latimes--2020-10-14--Moderate Santa Ana winds likely to bring critical fire weather to parts of the Southland

Santa Ana winds will bring elevated and locally critical fire weather conditions to Southern California on Thursday into Friday , the National Weather Service said .
As a ridge of high pressure aloft continues to bring an extended period of hot , dry weather to the region , surface high pressure building in the Great Basin will boost offshore flow , resulting in moderate Santa Ana winds Thursday night into Friday , particularly in the higher elevations of Santa Barbara , Ventura and Los Angeles counties , as well as in the Santa Clarita Valley .
Winds gusting from 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the single digits would probably result in critical fire weather conditions that could last into Friday afternoon .
Hot , dry conditions will continue in Northern California , with northerly winds through the Sacramento Valley on Thursday .
Elevated fire weather conditions may become critical for an hour or two during the late afternoon hours .
Santa Ana winds are northerly to northeasterly winds that can blow any time of the year , but they are especially prevalent in the fall and winter in Southern California .
They develop when surface high pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevada and Utah .
The winds are caused by a pressure gradient between that high pressure and lower pressure to the south .
High pressure always flows toward lower pressure .
By the time the winds arrive in the Los Angeles area , they have descended several thousand feet , shedding moisture along the way and heating up through compressional heating .
They have also sped up after being forced through narrow canyons and passes .
Santa Ana winds can cause damage and overturn high-profile vehicles , among other dangers .
For the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California has baked for several rainless months under a pitiless summer sun .
By that time , all the vegetation is desiccated and primed for fire .
The winds can bring extremely low humidity and high heat , and they can fan any fire that starts into a raging inferno .
Other parts of California have offshore winds that are similar to Santa Anas , and they usually have about the same effect , which is to say they promote fire .
One of many dramatic examples was a dry , albeit weak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what was then a mostly wood-framed city of San Francisco after the Great Earthquake of April 18 , 1906 .

Critical fire conditions appear likely in the mountains north of Los Angeles, forecasters say.
Santa Ana winds will bring elevated and locally critical fire weather conditions to Southern California on Thursday into Friday, the National Weather Service said.
As a ridge of high pressure aloft continues to bring an extended period of hot, dry weather to the region, surface high pressure building in the Great Basin will boost offshore flow, resulting in moderate Santa Ana winds Thursday night into Friday, particularly in the higher elevations of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, as well as in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Winds gusting from 35 to 45 mph with humidity dipping into the single digits would probably result in critical fire weather conditions that could last into Friday afternoon.
Hot, dry conditions will continue in Northern California, with northerly winds through the Sacramento Valley on Thursday. Elevated fire weather conditions may become critical for an hour or two during the late afternoon hours.
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Santa Ana winds develop when high pressure settles into the Great Basin. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
Santa Ana winds are northerly to northeasterly winds that can blow any time of the year, but they are especially prevalent in the fall and winter in Southern California. They develop when surface high pressure settles into the arid Great Basin of Nevada and Utah. The winds are caused by a pressure gradient between that high pressure and lower pressure to the south. High pressure always flows toward lower pressure.
By the time the winds arrive in the Los Angeles area, they have descended several thousand feet, shedding moisture along the way and heating up through compressional heating. They have also sped up after being forced through narrow canyons and passes.
Santa Ana winds can cause damage and overturn high-profile vehicles, among other dangers. For the most part, they arrive after Southern California has baked for several rainless months under a pitiless summer sun. By that time, all the vegetation is desiccated and primed for fire. The winds can bring extremely low humidity and high heat, and they can fan any fire that starts into a raging inferno.
Other parts of California have offshore winds that are similar to Santa Anas, and they usually have about the same effect, which is to say they promote fire. One of many dramatic examples was a dry, albeit weak, east wind that fanned flames across what was then a mostly wood-framed city of San Francisco after the Great Earthquake of April 18, 1906.


latimes--2020-10-14--California Supreme Court orders reexamination of Scott Peterson's murder convictions

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a trial judge to consider whether Scott Peterson ’ s convictions for murdering his wife , Laci , and their unborn son should be overturned .
The state ’ s highest court already overturned Peterson ’ s death sentence on appeal this year .
In a separate petition , Peterson ’ s lawyers cited an array of reasons the convictions should be overturned as well .
The court agreed that one matter warranted attention : a juror who failed to disclose that she had once feared for her unborn child when being harassed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a brief order , the court sent the case back to San Mateo County Superior Court to determine whether Peterson should be granted a new trial on the grounds that “ Juror No .
7 committed prejudicial misconduct by not disclosing her prior involvement with other legal proceedings , including but not limited to being the victim of a crime.
” Richelle Nice , the juror , failed to disclose that she had obtained a restraining order against her boyfriend ’ s ex-girlfriend for harassing her when she was pregnant .
Initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a discharged juror during deliberations .
She published a book with several other jurors about their experience during the 2004 trial .
Peterson ’ s lawyers argued that Nice worked hard to get on the jury .
Even though her employer would not pay her for the duration of the months-long trial , she said she was willing to serve .
All the potential jurors were asked whether they had ever been a victim of a crime or involved in a lawsuit .
Nice said no to both questions .
In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2000 Nice was 4½ months pregnant when she was threatened by her boyfriend ’ s ex-girlfriend .
Nice filed a lawsuit to obtain a restraining order against the woman , saying she feared for her unborn child .
The attacker was tried based on Nice ’ s charges , convicted and sentenced to a week in jail , according to Peterson ’ s lawyers .
Peterson ’ s lawyers said Nice also was one of two holdouts for convicting Peterson of first-degree murder for killing his unborn child .
The jury convicted Peterson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second-degree murder of the fetus .
Laci Peterson , 27 , was due to give birth in four weeks in 2002 when she disappeared on Christmas Eve .
Scott Peterson told police he had left their Modesto home that morning to go fishing in Berkeley .
Nearly four months later , Laci ’ s remains and the body of her unborn son , with the umbilical cord still attached , washed up on a rocky shore of San Francisco Bay .
A passerby walking a dog found them a few miles from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fishing .
Peterson was tried in San Mateo County after a judge found he could not get a fair trial in Modesto .

Scott Peterson listens to prosecutor Joseph Distaso on Jan. 14, 2004, in a Modesto courtroom. Peterson was sentenced to death in 2005 for killing his pregnant wife.
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a trial judge to consider whether Scott Peterson’s convictions for murdering his wife, Laci, and their unborn son should be overturned.
The state’s highest court already overturned Peterson’s death sentence on appeal this year. In a separate petition, Peterson’s lawyers cited an array of reasons the convictions should be overturned as well.
The court agreed that one matter warranted attention: a juror who failed to disclose that she had once feared for her unborn child when being harassed by the ex-girlfriend of her boyfriend.
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In a brief order, the court sent the case back to San Mateo County Superior Court to determine whether Peterson should be granted a new trial on the grounds that “Juror No. 7 committed prejudicial misconduct by not disclosing her prior involvement with other legal proceedings, including but not limited to being the victim of a crime.”
Richelle Nice, the juror, failed to disclose that she had obtained a restraining order against her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend for harassing her when she was pregnant.
Initially seated as an alternate, Nice replaced a discharged juror during deliberations. She published a book with several other jurors about their experience during the 2004 trial.
Peterson’s lawyers argued that Nice worked hard to get on the jury. Even though her employer would not pay her for the duration of the months-long trial, she said she was willing to serve.
All the potential jurors were asked whether they had ever been a victim of a crime or involved in a lawsuit. Nice said no to both questions.
In fact, Peterson’s lawyers said, in 2000 Nice was 4½ months pregnant when she was threatened by her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend.
Nice filed a lawsuit to obtain a restraining order against the woman, saying she feared for her unborn child. The attacker was tried based on Nice’s charges, convicted and sentenced to a week in jail, according to Peterson’s lawyers.
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Peterson’s lawyers said Nice also was one of two holdouts for convicting Peterson of first-degree murder for killing his unborn child. The jury convicted Peterson of the first-degree murder of Laci and the second-degree murder of the fetus.
Laci Peterson, 27, was due to give birth in four weeks in 2002 when she disappeared on Christmas Eve. Scott Peterson told police he had left their Modesto home that morning to go fishing in Berkeley.
Nearly four months later, Laci’s remains and the body of her unborn son, with the umbilical cord still attached, washed up on a rocky shore of San Francisco Bay. A passerby walking a dog found them a few miles from where Scott Peterson said he had gone fishing.
Peterson was tried in San Mateo County after a judge found he could not get a fair trial in Modesto.


latimes--2020-10-14--Questions remain following deputy shooting at Harbor-UCLA that wounded patient

Sheriff ’ s officials said Wednesday that two deputies were guarding a third who was hospitalized at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center when a patient suffering a psychiatric crisis lunged toward one of them while carrying a metal medical device , prompting a deputy to open fire .
The patient , a 34-year-old man who was not identified , was struck seven times in the shooting last week and remains hospitalized in critical condition .
Many questions remain , though , about how the incident escalated into violence .
The hospital ’ s chief medical officer and elected county officials are seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for the removal of law enforcement officers from hospitals .
A group of medical workers and activists gathered outside the hospital Tuesday night to protest police violence in healthcare facilities .
“ Hospitals are a place where we should be getting care , ” said Mark-Anthony Clayton-Johnson , founder of the Frontline Wellness Network , a coalition of care providers working to end mass incarceration .
“ In that context , there should never be a reason why a law enforcement officer should use lethal force , such as a gun , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not work at the hospital but spoke at Tuesday ’ s event , added : “ Sheriffs shouldn ’ t have any place responding to crises in our hospitals when trained providers are better equipped to save lives.
” Dr. Anish Mahajan , chief medical officer for the hospital , said in a statement Tuesday that the patient was experiencing a psychiatric crisis Oct. 6 when he was shot by a deputy assigned to the South L.A. station who was not a member of the sheriff ’ s unit at Harbor-UCLA .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ security services for another hospitalized patient who was in an adjacent room , ” Mahajan said .
“ Multiple investigations are underway within and outside the hospital about how and why this incident occurred.
” Meanwhile , he said , hospital leaders “ will review best practices on how to provide security services that optimally protect the health and safety of patients , visitors and staff.
” County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas is seeking an investigation by the county ’ s Office of Inspector General as well as information on the board ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on armed officers assigned to medical campuses .
Some speakers at Tuesday ’ s Board of Supervisors meeting called for the removal of law enforcement from hospitals .
Last week ’ s shooting was the second at Harbor-UCLA in five years .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva likened the incident to a scene from a movie : “ It was a scene out of ‘ The Shining ’ with Jack Nicholson , ” he said of the shooting .
On Wednesday , Villanueva held a news conference with a homicide lieutenant to provide a fuller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shooting .
Lt. Derrick Alfred said two deputies assigned to the South L.A. station were providing security to a wounded deputy inside a patient room at the hospital about 11:15 p.m. when they heard loud banging and screams .
One of the deputies left the room and walked down the hallway to investigate .
A few rooms down , she found a patient , who was not identified , in a hospital gown trying to smash a window with a 6.5-pound compression device encased in steel , Alfred said .
The deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients from the room , and an announcement was broadcast over the hospital speaker system summoning a crisis team , Alfred said .
The deputy returned to the room of the wounded deputy and closed the door , he said .
Alfred said the deputies then heard banging in the hallway before the window of their door shattered , with the patient holding the device over his head .
He struck the door again and it swung inward , Alfred said .
One of the deputies stepped onto the threshold to block the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put the object down .
He then lunged forward with the device over his head , and a deputy opened fire , Alfred said .
He was struck seven times in his upper body .
“ That deputy was about a second or two away from getting beaned in the head with that .
I ’ m not sure how long you want her to wait for people to gather together on the first floor of the hospital , get a plan together and go up to the fourth floor to intervene , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy intervened with lethal force when a medical team was on the way .
“ I wouldn ’ t expect anybody to wait under those circumstances.
” Alfred said there were no security cameras in patient rooms .
The deputies were not outfitted with body cameras .
When asked why the deputy ’ s room needed security , Villanueva said : “ I think that the results of this speak for themselves , really.
” Hannah Janeway , an emergency physician at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center , said she trained at Harbor-UCLA and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical staff responds daily to psychiatric emergencies — broadcast internally as “ Code Gold , ” she said .
“ During all of those we are able to get the patient deescalated , without anyone becoming hurt or losing their essential dignity as a person , ” said Janeway , who attended Tuesday ’ s rally .
When she is caring for an agitated patient , she said , “ My first thought is how do I get the police away from this person because I ’ m afraid the police are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our patients out of horror films , ” she added , referencing Villanueva ’ s comment .
“ That ’ s why law enforcement shouldn ’ t be in care spaces .
”

L.A. County sheriff’s deputies meet outside Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where multiple investigations are underway into a patient who was shot by a deputy last week.
Sheriff’s officials said Wednesday that two deputies were guarding a third who was hospitalized at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center when a patient suffering a psychiatric crisis lunged toward one of them while carrying a metal medical device, prompting a deputy to open fire.
The patient, a 34-year-old man who was not identified, was struck seven times in the shooting last week and remains hospitalized in critical condition. Many questions remain, though, about how the incident escalated into violence.
The hospital’s chief medical officer and elected county officials are seeking an independent investigation while some healthcare providers called for the removal of law enforcement officers from hospitals. A group of medical workers and activists gathered outside the hospital Tuesday night to protest police violence in healthcare facilities.
“Hospitals are a place where we should be getting care,” said Mark-Anthony Clayton-Johnson, founder of the Frontline Wellness Network, a coalition of care providers working to end mass incarceration. “In that context, there should never be a reason why a law enforcement officer should use lethal force, such as a gun, on our folks.”
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Clayton-Johnson, who does not work at the hospital but spoke at Tuesday’s event, added: “Sheriffs shouldn’t have any place responding to crises in our hospitals when trained providers are better equipped to save lives.”
Dr. Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer for the hospital, said in a statement Tuesday that the patient was experiencing a psychiatric crisis Oct. 6 when he was shot by a deputy assigned to the South L.A. station who was not a member of the sheriff’s unit at Harbor-UCLA.
The deputy “was on-site to provide security services for another hospitalized patient who was in an adjacent room,” Mahajan said. “Multiple investigations are underway within and outside the hospital about how and why this incident occurred.”
Meanwhile, he said, hospital leaders “will review best practices on how to provide security services that optimally protect the health and safety of patients, visitors and staff.”
County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas is seeking an investigation by the county’s Office of Inspector General as well as information on the board’s authority to impose restrictions or training requirements on armed officers assigned to medical campuses. Some speakers at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting called for the removal of law enforcement from hospitals. Last week’s shooting was the second at Harbor-UCLA in five years.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva likened the incident to a scene from a movie: “It was a scene out of ‘The Shining’ with Jack Nicholson,” he said of the shooting.
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On Wednesday, Villanueva held a news conference with a homicide lieutenant to provide a fuller picture of what they say led to the shooting.
Lt. Derrick Alfred said two deputies assigned to the South L.A. station were providing security to a wounded deputy inside a patient room at the hospital about 11:15 p.m. when they heard loud banging and screams.
One of the deputies left the room and walked down the hallway to investigate. A few rooms down, she found a patient, who was not identified, in a hospital gown trying to smash a window with a 6.5-pound compression device encased in steel, Alfred said.
The deputy directed medical staff members to remove other patients from the room, and an announcement was broadcast over the hospital speaker system summoning a crisis team, Alfred said. The deputy returned to the room of the wounded deputy and closed the door, he said.
Alfred said the deputies then heard banging in the hallway before the window of their door shattered, with the patient holding the device over his head. He struck the door again and it swung inward, Alfred said. One of the deputies stepped onto the threshold to block the man from entering and ordered him to put the object down. He then lunged forward with the device over his head, and a deputy opened fire, Alfred said. He was struck seven times in his upper body.
“That deputy was about a second or two away from getting beaned in the head with that. I’m not sure how long you want her to wait for people to gather together on the first floor of the hospital, get a plan together and go up to the fourth floor to intervene,” Villanueva said when asked why the deputy intervened with lethal force when a medical team was on the way. “I wouldn’t expect anybody to wait under those circumstances.”
Alfred said there were no security cameras in patient rooms. The deputies were not outfitted with body cameras.
When asked why the deputy’s room needed security, Villanueva said: “I think that the results of this speak for themselves, really.”
Hannah Janeway, an emergency physician at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, said she trained at Harbor-UCLA and witnessed the 2015 police shooting there. Medical staff responds daily to psychiatric emergencies — broadcast internally as “Code Gold,” she said.
“During all of those we are able to get the patient deescalated, without anyone becoming hurt or losing their essential dignity as a person,” said Janeway, who attended Tuesday’s rally. When she is caring for an agitated patient, she said, “My first thought is how do I get the police away from this person because I’m afraid the police are going to murder them.”
“They see our patients out of horror films,” she added, referencing Villanueva’s comment. “That’s why law enforcement shouldn’t be in care spaces.”


latimes--2020-10-15--Glendale bans Mylar balloons, deflating hopes of some local business owners

First , the coronavirus canceled all the parties .
Trick-or-treating is strongly discouraged for fear it could become a real-life super-spreading horror show .
Now , 2020 is coming for the ultimate symbol of celebration and childhood joy : balloons .
Mylar , or foil , balloons — the metallic , shimmery ones — are increasingly being scorned as nuisances for their role in causing power outages .
Glendale , a city of about 200,000 , banned the sale and distribution of Mylar balloons on Tuesday , making it one of the first cities in California to take the action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that took effect in June .
Malibu banned the sale of all balloons last year .
Glendale City Councilwoman Paula Devine said she voted for the ban “ because of the hazards imposed on our electrical system , because of the possibility of fires , the explosions , our linemen who have to repair [ it ] , and it ’ s a very dangerous job.
” The deflated balloons , which can land anywhere after floating high in the air , are bad for the environment , she added .
Violating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine or jail time of up to 180 days .
The ordinance does not outlaw possession of the balloons , so a resident could legally buy some in a neighboring city and bring them home .
The sale of Mylar balloons filled with air , not helium , and attached to a pole or other structure will still be permitted in Glendale .
Latex balloons are not included in the ban .
Often emblazoned with messages such as “ Happy Birthday , ” Mylar balloons are made of a conductive material that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in power lines , according to Glendale Water & Power officials .
A California law , passed in 1990 , prohibits the release of Mylar balloons into the air and requires them to be weighted down when sold .
That has not prevented numerous balloons from finding their way into the sky and getting entangled with power lines .
Since 2007 , 168 power outages have been caused by the balloons in Glendale , according to a GWP report .
That equates to about 19 % of outages in the city and 223,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Last month , the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power blamed a Mylar balloon for leaving 2,500 residents without power in the Baldwin Hills , Crenshaw , West Adams and Mid-City neighborhoods .
But those in the balloon industry , including event decorators and party supply distributors , fear the bans will be the last straw for businesses already devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic .
With big events such as weddings and graduations on hold , those selling and decorating with balloons are already teetering on the edge , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Balloon Werks in Mission Viejo .
Armstrong laid off her sole employee as sales slowed , and she has no idea what ’ s next for the business she founded more than 20 years ago .
Foil balloons make up half of her inventory and fetch a much higher price than their latex counterparts , she said .
“ It would be devastating to have to lose that business on top of having to deal with COVID as well , ” she said , adding that many balloon businesses are owned by women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Balloon Council , an industry group , said that education about the dangers of releasing balloons is key , not bans that can destroy people ’ s livelihoods .
“ It ’ s not the product that ’ s the culprit .
It ’ s people ’ s behavior , ” O ’ Hara said .
Glendale officials see the ban as a precedent-setting move for other cities .
Nearby cities , such as Burbank and Pasadena , “ are watching , ” Devine said .
That ’ s exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Everybody is going to start jumping on the bandwagon and eyeballing a ban , ” Armstrong said .
“ Then , you know , we can ’ t do Los Angeles .
Or we can ’ t do any of the counties around Los Angeles .
We won ’ t be able to service those areas , which is what we need to do.
” Assemblyman Bill Quirk ( D-Hayward ) authored a law , approved in 2018 , requiring manufacturers to print warnings about contact with power lines directly onto the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has been trying to get utility companies and the balloon industry to come together on a bill to address balloon-related power outages .
“ There are still a lot of questions to be answered , and I hope we find those answers in time to introduce a bill in 2021 , ” Quirk said .

The city of Glendale has banned the sale of Mylar balloons because of their role in causing power outages.
It’s been a hard year for fun.
First, the coronavirus canceled all the parties. Trick-or-treating is strongly discouraged for fear it could become a real-life super-spreading horror show.
Now, 2020 is coming for the ultimate symbol of celebration and childhood joy: balloons.
Mylar, or foil, balloons — the metallic, shimmery ones — are increasingly being scorned as nuisances for their role in causing power outages.
Advertisement
Glendale, a city of about 200,000, banned the sale and distribution of Mylar balloons on Tuesday, making it one of the first cities in California to take the action. Hermosa Beach passed a similar ban that took effect in June. Malibu banned the sale of all balloons last year.
Glendale City Councilwoman Paula Devine said she voted for the ban “because of the hazards imposed on our electrical system, because of the possibility of fires, the explosions, our linemen who have to repair [it], and it’s a very dangerous job.”
The deflated balloons, which can land anywhere after floating high in the air, are bad for the environment, she added.
Violating the new ordinance is punishable by either a fine or jail time of up to 180 days. The ordinance does not outlaw possession of the balloons, so a resident could legally buy some in a neighboring city and bring them home.
The sale of Mylar balloons filled with air, not helium, and attached to a pole or other structure will still be permitted in Glendale. Latex balloons are not included in the ban.
Often emblazoned with messages such as “Happy Birthday,” Mylar balloons are made of a conductive material that can cause sparking and even explosions when tangled in power lines, according to Glendale Water & Power officials.
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A California law, passed in 1990, prohibits the release of Mylar balloons into the air and requires them to be weighted down when sold. That has not prevented numerous balloons from finding their way into the sky and getting entangled with power lines.
Since 2007, 168 power outages have been caused by the balloons in Glendale, according to a GWP report. That equates to about 19% of outages in the city and 223,000 hours of service interruption, the report said.
Last month, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power blamed a Mylar balloon for leaving 2,500 residents without power in the Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw, West Adams and Mid-City neighborhoods.
But those in the balloon industry, including event decorators and party supply distributors, fear the bans will be the last straw for businesses already devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With big events such as weddings and graduations on hold, those selling and decorating with balloons are already teetering on the edge, says Amanda Armstrong, owner of Top Hat Balloon Werks in Mission Viejo.
Armstrong laid off her sole employee as sales slowed, and she has no idea what’s next for the business she founded more than 20 years ago. Foil balloons make up half of her inventory and fetch a much higher price than their latex counterparts, she said.
“It would be devastating to have to lose that business on top of having to deal with COVID as well,” she said, adding that many balloon businesses are owned by women.
Lorna O’Hara, executive director of the Balloon Council, an industry group, said that education about the dangers of releasing balloons is key, not bans that can destroy people’s livelihoods.
“It’s not the product that’s the culprit. It’s people’s behavior,” O’Hara said.
Glendale officials see the ban as a precedent-setting move for other cities.
Nearby cities, such as Burbank and Pasadena, “are watching,” Devine said.
That’s exactly what Armstrong expects — and fears.
“Everybody is going to start jumping on the bandwagon and eyeballing a ban,” Armstrong said. “Then, you know, we can’t do Los Angeles. Or we can’t do any of the counties around Los Angeles. We won’t be able to service those areas, which is what we need to do.”
Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) authored a law, approved in 2018, requiring manufacturers to print warnings about contact with power lines directly onto the balloons.
For the last year, he has been trying to get utility companies and the balloon industry to come together on a bill to address balloon-related power outages.
“There are still a lot of questions to be answered, and I hope we find those answers in time to introduce a bill in 2021,” Quirk said.


latimes--2020-10-15--Kevin de León takes L.A. City Council seat, vows to tackle 'dystopian' homelessness crisis

Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de León took office two months early on Thursday , telling supporters in a prerecorded swearing-in video that the city ’ s homelessness crisis has devolved into a “ dystopian nightmare.
” De León , 53 , was elected in March to represent the city ’ s 14th Council District , which has been represented for nearly 15 years by Jose Huizar , now facing racketeering , bribery and other charges .
In his swearing-in remarks , which were posted Thursday but recorded last week , De León vowed to be a “ voice for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lifelong renter who has experienced poverty firsthand .
De León promised to work immediately on bringing 200 homeless shelter beds to downtown Los Angeles and building hundreds of “ transitional ” housing units across the district , which includes downtown , Eagle Rock , El Sereno and Boyle Heights .
“ When it comes to homelessness and housing affordability , what we are seeing today in Los Angeles is a modern-day human catastrophe , a dystopian nightmare unlike anything we ’ ve ever seen before , ” he said .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shameful .
We have a moral and human obligation to do better.
” Because of concerns about COVID-19 , De León ’ s team eschewed the idea of an in-person ceremony , instead putting together a swearing-in video featuring testimonials from Mayor Eric Garcetti , state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo and other political and community figures .
The city clerk conducted a private swearing-in on Thursday afternoon , a De León representative said .
De León originally had expected to take office in mid-December .
But his fortunes changed after FBI agents arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running a criminal enterprise that involved bribes from several downtown real estate developers .
Huizar has pleaded not guilty .
Nevertheless , his colleagues voted to suspend him in June , and City Controller Ron Galperin stripped him of his salary soon afterward .
In his remarks , De León did not mention the ongoing probe , which has resulted in guilty pleas from former City Councilman Mitchell Englander , former Huizar aide George Esparza , former city planning commissioner Justin Jangwoo Kim and real estate consultant George Chiang .
Instead , De @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s planning and development process , saying it lacks predictability and is “ a breeding ground for consultants and others to abuse the system and inflate costs.
” Among his first tasks , De León said , will be speeding up the construction of affordable housing and removing hundreds of pages of “ outdated rules ” that govern such projects .
“ To get our planning back on track , ” he said , “ I ’ ve already begun working with the city ’ s planning department to trim away more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written decades ago .
”

Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de León, shown in February. Because of COVID-19 fears, he posted a swearing-in video instead of holding an in-person ceremony.
Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de León took office two months early on Thursday, telling supporters in a prerecorded swearing-in video that the city’s homelessness crisis has devolved into a “dystopian nightmare.”
De León, 53, was elected in March to represent the city’s 14th Council District, which has been represented for nearly 15 years by Jose Huizar, now facing racketeering, bribery and other charges.
In his swearing-in remarks, which were posted Thursday but recorded last week, De León vowed to be a “voice for the voiceless,” saying he is a lifelong renter who has experienced poverty firsthand.
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De León promised to work immediately on bringing 200 homeless shelter beds to downtown Los Angeles and building hundreds of “transitional” housing units across the district, which includes downtown, Eagle Rock, El Sereno and Boyle Heights.
“When it comes to homelessness and housing affordability, what we are seeing today in Los Angeles is a modern-day human catastrophe, a dystopian nightmare unlike anything we’ve ever seen before,” he said. “It’s shocking. It’s shameful. We have a moral and human obligation to do better.”
Because of concerns about COVID-19, De León’s team eschewed the idea of an in-person ceremony, instead putting together a swearing-in video featuring testimonials from Mayor Eric Garcetti, state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo and other political and community figures. The city clerk conducted a private swearing-in on Thursday afternoon, a De León representative said.
De León originally had expected to take office in mid-December. But his fortunes changed after FBI agents arrested Huizar in June, accusing him of running a criminal enterprise that involved bribes from several downtown real estate developers.
Huizar has pleaded not guilty. Nevertheless, his colleagues voted to suspend him in June, and City Controller Ron Galperin stripped him of his salary soon afterward.
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In his remarks, De León did not mention the ongoing probe, which has resulted in guilty pleas from former City Councilman Mitchell Englander, former Huizar aide George Esparza, former city planning commissioner Justin Jangwoo Kim and real estate consultant George Chiang.
Instead, De León took aim at the city’s planning and development process, saying it lacks predictability and is “a breeding ground for consultants and others to abuse the system and inflate costs.”
Among his first tasks, De León said, will be speeding up the construction of affordable housing and removing hundreds of pages of “outdated rules” that govern such projects.
“To get our planning back on track,” he said, “I’ve already begun working with the city’s planning department to trim away more than 800 pages of convoluted and unnecessary code written decades ago.”


latimes--2020-10-15--El Segundo firm to begin Phase 1 clinical trial for coronavirus vaccine

ImmunityBio , an El Segundo biotech company headed by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong , said Thursday it had received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to begin preliminary testing of the company ’ s COVID-19 vaccine candidate .
Hoag Hospital Newport Beach will start recruiting 35 adult volunteers this month for the Phase 1 trial , which is designed to monitor the safety and possible side effects of the vaccine .
Dosages will vary per candidate and be administered in two shots three weeks apart , the company said in a news release .
An estimated 213 laboratories around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and three dozen have advanced to human trials , according to tracking by the Milken Institute .
ImmunityBio is the first company headquartered in the Los Angeles area to reach this milestone .
Soon-Shiong , the company ’ s chairman and chief executive , also owns the Los Angeles Times .
In an interview , Soon-Shiong called the FDA ’ s approval “ extraordinary ” and credited the role genetic sequencing has played in advancing vaccine research during the pandemic .
“ From the time the Chinese put out the genetic sequence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to work with it , ” he said .
Phase 1 , typically lasting about two months , is the earliest point at which humans are injected with vaccine candidates .
If the FDA allows ImmunityBio to proceed to Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials with increasing numbers of participants , the company may begin to get a signal as to whether the vaccine is effective .
Soon-Shiong said he hoped to begin Phase 2 — or a combined Phase 2 and 3 — by the first quarter of 2021 .
Nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world with tens of thousands of participants , according to the Milken tracker .
AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson , which are using a similar platform for their vaccines as ImmunityBio , recently paused their Phase 3 trials after volunteers came down with unexplained illnesses .
“ The fact that there are so many scientists around the world working on vaccines and have found vaccine candidates that are plausible and getting into clinical trials is very exciting , ” said Dr. William Schaffner , an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Infectious Diseases .
“ Getting a vaccine ready will not be a straight-line affair , ” he said .
“ We need lots of shots on target , and we should be pleased if there were any number of vaccines being successful because we have the world ’ s population to vaccinate.
” ImmunityBio ’ s announcement comes as infection rates are rising in the Midwest and epidemiologists are warning about a second wave of infections this winter .
Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first case of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nearly 218,000 American have died of the disease .
The vaccine , called hAd5 , relies on a genetically engineered adenovirus to deliver two proteins of the novel coronavirus into the body , triggering an immune response that can protect against future infections .
Although other companies are also using the adenovirus , most are delivering only one component of the novel coronavirus : the S , or spike protein .
But the challenge presented by the adenovirus , Soon-Shiong said , is that it is a common cold virus , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Those antibodies would attack the adenovirus before the immune system had an opportunity to develop a response .
But by delivering not just the S protein , which studs the outside of the coronavirus , but also an additional protein from inside the virus , ImmunityBio believes that its vaccine candidate will provide longer lasting immunity .
“ While there are a number of vaccine candidates in development , we believe most are limited by their sole focus on antibody responses to the monovalent spike protein , which may be insufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immune system to fight the coronavirus , ” Soon-Shiong said in a statement .
ImmunityBio had been researching the adenovirus in the course of developing cancer treatments when the pandemic started .
The privately held company is sharing the cost of development , manufacturing and marketing with its publicly traded affiliate , NantKwest , of which Soon-Shiong also serves as chairman and chief executive .

The Food and Drug Administration, headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., has authorized ImmunityBio of El Segundo to begin a Phase 1 clinical trial for its coronavirus vaccine candidate.
ImmunityBio, an El Segundo biotech company headed by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, said Thursday it had received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to begin preliminary testing of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
Hoag Hospital Newport Beach will start recruiting 35 adult volunteers this month for the Phase 1 trial, which is designed to monitor the safety and possible side effects of the vaccine. Dosages will vary per candidate and be administered in two shots three weeks apart, the company said in a news release.
For the record: An earlier version of this article said volunteers for the trial would be recruited by Hoag Hospital Irvine. Hoag Hospital Newport Beach will recruit the candidates.
An estimated 213 laboratories around the world are trying to develop a vaccine, and three dozen have advanced to human trials, according to tracking by the Milken Institute. ImmunityBio is the first company headquartered in the Los Angeles area to reach this milestone. Soon-Shiong, the company’s chairman and chief executive, also owns the Los Angeles Times.
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In an interview, Soon-Shiong called the FDA’s approval “extraordinary” and credited the role genetic sequencing has played in advancing vaccine research during the pandemic.
“From the time the Chinese put out the genetic sequence of the virus, scientists had the ability to work with it,” he said.
Phase 1, typically lasting about two months, is the earliest point at which humans are injected with vaccine candidates.
If the FDA allows ImmunityBio to proceed to Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials with increasing numbers of participants, the company may begin to get a signal as to whether the vaccine is effective. Soon-Shiong said he hoped to begin Phase 2 — or a combined Phase 2 and 3 — by the first quarter of 2021.
Nine vaccines are in Phase 3 trials around the world with tens of thousands of participants, according to the Milken tracker.
AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, which are using a platform for their vaccines similar to ImmunityBio’s, recently paused their Phase 3 trials after volunteers came down with unexplained illnesses.
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“The fact that there are so many scientists around the world working on vaccines and have found vaccine candidates that are plausible and getting into clinical trials is very exciting,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University and medical director at the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
“Getting a vaccine ready will not be a straight-line affair,” he said. “We need lots of shots on target, and we should be pleased if there were any number of vaccines being successful because we have the world’s population to vaccinate.”
ImmunityBio’s announcement comes as infection rates are rising in the Midwest and epidemiologists are warning about a second wave of infections this winter. Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first case of the novel coronavirus in Washington state in January, nearly 218,000 Americans have died of the disease.
The vaccine, called hAd5, relies on a genetically engineered adenovirus to deliver two proteins of the novel coronavirus into the body, triggering an immune response that can protect against future infections.
Although other companies are also using the adenovirus, most are delivering only one component of the novel coronavirus: the S, or spike protein.
But the challenge presented by the adenovirus, Soon-Shiong said, is that it is a common cold virus, and many people have already developed antibodies against it. Those antibodies would attack the adenovirus before the immune system had an opportunity to develop a response.
But by delivering not just the S protein, which studs the outside of the coronavirus, but also an additional protein from inside the virus, ImmunityBio believes that its vaccine candidate will provide longer-lasting immunity.
“While there are a number of vaccine candidates in development, we believe most are limited by their sole focus on antibody responses to the monovalent spike protein, which may be insufficient to activate the full potential of the immune system to fight the coronavirus,” Soon-Shiong said in a statement.
ImmunityBio had been researching the adenovirus in the course of developing cancer treatments when the pandemic started. The privately held company is sharing the cost of development, manufacturing and marketing with its publicly traded affiliate, NantKwest, of which Soon-Shiong also serves as chairman and chief executive.


latimes--2020-10-15--Amid Biden speculation, Garcetti says it's 'more likely than not' he'll remain as L.A. mayor

Mayor Eric Garcetti floated himself as a possible presidential candidate for 18 months before telling Angelenos last year he wouldn ’ t run because he wanted to “ finish the job ” of running L.A. Now , Garcetti could face another job prospect .
The mayor did not provide a definitive answer Wednesday when asked by The Times whether he ’ d like to join a Joe Biden Cabinet should the Democratic candidate be elected president .
Garcetti endorsed Biden earlier this year when the prospects for his nomination were uncertain , and serves as a co-chair of his campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2022 , said that “ it ’ s more likely than not ” that he ’ ll be L.A. 's mayor in two years .
“ But I always look at it very openly about , you know , what can I help the most people with ?
” he added .
Various publications have suggested he could be named to head the Department of Transportation or the Housing and Urban Development Department , despite a mixed record on both transportation and homelessness .
If an offer from the White House does come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time .
Garcetti was asked by President Obama to serve in the White House overseeing urban policy , but the then-councilman turned it down to run for mayor in 2013 .
Cameron French , a spokesman for the Biden transition team , said Wednesday that no personnel decisions were being made before the election .
The Biden campaign declined to comment .
Garcetti has traveled to two debates during the pandemic and said Wednesday that he ’ s working “ very hard as co-chair ” for Biden .
He also served on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) as Biden ’ s running mate .
The Washington Post reported that the vetting team logged more than 120 hours on the process .
Asked how much time he ’ s spending running the city these days , Garcetti said “ there ’ s been no reduction in my hours whatsoever.
” The mayor also said Wednesday that he “ doesn ’ t have a secret plan to get to Washington.
” Over the last four years , Garcetti has at points traveled extensively out of state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development across the country , raised money for the Democratic Party in key voting states , and compared himself to presidential candidates , all suggesting to some he is squarely focused on one day getting to the White House .
Whoever does get to Washington needs to expand the Section 8 housing program so that everyone who qualifies can receive rental support , Garcetti said Wednesday .
“ It weighs heavy on me that I think no mayor by him or herself is going to be able to single-handedly solve homelessness , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even a city and county at their best are going to be hard-pressed to solve this .
”

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, right, is a co-chair of the campaign to elect Joe Biden, center, as president of the United States.
Mayor Eric Garcetti floated himself as a possible presidential candidate for 18 months before telling Angelenos last year he wouldn’t run because he wanted to “finish the job” of running L.A.
Now, Garcetti could face another job prospect.
The mayor did not provide a definitive answer Wednesday when asked by The Times whether he’d like to join a Joe Biden Cabinet should the Democratic candidate be elected president. Garcetti endorsed Biden earlier this year when the prospects for his nomination were uncertain, and serves as a co-chair of his campaign.
Garcetti, whose term ends in 2022, said that “it’s more likely than not” that he’ll be L.A.’s mayor in two years.
“But I always look at it very openly about, you know, what can I help the most people with?” he added.
Various publications have suggested he could be named to head the Department of Transportation or the Housing and Urban Development Department, despite a mixed record on both transportation and homelessness.
If an offer from the White House does come, it wouldn’t be the first time. Garcetti was asked by President Obama to serve in the White House overseeing urban policy, but the then-councilman turned it down to run for mayor in 2013.
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Cameron French, a spokesman for the Biden transition team, said Wednesday that no personnel decisions were being made before the election. The Biden campaign declined to comment.
Garcetti has traveled to two debates during the pandemic and said Wednesday that he’s working “very hard as co-chair” for Biden. He also served on the vetting team that helped pick Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as Biden’s running mate. The Washington Post reported that the vetting team logged more than 120 hours on the process.
Asked how much time he’s spending running the city these days, Garcetti said “there’s been no reduction in my hours whatsoever.”
The mayor also said Wednesday that he “doesn’t have a secret plan to get to Washington.”
Over the last four years, Garcetti has at points traveled extensively out of state, launched a nonprofit focused on spurring economic development across the country, raised money for the Democratic Party in key voting states, and compared himself to presidential candidates, all suggesting to some he is squarely focused on one day getting to the White House.
Whoever does get to Washington needs to expand the Section 8 housing program so that everyone who qualifies can receive rental support, Garcetti said Wednesday.
“It weighs heavy on me that I think no mayor by him or herself is going to be able to single-handedly solve homelessness,” he said. “And I think even a city and county at their best are going to be hard-pressed to solve this.”


latimes--2020-10-15--605 Freeway reopens after gunfire prompts closure in Los Alamitos

All lanes of the southbound 605 Freeway reopened in Los Alamitos on Thursday afternoon following an hours-long closure after a person allegedly shot at California Highway Patrol officers earlier in the day , authorities said .
The incident occurred about 9:20 a.m. when two officers — who were on detail while California Department of Transportation employees performed landscaping and road maintenance work off the freeway near Katella Avenue — “ made contact with a male pedestrian in the brush area , ” at which point “ an officer-involved shooting occurred , ” a CHP official told reporters at the scene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there was an individual that either came out of a tent or was near the tent and engaged with the officer , ” Andy Perez , public and media affairs chief for Caltrans District 12 , said around noon .
Specifics about the shooting — such as how many shots were fired and whether officers used their weapons — remain unclear .
However , KTLA-TV Channel 5 reported that a man was found dead in the area early Thursday afternoon .
CHP representatives have not responded to The Times ’ requests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , whether any officers were injured , but Perez said that no Caltrans workers were hurt .
“ Fortunately , all Caltrans employees are safe and accounted for and immediately left the worksite , ” he said .
All southbound lanes of the freeway were open again as of 1:42 p.m .

Law enforcement personnel stage near the Katella Avenue onramp to the 605 Freeway in Los Alamitos.
All lanes of the southbound 605 Freeway reopened in Los Alamitos on Thursday afternoon following an hours-long closure after a person allegedly shot at California Highway Patrol officers earlier in the day, authorities said.
The incident occurred about 9:20 a.m. when two officers — who were on detail while California Department of Transportation employees performed landscaping and road maintenance work off the freeway near Katella Avenue — “made contact with a male pedestrian in the brush area,” at which point “an officer-involved shooting occurred,” a CHP official told reporters at the scene.
“It’s our understanding that there was an individual that either came out of a tent or was near the tent and engaged with the officer,” Andy Perez, public and media affairs chief for Caltrans District 12, said around noon.
Specifics about the shooting — such as how many shots were fired and whether officers used their weapons — remain unclear. However, KTLA-TV Channel 5 reported that a man was found dead in the area early Thursday afternoon.
CHP representatives have not responded to The Times’ requests for comment.
Law enforcement personnel can be seen near the Katella Avenue onramp to the 605 Freeway in Los Alamitos Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
It’s unclear, too, whether any officers were injured, but Perez said that no Caltrans workers were hurt.
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“Fortunately, all Caltrans employees are safe and accounted for and immediately left the worksite,” he said.
All southbound lanes of the freeway were open again as of 1:42 p.m.


latimes--2020-10-15--Law enforcement aircraft searched for jetpack near LAX but couldn't find anything

When a pilot for China Airlines told the Los Angeles International Airport control tower that he saw what appeared to be a person flying in a jetpack outside the plane as it approached the airport Wednesday , a law enforcement aircraft was directed to look for the mysterious flier .
When it received the request , the aircraft was flying about seven miles from where the pilot said he ’ d seen the jetpack , according to radio communications .
But when the craft arrived , no sign was found of a person flying in a jetpack .
Wednesday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reported seeing someone flying in a jetpack in the LAX approach pattern in a little over a month .
The FBI has been investigating a reported sighting in late August but has not announced any leads .
Within aviation circles , there has been much speculation about whether this is really a person in a jetpack or perhaps a drone that looks like the device .
“ The FBI is in contact with the FAA and investigating multiple reports of what , according to witnesses , appeared to be an individual in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today by a China Airlines pilot , ” the agency said in a statement .
Air traffic controllers took no chances with the reported 1:45 p.m. sighting by the pilot of a packed Boeing 777 and immediately scrambled to warn commercial airliners descending into the airport of the potential threat .
As China Airlines 006 began its descent , the pilot radioed the tower : “ We just saw a bright object at 6,000.
” The tower sought clarification , asking the pilot to repeat himself .
The pilot then replied , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit jetpack at 6,000.
” The surprised-sounding air traffic controller asked : “ Was it a UAV [ unmanned aerial vehicle , or drone ] or was it a jetpack ?
” The China Airlines pilot said the object was too far away and too shiny to be certain , but said it looked “ like a jetpack.
” The tower then warned another large jetliner , an Emirates flight , “ there was a jetpack reported about 13 miles ahead.
” Air traffic controllers spotted a law enforcement aircraft about seven miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ check out the reported sighting .
As air traffic controllers began redirecting flights around that section of airspace , the law enforcement aircraft flew to the last known sighting of the jetpack .
In the earlier sighting , on Aug. 29 , the control tower at LAX received reports about a jetpack around 6:45 p.m. “ Tower , American 1997 .
We just passed a guy in a jetpack , ” an American Airlines pilot said .
“ American 1997 , OK , thank you .
Were they off to your left or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked .
“ Off the left side , maybe 300 yards or so , about our altitude , ” the pilot responded .
“ We just saw the guy pass us by in the jetpack , ” a pilot from Jet Blue Airways then told the tower , which warned another pilot about the sighting .
“ Only in L.A. , ” the air traffic controller said at one point .

A plane approaches LAX for a landing with downtown Los Angeles in the background.
When a pilot for China Airlines told the Los Angeles International Airport control tower that he saw what appeared to be a person flying in a jet pack outside the plane as it approached the airport Wednesday, a law enforcement aircraft was directed to look for the mysterious flier.
When it received the request, the aircraft was flying about seven miles from where the pilot said he’d seen the jet pack, according to radio communications. But when the craft arrived, no sign was found of a person flying in a jet pack.
For the record: An earlier version of this article stated the initial sighting of a jet pack at Los Angeles International Airport occurred Aug. 29. The date was Aug. 30.
Wednesday’s sighting marks the second time pilots have reported seeing someone flying in a jet pack in the LAX approach pattern in a little over a month. The FBI has been investigating a reported sighting in late August but has not announced any leads.
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Within aviation circles, there has been much speculation about whether this is really a person in a jet pack or perhaps a drone that looks like the device.
“The FBI is in contact with the FAA and investigating multiple reports of what, according to witnesses, appeared to be an individual in a jet pack near LAX, including one today by a China Airlines pilot,” the agency said in a statement.
Air traffic controllers took no chances with the reported 1:45 p.m. sighting by the pilot of a packed Boeing 777 and immediately scrambled to warn commercial airliners descending into the airport of the potential threat.
As China Airlines 006 began its descent, the pilot radioed the tower: “We just saw a bright object at 6,000.”
The tower sought clarification, asking the pilot to repeat himself. The pilot then replied, “We saw a flying object ... flight suit jet pack at 6,000.”
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The surprised-sounding air traffic controller asked: “Was it a UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone] or was it a jet pack?”
The China Airlines pilot said the object was too far away and too shiny to be certain, but said it looked “like a jet pack.”
The tower then warned another large jetliner, an Emirates flight, “there was a jet pack reported about 13 miles ahead.”
Air traffic controllers spotted a law enforcement aircraft about seven miles away and asked for its assistance to check out the reported sighting.
As air traffic controllers began redirecting flights around that section of airspace, the law enforcement aircraft flew to the last known sighting of the jet pack.
“Not seeing anything,” the pilot reported.
California Second sighting of person wearing a jet pack near LAX prompts new investigation The report comes six weeks after two commercial pilots said they saw a man in a jet pack flying around the eastern approach to Los Angeles International Airport.
In the earlier sighting, on Aug. 30, the control tower at LAX received reports about a jet pack around 6:45 p.m.
“Tower, American 1997. We just passed a guy in a jet pack,” an American Airlines pilot said.
“American 1997, OK, thank you. Were they off to your left or right side?” the tower operator asked.
“Off the left side, maybe 300 yards or so, about our altitude,” the pilot responded.
“We just saw the guy pass us by in the jet pack,” a pilot from Jet Blue Airways then told the tower, which warned another pilot about the sighting.
“Only in L.A.,” the air traffic controller said at one point.


latimes--2020-10-15--L.A. drivers, beware: Parking enforcement for street-sweeping resumes today

After nearly seven months of overlooking violations because of the COVID-19 pandemic , the Los Angeles Department of Transportation is resuming enforcement of most parking rules .
As of Thursday , the city will go back to issuing $ 73 tickets for parking during street-sweeping hours .
LADOT spokesman Colin Sweeney said the decision to resume enforcement followed a return to near pre-pandemic traffic levels as businesses and facilities reopen .
The department also found an increasing need to resume street sweeping because of “ quality-of-life issues , ” Sweeney said .
The enforcement suspension , which began March 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trash buildup around unmoved vehicles ” that created public health concerns , including rodent infestations , according to a September report issued by LADOT .
“ Even with the [ complaint ] line closed , LADOT received daily complaints from disgruntled residents requesting vehicles be cited and/or removed , ” the report said .
The report also noted that revenue was an estimated $ 85.5 million lower than expected , largely because of relaxed parking enforcement .
Thursday also marks the return of enforcement and impound rules for abandoned and oversized vehicles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as expired registrations .
Vehicles displaying recently expired permits within preferential parking districts will also be subject to fines .
But there is some good news for vehicle owners : The city will delay booting and towing “ scofflaw vehicles ” — those that accumulate five or more delinquent citations — through Jan. 1 .
Additionally , the city will delay impounding vehicles that serve as dwellings for up to 60 days under an amendment offered by City Councilman Joe Buscaino that called for further planning around the issue .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch on Nov. 2 .
It will offer a $ 20 discount to people who pay vehicle citations within 48 hours .
The LADOT already offers installment , and other payment and amnesty plans for low-income and unemployed car owners .
Enforcement for metered parking , time-limit zones , temporary no-parking signs , colored curbs , city-owned lots and emergency access areas all remain in effect .

After nearly seven months of overlooking violations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation is resuming enforcement of most parking rules.
As of Thursday, the city will go back to issuing $73 tickets for parking during street-sweeping hours.
LADOT spokesman Colin Sweeney said the decision to resume enforcement followed a return to near pre-pandemic traffic levels as businesses and facilities reopen.
The department also found an increasing need to resume street sweeping because of “quality-of-life issues,” Sweeney said.
The enforcement suspension, which began March 16, has led to “debris and trash buildup around unmoved vehicles” that created public health concerns, including rodent infestations, according to a September report issued by LADOT.
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“Even with the [complaint] line closed, LADOT received daily complaints from disgruntled residents requesting vehicles be cited and/or removed,” the report said.
California L.A. will be ticketing on street-sweeping days again starting Oct. 15 L.A. is set to resume parking enforcement on street sweeping days and other enforcement actions after a city report cited complaints about trash piling up on roadways and a drop in revenue.
The report also noted that revenue was an estimated $85.5 million lower than expected, largely because of relaxed parking enforcement.
Thursday also marks the return of enforcement and impound rules for abandoned and oversized vehicles, overnight restrictions and peak-hour and anti-gridlock zones as well as expired registrations.
Vehicles displaying recently expired permits within preferential parking districts will also be subject to fines.
But there is some good news for vehicle owners: The city will delay booting and towing “scofflaw vehicles” — those that accumulate five or more delinquent citations — through Jan. 1.
Additionally, the city will delay impounding vehicles that serve as dwellings for up to 60 days under an amendment offered by City Councilman Joe Buscaino that called for further planning around the issue.
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A program called Early Pay LA will also launch on Nov. 2. It will offer a $20 discount to people who pay vehicle citations within 48 hours. The LADOT already offers installment, and other payment and amnesty plans for low-income and unemployed car owners.
Enforcement for metered parking, time-limit zones, temporary no-parking signs, colored curbs, city-owned lots and emergency access areas all remain in effect.
Times staff writer Dakota Smith contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-15--As extreme heat strains California's energy grid, flex alert issued

With unseasonably warm weather again baking California , officials are urging residents to conserve energy to reduce strain on the state ’ s electrical system .
The California Independent System Operator , which runs the electric grid for most of the state , has issued a new statewide flex alert , calling on Californians to cut back their energy consumption from 3 to 10 p.m. Thursday .
“ With high temperatures in the forecast , the power grid operator predicts an increase in electricity demand , primarily from air conditioning use , ” officials wrote in a statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of year , creating an anticipated shortage in energy supply in the late afternoon hours through the evening.
” Conservation is particularly important during that period , officials said , because that ’ s when the grid is socked with the one-two punch of increased demand and shrinking solar energy production .
Officials are asking consumers to set thermostats at 78 degrees or higher while the flex alert is active , and to turn off unnecessary lights and hold off on using major appliances such as dishwashers or laundry machines until after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a heat wave that has brought record-breaking temperatures to some areas .
The hot spell , which has boosted the mercury 10 to 20 degrees above normal across a swath of the state , is expected to linger through Friday evening .
Given the combination of heat , parched vegetation and fall winds , forecasters are warning that conditions are ripe for wildfires .
The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch covering the Santa Clarita Valley , Los Angeles and Ventura county mountains , mountains and coastal slopes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as areas of the Inland Empire below the Cajon Pass .
A red flag warning — indicating critical fire weather conditions — is also in place across much of Northern California through Friday morning .
The region could see winds of 15 to 25 mph , with gusts up to 40 mph .
In light of the forecast and fire danger , Pacific Gas & Electric Co. began turning off power to more than 50,000 Northern California customers Wednesday evening .
The shutoffs affected portions of nearly two dozen counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco Bay Area , and could last 48 hours , the utility said .
A second shutoff for around 700 customers was expected Thursday afternoon in far northern counties as winds were expected to arrive there .
Preemptive electricity cuts are a strategy aimed at preventing fires from being started by power lines that have been damaged or knocked down amid high winds .
PG & E equipment sparked several massive blazes that destroyed tens of thousands of homes and killed more than 100 people since 2017 .
“ Once the weather subsides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will patrol and inspect the de-energized lines to ensure they were not damaged during the wind event and repair any damage found , ” utility officials wrote in a statement .
“ PG & E will then safely restore power in stages and as quickly as possible , with the goal of restoring power to nearly all customers within 12 daylight hours after severe weather has passed.
” The Associated Press contributed to this report .

With unseasonably warm weather again baking California, officials are urging residents to conserve energy to reduce strain on the state’s electrical system.
The California Independent System Operator, which runs the electric grid for most of the state, has issued a new statewide flex alert, calling on Californians to cut back their energy consumption from 3 to 10 p.m. Thursday.
“With high temperatures in the forecast, the power grid operator predicts an increase in electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use,” officials wrote in a statement. “The temperatures are above normal for this time of year, creating an anticipated shortage in energy supply in the late afternoon hours through the evening.”
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Conservation is particularly important during that period, officials said, because that’s when the grid is socked with the one-two punch of increased demand and shrinking solar energy production.
Officials are asking consumers to set thermostats at 78 degrees or higher while the flex alert is active, and to turn off unnecessary lights and hold off on using major appliances such as dishwashers or laundry machines until after 10 p.m.
California is in the midst of a heat wave that has brought record-breaking temperatures to some areas. The hot spell, which has boosted the mercury 10 to 20 degrees above normal across a swath of the state, is expected to linger through Friday evening.
Given the combination of heat, parched vegetation and fall winds, forecasters are warning that conditions are ripe for wildfires.
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The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch covering the Santa Clarita Valley, Los Angeles and Ventura county mountains, mountains and coastal slopes of the San Bernardino and Santa Ana ranges, as well as areas of the Inland Empire below the Cajon Pass.
A red flag warning — indicating critical fire weather conditions — is also in place across much of Northern California through Friday morning. The region could see winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph.
In light of the forecast and fire danger, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. began turning off power to more than 50,000 Northern California customers Wednesday evening.
The shutoffs affected portions of nearly two dozen counties, mostly in the Sierras and San Francisco Bay Area, and could last 48 hours, the utility said.
A second shutoff for around 700 customers was expected Thursday afternoon in far northern counties as winds were expected to arrive there.
Preemptive electricity cuts are a strategy aimed at preventing fires from being started by power lines that have been damaged or knocked down amid high winds. PG&E equipment sparked several massive blazes that destroyed tens of thousands of homes and killed more than 100 people since 2017.
“Once the weather subsides on Friday morning, PG&E will patrol and inspect the de-energized lines to ensure they were not damaged during the wind event and repair any damage found,” utility officials wrote in a statement. “PG&E will then safely restore power in stages and as quickly as possible, with the goal of restoring power to nearly all customers within 12 daylight hours after severe weather has passed.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-10-15--Officials fear Halloween could become super-spreader horror show as L.A. County coronavirus infectio

Officials fear Halloween could become super-spreader horror show as L.A. County coronavirus infections rise

With coronavirus infections again rising in Los Angeles County , officials are increasingly alarmed at the prospect of Halloween being another event where the virus could be spread .
State and local officials have urged residents to avoid trick-or-treating and traditional Halloween parties .
Here is what we know : What is the concern about Halloween ?
The last spike in coronavirus cases in California came during the summer holidays , beginning with Memorial Day as people got back to old routines after months in lockdown .
Officials are hoping not to repeat that surge with the winter holidays .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked residents to be creative in their Halloween celebrations and to avoid trick-or-treating .
“ Door-to-door trick-or-treating is not recommended as it makes social distancing nearly impossible , ” Garcetti said at his weekly news briefing .
“ And the same goes for what ’ s called trunk-or-treating , where children go from car to car instead of from house to house , since it ’ s difficult to avoid that very same crowding.
” Garcetti added that large Halloween parties , festivals , live entertainment and haunted house attractions were prohibited , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a father , I know how disappointing this is for our children.
” He suggested coming up with new traditions , such as a Halloween version of an Easter egg hunt .
Private gatherings had been prohibited by state rules .
Last week , state officials loosened those restrictions , allowing private parties that are outdoors and include no more than three households .
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the county would adopt the state guidelines , but warned that they are a “ slippery slope ” and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It was meant to address the limited number of times people may need to gather , ” she said , adding that regularly mixing with a broad spectrum of people is ill-advised .
What are officials doing ?
State and local officials are raising alarms — and issuing warnings .
On Monday , California health officials voiced concerns that it ’ s not possible to practice social distancing while trick-or-treating and said that Día de los Muertos and Halloween celebrations would lead to interactions with people from outside one ’ s household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and suggested that some Halloween activities , such as costume contests and pumpkin carving , move online .
They recommend that families go on a walk while dressed up but forgo stopping door-to-door for candy .
“ This is a recommendation , ” California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said Tuesday .
“ Does that mean that trick-or-treaters will see some enforcement ?
Absolutely not .
We don ’ t want to turn certainly what is a celebration and a time of joy into something that is difficult or contentious , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide a clear understanding of the risks and why we recommend strongly that we do Halloween differently than we have in the past.
” The state offered the following guidance : The safest way to celebrate Halloween is to spend time with people in the same household or to celebrate virtually .
Some specific alternatives that are low risk but still capture the holiday fun include : • Creating a haunted house or candy scavenger hunt in your home • Having a scary movie night and Halloween-themed activities ( pumpkin carving , face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outings where people do not leave their car , including drive-in events or contests or movies ; driving through an area with Halloween displays • Eating a Halloween-themed meal with your household ( or with up to two other households for a meal outside following all other gathering guidelines ) • Enjoying a Halloween-themed art installation at an outdoor museum with your household • Dressing up homes and yards with Halloween-themed decorations • Giving treats at home only to those in your household .
• Send a curated playlist and/or themed treats ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time .
• Prepare a Halloween basket for your children or Halloween hunt in your backyard The safest way to celebrate Día de los Muertos is to spend time with people in the same household or to celebrate virtually .
Some specific alternatives that are low risk but still capture the cultural celebration include : • Altars : Consider placing and creating your altar in a front window or outside so others can view from a safe social distance .
• Virtual altar : Create a virtual space to honor lost loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ via email or social media .
• Cemetery visits : If you visit the cemetery , only visit with those you live with , wear masks and maintain appropriate social distancing .
Limit time spent to minimum necessary .
The Beverly Hills City Council went a step further than the state guidelines Tuesday , prohibiting both house-to-house trick-or-treating and car-based trunk-or-treating on Oct. 31 .
More broadly , residents will be barred from giving out candy or other holiday treats to anyone outside their immediate household .
Scofflaws could be cited if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city .
Along with trick-or-treating , on others in public will also be banned in Beverly Hills on Halloween — unless the person doing the spraying is a licensed barber with a customer .
What do the L.A. County numbers show ?
California and Los Angeles County have enjoyed months of declining coronavirus cases following the summer spike .
Overall , the county ’ s projected transmission rate has crept past 1 to 1.05 , according to new modeling from L.A. County Health Services .
A rate of 1 means that an infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of one other person .
Beyond 1 , new cases would be expected to increase .
Three weeks ago , the transmission rate had been greater than 1 before dipping .
Now , the downward trend is reversing , with officials estimating that 1 in 650 residents are infected with the virus , compared with 1 in 950 last week .
As more businesses have reopened in L.A. County over the last two weeks , an increase in infections has been connected largely to worksite outbreaks of three or more cases , Ferrer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worksite outbreaks in the county from Sept. 20 through Oct. 4 — a 70 % jump from the 23 outbreaks reported in previous weeks .

Events such as West Hollywood’s annual Halloween Carnaval have been canceled this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
With coronavirus infections again rising in Los Angeles County, officials are increasingly alarmed at the prospect of Halloween being another event where the virus could be spread.
State and local officials have urged residents to avoid trick-or-treating and traditional Halloween parties. Here is what we know:
What is the concern about Halloween?
The last spike in coronavirus cases in California came during the summer holidays, beginning with Memorial Day as people got back to old routines after months in lockdown. Officials are hoping not to repeat that surge with the winter holidays.
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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday asked residents to be creative in their Halloween celebrations and to avoid trick-or-treating.
“Door-to-door trick-or-treating is not recommended as it makes social distancing nearly impossible,” Garcetti said at his weekly news briefing. “And the same goes for what’s called trunk-or-treating, where children go from car to car instead of from house to house, since it’s difficult to avoid that very same crowding.”
Garcetti added that large Halloween parties, festivals, live entertainment and haunted house attractions were prohibited, adding: “Believe me, as a father, I know how disappointing this is for our children.” He suggested coming up with new traditions, such as a Halloween version of an Easter egg hunt.
Private gatherings had been prohibited by state rules. Last week, state officials loosened those restrictions, allowing private parties that are outdoors and include no more than three households.
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the county would adopt the state guidelines, but warned that they are a “slippery slope” and that private gatherings should occur only sparingly.
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“It was meant to address the limited number of times people may need to gather,” she said, adding that regularly mixing with a broad spectrum of people is ill-advised.
California Beverly Hills bans trick-or-treating, citing coronavirus risks Beverly Hills’ decision came the same day state health officials released new guidelines advising Californians to skip trick-or-treating this year.
What are officials doing?
State and local officials are raising alarms — and issuing warnings.
On Monday, California health officials voiced concerns that it’s not possible to practice social distancing while trick-or-treating and said that Día de los Muertos and Halloween celebrations would lead to interactions with people from outside one’s household.
State officials are strongly discouraging trick-or-treating and suggested that some Halloween activities, such as costume contests and pumpkin carving, move online. They recommend that families go on a walk while dressed up but forgo stopping door-to-door for candy.
“This is a recommendation,” California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said Tuesday. “Does that mean that trick-or-treaters will see some enforcement? Absolutely not. We don’t want to turn certainly what is a celebration and a time of joy into something that is difficult or contentious, but we also recognize the need to provide a clear understanding of the risks and why we recommend strongly that we do Halloween differently than we have in the past.”
The state offered the following guidance:
Safer Alternatives for Halloween
The safest way to celebrate Halloween is to spend time with people in the same household or to celebrate virtually. Some specific alternatives that are low risk but still capture the holiday fun include:
Creating a haunted house or candy scavenger hunt in your home
Having a scary movie night and Halloween-themed activities (pumpkin carving, face painting) at home
Participating in online parties/contests (e.g. costume or pumpkin carvings)
Attending car-based outings where people do not leave their car, including drive-in events or contests or movies; driving through an area with Halloween displays
Eating a Halloween-themed meal with your household (or with up to two other households for a meal outside following all other gathering guidelines)
Enjoying a Halloween-themed art installation at an outdoor museum with your household
Dressing up homes and yards with Halloween-themed decorations
Giving treats at home only to those in your household.
Send a curated playlist and/or themed treats (or tricks) to your friends ahead of time.
Designing face masks that reflect your child/ren’s Halloween costumes
Prepare a Halloween basket for your children or Halloween hunt in your backyard
Safer Alternatives for Día de los Muertos
The safest way to celebrate Día de los Muertos is to spend time with people in the same household or to celebrate virtually. Some specific alternatives that are low risk but still capture the cultural celebration include:
Altars: Consider placing and creating your altar in a front window or outside so others can view from a safe social distance.
Virtual altar: Create a virtual space to honor lost loved ones. Share with family and friends via email or social media.
Cemetery visits: If you visit the cemetery, only visit with those you live with, wear masks and maintain appropriate social distancing. Limit time spent to minimum necessary.
Is trick-or-treating banned anywhere?
The Beverly Hills City Council went a step further than the state guidelines Tuesday, prohibiting both house-to-house trick-or-treating and car-based trunk-or-treating on Oct. 31.
More broadly, residents will be barred from giving out candy or other holiday treats to anyone outside their immediate household.
Scofflaws could be cited if they violate the restrictions, according to the city.
Along with trick-or-treating, spraying shaving cream on others in public will also be banned in Beverly Hills on Halloween — unless the person doing the spraying is a licensed barber with a customer.
What do the L.A. County numbers show?
California and Los Angeles County have enjoyed months of declining coronavirus cases following the summer spike.
Overall, the county’s projected transmission rate has crept past 1 to 1.05, according to new modeling from L.A. County Health Services. A rate of 1 means that an infected individual spreads the illness to an average of one other person. Beyond 1, new cases would be expected to increase.
Three weeks ago, the transmission rate had been greater than 1 before dipping. Now, the downward trend is reversing, with officials estimating that 1 in 650 residents are infected with the virus, compared with 1 in 950 last week.
As more businesses have reopened in L.A. County over the last two weeks, an increase in infections has been connected largely to worksite outbreaks of three or more cases, Ferrer said Wednesday.
There were 39 reported worksite outbreaks in the county from Sept. 20 through Oct. 4 — a 70% jump from the 23 outbreaks reported in previous weeks.


latimes--2020-10-15--Winds to worsen Southern California fire danger as record-breaking fall heat wave continues

A record-breaking fall heat wave and gusty Santa Ana winds will team up to heighten fire danger across a swath of Southern California this week , with officials saying the bone-dry , blustery conditions will make it easier for new blazes to both start and spread .
Given the foreboding forecast , the National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch covering the Santa Clarita Valley , Los Angeles and Ventura county mountains , mountains and coastal slopes of the San Bernardino and Santa Ana ranges , as well as areas of the Inland Empire below the Cajon Pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical late Thursday night through Friday afternoon , according to David Sweet , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
“ Around 9 , 10 a.m. , that ’ s when the Santa Ana winds will peak and provide that risk of rapid spread to fires because of wind , ” he said Thursday .
“ And then in the afternoon , we ’ re looking at low relative humidities — down to the single digits.
” Winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected , with gusts up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of that , much of southwestern California remains in the grip of a heat wave that has hiked temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above normal .
A heat advisory remains in effect for the region through Friday evening .
The current hot spell — the latest in a series of scorchers to smack California over recent months — has already rewritten the record books in some areas , according to the National Weather Service .
New daily highs were set Wednesday in Anaheim , at 96 degrees ; Big Bear , 79 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 ; Sandberg , 88 ; and at Santa Maria Airport , 102 .
And sweltering , parched and breezy conditions aren ’ t limited to the Southland .
Much of Northern California remains under a red flag warning — indicating critical fire weather conditions .
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is increasing staffing in light of the forecast .
“ Cal Fire is asking residents to ensure they are prepared if a wildfire strikes near them , ” department officials wrote in a statewide situation update Thursday .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the state over the next couple of days , fires in these areas can spread rapidly.
” There is some good news on the horizon , though .
Temperatures are expected to begin cooling over the weekend and continue to trend downward heading into next week , Sweet said .
“ By the middle of next week or so , temperatures may still be a little bit above normal , but much closer to normal , ” he said .
“ Hopefully , this extreme situation will be coming to a close.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be most beneficial to this year ’ s historically active and devastating fire season — rain — remains stubbornly out of the forecast in Southern California for the foreseeable future .
“ This is a critical time of year because any time we get to this season , it ’ s a race between the first rains and the Santa Ana winds , ” Sweet said .
“ And if the Santa Ana winds get here first , then we have the real fire danger .
If the rains get here first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the fire danger.
” For 2020 , he said , “ score one for Santa Anas .
”

Annalise Gehling, left, and Quincie Bean eat at Cafe Tropical in Silver Lake on Tuesday during unseasonably warm temperatures. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Gabriela Poole, left, celebrates her 21st birthday Tuesday with her friends under the shade of a tree in Kuns Park in La Verne. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Lisa Lungstrum relaxes with her dog, Dara, in the shade of a tree on a hot Tuesday in Memorial Park in Claremont. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
On a hot and sunny Tuesday, John Call finds shade under a tree to paint at Kuns Park in La Verne. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Jose Magana fishes Tuesday under the shade of a tree for largemouth bass at Centennial Regional Park in Santa Ana. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
A skateboarder executes a jump Tuesday while skating along the sidewalk near the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
People aboard a pedal boat Tuesday at the lake at Echo Park in Los Angeles, where unseasonably warm weather was on tap. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
A record-breaking fall heat wave and gusty Santa Ana winds will team up to heighten fire danger across a swath of Southern California this week, with officials saying the bone-dry, blustery conditions will make it easier for new blazes to both start and spread.
Given the foreboding forecast, the National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch covering the Santa Clarita Valley, Los Angeles and Ventura county mountains, mountains and coastal slopes of the San Bernardino and Santa Ana ranges, as well as areas of the Inland Empire below the Cajon Pass.
Conditions are expected to be most critical late Thursday night through Friday afternoon, according to David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
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“Around 9, 10 a.m., that’s when the Santa Ana winds will peak and provide that risk of rapid spread to fires because of wind,” he said Thursday. “And then in the afternoon, we’re looking at low relative humidities — down to the single digits.”
Winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts up to 45 mph, he said.
On top of that, much of southwestern California remains in the grip of a heat wave that has hiked temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above normal. A heat advisory remains in effect for the region through Friday evening.
The current hot spell — the latest in a series of scorchers to smack California over recent months — has already rewritten the record books in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.
New daily highs were set Wednesday in Anaheim, at 96 degrees; Big Bear, 79; Idyllwild, 87; Campo, 100; Sandberg, 88; and at Santa Maria Airport, 102.
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And sweltering, parched and breezy conditions aren’t limited to the Southland. Much of Northern California remains under a red flag warning — indicating critical fire weather conditions.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is increasing staffing in light of the forecast.
“Cal Fire is asking residents to ensure they are prepared if a wildfire strikes near them,” department officials wrote in a statewide situation update Thursday. “With red flag conditions in many parts of the state over the next couple of days, fires in these areas can spread rapidly.”
There is some good news on the horizon, though. Temperatures are expected to begin cooling over the weekend and continue to trend downward heading into next week, Sweet said.
“By the middle of next week or so, temperatures may still be a little bit above normal, but much closer to normal,” he said. “Hopefully, this extreme situation will be coming to a close.”
However, the one thing that would be most beneficial to this year’s historically active and devastating fire season — rain — remains stubbornly out of the forecast in Southern California for the foreseeable future.
“This is a critical time of year because any time we get to this season, it’s a race between the first rains and the Santa Ana winds,” Sweet said. “And if the Santa Ana winds get here first, then we have the real fire danger. If the rains get here first, that can help to cut down on the fire danger.”
For 2020, he said, “score one for Santa Anas.”


latimes--2020-10-15--Overnight shootings by LAPD end with 1 dead, 1 wounded, 7 arrested

Los Angeles police officers shot and killed a man Wednesday night and injured a woman in a separate incident early Thursday , authorities said .
In the first shooting , police said a man approached a group of people at a gas station and aimed a firearm at them before officers shot him .
Authorities said the woman injured in the second shooting also was armed with a firearm .
About four hours after the first shooting , which occurred at 10 p.m. in Southeast Los Angeles , seven people were arrested after a scuffle with police .
Officers said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police line and was detained , then six others tried to intervene to free her .
Police have not identified the two people shot by officers in the separate overnight incidents , and have provided few details about the circumstances of the shootings .
They also did not name the seven people who were arrested on suspicion of resisting , delaying or obstructing a police officer .
In the first shooting , according to police , patrol officers were traveling east on 111th Street near Figueroa Street in Southeast L.A. when they saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in the parking lot of a gas station and point a gun at the bystanders .
The officers “ stopped and gave the suspect commands , which he failed to comply with , ” police said .
They shot the man , who was pronounced dead at the scene .
At about 2:30 a.m. Thursday , police said a woman crossed a line of yellow police tape at the periphery of the scene .
When officers detained her , six other people crossed the tape “ and attempted to free the female @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggle with officers , police said .
During the struggle , authorities said one officer suffered a hand injury that required stitches .
In the second shooting , which occurred about 2:30 a.m. in the Winnetka area of the San Fernando Valley , officers responded to a radio call that said a woman was trespassing at a hotel in the 20100 block of Vanowen Street , police said .
At the scene , officers said they “ went to the room where the woman was said to be and found her there armed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot by police , suffering what officials described as an injury that was not life-threatening .
She was transported to an area hospital for treatment .
A firearm was recovered at the scene , police said .
Both shootings will be investigated by the department ’ s Force Investigation Division , as is standard in police shootings .

Officers gather at the site of an overnight shooting at a gas station in Southeast L.A.
Los Angeles police officers shot and killed a man Wednesday night and injured a woman in a separate incident early Thursday, authorities said.
In the first shooting, police said a man approached a group of people at a gas station and aimed a firearm at them before officers shot him. Authorities said the woman injured in the second shooting also was armed with a firearm.
About four hours after the first shooting, which occurred at 10 p.m. in Southeast Los Angeles, seven people were arrested after a scuffle with police. Officers said a “female protester” crossed a police line and was detained, then six others tried to intervene to free her.
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Police have not identified the two people shot by officers in the separate overnight incidents, and have provided few details about the circumstances of the shootings. They also did not name the seven people who were arrested on suspicion of resisting, delaying or obstructing a police officer.
In the first shooting, according to police, patrol officers were traveling east on 111th Street near Figueroa Street in Southeast L.A. when they saw a man approach a group of four people in the parking lot of a gas station and point a gun at the bystanders.
The officers “stopped and gave the suspect commands, which he failed to comply with,” police said. They shot the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
A firearm was recovered, authorities said.
At about 2:30 a.m. Thursday, police said a woman crossed a line of yellow police tape at the periphery of the scene. When officers detained her, six other people crossed the tape “and attempted to free the female from police custody,” prompting a struggle with officers, police said.
During the struggle, authorities said one officer suffered a hand injury that required stitches.
In the second shooting, which occurred about 2:30 a.m. in the Winnetka area of the San Fernando Valley, officers responded to a radio call that said a woman was trespassing at a hotel in the 20100 block of Vanowen Street, police said.
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At the scene, officers said they “went to the room where the woman was said to be and found her there armed with a handgun.”
The woman was shot by police, suffering what officials described as an injury that was not life-threatening. She was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
A firearm was recovered at the scene, police said.
Both shootings will be investigated by the department’s Force Investigation Division, as is standard in police shootings.
Times staff writer James Queally contributed to this report.