latimes--2020-10-20--NTSB faults poor oversight and lack of roving watch for Conception boat fire that killed 34

A deadly fire engulfed the Conception dive boat off the Channel Islands last year because its owner , Truth Aquatics , failed to have effective oversight of the vessel and did not operate a required roving watch that likely would have detected the fire sooner and could have saved lives , the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday .
In announcing the findings of its investigation into the fire that killed 34 people sleeping below deck , the agency recommended sweeping changes to small vessel oversight by the U.S. Coast Guard , including better smoke detection systems and emergency exits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boat .
Although the NTSB determined the fire began in the back of a middle deck salon where lithium-ion batteries were being charged , the agency could not say whether it was the batteries , the ship ’ s electrical system or an unattended fire source that ignited the blaze .
But NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said regardless of the source of the fire , the 33 passengers and one crew member below deck probably could have escaped if there had been early detection of the blaze .
The agency found that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes before a crew member sleeping in the wheelhouse atop the three-deck boat was awakened by a pop , crackle and the glow of the flames from the middle deck .
The NTSB cited the failure by the boat ’ s captain , Jerry Boylan , and Conception ’ s owner , Truth Aquatics , to comply with a Coast Guard requirement that it operate a roving watch whenever passengers were below deck .
Sumwalt said the NTSB interviewed captains and crew members from other Truth Aquatics vessels , and all stated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same as those on the Conception .
That failure was identified in a Times investigation last year , the NTSB board noted Tuesday .
No roving watches were set while in port or at anchor in direct violation of Coast Guard requirements for the Conception , according to NTSB investigators .
“ It is a grim picture , a picture of a charter boat company that repeatedly disregarded its procedures .
The most critical of those deviations , in my opinion , was the failure to require a roving patrol that in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life , ” Sumwalt said .
“ It is also a picture of a calm Pacific Ocean on Labor Day morning in the pre-dawn hours when the ocean is illuminated by the bright glow of the fire aboard the Conception that unfortunately claimed 34 lives.
” The Coast Guard , the NTSB board members noted , did not require logs of roving watches , so no vessel operated since the 1990s has been cited for failing to have a roving watch .
Board member Jennifer Homendy , who led the NTSB investigation on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the day there was one person in charge of safety : Truth Aquatics.
” “ This is the greatest loss of life in many decades , ” Homendy said .
“ We never want that to happen again.
” The NTSB also found that the Conception did not have smoke detectors installed in the area of the boat where the fire started .
And while placing much of the blame on Truth Aquatics , the agency did not spare government regulators , finding that “ contributing to the undetected growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States Coast Guard regulatory requirements for smoke detectors.
” “ It is amazing we have an unattended room with batteries charging in it , a griddle , two burners as well as a refrigerator and we have no regulation that requires smoke detectors , ” NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg said .
The agency also faulted the limited ways in which passengers below deck could escape from the blaze .
“ Contributing to the high loss of life were the inadequate emergency escape arrangements from the vessel ’ s bunkroom , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engulfed in fire , thereby preventing escape , ” the NTSB said .
Glen Fritzler , the owner of Truth Aquatics , has denied wrongdoing and insisted that a crew member was awake when the fire was detected .
His attorney has said that a crew member was in the salon area less than half an hour before the fire was discovered .
The panel determined that most of the 33 passengers and one crew member below deck were awake — some with their shoes on — as the fire engulfed the vessel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escape the bunk room and died of smoke inhalation .
Santa Barbara officials have long said that the 34 who perished likely never knew of the fire .
After presenting its findings and probable cause , the NTSB board adopted a slate of recommendations .
It called for vessels similar to the Conception with overnight accommodations to be required to have interconnected smoke detectors in all passenger areas .
It recommended that a secondary means of escape lead into a different space than the primary exit .
The agency also called on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspection program to verify that roving patrols are conducted as required for the safety of sleeping passengers and crew .
“ The Conception may have passed all Coast Guard inspections , but that did not make it safe , ” Sumwalt said .
“ Our new recommendations will make these vessels safer , but there is no rule change that can replace human vigilance.
” Coast Guard chief spokesman Kurt Fredrickson said in a statement that it “ will carefully consider the National Transportation Safety Board ’ s recommendations through a deliberate process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subject matter experts and senior leaders responsible for implementing the potential regulatory changes.
” He added that the Coast Guard is conducting a Marine Board of Investigation into the fire .
“ We will look at all possible factors that may have caused this incident , including those associated with regulations or oversight , and make recommendations for any necessary changes , ” he said .
Kathleen and Clark McIlvain , whose son Charles was among those killed in the fire , expressed appreciation for the NTSB ’ s efforts .
“ Reliving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s life and that of 33 others was extremely painful but we are grateful to the NTSB for their thorough investigation , ” they said in a statement .
“ Our hope is that the safety recommendations proposed by the NTSB are swiftly adopted as regulatory requirements by the Coast Guard to ensure no other family experiences this pain and grief .
”

A deadly fire engulfed the Conception dive boat off the Channel Islands last year because its owner, Truth Aquatics, failed to have effective oversight of the vessel and did not operate a required roving watch that likely would have detected the fire sooner and could have saved lives, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday.
In announcing the findings of its investigation into the fire that killed 34 people sleeping below deck, the agency recommended sweeping changes to small vessel oversight by the U.S. Coast Guard, including better smoke detection systems and emergency exits that lead to different areas of the boat.
Although the NTSB determined the fire began in the back of a middle deck salon where lithium-ion batteries were being charged, the agency could not say whether it was the batteries, the ship’s electrical system or an unattended fire source that ignited the blaze.
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But NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said regardless of the source of the fire, the 33 passengers and one crew member below deck probably could have escaped if there had been early detection of the blaze. The agency found that the fire was burning for at least 30 minutes before a crew member sleeping in the wheelhouse atop the three-deck boat was awakened by a pop, crackle and the glow of the flames from the middle deck.
The NTSB cited the failure by the boat’s captain, Jerry Boylan, and Conception’s owner, Truth Aquatics, to comply with a Coast Guard requirement that it operate a roving watch whenever passengers were below deck. Sumwalt said the NTSB interviewed captains and crew members from other Truth Aquatics vessels, and all stated that the practices on their vessels were the same as those on the Conception.
That failure was identified in a Times investigation last year, the NTSB board noted Tuesday. No roving watches were set while in port or at anchor in direct violation of Coast Guard requirements for the Conception, according to NTSB investigators.
“It is a grim picture, a picture of a charter boat company that repeatedly disregarded its procedures. The most critical of those deviations, in my opinion, was the failure to require a roving patrol that in my opinion contributed to the high loss of life,” Sumwalt said. “It is also a picture of a calm Pacific Ocean on Labor Day morning in the pre-dawn hours when the ocean is illuminated by the bright glow of the fire aboard the Conception that unfortunately claimed 34 lives.”
The Coast Guard, the NTSB board members noted, did not require logs of roving watches, so no vessel operated since the 1990s has been cited for failing to have a roving watch.
Board member Jennifer Homendy, who led the NTSB investigation on the ground, said, “at the end of the day there was one person in charge of safety: Truth Aquatics.”
“This is the greatest loss of life in many decades,” Homendy said. “We never want that to happen again.”
The NTSB also found that the Conception did not have smoke detectors installed in the area of the boat where the fire started. And while placing much of the blame on Truth Aquatics, the agency did not spare government regulators, finding that “contributing to the undetected growth of the fire was the lack of United States Coast Guard regulatory requirements for smoke detectors.”
“It is amazing we have an unattended room with batteries charging in it, a griddle, two burners as well as a refrigerator and we have no regulation that requires smoke detectors,” NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg said.
The agency also faulted the limited ways in which passengers below deck could escape from the blaze.
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“Contributing to the high loss of life were the inadequate emergency escape arrangements from the vessel’s bunkroom, as both exited into a compartment that was engulfed in fire, thereby preventing escape,” the NTSB said.
Glen Fritzler, the owner of Truth Aquatics, has denied wrongdoing and insisted that a crew member was awake when the fire was detected. His attorney has said that a crew member was in the salon area less than half an hour before the fire was discovered.
The panel determined that most of the 33 passengers and one crew member below deck were awake — some with their shoes on — as the fire engulfed the vessel about 3 a.m., but could not escape the bunk room and died of smoke inhalation. Santa Barbara officials have long said that the 34 who perished likely never knew of the fire.
After presenting its findings and probable cause, the NTSB board adopted a slate of recommendations. It called for vessels similar to the Conception with overnight accommodations to be required to have interconnected smoke detectors in all passenger areas. It recommended that a secondary means of escape lead into a different space than the primary exit. The agency also called on the Coast Guard to develop and implement an inspection program to verify that roving patrols are conducted as required for the safety of sleeping passengers and crew.
“The Conception may have passed all Coast Guard inspections, but that did not make it safe,” Sumwalt said. “Our new recommendations will make these vessels safer, but there is no rule change that can replace human vigilance.”
Coast Guard chief spokesman Kurt Fredrickson said in a statement that it “will carefully consider the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendations through a deliberate process, which will include review by all subject matter experts and senior leaders responsible for implementing the potential regulatory changes.”
He added that the Coast Guard is conducting a Marine Board of Investigation into the fire. “We will look at all possible factors that may have caused this incident, including those associated with regulations or oversight, and make recommendations for any necessary changes,” he said.
Kathleen and Clark McIlvain, whose son Charles was among those killed in the fire, expressed appreciation for the NTSB’s efforts.
“Reliving the Conception disaster that took our son’s life and that of 33 others was extremely painful but we are grateful to the NTSB for their thorough investigation,” they said in a statement. “Our hope is that the safety recommendations proposed by the NTSB are swiftly adopted as regulatory requirements by the Coast Guard to ensure no other family experiences this pain and grief.”


latimes--2020-10-20--Riverside County falls back a coronavirus tier; state to focus on Southern California

Riverside County officially slid black into the most restrictive tier on California ’ s coronavirus reopening scale Tuesday as state officials announced plans to devote additional resources to curb transmission of the virus there and in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties .
With Riverside ’ s recent reclassification , all three of those counties are now in Tier 1 , or purple tier , which indicates widespread risk of local infection .
While in that category , a county ’ s schools , many businesses and public facilities either can not operate indoors or can do so only at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s support for those counties “ will take many different forms , but will really be tailored around the needs identified by our local leaders and public health officials , ” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said at a weekly briefing .
Resources could include increased testing capacity and availability , additional assistance for those who have to isolate , business enforcement and education efforts .
“ The state is committed to working with all three of the counties to do all that we can to increase efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
Though they ’ re firmly in the state ’ s scope at the moment , the three Southern California counties aren ’ t the only ones in the most restrictive of the state ’ s four color-coded reopening tiers .
Joining them in the purple tier are Imperial , Tulare , Monterey , Madera , Sonoma , Mendocino , Glenn , Tehama and Shasta counties — the last of which , like Riverside , was reclassified Tuesday .
This is the second time this month that Shasta County has been moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land in the purple tier if they have more than seven new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people per day and/or a coronavirus test positivity rate of more than 8 % .
For Riverside and Shasta , moving from Tier 2 — the red tier , indicating substantial risk of the virus — to Tier 1 will force many businesses and organizations to either reduce capacity or move their operations outdoors .
Schools that had opened for in-person instruction may remain open , but those that have not will have to go through a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kaiser , Riverside County ’ s health officer .
Along with monitoring the number of newly confirmed infections , the state also adjusts the way it calculates counties ’ case rates to account for how much testing they ’ re doing .
Those performing fewer tests than the state average have their case rates adjusted upward .
Riverside County officials warned earlier this month that such an adjustment put it at risk of moving back to the more restrictive tier .
However , as of Tuesday , even its unadjusted new case rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do appreciate the tremendous effort made by our businesses and residents over the last week on testing , but I think it is clear we will not be able to test our way out of this , ” Kaiser told the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday .
“ We do still need robust testing levels to define the problem and intervene with cases and contacts as quickly as we can … and we want to minimize the penalty assessed for being below the state testing median.
” However , he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission has already occurred.
” “ The quickest way that we can return to the red tier and progress further is by businesses , institutions and individuals taking the virus seriously and , because we are taking it seriously , engaging in the right precautions to protect ourselves individually and our patrons and clients , ” he said .
“ The cycle of transmission is still self-sustaining , even in our hospitals , and it needs to be broken.
” Several other counties did move to more lenient tiers Tuesday .
Butte and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orange , indicating moderate risk of community transmission — and San Francisco moved to the least restrictive yellow tier .
“ Today really is a sign of hope for our city and for our economic recovery , ” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a statement Tuesday .
“ Every step of the way we ’ ve made decisions through the lens of public health , and we will continue to do so going forward .
We know new cases of COVID are rising in other parts of the country , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain vigilant .
”

Riverside County officially slid back into the most restrictive tier on California’s coronavirus reopening scale Tuesday as state officials announced plans to devote additional resources to curb transmission of the virus there and in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
With Riverside’s recent reclassification, all three of those counties are now in Tier 1, or purple tier, which indicates widespread risk of local infection.
While in that category, a county’s schools, many businesses and public facilities either cannot operate indoors or can do so only at a strictly limited capacity.
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The state’s support for those counties “will take many different forms, but will really be tailored around the needs identified by our local leaders and public health officials,” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said at a weekly briefing.
California Young adults still driving COVID-19 cases in L.A. County Officials stressed that the disease can strike any age group and that personal decisions on adhering to prevention measures will dictate when the county can further lift restrictions on businesses and public facilities.
Resources could include increased testing capacity and availability, additional assistance for those who have to isolate, business enforcement and education efforts.
“The state is committed to working with all three of the counties to do all that we can to increase efforts to reduce transmission,” Ghaly said Tuesday.
Though they’re firmly in the state’s scope at the moment, the three Southern California counties aren’t the only ones in the most restrictive of the state’s four color-coded reopening tiers.
Joining them in the purple tier are Imperial, Tulare, Monterey, Madera, Sonoma, Mendocino, Glenn, Tehama and Shasta counties — the last of which, like Riverside, was reclassified Tuesday.
This is the second time this month that Shasta County has been moved into a stricter reopening tier.
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Counties land in the purple tier if they have more than seven new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people per day and/or a coronavirus test positivity rate of more than 8%.
For Riverside and Shasta, moving from Tier 2 — the red tier, indicating substantial risk of the virus — to Tier 1 will force many businesses and organizations to either reduce capacity or move their operations outdoors.
Schools that had opened for in-person instruction may remain open, but those that have not will have to go through a waiver process, according to Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County’s health officer.
Along with monitoring the number of newly confirmed infections, the state also adjusts the way it calculates counties’ case rates to account for how much testing they’re doing. Those performing fewer tests than the state average have their case rates adjusted upward.
California Why one coronavirus metric might be keeping your county from reopening California counties need to show seven or fewer new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents each day for two weeks to see some restrictions lifted. That’s a high bar for some.
Riverside County officials warned earlier this month that such an adjustment put it at risk of moving back to the more restrictive tier. However, as of Tuesday, even its unadjusted new case rate was 8.4 per 100,000 people.
“I do appreciate the tremendous effort made by our businesses and residents over the last week on testing, but I think it is clear we will not be able to test our way out of this,” Kaiser told the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. “We do still need robust testing levels to define the problem and intervene with cases and contacts as quickly as we can … and we want to minimize the penalty assessed for being below the state testing median.”
However, he added, “finding positive tests means that transmission has already occurred.”
“The quickest way that we can return to the red tier and progress further is by businesses, institutions and individuals taking the virus seriously and, because we are taking it seriously, engaging in the right precautions to protect ourselves individually and our patrons and clients,” he said. “The cycle of transmission is still self-sustaining, even in our hospitals, and it needs to be broken.”
Several other counties did move to more lenient tiers Tuesday.
Butte and Napa counties moved to Tier 3 — orange, indicating moderate risk of community transmission — and San Francisco moved to the least restrictive yellow tier.
“Today really is a sign of hope for our city and for our economic recovery,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a statement Tuesday. “Every step of the way we’ve made decisions through the lens of public health, and we will continue to do so going forward. We know new cases of COVID are rising in other parts of the country, so we cannot relax. We must remain vigilant.”


latimes--2020-10-20--After ballot box fire, registrar is sorting through votes that can be salvaged

Ballots retrieved from a Baldwin Park drop box that was burned in what authorities say may have been arson have been transferred to the Los Angeles County registrar for sorting and review , officials said Tuesday .
County Clerk Dean C. Logan of the registrar ’ s office said more than 230 pieces of “ material ” were salvaged from the box , which was at one point soaked in water in an attempt to extinguish the flames .
“ That doesn ’ t necessarily equate to 230 ballots , ” Logan said , “ although it could be close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sift through the seared , soggy pile to see what can be saved .
If a ballot can ’ t be preserved , officials will work to alert the voters who need to resubmit their ballots using the contact information printed on the envelope .
Los Angeles County Fire Department spokeswoman Leslie Lua said Monday that arson was being investigated as a possible cause of the fire .
If confirmed , she said , it would be the first instance of ballot-box arson in the county .
The Baldwin Park box was last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fire began at 8 p.m. Sunday , so residents who may have placed their ballots in the box during those intervening hours should check the county ’ s official ballot tracker for status updates or call ( 562 ) 503-2445 for assistance .
About 20 voters have already reached out to arrange for a replacement ballot , Logan said .
The ballot drop-box program began in 2017 as an alternative voting option for L.A. ’ s 5.7 million registered voters , the largest election jurisdiction in the country .
But the boxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socially distanced choice during the coronavirus pandemic , and vote-by-mail ballots were sent to every registered voter in the county .
Officials said that was partly why Sunday ’ s incident was so concerning .
“ The pandemic has reaffirmed in many ways ... the importance of our civic engagement , ” L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis said .
“ It has actually upped the ante , and that extends to the ballot boxes .
Elections do matter , and our residents ’ voices need to be heard.
” In response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boxes would be emptied nightly through election day on Nov. 3 .
( The state regulation requires pickup only every 96 hours ) .
A new ballot box will be placed in Baldwin Park in a different location that has “ better lighting ” in an effort to avoid a similar incident , she said .
“ So many of you and your families and your ancestors have fought so hard for us to have the right to vote , and that includes the very residents in Baldwin Park , a hardworking blue-collar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of L.A. County , ” Solis said Tuesday .
But Los Angeles County won ’ t go as far as Orange County has .
In Orange County , fire-suppressive ballot boxes have been installed to protect against the potential threat of flames .
Logan said they considered using the boxes in L.A. County , but testing revealed that — although the boxes are useful in the event of a fire — the suppressant spray could destroy ballots or make them harder to recover .
Because the ballots in the Baldwin Park box pertained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as county-level races , the incident was reported to the FBI and the attorney general in addition to local law enforcement , Logan said .
The registrar takes the integrity of all elections very seriously , he said .
“ There has been concern in the national narrative about attempts to disrupt the process or create barriers to voting in this election , ” he said , “ and any sign — or even just the appearance of that — is something we want to respond to quickly.
” Both he and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t affect residents ’ desire to vote .
With just two weeks until election day , L.A. County residents have already cast over 1 million ballots .

Ballots retrieved from a Baldwin Park drop box that was burned in what authorities say may have been arson have been transferred to the Los Angeles County registrar for sorting and review, officials said Tuesday.
County Clerk Dean C. Logan of the registrar’s office said more than 230 pieces of “material” were salvaged from the box, which was at one point soaked in water in an attempt to extinguish the flames.
“That doesn’t necessarily equate to 230 ballots,” Logan said, “although it could be close to that.”
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Election officials will now sift through the seared, soggy pile to see what can be saved. If a ballot can’t be preserved, officials will work to alert the voters who need to resubmit their ballots using the contact information printed on the envelope.
Los Angeles County Fire Department spokeswoman Leslie Lua said Monday that arson was being investigated as a possible cause of the fire. If confirmed, she said, it would be the first instance of ballot-box arson in the county.
The Baldwin Park box was last emptied around 10 a.m. Saturday, and the fire began at 8 p.m. Sunday, so residents who may have placed their ballots in the box during those intervening hours should check the county’s official ballot tracker for status updates or call (562) 503-2445 for assistance.
About 20 voters have already reached out to arrange for a replacement ballot, Logan said.
The ballot drop-box program began in 2017 as an alternative voting option for L.A.’s 5.7 million registered voters, the largest election jurisdiction in the country. But the boxes gained new prominence this year as a socially distanced choice during the coronavirus pandemic, and vote-by-mail ballots were sent to every registered voter in the county.
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Officials said that was partly why Sunday’s incident was so concerning.
“The pandemic has reaffirmed in many ways ... the importance of our civic engagement,” L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis said. “It has actually upped the ante, and that extends to the ballot boxes. Elections do matter, and our residents’ voices need to be heard.”
In response to the Baldwin Park incident, Solis said ballot boxes would be emptied nightly through election day on Nov. 3. (The state regulation requires pickup only every 96 hours). A new ballot box will be placed in Baldwin Park in a different location that has “better lighting” in an effort to avoid a similar incident, she said.
“So many of you and your families and your ancestors have fought so hard for us to have the right to vote, and that includes the very residents in Baldwin Park, a hardworking blue-collar community that is part of the fabric of L.A. County,” Solis said Tuesday.
But Los Angeles County won’t go as far as Orange County has. In Orange County, fire-suppressive ballot boxes have been installed to protect against the potential threat of flames. Logan said they considered using the boxes in L.A. County, but testing revealed that — although the boxes are useful in the event of a fire — the suppressant spray could destroy ballots or make them harder to recover.
Because the ballots in the Baldwin Park box pertained to federal and state elections, as well as county-level races, the incident was reported to the FBI and the attorney general in addition to local law enforcement, Logan said. The registrar takes the integrity of all elections very seriously, he said.
“There has been concern in the national narrative about attempts to disrupt the process or create barriers to voting in this election,” he said, “and any sign — or even just the appearance of that — is something we want to respond to quickly.”
Both he and Solis said they hoped the incident wouldn’t affect residents’ desire to vote.
With just two weeks until election day, L.A. County residents have already cast over 1 million ballots.


latimes--2020-10-20--Police chief predicts L.A. will top 300 homicides this year, the first time since 2009

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore predicted Tuesday that the city will see more than 300 homicides this year — a grisly milestone not reached in L.A. in more than a decade .
Moore said there had been 266 homicides in the city as of Saturday , representing a nearly 25 % increase over the same period last year and surpassing the total number of homicides in all of 2019 , when there were 253 killings in the city , and 2018 , when there were 260 total killings .
Speaking during a virtual meeting of the Police Commission , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 a “ terrible loss ” and an “ erosion ” of progress that had been made reducing gun violence in the city in recent years .
The last time the city broke 300 homicides was in 2009 , when there were 312 killings in the city .
In previous decades , the city saw significantly more killings .
Some years in the 1980s and 1990s had more than 1,000 killings .
However , homicides have generally followed a downward trend since 2002 , when there were 647 killings in the city .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged .
After a brief lull in killings that police attributed in part to lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic early in the year , homicides and shootings began to rise again and then spiked this summer .
They have exploded in South L.A. and in parts of Central L.A .
In the Los Angles Police Department ‘ s South Bureau , which covers South L.A. , homicides are up by 50 % from last year .
Moore noted that similar upticks in violence have been seen in cities all across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York , and said he believes a variety of factors related to the pandemic are helping to drive the violence up in L.A .
He said economic struggles have increased across the city ’ s population , and that the threat of the virus has undercut efforts to provide services and interventions for individuals who have been victims of shootings and may be vulnerable to becoming perpetrators of retaliatory violence .
He also said more people seem to be carrying guns around .
Through Oct. 10 , violent crime arrests were down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not stopped proactively working to reduce gun violence .
He said weapons seizures in the South Bureau have increased .
In addition to homicides , nonfatal shootings are also up .
The number of victims who had been shot in the city as of Oct. 10 was up more than 21 % compared with the same time last year , according to LAPD data .
The increase in violence comes as the LAPD works to reorganize after a $ 150-million budget cut forced it to begin reducing its ranks of sworn officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details about that reorganization will be available in coming weeks .
The pandemic has badly undercut the city budget , and LAPD officials are also working to plan for additional budget cuts , officials have said .

Police Chief Michel Moore anticipates Los Angeles will see more than 300 homicides this year.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore predicted Tuesday that the city will see more than 300 homicides this year — a level not reached in L.A. in more than a decade.
Moore said there had been 266 homicides in the city as of Saturday, representing a nearly 25% increase over the same period last year and surpassing the total number of homicides in all of 2019, when there were 253 killings in the city, and 2018, when there were 260 total killings.
Speaking during a virtual meeting of the Police Commission, Moore called the pace of violence in 2020 a “terrible loss” and an “erosion” of progress that had been made reducing gun violence in the city in recent years.
The last time the city broke 300 homicides was in 2009, when there were 312 killings in the city.
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In previous decades, the city saw significantly more killings. Some years in the 1980s and 1990s had more than 1,000 killings.
However, homicides have generally followed a downward trend since 2002, when there were 647 killings in the city.
This year, a different trend has emerged.
After a brief lull in killings that police attributed in part to lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic early in the year, homicides and shootings began to rise again and then spiked this summer. They have exploded in South L.A. and in parts of Central L.A.
In the Los Angeles Police Department‘s South Bureau, which covers South L.A., homicides are up by 50% from last year.
Moore noted that similar upticks in violence have been seen in cities all across the country, including in Houston, Chicago and New York, and said he believes a variety of factors related to the pandemic are helping to drive the violence up in L.A.
He said economic struggles have increased across the city’s population, and that the threat of the virus has undercut efforts to provide services and interventions for individuals who have been victims of shootings and may be vulnerable to becoming perpetrators of retaliatory violence. He also said more people seem to be carrying guns around.
Through Oct. 10, violent crime arrests were down 11%, but Moore said officers have not stopped proactively working to reduce gun violence. He said weapons seizures in the South Bureau have increased.
In addition to homicides, nonfatal shootings are also up. The number of victims who had been shot in the city as of Oct. 10 was up more than 21% compared with the same time last year, according to LAPD data.
The increase in violence comes as the LAPD works to reorganize after a $150-million budget cut forced it to begin reducing its ranks of sworn officers by several hundred. Moore said more details about that reorganization will be available in coming weeks.
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The pandemic has badly undercut the city budget, and LAPD officials are also working to plan for additional budget cuts, officials have said.


latimes--2020-10-20--Calls to restrict police use of projectiles on crowds renewed after latest L.A. injuries

A growing number of California lawmakers , medical experts and criminal justice reform advocates are calling for stricter limits on the use of hard-foam projectiles by law enforcement after Los Angeles police officers seriously wounded several men following the recent Lakers ’ NBA title victory .
The latest injuries — which included one man losing eight teeth and another who said he was blinded in one eye — follow others suffered by protesters in L.A. and across the country this summer , and show once more the dangers presented by such weapons , the critics said .
Some want a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduced use and better mechanisms for tracking the impacts .
Police officials , meanwhile , defended their use of the weapons but said they are trying to minimize it .
L.A. Police Department Chief Michel Moore said Tuesday that he is rushing to order shields for officers so that they have another tool to defend themselves against increasingly violent threats from demonstrators .
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez ( D-San Diego ) , who sponsored an unsuccessful bill to regulate the weapons during the legislative session that ended in August , said she will reintroduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the wounds sustained by people at the Lakers celebration gathering Oct. 11 .
“ It ’ s clear they are being used inappropriately , ” Gonzalez said of the weapons .
Dr. Rohini Haar , an emergency room doctor and adjunct professor at UC Berkeley who has researched the use of such weapons nationally with the organization Physicians for Human Rights , said there is no question they cause devastating injuries , are routinely misused by police and should be better tracked — as would be required by Gonzalez ’ s bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more research to say that these weapons are dangerous and overused , ” Haar said .
Kent Mendoza , a criminal justice reform advocate and community activist who works to reduce recidivism , said he was shot himself with a projectile after the Lakers game , suffering a serious injury to his wrist .
He said he was standing on a sidewalk near a burger shop when a man nearby lobbed a 2-gallon jug of water in the general direction of officers in riot gear — not coming close to hitting them — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd , which included children who hid behind benches .
“ The police need to stop using all these militarized weapons in our community , because it ’ s not about public safety , ” said Mendoza , 27 , who works with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition .
“ This is literally making people like me and people in my community not want to work with police anymore.
” The calls for change come days after an advisory panel convened by Gov .
Gavin Newsom warned that the use of such weapons can kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground and should only be used “ as a last resort to protect life and repel assaults when other means have been exhausted.
” They also follow a summer of unrest that put a spotlight on police crowd-control tactics generally and their use of projectiles specifically , as protesters calling for an end to police brutality were wounded — along with legal observers and journalists — in cities across the country .
The LAPD is currently being sued by Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles and others over its use of projectiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plaintiffs arguing that officers on the ground ignored rules for the weapons that the LAPD agreed to after previous litigation over their use .
The department ’ s policy says officers may fire such weapons only at targeted individuals who represent a threat , not into crowds or at people who are fleeing , and can not aim them at people ’ s heads or necks .
However , videos from protests have shown officers appearing to violate those policies by firing at people who appeared to present no threat to officers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ’ s eyes and heads .
LAPD officials have defended their use of the weapons this year as necessary to disperse crowds that had turned violent and destructive and had been deemed “ unlawful ” by police .
They said officers used the weapons only after individuals threw items at officers and began destroying property .
Eight officers were injured after the Lakers ’ win , dozens during the protests .
Craig Lally , president of the union that represents LAPD officers , said taking projectile weapons away from police would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobs and individuals who are blending in with peaceful demonstrators have shot officers , thrown bricks , rocks , and frozen water bottles at them and even launched fireworks and pointed lasers at them hoping to cause harm , ” Lally said .
On Tuesday , members of the Police Commission said they were tracking the reports of serious injuries caused by the weapons , and would await more information from the department .
Commission President Eileen Decker said the weapons seemed to “ cause significant damage , ” and asked what sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ whether they cause an excessive amount of damage for what the department is seeking to do.
” Moore said each instance in which the use of such weapons hospitalizes someone is subjected to a full investigation .
He also defended the weapons as a necessary tool as demonstrators become increasingly violent in the city , throwing pyrotechnics and commercial fireworks at officers that can cause serious injuries .
He said it is “ unfortunate ” that officers need shields , but the increased threats warrant them .
The LAPD previously said its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lakers ’ game — including the man who lost teeth and the man who was blinded in one eye .
On Tuesday , Moore told the commission that police now believe the man struck in the eye might have been hit with a bottle .
Asked what information gave rise to the latter belief , a police spokesman said California Highway Patrol officers whom the wounded man spoke to as he sought help at the scene told LAPD investigators that he told them that he believed he ’ d been hit with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rubenstein , said no video of the incident had been found as of Tuesday .
The man , William Gonzalez , 22 , told The Times he was struck just as he heard police start firing their weapons , and believed he was struck by a police projectile .
His brother Michael said they were begging CHP officers for help even as they pushed the pair back with batons .
The eye surgeons who operated on Gonzalez said his injuries were consistent with his being struck by a projectile .
John Carpenter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his client was hit with a police projectile , and criticized Moore for suggesting otherwise based on CHP “ hearsay , ” without “ taking the time to figure out the truth of what actually happened.
” Police critics said more must be done to hold LAPD officers to the standards for projectiles already set out for them , and a statewide standard with better mechanisms for tracking the weapons ’ use would help ensure that while also reforming other agencies .
Gonzalez ’ s bill — which died on the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ session upended by the COVID-19 pandemic — would ban police across the state from using projectiles at protests and other large gatherings , except in instances where officers are targeting specific individuals “ engaged in violent acts.
” It would make it illegal for police to use the weapons on people “ solely due to a violation of an imposed curfew , verbal threat , or noncompliance with a law enforcement directive.
” The bill would ban police from aiming projectiles at people ’ s heads and mandate that they help to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receives prompt medical care .
It would also require police agencies to report all uses of such weapons to the California Department of Justice , along with a justification for their use .
Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo ( D-Los Angeles ) , who helped write the bill last session , said she was ready to fight for it again .
Carrillo said there is confusion around how police use projectiles , in part because each agency has its own policies .
That shouldn ’ t be the case , she said .

Police fire percussion rounds to clear protesters from Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles on May 29 in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man, in Minneapolis.
A growing number of California lawmakers, medical experts and criminal justice reform advocates are calling for stricter limits on the use of hard-foam projectiles by law enforcement after Los Angeles police officers seriously wounded several men following the recent Lakers’ NBA title victory.
The latest injuries — which included one man losing eight teeth and another who said he was blinded in one eye — follow others suffered by protesters in L.A. and across the country this summer, and show once more the dangers presented by such weapons, the critics said.
Some want a total ban. Others want to see reduced use and better mechanisms for tracking the impacts.
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Police officials, meanwhile, defended their use of the weapons but said they are trying to minimize it. L.A. Police Department Chief Michel Moore said Tuesday that he is rushing to order shields for officers so that they have another tool to defend themselves against increasingly violent threats from demonstrators.
Police body camera footage from a protest this summer showed LAPD officers yank a sign away from a man in a Hollywood intersection, shove him backward, then shoot him in the groin with a projectile at close range. (Los Angeles Police Department)
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), who sponsored an unsuccessful bill to regulate the weapons during the legislative session that ended in August, said she will reintroduce her bill next year after seeing images of the wounds sustained by people at the Lakers celebration gathering Oct. 11.
“It’s clear they are being used inappropriately,” Gonzalez said of the weapons.
Dr. Rohini Haar, an emergency room doctor and adjunct professor at UC Berkeley who has researched the use of such weapons nationally with the organization Physicians for Human Rights, said there is no question they cause devastating injuries, are routinely misused by police and should be better tracked — as would be required by Gonzalez’s bill.
“You don’t need more research to say that these weapons are dangerous and overused,” Haar said.
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Kent Mendoza, a criminal justice reform advocate and community activist who works to reduce recidivism, said he was shot himself with a projectile after the Lakers game, suffering a serious injury to his wrist.
He said he was standing on a sidewalk near a burger shop when a man nearby lobbed a 2-gallon jug of water in the general direction of officers in riot gear — not coming close to hitting them — and the officers opened fire on the crowd, which included children who hid behind benches.
“The police need to stop using all these militarized weapons in our community, because it’s not about public safety,” said Mendoza, 27, who works with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. “This is literally making people like me and people in my community not want to work with police anymore.”
The calls for change come days after an advisory panel convened by Gov. Gavin Newsom warned that the use of such weapons can kill people and “escalate conflict” on the ground and should only be used “as a last resort to protect life and repel assaults when other means have been exhausted.”
They also follow a summer of unrest that put a spotlight on police crowd-control tactics generally and their use of projectiles specifically, as protesters calling for an end to police brutality were wounded — along with legal observers and journalists — in cities across the country.
The LAPD is currently being sued by Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles and others over its use of projectiles on protesters this summer, with the plaintiffs arguing that officers on the ground ignored rules for the weapons that the LAPD agreed to after previous litigation over their use.
The department’s policy says officers may fire such weapons only at targeted individuals who represent a threat, not into crowds or at people who are fleeing, and cannot aim them at people’s heads or necks.
However, videos from protests have shown officers appearing to violate those policies by firing at people who appeared to present no threat to officers. The Times has documented several injuries to people’s eyes and heads.
LAPD officials have defended their use of the weapons this year as necessary to disperse crowds that had turned violent and destructive and had been deemed “unlawful” by police. They said officers used the weapons only after individuals threw items at officers and began destroying property. Eight officers were injured after the Lakers’ win, dozens during the protests.
Craig Lally, president of the union that represents LAPD officers, said taking projectile weapons away from police would be “dangerous and wrong.”
“Dangerous mobs and individuals who are blending in with peaceful demonstrators have shot officers, thrown bricks, rocks, and frozen water bottles at them and even launched fireworks and pointed lasers at them hoping to cause harm,” Lally said.
On Tuesday, members of the Police Commission said they were tracking the reports of serious injuries caused by the weapons, and would await more information from the department. Commission President Eileen Decker said the weapons seemed to “cause significant damage,” and asked what sort of internal evaluation was occurring to determine “whether they cause an excessive amount of damage for what the department is seeking to do.”
Moore said each instance in which the use of such weapons hospitalizes someone is subjected to a full investigation. He also defended the weapons as a necessary tool as demonstrators become increasingly violent in the city, throwing pyrotechnics and commercial fireworks at officers that can cause serious injuries. He said it is “unfortunate” that officers need shields, but the increased threats warrant them.
The LAPD previously said its projectiles hospitalized at least three people after the Lakers’ game — including the man who lost teeth and the man who was blinded in one eye. On Tuesday, Moore told the commission that police now believe the man struck in the eye might have been hit with a bottle.
Asked what information gave rise to the latter belief, a police spokesman said California Highway Patrol officers whom the wounded man spoke to as he sought help at the scene told LAPD investigators that he told them that he believed he’d been hit with a bottle. The spokesman, Josh Rubenstein, said no video of the incident had been found as of Tuesday.
The man, William Gonzalez, 22, told The Times he was struck just as he heard police start firing their weapons, and believed he was struck by a police projectile. His brother Michael said they were begging CHP officers for help even as they pushed the pair back with batons. The eye surgeons who operated on Gonzalez said his injuries were consistent with his being struck by a projectile.
John Carpenter, an attorney for Gonzalez, maintained Tuesday that his client was hit with a police projectile, and criticized Moore for suggesting otherwise based on CHP “hearsay,” without “taking the time to figure out the truth of what actually happened.”
Police critics said more must be done to hold LAPD officers to the standards for projectiles already set out for them, and a statewide standard with better mechanisms for tracking the weapons’ use would help ensure that while also reforming other agencies.
Gonzalez’s bill — which died on the Senate floor at the end of a chaotic session upended by the COVID-19 pandemic — would ban police across the state from using projectiles at protests and other large gatherings, except in instances where officers are targeting specific individuals “engaged in violent acts.” It would make it illegal for police to use the weapons on people “solely due to a violation of an imposed curfew, verbal threat, or noncompliance with a law enforcement directive.”
The bill would ban police from aiming projectiles at people’s heads and mandate that they help to ensure that anyone they injure with such weapons receives prompt medical care. It would also require police agencies to report all uses of such weapons to the California Department of Justice, along with a justification for their use.
Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), who helped write the bill last session, said she was ready to fight for it again.
Carrillo said there is confusion around how police use projectiles, in part because each agency has its own policies. That shouldn’t be the case, she said.


latimes--2020-10-20--Navy fighter pilot ejects safely before jet crashes in eastern Kern County

A Navy fighter pilot ejected safely from a jet before it crashed late Tuesday morning in eastern Kern County , authorities said .
The F/A-18E Super Hornet jet from the Lemoore Naval Air Station crashed during a routine training flight in the Superior Valley , just south of China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station , according to a statement by the Lemoore station .
The pilot was taken to a medical facility for examination , according to Navy officials .
No information on the pilot ’ s condition was available .
Officials with the Kern County Fire Department confirmed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near Highway 14 and Highway 178 in Ridgecrest .
The crash sparked a brush fire that has since been extinguished , said Andrew Freeborn , Kern County Fire Department spokesman .
The California Highway Patrol was directing traffic in the area , and drivers can expect the highways to be affected for “ at least some time , ” Freeborn said shortly after the crash .
Freeborn said the Navy and local law enforcement agencies will be working with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Authority as they investigate the @ @

A Navy fighter pilot ejected safely from a jet before it crashed late Tuesday morning in eastern Kern County, authorities said.
The F/A-18E Super Hornet jet from the Lemoore Naval Air Station crashed during a routine training flight in the Superior Valley, just south of China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, according to a statement by the Lemoore station.
The pilot was taken to a medical facility for examination, according to Navy officials. No information on the pilot’s condition was available.
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Officials with the Kern County Fire Department confirmed that an aircraft went down shortly before noon near Highway 14 and Highway 178 in Ridgecrest.
The crash sparked a brush fire that has since been extinguished, said Andrew Freeborn, Kern County Fire Department spokesman.
The California Highway Patrol was directing traffic in the area, and drivers can expect the highways to be affected for “at least some time,” Freeborn said shortly after the crash.
Freeborn said the Navy and local law enforcement agencies will be working with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Authority as they investigate the crash.


latimes--2020-10-20--California attorney general asks court to order GOP cooperation in ballot box investigation

California Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra on Tuesday sought a court order to force state Republican officials to turn over information about the party ’ s use of private drop boxes for collecting ballots in a handful of counties across the state .
Leaders of the California Republican Party have insisted the program has followed all applicable rules and regulations and accused both Becerra and Secretary of State Alex Padilla of a partisan investigation .
Last week , Republicans and the two Democratic state officials criticized each other in a series of dueling public statements over the GOP ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , churches and private businesses where voters were invited to deposit their completed ballots .
California election law allows voters to “ designate a person ” to collect and return a ballot , but it only mentions drop boxes operated by county elections officials .
Social media postings earlier this month showed some receptacles with the label “ official drop box , ” prompting state elections officials to send a cease-and-desist letter to Republicans demanding the removal of the signs .
The complaint filed in Sacramento County Superior Court alleges several examples of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ authorized ” or “ official.
” It says the GOP effort “ caused confusion among voters , prompted complaints from county elections officials alarmed about their use , and raised serious concerns about whether the appropriate chain of custody was being observed for ballots deposited ” in the boxes .
“ Here in California , we ’ re doing everything in our power to protect the integrity of our elections , ” Becerra said in a written statement .
“ As part of that and pursuant to our statutory authority , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extent to which the deployment of unauthorized ballot drop boxes may have impacted Californians.
” State GOP officials said last week that the labels were the work of “ overzealous ” local volunteers and that they were quickly replaced .
And they have insisted that without those erroneous signs , there is nothing else about their effort to cause concern .
Becerra ’ s complaint said that the California Republican Party and local party officials in Los Angeles , Orange and Fresno counties have not complied with a subpoena to turn over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots were collected or information about how many boxes were distributed by the GOP .
Disclosure of the locations of the drop boxes , the complaint says , is important “ to ensure that any ballot collection activity that may still be occurring at those sites comports with state law.
” Becerra ’ s court filing notes that state officials still don ’ t know how many ballots were placed in the Republican receptacles prior to the effort to demand changes to the collection program .
The filing notes that the owner of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where one box was placed , told state investigators that approximately 25 ballots had been delivered there .
Hector Barajas , a spokesman for the California Republican Party , said the request for voter information is unwarranted and the party won ’ t comply .
“ This is an abuse of power .
The California Republican Party responded and objected to the attorney general ’ s subpoenas on numerous grounds , including the right to privacy , ” he said in an emailed statement .
“ We will stand up to this type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an attorney representing the GOP , argued in a formal response to the attorney general on Monday that the state has no authority to investigate “ noncriminal activities that are constitutionally protected ” and that handing over information would “ violate the secrecy of the ballot and the trust of the voters ” who used the drop boxes .
GOP officials have said they are continuing to use the drop boxes but have declined to offer any additional details .
However , not all locations are still being used .
Last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Way Baptist Church in Castaic told L.A. County elections officials that the box the church had been using was no longer on the property and provided an email confirming that information from the deputy executive director of the state GOP .
Almost 4 million California voters have returned their ballots to county elections offices across the state .
Local elections officials in most communities have deployed bulky drop boxes built to state specifications .
The boxes , which must be emptied regularly by local elections workers who follow strict rules regarding the custody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place for voters to use through election day .

California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra is asking a court to force Republican Party officials to hand over information about the use of ballot drop boxes.
California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra on Tuesday sought a court order to force state Republican officials to turn over information about the party’s use of private drop boxes for collecting ballots in a handful of counties across the state.
Leaders of the California Republican Party have insisted the program has followed all applicable rules and regulations and accused both Becerra and Secretary of State Alex Padilla of a partisan investigation.
Last week, Republicans and the two Democratic state officials criticized each other in a series of dueling public statements over the GOP’s distribution of metal containers to party offices, churches and private businesses where voters were invited to deposit their completed ballots.
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California election law allows voters to “designate a person” to collect and return a ballot, but it only mentions drop boxes operated by county elections officials. Social media postings earlier this month showed some receptacles with the label “official drop box,” prompting state elections officials to send a cease-and-desist letter to Republicans demanding the removal of the signs.
The complaint filed in Sacramento County Superior Court alleges several examples of the drop boxes being promoted as either “authorized” or “official.” It says the GOP effort “caused confusion among voters, prompted complaints from county elections officials alarmed about their use, and raised serious concerns about whether the appropriate chain of custody was being observed for ballots deposited” in the boxes.
“Here in California, we’re doing everything in our power to protect the integrity of our elections,” Becerra said in a written statement. “As part of that and pursuant to our statutory authority, we issued subpoenas and interrogatories to determine the extent to which the deployment of unauthorized ballot drop boxes may have impacted Californians.”
State GOP officials said last week that the labels were the work of “overzealous” local volunteers and that they were quickly replaced. And they have insisted that without those erroneous signs, there is nothing else about their effort to cause concern.
Becerra’s complaint said that the California Republican Party and local party officials in Los Angeles, Orange and Fresno counties have not complied with a subpoena to turn over the names and addresses of the voters whose ballots were collected or information about how many boxes were distributed by the GOP.
Disclosure of the locations of the drop boxes, the complaint says, is important “to ensure that any ballot collection activity that may still be occurring at those sites comports with state law.”
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Becerra’s court filing notes that state officials still don’t know how many ballots were placed in the Republican receptacles prior to the effort to demand changes to the collection program. The filing notes that the owner of a smog check shop in Clovis, where one box was placed, told state investigators that approximately 25 ballots had been delivered there.
Hector Barajas, a spokesman for the California Republican Party, said the request for voter information is unwarranted and the party won’t comply.
“This is an abuse of power. The California Republican Party responded and objected to the attorney general’s subpoenas on numerous grounds, including the right to privacy,” he said in an emailed statement. “We will stand up to this type of authoritarian bullying tactics.”
Tom Hiltachk, an attorney representing the GOP, argued in a formal response to the attorney general on Monday that the state has no authority to investigate “noncriminal activities that are constitutionally protected” and that handing over information would “violate the secrecy of the ballot and the trust of the voters” who used the drop boxes.
GOP officials have said they are continuing to use the drop boxes but have declined to offer any additional details. However, not all locations are still being used. Last week, the pastor of Freedom’s Way Baptist Church in Castaic told L.A. County elections officials that the box the church had been using was no longer on the property and provided an email confirming that information from the deputy executive director of the state GOP.
Almost 4 million California voters have returned their ballots to county elections offices across the state. Local elections officials in most communities have deployed bulky drop boxes built to state specifications. The boxes, which must be emptied regularly by local elections workers who follow strict rules regarding the custody of the ballots, will be in place for voters to use through election day.


latimes--2020-10-20--New rules keep Disneyland and many other California theme parks closed for now

Facing increased pressure from business owners and mayors in towns with theme parks , California released protocols for operating the parks , giving destinations such as Disneyland , Universal Studios and Knott ’ s Berry Farm a path to reopening .
Those large parks face more stringent requirements than smaller ones .
Disneyland won ’ t be able to open for several weeks at the earliest — and , based on a county official ’ s projections , it probably won ’ t happen before summer .
“ There is a path forward .
We don ’ t know when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks will reopen , said Dr. Mark Ghaly , the state ’ s secretary of Health and Human Services .
The protocols announced Tuesday allow a large park , defined as one with a capacity of more than 15,000 visitors , to reopen once coronavirus transmission in its home county has fallen enough for the county to reach Tier 4 — the state ’ s least-restrictive designation .
A small park , meanwhile , can welcome guests once its home county reaches Tier 3 , the second-least-restrictive level .
Ghaly laid out some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks must sell tickets in advance to make contact tracing easier , and face coverings will be mandatory except when eating or drinking .
Large theme parks will be limited to 25 % capacity .
Small theme parks will be limited to 25 % capacity or 500 visitors , whichever is fewer ; can accept only visitors who live in the county ; and can operate only outdoor attractions .
Asked whether the protocols would force some theme parks to remain closed for months , Ghaly pointed to San Francisco , which recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For other counties , throttling the spread of the coronavirus enough to match that performance “ will require a lot of work .
It will require a lot of vigilance , ” he said .
“ We believe it ’ s possible.
” Theme park executives and the mayor of Anaheim immediately excoriated the guidelines , complaining that the new protocols would keep the parks closed too long and hurt nearby businesses .
“ These state guidelines will keep us shuttered for the foreseeable future , forcing thousands more people out of work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small family-owned businesses , and irreparably devastating the Anaheim/Southern California community , ” Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock said in a statement Tuesday .
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu said he believed Disneyland should be able to open under Tier 3 , along with smaller parks .
“ This fails the working families and small businesses of Anaheim , ” he said of the new protocols .
Under Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s Blueprint for a Safer Economy opening plan , each county is assigned to one of four tiers based on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the rate of positive tests it has , as well as an equity benchmark .
The lower the case numbers and positive test rate , the fewer restrictions are imposed on schools and businesses .
A county must remain in a tier for at least three weeks before moving to a less-restrictive tier .
Los Angeles County , home of Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain , is in Tier 1 , the most restrictive .
Orange County — home of Disneyland , Disney California Adventure Park and Knott ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County , home to Legoland and SeaWorld , are in Tier 2 .
Orange County is not likely to reach Tier 4 until summer 2021 or perhaps later , Dr. Clayton Chau , director of the Orange County Health Care Agency , said during an Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday .
Universal Studios Hollywood and Legoland executives joined Tuesday ’ s outcry , saying their parks should not have to wait for Tier 4 .
“ Our employees are ready to go back to work , and the fact that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so until well into next year is shameful , ” Karen Irwin , president of Universal Studios Hollywood , said in a statement .
California ’ s announcement comes four months after theme parks in Florida , including the four parks in Walt Disney World there , were allowed to reopen with capacity limits , mask and temperature-check requirements and the elimination of events that draw people to crowd together such as parades and fireworks shows .
The Disneyland parks in Paris , Shanghai and Hong Kong Disneyland have all reopened as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen California ’ s amusement parks has been fraught .
The parks began in September to publicly pressure Newsom to provide a path to reopening .
Local business interests and politicians joined the chorus .
Walt Disney Co. 's executive chairman resigned from Newsom ’ s economic task force .
A coalition of unions representing workers at the Disneyland Resort issued a statement Monday asking the governor to include them in the reopening discussions .
The unions said they had reached agreements with Disneyland management on safety protocols , although those guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s theme parks voluntarily shut down in March after California recommended canceling all gatherings of more than 250 people amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic .
The closures have dealt an economic blow to the state , especially to cities in Southern California .
Researchers at Cal State Fullerton estimate that the Disneyland Resort alone normally contributes $ 8.5 billion a year to Southern California ’ s economy and , before the pandemic , employed about 31,000 workers , representing 3.6 % of all jobs in Orange County .
In Anaheim , the September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Sidhu has said the city faces a projected $ 100-million deficit partly due to the loss of hotel taxes paid by overnight visitors .
Although theme parks have reopened in Florida and other states , the pandemic has resulted in $ 23 billion in economic losses for theme parks across the country in 2020 , according to the International Assn .
of Amusement Parks and Attractions , a trade group with members in more than 100 countries .
The pressure on Newsom to release guidelines to reopen the theme parks began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials and the mayors of Anaheim and two adjacent cities speaking out about the financial effects of the closures and noting that Disney ’ s Florida parks reopened in July .
Newsom was set to announce the protocols Oct. 2 , but the California Attractions and Parks Assn .
balked after seeing a draft .
It asked him to delay and work with the parks in what the association ’ s executive director called a “ more earnest manner , listening to park operators ’ expertise and collaborating with the industry.
” Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to theme parks open in other states to learn what precautions those parks have taken to deter the spread of the coronavirus .
He did not appear Tuesday at the event announcing the state ’ s new theme park protocols ; instead , Ghaly delivered the news .
In the spring , Disney furloughed more than 100,000 workers from its theme parks , cruise lines and movie studio division and continued to provide those workers with healthcare benefits .
But , facing continued financial pressure , on Sept. 29 the Burbank company announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its parks , experiences and products division , which includes Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim and Walt Disney World in Orlando , Fla .
The cuts affect employees across the U.S. , but Disney executives put part of the blame for their decision on California ’ s “ unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen.
” Universal Studios Hollywood declined to say how many workers it had furloughed , but the Hollywood Reporter reported that the park had furloughed at least 849 employees and permanently cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 1 .
The park has noted that the company continues to pay for the healthcare benefits of all furloughed workers .
Southern California ’ s theme parks have made efforts to keep revenue flowing during the closures , with Universal Studios Hollywood and the Disneyland Resort reopening their adjacent shopping and dining districts this summer .
Knott ’ s Berry Farm launched an outdoor dining and retail effort , called Taste of Knott ’ s , where visitors can eat , drink and buy souvenirs in sections of the park on weekends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s have imposed health and safety protocols for the reopened shopping and dining areas , including temperature screening of all guests before entering , plus mask and physical distancing requirements .

Knott’s Berry Farm is closed in Orange County. The county, also home to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park, is in the second-most-restrictive tier of the state’s reopening plan.
Facing increased pressure from business owners and politicians in places with theme parks, California released protocols for operating the parks, giving destinations such as Disneyland, Universal Studios and Knott’s Berry Farm a path to reopening that is tied to how well each park’s home county throttles the spread of the coronavirus.
It might be many months before major parks are allowed to welcome guests again. Based on an Orange County official’s projections, Disneyland probably won’t open before summer — news that incensed park executives and local officials.
“There is a path forward. We don’t know when, but we know how” the parks will reopen, said Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s secretary of Health and Human Services.
The protocols announced Tuesday require large parks to wait longer than smaller ones. A large park, defined as one with a capacity of more than 15,000 visitors, can reopen once coronavirus transmission in its home county has fallen enough for the county to reach Tier 4 — the state’s least-restrictive designation. A small park, meanwhile, can welcome guests once its home county reaches Tier 3, the second-least-restrictive level.
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Ghaly laid out some other restrictions as well: All parks must sell tickets in advance to make contact tracing easier, and face coverings will be mandatory except when eating or drinking.
Large theme parks will be limited to 25% capacity.
Small theme parks will be limited to 25% capacity or 500 visitors, whichever is fewer; can accept only visitors who live in the county; and can operate only outdoor attractions.
Asked whether the protocols would force some theme parks to remain closed for months, Ghaly pointed to San Francisco, which has seen success in lowering virus transmission and recently moved into the least restrictive tier.
For other counties, throttling the spread of the coronavirus enough to match that performance “will require a lot of work. It will require a lot of vigilance,” he said. “We believe it’s possible.”
Theme park executives and the mayor of Anaheim immediately excoriated the guidelines, complaining that the new protocols would keep the parks closed too long and hurt nearby businesses.
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“These state guidelines will keep us shuttered for the foreseeable future, forcing thousands more people out of work, leading to the inevitable closure of small family-owned businesses, and irreparably devastating the Anaheim/Southern California community,” Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock said in a statement.
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu said he believed Disneyland should be able to open under Tier 3, along with smaller parks. “This fails the working families and small businesses of Anaheim,” he said of the new protocols.
Under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy opening plan, each county is assigned to one of four tiers based on the number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents and the rate of positive tests it has, as well as an equity benchmark. The lower the case numbers and positive test rate, the fewer restrictions are imposed on schools and businesses.
A county must remain in a tier for at least three weeks before moving to a less-restrictive tier.
Los Angeles County, home of Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain, is in Tier 1, the most restrictive. Orange County — home of Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Park and Knott’s Berry Farm — and San Diego County, home of Legoland and SeaWorld, are in Tier 2.
Orange County is not likely to reach Tier 4 until summer 2021 or perhaps later, Dr. Clayton Chau, director of the Orange County Health Care Agency, said during an Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday.
Universal Studios Hollywood and Legoland executives joined Tuesday’s outcry, saying their parks should not have to wait for Tier 4. “Our employees are ready to go back to work, and the fact that they won’t be able to do so until well into next year is shameful,” Karen Irwin, president of Universal Studios Hollywood, said in a statement.
Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, called the state’s approach to reopening theme parks “prudent and reasonable.”
“Theme parks are potential areas of transmission,” he said. “I don’t think we want to trade off opening up a theme park if it means that our children are not going to be able to go back to in-person classrooms because the increase in transmission could occur.”
California’s announcement comes four months after theme parks in Florida, including the four parks in Walt Disney World there, were allowed to reopen with capacity limits, mask and temperature-check requirements and the elimination of events that draw people to crowd together such as parades and fireworks shows. The Disneyland parks in Paris, Shanghai and Hong Kong Disneyland have all reopened as well.
The question of when and how to reopen California’s amusement parks has been fraught. The parks began in September to publicly pressure Newsom to provide a path to reopening. Local business interests and politicians joined the chorus. Walt Disney Co.’s executive chairman, Bob Iger, resigned from Newsom’s economic task force — an abrupt public confirmation of the growing tensions.
A coalition of unions representing workers at the Disneyland Resort issued a statement Monday asking the governor to include them in the reopening discussions. The unions said they had reached agreements with Disneyland management on safety protocols, although those guidelines were not released.
The state’s theme parks voluntarily shut down in March after California recommended canceling all gatherings of more than 250 people amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic.
The closures have dealt an economic blow to the state, especially to cities in Southern California.
Researchers at Cal State Fullerton estimate that the Disneyland Resort alone normally contributes $8.5 billion a year to Southern California’s economy and, before the pandemic, employed about 31,000 workers, representing 3.6% of all jobs in Orange County.
In Anaheim, the September unemployment rate was still above 11%, and Sidhu has said the city faces a projected $100-million deficit partly due to the loss of hotel taxes paid by overnight visitors.
Although theme parks have reopened in Florida and other states, the pandemic has resulted in $23 billion in economic losses for theme parks across the country in 2020, according to the International Assn. of Amusement Parks and Attractions, a trade group with members in more than 100 countries.
The pressure on Newsom to release guidelines to reopen the theme parks began to build last month, with Disney officials and the mayors of Anaheim and two adjacent cities speaking out about the financial effects of the closures and noting that Disney’s Florida parks reopened in July.
Newsom was set to announce the protocols Oct. 2, but the California Attractions and Parks Assn. balked after seeing a draft. It asked him to delay and work with the parks in what the association’s executive director called a “more earnest manner, listening to park operators’ expertise and collaborating with the industry.”
Newsom has since sent a team of people to theme parks open in other states to learn what precautions those parks have taken to deter the spread of the coronavirus. He did not appear Tuesday at the event announcing the state’s new theme park protocols; instead, Ghaly delivered the news.
In the spring, Disney furloughed more than 100,000 workers from its theme parks, cruise lines and movie studio division and continued to provide those workers with healthcare benefits. But, facing continued financial pressure, on Sept. 29 the Burbank company announced plans to lay off 28,000 employees at its parks, experiences and products division, which includes Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
The cuts affect employees across the U.S., but Disney executives put part of the blame for their decision on California’s “unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen.”
Universal Studios Hollywood declined to say how many workers it had furloughed, but the Hollywood Reporter reported that the park had furloughed at least 849 employees and permanently cut 1,374 staffers in Los Angeles County since July 1. The park has noted that the company continues to pay for the healthcare benefits of all furloughed workers.
Southern California’s theme parks have made efforts to keep revenue flowing during the closures, with Universal Studios Hollywood and the Disneyland Resort reopening their adjacent shopping and dining districts this summer.
Knott’s Berry Farm launched an outdoor dining and retail effort, called Taste of Knott’s, where visitors can eat, drink and buy souvenirs in sections of the park on weekends.
Disney, Universal Studios and Knott’s have imposed health and safety protocols for the reopened shopping and dining areas, including temperature screening of all guests before entering, plus mask and physical distancing requirements.
Times staff writer Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-20--Historic $100-million gift will help California community college students most in need

The California Community Colleges system announced Tuesday that it has received the largest ever gift to such institutions in the nation — $ 100 million — to help more students complete degrees , transfer to universities and support their basic living expenses .
The gift from the Jay Pritzker Foundation is described by college officials as a recognition of the role community colleges play in educating Californians and preparing them for the workforce .
It also addresses the shortcomings of a system that is struggling in many regions to adequately and equitably address the higher education needs of some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The money will fund scholarships for students who have made significant progress toward completing a certificate , degree or transfer , as well as emergency financial aid for students who face unexpected hardships .
It will be administered by the Foundation for California Community Colleges over 20 years and is expected to benefit tens of thousands of students .
Eligible students — those who are enrolled full-time , qualify for a tuition fee waiver , and have completed approximately half of the credits required for their program — will receive scholarships of up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost of attending community college .
Although tuition is low or free for many community college students , nontuition expenses like textbooks , transportation , food , housing and child care often create barriers to completion .
Emergency financial aid will generally be available to any student facing a short-term financial barrier that could prevent them from enrolling or staying enrolled in college .
Eloy Ortiz Oakley , chancellor of the 116-college system , said the massive gift “ speaks to the empathy that many people are feeling right now toward the individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the pandemic.
” Before 2020 , it was estimated that more than half of the students in the California Community College system experienced food insecurity and that one in five were homeless .
In addition , a systemwide survey of nearly 50,000 students in May and June found that 20 % lacked access to reliable , high-speed internet , with Black and Latino students more affected than white students .
More than half of the students surveyed reported their income had decreased , and 57 % said they struggled with the basic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black and Latino students again disproportionately affected .
Daniel and Karen Pritzker , who donated the funds , said it was President Obama who first drew their attention to community colleges .
They began thinking about how to make a gift after seeing their own daughter thrive in community college courses and go on to UC Berkeley .
“ That really gave us an up-close view of what community colleges had to offer for serious students , ” Dan Pritzker said at a news conference Tuesday .
In addition , he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the newspaper about kids or students that were fighting to stay in school , that were homeless , that were hungry and still struggling mightily to finish their education , and we found it very compelling .
So we decided to push forward.
” The money comes as community colleges nationwide are reporting increased fundraising success amid the pandemic , particularly those seeking support for emergency student aid .
Community colleges raised 47 % more in the first nine months of 2020 than they did in all of 2019 , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is aimed specifically at reducing regional educational gaps in California , one of six priorities identified by the community college foundation in its Vision for Success , laid out in 2017 .
For the first five years , the foundation will deliver grants to 34 community colleges in the Inland Empire , Central Valley and far Northern California — the regions of the state with the lowest percentage of adults who have college degrees .
The Pritzkers wanted their gift to go to students who are most in need .
“ We shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ and we showed that we were clearly focused on the three regions of the state that had some of the lowest graduation rates or degree attainment rates .
These also happen to be some of the most under-resourced communities in the state .
That appealed to the donor.
” Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community college students , money given out during the first year of the grant — which will begin within weeks — can be spent exclusively on emergency financial aid .
Colleges must apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 150,000 each , and explain how they plan to distribute it , but they will have wide leeway in identifying the students most in need and the amounts to give out .
They may follow the process used to allocate funds from the federal CARES Act , in which many colleges gave automatic , tiered grants to students based on their household income and also gave students the option to apply for aid .
The community colleges received $ 580 million in funding from the CARES Act , with half going directly to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in many cases need far outstripped available funds , and some students , including immigrants who were brought here as children , were initially told they did not qualify .
California community college students without legal status or who have received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals , or DACA , will be eligible for the Pritzker funds if they meet the other criteria .
Both types of aid — the scholarships and emergency grants — will be given only to students at the 34 community colleges in the three designated regions , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Combined , the colleges serve 334,000 students .
After five years , Oakley said , the plan is for the community college system and the Pritzker Foundation to sit down and review whether those remain the colleges with the most need .
Aliyah Hinckley , a 19-year-old kinesiology student at Shasta College in Redding , said cost is the first thing that comes to mind when she thinks about college .
A scholarship would relieve some of that stress .
“ Students like me , we ’ re not rich or able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We want to achieve our goals and pursue our education and graduate and earn a degree , but paying for it can be a major setback.
” Madera Community College student Fulisha Oscar , 37 , would be another likely recipient of aid .
The mother of six and high school dropout fled an abusive relationship , earned her general educational development certificate and began as a full-time student at Madera in the fall of 2018 .
She is two classes away from transferring to Fresno State , where she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychology that will help her go on , ultimately , to create a home with child care for domestic violence survivors like herself .
Oscar relies on scholarships , pay from a part-time job at her college ’ s admissions and records office , and side jobs making T-shirts and selling makeup to make ends meet for herself and her children , five of whom she is currently homeschooling because of the pandemic — all while she is also trying to work and study from home .
Additional aid of any amount , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminate the stress of , ‘ how am I going to provide the next meal for my children ?
’ The money would help me focus more on my education .
”

A historic gift to California Community Colleges will help more students complete degrees, transfer to universities and cover their basic living expenses. Above, Santa Monica College graduates.
The California Community Colleges system announced Tuesday that it has received the largest ever gift to such institutions in the nation — $100 million — to help more students complete degrees, transfer to universities and support their basic living expenses.
The gift from the Jay Pritzker Foundation is described by college officials as a recognition of the role community colleges play in educating Californians and preparing them for the workforce. It also addresses the shortcomings of a system that is struggling in many regions to adequately and equitably address the higher education needs of some of the state’s poorest students.
The money will fund scholarships for students who have made significant progress toward completing a certificate, degree or transfer, as well as emergency financial aid for students who face unexpected hardships. It will be administered by the Foundation for California Community Colleges over 20 years and is expected to benefit tens of thousands of students.
Eligible students — those who are enrolled full-time, qualify for a tuition fee waiver, and have completed approximately half of the credits required for their program — will receive scholarships of up to $18,500 to reflect the actual cost of attending community college. Although tuition is low or free for many community college students, nontuition expenses like textbooks, transportation, food, housing and child care often create barriers to completion.
Emergency financial aid will generally be available to any student facing a short-term financial barrier that could prevent them from enrolling or staying enrolled in college.
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Eloy Ortiz Oakley, chancellor of the 116-college system, said the massive gift “speaks to the empathy that many people are feeling right now toward the individuals and communities that have been hit hardest by the pandemic.”
Before 2020, it was estimated that more than half of the students in the California Community College system experienced food insecurity and that one in five were homeless.
In addition, a systemwide survey of nearly 50,000 students in May and June found that 20% lacked access to reliable, high-speed internet, with Black and Latino students more affected than white students. More than half of the students surveyed reported their income had decreased, and 57% said they struggled with the basic needs of housing and food, with Black and Latino students again disproportionately affected.
Daniel and Karen Pritzker, who donated the funds, said it was President Obama who first drew their attention to community colleges. They began thinking about how to make a gift after seeing their own daughter thrive in community college courses and go on to UC Berkeley.
“That really gave us an up-close view of what community colleges had to offer for serious students,” Dan Pritzker said at a news conference Tuesday.
In addition, he said, “There were a number of articles in the newspaper about kids or students that were fighting to stay in school, that were homeless, that were hungry and still struggling mightily to finish their education, and we found it very compelling. So we decided to push forward.”
The money comes as community colleges nationwide are reporting increased fundraising success amid the pandemic, particularly those seeking support for emergency student aid. Community colleges raised 47% more in the first nine months of 2020 than they did in all of 2019, according to Inside Higher Education.
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The Pritzker gift is aimed specifically at reducing regional educational gaps in California, one of six priorities identified by the community college foundation in its Vision for Success, laid out in 2017. For the first five years, the foundation will deliver grants to 34 community colleges in the Inland Empire, Central Valley and far Northern California — the regions of the state with the lowest percentage of adults who have college degrees.
The Pritzkers wanted their gift to go to students who are most in need. “We shared our strategic vision,” Oakley said, “and we showed that we were clearly focused on the three regions of the state that had some of the lowest graduation rates or degree attainment rates. These also happen to be some of the most under-resourced communities in the state. That appealed to the donor.”
Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community college students, money given out during the first year of the grant — which will begin within weeks — can be spent exclusively on emergency financial aid. Colleges must apply for the funds, up to $150,000 each, and explain how they plan to distribute it, but they will have wide leeway in identifying the students most in need and the amounts to give out.
They may follow the process used to allocate funds from the federal CARES Act, in which many colleges gave automatic, tiered grants to students based on their household income and also gave students the option to apply for aid.
The community colleges received $580 million in funding from the CARES Act, with half going directly to one-time emergency grants for students, but in many cases need far outstripped available funds, and some students, including immigrants who were brought here as children, were initially told they did not qualify.
California community college students without legal status or who have received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, will be eligible for the Pritzker funds if they meet the other criteria.
Both types of aid — the scholarships and emergency grants — will be given only to students at the 34 community colleges in the three designated regions, at least for the first five years. Combined, the colleges serve 334,000 students. After five years, Oakley said, the plan is for the community college system and the Pritzker Foundation to sit down and review whether those remain the colleges with the most need.
Aliyah Hinckley, a 19-year-old kinesiology student at Shasta College in Redding, said cost is the first thing that comes to mind when she thinks about college. A scholarship would relieve some of that stress.
“Students like me, we’re not rich or able to finance our whole education,” she said. “We want to achieve our goals and pursue our education and graduate and earn a degree, but paying for it can be a major setback.”
Madera Community College student Fulisha Oscar, 37, would be another likely recipient of aid. The mother of six and high school dropout fled an abusive relationship, earned her general educational development certificate and began as a full-time student at Madera in the fall of 2018. She is two classes away from transferring to Fresno State, where she hopes to earn degrees in victimology and psychology that will help her go on, ultimately, to create a home with child care for domestic violence survivors like herself.
Oscar relies on scholarships, pay from a part-time job at her college’s admissions and records office, and side jobs making T-shirts and selling makeup to make ends meet for herself and her children, five of whom she is currently homeschooling because of the pandemic — all while she is also trying to work and study from home.
Additional aid of any amount, Oscar said, “would help me eliminate the stress of, ‘how am I going to provide the next meal for my children?’ The money would help me focus more on my education.”


latimes--2020-10-20--Listen to bear sound off in Yosemite tree: Groaning over a hard day?

A black bear was captured on video expressing himself from a tree in Yosemite National Park .
Bears can produce “ a wide repertoire of sounds , typically when defensive , afraid , distressed or aggressive , ” park officials said in a recent Twitter post .
But , they added , they ’ re “ not sure what prompted this unscheduled a cappella concert.
” In the video , the bear is heard moaning for nearly a minute .
The adult male is frequently seen in the park and appears to be healthy , officials said .
Lynn Rogers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more the 50 years , said it sounded like an anxiety call .
“ It ’ s almost whining , ” Rogers said .
“ Nothing in that is explosive.
” Bears frequently climb trees when they ’ re scared , according to Rogers .
It ’ s how they evolved to escape Ice Age predators more than a millennia ago , he said .
“ Bears developed the attitude , ” Rogers said , “ that if there ’ s danger , run first , ask questions later and stay near a @ @ @

An adult male black bear was recorded vocalizing in a tree in Yosemite. Park officials joked that it was an “unscheduled a cappella concert.”
A black bear was captured on video expressing himself from a tree in Yosemite National Park.
Bears can produce “a wide repertoire of sounds, typically when defensive, afraid, distressed or aggressive,” park officials said in a recent Twitter post.
But, they added, they’re “not sure what prompted this unscheduled a cappella concert.” In the video, the bear is heard moaning for nearly a minute.
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The adult male is frequently seen in the park and appears to be healthy, officials said.
Sound on! 🔊
Check out this video of an adult male black bear vocalizing in a tree! Bears can produce a wide repertoire of sounds, typically when defensive, afraid, distressed, or aggressive. We're not sure what prompted this unscheduled a capella concert...#KeepBearsWild pic.twitter.com/2PZZtUHJHs — Yosemite National Park (@YosemiteNPS) October 16, 2020
Lynn Rogers, who has been studying bears for more the 50 years, said it sounded like an anxiety call.
“It’s almost whining,” Rogers said. “Nothing in that is explosive.”
Bears frequently climb trees when they’re scared, according to Rogers. It’s how they evolved to escape Ice Age predators more than a millennia ago, he said.
“Bears developed the attitude,” Rogers said, “that if there’s danger, run first, ask questions later and stay near a tree.”