stretch our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , ” said Paul Sellier , the district ’ s operations director .
“ If all goes well and what we hope is a rainy season we can draw less on that Sonoma Water if it really starts raining.
” The district ’ s reservoirs were at 66 % capacity as of the end of the water year on Sept. 30 , which is 96 % average capacity for that date .
Last year at this time , the reservoirs were at 121 % of average capacity .
The district purchased 4,962 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January and Sept. 30 .
Last year over the same period , the district purchased 4,706 acre-feet .
The district has been authorized by its board of directors to take as much as 9,900 acre-feet .
Typically the district only purchases 5,300 acre-feet in a year , which Sellier said the district plans to take by January — six months earlier than it normally would import that amount .
However , Sellier said conservation by customers has a sizeable role to play in stretching the district ’ s water supply .
Between 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were able to reduce water use by 20 % .
“ Customers have shown their willingness to change their habits and work to provide that best solution , ” Sellier said .
The county ’ s second-largest water district , North Marin Water District , reported its main reservoir at Stafford Lake is at 31 % capacity as of Oct. 1 , which is down from the average 42 % capacity on that date .
The district receives about 75 % of its water supply from Sonoma Water .
Sonoma Water ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lake Mendocino , were at 73 % and 62 % capacity respectively as of Oct. 7 .
Earlier this week , there were hopeful forecasts of two rain systems moving into the Bay Area for the weekend , providing the first few inches of rain to the region and some badly needed relief to fire crews .
However , those systems are expected to remain over the ocean , Mehle said .
“ We don ’ t typically see our first most notable rainfall until the end of the month or into November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more humidity and cooler temperatures are expected to provide some relief , Mehle said .
Dry weather is expected to follow into next week including some offshore northeast winds , he said .

After an already dry year marked by unrelenting fires, the Bay Area might not be getting the rain relief it needs this winter.
“The three-month outlook for January, February and March has most of California above normal for temperature but below normal for precipitation, and that would also include Marin for below-normal chances for precipitation,” said meteorologist Matt Mehle of the National Weather Service.
The agency is forecasting an 85% chance of La Niña conditions to continue this winter, which tend toward wetter weather in the Pacific Northwest and drier conditions farther south. The Bay Area is somewhere in the middle, Mehle said, but the outlook is drier this year.
While the agency’s main weather gauge at the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael is still out of service because of construction, an unofficial Kentfield gauge recorded 27.7 inches of rain between the start of the water year on Oct. 1, 2019, through Sept. 30, 2020, Mehle said. The prior year was about 58 inches. A 30-year average for that gauge was unavailable for that gauge, Mehle said.
“The moral of the story there is, last year was pretty dry,” Mehle said.
At Lake Lagunitas, the Marin Municipal Water District recorded 35.3 inches of rain during the water year. That is 67.6% of the average rainfall of 52.2 inches.
Amid the driest February on record for the Bay Area, the district recorded a hundredth of an inch of rain. That was the driest since 1953, when no rain was recorded.
The U.S. Drought Monitor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows close to 85% of the state experiencing dry conditions, with 36%, including Marin, showing severe drought conditions. Last year at this time, 95% of the state was showing drought-free conditions.
California has yet to get the rainfall it needs to recover from the 2011-2017 drought, said Marin County fire Chief Jason Weber.
Another dry winter could further worsen future fire conditions following a record-setting year in which 4 million acres have burned already. This is more than double of the previous record of 1.67 million acres in 2018.
“The damage was done with that drought, and when we see that fire season or our dry season is 80 days longer than it was in the 70s, that has long-term and substantial chronic impacts on our fuels,” Weber said.
An example of this, Weber has said, was the unusual coastal fire, largely driven by dry fuels, in the Point Reyes National Seashore starting in August. The so-called Woodward fire burned close to 5,000 acres before being contained in September.
Moisture levels in live plants have reached a “critical threshold” of 60% in October on Mount Tamalpais, Weber said. For comparison, a 30% moisture level is considered a dead plant.
These drier fuels, combined with the protracted drought and high winds, create a “trifecta” of conditions that can lead to massive fires in October, Weber said.
In anticipation of another potentially dry winter, the Marin Municipal Water District has been frontloading purchases of imported water from Sonoma Water rather than drawing on its seven reservoirs.
“It allows us to stretch our local supply of water when we do that,” said Paul Sellier, the district’s operations director. “If all goes well and what we hope is a rainy season we can draw less on that Sonoma Water if it really starts raining.”
The district’s reservoirs were at 66% capacity as of the end of the water year on Sept. 30, which is 96% average capacity for that date. Last year at this time, the reservoirs were at 121% of average capacity.
The district purchased 4,962 acre-feet of water from Sonoma Water between January and Sept. 30. Last year over the same period, the district purchased 4,706 acre-feet. The district has been authorized by its board of directors to take as much as 9,900 acre-feet. Typically the district only purchases 5,300 acre-feet in a year, which Sellier said the district plans to take by January — six months earlier than it normally would import that amount.
However, Sellier said conservation by customers has a sizeable role to play in stretching the district’s water supply. Between 2013 and 2015, Sellier said, customers were able to reduce water use by 20%.
“Customers have shown their willingness to change their habits and work to provide that best solution,” Sellier said.
The county’s second-largest water district, North Marin Water District, reported its main reservoir at Stafford Lake is at 31% capacity as of Oct. 1, which is down from the average 42% capacity on that date. The district receives about 75% of its water supply from Sonoma Water. Sonoma Water’s two main reservoirs, Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, were at 73% and 62% capacity respectively as of Oct. 7.
Earlier this week, there were hopeful forecasts of two rain systems moving into the Bay Area for the weekend, providing the first few inches of rain to the region and some badly needed relief to fire crews. However, those systems are expected to remain over the ocean, Mehle said.
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Still, more humidity and cooler temperatures are expected to provide some relief, Mehle said. Dry weather is expected to follow into next week including some offshore northeast winds, he said.