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Daily California coronavirus cases triple as pandemic dramatically worsens -- The coronavirus is now infecting more Californians daily than at any previous point in the COVID-19 pandemic, raising concerns about a new peak in coronavirus-related deaths by Christmas. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/20

Bay Area county hits a record as California coronavirus cases surge -- San Mateo County recorded the most coronavirus cases it has logged since the start of the pandemic on Saturday as California and the Bay Area experienced a surge just days before major holiday traveling begins for many. Aldo Toledo in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/22/20

Hospitals brace for holiday COVID surge, fearing staff shortages and burnout -- Since the middle of October, doctors and nurses at Loma Linda University Medical Center had been warily watching news reports of a spike in COVID-19 patients in the Midwest. They knew that, sooner or later, their own hospital would be hard hit. They just didn’t know when. Maria L. La Ganga, Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/20

Bay Area sees racial shift in coronavirus: Positive tests down for Latinos, up for whites -- For the first time since the pandemic hit in full force, coronavirus cases among Latino residents — who for many months have borne the brunt of COVID-19 — are decreasing, while cases among white residents are increasing in parts of the Bay Area. Tatiana Sanchez, Catherine Ho and Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/22/20

We’re closer than ever to a COVID-19 vaccine. That has some San Diegans of color concerned -- Those conversations revealed many people of color are concerned that science has been polluted by politics and isn’t being explained to them clearly. Others worry their communities are being used for clinical trials without an assurance they’d have access to an approved vaccine. Jonathan Wosen, Andrea Lopez-Villafaña in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/22/20

The third wave of coronavirus is washing over the Bay Area. How will we weather the storm? -- A third, formidable wave of the coronavirus pandemic is crashing over the Bay Area, and it’s likely to be the most demanding test yet of the regional resolve that has never tamed the virus, but so far has prevented much of the deadly devastation most feared. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/22/20

COVID-19 outbreak at Concordia University infects almost 50 students, 16 employees -- Nearly 50 students and 16 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 at Concordia University in Irvine, the school’s coronavirus dashboard for active cases showed on Saturday, Nov. 21. Dan Albano in the Orange County Register -- 11/22/20

Arellano: ‘Scared like crazy’: Going viral saved Burritos La Palma from the ravages of COVID-19 -- In early June, Albert Bañuelos took stock of his finances and came to the same conclusion that too many restaurateurs have had to make in this coronavirus year: Maybe it was time to close for good. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/20

Will Prop. 19 substantially increase home inventory in California? -- California voters narrowly approved Proposition 19, allowing older homeowners to bring tax benefits with them if they move. Phillip Molnar in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/22/20

Street  

L.A. hits 300 homicides for first time in a decade -- The milestone comes amid growing concerns about spikes in violence this year, not just in Los Angeles but also other big cities across the nation. From Saturday into Sunday morning, there were four killings, among other shootings, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Much of the violence occurred in South L.A. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/20

School   

New uniforms, more training on the way for San Diego school police amid scrutiny of law enforcement -- San Diego Unified will increase training for school police and principals and change school police uniforms in an effort to improve interactions between students and school police. Kristen Taketa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/22/20

One year after a pledge died, SDSU still struggles to control its fraternities -- It should have been a momentous night, the kind a fraternity pledge remembers forever. Gary Robbins, Lyndsay Winkley in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/22/20

Also . . .   

San Pedro’s Ports O’ Call was torn down. A new waterfront is finally taking shape -- On the main channel of Los Angeles Harbor where the city’s shipping industry was born more than a century ago, a kitschy imitation of a New England fishing village called Ports O’ Call opened in 1962. Roger Vincent in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/20

 

California Policy and P  olitics Sunday Morning  

L.A. County on brink of additional restrictions with more than 4,500 new coronavirus cases -- Another round of distressing case numbers has Los Angeles teetering on the brink of further restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus — including the likely shutdown of outdoor restaurant dining. James Rainey, Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/20

Despite another single-day COVID record, many San Diegans stick to holiday travel plans -- Public health officials worry travelers will bring the coronavirus with them — even if they’ve gotten a negative test result. Jonathan Wosen in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/22/20

Bars empty out as curfew takes effect across most of California -- A curfew took effect across most of California at 10 p.m. on Saturday night, prompting bars and restaurants around the Bay Area to close earlier than usual. Lauren Hernández in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/22/20

Rebellious Roseville restaurant complies as coronavirus curfew closes Sacramento nightlife -- As a 10 p.m. curfew in purple-tiered counties across California took effect Saturday night, a Roseville restaurateur said he would be filing suit against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration after threatening to stay open late. Vincent Moleski in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/22/20

If Merced and Valley law enforcement aren’t enforcing COVID-19 state curfew, is anyone? -- State alcohol officials say they will be enforcing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s curfew in Fresno and other parts of the central San Joaquin Valley, where municipalities have told their law enforcement not to. Thaddeus Miller in the Merced Sun-Star -- 11/22/20

These 2 SLO County gyms are operating indoors despite COVID-19 orders. This is why -- Kennedy Club Fitness is choosing to operate indoors at its four San Luis Obispo County locations, and urging other local fitness centers to do the same. That’s in opposition to state orders for California counties in the purple tier of coronavirus restrictions, including San Luis Obispo County. Nick Wilson in the San Luis Obispo Tribune -- 11/22/20

Policy & Politics 

Walters: Revenue windfall creates political dilemma -- As Gov. Gavin Newsom makes the final decisions on writing a 2021-22 budget, he’s receiving some good revenue news from his beancounters. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 11/22/20

Willie Brown: Newsom only hurt himself by attending fancy restaurant party -- I have been asked repeatedly about Gov. Gavin Newsom breaking his own COVID contact guidelines by attending a birthday party for his lobbyist friend at the exclusive French Laundry in the Napa Valley. “It’s one of the world’s great restaurants,” is my usual reply. Willie Brown in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/22/20

Third Straight Weekend Of Protests, Violence As Trump Supporters Descend On California’s Capitol -- Another pro-Trump rally in downtown Sacramento on Saturday turned violent when demonstrators squared-off with counter-protesters. Scott Rodd Capital Public Radio -- 11/22/20

Wildfire  

After the Bobcat fire, a century-old community hopes to rebuild its storied past -- It was one of the hottest weekends ever recorded in Southern California, but Greg Vanni’s mind was elsewhere. All day Sunday, Sept. 6, his phone received one ominous message after another: ALERT. EVACUATION. FIRE. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/20

POTUS 46  

Joe Biden spent much of the general election in his basement. Now, he and his aides ponder a very public inauguration -- Discussions are ongoing about requiring everyone to wear masks and stand at a social distance, according to interviews with a half dozen people involved in the planning. Those allowed near Biden for the inauguration ceremony will likely undergo coronavirus testing. Matt Viser in the Washington Post$ -- 11/22/20

POTUS 45  

Trump’s quest to overturn election runs into quiet resistance from local and state Republicans -- President Trump’s effort to persuade state and local Republicans to help him in overturning the election has so far run into a quiet resistance that could mark a coming end to his attempt at an unprecedented power grab. Toluse Olorunnipa, Amy B Wang and Chelsea Janes in the Washington Post$ -- 11/22/20

Trump campaign requests recount of hand-recounted results in Georgia, which is unlikely to change outcome -- The Trump campaign on Saturday requested a formal recount of the 5 million presidential votes in Georgia in an apparent effort to exhaust its options for challenging the result in a state that narrowly backed President-elect Joe Biden. Michelle Ye Hee Lee in the Washington Post$ -- 11/22/20

Beltway   

The Founders didn’t prepare for a president who refuses to step down, historians say -- There is nothing in the Constitution about what to do if a president refuses to step down when his term expires, according to three historians and a constitutional law professor. Gillian Brockell in the Washington Post$ -- 11/22/20

Saturday Updates

Experts, California residents question curfew effectiveness -- Come Saturday night, Califrnia will join other states and nations in trying a partial overnight curfew as its latest desperate attempt to stem a surge in coronavirus cases, though experts said its effect may be more symbolic than real and many law enforcement agencies are refusing to enforce it at all. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 11/21/20

Coronavirus infection rate hits unprecedented levels in California and officials worry how bad it will get -- California capped a week of unprecedented coronavirus spread, with officials unsure how much worse it will get while placing hope that new restrictions could help slow infections as the holidays approach. Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money, Sean Greene in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/20

L.A. County coronavirus cases top 4,000 Friday; possible stay-at-home orders loom -- As Los Angeles County braced for a possible return to business closures and stay-at-home orders on Friday, Nov. 20, public health officials reported another day of alarmingly high new coronavirus cases, this time hitting 4,272. David Rosenfeld, Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 11/21/20

East San Fernando Valley: A ‘perfect storm’ for alarming coronavirus spread -- The largely Latino working class community fits all the hallmarks of higher coronavirus infection rates. David Rosenfeld, Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 11/21/20

California’s new stay-at-home order now in effect: What you need to know -- A modified stay-at-home order goes into effect for much of California as of Saturday morning, part of a new effort to slow the rapid spread of the coronavirus. Here are the details of the order: Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/20

Curfew could come to San Francisco within days; drop to purple tier expected as soon as Sunday -- San Francisco could return to the state’s most restrictive purple tier as early as Sunday as cases of COVID-19 surge, which would place the city under California’s new curfew order within two days and force almost all indoor activities to shut down. The item is in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/21/20

Here’s how law enforcement agencies will — or won’t — enforce it -- Despite a major surge in coronavirus cases, many Southern California policing agencies say they’re taking an education-first approach to the new curfew that takes effect for much of the state Saturday rather than aggressive enforcement. Alex Wigglesworth, Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/20

As COVID surges in California nursing homes, experts worry what’s ahead -- Despite remaining sequestered inside their walls for more than eight months, almost totally isolated from family members and the outside world, residents of long-term care facilities across California now face another dangerous spread of the coronavirus in their midst. Annie Sciacca in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/21/20

San Diego County reports record number of new COVID-19 cases -- San Diego County health officials on Friday reported 1,091 new coronavirus cases, a single-day record, with county hospitals hitting 76% of total capacity. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/21/20

Judge To Rule Monday On San Diego Businesses Lawsuit On Indoor Operations -- A judge is expected to issue a written ruling Monday on a request from four San Diego County businesses seeking to resume indoor operations following the county's recent slide into the restrictive purple tier of the state's coronavirus reopening plan. KPBS -- 11/21/20

Why more companies don’t test employees for coronavirus -- Brandon Hudgins works the main floor at Fleet Feet, a running-shoe store chain, for more than 30 hours a week. He chats with customers, measuring their feet and dashing in and out of the storage area to locate right-size shoes. Sometimes, clients drag their masks down while speaking. Others refuse to wear masks at all. Hannah Norman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/21/20

A cellphone-based COVID alert soon will be available to UC San Diego Health users -- About two weeks after 18-year-old Philip Tajanko moved into his UC San Diego dorm room, he tested positive for COVID-19. He has no idea where he caught the disease. Lyndsay Winkley in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/21/20

Video visits rolling out at five California state prisons -- Each eligible inmate will receive a free 30-minute video visit every 30 days, the department said. The video visits will take place on weekends and holidays. Visitors must make reservations and have the necessary equipment and internet access. Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/20

Masked and loving it -- In a year defined by upheaval, the mask has become controversial. But for many in the Bay Area, it shines as a personal statement — a blank canvas for self-expression. Tony Bravo and Kelsey McClellan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/21/20

How to be a responsible Bay Area shopper this holiday season -- But their challenges are still immense: They are trying to survive financially and keep employees healthy amid the frightening surge of coronavirus cases. And even as holiday shopping holds the promise of increased sales, many customers are strapped for cash, as unemployment benefits vanish for many by the end of December. Shwanika Narayan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/21/20

Borenstein: More will die from COVID because of timid Newsom response -- With decisive action desperately needed, the governor sidelined himself with the dinner debacle at French Laundry. Daniel Borenstein in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/21/20