latimes--2020-01-28--Parents of Palmdale boy who died under suspicious circumstances indicted on murder and torture charg

Parents of Palmdale boy who died under suspicious circumstances indicted on murder and torture charges

The parents of Noah Cuatro , a 4-year-old Palmdale boy who died under suspicious circumstances , have been indicted on murder and torture charges in his death .
The Los Angeles County District Attorney ’ s Office announced the development Tuesday after a grand jury returned the indictment on Jan. 23 .
Jose Maria Cuatro Jr. and Ursula Elaine Juarez were arrested in September on suspicion of murdering their son .
Each now faces one count of murder and torture .
Cuatro also faces one count of assault on a child causing death and one count of sexual penetration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Juarez also faces one count of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause death .
The district attorney ’ s office has recommended a $ 4-million bail for Cuatro and a $ 3-million bail for Juarez .
Noah died July 6 , one day after his parents dialed 911 and said their son had drowned in an apartment complex pool .
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva later told reporters that the death appeared inconsistent with drowning , prompting the launch of an investigation .
During his four years of life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shuffled between the custody of his parents and great-grandmother , Eva Hernandez .
Following the arrest of Cuatro and Juarez , Hernandez recounted her great-grandson ’ s pleas to stay with her before he was removed from her care .
In 2014 , Noah was placed in foster care and later in Hernandez ’ s custody .
The following year , Noah was returned to his parents , but went back into foster care and later returned to his great-grandmother in 2016 following allegations that he had been medically neglected by his parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Noah to the care of his parents .
After further allegations of neglect in May 2019 , the Department of Children and Family Services intervened .
As their investigation continued , a social worker sought a court order to remove the child from his home on May 15 following an unverified tip that Noah had possibly been sexually abused .
Social workers last saw Noah in late June 2019 .
Noah died two weeks after they updated the court and asked for a 30-day continuance to investigate further .
A report about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility in the case but will not protect the agency against potential lawsuits or future scrutiny by the Board of Supervisors .

The parents of Noah Cuatro, a 4-year-old Palmdale boy who died under suspicious circumstances, have been indicted on murder and torture charges in his death.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced the development Tuesday after a grand jury returned the indictment Thursday.
Jose Maria Cuatro Jr. and Ursula Elaine Juarez were arrested in September on suspicion of murdering their son. Each now faces one count of murder and torture. Cuatro also faces one count of assault on a child causing death and one count of sexual penetration of a child under the age of 10. Juarez also faces one count of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause death. The district attorney’s office has recommended $4-million bail for Cuatro and $3-million bail for Juarez.
Noah died July 6, one day after his parents dialed 911 and said their son had drowned in an apartment complex pool. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva later told reporters that the death appeared inconsistent with drowning, prompting the launch of an investigation.
During his four years of life, Noah was placed in foster care and shuffled between the custody of his parents and great-grandmother, Eva Hernandez. Following the arrest of Cuatro and Juarez, Hernandez recounted her great-grandson’s pleas to stay with her before he was removed from her care.
In 2014, Noah was placed in foster care and later in Hernandez’s custody. The following year, Noah was returned to his parents, but went back into foster care and later returned to his great-grandmother in 2016 following allegations that he had been medically neglected by his parents.
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In 2018, the court returned Noah to the care of his parents. After further allegations of neglect in May 2019, the Department of Children and Family Services intervened. As their investigation continued, a social worker sought a court order to remove the child from his home on May 15 following an unverified tip that Noah had possibly been sexually abused.
Social workers last saw Noah in late June 2019. Noah died two weeks after they updated the court and asked for a 30-day continuance to investigate further.
A report about the death of the boy absolved DCFS of responsibility in the case but will not protect the agency against potential lawsuits or future scrutiny by the Board of Supervisors.


latimes--2020-01-28--Offenders under 21 would be automatically tried as juveniles under new California bill

California lawmakers will consider expanding the reach of the state ’ s juvenile justice system so that those under age 21 are automatically tried as minors — an idea backed by some state probation officers , who say teenagers aren ’ t mature enough to be held responsible in the same way as older offenders .
Though few details are included in the legislation introduced at the state Capitol on Tuesday , Senate Bill 889 was proposed in “ recognition that people under 21 still need guidance , ” said its author , state Sen. Nancy Skinner ( D-Berkeley ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as restrictions on purchasing tobacco , cannabis and alcohol , that require a person to be 21 as the “ adult or responsible age , ” she said .
“ The science says [ those ] between 18 and 24 have less than fully developed prefrontal cortexes , ” said Brian Richart , president of the Chief Probation Officers of California , the trade association that represents probation officials across the state .
“ Their decision making is inhibited .
They act impulsively and we know this , yet we treat them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Treating 18- and 19-year-olds as adults makes no ... sense in the criminal context , ” Skinner said , adding that , like previous reform efforts addressing juvenile justice , the measure would likely leave courts some discretion when dealing with the most serious crimes .
While the proposal has the backing of multiple criminal justice reform organizations , others have voiced skepticism .
Daniel Macallair , executive director of San Francisco-based Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice , said he thinks the probation chiefs association might be largely backing the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macallair points out that juvenile arrests have steadily fallen in the state for years , and many juvenile halls have few inmates — San Francisco is in the process of closing its facility for lack of use .
California arrested 17,200 minors under the age of 17 for felonies in 2018 , and more than half were black and 36 % Latino , according to statistics from the California Department of Justice .
The same year , about 14,400 people aged 18 and 19 were arrested on felony charges .
An analysis by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those tried in juvenile courts to 20 and younger could send thousands of new inmates to fill juvenile facilities ; Macallair worries those considered juveniles could be held longer than if they went to adult facilities .
“ You ’ ve got juvenile halls that are sitting empty and they are seeking a population to fill it , ” Macallair said .
“ I think what ’ s prompting this is not a desire to necessarily do things in a different way , but I think [ it ] is out of concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Macallair said he is also concerned about holding older offenders with younger minors .
“ The Legislature should slow down and really conduct an analysis to what the benefits are and what the problems are that will arise , ” he said .
Larry Morse , legislative director of the California District Attorneys Assn.
, said his organization hadn ’ t yet taken a position but had questions .
“ We note that when someone turns 18 , the government declares them old enough to marry , to bind themselves in contracts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , decide to put their life on the line in service to their country , ” Morse said in a statement .
“ This bill suggests you ’ re old enough to make those decisions , yet not responsible enough to be held accountable for committing a violent crime .
This seeming contradiction is of great concern.
” The measure builds on years of juvenile justice reform in the state beginning with efforts championed by then-Gov .
Arnold Schwarzenegger .
Faced with lawsuits and criticisms over harsh conditions in juvenile facilities , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 23 hours a day , in 2004 Schwarzenegger overhauled the California Youth Authority , which held about 3,600 children at the time .
The Legislature further realigned the juvenile justice system in 2007 , giving more control to county probation departments in what would later become a model for Gov .
Jerry Brown ’ s reorganization of the adult system .
Around seven years ago , California began rethinking how it treats young offenders , moving away from a system based on punishment and focusing on rehabilitation .
Since then , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocates to remove minors from California ’ s adult correctional system .
Those efforts led the Legislature in 2013 to pass measures aimed at giving minors more opportunity for a second chance , allowing those who were convicted as adults before their 18th birthday to receive early parole hearings .
The idea was expanded the following year to include those convicted prior to their 23rd birthday .
Skinner in 2014 wrote legislation later signed by Brown that automatically sealed juvenile records after probation was complete .
With the passage of Proposition 57 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to decide which minors should be tried as adults , giving the decision to judges .
The state also ended the prosecution of its youngest offenders in 2018 , limiting the jurisdiction of juvenile courts to those ages 12-17 in all cases except murder and rape , and effectively ending the prosecution of children 11 and younger .
The same year , another measure passed that barred minors under 16 from being placed in the adult corrections system .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom also weighed in on juvenile justice in his first year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state juvenile inmates away from corrections and instead place them under the purview of government health and human services officials .
Currently , the state has about 700 youth offenders , compared to about 4,000 minors detained daily in county-run juvenile facilities statewide , and about 35,000 who are overseen by probation officers in their communities .
State-held juvenile offenders are often those with the most serious charges and mental health needs .
Richart , the head of the probation chiefs association , dismissed the notion that the measure was a jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a young probation officer , a 17-year-old member of his family was incarcerated in state prison , and he witnessed the impact it had even after release .
The experience “ informed my own thinking on the more humane way to treat people , ” he said .
“ Our proposal ... is saying that in the eyes of the criminal justice system , we really need to look at the age of maturity , not adulthood , ” Richart said .

California lawmakers will consider expanding the reach of the state’s juvenile justice system so that those under age 21 are automatically tried as minors — an idea backed by some state probation officers, who say teenagers aren’t mature enough to be held responsible in the same way as older offenders.
Though few details are included in the legislation introduced at the state Capitol on Tuesday, Senate Bill 889 was proposed in “recognition that people under 21 still need guidance,” said its author, state Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). Skinner pointed to other laws, such as restrictions on purchasing tobacco, cannabis and alcohol, that require a person to be 21 as the “adult or responsible age,” she said.
“The science says [those] between 18 and 24 have less than fully developed prefrontal cortexes,” said Brian Richart, president of the Chief Probation Officers of California, the trade association that represents probation officials across the state. “Their decision making is inhibited. They act impulsively and we know this, yet we treat them as if they are fully developed.”
“Treating 18- and 19-year-olds as adults makes no ... sense in the criminal context,” Skinner said, adding that, like previous reform efforts addressing juvenile justice, the measure would likely leave courts some discretion when dealing with the most serious crimes.
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While the proposal has the backing of multiple criminal justice reform organizations, others have voiced skepticism. Daniel Macallair, executive director of San Francisco-based Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, said he thinks the probation chiefs association might be largely backing the idea as a way to protect jobs. Macallair points out that juvenile arrests have steadily fallen in the state for years, and many juvenile halls have few inmates — San Francisco is in the process of closing its facility for lack of use.
California arrested 17,200 minors under the age of 17 for felonies in 2018, and more than half were black and 36% Latino, according to statistics from the California Department of Justice. The same year, about 14,400 people aged 18 and 19 were arrested on felony charges. An analysis by CJCJ estimates that raising the age of those tried in juvenile courts to 20 and younger could send thousands of new inmates to fill juvenile facilities; Macallair worries those considered juveniles could be held longer than if they went to adult facilities.
“You’ve got juvenile halls that are sitting empty and they are seeking a population to fill it,” Macallair said. “I think what’s prompting this is not a desire to necessarily do things in a different way, but I think [it] is out of concern that the juvenile hall population is declining.”
Macallair said he is also concerned about holding older offenders with younger minors.
“The Legislature should slow down and really conduct an analysis to what the benefits are and what the problems are that will arise,” he said.
Larry Morse, legislative director of the California District Attorneys Assn., said his organization hadn’t yet taken a position but had questions.
“We note that when someone turns 18, the government declares them old enough to marry, to bind themselves in contracts, to vote, and most importantly, decide to put their life on the line in service to their country,” Morse said in a statement. “This bill suggests you’re old enough to make those decisions, yet not responsible enough to be held accountable for committing a violent crime. This seeming contradiction is of great concern.”
The measure builds on years of juvenile justice reform in the state beginning with efforts championed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Faced with lawsuits and criticisms over harsh conditions in juvenile facilities, including mistreatment of children and confinement of up to 23 hours a day, in 2004 Schwarzenegger overhauled the California Youth Authority, which held about 3,600 children at the time. The Legislature further realigned the juvenile justice system in 2007, giving more control to county probation departments in what would later become a model for Gov. Jerry Brown’s reorganization of the adult system.
Around seven years ago, California began rethinking how it treats young offenders, moving away from a system based on punishment and focusing on rehabilitation. Since then, there has been a push from criminal justice advocates to remove minors from California’s adult correctional system.
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Those efforts led the Legislature in 2013 to pass measures aimed at giving minors more opportunity for a second chance, allowing those who were convicted as adults before their 18th birthday to receive early parole hearings. The idea was expanded the following year to include those convicted prior to their 23rd birthday. Skinner in 2014 wrote legislation later signed by Brown that automatically sealed juvenile records after probation was complete.
With the passage of Proposition 57 in 2016, voters took power from prosecutors to decide which minors should be tried as adults, giving the decision to judges. The state also ended the prosecution of its youngest offenders in 2018, limiting the jurisdiction of juvenile courts to those ages 12-17 in all cases except murder and rape, and effectively ending the prosecution of children 11 and younger. The same year, another measure passed that barred minors under 16 from being placed in the adult corrections system.
Gov. Gavin Newsom also weighed in on juvenile justice in his first year, suggesting a plan to move control of state juvenile inmates away from corrections and instead place them under the purview of government health and human services officials. Currently, the state has about 700 youth offenders, compared to about 4,000 minors detained daily in county-run juvenile facilities statewide, and about 35,000 who are overseen by probation officers in their communities. State-held juvenile offenders are often those with the most serious charges and mental health needs.
Richart, the head of the probation chiefs association, dismissed the notion that the measure was a jobs bill. He said that when he was a young probation officer, a 17-year-old member of his family was incarcerated in state prison, and he witnessed the impact it had even after release. The experience “informed my own thinking on the more humane way to treat people,” he said.
“Our proposal ... is saying that in the eyes of the criminal justice system, we really need to look at the age of maturity, not adulthood,” Richart said.


latimes--2020-01-28--Dramatic video of wreckage from Kobe Bryant helicopter crash is released

Federal investigators on Tuesday released a dramatic video showing the scene where Kobe Bryant ’ s helicopter crashed into a Calabasas hillside , killing the NBA great , his daughter and seven other people .
The National Transportation Safety Board video shows the charred wreckage of the helicopter , which broke apart on impact Sunday morning .
Much of what remained of the chopper was burned beyond recognition .
But a wheel and parts of the fuselage appear not to have been burned .
The video was released as the NTSB is trying to determine the cause of the crash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
NTSB investigators said Monday that just before the crash , the pilot rapidly ascended to avoid a cloud layer .
Jennifer Homendy said the pilot , who was flying from Orange County to Ventura County , requested special visual flight rules , which allow pilots to fly under 1,000 feet .
had settled over the region Sunday morning , and some areas were shrouded in fog .
Homendy said it remained unclear why the helicopter slammed into the hillside .
Debris from the crash was scattered across 600 feet , she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an impact area on one of the hills , and a piece of the tail is down the hill on the left side of the hill .
The fuselage is on the other side of that hill .
Then the main rotor is about hundred yards beyond that .
The debris field is about 500 to 600 feet.
” when Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter , Gianna , and six other passengers boarded the flight for a basketball tournament in Thousand Oaks .
Half an hour later , they were flying over thickening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The pilot was worried enough to ask flight controllers to keep track of them .
As he approached the hills of Calabasas at 150 mph , , telling him he was too low to be seen on radar .
The pilot began to climb , rising 765 feet in 36 seconds , enough to clear the nearby hills .
But the Sikorsky S-76B suddenly veered off course and descended rapidly .
The twin-engine aircraft dropped 325 feet in 14 seconds , reaching 176 mph before losing contact with air traffic control .

Federal investigators on Tuesday released a dramatic video showing the scene where Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crashed into a Calabasas hillside, killing the NBA great, his daughter and seven other people.
The National Transportation Safety Board video shows the charred wreckage of the helicopter, which broke apart on impact Sunday morning. Much of what remained of the chopper was burned beyond recognition. But a wheel and parts of the fuselage appear not to have been burned.
The video was released as the NTSB was trying to determine the cause of the crash, a task expected to take months.
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NTSB investigators said Monday that just before the crash, the pilot rapidly ascended to avoid a cloud layer.
Jennifer Homendy said the pilot, who was flying from Orange County to Ventura County, requested special visual flight rules, which allow pilots to fly under 1,000 feet. A marine layer had settled over the region Sunday morning, and some areas were shrouded in fog.
Homendy said it remained unclear why the helicopter slammed into the hillside. Debris from the crash was scattered across 600 feet, she said.
The closest images yet of Kobe Bryant helicopter crash courtesy of @NTSB https://t.co/CVq25ef9Al — Richard Winton (@LAcrimes) January 28, 2020
“It was a pretty devastating accident scene ,” she added. “There is an impact area on one of the hills, and a piece of the tail is down the hill on the left side of the hill. The fuselage is on the other side of that hill. Then the main rotor is about hundred yards beyond that. The debris field is about 500 to 600 feet.”
The chartered helicopter left John Wayne Airport on Sunday morning after Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and six other passengers boarded the flight for a basketball tournament in Thousand Oaks.
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Half an hour later, they were flying over thickening clouds in the San Fernando Valley. The pilot was worried enough to ask flight controllers to keep track of them. As he approached the hills of Calabasas at 150 mph, the tower radioed him , telling him he was too low to be seen on radar.
The pilot began to climb, rising 765 feet in 36 seconds, enough to clear the nearby hills.
But the Sikorsky S-76B suddenly veered off course and descended rapidly. The twin-engine aircraft dropped 325 feet in 14 seconds, reaching 176 mph before losing contact with air traffic control.


latimes--2020-01-28--Kobe Bryant's helicopter was not equipped with terrain warning system that could have alerted pilot

Kobe Bryant's helicopter was not equipped with terrain warning system that could have alerted pilot to hillside

The helicopter that crashed Sunday in Calabasas , killing nine people including Kobe Bryant , was not equipped with a terrain alarm system that could have warned the pilot he was approaching a hillside , National Transportation Safety Board officials said Tuesday .
The findings come as investigators are trying to determine why the helicopter crashed into a hillside amid foggy conditions .
NTSB investigator Jennifer Homendy said at Tuesday ’ s news conference that the helicopter was at 2,300 feet when it lost communication with air traffic controllers .
The helicopter was decending at more than 2,000 feet per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ So we know that this was a high-energy impact crash , and the helicopter was in a descending left bank , ” Homendy said .
The chopper hit the hillside at an elevation of 1,085 feet , about 20 to 30 feet above an outcropping of the hill .
But even if the pilot had been able to fly above that outcropping , he would have faced new hazards ahead .
“ There are actually other higher hills surrounding it , ” said Bill English , a lead investigator .
Homendy said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aviation Administration 16 years ago require that all choppers carrying six or more passengers be equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system , adding that the FAA has “ failed to act ” on the proposal .
Because the FAA didn ’ t follow the recommendation , the chopper that crashed Sunday was not legally required to have the system .
Shortly after her Tuesday news conference , an FAA spokesman disputed that assessment , noting that the FAA requires the terrain alarm system for helicopter air ambulance operations .
It remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrain surrounding him , or if he had become disoriented .
Bryant regularly used the helicopter , owned by the charter service Island Express .
Kurt Deetz , a former pilot for Island Express who said he flew Bryant from 2014 to 2016 , previously told The Times that he thought the aircraft was outfitted with a terrain warning system , but when reached Tuesday , acknowledged that he might have been mistaken .
“ The NTSB knows way more than I do , ” Deetz said .
Deetz said it is unlikely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crash , had the helicopter been equipped with it .
Authorities investigating Sunday ’ s accident said the impact of the crash was intense , shattering the chopper and sending debris over a wide area .
The new revelations came as the bodies of Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were recovered .
The investigation into the cause of the crash is still in its early stages , but officials have revealed some details about the final moments of the flight , which was taking Bryant and his group from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thousand Oaks .
The retired NBA player was scheduled to coach a game in which Gianna was scheduled to play .
Accompanying the Bryants were John Altobelli , 56 , longtime baseball coach at Orange Coast College ; his wife , Keri , 46 ; their daughter Alyssa , 13 ; Christina Mauser , 38 , an assistant basketball coach at the Mamba Sports Academy ; Sarah Chester , 45 ; Chester ’ s daughter Payton , 13 ; and the pilot , 50-year-old Ara Zobayan .
Just before crashing into the hillside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cloud layer , according to the NTSB .
The helicopter — a Sikorsky S-76 chopper built in 1991 — departed John Wayne Airport in Orange County at 9:06 a.m. Sunday , according to publicly available flight records .
The aircraft passed over Boyle Heights , near Dodger Stadium , and circled over Glendale during the flight .
The NTSB database shows no prior incidents or accidents for the midsize helicopter .
Homendy said Zobayan requested special visual flight rules ( VFR ) , which allow pilots to fly under 1,000 feet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weather conditions had deteriorated to less than the minimum visibility for regular visual flying .
At some point during the flight , the pilot requested “ flight following , ” a process in which controllers are in regular contact with an aircraft and can help them navigate , according to recordings of radio communications between the air tower and the aircraft .
Before the conversation ends , the tower is heard telling the pilot the helicopter is too low for flight following .
Radar data indicate Zobayan , who had been a licensed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guided the copter to 2,300 feet and then began a left turn .
The helicopter then began rapidly descending .
A visual-flight-rules flight “ is based on the principle of see and avoid.
” When operation of an aircraft under visual flight rules isn ’ t safe , often because of inclement weather , a pilot can opt to fly under instrument rules ( IFR ) .
During this type of flight , the pilot navigates only by reference to the instruments in the cockpit , according to the Federal Aviation Administration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ weather conditions allow , although they can choose to fly on an IFR flight plan at any time , ” said Ian Gregor , an FAA spokesman .
“ Also , it ’ s always up to the pilot to make the decision whether to fly VFR and to ensure the safety of the flight and adherence to federal aviation regulations.
” As authorities worked to recover victims ’ remains , a stream of visitors , Bryant fans and tourists came to the area , wanting to see the site for themselves .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ binoculars .
Basketballs , candles , balloons , photos and various tributes lined a fence near the entrance to Juan Bautista de Anza Park in Calabasas .
The NBA star ’ s death struck Westlake Village resident Chad Martinson as doubly cruel .
The 35-year-old father of two brought his 5-year-old daughter , Tatum , to the memorial , which he acknowledged was emotional .
“ His death as a father hits me harder than him as a player , ” Martinson said .
“ The second I heard it was Kobe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was going , and the first thing that popped into my head was , I was hoping the girls wouldn ’ t be in the helicopter .
“ It was devastating to hear that his daughter was with him.
” As Tatum struggled to pull her father away from the tributes and closer to the playground , Martinson lifted his daughter and gave her a hug .
“ I grew up watching Kobe and saw him in Venice Beach [ in 1996 ] the day he broke his wrist in a pickup game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had been traded to the Lakers as a teen .
“ I ’ ll always have that memory of his toughness , and now I ’ ll have to pass that to my daughter .
”

Richard Winton, Hannah Fry, Andrew J. Campa, Jaclyn Cosgrove

People gather on Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas near the scene of Sunday’s helicopter crash.
The helicopter that crashed Sunday in Calabasas, killing nine people including Kobe Bryant, was not equipped with a terrain alarm system that could have warned the pilot he was approaching a hillside, National Transportation Safety Board officials said Tuesday.
The findings came as investigators were trying to determine why the helicopter crashed into a hillside amid foggy conditions.
NTSB investigator Jennifer Homendy said at Tuesday’s news conference that the helicopter was at 2,300 feet when it lost communication with air traffic controllers. The helicopter was descending at more than 2,000 feet per minute at the time of impact.
“So we know that this was a high-energy impact crash, and the helicopter was in a descending left bank,” Homendy said.
The chopper hit the hillside at an elevation of 1,085 feet, about 20 to 30 feet below an outcropping of the hill. But even if the pilot had been able to fly above the hilltop, he would have faced new hazards ahead.
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“There are actually other higher hills surrounding it,” said Bill English, a lead investigator.
A reconstruction of the flight by The Times tracks the helicopter’s path starting at a crucial moment near the end when the pilot left the San Fernando Valley above the 101 Freeway.
Homendy said her agency had recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration 16 years ago require that all choppers carrying six or more passengers be equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system, adding that the FAA has “failed to act” on the proposal. Because the FAA didn’t follow the recommendation, the chopper that crashed Sunday was not legally required to have the system.
Shortly after her Tuesday news conference, an FAA spokesman disputed that assessment, noting that the FAA requires the terrain alarm systems for helicopter air ambulance operations.
It remained unclear what the pilot knew about the terrain surrounding him or if he had become disoriented.
Bryant regularly used the helicopter, owned by the charter service Island Express.
Kurt Deetz, a former pilot for Island Express who said he flew Bryant from 2014 to 2016, previously told The Times that he thought the aircraft was outfitted with a terrain warning system, but when reached Tuesday, he acknowledged that he might have been mistaken.
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“The NTSB knows way more than I do,” Deetz said.
Deetz said it was unlikely such a system could have averted the crash, had the helicopter been equipped with it.
× NTSB Board Member Jennifer Homendy briefs media on the Jan. 26 helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif.
Authorities investigating Sunday’s accident said the impact of the crash was intense, shattering the chopper and sending debris over a wide area.
The new revelations came as the bodies of Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others were recovered.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is still in its early stages, but officials have revealed some details about the final moments of the flight, which was taking Bryant and his group from Orange County to his basketball camp in Thousand Oaks. The retired NBA player was scheduled to coach a game in which Gianna was scheduled to play.
Accompanying the Bryants were John Altobelli, 56, longtime baseball coach at Orange Coast College; his wife, Keri, 46; their daughter Alyssa, 13; Christina Mauser, 38, an assistant basketball coach at the Mamba Sports Academy; Sarah Chester, 45; Chester’s daughter Payton, 13; and the pilot, 50-year-old Ara Zobayan.
Just before crashing into the hillside, the pilot rapidly ascended to avoid a cloud layer, according to the NTSB.
The helicopter — a Sikorsky S-76 chopper built in 1991 — departed John Wayne Airport in Orange County at 9:06 a.m. Sunday, according to publicly available flight records. The aircraft passed over Boyle Heights, near Dodger Stadium, and circled over Glendale during the flight. The NTSB database shows no prior incidents or accidents for the midsize helicopter.
Homendy said Zobayan requested special visual flight rules (VFR), which allow pilots to fly visually in controlled airspace when ceilings are less than 1,000 feet or when visibility is less than 3 miles, during the trip to Ventura County because weather conditions had deteriorated.
At some point during the flight, the pilot requested “flight following,” a process in which controllers are in regular contact with an aircraft and can help them navigate, according to recordings of radio communications between the air tower and the aircraft.
Before the conversation ends, the tower is heard telling the pilot the helicopter is too low for flight following. Radar data indicate Zobayan, who had been a licensed commercial helicopter pilot for 19 years, guided the copter to 2,300 feet and then began a left turn. The helicopter then began rapidly descending.
A visual-flight-rules flight “is based on the principle of see and avoid.” When operation of an aircraft under visual flight rules isn’t safe, often because of inclement weather, a pilot can opt to fly under instrument rules (IFR). During this type of flight, the pilot navigates only by reference to the instruments in the cockpit, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Pilots “fly VFR when and if weather conditions allow, although they can choose to fly on an IFR flight plan at any time,” said Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman. “Also, it’s always up to the pilot to make the decision whether to fly VFR and to ensure the safety of the flight and adherence to federal aviation regulations.”
Remains are covered at the site of the helicopter crash that killed former Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others in Calabasas. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
As authorities worked to recover victims’ remains early in the week, a stream of visitors, Bryant fans and tourists came to the area, wanting to see the site for themselves. Some had cameras. A few had binoculars. Basketballs, candles, balloons, photos and various tributes lined a fence near the entrance to Juan Bautista de Anza Park in Calabasas.
The NBA star’s death struck Westlake Village resident Chad Martinson as doubly cruel. The 35-year-old father of two brought his 5-year-old daughter, Tatum, to the memorial, which he acknowledged was emotional.
“His death as a father hits me harder than him as a player,” Martinson said. “The second I heard it was Kobe in the helicopter, I knew where he was going, and the first thing that popped into my head was, I was hoping the girls wouldn’t be in the helicopter.
“It was devastating to hear that his daughter was with him.”
As Tatum struggled to pull her father away from the tributes and closer to the playground, Martinson lifted his daughter and gave her a hug.
“I grew up watching Kobe and saw him in Venice Beach [in 1996] the day he broke his wrist in a pickup game,” Martinson said of Bryant, who had been traded to the Lakers as a teen. “I’ll always have that memory of his toughness, and now I’ll have to pass that to my daughter.”


latimes--2020-01-29--A second terrifying high-rise fire has Barrington Plaza residents demanding answers

For residents of the Barrington Plaza , the fire that ripped through the 25-story high-rise on Wednesday was a terrifying moment of déjà vu .
A little over six years ago , another fire hit the residential tower , causing extensive damage and leaving some tenants homeless .
The building lacks an internal sprinkler system , fire officials said , and some are now questioning why sprinklers were not installed after the 2013 blaze .
Wednesday ’ s fire injured six people , including a 3-month-old baby .
At least 15 people , some in bathrobes , were airlifted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Officials said it was the first time the fire chopper had been used in rescue efforts .
Sometime between 8 and 8:30 a.m. , an alarm sounded inside the building , waking 20-year resident Dan Karzen .
The ominous message informed the 84-year-old that he and all tenants were to evacuate immediately .
“ I had my pajamas on , so I had to hurry to put some clothes on , grab my phone and walk out the door of my 16th-floor apartment , ” Karzen said .
“ I knew it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoke there for a fire that was happening on the sixth floor.
” Karzen left the building but realized he had nowhere to go .
So he crossed the street to a strip mall , where he sat on a small spiral staircase , awaiting word from fire officials .
“ I don ’ t know when we ’ re going to go back in , and I don ’ t want to leave because all my stuff is up there , ” Karzen said .
About an hour after his evacuation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Hartford , Conn. , who ’ d been following coverage of the fire on TV 3,000 miles away .
“ That wouldn ’ t have happened 10 years ago , ” said Karzen , who got busy canceling appointments and plans he ’ d had for the day .
Residents weren ’ t being allowed back into the building overnight while fire officials investigate .
The Westwood Recreation Center was set up as a shelter , but Karzen said he ’ d likely stay the night at his daughter ’ s house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Woodland Hills .
Ali Mara , 26 , was sleeping in her apartment , across the street from the Barrington Plaza , when she was awoken by the smell of smoke and the blasts of firetruck sirens .
She left her building and made her way to Barrington , where she could see the fire spreading across the sixth floor and curling around the corner of the building .
“ As soon as I woke up , I came out , and we were all just kind of watching it and waiting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ton of smoke , and it kind of traveled ” around the corner .
She saw people peering down from the rooftop and peeking out of windows throughout the building .
“ It ’ s just really sad , ” she said .
“ There ’ s so many things going on in the world .
It just sucks .
I just feel sad for those people.
” When Liz Bowers was jolted awake by sirens , she smelled smoke and immediately thought it couldn ’ t be another fire , remembering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when she looked out her window , there it was .
“ I was like holy ... it ’ s Tower A again , ” she said .
She had a clear view of the flames and clouds of black smoke .
She could hear screams and windows blowing out .
Bowers ran downstairs to the public pool area shared by the two buildings and continued watching as firefighters worked to quell the flames and rescue residents .
After witnessing the dramatic events , she decided she ’ d had enough .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about all the times she could smell cigarette and marijuana smoke from her apartment , the result of little oversight from building managers , Bowers said .
She spent three years knocking on the leasing office ’ s door , writing letters and making phone calls to building managers .
Eventually , she gave up .
“ They should have put sprinklers in after the [ 2013 ] fire , ” she said .
“ They let everybody smoke .
There ’ s a lot of Airbnb [ rentals ] .
You get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoke pot .
The landlords don ’ t care .
”

Andrew J. Campa, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

Friends and family reunite after the Barrington Plaza fire, which was under investigation by Los Angeles fire officials. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Displaced residents reunite with friends and family at a temporary shelter after the Westside apartment complex fire. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters hoist a ladder to the man trapped on the outside of the structure. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Residents are airlifted from the roof of the Barrington Plaza apartments by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
A man trying to escape flames walks along a ledge after fire engulfs the sixth floor of a 25-story residential building in Los Angeles. Firefighters were able to rescue the man. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
For residents of Barrington Plaza, the fire that ripped through the 25-story high-rise on Wednesday was a terrifying moment of déjà vu.
A little over six years ago, another fire hit the residential tower, causing extensive damage and leaving some tenants homeless.
The building lacks an internal sprinkler system, fire officials said, and some are now questioning why sprinklers were not installed after the 2013 blaze.
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Wednesday’s fire injured 13 people, including a 3-month-old baby and two firefighters. Seven were taken to a hospital, including a 30-year-old man who required CPR and was listed in grave condition and another 30-year-old man in critical condition, L.A. Fire Capt. Erik Scott said.
At least 15 people, some in bathrobes, were airlifted to safety from the building’s rooftop. Officials said it was the first time the fire chopper had been used in rescue efforts.
Sometime between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., an alarm sounded inside the building, waking 20-year resident Dan Karzen.
The ominous message informed the 84-year-old that he and all tenants were to evacuate immediately.
“I had my pajamas on, so I had to hurry to put some clothes on, grab my phone and walk out the door of my 16th-floor apartment,” Karzen said. “I knew it was bad because there was all this smoke there for a fire that was happening on the sixth floor.”
Karzen left the building but realized he had nowhere to go. So he crossed the street to a strip mall, where he sat on a small spiral staircase, awaiting word from fire officials.
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“I don’t know when we’re going to go back in, and I don’t want to leave because all my stuff is up there,” Karzen said.
About an hour after his evacuation, Karzen got a call from his son in Hartford, Conn., who’d been following coverage of the fire on TV 3,000 miles away.
“That wouldn’t have happened 10 years ago,” said Karzen, who got busy canceling appointments and plans he’d had for the day.
Residents weren’t being allowed back into the building overnight while fire officials investigate. The Westwood Recreation Center was set up as a shelter, but Karzen said he’d likely stay the night at his daughter’s house in Tarzana or with another son in Woodland Hills.
Ali Mara, 26, was sleeping in her apartment across the street from Barrington Plaza when she was awoken by the smell of smoke and the blasts of firetruck sirens.
She left her building and made her way to Barrington, where she could see the fire spreading across the sixth floor and curling around the corner of the building.
“As soon as I woke up, I came out, and we were all just kind of watching it and waiting to see what happened. It was a ton of smoke, and it kind of traveled” around the corner, she said.
She saw people peering down from the rooftop and peeking out of windows throughout the building.
“It’s just really sad,” she said. “There’s so many things going on in the world. It just sucks. I just feel sad for those people.”
When Liz Bowers was jolted awake by sirens, she smelled smoke and immediately thought it couldn’t be another fire, remembering the 2013 blaze at Barrington Plaza. But when she looked out her window, there it was.
“I was like … it’s Tower A again,” she said.
She had a clear view of the flames and clouds of black smoke. She could hear screams and windows blowing out. Bowers ran downstairs to the public pool area shared by the two buildings and continued watching as firefighters worked to quell the flames and rescue residents.
After witnessing the dramatic events, she decided she’d had enough. She needs to move out.
She thought about all the times she could smell cigarette and marijuana smoke from her apartment, the result of little oversight from building managers, Bowers said. She spent three years knocking on the leasing office’s door, writing letters and making phone calls to building managers. Eventually, she gave up.
“They should have put sprinklers in after the [2013] fire,” she said. “They let everybody smoke. There’s a lot of Airbnb [rentals]. You get all these people coming into party and smoke pot. The landlords don’t care.”


latimes--2020-01-29--Sheriff's Department investigating alleged hit-and-run involving L.A. assistant fire chief

The Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department is investigating a hit-and-run collision in which an assistant chief for the Los Angeles Fire Department allegedly crashed into a parked car , sending it 160 feet forward , and fled to his Santa Clarita home .
After the collision Sunday night , Ellsworth Fortman did not respond to deputies ’ repeated commands to speak with him , even as they heard him talking on the phone in his backyard and saw him walking up the staircase in his home , according to interviews with the owner of the parked car , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
David Shoemaker of the Santa Clarita station .
The man made “ zero attempt ” to respond , Shoemaker said .
The sergeant did not name Fortman or confirm that he was the driver .
But Kimberly Ward , the aunt , provided The Times with a copy of a document a deputy gave her with the report number , which listed Fortman as the registered owner of the Dodge Ram involved in the crash and included his insurance information .
Ward and her niece said Fortman also showed up at their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance information , saying he had fallen ill the night before with vomiting and diarrhea .
When reached by phone , Fortman said he had been advised by “ everybody ” not to comment on the incident and then hung up on a reporter .
He did not respond to a subsequent text asking for the name of his attorney .
According to his LinkedIn profile , Fortman has worked for the Fire Department for more than 30 years and currently serves as assistant chief of the Emergency Medical Services Bureau .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department is “ aware of an alleged off-duty incident and our Professional Standards Division is cooperating with law enforcement .
Chief Fortman remains on duty while the investigation is conducted.
” The incident marks the second high-profile Fire Department official to come under investigation in recent months .
Peter Sanders , a civilian employee and chief spokesman for the agency , was accused in June of using a city vehicle to stop and threaten an Uber driver who got into a shouting match with Sanders ’ wife in a parking lot .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , Shoemaker said .
Shortly after , Ward said she heard a knock at her door .
A sheriff ’ s deputy was in front of her home , asking if she owned a gray or blue four-door Toyota sedan .
She said it belonged to her niece .
The deputy told her the sedan was totaled in a hit-and-run collision , Ward said .
She and her niece walked outside , where they saw that the collision ’ s impact had sent the sedan across the street and up into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third car .
The crash also knocked over a lamppost , which was lying in the street among debris .
Ward ’ s niece went to pack up belongings she ’ d left in the car while Ward followed a tow truck up to Fortman ’ s home .
She said she pounded on his door with a flashlight for about a minute .
No answer .
Sheriff ’ s deputies eventually advised her to stop , she said .
Shoemaker confirmed that a woman at the scene told deputies that the driver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been involved in an accident .
She said the man told her that he hadn ’ t been drinking , but went home , called his lawyer and then started drinking , Shoemaker said .
When deputies were yelling out to get the man ’ s attention , he made “ zero attempt ” to respond , Shoemaker said .
Deputies did not try to obtain a warrant to enter the home , because the hit-and-run was a misdemeanor offense and no one was injured .
Warrants for misdemeanor cases , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after 10 p.m. unless there ’ s a significant reason for night service .
This alleged offense didn ’ t rise to that level , he said .
The station has yet to hear from the driver , he said .
“ He has never contacted us to try and figure out where his truck is or give us any explanations , ” Shoemaker said .
The case , he said , has been presented to the district attorney ’ s office for review .
The review is ongoing , the D.A .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning after the collision , Ward said , Fortman showed up at her home with his insurance information , saying he may have hit her car .
He was with two women who identified themselves as his sister and his girlfriend , Ward said .
The girlfriend told Ward she had found Fortman unconscious in the bathtub the night before , Ward said .
“ I said , ‘ That ’ s what happens when you drink and drive , ’ ” Ward recalled telling him .
“ He said , ‘ Oh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t drinking.
’ ” Ward said the conversation lasted about 10 minutes , until she told them to leave .
“ Here ’ s a man , he ’ s making $ 450,000 a year , he ’ s a moral compass .
There are a lot of young men and women in the LAFD that look up to him , ” Ward said .
“ I want him to be held accountable 100 % .
” According to Transparent California , an online database of public employees ’ pay information , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total pay and benefits in 2018 , the most recent year for which his salary information is available .
That includes base pay of $ 175,000 plus $ 160,000 in overtime pay and about $ 100,000 in benefits .
Times staff writers Paul Pringle and Leila Miller contributed to this report .

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a hit-and-run collision in which an assistant chief for the Los Angeles Fire Department allegedly crashed into a parked car, sending it 160 feet forward, and fled to his Santa Clarita home.
After the collision Sunday night, Ellsworth Fortman did not respond to deputies’ repeated commands to speak with him, even as they heard him talking on the phone in his backyard and saw him walking up the staircase in his home, according to interviews with the owner of the parked car, her aunt and Sheriff’s Sgt. David Shoemaker of the Santa Clarita station.
The man made “zero attempt” to respond, Shoemaker said.
The sergeant did not name Fortman or confirm that he was the driver. But Kimberly Ward, the aunt, provided The Times with a copy of a document a deputy gave her with the report number, which listed Fortman as the registered owner of the Dodge Ram involved in the crash and included his insurance information.
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Ward and her niece said Fortman also showed up at their home the following morning to offer his insurance information, saying he had fallen ill the night before with vomiting and diarrhea.
When reached by phone, Fortman said he had been advised by “everybody” not to comment on the incident and then hung up on a reporter. He did not respond to a subsequent text asking for the name of his attorney. According to his LinkedIn profile, Fortman has worked for the Fire Department for more than 30 years and currently serves as assistant chief of the Emergency Medical Services Bureau.
In a statement, a spokeswoman said the department is “aware of an alleged off-duty incident and our Professional Standards Division is cooperating with law enforcement. Chief Fortman remains on duty while the investigation is conducted.”
The incident marks the second high-profile Fire Department official to come under investigation in recent months. Peter Sanders, a civilian employee and chief spokesman for the agency, was accused in June of using a city vehicle to stop and threaten an Uber driver who got into a shouting match with Sanders’ wife in a parking lot.
The collision involving Fortman occurred about 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Shoemaker said. Shortly after, Ward said she heard a knock at her door.
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A sheriff’s deputy was in front of her home, asking if she owned a gray or blue four-door Toyota sedan. She said it belonged to her niece.
The deputy told her the sedan was totaled in a hit-and-run collision, Ward said.
She and her niece walked outside, where they saw that the collision’s impact had sent the sedan across the street and up into a driveway, where it collided into a third car. The crash also knocked over a lamppost, which was lying in the street among debris.
Ward’s niece went to pack up belongings she’d left in the car while Ward followed a tow truck up to Fortman’s home.
She said she pounded on his door with a flashlight for about a minute. No answer. Sheriff’s deputies eventually advised her to stop, she said.
Shoemaker confirmed that a woman at the scene told deputies that the driver had called her and said he had been involved in an accident. She said the man told her that he hadn’t been drinking, but went home, called his lawyer and then started drinking, Shoemaker said.
When deputies were yelling out to get the man’s attention, he made “zero attempt” to respond, Shoemaker said.
Deputies did not try to obtain a warrant to enter the home, because the hit-and-run was a misdemeanor offense and no one was injured. Warrants for misdemeanor cases, he said, also generally aren’t served after 10 p.m. unless there’s a significant reason for night service. This alleged offense didn’t rise to that level, he said.
The station has yet to hear from the driver, he said.
“He has never contacted us to try and figure out where his truck is or give us any explanations,” Shoemaker said.
The case, he said, has been presented to the district attorney’s office for review. The review is ongoing, the D.A.’s office said Wednesday afternoon.
The morning after the collision, Ward said, Fortman showed up at her home with his insurance information, saying he may have hit her car.
He was with two women who identified themselves as his sister and his girlfriend, Ward said. The girlfriend told Ward she had found Fortman unconscious in the bathtub the night before, Ward said.
“I said, ‘That’s what happens when you drink and drive,’” Ward recalled telling him. “He said, ‘Oh, ma’am, I wasn’t drinking.’”
Ward said the conversation lasted about 10 minutes, until she told them to leave.
“Here’s a man, he’s making $450,000 a year, he’s a moral compass. There are a lot of young men and women in the LAFD that look up to him,” Ward said. “I want him to be held accountable 100%.”
According to Transparent California, an online database of public employees’ pay information, Fortman earned more than $450,000 in total pay and benefits in 2018, the most recent year for which his salary information is available. That includes base pay of $175,000 plus $160,000 in overtime pay and about $100,000 in benefits.
Times staff writers Paul Pringle and Leila Miller contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-29--Cal State board delays decision on extra math requirement until 2022 amid controversy

Students won ’ t be required to take a fourth high school math class to be admitted to a Cal State University — for now .
Faced with intense opposition , the Cal State Board of Trustees decided Wednesday to wait two years before voting on whether to require a fourth class in math , science or quantitative reasoning for acceptance into any of the 23 campuses in the nation ’ s largest public university system .
The proposed requirement would affect students entering the university in fall 2027 .
Many community advocate groups and school districts , including Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying it would hurt black and Latino students and those from low-income families because of disparities in access to math and quantitative reasoning classes and the lack of qualified teachers .
The trustees instead approved , 20-1 with one abstention , a plan by Chancellor Timothy White for a “ phased implementation , ” which calls for more study on the issue and a final vote in spring 2022 .
The chancellor will update the board on the study and progress on building teacher and course capacity through January 2022 .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the board of trustees ’ educational policy committee , the state superintendent of education , a Cal State student and a public school district superintendent , among others — will meet twice a year to monitor the “ impact and effectiveness of the requirement.
” The chancellor ’ s office introduced the additional-math proposal in 2017 with the support of the Academic Senate as Cal State educators sought to raise standards and academic preparation for all students , especially in math .
Cal State data have shown that students who enter their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional quantitative reasoning course are more likely to complete their general education math requirement , return for their second year and graduate .
Outside and inside the board meeting Wednesday , activists and current and former CSU students rallied in support of delaying the decision and called on the university system to offer more resources for the most underserved students .
“ We remain unconvinced ” that an additional math requirement in high school will lead students to be more successful in college , Michele Siqueiros , the president of Campaign for College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
The nonprofit advocacy organization has been one of the leading opponents of the requirement .
“ We hope the independent research can quantify what impact this solution would have in terms of access and admissions to the CSU for Latinx , black , Native American , Asian American and low-income Californians , ” Siqueiros said .
“ How will we ensure that any proposal does not have the effect of disproportionately impacting students by race ... ethnicity , income status or ZIP code ?
” Cal State Long Beach student Guadalupe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them on behalf of about 250 high school students in Los Angeles who opposed the requirement .
“ We want to make sure the study isn ’ t only being done in affluent communities where the results will show some kind of bias and will only prove their points to be correct , ” Morales , 18 , told the board .
She also asked the board to offer more support for first-generation college students .
The new plan calls for the CSU system to continue partnering with high schools to increase course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own training for math and science teachers .
If the requirement is ultimately approved , it could be met by an additional year of math or science , an elective with quantitative content such as statistics or computer science , or some career and technical education courses .
An exemption would be allowed for students who can not meet the requirement because their school doesn ’ t offer a qualifying course .
Supporters of the additional math course say it is one part of the university system ’ s plan to eliminate achievement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in high school preparation are acceptable and inevitable is , frankly , in my mindset , offensive , ” Loren Blanchard , executive vice chancellor for academic and student affairs , said during the educational policy committee meeting before the vote Wednesday .
Even after almost two years of discussion about the topic , trustees were split on the issue Wednesday .
Student trustee Juan Garcia asked what data would be examined in the study and said student voices should be included in the steering committee — CSU leaders did not yet know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would include .
Trustee Hugo Morales , the executive director and co-founder of Radio Bilingüe , said the additional year of math could negatively affect English-learner students , who in some schools have even less access than other students to these extra math classes .
Morales was the only trustee who voted against the proposal Wednesday .
Trustee Jeffrey Krinsk abstained .
Some voted yes while expressing caution , worried that even if CSU demanded better preparation and offered help with the goal of pushing school districts to change , they could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We as the CSU can recommend , we can cajole , we can dangle a carrot or wield a stick , but at the end of the day I don ’ t know that we have the power to make L.A. Unified School District , the largest school district in California , provide the courses ” that students would need , said Lillian Kimbell , the vice chair of the board .
Other trustees , including Long Beach Unified Supt .
Chris Steinhauser , reaffirmed their support of the proposal .
Long Beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over four years , and the share of students graduating eligible for Cal State schools has increased during that time , Steinhauser said .
Others echoed the sentiment — Peter Taylor said that school districts would rise to the challenge as they did when the Cal State and University of California systems implemented the “ A-G ” admissions requirements , which many saw as too challenging .
In an impassioned impromptu speech , state Supt .
of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond , an ex-officio trustee , admonished board members for suggesting that increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcomes for black , Latino and low-income students , who suffer because of the effects of systemic racism .
There is still a disparity in who is eligible for college in California — about half of the graduating seniors in California met CSU entrance requirements in 2019 , and the share was lower for black , Latinx and Native American students .
“ There ’ s no question that decisions about money and race and racism have contributed to the gap that our students experience in this state and this country , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worthy goal but is not enough to ensure the success of historically disenfranchised students , he said .
He has always supported the proposal to add a fourth math class , he said , but cautioned the trustees to focus on implementing the change with adequate support to help K-12 schools prepare students fully .
“ Let us not fool ourselves that just by doing this ... we will close the gap , ” Thurmond said .
“ It ’ s the right thing to do .
We set the bar high and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we need to get [ it ] done .
”

Students won’t be required to take a fourth high school math class to be admitted to a Cal State University — for now.
Faced with intense opposition, the Cal State Board of Trustees decided Wednesday to wait two years before voting on whether to require a fourth class in math, science or quantitative reasoning for acceptance into any of the 23 campuses in the nation’s largest public university system. The proposed requirement would affect students entering the university in fall 2027.
Many community advocate groups and school districts, including Los Angeles Unified, have fought the plan, saying it would hurt black and Latino students and those from low-income families because of disparities in access to math and quantitative reasoning classes and the lack of qualified teachers.
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The trustees instead approved, 20-1 with one abstention, a plan by Chancellor Timothy White for a “phased implementation,” which calls for more study on the issue and a final vote in spring 2022. The chancellor will update the board on the study and progress on building teacher and course capacity through January 2022.
A steering committee — to include the head of the board of trustees’ educational policy committee, the state superintendent of education, a Cal State student and a public school district superintendent, among others — will meet twice a year to monitor the “impact and effectiveness of the requirement.”
The chancellor’s office introduced the additional-math proposal in 2017 with the support of the Academic Senate as Cal State educators sought to raise standards and academic preparation for all students, especially in math. Cal State data have shown that students who enter their first year of college having taken an additional quantitative reasoning course are more likely to complete their general education math requirement, return for their second year and graduate.
Outside and inside the board meeting Wednesday, activists and current and former CSU students rallied in support of delaying the decision and called on the university system to offer more resources for the most underserved students.
“We remain unconvinced” that an additional math requirement in high school will lead students to be more successful in college, Michele Siqueiros , the president of Campaign for College Opportunity, told the trustees during public comment. The nonprofit advocacy organization has been one of the leading opponents of the requirement.
“We hope the independent research can quantify what impact this solution would have in terms of access and admissions to the CSU for Latinx, black, Native American, Asian American and low-income Californians,” Siqueiros said. “How will we ensure that any proposal does not have the effect of disproportionately impacting students by race ... ethnicity, income status or ZIP code?”
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Cal State Long Beach student Guadalupe Morales told trustees she was speaking to them on behalf of about 250 high school students in Los Angeles who opposed the requirement.
“We want to make sure the study isn’t only being done in affluent communities where the results will show some kind of bias and will only prove their points to be correct,” Morales, 18, told the board. She also asked the board to offer more support for first-generation college students.
The new plan calls for the CSU system to continue partnering with high schools to increase course offerings, and to amp up their own training for math and science teachers. If the requirement is ultimately approved, it could be met by an additional year of math or science, an elective with quantitative content such as statistics or computer science, or some career and technical education courses. An exemption would be allowed for students who cannot meet the requirement because their school doesn’t offer a qualifying course.
Supporters of the additional math course say it is one part of the university system’s plan to eliminate achievement gaps.
“To conceive that disparities in high school preparation are acceptable and inevitable is, frankly, in my mindset, offensive,” Loren Blanchard, executive vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, said during the educational policy committee meeting before the vote Wednesday.
Even after almost two years of discussion about the topic, trustees were split on the issue Wednesday. Student trustee Juan Garcia asked what data would be examined in the study and said student voices should be included in the steering committee — CSU leaders did not yet know who would conduct the study or what it would include.
Trustee Hugo Morales, the executive director and co-founder of Radio Bilingüe, said the additional year of math could negatively affect English-learner students, who in some schools have even less access than other students to these extra math classes. Morales was the only trustee who voted against the proposal Wednesday. Trustee Jeffrey Krinsk abstained.
Some voted yes while expressing caution, worried that even if CSU demanded better preparation and offered help with the goal of pushing school districts to change, they could not ensure that would happen.
“We as the CSU can recommend, we can cajole, we can dangle a carrot or wield a stick, but at the end of the day I don’t know that we have the power to make L.A. Unified School District, the largest school district in California, provide the courses” that students would need, said Lillian Kimbell, the vice chair of the board.
Other trustees, including Long Beach Unified Supt. Chris Steinhauser, reaffirmed their support of the proposal.
Long Beach schools phased in an additional math requirement over four years, and the share of students graduating eligible for Cal State schools has increased during that time, Steinhauser said. Others echoed the sentiment — Peter Taylor said that school districts would rise to the challenge as they did when the Cal State and University of California systems implemented the “A-G” admissions requirements, which many saw as too challenging.
In an impassioned impromptu speech, state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, an ex-officio trustee, admonished board members for suggesting that increasing its standards would necessarily result in better outcomes for black, Latino and low-income students, who suffer because of the effects of systemic racism. There is still a disparity in who is eligible for college in California — about half of the graduating seniors in California met CSU entrance requirements in 2019, and the share was lower for black, Latinx and Native American students.
“There’s no question that decisions about money and race and racism have contributed to the gap that our students experience in this state and this country,” Thurmond said. Increasing standards is a worthy goal but is not enough to ensure the success of historically disenfranchised students, he said.
He has always supported the proposal to add a fourth math class, he said, but cautioned the trustees to focus on implementing the change with adequate support to help K-12 schools prepare students fully.
“Let us not fool ourselves that just by doing this ... we will close the gap,” Thurmond said. “It’s the right thing to do. We set the bar high and then we give our students the resources that we need to get [it] done.”


latimes--2020-01-29--Coronavirus outbreak: Americans returning from China being held at California air base

Two hundred and one Americans , including a month-old baby and teenagers , will be held for three days at the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County and monitored by federal , state and county health officials after fleeing from a coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan , China .
Passengers arrived at the base Wednesday morning after the U.S. State Department chartered a private plane to evacuate diplomats stationed at the Wuhan consulate and their families .
The plane — which was the only way out of the locked down city — was large enough that other Americans were also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where more than a thousand cases have been reported .
The passengers aren ’ t under an official quarantine , but Dr. Chris Braden of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters during a news conference later in the day that all seemed to cooperate with the three-day hold .
At the time of boarding , said Rear Adm. Nancy Knight with the CDC , none of the passengers were deemed “ high risk.
” “ We try and balance how to protect these people , how to respect their rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible and still be very careful about evaluation they go under so that everybody is safe , ” said Braden .
“ This is a balance .
If we can do that without a federal quarantine order that restricts people and takes away their rights , that ’ s what we ’ ll do.
” During the hold , passengers will be housed in a cordoned area at the base , where they ’ ll undergo lab work and have their temperature monitored every 12 hours .
Officials said lab work results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 72 hours .
A mobile healthcare unit will also be near the site for any injuries .
Passengers are encouraged to remain at the base for another 14 days , the duration of the incubation period .
However , if passengers decide to return to their home states , area public officials will continue to monitor them for the same time frame .
If a passenger is deemed a danger to the community , Braden said they would issue a quarantine for that person .
Local county officials would likely take similar action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white protective suits were seen Wednesday morning loading passengers ’ luggage onto three buses .
Those buses were later driven to the side of the plane where passengers were gathered and then taken inside the base .
The chartered plane was initially bound for Ontario International Airport before higher-ups diverted the aircraft to the base , which has facilities capable of housing passengers for roughly two weeks , Braden said .
Passengers were screened before boarding the flight by Chinese and U.S. officials , again when the plane stopped in Anchorage to refuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Riverside County , Knight said .
The new strain of coronavirus , known as 2019-nCoV , can cause respiratory illness and pneumonia .
It was originally thought to be spreading only from animals to people in central China , but there are now indications it is also spreading among people .
It is unclear how deadly the virus is or how easily it spreads .
Most reported cases have occurred in Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province , and most patients elsewhere had recently traveled there .
But the tally of fatalities and confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ geographic reach , has increased daily , prompting the U.S. State Department to recommend that Americans avoid traveling to China .
Some airlines have begun restricting flights out of the entire country , not just Wuhan .
Asked if he was considering a ban on travel to China , Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo said he did not want to get ahead of any decisions or talk about internal deliberations on the matter .
“ But the American people should know that there are enormous efforts underway by the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything we can to protect the American people and to reduce the risk all around the globe , ” he said .
“ So we ’ re confident the World Health Organization , supported by the United States and other organizations that have the capacity , will help the Chinese government push back against this real risk .
We ’ ll take all the resources we can manage to do that.
” So far only five cases have been diagnosed in the United States , one each in Los Angeles and Orange counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Braden described the new virus as part of a family of viruses primarily responsible for the common cold .
He cited other similar respiratory viruses such as SARS and MERS that emerged in the past .
Severe cases of illnesses caused by those coronaviruses were extreme because the infected person already had severe illnesses , he said .
“ We need to understand more about milder illnesses , ” Braden said .
“ We need to know more about when people become infectious .
Those are things we don ’ t know @ @

Priscella Vega, Cindy Chang, Alex Wigglesworth

Two hundred and one Americans, including a month-old baby and teenagers, will be held for three days at the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County and monitored by federal, state and county health officials after fleeing from a coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China.
Passengers arrived at the base Wednesday morning after the U.S. State Department chartered a private plane to evacuate diplomats stationed at the Wuhan consulate and their families. The plane — which was the only way out of the locked down city — was large enough that other Americans were also able to flee from the epicenter, where more than a thousand cases have been reported.
The passengers aren’t under an official quarantine, but Dr. Chris Braden of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters during a news conference later in the day that all seemed to cooperate with the three-day hold.
At the time of boarding, said Rear Adm. Nancy Knight with the CDC, none of the passengers were deemed “high risk.”
“We try and balance how to protect these people, how to respect their rights, how to be the least restrictive as possible and still be very careful about evaluation they go under so that everybody is safe,” said Braden. “This is a balance. If we can do that without a federal quarantine order that restricts people and takes away their rights, that’s what we’ll do.”
During the hold, passengers will be housed in a cordoned area at the base, where they’ll undergo lab work and have their temperature monitored every 12 hours. Officials said lab work results could be turned around in less than 72 hours.
A mobile healthcare unit will also be near the site for any injuries.
Passengers are encouraged to remain at the base for another 14 days, the duration of the incubation period. However, if passengers decide to return to their home states, area public officials will continue to monitor them for the same time frame.
If a passenger is deemed a danger to the community, Braden said they would issue a quarantine for that person. Local county officials would likely take similar action, he added.
Officials dressed in white protective suits were seen Wednesday morning loading passengers’ luggage onto three buses. Those buses were later driven to the side of the plane where passengers were gathered and then taken inside the base.
The chartered plane was initially bound for Ontario International Airport before higher-ups diverted the aircraft to the base, which has facilities capable of housing passengers for roughly two weeks, Braden said.
Passengers were screened before boarding the flight by Chinese and U.S. officials, again when the plane stopped in Anchorage to refuel, and again when they arrived in Riverside County, Knight said.
The new strain of coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV, can cause respiratory illness and pneumonia. It was originally thought to be spreading only from animals to people in central China, but there are now indications it is also spreading among people.
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It is unclear how deadly the virus is or how easily it spreads. Most reported cases have occurred in Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province, and most patients elsewhere had recently traveled there.
But the tally of fatalities and confirmed cases, as well as the virus’ geographic reach, has increased daily, prompting the U.S. State Department to recommend that Americans avoid traveling to China. Some airlines have begun restricting flights out of the entire country, not just Wuhan.
Asked if he was considering a ban on travel to China, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo said he did not want to get ahead of any decisions or talk about internal deliberations on the matter.
“But the American people should know that there are enormous efforts underway by the United States government to make sure that we do everything we can to protect the American people and to reduce the risk all around the globe,” he said. “So we’re confident the World Health Organization, supported by the United States and other organizations that have the capacity, will help the Chinese government push back against this real risk. We’ll take all the resources we can manage to do that.”
So far only five cases have been diagnosed in the United States, one each in Los Angeles and Orange counties, Arizona, Washington state and Chicago.
Braden described the new virus as part of a family of viruses primarily responsible for the common cold. He cited other similar respiratory viruses such as SARS and MERS that emerged in the past.
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Severe cases of illnesses caused by those coronaviruses were extreme because the infected person already had severe illnesses, he said.
“We need to understand more about milder illnesses,” Braden said. “We need to know more about when people become infectious. Those are things we don’t know.”


latimes--2020-01-29--Kobe Bryant taught Gianna to play basketball here, and did so much more

When Gianna Bryant first told her basketball star father that she wanted to play the sport , Kobe Bryant took her seriously .
“ He kind of sat down with Gigi and said , ‘ If you want to play , we ’ re going to do this , ’ ” said Jeff Melton , assistant athletic director at Vanguard University .
“ ’ We ’ ll do this if this is a passion for you.
’ ” When she said yes , her father — who became legendary for his 20-year career with the Lakers — began tapping into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her to meet her basketball idol , Katie Lou Samuelson , a guard for the WNBA ’ s Chicago Sky .
He took her to Atlanta Hawks NBA games to watch Trae Young , another of her favorite players .
Then he formed a club team at his Mamba Sports Academy in Ventura County .
The group started with Gianna and a group of about 10 sixth-graders — some of whom were on their way to a game Sunday morning when the helicopter carrying them crashed in Calabasas .
It should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team , which regularly practiced at the Vanguard University gym in Costa Mesa .
Russ Davis , head coach of the women ’ s basketball team at the small Christian college , can not forget the day two years ago when Bryant stopped by .
“ When he came into the room , he goes , ‘ Russ Davis !
’ And I ’ m like , ‘ How did you know me ?
’ ” recalled Davis , who also coaches the Nike Cal Swish girls club team in Orange County .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ invited Bryant to bring his burgeoning Mamba team to practice at Vanguard ’ s gym , known around campus as “ the Pit.
” The location was convenient for Bryant , just 10 minutes from his home in Newport Beach .
Usually a couple of times a week , the team of young girls would take to the Pit ’ s courts to practice under Bryant ’ s watchful eye .
Sometimes during the summer , they would hit the courts twice in one day , for morning and night practices .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team , he was “ in awe.
” “ I ’ ve always known Kobe , watching him on TV , and just how intense he was , how driven he was and holding his teammates accountable and demanding the best out of everybody , ” Davis said .
“ His team wasn ’ t playing particularly well , they were making a lot of silly mistakes .
And he was just sitting there and he was encouraging them.
” Afterward , Davis said , Bryant approached him and asked for his thoughts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe how patient and calm you were , ’ ” Davis recalled telling Bryant .
“ He just started laughing .
And he goes , ‘ Hey , you ’ ve got to teach them .
They don ’ t know ; they ’ re just learning the game .
We just got to teach them ; they ’ ll be all right.
’ ” When he wasn ’ t busy coaching his daughter ’ s team , Bryant attended some practices of the Vanguard women ’ s team .
He also participated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sierra Vaglica , the Lions ’ captain , said Bryant meant so much to her .
Her first pair of Nike shoes were the Kobe VI .
In her bedroom , she hung a plastic cutout of him dunking a basketball into a hoop that she had drawn on the wall .
So as a college sophomore , when Vaglica met Bryant , she wasn ’ t overly starstruck but was impressed by him .
Bryant had come to teach the women ’ s team the triangle offensive strategy at one of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazed at just how his brain works , just to see a little bit of how he functions and how he sees things , ” Vaglica said .
“ It ’ s incredible.
” She offered to help Bryant by watching the gym doors during the Mamba team ’ s practice , making sure no prying eyes would disrupt the focus of Bryant or the girls .
Bryant kept the team ’ s drills simple : ball handling , passing , footwork , defensive close-outs .
Sometimes he would spend up to 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He would watch and rewatch videos of the team in action , analyzing the girls ’ technique and brimming with pride at their successes .
As Bryant helped the team , Vaglica watched as Gianna improved her game .
“ I could see a little bit of her dad in her , in the way she played , in the way she would pull off these crazy shots and everyone would be like , ‘ Dang , how did you do that ?
’ But it ’ s like , ‘ No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s daughter — come on.
’ That ’ s in her blood .
That ’ s who she is .
She ’ s a Bryant , she ’ s supposed to do that.
” The more time Bryant and his daughter spent at the university , the more they became embedded in its tightknit community .
When Davis was diagnosed with throat cancer in April , Bryant “ was there for me from Day 1 , ” checking in regularly and sending motivational text messages , Davis said .
Bryant visited him once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Davis was struggling to get out of bed .
“ He basically called me out , ” Davis said with a chuckle .
“ He said , ‘ Are you going to sit there and feel sorry for yourself or are you going to fight back ?
’ ” A nurse helped Davis walk around the hallway .
Bryant coached Davis through the process .
He said , “ ‘ All right , that ’ s not bad .
Let ’ s go further , ’ ” Davis recalled .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m like , ‘ This is tough , man.
’ He ’ s like , ‘ Nah , you ’ ve got it… .
It ’ s mind over matter.
’ And he would just talk about mentality… .
‘ You can ’ t let this beat you .
You ’ ve got to beat it.
’ ” When Davis later received news that his scans had come back clean , Bryant was “ so excited , ” Davis said .
“ Yeah man !
” he texted with a thumbs-up emoji @

Kobe Bryant shares a laugh with daughter Gianna while attending a women’s basketball game between Long Beach State and Oregon on Dec. 14.
When Gianna Bryant first told her basketball star father that she wanted to play the sport, Kobe Bryant took her seriously.
“He kind of sat down with Gigi and said, ‘If you want to play, we’re going to do this,’” said Jeff Melton, assistant athletic director at Vanguard University. “’We’ll do this if this is a passion for you.’”
When she said yes, her father — who became legendary for his 20-year career with the Lakers — began tapping into his world of opportunities. He arranged for her to meet her basketball idol, Katie Lou Samuelson, a guard for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. He took her to Atlanta Hawks NBA games to watch Trae Young, another of her favorite players.
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Then he formed a club team at his Mamba Sports Academy in Ventura County. The group started with Gianna and a group of about 10 sixth-graders — some of whom were on their way to a game Sunday morning when the helicopter carrying them crashed in Calabasas.
It should have been just another game for the Mamba team, which regularly practiced at the Vanguard University gym in Costa Mesa.
Russ Davis, head coach of the women’s basketball team at the small Christian college, cannot forget the day two years ago when Bryant stopped by.
“When he came into the room, he goes, ‘Russ Davis!’ And I’m like, ‘How did you know me?’” recalled Davis, who also coaches the Nike Cal Swish girls club team in Orange County. “He did his homework.”
Davis invited Bryant to bring his burgeoning Mamba team to practice at Vanguard’s gym, known around campus as “the Pit.” The location was convenient for Bryant, just 10 minutes from his home in Newport Beach.
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Usually a couple of times a week, the team of young girls would take to the Pit’s courts to practice under Bryant’s watchful eye. Sometimes during the summer, they would hit the courts twice in one day, for morning and night practices.
The first time Davis watched Bryant coach the team, he was “in awe.”
“I’ve always known Kobe, watching him on TV, and just how intense he was, how driven he was and holding his teammates accountable and demanding the best out of everybody,” Davis said. “His team wasn’t playing particularly well, they were making a lot of silly mistakes. And he was just sitting there and he was encouraging them.”
Afterward, Davis said, Bryant approached him and asked for his thoughts.
“’I can’t believe how patient and calm you were,’” Davis recalled telling Bryant. “He just started laughing. And he goes, ‘Hey, you’ve got to teach them. They don’t know; they’re just learning the game. We just got to teach them; they’ll be all right.’”
When he wasn’t busy coaching his daughter’s team, Bryant attended some practices of the Vanguard women’s team. He also participated in Davis’ coaching clinics.
Senior Sierra Vaglica, the Lions’ captain, said Bryant meant so much to her. Her first pair of Nike shoes were the Kobe VI. In her bedroom, she hung a plastic cutout of him dunking a basketball into a hoop that she had drawn on the wall.
So as a college sophomore, when Vaglica met Bryant, she wasn’t overly starstruck but was impressed by him. Bryant had come to teach the women’s team the triangle offensive strategy at one of its 6 a.m. practices.
“I was amazed at just how his brain works, just to see a little bit of how he functions and how he sees things,” Vaglica said. “It’s incredible.”
She offered to help Bryant by watching the gym doors during the Mamba team’s practice, making sure no prying eyes would disrupt the focus of Bryant or the girls.
Bryant kept the team’s drills simple: ball handling, passing, footwork, defensive close-outs. Sometimes he would spend up to 30 minutes just drilling the players on layups. He would watch and rewatch videos of the team in action, analyzing the girls’ technique and brimming with pride at their successes.
As Bryant helped the team, Vaglica watched as Gianna improved her game.
“I could see a little bit of her dad in her, in the way she played, in the way she would pull off these crazy shots and everyone would be like, ‘Dang, how did you do that?’ But it’s like, ‘No, that’s Kobe Bryant’s daughter — come on.’ That’s in her blood. That’s who she is. She’s a Bryant, she’s supposed to do that.”
The more time Bryant and his daughter spent at the university, the more they became embedded in its tightknit community.
When Davis was diagnosed with throat cancer in April, Bryant “was there for me from Day 1,” checking in regularly and sending motivational text messages, Davis said.
Bryant visited him once at the Newport Beach assisted nursing facility where Davis was struggling to get out of bed.
“He basically called me out,” Davis said with a chuckle. “He said, ‘Are you going to sit there and feel sorry for yourself or are you going to fight back?’”
A nurse helped Davis walk around the hallway. Bryant coached Davis through the process.
He said, “‘All right, that’s not bad. Let’s go further,’” Davis recalled. “He was just really challenging me. I’m like, ‘This is tough, man.’ He’s like, ‘Nah, you’ve got it…. It’s mind over matter.’ And he would just talk about mentality…. ‘You can’t let this beat you. You’ve got to beat it.’”
When Davis later received news that his scans had come back clean, Bryant was “so excited,” Davis said. “Yeah man!” he texted with a thumbs-up emoji.


latimes--2020-01-29--Longest smuggling tunnel in Southwest discovered in San Diego County

U.S. authorities Wednesday announced the discovery of the longest smuggling tunnel ever found on the Southwest border , stretching more @ @ @ @ @ from Tijuana into the San Diego area .
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in @ @ @ @ @ tunnel originates in an industrial area in Mexico and extends a total of 4,309 feet @ @ @ @ @ late August , Mexican law enforcement identified the entrance and members of the San Diego @ @ @ @ @ the tunnel from Mexico , the agency said .
The next longest tunnel in the @ @ @ @ @ Diego in 2014 .
It was 2,966 feet

Standing next to an access point created by authorities on the U.S. side of the border, Border Patrol officials hold a news conference about the discovery of the longest cross-border drug tunnel ever discovered.
Authorities announced Wednesday the discovery of the longest cross-border drug tunnel in history, stretching nearly one mile from the Tijuana airport into the United States.
U.S. Border Patrol agents described the tunnel as the “most sophisticated they had seen,” with an extensive rail-and-cart system to rapidly transport drugs, forced-air ventilation and high-voltage electrical cables and panels. The tunnel, named Baja Metro by border agents, also had an elevator at its entrance and a complex drainage system.
The drug tunnel’s discovery was the culmination of a “challenging” multiyear, multi-agency investigation led by a coalition of U.S. law enforcement officers, according to the Border Patrol.
That investigation began in the United States then crossed into Mexico, where the entrance to the tunnel was discovered in August near the northeastern corner of Tijuana International Airport.
Members of the San Diego Tunnel Task Force then began to map Baja Metro by dropping down into it and trying to follow it, which led agents back into the U.S., investigators said.
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Border Patrol Agent Lance LeNoir described the taxing conditions and time it took to map out the 4,309-foot tunnel.
“I may have left parts of my soul down in that tunnel,” he said lightly.
The conditions included limited oxygen, standing water and tight spaces that forced agents to crouch down under the tunnel’s 5½-foot ceiling to explore and investigate the tunnel’s path, only 2 feet wide.
Authorities would not disclose the exact location of the tunnel’s near-exit into the U.S. but showed journalists an access point they drilled into the tunnel — 70 feet beneath the ground — at a secure spot between the primary and secondary border barriers in the San Diego neighborhood of Otay Mesa.
Though no arrests or drug seizures have been made in connection with the discovery, U.S. authorities stressed they believe it was active and in operation at one point, partly because it split into two directions.
“At the time of the discovery, the tunnel did not reach the surface into the United States, but evidence strongly suggests that tunnel was previously operational,” said Deputy Chief Border Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke.
Heitke said that toward the end of the main tunnel, agents discovered more than 100 sandbags and piles of dirt that blocked the suspected former exit of the tunnel. He said an offshoot from the main tunnel stretched about 3,529 feet into the U.S.
John Callery, special agent in charge with the Drug Enforcement Administration, said the level of sophistication of Baja Metro was indicative of the determination and monetary resources of Mexican drug cartels.
“The tunnel discovery is another drastic reminder of how serious the drug problem is and how the cartels will take risks and expend endless amounts of money to get deadly drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine into the United States,” Callery said.
Citing the ongoing investigation, authorities would not say which criminal drug trafficking organization they suspect to be responsible for the tunnel’s engineering.
“By working together, the agencies of the Tunnel Task Force have prevented Mexican cartels from using this tunnel to get additional drugs into our communities and ultimately destroying the lives of our families,” Callery said.
Agents also declined to say what prompted the investigation, which was a joint effort by the Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, the DEA and the U.S. attorney’s office. Mexican law enforcement authorities also helped with the investigation, agents said.
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Investigators said they used intelligence sources and technology at the onset of the criminal inquiry. They declined to comment on what specific technology was used.
It was the 72nd drug tunnel discovered since 1993 in the San Diego area, where the clay soil is particularly good for supporting tunnels but not so rocky that digging is too much of a challenge, agents said.
The second-longest tunnel into the U.S. was discovered in 2014 in Otay Mesa and was 2,966 feet long.
Investigators said they were not exactly sure how many years Baja Metro had been there.
LeNoir, who did the majority of the tunnel mapping, said he is always surprised by the capabilities of the criminal organizations that engineer the tunnels.
“Just when we think they wouldn’t be capable, they’re going into an area where we never really thought they had the capacity to go,” he said.
“I would bet, yes, that right now they are building more tunnels,” LeNoir added.