mercurynews--2020-08-30--Coronavirus: County fines pile up as Santa Clara church continues in-house services

CLICK HERE if you ’ re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device .
SANTA CLARA — The South Bay church that has already racked up thousands of dollars in fines for defying public-health orders against indoor gatherings held another service Sunday , garnering a new citation even as parishioners spoke out in defiance .
The COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of more sanctions against the church didn ’ t stop parishioner Priscilla Montes from attending service Sunday morning at North Valley Baptist Church , a controversial Santa Clara ministry that has continued to hold indoor worship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order .
“ What the state is doing is unconstitutional and evil , ” Montes , 78 , said outside the De La Cruz Boulevard house of worship .
“ They ’ re fighting against God.
” The church had already been fined a total of $ 15,000 — three separate fines of $ 5,000 for services held in violation of the order , twice on Aug. 23 and again on Aug. 26 — by the county , the largest fines thus far for defying ban .
Pastor Jack Trieber told the congregation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fined again , and that he expected another levy for the Sunday-evening service .
“ I never thought I ’ d live in a day where you ’ d be fined for going to church , ” Trieber told the congregation , which he has led since 1976 .
“ I can ’ t believe I am hearing this in my America.
” Santa Clara County Counsel James Williams said the fines were necessary to control a serious public health threat .
“ These rules have been put in place by our public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area is dealing with epidemiology and communicable diseases , ” Williams said Sunday .
“ So many faith leaders in Santa Clara County have been really diligent in keeping their congregations safe and keeping the broader community safe .
“ It is just so disappointing that we ’ ve got a couple of examples here of a few churches who have chosen to behave differently.
” A reporter and photographer from this news organization were denied entrance Sunday into the church , which has a replica Statue of Liberty with a lighted torch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also streamed online .
Many of the worshippers who attended Sunday morning declined to speak to a reporter or give their names .
One man said the service was “ tremendous ” but would not elaborate , adding , “ I ’ m not authorized to talk.
” Parishioner Montes said she was not concerned about contracting COVID-19 and had regularly attended services in person since July .
Montes said she wears a mask inside the facility and does not shake hands or hug other churchgoers , as is the custom .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would stand by a side door and shake anyone ’ s hand who initiated the gesture .
“ If I get COVID , it is going to be a great funeral , ” Trieber told the audience .
“ If I get it I really don ’ t care .
… We ’ ve social-distanced to death.
” On Friday , Trieber posted a video asking state and county officials to let him hold services , saying that he had reduced the church ’ s 3,000-person capacity by more than half and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shake hands or hold hands in prayer .
Trieber said Saturday that the church-affiliated school , Golden State Baptist College , would hold fall classes online to avoid daily $ 5,000 , which he said would bankrupt the school .
“ I can not potentially endanger you against the authorities of this state , ” Trieber said in the statement .
“ We ’ re not allowed to have indoor teaching now.
” Gov .
Gavin Newsom has “ moved us to a level that is almost impossible.
” On Sunday morning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close down his church “ for the safety of people ” if he believed the country was facing a life-threatening pandemic .
County officials have said that if the church is willing to keep holding services and racking up fines , they may have to look at other ways to stop them .
“ It appears for the moment that the fines have not stopped them from continuing the gatherings , and we ’ ll be looking at what other options we might have to take , ” Williams , the county counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week ago , the county counsel ’ s office posted a cease-and-desist letter on the church ’ s door that said that North Valley Baptist violated the health order for holding indoor services , failing to ensure mask-wearing and social distancing indoors , singing during services and failing to submit a social distancing protocol .
The $ 5,000 fine per service is the highest possible fine for business violations of the coronavirus health order permitted under the ordinance Santa Clara County adopted earlier this month .
For the most part , Williams said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in favor of working with businesses to bring them into compliance .
Santa Clara County issued the highest possible fine to North Valley Baptist , he said , because of the number of violations and the level of risk caused by a large indoor gathering .
“ We will continue to encourage compliance but continue other avenues of enforcement because it is absolutely critical for our community.
” Williams said , though he declined to say what other actions might be taken .
“ We ’ ve been really effective in coming together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Church has declined to comment directly to the Bay Area News Group .
Trieber told the congregation Sunday that he had no intention of talking to the media .
“ We ’ re going to have church , ” Trieber said .
“ It ’ s essential .
”

CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
SANTA CLARA — The South Bay church that has already racked up thousands of dollars in fines for defying public-health orders against indoor gatherings held another service Sunday, garnering a new citation even as parishioners spoke out in defiance.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of more sanctions against the church didn’t stop parishioner Priscilla Montes from attending service Sunday morning at North Valley Baptist Church, a controversial Santa Clara ministry that has continued to hold indoor worship in violation of a county public health order.
“What the state is doing is unconstitutional and evil,” Montes, 78, said outside the De La Cruz Boulevard house of worship. “They’re fighting against God.”
The church had already been fined a total of $15,000 — three separate fines of $5,000 for services held in violation of the order, twice on Aug. 23 and again on Aug. 26 — by the county, the largest fines thus far for defying ban. Pastor Jack Trieber told the congregation Sunday morning that the church had been fined again, and that he expected another levy for the Sunday-evening service.
“I never thought I’d live in a day where you’d be fined for going to church,” Trieber told the congregation, which he has led since 1976. “I can’t believe I am hearing this in my America.”
Santa Clara County Counsel James Williams said the fines were necessary to control a serious public health threat.
“These rules have been put in place by our public health officers, doctors whose entire practice area is dealing with epidemiology and communicable diseases,” Williams said Sunday. “So many faith leaders in Santa Clara County have been really diligent in keeping their congregations safe and keeping the broader community safe.
“It is just so disappointing that we’ve got a couple of examples here of a few churches who have chosen to behave differently.”
A reporter and photographer from this news organization were denied entrance Sunday into the church, which has a replica Statue of Liberty with a lighted torch on the six-acre grounds. The service was also streamed online.
Many of the worshippers who attended Sunday morning declined to speak to a reporter or give their names. One man said the service was “tremendous” but would not elaborate, adding, “I’m not authorized to talk.”
Parishioner Montes said she was not concerned about contracting COVID-19 and had regularly attended services in person since July. Montes said she wears a mask inside the facility and does not shake hands or hug other churchgoers, as is the custom.
Trieber told the congregation Sunday morning that he would stand by a side door and shake anyone’s hand who initiated the gesture.
“If I get COVID, it is going to be a great funeral,” Trieber told the audience. “If I get it I really don’t care. … We’ve social-distanced to death.”
On Friday, Trieber posted a video asking state and county officials to let him hold services, saying that he had reduced the church’s 3,000-person capacity by more than half and that worshippers wear masks, do not shake hands or hold hands in prayer.
Trieber said Saturday that the church-affiliated school, Golden State Baptist College, would hold fall classes online to avoid daily $5,000 fines, which he said would bankrupt the school.
“I cannot potentially endanger you against the authorities of this state,” Trieber said in the statement. “We’re not allowed to have indoor teaching now.” Gov. Gavin Newsom has “moved us to a level that is almost impossible.”
On Sunday morning the pastor told the congregation that he would close down his church “for the safety of people” if he believed the country was facing a life-threatening pandemic.
County officials have said that if the church is willing to keep holding services and racking up fines, they may have to look at other ways to stop them.
“It appears for the moment that the fines have not stopped them from continuing the gatherings, and we’ll be looking at what other options we might have to take,” Williams, the county counsel, said earlier this week.
A week ago, the county counsel’s office posted a cease-and-desist letter on the church’s door that said that North Valley Baptist violated the health order for holding indoor services, failing to ensure mask-wearing and social distancing indoors, singing during services and failing to submit a social distancing protocol.
The $5,000 fine per service is the highest possible fine for business violations of the coronavirus health order permitted under the ordinance Santa Clara County adopted earlier this month. For the most part, Williams said, the county has avoided issuing fines in favor of working with businesses to bring them into compliance. Santa Clara County issued the highest possible fine to North Valley Baptist, he said, because of the number of violations and the level of risk caused by a large indoor gathering.
“We will continue to encourage compliance but continue other avenues of enforcement because it is absolutely critical for our community.” Williams said, though he declined to say what other actions might be taken. “We’ve been really effective in coming together as a community.”
Related Articles Health | Santa Clara church fined $15,000 for indoor services; pastor’s wife says don’t mention COVID diagnosis North Valley Baptist Church has declined to comment directly to the Bay Area News Group. Trieber told the congregation Sunday that he had no intention of talking to the media.
“We’re going to have church,” Trieber said. “It’s essential.”


mercurynews--2020-08-30--San Jose Earthquakes lose but get goal from young star

Cade Cowell , 16 , became the youngest player in team history to start and to score a goal but the San Jose Earthquakes fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 in a Major League Soccer game Saturday night in Carson .
Cowell scored in the 59th minute to give the Quakes ( 2-2-2 , 8 points ) a 2-1 lead .
But Cristian Pavon scored on a penalty kick and Sebastian Lletget got the game-winner off a poorly defended corner kick in the final 18 minutes .
The Galaxy ( 2-3-2 , 8 points ) also scored in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Jose coach Matias Almeyda was not happy with his team ’ s defense of set pieces .
“ Every week , we spend an hour and a half , hour and 15 on set pieces , ” he said .
“ We also work on crosses and following our marks , and I can assure you every time we concede a set piece goal , it hurts me more than anybody else .
It ’ s a matter of insisting and keep working on it because there ’ s been many games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they ’ ve hurt us with set pieces.
” Almeyda also started rookie defender Tanner Beason , a two-time All-American from Stanford who made his MLS debut .
Beason got the chance because starter Oswaldo Alanis was out with an injury .
“ Based on what I saw in training , I thought it was time to use the youngsters , especially in these types of games which will develop them as good professionals , ” Almeyda said .
“ With the remaining time in the season , I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Cade Cowell, 16, became the youngest player in team history to start and to score a goal but the San Jose Earthquakes fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 in a Major League Soccer game Saturday night in Carson.
Cowell scored in the 59th minute to give the Quakes (2-2-2, 8 points) a 2-1 lead. But Cristian Pavon scored on a penalty kick and Sebastian Lletget got the game-winner off a poorly defended corner kick in the final 18 minutes. The Galaxy (2-3-2, 8 points) also scored in the first half off a free kick.
San Jose coach Matias Almeyda was not happy with his team’s defense of set pieces.
“Every week, we spend an hour and a half, hour and 15 on set pieces,” he said. “We also work on crosses and following our marks, and I can assure you every time we concede a set piece goal, it hurts me more than anybody else. It’s a matter of insisting and keep working on it because there’s been many games where we’ve conceded like this, and they’ve hurt us with set pieces.”
Almeyda also started rookie defender Tanner Beason, a two-time All-American from Stanford who made his MLS debut. Beason got the chance because starter Oswaldo Alanis was out with an injury.
“Based on what I saw in training, I thought it was time to use the youngsters, especially in these types of games which will develop them as good professionals,” Almeyda said. “With the remaining time in the season, I’m going to try things out.”


mercurynews--2020-08-30--Kentucky AG has received ballistics in Breonna Taylor case

LOUISVILLE , Ky. — Kentucky ’ s attorney general has received a long-awaited FBI ballistics report in the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor .
Attorney General Daniel Cameron tweeted Sunday that there is additional analysis needed now that the report is in his hands , and there would be no announcement on the investigation this week .
“ We continue to work diligently to follow the facts and complete the investigation , ” Cameron tweeted .
Cameron has indicated the ballistics report from federal investigators was an important piece of evidence still needed in the investigation of Taylor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said Sunday on “ Face the Nation ” on CBS that he will be meeting with the FBI this week to have a “ painstaking review ” of the report .
“ And that will help us in the analysis that needs to be undertaken before we can get to final steps , ” he said .
His office took over the probe into the officers ’ actions in May after the local prosecutor recused himself .
Cameron made the first mention of the ballistics report earlier this month , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ballistics trace the path and impact of bullets and explosive devices .
The tests were performed at the FBI crime lab in Quantico , Virginia .
Taylor was shot several times by officers who went to her home with a search warrant as part of a drug investigation .
Officers used a no-knock search warrant to break down the door and were met with gunfire from Taylor ’ s boyfriend , Kenneth Walker .
One of the officers , Jonathan Mattingly , was shot in the leg .
Mattingly and two other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , were placed on administrative reassignment after the shooting , and Hankison was later fired .
No drugs were found in the home and Taylor was unarmed .
Protesters have gathered outside Cameron ’ s Louisville home and at Kentucky ’ s Capitol in Frankfort to demand justice for Taylor .
Pop star Beyoncé wrote to Cameron , saying the officers “ must be held accountable for their actions.
” Oprah Winfrey has paid for billboards around Louisville calling on Cameron to charge the officers who shot Taylor .
• Florida suspect killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deputy ’ s gun accidentally goes off at California airport , striking another employee ’ s arm • Sharks ’ Kane insulted by NHL ’ s lack of action in response to Jacob Blake shooting Cameron , Kentucky ’ s first African American attorney general , recently met with Taylor ’ s mother , Tamika Palmer , acknowledging the enormity of her loss even as he asked her to be patient .
Cameron took office in December .
Cameron also spoke at the Republican National Convention last week .

By Dylan Lovan | Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky’s attorney general has received a long-awaited FBI ballistics report in the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor.
Attorney General Daniel Cameron tweeted Sunday that there is additional analysis needed now that the report is in his hands, and there would be no announcement on the investigation this week.
“We continue to work diligently to follow the facts and complete the investigation,” Cameron tweeted.
We’ve received the FBI ballistics report in the Breonna Taylor investigation. There is still additional analysis that must take place, & our office does not plan to make an announcement this week. We continue to work diligently to follow the facts and complete the investigation. — Attorney General Daniel Cameron (@kyoag) August 30, 2020
Cameron has indicated the ballistics report from federal investigators was an important piece of evidence still needed in the investigation of Taylor’s death by police on March 13.
He said Sunday on “Face the Nation” on CBS that he will be meeting with the FBI this week to have a “painstaking review” of the report.
“And that will help us in the analysis that needs to be undertaken before we can get to final steps,” he said.
His office took over the probe into the officers’ actions in May after the local prosecutor recused himself. Cameron made the first mention of the ballistics report earlier this month, after intense pressure from activists and high-profile celebrities.
[vemba-video id=”world/2020/08/28/amanpour-breonna-taylor-vanity-fair-radhika-jones-ta-nehisi-coates.cnn”]
Ballistics trace the path and impact of bullets and explosive devices. The tests were performed at the FBI crime lab in Quantico, Virginia.
Taylor was shot several times by officers who went to her home with a search warrant as part of a drug investigation. Officers used a no-knock search warrant to break down the door and were met with gunfire from Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. One of the officers, Jonathan Mattingly, was shot in the leg. Mattingly and two other officers, Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankinson, were placed on administrative reassignment after the shooting, and Hankison was later fired.
No drugs were found in the home and Taylor was unarmed.
Protesters have gathered outside Cameron’s Louisville home and at Kentucky’s Capitol in Frankfort to demand justice for Taylor. Pop star Beyoncé wrote to Cameron, saying the officers “must be held accountable for their actions.” Oprah Winfrey has paid for billboards around Louisville calling on Cameron to charge the officers who shot Taylor.
Related Articles Politics | Man shot, killed by Colorado cop was holding a marker, not a weapon
Man shot, killed by Colorado cop was holding a marker, not a weapon Politics | California cop ordered to stand trial on assault charge for 2018 on-duty shooting
California cop ordered to stand trial on assault charge for 2018 on-duty shooting Politics | Lawsuit alleges wrongdoing in police shooting of San Jose man– will Alameda County DA charge the officers?
Lawsuit alleges wrongdoing in police shooting of San Jose man– will Alameda County DA charge the officers? Politics | Utah man, suspected of threatening Biden, shot dead by FBI
Utah man, suspected of threatening Biden, shot dead by FBI Politics | Road rage leads to deaths of Tesla driver and police dog at San Diego campus Cameron, Kentucky’s first African American attorney general, recently met with Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, acknowledging the enormity of her loss even as he asked her to be patient. Cameron took office in December.
Cameron also spoke at the Republican National Convention last week.


mercurynews--2020-08-30--Major internet outage: Dozens of websites and apps were down

CenturyLink , an internet service provider that is supposed to keep websites up and running , was down itself for much of Sunday morning .
That meant Cloudflare , Hulu , the PlayStation Network , Xbox Live , Feedly , Discord , and dozens of other services reported connectivity problems Sunday morning .
When Cloudflare went down , it took dozens of websites and online services along with it .
The company said the problem was with a third-party “ transit provider , ” and its service was becoming increasingly stable over the course of the day .
“ Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that impacted multiple providers , ” said John Graham-Cumming , Cloudflare CTO .
“ Cloudflare ’ s automated systems detected the problem and routed around them , but the extent of the problem required manual intervention as well.
” Graham-Cumming claimed that CenturyLink was responsible for the outage , which took Cloudflare and its many customers down with them .
CenturyLink , which acquired Level 3 in 2017 , confirmed there was an IP outage impacting Content Delivery Networks ( CDN ) , and that all services had been restored as of 11:12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was unable to comment on certain customers because of customer proprietary network information .
DownDetector , which displays reports of internet and service outages , showed that reports of internet connectivity came in across the United States and Europe on Sunday morning .
• Some Yolo County residents didn ’ t get evacuation alerts in wildfires due to robocall blocking , officials say • Japan ’ s ‘ flying car ’ gets off ground , with a person aboard Services like Cloudflare are designed to prevent distributed denial of service attacks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ malicious traffic to websites to take them offline .
The services also help keep sites running smoothly when traffic spikes during shopping seasons or when a site hosts a viral video .

CenturyLink, an internet service provider that is supposed to keep websites up and running, was down itself for much of Sunday morning.
That meant Cloudflare, Hulu, the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Feedly, Discord, and dozens of other services reported connectivity problems Sunday morning. When Cloudflare went down, it took dozens of websites and online services along with it. The company said the problem was with a third-party “transit provider,” and its service was becoming increasingly stable over the course of the day.
“Today we saw a widespread internet outage online that impacted multiple providers,” said John Graham-Cumming, Cloudflare CTO. “Cloudflare’s automated systems detected the problem and routed around them, but the extent of the problem required manual intervention as well.”
Graham-Cumming claimed that CenturyLink was responsible for the outage, which took Cloudflare and its many customers down with them.
CenturyLink, which acquired Level 3 in 2017, confirmed there was an IP outage impacting Content Delivery Networks (CDN), and that all services had been restored as of 11:12 am ET. The telecommunications company said it was unable to comment on certain customers because of customer proprietary network information.
[vemba-video id=”business/2020/08/11/cybersecurity-work-from-home-threat-steele-intv-firstmove.cnn”]
DownDetector, which displays reports of internet and service outages, showed that reports of internet connectivity came in across the United States and Europe on Sunday morning.
Related Articles Business | San Jose office building wobbles into default — again
San Jose office building wobbles into default — again Business | Tech companies, bank chop hundreds of Bay Area jobs in fresh layoffs
Tech companies, bank chop hundreds of Bay Area jobs in fresh layoffs Business | Google will activate downtown San Jose village sites ahead of project
Google will activate downtown San Jose village sites ahead of project Business | Two rival robotaxi services win approval to operate throughout San Francisco despite safety concerns
Two rival robotaxi services win approval to operate throughout San Francisco despite safety concerns Business | Google loses bid to toss lawsuit over ‘potentially embarrassing’ Incognito mode data grabbing Services like Cloudflare are designed to prevent distributed denial of service attacks, in which massive networks of computers send malicious traffic to websites to take them offline. The services also help keep sites running smoothly when traffic spikes during shopping seasons or when a site hosts a viral video.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-08-30--Healdsburg man ‘having a bad day’ arrested on arson charge

HEALDSBURG — A 37-year-old Healdsburg man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of starting a grass fire by U.S. Highway 101 @ @ @ @ @ County Sheriff ’ s Office said .
A deputy driving on Highway 101 spotted the @ @ @ @ @ and detained a man walking nearby .
Wesley James Bergman admitted setting the fire “ @ @ @ @ @ bad day , ” according to the Sheriff ’ s Office .
• Florida suspect @ @ @ @ @ at officers • Man shot to death while driving on California highway • Opinion : @ @ @ @ @ enforce the laws to protect cyclists ?
He was arrested on suspicion of arson and @ @ @ @ @ and is being held at the Sonoma County Jail with bail set at $ 40,000 @

HEALDSBURG — A 37-year-old Healdsburg man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of starting a grass fire by U.S. Highway 101 in Healdsburg, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said.
A deputy driving on Highway 101 spotted the fire near Lytton Springs Road and detained a man walking nearby.
Wesley James Bergman admitted setting the fire “because he was having a bad day,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.


mercurynews--2020-08-30--Key air monitors offline after Laura hits Louisiana gas hub

Hazardous emissions from a chlorine plant fire , abruptly shuttered oil and gas refineries and still-to-be assessed plant damage are seeping into the air after Hurricane Laura , regulators say , but some key state and federal monitors to alert the public of air dangers remain offline in Louisiana .
While the chlorine fire was being monitored as a potential health threat , Louisiana environmental spokesman Greg Langley says he knows of no other major industrial health risks from the storm in the state .
He said restoring power and water was a bigger priority .
But some Louisiana residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solid government information on the state of the air is typical .
With dozens of petroleum , petrochemical and other industrial sites , Louisiana is home to communities with some of the nation ’ s highest cancer risks , according to Environmental Protection Agency rankings .
In the Lake Charles area , with refineries , a major natural gas project and other industrial sites , residents “ generally don ’ t get any information except what the industry puts out , ” said Carla Chrisco , a Lake Charles lawyer who evacuated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the hardest hit Thursday .
Laura struck parts of the Texas-Louisiana coast with up to 150-mph ( 240 kph ) winds and a storm surge that Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards said rose as high as 15 feet ( 4.5 meters ) .
An electrical outage that deprived hundreds of thousands of people of power and is expected to last weeks has knocked offline the state ’ s stationary air monitors in the storm-battered communities .
Oil and gas facilities that the U.S. Department of Energy says account for 13 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a precaution along an industrialized roughly 60-mile stretch from Port Arthur , Texas , to Lake Charles before the hurricane .
The abrupt shutdowns , and eventual restarts , for hurricanes typically mean the emission of up to millions of pounds of additional cancer-causing soot , heavy metals and other hazards from refinery smokestacks .
A fire at a plant making swimming pool chemicals in Westlake , part of the larger Lake Charles area , since Thursday has on a few occasions sent enough chlorine into the air to be detected by emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chlorine levels were not high enough to warrant evacuation , officials said , although residents of the industrial area around the plant were under orders to shelter inside their homes for days after Laura ’ s landfall .
With debris clogging roads , industry still is assessing damage along the Texas-Louisiana coast .
No word of any major industrial threat other than the chlorine plant fire had emerged by three days after Laura .
After Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017 , confirmation of more than a hundred toxic spills into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , weeks and months to become public , and many were never investigated .
“ In a storm of this magnitude , there ’ s going to be some leaks , there ’ s going to be some spills , ” Langley said Saturday .
“ We ’ re still in the process of assessing that .
I don ’ t know of anything personally that ’ s major.
” Texas has requested the EPA ’ s help overall looking for any so-far undiscovered hazardous air releases after the hurricane , but Louisiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plant fire , has not , EPA spokesman James Hewitt said .
“ EPA stands ready to assist states and local governments who need help , and have already done so following Hurricane Laura , ” Hewitt said in an email .
Texas made a formal request for air-monitoring help through the Federal Emergency Management Agency , Hewitt said .
As a result , EPA has sent a bus-mounted mobile lab to the Houston-area to start monitoring and assessing air for any hazardous emission levels , he said .
“ Information will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available which follows our standard procedures , ” he said .
A spokeswoman for the Louisiana governor did not immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday .
By Saturday , EPA contractors had left the area of the chlorine plant fire , said Langley , the Louisiana environmental spokesman .
An environmental consulting firm would continue to do all air monitoring , he said .
State officials also would be flying over the damaged area to look for obvious leaks , sheens , wayward metal drums and any other signs of industrial threats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of experience in hurricane response , looking for that , ” he said .
But some environmental and public health advocates single out Louisiana for what they say is too lax vigilance over industrial threats to the public , even in the best of times .
Louisiana ’ s response since Laura “ sounds like it ’ s about what it usually is .
Not robust is putting it kindly , ” said Anne Rolfes in New Orleans , founder of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade , an environmental group .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; recovery could take weeks People are worried about the possibility of toxic releases from the storm , Rolfes said .
But over the years , she said , Louisiana residents have come to have “ tremendously low expectations , for these institutions that are supposed to be protecting us.
” Knickmeyer reported from Oklahoma City .
Associated Press writer Sudhin Thanawala in Atlanta contributed to this report .

By Ellen Knickmeyer | Associated Press
Hazardous emissions from a chlorine plant fire, abruptly shuttered oil and gas refineries and still-to-be assessed plant damage are seeping into the air after Hurricane Laura, regulators say, but some key state and federal monitors to alert the public of air dangers remain offline in Louisiana.
While the chlorine fire was being monitored as a potential health threat, Louisiana environmental spokesman Greg Langley says he knows of no other major industrial health risks from the storm in the state. He said restoring power and water was a bigger priority.
But some Louisiana residents and environmental advocates say the lack of solid government information on the state of the air is typical. With dozens of petroleum, petrochemical and other industrial sites, Louisiana is home to communities with some of the nation’s highest cancer risks, according to Environmental Protection Agency rankings.
In the Lake Charles area, with refineries, a major natural gas project and other industrial sites, residents “generally don’t get any information except what the industry puts out,” said Carla Chrisco, a Lake Charles lawyer who evacuated the city before Laura.
The area was among the hardest hit Thursday. Laura struck parts of the Texas-Louisiana coast with up to 150-mph (240 kph) winds and a storm surge that Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said rose as high as 15 feet (4.5 meters).
An electrical outage that deprived hundreds of thousands of people of power and is expected to last weeks has knocked offline the state’s stationary air monitors in the storm-battered communities.
Oil and gas facilities that the U.S. Department of Energy says account for 13% of U.S. refinery capacity shut down as a precaution along an industrialized roughly 60-mile stretch from Port Arthur, Texas, to Lake Charles before the hurricane.
The abrupt shutdowns, and eventual restarts, for hurricanes typically mean the emission of up to millions of pounds of additional cancer-causing soot, heavy metals and other hazards from refinery smokestacks.
A fire at a plant making swimming pool chemicals in Westlake, part of the larger Lake Charles area, since Thursday has on a few occasions sent enough chlorine into the air to be detected by emergency workers’ hand-held monitors, Langley said. Chlorine levels were not high enough to warrant evacuation, officials said, although residents of the industrial area around the plant were under orders to shelter inside their homes for days after Laura’s landfall.
With debris clogging roads, industry still is assessing damage along the Texas-Louisiana coast. No word of any major industrial threat other than the chlorine plant fire had emerged by three days after Laura. After Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017, confirmation of more than a hundred toxic spills into the air, land and water took days, weeks and months to become public, and many were never investigated.
“In a storm of this magnitude, there’s going to be some leaks, there’s going to be some spills,” Langley said Saturday. “We’re still in the process of assessing that. I don’t know of anything personally that’s major.”
Texas has requested the EPA’s help overall looking for any so-far undiscovered hazardous air releases after the hurricane, but Louisiana, with the exception of the chlorine plant fire, has not, EPA spokesman James Hewitt said.
“EPA stands ready to assist states and local governments who need help, and have already done so following Hurricane Laura,” Hewitt said in an email.
Texas made a formal request for air-monitoring help through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hewitt said. As a result, EPA has sent a bus-mounted mobile lab to the Houston-area to start monitoring and assessing air for any hazardous emission levels, he said.
“Information will be provided to the public as it becomes available which follows our standard procedures,” he said.
A spokeswoman for the Louisiana governor did not immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday.
By Saturday, EPA contractors had left the area of the chlorine plant fire, said Langley, the Louisiana environmental spokesman. An environmental consulting firm would continue to do all air monitoring, he said.
State officials also would be flying over the damaged area to look for obvious leaks, sheens, wayward metal drums and any other signs of industrial threats, Langley said. “We have a lot of experience in hurricane response, looking for that,” he said.
But some environmental and public health advocates single out Louisiana for what they say is too lax vigilance over industrial threats to the public, even in the best of times.
Louisiana’s response since Laura “sounds like it’s about what it usually is. Not robust is putting it kindly,” said Anne Rolfes in New Orleans, founder of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, an environmental group.
Related Articles Weather | Bay Area youth who grew up with the climate movement celebrate landmark Montana case
Bay Area youth who grew up with the climate movement celebrate landmark Montana case Weather | Sailboat stays stuck at Stinson Beach as owner works to remove it
Sailboat stays stuck at Stinson Beach as owner works to remove it Weather | Letters: Psychiatric beds | SJSU neglect | Squandering cash | Overdoing coverage | Pac-12 negotiations | For climate’s sake | Electric appliances
Letters: Psychiatric beds | SJSU neglect | Squandering cash | Overdoing coverage | Pac-12 negotiations | For climate’s sake | Electric appliances Weather | Castle Rock State Park to expand in size due to rare state land purchase
Castle Rock State Park to expand in size due to rare state land purchase Weather | Cupertino quarry won’t restart cement production after entering into legal agreement with Santa Clara County People are worried about the possibility of toxic releases from the storm, Rolfes said. But over the years, she said, Louisiana residents have come to have “tremendously low expectations, for these institutions that are supposed to be protecting us.”
Knickmeyer reported from Oklahoma City. Associated Press writer Sudhin Thanawala in Atlanta contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-08-30--49ers’ Super Bowl hopes prompted Jordan Reed to hold off on retirement

SANTA CLARA — Tight end Jordan Reed ’ s troubling history with concussions nearly led him to retire after seven seasons in Washington .
“ It was when I saw the Super Bowl , that ignited me again , ” Reed said Sunday .
“ I want to play in those big games .
God blessed me to be here and put me in that situation .
I love the game of football and I still have the drive to keep playing.
” Medically cleared to resume his career , Reed joined the NFC Champion-49ers three weeks ago , forming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Kittle .
The 49ers ’ training and coaching staff slow-played Reed ’ s immersion into the offense his first two weeks .
He ’ s come on strong while the 49ers have kept Kittle sidelined with a tight hamstring the past 3 1/2 practices , and with Ross Dwelley ( foot ) out the past week .
Reed ’ s seventh documented concussion — and fourth as a pro last August — put his career in limbo and kept him off the field all last season .
His comeback is going so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most fun I ’ ve had playing football .
Ever , ” Reed said .
“ I don ’ t know if because I didn ’ t play last last year , but when I ’ m out there now , I ’ m having a blast and I ’ m grateful.
” Reed ’ s first two seasons in Washington overlapped with Kyle Shanahan , who was then the offensive coordinator and is now entering his fourth year as the 49ers ’ coach .
Reed is adjusting to Shanahan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reps he gets .
So how do the 49ers compare to Washington ?
“ It ’ s a big culture change , ” Reed said .
“ Everything is upbeat , positive , everybody doing their job to the best their ability and you want to meet that standard .
I ’ m grateful .
“ … The way they handled things here was very professional .
They just want the best for us .
I really appreciate how they let me come along .
Now I ’ m feeling great and looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used the word “ great ” to describe Shanahan ( “ Such a talented paly caller ) , quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo ( “ Talented , really accurate ” ) and Kittle ( “ supermely talented guy , real humble , real helpful ” ) .
• What we learned Sunday as 49ers practice minus Kittle , Bosa , Warner , Kinlaw • What we learned from 49ers practice inside Levi ’ s Stadium ?
• Why 49ers do not plan on quarantining a quarterback in case of COVID-19 ?

SANTA CLARA — Tight end Jordan Reed’s troubling history with concussions nearly led him to retire after seven seasons in Washington.
“It was when I saw the Super Bowl, that ignited me again,” Reed said Sunday. “I want to play in those big games. God blessed me to be here and put me in that situation. I love the game of football and I still have the drive to keep playing.”
Medically cleared to resume his career, Reed joined the NFC Champion-49ers three weeks ago, forming a fordiable tight end duo tandem with George Kittle.
The 49ers’ training and coaching staff slow-played Reed’s immersion into the offense his first two weeks. He’s come on strong while the 49ers have kept Kittle sidelined with a tight hamstring the past 3 1/2 practices, and with Ross Dwelley (foot) out the past week.
Reed’s seventh documented concussion — and fourth as a pro last August — put his career in limbo and kept him off the field all last season.
His comeback is going so well that, “It’s the most fun I’ve had playing football. Ever,” Reed said. “I don’t know if because I didn’t play last last year, but when I’m out there now, I’m having a blast and I’m grateful.”
Reed’s first two seasons in Washington overlapped with Kyle Shanahan, who was then the offensive coordinator and is now entering his fourth year as the 49ers’ coach. Reed is adjusting to Shanahan’s “very complex” system the more reps he gets.
So how do the 49ers compare to Washington?
“It’s a big culture change,” Reed said. “Everything is upbeat, positive, everybody doing their job to the best their ability and you want to meet that standard. I’m grateful.
“… The way they handled things here was very professional. They just want the best for us. I really appreciate how they let me come along. Now I’m feeling great and looking forward to the season.”


mercurynews--2020-08-31--Santa Cruz County dad meets Texas teen who received 11-year-old son’s organ donation

FREEDOM — Aidan ’ s dad had to make one last decision for his son , and it was a tough one .
“ There ’ s no doubt , if he were here , he would have made the same decisions , because he was very giving , ” Clint Nabor said by webcast Thursday , his voice full of emotion .
Nabor was in the midst of his first virtual “ meeting ” with 15-year-old Mackenzie Schnettler , of Brazoria , Texas .
Mackenzie received a corneal donation from Nabor ’ s 11-year-old son after he died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because we miss Aidan , but we ’ re happy knowing that even not being here physically , he ’ s still able to help , because that ’ s how he was .
He was just super generous , ” Nabor said .
“ I ’ m excited that I was the one that was able to carry on Aidan , ” Mackenzie said , with several careful pauses between her words .
In September , Mackenzie ’ s cornea had been eaten away after she , at the time 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have linked to her contact lens solution .
She was misdiagnosed several times as having a “ pink eye ” infection before receiving a more serious diagnosis .
Within four days , she had completely lost vision in her left eye and was later told by an eye specialist that she had been within hours of losing the eye altogether .
“ The day after surgery , at my post op , my vision was 20/60 , before the transplant , I was at 20/400 , ” Mackenzie wrote in a letter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend , I was able to see my mom ’ s facial features for the first time in 10 months !
” Mackenzie ’ s transplant surgery came just four days before her birthday , and she has since obtained her driving learner ’ s permit .
She described herself Thursday as interested in making crafts and playing the piano .
Her mother added that Mackenzie was very artistic and liked to play jokes .
“ She was a trooper , she never let it get her down , ” said Mackenzie ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in on the meeting Thursday .
“ Her spirits stayed the same .
She is still as happy as she could be , as much pain as she was in .
She dealt with it a lot better than I would .
I mean , they went after her eye with scalpels and she ’ s gotten injections in it .
It was hard to watch.
” On Tuesday , during a checkup with her doctor , Mackenzie had four stitches removed from her eye and her vision has improved beyond what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Thank you so much for her gift of vision , ” Warlick said .
• The Latest : Nearly 500K register for free tests in Hong Kong In an interview after his meetup with Mackenzie , Nabor said that when he received the Texas teen ’ s letter , he “ could tell it was from the heart.
” Nabor said he had received a few details about some of his son ’ s other donor recipients , but had not spoken to them directly — both sides of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to be connected .
Aidan ’ s kidneys and skin cells were shared with others , and his liver was being used for medical study .
Donating Aidan ’ s organs , once the family knew the boy ’ s physical body was unable to continue living , means “ a part of him still was in this world , ” said Nabor , who is an organ donor himself .
Mackenzie and Nabor ’ s meeting was facilitated by CorneaGen , the organization that assessed and prepared Aidan ’ s corneal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to be delivered to Mackenzie ’ s surgeon .
Donor Network West partnered with CorneaGen , recovering and delivering the tissue .
“ If they want to reach out to me and my family and they want to know about Aidan , then that ’ s truly all we want to do , ” Nabor said .
“ We want to be able to share the memories of him so then , that way his memory can continue to live on , and not just through us , but also through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gift and effect.
” • Coronavirus : San Francisco to allow some businesses to operate outside • Coronavirus : Cases , hospitalizations — but also tests — trend downward in California Aidan , who died while playing outside when he was entangled with a rope swing , was a gifted piano player who loved music , had recently joined the Boy Scouts , took taekwondo lessons and was a “ very giving person , ” his father said .
He shared a story of how his son donated his saved-up allowance to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closure mandates were affecting his business .
“ He went into his piggy bank and he gave his master $ 600 , because it ’ s what he had in there , ” Nabor said .
“ He was like here , I hope you don ’ t have to close .
”

FREEDOM — Aidan’s dad had to make one last decision for his son, and it was a tough one.
“There’s no doubt, if he were here, he would have made the same decisions, because he was very giving,” Clint Nabor said by webcast Thursday, his voice full of emotion.
Nabor was in the midst of his first virtual “meeting” with 15-year-old Mackenzie Schnettler, of Brazoria, Texas. Mackenzie received a corneal donation from Nabor’s 11-year-old son after he died in June.
“It’s sad, because we miss Aidan, but we’re happy knowing that even not being here physically, he’s still able to help, because that’s how he was. He was just super generous,” Nabor said.
“I’m excited that I was the one that was able to carry on Aidan,” Mackenzie said, with several careful pauses between her words.
In September, Mackenzie’s cornea had been eaten away after she, at the time 14, contracted a water-borne bacterial infection doctors have linked to her contact lens solution. She was misdiagnosed several times as having a “pink eye” infection before receiving a more serious diagnosis. Within four days, she had completely lost vision in her left eye and was later told by an eye specialist that she had been within hours of losing the eye altogether.
“The day after surgery, at my post op, my vision was 20/60, before the transplant, I was at 20/400,” Mackenzie wrote in a letter to Nabor in July. “This past weekend, I was able to see my mom’s facial features for the first time in 10 months!”
Mackenzie’s transplant surgery came just four days before her birthday, and she has since obtained her driving learner’s permit. She described herself Thursday as interested in making crafts and playing the piano. Her mother added that Mackenzie was very artistic and liked to play jokes.
“She was a trooper, she never let it get her down,” said Mackenzie’s mom Tiffany Warlick, who sat in on the meeting Thursday. “Her spirits stayed the same. She is still as happy as she could be, as much pain as she was in. She dealt with it a lot better than I would. I mean, they went after her eye with scalpels and she’s gotten injections in it. It was hard to watch.”
On Tuesday, during a checkup with her doctor, Mackenzie had four stitches removed from her eye and her vision has improved beyond what it had been before the infection, Warlick said.
“Thank you so much for her gift of vision,” Warlick said. Related Articles Health | Editorial: California should ban tackle football in high school
Editorial: California should ban tackle football in high school Health | Bouie: Reactionary Republican lawmakers won’t stop at banning abortion
Bouie: Reactionary Republican lawmakers won’t stop at banning abortion Health | Taliban have no plans to lift ban on female education
Taliban have no plans to lift ban on female education Health | In parts of California, a prescription will pay for your fresh fruits and veggies
In parts of California, a prescription will pay for your fresh fruits and veggies Health | Pioneering study links testicular cancer among military personnel to ‘forever chemicals’
In an interview after his meetup with Mackenzie, Nabor said that when he received the Texas teen’s letter, he “could tell it was from the heart.” Nabor said he had received a few details about some of his son’s other donor recipients, but had not spoken to them directly — both sides of the equation need to want to speak in order to be connected. Aidan’s kidneys and skin cells were shared with others, and his liver was being used for medical study. Donating Aidan’s organs, once the family knew the boy’s physical body was unable to continue living, means “a part of him still was in this world,” said Nabor, who is an organ donor himself.
Mackenzie and Nabor’s meeting was facilitated by CorneaGen, the organization that assessed and prepared Aidan’s corneal tissue to be transplanted and arranged for it to be delivered to Mackenzie’s surgeon. Donor Network West partnered with CorneaGen, recovering and delivering the tissue.
“If they want to reach out to me and my family and they want to know about Aidan, then that’s truly all we want to do,” Nabor said. “We want to be able to share the memories of him so then, that way his memory can continue to live on, and not just through us, but also through the people whose lives he is able to gift and effect.”
Related Articles Health | Editorial: California should ban tackle football in high school
Editorial: California should ban tackle football in high school Health | In parts of California, a prescription will pay for your fresh fruits and veggies
In parts of California, a prescription will pay for your fresh fruits and veggies Health | Pioneering study links testicular cancer among military personnel to ‘forever chemicals’
Pioneering study links testicular cancer among military personnel to ‘forever chemicals’ Health | Meta criticized for making reproductive health an R-rated issue
Meta criticized for making reproductive health an R-rated issue Health | More mosquitos test positive for West Nile virus in Santa Clara County Aidan, who died while playing outside when he was entangled with a rope swing, was a gifted piano player who loved music, had recently joined the Boy Scouts, took taekwondo lessons and was a “very giving person,” his father said. He shared a story of how his son donated his saved-up allowance to his taekwondo instructor when he heard that coronavirus-related closure mandates were affecting his business.
“He went into his piggy bank and he gave his master $600, because it’s what he had in there,” Nabor said. “He was like here, I hope you don’t have to close.”


mercurynews--2020-08-31--‘The houses are a part of us’: In Boulder Creek, an evacuated town assesses what flames took and wha

‘The houses are a part of us’: In Boulder Creek, an evacuated town assesses what flames took and what remains

BOULDER CREEK — One was home to Andrew Wilson since he was brought there after his birth nearly four decades ago .
It was where he still lived , returning as an adult while enrolled in nursing school to live with his father deep in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains .
One was home to Mary Beth Curley , husband Tony Burgess and their two teenage children — a spacious house near the golf club , with a rumpus room downstairs .
One was home to Jon Payne and his wife , Elizabeth , a lively compound serving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a just-finished recording studio and his bandmates living on the property nearby .
Every home has a story .
In few places is that as true as a pridefully eccentric town such as Boulder Creek , a former logging community now standing as a gateway to Big Basin State Park and a slow-moving escape from the rush of the Bay Area .
“ A lot of the houses are not cookie cutter , ” said Wilson , 37 .
“ The houses are a part of us .
They ’ re a part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re all so unique , and everybody puts their own stamp on their house.
” Each of their homes now sits as a pile of ash and debris , consumed by the flames of the CZU August Lightning Complex fire along with more than 600 others , almost all of which stood in rural areas of Santa Cruz County .
It amounts to a loss without any precedent for the region since the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989 .
Flames from more than 20 fires sparked by lightning Aug. 16 burned down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaches of San Mateo County , through Big Basin State Park , across wide swathes of Bonny Doon and well into the outskirts of Boulder Creek .
Flames torched more than 83,000 acres and 899 structures , and counting , including Big Basin ’ s headquarters .
Some rural neighborhoods were left decimated , while in others many homes still stand , some with yards entirely unblemished — islands of green amid oceans of black .
Many fire-scorched areas remained evacuated Saturday as the fire still burns and fallen trees , downed power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But days after the first damage map was released , many of the town ’ s residents have already begun the long process of assessing what was lost , and what remains .
“ It was a place that really gave refuge to all kinds of people , ” Burgess said , worrying that not everyone in the community will be able to afford to recover and rebuild .
“ The saying goes , ‘ We ’ re all here because we ’ re not all there.
’ Everyone in Boulder Creek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lumber town , Boulder Creek is home to nearly 5,000 .
Its downtown stands unharmed thanks to the concentrated effort of Cal Fire crews that worked around the clock to keep flames from overrunning the string of San Lorenzo Valley communities .
Dozens of homes in the town ’ s outskirts , and to its north and west , were destroyed .
“ The impacts are devastating , and my heart hurts for all those that are actually finally getting pictures of their homes that are lost , ” said Kevin Foster , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and founder of its most popular social media group , Boulder Creek Neighbors .
The private Facebook group has added more than 500 new members since the fire ignited and has become even more of a hub for sharing information , support and grief while evacuated .
Foster , an area CERT founder , has seen the damage firsthand as he works to feed and rescue animals and pets from behind the roadblocks .
As extensive as it is , he said he is confident the community will rally together and heal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of compassion for those that have lost their homes , and we will all come together and through it together , and lift each other up and help in any way we can , ” Foster said .
Not everyone may decide to stay .
“ There are those that will rebuild , and there are those that this may be their final decision to leave the area — because it ’ s always on everybody ’ s mind to leave California , ” Foster said .
When Burgess and his family got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only took time to grab the pets , passports , laptops and toiletries .
First they fled to a friend ’ s house not far away , expecting a more limited evacuation as had been the case with fires of years past .
But just as they were settling in , that home , too , was ordered to evacuate .
Burgess had had a few drinks that evening , so his son , with his learner ’ s permit , was behind the wheel .
“ He drove my stick-shift car with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Road and ( Highway ) 17 to Los Gatos.
” Two days later , they learned the neighborhood had been hit hard by the fire and their home was likely destroyed .
But it wasn ’ t until the following Thursday they saw a photo of what was left of their home .
The family considers itself lucky , relatively speaking , to be put up in a comfortable hotel suite by its insurance and with a long-term rental already lining up .
The loss of their home , and likely everything left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully sunken in .
“ There ’ s always this sense that this is temporary , you ’ re just going to go back home , and all your stuff is there , ” Burgess .
“ And even though you know that ’ s not really true , it sort of colors your perception.
” Of course there is grief , Burgess said .
Especially for the things that can ’ t be replaced — mementos connecting to his mother , all the way to his great parents .
“ That can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But there is also this sense of being deracinated , being suddenly , sort of , unconnected .
There used to be this great sea of stuff that stuck me in place .
And so I do get this feeling of lightness , at times.
” Miles north of the Burgess ’ home , on a hilly 1 acre lot , the Wilsons ’ house had hundreds of steps leading up from its front deck — 212 , based on a young relative ’ s recent count .
Wilson ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the house ’ s wall contained cubbies they called “ holes ” that he used to be able to fit himself inside .
The flag draped over his grandfather ’ s casket before it was given to his grandmother was kept in one of those cubbies .
In a rush to evacuate , it was forgotten .
Wilson can only assume it burned with the rest of the house .
“ It ’ s heartbreaking that we lost his flag , ” he said .
“ That was one memento that we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found out Monday their neighborhood had been decimated , a report from someone able to access behind the roadblocks followed by a grainy photo .
The family owned another 48 acres lot behind the home they planned to sell , but now aren ’ t sure what it ’ ll be worth .
Wilson thinks his father , Ron , now in his 70s , will want to rebuild on the lot .
But he ’ s worried that all the burned trees could threaten the stability of the hillside , perhaps adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come this winter .
For now , he and his father are staying in a hotel provided by insurance .
Like so many families in their position , they ’ re also turning to their neighbors for support through a crowdfunding campaign as they continue to grapple with the loss .
“ It ’ s always just been our home base , ” he said .
“ Just the fact that it ’ s gone — every part of it being gone is just hard.
” As for Boulder Creek , Wilson thinks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downtown stands .
What that recovery looks like remains to be seen .
“ It depends on how Big Basin reopens , ” he said .
“ It depends on how the infrastructure is put back in place .
It depends on the damage .
It depends on , you know , a lot.
” A children ’ s therapist and musician , Payne , 41 , has long had the dream of creating a haven for artists and musicians in the San Lorenzo Valley .
In 2017 , he found the perfect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house built in the ’ 70s by its original owners on Hill House Road , on a rare piece of clear land open to the sun and stars and with views of Eagle Rock and surrounding peaks .
In addition to the main house , the property had a little cabin and friends living in two trailers .
Guests came through frequently via AirBnB .
“ It was really just a place where musicians gathered , ” Payne said , explaining he hosted house shows and concerts for acts from across the Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the local Boulder Creek folks knew of our house , and they ’ d been to our house.
” Coping with COVID-19 , Payne and his bandmate built a recording studio in the basement .
With a mix of donated and purchased gear , they finished the studio a week before the house burned down .
• Bay Area wildfires : Crews continue to gain ground , but smoke not going away any time soon • Photos : On the front lines of the Bay Area wildfires Payne , his wife and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a helicopter flew overhead warning them of danger through a loudspeaker .
From miles south in Felton , they watched as an eerie red glow crept over the horizon .
Payne was able to make a quick trip back the next day to grab a few more items as flames neared .
He grabbed his grandfather ’ s ashes , but his wife ’ s engagement ring was left behind .
Another neighbor who ’ d tried to stay fled as propane tanks exploded , and he realized the house was almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video the next day .
“ I ’ d worked my whole life for this kind of situation in this house , that we could provide for so many people and allow for so many friends and family to live there — it was just such an intense feeling just seeing it evaporate , ” Payne said .
At first Payne and his wife seriously discussed moving out of the area , but he said they ’ ve since been overwhelmed with support from their community , a crowdfunding campaign , and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all adding motivation to rebuild .
And at least one echo of that house remains to be heard .
Payne and his band , Wolf Jett , recorded their upcoming album within its walls .
“ I had recorded a bunch of records in that living room , and this turned out to be the last one , ” he said .
“ As cheesy as it sounds , that living room is going to sing one last time .
”

BOULDER CREEK — One was home to Andrew Wilson since he was brought there after his birth nearly four decades ago. It was where he still lived, returning as an adult while enrolled in nursing school to live with his father deep in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
One was home to Mary Beth Curley, husband Tony Burgess and their two teenage children — a spacious house near the golf club, with a rumpus room downstairs.
One was home to Jon Payne and his wife, Elizabeth, a lively compound serving as an informal local music venue with a just-finished recording studio and his bandmates living on the property nearby.
Every home has a story. In few places is that as true as a pridefully eccentric town such as Boulder Creek, a former logging community now standing as a gateway to Big Basin State Park and a slow-moving escape from the rush of the Bay Area.
“A lot of the houses are not cookie cutter,” said Wilson, 37. “The houses are a part of us. They’re a part of who we are because they’re all so unique, and everybody puts their own stamp on their house.”
Each of their homes now sits as a pile of ash and debris, consumed by the flames of the CZU August Lightning Complex fire along with more than 600 others, almost all of which stood in rural areas of Santa Cruz County.
It amounts to a loss without any precedent for the region since the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989. Flames from more than 20 fires sparked by lightning Aug. 16 burned down the North Coast and swept across the southern reaches of San Mateo County, through Big Basin State Park, across wide swathes of Bonny Doon and well into the outskirts of Boulder Creek.
Flames torched more than 83,000 acres and 899 structures, and counting, including Big Basin’s headquarters.
Some rural neighborhoods were left decimated, while in others many homes still stand, some with yards entirely unblemished — islands of green amid oceans of black.
Many fire-scorched areas remained evacuated Saturday as the fire still burns and fallen trees, downed power lines and damaged roadways create persistent threats. But days after the first damage map was released, many of the town’s residents have already begun the long process of assessing what was lost, and what remains.
“It was a place that really gave refuge to all kinds of people,” Burgess said, worrying that not everyone in the community will be able to afford to recover and rebuild. “The saying goes, ‘We’re all here because we’re not all there.’ Everyone in Boulder Creek was a little different.”
A former lumber town, Boulder Creek is home to nearly 5,000. Its downtown stands unharmed thanks to the concentrated effort of Cal Fire crews that worked around the clock to keep flames from overrunning the string of San Lorenzo Valley communities. Dozens of homes in the town’s outskirts, and to its north and west, were destroyed.
“The impacts are devastating, and my heart hurts for all those that are actually finally getting pictures of their homes that are lost,” said Kevin Foster, a pillar of the Boulder Creek community and founder of its most popular social media group, Boulder Creek Neighbors.
The private Facebook group has added more than 500 new members since the fire ignited and has become even more of a hub for sharing information, support and grief while evacuated.
Foster, an area CERT founder, has seen the damage firsthand as he works to feed and rescue animals and pets from behind the roadblocks. As extensive as it is, he said he is confident the community will rally together and heal.
“The community is showing a bunch of compassion for those that have lost their homes, and we will all come together and through it together, and lift each other up and help in any way we can,” Foster said.
Not everyone may decide to stay. “There are those that will rebuild, and there are those that this may be their final decision to leave the area — because it’s always on everybody’s mind to leave California,” Foster said.
‘Great sea of stuff’
When Burgess and his family got the evacuation call late Tuesday night they only took time to grab the pets, passports, laptops and toiletries. First they fled to a friend’s house not far away, expecting a more limited evacuation as had been the case with fires of years past. But just as they were settling in, that home, too, was ordered to evacuate.
Burgess had had a few drinks that evening, so his son, with his learner’s permit, was behind the wheel. “He drove my stick-shift car with the animals in it over Bear Creek Road and (Highway) 17 to Los Gatos.”
Two days later, they learned the neighborhood had been hit hard by the fire and their home was likely destroyed. But it wasn’t until the following Thursday they saw a photo of what was left of their home.
The family considers itself lucky, relatively speaking, to be put up in a comfortable hotel suite by its insurance and with a long-term rental already lining up. The loss of their home, and likely everything left in it, still hasn’t fully sunken in.
“There’s always this sense that this is temporary, you’re just going to go back home, and all your stuff is there,” Burgess. “And even though you know that’s not really true, it sort of colors your perception.”
Of course there is grief, Burgess said. Especially for the things that can’t be replaced — mementos connecting to his mother, all the way to his great parents. “That can hit in waves,” he said. “But there is also this sense of being deracinated, being suddenly, sort of, unconnected. There used to be this great sea of stuff that stuck me in place. And so I do get this feeling of lightness, at times.”
‘We lost his flag’
Miles north of the Burgess’ home, on a hilly 1 acre lot, the Wilsons’ house had hundreds of steps leading up from its front deck — 212, based on a young relative’s recent count. Wilson’s childhood bedroom was a loft, and the house’s wall contained cubbies they called “holes” that he used to be able to fit himself inside.
The flag draped over his grandfather’s casket before it was given to his grandmother was kept in one of those cubbies. In a rush to evacuate, it was forgotten. Wilson can only assume it burned with the rest of the house. “It’s heartbreaking that we lost his flag,” he said. “That was one memento that we can’t get back.”
The Wilsons found out Monday their neighborhood had been decimated, a report from someone able to access behind the roadblocks followed by a grainy photo. The family owned another 48 acres lot behind the home they planned to sell, but now aren’t sure what it’ll be worth.
Wilson thinks his father, Ron, now in his 70s, will want to rebuild on the lot. But he’s worried that all the burned trees could threaten the stability of the hillside, perhaps adding to the risk of mudslides when rains come this winter.
For now, he and his father are staying in a hotel provided by insurance. Like so many families in their position, they’re also turning to their neighbors for support through a crowdfunding campaign as they continue to grapple with the loss.
“It’s always just been our home base,” he said. “Just the fact that it’s gone — every part of it being gone is just hard.”
As for Boulder Creek, Wilson thinks the stalwart community will recover because its downtown stands. What that recovery looks like remains to be seen.
“It depends on how Big Basin reopens,” he said. “It depends on how the infrastructure is put back in place. It depends on the damage. It depends on, you know, a lot.”
‘Seeing it evaporate’
A children’s therapist and musician, Payne, 41, has long had the dream of creating a haven for artists and musicians in the San Lorenzo Valley.
In 2017, he found the perfect place outside of Boulder Creek — a house built in the ’70s by its original owners on Hill House Road, on a rare piece of clear land open to the sun and stars and with views of Eagle Rock and surrounding peaks. In addition to the main house, the property had a little cabin and friends living in two trailers. Guests came through frequently via AirBnB.
“It was really just a place where musicians gathered,” Payne said, explaining he hosted house shows and concerts for acts from across the Bay Area and beyond. “A lot of the local Boulder Creek folks knew of our house, and they’d been to our house.”
Coping with COVID-19, Payne and his bandmate built a recording studio in the basement. With a mix of donated and purchased gear, they finished the studio a week before the house burned down.
Related Articles Crashes and Disasters | Map: Lightning fires prompt evacuation order west of Yreka
Map: Lightning fires prompt evacuation order west of Yreka Crashes and Disasters | Evacuations ordered as Northern California fire roars through forest near site of 2022 deadly blaze
Evacuations ordered as Northern California fire roars through forest near site of 2022 deadly blaze Crashes and Disasters | Did powerlines cause Maui fire?
Did powerlines cause Maui fire? Crashes and Disasters | Living with air pollution, especially from wildfires or agriculture, raises risk of dementia, US study finds
Living with air pollution, especially from wildfires or agriculture, raises risk of dementia, US study finds Crashes and Disasters | Cadaver dogs are in Maui to help find the dead. Here’s how it works and why it’s difficult Payne, his wife and the others living on the property evacuated as a helicopter flew overhead warning them of danger through a loudspeaker. From miles south in Felton, they watched as an eerie red glow crept over the horizon.
Payne was able to make a quick trip back the next day to grab a few more items as flames neared. He grabbed his grandfather’s ashes, but his wife’s engagement ring was left behind. Another neighbor who’d tried to stay fled as propane tanks exploded, and he realized the house was almost certainly gone. That was confirmed by video the next day.
“I’d worked my whole life for this kind of situation in this house, that we could provide for so many people and allow for so many friends and family to live there — it was just such an intense feeling just seeing it evaporate,” Payne said.
At first Payne and his wife seriously discussed moving out of the area, but he said they’ve since been overwhelmed with support from their community, a crowdfunding campaign, and even the house’s original owners — all adding motivation to rebuild.
And at least one echo of that house remains to be heard. Payne and his band, Wolf Jett, recorded their upcoming album within its walls. “I had recorded a bunch of records in that living room, and this turned out to be the last one,” he said. “As cheesy as it sounds, that living room is going to sing one last time.”


mercurynews--2020-08-31--Newsom: California ‘actively’ working with Disneyland and other theme parks on reopening plans

Gov .
Gavin Newsom and state officials are “ actively ” working with Disneyland and other California theme parks on a “ very dynamic conversation ” about how to reopen the major tourist destinations after coronavirus closures that have stretched for more than five months .
Newsom commented on his discussions with Disney and other larger amusement park operators during a news conference on Friday , Aug. 28 .
“ We are working with them , ” Newsom said in response to a question about Disney and other amusement parks .
“ We set our discussions aside on that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks closed in mid-March amid the COVID-19 pandemic and remain shuttered indefinitely while they await state guidelines for safely reopening .
Disney , Universal , SeaWorld , Six Flags and Legoland have reopened theme parks in China , Japan , Singapore , Malaysia , Dubai , France , England , Germany , Denmark , Florida , Texas , New Jersey , Maryland , Missouri and Oklahoma following extended coronavirus closures .
Newsom said during the news conference he had a meeting about theme parks scheduled on Friday afternoon .
“ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that , ” Newsom said .
Newsom ’ s comments came a few hours after Legoland California called on the governor to issue guidelines for theme parks to safely reopen .
“ We don ’ t expect to open today , but we just need some sort of indicator as to where things stand , ” Legoland California president Kurt Stocks said .
“ We have been asking for many months now for the state to issue us guidance.
” Legoland joined a growing chorus of voices from Disney , Universal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and state officials to let California theme parks reopen .
“ Disneyland has been ready to roll since July , ” Disney World ’ s chief operating officer Jim MacPhee said during a Florida theme park roundtable on Wednesday , Aug. 26 .
California state officials have said little about theme parks since late June .
“ There ’ s no specific date that we ’ ve been given yet when theme park guidance will be ready , ” SeaWorld San Diego president Marilyn Hannes said .
Newsom promised an update “ soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through reopening plans for theme parks .
“ It is a very dynamic conversation , ” Newsom said Friday .
“ So we didn ’ t include it in the update today .
That is a separate conversation.
” Theme parks were not included in the business sector guidance list released by Newsom ’ s office that detailed a new four-tier system taking effect Monday , Aug. 31 .
The revised Blueprint for a Safer Economy lays out criteria for loosening and tightening COVID-19 restrictions in California Counties .
The state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks as “ closed ” for all four tiers .
Most California counties with major theme parks fell into the most restrictive “ widespread ” risk level — including Orange ( Disneyland and Knott ’ s Berry Farm ) , Los Angeles ( Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain ) , Solano ( Six Flags Discovery Kingdom ) , Santa Clara ( California ’ s Great America ) and Santa Cruz ( Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk ) .
San Diego County — home to SeaWorld San Diego and Legoland California — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level , one level down from “ widespread.
” Some California theme parks have come up with creative ways to partially reopen amid the pandemic .
SeaWorld San Diego reopened on Friday , Aug. 28 with Zoo Days : Bayside BBQ and Brews event featuring zoo exhibits , stadium shows and a food festival while rides remain idle .
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo reopened the Marine World Experience in early July with animal exhibits and shows while keeping its amusement park areas closed .
• Disneyland removes ‘ Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah ’ from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Disney , Universal and SeaWorld say California theme parks ready to reopen • How 50+ Disneyland attractions could change when the parks reopen Knott ’ s Berry Farm in Buena Park began a series of food , beer and wine events in mid-July while keeping its theme park rides and attractions closed .
The San Diego Zoo and its Safari Park reopened in late June .
Other California parks have given up hope of opening this year .
California ’ s Great America in Santa Clara canceled plans to reopen and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Raging Waters water park in San Dimas canceled its summer season .

Gov. Gavin Newsom and state officials are “actively” working with Disneyland and other California theme parks on a “very dynamic conversation” about how to reopen the major tourist destinations after coronavirus closures that have stretched for more than five months.
Newsom commented on his discussions with Disney and other larger amusement park operators during a news conference on Friday, Aug. 28.
“We are working with them,” Newsom said in response to a question about Disney and other amusement parks. “We set our discussions aside on that. They’re forthcoming.”
California theme parks closed in mid-March amid the COVID-19 pandemic and remain shuttered indefinitely while they await state guidelines for safely reopening. Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Six Flags and Legoland have reopened theme parks in China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, France, England, Germany, Denmark, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Maryland, Missouri and Oklahoma following extended coronavirus closures.
Newsom said during the news conference he had a meeting about theme parks scheduled on Friday afternoon.
“We’re actively looking to see where we land on that,” Newsom said.
Newsom’s comments came a few hours after Legoland California called on the governor to issue guidelines for theme parks to safely reopen.
“We don’t expect to open today, but we just need some sort of indicator as to where things stand,” Legoland California president Kurt Stocks said. “We have been asking for many months now for the state to issue us guidance.”
Legoland joined a growing chorus of voices from Disney, Universal, SeaWorld and Six Flags calling on Newsom and state officials to let California theme parks reopen.
“Disneyland has been ready to roll since July,” Disney World’s chief operating officer Jim MacPhee said during a Florida theme park roundtable on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
California state officials have said little about theme parks since late June.
“There’s no specific date that we’ve been given yet when theme park guidance will be ready,” SeaWorld San Diego president Marilyn Hannes said.
Newsom promised an update “soon” as state officials continue to work through reopening plans for theme parks.
“It is a very dynamic conversation,” Newsom said Friday. “So we didn’t include it in the update today. That is a separate conversation.”
Theme parks were not included in the business sector guidance list released by Newsom’s office that detailed a new four-tier system taking effect Monday, Aug. 31. The revised Blueprint for a Safer Economy lays out criteria for loosening and tightening COVID-19 restrictions in California Counties. The state’s COVID-19 website showed the status for theme parks as “closed” for all four tiers.
Most California counties with major theme parks fell into the most restrictive “widespread” risk level — including Orange (Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm), Los Angeles (Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain), Solano (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom), Santa Clara (California’s Great America) and Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk).
San Diego County — home to SeaWorld San Diego and Legoland California — was in the ‘substantial” risk level, one level down from “widespread.”
Some California theme parks have come up with creative ways to partially reopen amid the pandemic.
SeaWorld San Diego reopened on Friday, Aug. 28 with Zoo Days: Bayside BBQ and Brews event featuring zoo exhibits, stadium shows and a food festival while rides remain idle.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo reopened the Marine World Experience in early July with animal exhibits and shows while keeping its amusement park areas closed.
Related Articles Travel | Universal calls on its Minions to win the family market from Disney
Universal calls on its Minions to win the family market from Disney Travel | Disneyland braces for a ‘crowd crush’ as ticket prices drop and annual passholders return
Disneyland braces for a ‘crowd crush’ as ticket prices drop and annual passholders return Travel | Disneyland attendance rises and visitor spending increases thanks to higher ticket prices
Disneyland attendance rises and visitor spending increases thanks to higher ticket prices Travel | Disneyland security dog attacks 81-year-old grandfather, lawsuit alleges
Disneyland security dog attacks 81-year-old grandfather, lawsuit alleges Travel | Disneyland to turn Steakhouse 55 restaurant into a bar and lounge Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park began a series of food, beer and wine events in mid-July while keeping its theme park rides and attractions closed.
The San Diego Zoo and its Safari Park reopened in late June.
Other California parks have given up hope of opening this year.
California’s Great America in Santa Clara canceled plans to reopen and will remain closed for the rest of 2020. Raging Waters water park in San Dimas canceled its summer season.


mercurynews--2020-08-31--SF Giants Gameday podcast: The Giants didn’t provide any trade deadline clarity this week

It felt as if Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was the busiest executive in baseball in the hours leading up to the 2019 trade deadline .
Zaidi took calls about nearly every reliever on his pitching staff and swung deals with the Braves , Brewers , Twins and Rays .
The Giants didn ’ t make the blockbuster moves many in the industry expected such as parting with ace Madison Bumgarner or All-Star closer Will Smith , but Zaidi still made several important moves at the deadline that told us a lot about the way he approaches the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Monday ’ s trade deadline , the 17-19 Giants can go a variety of different directions .
Zaidi and general manager Scott Harris could turn into a “ buyer ” and make a move for a left-handed outfield bat and or a right-handed relief option .
They can enter “ seller ” mode and trade starting pitchers such as Johnny Cueto and Kevin Gausman , who would both be attractive to playoff contenders for different reasons .
They can also execute a need-for-need trade or remain quiet , choosing to keep the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on how the season might shake out .
With an expanded playoff field , the Giants already know several teams in front of them in the standings view themselves as legitimate pennant contenders .
The Dodgers and Padres think they ’ re positioned for deep postseason runs while the Braves and Cubs made win-now trades on Sunday .
The Giants have the talent to remain in the postseason mix until the end of the year and potentially sneak into the postseason , but with each potential trade , Zaidi and Harris must weigh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spot in a season in which the club likely wouldn ’ t play deep into October against the opportunity to stockpile talent for the future .
The Giants ’ front office is in a challenging position , and while the club gave Zaidi and Harris no clarity on how to proceed with a 3-3 week , it won ’ t be long before we know exactly how the team ’ s executives view the team ’ s chances in 2020 .
SF Giants Gameday : Listen to the Bay Area News Group ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hosted by our beat reporter Kerry Crowley .
We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season .
We Need Your Support !
Several Giants articles will remain free every 30 days – and I ’ ve launched a free newsletter and podcast that come Monday-Friday – but for access to all of my coverage you ’ ll need to subscribe to MercuryNews.com or EastBayTimes.com .
Click here for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the latest East Bay Times offer .
Thank you !
— Kerry Crowley

It felt as if Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was the busiest executive in baseball in the hours leading up to the 2019 trade deadline.
Zaidi took calls about nearly every reliever on his pitching staff and swung deals with the Braves, Brewers, Twins and Rays. The Giants didn’t make the blockbuster moves many in the industry expected such as parting with ace Madison Bumgarner or All-Star closer Will Smith, but Zaidi still made several important moves at the deadline that told us a lot about the way he approaches the process of building a roster.
Heading into Monday’s trade deadline, the 17-19 Giants can go a variety of different directions.
Zaidi and general manager Scott Harris could turn into a “buyer” and make a move for a left-handed outfield bat and or a right-handed relief option. They can enter “seller” mode and trade starting pitchers such as Johnny Cueto and Kevin Gausman, who would both be attractive to playoff contenders for different reasons. They can also execute a need-for-need trade or remain quiet, choosing to keep the roster as is with so much uncertainty on how the season might shake out.
With an expanded playoff field, the Giants already know several teams in front of them in the standings view themselves as legitimate pennant contenders. The Dodgers and Padres think they’re positioned for deep postseason runs while the Braves and Cubs made win-now trades on Sunday.
Related Articles San Francisco Giants | Nearing rehab assignment, Mitch Haniger says time away from SF Giants has been ‘difficult’, ‘frustrating’
Nearing rehab assignment, Mitch Haniger says time away from SF Giants has been ‘difficult’, ‘frustrating’ San Francisco Giants | SF Giants get the best of former reliever Littell to beat Rays
SF Giants get the best of former reliever Littell to beat Rays San Francisco Giants | SF Giants surrender 18 hits in blowout loss to Rays as offensive woes continue
SF Giants surrender 18 hits in blowout loss to Rays as offensive woes continue San Francisco Giants | SF Giants’ call-up of Wade Meckler only the latest chapter in outfield prospect’s storybook journey
SF Giants’ call-up of Wade Meckler only the latest chapter in outfield prospect’s storybook journey San Francisco Giants | SF Giants coach Nakken is pregnant, husband announces The Giants have the talent to remain in the postseason mix until the end of the year and potentially sneak into the postseason, but with each potential trade, Zaidi and Harris must weigh the benefit of competing for a playoff spot in a season in which the club likely wouldn’t play deep into October against the opportunity to stockpile talent for the future.
The Giants’ front office is in a challenging position, and while the club gave Zaidi and Harris no clarity on how to proceed with a 3-3 week, it won’t be long before we know exactly how the team’s executives view the team’s chances in 2020.
SF Giants Gameday: Listen to the Bay Area News Group’s daily San Francisco Giants podcast, hosted by our beat reporter Kerry Crowley. We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season.
We Need Your Support!
Several Giants articles will remain free every 30 days – and I’ve launched a free newsletter and podcast that come Monday-Friday – but for access to all of my coverage you’ll need to subscribe to MercuryNews.com or EastBayTimes.com. Click here for our latest Mercury News offer and here for the latest East Bay Times offer. Thank you! — Kerry Crowley


mercurynews--2020-08-31--California police fatally shoot suspect they say was armed with knife

Anaheim police fatally shot a man they said was armed with a knife when officers looking for a sexual assault suspect found him late Saturday night .
Jesse David Nava , 25 , of Anaheim , was treated at the scene , then taken to a hospital and underwent surgery .
He died about 9:30 a.m. Sunday from his injuries , the Anaheim Police Department said in a statement .
The shooting took place just after 9:30 p.m. Saturday , when officers found Nava , who was named in an arrest warrant for felony sexual assault tied to an August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of East Ward Terrace , police said .
The police statement said he was armed with a large kitchen knife .
“ A confrontation occurred between Nava and the officers resulting in an officer-involved shooting .
Nava was struck at least once by gunfire , ” the statement said .
The department did not say whether more than one officer fired at the suspect .
Further information on the sexual assault allegations against the suspect was not immediately available .
The shooting was being investigated by the Orange County District Attorney ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homicide unit , along with its Major Incident Review Team .
Representatives from the city ’ s Office of Independent Review and Police Review Board also went to the scene .
Officers ’ body-worn camera video footage of the incident was provided to District Attorney investigators .

Anaheim police fatally shot a man they said was armed with a knife when officers looking for a sexual assault suspect found him late Saturday night.
Jesse David Nava, 25, of Anaheim, was treated at the scene, then taken to a hospital and underwent surgery. He died about 9:30 a.m. Sunday from his injuries, the Anaheim Police Department said in a statement.
No officers were injured.
The shooting took place just after 9:30 p.m. Saturday, when officers found Nava, who was named in an arrest warrant for felony sexual assault tied to an August 2019 case, in the 2500 block of East Ward Terrace, police said.
The police statement said he was armed with a large kitchen knife. “A confrontation occurred between Nava and the officers resulting in an officer-involved shooting. Nava was struck at least once by gunfire,” the statement said.
The department did not say whether more than one officer fired at the suspect. Further information on the sexual assault allegations against the suspect was not immediately available.
The shooting was being investigated by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the department’s homicide unit, along with its Major Incident Review Team. Representatives from the city’s Office of Independent Review and Police Review Board also went to the scene.
Officers’ body-worn camera video footage of the incident was provided to District Attorney investigators.


Briddge: Aug. 31, 2020

Some deceptive defensive plays give declarer a chance to go wrong .
For instance , declarer ( South ) has K-J-4 in dummy , A-9-3-2 in his hand .
He leads to the jack , winning , and takes the king .
If West had Q-10-6 , he must play the queen , the card he is known to hold , on the king to give declarer a losing option .
Other defensive maneuvers almost compel declarer to fail .
Against today ’ s 3NT , West leads the ten of hearts : queen , king .
South ducks twice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discards a diamond .
If the diamond finesse wins , South can hope for four diamonds , four clubs and a spade .
But at Trick Four , he lets the nine of spades ride , hoping ( perhaps questionably ) for three spades , four clubs , a diamond and a heart .
Say East takes the queen and leads a diamond .
South must finesse , and he makes his game .
But East wins with the ACE of spades and leads a diamond .
Now South will need a crystal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ace and repeat the spade finesse , and East will win and cash his king of diamonds for down one .
You hold : S 6 5 3 H 10 9 8 7 4 D 8 4 C 9 6 3 .
Your partner opens 1NT .
The next player passes .
What do you say ?
ANSWER : I hope you don ’ t hold hands like this often .
Despite your weakness , to pass will usually be wrong .
Bid two hearts to sign off ( or , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bid two diamonds and pass partner ’ s two hearts ) .
At notrump , your hand will probably be worthless .
At hearts , it will furnish a trick or two .

Some deceptive defensive plays give declarer a chance to go wrong. For instance, declarer (South) has K-J-4 in dummy, A-9-3-2 in his hand. He leads to the jack, winning, and takes the king. If West had Q-10-6, he must play the queen, the card he is known to hold, on the king to give declarer a losing option.
Other defensive maneuvers almost compel declarer to fail. Against today’s 3NT, West leads the ten of hearts: queen, king. South ducks twice and wins the third heart. Dummy discards a diamond. If the diamond finesse wins, South can hope for four diamonds, four clubs and a spade. But at Trick Four, he lets the nine of spades ride, hoping (perhaps questionably) for three spades, four clubs, a diamond and a heart.
FINESSE
Say East takes the queen and leads a diamond. South must finesse, and he makes his game. But East wins with the ACE of spades and leads a diamond.
Now South will need a crystal ball to succeed. He will take the ace and repeat the spade finesse, and East will win and cash his king of diamonds for down one.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S 6 5 3 H 10 9 8 7 4 D 8 4 C 9 6 3. Your partner opens 1NT. The next player passes. What do you say?
ANSWER: I hope you don’t hold hands like this often. Despite your weakness, to pass will usually be wrong. Bid two hearts to sign off (or, if your partnership uses “transfer” responses, bid two diamonds and pass partner’s two hearts). At notrump, your hand will probably be worthless. At hearts, it will furnish a trick or two.
South dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S K 10 8 7
H Q 6
D J 10 6
C A J 10 5
WEST
S 6 5 3
H 10 9 8 7 4
D 8 4
C 9 6 3
EAST
S A Q 4
H K J 2
D K 7 5 3
C 7 4 2
SOUTH
S J 9 2
H A 5 3
D A Q 9 2
C K Q 8
South West North East
1 NT Pass 2 C Pass
2 D Pass 3 NT All Pass
Opening lead — H 10
(C)2020 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.