Updating . .   

Awaiting census count, California ponders slow growth future -- In 1962, when California’s population of more than 17 million surpassed New York’s, Gov. Pat Brown celebrated by declaring a state holiday. In the coming days, when the U.S. Census Bureau is expected to release the state’s latest head count, there probably will be no celebrations. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 4/24/21

California’s Highway 1 near Big Sur reopens after collapse -- Gov. Gavin Newsom and work crews stood on the freshly paved and marked roadway to celebrate the reopening of the main artery to and from Big Sur, which attracts millions of tourists who visit the famous coastal region each year. Associated Press -- 4/24/21

California’s housing market smashed another record -- The median price for a single-family home in the Golden State reached a new high of $758,990 in March, according to state figures announced Friday by the Department of Finance. That’s a nearly a 6% bump from the previous record of $717,930 announced in December, and a 24% increase from a year ago. Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/24/21

While Sacramento Housing Construction Was Strong In 2020, Affordable Housing Still Lags -- Despite the pandemic, Sacramento construction zoomed along in 2020, marking a 15% increase over 2019. But while the city experienced a sharp increase in the number of affordable housing units built, the city fell well below its state-issued goals. Developers working in the city added 3,600 housing units of various types in 2020. Ed Fletcher Capital Public Radio -- 4/24/21

SDSU lecturer’s use of stereotype sparks debate about academic free speech and race -- San Diego State University is the latest institution to become embroiled in a heated debate over what’s acceptable language in an academic setting. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/24/21

San Diego Museum of Art accused of tolerating sexual harassment, racial inequity -- Too often, when the San Diego Museum of Art hosts fund-raising events that feature alcohol, guests drink more than they should and grope female workers, a former museum attendant said in an online complaint that has drawn support from hundreds of people in the past few days. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/24/21

Knight: After death of baby, S.F. domestic violence victim advocates ask whether Chesa Boudin is doing enough -- The news itself was crushing. A 7-month-old baby boy named Synciere Williams died Tuesday. The man charged with taking care of him that day, Joseph Williams, 26, was booked by police for allegedly murdering the child. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21

Lopez: In Sacramento, legislative attempts to slow down drivers have hit speed bumps -- If you have any doubt that lead-footed drivers are everywhere, elevating risks for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, I’m guessing you haven’t been outdoors in the last year or so. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/21

Genocide   

Biden formally recognizes killing of more than 1 million Armenians as genocide -- President Biden on Saturday formally recognized as a genocide the killing of more than 1 million Armenians starting in 1915, a label long used by historians but resisted by U.S. presidents to avoid angering Turkey, an important ally. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/21

Armenians spent their lives demanding U.S. recognition of genocide. Victory is here -- After 43 years of feeling a “certain way” — defined by the fight to have the massacre of her Armenian ancestors recognized as genocide — Lori Mesrobian isn’t sure what emotions will spring up if that actually happens. Lila Seidman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/21

24/7 Port    

Historic cargo surge in L.A., Long Beach ports spur 24-hour supply chain discussions -- Cargo backups at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are accelerating talk of the importance of a 24/7 supply chain operation, a complex transition that would require buy-in from numerous sectors across the nation. And none of that would be easy. One leading industry official compared the task to “solving world hunger.” Donna Littlejohn in the Orange County Register -- 4/24/21

Also . . .   

This huge waterfront property is up for sale in Tiburon, with 2,000 feet of private shoreline -- Previously listed at $47 million, the land comes with all the plans and permits squared away for a sprawling estate with space for a 15,000-square-foot main residence, 2,200-square-foot guesthouse, and 700-square-foot “caretaker’s quarters.” Annie Vainshtein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21

Cruises expected to relaunch by the end of this year, pending ongoing talks with CDC -- Ocean cruise liners are expected to once again begin sailing out of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach later this year, after being anchored for more than a year by the coronavirus pandemic, officials say. Donna Littlejohn in the Orange County Register -- 4/24/21

Marin kayaker to embark on epic solo paddle from S.F. to Hawaii -- As Cyril Derreumaux navigated his kayak beneath the Golden Gate Bridge on a sunny afternoon, a humpback whale breached beside his boat, spraying him with salty mist. “I took that as a good omen,” he said. Gregory Thomas in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21

California Policy and P  olitics Saturday Morning  

Coronavirus infections slowing sharply across California as vaccines take hold -- While thousands of new coronavirus cases are still reported daily across California, their pace is slowing like a speeding car nearing a freeway exit ramp. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21

Should California end its outdoor mask mandate? Bay Area experts weigh in -- Coronavirus cases have dropped sharply. A majority of California adults are vaccinated. And the risk outside is low. So why do we still need a pandemic restriction that everyone seems to hate — the outdoor mask mandate? Many experts and advocates are asking just that. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21

Vaccine  

Want a vaccine at the Oakland Coliseum site? You're gonna need a car -- The Oakland Coliseum mass vaccination site is transitioning away from walk-up appointments, meaning residents will need to arrive by car to receive a shot going forward, according to county officials. Meghan Bobrowsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21

L.A. County prepping to resume administering Johnson & Johnson vaccine -- Los Angeles County is ready to once again administer the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after federal health agencies on Friday officially lifted the pause that’s kept those doses in limbo for more than a week. Luke Money, Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/21

U.S. lifts pause on J&J vaccinations, clearing the way for shots to resume -- Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine will be back in circulation this weekend after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accepted an advisory panel’s decision that the disease-fighting benefits of the shots outweighed the risks. Melissa Healy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/21

Del Mar Superstation Expanding Vaccinations: ‘As Many As 10,000 A Day’ -- Demand continues to outweigh available supply, but with weekly doses increasing there is hope more vaccinations can be delivered in a race against the virus's variants. Matt Hoffman KPBS -- 4/24/21

Stanislaus County will be phasing out mass COVID vaccine clinics -- As the turnout declines at stationary vaccine clinics, the county plans to phase out the large clinics in Modesto, Turlock and other cities and take a more targeted approach with vaccination efforts. Ken Carlson in the Modesto Bee$ -- 4/24/21

School  

San Diego County Public Schools Saw Big Enrollment Drops Due To Pandemic -- Schools in San Diego County and across California saw steep drops in enrollment this year as parents pulled their students from the public school system for other alternatives amid the pandemic, according to newly released state data. Joe Hong KPBS -- 4/24/21

COVID Economy  

What experts say is the one risk to the Bay Area’s economic recovery -- California could be on the path to recover from the COVID-19 recession even faster than the United States as a whole, but experts warn that rosy predictions about a surging economy depend on one key assumption: no surprises. Leonardo Castañeda in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/24/21

Policy & Politics 

Democrats ask Justice Barrett to step aside from California case on charitable donors, citing conflict of interest -- The Supreme Court hears arguments Monday on a California law requiring charitable groups to disclose to the state the names of their largest donors, a law challenged by a conservative organization that also spent at least $1 million in last year’s campaign to confirm Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21

Street  

Alameda launches independent probe into police custody death of Mario Gonzalez -- Gonzalez died Monday after suffering a “medical emergency” while Alameda police officers tried arresting him and putting his hands behind his back, police said Wednesday. The 26-year-old man’s family have questioned the police department’s account of what happened that morning, saying that he was healthy and had no known medical conditions. Lauren Hernández in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21

Vacaville police investigate officer's violent arrest of teen with autism -- Video showing portions of the arrest obtained by NBC Bay Area and other news outlets appeared to show an officer approach the teen on the sidewalk in the city’s Somerville neighborhood Wednesday afternoon. Moments later, the officer appears to grab the teen and violently throw him to the pavement. Nora Mishanec in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21

Two people found dead in Yosemite West murder-suicide, officials say -- Two people were found dead Thursday in Yosemite West, a small community accessed through Yosemite National Park, in what officials are describing as a murder-suicide. Leila Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/21

Fremont police release video showing dog attack, fatal police shooting of man in hotel parking lot -- Police on Friday released an edited compilation of videos showing a man detectives were tracking being attacked by a police dog and fatally shot by two officers in a hotel parking lot on April 1 after authorities said he pointed a gun at them and yelled “kill me.” Joseph Geha in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/24/21

Homeless  

L.A. city to fight judge’s order demanding action on skid row -- The city of Los Angeles plans to file an appeal against a sweeping order by a federal judge that demanded urgent action to get people off skid row, according to court papers filed Friday. Emily Alpert Reyes, Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/21

Education  

L.A. school board names Megan Reilly, head of business services, as interim superintendent -- The Los Angeles Board of Education has appointed Megan Reilly, who oversees the district’s massive finance, business and operations arm, as interim superintendent two days after schools chief Austin Beutner announced he would not seek a new contract when his current agreement expires on June 30. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/24/21

S.F. school board sued over controversial change to Lowell High School admissions policy -- Opponents of the move to end merit-based admissions at the academically elite Lowell High School are suing the San Francisco school board, claiming it violated the state’s open meetings law when it voted in February to accept any student who wins a lottery to attend. Emma Talley in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21

Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs gives UCSD $14M to study politics, economics -- Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs and his wife Joan — whose donations have helped turn UC San Diego into a national power in health, engineering and medicine — gave the campus $14 million Friday to boost its presence in politics and economics. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/24/21

Environment  

Saved from devastating Santa Cruz fire, young salmon must now survive the ocean -- Part of the southernmost population of endangered Central California Coast coho salmon, the 14-month-old smolts’ lives have been bookended by two natural disasters: last year’s wildfire and this year’s drought. Tara Duggan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21

Border  

Cross-border traveler details violence that led to CBP officer’s arrest -- It’s been a year and a half, and Jose Andrez Lopez says he still doesn’t know why a Customs and Border Protection officer repeatedly kicked him as he lay on the ground during a trip through the Calexico Port of Entry. Kristina Davis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/24/21

Water  

Nestle told to stop spring water diversions in San Bernardino Forest -- California's Water Resources Control Board on Friday asked Nestle to stop unauthorized natural spring water diversions in the San Bernardino Forest after a probe revealed multiple violations and depletion of resources. Reuters -- 4/24/21

Fire  

Big Basin Redwoods: Slow progress on rebuilding after wildfire, “a massive job” -- Nearly eight months after Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Big Basin Redwoods State Park to see the damage after a major wildfire, green sprouts are coming back on the blackened trunks of the park’s ancient redwoods. But as a trek into the park revealed this week, not much else has changed on the charred landscape. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/24/21

Develop  

City balks at Oakland A's funding plan for proposed $12 billion waterfront ballpark and development -- But city officials were surprised by the A’s new plan, which proposes using tax-generated revenue from the site to fund infrastructure costs. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21

Struggling East Bay mall could become mixed-use site for housing, retail -- The world’s largest industrial landlord has purchased the struggling Hilltop shopping center in Richmond, setting the stage for a huge development proposal that would include a logistics center as well as a mix of retail and housing. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/24/21