Updating . .   

Oakland City Council approves terms for A's Howard Terminal ballpark and development over team's objections -- The Oakland City Council approved a proposed term sheet Tuesday for the A’s $12 billion plan to build a waterfront ballpark and accompanying development at Howard Terminal, but it’s unclear whether the A’s will continue to negotiate or walk away from the project. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Annie Sciacca in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/20/21

Sacramento bomb plot suspect nearly wins release. How his wife kept him in jail -- One of the men accused of plotting to blow up the California Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento came within minutes of winning his release from jail Tuesday, but the deal fell through after his wife changed her mind about taking responsibility for him while he awaits trial. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/21

56% of Californians are being asked to wear masks indoors again as Delta variant rages -- Six more California counties are urging residents to wear masks in indoor public settings amid concerning upticks in coronavirus cases and continued circulation of the highly contagious Delta variant. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/21

If you're fully vaccinated, what's your risk of 'long COVID' as delta variant spreads? -- Most COVID-19 vaccines are proving very effective at protecting against severe illness and hospitalization from the delta variant, but breakthrough cases do occur — and some experts have said that the potential for lingering health problems known as “long COVID” gives them pause. Kellie Hwang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/21

Pasadena is first city in Southern California to require vaccines for all city employees -- Amid the quickening spread of the coronavirus’ Delta variant, Pasadena will require all city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 once the shots receive federal approval. Faith E. Pinho in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/21

Will California need a new mask mandate? Delta variant brings Newsom new challenges -- With the spread of COVID-19 on the rise, Gov. Gavin Newsom faces a delicate decision over whether to again impose statewide mask requirements in all indoor public places and risk upsetting Californians just weeks before they decide if he should be recalled from office. Phil Willon, Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/21

Here’s how Delta surge compares to the last 2 times California tightened COVID rules -- As the Delta variant fuels rapid increases in COVID-19 cases across virtually every corner of California, it remains to be seen whether the state will retake the reins with broad restrictions, or the burden to curb spread will stay on individual counties as it has been since mid-June. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/21

Vaccinated Pelosi staffer tests positive for COVID after Texas Dems meeting -- A senior staff member to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tested positive for the coronavirus this week, but her office said it doesn’t believe Pelosi herself is at risk. The staffer, a senior spokesperson, was fully vaccinated, according to Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill, but nevertheless tested positive for the virus on Monday. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/21

Apple Delays Office Return by At Least a Month as Covid Spikes -- Apple Inc., responding to a surge in Covid variants, is pushing back its office re-opening by at least a month to October at the earliest and recommending that workers at its retail stores wear masks, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Mark Gurman Bloomberg -- 7/20/21

Fire  

Two fast-moving California fires are creating their own dangerous weather systems -- A pair of fast-moving wildfires in California have chewed through nearly 100,000 acres while spewing noxious smoke, generating pyrocumulus clouds, lightning and other dangerous weather conditions and adding to the state’s growing wildfire misery. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/21

Water  

Thieves are stealing California’s scarce water. Where’s it going? Illegal marijuana farms -- As drought grips most of California, water thefts have increased to record levels. Thieves tap into hydrants, pump water from rivers and break into remote water stations and tanks. Julie Cart CalMatters -- 7/20/21

Policy & Politics 

Newsom recall: Here are the tech heavyweights pouring money into the race -- As money from donors pours into California’s recall election, tech millionaires and billionaires have been at the front of the line writing five-, six- and even seven-figure checks to help influence the outcome of the contest. Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/21

Six things to know about the Newsom recall candidates’ tax returns -- Gov. Gavin Newsom knew he was forcing his future opponents to make more information about themselves public when he signed a law in 2019 requiring gubernatorial candidates to release five years of tax returns. What he didn’t know then, however, was that the first round of competitors would surface during a recall election in 2021. Laurel Rosenhall and Sameea Kamal CalMatters -- 7/20/21

The recall candidates running to replace Newsom disclosed their tax returns. Here’s what they say -- California voters are getting an unprecedented peek at the personal finances of the candidates seeking to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in September’s recall election, after hundreds of pages of documents were published online detailing salaries, investments and taxes paid over the last five years. John Myers, Phil Willon, Patrick McGreevy Melody Gutierrez, Julia Wick in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/21

Larry Elder sues California secretary of state in an effort to get on the recall ballot -- Conservative talk radio host Larry Elder has sued Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, saying he was unfairly disqualified from running in the recall election aimed at ousting California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Lara Korte in the Sacramento Bee$ Michael R. Blood Associated Press -- 7/20/21

State Senate candidate gets endorsement from former education leader in crowded race -- State Senate candidate and former state insurance commissioner Dave Jones has won the support of former state education leader and lawmaker Tom Torlakson in his bid for the Sacramento-area seat. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/21

A's

Oakland City Council could take key vote Tuesday on A's Howard Terminal ballpark and development -- The Oakland City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on a proposed term sheet for the A’s proposed $12 billion waterfront ballpark project and accompanying development at Howard Terminal. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/21

Street  

Poway synagogue shooter pleads guilty to murder, attempted murder -- John T. Earnest, now 22, admitted charges of murder and attempted murder in a plea deal that spares him a potential death sentence. He pleaded guilty to all the charges he faced, including an arson charge for setting fire to an Escondido mosque a month before the attack on the synagogue, and he admitted that both acts were hate crimes. Teri Figueroa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/20/21

Education  

How California schools are fighting ransomware attacks -- As ransomware attacks target them, some California schools are scrambling to respond while others have done little to protect themselves. Zayna Syed CalMatters -- 7/20/21

Housing  

Another month, another record: SoCal home prices hit all-time high -- Southern California’s real estate market hit another historic peak in June, with home prices soaring to yet another all-time high, though analysts see the extreme bidding wars of the last year beginning to ease. Jack Flemming in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/21

Also . . .   

‘The face of hunger’: Thousands can’t afford to eat in Sacramento. How COVID made it worse -- The line of cars snaked through Hiram W. Johnson High School’s parking lot and down four blocks at 8:30 a.m. The meals wouldn’t be distributed for another half hour. Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks and Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/21

8-year-old boy fatally hit by illegal fireworks July 4 in San Bernardino County -- An 8-year-old boy was killed after being struck by illegal fireworks at a block party in Colton earlier this month, San Bernardino police said. Melissa Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/21

How far-right rage over transgender rights at an L.A. spa led to chaos in the streets -- The activists arrived outside the Wi Spa in Westlake Saturday morning, some prepared for the worst. Several wore bike helmets and vests with extra padding. N.W.A.’s “F— Tha Police” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” filled the air. Leila Miller, Anita Chabria, Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/21

 

 

California Policy and Politics Tuesday Morning  

Firefighters achieve mixed success in containing Northern California fires -- As hot weather continued to bake the state Monday, multiple fires in Northern California increased in size and threatened communities, with the worst two being the Dixie and Tamarack fires. Faith E. Pinho in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/21

Virus  

Hollywood crews could be forced to vaccinate under new deal with unions -- Producers will have the option to mandate vaccinations for their cast and crews working in close proximity to actors, leading entertainment industry unions and an alliance of Hollywood producers said Monday night. Anousha Sakoui in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/21

Will anyone enforce L.A. County’s new indoor mask mandate? -- Los Angeles County’s indoor mask mandate is now the law of the land. But how — or whether — it will be enforced remains an open question. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/21

Who is the coronavirus surge impacting in San Francisco? -- The data shows that new cases are predominantly hitting residents who have suffered disproportionately from the virus since the pandemic began: Black and Latino people. Susie Neilson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/21

Is indoor dining still OK under new mask guidance? Here's what Bay Area health experts say -- New mask guidance arriving with no restrictions to indoor dining is creating some understandable confusion among diners. If we’re being recommended to wear a mask indoors again, where does indoor dining fit in that equation? Janelle Bitker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/21

Will California start requiring masks indoors again? Gavin Newsom sidesteps the question -- As COVID-19 cases in California rise, Gov. Gavin Newsom avoided answering a question Monday about whether he might impose a new statewide mask mandate, instead stressing the importance of vaccinations. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/21

Policy & Politics 

You can see tax returns for all 41 recall candidates, but not Gov. Newsom’s -- Newsom’s campaign team said he had submitted his returns anyway, but a spokeswoman for Weber, a Newsom appointee, said Monday that because the returns weren’t required, the office wouldn’t review or release them. Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/20/21

Tax returns show Caitlyn Jenner’s income has fallen sharply -- Caitlyn Jenner’s earnings have fallen precipitously in the last several years from a high of $2.5 million in 2016 when she had her own reality TV show to $550,000, tax filings show. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 7/20/21

Newsom bans sending foster youth to faraway treatment programs after Chronicle abuse investigation -- The policy change, signed into law last week by Gov. Gavin Newsom, commits $100 million over five years to create new programs closer to home for these vulnerable children and teenagers. Joaquin Palomino, Sara Tiano in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/21

California Treasurer Fiona Ma sued for sexual harassment by former employee -- A former senior employee in the California State Treasurer’s Office has sued Treasurer Fiona Ma for sexual harassment and wrongful termination, alleging that she was fired earlier this year after resisting unwanted sexual advances from Ma. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/21

Will DaVita’s indictment alter its big political spending in California? -- The giant dialysis company DaVita, charged with two antitrust violations last week, spent $135 million to defeat two California ballot measures and donated $1.3 million to state politicians in the past decade. Barbara Feder Ostrov CalMatters -- 7/20/21

New fundraising numbers suggest Orange County House races will be hot again next year -- Reports show 25 candidates for 7 seats have stockpiled $11.5 million. Rep. Katie Porter accounts for half of that; Rep. Young Kim ranked second. Brooke Staggs in the Orange County Register -- 7/20/21

Walters: Great LA Times malpractice exposé has odd omission -- Last week, the Los Angeles Times published a damning article about the state agency that is supposed to police California’s physicians. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 7/20/21

COVID Economy  

Another stimulus is available for Californians. Are you eligible? -- More Californians can expect another $600 or $1,100 stimulus check, thanks to the second phase of the Golden State Stimulus. Madalyn Amato in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/21

San Diego Contracts  

Study says women, minorities don’t get their fair share of billions in San Diego city contracts -- A new study shows businesses owned by women and minorities are getting significantly less than their fair share of the billions that San Diego awards in city contracts for construction projects, consulting and purchases of goods. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/20/21

Street  

S.F. deploys more foot police in tourist areas even as it battles perception city is overrun with crime -- As Mayor London Breed battles the perception that San Francisco is beset with increased crime and lawlessness, she announced Monday that additional police patrols would flood the city’s tourist hubs to target thieves and vandals. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/21

LAPD significantly underestimated weight of fireworks before detonating explosion that injured 17 -- Los Angeles police attempting to safely detonate a stash of illegal fireworks last month significantly underestimated the weight of the devices before they exploded, injuring 17 people in a South L.A. neighborhood. Melissa Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ Stefanie Dazio Associated Press Josh Cain in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 7/20/21

Education  

Palo Alto father sues school district after son not allowed in class without mask -- The student’s father A.J. Gokcek filed the lawsuit himself saying his son has a medical reason for not wearing a mask. Aldo Toledo in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/20/21

UC system admits its largest, most diverse undergraduate class ever -- The nine-campus California public university system received 203,700 freshman applications this year — more than ever before — after a judge prohibited SAT and ACT tests from being used in admissions decisions, saying that “non-disabled, economically advantaged and white test-takers have an inherent advantage in the testing process.” Omar Shaikh Rashad in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Michael Burke EdSource -- 7/20/21

UC tuition hike: Regents to vote on ‘forever’ increase -- Thursday’s vote could allow UC campuses to raise tuition every year, indefinitely — despite receiving extra state cash. Student groups are outraged and key lawmakers oppose the move, but UC says it needs more money and that financial aid will blunt the hit to students. Mikhail Zinshteyn CalMatters -- 7/20/21

California launches largest free school lunch program in US -- When classrooms in California reopen for the fall term, all 6.2 million public school students will have the option to eat school meals for free, regardless of their family’s income. The undertaking, made possible by an unexpected budget surplus, will be the largest free student lunch program in the country. Jocelyn Gecker Associated Press -- 7/20/21

With DACA hopes dashed, California students look to Congress -- Immigrant rights advocates in California and nationwide will focus on pushing the Biden administration and Congress to enact immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship, after a judge last week declared DACA unlawful. Zaidee Stavely EdSource -- 7/20/21

A's

Oakland and A's return to bargaining table over stadium, but no progress before key vote -- Oakland and the A’s returned to negotiations Monday as a City Council vote on a proposed new stadium approached, but there was no sign the sides moved closer on reaching a deal that would keep the baseball team in the city. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/21

Also . . .   

Feds indict 4 from China in state-sponsored cyber attacks that went on for nearly a decade -- Federal prosecutors in San Diego announced on Monday the indictment of four Chinese men accused of a massive, years-long computer hacking campaign that targeted businesses, research institutions and universities in San Diego and abroad. Greg Moran in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/20/21

California coast: $18 million approved to restore historic Pigeon Point Lighthouse -- Popular, but crumbling, 150-year-old landmark between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz to be renovated. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/20/21

Monday Updates   

California’s Delta COVID surge would vault a dozen or more counties to widespread purple tier -- At least three Bay Area counties have new infection rates that would have been enough to close some businesses. John Woolfolk, Harriet Blair Rowan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/19/21

Four more counties in the greater Bay Area recommend masks indoors -- Health officers from Napa, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties issued a joint statement advising people use masks in public indoor spaces “out of an abundance of caution,” as cases climb and the highly infectious delta variant begins to dominate. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/19/21

PG&E’s equipment may have sparked Dixie fire, growing near burn scar of deadly Camp fire -- Utility equipment from Pacific Gas & Electric Co. may have sparked the Dixie fire, which has scorched more than 18,000 acres in Butte and Plumas counties over the past week, according to a report the utility company filed Sunday. Faith E. Pinho in the Los Angeles Times$ Michael McGough and Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ Dominic Fracassa, Matthias Gafni in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/19/21

Tamarack Fire south of Lake Tahoe grows to more than 23,000 acres overnight -- The fast-moving Tamarack Fire in Alpine County south of Lake Tahoe grew considerably overnight, with no containment reported as of Monday morning. Annie Vainshtein, Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/19/21

Virus  

L.A. County coronavirus spike hits alarming levels, with 10,000 infected in a week, as Delta variant spreads -- Los Angeles County is now recording more than 10,000 coronavirus cases a week — a pace not seen since March — an alarming sign of the dangers the Delta variant poses to people who have not been vaccinated and heightening pressure on health officials to reverse the trend. Rong-Gong Lin II, Sean Greene, Thomas Suh Lauder in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/21

Wastewater virus levels shed light on intensity of Sacramento’s current COVID surge -- Levels of the virus that causes COVID-19 detected in human wastewater have grown substantially since about the start of June, according to sewershed data analyzed by a Stanford-based research team. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/21

Vaccines are incredibly effective against Delta variant. So why do we need to wear masks indoors? -- Health experts agree the COVID-19 vaccines have proved to be extremely effective against the virus, including providing protection from the highly contagious Delta variant. Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/21

Keep wearing masks indoors? Many Sacramento residents, businesses seem to support the idea -- Residents and tourists walked around mostly maskless in midtown Sacramento over the weekend, and popular venues like Zócalo and Paesanos were packed with guests. But, based on a small sampling of people interviewed in the area, many appear to support the idea of wearing masks indoors when possible. Zaeem Shaikh in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/21

Who is the coronavirus surge impacting in San Francisco? -- Our analysis found that from July 1 through 10, ZIP codes in which at least 20% of residents identify as Black or Latino had an average of 7.9 new cases per 10,000 residents, compared with just 4.7 per 10,000 in ZIP codes where less than 10% identified as Black or Latino. Susie Neilson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/19/21

Policy & Politics 

California recall roster rundown -- By 5 p.m. Friday, would-be candidates to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom were asked to put up — in the form of filing fees or signatures and five years worth of tax returns that were posted Sunday — or shut up. According to the list published Saturday night by the Secretary of State, 41 have put up. Ben Christopher CalMatters -- 7/19/21

California's 41 recall candidates come from all walks of life, tax returns show -- The 41 California recall candidates represent a panoply of career interests, from retail worker to reality TV star, and their tax returns reflect a field that's largely middle- or working class, based on an initial review of records released Sunday afternoon. Kevin Yamamura Politico -- 7/19/21

Skelton: Where the Republicans running to replace Newsom in the recall say they stand on the issues -- All the major candidates trying to oust Gov. Gavin Newsom and replace him are Republicans, but some wear different stripes. There’s a variety to choose from. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/21

Law enforcement unions donate to California Democrats ahead of police reform vote -- California law enforcement unions are contributing tens of thousands of dollars to influential Democratic lawmakers as the Legislature advances a controversial police reform bill that would allow departments to strip badges from officers with serious misconduct records. Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/19/21

Newsom promised big on California health care. Where do his bold plans stand now? -- He vowed to target rising prescription drug costs and find a way for the state to pay for care for all Californians, a key campaign promise. He also set a goal of creating a blueprint to better serve the Golden State’s growing population of seniors. Ana B. Ibarra CalMatters -- 7/19/21

COVID Economy  

Unpaid utility bills? California will pay off $2 billion to avoid shutoffs -- Lawmakers have agreed to pay off $2 billion of Californians’ utilities debt, but haven’t extended the shutoff moratoria past Sept. 30. One family’s experience of surviving a heat wave without water or power reveals what’s at stake. Jackie Botts CalMatters -- 7/19/21

Education  

California Community Colleges chancellor to take temporary job with Biden administration -- California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley will join the Biden administration in a temporary role advising U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on higher education policy, the system announced Monday. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ Emma Talley in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/19/21

UC admits largest, most diverse class ever, but it was harder to get accepted -- The University of California admitted its largest, most diverse undergraduate class ever for fall 2021 — but it was harder to get in as a record-shattering number of applicants vied for access to the renowned public research system, according to UC data released Monday. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/21

Caltech says it regrets drilling holes in sacred Native American petroglyph site -- Inside federal Ranger Chris Mason’s patrol truck, the radio crackled with alarming news: People were seen lugging bags of heavy equipment into a protected site containing prehistoric rock carvings. Louis Sahagún in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/19/21

Q&A: My conversation with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona -- As I shook hands with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona this week, I felt a sense of familiarity reminiscent of what I imagine students feel when they come across an educator with a shared background. Anne Vasquez EdSource -- 7/19/21