latimes--2020-12-03--As COVID-19 restrictions keep public away, Los Angeles mourns unclaimed dead in annual event

On Thursday morning , a handful of clergy members and Los Angeles County officials gathered on a scrubby grass hill in a Boyle Heights cemetery to memorialize the county ’ s unclaimed dead .
The group had come together , as L.A. County Health Services Department director Dr. Christina Ghaly said while opening the service , “ with the single bond of recognizing the value and dignity of every single human life.
” “ These 1,547 individuals mattered , ” Ghaly continued , referencing the men , women and children whose earthly remains had been cremated by the county , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass grave in Los Angeles ’ oldest cemetery .
The practice dates back to 1896 , when L.A. County first began burying its indigent and other unclaimed bodies .
County officials hold on to the cremains of unclaimed individuals for three years , waiting for someone to claim them and reimburse the county for its services .
If the ashes are not picked up , the county buries them together in a single pauper ’ s grave .
The 1,547 being remembered and buried this year died in 2017 .
The annual ceremony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put aside work , school and familial responsibilities on a weekday morning in December to publicly mourn people they do not know .
But , like most everything else in 2020 , the public service was canceled this year because of the coronavirus .
The county instead chose to stream its drastically reduced service as .
Nearly nine months into a pandemic that has brought unrelenting loss and put the holes in our social safety net on full display , roughly 200 people paused their mornings to watch the service live through their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasionally entered comments to pray for the souls of the dead and to thank others for bearing witness .
Jorge Orozco , CEO of Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center , said those being buried were people who had “ largely been forgotten by our society.
” Orozco challenged those watching to do what they could to address issues such as homelessness , poverty and racial injustice , so that someday ceremonies like this would no longer be necessary .
A few religious leaders spoke , praying in various languages and faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things that may have eluded them in life — deliverance from darkness , perfect rest and sheltering refuge .
Between each speaker , an adolescent boy in blue surgical gloves sanitized the podium and microphone , his neatly gelled hair glinting in the sun as he worked .
After an aching rendition of “ Amazing Grace ” performed by a masked violinist and singer , the Rev .
Elizabeth Gibbs Zehnder stopped to give thanks for the 1,547 departed souls .
“ This is where they lived and laughed .
They worked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fought and they made up .
… As we prepare to make our way in this world , we carry them with us , ” she said .

A tradition in Los Angeles to honor the burial of the county’s unclaimed dead that began in 1896 was held online for the first time Thursday, due to the pandemic.
On Thursday morning, a handful of clergy members and Los Angeles County officials gathered on a scrubby grass hill in a Boyle Heights cemetery to memorialize the county’s unclaimed dead.
The group had come together, as L.A. County Health Services Department director Dr. Christina Ghaly said while opening the service, “with the single bond of recognizing the value and dignity of every single human life.”
“These 1,547 individuals mattered,” Ghaly continued, referencing the men, women and children whose earthly remains had been cremated by the county, and whose ashes now lay in a mass grave in Los Angeles’ oldest cemetery. The practice dates back to 1896, when L.A. County first began burying its indigent and other unclaimed bodies.
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County officials hold on to the cremains of unclaimed individuals for three years, waiting for someone to claim them and reimburse the county for its services. If the ashes are not picked up, the county buries them together in a single pauper’s grave. The 1,547 being remembered and buried this year died in 2017.
California Despite rain, L.A. County turns out to remember its unclaimed dead Most of the people who attended Los Angeles County’s ceremony Wednesday for the unclaimed dead didn’t know each other, much less the 1,457 individuals buried together at the Boyle Heights cemetery under the plaque marked 2016.
The annual ceremony typically draws hundreds of people, who put aside work, school and familial responsibilities on a weekday morning in December to publicly mourn people they do not know.
But, like most everything else in 2020, the public service was canceled this year because of the coronavirus. The county instead chose to stream its drastically reduced service as a virtual remembrance over Facebook .
Nearly nine months into a pandemic that has brought unrelenting loss and put the holes in our social safety net on full display, roughly 200 people paused their mornings to watch the service live through their phones and computer screens. Facebook users occasionally entered comments to pray for the souls of the dead and to thank others for bearing witness.
Jorge Orozco, CEO of Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center, said those being buried were people who had “largely been forgotten by our society.”
Orozco challenged those watching to do what they could to address issues such as homelessness, poverty and racial injustice, so that someday ceremonies like this would no longer be necessary.
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A few religious leaders spoke, praying in various languages and faith traditions that the dead be granted the things that may have eluded them in life — deliverance from darkness, perfect rest and sheltering refuge.
Between each speaker, an adolescent boy in blue surgical gloves sanitized the podium and microphone, his neatly gelled hair glinting in the sun as he worked.
After an aching rendition of “Amazing Grace” performed by a masked violinist and singer, the Rev. Elizabeth Gibbs Zehnder stopped to give thanks for the 1,547 departed souls.
“This is where they lived and laughed. They worked. They worshipped. They played. They fought and they made up. … As we prepare to make our way in this world, we carry them with us,” she said.


latimes--2020-12-03--Real estate developer pleads guilty in sprawling L.A. campaign money laundering case

A Torrance-based real estate developer pleaded guilty on Thursday to felony conspiracy , closing a major chapter in a campaign money laundering case that covered more than six years ’ worth of political contributions to more than half a dozen Los Angeles politicians .
Businessman Samuel Leung , 70 , pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit campaign money laundering , admitting he took part in a scheme to reimburse campaign donations between January 2009 and February 2015 — just as his six-story apartment project was being reviewed and approved by the city .
State law prohibits donors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of another person .
As part of Thursday ’ s proceeding , Superior Court Judge Jose I. Sandoval dismissed a related bribery charge against Leung .
The plea came more than four years after a Times investigation revealed that a sprawling network of more than 100 people and companies with direct or indirect ties to Leung — including relatives , business partners , co-workers and others — made political donations totaling more than $ 600,000 while Leung ’ s project , then known as Sea Breeze , was under review at City Hall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2016 , The Times went to the homes and workplaces of dozens of donors to ask them about their contributions .
Among those who agreed to be interviewed , 11 denied making contributions or said they didn ’ t remember doing so .
One Chatsworth resident told The Times she had been reimbursed for at least one of her donations .
Leung ’ s case is not connected to an ongoing federal corruption case that centers on real estate development , campaign donations and alleged bribes in the district represented by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ousted by his colleagues several months ago , following his arrest .
In that case , federal prosecutors alleged that Huizar ran a criminal enterprise in which businessmen provided campaign donations , hotel stays , casino chips and other gifts in exchange for help with their real estate development .
Huizar has pleaded not guilty to racketeering , bribery and other charges .
Two years after The Times published its Sea Breeze investigation , prosecutors in the L.A. County district attorney ’ s office filed charges against Leung , alleging he and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donations without revealing that the money either came from him or was reimbursed to the donors by him and “ others acting at his direction.
” David , who was also charged with conspiracy to commit campaign money laundering , has not been arrested .
Prosecutors said Thursday that she remains a fugitive .
When the Sea Breeze case was filed , Leung faced a possible maximum sentence of four years and eight months in state prison .
On Thursday , he was sentenced to five years ’ probation and 500 hours of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay an as-yet-undetermined amount of restitution to the city of Los Angeles .
Leung will put $ 2.5 million into an escrow account until the city ’ s Ethics Commission determines the amount that he owes , said Daniel Nixon , his attorney , during Thursday ’ s hearing .
Nixon did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
Leung ’ s apartment project , located on Sepulveda Boulevard in L.A. 's Harbor Gateway neighborhood , was proposed roughly a decade ago .
It was initially opposed by staffers in the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rezoning the site from manufacturing to a commercial use .
The Planning Commission , made up of appointees of Mayor Eric Garcetti , rejected it outright .
Garcetti and the City Council took steps to overrule the commission ’ s decision , paving the way for Sea Breeze to be built .
While the project was under review , Leung ’ s employees , business partners and many others in his orbit made donations to campaigns , officeholder accounts and political committees supporting an array of elected officials , including Garcetti , County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buscaino , who represented the Harbor Gateway neighborhood .
The Times ’ investigation found that a single house , located on 223rd Street in West Carson , had generated more than $ 40,000 in political donations from a handful of residents — Mexican and Central American immigrants who had jobs working on Leung properties .
One person living in the house , a repairman originally from El Salvador , gave 22 donations totaling $ 20,300 over roughly eight years , according to contribution reports .
More than half of the repairman ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Janice Hahn while she was on the council and pursuing local , state and federal office .
Asked why he donated so much money to Hahn , he said he could not remember .
Over several years , Hahn received about $ 203,000 from donors directly or indirectly connected to Leung , much of it while she was serving on the council representing the district where Sea Breeze had been proposed .
Asked about Leung ’ s plea , Hahn issued a one-sentence statement .
“ I hope he is held accountable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replaced Hahn in 2012 , received $ 94,700 in contributions from donors connected to Leung and was a proponent of the project .
On Thursday , when asked to respond to Leung ’ s guilty plea , he said campaign finance laws are meant to ensure the public trust in the election process .
“ Anyone who breaks these laws must be held accountable and that is what happened today , ” he said .
Buscaino told The Times in 2016 that he would return any campaign funds found by investigators to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the councilman said the political accounts that received the money “ have long been closed.
” Instead , an equal amount of money has been “ redistributed to local nonprofits , ” the spokesman said .
A campaign committee that supported Garcetti ’ s 2013 mayoral bid but was not controlled by him received $ 60,000 from companies and individuals with ties to Leung .
Garcetti did not immediately comment on Thursday ’ s guilty plea .
Other politicians who received donations from peopleconnected to Leung included Huizar .
former Councilman Mitchell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of whom served on the council committee that reviewed Sea Breeze .
Donations also went to the 2015 reelection campaign of Councilwoman Nury Martinez .
Martinez is now council president .
Englander pleaded guilty earlier this year as part of the federal government ’ s “ pay to play ” corruption probe .
Sea Breeze opened last year and is now filled with tenants .
The development now goes by a different name — Seacrest Homes .

Samuel Leung, left, with his lawyer, Daniel Nixon, in court in 2018. Leung pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony count of conspiracy.
A Torrance-based real estate developer pleaded guilty Thursday to felony conspiracy, closing a major chapter in a campaign money laundering case that covered more than six years’ worth of political contributions to eight politicians.
Businessman Samuel Leung, 70, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit campaign money laundering, admitting he took part in a scheme to reimburse campaign donors between January 2009 and February 2015 — just as his six-story apartment project was being reviewed and approved at Los Angeles City Hall.
State law prohibits donors from making political contributions in the name of another person. After Thursday’s hearing, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said Leung was guilty of illegally donating “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in the hope that local elected officials would rezone his property and approve his 352-unit project in L.A.’s Harbor Gateway neighborhood.
Daniel Nixon, Leung’s attorney, did not respond to requests for comment. Superior Court Judge Jose I. Sandoval dismissed a related bribery charge against Leung.
The guilty plea came more than four years after a Times investigation revealed that a sprawling network of more than 100 people and companies with direct or indirect ties to Leung — including relatives, business partners, coworkers and others — made political donations totaling more than $600,000 while Leung’s project, then known as Sea Breeze, was under review. The project was approved in 2015.
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In 2016, The Times went to the homes and workplaces of dozens of donors to ask them about their contributions. Among those who agreed to be interviewed, 11 denied making contributions or said they didn’t remember doing so. One Chatsworth resident told The Times she had been reimbursed for at least one of her donations.
Leung had been facing a possible maximum sentence of four years and eight months in state prison. On Thursday, he was sentenced to five years’ probation and 500 hours of community service. He also agreed to pay an as-yet-undetermined amount of restitution to the city of Los Angeles.
The real estate developer will put $2.5 million into an escrow account until the city’s Ethics Commission determines the amount he owes, Nixon said during the hearing.
Leung’s money laundering case is separate from a federal corruption probe that centers on real estate development, campaign donations and alleged bribes in the district represented by Councilman Jose Huizar, who was effectively ousted by his colleagues several months ago.
In that case, federal prosecutors alleged that Huizar ran a criminal enterprise in which businessmen provided campaign donations, hotel stays, casino chips and other gifts in exchange for help with their real estate projects. Huizar has pleaded not guilty to racketeering, bribery and other charges.
Two years after The Times published its Sea Breeze investigation, prosecutors in the district attorney’s office filed charges alleging Leung and a secretary, Sofia David, made political donations without revealing that the money either came from him or was reimbursed to the donors by him and “others acting at his direction.”
David, who was also charged with conspiracy to commit campaign money laundering, still has not been arrested. Prosecutors said she remains a fugitive.
California Explore the people and businesses linked to Sea Breeze developer Samuel Leung A Times investigation found that donors linked both directly and indirectly to a real estate developer gave more than $600,000 to politicians as Los Angeles officials were vetting his controversial apartment project.
The Leung case was jointly investigated by the D.A.’s office, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Ethics Commission.
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Leung proposed his Harbor Gateway apartment project, located on Sepulveda Boulevard near Normandie Avenue, roughly a decade ago. It was initially opposed by staffers in the Department of City Planning, who advised against rezoning the site from manufacturing to a commercial land use. The Planning Commission, made up of appointees of Mayor Eric Garcetti, rejected the project outright.
Garcetti and the City Council took steps to overrule the commission’s decision in 2014 and 2015, paving the way for Sea Breeze to be built.
While the project was under review, Leung’s employees, business partners and many others in his orbit made donations to campaigns, officeholder accounts and political committees supporting an array of elected officials, including Garcetti, County Supervisor Janice Hahn and City Councilman Joe Buscaino, who represented the Harbor Gateway neighborhood.
An apartment project in Harbor Gateway was at the heart of a campaign money laundering case against developer Samuel Leung. The project is now built and open. (Travis Geske / For The Times)
The Times’ investigation found that a single house, located on 223rd Street in unincorporated West Carson, generated more than $40,000 in political donations from a handful of residents — Mexican and Central American immigrants who had jobs working on Leung properties. One person living in the house, a repairman originally from El Salvador, gave 22 donations totaling $20,300 over roughly eight years, according to contribution reports.
More than half of the repairman’s donations went to committees supporting Hahn while she was on the council and pursuing local, state and federal office. Asked why he donated so much money to Hahn, he said he could not remember.
Over several years, Hahn received about $203,000 from donors directly or indirectly connected to Leung, much of it while she was serving on the council representing the district where Sea Breeze had been proposed.
Asked about Leung’s plea, Hahn issued a one-sentence statement. “I hope he is held accountable,” she said.
Buscaino, who replaced Hahn as the Harbor area’s representative in 2012, received $94,700 in contributions from donors connected to Leung. He was also a proponent of the project. On Thursday, when asked about the case, Buscaino said campaign finance laws are meant to ensure public trust in the election process.
“Anyone who breaks these laws must be held accountable and that is what happened today,” he said.
Buscaino told The Times in 2016 that he would return any campaign funds found by investigators to be improper. On Thursday, an aide to the councilman said the political accounts that received the money were closed years ago. Instead, he said, an equal amount of money has been “redistributed to local nonprofits.”
A political committee that supported Garcetti’s 2013 mayoral bid, but was not controlled by him and operated independently from his campaign, received $60,000 from companies and individuals with ties to Leung.
On Thursday, a Garcetti spokesman said the mayor’s own campaigns did not accept donations from Leung or his associates.
“The mayor was unaware of any misconduct when he chose to support the housing project,” said Garcetti aide Alex Comisar. “He hopes Mr. Leung faces the consequences for his illegal behavior.”
Other politicians who received donations from peopleconnected to Leung included Huizar, former Councilman Mitchell Englander and Councilman Gil Cedillo — all of whom served on the council committee that reviewed Sea Breeze in 2014. Donations also went to the 2015 reelection campaign of Councilwoman Nury Martinez.
Martinez is now council president. Englander pleaded guilty in July as part of the federal government’s “pay to play” corruption probe.
Sea Breeze opened last year and is now occupied by tenants. The development now goes by the name Seacrest Homes.


latimes--2020-12-03--San Francisco Mayor London Breed expresses regret for her own French Laundry outing

Days after it was revealed that San Francisco Mayor London Breed dined at the French Laundry restaurant following Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s visit there , the mayor acknowledged Thursday it was “ fair ” that she be criticized for contradicting some of her messaging on social gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ It doesn ’ t matter whether something is technically allowed or not — I need to hold myself to a higher standard and I will do better , ” the mayor said on Twitter .
Breed , who has castigated and cajoled residents to obey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined seven others at the luxe Napa County restaurant on Nov. 7 , the evening after Newsom ’ s infamous party there .
Breed ’ s dinner , first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle , violated no health rules .
At the time , both indoor and outdoor dining was permitted in San Francisco and Napa County .
Her party dined in a semi-enclosed space .
But the revelation that Breed mixed close together with people outside her household at the famed and ultra-pricey restaurant seemed to go against warnings she and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco residents not to gather as normal for Halloween or for Dia de los Muertos .
It also became yet another in a litany of cases nationwide in which public officials preaching safety measures have been caught in situations that at the least displayed poor optics .
In California , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi got her hair done early in the pandemic in violation of San Francisco ’ s health rules .
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo gathered outdoors for Thanksgiving with family from five households .
Los Angeles Supervisor Sheila Kuehl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only hours after voting to uphold an outdoor dining ban that took effect the following day .
Those incidents involved Democratic officer holders , but there has been plenty of schadenfreude to go around .
While some critics railed at the seeming hypocrisy of the Democrats , conservatives have had their own comeuppance when office holders were infected with COVID-19 after ridiculing the rules or refusing to enforce them .
One of the latest is Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones , who tested positive Tuesday and has been isolating since , the sheriff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s foray at the French Laundry stood out because she has won acclaim for her leadership during the pandemic .
She has publicly expressed exasperation when San Franciscans failed to follow the rules , and she is known to be cautious when leaving her home .
During an online forum months ago on the psychological impact of the pandemic , the unmarried mayor confided that she had not been hugged once since the contagion began .
Breed also has made relieving hunger triggered by the pandemic a top priority .
In San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for blocks of people waiting for free groceries .
The French Laundry , which has three Michelin stars , is one of the most expensive restaurants in California , with reservations hard to get .
A Napa County tourist guide advises dinners to be prepared to spend $ 1,000 on dinner for two .
Breed ’ s office said she was “ taking a few days off after the election ” when she went to the Yountville restaurant to celebrate the 60th birthday of her friend Glorietti Lo Lui , vice president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governors , member of the Asian Art Commission and the wife of a hotel developer .
Breed ’ s office said she paid for her own meal and described the gathering as a small birthday dinner .
Han Li , a reporter for a Chinese-language newspaper in San Francisco , tweeted that Lui told him the dinner involved three households .
“ Exclusive : Just randomly met Gorretti Lui 吕罗婉雯 in Chinatown while she ’ s grocery shopping , ” he tweeted .
“ She told me the dinner with Mayor Breed was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households in total .
She said the worst damage now for her is everybody knows she ’ s 60 years old.
” Breed ’ s office noted that the dinner occurred at a time when San Francisco was in the yellow tier and Napa County in the orange , when the health rules were laxer .
Now both are in the most restricted purple tier , with the virus surging .
“ What I especially regret is that the urgency of our public health message in this moment has never been more dire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said on Twitter .
Another distraction has been the fallout of a federal corruption probe of City Hall , started before Breed became mayor .
Harlan Kelly , head of the city ’ s Public Utilities Commission , resigned last month after being charged with taking bribes .
City Administrator Naomi Kelly , Harlan ’ s wife , took a voluntary leave of absence this week to deal with his arrest .
Other department heads and outside business people also have been charged .
On top of all that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to climb .
“ We ’ re in a much different place than even just a few weeks ago , ” Breed said in her tweet , “ and we need everyone to do their part , starting with me .
”

Days after it was revealed that San Francisco Mayor London Breed dined at the French Laundry restaurant following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s visit there, the mayor acknowledged Thursday it was “fair” that she be criticized for contradicting some of her messaging on social gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It doesn’t matter whether something is technically allowed or not — I need to hold myself to a higher standard and I will do better,” the mayor said on Twitter.
Breed, who has castigated and cajoled residents to obey health orders following the coronavirus outbreak, joined seven others at the luxe Napa County restaurant on Nov. 7, the evening after Newsom’s infamous party there.
Breed’s dinner, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, violated no health rules. At the time, both indoor and outdoor dining was permitted in San Francisco and Napa County. Her party dined in a semi-enclosed space.
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But the revelation that Breed mixed close together with people outside her household at the famed and ultra-pricey restaurant seemed to go against warnings she and the city issued a week earlier urging San Francisco residents not to gather as normal for Halloween or for Dia de los Muertos.
It also became yet another in a litany of cases nationwide in which public officials preaching safety measures have been caught in situations that at the least displayed poor optics.
In California, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi got her hair done early in the pandemic in violation of San Francisco’s health rules. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo gathered outdoors for Thanksgiving with family from five households. Los Angeles Supervisor Sheila Kuehl ate outdoors at a Santa Monica restaurant only hours after voting to uphold an outdoor dining ban that took effect the following day.
Those incidents involved Democratic officer holders, but there has been plenty of schadenfreude to go around. While some critics railed at the seeming hypocrisy of the Democrats, conservatives have had their own comeuppance when office holders were infected with COVID-19 after ridiculing the rules or refusing to enforce them. One of the latest is Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, who tested positive Tuesday and has been isolating since, the sheriff’s department said.
Breed’s foray at the French Laundry stood out because she has won acclaim for her leadership during the pandemic. She has publicly expressed exasperation when San Franciscans failed to follow the rules, and she is known to be cautious when leaving her home.
During an online forum months ago on the psychological impact of the pandemic, the unmarried mayor confided that she had not been hugged once since the contagion began.
Breed also has made relieving hunger triggered by the pandemic a top priority. In San Francisco, as elsewhere, lines have formed for blocks of people waiting for free groceries.
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The French Laundry, which has three Michelin stars, is one of the most expensive restaurants in California, with reservations hard to get. A Napa County tourist guide advises dinners to be prepared to spend $1,000 on dinner for two.
Breed’s office said she was “taking a few days off after the election” when she went to the Yountville restaurant to celebrate the 60th birthday of her friend Glorietti Lo Lui , vice president of San Francisco Symphony’s board of governors, member of the Asian Art Commission and the wife of a hotel developer.
Breed’s office said she paid for her own meal and described the gathering as a small birthday dinner. Han Li, a reporter for a Chinese-language newspaper in San Francisco, tweeted that Lui told him the dinner involved three households.
“Exclusive: Just randomly met Gorretti Lui 吕罗婉雯 in Chinatown while she’s grocery shopping,” he tweeted. “She told me the dinner with Mayor Breed was a private family birthday dinner, three households in total. She said the worst damage now for her is everybody knows she’s 60 years old.”
Breed’s office noted that the dinner occurred at a time when San Francisco was in the yellow tier and Napa County in the orange, when the health rules were laxer.
Now both are in the most restricted purple tier, with the virus surging.
“What I especially regret is that the urgency of our public health message in this moment has never been more dire and my actions have distracted from that,” she said on Twitter.
Another distraction has been the fallout of a federal corruption probe of City Hall, started before Breed became mayor.
Harlan Kelly, head of the city’s Public Utilities Commission, resigned last month after being charged with taking bribes. City Administrator Naomi Kelly, Harlan’s wife, took a voluntary leave of absence this week to deal with his arrest. Other department heads and outside business people also have been charged.
On top of all that, San Francisco’s coronavirus cases continue to climb.
“We’re in a much different place than even just a few weeks ago,” Breed said in her tweet, “and we need everyone to do their part, starting with me.”


latimes--2020-12-03--How did you quarantine or isolate from others after being exposed to coronavirus?

In the nine months since California first issued its shelter-in-place order , more than 1.2 million people have been infected @ @ @ @ @ millions more have been directly exposed to someone who has tested positive .
In each @ @ @ @ @ to quarantine or isolate from family and roommates and avoid in-person work for up to @ @ @ @ @ be difficult when a person ’ s living space does not allow for room to @ @ @ @ @ may be near impossible for those who are caregivers to children or others and can @ @ @ @ @ Are you a resident of California who has had to go to great lengths to @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic because you ’ ve been sick or potentially infected ?
Have you had @ @ @ @ @ such as cars or hotels , to find isolation ?
Share your experience below or @ @ @ @ @ colleen.shalby @ latimes.com .
Your story may be used in an upcoming article .

Cars line up for testing at Dodger Stadium. As coronavirus cases continue to surge, more residents face the need to quarantine or isolate.
In the nine months since California first issued its shelter-in-place order, more than 1.2 million people have been infected with the coronavirus, and millions more have been directly exposed to someone who has tested positive.
In each instance, residents are asked to quarantine or isolate from family and roommates and avoid in-person work for up to 14 days. That can be difficult when a person’s living space does not allow for room to remain socially distant. It may be near impossible for those who are caregivers to children or others and can’t avoid contact.
Are you a resident of California who has had to go to great lengths to sequester yourself from others during the pandemic because you’ve been sick or potentially infected? Have you had to find alternate spaces, such as cars or hotels, to find isolation? Share your experience below or send an email directly to colleen.shalby@latimes.com. Your story may be used in an upcoming article.


latimes--2020-12-03--Fires bring smoke, ash and poor air quality back to parts of Southern California

Smoke from fires in Orange County and the Inland Empire is causing poor air quality in parts of Southern California on Thursday .
The Environmental Protection Agency ’ s Air Now monitoring website showed air quality in Orange , Irvine , Tustin and other areas near the Bond fire hovering in the unhealthy range , and advised people to reduce time outdoors and avoid strenuous activities .
The EPA ’ s fire and smoke map also showed effects of the region ’ s fires — including the Bond fire , the Cerritos fire and the Airport fire — stretching beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swaths of people from Newport Beach to Torrance .
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an advisory warning of poor conditions in Orange County as well as Long Beach .
In a statement , the AQMD said : “ Both the Bond and Airport fires are producing heavy smoke on Thursday morning based on satellite and webcam imagery and air quality measurements .
On Thursday morning , unhealthy air quality index ( AQI ) levels are being recorded throughout northern Orange County and the Long Beach area due to the Airport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affecting air quality throughout central Orange County in cities such as Newport Beach , Irvine and Lake Forest with AQI levels reaching the very unhealthy category in places .
There are also widespread reports of ash fall throughout Orange County .
”

A large plume of smoke from the Bond fire rises in the hills above Santiago Canyon Road in Orange County on Thursday.
Smoke from fires in Orange County and the Inland Empire is causing poor air quality in parts of Southern California on Thursday.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Now monitoring website showed air quality in Orange, Irvine, Tustin and other areas near the Bond fire hovering in the unhealthy range, and advised people to reduce time outdoors and avoid strenuous activities.
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The EPA’s fire and smoke map also showed effects of the region’s fires — including the Bond fire, the Cerritos fire and the Airport fire — stretching beyond the coast with the potential to affect swaths of people from Newport Beach to Torrance.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an advisory warning of poor conditions in Orange County as well as Long Beach.
In a statement, the AQMD said: “Both the Bond and Airport fires are producing heavy smoke on Thursday morning based on satellite and webcam imagery and air quality measurements. On Thursday morning, unhealthy air quality index (AQI) levels are being recorded throughout northern Orange County and the Long Beach area due to the Airport fire .... The Bond fire is affecting air quality throughout central Orange County in cities such as Newport Beach, Irvine and Lake Forest with AQI levels reaching the very unhealthy category in places. There are also widespread reports of ash fall throughout Orange County.”
The advisory lasts through Friday.


latimes--2020-12-03--A thorny land conservation dispute takes root in the wilds of Tejon Ranch

Environmental groups have filed suit against the Tejon Ranch Co. , accusing it of breaching an agreement by withholding funds needed to oversee the conservation of protected lands at California ’ s largest single piece of private property .
The lawsuit claims the company is failing to make promised payments of about $ 800,000 a year to the Tejon Ranch Conservancy , a coalition created to conserve 90 % of the ranch as wilderness .
The 240,000 acres are located in the Tehachapi Mountains , about an hour ’ s drive north of Los Angeles , and have been set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research .
The lawsuit was filed late Wednesday in Kern County Superior Court , said Joel Reynolds , senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and chairman of the 12-member conservancy board .
“ These payments are the conservancy ’ s lifeblood , ” he said .
“ Without them , the conservancy may be unable to , for example , prevent invasive species from taking root on the property or keep cattle from running roughshod over streambeds.
” He said the lawsuit was filed “ with deep regret as a last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Tejon Ranch Co. , defended the company ’ s action , saying the funds are being withheld because the environmental groups did not “ keep their explicit promise not to oppose — or assist others in opposing — our development projects.
” Until that issue is resolved , he added , the funds will be “ deposited into a third-party escrow account.
” “ It is regretful that the environmental representatives continue to operate the conservancy to the detriment of the ranch and the historic partnership that was created in 2008 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conservation and Land Use Agreement , brokered between Tejon Ranch and environmental groups in 2008 , bars development on the pristine lands .
The environmental groups involved in the agreement include the Natural Resources Defense Council , the Sierra Club , Audubon California , the Endangered Habitats League and the Planning and Conservation League .
The agreement allows Tejon Ranch Co. to pursue massive development projects on the remaining 30,000 acres of its holdings .
The proposed developments include Centennial , a planned community of 19,300 homes on a 6,700-acre area in Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Grapevine , a master-planned community in southern Kern County .
A third development , Tejon Mountain Village , would include spas , boutique hotels , commercial space , golf courses and estate homes and would be located in southern Kern County .
In exchange for the company ’ s promise to limit development to those sites , the participating environmental groups agreed not to fight the plans .
The deal protects a region that is eight times the size of San Francisco and remains very much as 19th century frontiersman Kit Carson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ valleys remain unblemished by buildings and utility lines .
Bears , elk , gray foxes and mountain lions prowl secluded meadows edged with elderberry bushes , fragrant buckeye trees and 11 species of oak .
Federally endangered California condors , the region ’ s prehistoric scavengers , patrol the skies above windswept grasslands studded with incense cedars .
The company also agreed to provide interest-free loans of about $ 800,000 a year to fund the conservancy ’ s key operations — habitat enhancement , infrastructure maintenance , wildfire protection , public tours and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employs five people .
Under the terms of the 2008 agreement , those loans are scheduled to end in 2021 .
After that , the conservancy ‘ s work would be funded through transfer fees from the sales of developments including the company ’ s Centennial residential properties .
The proposed Centennial development won final approval from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors a year ago .
But anticipated property sales and construction are still in the planning stages , and the California Native Plant Society and the Center for Biological Diversity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s environmental impact report .
A separate lawsuit filed by the environmental group Climate Resolve against the county claims that automobile emissions from the development , unless mitigated , will threaten California ’ s climate goals .
In April , the company attempted to amend the conservation agreement ’ s payment schedule , “ citing general concerns about the coronavirus pandemic , ” Reynolds said .
The company rescinded that effort a few months later after the conservancy threatened legal action , according to Reynolds .
In October , however , the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the conservancy had violated the provision of the agreement prohibiting participants from opposing the company ’ s development projects .
Specifically , the company cited the participation in 2017 by representatives of several of the conservancy ’ s environmental organizations in a public process aimed at developing a draft plan called the Antelope Valley Regional Conservation Investment Strategy .
Reynolds , however , argued that a provision of the 2008 agreement “ allows signatories to support or oppose such a regional plan.
” The lawsuit asks the court to declare that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Tejon Ranch Co. must make payments to the conservancy totaling about $ 1 million through October 2021 .
It would not be the first time that the company has tried to stifle perceived criticism of its development plans .
In 2018 , the Tejon Ranch Co. barred members of the nonprofit California Native Plant Society from visiting its protected lands .
That action followed negative appraisals of the potential impacts of the Centennial development on rare plants and wildflowers by Nick Jensen , a conservation analyst for the botanical group .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preserve , enhance and restore biodiversity at the ranch , it was prohibited by the agreement from taking a public position on the ban .
“ We argued against the limitations on access , ” Reynolds said , “ but the ranch company , as the land owner , wouldn ’ t hear it .
”

Environmental groups have filed suit against the Tejon Ranch Co., accusing it of breaching an agreement by withholding funds needed to oversee the conservation of protected lands at California’s largest single piece of private property.
The lawsuit claims the company is failing to make promised payments of about $800,000 a year to the Tejon Ranch Conservancy, a coalition created to conserve 90% of the ranch as wilderness. The 240,000 acres are located in the Tehachapi Mountains, about an hour’s drive north of Los Angeles, and have been set aside for public tours, education and research.
The lawsuit was filed late Wednesday in Kern County Superior Court, said Joel Reynolds, senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and chairman of the 12-member conservancy board.
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“These payments are the conservancy’s lifeblood,” he said. “Without them, the conservancy may be unable to, for example, prevent invasive species from taking root on the property or keep cattle from running roughshod over streambeds.”
He said the lawsuit was filed “with deep regret as a last resort.”
Deer graze in Bear Trap Canyon, part of the 90% of protected area of Tejon Ranch set aside for permanent preservation. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Barry Zoeller, a spokesman for Tejon Ranch Co., defended the company’s action, saying the funds are being withheld because the environmental groups did not “keep their explicit promise not to oppose — or assist others in opposing — our development projects.”
Until that issue is resolved, he added, the funds will be “deposited into a third-party escrow account.”
“It is regretful that the environmental representatives continue to operate the conservancy to the detriment of the ranch and the historic partnership that was created in 2008,” Zoeller said.
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The Tejon Ranch Conservation and Land Use Agreement, brokered between Tejon Ranch and environmental groups in 2008, bars development on the pristine lands. The environmental groups involved in the agreement include the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, Audubon California, the Endangered Habitats League and the Planning and Conservation League.
The agreement allows Tejon Ranch Co. to pursue massive development projects on the remaining 30,000 acres of its holdings. The proposed developments include Centennial, a planned community of 19,300 homes on a 6,700-acre area in Los Angeles County that borders Kern County, and Grapevine, a master-planned community in southern Kern County. A third development, Tejon Mountain Village, would include spas, boutique hotels, commercial space, golf courses and estate homes and would be located in southern Kern County.
In exchange for the company’s promise to limit development to those sites, the participating environmental groups agreed not to fight the plans.
The deal protects a region that is eight times the size of San Francisco and remains very much as 19th century frontiersman Kit Carson experienced it.
Its hills and lush valleys remain unblemished by buildings and utility lines. Bears, elk, gray foxes and mountain lions prowl secluded meadows edged with elderberry bushes, fragrant buckeye trees and 11 species of oak. Federally endangered California condors, the region’s prehistoric scavengers, patrol the skies above windswept grasslands studded with incense cedars.
The company also agreed to provide interest-free loans of about $800,000 a year to fund the conservancy’s key operations — habitat enhancement, infrastructure maintenance, wildfire protection, public tours and fostering scientific field research. The conservancy employs five people.
Under the terms of the 2008 agreement, those loans are scheduled to end in 2021. After that, the conservancy‘s work would be funded through transfer fees from the sales of developments including the company’s Centennial residential properties.
Tejon Ranch Co. executives Nathan Keith, right, and Greg Medeiros stand on a bluff overlooking the Centennial development site. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
The proposed Centennial development won final approval from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors a year ago. But anticipated property sales and construction are still in the planning stages, and the California Native Plant Society and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit challenging the project’s environmental impact report. A separate lawsuit filed by the environmental group Climate Resolve against the county claims that automobile emissions from the development, unless mitigated, will threaten California’s climate goals.
In April, the company attempted to amend the conservation agreement’s payment schedule, “citing general concerns about the coronavirus pandemic,” Reynolds said.
The company rescinded that effort a few months later after the conservancy threatened legal action, according to Reynolds.
In October, however, the company began placing payments in escrow, alleging that the conservancy had violated the provision of the agreement prohibiting participants from opposing the company’s development projects.
Specifically, the company cited the participation in 2017 by representatives of several of the conservancy’s environmental organizations in a public process aimed at developing a draft plan called the Antelope Valley Regional Conservation Investment Strategy.
Reynolds, however, argued that a provision of the 2008 agreement “allows signatories to support or oppose such a regional plan.”
The lawsuit asks the court to declare that the conservancy did not violate the agreement and that Tejon Ranch Co. must make payments to the conservancy totaling about $1 million through October 2021.
It would not be the first time that the company has tried to stifle perceived criticism of its development plans.
In 2018, the Tejon Ranch Co. barred members of the nonprofit California Native Plant Society from visiting its protected lands.
That action followed negative appraisals of the potential impacts of the Centennial development on rare plants and wildflowers by Nick Jensen, a conservation analyst for the botanical group.
Although the conservancy’s mission is to preserve, enhance and restore biodiversity at the ranch, it was prohibited by the agreement from taking a public position on the ban.
“We argued against the limitations on access,” Reynolds said, “but the ranch company, as the land owner, wouldn’t hear it.”


latimes--2020-12-03--Scientists solve mystery of mass coho salmon deaths. The killer? A chemical from car tires

When officials in Seattle spent millions of dollars restoring the creeks along Puget Sound — tending to the vegetation , making the stream beds less muddy , building better homes for fish — they were thrilled to see coho salmon reappear .
But when it rained , more than half , sometimes all , of the coho in a creek would suffer a sudden death .
These mysterious die-offs — an alarming phenomenon that has been reported from Northern California to British Columbia — have stumped biologists and toxicologists for decades .
Numerous tests ruled out pesticides , disease and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperatures and low dissolved oxygen .
Now , after 20 years of investigation , researchers in Washington state , San Francisco and Los Angeles say they have found the culprit : a very poisonous yet little-known chemical related to a preservative used in car tires .
The chemical is just one of a vast number of contaminants that washes off roads whenever it rains .
This giant soup of pollutants , which includes trillions of microplastics , rushes down drains and into creeks and ultimately into the sea .
“ We pretty much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a road and people are driving their car , little bits of tire end up coming off your tire and end up in the stormwater that flows off that road , ” said Ed Kolodziej , an environmental engineer and chemist at the University of Washington ( Tacoma/Seattle ) , whose lab led a study that was published Thursday in the journal Science .
“ We were able to get all the way down to this one highly toxic chemical — something that kills large fish quickly and we think is probably found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world.
” Coho salmon , also known as silver salmon , are prized among fishermen and an important indicator species — the canary in the coal mine for coastal watersheds along the northern Pacific Ocean .
Their range has historically stretched from the creeks nestled in the redwood forests near Santa Cruz all the way north to the waters of Alaska .
The few coho populations that still exist in California are either endangered or threatened .
The fish are born in freshwater streams , where they stay for about a year before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estuaries and into the ocean .
They return a year and a half later to lay and fertilize eggs before dying .
Many obstacles have made this journey across different environments more difficult : Shrinking estuaries , blocked passages from dams and culverts , as well as drought and a changing climate .
“ While we often monitor temperature and dissolved oxygen levels , much more could be done to test for toxicity , ” said Mariska Obedzinski , a California Sea Grant fisheries biologist who leads monitoring and salmon recovery research on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the findings out of Puget Sound .
“ With so many chemicals out there , ” she said , “ it is overwhelming to know what to test for , so the results of this study will help us home in on testing for a chemical that we now know causes acute mortality.
” Peter Moyle , a longtime salmon expert and emeritus professor at UC Davis , recalled the four small streams in San Francisco Bay that once had coho .
He has been following the Puget Sound research , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and now wonders whether all the roads and major freeways that crossed these creeks contributed to their disappearance decades ago , despite all the restoration efforts .
“ The challenge when you talk about declines of really sensitive fish like coho salmon , is that there are so many things that are affecting them simultaneously , it ’ s hard to pinpoint one , ” he said .
“ That ’ s why it ’ s so interesting that in these Puget Sound streams , they found this one chemical that seems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington state spent years studying dozens of streams — looking for patterns and comparing samples from pristine creeks , to those in more urban areas .
They narrowed the culprit down to stormwater , then to creeks that were near busier roads , and finally to the wear and tear of car tires .
Researchers then soaked tire bits in room temperature water for about 24 hours .
As many as 1,500 to 2,800 chemicals would leach out and , using high-resolution mass spectrometry , the team methodically identified and analyzed these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cocktail into different chemical properties , such as removing all metals from the solution .
Then they tested these different sub-mixtures to see which ones were still toxic to the salmon .
They repeated this process until only a few chemicals were left — including one mysterious speck of purple that they knew very little about .
“ We knew that the chemical that we thought was toxic had 18 carbons , 22 hydrogens , two nitrogens and two oxygens .
And we kept trying to figure out what it was , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s lead author and a research scientist at the Center for Urban Waters at University of Washington Tacoma .
“ Then one day in December , it was just like bing !
in my mind .
The killer chemical might not be a chemical directly added to the tire , but something related.
” The smoking gun turned out to be related to a chemical called 6PPD , which is essentially a preservative to keep car tires from breaking down too quickly .
When 6PPD hits the road and reacts with ozone gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chemicals , including a compound known as 6PPD-quinone .
Not much is known about 6PPD-quinone , but it does appear to be very toxic ( at about 1 microgram per liter ) and does not degrade as quickly as 6PPD .
It remains unclear how exactly this chemical kills coho salmon , but it may be doing something to the lining of the salmon ’ s vascular system , said Jen McIntyre , an aquatic ecotoxicologist at Washington State University who has been studying this mystery for more than 15 years .
Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin to breathe erratically — almost like they ’ re gasping for air .
They lose equilibrium and start spiraling in circles , unable to stay upright in the water .
Eventually they drop to the bottom , where they stop moving and die .
McIntyre has begun testing this toxin on five other Pacific salmon species , which have shown different levels of sensitivity .
She ’ s also curious how 6PPD-quinone might affect other organisms , and more studies need to be conducted to understand whether this chemical has any impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were also confirmed in samples from L.A. and San Francisco .
Rebecca Sutton , a study co-author who specializes in emerging contaminants , had reached out to the researchers in Puget Sound after coming across a number of tire rubber chemicals in her studies of San Francisco Bay .
These discoveries fit into a growing body of science that illuminates how driving is not just an air pollution and climate change problem , she said .
In a separate study last year , Sutton was surprised to find that tire particles were by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bay .
Tires containing zinc have also been known to harm wildlife , said Sutton , who works for the San Francisco Estuary Institute , an independent science think tank .
“ We also know that steelhead trout and Chinook salmon exhibit some sensitivity to tire rubber chemicals.
” Across California , water quality regulators , state transportation officials and federal scientists have been learning about these startling connections between stormwater and coho deaths during recent meetings and conferences .
The state ’ s coastal highway , some pointed out , crosses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they ’ ve gotten it nailed down to one compound — that ’ s amazing .
It ’ s also really helpful that something could be done about it , ” said Joe Dillon , who specializes in water quality and toxicology for NOAA Fisheries .
“ This means the tire industry can work on figuring out how to replace that compound with something less toxic .
It means they can be pushed by the state of California or by nongovernmental organizations to undertake that work.
” Matt St. John , executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quality Control Board on the north coast , home to most of the remaining coho salmon in California , said he ’ d like to start monitoring for this chemical in creeks to determine what further action is needed .
“ The study is definitely an eyebrow-raiser , ” he said .
“ When you find a causal link like this that is controllable , we need to take this type of information seriously .
”

From left, researchers Jen McIntyre, Edward Kolodziej and Zhenyu Tian study the stormwater impacts on coho salmon in Longfellow Creek in the Seattle area.
When officials in Seattle spent millions of dollars restoring the creeks along Puget Sound — tending to the vegetation, making the stream beds less muddy, building better homes for fish — they were thrilled to see coho salmon reappear.
But when it rained, more than half, sometimes all, of the coho in a creek would suffer a sudden death.
These mysterious die-offs — an alarming phenomenon that has been reported from Northern California to British Columbia — have stumped biologists and toxicologists for decades. Numerous tests ruled out pesticides, disease and other possible causes, such as hot temperatures and low dissolved oxygen.
Now, after 20 years of investigation, researchers in Washington state, San Francisco and Los Angeles say they have found the culprit: a very poisonous yet little-known chemical related to a preservative used in car tires.
Advertisement
The chemical is just one of a vast number of contaminants that washes off roads whenever it rains. This giant soup of pollutants, which includes trillions of microplastics, rushes down drains and into creeks and ultimately into the sea.
“We pretty much figured out that anywhere there’s a road and people are driving their car, little bits of tire end up coming off your tire and end up in the stormwater that flows off that road,” said Ed Kolodziej, an environmental engineer and chemist at the University of Washington (Tacoma/Seattle), whose lab led a study that was published Thursday in the journal Science. “We were able to get all the way down to this one highly toxic chemical — something that kills large fish quickly and we think is probably found on every single busy road in the world.”
Coho salmon, also known as silver salmon, are prized among fishermen and an important indicator species — the canary in the coal mine for coastal watersheds along the northern Pacific Ocean. Their range has historically stretched from the creeks nestled in the redwood forests near Santa Cruz all the way north to the waters of Alaska. The few coho populations that still exist in California are either endangered or threatened.
The fish are born in freshwater streams, where they stay for about a year before making the long journey through rivers and estuaries and into the ocean. They return a year and a half later to lay and fertilize eggs before dying. Many obstacles have made this journey across different environments more difficult: Shrinking estuaries, blocked passages from dams and culverts, as well as drought and a changing climate.
“While we often monitor temperature and dissolved oxygen levels, much more could be done to test for toxicity,” said Mariska Obedzinski, a California Sea Grant fisheries biologist who leads monitoring and salmon recovery research on the Russian River and was shocked to see the findings out of Puget Sound.
Advertisement
“With so many chemicals out there,” she said, “it is overwhelming to know what to test for, so the results of this study will help us home in on testing for a chemical that we now know causes acute mortality.”
Peter Moyle, a longtime salmon expert and emeritus professor at UC Davis, recalled the four small streams in San Francisco Bay that once had coho. He has been following the Puget Sound research, which he is also not affiliated with, and now wonders whether all the roads and major freeways that crossed these creeks contributed to their disappearance decades ago, despite all the restoration efforts.
“The challenge when you talk about declines of really sensitive fish like coho salmon, is that there are so many things that are affecting them simultaneously, it’s hard to pinpoint one,” he said. “That’s why it’s so interesting that in these Puget Sound streams, they found this one chemical that seems to be the smoking gun.”
Conservation hatcheries in California have been raising tens of thousands of coho salmon to release into creeks. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The scientists in Washington state spent years studying dozens of streams — looking for patterns and comparing samples from pristine creeks, to those in more urban areas. They narrowed the culprit down to stormwater, then to creeks that were near busier roads, and finally to the wear and tear of car tires.
Researchers then soaked tire bits in room temperature water for about 24 hours. As many as 1,500 to 2,800 chemicals would leach out and, using high-resolution mass spectrometry, the team methodically identified and analyzed these compounds.
They tried sectioning this tire cocktail into different chemical properties, such as removing all metals from the solution. Then they tested these different sub-mixtures to see which ones were still toxic to the salmon. They repeated this process until only a few chemicals were left — including one mysterious speck of purple that they knew very little about.
“We knew that the chemical that we thought was toxic had 18 carbons, 22 hydrogens, two nitrogens and two oxygens. And we kept trying to figure out what it was,” said Zhenyu Tian, the study’s lead author and a research scientist at the Center for Urban Waters at University of Washington Tacoma. “Then one day in December, it was just like bing! in my mind. The killer chemical might not be a chemical directly added to the tire, but something related.”
The smoking gun turned out to be related to a chemical called 6PPD, which is essentially a preservative to keep car tires from breaking down too quickly. When 6PPD hits the road and reacts with ozone gas, the chemical transforms into multiple new chemicals, including a compound known as 6PPD-quinone.
Not much is known about 6PPD-quinone, but it does appear to be very toxic (at about 1 microgram per liter) and does not degrade as quickly as 6PPD.
It remains unclear how exactly this chemical kills coho salmon, but it may be doing something to the lining of the salmon’s vascular system, said Jen McIntyre, an aquatic ecotoxicologist at Washington State University who has been studying this mystery for more than 15 years.
Once coho are exposed to 6PPD-quinone, they begin to breathe erratically — almost like they’re gasping for air. They lose equilibrium and start spiraling in circles, unable to stay upright in the water. Eventually they drop to the bottom, where they stop moving and die.
McIntyre has begun testing this toxin on five other Pacific salmon species, which have shown different levels of sensitivity. She’s also curious how 6PPD-quinone might affect other organisms, and more studies need to be conducted to understand whether this chemical has any impact on humans.
Car tire particles wash into creeks and storm drains, contaminating the water with a chemical that scientists discovered is highly toxic to coho salmon. (Mark Stone / University of Washington)
Worrisome concentrations of 6PPD-quinone were also confirmed in samples from L.A. and San Francisco. Rebecca Sutton, a study co-author who specializes in emerging contaminants, had reached out to the researchers in Puget Sound after coming across a number of tire rubber chemicals in her studies of San Francisco Bay.
These discoveries fit into a growing body of science that illuminates how driving is not just an air pollution and climate change problem, she said. In a separate study last year, Sutton was surprised to find that tire particles were by far the largest source of microplastics in the bay.
Tires containing zinc have also been known to harm wildlife, said Sutton, who works for the San Francisco Estuary Institute, an independent science think tank. “We also know that steelhead trout and Chinook salmon exhibit some sensitivity to tire rubber chemicals.”
California It just rained (again). Is it safe to swim in the ocean? After another back-to-back cold front that pelted rain, heavy snow and even a tornado warning down onto Southern California, here are some precautions and commonly asked questions about whether it’s safe to go to the beach.
Across California, water quality regulators, state transportation officials and federal scientists have been learning about these startling connections between stormwater and coho deaths during recent meetings and conferences. The state’s coastal highway, some pointed out, crosses numerous streams and estuaries.
“Now that they’ve gotten it nailed down to one compound — that’s amazing. It’s also really helpful that something could be done about it,” said Joe Dillon, who specializes in water quality and toxicology for NOAA Fisheries. “This means the tire industry can work on figuring out how to replace that compound with something less toxic. It means they can be pushed by the state of California or by nongovernmental organizations to undertake that work.”
Matt St. John, executive officer of California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board on the north coast, home to most of the remaining coho salmon in California, said he’d like to start monitoring for this chemical in creeks to determine what further action is needed.
“The study is definitely an eyebrow-raiser,” he said. “When you find a causal link like this that is controllable, we need to take this type of information seriously.”


latimes--2020-12-03--Blustery winds aggravate Cerritos and Airport fires in Riverside County

A brush fire spurred by high winds broke out early Thursday in the Nuevo community of Riverside County , forcing residents to evacuate , authorities said .
Dubbed the Cerritos fire , the blaze has singed 200 acres and was 10 % contained , officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said .
Calling it a the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning indicating critical fire weather conditions through 10 p.m. Saturday in Riverside County .
Winds were gusting up to 35 mph early Thursday in the region .
Amid the blustery winds and bone-dry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power to more than 50,000 customers Wednesday night , including 24,000 customers in Riverside County .
Nearly 250,000 additional customers across eight counties are under consideration for a shutoff as well , Edison spokesman Ron Gales said Thursday .
The Cerritos fire is one of three burning in Riverside County .
On Tuesday evening , a brush fire broke out near Corona Airport .
The Airport fire , as it has been called , grew slowly Wednesday and had swelled to 500 acres by Thursday morning .
As of 6:30 a.m. , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not threatening any structures , officials said .
With flames lapping nearby , officials shuttered the Corona Airport until at least noon Friday , according to Cindy Solis , spokeswoman for the city of Corona .
The Wilson fire was reported at about 11:42 a.m. in Jurupa Valley near the border with San Bernardino County .
Fire officials said the fire started in multiple mulch piles and jumped Brown Avenue into a pallet yard with a rapid rate of spread , threatening multiple structures .
By about 2:15 p.m. , the fire had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ana River bottom .
Fire officials said an evacuation order is in place “ for those physically in the river bottom area.
” “ Depending on the conditions of the fire , we might need to reassess that [ and extend the closure ] , ” Solis said .
Cal Fire spokeswoman Lynne Tolmachoff said weather conditions are a major factor in the blazes .
“ Cooler temperatures helped a bit , but obviously the winds and the fact that we haven ’ t seen any rainfall ” drove the fires , Tolmachoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after 2 a.m. Thursday , when vegetation ignited in the 23900 block of California Avenue and began to spread at a moderate rate , according to a Cerritos fire incident report .
When firefighters arrived , the fire had burned about 10 acres , but in less than two hours , it had charred 200 acres .
A video posted around 7:30 a.m. by the Riverside County Fire Department shows a line of emergency vehicles heading toward burning hills .
Columns of smoke could be seen wafting in the early morning air .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ helicopters to drop retardant “ to strengthen containment , ” according to a tweet posted by the Fire Department .
An evacuation order for residents living on California Avenue , north of Tres Cerritos Avenue , was downgraded to an evacuation warning Thursday afternoon .
Earlier evacuation orders for those living on Tres Cerritos Avenue and Los Rancherias Road in West Hemet were lifted .
When it broke out , the Airport fire initially threatened a small residential community north of the airport , near Stagecoach Park .
An evacuation warning went out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but all evacuation notices were lifted about four hours later .
On Thursday , officials closed the 71 Freeway in both directions between the 91 and the 83 .
In Orange County , a wind-whipped and rapidly spreading wildfire was threatening homes and prompting evacuations early Thursday .
The Bond fire exploded overnight and had burned 4,000 acres , the Orange County Fire Authority said .
Weather officials warned earlier this week that strong Santa Ana winds , combined with drier-than-normal conditions , could lead to wildfires .
David Sweet , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oxnard , called it “ a likely critical situation for fire weather.
” Winds are expected to peak on Thursday and Friday , Sweet said .
“ Once these winds settle down , that will quickly change the conditions for the firefighters , and they should be able to get a pretty good handle on things , ” Tolmachoff said .

Firefighters battle the Cerritos fire, which broke out in Riverside County on Thursday and forced residents in the rural city of Nuevo to evacuate.
A brush fire spurred by high winds broke out early Thursday in the Nuevo community of Riverside County, forcing residents to evacuate, authorities said.
Dubbed the Cerritos fire, the blaze has singed 200 acres and was 25% contained Thursday evening, officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
Calling it a “particularly dangerous situation,” the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning indicating critical fire weather conditions through 10 p.m. Saturday in Riverside County. Winds were gusting up to 35 mph early Thursday in the region.
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Amid the blustery winds and bone-dry conditions, Southern California Edison shut off power to more than 50,000 customers Wednesday night, including 24,000 customers in Riverside County.
Nearly 250,000 additional customers across eight counties are under consideration for a shutoff as well, Edison spokesman Ron Gales said Thursday.
The Cerritos fire is one of three burning in Riverside County. On Tuesday evening, a brush fire broke out near Corona Airport. The Airport fire, as it has been called, grew slowly Wednesday and had swelled to 700 acres by Thursday evening . As of 7 p.m., it was 10% contained. It was not threatening any structures, officials said.
With flames lapping nearby, officials shuttered the Corona Airport until at least noon Friday, according to Cindy Solis, spokeswoman for the city of Corona.
The Wilson fire was reported at about 11:42 a.m. in Jurupa Valley near the border with San Bernardino County. Fire officials said the 10-acre fire started in multiple mulch piles and jumped Brown Avenue into a pallet yard with a rapid rate of spread, threatening multiple structures.
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By about 2:15 p.m., the fire had spread to the riverbanks of the Santa Ana River bottom. Fire officials said an evacuation order is in place “for those physically in the river bottom area.”
“Depending on the conditions of the fire, we might need to reassess that [and extend the closure],” Solis said.
Cal Fire spokeswoman Lynne Tolmachoff said weather conditions are a major factor in the blazes.
“Cooler temperatures helped a bit, but obviously the winds and the fact that we haven’t seen any rainfall” drove the fires, Tolmachoff said.
The Cerritos fire sparked just after 2 a.m. Thursday, when vegetation ignited in the 23900 block of California Avenue and began to spread at a moderate rate, according to a Cerritos fire incident report.
When firefighters arrived, the fire had burned about 10 acres, but in less than two hours, it had charred 200 acres.
A video posted around 7:30 a.m. by the Riverside County Fire Department shows a line of emergency vehicles heading toward burning hills. Columns of smoke could be seen wafting in the early morning air.
As day broke, firefighters began using helicopters to drop retardant “to strengthen containment,” according to a tweet posted by the Fire Department.
#CerritosFire [UPDATE] 8:00 am - The fire is holding at 200 acres and 10% containment. With daybreak here, the air resources are now working over the fire to strengthen containment. pic.twitter.com/gNBtehpPRq — CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) December 3, 2020
An evacuation order for residents living on California Avenue, north of Tres Cerritos Avenue, was downgraded to an evacuation warning Thursday afternoon. Earlier evacuation orders for those living on Tres Cerritos Avenue and Los Rancherias Road in West Hemet were lifted.
When it broke out, the Airport fire initially threatened a small residential community north of the airport, near Stagecoach Park. An evacuation warning went out to the neighborhood at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, but all evacuation notices were lifted about four hours later.
On Thursday, officials closed the 71 Freeway in both directions between the 91 and the 83.
In Orange County, a wind-whipped and rapidly spreading wildfire was threatening homes and prompting evacuations early Thursday. The Bond fire exploded overnight and had burned 4,000 acres, the Orange County Fire Authority said.
Weather officials warned earlier this week that strong Santa Ana winds, combined with drier-than-normal conditions, could lead to wildfires.
David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, called it “a likely critical situation for fire weather.”
Winds are expected to peak on Thursday and Friday, Sweet said.
“Once these winds settle down, that will quickly change the conditions for the firefighters, and they should be able to get a pretty good handle on things,” Tolmachoff said.


latimes--2020-12-03--Pastor dies of COVID-19 weeks after Fontana megachurch reopened for indoor services

An associate pastor for a megachurch in San Bernardino County died of COVID-19 about a month after the facility reopened indoor services .
Bob Bryant of the Water of Life Community Church in Fontana tested positive for the coronavirus in November and soon developed an aggressive pneumonia in both of his lungs , according to a post on the church ’ s Facebook site .
He then suffered a heart attack .
He ultimately was placed on a ventilator and died Monday .
He was 58 .
Bryant was a pastor in the church ’ s benevolence department , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Susan DePaola , executive assistant to the senior pastor .
Bryant became sick while on vacation and did not return to the church once he showed symptoms in late November .
DePaola said she was not sure when Bryant was last at the church .
The state health order does not permit churches to hold indoor services in counties in the state ’ s most restrictive , or purple , tier in its reopening framework , which includes San Bernardino County .
Only outdoor services are permitted in those counties .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardest hit regions in the state ; in the last week , it has reported one of the highest rates of coronavirus infections among California ’ s 58 counties .
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county has quadrupled in the past month , from 217 on Oct. 26 to 883 on Tuesday .
Following California ’ s original stay-at-home order imposed in March , the state allowed houses of worship to reopen in late May with limited indoor capacity .
But after a surge in cases in the late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed indoor operations of churches in mid-July in the hardest-hit counties .
Water of Life Community Church defied that order , however , and reopened five weeks ago .
DePaola said county officials knew the church was holding services indoors .
“ The county is aware we are meeting inside , ” she said .
“ We ’ re not trying to break rules .
They know what we ’ re doing.
” A county spokesman did not immediately have information on whether the county has had any interaction with the church recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dan Carroll , in a Times story in May said he hosted a forum among leaders of hundreds of churches who were determined to reopen in defiance of California ’ s health order at the time .
On its website , the church says its weekend attendance is about 7,000 .
It was unclear how much in-person attendance has changed since the church reopened for indoor services on Oct. 31 , which it announced on its Facebook page .
“ This weekend , Oct. 31st/Nov .
1st , we are moving our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center AND returning back to our traditional service times .
Social distancing will be followed and face masks are required , ” the post said .
“ We will still have seating available outside , as long as the weather permits , for those that are not comfortable with sitting inside.
” Bryant , known as Pastor Bob , had been with the church since he met the senior pastor about 18 years ago when he was a truck driver delivering furniture , DePaola said .
He was hired as a youth pastor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the benevolence department .
Bryant was able to help “ thousands of people , by helping them financially and spiritually praying over them , ” DePaola said .
“ And Bob was a really big presence : He had the biggest heart of anyone you would ever meet .
If you were in a room full of hundreds of people , he had the ability to make you feel like you were the most special person in the room , ” she said .
“ He was an encourager and an uplifter and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is survived by his wife , Lori , children Missy , Jacob , Jordan and Josh , and several grandchildren .
A memorial service is scheduled for Monday in the church .
It will be livestreamed and open for in-person attendance .
“ Please note , if you will be joining us in person , social distancing will be practiced and face masks are required at all times while on campus , ” the church ’ s website said .
DePaola said the services would be both indoors and outdoors .
Funerals are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the state health order .

Donald and Angie Autrey of Rancho Cucamonga pray before services begin at the reopening of the Water of Life Community Church during the COVID-19 pandemic on May 30, 2020, in Fontana.
An associate pastor for a megachurch in San Bernardino County died of COVID-19 about a month after the facility reopened indoor services.
Bob Bryant of the Water of Life Community Church in Fontana tested positive for the coronavirus in November and soon developed an aggressive pneumonia in his lungs, according to a post on the church’s Facebook site. He then suffered a heart attack. He ultimately was placed on a ventilator and died Monday. He was 58.
Bryant was a pastor in the church’s benevolence department, which provides financial assistance for people in need, said Susan DePaola, executive assistant to the senior pastor.
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Bryant became sick while on vacation and did not return to the church once he showed symptoms in November. DePaola said she was not sure when Bryant was last at the church. It can generally take up to 14 days after a person is exposed to the coronavirus to begin showing signs of illness.
A state health order does not permit churches to hold indoor services in counties in the state’s most restrictive, or purple, tier in its reopening framework, which includes San Bernardino County. Only outdoor services are permitted in those counties.
San Bernardino County has been among the hardest-hit regions in the state; in the last week, it has reported one of the highest rates of coronavirus infections among California’s 58 counties. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county has quadrupled in the past month, from 217 on Oct. 26 to 883 on Tuesday.
Following California’s original stay-at-home order imposed in March, the state allowed houses of worship to reopen in late May with limited indoor capacity. But after a surge in cases in the late spring and early summer, state officials closed indoor operations of churches in mid-July in the hardest-hit counties. Water of Life Community Church defied that order, however, and reopened five weeks ago.
DePaola said county officials knew the church was holding services indoors. “The county is aware we are meeting inside,” she said. “We’re not trying to break rules. They know what we’re doing.”
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David Wert, a spokesman for San Bernardino County, said the county received a complaint on Nov. 16 that the church was conducting indoor services in violation of the state order. The county sent the church a letter on Monday asking it to comply with the order.
Wert said the county conducts an outbreak investigation when it learns of at least three cases linked to a facility within 14 days. Officials are not aware of other coronavirus cases linked to the church.
The church’s senior pastor, Dan Carroll, in a Times article in May said he hosted a forum among leaders of hundreds of churches who were determined to reopen in defiance of California’s health order at the time.
On its website, the church says its weekend attendance is about 7,000. It was unclear how much in-person attendance has changed since the church reopened for indoor services on Oct. 31, which it announced on its Facebook page.
“This weekend, Oct. 31st/Nov. 1st, we are moving our church services back to inside the Worship Center AND returning back to our traditional service times. Social distancing will be followed and face masks are required,” the post said. “We will still have seating available outside, as long as the weather permits, for those that are not comfortable with sitting inside.”
California The pandemic’s toll: Lives lost in California Hundreds of people have died in California due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These are some of their stories.
Bryant, known as Pastor Bob, had been with the church since he met the senior pastor about 18 years ago when he was a truck driver delivering furniture, DePaola said. He was hired as a youth pastor and later became the associate pastor in the benevolence department.
Bryant was able to help “thousands of people, by helping them financially and spiritually praying over them,” DePaola said.
“And Bob was a really big presence: He had the biggest heart of anyone you would ever meet. If you were in a room full of hundreds of people, he had the ability to make you feel like you were the most special person in the room,” she said. “He was an encourager and an uplifter and just always had a smile.”
Bryant is survived by his wife, Lori; children Missy, Jacob, Jordan and Josh; and several grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for Monday both inside and outdoors. It will be livestreamed and open for in-person attendance.
“Please note, if you will be joining us in person, social distancing will be practiced and face masks are required at all times while on campus,” the church’s website said.
Funerals are permitted only outdoors in San Bernardino County, according to the state health order.


latimes--2020-12-03--Power shut off to over 50,000 amid dangerous winds as fires burn in Southern California

More than 50,000 Southern California Edison customers were without power Thursday morning amid a dangerous Santa Ana wind event that already had fueled at least two wildfires in the region .
The utility company initiated the across seven counties late Wednesday in an effort to prevent its electric system from becoming a source of ignition , Edison spokesman Ron Gales said .
The shutoff includes 24,000 customers in Riverside County , 9,900 in Los Angeles County and 6,000 in Ventura County .
Nearly 250,000 additional customers across eight counties are under consideration for a shutoff as well , Gales said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that de-energization only takes place as a last resort , ” Gales said .
“ We only de-energize a circuit when we have no other choice .
… We ’ re looking at wind speeds , relative humidity and the abundance of fuel and dried brush.
” Calling it a “ particularly dangerous situation , ” the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning indicating critical fire conditions through 6 p.m. Friday for Los Angeles and Ventura counties .
In Orange , Riverside and San Bernardino counties , the red flag warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .
The weather service said parts of Southern California , including the Santa Clarita and San Bernardino valleys and the mountains in Los Angeles , Ventura and Riverside counties , could see winds as high as 70 mph Thursday .
A gust of 85 mph was recorded in the San Gabriel Mountains near Sylmar on Wednesday night .
The winds will be met with extreme dryness , said Mark Moede , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego .
Humidity levels in the region will be dropping as low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns .
“ It ’ s very , very dry out there , ” Moede said .
“ We ’ re looking at single-digit humidities , and I ’ m sure everyone is going to be feeling that either with their skin or with their sinuses.
” Low humidity contributes to dried vegetation that can fuel fires , which can spell disaster when paired with strong winds .
A wildfire fanned by winds erupted in San Diego on Wednesday night and quickly burned through 25 acres , destroying at least one home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire , ignited Wednesday night in Orange County and quickly spread to the Silverado Canyon area .
By Thursday morning , the fire had exploded to more than 4,000 acres , spurring mandatory evacuations .
Gales said SCE was working to reduce the length and number of power shutoffs in the region , including isolating parts of the utility ’ s circuits to minimize the number of customers affected .
“ It ’ s difficult for customers , especially during COVID-19 , to have their power shut off , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can before we make the decision to shut off power.
” But those hoping for relief — both from preemptive power shutoffs and from dangerous fire weather — will likely have to wait a bit longer .
“ It ’ s sunny and dry all the way through next Wednesday , with no chance of any rain , ” said David Sweet , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
“ Longer projections from the Climate Prediction Center indicate continued dryness through about the middle of December , ” Sweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we don ’ t really see any reliable — or hopeful — signs of rain .
”

Firefighters are battling the Bond fire, sparked by a structure fire, along Silverado Canyon Road in Orange County.
More than 43,000 Southern California Edison customers were without power Thursday amid a dangerous Santa Ana wind event that already had fueled at least two wildfires in the region.
The utility company initiated the public safety power shutoff across seven counties late Wednesday in an effort to prevent its electric system from becoming a source of ignition, Edison spokesman Ron Gales said.
The shutoff includes 21,000 customers in Riverside County, 7,800 in Los Angeles County and 2,800 in Ventura County.
Nearly 250,000 additional customers across eight counties are under consideration for a shutoff as well, Gales said.
California Photos: Bond fire in Orange County prompts evacuations The Bond fire erupted overnight in Orange County in dry brush and prompted evacuations in mountain communities amid high winds.
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“I cannot emphasize enough that de-energization only takes place as a last resort,” Gales said. “We only de-energize a circuit when we have no other choice. … We’re looking at wind speeds, relative humidity and the abundance of fuel and dried brush.”
Calling it a “particularly dangerous situation,” the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning indicating critical fire conditions through 6 p.m. Friday for Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
In Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, the red flag warning will remain in effect through 10 p.m. Saturday.
Ramping up to a CRITICAL Red Flag scenario across much of LA/VTA Counties this evening!! If you are in or near open space, are you SET in the event of #wildfire? #CAfire #CAwx #SoCal #preparedness pic.twitter.com/YeAUqSwJrr — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) December 3, 2020
The weather service said parts of Southern California, including the Santa Clarita and San Bernardino valleys and the mountains in Los Angeles, Ventura and Riverside counties, could see winds as high as 70 mph Thursday.
A gust of 85 mph was recorded in the San Gabriel Mountains near Sylmar on Wednesday night.
The winds will be met with extreme dryness, said Mark Moede, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. Humidity levels in the region will be dropping as low as 4%, further fueling fire concerns.
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“It’s very, very dry out there,” Moede said. “We’re looking at single-digit humidities, and I’m sure everyone is going to be feeling that either with their skin or with their sinuses.”
Low humidity contributes to dried vegetation that can fuel fires, which can spell disaster when paired with strong winds. A wildfire fanned by winds erupted in San Diego on Wednesday night and quickly burned through 25 acres, destroying at least one home.
California Photos: Bond fire in Orange County prompts evacuations The Bond fire erupted overnight in Orange County in dry brush and prompted evacuations in mountain communities amid high winds.
Another wind-driven blaze, dubbed the Bond fire, ignited Wednesday night in Orange County and quickly spread to the Silverado Canyon area. By Thursday evening , the fire had exploded to 7,200 acres, spurring mandatory evacuations.
Gales said SCE was working to reduce the length and number of power shutoffs in the region, including isolating parts of the utility’s circuits to minimize the number of customers affected.
“It’s difficult for customers, especially during COVID-19, to have their power shut off,” he said. “We’re doing everything we can before we make the decision to shut off power.”
But those hoping for relief — both from preemptive power shutoffs and from dangerous fire weather — will likely have to wait a bit longer.
“It’s sunny and dry all the way through next Wednesday, with no chance of any rain,” said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
“Longer projections from the Climate Prediction Center indicate continued dryness through about the middle of December,” Sweet added. “At this point, we don’t really see any reliable — or hopeful — signs of rain.”