Updating . .   

Newsom hints at veto of California Democrats' school reopening plan - it's too slow, he says -- Gov. Gavin Newsom suggested Friday that he would veto a schools reopening plan that Democratic legislators plan to advance next week because, he said, it sets a bar for resuming in-person instruction that is far higher than what scientists say is safe. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

California will earmark 10% of weekly COVID-19 vaccine supply for teachers to get more schools open -- Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that state officials will set aside 10% of California’s weekly allotment of COVID-19 vaccine doses for educators starting next month, an effort to jump-start the process of reopening more public school campuses as virus conditions improve in communities across the state. John Myers, Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/19/21

East Bay school board president resigns amid outrage over hot mike moment -- Lisa Brizendine, the former president of the Oakley Union Elementary School District, apologized for remarks she described as “callous and uncalled for” in a statement provided to KTVU. Michael Williams in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

School Sports  

New California sports guidelines will allow football in many counties on Feb. 26 -- The California Department of Public Health released its much-anticipated youth sports update on Friday after weeks of talks with coaches and CIF officials while seeing a major decline in coronavirus cases. Eric Sondheimer in the Los Angeles Times$ Darren Sabedra in the San Jose Mercury$ Fred Robledo, Dan Albano in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Adam Beam Associated Press -- 2/19/21

Virus  

California’s February death toll already exceeds all but one past month -- Despite widespread improvements, February has already become California’s second-deadliest month of the COVID-19 pandemic. Evan Webeck in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/19/21

Thousands lose COVID-19 vaccine appointments in L.A., O.C. Here’s what to do -- The rocky rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is continuing, as several California vaccination sites are again being forced to postpone appointments amid limited supplies. Luke Money, Jennifer Lu, Matthew Ormseth, Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/21

Need a coronavirus test in L.A.? Starting next week, no appointments are needed -- The change applies to the city’s eight testing locations, where residents can walk up or drive through for testing. The city provides free coronavirus testing to all Los Angeles County residents, regardless of insurance status. Jennifer Lu in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/21

Who’s getting vaccinated in California? A county-by-county look at racial data -- Although data is incomplete, in nearly all counties, white people received the largest percentage of vaccine doses — even in counties with large Latino populations. Latinos are the biggest group vaccinated in Los Angeles and two other counties. CalMatters -- 2/19/21

‘We must act now’: Black leaders demand better vaccine access in Sacramento County -- In a letter sent Wednesday to county public health officials and elected leaders, the community advocates point out that Black residents have disproportionately borne the brunt of COVID-19, but have also received a low level of information about and access to vaccines thus far. Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/19/21

For two COVID-19 patients, life and death rests on ‘el tubo’ -- Intubation has become more than a medical procedure. It represents the terrible crossroad of this disease: the moment patients must decide whether to have a tube inserted into their trachea so a machine can take over their breathing. Joe Mozingo, Francine Orr in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/21

These Californians can’t work from home. Here’s how they’re finally getting COVID vaccines -- He was among the first to take advantage of a pilot clinic geared toward vaccinating farm workers in Yolo County, where health workers administered shots to about 200 farm workers at an organic farm known for growing asparagus, tomatoes and winter squash. Kim Bojórquez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/19/21

Policy & Politics 

Video shows Sacramento GOP meeting to expel Proud Boy devolved into threats, profanity -- The Sacramento County Republican meeting at which Proud Boys member Jeffrey Perrine was expelled from the party’s central committee devolved into an angry debate, with Perrine calling members liars and informing them he plans to sue over the dispute, a newly released video shows. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/19/21

Since California speaker rose to power, corporate money flowed to nonprofits tied to his wife -- In the years since Anthony Rendon rose to power as speaker of the California Assembly, nonprofits associated with his wife, Annie Lam, received more than $500,000 in donations and event sponsorships from dozens of companies with business before the Legislature. Hannah Wiley and Lance Williams in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/19/21

The squeeze is on: Amid recall threat, Newsom faces single-payer dilemma -- Gavin Newsom campaigned for governor promising single-payer health care in California. Three years later, is he ready to risk it? Ben Christopher CalMatters -- 2/19/21

Arellano: The California roots of the fight over the term ‘illegal alien’ -- At a time when the economy remains in tatters, the coronavirus continues to kill, and Texas is colder than Stephen Miller’s heart, does Joe Biden really need to worry about what we call those who are in this country illegally? Oh yeah. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/21

Billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer dishes on Biden's environmental efforts, Trump's impeachment, and whether he wants a job in the new administration -- In some other dimension, climate activist Tom Styer is president of the United States. There, he used his billions of dollars to outpoint a packed Democratic field, bounced Donald Trump from the presidency, then painted the White House green with a wildly ambitious environmental agenda. Dave Levinthal Business Insider -- 2/19/21

Street 

DA dropping death penalty in California cop killing case -- The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is no longer seeking the death penalty for a gang member accused of fatally shooting one police officer and trying to kill another one in 2017, prosecutors told a judge in the case Thursday, Feb. 18. Whittier Officer Keith Boyer, 53, was the first police officer in the city killed in the line of duty since 1979. Ruby Gonzales in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/19/21

DMV  

California woman’s new REAL ID has a photo of her wearing a face mask -- If a picture is worth a thousand words, a California woman’s ID photo says a lot about life during the pandemic. Lesley Pilgrim, 25, was issued an identification card from the California DMV with a photo of her wearing a face mask. Kelsie Smith CNN -- 2/19/21

California Policy and P  olitics Friday Morning  

Gov. Gavin Newsom, legislators at odds over $6.6-billion plan to open California elementary schools in April -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday criticized a $6.6-billion legislative proposal to begin opening more elementary campuses in April, a plan he said fell short as negotiations between him and lawmakers have so far failed to result in a compromise. Taryn Luna, John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ Ricardo Cano CalMatters Guy Marzorati, Vanessa Rancaño KQED Jocelyn Gecker and Adam Beam Associated Press -- 2/19/21

California lawmakers push ahead on school reopening deal without Newsom -- California Assembly members have announced a $12.6 billion plan to reopen schools to in-person learning, a proposal that could come up for a vote next week with or without the blessing of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ John Fensterwald EdSource -- 2/19/21

S.F. city attorney to school district: Vaccination demands for reopening will be challenged in court -- San Francisco’s elementary schools can and should reopen immediately based on county health guidelines and irrespective of labor agreements with the school district, City Attorney Dennis Herrera said in a letter to the school district’s contracted attorney Thursday. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

'They want their babysitters back': California school tensions boil over -- Residents in one Bay Area community are demanding that several school board members resign after the officials were captured on video disparaging parents in frank and profane ways as tensions mount over prolonged campus closures. MacKenzie Mays Politico Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

Long Beach Unified is largest school district in California to announce reopening plans -- With over 70,000 students, Long Beach Unified is the largest school district in California to announce school reopening plans, although it will be nearly six weeks before any students will return for regular in-person instruction, and even then on a part-time basis. Louis Freedberg EdSource -- 2/19/21

California launches COVID-19 compliance portal for businesses -- Grappling with the economic fallout surrounding COVID-19 has been challenging enough for businesses, but how can they ensure they’re in compliance with the latest state and local coronavirus-related guidelines? Enter saferatwork.covid19.ca.gov. Kevin Smith in the Orange County Register -- 2/19/21

Vaccine  

L.A. postpones COVID-19 vaccine appointments as winter weather delays shipments -- Thousands of COVID-19 vaccine appointments scheduled Friday at sites run by the city of Los Angeles will have to be postponed after shipments of doses were delayed by the severe winter weather that’s wreaking havoc across the country. Luke Money, Colleen Shalby, Jennifer Lu in the Los Angeles Times$ David Rosenfeld in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/19/21

Bad weather causes vaccine cutbacks. Clinics in Sacramento, NorCal could be delayed -- The nation’s winter storms have delayed vaccine shipments to Northern California, forcing some health care entities to cut back on shot-giving just as many were ramping up, officials said Thursday afternoon. Michael McGough and Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/19/21

Orange County will intermittently close mass vaccination sites due to low supply -- The Disneyland Super POD (point of dispensing) in Anaheim, set up in one of the theme park’s parking lots, closed Thursday and will remain closed through Monday, pending delivery of more COVID-19 vaccine shots, county officials announced in a statement. Ian Wheeler, Alicia Robinson, Deepa Bharath in the Orange County Register -- 2/19/21

Petco Park vaccine superstation will close Friday and Saturday due to supply shortage -- The COVID-19 vaccine superstation near Petco Park will close Friday and Saturday due to bone-chilling winter storms that have swept much of the U.S. and frozen vaccine supply lines. Jonathan Wosen in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/19/21

'Nothing has come': Bay Area vaccine shipments delayed by Midwest storms -- Napa County has essentially “received nothing we expected to receive this week,” Karen Relucio, the county’s public health director, said Thursday. “Nothing has come,” she said, and some residents’ second doses are being delayed as a result. Michael Williams, Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

Staying Afloat  

With raffles, food sales and fundraisers, Latinos do their best to avoid debt -- Food sales, money pools and fundraising campaigns have been a lifesaver for many families affected by the pandemic. Araceli Martinez Ortega CalMatters -- 2/19/21

Restaurant Equiptment  

Pandemic restaurant closures produce glut of used equipment -- The pandemic’s heavy toll on the restaurant industry can be seen in Jose Bonilla Jr.’s cavernous warehouse, which is packed with industrial ovens, grills, mixers, refrigerators, dining tables and chairs. Terence Chea Associated Press -- 2/19/21

Disneyland  

Disneyland considers eliminating monthly payments for annual passes -- The coronavirus pandemic could bring to an end monthly payments for Disneyland annual passes and eliminate a budget-friendly practice that has been blamed for a surge in overcrowding at the Anaheim theme park. Brady MacDonald in the Orange County Register -- 2/19/21

Policy & Politics 

Two tech investors paid for San Francisco billboards urging people to move to Miami -- Few San Francisco residents departed the city for sunny Miami during the pandemic, but that could change if the mayor of Miami and two tech investors get their way. Nora Mishanec in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

Republican infighting rattles bid to oust Democrat Newsom -- California Republicans eager to recall Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom could see their chances eroded by longstanding friction between the party’s conservative and moderate wings, which only has intensified in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s presidency. Michael R. Blood Associated Press -- 2/19/21

New bill would require California agencies to award 25% of state contracts to small businesses -- State Assemblyman David Chiu is introducing a bill Thursday that would require agencies to award 25% of state contracts to small businesses, in hopes of amplifying equity efforts for the business sector left reeling by the pandemic. Shwanika Narayan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

Sen. Padilla takes helm of immigration subcommittee as Biden unveils sweeping reform outline -- Padilla, a Democrat whose path to the U.S. Senate began in Pacoima, will be the first Latino to ever hold the position. Ryan Carter in the Orange County Register -- 2/19/21

A trio of conservative groups tries to torpedo two top Biden nominees -- This time, however, the trio is going negative, hoping to torpedo the confirmations of Vanita Gupta, Biden’s nominee for associate attorney general, and Xavier Becerra, the Democratic attorney general of California and nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services. Meridith McGraw Politico -- 2/19/21

Attempt to censure Valadao over Trump impeachment vote faces roadblocks -- Valadao, whose 21st Congressional District swung for President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, called Trump "a driving force" in the January Capitol riot. In turn, Valadao has faced backlash for his Jan. 13 impeachment vote and been called a "traitor" within certain pockets of his party. Emma Gallegos in the Bakersfield Californian$ -- 2/19/21

Fundraiser for Trump and Obama sentenced to 12 years in prison for foreign money scams -- Imaad Zuberi, a San Gabriel Valley businessman who was one of the country’s top fundraisers for both Democrats and Republicans, was sentenced Thursday to 12 years in prison for schemes to funnel foreign money into U.S. political campaigns and skim millions of dollars for himself. Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/21

What California needs to do to avoid a Texas-style electricity crisis -- California and Texas, the country’s two most populous states, have each faced major energy crises within the past six months that share a primary cause: extreme weather. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

Why Californians ‘shouldn’t feel smug’ about the massive power outages in Texas -- Blackouts were rolling through California, and conservative politicians in Texas were only too happy to pile on with criticism. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/19/21

San Diego County will take progressive approach to jobs, justice, health, Fletcher says -- In his first State of the County address, Board of Supervisors Chairman Nathan Fletcher laid out a sweeping agenda that he acknowledged might be labeled as too ambitious Thursday night. Gary Warth in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/19/21

Harris returns home to L.A. for first time as vice president -- Vice President Kamala Harris plans to return to her Brentwood home Friday for her first extended visit in about a year — and her first as vice president — taking a three-day personal weekend to handle chores, including packing belongings. Noah Bierman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/21

Hero Pay  

Grocers sue San Leandro over new $5-an-hour hazard pay requirement -- The California Grocers Association on Wednesday sued San Leandro, a day after the City Council voted in favor of an immediate and mandatory $5-an-hour pay increase for employees at large grocers that have remained open during the pandemic. Shwanika Narayan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

Gig Jobs  

The Gig Economy Is Coming for Millions of American Jobs -- California’s vote to classify Uber and Lyft drivers as contractors has emboldened other employers to eliminate salaried positions—and has become a cornerstone of bigger plans to “Uberize” the U.S. workforce. Josh Eidelson Bloomberg Businessweek -- 2/19/21

'I can't keep doing this': gig workers say pay has fallen after California's Prop 22 -- Weeks after Proposition 22 went into effect in California and exempted some major tech firms from fully complying with labor laws, workers for rideshare and delivery apps in the state claim poor working conditions have persisted and pay has decreased. Michael Sainato The Guardian -- 2/19/21

EDD  

New EDD chief speaks on California's unemployment fraud challenge -- The new head of California’s Employment Development Department said Thursday that she’s trying to balance stopping fraud with paying benefits to people who need them. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

EDD woes: Agency’s efforts to pay suspended claims crawl forward -- The Employment Development Department is validating just a modest fraction every week of the 1.4 million unemployment claims that were abruptly suspended due to suspected fraud, California’s embattled labor agency revealed Thursday. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/19/21

Street  

O.C. deputies argued over whether to stop Black man before fatally shooting him -- Before fatally shooting a Black man in San Clemente last year, two Orange County sheriff’s deputies argued over whether the man had illegally crossed the street and whether it was necessary to stop him, a newly released recording reveals. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ Robert Jablon Associated Press -- 2/19/21

Man shot to death by Fontana police was unarmed, department says -- A burglary suspect who Fontana police shot to death on Saturday, Feb. 13, was fired upon as he emerged from a portable toilet unarmed late at night, the Fontana Police Department said Thursday. The death of Daverion Kinard just hours before his 29th birthday came from a single shot, a news release said. Brian Rokos in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 2/19/21

Oakland plan to replace police with mental health workers in disarray -- As protests against police brutality swept Oakland in June, the City Council took a bold step toward rethinking public safety: It set aside $1.85 million for a new program to dispatch counselors and paramedics to mental health crises, instead of armed law enforcement officers. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

UC Irvine civil rights clinic sues OC district attorney over unregulated DNA database -- The DA's office 'has created a secretive system of genetic surveillance that was never authorized by state law,' claims a professor. Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register -- 2/19/21

San Diego County, Sheriff’s Department lose appeal in inmate ‘brain bleed’ case -- Lawyers for the County of San Diego lost their appeal of a multimillion-dollar jury verdict against sheriff’s deputies and jail staff in the case of a man who suffered permanent brain damage from falling in a jail cell and not receiving immediate treatment. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/19/21

Push and pull over Los Angeles policing hits roadways and transit -- The ongoing debate over policing levels in Los Angeles centered on the transportation sector Thursday as Metro officials considered paying for more officers on the city’s transit system and the Los Angeles Police Department announced it would no longer send officers to minor traffic collisions. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/21

Education 

S.F. community groups trying to stop UCSF's expansion of Parnassus campus -- Three organizations are expected to file separate lawsuits Friday in an effort to stop UCSF from building a 2 million square-foot hospital and academic facility expansion at its historic Parnassus campus. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

Racial slurs, 'violent language' disrupt Oakland schools online workshop -- A “small” group of people participating in Oakland Unified School District’s Early Literacy Summit and Family Workshop on Zoom disrupted the livestream with “expletives, racial slurs, and violent language” and an “obscene video,” district officials said Thursday night. Lauren Hernández in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

School Sports    

High school coaches hope Gov. Newsom has ‘good news’ to announce Friday -- High school athletes in Southern California might get news Friday, Feb. 19 they have been waiting for – an announcement from Gov. Gavin Newsom that the state’s restrictions on youth sports are being scaled down. Steve Fryer in the Orange County Register -- 2/19/21

Immigration / Border    

Biden directs ICE to focus arrests and removals on security threats -- Administration officials issued interim guidance Thursday to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to focus on “significant threats,” as President Biden’s order for a 100-day pause on most deportations remains hampered by court rulings out of Texas. Molly O’Toole in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/21

Homeless  

Employee’s COVID infection forces temporary closure of Sacramento homeless warming centers -- Two of Sacramento’s homeless warming centers will be closed Thursday night after someone who recently worked at both places tested positive for COVID-19. The Library Galleria at 828 I St. and Southside Pool House at 2107 Sixth St. will be deep cleaned, city officials said in a news release. Noel Harris in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/19/21

Housing  

Berkeley considers ending single-family zoning by December 2022: A 'big deal' -- Berkeley is the latest city looking at opening up these exclusive neighborhoods to more housing as the region struggles with exorbitant rents and home prices and increasing homelessness. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

Also . . .   

Texas Storms, California Heat Waves and ‘Vulnerable’ Utilities -- Power failures have cast a spotlight on whether energy companies and regulators are doing enough to prepare for climate change and natural disasters. Ivan Penn in the New York Times$ -- 2/19/21

When will cable cars return? Future of San Francisco's iconic transit vehicles uncertain -- The iconic transportation system will roll again, Muni officials say, but when the cars will return and what that will mean for the rest of the city’s transit network and the recovery of the tourist industry is unclear. Mallory Moench, Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/21

POTUS 46  

Biden’s immigration bill lands on the Hill facing bleak odds -- Congressional Democrats unveiled President Joe Biden’s expansive immigration reform bill Thursday, which would provide an eight-year pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants. But it already faces dim prospects for becoming law with such narrow Democratic majorities in both chambers. Laura Barrón-López, Heather Caygle and Anita Kumar Politico -- 2/19/21