California on the Brink: Virus Rages and Closures Imminent
In a desperate attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus cases, much of California is facing sweeping new restrictions on businesses and activities.
The Latest
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California Monolith Emerges After Utah, Romania Works Exit
Days after the discovery and swift disappearance of two shining metal monoliths spotted half a world away from each other, another towering structure has popped up, this time at the pinnacle of a trail in Southern California.
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Santee Father Arrested in Infant's April Death
A Santee man was arrested in connection with the death of his seven-month-old child after a half-year investigation into the incident, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department announced Friday.
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Former Legislative Aide Accuses Orange County Lawmaker of Rape
A newspaper says a former legislative aide has filed a criminal complaint against California Assemblyman Bill Brough, accusing him of raping her following a 2015 dinner meeting in Sacramento. The Orange County Register reports the woman is at least the sixth to accuse Brough of sexual assault or harassment in the past decade. Brough did not respon... -
Earthquake Swarm: Same Nevada Area Sees 55-Plus Quakes in Two Days
A swarm of earthquakes, including one measuring 5.1 magnitude and another 4.9, continued Wednesday and early Thursday in the same remote area of Nevada, according to the USGS.
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California Gloom: Virus Cases Spiral, New Closures Imminent
California Gov. Gavin Newsom says most of the state will likely be under a new stay-at-home order within a day or two
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Wind Fans Wildfire in California Canyons, Residents Flee
Powerful winds have pushed flames through Southern California canyons as an out-of-control wildfire burns near homes, forcing residents to flee
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California County Pays $10M After Shooting Paralyzed Man
Placer County has paid nearly $10 million to settle a lawsuit by a Silicon Valley software engineer who was having a mental health crisis two years ago when a deputy shot him, paralyzing him from the waist down.
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California Plans for Arrival of First Virus Vaccine Doses
California expects the first batch of coronavirus vaccines could reach the state in weeks and officials now are sorting out how they will be shipped and stored and who will be prioritized for inoculation.
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California Reports More Than 20,000 Virus Cases in One Day
California has broken the record for new coronavirus cases reported in a single day
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Restaurant Jaunts Create Credibility Issue for Politicians
Recent actions from officials aren’t living up to the rhetoric, creating a real political problem for some of the most vocal leaders in California’s fight to contain the coronavirus.
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California Boat Captain Indicted in Fire That Killed 34
Federal manslaughter charges have been filed against a California dive boat captain in the fiery deaths of 34 people who were trapped below deck last year.
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California Paid $400 Million in Fraudulent Jobless Benefits to Inmates
California sent about $400 million in fraudulent unemployment benefit payments to state prisoners, a state official said Tuesday, nearly triple the amount disclosed last week and a number that could grow as a criminal investigation continues.
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18-Year-Old Arrested in Deadly Sacramento Mall Shooting
An 18-year-old man was arrested in connection to a fatal Black Friday mall shooting in Sacramento.
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California Hospitalizations Soar, May Spur More Restrictions
California could see hospitalizations for coronavirus triple by Christmas and is considering stay-home orders for areas with the highest case rates to try to prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed
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CZU Fire Survivors Have Until Dec. 15 to Sign Up for Debris Removal
Santa Cruz County survivors of the CZU Lightning Complex fires have until Dec. 15 to sign up for debris removal.
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California Urges Hospitals to Test All Workers for Virus
California has asked hospitals to ramp up their coronavirus testing amid a surge of new cases, urging them to test health care workers at least once per week while testing all new patients before admitting them.
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California to Provide $500M in Virus Aid for Small Businesses
California will provide temporary tax relief and $500 million in aid to small businesses struggling because of coronavirus outbreak restrictions, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday.
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Redondo Beach Restaurant Owner Chooses to Stay Open, Defy Outdoor Dining Ban
Eat at Joe’s, a long running diner in Redondo Beach, defied LA County’s ban on outdoor dining.
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Former LA Deputy Mayor Among New Defendants Added to Sprawling Corruption Indictment
Former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan and four others have been added to the criminal case alleging a widespread corruption scheme led by former City Councilman Jose Huizar, bringing to nine the number of defendants charged as a result of the sprawling federal investigation.
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California Counties Begin Tighter COVID-19 Restrictions; New Lockdown Possible
Counties across California will begin stricter COVID-19 restrictions on Monday as cases surge statewide and Thanksgiving travelers return home, and officials were considering a new lockdown order if the current trend continues.
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Faces of Coronavirus: Honoring the Californians We've Lost
Most didn’t get to say goodbye to their loved ones face-to-face, losing family members at a rapid and unexpected pace to a deadly and unseen virus. These are their stories.
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Over $10 Million Granted to Preserve Salmon in California
Over $10 million in grants was awarded to 27 projects dedicated to benefiting the state’s salmon habitats, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced this week.
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2 Dead in Sacramento Black Friday Mall Shooting
Police say a shooting at a Sacramento mall on Black Friday has killed one person and left another with life-threatening wounds
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Celebrity Couple Tiffany Haddish and Common Fed the Hungry at the Laugh Factory
The yearly Hollywood tradition of the Laugh Factory providing Thanksgiving dinner for those in need almost didn’t happen this year because of the pandemic.
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82 Contract COVID-19 at Capitola Nursing Facility
Over 80 cases of coronavirus were reported at a skilled nursing facility in Capitola.
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The Glow Must Go on, But Riverside's Festival of Lights Will Be Toned Down
An estimated 750,000 people visited during last year’s Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside. This year, the glow will go on, but without the large crowds.
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California Faces Worrying Thanksgiving as Coronavirus Surges
Health officials across California are enforcing coronavirus protocols to avoid a surge of cases across the region.
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California Records New High in Coronavirus Cases
California reported a record number of coronavirus cases at an alarming rate.
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Transgender Woman Who Was Brutally Attacked in MacArthur Park Says She Is ‘Alive' and ‘Fighting'
Daniela, a transgender woman who was the victim of a brutal attack in MacArthur Park in October, says she is “alive” and “fighting.” The brutal attack adds to the list of hate crimes that, according to the FBI, continues to grow.
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Map: See New Daily Coronavirus Cases for Every U.S. County
The U.S. is frequently breaking new coronavirus case count records this fall. On Thursday, the country broke the daily record for new cases for a second consecutive day with 120,000 new cases. This map shows the rolling seven-day average of daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 in counties throughout the U.S.
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Travelers Coming to Los Angeles Will Have to Sign Quarantine Form Starting Wednesday
Travelers coming through Los Angeles International and Van Nuys airports and Union Station beginning Wednesday will be required to sign a form acknowledging California’s recommended 14-day self-quarantine in response to rising coronavirus rates.
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Smoke, Maggots, and Mold: Fire Survivors Fight Insurance Company's Denials
In the Santa Cruz mountains, the charred scars of the CZU fire stretch in every direction. But every once in a while, the scorched landscape yields to a house that survived. Theresa Brees’ home is one of the lucky ones.
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Some California Counties Winding Down Hotels for Homeless
Some California counties are pushing ahead with plans to wind down a program that’s housed homeless people in hotel rooms amid the coronavirus pandemic
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Pandemic Expert Says California's COVID-19 Tier System Doesn't Work
Weeks before the state rolled out its color-coded tier system for reopening counties, a pandemic expert warned reopening the economy so soon would eventually just lead to more shutdowns. New England Complex Systems Institute founder Dr. Yaneer Bar-Yam has advised presidential administrations and worked to end the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. “All... -
Just Say ‘No' to Family Thanksgiving: California Officials
California health officials are asking residents to just say “no” to family gatherings this Thanksgiving to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
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Hundreds Pull Over to Help San Diego Highwayman
He helped thousands of people during more than 50 years of service. Now, more than a thousand people returned the favor.
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Outdoor Dining Ban Begins Wednesday Night for Restaurants in Most of LA County
The California Restaurant Association sued Los Angeles County Tuesday in an effort to overturn the county’s plan to end in- person dining due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
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California Can't Ban Offensive License Plates, Federal Judge Rules
California can’t enforce a ban vanity license plates it considers “offensive to good taste and decency” because that violates freedom of speech, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
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Firefighter Severely Injured While Fighting Downtown LA Blaze Talks About His Miraculous Recovery
On May 16, 11 firefighters were seriously injured during one of the most intense and dangerous fires in the history of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
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CPUC Head Threatens PG&E Takeover Action on Wildfire Safety
Citing a “failed record in safety,” the president of the state Public Utilities Commission notified PG&E Tuesday that regulators are in the midst of the “fact finding” needed before potentially pursuing a state takeover of the utility over apparent lapses in wildfire prevention efforts.
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County Approves $20M Relief Package for San Diego Businesses Impacted by Indoor Closures
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Wednesday a plan to give out $20 million worth of grants to businesses reeling from purple tier restrictions. The proposal, co-authored by supervisors Greg Cox and Nathan Fletcher, allocates $20 million from the county’s general fund to businesses like restaurants and gyms that ha... -
Calif. Approved Unemployment Aid in Name of Scott Peterson, Other Killers
A California prosecutor says someone has filed an unemployment claim in the name of convicted murderer Scott Peterson.
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Finding Stories Among All That Was Lost: Santa Cruz Storytellers Preserve History of CZU Fire
Photojournalist Shmuel Thaler and radio producer Nikki Silva are working to preserve the stories of the CZU fire, told through objects pulled from the ashes.
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Coronavirus Cases Surge in California Ahead of Thanksgiving
California health officials are concerned about increased gatherings during the holidays as more coronavirus cases continue to be confirmed.
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Newsom, Family Quarantine After Exposure to CHP Officer Positive for COVID-19
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his family are in isolation after three of his children were exposed to a California Highway Patrol Officer who tested positive for COVID-19, Newsom said in a tweet late Sunday night.
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Earthquakes Eliminated From Playoffs in Shootout Loss to Sporting KC
San Jose Earthquakes superstar Chris Wondolowski scored in the seventh minute of extra time to force a shootout Sunday, but Sporting KC prevailed to eliminate the Quakes from the postseason.
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LA County Crosses COVID-19 Threshold, Triggering Further Restrictions on Restaurants, Wineries and Bars
To reduce the possibility for crowding and the potential for exposures in settings where people are not wearing their face coverings, the county’s Health Officer Order will be modified so that restaurants, breweries, wineries and bars will only be able to offer take-out, drive thru, and delivery services.
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California Enacts Nighttime Curfew as COVID-19 Cases Spike
California’s newly enacted curfew begins Saturday night and will go on through Dec. 21.
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National Parks to Become Free for Wounded Veterans
Free access to national parks to wounded veterans in New England and California may become a law.
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World War II Vet Celebrates 107th Birthday With Drive-By Party
The city of Santa Ana celebrated the 107th birthday of a World War II veteran Saturday with a drive-by parade including firefighters and police.
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Experts, California Residents Question Curfew Effectiveness
The newly imposed curfew is being criticized by some experts and residents in California.
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California's EDD May Have Exposed 38M Social Security Numbers Despite Being Told Year Before to Stop
An audit finds California’s unemployment benefits agency has sent out at least 38 million pieces of mail containing Social Security numbers since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, putting residents at risk of identity theft. The report says the Employment Development Department continued mailing forms without concealing sensitive information d... -
Newsom's Child Quarantined for Possible Virus Exposure
A spokesman says one of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s children may have been exposed to the coronavirus at school and is in quarantine
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COVID Curfew: California Issues Limited Stay-at-Home Order Amid Surge in Cases
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that the state is issuing a limited stay-at-home order for counties in the most restrictive reopening tier due to climbing COVID-19 cases.
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California Adopts Stricter Workplace Pandemic Safety Rules
California officials on Thursday approved new regulations requiring employers to implement safety measures aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, the latest state to adopt stricter rules.
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California Inmate Who Fought Wildfires and Completed Sentence Now Faces Deportation
Among the thousands of firefighters who battled record-setting wildfires in California this year was Bounchan Keola, a 39-year-old immigrant from Laos. Keola was set to be released in October, but days before he was to be freed, Keola learned he would not be going home.
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Illegal Border Crossings Rise for Sixth Straight Month
U.S. border authorities stopped people entering the country illegally from Mexico more than 69,000 times in October, the sixth straight monthly increase and the highest level since July 2019
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California Could Save $1 Billion By Closing 8 Prisons, New State Analysis Shows
California, which has a declining prison population, could save more than $1 billion by closing eight lockups, the Legislative Analyst’s Office said in a report Thursday.
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Budget ‘Windfall' in California as Economy Weathers Virus
The coronavirus has had less economic effect on California than state lawmakers had feared
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California Police Groups Back Reform Plan to Require College Classes for Recruits
California organizations encompassing both police chiefs and rank-and-file officers proposed legislation Thursday in the wake of recent civil unrest that they said would raise standards for police recruiting and training while increasing diversity. Prospective officers should have to complete college classes that the groups said would prepare them ... -
Experts Frustrated by Stalled Efforts to Counter Megafires
With the Yosemite Valley air still hazy from lingering smoke from this year’s record fire season, Michael Beasley surveyed one hillside hit by the 400-square-mile Rim Fire back in 2013.
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CAL/OSHA Votes to Implement Strict COVID-19 Workplace Protections for California
The push to protect workers from COVID-19 at job sites and in business settings across California could take a big step forward Thursday with sweeping changes under consideration.
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Orange County Set to Release At-Home COVID-19 Tests
A new type of COVID test is about to be made available to thousands of Orange County residents. It’s a push to get more people tested. But this test can be done at home. Officials at Families Together of Orange County say they test about 150 people a day for coronavirus. Right now that means driving through their First Street…
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Grandmother With Aggressive Leukemia Needs Help. Are You the Miracle Match?
The race is on to save a 60-year-old grandmother diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia who needs a match for a blood stem cell transplant to survive. Maria Banuelos’ children and grandchildren put a video together in an effort to save her life after the 60-year-old Fillmore resident was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in August. You ... -
PG&E Filing Says Zogg Fire Tree May Have Been Flagged for Removal in 2018
PG&E acknowledged in a court filing Wednesday that it believes a Gray Pine tree targeted in Cal Fire’s probe of the Zogg fire was left standing despite being earmarked for removal two years before the deadly blaze in Shasta County.
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San Diego Bay Parade of Lights Canceled Due to Rise of COVID-19 Cases in County
The decades-old San Diego holiday tradition will not light up the bay this year
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After Baby Scalded With Hot Water, Family Gets $300,000 Settlement
The family of a 4-month old infant who suffered second-degree burns when the water used to bathe him suddenly became scalding hot will receive a settlement of $300,000 from the family’s landlords to cover the infant’s medical bills, pain and suffering.
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Man Convicted of 9 ‘NorCal Rapist' Attacks From 1991 to 2006
A man nicknamed the NorCal Rapist was convicted Wednesday of raping nine women in their homes between 1991 and 2006 after investigators used DNA technology to identify him.
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Apple to Pay $113 Million Settlement Involving iPhone Batteries
Apple Inc. will pay $113 million to resolve allegations that the company misled consumers through software updates that purposely slowed iPhone performance to mask battery issues that made the phones susceptible to unexpected power shutoffs.
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Air Pollution Boosts Alzheimer's Risk for Women, USC Study Finds
A study released Wednesday by USC researchers found that older women who live in areas with high levels of air pollution may have more Alzheimer’s-like brain shrinkage than those who live in places with cleaner air.
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Fauci Would Support California COVID-19 Curfew ‘If It Is Sound'
While Gov. Gavin Newsom has hit the emergency brake surrounding coronavirus openings across the state, some are focusing on his mention of perhaps imposing a statewide curfew.
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UC Berkeley Employee Arrested in 27-Year-Old NorCal Rapist Case
Law enforcement officials in Sacramento on Friday announced the arrest of a 58-year-old Benicia man suspected of being the NorCal rapist who terrorized victims for a 15-year period beginning in 1991. Suspect Roy Charles Waller was arrested in Berkeley while on his way to work on Thursday after investigators confirmed his DNA to match the serial rap... -
Brothers and Wives Charged in $5.6 Million COVID-19 Loan Scheme
Two brothers and their wives — all from Encino — have been charged in a federal grand jury indictment alleging a scheme to submit at least 35 fraudulent applications seeking more than $5.6 million in federal COVID-19 relief loans, authorities announced Wednesday.
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Wearing Masks Outside Your Home is Mandatory in California. Here's When You Can Take it Off
After California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he was “pulling an emergency brake” following surges in coronavirus case numbers, 41 of 58 counties — roughly 94% of the state’s population — have been moved into the most-restrictive purple tier. The state also said people in California must wear face coverings when th... -
PG&E Announces Newly Appointed CEO
PG&E has appointed the utility’s new chief executive officer.
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PG&E Sued by Sonoma County Over Kincade Fire
Sonoma County officials filed a $100 million negligence lawsuit Tuesday against PG&E, seeking costs for fighting the wildfire and rebuilding lands and infrastructure destroyed in the Kincade fire last year.
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Northern California Agencies Sue PG&E Over Kincade Fire
Sonoma County and several Northern California agencies sued Pacific Gas & Electric Co. over damage caused by a the Kincade Fire that burned a large swath of land last year and caused nearly 100,000 people to flee.
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California Suspect Flees Using Underwater ‘Sea Scooter'
Prosecutors say a man wanted for his role in an alleged $35 million Ponzi scheme was arrested after evading FBI agents by swimming into California’s largest reservoir using an underwater “sea scooter.”
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California Businesses Hit With New Virus Restrictions
California businesses face new restrictions after months of ever-changing rules to stem the pandemic.
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Cal/Osha Fines Farmer John for Hundreds of COVID-19 Cases
Southern California’s huge Farmer John meatpacking plant on the edge of Los Angeles has been assessed more than $58,000 for safety violations state officials say exposed more than 300 workers to COVID-19 infections, including three who were hospitalized.
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8-Year-Old Rescued After Falling Down 50-Foot Well
An 8-year-old girl was rescued from a deep well in her backyard in Riverside County on Friday, Nov. 13, and her family is speaking about the frightening ordeal for the first time.
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Pregnant Mother and Unborn Baby Fatally Shot in Wilmington
A 24-year-old pregnant woman was shot and killed along with her unborn baby while sitting in a parked vehicle in a Wilmington neighborhood, authorities said Monday.
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Newsom: State ‘Pulling Emergency Brake' on Virus Reopenings
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday said the state is “pulling an emergency brake” on its response to the coronavirus pandemic, including new restrictions necessary to help contain a recent spike.
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Boulder Creek Fire Zones Prep for Rainy Season
Trying to get ahead of the rainy season, work crews in the Boulder Creek fire zone cleaned out gutters and culverts Monday, hoping to make the area as debris-free as possible.
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Newsom Says He Made ‘Bad Mistake' Attending Pricey Party
Gov. Gavin Newsom apologized for what he called “a bad mistake” by attending a birthday party that broke guidelines to slow the spread of coronavirus.
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Garcetti ‘Not Waiting' On Phone Call to Join Biden Admin.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has not ruled out taking a position with the incoming administration of President-Elect Joe Biden but says he’s “not waiting for the phone to ring.”
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San Diego ‘Highwayman' Who Aided Others for Decades Asks for Help Himself
Decades before today’s pay-it-forward ethos got kick-started (20 years ago!) by the movie title of the same name, San Diego’s Highwayman was pulling up behind stranded motorists and offering aid, free of charge.
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People Are Ignoring Science Until They Lose a Loved One, Families Grieving COVID-19 Victims Say
Families whose loved ones have died of coronavirus complications are begging people to stop ignoring science and wear a mask as we get closer to the holidays.
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Towering ‘King Tides' Hitting Southern California Coastline
Astronomical high tides known as “King Tides” are hitting the California coast on Sunday and Monday mornings — and in some places, into Tuesday — with tides expected to reach nearly 7 feet (2.13 meters).
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Off-Duty Deputy Shot in Los Angeles, Suspect at Large
An off-duty Los Angeles County deputy was shot early Sunday morning while he was driving and returned fire at the suspect, authorities said.
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Thief Found Time to Make Pizza During Restaurant Burglary, Police Say
A thief took a break during his burglary of a Southern California pizzeria to make himself a pizza pie before fleeing with the restaurant’s delivery car, authorities said.
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In California, Fate of Tax Hikes Depends on Who Is Asking
California voters approved at least 173 local measures that authorized billions of dollars that will benefit schools and local governments.
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California Approves Billions for Stem Cell Research
California voters passed Prop 14, a first-of-its-kind stem-cell research program.
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Can The State, Or Even Your Job Require You to Get a Vaccine?
It’s a question on most of our minds: Will you take a coronavirus vaccine when it’s ready? There are factors to consider on both sides, but have you considered this: What if you are told you have to get a vaccine? The state has extraordinary power to maintain the public health. You see it in its decisions regarding which...
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Timeline Leading to California's Millionth Virus Case
Here’s a timeline of events leading to California’s millionth confirmed case of the coronavirus.
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Covid-Related Court Delays Leave Sick Fearful They May Die Before Going to Trial
Terminally ill plaintiffs, who were supposed to be guaranteed expedited trials in light of their deteriorating medical conditions, are still waiting for their day in court, according to an NBC Bay Area investigation.
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Newsom, West Coast Governors Issue COVID-19 Travel Advisory
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday, along with governors of Oregon and Washington, issued a travel advisory urging visitors entering their states or residents returning home to self-quarantine to slow the spread of the coronavirus, according to a news release.
