Updating . .   

Vaccine alters California’s coronavirus path: Urban areas improve, rural parts suffer -- Residents in rural California counties with low vaccination rates died from COVID-19 at significantly higher rates during the summer Delta coronavirus variant surge than those in better-vaccinated regions such as the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California, a Los Angeles Times data analysis has found. Luke Money, Sean Greene, Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

These charts show the incredibly stark difference in COVID-19 death rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated in California -- Unvaccinated Californians were between 15 and 20 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than vaccinated ones when deaths from the disease most recently peaked at the start of September, according to state data. Susie Neilson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/9/21

Testing COVID vaccine? Fighting cancer? Carlsbad 6-year-old does both -- Imagine surviving two brain cancer surgeries and more than 30 radiation treatments only to end up getting COVID-19. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 10/9/21

Oil  

Pipeline company evades questions over a 15-hour gap before reporting oil spill -- When workers for the company operating the Elly drilling rig saw oil in the water miles from the California shoreline, they didn’t immediately call authorities. Instead, they dialed the company’s risk management firm. Anita Chabria, Laura J. Nelson, Adam Elmahrek in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

Orange County oil spill: A week later, the water remains off-limits for surfers, swimmers, fishermen -- Small, glassy waves rolled up on shore Saturday morning, one week after an oil spill sent black tar clumps onto the sand here in Huntington Beach, raising fears of long-term damage to fragile ecosystems in the area and cutting off ocean access to residents, visitors and fishermen. Robin Estrin, Marisa Gerber in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

OC oil spill: What happened and what’s next? Many questions and a few answers -- The worst of the oil spill that hit Orange County starting last weekend could be over, since officials have begun reopening some beaches and cleanup efforts are well underway. But some oil remains at sea, and an investigation to determine who’s at fault is just getting started. Alicia Robinson in the Orange County Register -- 10/9/21

Snowy plovers, already a threatened bird, are caught up in Orange County oil spill -- The small, gray-feathered, white-bellied shorebirds that spend summers nesting on the sandy beaches of Orange County are masters of camouflage. Robin Estrin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

Marine researchers focus on the tiniest victims of Orange County oil spill -- Until now, the story of the worst local oil spill in decades has been told by gut-wrenching images oil-soaked birds, dying fish and fouled wetlands. However, these images reveal just part of the story, researchers say. Louis Sahagún in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

Water  

Lopez: Up to 1 million gallons of water ... a night? That’s par for some desert golf courses -- Doug Thompson couldn’t believe what he’d just been told. His wife, a botanist, was advising a Coachella Valley country club on drought-resistant landscaping, and Thompson, who got to talking with the groundskeeper, asked how much water it takes to irrigate a golf course. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

First snow of the season falls in Tahoe, Yosemite areas -- Not much, but the first of the winter season and almost two weeks earlier than normal. After a long, hot summer filled with drought conditions and wildfire, it was a welcome sight for many. Paul Rogers, Summer Lin in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/9/21

Policy and Politics  

Newsom vetoes bills to decriminalize jaywalking, allow cyclists to avoid stops -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday night vetoed a pair of bills designed to make streets more welcoming to non-vehicular modes of transportation, including a measure that would have decriminalized jaywalking and another that sought to allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs. Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/9/21

Education  

More California colleges remove SAT, ACT requirements during application process -- Nearly 130 colleges and universities in California do not require students applying for the Fall 2022 semester to release their ACT or SAT scores, according to updated data from the National Center for Fair & Open Testing. Lauryn Schroeder in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 10/9/21

Newsom signs bill creating mental health protocol for schools -- Assembly bill 309, sponsored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills) and Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), comes amid a surge in youth mental health disorders related to the pandemic. Carolyn Jones EdSource -- 10/9/21

Proposed 2022 California ballot initiative sets stage to define 'high-quality' education -- The Silicon Valley entrepreneur who unsuccessfully took on teacher tenure in court is now supporting a constitutional amendment aimed at requiring California to provide “high-quality” public education for all students. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 10/9/21

Snail Mail    

California one of 19 states challenging US Postal Service overseer over slower mail delivery -- California, 18 other states and the District of Columbia filed a legal complaint to the commission that oversees the United States Postal Service over the process that allowed mail delivery slowdowns as part of the organization’s operational overhaul. Gillian Brassil in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/9/21

COVID Economy  

A fifth of S.F. office space remains vacant, but there's a 'glimmer of hope' -- Around a fifth of San Francisco’s office space remained vacant at the end of the year’s third quarter, but the highest leasing activity in two years suggests the start of a market recovery, experts said. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/9/21

Also . . .   

How San Diego grew into a magnet for Nobel-quality talent in science -- She lived in England during the age of Dickens, taught school in Illinois as America expanded west, wrote for a scrappy newspaper in Detroit after the Civil War, and spent her latter years in San Diego sharing a fortune. Ellen Browning Scripps was a sharp, generous, worldly person. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 10/9/21

Knight: Two cyclists killed. Two drivers arrested. And in supposedly equitable S.F., two very different outcomes -- San Francisco bicyclists remember the evening with horror, some still choking up when they discuss it. On June 22, 2016, a pair of alleged hit-and-run drivers killed two women riding their bikes, less than three hours and 5 miles apart. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/9/21

Caltrans projected to break ground on wildlife bridge over 101 Freeway in January 2022 -- Caltrans expects to break ground early next year for an $87-million wildlife crossing on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills that experts say is critical to help save an isolated population of mountain lions in the region from extinction. Laura Anaya-Morga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

Disneyland announces 22 rides where you can pay to skip the lines — here’s how -- Disneyland visitors will need to keep their credit cards handy now that they can pay their way to the front of the line on Rise of the Resistance, Web Slingers and many of the other popular rides at the Anaheim theme park. Brady MacDonald in the Orange County Register -- 10/9/21

California Policy and Politics Saturday Morning  

San Diego County’s first pregnant woman dies of COVID; unborn child dies, too -- County officials announced Friday that the first pregnant woman to die of COVID-19 in San Diego passed away this week — as did her unborn child. Local officials would not provide much additional detail on the woman’s age, health or pregnancy beyond saying that she was unvaccinated. Jonathan Wosen in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 10/9/21

Masks likely won't come off until Bay Area kids are vaccinated -- Under the mask guidance unveil ed by Bay Area health officials this week, it’s now clear that for most of the region, no one will be shedding their face coverings until all school-aged kids have their turn to get vaccinated. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/9/21

California will crack down on surprise coronavirus testing fees under new law -- Health insurers must cover the cost of coronavirus tests under a bill signed Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom that ensures Californians do not have to pay out-of-pocket fees or contend with prior authorization requirements, which have left some consumers with surprise medical bills and bureaucratic headaches. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/9/21

COVID School  

In California, inconsistent school COVID rules are the norm -- Now that schools are back in session, parents are mastering this year’s new school vocabulary: Modified quarantine, antigen vs. PCR testing and the so-called Swiss cheese model for keeping classrooms safe, which has become the butt of a few jokes. Jocelyn Gecker Associated Press -- 10/9/21

COVID Protests  

Protests restricted at California vaccination sites under bill signed by Newsom -- California will require protesters to maintain a buffer zone around vaccination sites, similar to the protective areas some cities have established outside abortion clinics to maintain access for patients. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/9/21

COVID Economy  

San Francisco to welcome cruise ships after 19-month hiatus -- Cruise ships are returning to San Francisco after a 19-month hiatus brought on by the pandemic in what’s sure to be a boost to the city’s economy, the mayor announced Friday. Olga R. Rodriguez Associated Press -- 10/9/21

Policy and Politics  

California extends tax on phones to fund high-speed internet -- Californians could have higher cellphone bills after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two laws on Friday aimed at giving the state more money to build high-speed internet connections in unserved areas. Adam Beam Associated Press -- 10/9/21

California extends cocktails-to-go and outdoor dining rules -- California moved Friday to extend the sale of cocktails-to-go and keep alcohol service for outdoor dining at parklets as officials try to help restaurants recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Don Thompson Associated Press Kim Bojórquez and Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/9/21

California first to let kids add parents to insurance plans -- California is the first state to let some adult children add their parents as dependents on their insurance plans, a move advocates hope will cover the small population of people living in the country illegally who don’t qualify for other assistance programs. Adam Beam Associated Press -- 10/9/21

Street  

Shooting of Mona Rodriguez by school safety officer now a homicide investigation, police say -- The shooting of Manuela “Mona” Rodriguez, the 18-year-old mother shot by a school safety officer in Long Beach, is being investigated as a homicide after she was taken off life support earlier this week, police said. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

California hate crime bill gets last-minute approval from Newsom -- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill late Friday, Oct. 8, that establishes the first statewide commission in California to monitor and track hate crimes and incidents. Deepa Bharath in the Orange County Register -- 10/9/21

Gavin Newsom signs law aimed at cracking down on illegal street racing and ‘sideshows’ -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed a law aimed at cracking down on illegal street racing and so-called “sideshows” by adding a driver’s license suspension for up to six months to the punishment for convicted offenders. Rosalio Ahumada in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/9/21

Newsom signs bills restricting sentencing enhancements for many crimes -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday signed laws aimed at reducing prison sentences for people convicted of drug- and gang-related crimes, despite concerns from prosecutors that the measures will hinder their effort to protect Californians. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

Newsom vetoes jaywalking bill aimed at easing fines, targeted enforcement -- Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Friday that would have allowed people to cross the street outside of crosswalks when cars were not present without facing the possibility of a pricey jaywalking ticket. Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

LAPD denies requests for ‘swatting’ calls on BLM leader -- In response to two public records requests from The Times, the LAPD said it does not have a recording of the first alleged call, and would not be releasing a recording of the second because doing so would jeopardize an ongoing investigation. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

Oil   

Pipeline anchor strike may have occurred months before spill -- A Southern California underwater oil pipeline was likely struck by an anchor several months to a year before a leak spilled tens of thousands of gallons of crude, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Friday. Michael R. Blood, Matthew Brown and Amy Taxin Associated Press -- 10/9/21

How much would it cost to shut down an offshore oil well in California? Who pays? -- State and federal officials have the power to force wells within their jurisdictions to cease operating under certain circumstances if needed to protect the public. Doing so would risk provoking a court fight, though, and potentially require a big payout from taxpayers for the platform’s lost earnings. Jon Healey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

Millions of sea creatures lived on the Elly platform: Will they survive the oil spill? -- Perched high above the waves about nine miles off the coast of Huntington Beach, the oil processing platform known as Elly looks like an industrial eyesore — a tangle of hard metal surfaces, cranes and pipes. But plunge 30 feet beneath the waves, and you enter a psychedelic wonderland of undulating marine life. Deborah Netburn, Sean Greene in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

Oil spill: Huntington Beach surf school sues pipeline company -- Jaz Kaner, owner of Banzai Surf School, which has operated for more than a dozen years, alleges he will lose tens of thousands of dollars in early October alone because of the oil spill off of the Orange County coast, according to the complaint filed in Santa Ana federal court. This suit joins at least two similar ones. The item is in the Orange County Register -- 10/9/21

Oil spill hints at broader threats to ocean health -- While Southern California’s coastal waters are healthier than two decades ago, this month’s Orange County oil spill underscores the vulnerability of the region’s marine life — and is helping bring to the surface ongoing threats of climate change and contamination from a range of sources. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 10/9/21

Workplace  

California union lobbyist sues SEIU Local 1000 president, alleging harassment, retaliation -- A former senior employee of SEIU Local 1000 is suing union president Richard Louis Brown and his chief of staff, alleging Brown harassed her in a closed-door meeting and then fired her after she attempted to report it. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/9/21

Education  

California makes ethnic studies a high school requirement -- Along with English, science, math and other graduation requirements, California high school students will have to take a course in ethnic studies to get a diploma starting in 2029-30. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Friday that makes California among the first in the nation to list ethnic studies as a graduation requirement for all public high school students. Jocelyn Gecker Associated Press Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Howard Blume, Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ MacKenzie Mays Politico Joe Hong CalMatters -- 10/9/21

A gas leak, rats, falling debris: 'Horrendous' S.F. school conditions scrutinized at city meeting -- San Francisco officials and educators decried conditions inside a Mission District public school during a hearing Friday, one in which students and teachers described rodent infestations, 90-degree classrooms, students being asked to bring their own toilet paper to school and a gas leak that went neglected for more than a week. Annie Vainshtein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/9/21

Elk Grove High School student found with a handgun and ammunition on campus -- Law enforcement officials quickly identified and found the student on campus, and they confiscated the handgun and ammunition. District officials said the gun was never brandished, and a school lockdown was not required. Rosalio Ahumada in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/9/21

Video shows deputy slam Lancaster student to the ground at school -- A Lancaster teenager has filed legal claims against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and her school district alleging she was slammed to the ground by a deputy at school after refusing to give him her phone. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

Guns  

California adds ‘ghost guns’ to violence prevention orders -- California is adding a secretive but growing class of weapons to those that can legally be seized under gun violence restraining orders, under a bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Friday. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 10/9/21

California requires menstrual products in public schools -- California public schools and colleges must stock their restrooms with free menstrual products under a bill signed Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 10/9/21

YouTube  

In win for YouTube, Trump censorship lawsuit heads to Bay Area -- But U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore of Miami on Wednesday granted YouTube’s request to transfer the case to the Northern District of California. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/9/21

Cannabis  

Newsom vetoes bill that would have allowed cannabis advertising on freeway billboards -- Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation Friday that would have allowed cannabis products to be advertised on freeway billboards in most of California, a bill that sought to negate a court order in November that had banned the signs. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

Tesla  

Tesla agrees to big office lease in Palo Alto, despite HQ exit -- The electric vehicle maker has struck a deal to lease 325,000 square feet at 1501 Page Mill Road in Palo Alto, part of an office complex in Stanford Research Park, according to five sources with knowledge of the deal. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/9/21

California still has bright economic future despite Tesla exit: Newsom -- Tesla’s chief executive officer, Elon Musk, announced the decision to move the company’s headquarters from Palo Alto to Texas, a defection that helps solidify the narrative for some that California maintains a hostile business climate. But the governor wasn’t having it. “California is the fastest-growing economic jurisdiction in the world over the last five years,” Newsom said after a bill-signing event in downtown Oakland on Friday. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/9/21

Refugees  

Newly arrived Afghans feel safe in Southern California, worry about family: ‘they are in danger’ -- Now, while Asghary and his family feel safe in their Burbank home, he worries about his older brother, parents and former colleagues left behind with no certainty about when they will be allowed to leave the war-torn country. “You have to wait and pray,” he said. “That’s the only option we have right now.” Olga Grigoryants in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 10/9/21

Also . . .   

Giants-Dodgers rivalry sometimes has turned ugly. In San Francisco, few fans forget -- As Giants enthusiasts clad in orange and black began to gather outside Oracle Park Friday, they reflected on the reasons games against the Dodgers. often provoked fist fights, beer throwing and even uglier moments. Maura Dolan, James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21

Sausalito employee tasked with seizing illegal boats from Richardson's Bay to resign -- Curtis Havel, harbormaster for the Richardson’s Bay Regional Agency, which has been embroiled in a years-long battle with Sausalito’s anchorage community, has announced he will resign at the end of the month after just two years on the job. Annie Vainshtein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/9/21

The Nobel Peace Prize recognizes the growing dangers faced by journalists -- Mexican investigative reporter Regina Martínez fearlessly dedicated herself to exposing wrongdoing by government officials in her home state of Veracruz. That came to an end in 2012, when she was strangled to death in her house. Patrick J. McDonnell, Cecilia Sánchez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/9/21