latimes--2020-01-14--Razor blades found hidden in car door handle in Temecula

Sheriff ’ s officials in Temecula are urging residents to pay special attention to their car door handles after authorities received two separate reports in the last week of razor blades being found on cars .
A motorist called Riverside County sheriff ’ s officials after finding the blades affixed to their car door handle about 11 a.m. Thursday in the 41000 block of Carleton Way in Temecula .
The sharp edge of the blade was pointed up inside the car door handle , which could have cut the person ’ s hand .
The person noticed the blades before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sheriff ’ s officials said .
A day later , a deputy responded to the 31000 block of Daniel Way — about five miles from the first incident — after a resident found a single razor blade on the front of a vehicle .
Authorities could not determine why the razor had been left on the car .
Investigators don ’ t think the incidents are related .
The Sheriff ’ s Department is urging the public to use caution when opening car doors and immediately report any incidents to authorities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Southwest sheriff ’ s station at ( 951 ) 696-3000 .

Sheriff’s officials in Temecula are urging residents to pay special attention to their car door handles after authorities received two separate reports in the last week of razor blades being found on cars.
A motorist called Riverside County sheriff’s officials after finding the blades affixed to their car door handle about 11 a.m. Thursday in the 41000 block of Carleton Way in Temecula. The sharp edge of the blade was pointed up inside the car door handle, which could have cut the person’s hand. The person noticed the blades before entering the car and was not injured, sheriff’s officials said.
A day later, a deputy responded to the 31000 block of Daniel Way — about five miles from the first incident — after a resident found a single razor blade on the front of a vehicle. Authorities could not determine why the razor had been left on the car. Investigators don’t think the incidents are related.
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The Sheriff’s Department is urging the public to use caution when opening car doors and immediately report any incidents to authorities. Anyone with information is asked to call the Southwest sheriff’s station at (951) 696-3000.


latimes--2020-01-14--Trump makes wage-theft lawsuits harder — but not in California

Say you ’ re a company that hires a janitorial staffing agency to clean your offices or a security firm to patrol your parking lot .
Say you ’ re a retailer that relies on outside truckers to deliver your goods .
Say you ’ re a general contractor who hires drywall and electrical subcontractors .
Are you responsible if those workers are paid less than minimum wage and denied overtime ?
The Trump administration Monday loosened the federal government ’ s “ joint employer ” rule for businesses that contract out work , making it harder for victims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sue companies where the violations take place .
The rule also frees franchising companies from responsibility for working conditions at their franchises .
The new policy overturned a 2016 Obama administration rule that had broadened workers ’ ability to put companies on the hook for shorting paychecks .
The Trump policy , which prompted 60,000 public comments after it was proposed last spring , was hailed by business groups and assailed by workers ’ rights organizations .
But the new rule will have no effect on California businesses because “ our laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to California Labor Department spokeswoman Crystal Page .
And California labor laws are not preempted by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act , under which the Trump rule was issued .
“ The definition of employer in California is broad enough to reach any person , company or agency who directly or indirectly employs or exercises control over an employee ’ s wages , hours or working conditions , ” she added .
California has the country ’ s strongest wage and hour laws , with a higher minimum wage and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , noted Tia Koonse , a research manager at the UCLA Labor Center .
“ Most workers wouldn ’ t sue under [ federal law ] because they ’ d recover more money using state laws , ” Koonse said .
“ So this new federal rule doesn ’ t have any practical impact .
California is the envy of other states for its protections for precariously employed workers.
” In the case of franchises , the Trump administration ’ s joint employer law does not affect California for a different reason .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was limited by an October 2019 court decision .
Some 1,400 workers sued McDonald ’ s Corp. , alleging that its franchisees denied them overtime , meal and rest breaks .
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the company was not a joint employer responsible for franchisee violations under California law .
In a separate case in December , the National Labor Relations Board , with a Trump-appointed majority , also reversed an Obama joint employer rule .
It gave 20 franchisee workers , who were fired for organizing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but declined to impose joint liability on McDonald ’ s .
Despite California ’ s exceptionalism , Trump ’ s new policy could have broad effects across the U.S. labor market at a time when corporations such as McDonald ’ s , Amazon and Comcast have faced lawsuits arguing the companies are jointly responsible , along with third-party contractors , for unpaid minimum wages and overtime .
By some estimates , more than 13.8 million U.S. workers are employed by staffing agencies , subcontractors and franchises .
“ Our economy has changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ David Weil , former administrator of the Labor Department ’ s Wage and Hour division under Obama and author of “ The Fissured Workplace , ” a book about the transformation of the labor force .
“ In many industries workers ’ pay and job conditions are affected by multiple employers .
The concept of joint employment is critical.
” Trump ’ s new policy , which takes effect March 16 , establishes a four-part test to determine whether a company is a joint employer , but the weight given to each factor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The factors are : • Whether the company can hire or fire the employee .
• Whether it supervises the employee ’ s work schedule .
The Obama administration ’ s joint-employer policy took into account several other issues , such as the nature of the work performed and whether the work involved a core part of a company ’ s business .
Weil characterized Trump ’ s new policy as “ an interpretive rule , closer to a form of administrative guidance , and not a full-blown regulation .
It does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on joint employment.
” But he added it suggests the administration will pull back on enforcing joint employment issues .
In announcing the decision , U.S. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said the rule “ furthers President Trump ’ s successful , governmentwide effort to address regulations that hinder the American economy and to promote economic growth.
” Robert Cresanti , president of the International Franchise Assn.
, which had lobbied hard for the change , said it offers “ much-needed clarity for the 733,000 franchise establishments across America.
” However , the Economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tank , said the new policy “ creates an incentive for large corporations to outsource work to staffing companies or subcontractors and escape responsibility … for complying with basic workplace protections.
” It added , “ Employers refusing to pay promised wages , paying less than legally mandated minimums , failing to pay for all hours worked , or not paying overtime premiums deprives working people of billions of dollars.
” Workers at temp and staffing agencies and at subcontracting firms earn less than the same workers who are hired directly by companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s comments on the rule , that lost income amounts to $ 955 million a year , and wage theft accounts for an additional $ 138 million .
Beyond its general joint employer law , California has adopted alternative approaches to enforcement .
A 2018 law , aimed at the 13,000 truck drivers who service the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach , holds retailers such as Target , Home Depot and Amazon jointly liable for wages that subcontracted trucking companies fail to pay .
Another 2018 law requires construction subcontractors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contractors and allows general contractors to withhold payments from subcontractors who refuse to cooperate .
The law authorizes civil suits against general contractors who oversee cheating subcontractors .

Some 1,400 workers sued McDonald’s Corp., alleging its franchisees denied them overtime, meal and rest breaks. Last year, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the company was not a joint employer responsible for franchisee violations under California law.
Say you’re a company that hires a janitorial staffing agency to clean your offices or a security firm to patrol your parking lot.
Say you’re a retailer that relies on outside truckers to deliver your goods.
Say you’re a general contractor who hires drywall and electrical subcontractors.
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Are you responsible if those workers are paid less than minimum wage and denied overtime?
The Trump administration Monday loosened the federal government’s “joint employer” rule for businesses that contract out work, making it harder for victims of wage theft at staffing agencies and subcontractors to sue companies where the violations take place. The rule also frees franchising companies from responsibility for working conditions at their franchises.
The new policy overturned a 2016 Obama administration rule that had broadened workers’ ability to put companies on the hook for shorting paychecks. The Trump policy, which prompted 60,000 public comments after it was proposed last spring, was hailed by business groups and assailed by workers’ rights organizations.
But the new rule will have no effect on California businesses because “our laws are more protective” of workers, according to California Labor Department spokeswoman Crystal Page. And California labor laws are not preempted by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, under which the Trump rule was issued.
“The definition of employer in California is broad enough to reach any person, company or agency who directly or indirectly employs or exercises control over an employee’s wages, hours or working conditions,” she added.
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California has the country’s strongest wage and hour laws, with a higher minimum wage and a lower threshold for overtime than federal law, noted Tia Koonse, a research manager at the UCLA Labor Center.
“Most workers wouldn’t sue under [federal law] because they’d recover more money using state laws,” Koonse said. “So this new federal rule doesn’t have any practical impact. California is the envy of other states for its protections for precariously employed workers.”
In the case of franchises, the Trump administration’s joint employer law does not affect California for a different reason. The state’s jurisdiction over franchises was limited by an October 2019 court decision. Some 1,400 workers sued McDonald’s Corp., alleging that its franchisees denied them overtime, meal and rest breaks. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the company was not a joint employer responsible for franchisee violations under California law.
In a separate case in December, the National Labor Relations Board, with a Trump-appointed majority, also reversed an Obama joint employer rule. It gave 20 franchisee workers, who were fired for organizing, a back wages settlement of $171,636, but declined to impose joint liability on McDonald’s.
Despite California’s exceptionalism, Trump’s new policy could have broad effects across the U.S. labor market at a time when corporations such as McDonald’s, Amazon and Comcast have faced lawsuits arguing the companies are jointly responsible, along with third-party contractors, for unpaid minimum wages and overtime.
By some estimates, more than 13.8 million U.S. workers are employed by staffing agencies, subcontractors and franchises. “Our economy has changed dramatically since the 1980s,” said David Weil, former administrator of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour division under Obama and author of “The Fissured Workplace,” a book about the transformation of the labor force. “In many industries workers’ pay and job conditions are affected by multiple employers. The concept of joint employment is critical.”
Trump’s new policy, which takes effect March 16, establishes a four-part test to determine whether a company is a joint employer, but the weight given to each factor will vary depending on the circumstances. The factors are:
Whether the company can hire or fire the employee.
Whether it supervises the employee’s work schedule.
Whether it sets wages.
Whether it maintains employment records.
The Obama administration’s joint-employer policy took into account several other issues, such as the nature of the work performed and whether the work involved a core part of a company’s business.
Weil characterized Trump’s new policy as “an interpretive rule, closer to a form of administrative guidance, and not a full-blown regulation. It does not change the basis for courts to rule on joint employment.” But he added it suggests the administration will pull back on enforcing joint employment issues.
In announcing the decision, U.S. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said the rule “furthers President Trump’s successful, governmentwide effort to address regulations that hinder the American economy and to promote economic growth.”
Robert Cresanti, president of the International Franchise Assn., which had lobbied hard for the change, said it offers “much-needed clarity for the 733,000 franchise establishments across America.”
Business New labor laws are coming to California. What’s changing in your workplace? For California businesses, 2020 will be a year of reckoning. Sweeping new laws curbing long-time employment practices take effect, aimed at reducing economic inequality and giving workers more power in their jobs.
However, the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington-based labor think tank, said the new policy “creates an incentive for large corporations to outsource work to staffing companies or subcontractors and escape responsibility … for complying with basic workplace protections.”
It added, “Employers refusing to pay promised wages, paying less than legally mandated minimums, failing to pay for all hours worked, or not paying overtime premiums deprives working people of billions of dollars.”
Workers at temp and staffing agencies and at subcontracting firms earn less than the same workers who are hired directly by companies, EPI noted. According to EPI’s comments on the rule, that lost income amounts to $955 million a year, and wage theft accounts for an additional $138 million.
Beyond its general joint employer law, California has adopted alternative approaches to enforcement. A 2018 law, aimed at the 13,000 truck drivers who service the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, holds retailers such as Target, Home Depot and Amazon jointly liable for wages that subcontracted trucking companies fail to pay.
Another 2018 law requires construction subcontractors to share information on wages with general contractors and allows general contractors to withhold payments from subcontractors who refuse to cooperate. The law authorizes civil suits against general contractors who oversee cheating subcontractors.


latimes--2020-01-13--Trump officials say they'll help on homelessness. But only if L.A. meets these conditions

A sweeping proposal by the Trump administration to help Los Angeles ’ growing homeless population may come with strings attached , raising questions about whether a deal can be worked out between the city and the White House .
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson told Mayor Eric Garcetti in a letter last Thursday that Trump officials are prepared to offer Los Angeles an array of resources , including emergency healthcare services and federal land .
The Times obtained the letter through a public records request .
The offer follows recent talks between senior Trump administration officials , Garcetti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have raised advocates ’ hopes that federal aid is on its way .
However , Carson also suggested in his letter that the government expects changes from L.A. in how it manages homelessness .
“ To address this humanitarian crisis in the long term , ” he wrote , “ the city and county of Los Angeles must partner with our efforts and make necessary policy changes.
” Those changes include “ empowering and utilizing local law enforcement ” and “ reducing housing regulations to expedite affordable housing construction , ” Carson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somewhat vague , making it hard to know how significant the aid would be and whether any of the Trump administration ’ s conditions would be deal-breakers .
Though it ’ s true that federal funds earmarked for Los Angeles often come with stipulations , some fear that demands to alter policing policies to clear more encampments , for instance , could run afoul of several legal settlements and federal court rulings .
It also could anger local leaders .
If L.A. loosens rules around the construction of affordable housing , neighborhood groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back .
It ’ s far from clear what specific policies the federal government wants the city and county to change , and the Department of Housing and Urban Development declined to comment Monday .
“ The talks are going well and are continuing , ” a spokesperson said , speaking broadly about the relationship .
Barger spokesman Tony Bell said that his office doesn ’ t know what county policies the federal government wants altered .
“ We ’ ve had discussions and talked about potential areas that need work , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Garcetti ’ s office declined to answer specific questions about Carson ’ s letter .
“ The mayor looks forward to continuing the discussions with federal officials in the coming weeks , ” said his spokesman , Alex Comisar .
For months , Carson and others in the Trump administration have promised federal action , including threats of a crackdown on L.A. and San Francisco .
In September , federal officials visited Los Angeles to study the homelessness crisis , in which nearly 59,000 people are living in street encampments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ met with the heads of the unions that represent rank-and-file Los Angeles police officers and county sheriff ’ s deputies to discuss options to deal with court rulings and legal settlements that have limited the LAPD ’ s ability to carry out sweeps at encampments .
In a recent Fox News interview , Carson suggested that harsh measures might be needed , saying officials needed to “ uncuff law enforcement so that people can be removed now and placed in transitional places.
” In his letter last week to Garcetti , Carson wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer emergency healthcare services , supplemental emergency shelters and transitional housing , federal land , assistance for law enforcement and “ voucher utilization support.
” Carson wrote that the “ city and county must partner with our efforts ” and focus on “ reallocating funding and [ prioritizing ] shelter construction on federal and local land ” and “ expanding local mental health resources.
” He also said the county and city must provide shelters focused on “ self-sufficiency programming.
” Diane Yentel , president and chief executiveof the National Low Income Housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that shelters require homeless people to accept services , including drug rehabilitation , as a condition for getting an emergency bed .
Such requirements could run counter to the widely accepted “ housing first ” model of addressing homelessness , which focuses on getting people indoors before addressing other issues , such as addiction or mental health .
Yentel also questioned whether the federal aid would include new housing vouchers , rather than focus on using existing vouchers .
“ It sounds to me like there ’ s no money or assistance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is the core of the [ homelessness ] problem , ” she said .
In an interview last week , Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas praised Barger and Garcetti for trying to work with the Trump administration , but called it “ high-risk ” because of actions that the government has recently taken , such as seeking to change fair housing standards .
“ I just have a hard time understanding , based on history and current practice , how you get something done with the Trump administration , ” Ridley-Thomas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during his budget presentation last week , said the state isn ’ t waiting for a response on requests for help that have been sent to Trump .
“ He ’ s tweeting .
We ’ re doing something , ” the governor said .
“ We have a real plan , real strategies .
We ’ re building on what works .
We don ’ t need him to identify this problem .
”

Dakota Smith, Benjamin Oreskes, Noah Bierman

Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, right, sitting next to Andy Bales, chief executive of Union Rescue Mission, speaks with the media after touring a “sprung” shelter for homeless people in downtown Los Angeles.
A sweeping proposal by the Trump administration to help Los Angeles’ growing homeless population may come with strings attached, raising questions about whether a deal can be worked out between the city and the White House.
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson told Mayor Eric Garcetti in a letter last Thursday that Trump officials are prepared to offer Los Angeles an array of resources, including emergency healthcare services and federal land. The Times obtained the letter through a public records request.
The offer follows recent talks between senior Trump administration officials, Garcetti and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger that have raised advocates’ hopes that federal aid is on its way.
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However, Carson also suggested in his letter that the government expects changes from L.A. in how it manages homelessness. “To address this humanitarian crisis in the long term,” he wrote, “the city and county of Los Angeles must partner with our efforts and make necessary policy changes.”
Those changes include “empowering and utilizing local law enforcement” and “reducing housing regulations to expedite affordable housing construction,” Carson wrote.
Carson’s letter is somewhat vague, making it hard to know how significant the aid would be and whether any of the Trump administration’s conditions would be deal-breakers.
Though it’s true that federal funds earmarked for Los Angeles often come with stipulations, some fear that demands to alter policing policies to clear more encampments, for instance, could run afoul of several legal settlements and federal court rulings. It also could anger local leaders.
If L.A. loosens rules around the construction of affordable housing, neighborhood groups or unions also are likely to push back.
It’s far from clear what specific policies the federal government wants the city and county to change, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development declined to comment Monday. “The talks are going well and are continuing,” a spokesperson said, speaking broadly about the relationship.
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Barger spokesman Tony Bell said her office doesn’t know what county policies the federal government wants altered. “We’ve had discussions and talked about potential areas that need work, but not specific concrete measures,” he said.
Garcetti’s office declined to answer specific questions about Carson’s letter. “The mayor looks forward to continuing the discussions with federal officials in the coming weeks,” said his spokesman, Alex Comisar.
Carson’s response letter to Garcetti Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson told Mayor Eric Garcetti in a letter last Thursday that Trump officials are prepared to offer Los Angeles an array of resources, including emergency healthcare services and federal land.
For months, Carson and others in the Trump administration have promised federal action, including threats of a crackdown on L.A. and San Francisco. In September, federal officials visited Los Angeles to study the homelessness crisis, in which nearly 59,000 people are living in street encampments, vehicles and shelters.
Justice Department officials met with the heads of the unions that represent rank-and-file Los Angeles police officers and county sheriff’s deputies to discuss options to deal with court rulings and legal settlements that have limited the LAPD’s ability to carry out sweeps at encampments.
In a recent Fox News interview, Carson suggested that harsh measures might be needed, saying officials needed to “uncuff law enforcement so that people can be removed now and placed in transitional places.”
In his letter last week to Garcetti, Carson wrote that the federal government is prepared to offer emergency healthcare services, supplemental emergency shelters and transitional housing, federal land, assistance for law enforcement and “voucher utilization support.”
Carson wrote that the “city and county must partner with our efforts” and focus on “reallocating funding and [prioritizing] shelter construction on federal and local land” and “expanding local mental health resources.” He also said the county and city must provide shelters focused on “self-sufficiency programming.”
Diane Yentel, president and chief executiveof the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said such programming typically means that shelters require homeless people to accept services, including drug rehabilitation, as a condition for getting an emergency bed. Such requirements could run counter to the widely accepted “housing first” model of addressing homelessness, which focuses on getting people indoors before addressing other issues, such as addiction or mental health.
Yentel also questioned whether the federal aid would include new housing vouchers, rather than focus on using existing vouchers. “It sounds to me like there’s no money or assistance to help with housing extremely low-income people, which is the core of the [homelessness] problem,” she said.
In an interview last week, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas praised Barger and Garcetti for trying to work with the Trump administration, but called it “high-risk” because of actions that the government has recently taken, such as seeking to change fair housing standards.
“I just have a hard time understanding, based on history and current practice, how you get something done with the Trump administration,” Ridley-Thomas said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, during his budget presentation last week, said the state isn’t waiting for a response on requests for help that have been sent to Trump.
“He’s tweeting. We’re doing something,” the governor said. “We have a real plan, real strategies. We’re building on what works. We don’t need him to identify this problem.”
Times Sacramento Bureau Chief John Myers contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-15--Jet fuel dumped on school children sparks questions, outrage

At Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy , Josue Burgos was outside in PE class when he felt drops landing on him and looked to the sky for rain .
He did not see storm clouds .
He did see a jetliner flying ominously low .
He and his classmates realized the plane was dropping fuel on them and ran for cover .
At least 20 children were hit by the jet propellant Tuesday morning when Delta Flight 89 abruptly turned back to LAX shortly after taking off for Shanghai due to an engine problem and dumped fuel to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Normally , pilots offload fuel at higher altitudes so that it evaporates before hitting the ground .
This time , the Boeing 777 was 12 miles from the runway and low enough to shower the school and adjacent neighborhoods .
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said more than 70 firefighters and paramedics responded to the scene , and 17 children and nine adults were treated for minor injuries .
Two classes had been outside when the jet passed over .
No one was taken to hospitals .
In neighboring South Gate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six others at San Gabriel Elementary were affected , as was one adult at Graham Elementary School .
Josue said his clothes were soaked .
“ It smelled bad , ” he said .
Sixth-grader Miguel Cervantes was hit by a small amount of the fuel on his arms and clothes .
“ I saw an airplane , and I thought smoke was coming out , ” Miguel said .
“ Then when it got closer , I knew it was gas because a little bit fell on me.
” Miguel ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the events and rushed over to Park Avenue .
She said she “ washed him with soap and changed his clothes and he seems fine.
” But the toxic smell — particularly in an area where industry has a long history of contaminating neighborhoods — caused alarm .
“ You should have been here when it first happened , ” said Francisco Javier , who lives across the street from Park Avenue Elementary , two hours after the fuel hit the ground .
“ You couldn ’ t breathe it was so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but not as bad as it was.
” Javier was careful not to inhale too deeply , and relieved that his first-grade son was inside his classroom when the fuel hit .
After assessing the situation at school , he headed back into his apartment to close and lock all the windows .
A block away , Freddie Contreras looked out his window and saw what he thought looked like glass crashing down outside his apartment .
Contreras raced outside , only to get hit by a noxious odor — coming from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Honda Civic , all doused in fuel .
“ I didn ’ t know what I was supposed to do , and I didn ’ t know what was going on , but I knew it was gas or something toxic , ” he said .
“ It ’ s the fuel , ” Contreras said .
“ I want to leave , but I don ’ t know if I can drive my car .
I don ’ t know if it ’ s safe.
” Ross Aimer , chief executive of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very rare and used only in case of emergencies if pilots have to reach a safe landing weight , as was the case in Tuesday ’ s incident .
“ Most pilots choose not to dump fuel unless the emergency really dictates it , ” Aimer said .
Among the emergencies would be landing gear that is not functioning or would otherwise make it hard to control the plane .
When pilots dump fuel , they typically try to do so above 10,000 feet and over water , Aimer said .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final stage of dumping fuel as the plane was descending toward LAX .
He added that , while he didn ’ t know what emergency prompted the pilot to turn back , there was a good chance he or she made an error .
“ I don ’ t remember anyone dumping fuel over population , ” he said .
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the matter .
“ There are special fuel-dumping procedures for aircraft operating into and out of any major U.S. airport , ” officials said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuel to be dumped over designated unpopulated areas , typically at higher altitudes so the fuel atomizes and disperses before it reaches the ground.
” The Delta jet was carrying more than 140 passengers and landed safely at LAX after shedding the weight just before noon .
Police cars trailed it down the runway , sirens wailing .
Cudahy officials demanded answers about why the fuel was dropped over the school .
Newly appointed Mayor Elizabeth Alcantar said the school was next door to Cudahy City Hall .
“ I ’ m very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone interview .
“ This is an elementary school , these are small children.
” The incident rattled the community .
Environmental injustices have long taken place in southeast Los Angeles County .
For years , activists and residents fought for the closure of a battery recycling plant in the industrial city of Vernon because it emitted cancer-causing arsenic and lead , a potent neurotoxin , into nearby cities .
It was only five years ago that the plant was closed .
In the 1990s , Park Avenue Elementary School was closed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeped from the ground .
The school was built on an old city dump site that contained contaminated soil with pockets of the toxic sludge .
“ Why is it always our communities having to deal with the brunt of these issues ?
” Alcantar said .
The jet fuel incident has raised questions about environmental safety and the flight path over Cudahy and other cities .
“ Sadly , our entire community has been adversely impacted by this incident , including dozens of children , ” Cudahy City Councilman Jack Guerrero said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full federal investigation into the matter , and expect full accountability from responsible parties.
” Times staff writers Samantha Masunaga , Jaclyn Cosgrove and Joe Mozingo contributed to this report .

Colleen Shalby, Ruben Vives, Matt Stiles, Andrew J. Campa

At Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy, Josue Burgos was outside in PE class when he felt drops landing on him and looked to the sky for rain.
He did not see storm clouds. He did see a jetliner flying ominously low.
He and his classmates realized the plane was dropping fuel on them and ran for cover.
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At least 20 children were hit by the jet propellant Tuesday morning when Delta Flight 89 abruptly turned back to LAX shortly after taking off for Shanghai due to an engine problem and dumped fuel to reduce weight before landing, officials said.
Normally, pilots offload fuel at higher altitudes so that it evaporates before hitting the ground. This time, the Boeing 777 was 12 miles from the runway and low enough to shower the school and adjacent neighborhoods.
In this image from video, Delta Air Lines Flight 89 to Shanghai, China dumps fuel over Los Angeles before returning to Los Angeles International Airport for an emergency landing. (Matt Hartman/Associated Press)
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said more than 70 firefighters and paramedics responded to the scene, and 17 children and nine adults were treated for minor injuries. Two classes had been outside when the jet passed over. No one was taken to hospitals.
In neighboring South Gate, six people at Tweedy Elementary School and six others at San Gabriel Elementary were affected, as was one adult at Graham Elementary School.
Josue said his clothes were soaked. “It smelled bad,” he said.
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Sixth-grader Miguel Cervantes was hit by a small amount of the fuel on his arms and clothes. “I saw an airplane, and I thought smoke was coming out,” Miguel said. “Then when it got closer, I knew it was gas because a little bit fell on me.”
Miguel’s mother, Ana, received a call about the events and rushed over to Park Avenue. She said she “washed him with soap and changed his clothes and he seems fine.”
But the toxic smell — particularly in an area where industry has a long history of contaminating neighborhoods — caused alarm.
Student Marianna Torres, 11, center, cries as she evacuates Park Avenue Elementary School after jet fuel fell on the school in Cudahy. (Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press)
“You should have been here when it first happened,” said Francisco Javier, who lives across the street from Park Avenue Elementary, two hours after the fuel hit the ground. “You couldn’t breathe it was so bad. It’s still strong, but not as bad as it was.”
Javier was careful not to inhale too deeply, and relieved that his first-grade son was inside his classroom when the fuel hit. After assessing the situation at school, he headed back into his apartment to close and lock all the windows.
A block away, Freddie Contreras looked out his window and saw what he thought looked like glass crashing down outside his apartment.
Contreras raced outside, only to get hit by a noxious odor — coming from the roof, street and his white Honda Civic, all doused in fuel.
“I didn’t know what I was supposed to do, and I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew it was gas or something toxic,” he said.
It gave his sister-in-law Yesenia Pantaja a headache.
× A Delta jet headed to LAX for emergency landing dumped fuel on a school playground, causing skin irritation to 20 children and nine adults.
“It’s the fuel,” Contreras said. “I want to leave, but I don’t know if I can drive my car. I don’t know if it’s safe.”
Ross Aimer, chief executive of Aero Consulting Experts, said fuel dumping was very rare and used only in case of emergencies if pilots have to reach a safe landing weight, as was the case in Tuesday’s incident.
“Most pilots choose not to dump fuel unless the emergency really dictates it,” Aimer said.
Among the emergencies would be landing gear that is not functioning or would otherwise make it hard to control the plane.
When pilots dump fuel, they typically try to do so above 10,000 feet and over water, Aimer said.
He said the pilot might have been in the final stage of dumping fuel as the plane was descending toward LAX. He added that, although he didn’t know what emergency prompted the pilot to turn back, there was a good chance he or she made an error.
“I don’t remember anyone dumping fuel over population,” he said.
× Communications between air traffic controllers and the Delta pilot raise questions about why fuel was dumped over Cudahy roughly 20 minutes into the flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the matter.
“There are special fuel-dumping procedures for aircraft operating into and out of any major U.S. airport,” officials said in a statement. “These procedures call for fuel to be dumped over designated unpopulated areas, typically at higher altitudes so the fuel atomizes and disperses before it reaches the ground.”
The Delta jet was carrying more than 140 passengers and landed safely at LAX after shedding the weight just before noon. Police cars trailed it down the runway, sirens wailing.
Cudahy officials demanded answers about why the fuel was dropped over the school.
Newly appointed Mayor Elizabeth Alcantar said the school was next door to Cudahy City Hall.
“I’m very upset,” she said in a phone interview. “This is an elementary school, these are small children.”
The incident rattled the community. Environmental injustices have long taken place in southeast Los Angeles County. For years, activists and residents fought for the closure of a battery recycling plant in the industrial city of Vernon because it emitted cancer-causing arsenic and lead, a potent neurotoxin, into nearby cities.
It was only five years ago that the plant was closed.
In the 1990s, Park Avenue Elementary School was closed for eight months because a tar-like petroleum substance seeped from the ground. The school was built on an old city dump site that contained contaminated soil with pockets of the toxic sludge.
“Why is it always our communities having to deal with the brunt of these issues?” Alcantar said.
The jet fuel incident has raised questions about environmental safety and the flight path over Cudahy and other cities.
“Sadly, our entire community has been adversely impacted by this incident, including dozens of children,” Cudahy City Councilman Jack Guerrero said. “I am calling for a full federal investigation into the matter, and expect full accountability from responsible parties.”
Times staff writers Samantha Masunaga, Jaclyn Cosgrove and Joe Mozingo contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-15--The Thomas fire was the best thing that ever happened to Tommy the horse

The Thomas fire erupted in early December 2017 .
By the time it was contained in January , it had burned through 281,893 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties .
It caused $ 2.2 billion in damage , forced more than 104,000 people to evacuate and mobilized 8,500 firefighters — the largest such force ever in California .
The Thomas fire was the best thing that ever happened to Tommy .
More than a week after the fire started , the horse was found near Santa Paula , emaciated , filthy , singed and untethered to person or place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Samaritans with a trailer took him to where they knew he would be welcome , and safe : the Humane Society of Ventura County in Ojai , a disaster evacuation shelter approved by county Animal Services .
A nonprofit unaffiliated with the Humane Society of the U.S. , the society is a “ high live-release ” sanctuary on 4.4 acres , much of it devoted to a large-animal population not typically found in urban areas .
Today , it has permanent corrals and 100 stables , but , Greg Cooper , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such permanent facilities when the fire started .
The facility had lost power the first night , so staff and volunteers worked by car headlights to erect temporary corrals as trailers deposited horses evacuated from burn areas .
Before the fire , the shelter housed 91 animals , mostly dogs and cats .
The peak fire evacuation population reached 321 , including horses , donkeys , alpacas , rabbits , goats , pigs and snakes .
All but about 10 stray dogs and cats ultimately were reunited with their owners .
All 70 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ventura County during the fire were reclaimed by their owners .
All but one : Tommy .
Assumed to be abandoned , Tommy received medical treatment for dehydration and starvation , and for his singed hair and neglected hooves , which were overgrown by years .
Caked in mud and ash , Tommy was washed and groomed and emerged as a big , beautiful , white horse .
A big , beautiful , white old horse .
He was about 25 , so weak that one veterinarian said he should never be ridden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the rest of his life and , like all horses , room and board , and regular manicures and new shoes .
The screening process to adopt any horse is rigorous — owners must have sufficient space and finances to maintain them in good health .
Tommy was an even more demanding case because of his age and medical and dental infirmities .
The Humane Society of Ventura County was prepared to care for him for the rest of his life .
Then Anne met Tommy , and sparks — the good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gracious woman with a heart the size of a Clydesdale , loves horses .
The human love of her life is her husband , Mike , former longtime manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim .
They live in Westlake Village , where Anne had read about Tommy ’ s rescue in the Ventura County Star .
She grew up in Thousand Oaks , had a horse as a kid and another shortly after her first child was born .
But soon , she realized , “ I had to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horse.
” By the time of the fire , the Scioscias were empty-nesters , and Anne , again , was feeling unrequited equine love .
She visited Tommy at the shelter in February 2018 , and then left for Arizona to be with Mike at Angels spring training .
On their first day back in April , the Scioscias drove to Ojai to check on Tommy .
After his condition became clear , a few potential early adopters declined to consummate the relationship .
By mid-April , he was a Scioscia .
Tommy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Owner Nancy Peck , a former exercise rider and trainer at Santa Anita Park racetrack , told Anne that he was sound enough to ride , which she does several times a week .
Sitting regally atop her huge , happy horse , Anne is a tiny , elegant figure .
Mike , a onetime Dodgers ’ catcher , is … not .
He ’ s content to watch her ride and shoot video .
Anne calls Tommy “ feisty — look what it took for him to survive.
” If he were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ lucky .
”

Anne Scioscia, wife of former Angels manager Mike Scioscia, with Tommy at his home in Moorpark on Dec. 17.
The Thomas fire erupted in early December 2017. By the time it was contained in January, it had burned through 281,893 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. It caused $2.2 billion in damage, forced more than 104,000 people to evacuate and mobilized 8,500 firefighters — the largest such force ever in California.
The Thomas fire was the best thing that ever happened to Tommy.
More than a week after the fire started, the horse was found near Santa Paula, emaciated, filthy, singed and untethered to person or place. He was barely alive. Good Samaritans with a trailer took him to where they knew he would be welcome and safe: the Humane Society of Ventura County in Ojai, a disaster evacuation shelter approved by county Animal Services.
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A nonprofit unaffiliated with the Humane Society of the U.S., the society is a “high live-release” sanctuary on 4.4 acres, much of it devoted to a large-animal population not typically found in urban areas.
Today, it has permanent corrals and 100 stables, but Greg Cooper, director of community outreach, said there were no such permanent facilities when the fire started. The facility had lost power the first night, so staff and volunteers worked by car headlights to erect temporary corrals as trailers deposited horses evacuated from burn areas.
Before the fire, the shelter housed 91 animals, mostly dogs and cats. The peak fire evacuation population reached 321, including horses, donkeys, alpacas, rabbits, goats, pigs and snakes. All but about 10 stray dogs and cats ultimately were reunited with their owners.
All 70 horses sheltered at the Humane Society of Ventura County during the fire were reclaimed by their owners.
All but one: Tommy.
Assumed to be abandoned, Tommy received medical treatment for dehydration and starvation, and for his singed hair and neglected hooves, which were overgrown by years. Caked in mud and ash, Tommy was washed and groomed and emerged as a big, beautiful, white horse. A big, beautiful old white horse. He was about 25, so weak that one veterinarian said he should never be ridden again. He would need medical care for the rest of his life and, like all horses, room and board, and regular manicures and new shoes.
The screening process to adopt any horse is rigorous — owners must have sufficient space and finances to maintain them in good health. Tommy was an even more demanding case because of his age and medical and dental infirmities. The Humane Society of Ventura County was prepared to care for him for the rest of his life.
Then Anne met Tommy, and sparks — the good kind — flew.
Tommy playfully scampers off as owner Anne Scioscia, left, and trainer Nance Tapley-Peck watch. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
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Anne Scioscia, a gracious woman with a heart the size of a Clydesdale, loves horses. The human love of her life is her husband, Mike, former longtime manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They live in Westlake Village, where Anne had read about Tommy’s rescue in the Ventura County Star.
She grew up in Thousand Oaks, had a horse as a kid and another shortly after her first child was born. But soon, she realized, “I had to make a choice — the baby or the horse.”
The baby won.
By the time of the fire, the Scioscias were empty-nesters, and Anne, again, was feeling unrequited equine love. She visited Tommy at the shelter in February 2018, and then left for Arizona to be with Mike at Angels spring training. On their first day back in April, the Scioscias drove to Ojai to check on Tommy. After his condition became clear, a few potential early adopters backed out. By mid-April, he was a Scioscia.
Tommy lives at Peck Farm in Moorpark. Owner Nancy Peck, a former exercise rider and trainer at Santa Anita Park racetrack, told Anne he was sound enough to ride, which she does several times a week. Sitting regally atop her huge, happy horse, Anne is a tiny, elegant figure. Mike, a onetime Dodgers catcher, is … not. He’s content to watch her ride and shoot video.
Anne calls Tommy “feisty — look what it took for him to survive.”
Mike calls him “expensive.”
If he were Mr. Ed, Tommy would call himself “lucky.”


latimes--2020-01-15--In a wildfire, animal rescue can be messy; untrained volunteers add to the chaos

On the morning of Nov. 8 , 2018 , Amy Clark woke up at 6:30 .
“ I smelled smoke , ” she said .
Cal Fire was reporting that a blaze had broken out 30 miles away from her home in Paradise , in Northern California .
“ In years past , ” Amy said , she and her husband , Jim , “ had seen smoke on the horizon , and flames.
” But they ’ d never had to evacuate .
Around 8 a.m. , a friend called to say that Paradise was going to be evacuated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Amy recalled months later , “ while my husband was yelling at me.
” Jim packed a car , gathered their three rescue dogs and checked on their 18 goats .
Until a few years earlier , when he searched Craigslist for a herd to clear their newly purchased four acres , Jim ’ s idea of “ pets ” had not included ruminants .
Now , Feather , the herd queen , was his favorite .
She liked to accompany him on his daily trek to the mailbox .
Around 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Emergency Services called : Get out now .
Amy , 41 , took the dogs and drove down Edgewood Lane , the only way out of their neighborhood .
Jim , 55 , stayed to feed the goats and fill the water troughs .
Minutes ahead of the flames , he jumped into his car .
Police directed traffic , but “ it was gridlock , ” he remembered .
“ It was backed up for miles.
” It took hours to get out .
“ I had to drive through tunnels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I didn ’ t know if I was gon na make it.… Several people within eyesight behind me didn ’ t ... .
They were burned in their cars.
” The Clarks bounced around for a few nights — Chico to Colfax to Angels Camp — not knowing what happened to their home or their goats .
Everyone in Butte County , it seemed , was on Facebook , pleading for help , for information about people , property and animals left behind .
Somebody sent the Clarks a photo of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garage , both burned into rubble .
The image did not show the goat pasture , on the hillside below .
The image did not capture Feather , or anything that looked alive .
Every natural disaster is different , but in many ways they ’ re the same — power failures , debris fields , rampant misinformation .
Mix fear , haste and panic with the good intentions of people not always equipped or empowered to help , and you get conflict , sometimes chaos .
Rescuing people from imminent danger is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evacuate , shelter and treat their injured animals are also part of the emergency response .
Like childbirth , disaster response is messy , painful and loud , but the product often is beautiful .
This is the story of animal emergency response during California ’ s deadliest blaze , the Camp fire , which killed 86 people and countless animals .
This is a story about survival .
Four agencies representing federal , state , county and municipal interests directed the Camp fire emergency response .
Under their command , Butte County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals and livestock .
Animal Control has established relationships with volunteer groups trained and certified in different aspects of disaster response .
Primary among them is the North Valley Animal Disaster Group , a nonprofit in the Sacramento Valley city of Chico .
For the Camp fire , Animal Control also sought assistance from national groups , including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , and the California Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps ’ local arm , the Veterinary Emergency Response Team from UC Davis .
“ Animal control is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryan Soulsby , the program manager for Animal Control who directed 500 staffers and volunteers during the fire .
“ It ’ s a little bit law enforcement , a little bit animal control , a little bit search-and-rescue , and a lot about animal behavior and understanding of how animals respond in distressful situations.
” His teams can handle a feral fox or a friendly Feather , but few agencies or individuals , he said , understand both the exigencies of disasters and the laws of the land where they occur .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a place for hazards as I ’ ve ever been , ” said Norm Rosene , president of North Valley Animal Disaster Group .
Scores of people wanted to help , but good hearts are not a sufficient defense against formidable danger .
“ There were downed power lines , trees still burning , ” Rosene recalled .
“ So you can ’ t let people that aren ’ t trained in both fire and in hazards like that go back there.
” Evacuated areas are policed to keep people safe , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t want looters , and it was a potential crime scene because there were deaths involved.
” What Rosene calls “ convergent volunteers ” — ad hoc responders — may work in shelters but not behind evacuation lines .
In Butte County , Animal Control requests assistance only from groups that follow national best-practice guidelines , such as Rosene ’ s .
But in some places , structured response is … evolving .
The California Emergency Services Act of 2006 included the California Animal Response Emergency System to standardize animal disaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theory not within shouting distance of practice .
Because California has no such single resource , a coalition of animal welfare organizations statewide is developing training standards for people who want to volunteer during emergencies .
Once certified , they would be listed in a database animal disaster managers could tap to request assistance .
Los Angeles County ’ s emergency plan is complicated — the lead agency for animal response depends on whether the disaster is confined to one of 88 cities , an unincorporated area or both .
The county Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for unincorporated areas and nearly half the cities .
For the Saddleridge fire in October , for example , L.A. city ’ s Animal Services Department was the lead agency , assisted by the county .
Requests for animal evacuations in Butte County are mapped and assigned to teams at morning field ops briefings .
Teams deliver rescued animals to designated , provisioned shelters .
Veterinary personnel triage animals , treat minor wounds and send the seriously injured to the UC Davis animal hospitals .
During the Camp fire , even the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deliver supplies to shelters and to animals sheltering in place .
One general told Soulsby that it was the first U.S. disaster for which the Guard had been assigned to animal resources .
But even a well-oiled machine breaks down when demand exceeds capacity .
Usually , Rosene said , a couple of operators can handle emergency calls to the animal hotline .
But in the first three days of the Camp fire , the hotline received 3,500 calls .
Countless others went unanswered , including the Clarks ’ appeal for help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ramped up from two to five to 10 to 20 '' operators , Rosene said .
It wasn ’ t enough .
People turned to social media , which streamed information ranging from confirmed fact to pure speculation .
Rosene knew that North Valley Animal Disaster Group was getting hammered on Facebook , with people saying that his group wouldn ’ t let them help animals in distress .
He also knew that most of these people didn ’ t understand the danger , and that only the lead agencies could send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the frustration .
“ What we call SUVs — spontaneous untrained volunteers — had the greatest heart I ’ ve ever seen , ” he said .
“ But with them not being trained under the incident command structure , one , they ’ re putting themselves at risk for liability and injury , and two , it ’ s making a lot of extra work for everybody .
“ But if they ’ re in that organized structure … we can utilize their knowledge.
” Rosene called Soulsby “ probably the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” noting that he was in charge during the Oroville Dam failure in 2017 , which led to the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people downstream .
This time , it was personal .
Soulsby , his wife , four dogs , seven cats , eight chickens and one lizard lived in Paradise .
“ I had about five minutes to pack and get my animals out with my wife , ” he said .
“ By the time I left , the fire was on my back fence.
” “ There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Soulsby recalled , his voice quavering .
“ If it was in ashes , it was in ashes.
” The best thing to do , he said , was to help his scorched community recover its animals .
A few locals weren ’ t familiar with that concept .
One found an abandoned cat and held it for ransom .
Justin Jones arrived in Butte County on the first day of the Camp fire from his home in Red Bluff , about 50 miles away .
A few months earlier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Cowboy 911 , populated by real-life cowboys offering help to large animal owners in trouble .
Jones wasn ’ t trained in disaster response , nor was Cowboy 911 yet a nonprofit organization , a status it now holds .
His introduction to large-scale emergencies had come during the Carr fire three months earlier in Redding .
Unknown to either Rosene ’ s group or to Soulsby , Jones was about as welcome as a box of matches .
But authorities realized that although Cowboy 911 lacked training , it had desperately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By the third day of the fire , Jones was an authorized incident commander who could dispatch qualified teams behind the fire lines where evacuated owners had requested help to save their animals .
DJ Longbrake and Jeff Schulz of Medford , Ore. , were one such team .
She works for the school district , he as an HVAC technician .
They spend their extra money on Heavenly Animal Rescue Team and Services , or Harts , their nonprofit for abused and abandoned animals .
Certified in fire-line training and equipped with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to seven wildfires during the summer of 2018 .
They met Jones during the Carr fire , and by the time they arrived in Paradise , Jones was a new response commander .
He assigned Longbrake and Schulz to find Feather ’ s herd .
It was dicey .
Fallen trees and power lines crisscrossed Edgewood Lane , and a singed power pole was still smoking as Schulz maneuvered the 24-foot trailer under a sagging power line with only 2 inches of clearance .
They walked 100 yards down the driveway among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clarks ’ house once stood , Schulz said , “ There were no signs of life.
” He assumed that their mission was about “ recovery , not rescue.
” But in the pasture below , they spotted several goats huddled next to a chicken coop .
They were stunned to find most of them in good shape ; four had burns .
One , burned over 75 % of her body , cowered in the coop .
“ Part of her nose was burned off , ” Longbrake recalled .
She couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Leaving water , grain and hay , they secured most of the herd to shelter in place , then led three of the injured animals up to the trailer .
Schulz carried the dying goat up the hill as Longbrake held her head up so she could breathe .
“ She was making gurgling noises , ” she said .
They edged the trailer out of the burn zone .
En route to the veterinary triage center at the county fairgrounds , Longbrake ’ s phone searched for a signal .
Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caller said that Harts rescue , an outfit he ’ d never heard of , had found his goats , but that some were injured , one of them critically .
She told Jim to meet them at the fairgrounds .
At the reunion , Schulz said , the seriously injured goat “ was so badly burned that Jim didn ’ t even recognize her .
‘ That ’ s not my goat , ’ he said.
” At the sound of Jim ’ s voice , she began to bleat .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Jim , us , the vets.… It was pretty emotional.
” They stabilized Feather for the two-hour drive to the large animal hospital in Davis .
Her face was so swollen she couldn ’ t see .
No one thought she would make it .
Longbrake and Schulz returned to the fire zone , where they spent more than two weeks , driving 100 miles a day helping animals and revisiting the Clarks ’ property to deliver food and water to the goats .
Jim Clark joined them for several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , birds , and left food and water for animals they couldn ’ t catch .
Months later , visiting burned-out Paradise , Clark saw five scarred goats he couldn ’ t catch .
He recognized them — he had sold them a year earlier to a man who also lost his home in the fire and had left the area , abandoning his herd .
The goats had survived , and somehow had escaped coyotes , mountain lions and starvation .
Clark left food for them too .
In mid-November , Rosene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a burned-out property .
Volunteers fed and watered it , and at the end of the month , Rosene dropped by .
“ I swear , ” he said , “ that turkey had gained weight .
He looked huge.
” It was the day after Thanksgiving .
On Nov. 30 , 2018 , Feather was discharged from the hospital .
Until the Clarks resettled , she needed a place to stay that provided ongoing care — her survival was far from certain .
Some disaster victims had relocated to Lucky Ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vacaville .
Co-founders Thao Le , a 911 police dispatcher in Walnut Creek , and Vince Ones , a Contra Costa County sheriff ’ s deputy , also volunteer during disasters , collecting and delivering donated supplies to animal shelters .
Le had seen the Clarks ’ post for help on Cowboy 911 ’ s Facebook page , followed Feather ’ s progress and invited her to the ranch after her release from UC Davis .
For a couple of months , Le and Ones ferried her around various clinics for treatment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reunited with the Clarks , who had rented a home with acreage in Auburn .
Feather still needed medical care , some of which was provided by Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center , which Le called “ the Rolls-Royce of equine hospitals.
” Her treatment for burns and infections — X-rays , blood work , pain meds , CBD oil , cold laser therapy , acupuncture — cost thousands , some of it subsidized by donations Le had secured .
Feather , whose leadership the Clarks credit with the herd ’ s survival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June , but she will always be marked by the fire — no ears and a scarred mouth — and need pain meds when the weather ’ s cold .
She ’ s an old goat , about 14 , but she ’ s still herd queen and as close a companion as any animal in the Clarks ’ household .
Six months after the fire , Clark finally rescued three of the abandoned goats he ’ d seen months earlier in Paradise .
As he unlatched the livestock trailer to release them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their distress .
In the corral , Feather began to act oddly .
Clark opened the trailer , and Feather raced toward one goat in the trailer .
She nuzzled it , and the favor was returned .
Rescued animals sheltered in Butte County facilities during the Camp fire : 4,000 plus Animals sheltered in place or at feeding stations : 6,000 plus Rescued animals sheltered at the Humane Society of Ventura County during the Thomas fire : 321 Animals sheltered at the Humane Society of Ventura County not reclaimed by or reunited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quail and peacocks rescued during the Thomas fire by Ventura County Animal Services : 90 plus Fowl eventually reunited with their owner : 90 plus Cost per day for ASPCA to shelter a disaster-rescued dog : $ 23 Cost of a bale of hay : $ 15 to $ 20 Days that a bale of hay feeds one horse : 3 Cost of a 50-pound bag of llama/goat grain : $ 18 to $ 20 Days that a bag of grain feeds one goat : 14 Tons of grain delivered daily by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Camp fire : 20 plus Daily cost of fuel for a Ford F-250 truck hauling a four-horse trailer evacuating animals during Camp fire : $ 150 Ransom demanded to return a cat found during the Camp fire : $ 100 Cats treated at the UC Davis hospital by the Veterinary Emergency Response Team : 33 Veterinarians and veterinary students deployed during the Camp fire as part of the Veterinary Emergency Response Team : 65 Cost of X-rays , blood work , pain meds , cold laser therapy , CBD oil and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5,000 Cost of one acupuncture session for a goat : $ 120 to $ 140 Cost of Feather ’ s medical and shelter care to her owners : $ 0 Cost to Thomas fire-displaced owners to shelter their animals at the Humane Society of Ventura County : $ 0 Amount Sandra Bullock and Rachael Ray each donated to the Humane Society of Ventura County after fire media coverage : $ 100,000 Amount donated to two UC Davis veterinary school-affiliated funds for animal disaster response to Camp fire : $ 571,000 Staffer and volunteer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ database : 5,000 plus

On the morning of Nov. 8, 2018, Amy Clark woke up at 6:30.
“I smelled smoke,” she said. Cal Fire was reporting that a blaze had broken out 30 miles away from her home in Paradise, in Northern California.
“In years past,” Amy said, she and her husband, Jim, “had seen smoke on the horizon, and flames.” But they’d never had to evacuate.
Amy went back to bed.
Around 8 a.m., a friend called to say that Paradise was going to be evacuated. “I took a shower,” Amy recalled months later, “while my husband was yelling at me.”
Jim packed a car, gathered their three rescue dogs and checked on their 18 goats. Until a few years earlier, when he searched Craigslist for a herd to clear their newly purchased four acres, Jim’s idea of “pets” had not included ruminants. Now, Feather, the herd queen, was his favorite. She liked to accompany him on his daily trek to the mailbox.
Around 9 a.m., the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services called: Get out now.
Amy, 41, took the dogs and drove down Edgewood Lane, the only way out of their neighborhood. Jim, 55, stayed to feed the goats and fill the water troughs. Minutes ahead of the flames, he jumped into his car. Police directed traffic, but “it was gridlock,” he remembered. “It was backed up for miles.”
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The Camp fire burns along a ridgetop. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)
It took hours to get out. “I had to drive through tunnels of flames,” Jim said. “I didn’t know if I was gonna make it.… Several people within eyesight behind me didn’t.... They were burned in their cars.”
The Clarks bounced around for a few nights — Chico to Colfax to Angels Camp — not knowing what happened to their home or their goats. Everyone in Butte County, it seemed, was on Facebook, pleading for help, for information about people, property and animals left behind.
Somebody sent the Clarks a photo of what used to be their valley-view house and garage, both burned into rubble. The image did not show the goat pasture, on the hillside below. The image did not capture Feather, or anything that looked alive.
Every natural disaster is different, but in many ways they’re the same — power failures, debris fields, rampant misinformation. Mix fear, haste and panic with the good intentions of people not always equipped or empowered to help, and you get conflict, sometimes chaos. Rescuing people from imminent danger is primary, but efforts to find, evacuate, shelter and treat their injured animals are also part of the emergency response. Like childbirth, disaster response is messy, painful and loud, but the product often is beautiful.
This is the story of animal emergency response during California’s deadliest blaze, the Camp fire, which killed 85 people and countless animals. This is a story about survival.
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Feather, right, is the leader of Jim Clark’s herd of goats. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Four agencies representing federal, state, county and municipal interests directed the Camp fire emergency response. Under their command, Butte County Animal Control directed the response for domestic animals and livestock.
Column One A showcase for compelling storytelling from the Los Angeles Times. More stories
Animal Control has established relationships with volunteer groups trained and certified in different aspects of disaster response. Primary among them is the North Valley Animal Disaster Group, a nonprofit in the Sacramento Valley city of Chico. For the Camp fire, Animal Control also sought assistance from national groups, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the California Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps’ local arm, the Veterinary Emergency Response Team from UC Davis.
“Animal control is a very specialized discipline,” said Ryan Soulsby, the program manager for Animal Control who directed 500 staffers and volunteers during the fire. “It’s a little bit law enforcement, a little bit animal control, a little bit search-and-rescue, and a lot about animal behavior and understanding of how animals respond in distressful situations.”
His teams can handle a feral fox or a friendly Feather, but few agencies or individuals, he said, understand both the exigencies of disasters and the laws of the land where they occur.
“The Camp fire was as bad a place for hazards as I’ve ever been,” said Norm Rosene, president of North Valley Animal Disaster Group. Scores of people wanted to help, but good hearts are not a sufficient defense against formidable danger.
“There were downed power lines, trees still burning,” Rosene recalled. “So you can’t let people that aren’t trained in both fire and in hazards like that go back there.”
Evacuated areas are policed to keep people safe, he said, but also because authorities “don’t want looters, and it was a potential crime scene because there were deaths involved.”
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What Rosene calls “convergent volunteers” — ad hoc responders — may work in shelters but not behind evacuation lines.
Scorched remains of the Camp fire. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
In Butte County, Animal Control requests assistance only from groups that follow national best-practice guidelines, such as Rosene’s. But in some places, structured response is … evolving.
The California Emergency Services Act of 2006 included the California Animal Response Emergency System to standardize animal disaster response statewide. But it remains a theory not within shouting distance of practice. Because California has no such single resource, a coalition of animal welfare organizations statewide is developing training standards for people who want to volunteer during emergencies. Once certified, they would be listed in a database animal disaster managers could tap to request assistance.
Los Angeles County’s emergency plan is complicated — the lead agency for animal response depends on whether the disaster is confined to one of 88 cities, an unincorporated area or both. The county Department of Animal Care and Control provides services for unincorporated areas and nearly half the cities. For the Saddleridge fire in October, for example, L.A. city’s Animal Services Department was the lead agency, assisted by the county.
Requests for animal evacuations in Butte County are mapped and assigned to teams at morning field ops briefings. Teams deliver rescued animals to designated, provisioned shelters. Veterinary personnel triage animals, treat minor wounds and send the seriously injured to the UC Davis animal hospitals. During the Camp fire, even the National Guard deployed under Soulsby’s direction to deliver supplies to shelters and to animals sheltering in place. One general told Soulsby that it was the first U.S. disaster for which the Guard had been assigned to animal resources.
But even a well-oiled machine breaks down when demand exceeds capacity.
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Usually, Rosene said, a couple of operators can handle emergency calls to the animal hotline. But in the first three days of the Camp fire, the hotline received 3,500 calls. Countless others went unanswered, including the Clarks’ appeal for help with Feather’s herd. “We ramped up from two to five to 10 to 20” operators, Rosene said. It wasn’t enough.
A poster board displays fliers for missing and found animals at a shelter set up at Chico Municipal Airport after the Camp fire. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
People turned to social media, which streamed information ranging from confirmed fact to pure speculation.
Rosene knew that North Valley Animal Disaster Group was getting hammered on Facebook, with people saying that his group wouldn’t let them help animals in distress. He also knew that most of these people didn’t understand the danger, and that only the lead agencies could send people into restricted areas.
Soulsby understood the frustration. “What we call SUVs — spontaneous untrained volunteers — had the greatest heart I’ve ever seen,” he said. “But with them not being trained under the incident command structure, one, they’re putting themselves at risk for liability and injury, and two, it’s making a lot of extra work for everybody.
“But if they’re in that organized structure … we can utilize their knowledge.”
Rosene called Soulsby “probably the most experienced animal control manager in the country,” noting that he was in charge during the Oroville Dam failure in 2017, which led to the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people downstream.
This time, it was personal. Soulsby, his wife, four dogs, seven cats, eight chickens and one lizard lived in Paradise. “I had about five minutes to pack and get my animals out with my wife,” he said. “By the time I left, the fire was on my back fence.”
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“There was nothing I could do for my home,” Soulsby recalled, his voice quavering. “If it was in ashes, it was in ashes.”
The best thing to do, he said, was to help his scorched community recover its animals.
A few locals weren’t familiar with that concept. One found an abandoned cat and held it for ransom.
A horse with its owner’s phone number written on its neck at the Butte County Fairgrounds. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Justin Jones arrived in Butte County on the first day of the Camp fire from his home in Red Bluff, about 50 miles away. A few months earlier, he’d started a Facebook group, Cowboy 911, populated by real-life cowboys offering help to large animal owners in trouble. Jones wasn’t trained in disaster response, nor was Cowboy 911 yet a nonprofit organization, a status it now holds. His introduction to large-scale emergencies had come during the Carr fire three months earlier in Redding.
Unknown to either Rosene’s group or to Soulsby, Jones was about as welcome as a box of matches. But authorities realized that although Cowboy 911 lacked training, it had desperately needed livestock trailers and animal expertise. By the third day of the fire, Jones was an authorized incident commander who could dispatch qualified teams behind the fire lines where evacuated owners had requested help to save their animals.
DJ Longbrake and Jeff Schulz of Medford, Ore., were one such team. She works for the school district, he as an HVAC technician. They spend their extra money on Heavenly Animal Rescue Team and Services, or Harts, their nonprofit for abused and abandoned animals. Certified in fire-line training and equipped with a truck and trailer, they responded to seven wildfires during the summer of 2018. They met Jones during the Carr fire, and by the time they arrived in Paradise, Jones was a new response commander. He assigned Longbrake and Schulz to find Feather’s herd.
It was dicey. Fallen trees and power lines crisscrossed Edgewood Lane, and a singed power pole was still smoking as Schulz maneuvered the 24-foot trailer under a sagging power line with only 2 inches of clearance. They walked 100 yards down the driveway among the rubble.
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On the flat spot where Clarks’ house once stood, Schulz said, “There were no signs of life.” He assumed that their mission was about “recovery, not rescue.”
But in the pasture below, they spotted several goats huddled next to a chicken coop. They were stunned to find most of them in good shape; four had burns. One, burned over 75% of her body, cowered in the coop. “Part of her nose was burned off,” Longbrake recalled. She couldn’t see and struggled to breathe.
Leaving water, grain and hay, they secured most of the herd to shelter in place, then led three of the injured animals up to the trailer. Schulz carried the dying goat up the hill as Longbrake held her head up so she could breathe. “She was making gurgling noises,” she said.
They edged the trailer out of the burn zone. En route to the veterinary triage center at the county fairgrounds, Longbrake’s phone searched for a signal.
‘There were tears everywhere. Jim, us, the vets.… It was pretty emotional.’ — Jeff Schulz
Jim Clark’s phone rang. The caller said that Harts rescue, an outfit he’d never heard of, had found his goats, but that some were injured, one of them critically. She told Jim to meet them at the fairgrounds.
At the reunion, Schulz said, the seriously injured goat “was so badly burned that Jim didn’t even recognize her. ‘That’s not my goat,’ he said.”
At the sound of Jim’s voice, she began to bleat.
It was Feather.
“There were tears everywhere,” Schulz said. “Jim, us, the vets.… It was pretty emotional.”
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They stabilized Feather for the two-hour drive to the large animal hospital in Davis. Her face was so swollen she couldn’t see. No one thought she would make it.
Longbrake and Schulz returned to the fire zone, where they spent more than two weeks, driving 100 miles a day helping animals and revisiting the Clarks’ property to deliver food and water to the goats.
Jim Clark joined them for several days. They rescued horses, cows, birds, and left food and water for animals they couldn’t catch. Months later, visiting burned-out Paradise, Clark saw five scarred goats he couldn’t catch. He recognized them — he had sold them a year earlier to a man who also lost his home in the fire and had left the area, abandoning his herd. The goats had survived, and somehow had escaped coyotes, mountain lions and starvation. Clark left food for them too.
In mid-November, Rosene’s group found a live turkey on a burned-out property. Volunteers fed and watered it, and at the end of the month, Rosene dropped by. “I swear,” he said, “that turkey had gained weight. He looked huge.”
It was the day after Thanksgiving.
Feather will always bear marks from the Camp fire — no ears and scarred mouth — but she’s still queen of Jim Clark’s herd. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Feather slowly gained strength. Her 70-some fellow hospital burn patients included pigs, horses, geese, koi, a donkey, llama, tortoise and bobcat.
On Nov. 30, 2018, Feather was discharged from the hospital. Until the Clarks resettled, she needed a place to stay that provided ongoing care — her survival was far from certain.
Some disaster victims had relocated to Lucky Ones Ranch, a nonprofit animal sanctuary in Vacaville. Co-founders Thao Le, a 911 police dispatcher in Walnut Creek, and Vince Ones, a Contra Costa County sheriff’s deputy, also volunteer during disasters, collecting and delivering donated supplies to animal shelters.
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Le had seen the Clarks’ post for help on Cowboy 911’s Facebook page, followed Feather’s progress and invited her to the ranch after her release from UC Davis. For a couple of months, Le and Ones ferried her around various clinics for treatment.
In February, the whole herd was reunited with the Clarks, who had rented a home with acreage in Auburn. Feather still needed medical care, some of which was provided by Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center, which Le called “the Rolls-Royce of equine hospitals.”
Her treatment for burns and infections — X-rays, blood work, pain meds, CBD oil, cold laser therapy, acupuncture — cost thousands, some of it subsidized by donations Le had secured. Feather, whose leadership the Clarks credit with the herd’s survival, was released from clinical care in June, but she will always be marked by the fire — no ears and a scarred mouth — and need pain meds when the weather’s cold. She’s an old goat, about 14, but she’s still herd queen and as close a companion as any animal in the Clarks’ household.
Six months after the fire, Clark finally rescued three of the abandoned goats he’d seen months earlier in Paradise. As he unlatched the livestock trailer to release them at home in Auburn, they vocalized their distress. In the corral, Feather began to act oddly. Clark opened the trailer, and Feather raced toward one goat in the trailer. She nuzzled it, and the favor was returned.
It was Feather’s daughter.
◆ ◆ ◆
Animal disaster response: By the numbers
Rescued animals sheltered in Butte County facilities during the Camp fire: 4,000 plus
Animals reunited with their owners: 3,700
Animals sheltered in place or at feeding stations: 6,000 plus
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Rescued animals sheltered at the Humane Society of Ventura County during the Thomas fire: 321
Animals sheltered at the Humane Society of Ventura County not reclaimed by or reunited with their owners: 2
Chickens, quail and peacocks rescued during the Thomas fire by Ventura County Animal Services: 90 plus
Fowl eventually reunited with their owner: 90 plus
Cost per day for ASPCA to shelter a disaster-rescued dog: $23
Cost of a bale of hay: $15 to $20
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Days that a bale of hay feeds one horse: 3
Cost of a 50-pound bag of llama/goat grain: $18 to $20
Days that a bag of grain feeds one goat: 14
Tons of grain delivered daily by the National Guard to livestock sheltering in place during the Camp fire: 20 plus
Daily cost of fuel for a Ford F-250 truck hauling a four-horse trailer evacuating animals during Camp fire: $150
Ransom demanded to return a cat found during the Camp fire: $100
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Cats treated at the UC Davis hospital by the Veterinary Emergency Response Team: 33
Veterinarians and veterinary students deployed during the Camp fire as part of the Veterinary Emergency Response Team: 65
Cost of UC Davis Camp fire medical treatment to animal owners: $0
Cost of X-rays, blood work, pain meds, cold laser therapy, CBD oil and acupuncture for Feather the goat: $5,000
Cost of one acupuncture session for a goat: $120 to $140
Cost of Feather’s medical and shelter care to her owners: $0
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Cost to Thomas fire-displaced owners to shelter their animals at the Humane Society of Ventura County: $0
Amount Sandra Bullock and Rachael Ray each donated to the Humane Society of Ventura County after fire media coverage: $100,000
Amount donated to two UC Davis veterinary school-affiliated funds for animal disaster response to Camp fire: $571,000
Staffer and volunteer names in the national ASPCA disaster responder database: 5,000 plus
Sources: ASPCA, Ventura County Animal Services, North Valley Animal Disaster Group, Humane Society of Ventura County, Harts Rescue, Justin Jones/Cowboy 911, Thao Le/Lucky Ones Ranch, Butte County Animal Control, UC Davis, Jim Clark, Trina Wood /UC Davis, KQED


latimes--2020-01-15--Former LAPD officer charged after accusations of sex assault and blackmail made by fellow detective

A former Los Angeles police officer will face criminal charges related to allegations that he sexually abused and beat another LAPD detective , according to a law enforcement official and the victim ’ s attorney .
Daniel Reedy , a veteran officer who retired last year , will face up to nine criminal charges related to accusations that he used blackmail to coerce Det .
Ysabel Villegas into sex and later threatened to leak sexually explicit photos of her to her family , according to a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation .
The official , who spoke on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have authority to discuss the case , was unable to describe the exact criminal charges against Reedy .
Villegas ’ attorney , Lisa Bloom , also said Reedy would face criminal charges in a statement Tuesday .
“ We are pleased that Mr. Reedy will at last face criminal accountability , ” Bloom said .
“ It has been a long and painful process , but Ms. Villegas will continue to fully cooperate so that justice will be done.
” The Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office declined to discuss the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond to questions seeking details about the charges .
A spokeswoman for the LAPD confirmed Reedy retired in 2019 , but declined to comment further .
The Times normally does not name victims of alleged sexual assaults , but Villegas has spoken out publicly about her case on numerous occasions .
Reedy has not responded to The Times ’ previous attempts to contact him .
He does not have an attorney , according to the law enforcement official .
Reedy and Villegas had been involved in an extramarital affair since 2013 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order the detective filed in November 2018 .
Villegas said Reedy first became violent toward her in 2016 and began threatening to leak sexually explicit photos of her to other police officers and her family if she did not continue the relationship , court records show .
In a lawsuit she filed against the LAPD in March of last year , Villegas accused Reedy of using the threat of blackmail to coerce her into sex in a Pomona motel in 2017 .
“ With these photos , he emotionally terrorized me .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said during a March 2019 news conference .
Glendora police also investigated an allegation that Reedy physically attacked Villegas at a diner there in summer 2018 .
A case was presented to the district attorney ’ s office , but it remains unclear if prosecutors filed charges in that matter .
The status of Villegas ’ civil suit against the department was not immediately clear .
In the suit , Villegas said she reported Reedy ’ s behavior to several “ senior LAPD officers ” — including her supervisor in the Robbery-Homicide Division @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assistant Chief Jorge Villegas — who failed to take action .
An LAPD spokesman previously said the department launched an investigation into Reedy in November 2018 , after Ysabel Villegas first filed for a restraining order .
Jorge Villegas retired from the LAPD in October 2018 amid allegations he was having an improper sexual relationship with a female subordinate officer , sources previously told The Times .
An LAPD surveillance unit later caught Villegas and the subordinate apparently engaged in a sex act in a parking lot , the sources said at the @ @

A former Los Angeles police officer will face criminal charges related to allegations that he sexually abused and beat another LAPD detective, according to a law enforcement official and the victim’s attorney.
Daniel Reedy, a veteran officer who retired last year, will face up to nine criminal charges related to accusations that he used blackmail to coerce Det. Ysabel Villegas into sex and later threatened to leak sexually explicit photos of her to her family, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not have authority to discuss the case, was unable to describe the exact criminal charges against Reedy. Villegas’ attorney, Lisa Bloom, also said Reedy would face criminal charges in a statement Tuesday.
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“We are pleased that Mr. Reedy will at last face criminal accountability,” Bloom said. “It has been a long and painful process, but Ms. Villegas will continue to fully cooperate so that justice will be done.”
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office declined to discuss the case. A spokesman for Bloom did not respond to questions seeking details about the charges. A spokeswoman for the LAPD confirmed Reedy retired in 2019 but declined to comment further.
The Los Angeles Times normally does not name victims of alleged sexual assaults, but Villegas has spoken out publicly about her case on numerous occasions.
Reedy has not responded to The Times’ previous attempts to contact him. He does not have an attorney, according to the law enforcement official.
Reedy and Villegas had been involved in an extramarital affair since 2013, according to an application for a restraining order the detective filed in November 2018. Villegas said Reedy first became violent toward her in 2016 and began threatening to leak sexually explicit photos of her to other police officers and her family if she did not continue the relationship, court records show.
In a lawsuit she filed against the LAPD in March of last year, Villegas accused Reedy of using the threat of blackmail to coerce her into sex in a Pomona motel in 2017.
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“With these photos, he emotionally terrorized me. He controlled and manipulated me,” Villegas said during a March 2019 news conference.
Glendora police also investigated an allegation that Reedy physically attacked Villegas at a diner there in the summer of 2018. A case was presented to the district attorney’s office, but it remains unclear if prosecutors filed charges in that matter.
The status of Villegas’ civil suit against the department was not immediately clear. In the suit, Villegas said she reported Reedy’s behavior to several “senior LAPD officers” — including her supervisor in the Robbery-Homicide Division as well as her husband, former Assistant Chief Jorge Villegas — who failed to take action.
An LAPD spokesman previously said the department launched an investigation into Reedy in November 2018, after Ysabel Villegas first filed for a restraining order.
Jorge Villegas retired from the LAPD in October 2018 amid allegations he was having an improper sexual relationship with a female subordinate officer, sources previously told The Times. An LAPD surveillance unit later caught Villegas and the subordinate apparently engaged in a sex act in a parking lot, the sources said at the time.


latimes--2020-01-15--After Thursday's rain, Southern California is expected to return to dry weather

A storm system expected to arrive on Thursday will bring about 24 hours of rain , cold temperatures , strong winds and low-elevation snow , the National Weather Service said .
By Friday , the region will dry out with a warming trend into the weekend .
Models are suggesting a chance of light rain early next week .
“ If we get rain on Thursday [ downtown ] , that would be about a 20-day rain pause or hiatus since the light rain on Dec. 26 , ” said Bill Patzert , former climatologist at NASA ’ s Jet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor a dry , disappointing January , Patzert said .
After a wet December , “ January is looking like a dud.
” The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ’ s outlook for the period from Jan. 22 to Jan. 28 shows below-average precipitation for most of California , especially Southern California , while temperatures are expected to be above normal .
Forecast maps show the jet stream feeding into Central California on Thursday morning , and rain is predicted to arrive in Southern California Thursday afternoon .
Next week , an offshore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the north and east , with a dry inside slider for Southern California , Patzert said .
Daniel Swain , a climate scientist at UCLA , tweeted on Sunday that it ’ s not looking like January precipitation will be enough to reverse the growing seasonal precipitation deficit to date in Northern California .
According to Golden Gate Weather Services , as of Monday , Crescent City had 77 % of its normal precipitation for the date .
Redding was at 70 % ; Sacramento , 69 % ; San Francisco , 63 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % ; San Jose , 52 % ; Oakland Airport , 45 % ; Mountain View , 34 % ; and Livermore , 28 % .

A storm system expected to arrive on Thursday will bring about 24 hours of rain, cold temperatures, strong winds and low-elevation snow, the National Weather Service said. By Friday, the region will dry out with a warming trend into the weekend. Models are suggesting a chance of light rain early next week.
“If we get rain on Thursday [downtown], that would be about a 20-day rain pause or hiatus since the light rain on Dec. 26,” said Bill Patzert, former climatologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. After that, odds favor a dry, disappointing January, Patzert said. After a wet December, “January is looking like a dud.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s outlook for the period from Jan. 22 to Jan. 28 shows below-average precipitation for most of California, especially Southern California, while temperatures are expected to be above normal.
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(Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
Forecast maps show the jet stream feeding into Central California on Thursday morning, and rain is predicted to arrive in Southern California Thursday afternoon. Next week, an offshore high will develop and keep rain to the north and east, with a dry inside slider for Southern California, Patzert said.
(Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, tweeted on Sunday that it’s not looking like January precipitation will be enough to reverse the growing seasonal precipitation deficit to date in Northern California.
According to Golden Gate Weather Services, as of Monday, Crescent City had 77% of its normal precipitation for the date. Redding was at 70%; Sacramento, 69%; San Francisco, 63%; Mount Shasta City, 55%; San Jose, 52%; Oakland Airport, 45%; Mountain View, 34%; and Livermore, 28%.


latimes--2020-01-14--Pilots are supposed to dump jet fuel in unpopulated areas, not over neighborhoods

To make an emergency landing , a pilot will try to get the airplane down to its landing weight so there are more options in case of an aborted landing attempt .
How and where that fuel dump happens depends on the type of emergency , said Tom Haueter , former director of the National Transportation Safety Board ’ s Office of Aviation Safety .
The Federal Aviation Administration and most airlines want pilots to dump fuel over an unpopulated area , such as an ocean , said Douglas Moss , aviation consultant and a retired United Airlines pilot .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement issued Tuesday by the FAA .
“ The FAA is thoroughly investigating the circumstances behind today ’ s incident involving a Delta Airlines flight that was returning to Los Angeles International Airport .
There are special fuel-dumping procedures for aircraft operating into and out of any major U.S. airport .
These procedures call for fuel to be dumped over designated unpopulated areas , typically at higher altitudes so the fuel atomizes and disperses before it reaches the ground , ” the agency said in a statement .
Pilots will typically alert air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the air traffic controllers will try to direct the plane , said Haueter , who now serves as a consultant on aviation safety and accident investigations .
The drop will typically happen at an altitude of 5,000 feet so the fuel vaporizes before hitting the ground .
But if there is a severe emergency , plans may change .
“ The real key is to know what ’ s the nature of the emergency , ” Haueter said .
According to Flightradar24 , Tuesday ’ s flight never got above 8,000 feet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it passed over Park Elementary School in Cudahy at 11:53 a.m .
The plane showered jet fuel on school children .
Delta Flight 89 — a Boeing 777 — had taken off from LAX with 149 passengers on board and was en route to Shanghai when it turned around and headed back to the L.A. airport due to engine trouble .
The flight is typically a 13-hour nonstop .
This one lasted about 25 minutes .
In an emergency , the captain is “ authorized to break any rule in the book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still tries to adhere to as many of the rules as he can , but the bottom line is his actions must be in the best interest of safety.
” Ross Aimer , chief executive of Aero Consulting Experts , said fuel dumping is very rare .
“ I don ’ t remember anyone dumping fuel over population , ” he said .

To make an emergency landing, a pilot will try to get the airplane down to its landing weight so there are more options in case of an aborted landing attempt. How and where that fuel dump happens depends on the type of emergency, said Tom Haueter, former director of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Office of Aviation Safety.
The Federal Aviation Administration and most airlines want pilots to dump fuel over an unpopulated area, such as an ocean, said Douglas Moss, aviation consultant and a retired United Airlines pilot.
That point was also made in a statement issued Tuesday by the FAA.
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“The FAA is thoroughly investigating the circumstances behind today’s incident involving a Delta Airlines flight that was returning to Los Angeles International Airport. There are special fuel-dumping procedures for aircraft operating into and out of any major U.S. airport. These procedures call for fuel to be dumped over designated unpopulated areas, typically at higher altitudes so the fuel atomizes and disperses before it reaches the ground,” the agency said in a statement.
Pilots will typically alert air traffic controllers of the emergency fuel release and the air traffic controllers will try to direct the plane, said Haueter, who now serves as a consultant on aviation safety and accident investigations.
The drop will typically happen at an altitude of 5,000 feet so the fuel vaporizes before hitting the ground. But if there is a severe emergency, plans may change. “The real key is to know what’s the nature of the emergency,” Haueter said.
According to Flightradar24, Tuesday’s flight never got above 8,000 feet, and was at about 2,300 feet when it passed over Park Elementary School in Cudahy at 11:53 a.m. The plane showered jet fuel on school children.
Delta Flight 89 — a Boeing 777 — had taken off from LAX with 149 passengers on board and was en route to Shanghai when it turned around and headed back to the L.A. airport due to engine trouble.
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The flight is typically a 13-hour nonstop. This one lasted about 25 minutes.
In an emergency, the captain is “authorized to break any rule in the book,” Moss said. “He still tries to adhere to as many of the rules as he can, but the bottom line is his actions must be in the best interest of safety.”
Ross Aimer, chief executive of Aero Consulting Experts, said fuel dumping is very rare.
“I don’t remember anyone dumping fuel over population,” he said.