mercurynews--2020-07-06--Crews Fire spurs evacuations north of Gilroy, multiple structures threatened

GILROY — A fast-spreading fire burned more than 600 acres Sunday in Santa Clara County wildland north of Gilroy , @ @ @ @ @ residential evacuations , authorities said .
Shortly after 2:20 p.m. , CalFire crews responded to @ @ @ @ @ Road at Oak Spring Circle .
Temperatures in the area were in the high 80s @ @ @ @ @ low humidity and southwest winds of up to 25 mph were expected to make firefighting @ @ @ @ @ In a social-media post just before 3:10 p.m. , CalFire said two structures were involved @ @ @ @ @ .
As of 4:55 p.m. , evacuations were continuing along Canada Road , with at @ @ @ @ @ to help recover animals at risk in the area .
Firefighting resources in the area @ @ @ @ @ responses to the Park Fire near Anderson Reservoir , and by the after-effects of responses @ @ @ @ @ holiday weekend .

GILROY — A fast-spreading fire burned about 1,500 acres in Santa Clara County wildland north of Gilroy, spurring a new round of residential evacuations with only 15 percent containment late Sunday, authorities said.
Shortly after 2:20 p.m., CalFire crews responded to reports of flames along Crews Road at Oak Spring Circle. Temperatures in the area were in the high 80s to low 90s, and low humidity and southeast winds of up to 25 mph were expected to make firefighting conditions even more difficult.
In a social-media post just before 3:10 p.m., CalFire said two structures were involved, with multiple others threatened.
#CrewsFire [Update] Fire is now 150 acres+ and remains at a moderate rate of spread. Two structures are involved and multiple structures remained threatened. Please avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/sSQtHn0bzK — CAL FIRE SCU (@calfireSCU) July 5, 2020
As of 4:55 p.m., evacuations were continuing along Canada Road, with at least one other agency sought to help recover animals at risk in the area. As the night wore on, officials worked to evacuate residents along Highway 152, or Pacheco Pass Road, from Bloomfield Avenue in the west to San Felipe Road in the east.
#CrewsFire [Update] Fire is now at 600 acres. Additional evacuations of Canada Road are ongoing. pic.twitter.com/u0FPfcpMv0 — CAL FIRE SCU (@calfireSCU) July 5, 2020
Just before 6:30 p.m., CalFire said the fire had increased to 1,000 acres and was heading south and east toward Highway 152, with continuing evacuations along Canada Road.
#CrewsFire [Update] The fire has now grown to 1000 acres and is burning towards Hwy 152. Evacuations continue on Canada Rd. pic.twitter.com/jCs2nGD02D — CAL FIRE SCU (@calfireSCU) July 6, 2020
As a strike team including firefighters from Oakland, Fremont and Alameda County fire departments met in Fremont Sunday evening before heading south, Red Cross NorCal volunteers were working with county public-health officials to open an evacuation center.
This evening, Fremont firefighters on Engine 8231, part of Cal OES Strike Team 2870C, were deployed to the #CrewsFire north of Gilroy. The Strike Team, which also includes crews from @HaywardFireNews, @OaklandFireCA & @AlamedaCoFire met briefly in Fremont before leaving as a team pic.twitter.com/Y0jShwnkCE — Fremont Fire Department (@FremontFire) July 6, 2020
2870C was committed to CA-SCU-004686 and is assisting at the Cruz Fire outside of Gilroy as of 6pm on 7/5/2020.🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/CPRW3w0mYG — Alameda County Fire (@AlamedaCoFire) July 6, 2020
#CrewsFire [Update] Fire is now at 1500 acres and 15% contained. Evacuations remain in place. CAL FIRE has ordered Incident Management Team 6 which will transition into the fire tomorrow afternoon. pic.twitter.com/TVNwSjPaYg — CAL FIRE SCU (@calfireSCU) July 6, 2020
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Check back for updates.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--Kurtenbach: Is baseball’s new preseason long enough?

CLICK HERE if you ’ re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device .
And while there is enthusiasm and good cheer around the ballpark during these practice sessions ahead of Major League Baseball ’ s 60-game regular season , there ’ s also a nasty truth looming over the operation .
And I ’ m not talking about the coronavirus .
Though that ’ s certainly there , in spades .
No , it ’ s the fact that the demolition-derby-style campaign — a regular season where each game will take on outsized importance because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only two-and-a-half weeks .
Are two weeks of practice and a handful of exhibition games adequate preparation for a baseball season ?
Listening to the Giants and A ’ s this weekend , I ’ m not getting the impression it is .
“ Obviously we ’ d love to have a little bit longer to get in baseball shape and get our timing down and get our approach down and do whatever we have to do to get ready for a season .
But this is , this is the hand we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re going to deal with it as well as we can , ” Brandon Belt said Sunday .
“ It ’ s not going to be perfect .
No part of this season is going to be perfect… nd I think just knowing that it ’ s not going to be perfect and knowing we ’ re going to have to make adjustments kind of helps my mindset a little bit .
If you expect coming in here everything to be normal and the way it was , you ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that it ’ s different definitely has gone a long way.
” We should all appreciate Belt ’ s positive mindset , but let ’ s be real about the situation : With 60-player pools , one-diamond , home-stadium practices , and peculiar and seemingly scattershot COVID-19 testing protocols , the logistics of starting a baseball season on short notice were already , unsurprisingly , a hot mess .
It should be noted that neither the Giants nor the A ’ s have been able to bring every player in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lack of preparation time — Spring Training usually lasts more than a month and features dozens of games and countless practice opportunities — the on-field play when real games start might be a hot mess , too .
• Buster Posey comes to camp , but will he stay ?
• Giants add three top prospects to Summer Camp roster , Posey arrives in San Francisco “ It feels like we ’ re five days behind with our position players right now , ” A ’ s manager Bob Melvin told reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workout because of a lag in COVID-19 test results .
“ That ’ s not really the case , but it feels like it.
” And adding to the complexity is the fact that , while some Giants and A ’ s players were able to use team facilities in Arizona or were in states without strict lockdowns during the last few months , many more were not able to properly train for the upcoming season during the break .
They came into camp cold .
For instance : Giants catcher Buster Posey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stayed in the Bay Area during the shutdown and was only able to hit off a tee during that time .
“ I ’ ve been at my house , ” Posey said .
“ I got with the hitting coaches and put together a plan and followed the plan for , gosh , I don ’ t even know how many weeks and ended up being .
But yeah , that ’ s one of the challenges that you face — you just got ta do the best you can with it.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ start the season well behind pitchers .
If some hitters are just now seeing live pitching for the first time in months , is a couple of weeks enough time to catch up ?
Remember : each game will matter roughly three times more than the games from a standard 162-game season .
Or maybe it won ’ t matter , because pitchers are seemingly behind schedule , too .
Throwing arms take time to “ stretch out ” and with the recent epidemic of elbow and arm injuries in the sport , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their pitchers .
It ’ s the smart move , even if it means that guys like the Giants ’ Jeff Samardzija , who said Friday that he ’ s keen to be a workhorse for the team — throwing seven , eight , nine innings when the season starts — needs to be reined in .
The likelihood is that by the time the 60-game regular season starts , pitchers won ’ t be far enough along in their throwing schedule to go more than a handful of innings .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calendar , ” Giants manager said Gabe Kapler said Saturday .
The expectation that pitchers are going to go out and throw like five or six innings in the first series , I just don ’ t think that ’ s especially realistic right now , ” Kapler added Sunday .
“ We ’ ll build our pitchers up as , as much as we possibly can .
Build their volume and see where we are around opening day.
” • Buster Posey comes to camp , but will he stay ?
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Camp roster , Posey arrives in San Francisco Right now , no one knows what a starting pitcher rotation will look like in 2020 .
There have been suggestions of three-man rotations ( down from the usual five ) with “ openers ” aplenty .
There could be Six , seven , even eight “ starters ” in the rotation , too .
We might not know until well after the season starts , if at all .
This pandemic was already an accelerator , and that ’ s likely to have big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a macro sport rooted in tradition .
Will any of these pitchers be allowed to throw enough pitches to reach the five innings a starter needs to qualify for a win ?
Perhaps we ’ re looking at every game being a Johnny Wholestaff contest .
Fun !
Maybe hitters can adapt to a shortened preseason and come out of the gates slugging .
Or perhaps the sport will set another whole-season strikeout record in only 37 percent of the time because no one can handle 99-mile-per-hour heat for weeks .
Yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can all celebrate — but because of a pandemic and a collective bargaining showdown , the likelihood is high that things are about to become extremely funky in Major League Baseball .
And forgive me for wondering it could all be avoided by a couple more weeks of preseason and a few more days in the cold come the fall .

CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
SAN FRANCISCO — It’s not “Spring Training.” No, it’s “Summer Camp.”
And while there is enthusiasm and good cheer around the ballpark during these practice sessions ahead of Major League Baseball’s 60-game regular season, there’s also a nasty truth looming over the operation.
And I’m not talking about the coronavirus. Though that’s certainly there, in spades.
No, it’s the fact that the demolition-derby-style campaign — a regular season in which each game will take on outsized importance because of scarcity — is scheduled to begin in only two-and-a-half weeks.
Are two weeks of practice and a handful of exhibition games adequate preparation for a baseball season?
Listening to the Giants and A’s this weekend, I’m not getting the impression it is.
“Obviously we’d love to have a little bit longer to get in baseball shape and get our timing down and get our approach down and do whatever we have to do to get ready for a season. But this is the hand we’re dealt, so we’re going to deal with it as well as we can,” Brandon Belt said Sunday.
“It’s not going to be perfect. No part of this season is going to be perfect… and I think just knowing that helps my mindset a little bit. If you expect everything to be normal and the way it was, you’re going to have a problem adjusting. Just acknowledging that it’s different definitely has gone a long way.”
We should all appreciate Belt’s positive mindset, but let’s be real about the situation: With 60-player pools, one-diamond, home-stadium practices, and peculiar and seemingly scattershot COVID-19 testing protocols, the logistics of starting a baseball season on short notice were already a hot mess.
It should be noted that neither the Giants nor the A’s have been able to bring every player in their pool to camp yet.
But given the lack of preparation time — spring training usually lasts six or seven weeks and includes 25-30 games and countless practice opportunities — the on-field play when real games start might be a hot mess, too.
“It feels like we’re five days behind with our position players right now,” A’s manager Bob Melvin told reporters Sunday after Oakland postponed its first full-squad workout because of a lag in COVID-19 test results. “That’s not really the case, but it feels like it.”
And adding to the complexity is the fact that, while some Giants and A’s players were able to use team facilities in Arizona or were in states without strict lockdowns during the last few months, many more were not able to properly train for the upcoming season during the break. They came into camp cold.
For instance: Giants catcher Buster Posey. He stayed in the Bay Area during the shutdown and was only able to hit off a tee during that time.
“I’ve been at my house,” Posey said. “I got with the hitting coaches and put together a plan and followed the plan for, gosh, I don’t even know how many weeks it ended up being. But that’s one of the challenges that you face — you just gotta do the best you can with it.”
Conventional baseball wisdom is that hitters start the season well behind pitchers. If some hitters are just now seeing live pitching for the first time in months, is a couple of weeks enough time to catch up?
Remember: each game will matter roughly three times more than the games from a standard 162-game season.
Or maybe it won’t matter, because pitchers are seemingly behind schedule, too.
Throwing arms take time to “stretch out” and with the recent epidemic of elbow and arm injuries in the sport, teams are being careful not to push their pitchers. It’s the smart move. The likelihood is that by the time the 60-game regular season starts, pitchers won’t be far enough along in their throwing schedule to go more than a handful of innings.
“There’s not enough time on the calendar,” Giants manager said Gabe Kapler said Saturday.
Sunday, Kapler added: “The expectation that pitchers are going to go out and throw like five or six innings in the first series, I just don’t think that’s realistic right now.”
Right now, no one knows what a pitching rotation will look like in 2020. There have been suggestions of three-man rotations (down from the usual five) with “openers” aplenty. There could be six, seven, even eight “starters” in the rotation, too. We might not know until well after the season starts, if at all.
This pandemic was already an accelerator, and that’s likely to have big consequences on a sport like baseball — a macro sport rooted in tradition.
Will any of these pitchers be allowed to throw enough pitches to reach the five innings a starter needs to qualify for a win? Perhaps we’re looking at every game being a Johnny Wholestaff contest. Fun!
Maybe hitters can adapt to a shortened preseason and come out of the gates slugging. Or perhaps the sport will set another whole-season strikeout record in only 37 percent of the time because no one can handle 99-mile-per-hour heat for weeks.
Yes, the sport might be back — that we can all celebrate — but because of a pandemic and a collective bargaining showdown, the likelihood is high that things are about to become extremely funky in Major League Baseball. And forgive me for wondering it could all be avoided by a couple more weeks of preseason and a few more days in the cold come the fall.


mercurynews--2020-07-05--The Latest: Californians mostly avoid beaches over weekend

By The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Californians mostly heeded warnings to stay away from beaches and other public spaces during the long weekend .
Many communities canceled July 4 fireworks shows and other annual festivities — changes that appeared to successfully keep crowds at bay .
However big waves at Southern California beaches proved irresistible to some surfers .
California reported 6,500 additional confirmed cases of the virus on Saturday .
The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : — Coronavirus pandemic and Floyd ’ s death merge in brutal blow to Black well-being — Fewer children will attend summer camp due to the pandemic ; some camps won ’ t survive — Debates become highly-emotional as schools across the U.S. decide how and if to open — Naked men and drunks : England assesses the reopening of pubs Follow all of AP ’ s pandemic coverage at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gallego is pointing to a “ crisis ” involving coronavirus testing shortages in her city due to surging cases in Arizona , which leads the U.S. in new coronavirus cases per capita .
Gallego , a Democrat , said some residents over the weekend had to line up for eight hours by car to get tested .
Gallego told ABC ’ s “ This Week ” on Sunday that Arizona went from “ zero to 60 ” by being one of the first states to reopen after it was among the last to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported 3,536 additional coronavirus cases Sunday and four more known deaths .
That brings the state ’ s documented totals to 98,089 confirmed cases of COVID-19 cases and 1,809 known deaths .
CHARLESTON , W.Va. — West Virginia has experienced its biggest two-day jump in confirmed coronavirus cases , according to health statistics released Sunday .
The Department of Health and Human Resources website showed an increase of 76 positive cases on Sunday and 118 on Saturday .
West Virginia has seen a 16 % jump in confirmed cases over the past week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past two weeks , the statistics showed .
West Virginia Gov .
Jim Justice said Thursday he would decide by early this week whether he will order that face masks be worn inside buildings and when social distancing isn ’ t possible .
The governor had lifted most virus restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of the virus .
At least 95 people in West Virginia have died from the virus and more than 3,300 have tested positive since the outbreak began .
JACKSON , Miss .
— Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus as state health officials report more than 200 new infections and five deaths linked to the pandemic .
Gunn , a Republican , said in a video posted Sunday to Facebook that he got tested because he had been in close proximity to another member of the House who tested positive .
“ I felt like I needed to go get myself tested just because I had been with this person and this morning was informed that I too have tested positive for COVID , ” Gunn said .
“ I feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really have very many symptoms and feel fine.
” Gunn said he called everyone that he had been in close proximity to recently to let them know of his diagnosis and planned to self-quarantine .
Gunn is the state ’ s highest-ranking political figure to publicly disclose a positive test for the coronavirus .
He did not say who the other House member was .
The Mississippi Department of Health posted its latest coronavirus statistics Sunday .
The state recorded 226 new cases through Saturday bringing the total number of confirmed and probable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Five more people also died from COVID-19 .
MADRID — Authorities in northwestern Spain have ordered the lockdown of a county with a population of 71,000 for fears of a coronavirus outbreak .
Regional authorities in Galicia announced Sunday that movement to and from A Mariña county located on Spain ’ s northern Atlantic coast will be prohibited starting at midnight .
It will run through Friday , two days before the region holds elections .
The decision comes one day after regional authorities in northeast Catalonia locked down an area with over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to leave the areas for work and other extenuating circumstances .
The small-scale lockdowns come two weeks after Spain ended a national state of emergency that enable the national government to lockdown the entire country and prohibit travel between provinces or certain areas since mid-March .
Over 28,000 people are confirmed to have died from the virus in Spain .
MEXICO CITY — Residents of the town of Sonoyta , across from Lukeville , Arizona , briefly blocked the main road leading south from the U.S. border over the weekend over fears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major upsurge in infections and there were worries about intensified contagion during the July 4 weekend .
Sonoyta Mayor José Ramos Arzate issued a statement Saturday “ inviting U.S. tourists not to visit Mexico.
” Local residents organized to block the road with their cars on the Mexican side Saturday .
Video posted by residents showed several travelers complaining that they had a right to cross because they were Mexican citizens .
The road is the quickest route to the seaside resort of Puerto Peñasco , also known as Rocky Point .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States should only be allowed in “ for essential activities , and for that reason , the checkpoint and inspection point a few meters from the Sonoyta-Lukeville AZ crossing will continue operating.
” DALLAS — Leaders in two of Texas ’ biggest cities are calling on the governor to empower local governments to order residents to stay home as the state ’ s continued surge in confirmed cases of the coronavirus tests hospital capacity .
Austin Mayor Steve Adler , a Democrat , told CNN ’ s “ State of the Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gregg Abbott to return control to local governments .
He says hospitals are facing a crisis and that ICUs could be overrun in 10 days .
In the Houston area , Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo , who is also a Democrat , says a stay-at-home order is needed .
Texas reported its highest daily increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases Saturday with 8,258 .
WASHINGTON — Republican Arkansas Gov .
Asa Hutchinson says if President Donald Trump were to hold a campaign rally in his Trump-friendly state , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says he would expect people to follow his state ’ s health guidelines by practicing social distancing or wearing masks if unable to do so .
He says he understands the value of having national Fourth of July celebrations such as at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota and that there is some “ virus fatigue , ” but that people should have been wearing face coverings to “ set an example.
” Trump won Arkansas in 2016 with over 60 % of the vote .
New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see a national strategy on the coronavirus , including a mask requirement .
He says his state is seeing “ small spikes in reinfection ” from residents coming back from Florida , South Carolina and other virus hotspots , and the U.S. is “ as strong as our weakest link right now.
” Trump has recently held campaign-style events in Tulsa , Oklahoma , Phoenix and Washington D.C. where he and many rally attendees didn ’ t wear masks .
Hutchinson and Murphy spoke on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 people have been infected with the new coronavirus at a nursing home for the first time in weeks as the country faces a spike in cases .
Authorities said Sunday that nine residents and six staff have so far tested positive at the nursing home in the southwestern town of Vipava .
The first case was confirmed on Friday .
Slovenia says this is the first resurgence of the virus in the country ’ s nursing homes since May .
Most of the country ’ s 111 fatalities from the new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents .
Slovenia has confirmed 1,700 cases of the new coronavirus among the country ’ s 2 million people .
The numbers have started to rise in the past days with 21 new cases confirmed on Sunday .
ROME — After five straight days of small increases , the number of day-to-day confirmed COVID-19 cases in Italy has dipped .
According to Health Ministry figures on Sunday , 192 cases were registered in the previous 24 hours , compared to 235 in Saturday ’ s tally .
Feeding some of those recent increases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotspots of contagion blamed on infected people entering Italy .
Among them was a businessman in northeast Italy who took ill after driving back from a trip in Serbia but despite a fever attended a funeral and a birthday party shortly after he returned home .
That man is now hospitalized in intensive care .
The majority of Italy ’ s 20 regions registered a handful or fewer of new cases on Sunday .
Italy ’ s confirmed coronavirus infections as of Sunday total 241,611 .
But many with mild symptoms , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes , didn ’ t get tested .
Including the seven deaths were registered on Sunday nationwide , 34,861 people with confirmed coronavirus have died in Italy during the pandemic .
ATHENS , Greece — Greece has banned Serbian travelers because of a spike in COVID-19 cases in that country .
The ban will take effect at 6 a.m. Monday and will last until July 15 , but can be extended , a government spokeswoman announced Sunday .
Greek authorities also announced nine new cases of coronavirus and no fatalities in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine cases involved tourists tested upon arrival .
Greece ’ s total number of confirmed coronavirus cases is now 3,519 , with 192 dead .
PRISTINA , Kosovo — The Kosovar government on has reimposed curfew times in the capital and three other cities following a significant spike of the new virus cases .
Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti said Sunday that in Pristina and three other cities with the highest increasing numbers there ill be again a curfew time from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. ( 1900-0300 GMT ) .
Public transport also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of passengers in the buses , too .
A day earlier Kosovar authorities reported 8 deaths from the coronavirus , the highest daily number in the Western Balkan country since the start of the outbreak in March .
New daily cases were 178 , also the highest so far .
Increased new cases and daily deaths have worried the authorities in the nation of 1.8 million population after the ease of the lockdown measures a month ago .
Masks are mandatory in all public places .
During the two-month long lockdown the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But following that the daily new cases and deaths have increased significantly , with at least 3,356 confirmed cases and 66 deaths as of Saturday .
MIAMI — Florida health officials say the state has reached a grim milestone : more than 200,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 .
State statistics released Sunday show about 10,000 new people tested positive .
Saturday ’ s numbers — more than 11,400 cases — marked a record new single-day high .
More than 3,700 people have died .
About 43 % of the cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broward and Palm Beach .
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said Sunday on ABC ’ s “ This Week ” that the high numbers of positive tests both in his county and the state are “ extremely worrisome.
” Suarez , who had the virus in March , says it ’ s clear the growth is “ exponential at this point ” and officials are closely monitoring hospitalizations .
They ’ re also closely watching the death rate , which “ give us the impression ” that “ much stricter ” measures have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count is the ninth highest in the country overall and the 27th highest per capita at 17.4 deaths per 100,000 people .
Over the past two weeks , the rolling average number of daily new cases has increased by 5,323.1 , an increase of 184.1 % .
NEW YORK — Tattoo parlors and other personal care businesses like nail salons will be allowed to welcome customers in New York City starting Monday , as it enters Phase 3 of reopening .
The rest of the state ’ s regions have already moved into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still be more limited , as officials decided last week to hold off on allowing indoor dining indefinitely out of concerns that it would cause a spike in new coronavirus cases .
Outdoor dining is in effect .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said there were more than 530 new confirmed cases of the virus reported around the state on Saturday and eight deaths .
At the height of New York ’ s virus outbreak , new infections reached daily totals of more than 10,000 and deaths topped 700 .
So far , reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offices .
WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration commissioner is declining to back up President Donald Trump ’ s claim that 99 % of coronavirus cases are “ harmless.
” Dr. Stephen Hahn tells CNN and ABC that he ’ s “ not going to get into who is right and who is wrong , ” but that government data clearly show “ this is a serious problem.
” He adds that “ any case is tragic ” and that to stem the tide of surging cases people should follow government guidance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask .
In Fourth of July remarks , Trump said the U.S. was testing too much and falsely asserted that “ by so doing , we show cases , 99 % of which are totally harmless.
” The World Health Organization in fact has said about 20 % of those diagnosed with COVID-19 progress to severe disease , including pneumonia and respiratory failure .
Those with mild or no symptoms , meanwhile , could spread the virus to others .
The mayor of Austin , Texas , where COVID-19 cases are surging , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ wrong.
” Mayor Steve Adler urged people to listen to local officials for public safety guidance rather than the “ ambiguous message coming out of Washington.
” WASHINGTON — Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego is pointing to a “ crisis ” involving coronavirus testing shortages in her city due to surging cases in Arizona , which leads the U.S. in new coronavirus cases per capita .
Gallego , a Democrat , said some residents over the weekend had to line up for eight hours by car to get COVID-19 tests and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help .
Gallego tells ABC ’ s “ This Week ” on Sunday that Arizona went from “ zero to 60 ” by being one of the first states to reopen after it was among the last to implement stay-at-home orders .
She says that led to an explosion of cases , citing crowded nightclubs with free champagne and people unwittingly spreading the virus at large family gatherings .
She faults mixed public messaging after President Donald Trump ’ s recent visit to Phoenix .
Gallego says while she was urging people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of more than 10 people , Trump undercut that by holding large events and not wearing a mask .
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is praising U.N. Security Council efforts for worldwide cease-fires to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic .
In remarks Sunday to the public in St. Peter ’ s Square , Francis hailed the Security Council ’ s “ request for a global and immediate cease-fire , which would permit the peace and security indispensable for supplying so urgently needed humanitarian assistance.
” The pontiff called for the prompt implementation “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persons who are suffering.
” He also expressed hope that the Security Council resolution be a “ courageous first step for the future of peace.
” The resolution calls on parties to armed conflicts to immediately cease fire for at least 90 days to enable safe , sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance , including medical evacuations .
BALTIMORE — The United States has dipped under 50,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time in four days , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University , but experts fear celebrations for the July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rocket fuel for the nation ’ s surging outbreak .
Johns Hopkins counted 45,300 new coronavirus infections in the U.S. on Saturday after three days in which the daily count reached as high as 54,500 new cases .
The lower figure on Saturday does not necessarily mean the situation in the U.S. is improving , as it could be due to reduced reporting on a national holiday .
The United States has the most infections and virus-related deaths in the world , with 2.8 million cases and nearly 130,000 dead , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll of the pandemic is significantly higher , due to people who died before they were tested and missed mild cases .
To show just how steep the current infection curve is in the U.S. , the country was reporting under 20,000 new infections a day as recently as June 15 .
Despite warnings by health experts to limit gatherings , President Donald Trump went ahead with a speech at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on Friday and an evening of tribute and fireworks Saturday on the National Mall in Washington .
LONDON @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including pubs and restaurants , reopened for the first time in more than three months , Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sunday that the vast majority of people did “ the right thing.
” Early indications suggest that the reopening of pubs in England on Saturday did not overwhelm emergency services as many had feared in the run-up to the biggest easing of the lockdown .
For the most part , people appeared to abide by the rules , though in some places , the numbers out and about meant it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apter , chair of the Police Federation , was on shift on Saturday night , and said it was “ crystal clear ” that drunk people struggled , or ignored , social distancing rules .
Though the easing has been warmly welcomed by many , there are concerns the British government is being overly hasty in sanctioning the changes .
The U.K. has experienced one of the world ’ s worst outbreaks so far , with the official coronavirus death toll of 44,198 is the third-highest behind the United States and Brazil .

By The Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia — The leader of Australia’s most populous state says her government’s decision to close its border with hard-hit Victoria state marks a new phase in the country’s coronavirus pandemic.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has long been a critic of states that close their borders to her state when its capital Sydney had Australia’s largest numbers of COVID-19 cases.
But she had changed her stance on keeping Australia’s internal borders open because the situation in the Victorian capital Melbourne was unprecedented.
The overwhelming majority of news cases detected in Melbourne in recent weeks were from community transmission. Everywhere else in Australia, the vast majority of cases were infected overseas or had been infected by a returned traveler, Berejiklian said.
“What is occurring in Victoria has not yet occurred anywhere else in Australia,” she said. “It’s a new part of the pandemic and, as such, it requires a new type of response.”
New South Wales police will close the Victorian border from late Tuesday. Some flights and trains services would continue for travellers who are given permits and exemptions, Berejiklian said.
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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
— Coronavirus pandemic and Floyd’s death merge in brutal blow to Black well-being
— Fewer children will attend summer camp due to the pandemic; some camps won’t survive
— Debates become highly-emotional as schools across the U.S. decide how and if to open
— Iran mandates masks as public shrugs off resurgent virus
— Gig workers face shifting roles, competition in coronavirus pandemic
— Naked men and drunks: England assesses the reopening of pubs
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Follow all of AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has reported its biggest spike in coronavirus infections in recent days as the government eases quarantine restrictions to revive the economy, raising the possibility its crowded capital may be placed back under a strict lockdown.
The Department of Health reported a total of 2,434 cases in recent days, most of them in metropolitan Manila, raising the number of confirmed cases nationwide to more than 44,250, including 1,297 deaths. The infections and deaths are among the highest in Southeast Asia.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said there’s a possibility the capital area may revert back to a lockdown if the uptick continues and hospitals get filled to capacity again.
At least one major Manila hospital, the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, said its COVID-19 ward was running at full capacity and appealed that new patients be taken elsewhere.
President Rodrigo Duterte eased the lockdown in metropolitan Manila, an epicenter of infections, on June 1 to bolster an economy on the brink of recession. One major commercial and tourism region, central Cebu city, was placed back under a strict lockdown in mid-June due to alarming infection spikes.
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LOS ANGELES — Californians mostly heeded warnings to stay away from beaches and other public spaces during the long weekend.
State officials urged social distancing amid a spike in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.
Many communities canceled July 4 fireworks shows and other annual festivities — changes that appeared to successfully keep crowds at bay. However big waves at Southern California beaches proved irresistible to some surfers.
California reported 6,500 additional confirmed cases of the virus on Saturday. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick. ___
PHOENIX — Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego is pointing to a “crisis” involving coronavirus testing shortages in her city due to surging cases in Arizona, which leads the U.S. in new coronavirus cases per capita.
Gallego, a Democrat, said some residents over the weekend had to line up for eight hours by car to get tested.
Gallego told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that Arizona went from “zero to 60” by being one of the first states to reopen after it was among the last to implement stay-at-home orders.
Arizona health officials reported 3,536 additional coronavirus cases Sunday and four more known deaths. That brings the state’s documented totals to 98,089 confirmed cases of COVID-19 cases and 1,809 known deaths.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has experienced its biggest two-day jump in confirmed coronavirus cases, according to health statistics released Sunday.
The Department of Health and Human Resources website showed an increase of 76 positive cases on Sunday and 118 on Saturday. West Virginia has seen a 16% jump in confirmed cases over the past week and a 30% increase in the past two weeks, the statistics showed.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Thursday he would decide by early this week whether he will order that face masks be worn inside buildings and when social distancing isn’t possible. The governor had lifted most virus restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of the virus.
At least 95 people in West Virginia have died from the virus and more than 3,300 have tested positive since the outbreak began.
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JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn says he has tested positive for the coronavirus as state health officials report more than 200 new infections and five deaths linked to the pandemic.
Gunn, a Republican, said in a video posted Sunday to Facebook that he got tested because he had been in close proximity to another member of the House who tested positive.
“I felt like I needed to go get myself tested just because I had been with this person and this morning was informed that I too have tested positive for COVID,” Gunn said. “I feel very fortunate that I don’t really have very many symptoms and feel fine.”
Gunn said he called everyone that he had been in close proximity to recently to let them know of his diagnosis and planned to self-quarantine.
Gunn is the state’s highest-ranking political figure to publicly disclose a positive test for the coronavirus. He did not say who the other House member was. The Mississippi Department of Health posted its latest coronavirus statistics Sunday. The state recorded 226 new cases through Saturday bringing the total number of confirmed and probable infections to 30,900 across the state. Five more people also died from COVID-19.
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MADRID — Authorities in northwestern Spain have ordered the lockdown of a county with a population of 71,000 for fears of a coronavirus outbreak.
Regional authorities in Galicia announced Sunday that movement to and from A Mariña county located on Spain’s northern Atlantic coast will be prohibited starting at midnight. It will run through Friday, two days before the region holds elections.
The decision comes one day after regional authorities in northeast Catalonia locked down an area with over 200,000 inhabitants.
Both lockdowns only allow people to leave the areas for work and other extenuating circumstances.
The small-scale lockdowns come two weeks after Spain ended a national state of emergency that enable the national government to lockdown the entire country and prohibit travel between provinces or certain areas since mid-March.
Over 28,000 people are confirmed to have died from the virus in Spain.
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MEXICO CITY — Residents of the town of Sonoyta, across from Lukeville, Arizona, briefly blocked the main road leading south from the U.S. border over the weekend over fears of coronavirus outbreaks.
Arizona has seen a major upsurge in infections and there were worries about intensified contagion during the July 4 weekend.
Sonoyta Mayor José Ramos Arzate issued a statement Saturday “inviting U.S. tourists not to visit Mexico.”
Local residents organized to block the road with their cars on the Mexican side Saturday.
Video posted by residents showed several travelers complaining that they had a right to cross because they were Mexican citizens. The road is the quickest route to the seaside resort of Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point.
Ramos Arzate wrote that people from the United States should only be allowed in “for essential activities, and for that reason, the checkpoint and inspection point a few meters from the Sonoyta-Lukeville AZ crossing will continue operating.”
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DALLAS — Leaders in two of Texas’ biggest cities are calling on the governor to empower local governments to order residents to stay home as the state’s continued surge in confirmed cases of the coronavirus tests hospital capacity.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler, a Democrat, told CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday that he wants Republican Gov. Gregg Abbott to return control to local governments. He says hospitals are facing a crisis and that ICUs could be overrun in 10 days.
In the Houston area, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who is also a Democrat, says a stay-at-home order is needed.
Texas reported its highest daily increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases Saturday with 8,258.
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WASHINGTON — Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says if President Donald Trump were to hold a campaign rally in his Trump-friendly state, people will need to wear masks.
Hutchinson says he would expect people to follow his state’s health guidelines by practicing social distancing or wearing masks if unable to do so.
He says he understands the value of having national Fourth of July celebrations such as at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota and that there is some “virus fatigue,” but that people should have been wearing face coverings to “set an example.”
Trump won Arkansas in 2016 with over 60% of the vote.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, says he’d like to see a national strategy on the coronavirus, including a mask requirement. He says his state is seeing “small spikes in reinfection” from residents coming back from Florida, South Carolina and other virus hotspots, and the U.S. is “as strong as our weakest link right now.”
Trump has recently held campaign-style events in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Phoenix and Washington D.C. where he and many rally attendees didn’t wear masks.
Hutchinson and Murphy spoke on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
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LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Slovenia says 15 people have been infected with the new coronavirus at a nursing home for the first time in weeks as the country faces a spike in cases.
Authorities said Sunday that nine residents and six staff have so far tested positive at the nursing home in the southwestern town of Vipava. The first case was confirmed on Friday.
Slovenia says this is the first resurgence of the virus in the country’s nursing homes since May. Most of the country’s 111 fatalities from the new coronavirus have been recorded among elderly nursing home residents.
Slovenia has confirmed 1,700 cases of the new coronavirus among the country’s 2 million people. The numbers have started to rise in the past days with 21 new cases confirmed on Sunday.
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ROME — After five straight days of small increases, the number of day-to-day confirmed COVID-19 cases in Italy has dipped.
According to Health Ministry figures on Sunday, 192 cases were registered in the previous 24 hours, compared to 235 in Saturday’s tally.
Feeding some of those recent increases, concerned authorities have said, were hotspots of contagion blamed on infected people entering Italy.
Among them was a businessman in northeast Italy who took ill after driving back from a trip in Serbia but despite a fever attended a funeral and a birthday party shortly after he returned home. That man is now hospitalized in intensive care.
The majority of Italy’s 20 regions registered a handful or fewer of new cases on Sunday.
Italy’s confirmed coronavirus infections as of Sunday total 241,611. But many with mild symptoms, as well as numerous elderly residents of nursing homes, didn’t get tested.
Including the seven deaths were registered on Sunday nationwide, 34,861 people with confirmed coronavirus have died in Italy during the pandemic.
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ATHENS, Greece — Greece has banned Serbian travelers because of a spike in COVID-19 cases in that country.
The ban will take effect at 6 a.m. Monday and will last until July 15, but can be extended, a government spokeswoman announced Sunday.
Greek authorities also announced nine new cases of coronavirus and no fatalities in the past 24 hours Sunday.
Seven of the nine cases involved tourists tested upon arrival.
Greece’s total number of confirmed coronavirus cases is now 3,519, with 192 dead.
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PRISTINA, Kosovo — The Kosovar government on has reimposed curfew times in the capital and three other cities following a significant spike of the new virus cases.
Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti said Sunday that in Pristina and three other cities with the highest increasing numbers there ill be again a curfew time from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (1900-0300 GMT). Public transport also will cut in half the allowed number of passengers in the buses, too.
A day earlier Kosovar authorities reported 8 deaths from the coronavirus, the highest daily number in the Western Balkan country since the start of the outbreak in March. New daily cases were 178, also the highest so far.
Increased new cases and daily deaths have worried the authorities in the nation of 1.8 million population after the ease of the lockdown measures a month ago.
Masks are mandatory in all public places.
During the two-month long lockdown the country dealt well in coping with the virus. But following that the daily new cases and deaths have increased significantly, with at least 3,356 confirmed cases and 66 deaths as of Saturday.
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MIAMI — Florida health officials say the state has reached a grim milestone: more than 200,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19.
State statistics released Sunday show about 10,000 new people tested positive. Saturday’s numbers — more than 11,400 cases — marked a record new single-day high. More than 3,700 people have died.
About 43% of the cases are in three counties: Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that the high numbers of positive tests both in his county and the state are “extremely worrisome.”
Suarez, who had the virus in March, says it’s clear the growth is “exponential at this point” and officials are closely monitoring hospitalizations. They’re also closely watching the death rate, which “give us the impression” that “much stricter” measures have to be taken.
Florida’s death count is the ninth highest in the country overall and the 27th highest per capita at 17.4 deaths per 100,000 people.
Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases has increased by 5,323.1, an increase of 184.1%.
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NEW YORK — Tattoo parlors and other personal care businesses like nail salons will be allowed to welcome customers in New York City starting Monday, as it enters Phase 3 of reopening.
The rest of the state’s regions have already moved into Phase 3. New York City will still be more limited, as officials decided last week to hold off on allowing indoor dining indefinitely out of concerns that it would cause a spike in new coronavirus cases. Outdoor dining is in effect.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said there were more than 530 new confirmed cases of the virus reported around the state on Saturday and eight deaths. At the height of New York’s virus outbreak, new infections reached daily totals of more than 10,000 and deaths topped 700.
So far, reopening had been allowed for retail stores and offices.
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WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration commissioner is declining to back up President Donald Trump’s claim that 99% of coronavirus cases are “harmless.”
Dr. Stephen Hahn tells CNN and ABC that he’s “not going to get into who is right and who is wrong,” but that government data clearly show “this is a serious problem.”
He adds that “any case is tragic” and that to stem the tide of surging cases people should follow government guidance to practice social distancing and wear a mask.
In Fourth of July remarks, Trump said the U.S. was testing too much and falsely asserted that “by so doing, we show cases, 99% of which are totally harmless.”
The World Health Organization in fact has said about 20% of those diagnosed with COVID-19 progress to severe disease, including pneumonia and respiratory failure. Those with mild or no symptoms, meanwhile, could spread the virus to others.
The mayor of Austin, Texas, where COVID-19 cases are surging, called Trump’s remarks “dangerous” and “wrong.” Mayor Steve Adler urged people to listen to local officials for public safety guidance rather than the “ambiguous message coming out of Washington.”
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WASHINGTON — Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego is pointing to a “crisis” involving coronavirus testing shortages in her city due to surging cases in Arizona, which leads the U.S. in new coronavirus cases per capita.
Gallego, a Democrat, said some residents over the weekend had to line up for eight hours by car to get COVID-19 tests and that the federal government has been slow to help.
Gallego tells ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that Arizona went from “zero to 60” by being one of the first states to reopen after it was among the last to implement stay-at-home orders.
She says that led to an explosion of cases, citing crowded nightclubs with free champagne and people unwittingly spreading the virus at large family gatherings.
She faults mixed public messaging after President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Phoenix. Gallego says while she was urging people to stay at home and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, Trump undercut that by holding large events and not wearing a mask.(backslash)


mercurynews--2020-07-05--Lawyer: Remains of missing Texas soldier identified

DALLAS — Army investigators have identified the body of a soldier who vanished more than two months ago from a base in Texas , according to a lawyer for the soldiers family .
Remains found last week buried near Fort Hood belong to Spc .
Vanessa Guillén and Army officials informed her family in Houston on Sunday , attorney Natalie Khawam told The Associated Press .
Guillén , who had been missing since April , was killed and dismembered by a fellow soldier who took his own life last week , federal and military investigators have said .
Human remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Bell County , about 20 miles east of Fort Hood , during a the search for Guillén .
An Army spokesman said earlier Sunday that they were still waiting for positive identification of the remains .
Army officials identified the soldier suspected in Guillén ’ s disappearance as Aaron David Robinson .
A criminal complaint released Thursday by the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Western District of Texas also charged a civilian with helping hide the body of the 20-year-old soldier .
Guillén ’ s family has said through their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harassed by the military suspect and is calling for a congressional investigation .

DALLAS — Army investigators have identified the body of a soldier who vanished more than two months ago from a base in Texas, according to a lawyer for the soldiers family.
Remains found last week buried near Fort Hood belong to Spc. Vanessa Guillén and Army officials informed her family in Houston on Sunday, attorney Natalie Khawam told The Associated Press. Guillén, who had been missing since April, was killed and dismembered by a fellow soldier who took his own life last week, federal and military investigators have said.
Human remains were found Tuesday near the Leon River in Bell County, about 20 miles east of Fort Hood, during a the search for Guillén. An Army spokesman said earlier Sunday that they were still waiting for positive identification of the remains.
Army officials identified the soldier suspected in Guillén’s disappearance as Aaron David Robinson. A criminal complaint released Thursday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas also charged a civilian with helping hide the body of the 20-year-old soldier.
Guillén’s family has said through their lawyer that they believe she was sexually harassed by the military suspect and is calling for a congressional investigation.


mercurynews--2020-07-05--Paraglider rescued from cliff at Daly City beach

DALY CITY — Firefighters and California Highway Patrol air-operations crew members rescued a paraglider from a beach cliffside on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ a social-media post just after 1:45 p.m. , the CHP said crew members aboard a @ @ @ @ @ Fire Department firefighters to reach the paraglider , who was injured on a cliffside at @ @ @ @ @ Skyline and Westline drives .
After reaching the middle of the cliff about 400 feet @ @ @ @ @ carried the paraglider , who was suffering from major injuries , to an ambulance that @ @ @ @ @ hospital .
No condition was immediately available Sunday afternoon .

DALY CITY — Firefighters and California Highway Patrol air-operations crew members rescued a paraglider from a beach cliffside on Sunday, authorities said.
In a social-media post just after 1:45 p.m., the CHP said crew members aboard a helicopter were helping Daly City Fire Department firefighters to reach the paraglider, who was injured on a cliffside at Mussel Rock Beach Park at Skyline and Westline drives.
After reaching the middle of the cliff about 400 feet from the beach, crews carried the paraglider, who was suffering from major injuries, to an ambulance that drove them to an area hospital. No condition was immediately available Sunday afternoon.
Check back for updates.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.


mercurynews--2020-07-05--Jesús Luzardo, Mike Fiers yet to join A’s on field due to ‘pending issues’

CLICK HERE if you ’ re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device .
Highly-touted left-handed rookie Jesús Luzardo and veteran right-hander Mike Fiers — who worked out together in South Florida during baseball ’ s shutdown — weren ’ t permitted on the field yet due to a “ pending issue , ” said manager Bob Melvin prior to workouts on Sunday .
That word , “ pending , ” weighs heavy with possibilities — and Melvin ruled out injury .
This could most likely mean that the test results are simply lagging at the lab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at liberty to disclose test results , but if Luzardo and Fiers tested positive , they ’ d need to sit out for at least two weeks and test negative for the virus twice before being cleared to join the team again .
That , of course , could jeopardize the state of the team ’ s prized rotation heading into opening day on July 24 .
It ’ s not known if either pitcher is considering an opt-out , but it seems very unlikely .
Luzardo , Oakland ’ s longtime top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Year candidate , has been itching to dive into the big leagues .
Fiers has little to no reason to opt out .
He ’ s been a key leader for this young pitching staff and is a free agent after this season , so opting into the season may improve his market .
• Kurtenbach : Is baseball ’ s new preseason long enough ?
• On this date , 1996 : A ’ s , Angels score MLB record 16 runs in an inning • “ I have to train myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A ’ s adjusting to new normal back at the Coliseum • Summer camp preview : With some A ’ s questions from Spring answered , new ones arise A.J .
Puk is about a step behind the rest of the pitching staff , Melvin said , but pitchers who have been cleared for camp are on track to pitch living batting practice on Wednesday .
Pending test results , varying timelines , and moving pieces aside , Melvin isn ’ t concerned now that the rotation the A ’ s envisioned is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this point , ” he said .
“ If it goes on a little bit longer , maybe , but not at this point.
” Pitchers such as Liam Hendriks and Chris Bassitt claim they ’ d be ready to face hitters as soon as possible .
Left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea said his arm strength and stuff feels about where it should be three weeks prior to a season — with some minor tweaks to be had .
Right-handed starter Frankie Montas posted videos of himself on social media throwing 100 mph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their bullpen session , catcher Sean Murphy verified that Montas ’ arm strength seemed not too far off .
A ’ s bench coach Ryan Christenson is responsible yearly for crafting spring training ’ s complex schedule .
Summer camp 2020 is proving to be the ultimate scheduling jigsaw he may ever piece together .
Not only is the training time allotted sliced in half , but Christenson has to juggle staggered arrival times and , out of the gate , snafus with intake testing hold-ups .
Pitchers and catchers reported on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 42-man squad planning to take the field not long after on Sunday afternoon .
News of Luzardo and Fiers ’ stalled arrival followed news Sunday morning that , due to Saturday ’ s holiday , A ’ s position players who tested on Friday weren ’ t cleared to take the field on Sunday .
This forced the A ’ s to postpone their first full squad workout until Monday , possibly .
“ It feels like we ’ re five days behind with position players right now , ” Melvin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really the case , but it feels like it .
”

CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
Highly-touted left-handed rookie Jesús Luzardo and veteran right-hander Mike Fiers — who worked out together in South Florida during baseball’s shutdown — weren’t permitted on the field yet due to a “pending issue,” said manager Bob Melvin prior to workouts on Sunday.
That word, “pending,” weighs heavy with possibilities — and Melvin ruled out injury. This could most likely mean that the test results are simply lagging at the lab.
The A’s are not at liberty to disclose test results, but if Luzardo and Fiers tested positive, they’d need to sit out for at least two weeks and test negative for the virus twice before being cleared to join the team again.
That, of course, could jeopardize the state of the team’s prized rotation heading into opening day on July 24. It’s not known if either pitcher is considering an opt-out, but it seems very unlikely. Luzardo, Oakland’s longtime top prospect and American League Rookie of the Year candidate, has been itching to dive into the big leagues. Fiers has little to no reason to opt out. He’s been a key leader for this young pitching staff and is a free agent after this season, so opting into the season may improve his market.
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“Not at this point,” he said. “If it goes on a little bit longer, maybe, but not at this point.”
Pitchers such as Liam Hendriks and Chris Bassitt claim they’d be ready to face hitters as soon as possible. Left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea said his arm strength and stuff feels about where it should be three weeks prior to a season — with some minor tweaks to be had. Right-handed starter Frankie Montas posted videos of himself on social media throwing 100 mph, and after getting a sore hand in their bullpen session, catcher Sean Murphy verified that Montas’ arm strength seemed not too far off.
A’s bench coach Ryan Christenson is responsible yearly for crafting spring training’s complex schedule. Summer camp 2020 is proving to be the ultimate scheduling jigsaw he may ever piece together. Not only is the training time allotted sliced in half, but Christenson has to juggle staggered arrival times and, out of the gate, snafus with intake testing hold-ups.
Pitchers and catchers reported on the Fourth of July with the rest of the 42-man squad planning to take the field not long after on Sunday afternoon. News of Luzardo and Fiers’ stalled arrival followed news Sunday morning that, due to Saturday’s holiday, A’s position players who tested on Friday weren’t cleared to take the field on Sunday. This forced the A’s to postpone their first full squad workout until Monday, possibly.
“It feels like we’re five days behind with position players right now,” Melvin said. “That’s not really the case, but it feels like it.”


mercurynews--2020-07-05--Coronavirus: California records almost 2,000 more cases with some counties not reporting

California reported 1,974 new cases of novel coronavirus and 18 deaths on Saturday , the second consecutive day of decreasing figures , even as some of the state ’ s most populous counties did not report numbers .
As of Saturday evening , California had 251,236 cases and 6,330 deaths , according to figures compiled by this news organization .
The figure accounted for about 626 cases and 15.8 deaths per 100,000 residents .
The cases reported over the July 4 holiday weekend represent a downward trend from the skyrocketing figures last week in which California twice reached record highs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of COVID-19 with almost 62 deaths per day .
But the figures do not include Los Angeles County , which has 43 percent of all the cases in the state and went into Friday averaging 2,314 daily cases and 30 deaths .
Los Angeles County Public Health said on its website it is improving its data processing systems and will not report new data until Monday .
In the Bay Area , Contra Costa County recorded 132 new cases for a total of 3,564 and two new deaths for a total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases and one death on Saturday , for a total of 5,077 cases and 161 deaths .
Cases have been spiking in Santa Clara County since mid-May , with a seven-day average of 156 cases daily .
On May 11 the county was averaging 14 daily cases .
San Mateo County reported 95 new cases for a total of 3,536 and no new deaths for the second consecutive day .
The county has a seven-day average of almost 65 cases daily .
• The Latest : Californians mostly avoid beaches over weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others packed beaches despite coronavirus surge • Naked men and drunks : England assesses the reopening of pubs Alameda County , which has the most cases in the Bay Area , reported 84 new cases for a total of 6,556 and two deaths for a total of 142 .
The county has a seven-day average of almost 152 daily cases .
San Francisco reported no new cases , for a total of 3,776 and no new deaths , with a total of 50 COVID-19 fatalities .
The county has a seven-day average of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an overall positive testing rate of 3 percent .

California reported 1,974 new cases of novel coronavirus and 18 deaths on Saturday, the second consecutive day of decreasing figures, even as some of the state’s most populous counties did not report numbers.
As of Saturday evening, California had 251,236 cases and 6,330 deaths, according to figures compiled by this news organization. The figure accounted for about 626 cases and 15.8 deaths per 100,000 residents.
The cases reported over the July 4 holiday weekend represent a downward trend from the skyrocketing figures last week in which California twice reached record highs. The seven-day average was 5,904 daily cases of COVID-19 with almost 62 deaths per day.
But the figures do not include Los Angeles County, which has 43 percent of all the cases in the state and went into Friday averaging 2,314 daily cases and 30 deaths. Los Angeles County Public Health said on its website it is improving its data processing systems and will not report new data until Monday.
In the Bay Area, Contra Costa County recorded 132 new cases for a total of 3,564 and two new deaths for a total of 81.
Santa Clara County reported 228 new cases and one death on Saturday, for a total of 5,077 cases and 161 deaths. Cases have been spiking in Santa Clara County since mid-May, with a seven-day average of 156 cases daily. On May 11 the county was averaging 14 daily cases.
San Mateo County reported 95 new cases for a total of 3,536 and no new deaths for the second consecutive day. The county has a seven-day average of almost 65 cases daily.
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San Francisco reported no new cases, for a total of 3,776 and no new deaths, with a total of 50 COVID-19 fatalities. The county has a seven-day average of 54 daily cases. San Francisco has an overall positive testing rate of 3 percent.


mercurynews--2020-07-05--Martinez: Suspects vandalize Black Lives Matter mural downtown

MARTINEZ — A man and woman vandalized a permitted Black Lives Matter mural in the city ’ s downtown , minutes after community members finished painting it , police said .
Community members had obtained a permit from the city to paint a Black Lives Matter mural Saturday in front of the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse on Court Street .
Once the mural was finished , police said , an unidentified white man and woman arrived and began painting over the mural with black paint as they made comments to onlookers denigrating the Black Lives Matter movement and saying that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Most of the incident was captured in a video posted on YouTube , where a woman can be seen using a rolling paint brush to spread black paint over the finished yellow street mural .
Editor ’ s note : This video contains strong language .
Viewer discretion is advised .
“ The narrative of police brutality , of oppression , of racism is a lie , ” the man says as the woman paints over the mural .
“ This is racism is what it is .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were notified but by the time they arrived the suspects were gone .
Police said a witness provided a photo of the suspect ’ s vehicle which was described as a Nissan pickup truck with the word NICOLE on the right side fo the tailgate in silver lettering .
The truck has a camper shell and the license plate is 52701B1 , police said .
“ The community spent a considerable amount of time putting the mural together only to have it painted over in a hateful and senseless manner , ” police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Martinez values tolerance and the damage to the mural was divisive and hurtful .
Please help us identify those that are responsible for this crime , so they can be held accountable for their actions.
” • The Latest : Columbus statue yanked , tossed into Inner Harbor The vandalism came just a week after police said racist fliers were spread around downtown Martinez threatening Black Lives Matter activists .
The incidents are also part of a larger trend of racist graffiti , vandalism and hate crime allegations across the Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mural was restored soon after , and a case is currently under investigation .
Anyone with information is asked to call Martinez Police at 925-372-3440 .

MARTINEZ — A man and woman vandalized a permitted Black Lives Matter mural in the city’s downtown, minutes after community members finished painting it, police said.
Community members had obtained a permit from the city to paint a Black Lives Matter mural Saturday in front of the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse on Court Street.
Once the mural was finished, police said, an unidentified white man and woman arrived and began painting over the mural with black paint as they made comments to onlookers denigrating the Black Lives Matter movement and saying that “this is not happening in my town.”
Most of the incident was captured in a video posted on YouTube, where a woman can be seen using a rolling paint brush to spread black paint over the finished yellow street mural.
Editor’s note: This video contains strong language. Viewer discretion is advised.
“The narrative of police brutality, of oppression, of racism is a lie,” the man says as the woman paints over the mural. “This is racism is what it is. It’s a leftist lie.”
Martinez police said they were notified but by the time they arrived the suspects were gone.
Police said a witness provided a photo of the suspect’s vehicle which was described as a Nissan pickup truck with the word NICOLE on the right side fo the tailgate in silver lettering. The truck has a camper shell and the license plate is 52701B1, police said.
“The community spent a considerable amount of time putting the mural together only to have it painted over in a hateful and senseless manner,” police said in a statement. “The city of Martinez values tolerance and the damage to the mural was divisive and hurtful. Please help us identify those that are responsible for this crime, so they can be held accountable for their actions.”
The vandalism came just a week after police said racist fliers were spread around downtown Martinez threatening Black Lives Matter activists. The incidents are also part of a larger trend of racist graffiti, vandalism and hate crime allegations across the Bay Area in the past month.
The mural was restored soon after, and a case is currently under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Martinez Police at 925-372-3440.


mercurynews--2020-07-05--Woman who made racist remarks in video faces separate charge

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) — A woman whose racist , anti-Asian tirades were caught on video last month is facing a warrant for her arrest in connection with a separate confrontation last year .
The Torrance city attorney ’ s office said 54-year-old Lena Hernandez was charged Thursday in a case of battery related to an October 2019 event , The Los Angeles Times reported .
Police allege Hernandez , a retired social worker from Long Beach , verbally assaulted a custodian and struck another person who tried to intervene at a mall in Torrance .
Hernandez is scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Torrance Superior Court on Monday .
Last month at a park in Torrance , a woman later identified as Hernandez was recorded on video using profanity while speaking to a younger woman who was exercising at a set of stairs .
“ Go back to whatever … Asian country you belong in , ” Hernandez said in the video .
In a second outburst later that day , a video showed Hernandez berating a man in his car with two of his children present and saying , “ You know what , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profanity , threatened to kill the man and referred to him as a “ Chinaman.
” She complained his vehicle was parked too close to her Honda .
Video clips of both encounters were posted on Twitter .
The two videos , here and here , contain offensive language .
Torrance officials said the city attorney reviewed the police investigations and concluded there was insufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges against Hernandez for her comments .
Torrance Mayor Patrick Furey said the scene he saw on social media was “ nauseating to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seattle protester who was struck by a car has died • Baltimore protesters toppled a Christopher Columbus statue and threw it in a harbor • The Latest : Columbus statue yanked , tossed into Inner Harbor The population of the city , where 80 languages are spoken , is between 30 % and 40 % Asian or Pacific Islander , Furey said .

LOS ANGELES — A woman whose racist, anti-Asian tirades were caught on video last month is facing a warrant for her arrest in connection with a separate confrontation last year.
The Torrance city attorney’s office said 54-year-old Lena Hernandez was charged Thursday in a case of battery related to an October 2019 event, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Police allege Hernandez, a retired social worker from Long Beach, verbally assaulted a custodian and struck another person who tried to intervene at a mall in Torrance.
Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Police identify California woman in video of verbal tirade at Asian woman
Police identify California woman in video of verbal tirade at Asian woman Crime and Public Safety | A woman is captured on video harassing a Filipino American woman exercising in a California park Hernandez is scheduled to be heard on the charge at Torrance Superior Court on Monday.
Last month at a park in Torrance, a woman later identified as Hernandez was recorded on video using profanity while speaking to a younger woman who was exercising at a set of stairs.
“Go back to whatever … Asian country you belong in,” Hernandez said in the video.
In a second outburst later that day, a video showed Hernandez berating a man in his car with two of his children present and saying, “You know what, you need to go home.”
She used profanity, threatened to kill the man and referred to him as a “Chinaman.” She complained his vehicle was parked too close to her Honda.
Video clips of both encounters were posted on Twitter. The two videos, here and here, contain offensive language.
Torrance officials said the city attorney reviewed the police investigations and concluded there was insufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges against Hernandez for her comments.
Torrance Mayor Patrick Furey said the scene he saw on social media was “nauseating to absolutely anybody in our community.”