latimes--2020-11-02--Boaters, including 2 children, burned after explosion in Huntington Beach

A boater touted by authorities as a good Samaritan helped six people to safety after a boat they were on caught fire following an explosion Sunday afternoon in Huntington Beach , local officials said .
Half a dozen people were aboard the boat in Huntington Harbour , near Peter ’ s Landing , around 1 p.m. Sunday when the craft caught fire , Huntington Beach Fire Department spokesman Eric Blaska said in a statement .
All six people aboard — including two children , ages 7 and 3 — ended up in the water , though it was unclear whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in , Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said .
In addition to the two children , four adults — ranging in age from 36 to 70 — were on the boat when the explosion occurred , Sgt .
Dennis Breckner said .
“ They were just on their voyage for a short time in the middle of the harbor when it exploded , ” Breckner said .
The boat ’ s owner swam to a nearby dock to call for help , according to a news release .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ignited fume-filled air in the boat ’ s hull , Breckner said .
A fuel leak may have dripped into the boat compartment , creating a dangerous fire risk , he said .
Another boater who was nearby , identified by as Trent McWhinney , jumped into his dingy and pulled alongside the burning boat — a 35-foot power boat named “ Neptune ” — to help pull the victims to safety .
“ I ran to that boat , ” McWhinney told the station .
“ I don ’ t care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people in the boat.
” The “ good Samaritan , ” as Blaska called him in the news release , took the group to a dock near the Warner Fire Station .
They were then taken to a local hospital for treatment of burn injuries that ranged from 5 % to 50 % of their bodies , Breckner said .
The 7-year-old suffered the worst burns , he added .
When sheriff ’ s deputies arrived , Breckner said , they found the boat “ smoldering ” and sprayed it with foam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which he said is still in one piece , was towed to nearby Sunset Aquatic Park .
The cause of the fire is under investigation , officials said .
“ As of right now , we don ’ t have any reason to believe that there was anything other than just being a boat accident , ” Breckner said .

A boater touted by authorities as a good Samaritan helped six people to safety after a boat they were on caught fire following an explosion Sunday afternoon in Huntington Beach, local officials said.
Half a dozen people were aboard the boat in Huntington Harbour, near Peter’s Landing, around 1 p.m. Sunday when the craft caught fire, Huntington Beach Fire Department spokesman Eric Blaska said in a statement.
All six people aboard — including two children, ages 7 and 3 — ended up in the water, though it was unclear whether they jumped or the blast pushed them in, Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said. In addition to the two children, four adults — ranging in age from 36 to 70 — were on the boat when the explosion occurred, Sgt. Dennis Breckner said.
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“They were just on their voyage for a short time in the middle of the harbor when it exploded,” Breckner said. The boat’s owner swam to a nearby dock to call for help, according to a news release.
The explosion was likely caused by a spark that ignited fume-filled air in the boat’s hull, Breckner said. A fuel leak may have dripped into the boat compartment, creating a dangerous fire risk, he said.
“We call boats big bombs that float around,” Breckner said.
Another boater who was nearby, identified by KCBS-TV Channel 2 as Trent McWhinney, jumped into his dingy and pulled alongside the burning boat — a 35-foot power boat named “Neptune” — to help pull the victims to safety.
“I ran to that boat,” McWhinney told the station. “I don’t care about the boat. I care about the people in the boat.”
The “good Samaritan,” as Blaska called him in the news release, took the group to a dock near the Warner Fire Station. They were then taken to a local hospital for treatment of burn injuries that ranged from 5% to 50% of their bodies, Breckner said. The 7-year-old suffered the worst burns, he added.
When sheriff’s deputies arrived, Breckner said, they found the boat “smoldering” and sprayed it with foam to diffuse any fumes. The boat, which he said is still in one piece, was towed to nearby Sunset Aquatic Park. The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.
“As of right now, we don’t have any reason to believe that there was anything other than just being a boat accident,” Breckner said.


latimes--2020-11-02--LAPD officer wounded in gun battle at Valley grocery store is out of the hospital

A Los Angeles police officer whose hand was wounded during a gun battle inside a Granada Hills supermarket Sunday evening is recovering at home , and the suspect is expected to face criminal charges in connection with the shooting , authorities said Monday .
Dozens of shoppers were inside the Ralphs supermarket when a shirtless man standing atop a freezer in one of the aisles began dancing and waving a gun , witnesses said .
Video shows officers in plainclothes with bullet-resistant vests and a handheld shield entering the store about 6:30 p.m. after responding to the disturbance call and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers moved in to detain the man , he fired a gun at them , Assistant Chief Horace Frank said .
Officers returned fire , and one officer suffered a graze wound during the exchange , Frank said .
The man then ran outside to an adjacent business at Devonshire and Balboa boulevards , briefly waving a gun at a person inside before being taken into custody .
A firearm believed to be the weapon used by the man was found at the scene , police said .
The man , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by officers ’ gunfire but was taken to a hospital for an evaluation , according to Joshua Rubenstein , LAPD ’ s communications director .
As of Monday morning , there was not yet a formal booking record for him , LAPD Officer Drake Madison said .
LAPD Chief Michel Moore announced late Sunday that the wounded officer had been released from the hospital after his hand was stitched .
Whether the officer ’ s injury was a direct gunshot graze wound or shrapnel from items struck during the gunfight is under investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Division , which handles shootings in which officers fire their weapons .

Officers responding to a Ralphs shopping center in Granada Hills confronted a man who they were told had a gun. Several officers opened fire outside, and one officer suffered a graze wound.
A Los Angeles police officer whose hand was wounded during a gun battle inside a Granada Hills supermarket Sunday evening is recovering at home, and the suspect is expected to face criminal charges in connection with the shooting, authorities said Monday.
Dozens of shoppers were inside the Ralphs supermarket when a shirtless man standing atop a freezer in one of the aisles began dancing and waving a gun, witnesses said. Video shows officers in plainclothes with bullet-resistant vests and a handheld shield entering the store about 6:30 p.m. after responding to the disturbance call and learning the man was armed.
As officers moved in to detain the man, he fired a gun at them, Assistant Chief Horace Frank said. Officers returned fire, and one officer suffered a graze wound during the exchange, Frank said.
The man then ran outside to an adjacent business at Devonshire and Balboa boulevards, briefly waving a gun at a person inside before being taken into custody.
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@FOXLA at 10pm: Ralph’s shopper Peter Genovese captures this video of homeless man dancing on aisle moments before LAPD says he shoots an officer, non-life-threatening injuries pic.twitter.com/cLsh6TmkkE — Hailey Winslow (@HaileyBWinslow) November 2, 2020
A firearm believed to be the weapon used by the man was found at the scene, police said. The man, who has not been identified, was not struck by officers’ gunfire but was taken to a hospital for an evaluation, according to Joshua Rubenstein, LAPD’s communications director. As of Monday morning, there was not yet a formal booking record for him, LAPD Officer Drake Madison said.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore announced late Sunday that the wounded officer had been released from the hospital after his hand was stitched.
Whether the officer’s injury was a direct gunshot graze wound or shrapnel from items struck during the gunfight is under investigation by the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division, which handles shootings in which officers fire their weapons.


latimes--2020-11-02--What was your in-person voting experience in California?

As voters across the country turn out in record numbers to cast their ballots , The Times wants to hear @ @ @ @ @ person in California .
Share your thoughts — the good , the bad and the @ @ @ @ @ below .

Ruhee Jaffer, holding dog Zeus, votes early at a polling station on the roof at Kimpton La Peer Hotel on Friday in West Hollywood.
As voters across the country turn out in record numbers to cast their ballots, The Times wants to hear about your experience voting in person in California.
Share your thoughts — the good, the bad and the surprising — in the form below.


latimes--2020-11-02--California coronavirus cases outpaced by Texas, but state warns not to let guard down

California is no longer the state with the highest number of coronavirus cases , as Texas officially surpassed the overall case count despite having 10 million fewer residents , data compiled by The Times show .
The Lone Star State ’ s leapfrog illustrates both the magnitude to which COVID-19 cases are surging there , and the extent to which California — so far — has escaped the significant spikes striking many other parts of the United States .
But with Halloween so recently in the rearview mirror and other holidays fast approaching , state and health officials continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do their part to stymie the disease ’ s spread and ward off any creeping sense of fatigue .
As of Monday morning , Texas had recorded 936,816 total COVID-19 cases — just above California ’ s 935,534 , according to The Times ’ coronavirus tracker .
When accounting for population , however , the difference between the two most populous states in the union becomes even starker .
Texas has seen roughly 3,359 coronavirus infections per 100,000 residents , Times ’ data show , while California has recorded 2,389 .
Over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 42,525 new COVID-19 cases — the most in the nation and well north of California ’ s 29,195 , according to figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ We ’ ve got to overcome any sense of fatigue that we might have , ” Dr. John Hellerstedt , commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services , said in a video message last week .
“ We have to understand how important this is , and I ’ m asking you , please , to redouble your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve asked you to do and that we have proven that work.
” Those include physical distancing , regular hand-washing , wearing masks in public and avoiding gatherings with too many people you do not live with , health experts say .
Officials throughout California have been reciting a similar refrain for months and have been especially earnest as numbers of new coronavirus infections have rocketed to unprecedented heights throughout much of the nation .
Roughly 97,000 new cases were reported nationwide on Friday — an all-time high , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , about 88,500 , had been set the day before .
“ Case growth is far outpacing testing through the U.S. , suggesting that current case surges are an indication of uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 , ” project officials wrote on Twitter .
While new case rates can illustrate how rapidly and widely the virus is spreading through a community , officials also have emphasized that the metric can be a harbinger of further devastation — as the numbers of those who die from the disease or fall ill enough to require hospitalization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
Though it has yet to see the same sort of significant surges as some other states , California has seen some upticks in coronavirus activity .
The adjusted case rate for Los Angeles County , for instance , increased last week to 8 per 100,000 residents , up from 7.6 the week before .
In Orange County , which reported 233 new coronavirus cases and one death Sunday , the case rate ticked up to 5.1 per 100,000 residents from 4.6 the week before .
Riverside County reported its most recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 9.1 the week before .
And San Bernardino County reported an adjusted case rate of 11.9 , up from 10.9 .
Though the increases are modest at this point , keeping them that way will require continued vigilance by residents and businesses , health officials say .
That ’ s especially true as the end of the year approaches , bringing with it both cooler weather that will force people indoors , where the coronavirus can more easily spread , and holidays where people would traditionally gather to celebrate with family and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to determine whether California will see any coronavirus increases stemming from activities or parties held on Halloween .
“ It ’ s not just about who might get infected on Halloween as a result of an ill-advised party , but also about the people that will come in contact with that person in the days to follow , ” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement .
“ The stakes are high since our case numbers have already been steadily increasing for the past two weeks .
We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we went through after the July Fourth holiday when we saw surges in cases followed by alarming increases in hospitalizations and deaths.
” Another challenge health officials are contending with , as Hellerstedt mentioned , is coronavirus fatigue .
It ’ s been more than seven months since Gov .
Gavin Newsom issued his initial stay-at-home order , and the messaging surrounding infection prevention measures may no longer carry the same potency for some pandemic-weary Californians .
Though optimism is in short supplies these days , it ’ s also important to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Paula Cannon , a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Keck School of Medicine at USC .
“ Take a look at the graphs and the charts for California compared to many , many other states and just recognize that , for the most populous state and for the most populous city in the most populous state in Los Angeles , we are doing a phenomenal job , ” she said in a recent interview .
That ’ s not to say “ everybody can let their guard down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should still “ recognize that this is working .
All the sacrifice is meaningful , and it ’ s working .
”

Jessica Peak, 46, right, comforts her mother Olivia Altamirano, 79, after they left photos of Olivia’s husband and son both, who died 12 days apart in early October from COVID-19, at a Dia de los Muertos altar made in honor of people who died during from the pandemic at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles on November 1, 2020.
California is no longer the state with the highest number of coronavirus cases, as Texas officially surpassed the overall case count despite having 10 million fewer residents, data compiled by The Times show.
The Lone Star State’s leapfrog illustrates both the magnitude to which COVID-19 cases are surging there, and the extent to which California — so far — has escaped the significant spikes striking many other parts of the United States.
But with Halloween so recently in the rearview mirror and other holidays fast approaching, state and health officials continue to stress that residents and businesses need to do their part to stymie the disease’s spread and ward off any creeping sense of fatigue.
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As of Monday morning, Texas had recorded 936,816 total COVID-19 cases — just above California’s 935,534, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker.
When accounting for population, however, the difference between the two most populous states in the union becomes even starker. Texas has seen roughly 3,359 coronavirus infections per 100,000 residents, Times’ data show, while California has recorded 2,389.
Over the last seven days, Texas has reported 42,525 new COVID-19 cases — the most in the nation and well north of California’s 29,195, according to figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We’ve got to overcome any sense of fatigue that we might have,” Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, said in a video message last week. “We have to understand how important this is, and I’m asking you, please, to redouble your efforts to take the precautions that we’ve asked you to do and that we have proven that work.”
Those include physical distancing, regular hand-washing, wearing masks in public and avoiding gatherings with too many people you do not live with, health experts say.
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Officials throughout California have been reciting a similar refrain for months and have been especially earnest as numbers of new coronavirus infections have rocketed to unprecedented heights throughout much of the nation.
Roughly 97,000 new cases were reported nationwide on Friday — an all-time high, according to the COVID Tracking Project. The previous record, about 88,500, had been set the day before.
“Case growth is far outpacing testing through the U.S., suggesting that current case surges are an indication of uncontrolled spread of COVID-19,” project officials wrote on Twitter.
While new case rates can illustrate how rapidly and widely the virus is spreading through a community, officials also have emphasized that the metric can be a harbinger of further devastation — as the numbers of those who die from the disease or fall ill enough to require hospitalization tend to correspondingly increase weeks after cases do.
In the month of October, only Georgia and Hawaii saw decreases in hospitalization. California held steady. There were increases in hospitalizations in every other state and DC. pic.twitter.com/tIwKEeNBeJ — The COVID Tracking Project (@COVID19Tracking) October 31, 2020
Though it has yet to see the same sort of significant surges as some other states, California has seen some upticks in coronavirus activity.
The adjusted case rate for Los Angeles County, for instance, increased last week to 8 per 100,000 residents, up from 7.6 the week before.
In Orange County, which reported 233 new coronavirus cases and one death Sunday, the case rate ticked up to 5.1 per 100,000 residents from 4.6 the week before. Riverside County reported its most recent adjusted case rate at 10.1, up from 9.1 the week before. And San Bernardino County reported an adjusted case rate of 11.9, up from 10.9.
Though the increases are modest at this point, keeping them that way will require continued vigilance by residents and businesses, health officials say.
That’s especially true as the end of the year approaches, bringing with it both cooler weather that will force people indoors, where the coronavirus can more easily spread, and holidays where people would traditionally gather to celebrate with family and friends.
It will also take time to determine whether California will see any coronavirus increases stemming from activities or parties held on Halloween.
“It’s not just about who might get infected on Halloween as a result of an ill-advised party, but also about the people that will come in contact with that person in the days to follow,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “The stakes are high since our case numbers have already been steadily increasing for the past two weeks. We can’t really afford to repeat what we went through after the July Fourth holiday when we saw surges in cases followed by alarming increases in hospitalizations and deaths.”
Another challenge health officials are contending with, as Hellerstedt mentioned, is coronavirus fatigue. It’s been more than seven months since Gov. Gavin Newsom issued his initial stay-at-home order, and the messaging surrounding infection prevention measures may no longer carry the same potency for some pandemic-weary Californians.
Though optimism is in short supplies these days, it’s also important to “recognize how well California is doing,” said Paula Cannon, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Keck School of Medicine at USC.
“Take a look at the graphs and the charts for California compared to many, many other states and just recognize that, for the most populous state and for the most populous city in the most populous state in Los Angeles, we are doing a phenomenal job,” she said in a recent interview.
That’s not to say “everybody can let their guard down,” she emphasized, but Californians should still “recognize that this is working. All the sacrifice is meaningful, and it’s working.”
Times staff writer Alex Wigglesworth contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-11-02--Moving toward record turnout, 11.2 million Californians have already voted

More than half of California ’ s registered voters have already cast their ballot on the eve of election day , according to an established vote-tracking company .
Of the 22 million registered voters this year , 11.2 million ballots — or 51 % — had been returned as of 8 a.m. Monday morning , reported .
The firm , a trusted data source , is a bipartisan voter data company based in California that tracks detailed voter information .
“ It ’ s undeniable , absolutely factual , 100 % we ’ re going to set a record in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an election in California , ” said Paul Mitchell , vice president for Political Data .
California is already well on its way to beating the turnout of the 2016 election — the state has cast 76.9 % of the 14.6 million total votes counted four years ago , according to the and .
Nationwide , 96.2 million voters have cast their ballots , 69.8 % of the total turnout in 2016 .
“ I think we ’ re going to blast right past that total number of votes cast , ” Mitchell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records the day before election day .
About 8.4 million mail-in ballots were cast in 2016 , according to the secretary of state .
Mitchell predicted that California would notch more than 12 million votes by the end of Monday .
He expected two major demographics from both parties to turn out for in-person voting Tuesday in California : young people and Latinos on one side , and Republicans on the other .
Based on polling and survey research , Mitchell said Latinos tend to trust in-person voting more , and he expects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registration on election day .
On the flip side , he said , polling showed many Republicans prefer to vote in person on election day .
“ It ’ s going to be a weird mix , ” he said .
“ You ’ re going to have some of the most young , progressive people of color and then a bunch of suburban , white , older Republicans.
” Unlike in previous elections , Democrats are turning out early in larger numbers , with 57 % of ballots from Democrats returned in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Almost 2.7 million Republicans have returned their ballots , 50 % of the party ’ s registered voters in California .
For independent or other party voters , the number is 2.7 million , or 42 % .
White and Asian people are driving mail-in ballots , with 56 % returned for each demographic , Political Data reported .
The number is lower among Black voters , 45 % of whom have returned their ballots , and Latino voters , at 39 % .
Most California voters 65 and older — 3.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted .
That may be because that demographic is especially vulnerable to the coronavirus and may be concerned about contracting the disease .
The number of early voters trends down with age , with only 36 % of voters 18 to 34 having cast their ballots already , according to Political Data .
The California secretary of state ’ s office Sunday afternoon that 10.6 million mail-in ballots had already been cast .
Almost 100 % of mail-in ballots have been accepted , according to the .
Los Angeles County mirrors the statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 2.9 million ballots cast , the Los Angeles County registrar-recorder/county clerk Sunday evening .
The vast majority of those — 2.5 million — were mail-in ballots .
In a sweeping change to its voting system this year , California mailed ballots to amid concerns of spreading the coronavirus during in-person voting .
Still , 391,399 Los Angeles County voters have cast their ballots in person at one of the nearly 800 early vote centers in the county , according to officials .
As of Monday morning , Ventura County had the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles area , at 58 % , according to Political Data .
The next-highest rate was 56 % in Orange County .
Riverside County was reporting 46 % turnout , and San Bernardino was at 41 % .
This year has already shattered voting records in California .
More than two weeks ago , the state logged , dwarfing the 72,000 votes cast at the same time in 2016 , according to the .
The state also broke records for its number of registered voters .
California now reports 22 million registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people registered in a general election in the last 80 years , according to the secretary of state .
That number is about 2.6 million higher than four years ago .
“ There are more voters registered in California than the number of people in the state of Florida !
” Padilla said in a written statement Saturday .

More than half of California’s registered voters have already cast their ballot on the eve of election day, according to an established vote-tracking company.
Of the 22 million registered voters this year, 11.2 million — or 51% — had returned their ballots as of 8 a.m. Monday morning, Political Data Inc. reported. The firm, a trusted data source, is a bipartisan voter data company based in California that tracks detailed voter information.
“It’s undeniable, absolutely factual, 100% we’re going to set a record in the total number of votes cast in an election in California,” said Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data.
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California is already well on its way to beating the turnout of the 2016 election — the state has cast 76.9% of the 14.6 million total votes counted four years ago, according to the U.S. Elections Project and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla . Nationwide, 96.2 million voters have cast their ballots, 69.8% of the total turnout in 2016.
“I think we’re going to blast right past that total number of votes cast,” Mitchell said.
🚨 11 MILLION || 50% of CA Electorate 🚨
Second images shows the closing of gaps, with Republicans growing their share of the vote while also we see another likely unrelated stream of young people gaining on Seniors and the electorate getting more POC and less white day-by-day. pic.twitter.com/3O6Rb3j4dd — Political Data (@Political_Data) November 2, 2020
Early voting is already breaking records the day before election day. About 8.4 million mail-in ballots were cast in 2016, according to the secretary of state. Mitchell predicted that California would notch more than 12 million votes by the end of Monday.
He expected two major demographics from both parties to turn out for in-person voting Tuesday in California: young people and Latinos on one side, and Republicans on the other. Based on polling and survey research, Mitchell said Latinos tend to trust in-person voting more, and he expects a surge of first-time voters doing same-day registration on election day. On the flip side, he said, polling showed many Republicans prefer to vote in person on election day.
“It’s going to be a weird mix,” he said. “You’re going to have some of the most young, progressive people of color and then a bunch of suburban, white, older Republicans.”
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Unlike in previous elections, Democrats are turning out early in larger numbers, with 57% of ballots from Democrats returned in California, according to Political Data. Almost 2.7 million Republicans have returned their ballots, 50% of the party’s registered voters in California. For independent or other party voters, the number is 2.7 million, or 42%.
White and Asian people are driving mail-in ballots, with 56% returned for each demographic, Political Data reported. The number is lower among Black voters, 45% of whom have returned their ballots, and Latino voters, at 39%.
Most California voters 65 and older — 3.5 million, or 70% — have already voted. That may be because that demographic is especially vulnerable to the coronavirus and may be concerned about contracting the disease. The number of early voters trends down with age, with only 36% of voters 18 to 34 having cast their ballots already, according to Political Data.
The California secretary of state’s office reported Sunday afternoon that 10.6 million mail-in ballots had already been cast. Almost 100% of mail-in ballots have been accepted, according to the latest state report Friday .
Ending Day 9 of our in-person voting period with 64,000+ ballots cast today at Vote Centers. Puts us at 391,399 in-person votes plus 2,520,926 returned mail ballots for 2,912,325 ballots cast to date -- 50.8% turnout with two full days of voting to go. #VoteSafe2020 #LAVotes pic.twitter.com/FApvQ0QQiF — Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (@LACountyRRCC) November 2, 2020
Los Angeles County mirrors the statewide numbers, with 50.8% turnout, or 2.9 million ballots cast, the Los Angeles County registrar-recorder/county clerk tweeted Sunday evening. The vast majority of those — 2.5 million — were mail-in ballots. In a sweeping change to its voting system this year, California mailed ballots to all registered voters amid concerns of spreading the coronavirus during in-person voting.
Still, 391,399 Los Angeles County voters have cast their ballots in person at one of the nearly 800 early vote centers in the county, according to officials.
As of Monday morning, Ventura County had the highest percentage of returned ballots in the Greater Los Angeles area, at 58%, according to Political Data. The next-highest rate was 56% in Orange County. Riverside County was reporting 46% turnout, and San Bernardino was at 41%.
This year has already shattered voting records in California. More than two weeks ago, the state logged 1 million votes , dwarfing the 72,000 votes cast at the same time in 2016, according to the secretary of state‘s office .
The state also broke records for its number of registered voters. California now reports 22 million registered voters, the highest percentage of eligible people registered in a general election in the last 80 years, according to the secretary of state. That number is about 2.6 million higher than four years ago.
“There are more voters registered in California than the number of people in the state of Florida!” Padilla said in a written statement Saturday.
Times staff writer Matt Stiles contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-11-02--Prop. 14: Everything you need to know about the $5.5-billion stem cell measure

Proposition 14 would authorize the sale of $ 5.5 billion in general obligation bonds for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine , known as CIRM , for stem cell studies and trials .
Here is a rundown of the ballot measure : In 2004 , voters approved a bond measure to pay for stem cell research .
Now , with the money from that bond running out , supporters of the state ’ s stem cell agency are asking taxpayers for a new infusion of cash .
With interest , the bond could cost the state $ 260 million per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next 30 years , according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst ’ s Office .
Proponents of Proposition 14 say the measure will help find new treatments and cures for chronic diseases and conditions , including cancers , spinal cord injuries , Alzheimer ’ s , Parkinson ’ s and heart disease .
They say the previous bond advanced research and treatments for more than 75 diseases , including two cancer treatments for fatal blood disorders that were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
Without new funding to keep the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , groundbreaking medical discoveries and lifesaving research will be slowed or stopped .
Opponents say that the state shouldn ’ t take on new debt while facing a pandemic-induced deficit and that medical advances attributed to the previous stem cell bond have been overstated .
In addition , opponents say CIRM has been hampered by conflicts of interest and too little oversight , neither of which are remedied by the ballot measure .
The campaign to pass the 2004 ballot measure told voters that the bond would save millions of lives and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that ’ s not been the case to date , although supporters of this year ’ s measure note that they never intended those results within 16 years .
While there is not much organized opposition , some newspaper editorial boards , including those at and , have opposed it .
With Prop .
14 , California voters will be asked for more borrowing to keep stem cell research going The California stem cell program ’ s $ 5.5-billion funding request might be its downfall California ’ s stem cell program faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for reform When it comes to disease , stem cells are a game-changer , scientists say .
This is why

Scientists are learning more about how to harness stem cells to reverse heart failure, but treatments won’t be widely available right away.
Proposition 14 would authorize the sale of $5.5 billion in general obligation bonds for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, known as CIRM, for stem cell studies and trials.
Here is a rundown of the ballot measure:
The measure
In 2004, voters approved a bond measure to pay for stem cell research.
Now, with the money from that bond running out, supporters of the state’s stem cell agency are asking taxpayers for a new infusion of cash.
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With interest, the bond could cost the state $260 million per year, or $7.8 billion over the next 30 years, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.
Pro arguments
Proponents of Proposition 14 say the measure will help find new treatments and cures for chronic diseases and conditions, including cancers, spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and heart disease. They say the previous bond advanced research and treatments for more than 75 diseases, including two cancer treatments for fatal blood disorders that were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Without new funding to keep the program going, supporters of Proposition 14 say, groundbreaking medical discoveries and lifesaving research will be slowed or stopped.
Anti arguments
Opponents say that the state shouldn’t take on new debt while facing a pandemic-induced deficit and that medical advances attributed to the previous stem cell bond have been overstated. In addition, opponents say CIRM has been hampered by conflicts of interest and too little oversight, neither of which are remedied by the ballot measure.
The campaign to pass the 2004 ballot measure told voters that the bond would save millions of lives and cut healthcare costs by billions. Critics say that’s not been the case to date, although supporters of this year’s measure note that they never intended those results within 16 years. While there is not much organized opposition, some newspaper editorial boards, including those at the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle , have opposed it.
Reading list
With Prop. 14, California voters will be asked for more borrowing to keep stem cell research going
Explaining Prop. 14
Advertisement
Times columnist George Skelton assesses Prop. 14
The California stem cell program’s $5.5-billion funding request might be its downfall
California’s stem cell program faces an existential moment — and a chance for reform
When it comes to disease, stem cells are a game-changer, scientists say. This is why


latimes--2020-11-02--79th prison inmate in California dies of COVID-19

Three inmates in California prisons died of COVID-19 in the last week , state prison officials reported , as coronavirus outbreaks continued to devastate the state ’ s prison population .
The latest death was that of an inmate at Avenal State Prison .
He was the 79th incarcerated person in California to die from complications of the illness .
The inmate died Friday at a hospital , the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a news release .
He was the eighth inmate from the Kings County prison to die from the virus .
His name has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inmates died of COVID-19 last week , including an inmate at Chuckawalla Valley state prison , who died Wednesday .
The other fatality was an inmate at Chino ’ s California Institution for Men who died Oct. 26 .
Both men died in outside hospitals , officials said .
The latest death occurred amid heightened scrutiny of the coronavirus response in California ’ s prison and jail system , including around an outbreak at a San Diego federal jail that saw at least 56 inmates test positive for the coronavirus at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Corrections has reported more than 15,800 confirmed cases to date , including at least 570 new infections in the last two weeks .
The uptick follows several weeks of a downward trend in cases : On Oct. 22 , the department reported 330 active cases — its lowest number since May — but as of Monday , that number was back up to 615 .
There are also 466 staff members across the state ’ s prison system who are currently infected , according to department data .
On Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on face coverings and physical distancing for the first time since July .
The latest mandates require all staff to wear approved face coverings at all times , both indoors and out .
Previous guidelines allowed masks to be removed when outdoors and listed social distancing guidelines as “ recommended ” rather than required .
Exceptions to the latest rules include employees who are alone in hard-walled offices , towers or control booths , or instances when a staff member “ is actively responding to an incident.
” “ In this instance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their face covering while jogging/running , ” the guidelines state .
“ However , immediately upon arrival to the incident , the face covering shall be replaced properly over the nose , mouth , and chin.
” Staff members who fail to follow the guidelines will be subject to discipline .
The rate of positive coronavirus test results in California ’ s prison system is substantially higher compared with that of the state or the nation .
As of Friday , the Department of Corrections reported about 161 positive cases per 1,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 residents in California and 27.6 positive cases per 1,000 in the U.S .
In a separate memorandum issued last week , the Corrections Department said all staff and visitors to facilities would be screened for the virus .
Screenings will include verbal questions and temperature checks .
“ CDCR has been committed to protecting all those who live and work in our state prisons throughout this unprecedented pandemic , ” corrections spokeswoman Dana Simas said in an email .
“ We continue to work with public health and healthcare experts to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the latest guidance and that staff are adhering to all health and safety requirements to mitigate COVID-19.
” There are currently 92,539 incarcerated people in California ’ s prisons , according to the Department of Corrections .
The state has released more than 20,000 inmates since March 11 , in part because of coronavirus concerns .

Three inmates in California prisons died of COVID-19 in the last week, state prison officials reported, as coronavirus outbreaks continued to devastate the state’s prison population.
The latest death was that of an inmate at Avenal State Prison. He was the 79th incarcerated person in California to die from complications of the illness.
The inmate died Friday at a hospital, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a news release. He was the eighth inmate from the Kings County prison to die from the virus. His name has not been released.
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Two other California inmates died of COVID-19 last week, including an inmate at Chuckawalla Valley state prison, who died Wednesday. The other fatality was an inmate at Chino’s California Institution for Men who died Oct. 26. Both men died in outside hospitals, officials said.
The latest death occurred amid heightened scrutiny of the coronavirus response in California’s prison and jail system, including around an outbreak at a San Diego federal jail that saw at least 56 inmates test positive for the coronavirus at the end of October.
The state’s Department of Corrections has reported more than 15,800 confirmed cases to date, including at least 570 new infections in the last two weeks.
The uptick follows several weeks of a downward trend in cases: On Oct. 22, the department reported 330 active cases — its lowest number since May — but as of Monday, that number was back up to 615. There are also 466 staff members across the state’s prison system who are currently infected, according to department data.
On Friday, the department issued updated guidelines to staff on face coverings and physical distancing for the first time since July. The latest mandates require all staff to wear approved face coverings at all times, both indoors and out.
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California California kept prison factories open. Inmates worked for pennies an hour as COVID-19 spread Inmates who made masks and furniture for as little as 35 cents an hour say they felt pressure to stay on the job, even as the coronavirus spread through the prison factories.
Previous guidelines allowed masks to be removed when outdoors and listed social distancing guidelines as “recommended” rather than required.
Exceptions to the latest rules include employees who are alone in hard-walled offices, towers or control booths, or instances when a staff member “is actively responding to an incident.”
“In this instance, the staff member is permitted to remove their face covering while jogging/running,” the guidelines state. “However, immediately upon arrival to the incident, the face covering shall be replaced properly over the nose, mouth, and chin.”
Staff members who fail to follow the guidelines will be subject to discipline.
The rate of positive coronavirus test results in California’s prison system is substantially higher compared with that of the state or the nation. As of Friday, the Department of Corrections reported about 161 positive cases per 1,000 people, compared with 23.6 positive cases per 1,000 residents in California and 27.6 positive cases per 1,000 in the U.S.
In a separate memorandum issued last week, the Corrections Department said all staff and visitors to facilities would be screened for the virus. Screenings will include verbal questions and temperature checks.
“CDCR has been committed to protecting all those who live and work in our state prisons throughout this unprecedented pandemic,” corrections spokeswoman Dana Simas said in an email. “We continue to work with public health and healthcare experts to ensure we are providing updated protocols to staff with the latest guidance and that staff are adhering to all health and safety requirements to mitigate COVID-19.”
There are currently 92,539 incarcerated people in California’s prisons, according to the Department of Corrections. The state has released more than 20,000 inmates since March 11, in part because of coronavirus concerns.


latimes--2020-11-02--Prop. 21: Everything you need to know about rent control measure

Proposition 21 would expand the ability for cities and counties to limit rent increases across California .
Under Proposition 21 , cities and counties would be allowed to mandate strict rent controls on apartments built before 2006 , on some single-family home and condominium rentals and when new tenants move in — all of which are currently prohibited under state law .
By itself , the initiative would not create any new rent controls but would allow cities and counties to pass their own expanded rules .
Interest in doing so is expected to be strong in high-cost , liberal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco and Los Angeles .
Between the two cities , roughly 200,000 apartments would be newly eligible for rent controls should Proposition 21 pass .
The Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation nonprofit is funding the campaign for Proposition 21 and was behind a similar rent control initiative in 2018 that failed .
Californians have continually cited the high cost of housing and homelessness as among the state ’ s most pressing problems , and Proposition 21 supporters have argued that slowing rent increases will help people stay in their homes .
The COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing affordability challenges worse , with millions at risk of eviction due to the economic downturn , according to some estimates .
Proposition 21 would not offer direct relief for those unable to pay their rent now ; rather , it would allow for more limits on future rent hikes .
Like the rent control initiative in 2018 , fundraising for Proposition 21 has topped $ 100 million .
This year ’ s initiative is one of the most expensive in California history , with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation contributing more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including large landlords Essex Property Trust , Equity Residential and AvalonBay Communities , are outspending supporters more than 2-to-1 .
Critics of Proposition 21 argue that the initiative would hurt housing affordability in the long term by limiting the supply of apartments .
They also point to a new statewide cap on large rent increases , which went into effect at the beginning of 2020 , that limits annual rent hikes to 5 % plus inflation for most rental housing older than 15 years .
Nearly 60 % of voters were against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public polls are showing a similarly uphill battle for supporters this time .
How California ’ s Prop .
21 is different from the rent control initiative two years ago ‘ Gim me Shelter ’ : What you need to know about Proposition 21 , the rent control ballot initiative Billions have been spent on California ’ s ballot measure battles .
But this year is unlike any other Eviction court is back .
Financially struggling tenants remain protected , for now California will limit rent increases under bill signed by Gov .
@ @

Proposition 21 would allow cities and counties to pass their own expanded rules on rent control.
Proposition 21 would expand the ability for cities and counties to limit rent increases across California.
Here’s a rundown of the issue:
The details
Under Proposition 21, cities and counties would be allowed to mandate strict rent controls on apartments built before 2006, on some single-family home and condominium rentals and when new tenants move in — all of which are currently prohibited under state law.
By itself, the initiative would not create any new rent controls but would allow cities and counties to pass their own expanded rules. Interest in doing so is expected to be strong in high-cost, liberal areas of the state, including San Francisco and Los Angeles. Between the two cities, roughly 200,000 apartments would be newly eligible for rent controls should Proposition 21 pass.
The Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation nonprofit is funding the campaign for Proposition 21 and was behind a similar rent control initiative in 2018 that failed.
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The state of play
Californians have continually cited the high cost of housing and homelessness as among the state’s most pressing problems, and Proposition 21 supporters have argued that slowing rent increases will help people stay in their homes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made the state’s housing affordability challenges worse, with millions at risk of eviction due to the economic downturn, according to some estimates. Proposition 21 would not offer direct relief for those unable to pay their rent now; rather, it would allow for more limits on future rent hikes.
Like the rent control initiative in 2018, fundraising for Proposition 21 has topped $100 million. This year’s initiative is one of the most expensive in California history, with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation contributing more than $40 million toward its passage. Opponents, including large landlords Essex Property Trust, Equity Residential and AvalonBay Communities, are outspending supporters more than 2-to-1.
Critics of Proposition 21 argue that the initiative would hurt housing affordability in the long term by limiting the supply of apartments. They also point to a new statewide cap on large rent increases, which went into effect at the beginning of 2020, that limits annual rent hikes to 5% plus inflation for most rental housing older than 15 years.
Nearly 60% of voters were against the rent control initiative in 2018 and public polls are showing a similarly uphill battle for supporters this time.
Reading list
How California’s Prop. 21 is different from the rent control initiative two years ago
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Prop. 21: Does expanding rent control make sense in a COVID recession?
‘Gimme Shelter’: What you need to know about Proposition 21, the rent control ballot initiative
Billions have been spent on California’s ballot measure battles. But this year is unlike any other
Eviction court is back. Financially struggling tenants remain protected, for now
California will limit rent increases under bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom


latimes--2020-11-02--Los Angeles Community College District elections: Everything you need to know

The Los Angeles Community College District is the largest community college district in the nation .
Voters must chose among 33 candidates for four seats on the seven-member board .
Here are the basics : Student basic needs crisis .
Before the pandemic , an estimated 62 % of students in the LACCD and 55 % were housing-insecure .
COVID-19 has deepened those insecurities , and access to laptops and high-speed internet is a necessity that many students lack , exacerbating an Oversight of the chancellor .
The election outcome will determine whether the LACCD ’ s chief administrator , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In December , the board voted 5 to 2 to renew his contract for just one year , to 2021 .
Board member Scott Svonkin , who voted no , said at the time that Rodriguez had done too little to counter the district ’ s declining enrollment and low graduation and transfer rates , had allowed student information to be compromised with a broken IT system and had failed to prevent mismanagement of funds .
Oversight of the bond program .
Out of the district ’ s $ 5.4-billion budget for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter-approved bond measures for building .
After The Times ran a series detailing the district put in place a bond oversight monitor , but about how the money is being spent .
The full list of names can be found beginning on page 92 of the available on the website of the L.A. County registrar-recorder ’ s office .
Voter Edge offers more details about each candidate , including their positions on some issues .
( Seat 1 ; Seat 3 ; Seat 5 ; Seat 7 ) Current board President Andra Hoffman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been endorsed by the Los Angeles College Faculty Guild , the union that represents community college faculty members , and the L.A. County Democratic Party , as has newcomer Nichelle Henderson , a teacher at Cal State L.A. Another group of four candidates nicknamed the “ LACCD Justice Squad ” — Karen Hernandez , Ruffin Patterson , Cory Butler and Michelle Manos — were handpicked by student leaders to focus on student priorities : grants for basic needs , health services , culturally relevant support programs for Black and Latino students , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship with law enforcement .
The Times editorial board endorsed a mix of incumbents and challengers .
Election of a board majority will shape the nation ’ s largest community college district Students hit hard as L.A. community colleges scramble to respond to coronavirus

The Los Angeles Community College District is the largest community college district in the nation. Voters must chose among 33 candidates for four seats on the seven-member board.
Here are the basics:
The issues
Student basic needs crisis. Before the pandemic, an estimated 62% of students in the LACCD were food-insecure and 55% were housing-insecure. COVID-19 has deepened those insecurities, and access to laptops and high-speed internet is a necessity that many students lack, exacerbating an enormous digital divide.
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Oversight of the chancellor. The election outcome will determine whether the LACCD’s chief administrator, Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez, stays or goes. In December, the board voted 5 to 2 to renew his contract for just one year, to 2021. Board member Scott Svonkin, who voted no, said at the time that Rodriguez had done too little to counter the district’s declining enrollment and low graduation and transfer rates, had allowed student information to be compromised with a broken IT system and had failed to prevent mismanagement of funds.
Oversight of the bond program. Out of the district’s $5.4-billion budget for 2020-21, $3.9 billion is from voter-approved bond measures for building. After The Times ran a series detailing massive waste in the program, the district put in place a bond oversight monitor, but questions have persisted about how the money is being spent.
The full list of names can be found beginning on page 92 of the final list of qualified candidates, available on the website of the L.A. County registrar-recorder’s office. Voter Edge offers more details about each candidate, including their positions on some issues. (Seat 1; Seat 3; Seat 5; Seat 7)
Current board President Andra Hoffman and incumbents David Vela and Mike Fong have been endorsed by the Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, the union that represents community college faculty members, and the L.A. County Democratic Party, as has newcomer Nichelle Henderson, a teacher at Cal State L.A.
Another group of four candidates nicknamed the “LACCD Justice Squad” — Karen Hernandez, Ruffin Patterson, Cory Butler and Michelle Manos — were handpicked by student leaders to focus on student priorities: grants for basic needs, health services, culturally relevant support programs for Black and Latino students, and a rethinking of the campuses’ relationship with law enforcement. The Times editorial board endorsed a mix of incumbents and challengers.
Reading list
Election of a board majority will shape the nation’s largest community college district
L.A. community colleges will remain online-only through spring
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Students hit hard as L.A. community colleges scramble to respond to coronavirus
Thousands of community college students withdraw after a lost semester amid coronavirus


latimes--2020-11-02--Has your mail-in ballot been challenged or rejected in the 2020 general election?

In an election where a record number of Americans will cast votes by mail , challenges and rejections to mail-in @ @ @ @ @ importance .
How soon voters are notified that their ballots have been flagged for rejection @ @ @ @ @ the chance to correct any problems — varies by state .
We ’ ll be @ @ @ @ @ they are made available across the country .
If you ’ ve been notified that @ @ @ @ @ we ’ d like to hear from you .

In an election where a record number of Americans will cast votes by mail, challenges and rejections to mail-in ballots have taken on new importance. How soon voters are notified that their ballots have been flagged for rejection — and whether they have the chance to correct any problems — varies by state.
We’ll be tracking ballot rejection data as they are made available across the country. If you’ve been notified that your ballot was rejected, we’d like to hear from you.


latimes--2020-11-02--Measure J: A look at the L.A. County criminal justice reform proposal

Measure J would require that 10 % of locally generated , unrestricted Los Angeles County money — estimated between $ 360 million and $ 900 million — be spent on a variety of social services , including housing , mental health treatment and jail diversion programs .
The county would be prohibited from using the money on prisons , jails or law enforcement agencies .
Here is a rundown of the L.A. County ballot measure .
The measure has pitted community justice activists against law enforcement officials and their backers over sharply differing visions of how the measure would affect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call directly for police budget cuts , opponents claim that funds would inevitably be slashed from law enforcement .
Proponents say the measure ’ s aim is not to slash police staffing but instead address the significant costs of jailing low-income residents who commit low-level offenses as well as people with mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders .
An estimated 61 % of the mental health population in L.A. County ’ s jails — about 3,400 people — would be more appropriate candidates for less costly , more effective diversion programs , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to published earlier this year .
It is unclear the exact amount of money Measure J would divert because much of the county ’ s unrestricted funds vary from year to year .
Of the $ 9 billion in unrestricted money in the county ’ s $ 35-billion budget this year , about $ 2 billion goes to the Sheriff ’ s Department .
Measure J funds would total about $ 360 million based on this year ’ s budget , according to an estimate provided by county officials .
The Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot in the wake of the protests over the killing by police of George Floyd and the racial reckoning that followed .
It was one of a flurry of criminal justice reform proposals launched after the summer of protests .
Many of those proposed in Sacramento failed to materialize amid opposition from police and law enforcement unions .
Opponents of Measure J include the Assn .
for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs , which has spent more than $ 3.5 million on campaign advertising on TV and social media .
After year of civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approve criminal justice reforms L.A. County voters to decide whether to divert millions to social services and racial justice ‘ No more jails , ’ just mental health centers .
Is that a realistic policy for L.A. County ?
L.A. County can help thousands of mentally ill inmates avoid arrest and homelessness , study finds Stall tactics .
Distractions .
Lobbying .
How police reform was derailed in California

Measure J would require that 10% of locally generated, unrestricted Los Angeles County money — estimated between $360 million and $900 million — be spent on a variety of social services, including housing, mental health treatment and jail diversion programs. The county would be prohibited from using the money on prisons, jails or law enforcement agencies.
Here is a rundown of the L.A. County ballot measure.
The issues
The measure has pitted community justice activists against law enforcement officials and their backers over sharply differing visions of how the measure would affect policing. While it doesn’t call directly for police budget cuts, opponents claim that funds would inevitably be slashed from law enforcement.
Proponents say the measure’s aim is not to slash police staffing but instead address the significant costs of jailing low-income residents who commit low-level offenses as well as people with mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders.
An estimated 61% of the mental health population in L.A. County’s jails — about 3,400 people — would be more appropriate candidates for less costly, more effective diversion programs, if those programs had space or existed, according to a report by RAND Corp. published earlier this year.
It is unclear the exact amount of money Measure J would divert because much of the county’s unrestricted funds vary from year to year. Of the $9 billion in unrestricted money in the county’s $35-billion budget this year, about $2 billion goes to the Sheriff’s Department. Measure J funds would total about $360 million based on this year’s budget, according to an estimate provided by county officials.
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State of the race
The Board of Supervisors placed Measure J on the ballot in the wake of the protests over the killing by police of George Floyd and the racial reckoning that followed. It was one of a flurry of criminal justice reform proposals launched after the summer of protests. Many of those proposed in Sacramento failed to materialize amid opposition from police and law enforcement unions.
Opponents of Measure J include the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, which has spent more than $3.5 million on campaign advertising on TV and social media.
Reading list
After year of civil unrest, Measure J asks voters to approve criminal justice reforms
L.A. County voters to decide whether to divert millions to social services and racial justice
L.A. County seeks plan to close aging Men’s Central Jail in a year
‘No more jails,’ just mental health centers. Is that a realistic policy for L.A. County?
L.A. County can help thousands of mentally ill inmates avoid arrest and homelessness, study finds
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Stall tactics. Distractions. Lobbying. How police reform was derailed in California


latimes--2020-11-02--Ds and Fs surge, attendance slips among L.A.'s poorest students amid distance learning

Grades of D and F have increased in the Los Angeles Unified School District among middle and high school students in a troubling sign of the toll that distance learning — and the coronavirus crisis — is taking on the children , especially those who are members of low-income families .
The drop in grades , which also is affecting other school systems , was disclosed Monday when L.A. Unified released a chart based on 10-week interim assessments , Poor grades surged the most in lower-income communities , which also is where student attendance rates are lower and where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The attendance figures and interim assessments don ’ t reflect the desire or capability of students , ” said L.A. schools Supt .
Austin Beutner in remarks broadcast Monday .
“ They ’ re eager to learn and every bit as capable as they were before school facilities closed .
But the struggle to cope with COVID-19 and online learning for children and their families is very real.
” The data on grades made another announcement all the more painful , even though school board leaders foreshadowed it last week : Campuses will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the superintendent said .
And even that timing could prove doubtful , Beutner said , unless the coronavirus pandemic subsides and unless state and local agencies offer more guidance and resources .
The drop in grades suggests that “ traditional ways of measuring learning need rethinking , ” said Janelle Scott , a professor in the Graduate School of Education and African American Studies Dept .
at UC Berkeley .
“ Grading students right now is essentially grading their home resources , which includes not only the physical structure and availability of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but also adults who can support and supplement remote offerings.
” The information about grades is more evidence about the pandemic ’ s harm to education , said Elisha Smith Arrillaga , executive director of Education Trust–West , an Oakland-based research and advocacy group .
“ This significantly complicates high school graduation , college and career preparation , and college and admissions , ” she said .
“ California ’ s students will be experiencing the impact of COVID-19 for years to come.
” About 80 % of students in L.A. Unified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the problem also has surfaced in Carlsbad Unified , where about 25 % of students have that designation .
In that San Diego County school system , the percentage of Ds and Fs has more than doubled , rising to 14.3 % , said Supt .
Benjamin Churchill .
Similar spikes in failing grades are being reported among school systems in the Bay area .
Unlike some school systems , L.A. has not yet released the percentage of Ds and Fs for this year and last year .
Officials in various districts says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for struggling students .
Beutner announced on Monday that L.A. Unified is expanding attempts to reach more students in person , providing instruction for up to three students at a time .
All participants , including teachers , will have to take a coronavirus test , even if they ’ ve had one recently .
This gradual growth of in-person services is expected to reach several thousand of the district ’ s 460,000 K-12 students .
The district also will be speeding up the in-person assessment of students with special needs and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — outside with physical distancing and no team drills .
These expanded activities arise from new agreements with United Teachers Los Angeles , which represents teachers , nurses , counselors and librarians .
The next two months need to be spent in an all-out effort to get ready for a hoped-for January opening , Beutner said .
As part of that effort L.A. Unified joined six other large California school districts Monday in calling on state and local officials to develop `` a common standard of health , education and employee practices so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the safest way.
” The districts called for “ regular surveillance testing ” of students and staff at no cost to participants or school districts .
They also called for plans to help employees who would be at risk by returning to campus or who would put a family member at risk by doing so .
State legislators expressed overlapping concerns in a Monday letter to Mark Ghaly , the secretary for the state Health & Human Services Agency .
State officials last week could not tell the Assembly education committee which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks of COVID-19 — let alone factors that would have contributed to an infection in a school community .
Such data should be collected and analyzed , said Assemblyman Patrick O ’ Donnell ( D-Long Beach ) , who co-signed the letter .
Beutner called the failure to collect such data “ reckless ” and pointed to ongoing efforts by L.A. Unified to tally and post its own testing data .
A report from the state ’ s Legislative Analyst said various state and county agencies are providing sometimes conflicting guidance to schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
State COVID rules stipulate that Los Angeles County can not open public and private K-12 campuses to all students because coronavirus infection rates are too high .
In contrast , campuses in Orange , San Diego and Ventura counties , where infection rates are lower , are cleared to reopen , and some districts have .
As in L.A. County , campuses in San Bernardino County can not open .
In Riverside County , campuses also must remain closed unless they were able to open before a recent spike of COVID cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first , ” said Beutner .
“ The overall level of COVID in this community has to be at a safer level ...
There ’ s nobody more frustrated by this than I.
” The situation with student grades embodies this frustration .
“ It ’ s not their fault , their families ’ fault or the teacher ’ s fault , ” he added .
In the spring , L.A. Unified joined some other California districts in giving students a passing grade in all classes .
And no grade was lowered after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since then , L.A. Unified has worked to make online learning universally accessible , to provide a consistent course schedule and to create more engaging online lessons .
L.A. teachers have taken multiple training sessions in online instruction , while also modifying lesson plans and courses .
“ Extraordinary things are happening in classrooms , ” Beutner said .
“ But the simple fact is some students are struggling online.
” Even some significant accomplishments have been tempered by reality .
The district ’ s universal access efforts — making computers and internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been undermined by pockets of inadequate Wi-Fi reception across the county , especially in lower-income areas .
In the “ highest-needs communities , ” Beutner said in the interview , “ the struggle is more difficult .
It may be because there ’ s not a quiet place to work at home .
It may be because there ’ s more trauma in the household — maybe because the disproportionate health impact of this virus is having on communities of color means someone in the household is sick .
It may [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not because we haven ’ t provided the connectivity.
” “ We ’ ve heard some of the broadband itself that may not be as strong or the signal may not be as strong in parts of the communities as in others.
” Beutner said he spoke with a dedicated and “ heartbroken ” middle school teacher who talked about students who are late to class , who turn off screens during a Zoom class , who don ’ t turn in assignments and of families that don ’ t return calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students would be doing better in a classroom at school with the structure it provides , the comfort of friends and the focus and routine of his teaching , ” Beutner said .

Norma Quijas, center, with her children, third-grader Valeria Quijas, seventh-grader Keyla Quijas and Carlos Perez outside their home in Bell. Keyla’s grades have suffered since the switch to online school because of the pandemic.
Grades of D and F have increased in the Los Angeles Unified School District among middle and high school students in a troubling sign of the toll that distance learning — and the coronavirus crisis — is taking on children, especially those who are members of low-income families.
The drop in grades, which also is affecting other school systems, was disclosed Monday when L.A. Unified released a chart based on 10-week interim assessments. Poor grades surged in the district’s lower-income communities, which also is where student attendance rates are lower and where the COVID-19 pandemic has hit especially hard.
“The attendance figures and interim assessments don’t reflect the desire or capability of students,” said L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner in remarks broadcast Monday. “They’re eager to learn and every bit as capable as they were before school facilities closed. But the struggle to cope with COVID-19 and online learning for children and their families is very real.”
The data on grades made another announcement all the more painful, even though school board leaders foreshadowed it last week: Campuses will not reopen for most students before January, the superintendent said. And even that timing could prove doubtful, Beutner said, unless the coronavirus pandemic subsides and unless state and local agencies offer more guidance and resources.
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The drop in grades suggests that “traditional ways of measuring learning need rethinking,” said Janelle Scott, a professor in the Graduate School of Education and African American Studies department at UC Berkeley. “Grading students right now is essentially grading their home resources, which includes not only the physical structure and availability of a space to ‘do’ school, but also adults who can support and supplement remote offerings.”
The dropping grades provide more evidence about the pandemic’s harm to education, said Elisha Smith Arrillaga, executive director of Education Trust–West, an Oakland-based research and advocacy group.
“This significantly complicates high school graduation, college and career preparation, and college admissions,” she said. “California’s students will be experiencing the impact of COVID-19 for years to come.”
Teresa Rodríguez’s son, Iván, a ninth-grader at Bell High School, has never brought home a failing grade, but so far, he’s got an F in theater. His other grades are better, but Rodríguez worries about his academic malaise.
“There are days when he tells me he doesn’t even want to log on,” she said. “I force him, of course. But it’s all very negative. And he’s always taking bathroom breaks.”
She worries about his changed attitude toward learning and, down the road, about college.
“He was so excited to graduate from middle school,” Rodríguez said. “He was looking forward to walking by himself to school, making new friends, having a new pace of life. And he lost all of that.”
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Rodríguez understands there are no easy answers — and, even if she could, she’s not sure she’s ready to send her children back to campus because of family health issues.
The grades of Keyla Quijas, a seventh-grader at the Maywood Center for Enriched Studies, have slipped from A’s and Bs to Cs, Ds and Fs, said her mother, Norma Quijas.
“I’ve talked to her about her grades, and she said, ‘Mom, it’s not the same thing to be at home as at school,’” said her mother. “I feel she’s not learning at all. It’s stressful for me. I sit there with her. I know teachers are trying their best, but it’s not the same thing.”
Quijas also has a daughter in third grade: “They lose interest after a couple of hours of sitting down at the computer.”
Declining grades also have surfaced in Carlsbad Unified, a San Diego County school system that has less than a third as many students living in poverty as L.A. Unified. The percentage of Ds and Fs in Carlsbad has more than doubled, rising to 14.3%, said Supt. Benjamin Churchill.
Similar surges in failing grades are being reported among school systems in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Unlike some school systems, L.A. did not release the numbers behind the year-to-year increases in Ds and Fs.
For all districts, the 10-week report serves as an early warning system that teachers and district officials are using to target assistance for struggling students.
Beutner announced on Monday that L.A. Unified is expanding from one-on-one in-person tutoring to groups of up to three — to reach more students. All participants, including teachers, will have to take a coronavirus test, even if they’ve had one recently. This gradual growth of in-person services is expected to reach several thousand of the district’s 460,000 K-12 students. Health authorities allow in-person services to students with special needs, up to 25% of enrollment.
The district also will be speeding up the in-person assessment of students with special needs and will allow sports teams to begin conditioning work — outside with physical distancing and no team drills. These expanded activities arise from new agreements with United Teachers Los Angeles, which represents teachers, nurses, counselors and librarians.
The next two months need to be spent in an all-out effort to get ready for a hoped-for January opening, Beutner said
As part of that effort, L.A. Unified joined six other large California school districts Monday in calling on state and local officials to develop “a common standard of health, education and employee practices so schools have a clear path to open in the safest way.”
The districts called for “regular surveillance testing” for the virus among students and staff at no cost to participants or school districts. They also called for plans to help employees who would be at risk by returning to campus or who would put a family member at risk by doing so.
State legislators expressed overlapping concerns in a Monday letter to Mark Ghaly, the secretary for the state Health & Human Services Agency.
State officials last week could not tell the Assembly education committee which California schools have reopened or have had outbreaks of COVID-19 — let alone factors that would have contributed to an infection in a school community.
Such data should be collected and analyzed, said Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), who cosigned the letter.
Beutner called the failure to collect such data “reckless” and pointed to ongoing efforts by L.A. Unified to tally and post its own testing data.
A report from the state’s legislative analyst said various state and county agencies are providing sometimes conflicting guidance to schools on how best to keep campuses safe.
State COVID rules stipulate that Los Angeles County cannot open public and private K-12 campuses to all students because coronavirus infection rates are too high, with the county in the state’s most restrictive purple Tier 1. In contrast, campuses in Orange, San Diego and Ventura counties, where infection rates are lower, are clear to open.
Campuses in San Bernardino County cannot open. In Riverside County, campuses also must remain closed unless they were able to open before a recent spike of COVID cases in that county.
“First things first,” said Beutner. “The overall level of COVID in this community has to be at a safer level... There’s nobody more frustrated by this than I.”
The situation with student grades embodies this frustration.
“It’s not their fault, their families’ fault or the teacher’s fault,” he added.
In the spring, L.A. Unified joined some other California districts in giving students a passing grade in all classes. And no grade was lowered after campuses shut down on March 13. Since then, L.A. Unified has worked to make online learning universally accessible, to provide a consistent course schedule and to create more engaging online lessons. L.A. teachers have taken multiple training sessions in online instruction, while also modifying lesson plans and courses.
And grading has resumed.
“Extraordinary things are happening in classrooms,” Beutner said. “But the simple fact is some students are struggling online.”
Even some significant accomplishments have been tempered by reality. The district’s universal access efforts — making computers and internet hot spots available to all students — have been undermined by pockets of inadequate Wi-Fi reception across the county, especially in lower-income areas.
In the “highest-needs communities,” Beutner said in the interview, “the struggle is more difficult. He noted that the Wi-Fi signal “may not be as strong in parts of the communities as in others.”
Beutner said he spoke with a dedicated and “heartbroken” middle school teacher who talked about students who are late to class, who turn off screens during a Zoom class, who don’t turn in assignments and of families that don’t return calls.
“He knows most of these students would be doing better in a classroom at school with the structure it provides, the comfort of friends and the focus and routine of his teaching,” Beutner said.


latimes--2020-11-02--Nithya Raman vs. David Ryu: Everything you need to know about L.A. council race

The council race between Nithya Raman and David Ryu is a battle for the soul of progressive L.A. in a district that stretches from Silver Lake to Sherman Oaks to the Miracle Mile , taking in wealthy , majority-white neighborhoods like Hancock Park and Hollywood Hills .
Here is a rundown of the race : An urban planner , Raman is a co-founder of a Silver Lake-based coalition to help homeless residents .
She wrote a for City Hall that found an “ incredible gulf between the rhetoric and the reality ” of how the city responded to homelessness .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Time ’ s Up Entertainment , which grew out of the # MeToo movement .
Raman has worked to bring in younger voters and residents who felt disconnected from local politics , while also picking up endorsement buzz from celebrities such as Natalie Portman and Jane Fonda .
Grassroots activists with such groups as Ground Game LA and Democratic Socialists of America-Los Angeles have mobilized for Raman , who contends that Ryu has fallen short on housing , homelessness and issues involving police accountability .
A Raman victory would represent a breakthrough for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran for City Council five years ago as an outsider , surprising the establishment by defeating the top aide to his predecessor , former Councilman Tom LaBonge .
A former development director for a South L.A. psychiatric hospital and community mental health center , Ryu became the council ’ s first Korean American member .
After taking office , Ryu pushed for a ban on campaign donations from real estate developers , amid concerns about “ pay to play ” practices at City Hall .
Although he repeatedly faced pushback , he eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which some critics said did not go far enough .
In the runoff campaign , Ryu has raised more than $ 595,000 , picking up endorsements from the county Democratic Party , city employee unions and some tenant advocates .
But Raman has outpaced him financially , collecting more than $ 680,000 .
The state of the race In some ways , the race has become a microcosm of the larger divide within the Democratic Party over progressive issues .
While Raman has picked up the backing of Bernie Sanders and Sunrise Movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change , Ryu has carved out support from establishment Democrats , such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-San Francisco ) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton .
Raman , 39 , has spoken out against laws that “ criminalize ” homelessness and called for a network of community access centers to assist unhoused people .
She has proposed a plan to cancel the rent debt of L.A. renters and argued in favor of making the LAPD a “ much smaller ” armed force , with many of their duties shifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has touted his push to bring hundreds of homeless shelter beds and nearly 250 units of supportive housing to the district .
He backed the creation of a $ 100-million renters ’ relief fund at City Hall and an expansion of state tax credits for renters .
He also advocated for a blanket ban on evictions , which did not receive enough votes for passage .
While Ryu says he supports reimagining public safety , he contends that Raman ’ s campaign is powered by “ radicals ” who are seeking not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , leaving Angelenos vulnerable to violent crime .
He also highlighted remarks from Raman supporters saying police work in tandem with the Ku Klux Klan .
Raman ’ s campaign called Ryu ’ s focus on her supporters “ cheap ” and “ distasteful.
” Raman also said Ryu should disavow the financial support he has received from the Police Protective League , the LAPD officers ’ union .
In the wake of the protest movement over George Floyd ’ s death while in Minneapolis police custody , Ryu pledged not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then , the league had spent nearly $ 45,000 on his behalf .
In L.A. race , is this incumbent a ‘ progressive fighter ’ or a knockoff ?
L.A. 's Ryu-Raman council race reflects wider battle over policing among Democrats and the left He ran as a City Hall reformer .
His rivals say he ’ s fallen short on homelessness Corruption is a hot topic at City Hall .
Here ’ s how council candidates plan to fight it So much for shaking hands and kissing babies : How COVID-19 is @ @ @

Los Angeles City Council candidates David Ryu and Nithya Raman are running to represent a district that stretches from Sherman Oaks to the Miracle Mile.
The council race between Nithya Raman and David Ryu is a battle for the soul of progressive L.A. in a district that stretches from Silver Lake to Sherman Oaks to the Miracle Mile, taking in wealthy, majority-white neighborhoods like Hancock Park and Hollywood Hills.
Here is a rundown of the race:
Nithya Raman
An urban planner, Raman is a co-founder of a Silver Lake-based coalition to help homeless residents. She wrote a report for City Hall that found an “incredible gulf between the rhetoric and the reality” of how the city responded to homelessness. She also served as executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment, which grew out of the #MeToo movement.
Raman has worked to bring in younger voters and residents who felt disconnected from local politics, while also picking up endorsement buzz from celebrities such as Natalie Portman and Jane Fonda.
Grassroots activists with such groups as Ground Game LA and Democratic Socialists of America-Los Angeles have mobilized for Raman, who contends that Ryu has fallen short on housing, homelessness and issues involving police accountability. A Raman victory would represent a breakthrough for those activists at City Hall.
David Ryu
Ryu ran for City Council five years ago as an outsider, surprising the establishment by defeating the top aide to his predecessor, former Councilman Tom LaBonge. A former development director for a South L.A. psychiatric hospital and community mental health center, Ryu became the council’s first Korean American member.
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After taking office, Ryu pushed for a ban on campaign donations from real estate developers, amid concerns about “pay to play” practices at City Hall. Although he repeatedly faced pushback, he eventually won passage of new donation limits, which some critics said did not go far enough.
In the runoff campaign, Ryu has raised more than $595,000, picking up endorsements from the county Democratic Party, city employee unions and some tenant advocates. But Raman has outpaced him financially, collecting more than $680,000.
The state of the race
In some ways, the race has become a microcosm of the larger divide within the Democratic Party over progressive issues.
While Raman has picked up the backing of Bernie Sanders and Sunrise Movement Los Angeles, an activist group fighting climate change, Ryu has carved out support from establishment Democrats, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Raman, 39, has spoken out against laws that “criminalize” homelessness and called for a network of community access centers to assist unhoused people. She has proposed a plan to cancel the rent debt of L.A. renters and argued in favor of making the LAPD a “much smaller” armed force, with many of their duties shifted to other workers.
Ryu, 45, has touted his push to bring hundreds of homeless shelter beds and nearly 250 units of supportive housing to the district. He backed the creation of a $100-million renters’ relief fund at City Hall and an expansion of state tax credits for renters. He also advocated for a blanket ban on evictions, which did not receive enough votes for passage.
While Ryu says he supports reimagining public safety, he contends that Raman’s campaign is powered by “radicals” who are seeking not simply to reform the LAPD but abolish it, leaving Angelenos vulnerable to violent crime. He also highlighted remarks from Raman supporters saying police work in tandem with the Ku Klux Klan.
Raman’s campaign called Ryu’s focus on her supporters “cheap” and “distasteful.” Raman also said Ryu should disavow the financial support he has received from the Police Protective League, the LAPD officers’ union.
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In the wake of the protest movement over George Floyd’s death while in Minneapolis police custody, Ryu pledged not to take donations from police unions. By then, the league had spent nearly $45,000 on his behalf.
Reading list
In L.A. race, is this incumbent a ‘progressive fighter’ or a knockoff?
L.A.’s Ryu-Raman council race reflects wider battle over policing among Democrats and the left
He ran as a City Hall reformer. His rivals say he’s fallen short on homelessness
Corruption is a hot topic at City Hall. Here’s how council candidates plan to fight it
So much for shaking hands and kissing babies: How COVID-19 is reshaping L.A. campaigns