latimes--2020-08-01--Couple accused of hate crimes after attack on vehicle in Torrance is caught on video

A married couple were arrested and charged with hate crimes Friday for allegedly using a shovel to smash the vehicle of another couple , with the wife heard on video saying , '' White lives matter , ” and her husband seen performing a Nazi salute during the incident , authorities said .
Gregory Howell of Carson and his wife , Rachel Howell of Seal Beach , both 29 , were allegedly caught on video during the incident about 10:30 p.m. on July 22 , according to the Torrance Police Department .
In the video circulated on social media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a white man and white woman — are seen outside of their white pickup at a stoplight near Artesia Boulevard and Prairie Avenue , according to Torrance police Sgt .
Alexander Martinez .
In the video , recorded from inside the vehicle that was attacked , the woman says , “ White lives matter , ” and , “ Only white lives matter , ” adding expletives .
The man is seen giving a Nazi salute and saying , “ White power.
” The video shows the couple briefly returning to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the pickup ’ s bed and used it to smash the victims ’ vehicle , damaging the driver ’ s side mirror .
A police report was filed about 10:50 a.m. the next day .
The race of the victims was not immediately confirmed , Martinez said , but a Twitter user claiming to be related to the woman in the car said , and the video appears to confirm , that the man driving the vehicle that was attacked is Black .
Authorities eventually identified the suspects in the video and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vandalism on July 24 , police said .

A married couple were arrested and charged with hate crimes Friday for allegedly using a shovel to smash the vehicle of another couple, with the wife heard on video saying,”White lives matter,” and her husband seen performing a Nazi salute during the incident, authorities said.
Gregory Howell of Carson and his wife, Rachel Howell of Seal Beach, both 29, were allegedly caught on video during the incident about 10:30 p.m. on July 22, according to the Torrance Police Department.
In the video circulated on social media, the two suspects — who appear to be a white man and white woman — are seen outside of their white pickup at a stoplight near Artesia Boulevard and Prairie Avenue, according to Torrance police Sgt. Alexander Martinez.
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In the video, recorded from inside the vehicle that was attacked, the woman says, “White lives matter,” and, “Only white lives matter,” adding expletives. The man is seen giving a Nazi salute and saying, “White power.”
The video shows the couple briefly returning to their truck before the man grabbed a shovel from the pickup’s bed and used it to smash the victims’ vehicle, damaging the driver’s side mirror.
A police report was filed about 10:50 a.m. the next day. The race of the victims was not immediately confirmed, Martinez said, but a Twitter user claiming to be related to the woman in the car said, and the video appears to confirm, that the man driving the vehicle that was attacked is Black.
Authorities eventually identified the suspects in the video and obtained arrest warrants for hate crimes and vandalism on July 24, police said.


latimes--2020-08-01--California smashes daily record for coronavirus deaths for the fifth time in a month

California recorded 214 coronavirus-related deaths on Friday , a record-setting daily total that capped a month of rising fatalities amid a surge of new COVID-19 cases .
It marked the fifth time in July that California broke its single-day record for deaths , and the third time this week .
The previous record of 176 was just set on Wednesday .
In the past week , an average of 127 Californians have died every day .
That ’ s a 22 % increase from the previous week ’ s average daily death toll of 104 .
Officials announced Friday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 specific information about the victim ’ s age or county of residence , citing 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 virus but later determined he didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 can not be ignored , ” Barbara Ferrer , L.A. County health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The county 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 .
California on Friday became the first state to surpass 500,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases .

Alex Wigglesworth, Sean Greene, Rong-Gong Lin II

A lifeguard wearing a face covering heads up the steps at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach.
California recorded 214 coronavirus-related deaths on Friday, a record-setting daily total that capped a month of rising fatalities amid a surge of new COVID-19 cases.
It marked the fifth time in July that California broke its single-day record for deaths, and the third time this week. The previous record of 176 was just set on Wednesday.
In the past week, an average of 127 Californians have died every day. That’s a 22% increase from the previous week’s average daily death toll of 104.
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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 specific information about the victim’s age or county of residence, citing 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.
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 virus but later determined he didn’t die of COVID-19.
Los Angeles 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.
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“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, L.A. County health director, said in a statement.
The county 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.
California on Friday became the first state to surpass 500,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.


latimes--2020-08-01--Search continues for missing servicemen after training accident off Southern California coast

The search continued Saturday for eight service members after their landing craft went down in hundreds of feet of water following a deadly accident off San Clemente Island , officials said .
Helicopters and boats ranging from inflatables to a Navy destroyer were searching a roughly 200-square-mile area for seven Marines and a Navy corpsman .
The amphibious assault vehicle is beyond the reach of divers and complicating rescue efforts for the missing troops .
Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman , the commanding general of the Marine Expeditionary Force , told reporters Friday that the vehicle , which weighs 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 3,200 feet offshore and “ the assumption is it went all the way to the bottom.
” “ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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.
” All the Marines involved were assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit , which is based out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writers Andrew Dyer and Phil Diehl and the Associated Press 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 Saturday for eight service members after their landing craft went down in hundreds of feet of water following a deadly accident off San Clemente Island, officials said.
Helicopters and boats ranging from inflatables to a Navy destroyer were searching a roughly 200-square-mile area for seven Marines and a Navy corpsman.
The amphibious assault vehicle is beyond the reach of divers and complicating rescue efforts for the missing troops.
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Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman, the commanding general of the Marine Expeditionary Force, told reporters Friday 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.”
“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.”
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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.”
All the Marines involved were assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is based out of Camp Pendleton.
San Diego Union-Tribune staff writers Andrew Dyer and Phil Diehl and the Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-08-01--'Herstory' is out as California revamps K-12 ethnic studies course guide

State officials unveiled their latest try at an ethnic studies curriculum for K-12 students Friday , and it ’ s clear their hope is that this time fewer people will be offended .
To appease critics of academic jargon , the new draft ditches terms such as “ herstory ” for the more traditional “ history.
” To better honor diversity , teachers are encouraged to let the ethnic composition of the class influence study topics .
Still , the new version retains a focus on the four groups long associated with ethnic studies : African Americans , Asian Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peoples .
That aspect could reassure leaders in the field of ethnic studies , who shaped the first version but had less influence over the revision .
All told , the latest draft represents an attempt at compromise among strong , difficult-to-resolve passions .
Ethnic studies is innately and even intentionally political in challenging established norms .
All the same , it embodies widely supported goals that include empowering students of color , nurturing empathy among white students and developing critical thinking and historical perspective among all .
The push for ethnic studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buoyed by Black Lives Matter protests that followed the May killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody .
Ethnic studies , supporters say , has the potential to dismantle systemic and unconscious racism through the education of the citizens of tomorrow .
“ Our schools have not always been a place where students can gain a full understanding of the contributions of people of color and the many ways throughout history — and present day — that our country has exploited , marginalized , and oppressed them , ” state Supt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement Friday .
“ At a time when people across the nation are calling for a fairer , more just society , we must empower and equip students and educators to have these courageous conversations in the classroom.
” Expect the reviews — positive and negative — to trickle in for weeks .
The debate is not merely for academics .
This model curriculum is expected to guide teaching in K-12 public schools across California .
The state Board of Education is scheduled to approve a final version by the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement .
The latest version attempts to tone down references that some regarded as overly political or ideologically one-sided .
There had been particular criticism of elements seen as anti-Semitic or anti-Israel , although there were Jews on both sides of the debate .
Among those with reservations about the original curriculum were members of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus , which had contended that the guide intentionally excluded Jews .
The lawmakers faulted the first version for failing to explain anti-Semitism while providing an overly positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanctions movement against Israel .
“ There were 14 forms of bigotry and racism in the glossary , ” said Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel ( D-Encino ) , who called the exclusion of anti-Semitism glaring , obvious and offensive .
Anti-Semitism is now noted more clearly in the curriculum as a form of bigotry .
Critics are not entirely satisfied .
The draft has improved , but not enough , said Sarah Levin , executive director of Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa .
“ These supplemental materials ignore the stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together represent an estimated 60 % of Californians who hail from the Middle East and North Africa — while portraying the Arab American experience as a monolith to represent the region , ” she said .
Another critic , Williamson Evers , also felt the improvement was inadequate .
“ The proposed model curriculum is still full of left-wing ideological propaganda and indoctrination , ” said Evers , a senior fellow at the Independent Institute , an Oakland think tank .
“ It still force feeds our children the socialist dogma that capitalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all Berkeley and little Bakersfield.
” The new draft arrived nearly a year after the California Department of Education shelved the original .
Officials arrived at the latest iteration after reviewing thousands of public comments , convening experts and conducting teacher focus groups .
At its core , supporters say , ethnic studies teaches students how to think critically about the world around them , “ tell their own stories , ” develop “ a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and inclusion ” and engage “ socially and politically ” to eradicate bigotry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the earlier draft of the model curriculum .
The model curriculum is meant to serve as a guideline rather than a mandate for schools that choose to offer ethnic studies classes .
In California , as nationwide , these courses are increasing in number , with grade-school enrollment nearly doubling from 8,678 in 2013-14 to 17,354 in 2016-17 , according to the state Department of Education .
There appears to be broad legislative support for making ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement .
Some school systems already have taken that step .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who have signed a “ Defend Ethnic Studies ” petition , ethnic studies faculty from the California State University and University of California , and many Jewish groups .
R. Tolteka Cuauhtin , a Los Angeles teacher and co-chair of the advisory committee that created the original draft curriculum , said ethnic studies courses can be responsive to all students in a class and integrate other ethnic groups “ without de-centering communities of color.
” Cuauhtin said ethnic studies terminology should remain in the curriculum .
“ Students of color need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given access to academic concepts and disciplinary language , ” he said .
“ Every academic field has its own language , and yes , so does ethnic studies — let ’ s uplift that and ensure it ’ s accessible , not erase it.
” “ Herstory , ” for example , is a term used to describe history written from a feminist or women ’ s perspective .
The term is also deployed when referring to counter-narratives within history .
Assemblyman Jose Medina , the author of the bill that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the final product will turn out .
“ The model curriculum is still a draft and in the early stages of the input process , ” said Medina ( D-Riverside ) .
“ I trust this process and believe we will end up with a strong ethnic studies framework that will provide a solid structure for educators to build off as they bring ethnic studies to life in their classrooms.
” In a related development , last month the Cal State Board of Trustees revised its general education curriculum for the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnic studies and social justice requirement of all undergraduate students .
Ethnic studies faculty and some trustees criticized the requirement as being too broad and diluting the mission of ethnic studies , advocating instead for a narrower requirement proposed in a bill that is currently making its way to Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s desk .

Anti-racism signs are seen around a classroom as students work on assignments during an ethnic studies class at John O’Connell High School in San Francisco in 2018.
State officials unveiled their latest try at an ethnic studies curriculum for K-12 students Friday, and it’s clear their hope is that this time fewer people will be offended.
To appease critics of academic jargon, the new draft ditches terms such as “herstory” for the more traditional “history.” To better honor diversity, teachers are encouraged to let the ethnic composition of the class influence study topics.
Still, the new version retains a focus on the four groups long associated with ethnic studies: African Americans, Asian Americans, Chicanos/Latinos and Native American and Indigenous peoples. That aspect could reassure leaders in the field of ethnic studies, who shaped the first version but had less influence over the revision.
All told, the latest draft represents an attempt at compromise among strong, difficult-to-resolve passions. Ethnic studies is innately and even intentionally political in challenging established norms. All the same, it embodies widely supported goals that include empowering students of color, nurturing empathy among white students and developing critical thinking and historical perspective among all.
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The push for ethnic studies in California has recently gained momentum, buoyed by Black Lives Matter protests that followed the May killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Ethnic studies, supporters say, has the potential to dismantle systemic and unconscious racism through the education of the citizens of tomorrow.
“Our schools have not always been a place where students can gain a full understanding of the contributions of people of color and the many ways throughout history — and present day — that our country has exploited, marginalized, and oppressed them,” state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said in a statement Friday. “At a time when people across the nation are calling for a fairer, more just society, we must empower and equip students and educators to have these courageous conversations in the classroom.”
Expect the reviews — positive and negative — to trickle in for weeks.
The debate is not merely for academics. This model curriculum is expected to guide teaching in K-12 public schools across California. The state Board of Education is scheduled to approve a final version by the end of March. And pending legislation would make ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement.
The latest version attempts to tone down references that some regarded as overly political or ideologically one-sided. There had been particular criticism of elements seen as anti-Semitic or anti-Israel, although there were Jews on both sides of the debate.
Among those with reservations about the original curriculum were members of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, which had contended that the guide intentionally excluded Jews. The lawmakers faulted the first version for failing to explain anti-Semitism while providing an overly positive representation of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.
“There were 14 forms of bigotry and racism in the glossary,” said Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), who called the exclusion of anti-Semitism glaring, obvious and offensive.
Anti-Semitism is now noted more clearly in the curriculum as a form of bigotry.
Critics are not entirely satisfied.
The draft has improved, but not enough, said Sarah Levin, executive director of Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa.
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“These supplemental materials ignore the stories of all our coalition members — who together represent an estimated 60% of Californians who hail from the Middle East and North Africa — while portraying the Arab American experience as a monolith to represent the region,” she said.
Another critic, Williamson Evers, also felt the improvement was inadequate.
“The proposed model curriculum is still full of left-wing ideological propaganda and indoctrination,” said Evers, a senior fellow at the Independent Institute, an Oakland think tank. “It still force feeds our children the socialist dogma that capitalism is oppression. It’s almost all Berkeley and little Bakersfield.”
The new draft arrived nearly a year after the California Department of Education shelved the original.
Officials arrived at the latest iteration after reviewing thousands of public comments, convening experts and conducting teacher focus groups.
At its core, supporters say, ethnic studies teaches students how to think critically about the world around them, “tell their own stories,” develop “a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and inclusion” and engage “socially and politically” to eradicate bigotry, hate and racism, according to the earlier draft of the model curriculum.
The model curriculum is meant to serve as a guideline rather than a mandate for schools that choose to offer ethnic studies classes. In California, as nationwide, these courses are increasing in number, with grade-school enrollment nearly doubling from 8,678 in 2013-14 to 17,354 in 2016-17, according to the state Department of Education.
There appears to be broad legislative support for making ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement. Some school systems already have taken that step.
Supporters of the original curriculum include 25,000 people who have signed a “Defend Ethnic Studies” petition, ethnic studies faculty from the California State University and University of California, and many Jewish groups.
R. Tolteka Cuauhtin, a Los Angeles teacher and co-chair of the advisory committee that created the original draft curriculum, said ethnic studies courses can be responsive to all students in a class and integrate other ethnic groups “without de-centering communities of color.”
Cuauhtin said ethnic studies terminology should remain in the curriculum. “Students of color need to also be respected as young intellectuals and given access to academic concepts and disciplinary language,” he said. “Every academic field has its own language, and yes, so does ethnic studies — let’s uplift that and ensure it’s accessible, not erase it.”
“Herstory,” for example, is a term used to describe history written from a feminist or women’s perspective. The term is also deployed when referring to counter-narratives within history.
Assemblyman Jose Medina, the author of the bill that would mandate ethnic studies, is optimistic about how the final product will turn out.
“The model curriculum is still a draft and in the early stages of the input process,” said Medina (D-Riverside). “I trust this process and believe we will end up with a strong ethnic studies framework that will provide a solid structure for educators to build off as they bring ethnic studies to life in their classrooms.”
In a related development, last month the Cal State Board of Trustees revised its general education curriculum for the first time in 40 years to create an ethnic studies and social justice requirement of all undergraduate students.
Ethnic studies faculty and some trustees criticized the requirement as being too broad and diluting the mission of ethnic studies, advocating instead for a narrower requirement proposed in a bill that is currently making its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.


latimes--2020-08-01--Lopez: In Orange County, heart of the mask resistance, one doctor is trying to restore faith in scie

Lopez: In Orange County, heart of the mask resistance, one doctor is trying to restore faith in science

The day was fading fast in Laguna Beach , where people often gather at the water ’ s edge to celebrate gauzy , pink-toned sunsets .
At Heisler Park , my wife and I found a nice perch to take it all in , and watched as a nearby gathering of people grew in numbers , with lawn chairs neatly arranged and a food buffet table set up .
“ This is my sister , ” one man said , introducing a late arrival to the others in the group .
There were elbow bumps and cordial greetings , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another person .
Soon , about 10 or 12 people had gathered .
It was a lovely scene , friends and family enjoying each other ’ s company on a pleasant eve to take in the wonders of the stunning California coast .
Except that a highly contagious and deadly virus is stalking us , and these people weren ’ t wearing masks or distancing , neither of which would have been much of a sacrifice .
Unless they all live together , which didn ’ t appear to be the case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group might be sick and pass the bug on to others , and to others , and to ...
I think this virus eats brain tissue .
From California all the way to D.C. , people have lost their minds .
It should surprise nobody that on Tuesday , Orange County had its highest number of COVID-19 deaths — 15 — in more than a month .
Meanwhile , 203 of the 640 people hospitalized in the county were in intensive care units , and the death toll had climbed to 253 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Huntington Beach — has been at the center of the resistance to sensible precautions , we thought about opting out of our quickie trip to Laguna .
But we had a deadline to use or lose a lodging credit from a canceled trip last year , and I was curious what we ’ d find .
A mixed bag , it turns out .
My wife , daughter and I estimated that roughly half the people who were out and about in town or on beaches were either wearing masks or keeping a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both .
But the other half carried on as if there was no pandemic , even though signs all around downtown Laguna clearly state , “ You Must Wear a Face Covering .
It ’ s the Law.
” One day we hiked the trails at Crystal Cove State Park , and that was 50-50 , too .
There may well be a reduced risk of spreading the virus outdoors , but is there any good reason that people without face coverings , sweaty and panting , need to brush within a couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen told me he thinks a clear majority of Laguna Beach residents and merchants have been playing it safe .
As for residents and visitors who aren ’ t , the city just reassigned trolley drivers to cover the city on foot and hand out masks to those who don ’ t have them .
Last weekend , Whalen said , they approached 7,000 people and distributed 2,400 masks .
Most people were cordial , but some just walked away , he said .
The city ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than write citations for bad behavior .
“ Over the last few weeks , the level of compliance has gone up , ” Whalen said .
“ It ’ s nowhere near where it needs to be , but it has gone up.
” If there ’ s an increase in mask wearing , it might have something to do with the daily educational dispatches from Laguna Beach resident Eric Alcouloumre .
He ’ s an emergency room physician at Hoag Hospital Newport Beach , and he was the subject of a nice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barbara McMurray .
In the story , Alcouloumre took on the Orange County Board of Supervisors for driving the chief public health officer out of her job , the county sheriff for not enforcing mask requirements , and the county Board of Education , which recommended reopening schools without requiring masks or distancing .
And the doctor wasn ’ t done with his scalpel .
“ Our national political leadership has undermined its experts , leaving us unsure of what we should be doing ” and wiping out “ all the gains we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I rang up Alcouloumre , who has practiced emergency medicine for 35 years , he told me he hadn ’ t intended to take up blogging .
But he has posted on his Facebook page more than 100 times in four months , trying to set the record straight on what is known about the virus and how to slow its spread .
He said he got started because his wife — attorney Annee Della Donna — saw people forwarding misinformation and conspiracy theories on social media and told him he had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s all pretty easy and there isn ’ t a lot of depth to what I ’ ve been telling people , ” said the doctor , who has seen a lot of COVID-19 patients in the ER .
“ We need to wash our hands , socially distance and wear a mask.
” Follow those simple instructions , Alcouloumre said — noting that he speaks for himself , not Hoag Hospital — and we ’ ll be able to flatten the curve and reopen businesses faster .
“ I think of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a massive peak and everybody stepped up and did what they were supposed to do .
I think about how that flattened the curve … and where we really blew it was opening a few weeks earlier than experts were telling us to do , ” Alcouloumre told me .
“ You had demonstrations in Huntington Beach , the mask protests , and I don ’ t know if government felt pressure to relax .
But that ’ s where things started going down the toilet for us .
People were getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it just gave the virus another opportunity to spread like crazy.
” In the last week , Acouloumre has been extra busy both in the ER and at his keypad , keeping an eye on the doings in Washington , which is kind of like watching a mockumentary about a bungling dictatorial regime in a time of crisis .
“ Yeah , this circus makes my head spin , ” Alcouloumre wrote , taking on the quack-pot doctors embraced by the stable genius in the White House , including one who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and believes hydroxychloroquine is a COVID-19 cure despite evidence that it often is neither effective nor safe .
“ I ’ ve spent way too much time talking about these yahoos today , ” Alcouloumre quipped .
“ The president may respect them , but I do not .
They are an embarrassment to the medical profession , are dangerous , and in my humble opinion are behaving unethically and contributing to the suffering and death we are facing from COVID.
” The next day , Alcouloumre wrote about Rep. Louie Gohmert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverings in public and reportedly berated staff for wearing masks , then tested positive for COVID-19 himself .
Gohmert said he thinks he got the virus from bowing to pressure and wearing a mask .
I wouldn ’ t be surprised if the congressman now tries to inject some Lysol under the skin to , you know , kill the germs .
“ This is the kind of leadership that is literally killing us , ” wrote Alcouloumre .
“ You can ’ t make this stuff up .
If you wonder why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet , this is another great example.
” And yet there may be hope , judging by the thousands of reactions to Alcouloumre ’ s posts .
“ I ’ d say they ’ re running about 90 % to 95 % positive , ” said the doctor .
Evidence that straight talk and common sense are our best hope .

In Laguna Beach, California, signs are posted that read “You must wear a face covering. It’s the law,” but not everyone is doing it.
The day was fading fast in Laguna Beach, where people often gather at the water’s edge to celebrate gauzy, pink-toned sunsets.
At Heisler Park, my wife and I found a nice perch to take it all in, and watched as a nearby gathering of people grew in numbers, with lawn chairs neatly arranged and a food buffet table set up.
“This is my sister,” one man said, introducing a late arrival to the others in the group.
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There were elbow bumps and cordial greetings, and the sister took a seat inches from another person. Soon, about 10 or 12 people had gathered. It was a lovely scene, friends and family enjoying each other’s company on a pleasant eve to take in the wonders of the stunning California coast.
A lifeguard wearing a face covering heads up the steps in Heisler Park in Laguna Beach. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Except that a highly contagious and deadly virus is stalking us, and these people weren’t wearing masks or distancing, neither of which would have been much of a sacrifice. Unless they all live together, which didn’t appear to be the case, they ran the risk that someone in the group might be sick and pass the bug on to others, and to others, and to ...
I think this virus eats brain tissue. From California all the way to D.C., people have lost their minds.
It should surprise nobody that on Tuesday, Orange County had its highest number of COVID-19 deaths — 15 — in more than a month. Meanwhile, 203 of the 640 people hospitalized in the county were in intensive care units, and the death toll had climbed to 253.
Given that Orange County — particularly Huntington Beach — has been at the center of the resistance to sensible precautions, we thought about opting out of our quickie trip to Laguna. But we had a deadline to use or lose a lodging credit from a canceled trip last year, and I was curious what we’d find.
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The Sanchez family, of Los Angeles, wear their masks while visiting Laguna Beach on Friday, July 31, 2020. In Laguna Beach. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
A mixed bag, it turns out. My wife, daughter and I estimated that roughly half the people who were out and about in town or on beaches were either wearing masks or keeping a safe distance from one another, or both. But the other half carried on as if there was no pandemic, even though signs all around downtown Laguna clearly state, “You Must Wear a Face Covering. It’s the Law.”
One day we hiked the trails at Crystal Cove State Park, and that was 50-50, too. There may well be a reduced risk of spreading the virus outdoors, but is there any good reason that people without face coverings, sweaty and panting, need to brush within a couple of feet of others on the trail?
Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen told me he thinks a clear majority of Laguna Beach residents and merchants have been playing it safe. As for residents and visitors who aren’t, the city just reassigned trolley drivers to cover the city on foot and hand out masks to those who don’t have them.
Last weekend, Whalen said, they approached 7,000 people and distributed 2,400 masks. Most people were cordial, but some just walked away, he said. The city’s policy is to encourage good behavior rather than write citations for bad behavior.
“Over the last few weeks, the level of compliance has gone up,” Whalen said. “It’s nowhere near where it needs to be, but it has gone up.”
Laguna Beach resident Dr. Eric Alcouloumre is an emergency room physician at Hoag Hospital Newport Beach. ()
If there’s an increase in mask wearing, it might have something to do with the daily educational dispatches from Laguna Beach resident Eric Alcouloumre. He’s an emergency room physician at Hoag Hospital Newport Beach, and he was the subject of a nice write-up in the Laguna Beach Independent by Barbara McMurray.
In the story, Alcouloumre took on the Orange County Board of Supervisors for driving the chief public health officer out of her job, the county sheriff for not enforcing mask requirements, and the county Board of Education, which recommended reopening schools without requiring masks or distancing.
And the doctor wasn’t done with his scalpel.
“Our national political leadership has undermined its experts, leaving us unsure of what we should be doing” and wiping out “all the gains we made with our initial efforts.”
When I rang up Alcouloumre, who has practiced emergency medicine for 35 years, he told me he hadn’t intended to take up blogging. But he has posted on his Facebook page more than 100 times in four months, trying to set the record straight on what is known about the virus and how to slow its spread. He said he got started because his wife — attorney Annee Della Donna — saw people forwarding misinformation and conspiracy theories on social media and told him he had to do something.
“I think it’s all pretty easy and there isn’t a lot of depth to what I’ve been telling people,” said the doctor, who has seen a lot of COVID-19 patients in the ER. “We need to wash our hands, socially distance and wear a mask.”
Follow those simple instructions, Alcouloumre said — noting that he speaks for himself, not Hoag Hospital — and we’ll be able to flatten the curve and reopen businesses faster.
“I think of the lockdown in April, when we had a massive peak and everybody stepped up and did what they were supposed to do. I think about how that flattened the curve … and where we really blew it was opening a few weeks earlier than experts were telling us to do,” Alcouloumre told me.
“You had demonstrations in Huntington Beach, the mask protests, and I don’t know if government felt pressure to relax. But that’s where things started going down the toilet for us. People were getting together and having parties and bars reopened, and it just gave the virus another opportunity to spread like crazy.”
Laguna Beach self-appointed greeter, Michael Minutoli wears a mask while promoting the town. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
In the last week, Acouloumre has been extra busy both in the ER and at his keypad, keeping an eye on the doings in Washington, which is kind of like watching a mockumentary about a bungling dictatorial regime in a time of crisis.
“Yeah, this circus makes my head spin,” Alcouloumre wrote, taking on the quack-pot doctors embraced by the stable genius in the White House, including one who specializes in alien DNA and demon seed, and believes hydroxychloroquine is a COVID-19 cure despite evidence that it often is neither effective nor safe.
“I’ve spent way too much time talking about these yahoos today,” Alcouloumre quipped. “The president may respect them, but I do not. They are an embarrassment to the medical profession, are dangerous, and in my humble opinion are behaving unethically and contributing to the suffering and death we are facing from COVID.”
The next day, Alcouloumre wrote about Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), who resisted face coverings in public and reportedly berated staff for wearing masks, then tested positive for COVID-19 himself. Gohmert said he thinks he got the virus from bowing to pressure and wearing a mask. I wouldn’t be surprised if the congressman now tries to inject some Lysol under the skin to, you know, kill the germs.
The city of Laguna Beach has posted signs that read “You must wear a face covering. It’s the law,” but not everyone is on board. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
“This is the kind of leadership that is literally killing us,” wrote Alcouloumre. “You can’t make this stuff up. If you wonder why we are not out of this mess yet, this is another great example.”
And yet there may be hope, judging by the thousands of reactions to Alcouloumre’s posts.
“I’d say they’re running about 90% to 95% positive,” said the doctor.
Evidence that straight talk and common sense are our best hope.
steve.lopez@latimes.com


latimes--2020-08-01--In California's 'Bible Belt,' churches find ways around state's coronavirus lockdown orders

Jennifer Trujillo made a 30-minute trip from her home in San Diego County to the country roads of Wildomar in Riverside County for the first time in weeks .
For the last year , the Pala resident had made the trek up every Sunday to attend the service at Bundy Canyon Christian Church , a complex of colorful old-timey buildings along a rural road .
The coronavirus outbreak had sidelined Trujillo , 37 , from her trips to church , leaving her to reading the Bible and practicing her faith at home .
She knew about the worries of church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That health officials criticized such gatherings as posing a public health risk to parishioners and others they may come in contact with .
But Trujillo would not ignore the call of her pastor to return .
“ I feel safe around this community , ” Trujillo said .
“ The word that the pastor gives forth is amazing and its better in person .
I just wanted to go back.
” And so she did on a mid-July Sunday to an all-too-familiar scene of parishioners packing the pews .
She was instructed not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her immediate household members .
It was a vain attempt at social distancing .
After scouring for a seat , her 9-year-old daughter Morgan and Trujillo settled for a spot near the center of the pews .
Like others , they were squeezed in closer than six feet from other people .
A fan conjured up a light breeze .
Three vocalists and a drummer performed on stage as dozens of people sang along .
Churches across the state have been whipsawed by state closure and reopening orders , as church events have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May , infections tied to singing in a church service in Redwood Valley and two more outbreaks from Mother ’ s Day church services in Mendocino and Butte counties drew concern from public health officials .
Cases linked to singing during church services have drawn the ire of and even some Still , Bundy Canyon kept its usual choral arrangement as the congregation swayed their arms like concertgoers to the singing .
When the services in this church along Bundy Canyon Road began , congregants greeted one another with hugs .
Few wore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to my two witnesses ... these men have power to shut off the sky so that it will not rain during the time that they are prophesying and they have the power to turn water to blood and to strike the earth with every type of plague , ” Randy Eichert intoned from the pulpit as he read from Revelations .
But whatever final judgment the junior minister preached about — the pandemic seemed , at the moment , far from a growing concern .
The tension between safety and faith has coalesced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In parts of California ’ s so-called Bible Belt , the controversy over rising cases of infection and deaths related to the coronavirus has not stopped residents from packing in-person services .
It ’ s what his flock wants , Bundy Canyon Christian Church Pastor Michael Khan said .
“ They didn ’ t like being apart at all , ” Khan said .
“ We have trust in God that nothing will happen .
Since the start of the pandemic , not one of our members got sick or lost their job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” It is an altogether not surprising development in this part of Southern California .
In May , Riverside County was quick to rescind stay-at-home orders and was among the largest proponents for reopening services .
In the county ’ s southwest corner , conservatism and a strong evangelical base distinguish this suburban region from the rest of the Golden State .
Church is a big part of the community stretching across the I-15 from Temecula to Wildomar .
This nexus for megachurches and more than 10 Mormon congregations took the first chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the first lockdown orders eased .
And when Gov .
Gavin Newsom called for the suspension of indoor in-person services the second time around , some ignored it while others moved their worship outdoors , including in parking lots .
Despite the state orders , Bundy Canyon Christian Church hosted about 60 members without masks in their barnyard church — a larger crowd than they normally received at their 10 a.m. service .
Congregants tried to space themselves out and were restricted to sitting next to only people who lived in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s guidelines .
But as the building got closer to reaching capacity , that task became harder .
“ The church isn ’ t very big , we keep families close but others spaced out .
We ’ re not breaking the law per se , ” Khan said .
That is , not God ’ s law .
“ This pandemic has instilled a level of fear in people , and some is unwarranted , ” he said .
“ The church is trying to help people lose this fear through God.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khan reopened in June and invited only members of his worship team — the people that lead services , including members of the choir .
But slowly , more people came back .
Khan said no one from his church has fallen ill due to COVID-19 or lost their job .
“ I ’ m preaching and teaching something I live .
We have faith in God that nothing will happen to us , ” Khan said .
“ And being present is more powerful than it being taped .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it loses its color .
We want to be in that presence.
” Menifee resident Cindy Meddinna wasn ’ t worried about catching any virus when she returned to Bundy Canyon Christian Church .
The church was basically a second home to her .
She couldn ’ t wait to get back .
“ I don ’ t need the building to worship .
The Lord is with me , but I got ta have my fellowship with all of my teachers , leaders and my church family , ” Meddinna said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to church overrode any concerns about COVID-19 .
In fact , she had none of the latter .
“ I am covered in the blood of Jesus Christ and I don ’ t believe in COVID , and God will never allow me to contract it , ” she said .
“ I think it ’ s more of a political thing.
” In Temecula , 61-year-old Lisa Correa , a parishioner who also works as Calvary Chapel Temecula Valley ’ s children ’ s ministry director , reclined back in her seat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a service , which normally would guarantee her a prime spot in the church .
But unlike at Bundy Canyon Christian Church , services had changed here .
Instead of sitting in pews , parishioners would sit on lawn chairs arranged across the church ’ s parking lot .
In addition , they would have to bring their own Bibles to minimize the spread of the virus .
Correa ’ s husband , Frank , 61 , who is an assistant pastor , said the online services “ didn ’ t have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all missed church .
You can hear the message online , but you lack the fellowship.
” “ Even though it ’ s fellowship at a distance , it ’ s still fellowship , ” his wife added .
“ And the singing going on doesn ’ t concern me since we ’ re far back.
” Pastor Chris McPike of Calvary Chapel said the pandemic had brought about a sense of isolation .
The changing directives from the state were also disorienting , he said .
He had to quickly adapt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook for his congregation to view from the safety of their homes .
The pain of preaching to a computer was short lived , though , as he was able to doors to 25 % capacity in June when case numbers slowed .
But just as he was getting into the groove of his socially distanced indoor sermons , the rug was pulled from underneath him .
, the same feeling of disappointment flooded in as cases across the state spiked and he was forced to cancel services that were just coming back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of breaking the law , so he went the route of businesses such as those of hairdressers , nail salon technicians and restaurant owners : He took the word of God outdoors .
“ I ’ ve been through it all as a pastor , ” McPike said .
“ Y2K , H1N1 , and still nothing compares to how COVID has impacted our church .
We want to provide that spiritual experience , but we also want to keep everyone safe.
” During a recent 8 a.m. service , families attempted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the building ; they squinted from the sun as they leafed through their personal copies of the Old Testament and awkwardly waved to their neighbors several feet away .
Most congregants wore masks .
Temecula residents John Wellons , 39 , and his wife , Kimberly , 40 , felt secure not wearing masks because they were sitting near the back in the parking lot .
The couple ached for the days of yore .
“ I think we ’ re in a place where we ’ ve moved past the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some normalcy , so it doesn ’ t scare me , ” Kimberly Wellons said .
“ We ’ re called as Christians to gather and worship the Lord , so that ’ s what I intend on doing .
The safety aspect doesn ’ t scare me.
” As for the virus that has upended the world ?
“ My God is bigger than coronavirus , ” she said .
“ I ’ m not concerned .
”

Jennifer Trujillo made a 30-minute trip from her home in San Diego County to the country roads of Wildomar in Riverside County for the first time in weeks.
For the last year, the Pala resident had made the trek up every Sunday to attend the service at Bundy Canyon Christian Church, a complex of colorful old-timey buildings along a rural road.
The coronavirus outbreak had sidelined Trujillo, 37, from her trips to church, leaving her to reading the Bible and practicing her faith at home. She knew about the worries of church services leading to outbreaks of COVID-19. That health officials criticized such gatherings as posing a public health risk to parishioners and others they may come in contact with.
But Trujillo would not ignore the call of her pastor to return.
Pastor Michael Khan preaches at Bundy Canyon Christian Church. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
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“I feel safe around this community,” Trujillo said. “The word that the pastor gives forth is amazing and its better in person. I just wanted to go back.”
And so she did on a mid-July Sunday to an all-too-familiar scene of parishioners packing the pews. She was instructed not to sit next to anyone outside of her immediate household members.
It was a vain attempt at social distancing.
After scouring for a seat, her 9-year-old daughter Morgan and Trujillo settled for a spot near the center of the pews. Like others, they were squeezed in closer than six feet from other people. A fan conjured up a light breeze. Three vocalists and a drummer performed on stage as dozens of people sang along.
Churches across the state have been whipsawed by state closure and reopening orders, as church events have been tied to coronavirus outbreaks. In May, infections tied to singing in a church service in Redwood Valley and two more outbreaks from Mother’s Day church services in Mendocino and Butte counties drew concern from public health officials. Cases linked to singing during church services have drawn the ire of scientists and even some church leaders.
Still, Bundy Canyon kept its usual choral arrangement as the congregation swayed their arms like concertgoers to the singing.
When the services in this church along Bundy Canyon Road began, congregants greeted one another with hugs. Few wore masks.
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Worshipers gather for a service at Bundy Canyon Christian Church. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
“I will give power to my two witnesses ... these men have power to shut off the sky so that it will not rain during the time that they are prophesying and they have the power to turn water to blood and to strike the earth with every type of plague,” Randy Eichert intoned from the pulpit as he read from Revelations.
But whatever final judgment the junior minister preached about — the pandemic seemed, at the moment, far from a growing concern.
The tension between safety and faith has coalesced in the suburbs of Southern California. In parts of California’s so-called Bible Belt, the controversy over rising cases of infection and deaths related to the coronavirus has not stopped residents from packing in-person services.
It’s what his flock wants, Bundy Canyon Christian Church Pastor Michael Khan said.
Pastor Michael Khan at Bundy Canyon Christian Church. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
“They didn’t like being apart at all,” Khan said. “We have trust in God that nothing will happen. Since the start of the pandemic, not one of our members got sick or lost their job. The church will always be victorious.”
It is an altogether not surprising development in this part of Southern California. In May, Riverside County was quick to rescind stay-at-home orders and was among the largest proponents for reopening services.
In the county’s southwest corner, conservatism and a strong evangelical base distinguish this suburban region from the rest of the Golden State.
Church is a big part of the community stretching across the I-15 from Temecula to Wildomar. This nexus for megachurches and more than 10 Mormon congregations took the first chance to open up its houses of worship when the first lockdown orders eased. And when Gov. Gavin Newsom called for the suspension of indoor in-person services the second time around, some ignored it while others moved their worship outdoors, including in parking lots.
Despite the state orders, Bundy Canyon Christian Church hosted about 60 members without masks in their barnyard church — a larger crowd than they normally received at their 10 a.m. service. Congregants tried to space themselves out and were restricted to sitting next to only people who lived in the same household, per the church’s guidelines. But as the building got closer to reaching capacity, that task became harder.
“The church isn’t very big, we keep families close but others spaced out. We’re not breaking the law per se,” Khan said.
That is, not God’s law.
Worshipers gather for a service at Bundy Canyon Christian Church. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
“This pandemic has instilled a level of fear in people, and some is unwarranted,” he said. “The church is trying to help people lose this fear through God.”
Advertisement
After weeks of online-only services, Khan reopened in June and invited only members of his worship team — the people that lead services, including members of the choir. But slowly, more people came back.
Khan said no one from his church has fallen ill due to COVID-19 or lost their job.
“I’m preaching and teaching something I live. We have faith in God that nothing will happen to us,” Khan said. “And being present is more powerful than it being taped. It’s like photography, every time you reprint it loses its color. We want to be in that presence.”
Menifee resident Cindy Meddinna wasn’t worried about catching any virus when she returned to Bundy Canyon Christian Church. The church was basically a second home to her. She couldn’t wait to get back.
“I don’t need the building to worship. The Lord is with me, but I gotta have my fellowship with all of my teachers, leaders and my church family,” Meddinna said.
To her, being able to return to church overrode any concerns about COVID-19. In fact, she had none of the latter.
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“I am covered in the blood of Jesus Christ and I don’t believe in COVID, and God will never allow me to contract it,” she said. “I think it’s more of a political thing.”
Worshipers gather in the parking lot for a church service at Calvary Chapel Temecula Valley. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
In Temecula, 61-year-old Lisa Correa, a parishioner who also works as Calvary Chapel Temecula Valley’s children’s ministry director, reclined back in her seat. She arrived 15 minutes early for a service, which normally would guarantee her a prime spot in the church.
But unlike at Bundy Canyon Christian Church, services had changed here. Instead of sitting in pews, parishioners would sit on lawn chairs arranged across the church’s parking lot. In addition, they would have to bring their own Bibles to minimize the spread of the virus.
Correa’s husband, Frank, 61, who is an assistant pastor, said the online services “didn’t have the same effect. ... I think we all missed church. You can hear the message online, but you lack the fellowship.”
“Even though it’s fellowship at a distance, it’s still fellowship,” his wife added. “And the singing going on doesn’t concern me since we’re far back.”
Pastor Chris McPike of Calvary Chapel said the pandemic had brought about a sense of isolation. The changing directives from the state were also disorienting, he said.
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Pastor Chris McPike and worshipers gather in the parking lot for a church service at Calvary Chapel in Temecula. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
He had to quickly adapt to online services by posting live videos on Facebook for his congregation to view from the safety of their homes. The pain of preaching to a computer was short lived, though, as he was able to reopen his church doors to 25% capacity in June when case numbers slowed. But just as he was getting into the groove of his socially distanced indoor sermons, the rug was pulled from underneath him.
Two weeks ago , the same feeling of disappointment flooded in as cases across the state spiked and he was forced to cancel services that were just coming back to life.
McPike had no intention of breaking the law, so he went the route of businesses such as those of hairdressers, nail salon technicians and restaurant owners: He took the word of God outdoors.
“I’ve been through it all as a pastor,” McPike said. “Y2K, H1N1, and still nothing compares to how COVID has impacted our church. We want to provide that spiritual experience, but we also want to keep everyone safe.”
Worshipers John and Kimberly Wellons, right, get their temperature taken by church secretary Julie Hamilton, left, as they gather in the parking lot for a service at Calvary Chapel Temecula Valley. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
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During a recent 8 a.m. service, families attempted to find refuge under the receding shade cast from the building; they squinted from the sun as they leafed through their personal copies of the Old Testament and awkwardly waved to their neighbors several feet away.
Most congregants wore masks. Temecula residents John Wellons, 39, and his wife, Kimberly, 40, felt secure not wearing masks because they were sitting near the back in the parking lot. The couple ached for the days of yore.
“I think we’re in a place where we’ve moved past the virus and we need to move back to some normalcy, so it doesn’t scare me,” Kimberly Wellons said. “We’re called as Christians to gather and worship the Lord, so that’s what I intend on doing. The safety aspect doesn’t scare me.”
As for the virus that has upended the world?
“My God is bigger than coronavirus,” she said. “I’m not concerned.”


latimes--2020-07-31--Apple fire in Riverside County grows to more than 4,100 acres, prompting evacuation of hundreds of h

Apple fire in Riverside County grows to more than 4,100 acres, prompting evacuation of hundreds of homes

Firefighters on Saturday continued to battle the Apple fire in Riverside County that has burned more than 4,100 acres in the Cherry Valley area , destroyed one home and prompted evacuations of hundreds of others .
More than 300 firefighters , assisted by several helicopters and air tankers , responded to the fire , which began Friday and sent billowing clouds of white smoke hundreds of feet into the air that could be seen for miles .
Firefighters were battling the blaze in triple-digit temperatures that prompted the National Weather Service to issue an extreme heat warning .
Evacuation orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cherry Valley Boulevard , west of Highland Springs and east of Beaumont Avenue .
They also include residents north of Gilman Street in the Banning Bluff area .
New evacuation orders were put in place Saturday afternoon in Banning for residents north of Wilson Street , east of Sunset Avenue and west of Hathaway Street .
Fire officials said residents can check whether their address is in an evacuation zone through the RivCoReady website .
An evacuation warning was issued about 11:15 a.m. for San Bernardino County residents of the Potato Canyon area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
April Newman , a public information officer with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Riverside County Fire Department , said Saturday that roughly 7,800 residents in over 2,500 households had been ordered to evacuate .
An evacuation center was opened at Beaumont High School for people and animals .
The vegetation fire was reported at 4:55 p.m. Friday in the 9000 block of Oak Glen Road , according to the Riverside County Fire Department .
As of 3 p.m. Saturday , there was zero containment .
Another department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that open land with thick vegetation has provided “ quite a bit of fuel for that fire to continue to burn [ and ] have a lot of intensity.
” He said the fire was burning very close to homes .
In Los Angeles County , a 150-acre brush fire was burning around Castaic Lake , north of Santa Clarita , according to the county fire department .
No structures were threatened .
“ A lot of people ’ s backyards were on fire , ” Herrera said .
“ It ran in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definitely was very threatening .
We could have lost homes , but we brought in a massive amount of ground resources to do structure defense , protect the life and property of all these residents.
” The cause of the fire is under investigation .

San Gorgonio Mtns, Sunday, August 2, 2020 - The Apple Fire continues to burn thousands of acres North of Banning. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
A statue of Smokey Bear is enveloped in smoke from the Apple fire at the Oak Canyon Conservation Camp near Beaumont. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter battles the Apple fire at the Oak Canyon Conservation Camp near Beaumont. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter from Carpinteria monitors a huge plume of smoke from the Apple fire along Bluff Street, north of Banning. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The Apple fire consumes a tree at the Oak Canyon Conservation Camp near Beaumont. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
The Apple fire burns in the San Bernardino Mountains above Beaumont on Saturday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
San Gorgonio Mtns, Sunday, August 2, 2020 - Riverside/CAL firefighter Anthony Vierra cools hot spots after fire swept through the Whitewater Preserve Trail, East of the Apple Fire. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
A plane drops fire retardant over a home as the out-of-control Apple fire burns around it in Cherry Valley, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter sets back fires as the leading edge of the Apple fire rages towards the Oak Canyon Conservation Camp near Beaumont. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A sign with Smokey Bear is enveloped in smoke from the Apple fire at the Oak Canyon Conservation Camp near Beaumont. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A slow camera exposure shows the movement of the Apple fire as it continues to burn into the night in the San Bernardino National Forest just above Bluff Street in Cherry Valley. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters set back fires as the leading edge of the Apple fire rages towards the Oak Canyon Conservation Camp near Beaumont on Saturday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A shell of a burned car sits along Avenida Miravilla days after the Apple fire rushed through on its way to the nearby San Bernardino National Forest. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A sign of gratitude along Oak Glen Road, not far from the presumptive source of the Apple fire, where investigators say they believe a spark from a diesel engine ignited dry brush. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Apple fire continues to burn thousands of acres with little containment. A helicopter hits a hot spot north of Banning. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Apple fire continues to burn thousands of acres north of Cabazon. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A shell of a burned car sits along Avenida Miravilla days after the Apple fire rushed through on its way to the nearby San Bernardino National Forest, where it has burned more than 26,000 acres. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters on Sunday continued to battle the Apple fire that has burned 20,000 acres in Cherry Valley and surrounding areas of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, destroying one home and prompting evacuations of thousands of others.
More than 370 firefighters, assisted by several helicopters and air tankers, responded to the fire, which began Friday and sent billowing clouds of smoke hundreds of feet into the air that could be seen for miles. Firefighters were battling the blaze in triple-digit temperatures that prompted the National Weather Service to issue an extreme heat warning.
As of early Sunday, the fire was zero percent contained.
Evacuation orders remain in place for residents north of Dutton Street and east of Oak Glen Road, south of the San Bernardino-Riverside county line. They also include residents north of Gilman Street in the Banning Bluff area.
New evacuation orders were put in place Saturday in Banning for residents north of Wilson Street, east of Sunset Avenue and west of Hathaway Street. Fire officials said residents can check whether their address is in an evacuation zone through the RivCoReady.org website.
An evacuation warning was upgraded to an order Saturday evening for San Bernardino County residents of the Potato Canyon area west to Raywood Flat. A warning was in place farther to the east for residents north of Morongo Road, east of Millard Canyon Road and west of Whitewater Canyon Road.
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ALERT RIVCO MESSAGE #AppleFire NEW EVACUATION ORDERS issued north of Wilson St, east of Sunset Ave and west of Hathaway St. Interactive map is now available at https://t.co/wMWj2KQQ7e @CALFIRERRU @RSO @CityofBanning @BanningPolice pic.twitter.com/WtnRDUx6Cx — RivCoReady (@RivCoReady) August 1, 2020
April Newman, a public information officer with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Riverside County Fire Department, said Saturday afternoon that roughly 7,800 residents in over 2,500 households had been ordered to evacuate.
An evacuation center was opened at Beaumont High School for people and animals.
The vegetation fire was reported at 4:55 p.m. Friday in the 9000 block of Oak Glen Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Another department spokesperson, Fernando Herrera, said Friday that open land with thick vegetation has provided “quite a bit of fuel for that fire to continue to burn [and] have a lot of intensity.”
He said the fire was burning very close to homes.
The pyrocumulus plume from the Apple fire rises about 32,000 feet into the atmosphere and is visible from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s GOES West satellite. The image was taken at 6 p.m. Saturday. (NOAA and Los Angeles Times)
“A lot of people’s backyards were on fire,” Herrera said. “It ran in between homes and around homes. It definitely was very threatening. We could have lost homes, but we brought in a massive amount of ground resources to do structure defense, protect the life and property of all these residents.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
In Los Angeles County, a 150-acre brush fire was burning around Castaic Lake, north of Santa Clarita, according to the county Fire Department. No structures were threatened.


latimes--2020-08-02--L.A.-area parking spots have become dining areas during the pandemic. Will it last?

On a balmy evening in Atwater Village , diners at candlelit tables shared plates of Cuban food and flights of beer , serenaded by an accordion player down the block .
The scene was almost romantic , but for one catch : The tables were a few feet from rush-hour traffic zipping past on Glendale Boulevard .
“ A table in a parking space , I was a little surprised , ” utility inspector Luis Castillo said as he and a co-worker ate blackened tilapia and arroz con pollo .
“ But it ’ s nice to sit down and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commutes , workplaces and schools .
Now , Southern California ’ s street network , the region ’ s largest public space , is transforming , too .
With COVID-19 cases surging , and indoor dining banned , more than 20 cities have launched programs that allow struggling restaurants to use sidewalks , parking spaces and private lots to serve meals en plein air .
Pasadena narrowed parts of Colorado Boulevard to one lane in each direction to make room for tables , massive umbrellas and potted banana palms .
Long Beach has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eating areas .
And parts of downtown Whittier and Culver City have been closed to cars entirely .
In Los Angeles , nearly 1,300 restaurants have received permits to offer outdoor dining of some kind , including 46 that are setting up in parking spaces .
The city is reviewing six applications to shut down a street , officials said .
The changes , rolled out in a matter of weeks , are among the most dramatic in decades for a region that rarely prioritizes pedestrians above the demands of rush-hour traffic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in place because traffic is far lighter than usual .
Whether Southern California ’ s expanded outdoor dining scene is a permanent shift , or will evaporate when diners can eat indoors again , is “ the million-dollar question , ” said Madeline Brozen , the deputy director of UCLA ’ s Lewis Center .
The pandemic has forced cities and businesses to be more nimble and experimental , she said , and allows them to think about the logistics and trade-offs in real time : “ What ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we have a place to sit outside , or that we have nearby parking ?
” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said outdoor dining areas could become permanent in areas that have “ consensus about saying , ‘ Hey , we can live with a couple fewer parking spaces if that means our local café has a little more land.
’ ” Adding more outdoor seating , he said , will give customers a chance to “ enjoy what L.A. has in spades : great weather , amazing people and beautiful views.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ usually traffic-choked streets has received its fair share of ribbing , including from the satirical publication the Onion , which announced the launch of “ open-air dining areas along the 101 Freeway median.
” Compared with curbside dining in New York , where curbside patios are adorned with millennial pink plywood , lush plantings and white picket fences , L.A. ’ s alfresco dining just isn ’ t as sexy .
Most dining areas are separated from moving traffic by heavy concrete barriers .
Others are in parking garages , including the Glendale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where tables are spaced far apart and placed on strips of fake grass .
“ There ’ s a ‘ protection against car collisions ’ mindset that permeates a lot of our design in L.A. , ” Brozen said .
Curbside dining in L.A. may be spartan , restaurant owners say , but what really matters is the extra capacity until Gov .
Gavin Newsom allows indoor dining to resume .
Capuyo Cafe in Boyle Heights closed for three months at the start of the pandemic .
When the 1st Street cafe reopened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , barely enough to cover expenses , said co-owner Beatriz Zaragoza .
Hoping to add more seating beyond the 600-square-foot shop , she asked L.A. City Hall to convert two loading zone spaces into a seating area .
Already , she said , customers are buying more food because they have somewhere to sit .
“ We don ’ t eat outside enough in L.A. , ” Zaragoza said .
“ My staff , they feel a lot more comfortable with customers dining outside .
And customers can get fresh air and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has popped up outside Xelas , a bar a few doors down .
Other businesses on the block , wary of eliminating too much street parking , are in talks with the city to add an outdoor dining area at nearby Mariachi Plaza .
In late June , the owners of Ayara Thai Cuisine added a parklet on their quiet side street in Westchester .
The restaurant isn ’ t offering table service , but allows people to eat their takeout at outdoor tables draped in floral oilcloth , shaded by yellow Singha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at dinnertime that customers wait in their cars until a table frees up , then swoop in with their food , said chef and owner Vanda Asapahu .
The competition , she said , is “ almost like the new version of looking for a parking spot.
” The restaurant is hosting a weekend of drive-in movies in their adjoining parking lot .
The parklet will serve as a concession stand of sorts , offering Thai-style hot dogs , fried bananas and Lay ’ s spicy chili potato chips .
Asapahu said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and see one side of the street converted into outdoor dining .
For years , Whittier officials had hoped to renovate a block of historic downtown , widening sidewalks and adding outdoor seating , but balked at the $ 3.8-million price tag .
In late June , the city converted a three-block stretch of Greenleaf Avenue into a pedestrian-only street .
Of 18 open restaurants , 14 have set up open-air dining areas on the asphalt , officials said .
Temporarily banning cars achieved the same effect as the city ’ s planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Frank Medina , the president of the Whittier Uptown Assn .
Most restaurants spent $ 2,000 to $ 3,000 outfitting their dining spaces with tables , umbrellas and planters — and doubled their capacity , he said .
“ It ’ s the heart of our downtown , ” City Manager Brian Saeki said .
“ It feels like it ’ s always been there.
” When some business owners complained that the restrictions were an inconvenience to elderly and disabled customers , the city rolled back some of the closures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greenleaf remains closed to cars .
“ I intend to pursue making it permanent , ” Medina said .
“ It ’ s fun .
It ’ s family-oriented .
It just feels right .
”

Brandon and Rose Astudillo of Glendale eat dinner at Baracoa Cuban Cafe in Atwater Village in a new outdoor seating area that occupies three parking spaces.
On a balmy evening in Atwater Village, diners at candlelit tables shared plates of Cuban food and flights of beer, serenaded by an accordion player down the block.
The scene was almost romantic, but for one catch: The tables were a few feet from rush-hour traffic zipping past on Glendale Boulevard.
“A table in a parking space, I was a little surprised,” utility inspector Luis Castillo said as he and a co-worker ate blackened tilapia and arroz con pollo. “But it’s nice to sit down and eat.”
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The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped commutes, workplaces and schools. Now, Southern California’s street network, the region’s largest public space, is transforming, too.
With COVID-19 cases surging, and indoor dining banned, more than 20 cities have launched programs that allow struggling restaurants to use sidewalks, parking spaces and private lots to serve meals en plein air.
Pasadena narrowed parts of Colorado Boulevard to one lane in each direction to make room for tables, massive umbrellas and potted banana palms. Long Beach has converted more than 100 parking spaces into eating areas. And parts of downtown Whittier and Culver City have been closed to cars entirely.
In Los Angeles, nearly 1,300 restaurants have received permits to offer outdoor dining of some kind, including 46 that are setting up in parking spaces. The city is reviewing six applications to shut down a street, officials said.
The changes, rolled out in a matter of weeks, are among the most dramatic in decades for a region that rarely prioritizes pedestrians above the demands of rush-hour traffic. And the changes have been easier to put in place because traffic is far lighter than usual.
Whether Southern California’s expanded outdoor dining scene is a permanent shift, or will evaporate when diners can eat indoors again, is “the million-dollar question,” said Madeline Brozen, the deputy director of UCLA’s Lewis Center.
The pandemic has forced cities and businesses to be more nimble and experimental, she said, and allows them to think about the logistics and trade-offs in real time: “What’s going to bring us more customers? Is it that we have a place to sit outside, or that we have nearby parking?”
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said outdoor dining areas could become permanent in areas that have “consensus about saying, ‘Hey, we can live with a couple fewer parking spaces if that means our local café has a little more land.’”
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Adding more outdoor seating, he said, will give customers a chance to “enjoy what L.A. has in spades: great weather, amazing people and beautiful views.”
Dining on Southern California’s usually traffic-choked streets has received its fair share of ribbing, including from the satirical publication the Onion, which announced the launch of “open-air dining areas along the 101 Freeway median.”
Compared with curbside dining in New York, where curbside patios are adorned with millennial pink plywood, lush plantings and white picket fences, L.A.’s alfresco dining just isn’t as sexy.
Most dining areas are separated from moving traffic by heavy concrete barriers. Others are in parking garages, including the Glendale Galleria’s new food court, where tables are spaced far apart and placed on strips of fake grass.
“There’s a ‘protection against car collisions’ mindset that permeates a lot of our design in L.A.,” Brozen said.
Curbside dining in L.A. may be spartan, restaurant owners say, but what really matters is the extra capacity until Gov. Gavin Newsom allows indoor dining to resume.
Capuyo Cafe in Boyle Heights closed for three months at the start of the pandemic. When the 1st Street cafe reopened in May, sales were down 40%, barely enough to cover expenses, said co-owner Beatriz Zaragoza.
Hoping to add more seating beyond the 600-square-foot shop, she asked L.A. City Hall to convert two loading zone spaces into a seating area. Already, she said, customers are buying more food because they have somewhere to sit.
“We don’t eat outside enough in L.A.,” Zaragoza said. “My staff, they feel a lot more comfortable with customers dining outside. And customers can get fresh air and some vitamin D. ”
Another dining area has popped up outside Xelas, a bar a few doors down. Other businesses on the block, wary of eliminating too much street parking, are in talks with the city to add an outdoor dining area at nearby Mariachi Plaza.
In Westchester, Ayara Thai Cuisine allows customers to eat their takeout at outdoor tables. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
In late June, the owners of Ayara Thai Cuisine added a parklet on their quiet side street in Westchester. The restaurant isn’t offering table service, but allows people to eat their takeout at outdoor tables draped in floral oilcloth, shaded by yellow Singha umbrellas.
The space is so popular at dinnertime that customers wait in their cars until a table frees up, then swoop in with their food, said chef and owner Vanda Asapahu. The competition, she said, is “almost like the new version of looking for a parking spot.”
The restaurant is hosting a weekend of drive-in movies in their adjoining parking lot. The parklet will serve as a concession stand of sorts, offering Thai-style hot dogs, fried bananas and Lay’s spicy chili potato chips.
Asapahu said the restaurant wants to keep the parklet — and see one side of the street converted into outdoor dining.
For years, Whittier officials had hoped to renovate a block of historic downtown, widening sidewalks and adding outdoor seating, but balked at the $3.8-million price tag.
In late June, the city converted a three-block stretch of Greenleaf Avenue into a pedestrian-only street. Of 18 open restaurants, 14 have set up open-air dining areas on the asphalt, officials said.
Temporarily banning cars achieved the same effect as the city’s planned makeover, but for far less money, said Frank Medina, the president of the Whittier Uptown Assn. Most restaurants spent $2,000 to $3,000 outfitting their dining spaces with tables, umbrellas and planters — and doubled their capacity, he said.
“It’s the heart of our downtown,” City Manager Brian Saeki said. “It feels like it’s always been there.”
When some business owners complained that the restrictions were an inconvenience to elderly and disabled customers, the city rolled back some of the closures. A block and a half of Greenleaf remains closed to cars.
“I intend to pursue making it permanent,” Medina said. “It’s fun. It’s family-oriented. It just feels right.”