mercurynews--2020-12-10--Why intensive-care unit beds are focus of California’s coronavirus shutdowns

At the heart of the state ’ s latest coronavirus stay-at-home orders , which Southern California triggered over the weekend , sits a single metric : That metric , established by the California Department of Public Health , is the most-recent wonky medical term to take a starring role in gauging the state ’ s fight against the coronavirus — and it is one that officials say is key to preventing the healthcare system from being overrun .
Under the new state policy in California , the stay-at-home order goes into effect within 48 hours of available ICU beds in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are five — falling below 15 % .
Southern California dipped below that threshold on Friday .
The shutdown began late Sunday and will last at least three weeks , with indoor and outdoor dining banned , hair and nail salons shuttered , and retail stores capped at 20 % occupancy .
Health officials say having enough ICU beds — a national challenge of late — is important in fighting the renewed surge in cases and hospitalizations that has battered California in recent weeks .
That ’ s because , health officials say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sickest coronavirus patients receive specialized attention with machines such as ventilators , and where only doctors and nurses with specific training treat patients .
Why did state officials key in on ICU beds as the deciding factor for the new shutdown , rather than positivity rate and new daily case rate , the metrics used under the previous tiered system ?
And how does the state calculate available beds , a number continually in flux based on patients recovering or dying ?
In the days since Southern California triggered the stay-at-home order , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has only declined further , hitting 9 % on Wednesday , Dec. 9 , according to the California Department of Public Health .
Before this current surge , Long Beach officials said Wednesday evening , ICU capacity at nearby hospitals was about 50 % .
And ICU patients statewide increased from about 1,400 two weeks ago to 2,506 as of Wednesday .
But the decline in available ICU beds is just one of multiple signs that the winter coronavirus surge is worsening .
Positivity rates and hospitalizations have been on an upward spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shatter records .
Deaths have increased .
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic , however , public health officials have stressed the need to ensure hospitals have sufficient resources to treat patients , explaining that shutdowns and shelter-in-place orders are intended to slow the spread of the virus and prevent a situation where intensive-care units get flooded to the point certain patients can ’ t be treated .
While state officials haven ’ t disclosed why they chose 15 % as the threshold for triggering the regional stay-at home order , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICU beds is crucial .
“ We are certainly worried that with so many new patients with COVID being admitted to ( the ICU ) system , that important-but-fragile system , may be overwhelmed , ” Dr. Mark Ghaly , the state ’ s Health and Human Services director , said in a Tuesday , Dec. 8 , briefing .
The state wants no more than 30 % of patients in ICUs to have COVID-19 , L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said on Tuesday .
Intensive-care unit admissions across California were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state data shows .
If resources become too scarce , healthcare providers may be forced to make decisions about who receives care and who doesn ’ t , a triage scenario more familiar to the battlefield or disaster zones .
People could die unnecessarily for lack of care .
Morgues could become overrun — like what occurred in New York at the pandemic ’ s onset .
With case counts and admissions higher than ever , officials say , such horrific scenarios could very well become real in Southern California this winter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s frustrating for people , but we don ’ t really have any other tools .
There ’ s no easy answer , ” said Dr. Brad Spellberg , chief medical officer at L.A. County+USC Medical Center , the county ’ s busiest hospital .
“ I sympathize .
But you really don ’ t want your health system practicing battlefield medicine.
” How the state calculates ICU capacity , though , is a bit nebulous .
The state ’ s calculation accounts for existing staffed critical-care beds and staffed ICU surge beds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children needing intensive care .
And the number of beds free at one time , health experts say , can depend a great deal on surge flexibility and a daily census that fluctuates as patients are released and admitted .
State officials seem to realize this , since they will assess projections of Southern California ’ s overall intensive-care bed capacity twice each week , after the initial three-week shutdown , to determine when to lift the stay-at-home order .
When Southern California can begin reopening , though , remains an ongoing question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at an all-time high throughout the region recently .
L.A. County , for example , had 3,433 people in hospitals as of Wednesday , 793 of those in ICUs , based on a state dashboard that reports a day earlier than the county .
L.A. County had 462 available ICU beds on Wednesday , according to the state .
But the number of staffed beds available immediately , according to the county ’ s Department of Health Services , was 112 out of roughly 2,500 as of Tuesday — or about 4 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported a record-breaking 10,000 daily cases , officials said there was a real chance the county could need more than 1,000 additional ICU beds in two-to-three weeks .
By next week , roughly 700 daily new admissions could be coming .
L.A. ’ s neighbor , Orange County , doesn ’ t face a situation as dire yet .
But the number of patients requiring ICU treatment there has been spiking as well .
Available ICU beds at several Orange County hospitals dropped into single digits on Sunday .
The county as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Wednesday , state data shows .
Riverside and San Bernardino counties have also been setting hospitalization records lately — and ICU beds are filling up .
In Riverside County , 70 % of licensed hospital beds and 90 % of ICU beds were in use , county Emergency Management Director Bruce Barton told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday .
About 62 % of San Bernardino ’ s total beds — including surge beds — were occupied as of Wednesday , according to that county ’ s dashboard ; 75 % of ICU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our ( county ) ICUs are at capacity or just short of it , ” Dr .
Troy Pennington , an emergency care physician at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center , said in an interview Tuesday .
“ We ’ re seeing what we feared would happen starting about 12 days after Thanksgiving.
” So things must change now , officials said — especially with the specter of Christmas and the new year weeks away .
“ As difficult as things are right now , ” Pennington said , “ if they go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s , a few more weeks of this would be catastrophic.
” In LA County , existing surge plans and shifting some resources will be enough to manage the spike in hospitalizations , Ferrer said , if residents alter their behavior — such as not gathering .
“ We don ’ t have an overwhelmed healthcare system today , ” Ferrer said .
“ We have some time , but very little , to get ourselves to a place where that is not the case in L.A. County .
But it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working together to make that happen.
” Those on the ground , meanwhile , have also expressed concerns about surging hospitalizations .
Sylvain Trepanier , chief clinical executive for Providence Southern California , said the health network ’ s hospitals across the region are stretched on critical-care capacity , though they remain fully able to care for anyone who needs it .
Because a hospital ’ s sum of staffed ICU beds ebbs and flows daily , Trepanier said , the bed count on a given day becomes almost “ irrelevant ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Providence hospitals update surge plans multiple times a day based on the latest patient traffic , in-house coronavirus test results , staffing and supplies , Trepanier said .
“ We ’ ve been preparing for the longest time , ” he added .
“ We still have additional room and capability to assist critical care patients and ventilated patients as of today.
” Hospitals also have permission from the state to be more flexible given the challenges , though they ’ ve run up against some labor groups .
Nurses at Antelope Valley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week against a waiver request by the hospital to reduce nurse-to-patient ratios .
“ Many of us have worked here for years , before we had staffing ratios and after , ” said CNA Chief Nurse Representative Maria Altamirano .
“ We know what it ’ s like when we don ’ t have ratios .
We become overworked and patients suffer .
We are already exhausted .
A waiver does not help anyone.
” That exhaustion underscores one of the primary reasons state officials homed in on available ICU beds : Ensuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under a stampede of patients needing critical care is paramount to keeping the healthcare system functioning — outweighing questions of physical space and ventilators .
By now , the state has more than 21,000 available ventilators .
And while several field hospitals around the region are preparing for patients , including in Riverside and Orange counties , such precautions are not as widespread as during the spring .
There are no plans to re-staff Los Angeles Surge Hospital , for example , or to resurrect the makeshift ward at the Los Angeles Convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not cruise back into L.A. Harbor anytime soon .
But healthcare workers who are exhausted or sick — more than 1,700 tested positive last week in L.A. County — or are simply too few in number to handle the surge could prove fatal to coronavirus patients .
“ That has a tremendous impact on the capacity throughout our healthcare system , ” Ferrer said .
“ The biggest issue we face as a county is not around having a physical bed , ” she added , “ but having the staff to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategies , some in the planning and others under way , to respond to potential staffing shortages .
Officials are looking at a two-day training program for registered nurses to get them qualified to care for patients in intensive-care units , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said recently .
The state has also contracted with a staffing agency for 815 healthcare workers , including 435 to support ICU teams , and about 300 at skilled nursing facilities and alternate-care sites .
Roughly 560 will be available by mid-December .
The California Health Corps , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurses , now has up to 900 members , some of whom have been deployed while others stand by .
And a plan was also in motion to provide home oxygen to coronavirus patients to help minimize hospital admissions .
“ Fundamentally , staffing or human resources are going to be the most challenging for not just California but every state to address , ” Newsom said Monday .
“ How do we get enough people who are not fatigued and exhausted ?
” Hospitals throughout Southern California , for their part , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect , shifting resources and creating additional ICU capacity — to boost their own dwindling resources .
At UC Irvine Medical Center , in Orange , all but two of the 68 ICU beds were taken on Wednesday morning — 34 with the coronavirus , 32 without .
The hospital , however , still had some room to flex , said spokesman Tom Vasich .
“ We have capability to double our ICU bed capacity , ” Vasich said , “ and have enough ventilators to staff them if needed.
” PIH Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has seen the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 shoot up over about the last month .
The hospital , in a Nov. 6 Facebook post , reported having 12 coronavirus patients .
But by Tuesday , that number was 96 — with 54 % of those getting admitted since Nov. 25 .
Dr. Graham Tse , chief medical officer at MemorialCare Miller Children ’ s & Women ’ s Hospital Long Beach , said that facility had a large ICU and an emergency backup plan to increase capacity if needed .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus ending up in the ICU is not a fait accompli .
• Coronavirus state tracker : California reported 34,775 new case , 212 new deaths as of Dec. 9 • Proposed bill would require in-person instruction at California schools when a county ’ s COVID stats improve • Coronavirus map : Hospital and ICU capacity in every U.S. county • The coronavirus pandemic is hitting California families that are already struggling the hardest “ Many of our COVID-19 patients , ” Tse said , “ are triaged to dedicated isolation rooms on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patient placement can change based on the level of care needed , ” he added .
“ The number of ICU beds available , therefore , fluctuates based on patients ’ needs.
” But the hope , health and elected officials have said , is that the demand for critical care doesn ’ t overwhelm the ICU system .
“ The goal of saving lives becomes threatened , ” Ghaly said , “ when that system isn ’ t as robust and as strong as it can be to deliver care to as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryan Hagen , Chris Haire , Jeff Horseman , Hunter Lee , Haley Munguia , Mike Sprague and Ian Wheeler contributed to this report .

At the heart of the state’s latest coronavirus stay-at-home orders, which Southern California triggered over the weekend, sits a single metric:
Available intensive-care unit beds.
That metric, established by the California Department of Public Health, is the most-recent wonky medical term to take a starring role in gauging the state’s fight against the coronavirus — and it is one that officials say is key to preventing the healthcare system from being overrun.
Under the new state policy in California, the stay-at-home order goes into effect within 48 hours of available ICU beds in a given region — of which there are five — falling below 15%. Southern California dipped below that threshold on Friday. The shutdown began late Sunday and will last at least three weeks, with indoor and outdoor dining banned, hair and nail salons shuttered, and retail stores capped at 20% occupancy.
Health officials say having enough ICU beds — a national challenge of late — is important in fighting the renewed surge in cases and hospitalizations that has battered California in recent weeks. That’s because, health officials say, those critical-care units are where the sickest coronavirus patients receive specialized attention with machines such as ventilators, and where only doctors and nurses with specific training treat patients.
But questions remain:
Why did state officials key in on ICU beds as the deciding factor for the new shutdown, rather than positivity rate and new daily case rate, the metrics used under the previous tiered system? And how does the state calculate available beds, a number continually in flux based on patients recovering or dying?
Primary objective
In the days since Southern California triggered the stay-at-home order, the region’s ICU bed capacity has only declined further, hitting 9% on Wednesday, Dec. 9, according to the California Department of Public Health. Before this current surge, Long Beach officials said Wednesday evening, ICU capacity at nearby hospitals was about 50%.
And ICU patients statewide increased from about 1,400 two weeks ago to 2,506 as of Wednesday.
But the decline in available ICU beds is just one of multiple signs that the winter coronavirus surge is worsening. Positivity rates and hospitalizations have been on an upward spike for weeks. Daily coronavirus cases regularly shatter records. Deaths have increased.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, however, public health officials have stressed the need to ensure hospitals have sufficient resources to treat patients, explaining that shutdowns and shelter-in-place orders are intended to slow the spread of the virus and prevent a situation where intensive-care units get flooded to the point certain patients can’t be treated.
Enter ICU bed capacity.
While state officials haven’t disclosed why they chose 15% as the threshold for triggering the regional stay-at home order, they have made it clear why having enough ICU beds is crucial.
“We are certainly worried that with so many new patients with COVID being admitted to (the ICU) system, that important-but-fragile system, may be overwhelmed,” Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s Health and Human Services director, said in a Tuesday, Dec. 8, briefing.
The state wants no more than 30% of patients in ICUs to have COVID-19, L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said on Tuesday. Intensive-care unit admissions across California were around 36% as of Wednesday, state data shows.
If resources become too scarce, healthcare providers may be forced to make decisions about who receives care and who doesn’t, a triage scenario more familiar to the battlefield or disaster zones. People could die unnecessarily for lack of care. Morgues could become overrun — like what occurred in New York at the pandemic’s onset.
With case counts and admissions higher than ever, officials say, such horrific scenarios could very well become real in Southern California this winter.
“I’m sorry it’s frustrating for people, but we don’t really have any other tools. There’s no easy answer,” said Dr. Brad Spellberg, chief medical officer at L.A. County+USC Medical Center, the county’s busiest hospital. “I sympathize. But you really don’t want your health system practicing battlefield medicine.”
Flexibility factored in
How the state calculates ICU capacity, though, is a bit nebulous.
The state’s calculation accounts for existing staffed critical-care beds and staffed ICU surge beds, but excludes those for newborns and children needing intensive care.
And the number of beds free at one time, health experts say, can depend a great deal on surge flexibility and a daily census that fluctuates as patients are released and admitted. State officials seem to realize this, since they will assess projections of Southern California’s overall intensive-care bed capacity twice each week, after the initial three-week shutdown, to determine when to lift the stay-at-home order.
When Southern California can begin reopening, though, remains an ongoing question.
Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 have hit at an all-time high throughout the region recently. L.A. County, for example, had 3,433 people in hospitals as of Wednesday, 793 of those in ICUs, based on a state dashboard that reports a day earlier than the county.
L.A. County had 462 available ICU beds on Wednesday, according to the state. But the number of staffed beds available immediately, according to the county’s Department of Health Services, was 112 out of roughly 2,500 as of Tuesday — or about 4%.
On Sunday, when the county reported a record-breaking 10,000 daily cases, officials said there was a real chance the county could need more than 1,000 additional ICU beds in two-to-three weeks. By next week, roughly 700 daily new admissions could be coming.
L.A.’s neighbor, Orange County, doesn’t face a situation as dire yet. But the number of patients requiring ICU treatment there has been spiking as well. Available ICU beds at several Orange County hospitals dropped into single digits on Sunday. The county as a whole had 111 available ICU beds as of Wednesday, state data shows.
Riverside and San Bernardino counties have also been setting hospitalization records lately — and ICU beds are filling up.
In Riverside County, 70% of licensed hospital beds and 90% of ICU beds were in use, county Emergency Management Director Bruce Barton told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
About 62% of San Bernardino’s total beds — including surge beds — were occupied as of Wednesday, according to that county’s dashboard; 75% of ICU beds were in use.
“All of our (county) ICUs are at capacity or just short of it,” Dr. Troy Pennington, an emergency care physician at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, said in an interview Tuesday. “We’re seeing what we feared would happen starting about 12 days after Thanksgiving.”
So things must change now, officials said — especially with the specter of Christmas and the new year weeks away.
“As difficult as things are right now,” Pennington said, “if they go up again for Christmas and New Year’s, a few more weeks of this would be catastrophic.”
In LA County, existing surge plans and shifting some resources will be enough to manage the spike in hospitalizations, Ferrer said, if residents alter their behavior — such as not gathering.
“We don’t have an overwhelmed healthcare system today,” Ferrer said. “We have some time, but very little, to get ourselves to a place where that is not the case in L.A. County. But it will take each and every one of us working together to make that happen.”
Those on the ground, meanwhile, have also expressed concerns about surging hospitalizations.
Sylvain Trepanier, chief clinical executive for Providence Southern California, said the health network’s hospitals across the region are stretched on critical-care capacity, though they remain fully able to care for anyone who needs it.
Because a hospital’s sum of staffed ICU beds ebbs and flows daily, Trepanier said, the bed count on a given day becomes almost “irrelevant” in the scope of complex surge strategies.
Providence hospitals update surge plans multiple times a day based on the latest patient traffic, in-house coronavirus test results, staffing and supplies, Trepanier said.
“We’ve been preparing for the longest time,” he added. “We still have additional room and capability to assist critical care patients and ventilated patients as of today.”
Hospitals also have permission from the state to be more flexible given the challenges, though they’ve run up against some labor groups. Nurses at Antelope Valley Hospital, in Lancaster, protested last week against a waiver request by the hospital to reduce nurse-to-patient ratios.
“Many of us have worked here for years, before we had staffing ratios and after,” said CNA Chief Nurse Representative Maria Altamirano. “We know what it’s like when we don’t have ratios. We become overworked and patients suffer. We are already exhausted. A waiver does not help anyone.”
Staffing shortages
That exhaustion underscores one of the primary reasons state officials homed in on available ICU beds:
Ensuring hospital staffers don’t get crushed under a stampede of patients needing critical care is paramount to keeping the healthcare system functioning — outweighing questions of physical space and ventilators.
By now, the state has more than 21,000 available ventilators. And while several field hospitals around the region are preparing for patients, including in Riverside and Orange counties, such precautions are not as widespread as during the spring. There are no plans to re-staff Los Angeles Surge Hospital, for example, or to resurrect the makeshift ward at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The U.S.S. Mercy will not cruise back into L.A. Harbor anytime soon.
But healthcare workers who are exhausted or sick — more than 1,700 tested positive last week in L.A. County — or are simply too few in number to handle the surge could prove fatal to coronavirus patients.
“That has a tremendous impact on the capacity throughout our healthcare system,” Ferrer said.
“The biggest issue we face as a county is not around having a physical bed,” she added, “but having the staff to support those beds.”
The state has several strategies, some in the planning and others under way, to respond to potential staffing shortages.
Officials are looking at a two-day training program for registered nurses to get them qualified to care for patients in intensive-care units, Gov. Gavin Newsom said recently.
The state has also contracted with a staffing agency for 815 healthcare workers, including 435 to support ICU teams, and about 300 at skilled nursing facilities and alternate-care sites. Roughly 560 will be available by mid-December.
The California Health Corps, made up largely of retired doctors and nurses, now has up to 900 members, some of whom have been deployed while others stand by.
And a plan was also in motion to provide home oxygen to coronavirus patients to help minimize hospital admissions.
“Fundamentally, staffing or human resources are going to be the most challenging for not just California but every state to address,” Newsom said Monday. “How do we get enough people who are not fatigued and exhausted?”
Surge plans ready
Hospitals throughout Southern California, for their part, have begun putting their surge plans into effect, shifting resources and creating additional ICU capacity — to boost their own dwindling resources.
At UC Irvine Medical Center, in Orange, all but two of the 68 ICU beds were taken on Wednesday morning — 34 with the coronavirus, 32 without. The hospital, however, still had some room to flex, said spokesman Tom Vasich.
“We have capability to double our ICU bed capacity,” Vasich said, “and have enough ventilators to staff them if needed.”
PIH Health’s Whittier facility, meanwhile, has seen the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 shoot up over about the last month. The hospital, in a Nov. 6 Facebook post, reported having 12 coronavirus patients. But by Tuesday, that number was 96 — with 54% of those getting admitted since Nov. 25.
Dr. Graham Tse, chief medical officer at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach, said that facility had a large ICU and an emergency backup plan to increase capacity if needed. And, he said, patients with the coronavirus ending up in the ICU is not a fait accompli.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge “Many of our COVID-19 patients,” Tse said, “are triaged to dedicated isolation rooms on other units in the hospital.
“Patient placement can change based on the level of care needed,” he added. “The number of ICU beds available, therefore, fluctuates based on patients’ needs.”
But the hope, health and elected officials have said, is that the demand for critical care doesn’t overwhelm the ICU system.
“The goal of saving lives becomes threatened,”Ghaly said, “when that system isn’t as robust and as strong as it can be to deliver care to as many Californians as needed.”
Staff writers Ryan Hagen, Chris Haire, Jeff Horseman, Hunter Lee, Haley Munguia, Mike Sprague and Ian Wheeler contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-12-10--Kamala, Fauci among famous names on mispronounced words list

America ’ s preeminent infectious disease expert , Anthony Fauci , and its incoming vice president , Kamala Harris , join the Renaissance master himself , Leonardo da Vinci , atop this year ’ s list of most mispronounced words , as compiled by the U.S. Captioning Company , which captions and subtitles real-time events on TV and in courtrooms .
The list released Wednesday identifies the words that proved most challenging for newsreaders and people on television to pronounce this year .
The caption company said it surveyed its members to generate the list , which is now in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Babbel , a language-learning app company with headquarters in Berlin and New York .
Todd Ehresmann , a senior linguist at Babbel , said the list , unsurprisingly , reflects a year dominated by presidential politics and the coronavirus pandemic .
“ All of these have added some new phrases to our national vocabulary , which may take some practice , ” he said .
Here ’ s how Ehresmann broke down the proper pronunciations for the commonly misspoken words : Anthony Fauci ( AN-thon-nee FOW-chee ) : Director of the National Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sonyeondan ( PUNG-tahn SOH-nyun-dahn ) : The full name of South Korean K-Pop band ‘ BTS ’ , which translates as “ a group of bulletproof boys ” or “ bulletproof boy scouts.
” Giannis Antetokounmpo ( YON-nis AHN-de-doh-KOON-boh ) : Greek basketball player who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks and was named the NBA ’ s ‘ Most Valuable Player ’ this year .
Isaias ( ees-ah-EE-ahs ) : The name given to a powerful hurricane that caused significant damage to the East Coast and Caribbean this summer .
Kamala Harris : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has reported Harris ’ first name is pronounced “ KAH ’ -mah-lah ” — or , as she explains in her biography , “ ‘ comma-la , ’ like the punctuation mark.
” • Texas sues to overturn election results in four other states • Vice President-elect Kamala Harris assembles staff as she builds her vice presidential portfolio • Trump sues to overturn votes in Wisconsin after recount Leonardo da Vinci ( lee-oh-NAR-doe dah-VIN-chee ) : The Italian painter , architect , and engineer who created the ‘ Mona Lisa.
’ A mispronunciation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a viral meme on social media this year .
Mahamayavi Bhagavan Antle ( mu-HAH-muh-yaw-vee bag-AH-wahn ANT-uhl ) : The full name of wildlife park operator ‘ Doc ’ Antle , who shot to fame in the Netflix documentary series ‘ Tiger King.
’ Nevada ( nev-ADD-ah ) : Homestate of Las Vegas that played a central role in the presidential election .
Yosemite : The famous national park in California ’ s Sierra Nevada mountains , it was notably mispronounced by President Trump in August .
Multiple sources list its pronunciation as ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corrected to show that the spelling of the hurricane that caused significant damage is Isaias , not Isias .

Fauci, Kamala….da Vinci?
America’s preeminent infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, and its incoming vice president, Kamala Harris, join the Renaissance master himself, Leonardo da Vinci, atop this year’s list of most mispronounced words, as compiled by the U.S. Captioning Company, which captions and subtitles real-time events on TV and in courtrooms.
The list released Wednesday identifies the words that proved most challenging for newsreaders and people on television to pronounce this year.
The caption company said it surveyed its members to generate the list, which is now in its fifth year and was commissioned by Babbel, a language-learning app company with headquarters in Berlin and New York.
Todd Ehresmann, a senior linguist at Babbel, said the list, unsurprisingly, reflects a year dominated by presidential politics and the coronavirus pandemic.
“All of these have added some new phrases to our national vocabulary, which may take some practice,” he said.
Here’s how Ehresmann broke down the proper pronunciations for the commonly misspoken words:
Anthony Fauci (AN-thon-nee FOW-chee): Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Bangtan Sonyeondan (PUNG-tahn SOH-nyun-dahn): The full name of South Korean K-Pop band ‘BTS’, which translates as “a group of bulletproof boys” or “bulletproof boy scouts.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo (YON-nis AHN-de-doh-KOON-boh): Greek basketball player who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks and was named the NBA’s ‘Most Valuable Player’ this year.
Isaias (ees-ah-EE-ahs ): The name given to a powerful hurricane that caused significant damage to the East Coast and Caribbean this summer.
Kamala Harris: The Vice President-Elect. The Associated Press has reported Harris’ first name is pronounced “KAH’-mah-lah” — or, as she explains in her biography, “‘comma-la,’ like the punctuation mark.”
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Opinion: Republican racism has finally weaponized Kamala Harris California Politics | VP Harris: Florida rules on Black history pushed by Gov. DeSantis are ‘propaganda’ Leonardo da Vinci (lee-oh-NAR-doe dah-VIN-chee): The Italian painter, architect, and engineer who created the ‘Mona Lisa.’ A mispronunciation of his name was the subject of a viral meme on social media this year.
Mahamayavi Bhagavan Antle (mu-HAH-muh-yaw-vee bag-AH-wahn ANT-uhl): The full name of wildlife park operator ‘Doc’ Antle, who shot to fame in the Netflix documentary series ‘Tiger King.’
Nevada ( nev-ADD-ah ): Homestate of Las Vegas that played a central role in the presidential election.
Yosemite: The famous national park in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, it was notably mispronounced by President Trump in August. Multiple sources list its pronunciation as (yoh-SEM-it-ee).
___
This story has been corrected to show that the spelling of the hurricane that caused significant damage is Isaias, not Isias.


mercurynews--2020-12-10--Can I stop wearing a mask after getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

Can I stop wearing a mask after getting a COVID-19 vaccine ?
No .
For a couple reasons , masks and social distancing will still be recommended for some time after people are vaccinated .
To start , the first coronavirus vaccines require two shots ; Pfizer ’ s second dose comes three weeks after the first and Moderna ’ s comes after four weeks .
And the effect of vaccinations generally aren ’ t immediate .
People are expected to get some level of protection within a couple of weeks after the first shot .
But full protection may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second shot .
It ’ s also not yet known whether the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines protect people from infection entirely , or just from symptoms .
That means vaccinated people might still be able to get infected and pass the virus on , although it would likely be at a much lower rate , said Deborah Fuller , a vaccine expert at the University of Washington .
And even once vaccine supplies start ramping up , getting hundreds of millions shots into people ’ s arms is expected to take months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported 34,775 new case , 212 new deaths as of Dec. 9 • Proposed bill would require in-person instruction at California schools when a county ’ s COVID stats improve • Coronavirus map : Hospital and ICU capacity in every U.S. county • The coronavirus pandemic is hitting California families that are already struggling the hardest Fuller also noted vaccine testing is just starting in children , who won ’ t be able to get shots until study data indicates they ’ re safe and effective for them as well .
Moncef Slaoui @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort , has estimated the country could reach herd immunity as early as May , based on the effectiveness of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines .
That ’ s assuming there are no problems meeting manufacturers ’ supply estimates , and enough people step forward to be vaccinated .
The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series .
Submit them at : FactCheck @ AP.org .

Can I stop wearing a mask after getting a COVID-19 vaccine?
No. For a couple reasons, masks and social distancing will still be recommended for some time after people are vaccinated.
To start, the first coronavirus vaccines require two shots; Pfizer’s second dose comes three weeks after the first and Moderna’s comes after four weeks. And the effect of vaccinations generally aren’t immediate.
People are expected to get some level of protection within a couple of weeks after the first shot. But full protection may not happen until a couple weeks after the second shot.
It’s also not yet known whether the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines protect people from infection entirely, or just from symptoms. That means vaccinated people might still be able to get infected and pass the virus on, although it would likely be at a much lower rate, said Deborah Fuller, a vaccine expert at the University of Washington.
And even once vaccine supplies start ramping up, getting hundreds of millions shots into people’s arms is expected to take months.
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Moncef Slaoui, head of the U.S. vaccine development effort, has estimated the country could reach herd immunity as early as May, based on the effectiveness of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. That’s assuming there are no problems meeting manufacturers’ supply estimates, and enough people step forward to be vaccinated.
_
The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: FactCheck@AP.org.


mercurynews--2020-12-10--Family of California pilot killed in firefighting crash files suit over helicopter’s design, mainten

Family of California pilot killed in firefighting crash files suit over helicopter’s design, maintenance

LOS ANGELES — The family of a veteran helicopter pilot who died when his aircraft crashed as he was dropping water over a California wildfire filed suit Wednesday against the companies that designed and maintained the aircraft .
Michael Fournier of Rancho Cucamonga died Aug. 19 as he was battling a blaze raging out of control in rugged , smoke-shrouded terrain near the small central California town of Coalinga , California .
He had completed several water drops and was about to make another when his aircraft suddenly crashed and burst into flames .
His wife and two daughters filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufacturer and the company that serviced it .
Both were accused of negligence and wrongful death in the suit that seeks unspecified damages .
Moments before Fournier ’ s copter spun out of control he had radioed another pilot following him to say that his hydraulic system appeared to be failing , according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board .
The other pilot was trying to help him find a safe place to land , the NTSB report said , when he suddenly saw Fournier ’ s aircraft begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the ground .
As it went down , the pilot said he heard Fournier shout “ mayday ” several times .
“ Once you lose your hydraulics your ability to control that aircraft is just gone , ” said veteran aviation attorney Gary C. Robb , who is representing the family .
The lawsuit names Rotocraft Support Inc. of Fillmore , California , which Robb said maintained the aircraft , and Arrow-Falcon Exporters of Porterville , California , which manufactures , designs and sells aircraft , including the one that crashed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to a message from The Associated Press .
A person who answered the phone at Arrow-Falcon ’ s office said she was unaware of the lawsuit and declined to comment .
It could be some time before the suit , filed in Ventura County Superior Court , is resolved .
Robb said the NTSB ’ s final report isn ’ t due for another 18 to 24 months .
Fournier , 52 , was battling one of several blazes that raged across California last summer .
This one , called the Hills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took nearly 150 firefighters more than a week to contain .
It took a team of sheriff ’ s deputies using four-wheel-drive vehicles and , finally , traveling on foot , to reach the crash site and retrieve Fournier ’ s body .

LOS ANGELES — The family of a veteran helicopter pilot who died when his aircraft crashed as he was dropping water over a California wildfire filed suit Wednesday against the companies that designed and maintained the aircraft.
Michael Fournier of Rancho Cucamonga died Aug. 19 as he was battling a blaze raging out of control in rugged, smoke-shrouded terrain near the small central California town of Coalinga, California.
He had completed several water drops and was about to make another when his aircraft suddenly crashed and burst into flames.
His wife and two daughters filed suit against the UH-1H helicopter’s manufacturer and the company that serviced it. Both were accused of negligence and wrongful death in the suit that seeks unspecified damages.
Moments before Fournier’s copter spun out of control he had radioed another pilot following him to say that his hydraulic system appeared to be failing, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.
The other pilot was trying to help him find a safe place to land, the NTSB report said, when he suddenly saw Fournier’s aircraft begin to spin out of control and plunge to the ground. As it went down, the pilot said he heard Fournier shout “mayday” several times.
“Once you lose your hydraulics your ability to control that aircraft is just gone,” said veteran aviation attorney Gary C. Robb, who is representing the family.
The lawsuit names Rotocraft Support Inc. of Fillmore, California, which Robb said maintained the aircraft, and Arrow-Falcon Exporters of Porterville, California, which manufactures, designs and sells aircraft, including the one that crashed.
An executive with Rotocraft did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press. A person who answered the phone at Arrow-Falcon’s office said she was unaware of the lawsuit and declined to comment.
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Fournier, 52, was battling one of several blazes that raged across California last summer.
This one, called the Hills Fire, swept across 2,121 acres and took nearly 150 firefighters more than a week to contain.
It took a team of sheriff’s deputies using four-wheel-drive vehicles and, finally, traveling on foot, to reach the crash site and retrieve Fournier’s body.


mercurynews--2020-12-10--Colts’ DeForest Buckner represents everything Raiders need on defensive front

The Raiders went looking for a three-technique defensive tackle on the cheap in free agency and came up empty .
The Indianapolis Colts paid big in draft capital as well as actual dollars and haven ’ t regretted it for a second .
DeForest Buckner , traded from the 49ers to the Colts a month before the 2020 NFL draft , has upgraded a formidable defense while the Raiders are still searching for answers in the middle .
The Colts ( 8-4 ) hope to maintain their wild card advantage on the Raiders ( 7-5 ) Sunday at Allegiant Stadium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have been destroyed by injuries and only time will tell whether moving Buckner for a first-round draft pick was the right move .
The 49ers knew what they had in Buckner , and also knew they weren ’ t ready to fork out what it was going to take to keep him with fellow defensive lineman Aric Armstead also due big money .
Buckner signed a four-year extension worth a maximum of $ 84 million with more than $ 44 million in guarantees upon arrival in Indianapolis .
Buckner said the contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was on film for all to see .
“ As long as I consistently work to become a better player , leader , teammate and all of that everything will fall into place , ” Buckner told Colts writers .
“ I ’ m the same DeForest I was in San Francisco .
I ’ m just here in Indianapolis.
” Buckner , who lined up as a 3-4 end in the 49es system , has been a three-technique defensive tackle in a 4-3 with the Colts .
His job is to penetrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had an effect on the entire Colts defense .
“ The effect of an interior defensive lineman like DeForest Buckner is really immense when you think about the ripple effect it has on the run defense and the pass defense , ” Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberfluss told reporters .
The hope for Raiders coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock was Maliek Collins would be that player as a three-technique tackle for the Raiders at a cost of $ 6 million for one year , with the enticement being free agent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a non-factor and is on injured reserve with the possibility of returning for the last two games .
Then Collins will enter free agency and the Raiders will start their search all over again .
Buckner , still only 26 , is a foundation piece in Indianapolis .
“ He has great stamina and down-to-down competitiveness for that big of a man , ” Gruden said .
“ We liked him as a 49er , loved him ( in college ) at Oregon .
I could see why the Colts sacrificed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
He ’ s a hell of a player and he his made presence felt last week against Houston .
He ’ s going to be a handful for us.
” At 6-foot-7 , 295 pounds , Buckner is tall for a three-technique tackle , given that the best players at that position such as John Randle and Warren Sapp were 6-foot-2 and played lower to the ground while knifing through offensive blocking schemes .
“ He really stands out by getting to the ball , aside from the fact that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guard Denzelle Good said .
“ He is definitely one of the top guys in this league at the three technique.
” The 49ers acquired the No .
13 overall pick in exchange for Buckner , who was the seventh pick in 2016 .
The wound up moving down a spot after a deal with Tampa Bay and selected Javon Kinlaw of South Carolina to replace Buckner .
With Buckner off the books , they signed Armstead to a five-year extension with $ 85 million with $ 40 million guaranteed .
• Raiders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colts , with or without Jacobs and Brown • Raiders bringing back an old face on defense • Focus on Colts : Ex-49er DeForest Buckner still a big problem for opponents • Raiders aren ’ t counting on Jacobs , Abram , Brown , Arnette — but that doesn ’ t mean they won ’ t face Colts Buckner is coming off a two-sack game in a 26-20 win over Houston after missing a 45-26 loss to Tennessee while on the COVID-19 reserve list .
Tellingly , in the one game Buckner missed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 178 yards on 27 carries and scored three touchdowns .
“ He ’ s been lights out with his production , with his play , ” Buckner said .
“ He can wreck a game .
I ’ d heard he was a great leader , but getting to see that first hand , this guy ’ s one of the best leaders I ’ ve ever been around.
” Buckner ’ s a heck of a diplomat as well , praising Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and referencing the one time he played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 1 , 2018 , when Buckner had the second of seven sacks against Carr in a 34-3 win at Levi ’ s Stadium .
“ When he ’ s hot , he ’ s hot , ” Buckner said .
“ He can dice you up , especially when he has good protection .
”

The Raiders went looking for a three-technique defensive tackle on the cheap in free agency and came up empty.
The Indianapolis Colts paid big in draft capital as well as actual dollars and haven’t regretted it for a second.
DeForest Buckner, traded from the 49ers to the Colts a month before the 2020 NFL draft, has upgraded a formidable defense while the Raiders are still searching for answers in the middle.
The Colts (8-4) hope to maintain their wild card advantage on the Raiders (7-5) Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. The 49ers meanwhile, are 5-7, have been destroyed by injuries and only time will tell whether moving Buckner for a first-round draft pick was the right move.
The 49ers knew what they had in Buckner, and also knew they weren’t ready to fork out what it was going to take to keep him with fellow defensive lineman Aric Armstead also due big money. Buckner signed a four-year extension worth a maximum of $84 million with more than $44 million in guarantees upon arrival in Indianapolis.
Buckner said the contract brought no added pressure since his work was on film for all to see.
“As long as I consistently work to become a better player, leader, teammate and all of that everything will fall into place,” Buckner told Colts writers. “I’m the same DeForest I was in San Francisco. I’m just here in Indianapolis.”
Buckner, who lined up as a 3-4 end in the 49es system, has been a three-technique defensive tackle in a 4-3 with the Colts. His job is to penetrate and disrupt, and his play has had an effect on the entire Colts defense.
“The effect of an interior defensive lineman like DeForest Buckner is really immense when you think about the ripple effect it has on the run defense and the pass defense,” Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberfluss told reporters.
The hope for Raiders coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock was Maliek Collins would be that player as a three-technique tackle for the Raiders at a cost of $6 million for one year, with the enticement being free agent riches waited in 2021. Collins has been a non-factor and is on injured reserve with the possibility of returning for the last two games. Then Collins will enter free agency and the Raiders will start their search all over again.
Buckner, still only 26, is a foundation piece in Indianapolis.
“He has great stamina and down-to-down competitiveness for that big of a man,” Gruden said. “We liked him as a 49er, loved him (in college) at Oregon. I could see why the Colts sacrificed the contract and the draft pick to get him. He’s a hell of a player and he his made presence felt last week against Houston. He’s going to be a handful for us.”
At 6-foot-7, 295 pounds, Buckner is tall for a three-technique tackle, given that the best players at that position such as John Randle and Warren Sapp were 6-foot-2 and played lower to the ground while knifing through offensive blocking schemes.
“He really stands out by getting to the ball, aside from the fact that he’s 6-7,” Raiders left guard Denzelle Good said. “He is definitely one of the top guys in this league at the three technique.”
The 49ers acquired the No. 13 overall pick in exchange for Buckner, who was the seventh pick in 2016. The wound up moving down a spot after a deal with Tampa Bay and selected Javon Kinlaw of South Carolina to replace Buckner. With Buckner off the books, they signed Armstead to a five-year extension with $85 million with $40 million guaranteed.
Buckner is coming off a two-sack game in a 26-20 win over Houston after missing a 45-26 loss to Tennessee while on the COVID-19 reserve list. Tellingly, in the one game Buckner missed, Titans running back Derrick Henry gained 178 yards on 27 carries and scored three touchdowns.
“He’s been lights out with his production, with his play,” Buckner said. “He can wreck a game. I’d heard he was a great leader, but getting to see that first hand, this guy’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around.”
Buckner’s a heck of a diplomat as well, praising Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and referencing the one time he played against him. That would be on Nov. 1, 2018, when Buckner had the second of seven sacks against Carr in a 34-3 win at Levi’s Stadium.
“When he’s hot, he’s hot,” Buckner said. “He can dice you up, especially when he has good protection.”


mercurynews--2020-12-10--Monterey County company FarmWise has weeder on Time’s list of Best Inventions of 2020

SALINAS — A behemoth of a worker , recently recognized by a national publication , that can meticulously and precisely remove weeds growing between sprouting crops is being employed on farms in California and Arizona .
Time magazine recently placed the FarmWise Titan FT-35 on its list of Best Inventions of 2020 .
It is an automated mechanical weeder that can help substitute the pass of a hand-weeding crew , which usually has 10 to 15 people .
FarmWise has its operations headquarters , or home base for its team and machines , in Salinas and an office in San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The company works with farming operations in the Salinas Valley such as Dole and Braga Fresh , plus dozens of other customers .
The company views the Time magazine distinction as an opportunity to share with a broad audience its innovation for vegetable farmers .
Following the mid-November publication of the list , FarmWise has seen support build from media outlets and the investor community .
“ We ’ ve been deploying a machine in Santa Maria with Bonipak since early 2019 , ” said Pauline Canteneur , a FarmWise spokesperson .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yuma , Arizona and started doing work in Imperial Valley , California as well.
” The Titan FT-35 is the third and most advanced robot from FarmWise and was released in April of this year .
It is a driverless tractor that distinguishes vegetable crops — including broccoli , lettuce and cauliflower — from the weeds that hinder their growth with the help of state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and computer vision .
The Titan can uproot weeds with mechanical tools down to one centimeter of precision .
Adaptable to different crops , soil and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjustable blade precision , a proprietary blade design that is customized for different field conditions , making it easy to switch from one crop type to another , a flexible bed width to work in different settings , and can handle varying row configurations .
It is built entirely in the United States by Roush using Caterpillar engines and FarmWise ’ s own custom robotics arms .
Canteneur said that the Titan is not sold to growers but the company provides a service to growers instead .
FarmWise says it is in business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a pricing structure that allows savings on their current weeding bill is a priority for the company ’ s team .
“ Farms give us a number of weekly acres to complete .
We take care of bringing the robot to the field , operating it , bringing back to our shop , and doing the maintenance , ” said Canteneur .
“ For growers , it ’ s a way to have access to new kinds of technologies without bearing too much risk .
It also allows full flexibility on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Sebastien Boyer and Thomas Palomares .
The two long-time friends and engineers found a common interest and passion for sustainability challenges .
They envisioned how technology could be used to make farming more efficient while working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford Computer Science labs .
• Billionaire Elon Musk relocates to Texas from California ; compares himself to war general • Review : HyperX Cloud II Wireless keeps iconic design and cuts the cord Working collaboratively with growers in California , their idea of machines that could kill weeds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fruition .
FarmWise has a team of about 50 farming experts and technologists and is currently developing the application of its technology for more crops and farming tasks .
“ Our goal is to be as competitive as possible with the performance of hand weeding crews , ” said Canteneur .
“ We want to be able to offer farmers a viable alternative to hand weeding as the labor shortage of fieldworkers is becoming more and more of a concern , especially in the specialty crop industry.
” FarmWise believes the endorsement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future of farming and motivates its entire team .

SALINAS — A behemoth of a worker, recently recognized by a national publication, that can meticulously and precisely remove weeds growing between sprouting crops is being employed on farms in California and Arizona.
Time magazine recently placed the FarmWise Titan FT-35 on its list of Best Inventions of 2020. It is an automated mechanical weeder that can help substitute the pass of a hand-weeding crew, which usually has 10 to 15 people.
FarmWise has its operations headquarters, or home base for its team and machines, in Salinas and an office in San Francisco that houses most of its engineers. The company works with farming operations in the Salinas Valley such as Dole and Braga Fresh, plus dozens of other customers.
The company views the Time magazine distinction as an opportunity to share with a broad audience its innovation for vegetable farmers. Following the mid-November publication of the list, FarmWise has seen support build from media outlets and the investor community.
“We’ve been deploying a machine in Santa Maria with Bonipak since early 2019,” said Pauline Canteneur, a FarmWise spokesperson. “We just opened a location in Yuma, Arizona and started doing work in Imperial Valley, California as well.”
The Titan FT-35 is the third and most advanced robot from FarmWise and was released in April of this year. It is a driverless tractor that distinguishes vegetable crops — including broccoli, lettuce and cauliflower — from the weeds that hinder their growth with the help of state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and computer vision. The Titan can uproot weeds with mechanical tools down to one centimeter of precision.
Adaptable to different crops, soil and growth stages, the Titan FT-35 uses adjustable blade precision, a proprietary blade design that is customized for different field conditions, making it easy to switch from one crop type to another, a flexible bed width to work in different settings, and can handle varying row configurations.
It is built entirely in the United States by Roush using Caterpillar engines and FarmWise’s own custom robotics arms.
Canteneur said that the Titan is not sold to growers but the company provides a service to growers instead. FarmWise says it is in business to save farmers money and coming up with a pricing structure that allows savings on their current weeding bill is a priority for the company’s team.
“Farms give us a number of weekly acres to complete. We take care of bringing the robot to the field, operating it, bringing back to our shop, and doing the maintenance,” said Canteneur. “For growers, it’s a way to have access to new kinds of technologies without bearing too much risk. It also allows full flexibility on their end.”
FarmWise was started in 2016 by Sebastien Boyer and Thomas Palomares. The two long-time friends and engineers found a common interest and passion for sustainability challenges. They envisioned how technology could be used to make farming more efficient while working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford Computer Science labs.
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Meta criticized for making reproductive health an R-rated issue Technology | While a criminal case against a Tesla driver ends, legal and ethical questions on Autopilot endure Working collaboratively with growers in California, their idea of machines that could kill weeds without the use of harmful herbicides came to fruition. FarmWise has a team of about 50 farming experts and technologists and is currently developing the application of its technology for more crops and farming tasks.
“Our goal is to be as competitive as possible with the performance of hand weeding crews,” said Canteneur. “We want to be able to offer farmers a viable alternative to hand weeding as the labor shortage of fieldworkers is becoming more and more of a concern, especially in the specialty crop industry.”
FarmWise believes the endorsement from Time magazine validates its vision for the future of farming and motivates its entire team.


mercurynews--2020-12-10--Seized Sausalito sailboat towed to Vallejo Yacht Club after five-day protest

A sailboat seized on Richardson Bay has been towed to Vallejo , ending a protest on board in which activists boarded the vessel and refused to leave .
The protest aboard the Tola Levine , which was moored at the US Army Corps of Engineers debris yard in Sausalito , ended on Saturday when Harbormaster Curtis Havel towed the boat with its owner on board to a slip at the Vallejo Yacht Club .
“ The ( Richardson ’ s Bay Regional Agency ) is not a towing service , there are private companies for that , but this was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future of the Tola Levine , ” Havel said .
The boat was seized on Dec. 1 after it was discovered in the navigation channel and remained too long in the anchorage , Havel said .
Owner Jim Rohrssen said he was not aboard when the boat was seized and denied that his vessel was in the navigation channel .
He said he has an anchor alarm that notifies him if his boat drags anchor .
“ I always check those when I ’ m on board , ” Rohrssen said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the markers , but I was never across the channel.
” Once at the debris yard , activists boarded the boat by water with Rohrssen ’ s permission .
Protesters stayed aboard for five days , saying they objected to such seizures on behalf of the anchor out community , who fear their homes will be destroyed .
Havel said there were never plans to crush the boat , saying only unoccupied boats or vessels deemed marine debris are destroyed by the agency .
The Tola Levine is not permitted to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A sailboat seized on Richardson Bay has been towed to Vallejo, ending a protest on board in which activists boarded the vessel and refused to leave.
The protest aboard the Tola Levine, which was moored at the US Army Corps of Engineers debris yard in Sausalito, ended on Saturday when Harbormaster Curtis Havel towed the boat with its owner on board to a slip at the Vallejo Yacht Club.
“The (Richardson’s Bay Regional Agency) is not a towing service, there are private companies for that, but this was a win-win for public safety and the future of the Tola Levine,” Havel said.
The boat was seized on Dec. 1 after it was discovered in the navigation channel and remained too long in the anchorage, Havel said.
Owner Jim Rohrssen said he was not aboard when the boat was seized and denied that his vessel was in the navigation channel.
He said he has an anchor alarm that notifies him if his boat drags anchor.
“I always check those when I’m on board,” Rohrssen said. “Yes, I was within 50 feet between the markers, but I was never across the channel.”
Once at the debris yard, activists boarded the boat by water with Rohrssen’s permission. Protesters stayed aboard for five days, saying they objected to such seizures on behalf of the anchor out community, who fear their homes will be destroyed.
Havel said there were never plans to crush the boat, saying only unoccupied boats or vessels deemed marine debris are destroyed by the agency.
The Tola Levine is not permitted to return to Richardson Bay, Havel said.


mercurynews--2020-12-10--Bay Area assemblyman defends outdoor dinner with 4 lawmakers amid coronavirus surge

Marin Assemblyman Marc Levine said this week that he and his colleagues were complying with all state and local health guidelines when dining outdoors on Monday amid a statewide surge in coronavirus cases .
“ I take health pretty seriously both for my family and for my community and I would never do anything to put that at risk , ” Levine said Wednesday .
Levine , D-Greenbrae , attended the outdoor dinner at the Maydoon restaurant in Sacramento on Monday after being sworn in for his fifth term representing Marin County and southern Sonoma County .
His fellow diners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toluca Lake , Chad Mayes , I-Rancho Mirage , Tasha Boerner Horvath , D-Encinitas , and Chris Ward , D-San Diego .
The state has issued new guidelines asking residents not to attend gatherings with people outside of their own households or to at least to limit any outdoor gatherings to three or fewer households .
Prominent Democratic politicians including Gov .
Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Mayor London Breed have been criticized for going against the coronavirus health guidelines they had been calling on others to follow .
Both dined at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasions with up to a dozen people in early November .
Levine said there is a “ pretty strong distinction ” between incidents such as the French Laundry and his impromptu meal at one of the few nearby restaurants offering outdoor seating in Sacramento .
All of the lawmakers being sworn in on Monday had to be tested for coronavirus prior to attending the swearing-in ceremony .
Several Bay Area counties including Marin put stricter coronavirus rules into effect , including prohibiting outdoor dining , on Tuesday .
Outdoor dining was allowed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Monday , Levine said .
“ It applied to both to my home county and also where I was working , ” Levine said .
The dinner outing was also helping to support a local business , Levine said .
“ I was glad to do that , ” he said .
David McCuan , a professor of political science at Sonoma State University , said it was “ epically stupid and politically tone-deaf ” for the lawmakers to go out to dinner one month after reelection and on the same day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Coronavirus state tracker : California reported 34,775 new case , 212 new deaths as of Dec. 9 • Proposed bill would require in-person instruction at California schools when a county ’ s COVID stats improve • Coronavirus map : Hospital and ICU capacity in every U.S. county • The coronavirus pandemic is hitting California families that are already struggling the hardest “ In some ways , it is contemptuous of what his constituents are going through and struggling with , ” McCuan said .
“ You need to set a better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what is technically possible but what is politically smart and you need to do better by your constituents.
” McCuan , who lived in Levine ’ s district until recently , said Levine was happy to throw fellow legislator , state Sen. Bill Dodd , D-Napa , “ under the bus ” in November after Dodd was found to have traveled to a Hawaii conference with a contingent of legislators which also happened to include one of Levine ’ s Monday dinner companions , Assemblyman Mayes .
Levine told The Press Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trip was “ a real slap in the face to people who are taking this seriously.
” “ The member is correct ; it ’ s not the French Laundry , ” McCuan said .
“ But appearances in politics is everything combined with timing .
This particular member showed a lack of sensitivity and a lack of understanding about the optics of what this means .
”

Marin Assemblyman Marc Levine said this week that he and his colleagues were complying with all state and local health guidelines when dining outdoors on Monday amid a statewide surge in coronavirus cases.
“I take health pretty seriously both for my family and for my community and I would never do anything to put that at risk,” Levine said Wednesday.
Levine, D-Greenbrae, attended the outdoor dinner at the Maydoon restaurant in Sacramento on Monday after being sworn in for his fifth term representing Marin County and southern Sonoma County. His fellow diners were Assembly members Adrin Nazarian, D-West Toluca Lake, Chad Mayes, I-Rancho Mirage, Tasha Boerner Horvath, D-Encinitas, and Chris Ward, D-San Diego.
The state has issued new guidelines asking residents not to attend gatherings with people outside of their own households or to at least to limit any outdoor gatherings to three or fewer households.
Prominent Democratic politicians including Gov. Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Mayor London Breed have been criticized for going against the coronavirus health guidelines they had been calling on others to follow. Both dined at the French Laundry restaurant in the Napa Valley on separate occasions with up to a dozen people in early November.
Levine said there is a “pretty strong distinction” between incidents such as the French Laundry and his impromptu meal at one of the few nearby restaurants offering outdoor seating in Sacramento. All of the lawmakers being sworn in on Monday had to be tested for coronavirus prior to attending the swearing-in ceremony.
Several Bay Area counties including Marin put stricter coronavirus rules into effect, including prohibiting outdoor dining, on Tuesday. Outdoor dining was allowed in Sacramento as it was in Marin as of Monday, Levine said.
“It applied to both to my home county and also where I was working,” Levine said.
The dinner outing was also helping to support a local business, Levine said.
“I was glad to do that,” he said.
David McCuan, a professor of political science at Sonoma State University, said it was “epically stupid and politically tone-deaf” for the lawmakers to go out to dinner one month after re-election and on the day the new legislative session started.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms California Politics | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge “In some ways, it is contemptuous of what his constituents are going through and struggling with,” McCuan said. “You need to set a better example and an example that is not about what is technically possible but what is politically smart and you need to do better by your constituents.”
McCuan, who lived in Levine’s district until recently, said Levine was happy to throw a fellow legislator, state Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, “under the bus” in November after Dodd was found to have traveled to a Hawaii conference with a contingent of legislators that also happened to include one of Levine’s Monday dinner companions, Assemblyman Mayes.
Levine told The Press Democrat at the time that Dodd’s trip was “a real slap in the face to people who are taking this seriously.”
“The member is correct; it’s not the French Laundry,” McCuan said. “But appearances in politics is everything combined with timing. This particular member showed a lack of sensitivity and a lack of understanding about the optics of what this means.”


mercurynews--2020-12-11--Man shot in East Oakland apartment complex

OAKLAND — Police were at the scene of an East Oakland injury shooting that sent a man to a hospital @ @ @ @ @ said .
Around 4:45 p.m. , police responded to reports of ShotSpotter activity registering multiple @ @ @ @ @ block of Church Street in the city ’ s Bancroft business district .
When officers @ @ @ @ @ who told them a suspect was seen firing a gun before fleeing south along Church @ @ @ @ @ later , officers found a man in an apartment complex near 68th Avenue and Foothill @ @ @ @ @ one gunshot wound .
The man , who was conscious and breathing , was provided @ @ @ @ @ to a hospital , where he was listed in critical condition Thursday evening .
For @ @ @ @ @ of a suspect , police are offering up to $ 5,000 reward .
Anyone with @ @ @ @ @ 510-238-3426 or Crime Stoppers of Oakland at 510-777-8572 .
Video editor Dylan Bouscher contributed to @ @ @ @ @ Kelly at 408-859-5180 .

OAKLAND — A 52-year-old man shot multiple times Thursday afternoon at an East Oakland apartment complex where he lives, was in critical condition Friday, authorities said.
Police said a possible suspect has been identified but so far no arrests have been made.
Around 4:45 p.m., Thursday police responded to reports of ShotSpotter activity registering multiple shots fired in the area of the 1800 block of Church Street near Foothill Boulevard.
The victim was found wounded a short distance away at his apartment complex in the 6800 block of Foothill Boulevard.le
When officers arrived, they found witnesses who told them a suspect was seen firing a gun before fleeing south along Church in a vehicle.
Investigators said key pieces of evidence have been recovered that helped lead to the identification of a possible suspect who is being sought. Police have not said what motivated the shooting.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $5,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3426 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.
Check back for updates.
Staff writer Harry Harris and video editor Dylan Bouscher contributed to this report. Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.


mercurynews--2020-12-11--Marvel has no plans to re-cast Boseman’s role in sequel

The legacy of the character Black Panther will continue on — but not with someone new in the iconic role .
Marvel Studios said Thursday that it will not recast the character played by the late Chadwick Boseman .
“ ( Boseman ’ s ) portrayal of T ’ Challa the Black Panther is iconic and transcends any iteration of the character in any other medium from Marvel ’ s past , and it ’ s for that reason , that we will not recast the character , ” Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige said during his presentation at Disney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honor the legacy that Chad helped us build , we want to continue to explore the world of Wakanda and all the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film.
” The sequel is scheduled to be released on July 8 , 2022 , and will be written and directed by Ryan Coogler .
Boseman died in August at age 43 , after fighting a private battle with colon cancer .
“ Black Panther ” made more than $ 1 billion globally in less than a month after its 2018 release .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ death , Coogler said he was among the many who had no knowledge of Boseman ’ s illness .
“ Because he was a caretaker , a leader , and a man of faith , dignity and pride , he shielded his collaborators from his suffering , ” Coogler wrote .
“ He lived a beautiful life .
And he made great art .
”

By Sandra Gonzalez | CNN
The legacy of the character Black Panther will continue on — but not with someone new in the iconic role.
Marvel Studios said Thursday that it will not recast the character played by the late Chadwick Boseman.
“(Boseman’s) portrayal of T’Challa the Black Panther is iconic and transcends any iteration of the character in any other medium from Marvel’s past, and it’s for that reason, that we will not recast the character,” Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige said during his presentation at Disney Investor Day.
“However, to honor the legacy that Chad helped us build, we want to continue to explore the world of Wakanda and all the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film.”
The sequel is scheduled to be released on July 8, 2022, and will be written and directed by Ryan Coogler.
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“Black Panther” made more than $1 billion globally in less than a month after its 2018 release.
In a tribute following Boseman’s death, Coogler said he was among the many who had no knowledge of Boseman’s illness.
“Because he was a caretaker, a leader, and a man of faith, dignity and pride, he shielded his collaborators from his suffering,” Coogler wrote. “He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art.”


mercurynews--2020-12-11--Video: Bazemore on being older and wiser in second Warriors stint

Warriors guard Kent Bazemore has returned to Golden State with more experience and knowledge in his second campaign with the @ @ @ @ @ conference , he said that though he may have lost a step athletically since he @ @ @ @ @ 24 , but the 31-year-old says he is wiser and understands the game better this @ @ @ @ @ with the team for a few weeks , he mentioned that there was a feeling @ @ @ @ @ chip on their shoulder entering the NBA season .
Bazemore said got a sense of @ @ @ @ @ Kerr all the way down to the players .
Bazemore also commented on the upcoming @ @ @ @ @ s Stephen Curry 8 signature shoes .

Gieson Cacho is a Bay Area News Group engagement editor and video game columnist for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. He has a journalism degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia and has previously worked as a copyeditor, designer and video editor. He was on the East Bay Times staff that won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News. He lives in Berkeley, roasts his own coffee and drinks craft beer.


mercurynews--2020-12-11--Sen. Paul puts hold on defense spending bill

WASHINGTON — A Senate vote on a wide-ranging defense policy bill was delayed Thursday after Kentucky Republican Rand Paul objected to the measure , casting the next steps in doubt and raising the slim prospect of a government shutdown if a short-term spending bill caught up in the dispute is not approved by Friday .
Paul said on the Senate floor that he opposes provisions in the defense bill that would limit President Donald Trump ’ s ability to draw down U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Germany .
His objections threatened another must-pass bill , a one-week spending measure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 .
The House has passed the stopgap measure , but a government shutdown would occur if the Senate does not act on it by midnight Friday .
Paul said he would drop his objection if GOP leaders allowed a final vote on the National Defense Authorization Act on Monday .
Senators from both parties were eager to finish work on the bill this week .
South Dakota Sen. John Thune , the No .
2 Senate Republican , said he thought Paul — who has provoked government shutdowns before — was using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the provision on troop withdrawals .
“ I think he ’ s just trying to figure out ways to derail the bill .
And … when you ’ re in the U.S Senate that ’ s your prerogative .
But most of our people would like to get it done ” this week , Thune said .
“ His thing is just to delay this and use all the time so it pushes the vote on ( the defense bill ) into next week , which pushes the override vote ” on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Thune said of his fellow Republican , Paul .
A procedural vote on the defense bill was expected Friday , setting the stage for final votes on the defense bill and the stopgap spending measure later in the day .
Paul said he is concerned that the measure on troop deployment “ creates 535 commanders-in-chief in Congress ” and hampers the president ’ s ability to deploy troops as he sees fit .
Democrats support the measure because they oppose Trump , Paul said , but the amendment would also apply to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One amendment , co-sponsored by Reps. Liz Cheney , R-Wyo.
, and Jason Crow , D-Colo. , would block troop withdrawals in Afghanistan unless the Pentagon submits inter-agency reports certifying that the drawdowns would not jeopardize national security .
A separate provision pushed by Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney and other lawmakers would limit planned troop withdrawals in Germany .
Paul singled out Cheney by name in a floor speech , saying she and her father , former Vice President Dick Cheney , share a neoconservative belief in “ perpetual war.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about war and substantiating war and making sure that it becomes and is perpetual war , ” Paul said .
Cheney hit back on Twitter , charging that Paul was “ currently holding up passage of the # NDAA , blaming America , and delaying hazardous duty pay to hundreds of thousands of our service members and their families .
Inexcusable.
” She added : “ Rand and I do have one thing in common , though .
We ’ re both 5 ’ 2″ tall.
” The dispute over the defense bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in a rare break with Trump , urged passage of the measure despite Trump ’ s threat to veto it .
McConnell , R-Ky. , said Thursday that it was important for Congress to continue a nearly 60-year streak of passing the National Defense Authorization Act , which affirms 3 % pay raises for U.S. troops and authorizes billions in military programs and construction .
“ This NDAA will unlock more than $ 740 billion for the training , tools and cutting-edge equipment that our service members and civilian employees need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” McConnell said in a Senate speech ahead of an expected vote Thursday or Friday .
“ It will give our troops the 3 % pay raise they deserve .
It ’ ll keep our forces ready to deter China and stand strong in the Indo-Pacific.
” The Democratic-controlled House overwhelmingly approved the defense bill on Tuesday , defying Trump ’ s veto threat and setting up a possible showdown with the Republican president in the waning days of his administration .
A total of 140 Republicans joined 195 Democrats in backing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 80 % of the House — well above the two-thirds support required to override a potential veto .
Trump has vowed to veto the bill unless lawmakers clamp down on social media companies he claims were biased against him during the election .
Trump also wants Congress to strip out a provision of the bill that allows renaming of military bases that now honor Confederate leaders .
McConnell did not address Trump ’ s veto threat , but said the bill “ will secure President Trump ’ s major progress at modernizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategic nuclear deterrent.
” The bill “ does not contain every policy that either side would like to pass .
But a huge number of crucial policies are included and a lot of bad ideas were kept out , ” McConnell said .
Trump tweeted Tuesday that he will veto “ the very weak ” defense bill unless it repeals Section 230 , a part of the communications code that shields Twitter , Facebook and other tech giants from content liability .
• In first 2 months of budget year , US deficit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Panel endorses use of Pfizer vaccine in US • In message to Iran , US flies B-52s over the Middle East • More than D-Day or 9/11 : US marks 3,000 COVID deaths in 1 day The dispute over social media content — a battle cry of conservatives who say the social media giants treat them unfairly — interjects an unrelated but complicated issue into a bill that Congress takes pride in having passed unfailingly for nearly 60 years .
It follows Trump ’ s bid over the summer to sabotage the package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ names .
If he does veto the defense bill , Congress could cut short its Christmas recess to hold override votes , senior House members said .
“ I think we can override the veto , if in fact he vetoes , ” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , D-Md.
, said Tuesday .
“ I hope he does not veto .
I hope he reconsiders .
And I think he will get substantial pressure ( from Republicans ) that , you know , you don ’ t want to put the defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guides Pentagon policy and cements decisions about troop levels , new weapons systems and military readiness , military personnel policy and other military goals .
Many programs can only go into effect if the bill is approved , including military construction .

By Matthew Daly | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A Senate vote on a wide-ranging defense policy bill was delayed Thursday after Kentucky Republican Rand Paul objected to the measure, casting the next steps in doubt and raising the slim prospect of a government shutdown if a short-term spending bill caught up in the dispute is not approved by Friday.
Paul said on the Senate floor that he opposes provisions in the defense bill that would limit President Donald Trump’s ability to draw down U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Germany. His objections threatened another must-pass bill, a one-week spending measure that would keep the government open through Dec. 18. The House has passed the stopgap measure, but a government shutdown would occur if the Senate does not act on it by midnight Friday.
Paul said he would drop his objection if GOP leaders allowed a final vote on the National Defense Authorization Act on Monday. Senators from both parties were eager to finish work on the bill this week.
South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said he thought Paul — who has provoked government shutdowns before — was using the time-crunch for maximum leverage to remove the provision on troop withdrawals.
“I think he’s just trying to figure out ways to derail the bill. And … when you’re in the U.S Senate that’s your prerogative. But most of our people would like to get it done” this week, Thune said.
“His thing is just to delay this and use all the time so it pushes the vote on (the defense bill) into next week, which pushes the override vote” on a possible Trump veto into the following week, Thune said of his fellow Republican, Paul.
A procedural vote on the defense bill was expected Friday, setting the stage for final votes on the defense bill and the stopgap spending measure later in the day.
Paul said he is concerned that the measure on troop deployment “creates 535 commanders-in-chief in Congress” and hampers the president’s ability to deploy troops as he sees fit. Democrats support the measure because they oppose Trump, Paul said, but the amendment would also apply to future presidents, including President-elect Joe Biden.
One amendment, co-sponsored by Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Jason Crow, D-Colo., would block troop withdrawals in Afghanistan unless the Pentagon submits inter-agency reports certifying that the drawdowns would not jeopardize national security. A separate provision pushed by Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney and other lawmakers would limit planned troop withdrawals in Germany.
Paul singled out Cheney by name in a floor speech, saying she and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, share a neoconservative belief in “perpetual war.”
“The philosophy of these people is about war and substantiating war and making sure that it becomes and is perpetual war,” Paul said.
Cheney hit back on Twitter, charging that Paul was “currently holding up passage of the #NDAA, blaming America, and delaying hazardous duty pay to hundreds of thousands of our service members and their families. Inexcusable.”
She added: “Rand and I do have one thing in common, though. We’re both 5’2″ tall.”
The dispute over the defense bill came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in a rare break with Trump, urged passage of the measure despite Trump’s threat to veto it.
McConnell, R-Ky., said Thursday that it was important for Congress to continue a nearly 60-year streak of passing the National Defense Authorization Act, which affirms 3% pay raises for U.S. troops and authorizes billions in military programs and construction.
“This NDAA will unlock more than $740 billion for the training, tools and cutting-edge equipment that our service members and civilian employees need to defend American lives and American interests,” McConnell said in a Senate speech ahead of an expected vote Thursday or Friday. “It will give our troops the 3% pay raise they deserve. It’ll keep our forces ready to deter China and stand strong in the Indo-Pacific.”
The Democratic-controlled House overwhelmingly approved the defense bill on Tuesday, defying Trump’s veto threat and setting up a possible showdown with the Republican president in the waning days of his administration.
A total of 140 Republicans joined 195 Democrats in backing the bill, which received support from more than 80% of the House — well above the two-thirds support required to override a potential veto.
Trump has vowed to veto the bill unless lawmakers clamp down on social media companies he claims were biased against him during the election. Trump also wants Congress to strip out a provision of the bill that allows renaming of military bases that now honor Confederate leaders.
McConnell did not address Trump’s veto threat, but said the bill “will secure President Trump’s major progress at modernizing our capabilities, our technologies and our strategic nuclear deterrent.”
The bill “does not contain every policy that either side would like to pass. But a huge number of crucial policies are included and a lot of bad ideas were kept out,” McConnell said.
Trump tweeted Tuesday that he will veto “the very weak” defense bill unless it repeals Section 230, a part of the communications code that shields Twitter, Facebook and other tech giants from content liability.
The dispute over social media content — a battle cry of conservatives who say the social media giants treat them unfairly — interjects an unrelated but complicated issue into a bill that Congress takes pride in having passed unfailingly for nearly 60 years. It follows Trump’s bid over the summer to sabotage the package with a veto threat over Confederate base names.
If he does veto the defense bill, Congress could cut short its Christmas recess to hold override votes, senior House members said.
“I think we can override the veto, if in fact he vetoes,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday. “I hope he does not veto. I hope he reconsiders. And I think he will get substantial pressure (from Republicans) that, you know, you don’t want to put the defense bill at risk.”
The defense measure guides Pentagon policy and cements decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, military personnel policy and other military goals. Many programs can only go into effect if the bill is approved, including military construction.


mercurynews--2020-12-11--Authorities identify teen girl killed in San Jose crash

SAN JOSE – A teenager killed in a crash Sunday in San Jose has been identified as Amaris Medina , 15 , of San Jose , according to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner ’ s Office .
The collision was reported about 3:10 a.m. near Story and King roads .
A 2013 Honda Accord was traveling “ at a high rate ” of speed on Story when it hit a tree and a light pole , police said .
Amaris was pronounced dead at the scene , marking the city ’ s 44th traffic fatality of the year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were injured in the crash , police said .
One suffered life-threatening injuries , while two others suffered serious injuries but were expected to recover .
The driver – identified as Jose Martinez , 18 , of San Jose – ran away after the crash , police said .
He was arrested later that day and booked into county jail on charges of vehicular manslaughter , driving a stolen vehicle , and hit and run .
Jail records show he is being held on $ 300,000 bail .
Police said the Honda was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Eliseo Malvido at 408-277-4654 .

SAN JOSE – A teenager killed in a crash Sunday in San Jose has been identified as Amaris Medina, 15, of San Jose, according to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office.
The collision was reported about 3:10 a.m. near Story and King roads. A 2013 Honda Accord was traveling “at a high rate” of speed on Story when it hit a tree and a light pole, police said.
Amaris was pronounced dead at the scene, marking the city’s 44th traffic fatality of the year.
Three other passengers, also minors, were injured in the crash, police said. One suffered life-threatening injuries, while two others suffered serious injuries but were expected to recover.
The driver – identified as Jose Martinez, 18, of San Jose – ran away after the crash, police said. He was arrested later that day and booked into county jail on charges of vehicular manslaughter, driving a stolen vehicle, and hit and run. Jail records show he is being held on $300,000 bail.
Police said the Honda was recently reported stolen in Mountain View.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Eliseo Malvido at 408-277-4654.


mercurynews--2020-12-11--All-time win record for Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer could come at UOP

Stanford has scheduled a non-conference game on Tuesday at the University of the Pacific — a matchup that could be @ @ @ @ @ the winningest coach in women ’ s basketball history .
VanDerveer is two victories shy @ @ @ @ @ Summitt for the milestone .
VanDerveer , 67 , has 1,097 victories in a 42-year @ @ @ @ @ Fame coach has been at Stanford since 1985 .
The top-ranked Cardinal is scheduled to @ @ @ @ @ Sunday at Cal before traveling to Stockton to face the Tigers of the West Coast @ @ @ @ @ 3-0 ) is favored in both games .
Stanford ’ s schedule this season has @ @ @ @ @ Santa Clara County ’ s ban on contact sports in an effort to slow the @ @ @ @ @ can not play or practice in the county until probably sometime next year .

Stanford has scheduled a non-conference game on Tuesday at the University of the Pacific — a matchup that could be the moment Tara VanDerveer becomes the winningest coach in women’s basketball history.
VanDerveer is two victories shy of passing her friend Pat Summitt for the milestone. VanDerveer, 67, has 1,097 victories in a 42-year career. The Hall of Fame coach has been at Stanford since 1985.
The top-ranked Cardinal is scheduled to play a Pac-12 rival game Sunday at Cal before traveling to Stockton to face the Tigers of the West Coast Conference. The Cardinal (3-0) is favored in both games.
Stanford’s schedule this season has been dramatically altered because of Santa Clara County’s ban on contact sports in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Stanford cannot play or practice in the county until probably sometime next year.