latimes--2020-02-14--UC audit prompted by scandal finds flaws with admissions process for athletes and artists

The University of California is rolling out additional reforms of its admissions process after finding significant problems in how campuses track decisions to admit athletes , artists and students who do not meet minimum UC eligibility requirements , according to a review released Friday .
The sweeping audit of UC ’ s nine undergraduate campuses , triggered by the national college admissions scandal , found two cases of possible impropriety .
One involves a student admitted as a recruited athlete who did not subsequently appear on the team roster .
The other involves how one campus administers its appeals process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases to the individual campuses for investigation , did not identify the universities in the report and did not provide additional details .
UC President Janet Napolitano told The Times she ordered the review as a proactive step to ensure the integrity of the nation ’ s leading public research university so that “ California can have confidence that students admitted to the University of California are admitted on merit and so that we can bolster our defenses against any kind of fraudulent activity or gaming the system .
“ Any student admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
The problems involve a small pool of students .
Those admitted by “ special exception ” amount to about 1.7 % of all students — 3,409 among 204,350 enrolled between fall 2017 and winter 2020 .
Napolitano said the regular admissions process for all others was “ pretty solid ” in equitably admitting students on merit .
Auditors found that no campus centrally monitored the admissions of students accepted for their special talents , such as athletics , music or art .
As a result , they could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students , document their exceptional characteristics or identify who reviewed or approved their cases .
At many campuses , oversight of student athletes also was inadequate , the review found .
UCLA and UC Berkeley require students who are admitted as athletes to participate on the team for at least a year .
Systemwide policy reforms last year extended that requirement to all campuses .
But the audit found that two campuses tracked practice logs at the team level but not by individual .
Another campus identified a student who remained listed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team .
UC admission requirements include a 3.0 GPA , the submission of SAT or ACT test scores and completion of prescribed coursework .
Those admitted without meeting those requirements could include students without access to the UC-required courses — international or homeschooled students , for instance — or who may not have the required test scores or grades but show academic promise .
Some slots are specifically reserved for underserved students .
Some students admitted for their special talents meet systemwide eligibility requirements while others do not .
The campus reviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audit of admission practices that Napolitano ordered last year in the wake of the national college admissions scandal , which roiled elite institutions across the nation , prompting pledges of reform amid widespread public outrage .
While campuses with problems were not identified by name in the review released Friday , all nine campuses have initiated separate audit reviews and will specify corrective actions by March , Napolitano told UC regents and campus chancellors in a letter this week .
“ Unethical and illegal means to gain admission will not be tolerated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible to prevent fraudulent activity , ” she wrote .
In the audit ’ s first phase , UC released a sweeping list of recommendations in June aimed at better policing of fraud and conflicts of interest in admitting students .
Those recommendations included stronger verification of claims on students ’ applications , reviews of potential links between donors and applicants , and stricter scrutiny of those admitted for special talents .
The second phase sought to take a deeper dive into campus admissions practices and provided additional recommendations .
All campuses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formalize the authority and responsibilities of campus committees charged with making admissions decisions .
All students admitted for their special talents must be identified and tracked and greater controls will be imposed to document any changes to student participation in athletic programs .
The greater oversight comes after Newport Beach college consultant William “ Rick ” Singer last year admitted to masterminding a brazen scheme in which he charged affluent parents huge sums to rig their children ’ s entrance exams or to outright buy their entrance into top-tier colleges by paying coaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has pleaded guilty to several felonies .
Federal prosecutors have charged more than 50 college administrators , coaches and parents in the sprawling scheme at schools across the country .
Two UC campuses — UCLA and UC Berkeley — were ensnared in the fallout .
UCLA men ’ s soccer coach Jorge Salcedo was indicted on charges of racketeering conspiracy for allegedly accepting $ 200,000 in bribes from Singer in exchange for helping two students gain admission to the school as soccer players , though they didn ’ t play the sport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resigned from his post .
At UC Berkeley , at least one student was admitted with fraudulent test scores , prosecutors allege .
David Sidoo , a Canadian businessman and former professional football player , is accused of paying Singer to fix entrance exams for his two sons .
The younger of the two , Jordan Sidoo , attended UC Berkeley .
David Sidoo , indicted on charges of fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy , has pleaded not guilty .
The trials for both men are pending .
In addition , The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that parents were pledging donations to its athletic program in exchange for their children being admitted to the university years before the current college admissions scandal .
UC prohibits the consideration of donations or family alumni , known as legacies , in admissions decisions .
One area of concern documented in the second audit involves verification of achievements claimed by all students on admissions applications , a task outsourced to a third-party contractor .
In a random sample of 25 of the 2,000 verifications performed during the audit period , auditors found insufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missing verification forms , verification of incorrect items and missed opportunities to request alternate documentation .
One applicant , for instance , provided a computer printout of her competition history for an equestrian association , but the document lacked a seal , statement on letterhead or signature of an association official that would authenticate the claim .
Napolitano said UC officials are giving the contractor “ extensive training ” and also have developed a new tool to allow them to centrally monitor the verification process .
Another problem area involves access to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ logged and can be changed .
The audit found several campuses did not periodically review who had access or consistently monitor user activity .
Auditors have recommended that campuses tighten up their practices .
“ The improvements that are being recommended and will be implemented will give just greater confidence that even those who are admitted by exception or into a special talent program are worthy of being admitted to the University of California , ” Napolitano said .

“Any student admitted through fraud is one too many,” said UC President Janet Napolitano. Above, students at UCLA.
The University of California is rolling out additional reforms of its admissions process after finding significant problems in how campuses track decisions to admit athletes, artists and students who do not meet minimum UC eligibility requirements, according to a review released Friday.
The sweeping audit of UC’s nine undergraduate campuses, triggered by the national college admissions scandal, found two cases of possible impropriety. One involves a student admitted as a recruited athlete who did not subsequently appear on the team roster. The other involves how one campus administers its appeals process for admissions decisions. Auditors referred both cases to the individual campuses for investigation, did not identify the universities in the report and did not provide additional details.
UC President Janet Napolitano told The Times she ordered the review as a proactive step to ensure the integrity of the nation’s leading public research university so that “California can have confidence that students admitted to the University of California are admitted on merit and so that we can bolster our defenses against any kind of fraudulent activity or gaming the system.
“Any student admitted through fraud is one too many,” she said.
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The problems involve a small pool of students. Those admitted by “special exception” amount to about 1.7% of all students — 3,409 among 204,350 enrolled between fall 2017 and winter 2020. Napolitano said the regular admissions process for all others was “pretty solid” in equitably admitting students on merit.
Auditors found that no campus centrally monitored the admissions of students accepted for their special talents, such as athletics, music or art. As a result, they could not fully identify the actual number of such students, document their exceptional characteristics or identify who reviewed or approved their cases.
At many campuses, oversight of student athletes also was inadequate, the review found. UCLA and UC Berkeley require students who are admitted as athletes to participate on the team for at least a year. Systemwide policy reforms last year extended that requirement to all campuses. But the audit found that two campuses tracked practice logs at the team level but not by individual. Another campus identified a student who remained listed on the participation records a month after leaving the team.
UC admission requirements include a 3.0 GPA, the submission of SAT or ACT test scores and completion of prescribed coursework. Those admitted without meeting those requirements could include students without access to the UC-required courses — international or homeschooled students, for instance — or who may not have the required test scores or grades but show academic promise. Some slots are specifically reserved for underserved students.
Some students admitted for their special talents meet systemwide eligibility requirements while others do not.
The campus reviews were the second phase of a systemwide audit of admission practices that Napolitano ordered last year in the wake of the national college admissions scandal, which roiled elite institutions across the nation, prompting pledges of reform amid widespread public outrage.
While campuses with problems were not identified by name in the review released Friday, all nine campuses have initiated separate audit reviews and will specify corrective actions by March, Napolitano told UC regents and campus chancellors in a letter this week.
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“Unethical and illegal means to gain admission will not be tolerated, and UC is committed to do everything possible to prevent fraudulent activity,” she wrote.
In the audit’s first phase, UC released a sweeping list of recommendations in June aimed at better policing of fraud and conflicts of interest in admitting students.
Those recommendations included stronger verification of claims on students’ applications, reviews of potential links between donors and applicants, and stricter scrutiny of those admitted for special talents.
The second phase sought to take a deeper dive into campus admissions practices and provided additional recommendations.
All campuses, for instance, will be required to formalize the authority and responsibilities of campus committees charged with making admissions decisions. All students admitted for their special talents must be identified and tracked and greater controls will be imposed to document any changes to student participation in athletic programs.
The greater oversight comes after Newport Beach college consultant William “Rick” Singer last year admitted to masterminding a brazen scheme in which he charged affluent parents huge sums to rig their children’s entrance exams or to outright buy their entrance into top-tier colleges by paying coaches to designate students as recruited athletes. He has pleaded guilty to several felonies.
Federal prosecutors have charged more than 50 college administrators, coaches and parents in the sprawling scheme at schools across the country. Two UC campuses — UCLA and UC Berkeley — were ensnared in the fallout.
UCLA men’s soccer coach Jorge Salcedo was indicted on charges of racketeering conspiracy for allegedly accepting $200,000 in bribes from Singer in exchange for helping two students gain admission to the school as soccer players, though they didn’t play the sport competitively. Salcedo pleaded not guilty and resigned from his post.
At UC Berkeley, at least one student was admitted with fraudulent test scores, prosecutors allege. David Sidoo, a Canadian businessman and former professional football player, is accused of paying Singer to fix entrance exams for his two sons. The younger of the two, Jordan Sidoo, attended UC Berkeley. David Sidoo, indicted on charges of fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, has pleaded not guilty.
The trials for both men are pending.
In addition, The Times found that UCLA knew of allegations that parents were pledging donations to its athletic program in exchange for their children being admitted to the university years before the current college admissions scandal. UC prohibits the consideration of donations or family alumni, known as legacies, in admissions decisions.
One area of concern documented in the second audit involves verification of achievements claimed by all students on admissions applications, a task outsourced to a third-party contractor. In a random sample of 25 of the 2,000 verifications performed during the audit period, auditors found insufficient documentation, lack of reviewer follow-up, missing verification forms, verification of incorrect items and missed opportunities to request alternate documentation.
One applicant, for instance, provided a computer printout of her competition history for an equestrian association, but the document lacked a seal, statement on letterhead or signature of an association official that would authenticate the claim.
Napolitano said UC officials are giving the contractor “extensive training” and also have developed a new tool to allow them to centrally monitor the verification process.
Another problem area involves access to the IT system, where admissions decisions are logged and can be changed. The audit found several campuses did not periodically review who had access or consistently monitor user activity. Auditors have recommended that campuses tighten up their practices.
“The improvements that are being recommended and will be implemented will give just greater confidence that even those who are admitted by exception or into a special talent program are worthy of being admitted to the University of California,” Napolitano said.


latimes--2020-02-17--There's a new Proposition 13. It would send billions to California schools that need it

Proposition 13 is the only measure on the March 3 state ballot — and its number is causing many voters to do double takes .
Maybe we should retire certain proposition numbers like professional sports teams retire their superstars ’ jersey numbers .
It would eliminate confusion .
The difference , however , is that the honored athletes are iconic heroes .
The celebrated propositions usually are loved by some and hated by others .
The original Proposition 13 is a prime example .
In 1978 , it substantially cut property taxes and became a national symbol of an anti-tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools and local governments of significant property tax revenue and forced much of their care and feeding onto state government .
The latest Proposition 13 is an eye-glazing $ 15-billion state bond issue for education facilities spanning prekindergarten through the university systems .
It has nothing to do with the original Proposition 13 — at least directly .
The measure warrants a “ yes ” vote on Super Tuesday , but don ’ t kid yourself : Unlike the original 13 , the latest version would ultimately result in higher property taxes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share of costs for school rehabilitation or new construction .
It ’ s inevitable .
The confusion with the original 13 is aggravated by the fact that a teachers union-promoted initiative is headed for the November state ballot that would directly increase property taxes on commercial and industrial properties .
It would be the first major amendment of the tax-cutting Proposition 13 .
Some voters have called the office of Assemblyman Patrick O ’ Donnell ( D-Long Beach ) , a coauthor of the new 13 , accusing the state of lying about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it repeals the original .
Actually , the new 13 would provide $ 9 billion in bond money for K-12 schools and $ 2 billion each for community colleges , state universities and the University of California .
Of the K-12 money , $ 5.2 billion would be for modernization , $ 2.8 billion for new construction , $ 500 million for charter schools and $ 500 million for career tech ( what we used to call “ shop ” ) .
The modernization would include improving earthquake and fire safety and removing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the money could be spent for preschool facilities .
Universities would need to develop a plan for students ’ affordable housing .
The way it currently works for K-12 schools is that the state pays for 60 % of renovation and 50 % of new construction .
Schools pay for the rest , mostly with local property taxes and some developer fees .
School districts apply for state bond money .
And it ’ s first come , first served .
All that would significantly change under the ballot measure — largely because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s lobbying .
He hated the current system , arguing it favored wealthier school districts that could quickly apply for the state money .
When he was governor in 2016 , Brown opposed a $ 9-billion bond issue for K-12 schools and community colleges because , he claimed , it was “ a blunderbuss effort that promotes sprawl and squanders money that would be far better spent in low-income communities.
” The measure passed anyway .
Under the new proposal , the state would pay for up to 65 % of renovation costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The highest amounts would go to districts with the least ability to raise their own funds and with large numbers of students who are from low-income families or are English learners .
First come , first served would be scrubbed and replaced with a system that graded applicants based on a priority list .
The highest priority would be projects needed to improve students ’ health and safety .
Another priority — predictable from a government controlled by Democrats— would be construction projects using unionized labor .
Also , developer fees would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as apartments — located within half a mile of a major transit stop .
For multifamily developments that aren ’ t near transit , fees would be reduced by 20 % .
These fees currently can amount to half of some projects ’ construction costs .
Another significant change that is potentially costly to taxpayers : The cap on the amount of local bonds that districts could issue would be nearly doubled .
There are good reasons to vote “ yes.
” Sure , K-12 enrollment is declining overall , but not everywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money is targeted for modernization .
“ When kids walk into a school that ’ s clean and well kept , it sets the tone for the school day , ” says O ’ Donnell , who taught high school social studies for 23 years .
Sen. Steve Glazer ( D-Orinda ) , the other coauthor and a former CSU board member , says the state universities and UC each need $ 8 billion in capital outlay improvements .
They ’ d get $ 2 billion apiece from Proposition 13 .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money , the only alternative is to raise tuition , ” Glazer says .
And there are rational reasons for voting “ no.
” Interest on the bonds would cost $ 11 billion , bringing the total tab to $ 26 billion .
Paying off the bonds would increase state spending by $ 740 million annually for 35 years .
The state already is spending $ 6 billion a year to retire about $ 80 billion in various bonds .
“ This is the largest school bond ever proposed , ” says Jon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taxpayers Assn.
, the leading opponent .
“ The most critical rehabilitation needs can easily be handled with existing revenues when the state is running a surplus .
“ But in all honesty , we anticipate it will pass.
” The opposition isn ’ t spending any money .
And the backers — teacher unions , developers and construction unions — have raised $ 8.5 million for advertising .
This is a good Proposition 13 .
These are public facilities .
And the only way to hold them together or expand for growth @ @ @ @ @

The new Proposition 13 on the March 3 ballot would provide $9 billion in bond money for K-12 schools and $2 billion each for community colleges, state universities and the University of California. Above, the UCLA campus.
Proposition 13 is the only measure on the March 3 state ballot — and its number is causing many voters to do double takes.
Maybe we should retire certain proposition numbers like professional sports teams retire their superstars’ jersey numbers. It would eliminate confusion.
The difference, however, is that the honored athletes are iconic heroes. The celebrated propositions usually are loved by some and hated by others.
Advertisement
The original Proposition 13 is a prime example. In 1978, it substantially cut property taxes and became a national symbol of an anti-tax revolt. But it also stripped K-12 schools and local governments of significant property tax revenue and forced much of their care and feeding onto state government.
The latest Proposition 13 is an eye-glazing $15-billion state bond issue for education facilities spanning prekindergarten through the university systems. It has nothing to do with the original Proposition 13 — at least directly.
The measure warrants a “yes” vote on Super Tuesday, but don’t kid yourself: Unlike the original 13, the latest version would ultimately result in higher property taxes in many communities to pay for the local share of costs for school rehabilitation or new construction. It’s inevitable.
The confusion with the original 13 is aggravated by the fact that a teachers union-promoted initiative is headed for the November state ballot that would directly increase property taxes on commercial and industrial properties. It would be the first major amendment of the tax-cutting Proposition 13.
Some voters have called the office of Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), a coauthor of the new 13, accusing the state of lying about the proposition because they’ve heard it repeals the original.
Actually, the new 13 would provide $9 billion in bond money for K-12 schools and $2 billion each for community colleges, state universities and the University of California.
Advertisement
Of the K-12 money, $5.2 billion would be for modernization, $2.8 billion for new construction, $500 million for charter schools and $500 million for career tech (what we used to call “shop”).
The modernization would include improving earthquake and fire safety and removing lead from drinking water. Some of the money could be spent for preschool facilities. Universities would need to develop a plan for students’ affordable housing.
The way it currently works for K-12 schools is that the state pays for 60% of renovation and 50% of new construction. Schools pay for the rest, mostly with local property taxes and some developer fees. School districts apply for state bond money. And it’s first come, first served.
All that would significantly change under the ballot measure — largely because of former Gov. Jerry Brown’s lobbying. He hated the current system, arguing it favored wealthier school districts that could quickly apply for the state money.
When he was governor in 2016, Brown opposed a $9-billion bond issue for K-12 schools and community colleges because, he claimed, it was “a blunderbuss effort that promotes sprawl and squanders money that would be far better spent in low-income communities.” The measure passed anyway.
Under the new proposal, the state would pay for up to 65% of renovation costs and 55% of new construction. The highest amounts would go to districts with the least ability to raise their own funds and with large numbers of students who are from low-income families or are English learners.
First come, first served would be scrubbed and replaced with a system that graded applicants based on a priority list. The highest priority would be projects needed to improve students’ health and safety. Another priority — predictable from a government controlled by Democrats— would be construction projects using unionized labor.
Also, developer fees would be banned for multifamily residential complexes — such as apartments — located within half a mile of a major transit stop. For multifamily developments that aren’t near transit, fees would be reduced by 20%. These fees currently can amount to half of some projects’ construction costs.
Another significant change that is potentially costly to taxpayers: The cap on the amount of local bonds that districts could issue would be nearly doubled.
There are good reasons to vote “yes.”
Sure, K-12 enrollment is declining overall, but not everywhere. Anyway, most of the bond money is targeted for modernization.
“When kids walk into a school that’s clean and well kept, it sets the tone for the school day,” says O’Donnell, who taught high school social studies for 23 years.
Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda), the other coauthor and a former CSU board member, says the state universities and UC each need $8 billion in capital outlay improvements. They’d get $2 billion apiece from Proposition 13.
“If the state doesn’t provide the money, the only alternative is to raise tuition,” Glazer says.
And there are rational reasons for voting “no.”
Interest on the bonds would cost $11 billion, bringing the total tab to $26 billion. Paying off the bonds would increase state spending by $740 million annually for 35 years. The state already is spending $6 billion a year to retire about $80 billion in various bonds.
“This is the largest school bond ever proposed,” says Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., the leading opponent. “The most critical rehabilitation needs can easily be handled with existing revenues when the state is running a surplus.
“But in all honesty, we anticipate it will pass.”
The opposition isn’t spending any money. And the backers — teacher unions, developers and construction unions — have raised $8.5 million for advertising.
This is a good Proposition 13. These are public facilities. And the only way to hold them together or expand for growth is with public money.


latimes--2020-02-16--Family therapist Amie Harwick killed in Hollywood Hills, police say

Amie Harwick , a well-known family therapist , was killed Saturday at her Hollywood Hills home by a former boyfriend , authorities said .
The Los Angeles Police Department on Saturday afternoon arrested Gareth Pursehouse , 41 , of Playa del Rey on suspicion of murder in Harwick ’ s death , according to a release from the agency .
He is being held on $ 2-million bail , according to county jail records .
LAPD officers responded about 1:16 a.m. to a call of a woman screaming in the 2000 block of Mound Street .
When officers arrived , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the street .
He informed officers that Harwick was being assaulted in her home .
The roommate had jumped a wall and went to neighboring residences to call for help .
When officers got to the home , they found the victim on the ground beneath a third-story balcony , gravely injured in a manner consistent with a fall , police said .
The Los Angeles Fire Department took Harwick to a hospital , where she later died from her injuries , police said .
LAPD investigators found possible evidence of a struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residence .
A canvass of the area found further evidence of an intruder entering the property and leaving after the incident .
Detectives learned that Harwick had recently expressed fear about a former boyfriend and had filed a restraining order against him .
The restraining order had expired , and the victim had seen the former boyfriend two weeks ago .
On Saturday afternoon , an FBI-LAPD Fugitive Task Force arrested Pursehouse outside a residence in the 8100 block of Cabora Drive in Playa del Rey .
Harwick was previously engaged to TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 documentary “ Addicted to Sexting .
”

Amie Harwick, a well-known family therapist, was killed Saturday at her Hollywood Hills home by a former boyfriend, authorities said.
The Los Angeles Police Department on Saturday afternoon arrested Gareth Pursehouse, 41, of Playa del Rey on suspicion of murder in Harwick’s death, according to a release from the agency. He is being held on $2-million bail, according to county jail records.
Harwick was previously engaged to TV star Drew Carey, and the therapist appeared in the 2015 documentary “Addicted to Sexting.”
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LAPD officers responded about 1:16 a.m. to a call of a woman screaming in the 2000 block of Mound Street. When officers arrived, they were met by her roommate in the street. He informed officers that Harwick was being assaulted in her home. The roommate had jumped a wall and went to neighboring residences to call for help.
When officers got to the home, they found the victim on the ground beneath a third-story balcony, gravely injured in a manner consistent with a fall, police said. The Los Angeles Fire Department took Harwick to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries, police said.
LAPD investigators found possible evidence of a struggle as well as forced entry to the residence. A canvass of the area found further evidence of an intruder entering the property and leaving after the incident.
Detectives learned that Harwick had recently expressed fear about a former boyfriend and had filed a restraining order against him. The restraining order had expired, and the victim had seen the former boyfriend two weeks ago.
On Saturday afternoon, an FBI-LAPD Fugitive Task Force arrested Pursehouse outside a residence in the 8100 block of Cabora Drive in Playa del Rey.


latimes--2020-02-17--14 Americans test positive for coronavirus as U.S. evacuates cruise passengers

U.S. officials said early Monday that 14 American passengers evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan had tested positive for the new coronavirus , but were allowed on flights to military bases in California and Texas .
The State Department chartered the flights to transport more than 300 U.S. citizens from the ship , which had been docked off Yokohama since Feb. 3 .
The passengers landed Monday at Travis Air Force Base in Solano County , although some will continue on to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland .
All will face a 14-day quarantine on the bases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two to three days before the evacuation but officials received notice of the positive results after they had left the ship for the airport , the U.S .
Departments of State and Health and Human Services said in a joint statement .
The passengers did not display symptoms , the statement added .
They were isolated in a specialized containment area on the aircraft .
All passengers were to be closely monitored by medical personnel during the flights and moved to the containment area if they showed symptoms , officials said .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be housed separately from the 234 people already quarantined there after arriving on previous evacuation flights that landed Feb. 5 and Feb. 7 , officials said .
The Diamond Princess set sail Jan. 20 and was placed under quarantine by Japanese officials on Feb. 5 after a passenger who departed the cruise ship in Hong Kong tested positive for the coronavirus .
“ We understand this is frustrating and an adjustment , but these measures are consistent with the careful policies we have instituted to limit the potential spread of the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a letter sent to cruise ship passengers Saturday .
So far , no positive coronavirus results have been reported among those quarantined earlier at Travis ; one case has been reported among those quarantined at Lackland .
The virus has killed more than 1,700 people and infected more than 71,000 since it was discovered in Wuhan , China , in late December .
Travis is one of three military bases in California that the Defense Department has designated as a site to house returning coronavirus evacuees .
The others are Marine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County , where 232 people are currently quarantined , and March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County .
About 195 people were permitted to leave from there on Tuesday after finishing a 14-day quarantine .
The move to transport the American cruise ship passengers came as the number of coronavirus cases aboard the Diamond Princess continued to grow over the weekend , with 67 new diagnoses on Saturday , and the U.S. government issued a recommendation that all American passengers and crew members leave .
“ We are deeply grateful to the cruise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diligently to contain and control the spread of the illness , ” the letter from the U.S. Embassy said .
“ However , to fulfill our government ’ s responsibilities to U.S. citizens under our rules and practices , as well as to reduce the burden on the Japanese healthcare system , the U.S. government recommends , out of an abundance of caution , that U.S. citizens disembark and return to the United States for further monitoring.
” The 3,700 passengers and crew members aboard the Diamond Princess include two Santa Clarita residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeri Seratti-Goldman .
The couple own the radio station KHTS and have been documenting their experiences in a diary on the station ’ s website .
Many of the posts have been lighthearted , but on Saturday , Carl Goldman wrote that one of their traveling companions had been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus .
The woman , Jerri Jorgenson , and her husband , Mark , were confined to the cabin adjoining the Goldmans ’ , and the two couples had unlocked a partition separating their balconies so they could move freely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quarantine , Carl Goldman wrote .
“ Last night , after watching a movie , all four of us took our temperatures .
Jerri had a fever , ” he wrote .
“ In the morning , she still had a fever .
As Mark and Jerri were getting ready to call the ship ’ s hospital , Japanese health officials knocked on their door .
They were dressed in hazmat suits.
” He said that they handed Mark Jorgenson a letter saying that his wife had tested positive for the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pack a small bag .
She was taken by ambulance to a hospital about four hours away in Fukushima , where her husband was not permitted to join her , Goldman wrote .
Goldman , his wife and Mark Jorgenson were planning to fly back to the U.S. on one of the evacuation flights and undergo a second quarantine at one of the military bases , Goldman wrote .
“ We are unclear what tomorrow will bring , ” he wrote .
“ We are shaken and devastated that we have been removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the COVID-19 virus continues to pose a low risk to the general American public .
Just 15 cases had been diagnosed in the U.S. : eight in California , two in Illinois , and one each in Arizona , Massachusetts , Texas , Washington and Wisconsin .
All of the patients had either recently traveled to mainland China or , in two cases , had close contact with someone who did .
At least three of the cases were among people who had recently arrived on an evacuation flight from Wuhan .

U.S. officials said early Monday that 14 Americans evacuated from the Diamond Princess in Japan had contracted the new coronavirus.
U.S. officials said early Monday that 14 American passengers evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan had tested positive for the new coronavirus, but were allowed on flights to military bases in California and Texas.
The State Department chartered the flights to transport more than 300 U.S. citizens from the ship, which had been docked off Yokohama since Feb. 3. The passengers landed Monday at Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, although some will continue on to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. All will face a 14-day quarantine on the bases.
The 14 infected passengers had been tested two to three days before the evacuation but officials received notice of the positive results after they had left the ship for the airport, the U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services said in a joint statement.
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The passengers did not display symptoms, the statement added. They were isolated in a specialized containment area on the aircraft. All passengers were to be closely monitored by medical personnel during the flights and moved to the containment area if they showed symptoms, officials said.
Those who stay at Travis Air Force Base will be housed separately from the 234 people already quarantined there after arriving on previous evacuation flights that landed Feb. 5 and Feb. 7, officials said.
California Amid coronavirus threat, study abroad programs in China canceled Students, faculty and program staff across the U.S. have scrambled to find study alternatives at the last minute amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The Diamond Princess set sail Jan. 20 and was placed under quarantine by Japanese officials on Feb. 5 after a passenger who departed the cruise ship in Hong Kong tested positive for the coronavirus.
“We understand this is frustrating and an adjustment, but these measures are consistent with the careful policies we have instituted to limit the potential spread of the disease,” the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said in a letter sent to cruise ship passengers Saturday.
So far, no positive coronavirus results have been reported among those quarantined earlier at Travis; one case has been reported among those quarantined at Lackland. The virus has killed more than 1,800 people and infected more than 73,000 since it was discovered in Wuhan, China, in late December.
Travis is one of three military bases in California that the Defense Department has designated as a site to house returning coronavirus evacuees. The others are Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego County, where 232 people are currently quarantined, and March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County. About 195 people were permitted to leave from there on Tuesday after completing a 14-day quarantine.
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The move to transport the American cruise ship passengers came as the number of coronavirus cases aboard the Diamond Princess continued to grow over the weekend, with 67 new diagnoses on Saturday, and the U.S. government issued a recommendation that all American passengers and crew members leave.
“We are deeply grateful to the cruise line and government of Japan for working diligently to contain and control the spread of the illness,” the letter from the U.S. Embassy said. “However, to fulfill our government’s responsibilities to U.S. citizens under our rules and practices, as well as to reduce the burden on the Japanese healthcare system, the U.S. government recommends, out of an abundance of caution, that U.S. citizens disembark and return to the United States for further monitoring.”
The 3,700 passengers and crew members aboard the Diamond Princess include two Santa Clarita residents, Carl Goldman and his wife, Jeri Seratti Goldman. The couple own the radio station KHTS and have been documenting their experiences in a diary on the station’s website.
Many of the posts have been lighthearted, but on Saturday, Carl Goldman wrote that one of their traveling companions had been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus.
“It’s a sad day aboard the Diamond Princess,” he wrote. “No joking today.”
The woman, Jerri Jorgenson, and her husband, Mark, were confined to the cabin adjoining the Goldmans’, and the two couples had unlocked a partition separating their balconies so they could move freely back and forth between the units during the quarantine, Carl Goldman wrote.
“Last night, after watching a movie, all four of us took our temperatures. Jerri had a fever,” he wrote. “In the morning, she still had a fever. As Mark and Jerri were getting ready to call the ship’s hospital, Japanese health officials knocked on their door. They were dressed in hazmat suits.”
He said that they handed Mark Jorgenson a letter saying that his wife had tested positive for the virus and said she had one hour to pack a small bag. She was taken by ambulance to a hospital about four hours away in Fukushima, where her husband was not permitted to join her, Goldman wrote.
Goldman, his wife and Mark Jorgenson were planning to fly back to the U.S. on one of the evacuation flights and undergo a second quarantine at one of the military bases, Goldman wrote.
“We are unclear what tomorrow will bring,” he wrote. “We are shaken and devastated that we have been removed from our friend.”
Health officials say that the COVID-19 virus continues to pose a low risk to the general American public. Just 15 cases had been diagnosed in the U.S.: eight in California, two in Illinois, and one each in Arizona, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. All of the patients had either recently traveled to mainland China or, in two cases, had close contact with someone who did. At least three of the cases were among people who had recently arrived on an evacuation flight from Wuhan.


latimes--2020-02-17--Bernie Sanders continues attacks on Michael Bloomberg in Bay Area rally

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders continued his attacks on rival Michael Bloomberg , accusing the billionaire of trying to buy the election and calling him out for past positions .
“ Mr .
Bloomberg , like anybody else , has a right to run for president , ” Sanders said at a Bay Area rally on Monday .
“ He does not have a right to buy the presidency .
Especially after being mayor of New York and having a racist stop and frisk policy.
” Sanders ’ message went over well with supporters gathered in the former home of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working class city where the median household income is $ 55,102 and the majority residents are black or Latino .
“ I would not vote for Bloomberg , ” said Clarissa Katko , a student at Diablo Valley College said .
“ I ’ m tired of the Democratic Party compromising their ideals just for the sake of appearing moderate .
It ’ s not helping the climate .
It ’ s not helping students , it ’ s not helping minorities or LGBTQ people.
” The Craneway Pavilion venue , which holds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally ahead of California ’ s March 3 primary .
California is likely to be particularly friendly territory for Sanders when the votes are counted , given its diverse and liberal electorate ; he is especially popular with Latinos and young people .
He urged supporters who are independents to register as Democrats or ask for a Democratic ballot .
“ This is the most consequential election in our history… and on Super Tuesday , California is voting , ” Sanders said .
“ And I don ’ t have to tell any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state in this country .
You have the most delegates in the Democratic National Convention .
And the candidate who wins here in California stands a pretty good chance of [ becoming ] the president of the nation.
” Razvan Mihalache , a student at Diablo Valley College who will be voting for the first time in a presidential election , said Sanders has the “ most consistent record ” of any of the candidates .
“ He ’ s actually the candidate who ’ s going to fight for this stuff whereas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to back off of these policies .
” John Myles , a lifetime Richmond resident , said the crowd was not an accurate reflection of the largely black and Latino population of his hometown .
But he said it was “ huge ” that the campaign held the rally at the plant that once employed many of the families in the city .
“ It exemplifies that he ’ s the candidate that actually is promoting the working class , ” said Myles , whose grandparents worked at the plant where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the street from the rally .
Myles said he believed the nation often discounted and forgot about the working class .
He also said he felt Sanders was the only real option for black voters .
“ We always get the same kind of person that says , well , let me be president and I ’ ll give you more status quo BS , ” he said .
Sanders ’ appearance in California , instead of in neighboring state of Nevada , where the primary ’ s next contest is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be part of a farther-looking bid to boost support in the more delegate-rich states that hold in-person voting on March 3 .
His other appearances have included stops in North Carolina , Texas and Colorado .
The latest UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll , conducted for the Los Angeles Times and released in late January , had Sanders leading the Democratic field with 26 % support , with Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts with 20 % and former Vice President Joe Biden with 15 % .
That was before Sanders ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s early contests and Warren and Biden ’ s disappointing finishes .
Times staff writer Matt Pearce contributed to this report from Las Vegas .

Tensions between Bernie Sanders and Michael R. Bloomberg took on a nasty edge Monday as each sought to establish a dominant position in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Sanders continued his attacks at a rally in the Bay Area. After denouncing Bloomberg’s “racist” policy of having New York police stop and frisk young minority men, he told the exuberant crowd in Richmond: “Imagine a multibillionaire opposing a raise in the minimum wage. Imagine a multibillionaire asking for cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.”
Sanders, the favorite candidate of progressive Democrats, has sought to highlight Bloomberg’s status as one of America’s richest men as he denounces what he sees as a corrupt political system that favors the wealthy and the corporate elite.
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He also has sought to undercut Bloomberg, a former Republican, by reminding Democrats of the more conservative stands he took during his 12 years as New York mayor. On Monday afternoon, Sanders tweeted a photo of Bloomberg with Trump on a golf outing.
Bloomberg now supports an increase in the federal minimum wage, as well as a rise in Social Security benefits pegged to inflation and an expansion of healthcare services covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
His advisors denounced a series of tweets by Sanders advisors calling Bloomberg a racist authoritarian oligarch over the last couple weeks. “In the face of the most consequential election of our lifetimes, it is unfortunate that we are even talking about such slanderous attacks from other Democrats,” Bloomberg’s campaign said in a statement.
Bloomberg also released a video featuring vulgar online attacks by Sanders supporters, described as “Bernie Bros,” targeting critics of the Vermont senator. The former New York mayor also took exception to Sanders’ statement that Bloomberg could not create the excitement and energy needed to oust President Trump.
“We need to unite to defeat Trump in November,” Bloomberg wrote in a tweet linking to the video. “This type of ‘energy’ is not going to get us there.”
We need to unite to defeat Trump in November. This type of "energy" is not going to get us there. https://t.co/bPuUZMs2d6 pic.twitter.com/Tdp6mpWjcX — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 17, 2020
David Sirota, a senior Sanders communications advisor, wrote on Twitter that Bloomberg’s shots at Sanders “can be best understood as the enraged temper tantrum of a billionaire who has up until now been able to buy everything he wants — but who is now worried he may not be able to buy the presidency, and so he’s lashing out in an effort to silence critics.”
At the rally in Richmond, held in a pavilion that was once a Ford assembly plant, Sanders lashed back.
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“Mr. Bloomberg, like anybody else, has a right to run for president,” Sanders said. “He does not have a right to buy the presidency.”
Sanders’ message went over well with supporters in the working-class city where the median household income is about $65,000, according to U.S. census data, and the majority of residents are black or Latino.
“I would not vote for Bloomberg,” said Clarissa Katko, a student at Diablo Valley College. “I’m tired of the Democratic Party compromising their ideals just for the sake of appearing moderate. It’s not helping the climate. It’s not helping students. It’s not helping minorities or LGBTQ people.”
The 45,000-square-foot Craneway Pavilion overflowed for the get-out-the-vote rally ahead of California’s March 3 primary and following Sanders’ win in last week’s New Hampshire primary. Chants of “I believe that we can win” and “Si, se puede” filled the pavilion.
California is likely to be particularly friendly territory for Sanders when the votes are counted, given its diverse and liberal electorate; he is especially popular with Latinos and young people. He urged supporters who are independents to register as Democrats or ask for a Democratic ballot.
“This is the most consequential election in our history … and on Super Tuesday, California is voting,” Sanders said. “And I don’t have to tell any of you, you are the largest state in this country. You have the most delegates in the Democratic National Convention. And the candidate who wins here in California stands a pretty good chance of [becoming] the president of the nation.”
Razvan Mihalache, a student at Diablo Valley College who will be voting for the first time in a presidential election, said Sanders had the “most consistent record” of any of the candidates. “He’s actually the candidate who’s going to fight for this stuff, whereas other candidates are lukewarm on it and are going to back off of these policies.”
John Myles, a lifetime Richmond resident, said the crowd was not an accurate reflection of the largely black and Latino population of his hometown. But he said it was “huge” that the campaign held the rally at the plant that once employed many of the families in the city.
Politics Who is the Democratic candidate for president? The field is down to Joe Biden now that Bernie Sanders ended his presidential campaign. Here is the Democrat heading for a battle with President Trump.
“It exemplifies that he’s the candidate that actually is promoting the working class,” said Myles, whose grandparents worked at the plant where in the 1940s Ford assembled military vehicles down the street from the rally. Myles said he believed the nation often discounted and forgot about the working class. He also said he felt Sanders was the only real option for black voters.
“We always get the same kind of person that says, well, let me be president and I’ll give you more status quo BS,” he said.
Sanders’ appearance in California, instead of in Nevada, where the race’s next contest is to be held on Saturday, appears to be part of a farther-looking bid to boost support in the more delegate-rich states that hold in-person voting March 3. His other appearances have included stops in North Carolina, Texas and Colorado.
Bloomberg, who entered the presidential race late and skipped the four early-voting states, is making his first real stand in Super Tuesday contests on March 3. He has spent more than $124 million on television and radio ads in the 14 states that hold primaries that day and millions more on ground operations.
Bhuiyan reported from Richmond and Finnegan from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Matt Pearce in Las Vegas contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-17--Man killed in officer-involved shooting in Long Beach

Authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of a man whom police were chasing on foot .
The shooting happened at about 10:10 p.m. Sunday , in the area of East Rhea Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Long Beach .
Officers had tried to stop a man on a bicycle for a vehicle code violation , police said .
The man immediately fled on foot and a chase began , according to the Long Beach Police Department .
“ After several deescalation attempts by the officers , the suspect continued to be uncooperative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
After officers deployed an electrical shock weapon , the department said , the suspect “ then brandished a firearm toward one of the officers .
Officers indicated at least one shot was fired by the suspect , and an officer-involved shooting occurred.
” The police rendered aid to the man until paramedics arrived .
He was taken to a hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
Officials with the Los Angeles County coroner ’ s office are working on identifying the man , whose age was not released .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a silver semiautomatic handgun with a black handle , according to a photo released by authorities .
No officers were injured .
They were in the area Sunday night as part of an ongoing task force effort to curb crime in Long Beach , police said .
The department said it is conducting a “ multilevel review ” of the officer-involved shooting .
“ The Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office will conduct an independent investigation of the incident , as they do with all officer-involved shootings that result in injury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is asked to contact Long Beach Homicide Dets .
Oscar Valenzuela and Eric Thai at ( 562 ) 570-7244 .
Those wishing to remain anonymous may call ( 800 ) 222-TIPS ( 8477 ) or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org .

Authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of a man whom police were chasing on foot.
The shooting happened at about 10:10 p.m. Sunday, in the area of East Rhea Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Long Beach. Officers had tried to stop a man on a bicycle for a vehicle code violation, police said.
The man immediately fled on foot and a chase began, according to the Long Beach Police Department. “After several deescalation attempts by the officers, the suspect continued to be uncooperative, ” the department said in a statement.
After officers deployed an electrical shock weapon, the department said, the suspect “then brandished a firearm toward one of the officers. Officers indicated at least one shot was fired by the suspect, and an officer-involved shooting occurred.”
The police rendered aid to the man until paramedics arrived. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Officials with the Los Angeles County coroner’s office are working on identifying the man, whose age was not released. A gun was located at the scene — a silver semiautomatic handgun with a black handle, according to a photo released by authorities.
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No officers were injured. They were in the area Sunday night as part of an ongoing task force effort to curb crime in Long Beach, police said.
The department said it is conducting a “multilevel review” of the officer-involved shooting. “The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office will conduct an independent investigation of the incident, as they do with all officer-involved shootings that result in injury or death.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Long Beach Homicide Dets. Oscar Valenzuela and Eric Thai at (562) 570-7244. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org.


latimes--2020-02-17--Slain Hollywood therapist had twice sought restraining order against ex-boyfriend

The well-known therapist and author fatally attacked at her Hollywood Hills home this weekend had twice sought restraining orders against the former boyfriend arrested on suspicion of her murder .
Amie Harwick applied for orders of protection against Gareth Pursehouse in 2011 and 2012 , electronic dockets from Los Angeles Superior Court show .
Police investigating her death early Saturday morning said a restraining order barring him from contact with her had expired .
She had seen Pursehouse , 41 , two weeks ago and recently expressed fear of him , police said .
Harwick , 38 , was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2014 book “ The New Sex Bible for Women ” and was once engaged to comedian and “ Price Is Right ” host Drew Carey .
In a statement Monday afternoon , Carey described himself as “ overcome with grief.
” “ Amie and I had a love that people are lucky to have once in a lifetime , ” he said .
The pair ended their engagement in 2018 .
“ She was a positive force in the world , a tireless and unapologetic champion for women , and passionate about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records show that Harwick obtained a temporary restraining order against Pursehouse in June 2011 but apparently did not show up for a hearing the following month .
A judge in Van Nuys dismissed the order because of “ lack of prosecution , ” the docket states .
Nine months later , Harwick went back to the same courthouse and got another temporary restraining order .
In an April 2012 hearing on whether to extend the protective order , she and Pursehouse both gave evidence , and the judge granted her request for protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led her to seek the restraining orders and the terms of those orders were not disclosed in the dockets , and the files were not available Monday because of the Presidents Day holiday .
Police were summoned to Harwick ’ s residence early Saturday morning following reports of a woman screaming .
Officers found her unconscious and mortally wounded under a third-floor balcony with injuries consistent with a fall .
Her roommate , who met arriving officers in the street , said Harwick was attacked in the home and he had narrowly escaped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a news release , the LAPD said investigators searching for clues in Harwick ’ s home found “ possible evidence of a struggle in the upstairs as well as forced entry to the residence.
” “ A canvass of the area located further evidence of an intruder ( suspect ) entering the property and leaving after the murder , ” police said .
Pursehouse was taken into custody by an FBI-LAPD fugitive task force in Playa del Rey on Saturday afternoon .
He is being held on $ 2-million bail , @ @ @ @ @

Amie Harwick at the Rock to Recovery benefit at the Fonda Theatre in 2016.
In the years after she left a toxic relationship with a freelance photographer, Amie Harwick thrived. She earned a doctorate in human sexuality, built a busy therapy practice, authored an erotic manual for women and enjoyed a high-profile romance with comedian Drew Carey.
Then last month, she ran into the ex-boyfriend, Gareth Pursehouse, at a professional event that she was attending and he was assigned to photograph.
“It was the absolute worst possible luck,” said Beverly Hills sex therapist Hernando Chaves, a close friend who was with Harwick at the event. The chance encounter, Chaves said, seemed to “reignite his obsessive preoccupation with her.”
Harwick, 38, was fatally attacked in her Hollywood Hills residence early Saturday morning, and authorities have arrested Pursehouse, a 41-year-old from Playa del Rey, on suspicion of murder. According to his LinkedIn account, Pursehouse has worked as a software developer and a photographer.
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Friends said Harwick had largely considered the relationship an artifact of the past until the January meeting.
“She said that when he saw her, he just went ballistic. He lost it. He made a scene,” said friend Vera Duffy, who interviewed Harwick for a podcast three days later and talked with her off-microphone about the incident.
Duffy recalled Harwick saying that Pursehouse blamed her for ruining his life.
“She was very scared. ... She said, ‘What am I going to do? I let my roommate know, I have home security,’” Duffy recalled.
Police were summoned to Harwick’s residence early Saturday morning after reports of a woman screaming. Officers found her unconscious and mortally wounded under a third-floor balcony with injuries consistent with a fall. Her roommate, who met arriving officers in the street, said Harwick was attacked in the home and he had narrowly escaped by jumping a wall, authorities said.
Amie Harwick and comedian Drew Carey. (Michael Bezjian / WireImage)
LAPD investigators searching for clues in Harwick’s home found “possible evidence of a struggle in the upstairs as well as forced entry to the residence,” the department said in a statement.
Pursehouse is being held in lieu of $2 million bail, according to jail records.
It’s unclear how he would have known where Harwick was living. The pair had shared a home for a couple of years a decade ago at another location, friends said. Their relationship deteriorated and Harwick twice applied for restraining orders against him, according to court records.
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She got a temporary restraining order in 2011 but apparently did not attend a follow-up hearing at the Superior Court branch in Van Nuys and the order was dismissed “for lack of prosecution,” an electronic docket shows.
Nine months later, Harwick went back to the same courthouse and got another temporary restraining order. In an April 2012 hearing on whether to extend the protective order, she and Pursehouse both gave evidence and the judge granted her request for protection, according to the docket.
What led her to seek the restraining orders and the terms of those orders are not disclosed in the dockets, and the files were not available Monday because of the Presidents Day holiday.
In Harwick’s circle of patients, friends and colleagues, there was a sense of shock and disbelief. Several people interviewed used the present tense when speaking about her compassion and empathy.
Drew Carey described himself in a statement as “overcome with grief.”
“Amie and I had a love that people are lucky to have once in a lifetime,” he said. The pair dated for two years and were engaged before breaking up in 2018. “She was a positive force in the world, a tireless and unapologetic champion for women, and passionate about her work as a therapist.”
In addition to her West Hollywood private practice, Harwick wrote about sexuality for several magazines and authored the 2014 book “The New Sex Bible for Women.”
Before becoming a therapist, she had worked as a performance artist and “fire eater.” That work gave her empathy for many outsiders in Hollywood, including adult film actors and sex workers, friends said.
She volunteered with the nonprofit Pineapple Support Services, which provides low-cost mental health services to those employed in the adult film industry, seeing clients one-on-one and running a weekly support group.
“She really, really wanted to help society, and she had so many great ideas to reach out to underserved communities,” said L.A. sex therapist Moushumi Ghose, who helped train Harwick.
Among Harwick’s specialties was helping women recognize abusive relationships and offering support as they removed themselves. Longtime friend Chaves said the way she died only emphasized how difficult that work was.
“She did everything she could do to protect herself, and this person still sought her out and was violent toward her,” Chaves said. “That is what people I hope are going to see — not the sensationalism of her dating Drew Carey or being a ‘Hollywood sex therapist’... but that our system is not protecting women.”
Interviewed last month on the podcast “Datey Ladies” hosted by Duffy and her sister, Barbara Ann, Harwick said she tried to provide the general public with a “Cliffs Notes” version of everything she had learned about relationships.
“One of the scariest things about this,” Barbara Ann Duffy said, “is that Amie had healthier boundaries than a lot of women, and that seemed only to be a challenge to that person to hurt her.”


latimes--2020-02-17--Amid coronavirus threat, study abroad programs in China canceled

Last summer , Andie Yu arrived in Beijing for a yearlong program at Peking University .
The UC Irvine computer science student from Las Vegas was eager to improve her Mandarin and gain experience to be a more competitive job candidate in China .
But her program was cut short after the University of California suspended all non-essential travel to China , including study abroad programs , in response to the fast-spreading coronavirus .
Now Yu , 23 , an American citizen , is stuck in Xiamen , China , where she has relatives .
She booked a flight to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll make it home to her parents in Las Vegas — and expects she ’ ll be quarantined .
Yu is among hundreds of college students nationwide whose study plans have been upended by intensifying response to the virus .
Students and university officials alike are scrambling to secure visas and flights back to the U.S. , reenroll in coursework so as not to lose out on an entire semester , or find alternate study abroad programs , typically a highlight of students ’ college experience .
“ Study abroad is for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degree advancement at all .
So if it doesn ’ t work in the planned semester , it ’ s unlikely it ’ s going to work in some other semester , ” said Caroline Maas , senior vice president for study global operations at the Council on International Educational Exchange .
“ For these individual students who have been planning to study abroad , in some cases for years , it ’ s pretty tragic.
” The blow to these academic exchanges between the U.S. and China is one of the myriad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named COVID-19 , has disrupted lives around the world .
As of Sunday , there had been more than 71,300 confirmed cases and 1,775 deaths from the virus worldwide .
CIEE , which describes itself as the largest study abroad provider in the U.S. , has canceled both its spring and summer offerings in China .
The move affected students across the country , including several each at Occidental College , Syracuse University , the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Miami .
When the late January cancellations hit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begun classes .
Just a handful of CIEE programs , including “ Berlin Business and Culture ” and “ Perth Arts and Sciences , ” remained open for enrollment .
Students were given the option of switching to those programs for the same or lower cost or receiving a refund for their China studies .
But some students were advanced Chinese speakers seeking language immersion .
“ An English-language program taught in Europe and focusing on business and communications and history clearly wasn ’ t going to work , ” Maas said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taiwan and London and moved many students there instead .
Yu was one of about 50 spring participants in China programs administered directly through UC .
A native of Fujian province , she grew up primarily speaking a local dialect .
She immigrated to the U.S. after elementary school .
Spending a year in Beijing , she hoped , would help her become fluent in Mandarin and teach her about Chinese society .
Yu was visiting relatives in Gutian when she got the news that her program was suspended .
“ All my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
At first , she asked to continue her studies since she was already in China .
But , Yu said , she was told the program was suspended , in accordance with UC policy for countries under serious travel advisories .
With UC Irvine ’ s winter quarter already well underway , returning to classes on campus wasn ’ t an option .
Yu was offered the chance to apply to Korea University but took too long to make up her mind , she said .
Even trying to collect her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been an ordeal .
As she traveled last week from Gutian to Xiamen , she walked a quarter of a mile down a highway to cross a checkpoint , where officials took her temperature , she said .
She can ’ t go back to Beijing to get her things from the Peking University dorm , so she ’ s asked a teacher there to ship them to relatives .
She had to cancel a flight home , paying a $ 300 penalty , because passengers from China can no longer arrive directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where study abroad in China is a part of many business students ’ education , officials have been “ working like crazy ” to respond to the effects of the coronavirus , said Tyrone Callahan , vice dean for undergraduate programs at the Marshall School of Business .
A popular leadership course for about 80 freshmen , for example , educates students on Chinese history and the economy and then sends them on a weeklong trip to Beijing and Shanghai over spring break .
“ We spend a lot of time telling them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go and see what ’ s happening in China … so when we had to pull back from that they were obviously disappointed , ” Callahan said .
Those students will instead split the week between Havana and Mexico City .
In New York , about 250 students from NYU ’ s Shanghai campus were relocated to its flagship in Manhattan .
About 80 moved to other NYU sites around the world , while some 600 more — mostly Chinese nationals who didn ’ t have or couldn ’ t quickly get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China , where they may continue the semester through distance learning online , said NYU Associate Vice Chancellor Josh Taylor .
Alexandra Kogler of Atherton , Calif. , and Brandon Shi of Chino Hills began their freshman year at NYU Shanghai last fall .
The two 19-year-old students are now enrolled on campus in New York .
“ It feels overwhelming to adjust to a new campus right away .
It ’ s a huge change in terms of the city and the student body size , ” said Kogler , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said her new professors have given her time to catch up with coursework .
Shi , an interactive media arts and business major , is worried about his expenses .
Although the university didn ’ t charge him more for housing in New York , he expects to pay a lot more for food .
“ I think this was honestly the best solution to a tragic incident , ” he said .

Last summer, Andie Yu arrived in Beijing for a yearlong program at Peking University. The UC Irvine computer science student from Las Vegas was eager to improve her Mandarin and gain experience to be a more competitive job candidate in China.
But her program was cut short after the University of California suspended all non-essential travel to China, including study abroad programs, in response to the fast-spreading coronavirus.
Now Yu, 23, an American citizen, is stuck in Xiamen, China, where she has relatives. She booked a flight to Los Angeles but is unsure when she’ll make it home to her parents in Las Vegas — and expects she’ll be quarantined.
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Yu is among hundreds of college students nationwide whose study plans have been upended by intensifying response to the virus. Students and university officials alike are scrambling to secure visas and flights back to the U.S., reenroll in coursework so as not to lose out on an entire semester, or find alternate study abroad programs, typically a highlight of students’ college experience.
“Study abroad is for most students challenging to schedule into their degree advancement at all. So if it doesn’t work in the planned semester, it’s unlikely it’s going to work in some other semester,” said Caroline Maas, senior vice president for study global operations at the Council on International Educational Exchange. “For these individual students who have been planning to study abroad, in some cases for years, it’s pretty tragic.”
The blow to these academic exchanges between the U.S. and China is one of the myriad ways in which the virus, officially named COVID-19, has disrupted lives around the world. As of Sunday, there had been more than 71,300 confirmed cases and 1,775 deaths from the virus worldwide.
CIEE, which describes itself as the largest study abroad provider in the U.S., has canceled both its spring and summer offerings in China. The move affected students across the country, including several each at Occidental College, Syracuse University, the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Miami.
When the late January cancellations hit, most students’ home institutions had already begun classes. Just a handful of CIEE programs, including “Berlin Business and Culture” and “Perth Arts and Sciences,” remained open for enrollment. Students were given the option of switching to those programs for the same or lower cost or receiving a refund for their China studies.
But some students were advanced Chinese speakers seeking language immersion.
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“An English-language program taught in Europe and focusing on business and communications and history clearly wasn’t going to work,” Maas said. So CIEE created new Chinese-intensive programs in Taiwan and London and moved many students there instead.
Yu was one of about 50 spring participants in China programs administered directly through UC. A native of Fujian province, she grew up primarily speaking a local dialect. She immigrated to the U.S. after elementary school. Spending a year in Beijing, she hoped, would help her become fluent in Mandarin and teach her about Chinese society.
World & Nation China may postpone annual congress because of virus China may postpone its biggest political meeting of the year, as the military dispatches hundreds more medical workers and extra supplies to the city hit hardest by a 2-month-old virus outbreak.
Yu was visiting relatives in Gutian when she got the news that her program was suspended.
“All my plans got messed up,” she said.
At first, she asked to continue her studies since she was already in China. But, Yu said, she was told the program was suspended, in accordance with UC policy for countries under serious travel advisories.
With UC Irvine’s winter quarter already well underway, returning to classes on campus wasn’t an option. Yu was offered the chance to apply to Korea University but took too long to make up her mind, she said.
Even trying to collect her belongings and return to Las Vegas has been an ordeal. As she traveled last week from Gutian to Xiamen, she walked a quarter of a mile down a highway to cross a checkpoint, where officials took her temperature, she said. She can’t go back to Beijing to get her things from the Peking University dorm, so she’s asked a teacher there to ship them to relatives. She had to cancel a flight home, paying a $300 penalty, because passengers from China can no longer arrive directly in Las Vegas.
California 14 Americans test positive for coronavirus as U.S. evacuates cruise passengers U.S. officials said early Monday that 14 American passengers evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan had tested positive for the new coronavirus, but were allowed on flights to military bases in California and Texas.
At USC, where study abroad in China is a part of many business students’ education, officials have been “working like crazy” to respond to the effects of the coronavirus, said Tyrone Callahan, vice dean for undergraduate programs at the Marshall School of Business.
A popular leadership course for about 80 freshmen, for example, educates students on Chinese history and the economy and then sends them on a weeklong trip to Beijing and Shanghai over spring break.
“We spend a lot of time telling them how amazing it is to be able to go and see what’s happening in China … so when we had to pull back from that they were obviously disappointed,” Callahan said.
Those students will instead split the week between Havana and Mexico City.
In New York, about 250 students from NYU’s Shanghai campus were relocated to its flagship in Manhattan. About 80 moved to other NYU sites around the world, while some 600 more — mostly Chinese nationals who didn’t have or couldn’t quickly get a visa to study elsewhere — remain in China, where they may continue the semester through distance learning online, said NYU Associate Vice Chancellor Josh Taylor.
Alexandra Kogler of Atherton, Calif., and Brandon Shi of Chino Hills began their freshman year at NYU Shanghai last fall. The two 19-year-old students are now enrolled on campus in New York.
“It feels overwhelming to adjust to a new campus right away. It’s a huge change in terms of the city and the student body size,” said Kogler, who has yet to declare a major. She said her new professors have given her time to catch up with coursework.
Shi, an interactive media arts and business major, is worried about his expenses. Although the university didn’t charge him more for housing in New York, he expects to pay a lot more for food.
But mostly he’s excited.
“I think this was honestly the best solution to a tragic incident,” he said.