mercurynews--2020-09-10--Shining a light on Robin Williams’ last days

In Robin Williams ’ only dramatic Broadway performance , “ Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo , ” the late actor was said to have waltzed seamlessly through his roughly 500 lines without a glitch .
Barely two years later , reprising his role as Teddy Roosevelt in “ Night at the Museum : Secret Tomb , ” Williams battled to remember one line of his cameo role .
One line .
And neither Williams , his wife , Susan Schneider Williams , nor baffled doctors could pinpoint the exact cause of the swift deterioration of the comic ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an autopsy following Williams ’ Aug. 11 , 2014 , suicide in his Tiburon home revealed that the performer suffered from perhaps the worst-known case of Lewy Body Dementia , a disease a level beyond Parkinson ’ s that derails the brain ’ s neurons .
Educating the public — and crusading for a treatment , if not a cure — of LBD became Schneider Williams ’ unwanted destiny .
“ Robin ’ s Wish , ” a 77-minute documentary released Sept. 1 on Amazon Prime , takes a major step in explaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and perpetuating the genius of Robin Williams .
Ultimately , Schneider Williams said she hopes the film “ sets the record straight on Robin ’ s legacy .
I wanted people to get the closure that they needed and deserved .
When I found out what had happened ( the LBD diagnosis ) , that ’ s when I began to heal .
I was painfully aware of the misinformation out there .
I wanted justice for Robin and everyone who didn ’ t have the correct information so they could have healing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also suffered from this brain diseases , for them to know they ’ re not alone .
That was a huge part of it.
” The documentary offers clips of vintage Williams , interviews with fellow Bay Area stand-up comics and film directors , and a plunge into the dark waters of of brain disease few heard of — until Williams ’ diagnosis .
“ While Robin ’ s case was unique , we ’ re not alone .
There are many who do not have a diagnosis , ” Schneider Williams said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is no definitive diagnosis ( on a living person ) .
It can take a couple of years or a zillion years to get to the bottom of it and that ’ s not right.
” Schneider Williams witnessed her husband ’ s memory loss , the sleep deprivation , delusions and general cognitive impairment .
“ The last nine months … the progression was rapid , ” she says , describing her husband ’ s brain synapses as “ a Jackson Pollock painting .
“ The thermostat to regulate everything that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she says .
Months before taking his own life , the legendary comic actor was riddled with uncertainty about his abilities .
“ Night at the Museum : Secret of the Tomb ” director Shawn Levy asserts that the “ Jumanji ” star would call him in the middle of the night during filming to assure himself he was performing adequately enough .
“ Is any of this usable ?
Do I suck ?
” Williams would ask , according to Levy .
“ My faith in him never left , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Levy , who reassured Williams that he was still performing at a high level .
“ I saw a guy who wasn ’ t himself and that was unforgivable .
“ I would say a month into the shoot , it was clear to me — it was clear to all of us on that set — that something was going on with Robin , ” Levy says in the documentary .
“ We saw that Robin was struggling in a way that he hadn ’ t before to remember lines and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Even with zero treatment or cure , knowing her husband had LBD while he was alive would have been easier to take and beneficial , Schneider Williams says .
“ It ’ s the most common disease you ’ ve never heard of .
There is power in diagnosis .
There would have been a language to talk about .
Robin could have been part of a clinical trial.
” Instead of endless “ chasing down the rabbit hole , maybe Robin would have rather be sitting on a beach .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease , he would have known he was not alone and suffering , ” Schneider Williams says .
“ Robin ’ s Wish ” details how LBD put a death grip on her husband .
“ It ’ s a tough thing to explain and understand , ” she says .
“ Robin ’ s Wish ” only happened by the urging of Schneider Williams ’ art framer , Jim Ringseis in Fairfax , who had admired a 20-minute 2014 documentary , “ Naples Yellow ” by director Tylor Norwood .
Ringseis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with other Marin artists .
“ Jim kept saying , ‘ I think you should reach out to the director.
’ That was the last thing I wanted to do , ” says Schneider Williams .
Meanwhile , she became involved in the American Brain Foundation , joining the board of directors five years ago .
“ I was following the science of what Robin went through and Jim kept telling me to reach out to Tylor , ” she says .
She surrendered , contacted Norwood , the two met and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While Schneider Williams believed it was safer “ to go through the science trail , ” Norwood tracked down former neighbors , friends and performers .
“ I was proud of everyone who sat down and gave up their time and themselves .
It was not easy to do that for the film , ” she says .
That included two comics , Berkeley ’ s Johnny Steele and Rick Overton of Los Angeles , the rare performers who could keep pace — or stay within a joke ’ s length — of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accompanied Williams on bike rides , gaining intimate insight as few could .
“ He and Susan really seemed to be madly in love .
I think he really felt that she was the one , that he ’ d gotten rid of his demons , that he ’ d found some peace , ” Steele says .
“ They were all over each other whenever I ’ d visit , whenever we went out for a ride.
” Hanging out with Williams convinced Steele that relocating to Los Angeles may have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Bay Area was the better life move .
“ Robin making this his home made it clear that this was the place where the quality of life was much better and that a better quality of life was what really mattered , ” says Steele , who has yet to see “ Robin ’ s Wish.
” Overton said watching the fallout from the dementia on his longtime friend “ was not an easy thing to see , but I ’ m 110 percent here for the film .
Robin was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands.
” Though Schneider Williams had seen the documentary during the editing process , she actually paid for it a few days ago to see it on Amazon Prime .
“ I saw it on my couch with my dog Leonard and cat Spotty , ” she says , laughing that the film “ is worth every penny .
It ’ s a good investment in your future.
” And watching herself be interviewed ?
“ It ’ s awful , ” she says laughing .
“ There are a lot of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Right now , it ’ s continuing her art , promoting the documentary and continuing her fight to solve Lewy Body Dementia .
“ This is something I ’ ll do for the rest of my life , ” Schneider Williams says .
• Fall TV 2020 : 10 new shows you ’ ll really want to see • With EU travel ban , how was Brad Pitt able to travel to France with reported new girlfriend ?
• Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are finally free to conquer Hollywood • ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but more spinoffs coming An accomplished artist , Schneider Williams said that for a long time she wrote her late husband cards , “ sealed them and tucked them away ” every year on his July 21 birthday .
Each year on the day of his death , “ I paint him a painting .
That ’ s how I spend the day .
I feel like I ’ m with him , ” she says .
“ And I probably talk to him a little more than usual.
” “ Robin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime , iTunes , Google Play and Vudu .
Storm Gifford of the New York Daily News contributed to this report .

In Robin Williams’ only dramatic Broadway performance, “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo,” the late actor was said to have waltzed seamlessly through his roughly 500 lines without a glitch.
Barely two years later, reprising his role as Teddy Roosevelt in “Night at the Museum: Secret Tomb,” Williams battled to remember one line of his cameo role.
One line. And neither Williams, his wife, Susan Schneider Williams, nor baffled doctors could pinpoint the exact cause of the swift deterioration of the comic’s mind.
It wasn’t until an autopsy following Williams’ Aug. 11, 2014, suicide in his Tiburon home revealed that the performer suffered from perhaps the worst-known case of Lewy Body Dementia, a disease a level beyond Parkinson’s that derails the brain’s neurons.
Educating the public — and crusading for a treatment, if not a cure — of LBD became Schneider Williams’ unwanted destiny.
“Robin’s Wish,” a 77-minute documentary released Sept. 1 on Amazon Prime, takes a major step in explaining the disease, ending inaccurate speculation, and perpetuating the genius of Robin Williams.
Ultimately, Schneider Williams said she hopes the film “sets the record straight on Robin’s legacy. I wanted people to get the closure that they needed and deserved. When I found out what had happened (the LBD diagnosis), that’s when I began to heal. I was painfully aware of the misinformation out there. I wanted justice for Robin and everyone who didn’t have the correct information so they could have healing and closure and for the people who also suffered from this brain diseases, for them to know they’re not alone. That was a huge part of it.”
The documentary offers clips of vintage Williams, interviews with fellow Bay Area stand-up comics and film directors, and a plunge into the dark waters of of brain disease few heard of — until Williams’ diagnosis.
“While Robin’s case was unique, we’re not alone. There are many who do not have a diagnosis,” Schneider Williams said from her Marin County home. “There is no definitive diagnosis (on a living person). It can take a couple of years or a zillion years to get to the bottom of it and that’s not right.”
Schneider Williams witnessed her husband’s memory loss, the sleep deprivation, delusions and general cognitive impairment.
“The last nine months … the progression was rapid,” she says, describing her husband’s brain synapses as “a Jackson Pollock painting.
“The thermostat to regulate everything that makes us human was breaking,” she says.
Months before taking his own life, the legendary comic actor was riddled with uncertainty about his abilities.
“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” director Shawn Levy asserts that the “Jumanji” star would call him in the middle of the night during filming to assure himself he was performing adequately enough.
“Is any of this usable? Do I suck?” Williams would ask, according to Levy.
“My faith in him never left, but I saw his morale crumbling,” says Levy, who reassured Williams that he was still performing at a high level. “I saw a guy who wasn’t himself and that was unforgivable.
“I would say a month into the shoot, it was clear to me — it was clear to all of us on that set — that something was going on with Robin,” Levy says in the documentary. “We saw that Robin was struggling in a way that he hadn’t before to remember lines and to combine the right words with the performance.”
Even with zero treatment or cure, knowing her husband had LBD while he was alive would have been easier to take and beneficial, Schneider Williams says.
“It’s the most common disease you’ve never heard of. There is power in diagnosis. There would have been a language to talk about. Robin could have been part of a clinical trial.”
Instead of endless “chasing down the rabbit hole, maybe Robin would have rather be sitting on a beach. Because of everything I’ve learned about the disease, he would have known he was not alone and suffering,” Schneider Williams says.
“Robin’s Wish” details how LBD put a death grip on her husband.
“It’s a tough thing to explain and understand,” she says.
“Robin’s Wish” only happened by the urging of Schneider Williams’ art framer, Jim Ringseis in Fairfax, who had admired a 20-minute 2014 documentary, “Naples Yellow” by director Tylor Norwood. Ringseis starred in the short film, along with other Marin artists.
“Jim kept saying, ‘I think you should reach out to the director.’ That was the last thing I wanted to do,” says Schneider Williams.
Meanwhile, she became involved in the American Brain Foundation, joining the board of directors five years ago.
“I was following the science of what Robin went through and Jim kept telling me to reach out to Tylor,” she says.
She surrendered, contacted Norwood, the two met and “Robin’s Wish” happened. While Schneider Williams believed it was safer “to go through the science trail,” Norwood tracked down former neighbors, friends and performers.
“I was proud of everyone who sat down and gave up their time and themselves. It was not easy to do that for the film,” she says.
That included two comics, Berkeley’s Johnny Steele and Rick Overton of Los Angeles, the rare performers who could keep pace — or stay within a joke’s length — of doing improv with Williams.
Steele often accompanied Williams on bike rides, gaining intimate insight as few could.
“He and Susan really seemed to be madly in love. I think he really felt that she was the one, that he’d gotten rid of his demons, that he’d found some peace,” Steele says. “They were all over each other whenever I’d visit, whenever we went out for a ride.”
Hanging out with Williams convinced Steele that relocating to Los Angeles may have been a better career choice, but remaining in the Bay Area was the better life move.
“Robin making this his home made it clear that this was the place where the quality of life was much better and that a better quality of life was what really mattered,” says Steele, who has yet to see “Robin’s Wish.”
Overton said watching the fallout from the dementia on his longtime friend “was not an easy thing to see, but I’m 110 percent here for the film. Robin was killed by a stranger using his own hands.”
Though Schneider Williams had seen the documentary during the editing process, she actually paid for it a few days ago to see it on Amazon Prime.
“I saw it on my couch with my dog Leonard and cat Spotty,” she says, laughing that the film “is worth every penny. It’s a good investment in your future.”
And watching herself be interviewed?
“It’s awful,” she says laughing. “There are a lot of other things I’d rather be doing.”
Right now, it’s continuing her art, promoting the documentary and continuing her fight to solve Lewy Body Dementia.
“This is something I’ll do for the rest of my life,” Schneider Williams says.
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‘Black Godfather’ of music dies at 92 Movies | Sandra Bullock’s ‘The Blind Side’ long criticized for its ‘White savior’ view of a Black athlete
Sandra Bullock’s ‘The Blind Side’ long criticized for its ‘White savior’ view of a Black athlete Movies | Paris Hilton enjoys beach and resort in Maui, as Lahaina residents reel from disaster An accomplished artist, Schneider Williams said that for a long time she wrote her late husband cards, “sealed them and tucked them away” every year on his July 21 birthday.
Each year on the day of his death, “I paint him a painting. That’s how I spend the day. I feel like I’m with him,” she says. “And I probably talk to him a little more than usual.”
“Robin’s Wish” is available on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and Vudu.
Storm Gifford of the New York Daily News contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-09-10--West Marin wildfire evacuation threat lifts as smoky tint descends

Evacuation warnings in West Marin were lifted Wednesday afternoon as the Woodward fire in Point Reyes National Seashore nears total containment .
Meanwhile , smoke from wildfires elsewhere mixed with a thick marine layer blocking the sun , turning the sky a doomsday orange throughout Marin and the Bay Area .
“ It ’ s overcast with smoke over the entire state , ” said National Weather Service meteorologist Drew Peterson .
“ It ’ s just a complete smoke-out.
” Despite the eerie orange and red skies over the Bay Area , Jeremy Michael , a meteorologist assisting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said air quality readings in Marin aren ’ t as bad as the sky seems .
“ I know it looks really bad right now .
We ’ ve got the orange glow in the local area , ” Michael said .
“ But a lot of this smoke is elevated and not a lot is reaching the ground right now.
” According to the smoke outlook produced by the Woodward fire incident management team , the air quality index is reading between 50 and 100 for San Rafael , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoke impacts are north and east of Marin , officials said .
A handful of areas are showing good air , though many Bay Area residents reported via social media that ash was falling .
The fine particulate matter measured above 150 — unhealthy for all — in Pleasanton , Concord and Napa throughout Tuesday , and it was unhealthy for those with breathing or other underlying issues in Vallejo , San Jose , Gilroy , Redwood City and Livermore .
The temperatures are expected to keep cooling off Wednesday , Peterson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ originally forecast because of the smoke .
“ The smoke is more or less in control of the forecast , ” he said .
“ By that , I mean that the forecast models are probably going to be wrong .
It ’ s probably going to be much cooler than we ’ re forecasting .
How much cooler , we don ’ t know.
” Still , the relief from the heat won ’ t bring any immediate relief from the smoke , Peterson said .
A “ spare the air ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 25th consecutive day .
There has not been a day without one since Aug. 17 .
“ We just have so many fires right now , it won ’ t matter which way the wind is blowing , ” he said .
“ We ’ re just going to have to take this day by day.
” Mesmerized by the saturated sky , Mill Valley resident Scott Walker used a drone to capture aerial images near Tamalpais High School at about 10 a.m. , when the sky was a bright red .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he saw ash falling , but only from where the LED light on the drone device flashed .
“ To see the ash in the sky under that light but not being able to see it directly is really concerning about what health implications could come from it , ” he said .
“ It ’ s such an interesting and weird time right now .
Nothing will surprise me of what tomorrow could bring.
” In West Marin , the Woodward fire burning 3 miles southwest of Olema has remained at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday .
Full containment of the fire is expected Tuesday , a month after it was ignited by lightning .
Firefighters conducted a prescribed burn in the northern section of the fire Tuesday to secure the containment lines there .
Crews were mostly patrolling the perimeter of the fire Wednesday to knock down spot fires and to mop up and strengthen containment lines .
“ We feel really good about where the fire is at , ” said Eric Newall , the incident commander .
“ We ’ re here to continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t go anywhere.
” The Bay Area News Group contributed to this story .

Evacuation warnings in West Marin were lifted Wednesday afternoon as the Woodward fire in Point Reyes National Seashore nears total containment.
Meanwhile, smoke from wildfires elsewhere mixed with a thick marine layer blocking the sun, turning the sky a doomsday orange throughout Marin and the Bay Area.
“It’s overcast with smoke over the entire state,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Drew Peterson. “It’s just a complete smoke-out.”
The view from "Mount Vision" near Point Reyes per @NVSeismoLab's https://t.co/wrLjrnA6Mg. Notice the other regional cams around the North Bay show a similar view. #cawx pic.twitter.com/6RUnFAZvpX — NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) September 9, 2020
Despite the eerie orange and red skies over the Bay Area, Jeremy Michael, a meteorologist assisting the firefighting team managing the West Marin fire, said air quality readings in Marin aren’t as bad as the sky seems.
“I know it looks really bad right now. We’ve got the orange glow in the local area,” Michael said. “But a lot of this smoke is elevated and not a lot is reaching the ground right now.”
According to the smoke outlook produced by the Woodward fire incident management team, the air quality index is reading between 50 and 100 for San Rafael, which is moderate air quality. The more significant smoke impacts are north and east of Marin, officials said.
A handful of areas are showing good air, though many Bay Area residents reported via social media that ash was falling.
The fine particulate matter measured above 150 — unhealthy for all — in Pleasanton, Concord and Napa throughout Tuesday, and it was unhealthy for those with breathing or other underlying issues in Vallejo, San Jose, Gilroy, Redwood City and Livermore.
The temperatures are expected to keep cooling off Wednesday, Peterson said, and might be even cooler than originally forecast because of the smoke.
“The smoke is more or less in control of the forecast,” he said. “By that, I mean that the forecast models are probably going to be wrong. It’s probably going to be much cooler than we’re forecasting. How much cooler, we don’t know.”
Still, the relief from the heat won’t bring any immediate relief from the smoke, Peterson said. A “spare the air” alert remains in effect through Friday, the 25th consecutive day. There has not been a day without one since Aug. 17.
“We just have so many fires right now, it won’t matter which way the wind is blowing,” he said. “We’re just going to have to take this day by day.”
Mesmerized by the saturated sky, Mill Valley resident Scott Walker used a drone to capture aerial images near Tamalpais High School at about 10 a.m., when the sky was a bright red.
As he flew the drone, Walker said he saw ash falling, but only from where the LED light on the drone device flashed.
“To see the ash in the sky under that light but not being able to see it directly is really concerning about what health implications could come from it,” he said. “It’s such an interesting and weird time right now. Nothing will surprise me of what tomorrow could bring.”
In West Marin, the Woodward fire burning 3 miles southwest of Olema has remained at 4,895 acres and 95% containment since Sunday. Full containment of the fire is expected Tuesday, a month after it was ignited by lightning.
Wednesday briefing: Video conference on Facebook
Incident page: Woodward fire
Firefighters conducted a prescribed burn in the northern section of the fire Tuesday to secure the containment lines there. Crews were mostly patrolling the perimeter of the fire Wednesday to knock down spot fires and to mop up and strengthen containment lines.
“We feel really good about where the fire is at,” said Eric Newall, the incident commander. “We’re here to continue to monitor and make sure it doesn’t go anywhere.”
The Point Reyes National Seashore remains closed.
The Bay Area News Group contributed to this story.


mercurynews--2020-09-11--Ex-Driscoll’s exec sentenced for stealing from berry giant

SAN JOSE ( AP ) — A former executive for one of the world ’ s largest berry suppliers was sentenced to federal prison Thursday and ordered to repay nearly $ 1.5 million .
Marc Marier , 42 , of Napierville , Illinois , was sentenced in a San Jose federal courtroom to 29 months in prison after pleading guilty in June to wire fraud and money laundering .
Prosecutors say Marier embezzled from Driscoll ’ s , a Watsonville , California , firm that works with growers worldwide and sells strawberries , blueberries and other berries in dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third of the global berry market .
In 2017 , Marier was hired as director of real estate and workplace services and relocated from Illinois to California ’ s Central Valley .
Shortly after being employed , Marier began submitting and approving false invoices from a phony business , and routing the payments to a bank account he controlled , according to a statement from the U.S. attorney ’ s office .
Marier cashed in on at least 15 phony invoices between November 2017 and May 2018 , prosecutors said .
Among other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy a five-bedroom home in Illinois and to provide a $ 75,000 cashier ’ s check to his girlfriend , authorities said .
• Theranos founder Holmes wins fight to learn how grand jury was selected amid coronavirus pandemic • Justice Department intervenes to help Trump in E. Jean Carroll rape lawsuit • Student sues CSU East Bay for election fraud with backing of NAACP , Harmeet Dhillon Marier resigned after learning that the company was investigating him .
The case later was referred to the FBI .
The government seized the home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 700,000 in cash from bank accounts associated with Marier and his phony company , authorities said .

SAN JOSE — A former executive for one of the world’s largest berry suppliers was sentenced to federal prison Thursday and ordered to repay nearly $1.5 million.
Marc Marier, 42, of Napierville, Illinois, was sentenced in a San Jose federal courtroom to 29 months in prison after pleading guilty in June to wire fraud and money laundering.
Prosecutors say Marier embezzled from Driscoll’s, a Watsonville, California, firm that works with growers worldwide and sells strawberries, blueberries and other berries in dozens of countries. The company has about a third of the global berry market.
In 2017, Marier was hired as director of real estate and workplace services and relocated from Illinois to California’s Central Valley.
Shortly after being employed, Marier began submitting and approving false invoices from a phony business, and routing the payments to a bank account he controlled, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office.
Marier cashed in on at least 15 phony invoices between November 2017 and May 2018, prosecutors said.
Among other things, Marier used the money to buy a five-bedroom home in Illinois and to provide a $75,000 cashier’s check to his girlfriend, authorities said.
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The government seized the home, a truck and more than $700,000 in cash from bank accounts associated with Marier and his phony company, authorities said.


mercurynews--2020-09-11--San Jose: Suspect arrested in sexual assault at St. James Park

SAN JOSE – Detectives are investigating a sexual assault at St. James Park in downtown San Jose , and they @ @ @ @ @ victims , police said Thursday .
The assault was reported at the park on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ Officer Steven Aponte in a news release .
Aponte said a suspect , identified as @ @ @ @ @ arrested nearby .
Bashir was booked into Santa Clara County jail on a charge of @ @ @ @ @ being held without bail at the Main Jail in San Jose , according to online @ @ @ @ @ known to frequent the downtown area , said Aponte , adding that “ detectives assigned @ @ @ @ @ that led them to believe there may be additional victims.
” Anyone with information about @ @ @ @ @ the suspect can contact detectives at 408-277-4102 , or leave a tip with Silicon Valley @ @ @ @ @ at svcrimestoppers.org .

SAN JOSE – Detectives are investigating a sexual assault at St. James Park in downtown San Jose, and they believe there may be other victims, police said Thursday.
The assault was reported at the park on Wednesday, said San Jose police Officer Steven Aponte in a news release.
Aponte said a suspect, identified as 41-year-old Tacuma Bashir, was arrested nearby. Bashir was booked into Santa Clara County jail on a charge of sexual assault. He is being held without bail at the Main Jail in San Jose, according to online jail records.
Bashir is known to frequent the downtown area, said Aponte, adding that “detectives assigned to the case conducted follow-up that led them to believe there may be additional victims.”
Anyone with information about the case or others involving the suspect can contact detectives at 408-277-4102, or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or at svcrimestoppers.org.


mercurynews--2020-09-11--Feds: Counterfeiter targeted Safeways around the Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — A man who accepted a plea deal after federal prosecutors charged him with passing counterfeit notes around the Bay Area has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison , court records show .
Eric Jackson , 41 , was sentenced Wednesday for a conviction of a single count uttering counterfeit obligations of the United States , a federal offense .
He was originally charged with seven counts , related to attempts to pass $ 100 bills at Safeways around the Bay Area , prosecutors said .
In a sentencing memo , prosecutors wrote that Jackson had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2016 , authorities searched his U-Haul truck and found , “ numerous images of federal reserve note front and back plates , watermarks , and ‘ 100 USA ’ security strips that can be used to make counterfeit federal reserve notes , ” the memo says .
Similarly , in 2015 , another person told police that printers , computer files , currency ink , and other equipment to make and distribute counterfeit cash discovered during the search of a Concord home belonged to Jackson , prosecutors alleged .
Jackson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually responsible for the counterfeiting but that Jackson owned a laptop where the files of bills were found .
Authorities said the loss from the counterfeit ring was “ no less than $ 40,000.
” Counterfeit currency cases are generally handled by the U.S. Secret Service , which has a massive database of every counterfeit bill ever seized .
Jackson has credit for the year he ’ s already spent in jail awaiting resolution in his case , court records show .
He was on probation at the time of his arrest , @ @ @

SAN FRANCISCO — A man who accepted a plea deal after federal prosecutors charged him with passing counterfeit notes around the Bay Area has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, court records show.
Eric Jackson, 41, was sentenced Wednesday for a conviction of a single count uttering counterfeit obligations of the United States, a federal offense. He was originally charged with seven counts, related to attempts to pass $100 bills at Safeways around the Bay Area, prosecutors said.
In a sentencing memo, prosecutors wrote that Jackson had a history of forgery and similar offenses. In 2016, authorities searched his U-Haul truck and found, “numerous images of federal reserve note front and back plates, watermarks, and ‘100 USA’ security strips that can be used to make counterfeit federal reserve notes,” the memo says.
Similarly, in 2015, another person told police that printers, computer files, currency ink, and other equipment to make and distribute counterfeit cash discovered during the search of a Concord home belonged to Jackson, prosecutors alleged.
Jackson’s attorney wrote that two others were actually responsible for the counterfeiting but that Jackson owned a laptop where the files of bills were found.
Authorities said the loss from the counterfeit ring was “no less than $40,000.” Counterfeit currency cases are generally handled by the U.S. Secret Service, which has a massive database of every counterfeit bill ever seized.
Jackson has credit for the year he’s already spent in jail awaiting resolution in his case, court records show. He was on probation at the time of his arrest, prosecutors said.


mercurynews--2020-09-11--Coronavirus: S.F. outlines new reopening plans to begin next week

SAN FRANCISCO — City officials have announced a new round of business and educational reopening set to begin next week and continue through the fall , according to an announcement Thursday .
This latest round , due to begin Monday , allows gyms and fitness centers , massage services , hair and nail salons and barber shops to serve a limited number of customers indoors , so long as all involved wear face coverings .
The closures were ordered as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year .
These businesses will join hotels and outdoor sites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive-in movie sites and family entertainment centers , in welcoming customers under outdoor-gathering rules .
Museums and galleries who submit reopening plans to the city ’ s health department may begin reopening the week of Sept. 21 , officials said .
All forward progress will continue to depend on city residents ’ compliance with rules and continuing success against the COVID-19 pandemic as tracked through public-health indicators , officials took pains to stress Thursday .
“ I ’ m so glad we can move forward earlier than expected to reopen more businesses that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a statement .
“ These businesses have been struggling , and starting Monday , they ’ ll finally be able to serve customers again , with the necessary safety precautions and modifications in place , ” she added in part .
“ It ’ s on all of us to keep doing our part so that we can get more businesses reopened , get our kids back in school , and keep making progress on our economic recovery.
” City officials said community hubs will open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with in-class learning for the district ’ s youngest participants resuming the week of Sept. 21 on a rolling basis at campuses with submitted and approved safety plans .
Separate efforts , including child-care facilities and after-school programs , have already begun in limited fashion , officials said .
“ • Theranos founder Holmes wins fight to learn how grand jury was selected amid coronavirus pandemic • 49ers ’ Fred Warner feels great after COVID-19 hiatus , honored at becoming a captain • Cal State will not return to in-person classes for Spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alto schools for in-person support program We will continue our gradual reopening as it allows us to monitor the spread , manage its immediate challenges and mitigate the long-term impact on our city , ” health department director Dr. Grant Colfax said in part Thursday .
“ Our reopening pace continues to be informed by our ability to manage the risk of more activity that may result in more cases and hospitalizations .
Our success is contingent on everyone doing their part , including wearing face coverings , social distancing , and avoid @ @ @ @

SAN FRANCISCO — City officials have announced a new round of business and educational reopening set to begin next week and continue through the fall, according to an announcement Thursday.
This latest round, due to begin Monday, allows gyms and fitness centers, massage services, hair and nail salons and barber shops to serve a limited number of customers indoors, so long as all involved wear face coverings. The closures were ordered as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year.
These businesses will join hotels and outdoor sites, including tour buses and boats, drive-in movie sites and family entertainment centers, in welcoming customers under outdoor-gathering rules.
Museums and galleries who submit reopening plans to the city’s health department may begin reopening the week of Sept. 21, officials said. All forward progress will continue to depend on city residents’ compliance with rules and continuing success against the COVID-19 pandemic as tracked through public-health indicators, officials took pains to stress Thursday.
San Francisco Announces Next Phase of Reopening to Begin on Monday – https://t.co/IiDIQyC7JC — Mayor London Breed's Press Office (@MyrPressOffice) September 10, 2020
“I’m so glad we can move forward earlier than expected to reopen more businesses that have been closed since March,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a statement.
“These businesses have been struggling, and starting Monday, they’ll finally be able to serve customers again, with the necessary safety precautions and modifications in place,” she added in part.
“It’s on all of us to keep doing our part so that we can get more businesses reopened, get our kids back in school, and keep making progress on our economic recovery.”
City officials said community hubs will open Monday to help school-district distance-learning plans, with in-class learning for the district’s youngest participants resuming the week of Sept. 21 on a rolling basis at campuses with submitted and approved safety plans.
Separate efforts, including child-care facilities and after-school programs, have already begun in limited fashion, officials said.
“ Related Articles Health | San Jose office building wobbles into default — again
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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 We will continue our gradual reopening as it allows us to monitor the spread, manage its immediate challenges and mitigate the long-term impact on our city,” health department director Dr. Grant Colfax said in part Thursday.
“Our reopening pace continues to be informed by our ability to manage the risk of more activity that may result in more cases and hospitalizations. Our success is contingent on everyone doing their part, including wearing face coverings, social distancing, and avoid large gatherings.”
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.


mercurynews--2020-09-11--Latest: 500,000 people in Oregon forced to flee wildfires

The Latest on wildfires in the U.S. West ( all times local ) : SALEM , Ore. — Authorities in Oregon now say more than 500,000 people statewide have been forced to evacuate because of wildfires .
The latest figures from Thursday evening come from the Oregon Office of Emergency Management .
That ’ s over 10 % of the state ’ s 4.2 million population .
More than 1,400 square miles ( 3,625 square kilometers ) have burned this week in the state .
Authorities say the wildfire activity was particularly acute Thursday afternoon in northwestern Oregon as hot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news conference Thursday , Gov .
Kate Brown said there have been fatalities but the exact number is not yet known .
There have been at least three reported fire deaths in the state .
WILSONVILLE , Ore. — The Oregon Department of Corrections says it is evacuating a prison out of an abundance of caution as two large wildfires in the area appear to be merging .
Authorities said Thursday afternoon they evacuated more than 1,300 adults in custody at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville , which houses mostly women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relocated and not released .
Wilsonville is about 16 miles ( 26 kilometers ) south of Portland .
Earlier this week , fires triggered evacuations at three other prisons near Oregon ’ s capital city of Salem .
Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown said Thursday afternoon that more than 80,000 people have had to evacuate because of wildfires burning across the state .
SALEM , Ore. — Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown now says more than 80,000 people have had to evacuate because of wildfires burning across the state .
Brown said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If you ’ re advised to evacuate , do so immediately , ” she said .
More than 1,400 square miles ( 3,625 square kilometers ) have burned this week in the state .
Authorities say the wildfire activity was particularly acute Thursday afternoon in northwestern Oregon as hot , windy conditions continued .
At a news conference Thursday , she said there have been fatalities but the exact number is not yet known .
There have been at least three reported fire deaths in the state .
Brown said she had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal government .
MALDEN , Wash. — Wildfires have scorched nearly 937 square miles ( 2,426 kilometers ) in Washington state this week , Gov .
Jay Inslee said Thursday as he toured the devastated remains of the town of Malden .
“ We ’ ve had this trauma all over Washington , ” Inslee said , according to KHQ-TV .
“ But this is the place where the whole heart of the town was torn out.
” Malden is a farm town set among wheat fields about 35 miles south of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ferrell said residents only had minutes to get out of town Monday .
No one was killed or seriously injured .
Inslee has declared a state of emergency to free up cash assistance for families in need .
More than 80 % of the homes in Malden were destroyed by the flames .
SACRAMENTO , Calif. — The staggering scale of California ’ s wildfires in 2020 continues to grow .
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says as of Thursday wildfires have scorched nearly 4,844 square miles ( 12,545 square @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Six of the top 20 largest fires in state history have occurred this year as well .
California is now almost entirely free of Red Flag warnings for critical fire weather , but 14,000 firefighters remain on the lines of 29 major wildfires .
SALEM , Ore. — Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown said more than 900,000 acres have burned across the state in the last several days – nearly double the amount of land that usually burns in a typical year .
At a news conference Thursday , she said there have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not yet known .
There have been at least three reported fire deaths in the state .
The governor also said up to 40,000 people had to evacuate because of encroaching flames .
“ We have never seen this amount of uncontained fire across the state , ” Brown said .
The windy , hot conditions will likely continue through Thursday , she said , continuing to hamper firefighting efforts .
Brown said she had requested firefighting help from other states and the federal government .
OROVILLE , Calif. — California authorities say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the northern Sierra Nevada this week has destroyed or damaged about 2,000 structures , including homes and other buildings .
The damage estimate Thursday follows two days of powerful winds that sent an 8-mile-wide ( 12.8-kilometer ) front of the North Complex fire bearing down on northeastern Butte County .
Cal Fire says there was major damage to communities including Berry Creek and Feather Falls .
Winds have moderated but authorities say more than 22,000 structures are still threatened , including the city of Oroville .
The improved weather is allowing more aggressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of aircraft .
WILLOWS , Calif. — A wildfire burning since last month in Northern California is now the state ’ s largest on record .
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the August Complex has scorched more than 736 square miles ( 1,906 square kilometers ) , centered in vast wilderness about 130 miles ( 209 kilometers ) north of San Francisco .
The blaze originated as 37 separate fires in the Mendocino National Forest on Aug. 17 , when California was hit by thousands of lightning strikes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have since been added , and the complex now covers parts of Glenn , Mendocino , Lake , Tehama and Trinity counties .
It has destroyed 26 structures as it consumes chaparral , timber and tall grass .
The state ’ s second-largest fire is now the Mendocino Complex , which burned more than 717 square miles ( 1,857 square kilometers ) in the same region in 2018 .
CASPER , Wyo .
— Park officials say a fire in Wyoming near Yellowstone National Park has grown to 5 square miles .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that hard frosts at night have killed plants and trees , which will aid the fire ’ s growth .
The so-called Lone Star Fire started on Aug. 22 .
Officials say it is expected to be contained by Oct. 30 .
Firefighters are cutting down trees and heavy vegetation in the area to protect power lines , historic buildings and communication equipment .
SPOKANE , Wash. — The parents of a 1-year-old boy who died in a northern Washington state wildfire remained in critical condition Thursday in a Seattle hospital .
Okanogan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died after his family was apparently overrun by flames while trying to flee the giant Cold Springs Fire this week .
It was the state ’ s first death of this wildfire season .
Gov .
Jay Inslee said Thursday that he and his wife were heartbroken to hear about the child ’ s death .
Hawly said the family from the Seattle suburb of Renton was discovered by searchers Wednesday morning along the banks of the Columbia River .
He said all were badly burned and the child was dead .
Hawley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Jamie Hyland , 26 , were flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of third-degree burns .
The hospital listed them in critical condition and in intensive care on Thursday .
According to a GoFundMe page set up for the family , Jamie Hyland is pregnant .

The Latest on wildfires in the U.S. West (all times local):
5:25 p.m.
SALEM, Ore. — Authorities in Oregon now say more than 500,000 people statewide have been forced to evacuate because of wildfires.
The latest figures from Thursday evening come from the Oregon Office of Emergency Management. That’s over 10% of the state’s 4.2 million population.
More than 1,400 square miles (3,625 square kilometers) have burned this week in the state. Authorities say the wildfire activity was particularly acute Thursday afternoon in northwestern Oregon as hot, windy conditions continued.
At a news conference Thursday, Gov. Kate Brown said there have been fatalities but the exact number is not yet known. There have been at least three reported fire deaths in the state.
___
5 p.m.
WILSONVILLE, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Corrections says it is evacuating a prison out of an abundance of caution as two large wildfires in the area appear to be merging.
Authorities said Thursday afternoon they evacuated more than 1,300 adults in custody at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, which houses mostly women.
Officials say those evacuated are being relocated and not released.
Wilsonville is about 16 miles (26 kilometers) south of Portland.
Earlier this week, fires triggered evacuations at three other prisons near Oregon’s capital city of Salem.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said Thursday afternoon that more than 80,000 people have had to evacuate because of wildfires burning across the state.
___
3:30 p.m.
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown now says more than 80,000 people have had to evacuate because of wildfires burning across the state.
Brown said on Twitter that the evacuations were ongoing. “If you’re advised to evacuate, do so immediately,” she said.
More than 1,400 square miles (3,625 square kilometers) have burned this week in the state. Authorities say the wildfire activity was particularly acute Thursday afternoon in northwestern Oregon as hot, windy conditions continued.
At a news conference Thursday, she said there have been fatalities but the exact number is not yet known. There have been at least three reported fire deaths in the state.
Brown said she had requested firefighting help from other states and the federal government.
___
2:20 p.m.
MALDEN, Wash. — Wildfires have scorched nearly 937 square miles (2,426 kilometers) in Washington state this week, Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday as he toured the devastated remains of the town of Malden.
“We’ve had this trauma all over Washington,” Inslee said, according to KHQ-TV. “But this is the place where the whole heart of the town was torn out.”
Malden is a farm town set among wheat fields about 35 miles south of Spokane, Washington.
Malden Mayor Chris Ferrell said residents only had minutes to get out of town Monday. No one was killed or seriously injured.
Inslee has declared a state of emergency to free up cash assistance for families in need. More than 80% of the homes in Malden were destroyed by the flames.
___
2:10 p.m.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The staggering scale of California’s wildfires in 2020 continues to grow.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says as of Thursday wildfires have scorched nearly 4,844 square miles (12,545 square kilometers) so far this year.
Six of the top 20 largest fires in state history have occurred this year as well.
California is now almost entirely free of Red Flag warnings for critical fire weather, but 14,000 firefighters remain on the lines of 29 major wildfires.
___
1:20 p.m.
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said more than 900,000 acres have burned across the state in the last several days – nearly double the amount of land that usually burns in a typical year.
At a news conference Thursday, she said there have been fatalities but the exact number is not yet known. There have been at least three reported fire deaths in the state.
The governor also said up to 40,000 people had to evacuate because of encroaching flames.
“We have never seen this amount of uncontained fire across the state,” Brown said.
The windy, hot conditions will likely continue through Thursday, she said, continuing to hamper firefighting efforts. Brown said she had requested firefighting help from other states and the federal government.
___
11:50 a.m.
OROVILLE, Calif. — California authorities say a wildfire that roared through foothills of the northern Sierra Nevada this week has destroyed or damaged about 2,000 structures, including homes and other buildings.
The damage estimate Thursday follows two days of powerful winds that sent an 8-mile-wide (12.8-kilometer) front of the North Complex fire bearing down on northeastern Butte County.
Cal Fire says there was major damage to communities including Berry Creek and Feather Falls.
Winds have moderated but authorities say more than 22,000 structures are still threatened, including the city of Oroville.
The improved weather is allowing more aggressive firefighting but heavy smoke is hampering use of aircraft.
___
11:10 a.m.
WILLOWS, Calif. — A wildfire burning since last month in Northern California is now the state’s largest on record.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the August Complex has scorched more than 736 square miles (1,906 square kilometers), centered in vast wilderness about 130 miles (209 kilometers) north of San Francisco.
The blaze originated as 37 separate fires in the Mendocino National Forest on Aug. 17, when California was hit by thousands of lightning strikes.
Many of the fires merged and others have since been added, and the complex now covers parts of Glenn, Mendocino, Lake, Tehama and Trinity counties. It has destroyed 26 structures as it consumes chaparral, timber and tall grass.
The state’s second-largest fire is now the Mendocino Complex, which burned more than 717 square miles (1,857 square kilometers) in the same region in 2018.
___
11 a.m.
CASPER, Wyo. — Park officials say a fire in Wyoming near Yellowstone National Park has grown to 5 square miles.
The national park said in a statement Wednesday that hard frosts at night have killed plants and trees, which will aid the fire’s growth.
The so-called Lone Star Fire started on Aug. 22. Officials say it is expected to be contained by Oct. 30.
Firefighters are cutting down trees and heavy vegetation in the area to protect power lines, historic buildings and communication equipment.
___
10:25 a.m.
SPOKANE, Wash. — The parents of a 1-year-old boy who died in a northern Washington state wildfire remained in critical condition Thursday in a Seattle hospital.
Okanogan County Sheriff Tony Hawley said the boy died after his family was apparently overrun by flames while trying to flee the giant Cold Springs Fire this week.
It was the state’s first death of this wildfire season.
Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday that he and his wife were heartbroken to hear about the child’s death.
Hawly said the family from the Seattle suburb of Renton was discovered by searchers Wednesday morning along the banks of the Columbia River. He said all were badly burned and the child was dead.
Hawley said the parents Jacob Hyland, 31, and Jamie Hyland, 26, were flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of third-degree burns.
The hospital listed them in critical condition and in intensive care on Thursday. According to a GoFundMe page set up for the family, Jamie Hyland is pregnant.


mercurynews--2020-09-11--Popular Los Gatos sports bar adjusts playbook, won’t show NFL games because of coronavirus restricti

Popular Los Gatos sports bar adjusts playbook, won’t show NFL games because of coronavirus restrictions

CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device .
LOS GATOS — In a typical year , the owners at the popular Double D ’ s Sports Grille in Los Gatos would be getting their game plan together for the start of peak season — football .
But not this year .
When the San Francisco 49ers and other National Football League teams open their season on Sunday , the 32 televisions inside the award-winning sports bar at the corner of Hwy .
9 and Santa Cruz Ave. will remain dark because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s owners — brothers Darin and Dean Devincenzi — have set up a tent in the parking lot for dine-in but say they won ’ t become a sports grille again until COVID-19 restrictions are completely lifted .
To them , it makes no sense to set up TVs in the parking lot for 18 tables , noting that their revised playbook calls for customers to eat and leave , not sit for three-plus hours watching their favorite NFL teams and players .
“ I don ’ t want to sound like ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheap or something , ” Dean Devincenzi said this week .
“ But when you go from 150 seats to 60 seats , you ’ ve got to do what you ’ ve got to do to survive .
And , man , we are in major survival mode.
” Normally , the first Sunday of football season and every Sunday that follows through the fall and early winter is festive in the sports bar industry , and the Devincenzi brothers can certainly attest to that .
For 16 years in a row @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the “ Best Sports Bar in Silicon Valley.
” “ We open the doors at 9 ; 30 and , especially when the 49ers play , the restaurant would be full by 10 o ’ clock , ” Dean Devincenzi said .
“ And this year , because of the lack of sports , I would guess there ’ s even a higher anticipation level for football because people are just starting to watch some sports again .
We ’ re going to get a ( ton ) of phone calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Devincenzi brothers have no plans to change their minds , not when it costs businesses such as Double D ’ s about $ 6,500 to buy the DirecTV package to show NFL games being played across the country .
They also say they ’ d have to purchase outdoor TVs and probably a generator to power them up .
“ We just have to rely on people who still want to go out and eat , and then go home and watch the 1 o ’ clock game , ” Darin Devincenzi said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it goes , see if it hurts us .
It ’ s tough enough as it is .
But at this point , we just haven ’ t tried to entertain the cost of what it would take to get TVs out here .
It ’ s just not feasible right now.
” Darin estimated that business is down at least 50 percent since the pandemic exploded in March .
But both brothers are pleased with the tent in their parking lot and socially-distanced tables .
“ The thing is we still have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ People still want to go out and get a burger and a beer .
Of all the options in town , this is probably one of the better , cleaner and most covered setups.
” The brothers opened Double D ’ s in 1996 and turned it into a go-to spot for sports fans .
When former Archbishop Mitty High School basketball star Aaron Gordon was drafted No .
4 overall by the Orlando Magic in 2014 , his mom threw a party at Double D ’ s for Gordon ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accompany him to Brooklyn for the National Basketball Association draft .
But the good times for Double D ’ s went up in flames in 2016 when a three-alarm fire caused by combustibles being stored in the restaurant ’ s water heater closet shut down the establishment for 2 ½ years , ending its run as the valley ’ s top sports bar .
Now , the Devincenzi brothers are doing all they can to survive again , even if it means taking sports out of their playbook .
• Cal State will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 • Mount Eden owners take aim at suicide with Tanaka Project • Milpitas community briefs for the week of Sept. 18 “ It ’ s not just us ; it ’ s affected everybody , ” Dean said about COVID .
“ It just happened to be a continual run of bad luck for us .
Nothing I can do about it .
And , quite frankly , renting this tent for Double D ’ s is the best thing we could have done .
It ’ s created a pretty high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve got to do whatever we ’ ve got to do to pay bills “ This is uncharted waters for us .
But right now , I say we will not have ( sports ) programming until we have some semblance of mass order for coming back into the restaurant.
“

CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
LOS GATOS — In a typical year, the owners of the popular Double D’s Sports Grille in Los Gatos would be getting their game plan together for the start of their peak season — football.
This isn’t a typical year.
When the San Francisco 49ers and other National Football League teams open their season Sunday, the 32 televisions inside the award-winning sports bar at the corner of Highway 9 and Santa Cruz Avenue will stay turned off because of the coronavirus pandemic.
And they’ll remain inside, even though Double D’s owners — brothers Darin and Dean Devincenzi — have set up a tent in the parking lot for diners.
The owners say Double D’s won’t become a sports grille again until coronavirus-induced restrictions are completely lifted.
To them, it makes no sense to set up TVs in the parking lot for 18 tables when their revised playbook calls for customers to eat and leave so others can do the same, not sit for three-plus hours watching their favorite NFL teams.
“I don’t want to sound like ‘woe is me’ or I am cheap or something,” Dean Devincenzi said this week. “But when you go from 150 seats to 60 seats, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to survive. And, man, we are in major survival mode.”
For Double D’s — which for 16 years in a row has been voted “Best Sports Bar in Silicon Valley” by Mercury News readers — survival mode means calling audibles when necessary.
“We open the doors at 9;30 and, especially when the 49ers play, the restaurant would be full by 10 o’clock,” Dean Devincenzi said. “And this year, because of the lack of sports, I would guess there’s even a higher anticipation level for football because people are just starting to watch some sports again. We’re going to get a (ton) of phone calls this week about it.”
But the Devincenzi brothers say they can’t afford to change their minds, not when it costs about $6,500 to buy the DirecTV package to show NFL games being played across the country. They also say they’d have to purchase outdoor TVs and probably a generator to power them up.
“We just have to rely on people who still want to go out and eat, and then go home and watch the 1 o’clock game,” Darin Devincenzi said. “We’ll see how it goes, see if it hurts us. It’s tough enough as it is. But at this point, we just haven’t tried to entertain the cost of what it would take to get TVs out here. It’s just not feasible right now.”
He estimated that business is down at least 50% since the pandemic exploded in March. But both brothers are pleased with the tent in their parking lot and socially-distanced tables.
“The thing is we still have decent food,” Darin Devincenzi added. “People still want to go out and get a burger and a beer. Of all the options in town, this is probably one of the better, cleaner and most covered setups.”
The brothers opened Double D’s in 1996 and turned it into a go-to spot for sports fans. When former Archbishop Mitty High School basketball star Aaron Gordon was drafted No. 4 overall by the Orlando Magic in 2014, his mom threw a party at Double D’s for Gordon’s friends and family who didn’t accompany him to Brooklyn for the NBA draft.
But the good times for Double D’s went up in flames in 2016 when a three-alarm fire caused by combustibles stored in the restaurant’s water heater closet shut down the establishment for 2 ½ years, ending its run as the valley’s top sports bar.
Now, the Devincenzi brothers are doing all they can to survive again, even if it means taking sports out of their playbook.
“It’s not just us; it’s affected everybody,” Dean Devincenzi said about COVID-19. “It just happened to be a continual run of bad luck for us. Nothing I can do about it. And, quite frankly, renting this tent for Double D’s is the best thing we could have done. It’s created a pretty high level of comfort for people. We’ve got to do whatever we’ve got to do to pay bills
“This is uncharted waters for us. But right now, I say we will not have (sports) programming until we have some semblance of mass order for coming back into the restaurant.“


mercurynews--2020-09-11--Theranos founder Holmes wins fight to learn how grand jury was selected amid coronavirus pandemic

A federal court judge granted a sweeping list of requests by Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes for records of how the grand jury that recently indicted her for fraud was selected .
She has said in a court filing that she plans to challenge the selection process for the grand jury whose 12-count indictment was filed July 14 .
Judge Edward Davila noted in his ruling Wednesday that Holmes ’ primary concern was that the coronavirus pandemic might have caused many prospective jurors to be excused from serving , so her grand jury might not have reflected the required cross-section of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the disproportionate medical and economic impact that the Covid-19 crisis has had on certain populations.
” The federal court system ’ s Covid-19 Judicial Task Force in June issued a report advising courts to expect that more prospective jurors might ask to be excused from serving during the pandemic because of health concerns .
Stanford University dropout Holmes and former Theranos president Sunny Balwani are each charged with a dozen counts of fraud over the defunct Palo Alto blood-testing startup .
Davila has scheduled a jury trial to start in March .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ 21 access requests , rubber-stamping nine because prosecutors didn ’ t oppose them , then agreeing with Holmes ’ arguments in the rest and largely dismissing prosecutors ’ objections as insufficient .
In approving access to certain jury-selection forms , including questionnaires for screening grand jurors , Davila mandated that they be blank , not filled in .
Among the information the judge ordered released to Holmes and Balwani were documents describing changes to grand jury selection procedures made because of the pandemic , along with guidelines for choosing jurors from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selected as potential grand jurors versus the number who served .
The court system ’ s Covid-19 task force had advised courts to consider bringing in fewer grand jurors than the usual 23 “ in order to make a quorum of 16.
” • Theranos founder Holmes claims judge erred , as she files barrage of attacks on her fraud charges Davila also noted Holmes had withdrawn her 21st request , for grand jurors ’ attendance records and reasons for any absences .
He left open her ability to renew the request , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she might do after receiving the other records .
The records provided to Holmes and Balwani must not be copied , and must be returned to the court or destroyed before jury selection starts , Davila ordered .
Holmes and Balwani are charged with allegedly bilking investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars , and defrauding doctors and patients , with false claims that the company ’ s machines could conduct a full range of tests using just a few drops of blood .
The two have denied the allegations , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court filing that the government ’ s case was “ unconstitutionally vague ” and lacked specific claims of misrepresentation .
They each face maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and a $ 2.75 million fine , plus possible restitution , the Department of Justice has said .

A federal court judge granted a sweeping list of requests by Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes for records of how the grand jury that recently indicted her for fraud was selected. She has said in a court filing that she plans to challenge the selection process for the grand jury whose 12-count indictment was filed July 14.
Judge Edward Davila noted in his ruling Wednesday that Holmes’ primary concern was that the coronavirus pandemic might have caused many prospective jurors to be excused from serving, so her grand jury might not have reflected the required cross-section of the community. Holmes’ request cited “the disproportionate medical and economic impact that the Covid-19 crisis has had on certain populations.”
The federal court system’s Covid-19 Judicial Task Force in June issued a report advising courts to expect that more prospective jurors might ask to be excused from serving during the pandemic because of health concerns.
Stanford University dropout Holmes and former Theranos president Sunny Balwani are each charged with a dozen counts of fraud over the defunct Palo Alto blood-testing startup. Davila has scheduled a jury trial to start in March.
Davila in his order went through Holmes’ 21 access requests, rubber-stamping nine because prosecutors didn’t oppose them, then agreeing with Holmes’ arguments in the rest and largely dismissing prosecutors’ objections as insufficient. In approving access to certain jury-selection forms, including questionnaires for screening grand jurors, Davila mandated that they be blank, not filled in.
Among the information the judge ordered released to Holmes and Balwani were documents describing changes to grand jury selection procedures made because of the pandemic, along with guidelines for choosing jurors from a pool, and the number of people selected as potential grand jurors versus the number who served.
The court system’s Covid-19 task force had advised courts to consider bringing in fewer grand jurors than the usual 23 “in order to make a quorum of 16.”
Related Articles Technology | Elizabeth Holmes’ financial jeopardy: Will court cases leave Theranos founder ruined?
Elizabeth Holmes’ financial jeopardy: Will court cases leave Theranos founder ruined? Technology | Theranos founder Holmes claims judge erred, as she files barrage of attacks on her fraud charges
Theranos founder Holmes claims judge erred, as she files barrage of attacks on her fraud charges Technology | Theranos destroyed patient test data, prosecutor alleges Davila also noted Holmes had withdrawn her 21st request, for grand jurors’ attendance records and reasons for any absences. He left open her ability to renew the request, which she said in a filing that she might do after receiving the other records. The records provided to Holmes and Balwani must not be copied, and must be returned to the court or destroyed before jury selection starts, Davila ordered.
Holmes and Balwani are charged with allegedly bilking investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars, and defrauding doctors and patients, with false claims that the company’s machines could conduct a full range of tests using just a few drops of blood. The two have denied the allegations, with lawyers for Holmes arguing in a December court filing that the government’s case was “unconstitutionally vague” and lacked specific claims of misrepresentation.
They each face maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and a $2.75 million fine, plus possible restitution, the Department of Justice has said.


mercurynews--2020-09-11--Charges, sanctions revive specter of Russian interference in presidential election

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Thursday charged a Russian national in a sweeping plot to sow distrust in the American political process and imposed sanctions against a Russia-linked Ukrainian lawmaker accused of interfering in the U.S. presidential election .
Those actions , combined with a Microsoft announcement on hacking attempts targeting U.S. political campaigns , parties and consultants , underscore the extent to which the same cyber intrusions and foreign influence operations that defined the 2016 White House race remain a persistent concern today .
They also reflect a dichotomy in the administration .
with officials taking aim at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as President Donald Trump expresses doubt about Russian meddling .
In the case of the sanctions , officials denounced audio recordings that had been released by the Ukrainian parliamentarian and promoted by Trump on Twitter .
The criminal charges accuse Artem Mikhaylovich Lifshits of serving as a translation manager in a Russian effort that since at least 2014 has tried to disrupt the political system in the United States and other countries and spread distrust about candidates .
Members of the initiative , known as Project Lakhta , traveled to the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media accounts that could pump out messaging to millions of Americans on divisive social issues .
The group operated through entities including the Internet Research Agency , the Russian troll farm charged by special counsel Robert Mueller with stirring up discord before the 2016 election , according to a criminal complaint charging Lifshits with using stolen identities to open fake accounts at banks and digital currency exchanges .
The goal of the department where Lifshits worked was to sow discord , incite civil unrest and polarize Americans with social media posts that touched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration , the Confederate flag and race relations , prosecutors say .
“ Project Lakhta members did not exclusively adopt one ideological viewpoint ; rather , they wrote on topics from varied and sometimes opposing perspectives , ” a Secret Service agent wrote in an affidavit supporting the complaint .
“ Project Lakhta members also developed strategies and guidance to target audiences with conservative and liberal viewpoints , as well as particular social groups.
” The Justice Department complaint does not accuse Lifshits or other Project Lakhta members of promoting a particular presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the social media posts that are referenced were early in Trump ’ s first term , well before Democrat Joe Biden had emerged as his party ’ s presidential nominee .
Those include a March 2018 tweet , written by a Project Lakhta member using a bogus account , that said , “ Just a friendly reminder to get involved in the 2018 Midterms .
They are motivated They hate you They hate your morals They hate your 1A and 2A rights They hate the Police They hate the Military They hate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear that the influence operations have persisted and even seized on contentious current issues like race relations .
Lifshits was one of four people cited on Thursday by the Treasury Department , including Andrii Derkach , a Ukrainian lawmaker who was characterized by the U.S. government as “ an active Russian agent ” for over a decade .
Officials say he has interfered in the 2020 election by releasing edited audio recordings designed to denigrate Biden .
The Treasury Department action is the second time in as many months that the administration has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence officials said in a statement last month that Derkach ’ s disclosure of the recordings , which capture conversations between Biden and Ukraine ’ s then-president , were part of a broader Russian effort to disparage Biden before the Nov. 3 election .
The administration ’ s move was especially notable because the statement announcing it said Derkach ’ s recordings advance anti-Biden claims that rely on “ false and unsubstantiated narratives.
” Trump has promoted those recordings by retweeting posts that include or reference them .
“ Derkach almost certainly targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persons , and members of the U.S. government , based on his reliance on U.S. platforms , English-language documents and videos , and pro-Russian lobbyists in the United States used to propagate his claims , ” the Treasury Department said in designating Derkach and three other Russia-linked individuals under an executive order designed to target election interference .
Derkach is a graduate of a Russian spy academy who , the Treasury Department says , maintains close ties to Russian intelligence services .
“ Andrii Derkach and other Russian agents employ manipulation and deceit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States and elsewhere around the world , ” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement .
“ The United States will continue to use all the tools at its disposal to counter these Russian disinformation campaigns and uphold the integrity of our election system.
” In May , Derkach released audio recordings of purported conversations between Biden , while vice president , and Ukraine ’ s former president , Petro Poroshenko .
The release was intended to promote a baseless narrative that Biden had demanded the firing of Ukraine ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gas company in Ukraine where Biden ’ s son Hunter held a board seat .
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Biden was representing the official position of the Obama administration and many Western allies in seeking the removal of the prosecutor who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other three people who were sanctioned are connected to the IRA .
Also on Thursday , Microsoft said that the same Russian military intelligence outfit that hacked the Democrats in 2016 has attempted similar intrusions into the computer systems of more than 200 organizations , including political parties and consultants .
Most of the infiltration attempts by Russian , Chinese and Iranian agents were halted by Microsoft security software and the targets notified .
Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report .

By Eric Tucker | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Thursday charged a Russian national in a sweeping plot to sow distrust in the American political process and imposed sanctions against a Russia-linked Ukrainian lawmaker accused of interfering in the U.S. presidential election.
Those actions, combined with a Microsoft announcement on hacking attempts targeting U.S. political campaigns, parties and consultants, underscore the extent to which the same cyber intrusions and foreign influence operations that defined the 2016 White House race remain a persistent concern today.
They also reflect a dichotomy in the administration. with officials taking aim at Russian interference in the political process even as President Donald Trump expresses doubt about Russian meddling. In the case of the sanctions, officials denounced audio recordings that had been released by the Ukrainian parliamentarian and promoted by Trump on Twitter.
The criminal charges accuse Artem Mikhaylovich Lifshits of serving as a translation manager in a Russian effort that since at least 2014 has tried to disrupt the political system in the United States and other countries and spread distrust about candidates. Members of the initiative, known as Project Lakhta, traveled to the United States to collect intelligence and operated bogus social media accounts that could pump out messaging to millions of Americans on divisive social issues.
The group operated through entities including the Internet Research Agency, the Russian troll farm charged by special counsel Robert Mueller with stirring up discord before the 2016 election, according to a criminal complaint charging Lifshits with using stolen identities to open fake accounts at banks and digital currency exchanges.
The goal of the department where Lifshits worked was to sow discord, incite civil unrest and polarize Americans with social media posts that touched on hot-button topics including gun rights, immigration, the Confederate flag and race relations, prosecutors say.
“Project Lakhta members did not exclusively adopt one ideological viewpoint; rather, they wrote on topics from varied and sometimes opposing perspectives,” a Secret Service agent wrote in an affidavit supporting the complaint. “Project Lakhta members also developed strategies and guidance to target audiences with conservative and liberal viewpoints, as well as particular social groups.”
The Justice Department complaint does not accuse Lifshits or other Project Lakhta members of promoting a particular presidential candidate in the 2020 race. Many of the social media posts that are referenced were early in Trump’s first term, well before Democrat Joe Biden had emerged as his party’s presidential nominee.
Those include a March 2018 tweet, written by a Project Lakhta member using a bogus account, that said, “Just a friendly reminder to get involved in the 2018 Midterms. They are motivated They hate you They hate your morals They hate your 1A and 2A rights They hate the Police They hate the Military They hate YOUR President.”
But the complaint makes clear that the influence operations have persisted and even seized on contentious current issues like race relations.
Lifshits was one of four people cited on Thursday by the Treasury Department, including Andrii Derkach, a Ukrainian lawmaker who was characterized by the U.S. government as “an active Russian agent” for over a decade. Officials say he has interfered in the 2020 election by releasing edited audio recordings designed to denigrate Biden.
The Treasury Department action is the second time in as many months that the administration has called out Derkach by name. U.S. intelligence officials said in a statement last month that Derkach’s disclosure of the recordings, which capture conversations between Biden and Ukraine’s then-president, were part of a broader Russian effort to disparage Biden before the Nov. 3 election.
The administration’s move was especially notable because the statement announcing it said Derkach’s recordings advance anti-Biden claims that rely on “false and unsubstantiated narratives.” Trump has promoted those recordings by retweeting posts that include or reference them.
“Derkach almost certainly targeted the U.S. voting populace, prominent U.S. persons, and members of the U.S. government, based on his reliance on U.S. platforms, English-language documents and videos, and pro-Russian lobbyists in the United States used to propagate his claims,” the Treasury Department said in designating Derkach and three other Russia-linked individuals under an executive order designed to target election interference.
Derkach is a graduate of a Russian spy academy who, the Treasury Department says, maintains close ties to Russian intelligence services.
“Andrii Derkach and other Russian agents employ manipulation and deceit to attempt to influence elections in the United States and elsewhere around the world,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. “The United States will continue to use all the tools at its disposal to counter these Russian disinformation campaigns and uphold the integrity of our election system.”
In May, Derkach released audio recordings of purported conversations between Biden, while vice president, and Ukraine’s former president, Petro Poroshenko. The release was intended to promote a baseless narrative that Biden had demanded the firing of Ukraine’s top prosecutor because the prosecutor was investigating a gas company in Ukraine where Biden’s son Hunter held a board seat.
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The other three people who were sanctioned are connected to the IRA.
Also on Thursday, Microsoft said that the same Russian military intelligence outfit that hacked the Democrats in 2016 has attempted similar intrusions into the computer systems of more than 200 organizations, including political parties and consultants. Most of the infiltration attempts by Russian, Chinese and Iranian agents were halted by Microsoft security software and the targets notified.
Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-09-10--Judges: Trump can’t exclude people from district drawings

ORLANDO , Fla. — A panel of three federal judges on Thursday blocked an order from President Donald Trump that tried to exclude people in the country illegally from being counted when congressional districts are redrawn .
The federal judges in New York , in granting an injunction , said the presidential order issued in late July was unlawful and the harm it would cause would last a decade .
The judges prohibited Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross , whose agency oversees the U.S. Census Bureau , from excluding people in the country illegally when handing in 2020 census figures used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state gets .
According to the judges , the presidential order violated laws governing the execution of the once-a-decade census and also the process for redrawing congressional districts known as apportionment by requiring that two sets of numbers be presented — one with the total count and the other dealing with people living in the country illegally .
The judges said that those in the country illegally qualify as people to be counted in the states they reside .
They declined to say whether the order violated the Constitution .
“ Throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to determine the apportionment of Congress — in the language of the current statutes , the ‘ total population ’ and the ‘ whole number of persons ’ in each State — have included every person residing in the United States at the time of the census , whether citizen or non-citizen and whether living here with legal status or without , ” the judges wrote .
Opponents of the order said it was an effort to suppress the growing political power of Latinos in the U.S. and to discriminate against immigrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undocumented residents use the nation ’ s roads , parks and other public amenities and should be taken into account for any distribution of federal resources .
The lawsuits challenging the presidential order in New York were brought by a coalition of cities , civil rights groups and states led by New York .
Because the lawsuits dealt with questions about apportionment , it was heard by a three-judge panel that allows the decision to be appealed directly to the U.S. Supreme Court .
“ This is the most blatantly unconstitutional act I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal government , ” Dale Ho , director of the ACLU ’ s Voting Rights Project , one of the group ’ s that challenged the order , said in an interview .
After Trump issued the order in July , a half dozen lawsuits around the U.S. were filed by states , cities and civil rights groups challenging its legality and constitutionality .
The New York case is the first to get a ruling , but there are other issues the New York judges didn ’ t address that could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those include whether the order violated governmental administrative procedures and whether the Census Bureau will have to use a statistical method to calculate who is in the country illegally , which the Supreme Court has ruled can ’ t be done for apportionment numbers .
• San Jose community briefs for the week of Aug. 28 The lawsuits said there was no reliable method for counting people in the U.S. illegally and the order would have diminished the accuracy of the census .
The Commerce Department didn ’ t respond to an emailed @ @

By Mike Schneider | Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. — A panel of three federal judges on Thursday blocked an order from President Donald Trump that tried to exclude people in the country illegally from being counted when congressional districts are redrawn.
The federal judges in New York, in granting an injunction, said the presidential order issued in late July was unlawful and the harm it would cause would last a decade. The judges prohibited Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, whose agency oversees the U.S. Census Bureau, from excluding people in the country illegally when handing in 2020 census figures used to calculate how many congressional seats each state gets.
According to the judges, the presidential order violated laws governing the execution of the once-a-decade census and also the process for redrawing congressional districts known as apportionment by requiring that two sets of numbers be presented — one with the total count and the other dealing with people living in the country illegally.
The judges said that those in the country illegally qualify as people to be counted in the states they reside. They declined to say whether the order violated the Constitution.
“Throughout the Nation’s history, the figures used to determine the apportionment of Congress — in the language of the current statutes, the ‘total population’ and the ‘whole number of persons’ in each State — have included every person residing in the United States at the time of the census, whether citizen or non-citizen and whether living here with legal status or without,” the judges wrote.
Opponents of the order said it was an effort to suppress the growing political power of Latinos in the U.S. and to discriminate against immigrant communities of color. They also said undocumented residents use the nation’s roads, parks and other public amenities and should be taken into account for any distribution of federal resources.
The lawsuits challenging the presidential order in New York were brought by a coalition of cities, civil rights groups and states led by New York. Because the lawsuits dealt with questions about apportionment, it was heard by a three-judge panel that allows the decision to be appealed directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“This is the most blatantly unconstitutional act I’ve ever encountered in years litigating the federal government,” Dale Ho, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, one of the group’s that challenged the order, said in an interview.
After Trump issued the order in July, a half dozen lawsuits around the U.S. were filed by states, cities and civil rights groups challenging its legality and constitutionality.
The New York case is the first to get a ruling, but there are other issues the New York judges didn’t address that could be addressed in the other court cases. Those include whether the order violated governmental administrative procedures and whether the Census Bureau will have to use a statistical method to calculate who is in the country illegally, which the Supreme Court has ruled can’t be done for apportionment numbers.
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The Commerce Department didn’t respond to an emailed inquiry.


mercurynews--2020-09-10--Rio Hondo College launches program emphasizing science, math

WHITTIER > > Rio Hondo College announced Thursday it will launch an intensive program to support science , technology , engineering and math field studies for its largely Hispanic student population .
The Enlace pilot program , which is being funded by a $ 2.8 million , five-year U.S. Department of Education Title V grant , will provide services to all enrolled STEM students at RHC , with a focus on low-income , first generation Hispanic students .
More than 56 % of Rio Hondo students are low-income , first-generation college students and more than 80.25 % are Hispanic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enlace program will provide a tremendous boost to our already strong STEM programs , ” Acting Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss said .
“ We are positioned to provide our students with unheralded and unprecedented STEM research and workforce experience opportunities.
” She said the program fills a gap in community college instruction for student independent research opportunities , which are typically more prevalent at four-year colleges and universities .
Rio Hondo will partner with Oak Crest Institute of Science , LA Bioscience Hub and the UCLA/RHC Scientific Exchange Program to provide real-world science research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer of the students ’ education program .
“ These partnerships will provide rigorous academic laboratory programs that allow community college students to learn to solve real-world problems while participating in important environmental and biomedical research , ” said Rio Hondo College Vice President of Academic Affairs Laura Ramirez .
Vann Priest , Rio Hondo ’ s dean of mathematics , sciences and engineering , said all scientists and engineers can point to one person who turned them from a student to a professional .
“ Our partners can provide that opportunity , @ @ @ @

WHITTIER >> Rio Hondo College announced Thursday it will launch an intensive program to support science, technology, engineering and math field studies for its largely Hispanic student population.
The Enlace pilot program, which is being funded by a $2.8 million, five-year U.S. Department of Education Title V grant, will provide services to all enrolled STEM students at RHC, with a focus on low-income, first generation Hispanic students.
Fields of study include biology, chemistry, computer information technology, computer science, engineering, environmental science, math and physics.
More than 56% of Rio Hondo students are low-income, first-generation college students and more than 80.25% are Hispanic, according to school officials.
“The Enlace program will provide a tremendous boost to our already strong STEM programs,” Acting Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss said. “We are positioned to provide our students with unheralded and unprecedented STEM research and workforce experience opportunities.”
She said the program fills a gap in community college instruction for student independent research opportunities, which are typically more prevalent at four-year colleges and universities.
Rio Hondo will partner with Oak Crest Institute of Science, LA Bioscience Hub and the UCLA/RHC Scientific Exchange Program to provide real-world science research and lab experience starting in the second summer of the students’ education program.
“These partnerships will provide rigorous academic laboratory programs that allow community college students to learn to solve real-world problems while participating in important environmental and biomedical research,” said Rio Hondo College Vice President of Academic Affairs Laura Ramirez.
Vann Priest, Rio Hondo’s dean of mathematics, sciences and engineering, said all scientists and engineers can point to one person who turned them from a student to a professional.
“Our partners can provide that opportunity,” Priest said.