latimes--2020-12-04--New charges accuse L.A. animal activist Marc Ching of making false claims over his pet food

Hollywood-backed animal rescuer Marc Ching faces new criminal charges alleging that he falsely advertised and misbranded products he sold at his pet food store , marking the latest fallout from a Times investigation that exposed troubling practices at his business and charity .
Los Angeles prosecutors added four misdemeanor charges against Ching after an investigation by the California Department of Public Health found , among other things , that his pet food was processed and held under unsanitary conditions , said Rob Wilcox , a spokesman for the city attorney ’ s office .
“ He is alleged to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website , as well as on the pet food labels he used , ” Wilcox said .
He declined to elaborate .
Ching , 41 , now faces one misdemeanor count each of practicing veterinary medicine without a license , manufacturing and packaging pet food without a license , unlawfully selling products that were falsely advertised , unlawfully selling food that was adulterated and unlawfully selling food that was misbranded , and two counts of false advertising .
If convicted of the seven charges , Ching faces up to six and a half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fines , Wilcox said .
At a brief court hearing Wednesday , his arraignment was postponed to March , according to the courtroom clerk .
Ching ’ s attorney declined to comment on the charges .
It ’ s not the first time Ching has been accused of misleading his customers .
In April , the Federal Trade Commission accused him of making false or deceptive claims that an herbal supplement he was selling could treat COVID-19 and that some of his other products could treat cancer .
Ching denied wrongdoing .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his products can treat COVID-19 or cancer .
The criminal case in Los Angeles comes after a Times investigation earlier this year uncovered that Ching persuaded pet owners to ignore prescribed treatment regimens and instead give their sick dogs and cats products he sells at his shop , the Petstaurant .
More than a dozen L.A.-area veterinarians and other pet care providers told The Times that Ching ’ s actions threatened to harm — and in some cases did harm — pets diagnosed with conditions that included kidney disease , heart failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far back as seven years .
Five of them said they complained about Ching to the California Veterinary Medical Board , alleging he was practicing veterinary medicine without a license .
Ching , who describes himself as a fourth-generation herbalist and nutritionist and operates Petstaurant stores in Sherman Oaks and the Westside , is not a veterinarian .
The vets said the board at the time took no action .
The Times also by Ching ’ s animal rescue charity , the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation , and raised questions about his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of some of the gruesome videos he shot of animals being tortured and killed in horrifying ways , including by blowtorch , at slaughterhouses in Asia .
Butchers in Indonesia told the newspaper that Ching paid them to hang a dog and burn it to death — a method of killing more cruel than any they say they normally employ — so he could stage the scene for the camera .
Ching and his attorneys have said that he has always been truthful about his work abroad , his videos were genuine and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals .
The California attorney general ’ s office opened an inquiry after The Times began its investigation of Ching .
It is ongoing .
Ching launched his foundation two years after his 2010 release from prison , where he spent nine years and seven months after pleading guilty to kidnapping with great bodily harm , a crime committed as part of a drug deal gone bad , according to court records .
His remarkable transformation from ex-con to Hollywood darling in animal rescue was largely the result of his foundation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos from Asia .
Shortly after The Times published its initial investigation , the newspaper reached out to more than a dozen actors , musicians , comedians and other celebrities who appeared in the foundation ’ s PSA or participated in gala fundraisers for the charity .
Of the staging allegations , one , Alyssa Milano , said in May through a publicist : “ I ’ ve never met Marc Ching but agreed to participate in a PSA opposed to cruelty to animals .
If these allegations are true , I strongly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inexcusable to torture an animal.
” Another backer of Ching ’ s foundation is comedian David Spade , who contributed $ 10,000 to the charity in 2017 , according to its federal tax returns .
A representative said in a statement to The Times that while Spade “ doesn ’ t recall the specific circumstances of the ask at the time of the donation , he of course thought this was a vetted shelter and safe-haven for animals that he was supporting.
” “ He had absolutely no personal connection to or prior @ @ @ @ @ @

Hollywood-backed animal rescuer Marc Ching faces new criminal charges alleging that he falsely advertised and misbranded products he sold at his pet food store, marking the latest fallout from a Times investigation that exposed troubling practices at his business and charity.
Los Angeles prosecutors added four misdemeanor charges against Ching after an investigation by the California Department of Public Health found, among other things, that his pet food was processed and held under unsanitary conditions, said Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the city attorney’s office.
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“He is alleged to have made false and misleading claims on his website, as well as on the pet food labels he used,” Wilcox said. He declined to elaborate.
Ching, 41, now faces one misdemeanor count each of practicing veterinary medicine without a license, manufacturing and packaging pet food without a license, unlawfully selling products that were falsely advertised, unlawfully selling food that was adulterated and unlawfully selling food that was misbranded, and two counts of false advertising.
If convicted of the seven charges, Ching faces up to six and a half years in jail and $13,500 in fines, Wilcox said. At a brief court hearing Wednesday, his arraignment was postponed to March, according to the courtroom clerk. Ching’s attorney declined to comment on the charges.
It’s not the first time Ching has been accused of misleading his customers. In April, the Federal Trade Commission accused him of making false or deceptive claims that an herbal supplement he was selling could treat COVID-19 and that some of his other products could treat cancer. Ching denied wrongdoing. In July, he agreed to a settlement in which he is barred from making baseless claims that his products can treat COVID-19 or cancer.
The criminal case in Los Angeles comes after a Times investigation earlier this year uncovered years of complaints by veterinarians that Ching persuaded pet owners to ignore prescribed treatment regimens and instead give their sick dogs and cats products he sells at his shop, the Petstaurant.
More than a dozen L.A.-area veterinarians and other pet care providers told The Times that Ching’s actions threatened to harm — and in some cases did harm — pets diagnosed with conditions that included kidney disease, heart failure and cancer. Their accounts date as far back as seven years.
Five of them said they complained about Ching to the California Veterinary Medical Board, alleging he was practicing veterinary medicine without a license. Ching, who describes himself as a fourth-generation herbalist and nutritionist and operates Petstaurant stores in Sherman Oaks and the Westside, is not a veterinarian. The vets said the board at the time took no action.
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The Times also exposed troubling financial practices by Ching’s animal rescue charity, the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation, and raised questions about his rescue efforts overseas. The newspaper found evidence contradicting claims about the authenticity of some of the gruesome videos he shot of animals being tortured and killed in horrifying ways, including by blowtorch, at slaughterhouses in Asia.
California Animal rescue charity with star-studded support has ‘troubling’ financial practices, experts say A whistleblower and watchdogs raise concerns over cash withdrawals, allegedly deceptive solicitations and other financial practices at the Animal Hope & Wellness Foundation. The charity denies misleading donors or misusing money.
Butchers in Indonesia told the newspaper that Ching paid them to hang a dog and burn it to death — a method of killing more cruel than any they say they normally employ — so he could stage the scene for the camera.
Ching and his attorneys have said that he has always been truthful about his work abroad, his videos were genuine and he never misused foundation funds or harmed animals.
The California attorney general’s office opened an inquiry after The Times began its investigation of Ching. It is ongoing.
Ching launched his foundation two years after his 2010 release from prison, where he spent nine years and seven months after pleading guilty to kidnapping with great bodily harm, a crime committed as part of a drug deal gone bad, according to court records.
His remarkable transformation from ex-con to Hollywood darling in animal rescue was largely the result of his foundation’s social media campaign that featured the gruesome videos from Asia. Shortly after The Times published its initial investigation, the newspaper reached out to more than a dozen actors, musicians, comedians and other celebrities who appeared in the foundation’s PSA or participated in gala fundraisers for the charity.
Of the staging allegations, one, Alyssa Milano, said in May through a publicist: “I’ve never met Marc Ching but agreed to participate in a PSA opposed to cruelty to animals. If these allegations are true, I strongly condemn his actions. It’s inexcusable to torture an animal.”
Another backer of Ching’s foundation is comedian David Spade, who contributed $10,000 to the charity in 2017, according to its federal tax returns. A representative said in a statement to The Times that while Spade “doesn’t recall the specific circumstances of the ask at the time of the donation, he of course thought this was a vetted shelter and safe-haven for animals that he was supporting.”
“He had absolutely no personal connection to or prior knowledge of this organization.”


latimes--2020-12-04--Staffing shortages feared at some California hospitals as COVID-19 fills up beds

As California hospitals rapidly approach capacity because of the unprecedented spike in coronavirus cases , there are growing concerns about shortages of workers as the healthcare system strains to handle the growing demand .
Officials have contingency plans of opening up additional facilities if hospitals become overwhelmed , something developed by the first COVID-19 surge this past spring .
But conditions have changed in significant ways since then that could make staffing an issue .
For one thing , the spring surge was more limited in scope , with some parts of California — and the nation — being hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room for shifting resources and bringing in medical professionals from areas that could spare them .
The current surge is not only larger than the spring one but also much more widespread , leaving fewer areas with nurses and doctors to spare .
Moreover , some patients avoided emergency rooms and optional medical appointments in the spring , fearful of being infected .
Fewer people are staying away now , and that is taxing hospitals as they see an influx of COVID-19 patients .
“ Please know that those resources are not unlimited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who directs the county agency that operates four acute care public hospitals and several clinics , at a Wednesday news conference .
“ Staffing is tight , and it ’ s tighter than it normally would be in a hospital.
” Hospitals are filling up fast , but so far they have been able to handle the surge .
County health officials anticipate that , in one week , L.A. County could see between 275 and 500 new COVID-19 admissions each day .
Based on current modeling , if the rate of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have a shortage of ICU beds over the next four weeks , according to county officials .
There are options when conditions worsen .
Hospitals can limit nonessential outpatient care , cancel nonessential surgeries and more quickly discharge patients who could be cared for in rehabilitation hospitals and care facilities .
Hospitals can also , and often do , open overflow patient areas .
To increase staffing in critical areas during the pandemic , hospitals have asked outpatient staff with emergency and intensive care backgrounds to work in ERs and COVID units @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurses to beef up staffing numbers .
Some hospitals are also seeking waivers from the state that would allow nurses to care for more patients than otherwise allowed under state law .
Anxiety inside medical facilities is growing as cases surge and workers feel they are entering uncharted territory during this pandemic .
Unlike in the spring , emergency rooms across L.A. County , both at public and private hospitals , are busy .
“ The number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations has been steadily increasing in the recent weeks , ” Darlene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center , said at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting .
“ Our numbers at the hospital have doubled in the last three weeks .
As the only trauma center in the east San Gabriel Valley , and a comprehensive stroke center , right now all of our ICU beds are full , and we are in surge.
” A leader at Greater El Monte Community Hospital echoed a similar sentiment , noting that the facility was seeing a “ substantial surge.
” In the spring , during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people were avoiding the hospital out of fear of contracting the virus , and the emergency room saw a decrease in its volume of patients because of the public ’ s fear to seek care , said Claude Stang , emergency department executive director at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center .
“ That ’ s changed .
In this third wave , patients are coming to the hospital for various conditions , and they don ’ t seem as fearful about coming to the hospital , ” Stang said .
That isn ’ t a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shouldn ’ t delay it , he said .
During the first wave , Cedars-Sinai , like most others , postponed elective surgeries and had an average daily census of only about 600 patients .
In this third wave , Cedars-Sinai is one of many hospitals continuing to operate and has a census of about 900 patients .
Stang fears what will happen to his staff as cases continue to surge .
He said he worries about healthcare workers getting sick as more virus spreads in the community .
Since early November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 71 % , according to data presented by L.A. County officials on Wednesday .
As more people fall sick , it becomes easier for others to contract the virus as the percentage of people infected in the community grows .
These patterns have caused surging numbers of cases recently among not just healthcare workers , but also at skilled nursing facilities , schools and other workplaces .
A nurse at a Kaiser hospital in L.A. County said he feels fatigued by the constant looming threat of COVID-19 .
When he comes into work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll be assigned a patient infected with the virus .
“ It feels bad because you want to help the patients , but at the same time I ’ m just so burned out , ” said the nurse , who asked not to be named because his hospital bars medical staff from talking to the media .
“ I just feel like the stress of working right now , it ’ s just too much .
I ’ m just over it — I ’ ve never hated my job more.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treating a patient that they actually had COVID-19 .
Their minds race trying to determine how long and how closely they interacted with them .
“ Everyone goes into a panic , ” he said .
Unlike earlier in the year , his hospital isn ’ t short on PPE .
Now , it seems , the limiting factor is beds , and projections show the hospital could run out soon .
“ We ’ re hitting a peak we never hit the first round , ” he said .
He said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bringing in temporary staff to prepare for a greater surge .
Elective surgeries are being canceled as of this week , he said .
“ Just a lot of changes happening now , ” he said .
One proposed remedy to lighten the load of hospitals has proved controversial .
Early in the pandemic , concerns over hospital staffing led Gov .
Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health to start allowing hospitals to apply for waivers , only when they ’ re seeing a COVID-19 surge or staffing shortages because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to exceed mandated nurse-to-patient ratios .
( California is the only state in the country with mandated nurse-to-patient ratios at acute care hospitals . )
About 115 hospitals in California have been approved for waivers since the start of the pandemic — some multiple times , as the waivers last 90 days — including about 31 facilities in L.A. County , according to an analysis of California Department of Public Health data .
Most recently , Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster received approval shortly after Thanksgiving .
Antelope Valley Hospital , which a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room in the state , has been inundated in recent weeks with not only COVID-19 patients but also trauma patients .
The hospital received a waiver to temporarily change its staffing ratio on its telemetry floor , the unit for patients who require a heart monitor .
Instead of 1 nurse to every 4 patients , the staffing ratio is 1 to 5 .
“ It ’ s a temporary measure until we can recover from the patient surge and staffing shortage , ” hospital spokeswoman Cynthia Frausto said , adding that several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ailments .
Earlier this week , registered nurses held a news conference to protest the staffing change , which they say stretches their exhausted staff too thin .
Maria Altamirano , a registered nurse who has worked at the hospital for 13 years , said nurses do more than regularly turn patients , manage their medications , help them to the restroom and provide overall healthcare .
Because family members can not visit loved ones with COVID-19 , she said , nurses must also help patients with video calls .
Meanwhile , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protective gear , and they do not generally have time for a break .
Sometimes Altamirano has had to wait eight hours to use the restroom .
Sometimes she ’ s gone an entire shift without a break .
Two weeks ago , she was so tired that when she got home , she could not feel her feet .
She woke up on her couch in her bathrobe , the chamomile tea and dinner her husband made her still waiting in the kitchen .
On a recent shift , she started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eat or drink anything until 11:30 a.m. , when she gulped down some tea and a doughnut and went back to work .
The nurses no longer hug or talk or have time to offer support to one another , despite the tremendous mental toll the pandemic has taken on them , she said .
“ You worry constantly [ while on break ] about ‘ Who ’ s looking after my patient ?
No one ?
’ So we all do as much as we can to help each other out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t had a break since March.
” On Thanksgiving night , the hospital saw a “ tremendous surge ” of COVID-19 and trauma patients , she said .
“ Our ICU is now bombarded as well with COVID patients , and we have to still keep beds open for our trauma patients and major surgeries , and what ’ s going to happen when those beds are taken up by COVID patients ?
” Altamirano said .
“ We ’ re not going to be able to take care [ of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

EMT Giselle Dorgalli, second from right, performs chest compression on a patient who tested positive for coronavirus in the emergency room at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills.
As California hospitals rapidly approach capacity because of the unprecedented spike in coronavirus cases, there are growing concerns about shortages of workers as the healthcare system strains to handle the growing demand.
Officials have contingency plans of opening up additional facilities if hospitals become overwhelmed, something developed by the first COVID-19 surge this past spring. But conditions have changed in significant ways since then that could make staffing an issue.
For one thing, the spring surge was more limited in scope, with some parts of California — and the nation — being hit harder than others. That allowed more room for shifting resources and bringing in medical professionals from areas that could spare them. The current surge is not only larger than the spring one but also much more widespread, leaving fewer areas with nurses and doctors to spare.
Moreover, some patients avoided emergency rooms and optional medical appointments in the spring, fearful of being infected. Fewer people are staying away now, and that is taxing hospitals as they see an influx of COVID-19 patients.
“Please know that those resources are not unlimited,” said Dr. Christina Ghaly, who directs the county agency that operates four acute care public hospitals and several clinics, at a Wednesday news conference. “Staffing is tight, and it’s tighter than it normally would be in a hospital.”
Hospitals are filling up fast, but so far they have been able to handle the surge. County health officials anticipate that, in one week, L.A. County could see between 275 and 500 new COVID-19 admissions each day. Based on current modeling, if the rate of new cases continues to climb, L.A. County will have a shortage of ICU beds over the next four weeks, according to county officials.
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There are options when conditions worsen.
Hospitals can limit nonessential outpatient care, cancel nonessential surgeries and more quickly discharge patients who could be cared for in rehabilitation hospitals and care facilities. Hospitals can also, and often do, open overflow patient areas.
To increase staffing in critical areas during the pandemic, hospitals have asked outpatient staff with emergency and intensive care backgrounds to work in ERs and COVID units. Facilities have also contracted with traveling nurses to beef up staffing numbers.
Some hospitals are also seeking waivers from the state that would allow nurses to care for more patients than otherwise allowed under state law.\
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Anxiety inside medical facilities is growing as cases surge and workers feel they are entering uncharted territory during this pandemic.
Unlike in the spring, emergency rooms across L.A. County, both at public and private hospitals, are busy.
“The number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations has been steadily increasing in the recent weeks,” Darlene Scafiddi, vice president of nursing at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, said at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting. “Our numbers at the hospital have doubled in the last three weeks. As the only trauma center in the east San Gabriel Valley, and a comprehensive stroke center, right now all of our ICU beds are full, and we are in surge.”
A leader at Greater El Monte Community Hospital echoed a similar sentiment, noting that the facility was seeing a “substantial surge.”
In the spring, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, people were avoiding the hospital out of fear of contracting the virus, and the emergency room saw a decrease in its volume of patients because of the public’s fear to seek care, said Claude Stang, emergency department executive director at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
“That’s changed. In this third wave, patients are coming to the hospital for various conditions, and they don’t seem as fearful about coming to the hospital,” Stang said.
That isn’t a bad thing, as people need care and shouldn’t delay it, he said.
During the first wave, Cedars-Sinai, like most others, postponed elective surgeries and had an average daily census of only about 600 patients. In this third wave, Cedars-Sinai is one of many hospitals continuing to operate and has a census of about 900 patients.
Stang fears what will happen to his staff as cases continue to surge. He said he worries about healthcare workers getting sick as more virus spreads in the community.
Since early November, cases among healthcare workers have increased 71%, according to data presented by L.A. County officials on Wednesday.
As more people fall sick, it becomes easier for others to contract the virus as the percentage of people infected in the community grows. These patterns have caused surging numbers of cases recently among not just healthcare workers, but also at skilled nursing facilities, schools and other workplaces.
A nurse at a Kaiser hospital in L.A. County said he feels fatigued by the constant looming threat of COVID-19. When he comes into work, he never knows if he’ll be assigned a patient infected with the virus.
“It feels bad because you want to help the patients, but at the same time I’m just so burned out,” said the nurse, who asked not to be named because his hospital bars medical staff from talking to the media. “I just feel like the stress of working right now, it’s just too much. I’m just over it — I’ve never hated my job more.”
He said sometimes they find out after treating a patient that they actually had COVID-19. Their minds race trying to determine how long and how closely they interacted with them.
“Everyone goes into a panic,” he said.
Unlike earlier in the year, his hospital isn’t short on PPE. Now, it seems, the limiting factor is beds, and projections show the hospital could run out soon.
“We’re hitting a peak we never hit the first round,” he said.
He said the hospital has begun moving nurses around and bringing in temporary staff to prepare for a greater surge. Elective surgeries are being canceled as of this week, he said. “Just a lot of changes happening now,” he said.
California Hospitals brace for holiday COVID surge, fearing staff shortages and burnout A new surge of COVID-19 is battering Southern California, bearing down on exhausted healthcare workers, raising anxiety levels on hospital wards and stoking fears that there might not be enough staff and supplies for the difficult weeks ahead.
One proposed remedy to lighten the load of hospitals has proved controversial.
Early in the pandemic, concerns over hospital staffing led Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health to start allowing hospitals to apply for waivers, only when they’re seeing a COVID-19 surge or staffing shortages because of the pandemic, that allow them to exceed mandated nurse-to-patient ratios. (California is the only state in the country with mandated nurse-to-patient ratios at acute care hospitals.)
About 115 hospitals in California have been approved for waivers since the start of the pandemic — some multiple times, as the waivers last 90 days — including about 31 facilities in L.A. County, according to an analysis of California Department of Public Health data. Most recently, Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster received approval shortly after Thanksgiving.
Antelope Valley Hospital, which a hospital spokeswoman said has the second-busiest emergency room in the state, has been inundated in recent weeks with not only COVID-19 patients but also trauma patients.
The hospital received a waiver to temporarily change its staffing ratio on its telemetry floor, the unit for patients who require a heart monitor. Instead of 1 nurse to every 4 patients, the staffing ratio is 1 to 5.
“It’s a temporary measure until we can recover from the patient surge and staffing shortage,” hospital spokeswoman Cynthia Frausto said, adding that several nurses are sick with COVID-19 and other ailments.
Earlier this week, registered nurses held a news conference to protest the staffing change, which they say stretches their exhausted staff too thin.
Maria Altamirano, a registered nurse who has worked at the hospital for 13 years, said nurses do more than regularly turn patients, manage their medications, help them to the restroom and provide overall healthcare. Because family members cannot visit loved ones with COVID-19, she said, nurses must also help patients with video calls.
Meanwhile, they’re also wearing a substantial amount of protective gear, and they do not generally have time for a break. Sometimes Altamirano has had to wait eight hours to use the restroom. Sometimes she’s gone an entire shift without a break. Two weeks ago, she was so tired that when she got home, she could not feel her feet. She woke up on her couch in her bathrobe, the chamomile tea and dinner her husband made her still waiting in the kitchen.
On a recent shift, she started at 7 a.m. and didn’t eat or drink anything until 11:30 a.m., when she gulped down some tea and a doughnut and went back to work. The nurses no longer hug or talk or have time to offer support to one another, despite the tremendous mental toll the pandemic has taken on them, she said.
“You worry constantly [while on break] about ‘Who’s looking after my patient? No one?’ So we all do as much as we can to help each other out,” she said. “We haven’t had a break since March.”
On Thanksgiving night, the hospital saw a “tremendous surge” of COVID-19 and trauma patients, she said.
“Our ICU is now bombarded as well with COVID patients, and we have to still keep beds open for our trauma patients and major surgeries, and what’s going to happen when those beds are taken up by COVID patients?” Altamirano said. “We’re not going to be able to take care [of them].… There will be no beds.”


latimes--2020-12-04--Column: California politicians can't explain their COVID-19 rules. There's a reason for that

Every now and then , I take a drive down to Hermosa Beach to calm my COVID-frayed nerves by looking at the waves — only to find myself riled up again by looking at the people .
They stroll by , many of them maskless .
They pay absolutely no attention to the massive signs that remind people to obey the statewide order to cover their faces .
They also pay absolutely no attention to the people hired to enforce the mask order .
Instead , these men and women , dressed in bright yellow vests , seem to spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempts to hand out tickets .
Tickets that are often tossed in the nearest trash can .
Nine months into this coronavirus scourge , with cases again surging to terrifying levels , California is losing buy-in even from the pandemic-believing public — and it ’ s not hard to understand why .
Gone is any semblance of clear communication of a clear plan with clear reasoning about how best to beat back COVID-19 .
In its place has emerged a haphazard , layered mess of rules and restrictions .
And , for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one to blame but themselves .
On Thursday , for example , Gov .
Gavin Newsom finally pulled his long-threatened “ emergency brake , ” as the United States broke yet another record for COVID-19 cases , logging more than 3,100 deaths .
In California , an average of 67 people have died a day over the last week — a 60 % jump from mid-November .
Under a new set of restrictions that will be triggered at the regional level and tied to the state ’ s rapidly dwindling number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be limits on gatherings , shopping and dining .
Los Angeles and 10 other counties in Southern California could be forced to switch things up as soon as Friday .
Hair and nail salons will have to close .
So will campgrounds .
Hotels won ’ t be allowed to accept tourists .
It will be takeout only at restaurants , with employees required to ensure that no one eats or drinks indoors .
Even essential businesses , such as grocery stores and drugstores , will have to limit their capacity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonessential retail businesses .
“ The bottom line is , if we don ’ t act now , our hospital system will be overwhelmed , ” Newsom explained Wednesday during his midday news conference .
“ If we don ’ t act now , we ’ ll continue to see our death rate climb , more lives lost.
” Perhaps .
But I ’ d be a lot less triggered if all of this supposed transparency from the governor ’ s office hadn ’ t come within 24 hours of Mayor Eric Garcetti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city of Los Angeles .
His attempt at an explanation of the stay-at-home order , which is the same as what Los Angeles County ’ s implemented Monday , bordered on political malpractice .
Even the text of the order itself was confusing and contradictory .
It started off well , with an “ all persons living within the City of Los Angeles are hereby ordered to remain in their homes.
” But it went on to list 11 pages of exemptions .
Among them , tattoo parlors are still open , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shopping malls .
So are golf courses and tennis courts , and beaches , parks and trails .
And producing music is still OK .
However , the city is now banning gatherings of people from multiple households , except for religious services and protests .
And using playgrounds is still banned , along with dining outdoors .
Garcetti insisted Wednesday that his “ message couldn ’ t be simpler : It ’ s time to hunker down .
It ’ s time to cancel everything .
And if it isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it.
” And yet , even for those of us who wear masks and are doing the right things to slow the pandemic , it ’ s hard to take that seriously when adults can go play pickleball , but cooped-up toddlers can ’ t go to a playground .
It ’ s just one more layer of confusion that has left Californians ending each day not knowing why some things are open , why other things are closed , why some rules are being enforced and why other rules are not .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beverly Hills and Pasadena have refused to ban outdoor dining , and why the restaurant industry is suing to bring it back across L.A. County .
Restaurant owners argue the decision wasn ’ t sufficiently backed up by data or science .
It ’ s the same argument that Jessica Millan Patterson , chairwoman of the California Republican Party , was making when she tweeted that “ Californians have a right to public health data that is being used to shape their lives.
” In fact , it ’ s the same argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we scratch our heads in confusion and frustration .
Put on the spot by my colleague John Myers , Newsom tried to defend his decision about what should open and what should close as being very much grounded in data and science .
And as always , the governor had to remind us that he ’ s a restaurateur by trade and , as such , completely understands and empathizes with small-business owners .
“ We want to mitigate mixing , period , full stop , ” he said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And we really need to send that message broadly .
And we need to create less opportunities for the kind of contact and extended period , extended time of contact , that occurs in many of these establishments.
” Dr. Mark Ghaly , the state ’ s Health and Human Services secretary , said the “ message is not about how do we mix safely .
It ’ s about how we reduce our mixing altogether , staying at home unless it ’ s absolutely essential for you to leave your home.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We should all be staying home as much as possible , wearing masks , practicing social distancing and washing our hands .
This is the only science that truly matters .
But let ’ s not pretend that what ’ s happening in California is only about that .
It ’ s also about politics and about Newsom , like many other Californians , prioritizing what he thinks is important , both for public health and for the economy .
He is prioritizing what is worth the risk .
A sitdown in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping trip to the mall .
A game of pickleball .
Or just dinner with a few friends at the French Laundry .

Every now and then, I take a drive down to Hermosa Beach to calm my COVID-frayed nerves by looking at the waves — only to find myself riled up again by looking at the people.
They stroll by, many of them maskless. They pay absolutely no attention to the massive signs that remind people to obey the statewide order to cover their faces. They also pay absolutely no attention to the people hired to enforce the mask order. Instead, these men and women, dressed in bright yellow vests, seem to spend their time standing around, making halfhearted attempts to hand out tickets. Tickets that are often tossed in the nearest trash can.
For the record: An earlier version of this column incorrectly stated that Beverly Hills has refused to ban outdoor dining. The Beverly Hills City Council has asked L.A. County to reconsider its ban.
Nine months into this coronavirus scourge, with cases again surging to terrifying levels, California is losing buy-in even from the pandemic-believing public — and it’s not hard to understand why.
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Gone is any semblance of clear communication of a clear plan with clear reasoning about how best to beat back COVID-19. In its place has emerged a haphazard, layered mess of rules and restrictions. And, for the most part, our elected leaders have no one to blame but themselves.
On Thursday, for example, Gov. Gavin Newsom finally pulled his long-threatened “emergency brake,” as the United States broke yet another record for COVID-19 cases, logging more than 3,100 deaths. In California, an average of 67 people have died a day over the last week — a 60% jump from mid-November.
Under a new set of restrictions that will be triggered at the regional level and tied to the state’s rapidly dwindling number of beds in intensive care units, there will be limits on gatherings, shopping and dining. Los Angeles and 10 other counties in Southern California could be forced to switch things up as soon as Friday.
Hair and nail salons will have to close. So will campgrounds. Hotels won’t be allowed to accept tourists. It will be takeout only at restaurants, with employees required to ensure that no one eats or drinks indoors.
Even essential businesses, such as grocery stores and drugstores, will have to limit their capacity to 20%, the same as heretofore nonessential retail businesses.
Playgrounds will stay closed.
“The bottom line is, if we don’t act now, our hospital system will be overwhelmed,” Newsom explained Wednesday during his midday news conference. “If we don’t act now, we’ll continue to see our death rate climb, more lives lost.”
“These are transparent triggers,” he added.
Perhaps. But I’d be a lot less triggered if all of this supposed transparency from the governor’s office hadn’t come within 24 hours of Mayor Eric Garcetti announcing a separate set of restrictions for the city of Los Angeles. His attempt at an explanation of the stay-at-home order, which is the same as what Los Angeles County’s implemented Monday, bordered on political malpractice.
Even the text of the order itself was confusing and contradictory. It started off well, with an “all persons living within the City of Los Angeles are hereby ordered to remain in their homes.” But it went on to list 11 pages of exemptions.
Among them, tattoo parlors are still open, along with nail and hair salons, and shopping malls. So are golf courses and tennis courts, and beaches, parks and trails. And producing music is still OK.
However, the city is now banning gatherings of people from multiple households, except for religious services and protests. And using playgrounds is still banned, along with dining outdoors.
Garcetti insisted Wednesday that his “message couldn’t be simpler: It’s time to hunker down. It’s time to cancel everything. And if it isn’t essential, don’t do it.” And yet, even for those of us who wear masks and are doing the right things to slow the pandemic, it’s hard to take that seriously when adults can go play pickleball, but cooped-up toddlers can’t go to a playground.
It’s just one more layer of confusion that has left Californians ending each day not knowing why some things are open, why other things are closed, why some rules are being enforced and why other rules are not.
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It’s no wonder then that Pasadena has refused to ban outdoor dining and why Beverly Hills wants to follow suit. And why the restaurant industry is suing to bring it back across L.A. County. Owners argue the decision wasn’t sufficiently backed up by data or science.
It’s the same argument that Jessica Millan Patterson, chairwoman of the California Republican Party, was making when she tweeted that “Californians have a right to public health data that is being used to shape their lives.”
In fact, it’s the same argument that many of us are now making as we scratch our heads in confusion and frustration.
Put on the spot by my colleague John Myers, Newsom tried to defend his decision about what should open and what should close as being very much grounded in data and science. And as always, the governor had to remind us that he’s a restaurateur by trade and, as such, completely understands and empathizes with small-business owners.
“We want to mitigate mixing, period, full stop,” he said. “We want to diminish the amount of mixing. And we really need to send that message broadly. And we need to create less opportunities for the kind of contact and extended period, extended time of contact, that occurs in many of these establishments.”
Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s Health and Human Services secretary, added that the “message is not about how do we mix safely. It’s about how we reduce our mixing altogether, staying at home unless it’s absolutely essential for you to leave your home.”
They are right, of course. We should all be staying home as much as possible, wearing masks, practicing social distancing and washing our hands. This is the only science that truly matters.
But let’s not pretend that what’s happening in California is only about that. It’s also about politics and about Newsom, like many other Californians, prioritizing what he thinks is important, both for public health and for the economy. He is prioritizing what is worth the risk.
A sitdown in the sand in Hermosa Beach. A shopping trip to the mall. A game of pickleball. Or just dinner with a few friends at the French Laundry.


latimes--2020-12-04--California may have sent $1 billion in jobless benefits to people outside the state, D.A.s warn

California may have sent a billion dollars or more in unemployment benefits to people out of the state , including to other countries , and much of it may be based on fraudulent claims , several prosecutors warned Thursday .
District attorneys from nine counties including San Diego , Sacramento and Riverside sent a letter to Gov .
Gavin Newsom urging him to use his executive powers to increase resources investigating widespread unemployment benefit fraud involving prison inmates and to immediately check jobless claims against personal data of those behind bars .
The prosecutors told the governor they have received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Employment Development Department has distributed at least $ 1 billion in unemployment benefits to out-of-state claimants .
“ We are deeply concerned that the fraud will continue to grow exponentially , ” the district attorneys wrote to the governor .
McGregor Scott , U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of California , whose office had been investigating the prison fraud for months , said the problem may be even greater , with preliminary federal findings that “ billions of dollars were sent out of the state and out of the country by EDD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal experts say there can be legitimate reasons unemployment benefits could be sent out of the state , such as a jobless Californian temporarily relocating while prepared to return if a job opens up .
Normally , claimants need to be be ready and able to go back to work , but a requirement for people to show they are looking for a job was suspended because of COVID-19 pandemic , said Jennifer Shaw , a Sacramento attorney with expertise in unemployment law .
But as The Times reported Thursday , several D.A.s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gen. Xavier Becerra haven ’ t done more to help prosecutors weed out legitimate payments from those resulting from fraud .
Riverside County Dist .
Atty .
Mike Hestrin said his office has identified about 1,500 inmates in Riverside County who have received EDD benefits , including some whose funds went out of state .
“ We are still working through this , ” he said .
“ But it ’ s massive.
” Another law enforcement official working on a statewide fraud investigation said the EDD sent money to addresses across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some of the money was on inmate claims including people on death row .
One of the addresses is in Australia , said the official , who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing .
The prosecutors ’ warning comes just days after EDD officials estimated the agency has paid $ 400 million to inmates in state prisons , including death row inmates .
Those who had claims filed in their name include Scott Peterson , who was convicted of killing his wife , although his attorney says Peterson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or receiving unemployment benefits .
The concern that money is being sent to out-of-state addresses on fraudulent claims also emerged as hundreds of thousands of jobless Californians have been unable to get payment on legitimate claims .
Residents as far away as Connecticut and Florida have told The Times in recent months that they received numerous unsolicited letters from the EDD on claims in the names of people they did not know and that they suspect are fraudulent .
The border-crossing unemployment fraud has hit other states as well .
In May , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other agencies of a Nigerian crime ring that may have targeted multiple states including Washington , North Carolina and Rhode Island with millions in false claims .
In June , the U.S. Department of Labor and Oklahoma investigators uncovered 1,300 unemployment insurance claims filed from internet addresses in London , authorities said .
Those claims were discovered before being paid .
Representatives of the EDD and the governor did not respond Thursday to prosecutors ’ concerns that large sums of benefits may be heading out of the state .
However , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison-related fraud has “ made important progress , ” said Brian Ferguson , a spokesman for the Governor ’ s Office of Emergency Services , which is overseeing the group effort .
He said state officials have “ identified a path forward to address the data-sharing challenges ” between the EDD and the prisons , but he said details would be released later .
Newsom said at a news conference earlier in the day that the state has taken steps to tighten security on claims , including a system installed in September that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their identity with documentation .
“ It has been very , very effective at addressing some of the fraud issues in the front door , ” Newsom said .
The governor said the state Employment Development Department ’ s challenge is to balance the need to get benefits quickly to jobless Californians while also stopping fraud .
“ People want things in a timely manner , but they also want the veracity in terms of the distribution of those funds , ” Newsom said .
The EDD has 17 investigators assigned to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so Newsom said earlier this week that more than a dozen investigators from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation have been assigned to assist a state task force probing the unemployment fraud .
However , the district attorneys say they do not have the resources to handle the flood of unemployment fraud they are encountering .
“ Since the beginning of the pandemic and the declaration of the state of emergency , you have issued a variety of executive orders including those addressing financial assistance through the federal CARES Act , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps no greater need to protect the resources of the state than to immediately prohibit payment unemployment benefit claims made in the names of state , federal and local inmates.
” In addition to more resources , the local prosecutors said the state needs to resolve a problem that has prevented the EDD from checking unemployment claims against the personal information of inmates , including Social Security numbers .
The state prison agency has contended that it legally can ’ t provide Social Security numbers to the Employment Development Department because it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A federal subpoena has allowed some cross-matching during the investigation , which led the EDD to say it has paid at least $ 400 million on claims in the names of prison inmates .
Thursday , the district attorneys offered an alternative interpretation of current rules and contended that prison officials are wrong in their interpretation and could legally share the database information with the EDD .
The prosecutors said the EDD has the authority to enter into a reciprocity agreement with other law enforcement agencies and provide information , including Social Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they noted such agreements are already in place .
The prosecutors called on Newsom to swiftly use his executive powers “ to stop the exponential growth of this fraud .
”

Patrick McGreevy, Anita Chabria, Richard Winton

As hundreds of thousands of jobless Californians complain they have not been paid unemployment benefits, several prosecutors warned Thursday that $1 billion or more may have been sent out of state, many on bogus claims.
California may have sent a billion dollars or more in unemployment benefits to people out of the state, including to other countries, and much of it may be based on fraudulent claims, several prosecutors warned Thursday.
District attorneys from nine counties including San Diego, Sacramento and Riverside sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom urging him to use his executive powers to increase resources for investigating widespread unemployment benefit fraud involving prison inmates and to immediately check jobless claims against personal data of those behind bars.
The prosecutors told the governor they have received “unverified information” that the state Employment Development Department has distributed at least $1 billion in unemployment benefits to out-of-state claimants.
“We are deeply concerned that the fraud will continue to grow exponentially,” the district attorneys wrote to the governor.
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McGregor Scott, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of California, whose office had been investigating the prison fraud for months, said the problem may be even greater, with preliminary federal findings that “billions of dollars were sent out of the state and out of the country by EDD.”
Prosecutors and legal experts say there can be legitimate reasons unemployment benefits could be sent out of the state, such as a jobless Californian temporarily relocating while prepared to return if a job opens up.
Normally, claimants need to be ready and able to go back to work, but a requirement for people to show they are looking for a job was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Jennifer Shaw, a Sacramento attorney with expertise in unemployment law.
But as The Times reported Thursday, several district attorneys statewide are frustrated that Newsom and Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra haven’t done more to help prosecutors weed out legitimate payments from those resulting from fraud.
Riverside County Dist. Atty. Mike Hestrin said his office has identified about 1,500 inmates in Riverside County who have received EDD benefits, including some whose funds went out of state. “We are still working through this,” he said. “But it’s massive.”
Another law enforcement official working on a statewide fraud investigation said the EDD sent money to addresses across the globe, particularly Central America, and some of the money was on inmate claims including people on death row. One of the addresses is in Australia, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.
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California Some California prosecutors say ‘tsunami’ of prison unemployment fraud fuels street crime Some district attorneys and investigators say that top California leaders are not doing enough to stop unemployment fraud, even after abuses of EDD jobless benefits were exposed.
The prosecutors’ warning comes just days after EDD officials estimated the agency has paid $400 million to inmates in state prisons, including death row inmates. Those who had claims filed in their name include Scott Peterson, who was convicted of killing his wife, although his attorney says Peterson was not involved in filing the claim or receiving unemployment benefits.
The concern that money is being sent to out-of-state addresses on fraudulent claims also emerged as hundreds of thousands of jobless Californians have been unable to get payment on legitimate claims.
Residents as far away as Connecticut and Florida have told The Times in recent months that they received numerous unsolicited letters from the EDD on claims in the names of people they did not know and that they suspect are fraudulent.
The border-crossing unemployment fraud has hit other states as well. In May, the U.S. Secret Service warned law enforcement and other agencies of a Nigerian crime ring that may have targeted multiple states including Washington, North Carolina and Rhode Island with millions in false claims.
In June, the U.S. Department of Labor and Oklahoma investigators uncovered 1,300 unemployment insurance claims filed from internet addresses in London, authorities said. Those claims were discovered before being paid.
Representatives of the EDD and the governor did not respond Thursday to prosecutors’ concerns that large sums of benefits may be heading out of the state.
However, a task force Newsom announced to investigate the prison-related fraud has “made important progress,” said Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, which is overseeing the group effort.
He said state officials have “identified a path forward to address the data-sharing challenges” between the EDD and the prisons, but he said details would be released later.
Newsom said at a news conference earlier in the day that the state has taken steps to tighten security on claims, including a system installed in September that requires new unemployment benefit claimants to verify their identity with documentation.
“It has been very, very effective at addressing some of the fraud issues in the front door,” Newsom said.
The governor said the state Employment Development Department’s challenge is to balance the need to get benefits quickly to jobless Californians while also stopping fraud.
“People want things in a timely manner, but they also want the veracity in terms of the distribution of those funds,” Newsom said.
The EDD has 17 investigators assigned to its fraud unit for the entire state, so Newsom said earlier this week that more than a dozen investigators from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation have been assigned to assist a state task force probing the unemployment fraud.
However, the district attorneys say they do not have the resources to handle the flood of unemployment fraud they are encountering.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic and the declaration of the state of emergency, you have issued a variety of executive orders including those addressing financial assistance through the federal CARES Act,” the prosecutors wrote. “There is perhaps no greater need to protect the resources of the state than to immediately prohibit payment [of] unemployment benefit claims made in the names of state, federal and local inmates.”
In addition to more resources, the local prosecutors said the state needs to resolve a problem that has prevented the EDD from checking unemployment claims against the personal information of inmates, including Social Security numbers.
The state prison agency has contended that it legally can’t provide Social Security numbers to the Employment Development Department because it’s not a law enforcement agency. A federal subpoena has allowed some cross-matching during the investigation, which led the EDD to say it has paid at least $400 million on claims in the names of prison inmates.
Thursday, the district attorneys offered an alternative interpretation of current rules and contended that prison officials are wrong in their interpretation and could legally share the database information with the EDD.
The prosecutors said the EDD has the authority to enter into a reciprocity agreement with other law enforcement agencies and provide information, including Social Security numbers and dates of birth, and they noted such agreements are already in place.
The prosecutors called on Newsom to swiftly use his executive powers “to stop the exponential growth of this fraud.”


latimes--2020-12-04--Earthquake: 3.5 quake strikes near Clearlake, Calif.

A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was reported at 2:45 a.m. Friday 11 miles from Clearlake , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 12 miles from Healdsburg , 17 miles from Windsor , 22 miles from Santa Rosa and 28 miles from Ukiah .
In the past 10 days , there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada , according to a recent three-year data sample .
The earthquake occurred at a depth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published .
If you ’ re interested in learning more about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked questions .

A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was reported at 2:45 a.m. Friday 11 miles from Clearlake, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 12 miles from Healdsburg, 17 miles from Windsor, 22 miles from Santa Rosa and 28 miles from Ukiah.
In the past 10 days, there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 1.5 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-12-03--Power shut off to over 43,000 amid dangerous winds as fires burn in Southern California

More than 43,000 Southern California Edison customers were without power Thursday amid a dangerous Santa Ana wind event that already had fueled at least two wildfires in the region .
The utility company initiated the across seven counties late Wednesday in an effort to prevent its electric system from becoming a source of ignition , Edison spokesman Ron Gales said .
The shutoff includes 21,000 customers in Riverside County , 7,800 in Los Angeles County and 2,800 in Ventura County .
Nearly 250,000 additional customers across eight counties are under consideration for a shutoff as well , Gales said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ de-energization only takes place as a last resort , ” Gales said .
“ We only de-energize a circuit when we have no other choice .
… We ’ re looking at wind speeds , relative humidity and the abundance of fuel and dried brush.
” Calling it a “ particularly dangerous situation , ” the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning indicating critical fire conditions through 6 p.m. Friday for Los Angeles and Ventura counties .
In Orange , Riverside and San Bernardino counties , the red flag warning will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The weather service said parts of Southern California , including the Santa Clarita and San Bernardino valleys and the mountains in Los Angeles , Ventura and Riverside counties , could see winds as high as 70 mph Thursday .
A gust of 85 mph was recorded in the San Gabriel Mountains near Sylmar on Wednesday night .
The winds will be met with extreme dryness , said Mark Moede , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego .
Humidity levels in the region will be dropping as low as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s very , very dry out there , ” Moede said .
“ We ’ re looking at single-digit humidities , and I ’ m sure everyone is going to be feeling that either with their skin or with their sinuses.
” Low humidity contributes to dried vegetation that can fuel fires , which can spell disaster when paired with strong winds .
A wildfire fanned by winds erupted in San Diego on Wednesday night and quickly burned through 25 acres , destroying at least one home .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ignited Wednesday night in Orange County and quickly spread to the Silverado Canyon area .
By Thursday evening , the fire had exploded to 7,200 acres , spurring mandatory evacuations .
Gales said SCE was working to reduce the length and number of power shutoffs in the region , including isolating parts of the utility ’ s circuits to minimize the number of customers affected .
“ It ’ s difficult for customers , especially during COVID-19 , to have their power shut off , ” he said .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the decision to shut off power.
” But those hoping for relief — both from preemptive power shutoffs and from dangerous fire weather — will likely have to wait a bit longer .
“ It ’ s sunny and dry all the way through next Wednesday , with no chance of any rain , ” said David Sweet , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
“ Longer projections from the Climate Prediction Center indicate continued dryness through about the middle of December , ” Sweet added .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t really see any reliable — or hopeful — signs of rain .
”

Firefighters are battling the Bond fire, sparked by a structure fire, along Silverado Canyon Road in Orange County.
More than 43,000 Southern California Edison customers were without power Thursday amid a dangerous Santa Ana wind event that already had fueled at least two wildfires in the region.
The utility company initiated the public safety power shutoff across seven counties late Wednesday in an effort to prevent its electric system from becoming a source of ignition, Edison spokesman Ron Gales said.
The shutoff includes 21,000 customers in Riverside County, 7,800 in Los Angeles County and 2,800 in Ventura County.
Nearly 250,000 additional customers across eight counties are under consideration for a shutoff as well, Gales said.
California Photos: Bond fire in Orange County prompts evacuations The Bond fire erupted overnight in Orange County in dry brush and prompted evacuations in mountain communities amid high winds.
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“I cannot emphasize enough that de-energization only takes place as a last resort,” Gales said. “We only de-energize a circuit when we have no other choice. … We’re looking at wind speeds, relative humidity and the abundance of fuel and dried brush.”
Calling it a “particularly dangerous situation,” the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning indicating critical fire conditions through 6 p.m. Friday for Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
In Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, the red flag warning will remain in effect through 10 p.m. Saturday.
Ramping up to a CRITICAL Red Flag scenario across much of LA/VTA Counties this evening!! If you are in or near open space, are you SET in the event of #wildfire? #CAfire #CAwx #SoCal #preparedness pic.twitter.com/YeAUqSwJrr — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) December 3, 2020
The weather service said parts of Southern California, including the Santa Clarita and San Bernardino valleys and the mountains in Los Angeles, Ventura and Riverside counties, could see winds as high as 70 mph Thursday.
A gust of 85 mph was recorded in the San Gabriel Mountains near Sylmar on Wednesday night.
The winds will be met with extreme dryness, said Mark Moede, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. Humidity levels in the region will be dropping as low as 4%, further fueling fire concerns.
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“It’s very, very dry out there,” Moede said. “We’re looking at single-digit humidities, and I’m sure everyone is going to be feeling that either with their skin or with their sinuses.”
Low humidity contributes to dried vegetation that can fuel fires, which can spell disaster when paired with strong winds. A wildfire fanned by winds erupted in San Diego on Wednesday night and quickly burned through 25 acres, destroying at least one home.
California Photos: Bond fire in Orange County prompts evacuations The Bond fire erupted overnight in Orange County in dry brush and prompted evacuations in mountain communities amid high winds.
Another wind-driven blaze, dubbed the Bond fire, ignited Wednesday night in Orange County and quickly spread to the Silverado Canyon area. By Thursday evening , the fire had exploded to 7,200 acres, spurring mandatory evacuations.
Gales said SCE was working to reduce the length and number of power shutoffs in the region, including isolating parts of the utility’s circuits to minimize the number of customers affected.
“It’s difficult for customers, especially during COVID-19, to have their power shut off,” he said. “We’re doing everything we can before we make the decision to shut off power.”
But those hoping for relief — both from preemptive power shutoffs and from dangerous fire weather — will likely have to wait a bit longer.
“It’s sunny and dry all the way through next Wednesday, with no chance of any rain,” said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
“Longer projections from the Climate Prediction Center indicate continued dryness through about the middle of December,” Sweet added. “At this point, we don’t really see any reliable — or hopeful — signs of rain.”


latimes--2020-12-03--Photos: Bond fire in Orange County prompts evacuations

A wind-whipped wildfire was threatening homes in Orange County ’ s mountain communities , prompting evacuations as fire spread rapidly @ @ @ @ @ was in effect for residents of Silverado Canyon , Modjeska Canyon and Williams Canyon as @ @ @ @ @ 7,200 acres by Thursday afternoon .
Officials said multiple structures may have been damaged .

A wind-whipped wildfire was threatening homes in Orange County’s mountain communities, prompting evacuations as fire spread rapidly.
A mandatory evacuation order was in effect for residents of Silverado Canyon, Modjeska Canyon and Williams Canyon as the Bond fire exploded to 7,200 acres by Thursday afternoon. Officials said multiple structures may have been damaged.
The Bond fire began when a structure fire spread into nearby vegetation, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters extinguish hot spots from the Bond fire along Santiago Canyon Road in the Silverado area Thursday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters put out a flare-up along a hillside in Silverado Canyon on Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Costa Mesa firefighters battle the wind-driven Bond fire burning near a hillside residence on Santiago Canyon Road on Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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A helicopter makes a water drop on the Bond fire. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters turn to shield themselves from the embers as they battle the Bond fire. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A helicopter drops water on the Bond fire, which burned more than 7,200 acres in unincorporated Orange County. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A fire vehicle makes its way through flames to fight the Bond fire. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters battle the Bond fire along Silverado Canyon Road. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A tree is silhouetted by an emergency vehicle’s light at the Bond fire. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-12-04--Two found decapitated in Lancaster home; victims possibly teenagers, officials say

Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s detectives were investigating Friday the decapitation of two victims , described as possible teenagers , in Lancaster .
The Los Angeles County Fire Department was called to a home in the 45000 block of Century Circle in Lancaster just before 8 a.m. on reports of a possible gas leak .
Once inside , fire personnel discovered two people , one male and the other female , deceased , and the Sheriff ’ s Department in a statement described the pair as having “ lacerations and stab wounds.
” The mayor of Lancaster , R. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were decapitated .
“ It was pretty brutal , ” he said .
The name and ages of the two slain victims were not released by officials , but in a statement , the sheriff ’ s department described them as “ possibly in their teenage years.
” A male and female adult in the home were being questioned by sheriff ’ s homicide detectives .
Two other children at the home were also being interviewed .
Parris said he was still gathering information about the incident but said it appeared that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public places , and the tight living quarters in homes amid the pandemic had created a stressful environment .
“ The social fabric of the country and the world has been shredded , and we are starting to see the aftermath , ” Parris said .
“ What I ’ m seeing is more and more people feeling desperate , and that can only have one result.
” This story will be updated .

L.A. County fire personnel, responding to reports of a possible gas leak, found two siblings, ages 12 and 13, inside a Lancaster home on Friday, authorities say.
A personal trainer described as “mellow” and “reliable” was arrested Friday in connection with the deaths of his two adolescent children, who were found decapitated in the family home in Lancaster, authorities said.
Maurice Taylor Sr., 34, is being held in lieu of $2-million bond, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials who are investigating the crime.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department was called to a home in the 45000 block of Century Circle just before 8 a.m. Friday on reports of a possible gas leak. Once inside, fire personnel discovered the bodies. The Sheriff’s Department in a statement described the pair as having “lacerations and stab wounds.”
The mayor of Lancaster, R. Rex Parris, confirmed that both victims were decapitated.
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“It was pretty brutal,” he said.
Deputies found the children’s bodies in separate bedrooms in the home, Lt. Brandon Dean said. The two children were identified by sheriff’s officials as a 12-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. It’s unclear how long they had been dead, Dean said.
Both parents were in the home when deputies responded Friday morning; they were detained without a struggle and brought in for questioning. The children’s mother was questioned but has not been arrested, Dean said.
Two other children in the home appeared to be uninjured, but they were taken to a hospital as a precaution and the Sheriff’s Department is working with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services to place them, Dean said. To his knowledge, none of the children were previously involved with DCFS and no deputies had recently been called to the home for complaints about their welfare.
The DCFS did not say whether it had any prior contact with the family. “We mourn with the community over this tragic loss,” the agency said in a statement.
The Fire Department initially responded to the home following a report of a potential gas leak, but Sheriff’s Department officials confirmed there was no leak. The concern about a gas leak stemmed from Taylor’s former and current clients, with whom he had worked at a Santa Monica physical therapy and fitness center. They had been struggling to contact him all week.
Howard Kern, an attorney and writer who saw Taylor for sessions for about seven years, said he called the Los Angeles County Fire Department at 7:34 a.m. Friday, after others trained by Taylor had attempted calling the Sheriff’s Department to relay their worries.
“I said, ‘I’m concerned,’” Kern recalled. “‘We are concerned about a possible gas leak. There are four children and two adults — and we are concerned about their safety.’”
”
‘The social fabric of the country and the world has been shredded, and we are starting to see the aftermath.’ — Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris
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Another client, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Taylor had been working remotely because of the pandemic. The client described him as “so reliable, so responsive” and “mellow.”
The client said she knew something was not right this week, when Taylor did not send out a Zoom link for a scheduled session, then failed to appear during the appointed time. He was not reachable, she said, and she and other clients messaged one another as they wondered whether something was wrong.
“I knew they weren’t out of town. They didn’t have money to travel,” she said.
The client said she called the Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday and that the property management company running Taylor’s residence was also contacted.
“We were afraid of carbon monoxide poisoning, or they were all dead from falling asleep,” she said.
Several clients told The Times that Taylor was a diligent and hardworking trainer who patiently worked with each client.
“Think of the nicest person that you know, then multiply that by five,” Kern said. “He worked so hard to support himself. Unfortunately, we don’t know enough to say what happened or what didn’t happen.”
Kern said Taylor had been working and living on his own since he was 18, and he sensed that Taylor “was living under a tremendous amount of pressure.”
Over the years, Kern said, he knew Taylor had faced challenges, including a marriage that could seem “contentious” from the phone calls Taylor received from his wife at the gym. “It was embarrassing — you could hear her yelling at him,” Kern said. “He’d be very apologetic and she’d be yelling at him.”
In Lancaster, early reports of the two dead children were shocking, prompting a nearby property owner to revisit what he observed at Taylor’s home over the years.
The scene near a home in Lancaster where two young people were reportedly decapitated. (Matthew Ormseth / Los Angeles Times)
The property owner said he started noticing the home about two years ago. The property owner, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being connected to the incident, said when he visited his property, the house “just looked strange.”
Other neighbors spend time outside or greet one another from time to time. This family was eerily silent, he said.
”I remember that house just seemed weird anytime I was there,” he said. “I never saw anybody come out of that house. It almost seemed like the windows were all blacked out.”
The property owner said he knew of a couple and two young children who lived there but never saw them. He was surprised to learn that two other children may have lived there.
Parris, the mayor, said he was still gathering information about the incident but said it appeared that the economy, the closure of schools and public places, and the tight living quarters in homes amid the pandemic had created a stressful environment.
“The social fabric of the country and the world has been shredded, and we are starting to see the aftermath,” Parris said. “What I’m seeing is more and more people feeling desperate, and that can only have one result.”


latimes--2020-12-04--Shots fired at L.A. County sheriff's deputy in Altadena

The Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department is seeking the public ’ s help in identifying two men who @ @ @ @ @ at a deputy on patrol in Altadena on Friday .
The men , described as @ @ @ @ @ fired multiple times at the deputy while she sat in her marked patrol vehicle near @ @ @ @ @ Street , sheriff ’ s officials said Friday afternoon .
She was not struck .
@ @ @ @ @ shooting can contact the Altadena sheriff ’ s station at ( 626 ) 798-1131 .

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said one of its deputies was shot at while on patrol in Altadena on Friday.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying two men who allegedly fired, unprovoked, at a deputy on patrol in Altadena on Friday.
The men, described as being in their 20s, fired multiple times at the deputy while she sat in her marked patrol vehicle near Fair Oaks Avenue and Calaveras Street, sheriff’s officials said Friday afternoon. She was not struck.
Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the Altadena sheriff’s station at (626) 798-1131.


latimes--2020-12-04--Unhappy with L.A. County COVID-19 response, Lancaster to form its own public health agency

Dissatisfied with Los Angeles County ’ s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic , the Lancaster City Council unanimously has voted to form its own public health agency .
The council also on Thursday unanimously passed a symbolic “ vote of no confidence ” of Barbara Ferrer , the county ’ s public health director , who has been leading the county ’ s charge against the coronavirus .
Mayor R. Rex Parris blamed county officials for not considering smaller cities — like Lancaster , where the population is about 158,000 — when making sweeping decisions , such as the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What I don ’ t want our city to do is to make decisions based upon anything other than what ’ s supported by the research and the people most knowledgeable about this — which I would suggest to you is not Barbara Ferrer , ” Parris said .
Ferrer ’ s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment .
“ If you compare what the state has done when it comes to regulating COVID , and the additional changes the county has made , they seem to be minor changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science , ” Lancaster City Manager Jason Caudle said .
“ They seem to have an unbalanced impact on restaurants specifically.
” Although Lancaster ’ s case rates are lower than Los Angeles County ’ s , the city ’ s positivity rate is soaring and two local hospitals are filling up , said Deputy Mayor and infectious disease specialist Dr. Jonathan Truong .
He said that Antelope Valley Hospital is caring for 68 confirmed COVID patients , up from 23 last month .
There are 45 COVID patients at the nearby Palmdale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month , he said .
Still , Truong did not dispute the City Council ’ s displeasure with new county restrictions .
“ Sometimes , not having the detailed number down to the local area , you end up making policies that ’ s one size fits all , ” Truong said .
“ You basically close everything down , even when this community is doing well or the other community doing poorly .
That ’ s the problem with one-size-fits-all numbers.
” Lawrence Stock , deputy mayor and an emergency medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his workplace is preparing for the worst , erecting new tents outside the emergency room to expand capacity .
He also said hospitals have yet to see the effects of Thanksgiving gatherings , which likely helped spread the contagion .
“ Together with the rest of California , the rest of the county , [ we ’ re ] at some risk of overwhelming the normal hospital capacity , ” Stock said .
“ We ’ re in a serious surge right now.
” Parris , who called a special meeting of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the city ’ s current predicament in the pandemic .
He blamed the city ’ s 77 coronavirus-related deaths on a failure of county leaders to enforce a mask mandate or properly educate people about the pandemic .
“ We don ’ t have the leadership with the courage to make those unpopular decisions , ” Parris said in an interview Friday morning .
He called the county Department of Public Health too big and “ dysfunctional.
” The city could maneuver faster on its own to secure resources and make necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his displeasure and the council ’ s unanimous vote , it could be months before a public health agency like the one Parris proposed — possibly as a joint effort with neighboring cities such as Palmdale — would be operating .
He acknowledged that the coronavirus would probably be long gone by the time Lancaster formed its own agency .
Still , he said , the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inefficiencies in the county ’ s public health response and underscored a need for the city to take care of its own .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ also has no practical outcome .
But Parris said the unanimous vote sent a message that the city felt “ betrayed ” by her handling of the pandemic .
“ What we ’ re about to do may not have an effect on her but , nonetheless , we ’ ve never had to do it to somebody before , ” he said at Thursday ’ s meeting .
“ Without this expression of our contempt , and that ’ s really what it is , nothing ’ s about to change .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Lancaster ’ s vote followed similar actions on Wednesday by the Beverly Hills City Council , which unanimously called for a repeal of the outdoor dining ban and pledged to explore forming its own public health agency .
Demonstrators in recent days have gathered to protest some of the county ’ s new restrictions .

Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris led the motion for his city to form its own public health agency, following a wave of new restrictions from L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
Dissatisfied with Los Angeles County’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lancaster City Council has voted unanimously to form its own public health agency.
The council also on Thursday unanimously passed a symbolic “vote of no confidence” of Barbara Ferrer, the county’s public health director, who has been leading the county’s charge against the coronavirus.
Mayor R. Rex Parris blamed county officials for not considering smaller cities — like Lancaster, where the population is about 158,000 — when making sweeping decisions, such as the county’s recent decision to suspend outdoor dining .
“What I don’t want our city to do is to make decisions based upon anything other than what’s supported by the research and the people most knowledgeable about this — which I would suggest to you is not Barbara Ferrer,” Parris said.
A representative for Ferrer did not respond to a request for comment.
“If you compare what the state has done when it comes to regulating COVID, and the additional changes the county has made, they seem to be minor changes at best that are not based on science,” Lancaster City Manager Jason Caudle said. “They seem to have an unbalanced impact on restaurants specifically.”
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Although Lancaster’s case rates are lower than Los Angeles County’s, the city’s positivity rate is soaring and two local hospitals are filling up, said Deputy Mayor and infectious-disease specialist Dr. Jonathan Truong. He said Antelope Valley Hospital is caring for 68 confirmed COVID-19 patients, up from 23 last month. There are 45 COVID-19 patients at the nearby Palmdale Regional Medical Center, compared with 18 last month, he said.
Still, Truong did not dispute the City Council’s displeasure with new county restrictions.
“Sometimes, not having the detailed number down to the local area, you end up making policies that’s one size fits all,” Truong said. “You basically close everything down, even when this community is doing well or the other community doing poorly. That’s the problem with one-size-fits-all numbers.”
Dr. Lawrence Stock, deputy mayor and an emergency medicine physician at Antelope Valley Hospital, said his workplace is preparing for the worst, erecting new tents outside the emergency room to expand capacity. He also said hospitals have yet to see the effects of Thanksgiving gatherings, which probably helped spread the contagion even further.
“Together with the rest of California, the rest of the county, [we’re] at some risk of overwhelming the normal hospital capacity,” Stock said. “We’re in a serious surge right now.”
Parris, who called a special meeting of the council Thursday, acknowledged the gravity of the city’s current predicament in the pandemic. He blamed the city’s 77 coronavirus-related deaths on a failure of county leaders to enforce a mask mandate or properly educate people about the pandemic.
“We don’t have the leadership with the courage to make those unpopular decisions,” Parris said in an interview Friday morning.
He called the county Department of Public Health too big and “dysfunctional.” The city could maneuver faster on its own to secure resources and make necessary changes, he said.
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But despite his displeasure and the council’s unanimous vote, it could be months before a public health agency like the one Parris proposed — possibly as a joint effort with neighboring cities such as Palmdale — is operating. He acknowledged that the coronavirus crisis would probably be long passed by the time Lancaster formed its own agency. Still, he said, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inefficiencies in the county’s public health response and underscored a need for the city to take care of its own.
The vote of no confidence in Ferrer also has no practical outcome. But Parris said the unanimous vote sent a message that the city felt “betrayed” by her handling of the pandemic.
“What we’re about to do may not have an effect on her but, nonetheless, we’ve never had to do it to somebody before,” he said at Thursday’s meeting. “Without this expression of our contempt, and that’s really what it is, nothing’s about to change. … In my opinion, she failed.”


latimes--2020-12-04--Gov. Newsom faces backlash for closing playgrounds as part of stay-at-home order

Some California lawmakers are calling on Gov .
Gavin Newsom to reconsider closing public outdoor playgrounds under a new stay-at-home order that is set to go into effect once regions of the state hit critical care shortages due to COVID-19 .
Though much of the discourse surrounding the newly announced coronavirus-related restrictions has focused on businesses — with many questioning the science behind or justification for the planned closures — parents have also expressed outrage and confusion about why playgrounds would be off-limits while places like malls remain open .
In a letter sent to Newsom Friday , legislators also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardest by the rule because many residents don ’ t have backyards and other open spaces to take their kids .
“ While we must appropriately consider best practices to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission , we also must ensure the children across the state are not unfairly deprived of their opportunities for outdoor access and play , ” states the letter , which is signed by a dozen legislators .
“ The broad closure of playgrounds unfairly negatively impacts children and families.
” Los Angeles County drew similar criticism when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its own stay-at-home order that went into effect Monday .
The county has not publicly linked coronavirus outbreaks to playgrounds , but officials said they believe the closures were necessary to slow the spread .
Playgrounds were closed earlier in the pandemic but were allowed to reopen in September to the cheers of parents .
Before issuing the latest regulations , health officials “ went back and forth for many days ” about how to handle reports from local parks departments about crowding , children playing without masks and the difficulty of sanitizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Director Barbara Ferrer .
“ I know the playgrounds have been , really for many , sort of not well understood , and [ their closure ] creates a lot of hardship again for families , ” she said this week .
The playground prohibition is just one aspect of the state ’ s new and far-reaching restrictions that would be implemented when a specified region ’ s intensive care unit capacity falls below 15 % .
The state-defined regions are Southern California , the San Joaquin Valley , the Bay Area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern California .
“ The bottom line is , if we don ’ t act now , our hospital system will be overwhelmed , ” Newsom said Thursday .
“ If we don ’ t act now , we ’ ll continue to see our death rate climb , more lives lost .
”

Maala Sampath, 2, tries to climb into a swing before her nanny reminds her that the playground is closed at Glen Anderson Park in Redondo Beach on Tuesday.
Some California lawmakers are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to reconsider closing public outdoor playgrounds under a new stay-at-home order that is set to go into effect once regions of the state hit critical care shortages due to COVID-19.
Though much of the discourse surrounding the newly announced coronavirus-related restrictions has focused on businesses — with many questioning the science behind or justification for the planned closures — parents have also expressed outrage and confusion about why playgrounds would be off-limits while places like malls remain open.
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In a letter sent to Newsom Friday, legislators also noted that lower-income areas would be hit hardest by the rule because many residents don’t have backyards and other open spaces to take their kids.
“While we must appropriately consider best practices to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, we also must ensure the children across the state are not unfairly deprived of their opportunities for outdoor access and play,” states the letter, which is signed by a dozen legislators. “The broad closure of playgrounds unfairly negatively impacts children and families.”
Los Angeles County drew similar criticism when it closed outdoor public playgrounds as part of its own stay-at-home order that went into effect Monday.
The county has not publicly linked coronavirus outbreaks to playgrounds, but officials said they believe the closures were necessary to slow the spread. Playgrounds were closed earlier in the pandemic but were allowed to reopen in September to the cheers of parents.
Before issuing the latest regulations, health officials “went back and forth for many days” about how to handle reports from local parks departments about crowding, children playing without masks and the difficulty of sanitizing playground equipment, according to county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
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“I know the playgrounds have been, really for many, sort of not well understood, and [their closure] creates a lot of hardship again for families,” she said this week.
The playground prohibition is just one aspect of the state’s new and far-reaching restrictions that would be implemented when a specified region’s intensive care unit capacity falls below 15%. The state-defined regions are Southern California, the San Joaquin Valley, the Bay Area, the Greater Sacramento area and rural Northern California.
“The bottom line is, if we don’t act now, our hospital system will be overwhelmed,” Newsom said Thursday. “If we don’t act now, we’ll continue to see our death rate climb, more lives lost.”
Times staff writer Hailey Branson-Potts contributed to this report.