mercurynews--2020-07-16--Feldman: Supreme Court’s future hinges on 2020 election

The blockbuster Supreme Court term that just ended was a ( nearly ) unmitigated disaster for movement conservatives .
Chief Justice John Roberts declined to overturn precedent on abortion rights .
Conservative activist Justice Neil Gorsuch showed he would join the court ’ s liberals when the statutory text tells him to .
The natural question then is , what ’ s next ?
What are the implications for the future of the court ?
The short answer is that the court ’ s future direction is in flux like no other time in recent memory .
And what happens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election and the justices ’ health .
The first crucial point here is that , had Roberts and Gorsuch not crossed the court ’ s ideological lines in the most high-profile cases of the term , we would be looking at an extremely conservative court for the foreseeable future , regardless of the outcome of the November vote .
The court has five conservative justices who — until this term — seemed capable of acting as an unassailable voting bloc for the indefinite future .
( The oldest , Justice Clarence Thomas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority was the first on the court in nearly a century , and conservative activists anticipated that it would overturn Roe v. Wade and hold the line on cultural issues like transgender rights .
Instead , the opposite happened .
Without Kennedy on his left , Roberts chose to become the swing voter himself — and saved Planned Parenthood v. Casey , the 1992 decision co-authored by Kennedy , Justice Sandra Day O ’ Connor and Justice David Souter that itself declined to overturn Roe .
The blow to pro-life conservatives is utterly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they missed it .
Then Gorsuch , with Roberts and the four liberals joining him , held that employment anti-discrimination law applies not only to gays and lesbians but also to transgender people .
This , too , was a body blow to movement conservatives , who had invested considerably in opposing transgender rights even after losing the gay marriage issue because of Kennedy .
For conservatives , the only way out of their newly weakened position is to reelect Trump and keep the Senate Republican .
Then they would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bader Ginsburg , 87 ( Ginsburg was hospitalized Tuesday to treat a possible infection ) , and Stephen Breyer , 81 .
If Trump picked even one strong conservative , they would probably have the votes to overwhelm Roberts on abortion .
If Trump got two , they could roll back Gorsuch ’ s Title VII ruling , too .
If Joe Biden wins in November , the Senate remains Republican and Ginsburg and/or Breyer have to step down , the court would be reduced to eight or seven members indefinitely — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shrinking Supreme Court .
A 4-3 conservative majority including Gorsuch could potentially repudiate Roberts and overturn Roe ; but the three stalwart conservatives couldn ’ t touch Gorsuch ’ s Title VII decision .
However , if Biden is elected and gets a Democratic Senate , it ’ s widely expected that Ginsburg and Breyer will retire and be replaced by like-minded liberals .
That would maintain essentially the current configuration on the court .
T The wildcard here is Thomas .
He will not willingly step down if a Democratic president is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a liberal .
If he has to , however , the court ’ s balance will change radically : There would likely be a 5-4 liberal majority for the first time since the 1960s .
The probability of that happening is low , but for conservatives it remains the nightmare scenario .
Iit ’ s tough to know in advance how a new justice will vote , one thing is clear : The consequences of the 2020 vote on the Supreme Court , and the country , could not be greater .
Noah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a professor of law at Harvard University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter .

The blockbuster Supreme Court term that just ended was a (nearly) unmitigated disaster for movement conservatives. Chief Justice John Roberts declined to overturn precedent on abortion rights. Conservative activist Justice Neil Gorsuch showed he would join the court’s liberals when the statutory text tells him to. The natural question then is, what’s next? What are the implications for the future of the court?
The short answer is that the court’s future direction is in flux like no other time in recent memory. And what happens next will be determined by the 2020 election and the justices’ health.
The first crucial point here is that, had Roberts and Gorsuch not crossed the court’s ideological lines in the most high-profile cases of the term, we would be looking at an extremely conservative court for the foreseeable future, regardless of the outcome of the November vote.
The court has five conservative justices who — until this term — seemed capable of acting as an unassailable voting bloc for the indefinite future. (The oldest, Justice Clarence Thomas, is only 72.)
This conservative majority was the first on the court in nearly a century, and conservative activists anticipated that it would overturn Roe v. Wade and hold the line on cultural issues like transgender rights.
Instead, the opposite happened. Without Kennedy on his left, Roberts chose to become the swing voter himself — and saved Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 decision co-authored by Kennedy, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Justice David Souter that itself declined to overturn Roe. The blow to pro-life conservatives is utterly devastating. This was their best shot, and they missed it.
Then Gorsuch, with Roberts and the four liberals joining him, held that employment anti-discrimination law applies not only to gays and lesbians but also to transgender people. This, too, was a body blow to movement conservatives, who had invested considerably in opposing transgender rights even after losing the gay marriage issue because of Kennedy.
For conservatives, the only way out of their newly weakened position is to reelect Trump and keep the Senate Republican. Then they would have to hope for retirements from Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 87 (Ginsburg was hospitalized Tuesday to treat a possible infection), and Stephen Breyer , 81. If Trump picked even one strong conservative, they would probably have the votes to overwhelm Roberts on abortion. If Trump got two, they could roll back Gorsuch’s Title VII ruling, too.
If Joe Biden wins in November, the Senate remains Republican and Ginsburg and/or Breyer have to step down, the court would be reduced to eight or seven members indefinitely — a phenomenon I’ve called the incredible shrinking Supreme Court. A 4-3 conservative majority including Gorsuch could potentially repudiate Roberts and overturn Roe; but the three stalwart conservatives couldn’t touch Gorsuch’s Title VII decision.
However, if Biden is elected and gets a Democratic Senate, it’s widely expected that Ginsburg and Breyer will retire and be replaced by like-minded liberals. That would maintain essentially the current configuration on the court. T
The wildcard here is Thomas. He will not willingly step down if a Democratic president is in a position to replace him with a liberal. If he has to, however, the court’s balance will change radically: There would likely be a 5-4 liberal majority for the first time since the 1960s. The probability of that happening is low, but for conservatives it remains the nightmare scenario.
Iit’s tough to know in advance how a new justice will vote, one thing is clear: The consequences of the 2020 vote on the Supreme Court, and the country, could not be greater.
Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg columnist. He is a professor of law at Harvard University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter.


mercurynews--2020-07-16--The A’s pitching roles will look different in 2020

It ’ s still unclear when Jesús Luzardo will be cleared to enter the Coliseum .
The state of his prized left arm comes to us in bits and pieces .
We know Luzardo , who tested positive for the coronavirus before camp began , is locked away in isolation doing , what pitching coach Scott Emerson assumes , is a lot of sock throws ( a baseball inside of a sock taped to your forearm ) .
Luzardo ’ s role when he returns won ’ t be determined until…he returns .
At least , coaches will need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season begins on July 24 .
But , Emerson and the coaching staff started laying out options to slot Luzardo in as a cog in an unorthodox pitcher deployment for the 2020 season .
With 13 pitchers likely taking up spots on the 30-man roster to start , expect a handful of typical bullpen arms to be stretched out for three-plus innings .
Some swingmen may fall more heavily into tandem/piggybacking roles .
The end product : games early on could see a lot of pitching changes , and regular members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Each game is worth between 2.6 and 3 wins .
Every win is important , ” A ’ s pitching coach Scott Emerson said .
“ We ’ re in zone where we need guys to get stretched out .
We always talk about tandems , and how many tandems you can have .
Those are good for 2-to-3 days , but once you get to day four or five , your bullpen is worn out.
” Among the relievers expected to be stretched out to pitch three innings : LHP T.J. McFarland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wendelken and RHP Burch Smith .
Petit has not only experience , but success as a starter and long-man .
He ’ s a go-to for manager Bob Melvin in nearly any leverage scenario .
Stretching Petit out for three-plus innings should be easy .
Wendelken has the repertoire — 95 mph fastball , slider , curveball and changeup — to flip a lineup .
Smith , who was traded from the Giants in February , has impressed with an elevated fastball that ’ s touched 96 mph in camp and a changeup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have given it , ” Emerson said .
“ You go right to Roger Clemens .
Big , Texas guy , ” Emerson said of Smith .
“ He can pitch in any part of the game .
Middle , long or start .
He has enough weapons to flip lineup at least twice.
” Daniel Mengden , who is currently on the 60-day IL due to arthroscopic elbow surgery he had during the winter offseason , is expected to follow Chris Bassitt ’ s footsteps as another swingman .
Until Luzardo returns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most likely option to slide into the rotation — he will pitch in the second exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday — but is capable of transitioning back to a long-relief bullpen option .
It took until the 2019 season for Bassitt to subscribe mentally and physically to the reality of an undefined job .
Versatility , an ability to adapt to a rotating set of pitching roles , elevates Bassitt ’ s value in this unorthodox season .
It took Bassitt a few years to accept his space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d much rather be a starter , ” the right-hander said in a call on Thursday .
“ I think y ’ all know that.
” Between call-ups , options and four seasons with Oakland , Mengden has two complete games , a 4.78 ERA in 47 starts with nine relief appearances .
With a beyond-crowded path toward a rotational spot , Mengden ’ s role on this A ’ s roster will need to be malleable .
And , like Bassitt , he ’ s struggling to come to terms with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go through that , and you have to accept that if you want to excel , ” Melvin said .
He accepts it as a sacrifice , though .
And he ’ s talked with Bassitt about how he has to alter his routine to accommodate his new role .
“ I always try to view it as , how can I help my team win a championship this year ?
” Mengden said “ So , for me , it doesn ’ t matter what my role is .
If I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great , I want to be a starter .
But if my role is in the bullpen as a long guy , bridge guy , whatever you want to call it , that ’ s something I am willing to do , sacrifice for the team and eat innings.
” • A ’ s Fiers back on track after precautionary absence but unlikely to start opener • ‘ I don ’ t know how I ’ m going to do this : ’ How A ’ s players are breaking bad habits in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s : Stephen Piscotty was “ lost last year.
” Why he feels better than ever Mengden threw long toss with Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and fellow Houston native Ross Stripling .
He tailored his distinctive , toe-tapping and rocking windup to be shorter , easier on the elbow .
“ No more double , triple pumps or big side steps , ” pitching coach Scott Emerson said .
When Luzardo returns , he may be destined for a similar fate .
To start the season off , at least .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emerson said .
“ You ’ re thinking big picture .
You want him to make a start every fifth day for the next 20 years.
” Luzardo made his anticipated debut out of the bullpen .
The 21-year-old ’ s first recoil off a big league mound came against the fearsome Houston Astros lineup at Minute Maid Park , he went on to give up just two runs ( one homer ) in 12 innings with 16 strikeouts .
Emerson says the goal is to build Luzardo up starting at two innings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after that .
If the A ’ s don ’ t have time to build him toward starts out of the gate , they may stretch him out in high-leverage situations .
As the season progresses and he stretches , he ’ ll fall back into the rotation .
Based on intel coaching staff could collect on their arms ’ progress and workload during the hiatus , Luzardo was expected to be at Frankie Montas-levels of readiness .
Luzardo , 21 , was throwing with right-handed starter Mike Fiers in Florida for three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great shape , and he ’ s been doing a lot , ” Emerson said of Luzardo .
“ The two weeks isn ’ t going to set him back much , because he ’ s athletic , he is young , he knows he ’ s in the right place .
He ’ s stretching and limber and ready to go .
I don ’ t expect him to miss too much time when he comes back .
”

It’s still unclear when Jesús Luzardo will be cleared to enter the Coliseum.
The state of his prized left arm comes to us in bits and pieces. We know Luzardo, who tested positive for the coronavirus before camp began, is locked away in isolation doing, what pitching coach Scott Emerson assumes, is a lot of sock throws — featuring a baseball inside of a sock taped to the forearm.
Luzardo’s role when he returns won’t be determined until … he returns. At the very least, coaches will need to see Luzardo throw to hitters before the season begins on July 24. But Emerson and the coaching staff started laying out options to slot Luzardo in as a cog in an unorthodox pitcher deployment for the 2020 season.
With 13 pitchers likely taking up spots on the 30-man roster to start, expect a handful of typical bullpen arms to be stretched out for three-plus innings. Some swingmen may fall more heavily into tandem/piggybacking roles. The end product: games early on could see a lot of pitching changes, and regular members of the rotation could have shorter starts.
“Each game is worth between 2.6 and 3 wins. Every win is important,” A’s pitching coach Scott Emerson said. “We’re in a zone where we need guys to get stretched out. We always talk about tandems, and how many tandems you can have. Those are good for two to three days, but once you get to day four or five, your bullpen is worn out.”
Among the relievers expected to be stretched out to pitch three innings: LHP T.J. McFarland, RHP Yusmeiro Petit, RHP JB Wendelken and RHP Burch Smith.
Petit has not only experience, but success as a starter and long-relief man. He’s a go-to for manager Bob Melvin in nearly any leverage scenario. Stretching Petit out for three-plus innings should be easy. Wendelken has the repertoire — 95 mph fastball, slider, curveball and changeup — to flip a lineup. Smith, who was traded across the bay from the Giants in February, has impressed with an elevated fastball that’s touched 96 mph in camp and a changeup that “deserves more credit than others have given it,” Emerson said.
“You go right to Roger Clemens. Big, Texas guy,” Emerson said of Smith. “He can pitch in any part of the game. Middle, long or start. He has enough weapons to flip lineup at least twice.”
Daniel Mengden, who is currently on the 60-day injured list due to offseason arthroscopic elbow surgery, is expected to follow Chris Bassitt’s footsteps as another swingman.
Until Luzardo returns to starter form, Bassitt’s the most likely option to slide into the rotation — he will pitch in the second exhibition game against the Giants on Tuesday — but is capable of transitioning back to a long-relief bullpen option. It took until the 2019 season for Bassitt to subscribe mentally and physically to the reality of an undefined job. Versatility, an ability to adapt to a rotating set of pitching roles, elevates Bassitt’s value in this unorthodox season.
It took Bassitt a few years to accept his spot in the pitching nebulous space.
It’ll take Mengden time, too.
“I’d much rather be a starter,” the right-hander said in a call on Thursday. “I think y’all know that.”
Between call-ups, options and four seasons with Oakland, Mengden has two complete games, a 4.78 ERA in 47 starts with nine relief appearances. With a beyond-crowded path toward a rotational spot, Mengden’s role on this A’s roster will need to be malleable. And, like Bassitt, he’s struggling to come to terms with that.
“Daniel will have to go through that, and you have to accept that if you want to excel,” Melvin said.
He accepts it as a sacrifice, though. And he’s talked with Bassitt about how he has to alter his routine to accommodate his new role.
“I always try to view it as, ‘how can I help my team win a championship this year?'” Mengden said. “So, for me, it doesn’t matter what my role is. If I’m a starter, that’s great, I want to be a starter. But if my role is in the bullpen as a long guy, bridge guy, whatever you want to call it, that’s something I am willing to do, sacrifice for the team and eat innings.”
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“No more double, triple pumps or big side steps,” Emerson said.
When Luzardo returns, he may be destined for a similar fate. To start the season off, at least.
“This guy has a bright future,” Emerson said. “You’re thinking big picture. You want him to make a start every fifth day for the next 20 years.”
Luzardo made his anticipated debut out of the bullpen. The 21-year-old’s first recoil off a big league mound came against the fearsome Houston Astros lineup at Minute Maid Park, he went on to give up just two runs (one homer) in 12 innings with 16 strikeouts.
Emerson says the goal is to build Luzardo up starting at two innings, 35 pitches. Then add 15 after that. If the A’s don’t have time to build him toward starts out of the gate, they may stretch him out in high-leverage situations. As the season progresses and he stretches, he’ll fall back into the rotation.
Based on intel coaching staff could collect on their arms’ progress and workload during the hiatus, Luzardo was expected to be at the same level of readiness as Frankie Montas. Luzardo, 22, was throwing with right-handed starter Mike Fiers in Florida for three months.
“He’s in great shape, and he’s been doing a lot,” Emerson said of Luzardo. “The two weeks isn’t going to set him back much, because he’s athletic, he is young, he knows he’s in the right place. He’s stretching and limber and ready to go. I don’t expect him to miss too much time when he comes back.”


mercurynews--2020-07-16--Criminal charges dismissed against 4 ex-social workers in death of 8-year-old California boy

A judge dismissed charges on Thursday against four former Los Angeles County social workers accused of failing to protect Gabriel Fernandez , the 8-year-old Palmdale boy tortured to death by his mother and her boyfriend in 2013 .
An appeals court had ordered Superior Court Judge George Lomeli to grant a defense attorneys ’ motion to dismiss felony charges of child abuse and falsifying records against Stefanie Rodriguez , Patricia Clement , Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt .
“ The motion to dismiss has been granted , ” a masked Lomeli said Thursday morning .
All four social workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brief , socially distanced hearing in Downtown Los Angeles .
In a courtroom hallway afterward , a teary Clement embraced family and her attorneys .
“ I ’ m so overwhelmed , ” she could be heard saying .
In its Jan. 6 ruling , the appellate court panel found that Rodriguez , Clement , Bom and Merritt “ never had the requisite duty to control the abusers and did not have care or custody of Gabriel “ for purposes of the child-abuse charge leveled against them.
” The panel ruled only officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsifying records .
In a statement Wednesday , District Attorney Jackie Lacey acknowledged “ the appellate court rejected our theory of criminal liability against the social workers.
” Her office declined to try and push the case to the state Supreme Court .
All four were charged in March 2016 , after the D.A .
charged the mother and boyfriend with first-degree murder with a torture sentencing enhancement .
Isauro Aguirre – the boyfriend of the child ’ s mother – was sentenced to death in June 2018 .
The boy ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentenced to life in prison without parole .
An autopsy showed that the boy had a fractured skull , several broken ribs and burns over much of his body .
His teacher testified that she had called Rodriguez multiple times to report that Gabriel told her that his mother punched him and shot him in the face with a BB gun .
Defense attorneys had argued that the abuse and torture escalated months after a file on the boy had been closed and that there was insufficient evidence to take him away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the appellate court after Lomeli called the young boy ’ s death “ foreseeable ” and denied a motion to dismiss the charges against the four .

A judge dismissed charges on Thursday against four former Los Angeles County social workers accused of failing to protect Gabriel Fernandez, the 8-year-old Palmdale boy tortured to death by his mother and her boyfriend in 2013.
An appeals court had ordered Superior Court Judge George Lomeli to grant a defense attorneys’ motion to dismiss felony charges of child abuse and falsifying records against Stefanie Rodriguez, Patricia Clement, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt.
“The motion to dismiss has been granted,” a masked Lomeli said Thursday morning.
All four social workers, also wearing masks, appeared at the brief, socially distanced hearing in Downtown Los Angeles.
In a courtroom hallway afterward, a teary Clement embraced family and her attorneys. “I’m so overwhelmed,” she could be heard saying.
In its Jan. 6 ruling, the appellate court panel found that Rodriguez, Clement, Bom and Merritt “never had the requisite duty to control the abusers and did not have care or custody of Gabriel “for purposes of the child-abuse charge leveled against them.”
The panel ruled only officers of the law could be charged with falsifying records.
In a statement Wednesday, District Attorney Jackie Lacey acknowledged “the appellate court rejected our theory of criminal liability against the social workers.” Her office declined to try and push the case to the state Supreme Court.
All four were charged in March 2016, after the D.A. charged the mother and boyfriend with first-degree murder with a torture sentencing enhancement.
Isauro Aguirre – the boyfriend of the child’s mother – was sentenced to death in June 2018. The boy’s mother, Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
An autopsy showed that the boy had a fractured skull, several broken ribs and burns over much of his body. His teacher testified that she had called Rodriguez multiple times to report that Gabriel told her that his mother punched him and shot him in the face with a BB gun.
Defense attorneys had argued that the abuse and torture escalated months after a file on the boy had been closed and that there was insufficient evidence to take him away from his mother. They took their case to the appellate court after Lomeli called the young boy’s death “foreseeable” and denied a motion to dismiss the charges against the four.
City News Service contributed to this story.


mercurynews--2020-07-16--Mary Trump’s book breaks record with mammoth sales

Mary Trump ’ s tell-all book had sold a staggering 950,000 copies by the end of its first day on sale , publisher Simon & Schuster said Thursday .
That figure , which included pre-sales , as well as e-books and audiobooks , is a new record for Simon & Schuster , the company said .
The book , “ Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World ’ s Most Dangerous Man , ” went on sale Tuesday and portrays President Trump in an unflattering light .
Just two weeks ago , Simon & Schuster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book , that one by former National Security Adviser John Bolton .
The book , “ The Room Where It Happened , ” sold more than 780,000 copies in its first week of sales .
It is rare for books to sell hundreds of thousands of copies in a single week of sales — and most books will never sell that many .
“ Too Much and Never Enough ” will join other books about Trump that became sensational best-sellers .
“ Fear ” by legendary journalist Bob Woodward had sold 900,000 copies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of official sales .
“ A Higher Loyalty ” by former FBI Director James Comey had sold 600,000 copies at the end of its first week on store shelves .
And “ Fire & Fury , ” the hit book by Michael Wolff , sold more than 1.7 million copies by the time it had been out for a month .
The sales reflect a significant appetite for books that offer inside accounts of the Trump administration .
In some cases , Trump or his allies have sought to block unflattering books about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an additional publicity boost to the books .
Mary Trump faced litigation from Robert Trump , the President ’ s brother , who argued in court that it violated a confidentiality agreement related to Fred Trump ’ s estate .
But a New York judge ultimately allowed its release .

By Oliver Darcy | CNN
Mary Trump’s tell-all book had sold a staggering 950,000 copies by the end of its first day on sale, publisher Simon & Schuster said Thursday.
That figure, which included pre-sales, as well as e-books and audiobooks, is a new record for Simon & Schuster, the company said.
The book, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” went on sale Tuesday and portrays President Trump in an unflattering light.
Just two weeks ago, Simon & Schuster celebrated the success of another Trump tell-all book, that one by former National Security Adviser John Bolton. The book, “The Room Where It Happened,” sold more than 780,000 copies in its first week of sales.
[vemba-video id=”media/2020/07/15/mary-trump-niece-donald-president-sot-vpx-ac360.cnn”]
It is rare for books to sell hundreds of thousands of copies in a single week of sales — and most books will never sell that many.
“Too Much and Never Enough” will join other books about Trump that became sensational best-sellers.
“Fear” by legendary journalist Bob Woodward had sold 900,000 copies by the end of its first day of official sales. “A Higher Loyalty” by former FBI Director James Comey had sold 600,000 copies at the end of its first week on store shelves. And “Fire & Fury,” the hit book by Michael Wolff, sold more than 1.7 million copies by the time it had been out for a month.
The sales reflect a significant appetite for books that offer inside accounts of the Trump administration.
In some cases, Trump or his allies have sought to block unflattering books about him, which can backfire and provide an additional publicity boost to the books.
Mary Trump faced litigation from Robert Trump, the President’s brother, who argued in court that it violated a confidentiality agreement related to Fred Trump’s estate. But a New York judge ultimately allowed its release.


mercurynews--2020-07-16--Rapidly spreading virus killing rabbits in Southern California

A deadly and highly contagious rabbit virus , first identified in the U.S. last summer , has begun infecting Southern California ’ s wild rabbits , with deaths confirmed in Orange , San Bernardino , Riverside and San Diego counties since early May .
At least one domestic rabbit , in San Bernardino County , also has been killed by the disease .
The disease , known as Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2 or RHDV2 , is unrelated to the coronavirus and doesn ’ t infect humans .
But for rabbits it could be more devastating — particularly for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s believed to kill 90 % of the rabbits it infects , it can live without a host on surfaces for several months , and it can be introduced into uncontaminated areas by birds and other animals .
“ Because this virus is already established in wild animals and is already in multiple states , it ’ s probably a virus we ’ re going to have to live with for some time , ” State Veterinarian Annette Jones says in a video discussing the disease .
“ We need to think of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totally eradicating the virus.
” While there is a vaccine , it ’ s not widely available in the U.S. and it must be injected .
That could make it virtually impossible to control the disease in the wild .
The disease has claimed the lives of at least six wild rabbits in Orange , Riverside , San Bernardino and San Diego counties , according to Kirsten Macintyre , spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife .
However , limited testing resources mean that additional wild animals are usually not tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified , Macintyre said .
There are exceptions if the wild animals are in an area with domestic rabbits , are a threatened or endangered species , or have other unusual circumstances that merit additional testing , she said .
“ Accordingly , there are undoubtedly many more affected rabbits in those counties that are not tested , ” she said .
A single domestic rabbit in the state is confirmed to have succumbed to the disease , according Steve Lyle of the California Department of Food and Agriculture .
That agency is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That death occurred in a small , backyard rabbitry in San Bernardino County on July 10 , according to the department ’ s website .
“ The rabbit died suddenly without showing clinical signs prior to death , ” the site says .
“ The detection was in an area where wild rabbits had previously been detected positive for RHDV2 .
The rabbitry is currently under state quarantine and movement of rabbits on and off the property is restricted.
” The original version of the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease was first identified in China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world , with U.S. cases confirmed from 2000 to 2010 , according to the state Department of Food and Agriculture .
It was never identified in California , reaching only as far west as Utah .
It only affected a few types of rabbits , a genus known as Oryctolagus , which includes most domestic rabbits and wild European rabbits , according to the department .
That helped minimize its spread .
The new strain , however , also infects wild jackrabbits , hares , cottontails , and pikas — all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
It was first identified in France in 2010 , with the first U.S. case confirmed in Seattle in July 2019 , followed by cases in Ohio and New York City .
Early cases were all domestic rabbits , so could be isolated and contained with sufficient vigilance .
But earlier this year , cases began being identified in the wild throughout the Southwest , with the first California case identified near Palm Springs in early May .
“ Before this , it had not been in the wild at all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of exotic animal medicine at UC Davis .
“ This is entirely different .
This is what we absolutely wanted to avoid .
It ’ s going to take a huge toll on the population of wild rabbits.
” She wouldn ’ t rule out the virus virtually eliminating wild rabbits in California and beyond , but pointed to other possible scenarios .
They include the virus mutating to something less deadly or , a less likely possibility , the animals developing herd immunity .
The virus is not believed to infect animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food supplies for wildlife with diets heavily reliant on rabbits — including bobcats and birds of prey — although Hawkins said those animals have other food sources in their diets .
Among animals that can become infected , the riparian brush rabbit and pygmy rabbit are both endangered and are of particular concern .
So far , the wild animals known to have been killed by the virus in California have been limited to black-tailed jackrabbits and desert cottontails .
Symptoms can included fever , lack of appetite , breathing difficult and bleeding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known for hiding symptoms of illness and , like the domestic rabbit in San Bernardino County , can drop dead without displaying any previous indication of infection .
Among precautions for rabbit owners recommended by the Department of Food an Agriculture : • Keep rabbits in hutches or cages that are elevated off the ground .
• Don ’ t let rabbits graze or roam in a yard if wild rabbits are in the area .
• Prevent dogs , coyotes , insects , birds , rodents and other animals from entering your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carry the virus on their feet , fur or feathers .
There are vaccines abroad but because they have not yet been approved in the U.S. , there is limited availability .
Contact your veterinarian for more information .
• Girl wants to save the Oakland Zoo , and donations keep coming , and coming • Help sought to relocate 32 chimpanzees still at shuttered California wildlife sanctuary • Bay Area neighborhood fed up with the crows ’ caw caw cawing • Where do the Bay Area ’ s birds go to sleep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefs for the week of July 17 Those who see dead wild rabbits are asked to report their sightings at to the Department of Fish and Wildlife at 916-358-2790 or at the department ’ s mortality report site online at wildlife.ca.gov .

A deadly and highly contagious rabbit virus, first identified in the U.S. last summer, has begun infecting Southern California’s wild rabbits, with deaths confirmed in Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties since early May. At least one domestic rabbit, in San Bernardino County, also has been killed by the disease.
The disease, known as Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2 or RHDV2, is unrelated to the coronavirus and doesn’t infect humans.
But for rabbits it could be more devastating — particularly for those in the wild. It’s believed to kill 90% of the rabbits it infects, it can live without a host on surfaces for several months, and it can be introduced into uncontaminated areas by birds and other animals.
“Because this virus is already established in wild animals and is already in multiple states, it’s probably a virus we’re going to have to live with for some time,” State Veterinarian Annette Jones says in a video discussing the disease. “We need to think of ways to protect our animals rather than totally eradicating the virus.”
While there is a vaccine, it’s not widely available in the U.S. and it must be injected. That could make it virtually impossible to control the disease in the wild.
The disease has claimed the lives of at least six wild rabbits in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties, according to Kirsten Macintyre, spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
However, limited testing resources mean that additional wild animals are usually not tested in counties once one infection has been identified, Macintyre said. There are exceptions if the wild animals are in an area with domestic rabbits, are a threatened or endangered species, or have other unusual circumstances that merit additional testing, she said.
“Accordingly, there are undoubtedly many more affected rabbits in those counties that are not tested,” she said.
A single domestic rabbit in the state is confirmed to have succumbed to the disease, according Steve Lyle of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. That agency is monitoring the infection of domestic pets.
That death occurred in a small, backyard rabbitry in San Bernardino County on July 10, according to the department’s website.
“The rabbit died suddenly without showing clinical signs prior to death,” the site says. “The detection was in an area where wild rabbits had previously been detected positive for RHDV2. The rabbitry is currently under state quarantine and movement of rabbits on and off the property is restricted.”
‘Huge toll’ ahead
The original version of the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease was first identified in China in 1984 and eventually spread throughout most of the world, with U.S. cases confirmed from 2000 to 2010, according to the state Department of Food and Agriculture. It was never identified in California, reaching only as far west as Utah.
It only affected a few types of rabbits, a genus known as Oryctolagus, which includes most domestic rabbits and wild European rabbits, according to the department. That helped minimize its spread.
The new strain, however, also infects wild jackrabbits, hares, cottontails, and pikas — all of which were unaffected by the original virus. It was first identified in France in 2010, with the first U.S. case confirmed in Seattle in July 2019, followed by cases in Ohio and New York City. Early cases were all domestic rabbits, so could be isolated and contained with sufficient vigilance.
But earlier this year, cases began being identified in the wild throughout the Southwest, with the first California case identified near Palm Springs in early May.
“Before this, it had not been in the wild at all,” said Michelle Hawkins, a professor of exotic animal medicine at UC Davis. “This is entirely different. This is what we absolutely wanted to avoid. It’s going to take a huge toll on the population of wild rabbits.”
She wouldn’t rule out the virus virtually eliminating wild rabbits in California and beyond, but pointed to other possible scenarios. They include the virus mutating to something less deadly or, a less likely possibility, the animals developing herd immunity.
The virus is not believed to infect animals other than rabbits. It could reduce food supplies for wildlife with diets heavily reliant on rabbits — including bobcats and birds of prey — although Hawkins said those animals have other food sources in their diets.
Among animals that can become infected, the riparian brush rabbit and pygmy rabbit are both endangered and are of particular concern. So far, the wild animals known to have been killed by the virus in California have been limited to black-tailed jackrabbits and desert cottontails.
Precautions for owners
Symptoms can included fever, lack of appetite, breathing difficult and bleeding from body cavities. But rabbits are known for hiding symptoms of illness and, like the domestic rabbit in San Bernardino County, can drop dead without displaying any previous indication of infection.
Among precautions for rabbit owners recommended by the Department of Food an Agriculture:
Keep rabbits in hutches or cages that are elevated off the ground.
Don’t let rabbits graze or roam in a yard if wild rabbits are in the area.
Avoid contact with other people’s rabbits.
Prevent dogs, coyotes, insects, birds, rodents and other animals from entering your pets’ area. Those animal can carry the virus on their feet, fur or feathers.
There are vaccines abroad but because they have not yet been approved in the U.S., there is limited availability. Contact your veterinarian for more information.


mercurynews--2020-07-16--BottleRock Napa Valley pushes festival to 2021 due to COVID-19

As long expected , organizers behind this incredibly popular festival have pulled the plug on this year ’ s event due to ongoing concerns with the coronavirus pandemic .
They announced today that they are pushing the eighth installment of the festival to Memorial Day weekend , May 28-30 , 2021 .
Headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers , Dave Matthews Band and Stevie Nicks are still on the bill .
The rest of the lineup will be released at a later date .
“ While we had hoped to share our festival ’ s great music , wine , food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we know this is the best decision for everyone involved , “ said Dave Graham , one of the partners of BottleRock Napa Valley .
“ We are happy that our headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers , Dave Matthews Band and Stevie Nicks are confirmed for the 2021 festival .
“ We are also confident that not only will we be able to present much of the same lineup , but we ’ ll be announcing some additional surprise acts for this coming May .
We are looking forward to Memorial Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time that this eighth edition of the festival has been rescheduled due to the coronavirus .
It was originally set to take place back in May , over Memorial Day weekend 2020 , but it was postponed to October in hopes that the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic would have improved enough to allow for large gatherings .
Yet , that timeline proved to be too optimistic with what ’ s going on with the spread of the virus in California and elsewhere .
“ Although Napa County has one of the lowest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are not ready for a large public gathering such as BottleRock Napa Valley in 2020 , ” stated County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Relucio .
“ Events like BottleRock fall under Governor Newsom ’ s Stage 4 plan for re-opening , which we will not achieve prior to October .
These decisions are not taken lightly with the knowledge that many people will be impacted .
Our first priority is the health of the community.
” All passes purchased for the 2020 festival will be valid for the new 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such was not immediately available .
But more information about the 2021 will be posted on the festival website , www.bottlerocknapavalley.com .
BottleRock is the just the latest California music festival to announce that its not going to take place in 2020 .
Others fans will be missing this year include the Stern Grove , Monterey Jazz and Outside Lands festivals .
One major festival that has yet to officially cancel its 2020 dates is Hardly Strictly Bluegrass , the free three-day music showcase held annually at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s hard to imagine that that festival could take place as originally planned on Oct. 2-4 — the same dates that BottleRock Napa Valley was supposed to happen — especially since Hardly Strictly Bluegrass typically draws more people than any other music event in Northern California .
Currently , there aren ’ t any real details about the 20th anniversary festival given on its website .
But , as of July 16 , the festival ’ s Facebook page still lists it happening Oct. 2-4 .

BottleRock Napa Valley won’t take place in 2020.
As long expected, organizers behind the popular festival have pulled the plug on this year’s event due to ongoing concerns with the coronavirus pandemic. They announced today that they are pushing the eighth installment of the festival to Memorial Day weekend, May 28-30, 2021.
Headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band and Stevie Nicks are still on the bill. The rest of the lineup will be released at a later date.
“We know this is the best decision for everyone involved,“ said Dave Graham, one of the partners of BottleRock Napa Valley. “We are happy that our headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band and Stevie Nicks are confirmed for the 2021 festival.
“We are also confident that not only will we be able to present much of the same lineup, but we’ll be announcing some additional surprise acts for this coming May.”
This is the second time the festival has been hit by the coronavirus.
This year’s original dates for Memorial Day were postponed to October in hopes that the pandemic situation would have improved enough to allow for large gatherings. Yet, that timeline proved to be too optimistic with the spread of the virus in California and elsewhere.
“Although Napa County has one of the lowest COVID-19 case counts in the Bay Area, we are not ready for a large public gathering such as BottleRock Napa Valley in 2020,” stated County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Relucio. “Events like BottleRock fall under Governor Newsom’s Stage 4 plan for re-opening, which we will not achieve prior to October. These decisions are not taken lightly with the knowledge that many people will be impacted. Our first priority is the health of the community.”
Across the country, many festivals, concert tours and large live entertainment productions have been scrapped for this year. Locally, music fans will be missing the Stern Grove, Monterey Jazz and Outside Lands festivals.
One major festival that has yet to officially cancel its 2020 dates is Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the free three-day music showcase held annually at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco since 2001. Yet, it’s hard to imagine that that festival could take place as originally planned on Oct. 2-4 — the same dates that BottleRock Napa Valley was supposed to happen — especially since Hardly Strictly Bluegrass typically draws more people than any other music event in Northern California.
Currently, there aren’t any real details about the 20th anniversary festival given on its website. But, as of July 16, the festival’s Facebook page still lists it happening Oct. 2-4.
Tickets purchased for the 2020 BottleRock shows will be honored at the 2021 festival. There was no word on a refund policy Thursday. More information on that and the festival will be posted on the event’s website, www.bottlerocknapavalley.com.
I loved writing this.@GratefulDead – A look back at the band's magical year of 1970. Pls pass along. @mercnews @EastBayTimes https://t.co/K4s2LLltPI — Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) May 28, 2020
Ever wonder what song the great @BobSeger was humming from 1962 in "Night Moves"? (And what is wrong with that famous lyric?) https://t.co/4NgMFARFln — Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) March 26, 2020


mercurynews--2020-07-16--FBI hunts for bitcoin scammers in massive Twitter hack

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading an inquiry into the Twitter hacking , according to sources familiar with the situation , as more Washington lawmakers raised alarms about the breach of high-profile accounts on the social media platform .
Earlier the law enforcement agency had said hackers appeared to commit cryptocurrency fraud after they seized control of the Twitter accounts of celebrities and political figures including Joe Biden , Kim Kardashian , Barack Obama and Elon Musk .
The FBI did not immediately respond to a question about it leading an inquiry into Twitter .
A day after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hackers were able to see private messages sent by the account holders .
U.S. lawmakers worried about future attacks .
“ While this scheme appears financially motivated…imagine if these bad actors had a different intent to use powerful voices to spread disinformation to potentially interfere with our elections , disrupt the stock market , or upset our international relations , ” U.S .
Senator Ed Markey , a Democrat , said in a statement .
Twitter Inc said hackers had targeted employees with access to its internal systems and “ used this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( including verified ) accounts and Tweet on their behalf.
” Other high-profile accounts that were hacked included rapper Kanye West , Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos , investor Warren Buffett , Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates , and the corporate accounts for Uber Technologies Inc and Apple Inc. Twitter ’ s shares fell a little more than 1 % on Thursday afternoon after paring earlier losses .
In an extraordinary step , it temporarily prevented many verified accounts from publishing messages as it investigated the breach .
The hijacked accounts tweeted out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their money would be doubled .
Publicly available blockchain records show that the apparent scammers received more than $ 100,000 worth of cryptocurrency .
CEO Jack Dorsey said in a tweet on Wednesday that it was a “ tough day ” for everyone at Twitter and pledged to share “ everything we can when we have a more complete understanding of exactly what happened .
”

By Joseph Menn and Mark Hosenball | Reuters
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading an inquiry into the Twitter hacking, according to sources familiar with the situation, as more Washington lawmakers raised alarms about the breach of high-profile accounts on the social media platform.
Earlier the law enforcement agency had said hackers appeared to commit cryptocurrency fraud after they seized control of the Twitter accounts of celebrities and political figures including Joe Biden, Kim Kardashian, Barack Obama and Elon Musk.
The FBI did not immediately respond to a question about it leading an inquiry into Twitter.
A day after the breach, it was not clear if the hackers were able to see private messages sent by the account holders. U.S. lawmakers worried about future attacks.
“While this scheme appears financially motivated…imagine if these bad actors had a different intent to use powerful voices to spread disinformation to potentially interfere with our elections, disrupt the stock market, or upset our international relations,” U.S. Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat, said in a statement.
Twitter Inc said hackers had targeted employees with access to its internal systems and “used this access to take control of many highly-visible (including verified) accounts and Tweet on their behalf.”
Other high-profile accounts that were hacked included rapper Kanye West, Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos, investor Warren Buffett, Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates, and the corporate accounts for Uber Technologies Inc and Apple Inc.
Twitter’s shares fell a little more than 1% on Thursday afternoon after paring earlier losses. In an extraordinary step, it temporarily prevented many verified accounts from publishing messages as it investigated the breach.
The hijacked accounts tweeted out messages telling users to send bitcoin and their money would be doubled. Publicly available blockchain records show that the apparent scammers received more than $100,000 worth of cryptocurrency.
CEO Jack Dorsey said in a tweet on Wednesday that it was a “tough day” for everyone at Twitter and pledged to share “everything we can when we have a more complete understanding of exactly what happened.”


mercurynews--2020-07-16--Colorado man infected with plague after exposure to sick squirrels, but officials say there’s no inc

Colorado man infected with plague after exposure to sick squirrels, but officials say there’s no increased risk to public

A southwest Colorado resident was infected with plague after exposure to sick squirrels earlier this summer , the first confirmed case of the disease in humans in the state since 2015 .
But health officials emphasized that the public only needs to take normal precautions .
Plague , a bacterial disease that ’ s typically carried by fleas but also can spread through respiratory droplets , has been in Colorado since the 1940s , said Dr. Jennifer House , state public health veterinarian for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment .
Infected wild animals have been found in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , though the disease can circulate in rodent communities around the state .
“ While we see most plague activity during the summer , the disease can be found in rodents year-round and sometimes spills over into other wildlife species as well as domestic cats and dogs , ” she said .
While the disease can be deadly if left untreated , most people recover with prompt antibiotic treatment .
There have been 21 human cases in Colorado since 2005 .
The person infected this summer contracted septicemic plague , a form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread easily , and no other cases have been found .
He or she has since recovered .
All Colorado residents should avoid handling wildlife , especially squirrels , prairie dogs , rabbits and other rodents .
Domestic animals like cats and dogs also can catch plague from infected wildlife , so the health department advises not allowing pets to roam or to hunt rodents .
• Treating pets for fleas according to a veterinarian ’ s advice • Not feeding wildlife , which brings them into closer contact with people and pets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around you .
If you notice multiple dead animals , call your local health department .
Don ’ t touch or move dead wildlife Symptoms of plague include a sudden fever , headache , chills , weakness and pain or swelling in the lymph nodes .
If you think you , another person or a pet could have been exposed , call a doctor immediately .

A southwest Colorado resident was infected with plague after exposure to sick squirrels earlier this summer, the first confirmed case of the disease in humans in the state since 2015. But health officials emphasized that the public only needs to take normal precautions.
Plague, a bacterial disease that’s typically carried by fleas but also can spread through respiratory droplets, has been in Colorado since the 1940s, said Dr. Jennifer House, state public health veterinarian for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Infected wild animals have been found in Jefferson, Adams and Broomfield counties this year, though the disease can circulate in rodent communities around the state.
“While we see most plague activity during the summer, the disease can be found in rodents year-round and sometimes spills over into other wildlife species as well as domestic cats and dogs,” she said.
While the disease can be deadly if left untreated, most people recover with prompt antibiotic treatment.
There have been 21 human cases in Colorado since 2005. The person infected this summer contracted septicemic plague, a form of the disease that doesn’t spread easily, and no other cases have been found. He or she has since recovered.
All Colorado residents should avoid handling wildlife, especially squirrels, prairie dogs, rabbits and other rodents. Domestic animals like cats and dogs also can catch plague from infected wildlife, so the health department advises not allowing pets to roam or to hunt rodents.
Other precautions include:
Treating pets for fleas according to a veterinarian’s advice
Not feeding wildlife, which brings them into closer contact with people and pets
Keeping an eye on rodent populations around you. If you notice multiple dead animals, call your local health department. Don’t touch or move dead wildlife
Symptoms of plague include a sudden fever, headache, chills, weakness and pain or swelling in the lymph nodes. If you think you, another person or a pet could have been exposed, call a doctor immediately.


mercurynews--2020-07-17--SF Giants notes: Evan Longoria uncertain for Opening Day, Billy Hamilton arrives in camp

SAN FRANCISCO — Billy Hamilton does everything in a hurry on the baseball field .
With a week until the season-opener , Hamilton may try to prove to the Giants coaching staff he can get ready in a hurry , too .
The former Cincinnati Reds center fielder signed with the Giants as a minor league free agent during the offseason and emerged as a potential role player during spring training , but hasn ’ t been with the team since the club began summer workouts at Oracle Park .
During an intrasquad scrimmage Thursday , Hamilton walked in from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was greeted with applause by teammates in the third base dugout .
Hamilton is still on the Giants ’ 10-day injured list due to undisclosed “ medical reasons , ” but his arrival Thursday indicated he could reenter the mix for a roster spot .
First-year Giants manager Gabe Kapler indicated fans shouldn ’ t expect to see Hamilton on the field next Thursday at Dodger Stadium .
“ I don ’ t see that as a realistic expectation right now , ” Kapler said .
“ I think one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up legs are just as important as building up arm strength and just as important building up number of swings .
Anything that you do explosive on a baseball field , if you don ’ t have the right build-up and the ramp-up , you put your body at risk.
” With MLB rosters expanding to 30 players for the first two weeks of the 2020 season , teams will have the luxury of carrying extra players who can affect the outcome of games in specific ways .
Some clubs will opt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ add a sixth or seventh starting pitcher to keep their top arms fresh at the beginning of the summer .
A few clubs might do both .
If the Giants want to take advantage of the opportunity , they could keep Hamilton on their Opening Day roster and use the speedy center fielder as a late-game pinch-runner of defensive replacement if he shows he ’ s ready .
It might take Hamilton a few weeks to get his timing down at the plate , but the Giants don ’ t need him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make an impact .
In each of the last three season ’ s Hamilton ’ s sprint speed has ranked in the 97th percentile or above according to Statcast , making him one of the fastest players in all of baseball .
The lightning-quick outfielder has never posted an OPS+ higher than 81 ( league average is 100 ) , but he ’ s carved out a seven-year MLB career anyway thanks to his tremendous range in center field and elite baserunning abilities .
Even if Hamilton isn ’ t available the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presence could change the way Kapler and Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi view the outfield depth chart .
Less experienced players such as Steven Duggar , Jaylin Davis and Austin Slater are all vying for jobs , but one or two could be boxed out of a role early in the season if the front office thinks Hamilton can serve as a late-game weapon .
Need a run in the eighth inning ?
Sub in Hamilton .
Want to put your best defenders in the game to protect a ninth-inning lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mauricio Dubón and Mike Yastrzemski around the diamond .
The possibilities are intriguing , particularly because the Giants don ’ t need to worry about Hamilton taking at-bats away from most of the younger outfielders they want to evaluate .
Kapler can pick and choose spots to deploy Hamilton and let his speed do the rest .
The only question is whether the Giants will feel comfortable carrying a player who has just seven days to get in shape .
“ We ’ ll be as patient as we need to be with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitcher Luís Madero , who tested positive for COVID-19 , also reported to camp Thursday after passing his physical .
Madero is not expected to be a candidate for the Opening Day roster , but the Giants like the 23-year-old right-hander ’ s potential and it ’ s possible he could emerge as a bullpen option late in the season .
Third baseman Evan Longoria , who could be the lone everyday player on the Giants ’ roster , has missed the team ’ s past two intrasquad scrimmages with a moderate right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day is now in jeopardy .
Kapler said the Giants will go “ day-by-day ” with Longoria and check in on his progress regularly , but the team is now uncertain as to whether he or first baseman Brandon Belt ( right heel issue ) will be ready for the season-opener .
With catcher Buster Posey electing to sit out the season , the Giants could suddenly be short on recognizable names and more importantly , middle-of-the-order bats .
Kapler said Belt took groundballs on the field Thursday and ran inside at Oracle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a timeline for when he expects either the team ’ s first baseman or third baseman to participate in another intrasquad game .
If Longoria isn ’ t on the Opening Day roster , Wilmer Flores , Yolmer Sánchez , Donovan Solano and Pablo Sandoval all have experience at third base .

SAN FRANCISCO — Billy Hamilton does everything in a hurry on the baseball field.
With less a week until the season-opener, Hamilton may try to prove to the Giants coaching staff he can get ready in a hurry, too.
The former Cincinnati Reds center fielder signed with the Giants as a minor-league free agent during the offseason and emerged as a potential role player during spring training, but hasn’t been with the team since the club began summer workouts at Oracle Park.
During an intrasquad scrimmage Thursday, Hamilton walked in from the center field bullpen in street clothes and was greeted with applause by teammates in the third base dugout.
Hamilton is still on the Giants’ 10-day injured list due to undisclosed “medical reasons,” but his arrival Thursday indicated he could reenter the mix for a roster spot.
First-year Giants manager Gabe Kapler indicated fans shouldn’t expect to see Hamilton on the field next Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
“I don’t see that as a realistic expectation right now,” Kapler said. “I think one of the things that we know is that building up legs are just as important as building up arm strength and just as important building up number of swings. Anything that you do explosive on a baseball field, if you don’t have the right build-up and the ramp-up, you put your body at risk.”
With MLB rosters expanding to 30 players for the first two weeks of the 2020 season, teams will have the luxury of carrying extra players who can affect the outcome of games in specific ways.
Some clubs will opt to carry another all-or-nothing power-hitter while others will add a sixth or seventh starting pitcher to keep their top arms fresh at the beginning of the summer. A few clubs might do both.
If the Giants want to take advantage of the opportunity, they could keep Hamilton on their Opening Day roster and use the speedy center fielder as a late-game pinch-runner of defensive replacement if he shows he’s ready.
It might take Hamilton a few weeks to get his timing down at the plate, but the Giants don’t need him to stand in the batter’s box to make an impact.
In each of the last three season’s Hamilton’s sprint speed has ranked in the 97th percentile or above according to Statcast, making him one of the fastest players in all of baseball. The lightning-quick outfielder has never posted an OPS+ higher than 81 (league average is 100), but he’s carved out a seven-year MLB career anyway thanks to his tremendous range in center field and elite baserunning abilities.
Even if Hamilton isn’t available the first week of the season, his presence could change the way Kapler and Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi view the outfield depth chart. Less experienced players such as Steven Duggar, Jaylin Davis and Austin Slater are all vying for jobs, but one or two could be boxed out of a role early in the season if the front office thinks Hamilton can serve as a late-game weapon.
Need a run in the eighth inning? Sub in Hamilton. Want to put your best defenders in the game to protect a ninth-inning lead? Send Hamilton to center and shift Mauricio Dubón and Mike Yastrzemski around the diamond.
The possibilities are intriguing, particularly because the Giants don’t need to worry about Hamilton taking at-bats away from most of the younger outfielders they want to evaluate.
Creating opportunities for inexperienced outfielders was the rationale Zaidi used to sign free-agent Hunter Pence, a part-time player, in lieu of Yasiel Puig, an outfielder who spent the offseason pursuing a chance with a team that viewed him as an everyday starter. It’s the rationale the organization used when Zaidi non-tendered 2019 Willie Mac Award winner and fan favorite Kevin Pillar, and the rationale Kapler continues to use in discussing the flexibility the Giants have maintained in the outfield by not committing to naming players to specific roles.
Hamilton is no longer an everyday outfielder and it’s possible the switch-hitting center fielder isn’t even a good fit for a platoon role. Unlike the vast majority players, taking away at-bats shouldn’t prevent Hamilton from contributing in a positive way.
Kapler can pick and choose spots to deploy Hamilton in short bursts and let his speed do the rest.
The only question is whether the Giants will feel comfortable carrying a player who has just seven days to get in shape.
“We’ll be as patient as we need to be with Billy,” Kapler said.
Evan Longoria dealing with oblique strain
Third baseman Evan Longoria, who could be the lone everyday player on the Giants’ roster, has missed the team’s past two intrasquad scrimmages with a moderate right oblique strain and his status for Opening Day is now in jeopardy.
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With catcher Buster Posey electing to sit out the season, the Giants could suddenly be short on recognizable names and more importantly, middle-of-the-order bats.
Kapler said Belt took groundballs on the field Thursday and ran inside at Oracle Park, but didn’t provide a timeline for when he expects either the team’s first baseman or third baseman to participate in another intrasquad game.
If Longoria isn’t on the Opening Day roster, Wilmer Flores, Yolmer Sánchez, Donovan Solano and Pablo Sandoval all have experience at third base.
Madero arrives in camp
Right-handed pitcher Luís Madero, who tested positive for COVID-19, also reported to camp Thursday after passing his physical. Madero is not expected to be a candidate for the Opening Day roster, but the Giants like the 23-year-old right-hander’s potential and it’s possible he could emerge as a bullpen option late in the season.


mercurynews--2020-07-17--Review: ‘Ghost of Tsushima’ romanticizes samurai epic while grounding it in history

Putting rules on warfare is an exercise in futility .
No matter what restraints civilizations put on fighting , conflicts naturally escalate .
Weapons become more lethal .
Targets become broader .
Regulations governing war become so bent that they end up broken .
That ’ s what “ Ghost of Tsushima ” points out in its first scene as the samurai gather to battle the invading Mongolian army .
They send out one of their best warriors , Lord Harunobu Adachi , to duel the leader Khotun Khan .
Without even flinching , the antagonist drenches the samurai in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before Adachi can even swing his sword .
While the Japanese assumed Khan would fight fair , the Mongolian had no such intentions .
That act topples the Tsushima samurai as the Japanese forces fight unprepared against the savagery of the Mongolian onslaught .
The protagonist , Jin Sakai , survives the rout after a thief named Yuna rescues him .
He ’ s essentially reborn after his near-death experience and becomes a revenant hellbent on freeing his island from occupation .
The defeat sets up two conflicts in “ Ghost of Tsushima.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jin ’ s uprising against the Mongolians and the second is a personal matter focusing on honor and the rules of war .
These struggles overlap , with the former playing an important role in beginning but yielding to the latter as the game moves into the second and third acts .
With these two struggles as the backdrop , players are treated to a romanticized and stylish samurai epic .
Inspired by films from legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa and Chinese director Zhang Yimou , “ Ghost of Tsushima ” bursts with color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and perfect for an Instagram post .
Meanwhile , the camera work especially during standoffs or duels plays with perspectives and dramatic cuts .
The art and camera work lend a cinematic quality to the experience .
As survivor of the defeat , Jin starts from nearly nothing , aside from broken armor and his family swords .
He must acquire more power for his revenge and that takes him on story missions and side quests , where he gathers additional weapons , dons more gear and learns new techniques .
“ Ghost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protagonist can rely on stealth or quick-twitch play style early on , but over the course of the campaign , players can max out all of Jin ’ s skills and are free to use any .
When that happens , the campaign isn ’ t about obtaining the best sword or armor .
Technically , there isn ’ t an uber gear set ; instead , players will switch out armor and charms based on the situation .
Some missions will require stealth while others ask players to storm castle walls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constantly switched out my gear based on whether I was exploring , infiltrating a camp or rescuing hostages .
It made me wish there were a way to save loadouts for different scenarios , but the game seems to emphasize straightforward simplicity in its gameplay .
Despite dozens of missions and the large size of the island , “ Ghost of Tsushima ” never feels too big .
It ’ s not “ Assassin ’ s Creed Odyssey.
” The game feels purposefully focused and minimalist when it comes to activities and quests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are numbered and follow a clear plot .
They ’ re tied to allies who help Jin in bigger battles and become lieutenants in his ragtag army .
Meanwhile , players will encounter activities such as taking over Mongol camps that lift the fog of war in a prefecture .
While wandering , Jin can also rescue villagers who offer clues to other side quests in the area .
In addition to tasks focused on killing , players can visit shrines to unlock charms that offer stat boosts or new colors for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test players climbing mastery .
All of this creates a refreshing approach in an age when most open-world games try to pack too much stuff into the experience , leading to distracting content that takes away from the narrative flow .
In “ Ghosts of Tsushima , ” nearly all the quests relay a plot that adds to the overall depth of the story .
The most complicated the game gets is in its combat system .
Jin has four different stances that are supposed to be used for different enemy types .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and quick-use , short-range weapons such as throwing knives .
Although it sounds overwhelming , fighting is fairly simple and puts players into a back-and-forth dance where they parry or dodge blows while counter-attacking with heavy or light slashes .
Skirmishes are quick and fun and they let players improvise with a full repertoire of moves .
The only issue with “ Ghost of Tsushima ” lies in its rote structure .
It follows the path of many Sucker Punch games such as the “ inFamous ” series .
Players will encounter a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dilemma of fighting with the viciousness of his Ghost persona or as the predictable but honorable samurai .
For the most part , they ’ ll fall into tasks of attacking camps to lift the fog in an area , heading to Fox Dens to find Inari shrines and scouring each area completing other activities before moving on to pivotal story missions .
Even the duels , with their outstanding presentation , begin to feel repetitive with the routine camera work .
Despite the nitpicky problems , “ Ghost of Tsushima ” is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Sucker Punch ’ s best work because of its authenticity to the subject and time period .
Instead of creating an over-the-top samurai game , Sucker Punch has delivered one that feels grounded in the history and soil of the island .
Yes , artistic license was taken with environments and plot points , but the game also raises important questions about the nature of warfare , the need for honor , and the fuzzy line that one has to cross to attain victory at the cost of saving lives .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will keep players enthralled as Jin seeks to free his land .

Putting rules on warfare is an exercise in futility. No matter what restraints civilizations put on fighting, conflicts naturally escalate. Weapons become more lethal. Targets become broader. Regulations governing war become so bent that they end up broken.
That’s what “Ghost of Tsushima” points out in its first scene as the samurai gather to battle the invading Mongolian army. They send out one of their best warriors, Lord Harunobu Adachi, to duel the leader Khotun Khan. Without even flinching, the antagonist drenches the samurai in booze and sets him on fire — before Adachi can even swing his sword. While the Japanese assumed Khan would fight fair, the Mongolian had no such intentions.
That act topples the Tsushima samurai as the Japanese forces fight unprepared against the savagery of the Mongolian onslaught. The protagonist, Jin Sakai, survives the rout after a thief named Yuna rescues him. He’s essentially reborn after his near-death experience and becomes a revenant hellbent on freeing his island from occupation.
The defeat sets up two conflicts in “Ghost of Tsushima.” The first is the story of Jin’s uprising against the Mongolians and the second is a personal matter focusing on honor and the rules of war. These struggles overlap, with the former playing an important role in beginning but yielding to the latter as the game moves into the second and third acts.
With these two struggles as the backdrop, players are treated to a romanticized and stylish samurai epic. Inspired by films from legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa and Chinese director Zhang Yimou, “Ghost of Tsushima” bursts with color. Its vibrant environments look almost painterly and perfect for an Instagram post. Meanwhile, the camera work especially during standoffs or duels plays with perspectives and dramatic cuts. The art and camera work lend a cinematic quality to the experience.
As survivor of the defeat, Jin starts from nearly nothing, aside from broken armor and his family swords. He must acquire more power for his revenge and that takes him on story missions and side quests, where he gathers additional weapons, dons more gear and learns new techniques. “Ghost of Tsushima” is designed so that the protagonist can rely on stealth or quick-twitch play style early on, but over the course of the campaign, players can max out all of Jin’s skills and are free to use any.
When that happens, the campaign isn’t about obtaining the best sword or armor. Technically, there isn’t an uber gear set; instead, players will switch out armor and charms based on the situation. Some missions will require stealth while others ask players to storm castle walls in a bloody all-out brawl. I constantly switched out my gear based on whether I was exploring, infiltrating a camp or rescuing hostages. It made me wish there were a way to save loadouts for different scenarios, but the game seems to emphasize straightforward simplicity in its gameplay.
Despite dozens of missions and the large size of the island, “Ghost of Tsushima” never feels too big. It’s not “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.” The game feels purposefully focused and minimalist when it comes to activities and quests. Players encounter side missions with threads that are numbered and follow a clear plot. They’re tied to allies who help Jin in bigger battles and become lieutenants in his ragtag army.
Meanwhile, players will encounter activities such as taking over Mongol camps that lift the fog of war in a prefecture. While wandering, Jin can also rescue villagers who offer clues to other side quests in the area. In addition to tasks focused on killing, players can visit shrines to unlock charms that offer stat boosts or new colors for gear. These are puzzle-oriented tasks and test players climbing mastery.
All of this creates a refreshing approach in an age when most open-world games try to pack too much stuff into the experience, leading to distracting content that takes away from the narrative flow. In “Ghosts of Tsushima,” nearly all the quests relay a plot that adds to the overall depth of the story.
The most complicated the game gets is in its combat system. Jin has four different stances that are supposed to be used for different enemy types. Layered on top of that are bows and quick-use, short-range weapons such as throwing knives. Although it sounds overwhelming, fighting is fairly simple and puts players into a back-and-forth dance where they parry or dodge blows while counter-attacking with heavy or light slashes. Skirmishes are quick and fun and they let players improvise with a full repertoire of moves.
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What to play: ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ will keep gamers busy during August Entertainment | ‘First Descendant’ crossplay beta delayed until September but will be open to all The only issue with “Ghost of Tsushima” lies in its rote structure. It follows the path of many Sucker Punch games such as the “inFamous” series. Players will encounter a few surprises as Jin deals with the dilemma of fighting with the viciousness of his Ghost persona or as the predictable but honorable samurai. For the most part, they’ll fall into tasks of attacking camps to lift the fog in an area, heading to Fox Dens to find Inari shrines and scouring each area completing other activities before moving on to pivotal story missions. Even the duels, with their outstanding presentation, begin to feel repetitive with the routine camera work.
Despite the nitpicky problems, “Ghost of Tsushima” is a thoughtful samurai epic. It’s Sucker Punch’s best work because of its authenticity to the subject and time period. Instead of creating an over-the-top samurai game, Sucker Punch has delivered one that feels grounded in the history and soil of the island. Yes, artistic license was taken with environments and plot points, but the game also raises important questions about the nature of warfare, the need for honor, and the fuzzy line that one has to cross to attain victory at the cost of saving lives. These are weighty and complex issues and ones that will keep players enthralled as Jin seeks to free his land.
‘Ghost of Tsushima
3½ stars out of 4
Platform: PlayStation 4
Rating: Mature


mercurynews--2020-07-17--Despite report, Sharks GM says nothing is imminent in regards to naming a full-time coach

Are the San Jose Sharks about to give Bob Boughner a contract extension and name him the ninth full-time head coach in franchise history ?
Not at the moment .
Thursday afternoon , Darren Dreger of TSN reported that Boughner , who has been the Sharks ’ interim coach since December , was believed to have earned a extension with the team and that Rocky Thompson , who coached the Chicago Wolves of the AHL the past three seasons , would join his staff .
Although Boughner has been labeled as the front-runner for the Sharks ’ full-time head coaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doug Wilson said Thursday he has not finalized a decision .
“ At this time , we have nothing official to report in regards to our coaching staff for the coming season.
, ” Wilson said via text message .
“ The process of identifying candidates to fill out our staff is on-going.
” Reached by text message Thursday , Boughner told Bay Area News Group , “ All I can confirm at this point is that I have a very good relationship with Rocky and I ’ m going through the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other than that , nothing to report.
” Earlier Thursday , Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon told reporters Thompson was leaving the organization for a coaching opportunity with an NHL team .
In 2015 , Thompson replaced Boughner as coach of the OHL ’ s Windsor Spitfires .
Boughner , a co-owner of the team , had stepped down as Windsor ’ s coach to join Pete DeBoer ’ s staff in San Jose .
Boughner took over as the Sharks ’ head coach on an interim basis on Dec. 11 after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 15-16-2 start to the season .
With a roster beset by injury , Boughner had a 14-20-3 record before the NHL paused its season on March 12 .
The Sharks played better defensively , but finished the season with a 29-36-5 record and 63 points , third-fewest in the league .
Still , Wilson , this spring , labeled Boughner as having the “ upper-hand ” to become the next full-time coach , believing his knowledge of the roster and past experience as Florida ’ s bench boss from 2017-2019 would serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 49 , also received approval of the job he did as interim coach from players like captain Logan Couture and Norris Trophy winners Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson , with Karlsson saying in May , “ Even though ( Boughner ’ s ) future was uncertain , I think he did the right thing for the organization and the team moving forward , not necessarily for the season that we were in.
” • NWSL players take a knee during national anthem as Courage prevail • Hall of Fame committee member says long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ was an oversight ’ The NHL presently has three interim head coaches — Boughner , Geoff Ward in Calgary and Rick Bowness in Dallas .
Dean Evason , an original Shark , was named Minnesota ’ s interim coach Feb. 14 after Bruce Boudreau was fired .
Evason was named the Wild ’ s full-time coach earlier this week .

Are the San Jose Sharks about to give Bob Boughner a contract extension and name him the ninth full-time head coach in franchise history?
Not at the moment.
Thursday afternoon, Darren Dreger of TSN reported that Boughner, who has been the Sharks’ interim coach since December, was believed to have earned a extension with the team and that Rocky Thompson, who coached the Chicago Wolves of the AHL the past three seasons, would join his staff.
Although Boughner has been labeled as the front-runner for the Sharks’ full-time head coaching position since the spring, general manager Doug Wilson said Thursday he has not finalized a decision.
“At this time, we have nothing official to report in regards to our coaching staff for the coming season,” Wilson said via text message. “The process of identifying candidates to fill out our staff is on-going.”
Reached by text message Thursday, Boughner told Bay Area News Group, “All I can confirm at this point is that I have a very good relationship with Rocky and I’m going through the process with Doug on my own situation. Other than that, nothing to report.”
Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation.
Earlier Thursday, Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon told reporters Thompson was leaving the organization for a coaching opportunity with an NHL team.
In 2015, Thompson replaced Boughner as coach of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires. Boughner, a co-owner of the team, had stepped down as Windsor’s coach to join Pete DeBoer’s staff in San Jose.
Boughner took over as the Sharks’ head coach on an interim basis on Dec. 11 after DeBoer and three assistants were fired following a 15-16-2 start to the season.
For complete Sharks coverage
follow us on Flipboard.
With a roster beset by injury, Boughner had a 14-20-3 record before the NHL paused its season on March 12. The Sharks played better defensively, but finished the season with a 29-36-5 record and 63 points, third-fewest in the league.
Still, Wilson, this spring, labeled Boughner as having the “upper hand” to become the next full-time coach, believing his knowledge of the roster and past experience as Florida’s bench boss from 2017-2019 would serve him well going forward.
Boughner, 49, also received approval of the job he did as interim coach from players like captain Logan Couture and Norris Trophy winners Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson, with Karlsson saying in May, “Even though (Boughner’s) future was uncertain, I think he did the right thing for the organization and the team moving forward, not necessarily for the season that we were in.”


mercurynews--2020-07-17--Gov. Newsom to update school reopening Friday as more Bay Area districts drop in-class plans

Gov .
Gavin Newsom plans to update guidance for reopening schools Friday as the coronavirus pandemic surges throughout much of the state and more and more districts drop plans to welcome kids back to the classroom in the fall and begin the year instead with online-only instruction .
Though the governor ’ s office would not comment on details , he is under increasing pressure to call for districts at least in areas where the virus is spreading significantly to forego in-class instruction for the beginning of the year until conditions improve .
That would be welcome news to many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about concerns over returning to the classroom .
Click here to see our list of what every Bay Area school district plans to do this fall — teach in person , online or both ?
“ We are deeply concerned about the safety of our students and educators , ” Ann Katzburg , president of the San Ramon Valley Education Association , said Thursday as the San Ramon Valley Unified School District reconsidered plans to welcome students back to class in the fall .
“ Any type of direction would be greatly appreciated.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ week wrote Newsom , state Superintendent Tony Thurmond and legislative leaders telling them “ it It is clear that communities and school districts have not come close to meeting the threshold for a safe return to in-person learning .
“ From a public health perspective , the best course of action would be to focus on improving our ability to provide robust , quality distance learning until the virus is marginalized and safety measures are addressed , ” added the CTA , a major ally of the Democratic governor .
The letter came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools to reopen classrooms , pointing to other countries that have done so without much problem .
After encouraging schools to continue designing plans for in-person instruction this fall , Thurmond on Thursday said “ conditions have changed significantly ” and urged caution .
Newsom ’ s anticipated update will come after a week that saw waves of school districts across the state put off plans to reopen classrooms to students , including the state ’ s two largest districts , Los Angeles and San Diego , in the Bay Area San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marin County , where the San Rafael and Miller districts Thursday joined the list of those starting the fall online , the health department and office of education shortly afterward urged districts put off in-class instruction at least until after Labor Day .
“ We recognize the concerns and anxiety surrounding the return to the classroom and believe that a transitional approach will allow staff and students to feel more comfortable in this new environment , ” they said in a joint statement .
Those decisions however come amid other concerns about continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for many students in the spring after the surging pandemic led to a statewide stay-home order .
Many districts weren ’ t prepared to teach kids online , many teachers struggled with the technology and many students and their families lacked computers and home internet .
A study this month by Los Angeles Unified School District found that during the spring , the district ’ s most disadvantaged students — including ones who are Black , Latino and English learners — participated in online learning at lower rates than their peers and lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recoup .
Newsom — a father of four school-aged children himself — is well aware of those problems , and in April as the statewide lockdown slowed infections , the governor even suggested bringing kids back to class in July to make up for the learning loss .
Others also note that because children are the least likely to suffer severe illness from COVID-19 — none in California have died from it — and tend not to spread the disease , the harm of lost learning outweighs the health risks of kids returning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Orange County Board of Education this week voted to recommend the county ’ s 27 districts reopen to students in the fall without requirements for masks and social distancing .
But California ’ s worsening outbreaks with just weeks to go before schools are scheduled to start have raised alarms .
Newsom this week tightened restrictions on indoor activities as the number of counties on a state watch list for concerning coronavirus cases and hospitalizations reached 32 , including most of the Bay Area .
As the California Teachers Association noted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backwards .
”

Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to update guidance for reopening schools Friday as the coronavirus pandemic surges throughout much of the state and more and more districts drop plans to welcome kids back to the classroom in the fall and begin the year instead with online-only instruction.
Though the governor’s office would not comment on details, he is under increasing pressure to call for districts at least in areas where the virus is spreading significantly to forego in-class instruction for the beginning of the year until conditions improve.
That would be welcome news to many teachers whose unions have become more vocal about concerns over returning to the classroom.
Click here to see our list of what every Bay Area school district plans to do this fall — teach in person, online or both?
“We are deeply concerned about the safety of our students and educators,” Ann Katzburg, president of the San Ramon Valley Education Association, said Thursday as the San Ramon Valley Unified School District reconsidered plans to welcome students back to class in the fall. “Any type of direction would be greatly appreciated.”
The influential California Teachers Association last week wrote Newsom, state Superintendent Tony Thurmond and legislative leaders telling them “it is clear that communities and school districts have not come close to meeting the threshold for a safe return to in-person learning.
“From a public health perspective, the best course of action would be to focus on improving our ability to provide robust, quality distance learning until the virus is marginalized and safety measures are addressed,” added the CTA, a major ally of the Democratic governor.
The letter came a day after President Donald Trump urged schools to reopen classrooms, pointing to other countries that have done so without much problem.
After encouraging schools to continue designing plans for in-person instruction this fall, Thurmond on Thursday said “conditions have changed significantly” and urged caution.
Newsom’s anticipated update will come after a week that saw waves of school districts across the state put off plans to reopen classrooms to students, including the state’s two largest districts, Los Angeles and San Diego, and in the Bay Area, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Santa Clara.
In Marin County, where the San Rafael and Miller districts Wednesday joined the list of those starting the fall online, the health department and office of education shortly afterward urged districts put off in-class instruction at least until after Labor Day.
“We recognize the concerns and anxiety surrounding the return to the classroom and believe that a transitional approach will allow staff and students to feel more comfortable in this new environment,” they said in a joint statement.
Those decisions however come amid other concerns about continuing the online-only learning experiment that went poorly for many students in the spring after the surging pandemic led to a statewide stay-home order. Many districts weren’t prepared to teach kids online, many teachers struggled with the technology and many students and their families lacked computers and home internet.
A study this month by Los Angeles Unified School District found that during the spring, the district’s most disadvantaged students — including ones who are Black, Latino and English learners — participated in online learning at lower rates than their peers and lost learning that could take them years to recoup.
Newsom — a father of four school-aged children himself — is well aware of those problems, and in April as the statewide lockdown slowed infections, the governor even suggested bringing kids back to class in July to make up for the learning loss.
Others also note that because children are the least likely to suffer severe illness from COVID-19 — none in California have died from it — and tend not to spread the disease, the harm of lost learning outweighs the health risks of kids returning to the classroom.
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But California’s worsening outbreaks with just weeks to go before schools are scheduled to start have raised alarms. Newsom this week tightened restrictions on indoor activities as the number of counties on a state watch list for concerning coronavirus cases and hospitalizations reached 32, including most of the Bay Area.
As the California Teachers Association noted in its letter, “we are going backwards.”