latimes--2020-03-06--800,000 L.A. County ballots still haven't been counted

Nearly 40 % of ballots cast in Los Angeles County in Tuesday ’ s primary election remained to be counted as of Friday morning , leaving undecided the outcome of some races , including the contest for district attorney .
County election officials said that a wave of vote-by-mail ballots left at vote centers and still arriving by mail contributed to the number of untallied votes .
The county registrar ’ s office said it had counted 1,294,610 votes as of Thursday evening .
It estimated another 802,380 ballots remained to be counted , though that number could grow .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday evening , as long as they were postmarked by election day .
With 38.3 % of the vote still outstanding , the outcome of some races still hangs in the balance .
Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey needs to get 50 % of the vote , plus one , to avoid a November runoff election .
The latest count showed her with 553,300 votes , or 50.3 % , compared with 299,182 for George Gascon ( 27.2 % ) and 247,657 for Rachel A. Rossi ( 22.5 % . )
Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , rolled out a new voting system on Tuesday that was hobbled by reports of broken machines and hours-long waits .
California ’ s chief elections officer , Secretary of State Alex Padilla , rebuked local officials Thursday over the voting day mishaps .
“ I ’ m beyond frustrated and disappointed in what I saw on Tuesday , and I ’ m committed to making sure it doesn ’ t happen again , ” Padilla said .
“ Clearly , voters deserve better.
” The county says it won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until March 27 .
Officials said they will update totals every Tuesday and Friday until then .

Election official Zahra Katimi, left, answers questions about filling out provisional ballots at the vote center at Santa Monica Place mall on Tuesday.
Nearly 32% of ballots cast in Los Angeles County in Tuesday’s primary election remained to be counted as of Friday, leaving undecided the outcome of some races, including the contest for district attorney.
County election officials said that a wave of vote-by-mail ballots left at vote centers and still arriving by mail contributed to the number of untallied votes.
The county registrar’s office said it had counted 1,447,938 votes as of Friday. It estimated that 678,050 ballots remained to be counted. The county was accepting mailed ballots through Friday evening, as long as they were postmarked by election day.
Advertisement
With so many votes still outstanding, the outcome of some races still hangs in the balance.
Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey needs to get 50% of the vote, plus one, to avoid a November runoff election. The latest count showed her with 615,864 votes. That puts her just a few votes below 50%, compared with 337,962 for George Gascon (27.44%) and 277,933 for Rachel A. Rossi (22.56%).
Los Angeles County, with 5.5 million registered voters, rolled out a new voting system on Tuesday that was hobbled by reports of broken machines and hours-long waits.
California’s chief elections officer, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, rebuked local officials Thursday over the voting day mishaps.
“I’m beyond frustrated and disappointed in what I saw on Tuesday, and I’m committed to making sure it doesn’t happen again,” Padilla said. “Clearly, voters deserve better.”
The county says it won’t have final certification of the election results until March 27. Officials said they will update totals every Tuesday and Friday until then.


latimes--2020-03-06--Henry Cobb, architect of what long was L.A.'s tallest skyscaper, dies at 93

Architect Henry N. Cobb , who designed downtown Los Angeles ’ 72-story U.S. Bank Tower -- for decades the tallest building in the West , has died at his home in New York .
Cobb died Monday of unspecified causes , according to his firm , Pei Cobb Freed & Partners .
He was 93 .
The most celebrated building of Cobb ’ s 70-year career was the 800-foot-tall glass skyscraper now called 200 Clarendon but still widely known as the John Hancock Tower in Boston .
Landscape architect Laurie Olin , who worked with Cobb on several projects , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ architect.
” “ He was a great collaborator .
He was a great intellect .
He was a very warm friend , ” Olin told the Boston Globe .
“ Usually , you might get one or two of those qualities , but you don ’ t get all .
You did with Harry.
” Cobb was born in Boston on April 8 , 1926 , and grew up in Brookline , Mass .
He studied at Harvard ’ s Graduate School of Design where he first met prominent architect I.M .
Pei @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his partner .
Cobb moved to New York in 1950 to start his career in skyscraper architecture but ended up designing multiple buildings in Boston , including Harbor Towers and the John Joseph Moakley U.S .
Courthouse and Harborpark .
Cobb also designed the Place Ville Marie in Montreal , the campus of the State University of New York Fredonia , and the Johnson & Johnson world headquarters in New Brunswick , N.J .
Though the Hancock Tower — often confused with Chicago ’ s John Hancock Center — ended up becoming a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Church , it wasn ’ t immediately accepted .
Many people protested plans because it was close to beloved Copley Square .
Then , as construction neared completion in 1972 , glass panels weighing as much as 500 pounds each started falling from the facade .
Many Bostonians called the falling glass “ retribution for overreaching , ” Cobb told the New York Times in 2010 .
The firm ordered replacement glass , but the bad publicity and litigation costs nearly drove the Pei firm to financial ruin .
Cobb focused primarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebounded .
In 1989 , Cobb designed the U.S. Bank Tower , a soaring building clad in pink Italian granite that rose above the skyline from Bunker Hill in downtown L.A. Until the Wilshire Grand Center was erected in 2017 , the U.S. Bank Tower was the tallest building in Los Angeles .
Survivors include his wife , Joan ; three daughters ; and three grandchildren .

Architect Henry N. Cobb, who designed downtown Los Angeles’ 72-story U.S. Bank Tower -- for decades the tallest building in the West, has died at his home in New York.
Cobb died Monday of unspecified causes, according to his firm, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. He was 93.
For the record: The headline for an earlier version of this story said that Henry Cobb died at 94. He was 93.
The most celebrated building of Cobb’s 70-year career was the 800-foot-tall glass skyscraper now called 200 Clarendon but still widely known as the John Hancock Tower in Boston.
Advertisement
Landscape architect Laurie Olin, who worked with Cobb on several projects, called him “an architect’s architect.”
“He was a great collaborator. He was a great intellect. He was a very warm friend,” Olin told the Boston Globe. “Usually, you might get one or two of those qualities, but you don’t get all. You did with Harry.”
Cobb was born in Boston on April 8, 1926, and grew up in Brookline, Mass. He studied at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design where he first met prominent architect I.M. Pei, who was his teacher and later his partner.
Cobb moved to New York in 1950 to start his career in skyscraper architecture but ended up designing multiple buildings in Boston, including Harbor Towers and the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse and Harborpark.
Cobb also designed the Place Ville Marie in Montreal, the campus of the State University of New York Fredonia, and the Johnson & Johnson world headquarters in New Brunswick, N.J.
Architect Henry Cobb stands across the street from the John Hancock Tower in Boston in 1977. (Chet Magnuson/AP)
Though the Hancock Tower — often confused with Chicago’s John Hancock Center — ended up becoming a Boston icon on par with the Old North Church, it wasn’t immediately accepted.
Many people protested plans because it was close to beloved Copley Square. Then, as construction neared completion in 1972, glass panels weighing as much as 500 pounds each started falling from the facade.
Many Bostonians called the falling glass “retribution for overreaching,” Cobb told the New York Times in 2010.
Advertisement
The firm ordered replacement glass, but the bad publicity and litigation costs nearly drove the Pei firm to financial ruin. Cobb focused primarily on designing office buildings as the firm rebounded.
In 1989, Cobb designed the U.S. Bank Tower, a soaring building clad in pink Italian granite that rose above the skyline from Bunker Hill in downtown L.A. Until the Wilshire Grand Center was erected in 2017, the U.S. Bank Tower was the tallest building in Los Angeles.
Survivors include his wife, Joan; three daughters; and three grandchildren.
A Times staff writer contributed to this report


latimes--2020-03-06--Amid coronavirus, a non-contact L.A. Marathon is on tap this year

Despite growing concerns about coronavirus , the Los Angeles Marathon is scheduled to be held as scheduled Sunday — but with some unusual recommendations .
L.A. County health officials recommended that spectators who are sick stay home and that anyone who attends stay six feet away from others .
Runners were advised to wash their hands before the race and to not shake hands with other participants or the public .
Ferrer also recommended that they use hand sanitizer that will be available along the course .
“ We are not currently recommending the suspension of any large public events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barbara Ferrer , director of the county Public Health Department , said in a statement Thursday .
“ The public can continue to enjoy all that L.A. County has to offer , including this historic event.
” The marathon is one of the largest in the country .
Runners traverse the city , starting at Dodger Stadium and ending near the Santa Monica Pier .
“ We are actively monitoring the situation and communicating directly with participants via social channels , email and our website to update them as we learn more , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the McCourt Foundation , which organizes the event , said in an email .
“ Runner safety is paramount and will continue to be our top priority.
” Spots in next year ’ s field will be reserved for runners who live in countries affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and are unable to participate in this year ’ s race , he said .
So far , 240 cases have been diagnosed nationwide , with more than 100,000 cases worldwide .

Despite growing concerns about coronavirus, the Los Angeles Marathon is scheduled to be held as scheduled Sunday — but with some unusual recommendations.
L.A. County health officials recommended that spectators who are sick stay home and that anyone who attends stay six feet away from others. Runners were advised to wash their hands before the race and to not shake hands with other participants or the public. Ferrer also recommended that they use hand sanitizer that will be available along the course.
“We are not currently recommending the suspension of any large public events, including the L.A. Marathon,” Barbara Ferrer, director of the county Public Health Department, said in a statement Thursday. “The public can continue to enjoy all that L.A. County has to offer, including this historic event.”
Advertisement
The marathon is one of the largest in the country. Runners traverse the city, starting at Dodger Stadium and ending near the Santa Monica Pier.
“We are actively monitoring the situation and communicating directly with participants via social channels, email and our website to update them as we learn more,” Murphy Reinschreiber, chief operating officer of the McCourt Foundation, which organizes the event, said in an email. “Runner safety is paramount and will continue to be our top priority.”
Spots in next year’s field will be reserved for runners who live in countries affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and are unable to participate in this year’s race, he said. So far, 240 cases have been diagnosed nationwide, with more than 100,000 cases worldwide.


latimes--2020-03-06--California schools face coronavirus: Closures, deep cleaning and anxious questions

With the coronavirus spreading in California , schools are beginning to feel the effects of the virus that has sickened dozens of people across the state and killed at least one person .
There have been no widespread school closures in the state , but officials are taking steps to close and clean schools where there is any possibility of virus contamination .
Which schools have been affected ?
There have been a scattering of schools with potential contamination across the state , including a highly regarded magnet school in San Francisco .
Officials announced Thursday that , “ for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Lowell High School would close and cancel all events and gatherings for at least the rest of the week after it was learned that a relative of one of its students is being treated for COVID-19 .
Clifton Middle School in Monrovia was deep-cleaned Thursday after officials became aware that a person who might have the virus had been on campus .
Monrovia Unified School District President Robb Hammond said officials hired a company to disinfect the school .
In San Jose , a preschool closed after a teacher tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school was closed through the end of the week because of a possible exposure , and an exclusive private school in Atherton will be closed through the weekend after a potential exposure of someone connected to the school .
What are officials doing ?
School officials are racing to educate students and families about the epidemic and slow the spread of germs among children , while also preparing contingency plans if they are forced to shut their doors as a last resort .
At the Los Angeles Unified School District , an official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health department and asks three questions : Is anyone sick in L.A. County ?
Are there any exposures affecting schools ?
Can we go about things normally ?
At the school level , overtime pay is available to allow for deeper and more thorough cleaning of “ high-touch ” areas .
Towel dispensers , doorknobs , staircase railings , computer keyboards , toys , bus seats , the coffee pot handle in the faculty lounge .
The list goes on .
District officials have been asked to plan for myriad scenarios : What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department called in sick ?
What if the IT department needed to be quarantined or if there was a break in the supply chain of the vast food-services operation ?
L.A. Unified has an information video and a telephone hotline that is staffed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m .
The number is : ( 213 ) 443-1300 .
At the University of California , President Janet Napolitano ’ s office released for all locations .
The 19-page document includes information about distributing face3 masks , taking family and medical leave , quarantining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state health authorities , among other questions .
Four students in the Los Rios Community College District — two at Sacramento City College and one each at American River College and Cosumnes River College — reported exposure to an individual confirmed to have COVID-19 .
All of the exposures happened while the students were working off campus as medical professionals , the district said on its website .
They were told to self-quarantine for 14 days and report any symptoms to county health officials .
Three UC Davis students had been placed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative for the virus .
Three UCLA students are being tested , according to Los Angeles County health officials .
Brandman University has temporarily canceled classes at its small San Diego campus and closed the other 24 campuses it operates in California and Washington .
Most Brandman courses are already taken online , which should minimize disruptions for students , the school said .

Alex Wigglesworth, Howard Blume, Colleen Shalby, Gary Robbins

A police officer monitors traffic as students arrive Thursday at Clifton Middle School in Monrovia, where crews had performed a deep cleaning overnight after a parent came in contact with someone exposed to the coronavirus.
With the coronavirus spreading in California, schools are beginning to feel the effects of the virus that has sickened dozens of people across the state and killed at least one person.
There have been no widespread school closures in the state, but officials are taking steps to close and clean schools where there is any possibility of virus contamination.
Which schools have been affected?
There have been a scattering of schools with potential contamination across the state, including a highly regarded magnet school in San Francisco.
Officials announced Thursday that, “for the safety and well-being of our community,” Lowell High School would close and cancel all events and gatherings for at least the rest of the week after it was learned that a relative of one of its students is being treated for COVID-19.
Advertisement
Clifton Middle School in Monrovia was deep-cleaned Thursday after officials became aware that a person who might have the virus had been on campus. Monrovia Unified School District President Robb Hammond said officials hired a company to disinfect the school.
In San Jose, a preschool closed after a teacher tested positive for the virus. An Oakland charter school was closed through the end of the week because of a possible exposure, and an exclusive private school in Atherton will be closed through the weekend after a potential exposure of someone connected to the school.
What are officials doing?
School officials are racing to educate students and families about the epidemic and slow the spread of germs among children, while also preparing contingency plans if they are forced to shut their doors as a last resort.
At the Los Angeles Unified School District, an official checks in every day with the county health department and asks three questions: Is anyone sick in L.A. County? Are there any exposures affecting schools? Can we go about things normally?
At the school level, overtime pay is available to allow for deeper and more thorough cleaning of “high-touch” areas.
Towel dispensers, doorknobs, staircase railings, computer keyboards, toys, bus seats, the coffee pot handle in the faculty lounge. The list goes on.
Advertisement
District officials have been asked to plan for myriad scenarios: What would happen if most of the payroll department called in sick? What if the IT department needed to be quarantined or if there was a break in the supply chain of the vast food-services operation?
L.A. Unified has an information video and a telephone hotline that is staffed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. The number is: (213) 443-1300.
What about colleges?
At the University of California, President Janet Napolitano’s office released guidelines for all locations. The 19-page document includes information about distributing face3 masks, taking family and medical leave, quarantining students and reporting cases to local or state health authorities, among other questions.
Four students in the Los Rios Community College District — two at Sacramento City College and one each at American River College and Cosumnes River College — reported exposure to an individual confirmed to have COVID-19.
All of the exposures happened while the students were working off campus as medical professionals, the district said on its website. They were told to self-quarantine for 14 days and report any symptoms to county health officials.
Three UC Davis students had been placed in isolation but were released after one tested negative for the virus.
Three UCLA students are being tested, according to Los Angeles County health officials.
Cal State universities have canceled some study abroad programs.
Brandman University has temporarily canceled classes at its small San Diego campus and closed the other 24 campuses it operates in California and Washington. Most Brandman courses are already taken online, which should minimize disruptions for students, the school said.


latimes--2020-03-06--California coronavirus warnings get more dire: Cancel events, don't shake hands, stay 6 feet away

With the number of coronavirus cases in California topping 60 , public health officials are issuing more serious warnings about how to change residents ’ behavior in the face of the spreading illness .
In Santa Clara County , where there are now 20 cases , officials urged residents to postpone or cancel large gatherings and events and minimize work in big groups .
Officials are most concerned with those who have the highest risk of contracting the virus : people over 50 with underlying health problems .
Santa Clara County announced Thursday that the number of cases there had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those cases , four are related to travel , nine had contacts with other confirmed COVID-19 patients and seven were believed to have caught the illness in the community .
That prompted new guidance aimed at reducing the spread of the virus .
“ Our cases to date indicate to us that the risk of exposure to the virus in our community is increasing , ” Dr. Sara Cody , health officer for Santa Clara County and director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department , said .
County health officials issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the virus , calling on residents to postpone large gatherings and events .
Employers should take steps to minimize large group meetings , consider allowing employees to telecommute and stagger work start and end times .
Health officials aren ’ t recommending that schools be shuttered but said they ’ ll consider such closures on a case-by-case basis if a school employee or student is confirmed to have the coronavirus .
San Mateo County ’ s health officer , Dr. Scott Morrow , said in a statement Thursday that COVID-19 “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps months.
” “ We now all need to take assertive actions to inhibit the spread of this new virus , ” Morrow said .
Among other steps , Morrow recommends that people stop shaking hands , use a barrier such as a paper towel or tissue to touch door handles , elevator buttons and other commonly touched surfaces , and “ under all circumstances , stop touching your face , eyes , nose or mouth with your unwashed hands.
” Echoing Santa Clara County officials , he said residents should cancel or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , other steps may be needed , Morrow said , including school closures that “ may be extensive and extended , ” rationing of critical supplies and social distancing — that is , staying at least six feet away from other people .
What is behind the warnings ?
Officials are concerned about the rapid spread of the disease through the community .
The first round of cases in California involved people who had traveled from the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan , China .
But in Santa Clara , San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now cases with no links to foreign travel .
Some healthy people might have the coronavirus and not know it .
But they could give it to someone with health issues who could become ill or even die .
What are tips for stopping the spread ?
Here are some tips provided by San Mateo and Santa Clara County health officials : • All nonessential gatherings should be canceled , postponed or done remotely .
At this time there is no standard definition of “ nonessential ” or “ gathering ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best judgment .
• Increase the amount of remote working to the extent possible , especially for those who appear at higher risk of developing the disease , those over the age of 60 and those with underlying health conditions .
• Under all circumstances , stop touching your face , eyes , nose or mouth with unwashed hands .
• School closings present a particularly vexing social-distancing dilemma but may be necessary to protect public health .
Once school closings occur , they may be extensive and extended .
• Social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from all other people — should be attempted where possible .
• Rationing of critical supplies may need to occur .
• Communities may need volunteers .
Think now about the skills you have and how you can help .
Heed the call should volunteers be requested .
• Other public health interventions that have been used to some effect in other countries include commandeering of personal property , conscription , curfew and cordons .
It is unlikely that these interventions would be used in the U.S. • Minimize the number of employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one another , including minimizing or canceling large in-person meetings and conferences .
• Urge employees to stay home when they are sick and maximize flexibility in sick leave benefits .
• Not require a doctor ’ s note for employees who are sick as healthcare offices may be very busy and unable to provide that documentation right away .
• Consider use of telecommuting options for appropriate employees .
• Consider staggering start and end times to reduce large numbers of people coming to work at the same time .
Santa Clara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings and large community events where large numbers of people would be within arm ’ s length of one another .
If such gatherings can ’ t be avoided , consider the following : • Urge anyone who is sick to not attend .
• Encourage those who are at higher risk for serious illness to not attend .
• Try to find ways to give people more physical space so they aren ’ t in close contact as much as possible .
• Encourage attendees to follow increased hygiene , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and water for at least 20 seconds • If soap and water are not available , alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used • Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue - if available - or into their elbow

Alex Wigglesworth, Tony Barboza, Rong-Gong Lin II, Colleen Shalby

A person walks in downtown L.A. near 7th and South Figueroa streets wearing a protective mask on Thursday.
With the number of coronavirus cases in California topping 60, public health officials are issuing more serious warnings about how to change residents’ behavior in the face of the spreading illness.
In Santa Clara County, where there are now 20 cases, officials urged residents to postpone or cancel large gatherings and events and minimize work in big groups.
Officials are most concerned with those who have the highest risk of contracting the virus: people over 50 with underlying health problems.
Advertisement
Why the growing concern?
Santa Clara County announced Thursday that the number of cases there had grown from 14 to 20. Of those cases, four are related to travel, nine had contacts with other confirmed COVID-19 patients and seven were believed to have caught the illness in the community.
That prompted new guidance aimed at reducing the spread of the virus.
“Our cases to date indicate to us that the risk of exposure to the virus in our community is increasing,” Dr. Sara Cody, health officer for Santa Clara County and director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, said.
County health officials issued more stringent recommendations meant to slow the spread of the virus, calling on residents to postpone large gatherings and events. Employers should take steps to minimize large group meetings, consider allowing employees to telecommute and stagger work start and end times.
Health officials aren’t recommending that schools be shuttered but said they’ll consider such closures on a case-by-case basis if a school employee or student is confirmed to have the coronavirus.
San Mateo County’s health officer, Dr. Scott Morrow, said in a statement Thursday that COVID-19 “has likely been spreading for weeks, perhaps months.”
“We now all need to take assertive actions to inhibit the spread of this new virus,” Morrow said.
Among other steps, Morrow recommends that people stop shaking hands, use a barrier such as a paper towel or tissue to touch door handles, elevator buttons and other commonly touched surfaces, and “under all circumstances, stop touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth with your unwashed hands.”
Advertisement
Echoing Santa Clara County officials, he said residents should cancel or postpone nonessential gatherings.
In the future, other steps may be needed, Morrow said, including school closures that “may be extensive and extended,” rationing of critical supplies and social distancing — that is, staying at least six feet away from other people.
What is behind the warnings?
Officials are concerned about the rapid spread of the disease through the community. The first round of cases in California involved people who had traveled from the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, China.
But in Santa Clara, San Francisco, Solano and other counties, there are now cases with no links to foreign travel.
Some healthy people might have the coronavirus and not know it. But they could give it to someone with health issues who could become ill or even die.
What are tips for stopping the spread?
Here are some tips provided by San Mateo and Santa Clara County health officials:
• All nonessential gatherings should be canceled, postponed or done remotely. At this time there is no standard definition of “nonessential” or “gathering” to guide decision-making. Officials recommend using your best judgment.
• Stop shaking hands.
• Increase the amount of remote working to the extent possible, especially for those who appear at higher risk of developing the disease, those over the age of 60 and those with underlying health conditions.
• Under all circumstances, stop touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• School closings present a particularly vexing social-distancing dilemma but may be necessary to protect public health. Once school closings occur, they may be extensive and extended.
• Social distancing — staying at least six feet away from all other people — should be attempted where possible.
• Rationing of critical supplies may need to occur.
• Communities may need volunteers. Think now about the skills you have and how you can help. Heed the call should volunteers be requested.
• Other public health interventions that have been used to some effect in other countries include commandeering of personal property, conscription, curfew and cordons. It is unlikely that these interventions would be used in the U.S.
California Stanford University will move classes online due to coronavirus Yolo County announced its first case of coronavirus, becoming the 13th county in California with a patient who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Employers should:
Suspend nonessential employee travel.
Minimize the number of employees working within arm’s length of one another, including minimizing or canceling large in-person meetings and conferences.
Urge employees to stay home when they are sick and maximize flexibility in sick leave benefits.
Not require a doctor’s note for employees who are sick as healthcare offices may be very busy and unable to provide that documentation right away.
Consider use of telecommuting options for appropriate employees.
Consider staggering start and end times to reduce large numbers of people coming to work at the same time.
Events
Santa Clara County is recommending postponing or canceling mass gatherings and large community events where large numbers of people would be within arm’s length of one another.
If such gatherings can’t be avoided, consider the following:


latimes--2020-03-06--What coronavirus fears? Disneyland visitors pour in and focus on fun

Jenny Reyes didn ’ t think about the coronavirus until she stepped out of her friend ’ s car at Disneyland ’ s parking lot in Anaheim , the second-most visited theme park in the world .
On the escalator , the Boston resident took notice of the handrail .
“ Don ’ t touch that , don ’ t touch that , ” she told herself .
But the moment was fleeting .
At the bottom of the escalator , her friend Anna Maltez of Long Beach snapped a photo of Reyes standing by a globe structure shaped like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about coronavirus , and California ’ s declaration of a state of emergency , were not going to stop Reyes from visiting the “ Happiest Place on Earth.
” “ It ’ s more about trying to be conscious of the things you touch , ” Reyes said .
As the number of coronavirus cases rose in the United States and some conferences and public events were canceled , thousands of residents and travelers continue to make their way to Disneyland .
Theme park officials said they are taking precautions to try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are taking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ As part of our commitment to the health and well-being of our cast members , guests and the larger community we are carefully monitoring the situation and are in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance , ” park officials stated in their website .
Additionally , the park said that they have onsite health team and our providing training to employees about illness prevention .
Meanwhile , other theme parks were taking similar measures .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enhanced sanitation efforts on public areas .
“ We have added more anti-bacterial soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizers , ” the park said in a statement .
“ We are ensuring guest and employee access to these preventive enhancements throughout all areas of the park , especially in restrooms , food locations and employee break areas .
We are also encouraging guests and employees to practice good hygiene with frequent and rigorous hand-washing.
” These are on the checklist public health officials are issued for dealing with the virus .
In general , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be out in public unless you are sick .
But Santa Clara County on Wednesday suggested that high-risk individuals — the elderly and people with a history of poor health — avoid large public gatherings .
At Disneyland , many reasoned that you could get sick just about anywhere in the world .
Might as well take some reasonable precautions , but don ’ t let fear get in the way of having fun .
At the entrance of the park , as the orchestra version of Snow White ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louiz Elvira and his wife , Trisha , were trying to locate a brick they sponsored that had their names etched on it .
The couple , who live just outside of Oakland , said they went to the amusement park after the postponement of the Natural Products Expo West — which was scheduled to be held at the Anaheim Convention Center — caused hotel cancellations and cheaper room prices .
“ The rooms were half-price so we said , we ’ re booking it , ” Trisha Elvira said .
“ But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ She was worried about the crowds and close contact , ” her husband said .
“ Yeah , it makes me nervous , but then I finally had to say forget it , if it happens it happens , ” she said .
The couple said everything they read about the virus suggested that the people most vulnerable to it were elderly and suffering from other illnesses .
None of those things applied to them , so they decided the trip was well worth it .
“ As long as you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use hand sanitizing , I think it ’ s OK , ” Louiz Elvira said .
Inside the park , there were only the most subtle hints that people were thinking about coronavirus .
Some people bought hand sanitizers from stands .
Some employees joked about investing in hand sanitizing companies .
There were sanitizing stations at restaurants .
Parents used sanitizing wipes to clean the hands of their children .
But some of the most visible accessories for the coronavirus-concerned — latex gloves and masks — were uncommon sights .
That made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disneyland on any other day .
People scrambled to get photos of Pluto , Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck .
The cast members hugged and waved at people .
( No air hugs to be seen . )
The Straw Hatters played traditional jazz on the park ’ s Main Street U.S.A. while people recorded and snapped photos of them .
At the Shooting Exposition in Adventureland , Lindsay Rasmussen , 26 , rummaged through her green backpack .
After a few seconds , she pulled out a dollar .
She walked over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machine with her boyfriend , Jarin McClinton , 32 .
They inserted the coins then each grabbed a rifle and began shooting at targets as the sound of thunder and animals echoed .
The couple — he from Washington , D.C. , and she from Santa Fe , N.M. — said they weren ’ t worried about the virus given their ages and good health .
The couple said they were using hand sanitizer and washing their hands .
But Rasmussen conceded that she wished she had used sanitizing wipes after holding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it , ” she said .
“ What are you going to do ?
” McClinton said .
“ There are so many rides where you ’ re going to be touching things.
” At the park ’ s Star Wars : Galaxy ’ s Edge , some visitors joked about the plausibility of finding coronavirus in a galaxy far , far away .
“ I heard there was no coronavirus on [ the planet of ] Batuu , ” Josh Graves said , chuckling .
Graves , 33 , of North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his wife , Gabrielle , 30 , and Will , his 4-year-old son .
He said the coronavirus was on both their minds and they ’ d momentarily been concerned for their son .
But like others , they reasoned that their youth and health made them less likely to get ill. Gabrielle Graves said she was worried at first because of the large crowds and the number of visitors from other countries .
She said two other families were expected to come with them to Disneyland but canceled .
They urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ park , adding to her fears .
But ultimately the family decided to come .
As a precaution , they were washing their hands and wiping down dining tables with antibacterial wipes .
“ What are we doing to not get sick , Will ?
” Gabrielle Graves asked her son .
“ The Force is keeping him well , ” Josh Graves said with a laugh .

Josh Graves, his wife, Gabrielle Graves, and their 4-year-old son, Will, visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland on Thursday.
Jenny Reyes didn’t think about the coronavirus until she stepped out of her friend’s car at Disneyland’s parking lot in Anaheim, the second-most visited theme park in the world.
On the escalator, the Boston resident took notice of the handrail.
Advertisement
“Don’t touch that, don’t touch that,” she told herself.
But the moment was fleeting. At the bottom of the escalator, her friend Anna Maltez of Long Beach snapped a photo of Reyes standing by a globe structure shaped like Mickey Mouse’s ears.
Concerns about coronavirus, and California’s declaration of a state of emergency, were not going to stop Reyes from visiting the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
“It’s more about trying to be conscious of the things you touch,” Reyes said.
As the number of coronavirus cases rose in the United States and some conferences and public events were canceled, thousands of residents and travelers continue to make their way to Disneyland.
Theme park officials said they are taking precautions to try to keep visitors safe, noting that they are taking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“As part of our commitment to the health and well-being of our cast members, guests and the larger community we are carefully monitoring the situation and are in regular contact with health agencies for information and guidance,” park officials stated in their website.
Advertisement
Additionally, the park said that they have onsite health team and our providing training to employees about illness prevention.
Meanwhile, other theme parks were taking similar measures. In a statement Six Flags Magic Mountain said they enhanced sanitation efforts on public areas.
“We have added more anti-bacterial soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizers,” the park said in a statement. “We are ensuring guest and employee access to these preventive enhancements throughout all areas of the park, especially in restrooms, food locations and employee break areas. We are also encouraging guests and employees to practice good hygiene with frequent and rigorous hand-washing.”
These are on the checklist public health officials are issued for dealing with the virus. In general, experts have said it’s fine to be out in public unless you are sick. But Santa Clara County on Wednesday suggested that high-risk individuals — the elderly and people with a history of poor health — avoid large public gatherings.
At Disneyland, many reasoned that you could get sick just about anywhere in the world. Might as well take some reasonable precautions, but don’t let fear get in the way of having fun.
At the entrance of the park, as the orchestra version of Snow White’s “Heigh-Ho” song played on speakers, Louiz Elvira and his wife, Trisha, were trying to locate a brick they sponsored that had their names etched on it.
The couple, who live just outside of Oakland, said they went to the amusement park after the postponement of the Natural Products Expo West — which was scheduled to be held at the Anaheim Convention Center — caused hotel cancellations and cheaper room prices.
“The rooms were half-price so we said, we’re booking it,” Trisha Elvira said. “But I was very worried to come here.”
“She was worried about the crowds and close contact,” her husband said.
“Yeah, it makes me nervous, but then I finally had to say forget it, if it happens it happens,” she said.
The couple said everything they read about the virus suggested that the people most vulnerable to it were elderly and suffering from other illnesses. None of those things applied to them, so they decided the trip was well worth it.
“As long as you wash your hands like they say and use hand sanitizing, I think it’s OK,” Louiz Elvira said.
Inside the park, there were only the most subtle hints that people were thinking about coronavirus. Some people bought hand sanitizers from stands. Some employees joked about investing in hand sanitizing companies.
After days of searching for hand gel, I finally found some in Disneyland! pic.twitter.com/pbiQaZb7U5 — Sophie Williams (@sophierose233) February 28, 2020
There were sanitizing stations at restaurants. Parents used sanitizing wipes to clean the hands of their children. But some of the most visible accessories for the coronavirus-concerned — latex gloves and masks — were uncommon sights. That made Disneyland feel, pretty much, like Disneyland on any other day.
People scrambled to get photos of Pluto, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. The cast members hugged and waved at people. (No air hugs to be seen.) The Straw Hatters played traditional jazz on the park’s Main Street U.S.A. while people recorded and snapped photos of them.
At the Shooting Exposition in Frontierland, Lindsay Rasmussen, 26, rummaged through her green backpack. After a few seconds, she pulled out a dollar. She walked over to exchange it for quarters at a machine with her boyfriend, Jarin McClinton, 32. They inserted the coins then each grabbed a rifle and began shooting at targets as the sound of thunder and animals echoed.
The couple — he from Washington, D.C., and she from Santa Fe, N.M. — said they weren’t worried about the virus given their ages and good health.
The couple said they were using hand sanitizer and washing their hands. But Rasmussen conceded that she wished she had used sanitizing wipes after holding the rifle.
“I was very conscious of it,” she said.
“What are you going to do?” McClinton said. “There are so many rides where you’re going to be touching things.”
At the park’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, some visitors joked about the plausibility of finding coronavirus in a galaxy far, far away.
“I heard there was no coronavirus on [the planet of] Batuu,” Josh Graves said, chuckling.
Graves, 33, of North Hollywood, had come to the park with his wife, Gabrielle, 30, and Will, his 4-year-old son. He said the coronavirus was on both their minds and they’d momentarily been concerned for their son. But like others, they reasoned that their youth and health made them less likely to get ill.
Gabrielle Graves said she was worried at first because of the large crowds and the number of visitors from other countries. She said two other families were expected to come with them to Disneyland but canceled. They urged the Graveses not to go to the park, adding to her fears. But ultimately the family decided to come.
As a precaution, they were washing their hands and wiping down dining tables with antibacterial wipes.
“What are we doing to not get sick, Will?” Gabrielle Graves asked her son.
Dressed as Star Wars character Kylo Ren, the boy remained quiet.
“The Force is keeping him well,” Josh Graves said with a laugh.


latimes--2020-03-06--Newborn girl found dead in bathroom stall at Pasadena park

Authorities are searching for answers after a newborn girl was found dead in a restroom stall at a Pasadena park Thursday night .
Maintenance workers found the body while preparing to clean a restroom at Memorial Park , 85 E. Holly St. , according to the Pasadena Police Department .
Officers and fire paramedics were called to the scene about 10:10 p.m. , police Lt. Anthony Russo said .
“ They discovered the deceased newborn inside the female restroom on a stack of toilet paper , ” Russo said .
The newborn appeared to be full term , Russo said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office will have to officially make that determination .
It was not immediately clear when the baby was born , but Russo said police did not receive any calls for service or reports of a baby crying before the body was found .
“ We don ’ t know if the baby was born there or brought there , ” he said .
The girl ’ s body had not been examined as of late Friday morning , according to coroner ’ s spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani .
Russo said Pasadena has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which parents can voluntarily surrender custody of their newborns to an on-duty firefighter at a local station .
“ There is a venue for them to safely surrender the child , and for us to get them the medical attention necessary , ” he said .
The investigation is ongoing .
Anyone with additional information is asked to call Pasadena police at ( 626 ) 744-4241 .
Tips also can be left anonymously at ( 800 ) 222-8477 .

Maintenance workers found the body of a newborn girl Thursday in a restroom at Memorial Park in Pasadena, authorities said.
Authorities are searching for answers after a newborn girl was found dead in a restroom stall at a Pasadena park Thursday night.
Maintenance workers found the body while preparing to clean a restroom at Memorial Park, 85 E. Holly St., according to the Pasadena Police Department. Officers and fire paramedics were called to the scene about 10:10 p.m., police Lt. Anthony Russo said.
“They discovered the deceased newborn inside the female restroom on a stack of toilet paper,” Russo said.
The newborn appeared to be full term, Russo said, but the Los Angeles County coroner’s office will have to officially make that determination.
It was not immediately clear when the baby was born, but Russo said police did not receive any calls for service or reports of a baby crying before the body was found.
Advertisement
“We don’t know if the baby was born there or brought there,” he said.
A restroom facility at Memorial Park in Pasadena. (KTLA)
The girl’s body had not been examined as of late Friday morning, according to coroner’s spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani.
Russo said Pasadena has a “safe haven” program in which parents can voluntarily surrender custody of their newborns to an on-duty firefighter at a local station.
“There is a venue for them to safely surrender the child, and for us to get them the medical attention necessary,” he said.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Pasadena police at (626) 744-4241. Tips also can be left anonymously at (800) 222-8477.


latimes--2020-03-06--Remember rain? An atmospheric river is bringing it back to Southern California

It ’ s time to ready those rain boots and umbrellas because wet weather is returning to Southern California starting this weekend .
The first in a pair of storms to hit the Southland is expected to arrive Saturday , dropping temperatures into the low to mid-60s and bringing a chance of showers across the region through Sunday .
Precipitation is expected to be light , with totals less than a tenth of an inch , said Kristen Stewart , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
“ That ’ s really just the precursor to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
On Monday , a moisture-rich atmospheric river — fed by a plume of subtropical water vapor at the lower and middle levels of the atmosphere — is expected to bring widespread rain to the area .
The strongest rain is expected Tuesday .
That storm will linger through at least Wednesday , bringing 1 to 3 inches of rain .
Some southern areas , including the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains , could see up to 4 inches of rain , Stewart said .
Snow levels will start out high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropping to about 6,000 feet early Wednesday .
That means snow accumulation will likely remain at the resort level , where significant totals are possible , according to the weather service .
The rain appears to be just in time to help the region rebound from disappointing precipitation totals after a parched start to 2020 .
A high-pressure ridge that lingered over the eastern Pacific Ocean for much of January and February rerouted winter storms that typically soak California and the Pacific Northwest during what are usually the state ’ s wettest months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rain fell in downtown Los Angeles last month , placing it in a tie with February 1899 for the 10th-driest February on record .
Downtown L.A. also had its fourth-driest combined January and February on record after just 0.36 inches fell during the first two months of 2020 .
The driest combined January and February occurred in 1912 , when a scant 0.07 inches of rain fell in downtown .
Forecasters and water managers keeping a close eye on precipitation are hopeful that a wet month , a phenomenon known by weather experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may help bolster lackluster winter rain totals and help keep the state out of drought conditions .
A dry few months have already taken their toll on much of the state .
Nearly 70 % of California , including much of Los Angeles County , is considered to be in abnormally dry conditions .
Just over 34 % of the state , including portions of the Bay Area and much of the San Joaquin Valley , is considered to be in moderate drought conditions , according to maps released Thursday by the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , we ’ re 4 inches below normal in downtown L.A. , ” Stewart said .
“ This upcoming storm will bring us pretty close to where we need to be .
”

A visitor to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art makes his way through the rain and walks by Chris Burden’s sculpture “Urban Light” during an atmospheric river storm in February 2019. The first atmospheric river of 2020 will make its way to L.A. next week.
It’s time to ready those rain boots and umbrellas because wet weather is returning to Southern California starting this weekend.
The first in a pair of storms to hit the Southland is expected to arrive Saturday, dropping temperatures into the low to mid-60s and bringing a chance of showers across the region through Sunday. Precipitation is expected to be light, with totals less than a tenth of an inch, said Kristen Stewart, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
“That’s really just the precursor to the main event next week,” she said.
Advertisement
On Monday, a moisture-rich atmospheric river — fed by a plume of subtropical water vapor at the lower and middle levels of the atmosphere — is expected to bring widespread rain to the area. The strongest rain is expected Tuesday.
That storm will linger through at least Wednesday, bringing 1 to 3 inches of rain. Some southern areas, including the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, could see up to 4 inches of rain, Stewart said.
First significant rainfall of the year expected with storm Monday-Wednesday. Preliminary rainfall estimates are 1-3 inches, with locally higher amounts possible. #LArain #LAWeather #cawx #Socal pic.twitter.com/fqEFyFRD2w — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 6, 2020
Snow levels will start out high, at around 8,000 feet, before dropping to about 6,000 feet early Wednesday. That means snow accumulation will likely remain at the resort level, where significant totals are possible, according to the weather service.
The rain appears to be just in time to help the region rebound from disappointing precipitation totals after a parched start to 2020. A high-pressure ridge that lingered over the eastern Pacific Ocean for much of January and February rerouted winter storms that typically soak California and the Pacific Northwest during what are usually the state’s wettest months.
A total of 0.04 inches of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles last month, placing it in a tie with February 1899 for the 10th-driest February on record. Downtown L.A. also had its fourth-driest combined January and February on record after just 0.36 inches fell during the first two months of 2020. The driest combined January and February occurred in 1912, when a scant 0.07 inches of rain fell in downtown.
Forecasters and water managers keeping a close eye on precipitation are hopeful that a wet month, a phenomenon known by weather experts as a “miracle March,” may help bolster lackluster winter rain totals and help keep the state out of drought conditions.
Advertisement
A dry few months have already taken their toll on much of the state. Nearly 70% of California, including much of Los Angeles County, is considered to be in abnormally dry conditions. Just over 34% of the state, including portions of the Bay Area and much of the San Joaquin Valley, is considered to be in moderate drought conditions, according to maps released Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
“For the water year, we’re 4 inches below normal in downtown L.A.,” Stewart said. “This upcoming storm will bring us pretty close to where we need to be.”


latimes--2020-03-06--21 aboard Grand Princess cruise ship test positive for coronavirus; passengers angry, concerned

Twenty-one people on the Grand Princess off the San Francisco coast have tested positive for coronavirus , Vice President Mike Pence said Friday , an announcement that angered and deflated many passengers on the cruise ship .
Pence said the federal government is working with the state of California to bring the cruise ship into a noncommercial port over the weekend and quarantine those aboard as necessary .
Those testing positive included 19 crew and 2 passengers .
“ All passengers will be tested , ” the vice president said several hours after testing kits were delivered to the ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantined will be quarantined.
” Pence said 24 people on the cruise ship had tested negative , and one test has been inconclusive .
There has been one California death reported , a man who disembarked from the Grand Princess last month in San Francisco after a cruise to Mexico .
The ship was scheduled to return to San Francisco again Wednesday after a subsequent trip to Hawaii , but it has been held offshore while authorities evaluate a reported 10 crew members and 11 passengers with symptoms of the virus .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began spreading on social media , passengers contacted on the ship had been in largely good spirits .
But the announcement — and the way it was delivered by Pence with no advance warning for those on board — left some frustrated .
One of those was Debbi Loftus , on the ship with her elderly parents .
“ This really sucks that the government decided that they should be the one to break the news , Loftus said minutes after word broke .
“ Right now I , and I know my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are hearing this from the vice president rather than our captain.
” A source familiar with the process said government officials knew for several hours that there were multiple positives from the testing done aboard the cruise liner , which has 3,533 people onboard .
These include 2,422 guests and 1,111 teammates .
In total , they represent 54 nationalities .
Karen , a Canadian passenger who asked to be identified only by her first name , said her fears extended to what could come next .
“ I ’ m not afraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moments later .
“ I ’ m terrified of a quarantine onboard.
” “ That changes things , ” said another person on the ship .
“ I ’ m not going home anytime soon.
” At 3:30 p.m. , the ship ’ s captain apologized to passengers that they had to hear of the positive cases from the vice president ’ s address , according to one person on board .
The captain told passengers that the ship was not given advance notice of the announcement .
The captain also told passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ship ’ s medical personnel how to inform people of their individual results .
Visiting the CDC on Friday , President Donald Trump said he would ultimately let Pence , who leads the task force in charge of the response , decide in consultation with experts whether to allow passengers stuck on the cruise ship to disembark .
But he said several times that he would be inclined to leave them on board because bringing them ashore would increase the number of official cases on American soil .
“ I like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t need to have the numbers being doubled because of one ship , ” Trump said .
“ A lot of people think we should do it the other way , ” he said .
“ We have to take care of Americans.
” Earlier , Princess Cruises spokeswoman Negin Kamali confirmed that the Centers for Disease Control and Protection had “ recommended that guests should remain in their staterooms for the remainder of the cruise.
” The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety said another man who had been on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found unresponsive Thursday at his home and officers performed CPR .
He later died .
“ We don ’ t yet know if the patient had COVID-19 , ” said Phan Ngo , chief of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety .
The officers , who did not perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation , were quarantined at home , he said .
Earlier Thursday , a helicopter crew delivered kits to the Grand Princess to test about 100 passengers for COVID-19 .
The ship will not be allowed to dock until those test results are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
Not all experts are supportive of quarantining passengers aboard the ship .
Don Milton , an expert on the spread of infectious disease at the University of Maryland , said such plans offered risks of their own .
“ Cruise ships , college dorms and nursing homes , take your pick , `` said Milton .
“ There is a lot of recirculated air.
” Milton said challenges including narrow hallways and the logistics of getting people to shore would make it hard to disembark passengers without spreading the virus further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the ship and into a better quarantine facility without exposing a lot of other people ?
” he asked .
The 75-year-old man tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from the cruise to Mexico last month .
He died a day after tests confirmed he had the coronavirus .
Placer County health officials said the man had underlying health conditions .
He was the county ’ s second confirmed case of COVID-19 .
Officials said close contacts of the man were being quarantined and monitored for the illness .
“ That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one neighbor , who asked not to be identified as he stood on his lawn .
“ I ’ m in my 70s , so this is a big deal.
” Passengers on the vessel — both current and those who may have been exposed earlier — told the Los Angeles Times that the response to the outbreak by the company and health officials had been filled with missteps .
In particular , passengers said that Princess Cruises was lax on health screening protocols prior to boarding and withheld information about the risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s condition became international news .

Anita Chabria, Melody Gutierrez, Noam N. Levey, Richard Winton

Twenty-one people on the Grand Princess off the San Francisco coast have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Vice President Mike Pence said Friday, an announcement that angered and deflated many passengers on the cruise ship.
Pence said the federal government is working with the state of California to bring the cruise ship into a noncommercial port over the weekend and quarantine those aboard as necessary. Those testing positive included 19 crew and 2 passengers.
Advertisement
“All passengers will be tested,” the vice president said several hours after testing kits were delivered to the ship. “Those that need to be quarantined will be quarantined.”
A state source described conversations about moving passengers and crew members as fluid and said talks between the state and federal government will resume Saturday. A representative for Princess Cruises said that the ship would not dock Friday night, but was moving 20 nautical miles “for logistical purposes.”
Pence said 24 people on the cruise ship had tested negative, and one test has been inconclusive.
There has been one California death reported, a man who disembarked from the Grand Princess last month in San Francisco after a cruise to Mexico. The ship was scheduled to return to San Francisco again Wednesday after a subsequent trip to Hawaii, but it has been held offshore while authorities evaluate crew members and passengers with symptoms of the virus.
For much of the day, passengers contacted on the ship had been in largely good spirits. But the announcement — and the way it was delivered by Pence with no advance warning for those on board — left some frustrated and bitter.
One of those was Debbi Loftus, on the ship with her elderly parents.
Advertisement
“This really sucks that the government decided that they should be the one to break the news,” Loftus said minutes after word broke. “Right now I, and I know my parents, are extremely angry that we are hearing this from the vice president rather than our captain.”
A source familiar with the process said government officials knew for several hours that there were multiple positives from the testing done aboard the cruise liner, which has 3,533 people onboard. These include 2,422 guests and 1,111 crew members. In total, they represent 54 nationalities.
Karen, a Canadian passenger who asked to be identified only by her first name, said she fears what could come next.
“I’m not afraid of this virus,” she said moments later. “I’m terrified of a quarantine onboard.”
“That changes things,” said another person on the ship. “I’m not going home anytime soon.”
At 3:30 p.m., the ship’s captain apologized to passengers that they had to hear of the positive cases from the vice president’s address, according to one person on board.
The captain told passengers that the ship was not given advance notice of the announcement. The captain also told passengers that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is discussing with the ship’s medical personnel how to inform people of their individual results.
California Stanford University will move classes online due to coronavirus Yolo County announced its first case of coronavirus, becoming the 13th county in California with a patient who has tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, Princess Cruises said it also was unaware of the test results prior to Pence’s statement.
Visiting the CDC on Friday, President Trump said he would ultimately let Pence, who leads the task force in charge of the response, decide whether to allow passengers stuck on the cruise ship to disembark. But he said several times that he would be inclined to leave them on board because bringing them ashore would increase the number of official cases on American soil.
“I like the numbers being where they are. I don’t need to have the numbers being doubled because of one ship,” Trump said.
“A lot of people think we should do it the other way,” he said. “We have to take care of Americans.”
Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said in a statement that federal and state government “have been working in close collaboration overnight and throughout the day to quickly stand up a solution that meets the health needs for those on board and protects public health.”
He added that Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke Friday morning, with the governor also speaking with Pence throughout the day.
Friday’s announcement was the result of a helicopter crew delivering kits to the Grand Princess to test about 100 passengers for COVID-19. The next day, Princess Cruises spokeswoman Negin Kamali confirmed that the CDC had “recommended that guests should remain in their staterooms for the remainder of the cruise.”
In a statement Friday night, California Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins called for a “safe, sane and science-based” resolution to the process.
“We have to be better than just leaving all these people out at sea,” Atkins said. “There are Americans on board, families, seniors, and others all wanting nothing more than to be safe and to get treatment if they need it. With the proper precautions in place and following the protocols called for by science, we can protect the public health while preserving our basic humanity. Any attempt to use these passengers as pawns or scapegoats for political cover has to be rejected by anyone with a working moral compass.”
Not all experts are supportive of quarantining passengers aboard the ship.
Don Milton, an expert on the spread of infectious disease at the University of Maryland, said such plans offer risks of their own.
“Cruise ships, college dorms and nursing homes, take your pick,” Milton said. “There is a lot of recirculated air.”
Milton said challenges including narrow hallways and the logistics of getting people to shore would make it hard to disembark passengers without spreading the virus further.
“How do you get people off the ship and into a better quarantine facility without exposing a lot of other people?” he asked.
On Thursday, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety said another man who had been on the cruise ship was found unresponsive at his home and officers performed CPR. He later died. On Friday, Santa Clara County officials said that the man tested negative for COVID-19.
On Wednesday, a 75-year-old Placer County man who had tested positive for COVID-19 died after returning from the cruise.
Placer health officials said the man had underlying health conditions. He was the county’s second confirmed case of COVID-19. Officials said close contacts of the man were being quarantined and monitored for the illness.
“That’s close to home,” said one neighbor, who asked not to be identified as he stood on his lawn. “I’m in my 70s, so this is a big deal.”
Passengers on the vessel — both current and those who may have been exposed earlier — told the Los Angeles Times that the response to the outbreak by the company and health officials had been filled with missteps.
In particular, passengers said that Princess Cruises was lax on health screening protocols prior to boarding and withheld information about the risks they faced, even as the ship’s condition became international news.
Meanwhile, significant precautions over the spread of coronavirus in California were announced Friday night.
Stanford University said that it will move classes online for the final two weeks of the winter quarter. USC said it would conduct lectures and seminars online rather than in classrooms for three days next week to test the ability to operate remotely should the campus be forced to suspend in-person contact.
Times staff writers Noah Bierman and Taryn Luna contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-06--3 UCLA students are tested for coronavirus and are in self-isolation off campus

Three UCLA students are being tested for the coronavirus by the Los Angeles County Departement of Public Health , university Chancellor Gene Block told students in a message early Friday morning .
The students are self-isolating off campus .
Block did not disclose their relationship or possible connection to an exposure .
There are currently no positive cases for COVID-19 on the UCLA campus .
Block said that school officials are “ actively monitoring and responding to the situation ” and will keep students privy to any updates .
“ At this time , there have been no recommendations by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campus operations , including modifying class schedules , ” Block said .
Block asked students to seek medical attention if they developed flu-like symptoms .
As UCLA awaits testing results , officials already have stepped up preventive measures .
Like other UC campuses , UCLA has added more hand sanitizer stations , increased cleanings with antiviral and antibacterial solutions and employed electrostatic sprayer systems to disinfect hard-to-reach surfaces in high-use areas .
UCLA also is preparing to expand the use of remote tools to stream lectures , create online meeting spaces and administer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as the University of Washington announced it would do beginning Monday .
Campus health experts are holding information sessions to answer questions , debunk rumors and provide resources .
The next one is scheduled for Monday at 5 p.m. at De Neve Auditorium and will be livestreamed and updated information can be found on UCLA ’ s website for COVID-19 .
In addition , UCLA is prohibiting official university travel to China , South Korea , Italy , Iran and Japan and “ strongly discourages ” personal travel to those countries because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , according to campus guidance .
Any traveler arriving from these areas must self-isolate for 14 days .
The university will keep residence halls open during the weeklong spring break , which begins March 23 , for students unable to travel home .
Last week , UC Davis announced that a student who was placed in isolation tested negative for the virus .
Two of the student ’ s roommates had also been isolated .
At least 12 counties in California have reported confirmed cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 60 known cases in the state , and one death .
Los Angeles County now has 11 coronavirus cases with the announcement of four new cases Thursday .

Three UCLA students tested negative for the coronavirus.
The students had been in self-isolating off campus.
Officials asked students to seek medical attention if they developed flu-like symptoms.
Like other UC campuses, UCLA has added more hand sanitizer stations, increased cleanings with antiviral and antibacterial solutions and employed electrostatic sprayer systems to disinfect hard-to-reach surfaces in high-use areas.
UCLA also is preparing to expand the use of remote tools to stream lectures, create online meeting spaces and administer tests should the campus suspend in-person classes, as the University of Washington announced it would do beginning Monday.
Campus health experts are holding information sessions to answer questions, debunk rumors and provide resources. The next one is scheduled for Monday at 5 p.m. at De Neve Auditorium and will be livestreamed and updated information can be found on UCLA’s website for COVID-19.
In addition, UCLA is prohibiting official university travel to China, South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan and “strongly discourages” personal travel to those countries because of their risk level as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to campus guidance. Any traveler arriving from these areas must self-isolate for 14 days. The university will keep residence halls open during the weeklong spring break, which begins March 23, for students unable to travel home.
Advertisement
Last week, UC Davis announced that a student who was placed in isolation tested negative for the virus. Two of the student’s roommates had also been isolated.
At least 12 counties in California have reported confirmed cases of the coronavirus. There are currently at least 60 known cases in the state, and one death.
Los Angeles County now has 11 coronavirus cases with the announcement of four new cases Thursday.


latimes--2020-03-06--One student's fight for black inclusion at Whittier College — with the campus president's help

When Journee Bradford arrived at Whittier College as a freshman in the fall of 2017 , she expected to encounter a place far more diverse than her hometown of Shreveport , La.
, where 95 % of residents identified as black or white .
What Bradford found at the 133-year-old liberal arts college surprised and dismayed her .
Although more than half of the 1,723 undergraduate students identified as Latino or Hispanic , less than 5 % identified as African American or black .
Black academics and administrators were rare , and the college didn ’ t officially observe Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ For the black students on campus , especially those not from the area , coming to Whittier has been an eye-opener , ” said Bradford , 20 , a business and entertainment management double-major who identifies as black .
“ It ’ s been a big adjustment for a lot us , especially when you don ’ t see black students or professors or administrators .
You feel like you ’ re not welcome.
” Five months later , Los Angeles native Linda Oubré , who is part black and part Jewish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first non-white person to hold that post .
In the months that followed , the two women came to a common crossroad : reckoning with the touchy issue of race at a place where diversity and tolerance were prized , but being black sometimes meant feeling alone .
Separated by 40 years and differing cultural and regional upbringings , they would become the driving force and faces of change on campus .
Their efforts would converge around the weighty symbolism of King ’ s birthday , which is recognized as a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Of 48 private universities and colleges located throughout Southern California — including liberal arts , religious , traditional , medical and specialty four-year schools — Whittier College is believed to be one of two that hold classes on MLK Day , along with the University of Redlands .
But while Redlands hosts a week ’ s worth of events leading up to MLK Day , Whittier College went years without holding any MLK Day celebrations .
For many black students at Whittier , the short shrift given to King ’ s birthday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college ’ s Black Student Union , an organization that assists and promotes African American students , was close to folding in the fall of 2018 .
The sense of isolation felt by many black students ran counter to the school ’ s image of inclusivity , highlighted by the hiring of Oubré .
Whittier ’ s persona has shifted in the decades since the school ’ s most famous alumnus , Richard M. Nixon , rode to victory in the 1968 presidential election , thanks in part to his employment of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racially coded appeals to galvanize white voters .
“ Sometimes I wonder what Richard Nixon would be thinking to have me running his alma mater , ” Oubré said .
From a statistical standpoint , Whittier College is perhaps more diverse than Nixon could have imagined .
The university is a minority-majority campus with 50.9 % of undergraduate students identifying as Hispanic or Latino , 6.8 % Asian and 7.1 % two or more races , based on 2018 statistics provided by Whittier College .
The school estimates that 70 % of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 39.1 % in 2003 .
In 2015 , U.S. News & World Report ranked the university as the No .
10 most diverse national liberal arts college and No .
3 in California .
Yet , of Whittier College ’ s 1,723 undergraduate students , only 4.6 % , or 79 , identify as African American or black , which trails the 6.5 % and 9 % of black residents living in California and Los Angeles County , according to census data , respectively .
Sophomore Julie Ann Ayree , a Fremont , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she ’ s only attended one class with a black professor .
On an average day it ’ s quite possible for her to cross campus and not see another black student .
Another sophomore , Ethan Pewu , said that , other than running into his friend , fellow sophomore Myles Malone , he can go days without speaking to another black student .
“ You come to Southern California thinking you ’ re going to be in this diverse place , and it is diverse to an extent , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Pewu , a Boston native .
“ So , you see students from all backgrounds , but you also don ’ t feel any support .
You feel isolated , like an outsider.
” Before starting her junior year last fall , Bradford worked on unifying the black student community .
Her first move was to establish a new group , the school ’ s Black Student Assn.
, a club that would offer activities and opportunities for student bonding and the sharing of experiences .
“ You really have to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked to bring us together , ” said Malone , treasurer of the Black Student Assn .
“ She saw a need and saw that we were separated.
” While the club participated in a backpack drive for needy area families and a silent auction , its most successful outing , in terms of attendance , took place last fall when Bradford invited students to play the popular “ Black Card Revoked ” trivia game , which tests players ’ knowledge of African American history and popular culture .
“ We had people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were rushing from practice to get to the meeting so they could all play , ” Bradford said .
“ It was amazing to see our community together , just playing and talking.
” In November , Bradford took the first steps toward challenging the school ’ s practice of not observing MLK Day , thanks in part to guidance from Oubré .
With assistance from the school ’ s office of equity and inclusion , where Bradford serves as a student leader , the junior created and circulated a Change.org petition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 400 signatures from students , faculty , staff and community members .
Bradford was optimistic that her efforts would be backed by Oubré .
The onetime dean of the business college at San Francisco State and a former Los Angeles Times general manager held her formal inauguration last year , on Feb. 23 during Black History Month .
“ I realized that just by walking into the room , I ’ m change , ” said Oubré , the daughter of five-time Emmy-award winning television producer Marilyn Solomon .
“ My sense from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that the students of color and the African American students , in particular , were ready for someone like me to come into leadership.
” In many ways , Oubré can relate to the isolation felt by Whittier College ’ s black students .
She had few black peers and teachers while earning her bachelor ’ s degree in economics from UCLA in 1980 and her MBA from Harvard University in 1984 .
“ I ’ ve spent my whole life being the ‘ only one , ’ ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ her petition ’ s strongest supporters .
“ The very first response from her about MLK Day is that we all had to meet so this could be talked about for the future , ” Bradford said of Oubré .
“ She said a change couldn ’ t be made this year because it was short notice , but she didn ’ t say ‘ no ’ to a change being made , which was really exciting.
” Oubré said Bradford ’ s petition launched a discussion about revising the academic calendar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , faculty and staff under the school ’ s shared governance policy .
Martin Luther King Jr. Day annually falls during a small , but intensive winter intersession at Whittier College known as JanTerm .
The three-week optional semester affords students an opportunity to catch up or engage in enrichment courses .
Since the term is so short , skipping a class can have consequences .
“ You miss a lot in one day , ” senior Noah Humphrey said , “ but I think there are bigger lessons to be learned.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Shreveport ’ s C.E .
Byrd High School , her former school , where students not only observed MLK Day , but studied King ’ s speeches , collected food for the poor and sang old spirituals at local elementary schools over days of activities .
While observing MLK Day is still off in the distance , Bradford and the Black Student Assn .
hosted a celebration of King ’ s life and legacy on Jan. 20 at Whittier College .
A diverse group of about 200 students , teachers , administrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rainbow coalition of black , white , Latino and Asian attendees — congregated on the school ’ s upper quad to honor the slain leader through poems , speeches and personal testimonies .
Oubré , who quoted King in a speech she gave that day , said it was her impression that “ there were really no celebrations ” on campus on MLK Day for at least a decade .
She was proud of Bradford and the Black Student Assn .
for advancing change .
“ We are educators and I think when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really advocate for something they believe in , we should support it , ” Oubré said .

Journee Bradford, president of Whittier College’s Black Student Assn., hands out markers for people to sign a banner during a commemoration for Martin Luther King Jr. on campus on Jan. 20. Whittier College is one of the few private universities in Southern California that still holds classes on MLK Day.
When Journee Bradford arrived at Whittier College as a freshman in the fall of 2017, she expected to encounter a place far more diverse than her hometown of Shreveport, La., where 95% of residents identified as black or white.
What Bradford found at the 133-year-old liberal arts college surprised and dismayed her. Although more than half of the 1,723 undergraduate students identified as Latino or Hispanic, less than 5% identified as African American or black. Black academics and administrators were rare, and the college didn’t officially observe Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.
“For the black students on campus, especially those not from the area, coming to Whittier has been an eye-opener,” said Bradford, 20, a business and entertainment management double-major who identifies as black. “It’s been a big adjustment for a lot us, especially when you don’t see black students or professors or administrators. You feel like you’re not welcome.”
Five months later, Los Angeles native Linda Oubré, who is part black and part Jewish, was named president of Whittier, the first non-white person to hold that post.
Advertisement
In the months that followed, the two women came to a common crossroad: reckoning with the touchy issue of race at a place where diversity and tolerance were prized, but being black sometimes meant feeling alone.
Separated by 40 years and differing cultural and regional upbringings, they would become the driving force and faces of change on campus. Their efforts would converge around the weighty symbolism of King’s birthday, which is recognized as a federal holiday on the third Monday in January.
Of 48 private universities and colleges located throughout Southern California — including liberal arts, religious, traditional, medical and specialty four-year schools — Whittier College is believed to be one of two that hold classes on MLK Day, along with the University of Redlands.
But while Redlands hosts a week’s worth of events leading up to MLK Day, Whittier College went years without holding any MLK Day celebrations. For many black students at Whittier, the short shrift given to King’s birthday symbolized a deeper problem. Even the college’s Black Student Union, an organization that assists and promotes African American students, was close to folding in the fall of 2018.
The sense of isolation felt by many black students ran counter to the school’s image of inclusivity, highlighted by the hiring of Oubré. Whittier’s persona has shifted in the decades since the school’s most famous alumnus, Richard M. Nixon, rode to victory in the 1968 presidential election, thanks in part to his employment of the divisive “Southern strategy,” using racially coded appeals to galvanize white voters.
“Sometimes I wonder what Richard Nixon would be thinking to have me running his alma mater,” Oubré said.
From a statistical standpoint, Whittier College is perhaps more diverse than Nixon could have imagined.
The university is a minority-majority campus with 50.9% of undergraduate students identifying as Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Asian and 7.1% two or more races, based on 2018 statistics provided by Whittier College.
Whittier College President Linda Oubré, left, and the college’s Black Student Assn. president, Journee Bradford, address students during a campus commemoration for Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 20. Bradford is leading the charge to stop holding classes on MLK Day. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
The school estimates that 70% of its associated students are minorities, up from 39.1% in 2003. In 2015, U.S. News & World Report ranked the university as the No. 10 most diverse national liberal arts college and No. 3 in California.
Advertisement
Yet, of Whittier College’s 1,723 undergraduate students, only 4.6%, or 79, identify as African American or black, which trails the 6.5% and 9% of black residents living in California and Los Angeles County, according to census data, respectively.
Sophomore Julie Ann Ayree, a Fremont, Calif., native and business major, said she’s only attended one class with a black professor. On an average day it’s quite possible for her to cross campus and not see another black student.
Another sophomore, Ethan Pewu, said that, other than running into his friend, fellow sophomore Myles Malone, he can go days without speaking to another black student.
“You come to Southern California thinking you’re going to be in this diverse place, and it is diverse to an extent, but it’s also lonely,” said Pewu, a Boston native. “So, you see students from all backgrounds, but you also don’t feel any support. You feel isolated, like an outsider.”
Before starting her junior year last fall, Bradford worked on unifying the black student community.
Her first move was to establish a new group, the school’s Black Student Assn., a club that would offer activities and opportunities for student bonding and the sharing of experiences.
“You really have to give credit to Journee because she’s worked to bring us together,” said Malone, treasurer of the Black Student Assn. “She saw a need and saw that we were separated.”
While the club participated in a backpack drive for needy area families and a silent auction, its most successful outing, in terms of attendance, took place last fall when Bradford invited students to play the popular “Black Card Revoked” trivia game, which tests players’ knowledge of African American history and popular culture.
“We had people on the dance team and in sports who were rushing from practice to get to the meeting so they could all play,” Bradford said. “It was amazing to see our community together, just playing and talking.”
In November, Bradford took the first steps toward challenging the school’s practice of not observing MLK Day, thanks in part to guidance from Oubré.
With assistance from the school’s office of equity and inclusion, where Bradford serves as a student leader, the junior created and circulated a Change.org petition. The open letter received more than 400 signatures from students, faculty, staff and community members.
Bradford was optimistic that her efforts would be backed by Oubré. The onetime dean of the business college at San Francisco State and a former Los Angeles Times general manager held her formal inauguration last year, on Feb. 23 during Black History Month.
I realized that just by walking into the room, I’m change. — Whittier College President Linda Oubré
“I realized that just by walking into the room, I’m change,” said Oubré, the daughter of five-time Emmy-award winning television producer Marilyn Solomon. “My sense from the day I walked onto this campus is that the students of color and the African American students, in particular, were ready for someone like me to come into leadership.”
In many ways, Oubré can relate to the isolation felt by Whittier College’s black students. She had few black peers and teachers while earning her bachelor’s degree in economics from UCLA in 1980 and her MBA from Harvard University in 1984.
“I’ve spent my whole life being the ‘only one,’” she said.
Bradford said that Oubré was one of her petition’s strongest supporters.
“The very first response from her about MLK Day is that we all had to meet so this could be talked about for the future,” Bradford said of Oubré. “She said a change couldn’t be made this year because it was short notice, but she didn’t say ‘no’ to a change being made, which was really exciting.”
Oubré said Bradford’s petition launched a discussion about revising the academic calendar, which is mutually agreed upon by administrators, faculty and staff under the school’s shared governance policy.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day annually falls during a small, but intensive winter intersession at Whittier College known as JanTerm. The three-week optional semester affords students an opportunity to catch up or engage in enrichment courses. Since the term is so short, skipping a class can have consequences.
“You miss a lot in one day,” senior Noah Humphrey said, “but I think there are bigger lessons to be learned.”
Bradford fondly recalled community events held back in Shreveport’s C.E. Byrd High School, her former school, where students not only observed MLK Day, but studied King’s speeches, collected food for the poor and sang old spirituals at local elementary schools over days of activities.
While observing MLK Day is still off in the distance, Bradford and the Black Student Assn. hosted a celebration of King’s life and legacy on Jan. 20 at Whittier College.
A diverse group of about 200 students, teachers, administrators, staff and community members — a rainbow coalition of black, white, Latino and Asian attendees — congregated on the school’s upper quad to honor the slain leader through poems, speeches and personal testimonies.
Oubré, who quoted King in a speech she gave that day, said it was her impression that “there were really no celebrations” on campus on MLK Day for at least a decade. She was proud of Bradford and the Black Student Assn. for advancing change.
“We are educators and I think when any student or young person wants to really advocate for something they believe in, we should support it,” Oubré said.


latimes--2020-03-06--Admissions scandal: After Rick Singer notes surface, ex-Pimco chief to appeal sentence

Already ordered to spend nine months in prison for bribing his children ’ s way into USC and Georgetown , Douglas Hodge , the former chief executive of Pimco , plans to appeal his sentence in light of newly disclosed notes taken by the scam ’ s ringleader , William “ Rick ” Singer .
In an early sign those notes could roil the government ’ s case , Hodge ’ s attorney , Brien O ’ Connor , asked on Thursday to extend the 30-day window Hodge has to challenge his prison sentence , citing the government ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote in his iPhone while cooperating with federal agents .
Singer was calling dozens of his former clients on a recorded line , retreading deals they ’ d brokered to get their children into such elite schools as Georgetown , USC and UCLA .
But Singer ’ s handlers , he wrote , were insisting he “ tell a fib ” and portray the payments that clinched their children ’ s admission as bribes , not donations , to university programs .
Hodge was sentenced Feb. 7 .
Nineteen days later , prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for other parents charged in the case .
Eric S. Rosen , an assistant U.S. attorney , told the lawyers in a letter that a prosecutor first glimpsed one of the notes in October 2018 .
Because Singer had written the notes to his own lawyer , Rosen and his colleagues believed the writings were protected by attorney-client privilege , Rosen wrote .
Singer ’ s lawyer waived that privilege last week and the notes were turned over .
O ’ Connor said without those messages , U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accurate record ” of Hodge ’ s conduct before sentencing him to nine months in prison , the longest term handed down in the case to date .
O ’ Connor declined to comment Thursday .
While he didn ’ t dispute his guilt and acknowledged committing fraud and money laundering , Hodge had argued he thought the money he paid to get four children into USC and Georgetown as bogus athletic recruits — $ 850,000 in all — was bound for school coffers , not the personal bank accounts of corrupt university @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own notes , appears to have imparted this impression on his clients , O ’ Connor wrote .
Hodge “ takes full responsibility for his conduct , ” O ’ Connor wrote .
“ But there is an important distinction when evaluating Mr. Hodge ’ s culpability between payments intended to benefit a university and payments intended to benefit a specific coach in his or her personal capacity.
” Despite his planned appeal , Hodge will report to prison by March 20 as ordered , O ’ Connor wrote .
He has paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , O ’ Connor added .
Two other parents who have pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering , Manuel and Elizabeth Henriquez , asked to delay their sentencing hearings after Singer ’ s notes were disclosed .
The government is seeking sentences of 18 months and 26 months for the Atherton couple , respectively .
Elizabeth Henriquez will be sentenced March 31 ; Manuel Henriquez , April 8 .
In a letter dated Monday , Rosen told defense attorneys he was turning over a tranche of evidence they had squabbled over for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports of interviews with Singer and USC employees , and extractions from the iPhone Singer used as a cooperating witness .
Rosen added that by March 13 , he would furnish the attorneys with , among other records , the contents of Singer ’ s Google Drive , Singer ’ s handwritten notes , videos of other cooperating witnesses , the script Singer used while calling clients on a recorded line , and a recorded phone call between Singer and his government handlers .
After Singer ’ s notes were disclosed , Gorton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they could file motions to dismiss the indictment against their clients , suppress evidence or seek sanctions for government misconduct .
Gorton on Thursday extended the filing deadline to March 20 .

Douglas Hodge, the former chief executive of Pimco, plans to appeal his sentence in light of newly disclosed notes taken by the scam’s ringleader, William “Rick” Singer.
Already ordered to spend nine months in prison for bribing his children’s way into USC and Georgetown, Douglas Hodge, the former chief executive of Pimco, plans to appeal his sentence in light of newly disclosed notes taken by the scam’s ringleader, William “Rick” Singer.
In an early sign those notes could roil the government’s case, Hodge’s attorney, Brien O’Connor, asked on Thursday to extend the 30-day window Hodge has to challenge his prison sentence, citing the government’s “inappropriate withholding” of notes Singer wrote in his iPhone while cooperating with federal agents.
Singer was calling dozens of his former clients on a recorded line, retreading deals they’d brokered to get their children into such elite schools as Georgetown, USC and UCLA. But Singer’s handlers, he wrote, were insisting he “tell a fib” and portray the payments that clinched their children’s admission as bribes, not donations, to university programs.
Advertisement
Hodge was sentenced Feb. 7. Nineteen days later, prosecutors disclosed Singer’s notes to attorneys for other parents charged in the case.
Eric S. Rosen, an assistant U.S. attorney, told the lawyers in a letter that a prosecutor first glimpsed one of the notes in October 2018. Because Singer had written the notes to his own lawyer, Rosen and his colleagues believed the writings were protected by attorney-client privilege, Rosen wrote. Singer’s lawyer waived that privilege last week and the notes were turned over.
California Full Coverage: The college admissions scheme Federal prosecutors accused top CEOs, two Hollywood actresses and others of taking part in an audacious scheme to get their children into elite universities through fraud, bribes and lies.
O’Connor said without those messages, U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton had not viewed a “full and accurate record” of Hodge’s conduct before sentencing him to nine months in prison, the longest term handed down in the case to date. O’Connor declined to comment Thursday.
While he didn’t dispute his guilt and acknowledged committing fraud and money laundering, Hodge had argued he thought the money he paid to get four children into USC and Georgetown as bogus athletic recruits — $850,000 in all — was bound for school coffers, not the personal bank accounts of corrupt university employees. Singer, according to his own notes, appears to have imparted this impression on his clients, O’Connor wrote.
Hodge “takes full responsibility for his conduct,” O’Connor wrote. “But there is an important distinction when evaluating Mr. Hodge’s culpability between payments intended to benefit a university and payments intended to benefit a specific coach in his or her personal capacity.”
Despite his planned appeal, Hodge will report to prison by March 20 as ordered, O’Connor wrote. He has paid the $750,000 fine Gorton had imposed, O’Connor added.
Advertisement
Two other parents who have pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering, Manuel and Elizabeth Henriquez, asked to delay their sentencing hearings after Singer’s notes were disclosed. The government is seeking sentences of 18 months and 26 months for the Atherton couple, respectively. Elizabeth Henriquez will be sentenced March 31; Manuel Henriquez, April 8.
In a letter dated Monday, Rosen told defense attorneys he was turning over a tranche of evidence they had squabbled over for months: FBI and Internal Revenue Service reports of interviews with Singer and USC employees, and extractions from the iPhone Singer used as a cooperating witness.
Rosen added that by March 13, he would furnish the attorneys with, among other records, the contents of Singer’s Google Drive, Singer’s handwritten notes, videos of other cooperating witnesses, the script Singer used while calling clients on a recorded line, and a recorded phone call between Singer and his government handlers.
After Singer’s notes were disclosed, Gorton, the judge, told defense attorneys they could file motions to dismiss the indictment against their clients, suppress evidence or seek sanctions for government misconduct. Gorton on Thursday extended the filing deadline to March 20.