.

Updating . .   

What the road map for reopening California after COVID-19 surge looks like -- California is beginning to reopen as the winter surge of COVID-19 continues to decline. But it’s going to be a methodical process, guided by changes in geographic areas and involving a slow return of various activities, venues and businesses. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

Vaccine access codes meant for underserved groups are getting shared by text among healthy, privileged Bay Area residents -- Dimitri Anthes received a text message from a trusted friend Monday afternoon, telling him that vaccines at the Oakland Coliseum were at risk of expiring and that anyone could sign up to get one using a special access code. Meghan Bobrowsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/24/21

False claims in texts, emails led to misuse of vaccine codes intended for those in need -- In Los Angeles, the rumor spread like wildfire through group texts and email chains: The government was testing the appointment system at a new COVID-19 vaccination site at Cal State L.A., and you could help by using a special access code to sign up for a shot. Julia Wick, Laura J. Nelson, Maya Lau in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

Smith: Of course, Californians misused vaccine codes. The system is designed for grift -- If there has been one constant in California’s roller-coaster rollout of its COVID-19 vaccination program, it has been the cheaters. Erika D. Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

Arellano: What Oxnard can teach L.A. and the rest of California about COVID-19 -- This working-class, super-majority Latino city remains the brown-skinned stepchild of a county where the split between wealthy suburbs and agricultural towns is straight outta the 1950s. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

School  

L.A. school reopening contingent on full staff vaccinations, making for uncertain date -- Los Angeles schools Supt. Austin Beutner on Tuesday presented a plan to the school board for reopening campuses that includes the full period needed for employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, delaying the return of elementary students to early April at best. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

California students in richer areas far more likely to be back in classrooms -- As pandemic drags on, a CalMatters data analysis reveals that students who currently have no option to attend class in person are much more likely to live in poorer areas. Ricardo Cano and Jeremia Kimelman CalMatters -- 2/24/21

Wildfire  

Victims fund sues 22 former PG&E officials over 2017, '18 wildfires - wants more money -- The trust responsible for paying settlements to tens of thousands of Northern California wildfire victims is suing 22 former Pacific Gas and Electric Co. executives and board members of its parent company. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/24/21

Policy & Politics 

GOP says California has too much money. Will it hurt Biden’s COVID stimulus plan? -- California has collected about $10.5 billion more in tax revenue this fiscal year than expected, giving Washington Republicans fresh ammunition aimed at derailing a huge federal aid package for state and local governments. But the state’s Democrats continue to maintain the COVID-related aid is badly needed. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/21

California workers could get 2 weeks of sick leave for COVID, quarantines under new proposal -- If passed, the package would restore a temporary benefit that expired at the end of last year and let more workers stay home to prevent the coronavirus from being spread at workplaces, legislators and labor advocates said. Jeong Park in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/21

Legislators introduce bill to create toll-free hotline for reporting hate crimes -- The bill is being introduced in light of an increase in violence against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the Bay Area. Ashley Wong in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/21

He wants to kick Jim Crow out of the California Constitution -- Dorsey Nunn knows more about one particular line in the California Constitution than anyone would ever want to. It’s the line that harkens back to the dark days after the Civil War, the one that bans slavery — more or less. Maria L. La Ganga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

Tiger  

Unlikely Tiger Woods faces charges, might have been distracted, sheriff says -- Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Wednesday, Feb. 24, there was no evidence Tiger Woods was impaired when he crashed the SUV he was driving the day before on a stretch of road in Rancho Palos Verdes known for frequent accidents. Josh Cain, Nathaniel Percy in the Orange County Register -- 2/24/21

Hero Pay  

Berkeley passes hazard pay for grocery store workers -- Berkeley joins other cities such as Oakland, San Leandro, Long Beach and Seattle and Santa Clara County with its acceptance Tuesday night of an emergency ordinance that would guarantee grocery workers the hazard pay. Angela Ruggiero in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/24/21

Rent  

Despite pandemic nosedive, S.F.'s rental prices still highest in nation, report shows -- The pandemic drove an astounding decline in rental prices across the notoriously pricey Bay Area over the past year. But recent data shows that might be coming to an end. Kellie Hwang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/24/21

Street  

Sheriff releases video from chase, shootout that killed Sacramento Deputy Adam Gibson -- Sheriff’s officials say the suspect, identified by the coroner as Robert Calderon, fired nine shots at deputies at point-blank range after crashing an SUV in a Cal Expo parking lot. Deputies reportedly pursued Calderon after he fled a parole stop in Sacramento County. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/21

'Guy lay dead here and no one noticed': What happened to supposedly compassionate San Francisco? -- Payal Gupta lives in a second story apartment on the corner of Webster and Bush streets, where her days pounding away on a laptop are accompanied by the bustle of Lower Pacific Heights outside her windows: Drivers zipping past, residents coming and going, construction crews working on neighboring buildings. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/24/21

East Bay coyote bites fifth victim, sparking 24-hour predator hunt -- A coyote that has attacked both grown men and children and eluded traps has spawned a massive, 24-hour search in this East Bay suburb, where jittery residents keep children close and hikers carry noisemakers. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

Homeless  

The LA Conservation Corps assembling pallet dwellings for homeless around Los Angeles -- The LA Conservation Corps and Seattle-based shelter builder Pallet this week began working together to assemble 425 prefabricated individual shelters around Los Angeles for homeless people. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/24/21

Assembly included: IKEA helps furnish new homeless shelter in Costa Mesa -- A new homeless shelter in Costa Mesa is set to welcome residents by the end of next month. First it needs furniture, but that’s not a problem — there’s a local store ready to deliver the goods, free of charge. Theresa Walker in the Orange County Register -- 2/24/21

 

California Policy and P  olitics This Morning  

While L.A.’s coronavirus numbers improve, county reaches ‘terrible milestone’ -- Los Angeles County has surpassed 20,000 deaths from COVID-19, the public health department announced Tuesday, even as daily coronavirus case counts are tumbling. An additional 157 deaths were reported Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 20,057. The United States passed 500,000 deaths Monday. Hayley Smith, Rong-Gong Lin II, Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

California waiving millions of dollars in state business fees in new COVID stimulus -- Hundreds of thousands of small businesses from restaurants to nail salons will not have to pay licensing fees until 2023, under California’s $7.6 billion stimulus measure signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom Tuesday. Jeong Park in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/21

5 California counties get looser COVID restrictions. Others could soon follow -- California public health officials promoted five counties into looser, red-tier COVID-19 restrictions Tuesday, the most significant progress toward reopening within the state’s color-coded tier system in more than three months. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/21

School  

S.F. school board approves plan with labor unions to reopen classrooms -- San Francisco school officials unanimously approved a health and safety agreement with labor unions allowing the reopening of schools before the end of the academic year. Nanette Asimov, Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/24/21

San Diego Unified sets April 12 target date for reopening schools -- Nearly a year after San Diego Unified closed its schools due to the pandemic, the state’s second-largest district plans to reopen schools for all grade levels the week of April 12 — but that target date is contingent on the county getting out of the most-restrictive purple tier and on school staff getting access to both COVID vaccine doses, the district announced Tuesday. Kristen Taketa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/24/21

Riverside County elementary schools cleared to reopen -- Riverside County now meets a state standard that allows elementary schools with approved coronavirus-prevention plans to return to in-person instruction, officials announced Tuesday, Feb. 23. Jeff Horseman in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 2/24/21

Pandemic drives parents to put older kids in day care; providers ‘literally had to become teachers’ -- When public schools closed last March, Tanya García watched attendance at her busy Hollywood day care plunge. Some days, only one toddler came. But in recent months, Angelica’s Daycare has been busier than ever — particularly among school-aged students. Sonja Sharp in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

SFUSD Isn’t Alone: Escalating Pressures Facing Lawmakers in School Reopening Debate Across Bay Area -- At a recent meeting of the Fremont Unified School District Board of Education, Superintendent CJ Cammack presented the results of a self-selecting survey of parents, asking their feelings about continuing remote learning across the district's 42 schools. Guy Marzorati KQED -- 2/24/21

Orange County plans to open multiple vaccination sites for school employees -- School employees could soon have access to multiple locations for receiving a COVID-19 vaccine shot as Orange County begins to inoculate its education sector. Dan Albano in the Orange County Register -- 2/24/21

Teachers, support staff, child care providers can now get vaccine through San Bernardino County -- All teachers, school support staff and licensed child care providers living or working in San Bernardino County are eligible to be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus as of Tuesday, Feb. 23. Ryan Hagen in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 2/24/21

School Sports 

Youth sports to resume outdoors in Orange County on Friday, officials say -- Youth football and other high-contact outdoor sports will be permitted to resume in Orange County beginning Friday, bringing the county in line with recent guidelines released by the California Department of Health, officials said Tuesday. Hannah Fry, Andrew Turner in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

High school football can begin in L.A. schools as COVID-19 threshold is met -- The California Department of Public Health released its updated COVID-19 numbers Tuesday, Feb. 23, which revealed the adjusted case rate per 100,000 was 12.3 for Los Angeles County. The guidance given by state officials on Friday permits outdoor youth competition if a county’s rate reaches 14 or lower. Tarek Fattal in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/24/21

San Francisco won’t commit to following California’s reopening of football, outdoor prep sports -- Tougher rules remain in place in San Francisco that will prevent the return of high school football and other high- and moderate-contact sports in the county as allowed under a new set of state guidelines released last week. Evan Webeck, Darren Sabedra in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/24/21

Vaccine  

Newsom vows changes after vaccine earmarked for hardest-hit communities improperly used by others -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced that California would be making changes to a program designed to address inequities in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, after a Times report uncovered evidence that outsiders were misusing the program to grab appointments reserved for residents of neighborhoods hit hardest by the pandemic. Julia Wick, Maya Lau, Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

When could S.F. reach herd immunity as vaccinations speed up? A UCSF expert explains the math -- After a sluggish start, San Francisco’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout has picked up in recent weeks. The city reached a high of nearly 6,000 daily vaccinations in mid-February before widespread shortages caused mass vaccination sites like Moscone Center to temporarily close. Susie Neilson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/24/21

40% of inmates in California’s corrections system have been vaccinated for COVID-19 -- About 40% of people in the custody of California’s corrections system have received the COVID-19 vaccine, a figure praised by prison advocates who say that only a fraction of the state’s vaccine is needed to protect a population that’s one of the most vulnerable to the virus. Leila Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

Percentage Of Fully Vaccinated San Diegans Inching Up, But Fewer Average Daily Doses -- At least 6.7% of San Diego County's population have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. That's an increase from about two weeks ago when the figure was 2.6%. Tarryn Mento KPBS -- 2/24/21

‘Not acceptable’: Sacramento not getting fair share of COVID vaccine, county alleges -- Sacramento County officials on Tuesday charged the state with short-changing them on vaccine doses under a new distribution system — and complain they have asked the state to recalculate planned shipments, but have so far been rebuffed. Michael McGough and Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/21

Farmworkers  

‘A lot of people say they’re afraid.’ COVID-19 vaccine fears plague California farmworkers -- Like many other vulnerable groups, farmworkers hold fears about the safety of the vaccine. Those fears are exacerbated by the community’s distrust of government and a widespread belief that getting vaccinated will mean they could be targeted by immigration enforcement, said Manuel Pastor, director of USC’s Equity Research Institute. Nadia Lopez in the Merced Sun Star -- 2/24/21

Hero Pay  

L.A. County approves ‘hero pay’ mandate of $5 an hour for grocery workers -- Hundreds of grocery store workers in unincorporated Los Angeles County will receive $5 an hour in hazard pay on top of their regular wages as part of the county’s “hero pay” mandate that goes into effect Friday and lasts 120 days. Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

Santa Clara County passes hazard pay for grocery and pharmacy workers -- The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday night unanimously passed a law temporarily mandating that large grocery stores in unincorporated areas of the county pay their workers an additional $5 an hour on top of their regular wages to compensate them for continuing to risk contracting coronavirus while on the front lines. Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/24/21

Tiger  

Woods faces hard recovery from serious injuries in car crash -- Anish Mahajan, the chief medical officer, said Woods shattered tibia and fibula bones on his right leg in multiple locations. Those were stabilized by a rod in the tibia. He said a combination of screws and pins were used to stabilize additional injuries in the ankle and foot. Stephanie Dazio and Doug Ferguson Associated Press -- 2/24/21

Road where Tiger Woods crashed known for high speeds, sharp turns and danger, residents say -- The section of Hawthorne Boulevard in Rancho Palos Verdes where Tiger Woods lost control of his car Tuesday and was seriously injured in a rollover crash is known to local residents as a danger zone prone to accidents. Faith E. Pinho, Christina Schoellkopf, Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

Policy & Politics 

California is struggling to reopen schools. Could it spell trouble for Newsom in a recall? -- The final day of the California Republican Party convention last weekend opened with an advertisement. Images of Gov. Gavin Newsom flashed on the screen, criticizing him for sending his children to private schools while public schools remain closed. Lara Korte in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/21

Newsom feuds with fellow California Democrats over schools -- California Democrats and Gov. Gavin Newsom are in rare conflict with the governor slamming a school reopening bill he says would set districts further back as lawmakers align with teachers unions by seeking stricter guidelines than the federal government recommends. Mackenzie Mays Politico -- 2/24/21

Walters: Another chance to act on housing -- When he was running for governor three years ago, Gavin Newsom promised, rather absurdly, that he would spearhead a drive to build 3.5 million new housing units by 2025. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 2/24/21

House freshmen who won tight districts: Focus on the issues -- A pair of freshmen lawmakers from swing congressional districts said Tuesday that putting policy ahead of partisanship is their key to winning competitive races in a sharply partisan political era. Ben Leonard Politico -- 2/24/21

Federal judge says California can enforce net neutrality law -- A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that California can for the first time enforce its tough net neutrality law, clearing the way for the state to ban internet providers from slowing down or blocking access to websites and applications that don’t pay for premium service. Adam Beam Associated Press -- 2/24/21

Extremists on cops’ radar — even in ‘progressive’ California -- As the role of violent extremists captures the public’s attention, law enforcement and other groups in California are trying to answer basic questions: Who are they? Where are they? Anthony Robert Capitol Weekly -- 2/24/21

White Boards   

New hires to corporate boards in California still mostly white, despite state law -- A new report on statewide corporate board diversity shows recent hires were still mostly white, despite a new California law requiring board positions to be increasingly filled with people from different backgrounds. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/24/21

Water  

Red alert sounding on California drought, as Valley gets grim news about water supply -- A government agency that controls much of California’s water supply released its initial allocation for 2021, and the numbers reinforced fears that the state is falling into another drought. Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/21

Street  

Police Commission reinstates one of LAPD’s first Black officers, undoing 120-year-old injustice -- Undoing a 120-year-old injustice, the Los Angeles Police Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to posthumously reinstate and retire with honor one of the LAPD’s first Black officers, who they say was pushed out of the department in 1900 based on false allegations against him. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

Bretón: She’s been in Yolo County for years. Then COVID hit — and the anti-Asian racism started -- It’s a terrible thing when you don’t feel safe in your community. It’s even worse when you fear your fellow residents. It’s worse still when your fear of fellow residents is based on their hatred of who you are, how you look, where your ancestors came from. Marcos Bretón in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/21

Berkeley man arrested as anti-Asian hate-crime suspect -- Oakland police said an unnamed media partner shared what it described as “disturbing remarks toward members of the Asian community” posted on social media on Feb. 11 by the man, who police recognized from his arrest on a firearm charge earlier this year. George Kelly in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/24/21

LAPD admits it made hundreds more traffic stops in South L.A. than it told The Times -- Los Angeles Police Department officials earlier this month downplayed a return to controversial investigative traffic stops in South L.A. in part by telling The Times that the number of stops was dramatically lower than it used to be — with just 74 stops so far this year. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

Berkeley adopts sweeping police reforms including taking cops off routine traffic stops -- The Berkeley City Council adopted sweeping reforms to the city’s Police Department on Tuesday that will require written consent for police searches, the firing of racist officers and elimination of police stops for low-level offenses — such as failing to wear a seat belt or driving with expired license plate tags. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Angela Ruggiero in the San Jose Mercury$

LAPD captain’s home searched as part of investigation into alleged sale of stolen guns -- Los Angeles Police Department detectives searched the home of a captain Thursday as part of an investigation into the alleged sale of more than 20 firearms stolen from the police academy gun store, according to law enforcement sources. Richard Winton, Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

Education  

Homeless students in L.A. charter schools struggle more than peers at traditional schools, study finds -- Homeless students attending charter schools in Los Angeles County have significantly lower attendance and graduation rates than their peers at traditional public schools, according to new research from UCLA. Carolyn Jones EdSource -- 2/24/21

Utility Bills  

California utility customers $1.25 billion behind on bills -- Looking across the customer base of the state’s major investor-owned utilities, the California Public Utilities Commission says 3.3 million residential customers have past-due bills and taken together, the amount eclipses the $1 billion mark. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/24/21

Climate   

Audit slams state air board for ‘overstating’ greenhouse gas cuts -- The state auditor warned that California may not meet its goal to cut greenhouse gases by 40% by 2030 if it doesn’t pick up the pace. Emissions from transportation have increased since 2013, which the report calls “a problematic trend.” Rachel Becker CalMatters Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/21

Housing  

Waiting for apartments where the pavement ends -- The red flags are everywhere for a builder staring out at wide swaths of Riverside County’s second largest city: grassy lots, bumpy dirt roads, entire blocks without streetlights and an unreliable water system where water pressure drops without warning. Nigel Duara CalMatters -- 2/24/21

Also . . .   

Father and son from Southern California must pay millions for national drug rehab fraud, judge says -- A father-son team must pay $26.7 million in restitution, and do time in federal prison, for fraudulently signing up addicts for health insurance and getting kickbacks from treatment centers in California. Teri Sforza, Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register -- 2/24/21

Report: Fry’s Electronics to close all remaining stores -- Sunnyvale-based retailer was founded in 1985 as a one-stop shop for the ‘hi-tech professional’ Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/24/21

A Sacramento food influencer made her name in Dubai. She has a new plan for the U.S. -- Despite the fact that she’s been up since 3 a.m. and caught about five hours of sleep, Lamees AttarBashi picked up the call with an easy laugh and a boisterous personality that bubbles through the phone. Ashley Wong in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/21

POTUS 46   

Biden to order review of critical U.S. supply chains -- President Biden is taking steps to secure access to key components in computers, electric cars and medical drugs, senior administration officials said Tuesday, an acknowledgment that the United States has been too reliant on China for critical manufacturing. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/21

-- Updates

Tiger Woods hospitalized after serious rollover crash near Rancho Palos Verdes -- Woods was the sole occupant of a Genesis GV80 SUV that was traveling north on Hawthorne Boulevard at Blackhorse Road when he crashed just after 7 a.m., authorities said. The vehicle sustained major damage, and Woods had to be extricated from the wreckage by Los Angeles County firefighters and paramedics, sheriff’s officials said. Hayley Smith, Richard Winton, Faith E. Pinho, Sam Farmer in the Los Angeles Times$ Stefanie Dazio and Doug Ferguson Associated Press -- 2/23/21

HHS pick says pandemic is top job, but agenda is broader -- Health secretary nominee Xavier Becerra told senators Tuesday that confronting the coronavirus pandemic will be his first priority if confirmed, but he also pledged to expand health insurance, rein in prescription drug costs and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in medical care. Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Associated Press -- 2/23/21

California’s coronavirus strain looks increasingly dangerous: ‘The devil is already here’ -- A coronavirus variant that emerged in mid-2020 and surged to become the dominant strain in California not only spreads more readily than its predecessors, but also evades antibodies generated by COVID-19 vaccines or prior infection and is associated with severe illness and death, researchers said. Melissa Healy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/21

LA County’s daily case count falls below 1,000 for first time since October -- For the first time since late October, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported fewer than 1,000 new coronavirus cases on Monday, Feb. 22, finding good news after a long and devastating winter surge. Bradley Bermont in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/23/21

More California restaurants, cinemas, gyms could reopen this week as COVID-19 cases drop -- Several counties could be eligible to open indoor operations at restaurant dining rooms, gyms, movie theaters, museums, zoos, aquariums and colleges as soon as Wednesday amid a dramatic improvement in the COVID-19 pandemic. Rong-Gong Lin II, Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/21

L.A. resumes COVID-19 vaccinations, with priority to those who lost appointments -- Los Angeles is resuming vaccination appointments after several days of postponements and delays driven by inclement weather. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/21

Californians broadly back COVID-19 hazard pay, protections for farmworkers, poll finds -- Californians overwhelmingly support legislation that provides enhanced farmworker protections and gives hazard pay to essential workers, according to a poll released by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. Erin B. Logan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/21

L.A. city report on grocery ‘hero pay’ warns of potential layoffs, price increases -- A new city report on the Los Angeles City Council’s proposal to require grocery store owners to temporarily boost the pay of their workers raises questions about how grocery chains will shoulder the additional cost. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/21

These Californians are less worried about COVID-19, getting a vaccine or wearing a mask -- Fewer than half of California Republican voters are eager to get a COVID-19 vaccine, according to a recent survey gauging interest in the shots the promise to be the single best tool in ending the deadly pandemic. Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/21

Stimulus   

Gavin Newsom signs California stimulus laws -- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Tuesday that will send state stimulus payments to low-income Californians and undocumented immigrants struggling financially amid the pandemic. That means Californians who earn below $30,000 annually and qualify to receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit will see one-time $600 stimulus payments soon under Newsom’s $9.5 billion Golden State Stimulus plan. Kim Bojórquez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/21

How do I get California’s $600 COVID relief payment and how quickly will it come? -- Here is what to expect in the coming weeks, along with information about how to get the benefits: Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/21

School   

L.A. parents demand schools reopen, saying science and improved conditions are on their side -- When Los Angeles parent Cynthia Rojas heard that federal experts and local health authorities said elementary campuses could reopen, she was ecstatic. But then reality hit her: Campuses in the L.A. Unified School District would not reopen anytime soon. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/21

Coronavirus: School outbreak study ties spread to teachers -- Amid debate over reopening public schools closed for almost a year by the coronavirus pandemic, a new federal study Monday indicated that when there were outbreaks on campus, they were chiefly driven by infected teachers. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/23/21

California is struggling to reopen schools. Could it spell trouble for Newsom in a recall? -- The final day of the California Republican Party convention last weekend opened with an advertisement. Images of Gov. Gavin Newsom flashed on the screen, criticizing him for sending his children to private schools while public schools remain closed. Lara Korte in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/21

Policy & Politics 

Xavier Becerra survives fireworks-free Senate confirmation hearing -- Republicans have called Xavier Becerra a radical leftist, but during his first Senate hearing on his nomination to run the federal Health and Human Services Department, the atmosphere was collegial. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/23/21

Newsom pushes private seawater desalting plant over local and environmental opposition -- When Gov. Gavin Newsom was photographed dining at an opulent Napa Valley restaurant during a surge in coronavirus cases, many Californians saw it as hypocrisy. For opponents of a planned $1-billion desalination plant along the Orange County coast, however, the optics were menacing. Bettina Boxall in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/21

Following Biden’s lead, California Democrats want to strike illegal ‘alien’ from state laws -- California Democrats introduced a bill last week that seeks to eliminate the term “alien” from state laws, an immigration classification used to describe undocumented immigrants and foreign-born individuals. Kim Bojórquez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/21

Street  

Berkeley to consider sweeping police reforms including taking cops off routine traffic stops -- As anti-police brutality protests swept the Bay Area last summer, Berkeley and other cities vowed to address racial disparities in police departments. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/23/21

Carbon Goal   

California will fail to meet carbon reduction goals, scathing audit of state predicts -- The state auditor criticized California’s air-pollution agency for mishandling some of its climate-change programs Tuesday, saying the state is in danger of failing to meet the Legislature’s targets for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/23/21

California's electricity prices are so high that researchers worry people won't ditch fossil fuel -- The state’s electric rates are now two to three times what it costs to provide power, a paper released by the energy institute at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and the nonprofit think tank Next 10 reported. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/23/21

Cal Grant  

Major expansion of Cal Grant financial aid proposed for state’s college students -- Nearly 200,000 more California college students could receive state assistance for tuition and living expenses under one of the largest expansions of the Cal Grant financial aid program ever proposed, according to details released Tuesday. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/21

Also . . .   

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, poet and founder of City Lights, dead at 101 -- Lawrence Ferlinghetti, poet, publisher, painter and pivotal figure to the Beats and about every other counterculture literary movement in San Francisco, has died at 101. Sam Whiting in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Elaine Woo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/21

Tiger Woods hospitalized after roll-over crash near Rancho Palos Verdes -- Woods was the sole occupant of the car, which was traveling north on Hawthorne Boulevard at Blackhorse Road when he crashed just after 7 a.m. The vehicle sustained major damage, and Woods had to be extricated from the wreckage with the Jaws of Life by Los Angeles County firefighters and paramedics, sheriff’s officials said. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/23/21