latimes--2020-07-30--After this week's heatwave, there's relief in sight for Southern California

An upper-level high bringing heat to Southern California through Sunday is expected to weaken and move away from the state Monday through Thursday , the National Weather Service said .
A weak upper-level trough will replace the high , bringing a return of onshore flow , with gradual cooling and more marine layer .
Extended outlooks from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ’ s Climate Prediction Center show below-normal temperatures favored for Southern California in early August .
Summer heat generally peaks during the last week of July in many places across the United States .
The expression the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the period from July 3 through Aug. 11 , which encompasses the 20 days before and the 20 days after the star Sirius appears .
Sirius comes from a Greek word that means “ glowing ” or “ scorching , ” and it is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major , which means large or greater dog .
Since antiquity this star has been associated with the part of summer in the Northern Hemisphere when heat and the resulting discomfort are at their peak .
In most of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the middle of July and the middle of August .
Solar radiation reaching the Earth is at its maximum in the Northern Hemisphere on the summer solstice , which was June 20 this year .
That ’ s the point when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted the most toward the sun .
But temperatures continue to rise for several weeks because the heat input from the sun continues to exceed the cooling that occurs at night .
This goes on until temperatures eventually begin to decline in late July and early August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gate Weather Services points out , some locations in California wait until August or September for their hottest weather .
San Francisco , said Null , is the latest of any major U.S. city in this respect .
The fog-shrouded city reaches its normal highest maximum temperature of 70.4 degrees on Sept. 24 .
San Jose , 40 miles to the southeast , is one of the earlier cities , peaking at 83.8 degrees on July 10 .
Cities in the Central Valley such as Redding , Sacramento , Fresno and Bakersfield follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on either July 24 or July 25 .
Death Valley peaks on July 22 , and Yosemite is on July 31 .
Riverside dawdles until Aug. 3 , when it reaches its normal highest maximum temperature of 94.6 .
Over on the coast , Eureka finds its peak on Aug. 24 .
Los Angeles holds off until Aug. 27 and San Diego makes the end of the month , coming in on Aug. 31 .
Salinas reaches its peak of 74.3 degrees on Sept. 18 , and then San Francisco chimes in two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many localities .
The persistent marine layer at the coast is responsible for holding temperatures down earlier in the summer , but then the fog lifts in late summer and early fall .
In San Francisco , the dog days are still barking when the frost is already on the pumpkin in some parts of the country .

An upper-level high bringing heat to Southern California through Sunday is expected to weaken and move away from the state Monday through Thursday, the National Weather Service said.
A weak upper-level trough will replace the high, bringing a return of onshore flow, with gradual cooling and more marine layer.
Extended outlooks from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center show below-normal temperatures favored for Southern California in early August.
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The outlook is for below-normal readings in early August. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
Summer heat generally peaks during the last week of July in many places across the United States. The expression the “dog days of summer” refers to the period from July 3 through Aug. 11, which encompasses the 20 days before and the 20 days after the star Sirius appears. Sirius comes from a Greek word that means “glowing” or “scorching,” and it is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, which means large or greater dog.
Since antiquity this star has been associated with the part of summer in the Northern Hemisphere when heat and the resulting discomfort are at their peak.
Some locations along the California Coast don’t peak until September. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
In most of the United States, the warmest day falls roughly between the middle of July and the middle of August. Solar radiation reaching the Earth is at its maximum in the Northern Hemisphere on the summer solstice, which was June 20 this year. That’s the point when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted the most toward the sun. But temperatures continue to rise for several weeks because the heat input from the sun continues to exceed the cooling that occurs at night. This goes on until temperatures eventually begin to decline in late July and early August.
But as Jan Null of Golden Gate Weather Services points out, some locations in California wait until August or September for their hottest weather. San Francisco, said Null, is the latest of any major U.S. city in this respect. The fog-shrouded city reaches its normal highest maximum temperature of 70.4 degrees on Sept. 24. San Jose, 40 miles to the southeast, is one of the earlier cities, peaking at 83.8 degrees on July 10.
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San Francisco doesn’t reach its normal highest maximum temperature until Sept. 24. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
Cities in the Central Valley such as Redding, Sacramento, Fresno and Bakersfield follow the late-July rule of thumb and peak on either July 24 or July 25. Death Valley peaks on July 22, and Yosemite is on July 31. Riverside dawdles until Aug. 3, when it reaches its normal highest maximum temperature of 94.6.
Over on the coast, Eureka finds its peak on Aug. 24. Los Angeles holds off until Aug. 27 and San Diego makes the end of the month, coming in on Aug. 31.
Salinas reaches its peak of 74.3 degrees on Sept. 18, and then San Francisco chimes in two months after the typical late-July peak for so many localities.
The persistent marine layer at the coast is responsible for holding temperatures down earlier in the summer, but then the fog lifts in late summer and early fall.
In San Francisco, the dog days are still barking when the frost is already on the pumpkin in some parts of the country.


latimes--2020-07-30--Feds add bribery and money laundering charges against L.A. Councilman Jose Huizar

Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar , who was arrested and charged with racketeering last month in an ongoing pay-to-play probe , now faces additional charges including bribery and money laundering , federal prosecutors announced Thursday .
The new charges were included in a 34-count grand jury indictment expanding on earlier allegations that Huizar headed up a criminal enterprise that leveraged his power at City Hall for financial gain , aiding real estate developers who handed over bribes including cash , free flights , casino chips and other perks .
The 113-page indictment also includes claims that others conspired with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former deputy mayor who previously headed the Department of Building and Safety .
Federal prosecutors allege that Huizar agreed to accept at least $ 1.5 million in illicit financial benefits .
He is the fifth person to be charged in the ongoing investigation , which has netted guilty pleas from former Huizar aide George Esparza , real estate consultant George Chiang , political fundraiser Justin Jangwoo Kim and former Councilman Mitchell Englander .
The indictment alleges that Huizar tried to cover up the illicit money in several ways , including guiding his aide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and using family members to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes .
It also alleges that he made false statements to federal prosecutors and the FBI .
Huizar , 51 , is scheduled to be arraigned Monday .
Attorneys for the councilman have previously stated that Huizar “ intends to respond to the government ’ s allegations in court.
” He is now being represented by attorneys from the federal public defender ’ s office , one of whom declined to comment Thursday .
Many of the allegations in the indictment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaint against the councilman , including that a Chinese billionaire planning a new skyscraper in his downtown district provided $ 600,000 in collateral to help Huizar quietly settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former aide .
But the document lays out additional details about the alleged crimes .
For instance , the criminal complaint alleged that a businessman who wanted Huizar to introduce him to developers paid for gifts including expensive suits , meals and hotel stays for the councilman to meet with a woman with whom he was having an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lays out an itemized list of those alleged gifts with dates and dollar amounts , such as a “ suit and shirts ” worth $ 6,000 on June 13 , 2016 , and “ hotel accommodation ” worth $ 1,513.49 on June 19 , 2017 .
In another instance , the criminal complaint filed in June included allegations that a real estate developer provided political donations as part of a bribery scheme to win approval for an Arts District project .
The indictment adds another allegation : that an executive with that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the councilman after he left office .
Federal prosecutors have not named the former deputy mayor allegedly involved in the criminal enterprise , but biographical details included in the indictment and criminal complaint make clear it is Raymond Chan , who has not been arrested or publicly charged in the case .
His attorney , Harland Braun , did not immediately provide comment Thursday but has previously stated that Chan did nothing wrong .
The charges that Huizar faces carry maximum sentences that could stretch for decades , according to a statement released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Los Angeles .
Money laundering , for instance , can be punished by up to 20 years in federal prison , while making false statements to a financial institution carries a maximum sentence of 30 years .

Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar, who was arrested and charged with racketeering last month in an ongoing pay-to-play probe, now faces additional charges including bribery and money laundering, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
The new charges were included in a 34-count grand jury indictment expanding on earlier allegations that Huizar headed up a criminal enterprise that leveraged his power at City Hall for financial gain, aiding real estate developers who handed over bribes including cash, free flights, casino chips and other perks.
The 113-page indictment also includes claims that others conspired with Huizar in the scheme, including a former deputy mayor who previously headed the Department of Building and Safety. Federal prosecutors allege that Huizar agreed to accept at least $1.5 million in illicit financial benefits.
Jose Huizar Indictment Indictment of Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar
He is the fifth person to be charged in the ongoing investigation, which has netted guilty pleas from former Huizar aide George Esparza, real estate consultant George Chiang, political fundraiser Justin Jangwoo Kim and former Councilman Mitchell Englander.
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The indictment alleges that Huizar tried to cover up the illicit money in several ways, including guiding his aide on how to avoid bank reporting requirements and using family members to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. It also alleges that he made false statements to federal prosecutors and the FBI.
Huizar, 51, is scheduled to be arraigned Monday. Attorneys for the councilman have previously stated that Huizar “intends to respond to the government’s allegations in court.” He is now being represented by attorneys from the federal public defender’s office, one of whom declined to comment Thursday.
Many of the allegations in the indictment were revealed last month in a criminal complaint against the councilman, including that a Chinese billionaire planning a new skyscraper in his downtown district provided $600,000 in collateral to help Huizar quietly settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former aide.
But the document lays out additional details about the alleged crimes. For instance, the criminal complaint alleged that a businessman who wanted Huizar to introduce him to developers paid for gifts including expensive suits, meals and hotel stays for the councilman to meet with a woman with whom he was having an affair.
The indictment, in turn, lays out an itemized list of those alleged gifts with dates and dollar amounts, such as a “suit and shirts” worth $6,000 on June 13, 2016, and “hotel accommodation” worth $1,513.49 on June 19, 2017.
In another instance, the criminal complaint filed in June included allegations that a real estate developer provided political donations as part of a bribery scheme to win approval for an Arts District project. The indictment adds another allegation: that an executive with that development company talked to Huizar about hiring the councilman after he left office.
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Federal prosecutors have not named the former deputy mayor allegedly involved in the criminal enterprise, but biographical details included in the indictment and criminal complaint make clear it is Raymond Chan, who has not been arrested or publicly charged in the case.
His attorney, Harland Braun, did not immediately provide comment Thursday but has previously stated that Chan did nothing wrong.
The charges that Huizar faces carry maximum sentences that could stretch for decades, according to a statement released by the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles. Money laundering, for instance, can be punished by up to 20 years in federal prison, while making false statements to a financial institution carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.


latimes--2020-07-30--California passes 9,000 coronavirus-related deaths after 2 days of record-setting fatalities

California has passed another coronavirus milestone : 9,000 deaths after a major surge in infections .
The rising death toll comes as officials are trying to slow outbreaks across the state that followed the reopening of the economy in late May and early June .
As of Thursday evening , California had recorded at least 9,016 deaths and 493,140 cases .
Los Angeles County now has a cumulative COVID-19 death toll of at least 4,559 and at least 186,036 confirmed cases .
The Golden State set single-day records twice this week for the number of coronavirus-related deaths .
On consecutive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 174 deaths on Tuesday and 189 deaths on Wednesday .
L.A. County confirmed a single-day record of 91 deaths Wednesday , attributing the high number to a backlog in data reporting from July 23 to Sunday .
L.A. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis stressed the need for businesses to comply with the county ’ s health orders during a news briefing Thursday afternoon .
That includes reporting any outbreak of three or more cases of the virus to the county and alerting all workers who may have been exposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ Businesses have a corporate and moral responsibility to their employees , ” Davis said .
The county is currently investigating the deaths of two former employees at Mission Foods Corp. in Commerce .
Mission Foods was one of three food businesses that the county shut down this week after more than 40 employees tested positive .
All three businesses have since reopened .
Davis said the two Mission employees were believed to have had COVID-19 at the time of their deaths .
None of the businesses that were closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial cases , Davis said .
Instead , officials were alerted via anonymous complaints .
The Department of Public Health is currently investigating more than 1,000 outbreaks of the virus and is receiving 2,000 to 3,000 weekly complaints about businesses .
Davis encouraged residents to come forward with information about businesses that may be in violation of the health order .
“ I encourage all members of the public to report suspected outbreaks , ” Davis said .
“ Actions of individual businesses and communities have an effect on each and every one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implored places of worship to host only outdoor services and refrain from holding any indoor events — instructions mandated in the county ’ s health order that went into effect in mid-July .
In late May , the state and county allowed for mass gatherings of religious worship and political protest .
In the time since , indoor gatherings have been prohibited throughout the county and much of the state as the spread of the virus poses a greater threat inside close quarters .
Officials in L.A. County reiterated Wednesday that it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wears masks in public to slow the spread .
“ I know we ’ re all eager and anxious to see our lives return to normal , ” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said .
“ We do have the tools at hand to make this a reality in the future .
But we need compliance with our directives.
” Health officials say the public ’ s more careful social behavior , along with newly reissued restrictions on public life , has led to a recent decline in some numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for positive infections , and the projected transmission rate .
But more cases and deaths continue to be reported each day .
“ When we let our guard down , the virus spreads , ” county Health Services Director Dr. Christina Ghaly said .
In the San Joaquin Valley , an eight-county region of the Central Valley stretching from Stockton to Bakersfield , pandemic conditions have deteriorated dramatically .
In the weeklong period that ended Memorial Day , 42 residents there died of COVID-19 ; in the seven-day period that ended Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are on the upswing in the seven-county Sacramento region .
Over the same time period , weekly deaths rose from four to 25 .
The nine-county San Francisco Bay Area has seen its weekly death toll nearly triple in the same time period — from 20 to 57 ; San Diego County ’ s weekly death toll almost doubled over the same time period , from 28 to 55 .
The five-county Southern California area — L.A. , Orange , Riverside , San Bernardino and Ventura counties — has seen weekly deaths increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time period , an increase of 38 % .
There are some signs that California ’ s most recent surge — while still growing — has started to slow down .
For the week that ended Tuesday , the state recorded an average of 9,157 new confirmed cases daily , a 2 % increase from the previous week .
That ’ s a much slower increase than what happened in the week that ended July 14 , when the daily average of new cases was 8,902 , a 20 % jump from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate at which coronavirus tests are coming back positive has been stable in recent weeks statewide .
A Times analysis found that California ’ s seven-day coronavirus positive test rate has generally stayed between 7 % and 8 % since July 5 .
Also , the effective transmission rate of the coronavirus statewide is to be 1.02 — meaning every infected person , on average , transmits the virus to 1.02 other people .

Colleen Shalby, Rong-Gong Lin II, Iris Lee

Workers at a COVID-19 testing site in the parking lot at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
California has passed another coronavirus milestone: 9,000 deaths after a major surge in infections.
The rising death toll comes as officials are trying to slow outbreaks across the state that followed the reopening of the economy in late May and early June.
As of Thursday evening, California had recorded at least 9,016 deaths and 493,140 cases. Los Angeles County now has a cumulative COVID-19 death toll of at least 4,559 and at least 186,036 confirmed cases.
The Golden State set single-day records twice this week for the number of coronavirus-related deaths. On consecutive days, California broke its daily record, with 174 deaths on Tuesday and 189 deaths on Wednesday. L.A. County confirmed a single-day record of 91 deaths Wednesday, attributing the high number to a backlog in data reporting from July 23 to Sunday.
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L.A. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis stressed the need for businesses to comply with the county’s health orders during a news briefing Thursday afternoon. That includes reporting any outbreak of three or more cases of the virus to the county and alerting all workers who may have been exposed to a person with a known case, he said.
“Businesses have a corporate and moral responsibility to their employees,” Davis said.
The county is currently investigating the deaths of two former employees at Mission Foods Corp. in Commerce. Mission Foods was one of three food businesses that the county shut down this week after more than 40 employees tested positive. All three businesses have since reopened. Davis said the two Mission employees were believed to have had COVID-19 at the time of their deaths.
None of the businesses that were closed this week contacted the county about the initial cases, Davis said. Instead, officials were alerted via anonymous complaints.
The Department of Public Health is currently investigating more than 1,000 outbreaks of the virus and is receiving 2,000 to 3,000 weekly complaints about businesses. Davis encouraged residents to come forward with information about businesses that may be in violation of the health order.
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“I encourage all members of the public to report suspected outbreaks,” Davis said. “Actions of individual businesses and communities have an effect on each and every one of us.”
The health officer also implored places of worship to host only outdoor services and refrain from holding any indoor events — instructions mandated in the county’s health order that went into effect in mid-July. In late May, the state and county allowed for mass gatherings of religious worship and political protest. In the time since, indoor gatherings have been prohibited throughout the county and much of the state as the spread of the virus poses a greater threat inside close quarters.
Officials in L.A. County reiterated Wednesday that it is essential the public follows social distancing rules and wears masks in public to slow the spread.
“I know we’re all eager and anxious to see our lives return to normal,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. “We do have the tools at hand to make this a reality in the future. But we need compliance with our directives.”
Health officials say the public’s more careful social behavior, along with newly reissued restrictions on public life, has led to a recent decline in some numbers, including hospitalizations, the seven-day average for positive infections, and the projected transmission rate. But more cases and deaths continue to be reported each day.
“When we let our guard down, the virus spreads,” county Health Services Director Dr. Christina Ghaly said.
In the San Joaquin Valley, an eight-county region of the Central Valley stretching from Stockton to Bakersfield, pandemic conditions have deteriorated dramatically. In the weeklong period that ended Memorial Day, 42 residents there died of COVID-19; in the seven-day period that ended Monday, 105 residents had died.
Deaths also are on the upswing in the seven-county Sacramento region. Over the same time period, weekly deaths rose from four to 25.
The nine-county San Francisco Bay Area has seen its weekly death toll nearly triple in the same time period — from 20 to 57; San Diego County’s weekly death toll almost doubled over the same time period, from 28 to 55.
The five-county Southern California area — L.A., Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties — has seen weekly deaths increase from 357 to 493 in that same time period, an increase of 38%.
There are some signs that California’s most recent surge — while still growing — has started to slow down. For the week that ended Tuesday, the state recorded an average of 9,157 new confirmed cases daily, a 2% increase from the previous week. That’s a much slower increase than what happened in the week that ended July 14, when the daily average of new cases was 8,902, a 20% jump from the previous week.


latimes--2020-07-31--L.A. County reports 69 new coronavirus deaths, significantly higher than last week's average

Los Angeles County reported 69 new deaths related to the novel coronavirus Friday and more than 2,600 additional cases .
Statewide , the number of cases surpassed 500,000 , according to The Times ’ coronavirus tracker .
There have been 9,100 deaths .
The number of deaths in Los Angeles County is significantly higher than last week ’ s daily average of nearly 38 , officials said .
On Wednesday , the county recorded a daily record of 91 deaths , numbers that officials said were affected in part by a reporting backlog .
The figure reflects exposures that occurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Public Health noted in a release .
There are 2,002 people hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 ; 29 % of them are in intensive care .
So far , the county has identified more than 188,400 total cases of the virus and 4,621 deaths .
“ As we are seeing increases these past few days in the numbers of people dying from COVID-19 , the reality of the devastation can not be ignored , ” Barbara Ferrer , director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reality that there are actions each person can take to prevent these tragic outcomes.
” L.A. County accounts for the majority of the state ’ s infections .
During a media briefing Thursday afternoon , L.A. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis stressed the need for businesses to comply with the county ’ s health orders .
That includes reporting any outbreak of three or more cases and alerting all workers who may have been exposed to a person with a known case , he said .
Officials are investigating the deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Commerce whom they believe were positive for the coronavirus when they died .
Mission Foods , a leading distributor of tortillas , chips and salsas sold in grocery stores , was one of three food-processing businesses that the county shut down Sunday ; as of Thursday , 49 employees had tested positive .
The other two food-processing businesses ordered shut this week were S & S Foods of Azusa , which produces meat and other products for large-scale food service companies , and Golden State Foods Corp. of Industry , which makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including McDonald ’ s .
The family of Jose Roberto Alvarez , who oversaw maintenance at Mission Foods and died July 20 after he contracted the coronavirus , has criticized the company for failing to disclose to its workers the number of employees who had tested positive .
In a statement , Mission Foods said it has focused intensely on worker safety , including temperature checks and other workplace safety measures , informing government officials to COVID-19 cases and giving leaves of absence to workers who are deemed to be at high risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigating more than 1,000 outbreaks of the coronavirus and is receiving 2,000 to 3,000 weekly complaints about businesses .
Davis encouraged people to come forward with information about businesses that may be in violation of the health order ; for complaints to L.A. County , which can be made anonymously , call ( 888 ) 700-9995 .
Times staff writers Colleen Shalby , Jaclyn Cosgrove and Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report .

Los Angeles County reported 69 new deaths related to the novel coronavirus Friday and more than 2,600 additional cases.
Statewide, the number of cases surpassed 500,000, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker. There have been 9,100 deaths.
The number of deaths in Los Angeles County is significantly higher than last week’s daily average of nearly 38, officials said. On Wednesday, the county recorded a daily record of 91 deaths, numbers that officials said were affected in part by a reporting backlog.
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The figure reflects exposures that occurred weeks earlier, the L.A. County Department of Public Health noted in a release.
There are 2,002 people hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19; 29% of them are in intensive care. So far, the county has identified more than 188,400 total cases of the virus and 4,621 deaths.
“As we are seeing increases these past few days in the numbers of people dying from COVID-19, the reality of the devastation cannot be ignored,” Barbara Ferrer, director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health, said in a statement. “Nor can we ignore the reality that there are actions each person can take to prevent these tragic outcomes.”
California Coronavirus cases in California surpass 500,000 On the same day California broke a new daily record for COVID-19 deaths, a teenager in the Central Valley has died of causes related to the disease, becoming the first such juvenile death in California.
L.A. County accounts for the majority of the state’s infections.
During a media briefing Thursday afternoon, L.A. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis stressed the need for businesses to comply with the county’s health orders. That includes reporting any outbreak of three or more cases and alerting all workers who may have been exposed to a person with a known case, he said.
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Officials are investigating the deaths of two employees at Mission Foods Corp. in Commerce whom they believe were positive for the coronavirus when they died. Mission Foods, a leading distributor of tortillas, chips and salsas sold in grocery stores, was one of three food-processing businesses that the county shut down Sunday; as of Thursday, 49 employees had tested positive.
The other two food-processing businesses ordered shut this week were S&S Foods of Azusa, which produces meat and other products for large-scale food service companies, and Golden State Foods Corp. of Industry, which makes sauces and condiments for fast-food restaurants, including McDonald’s.
The family of Jose Roberto Alvarez, who oversaw maintenance at Mission Foods and died July 20 after he contracted the coronavirus, has criticized the company for failing to disclose to its workers the number of employees who had tested positive. In a statement, Mission Foods said it has focused intensely on worker safety, including temperature checks and other workplace safety measures, informing government officials to COVID-19 cases and giving leaves of absence to workers who are deemed to be at high risk.
The Department of Public Health is investigating more than 1,000 outbreaks of the coronavirus and is receiving 2,000 to 3,000 weekly complaints about businesses. Davis encouraged people to come forward with information about businesses that may be in violation of the health order; for complaints to L.A. County, which can be made anonymously, call (888) 700-9995.
Times staff writers Colleen Shalby, Jaclyn Cosgrove and Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-07-31--Coronavirus cases in California surpass 500,000 in troubling milestone

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in California surpassed 500,000 on Friday , a troubling milestone that caps months of surging outbreaks across the state .
COVID-19 cases have been spiking since late May as California reopened the economy and people got back to old routines .
Deaths and hospitalizations have also risen , prompting officials to roll back some reopening measures in hopes of slowing the spread .
Once considered a coronavirus success story , California — the nation ’ s most populous state — now leads the United States in the number of confirmed cases .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But that is still far below the death toll in New York , which has reported more than 32,000 fatalities .
Officials announced Friday that a teenager in the Central Valley had died of causes related to COVID-19 , becoming the first juvenile death from the disease in California .
Officials said the teen had underlying health conditions but declined to provide additional information about age or county of residence , citing patient privacy concerns .
“ Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of this young person whose death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how serious COVID-19 can be , ” Dr. Sonia Angell , the state public health officer , said in a news release .
The teen died earlier this week at Valley Children ’ s Hospital in Madera , the hospital said in a statement .
“ The death of this patient reaffirms that children ... are not immune from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic , ” the statement said .
No other COVID-19-related death of a person under 18 has been confirmed by the state since the pandemic began .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials announced that a 17-year-old was believed to have died of causes related to the coronavirus but later said more investigation was needed .
The news comes as the Central Valley has emerged as a hot spot for new cases in California , accounting for all of the five counties with the highest number of new cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks , according to the Los Angeles Times ’ statewide coronavirus tracker .
Kern County topped the list , reporting 1,283.3 cases per 100,000 residents over the past 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100,000 residents roughly a month ago .
The county recorded 924 new cases Friday and one death , bringing its total to 19,335 cases and 140 deaths .
Local officials attribute the rapid rise in part to an increase in testing .
Some testing sites saw a sustained fourfold increase over the past several weeks , Michelle Corson , public relations officer for Kern County Public Health , said in an email .
That caused some labs to report supply shortages , which in turn delayed the turnaround time for test results , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing and the delayed results have recently resulted in a large number of lab results currently being received at Public Health , ” Corson said .
Still , a relatively high percentage of the tests performed in Kern County are coming back positive — an average of 27.5 % each day over the past two weeks , compared with a statewide average of 7.2 % , according to the state department of public health .
That indicates an increase in community transmission of the virus .
Kern County is followed by Colusa County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Merced , with 651.1 ; Kings , with 599.6 ; and Tulare , also with 599.6 .
State guidelines say counties should aim for no more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents over a two-week period .
State officials had already identified the agricultural Central Valley region as an area of concern , saying the spread of the virus there underscores the inequities of the pandemic in California .
The virus has infected Black and Latino communities and poorer regions at much higher rates than more affluent and white ones .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher concentrations of essential workers who can ’ t stay home for financial reasons and are more likely to live and work in close quarters .
Farmworkers are particularly vulnerable , because they tend to have fewer workplace protections when it comes to ensuring their safety or the ability to speak out about their conditions , experts say .
Earlier this week , Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced he would send “ strike teams ” to Kern , Merced , Kings , Tulare and four other counties in the San Joaquin Valley while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 52 million to improve testing , tracing and isolation protocols in those areas .
By comparison to the high infection rates in the Central Valley , Los Angeles County reported 379.5 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks , and Orange County recorded 248.8 .
L.A. County added 2,488 cases Friday and 63 deaths , bringing its total to 188,524 cases and 4,622 deaths .
Officials noted that the number of fatalities marked an increase , comparing it with an average of 38 deaths a day the previous week .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days in the numbers of people dying from COVID-19 , the reality of the devastation can not be ignored , ” Barbara Ferrer , the county health director , said in a statement .
The department of public health said in a news release that deaths “ are a lagging indicator ” that reflect exposures from weeks earlier .
Orange County reported 418 new coronavirus cases and 14 deaths Friday , its second-highest daily death toll since the pandemic began .
Five of the deaths were among people who lived in skilled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents of assisted living facilities , officials said .
The county previously reported a one-day high of 15 deaths on June 24 and again July 28 .
Orange County now accounts for the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in the state , having recorded a total of 36,196 cases and 618 deaths .
Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II , Melody Gutierrez and Anita Chabria contributed to this report .

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in California surpassed 500,000 on Friday, and the state set a new record for the number of deaths reported in a single day — troubling milestones that cap months of surging outbreaks across the state.
At least 214 coronavirus-related fatalities were reported Friday, according to a Los Angeles Times tally, the fifth time in July California has broken a single-day record in reported cases, and the third time this week. The record was last broken on Wednesday, when 176 deaths were recorded.
The average number of daily COVID-19 deaths in California for the seven days that ended Friday was 127. Last week, the number was 104.
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COVID-19 cases have been spiking since late May as California reopened the economy and people got back to old routines. Deaths and hospitalizations have also risen, prompting officials to roll back some reopening measures in hopes of slowing the spread.
Once considered a coronavirus success story, California — the nation’s most populous state — now leads the United States in the number of confirmed cases. More than 9,200 people in California have died. But that is still far below the death toll in New York, which has reported more than 32,000 fatalities.
Officials announced Friday that a teenager in the Central Valley had died of causes related to COVID-19, becoming the first juvenile death from the disease in California.
Officials said the teen had underlying health conditions but declined to provide additional information about age or county of residence, citing patient privacy concerns.
“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of this young person whose death is a tragic and powerful reminder of how serious COVID-19 can be,” Dr. Sonia Angell, the state public health officer, said in a news release.
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The teen died earlier this week at Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, the hospital said in a statement.
“The death of this patient reaffirms that children ... are not immune from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement said.
No other COVID-19-related death of a person under 18 has been confirmed by the state since the pandemic began. In March, Los Angeles County public health officials announced that a 17-year-old was believed to have died of causes related to the coronavirus but later said more investigation was needed.
The news comes as the Central Valley has emerged as a hot spot for new cases in California, accounting for all of the five counties with the highest number of new cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks, according to the Los Angeles Times’ statewide coronavirus tracker.
Kern County topped the list, reporting 1,283.3 cases per 100,000 residents over the past 14 days, compared with 132 cases per 100,000 residents roughly a month ago. The county recorded 924 new cases Friday and one death, bringing its total to 19,335 cases and 140 deaths.
Local officials attribute the rapid rise in part to an increase in testing. Some testing sites saw a sustained fourfold increase over the past several weeks, Michelle Corson, public relations officer for Kern County Public Health, said in an email. That caused some labs to report supply shortages, which in turn delayed the turnaround time for test results, she said.
“This surge in testing and the delayed results have recently resulted in a large number of lab results currently being received at Public Health,” Corson said.
Still, a relatively high percentage of the tests performed in Kern County are coming back positive — an average of 27.5% each day over the past two weeks, compared with a statewide average of 7.2%, according to the state department of public health. That indicates an increase in community transmission of the virus.
Kern County is followed by Colusa County, with 768.7 cases per 100,000 residents; Merced, with 651.1; Kings, with 649; and Tulare, with 599.6. State guidelines say counties should aim for no more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents over a two-week period.
State officials had already identified the agricultural Central Valley region as an area of concern, saying the spread of the virus there underscores the inequities of the pandemic in California. The virus has infected Black and Latino communities and poorer regions at much higher rates than more affluent and white ones.
Black and Latino communities tend to have higher concentrations of essential workers who can’t stay home for financial reasons and are more likely to live and work in close quarters. Farmworkers are particularly vulnerable, because they tend to have fewer workplace protections when it comes to ensuring their safety or the ability to speak out about their conditions, experts say.
Earlier this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he would send “strike teams” to Kern, Merced, Kings, Tulare and four other counties in the San Joaquin Valley while asking the California Legislature to approve $52 million to improve testing, tracing and isolation protocols in those areas.
By comparison to the high infection rates in the Central Valley, Los Angeles County reported 379.5 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks, and Orange County recorded 248.8.
L.A. County added at least 2,505 cases Friday and 65 deaths, bringing its total to 188,541 cases and 4,624 deaths. Officials noted that the number of fatalities marked an increase, with an average of 46 deaths a day in the past seven days, compared with last week’s daily average of 36.
“As we are seeing increases these past few days in the numbers of people dying from COVID-19, the reality of the devastation cannot be ignored,” Barbara Ferrer, the county health director, said in a statement.
The department of public health said in a news release that deaths “are a lagging indicator” that reflect exposures from weeks earlier.
Orange County reported 418 new coronavirus cases and 14 deaths Friday. Five of the deaths were among people who lived in skilled nursing facilities, and four were among residents of assisted living facilities, officials said.
Orange County now accounts for the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the state, having recorded a total of 36,196 cases and 618 deaths. Riverside County has recorded 37,011 cases and 695 deaths.
Times staff writers Sean Greene, Rong-Gong Lin II, Melody Gutierrez and Anita Chabria contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-07-31--Brush fire threatens homes in Chatsworth area

A 25-acre brush fire was threatening some homes Friday in Ventura County west of Chatsworth , and Los Angeles city and county crews were assisting Ventura firefighters in the firefight .
The fire was reported about noon near the 200 block of West Box Canyon Road , according to the Los Angeles Fire Department .
`` “ This fire is in the Santa Susana Mutual Threat Zone and all three agencies are currently working together , ’ ' the LAFD reported .
According to the Ventura County Fire Department , the `` Shirley Fire ’ ’ was burning between Simi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are light but still helping the fire spread , ’ ' the Ventura County Fire Department initially reported , but by 2:15 p.m. , crews had stopped the fire ’ s spread and mitigated the threat to structures .
Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopters were conducting water drops in the area .
`` `` The fire is in mixed rocky , steep terrain , which makes ground access challenging , ’ ' according to an LAFD update issued about 1:30 p.m. “ However , firefighters are making good progress and the helicopters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This incident is 100 % in the County of Ventura , but due to the mutual threat ... it is a unified command with Ventura County Fire , Los Angeles County Fire , Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority and LAFD.
’ ' No injuries had been reported , and no structures had been damaged , the LAFD reported .

A 25-acre brush fire was threatening some homes Friday in Ventura County west of Chatsworth, and Los Angeles city and county crews were assisting Ventura firefighters in the firefight.
The fire was reported about noon near the 200 block of West Box Canyon Road, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
``
“This fire is in the Santa Susana Mutual Threat Zone and all three agencies are currently working together,’’ the LAFD reported.
According to the Ventura County Fire Department, the ``Shirley Fire’’ was burning between Simi Valley and Chatsworth.
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``”Winds are light but still helping the fire spread,’’ the Ventura County Fire Department initially reported, but by 2:15 p.m., crews had stopped the fire’s spread and mitigated the threat to structures.
Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopters were conducting water drops in the area.
“``The fire is in mixed rocky, steep terrain, which makes ground access challenging,’’ according to an LAFD update issued about 1:30 p.m. “However, firefighters are making good progress and the helicopters are hitting it hard from the sky. This incident is 100% in the County of Ventura, but due to the mutual threat ... it is a unified command with Ventura County Fire, Los Angeles County Fire, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority and LAFD.’’
No injuries had been reported, and no structures had been damaged, the LAFD reported.


latimes--2020-07-31--Pastor says AME church struck by racist vandalism will move on as FBI investigates

When Pastor Carieta Cain Grizzell saw the racist epithets and threats scratched onto her church ’ s silver rooftop air conditioning unit , she felt a familiar pain .
“ I was just flabbergasted , just appalled ... .
It really hurts that someone would feel that way towards us when we ’ re open to the community and all we want to do is serve and help however we can for hurting people , ” said Grizzell , who leads Murph-Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in North Highlands outside Sacramento .
The FBI is investigating the attack , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ ve done so before , after vandals painted the N-word on the church ’ s front door and smashed stained-glass windows in June 2016 .
That time , Grizzell relied on her faith .
She ’ ll do the same after this offense , she said .
“ I know what God is able to do , ” Grizzell told The Times .
“ My faith is very strong , and nothing can tear that away from me.
” To adapt to the coronavirus , Murph-Emmanuel ’ s members have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday of each month .
At July ’ s car communion , one churchgoer ’ s dog hopped out , Grizzell said .
The woman chased the pup behind Murph-Emmanuel ’ s brick building , and as she caught the dog she looked up and saw the offensive language scrawled into the metal air conditioning unit .
“ She didn ’ t call me until a day later , and then when I went to the church , I called the police , ” Grizzell said .
The racist language written covered all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said one threat .
“ Kill um all , ” read another .
The N-word was written too , along with a symbol for anarchy .
The pastor said she spoke with an FBI civil rights investigator .
The agency does not discuss ongoing investigations , and its Sacramento bureau has not commented on the Murph-Emmanuel case .
U.S. Atty .
McGregor Scott said his office “ is committed to protect the religious rights of all and will vigorously investigate and prosecute whenever these acts cross the threshold of a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our local law enforcement partners to investigate religiously motivated vandalizing of any house of worship — whether it is a Muslim mosque , a Jewish synagogue , a Hindu temple or a Christian church , ” Scott told The Times .
Based on sensor activity , Grizzell thinks the vandals struck in late June .
Throughout that month , a flurry of racist acts were reported across the state and country .
Online hate speech soared too .
The spike in racist activity followed in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism into national focus .
Grizzell acknowledged that the defacement of her church might have something to do with the wave of hate .
“ That could have something to do with it … but I know we experienced a similar problem in 2016 , ” she said , referring to the prior attack on the church .
Grizzell said she thinks more explicit racism has surfaced over the last four years , but knows anti-Black hatred and violence are as old as time .
“ Being Black , being African American , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whether it be covert or overt … Racism , it ’ s something Black people experience all the time , ” she said .
The pastor , 74 , remembers the signs that read “ colored ” and “ white ” fixed to bathrooms and water fountains in her childhood home in Washington , D.C. “ You are treated differently .
You learn , ” Grizzell said .
“ Faith is the only way you can really deal with it and feel OK … You have to know who you are .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ heritage , that helps quite a bit.
” American culture and schools don ’ t teach Black people about their rich history , she said .
She knows the history of her family , though : Her great-great grandfather was Richard “ Daddy ” Cain , Grizzell said , a legendary minister and politician who represented South Carolina in Congress during Reconstruction , before Jim Crow laws stripped Black Americans of their voting rights , and led the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston , S.C. , where a white supremacist murdered nine parishioners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think Dylann Roof knew that history when he went into Emanuel , ” Grizzell said .
The threat of racist violence against her own church lingers on her mind sometimes , she said .
“ It ’ s always there .
You know , I think about it , possibilities that someone would try to do some harm , ” she said .
“ There is some fear , but as a Christian we stand on the word that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But of course we have to take precautions and be wise , not fools.
” The church is upgrading its security .
Grizzell said the church in 2019 received a security grant from the Department of Homeland Security and the Governor ’ s Office of Emergency Services , which will help Murph-Emmanuel put up a fence .
They ’ re upgrading their cameras and working on getting better lighting too .
Grizzell hopes a GoFundMe campaign will help the church raise money for the improvements .
In the meantime , the pastor said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as normally as it can during the COVID-19 pandemic : live-streamed homilies , drive-in services , ministry focused on safely feeding the mostly-white community surrounding the church .
Murph-Emmanuel AME will move forward with new friends too .
Local faith organizations have flocked to the church ’ s side since the attack , Grizzell said .
“ I ’ m overjoyed and happy about the support and the love that has been poured out to us .
It helps to make us feel better , like we ’ re not alone .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Violence against houses of faith — especially Black houses of faith — is “ always there , ” but the pastor said she ’ s happy to be in a position to address it .
“ If it takes for our church to be involved in this kind of investigations to catch any person that would do harm to our church or any other church , synagogue or mosque or do any other harm against someone , I ’ m glad to be involved , ” Grizzell said .

Murph-Emmanuel AME’s pastor Carieta Cain Grizzell leads her church during a Palm Sunday service. Grizzell discovered racist epithets defacing the church in early July, four years after a similar attack. The FBI is investigating.
When Pastor Carieta Cain Grizzell saw the racist epithets and threats scratched onto her church’s silver rooftop air conditioning unit, she felt a familiar pain.
“I was just flabbergasted, just appalled .... It really hurts that someone would feel that way towards us when we’re open to the community and all we want to do is serve and help however we can for hurting people,” said Grizzell, who leads Murph-Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in North Highlands outside Sacramento.
The FBI is investigating the attack, and the faithful must now move forward. They’ve done so before, after vandals painted the N-word on the church’s front door and smashed stained-glass windows in June 2016. That time, Grizzell relied on her faith. She’ll do the same after this offense, she said.
“I know what God is able to do,” Grizzell told The Times. “My faith is very strong, and nothing can tear that away from me.”
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To adapt to the coronavirus, Murph-Emmanuel’s members have been worshiping from their vehicles on the first Sunday of each month. At July’s car communion, one churchgoer’s dog hopped out, Grizzell said. The woman chased the pup behind Murph-Emmanuel’s brick building, and as she caught the dog she looked up and saw the offensive language scrawled into the metal air conditioning unit.
“She didn’t call me until a day later, and then when I went to the church, I called the police,” Grizzell said.
The racist language written covered all sides of the unit. “KKK,” said one threat. “Kill um all,” read another. The N-word was written too, along with a symbol for anarchy.
The pastor said she spoke with an FBI civil rights investigator. The agency does not discuss ongoing investigations, and its Sacramento bureau has not commented on the Murph-Emmanuel case. U.S. Atty. McGregor Scott said his office “is committed to protect the religious rights of all and will vigorously investigate and prosecute whenever these acts cross the threshold of a federal crime.”
“We will work with our local law enforcement partners to investigate religiously motivated vandalizing of any house of worship — whether it is a Muslim mosque, a Jewish synagogue, a Hindu temple or a Christian church,” Scott told The Times.
Based on sensor activity, Grizzell thinks the vandals struck in late June. Throughout that month, a flurry of racist acts were reported across the state and country. Online hate speech soared too. The spike in racist activity followed in the wake of George Floyd’s death and came as a protest movement brought racism into national focus. Grizzell acknowledged that the defacement of her church might have something to do with the wave of hate.
“That could have something to do with it … but I know we experienced a similar problem in 2016,” she said, referring to the prior attack on the church.
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Grizzell said she thinks more explicit racism has surfaced over the last four years, but knows anti-Black hatred and violence are as old as time.
“Being Black, being African American, that’s part of your life, whether it be covert or overt … Racism, it’s something Black people experience all the time,” she said.
The pastor, 74, remembers the signs that read “colored” and “white” fixed to bathrooms and water fountains in her childhood home in Washington, D.C.
“You are treated differently. You learn,” Grizzell said. “Faith is the only way you can really deal with it and feel OK … You have to know who you are. If you know your history, your heritage, that helps quite a bit.”
American culture and schools don’t teach Black people about their rich history, she said. She knows the history of her family, though: Her great-great grandfather was Richard “Daddy” Cain, Grizzell said, a legendary minister and politician who represented South Carolina in Congress during Reconstruction, before Jim Crow laws stripped Black Americans of their voting rights, and led the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., where a white supremacist murdered nine parishioners in a 2015 mass shooting.
“I think Dylann Roof knew that history when he went into Emanuel,” Grizzell said.
The threat of racist violence against her own church lingers on her mind sometimes, she said.
“It’s always there. You know, I think about it, possibilities that someone would try to do some harm,” she said. “There is some fear, but as a Christian we stand on the word that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of sound mind. But of course we have to take precautions and be wise, not fools.”
The church is upgrading its security. Grizzell said the church in 2019 received a security grant from the Department of Homeland Security and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, which will help Murph-Emmanuel put up a fence. They’re upgrading their cameras and working on getting better lighting too. Grizzell hopes a GoFundMe campaign will help the church raise money for the improvements.
In the meantime, the pastor said, the church will continue its mission as normally as it can during the COVID-19 pandemic: live-streamed homilies, drive-in services, ministry focused on safely feeding the mostly-white community surrounding the church.
Murph-Emmanuel AME will move forward with new friends too. Local faith organizations have flocked to the church’s side since the attack, Grizzell said.
“I’m overjoyed and happy about the support and the love that has been poured out to us. It helps to make us feel better, like we’re not alone. We’re not alone,” she said.
Violence against houses of faith — especially Black houses of faith — is “always there,” but the pastor said she’s happy to be in a position to address it.
“If it takes for our church to be involved in this kind of investigations to catch any person that would do harm to our church or any other church, synagogue or mosque or do any other harm against someone, I’m glad to be involved,” Grizzell said.


latimes--2020-07-31--Protester had hands up when LAPD officer shot him in head with projectile, video shows

Footage from a Los Angeles police officer ’ s body camera shows a man with his hands up being shot in the head with a tactical round as officers advanced on a crowd of fleeing protesters on May 30 .
The man , CJ Montano , was standing in the middle of a street in the Wilshire area after taking several steps backward as officers on skirmish lines in front of him screamed “ Less lethal !
” and “ Leave the area !
” As the officers began firing at protesters as they fled , Montano can be seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rushed away from the scene by other protesters .
The footage is the first from officers ’ body cameras to be made public from a large protest in the Fairfax district that has spurred debate over police tactics , lawsuits , calls for reforms and internal investigations .
It offers new insights into how the LAPD handled an intense flashpoint of the protests and unrest .
The video shows officers firing projectile rounds to push protesters east along Beverly Boulevard near CBS Television City after several earlier clashes .
After being shot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former U.S. Marine , was hospitalized for four days , two of them in the intensive care unit with serious bleeding in his brain , he said Friday .
He is still recovering from a range of symptoms .
His shooting is under investigation by the LAPD ’ s Force Investigation Division .
In a video produced and released Friday by the LAPD that includes the body-camera footage , Capt .
Gisselle Espinoza , an LAPD spokeswoman , said “ the circumstances of how Montano was struck , and which officer fired the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still under investigation ” as an “ unintentional head strike.
” The department would not comment as to why the shooting had already been deemed “ unintentional , ” citing the ongoing nature of the investigation .
However , a source familiar with the investigation said the classification of the shooting as “ unintentional ” was based on interviews with the two officers whom the department identified as having fired their weapons at the time .
Police said they have tried to interview Montano , without success .
Montano , who has filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sue unless he is compensated for having been injured so grievously , said he told the police that they should contact his attorneys .
He said the video — which his attorneys had previously requested but were never given — corroborates what he has said all along about the circumstances surrounding his shooting : that he had presented no threat to the police .
“ I just want everyone to see how oppressive the police force is as a whole in the United States , and what they are doing to people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the video , are backing up with their hands up , ” he said .
“ It ’ s just sickening.
” “ He is isolated in that intersection .
His arms are up in the air .
There ’ s no good argument that he was hit accidentally , ” said Timothy A. Loranger , one of Montano ’ s attorneys .
“ He was specifically targeted , and he was hit .
This was not an accident.
” Montano served in the Marines from 2014 to 2018 and was unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
That day in May , he had decided it was finally time for him to stand up with others and “ show that I was sick of seeing the injustices occurring , specifically against Black people.
” He had been near the skirmish lines in part to help others who sustained injuries from police , he said .
He said that he at no point presented a threat to police and had even told others in the crowd not to throw things at officers .
By policy , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers cause “ serious bodily injury ” after 45 days , though the department has the discretion to share video sooner .
The Times filed a public records request last month for footage from all such incidents during the protests .
Monique Alarcon , another of Montano ’ s attorneys , said they also filed a public records request for footage of Montano ’ s shooting and were surprised Friday when they learned the LAPD had “ decided to first put together a PR video and release it to the public.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violated protocols for the use of batons and tactical weapons during the protests that day in the Fairfax district .
Many protesters were injured , including by the sponge and foam bullets and beanbag rounds that officers fired .
The LAPD is investigating 125 separate complaints from the protests , including 54 involving officers using force , police said .
A total of 10 officers have been removed from field duties pending investigations .
The clashes began after a planned protest at Pan Pacific Park .
While many protesters say police in riot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tensions and instigated the clashes , police allege that protesters or other agitators among them had turned violent and created a dangerous situation for themselves and others , including officers .
After several police cars were lit on fire , and outnumbered officers reported being targeted with rocks and bottles , LAPD Chief Michel Moore declared the gathering unlawful , and police began using batons and tactical guns to disperse the crowd .
Asst .
Chief Robert Arcos , who oversees LAPD operations , has previously said that officers that day were firing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disperse or push back crowds .
Department policy requires such weapons be used only on individuals who are targeted for presenting a clear and immediate threat .
It requires that officers aim for the person ’ s navel or belt line , then their arms and legs , and never their head or neck .
Officers are not supposed to fire the weapons at people who are fleeing an area .
Josh Rubenstein , another police spokesman , said the department has not made any determination yet as to whether policy was followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such finding would come after the conclusion of the ongoing investigation , he said .
Montano , who that day had carried a sign reading , “ We can ’ t be silent when cops are violent , ” said he believes he was targeted , brutally and in clear violation of department policies , and he believes that is clear in the video .
“ It just feels like it was all intentional , and it makes me feel sick , ” he said .
Today , Montano uses a cane because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out often but can ’ t do so anymore .
His doctors have told him not to lift anything larger than a gallon , so he needs help to carry groceries inside , he said .
Pedram Esfandiary , another of his attorneys , said Montano remains at risk for seizures , has trouble following some social cues , regularly experiences dizziness and has trouble listening to music — a serious issue for a music student .
“ My quality of life essentially has kind of 180 ’ d , ” Montano said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of the recovery.
” Apart from Montano ’ s pending case , the department is facing several lawsuits over its tactics , including a major class-action lawsuit filed by Black Lives Matter-L.A. and other activist groups .
Like Montano , the plaintiffs in that case want to see an end to the LAPD ’ s use of projectiles on protesters .
Melina Abdullah , one of the co-founders of Black Lives Matter-L.A. , said the new video adds to an array of evidence showing that police approached the Fairfax protest “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and helps make clear the true danger of such weapons .
“ We had many , many folks who were seriously injured at that protest , ” she said .
“ Just because they use the term ‘ less lethal ’ does not mean that it ’ s not lethal .
It does not mean that it ’ s not harmful .
”

Footage from a Los Angeles police officer’s body camera shows a man with his hands up being shot in the head with a tactical round as officers advanced on a crowd of fleeing protesters on May 30.
Footage from a Los Angeles police officer’s body camera shows a man with his hands up being shot in the head with a tactical round as officers advanced on a crowd of fleeing protesters on May 30.
The man, CJ Montano, was standing in the middle of a street in the Wilshire area after taking several steps backward as officers on skirmish lines in front of him screamed “Less lethal!” and “Leave the area!” As the officers began firing at protesters as they fled, Montano can be seen dropping to the ground, then being rushed away from the scene by other protesters.
The footage is the first from officers’ body cameras to be made public from a large protest in the Fairfax district that has spurred debate over police tactics, lawsuits, calls for reforms and internal investigations. It offers new insights into how the LAPD handled an intense flashpoint of the protests and unrest.
The video shows officers firing projectile rounds to push protesters east along Beverly Boulevard near CBS Television City after several earlier clashes.
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After being shot, Montano, a 24-year-old music student and former U.S. Marine, was hospitalized for four days, two of them in the intensive care unit with serious bleeding in his brain, he said Friday. He is still recovering from a range of symptoms.
His shooting is under investigation by the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division.
In a video produced and released Friday by the LAPD that includes the body-camera footage, Capt. Gisselle Espinoza, an LAPD spokeswoman, said “the circumstances of how Montano was struck, and which officer fired the less-lethal projectile that struck Montano, is still under investigation” as an “unintentional head strike.”
The department would not comment as to why the shooting had already been deemed “unintentional,” citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. However, a source familiar with the investigation said the classification of the shooting as “unintentional” was based on interviews with the two officers whom the department identified as having fired their weapons at the time.
Police said they have tried to interview Montano, without success.
Montano, who has filed notice with the city of his intention to sue unless he is compensated for having been injured so grievously, said he told the police that they should contact his attorneys. He said the video — which his attorneys had previously requested but were never given — corroborates what he has said all along about the circumstances surrounding his shooting: that he had presented no threat to the police.
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“I just want everyone to see how oppressive the police force is as a whole in the United States, and what they are doing to people who literally, as you can see in the video, are backing up with their hands up,” he said. “It’s just sickening.”
“He is isolated in that intersection. His arms are up in the air. There’s no good argument that he was hit accidentally,” said Timothy A. Loranger, one of Montano’s attorneys. “He was specifically targeted, and he was hit. This was not an accident.”
Montano served in the Marines from 2014 to 2018 and was unable to attend demonstrations while on active duty, he said. That day in May, he had decided it was finally time for him to stand up with others and “show that I was sick of seeing the injustices occurring, specifically against Black people.”
He had been near the skirmish lines in part to help others who sustained injuries from police, he said. He said that he at no point presented a threat to police and had even told others in the crowd not to throw things at officers.
By policy, the LAPD releases footage from incidents in which officers cause “serious bodily injury” after 45 days, though the department has the discretion to share video sooner. The Times filed a public records request last month for footage from all such incidents during the protests.
Monique Alarcon, another of Montano’s attorneys, said they also filed a public records request for footage of Montano’s shooting and were surprised Friday when they learned the LAPD had “decided to first put together a PR video and release it to the public.”
A Times investigation has found LAPD officers likely violated protocols for the use of batons and tactical weapons during the protests that day in the Fairfax district. Many protesters were injured, including by the sponge and foam bullets and beanbag rounds that officers fired.
The LAPD is investigating 125 separate complaints from the protests, including 54 involving officers using force, police said. A total of 10 officers have been removed from field duties pending investigations.
The clashes began after a planned protest at Pan Pacific Park. While many protesters say police in riot gear targeted a peaceful demonstration, escalated tensions and instigated the clashes, police allege that protesters or other agitators among them had turned violent and created a dangerous situation for themselves and others, including officers.
After several police cars were lit on fire, and outnumbered officers reported being targeted with rocks and bottles, LAPD Chief Michel Moore declared the gathering unlawful, and police began using batons and tactical guns to disperse the crowd.
Asst. Chief Robert Arcos, who oversees LAPD operations, has previously said that officers that day were firing at specific targets and not simply to disperse or push back crowds. Department policy requires such weapons be used only on individuals who are targeted for presenting a clear and immediate threat. It requires that officers aim for the person’s navel or belt line, then their arms and legs, and never their head or neck.
Officers are not supposed to fire the weapons at people who are fleeing an area.
Josh Rubenstein, another police spokesman, said the department has not made any determination yet as to whether policy was followed in Montano’s shooting. Any such finding would come after the conclusion of the ongoing investigation, he said.
Montano, who that day had carried a sign reading, “We can’t be silent when cops are violent,” said he believes he was targeted, brutally and in clear violation of department policies, and he believes that is clear in the video.
“It just feels like it was all intentional, and it makes me feel sick,” he said.
Today, Montano uses a cane because of vertigo. He used to work out often but can’t do so anymore. His doctors have told him not to lift anything larger than a gallon, so he needs help to carry groceries inside, he said.
Pedram Esfandiary, another of his attorneys, said Montano remains at risk for seizures, has trouble following some social cues, regularly experiences dizziness and has trouble listening to music — a serious issue for a music student.
“My quality of life essentially has kind of 180’d,” Montano said. “It’s just unending in terms of the recovery.”
Apart from Montano’s pending case, the department is facing several lawsuits over its tactics, including a major class-action lawsuit filed by Black Lives Matter-L.A. and other activist groups. Like Montano, the plaintiffs in that case want to see an end to the LAPD’s use of projectiles on protesters.
Melina Abdullah, one of the co-founders of Black Lives Matter-L.A., said the new video adds to an array of evidence showing that police approached the Fairfax protest “with an eye toward harming protesters” and helps make clear the true danger of such weapons.
“We had many, many folks who were seriously injured at that protest,” she said. “Just because they use the term ‘less lethal’ does not mean that it’s not lethal. It does not mean that it’s not harmful.”


latimes--2020-07-31--31 workers at 4 Bay Area Costcos are infected by COVID-19; stores stay open

Health officials are investigating after 31 people who work at four Costco stores in Silicon Valley contracted the coronavirus .
It ’ s likely those infected contracted the virus not at Costco , but elsewhere in the community , Dr. Marty Fenstersheib , the Santa Clara County COVID-19 testing officer , told reporters .
A preliminary investigation indicated that Costco has complied with social distancing and other health and safety protocols in areas for customers ; officials did , however , make suggestions on improvements to employee-only areas .
None of the Costco stores have been closed , and inspectors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found people inside to be wearing masks and practicing social distancing , Fenstersheib said .
“ We feel like they are following guidelines .
We feel that the public is totally safe in continuing to shop at Costco .
But we still remind everybody to always wear your mask , and keep your social distance , in any retail stores , including Costco , ” Fenstersheib said .
The cases were reported to the county by Costco after workers reported their diagnoses to the company .
Frontline workers are generally at higher risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials recommend they be tested on a regular basis .
“ But we still feel like they have , most likely , been infected during their time in the community , ” Fenstersheib said .
“ It looks like most of these cases came through their regular day-to-day activities getting infected outside , as opposed to getting infected inside or infecting each other.
” “ That ’ s not the last word on this , but that ’ s the way it looks at this point , ” Fenstersheib said , because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus cases among workers of the warehouse chain ’ s stores in Santa Clara County — Northern California ’ s most populous — is the Costco in Sunnyvale , where 13 cases were reported July 23-26 .
Cases were also reported at Costco ’ s locations in San Jose on Senter Road , southeast of downtown , with eight cases between July 17-22 ; Gilroy , with six cases between July 24-30 ; and Mountain View , with four cases between July 15-29 .
Fenstersheib said it was probably not necessary that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that period to be tested or to quarantine themselves , unless there are other reasons they feel it ’ s appropriate to do so .
The number of cases reported among these Costco workers is in line with what officials expect with the percentage of cases in the general community .
Each Costco has about 300 to 400 employees , Fenstersheib said .
“ It ’ s pretty much the same as our community-wide rates of infection and positivity , ” Fenstersheib said .
Any workplace with three or more cases prompts an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday began testing Costco employees at the San Jose store on Senter Street , but those results were not immediately available .
Santa Clara County has reported a rate of 140 new cases of the coronavirus in the last two weeks for every 100,000 of its residents ; that ’ s above the state ’ s goal of having counties have no more than 100 new cases in a two-week period for every 100,000 residents .
Other counties are doing worse ; San Francisco has reported 180 cases in the last two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Diego County , 207 ; Sacramento County , 217 ; Orange County , 249 ; Ventura County , 252 ; Riverside County , 355 ; Los Angeles County , 380 ; San Bernardino , 479 ; Fresno , 530 ; and Kern , 1,284 .
Elsewhere in the Bay Area , San Mateo County has reported a rate of 139 cases per 100,000 residents over the last two weeks ; Alameda County , 152 ; Contra Costa County , 207 ; and Marin County , 329 .

A preliminary investigation indicated that Costco has complied with social distancing and other health and safety protocols in areas for customers.
Health officials are investigating after 31 people who work at four Costco stores in Silicon Valley contracted the coronavirus.
It’s likely those infected contracted the virus not at Costco, but elsewhere in the community, Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, the Santa Clara County COVID-19 testing officer, told reporters.
A preliminary investigation indicated that Costco has complied with social distancing and other health and safety protocols in areas for customers; officials did, however, make suggestions on improvements to employee-only areas.
None of the Costco stores have been closed, and inspectors found the stores to be clean and found people inside to be wearing masks and practicing social distancing, Fenstersheib said.
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“We feel like they are following guidelines. We feel that the public is totally safe in continuing to shop at Costco. But we still remind everybody to always wear your mask, and keep your social distance, in any retail stores, including Costco,” Fenstersheib said.
The cases were reported to the county by Costco after workers reported their diagnoses to the company.
Frontline workers are generally at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus, and county officials recommend they be tested on a regular basis.
“But we still feel like they have, most likely, been infected during their time in the community,” Fenstersheib said. “It looks like most of these cases came through their regular day-to-day activities getting infected outside, as opposed to getting infected inside or infecting each other.”
“That’s not the last word on this, but that’s the way it looks at this point,” Fenstersheib said, because the investigation is continuing.
The largest cluster of coronavirus cases among workers of the warehouse chain’s stores in Santa Clara County — Northern California’s most populous — is the Costco in Sunnyvale, where 13 cases were reported July 23-26.
Cases were also reported at Costco’s locations in San Jose on Senter Road, southeast of downtown, with eight cases between July 17-22; Gilroy, with six cases between July 24-30; and Mountain View, with four cases between July 15-29.
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Fenstersheib said it was probably not necessary that customers who were at the stores in that period to be tested or to quarantine themselves, unless there are other reasons they feel it’s appropriate to do so.
The number of cases reported among these Costco workers is in line with what officials expect with the percentage of cases in the general community. Each Costco has about 300 to 400 employees, Fenstersheib said.
“It’s pretty much the same as our community-wide rates of infection and positivity,” Fenstersheib said. Any workplace with three or more cases prompts an investigation by the county.
Officials on Tuesday began testing Costco employees at the San Jose store on Senter Street, but those results were not immediately available.
Santa Clara County has reported a rate of 140 new cases of the coronavirus in the last two weeks for every 100,000 of its residents; that’s above the state’s goal of having counties have no more than 100 new cases in a two-week period for every 100,000 residents.
Other counties are doing worse; San Francisco has reported 180 cases in the last two weeks for every 100,000 of its residents; San Diego County, 207; Sacramento County, 217; Orange County, 249; Ventura County, 252; Riverside County, 355; Los Angeles County, 380; San Bernardino, 479; Fresno, 530; and Kern, 1,284.
Elsewhere in the Bay Area, San Mateo County has reported a rate of 139 cases per 100,000 residents over the last two weeks; Alameda County, 152; Contra Costa County, 207; and Marin County, 329.


latimes--2020-07-31--After 250 years, Esselen Tribe regains a piece of its ancestral homeland

After 250 years , the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County is returning home .
A $ 4.5-million land deal , brokered by Portland-based environmental group Western Rivers Conservancy , will return a 1,199-acre parcel of wilderness along the Little Sur River to the tribe in the name of conservation and cultural resilience .
The transfer will mark the first land returned to the Esselen since they were displaced centuries ago .
In 1770 , Spanish colonists gathered up the Esselen , whom they considered “ neophytes and heathens , ” said Tribal Chairman Tom Little Bear Nason , and forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the center of our universe , ” Nason said of the land .
“ We are so incredibly empowered to return to the actual birthplace of our people.
” Although the parcel represents only a small fraction of the tribe ’ s original ancestral territory , Nason said it will be a refuge after years of alienation .
“ Elders always foretold that we would reconnect to our ancestral homeland , ” he said .
“ So basically , a prophecy has been fulfilled.
” The property faces Pico Blanco , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Santa Lucia range considered an essential part of the tribe ’ s origin story .
But with old-growth trees , rolling hills of wildflowers and a deep river canyon , the land transfer is as much about conservation as it is about environmental justice .
“ Our motivation is rivers and the critters that depend on them , ” said Sue Doroff , president and co-founder of Western Rivers Conservancy .
“ To combine these conservation and recreation accomplishments with repatriating the land to the tribe — it ’ s ideal.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the California Natural Resources Agency .
The previous owner was a Swedish family who initially went under contract with another buyer , Doroff said .
When the Soberanes fire swept through the area in 2016 , the buyer was scared off and Western Rivers Conservancy was able to move in .
“ If the property was purchased by a private party , it would certainly be developed , ” Doroff said , noting that would have been a “ real loss ” because the property links U.S. Forest Service land on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Padres National Forest .
With one of the last viable streams for summer steelhead on the Central California coast , the land is also part of the Big Sur stronghold for the threatened fish .
And since its ancient redwoods — some of the southernmost in the world — could serve as a nursery for redwood seeds , it may prove critical for climate change adaptation .
“ This property rings all the bells for fish , for wildlife , ” Doroff said .
“ And the fact that the Esselen will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this property , and its owners , is just a bonus , and super exciting.
” When Western Rivers Conservancy first went under contract on the property in 2015 , the original plan was to transfer it to the Forest Service .
But locals objected , citing concerns about increased traffic , tourism and fire danger .
That ’ s when the group decided to partner with the Esselen , who agreed to manage the land with both the community and conservation in mind .
Nason said the tribe plans to build altars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bear dance lodge .
They also hope to rebury ancestors whose burial sites were disturbed by development .
Because the Esselen are not a federally recognized tribe , the property will be held by the tribe ’ s 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) organization , Doroff said .
The tribal members will own it in fee , which means it is legally theirs , although they are obligated to follow a management plan to ensure its longevity .
That the transfer happened in the midst of a pandemic is significant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reminder that these kinds of issues can ’ t fall by the wayside .
“ We all have to pay attention to the things that we love and the places that we care about , ” she said .
“ This work must go on , because if it doesn ’ t , these opportunities will be lost forever .
”

Photo of lupines on the Adler Ranch in Big Sur on the coast of California south of Monterey. The Esselen Tribe has reclaimed a small part of its ancestral lands here that were lost to Spanish colonial settlement about 250 years ago.
After 250 years, the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County is returning home.
A $4.5-million land deal, brokered by Portland-based environmental group Western Rivers Conservancy, will return a 1,199-acre parcel of wilderness along the Little Sur River to the tribe in the name of conservation and cultural resilience.
The transfer will mark the first land returned to the Esselen since they were displaced centuries ago.
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In 1770, Spanish colonists gathered up the Esselen, whom they considered “neophytes and heathens,” said Tribal Chairman Tom Little Bear Nason, and forced them to convert to Catholicism.
“This is the center of our universe,” Nason said of the land. “We are so incredibly empowered to return to the actual birthplace of our people.”
Although the parcel represents only a small fraction of the tribe’s original ancestral territory, Nason said it will be a refuge after years of alienation.
“Elders always foretold that we would reconnect to our ancestral homeland,” he said. “So basically, a prophecy has been fulfilled.”
The property faces Pico Blanco, a stately, mossy mountain in the Santa Lucia range considered an essential part of the tribe’s origin story. But with old-growth trees, rolling hills of wildflowers and a deep river canyon, the land transfer is as much about conservation as it is about environmental justice.
“Our motivation is rivers and the critters that depend on them,” said Sue Doroff, president and co-founder of Western Rivers Conservancy. “To combine these conservation and recreation accomplishments with repatriating the land to the tribe — it’s ideal.”
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The parcel was purchased with a grant provided by the California Natural Resources Agency. The previous owner was a Swedish family who initially went under contract with another buyer, Doroff said. When the Soberanes fire swept through the area in 2016, the buyer was scared off and Western Rivers Conservancy was able to move in.
“If the property was purchased by a private party, it would certainly be developed,” Doroff said, noting that would have been a “real loss” because the property links U.S. Forest Service land on the coast to the main body of Los Padres National Forest.
With one of the last viable streams for summer steelhead on the Central California coast, the land is also part of the Big Sur stronghold for the threatened fish. And since its ancient redwoods — some of the southernmost in the world — could serve as a nursery for redwood seeds, it may prove crucial for climate change adaptation.
“This property rings all the bells for fish, for wildlife,” Doroff said. “And the fact that the Esselen will be the land managers and long-term stewards of this property, and its owners, is just a bonus, and super exciting.”
When Western Rivers Conservancy first went under contract on the property in 2015, the original plan was to transfer it to the Forest Service. But locals objected, citing concerns about increased traffic, tourism and fire danger.
That’s when the group decided to partner with the Esselen, who agreed to manage the land with both the community and conservation in mind. Nason said the tribe plans to build altars, a ceremonial dance house and a bear dance lodge. They also hope to rebury ancestors whose burial sites were disturbed by development.
Because the Esselen are not a federally recognized tribe, the property will be held by the tribe’s 501(c)(3) organization, Doroff said. The tribal members will own it in fee, which means it is legally theirs, although they are obligated to follow a management plan to ensure its longevity.
That the transfer happened in the midst of a pandemic is significant, Doroff added, in that it is a reminder that these kinds of issues can’t fall by the wayside.
“We all have to pay attention to the things that we love and the places that we care about,” she said. “This work must go on, because if it doesn’t, these opportunities will be lost forever.”


latimes--2020-07-31--1 Marine dead, eight troops missing after training accident off Southern California coast

The search continued Friday for eight service members who went missing following a deadly accident during a training exercise off San Clemente Island , officials said .
The incident occurred when an amphibious assault vehicle carrying 15 Marines and one Navy sailor began taking on water about 5:45 p.m. Thursday , according to the United States Marine Corps .
One Marine was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and later died .
Two others were injured and taken to hospitals where they were listed in critical and stable condition , respectively .
Five other service members were rescued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Navy and Coast Guard , were still searching for the missing service members just after 3 p.m. Friday .
“ We have not moved into recovery operations , ” Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman said during an afternoon press conference .
“ We ’ re still looking for them.
” Osterman said the amphibious assault vehicle , which weighs 26 tons , “ sank completely ” more than 1,000 meters offshore and “ the assumption is it went all the way to the bottom.
” “ The AAV is actually in several hundred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really below the depth that a diver can go to , ” he said .
The name of the Marine who died will be withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin , officials said , and “ all family members who are affected will be contacted directly by their Marines ’ chain of command.
” There were 16 service members in the vehicle — 15 Marines and one sailor .
All the Marines involved were assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit , which is based out of Camp Pendleton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this tragic incident .
I ask that you keep our Marines , sailors and their families in your prayers as we continue our search , ” Col. Christopher Bronzi , 15th MEU Commanding Officer , said in a statement .
The incident is under investigation , according to the Marines .
It occurred during what officials called a “ 15th MEU and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group routine training exercise in the vicinity of San Clemente Island ” — a Navy-owned land mass about 70 miles off the San Diego County coast .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Diego , three Navy MH-60 helicopters , the Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour and a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter are all assisting in the search , according to the Marines .
This isn ’ t the first time Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton have been wounded or killed while training with amphibious assault vehicles , which are armored troop transports that carry small units from ship to shore .
In 2017 , 15 Marines were injured when an amphibious assault vehicle caught fire during a training exercise .
Another Marine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an amphibious assault vehicle in 2011 after it sank in a boat basin on base .
Known as “ Amtracs ” or “ hogs , ” the vehicles weigh at least 48,000 lbs .
Upon leaving a ship , the vehicle , which resembles a tank , will drop below the surface of the water before popping back up .
They can move about 8 mph at sea and up to 46 mph on land .
The current version of the vehicle is almost 50 years old , though it has been modernized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 15 billion Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle , was canceled in 2011 due to budget constraints .
Following Thursday ’ s accident , “ we are pausing the waterborne operations for amtracs , ” Gen. David Berger , the Marine Corps ’ top officer , said at the news conference .
“ Once we determine what the cause was , then we ’ ll make a second decision whether to continue , ” he said .
“ This is to ensure , out of an abundance of caution , that we take the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened.
” San Diego Union-Tribune staff writers Andrew Dyer and Phil Diehl contributed to this report .

San Clemente Island, viewed from a shuttle aircraft that regularly flies military and civilian personnel to the U.S. Navy-owned land mass.
The search continued late Friday for eight service members who went missing following a deadly accident during a training exercise off San Clemente Island, officials said.
But the amphibious assault vehicle is under hundreds of feet of water, putting it beyond the reach of divers and complicating rescue efforts for eight missing troops.
Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman, the commanding general of the Marine Expeditionary Force, said during an afternoon media briefing that the vehicle, which weighs 26 tons, “sank completely” more than 3,200 feet offshore and “the assumption is it went all the way to the bottom.”
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“The AAV is actually in several hundred feet of water — it’s really below the depth that a diver can go to,” he said.
The incident occurred when the vehicle carrying 15 Marines and one Navy sailor began taking on water about 5:45 p.m. Thursday, according to the Marine Corps.
One Marine was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and later died. Two others were injured and remain hospitalized but are no longer in intensive care.
Five other service members were rescued.
The Marines, with support from the Navy and Coast Guard, were still searching for the missing service members late Friday afternoon.
“We have not moved into recovery operations,” Osterman said. “We’re still looking for them.”
The Marine Corps commandant, Gen. David H. Berger, said that even though the search was continuing, the focus now should be on the troops and their families. He added that he was suspending waterborne operations of all of the more than 800 amphibious assault vehicles across the Marines until the cause of the accident is determined. He said the move was out of “an abundance of caution.”
The name of the Marine who died will be withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin, officials said, and “all family members who are affected will be contacted directly by their Marines’ chain of command.”
1 Marine has died, 8 service members remain missing and 2 were injured after an AAV mishap July 30 off the coast of Southern California. All are assigned to the 15th MEU. Search and rescue efforts are still underway with support from the Navy and Coast Guard. — I MEF (@1stMEF) July 31, 2020
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All the Marines involved were assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is based out of Camp Pendleton.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident. I ask that you keep our Marines, sailors and their families in your prayers as we continue our search,” Col. Christopher J. Bronzi, 15th MEU Commanding Officer, said in a statement.
The incident is under investigation, according to the Marines. It occurred during what officials called a “15th MEU and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group routine training exercise in the vicinity of San Clemente Island” — a Navy-owned land mass about 70 miles off the San Diego County coast.
They had just completed a routine training exercise and were heading back to the Navy ship with a dozen other amphibious assault vehicles, Osterman said.
Troops on board two other amphibious assault vehicles responded quickly but could not stop the vehicle from sinking, Osterman said.
“It’s a very tragic situation,” Osterman said.
The vessels John Finn, Somerset and San Diego, three Navy MH-60 helicopters, the Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour and a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter are all assisting in the search, according to the Marines.
The Navy and Coast Guard were discussing ways to reach the sunken vehicle to get a view inside it, Osterman said.
This isn’t the first time Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton have been wounded or killed while training with amphibious assault vehicles, which are armored troop transports that carry small units from ship to shore.
In 2017, 15 Marines were injured when an amphibious assault vehicle caught fire during a training exercise.
Another Marine, Sgt. Wesley Rice, drowned inside an amphibious assault vehicle in 2011 after it sank in a boat basin on base.
Known as “Amtracs” or “hogs,” the vehicles weigh at least 48,000 pounds. Upon leaving a ship, the vehicle, which resembles a tank, will drop below the surface of the water before popping back up. They can move about 8 mph at sea and up to 46 mph on land.
The current version of the vehicle is almost 50 years old, though it has been modernized through the years. A replacement, the $15-billion Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, was canceled in 2011 due to budget constraints.
San Diego Union-Tribune staff writers Andrew Dyer and Phil Diehl and the Associated Press contributed to this report.