latimes--2020-09-25--Vehicle plows through Breonna Taylor protesters in Hollywood, hitting at least one person

A truck drove through a group of protesters in Hollywood on Thursday night , striking at least one person as it sped through the crowd , according to the police and news footage from the scene .
Demonstrators had gathered at 7 p.m. at Hollywood Forever Cemetery before marching through the streets of Hollywood .
They were decrying the announcement Wednesday that just one of three Louisville , Ky. , police officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor , who was shot to death in a bungled raid of her apartment , had been charged with a crime .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was charged not in connection with Taylor ’ s death but for allegedly firing blindly into her apartment building .
The charging decision , anticipated for months , has infuriated people throughout the country and spurred large protests , including one Wednesday night that drew hundreds of people to downtown Los Angeles .
On Thursday , the group in Hollywood was walking down Sunset Boulevard , video posted to Twitter and YouTube shows , when a dark-colored pickup accelerated among the protesters , striking one directly and hurtling the person backward .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nearly hitting other people who leaped out of the way , the footage shows .
Capt .
Steve Lurie , who leads the Los Angeles Police Department ’ s Hollywood Division , said officers stopped and identified the motorist , although they didn ’ t immediately arrest him .
The motorist told them that protesters had attacked his car first , according to Lurie , who added that officers have noted damage to the car .
Christian Monterrosa , a freelance photojournalist who was following the protest , said the truck was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — west , when the group was walking east — when protesters began crowding the vehicle , trying to bring it to a stop .
“ I would say the truck instigated the incident , definitely , ” Monterrosa said , noting that other motorists had yielded to the demonstrators .
Nicholas Prange , a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department , said paramedics were called just before 9 p.m. to the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Seward Street .
An ambulance transported at least one person to a hospital with minor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lurie said the person was in stable condition and refused to cooperate with police .
Moments after the incident and a few blocks east on Sunset Boulevard , a white Prius tried to drive through the fringes of a group of demonstrators who had gathered in an intersection , according to the LAPD and footage from KCAL-TV Channel 9 ’ s chopper , Sky9 .
“ It wasn ’ t traveling at a fast speed — it was inching forward , trying to get past , and that upset people , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crowd began striking the car ’ s windows and doors , the news footage shows .
After the Prius cleared the crowd , a black pickup truck with several people sitting in the bed gave chase , accelerated ahead of the Prius and pulled to an abrupt halt .
A man got out of the truck and , according to the footage , appeared to try to pull the driver out of the Prius .
The Prius reversed and collided with a green Mustang convertible , which was associated with the protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person got out of the convertible and began striking the Prius with a flagpole , the footage shows , and another person arrived on a skateboard , which he used to smash the Prius ’ windshield .
The motorist drove off but was detained a few blocks away by the LAPD .
No one was injured in the incident , according to police .
Police have identified the motorists involved in both incidents , which were still being investigated , the LAPD said in a statement .
Lurie , the Hollywood captain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , both of whom maintain they were accosted by protesters , are “ the suspect of a hit-and-run or the victim of an assault.
” Cases could be presented to either county or city prosecutors for charging consideration , he said .
Meanwhile , protesters continued to march along Fountain Avenue , just south of Sunset .
Mo Broughton , 32 , of Hollywood used a megaphone to urge protesters to stay behind vehicles that were part of the protest .
“ Please stay behind the cars — it ’ s for your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated 350 people took to the streets in Hollywood on Thursday night , according to Lurie .
Most were peaceful but about 20 were “ violent , ” the captain said , painting graffiti and lighting fires in a pair of trash cans .

A truck drove through a group of protesters in Hollywood on Thursday night, striking at least one person as it sped through the crowd, according to the police and news footage from the scene.
Demonstrators had gathered at 7 p.m. at Hollywood Forever Cemetery before marching through the streets of Hollywood.
They were decrying the announcement Wednesday that just one of three Louisville, Ky., police officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor, who was shot to death in a bungled raid of her apartment, had been charged with a crime. The one indicted officer, Brett Hankison, was charged not in connection with Taylor’s death but for allegedly firing blindly into her apartment building.
The charging decision, anticipated for months, has infuriated people throughout the country and spurred large protests, including one Wednesday night that drew hundreds of people to downtown Los Angeles.
On Thursday, the group in Hollywood was walking down Sunset Boulevard, video posted to Twitter and YouTube shows, when a dark-colored pickup accelerated among the protesters, striking one directly and hurtling the person backward. The truck then sped down Sunset Boulevard, nearly hitting other people who leaped out of the way, the footage shows.
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Capt. Steve Lurie, who leads the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Division, said officers stopped and identified the motorist, although they didn’t immediately arrest him. The motorist told them that protesters had attacked his car first, according to Lurie, who added that officers have noted damage to the car.
A protester who was hit by a car is attended to as paramedics arrive on Sunset Boulevard. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Christian Monterrosa, a freelance photojournalist who was following the protest, said the truck was traveling against the flow of the crowd — west, when the group was walking east — when protesters began crowding the vehicle, trying to bring it to a stop.
“I would say the truck instigated the incident, definitely,” Monterrosa said, noting that other motorists had yielded to the demonstrators.
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Nicholas Prange, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said paramedics were called just before 9 p.m. to the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Seward Street. An ambulance transported at least one person to a hospital with minor injuries, according to the LAPD. Lurie said the person was in stable condition and refused to cooperate with police.
Caution: Video contains graphic content and strong language.
Moments after the incident and a few blocks east on Sunset Boulevard, a white Prius tried to drive through the fringes of a group of demonstrators who had gathered in an intersection, according to the LAPD and footage from KCAL-TV Channel 9’s chopper, Sky9.
“It wasn’t traveling at a fast speed — it was inching forward, trying to get past, and that upset people,” said Monterrosa, the photojournalist.
People in the crowd began striking the car’s windows and doors, the news footage shows. After the Prius cleared the crowd, a black pickup truck with several people sitting in the bed gave chase, accelerated ahead of the Prius and pulled to an abrupt halt. A man got out of the truck and, according to the footage, appeared to try to pull the driver out of the Prius.
The Prius reversed and collided with a green Mustang convertible, which was associated with the protest, according to the LAPD. A person got out of the convertible and began striking the Prius with a flagpole, the footage shows, and another person arrived on a skateboard, which he used to smash the Prius’ windshield. The motorist drove off but was detained a few blocks away by the LAPD. No one was injured in the incident, according to police.
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A victim is comforted after being hit by a hit and run driver on Sunset Blvd. as she was protesting the Kentucky grand jury’s decision in the Breonna Taylor case. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Police have identified the motorists involved in both incidents, which were still being investigated, the LAPD said in a statement. Lurie, the Hollywood captain, said detectives will review whether the motorists, both of whom maintain they were accosted by protesters, are “the suspect of a hit-and-run or the victim of an assault.” Cases could be presented to either county or city prosecutors for charging consideration, he said.
Meanwhile, protesters continued to march along Fountain Avenue, just south of Sunset. Mo Broughton, 32, of Hollywood used a megaphone to urge protesters to stay behind vehicles that were part of the protest.
“Please stay behind the cars — it’s for your protection,” she yelled.
An estimated 350 people took to the streets in Hollywood on Thursday night, according to Lurie. Most were peaceful but about 20 were “violent,” the captain said, painting graffiti and lighting fires in a pair of trash cans.
A Prius runs through a crowd of people on Sunset Boulevard and North Cahuenga Boulevard during a protest held for Breonna Taylor in Hollywood. (Josie Norris/Los Angeles Times)
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Times staff writer Kevin Rector contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-09-24--App-based food delivery companies must work with restaurants under new California law

Two new California laws will require app-based delivery companies to more closely work with local restaurants before advertising their menu options and drivers to ensure the safety of meals while the orders are in transit .
The laws signed by Gov .
Gavin Newsom are the latest effort by state lawmakers to ratchet up oversight of an industry that has resisted attempts at regulation as it grows rapidly in size and profitability .
The most far-reaching of the laws , signed by Newsom on Wednesday , requires companies such as DoorDash , Grub Hub , Postmates and Uber Eats to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertising food delivery to their customers .
Its supporters say that restaurant owners might not know their food is being advertised or delivered by the app-based company , leaving the business susceptible to surprise complaints if customers are unhappy with the experience .
“ When Uber Eats , DoorDash and other gig companies operate under their own rules , businesses and consumers are harmed , ” said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez ( D-San Diego ) , the bill ’ s author .
Assembly Bill 2149 doesn ’ t specify what details should be included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an online company must work with a restaurant owner to craft a document “ expressly authorizing the food delivery platform to take orders and deliver meals prepared by the food facility.
” Some restaurant owners have accused app-based companies of promising food deliveries from their companies without any guarantee the food wouldn ’ t be prepared somewhere else and falsely labeled .
This spring , the owner of a Los Angeles barbecue pop-up asked Grubhub to take down an unapproved listing for his menu items after he tried to place an order and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they want you to be on their app they should at least speak with you first , instead of going behind your back , ” Moo ’ s Craft Barbecue owner Andrew Muñoz told The Times in March .
“ It just becomes one more thing you have to worry about as a business owner.
” Others have complained of app-based fees charged to either the restaurant or the online customers that were not agreed upon in advance .
A second law signed by Newsom last week , Assembly Bill 3336 , requires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controls in transporting the meals to customers .
Restaurants will also have to place a seal on the food bag before handing it off to the delivery person , making any tampering clear to the customer .
The bill ’ s author , Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo ( D-Los Angeles ) , told lawmakers earlier this year that there is too little existing authority for local environmental health agencies to investigate complaints about mishandled food deliveries .
Both laws were among the final proposals sent to Newsom by lawmakers before they adjourned for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 .

App-based companies like GrubHub will have to sign agreements with local restaurants under a new California law.
Two new California laws will require app-based delivery companies to more closely work with local restaurants before advertising their menu options and drivers to ensure the safety of meals while the orders are in transit.
The laws signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom are the latest effort by state lawmakers to ratchet up oversight of an industry that has resisted attempts at regulation as it grows rapidly in size and profitability.
The most far-reaching of the laws, signed by Newsom on Wednesday, requires companies such as DoorDash, Grub Hub, Postmates and Uber Eats to sign formal agreements with local restaurants before advertising food delivery to their customers. Its supporters say that restaurant owners might not know their food is being advertised or delivered by the app-based company, leaving the business susceptible to surprise complaints if customers are unhappy with the experience.
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“When Uber Eats, DoorDash and other gig companies operate under their own rules, businesses and consumers are harmed,” said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), the bill’s author.
Assembly Bill 2149 doesn’t specify what details should be included in the written agreement, simply that an online company must work with a restaurant owner to craft a document “expressly authorizing the food delivery platform to take orders and deliver meals prepared by the food facility.”
Some restaurant owners have accused app-based companies of promising food deliveries from their companies without any guarantee the food wouldn’t be prepared somewhere else and falsely labeled. This spring, the owner of a Los Angeles barbecue pop-up asked Grubhub to take down an unapproved listing for his menu items after he tried to place an order and never received the food.
“If they want you to be on their app they should at least speak with you first, instead of going behind your back,” Moo’s Craft Barbecue owner Andrew Muñoz told The Times in March. “It just becomes one more thing you have to worry about as a business owner.”
Others have complained of app-based fees charged to either the restaurant or the online customers that were not agreed upon in advance.
A second law signed by Newsom last week, Assembly Bill 3336, requires app-based companies to ensure cleanliness and temperature controls in transporting the meals to customers. Restaurants will also have to place a seal on the food bag before handing it off to the delivery person, making any tampering clear to the customer.
The bill’s author, Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), told lawmakers earlier this year that there is too little existing authority for local environmental health agencies to investigate complaints about mishandled food deliveries.
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Both laws were among the final proposals sent to Newsom by lawmakers before they adjourned for the year and will take effect on Jan. 1.


latimes--2020-09-24--Will Orange County show the nation how to safely reopen schools? A major test is underway

Orange County school districts serving more than 200,000 students are opening their schoolyard gates this week and next , marking a major , widely watched test of the ability of California school systems to safely resume in-person classes amid the coronavirus crisis .
By Thursday , Tustin , Irvine , Fountain Valley and Cypress joined Los Alamitos Unified , which led the wave of openings with its elementary schools under a county-approved waiver .
They will be followed next week by Capistrano , Saddleback , Orange , Newport-Mesa and Ocean View districts — a total of 10 of the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campuses are using hybrid schedules that allow a portion of students back at one time while others learn online — to help maintain social distancing by keeping classes small .
So far , the vast majority of families have opted to return to campus .
This renewal of in-person classes after six months of pandemic forced campus closures is prompting both celebration and concern — with teachers and parents hoping that carefully laid plans on how to operate schools safely will not be derailed by outbreaks of coronavirus infections .
The openings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its anti-mask rebellion and defiance of state orders — was given state and county public health department clearance to reopen campuses because of the county ’ s lower coronavirus test positivity rate .
“ Orange County may help lead the nation ’ s children back to school — but only if local educators and health officials proceed with untiring vigilance , ” UC Berkeley education professor Bruce Fuller said .
“ Orange County might also teach union leaders that reopening with care is possible , even beneficial , for kids and parents.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the state lacks consistent procedures and oversight for ensuring that schools are safe .
“ I don ’ t think that any child or any of my members should be a test case , ” Boyd said .
Across the state , 33 counties with 478 school districts are eligible to reopen because of lower infection rates , said California Department of Education director of communications Daniel Thigpen .
Of these , 56 % are still online only — and not all have reported data to the state .
Most Orange County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affluent communities — where COVID-19 rates are lower .
Districts serving mainly low-income households , including in Santa Ana and Anaheim , have no timetable for reopening campuses , raising equity concerns .
Second-grade teacher Lisa Hickman of Tustin ’ s Sycamore Magnet Academy expressed the anxieties of a complicated and new classroom order : masks , desk dividers , staggered schedules , hand sanitizer by the gallon and dots on the floor indicating how close students can get to her .
But she was excited to meet the 7-year-olds whose voices and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the computer screen and audio of distance learning .
“ Everyone wanted us to reopen , and I felt like Orange County was rushing it ...
I ’ m terrified for the safety of my coworkers and my students — they ’ re my babies , ” she said .
“ But right now our main concern is how to protect the kids.
” Teachers in Irvine , Newport-Mesa and Saddleback Valley protested their impending district openings last week , saying their schools are not safe enough .
Teachers in Irvine and Saddleback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hybrid learning — saying that most students in middle and high school would receive a better education from distance learning .
“ Research has emphasized the importance of movement , ” Saddleback secondary teachers stated in a petition .
“ At the very least , in distance learning , students can safely move around their own homes during and in between lessons .
They will not be able to do so in the hybrid model.
” They also contend that the hybrid model would reduce instructional time because of such things as safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers are now using to work with students online individually and in small groups .
Students also would be more limited in their ability to work with one another or move , albeit virtually , from class to class than in the rigid , socially distanced , small-group bubbles .
“ All the plans in place will make the classroom environment less conducive for learning and more conducive for spread , ” Mission Viejo High School teacher Shane Cost said .
“ This is all happening far too fast , and we still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teaching an online and in-person class simultaneously.
” American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said it was “ ridiculous ” for teachers to have to teach online and in-person simultaneously , and that dubious or unsafe practices need to be weeded out .
“ Hybrid learning is nobody ’ s favorite , ” Weingarten said .
Even so , she said , polling indicates a large majority of teachers and parents across the country favor returning to campus in some form provided it is safe .
“ The reason teachers are struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are trying to help our kids.
” She added that many school districts and some states are getting it mostly right so far .
If 5 % or more of a school ’ s population test positive for the coronavirus within a two week period of time a school must close for at least 14 days , Orange County health officials said Thursday .
“ For every school in the community that has even one case of COVID , we ’ re going to be ... talking through the issues with them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to close classrooms at some point , ” said Dr. Matthew Zahn , medical director of the Orange County Health Care Agency ’ s communicable disease control division .
Hickman is doing what she can to keep things safe , attaching plastic screens to each table and organizing individual school supplies for each student .
Her “ teacher island ” consists of an iPad on a tripod , a headset , her laptop and a smart board for writing .
The setup will allow her to teach online and in person simultaneously .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she had all but perfected during 17 years in the classroom .
“ Gone are the group projects , the art projects , the 6,000-book library .
Gone is me going up to a student ’ s desk to help or telling them to ask a classmate , ” Hickman said .
When a student has a question or requires assistance , they ’ ll make their way to a yellow Velcro dot on the floor that is a safe distance from her and classmates .
Irvine was the only newly opening district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
Freshman Kathleen Curran got lost among the unfamiliar buildings and arrows meant to direct traffic with minimal interaction .
She found herself five minutes late to English .
“ It ’ s scary starting school now .
I don ’ t really know the campus or know many people yet , ” Curran said .
“ Most of my friends come to school on a different day.
” Senior Michael Ko , 17 , lamented the loss of senior activities , but enjoyed seeing friends .
Although he ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he now returns home promptly at 3:10 p.m. Outside James Cox Elementary School , a line of 3-foot-tall children carrying oversized backpacks walked in a single file line promptly at 2:15 p.m. to the parking lot .
A kindergarten teacher led the fleet with a paper sign : “ We survived !
” Minutes later , the bell rang and students from older grades rushed out to parents waiting scattered apart .
“ My fears are the same as everyone else , ” Rincon said as she held 4-year-old Dylan .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] to get sick and then then bring it home and get the family sick.
” “ I was nervous about my safety for the first day , but I ’ m pretty happy about being back , ” she said with a shrug .

A crossing guard helps students as they return to in-class education, after months of closure due COVID-19 pandemic, at James H. Cox Elementary School in Fountain Valley.
Orange County school districts serving more than 200,000 students are opening their schoolyard gates this week and next, marking a major, widely watched test of the ability of California school systems to safely resume in-person classes amid the coronavirus crisis.
By Thursday, Tustin, Irvine, Fountain Valley and Cypress joined Los Alamitos Unified, which led the wave of openings with its elementary schools under a county-approved waiver. They will be followed next week by Capistrano, Saddleback, Orange, Newport-Mesa and Ocean View districts — a total of 10 of the county’s 28 school districts.
All the campuses are using hybrid schedules that allow a portion of students back at one time while others learn online — to help maintain social distancing by keeping classes small. So far, the vast majority of families have opted to return to campus.
Advertisement
This renewal of in-person classes after six months of pandemic forced campus closures is prompting both celebration and concern — with teachers and parents hoping that carefully laid plans on how to operate schools safely will not be derailed by outbreaks of coronavirus infections.
The openings come after Orange County — known for its anti-mask rebellion and defiance of state orders — was given state and county public health department clearance to reopen campuses because of the county’s lower coronavirus test positivity rate.
“Orange County may help lead the nation’s children back to school — but only if local educators and health officials proceed with untiring vigilance,” UC Berkeley education professor Bruce Fuller said. “Orange County might also teach union leaders that reopening with care is possible, even beneficial, for kids and parents.”
California Teachers Assn. President Toby Boyd said the state lacks consistent procedures and oversight for ensuring that schools are safe.
“I don’t think that any child or any of my members should be a test case,” Boyd said.
Across the state, 33 counties with 478 school districts are eligible to reopen because of lower infection rates, said California Department of Education director of communications Daniel Thigpen. Of these, 56% are still online only — and not all have reported data to the state.
Advertisement
Most Orange County districts that are reopening sooner serve more affluent communities — where COVID-19 rates are lower. Districts serving mainly low-income households, including in Santa Ana and Anaheim, have no timetable for reopening campuses, raising equity concerns.
Lisa Hickman, second-grade teacher at Sycamore Magnet Academy, shows how she will be teaching with plastic dividers as she prepares to teach in-person classes starting Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Second-grade teacher Lisa Hickman of Tustin’s Sycamore Magnet Academy expressed the anxieties of a complicated and new classroom order: masks, desk dividers, staggered schedules, hand sanitizer by the gallon and dots on the floor indicating how close students can get to her.
But she was excited to meet the 7-year-olds whose voices and laughter she has known for weeks through the computer screen and audio of distance learning.
“Everyone wanted us to reopen, and I felt like Orange County was rushing it ... I’m terrified for the safety of my coworkers and my students — they’re my babies,” she said. “But right now our main concern is how to protect the kids.”
Teachers in Irvine, Newport-Mesa and Saddleback Valley protested their impending district openings last week, saying their schools are not safe enough.
Teachers in Irvine and Saddleback also put forth a novel argument against hybrid learning — saying that most students in middle and high school would receive a better education from distance learning.
“Research has emphasized the importance of movement,” Saddleback secondary teachers stated in a petition. “At the very least, in distance learning, students can safely move around their own homes during and in between lessons. They will not be able to do so in the hybrid model.”
They also contend that the hybrid model would reduce instructional time because of such things as safety checks and cleaning — and curtail time teachers are now using to work with students online individually and in small groups. Students also would be more limited in their ability to work with one another or move, albeit virtually, from class to class than in the rigid, socially distanced, small-group bubbles.
“All the plans in place will make the classroom environment less conducive for learning and more conducive for spread,” Mission Viejo High School teacher Shane Cost said. “This is all happening far too fast, and we still don’t know how to manage teaching an online and in-person class simultaneously.”
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said it was “ridiculous” for teachers to have to teach online and in-person simultaneously, and that dubious or unsafe practices need to be weeded out.
“Hybrid learning is nobody’s favorite,” Weingarten said. Even so, she said, polling indicates a large majority of teachers and parents across the country favor returning to campus in some form provided it is safe. “The reason teachers are struggling to get to in-person learning is that we are trying to help our kids.”
She added that many school districts and some states are getting it mostly right so far.
If 5% or more of a school’s population test positive for the coronavirus within a two week period of time a school must close for at least 14 days, Orange County health officials said Thursday.
“For every school in the community that has even one case of COVID, we’re going to be... talking through the issues with them about whether there’s a need to close classrooms at some point,” said Dr. Matthew Zahn, medical director of the Orange County Health Care Agency’s communicable disease control division.
Hickman is doing what she can to keep things safe, attaching plastic screens to each table and organizing individual school supplies for each student.
Her “teacher island” consists of an iPad on a tripod, a headset, her laptop and a smart board for writing. The setup will allow her to teach online and in person simultaneously.
The pandemic has upended the teaching methods she had all but perfected during 17 years in the classroom.
“Gone are the group projects, the art projects, the 6,000-book library. Gone is me going up to a student’s desk to help or telling them to ask a classmate,” Hickman said.
When a student has a question or requires assistance, they’ll make their way to a yellow Velcro dot on the floor that is a safe distance from her and classmates.
Irvine was the only newly opening district to bring back high school students this week.
Freshman Kathleen Curran got lost among the unfamiliar buildings and arrows meant to direct traffic with minimal interaction. She found herself five minutes late to English.
“It’s scary starting school now. I don’t really know the campus or know many people yet,” Curran said. “Most of my friends come to school on a different day.”
Senior Michael Ko, 17, lamented the loss of senior activities, but enjoyed seeing friends. Although he’s been on the soccer and track teams, he now returns home promptly at 3:10 p.m.
Jordan Rincon, 9, left, arrives with her father, Tom Rincon, and 4-year-old brother Dylan for school at James H. Cox Elementary in Fountain Valley. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Outside James Cox Elementary School, a line of 3-foot-tall children carrying oversized backpacks walked in a single file line promptly at 2:15 p.m. to the parking lot. A kindergarten teacher led the fleet with a paper sign: “We survived!”
Minutes later, the bell rang and students from older grades rushed out to parents waiting scattered apart.
Kim Rincon, 42, spotted her fourth-grader Jordan.
“My fears are the same as everyone else,” Rincon said as she held 4-year-old Dylan. “I don’t want my [child] to get sick and then then bring it home and get the family sick.”
Hala Houry provides hand sanitizer to a student returning to James H. Cox Elementary School in Fountain Valley after months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
“How was school?” Rincon asked.
Jordan replied with her go-to, nonchalant response, “Oh, good.”
“I was nervous about my safety for the first day, but I’m pretty happy about being back,” she said with a shrug.
VIDEO | 06:04 LA Times Today: Orange County reopens schools Watch L.A. Times Today at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News 1 on Channel 1 or live stream on the Spectrum News App. Palos Verdes Peninsula and Orange County viewers can watch on Cox Systems on channel 99.
Times staff writer Paloma Esquivel contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-09-25--Column: Black women know, there are fewer and fewer reasons to have faith in the system

There ’ s a story many of us tell ourselves in this country .
That , no matter how unfair things might be at a given moment , if we ’ re informed and engaged , vote consistently for the politicians who represent the interests of the majority of Americans , eventually we will be governed by laws and policies that reflect those interests .
That the arc of the moral universe is long , and so on and so forth .
I fear this past week has been a harbinger of the chaos to come if a majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story .
When people — understandably — have so little faith in our system of government to be fair that they resort to vigilante justice .
Like the protesters on Thursday night who , rather than wait for the police officers who were supposed to be protecting them , piled into the back of a pickup truck and chased down the driver a Prius who had edged through the crowd .
A man who got out of the truck tried to yank the driver out of the Prius .
Others started beating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , smashing the windshield .
“ It wasn ’ t traveling at a fast speed — it was inching forward , trying to get past , and that upset people , ” Christian Monterrosa , a freelance photojournalist who was following the protest , told my colleagues .
Minutes earlier , another dark-colored pickup truck had hit another protester at high speed , sending her flying backward .
Inexplicably — or perhaps predictably — neither driver was immediately arrested .
That we are here not just as a state , but as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone .
Least of all to Black women .
Tamika Palmer perhaps put it best on Friday , two days after a grand jury refused to indict the officers who killed her daughter , Breonna Taylor , during a police raid reeking of reckless incompetence in Louisville , Ky. “ I was reassured Wednesday of why I have no faith in the legal system , ” Bianca Austin , Taylor ’ s aunt , said during a news conference as a teary-eyed Palmer looked on .
“ The police and law were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women.
” This is something Black people — and particularly , those of us who are Black women — have long understood to be true .
And yet , for some reason that even I don ’ t entirely understand , we still try to work within the system , pushing it and prodding it , in hopes of achieving a measure of justice .
Consider , for example , that the founders of Black Lives Matter are Black women .
Sen. Kamala Harris , the Democratic vice presidential nominee and another Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as being pivotal to the ongoing fight for police reform .
“ I actually believe , as a former prosecutor , that Black Lives Matter has been the most significant agent for change within the criminal justice system because it has been a counterforce to the force within the system that is so grounded in status quo and in its own traditions , ” she said Friday during an appearance at the NAACP ’ s annual convention .
She , of course , also urged everyone to vote .
And , indeed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I write this in my father ’ s basement in the suburbs of Cleveland — the city where I grew up and where the first presidential debate will take place in a few days — I can ’ t help but wonder what happens if Harris and Joe Biden don ’ t win the election ?
Or they do win and President Trump , as he keeps vaguely threatening , refuses to leave peacefully ?
Or they win and it emboldens Trump ’ s supporters to more divide the country in an even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is expected to nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg mere weeks before election day .
Barrett is an ideologue of the variety favored by conservative Christian evangelicals , and if confirmed , as Senate Republicans have hypocritically vowed to do , she will help tilt the U.S. Supreme Court to the far right for decades to come .
And this will happen even as America ’ s increasingly Black , brown and liberal electorate continues to move left by the millions .
A host of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them championed by Ginsburg , would suddenly be off the table .
Widespread access to healthcare during a pandemic that is unequally killing people of color ?
Likely gone .
Affirmative action ?
You jest .
And police reform ?
Forget about it .
You think there ’ s no trust in the system now , wait until a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court is a reality .
Even in my hometown suburb — which is far more diverse than when I graduated from high school and where Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote for him by scaring them about race riots — that kind of shift is likely to be a problem .
In the yards I ’ ve seen , there are far more campaign signs for Biden than for Trump .
Meanwhile , a Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Friday found 57 % of Americans believe the next president should fill Ginsburg ’ s seat .
Over the summer , a Gallup poll found that confidence in police departments had fallen five percentage points from the year before to 48 % — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it dipped below a majority of Americans .
Take it from this Black woman , this is a recipe for chaos .

There’s a story many of us tell ourselves in this country. That no matter how unfair things might be at a given moment, if we’re informed and engaged and vote consistently for the politicians who represent the interests of the majority of Americans, eventually we will be governed by laws and policies that reflect those interests. That the arc of the moral universe is long, and so on and so forth.
I fear this last week has been a harbinger of the chaos to come if a majority of the American people stop believing in this story.
When people — understandably — have so little faith in our system of government to be fair that they resort to vigilante justice. Like the protesters Thursday night in Hollywood who, rather than wait for the police officers who were supposed to be protecting them, piled into the back of a pickup truck and chased down the driver of a Prius who had edged through the crowd.
A man who got out of the truck tried to yank the driver out of the Prius. Others started beating the car with a flagpole and a skateboard, smashing the windshield.
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“It wasn’t traveling at a fast speed — it was inching forward, trying to get past, and that upset people,” Christian Monterrosa, a freelance photojournalist who was following the protest, told my colleagues.
Minutes earlier, another dark-colored pickup truck had hit another protester at high speed, sending her flying backward. Inexplicably — or perhaps predictably — neither driver was immediately arrested.
That we are here not just as a state but as a country should come as no surprise to anyone. Least of all to Black women.
Tamika Palmer perhaps put it best in a statement read Friday, two days after a grand jury refused to indict the officers who killed her daughter, Breonna Taylor, during a police raid reeking of reckless incompetence in Louisville, Ky.
“I was reassured Wednesday of why I have no faith in the legal system,” Bianca Austin, Taylor’s aunt, read during a news conference, as a teary-eyed Palmer looked on. “The police and law were not made to protect us Black and brown women.”
This is something Black people — and particularly those of us who are Black women — have long understood to be true. And yet, for some reason that even I don’t entirely understand, we still try to work within the system, pushing it and prodding it, in hopes of achieving a measure of justice.
Consider, for example, that the founders of Black Lives Matter are Black women. Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee and another Black woman, cited the movement they created as being pivotal to the ongoing fight for police reform.
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“I actually believe, as a former prosecutor, that Black Lives Matter has been the most significant agent for change within the criminal justice system because it has been a counterforce to the force within the system that is so grounded in status quo and in its own traditions,” she said Friday during an appearance at the NAACP’s annual convention.
She, of course, also urged everyone to vote. And, indeed, we all should.
But as I write this in my father’s basement in the suburbs of Cleveland — the city where I grew up and where the first presidential debate will take place in a few days — I can’t help but wonder what happens if Harris and Joe Biden don’t win the election. Or they do win, and President Trump, as he keeps vaguely threatening, refuses to leave peacefully? Or they win, and it emboldens Trump’s supporters to further divide the country in an even more dangerous way?
What then?
On Saturday, Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg mere weeks before election day. Despite her seemingly sincere promises to fairly “apply the law as written” and to set “aside any policy views” that she may hold, Barrett has a record that shows she is an ideologue of the variety favored by conservative Christian evangelicals.
If confirmed, as Senate Republicans have hypocritically vowed to do, she will undoubtedly tilt the U.S. Supreme Court to the far right for decades to come. And this will happen even as America’s increasingly Black, brown and liberal electorate continues to move left by the millions.
A host of civil rights issues and advances, many of them championed by Ginsburg, likely will suddenly be off the table. Widespread access to healthcare during a pandemic that is unequally killing people of color? Probably gone. Affirmative action? You jest. And police reform? Forget about it.
You think there’s no trust in the system now? Wait until a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court is a reality.
Even in my hometown suburb — which is far more diverse than it was when I graduated from high school and where Trump, nevertheless, expects to convince women to vote for him by scaring them about race riots — that kind of shift is likely to be a problem. In the yards I’ve seen, there are far more campaign signs for Biden than for Trump.
Meanwhile, a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Friday found that 57% of Americans believe the next president should fill Ginsburg’s seat. Over the summer, a Gallup poll found that confidence in police departments had fallen 5 percentage points from the year before, to 48% — the first time in nearly 30 years that it dipped below a majority of Americans.
Take it from this Black woman — this is a recipe for chaos.


latimes--2020-09-25--Protesters recount moment Hollywood driver 'floored it,' striking woman

Vishal Singh has been to a lot of protests where motorists get a panicky look in their eyes as their vehicles become surrounded by demonstrators .
He ’ s even seen a few lurch their cars forward , anxious to pull off but too boxed in to go far .
But an incident in Hollywood on Thursday night was something different , said Singh , 27 , who works on Netflix documentaries and frequently attends and films local protests .
The driver of a large truck drove into a protest in Los Angeles over the Breonna Taylor decision — briefly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman and sending her flying onto her back along Sunset Boulevard .
“ He floored it , ” said Singh , who was so close that his own foot was run over .
The hit-and-run occurred during a protest over the Wednesday announcement in Louisville , Ky. , that the police officers who fatally shot Taylor during a bungled raid on her home there would not be charged in her death .
It followed a summer of unrest , in L.A. and other cities across the country , in which police protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident also sparked its own debate online , as videos of it landed on social media late Thursday — some showing the woman flying through the air , and others showing protesters pushing toward the truck just before the driver accelerated .
On Friday , the Los Angeles Police Department said it was still investigating the incident .
Officers had stopped and identified the driver Thursday night , but then let him go .
Capt .
Steve Lurie , who commands the LAPD ’ s Hollywood Division , said police were reviewing whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Prius through the same protest crowd — were “ the suspect of a hit-and-run or the victim of an assault.
” The truck driver told police that protesters had attacked his car first , and officers noted damage to the vehicle , Lurie said .
On Friday , police said a preliminary investigation had determined that protesters had surrounded the man ’ s truck and “ began beating his vehicle with sticks and tried to open the door to his vehicle.
” Police said the driver “ cooperated with officers and provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocks away .
They said detectives would be canvassing the area Friday looking for witnesses and video of the incident .
“ While no arrests have been made , the investigation is still in its early stages and involves Hollywood detectives and investigators from LAPD ’ s West Traffic Division , ” the LAPD said .
The woman who was struck could not be reached for comment Friday .
The driver has not been publicly identified .
But Singh and other protesters said the driver ’ s account of what happened , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They also said the police response — and their decision to let the man go after what they considered to be a violent attack — was ridiculous .
The driver was perched above the crowd because of the height of his truck , and was not in any danger , Singh said .
He said the truck driver clearly saw the woman in front of him and hit the gas anyway .
“ He was trying to drive around everybody , and just didn ’ t care that she was in the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 23 , a volunteer street medic at the protest , said protesters had tried to form a line in front of the truck to force it to stop while the crowd passed — a common tactic during street demonstrations to keep protesters safe .
However , the pickup driver didn ’ t stop .
“ No one hit the car until he hit the person , ” Riley said .
In addition to the woman ’ s injuries , Singh said his foot was run over and badly damaged , though doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Austin Baffa , a freelance videographer from Orange County , was standing in the middle of the street filming when he heard yelling , turned around and saw the woman get sent flying .
“ I sprinted over and threw my phone down and grabbed her and dragged her out of the way , ” said Baffa , 27 .
“ As I was dragging her out of the way , the truck backed up and hit the gas again.
” Baffa said he managed to pull most of the woman ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s path .
He then held her for about 20 minutes to keep her neck stable .
About 40 minutes after the driver struck the woman in the crowd , another altercation occurred between protesters and a motorist in a Prius .
Footage showed the Prius trying to maneuver through the crowd , riling protesters .
The driver then drove off , but was followed by protesters in a black truck and a green Mustang , whose drivers attempted to box in the Prius with their vehicles .
People in the truck and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and attempted to pull the driver of the Prius out of the vehicle , but failed to do so .
The Prius driver drove off again , and was stopped blocks away by police — where he cooperated , police said .
On Friday , police said video of the incident “ depicted a potential assault ” on the Prius driver by the protesters who jumped out of the other vehicles , and that an investigation is ongoing .

A protester who was hit by a pickup truck is attended to Thursday as paramedics arrive on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.
Vishal Singh has been to a lot of protests where motorists get a panicky look in their eyes as their vehicles become surrounded by demonstrators. He’s even seen a few lurch their cars forward, anxious to pull off but too boxed in to go far.
But an incident in Hollywood on Thursday night was something different, said Singh, 27, who works on Netflix documentaries and frequently attends and films local protests.
The driver of a large truck drove into a protest in Los Angeles over the Breonna Taylor decision — briefly pausing before driving forward again, striking a woman and sending her flying onto her back along Sunset Boulevard.
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“He floored it,” said Singh, who was so close that his own foot was run over.
The hit-and-run occurred during a protest over the Wednesday announcement in Louisville, Ky., that the police officers who fatally shot Taylor during a bungled raid on her home there would not be charged in her death. It followed a summer of unrest, in L.A. and other cities across the country, in which police protesters and anti-protesters have repeatedly clashed.
The incident also sparked its own debate online, as videos of it landed on social media late Thursday — some showing the woman flying through the air, and others showing protesters pushing toward the truck just before the driver accelerated.
1 / 30 People comfort a demonstrator after she was hit by a vehicle Thursday night on Sunset Boulevard during protests of the Breonna Taylor grand jury decision. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 30 Protesters square off with police aiming less-lethal weapons Thursday in Hollywood. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 30 A protester prays on Sunset Boulevard on Thursday as about 300 people march through Hollywood. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 30 Friends embrace outside the Hollywood Forever cemetery after a protest march Thursday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 30 Protesters are separated during a disagreement Thursday in Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 30 Miracle Murphy chants Thursday during protests in Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 30 Paramedics help a protester who was struck by a vehicle Thursday on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 30 A protester in Los Angeles waves a Black Lives Matter flag. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 30 Activists lead chants from the back of a truck during a Hollywood protest. (Josie Norris / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 30 A Prius runs through a crowd of people on Sunset Boulevard and North Cahuenga Boulevard during a protest Thursday. (Josie Norris / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 30 Paramedics help a protester who was hit by a truck Thursday on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. The vehicle broke through the protest group. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 30 A protester who was hit by a truck is attended to as paramedics arrive on Sunset Boulevard. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 30 Nijdeka Akunyili Crosby teaches her son Jideora, 3, how to raise his fist alongside her husband, Justan, and son Eziobi, 1, at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Thursday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 30 The scene near Hollywood Forever cemetery, where protesters gathered Thursday for a march. 15 / 30 Hundreds march downtown while protesting the Louisville, Ky., grand jury decision to not charge the police officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 30 Protesters taunt a police officer outside LAPD headquarters downtown. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 30 Hundreds march downtown while protesting the Louisville, Ky., grand jury decision to not charge police officers in the death of Breonna Taylor. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 30 Byron Crenshaw and Sharon Smith hug each other while listening to a speaker in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 30 A lone demonstrator climbs a streetlight pole at the corner of First and Main streets downtown. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 30 Protesters carry a picture of Breonna Taylor along Seventh St. downtown. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 30 Protesters walk along Seventh St. downtown as diners take pictures from a restaurant. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 30 Hundreds gather downtown to protest the Louisville, Ky., grand jury decision to not charge the police officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 30 A protester tips over a fence outside LAPD headquarters downtown. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 30 Hundreds gather downtown for a Black Lives Matter demonstration Wednesday night.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 30 Janaya Khan embraces Black Lives Matter LA cofounder Melina Abdullah. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 30 Lorissa Torcero writes a poem while joining others downtown for the rally.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 30 Merieme at the downtown demonstration. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 30 Hundreds gather downtown to react to the Breonna Taylor case in Louisville, KY. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 30 Masked protesters react to the Breonna Taylor case in downtown L.A. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 30 Trai Icart joins the demonstration. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
On Friday, the Los Angeles Police Department said it was still investigating the incident.
Officers had stopped and identified the driver Thursday night, but then let him go. Capt. Steve Lurie, who commands the LAPD’s Hollywood Division, said police were reviewing whether the driver — and another who drove a Prius through the same protest crowd — were “the suspect of a hit-and-run or the victim of an assault.”
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The truck driver told police that protesters had attacked his car first, and officers noted damage to the vehicle, Lurie said. On Friday, police said a preliminary investigation had determined that protesters had surrounded the man’s truck and “began beating his vehicle with sticks and tried to open the door to his vehicle.”
Police said the driver “cooperated with officers and provided information” when they stopped him several blocks away. They said detectives would be canvassing the area Friday looking for witnesses and video of the incident.
“While no arrests have been made, the investigation is still in its early stages and involves Hollywood detectives and investigators from LAPD’s West Traffic Division,” the LAPD said.
The woman who was struck could not be reached for comment Friday. The driver has not been publicly identified.
But Singh and other protesters said the driver’s account of what happened, as conveyed by police, was incorrect. They also said the police response — and their decision to let the man go after what they considered to be a violent attack — was ridiculous.
The driver was perched above the crowd because of the height of his truck, and was not in any danger, Singh said. He said the truck driver clearly saw the woman in front of him and hit the gas anyway.
“He was trying to drive around everybody, and just didn’t care that she was in the way,” he alleged.
Bri Riley, 23, a volunteer street medic at the protest, said protesters had tried to form a line in front of the truck to force it to stop while the crowd passed — a common tactic during street demonstrations to keep protesters safe. However, the pickup driver didn’t stop.
“No one hit the car until he hit the person,” Riley said.
In addition to the woman’s injuries, Singh said his foot was run over and badly damaged, though doctors didn’t think it was broken.
Austin Baffa, a freelance videographer from Orange County, was standing in the middle of the street filming when he heard yelling, turned around and saw the woman get sent flying.
“I sprinted over and threw my phone down and grabbed her and dragged her out of the way,” said Baffa, 27. “As I was dragging her out of the way, the truck backed up and hit the gas again.”
Baffa said he managed to pull most of the woman’s body out of the truck’s path. He then held her for about 20 minutes to keep her neck stable.
About 40 minutes after the driver struck the woman in the crowd, another altercation occurred between protesters and a motorist in a Prius.
Footage showed the Prius trying to maneuver through the crowd, riling protesters. The driver then drove off, but was followed by protesters in a black truck and a green Mustang, whose drivers attempted to box in the Prius with their vehicles.
People in the truck and the Mustang got out of their vehicles and attempted to pull the driver of the Prius out of the vehicle, but failed to do so. The Prius driver drove off again, and was stopped blocks away by police — where he cooperated, police said.
On Friday, police said video of the incident “depicted a potential assault” on the Prius driver by the protesters who jumped out of the other vehicles, and that an investigation is ongoing.


latimes--2020-09-25--As O.C. campuses bring back students, here's how schools in other countries are handling reopening

Schools in Orange County are beginning to reopen .
For parents trying to gauge the safety of their school ’ s plan , it may be useful to put the county ’ s numbers and procedures in context with how places around the world have handled school reopenings .
Orange County got to this stage because new state guidelines announced at the end of August introduced colored tiers based on a county ’ s coronavirus cases .
Los Angeles County is still in purple , the worst tier , while Orange County is in red — which signifies substantial transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the red tier for 14 consecutive days , it is allowed to reopen schools .
The red tier requires that COVID-19 infections per day per 100,000 people be from four to seven , as measured by the state , as well as a COVID-19 test positivity rate between 5 % and 8 % .
Orange County entered the red tier on Sept. 8 — it ’ s currently at 6.4 cases per day per 100,000 people and a 3.6 % positivity rate .
For comparison , Los Angeles is at 7.7 cases per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate ) ; San Bernardino is at 6 ( 5.7 % ) ; Ventura is at 7.4 ( 3.8 % ) ; Riverside is at 5.8 ( 5.8 % ) ; and San Diego is at 6.8 ( 3.8 % ) .
Ten out of 29 districts in Orange County have announced plans to reopen by the end of September .
The Irvine Unified School District , along with schools in Tustin , Los Alamitos , Fountain Valley and Cypress , opened this week .
In Irvine , a petition with more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain online at the secondary school level .
Experts say that the safety of school reopenings is partly about the measures that schools put in place — including masks or other shields , physical distancing guidelines , reduced class sizes , increased hygiene , routine screenings , contact tracing and protocol for when a coronavirus case is found .
Also important is how much the coronavirus is circulating in the community .
There is emerging data about how school openings have fared in the United States .
Places such as Arizona , Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positivity rates between 10 % and 25 % when schools began opening in July and August , and some of the results are beginning to be seen .
Canadian schools opened in early September with , resulting in reporting cases and hundreds of students and staff being asked to self-isolate .
But for the many countries around the world that opened months ago , there is clearer data .
In March , the U.N. Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization formed the Global Education Coalition to respond to educational disruptions and manage effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national responses to COVID-19 school closures , UNESCO released results on its first wave of data collection , which ended in June , and it is now collecting data for a second report .
UNESCO shared its report , “ Responding to Covid-19 and Beyond : The Global Education Coalition in Action , ” in a virtual U.N. general assembly Friday .
Here are some numbers , based on data from UNESCO , the Our World in Data , and the as well as what ’ s been reported about countries ’ strategies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to consider : • According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers updated this week , children 4 years old and younger account for 87,897 ( 1.5 % ) of the total confirmed cases in the U.S. , and those ages 5 to 17 account for 327,069 ( 6.6 % ) .
But children in the U.S. have also been less likely to be tested as they ’ re less likely to be symptomatic .
Combined , the groups account for less than 0.1 % of U.S. deaths at 89 total .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ compiled by the University of Washington and the Kaiser Family Foundation accounts for a seven-day average of cases per million people , which is different from California ’ s measurement of new positive cases per day per 100,000 .
( For example , California shows Orange County at 6.4 COVID-19 positive cases per day per 100,000 people , while the seven-day average per 100,000 in the county is 5.7 . )
The numbers below have been adjusted to show the seven-day average of COVID cases per 100,000 for ease of comparison .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s testing strategy , including the ability to trace and isolate potentially infected people .
The U.S. strategy until recently had been to test only those with symptoms .
• Countries listed below were chosen based on availability of data .
Here are the details for Orange County : Shutdown : March 17 School reopenings begin : Sept. 24 Daily cases : 165 Daily cases per 100,000 ( seven-day average ) : 5.7 Test positivity rate : 3.6 % School reopening strategy : In general , school districts that are opening are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person instruction , 100 % distance learning or a hybrid to try to limit the number of students in the classroom .
Anaheim and Santa Ana school districts are not reopening due to their higher case numbers .
Check with your individual school districts for details on their reopening plans .
So how does Orange County compare ?
Less than 1 average daily case per 100,000 over seven days Taiwan Shutdown : Winter break extended two weeks School reopening : Feb. 25 Daily cases : 1.1 Daily cases per 100,000 ( seven-day average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0.2 % : Masks and physical distancing required .
Desks had plastic dividers whenever possible , especially when eating .
Twice-a-day temperature checks .
Handwashing required before entering classrooms .
Shoes sanitized .
Schools cleaned daily .
Strict quarantine rules .
What happened : No outbreaks linked to schools .
Japan Shutdown : March 2 School reopening : April 24 Daily cases : 439 Daily cases per 100,000 ( seven-day average ) : 0.35 Positivity rate : 8.7 % School reopening strategy : In general , Japanese schools reopened with to avoid overcrowding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and daily temperature checks .
Some schools had vinyl shields for each student ’ s desk .
In August , a petition from scholars and researchers urged class sizes to be reduced to 20 , but Japan ’ s Riken research institute argued that large classes can be held safely as long as ventilation is sufficient .
What happened : The education ministry reported a total of 84 elementary , junior or senior high schools closed temporarily in June and July .
But while there have been reported coronavirus cases , they haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread in schools .
Switzerland Shutdown : March 16 School reopening date : May 11 Daily cases : 57.1 Daily cases per 100,000 ( seven-day average ) : 0.07 Positivity rate : 1.3 % School reopening strategy : Many schools reduced class sizes by 50 % and had in-person classes only two days a week .
Masks were not required , and there were no temperature checks , though handwashing stations were added throughout the schools .
School reopening for students in grade 10 and higher was delayed until June 8 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students .
What happened : Despite the fact that shops , restaurants , museums and libraries all opened on the same day , there was a drop in case counts after the reopenings .
The cases crept up in July after schools were out .
A new study of schools in Zurich questions whether most infections are undiagnosed .
New Zealand Shutdown : March 24 School reopening date : May 14 Daily cases : 1.1 Daily cases per 100,000 ( seven-day average ) : 0 Positivity rate : 0.2 % School reopening strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a “ kiss and go ” zone where parents could drop off children .
No mask requirements or temperature checks , but a flu-tracking survey that asks if students have had a fever or cough is used ; this also helps track COVID-19 .
Parents were also allowed to delay their kids ’ return to school if they felt uncomfortable .
What happened : No outbreaks linked to schools .
Vietnam Shutdown : Feb. 28 to March 31 School reopening date : May 18 Daily cases : 4.6 Daily cases per 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate : 0 % School reopening strategy : Masks were required , and adults and students got temperature checks before entering school buildings .
One challenge was that 30 % of schools in Vietnam don ’ t have access to running water or soap , so the Ministry of Education worked with UNICEF to highlight the need to bring safe hygiene and sanitation measures to schools .
What happened : No new outbreaks linked to schools .
Greece Shutdown : March 11 School reopening date : June 1 Daily cases : 5.6 Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : 0.05 Positivity rate : 0.1 % School reopening strategy : Class size reduced to a maximum of 15 , with students often attending on different days .
Breaks were staggered , and there were physical distancing requirements .
What happened : It ’ s unclear how school reopenings affected case numbers , as Greece ’ s tourism opened up soon after schools on June 15 .
Cases went up over the summer , with late August bringing the highest daily totals since the coronavirus emerged in Greece in February .
The fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in September , amid safety concerns .
South Korea Shutdown : March 2 School reopening date : June 8 Daily cases : 44.4 Daily cases per 100,000 ( seven-day average ) : 0.09 Positivity rate : 0.3 % School reopening strategy : South Korea ’ s first attempt to reopen schools was in May , but the government closed them down days later because of a spike in cases .
In June , they and gradually opened to younger students .
There was contact tracing and physical distancing , required masks , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Classroom sizes were reduced one-third or two-thirds through alternative shifts , and plastic barriers were placed on desks in the front of the room to protect teachers .
There were also plastic barriers to separate students during lunch time when masks were off .
What happened : Since opening , in-person school has been off and on , depending on the coronavirus rates .
In late August , schools in the greater Seoul area after nearly 200 staff and students were infected , but they after cases declined .
In general , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been tied to a club , a church and a rally — not schools .
March 11April 2093.31.723.8 % Norway started with younger students only .
In May , they operated under ain which some schools in the green zone were able to run during normal hours , and red schools adopted alternating shifts and limited class sizes to 15 .
No masks or temperature checks were required , but they implemented physical distancing rules and increased handwashing .
By June , everyone was in “ yellow , ” which requires physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior official from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health cautiously shared that they hadn ’ t seen any negative effects in terms of infection spread after the school reopenings .
Coronavirus cases continued to decline in Norway in the following months , and only recently have cases gone up , a rise linked to young adults , not schools .
Israel Shutdown : March 12 School reopening date : May 3 Daily cases : 126.7 Daily cases per 100,000 ( seven-day average ) : 1.46 Positivity rate : 1.4 % School reopening strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above ; those over age 7 had to wear masks outside the classroom .
Initially , Israel reduced class sizes , but went to normal a few weeks later .
No temperature checks or physical distancing requirements , but close contacts of everyone infected were traced and quarantined .
What happened : There were many outbreaks , and .
Israel opened restaurants , bars and tourism at the same time as schools .
Though they had mostly contained the virus , these simultaneous reopenings are credited with kickstarting Israel ’ s .
Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening date : May 4 Daily cases : 1,140.3 Daily cases per 100,000 ( seven-day average ) : 1.36 Positivity rate : 2.4 % School reopening strategy : Germany started with older students , thinking that secondary school students would be better able to adhere to the mask and physical distancing requirements .
They had a hybrid model , with in-person and online school , alternating shifts , and a maximum class size of 10 .
German schools were big on testing : Some schools tested every four days .
Masks were required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those who tested negative .
What happened : When they first opened , 42 out of 825 schools in Berlin reported COVID-19 cases .
In general , there was increased transmission among students but not staff , and schools didn ’ t necessarily close when there were positive cases .
Proportions of new infections in those under 19 doubled from May to June , but that could be attributed to wider testing .
Overall , there haven ’ t been major outbreaks linked to schools .
France Shutdown : March 3 through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases : 1,110.9 Daily cases per 100,000 ( seven-day average ) : 1.7 Positivity rate : 1.1 % School reopening strategy : Masks were required in secondary schools , and class sizes were reduced to 15 .
What happened : Days after reopening , 22 schools were shut down .
Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer told the media that the reopenings had put some children in danger because many were infected before school had started .
By late June , a return to in-person school was required , but it only lasted a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer surge in cases led to some concern over mandatory in-person classes in the fall , but a recent survey showed that 79 % of parents were in favor of sending their children back to in-person school .
An average of over 2 daily cases per 100,000 over seven days Sweden Shutdown : No overall shutdown .
High schools and colleges closed temporarily , but day care centers and elementary schools have remained open .
Cases : Sweden ’ s cases have been relatively low compared with neighboring countries ( numbers rose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven-day average ] in the spring ; hit the peak in the summer at around 10 before going under 2 ; but are now rising again — currently at 3.25 .
The government is considering new restrictions .
School reopening strategy : No major adjustments .
What happened : Swedish privacy laws allow healthcare personnel and school officials to notify parents and school staff about an infection only “ if a person ’ s life is at risk.
” Because of that , there is relatively little data , though by May , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among teachers and staff , as well as school closures because of staff infections ( children were not tested ) .
According to the , the Swedish Public Health Agency found that the antibody prevalence in school-age youth was 4.7 % , compared with 6.7 % in adults and 2.7 % in the elderly .
The relatively high rate in children suggests there may have been significant spread in schools .
Denmark Shutdown : March 16 School reopening date : April 15 Daily cases : 205.7 Daily cases per 100,000 ( seven-day average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % School reopening strategy : Denmark was the first country in Europe to shut down and the first to reopen schools .
They started with younger students only , in a maximum class size of 12 .
They were assigned to small cohorts that physically distanced from other cohorts , but kids within the cohorts didn ’ t have to distance from each other .
There was an effort to teach classes outside ; for example , in parks .
No mask requirement or temperature checks , but there was increased handwashing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( This was relaxed when students started developing eczema . )
What happened : There was no significant increase in cases .
In fact , numbers after school reopenings .
Middle and high schools opened in May .
Social distancing rules .
Belgium Shutdown : March 13 School reopening date : May 18 Daily cases : 291.3 Daily cases per 100,000 ( seven-day average ) : 2.51 Positivity rate : 2.1 % School reopening strategy : Belgium started with younger students , with alternate days and a maximum class size of 10 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not the students .
Some classes met in churches to better physically distance in large spaces .
What happened : Officials have said there is no evidence of increased spread after the school reopenings .

Schools in Orange County are beginning to reopen. For parents trying to gauge the safety of their school’s plan, it may be useful to put the county’s numbers and procedures in context with how places around the world have handled school reopenings.
Orange County got to this stage because new state guidelines announced at the end of August introduced colored tiers based on a county’s coronavirus cases.
Los Angeles County is still in purple, the worst tier, while Orange County is in red — which signifies substantial transmission. But if a county stays in the red tier for 14 consecutive days, it is allowed to reopen schools.
The red tier requires that COVID-19 infections per day per 100,000 people be from four to seven, as measured by the state, as well as a COVID-19 test positivity rate between 5% and 8%.
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Orange County entered the red tier on Sept. 8 — it’s currently at 6.4 cases per day per 100,000 people and a 3.6% positivity rate.
For comparison, Los Angeles is at 7.7 cases per day per 100,000 (2.8% positivity rate); San Bernardino is at 6 (5.7%); Ventura is at 7.4 (3.8%); Riverside is at 5.8 (5.8%); and San Diego is at 6.8 (3.8%).
Ten out of 29 districts in Orange County have announced plans to reopen by the end of September. The Irvine Unified School District, along with schools in Tustin, Los Alamitos, Fountain Valley and Cypress, opened this week. In Irvine, a petition with more than 2,500 signatures is urging the district to remain online at the secondary school level.
Experts say that the safety of school reopenings is partly about the measures that schools put in place — including masks or other shields, physical distancing guidelines, reduced class sizes, increased hygiene, routine screenings, contact tracing and protocol for when a coronavirus case is found.
Also important is how much the coronavirus is circulating in the community.
There is emerging data about how school openings have fared in the United States. Places such as Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Texas were recording test positivity rates between 10% and 25% when schools began opening in July and August, and some of the results are beginning to be seen.
Canadian schools opened in early September with inconsistent plans , resulting in multiple provinces reporting cases and hundreds of students and staff being asked to self-isolate.
But for the many countries around the world that opened months ago, there is clearer data.
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In March, the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization formed the Global Education Coalition to respond to educational disruptions and manage effective recovery. Based on a survey of national responses to COVID-19 school closures, UNESCO released results on its first wave of data collection, which ended in June, and it is now collecting data for a second report.
UNESCO shared its report, “Responding to Covid-19 and Beyond: The Global Education Coalition in Action,” in a virtual U.N. general assembly Friday.
Here are some numbers, based on data from UNESCO, the University of Washington’s Department of Global Health, Our World in Data, and the Kaiser Family Foundation, as well as what’s been reported about countries’ strategies and results.
Here are some details to consider:
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers updated this week, children 4 years old and younger account for 87,897 (1.5%) of the total confirmed cases in the U.S., and those ages 5 to 17 account for 327,069 (6.6%). But children in the U.S. have also been less likely to be tested as they’re less likely to be symptomatic. Combined, the groups account for less than 0.1% of U.S. deaths at 89 total.
One of the key international numbers compiled by the University of Washington and the Kaiser Family Foundation accounts for a seven-day average of cases per million people, which is different from California’s measurement of new positive cases per day per 100,000. (For example, California shows Orange County at 6.4 COVID-19 positive cases per day per 100,000 people, while the seven-day average per 100,000 in the county is 5.7.) The numbers below have been adjusted to show the seven-day average of COVID cases per 100,000 for ease of comparison.
Positivity rates vary depending on a country’s testing strategy, including the ability to trace and isolate potentially infected people. The U.S. strategy until recently had been to test only those with symptoms.
Countries listed below were chosen based on availability of data.
Here are the details for Orange County:
Shutdown: March 17
School reopenings begin: Sept. 24
Daily cases: 165
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 5.7
Test positivity rate: 3.6%
School reopening strategy: In general, school districts that are opening are offering parents a choice among 100% in-person instruction, 100% distance learning or a hybrid to try to limit the number of students in the classroom. Anaheim and Santa Ana school districts are not reopening due to their higher case numbers. Check with your individual school districts for details on their reopening plans.
So how does Orange County compare?
Less than 1 average daily case per 100,000 over seven days
Taiwan
Shutdown: Winter break extended two weeks
School reopening: Feb. 25
Daily cases: 1.1
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 0
Test positivity rate: 0.2%
School reopening strategy : Masks and physical distancing required. Desks had plastic dividers whenever possible, especially when eating. Twice-a-day temperature checks. Handwashing required before entering classrooms. Shoes sanitized. Schools cleaned daily. Strict quarantine rules.
What happened: No outbreaks linked to schools.
Japan
Shutdown: March 2
School reopening: April 24
Daily cases: 439
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 0.35
Positivity rate: 8.7%
School reopening strategy: In general, Japanese schools reopened with staggered attendance to avoid overcrowding, with required masks, physical distancing and daily temperature checks. Some schools had vinyl shields for each student’s desk. In August, a petition from scholars and researchers urged class sizes to be reduced to 20, but Japan’s Riken research institute argued that large classes can be held safely as long as ventilation is sufficient.
What happened: The education ministry reported a total of 84 elementary, junior or senior high schools closed temporarily in June and July. But while there have been reported coronavirus cases, they haven’t yet been linked to wider spread in schools.
Switzerland
Shutdown: March 16
School reopening date: May 11
Daily cases: 57.1
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 0.07
Positivity rate: 1.3%
School reopening strategy: Many schools reduced class sizes by 50% and had in-person classes only two days a week. Masks were not required, and there were no temperature checks, though handwashing stations were added throughout the schools. School reopening for students in grade 10 and higher was delayed until June 8, and later there were mask orders for older students.
What happened: Despite the fact that shops, restaurants, museums and libraries all opened on the same day, there was a drop in case counts after the reopenings. The cases crept up in July after schools were out. A new study of schools in Zurich questions whether most infections are undiagnosed.
New Zealand
Shutdown: March 24
School reopening date: May 14
Daily cases: 1.1
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 0
Positivity rate: 0.2%
School reopening strategy: There were physical distancing measures, including a “kiss and go” zone where parents could drop off children. No mask requirements or temperature checks, but a flu-tracking survey that asks if students have had a fever or cough is used; this also helps track COVID-19. Parents were also allowed to delay their kids’ return to school if they felt uncomfortable.
What happened: No outbreaks linked to schools.
Vietnam
Shutdown: Feb. 28 to March 31
School reopening date: May 18
Daily cases: 4.6
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 0
Positivity rate: 0%
School reopening strategy: Masks were required, and adults and students got temperature checks before entering school buildings. One challenge was that 30% of schools in Vietnam don’t have access to running water or soap, so the Ministry of Education worked with UNICEF to highlight the need to bring safe hygiene and sanitation measures to schools.
What happened: No new outbreaks linked to schools.
Greece
Shutdown: March 11
School reopening date: June 1
Daily cases: 5.6
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 0.05
Positivity rate: 0.1%
School reopening strategy: Class size reduced to a maximum of 15, with students often attending on different days. Breaks were staggered, and there were physical distancing requirements.
What happened: It’s unclear how school reopenings affected case numbers, as Greece’s tourism opened up soon after schools on June 15. Cases went up over the summer, with late August bringing the highest daily totals since the coronavirus emerged in Greece in February. The fall reopening of schools was delayed a week in September, amid safety concerns.
South Korea
Shutdown: March 2
School reopening date: June 8
Daily cases: 44.4
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 0.09
Positivity rate: 0.3%
School reopening strategy: South Korea’s first attempt to reopen schools was in May, but the government closed them down days later because of a spike in cases. In June, they started with high school students and gradually opened to younger students. There was contact tracing and physical distancing, required masks, as well as increased handwashing and temperature checks. Classroom sizes were reduced one-third or two-thirds through alternative shifts, and plastic barriers were placed on desks in the front of the room to protect teachers. There were also plastic barriers to separate students during lunch time when masks were off.
What happened: Since opening, in-person school has been off and on, depending on the coronavirus rates. In late August, schools in the greater Seoul area were closed again after nearly 200 staff and students were infected, but they returned Sept. 21 after cases declined. In general, overall rises in cases in South Korea have been tied to a club, a church and a rally — not schools.
Students at Gyungbuk Girls’ High School in South Korea are separated by barriers at lunch time on May 20. (Woohae Cho / For The Times)
1 to 2 average daily cases per 100,000 over seven days
Norway
March 11April 2093.31.723.8%Norway started with younger students only. In May, they operated under ain which some schools in the green zone were able to run during normal hours, and red schools adopted alternating shifts and limited class sizes to 15. No masks or temperature checks were required, but they implemented physical distancing rules and increased handwashing. By June, everyone was in “yellow,” which requires physical distancing and hygiene measures.In May, a senior official from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health cautiously shared that they hadn’t seen any negative effects in terms of infection spread after the school reopenings. Coronavirus cases continued to decline in Norway in the following months, and only recently have cases gone up, a rise linked to young adults, not schools.
Israel
Shutdown: March 12
School reopening date: May 3
Daily cases: 126.7
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 1.46
Positivity rate: 1.4%
School reopening strategy: Masks were required for fourth-grade and above; those over age 7 had to wear masks outside the classroom. Initially, Israel reduced class sizes, but went to normal a few weeks later. No temperature checks or physical distancing requirements, but close contacts of everyone infected were traced and quarantined.
What happened: There were many outbreaks, and 355 of 5,000 schools temporarily closed by mid-June . Israel opened restaurants, bars and tourism at the same time as schools. Though they had mostly contained the virus, these simultaneous reopenings are credited with kickstarting Israel’s second wave .
Germany
Shutdown: March 3 to 18
School reopening date: May 4
Daily cases: 1,140.3
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 1.36
Positivity rate: 2.4%
School reopening strategy: Germany started with older students, thinking that secondary school students would be better able to adhere to the mask and physical distancing requirements. They had a hybrid model, with in-person and online school, alternating shifts, and a maximum class size of 10. German schools were big on testing: Some schools tested every four days. Masks were required in hallways, but not inside classrooms for those who tested negative.
What happened: When they first opened, 42 out of 825 schools in Berlin reported COVID-19 cases . In general, there was increased transmission among students but not staff, and schools didn’t necessarily close when there were positive cases. Proportions of new infections in those under 19 doubled from May to June, but that could be attributed to wider testing. Overall, there haven’t been major outbreaks linked to schools.
France
Shutdown: March 3 through 16
School reopening: May 11
Daily cases: 1,110.9
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 1.7
Positivity rate: 1.1%
School reopening strategy: Masks were required in secondary schools, and class sizes were reduced to 15.
What happened: Days after reopening, 22 schools were shut down. Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer told the media that the reopenings had put some children in danger because many were infected before school had started. By late June, a return to in-person school was required, but it only lasted a few weeks before the summer holiday. A summer surge in cases led to some concern over mandatory in-person classes in the fall, but a recent survey showed that 79% of parents were in favor of sending their children back to in-person school.
California Back to school in a pandemic: Resources and news for parents The new school year of remote learning will bring unique challenges. Here are guides to help parents of school-age children navigate remote learning, as well as recent updates about education in Southern California.
An average of over 2 daily cases per 100,000 over seven days
Sweden
Shutdown: No overall shutdown. High schools and colleges closed temporarily, but day care centers and elementary schools have remained open.
Cases: Sweden’s cases have been relatively low compared with neighboring countries (numbers rose to approximately 5 daily cases per 100,000 [seven-day average] in the spring; hit the peak in the summer at around 10 before going under 2; but are now rising again — currently at 3.25. The government is considering new restrictions.
School reopening strategy: No major adjustments.
What happened: Swedish privacy laws allow healthcare personnel and school officials to notify parents and school staff about an infection only “if a person’s life is at risk.” Because of that, there is relatively little data, though by May, there were at least three reported deaths among teachers and staff, as well as school closures because of staff infections (children were not tested). According to the University of Washington report , the Swedish Public Health Agency found that the antibody prevalence in school-age youth was 4.7%, compared with 6.7% in adults and 2.7% in the elderly. The relatively high rate in children suggests there may have been significant spread in schools.
Denmark
Shutdown: March 16
School reopening date: April 15
Daily cases: 205.7
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 3.55
Positivity rate: 6.2%
School reopening strategy: Denmark was the first country in Europe to shut down and the first to reopen schools. They started with younger students only, in a maximum class size of 12. They were assigned to small cohorts that physically distanced from other cohorts, but kids within the cohorts didn’t have to distance from each other. There was an effort to teach classes outside; for example, in parks. No mask requirement or temperature checks, but there was increased handwashing, reportedly as much as every hour. (This was relaxed when students started developing eczema.)
What happened: There was no significant increase in cases. In fact, numbers continued to decline after school reopenings. Middle and high schools opened in May. Social distancing rules were eliminated by August .
Belgium
Shutdown: March 13
School reopening date: May 18
Daily cases: 291.3
Daily cases per 100,000 (seven-day average): 2.51
Positivity rate: 2.1%
School reopening strategy: Belgium started with younger students, with alternate days and a maximum class size of 10. Teachers were required to wear masks, but not the students. Some classes met in churches to better physically distance in large spaces.
What happened: Officials have said there is no evidence of increased spread after the school reopenings.


latimes--2020-09-25--Butte County woman, 71, identified as last victim of North Complex fire

Authorities released the name of the 15th victim of the North Complex fire Friday , meaning all those confirmed to have perished in one of California ’ s deadliest blazes have now been identified .
The body of Linda Longenbach , a 71-year-old Berry Creek resident , was located on Handkirk Lane on Sept. 10 , according to the Butte County Sheriff ’ s Office .
Both she and another previously identified victim — 68-year-old Paul Winer of Berry Creek — were found in the roadway .
One of them was inside a vehicle and the other was approximately 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , though they didn ’ t specify who was where .
“ During the investigation , detectives determined Paul and Linda spoke with a relative in the afternoon on Sept. 8 , and said they were aware of the fire and chose not to immediately evacuate at that time , ” sheriff ’ s officials wrote in a statement Friday morning .
“ We extend our sincerest condolences to the family of Linda Longenbach and the families of all the victims in this devastating fire.
” Authorities have previously identified the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 61 ; Suzan Zurz , 76 ; Mark Delagardie , 61 ; Kin Lee , 64 ; Jacob Albright , 74 ; Randy Harrell , 67 ; John Butler , 79 ; Sandra Butler , 75 ; Jorge Hernandez-Juarez , 26 ; Philip Rubel , 68 ; Khawar Bhatti , 58 ; Millicent Catarancuic , 77 ; and Josiah Williams , 16 .
Most of the fire ’ s victims lived in Berry Creek , while two were from nearby Feather Falls .
Both towns are located northeast of Oroville .
The North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devastating fires the state has ever seen .
Only four California fires have killed more people .
At over 304,000 acres , the fire is the fifth-largest ever recorded in the state .
It ’ s also destroyed the sixth-highest number of structures of any fire , 1,784 , according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
Firefighters have made significant progress toward controlling the blaze .
Containment was at 78 % as of Friday morning , allowing an evacuation order to be reduced to a warning in parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fire will be challenged in the coming days by unseasonably warm temperatures , dry conditions and gusty winds .
Cal Fire crews have lit preventative burns throughout the week to clear away fuels and keep the fire from moving into Forbestown , a small village nestled in the mountains east of Oroville .
To the north , in Feather Falls , the sky shone a brilliant blue Thursday — a welcome change for those accustomed to the ghastly gray the North Complex had cast over the region — as crews felled trees @ @ @ @

A truck parked amid a stand of trees in Berry Creek, where most of the victims of the North Complex fire lived.
Authorities released the name of the 15th victim of the North Complex fire Friday, meaning all those confirmed to have perished in one of California’s deadliest blazes have now been identified.
The body of Linda Longenbach, a 71-year-old Berry Creek resident, was located on Handkirk Lane on Sept. 10, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
Both she and another previously identified victim — 68-year-old Paul Winer of Berry Creek — were found in the roadway.
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One of them was inside a vehicle and the other was approximately 10 feet away from an ATV, authorities said, though they didn’t specify who was where.
“During the investigation, detectives determined Paul and Linda spoke with a relative in the afternoon on Sept. 8, and said they were aware of the fire and chose not to immediately evacuate at that time,” sheriff’s officials wrote in a statement Friday morning. “We extend our sincerest condolences to the family of Linda Longenbach and the families of all the victims in this devastating fire.”
Authorities have previously identified the other fire victims as: Larry Holder, 61; Suzan Zurz, 76; Mark Delagardie, 61; Kin Lee, 64; Jacob Albright, 74; Randy Harrell, 67; John Butler, 79; Sandra Butler, 75; Jorge Hernandez-Juarez, 26; Philip Rubel, 68; Khawar Bhatti, 58; Millicent Catarancuic, 77; and Josiah Williams, 16.
Most of the fire’s victims lived in Berry Creek, while two were from nearby Feather Falls. Both towns are located northeast of Oroville.
The North Complex ranks among the biggest and most devastating fires the state has ever seen. Only four California fires have killed more people.
At more than 304,000 acres, the fire is the fifth-largest ever recorded in the state. It’s also destroyed the sixth-highest number of structures of any fire, 1,784, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
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Firefighters have made significant progress toward controlling the blaze. Containment was at 78% as of Friday morning, allowing an evacuation order to be reduced to a warning in parts of Butte County.
However, those battling the fire will be challenged in the coming days by unseasonably warm temperatures, dry conditions and gusty winds.
Cal Fire crews have lit preventive burns throughout the week to clear away fuels and keep the fire from moving into Forbestown, a small village nestled in the mountains east of Oroville.
To the north, in Feather Falls, the sky shone a brilliant blue Thursday — a welcome change for those accustomed to the ghastly gray the North Complex had cast over the region — as crews felled trees and cleared brush.
Times staff writer Faith E. Pinho contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-09-25--Man's body found near construction trailers at SoFi Stadium

A man was found dead near the construction trailer complex at the SoFi Stadium development in Inglewood early Friday .
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner said a Latino male in his 20s was pronounced dead at 2:34 a.m .
The man ’ s name hasn ’ t been released publicly because the next of kin has yet to be notified .
An autopsy is pending .
A spokeswoman for the development said Inglewood police are investigating the death .
A construction worker at the stadium died in June after falling more than 110 feet from the building ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s developers in L.A. County Superior Court .
A second construction worker died at the project in July .
Turner-AECOM Hunt , the joint venture overseeing construction , said at the time he had exhibited “ signs of a health issue.
” The medical examiner-coroner hasn ’ t released a cause of death or autopsy report pending further investigation .
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the June and July deaths , but a spokesman said the agency isn ’ t involved in the probe of Friday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with information on the death to contact homicide detectives at 310-412-5246 .
The Rams opened SoFi Stadium with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13 .
The Chargers , who share the stadium that is the centerpiece of a 298-acre development , host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday .

A man was found dead near the construction trailer complex at the SoFi Stadium development in Inglewood early Friday.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner said a Latino male in his 20s was pronounced dead at 2:34 a.m. The man’s name hasn’t been released publicly because the next of kin has yet to be notified. An autopsy is pending.
A spokeswoman for the development said Inglewood police are investigating the death.
A construction worker at the stadium died in June after falling more than 110 feet from the building’s roof. His family sued the project’s developers in L.A. County Superior Court.
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A second construction worker died at the project in July. Turner-AECOM Hunt, the joint venture overseeing construction, said at the time he had exhibited “signs of a health issue.” The medical examiner-coroner hasn’t released a cause of death or autopsy report pending further investigation.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the June and July deaths, but a spokesman said the agency isn’t involved in the probe of Friday’s death.
Inglewood police asked anyone with information on the death to contact homicide detectives at 310-412-5246.
The Rams opened SoFi Stadium with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13. The Chargers, who share the stadium that is the centerpiece of a 298-acre development, host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.